As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ The UK bluechip index has ended the day down 196 points despite a raft of fresh 'aggressive' measures by the US central bank, including 'unlimited' QE and the purchase of corporate bonds. The pound initially benefited from a falling dollar after the announcement by the Fed, but that did not last long. It has fallen below the $1.15 it hit last week, which was its lowest level since 1985. At markets close, 1 was buying $1.148 and 1.067 on currency markets. In company news, oil giant Royal Dutch Shell has announced plans to save around 7billion to help mitigate the impact of the coronavirus outbreak and tumbling oil prices. The firm's shares have more than halved in the past two months as oil prices have dived. Meanwhile, ITV slashed its dividend and Pearson issued a profit warning and suspended a share buyback programme. Costa Coffee is to close stores from tonight. Staff will continue to be paid their full average weekly pay for the next eight weeks. They have said though that they will try to keep their stores in NHS hospital open for the next two weeks. Maharashtra Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday announced that his party MPs will not attend the ongoing budget session of Parliament from Monday in view of coronavirus outbreak. Raut, who is party's chief whip in Parliament, made the announcement from his Twitter handle @rautsanjay61 saying, "Keeping the Covid-19 situation in mind, all ShivSena MPs won't be attending Parliament from today. The decision has been taken by our Party Chief and honourable CM Uddhav Thackeray for helping the government to fight this Pandemic. @CMOMaharashtra @narendramodi." The NCP has already announced that its Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members would be mostly staying back in their respective constituencies to assist the administration in its fight with Covid-19 outbreak. By Express News Service BHOPAL: On expected lines, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was unanimously elected the BJP legislature partys new leader in the central Indian state on Monday. Chouhan was slated to meet Governor Lalji Tandon later and has formally taken claim for forming BJP government in the state. Presently the BJP national vice president and three times former CM, Shivraj Singh Chouhan was sworn as the states 19th CM at a simple ceremony at the Raj Bhawan at 9 pm, after which he could chair an emergency meeting of state government on the rising Coronavirus threat. Speculations are rife about the UP model being followed in MP with swearing in of two deputy CMs (possibly Narottam Mishra and any of the Scindia loyalists) in the days to come. Bhopal: Shivraj Singh Chouhan has been elected as the leader of BJP legislative party in Madhya Pradesh, at the meeting held at the party office. MP Observer Arun Singh, and state in-charge Vinay Sahasrabuddhe joined in the meeting from Delhi via video conference. pic.twitter.com/Y2aXQoN5ky ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2020 The 61-year-old Chouhan who was the states CM between 2005 and 2018 was elected the BJP legislature party leader at the meeting of MLAs, which was overseen by party national general secretary Arun Singh (who was appointed the central observer for the meet) and party national vice president in-charge for the state Vinay Sahastrabudhe through video conferencing from Delhi. Bhopal: BJP's Shivraj Singh Chouhan takes oath as the Chief Minister of #MadhyaPradesh, at Raj Bhavan. pic.twitter.com/nJuy5TCQR2 ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2020 Owing to the Coronavirus threat, this is possibly the first time that a legislature party is being conducted through remote control (video conferencing), said Sahastrabudhe. Addressing the meeting, Chouhan accused the previous Kamal Nath-led Congress government of destroying everything, but added he wont like to go into details at this juncture. He promised change in style of governance in the next BJP government by taking everyone along the board in all decisions. On combating Coronavirus threat, Chouhan said nothing else, but combating the Coronavirus threat is the utmost priority and indicated holding a meeting of top officials to take stock of the situation and devise strategies to combat the growing threat. As a BJP worker, I'll work honestly for development of MP. But right now the aim is to stop spread of #COVID19. I've appealed to party workers to not celebrate the oath-taking ceremony come out on streets. They should stay at home & pray for the newly formed govt: SS Chouhan https://t.co/8FhYqLMqXF pic.twitter.com/7esdGQhFWr ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2020 Earlier at the meeting, Chouhans name for legislature party leader was proposed by outgoing legislature party leader and Leader of Opposition Gopal Bhargava, who had quit as the legislature party leader just an hour before the meeting. I pray to god that the BJP doesnt have to sit in opposition ever in future and no one in the party has to become Leader of Opposition again, said Bhargava. The proposal moved by Bhargava was supported by various MLAs, including Gopilal Jatav and ex-minister Narottam Mishra, who was himself a contender for the top post. New government formation was necessitated by the fall of the 15-month-old Kamal Nath-led Congress government on Friday. Nath had resigned as the CM on Friday afternoon just a few hours before the Supreme Court-directed floor test for proving his majority was to be held in the Vidhan Sabha. The fall was the Congress government was scripted by the resignation of 22 Jyotiraditya Scindia loyalist MLAs on March 10, just a few hours after Scindia resigned from the Congress and joined the BJP later. In the present 205-member Vidhan Sabha, the BJP has 106 seats which is three more than simple majority figure of 103, while the Congress has 92 MLAs. One of the four independents and outgoing mining minister Pradeep Jaiswal, who had supported the Congress government for 15 month has already announced supporting the new government. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Little surprise, then, that it took just five days from the federal government banning mass gatherings for there to be Australia's first streamed music festival, Isol-Aid . It's a hustle making a living playing music at the best of times, let alone when all your gigs get shut down. A feat of innovation and organisation by Melbourne singer-songwriter Merpire (alongside band booker Emily Ulman and manager Shannen Egan), Isol-Aid had 36 local artists take to their Instagram pages each day of the weekend, playing consecutive 20-minute live sets from midday to midnight and plugging donations to Support Act, a helpline for music industry people that will surely be busy in the months to come. Some fairly big names let us into their living rooms for the cause. With "sad boy" in his Instagram handle, Melbourne's Didirri was always going to make us feel less alone in our wallowing on a Saturday night. The lo-fi setting helped his piano ballads seem even more desolate, before a soaring cover of The Times They Are A-Changin' struck a note of hope. Forty minutes later, Perth's Stella Donnelly tried to make us do what we'd normally be doing this time of the week, kicking back her chair to rock out on Tricks. Then fingerpicked ballad Face It became one of those songs that, no matter its motivations when written, is now about coronavirus and the strange 'social distancing' phenomenon it has wrought. "But it will get easier/To watch you from the furthest city in the world", she sang with tender resignation, and the comments stream went pink with hearts. KABUL, Afghanistan The State Department said it was cutting $1 billion in aid to Afghanistan this year, and potentially another $1 billion in 2021, after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo failed to persuade rival Afghan leaders in a meeting on Monday in Kabul to support a unified government, which American diplomats consider crucial to preventing peace negotiations from falling apart. Mr. Pompeos announcement came as he was flying back to the United States after meeting with President Ashraf Ghani and the Afghan former chief executive, Abdullah Abdullah, in an attempt to mediate between the two rivals who both claim to be the legitimate president a crisis that threatens to split the government apart and sink hopes of ending the war. For the top American diplomat to travel halfway around the world in the middle of the global coronavirus epidemic signaled how seriously the United States was taking the internal Afghan bickering and the risks posed for both countries. And the cutoff in aid, a major blow to the Afghan government, revealed just how frustrated the United States was with the impasse, which further imperils an already precarious peace deal. The United States is disappointed in them and what their conduct means for Afghanistan and our shared interests, Mr. Pompeo said in a statement. Their failure has harmed U.S.-Afghan relations and, sadly, dishonors those Afghan, Americans and coalition partners who have sacrificed their lives and treasure in the struggle to build a new future for this country. Homeland F**ker Shot Me Season 8 Episode 7 Editors Rating 3 stars * * * Previous Next Photo: Showtime Homeland ushers us into the back half of the final season with another episode that simply feels different in March 2020 than it would have at any other time. Listening to a fictional leader whose inexperience is showing that hes not quite ready to grapple with decisions that could lead to panic, violence, and unrest is simply eerie in an age of daily disruptions to our reality. No one in the Homeland writers room could have imagined the double meaning today of a line like, How does a weak president show hes strong? This recap is being written while a president pats himself on the back for accomplishments in a press conference instead of reassuring the public, and it feels somewhat like an answer to that Homeland question. Taken on its own, apart from the tragedy unfolding around the world, F**ker Shot Me is kind of a thin episode. Theres some nice work by Claire Danes as Carrie is faced with reliving the repercussions of a major decision that she made back in season four, but we havent really moved the ball much down the field by the end of this episode. The world is still on the edge of war, Max is still captive, and Haqqani is still in serious trouble. It could be a byproduct of several weeks of intense momentum finally slowing, but this is what could politely be called a transitional episode, slightly amplifying character traits like Hayess poor leadership and Haqqanis doomed fate, but ultimately serving to set the stage for whats to come. Lets talk about President Hayes. After playing backseat driver to President Warner, hes now behind the wheel, making major decisions that could impact the stability of the world. He not only seems to be listening more to the rhetoric of Gulom than the advice of the smartest people in his government, but he even invites the controversial world leader to be there when Warners body returns home at Dover Air Force Base. Its hard to believe anyone would think thats a good idea, but Hayes sees political capital in violence and wants to be assured by his new BFF. The truth is that Gulom knows that Hayes is easily manipulated, playing to the idea that coming down on Haqqani and the Taliban will make a statement in the first few days of his Presidency. The scene near the end in which Hayes pats himself on the back for catching Haqqani, who turned himself in, has the definite feel of another world leader who likes to take credit for doing the bare minimum. Haqqani turned himself in with the hope that he would be given a fair trial, and Saul is doing his best to make sure that happens. He reaches out to Qureshi, who brings her political power from Pakistan to go with Saul to the judges house. They convince her to rule for a continuance, to give them time to find the proof that Haqqani didnt assassinate two world leaders. She agrees, but it all backfires the next day when they switch out the judges. And the new guy isnt interested in a trial. Its more of a sentencing, and that sentence is death. It could happen any minute now, and David Wellington encourages Hayes to do the right thing and force Gulom to issue a stay, but the new POTUS is busy getting his ass kissed by a new player, a man named John Zabel (Hugh Dancy), who looks like hes about to be a whole lot of trouble for the concept of world peace. While World War III is about to break out, Carrie and Yevgeny are tracking Max into Pakistan, where he was taken after the copter mission. It leads them to a village in which Carrie issued an order to bomb a mosque back in season four, thinking Haqqani was there but instead murdering innocent people at a wedding. Shes shaken up by even being there, and wonders if Yevgeny is still playing mind games with her. We should wonder, too. They find Max, but the reunion is brief before hes shuttled off to another location. They track him there, too, but hes under a lot of armed guard and held captive by Jalal Haqqani, the son of the Taliban leader, and someone who clearly wants to lead his fathers organization into violence. What are they going to do with Max? It doesnt look good and Carries calls to send in the cavalry arent going to work in time. It even looks like Carrie might rush in to save Max on her own, but Yevgeny stops her. Is this the end of Max? It really feels like Homeland is building to incredible violence in the Middle East. Haqqanis death sentence will lead to attacks on bases and embassies from the Taliban soldiers in the area, but Hayes is more interested in the press around getting the guy who killed President Warner in such a short amount of time. Hes all short-term reward and no long-term planning, and hes the kind of guy completely uninterested in whats happening on the other side of the world. If he gets the right attention from the people around him and the right press, then everything else is secondary. Again, draw any parallels to life in March 2020 that you see fit. Final Notes Mike wonders if Carrie has pulled a Kim Philby. If you didnt get the reference, Kim Philby was a British Intelligence Officer in the 60s who was actually a double agent, feeding information to the Soviets. I was wondering how long it is from when Carrie leaves the airport to when we see her and Yevgeny in Pakistan, so I did the math. Theyre in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which is nine hours by car apparently. So Yevgeny grabbed Carrie from the airport in Kabul the night before, and they drove all night. Must have been fun. Hugh Dancy! Homeland has been great at casting supporting characters in the past, and it looks like they had at least one more in the wings. The star of Hannibal has the perfect eager smile to play someone who is clearly going to use Hayes for his own political means. And, of course, Dancy is married to Danes in real life. Awww. While the common misperception has been that only the old and frail can contract the coronavirus, early testing data in the city has shown that young New Yorkers have also been vulnerable. People ranging in ages from 18 to 44 have accounted for 46 percent of positive tests, according to city data as of Monday. Part of it is because we are testing more people as tests become more available and also because folks in this age group were out and about and werent necessarily engaging in social distancing like other age groups, said Dr. Danielle Ompad, associate professor of epidemiology at N.Y.U.s School of Global Public Health. So far in New York, three people in the under-44 category have died after contracting the virus, but a report issued last week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that across the United States, 38 percent of those hospitalized were between the ages of 20 and 54. Nationally, 12 percent of the intensive care patients were between the ages of 20 and 44. Some experts suggested vaping might make young people more vulnerable to the virus. Two of the countrys biggest house builders - Glenveagh Homes and Ballymore Developments - have secured planning permission for fast track plans for more than 330 residential units at two separate sites in Dublin. This follows An Bord Pleanala giving the green light to Glenveagh Homes to construct 192 apartments at Castleknock, Dublin 15. The appeals board has granted planning permission for the proposal for five five-storey apartment blocks at Balroy House, Carpenterstown Rd, Castleknock in the face of widespread local opposition. In total 125 objections were lodged against the proposal. One of those to object was former Labour TD, Joan Burton. Ms Burton was a TD at the time of making a joint objection with Cllr John Walsh (Lab). The Burton objection claimed that the proposal is detrimental to the local environment and damaging to residential amenity. Joan Burton The objection claimed that the scale and height of the proposed five-block, five-storey over-basement development is inappropriate and out of keeping with the pattern of development in the surrounding area. Elected councillors for the area claimed that the developments density is too high and there is no capacity in schools or childcare in the area. However, the An Bord Pleanala inspector in the case, Senior Planning Inspector, Ronan OConnor stated that the provision of a higher density residential development at this location is desirable with regard to its intermediate suburban location and its proximity to high frequent transport services". Mr OConnor stated that in addition, the site is located in an area with a wide range of social infrastructure facilities. He said: The height, bulk and massing, detailed design and layout of the scheme are acceptable. I am also satisfied that the development would not have any significant adverse impacts on the amenities of the surrounding area. He further stated that the future occupiers of the scheme will benefit from a high standard of internal amenity. The appeals board has also granted planning permission to Ballymore Property Developments for 142 residential units at Seamount Rd and Seamount Abbey at Malahide in north Dublin. The plan is made up of 58 detached, semi-detached and terraced homes alone with 76 apartments along with eight one bed maisonette apartments. The appeals board found that the proposal would not seriously injure the residential or visual amenities of the area and would be acceptable in terms of urban design, height and quantum of development. The WCO reminds the general public to exercise extreme caution when purchasing critical medical supplies from unknown sources, particularly online. The use of these goods may cost lives. While the world is gripped by the fight against COVID-19, criminals have turned this into an opportunity for fraudulent activity. There have been an alarming number of reports quoting seizures of counterfeit critical medical supplies, such as face masks and hand sanitizers in particular. Customs and law enforcement agencies in China, Germany, Indonesia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States and Vietnam, to name but a few, have reported such seizures in the past three weeks. Moreover, there was a significant increase in seizures of counterfeit and unauthorized face masks and hand sanitizers during Operation Pangea XIII, a collaborative enforcement effort by the WCO, Interpol, Europol, Customs administrations, Police forces and other law enforcement agencies. This Operation, held from 3 to 10 March 2020, resulted in the seizure of 37,258 counterfeit medical devices, of which 34,137 were surgical masks. Online retailers have also announced a surge in sales of counterfeit goods. In particular, a US company reported the removal from its marketplace of a million products claiming to cure or prevent COVID-19. Tens of thousands of listings were removed because of price hiking, particularly for products in high demand such as masks. In one operation, US Customs and Border Protection seized counterfeit COVID-19 test kits which had arrived at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) by mail from the United Kingdom. This seizure triggered a joint investigation by the City of London Polices Intellectual Property Crimes Unit (PIPCO), the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), resulting in one arrest and the seizure of 300 more kits and 20 litres of chemicals for the production of such kits. Given the shortages and the activities of market speculators, another important trend is the introduction of export licences for certain categories of critical medical supplies, such as face masks, gloves and protective gear. In particular, on 11 March 2020 Vietnam adopted Decision 868/QD-BYT by the Ministry of Health, introducing export permits for medical masks. The European Union (EU) introduced a temporary export licensing scheme for personal protective equipment as of 14 March 2020 (see Commission implementing Regulation 2020/402). Other countries, such as Brazil, India, Russia, Serbia and Ukraine, have also followed suit. The EUs dual-use export control regime will also continue to be applied to more sophisticated items such as full face masks, protective gear, gloves and shoes, specifically designed for dealing with biological agents. The full list of such items can be found in Annex I to EU Regulation 428/2009, as amended. The WCO urges its Member Customs administrations to remain vigilant in these difficult times. Please consult the relevant section of the WCOs website regarding COVID-19 information, including changes in legislation, new trends and patterns, and initiatives by partners and Member administrations. The WCO stands ready to continue working with all its partners to disrupt the supply chains of counterfeit products that put the lives of millions of people at risk. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. As the world discovers the joys of hoarding toilet paper and sheltering in place thanks to the Covid-19 Coronavirus, collaboration tools have become more essential than ever. If youve been following CafeX, you know they were one of the earliest adopters of WebRTC the underlying technology which most browser-to-browser video collaboration relies on. You may need to enable Flash to see the video above Sajeel Hussain, CRO of CafeX 032220 We interviewed the Chief Revenue Officer Sajeel Hussain back in 2015 and we present it above because the companys vision has been consistent for this many years and more. Their focus has been enabling mobile and web apps with live engagement; adding real-time collaboration ability. The company recently launched Challo, a new cloud application they hope will transform enterprise collaboration. It is based on the concept of online workspaces: persistent virtual rooms that bring together distributed content and people into one location. Like other tools, Challo enables users to chat with each other, meet in HD video, share files and review information to move business forward. Challo also provides security and compliance to support both company-to-company and in-house interactions. It further allows for granular security configuration to control how information is shared between companies and among internal teams. Companies can choose cloud storage from Challo or use their in-house repositories to satisfy regulatory situations where data must reside within an enterprises cloud environment. In an exclusive interview, Sajeel said, We are working more remotely than ever. He explained other tools support external users via guest mode, which limits access to features and prohibits visiting parties from monitoring interactions. Only Challo lets external users keep their corporate identity and maintain the same privileges as internal users, including the ability to capture a searchable audit trail of collaboration activities, meeting recordings and transcripts, he exclaimed. It is a Collaborative workspace solution. The challenge with tools which are not designed for collaboration between organizations is the shortcuts users take to transmit information. Sending via email for example without encrypting the file(s) for example. Sajeel explained that these files if brought in from Box or some other cloud service and shared could quickly become obsolete if the original copy changes. This in addition to the lack of tracking, inherent security risks and associated with other forms of file transfer such as email. He said that that Challo gives administrators one place to manage access permissions on users behalf, making it safe and easy to share original documents from an enterprise repository with authorized users from other companies. Snippets of live data from business applications, such as a users calendar or a Salesforce CRM record, can be shared externally in the same way as policies allow. CafeX Challo iPad Pro screenshot Sajeel explained that Challo workspaces bring all the right data and people together into one location regardless of which business applications and companies are involved to achieve business outcomes, such as strengthening a client relationship or accelerating a multi-company project. Challo workspaces persist beyond a single collaboration event, always-on and available for the duration of short or long-term business initiatives. Users can sign up for a free trial, create workspaces, start video meetings, chat and add content via a web browser or native app. Some time back we covered Mio the company federating various enterprise chat solutions. Challo too does this with chat channels in Slack and Microsoft Teams, which means a Challo message can appear in Slack or Teams and vice versa. Furthermore, Challo can also act as a bridge between Slack and Teams, with chat messages passed back and forth between all three applications. While its important for employees to communicate across one comprehensive platform, more and more business is done with people and companies outside the four walls of your corporation, said Rami Musallam, Chief Executive Officer for CafeX. After creating multiple award-winning enterprise communications and API platforms for Global 500 leaders in financial services, healthcare and other industries, we are proud to introduce Challo, the first persistent, secure and compliance-ready offering that is purpose-built for both internal and company-to-company collaboration. As more enterprises need to communicate securely with one another while ensuring security, compliance and ease-of-use, Challo from CafeX has truly differentiated itself as an important new tool for digital transformation. Also given the emergency COVID-19 situation, Challo is being offered by CafeX at no cost till July 1, 2020. See the ONLY Contact Center, Tech and Communications companies that matter at the ITEXPO #TECHSUPERSHOW. This Event has been called the BEST SHOW in 5 YEARS and the Best TECHNOLOGY EVENT of 2020. 2020 participants included: Amazon, Cisco, Google, IBM, ClearlyIP, Avaya, Vonage, 88, Comcast Business, BlueJeans, CoreDial, Dell, Edify, Epygi, FreeSWITCH, Grandstream, Granite, Intrado, Frontier Business, Fujitsu, Jenne, West, Konftel, Intelisys, Martello, NetSapiens, OOMA, Oracle, OpenVox, Peerless Network, Phone Sentry, Phone.com, Poly, QuestBlue, RingByName, Sangoma, SingTel, SkySwitch, Spracht, Spectrum, Sprint, Tallac, Tech Data, Telarus, TCG, Teledynamics, Teli, Telinta, Telispire, Telstra, TransNexus, Unified Office, Vital PBX, VoIP Supply, Voxbone, VoIP.MS, Windstream, XCALY, XORCOM, Yealink, Yubox, and ZYCOO. Full List. Join 8K others with $25B+ in IT buying power who plan 2021 budgets! Including 3,500+ resellers! A unique experience with a collocated Future of Work Expo, SD-WAN Expo, and MSP Expo June 22-25, 2021, Miami Register now and you could win a Tesla on Feb 12th. (Newser) A huge coronavirus stimulus packagethe one that would result in relief checks going to Americansremained very much stuck in Senate limbo Monday afternoon. And things got seriously heated and chaotic on the chamber's floor, reports the Washington Post. For the second straight day, Democrats blocked a procedural vote that would have allowed the measure to advance. Chuck Schumer and the Democrats accuse Republicans of trying to pack the bill with partisan add-ons, including abstinence education, and Republicans accuse Democrats of doing the same, pointing to energy provisions unrelated to the virus outbreak, per the Hill. Meanwhile, Treasury chief Steven Mnuchin is negotiating with Schumer to get a deal everyone can live with by the end of the day. Some examples of the heated tempers: story continues below Angry words: At one point, Democrats temporarily blocked GOP Sen. Susan Collins from speaking. "This is bull----," said Republican Tom Cotton. "This is unbelievable," said Collins. At one point, Democrats temporarily blocked GOP Sen. Susan Collins from speaking. "This is bull----," said Republican Tom Cotton. "This is unbelievable," said Collins. Insulting everyone: "This country was founded by geniuses but it's being run by a bunch of idiots," said Sen. John Neely Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican, from the Senate floor. The American people must be thinking that "the brain is an amazing organ," he added. "It starts working in a mother's womb and it doesn't stop working til you get elected to Congress." "This country was founded by geniuses but it's being run by a bunch of idiots," said Sen. John Neely Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican, from the Senate floor. The American people must be thinking that "the brain is an amazing organ," he added. "It starts working in a mother's womb and it doesn't stop working til you get elected to Congress." Mitch McConnell: "The markets are tanking once again, as I said, because this body cant get its act together, and the only reason it cant get its act together is right over here on the other side of the aisle," said the majority leader. "The markets are tanking once again, as I said, because this body cant get its act together, and the only reason it cant get its act together is right over here on the other side of the aisle," said the majority leader. Schumer: We Democrats are trying to get things done, not making partisan speech after partisan speech." (Read more Senate stories.) Lilium, a Munich, Germany-based air taxi maker, raised $240m in internal funding. The round, which brought total funding raised to date to more than $340m, was led by Tencent with participation from Atomico, Freigeist, and LGT. The company intends to use the funds for further development of the Lilium Jet as well as underpinning preparations for serial production in its newly-completed manufacturing facilities. Co-founded in 2015 by Daniel Wiegand (CEO), Sebastian Born, Matthias Meiner and Patrick Nathen, Lilium is an aviation company developing an emissions-free regional air mobility service. It has designed and prototyped the Lilium Jet, a brand-new type of aircraft that will deliver regional journeys with zero operating emissions. The demonstrator aircraft first flew in May 2019 and is a five-seater, fully-electric aircraft that can take-off and land vertically (eVTOL). As well as designing and manufacturing the Lilium Jet, the company plans to operate a regional air mobility service as early as 2025 in several regions around the world. Lilium currently employs more than 400 people. FinSMEs 23/03/2020 According to Lee University Great Strides officials, the 20th annual Great Strides Walk and 18th annual 65 Roses 5k will take place on Saturday, Sept. 12, on Lees campus. The event, originally scheduled to take place this Saturday, has been postponed due to the threat of COVID-19. The health and safety of our community is top priority, while we all work to address the concerns related to the coronavirus outbreak. said Leigh Ellington, executive director of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundations Tennessee chapter. We must all do our part to protect those more vulnerable at this time, including our CF Fighters. The cystic fibrosis community is strong and full of resolve, said Dr. Mike Hayes, vice president for student development at Lee and chair of the Cleveland Great Strides planning committee. Their determination to change the lives of their loved ones fighting this disease is unending, and we will continue to stand with them in that fight. The 65 Roses 5k and Great Strides Walk at Lee University is simply rescheduled for a later date. We plan to be back on campus with all of our students and excited to host the Great Strides teams and 65 Roses runners. According to Ms. Ellington, the fortitude of the cystic fibrosis community continues to be shown, even in this more challenging and uncertain time. Self-isolation and extensive infection prevention and control measures are nothing new for individuals and their families living with cystic fibrosis. These have always been keys to health and safety for them. With the rest of the world now joining them in these measures, the cystic fibrosis community will lead the way in showing how physical social distancing does not have to eliminate social connections or the ability to show support for one another at a time where it is needed more than ever. In place of the physical walk this Saturday, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundations East Tennessee chapter will host a virtual walk day experience through its social media channels. Great Strides participants are encouraged to post their own videos walking or running using #TNStillStrides and #GreatStrides to show their support for all fighting cystic fibrosis. While we look forward to having everyone together for the walk and run at Lee later this year, we could not let our original Great Strides walk day pass without taking a moment to gather as a community and to show all of our CF Fighters and their families that we are thinking of them and are still here to support and care for them, even in this most challenging time, said Ms. Ellington. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is a nonprofit donor-supported organization dedicated to attacking cystic fibrosis from every angle. Its focus is to support the development of new drugs to fight the disease, improve the quality of life for those with CF, and ultimately find a cure. In the last 30 years, the life expectancy of a child with CF has doubled, and research is happening daily to find a cure and develop drugs available to those living with CF. For more information about the Cleveland Great Strides or 65 Roses 5K, visit http://www.leeuniversity.edu/cf. For more information about the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, https://www.cff.org/. Lankford said he was also concerned about the bills impact on small businesses. He emphasized the need to fix problems with the first bill in subsequent legislation. Hern said he wanted to have more time for debate, calling the bill rushed. On that point, we disagree. Urgency and speed are necessary in this national emergency. We believe lawmakers can work at a fast pace and still fully consider issues. Inhofe, Lankford and Hern are clearly out of step with their colleagues and the president, but its hard to judge how they stand with their constituents. Weve heard from people on both sides who feel very strongly. Inhofe and Hern are likely to face voters in November, which will be the ultimate test. In the end, we agree with Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on this one. He said the bill has real shortcomings but we should (not) let perfection be the enemy of something that will help even a subset of workers. FEATURED VIDEO Subscribe to Daily Headlines Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. [March 23, 2020] Exchange Bank Supports Local Small Businesses with Online Seminar to Review Coronavirus Government Financial Resource Options Exchange Bank (OTC: EXSR) in partnership with Sonoma County Tourism, Sonoma County Vintners and Sonoma County Winegrowers is pleased to announce a 45-minute online seminar to review the government's Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loans and the financial resource options available to businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200323005077/en/ Joe Smith, SVP, Manager of Small Business Administration (Photo: Business Wire) Exchange Bank's SBA financial officers will present Understanding the Coronavirus Government Financial Resource Options for your Business through an online WebEx presentation designed to provide straightforward information about the government's newly announced SBA Disaster Loan program and other resources for businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the coronavirus. Attendees will learn what the SBA Disaster Loan program is, how loans are qualified and the steps to apply. An anonymous Q&A session will follow to allow business owners time to ask questions specific to their business situation. Exchange Bank presenters will include Joe Smith, SVP and manager of Small Business Administration, Tony Uribe, VP and Small Business Administration underwriting supervisor and Summer Jeffus, VP and regional business development officer. In an effort to accommodate as many registrants as possibe, the seminar will be presented three times. A recording of the presentation will be made available following the event. Dates and registration links: Wednesday, March 25 at 10am (PT) https://exchangebank.webex.com/exchangebank/onstage/g.php?MTID=ebf61ee6a6fc4d04e0f26e3429cd85bb5 Wednesday, March 25 at 2pm (PT) https://exchangebank.webex.com/exchangebank/onstage/g.php?MTID=e027022b56afe992f4817709056a7fe7e Thursday, March 26 at 2pm (PT) https://exchangebank.webex.com/exchangebank/onstage/g.php?MTID=e02529c06a38cd73b417950753451d4ea About Exchange Bank Headquartered in Sonoma County and founded in 1890, Exchange Bank is a premier community bank with assets of $2.6 billion. Exchange Bank provides a wide range of personal, commercial and trust and investment services with 18 branches in Sonoma County and a commercial and SBA lending office in Roseville and Marin, California. The Bank's legacy of financial leadership and community support is grounded in its core values of Commitment, Respect, Integrity and Teamwork. Exchange Bank is a 14-time winner of the North Bay Business Journal's (NBBJ) Best Places to Work survey, a recipient of the 2019 North Bay Community Philanthropy Award and the 2019 Healthiest Companies in the North Bay Award. NorthBay biz magazine named Exchange Bank the 2019 Best Consumer Bank and Gold Medal Winner for Best Business Bank. The North Bay Bohemian's Best of 2019 Readers Poll named Exchange Bank the Best Business Bank and Best Consumer Bank. Exchange Bank can also be found in the NBBJ's Book of Lists as a leading lender and wealth management advisor-claiming the #1 position in SBA 7(a) lending in Sonoma County for 2019. www.exchangebank.com. Member FDIC - Equal Housing Lender - Equal Opportunity Employer View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200323005077/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] What China does not seem to understand is that even if she wins a few IW battles, this will not help her to become a respected state Buses carrying members of a medical assistance team from Shenyang leave Shenyang Taoxian Airport upon their return home after helping with the COVID-19 coronavirus recovery effort in Wuhan, in Shenyang in China's northeastern Liaoning province on March 20, 2020. China on March 19 marked a major milestone in its battle against the coronavirus pandemic as it recorded zero domestic infections for the first time since the outbreak emerged, but a spike in imported cases threatened its progress. (AFP) As China seems to recover from the dreaded Covid19, Beijing has started a new battle, Information Warfare (IW) against the way the world perceives the Middle Kingdom today. It is true that after the outbreak of the virus towards the end of December (the virus had probably been around for several weeks already, but the authoritarian regime in Beijing preferred to hide the truth from its own people and the world), the Communist regime discovered that it does not have many friends on the planet. China has now decided to counterattack. Zhao Lijian, one of Chinas sharp shooters, was called upon to serve as spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Zhao, who served earlier as deputy chief of mission in Pakistan, is known for his vitriolic twitter attacks against Chinas critics. Referring to a statement by the director of the US Centres for Disease Control (CDC), Zhaos latest tweet alleged that the Americans are at the origin of the virus: CDC was caught on the spot. When did patient zero begin in US? How many people are infected? What are the names of the hospitals? It might be US army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan. Be transparent! Make public your data! US owes us an explanation! But the artillery fire does not come from a single sniper. Full-fledged IW began around the time that president Xi Jinping, accompanied by Wang Huning, the propaganda boss in the Politburos Standing Committee; Ding Xuexiang, director of the Partys General Office; and General Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, visited Wuhan. One of the first shots came from the Chinese Embassy in Australia, which emailed local journalists, accusing them of politicizing the Covid-19 by saying it originated in China without any supporting facts. Financial Review journalist Michael Smith received an email from the Chinese embassy in Canberra, complaining that he had called the Covid-19, China virus. Smith asserted that Beijing has pivoted its propaganda narrative, now insinuating that the virus originated in other countries. The symptoms of the Chinese aggressiveness were already seen on February 18, when Hou Yanqi, the Chinese ambassador to Nepal, issued a statement criticising an article published in the Nepali press: The Kathmandu Post published an article which, with a picture of malicious intention, deliberately smeared the efforts of the Chinese government and people fighting against the new Covid-19 pneumonia and even viciously attacked the political system of China. The lady ambassador went a step further. She accused the chief editor of The Kathmandu Post, Anup Kaphle, of being biased: [he] has always been biased on China-related issues. [he is] becoming a parrot of some anti-China forces. As a result, a group of 17 Nepali editors affiliated with various media houses in Kathmandu issued a statement criticising the embassy for threatening Kaphle: We would also like to remind the embassy that it breached diplomatic decorum in doing so. Hous attack on the press was part of a well-orchestrated campaign against any foreign media refusing to follow Beijings line. The Communist Party mouthpiece The Global Times was not left behind. An Op-Ed stated: Amid the raging Covid-19 epidemic, some Western countries have shown their true colors. The writer elaborated: Some Western media outlets have blamed China for the virus' going global and made a big deal out of China's delays during the outbreak's initial stage. Now that the novel Covid-19 crisis continues to unfold across the world, it's obvious to see which country's handling has been more efficient and effective. Origin of virus The media blitzkrieg brings a new narrative: The origin of the virus is unknown. It could have come from anywhere in the world. China has been a model in handling the sensitive issue. Beijing can now advise the world how to go about it. The strategys objective is to force the world to forget how and where the virus started or to find out if the first case originated in a Chinese Lab or elsewhere. Axios, the analysis website commented: Beijing's Covid-19 propaganda blitz goes global, before elaborating: As China begins to get its Covid-19 outbreak under control, authorities are going on the offensive to rewrite the narrative that the global epidemic is Beijing's fault. Axios spoke of China's formidable propaganda apparatus which can obscure the truth and change narratives abroad, just as it can at home. Bill Bishop, author of the Sinocism newsletter added: The CCP is masterful at rewriting history, and were watching them do it in real time. The Editor of Bitter Winter, an Italian website studying Chinas Human Rights, recounted: Some days ago, I opened my email and found a message from a Chinese colleague asking whether I was safe from the Italian virus. I had never heard the expression Italian virus with respect to COVID-19, but then learned that others had received similar messages, and that Japanese were being asked by Chinese friends whether they had been affected by the Japanese virus. He quoted from a report in La Croix International citing confidential instructions sent by Beijing to Chinese embassies: While the virus severely hit Wuhan, where it really originally came from is unknown. We are conducting new studies to locate the virus true origin. Embassies were asked to raise doubts in the public opinion, suggesting that perhaps the virus originally came to China from abroad. On February 26, Xinhua announced the release of a book, which detailed president Xi Jinpings outstanding leadership as a great power leader defeated the virus. The publication proved to the world the significant advantages of the Chinese system of leadership and socialism with Chinese characteristics, and showed how the centralized and unified leadership of the CCP Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core won the Great war against the virus. It was later withdrawn as the victory had been announced too early. After reading La Croix Internationals report, London-based sinologist Steve Tsang stated: the CCP always had a monopoly on truth and history in China, and now tries to deny that it originally hid the truth on the virus. CCP officers claim they are right even when it is obvious they are wrong. Another Op-Ed in The Global Times argued that all this was a symptom of Wests ideological crisis: The Western media's ignorance and bias of China's system have never appeared more obvious. For decades, the Western media have been trying to persuade their readers that Chinese people have no freedom or democracy, simply because China doesn't adopt the Western-style electoral system, while Beijing is pursuing a more substantial and efficient set of freedom designed to meet the needs of the people who most desire long-term peace, stability and development. That would be fine, but why such aggressiveness and often blatant distortion of the facts. What China does not seem to understand is that even if she wins a few IW battles, this will not help her to become a respected state. WCG FDANews The Road to a Pharmaceutical Quality System in the EU An FDAnews Management Report https://www.fdanews.com/products/category/101-books/product/59517-the-road-to-a-pharmaceutical-quality-system-in-the-eu Does ones quality management system comply with EU standards? In The Road to a Pharmaceutical Quality System in the EU, international quality management and auditing expert Stephanie Blum explains the EUs PQS requirements including ISO standards and ICH guidelines. She provides direction on how to build a system that will keep readers manufacturing operations compliant and in a state of control, including: The key elements of the PQS The roles that quality policy and quality planning play The responsibilities of management The regulatory requirements implemented in practice The significance of documentation for the PQS Whether or not a PQS documentation hierarchy (documentation pyramid) is necessary What GMP documentation a pharmaceutical company needs What a quality manual is and how to create it Why and how to carry out a management review How to define suitable key performance indicators What results a management review delivers and how it is evaluated Take control of operations build a PQS that implements a problem-solving approach at every level of the manufacturing operations. Management Report Details: The Road to a Pharmaceutical Quality System in the EU An FDAnews Management Report https://www.fdanews.com/products/category/101-books/product/59517-the-road-to-a-pharmaceutical-quality-system-in-the-eu Management Report PDF: $100 Easy Ways to Order: Online: https://www.fdanews.com/products/category/101-books/product/59517-the-road-to-a-pharmaceutical-quality-system-in-the-eu By phone: 888.838.5578 or 703.538.7600 About FDAnews: FDAnews is the premier provider of domestic and international regulatory, legislative, and business news and information for executives in industries regulated by the US FDA and the European Medicines Agency. Pharmaceutical and medical device professionals rely on FDAnews' print and electronic newsletters, books and conferences to stay in compliance with international standards and the FDA's complex and ever-changing regulations Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The global solar pumps market is expected to reach USD 3,639.0 million by 2022, according to a new study by Grand View Research, Inc. Strong shift in trend towards replacing diesel and electric pumps in order to reduce reliance on conventional energy is expected to drive the global solar pumps market. Increasing government support in the form of subsidies and tax benefits particularly in emerging markets of Asia Pacific and Africa is also expected to have a positive influence on the market growth over the forecast period. However, higher upfront investment cost compared to its conventional counterparts is expected to remain a barrier for market participants. DC surface suction pump was the largest product segment and accounted for 83.4% of the total market volume in 2014. Increasing micro-irrigation activities coupled with continuous & clean drinking water supply in remote places with irregular electric supply is expected to drive this segment over the forecast period. AC submersible pump is expected to witness the highest growth of 40.7% from 2015 to 2022. Increasing adoption of AC submersible pumps particularly in high growth markets such as India and Bangladesh is expected to drive this segment over the next seven years. To request a sample copy or view summary of this report, click the link below: http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/solar-pumps-market Further key findings from the study suggest: Global solar pumps market was 120,786 units in 2014 and is expected to reach 1,571,028 units by 2022, growing at a CAGR of 38.1% from 2015 to 2022. Agriculture was the largest application segment and accounted for 62.9% of total market volume in 2014. Agriculture is also expected to witness the fastest growth of 38.5% from 2015 to 2022. Increasing agricultural activities in emerging markets such as India, China, Bangladesh, Morocco and South Africa is expected to drive this segment over the forecast period. Asia Pacific emerged as the largest regional market and accounted for 33.0% of total market volume in 2014. Asia Pacific is also expected to be the fastest growing regional market for solar pumps. The region is expected to grow at a CAGR of 43.4% from 2015 to 2022. Government support to the farmers in the form of subsidies particularly in China, India and Bangladesh is expected to drive the regional market over the forecast period. Middle East & African solar pumps market is expected to exceed USD 600 million by 2022. Global solar pumps market is characterized by a mix of both large MNCs and small regional companies. Some major companies operating in the global market include Lorentz, TATA Power Solar Systems Ltd, SunEdison, CRI Group, Bright Solar, USL and Shakti Solar Pumping System. Grand View Research has segmented the solar pumps market on the basis of product, application and region: Global Solar Pumps Product Outlook (Volume, Units; Revenue, USD Million, 2012 - 2022) DC Suction AC Submersible DC Submersible AC Floating Global Solar Pumps Application Outlook (Volume, Units; Revenue, USD Million, 2012 - 2022) Agriculture Drinking Water Global Solar Pumps Regional Outlook (Volume, Units; Revenue, USD Million, 2012 - 2022) North America US. Europe Asia Pacific China India Central & South America Middle East & Africa About Grand View Research Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare. Coronavirus confines one billion to homes, death toll passes 13,000 globally Iran Press TV Sunday, 22 March 2020 8:13 AM Cases of infection with the new coronavirus continue to surge throughout the world, and restrictions put in place by governments to contain the pandemic have confined one billion people to their homes in different countries. The following are the latest on the coronavirus epidemic around the globe. As many as 300,000 infections have been confirmed across the globe while the number of worldwide fatalities has exceeded 13,000. Italy, the world's hardest hit country, recorded a jump in its death tally from the viral infection on Saturday. Fatalities jumped by 793 to 4,825 in the largest one-day rise since the contagion emerged in Italy a month ago. Confirmed cases of infection also rose to 53,578 from 47,021, the Civil Protection Agency said Sunday. Cuban doctors, nurses rush to help fight virus in Italy Italy requested Cuba to send a brigade of doctors and nurses to its worst-hit northern region of Lombardy, which, according to health officials, remains in a critical condition with 3,095 deaths and 25,515 cases. Cuba sent a team of 36 doctors, 15 nurses, and a logistic expert to the country on Saturday night. Cuban doctors hold an image of the late revolutionary leader and president Fidel Castro during a farewell ceremony before departing to Italy, in the capital, Havana, on March 21, 2020. (Photo by Reuters) Cuba has already sent "armies of white robes" in recent days to combat the spread of the virus to several countries, including Venezuela, Nicaragua, Jamaica, Suriname, and Grenada. But this was the first time Cuba was sending an emergency contingent to a European country. Cuban doctors were in the front lines in the fight against cholera in Haiti and against the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in the 2010s. The country has 8.2 doctors for every 1,000 people, one of the highest rates in world, according to the World Bank. Russia sending military medics to Italy The Russian army is also sending medical help to Italy on Sunday, after receiving an order from President Vladimir Putin, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. The ministry said military transport planes would deliver eight mobile brigades of military medics, special disinfection vehicles, and other medical equipment to Italy. Putin offered his support and help to Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte during a phone call on Saturday, the Kremlin said. Russia itself has reported one death and 306 infections, most of them in Moscow. Spain: Worst yet to come The coronavirus death toll in Spain, meanwhile, reached 1,326 on Saturday, from 1,002 the day before, and the number of infected people rose to 24,926, from 19,980. The Spanish government, however, warned that "the worst is yet to come," but promised to do whatever was needed to combat the epidemic. A total of 5,000 people have so far died of the infection across Europe, with Italy, Spain, and Germany reporting steep rises in both infections and deaths. UK predicts jump in numbers In the United Kingdom, a total of 5,018 have been infected with the virus, while 233 patients have succumbed to the disease. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned that Britain's National Health Service could be "overwhelmed" by the virus like Italy's health system in just two weeks. "The numbers are very stark, and they are accelerating. We are only a matter of weeks two or three behind Italy," he said. Increase in US cases as widespread shutdowns enforced In America, 26,900 people have tested positive and 348 people have died of the novel coronavirus. Almost 1 in 4 Americans were obliged to close up shop and stay at home on Saturday. Meanwhile, Republican and Democratic leaders are still working on reaching a deal to pump over $1 trillion into the economy on top of the hundreds of billions of dollars in fiscal and monetary stimulus that have already been used to support the world's largest economy. China sees rise in imported cases China, where the virus first emerged in December last year, said the imported cases of the disease continued to rise. The National Health Commission reported 46 new cases of coronavirus on Sunday. China has drastically reduced the number of locally transmitted cases. After four consecutive days of zero such cases, health officials reported the first local transmission on Saturday. The latest figures bring mainland China's total cases to 81,054, with 3,261 deaths, including six on Saturday. The central province of Hubei, where the outbreak first emerged, reported its fourth straight day of no new cases. North Korea says Trump offered help North Korea said on Saturday that the US had offered cooperation in the country's fight against the pandemic. US President Trump "expressed his intent to render cooperation in the anti-epidemic work, saying that he was impressed by the efforts made by the Chairman to defend his people from the serious threat of the epidemic," the North's official news agency, KCNA, said, referring to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. It did not say when the letter had been received. A senior US administration official confirmed Trump had sent a letter to Kim and offered help. The official said Trump looked forward to continuing communications with the North Korean leader. Pyongyang, which has not reported any cases of the infection, welcomed the offer, saying it was a sign of "the special and very firm personal relations" between Kim and Trump, according to KCNA. Trump has attempted to build a relationship with Kim but has refused to lift any sanctions on North Korea. Negotiations between the two countries on demilitarization have snagged. Two dead in Sri Lanka jail clash over coronavirus restrictions Two prisoners in Sri Lanka's Anuradhapura prison were killed and six others injured after fighting broke out over restrictions to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus to the facility on Saturday. Clashes erupted between prison guards and prisoners when the inmates began to complain about a ban on visitors. Some inmates attempted to escape amid the clashes. Police said on Sunday that the guards had opened fire to prevent the prisoners from fleeing. Sri Lanka imposed a three-day countrywide curfew on Friday. The number of infections in the country stands at 77. Sri Lanka's prisons are overcrowded, sometimes reportedly housing 5,000 inmates in a facility capable of holding only 800. India launches 24-hour curfew The fast-spreading coronavirus prompted India to launch a 14-hour curfew on Sunday, in a crucial test of its abilities to fight the pandemic. India has reported 315 infections so far. Malaysia traces worshipers, deploys army to enforce ban on movements Malaysia says authorities are tracing thousands of worshipers who attended a four-day mass religious event at a mosque near the capital, Kuala Lumpur, at the end of last month. The government said the religious event was connected to 60 percent of all the 1,183 cases in the country. Officials said on Thursday that they had yet to trace 4,000 of the 14,500 Malaysian residents who attended the mosque. Police officers wearing protective masks stand guard outside National Mosque, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on March 20, 2020. (Photo by Reuters) The government has also enforced a two-week ban on travel and movements, starting on Wednesday. It said army force would be deployed to help police enforce the ban. Malaysia has the highest number of infections in Southeast Asia, which has a total of more than 3,000 cases. Indonesia reports more deaths The Indonesian Health Ministry on Sunday updated the new number of coronavirus infections and deaths in the country to 64 and 10 respectively, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 514 and the fatality count to 48. Death toll exceeds 1,680 in Iran Iranian Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said on Sunday that 1,028 new coronavirus cases had been diagnosed within the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of infected individuals to 21,638. "With 129 new deaths in the past 24 hours, the death toll from the virus has reached 1,685," he said. Jahanpour further put the number of patients who have recovered from the viral disease at 7,913. Jordan deploys troops, armored vehicles amid curfew In the Middle East, Jordan started a nationwide curfew "until further notice" on Saturday, warning its 10 million citizens to stay indoors. "Anyone going outside will be subjecting themselves to punishment," Justice Minister Bassam Talhouni told Jordan's al-Mamlaka news channel. Thousands of soldiers and armored vehicles have been deployed inside cities and on main highways across the country, according to witnesses. Jordan has closed land and sea border crossings with Syria, Iraq, and Egypt, and suspended all incoming and outgoing flights since Tuesday. Coronavirus cases in Jordan have risen to 99, including 15 new cases identified on Saturday. Kuwait orders partial curfew Meanwhile, Kuwait has ordered a partial curfew starting Sunday evening till early Monday morning. The decision was made due to "some manifestations of non-compliance with precautionary measures," Deputy Prime Minister Anas al-Saleh said. Those who violate the curfew could face up to three years in jail or fines of up to 32,157 dollars. The Kuwait National Guard will aid police in imposing the curfew. The Persian Gulf country has reported 176 cases of infection. Kuwait has taken some of the most drastic steps in the region, including the closure of schools and universities until August. Coronavirus spreading in Africa The coronavirus continues to spread across Africa, with more than 1,000 confirmed cases across the continent so far, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Eritrea and Uganda reported their first cases on Sunday, while Mauritius confirmed its first death, with 14 cases of infection so far. South Africa, which has the most cases in sub-Saharan Africa, reported a total of 240 infections on Saturday. Health experts have been concerned that Africa will not be able to handle a surge in cases due to the lack of medical facilities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Health care workers around the world are asking for help. What do you want? PPE. When do you need it? Now. Theyre in desperate need of more PPE, also known as personal protective equipment. Stocks of the critical gear are disappearing during the coronavirus pandemic. Doctors say they are rationing gloves, reusing masks and raiding hardware stores. The C.D.C. has even said that scarves or bandannas can be used as protection as a last resort. Ive met the doctors, and talked with them every day. I think theres an interesting challenge here in that, currently, theres such a need that if they had anything, they would deploy it. The cries for help are mobilizing a wide range of innovators, some of them even joining forces through online messaging platforms like Slack. These are engineers, doctors and even high school students from around the world. They come from all walks of life, but say their goal is the same. Its amazing because no ones asking which country are you from? Theyre just like, how can I help? What do you need? Theyre pitching in by crowdsourcing designs for masks, face shields and even ventilators that could be reproduced around the world. This is Nick Moser. Hes an active player in one of the maker groups. His day job is at a design studio. Now, hes designing replicable face masks. Were focused on three products: a face shield, a cloth mask and an alternative to N95-rated respirators. The face shield is the first line of defense for medical workers. It protects against droplets. If a patient coughs, itll hit the face shield rather than them. Some designs are produced using 3-D printers or laser cutters. There you go. Then, the prototypes are field-tested by health care workers. Even some university labs are experimenting with DIY techniques. A group at Georgia Tech is working with open-source designs from the internet to develop products. My lab works in the area of frugal science, and we build low-cost tools for resource-limited areas. And now, weve realized that I dont have to go that far. Its in our backyard, right? We need it now. So this is a plastic sheet I have not too different from what you would get out from a 2-liter Coke or a soda bottle. I actually bought this from an art store. Its just sheets of PET, so we can cut these out. We are calling this an origami face shield, and its the Level 1 protection. This is one idea. There are multiple different prototypes. This headband can be reused, and a doctor or nurse could just basically tear this off and basically snap another one on. Were hearing that, in some cases, that they go through close to 2,000 of these a day. Because the need is growing so rapidly, the makers are also thinking about how to increase their production. So how do we get from this one that someone made at home on a laser cutter or a 3-D printer, and then get it in the hands of thousands of doctors and front-line workers? Theyre working with mass manufacturers that can take their tested designs, and replicate them at a larger scale. Weve been on the phone talking to a number of suppliers, material suppliers. So I think one of the neat things that weve done is not only the design, proving that you can make it rapidly, but then also trying to secure the entire supply chains. This is Dr. Susan Gunn, whose hospital system in New Orleans has even started its own initiative to 3-D print equipment. So it starts with an idea. We put the idea into place. And then we make sure that its professional-grade first. Infection control is looking at it, and were making sure that were using the correct materials that would be approved by the C.D.C. and the World Health Organization. Dr. Gunn says the gear is a safe alternative for those who might otherwise face a shortage. Were creating face shields and were creating these different PPEs, and were putting them in the hands where people felt like they needed them. Another critical piece of equipment is the N95 mask, and the supply is dwindling fast. Nick and his team are designing a robust alternative for this mask that can hold any filter material, and be mass produced. It is easily printable. This one is used in medical situations where theres an actively infectious patient. So nursing homes or obviously I.C.U. units would be the target to receive these. These are really hard objects to manufacture because youre going to give it to a nurse, and then I want to be really confident that it will not let a virus through, right? This equipment is not approved by federal agencies, but the designers are testing their respirator prototypes for safety. That was basically the first, almost the first question that was asked. Can we do anything thats actually going to be safe and helpful? Some makers are pursuing even more ambitious projects. An engineer named Stephen Robinson in New Haven, Conn., is working on designing ventilators to help patients breathe. Countries are facing a dire shortage of the lifesaving machines. Right now, these DIY ventilators are still prototypes. So really, this should be thought of as the seed of an idea that could potentially be grown with, and absolutely requiring, the medical and the tech communities. But they could become key if critical supplies run out. Were in very uncertain times, and I see explorations and projects as kind of an insurance policy that could potentially be leaned on if there was extreme circumstances. Health care workers are hopeful that these efforts could prevent an even worse outcome. We dont want anybody lets be clear to use a bandanna to protect themselves. I hope it never gets to the point where we have to wear a bandanna. And I dont think, with this initiative that we will get there. For innovators like Saad, the challenge is personal. I just cant stop. I have to do stuff. And then Im currently at a hospital. Thats why I have this uplifting little flower portrait. Were expecting a baby boy, and what do we tell him when he grows up about what we did when society needed us? Champaign, IL (61820) Today Some early morning breaks in the overcast, otherwise cloudy. High 42F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 26F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. As we head into the home stretch of Homelands final season, viewers find Americas national security adviser in rare agreement with the leader of the Taliban and top ISI officials in Pakistan. In brief, the forever enemies collectively want the decades-long war to end. You couldnt even say that a few episodes back, when an ISI-launched missile just missed taking out Haqqani (Numan Acar) and left NSA Saul Berenson (Mandy Patinkin) holding the bag. But now the three leaders even the defiant ISI command realize they have no other choice. But the matter of two dead presidents complicates things (as is to be expected). And its unclear whether the belligerent new Afghani leader or the uncertain U.S. commander-in-chief should make everyone worry more. While these tensions inform every movement of the countries political leaders, Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) embarks upon an old-fashioned manhunt in F*cker Shot Me, the seventh episode of Homeland season 8. Carrie gets the help she needs from Yevgeny Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison in HOMELAND, F*cker Shot Me | Sifeddine Elamine/SHOWTIME. To this point in season 8, the most baffling part of Homeland has been the tendency of Yevgeny (Costa Ronin) to consider Carrie an ally. It defies everything we saw in season 7 (when he imprisoned her and denied Carrie her medication) and continues to defy logic in the shows present. Weve gotten clues, of course. Along with some flashbacks to her imprisonment, Yevgeny has revealed that Carrie shared her most personal secrets with him. (He says he saved her life in Russia.) Meanwhile, U.S. intelligence (Saul included) believe Yevgeny has compromised Carrie. Nonetheless, Carrie has turned to Yevgeny when she needed help the most. And shes needed plenty trying to track down Max (Maury Sterling). After her daring two-minute gambit in the previous episode, Carrie officially went rogue when she hopped in Yevgenys car at the airport. But her instincts proved to be correct. Using his superior contacts in Pakistans tribal regions, Yevgeny brought Carrie to Max. However, that discovery didnt guarantee Maxs safety. President Hayes seems primed to make matters worse Sam Trammell as President Benjamin Hayes in HOMELAND, F*cker Shot Me | Sifeddine Elamine/SHOWTIME. From his first appearance in Homeland, then-vice president Hayes (Sam Trammell) looked inept, disloyal, or possibly both. After asking his new chief of staff to make a crucial decision for him, President Hayes heads into the home stretch of Homeland looking like a sucker. Early in F*cker Shot Me, viewers see COS David Wellington (Linus Roache) and Saul huddling together on a video call without Hayes. Theyre doing their best to calm the situation in Kabul without involving the president himself. Yet every time Hayes speaks with Gulam the situation starts to deteriorate. Saul, pleading with the father-daughter ISI team, frames it in a way everyone can understand. And he starts by noting how an inexperienced president came to power following an assassination. And how it could get worse. The American people were demanding action, Saul tells them. We know what happens next; weve been here before. How does a weak president show hes strong? The answer is war, of course. As for Carrie, she appears ready to start one of her own to free Max from Haqqanis son. And in the cliffhanger ending she has her gun drawn and Yevgeny trying to hold her back. Also see: Spy Wars With Damian Lewis Series Arrives on the Smithsonian Channel Nigeria is doing poorly in agricultural research despite the countrys high poverty level and and food insufficiency, the Senate president, Ahmad Lawan, has said. The senate president said this on Thursday as the Senate considered a bill that seeks to amend the Agricultural Research and Development. I want to say that we are doing very poorly in the area of agricultural research and development, he said. It is a very bad commentary that our farmers have to still dry tomatoes and peppers, which is open sort of drying. They put them along roads, or sometimes just sweep hard surfaces. It is not acceptable, ware not making serious progress, Mr Lawan said. Nigeria budgeted N183.08 billion for agriculture in 2020. The amount is only 1.73% of the total annual budget of N10.608 trillion. Nigeria has some 23 agricultural research institutes, most of them specialised. The senate president said given the number of specialised agricultural institutes in the country, Nigerian farmers should have more access to simple technologies that make farming easy. We should at least have very simple technology that can help our people. We dont have to go for something very big, that our farmers can use to enhance their performance, he said. READ ALSO: Mr Lawan emphasised that agricultural sector has to be funded well so as to improve productivity and performance. We need to fund the agricultural sector, especially those institutions that will improve our performance as a country, he said. Abdullahi Adamu (APC Nasarawa West), who sponsored the Bill for an Act to amend the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, said the proposed legislation would provide comprehensive guide for National Agricultural Research Programmes and Project Management. According to the lawmaker, despite agriculture contributing 21% to Nigerias Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the agricultural sector operates below its potential because research institutes are not coordinated and strengthened. The agricultural sector currently employs a significant portion of the Labour force, and contributes about 21% to Nigerias Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Ironically, in spite of this, agricultural resource and technical endowment as well as interventions by successive administrations, Nigerian agricultural sector has been operating far below its potential because the research institutes or centers are not well coordinated and strengthened, Mr Adamu said. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) on March 23 said it is taking a steadfdast approach to combat the coronavirus outbreak in the country. "RIL has deployed the combined strengths of Reliance Foundation, Reliance Retail, Jio, Reliance Life Sciences, Reliance Industries, and all the 6,00,000 members of the Reliance Family on this action plan against COVID-19," the company said in a statement. Drawing strength from its presence in varied sectors, RIL is looking to ensure that all its subsidiaries pull out all stops to support the government in its efforts to contain the deadly coronavirus outbreak. It has undertaken many steps as part of its multi-pronged prevention, mitigation, and ongoing support strategy. In collaboration with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital has set up a dedicated 100-bed centre at Seven Hills Hospital, Mumbai, for patients who test positive for COVID-19. The facility, fully funded by the Reliance Foundation, includes a negative pressure room that helps in preventing cross-contamination and helps control infection. Track this blog for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show The hospital has also offered to set up special medical facilities to quarantine travellers from notified countries and suspected cases identified through contact tracing. RIL has built a fully-equipped isolation facility in Lodhivali, Maharashtra, and handed it over to the district authorities while Reliance Life Sciences is importing additional test kits and consumables for effective testing. The company has also announced an initial support of Rs 5 crore to Maharashtra Chief Minister's Relief Fund. "RIL is enhancing its production capacities to produce 100,000 face-masks per day and a large number of personal protective equipment (PPEs), such as suits and garments, for the nations health-workers to equip them further to fight the coronavirus challenge," it said. In partnership with non-governmental organisations (NGOs), Reliance Foundation will provide free meals to people across various cities to offer necessary livelihood relief in the current crisis. On the other hand, RIL's telecom arm, Reliance Jio, has introduced the #CoronaHaaregaIndiaJeetega initiative aimed at enabling Indians "to stay safe while staying connected and productive, allowing for remote working, remote learning, remote engagement and remote care". "Jio is combining its digital capabilities with Microsoft Teams, the unified communication and collaboration hub for teamwork in Office 365, to enable individuals, students, educational and healthcare institutions to continue their professional lives while still practicing social distancing," the company noted in its statement. Other initiatives by Jio include a 'Symptom Checker' to enable users to check symptoms at home to prevent unnecessary pressure on the medical system, tools to enable 'Learn From Home" for students and 'Work From Home' for working professionals. Jio will also provide Basic JioFiber broadband connectivity (10 Mbps), wherever it is geographically feasible, without any service charges, for this period. it will also provide home gateway routers with a minimum refundable deposit. Meanwhile, for all existing JioFiber subscribers, the telco will provide double data across all plans. Emergency Service vehicles will be able to avail free fuel being offered by Reliance, while all736 grocery stores of Reliance Retail across the country will ensure sufficient supply of essentials, including staples, fruits and vegetables, bread, breakfast cereals and other items of daily use, so that citizens need not stock up. To ensure that all employees of the company are safe and protected through the ongoing crisis, RIL will continue to pay contract and temporary workers, even if work has halted due to this crisis. For those earning below Rs 30,000 per month, salaries will be paid twice a month to protect their cash flow and mitigate any overwhelming financial burden. The company has moved most of its employees to its Work-From-Home platform except for those who are manning critical roles in maintaining the Jio network for nearly 40 crore customers and for providing an uninterrupted supply of fuel, grocery and other essential items of daily consumption. : Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd) Turkey's Turkic world ambitions face reality check in Kazakhstan Teacher in Baku beats student NEWS.am daily digest: 12.01.22 OSCE Chairman-in-Office speaks on situation along Armenia-Azerbaijan border Iran cancels travel ban on common borders CSTO defense ministers council special session to be held Thursday Dollar loses value in Armenia Which NGOs, extra-parliamentary forces to be included in Armenia Constitutional Reform Council? 4,391 foreign nationals visit Artsakh in 2021 China calls on US to immediately close Guantanamo prison State Department says more progress must be made to salvage nuclear deal Measure ensuring implementation of law on addendum to law on Armenia state border is approved Davit Minasyan is sworn in as new mayor of Armenias Parakar enlarged community World Bank: Armenia economic growth expected to be 4.8% in 2022 and 5.4% in 2023 Azerbaijani Defense Minister receives new commander of Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh Biden names Kamala Harris as US president during Atlanta speech Ombudsman: Azerbaijan is launching provocations in Armenia territories where it earlier invaded Russia-NATO Council meeting kicks off in Brussels Serdar Kilic is appointed Turkey special representative for Armenia Armenia ambassador to Georgia informs Switzerland envoy about Azerbaijan's gross ceasefire violation Economy minister: Armenia government was guided by political considerations when lifting sanctions on Turkey goods Turkey defense minister expresses support for Azerbaijan in another military aggression against Armenia Pashinyan, Putin discuss Karabakh, Kazakhstan Toivo Klaar: Deeply worried by reports of renewed incidents and casualties on Armenia-Azerbaijan Germany: A record 80,430 COVID-19 cases detected per day 3 more persons die of coronavirus in Artsakh Criminal case launched into 3 Armenia soldiers killing by Azerbaijan shootings Copper rises in price One of main tasks of Armenia peacekeepers in Kazakhstans Almaty is to prevent water supply system poisoning About 80 Americans cannot fly from Afghanistan Turkey parliament ex-deputy speaker: Armenia must fulfill 4 preconditions Border situation in Armenias Gegharkunik Province was calm at night French FM says talks on Iranian nuclear deal are progressing slowly 289 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Gold slightly rises in price North Korea says it successfully tested another hypersonic missile OSCE calls on Azerbaijan, Armenia to refrain from the use of force Oil is trading without a single dynamic US State Department welcomes announcement on CSTO forces withdrawal from Kazakhstan Newspaper: Ex-ministers are summoned to Hayastan All Armenian Fund parliamentary inquiry committee MOD: Armenia soldiers dead body found at midnight after Azerbaijan provocation Newspaper: Casualties of Armenia PM Pashinyan's 'era of peace' US concerned about EastMed natural gas pipeline project Giant fish sold at auction for over 16 million yen German Marshall Fund: It Is not too early to think about political change in Turkey Armenian Foreign Ministry: We call on Azerbaijani authorities to refrain from provocations Armenia's Geghamasar community head: The situation is stable now Queen Elizabeth II's favorite fast food revealed Human Rights Defender: Azerbaijani troops open fire on Armenian sovereign territory World Economic Forum: Cybersecurity and space pose new risks to the global economy Defense Ministry confirms Armenian side has 2 victims Satanovsky on sending Armenian servicemen to Kazakhstan Unofficial data: 2 servicemen killed as a result of Azerbaijan provocation CSTO and Kazakh Defense Ministry developing plan WHO thinks it's too early to consider COVID-19 pandemic European Commission to require Poland to pay fine of nearly EUR 70 million White House announces $308 million humanitarian aid for Afghanistan Erdogan angry at minister after efforts to strengthen lira failed Armenian FM has phone call with US Assistant Secretary of State India imposes one-week quarantine even for vaccinated tourists Armenian ex-president expresses condolences on poet Razmik Davoyan's death Traction Programme to showcase 8 startups during the Digital Demo Day Azerbaijan uses artillery and UAVs, 3 Armenian soldiers wounded NEWS.am daily digest: 11.01.22 Austrian Chancellor confirms plan for mandatory COVID-19 vaccination in February Armen Sarkissian and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev discuss situation in Kazakhstan Gulf, Iran and Turkey FMs to visit China 20 pregnant women with COVID-19 die in Azerbaijan in year Armenia hands over wanted US citizen to United States Economy ministry: Organizing of accommodation and public catering increased by 61.1% in Armenia Armenia parliament speaker expresses condolences on European Parliament President death Azerbaijan opens fire toward Armenia village sector, one soldier wounded Shoigu: CSTO peacekeepers deployed in Kazakhstan thanks to Syrian and Karabakh experience Azerbaijan official pledges to remove Armenian toponyms from Google Maps UN offers two plans to help Afghans totaling $ 5 billion in 2022 Armenia attorney general travels to Moscow on working visit Azerbaijan MOD blames Armenian side for soldiers death Dollar drops in Armenia Shirak Province captives families hold protest outside Armenia government building Rolls-Royce sales rise to record high in 2021 Ombudsman: Azerbaijanis directed gun at Armenia residents car in which his wife, 3-year-old child were ANCA urges President Biden and Congress to hold Azerbaijan and Turkey accountable for war crimes Serbia's Orthodox Patriarch tests positive for COVID-19 Brothers, sisters of 2020 Artsakh war military casualties to get compensation in lieu of their deceased parents Turkish authorities sanction arrest of 33 suspected FETO ties Copper rises in price Erdogan's spokesman, Biden's adviser discuss Armenian-Turkish relations Armenia deputy defense minister: No one can rule out border tension at any moment New commander elected of Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia official: Those 100 soldiers absence will not assume any change in terms of border tension Millionaire Robert Durst dies aged 78 Reuters: Over 1.13 million cases of COVID-19 detected in US per day Great Armenian poet Razmik Davoyan dies 2 new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh Deputy PM Matevosyan: About 1,190 subvention programs implemented in Armenia from 2018 to 2021 243 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia MP: It would be right to put pressure on Azerbaijanis to remove their firing positions Oil is getting more expensive Nearly 10,000 people detained in Kazakhstan in connection with riots Tokayev: CSTO peacekeepers will pull out from Kazakhstan within 10 days Advertisement Italian engineers are making ventilators out of diving masks and fitting them with 3D-printed respiratory valves in an inventive plan to keep hospitals supplied at the height of the coronavirus crisis. A Brescia-based startup firm has offered the contraptions for free to local hospitals in the region of Lombardy which is at the centre of Europe's worst virus outbreak. The crucial part of the equipment is the 3D-printed 'Venturi valve', a device named after 18th-century physicist Giovanni Battista Venturi which connects the mask to an oxygen tube. The company is gearing up to make 100 of the chess piece-like valves per day and hand them out to medics who are trying to bring the crisis under control. Engineer Alessandro Romaioli wears a diving mask which has been modified with a respiratory valve - meaning it can be used as a respiratory mask to help coronavirus patients Italian engineer Romaioli demonstrates the mask in Brescia today. The valve is 3D-printed and attached to the tube and mask to make a ventilator for Italian hospitals which are running short Four of the respiratory valves are displayed in Brescia today. The so-called 'Venturi valve is named after 18th-century physicist Giovanni Battista Venturi and connects the mask to an oxygen tube Cristian Fracassi, the founder of the startup firm Isinnova, offered his company's services after hearing about the valve shortage by word of mouth. 'We were told the hospital was desperately looking for more valves. They're called Venturi valves and are impossible to find at the moment, production can't keep up with demand,' said Fracassi, 36. The valves connect oxygen masks to respirators used by coronavirus patients suffering from respiratory complication. Respiratory problems are among the most severe symptoms of Covid-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus which has killed more than 5,400 people in Italy. But some patients have had to be treated in makeshift hospital conditions as virus cases pile up, prompting a desperate appeal for more equipment. Pictured left: CEO Cristian Fracassi and engineer Alessandro Romaioli pose for a photo while delivering valves to a hospital in Chiari; right: a 3D printer producing some of the valves at the company's base in Brescia A view of the respiratory valves on a table. The company can make 100 of them per day and is offering them for free to a local hospital in Chiari, a town in the hard-hit province of Lombardy Pictured left: Engineer and CEO Cristian Fracassi displays the diving mask in Brescia today after it was modified with a respiratory valve. A close-up view of the 3D-printed valve is shown right The local hospital to Fracassi's firm is in Chiari, near Brescia, a prosperous northern city now in the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak. Fracassi and his team were able to replicate the valves using a 3D printer at Isinnova's headquarters in Brescia. 'When we heard about the shortage, we got in touch with the hospital immediately. We printed some prototypes, the hospital tested them and told us they worked,' Fracassi said. 'So we printed 100 valves and I delivered them personally.' Although specialist masks and ventilators are in short supply, engineers hope to combine the valves with more plentiful equipment such as snorkelling gear and gas masks. Engineer Alessandro Romaioli (left) displays one of the diving masks modified with a respiratory valve which a company in Brescia is supplying for free to local hospitals Fracassi said he did not meet a single car as he drove through the streets, an eerie sensation caused by the transport ban in place. At least 10 patients were using equipment containing the valves by the evening. He said it cost next to nothing to produce the valves, which weigh around 0.7 ounces (20 grams) each and are made of plastic. 'I'm not going to charge the hospital ... It was the least I could do to help doctors and nurses who work all day long to save human lives,' he said. The companys usual products range from hi-tech luggage for fashion brand Gucci to a special paint it is currently developing to survive temperatures of 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit (1,000C). SoftBank Group Corp. Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son speaks during a press conference on May 9, 2018 in Tokyo, Japan. Tomohiro Ohsumi | Getty Images About 10 years ago, SoftBank released a slideshow presentation on the company's 300-year plan. "Unknown virus" got one reference, on slide 69 of 133. Perhaps coronavirus will just be a blip in the company's long-term plan for world domination. Perhaps SoftBank's vision of investing in artificial intelligence and other dominant technology companies will pay off in the long run, just as billionaire CEO Masayoshi Son envisioned when he kicked off the Vision Fund, the unprecedented $100 billion private equity fund that has invested in about 90 companies over the past three years. But Monday's news that SoftBank is planning to sell up to $41 billion in assets to shore up its balance sheets through a combination of stock and bond buybacks, debt redemptions and cash on hand should be concerning news for investors. While SoftBank shares jumped 19 percent on the news, the company is selling into a market downturn and acknowledging a need to restore a cash balance -- two signs of weakness. Before Monday, SoftBank shares traded at a 73% discount to aggregate value of its owned assets, the largest discount in the company's history. "This program will be the largest share buyback and will result in the largest increase in cash balance in the history of SBG, reflecting the firm and unwavering confidence we have in our business," Son said in a statement. "This will allow us to strengthen our balance sheet while significantly reducing debt. Moreover, the monetization of assets represents less than 20 percent of the company's current asset value." Some of the assets SoftBank could sell are part of its 26% stake in Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba, worth about $130 billion; publicly traded stakes in Uber, Guardant Health and Sprint (which is in the process of merging with T-Mobile); and SoftBank Corp. (separate from SoftBank Group), which has majority ownership of Yahoo Japan. A SoftBank spokesperson declined to comment on which assets will be sold. Still, it's not ideal to sell while asset values are falling to secure cash for investments made near the market's top. The main problem for SoftBank is its ambitious Vision Fund, which has posted back-to-back quarterly losses in operating profit, wiping out the company's overall profit in both quarters. The big risks: Ride-sharing, WeWork SoftBank was once a simple Japanese telecommunications company, providing wireless service to Japanese customers as a relatively small upstart against larger competitors NTT Docomo and KDDI. But Son has expanded his empire in the past couple of decades, acquiring more than 80 percent of Sprint and subsequently merging it with T-Mobile, buying semiconductor company ARM for $32 billion in 2016, discussing a potential acquisition of U.S. cable company Charter, and investing more than $15 billion on WeWork and Uber. In the process, SoftBank has become a technology and telecom holding company. Many of its largest bets -- ARM, Uber, WeWork, Didi Chuxing -- are housed (at least in part) within the Vision Fund, which gets some of its funding from outside investors such as Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and Abu Dhabi state fund Mubadala Investment Co. SoftBank's primary need for cash stems from owning large stakes in dozens of private companies that likely won't have an exit plan in the public markets for the perceivable future. The Vision Fund owns large stakes in cash-guzzling ride-share companies such as Didi, Grab, and Ola, which are all still private and will all need exit strategies, either through going public or selling. Coronavirus quarantines are already severely impacting ride-sharing companies as consumers stay home. Uber shares are down about 45% in the last month -- and SoftBank still owns about 16% of Uber. WeWork is also particularly at risk for an extended quarantine, as people will stay away from shared office spaces. SoftBank is already trying to extract itself from part of that investment by attempting to pull away from a $3 billion tender offer. SoftBank still plans to extend $5 billion in debt to WeWork, people familiar with matter told CNBC last week, and the tender offer "has no impact on SoftBank's commitment to WeWork or on the financial strength of the business," according to a spokesperson. Beyond the Vision Fund's largest investments, a prolonged downturn will require many other unprofitable, negative cash-flow companies to seek additional funding. SoftBank is the largest shareholder for the majority of companies in the Vision Fund. That means it will be asked for follow-on investments, of which it has dedicated about $20 billion of the $100 billion. The Vision Fund is counting on companies, such as construction startup Katerra, which took $865 million from the fund, to pay off with big exits even though they haven't yet turned a profit. Other biotech companies in the portfolio may benefit if they can help with coronavirus recovery. But seeing a payoff will require patience, which will in turn require investors to have patience in SoftBank. Prescient concerns Several Vision Fund partners have expressed concern internally that $20 billion wasn't enough reserve capital for a fund with a 14-year lifespan, CNBC reported earlier this month. Those partners' beliefs appear prescient today. "Softbank's current buyback will be funded by selling assets that the market is discounting at 60%+ for full price, whilst de-leveraging should mitigate worries on balance sheet stress as private equity valuations fall," wrote Kirk Boodry, an analyst at Redex Holdings, in a note to clients. Vision Fund head Rajeev Misra told CNBC earlier this year that he expects "dozens" of his portfolio companies to go public in the next 18 to 24 months, proving his investment strategy to be successful and leading to new limited partner investment for Vision Fund 2. Just weeks after that interview, Misra's comments already appear considerably more uncertain. Airbnb, which had planned to go public this year, is now exploring other options to raise cash including a new round of funding, CNBC reported last week. SoftBank is not an investor in Airbnb, but if a bellwether company like that is considering taking external funding, it signals weakness in the overall IPO market -- especially for companies that will see major revenue declines with quarantines in place. If an IPO window is closed for all of 2020, Vision Fund companies will need more capital, and SoftBank may be forced to walk away from investments instead of funding them all. "If the markets go into a prolonged slump of 12 to 24 months and there's not access to public markets, we'll have to look at raising additional capital at the company level," Jeff Housenbold, a managing director at the Vision Fund, told CNBC earlier this month. "There's debt, there's equity players, there's mergers and acquisitions." SoftBank is counting on the next 18 to 24 months to prove its strategy will be a winner for investors. But if coronavirus pushes the markets into a deep recession, it's far more likely that timeline will be more about survival and less about succeeding. WATCH: SoftBank Vision Fund chief Rajeev Misra speaks out Despite the closure of all tertiary institutions by the federal government, the Academic Staff of Universities Union (ASUU) has declared an indefinite strike after the expiration of its two-weeks warning strike. The national president of the union, Biodun Ogunyemi, announced the strike at a press conference in Abuja on Monday. The union has decided to embark on total and indefinite strike from Monday 23,2020, he said. He said the union rejects the use of force to enrol on Integrated Payroll and Personal Information System (IPPIS). The National Universities Commission ordered universities across the country to close for a month, beginning from March 23, due to the outbreak of coronavirus. The union commenced its warning strike on March 9, 2020. Since the commencement of the strike, the government met with the union twice. ASUU is embarking on the strike over the non-payment of salaries of their members who failed to enrol into the federal governments IPPIS, a payroll software mandated for all public officials. The government, last Thursday, also reached an interim agreement with striking university lecturers to integrate the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) into the IPPIS. The IPPIS is the governments accountability software that has been made compulsory for all public institutions, mainly for personnel payroll. ASUU is opposed to the use of IPPIS for lecturers, saying it does not consider some of the peculiar operations of universities. The lecturers union then developed its own UTAS which it wants the government to adopt for universities. More details later A cameraman whose credits included Hollyoaks and Gladiator has passed away after a two-month illness. Felix Schroer died after a two-month illness, which his sister took to Twitter to reveal he'd suspected was coronavirus, amid the ongoing pandemic. News of his passing comes as Hollyoaks bosses revealed that production on the long-running E4 soap has been halted. Tragic: Felix Schroer, a cameraman whose credits included Hollyoaks and Gladiator has passed away after a two-month illness, his sister has revealed on Twitter Answering a fellow Twitter user's question about whether he should self-isolate after developing a 'fairly persistent dry cough', she replied: 'Many are in this situation. I lost my brother on Friday. He had cough/runny nose for 2 months. 'He was given antibiotics by GP last Monday & self isolated. He died on Friday. It seems he had a massive allergic reaction to the medication but believed he had Covid 19 & no test done.' She continued: 'The aftercare support wasn't there & online advice made him believe allergic reaction was side effect of helpful drug - so he carried on. But we cannot speculate as we have not been able to speak to coroner yet.' Halting: The news comes as production on long-running E4 soap Hollyoaks was halted, amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis Reveal: His sister, Sylvia Schroer, revealed her brother's tragic passing on Twitter on Monday, as she answered another user's question about whether he should self-isolate Paying tribute to her beloved sibling, Ms. Schroer added: 'RIP Felix Schroer - you were rock solid gold. You were being stoic & strong & believed you were doing the right thing.' Bosses of the popular series put out an announcement on Sunday, also revealing that the number of episodes aired weekly would be reduced from five to three. The press release reads: 'Dear Hollyoaks viewers... It is with a heavy heart that we have made the decision to pause filming of Hollyoaks. 'From Monday 30th March, we will be reducing the number of our weekly new episodes from five down to three, which will air Monday to Wednesday.' Medication: Felix's sister said, 'He was given antibiotics by GP last Monday & self isolated. He died on Friday. It seems he had a massive allergic reaction to the medication but believed he had Covid 19 & no test done' Bosses of the show went on to reveal that fans will still be able to get their Hollyoaks fix, with the introduction of a new series in which they can watch all-time highlights. The press release continued: 'To make sure we stay on air every week night, fans can look forward to extra special episodes every Thursday and Friday on E4, as we begin a brand new series of "Hollyoaks Favourites". 'Introduced by Kieron Richardson and Jorgie Porter, this series will give viewers a chance to revisit some of our biggest episodes, from weddings, bust-ups, heartbreaks and some of our biggest and best stunts. 'We will start the series with Mercedes' fourth wedding, to Dr Browning. 'Soaps are an important part of people's lives and we have 25 years of Hollyoaks Favourites to revisit over coming weeks, celebrating the history of the show that you love. 'We will remain as present as ever on our social platforms so please keep in touch with us here, stay safe and take care of yourselves. Thank you for your ongoing support. Love from everyone at Hollyoaks.' The news came within hours of ITV's announcement that the production of Coronation Street and Emmerdale will stop from Monday due to COVID-19 concerns. Announcement: The news comes as ITV bosses confirmed they would be halting filming for Coronation Street and Emmerdale from Monday March 23 A statement from the broadcaster said its staff had been working hard to ensure filming continued 'whilst adhering to the Government's latest health guidelines'. It said enough episodes have been recorded to see both soaps through until the early summer. The statement said: 'ITV has sadly taken the decision to suspend production of the soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale with effect from Monday March 23. 'We've been doing our best to carry on filming, whilst adhering to the Government's latest health guidelines, to ensure we've episodes of both soaps airing on ITV until at least the early summer. Suspend: A statement from ITV read, 'ITV has sadly taken the decision to suspend production of the soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale with effect from Monday 23rd March' 'However, the health and well-being of the production teams, actors, crew and their families is of paramount importance to us and we now feel that the time has come to stop filming. 'We'd like to thank our viewers for their support and hope they continue to enjoy both soaps in the coming months.' Earlier this week, the BBC suspended filming of EastEnders and other top BBC dramas including Casualty, Doctors, Holby City, River City and Welsh series Pobol y Cwm. EastEnders fans will still be able to get their fix of Walford from episodes already filmed, and TV bosses say just two episodes will air each week to make them last as long as possible. Out of kilter: A statement from ITV warned viewers that some episodes could be 'out of kilter' in the next few weeks as they attempt to establish a new transmission pattern Coronation Street tweeted to fans: 'Well still be on air next week as normal, apart from Friday. From 30th onwards well be on three times a week.' This is not the first time ITV has been forced to take shows off air due to circumstances outside of its control. For eleven weeks, between August and October 1979, industrial action forced Coronation street (which began in December 1960) off the air, along with the majority of the network. On Friday Andy Whyment, 38, who plays Kirk Sutherland on Coronation Street, said the show had been forced to rewrite scripts as cast members self-isolated. Empty: The sets of Coronation Street (pictured) and Emmerdale will remain empty over the coming weeks if not months Changes: Coronation Street was forced to rewrite scripts as cast members self-isolated revealed Andy Whyment on Friday The actor took to Instagram to revealed it's been a 'tough week' amid the upheaval caused by the coronovirus pandemic. Alongside a snap of himself and wife Nicola Willis enjoying a beer, the star praised everyone on the show for all pulling together during this difficult time. He penned: 'So ready for a drink tonight been a tough week at work with rewrites and changes with some cast members having to self isolate. 'I just want to say Im so proud of everyone @coronationstreet the way people have mucked in this week has been incredible and shows how much love there is for the show. Hard times: The actor, 38, who plays Kirk Sutherland on the ITV soap took to Instagram on Friday where he revealed it's been a 'tough week' amid the upheaval amidst the coronovirus pandemic 'Its a mad situation we all find ourselves in but well get through this, stay safe everyone xxx.' His co-star Georgiua Taylor, who plays Toyah Battersby was in agreement, as she wrote: 'Everyone has been incredible havent they? 'I was saying to Mark tonight how I feel so lucky to work with such an outstanding team. And all done with such good grace and humour xxx.' With Andy replying: 'couldnt agree more we have an amazing cast and crew xx.' Tribute: Alongside a snap of himself and wife Nicola Willis enjoying a beer, the star praised everyone on the show for all pulling together during this difficult time Jane Danson, who plays Leanne Battersby, added: 'Totally agree. We all worked together at the worst of times. Its been difficult but everyone on and off camera has pulled together. Stay well everyone x.' While Tyrone Dobbs actor Alan Halsall also wrote: 'Couldnt agree more mate, just shot the last scene of the week & the spirit was amazing! Tough times as you say & I hope @coronationstreet can keep people entertained!' It comes after both Coronation Street and Emmerdale bosses confirmed that the soap's planned storylines will be affected by their scheduling changes during the coronavirus pandemic. An ITV spokesperson revealed that episodes that were planned to air around Easter or VE Day in May will inevitably be shown on a different dates, after cutting back on their weekly broadcasts to ration their filmed episodes. Scary: Coronation Street and Emmerdale bosses confirmed that storylines will be affected the coronavirus pandemic (Samia Longchambon pictured as Maria Connor) Which UK shows have stopped filming? Hollyoaks Coronation Street Emmerdale EastEnders Line Of Duty Peaky Blinders Doctors Casualty Holby City River City Pobol y Cwm Vera Call The Midwife The Only Way Is Essex Advertisement In their statement a spokesperson told MailOnline: 'In the coming weeks some episodes of Coronation Street and Emmerdale will understandably be out of kilter due to the temporary transmission pattern for both programmes which takes effect from Monday 30 March. 'Episodes due to broadcast at Easter and those commissioned and filmed to commemorate VE Day, for instance, won't now air on the dates we'd anticipated. Coronation Street will now air just three episodes a week, while Emmerdale will only air five. The ITV spokesperson also confirmed that despite government advice for residents to avoid social contact in pubs and restaurants, they would be continuing to include scenes in The Rovers Return and Woolpack. They told MailOnline: 'Additionally, as both Coronation Street and Emmerdale film many weeks before they air on ITV, episodes will continue to feature scenes set in the Rovers and Woolpack and other communal areas. 'Although the Governments latest guidelines indicate that people should avoid such public spaces, wed ask viewers to make allowances for the fact that filming took place before the coronavirus pandemic... and to make sure they follow the most recent Government's health advice.' Corrie and Emmerdale join a long list of programmes that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with many shows including rival soap EastEnders, Casualty, Holby City and Call The Midwife forced to halt filming. Circumstances: This is not the first time ITV has been forced to take shows off air due to circumstances outside of its control Stock exchanges have not seen troubles as deep since the Great Depression Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) rebalancings last week triggered large sell baskets that knocked heavy-weight stocks of giant Vingroup down at closing. Rebalancings in the Vaneck Vectors Vietnam ETF Fund (VNM ETF) and FTSE ETFs knocked blue-chip stocks of the VN30 Index down by 0.5 per cent at the closing session of March 20, while the heavier weightings of Vingroup-related stocks led to a 1.2 per cent drop for the VN-Index and forced the broader market index to close at the low of the day. The VN-Index dropped 2.23 per cent to close at 709.7 points, while the Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX) slightly gained 0.79 per cent to 101.7 points thanks to the surge of local banks SHB and ACB. Textile makers, including TNG Investment and Trading (TNG), Thanh Cong Textile Garment Investment Trading (TCM), and Saigon Garmex Manufacturing Trade (GMC), fell sharply by 6.7, 6.3, and 3.5 per cent, respectively. This is the result of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Associations fresh data showing a steep drop in orders to the US and EU, amid news that these regions will suspend imports due to COVID-19. The foreign selling spree focused on Hoa Phat Group (HPG), Vietcombank (VCB), and Masan Group (MSN) while, overall, foreigners continued their selloff trend with a net value of VND916 billion ($39.83 million) on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange (HSX). Fears of the pandemic crimping corporate profits and diminishing the allure of risky assets have kept major local indexes under pressure for much of the past couple of months. The decline underscores the level of anxiety among investors since the coronavirus pandemic escalated and disrupted supply chains, battered tourism, sidelined workers, and infected thousands of people. Earlier this month, Finland-originated PYN Elite Fund was no longer a major shareholder of DIC Investment and Trading JSC since its ownership was reduced to 2.04 per cent. Previously, the fund also slashed its holdings in Tasco JSC to 9.83 per cent. Petri Deryng, director of PYN Elite, said that the fund has sold a number of long-term stocks. Notwithstanding, PYN Elite appeared to have taken a more optimistic view of purchasing more shares down the road in case of favourable conditions and attractive valuation. VinaCapital and its subsidiary Vietnam Investment Ltd. also reduced their ownership in Southern Basic Chemicals JSC. Aquila SPC a member of Dragon Capital divested 226,000 shares in Construction Investment and Development JSC, while VNM ETF also followed suit by trimming Vietnamese stocks in its portfolios. Accordingly, all Vietnamese stocks in the portfolio were sold off, including PetroVietnam Power, Vietjet, Bao Viet Holdings, Vinamilk, Novaland, FLC Faros, and Techcombank. Despite the pessimism permeating the markets, some investors are continuing to scout out buying opportunities. A slew of stocks have attracted my attention, including bank stocks, Deryng of PYN told VIR. However, the uncertainty over the length of the COVID-19 outbreak continues to push more investors to stay on the sidelines or trim their positions instead of using pullbacks as buying opportunities. For those who are fully invested, given our views and the size of market decline we have already seen, staying invested is probably the best decision, researchers at Standard Chartered noted to VIR. Typically, markets fall around 25 per cent during recessions. We have already seen the decline exceeding this, and our central scenario is for the economy to ultimately recover strongly from weaknesses in the first half. For those who are among the many who have been reluctant to embrace the bull market, this is probably a good time to be adding to equity investments. Equity markets have been decimated by the pandemic as frightened investors pull their money out of economically vulnerable corners, but market participants in Vietnam remained less aggressive, cited experts at VinaCapital. COLUMBIA As the response to the COVID-19 outbreak unfolds, the S.C. Department of Agriculture has made some modifications to the hemp farming permit application process to allow farmers to navigate the process more easily. The deadline to apply for a hemp farming permit is still March 31 at 4:30 p.m. SCDA will not be modifying this deadline. Some changes have been made to the process: SCDA will modify the mandatory in-person orientation for hemp farming permit applicants so it can be completed online. More information about the orientation will be provided once the application deadline has passed. SCDA has launched an online portal for hemp farming applications: http://kellysolutions.com/sc/hempgrower/NewApplication/ApplicationInstructions.asp Hemp handlers and processors will eventually be able to apply through the portal as well, but for now only hemp farming permit applications are being accepted. Because of difficulties obtaining background checks during the COVID-19 response, SCDA will accept applications without a completed background check. We will not issue permits until an applicant completes a background check. If you have questions, email hempstaff@scda.sc.gov, call Vanessa Elsalah at 803-734-8339, or visit agriculture.sc.gov/hemp. SCDA closes offices to public COLUMBIA In response to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, and in accordance with Gov. Henry McMasters March 19 executive order, the South Carolina Department of Agriculture has closed all physical office locations to the public. The three state farmers markets (in West Columbia, Greenville, and Florence) remain open for regular business. SCDA staff are still available by phone and email, with many working remotely during the COVID-19 response. SCDA will continue accepting deliveries via UPS, USPS and FedEx. Laboratory samples and hemp permit applications can still be dropped off at our Consumer Protection Division facility at 123 Ballard Court in West Columbia. For up-to-date information and resources, visit our COVID-19 page at agriculture.sc.gov/coronavirus. USDA Rural Development in remote mode WASHINGTON Deputy Under Secretary Bette Brand announced that USDA Rural Development is implementing enterprise-wide remote operational status effective immediately. Rural Development leadership and managers will continue to provide customer service while following the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions direction for social distancing in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. By moving to enterprise-wide remote operations, Rural Development is protecting the health and safety of federal employees and federal workplaces to prevent the transmission of COVID-19. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Rockman Industries, the auto components arm of the Hero Group, on Monday said it has suspended all operations at its seven manufacturing facilities till March-end due to coronavirus outbreak. "As a responsible corporate, the company has decided to suspend operations after the government's directive for prevention against COVID-19," Rockman Industries said in a statement. The company, which has plants at Ludhiana, Haridwar, Bawal, Chennai, Tirupati and Halol, said allemployees, whether contractual orpermanent, will be retained. Rockman Industries employs around 7,200 people across its plants. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Maria Julia Bortolucci has taken a few online courses at the University of North Georgia (UNG), but the Intelligence in the Security Environment course is a little different. Bortolucci along with UNG students Shannon Di Virgilio and Thomas Vella are learning online from a faculty member at Massey University in New Zealand. "When presenting the lecture, the professor offers examples from New Zealand as well as the other countries in the region, which is such a change compared to the frequently Western-centered examples offered in some of my regular classes," said Bortolucci, a 21-year-old junior pursuing an international affairs degrees at UNG. Dr. Dlynn Williams, department head of political science and international affairs, said the course exchange resulted from a global partnership between UNG and Massey. She said the collaboration between the two schools stemmed from a discussion at an Institute for Leadership and Strategic Studies symposium in 2018. "We started having conversations about where UNG and Massey's curriculum overlapped and how we could develop a partnership between our two institutions," she said. UNG and Massey approved the agreement in spring 2019, allowing Massey to offer their course to UNG students in spring 2020. The arrangement also granted Massey students the opportunity to enroll in a Comparative Security Issues course at UNG in spring 2020. Williams said the alliance supplements curriculum at both schools and provides a cross-cultural experience for students in their home countries. "Presently, we only have one full-time faculty member to teach intelligence courses," she said, adding now they have two with the Massey exchange. "The course is easily integrated into our coursework and students have no travel hurdles." Williams quickly pointed out the course does not take the place of a study abroad or international internship, which is required to graduate with a bachelor's degree in international affairs. But it does introduce students to international collaboration early. "The benefit is students will have to explain their work in an international cross-cultural environment," she said. "And our students can see how a different country sees intelligence issues." Bortolucci said she has already reaped those benefits and more. "I was extremely excited to (virtually) meet students from New Zealand and listen to their perspectives on the world during the 'Introduce Yourself' forum," she said. "I was eager to read their insights, which could broaden my worldview and increase my analysis of global issues mainly regarding intelligence-related events." Bortolucci also has unexpectedly improved her organizational and language skills through the online class with Massey University. She explained since New Zealand is 18 hours ahead of Georgia, she must pay attention to the time so she doesn't miss a deadline. "Knowing the different time zones is an important skill to acquire since most jobs require awareness of the time zone of partners and co-workers who are located in different parts of the world," she said. "Admittedly, it is also very fun to plan my life around two different time zones at the same time." As a native of Rio Claro, Brazil, her comprehension of the English language has evolved, too. Bortolucci said listening to the English language with a different accent has honed her skills. "Being exposed to this is a huge benefit as it allows me to learn about the uniqueness of the English language from different countries," she said. For more information, visit the Massey University course partnership webpage. More than 2 million Australians could be out of work, with unemployment expected to soar as businesses begin shutting their doors and standing down or sacking workers because of the coronavirus pandemic. Queues of laid-off staff snaked around blocks in Melbourne and Sydney on Monday in scenes reminiscent of the Great Depression. Under unprecedented sudden demand, the Centrelink website crashed and phone lines jammed. Those in line for payments now face a month-long wait to receive $1100 a fortnight in unemployment benefits. Amid warnings the global economy is being irreparably damaged, a string of organisations including the AFL, NRL, Village Roadshow and Helloworld announced they were standing down staff or putting them on leave as restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus came into operation. The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age have spoken to senior sources in the banking and the forecasting sectors who said their analysis showed Australia was headed for an unemployment rate of 15 per cent or more. It currently stands at 5.1 per cent. Although the two primary symptoms of Covid-19 have been widely cited as a high temperature and a new, continuous cough, in March health officials said that loss of smell and taste could also be a lesser-known symptom. On 18 May, it was announced that loss or changed sense of smell or taste were to be officially added to the NHS coronavirus symptoms list, weeks after experts first raised concerns that Covid-19 cases could be being missed. In March, the British Association of Otorhinolaryngology (ENT UK) published a statement outlining that the symptoms had been found among a number of patients in the absence of other symptoms. Professor Claire Hopkins, president of the British Rhinological Society, and Professor Nirmal Kumar, president of ENT UK, said in the joint statement that there had been a sudden rise in cases of isolated anosmia total or partial smell loss in the UK, US, France and northern Italy. On 29 July scientists from Harvard medical school found the loss of smell doesn't seem to be permanent. I think these patients may be some of the hitherto hidden carriers that have facilitated the rapid spread of Covid-19, the statement said. Unfortunately, these patients do not meet current criteria for testing or self isolation. Several high-profile figures who were diagnosed with the coronavirus revealed they experienced loss of taste and smell as a result, including health minister Nadine Dorries and Dancing on Ice star Matt Evers. A side effect of #coronavirus for me is the fact that I have lost [100 per cent] of taste and smell, Dorries tweeted on Thursday 19 March. Absolutely zero of both, so weird. Eating and drinking warm or cold thats all I can tell. No point in putting a tea bag in the water. So why are loss of smell and taste symptoms of the coronavirus? In the joint statement released by Professor Hopkins and Professor Kumar online, it explained that there are a significant number of coronavirus patients in South Korea, China and Italy who have developed anosmia and hyposmia (reduced ability to smell and detect odours). The release outlined that post-viral anosmia is one of the leading causes of loss of sense of smell in adults, accounting for approximately 40 per cent of cases. Viruses that give rise to the common cold are well known to cause post-infectious loss, and over 200 different viruses are known to cause upper respiratory tract infections, the professors said. Previously described coronaviruses are thought to account for 10 to 15 per cent of cases. It is therefore perhaps no surprise that the novel Covid-19 virus would also cause anosmia in infected patients. Professor Carl Philpott, director of medical affairs and research at charity Fifth Sense, explains to The Independent that as common colds and viruses often cause initial congestion of the nose, this can lead to post-viral smell loss. If you look at the tissue in detail under the microscope you see that the fine hair-like endings of the receptor cells have fallen off and therefore the cells are no longer able to pick up odour molecules from the nose, Professor Philpott says. He adds, that Covid-19 appears to have a high concentration in the nose, and states that as the majority of anecdotal reports are showing people experiencing transient smell loss that lasts for around seven to 14 days, its probably more likely that the virus is causing some sort of inflammation in the olfactory nerves, rather than it causing any damage to the structure of the receptors. The Washington DC-based Taste and Smell Clinic stressed that it is common to experience smell and taste loss after a viral-type infection. During the acute phase of a viral cold a patient may experience nasal congestion and blockage caused by nasal obstruction, membrane edema and excess nasal secretions, the clinic explains on its website. Recommended New symptom of coronavirus could be loss of taste and smell This congestion may cause temporary loss of smell and taste but with recovery from the cold, over time, these nasal symptoms disappear, ease of nasal breathing is resumed and smell and taste function commonly reappear as they did prior to the onset of the viral cold. The clinic adds that in approximately one per cent of cases, patients suffer a persistent loss of smell and taste. The organisation states that the question as to why viral infections cause smell and taste loss is one that has caused much confusion for several years. What we began to hypothesise was that after recovery, which eliminated the acute systemic viral attack, there was a residual and persistent viral process affecting the protein secreting glands in the nose and mouth which caused smell and taste loss, it said. Although the dynamics of this viral process are still unknown its mechanism of action is critical to our understanding of how smell and taste loss occur after a viral illness. Professor Philpott explains that the reason why people may think they are experiencing taste loss is actually because their sense of smell which has a huge impact on their ability to detect flavour has been impacted. The loss of taste issue is really just down to language and concept. Because everyone does smelling and tasting together when you eat, most people dont separate the two mechanisms, the professor explains. Salt, sweet, sour and bitter sensations are all detected on the tongue, which we dont think is really affected in this situation. People will think they cant taste because a large proportion of flavour is down to smell. What should you do if you have experienced smell or taste loss? Natalie Brookes, a consultant ENT surgeon and rhinologist and medical director at The Harley Street ENT Clinic, tells The Independent that the fact an increased number of otherwise healthy young people in their 20s are experiencing sudden loss of sense of smell is highly suggestive it can be associated with Covid-19. We were in communication with ENT UK, our advisory body, who confirmed theyd had reports of this themselves and theyve put out advice that they think anosmia could be related to Covid, Ms Brookes stated. If I developed a sudden loss of sense of smell, with or without a mild upper respiratory type symptoms, I would definitely self-isolate at the moment. On Monday 18 May, Englands deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam said that anyone suffering loss of taste or smell or a noticeable change should self-isolate for seven days to reduce the risk of spreading the virus. If the symptomatic person lives with others, they should stay at home for seven days, while all other household members should stay home for 14 days even if they do not have symptoms. Professor Van-Tam told reporters that the inclusion of this symptom would mean 93 per cent of cases where people have symptoms are now picked up, an increase from 91 per cent previously. Recommended Loss of smell and taste now officially a coronavirus symptom A major study recently conducted by Professor Spector found that people with a positive test result were three times more likely to report loss of smell and taste as a symptom than those who tested negative. The World Health Organisation listed loss of smell and taste as less common symptoms several weeks ago, while other countries, including the US, have also added it as a symptom. Fifth Sense, a charity that supports people affected by smell and taste loss, outlines measures people can take to try to alleviate their symptoms, which includes doing smell training. Professor Philpott advises against the use of oral steroids to treat symptoms in the event of Covid-19 or a suspected infection, but says that nasal steroids are safe to use. Theres a bit of concern about oral steroids because there is some suggestion they could exacerbate the underlying virus infections, so were telling people to avoid those for the moment, he says. If you have any coronavirus symptoms, contact the online NHS 111 service and do not visit your GP or hospital. Colombo: The Sri Lankan government has said it will soon announce its contribution to the SAARC Coronavirus Emergency Fund proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with an initial offer of $10 million from India to help combat the fast-spreading COVID-19 pandemic in the region, according to a media report on Monday. The government, however, did not specify the amount it will contribute to the fund. "We will announce the amount soon. The Cabinet has to do decide it," Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardane was quoted as saying by the Daily Mirror. Sri Lanka's willingness to contribute to the fund has been communicated to New Delhi, he said. In a video conference on forming a joint strategy to fight COVID-19 in the SAARC region, Prime Minister Modi on March 15 proposed the emergency fund with an initial offer of $10 million from India and asserted that the best way to deal with the coronavirus pandemic was by coming together, and not growing apart. Subsequently, Nepal and Afghanistan pledged US Dollar 1 million each, Maldives committed US Dollar 200,000, Bhutan US Dollar 100,000 and Bangladesh pledged $1.5 million to the fund. Pakistan is now the only country left to declare its contribution to the fund. Founded in 1985, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation and geopolitical union of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Apart from Modi, Bhutanese Prime Minister Lotay Tshering, Bangladesh premier Sheikh Hasina, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Nepalese Prime Minister Oli, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani and Special Assistant to Pakistani Prime Minister on Health Zafar Mirza, had participated in the video conference. Luciano Ciorciari wanted to give back to the customers who helped make his restaurant wholesale business, Food Related, a success. Sunday afternoon, he and two local restaurants teamed up to hand out 300 bags of free food to restaurant employees in San Antonio who have lost their jobs or seen their working hours severely curtailed during the coronavirus crisis. Restaurant workers have been hit particularly hard during the national emergency. On Wednesday, Mayor Ron Nirenberg ordered the closure of many nonessential businesses, including bars and restaurants, but made an exception for drive-thru, delivery or curbside takeout orders. Gov. Greg Abbott issued a similar order the next day. We felt the need to do something for the people that have done so much for us throughout the years, said Ciorciari, 42, of San Antonio. They have put food on our table for all these years. They opened up their doors to us. We had a huge warehouse stacked to the brim with means to help them. So we felt called to do all possible to put food on their families tables. Were going to remain safe and continue to do all we can to follow regulations without a doubt. But we have to, at the same time, try to put others before us to try to help them. Ciorciari is the CEO and one of the founders of Food Related, based in Schertz, which carries more than 2,000 items and delivers goods to restaurants on trucks. He tapped his warehouse supply to accomplish his mission. He sent flour from his warehouse to Bakery Lorraine so workers there could bake bread for the food handout. He sent meats and cheeses to Battalion, a firehouse turned Italian restaurant, to be divided into individual portions for the restaurant workers. On ExpressNews.com: Get the latest update on coronavirus and a tracking map of U.S. cases A steady stream of people approached Battalions open doors at Lavaca and South Alamo. Many arrived by car, but others came on foot or by bicycle. Boxes of various food products covered the tables and floor. As laid-off bartenders and hotel and restaurant workers emptied the food stand, employees from Food Related filled dozens more bags to replace them. Several people approached the table with some apprehension, but the Food Related staff immediately put them at ease with smiles and invitations to take as much as they needed. Each recipient was given bags containing 10 pounds of spaghetti, an industrial-sized No. 10 can of Italian tomatoes, a loaf of fresh-baked bread, 2 pounds of fontina cheese, 2 pounds of ham or turkey and various desserts and cookies, Ciorciari said. He estimated that the amount would keep a family of four fed for about a week and would last about two weeks for someone living alone. Ciorciari sent notice of the food handout to his restaurant customers so they could alert their laid-off employees. He said the workers who received the free food were very grateful. For them to see people caring for them theyre very touched, very moved, Ciorciari said. Instead of the virus going viral, we hope that a little bit of love goes viral. On ExpressNews.com: Were at war What to expect as coronavirus continues to spread in San Antonio Arlen Baeza, who was laid off from his bartending job at Dough Pizzeria in Castle Hills, was among those who showed up. Its something really beautiful that Luciano was doing, said Baeza, 23, of San Antonio. I think its awesome. Anybody in this industry knows how make or break it can be for us on a daily basis. Ameer Husain, another restaurant worker, approached the table full of food with his roommate. The 30-year-old Jimmy Johns worker heard about the giveaway from another roommate who had been laid off as a server. We all lost hours, and this helps, Husain said. Hed tried to visit H-E-B for groceries, but came up empty-handed. No eggs, no milk, no toilet paper, a little bleach. Its hard to find anything, he said. After all the free food was distributed, Ciorciari headed to Austin to do a similar food handout for laid-off restaurant workers there. He said more than 500 bags of food combined were donated in the two cities. He said he will look at holding more such events in the future. Seeing their need, absolutely, Ciorciari said. We will figure out a way to tackle this problem. Peggy OHare reports on the census, demographics and occasionally crime and general assignments in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | pohare@express-news.net | Twitter: @Peggy_OHare Representative image Senator Rand Paul said Sunday that he had tested positive for the disease caused by the new coronavirus, becoming the first member of the Senate to report a case of COVID-19. He said in a tweet that he was feeling fine and was in quarantine. Paul, a doctor, said he has not had symptoms and was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive travel and events. He said he was not aware of any direct contact with any infected person. Paul, a deficit hawk, was among eight Senate Republicans who voted against a House-passed bill last week that provided more than $100 billion to boost testing for the coronavirus and guarantee paid sick leave for millions of workers. He also was only Republican senator who opposed an earlier bill authorizing $8.3 billion for initial response to the coronavirus. The senator was on Capitol Hill on Wednesday afternoon, which was the last time the Senate held floor votes, including on one of his amendments. While Senate Republicans have lunched together as a group most days since, it is unclear if Paul was among them. Two House members, Reps. Mario Diaz Balart, R-Fla., and Ben McAdams, D-Utah,, have tested positive. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show The Senate was in session Sunday seeking a bipartisan response to the pandemic. If approved, the bill would be the third measure Congress has approved in response to the coronavirus this month. The White House has increasingly emphasized that testing should prioritize the elderly and health care workers who have symptoms of the virus. While most cases of COVID-19 are mild and tens of thousands of people have recovered, older people and those with underlying health problems are at higher risk for more serious problems, such as pneumonia. We don't want everyone to go out and get a test because there's no reason for it," President Donald Trump told reporters in a briefing Friday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tells people to seek testing if they have certain symptoms of the flu-like illness caused by the coronavirus fever, cough and trouble breathing and if they have traveled recently to an outbreak area or have been in close contact with someone who is infected. They should first be tested for the flu and other routine infections. The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover. CG Public Health, the City of Mason City and MercyOne North Iowa will hold a weekly press conference on Wednesdays to provide the public with an update on COVID-19. In his daily public health statement, CG Public Health Director Brian Hanft said it is important to have consistent communication. "As we know, our first cases of COVID-19 were announced this weekend for Cerro Gordo County. The new steps added to the governors proclamation is asking more businesses to close in effort to limit the spread of the virus. We recognize a lot of families and people have had to make sacrifices in the past weeks. Call your neighbors and see if they have everything they need, and are okay. If they need something, call the COVID-19 Call Center at 641-494-3547. Each and every one of us have to make 'staying home' our new normal to ensure we as a community have the capacity to respond to the virus. We have amazing people working on this 24/7. We will get through this together." As of Monday afternoon, there were 105 known cases of COVID-19 in Iowa, with five of them in North Iowa - one in Kossuth County and two each in Hancock and Cerro Gordo. After CG Public Health issued a press release Saturday about the first case in the county, questions immediately arose, namely why the department was not releasing whether the person diagnosed had traveled or had caught it through community spread. Emily Dunbar, spokesperson for CG Public Health, said in an email Monday that they didn't include that information, which has since also been removed from the state Department of Health's website as well, because combating the spread is the same no matter how the people who are ill contracted it. "Community spread has already been identified in the state, therefore were encouraging people to practice social distancing, staying home when ill, and monitoring their symptoms, regardless of community exposures," Dunbar wrote in an email. "We are conducting contact tracing and following the appropriate process provided by Iowa Department of Public Health to limit the spread of COVID-19." Contact tracing happens when public health officials build a web of who an infected person came in contact with. They then reach out to those people with guidance on next steps. MercyOne North Iowa spokesperson Angie Creger also emailed an update, reiterating the health system will participate in the weekly press conferences. "We are actively preparing for more potential patients, as well as monitoring crucial resources and proactively sourcing additional supplies. We are accepting donations of factory-made personal protective equipment (N95 masks, gowns or face shields)." The country's biggest lender State Bank of India on Monday said it will provide 0.25 per cent of its annual profit for 2019-20 to fight the coronavirus outbreak in India. The announcement came hours after the government notified spending by companies to deal with the coronavirus outbreak as corporate social responsibility (CSR) activity under the companies law. The fund used to fight the coronavirus pandemic will be spent from CSR funds, SBI said in a statement. "This is in line with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs' notification of spending CSR funds for COVID-19 as an eligible CSR activity," it said. Companies' expenditure to deal with the coronavirus outbreak will be considered as CSR activities. Over 400 people have been infected by coronavirus and at least seven people have died while many states have announced lockdown to curb spread of infections. The bank will use this fund for various activities related to COVID-19 mainly to support health care for underprivileged people in cooperation with healthcare professionals and industry, it said. Some of the initiatives will centre around promotion of healthcare, including preventive health care, sanitation and disaster management, it added. "This is a time for the nation to be united. We at SBI will continue our support towards the people and communities of India amidst this critical period in the best possible way," SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar said. "I also urge all the responsible corporate citizens to come forward and not only take all precautionary preventive measures for entire staff, their families and people around but also contribute generously to support fellow countrymen who need financial help in these unprecedented difficult times," he added. Earlier in the day, the government said spending by corporates to deal with the coronavirus outbreak will be considered as CSR activity under the companies law. Under the companies law, certain classes of profitable entities have to shell out at least 2 per cent of their three-year annual net profit towards CSR activities in a particular financial year. CSR funds could be utilised for various activities related to coronavirus, including those related to preventive healthcare and sanitation, as per the circular. Part of working from an office is camaraderie, and working from home means no water cooler chitchat. While sometimes that break is good, other times it can be distracting, especially when youre trying to get work done. Lannon said she uses timers to stay on task. If Im feeling overwhelmed and cant get going, I tell myself, Im just going to do this for 15 minutes and it helps, she said, adding that timers also keep track of how shes using her time. She also sets reminders to get up and stretch. We are pleased to recognize Dr. Achai Modi as a UroLift Center of Excellence for his commitment to providing consistent care to BPH patients using the UroLift System treatment, said Dave Amerson NeoTract, a wholly owned subsidiary of Teleflex Incorporated (NYSE:TFX) focused on addressing unmet needs in the field of urology, today announced that Achai Modi, M.D., USMD Midlothian in Midlothian, TX has been designated as a UroLift Center of Excellence. The designation recognizes that Dr. Modi has achieved a high level of training and experience with the UroLift System and demonstrated a commitment to exemplary care for men suffering from symptoms associated with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), also known as enlarged prostate. Recommended for the treatment of BPH in both the American Urological Association and European Association of Urology clinical guidelines, the FDA-cleared Prostatic Urethral Lift procedure using the UroLift System is a proven, minimally invasive technology for treating lower urinary tract symptoms due to BPH. The UroLift permanent implants, delivered during a transurethral outpatient procedure, relieve prostate obstruction and open the urethra directly without cutting, heating, or removing prostate tissue. The UroLift Center of Excellence program is designed to highlight urologists who are committed to educating their patients on BPH and the UroLift System as a treatment option and consistently seek to deliver excellent patient outcomes and experiences. We are pleased to recognize Dr. Achai Modi as a UroLift Center of Excellence for his commitment to providing consistent care to BPH patients using the UroLift System treatment, said Dave Amerson, president of the Teleflex Interventional Urology business unit. This achievement has helped many patients experience durable, longterm relief from the burdensome symptoms of BPH while preserving sexual function*1,2. Over 40 million men in the United States are affected by BPH, a condition that occurs when the prostate gland that surrounds the male urethra becomes enlarged with advancing age and begins to obstruct the urinary system. Symptoms of BPH often include interrupted sleep and urinary problems and can cause loss of productivity, depression and decreased quality of life. Medication is often the first-line therapy for enlarged prostate, but relief can be inadequate and temporary. Side effects of medication treatment can include sexual dysfunction, dizziness and headaches, prompting many patients to quit using the drugs. For these patients, the classic alternative is surgery that cuts, heats or removes prostate tissue to open the blocked urethra. While current surgical options can be very effective in relieving symptoms, they can also leave patients with permanent side effects such as urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, and retrograde ejaculation. About the UroLift System The FDA-cleared UroLift System is a proven, minimally invasive technology for treating lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The UroLift permanent implants, delivered during a minimally invasive transurethral outpatient procedure, relieve prostate obstruction and open the urethra directly without cutting, heating, or removing prostate tissue. Clinical data from a pivotal 206-patient randomized controlled study showed that patients with enlarged prostate receiving UroLift implants reported rapid and durable symptomatic and urinary flow rate improvement without compromising sexual function*1,2. Patients also experienced a significant improvement in quality of life. Over 100,000 men have been treated with the UroLift System in the U.S. Most common adverse events reported include hematuria, dysuria, micturition urgency, pelvic pain, and urge incontinence. Most symptoms were mild to moderate in severity and resolved within two to four weeks after the procedure. The Prostatic Urethral Lift procedure using the UroLift System is recommended for the treatment of BPH in both the American Urological Association and European Association of Urology clinical guidelines. The UroLift System is available in the U.S., Europe, Australia, Canada, Mexico and South Korea. Learn more at http://www.UroLift.com. About NeoTract | Teleflex Interventional Urology A wholly owned subsidiary of Teleflex Incorporated, the Interventional Urology Business Unit is dedicated to developing innovative, minimally invasive and clinically effective devices that address unmet needs in the field of urology. Our initial focus is on improving the standard of care for patients with BPH using the UroLift System, a minimally invasive permanent implant system that treats symptoms while preserving normal sexual function*1,2. Learn more at http://www.NeoTract.com. About Teleflex Incorporated Teleflex is a global provider of medical technologies designed to improve the health and quality of peoples lives. We apply purpose driven innovation a relentless pursuit of identifying unmet clinical needs to benefit patients and healthcare providers. Our portfolio is diverse, with solutions in the fields of vascular and interventional access, surgical, anesthesia, cardiac care, urology, emergency medicine and respiratory care. Teleflex employees worldwide are united in the understanding that what we do every day makes a difference. For more information, please visit http://www.teleflex.com. Teleflex is the home of Arrow, Deknatel, Hudson RCI, LMA, Pilling, Rusch, UroLift and Weck trusted brands united by a common sense of purpose For Teleflex Incorporated: Jake Elguicze, 610.948.2836 Treasurer and Vice President, Investor Relations Media: Nicole Osmer, 650.454.0504 nicole@healthandcommerce.com *No instances of new, sustained erectile or ejaculatory dysfunction 1. Roehrborn, J Urology 2013 LIFT Study 2.McVary, J Sex Med 2016 MAC00968-01 Rev A From Australia's Bondi Beach to the streets of New Delhi, authorities across Asia ramped up efforts this weekend to stem the coronavirus amid fears of a second wave of infections in places where outbreaks had appeared under control. Tighter travel restrictions were imposed in several countries while Malaysia deployed its army to enforce a lockdown as the number of cases in the region soared past 95,000 -- a third of the world's infections, an AFP tally shows. Outside China -- where the virus was first detected in December and infected more than 80,000 people -- South Korea is the hardest-hit country in Asia with over 8,500 cases. While the number of infections in China has been falling for weeks, other countries are seeing the toll gather pace as the highly contagious virus takes hold. Cases rose by roughly a third in Thailand overnight to nearly 600, fueling scepticism about claims in neighbouring Myanmar and Laos of zero infections. After shutting its borders to foreigners and non-residents, Australia has told citizens to cancel their domestic travel plans too as the number of cases tops 1,300. Bondi Beach and several other popular swimming spots were shut to the public after crowds of sunbathers defied a ban on large outdoor gatherings. Pakistan suspended international flights in a desperate bid to prevent the virus spreading in a country with more than 300 reported cases. Millions of people in India were in lockdown Sunday as the government tests the country's ability to fight the pandemic that has killed more than 13,000 worldwide. Testing also has been expanded in the country of 1.3 billion people amid concerns that the more than 320 reported cases vastly understate the true scale of the health crisis. The World Health Organization has called for "aggressive" action in Southeast Asia amid fears a major outbreak of the virus could cause some decrepit health care systems in the region to collapse. In places where outbreaks appeared to have been brought under control, authorities are now dealing with a second wave of infections as people return from abroad. Singapore is banning all short-term visitors to the densely populated city-state after a surge of imported cases took its total to 432 -- including its first two deaths on Saturday. In Hong Kong, where the worst had appeared to be over, the number of cases has nearly doubled in the past week as more people fly back to the financial hub. Guam confirmed a 68-year-old woman had died of COVID-19, in the first virus-related death in the Pacific. (Image Credit PTI) Grim: Mr Morrison has suggested the country could move to 'stage two' restrictions next month - which would surely devastate further industrie When Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the shutdown of pubs, clubs, gyms and other businesses this week, he warned that the measures were just the beginning. 'This is stage one of this response,' Mr Morrison said, adding it will be reviewed each month. Restrictions on everything from the number of people in supermarkets to if you can walk outside and whether schools, public transport, parks and 'non-essential' businesses will close could follow. Daily Mail Australia has been told the government will only push ahead with even more draconian 'stage two' restrictions if coronavirus transmissions in the community continue to escalate or Australians fail to 'socially distance'. Stage Two would almost certainly see the forced closure of 'non-essential' businesses and other restrictions, although the Federal government is keeping mum on just what exactly those will be. Cases increased by a record number again on Monday, hitting 1,709, with seven dead. For an insight into what the nation could expect next, here's a summary of how other cities and nations have handled COVID-19 lockdowns. WUHAN, CHINA: Above is life in state-enforced quarantine in the capital of China's Hubei province, where the coronavirus COVID-19 is believed to have originated BANGKOK, THAILAND: Workers in sci-fi style gear rest after dousing the streets in disinfectant DESIO, ITALY: Shoppers 'social distance' outside a supermarket with locals each keeping more than a trolley-length apart NEW ZEALAND A senior government source said Australia's shutdown stages will look similar to those unveiled by Kiwi PM Jacinda Ardern's, but with crucial differences. Ms Ardern announced her four-stage program on Monday and will take the country to its most extreme stage for four weeks starting this Wednesday. All New Zealanders who don't work in essential services will be told to stay home. Schools and universities will be shut. Jacinda Ardern, the New Zealand prime minister, with her four stage shutdown plan CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement People will only be able to catch public transport for medical reasons or if they work 'essential' jobs. If you want to get some fresh air and go for a walk or a jog, you will have to do it on your own. The government has been granted sweeping powers to lock people at home. The military will be called in to enforce the rules. Essential services such as supermarkets, pharmacies and medical centres will stay open. But supplies could be rationed. ITALY Italy's death toll is now higher than China's at more than 5,400 people and the prime minister announced increasingly severe measures on Sunday. The country has enforced a strict lockdown on cities for weeks, with police squads reportedly charging as many as 40,000 citizens with flouting the rules. Shoppers are forced to wait in 'socially distanced' queues just to go to the supermarket. TURIN, ITALY: A train station stands almost totally vacant as police and soldiers enforce a desperate lockdown to stop the spread of COVID-19 An Italian priest adjusts selfies sent by his congregation, which he has glued to chairs, to celebrate Sunday mass in Giussano Citizens are only allowed to move about town for 'non-deferrable and proven business and health reasons'. Parks and beaches are shut. Joggers have been told to stick to running around the block, or close to their home. But the government has only recently announced the closure of non-essential businesses and industries. PERU The poverty-stricken South American nation has shut its borders and the streets have been taken over by the military. LIMA, PERU: Soldiers on the streets during the first night of curfew in the nation's capital Trapped Australian tourists have described mhelicopters buzzing overhead and soldiers walking the streets, and a strict night-time curfew enforced. There are oppressive restrictions on what tourists can do - not much, other than walk to the shops - amid growing community anger at the virus being brought into the country. WUHAN, CHINA The epicentre of the coronavirus and capital of the disease-ravaged Hubei province has suffered through the strictest lockdown the world has seen. COVID-19 is thought to have originated in 'wet markets' where live animals, such as bats and pangolins, are sold to be eaten. Most of the city's 11 million residents were banned from leaving their homes except to get essential supplies or receive medical attention. WUHAN, CHINA: A man eats his noodles in his residential compound - unable to leave unless going to shop for essentials A resident checks his laundry on his building terrace during lockdown in Wuhan Authorities stormed house after house, searching for people who were infected by the virus. No journeys were allowed outside the city except for compelling medical or humanitarian reasons. Children were banned from school - or even playing outside. People who enter the country will pass sanitary and quarantine control Open source The government of Russia allowed the citizens of Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples Republics uncontrolled by Ukraine to enter Russia as TASS reported citing the order. The document states that Russia assumed such measures due to the closure of the checkpoints at the disengagement line of occupied Donbas and Ukraine. The Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor) is ordered to provide the holding of the sanitary and quarantine control. As we reported, the so-called Donetsk Peoples Republic (DPR) made a decision to close the checkpoints at the contact line in Donbas from March 21. Earlier, the Russian Federation closed its borders for foreigners. The restrictions do not concern accredited or appointed diplomats, their family members, drivers of international roadway connection, crews of airplanes and sea vessels, trains of international connection, members of official delegations and those who received private visas in order to bury a deceased relative who resided in Russia. Meanwhile, the official from Czech Republic stated that the borders of the EU states might be closed for a year or two due to the spread of coronavirus. The US National Guard has been activated in New York, California and Washington to aid in their response to the coronavirus pandemic. After New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and officials across the US pressured the federal government for days to ramp up its response to a growing crisis in their respective states, Donald Trump has announced that he signed off on a major disaster declaration for New York, per the governor's request. New York also will get support to build four temporary hospitals, after Governor Cuomo announced plans for those centres early on Sunday. The federal government also will be shipping "large quantities" of medical supplies as overwhelmed hospital systems brace for surges in Covid-19 patients. Health workers across the US have sounded the alarm of dwindling supplies and shortages of hospital beds for several weeks as the spread of the virus threatened already-stressed health systems. A hospital ship, the USS Mercy, will also be deployed to Los Angeles to expand the California's medical capacity. FEMA is expected to supply four medical stations with 1,000 beds in New York, as well as eight medical stations with 2,000 beds in California. The agency also is expected to support several medical stations with 1,000 beds in Washington. That aid will be delivered within 48 hours, the president said. The president announced the latest emergency response from the White House on Sunday after facing another day of criticism from state and local leaders, pressuring the president to lean on a war-time measure that would mandate the manufacturing of critically needed health supplies like ventilators and facemasks. State leaders also say that states are left to compete with one another while the federal government has outbid states vying for those supplies after the president suggested last week that they fend for themselves. On Sunday, FEMA's Peter Gaynor admitted that the president did not order any company to manufacture supplies after Mr Trump invoked the Defence Production Act earlier this week but has since withdrawn from the law. Recommended AOC rebukes Trump for failure to implement emergency measures White House economic advisor Peter Navarro said the administration instead is using "quiet leverage" to mobilise companies: "We're getting what we need without the heavy hand of government." The president conflated the use of the law as a move to nationalise a supply-manufacturing industry: "We're a country not based on nationalizing our business. Call a person over in Venezuela ... How did nationalisation of their businesses work out? ... Not a good concept." He said that 3M, General Motors and Hanes are voluntarily producing facemasks but did not offer specifics. During his Sunday press conference, Mr Trump meandered from the administration's response to complaints about money he lost as president and false claims about a drug to combat the virus. The briefing followed reports that the administration had eliminated an American public health position in China that intended to detect outbreaks in that country. That medical epidemiologist left her post in July, Reuters reported. Mr Trump also failed to answer whether he would support a federal bailout that would benefit his businesses and instead said that "nobody said thank you" when he donated his presidential salary. He repeated false claims that an anti-malarial drug will work on coronavirus and will begin testing the medicine on Tuesday, despite being refuted by health officials in his own administration. Mr Trump said there was "very strong evidence" that it would work. Dr Anthony Fauci, the top doctor leading the administration's response to the virus, has said that the "evidence" is only anecdotal, among many of the president's inflated claims that he has had to correct. He did not appear at Sunday's press conference. Three West Virginia residents were charged with murder in the death of a 5-year-old boy, police said. Troopers were called to investigate on Wednesday when the boy was taken to a hospital in Morgantown, authorities said. The child was suffering from head trauma, numerous bruises and a laceration on his genital region, news outlets reported, citing a criminal complaint. He died Friday, the complaint said. Peter Wodzinski, 32, and Chasity Wodzinski, 29, and Michelle Boggs, 48, were jailed Friday and charged in Harrison County with murder of a child by a parent, guardian or custodian. Authorities did not immediately release additional details, including whether any of the suspects were related to the child. It wasn't immediately clear whether they had attorneys who could comment on the charges. Boggs and Peter Wodzinki are listed with no bond, Chasity Wodzinki's bond is not listed. (Bloomberg) -- Boris Johnson warned Britons they face tougher measures including a potential full lockdown if they continue to ignore calls to stop social gatherings, as his government asks Parliament to grant sweeping powers to tackle the accelerating coronavirus outbreak. With the U.K.s weekend newspapers full of reports about people meeting in parks and traveling to coastal towns, the prime minister said his government may be forced to take more stringent methods to enforce social distancing, and will consider options over the next 24 hours. We need to think about the kinds of measures that weve seen elsewhere, other countries that have been forced to bring in restrictions on peoples movements altogether, Johnson said at a televised news conference on Sunday. Some people are not making it easy for us because they are congregating in a way that helps spread the disease. This week, the government will seek to fast-track emergency legislation through Parliament, giving it more power to close meeting places and detain people who are a danger to public health. The measures reflect the growing sense of crisis, with Johnson warning on Saturday that the National Health Service is as little as two weeks away from being swamped. Police Powers The latest data on Sunday show a significant jump in Britains death toll, to 281 from 177 on Friday, with total cases rising above 5,500. The disease is spreading fastest in the capital, and London Mayor Sadiq Khan said police may need to use powers provided for in the emergency law to break up gatherings. But in a potential complication for Johnson, the government faces a revolt in the House of Commons over the draft legislation. A group of cross-party MPs -- including prominent Conservatives David Davis and Andrew Mitchell -- want to shorten the laws duration from the governments planned two years. Though not yet a setback -- Johnson has an 80-vote majority in Parliaments elected lower chamber to play with -- its an unwelcome development for a government seeking to exert control over a crisis. Its early response drew criticism from medical experts demanding more urgent action. Story continues Johnson responded by implementing a series of tougher measures last week, with schools and leisure facilities ordered to close, and people instructed to stay indoors. The latest move is to tell 1.5 million people with severe underlying health issues to self-isolate for at least three months. The government pledged to use local councils and even military personnel to ensure they get the food and medicines they need. In other developments: The government issued new guidance on internal travel in the U.K., calling on people not to visit second homes or holiday homes. People should remain in their primary residence, it saidCommunities Secretary Robert Jenrick said an antibody test to show if people had already had the virus will be available in weeksJenrick also told the BBC that the NHS now has 12,000 ventilators available, up from 5,000 last week, and the government has also received prototypes from the private sectorAmid calls for the government to provide more support to the self-employed following its unprecedented package for salaried workers, Jenrick said the government is keeping the issue under review Absolutely Critical The situation is deeply worrying and the next week will be absolutely critical, Jeremy Hunt, the U.K.s longest-serving health secretary from 2012 to 2018, told Sky News. Until Sunday, the prime minister had publicly resisted calls to emulate countries including Italy, France and Spain in implementing tight restrictions on citizens movement. According to the French newspaper Liberation, President Emmanuel Macron called Johnson on Friday morning to tell him that France would close its borders to travelers from Britain if Johnson didnt take more steps to stop the spread of the coronavirus -- hours before the British prime minister ordered pubs, restaurants and leisure centers to close. A U.K. official said the decision was made purely on scientific advice and was always in the governments road map for dealing with the outbreak. But with the disease spreading rapidly and the death toll rising, Johnson struck an at times exasperated tone on Sunday as he laid out the option of a stricter social distancing regime. He made clear it was not his preference. Its so important that that pleasure and that ability is preserved, but it can only really be preserved if everybody acts responsibly, Johnson said of curtailing peoples right to go outside if they dont keep to social distancing rules. If we cant do that then, yes, Im afraid were going to have to bring forward tougher measures. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. Photo credit: Frances Sales From Red Online When youre planning your wedding, its natural to be anxious about the myriad things that could go wrong. What if it pours with rain? What if the caterers dont show up? What if you fall over as you walk down the aisle? I try my best not to sweat the small stuff, but theres so much pressure for your wedding to be the happiest day of your life. So even I couldnt stop a million possible problems floating through my mind. Yet, not one of those things I worried about at least, until the fortnight before involved a global coronavirus pandemic. I married my husband, Elan, on Sunday 15th March, just as stringent self-isolation and quarantine measures were being introduced all over the world in response to the Covid-19 outbreak. The UKs government had started to encourage social distancing: the advice at the time was that if you were experiencing any symptoms, you should stay inside for 14 days. But in the days after, this advice was extended to everyone, even if you seemed well. It was announced that schools would shut, and bars and restaurants were forced to close. A wedding is the ultimate social occasion, so I know Im incredibly lucky that we were able to get married on the last remotely normal day. Since then, Ive stayed indoors at my parents house, isolating with Elan and my immediate family. Im grateful we were able to do it then, as it wouldnt have been possible any later. Im grateful that the warm, fuzzy memories from my wedding still glow brightly enough to help us get through this weird, unsettling time. Im grateful that I have married the love of my life, and that were in this together. That said, getting married during the coronavirus crisis was not ideal. I met Elan on Tinder four years ago, when Tinder was still a thing. I had just moved to Israel where my dad comes from and was studying for a Masters at Tel Aviv University. He was working in high-tech sales. As soon as we met in person, we became inseparable, and have been ever since. I fell for his laid-back, American charm, and we shared the same silly sense of humour and love of fantasy movies. Story continues Our friendship groups soon merged, and I became close to his three siblings too. His family, who had moved to Israel from America several years before, welcomed me with open arms, and supported me when I felt so far away from my own family back in London. Two years later, we moved in together, and in October 2018, he proposed. It was his birthday, and we were having dinner in our favourite vegan restaurant. It was low-key and perfect. Photo credit: Frances Sales We soon decided we wanted to get married back in London. My family in the UK is huge I have five sisters, countless aunts, uncles and cousins, and my elderly grandfather who I knew would play an important role in our wedding. It seemed like a logistical nightmare to get everyone over to Israel, and all our American and Israeli friends and relatives loved the idea of coming to England. We settled on a date in March because it seemed the calmest time for everyone to come no Jewish festivals, or British holidays, to bump up plane prices. Our venue was to be a beautiful old barn on the outskirts of West London, only half an hour from my parents house. We chose everything so our wedding could be as easy and stress-free as possible for everyone. I loved planning my wedding. By that point, I had taken the plunge and quit my job in PR to run my own business: painting modern-style Jewish marriage certificates, called Ketubah, alongside home blessings and custom pieces. I followed wedding blogs, and communicated with brides on a daily basis because of my work, so it was fun connecting to a bridal community and looking for inspiration for my own wedding, too. My mum was a lifesaver, handling all the organisation back home, so I was actually incredibly relaxed. I really got to enjoy the process of being engaged. Photo credit: Frances Sales When I first heard about the coronavirus outbreak in China in January, it seemed like a distant, disconnected thing. I couldnt even comprehend that it would eventually impact my life and my wedding. I started to worry when the first case in Israel was announced on 21st February. As the global numbers accelerated, Israel started imposing strict measures to halt the spread of the virus travellers from certain countries (although not the UK, yet) were demanded by law to go into a two-week quarantine. Things seemed to be getting worse by the day, and I felt incredibly anxious. When I got to London a week before my wedding, my mum said we should prepare ourselves that most of the guests coming from abroad would have to cancel. As Elan is American-Israeli, that made up a huge chunk of our guest list. I didnt want to believe it was true. It all just seemed unreal, ridiculous. But soon enough, it became a reality. Israels quarantine rules extended to Israelis returning to the UK. Although we always knew Elans parents, and some of his closest family, would be able to make this sacrifice, we knew it was unreasonable to expect anyone else to be able to: many of them had young children, and jobs that made it impossible to work from home. The cancellations, from some of our dearest and closest friends people who had seen us fall in love right from the beginning began to trickle in. Elans own sister my bridesmaid was among those who couldnt come. We also lost many guests from the USA as President Trump imposed strict travel bans there, too. This was especially hard on Elan, who would no longer have his childhood friends and extended family coming to our wedding. Then we had cancellations from within the UK: many people, understandably, didnt want to risk coming as they felt unwell. I spent most of the days before my wedding in tears. At some points, I had to give my sister my phone to reply to the messages it just felt too overwhelming to be so disappointed, and deal with everyone elses disappointment too. I cried myself to sleep each night. By the day of our wedding, we had lost almost half of our guests. Photo credit: Frances Sales People tried to reassure me by saying, its just about you and Elan anyway, but I disagree. Of course, thats ultimately what a wedding is for to marry two people in love but its also an opportunity to bring together everyone from all the corners of your life to celebrate. Its one of the only times where you can have all your loved ones in one place. And coronavirus robbed that from us. Once the cancellations had been finalised, I started to feel a little better. The uncertainty was over: I could now accept the reduced size of our wedding, and feel positive about the lovely people who were able to come. Elan reassured me by saying it would make the day all the more special, knowing so many people in that room had made sacrifices to be there for us. The Friday before, my sisters hosted me a bachelorette party at home with 20 of my friends, complete with butlers in the buff, lots of gin and ridiculous party games. After a week of red, swollen eyes and exhaustion, I finally started to laugh, and even got a little drunk. By the day of my wedding, a lot of the anxiety had finally dissipated. I think I was all cried out. My parents house was bustling and joyful as my sisters and I got ready. As I got into my dress and put on my flower-crown, I realised I hadnt actually thought about coronavirus once that day. I was getting married. Photo credit: Frances Sales I wasnt nervous as I walked down the aisle, as many brides would be. Instead I was relieved. Relieved that we were actually here, that all these people were here for us, and that, despite all the heartbreak, we were about to become husband and wife. We had a liberal Jewish wedding, standing under a chuppah with our parents, and Elan stamped on a glass to wild applause. Everything outside that barn felt uncertain, but this, here, was something to celebrate. As we kissed, I felt elated. Coronavirus did, inevitably, creep into our wedding: most people greeted with elbow bumps, rather than hugs. We initiated Israeli dancing, where everyone holds hands and dances around in circles, but my dad demanded everyone go and wash their hands first, and we said that anyone who was vulnerable or worried should sit this part out. My dad addressed the crowd during his speech sending his best wishes to everyone who couldnt be there. Someone live-streamed the service to Elans sister, so she would feel included. We danced, we ate (an all-vegan menu), we laughed, we cried. It definitely wasnt normal, but it was ours. It was special. That night, in our hotel room, I cancelled our honeymoon to Portugal. We decided to camp out in London for the foreseeable future; it felt too risky and scary to go home. Its not exactly the post-wedding bliss you imagine. But I know we will look back and feel proud that we were able to have this beautiful, blessed day when it felt like the world was crumbling around us. Elan and I had already been through a lot together, but this felt somewhat symbolic. In the midst of chaos, sadness and fear, love is always there. And as we look ahead at weeks of isolation, struggling to buy food, and the possibility of our loved ones getting sick, Im keeping that in the forefront of my mind. Photo credit: Frances Sales Follow Rachelle on Instagram at @rachelleinwater. Find Rachelle's art at Etsy.com/delicatebrushisrael. In our commitment to support small businesses during this difficult time, Rachelle would like to give a shout-out to the beautiful @memorylaneflowers. The information in this story is accurate as of the publication date. While we are attempting to keep our content as up-to-date as possible, the situation surrounding the coronavirus pandemic continues to develop rapidly, so it's possible that some information and recommendations may have changed since publishing. For any concerns and latest advice, visit the World Health Organisation. If you're in the UK, the National Health Service can also provide useful information and support, while US users can contact the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Like this article? Sign up to our new newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox. SIGN UP You Might Also Like Non-profits in the Lake Houston area are continuing to serve those most in need during the coronavirus pandemic. Although some options are limited, some supplies are still beginning to run short. Family Promise of Lake Houston, a local non-profit supporting homeless children and families, is one of the organizations that needs community assistance to serve those most in need. Families in their program stay at their office, which is a small house, during the day and then sleep in churches that offer their space from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. every night. Related: Coronavirus live updates Jessica Penney, Family Promise of Lake Houston executive director, said their office has been closed to visitors and volunteers and they are keeping a strict schedule for disinfecting and cleaning. Two staff members are working in the office while also managing time with their own children who are home from school. In an already troubling climate amid the risks of the coronavirus, there is currently a baby in their program that had open heart surgery about three weeks ago. Hes under quarantine, which is challenging in a program like this, Penney said. At this time of year, Family Promise would normally be preparing for their biggest fundraiser, Chicks and Hogs, an annual barbecue and brew off. Although they have not officially canceled the event, large events like this are on unsteady ground. Penney said they will be keeping an eye on coronavirus updates. Its not lost on Penney that the grand prize a $15,000 travel voucher is now an ironic gift. Family Promise of Lake Houston is supported 100% by the local community and our fundraising efforts we dont accept any state or federal money, Penney said. So for us, this fundraiser is about a third of our annual budget and its always, for 11 years, the last weekend of April. Related: H-E-B stiffens product limits to 'protect the supply chain' Normally, a local family would host dinner at the church for the families in the program, but Penney has changed this requirement to individual personal discretion because of the coronavirus. For those who can help, Penney has been asking for gift certificates to Lake Houston area restaurants. The cards should be mailed to their office so families in their program can pick up food if they dont have a dinner host as well as help businesses who are also hurting from the coronavirus. She has made a list on their website to make suggestions about where people can go. Were helping them as the local community helps us, Penney said. HAAM continues Meals on Wheels Humble Area Assistant Ministries is an inter-faith organization that helps community members in dire straits by providing food, case management and basic needs. HAAM also runs the local Meals on Wheels service, which is continuing to provide seniors with frozen meals every week in addition to their hot meals. No more than 10 people can be in the HAAM offices at a time, according to executive director Millie Garrison. At this time, they are in need of baby diapers, formula, and paper goods, but cannot take any more volunteers. They received a semi-truck worth of food before everything started shutting down, which is providing food daily at their offices through the food express. Volunteers are still delivering Meals on Wheels. Its day-by-day, so its very fluid, Garrison said. So I think having a real flexible staff and a great team has been a blessing because its ever-changing daily. So you wake up and you do what you can do that day and try to meet the needs. FamilyTime continues to support domestic violence victims FamilyTime Crisis and Counseling Center is also finding a way to continue helping protect and assist victims of domestic violence during the coronavirus. Their volunteers have been suspended for now as they work to follow guidelines set by the CDC, Texas Council on Family Violence, Health and Human Services Commission and other government entities, according to an email sent by Interim Executive Director Lori Carroll. The annual event, "Mothers of Jewels" luncheon which was scheduled for April 23rd, has been postponed as well. Breaking News: Get email alerts from Chron.com sent directly to your inbox Counseling centers in Humble and Dayton will continue to have a 24-hour crisis hotline. Their counseling center hours have changed to Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Fridays from 10 a.m until 1 p.m. and caseworkers and legal advocates are also available to assist those who need their services by teleconference. FamilyTime is asking for donations such as sanitizer, latex gloves, dishwashing liquid, toilet paper, Lysol spray, Clorox wipes, bottled water, bleach and rubbing alcohol for their operations, including The Door shelter. Your support to FamilyTime always means so much, especially during challenging times like this, Carroll wrote. Please take extra safety precautions for yourselves and for your families. We are fortunate to live in this great community where we are resilient and continue to help one another. savannah.mehrtens@chron.com Two jurors have been discharged in Alex Salmonds trial and the remaining 13 have been sent out to continue deliberations. Former first minister Salmond, 65, denies 13 alleged sexual offences against nine women, including one charge of sexual assault with intent to rape and one of attempted rape. Salmond previously took to the witness stand to say he wished he had been more careful with women's personal space. The former politician told jurors he has never had a non-consensual relationship with a woman in his life as he was questioned about an allegation he assaulted a woman in his bedroom at Bute House, in late 2013. Alex Salmond, 65, took to the witness box at the High Court in Edinburgh during his trial over accusations of sexual assault and one of attempted rape He said he and a Scottish Government official, known as Woman F, had 'collapsed into what I would describe as a sleepy cuddle' on a bed after they drank the Chinese spirit Maotai together. 'My left arm was underneath [the complainer], my right arm was around [her] and both her feet were still on the floor. 'It was not a comfortable or easy position to be in. We were side by side and we were both fully dressed.' The former politician faces 13 charges of alleged offences against nine women, all of which he denies He explained he said sorry two weeks after the incident after the issue was raised by one of his staff. 'I apologised. I was the first minister. She was in my bedroom. We were tipsy, it shouldn't have happened,' he said. But asked if he had intended to rape her, Salmond said: 'Not in the slightest... I have never entered into a non-consensual sexual relationship with anyone during my entire life. 'In these circumstances, I don't even think I had an intent to cuddle. It's something that happened in tipsy circumstances and as soon as (Woman F) made it clear, by saying, 'it's a bad idea,' I snapped out of it and said, 'it's a very bad idea,'. We were still fully dressed.' Salmond is on trial over accusations of sexual assault, including an attempted rape, spanning a period between June 2008 and November 2014. His lawyers previously lodged special defences of consent and alibi. Salmond is on trial over accusations of sexual assault, including an attempted rape, spanning a period between June 2008 and November 2014. His lawyers previously lodged special defences of consent and alibi Consent was given as a defence for three alleged sexual assaults and an alleged indecent assault against three women. Salmond was formally acquitted of one charge of sexual assault on Monday after the Crown offered no evidence, reducing the total from 14 charges against 10 women. The Crown case concluded on Monday, while the trial before judge Lady Dorrian continues. Salmond also told the court he wished he had been more careful around women's personal space, and claimed some of the allegations against him were political attacks. He said: 'From where I stand now, I wish I had been more careful with people's personal space, but there was no intention whatsoever to offend. 'But I'm of the opinion, for a variety of reasons, that events are being reinterpreted and exaggerated out of all possible proportion.' Salmond agreed with his barrister that 'things that didn't happen' or 'innocent things' had been 'turned into sexual offences', as he was taken through the charges against him Asked why, Salmond said: 'There were two reasons - one is that some, not all, are fabrications, deliberate fabrications for a political purpose. Some are exaggerations taken out of proportion.' Salmond also said publicity over the past 18 months may have led some people to 'quite innocently' reassess their opinion. But he added: 'At least one of the charges against me on the indictment, I think there was a legitimate grievance, even if it wasn't what actually happened and not what was presented at the time.' Salmond has denied claims there was a policy that prevented him being alone with female civil servants at the first minister's official residence, Bute House. 'No there was no policy like the one that's been described,' he said. But he said there would be 'a blurring of the normal social/professional boundaries' in the '24/7' role with 'people living out of each other's pockets'. Asked by his counsel Gordon Jackson QC if there were problems with female staff, Salmond said: 'In general, no. There was an incident I was made aware of, but in general, no.' Salmond agreed with his barrister 'things that didn't happen' or 'innocent things' had been 'turned into sexual offences', as he was taken through the charges against him. He said a civil servant in the Scottish Government, who accused him of grabbing her and trying to kiss her following a meeting in Bute House in 2010, had 'misremembered' the incident. Known as Woman B, she told the court on Monday Salmond had asked to recreate an image of a Christmas card design, featuring a man and a woman about to kiss beneath the mistletoe. 'I think over the passage of time the incident is misremembered,' he said. 'I did say, 'let's recreate the Christmas card. It was a joke, it was hijinks, it was a piece of fun. It was not meant to be anything more than that. 'She said, 'don't be daft,' and we sat back down again.' Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Adrian Wail Akhlas (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, March 23, 2020 16:41 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206cdf92c 1 Business World-Bank,loan,financial-services,financial-inclusion,financial-technology,ADB,grant,COVID-19,coronavirus Free The World Bank has approved the disbursement of a US$300 million loan to support the development of Indonesia's financial market by expanding its outreach and broadening the range of products. World Bank country director for Indonesia and Timor-Leste Satu Kahkonen said that the country's macroeconomic fundamentals remained strong despite slowing poverty reduction, but she urged more action to help the middle class achieve financial security. "A sound and well-functioning financial sector is critical to sustain Indonesias growth and to achieve the governments economic growth and poverty reduction goals, particularly amid the continued challenging global conditions," Kahkonen said in a statement made available to the press. The loan would also be used to improve efficiency in the financial sector through the use of modern technology. Furthermore, the fund would be used to strengthen the resilience of the sector to withstand shocks by promoting sustainable finance and establishing disaster-risk finance mechanisms. Read also: Digital payments boost financial inclusion in 2019 A lack of robust economic growth has hampered efforts to lift people out of poverty, with the number of poor recorded at 24.79 million people, or 9.22 percent of the population, in September 2019, Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data published on Jan. 15 show. Indonesia's economy grew by 5.02 percent in 2019, the weakest since 2015, as investment and exports cooled. The governments baseline scenario was for Indonesias gross domestic product (GDP) to grow more than 4 percent this year amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said Friday. Under the assumption that the pandemic would last six months, that global trade would slump by 30 percent and that the country would go into lockdown, economic growth could fall to between zero and 2.5 percent, she warned. The World Bank estimated that about half of the adult Indonesian population do not have access to bank accounts, leaving them with limited opportunities to protect themselves against financial and nonfinancial shocks. "A further acceleration of reforms that promote efficiency and inclusion while not compromising stability is now needed to finance the infrastructure gap and broaden economic opportunities for individuals and firms in Indonesia said Luky Alfirman, a director general for financing and risk management at the Finance Ministry. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on March 3 also announced it would provide around $2.7 billion in loans this year to support Indonesias human capital, infrastructure and green energy development. Read also: ADB to provide Indonesia with $2.7b in loans to support human capital, infrastructure development ADB president Masatsugu Asakawa said the bank planned to provide Indonesia with more loans this year than the $1.7 billion it provided in 2019. The bank plans to provide Indonesia with $500 million for a competitiveness enhancement program and another $500 million for a financial inclusion program this year. We want to expand ADBs support for human capital development and infrastructure connectivity," Asakawa said during a news conference in Jakarta after a meeting with President Joko Jokowi Widodo. On March 21, the ADB announced approval for a $3 million grant to support Indonesias fight against COVID-19, primarily for the immediate purchase of key medical equipment such as ventilators and personal protective gear, including gloves, coveralls and masks for health workers. The ADB is committed to supporting Indonesia in the fight to control COVID-19. This assistance will improve Indonesias ability to test people for the virus, manage severe cases and reduce the risk of transmission among health workers, said Asakawa. We will continue our work with the government and various partners to provide flexible solutions that will help Indonesia minimize the health and economic impacts of this pandemic. The grant is part of the $6.5 billion initial package to address the immediate needs of its developing member countries as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. CHICAGO, March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] will host its 2020 annual meeting of shareholders virtually due to the public health impact of the coronavirus pandemic and to prioritize the health and well-being of meeting participants. The 2020 annual meeting of shareholders will be held in a virtual format only at 9 a.m. Central time on April 27, 2020. Shareholders will not be able to attend the 2020 annual meeting in person. Shareholders at the close of business on the record date, February 27, 2020, are entitled to attend the annual meeting. To be admitted to the meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/BA2020, shareholders must enter the 16-digit voting control number found on their proxy card, voting instruction form, notice of internet availability of proxy materials or email previously received. Closed captioning will be provided for the duration of the virtual meeting. Please note that the proxy card and voting instruction form included with previously-distributed proxy materials will not be updated to reflect the change from an in-person meeting to a virtual-only meeting and may be used to vote shares in connection with the annual meeting. Whether or not shareholders plan to attend the virtual-only annual meeting, Boeing urges shareholders to vote and submit their proxies in advance of the meeting by one of the methods described in the proxy materials. Contact Boeing Communications [email protected] SOURCE Boeing Related Links http://www.boeing.com REGINASaskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says having a patchwork of rules across the provinces isnt helpful in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Saskatchewan reported 14 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the provincial total to 66. Moe told a news conference that further restrictions on public life are likely to come down as the infection rate continues to climb. He was set to speak to other premiers and the prime minister later Monday and planned to raise whether restrictions between provinces can be aligned. Different premiers have been moving at different paces, Moe said, and he wants to know if there can be more co-ordination. Is there an opportunity through our federal government, with our federal government and all of the premiers on the phone to ... align our restrictions and provide that clarity for all Canadians? Moe also addressed the provincial governments decision to overrule its capitals own declaration on dealing with COVID-19. Reginas mayor, Michael Fougere, wants the province to shutter all non-essential retail businesses and limit gatherings to no more than five people, as has been done in some other jurisdictions. Regina city council approved the restrictions in a declaration last week, but Fougere says the province overruled it in favour of its own orders to ensure uniformity throughout the province. He had hoped the Saskatchewan government would follow Reginas lead. Moe has said no more than 25 people should be in the same place at once, except where two-metre distancing between them can be maintained. As well, rules closing restaurants and recreational facilities and limiting daycares to a maximum of eight children came into effect Monday. The province should move faster on putting more crowd restrictions in place, Fougere says. Speed trumps perfection in many ways, he said at a news conference Monday. We need to grapple with this sooner rather than later. Its not something we can look at next week or a month after that. We have to do it right now. The provinces chief medical health officer said Monday theres still no evidence of community transmission and most of Saskatchewans cases are travel-related. But Dr. Saqib Shahab says the province is at a critical point for preventing the viruss spread and urged people to stay at home and avoid any unnecessary gatherings. Last week, Moe gave police the authority to make arrests or hand out $2,000 fines if people do not self-isolate for the required 14 days after returning from international travel. A spokeswoman for police in Saskatoon says the service had received some calls, but no fines or arrests had been made. In Regina, police reminded people on Twitter to stay at home after officers found more than 30 people at a house party. Opposition NDP Leader Ryan Meili, who was self-isolating last week with his family after his wife developed a cough, says he was no longer doing so because she tested negative for COVID-19. It takes a pandemic to break a fever. The US is slowly shutting down, while its government is slowly much too slowly ramping up. For 40 years, the message that government is the problem, not the solution, has been etched on the soul of both major parties. But as COVID-19 kneecaps social and economic life, the need for urgent, massive government action has become painfully clear to Democrats and Republicans alike. While it's not yet certain whether the lessons of this crisis will stick federal politicians spent the last decade deregulating finance again once the global financial crisis passed the lessons themselves are clear. A nation where half the populace has rejected social safety nets, expertise and reality-based information has buckled under the pandemic threat. The only way out is to jettison that mode of politics and the quicker, the better. The scope of the crisis strains our political imagination. Unemployment in the US has increased tenfold in a single week, from 280,000 new unemployment claims last week to a projected 2.25 million this week. Here in New York City, the lights went off on Broadway and in neighbourhood bars. Restaurants closed, schools emptied, streets cleared. On the other coast, the entire population of California has been ordered to shelter in place. GamesRadar+ is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more First Coronavirus Cases Confirmed in Palestinian Gaza Strip Saudi Press Agency Sunday 1441/7/27 - 2020/03/22 Gaza, Mar 21, 2020, SPA -- The first two cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian health officials said. Two Palestinians who had travelled from Pakistan and entered Gaza had tested positive for the virus late today and have been in quarantine in Rafah, a town near the Egyptian border, since their arrival on Thursday, the Gaza health ministry said. Schools, public markets and event halls have all been shut in Gaza over the past two weeks to minimise the risk of coronavirus transmission. --SPA 02:50 LOCAL TIME 23:50 GMT 0023 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Minister of Foreign Affairs Bogdan Aurescu attended, through a videoconference system, on Monday, the informal meeting of foreign ministers from the European Union member states, which had as main topic on the agenda the COVID-19 pandemic, informs a press release of the Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) sent to AGERPRES. The discussion focused on the need for more efficient coordination at European level in order to limit the undesirable consequences of the pandemic, with concrete measures to ensure the transport of goods and people, the repatriation of European citizens from third countries, as well as other ways to support them.Minister Aurescu emphasized the importance of European solidarity in this context and drew attention to the need to apply the measures identified following the videoconference of European leaders of March 17.He evoked the challenges of the last period regarding the transit of goods and the return to the country of the Romanian citizens, as well as the steps for identifying practical solutions to the difficulties mentioned.Aurescu pleaded for closer coordination among member states' embassies and EU Delegations in these states, with the support of the European External Action Service, to facilitate the repatriation of European citizens from third countries to the EU.Minister Bogdan Aurescu stressed that there is no need for blockages at the borders and within the territory of some member states, so that citizens who have to return to their homes in other EU countries should be allowed access."He also mentioned that a coordinated and effective response to assist EU citizens within the Union's space is needed for this purpose. In addition, the head of Romanian diplomacy drew attention to the need to identify solutions that would allow the continuation of movement of the cross-border workforce, affected by the restrictive measures taken, which is a problem Romania is facing as well," the release said.At the same time, Aurescu stressed the importance of ensuring the uninterrupted transit of freight, by creating dedicated corridors, which is necessary for the supply of goods to the economies of the EU states, supply which is especially important in this crisis context.The Romanian foreign minister mentioned the "crucial" importance of providing the necessary medical supplies for combating the pandemic, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.During the meeting, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell made a briefing on the developments in the Syria/Turkey file. The exchange of views among ministers followed the discussion at the extraordinary meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on March 6 in Zagreb, aiming mainly at assessing the premises for stabilizing the security and humanitarian situation in Syria and the prospects of the political peace process under the new conditions. The officials also referred to the importance of continuing EU-Turkey cooperation in managing the consequences of the humanitarian crisis, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs points out.Minister Aurescu showed that identifying a political solution, within the framework provided by the UN, is the only viable response to the Syrian crisis. At the same time, he pointed out that ensuring stability in the region and continuing cooperation with Turkey, including in the full implementation of the EU-Turkey Joint Declaration of March 2016, remain "essential". President Lyndon B. Johnson hands a pen to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. after signing the historic Civil Rights Act in the East Room of the White House on July 2, 1964. (AFP/Getty Images) Retropolis The Past, Rediscovered Julio Barrios attends to one of the few customers at a gas station in Scarsdale, New York, March 13, 2020. Gasoline prices in the wholesale and futures markets crashed on Monday as more states issued stay-at-home orders, severely dampening demand for fuel. Some spot cash prices around the U.S. were down 40% or more Monday, and futures prices for gasoline in New York Harbor lost 24% for gasoline due for delivery in April. As a result, the prices drivers pay at the pump could fall by as much as 20% in a matter of weeks and in some areas, could reach a low below $1 a gallon ultimately in select markets. "The reason is clear. No one is driving," said Daniel Yergin, vice chairman IHS Markit. He said demand for gasoline could fall by about 50% during the coronavirus response period. About a dozen states have required residents to stay home to stop the spread of coronavirus, since California first issued its statewide order Thursday. Wholesale spot prices for gasoline in New York Harbor on Monday fell to 31 cents per gallon, down 19 cents from Friday's level. Gasoline in the spot market in Chicago fell to 24.5 cents, down 20 cents. RBOB gasoline futures for April fell 24.5% to $0.45 per gallon. "This is the most dire I have ever seen it for refiners," said Tom Kloza, global head of energy analysis at Oil Price Information Services. Gasoline prices in the spot market were about $1.50 per gallon in January, Kloza said. The market has already been crushed. Gasoline started falling with oil prices early in the year, starting with the loss of demand when China shut down its cities to fight the virus. Then prices fell even more dramatically, when OPEC failed to reach a production deal with Russia. "It's beyond a crash," said Kloza. "It's unprecedented, but that word is being used a lot." Kloza said refiners could be forced to cut back capacity by 30%. At the pump, consumers were still paying an average $2.12 per gallon nationally for unleaded gasoline Monday, according to AAA, but Kloza expects prices to fall sharply. The lowest prices in the U.S. could ultimately be below $1 gallon in some areas, he said. "I expect that the national retail average for gasoline will be below $2 a gallon by April, and I believe we're on our way to $1.70 as the national average by the middle of April, and we could go lower if this continues," said Andrew Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates. Lipow said he believes demand has already dropped by about 25% nationally for gasoline. "Colonial Pipeline, starting tomorrow, is reducing its shipments of gasoline by 20% and a number of refineries are reducing their production by 20%," he said. "The trend [of demand destruction] is only going to continue to grow as more states and municipalities require the consumer to stay home." Kloza expects global oil demand to drop by 12% to 15%, at a time when the world has been adding refining capacity. The U.S. used 9.7 million barrels a day of gasoline last week, and that could fall to about 5 million barrels a day, Kloza said. "My quick workbook on this suggests whereas last April we spent $1.1 billion a day on gasoline, I think this April we're looking at $350 million a day. We're going to be saving $20 billion on gasoline this month," he said. Refiner stocks were hit hard Monday. Valero stock was down 15.6% in heavy trading, and Hollyfrontier was off 16%. Russian company Wagner Group, one of the suppliers of mercenaries to Libya, has worked with Saif Al-Islam Qaddafi, the most prominent son of the late Libyan leader, in an attempt to bring him to power, Bloomberg revealed last week. The US media revealed the connection between the Russian company, known close to Moscow and to Saif Al-Islam, after it saw notes taken by the Russians on their meetings with Qaddafi. The Russians were arrested in Tripoli, Bloomberg News said. The Government of National Accord (GNA) last year arrested in Tripoli two Russian agents working for the Wagner Group, in possession of some documents stored in the computers. The documents according to the GNA revealed three meetings between Saif al Islam and the agents. In one document, Saif Al-Islam reportedly produced proofs of his fathers financial aid for election campaigns in some Western countries as a trump card. Moscow according to the documents offered to present Saif Al-Islam, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes during the 2011 NATO-backed revolution that toppled his fathers regime, as a rising actor in the country in a possible election. Several media outlets revealed last year Saif al Islams plans to run for presidential election in the war-torn African country. The man one-time seen as the heir of power, reportedly claimed in one of the meetings that 80% of the fighters loyal to east-based rebel Gen. Khalifa Haftar are his supporters and that if Haftar captured the capital, those fighters would support Saif Al-Islam, according to the notes of Russian agents. According to the notes of the last meeting seen by Bloomberg, Saif Al-Islam would give to Russians the list of commanders loyal to him in the next meeting. One of Saif al-Islams advisors who attended the meetings, according to Bloomberg, said Saif Al-Islam and his supporters wanted to develop good relations with Western countries, on top of which Russia, which was the first to help them. Russian polling showed that after years of civil war, nostalgia for the old regime was strong and that Saif Al-Islam was among Libyas most popular politicians. Haftars self-proclaimed Libyan National Army (LNA), endorsed by Egypt, Russia, UAE, Jordan Saudi Arabia and France, and GNA, backed by Qatar, Turkey, and Italy, have been fighting for the control of the country. Haftar in April last year launched a military offensive to seize Tripoli and oust the GNA. Canadian researchers launched a study Monday into the use of a powerful anti-inflammatory drug to reduce the risks of pulmonary complications and death related to the new coronavirus. Several COVID-19 patients have had severe complications from a surge of activated immune cells in the lungs -- known as a "cytokine storm." In a cytokine storm, the immune system overreacts and damages lung tissue, leading to acute respiratory distress and multi-organ failure. A team led by Jean-Claude Tardif, director of the Montreal Heart Institute research center and professor of medicine at the University of Montreal are hoping the drug colchicine will work to moderate the overproduction of immune cells and their activating compounds -- called cytokines -- in COVID-19 patients. If it proves to be successful, the drug -- which is already used to treat gout and pericarditis (inflammation of the heart membrane), and is readily available and inexpensive -- could become a key tool in the pandemic fight. Tardiff told public broadcaster Radio-Canada that he hopes to know if it works within three months. He said he became interested in its possible application as a COVID-19 fighter when it became clear that most children were resistant to the illness. Children typically have reduced inflammatory responses to colds and flus, compared to adults. In laboratory tests, animals whose inflammatory responses were blocked also lived longer when exposed to influenza. One hundred and 25 people worked on the hypothesis and Health Canada approved the Quebec government-funded study within 24 hours. According to a heart institute statement, the researchers are looking to recruit 6,000 Canadians with the coronavirus, for a clinical trial. There were 1,430 cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Canada as of 2200 GMT Sunday, including 20 deaths. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Australian supermarkets have been urged to implement one-way aisles and limit the amount of shoppers in store to slow the spread of coronavirus. Owen Sharkey, mayor of Golden Plains Shire in rural western Victoria, called for supermarket giants Coles, Woolworths and Aldi to 'implement stringent rules to maintain social distances' 'Make aisles one way and limit people in store. Very few abiding the strong message that PM and premier gave,' Mayor Sharkey tweeted on Monday. Queensland University of Technology retail expert Gary Mortimer said enforcing one-way aisle rules is a legitimate way to stop the spread of COVID-19, which has infected more than 1,800 Australians. 'It does then stop people walking towards one another, face-to-face,' Professor Mortimer told Yahoo. Australian supermarkets have been urged to implement one-way aisles and limit the amount of shoppers in store to stop the spread of coronavirus. Pictured: Coles in Epping, Sydney Retail experts said enforcing one-way aisle rules is a legitimate way to stop the spread of COVID-19, which has infected more than 1,800 Australians 'Although it may not prevent people from overtaking slow browsers in the aisle, which is an ongoing problem.' Professor Mortimer also backed calls for supermarkets to limit the amount of customers in a store at any one time. Poll SHOULD AUSTRALIA ENTER A TOTAL LOCKDOWN AMID CORONAVIRUS CRISIS? YES NO SHOULD AUSTRALIA ENTER A TOTAL LOCKDOWN AMID CORONAVIRUS CRISIS? YES 1254 votes NO 373 votes Now share your opinion 'There's peak times generally in the mornings and directly after work, which may create some challenges to police those controls,' he said. A number of shoppers also backed Mr Sharkey's proposal. 'YES FRIGGIN PLEASE! I felt like I was dodging landmines in Woolies this morning,' one person replied. 'Nobody adhering to the 1.5m rule,' said another. Thousands of panic buyers around the country continue to flock to supermarkets, clearing shelves of essentials such as toilet paper, pasta, rice and hand sanitiser. However Coles chief operating officer Matt Swindells said on Monday that panic-buying was moderating and stock levels were getting back toward normal. Australia's chief medical officer Brendan Murphy said social distancing will become the new normal. 'We are now in a different world,' he said. 'This world could last for some time... This is the world of social distancing. This is the new way of us interacting with each other all of the time.' Under the new social distancing and self isolation policies, Australians have a limited scope of permissable activities: with pubs, restaurants, cinemas, gyms, places of worship and many other public gathering spots now shut. Mr Murphy said it is imperative to public health that Australians do not take a carefree approach to social distancing policies. 'This is serious business now. Nobody can approach this in a cavalier way... I'm not directing that at young people, I'm directing that at all Australians,' he said. 'You are putting the lives of vulnerable people at risk if you don't tow the line.' A Catholic priest, Rev. Father, Cyprian Kooro has reportedly slumped and died while celebrating the Sunday mass in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. It was gathered that the morning mass was underway on Sunday at St. Helen Catholic Church, Ogbogoro when the priest suddenly collapsed. The middle-aged priest was immediately rushed to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) by members of his congregation, but he could not be revived by the medical personnel as he was declared dead by doctors. A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the priest collapsed shortly after concluding the homily around 10am and was rushed to the UPTH around 10.30am, but was pronounced dead around noon. I can confirm to you that the priest of St. Helens Catholic Church, Rev. Fr. Simeon Kuro, collapsed today (Sunday) after the homily. He was rushed to the UPTH around 10.30am, but was declared dead by a doctor around noon. It is a sad situation, the source said. When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Nnamdi Omoni, said he had not been able to confirm the incident from the Divisional Police Officer covering the area. When contacted, the Director of Communications, Catholic Diocese of Port Harcourt, Rev. Fr. Francis Tete, said he would not be able to speak on the incident immediately. He, however, told our correspondent that he would speak only after clearance from the authorities. 23.03.2020 LISTEN On Sunday, March 22, 2020, Nigeria recorded 10 new cases of Covid-19 in Lagos and Federal Capital Territory making a total of 25 cases in the country. The government says the problem is not beyond control. At least this is what officials tell the nation. There is no doubt that the government is making the frenetic move to allay the fears of Nigerians from the harsh reality that awaits them. It is good that the government settles the nerves of the citizenry. However, there is no pretense that Nigerians should hope for the best but prepare for the worst. While we engage in a debate to find a solution to the problem of coronavirus pandemic, we should expect tough times ahead. China, the country where the deadly virus first appeared is now ahead of the world in the fight against the disease. The epicentre of COVID-19, China is now in a celebratory mood for not recording any new original domestic cases of the disease for 3 consecutive days, since Wednesday, March 18, 2020. This represents a very symbolic moment for China and the world. It gives hope to mankind that Covid-19 can be contained. BBC news correspondent in China, Stephen Mcdonell, who interviewed people who are whiling away in a park enjoying the new air of freedom from compulsory isolation due to the pandemic, reported that Chinese people are happy and confident that their government is capable of eliminating the coronavirus in the upcoming months. A lady told the reporter in a sarcastic tone that China would see how other countries could fight the coronavirus in their countries. The ability to subdue and cure COVID-19 will be the cynosure of claim and counterclaim of supremacy between America and China for years to come. As it is now, China has the upper hand in the race. Nigerians should have cause for concern. It is scary and disturbing to see countries like America, China, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain among other so-called developed nations or the first world, (this is how they want us to call them) grappling with coronavirus. It is beyond imagination that these countries are yet to contain the spread of the virus despite their claims to power, wealth, science and technology. Despite the lockdown, use of face mask, a supply of relief package to citizens in need, a social safety net to cushion the pains of an economic meltdown caused by the outbreak, statewide restriction of movement, provision of facilities for isolated suspects, well-equipped laboratories, state of the art hospitals and well trained medical staff, the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus has shattered and disoriented Europe and the United States. Even though our situation is not as bad as Italy (where 973 people died in 24 hours), or France(One of the hardest-hit countries), or Spain or some of the afflicted nations in Asia, our behaviour and attitude towards handling the pandemic is our bane. While these countries we see as the worst-case scenario for coronavirus have what it takes to contain the situation as time will prove in due course, the vagaries of nature will determine ours. As usual, we will depend on the government's organized prayer sessions in mosques and churches across the country. I am not disputing the power of prayer in an extreme situation such as this. We should pray and then follow the prayer with action at the same time. I am worried because there is a likelihood that the preventive measures that worked in other countries such as stay at home order, social distancing, and hand washing are alien to us. Another problem is, families who live from hand to mouth (we have a lot of them in this country) have to go out every morning to struggle for food to feed members of the family for the day. It is difficult also to trace all the people who had contact with infected persons. More worrisome is the belief in the deceptive notion by ignorant Nigerians that there is no disease in Africa. Poverty, ignorance, and superstition are the albatross on the neck of the government and its relevant agencies to contain the virus in Nigeria. Oil price crash following the outbreak of COVID-19 sends Nigerias stocks stumbling, forcing CBN to adjust the naira to 380 to a dollar, a move that sends shockwaves that prices will rise and businesses will crumble. The government will find it difficult to meet its commitment to the people. State governments may not be able to pay salary. Unless or until we think of out of the box solution to our dependence on mono-economy, Nigeria may never have a quick fix of her economic problems, even after the coronavirus pandemic. We are not ready for a calamity of this magnitude thats why we are caught unawares. The government is doing its best but does not have the resources to fight coronavirus. It is necessary that we must heed to the advice of medical experts and the consensus of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), in this period of national emergency. We should respect the rights and responsibilities of good neighbourhliness which is hinged on love, trust, and giving. This is no time for a trivial religious squabble between the two dominant religions in the country. People should shun zealots and marabouts who claim to have a cure for the virus. The rich should assist the poor among us. Now is the time which our strategic grains reserve should meet the emergency food needs of our people. Nigerians from all walks of life should unite in the fight against COVID-19. Where necessary, the government should not hesitate to enforce compliance on measures it believes will contain the spread of the virus. Saleh Bature is an Abuja based journalist, social commentator, and advocate of dialogue. You can reach him via email at [email protected] A day after a purported video of Pilibhit DM and SP hailing anti-corona fighters while moving about in a crowd during 'janata curfew' went viral, local BJP MP Varun Gandhi termed their behaviour as "irresponsible" and sought action against them. "While many people including myself are in self quarantine and India battles COVID-19 on a war footing, the conduct of the SP and DM of Pilibhit is callous and irresponsible." "Times like these need mature conduct like the PM advised. I urge action against those who violated the #Janata curfew," Varun Gandhi said in a tweet. In the video, which had been doing the rounds since Sunday evening, Superintendent of Police Abhishek Dixit can be purportedly seen blowing a conch shell and District Magistrate Vaibhav Srivastava banging a steel plate while leading a crowd of subordinates and locals, also comprising children. The BJP MP has also attached the video with his tweet. After the video, the local police had issued a clarification saying that the march by top officials was aimed at making locals aware of the need against stepping out of their homes. Samajwadi Party MLC from Shahjahanpur - Pilibhit Amit Singh Yadav Rinku has also flayed the behaviour of the officials, saying that they have violated the protocol of the state government. This is the most irresponsible action by the two. The state government needs to take it seriously and initiate action against them, the SP MLC said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A study has uncovered a new neurodegenerative disorder in which children experience developmental regression and severe epilepsy. The study, led by the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) and published in The American Journal of Human Genetics, found a variation in a gene causes a severe childhood-onset neurodegenerative disorder that has never before been described. MCRI and Victorian Clinical Genetics Services (VCGS) Associate Professor Sue White said this newly discovered condition was different from other chronic neuroinflammation implicated in other neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and frontotemporal dementia. Associate Professor White said the study participants started with normal or mild developmental delay, and the onset of seizures started within the first year of life. All had a severe and progressive developmental regression following a seizure, she said. The study looked at six children from four families with the gene variant who had a similar degenerative condition, the cause of which was unlocked by genomic testing. The genomic testing and data analyses were conducted for four participants at VCGS in Melbourne and one each at Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesu in Italy and at Baylor College of Medicine in the US. advertisement Associate Professor White said the disorder, with features suggestive of neuroinflammation, appeared to require two copies of the defective gene, meaning both parents had to be carriers of one altered copy. "In our study the same gene variant was identified in three children of the same ethnic background," she said. "While the families do not report that their two families are directly related, they are presumed to be distantly related due to the overlap of their family histories, with common ancestors originating from the same town." The researchers used advanced molecular techniques to dissect the likely cellular pathway affected by the mutation in the NRROS gene. By inserting the gene into cells in the laboratory, they identified other molecules that NRROS interacts with. These molecules are crucial for a number of brain cell functions, including adding the insulating layers around nerve fibres, and producing brain immune cells. "In line with these laboratory findings, our study participants had neurodegenerative symptoms with difficult to control epilepsy, developmental regression, and delayed myelination," Associate Professor White said. "The myelination process is vitally important to healthy central nervous system functioning, enabling nerve cells to transmit information faster and allows for more complex brain processes." MCRI Professor John Christodoulou said the outcomes of this research highlighted the power of new genomic sequencing technologies that had ended a diagnostic odyssey that for some families may take years. "Now that we know the causative gene, we are in a better position to understand the underlying biology behind the disorder, which we hope in future may translate to targeted treatments specific for the disorder," he said. Researchers from the University of Melbourne, The Royal Children's Hospital, Universita degli Studi di Palermo in Italy, Texas Children's Hospital and Austin Health also contributed to the findings. KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) As the coronavirus infects more people around the world, conservationists are warning of the risk to another vulnerable species: Africa's endangered mountain gorilla. Congo's Virunga National Park, home to about a third of the world's mountain gorillas, is barring visitors until June 1, citing advice from scientific experts indicating that primates, including mountain gorillas, are likely susceptible to complications arising from the COVID-19 virus. Neighboring Rwanda also is temporarily shutting down tourism and research activities in three national parks that are home to primates such as gorillas and chimpanzees. Mountain gorillas are prone to some respiratory illnesses that afflict humans. A common cold can kill a gorilla, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature, one reason why tourists tracking gorillas are not normally permitted to get too close. Around 1,000 mountain gorillas live in protected areas in Congo, Uganda and Rwanda, for whom tourism is an important source of revenue. But COVID-19 has led to restrictive measures. Virunga National Park's decision has been welcomed by conservationists in the region. Paula Kahumbu, chief executive of the Kenya-based conservation group WildlifeDirect, told The Associated Press that every possible effort must be made to protect mountain gorillas because so few are left in the wild. We know that gorillas are very sensitive to human diseases," she said. If anyone has a cold or a flu they are not allowed to go and see the gorillas. With coronavirus having such a long time of no symptoms in some cases, it means that we could actually put those gorillas at risk. Even existing measures may not be enough to protect them. According to Ugandan conservationist Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka with Conservation Through Public Health, a study published this year by her group and Ohio University showed that measures in place to protect gorillas from humans are not effective in practice. Story continues The rule on keeping a safe distance from the gorillas was broken almost every time a group of tourists visited, she said. What the research found is that the 7-meter rule was broken almost all the time like 98% of the time," she said. But what was interesting is that 60% of the time it was tourists that broke it and 40% of the time it was the gorillas who broke it. If close interaction cannot be prevented, she said, one measure that could potentially improve safety is requiring tourists to wear masks at all times. Uganda has not announced a shutdown of gorilla tourism, although tourist traffic from Europe and elsewhere has dwindled. A spokesman for the Uganda Wildlife Authority, Bashir Hangi, said the decision on whether to shut down gorilla tourism is now academic as there is almost no business amid the outbreak. Still, he said, the few tourists who come are screened for fever and other symptoms and must obey rules such as not standing within 7 meters (21 feet) of a gorilla family. Visitors from virus-affected countries who have gone through quarantine in Uganda need to produce what he called a certificate of isolation before they are permitted to track the gorillas. Amos Wekesa, whose Great Lakes Safaris organizes gorilla tours in Rwanda and Uganda, spoke mournfully of hardly any business" as tourists postpone visits or seek refunds. The regions mountain gorilla population dropped sharply in the past century because of poaching, illness and human encroachment. Mountain gorillas have been listed as critically endangered or endangered since 1996, although their numbers are now said to be growing as a result of conservation efforts. But there have been painful losses. Some gorillas die of natural causes, falling from trees or being killed in fights between males for territory or dominance. A lightning strike killed four mountain gorillas in February. In Rwanda, where tourism is the top foreign exchange earner, the government has prioritized the protection of gorillas, even launching a naming ceremony for baby primates. Tourism revenue is key in protecting mountain gorillas as authorities can use some of the money to help local communities or invest in anti-poaching activities. A gorilla tracking permit costs up to $600 in Uganda, and thousands of tourists pay each year. A similar permit costs upward of $1,000 in Rwanda. Some worry the loss of tourist revenue during the coronavirus pandemic could further expose the primates to poachers. Virunga, established in 1925 as Africas first national park and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has long been vulnerable in a volatile part of eastern Congo. I think this is going to have a huge impact on their sustainability," Kahumbu, the Kenyan conservationist, said of Virunga. I call on all donors and governments that support these national parks in Africa to make it easy for the parks that need to shut down to do so and survive." Poachers could do even more damage to gorillas if they think the anti-poaching efforts have been reduced, she said. ___ Tina Smole in Kampala, Uganda, contributed. DALLAS (AP) Gov. Greg Abbott announced new measures Sunday to free up hospital resources to address the COVID-19 pandemic, as Texas saw its sixth death tied to disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Abbott said at a news conference that he issued executive orders to allow hospitals to treat two patient in a room, rather than one, and directing heath care workers to postpone all "elective or non-essential medical procedures. DISASTER EXPERT: Houston-area needs shelter-in-place and coronavirus command team now The announcement came as the Texas Department of State Health Services said 334 people statewide have tested positive for the virus, up from 304 on Saturday, and officials in Dallas confirmed an man in his 80s who had the disease had died. The man's death was the second death linked to the coronavirus in Dallas County. He had been critically ill in an area hospital but more details will not be released, said a county spokeswoman The vast majority of people who contract the virus recover within weeks. It causes only mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but it can lead to more severe illness, including pneumonia, especially in older adults and people with preexisting health problems. RECOVERY FROM COVID-19: Houston-area coronavirus survivor returns home, thanks medical staff Abbott said that the increase in Texans with the disease comes as testing is ramping up, and that both the number of people sick and the number tested with continue to rise. He urged the federal government to do more to help states acquire supplies needed for testing and protective equipment, such as face masks, for health care workers. Abbott said he is not prepared to issue a shelter-in-place order, as governors in some large states have. He noted that more than 200 Texas counties currently have no cases of COVID-19 and said leaders in harder-hit parts of the state could take this action at the local level. Dallas County has the greatest number of cases, with 30, according to the health department. It is followed by Harris County, with 27, and Bexar County, with 24. ___ The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. ___ Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak Upscale Oregon grocery chain New Seasons has begun limiting the number of customers it will allow inside its stores, joining other retailers in an effort to reduce the chances of the coronavirus spreading among shoppers or staff. The new practices aim to make shopping safer, but having to wait outside stores may exacerbate shoppers anxiety amid persistent shortages of many popular items, especially toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Supermarkets and food suppliers say food supplies are adequate but they are facing constraints in moving products from processing facilities and warehouses into stores. New Seasons said Sunday that the number of customers allowed inside will vary based on each stores size, from 50 to 100 customers at a time. The company said its stores are generally well stocked but it continues to limit individual purchases of toilet paper, hand sanitizer, meat, aloe vera gel and bleach, among other times. New Seasons has about 20 stores altogether, including 18 in the Portland area. Some stores began implementing the limits Saturday, according to New Seasons. The rest will roll it out by Monday. Like other chains, it also offers pickup and delivery options. New Seasons said it will soon adopt technology that enables customers to be summoned from their car or elsewhere nearby when its their turn to shop, so they dont have to wait in a physical line. The company asked that families send a single shopper rather than come as a group. We have been working tirelessly with our store operations teams and the local health authorities to determine temporary store procedures to help protect our staff and customers, Forrest Hoffmaster, New Seasons CEO, said in a written statement. We feel confident in the preventative measures we are taking to uphold the health and safety of our community. Fred Meyer did not respond to a request for comment. Albertsons and Safeway (the same company operating under two names) said it is not limiting the number of customers. We will monitor the need on a daily basis, as well as comply immediately with any governmental orders, spokeswoman Jill McGinnis wrote Sunday. Costco announced customer restrictions last week after weeks of fevered buying at its warehouses. Some Oregon liquor stores have adopted similar practices. Many stores, including New Seasons, Safeway and Albertsons, have asked customers to reserve early hours on some days for older shoppers and others especially vulnerable to infection. Grocery workers have privately expressed concerns to The Oregonian/OregonLive about potential coronavirus exposure at work, especially after Fred Meyer acknowledged last week that one Portland employee had apparently been infected. Also Sunday, New Seasons said it will begin paying employees a bi-weekly bonus, offering them additional time off and increase the staff discount to 30%. Fred Meyer announced bonuses and expanded benefits Saturday. While many businesses have closed and laid off workers during the coronavirus outbreak, supermarkets, food producers and delivery companies are hiring frantically to meet customer demand. -- Mike Rogoway | mrogoway@oregonian.com | twitter: @rogoway | 503-294-7699 Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. March 23, 2020 alone saw 10 Covid-19 cases confirmed in Vietnam. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran. A 17-year-old Vietnamese girl returning from Malaysia is Ben Tre Provinces first and Vietnams 123rd coronavirus infection. "Patient 123" lived in Malaysias Sarawar state for about four months before arriving March 17 in Bandar Seri Begawa, capital of Brunei, from where she boarded Royal Brunei Airlines flight BI381, seat 27K, landing the same day at Saigons Tan Son Nhat International Airport. She then took a bus to the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre and self-quarantined at home. She came into contact with two people at home who have not shown any symptoms so far. The girl has tested Covid-19 positive, the Health Ministry confirmed Monday evening. With "Patient 123," Vietnam confirmed 10 new infections on Monday. "Patient 122" is a 24-year-old Vietnamese woman returning from Thailand. Her swab samples were confirmed positive at the Da Nang Center for Disease Control. The country has recorded 106 new cases since March 6, with 105 still under treatment and one having recovered last week. Of the active cases, 12 have tested negative either once or twice. Many of the active cases are Vietnamese nationals returning from Europe and the U.S. and foreigners visiting from the same regions. Starting Sunday, in an unprecedented move, Vietnam suspended entry for all foreign nationals, including those of Vietnamese origin and family members with visa waivers. The Covid-19 pandemic has killed over 14,700 people, spreading to 192 countries and territories thus far. Soon after taking oath as 32nd Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan on late Monday night got down to business and held a meeting with officials to review steps taken to contain the spread of coronavirus, his first major challenge. After taking oath at Raj Bhawan at 9 pm, Chouhan straightaway went to Mantralaya(state secretariat) and after offering prayers in the complex, took charge of his office and presided over the meeting. Madhya Pradesh has till now reported seven positive coronavirus cases. At the meeting with top officials, he reviewed the state's preparedness to fight COVID19. Earlier, thanking the small audience from the stage after being sworn-in, Chouhan, with folded hands, said We are passing through a very testing time. Hence, it will not be proper to shake hands or receive bouquets in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak." We all will defeat coronavirus jointly. It is our duty to protect elderly people (who are more venerable) from coronavirus, said the 61-year-old BJP leader. He urged people to strictly follow state government directives issued from time to time to defeat the pandemic. After emerging out of the Governors house, Chouhan spoke to waiting reporters and said it was not the time for people and BJP workers to rejoice over his return to the top post in the state. Rather it was time to unitedly work or eradication of the deadly virus, he said. I am thankful to the people for their love. I want to thank my partys central leadership for reposing faith in me again, he said. Chouhan also praised his new party colleague Jyotiraditya Scindia, whose rebellion and subsequent resignations by MLAs loyal to him led to the collapse of the 15-month-old Kamal Nath government last week. I am thankful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party president (J P Nadda), Home Minister Amit Shah and Jyotiraditya Scindiaji. "Scindia is an energetic and young leader. We all will work together," he added. Chouhan said fighting COVID-19 remains his top priority. We will fight coronavirus will all might. We will work like a family for the welfare of the people of Madhya Pradesh," he added. The chief minister later took to Twitter to thank people. "I want to thank people from the bottom of my heart for your wishes," Chouhan tweeted. My first priority is to fight COVID -19. Rest things afterward, he wrote. Former chief minister Kamal Nath, who attended the swearing-in ceremony, said he wanted this successor to focus on development of the state. "What I wanted to do, Shivraj should do that and create a history on development front for Madhya Pradesh, the Congress leader told reporters. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Local market opened sharply lower, down by over 9%, but recovered marginally from the lower levels. At 9:24 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was down 2400.66 points or 8.02% at 27,515.96. The Nifty 50 index was down 687.80 points or 7.86% at 8,057.65. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index was down 6.39%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index was down 6.14%. The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was weak. On the BSE, 103 shares rose and 987 shares fell. A total of 46 shares were unchanged. Taking note of the continued abnormally high volatility in the market due to coronavirus scare, Sebi has come up with various measures, including revision of market wide position limit, to ensure orderly trading and settlement, effective risk management, price discovery and maintenance of market integrity. These measures will kick-in from the beginning of trading today, 23 March 2020 and will be in effect for a period of one month. The position would be reviewed thereafter and appropriate view taken thereon. Sebi has revised market wide position limit (MWPL). For stocks in F&O segment meeting certain criteria, MWPL may be revised to 50% of the existing levels. The margin for stocks meeting specific criteria will be increased, apart from having revised position limits in equity index derivatives (futures and options). Sebi also proposed to raise margin for non-F&O stocks in cash market to 40% in a phased manner. The proposed margins would only be applied in the cash market and may be applicable for a period of one month. The regulator also proposed flexing of dynamic price bands for F&O stocks. Currently, the bands are relaxed in the event of market trends in either direction. In addition to the existing requirements, the dynamic price bands may be flexed only after a cooling-off period of 15 minutes from the time of meeting the existing criteria specified by stock exchanges for flexing. Sebi and stock exchanges will continuously monitor the market developments and review the position and take any further suitable actions as may be required. Stocks in news: Hero MotoCorp dived 8.84%. Hero MotoCorp has decided to halt operations at all its global manufacturing facilities - including in India, Colombia and Bangladesh and the Global Parts Centre (GPC) at Neemrana with immediate effect until 31 March 2020. This is considering the safety and wellbeing of its employees as top priority in view of the escalating COVID19 situation. Mahindra & Mahindra crashed 10.00%. Mahindra & Mahindra said in light of heightened concern on spread of CoronaVirus in the State of Maharashtra, the company decided to suspend the manufacturing operations at Nagpur Plant with immediate effect and Chakan (Pune) and Kandivali (Mumbai) from Monday, 23 March 2020 night onwards. Tata Motors dropped 8.27%. Tata Motors said in light of the ongoing coronavirus situation, Jaguar Land Rover has confirmed that it will temporarily suspend production at its UK manufacturing facilities over the course of next week. The company's intention is to resume in the week of 20 April 2020, subject to review of the rapidly-changing circumstances. Escorts slumped 8.35%. Escorts informed that Kubota Corporation (Kubota), will acquire 10% equity stake at Rs 850 per share. Kubota's investment will constitute 9. 1% of the equity stake on a pre capital reduction or 10% on a post capital reduction basis for a total investment of Rs 10, 419, 034, 800. Lupin was down 3.36%. Lupin announced the launch of Betamethasone Dipropionate Ointment USP (Augmented), 0.05%, having received an approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) earlier. The product would be manufactured at Lupin's Pithampur (Unit Ill) facility, India. Global Markets: Overseas, Asian markets were trading sharply lower on Monday on growing anxiety over the fallout from the Covid-19 coronavirus as no certainty was in sight on how long it would continue. Stocks were hammered as a rising tide of national lockdowns threatened to overwhelm policymakers' frantic efforts to cushion what is likely to be a deep global recession. In US, stock indexes finished another bruising week with sharp losses as panic over the coronavirus outbreak refused to abate, amid the acceleration of the global death toll. Investors haven't yet been comforted by the government's response to limit the economic impact of COVID-19 pandemic, whose severity and duration is unclear. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan has deployed the military to aid civilian authorities in shutting down the country of 220 million to prevent the spread of the coronavirus outbreak as confirmed cases of the potentially deadly disease increased to more than 850. On March 23, the Interior Ministry authorized the deployment of armed forces to the four provinces of Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Troops will also be deployed to the federal capital, Islamabad, and the northern regions of Gilgit Baltistan and Pakistani-administered Kashmir, in line with provisions of Pakistani supreme law, which allows deploying the military during emergencies. The threat we face is very different and the likes of which the world has not seen before, military spokesman Babar Iftikhar told journalists on March 23. I want to request you to cooperate with the armed forces, law enforcement agencies, and the government. In a statement released late on March 22, the militarys media office announced that all available troops of the Pakistani Army and its medical resources across the country have been tasked with assisting the civilian authorities combat the coronavirus outbreak. "Nothing can defeat a responsible and determined nation. Pakistan Army being part of a national effort shall serve and protect the nation as a sacred duty, army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa was quoted as saying by the statement. Army and paramilitary troops were already on the streets in Karachi, the capital of southern Sindh Province, where a lockdown begin early on March 23. Regional governments across Pakistan have ordered businesses, schools, cinemas, and other places where people can congregate to close. They are asking people to stay home. Iftikhar said all businesses apart from groceries, pharmacies, and factories making items essential for combating the spread and prevention of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, will be closed. Islamabad has closed land borders and suspended international flights till April 4. As of late March 23, at least six people had died among the 873 people who tested positive for the coronavirus. Among them was Osama Riaz, 26. The young physicians death on March 22 highlighted the lack of personal protection equipment for medical workers. Faizullah Faraq, a spokesman for the regional government of the Gilgit-Baltistan region near Pakistan's border with China, said Riaz would be given a national honor. Officials and experts have warned the number of infections could rise in the near future due to poor conditions at government-run quarantine camps. Compared with other countries, Pakistan has also conducted fewer tests, but the authorities now appear to ramping up tests and tracing people suspected of being exposed to the disease. With reporting by DPA What happened Shares of aerospace giant Boeing (NYSE:BA) fell as far as $89 last week before rebounding to close the week at $95.01, which was still down a staggering 72% over the past month. And yet, in one analyst's view, this spells opportunity. So what Over the weekend, StreetInsider.com reports, analysts at Goldman Sachs announced that Boeing stock has fallen far enough to finally justify a buy rating, sending shares up 6.5% in early morning trading on Monday. As of 10:35 a.m. EDT today, it was still up 3.2%. "The extreme challenges facing [Boeing] are well-known and widely discussed," Goldman said, and at this point, "sentiment is near an all-time low," as are expectations, "and a lot of bad news is priced in." Now, investors are worried if Boeing can simply remain solvent through the coming recession. In this regard, though, Goldman is unequivocal, insisting that air travel will be "as popular as ever" once the COVID-19 outbreak is resolved (says TheFly.com), and that Boeing will remain in business through the crisis. Goldman has crunched the numbers and determined that between the $10 billion in cash Boeing had on hand at the time of its last earnings report, the $13.8 billion in loans it has taken out since, and the $4.6 billion a year saved from suspending its dividend, the company can survive going even "deeply negative" on free cash flow this year. Now what Goldman assumes that Boeing won't deliver a single 737 MAX before Q4, and that airlines that had ordered the plane will defer deliveries until at least then. But in other respects, Goldman said, "the news could turn more positive, if travel bans eventually let up, if the U.S. federal government provides assistance to the airlines and separately to the U.S. aerospace manufacturing ecosystem." Furthermore, there's at least a chance that air travel regulators will approve the 737 MAX for a return to flight in the interim. Even if no airlines actually buy the plane before Q4 (because demand for air travel is so low right now), that would be a catalyst that could lift Boeing stock. Goldman Sachs now values Boeing stock at $173, in addition to rating it a buy. Researchers at Osaka University are helping to power portable sensors that do not use batteries by generating electricity from heat that is otherwise wasted Osaka, Japan - Interconnected healthcare and many other future applications will require internet connectivity between billions of sensors. The devices that will enable these applications must be small, flexible, reliable, and environmentally sustainable. Researchers must develop new tools beyond batteries to power these devices, because continually replacing batteries is difficult and expensive. In a study published in Advanced Materials Technologies, researchers from Osaka University have revealed how the thermoelectric effect, or converting temperature differences into electricity, can be optimally used to power small, flexible devices. Their study has shown why thermoelectric device performance to date has not yet reached its full potential. Thermoelectric power generators have many advantages. For example, they are self-sustaining and self-powered, have no moving parts, and are stable and reliable. Solar power and vibrational power do not have all of these advantages. Aviation and many other industries use the thermoelectric effect. However, applications to thin, flexible displays are in their infancy. Many researchers have optimized device performance solely from the standpoint of the thermoelectric materials themselves. "Our approach is to also study the electrical contact, or the switch that turns the device on and off," explains Tohru Sugahara, corresponding author of the study. "The efficiency of any device critically depends on the contact resistance." In their study, the researchers used advanced engineering to make a bismuth telluride semiconductor on a 0.4-gram, 100-square-millimeter flexible, thin polymer film. This device weighs less than a paperclip, and is smaller than the size of an adult fingernail. The researchers obtained a maximum output power density of 185 milliwatts per square centimeter. "The output power meets standard specifications for portable and wearable sensors," says Sugahara. However, approximately 40% of the possible output power from the device was lost because of contact resistance. In the words of Sugahara: "Clearly, researchers should focus on improving the thermal and electrical contact resistance to improve power output even further." Japan's Society 5.0 initiative, aimed at helping everyone live and work together, proposes that the entirety of society will become digitalized. Such a future requires efficient ways to interconnect our devices. Technological insights, such as those by Ekubaru, co-lead author, and Sugahara, are necessary to make this dream a reality. ### The article, "Fabrication and characterization of ultra-lightweight, compact, and flexible thermoelectric device based on highly refined chip mounting" was published in Advanced Materials Technologies at DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/admt.201901128. About Osaka University Osaka University was founded in 1931 as one of the seven imperial universities of Japan and now has expanded to one of Japan's leading comprehensive universities. The University has now embarked on open research revolution from a position as Japan's most innovative university and among the most innovative institutions in the world according to Reuters 2015 Top 100 Innovative Universities and the Nature Index Innovation 2017. The university's ability to innovate from the stage of fundamental research through the creation of useful technology with economic impact stems from its broad disciplinary spectrum. Website: https://resou.osaka-u.ac.jp/en/top (TNS) How will we get through the coronavirus outbreak? One important pathway goes through your smartphone and computer.Telemedicine, which allows doctors to consult with patients remotely, has emerged as a vital way to cope with the growing surge in demand for medical services and to keep health workers safer.Providers are using virtual visits to screen for COVID-19 cases and handle routine inquiries and the chronically ill. Theyre proving effective in comforting people who are anxious about the outbreak, the so-called walking worried.Telemedicine also saves masks, gowns and key supplies, which are in high demand for dealing with the pandemic.Patients are eagerly embracing this approach, in part to avoid going to clinics and waiting rooms where they might be exposed. Limiting face-to-face encounters also helps protect health workers and support staff, who are concerned about their exposure and the possibility of scared patients descending on clinics and emergency rooms.Telemedicine is enabling companies to recruit badly needed personnel, including retired doctors and nurses. Even physicians who are isolating at home and recovering from the virus are able to help patients remotely.Can you imagine how much worse this would be if we didnt have all these docs doing telemedicine? said Dr. Paul Hain , chief medical officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. Theyre telling the appropriate people to stay home.Many physicians in North Texas are having to radically shift their practices. Last month, virtual visits accounted for about 1% of care provided by members of the Catalyst Health Network in Plano, which has about 800 doctors with over 1 million patients Soon, over 80% of their visits could be through telehealth, said Dr. Christopher Crow , Catalysts president.Were seeing a 180-degree change in how primary care medicine has been practiced in just a week or two, Crow said on Friday. Were doing 10,000, 12,000 virtual visits a day on our network, and that number could double by next week.In some major cities, telehealth capacity has been overwhelmed by the demand, leading to long delays. The Cleveland Clinic had a 15-fold increase in telehealth visits in a week, and Jefferson Health, near Philadelphia, had a 20-fold increase, according to STAT , a medicine and life science news website.One expert told STAT the technology could handle the astounding volumes, but providers needed more clinicians.In Dallas-Fort Worth, leading players said theyve been able to keep up with the growing number of calls despite some delays. But the pandemic has been spreading here later than in some population centers, and there are concerns about the coming surge.At Parkland Health & Hospital System, telemedicine volumes have grown exponentially, said Dr. Joseph Chang , chief medical officer. Thats been by design.We do not have backlogs in patients waiting to be seen at least at this point in time, Chang wrote in an email.Last week, UT Southwestern Medical Center trained 750 doctors and advanced practitioners so they could do video consults. The local leader in academic medicine was doing about 300 virtual visits a day and expects that number to eventually top 1,000 visits a day.Texas Health Resources said over 200 primary care doctors were just trained in telemedicine and will be boosting the number of virtual visits this week. The company expects the added capacity to be especially useful in helping patients manage chronic conditions and routine medications.Last week, Baylor Scott & White Health processed over 74,000 digital screenings for people concerned about COVID-19. That led to 14,000 virtual consults, Baylor said, and within a week it had trained another 120 clinicians to support the telehealth effort.My routine office visits have been cut in half, and Im doing all those by telemedicine, said Dr. David Winter , who practices internal medicine, leads a large doctors group and serves on the Baylor board. This is going to change the way we care for patients.Baylor has an app, MyBSWHealth , that has over 400,000 unique visitors a month, and many use it to schedule appointments and message doctors. Its now available to anyone who wants a COVID-19 screening, which can be followed by a virtual visit.Baylor urges people to call if theyre worried and to prevent overcrowding at hospitals, especially as the outbreak intensifies. To get a link to the app, text Better to 88408.Last week, Winter sent a patient to the emergency department for an escalating neurological condition, and he said the department was pretty jammed.We have to get the word out, Winter said. There are other illnesses besides COVID and these folks need attention also.Teladoc Health, the countrys largest telemed provider, reported 100,000 virtual visits in a recent one-week period. That was an increase of 50%, and over half of this months callers were first-time visitors. The growth trend has continued, Dr. Jason Tibbels , chief quality officer, said on Friday.In response, Teladoc has brought on hundreds of physicians in the past 10 days and built up its support teams. That includes adding more nurses to follow up with patients and coordinate with local public health officials. In addition to the swell from coronavirus, theres been a big increase in patients who dont have respiratory illness or other COVID-19 symptoms.The normal things have not gone away, and a lot of people dont want to go to the doctor in person, Tibbels said.Teladoc, whose Lewisville operations hub has over 600 employees, conducted over 4.1 million virtual visits last year. Thats up from just under 1 million in 2016, and management had projected 5.7 million visits this year before the impact of the new coronavirus.Virtual care will never be the same on the other side of this, Tibbels said. Weve talked a lot about the inflection point in virtual medicine. Forget about the inflection point weve shifted the whole curve upward.Part of telemedicines appeal is its convenience. At Teladoc, patients can access care at any hour, any day of the week. Last year, the median wait time for a general medical visit was less than 10 minutes, according to one of Teladocs regulatory filings.Currently, Teladocs website warns about extended waits.People are waiting everywhere," Tibbels said. "But on a virtual visit, theyre waiting in the safest place possible likely their own homes, he said.Telemedicine has been getting a big lift from the government during the pandemic. The White House coronavirus task force has frequently talked up the value of virtual visits, and last week the Trump administration expanded telehealth access for Medicare patients.For many years, Texas officials and medical leaders resisted telehealth in the state , and Teladoc had to win many court battles to bring its service here. But Gov. Greg Abbott recently took several steps to encourage more virtual visits.He directed the states medical and nursing boards to fast-track temporary licensing for out-of-state doctors, nurses, physician assistants and certain retired physicians. That will increase the supply of providers for telemedicine and in-person visits, Abbott said.He also called for an emergency rule requiring health plans to pay the same reimbursement rates for virtual visits as for traditional office appointments. Thats long been an issue in the industry.One problem with the governors order: It doesnt include self-insured plans in Texas, which is how many large employers handle their health coverage.In Dallas-Fort Worth, self-insured plans account for about two-thirds of revenue for many independent physicians, said Crow of Catalyst Health.Doctors are urging federal and state leaders to find a way to ensure that virtual visits are paid on par in all health plans. Thats especially important today because local practices have moved more doctors and support staff to telemedicine, which is accounting for most of their business.These primary care physician offices are just like any small business, Crow said. If theyre not able to get paid for telehealth visits, then theyre not going to be able to make payroll.Its one more gap being exposed by the coronavirus that needs to be plugged.Its a big, big freakin deal, Crow said. At 11:30 a.m. in Kandals Takmao district, garment workers, many with surgical masks covering their faces, are streaming out of a factory during their lunch break. As they pass the factory gate, they wash their hands with alcohol, repeating the safety measure when they return. Buying rice outside the factory, Sae Vuthy, who sews garments, said the factory was providing alcohol to sanitize their hands, checking their temperatures and has even given them masks to wear on the factory floor. Factory managers had instructed them to maintain hygiene standards, she added. We were told to wear a mask often and to not go anywhere there was no sanitation, she said. She has been washing her hands frequently and using an alcohol-based gel to wash her hands. The measures have been necessitated by the spike in coronavirus cases reported in Cambodia in the last three weeks. As of Monday morning, there were 86 confirmed cases, with the last 10 days registering at least 80 of those cases. The government has ordered the closure of private and public schools, cinemas, and public gatherings. In the last week, Vietnam and Thailand have also closed their land borders with Cambodia, though the transfer of goods is expected to continue. But, the government has not ordered businesses to enforce work-from-home policies nor called for the closure of private enterprises. This has created concern among garment workers, who often work in cramped spaces and unsanitary conditions. The Better Factories Cambodia compliance report for exporting garment factories showed that 30 percent of factories did not have adequate hand washing facilities and adequate soap. Additionally, Sixty-one percent did not have adequate accessible toilets. Sae Vuthy was concerned she was seated very close to her colleagues, which put her at risk of potentially contracting the respiratory disease. I'm really afraid of that. But we have to work because if we dont work we dont have money, she said. Ath Thorn, president of the Cambodian Labor Confederation, said overcrowding in factories had the potential to exasperate the viral crisis, but that factory closures would result in heavy economic losses. He added that unions had been asked factory owners to ensure better sanitary and screening measures on the factory floor, and some were responding. The companies are also taking measures because they are worried that if there are one or two infected people at their factory, their company might have a problem, he said. VOA Khmer could not be reached for comment by Ken Loo, secretary-general of the Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia (GMAC) and Kaing Monika, deputy secretary-general. However, when the Cambodian Confederation of Unions released a statement last week raising concerns over worker safety during the pandemic, GMAC dismissed those concerns in their statement by saying factories had made worker safety a top priority. Heng Sour, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Labor, said no factories had stopped operations on account of the viral disease, but that the key was to keep workers safe during their transit to and from work. When they come to work, they have to meet no new customers, like in restaurants or elsewhere, so they work with their colleagues who are already safe, Heng Sour said. Victorian schools will remain open this week for vulnerable children and for those whose parents work in essential services, despite the state government's decision to end the first term on Monday. The Education Department has clarified that the early end to the school term would not apply to all students, with up to 30 per cent of teachers and staff working on-site for those who need supervision. The clarification comes as attendance data from one prominent school management system indicates 45 per cent of students in Australia were not at school on Monday. Rollcall data from Compass, which is used in more than 1800 schools, shows 45 per cent of students in those schools were missing on Monday, up from 27.5 per cent on Friday and 18.5 per cent on Monday last week. The worldwide economic storm called coronavirus is proving more sinister than anything that could reasonably have been foreseen, and the financial fallout has caught nearly everybody by surprise. However our company this week, the Danish group Orsted, may be in a better space than most. For a long time it was only the so-called ethical investors who showed any guilt about investing in companies that made bombs or strong drink or used child labour. These days the big 'no no' for the fund manager with a conscience is either having a cavalier attitude to carbon emissions or upsetting Greta Thunberg. Orsted meets all the requirements for the modern carbon-obsessed punter. It has put itself miles ahead of the curve by jettisoning its oil and gas business and pivoted towards wind energy. Previously known as Danish Oil and Natural Gas, Orsted has its headquarters in Copenhagen and was set up in 1972 to exploit the country's oil and gas resources in its sector of the North Sea. It has had a few incarnations. It was once called DONG Energy to reflect its expansion into the electricity market. But a decade ago Orsted turned its attention to wind energy. Six years ago it sold an 18pc stake to Goldman Sachs and a further 7pc to Danish pension funds, but the nation of Denmark still retains half of the shares. This deal caused a cabinet crisis in Copenhagen at the time and six ministers resigned in protest. Orsted subsequently became a listed company but the Danish government still holds a majority stake, though it plans to reduce its holding. The company has certainly captured the zeitgeist by turning its back on fossil fuels, embracing onshore and offshore wind power, and laying very serious claim to being the world's leading offshore wind developer. It possesses a quarter of the global market. Shortly after the group embraced wind power it sold its oil and gas business and offloaded its LNG (liquefied natural gas) business to the mining giant Glencore. It also hopes to make a decisive break from coal power. Orsted has taken its offshore wind developer role seriously and bought up operations across Europe, which accounts for 80pc of global wind power. Last year the company won contracts in Taiwan and is eyeing Japan and South Korea with their significant nuclear industries. Two years ago it entered the US market by acquiring Deepwater Wind Company, which it hopes will provide a foothold in this developing market. The group's chief executive, Henrik Poulsen, harbours an ambition for Orsted to become the world's first green energy super major, like Exxon managed in the field of fossil fuels. Whether that is possible is a moot point as some analysts reckon green energy can never be as profitable as oil or gas. The sceptics may indeed have good reason for saying this. Orsted still generates only a fraction of the power that the big oil majors can muster. However the markets increasingly believe Orsted is on the right track. Its change in direction has doubled its share price since its listing four years ago. Earnings rose 17pc last year, exceeding expectations. To some its share price performance may be inflated by the investor rush into green shares amid increased recognition that the energy sector is changing. Orsted plans to double its wind capacity in the next five years, but significant question marks hang over the group's growth plan. Some analysts feel it is too reliant on attracting new business outside Europe. However Orsted has the potential to become a large business in a short period of time. This year the Danish government may reduce its shareholding, so Orsted could become a takeover target. But in today's chaotic business environment, who really knows? Nothing in this section should be taken as a recommendation, either explicit or implicit, to buy any share mentioned. (CNN) The UK government said Friday that it will subsidize the wages of any worker facing unemployment because of the coronavirus pandemic as it ordered the closure of pubs and restaurants to try to contain the outbreak. Unveiling an unprecedented intervention by the state in the British economy, finance minister Rishi Sunak told reporters that the government will cover 80% of worker salaries for at least the next three months up to a maximum of 2,500 ($2,900) a month, which is more than the average income. Sunak said the measures would apply to all companies, large or small. The measure was part of a bigger rescue package for British businesses, including tax relief totaling 30 billion and interest-free loans for up to 12 months. A deep recession is looming as activity across the economy grinds to a halt. In recent days, the UK government has been criticized for not taking the coronavirus outbreak seriously enough, and relying on citizens to practice social distancing rather than simply shutting down bars and restaurants. Speaking at the same news conference, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced stricter measures to enforce social distancing, including the enforced closures of pubs, restaurants, theaters, cinemas and gyms. Johnson said establishments would be closed to the public starting Saturday but they could continue to offer food to go. He said he was confident the "tide could be turned" in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak, but people needed to stay away from one another. Sunak said the government has never had a program on this scale to pay wages and had to build its system "from scratch," he said, adding that "unlimited funding" is available. The first payments would be made within weeks, with the program fully up and running by the end of April. Companies and employees will respond with "relief and determination," said Carolyn Fairbairn, the director general of the Confederation of British Industry, a business lobby group. "It marks the start of the UK's economic fightback an unparalleled joint effort by enterprise and government to help our country emerge from this crisis with the minimum possible damage," she said in a statement. Mike Hawes, CEO of the UK's Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said in a statement that the measures will come as a "huge relief" to car companies, their workers and families. He said 99% of the UK automotive industry had come to a halt, meaning "thousands of businesses are counting their future not in months or weeks, but in days." The measures come on top of programs unveiled by the UK government earlier in the week to support individuals and businesses, including 330 billion in loan guarantees and suspending local business taxes for the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors for 12 months. Mortgage providers have also agreed to delay payments for three months for people affected by the coronavirus. Britain's rescue package goes even further than similar dramatic interventions unveiled by governments in Denmark and Australia in recent days. Companies in Denmark that would otherwise be forced to cut staff by 30% or lose more than 50 people will receive government funds to cover 75% of their wage bills for three months, the Ministry of Employment said in a statement on Sunday. The compensation is capped at 23,000 Danish krone ($3,300) per employee. Australia is giving 6.7 billion Australian dollars ($3.9 billion) to 690,000 small businesses employing around 7.8 million people, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced last week. UK recession inevitable Deutsche Bank economists expect UK GDP to contract by 4% this year, as the economy is hit by weaker global growth, a slowdown in Europe, its largest trading partner, supply chain disruptions and a drop in business activity related to social distancing measures. If the spread and duration of the coronavirus is larger and longer than anticipated, the economy could shrink by as much 6%, making this "the worst recession for a century," they said in a research note Friday. Charles Riley, Julia Horowitz and Lindsay Isaac contributed to this report. This was first published on CNN.com, "UK government will pay 80% of wages as it closes pubs to fight coronavirus." The Daily Beast Scott Olson/GettyDonald Trump abruptly ended an interview with NPR on Tuesday after he was repeatedly called out on his baseless claims of election fraud in the 2020 presidential election.A video of the interview, published Wednesday morning, shows Trump becoming increasingly irritated as NPRs Steve Inskeep asks him why hes still pushing debunked conspiracy theories about his 2020 defeat.After Inskeep told the ex-president that his fraud claims have repeatedly been proven false, the reporter a About the authors: Dr. Douphrate is an associate professor and Dr. Rodriguez is a research coordinator at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. The recent COVID-19 events and realities are unprecedented. We are truly seeing history being made that will have an effect on the dairy industry and society as a whole. The objectives of this article are threefold: Provide a simple explanation of the COVID-19 virus. Provide simple operational practices that can be considered to minimize or even prevent a disruption of milk production and shipment. Provide measures that workers can take to protect themselves and mitigate the spread of COVID-19. With a little contingency planning and preparation, the industry can survive the potential hardships and challenges related to this virus. Editors note: To read the Spanish version of this article, click on this link: Pasos que puede tomar para evitar la introduccion y transmision de COVID-19 en su lecheria. COVID-19: What is it? Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new type of coronavirus that was first detected among citizens of Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, in December 2019. In the United States (U.S.), our first case was confirmed on January 20, 2020, in the state of Washington. As of early this week (March 15 to 20, 2020), all states and territories have active cases totaling over 11,200 and 162 deaths. COVID-19 is transmitted easily from person-to-person via air or sweat droplets and can survive on surfaces for 24 to 48 hours. The most common symptoms of infection include fever, dry cough, and shortness of breath. Depending on age and chronic medical conditions, illness caused by COVID-19 can be very mild (almost no symptoms) to severe, including possible death. COVID-19 is now a pandemic a global outbreak of the disease. The situation in the U.S. is quickly changing day-by-day and affecting the daily lives of many, including dairy farmers. We strongly encourage you to take this unprecedented situation very seriously and rely on facts and guidance as presented by official organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other state and federal bodies. You should have a plan and the related actions from that plan are required NOW to ensure the health and safety of your workers as well as to mitigate disruptions in the dairy supply chain. Your role and responsibility are of national interest and our nations food security is paramount. Fifteen farm management strategies There are many online resources on how to prevent or mitigate the spread of COVID-19. OSHA has published guidance on preparing the workplace for COVID-19 (found here: https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3990.pdf). Additional resources have been made available by the National Milk Producers Federation which can be found at https://www.nmpf.org/coronavirus/. Here are some additional farm management considerations specific to dairy farm operations: 1. Basic hygiene practices should be practiced at work. Workers should be washing hands frequently using soap and hand sanitizer. Management should communicate the importance of good hygiene practices through signage at various locations throughout the farm. 2. Soap and hand sanitizer should be made available round the farm. This should include locations where there are essential off-farm visitors such as the front office and scale office. 3. Limit close interactions between coworkers. The milking parlor is a work area that often necessitates close interaction among workers. This is the work area that is of most concern for virus transmission between workers. Other areas that can involve close interactions include maternity and hospital operations. Workers who show signs or report symptoms of COVID-19 should not be allowed to work or be on the farm. 4. Encourage workers to stay 6 to 10 feet apart and communicate via radios or cellphones. Work meetings should be limited when possible. Meetings should be held in a well-ventilated area or outside space. When group meetings do take place workers should be adequately spaced apart a minimum of 6 feet to mitigate possible virus transmission. 5. Workers should avoid handshaking. Employ other greeting methods like elbow and foot taps or distance waves. Food and beverage sharing between workers should be discouraged. 6. All hard surfaces should be disinfected regularly. Recent studies have reported that active COVID-19 can remain airborne from 30 minutes up to three hours; on cardboard materials up to 24 hours, on stainless steel up to two days, and on plastic up to three days. A critical analysis of all work and product surfaces should be undertaken to identify which materials should undergo some form of a sanitization or cleansing. This includes two-way radios, cellphones, machinery cabs, office areas and desks, restrooms, break room surfaces, lockers, door handles, switches, time clocks, and any other surface that might provide an opportunity for virus transmission. Items should be disinfected at least twice a day using Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered antimicrobial products for use against COVID-19 found here. Workers or teams on each shift should be assigned the responsibility to disinfect regularly used areas and surfaces. Communicate to these workers the importance of this task, and the success of the farm depends on their efforts and diligence. 7. Workers should wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment or PPE. This includes gloves, goggles, aprons, masks when necessary and replace as needed. 8. All worker uniforms should be cleaned or laundered daily. 9. Workers should be cross-trained to allow them to perform different job tasks on the farm in the event of limited staffing. 10. Nonessential off-farm visitors should not be allowed on the farm. When off-farm vendors come on the dairy site, their visit should be recorded with visitor name, purpose, and time. Only essential personnel should be allowed in the tank room. Food delivery vendors should be organized on a pre-order basis, with currency exchange and delivery of orders taking place away from farm operations. Social visits by family members of workers should not be allowed on the farm. 11. A single entry/exit to the farm should be maintained continuously to control non-essential workers or visitors from gaining access to the farm. 12. Inquire if there are family or friends of workers that would be interested in filling roles in case of a shortage due to COVID-19. Students on extended break or completing online courses the balance of the school year may be an option in this situation. 13. Consider talking with neighboring dairies about sharing workers if one dairy finds themselves in a worker shortage crisis. 14. Critical supply contingency planning should be undertaken to identify alternative suppliers of essential products. 15. Strong leadership and effective communication from owners, managers, and supervisors on a daily basis is key to ensure non-disruption of milk production. Worker hygiene practices To keep your dairy safe from COVID-19, encourage your employees to do the following: 1. Encourage workers to wash their hands regularly both at work and at home. COVID-19 can be prevented from entering the cells on the skin by washing hands with soap for 20 seconds or more the equivalent of the Alphabet song once or the Happy Birthday song twice. When hand washing is not feasible, provide hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. This information is readily available on the back of all hand sanitizer bottles. Workers should avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth. Urge workers to practice covering their mouths and noses when coughing or sneezing, and to dispose of any used tissues. 2. Remind your workers that COVID-19 prevention does not stop at home. Encourage workers to continue practicing good hand washing hygiene at home and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces. Other suggestions include: increasing ventilation by opening windows and doors, creating an emergency contact list, assigning a room in the house to be used to separate sick household members, stocking up on nonperishable food items and hygiene products enough for 14 days; and, if they have children dismissed from school or daycare, learning about their plan for continued education. One important practice to encourage is social distancing. Urge workers to cancel nonessential travel, events, or social gatherings this includes crowds with 10 or more people. In case of large households consisting of related and nonrelated dairy farm coworkers, encourage them to agree on a consistent COVID-19 prevention plan for the household. Remind them that the actions of one person can have consequences for the rest of the household, including the elderly and those with compromised immune systems and chronic medical conditions. 3. Workers should know COVID-19 symptoms. COVID-19 is spreading through everyones community. Encourage workers to avoid close contact with sick people. Symptoms appear 2 to 14 days after exposure. Here are the most prevalent symptoms your workers should be aware of: fever (above 99.5F or 37.5C), dry cough, shortness of breath. Advise your workers to seek medical care immediately for evaluation if they believe they are sick. Workers should be advised to report any symptoms to dairy management as soon as possible. Prevention of transmission of COVID-19 among dairy farm workers is vital. Supervisors should interact with each worker daily to assess any signs or symptoms of COVID-19. This practice will reinforce a proactive prevention culture on the farm. To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com. (c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2020 March 23, 2020 President Donald Trump took to his favorite communication medium, Twitter, late Sunday night to offer his latest take on the coronavirus pandemic that is sweeping across the U.S. WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF, Trump wrote. AT THE END OF THE 15 DAY PERIOD, WE WILL MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHICH WAY WE WANT TO GO! The message has led to another question from some: What 15-day period? For those unaware, the White House announced its slow the spread campaign on March 16 to encourage things like social distancing, frequent hand washing, and working from home. The period ends next Tuesday, March 31, and per Trump, the next steps will be decided then as the nation grapples with the economic challenges of forced business shutdowns, travel reductions, and more. Heres the full White House 15-day plan release: "While the President leads a nationwide response, bringing together government resources and private-sector ingenuity, every American can help slow the virus spread and keep our most high-risk populations safe: Listen to and follow the directions of your state and local authorities. If you feel sick, stay home . Do not go to work. Contact your medical provider. If your children are sick , keep them at home. Contact your medical provider. If someone in your household has tested positive for the Coronavirus , keep the entire household at home. If you are an older American , stay home and away from other people. If you are a person with a serious underlying health conditionsuch as a significant heart or lung problemstay home and away from other people. "Todays guidelines build on the CDCs general recommendations to help prevent spread of the virus. Americans should continue practicing strict personal hygiene, including washing hands regularly for at least 20 seconds at a time and wiping down surfaces in the home often. Even if you are young and otherwise healthy, you are at riskand your activities can increase the risk of contracting the Coronavirus for others. Everyone can do their part. More of PennLives coronavirus coverage: NEWTOWN BOROUGH >> The Newtown Borough Council welcomes the new year with three new members of council and a new borough mayor. District Court Judge Mick Petrucci was on hand on January 3 to administer the oath of office to the towns new mayor, Republican John Burke, who replaces longtime mayor Charles Corky Swartz who decided not to run for... A pedestrian walks by a coronavirus themed piece by street artist @jespaints on Front Street near Berks Street in Philadelphia. Read more Hi everyone! Im Ellie Silverman, a reporter on the Inquirers breaking news team. Were revamping our nightly coronavirus newsletter to give you a deeper look at how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting your lives. Well have the stats for you on the number of cases in the region, the latest news about testing, medical breakthroughs, and government orders, and a few stories that will take your mind off of the outbreak. Im always looking for story ideas (literally), so feel free to reach out with any questions or tips. Our coverage is all facts, no panic, and free to access. Make sure you check Inquirer.com/coronavirus for the latest news and please feel free to tell your family and friends to sign up. TL;DR: Gov. Tom Wolf wants you to stay home if you live in one of seven Pennsylvania counties. Ill tell you what that means and whom it impacts. He also announced statewide school closures that (for now) last into April. In medical developments, the race to find a vaccine is moving quickly but still seems to be more than a year away. And, in major international news, the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo are looking like theyll be postponed. Ellie Silverman (@esilverman11, health@inquirer.com) Recent developments / what you need to know: There have been hundreds of reported coronavirus cases in the Philadelphia region. Track the spread here. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf ordered people to stay at home if they live in Philadelphia, Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Monroe, or Montgomery Counties. Wolf also announced all Pennsylvania K-12 schools will remain closed at least through April 6. New Jersey schools are closed indefinitely. Pennsylvania is poised to move the states primary election from April 28 to June 2. A member of the International Olympic Committee says the the 2020 Tokyo Olympics are expected to be postponed due to the new coronavirus pandemic. Local coronavirus cases As of Monday afternoon, heres how many cases have been confirmed in the Philadelphia area: PHILADELPHIA: 128 confirmed cases (up from 96 on March 22) SUBURBAN PA: 266 confirmed cases (up from 212 on March 22) SOUTH JERSEY: 82 confirmed cases (up from 58 on March 22) The counties hardest hit by the spread of the new coronavirus will soon be facing more severe restrictions. Gov. Tom Wolfs stay-at-home order requires you to stay inside, unless you need to make an essential trip, like going to the grocery store or seeking medical help. The order, which goes into effect at 8 p.m. and last two weeks, applies to Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties in the southeast, Monroe County in the northeast, and Allegheny County in Western Pennsylvania. This comes a day after Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney issued a similar order for the citys 1.6 million residents and just days after Wolf ordered all but life-sustaining businesses in Pennsylvania to shut down. Before we can recover, Wolf said Monday, we must survive. Scientists are racing to develop a vaccine for the new coronavirus, but even at their most rapid pace, the end result could be a year and a half away. Though this may seem like an extremely long time to all of us who are not scientists, my colleague Tom Avril reports that 18 months would actually be the fastest development of a vaccine yet. It usually takes years, even decades, to design a vaccine, prove that its safe and that it works and, create a manufacturing facility to mass produce the vaccine. And a vaccine isnt the only thing the medical community is racing for. An intensive care doctor wrote for The Inquirer about desperately needing more vital medical technology such as ventilators. Also, the families of Philadelphias health-care workers are facing painful choices and anxiety as their relatives become the first responders to the outbreak. Lets take a quick break Thanks to you, more homeless animals are being saved around Philly than ever. Who runs the Flyers? These women are behind Grittys voice and the Rage Room. We asked people to watch the same movie this weekend, Rocky, and talk about why they loved it, or in some cases didnt. Heres what they said. Social distancing tip of the day: Enjoy parks, while staying apart Going on a walk or getting some exercise is allowed under the stay-at-home order. Our architecture columnist Inga Saffron writes about the importance of parks and how they can be a place where we can demonstrate our social connectedness only by coming together in the same place at least six feet apart. Have a social distancing tip or question to share? Let us know at health@inquirer.com and your input might be featured in a future edition of this newsletter. What were paying attention to Dont believe everything you hear. You may be reading rumors on social media about the new coronavirus, so here are some guidelines from Mother Jones on avoiding misinformation. The Atlantic writes about how this pandemic spread across the United States and how it could have been avoided. The Amplify Nursing podcast from Penn Nursing that includes a discussion of the coronavirus that, among other things, covers what we should expect in the days and weeks to come. Its not all horrible If youre a senior citizen, immunocompromised, or have an underlying medical condition, you may not feel safe to leave your home to get groceries. Eighteen-year-old Jasleen Gill wants to help. My colleague Erin McCarthy wrote about Jasleens Corona Relief Squad, where she, her 11-year-old brother Ranvir and a few other volunteers, run their own free delivery service to help those who are especially vulnerable during the coronavirus pandemic. We should practice social distancing, but now is also the time to come out and help," Gill said. We as the younger generation have to take care of the older generation." PLEASE NOTE! Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate! All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited! (One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!) KPC Logo This was only possible because of our clients and the KPC Team! NEW YORK, March 18, 2020 Inc. magazine today revealed that K. Parks Consulting, Inc. (KPC) is No. 185 on its inaugural Inc. 5000 Series: Florida list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing Florida-based private companies. Born of the annual Inc. 5000 franchise, this regional list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the Florida economys most dynamic segmentits independent small businesses. We are here to make lives easier The companies on this list show stunning rates of growth across all industries in Florida. Between 2016 and 2018, these 250 private companies had an average growth rate of 302 percent and, in 2018 alone, they employed more than 56,000 people and added $12.6 billion to the Florida economy. Companies based in the Tampa, Miami, and Naples metro areas brought in the highest revenue overall. Complete results of the Inc. 5000 Series: Florida, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, metro area, and other criteria, can be found at inc.com/inc5000-series-florida-2020 starting March 18, 2020. The companies on this list demonstrate just how much the small-business sector impacts Floridas economy, says Inc. editor in chief Scott Omelianuk. Across every single industry, these businesses have posted revenue and growth rates that are beyond impressive, further proving the tenacity of their founders and CEOs. More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000 Regional Series Methodology The 2020 Inc. 5000 Regional Series is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2016 and 2018. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2016. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independentnot subsidiaries or divisions of other companiesas of December 31, 2018. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2016 is $100,000; the minimum for 2018 is $1 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. About Inc. Media The worlds most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit http://www.inc.com. INDIANAPOLIS, March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) today provided an update on the company's clinical trial activities in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company will delay most new study starts and pause enrollment in most ongoing studies. Lilly is continuing ongoing clinical trials for patients who are already enrolled. The COVID-19 pandemic has substantially impacted the global healthcare delivery system, including the conduct of clinical trials. Many healthcare systems have had to restructure operations to prioritize caring for those suffering from COVID-19 and limit or cease other activities. The severe burden on healthcare systems caused by this pandemic has also impaired the ability of many research sites to start new studies or enroll new patients. "Lilly is working hard to alleviate some of the pressure that the global COVID-19 pandemic has placed on our healthcare system. We have repurposed our laboratories to conduct diagnostic testing for patients and we are researching potential therapeutics. In the interest of helping to ensure patient safety and minimizing further stress on the system, Lilly has also decided to take several proactive steps in regard to our clinical trial activities around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic," said Tim Garnett, M.B.B.S., Lilly's chief medical officer. "By delaying most new study starts and pausing enrollment of new patients or healthy volunteers in most ongoing studies, we hope to ease the burden on participating healthcare facilities and allow physicians to focus more of their efforts on combatting COVID-19." Garnett continued, "At the same time, Lilly recognizes that for patients already enrolled in clinical trials, discontinuation would disrupt their treatment and potentially diminish the societal value of the research information to which they are contributing. Therefore, we will maintain ongoing studies, but with study-by-study consideration." Study participants currently enrolled in Lilly clinical trials should continue following study protocols and are encouraged to speak with their physician if they have any concerns. Financial and Operational Impact from COVID-19 At this time, Lilly does not anticipate a change to its 2020 financial guidance as a result of COVID-19. The company continues to take the steps necessary to maintain the supply of all of its medicines around the world. Lilly does not expect adjustments to the previously communicated timelines for ongoing late-stage studies, except for mirikizumab's gastrointestinal (GI) indications. The company continues to monitor all aspects of its business closely in regard to COVID-19. About Eli Lilly and Company Lilly is a global healthcare leader that unites caring with discovery to create medicines that make life better for people around the world. We were founded more than a century ago by a man committed to creating high-quality medicines that meet real needs, and today we remain true to that mission in all our work. Across the globe, Lilly employees work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. To learn more about Lilly, please visit us at www.lilly.com. C-LLY This release contains forward-looking statements regarding Lilly's clinical trial activities, financial guidance, product supply, and COVID-19. These statements are based on management's current expectations, but actual results may differ materially. Other risk factors that may affect the company's results can be found in the company's latest Forms 10-K and 10-Q filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Lilly undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements. SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company Related Links lilly.com A multi-billion pound rescue package to protect Britain's five million self-employed workers could be announced as soon as today. Chancellor Rishi Sunak is preparing the fresh coronavirus economic bailout amid warnings thousands of sole traders will not survive the crisis. He had announced on Friday that the Government would cover 80 per cent of employers' wage bills in a bid to stop mass lay-offs. But following criticism that the self-employed were not receiving a similar level of support, the Treasury has spent the weekend drawing up a new package. Chancellor Rishi Sunak (pictured on Friday) is preparing a multi-billion pound rescue package to protect Britain's five million self-employed workers Banks STILL plan overdraft hike Banks are pressing ahead with plans to raise overdraft rates to nearly 50 per cent despite the risk of customers falling into the red in the coronavirus crisis. High Street banks will all increase the cost to customers within days, meaning millions who use overdrafts responsibly face extortionate interest charges. Consumer experts are calling on banks to delay the move, which follows a change of rules by the City watchdog. Anthony Morrow, of financial advice site OpenMoney, said: 'We all need to do what we can to limit the financial burden that this crisis has created.' The new charges from April 6 come after the Bank of England cut the base rate to an historic low of 0.1 per cent. Nationwide, Santander, HSBC, and TSB have announced rises of up to 39.9 per cent, while NatWest will charge up to 39.49 per cent, and Barclays 35 per cent. Advertisement Amid mounting pressure, more than 2,000 musicians have today written to the Chancellor warning that the outbreak has resulted in the 'complete shutdown of our places of work'. Signatories included musicians in the London Symphony Orchestra, band members in West End musicals such as Mamma Mia! and Strictly Come Dancing vocalist Lance Ellington. The British Chamber of Commerce last night warned that sole traders across the country were seeing their livelihoods 'vanish in the blink of an eye'. Dr Adam Marshall, director general of the BCC, said: 'While we understand the complexity involved, there are five million self-employed people who need help similar in scale and scope to that put in place for larger firms in recent days. We will work closely with ministers to find a way to deliver support to self-employed people and to ensure that the measures announced for larger businesses make it through quickly to the front line.' CBI director general Dame Carolyn Fairbairn said the Chancellor's rescue package last week had saved millions of jobs. Mr Sunak announced on Friday (pictured) that the Government would cover 80 per cent of employers' wage bills in a bid to stop mass lay-offs But she contrasted his pledge to provide 80 per cent of employees' wages up to 2,500 per month with the support given to the self-employed, who were told to claim Universal Credit or statutory sick pay at a rate of 94 per week. On Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday show, Dame Carolyn said it was 'not enough for the self-employed to live on'. Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: 'It is operationally very difficult to create a scheme akin to [the bailout] for the self-employed but we are reviewing this. If there are further steps we need to do, we will take them.' One of the suggestions is to copy Norway, where the government will pay self-employed workers grants of 80 per cent of their average income over the past three years. In addition to the workers' bailout, the airline industry on the brink of disaster due to grounded flights may benefit from a separate deal. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-24 02:40:41|Editor: yan Video Player Close NICOSIA, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Cyprus authorities announced on Monday 21 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the country's total to 116. Monday's new cases included 12 which were related to previous cases and three related to the General Hospital in Paphos, according to the Health Ministry. Government spokesman Kyriakos Kousios said the authorities are certain that there will not be any more COVID-19 cases imported from other countries because of a ban on flights which came into effect on Saturday. However, he said, health authorities are concerned over the spread of the virus as a result of local infections as hundreds of citizens are disregarding calls for restricting their movements voluntarily. He said he was shocked by the lack of self-discipline and the sight of hundreds of people going on mass outings on Sunday in popular seaside spots, taking along their barbecues. Similar scenes were recorded on social media, which showed people organizing barbecues in mountain spots. President Nicos Anastasiades chaired a ministerial meeting on Monday to consider developments and possible new measures, such as a mandatory ban on movement in line with several other European Union countries. Anastasiades will make a televised address later in the evening. Kousios, the spokesman, said any ban on movement will only come into effect after an approval by Cyprus' top lawyer, the Attorney General, who must rubber stamp any restriction on the freedom of movement. Meanwhile, authorities in the Turkish-controlled part of Cyprus announced four new confirmed cases since Sunday, with its tally now at 39. Thus the total for the eastern Mediterranean island rose to 155. Your browser does not support the audio element. Three patients of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), including a medical doctor, were confirmed on Monday morning, as Vietnam's Ministry of Health announced the countrys tally had ascended to 116. The doctor followed in the footsteps of two nurses in Hanoi who were diagnosed with COVID-19 last week. Patient No. 114 is a 19-year-old overseas Vietnamese student returning from the Netherlands on March 15 on board flight SQ176, which transited Singapore. The Hanoi resident was screened upon entry into Vietnam but his test returned negative. He was thus sent to a quarantine zone in Son Tay Town, Hanoi. He suffered a fever and sore throat on March 19 so the patient was admitted to the second branch of the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Dong Anh, a rural district of Hanoi, for isolation. His test returned positve for the virus at the hospital on Saturday and the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology confirmed the result later. He is being treated and quarantined in stable health at the Dong Anh branch of the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases. Patient No. 115 lives in the Czech Republic. The 44-year-old Vietnamese patient is patient No. 94s daughter and traveled on seat 28C with four of her family members on flight SU290 from the European country to Vietnam. Her flight, carrying patient No. 93 on seat 27B and patient No. 94 on seat 28A, landed at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on March 18. She tested negative upon entry and was transferred alongside patient No. 94 to a collective isolation zone in Bac Giang Province, about 50 kilometers east of Hanoi. The Dong Anh branch of the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases diagnosed her on March 20 and the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology then confirmed it. She is being treated and quarantined at the hospital in stable health. Patient No. 116 is a 29-year-old doctor in the emergency care ward of the Dong Anh branch of the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases. He has joined the national fight against COVID-19 since January 31, screening suspected cases, treating infected patients, and providing emergency care for some critically ill people. He wore protective suits at work and stayed in isolation areas for health workers at the hospital after work. He started having a sore throat on March 19 and began coughing and suffering muscle pain together with a fever one day later. He self-isolated in the buffer zone of the emergency care ward on Saturday and his test returned positive the same day. He is the first medical doctor to be infected with the virus in Vietnam. Those health workers who worked with him are being monitored. Their first tests came back negative on Saturday. Patient No. 116 is being treated and quarantined at the hospital in stable health. Two nurses went down with COVID-19 on Friday last week. The two work at Bach Mai Hospital in the capital, according to a report by the Ministry of Health. They are the first health workers to be infected with the virus in Vietnam. Vietnam has confirmed 116 COVID-19 patients, with 17 having been discharged from the hospital. The country has barred entry to all foreign nationals, including people of Vietnamese origin and their relatives who hold visa exemption documents, to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. It has required all passengers to fill out health declaration forms when traveling on long-haul buses, trains, tourist boats, and domestic flights. The government has advised people to avoid close contact and mass gatherings, while shuttering bars, pubs, clubs, massage parlors, karaoke lounges, and online game centers in major cities to slow the virus spread. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! CALGARY, Alberta, March 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FluroTech Ltd. (TSXV: TEST) (OTCQB: FLURF), a technology company focused on becoming the standard in the analytical Cannabis and Hemp testing market, is pleased to announce it has entered into an non-exclusive US distribution agreement with North Carolina based HempLab Inc. The distribution agreement provides for FluroTech and HempLab to work together to introduce the CompleTestTM to regulatory bodies and law enforcement agencies on the east coast of the United States with the goal of having CompleteTestTM become an approved testing device to accurately determine if a sample of biomass contains more than 0.3% THC, the legal limit to be classified as Hemp under the USDA guidelines. HempLabs Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder John Herring, brings over 25 years of experience in law enforcement and a keen understanding of how new technology can help alleviate compliance testing, including the ability to identify the difference between Hemp and Marijuana, which is an issue currently backlogging the cannabis industry. HempLab has selected the CompleTestTM as the technology it wishes to promote as it believes it provides an accurate, easy-to-use, portable testing solution to law enforcement, licensed growers and dispensary owners. Its imperative that law enforcement seek out new technologies that will assist in expediting the process of determining what substance our officers are dealing with, stated Mr. Herring. The CompleTestTM device has the ability to efficiently delivers rapid and accurate results. This is absolutely crucial in our efforts to enforce the transportation of illegal products as well as limiting down time and delays for those transporting legal products. Mr. Herring and his team at HempLab will be actively engaged in introducing the CompleTestTM as the testing solution to be adopted by law enforcement on the east coast of the US. The CompleTestTMs decarboxylated full potency testing makes Hemp compliance testing quick, easy and readily available, stated Rex Kary, Chief Operating Officer at FluroTech. Attracting law enforcement to utilize the CompleTestTM has been a strategic initiative for the Company and Im confident that our product and Mr. Herrings network will allow us to capitalize on the market opportunity that exists. HempLab also serves the agriculture sector focused on growing Hemp for CBD extraction. HempLab will deliver the CompleTestTM device to its customers that not only desire accurate CBD potency results during the growing season but also to ensure their crop is harvested prior to exceeding the legal THC limits About HempLab, Inc. HempLab is a North Carolina based distribution company focused exclusively on the marketing, sales and support of the CompleTestTM device. HempLab was co-founded by CMO David Claassen, CEO John Herring and COO Ken Weeks. In addition, HempLabs CTO is Paul Grzybowski, who previously worked in the research laboratory at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta. To learn more, visit www.HempLab-USA.com Contact Information Ken Weeks Chief Operations Officer 919.522.0491 ken@HempLab-USA.com HempLab, Inc. 2843 Edwards Drive Simpson, NC 27879 info@HempLab-USA.com About FluroTech (TSXV: TEST) (OTCQB: FLURF) FluroTech is a technology and marketing company whose core business is focused on the commercialization of new technologies in the Cannabis and Hemp industries. FluroTechs proprietary spectroscopy-based technology allows for the testing and identification of organic and inorganic compounds contained within biological samples. Using technology that was first developed at the University of Calgary, FluroTech has created a two-part solution comprising a platform technology called the CompleTest and consumable testing kits. Its accuracy has been independently validated. FluroTech continues to develop additional applications for the CompleTest platform technology. To learn more, visit www.FluroTech.com Contact Information Danny Dalla-Longa Chief Executive Officer 403.680.0644 danny@flurotech.com FluroTech Ltd. 7 - 3535 Research Road NW Calgary, AB T2L 2K8 info@flurotech.com This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities. The securities described herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the securities laws of any state and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to or for the benefit or account of U.S. persons, absent such registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information generally refers to information about an issuers business, capital, technology or operations that is prospective in nature, and includes future-oriented financial information about the issuers prospective financial performance or financial position. The forward-looking information in this news release includes disclosure about the Corporations market opportunity, including in respect of US based distributors, and advancements in technology and accuracy of testing. The Company made certain material assumptions, including but not limited to prevailing market conditions and general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties to develop the forward-looking information in this news release. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Actual results may vary from the forward-looking information in this news release due to certain material risk factors described in the Corporations Annual Information Form under the heading Risk Factors and the failure to realize anticipated benefits of the evolving regulations or the advancements in the CompleTestTM technology. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of material risk factors and assumptions is not exhaustive. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking information in this news release, unless it is required to do so under Canadian securities legislation. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of this release. In a bid to return to profitability, LG will change the strategy of its mobile division - it will sell 5G flagships (i.e. LG V60) in North America and Western Europe and moderately-priced flagships (LG G9) in other regions (including South Korea). According to a report from Korea the feature gap between the G-series and the V-series will grow. The LG G9 will practically drop to mid-range status with a Snapdragon 765G chipset and a 1080p-class OLED display. It will be a larger display, 6.7" to 6.9" (up from 6.1" on the G8), perhaps because the larger LG V60 will not be available in the same regions as the G9. With these changes, the LG G9 ThinQ will launch at the end of March at a price of KRW 900,000 ($705/661), according to the unofficial report. That's the same price as the LG G8 last year (of course, the G9 will be a 5G-connected phone, which does add to the cost). The V50 launched at KRW 1.19 million (already available in the US for $800). Anyway, the LG G9 ThinQ is said to pack four cameras on the back, but the final design will be slightly different than the one that leaked in January. There will also be a 4,000mAh battery and a 3.5mm headphone jack with a Quad DAC. The flagship segment is stratifying, the Axon 11 5G also dropped down to a Snapdragon 765G chip, even though premium Axons have been using 800-series chips from the beginning (minis and maxes aside). The new Nokia 8.3 5G picked the same chipset as well. Source (in Korean) | Via 404 This page could not be found . Germany has banned gatherings of more than two people in public at a time just as Chancellor Angela Merkel went into quarantine because of her recent contact with a doctor who had tested positive for coronavirus. Ms Merkel's spokesman said the German chancellor, who is 65, was informed about the doctor's test shortly after holding a news conference yesterday announcing new measures to curb the spread of the virus. For at least the next two weeks, people will not be allowed to form groups of more than two in public unless they live together in the same household or the gathering is work-related. As part of a bundle of stricter rules, restaurants can only offer takeaway services and hairdressers and beauty, massage and tattoo parlours must close. Ms Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert said she had gone to the affected doctor for a precautionary vaccine against pneumococcal infection. Meanwhile, Italy has banned travel within the country in yet another attempt to slow the spread of Covid-19. New data yesterday showed a further 651 people had died from the disease, lifting the number of fatalities to 5,476. The interior and health ministries have now warned people they have to stay where they are, unless urgent business or health reasons forced them to move to another town or region. A month after the first death from the highly infectious virus was registered in Italy, the government also issued an order freezing all business activity deemed non-essential in an effort to keep ever more people at home and off the streets. Among the sectors targeted were the car, clothing and furniture industries. Italy has registered more deaths than any other country in the world, while the number of confirmed cases is second only to China, with the tally rising by 5,560 to 59,138. However, offering a ray of hope, the latest figures represented an improvement on Saturday, when the death toll rose by 793 and new cases increased by 6,557. The number of deaths in Spain rose by nearly 400 in its largest one-day jump to date. More than 1,700 people diagnosed with the coronavirus have now died in Europe's second worst-hit country. France - where the death toll stood at 562 on Saturday - reported its first known death of a doctor from coronavirus. In Britain, Boris Johnson has threatened a total lockdown within 24 hours amid growing concern at the failure of the public to heed demands for 'social distancing' to prevent the coronavirus spreading. He said the UK could follow France, Italy and Spain, where people's movements have been restricted by police, curfews have been imposed, parks closed and all stores except food shops and pharmacies shut. His comments came after a weekend in which thousands of people spurned the government's "stay home" advice to take advantage of weekend sunshine to crowd towns and parks and go shopping. Mr Johnson said: "I don't think you need to use your imagination very much to see where we might have to go, and we will think about this very, very actively in the next 24 hours. "We need to think about the kind of measures we've seen elsewhere - other countries that have been forced to bring in restrictions on people's movements altogether." It came as Mr Johnson also announced 1.5 million people with underlying health conditions and at the highest risk from the coronavirus would be asked to stay at home for at least the next three months, with medicines and pre-ordered food parcels delivered to their doorstep. The UK death toll rose yesterday by 48 in just 24 hours to 281, with 665 new cases pushing the total confirmed to more than 5,600. Those who died included an 18-year-old, Britain's youngest victim. Worldwide, more than 316,000 people have been infected and nearly 13,600 have died. A consignment of over 1.5 million laboratory diagnostic test kits and over 100 tonnes of infection prevention and control commodities arrived in Africa on Monday. The shipment is a donation from Chinese billionaire, Jack Ma, and his foundation, Alibaba. Nigeria and the other 53 African countries will each get 20,000 test kits, 100,000 masks and 1,000 medical use protective suits and face shields, Mr Ma tweeted a week ago. The donation arrived in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, and was received by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the Ethiopian government. This relief initiative, led by African Union, and facilitated by the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, is part of the actions towards implementation of the Africa joint continental strategy for COVID-19, the Africa CDC said in a statement. Ethiopian Airlines will help distribute the equipment, consisting of 20,000 laboratory diagnostic test kits, 100,000 medical masks, and 1000 protective suits and face shields, to each of the Member States, the statement said. Chairman of the African Union Peace and Security Council, Mohamed Farah, appealed to ministries in the continent to ensure that these materials are distributed and used where they are mostly needed. Also, on his part, the Director of Africa CDC, John Nkengasong, thanked Jack Ma and Alibaba Foundations and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for supporting African countries in the fight against the global outbreak. We are facing a humanitarian situation, an economic situation and a security situation in the continent and Africa CDC clearly applauds the initiative of the prime minister and Jack Ma and Alibaba Foundations, Mr Nkengasong noted. The COVID-19 outbreak has continued to spread rapidly across the world, claiming thousands of lives and making many to be bedridden. A number of countries in Europe and Asia are already on lockdown to curtail the spread of the virus. Africa has also seen an uptick in its confirmed cases, as figure currently stands at 1,617. South Africa (402), Egypt (327), Algeria (201) and Morocco (122) are the worst hit on the continent. As of Monday morning, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has confirmed 36 cases, of which 33 are bedridden, two had been discharged and one died. The economic capital of the country, Lagos, is the worst hit with 25 confirmed cases, trailed by the FCT with 6, Ogun with two, and each of Ekiti, Oyo and Edo with one case. Health officials have warned citizens to maintain social distancing and isolate themselves if they had recently visited places with a high number of infections while also observing proper hygiene by hand washing and using sanitiser. James Diaz, MD, MHA, MPH & TM, Dr PH, Professor and Head of Environmental Health Sciences at LSU Health New Orleans School of Public Health, has proposed a possible explanation for the severe lung complications being seen in some people diagnosed with COVID-19. The manuscript was published by Oxford University Press online in the Journal of Travel Medicine. The SARS beta coronaviruses, SARS-CoV, which caused the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak in 2003 and the new SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, bind to angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors in the lower respiratory tracts of infected patients to gain entry into the lungs. Viral pneumonia and potentially fatal respiratory failure may result in susceptible persons after 10-14 days. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are highly recommended medications for patients with cardiovascular diseases including heart attacks, high blood pressure, diabetes and chronic kidney disease to name a few. Many of those who develop these diseases are older adults. They are prescribed these medications and take them every day." James Diaz, Professor and Head of Environmental Health Sciences at LSU Health New Orleans School of Public Health Research in experimental models has shown an increase in the number of ACE2 receptors in the cardiopulmonary circulation after intravenous infusions of ACE inhibitors. "Since patients treated with ACEIs and ARBS will have increased numbers of ACE2 receptors in their lungs for coronavirus S proteins to bind to, they may be at increased risk of severe disease outcomes due to SARS-CoV-2infections," explains Diaz. Diaz writes, this hypothesis is supported by a recent descriptive analysis of 1,099 patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infections treated in China during the reporting period, December 11, 2019, to January 29, 2020. This study reported more severe disease outcomes in patients with hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes and chronic renal disease. All patients with the diagnoses noted met the recommended indications for treatment with ACEIs or ARBs. Diaz says that two mechanisms may protect children from COVID-19 infections -- cross-protective antibodies from multiple upper respiratory tract infections caused by the common cold-causing alpha coronaviruses, and fewer ACE2 receptors in their lower respiratory tracts to attract the binding S proteins of the beta coronaviruses. He recommends future case-control studies in patients with COVID-19 infections to further confirm chronic therapy with ACEIs or ARBs may raise the risk for severe outcomes. In the meantime he cautions, "Patients treated with ACEIs and ARBs for cardiovascular diseases should not stop taking their medicine, but should avoid crowds, mass events, ocean cruises, prolonged air travel, and all persons with respiratory illnesses during the current COVID-19 outbreak in order to reduce their risks of infection." A 44-year-old man in Hanoi overdosed on a malaria drug following rumors it could cure and prevent Covid-19. The unidentified man took 15 chloroquine pills, before exhibiting symptoms including vomiting, respiratory failure and hypotension. He was taken to a local hospital for emergency treatment, before being transferred to Bach Mai Hospital on March 7, said Nguyen Trung Nguyen, director of Bach Mai's toxic management department. The man said he had heard rumors that chloroquine, a drug used to treat malaria, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus erythematosus, could prevent and cure Covid-19. He was recently discharged from hospital, said Nguyen. Chloroquine cannot be prescribed without a doctor's recommendation, so people should not buy and use them themselves, stated the Health Ministry. Vietnam has not used chloroquine to treat Covid-19, neither has the ministry recommended the drug to prevent the disease, it added. Rumors that chloroquine could be used to treat Covid-19 have surfaced after U.S. President Donald Trump on March 19 called on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to streamline the regulatory approval process for generic antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine as a potential treatment for Covid-19, Reuters reported. FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn at the time said his agency was working quickly to examine all possibilities. Hydroxychloroquine is a less toxic derivative of chloroquine. Following Trump's statement, demand for hydroxychloroquine surged, with the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), which maintains a list of drugs in shortage independent of the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations list, adding the generic malaria drug to its basket on Thursday. Four out of eight manufacturers of the drug are currently in shortage, it said. The HCMC Center for Disease Control warned people not to hoard chloroquine on Sunday, adding the drug carries a certain level of toxicity. Le Quoc Hung, head of the department of tropical diseases at HCMC's Cho Ray Hospital, said: "Recently I heard people were rushing to buy hydroxychloroquine, causing a virtual shortage and making its price skyrocket, which is a surprise for us doctors." Hydroxychloroquine can be mass-produced in Vietnam, so shortage should not be a problem, doctors said. In Vietnam, a bottle of chloroquine, distributed under the brand name Cloroquin Phosphat and containing about 150-250 pills, typically sells for around VND100,000 ($4.3). But recent demand surges have increased the price 1.5-2 times. The country has confirmed 116 Covid-19 cases so far, of whom 17 have been cured and discharged from hospital. Many of the currently active cases are Vietnamese nationals retuning from Europe and the U.S. as well as foreigners visiting from the same regions. The Covid-19 pandemic has so far infected over 330,000 people globally, claiming nearly 14,700 lives. Hong Kong until a week ago was receiving appreciation from the global community for its handling of coronavirus outbreak. However, not everything in the busiest city in the world is okay after it reported a record surge in the number of coronavirus cases in the region. According to reports, the number of cases in the region has doubled in just a week which has caused major concern among health authorities around the globe. Read: COVID-19: Malaysia Could Extend Movement Restrictions In The Country If Needed Hong Kong had recorded just 150 coronavirus cases in the last three months despite being so close to the hotspot. But in just the last week the number of cases in the semi-autonomous Chinese region has surpassed the 300 mark, which is more than 100 per cent rise in seven days. As per reports, experts are blaming the sudden influx of foreign returnees after the lockdown measures imposed by most countries around the world. Read: Japan Sees Its Highest One-day Surge In Coronavirus Deaths Amidst Global Pandemic Media reports also suggest that the other reason behind the surge in cases could be the return of public and private sector workers to work after several weeks of quarantine. More than 1,80,000 people reportedly returned to work from March 2, flooding the public transport and other places after restrictions were eased in the region looking at the just 100 cases that had been reported till then. Read: COVID-19: Over 154 Million Children In Latin America, The Caribbean Left Out Of Schools Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam on March 23 announced that all non-residents will be barred from entering the territory as of March 25, the latest addition to the measures taken to prevent the spread of the virus. Many countries have announced similar measures for two months, banning public gatherings, closing down schools and colleges and shutting down international borders. Read: New Zealand Announces Closure Of Non-essential Services To Curb COVID-19 Spread Coronavirus outbreak The COVID-19 has claimed more than 14,600 lives across the world and has infected nearly 3,38,000 people globally since it first broke out in December 2019. China is the most affected country in the world as experts believe that the virus originated from a seafood market in Wuhan city, the epicentre of the disease, where animals were reportedly being traded illegally. Italy, Iran, and Spain are the most affected countries outside mainland China, where, as of March 22 the combined death toll stands at 8,933. Italy has surpassed China to record the most number of deaths in the world due to the virus outbreak, while Iran and Spain both have crossed the 1,500 mark. Belize restricts border, shuts airport to travelers Chetumal, Q.R. UPDATED MARCH 24: The government of Belize has decided to close its northern border for travelers, although it will continue to be open for shipments. The move is in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Through a statement, the neighboring government highlights that to date they remain COVID-19 free, something they want to preserve. The Belize government says only Belize nationals, residents and diplomats can enter the country and may be subject to a 14-day quarantine. The government also says its Phillip S.W. Goldson International Airport will suspend operations for commercial flights starting Monday, March 23, after the departure of its last scheduled flight and remain open only far cargo planes. Crowds of 25 or more are restricted, including funerals, weddings and social events. This rule does not apply to places of employment. After a 30-day period, the government will make an assessment. The travel restrictions also apply to people wishing to leave the country. UPDATE: On March 23, Belize health officials announced their first positive case of coronavirus. They report it is that of a 38-year-old woman who traveled to the United States, making stops in Los Angeles (California) and Texas. Gov. Noem lauds state economy, but big legislative fights are coming Noems speech flowed between business and economic development, lifestyle issues and social issues that were united by their conservative themes. [March 23, 2020] City of Hayward Opens Unrestricted Coronavirus Testing Facility Avellino announced today that it is partnering with the City of Hayward Fire Department and Chief Garrett Contreras to make its SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 Test (AvellinoCoV2) available beginning immediately. Testing will be performed at the Hayward Fire Station 7, which is located at 28270 Huntwood Avenue in Hayward, CA (News - Alert). Testing times will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days per week starting on Monday, March 23, 2020. Hayward is believed to be among the first cities in the nation to make this type of testing and suppression model available to protect its citizens. Sick people, first responders, healthcare workers, and those who exhibit flu-like symptoms with suspected COVID-19 exposures are particularly encouraged to be tested for infection. The Testing Center, which will operate every day 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., will be staffed by Hayward Fire Department firefighter-paramedics, and supported by ambulance company emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Testing is free to the public and open to anyone regardless of where they live or immigration status. People who present themselves for testing will first go through a two-step screening process for COVID-19 disease before being administered a test, which involves swabbing of the nasal cavities and back of the throat. No referral from a medical doctor is required to be screened. Results can be available in as little as six hours or the next day in most cases. Testing is available for up to 350 people per day now. Hayward Fire Department and Avellino are working with other Bay Area communities to help open additional testing sites in the region. Hayward Fire Chief Garrett Contreras said, "Our screening process is very stringent. People with flu-like symptoms should be tested to rule out COVID-19 (the coronavirus). Other peple who are at risk, including first responders, should also get tested as supplies increase. One of the advantages of the AvellinoCoV2 genetic test is its speed. Many of the people tested will get results the same day or next day." The AvellinoCoV2 test is an RNA-based genetic test that helps clinicians diagnose coronavirus, the disease caused by a SARS-CoV-2 virus infection. AvellinoCoV2 works by identifying and isolating two specific N-Genes, genetic markers that are part of the virus's genetic sequence previously identified by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). These two N-Genes are known to be stable and accurate indicators of the virus, even if the virus were to mutate into more strains. Avellino Group Chairman Gene Lee said, "We have learned from the experience of our labs in South Korea and China. Our team understands the challenges that most IVD and DNA-based tests have with speed and accuracy as the virus mutates and spreads. That's why making this RNA-based approach available in communities is key to accurately diagnosing people quickly." Helpline For Healthcare Providers And Public Health Officials - Hospitals, health systems, physicians, labs, and public health officials can get further information on the AvellinoCoV2 test by contacting Avellino's Coronavirus hotline at +1 (650) 396-3741 or by email at [email protected]. You can also visit www.AvellinoCoronaTest.com. About Avellino - Avellino Lab USA, Inc. is a global leader in gene therapy and molecular diagnostics and is at the forefront of precision medicine for eye care. The company is pioneering CRISPR gene editing to manage and potentially cure inherited diseases. Beyond the AvellinoCoV2 test, Avellino recently launched AvaGen, the world's first DNA test to confirm the presence of genetic indicators that are positively associated with corneal dystrophies and keratoconus genetic risk factors. Avellino is headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, with operations in Korea, Japan, China, and the UK. To learn more about Avellino, please visit https://www.avellino.com/en/ and www.AvellinoCoronaTest.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200323005159/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) The Hague, Netherlands Tue, March 24, 2020 02:20 659 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206cf80c2 2 World Netherlands,Gathering,social-distancing,coronavirus,COVID-19,Wuhan-coronavirus,novel-coronavirus,pandemic,health Free The Netherlands is extending a ban on all public gatherings from April 6 until June 1 to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus, the justice minister said on Monday. "This will hit hard for some," Ferd Grapperhaus told a news conference. "But we have no other choice if we want to stop the coronavirus." Prime Minister Mark Rutte warned that if the ban did not work the next step would be a full lockdown, after ministers were alarmed by large crowds at Dutch beaches at the weekend. "I hope that's not necessary," Rutte added. The rule applies to all sizes of gatherings including those less than 100 people, which was the previous rule announced by the Netherlands earlier this month, the government said. Shops and public transport services must also take extra steps to make people stay 1.5 meters apart, include entry restrictions if necessary. The Dutch government has already ordered the closure of schools, bars, restaurants and gyms, as well as the country's famous cannabis cafes and sex clubs. Authorities on Monday reported 34 more COVID-19 deaths in the Netherlands and 545 new cases, both figures down slightly from Sunday. In total there have been 213 deaths and 4,749 confirmed cases. The Ministry is already asking sponsors to provide financial assistance Ukraines Foreign Ministry is seeking sponsors to help Ukrainians, who are unable to return to Ukraine, come back to their homeland. This was stated by Deputy Foreign Minister Yehor Bozhok, Ukrinform reports. "When we exhaust all the possibilities, and when hubs and other countries completely block all transportation, and we go under total quarantine, we have a spare option during that period. We will try to find ways to financially help our citizens who will remain abroad for one reason or another," Bozhok said. The situation with the return of Ukrainians from Latin America and the Caribbean is problematic. "First, it is the distance. Second, it is the quarantine and local restrictions. And third, it is the number of citizens. There are places where we have five, two, three countrymen," the diplomat explained. As we reported earlier, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and IMF Head Kristalina Georgieva discussed an increase in assistance to Ukraine during the coronavirus epidemic. "We have discussed the increase in the amount of Ukraine's support from the Fund in the face of major challenges to the economy, related to the global pandemic," Zelensky said. Why I Joined Antifa, and Why I LeftGabriel Nadales [CPAC 2020] In this episode of American Thought Leaders , we sit down with Gabriel Nadales, a former Antifa member, to discuss Antifas history and ideological roots and what it was like to be a member. Nadales now works at the Leadership Institute helping conservatives fight against liberal bias on Americas college campuses. This interview was filmed at the CPAC convention in late February 2020. American Thought Leaders is an Epoch Times show available on Facebook and YouTube Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Heekyong Yang and Makiko Yamazaki (Reuters) Seoul, South Korea/Tokyo, Japan Mon, March 23, 2020 15:53 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206cd9bd3 2 Business stay-at-home,work-from-home,home,office,coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus,COVID-19,pandemic,health,SARS-CoV-2,infection,infectious-diseases Free With more employees working from home to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, demand is surging for laptops and network peripherals as well as components along the supply chain such as chips, as companies rush to build virtual offices. Many firms have withdrawn earnings forecasts, anticipating a drop in consumer demand and economic slump, but performance at electronics retailers and chipmakers is hinting at benefits from the shift in work culture. Over the past month, governments and companies globally have been advising people to stay safe indoors. Over roughly the same period, South Korea - home of the world's biggest memory chip maker, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd - on Monday reported a 20% jump in semiconductor exports. Pointing to further demand, nearly one in three Americans have been ordered to stay home, while Italy - where deaths have hit 5,476 - has banned internal travel. Worldwide, the flu-like virus has infected over 300,000 people and led to almost 15,000 deaths since China first reported the outbreak in December. "With more people working and learning from home during the outbreak, there has been rising demand for internet services ... meaning data centers need bigger pipes to carry the traffic," said analyst Park Sung-soon at Cape Investment & Securities. A South Korean trade ministry official told Reuters that cloud computing has boosted sales of server chips, "while an increase in telecommuting in the United States and China has also been a main driver of huge server demand." In Japan, laptop maker Dynabook reported brisk demand which it partly attributed to companies encouraging teleworking. Rival NEC Corp said it has responded to demand with telework-friendly features such as more powerful embedded speakers. Australian electronics retailer JB Hifi Ltd also said it saw demand "acceleration" in recent weeks from both commercial and retail customers for "essential products they need to respond to and prepare" for the virus, such as devices that support remote working as well as home appliances. China lead China is leading chip demand, analysts said, as cloud service providers such as Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, Tencent Holdings Ltd and Baidu Inc quickly responded to the government's effort to contain the virus. "Cloud companies opened their platforms, allowing new and existing customers to use more resources for free to help maintain operations," said analyst Yih Khai Wong at Canalys. "This set the precedent for technology companies around the world that offer cloud-based services in their response to helping organizations affected by coronavirus." China's cloud infrastructure build-up has helped push up chip prices, with spot prices of DRAM chips rising more than 6% since Feb. 20, showed data from price tracker DRAMeXchange. UBS last week forecast average contract prices of DRAM chips to rise as much as 10% in the second quarter from the first, led by a more than 20% jump in server chips. It said it expects DRAM chips to be modestly under supplied until the third quarter of 2021, with demand from server customers rising 31% both in 2020 and 2021. Supply disruption Concerns over supply disruption has also contributed to a price rise. "You've got lots of OEMs and systems integrators in the global market who have intense demand for memory now," said Andrew Perlmutter, chief strategy officer at ITRenew, a company that buys and reworks used data center equipment for resale. "Nobody is shutting down their factories - it is still production as normal - but people worry about memory supply in particular, so they want to get out ahead of production." About 69% of electronics manufacturers have flagged possible supplier delays averaging three weeks, showed a poll on March 13 by industry trade group IPC International. Half of those polled expected business to normalize by July, and nearly three-quarters pointed to at least October. Right now, the only acceptable form of travel is the virtual, armchair kind. Borders have closed, planes have been grounded and even tourism destinations are urging people to stay home. But globetrotters whose travel plans to France, Italy and Spain were thwarted or canceled by the Covid-19 pandemic, along with those in self-isolation going stir crazy from cabin fever have a powerful escape mechanism at their disposal. Here are a few travel movies that capture the spirit of Europe's cobblestone streets and outdoor cafes -- currently on lockdown: PARIS Ratatouille, 2007 For kids, there's no better movie than "Ratatouille," which recreates Paris's slate-grey roofs, landmarks, restaurants, cafes -- and even rats -- with fairytale magic. To entertain the kids, make a night of it with a thematic French-inspired meal and after-dinner movie that excites their imagination. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgsQ8mVkN8w Amelie, 2001 For a feel-good film full of Parisian poetry, there's "Amelie," a heart-warming story about a young French woman (Audrey Tautou) who embarks on a personal quest to enact random acts of kindness for strangers. Set in the bohemian neighborhood of Montmartre, the film is a favorite among francophiles for its unapologetic cliches of Paris life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUECWi5pX7o SPAIN The Trip Spain 2017 After England and Italy ("The Trip" 2011 and "The Trip to Italy" 2014), Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon hit the road for another culinary road trip through Spain. While the witty British banter between the BFFs and celebrity impressions are truly entertaining, viewers are also treated to images of pintxos and paella and scenes of Spain that make a lasting impression. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTvy8ab1NSo ITALY Under the Tuscan Sun, 2003 For anyone who has dreamed of dropping everything and moving to the Italian countryside, indulge the fantasy while watching "Under the Tuscan Sun." Diane Lane plays the role of a San Francisco writer who is gifted a 10-day trip to Tuscany, and on an uncharacteristic whim, buys an aging villa and tries to set up a new life for herself in a country she doesn't know. Story continues https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=On3_tl68URM Angels and Demons, 2009 Rome and The Vatican serve as the setting for this thriller, starring Tom Hanks as symbologist Robert Langdon, who has been commissioned to help recover a missing vial of antimatter and unmask the secret society behind the act of terrorism, the Illuminati. The film criss-crosses Rome, taking viewers on a wild chase throughout the historic city. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzjv-GUEDfg Hyderabad: Common people in Hyderabad and other places in Telangana rushed to buy essential commodities on Monday morning as the lockdown announced by the state government till March 31 to contain the spread of coronavirus began. With the 24-hour 'Janta curfew' called by chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao coming to an end at 6 am on Monday, people sought to purchase vegetables and other essential items. Several customers at the Rythu Bazar (government-run vegetable market) at Erragadda in the city complained that vegetables were being sold at higher prices. Chief minister Rao on Sunday announced lockdown till March 31 and urged people to remain in homes as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The total number of Covid-19 patients in the state had risen to 27 with six fresh cases being reported on Sunday. The lockdown was announced under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897. As part of the lockdown, all state borders shall be sealed other than for movement of essential commodities, according to a Government Order (GO) that notified the lockdown. All public transport services, including state-run buses, Hyderabad Metro, taxis and auto-rickshaws will not be permitted, the GO said. Any congregation of more than five persons in public places is prohibited, it said. All shops, commercial establishments, offices, factories, workshops, godowns shall close their operations. However, production and manufacturing units which require continuous process such as pharmaceuticals may function, it said. Banks/ATMs and related activities, print and electronic media, IT and ITeS, including telecom, postal and internet services and others which provide essential goods and services are excluded from the restrictions. Sale of vegetables, groceries, vegetables and others is also excluded from the restrictions, it said. Every person who is required to observe home quarantine shall strictly observe the same, failing which they will be liable for penal action and shifted to government quarantine, the GO said. In view of the hardships due to lockdown, all 87.59 lakhs food security cardholders in the state would be given 12 kg of rice per person amounting 3.58 lakh tonnes at a cost of Rs 1,103 crore, it said. Further, all food security card holding families would be given a one-time support of Rs.1500 to meet the expenditure on other essential commodities such as vegetables at an estimated cost of Rs 1,314 crores, according to the GO. Former V.P. Atiku Abubakar has announced that his son tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19). He made his known via his verified Twitter handle on Sunday. My son has tested positive for coronavirus, he tweeted. According to the former Vice-President of Nigeria, his son has been moved to Gwagwalada Specialist Teaching Hospital in Abuja for treatment. The @NCDCGov (Nigeria Centre for Disease Control) has been duly informed, and he has been moved to Gwagwalada Specialist Teaching Hospital in Abuja for treatment and management. I will appreciate it if you have him in your prayers. Stay safe, coronavirus is real, he added. PV: 0 Rene Henry Every crisis offers outstanding PR opportunities for forward-thinking, responsible executives. Since both the airline and cruise line industries are asking U.S. taxpayers to bail them out to the tune of some $100 billion or more, I believe now is the time for them to do something to show the world their appreciation. Thousands of U.S. citizens from various countries are stranded throughout the world. While the U.S. State Department is doing little or nothing, Germany and Israel took the leadership and are chartering airlines to bring home their citizens at no cost to their people. Congress and the White House are pondering conditions for financial gifts such as not allowing stock buybacks and restricting management bonuses. Still, airline CEOs could step forward and say they are ready to send planes to various countries to bring home citizens without any charge. The Trump administration discussed using U.S. military aircraft for this effort. This would be one small thank you Alaska, American, Delta, United and other airlines could show for getting help from the American public that it has nickeled-and-dimed and made flying a hassle since de-regulation. There should be no cost to any passenger and hopefully, the airlines would not charge the passengers they are bringing home for any luggage or other money-generating gimmicks the industry has used since it was deregulated. Most cruise lines are foreign-owned and very few U.S. citizens work onboard the ships. The traveling American public has been the profit generator for the industry. Many cities and states are scrambling now building temporary hospitals and other spaces for those who have tested positive or are infected with the virus. Consider the relief to U.S. hospitals if ships that accommodate thousands of passengers were docked in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Miami and other cities. A cruise ship would be a perfect solution to accommodate those in need as well as the medical staff. Ships are already equipped with all facilities needed to house and feed everyone. Necessary medical equipment and supplies could be brought on board. During World War II all luxury cruise ships were converted to transport ships. Some cruise ships were responsible for exacerbating the uncontrollable spread of the virus and many large ships will be available now and in the near future with few people cruising these days. Since a number of cruise lines had previous viruses spread quickly throughout their ships, such as Norovirus, I was surprised none had a crisis plan in place to immediately ask help from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the National Institute of Health (NIH) and pay to have medical staff immediately provide assistance. The expense involved by both the airline and cruise line industries to do this would be nominal compared to what I believe they are now spending for lobbying. It would be a nice way of showing appreciation to the American taxpayer for a financial bailout to keep a foreign company profitable and in business. It also would be an outstanding public relations opportunity that would win many friends and future passengers. *** Rene A. Henry is the author of 10 books including Communicating In A Crisis, a book used as the text by some universities. He also writes on customer service and many of his articles are posted on his website www.renehenry.com. Several people with temperature have already been taken to clinic where they conduct tests for coronavirus A train from Riga arrived in Kyiv with more than 100 people. Some of them may be infected with coronavirus. At least five of them have already fixed signs of the disease as the Deputy Minister of Health Viktor Lyashko said. He noted that the train is in the sanitary parking lot, because according to the results of the screening conducted by the border guards together with the employees of the sanitary-quarantine unit, five people with high temperature were found. All of them were delivered to a medical center where they test for signs of coronavirus. "After that, these people will be taken to the hospital, where further studies will be carried out with respect to other passengers. After testing, a decision will be made on their further isolation," - the deputy head of the department stated. Viktor Lyashko also said that all passengers of the train will be in home isolation and undergo random checks. "In case of violation of the terms of isolation or its conditions, administrative and criminal liability will be provided," - he concluded. According to media reports, the train arrived in Kyiv at 15:45, so passengers could not leave the train for about six hours. Journalists also report that there are about 600 people on the train. Later, the press service of the Ministry of Health said that no coronavirus infection was detected in any passenger. "All passengers underwent temperature screening. Five people were suspected of having Covid-19. They had quick tests for coronavirus infection. The train remained at the hospital stop for the duration of their execution," - the department said. The results of quick tests for coronavirus in all five passengers were negative. All train passengers signed a mandatory consent to self-isolation, they will be under medical supervision As we reported, Former Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Honcharuk denied accusations of official negligence by the Cabinet of Ministers regarding the adoption of measures to counter the spread of coronavirus in Ukraine. The Cabinet of Ministers of Honcharuk developed an algorithm of actions and established a state of high preparedness even before receiving a letter from the NSDC Fueled in large part by the virus's rapid spread in New York, the US is now the third-most infected country in the world, with nearly 42,000 cases. Only China and Italy have seen more cases of COVID-19 than the US, with 81,093 and 59,138 cases in each. New York now has nearly six percent of worldwide coronavirus cases, according to Governor Andrew Cuomo's Monday announcement. The state's 157 deaths account for one percent of the global fatalities from the virus. With 20,875 New Yorkers diagnosed with the virus sweeping the globe, the state has far surpassed all other states and hotspots in the US for coronavirus cases. And New York City alone has 12,305 cases, accounting for 3.5 percent people with coronavirus worldwide. Cases in the New York and country have surged as a result of both the virus's rapid spread in and outside of high-density areas like New York City and as testing capacity has ramped up steeply in the state. With 16,000 COVID-19 tests being administered a day, New York is now testing more people per capita each day than South Korea, which has set the global pace for testing. With more nearly 42,000 coronavirus patients, the US is now the third most infected country in the world Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Monday that all hospitals in New York, where more than 20,000 people have coronavirus, must expand their bed capacities by 50% As of Monday, coronavirus cases had surged to more than 12,000 as of Monday morning. New York City coronavirus patients now make up 3.5 percent of all global cases The National Guard is assisting New York and FEMA in setting up 1,000 additional beds in four 'hospitals' at the Javits Center in Midtown Manhattan. Pictured: Three National Guard members walk up to the Javits Center on Monday For the past two weeks, New York has seen hundreds of new cases confirmed each day - and thousands of additional diagnoses have been made on some days - as the death toll has risen to 157. The state is bracing for its hospitals to become overwhelmed, with Governor Cuomo pushing to double beed capacity, telling the workforce to stay home and beginning trials of experimental drugs for coronavirus on Tuesday. Already, 13 percent of New York residents who have tested positive were hospitalized as of Monday, Cuomo said. The majority of cases - more than 12,000 - in the state are in New York City, where the virus has spread like wildfire in the densely populated boroughs. Other hotspots include Nassau County with 1,900 cases and Westchester, where a lawyer lives there and who worked in Manhattan became a 'super-spreader.' Now, nearly 2,000 in the county are infected. In an effort to stem the virus's spread, Cuomo ordered all non-essential businesses to close, effective 8pm Sunday. He also hit out at New Yorkers for ignoring the government's warnings to stay home and keep their distance from one another. 'You would think there was nothing going on in parts of New York City,' the governor said of his Saturday tour of the city. 'I don't now what I'm saying that people don't get. This is not life as usual. None of this is life as usual.' Overnight, 5,707 new cases of coronavirus were confirmed in New York state, with a surge of more than 3,200 in New York City alone The Javits Center has 1.8 million square feet of space in which hospital beds are being set up for coronavirus patients - but even with its added capacity and the 50% increase Governor Cuomo has mandated for hospitals, he still anticipates New York beds will fall short of patients Nearly 42,000 Americans across all 50 states have cronavirus and 576 people have died Cuomo was shocked and frustrated to see large groups gathering in parks, despite warnings from both himself and Mayor Bill de Blasio to limit social contact and keep group get-togethers to less than 10 people. 'It's insensitive, it's arrogant, it's self-destructive, it's disrespectful and it has to stop now. This is not a joke and I am not kidding.' Cuomo, de Blasio and the Trump administration have repeatedly warned young people in particular that social distancing guidance applies to them as well. As of Sunday, people between ages 18 and 49 made up more than half of all New York coronavirus cases, underscoring the message repeated by US health and government officials: young people are not 'invincible' to coronavirus. Last week, an alarming Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report revealed that nearly 40 percent of hospitalized coronavirus patients in the US were between 20 and 54. Those young patients are among the thousands of people being treated in New York hospitals. Last week, Mayor de Blasio said that New York City hospitals were prepared to handle the influx of patients - but not for long. Manhattan's normally bustling financial district was all but deserted on Monday morning New York is now testing 16,000 people a day, but long lines of people waiting for the test can still be seen outside facilities like the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (pictured) On Sunday, Cuomo called for hospitals to double their capacity and announced the Federal emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) plans to build four new hospitals in New York City. The new facilities would expand the city's capacity by 1,000 beds, and are planned to be constructed at the Jacob K Javits Convention Center in Manhattan. Under a mandate for all elective surgeries canceled as of Wednesday, Cuomo said that existing hospital bed capacity should be expanded by between 25 and 30 percent in the state. Cuomo issued an executive order for all New York hospitals to increase their bed capacity - and by default, their staff - but 50 percent. He requested that each facility aim to increase their supply of beds by 100 percent but recognized that's likely impossible for many hospitals. 'If we increase [hospital capacity] by 100 percent, that solved the mathematical projection' that New York may need 110,000 beds for coronavirus patients, Cuomo said. New York City streets are eerily barren, but Cuomo warned that over the weekend he was shocked to see young people gathering in parks. People between ages 20 and 49 make up about half of all New York cases Only a few bicycles and cars were spotted on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan Monday morning. Both Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Cuomo are considering shutting streets off to car traffic to allow for people walking to get essentials to spread out further 'It's unreasonable to say "every hospital must increase capacity by 100 percent," but I don't think it's unreasonable to say to every hospital, "try to increase by 100 percent, but you must reach a 50 percent increase."' He noted that with all hospitals increasing capacity accordingly, New York would have 75,000 and 'we still have a problem.' But even that increase that won't solve a potentially catastrophic issue: a critical shortage of ventilators. New York only has some 6,000 ventilators, the New York Times estimated. In that case, all the state's ventilators could quickly be used up. As of Monday, 24 percent of hospitalized coronavirus patients in New York were in intensive care unites (ICUs). If 2.3 percent of New York's infected residents need ventilators currently, that means 480 are already being used. And cases are only set to rise. About 78,000 people in New York have been tested for coronavirus so far and another 16,000 are expected to get tested each day. New York also acheived its aim of being 'first in line' to test experimental therapies for COVID-19, as President Trump said last week. The National Guard has been deployed to help New York deal with its inundation of coroanvirus patients. FEMA is setting up 1,000 hospital beds at the Javits Center in Midtown. Pictured: A National Guard member delivers toilet paper in New Rochelle, New York Facilities like the Brooklyn Hospital Center have set up field tents to test people for coronavirus but will now also have to increase their bed capacity by 50% Cuomo announced that New York has gained Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to begin prescribing a combination of hydroxychloroquine and Zithromax (an antibiotic) under compassionate use. The state is also set to start giving patients battling coronavirus blood plasma from people who have recovered from the infection, a technique that was used in China to transfer antibodies developed by recovered people in response to COVID-19 to those still sick. After successfully deploying its oral and nasal swab test, New York is now developing a serologic blood test, which would indicate if someone had been unwittingly infected with coronavirus and recovered. If this was the case, these people would have built up immunity and might be able to return to work. In a further effort to bolster the health care system for the deluge of coronavirus patients, Cuomo said additional hospitals are planned for Stony Brook, West Brook and Westbury, New York. Still disappointed in the prevalence of New Yorkers - especially young people in New York City - out and socializing in groups, Cuomo insinuated that he would consider legislative action to enforce social distancing. Dubai's iconic Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) has temporarily shut its doors as part of efforts to combat the spread of the coronavirus, it was announced. According to a statement on its website, the floating hotel and event space will be closed until September 1. "After careful consultation and deliberation, the senior leadership team have decided to close the hotel and all of its facilities to further progress on the existing renovation plans during the anticipated low season, it said. "We wish all of our passengers, navigators, fans and partners to stay safe during this time," it added. - TradeArabia News Service Historians say the coronavirus pandemic may reshape public support for government programs that provide guaranteed income, social support, and medical care. Here two Philadelphia children pick up bagged breakfast and lunches last week outside the Tilden Middle School. Read more When the person next to you in line might infect you, suddenly universal health care seems more reasonable. When you and all your neighbors are out of work, checks from the government look more attractive. When companies wont pay sick leave amid widespread illness, a law to force them to do so will gain support. As the coronavirus pandemic spreads and digs in, historians, sociologists and other scholars say it could drive a cascade of social, economic and political changes that will pull policies from the edge into the mainstream. Witness the transformation of stalwart Republican Mitt Romney, who was once caught on video at a campaign fund-raiser saying that 47% of the population are takers because they paid no federal income tax or relied on government support. Romney now calls for a onetime $1,000 payment to every adult American. Jennifer Burns, a professor at Stanford University and expert on 20th-century U.S. history, said that the pandemic could build empathy and reduce shame about the need for a greater role for government. When those stricken are selected by pure chance, she said, the stigma and blame associated with accepting a helping hand drops away. In addition, she said, the coronavirus will make increasingly clear how much the health and lives of the more affluent are entwined with less educated and less well-paid workers. It is moments like this, Burns said, that strip away the surface crust of how society works, the relationships that we depend on that we are sometimes not aware of. Burns cited the new, bipartisan support for direct government cash payments, saying it could spur even more dramatic moves to guarantee income. It may advance the policy must faster and further than anyone thought, she said. In another example, she said the virus could generate more backing for requiring companies to provide paid sick leave. Otherwise, she said, If you dont provide people with sick leave, they will work when they are sick" and could infect others. Still, other scholars worry about the direction of any change. Michael Kazin, a historian at Georgetown University and coeditor of the leftist Dissent magazine, wondered whether the fight against coronavirus will unite people behind government and common action, or stoke, in Kazins words, an increasingly nativist, anti-immigrant, anti-outsider impulse. Heather MacDonald, a social critic and author affiliated with the conservative-leaning Manhattan Institute in New York City, saw a different risk. The left is going to use this to promote its pet causes, she said, including deindustrialization to stem climate change. She noted how some have pointed out that virus-spurred social distancing has been accompanied by a drop in pollution. Anne Berg, a historian at the University of Pennsylvania, also saw fresh support among Americans for social-democratic measures. She noted that both Republicans and Democrats in Washington were now backing heavy government spending to bail out citizens and corporations alike. Berg, an expert on the rise of Nazism, noted that, in contrast, right-wing parties in 1930s Germany responded to the crisis of the depression by cutting back on government and dismantling social services austerity measures that greatly fueled Nazism. At the same time, Berg said, todays pandemic also had the potential to sow profound trouble. I can see this as a petri dish for fascism of various sorts. Notably, Berg said, the virus was spreading following years of falling public confidence in government, business and media, a phenomenon also seen in Germany in the 1930s. The most important parallel now is the erosion of trust in public institutions, she said. I think that is the gravest danger, because once trust is thoroughly eroded, thats when people say, OK, Ill have to take care of myself. Thats when you see the run to the gun stores. Theda Skocpol, a professor of sociology and government at Harvard University, said big societal changes are coming. Its clear this is going to be a major watershed, she said. But, Skocpol, coeditor of a new book on the trends in U.S. grassroots politics, also sounded a cautionary note: The pandemic may well exacerbate inequities, pitting a professional class of two-parent families reasonably able to cope with housebound children against a low-wage class of single parents who may be further isolated by poor or a lack of internet access. Mike Konczal, director of the Roosevelt Institute, a left-leaning think tank in New York City, said the virus had exposed systemic problems in American society, including insecure work," poor access to health care, and what Konczal called inept and corrupt leadership from President Trump. The coronavirus will likely spur extremely heavy government intervention in the days ahead, more so than after the 2008 economic collapse and with less blaming of the poor, Konczal said. Still, he was unsure how much people would in fact rally together behind progressive measures. High unemployment makes people really hunker down, he said. They become much more I need to get mine. In past transformations, World War II and its surge in factory work had helped drive millions of women into the workplace and spurred the mass migration from the South of African Americans, dramatically upending the status quo on two fronts. Similarly, the economic misery of the Great Depression sparked calls for guaranteed income, particularly for the elderly. Grassroots support led to a more moderate plan pushed by President Franklin Roosevelt and enacted in 1935: Social Security. Sylvester Schieber, an expert on the history and finances of Social Security, said he saw a similar trend today. He cited President Trumps endorsement last week of a temporary payment to citizens, a more modest variant of former Democratic presidential hopeful Andrew Yangs signature issue. Citing how automation was rendering workers superfluous, Yang had campaigned on giving all American adults a universal basic income of $1,000 a month. I think there is serious potential for health policy reform, income maintenance support. There could be a whole bunch of stuff bubble out of this," Schieber said. "The idea that a Republican president is talking about the kind of income transfer program that Yang has been promoting is pretty amazing. As for health care, Schieber said, the pandemic carried a blunt lesson that could wash away resistance to viewing medical care as a basic right: Its not just my own personal health that is important to me. It is also the guy sitting next to me on the bus." More than 100,000 people around the world have recovered from the novel coronavirus, new data shows. Since the outbreak began in December 2019, more than one-quarter of the 372,000 sickened people have recovered, according to a tracker from Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering. In China, more than 81,000 cases have been confirmed and 72,819 have recovered - more than 90 percent. The achievement offers some hope as the US and several countries in Europe prepare for an increased in infections, deaths and lockdowns. Of the approximately 372,000 confirmed cases reported around the world, more than 100,000 people have recovered from coronavirus. Pictured: Geneva Wood, 90 who was infected with COVID-19 at the Life Care Center in Kirkland, Washington has recovered according to her family In China, more than 81,000 cases have been reported and 72,819 have recovered - more than 90 percent. Pictured: A medical worker speaks with patients at a COVID-19 testing station at The Brooklyn Hospital Center in New York, March 23 About 35 percent of people have recovered in South Korea and the country reported just 64 new cases on Sunday, its lowest number in four weeks. Pictured: Members of Joint Task Force 2, arrive to sanitize and disinfect the Young Israel of New Rochelle synagogue, March 23 Among the more than 100,000 who have recovered are nearly 60,000 in China's Hubei province, where Wuhan is located - the city where the outbreak began. There have been no new cases in Hubei for at least four days straight and no locally transmitted cases within the whole country. Authorities say the 46 new cases confirmed in China on Saturday are from people who entered from different countries. Meanwhile in South Korea, the country in Asia with the third most number of infection, the tide appears to have turned. Out of nearly 9,000 cases, 3,166 - about 35 percent - have recovered, according to Johns Hopkins. On Sunday, South Korea reported 64 new cases, its lowest number in four weeks when infections in the country peaked. This is also the twelfth consecutive day that the country had reported less than 100 new cases, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control. One of the reasons for this downward trend is likely because the South Korean government has been very aggressive when it comes to testing. Up to 20,000 people were tested every day for the virus, more people per capita than anywhere else in the world. There are even some signs that the outbreak is improving in Italy, which has the second highest number of cases in the world. On Monday, the number of recoveries surpassed the number of deaths. According to Johns Hopkins, the European country - which has become the new epicenter of the outbreak - had reported more than 63,000 cases. Of that number 6,077 people have died, but 7,422 have recovered. However, health experts warn that the number of infections in Italy will continue to rise, and that it is poised to overtake China soon. The same is true for the US. More than 41,000 people have been infected and 576 people have died. Meanwhile only about 187 people have recovered, showing that America has a long way to go before the tide turns. A B2B Lotto Agent known as Mr. Fordjour Richard operating as "THE RULERS" in Kumasi has signed a Bond of Good Behaviour with the National Lottery Authority(NLA) to discontinue the payment of over 40% Commission which was gradually destroying the business of the Authority and Lotto Marketing Companies in the Ashanti Region. Mr. Fordjour Richard was earlier arrested by Ashanti Regional Police Headquarters under complaints from the Lotto Marketing Companies. However, upon sober reflection, Mr. Fordjour Richard has shown remorse and higher level of commitment to discontinue any acts that has the tendency to destroy the Lottery Industry. And as such the case made against Mr. Fordjour Richard at the Ashanti Regional Police Headquarters and EOCO has been dropped. Mr. Fordjour Richard has agreed to sell lotto for the National Lottery Authority(NLA) as a Lotto Marketing Company. He has also been ordered to register as an agent under the Act 844 if he still want to engage in the Private Lotto Business. Mr. Fordjour Richard readiness to work in accordance with the law and laid down rules and regulations is commendable. All those illegal lotto Operators, Agents and Writers are mandated to get registered with the National Lottery Authority(NLA) for validation and Licensing. Failure to do so would attract severe punishment when the Authority begins its Compliance and Prosecution exercise. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Nearly 2,000 challans and penalties were issued on Monday against those violating Section 144 on the first day of the lockdown due to coronavirus in Gautam Buddh Nagar, police said and appealed to the residents to strictly adhere to the orders and stay indoors. Gautam Buddh Nagar adjoining Delhi in western Uttar Pradesh has so far reported eight COVID-19 positive cases, nearly one-third of the entire state, and is among the 16 districts put under a three-day lockdown to prevent novel coronavirus from spreading, according to officials. "As many as 96 FIRs have been registered for violation of Section 144, while 1,995 challan and penalties have been made so far. He said 86 barriers and checkposts have been created for 24x7 monitoring across the district," Noida Police Commissioner Alok Singh said. According to the district health department, 324 samples have been sent for test so far of which eight have resulted positive, 228 negative, and result for 90 was awaited by Monday evening. As many as 155 people have been kept isolated at quarantine facilities in hospitals and at the Gautam Buddh University, the department stated, adding that 1,731 individuals were under surveillance. The police chief also asked citizens to remain vigilant, not violate the law and assured strict action against hoarders, black marketers and people involved in profiteering. He suggested people to avoid gatherings and going to parks for walks as Section 144, which bars assembly of four or more persons, has been promulgated in the district. Singh said the situation is being constantly monitored through 24x7 control room in the district, and sought people's support for administration in containing the spread of the virus. "Strict surveillance is being done on coronavirus suspects," he added. The police commissioner also assured that there will be adequate availability of milk, fruits, vegetables, medicines and other essential items in the district. "The police is constantly monitoring the prices of daily essential commodities, including medicines and strict action will be taken against those involved in hoarding, black marketing and profiteering," he said. "He said that the lockdown is being strictly followed and only those who are part of the essential services including the police, health workers, and media representatives are allowed to go to their office or workplace," Singh said. He added that nurses and para-medical staff serving senior citizens at their respective homes will also be allowed to go to the houses of those elderly people. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) YEREVAN, MARCH 23, ARMENPRESS. During the session of the Commission coordinating the actions to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus in Armenia Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan introduced the logic of activities of the government under the spread of the virus. The PM said this logic should be divided into two parts. One thing is clear that uncertainties are around the world due to the coronavirus situation, in other words, today no country can state that it fully controls the situation. We are working in such conditions and should continue with the same logic. The logic of activity of our government should be divided into two parts. The first one should be the activity of the Commandant which will regulate the operative issues, and the second one should be the anti-crisis part, and at the same time the development and logic of strategic actions in order to avoid collapses in such situation, Pashinyan said. He added that all analysis show that the situation linked with the coronavirus can last much longer than predicted. We need to form some visions on how we are going to organize life in our Republic. The overall logic and strategy should be the following, that under the conditions of restriction of coronavirus we should find and form free and safe spaces where we can organize our life in conditions of relative security, but of course also following the events in line with it, he said. On March 16 Armenia declared a 30-day state of emergency to fight against the spread of the novel coronavirus. The state of emergency is effective until April 14, at 17:00. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan 76% of Consumers Believe Coronavirus Emergency Paid Leave Should be Expanded Workers overwhelmingly support a new federal law that provides paid leave to employees for reasons related to COVID-19, but many want the law to go even further, a new survey shows. Workplace issues and efforts to protect employees have taken center stage as the novel coronavirus and its resulting illness COVID-19 have spread across the United States. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), signed into law March 18, 2020, is one such effort and it requires certain employers to provide paid sick or family leave to those who cant work due to quarantine, illness or other reasons related to COVID-19. To get an idea of workers perceptions about the new law, womens advocacy organization LeanIn.org text surveyed 2,753 adults between March 20-21, 2020. Not only do workers support the legislation, but many would like to see it expanded even more. Some employees fall through the cracks An overwhelming majority of respondents 95% said at least some workers should be eligible for paid leave during the COVID-19 crisis. Women (97%) are slightly more in favor of emergency paid leave than men (92%). The FFCRA is a good first step to providing that paid leave access, according to the 73% of respondents who support the legislation, but many believe the law falls short in some key areas. For example, 76% of respondents believe the law does not support enough people. Under the FFCRA, the paid leave requirement only applies to businesses that have between 50 and 499 employees. That means some workers who are most impacted by COVID-19, such as healthcare workers and first responders, could end up being ineligible for paid leave if they work for a company that has more or fewer than that number of workers. In those instances, the worker would have to depend on their employer to step up and offer paid leave anyway. Among survey respondents: 77% say health care workers should have guaranteed access to paid sick days 75% support paid leave for emergency responders 72% want paid leave for grocery workers 71% are in favor of paid leave for pharmacy workers 71% expressed support for paid leave for childcare workers 66% said restaurant workers should have paid leave Story continues Hourly workers want more While the COVID-19 outbreak is affecting workplaces of all types, hourly workers are being hit particularly hard. Hourly workers were most likely to believe the FFCRA doesnt go far enough, with 83% feeling that way. Also, workers who make less than $50,000 were more likely to want paid leave to be expanded, with 83% of respondents feeling that way. Many respondents said they feel so strongly about expanding paid leave that it will affect what they do in the voting booth. For example, 68% of respondents said they would be more likely to vote for a congressional candidate if that person voted to give all workers paid leave during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the different parties, 82% of Democrats would be more likely to vote for a candidate that voted to expand sick leave compared to 59% of Republicans and 55% of Independents. With the situation surrounding COVID-19 evolving so rapidly, changes are being announced frequently to help workers deal with the risks. If you dont know whether your employer is obligated to offer paid leave due to the FFCRA, contact your manager to find out what steps you should take if you are unable to work during the crisis. Its a first for Erin Power as she takes a selfie on RTE Ones Big Life Fix A teenager born without arms can dress herself for the first time thanks to a tailor-made prosthetic arm with dressing hooks. Erin Power was struggling to be independent before inventor James Carrigan and coding prodigy Niamh Stockil dreamed up a new way to transform her life. While most teenagers click countless selfies every day, RTE's heart-warming Big Life Fix show captured the touching moment Erin took her very first selfie after the ingenious pair created a phone system which she carries around her neck. Before they arrived in her Dublin home, Erin had a special needs assistant at all times in school. Her mum had to go along when she socialised with friends as she needed help dressing herself when she visited the bathroom. "Asking someone to do anything is a thing I hate but sadly I have to do it all the time," the teenager says on camera. Erin - born without arms due to a condition called amniotic band syndrome - showed extraordinary independence by learning to do most things with her feet. "I taught myself to feed myself with my feet, how to write and draw and open door handles, I just instinctively picked those things up because I was like, 'OK, I can't do things this way but maybe I can do things this way'," she says. She even brushes her hair and her teeth with her feet but her biggest wish was to be able to go to the bathroom and dress herself and use her phone independently. After struggling to use a clunky prosthetic she was given at the age of five, Erin gave up on artificial limbs. However, she had grown more self-conscious about using her feet in public and felt her confidence sliding. Insecure "It's just I'm getting a bit more insecure about using my feet for stuff in public," the 15-year-old tells RTE. Her mother Nicky adds: "I feel like saying to her if I could take off my own arms and give them to you, I would, but that is not what she wants to hear either." In the programme, the teenager is overjoyed when the team reveals its fixes. Mr Carrigan and Ms Stockil, who works for Microsoft, have created a lightweight prosthetic with dressing hooks to allow her to pull clothes on and off. "That's so cool. I've never been able to do this before," says a delighted Erin as she tests pulling down tracksuit pants pulled on over another pair. The arm also comes with a second attachment to help her work her phone and computer. Erin cries out with excitement when the team unveils her new phone system, which dispenses with the need for other people to take it out of her pocket. "You can take your very first selfie ever," says Mr Carrigan as Erin holds out the phone in front of her face and clicks. The final fix was a giant bespoke Harry Potteresque keyboard which she can use with her feet to pursue her passion for writing. "I'm a big nerd and I love books. I really enjoy writing, I want to be a fantasy author, I really like the Harry Potter books," she says. "It's really cool. Oh my God, I have no excuse for not writing any more." Big Life Fix, RTE One on Wednesday at 9.35pm Kernel sold the stake for US$65 million paid in cash. Russian state-controlled VTB bank, which has been expanding its grain business, has bought a half of the Taman grain terminal in the Russian part of the Black Sea from Ukraine's Kernel, it said on Monday. Kernel sold the stake for EUR 61 million (US$65 million) paid in cash, it said in a statement, Reuters said. Read alsoOccupying authorities mulling over launch of intl rail services across Crimean bridge "As part of VTB's grain market strategy, the deal will allow us to achieve significant synergies with VTB Group's existing assets in infrastructure, logistics and grain export," Yuri Soloviev, VTB's first deputy chief executive, said in the statement. Kernel has not been involved in grain marketing in Russia since 2017, assigning its transshipment quota in the terminal to Glencore. Global trade giant Glencore, which owns the other half of the terminal, remains VTB's partner in it, VTB added. VTB has been also looking at other options to expand grain export capacity in the Russian part of the Black and Azov Seas. Russia is the world's largest wheat exporter, which has only a limited number of grain terminals in deep-water ports. Taman is one of the key terminals. Specials The Untouchable Articles in Myanmars Constitution A military lawmaker in the Union Parliament. / Htet Wai / The Irrawaddy YANGON More than a yearlong effort by the National League for Democracy (NLD) to amend the military-drafted 2008 Constitution has ended in failure after rejection by the military and its proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). Military-appointed and USDP lawmakers, which together have about 31 percent of parliamentary seats, rejected all the NLDs amendment proposals that sought to limit or revoke the special powers and privileges granted by the charter to military and its chief in the legislative, administrative and judicial branches of government. Here is a list of key amendments that were not accepted by the military appointees and the USDP during nine days of parliamentary votes until March 20. Militarys political dominance continues The NLDs proposals to end the defense services national political leadership role, gradually reduce its share of seats and end both the commander-in-chiefs role as the supreme commander of the armed forces and his right to take power during an emergency were all rejected. They all failed to receive more than 75 percent support. The NLD suggested gradually reducing the militarys share of seats from 25 percent to 15 percent after the 2020 election, 10 percent after 2025 and 5 percent after 2030. The proposal received 404 votes, about 62 percent of lawmakers. Democracy will remain disciplined The NLD proposals to remove the word disciplined before democracy in the charter were rejected. The Constitution states the flourishing of a genuine, disciplined multiparty democratic system as one of the Unions primary objectives and that, the Union practices a genuine, disciplined multiparty democratic system. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi remains banned from the presidency The NLDs proposal to scrap Article 59(f) that bars anyone from becoming president if their spouse, either of their parents or any of their children or their childrens spouses are citizens of a foreign country, was rejected. The article is widely viewed as targeting Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, whose children are British, as was her late husband. USDP lawmaker and former lieutenant-general U Thaung Aye said preserving Article 59(f) was a victory for the nation. The sovereignty of the country was successfully kept in the hands of our ethnic brothers and sisters, and the presidency and vice presidency kept clear of foreign influence We dont want [Article 59(f)] to be repealed, the former officer told reporters in Naypyitaw. Military retains dominance on national security body The NLDs proposal to reduce the militarys dominance of the countrys most authoritative security body, the National Defense and Security Council (NDSC), along with its power to take control during a state of emergency and another that would make the Supreme Court indisputably the countrys highest legal authority were also rejected. The Constitution currently places the Supreme Court under military courts-martial in terms of legal authority. The NDSC includes the president, two vice presidents (one of whom is appointed by the military), both parliamentary speakers, the commander-in-chief and deputy commander-in-chief, the minister of foreign affairs and the military-appointed defense, home affairs and border affairs ministers. The NLD suggested that the two deputy parliamentary speakers be added, as the current 11 members already include the vice presidents and the deputy commander-in-chief. It also sought to exclude the border affairs minister from the council. The proposals to amend the NDSCs composition received approval from about 63 percent of lawmakers. Military chiefs emergency powers The Constitution grants sovereign power to the commander-in-chief in emergencies, including the rights to control the legislature, executive and judiciary. Under Article 412(a), the president may declare a state of emergency in any situation that could lead to the disintegration of the country or a loss of sovereign power, or if there is an attempt to take power through force, including an insurgency. The president must coordinate with the NDSC and if all 11 members of the NSDC are unable to attend, the president must coordinate with the military representatives. The president is also required to submit a state of emergency declaration to the NDSC for approval as soon as possible. The NLD failed to repeal both provisions. Military retains veto on constitutional change On the fourth day of voting, the NLDs proposal to remove the militarys veto over constitutional amendments was rejected. The NLD proposed lowering the threshold for approving a charter amendment from more than 75 percent to two-thirds of elected representatives, which would exclude military appointees. The proposal received about 414 votes in favor or 64 percent of lawmakers. Generals keep amnesty control On the fifth day of parliamentary voting, the NLDs proposal to grant the president full power to declare amnesties was rejected. Under Article 204(b), the president can only grant amnesties in accordance with the recommendations of the NDSC. The army also controls the Ministry of Home Affairs, which oversees the police and prisons. A total of 403 lawmakers, about 62 percent, voted to approve the proposal, with 227 votes against. Military maintains its grip on national security Constitutional amendments that would have ended the defense services absolute authority over the armed forces and its exclusive role in safeguarding the country were voted down. The NLD sought to revoke Article 338, which states, All the armed forces in the Union shall be under the command of the Defense Services, and Article 339, which says, The Defense Services shall lead in safeguarding the Union against all internal and external dangers. The latter can be interpreted as giving the institution sole, undiluted power in this sphere. Article 338 is one of the most controversial articles. Pro-democracy activists have long targeted it for amendment, saying the police should be administered by a civilian government. Both proposals received 407 votes, accounting for about 63 percent of lawmakers. Immunity for former junta chiefs The proposal to end constitutional impunity for members of the former junta failed to pass. The Constitution effectively shields generals and any other members of the military government that drafted the charter from future prosecution for human rights violations. Article 445 in the Transitory Provisions chapter states no proceeding shall be instituted against the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) and State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) or any of its members in the execution of their duties. The proposal to remove the provision received the 408 votes or 62.3 percent and 218 against. The NLD proposals calling for a change to the national flag and the removal of all provisions under the Transitory Provisions Chapter were also rejected on Friday. Only four amendments were approved Of the NLDs 114 constitutional proposals, only four minor changes received the required support from more than 75 percent of lawmakers. The approved amendments will change Burmese-language references to disabled military officers in three provisions. It will also remove language deemed unnecessary in a passage under the appointment of regional or state minister saying, a regional or state minister could be appointed from among elected representatives or from among those who are not elected representatives, assuming they meet the other requirements. You may also like these stories: NLD Proposal to End Immunity for Myanmars Ex-Military Govt Fails to Pass in Charter Vote Myanmar Parliament Approves Amendment to Constitutions Language on State, Regional Minister Appointments Myanmar Military Chief Retains Special Powers as NLD Charter Reforms Stymied HAMDEN A town resident has tested positive for the coronavirus and is recovering at home, according to Fire Chief Gary Merwede. Merwede, noting the department does not release patient information, said the town has a COVID positive patient recovering at home under a physicians direction in a statement. We will have many more, Merwede said. Most patients without serious symptoms will be able to manage their own care at home, this is all part of the plan to flatten the curve and prioritize hospital beds for the most serious cases. Dispatchers have noted the patients address to help protect first responders, Merwede said. He said the department is readying for more patients in the coming days. (I)t is clear that we are in the acceleration and community-spread phase of this pandemic in our area, Merwede said in the statement. Due to the convergence of incubation periods and more available public COVID-19 testing, we are expecting many more positive testing numbers in our area in the next few days. Mayor Curt B. Leng urged residents to engage in social distancing in a Monday night statement, noting there are likely undiagnosed cases of the virus in Hamden. This number is going to continue to increase dramatically until extreme social distancing is embraced and followed by all of our residents, said Leng. In this very strange moment in our history, you have potentially a once in a lifetime opportunity to be a true superhero and save lives. Know that you have this power, and take responsibility. Follow the guidelines of our health experts, exercise precautions and smart judgement, and embrace inconvenience in favor of saving lives. william.lambert@hearstmediact.com Washington County Public Schools asking public for input on funding Washington County Public Schools is asking the public for input on how they should spend the American Rescue Plan money from the federal government. PR-Inside.com: 2020-03-23 16:23:01 AVer Europe CAM520 Camera Certified For Google Hangouts Meet Press contact Alison Scarrott Senior PR Account Manager alison@brookscomm.com AVer Europe has announced its bestselling CAM520 professional plug-n-play camera has received certification for Google Hangouts Meet hardware, providing automatic updates, syncing and flexibility for users. The CAM520 has received the certification following testing of its quality, reliability and interoperability in Googles partner lab. Creating a seamless communications experience, this partnership between Google and AVer Europe enables users to start chat conversations or video calls, make phone calls using Wi-Fi or data, send text messages with Google Voice or Project Fi, and automatically sync devices across their network. Support for Google Hangouts Meet hardware begins with Chrome 70 update and offers more flexibility to a conference room and ensures that the CAM520 is always up to date with the latest software from Google, reducing any delays or potential barriers within video conferencing. The AVer CAM520 is a professional grade yet user-friendly PTZ camera that is perfect for mid to large conference rooms. With 12X optical zoom, fast auto-focus functions, HD 1080p and smooth pan, tilt, zoom capabilities, the CAM520 results in uninterrupted sharp images for an outstanding video communication experience. It can capture the smallest details with absolute clarity. The built-in USB interface is compatible with any desktop or laptop and can be used with various meeting and video apps, making video conferencing as simple as plugging in a single cable. Rene Buhay, AVer Europe Vice President of Sales & Marketing, comments: We are proud to partner with Google to enhance the Hangout experience with the AVer CAM520. It makes communicating even easier! Mark Grady, Head of Meeting Room Channel & Sales - EMEA at Google, comments: Were delighted to work with AVer to continue to make the Google video conferencing experience around Hangouts Meet Hardware a great one for our users. The AVer CAM520 comes in a silver casing, with a three-year warranty and a two-year extension automatically upon successful completion of registration. AVer CAM520 MSRP: 799 ex VAT Product Specifications: https://communication.avereurope.com/model/cam520 Contact brookscomm for high resolution images and review opportunities alison@brookscomm.com About AVer Europe AVer Europe provides intelligent technological solutions to harness the power of visual communications for business and education. http://www.avereurope.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200323005 Another Lake County resident has tested positive for COVID-19, joining a group of 58 new Indiana coronavirus cases, state health officials announced Monday morning. The Region is now up to 13 affected by the virus 11 in Lake County and two in LaPorte County, according to the Indiana State Department of Health. As of Monday morning, Porter County has yet to confirm a positive case, though health officials there are closely monitoring possible cases. Neighboring St. Joseph County has one new case, bringing its total to nine. The state has 259 positive identifications total, according to ISDH. A total of 1,960 tests have been reported to ISDH to date, including 466 in the last 24 hours. Seven people in Indiana have died from the virus over the past week. Three are dead in Marion County, one in Allen County, one in Delaware County, one in Johnson County and one in Scott County, ISDH reported. The Allen County death was adult over age 60 whose death was announced Sunday by the Allen County Health Department, the ISDH said. This is an opinion column. Its been a minute since weve seen this Birmingham. Several, most likely. If weve ever seen this Birmingham. Its been 70 years since whites living in the city limits packed their bags and took flight. Heading South. So fast some of them practically gave away their housesalmost just dropped their keys on the porch and said, bye. Thats how badly they didnt want an African American neighbor. How badly they didnt want their kids sitting in a classroom next to their kids. So badly they shoved shovels in the ground and founded 37 different municipalities, most of them only miles from downtown Birmingham yet still light miles away. Its been a minute. Seventy years since Birmingham, though far from perfect then and now, was even a semblance of being one. That long, at least then, since weve seen this Birmingham. A Birmingham where passersby actually look each other in the eye again. Where they, say hello, wave and, now, say, Be safe. Where people check on other people, some they know, many they do not. Where they say thank you to the cashiers. To first responders. To childcare workers and to the person delivering the mail. To the young man across the hall in scrubs, diligently, like them all, going to essential work each day. A Birmingham where the Alabama and Lyric theaters, darkened by the provisions established by the Jefferson County Board of Health to slow the spread of COVID-19, still brighten 3d Avenue South with their majestic signature marquees out front. Both still lit as a sign of unity and a bright outlook for all those who live here, says Brant Beene, president/executive director of Birmingham Landmarks. A Birmingham where crotchety, divisive voices from disparate locales appear to have dissipated, somewhat. A Birmingham where regional cooperation is finally happening. Where leaders from both sides of the mountain actually cooperate. Its cooperation borne of crisis, of course, of the COVID-19 global pandemic, its rapid spread and the tsunami of infection that is affecting us all. And it could be tenuous. To be fair, too, some of the regions leaders have navigated the tricky, historically treacherous waters of regional cooperation for almost a year. Last April, 22 area mayors signed a no-poaching" agreement to stop pilfering businesses from each other. (One more signed later.) Some also quietly collaborated on a few regional effortssuch as modernizing the areas 911 system, efforts that dont stir deep-seated fears. Yet nothing like this. Nothing like now. "This situation demands our recognition that were all in it together, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin acknowledged. He says a coalition of municipalities, private enterprises and non-profits scattered around the region was formed and is committed to working side-by-side, identifying and sharing resources, focused on the day when this crisis has passed." A few miles from downtown, in Hoover, Mayor Frank Brocato added: Area mayors are working in close cooperation with each other and with the county commission, and the relationships weve built in recent years are key to managing this event. It must continue. Beyond when the crisis has passed. I used to think what racism ripped asunder decades ago here could never be rebuilt, even when doing so was plain as day in the best interest of our regions future. Or, I thought, it would take a miracle to heal the vestiges of hatred, disdain and unfounded ideas about the city and people white-flighters left behind. It took COVID-19. It took a virus that does not discriminate by ZIP code, race, culture or faith. A virus that equalizes us, that knows no privilege or pedigree, no net worth nor degree. The crisis it created will ultimately pass, but the positive changes it is forcing us towardspirit of collaboration and cooperation that spans, and benefits, both sides of the mountain, and new compassion and humanity toward all our neighborsmust be left behind. Then maybe we can begin to wash our hands of one more ugly page of our history. From a flight from which Birmingham has yet to recover. Resources: Follow our live updates. Find all of our coronavirus stories. A continuously updated vital information post. A free text-messaging service so you can receive the most urgent coronavirus updates on your cellphone. And ask questions. To sign up, subscribe to Alabama Coronavirus Urgent Alerts. A new weekday newsletter is available. You can subscribe here. Also, download our mobile app where you can receive on-the-go notifications. A voice for whats right and wrong in Birmingham, Alabama (and beyond), Roys column appears in The Birmingham News and AL.com, as well as in the Huntsville Times, the Mobile Register. Reach him at rjohnson@al.com and follow him at twitter.com/roysj Chicago has worked to educate people about living alongside coyotes, but rare moments of conflict such as a January incident in which a young boy was bitten can create the perception that the animals pose a threat. The city has received more than 1,000 calls about coyotes in the first two months of the year, nearly equal to the total from 2019. Diakhate noted that the city sends officers to respond to all calls about coyotes, but most prove to be a sighting rather than a nuisance that requires action. A day after putting seven districts of the state under lockdown, the Haryana government on Monday decided to extend the anti-coronavirus measure to the remaining 15 districts of the state. The lockdown for the new districts would be effective from March 24 midnight i.e. the night intervening Monday and Tuesday. The state government also announced a special financial aides to help the poor Below Poverty Line and in low income groups like daily wagers, labourers, street vendors and construction workers. The humanitarian measures were taken to ensure that they do not face any difficulty in meeting their daily needs during the lockdown, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar told reporters in a "digital" conference. We had ordered lockdown in seven districts as part of the containment measures. We have now decided that in addition, this lockdown will be enforced in the remaining 15 districts of the state also from March 24, said Khattar. He said the inter-state borders will remain sealed and the inter-state bus services too will remain suspended, though all essential and emergency services will stay operational. He said section 144 of the Cr P C has been imposed in the state prohibiting the assembly of five or more persons at any place. Those violating the lockdown will invite punishment under law, he warned. The Khattar government had on Sunday announced lockdown for the state's seven districts -- Gurgaon, Faridabad, Sonipat, Panipat, Jhajjar, Rohtak and Panchkula. The lockdown in the seven districts came into effect at 9 pm on Sunday and was slated to stay operational earlier till March 31. Now, the entire state will be in lockdown mode till the end of this month, said Khattar, adding the situation will be reviewed on March 31. The chief minister also announced setting up of a Haryana Corona Relief Fund (HCRF) and appealed people to make voluntary donations to it. While seeking voluntary donations for the HCRF, Khattar also made a donation of Rs 5 lakh from his personal account. He said the party MLAs have also offered one month's salary while state officials have offered 20 per cent of their salaries to contribute to the fund. A dedicated account has been opened for the purpose, he said, adding the money will be used to mitigate hardship of those affected by the Covid-19 spread. Enlisting measures for the poor, he said all BPL families shall be provided their monthly rations for the month of April free of cost. All government school children and those enrolled with anganwadis shall be provided dry rations for the period the schools and anganwadis stay closed. Those registered with the Haryana Board of Construction Workers but have not registered under Mukhya Mantri Parivar Samriddhi scheme shall be provided a sum of Rs 4,500 per month on weekly basis starting March 30. The sum will be credited directly to their bank accounts, he said. All BPL families who have not registered under MMPSY shall be provided a sum of Rs 4500 per month on weekly basis starting March 30. Daily wagers, including labourers and street vendors, may register with the deputy commissioner of the district on a portal that will be established by March 27, said Khattar, adding all such persons, found eligible and having a bank account, will be directly provided an assistance of Rs 1000 per week. All positive coronavirus patients, if requiring hospitalisation, shall be given the benefit of free hospitalisation, irrespective of whether the treatment is in a private or the government hospital. So far, 14 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in the state, he said. All health workers and frontline workers, engaged in curbing the the coronavirus spread, will be provided accident insurance (ex-gratia) of Rs 10 lakh, he said. A special package for agriculture and farmers shall be announced by the government by March 28, he said. Urging people not to panic, he said that government was taking every possible measure to contain the spread of the deadly virus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Local governments across China are stepping up efforts to reconstruct countryside areas into beautiful arrangements boasting pleasant living environments as the country will complete its task this year of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. (People's Daily Online/Liu Jia) This years No. 1 Central Document, the first policy statement released by the countrys central authorities each year, stressed efforts to boost the development of rural infrastructure are highlighted. Rural infrastructure is an area of weakness that should be strengthened as soon as possible, said Wei Houkai, director of Rural Development Institute of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, adding that relevant projects can be completed on schedule if well planned despite of the novel coronavirus epidemic. China will launch more demonstration projects involving rural roads that are well-constructed, well-managed, well-maintained and well-operated this year. It will also complete programs to consolidate and build on progress already made in providing safe drinking water in rural areas. In response, local governments have adopted measures, including simplifying procedures and optimizing services, to help resume construction of projects in rural areas. At Shejian town, Zhaohua district of Guangyuan in southwest Chinas Sichuan province, the towns government worked together with relevant departments in the district to continue the construction progress of a 6.5 km-long road linking Exiang village and Wufang village, which was suspended due to the epidemic. They verified tendering and bidding documents via videos due to the impact brought by the epidemic, and guaranteed construction materials, personnel as well as capital for the project. Shi Hongbin, secretary of the towns party committee, has been inspecting progress on the construction site, while members of the two villages party committees work on the spot. Besides, the two villages set up a service team and are recruiting more construction workers. Shi said the construction has been accelerated, expressing confidence that the road will open to traffic by the end of June. Meanwhile, the document urged efforts to improve the rural living environment, education, medical services, social security and other areas of weaknesses. Wei said medical services in rural areas is an important link. The reason being that improving capacity to offer medical and health care services in rural areas will make medical care more affordable and accessible for local residents. The government of Suyu district of Suqian in eastern Chinas Jiangsu province has included 13 village clinics into its key projects for reconstruction. It has established 93 teams consisting of some 1,000 doctors from 13 township hospitals and 138 community health centers to serve returnees. Villagers were not willing to see a doctor at village clinics, but now 41.7 percent of villagers who have access to health care choose village clinics and township hospitals, said Huang Liling, a doctor at Guanzhuang village, Luji town of the district. Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China has rolled out 50 measures to ensure that the targets of the three-year action plan on rural living environment improvement will be met this year. Several Valley agencies have joined forces in light of the worldwide pandemic impacting peoples lives to create an emergency fund geared to distribute money quickly to local nonprofits in need. The Valley Community Foundation, Valley United Way, Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Valley Health & Human Service Council have come together to establish the Valley Community COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund. The fund, officials said, is designed to rapidly deploy resources to organizations that support those most significantly affected by the pandemic. This is a complicated time, yet it has never been more clear in how well we collectively come together to effectively respond and recover in this region, made possible by the exceptionalism of the Valley Community Foundation, Valley United Way, Valley Chamber and the Valley Council for Health and Human Services, said David Morgan, president/CEO of Team Inc. and Valley Council co-chairman. The four agencies will launch the fund with some seed money, and is appealing to the community at large to make monetary donations to support the various Valley nonprofits, many which have been forced to close, or greatly modify services, according to Morgan. This fund will serve as the repository for donations from individuals, foundations and corporations with VCF serving as the backbone and fiscal agent. To support the Valley Community COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund, visit https://vcffunds.kimbia.com/valleycovid19fund. Gifts via credit card are strongly preferred over checks to reduce processing time. Checks can be made out to Valley Community Response and Recovery Fund and mailed to 253-A Elizabeth St., Derby, CT 06418. Time after time, we are reminded about the strength and perseverance of the Valley Community, said Sharon Closius, VCF president and CEO. We are all in this together and, by working alongside one another, we can accomplish far more than what we could do individually. While these may be challenging times, there are meaningful opportunities to create impact in flatting the curve of this virus, supporting the organizations that are creating new measures, and assisting those most in need. VUW Interim President and Chief Operating Officer David Kennedy added, Our United Way is pleased to be a part of this collaborative effort to help support the nonprofits in our community that are on the front line and meeting daily to address the challenges of this virus, which is affecting so very many. Im very confident that this Fund will be a welcome resource for the business community and individuals who have been asking, What can I do to help the local community? Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce President Bill Purcell said he will appeal to the Valley business community to lend a helping hand. Corporate philanthropy has long been a hallmark of the Valley community, and the Chamber will certainly make our member businesses aware of this new and timely initiative to support those most impacted by this crisis, Purcell said. Susan Agamy, executive director of Spooner House and Valley Council co-chairwoman, said, We are facing an unprecedented challenge in light of this pandemic, and the Valley community has joined together to respond quickly and effectively to address the needs. Morgan said local food banks and pantries, for example, can apply to the new fund for emergency aid, as can other Valley nonprofits on the front lines of helping those in most need in times of crisis and beyond. More information about the Fund can be found online at www.valleyfoundation.org/default.aspx. jean.sos@snet.net Yuroke MP Ros Spence has been elevated to the frontbench after the resignation last week of senior minister Gavin Jennings in a move that means cabinet will for the first time have more women than men. Ms Spence, 49, who was elected to the northern suburbs lower house seat in 2014 and is part of Mr Jennings' Socialist Left faction, was the parliamentary secretary for Road Infrastructure. Ros Spence has been elevated to the front bench. Credit:Darren Howe She was a councillor at Hume Council for six years, including one term as mayor. After his election win in 2018, Premier Daniel Andrews unveiled a frontbench with an equal gender split. Ms Spence's promotion means there are now 12 women and 10 men in the cabinet. Should you cut your own hair during Coronavirus outbreak? Short answer is no. (Getty Images) They may not have been officially ordered to close, but many hair salons in the UK are taking it upon themselves to hang up their scissors during the coronavirus outbreak. Following social distancing guidelines issued by the government many hairdressers and barbers are making the responsible decision to close their doors in the coming weeks to protect their staff, their customers, and all the people they might interact with during and following appointments. But, where does this leave you if youre in desperate need of a tidy up? Sure we know there are more important things to worry about right now, not least those very jobs and businesses of those who work in the beauty industry, but many have been left wondering what to do between now and their next professional snip. Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice Live: Follow all the latest updates from the UK and around the world Fact-checker: The number of COVID-19 cases in your local area Explained: Symptoms, latest advice and how it compares to the flu So weve spoken to the hair experts about what you can do if youre in between cuts and colours and potentially months from your next salon visit. Just a word to the wise: what NOT to do is equally as important. Dont go rogue with the scissors Lets start with a not. General consensus among the hair pros is dont be tempted to give yourself a DIY cut. Remember when you took it upon yourself to give Barbie a quick trim? Yeah, well its likely to be the same result. Try not to lose patience with your hair! advises Ricky Walters, founder of SALON64. In my years within the hairdressing industry I have only ever seen disasters when clients cut their own hair. Whether it be a little trim of the fringe or simply cutting out the split ends it never ends well! Instead he suggests waiting for things to, hopefully, blow over before returning to your salon as usual. Your local salon will welcome your support, he explains. Better yet, purchase online or over social media a voucher to help your local salon business during this tricky time. Story continues Read more: Coronavirus: The impact self-isolating or working from home can have on your skin Tame a too long fringe No longer able to see through your fringe, while most hairdressers dont recommend giving it a quick snip yourself, there are ways to bring too long bangs under control. Whilst fringes look simple, they are notoriously difficult to get right, warns hairdressers Michael Van Clarke. As more and more comes off trying to correct the errors, an unintended 'suicide fringe' may be the outcome. Van Clarke suggests it could be a good time to give some thought to life without a fringe. LifeSaver UV Leave-in Styling Treatment is a great way to keep hair back off the face while growing out fringes, he says. So much of this modern era has been retro it may now be time for the hippy and glam rock hairstyles of the 60s and 70s. What to do if your roots are coming through. (Getty Images) Read more: Urban Dictionary coins the word covidiot Get an at-home colour fix Weve heard the were about three weeks from knowing everyones real hair colour jokes doing the social media rounds. For those worried about roots coming through while stuck inside and unable to visit their favourite colourist Walters recommends one miracle cure; Colour Wow! Applied like eye shadow, it disguises your greys and regrowth. No more roots! he explains. Walters advises staying away from box dyes and at home hair dyes you can purchase from the supermarket. These dyes stay in your hair for a very long time and make it impossible for a hairdresser to correct quickly. Concentrate on condition Self-isolation is the perfect excuse to actually look after your hairs health, says Walters. For those staying inside anyway, wash your hair and leave a deep conditioning mask on your hair all day! he suggests. You may look a little slick but who cares when working from home! Rinse out in the evening and you will be left with silky locks. I love all the deep conditioners from R&Co! According to Richard Ashley at haircare retailer, Additional Lengths taking the time to look after your locks during lockdown will mean your hair will remain in better condition in between cuts and colours, particularly as it's likely you'll have more time to wait for your next salon visit due to the pandemic. If you have extensions, stick to hair care products that are made for hair extensions specifically, as many leave-in treatments might break down the bonds, he adds. Remi Cachet hair oil and miracle mist are ideal for this. Never try to remove your extensions without professional help, he adds. Read more: What to do if your wedding is impacted during the coronavirus outbreak? Disguise your do There are a ton of ways to disguise hair that needs a cut. A loose boho pony-tail or messy hair up is a fantastic cover up, suggests Walters. Adding hair jewellery higher up the hair is a great way to distract the eyes looking at your split ends and add a sense of glam, care and being polished. Ideal if you want your hair to look super fancy for your next virtual house party. Take the opportunity to get your hair in tip-top condition. (Getty Images) Stay in touch with your stylist So you might not be able to actually visit your hair stylist in person, but thats no reason you cant keep in touch with them virtually. If you can, try to keep in touch with your stylist for advice directly as they know what will work best for you and your hair, advises Ashley. And for the men It isnt just women who are looking for solutions on how to keep their hair looking good during lockdown. Many of our customers visit as regularly as once a fortnight, so obviously they are concerned about their hair getting out of hand, explains Joseph Lanzante, Owner of The Men's Room. Even if they're working from home they maybe doing video conferencing so they still need to be mindful of their appearance. Lazante says men have a couple of options. Either you can let it grow it out in which case I have some tips for styling you, or you can clip it off like Hollywood's greatest action stars Jason Stratham or Bruce Willis, he says. If you opt for the latter and take it off, my advice would be to invest in a really decent pair of clippers from Wahl, which you can buy from Amazon. The clippers will come about 4-5 different grades which will determine the length of your hair 1 being the shortest and 5 the longest. My advice is to start at 5 then gradually take it down until you reach your preferred length, he adds. Using two mirrors, one in front and one behind, clip against the hair growth, so bring the clippers from the nape of the neck upwards and slowly work your way around. Always use a good moisturiser and even an SPF if you're social distancing outside. If you want to maintain your normal style, Lanzante suggests investing in some styling products to keep it looking tidy. My advice is to wash it every day or every other day with shampoo then apply a small amount of conditioner on the ends. Don't rub it into the roots as it will make it look greasy. Using a hairdryer, blow dry your hair to create volume, then apply a pomade or wax to style it in place. If you have particularly fine hair use a powder to create texture and volume, he adds. Lanzante says that if you have a beard, you can use the same clippers that you use for your head to keep it tidy. There are also some great beard products on the market now such as oils and conditioning treatments to create shine and gloss, he says. If you absolutely cant wait to get your hair cut Rosie Morris, Training Manager at Capital Hair and Beauty has given her top tips for those thinking about cutting their hair during isolation It's a sensitive time on the stock market these days with the coronavirus sending investors into a panic. That's bad news, especially for the cannabis industry where stocks are cratering to all-time lows. Many investments are down 60% or more. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are normally safer investments since they hold a variety of different stocks, and yet the Horizons Marijuana Life Sciences ETF is down 80% in just one year. Things could get even worse, and the two stocks listed below could be in a world of trouble. 1. Aurora Cannabis Aurora Cannabis (NASDAQ:ACB) is one of the worst-performing pot stocks over the past year, as it's fallen around 93% in just 12 months. From trading close to $10 per share a year ago, the stock now finds itself well below the $1 mark. A big problem for Aurora is that the company's fallen short of not just analyst expectations, but even its own projections. When the company reported its fourth-quarter results on Sept. 11, its sales didn't meet the guidance Aurora issued earlier. It wasn't startling that Aurora missed -- it was that it had issued an update just a month earlier saying net revenue would fall between 100 million Canadian dollars and CA$107 million. But when Aurora reported earnings on Sept. 11, the actual number came in at CA$98.9 million. The company also expected its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) would be positive by that quarter. Instead, the company reported an adjusted EBITDA loss of CA$11.7 million. It wasn't just Q4 when Aurora disappointed investors. In the following two quarters, its sales fell to CA$75.2 million and then again to CA$56 million. Sales growth is a key reason investors have been willing to pay a premium for pot stocks in the past. And with the company now projecting "modest to no growth" in the upcoming quarter, the company isn't expecting a miraculous turnaround anytime soon. What makes the situation all the more challenging is the pot producer's lack of cash. In the second quarter, Aurora reported having cash and cash equivalents totaling CA$156.3 million as of Dec. 31. And it could go through that in short order, given that over the past six months it burned through CA$229.6 million from its day-to-day operating activities. Investment bank Ello Capital projected last month that Aurora Cannabis may only have a couple of months of liquidity left and that its cash situation is among the worst in the industry. As the coronavirus threatens to keep people home as the pandemic continues to spread, Aurora may generate even less revenue to cover its expenses. And while cannabis delivery is one option for consumers, Canada Post may not be of much help as it will no longer deliver products that require a signature, such as cannabis, to someone's door, and the recipient will need to sign for these packages at a post office. Cannabis stores remain open in many parts of the country, but it may not remain that way if the outbreak of COVID-19 becomes even worse in Canada and government officials impose lockdowns. There's been an uptick in traffic of consumers stocking up on cannabis, but over the longer term, it's likely that sales may come to a halt in some parts of Canada if the spread of COVID-19 gets out of control. For Aurora, it creates a very sensitive situation where it could run out of money. And as challenging as 2020 has already been for the company, it's about to get even more difficult. 2. Cresco Labs Cresco Labs (OTC:CURLF) is in a better position than Aurora in terms of cash, but it's still facing many challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company released its third-quarter results on Nov. 26, which showed that as of Sept. 30, Cresco had cash and cash equivalents totaling $73.7 million. And over the past nine months, it only used $18.6 million to fund its day-to-day activities, suggesting it may be in okay shape for the foreseeable future. But the spread of COVID-19 is much worse in the U.S. than it is in Canada, with the former now at well over 10,000 cases while the latter is still below 1,000. Those numbers may change rapidly, but California is already under a lockdown due to the severity of the coronavirus and more cities and states around the country may follow suit. Regardless of how much money Cresco Labs has on hand or how little cash it's burned through, if sales take a hit, the losses will mount and the situation will get worse. The government may help struggling businesses, but there's no guarantee that there will be enough money to go around to help cannabis producers like Cresco to stave off dire circumstances. The reality is that COVID-19 is such an uncertain situation that it's difficult to predict how it may affect cannabis companies. But one thing's for sure: The longer it drags out, the worse of a problem it'll be for cannabis companies. Cresco may be in a better position than Aurora for now, but that still shouldn't put investors at ease. Shares of Cresco are down 75% over the past year. Takeaway for investors Pot stocks like Cresco and Aurora may be down and cheaper than they've been in the past, but there's good reason for it -- there's a lot more risk in the industry as well. These companies are at serious risk today, and even if they're able to withstand and survive this adversity, their valuations may continue to take a beating in the process. And that's why, for now, investors may want to avoid investing in either of these two pot stocks today. Vineet Upadhyay By Express News Service DEHRADUN: A man from the United States of America tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday taking the total count of positive patients in Uttarakhand to four. The man had travelled to Rishikesh last month and stayed in the religious town. He was kept under observation along with many other foreigners to confirm if they are infected. Amita Upreti, director general of the state health department, Uttarakhand said, "The man is being kept in quarantine. His sample results tested positive on Monday. Every precaution is being taken and he is being treated along with others." Meanwhile, after two foreigners suspected of Covid-19 ran away from a quarantine facility in Nainital, state government officials caught them after launching a search operation on Monday. The two have been sent to Dr Susheela Tiwari Government Medical College and Hospital in Haldwani for 14 days of isolation. The man belongs to Belgium while the woman is from Israel. KS Dhami, chief medical superintendent of BD Pandey Government Hospital, Nainital from where they escaped said, "The man and woman have been caught and sent to quarantine. Their samples have been sent for testing and we will wait for the results." On March 19, two cases of Covid-19 surfaced in Dehradun as two trainee Indian Forest Service officers tested positive. Earlier, on March 15, the first case of Covid-19 surfaced in the state when a 26-year-old trainee Indian Forest Service officer tested positive. Measures praised by foreigners Since the start of World War 2, many Brits have kept the motto keep calm and carry on in mind when a particularly stressful situation arises. The phrase, from a motivational poster produced by the British government in 1939, was intended to raise the morale of the public, threatened with attacks on major cities. Today it is a different enemy, one with no face, as COVID-19 makes its presence felt not only in the United Kingdom but across almost every nation on Earth. Sharing a border with the epicentre of China, Vietnam was one of the first countries to be affected by the outbreak in its early days, but several months on, the number of cases here is at odds with many others that are struggling. And many Brits are based in Vietnam, be it for work purposes or for travel with many now at a point of having to choose to return home, or keep calm and carry on in Vietnam. I feel like I either have to leave now, not knowing how it is back home, or stay here and wait and see, said Englishwoman Josephine, who volunteers with children near Danang. I watch the UK news and they believe the crisis will not peak for several months. Many there are not ready for something like that, and Ive seen images of my local shops running out of food and toilet paper, its madness. For many foreigners in Vietnam, this country is now their home. Josephine has not been back to the UK in over a year. Andrew, a teacher from Scotland, has been in Vietnam for a lot longer, but almost made the move to return as the schools continued to remain shut. Its so frustrating. I almost booked flights home several weeks ago, but I managed to get work teaching online, which will have to do for now, Andrew explained. If nothing changed in my little town back home, I could just work with my dad and stay at my parents for a while. But things are about to be shut down there too. Part of the reason for being so conflicted is that Vietnam is, on the whole, doing a strong job of suppressing the spread of the coronavirus. While some major global news outlets have focused on the good work carried out by Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan in COVID-19 measures, Vietnamese and foreigners alike are doing their best on social media to put across that Vietnam should be mentioned in the same breath. Just before the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Europe the hotspot of the crisis, Vietnam went three weeks without a new case, an astonishing statistic compared to most other destinations. New cases since then have originated from flights from Europe, and as yet there have been no deaths. But with government actions to track down those who may be affected by these clusters, travellers and expats in the country have frequently posted that they feel safer in Vietnam, impressed by its measures. The government has been more transparent in fighting epidemic than some others, said a Facebook user based in Hanoi. People seem willing to give up their privacy and co-operate strongly with the local authorities in disease prevention. One expat named Dale flew back into Hanoi two weeks ago, and outlined his experience in being tested for coronavirus. The situation is messy, and doctors and nurses have to work so hard in the hospitals this whole time and dont get to see their families. They are doing a brilliant job and I am so grateful for their efforts, Dale said. But if you have only very minor symptoms like I did, its better to self-quarantine at home, because this will help keep a burden off the system. One British tourist who was featured prominently in the media two weeks ago with his description of being in quarantine in Vietnam, last week offered an update. Soldiers are taking good care of us and are being very kind. Everything is disinfected with spray daily, and we have specific no-go areas, he said. They are clearly very prepared. I salute Vietnam for its kindness and for treating us well, and I wish other countries were this prepared. On Twitter, Do Thanh Hai posted an image of another group of Vietnamese military men, sleeping in a common room to save their dorms for quarantine rooms for civilians. They cook, serve, care, clean, and secure the places for quarantined people, Hai said. They are quiet men at the forefront of the fight. Using a Twitter hashtag based on Vietnam leaving nobody behind, other foreigners entering the country have offered thanks for the preparedness of the country. We respect the fact that this is what had to happen in the circumstances and we are very thankful to the hospital and all the staff for looking after us so well, said one couple placed into quarantine. And, dismayed by the somewhat slower response by countries such as Italy and the UK, one British traveller placed into isolation as he arrived in the country posted, While the rest of the world waited, Vietnam has been preparing. Furthermore, the WHO itself praised the work carried out by the Vietnamese government. Early detection, early isolation, and active treatment is extremely important. Vietnams early actions stopped further spread of the disease, saving thousands of lives. These actions in the country echo those made in Singapore and South Korea, which have been praised internationally for using quarantine effectively, providing services to get checked, ramping up testing, and more. Back in Britain, many have been upset at Londons sluggishness in activating measures, but also enforcing them, with many simply suggestions rather than orders. In contrast, Vietnams government was timely to issue daily updates on mandatory changes involving closing schools, avoiding certain areas, and wearing masks, for example. Strict as they may be, for people in Vietnam, at least they know where they stand. As one other British twitter user said last week, Vietnam has got a long way to go but they knew what they were doing from the outset. I remember thinking it (closing schools) felt like an overreaction, but I was totally wrong. By Express News Service BENGALURU: Karnataka on Sunday witnessed a further rise in the number of Coronavirus cases with six more testing positive, taking the total number to 26. While three are from Bengaluru, the others are from Dharwad, Chikkaballapaur (mother of Patient 19) and Uttara Kannada districts. In Bengaluru, the police have formed teams to trace 42,000 travellers who flew into the city from abroad between March 8 and 19, and to verify whether they are under home quarantine. A 35-year-old man from Dharwad (Patient 21) who had travelled from Dubai via Goa tested positive on Sunday. Four of his primary contacts have been traced and they will also be tested. According to sources, he travelled from Australia via Dubai and Goa on March 12. After he developed cold and cough, he got admitted to a private hospital in Dharwad. As the symptoms were similar to Coronavirus, the doctors referred him to KIMS hospital in Hubballi on March 18. The doctors at KIMS had sent his throat swabs to The Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratorie (VDRL) in Shivamogga and the report came back positive on Sunday morning. The man is from Hosayellapur area in Dharwad and had spent almost six days there. Soon after he tested positive, the district administration has banned entry and exit around a 3-km radius of at Hosayellapur and checkposts have been set up at Nuggikeri, Kelageri and University of Agricultural Sciences. In Hubballi, it is said he had come in contact with many people. Therefore, the hospital authorities have started contact tracing in the premises on Sunday. A 64-year-old woman, the mother of Patient 19, has become Patient 22 after she tested positive on Saturday. She and her son had travelled from Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to Gowribidanur in Chikkaballapur district on March 14 from Hyderabad to Hindupura by train and from there, they reached Gowribidanur on March 15 by bus. Four of her primary contacts have been identified. Chikballapur Deputy Commissioner R Latha said three people the woman, her son and a cousin had gone to Mecca. The cousin has been isolated and her condition is stable. Sources said the three had undertaken a package tour organised by a Hindupur-based firm. After landing at Hyderabad airport, they travelled with the tour party up to Hindupur. A relative picked them up from there and brought them to Gouribidanur by car. The Patient 19 is stable and is responding well to treatment. We are also tracking the people who have travelled with him. He had isolated himself at home and was not in contact with any of the family members, they said. A 36-year-old female from Bengaluru (Patient 23) had travelled from Switzerland and France and returned on March 9. A 27-year-old man (Patient 24), had travelled to Germany on March 8 and returned on March 14. A 51-year-old man from Bengaluru (Patient 25) had travelled to London and returned on March 13. Ten of his primary and secondary contacts have been traced. All three are being treated at designated isolation hospitals. Fourteen primary contacts of Patient 24 have been traced while there are 237 secondary contacts. The contact tracing varies on the person to person and how responsible they are. Nowadays, people are aware, and as soon as they return from abroad, they isolate themselves. But this person might have not done that, said Jawaid Akhtar, Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department. Patient 26 is a 22-year-old male who arrived by Spicejet flight SG60 (seat No. 21 C) from Dubai at 5.40 pm on March 19. The Bhatkal resident was isolated at Mangaluru and directly taken to Wenlock hospital the same day. Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner Sindhu B Rupesh told reporters that the patient was among the 165 passengers who travelled from Dubai. The co-passengers and crew have been put under house quarantine and their health is closely monitored. The DC said people need not panic as the patient was directly shifted to the hospital from the airport and he did not come in contact with any other persons apart from those on his flight. Meanwhile, the last international flight arrived in Mangaluru from Dubai at 6.30 am on Sunday with 109 passengers on board. All were screened and none had symptoms. But they have been asked to be under home quarantine for 14 days. On reports that a person who tested positive for COVID-19 in Kasargod had donated blood in Mangaluru, the DC said they are yet to receive the official flow chart from her Kasargod counterpart and until then, nothing can be confirmed.Patient 5, a Google techie who had returned from Greece, has been discharged on Friday. He had been isolated at the Jayanagar General Hospital. By Jeffrey Heller JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's Supreme Court ordered the speaker of the parliament on Monday to put into motion a move in parliament, which he had rejected, that could weaken close ally Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hold on power. The rare court intervention in parliamentary procedure followed Yuli Edelstein's refusal to hold a vote on March 25 that would likely remove him as speaker and fast-track legislation to bar Netanyahu from forming a new government with a corruption trial looming. Edelstein, a member of Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party, had cited the coronavirus crisis and the Israeli leader's call for a "national emergency government" as reasons for delaying a vote for the speaker's position, following an inconclusive national election on March 2. Although no government has been formed to replace Netanyahu's caretaker coalition, a new parliament has been sworn in and Netanyahu's main rivals - the centrist Blue and White party and its allies, which include a coalition of Arab parties, control a slim majority - 61 of its 120 seats. Hearing a petition from Blue and White and democracy advocacy groups on Monday to force Edelstein to schedule a vote for a new speaker, the court gave him until the evening to say whether he would be prepared to do so at a parliamentary session on Wednesday. After the deadline passed, Edelstein took to Twitter with an emphatic no. "With all due respect, I cannot agree to the ultimatum presented to me and Israel's parliament to hold the session no later than March 25," Edelstein wrote, saying that setting the legislature's agenda was the speaker's prerogative, not the court's. Soon after that, the court issued a ruling instructing him to hold the vote within the next two days. "The continued refusal to allow for a full vote in the Knesset for the election of a permanent Knesset speaker undercuts the foundations of the democratic process," Chief Justice Esther Hayut wrote in the ruling. Story continues There was no immediate word from Edelstein whether he would obey the order. Defiance of the ruling would put Israeli democracy to a new test amid allegations by Netanyahu's critics that he has taken a turn toward autocracy, Israeli political commentators said. Netanyahu, 70, made no immediate public comment on the issue. Israel's attorney-general, who has indicted the prime minister on bribery, fraud and breach of trust charges that Netanyahu has denied, had backed Blue and White's position. Leading members of Likud, including the justice minister - a Netanyahu appointee - had called on Edelstein to reject the court's call for a vote on Wednesday. But they stopped short of urging him to defy a formal ruling. (Editing by Jeffrey Heller and Angus MacSwan) Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries is a rarity in todays superlative-dominated TV landscape, neither prestige fare nor a guilty pleasure. The synopsis for the series, much like its twee title, is deceptively frothy: Miss Phryne (pronounced FRY-nee) Fisher is an heiress-turned-amateur detective whoarmed with a tiny gold gun and a bob to rival Louise Brookssolves murder mysteries in 1920s Australia, as she does in the novels by Kerry Greenwood. But despite that quaint description, the show itself feels modern, with compelling mysteries, clever solutions, and a heroine as emotionally complex as she is intellectually competent. Advertisement The result is a pleasurable murder-mystery series that is neither a binge watch nor a slow burn but satisfyingly somewhere in the middle. With the new movie Miss Fisher & the Crypt of Tears now available to stream, theres no better time to start watching, and no better episode to start than Murder on the Ballarat Train, the second episode of the first season in the series. Like Agatha Christies Murder on the Orient Express, Murder on the Ballarat Train is a whodunnit set on a train, but as the episode progresses, it becomes clear that Phryne Fisher (Essie Davis) is no gender-flipped Hercule Poirot as she bucks any number of fictional detective stereotypes. Despite her independence, she plays well with others, unlike know-it-all Sherlock Holmes or hard-boiled Philip Marlowe. And shes neither a perpetual innocent like Nancy Drew nor a retiree like Jessica Fletcher or Miss Marple.* Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Murder on the Ballarat Train begins with Miss Fisher purchasing two first-class tickets to Ballarat, an excursion that is supposed to be about having fun, as she tells Dot (Ashleigh Cummings), who looks nervous at the prospect. Dot is Miss Fishers maid, a devout Catholic whose domesticity, diffidence, and beige-toned cardigans offer a foil to Miss Fishers bejeweled and feathered flapperdom. But the show never trips itself up with caricatures, even if the ideological differences between the characters are fair game for jokes. For example, Miss Fishers drivers and general helpers, Bert and Cec, are proud red raggers (communists). Bert thinks Miss Fisher is a toff, but despite their ideological misgivings, the pair accepts her gift of a new car and the implicit offer of employment, to which they eventually resign themselves. Advertisement Wealthy Miss Fisher enjoys her material comforts and flaunts social norms with her sexually liberated spinsterhood, appearing in no fewer than eight outfits in Murder on the Ballarat Train, so Downton Abbey fans who miss the shows lavish costuming should be sated. And, as almost every Miss Fisher mystery comes with its own tryst, her flavor of the episode is a med student named Lindsay (Dale March). When Miss Fisher first spots him at the train station, she approves of what she sees, telling Dot that the scenery has vastly improved. But the liaison that follows, like the others in the series, is a woman acting on her desire, not a portent of a troubled psyche nor an instrument in Miss Fishers investigative toolkit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Miss Fisher is charming without being cynical, using her social maneuvering to aid her in her investigations, and unlike solitary antiheroes, she has a healthy sense of team spirit. She has ample opportunity to demonstrate those skills and more when her fun excursion quickly escalates into a murder mystery. She is inquisitive and observant, as evidenced by how she decides to investigate the mysterious noise she hears from her train compartment. When she sees a young woman, Eunice Henderson, lying unconscious in her compartment, she quickly identifies the cause of unconsciousness (chloroform). And above all, she is tenacious. When she discovers that Eunices mother is missing, Miss Fisher dismisses the warnings of Constable Hugh Collins (Hugo Johnstone-Burt) that a nearby water tower is too high for her to climb and investigate. Dont fret, Hugh, Ive scaled Mount Kilimanjaro, she tells him, although she adds, when one of the ladders rungs gives out, at least to the first hikers hut. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When they discover Eunice Hendersons mother dead and hanging from the top of the ladder, turning the mystery into a murder mystery, Detective Inspector Jack Robinson (Nathan Page) is called to the scene. He attempts to restore order by sending Miss Fisher back to her compartment, but Miss Fisher wins him overat least for the momentby sharing her observations: Most of the bruisings around the neck. But not a lot of jewelry, youll note. The impressed constable makes notes in his notebook, while Inspector Robinson attempts to rebuff Miss Fisher with a polite Well take that into consideration, a dynamic that continues throughout the series, often to comic effect. Advertisement Advertisement Miss Fisher convinces Miss Henderson to hire her as a private detective so she can investigate, whisking Miss Henderson and a young stowaway named Jane (Ruby Rees), who have become suspects in the case, to her Italianate townhouse in Melbourne. Though Miss Fisher uses her charisma to her advantage, her manipulations are never mean-spirited. When an accusatory Inspector Robinson pays her a visit to confront her for sheltering the suspects, she politely offers him tea and an interview with Jane, defending her actions by saying that she couldnt leave Jane to the notoriously negligent care of the state. This is a theme that runs throughout the entire series: When Miss Fisher bends the law, its often out of empathy, and she doesnt hold the inspectors title against him, even when he remains wary of her. Rather, Miss Fisher goes out of her way to help him, sharing tips and insights. Advertisement One of the most thrilling moments of Murder on the Ballarat Train involves the buttoned-up inspector beginning to warm up to Miss Fisher at the end of the episode. After a series of interrogations, revelations, and a tense standoff at gunpoint, the two detectives debrief in Miss Fishers sitting room, both looking extremely well-dressed, with Miss Fisher in a chartreuse silk top and a black satin shawl with gold floral embroidery and the inspector in his three-piece suit. When she asks whether she can offer him a drink, Robinson pretends to check the time and feigns a moment of consideration before smiling for a millisecond and saying Perhaps, just the one. There is no cliffhanger (as promised, this show is satisfying without any need to binge), but their budding relationship is just one of the reasons to keep watchingalong with plenty of murder mysteries, sex, and train rides to come. OTTAWAThe federal Conservative party is facing considerable pressure to postpone its planned leadership race as Canada and the world continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic. On Sunday, one of the races two front runners, Durham MP Erin OToole, called on the party to delay the race until for the foreseeable future. We are in unprecedented times for our country, OToole said in a video address. Im asking the leadership committee of the Conservative Party of Canada to delay the leadership contest to ensure that all time and resources of our Conservative caucus and our grassroots members can be focused on helping our constituents and the needs of our communities in the fight against COVID-19. OTooles request was a significant escalation in the pressure on party leadership to delay the race, with the cut-off to submit the required fees and signatures of support just days away. Until Sunday, lesser-known candidates Rick Peterson, Rudy Husny, Derek Sloan, and Leslyn Lewis had expressed concerns about their ability to obtain the required signatures and fundraise the races $300,000 entrance fee during the pandemic. Peterson has dropped out, while other candidates have suspended in-person events. The partys leadership organizing committee, known as LEOC, made some concessions last week in creating an online portal for supporters to endorse candidates, provided resources for candidates to hold video town halls, and offered to connect candidates with the partys membership to advertise those meetings. That was last week. As the coronavirus crisis continues to spread, and more and more public events are being cancelled and there are serious concerns being raised about the partys ability to hold a fair race. But outgoing Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer told The Canadian Press Sunday that altering the rules and timelines midrace also has consequences. As you can imagine in a leadership race, changing rules or deadlines or dates has the potential to have major ramifications, Scheer said. And (the party is) very, very focused on making sure there is a level playing field for all candidates. Like all aspects of Canadian life, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted partisan politics. Even as the Liberals announce $82 billion in support for citizens and businesses an amount of money that would normally have the opposition Conservatives blood boiling there has been a noticeable absence of partisan jockeying. Scheer said that in these unusual times, the opposition is not sticking to its usual tack. Its less of a debate of the what and more accountability on the how, Scheer told CP. Were just trying to make sure we can communicate directly with the government when we do have concerns or when we think that there may be gaps, that we do it directly and through channels that are really aimed at getting results and not so much scoring political points. Read more about: Emergency room staff outside the UCLA Medical Center, where people can drive up to get evaluated if they have symptoms. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times) On March 14, the American College of Emergency Physicians announced that two emergency room doctors were in critical condition with COVID-19. One of the physicians, based in Washington state, is only in his 40s. The other doctor, in his 70s, was in charge of emergency preparedness for his hospital in New Jersey. On Thursday, it was reported that two emergency medicine doctors at a hospital in Oak Park, Ill., had tested positive for the coronavirus and were quarantined at home. One of the doctors may have had contact with patients and colleagues before the infection was detected. As an emergency medicine physician myself, I was dismayed and saddened by this news. Emergency room doctors are on the front lines of this pandemic, and we all know that our job comes with inherent risks. We accept those risks, and we carry on providing necessary, life-saving care in the face of this public health emergency. Yet, on the same day that I was reading about my colleagues fighting for their lives, I also read about bars in Boston crowded with patrons and police in New Orleans having to clear people out of Bourbon Street. Even after public health authorities put out stringent social distancing guidelines, some Florida beaches were still packed last week with college students on spring break. I have a message for all the people who disregard social distancing recommendations: This behavior is wholly unacceptable during a global pandemic. You, the public, have been asked to stay home for the sake of the elderly and medically vulnerable. Now Im asking you to stay home for your healthcare workers, too. Every person who becomes infected is another person that my colleagues and I will be called upon to treat. Every time we interact with an infected patient, our own risk of contracting the virus increases. Even if we only suffer mild symptoms, we will be forced to isolate ourselves so that we do not pass the virus to our patients. Losing medical providers at this crucial moment is something that our healthcare system simply cannot afford to do. Story continues Every time you go out unnecessarily, you increase the chances of spreading the virus to others or acquiring it yourself. No, you cannot go out even if you are feeling perfectly healthy; you can transmit the disease before you begin to show signs of infection. By the time youre sick, you may have already infected many others. There are ominous signs that the number of COVID-19 patients could overwhelm the capacity of the medical system. If more healthcare providers become infected and need to stay home, we may come to a point where we simply do not have enough staff to care for patients. Failing to stay out of public areas and six feet away from others will turn this alarming possibility into grim reality. On behalf of Americas healthcare workers, I implore you to stay home. Those of us in the healthcare field are facing a situation unlike anything seen in over a century. Make no mistake: We will be stretched to our breaking point. There are no firm numbers yet of how many healthcare workers, including emergency medicine doctors, have become infected with the coronavirus. But we will certainly see growing numbers made ill as the trajectory of the disease soars. The only way we stay ahead of this pandemic is to limit the number of new coronavirus cases. By staying home, you are helping to limit the diseases spread. Every case that you prevent is one less opportunity for me to get infected while providing care to critically ill patients. Keeping as many healthcare workers as possible on the job will be crucial in the coming months and, without exaggeration, may be the difference between life and death for some individuals. So please: Stay home. For us. Gregory Jasani is an emergency medicine resident at the University of Maryland Medical Center. Italy saw its death toll from the coronavirus surpass 5,400 on Sunday, while the number of fatalities in Spain rose by 30 per cent in its largest single-day increase. The number of people who have died in Italy rose by 651 an increase of 13.5 per cent but down on the figure from Saturday, when 793 people died. The hardest-hit region, Lombardy, remained in a critical situation, with 3,456 deaths as of Sunday. Meanwhile, the number of deaths from Covid-19 in Spain rose by nearly 400 in its largest one-day jump to date. More than 1,700 people diagnosed with the coronavirus have now died in Europes second worst-hit country, according to the Spanish health ministry. France where the death toll stood at 562 on Saturday reported its first known death of a doctor from the coronavirus. Several European countries moved to tighten their restrictions in a bid to combat the spread of the virus, with Germany where more than 23,000 people have tested positive banning all public gatherings of more than two people unless it is to work on the coronavirus crisis. The danger lies in the direct social interaction, the state premier of North Rhine-Westphalia, Armin Laschet, said, adding that the federal government and regional states had agreed on the stricter rules. Germanys chancellor, Angela Merkel, was to enter quarantine after coming into contact with a doctor who had tested positive for the coronavirus, her spokesman said on Sunday. Ms Merkel will continue to work from home and will submit to repeated tests over the next few days, although it is too soon for a conclusive test result at the moment. She received a vaccine against pneumococcus, a pneumonia-causing bacteria, on Friday from a doctor who later tested positive for the coronavirus. Meanwhile, the Spanish prime minister said he would ask parliament to extend the two-week-long state of emergency to deal with the pandemic. Pedro Sanchez said his government wanted to prolong restrictions on movement that were introduced on 14 March for 15 more days. In Greece, a curfew will be imposed, while Italys government is expected to pass a decree further tightening lockdown measures. However, not all countries moved to increase restrictions. In Bulgaria, the president blocked an emergency law that would have closed schools and restaurants, as well as given the army power to enforce quarantine measures. Rumen Radev, a former air-force commander, said the strict measures would increase anxiety and a sense of crisis among people already worried about the countrys lack of resources to deal with the virus, adding: No battle is won through fear. Additional reporting by agencies Internet companies in Beijing have launched online services in telemedicine and medical consultation for overseas Chinese amid the epidemic, according to the city's regular press conference on COVID-19 on March 21. The move aims to solve difficulties faced by overseas Chinese in accessing local medical services, thereby reducing the risk of infection when travelling to and from doctor's appointments. Pang Xinghuo, deputy head of the Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, introduced two major online health platforms during the press conference. These were Baidu Health's "Fight Against COVID-19: Free Medical Care" and JD Health's "global platform for free medical consultation." The Baidu Health program offers free consultation services for both physical and psychological health problems. In addition, overseas Chinese and international students can access diagnostic services for free at Free Medical Care, an online platform consisting of general practitioners who have also been professionally trained in COVID-19 treatment. JD Health's platform also features leading experts with rich experience treating COVID-19, including over 30 experts in traditional Chinese medicine. In addition, JD Health has introduced bilingual services for foreign patients. More than 20 physicians have gone online to provide free medical assistance accordingly. Overseas users can gain full access to these services by searching "global fight against the epidemic" ("quanqiu kangyi" in Chinese) on baidu.com, or by typing the names of these two programs in the mobile apps of Baidu and JD, respectively. These services are also being recommended by Chinese embassies and consulates overseas on their websites. Chinese specialist heavy lifting and transportation contractor Sinopec Heavy Lifting & Transportation Company (SLT) has deployed the world's largest crawler crane - its fully-owned XGC88000 machine - to lift into place a massive piece of equipment at the site of the Duqm Refinery Project. The diesel hydrogenation reactor, weighing 808 tonnes and towering some 45.7 m in height, was hauled into place as part of the EPC-1 package of the multi-billion dollar refinery project, reported Oman Observer, citing a SLT statement. With the utilisation of the 4,000-tonne capacity crane, history of sorts was created in Oman's construction sector, it added. According to SLT, the XGC88000 arrived in the Port of Duqm last month, thus marking the maiden visit of the world's largest crawler crane in Oman. This specific one time in place lifting of the diesel hydrogenation reactor means the round of super-heavy lifting works commences, said the company. There are totally 107 pieces of heavy equipment for Duqm Refinery EPC-1 package, of which 15 super-heavy pieces will be lifted by the XGC88000, it added. Delhi to ease restrictions, if Covid cases come down in next 2-3 days: Health Minister Lata Mangeshkar health update: Doctor says,'She in ICU with Covid-19 and pneumonia, will be under observation' Five myths about coronavirus and its cure busted India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Mar 23: With the coronavirus outbreak, there are several platforms on which misinformation is being spread. Here are five myths about the coronavirus which we have decided to bust. Wear a mask when you go out: This is a myth and the health ministry has said on several occasions that there is no need to wear a mask. The mask is not necessary for health people. However if you are infected, you would need to wear a mask. A mask is also needed while treating patients. Summer will kill coronavirus: There is no evidence to suggest the same and the coronavirus has been transmitted in both humid and hot areas. Coronavirus: Take lockdown 'seriously', says PM Modi Can pets cause coronavirus? There is no evidence that suggests that pets can be infected with coronavirus. It would be good practise to wash your hands before and after handling a pet. Does chicken cause coronavirus? While it is important that you eat cooked and not raw meat, there is no evidence to show that eating chicken will cause coronavirus. Will a hot water bath prevent coronavirus? No taking a hot water bath will not prevent coronavirus. While a hot water bath will raise body temperature, it would not prevent coronavirus. Also do note taking a bath with very hot water is also harmful. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, March 23, 2020, 11:52 [IST] A worm-like creature that lived more than half a billion years ago has been discovered which is the ancestor for almost all living creatures. The creature, called Ikaria wariootia, lived around 555 million years ago and was found in Australia. It is the earliest known bilaterian, a creature with both a front and back, two symmetrical sides and openings at either end connected by a gut. This blueprint was a success and almost all life on Earth now follows this template. The creatures were between two and seven millimetres long and up to 2.5mm wide, with the largest of the species being about the same size as a grain of rice. Scroll down for video Pictured, artist's rendering of Ikaria wariootia. The tiny worm-like creature lived more than 555 million years ago, according to geologists who made the find. They say it the first ancestor on the family tree that contains most familiar animals today, including humans Researchers from the University of California Riverside believe the creature is the first ancestor on the family tree from which most existing animals, including humans, descended. Older animals have previously been discovered but these creatures had variable shapes. For example, Ediacaran Biota, which includes sponges and algal mats have previously been discovered that pre-date the latest find. However, these creatures are not directly related to today's fauna. Bilateral symmetry was a critical step in the evolution of animal life as it gave animal's the ability to move purposefully. Scott Evans, a recent doctoral graduate from University of California, Riverside, and Professor Mary Droser studied ancient deposits from Australia. The rock was dated to 555 million years ago and the burrows made by the worm-like creatures had been previously identified, but never the animal's themselves. But the American academics noticed miniscule, oval impressions near some of the burrows. With funding from NASA, they used a three-dimensional laser to see what was inside. It revealed the regular, consistent shape of a cylindrical body with a distinct head and tail. Dr Evans said: 'We thought these animals should have existed during this interval, but always understood they would be difficult to recognise. 'Once we had the 3D scans, we knew that we had made an important discovery.' Professor Droser said: 'Burrows of Ikaria occur lower than anything else. 'It's the oldest fossil we get with this type of complexity.' These are Ikaria wariootia impressions in stone. Older animals have previously been discovered but these complex creatures had variable shapes and are unrelated to most modern life With funding from NASA, researchers used a three-dimensional laser to see what was inside. It revealed the regular, consistent shape of a cylindrical body with a distinct head and tail and faintly grooved musculature 'We knew that we also had lots of little things and thought these might have been the early bilaterians that we were looking for.' In spite of its relatively simple shape, Professor Droser explainedthe creature burrowed in thin layers of well-oxygenated sand on the ocean floor in search of organic matter, indicating rudimentary sensory abilities. The depth and curvature of Ikaria represent clearly distinct front and rear ends, supporting the directed movement found in the burrows. Professor Droser said the burrows also preserve crosswise, 'V'-shaped ridges, suggesting Ikaria moved by contracting muscles across its body like a worm. She explained that evidence of sediment displacement in the burrows indicates the organism fed on buried organic matter and probably had a mouth, anus, and gut. Professor Droser added: 'This is what evolutionary biologists predicted. 'It's really exciting that what we have found lines up so neatly with their prediction.' The findings were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. A mom in South Carolina is sharing a message to other parents after her 7-month-old son was diagnosed with COVID-19, a respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus. Children do not appear to be at higher risk for COVID-19 than adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but Courtney Doster, a mom of three, wants other parents to know it is possible for their children to get the virus. Doster's 7-month-old son Emmett tested positive for COVID-19 on March 17. She and her husband, the parents of three children, took their son, their youngest child, to the hospital after his fever spiked to over 104 degrees. "Emmett started showing signs last Monday of a sickness," Doster told "Good Morning America." "He woke up from his nap and he was warm." PHOTO: Emmett Doster, of South Carolina was diagnosed with COVID-19 at age seven months. (Courtney Doster) "I checked his temperature and it was a low-grade fever to begin with, and pretty quickly it started to climb to 103," she said. "We got on the phone with his pediatrician and ... we finally got the call to go get tested for urgent care." "And thats where he was swabbed for [COVID-19], flu, RSV and they also did chest X-rays and that confirmed pneumonia," Doster said. "They sent us home and we got the positive [COVID-19] results in 24 hours." MORE: Coronavirus live updates: Japan to begin quarantining all visitors from the US Doster says her mother, Emmett's grandmother, has also been diagnosed with COVID-19. The family was exposed prior to her knowing she had the virus, according to Doster. "He had no other signs of being sick," she said of Emmett, who has been recovering at home since his diagnosis. "He wasnt whiny or fussy and thats what is really scary -- we didnt even realize he was having these types of symptoms." Doster, her husband, Emmett, and his two siblings, ages 2 and 4, are quarantining at home for 14 days, under a legal contract with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). Story continues The rest of the family is not showing symptoms of coronavirus but Doster remains concerned. Since symptoms can develop several days after initial exposure, she has been monitoring her family members closely. PHOTO: Courtney Doster, of South Carolina, holds her son Emmett alongside the rest of their family. (Courtney Doster) "Were keeping an eye on everyone, checking their fevers, listening to them, making sure they show no signs of sicknesses," Doster said. "So far so good." The number of U.S. cases of coronavirus has topped 35,000, spanning across every state as well as Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. MORE: Coronavirus and pregnancy: Your questions answered "Its very scary -- the unknowns, the what ifs -- so we just want parents to take this seriously," said Doster. "Keep your babies at home. Wash your hands. Its hard to keep their little hands out of their mouths, but we encourage you to keep very close eye on them and their symptoms." What experts want parents to know The CDC has said in recent days that more young people than initially thought are getting seriously ill due to coronavirus, although zero patients under the age of 19 in the U.S. have died from the virus. In children, COVID-19 is likely to present as either asymptomatic or be indistinguishable from a regular, common cold or influenza, according to Dr. Sean OLeary, a pediatrician at Children's Hospital Colorado who specializes in infectious diseases and is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Committee on Infectious Diseases. "This virus does seem to be able to cause significant disease in children but [is] not dramatically different from other typical, common childhood infections," he told "GMA." "There are some small percentages of children, based on what were seeing in other countries, that do get sick and require hospitalization, but that is really not much different, at least at this point, than other typical respiratory viruses." O'Leary pointed out that the situation is rapidly changing as more and more information is collected. "In a big study out of China that came out of last week, there was a higher risk of hospitalization for kids [ages] zero to 1," he said. "But that is very similar to what see with other respiratory viruses." The most important thing parents can do is practice is social distancing, including keeping a six-feet distance from other people. For kids, that means no playdates with friends, no visits to public places like libraries and no socializing with elderly family members, according to O'Leary, who explained, "its best to really be as strict as possible with other interactions." If your child is displaying mild symptoms of COVID-19, call your pediatrician first instead of taking the child to the hospital or doctor's office, recommends O'Leary. Most kids will not need to be tested. "If your child has mild to moderate symptoms, its better not to take them in and certainly not to take them in to get tested because they probably wont be," said O'Leary. And if your child is sick, make sure to keep your home clean and sanitized, according to O'Leary. He noted that "just because one person in the house has [COVID-19], doesn't meant that everyone will get it." "People are crafting their own homemade face masks and that may decrease the transmission within the house. We dont know for sure but its not going to hurt," he said, adding that parents should also do "environmental cleaning." "We dont know the extent that it contributes to transmission, but we know that this virus can live on lots of different sources for at least several hours," O'Leary said. "So do a good job leaning all the high-touch surfaces like doorknobs and bathroom fixtures." The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) also offers these tips for parents on its HealthyChildren.org website. 1. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer. Look for one that is 60% or higher alcohol-based. 2. Reduce close contact with others by practicing social distancing. This means staying home as much as possible and avoiding public places where close contact with others is likely. 3. Keep your kids away from others who are sick or keep them home if they are ill. 4. Teach kids to cough and sneeze into a tissue (make sure to throw it away after each use!) or to cough and sneeze into their arm or elbow, not their hands. 5. Clean and disinfect your home as usual using regular household cleaning sprays or wipes. 6. Wash stuffed animals or other plush toys, following manufacturers' instructions in the warmest water possible and dry them completely. 7. Avoid touching your face; teach your children to do the same. 8. Avoid travel to highly infected areas. 9. Follow local and state guidance on travel restrictions. What to know about coronavirus: How it started and how to protect yourself: coronavirus explained What to do if you have symptoms: coronavirus symptoms Tracking the spread in the US and Worldwide: coronavirus map Mom of 7-month-old with coronavirus speaks out: What parents should know originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 23) President Rodrigo Dutertes proposed additional powers which include having him take over businesses, hospitals, and public utilities would be much needed to expedite resources while the Philippines is under a state of calamity, a House lawmaker said Monday. Senate President Vicente Tito Sotto III earlier rejected any proposal to take over businesses, saying that will not supported by the upper chamber. House Ways and Means chair Joey Salceda told CNN Philippines that while the government is trying to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease, some businesses are in dire need of assistance to ramp up production of necessities, including surgical masks, and other basic goods, Yung pinakamalaking problema ngayon, we have certain businesses here producing face masks, surgical masks... yung mga kailangan talaga ay to expand the capacity of the government. Sa pananaw ko, mas focused po talaga yung mga pangangailangan ng negosyong pribado in the case na if we want them to ramp up certain production to a certain level lalo na in certain principles kapag biglang angat ang kaso, the Albay Representative said. [Translation: Our biggest problem now is we have certain businesses here producing face masks, surgical masksbusinesses that would rely on the government to expand its capacity. In my opinion, private firms have more focused needs in the case that if we want them to ramp up certain production to a certain level, especially in certain principles when cases would suddenly surge.] Salceda said hospitals and frontline workers would also benefit from the provision, as they are largely exposed to a lot of risks while treating patients who have tested positive for the virus. Yung mga nangangailangan ng ICU, tingin ko kasama rin ang pagpapatakbo ng ospital tulad ng UST o The Medical City na nangangailangan na po talagang suportahan, sila po ay nahawaan dahil sa pagkahawa po ng kanilang medical personnel. (Those in need of ICUs, and those running hospitals such as UST or The Medical City really need support because their medical personnel have been exposed to the virus)." The House Committee of the Whole has just passed House Bill 6616, adhering to Malacanang's request for a declaration of a state of emergency and granting special powers for Duterte amid the crisis. Sotto already bared Sunday that he, on behalf of the Senate, has received a copy of the proposed measure from Malacanang for comments. Sotto was particularly not keen on the provision proposing a takeover of businesses, noting that it wont fly in the Senate. He emphasized that the bill that they will be passing is not an emergency powers bill in the first place. The senator earlier said that what they will be focusing on during the special session is the discussion of the projected budget to be realigned, which could amount to over 200 billion, and the distribution of cash aid to about 16 million families affected by the calamity. Meanwhile, infrastructure-oriented think tank Infrawatch PH said that such provision opens the possibility that businesses taken over during the crisis may never be returned by government. Under the emergency bill, the terms are absolutely unreasonable. For example, determination of the expiration of the temporary takeover is subject to presidential discretion, instead of a mutually-agreed upon, specific but extendible expiration date based on prevailing conditions. Insisting on this presidential discretion approximates an unjust taking, if not confiscation, said Infrawatch PH convenor Terry Ridon. Salceda noted, however, that Dutertes powers can be limited via certain provisions as needed. We always do this during an emergency. Take it as a whole- it constitutes additional power or an extra power, but therefore these are emergency powers. You don't ask for this power unless when there is an emergency. You don't ask for this power when things are normal, he noted. Under HB 6616, Dutertes additional powers will be effective "only for two months or longer if the calamity will persist, as may be determined by the President." In his March 16 proclamation, Duterte placed the country under a state of calamity for six months "unless earlier lifted or suspended as circumstances may warrant." The draft bill also authorizes the President to reprogram, reallocate, and realign any appropriation in the 2020 budget, and ensure that local governments adhere to the declared national policy while allowing them to continue exercising their autonomy. The President will also be allowed to require businesses to prioritize and accept contracts for goods and services necessary to deal with the health emergency, as well as regulate the use of energy supply. The House and Senate are currently holding a special session to discuss the measure. China News on Women Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home page Before this moment, Nigeria has been commended across the world for her readiness to combat and contain coronavirus. Now that the virus is ravaging Nigeria and other countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), we must brainstorm the absences in how we are preparing to mitigate and alleviate the spread of the highly pandemic disease in the sub-region. As an effort in this direction, this article speaks to one of the reasons Coronavirus may be deadlier in Nigeria than elsewhere in the world and why place-based creative responses are necessary. My other goal is to get the conversation started about the omissions in coronavirus conversations in developing countries like Nigeria. A common type of low-cost residential real estate/vernacular dwellings in Nigeria is popularly known in local parlance as Face-me, I-face-you. It is a Constabulary corridor style rectangular architectural housing design that has been catering to the housing needs of low income and disadvantaged families in Nigeria, since the pre-independence era. Face-me, I-face-you dwellings can be bungalows or story buildings. The design comprises a narrow central corridor, around which rooms are linearly arranged and from which the rooms are to be accessed. It is so named Face-me, I-face-you, because the rooms face one another, with the central corridor separating them. The central corridor is a place for many things, including close-contact socializing and cooking. In Face-me, I-face-you houses, it is emblematic for residents to share a kitchen, bathroom, and toilet. In non-bungalow types, tenants share a common balcony and staircase through which upstairs are accessed. Customarily, the rooms are of small sizes, mainly, to maximize rental income. Besides, the population densities in Face-me, I-face-you dwellings are usually more than the required carrying capacity of the rooms. It is not unusual that about 8-10 persons may be living in one single bedroom in a Face-me, I-face-you apartment. As a result, a Face-me, I-face-you apartment of about 10 rooms may inhabit about 80-100 persons, who are sharing rooms, a kitchen, a toilet, and other facilities. This is for many reasons including the poverty conditions of the majority of the residents. Discussion on the spread of coronavirus is yet to get at how overcrowded tenement buildings like Face-me, I-face-you properties may aid and worsen the spread of the disease in Nigeria and some other SSA countries. This article addresses this gap by drawing on my lived experience in Nigeria and such dwellings, as well as the science of the spread of coronavirus. This topic is particularly deserving of attention for many reasons including that a conservative estimate suggests that more than 70% of the tenement rooms in Nigeria are Face-me, I-face-you. As explained below, another reason is that the nature of this type of dwellings makes the classic social distancing of 6 feet as a way of mitigating the continued spread of coronavirus very difficult to observe. Coronavirus is known to be highly contagious. It spreads easily among people who are within 4.5-6 feet of one another and through respiratory viral droplets that are inhaled from the coughs and sneezes of a nearby infected person. The virus transmits more quickly in crowded areas. Besides, droplets of the virus can remain viably infectious in the air for about 3 hours. The virus can also sustain its infectivity for between 2-3 days hours on metallic, steel, and plastic surfaces. Certain strains of the virus can also survive for about 9 days on surfaces, all else equal. Contacts with such contaminated surfaces, through for example touching, is one of the pathways through which coronavirus spreads. Let's now situate the science of the spread of coronavirus in Face-me, I-face-you properties. To do this, lets assume a hypothetical scenario of an asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic carrier that is a resident of a Face- me, I-face-you household. Lets so assume because preliminary findings from a study of 91 cases of coronavirus in Singapore suggests that 48% may have contacted the diseases from asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic carriers. The same study reported that 62% of 135 persons who tested positive to coronavirus in Tianjin province, China, possibly got infected by asymptomatic carriers. A computer-based simulation study also attributed 86% (two-thirds) of the infections in China before full-scale travel restrictions were imposed in Wuhan, to undetected carriers of coronavirus. Anecdotal evidence also attributes the pandemic grip of coronavirus in Italy to stealth transmission by asymptomatic carriers of the disease. As to this, Professor Massimo Galli, an expert in infectious diseases at the University of Milan noted : We have an epidemic because of one person who returned with an infection in an asymptomatic phase and it spread underground in the 'red zone'. The fire spread in a large part of our region. The virus circulated for several weeks before people were identified and sick people were found. People became infected without significant symptoms. Lets further assume that the asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic carrier of coronavirus sleeps in a congested one-bedroom in a Face-me, I-face-you apartment that's overcrowded by 10 persons. Because the virus spreads rapidly and easily in crowded areas implies that all of the 10 persons can contract the virus. Also, the asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic person may sneeze on his/her hands and touch on the staircase that is used by everyone in a two-story face-to-face apartment. Because coronavirus can last up to 9 days on hardsurfaces means everyone that touches the infested staircase is likely to be infested by the disease. This means about 80-100 inhabitants of our hypothetical tenement property can become carriers of the virus. As mentioned earlier, a single toilet and bathroom are typically shared in Face-me, I-face-you properties and they are often in poor sanitary conditions: I hate Face-me I-face-you, I just manage because that is what I have money for. They dont even clean the bathroom and toilet when they are done SolaSodipo . And, toilets and bathrooms are places where things happen, including sneezing, spitting of saliva, mucus and flowing of droplets from mouth, nose, and etcetera. Those are more likely to happen in filthy bathrooms and toilets as it in most Face-me, I-face-you properties. Imagine the asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic carrier of coronavirus sneeze and spit saliva in the toilets and bathrooms in a Face-me, I-face-you property. Sharing such facilities could mean sharing and spreading the viral loads of coronavirus. Thus, this is another pathway through which residents of Face-me, I-face-you property can become infested by coronavirus. It is also typical for residents of Face-me, I-face-you to gather in the rooms of co-tenants to watch home videos. This is another avenue through which the asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic person can spread the disease in a Face-me, I-face-you tenement property. Given the above, the question to be asked and answered is, how should we prepare occupants of Face-me, I-face-you apartments from becoming less vulnerable to contacting and making coronavirus increasingly pandemic? Again, we are yet to have this conversation. And it is important that we do because we are not able to close down Face-me, I-face-you properties, just like we have done with schools and worship centers in some places. I believe that all measures that are being promoted to help curtail the spread of the virus are part of the solutions to this problem. However, locally adapted and place-oriented responses to stopping the communal and pandemic spread of the disease are needed. Drawing on my lived, experiential, and professional insights, I will argue for collective action of residents in tenement properties with the attributives of Face-me, I-face-you dwellings. For this to happen, the starting point should be community conversations of all residents in such apartments. Someone in the tenement property would need to call a meeting, where all the residents will discuss coronavirus and develop protocols and community actions that every resident will strictly obey. The meeting can be facilitated by the landlords, or, the property managers, who in this case, may be the persons helping the property owners to collect rent. This may be a big one to do, given the low trusting social capital in most Face-me, I-face-you facilities, even, among couples: One day I fetched water to bath and went to the bathroom with it but I forgot my sponge and when I went back for it by the time I came back to the bathroom the water was gone and not that alone they steal my food in the kitchen no privacy at all Sola Sodipo. But conveying the meeting is possible and has to be done. Governments should leverage the instruments and voice of state through avenues such as adverts and jingoes, to direct and educate the public in such tenement properties about the need for the meeting. The meeting should discuss individual household and compound-level mechanisms through which coronavirus can spread. Building on that, the meeting should also discuss and develop a routine for disinfecting shared utilities like bathrooms, toilets, staircases, and etcetera. Strategies should be mapped out to prevent and mitigate the spread of the disease. What are your thoughts? Let the conversations begin! A Florida politician wants to implement a statewide stay-at-home policy, which would end Yankees workouts at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. Floridia Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried wants Gov. Ron DeSantis to keep everyone at home as the coronavirus continues to rage throughout the nation. Shutting down one of the nations largest states is a decision that will have an economic impact but it is a decision that save lives, Fried said in a statement. LATEST CORONAVIRUS UPDATES FROM NJ.COM Aaron Judge, DJ LeMahieu, Gerrit Cole and others have been using the facilities at the Yankees facility with spring training shut down and Opening Day pushed back at least eight weeks. DeSantis said hes not too keen on the plan yet. We try to have a collaborative approach not because I think I dont have the power but ... because at the end of the day I can issue a mandate but if the local elected officials say we cant have this, then people are not going to have confidence in it, he said this week, according to a report in the Tallahassee Democrat. So, if we are all on the same page, were all in it together, we have a chance to make progress. The Yankees have had two minor leaguers test positive for the virus, also known as COVID-19. General manager Brian Cashman has said that both had been recovering well. One of the players was 17-year-old Denny Larrondo, a pitcher from Cuba. If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter. Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. Sign up for text message alerts from NJ.com on coronavirus in New Jersey: Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook. Extending the precautionary restrictions to prevent the rapid spread of coronavirus, the Andhra Pradesh state government on Monday ordered a state-wide lockdown to prevent onset of community transmission of the pandemic infection. "In exercise of the powers contained under Sec 234 of Epidemic Disease Act, 1897, the Governor of Andhra Pradesh hereby issues following measures for containment of COVID-19," a notification issued by the state Health Department read. "While, vide GO Rt.No. 202 and GO Rt. No. 204 multiple restriction and social distancing measures have been communicated, it is imperative that in proactive manner a state-wide lockdown is observed to prevent onset of community transmission of the Corona-virus," it added. So far, six cases have tested positive in the state, one each in districts of Nellore, East Godavari, Krishna, Prakasam and two in Visakhapatnam. Orders for the suspension of public transport, closure of non-essential shops, offices, workshops, go-downs are already in place till further notice. However, the restrictions do not apply to the police, health, urban and local bodies, water and municipal services, bank/ATM, print, electronic and social media. Offices are allowed to run without skeleton staff. The government has urged people not to hoard essential items as fair-price shops and groceries will be available to the public regularly. "While the lockdown as enunciated above should be initiated with immediate effect, the district administration should continue to focus on the containment strategy being practised thus far involving tracking the dissemination of a disease within a community through tracking of foreign returnees / suspect cases, and then using isolation and individual quarantines to keep people who have been infected by or exposed to the disease from spreading it," the notification said. The General public are required to stay at home and come out only for basic services while strictly following social distancing. Any congregation of more than 10 persons is prohibited in public places. All foreign returnees have further been directed to remain under strict home quarantine for a period of 14 days or as advocated by local health authorities. A 100 bedded quarantine/isolation facility would also be established at each assembly constituency level. State nodal officer informed that the following measures will come into force with immediate effect across the state of Andhra Pradesh up to 31st March 2020. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Fifty-two doctors from the Caribbean nation of Cuba have arrived in Italy to assist with the challenges of the coronavirus in that country. Italy has become the country with the most deaths linked to the virus in the world, overtaking China, which is where the virus originated, leaving the country quite overwhelmed in trying to treat patients. This lead to the European country making the request of Cuba, which is regarded as having one of the best healthcare systems in the world. In light of this, Cuba has sent fifty-two highly skilled doctors to help the Italians in their time of need. The brigade of doctors will head to the crisis-hit area of Lombardy that is the worst affected region in Italy. Hundreds died on Saturday as the numbers continue to balloon with no end in sight. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Inforial (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta, Indonesia Mon, March 23, 2020 10:14 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206cb1e16 4 Inforial Free In order to support more Indonesian students to pursue postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom, the British Council, together with 14 UK universities, has launched the GREAT Scholarships 2020 Indonesia campaign. The 14 postgraduate degree scholarships on offer cover a variety of subjects, including arts and humanities, life sciences, social sciences, management, physical sciences, chemistry, geography and sustainable environmental management. The universities offering the scholarships are the University of Bradford, University of Bristol, University of Cambridge, University of Dundee, University of Glasgow, Imperial College London, University of Leeds, University of Nottingham, Nottingham Trent University, Sheffield Hallam University, University of Stirling, University of Ulster, University of Warwick and University of York. Each scholarship is worth a minimum of 10,000 pounds. The scholarship program offers a great opportunity for Indonesian students who want to access financial support to continue their studies in the UK. To apply for one of the scholarships, you should follow these steps: First step: Check your eligibility Are you an Indonesian passport holder? Do you plan to enroll on a postgraduate degree study in England? Does the study program you have applied for or are planning to apply for start in September 2020? Second step: Access the scholarship webpage on the British Council website in order to gain more detailed information on each universitys subject availability, deadlines and requirements. Third step: Apply for the scholarship following the instructions provided on each universitys webpage. Fourth step: Successful applicants will receive a notification from the university regarding their application status. Fifth step: Arshad Khan By Express News Service Indias leading automobile companies Maruti Suzuki, Hero MotoCorp and Honda Cars India have decided to halt operations at all their manufacturing facilities, in the wake of the novel coronavirus outbreak, and subsequent adoption of severe preventive measures by state governments, including complete lockdown of multiple states, to control the spread of the pandemic. Other auto firms have also suspended operations at some of their plants. Maruti Suzuki will shut production and office operations at its facilities in Gurugram and Manesar, Haryana with immediate effect till further notice. The R&D Centre at Rohtak will also remain closed. The duration of this shutdown will depend up on government policy, Indias largest carmaker said in a statement. Similarly, worlds biggest two-wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp said it would halt production at all its global manufacturing facilities with immediate effect until March 31. tapas ranjan Hero MotoCorp has seven manufacturing units, including five in India and one each in Colombia and Bangladesh, which jointly has a production capacity of 9 million vehicles. The company has recently announced commencing of production at its eighth unit in Chittoor of Andhra Pradesh. Hero MotoCorp chairman Pawan Munjal, through two Digital Town Hall meetings held in quick succession last week, has conveyed the organisations commitment to stand by the employees despite the severe disruptions caused by the ongoing situation, the company said in a statement. Hero added that its employees at all the other functions and locations, including the Centre of Innovation and Technology at Jaipur in Rajasthan, would continue to work from home, except for those whose physical presence is necessary to run the day-to-day essential services. Honda Cars India also announced suspension of production at its manufacturing facilities in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh and Tapukara in Rajasthan till March 31.According to Honda, it intends to restart production from April 1, although this would be dependent up on advice from the government and health authorities, as well as market and supply conditions. We have decided to rapidly scale down activities at Pune site to get to skeletal operations by end-Monday (March 23) and be ready for plant closure by end-Tuesday (March 24), if the situation warrants. We shall remain in this mode till March 31 and will review it in due course, said Guenter Butschek, MD & CEO, , Tata Motors. Similarly, leading utility vehicle maker Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) has announced suspension of operations at its Nagpur plant in Maharashtra. M&Ms manufacturing unit at Kandivali in Mumbai and Chakan in Pune will be temporarily shut down as well, from Monday (March 23) onwards. Fiat India Automobiles has also suspended operations at its production unit in Ranjangaon near Pune, which comes under its joint venture with Tata Motors Ltd, till March 31. Two days ago, Tata Motors, Indias largest automobile company by revenue, had said that it was preparing for a complete shutdown of its Pune plant for a week from March 24. 9 mn vehicles were being made at Hero MotoCorps production units US Surgeon General Jerome Adams has issued a stark warning about the global coronavirus pandemic in a new interview, saying on Monday morning: I want America to understand: This week, its going to get bad. Speaking to NBCs Today, the surgeon general said we really need to come together as a nation while discussing reports that showed young people partying during spring break in droves, despite the US Centre for Disease Control and national health experts advising against large gatherings amid the nationwide Covid-19 outbreak. Though he noted there are a lot of people who are doing the right things, the surgeon general added: Unfortunately, were finding out a lot of people think this cant happen to them. He spoke as the US reported over 35,000 cases of the novel virus since confirming its first case on 20 January, and as the national death toll rose to 371. Analysts have suggested the total figures are likely higher due to significant hurdles the country faced in distributing Covid-19 testing kits during the initial weeks of the outbreak. We dont want Dallas, or New Orleans, or Chicago to turn into the next New York, he said, acknowledging the state facing the most confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country. It means that everyone needs to be taking the right steps, right now. He added: That means stay at home. Led by Vice President Mike Pence, the White House coronavirus response task force has urged Americans to self-isolate and stay at home for 15 days in order to slow the spread of transmissions while announcing a slate of measures to ramp up the nations testing abilities and hospital capacities. However, experts have warned the country will likely need much longer in order to truly combat the virus and to ensure hospitals nationwide do not become inundated as the system potentially reaches overcapacity due to an influx of Covid-19 patients. The surgeon general himself said last week that the 15 day initiative is likely not going to be enough to prevent the outbreak from continuing. It remains unclear what new guidelines Donald Trumps administration may release after the 15 day initiative ends. On Monday, the president retweeted statements like Flatten the curve NOT the economy and 15 days, then we keep the high risk groups protected as necessary and the rest of us go back to work. The federal government has meanwhile estimated in a 100-page plan of action that the coronavirus pandemic could impact the US in multiple waves and last as long as 18 months. Tehran shuts commercial centers to contain COVID-19, exempts hypermarkets, pharmacies Iran Press TV Sunday, 22 March 2020 7:32 AM Officials in Tehran have ordered all commercial centers closed except for major chain stores supplying foodstuff and other basic requirements as well as pharmacies as part of new restrictive measures to stem the coronavirus outbreak. Deputy Governor of Tehran Province Hamidreza Goudarzi said on Sunday new social distancing directives about what activities were and were not allowed in the capital had been issued for the megapolis of some 12 million. Only hypermarkets and drug stores are allowed to stay open and other businesses breaching the order will be penalized, he added. The new restrictions come as Iran is stepping up its campaign to curtial a further spread of the disease. Head of Iran's Food and Drug Administration Mohammad Reza Shanehsaz said pharmacies across the country are replenished with protective masks, hand sanitizers and other hygiene products and there is no shortage in this regard. Alcohol production by Iranian companies has doubled in recent weeks. "We are currently producing 400,000 liters of alcohol on a daily basis," Shanehsaz said. Death toll rises to 1,685 in Iran Iranian Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said on Sunday that 1,028 new coronavirus cases had been diagnosed within the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of infected individuals to 21,638. "With 129 new deaths in the past 24 hours, the death toll from the virus has reached 1,685," he said. Jahanpour further put the number of patients who have recovered from the viral disease at 7,913. Meanwhile Iran's Health Minister Saeed Namaki said as of Sunday morning 32.7 million Iranians had been screened for the new coronavirus. The minister said up to 60 percent of the population had confined themselves to their homes and urged the rest of the people to abide by the stay-home directives to help prevent a second wave of infections as a result of cross-country trips during the two-week Nowruz holidays. MSF rushes medical aid, supplies to Iran Medecins Sans Frontieres or Doctors Without Borders on Sunday sent a consignment of medical aid to Iran, Iranian Ambassador to Paris Bahram Qassemi said. The cargo includes a field hospital, medicines, face masks, and protective clothing, he added. The envoy said the consignment arrived in Tehran on board a charter flight from the French port city of Bordeaux on Sunday morning. Social distancing to continue for two weeks: Rouhani On Saturday, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said social distancing will continue for two or three weeks as the coronavirus outbreak in the country is expected to slow down by then. The president urged people to stay indoors and restrict their social interactions as much as they can to help slow the spread of the contagious virus. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Whether or not the US economy sinks into a coronavirus-triggered recession comes down to Donald Trump and Chuck Schumer, the Senate's top Democrat who suddenly finds himself as the most powerful man in Washington. Whether or not Mr Schumer can strike a deal with the president, the man who mocks him as "Cryin' Chuck," and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, a former Democrat, will decide the fate of a $1.6trn economic stimulus package that as late as Saturday evening appeared on track for quick passage in both chambers before Mr Trump signed it into law. Mr Schumer has more of a reputation as a political fighter than a bipartisan dealmaker, making the precarious moment an opportunity for the New York Democrat to score a major legacy victory. As he aims to secure more assurances from the Trump administration that a massive fund within the still-under-construction bill to help companies comes with greater oversight provisions to ensure the monies are being spent properly, Mr Schumer also must consider his most vulnerable members in November's elections. Democratic strategists say Mr Schumer is optimistic there is an outside shot Democrats might wrestle the majority away from Republicans or at least gain clout by stealing a few seats in places like Maine or Colorado to further shrink Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's 53-47 majority. Roll Call, a prominent Capitol Hill-focused publication, listed Alabama's Doug Jones, Michigan's Gary Peters, and New Hampshire's Jean Shaheen all Democrats among the top 10 most vulnerable senators. Mr Schumer must balance tactics and strategy to ensure his party keeps each seat even while possibly blocking additional floor votes like a procedural one Mr McConnell teed up Sunday evening. Blocking those votes will give him more time to negotiate directly with Mr Mnuchin, who has emerged as the Trump administration's most effective envoy to Congress. He has already brokered several major deals with Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Like just about every national or state public official speaking about the coronavirus outbreak, Mr Schumer early Monday morning sent mixed messages. In one breath he laid out a litany of unresolved issues holding up an economic stimulus package that both parties on the Hill and Mr Trump say is desperately needed as millions of workers are being laid off and much of American economic life slows or already has been shut down. "There were some serious problems with the bill leader McConnell laid down. Huge amounts of corporate bailout funds without restrictions or without oversight you wouldn't even know who is getting the money," he said. "Not enough money for hospitals, nurses ... masks all the health care needs," the minority leader said. He also griped that the emerging measure contains "no money for state and local government, many of whom would go broke." He then appeared to signal a deal remains a long way off, even as US stock markets stumbled a few hours later as the trading week resumed, saying the sides are far apart on "many other things." But he also said he hopes the negotiators can reach a final deal before Monday afternoon. Mr Trump appears to know he needs his fellow-New Yorker after years of clashing and rhetorical jousting between them. The president was noticeably conciliatory towards Senate Democrats during a Sunday night press briefing. "But I think that the Democrats want to get there. And I can tell you for a fact, the Republicans want to get there," Mr Trump said. Acknowledging the stakes of reaching a final agreement, the president added: "And I don't think anybody actually has a choice." Mr Schumer, now with outsize power because of Senate rules that protect the minority party and require 60 votes to get to a final vote on legislation, will have a choice to make early this week. Senator Chris Coons, a Delaware Democrat and Schumer ally, made clear Monday morning that his party is as concerned with helping local governments stay out of the red as much as they are worried about the $500bn fund to help businesses. "The president moved forward the tax due date for the federal taxes, which was a good move that I support, that also means lots of states and counties have their tax filing date moved forward two months," he said. "And the lack of sales tax means a lot of local governments are really hurting." Mr Coons acknowledged it likely looks to the outside world like lawmakers merely are "bickering," but he also vowed "we will get this done." But politics still could trip up the talks or further slow them. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California, a close Trump ally, echoed Mr Schumer and Mr Coons on Monday by saying, "We are closer than we had been." But then he issued a broadside against Mr Schumer and Ms Pelosi, who said on Sunday House Democrats plan to release their own stimulus bill, which is widely expected to be significantly different than the Senate's attempt at a bipartisan compromise. "She's playing political games, and she never should have said that. There is nobody in the House here but Nancy and ... myself," he said. "She cannot craft another bill. Time is of the essence. People will lose their job today because of what Schumer and the others are portraying and doing. The Delhi government told a bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Subramonium Prasad that it was going to amend its prison rules New Delhi: The AAP government informed the Delhi High Court on Monday that it has decided to decongest prisons to check the spread of coronavirus by providing convicts the options of special parole and furlough. The Delhi government told a bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Subramonium Prasad that it was going to amend its prison rules to provide these options. The submission was made by Delhi government's additional standing counsel Anuj Aggarwal who said a notification would be issued within a day to amend the prison rules to include the two new provisions. Taking note of the submission, the bench directed the Delhi government to take steps during the day to implement what it has proposed and disposed of a plea moved by four lawyers seeking decongesting of the prisons in view of the coronavirus pandemic. The bench disposed of the matter on the submission made by the government and did not examine the matter further, saying a similar issue has been taken up by the Supreme Court on its own. According to the yet-to-be-notified decision of the Home Department of the Delhi government, one of the rules would provide for a 60-day parole in one spell in case of emergent situations like an epidemic or a natural disaster or any other situation which warrants easing of the inmate population. The other rule would provide for temporary facility of a special furlough "to such category of prisoners and for such number of days as may be specified in the order, in the event of emergent situations like an epidemic or a natural disaster or any other situation which warrants easing of the inmate population", Aggarwal told the bench. These provisions would be available for eligible the prisoners who have served minimum one year of the sentence awarded to them, he told the court. The government was also contemplating reducing the undertrial prisoners' population by expediting their bail process or by granting interim bail on personal bond to those booked for offences where punishment is seven years or less and the inmate has completed minimum three months in jail. Aggarwal said the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) and the District Judge concerned would be holding a meeting to work out the modalities. Taking note of the submission, the court asked that the meeting be held expeditiously. In India, according to the Health Ministry, there are 415 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection with around 29 of them in Delhi. At least seven people have died in the country due to the virus. Another plea, by two other lawyers, seeking steps to prevent spread of COVID-19 in prisons was listed before a bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rajnish Bhatnagar. It, however, was adjourned to March 30 as one of the judges on the bench was on leave. The second petition has sought directions to the jail authorities to keep new undertrial prisoners in a separate ward, maintain adequate hygiene, carry out medical checkups and treatment, create isolation wards and make arrangements for detection and reporting of coronavirus infections, if any. No one was more surprised than Oscar winner Richard Dreyfuss to see himself donning a pinny for The Great Celebrity Bake Off For Stand Up To Cancer earlier this week. Before this Id never cooked anything but burnt spaghetti, he admits. For me, the kitchen is a room for great conversation. I leave the cooking to others. Having faced down a great white shark as oceanographer Matt Hooper in Jaws, the combination of a Showstopper and Paul Hollywood wasnt about to faze him. Id never seen the show, but I knew Paul was the Simon Cowell figure, the critical one. So I told him, Be careful. And Prue Leith? I liked her very much. The judges had a great sense of humour. Richard Dreyfuss , 72, (pictured) who stars in new film Astronaut, reflected on the height of his fame as he admits to becoming the worst kind of person He was inspired to take part by his friend John Lithgow, who played Winston Churchill in The Crown. He competed last year, losing out to winner Russell Brand after forgetting to add flour to his Swiss roll. He later called it one of the great traumas of his life. Richard laughs. Oh, hooey! I spoke to him and he said he had fun. He was surprised I had the courage to do it. The only mistake the judges made was not giving me the Victoria Cross. Having become the then youngest ever winner of the Best Actor Oscar aged 29 for The Goodbye Girl in 1978, and starred in hits such as American Graffiti and Close Encounters Of The Third Kind, Richard, 72, is one of Hollywoods most renowned actors. In his latest movie Astronaut, released yesterday, he plays retired civil engineer and lifelong space enthusiast Angus Stewart. Lonely since his wifes recent death and bundled off to a retirement home, Angus enters a competition to win a seat on the first commercial flight to space. After shaving years off his age to make the under-65 cut-off, he finds himself in contention. Richards understated performance as a man whose life has meaning again has received rave reviews. I did the movie because it was closure to Close Encounters, he says. Steven Spielberg says now hes married with kids, he wouldve ended it differently, without my character leaving his family to go to space. But, with all due respect, thats bulls***. If youre given that choice, youd take it. The actor recently on The Great Celebrity Bake Off For Stand Up To Cancer As Hollywood stars go, Richard is unusually forthcoming. I have no secrets and nothing to hide, he says. Everything Ive done thats bad, you already know about. He talks openly about his drug addiction, the car crash that ironically saved his life, and the women hes hurt along the way. There were points, particularly at the height of his fame in the late 70s, when he admits he was more than a bit silly. I became the worst kind of person. 'I was doing a play in LA and I had a revelation: if I had no secrets, no one could hurt me. I became a lying, low-down, dirty dog. 'I spent three or four years that way then the accident changed my life. In 1982, after struggling for years, he was charged with possession of cocaine and a sedative after crashing his car into a tree in Los Angeles. I flipped the car and was held in place by a seat belt and I dont know who had put the belt on because I hadnt. Then I had various encounters with people I call angels, who saved me. One such encounter occurred after waking up in hospital after the crash, when he had an image of a little girl in his head. Richard wrote letters to every woman he loved, only to be told that it was too late. Pictured: Richard in The Good Girl I had that vision until I sobered up ten days later. What did it was, of all things, an orgy he visited to help get over the trauma. I looked at this woman. I saw in her eyes someone who so hated herself that she couldnt hide it. Then I quit. The vision of the girl then disappeared. A year to the day later, his daughter Emily the first of his three children by first wife Jeramie Rain was born. He was married to second wife Janelle Lacey for six years, and now lives in San Diego with his Russian-born third wife Svetlana. Relationships with the opposite sex havent always run smoothly. I realised I had hurt every woman I loved, he admits. He wrote letters to them apologising, only to be told it was too late. That was harsh. But I revised my life goal and that included being a good person. Yet theres one subject that pulls him up short today. In 2008, when Richard was in London rehearsing the Old Vic production of Complicit, the plays director Kevin Spacey was alleged to have groped his then 18-year-old son Harry while Richard was in the same room. Pictured: Richard with Jaws co-stars Robert Shaw and Roy Scheider Harry gave an account to the news website BuzzFeed three years ago. It happened when the three of us were alone in Kevins apartment rehearsing my fathers lines, he wrote. My father didnt see, and I didnt tell him about the incident for many years. Its the one topic Richard declares off limits, but of his sons courage in speaking out, he says, I was very proud of him. Spacey was a weird guy, but I had no idea he was doing what he was accused of. In an ironic twist, just days after Harrys article was published Richard was accused by writer Jessica Teich of exposing himself to her in the 80s and harassing her. He emphatically denied exposing himself, but admitted he did flirt and try to kiss her. I thought it was a consensual seduction ritual that went on for many years, he said, the pair having known each other for three decades. I was shocked, he says. I thought she was my friend. I flirt with everyone. 'My motto is always if you dont flirt, you die. Its what boys and girls do. It sounds like Prue Leith had a lucky escape! Astronaut is in cinemas now. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday paid tribute to Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru on the occasion of Martyrs' Day (Shaheed Diwas) and said that their sacrifices will forever inspire the country. "Shaheed Sukhdev, Bhagat Singh and Rajguru did not just fight for the country's independence while they were alive but through their sacrifice the passion of own-rule in the hearts of the countrymen. These three patriots are immortal symbols of the Independence Movement who will forever inspire us for service and unity to the nation," Shah's tweet, roughly translated in English from Hindi, read. Congress leader and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi too paid tribute to the three freedom fighters. "Hundreds of salutations to Shaheed Bhagat Singhji, Rajguruji and Sukhdevji who sacrificed their lives for the nation's independence," Gandhi's tweet, translated from Hindi, read. The Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also took to Twitter to pay tribute to the three freedom fighters. Annually, March 23 is observed as Shaheed Diwas to pay tribute to Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar the Indian Revolutionaries who were hanged by the British Government in 1931. The trio in 1928 was found guilty of the murder of deputy police superintendent J.P. Saunders, whom they held responsible for the death of Lala Lajpat Rai. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pennsylvania prison officials are defying a Philadelphia judges order to take a man on death row for a 1988 murder to an outside hospital for testing and treatment of coronavirus symptoms he developed this month. Lawyers for the Department of Corrections said Walter Ogrod, 55, is being adequately monitored and treated in prison medical facilities. They challenged the courts jurisdiction to interfere with prison system operations in the context of a criminal case. Two medical doctors employed by the Department of Corrections have recently reviewed Mr. Ogrods condition, have conferred with each other, and have found absolutely no indication for testing Mr. Ogrod for COVID-19 at this time, attorney Timothy A. Holmes wrote in a letter in response to the order Common Pleas Court Judge Leon Tucker issued Saturday. READ MORE: Walter Ogrod's 22-year fight to escape death row gains hope from Krasner, documentary | Will Bunch But Ogrod lawyer Samuel J.B. Angell said his client, who is incarcerated at State Correctional Institution Phoenix in Montgomery County, has been suffering from an unspecified viral infection for days and that time is of the essence. Tests for the flu came back negative and an outside doctor Ogrods attorneys hired to review his medical records determined that a coronavirus test was warranted. Mr. Ogrods situation poses a threat not only to his own health, but to the health of other inmates, guards and staff at SCI-Phoenix, Angell wrote in a response filed Monday. The standoff highlights a growing concern that prisons could become hotbeds for transmission of the coronavirus. On Monday, the New Jersey Supreme Court ordered the temporary release of up to 1,000 inmates from its jails, citing the profound risk posed to people in correctional facilities arising from the spread of COVID-19, and advocates, including Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, have called upon city and state officials to adopt similar measures. But Ogrods case, in particular, poses a significant dilemma, his attorneys argue. In court documents filed this month, Krasners office said the man is likely innocent and that his conviction was based on flawed, hidden, or tainted evidence, including a confession prosecutors believe was coerced by two homicide detectives and testimony from jailhouse informants whom prosecutors no longer find credible. Ogrod was convicted in 1996 of killing 4-year-old Barbara Jean Horn, who lived across the street from him at the time in the citys Castor section. He was taken to a prison infirmary earlier this month with a cough, fever and difficulty breathing and was placed in isolation, after which his fever spiked to 106 degrees, his lawyers said. Ogrod was returned to his cell on March 16 after his fever subsided, but according to his attorneys, he is still coughing and having difficulty breathing, which Mr. Ogrod reports leaves him feeling like he is breathing through a wet sponge. To make an innocent man remain even one extra day on death row is unjust, Ogrod lawyer James Rollins said. To leave him on death row showing symptoms of COVID-19 without adequate medical treatment would be unconscionable. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-24 04:01:32|Editor: yan Video Player Close BUDAPEST, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The China Construction Bank on Monday donated 20,000 protective masks to Hungary to help the country contain the spread of the coronavirus, according to a press release from the Chinese Embassy in Hungary. The Hungarian National Healthcare Services Center received the delivery, according to the release. Liu Bo, economic and commercial counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Hungary, was quoted as saying that the embassy and the Chinese companies in Hungary firmly support the country's efforts to combat and overcome the pandemic. According to updated government figures, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Hungary stood at 167 on Monday, with 21 reported recoveries and eight fatalities. The UK Government is working with the inventors of the home pregnancy test to develop a coronavirus testing kit in Britain and Senegal. Mologic was granted 1million to produce two different types of test which reveal if someone has ever had the deadly virus in the past. The kits one will look for antigens in spit, the other will scour blood for antibodies could also tell if a person currently has the infection. But the company, who laboratory in Bedfordshire was visited by Prime Minister Boris Johnson this month, estimates it will be up to six months before Brits can use them. A senior Government minister said millions of antibody tests will be available in the UK within weeks but officials have refused to provide any further details about who is making them. Antibody tests check to see if the body has substances in the immune system which are created when it comes into contact with the virus for the first time. They could be a game-changer for the UK and allow health officials to work out when people are safe because they've already had COVID-19. However, the tests can't accurately tell if a patient is currently infected, unlike swab tests which take much longer to get a result. If a test comes back positive and they have a cough or fever, it suggests the patient is currently infected but many patients only suffer mild symptoms. Mologic is also working on an antigen test. The firm hopes it will take just 10 minutes to produce a result, like that of the antibody test. Antigens are parts of a virus that trigger the immune system's response to fight the infection, and can show up in blood before antibodies are made. Another company making tests in the UK is SureScreen, which has created a finger-prick test which takes 10 minutes to return a result and is reportedly 98 per cent accurate. SureScreen's tests cost 6 each and are reportedly being used by private companies in Spain, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands. The Derby-based firm is in talks with the Government about getting them rolled out on the NHS. Prime Minister Boris Johnson was taken on a tour of the Bedford laboratory of Mologic earlier this month Another company, SureScreen Diagnostics, said it had been turned away when it offered its tests to the Government (Pictured, a test developed by SureScreen) WHAT IS AN ANTIBODY TEST, AND HOW IS IT DIFFERENT TO AN ANTIGEN OR SWAB TEST? ANTIBODY TEST An antibody test is one which tests whether someone's immune system is equipped to fight a specific disease or infection. When someone gets infected with a virus their immune system must work out how to fight it off and produce substances called antibodies. These are extremely specific and are usually only able to tackle one strain of one virus. They are produced in a way which makes them able to latch onto that specific virus and destroy it. For example, if someone catches COVID-19, they will develop COVID-19 antibodies for their body to use to fight it off. The body then stores versions of these antibodies in the immune system so that if it comes into contact with that same virus again it will be able to fight it off straight away and probably avoid someone feeling any symptoms at all. To test for these antibodies, medics or scientists can take a fluid sample from someone - usually blood - and mix it with part of the virus to see if there is a reaction between the two. If there is a reaction, it means someone has the antibodies and their body knows how to fight off the infection - they are immune. If there is no reaction it means they have not had it yet. SWAB TEST Antibody tests differ to a swab test, known as a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test, which aims to pick up on active viruses currently in the bloodstream. A PCR test works by a sample of someone's genetic material - their RNA - being taken to lab and worked up in a full map of their DNA at the time of the test. This DNA can then be scanned to find evidence of the virus's DNA, which will be embroiled with the patient's own if they are infected at the time. The PCR test is more reliable but takes longer, while the antibody test is faster but more likely to produce an inaccurate result. It does not look for evidence of past infection. ANTIGEN TEST Antigens are parts of a virus that trigger the immune system's response to fight the infection, and can show up in blood before antibodies are made. The key advantage of antigen tests is that it can take several days for the immune system to develop enough antibodies to be picked up by a test, whereas antigens can be seen almost immediately after infection. Antigen tests are used to diagnose patients with flu, as well as malaria, strep A and HIV. Advertisement The UK has repeatedly been slammed for its lacklustre approach to testing people for the coronavirus and the World Health Organization urged all countries to 'test, test, test'. In Britain routine tests are only given to people so ill they have to go into hospital, or those who are already on wards - even NHS staff don't get tested. This means the official tally of coronavirus patients is dozens of times lower than the reality - there are around 6,000 people with the virus on record, but the true number could be in the region of 300,000. Health Secretary Matt Hancock has acknowledged the problem and today said the Government had been buying testing kits 'all of last week and over the weekend'. Secretary of State for Housing and Communities, Robert Jenrick, revealed that millions of antibody tests will be brought into the UK 'in the coming weeks'. Speaking on the Andrew Marr programme he said: 'There's a test emerging for those individuals who have had the virus. 'This is an antibody test and it's a very simple one to use - it'll be similar to taking a pregnancy test, for example, and for this one, we are ordering millions of these tests and, in the coming weeks, we expect them to be in the UK and for individuals to be able to use them.' The tests work by looking for antibodies, which are substances in the immune system created to attack specific viruses. They are created naturally when the body comes into contact with the virus for the first time and are so specific that they are only useful in tackling that virus. If a test can detect those antibodies in someone's bodily fluid - their saliva or blood, for example - that means that the person has had the virus at some point. Antibodies are kept in case someone becomes infected again and needs to fight it off. They usually last for a lifetime and are what causes immunity to a disease. Mr Jenrick said the tests being ordered by the Government will be similar to a pregnancy test, suggesting they could be made by one of two British companies. Mologic, which is based in Bedford, was this month given a 1million grant towards its work by the Department for International Development. The company is working on a test which works by people putting some of their saliva or blood into a device which looks like a pregnancy test and then waiting between 10 and 20 minutes for a line to show if they test positive. It has not been confirmed the company will supply the UK but its medical director told MailOnline it was making 'good progress' in the development. And Prime Minister Boris Johnson was pictured on a tour of the company's laboratory in Bedfordshire earlier this month. Mologic was granted the money for its work developing tests that could be used in poor countries where lab testing is not available, but is one that could potentially supply the UK. The company is manufacturing the tests in Senegal to make them cheaper. It said it wanted to sell the tests to governments 'at cost', meaning without making any profit. Secretary of State for Housing and Communities, Robert Jenrick, revealed that millions of antibody tests will be brought into the UK 'in the coming weeks' (Pictured, Mr Jenrick at a briefing at Downing Street) PRIVATE DOCTOR 'MAKES 1.7M IN A WEEK SELLING CORONAVIRUS TESTS' A heart doctor in London has reportedly pulled in almost 2.5million, around 1.7m profit, by privately selling coronavirus tests. Dr Mark Ali, 56, made a killing by selling 6,600 of the tests for treble their retail price at 375 per kit, the Sunday Times reported. He named his businesses 'Private Harley Street Clinic Limited', even though it is nowhere near the famous medical street. His clinic is, in fact, just a sales business and he hired agency staff to man the phones, according to the Sunday newspaper. A company named Randox Laboratories in Northern Ireland does the legwork behind the testing and charges just 120 if people buy direct. Dr Ali said he was charging more because he also offered advice to people who bought the tests, but admitted the firm had only actually spoken to about 50 customers. Labour's Shadow Health Secretary, Jonathan Ashworth, said: 'People will be disgusted at profiteering behaviour like this.' Advertisement Public Health England said there was 'little information on the accuracy' of other commercial tests. The government body is working to develop its own tests but progress on these is not clear. People are desperately calling for NHS staff, at the least, to be tested so they can be sure they are safe to stay at work without infecting people. Currently, doctors and nurses have to follow the same advice as everyone else and to self-isolate if they or a family member feels ill. But some people do not show symptoms, and some people may get other illnesses like colds or flu which would not require them to take so much time off work. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on BBC Breakfast today that he wanted to get NHS staff testing up and running 'as soon as possible'. He said: 'We are rapidly expanding testing. We have been buying testing kits over this weekend and all of last week to make sure we have as much as possible.' He said that testing hospital patients also meant they could be more easily separated into those who are infected and those who aren't. The Government has repeatedly promised to ramp up the testing programme in the UK and Boris Johnson said he wants to ramp up to 25,000 tests per day. But the daily number has never exceeded 8,400 and the daily average last week was just over 5,400. Mr Hancock also told BBC Breakfast: 'In the last few days a new type of test has been invented so it doesnt have to go to the lab and can be done on site which is an improvement.' Speaking about antibody tests at his daily briefing on Wednesday last week, Mr Johnson said: 'The great thing about having a test to see whether you've had it, is suddenly a green light goes on above your head and you can go back to work safe and confident in the knowledge that you are most unlikely to get it again. 'So for an economic point of view, from a social point of view, it really could be a game-changer. You can really see the potential of that advance, which, as I say, is coming down the track.' Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor Chris Whitty, added: 'The reason it's a game-changer is that it allows you to understand the proportion of the asymptomatic population who's had this disease, but hasn't had symptoms. 'Going forward it's going to be critically important to be able to monitor this disease well because only by being able to monitor it can we start relaxing measures again.' Test by test: The types of coronavirus kits from 10-minute finger-prick results to a mask which can diagnose instantly that the government could be using amid row over shortage as PM brands impending antibody check a 'game changer' Boris Johnson yesterday announced that coronavirus testing was to be ramped up to 25,000 per day after the government was slammed for potentially allowing tens of thousands of infected people to walk the streets undiagnosed. Only 5,000 were being swabbed for COVID-19 previously, a fraction of the number seen elsewhere. It comes as the number of positive tests for the virus reached 2,626 while the death toll jumped last night by 33 to 104. Mr Johnson said a new 'game changing' coronavirus test which analyses antibodies in the blood could detect asymptomatic patients and those who have already shrugged off the bug. The Prime Minister said this would allow people to know whether they had gained immunity and get back to their working and social lives as soon as possible. Public Health England previously said that only patients who meet certain criteria will be able to be tested for the bug and those who were being screened were having nasal swabs. The Prime Minister conceded that the NHS will continue to use nasal swab tests that take up to 48 hours to be analysed in a lab. Other countries around the world - including the US, China, South Korea, Japan and Italy - have been using testing kits that take just minutes to produce results. And in a further development, Oxford University researchers claimed that they have created a new test which analyses viral RNA to detect COVID-19 in just 30 minutes. Here, MailOnline looks at the cutting-edge testing kits currently being rolled out in other counties and at private clinics in Britain: BioMedomics claims its test can screen for coronavirus in 15 minutes using a small drop of blood and a tiny device that can be carried into the field FINGER PRINT TEST Name: COVID-19 IgM IgG Rapid Test Manufacturers: BioMedomics Diagnostic time: 15 minutes The blood test is not being used in the UK, despite health bodies in China, Italy and Japan diagnosing patients with it. On March 5, BioMedomics claimed its 'quick and easy' test was ready and being used in South Korea, Japan, Italy, China and some countries in the Middle East. After the sample of blood is collected, a technician injects it into the analysis device - which is about the size of an Apple TV or Roku remote - along with some buffer, and waits 15 minutes. One line means negative, two lines in a spread-out configuration means the sample contains antibodies that the body starts making shortly after infection. A blood sample is collected, inserted into the reader, a buffer is combined, and results come back within 15 minutes, the company claims Two lines closer together mean the person is positive for the later-stage antibodies, and three lines mean the patient is positive for both types of antibodies. A small study showed the test produced a correct response 80 per cent of the time. PHE confirmed it was not using the advanced blood test because it was not accurate enough, and are hoping to develop their own. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is also yet to approve it. A former PHE strategist said he was 'not confident' the test could produce correct results and is therefore unlikely to be rolled out. However, the method was desirable. NASAL SWAB Name: TaqPath COVID-19 Combo Kit Manufacturers: ThermoFisher Diagnostic time: Four hours The DIY test detects specific DNA given off by the coronavirus in the noses of infected patients. Samples are then delivered to labs where they are analysed and results are produced within four hours. The test was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration this week and 5million kits will be sent across America in the coming days. It is hoped the UK will follow suit after representatives from ThermoFisher, based in Waltham, Massachusetts, were seen entering Downing Street last night carrying a box with the tests. It is understood ministers were giving a demonstration of how the test works. FINGER PRICK TEST Name: COVID-19 Rapid Test Cassette Manufacturers: SureScreen Diagnostics Diagnostic time: Ten minutes The private firm, based in Derby, has created a test which can allegedly determine with 98 per cent certainty if a person is infected. It involves taking a blood sample via finger prick and then putting it into a screening device. SureScreen Diagnostics says a prick of blood from the fingertip is sufficient to determine with more than 98 per cent accuracy The private firm says its test has been validated and is already being used in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Netherlands, Turkey, UAE, Kuwait and Oman. Currently, official swap-based methods take between 24 and 48 hours for results to come back Public Health England cautions members of the public against using such tests amid fears they are unreliable, saying there is 'little information on the accuracy of the tests' Results are displayed in a similar fashion to those of an at-home pregnancy test within minutes and could potentially save delays in diagnosis. SureScreen says its test has been validated and is already being used by private buyers in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Netherlands, Turkey, UAE, Kuwait and Oman. It is believed around 175,000 tests have been conducted with the SureScreen kit so far. The company claims it has had over two million orders for next month. Director David Campbell said: 'We've been working hard to produce a coronavirus test (COVID19) that can be used at the patient side, with capillary blood, easily taken from someone's fingertip and diagnose them within 10 minutes. 'There is a big problem with the diagnosis of the disease currently because the standard method of screening is to send samples to the laboratory, which takes a lot of time. 'Meanwhile, someone could be spreading the virus without knowing, or having the issue of self-isolation.' FACE MASK TESTS Manufacturers: University of Leicester Diagnostic time: 12 hours How it works: Breath test inserted in a mask Scientists have started a trial of the pioneering 2 gadget, which tests have already proven can detect tuberculosis, a deadly lung infection. Scientists have started a trial of the pioneering 2 gadget (pictured), which tests have already proven can detect tuberculosis The researchers at the University of Leicester and the University of Pretoria designed 3D printed strips of polyvinyl alcohol that are inserted into the mask (pictured) The masks, which could cost pennies if manufactured on a wider scale, are fitted with strips that soak up droplets from the wearer's breath, which may be carrying traces of bacterial or viral infection. The strips can be tested in labs with results coming back within hours. Current tests for coronavirus can take up to 48 hours. University of Leicester researchers believe it will be at least two months before they can test the masks on actual COVID-19 patients. But they are hopeful it will work because it is a respiratory disease, meaning it infects the lungs and can is present in the air people breathe out. After 30 minutes, the strips can be tested in a laboratory (pictured) First, the team have to test the gadgets on dozens of patients with other lung infections to prove they can pick up bugs other than tuberculosis, which they were designed for. Patients with infections such as flu and bronchitis will have the results from their mask tests compared to those from throat swabs, which are known to be accurate. Tests on tuberculosis patients, the only ones that have been done so far, show the masks can detect the killer disease almost 90 per cent of the time. Leicester's Professor Mike Barer and colleagues are hopeful they will be successful because the coronavirus infects the lungs in a similar way to tuberculosis. BREATH TEST Manufacturers: Northumbria University, Newcastle Diagnostic time: Almost instantly A breath test that helps rapidly identify patients with coronavirus has been developed by British scientists. The technology, developed by a team at Northumbria University in Newcastle, is still in development and needs further testing. But experts believe it could be quickly change the way the virus is spotted around the world. A breath test that helps rapidly identify patients with coronavirus has been developed by British scientists (file) Dr Sterghios Moschos, right, said the test could be used to produce results in minutes The Northumbria team's test collects breath samples which can be tested separately for biological information - known as biomarkers. These biomarkers, which include DNA, RNA, proteins and fat molecules, can spot diseases of the lung and other parts of the body. People simply breath into the device, which is similar to a breathalyser used by the police. Dr Sterghios Moschos, associate professor at Northumbria University, said: 'Our ambition is to reduce the need for bloodletting for diagnosis in its broadest sense.' The test is currently being trialled. PRIVATE HARLEY STREET CLINIC Manufacturers: Private Harley Street Clinic Diagnostic time: Three days How it works: Nose and throat swab Price: 375 More than 2,000 people have ordered a 375 home testing kit from a Harley Street clinic in London after being turned down by the NHS, according to the Daily Telegraph. In addition to individuals, some 60 firms including oil and telecoms companies, have bought them for their staff. On its website, the item can be easily 'added to cart,' much in the same way as conventional online products Dr Mark Ali, director of the Private Harley Street Clinic on London's world-renowned medical avenue, said his practice was offering a new kit for 375 each The test is posted to the clients home or preferred address, where the client takes swabs from both the nostrils and throat. The sample is then placed in the box provided and posted back as per the instructions. Dr Mark Ali, director of the Private Harley Street Clinic on London's world-renowned medical avenue, said his practice was offering a new kit for 375 each. On its website, the item can be easily 'added to cart,' much in the same way as conventional online products. The practice says the test is 'performed by a world renown UKAS accredited British laboratory and the test results are 100% accurate and do not require further tests to confirm any diagnoses.' The website hastens to add, that though it oversees the entire process, patients should not attempt to pick up their kits from Harley Street. 'Please note under no circumstances can this test be done in our clinic or be collected from our clinic.' The website states. 'It is sent to your designated address by courier service within 48 hrs. Please refer to the details below and order through the link at the bottom of this page.' Dr Ali told The Telegraph he has received countless requests from buyers. 'People are worried sick. They want to get some clarity back in their lives,' he told The Telegraph. 'We've got university students in England who want to go back to Nepal, but need to know if they have the disease so they can be let back into their own country. 'We've got a businessman who owns a construction company employing 60 people. He needs to know the state of play, or he risks letting down his customers. So every single person in that company is being tested.' CT SCANS Who came up with the idea? Mount Sinai Health System, New York Diagnostic time: 1 hour 30 minutes How it works: Detects lung damage Doctors from The Mount Sinai Health System in New York say CT scans may be faster than nasal and throat swabs at diagnosing coronavirus patients. The team were the first in the US to analyze lung scans of patients in China with the highly contagious disease. They said they were able to identify specific patterns in the lungs as markers of the virus, also known as COVID-19, as it developed over the course of about two weeks> Patients who received scans zero to two days after symptoms first appeared had little to no evidence of lung disease in their results like this 19-year-old male who had a CT scan one day after symptoms first appeared The team said the pattern in the lung of coronavirus patients are similar to scans of patients with SARS and very different from diseases such as bacterial pneumonia (pictured) The researchers say these quicker diagnoses could help keep patients isolated in early stages of the disease, perhaps even before symptoms appear and when it may not show up on other scans such as chest X-rays. 'CT scans are an extremely powerful diagnostic tool, because you can seen the inner organs in a three-dimensional way,' lead author Dr Adam Bernheim, an assistant professor of diagnostic, molecular and interventional radiology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, told DailyMail.com. 'And you can see the manifestation of many diseases.' For the study, published in the journal Radiology, the team analyzed scans of 94 patients at four medical centers in four Chinese provinces. The patients had been admitted between January 18 and February 2, and all had either recently traveled to Wuhan - the epicenter of an outbreak - or had come into contact with an infected person. Radiologists reviewed the scan and took notes based on when symptoms first appeared and when the CT scan was performed. Thirty-six patients received scans zero to two days after reporting symptoms and more than half showed no evidence of lung disease. The team says this is important because it suggests that CT scans cannot reliably detect coronavirus in its very earliest stages. Nasal and throat swabs test can identify patients even before patients become symptomatic, although some may still have the virus if they first test negative. Its results, however, may take days to get back from the agency's labs. But 33 patients who received scans three to five days after symptoms developed had patterns of 'ground glass opacities,' or haziness in the lungs. 'The lung abnormalities are very round in shape and affect the perimeter of the lung,' co-author Dr Michael Chung, an assistant professor of diagnostic, molecular and interventional radiology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, told DailyMail.com. A 69-year-old man who recently travelled from the USA died of coronavirus at a government hospital in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra, the first such case in the state, a senior health official said on Monday. In a statement, Additional Chief Secretary (Health) R D Dhiman said he had returned from the USA on March 15. After landing at the Delhi airport, he spent a few days in the national capital. He came to Kangra's McLeod Ganj on March 21 in a taxi. The victim was admitted to a private hospital in Kangra after he complained of breathing issues on Monday morning. Later, he was shifted to Tanda's Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College where he died. His samples were taken after his death and his report has confirmed that he was suffering from coronavirus, Dhiman said, adding that the staff at the Kangra private hospital where he was admitted first and those who remained in his touch have been quarantined. The taxi operator has also been identified, the official said, adding that he and his family members have put under home isolation. Earlier on Friday, two people were tested positive for the disease in the same district. A 32-year-old man from Harchakkian tehsil and a 64-year-old woman from Dohabe village in Shahpur subdivision were tested positive for the disease. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The regime in Damascus confirmed its first case of coronavirus on the weekend after denying for weeks that the global pandemic had spread to the war-torn Middle Eastern country. Health minister Nizar Yaziji announced that the first confirmed patient was a woman aged nearly 20 years old who had arrived from abroad, according to Sana news agency. He added that she had been put into isolation and will remain under surveillance until she recovers, suggesting she had come down with Covid-19 symptoms as opposed to merely testing positive for the virus, The woman may have originally travelled to Syria from London via Beirut, according to Danny Makki a London-based Syrian analyst and reporter who tracked the private jet flight she allegedly took on 17th March, a day before Beirut shuttered its airport. He claimed she then crossed the land border to Syria. No further information was made public by Syrian officials. Syria has been torn asunder by a civil conflict that has just entered its 10th year and has laid waste to large sections of the countrys public infrastructure, with physicians fleeing the country and health facilities regularly targeted by regime and Russian air strikes. The Damascus regime of president Bashar al-Assad maintains strong military and political ties to Iran, one of the epicentres of the global pandemic. The official confirmation of the first case comes after opposition media outlets and even some pro-regime figures accused the regime of Bashar al-Assad of covering up potentially thousands of Covid-19 cases in sections of Syria under the control of the Damascus dictatorship. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Sunday that a nurse in a government-controlled district of the country has died after coming down with Covid-19. As of this week, the government has shut down most flights, banned foreign nationals from entering, curtailed public transport, cancelled events, ordered government offices to be shut down and closed public markets in moves described as precautionary. It announced Sunday it would shut down crucial border crossings connecting Syria to Lebanon except for cargo lorries as of midnight tonight. Photographs and videos of Damascus distributed via opposition platforms showed empty streets and markets. Leaders in opposition-held parts of northern and northwestern Syria are also bracing for the impact of coronavirus, which has already begun to make an impact in neighbouring Turkey. I do not want Syrians to panic, but we are living through a serious and dangerous stage, Abdurrahman Mustafa, the leader of the Istanbul-based National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, wrote in a tweet on Saturday. Aid workers are especially concerned about an outbreak in opposition-held areas of Syria, where hospitals and clinics are regularly attacked by regime and Russian warplanes determined to stamp out the last remnants of a nine-year uprising against Assads rule. Turkey has begun to distribute nearly 500,000 six-page brochures about the coronavirus pandemic in Arabic to opposition-controlled districts of northern Syria, and checks are being conducted of Syrians who enter Turkey for medical attention. So far, there has not been any positive Covid-19 test results, Turkish health ministry Syria coordinator Umit Mutlu Tiryaki was quoted as saying by the official Anadolu news agency. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued a statewide stay at home order Monday to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but some critical businesses will remain open. Related: All Michigan residents, most businesses ordered to stay home to slow spread of coronavirus Related: Read Michigan Gov. Whitmers entire coronavirus stay-at-home order I want you to know I didnt make this decision lightly, said Whitmer, who said she consulted with medical experts in coming to this decision. Michigan residents must stay home under the order unless they are doing something essential, like getting food or medicine. All gatherings between people who dont live in a single household are banned. Although Michigan residents will need to make significant sacrifices, Whitmer said, the measure will help protect Michiganders from the further spread of the disease. Whitmer ordered many businesses closed starting when the clock turns to12:01 a.m., but put in exemptions for business operations necessary to sustain or protect life. Businesses must determine which of their employees are necessary to conduct minimum basic operations and those that remain operating must adopt social distancing and other mitigation factors. She urged businesses not to play fast and loose with the rules. If youre not an essential business you need to close, and you need to protect your employees, Whitmer said. Heres more detail on what that means in terms of whats open and whats closed. This list is being updated. Open: Grocery stores These businesses are going to continue being available so Michigan residents can purchase food. Because they will remain open, Whitmer urged people not to panic. Also remaining functional are the food businesses getting those products on the shelf. I have checked on our whole supply chain for food, and it will be accessible, Whitmer said. Open: Gas stations These remain open, according to the governor, and people are permitted to leave their homes to obtain gasoline. Open: Recreational, medical marijuana shops Licensed marijuana facilities remain operable, according to Marijuana Regulatory Agency spokesperson David Harns. Licensed provisioning centers and licensed marijuana retailers may only engage in sales through curbside service or delivery; in-person transactions within the licensed facility or establishment are prohibited. Additionally, licensees must comply with social distancing requirements for staff within the facilities and establishments, Harns said. The licensees must designate only as many employees as necessary to show up to work. Open: Health care facilities These are deemed essential under the order. Closed: Some retail While grocery stores remain open, retailers selling non-foods are not exempt from the order, meaning they are required to close. Open: Banks and credit unions Financial services remain open under the order. Open: Utilities Energy, water and wastewater are on the list of critical infrastructure workers exempt from the order. Open: Pharmacies People may leave their homes to purchase needed medical supplies under the governors order. Still closed: Bars and restaurants The order extended bar and restaurant closures until April 13, though they can still remain open for take-out. Open: Law enforcement, other essential city services Law enforcement, first responders and public safety remain open under the order. Local governments are also cleared to keep running things like trash pickup, local transportation and park maintenance. Still closed: Schools The order means schools, previously ordered closed until April 6, will now be closed until at least April 13. I will have more to say on this subject soon," Whitmer said. Open: Chemistry companies Public health is of the utmost concern, and the chemical industry plays a key role in helping the COVID-19 response by producing vital goods like materials for personal protective equipment and medical supplies, disinfectants and water treatment chemicals, agricultural inputs, and fuels, said Michigan Chemistry Council Executive Director John Dulmes. Open: Take-out Take-out will remain open, Whitmer said, although she encouraged people to use delivery services rather than picking up their food at local restaurants. Open: Outdoors This isnt exactly a place of business, but Whitmers order specifies people can leave their homes to go outdoors for exercise as long as they stay six feet away from anybody not in their household. Get some fresh air, walk your dog. Just be smart about it," Whitmer said. Open: Liquor stores It is our understanding at the Michigan Liquor Control Commission that liquor stores may remain open at this time, but must follow the provisions outlined in the governors EO (executive order), said Jeannie Vogel, spokesperson for the Michigan Liquor Control Commission. Open: School food service Gov. Whitmer is committed to ensuring that Michigan students have access to the food they need during the COVID-19 pandemic," said Whitmer spokeswoman Tiffany Brown in a statement. "Under the governors executive order, K-12 school food services are considered critical infrastructure and should continue. The governor deeply appreciates the vital work that our frontline school employees are doing every day to ensure that our kids have the food they need while the order is in effect. Closed: Car sales -- Open: Car repair shops In a new Q&A on the state coronavirus website this is outlined: Auto sales is closed, but auto repair and maintenance can remain open subject to the limitations in section 5 of Executive Order 2020-21," the site notes. Open: Hotels This was a question when the order first came out, but Whitmers office clarified that hotels can remain open in the Q&A. Hotels and motels may therefore remain open, but they may only engage in activities providing shelter and basic needs (such as carry-out/delivery/room-service food) and, in engaging in those activities, they must limit guest-to-guest, guest-to-staff, and staff-to-staff interactions as much as possible and must adopt all other mitigation measures required by section 5(c) of the order, according to the Q&A on the state website. The hotels cant provide ameneties like gyms, pools, spas or meeting rooms, though. The Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association is relieved that Governor Whitmers order deemed both restaurants and hotels as essential services and therefore can remain open during these unprecedented times, said Justin Winslow, president & CEO of the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association. Closed: Campgrounds The Department of Natural Resources closed overnight campgrounds and shelters in accordance with the new executive order. Partially Open: Construction According to the Q&A from the governors office, some forms of construction can still take place. Some limited forms of construction are permissible, including construction to maintain and improve essential public works like roads, bridges, the telecommunications infrastructure, and public health infrastructure. Construction workers may also undertake such projects as necessary to maintain and improve the safety, sanitation, and essential operations of residences. In addition, businesses may designate construction firms to provide necessary support to the work of the businesses critical infrastructure workers. All construction work that is carried out while the order is in effect must be done in accordance with the mitigation measures required under section 5(c) of the order, the governors office wrote. Open: Blood banks The state is facing a blood shortage at the same time coronavirus spreads. Grand Rapids-based Versiti Blood Center of Michigan remains open. Versiti Blood Center of Michigan supplies blood to nearly 80 hospitals across the state, said the companys Cheif Medical Officer Thomas Abshire in a press release. "It is critically important to maintain an adequate blood supply so these hospitals can deliver life-saving blood products to trauma patients and cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Whitmer left Michigan residents with some advice at the end of her public address Monday. "Be smart. Take every precaution and do your part. Take this seriously, because it is serious, Whitmer said. PREVENTION TIPS In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores. Complete coverage of coronavirus in Michigan. As travel within U.S. cities becomes increasingly limited in efforts to mitigate the spread of the new coronavirus, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi asked President Donald Trump on Monday to provide relief to gig workers whose income has been significantly cut due to the crisis. "I respectfully and urgently request that the economic stimulus you are considering, along with any other future legislative measures in response to COVID-19, include protections and benefits for independent workers, not just employees," Khosrowshahi wrote in a letter dated Monday. "My goal in writing to you is not to ask for a bailout for Uber, but rather for support for the independent workers on our platform and, once we move past the immediate crisis, the opportunity to legally provide them with a real safety net going forward." Uber has spent much of its history fighting calls for drivers on its platform to be reclassified as employees rather than independent contractors. Such a change would require Uber to take on additional expenses to protect its workers, like healthcare costs. The significance of these protections has become increasingly clear as the health and economic crisis caused by the pandemic rages on. Now, rather than give into attempts to reclassify workers, Uber is turning to the government to plead for help on their behalf. Uber and other companies relying on gig workers like Lyft and DoorDash have opposed a new law in California that aims to reclassify its workers as employees. Uber is a complainant in a lawsuit challenging the statute. Uber, alongside delivery company Postmates and two contractors who work for the companies argued in their complaint that the law was "irrational and unconstitutional" and was "designed to target and stifle workers and companies in the on-demand economy." Proponents of the law say it protects workers who are clearly core to the businesses of companies like Uber. Khosrowshahi wrote Trump that reclassifying workers would bring its own set of challenges. "[R]eclassifying these workers as employees could result in the provision of more social protections, but the reality of employment means it would eliminate a key value proposition of this type of work. Instead of true flexibility where workers need not report at a certain time or place, can start or stop working at the tap of a button and can work on multiple platforms simultaneously driving or delivering would come to resemble the kind of shift-based work that many people cannot fit into their lives," he wrote. Khosrowshahi made the case for a third class of workers outside of the employee-contractor binary, an argument Uber has been making in the face of California's new law. He asked the Trump Administration and Congress to consider updating labor laws to provide a "third way" to classify workers "to remove the forced choice between flexibility and protection for millions of American workers." Khosrowshahi also spoke with Senate Minority Leader Schumer and other members of Congress from both parties over the weekend, according to Uber. The company said he is also reaching out to House Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Representatives for Schumer did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "As President Trump has said, we are going to ensure that we take care of all Americans, including affected industries and small businesses, and that we emerge from this challenge stronger and with a prosperous and growing economy," a White House spokesperson told CNBC in a statement. Uber has already taken some steps to help its workers impacted by the crisis, as Khosrowshahi outlined in his letter. Uber agreed to offer workers on its platform 14 days of financial assistance if they are diagnosed with COVID-19 or told to go into quarantine by a public health authority. It has committed to providing free disinfectant products to drivers and waiving delivery fees for Uber Eats for orders from over 100,000 restaurants. Khosrowshahi said his team is standing ready to help out "in any way we can." Uber's freight service is prioritizing shipments of relief goods like medical supplies and working with local governments to assess their needs, he wrote. -CNBC's Deirdre Bosa contributed to this report. Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube. WATCH: Here's how Uber loses money In a bid to support the government efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19, US-based auto major General Motors on Monday said it will suspend production at its Talegaon manufacturing facility, in Maharashtra. "The suspension of production began on Saturday, March 21, 2020, and will run until Tuesday, March 31, 2020," General Motors said in a press release on Monday. Commenting on the development, Asif Khatri, Vice President of Manufacturing, GM India, said, "The safety and well-being of our employees is of the utmost priority." "These steps are necessary in the fight against the spread of COVID-19. We stand in solidarity with the government of Maharashtra's initiatives to stop the spread of this pandemic," he added. General Motors further stated that it will keep Talegaon site employees up to date with the latest information from government sources, including personal health and safety recommendations. Also Read: Coronavirus outbreak: Hyundai, Toyota, Maruti Suzuki suspend operations indefinitely Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has put Maharashtra under curfew with effective from Monday midnight to contain the spread of coronavirus. Maharashtra, which has been the worst hit, has reported 23 new cases on Monday, taking the total of positive cases to 97 -- the highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases in India so far. Earlier on Sunday, several automotive manufacturing companies announced to halt their operations at their respective plants due to the pandemic. Among the Indian automakers that have closed their operations tentatively are Maruti Suzuki, Hero Motor Corp, Toyota, Fiat and Honda cars. Also Read: Coronavirus: PM urges industry representatives not to cut down workforce India's largest vehicle manufacturer Maruti Suzuki India has decided to stop manufacturing vehicles in Haryana's Manesar and Gurugram plants for an indefinite period. Besides, the car maker will also stop research and development work at Rohtak unit from March 23. Nigerias former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has revealed that his son tested positive for the deadly Coronavirus. Atiku, on his ... My son has tested positive to coronavirus. @NCDCGov has been duly informed, and he has been moved to Gwagwalada Specialist Teaching Hospital in Abuja for treatment and management. I will appreciate it if you have him in your prayers. Stay safe, coronavirus is real. -AA March 22, 2020 Atiku, on his verified twitter page, late Sunday night disclosed that his son had tested positive for the virus.He said the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, had been duly informed.Atiku added that his son, whose name he did not disclose, had been moved to Gwagwalada Specialist Teaching Hospital in Abuja for treatment and management.He called on Nigerians to pray for his sons quick recovery.My son has tested positive to the #coronavirus. Nigerias Centre for Disease Control has been duly informed, and he has been moved to Gwagwalada Specialist Teaching Hospital in Abuja for treatment and management.I will appreciate it if you have him in your prayers. Stay safe, coronavirus is real, he tweeted. TORONTO He has been stuck inside his house in Ottawa since March 12 with his three young children. He has been juggling work meetings on his phone with parenting and household duties normally executed by his staff or his wife, who is sick. Like millions of people around the world, Justin Trudeau has been improvising a new housebound routine in the time of the new coronavirus. The difference is, hes running a G7 country. Mr. Trudeau, Canadas prime minister, was the first leader of a major industrialized country to go into self-isolation, when his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, came down with flulike symptoms and later tested positive for the virus. Advertisement President Donald Trump said Monday he will reconsider the nation's social distancing policy within a matter of days and promised America will be open for business 'very soon.' The president has indicated he supports a return to normal life. But his comments were met with outcry from medical experts including Tom Inglesby, a director at the John Hopkins Center for Health Security. He warned coronavirus will 'spread widely, rapidly, terribly and millions could die' if Trump lifts lockdowns in the United States early. Inglesby tweeted a thread aimed at 'anyone advising the end of social distancing'. 'America will, again, and soon, be open for business. Very soon,' President Trump said at the daily White House coronavirus briefing Monday. 'A lot sooner than three or four months that somebody was suggesting. Lot sooner. We cannot let the cure be worse than the problem itself. We're not going to let the cure be worse than the problem.' As the president talked economics and down played the medical portion, he was surrounded by fewer than usual numbers of the White House Coronavirus Task Force. Attorney General Bill Barr and Dr. Deborah Birx were present. Dr. Tony Fauci, the nation's foremost expert in infectious diseases, was not. President Trump complained about the caution brought by health care professionals, saying he told his team they would close the 'entire world.' 'I was telling them, if it was up to the doctors, they would keep it shut down, they would say "let's shut down the entire world."' You can't do that,' he said. President Donald Trump said he will reconsider the nation's social distancing policy within a matter of days President Trump would not promise to listen to advice from Dr. Tony Fauci when it came to ending his 15-day social distancing program (pictured on Saturday) The president argued the nation could watch 'hot spots' were there high levels of infection while opening other parts of the country. 'We're going to be watching very closely the hot spots. We're going to be taking care and watching closely our senior citizens, especially those with a problem or illness. We're going to be watching them very, very closely. And we can do that and have an open economy, have an open country,' he said. Trump was asked if Fauci agreed with his emphasis on the economy. 'He doesn't not agree,' the president replied. 'He understands there is a tremendous cost to our country both in terms of lives and in terms of economics and in terms of many years of rebuilding something that was a fine-tuned machine, it was nobody's fault, it just happened, this horrible virus came from wherever and it just happened. Just happen. He fully understands that. He's a good man. I like Dr. Fauci a lot, just so you understand. He is not here because we are discussing what he is best at but he will be back very soon,' he added. But despite his words of praise for Fauci, President Trump wouldn't commit to listening to him or Birx. 'Ultimately I have to make a decision but I certainly listen to them in a number of people. I have a lot of respect for Dr. Fauci and for Dr. Birx and I'll be listening to them and others that are really doing a good job,' he said. Other experts have also rushed to condemn lifting lockdowns early. Former Barack Obama health official told Politico: 'It is way too early to even consider rolling back any guidelines. With cases and deaths rising by the day, the country must double down, not lighten up, on social distancing and related measures.' Trump announced a new set of policies on Monday, March 16, meant to stem the spread of the coronavirus, that included closing restaurants and no social gatherings over 10 people. He said that situation will be reassessed at the 15-day mark, which would be early next week. Some medical experts have warned the United States needs to practice extreme containment measures for several weeks or months to ensure the spread of the virus is stopped. 'At the end of the 15-day period, we'll make a decision as to which way we want to go. Where we want to go. The timing. And essentially, we're referring to the timing of the opening. Essentially, the opening of our country. Because we have it pretty well shut down in order to get rid of this invisible enemy,' he said of the coronavirus. The United States has had more than 41,000 cases of the virus but Trump said those numbers will start to decrease. 'Obviously, the numbers are going to increase with time. And then they're going to start to decrease. And we are going to be opening our country up for business because our country was meant to be open,' he said. The area in front of the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign, where tourists often line up to take photos, is shown empty as most businesses in the area are closed as a result of the statewide shutdown due to the spread of the coronavirus A man crosses trafficless section of Queens Blvd in the Sunnyside section of Queens, NY, after a 'stay home' order and the closing of all non-essential businesses Families practice social distancing while waiting in line at West Oakland Middle school in Oakland, California, to pick up 'grab and go' meals during the coronavirus shutdown People descend down the Bethesda Metro train station escalator at commuter rush hour, as Governor Larry Hogan ordered the shutdown of all bars and eateries in Maryland A sign announcing the closure of the Koret Playground is seen in Golden Gate Park in California People walk at safe distances on Venice Beach in California President Trump has been clear he's worried about the economic affect coming from all the businesses being shuttered because of the pandemic. Numerous states have closed restaurants, gyms, bars, and clubs. The hospitality industry has been hit hard by the pandemic. States like California and New York have advised people to stay home as much as possible. He argued Monday a bad economy could also cause death. 'You have almost 160 million jobs in this country now, by far the most ever. The number of jobs, almost 160 million, so we can't turn that off and think it's going to be wonderful. There'll be tremendous repercussions. There will be tremendous death from that. You're talking about death. Probably more death from that than anything we're talking about with respect to the virus,' he said. Some experts have predicted the U.S. could experience up to 20 per cent or 30 per cent unemployment because of the coronavirus. But the president said it would not be just an economic decision to reopen, promising medical experts would have input. 'We, also, have a large team working on what the next steps will be once the medical community gives a region the okay. Meaning the okay to get going, to get back, let's go to work,' he said. President Trump has taken up the argument that the cure cannot be worse than the disease, referring to the damage inflicted on the U.S. economy. 'I think the cure has been very tough. This has been very tough,' he said Monday at the briefing. 'This was an operation. This was somebody going to a doctor and saying you need an operation, and you've had an operation and we've learned a lot. And we've fixed a lot of problems.' He also argued Americans have learned a lot about preventing disease, such as washing hands and keeping six feet away from one another. Trump said such practices may continue long after the coronavirus is gone. 'We've learned a lot. There's a great discipline this whole country has learned having to do with discipline, with shaking hands. I think a lot of it is going to stay long after the virus is gone. I think it's probably good practice anyway but I think it's going to stay long after the virus is gone. But we have to open our country,' he said. Earlier Monday, the president retweeted demands from people to be allowed to go back to work when the 15 days his administration recommended are finished. Trump's push for a return to normal comes as the economy is tanking and Dr. Tony Fauci, a leading expert on infectious diseases who is part of the White House's coronavirus task force, warned that social distancing may last 'several weeks.' Additionally, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams warned Monday it get worse. 'This week, it's going to get bad,' Adams told NBC's 'Today Show.' 'We really, really need everyone to stay at home.' He advised patience. 'We know it's going to be a while before life gets back to normal,' he told CBS 'This Morning.' Trump, however, took to social media Monday morning, where he retweeted a variety of people with a different view, including a sex counselor who wrote: 'The fear of the virus cannot collapse our economy that President Trump has built up. We The People are smart enough to keep away from others if we know that we are sick or they are sick! After 15 days are over the world can begin to heal!' He also pushed another suggestion that only high-risk groups isolate after the 15 days in the guidelines he recommended have expired: '15 days. Then we isolate the high risk groups and the rest of us get back to work before it's all over for everyone!!' U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams warned Monday the coronavirus situation is going to get worse and advised people to stay home The president's advocating a return to work comes as federal reserve board member warned unemployment could hit 30 per cent because of the virus and Federal Reserve announced new programs Monday morning to keep businesses afloat. It also reflects an increasing fear that the medical precautions have devastated the economy. Trump is basing his re-election effort on a strong U.S. economy. The president hinted at his changing thought pattern late Sunday night when he said the administration will make a decision at the end of a 15-day period on 'which way we want to go' to fight coronavirus, implying that the country could re-open. 'We cannot let the cure be worse than the problem itself,' he said on Twitter. That tweet reflects advice offered by conservative commentator Steve Hilton, the former communications director for ex-British Prime Minister David Cameron. Hilton wrote in an op-ed for Fox News that 'You know, that famous phrase? 'The cure is worse than the disease.' That is exactly the territory we are hurtling towards. You think it is just the coronavirus that kills people? This total economic shutdown will kill people.' He argued that 'a family thrown out of their home -- the mom gets sick, the kids are orphans -- her death won't be counted. The dad who has been out of work for 30 years and finally got a job last month, and now he is back on the scrap heap and turning back to drinking and drugs -- his death won't show up in a neat little box on cable news. Poverty kills. Despair kills. This shutdown is deadly.' 'Keep the ban on large gatherings, but stop the total shutdown for everyone and start the total protection of the elderly and those most likely to need hospitalization. Don't turn a public health crisis into America's worst catastrophe,' he concluded. 'Save small businesses. Flatten the curve, but not the economy, and do it before it's too late.' But Trump's position conflicts with that of Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who warned on Friday that the isolation may need to continue. 'If you look at the trajectory of the curves of outbreaks in other areas it's at least going to be several weeks,' he told NBC's 'Today Show.' 'I cannot see that all of a sudden next week or two weeks from now it's going to be over,' he said. 'I don't think there's a chance of that I think it's going to be several weeks.' Medical experts, including Dr. Tony Fauci, have warned that it may take 'several weeks' of social distancing to slow the spread of the coronavirus The White House, in guidelines released last week, discouraged gatherings of 10 or more people and urged bars and restaurants to close. Trump has said that recommendation would be revisited on 'Day 14' as to whether or not it needs to continue. Hard hit areas, such as New York, California, and Illinois, have even tougher restrictions where residents have been told to stay at home. There have been more than 33,000 cases across the U.S. and more than 400 deaths. The disconnect between the president and medical experts come as Fauci admitted that he has to tell President Trump facts four times to get his point across and that he will 'keep pushing' to correct any inaccuracies about the coronavirus that are relayed by the White House. The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said in an interview with Science that 'when you're dealing with the White House, sometimes you have to say things 1,2,3,4 times, and then it happens. So I'm going to keep pushing.' He said that he tries to correct Trump when the president makes errors but he 'can't jump in front of the microphone and push him down.' He also criticized the president for publicly shaking hands with people, saying: 'I say that to the task force. I say that to the staff. We should not be doing that.' 'Not only that - we should be physically separating a bit more on those press conferences.' His comments come just one day after he admitted he has been 'walking a fine line' by publicly contradicting Trump in an interview with the New York Times. Dr. Tony Fauci said he has to tell President Trump things as many as four times before it will sink in He was also forced to publicly row back on the president's claims that the anti-malarial drug cloroquine offered a potential cure for coronavirus in the latest of a series of public rebukes. He said that telling Trump 'things he doesn't want to hear' was a 'risky business.' Fauci said that he tried not to 'embarrass Trump' and said that he attempts to deal with the president by 'continually' talking about scientific facts. 'I don't want to act like a tough guy, like I stood up to the president,' he said. 'I just want to get the facts out. And instead of saying, 'You're wrong,' all you need to do is continually talk about what the data are and what the evidence is.' The health expert admitted that the tactic was 'risky' but maintained: 'I say it the way it is, and if he's gonna get pissed off, he's gonna get pissed off. 'Thankfully, he is not. Interestingly,' he said. And Fauci insisted that Trump was not offended by his advice. He told the Times: 'He's a smart guy. He's not a dummy. So he doesn't take it certainly up to now he doesn't take it in a way that I'm confronting him in any way. He takes it in a good way.' Fauci said that he had been working round the clock as the coronavirus crisis unfolds. As of Sunday night, there were 35,214 confirmed cases in the U.S. of the infection, which was blamed for 471 known deaths. 'I'm exhausted,' he said. 'About a week ago, I was going about four or five days in a row on about three hours of sleep, which is completely crazy 'cause then I'll be going on fumes. 'The last couple of nights, I've gotten five hours' sleep, so I feel much better.' In response to speculation that he had been banished from the White House when he disappeared from press briefings for two days in the past week , he said: 'That's kind of funny but understandable that people said, 'What the hell's the matter with Fauci?' because I had been walking a fine line. Dr. Fauci said President Trump isn't offended by his advice as he's a 'smart guy' who takes it in the right way it is meant 'I've been telling the president things he doesn't want to hear. I have publicly had to say something different with what he states.' On Friday Fauci appeared to roll his eyes and suppress laughter as Trump lashed out at the State Department, describing them as the 'Deep State department'. Dr Fauci then placed his hand over his face, in what many described as a 'face palm' reaction to Trump's inflammatory remarks. Video of the incident was shared across Twitter, with many commenting on the doctor's body language. In recent weeks, Dr Fauci has garnered a reputation for repeatedly contradicting Trump's claims about coronavirus. On Thursday, the president said that there had been positive results after doctors trialed chloroquine on COVID-19 patients, and suggested the drug could be a 'game-changer'. 'It's shown very, very encouraging early results. We're going to be able to make that drug available almost immediately. It's been approved,' Trump said. However, a few hours later Fauci told CNN: 'There's no magic drug for coronavirus right now'. 'Let me put it into perspective for the viewers .. there has been anecdotal non-proven data that it [chloroquine] works... but when you have an uncontrolled trial you can never definitely say that it works'. Grocery stores continue to scramble to meet demand as the number of coronavirus cases climb. Over the past week, stores have adjusted hours, introduced special shopping hours for seniors and placed limits on purchases of high-demand items. We contacted several of the supermarket chains in our area today to see if they had any new policy news or updates. Most did not, but heres a quick rundown of store hours, product limits and more as provided. Aldi There are no updates. Stores continue to operate 9 a.m.- 7 p.m., daily. Giant A Giant Company spokeswoman said there are no new updates to store policies or store hours. Hours were adjusted last week from 6 a.m.- 10 p.m., with the first hour dedicated to shoppers who are 60 years and older or immunocompromised. Giant is also continuing to limits purchases of some products such as paper goods and disinfectant products to two per customer, according to a press release. The chain is installing sneeze guards at select registers, pharmacy pick-up windows, customer service desks, Starbucks and Beer & Wine registers by the end of March. As another precaution, shoppers who bring reusable bags are asked to bag their own groceries. In the meantime, Giant has donated $250,000 to four local hunger relief organizations including Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, Philabundance, Maryland Food Bank and Meals on Wheels Pennsylvania. READ MORE: Karns Karns spokeswoman Andrea Karns said they are relaxing limits on some foods such as milk and bread. However, there continues to be some out of stocks or limited supplies of certain items. She said Karns is working with new suppliers, mainly restaurant suppliers, to fill needs and are experiencing solid inventory availability for meat, seafood and produce. Current hours are 8 a.m.-8 p.m. with a daily senior hour from 7 -8 a.m. Walmart The stores are open 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. until further notice. Walmart stores are hosting hour-long senior shopping Tuesdays from March 24 through April 28 for those who are 60 years or older, according to a message from executive vice president and COO Dacona Smith. The events will start an hour before the stores open and include pharmacies and vision centers. Walmart is continuing limits on certain categories including paper products, milk, eggs, cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, water, diapers, wipes, formula and baby food. Weis Markets As a precaution, Weis has banned reusable grocery bags, according to spokesman Dennis Curtin. Its a temporary preventive measure designed to protect our customers and associates, he said. The stores continue to operate 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Weis 2 Go online ordering with curbside pickup and home delivery are temporarily suspended. Also, Weis still has limits on certain products, mostly paper products and cleaning supplies. Anyone with questions should contact Weis customer hotline at 866-999-9347. Wegmans Wegmans said it is continuing to make adjustments. The store in Silver Spring Township is operating 7 a.m.-10 p.m., daily. It has closed self-serve areas, including coffee bar, prepared foods, bakery and bulk foods, as well as Market Cafes. The chain said it is not offering a senior citizen shopping hour, saying there are other susceptible populations that need to be served, too. We do not believe putting an entire population of highly susceptible people together in one location, at one time is a good idea, Wegmans said in a statement. In addition, it said it is difficult to ensure product availability during a set hour when products are being restocked throughout the day. Wegmans added it continues to clean and sanitize stores and has added more hand sanitizer stations. President Trump has finally called in the military in the nations war against the coronavirus. But precious time was lost in the weeks since he was warned about the dangers the virus poses. We need to make sure that doesnt happen again. Creating a disaster response command within the military would provide unity of action among the services to respond to emergencies like the present one; improve strategic planning for an array of other threats, including future pandemics and climate-linked natural disasters; and position resources we will need before we need them like ventilators and hospital beds that health care providers are scrambling to secure. It should be activated immediately as the Pentagons 12th unified combatant command. We can no longer afford Pentagon sideshows, like the establishment of the Space Force as a sixth military branch or deployment of army troops to the Mexican border just before the 2018 congressional elections. The Trump administration is now following the lead of Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York, who called for the Army Corps of Engineers to be mobilized to quickly build out additional hospital facilities and make use of mobile military field hospitals. Major disaster declarations were in process on Sunday for New York, California and Washington. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has been activated. We should also consider mobilizing the defense transportation system to shore up any temporary breakdown in our food or other essential supply chain operations. Thousands of Australians disembarked coronavirus-infected cruise ships and spent as long as four days exposed to the community before being told to self-isolate. Passengers on board four ships - the Ovation of the Seas, Celebrity Solstice, Ruby Princess and Voyager of the Seas - arrived in Sydney in the past week, with passengers claiming they were 'waved through' without facing health screenings. The ships, which docked between March 18 and March 20, were each carrying passengers who were later diagnosed with the deadly virus, with cases linked to the Ruby Princess now climbing to 48. Scroll down for video Cathy Kleim-Meulman along with her husband Bill (pictured) were among thousands allowed to disembark four cruise ships in Sydney in the past week without being subjected to health tests. All of the ships were carrying passengers who later tested positive to the coronavirus Ruby Princess passengers Ben Hardimon and fiancee Channese Pintar (pictured) were also allowed off the cruise in Sydney on Thursday without being tested Ovation of the Seas passengers had been told by New South Wales Health upon their return to Australia they did not need to self-isolate. The cruise ship had left Sydney on March 11 bound for New Zealand but was forced to turn around on March 15 when the country closed its borders. Cathy Kleim-Meulman was one of those on-board the ship, along with her husband Bill, and said life had been as normal until the Ovation of the Seas turned back towards Sydney. 'We were all anxious, we didn't know what was going to happen. We didn't actually know whether we could get off in Sydney,' she told 7.30. 'We were told we were fine when we got off. We just hopped off and went straight home. And that's what happened.' The ship docked in Sydney last Wednesday but it wasn't until Sunday they were told to self-quarantine. There were five confirmed cases linked to the ship as of Monday night. 'It sort of hit us pretty hard when we realised that we could have actually been spreading something that we didn't mean to,' Ms Kleim-Meulman said. Ms Kleim-Meulman said she had been 'anxious' about whether the cruise ship (pictured docked in Circular Quay on Wednesday) would be allowed back into Sydney but was told she was fine to go when the ship arrived Ruby Princess passengers Ben Hardimon and fiancee Channese Pintar were among 2,700 travellers to get off their cruise in Sydney on Thursday without being tested. CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement 'It was just rush, rush, getting off,' Mr Hardimon told the ABC program. 'Basically, from the moment we left the ship to where we were waiting for the shuttle bus was about only six or seven minutes. [They] didn't check passports or anything. '[They] didn't ask if we had any fevers or any health checks or that. It was just straight on down.' Several hours passed until Mr Hardimon was told to self-isolate by email. At total of 48 coronavirus cases have since been linked to the Ruby Princess cruise ship, including 27 who remain in New South Wales. Among them was Tamworth man Greg Butler. Mr Butler told the Daily Telegraph he was waved through security without any health checks when he disembarked. 'They didn't check bags, they didn't check passports We could have brought a bag of heroin in and walked straight through with it,' he said. There are 48 coronavirus cases linked to the Ruby Princess including Tamworth man Greg Butler (pictured) Despite some passengers feeling sick, no one had their temperature checked and Mr Butler was allowed to travel home on public transport, he said. It was not until the following day he was told of the confirmed cases on board before he began to feel symptoms himself. 'They've just let nearly 3,000 people into the city, God knows how many people had the virus,' Mr Butler said. He has since had a bad headache, cough, and felt pins and needles throughout his body. The NSW government also allowed the Ruby Princess to dock in Sydney Harbour on March 19 as it was considered low risk The federal government announced earlier this month a 30-day ban on cruise ship arrivals, although an exemption was granted to four vessels including the Ruby Princess which were already on their way to Australia. NSW Health Director of Communicable Diseases Vicky Sheppeard said tougher restrictions had been implemented as a result of the confirmed infections. If any passengers present with a respiratory illness from a cruise ship, she said no-one on the ship is allowed to disembark until a COVID-19 swab on those showing symptoms comes back negative. 1,716 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Australia as of Monday night, including 704 in New South Wales The government suspended all cruise ships - however some, such as the Ruby Princess, have only just completed their trips The Defence Force has vowed to help NSW health officials track down infected passengers from the Ruby Princess. Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said 'Contract Tracing Support Teams' are being set up across Australia. Their role is to help NSW Health find people who may have come into contact with a positive COVID-19 patient. 'A team of ADF personnel (has been) supporting NSW Health from yesterday,' she said. The Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University filed the lawsuit in 2017 on behalf of seven people blocked from the presidents account. Katie Fallow, one of their attorneys, said in a statement Monday that the courts action affirms that the First Amendment bars the President from blocking users from his account simply because he dislikes or disagrees with their tweets. Plaza Premium Lounge, the world's largest independent airport lounge network, has expanded in Australia with a new addition at Sydney airport. It is the brands third addition in Australia joining locations in Melbourne and Brisbane as part of the worlds largest and Skytrax-winning network of independent airport lounges with more than 80 locations at over 35 international airports globally. Sydney is a popular destination and Sydney International Airport is the countrys busiest airport connecting 70 per cent of the world destinations. said Song Hoi-see, founder and chief executive officer of Plaza Premium Group. With the latest opening, we are proud to serve in all of Australias top three busiest airports Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Thank you to Sydney Airport team for the trust and we will make travel better for global travellers. Plaza Premium Groups new lounge at the T1 International terminal is a welcome addition to our extensive lounge portfolio, providing customers with a quiet and comfortable space to relax post or pre-flight. Greater accessibility through Plaza Premium Groups pay-per-use option also ensures every passenger can enjoy this great new location. said Vanessa Orth, chief commercial officer of Sydney Airport. Led by Australian firm IA Design, the new lounge is dressed in a combination of birch and emerald green, the lounge ambiance is inspired by the countrys abundant beaches, bushlands and natural landscapes. Part of the brands promise to promote sustainability, Australian Tasmanian oak sourced locally is incorporated as an appreciation of nature. Through floor-to-ceiling windows capturing the stunning runway, the space is filled with abundance of day light for travellers to feel at ease. Open daily from 6am to 10pm, guests can indulge in a variety of food options from self-serve counter or choose from the made-to-order, enticing glocal menu. Breakfast is served until 11:30am and includes comfort food such as French Toast with Berry Compote and Whipped Cream, while an all-day menu available from 11:30am onwards showcases a selection of lighter options and substantial meals, featuring classic Aussie favourites such as Gourmet Mac n Cheese and Classic Aussie Chicken Parmigiana with Green Leaf Salad to global cuisines like Sticky Pork Bao and Italian Meatballs with Garlic Bread. Guests can also opt to see chefs in action at the live kitchen corner while anticipating their pizzas freshly baked with classic favourites. Vegetarians will be taken care of with delicious meat free choices. Plaza Premium Lounge Sydney re-creates a laid-back ambience between 1 and 4 pm with the introduction of high tea paired with Dilmah, the renowned Sri Lankan tea brand known for its authentic unblended teas. Guests will find Lemonade Scones with Whipped Cream and Strawberry Jam matched with Dilmah Gourmet Italian Almond Ceylon Single Origin or Smoked Salmon and Dill Tart with Lemon-infused Beurre Blanc with Dilmah Ceylon Young Hyson Green Tea. Travellers can choose to relax at the charming social spot AeroBar for a range of complimentary beverage including local Australian beers, house wines, barista coffees, an exotic selection of Dilmah teas and classic Aussie milkshakes as well as an array of top-up options of premium spirits and cocktails like Espresso Martini and Dilmah Lychee Sour Fizz. The wi-fi-enabled lounge seats up to 70 guests and offers the best pre-flight experiences with comfortable seating, recharging pods and access to shower facilities. Lounge access rates start from $45 for two hours usage and $32 for children aged between two and 11. A 30 per cent discount is available for guests booking through www.plazapremiumlounge.com from now until May 30. - TradeArabia News Service (Corrects to say news was earlier reported by the Reno Gazette Journal) TOKYO, March 21 (Reuters) - Panasonic Corp said on Saturday it will temporarily suspend production at its battery joint venture with U.S. electric carmaker Tesla Inc in Nevada because of the coronavirus outbreak. The Japanese electronics company, which supplies battery cells for Tesla's electric vehicles, will scale down operations at so-called Gigafactory 1 early next week before closing it for 14 days, Panasonic said in an emailed statement. A Panasonic spokeswoman declined to comment on how the suspension would affect Tesla, which produces battery packs using Panasonic cells at the Nevada plant. Tesla on Thursday said its operations at the Nevada battery plant would continue, while it would suspend production at its San Francisco Bay Area vehicle factory on March 24. Panasonic said Nevada plant employees affected by the shutdown will receive full pay and benefits for the entire period. During the closure, the facility will undergo intensive cleaning, it said in the statement. The Reno Gazette Journal, which earlier reported the planned suspension, said Panasonic has about 3,500 employees at the Nevada plant. (Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki and Junko Fujita, Editing by Gerry Doyle) Revealing yet another super-power in the skillful squid, scientists have discovered that squid massively edit their own genetic instructions not only within the nucleus of their neurons, but also within the axon -- the long, slender neural projections that transmit electrical impulses to other neurons. This is the first time that edits to genetic information have been observed outside of the nucleus of an animal cell. The study, led by Isabel C. Vallecillo-Viejo and Joshua Rosenthal at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL), Woods Hole, is published this week in Nucleic Acids Research. The discovery provides another jolt to the "central dogma" of molecular biology, which states that genetic information is passed faithfully from DNA to messenger RNA to the synthesis of proteins. In 2015, Rosenthal and colleagues discovered that squid "edit" their messenger RNA instructions to an extraordinary degree -- orders of magnitude more than humans do -- allowing them to fine-tune the type of proteins that will be produced in the nervous system. "But we thought all the RNA editing happened in in the nucleus, and then the modified messenger RNAs are exported out to the cell," says Rosenthal, senior author on the present study. "Now we are showing that squid can modify the RNAs out in the periphery of the cell. That means, theoretically, they can modify protein function to meet the localized demands of the cell. That gives them a lot of latitude to tailor the genetic information, as needed." The team also showed that messenger RNAs are edited in the nerve cell's axon at much higher rates than in the nucleus. In humans, axon dysfunction is associated with many neurological disorders. Insights from the present study could accelerate the efforts of biotech companies that seek to harness this natural RNA editing process in humans for therapeutic benefit. Scientists from Tel Aviv University and The University of California at Denver collaborated with MBL scientists on the study. Previously, Rosenthal and colleagues showed that octopus and cuttlefish also rely heavily on mRNA editing to diversify the proteins they can produce in the nervous system. Together with squid, these animals are known for strikingly sophisticated behaviors, relative to other invertebrates. Medical personnel from Riverside (CA) University Health Systems hospitals administer a Coronavirus Test to an individual during drive-through testing in the parking lot of Diamond Stadium, March 22, 2020 in Lake Elsinore, California. Major groups representing U.S. mayors, county executives, police and fire chiefs and first responders are urging President Donald Trump to use a federal act which he so far has refused to tap to get them "essential personal protective equipment" quickly to help them respond to the coronavirus pandemic. "Our nation's first responders call on you to address the shortage of essential personal protective equipment needed to keep them healthy and safe while on the job," the groups wrote in a letter to Trump. "If we lose emergency personnel to the disease, we cannot transport people to hospitals and protect our citizens," they said. The groups explicitly asked Trump in that letter to "use the full force and authorities of the Defense Production Act right now to assure they have the critical equipment and supplies they need." But Trump has resisted calls to use that act to compel companies to produce and ship critically needed items amid the coronavirus outbreak, including PPEs, or personal protective equipment. "We're getting what we need without putting the heavy hand of government down," said White House trade advisor Peter Navarro at a briefing Sunday. The Supreme Court on Monday asked all state governments to release undertrial prisoners, who are facing charges attracting less than seven years imprisonment, to reduce overcrowding of jails amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde directed all state governments to constitute a high power committee comprising of Law Secretary and the Chairman of the State Legal Service Authority to determine which class of convicts or undertrials can be released on parole or interim bail. The apex court was hearing a suo moto PIL regarding the overcrowding in jails amid the ongoing coronavirus fears and observed that states have expressed willingness to deal with the situation. The top court said that each of the states has filed their responses on the matter, which was examined by the Amicus Curiae and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, and expressed their willingness to deal with the overcrowding of jails. Mehta said that medical officers are instructed to immediately report any sick undertrial prisoners inside the jail to authorities and added that inmates are permitted to talk to their family members through telephone. "An adequate number of jail hospitals are available inside the jails. In the evening in the jail compound, yoga, and other activities were done," Mehta said, to which the CJI Bobde said that "Yoga should not stop". This comes as at least 415 confirmed cases of coronavirus have been confirmed and lockdowns have been imposed in several cities across the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday ordered officials to prepare 1,00,000 isolation beds to meet any emergency, as the number of Covid-19 positive cases in the state rose to 28. He also held meeting with Army, Air Force, Border Security Force, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Railways and other central agencies on Sunday evening to seek their support to fight the coronavirus disease. Tracking Coronavirus Outbreak: Live Updates The CM asked officials to identify colleges, hostels, hospitals and hotels for keeping people in isolation. There is nothing bigger than saving lives and for this, the government will ensure all possible measures by taking all into confidence, he added. Gehlot told district collectors during a video conference to take help of army, paramilitary forces, home guards and civil defence in tackling the crisis. Each district has been told to prepare quarantine beds. Jaipur district administration was told to prepare 10,000 such beds. The state government has clamped prohibitory orders across the state, which ban assembly of five or more people. Earlier, these was ban on assembly of 20 or more people. Gehlot said the government has created a fund of Rs 25 crore for doctors and paramedical staff engaged in fight against Sars-Cov-2, the virus that causes Covid-19. Untied fund has been provided to all district collectors to face this challenge. Jaipur will get Rs 30 lakh, other divisional headquarters Rs 20 lakh each and all other districts will be provided Rs 10 lakh each. The fund will be revived on spending of amount and more money will be released if required, he said. Meanwhile, the state government has started Rajasthan Chief Minister Relief Fund Covid-19 Mitigation Fund Account to receive help from public for Covid-19. The account bearing number 39233225397 with IFSC Code SBIN0031031 has been opened at State Bank of Indias Jaipur secretariat branch. The chief minister appealed to donors, philanthropists and general public to donate with open heart. Letter to PM Gehlot requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide relief to tourism and hotel business and other MSME units in the state, and food and social security to the weaker sections of society. Gehlot said the central government should either give concession in payment of GST to tourism, hotel and other MSME units, or postpone its collection. He said more than 2.3 million construction labourers, 5,00,000 registered factory workers and around 1,00,000 street vendors in urban areas of the state are facing employment crisis. The central government should announce relief package for these people so that this section could earn its livelihood, he wrote. He said that MGNREGS workers cannot reach the workplace due to social distancing, so the government of India should provide unemployment allowance under this act. The chief minister also demanded a relief package for 2.9 million needy families. Action against rumour-mongering The Rajasthan chief minister said that any kind of rumour-mongering and violation of guidelines wont be tolerated. He gave orders to take strict action against those giving misleading information on social media and violating Section 144. So far, 29 people have been arrested for violating these orders. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Federal Parliament has passed the coronavirus economic stimulus measures designed to cushion the sledgehammer blow of the coronavirus. A series of bills were approved on Monday night, with two packages worth $17.6 billion and $66 billion at the heart of the Morrison government's response. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says the stimulus package is about "building a bridge". Credit:Alex Ellinghausen In separate legislation, the government set aside a further $40 billion for urgent and unforeseen spending associated with the crisis, as the IMF tips the pandemic will likely to cause a global recession. Jobseeker, youth allowance, parenting and special benefit payments will be boosted by $550 a fortnight. Getting along with in-laws is a big part of marriage and something Meghan, Duchess of Sussex knows all about. She reportedly has a good relationship with her father-in-law, Charles, Prince of Wales. The same goes for Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussexs stepmother. Ahead, find out why a royal commentator says Camilla is the idea mother-in-law to the Duchess of Sussex. Camilla Parker Bowles officially became Meghan Markles mother-in-law in May 2018 Prince Harry and Meghan tied the knot on May 19, 2018, with a highly publicized royal wedding at Windsor Castles St. Georges Chapel. And, of course, Camilla and Charles were there to support the couple. Charles even walked Meghan down the aisle when her father, Thomas Markle, couldnt attend the ceremony. Before the royal wedding, Meghan had been getting to know her future in-laws behind closed doors. So, by the time the ceremony came around she already knew Charles and Camilla quite well. But the Duchess of Cornwall reportedly made an extra effort to make Meghan feel like part of the royal family, an effort that continued even after the 38-year-old became the Duchess of Sussex. She reportedly went out of her way to make Meghan Markle feel welcome According to the Daily Mails Angela Levin, the Duchess of Cornwall went above and beyond making her new daughter-in-law feel like part of the royal family or The Firm. Levin went so far as to call Camilla the idea mother-in-law in a Nov. 2018 article. According to Levin, the Duchess of Sussex and the Duchess of Cornwall get along not just because they both married into the royal family as outsiders but because Camilla made a big effort to make Meghan feel welcome. Camilla Parker Bowles and Meghan Markle attend the Prince Wales 70th Birthday Patronage Celebration on May 22, 2018 | Chris Jackson/Chris Jackson/Getty Images Camilla gets on very well with [Meghan] too. Not least because both of them have joined the Royal Family from the outside, Levin wrote. Camilla goes out of her way to find time to spend with Meghan, to get to know her and make her feel welcome. Shes the ideal mother-in-law. Royalty or not, any individual marrying into a new family knows how comforting it is to be welcomed with open arms. Surely, the Duchess of Sussex appreciated how welcoming and friendly Camilla had been when she first joined the royal family. They giggled together at Meghans first official engagement following her and Harrys royal wedding and could be seen chatting at other events. Camilla Parker Bowles supported Prince Harry and Meghan Markles royal exit When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex made the stunning decision to step down as senior members of the royal family in Jan. 2020, the Duchess of Cornwall reportedly stood by them. She may have even encouraged them to take a step back from the harsh glare of the royal spotlight. In the aftermath of Harry and Meghans decision to spend more time in Canada, anonymous sources claimed the Duchess of Cornwall had been a sounding board for Meghan, someone she could confide in. The sources claimed Camilla encouraged Meghan to the leave the royal family. Camilla Parker Bowles and Meghan Markle stand behind Queen Elizabeth II at the Centenary of the RAF on July 10, 2018 | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images She knew this was in the works and actually told Meghan to follow her heart and leave if she needed to, the source said. This isnt confirmed but it does make sense considering Camilla and Meghan are said to be close. Not to mention, the Duchess of Cornwall has weathered many royal scandals over the years. Well have to wait and see how Meghan and Harrys relocation to Canada impacts the Duchess of Cornwalls relationship with Meghan and whether or not they become even closer as a result. US-based global tech giants, including IBM, Amazon, Google and Microsoft, have partnered with the White House to "unleash the power of American supercomputing resources" for combating the novel coronavirus, President Donald Trump has said. From volunteering to manufacturing masks and ventilators to ramping up production of essential medical supplies and general items, the country's private sector have joined America's war against coronavirus in a big way, Trump said on Sunday, while launching a new public-private consortium organised by the White House, the Department of Energy and tech company IBM. "The outpouring from the private sector (in the fight against coronavirus) has been extraordinary," he said The public-private consortium will "unleash the power of American super computing resources" to fight the deadly viral infection, the president said. IBM, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, MIT, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Department of Energy's National Laboratories, the National Science Foundation and the NASA will be primarily computing resources to help researchers discover new treatments and vaccines. "They'll be working along with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and all of the people that are working on this (COVID-19 research)," Trump said. The NIH is the primary agency of the US government responsible for biomedical and public health research. Trump said US-based multinational conglomerate Honeywell will immediately expand its personal protective equipment manufacturing operations in Rhode Island to produce millions of additional N95 masks for the US government strategic national stockpile. These masks will then be delivered to various States. "This expansion is already underway and it's going to provide a lot of jobs for that state (Rhode Island), probably around 500," Trump said. The president said the White House has been receiving calls from private sector companies, volunteering to manufacture essential commodities. "Hanes, who makes things of cotton...They call us and said we're going to make millions of masks. We got a call today the head of 3M, they're going to make tremendous products, and they're more or less in that business," he said, adding that major auto manufacturers, like the General Motors and the Ford, too have talked to the White House about manufacturing ventilators. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Planes parked at IGI airport in New Delhi The last couple of weeks have seen exponential growth of COVID-19 outbreak across the world. While India is trying its best to control the outbreak by putting restrictions, Indian airlines were one of the last amongst major countries to get hit. Many continue to be surprised as most airlines are still operating a lot of flights across the country even when country after country and flight after flight were barred progressively over the last few weeks by the Indian government. Air India and IndiGo had the densest network in the region and with either of the countries banning flights, all airlines had to slowly start withdrawing services from the European Union, Kuwait, Qatar, Malaysia and slowly the entire Middle East. On March 19, the government came up with a directive to stop all international flights landing in India starting March 22. As of today, the last of international flights have departed and even the passengers connecting to other cities from international gateways like Delhi or Mumbai are not available anymore. Some of the biggest airlines in the world Delta, American Airlines and United have resorted to unprecedented cuts. Singapore Airlines has announced that it would cut up to 96 percent of its capacity and Gulf major Emirates announced a total shutdown effective March 25, only to move it to limited operations a few hours after announcement. There are airlines in the world which have completely ceased operations. They include Austrian, Swiss, LOT Polish, Air Baltic and more. Another lot of airlines have resorted to domestic flights only as entry barriers come up across countries. While Vistara announced it is adjusting capacity, IndiGo announced a reduction of 25 percent of its domestic capacity starting March 23. Anecdotal evidence from domestic flights indicates that there have been cases of full flights as well as nearly empty flights flying across the country. The Summer Schedule comes into effect from March 29, 2020 and the planned increases by airlines are unlikely to take to the skies as airlines battle the current scenario and remain worried to stay afloat. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show Groundings have begun As images of aircraft parked on the runway at New Delhi International airport starting doing the rounds, it was evident that large scale groundings have begun. A Network Thoughts analysis based on data obtained from FlightRadar24 a flight-tracking website shows that 40 percent of the countrys fleet is now grounded. The grounding is led by national carrier Air India which has two-thirds of its fleet grounded, over 80 aircraft. GoAir the Mumbai-based Low Cost Carrier has 60 percent of its fleet grounded. Over 30 of its fleet of 54 aircraft were on ground. Vistara the TATA-SIA joint venture has over 20 aircraft grounded out of its fleet of 41 planes. IndiGo and AirAsia India continue to operate a larger proportion of its fleet. While IndiGo seems to have grounded nearly 80 aircraft, it translates into just 30 percent of its fleet. AirAsia India has grounded just 20 percent of its fleet. Spicejet has grounded 40 percent of its fleet and this includes the aircraft which were plying for Spicejet on wet lease. Currently, all airlines put together have 660+ commercial aircraft in India and 275 were grounded as of this morning with numbers likely to go up as the week progresses. Groundings dont come cheap. Most of the aircraft are currently parked at Delhi and Mumbai with a few others at Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kolkata. While Air India has its own hanger and maintenance facilities and any aircraft parked there wont have to pay the airport for long term parking, the story is not same for others who will have to pay the parking charges for grounded planes. It would be interesting to see if government and airport operators find ways to give relief to airlines and also airports for the loss of revenue and additional charges that the airlines will have to pay. Need for better communication A few airlines in the world have come out in open and announced the cancellations by region and/or flight wise. However, none of the Indian airlines has published a truncated schedule. The airlines could have learnt a lot from the global peers to come up with communication in times when passengers are scrambling to reschedule the tickets or cancel them and trying to reach the call centres which are operating at reduced strength due to the outbreak of coronavirus and subsequent restrictions in place What next? It is likely that two or three airlines could move to a complete shutdown for a temporary period as more and more states enforce lockdown to prevent the spread of the virus. This would help conserve the much-needed cash until the government comes out with a package to bail out airlines and other affected industries. A complete halt would mean no uplift of fuel, no route navigation and landing charges but still means that the airlines have to pay lessor and airports for parking. In the next couple of days, more and more aircraft will be grounded and a bare minimum skeletal schedule will be in operation till we overcome the current crisis. The situation is unprecedented and so should be the measures. Ameya Joshi runs the aviation analysis website Network Thoughts. Ameya writes a lot on aviation. It took four rounds of IVF for her to conceive twin daughters Xanthe and Zena, now 5 years old, with partner Gerard Cunningham. And Julia Bradbury, 49, admitted she did not want to expose her mother, Chrissi, 82, to the 'pain' she endured when going through the invasive treatment. The TV presenter - who also raises son Zephyrus, 6, with her husband - explained that 'it was a matter of getting the balance right' when deciding how much of the ordeal to share with her mum. Candid: Julia Bradbury, 49, admitted she did not want to expose her mother, Chrissi, 82, to the 'pain' she endured when going through four rounds of IVF to conceive her twin daughters Speaking to Hello! magazine, Julia said of her mother: 'She was amazing. IVF is not pleasant, so it was a matter of getting the balance right between sharing the right moments and not exposing her to too much pain, as I knew it would be painful for her to see me going through it.' The pair appeared together in an episode of ITV's The Greek Islands With Julia Bradbury in which they visited Chios, home to Chrissi's ancestors. The former Countryfile presenter said: 'It was an amazing thing to do together, at this stage in our lives, a seminal moment in our relationship. 'We were in Greece, our homeland, going on this adventure and tracing mum's roots, and for it to be immortalised on film was a lovely, special thing to do.' Worth it! It took four rounds of IVF for her to conceive twin daughters Xanthe and Zena, now 5 years old, with partner Gerard Cunningham Difficult balance: She explained that 'it was a matter of getting the balance right' when deciding how much of her IVF ordeal to share with her mum She also praised her mother for giving her a 'loving, secure childhood'. She added: 'I don't think we've ever been in any doubt about the love there was, and that's the greatest security you can offer your children. And I'm trying to give that to my children. Out now! Read the full article in Hello! magazine, out now 'My mum is very driven, determined and stubborn, all traits that I've inherited. But she's very cautious.' Read the full article in Hello! magazine, out now. The interview comes after Julia candidly spoke about her own experience with endometriosis, a painful condition that affects the womb lining, on Lorraine last year. The former Countryfile host admitted it took her a 'long time to get diagnosed' as she didn't suffer from any 'debilitating symptoms'. She explained: 'I just thought I had very heavy periods, I was a bit moody and had bad cramps. I never had debilitating symptoms so it took me a long time to get diagnosed. 'I was in my 30s, I didnt know I had anything wrong. I wanted to check my fertility so I went for a check up and was told I had it. I had laparoscopy. It was a big operation.' Worth the pain: 'I knew it would be painful for her to see me going through it' admitted Julia Julia shares her 'miracle' babies, with husband Gerard, who she credited as being 'a fantastic daddy' who is 'very understanding'. Due to her condition, it took five stressful rounds of IVF before she became pregnant with her youngest girls against all the odds. On the show, she said: 'I had my miracle baby and miracle twins in my 40s. I was an old mum and I had Endometrosis. I had my boy at 40 and then my gorgeous girls at 43 after five rounds of IVF.' The Australian share market has lost 8.5 per cent or $122billion in the opening minutes of trade as coronavirus shutdowns terrified investors. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 has now lost 38 per cent or $790billion since peaking on February 20. The Australian Securities Exchange hit the low point at 10.12am Sydney time, in the first few minutes of trade, with the index falling on Monday morning by 408 points to 4446, the lowest in eight years. The Australian share market has lost 8.5 per cent or $122billion in the opening minutes of trade as coronvirus shutdowns spooked investors. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 has now lost 38 per cent or $790billion since peaking on February 20 CommSec market analyst Steven Daghlian said the shutdown of pubs in Australia and the reluctance of American Senate Democrats to pass US President Donald Trump's stimulus measures had made investors nervous. CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement 'Another layer is just the uncertainty surrounding all of this, no one knows how long this is going to last,' he told Daily Mail Australia on Monday. 'It's going to take longer than previously expected. 'The uncertainty and the fact that things are closing down, the US markets have been declining, the global markets are falling and the fact the Democrats in the US Senate are all contributing.' As the market opened, Prime Minister Scott Morrison told Parliament Australia was facing the worst economic crisis in generations. 'So together, and with the rest of the world we face this unprecedented challenge. A once in a 100 year event,' he said. 'A global health pandemic that has fast become an economic crisis, the like of which we have not seen since the Great Depression. As the market opened, Prime Minister Scott Morrison told Parliament Australia was facing the worst economic crisis in generations 'Life is changing in Australia, for every Australian. And life is going to continue to change. For many, young and old, 2020 will be the toughest year of our lives.' The big Australian share market plunges The S&P/ASX200 peaked at 6828.7 points on November 1, 2007. By March 6, 2009 it dived by 53.8 per cent to 3145.5 during the global financial crisis, taking more than 10 years to hit previous record Before the 1987 crash, the All Ordinaries peaked at 2376.88 on September 21, 1987. Following the Black Monday crash of October 19, 1987, it then plummeted 49.2 per cent by February 10, 1988 and took nine years to regain new highs, on December 27, 1996 Source: CommSec Advertisement The shutdown of pubs, dine-in restaurants and gyms across Australia from midday today marks the biggest response to a disease outbreak since the first cases of Spanish influenza arrived in the country in 1919 as the troops returned home after World War I. Essential businesses like supermarkets, chemists and petrol stations are remaining open. The Australian share market is now plunging at a faster pace than it did following the 1987 Black Monday crash and during the global financial crisis. The S&P/ASX200 peaked on November 1, 2007 but by March 6, 2009 it dived by 53.8 per cent, taking more than 10 years to hit previous record. Before the 1987 crash, the All Ordinaries peaked on September 21 of that year before plunging by 49.2 per cent within five months. It took took nine years to regain new highs. There are fears Australia's economy will fall into a recession for the first time in 29 years as the coronavirus shutdowns and the closing of borders to international flights causes people to lose their jobs in the tourism, retail and recreational sectors. The Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has said his administration will enforce a ban on large gatherings in the state, to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Mr El-Rufai stated this in a state broadcast, the text of which was sent to PREMIUM TIMES by his spokesperson. He said the government observed that many religious centres and others disobeyed last weeks directive banning large gatherings. Therefore, the Kaduna State Government has decided to move from advice to actual enforcement of its restrictions on large gatherings, especially in churches and mosques, he said. He also said civil servants on level 12 and below should stay at home for the next month. Read Mr El-Rufais full speech below. Text of State Broadcast by Malam Nasir El-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State, on emergency measures taken to protect residents from Covid-19, Monday, 23rd March 2020 My dear people of Kaduna State, It is a sad fact that coronavirus is in Nigeria. I address you today to reinforce the message that the danger from Covid-19 is real. This disease has devastated countries all over the world. Even the most advanced nations are struggling to contain the virus. Our best chance to contain the disease is to prevent it from taking root and spreading in our state. I wish to reiterate that given our circumstances in Nigeria, with the limited capacity of our health system, preventive measures are the best way to protect our people. The Deputy Governor, Dr, Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe and I, jointly hosted a live media chat last Friday on this matter. During the two hours of the chat, we reminded people to observe personal hygiene, especially respiratory hygiene, wash their hands regularly with soap and water, and avoid large gatherings. Earlier that Friday, we had issued a statement restricting large gatherings and advising religious and community leaders to help ensure compliance with the guidelines from public health experts. Let me put on record our gratitude to those religious leaders who complied with the restriction on large gatherings and have also spoken up to support the preventive measures. Over the weekend, we also sadly observed shocking levels of complacency as some people ignored their responsibility to uphold preventive measures. We received reports of congregations in some churches and mosques, as well as large crowds in weddings and other social activities. These actions indicate that such persons people do not realise the gravity of the threat that we confront. While no case of Covid-19 has been reported Kaduna State so far, the government has a duty to work with all our leaders and residents of our state to jointly ensure that everything is done to reduce the chance of the disease taking root and spreading in the state. Therefore, the Kaduna State Government has decided to move from advice to actual enforcement of its restrictions on large gatherings, especially in churches and mosques. Security agencies have been directed to ensure compliance across the state. These agencies will also enforce compliance with the decision to close all schools, whether public or private, religious or secular, Islamiya or run by Christian missions. The state government will not hesitate to impose a statewide curfew, should that become the only way to enforce compliance and make everyone understand the collective danger that we face. The emphasis on prevention is the only logical thing to do because our health system cannot cope with an outbreak of Covid-19. It is better to impose restrictions and save lives, than to be complacent and bury victims. Countries that have hesitated to impose extraordinary measures to contain coronavirus are now regretting. We have a chance to avoid such mistakes. Therefore, we reiterate the advise for people to stay at home and avoid moving around, unless it becomes necessary. Every trip should be postponed until this pandemic is curtailed. Only those who are alive can travel. Keep yourself and others safe by staying in one place. To this end, we have contacted the relevant federal authorities to stop the Abuja-Kaduna train service and thus limit the danger from contact on the train and influx from people who might have been exposed to infected persons. At a time of danger, non-essential travel is a dangerous luxury and there is no point pretending that we are in normal times. READ ALSO: I want to urge all citizens who recently returned from travel overseas to please self-isolate for 14 days. Any symptoms of cough, fever or difficulty in breathing should be reported to the following numbers: 08025088304, 08032401473, 08035871662 and 08037808191; Further to this necessity to minimise movement, the Kaduna State Government is directing civil servants from Level 12 and below to remain at home for the next 30 days, effective from Tuesday, 24th March 2020. Workers providing essential services, especially in the health, security and emergency service sectors are exempt from this directive. We urge every other person to stay at home and avoid unnecessary travel. Markets constitute a source of large gatherings. To manage this in the interim, only traders selling food and medicines are permitted to open their shops, effective from Tuesday, 24th March 2020. This directive will be vigorously enforced by the security agencies and the Kaduna Markets Development and Management Company which will also ensure that all markets are fumigated. The Kaduna State Government is closely observing the implementation of these measures and the evolving global picture and will not hesitate to impose a lockdown of the entire state, if events dictate. This will be done with every effort to take care of the poor and vulnerable. My dear people of Kaduna State, let us face this danger with utmost faith in Almighty God who has gifted us with the knowledge to make rational decisions. Let each of us do our duty to prevent coronavirus from spreading among us. Failure to do so is to impose a death sentence on others. We can do better by acting in a responsible manner. France's Unilateral Release of Iranian National Jalal Rohollahnejad Press Statement Morgan Ortagus, Department Spokesperson March 22, 2020 The United States deeply regrets France's unilateral decision to release Iranian national Jalal Rohollahnejad from its custody. Rohollahnejad was the subject of a U.S. extradition request. There are multiple outstanding U.S. charges against him related to the illegal export of equipment with military applications in violation of U.S. sanctions. The United States and France have a shared interest in bringing those accused of serious crimes to justice, particularly in cases with national security implications. It is regrettable in this instance that France failed to uphold its treaty obligations and prevented justice from being pursued. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Other CII recommendations to strengthen API and intermediates production in the country include creation of large API parks with fiscal benefits for existing API and intermediates plants The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has brought out action points for strengthening the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors for combating the Coronavirus crisis. The private sector can be support the Government in medical facilities, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment. On healthcare, CII has recommended that hospitals in larger cities, and district hospitals in smaller cities and towns, should be identified or designated as COVID hospital for testing and isolation of patients. Private sector hospitals can contribute to the required equipment and the manpower. CII further suggested the adoption of widescale E-ICU/teleconsultation to tackle the spread of COVID-19, especially in its phase 3 and 4. CII has already set up the control centre and the backend systems required for E-ICU and these can be scaled up with the support of the Government, as necessary. On pharmaceuticals, CII said that the current situation makes a compelling case for Indian Government to declare API as a strategic sector as most inputs are imported. Industry also suggests that firms for which capacity utilization is 40% may be permitted to produce API which are being imported. Approvals for new investments should be fast-tracked. CII has proposed that blanket environment permission be provided to manufacture any API on submission of self-certification to comply with pollution load requirement. Other CII recommendations to strengthen API and intermediates production in the country include creation of large API parks with fiscal benefits for existing API and intermediates plants; supportive regulatory framework and common infrastructure facilitating single window clearances for API parks; boosting drug formulations from indigenous API and its intermediates; and providing incentives for new product development, processes and technology, among others. CII stated that the outbreak could lead to significant shortage of supply in the medical technology sector as well, especially for critical medicines and medical devices such as thermometers, nebulizers, glucometers, etc. The medical devices market too is heavily import dependent, at around 70-80%, with imaging equipment (CT & MRI scanners), cardiac stents, orthopedic implants, glucometers, and critical care equipment cornering a large share. Many raw materials and components are imported from China. While the real impact on industry is likely to be visible only after April 2020, the local manufacturers capacities will need to be bolstered, which would likely become reliable sources amidst global shortages, said CII. Jeff Jacoby is the sage Boston Globe columnist and author of the email newsletter Arguable, to which you can subscribe (I subscribe and recommend it) here. This is the first item in Jeffs newsletter this morning, under the heading I have borrowed above, and I am posting it below (minus its many links before the last two) with Jeffs kind permission: The spreading pandemic is making life miserable in countless ways. But even the blackest clouds have silver linings and one of them is that when times are at their worst, so many people rise to their best. Having often remarked on the extraordinary generosity of ordinary Americans, I never doubted that philanthropists and established charities would rise to the occasion in a myriad of wonderful ways. But more heartwarming and uplifting by far are the countless private individuals and businesses stepping up to show what it means to love thy neighbor as thyself. The lions share of media attention is, inevitably, focused on what politicians are doing to respond to the crisis, either by issuing orders or spending public funds. But if you want to see genuine goodness amid the gloom of COVID-19, check out some of the ways that people and companies of every description are voluntarily reaching deep into their own pockets to help fellow Americans (and others) in distress: U-Haul is offering free self-storage for all college students whose plans for the semester have been upended. The major cellphone carriers are waiving late fees, upgrading data plans to unlimited, and pledging that no ones service is terminated for inability to pay their bills. McAlisters Deli restaurants in Illinois are offering free take-out lunches to any children in their community while schools are shut down. So are restaurants in Phoenix, Ariz. And Knoxville, Tenn. And Augusta, Ga. And the Carolinas. And Western Pennsylvania. And the Minneapolis area. And greater Baltimore. And Cincinnati. Not only kids are eating free: Medium Rare, a DC steakhouse, is delivering free steak dinners to seniors (70 and older) who have been trapped by the coronavirus quarantine rules. Hook Hall, a popular bar in Washington, DC, has transformed itself into a relief center to provide food and household essentials to service workers who have been laid off. ITtelligent offers free tech support for any company that needs it, free of charge. Its only condition: that you pay it forward by providing your services to another business. Sunwing airlines is issuing free plane tickets home to any Canadians who have been stranded abroad by coronavirus restrictions. Author/journalist Shea Serrano has been sending cash to anyone on social media who asks for help. As of Sunday, he had given away just under $26,000 in $200 and $300 gifts. Starbucks is adding $10 million to its CUP (Caring Unites Partners) fund to support employees who find themselves in sudden financial distress. Verizon is donating $5 million to No Kid Hungry, which aids vulnerable children, and $5 million more to Direct Relief, which provides protective equipment and essential medical items to frontline health workers. Numerous distilleries including Old Fourth Distillery in Atlanta, Durham Distillery in North Carolina, Shine Distillery in Portland, Ore., and Moonrise Distillery in Georgia have diverted supplies of alcohol normally used to make whiskey into manufacturing hand sanitizer, which they are giving away for free. Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson and his wife Ciara are donating 1 million meals to a local foodbank in Seattle. Steph and Ayesha Curry are doing something similar in Oakland. As is Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City. Blake Griffin of the Pistons is giving $100,000 to support workers at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. Ditto the Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo on behalf of employees at Fiserv Forum. And Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans, who will underwrite the salaries of Smoothie King arena workers for the next 30 days. Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert is donating half a million dollars $200,000 to the employee relief fund at his teams arena in Salt Lake City, $100,000 each to coronavirus-related social services in Utah and Oklahoma City, plus a similar amount to coronavirus relief in his native France. Microsoft has donated $1 million to COVID-19 relief efforts in Puget Sound. Caffe Nero outlets, like the one in my neighborhood near Bostons Longwood medical area, are providing free coffee, tea, and chocolate to all health care workers. Most of us arent in a position to make such lavish and generous gifts. But nearly all of us can help in some way. Numerous charities are doing their best to meet the needs of people affected by this economic and medical blow, and even modest donations can help. Here is a list of philanthropies that are doing vital work and would welcome your help. Food banks in particular need supporting: Find one in your area and consider donating money or time. This Airpurifier Promises To Offer Protection From Coronavirus (COVID-19) News oi-Rohit Arora The Coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, has become a serious health crisis across the globe. The data suggest that 14,689 people have already lost their lives to the deadly virus till date. The 225,270 active COVID-19 worldwide are currently going under treatment. One of the worst affected European country- Italy alone has lost 5,476 lives to COVID-19 till date. India's count of infected people stands currently at 422. The death toll in India rose to 8 as one more affected patient has died in Maharashtra, the worst affected state in India. Indian authorities have sealed as many as 75 districts in 22 states to stop further spread of the virus; however, even a total lockdown might not be enough to put a stop to the COVID-19 spread in the world's second-most populous country. Amid Coronavirus outbreak, a Swiss company specializing in air-purification technology solutions has claimed that one of its products can remove pollutants, including particles the size of Coronavirus. Priced at Rs. 1,40,000 (without Inflow ducting kit), the IQAir HealthPro 250 air purifier comes equipped with a hospital-grade HyperHEPA filter. The company guarantees a minimum removal efficiency of 99.5 per cent even for the tiniest airborne microorganisms and more than 99.97 per cent effectiveness at 0.3 m. This includes even particles the size of the coronavirus which has a diameter between 0.08 and 0.12 microns. This might sound intriguing but studies suggest that the COVID-19 virus, which can be airborne, cannot be destroyed that easily by air-purifiers. A report on digitaltrend.com which cites Dr. Mariea Snell, Assistant Director of the Online Doctor of Nursing Program at Maryville University, suggests that the size of COVID-19 is approximately 0.125 microns. What this means is that a HEPA filter powered air purifier just cannot trap COVID-19 virus. Even if it does, the virus will stay alive for long. Even a PECO filter, which uses a more sophisticated filtration process as compared to a HEPA filter, cannot make a large impact. You can only fight the COVID-19 virus with strong hygiene practices and by staying away from people affected by Coronavirus. Coming back to IQAir HealthPro 250 air purifier, the product is designed, developed and manufactured in Switzerland. It is termed ideal for removing the broadest range of airborne pollutants, such as nitrogen dioxide, PM2.5, PM10, gases, chemicals, as well as natural allergens such as pollen, mould, pet dander and dust mite allergens. The IQAir HealthPro 250 air purifier uses a 3-stage filtration process that can offer protection from various airborne pollutants and can also remove odours. The stages include: Micro-Particle Filtration Granular Activated Carbon Adsorption and chemisorptions HyperHEPA Filtration The IQAir HealthPro250 features a modular tower design. It snaps open to allow access to all filters in a matter of seconds. The company also mentions that the IQAir HealthPro 250 comes with the most powerful fan ever used in a compact room air purifier. The fan powering the purifier has a 1200 m/h rating. Overall, the IQAir HealthPro 250 seems like a powerful airpurifer but we cannot confirm its effectiveness in offering protection from the COVID-19 virus. The company claims that several hundred IQAir HealthPro air purifiers are currently being deployed in healthcare institutions in Hong Kong and China in the fight against SARS-CoV and COVID-19. The air purifier is being used with special FlexVac source-capture kit and OutFlow FlexAir exhaust. These special flexible suction duct opening kits need to be purchased separately. BreatheEasy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. is the exclusive India partner of IQAir in India. Best Mobiles in India Mayor John Tory has declared a state of emergency for Toronto, giving himself the full powers of city council in a dramatic move aimed at slowing the deadly spread of COVID-19. Mondays announcement came after Toronto recorded its first COVID-19 death a man in his 70s who had visited the U.K. and the number of infected Torontonians continued a steady, worrying climb to 239 from 220 on Sunday, with 14 of them ill enough to be hospitalized. The mayor, speaking by videolink from travel-triggered isolation, said he was also convinced to beef up his powers by weekend scenes on TV of Torontonians gathering despite pleas from health officials for social distancing, and the knowledge that scores of people are returning from March break trips abroad. Dr. Eileen de Villa, the citys public health chief, and Fire Chief Matthew Pegg, leading the citys emergency response to the deadly virus, recommended the emergency declaration Monday morning. Tory signed the declaration hours later after speaking to Premier Doug Ford and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. I can make any decision, that council normally could, the mayor said, adding time is of the essence for urgent measures to prevent the kind of mass infection killing thousands of people in Italy. Tory said he wont hesitate to use his new powers in any way recommended by health and emergency officials, adding he has no specific new rules planned. There is no list, of actions, he said, but noted he now has the ability to enforce a mandatory distance between people on playgrounds or in parks. Tory promised to use the powers, which last 30 days unless council authorizes an extension, prudently. I think people know how I make decisions, which is carefully, said the mayor who mixed stern warnings Stay home, stay away from work with assurances the city will survive the unprecedented threat. Have a sense of hope about this, he urged people. Tory said Torontonians in essential services including his daughter Susan, a doctor at Humber River Hospital who must venture out to work are heroes for us right now, so people need to stick to social distancing to help keep them safe. The mayors announcement was co-ordinated with an earlier announcement by Ford ordering the shutdown of all non-essential businesses in the province. Ford said in a televised address that only essential manufacturing and supply chain providers, as well as shops such as supermarkets, pharmacies, LCBO outlets and takeout restaurants would be allowed to remain open when details are finalized Tuesday. De Villa, Torontos medical officer of health, said public health officials have tracked the international spread of the virus since January and felt it was important at this time to protect Torontonians with the municipal emergency declaration. She said there was no one issue that pushed them to make this recommendation, rather the sum totality of our observations. If there was a particular issue or driving factor it would be that we need to see better and more social distancing, she said. There continues to be a number of people congregating in a way that frankly is not helpful in terms of what were seeking to achieve in terms of trying to protect the health of our city. Pegg said the declaration enhances the citys ability to be nimble to protect people. It is about the city continuing to be proactive. It is about us staying ahead and remaining in a position where we can effectively and efficiently manage this emergency as it evolves in the most expeditious means possible, he said. The declaration today sets that legal construct up in order to make that possible. One of Torys council colleagues, Stephen Holyday, said the mayor has his full support in usurping councils powers. I believe there are responsible people managing this emergency and they should have every resource that they need and every option at the ready, said Holyday (Ward 2 Etobicoke Centre.) With files from Francine Kopun, Jennifer Pagliaro and Robert Benzie Read more about: Russian opposition figures Udaltsov, Razvozzhayev seek to vacate 2012 riot case sentence RAPSI 14:38 23/03/2020 MOSCOW, March 23 (RAPSI) - Russian opposition activists Sergey Udaltsov and Leonid Razvozzhayev have asked the Supreme Courts Chairman Vyacheslav Lebedev to overturn their sentence in the 2012 Bolotnaya Square riot case basing on the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), their defense lawyer Dmitry Agranovaky has told RAPSI. According to Agranovsky, the ECHR has held that Russia had violated Part 1 of the Article 6 of the European Convention for Human Rights (Right to a fair trial) by convicting the opposition activists based on the testimony of another defendant Konstantin Lebedev, who had signed a plea deal with investigators. Over 400 people were arrested and scores injured in the Bolotnaya Square protests that turned violent in May 2012. Dozens were later charged with inciting riots and assault on law enforcement officers. Riot organizers Leonid Razvozzhayev and Udaltsov were sentenced to 4.5 years in prison each based partly on testimony by Konstantin Lebedev, who was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison but released on parole. Other convicts in the riots case received punishment ranging from suspended sentences to four years in prison. Several defendants were pardoned; one is undergoing compulsory mental treatment. In November 2019, the ECHR refused to declare the activists prosecution politically motivated, however, it recognized violation of their right to a fair trial and awarded Razvozzhayev and Udaltsov 11,000 and 9,000 euros in compensation respectively. Tata Chemical is the world's third-largest soda ash producer, with a geographic footprint across India, the US, the UK and Kenya Mumbai: Fitch Ratings on Monday said the outlook of Tata Chemical's (TCL) long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating (IDR) was stable at 'BB+' following reduced energy costs, which will support a healthy margin. The rating reflects TCL's globally leading and cost-competitive position in soda ash, geographic diversification, the soda-ash sector's adequate exposure to non-discretionary end-markets, and improving financial profile, Fitch said. TCL is the world's third-largest soda ash producer, with a geographic footprint across India, the US, the UK and Kenya. It is, however, constrained by TCL's small scale relative to global peers and lack of product diversification. We maintain a stable outlook notwithstanding lower sales, which are likely to persist for six months, stemming from the coronavirus pandemic," as per the rating agency's report. Around two-thirds of TCL's 4.3 million tonne of soda ash capacity is based in Wyoming in the US and Lake Magadi in Kenya, two key global regions, along with Turkey, which has natural trona deposits that require low conversion costs. This underpins the company's cost competitiveness relative to producers in other locations, it said. Further, TCL's operation benefits from superior geographical diversification and Fitch expects around half of Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) to come from India in the financial year ending FY20, 45 per cent from developed markets in the US and Europe and the remaining 5 per cent from Africa. TCL's financial flexibility remains strong, the rating agency said, adding that we expect capex to be funded through internal accruals and positive free cash generation over FY21-FY23. TCL has Rs 1,600 crore (USD 225 million) of debt maturing in August 2020 at its North American subsidiary, which we expect it to refinance comfortably, Fitch said. A man wielding a pickaxe was killed by an officer responding to a disturbance Monday afternoon at a West Side home. Family members called police at 3:44 p.m. saying they were afraid because a man had a knife in their home in the 500 block of Glendale Avenue, San Antonio police said. The man was later identified by the Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office as 46-year-old Carlos Delgado. Officer Douglas Greene, an SAPD spokesman, said Delgado had a pickaxe and was confrontational with the officer when she arrived. It is unclear when Delgado exited the home. We still need to review the video to see exactly what happened, but at some point she felt compelled to fire her weapon, Greene said. The officer fired two shots as they were in the middle of the dead end street, police said. Delgado was hit once in his upper torso. He was pronounced dead shortly after EMS arrived, Greene said. We do have family members here. Theyre being cooperative and talking to the officers, Greene said. Police are also investigating whether Delgado was under the influence of drugs or alcohol when the incident occurred. The officer, who has been with the department for two years, was not injured, police said. She will be placed on administrative duty as police investigate the shooting. Jacob Beltran is a reporter covering San Antonio and Bexar County. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | jbeltran@express-news.net | Twitter: @JBfromSA Police had to turn people away from a Centrelink office in Sydney as thousands of people lined up while tens of thousands of jobless Australians crashed the service's website when they tried to sign up for welfare. Queues snaked around the block at major Centrelink offices across the country, with police called to Bondi Junction in Sydney to turn people away after it became clear many would not be seen on Monday. Nine News reported people were in tears as they were led away, with one woman saying she only had $10 in her bank account. Government Services Minister Stuart Robert also admitted under questioning from Labor that MyGov, the website through which Centrelink is accessed, went down after huge demand from users triggered a cyber attack alarm and shut access. On the Frontline Against China, the US Coast Guard Is Taking on Missions the US Navy Can't Do Competition with China has drawn more Pentagon resources to the Pacific, but the most visible U.S. military presence there... A municipal corporation worker sprays disinfectant inside a bank as a preventive measure to contain the spread of coronavirus in Vijayawada. Photo: PTI The has decided to put the entire state under lockdown from Monday midnight as part of measures to stem the spread of the novel in the state. The lockdown, starting from Monday midnight, will remain in force till March 31, said DGP Shivanand Jha in Gandhinagar. "Police will implement the lockdown in a strict manner. People should not come out of their homes unless necessary. We have also decided to seal Gujarat's borders with other states," he said. However, essential services will not get affected by the state-wide shutdown, said the DGP. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prisoners are seen in cell windows inside the La Modelo prison after a riot by prisoners demanding government health measures against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Bogota, Colombia, on March 22, 2020. (Leonardo Munoz/Reuters) Bogota Prison Riot Over CCP Virus Kills Nearly 2 Dozen A prison riot in Colombias capital Bogota late on March 21 left 23 prisoners dead and 83 injured, the justice minister said on Sunday, as detainees protested sanitary conditions amid the global outbreak of CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. Thirty-two injured prisoners are hospitalized, Justice Minister Margarita Cabello said in a video, while seven prison guards were also injured. Two guards are in critical condition. The Andean country will enter a nationwide lockdown meant to stem infections from Tuesday night. So far 231 people have been confirmed infected with the disease and two have died. Today is a very sad and painful day, Cabello said. Last night there was a mass criminal escape attempt at the El Modelo prison and riots in various detention centers around the country. A view of smoke coming out of La Modelo prison after a riot by prisoners demanding the government to take healthcare measures against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Bogota, Colombia, on March 22, 2020. (Leonardo Munoz/Reuters) Graphic cell phones videos were posted to social media late on Saturday showing what appeared to be the inside of the prisons. Some showed small fires, others injured prisoners and guards. In one video, a man says the incarcerated have been abandoned like dogs amid the virus outbreak. Reuters could not independently verify the origin or authenticity of the videos. No prisoners escaped during the riots, Cabello said. There is not any sanitary problem that would have caused this plan and these riots. There is not one infection nor any prisoner or custodial or administrative staffer who has CCP virus. The office of the human rights called on the government to declare a prison emergency which could allow early release for older prisoners. This way there could be exceptional circumstances that would facilitate releases and temporary rules for those over 60 and with sentences of up to eight years, the office said on Twitter. Military police officers are seen at the main entrance of the Doctor Edgar Magalhaes Noronha (Pemano) Penitentiary during a riot in Tremembe, 155 km from Sao Paulo, Brazil, early on March 17, 2020. (Photo by Lucas Lacaz/AFP via Getty Images) Colombias 132 prisons have an 81,000-inmate capacity but house more than 121,000 prisoners, according to figures from the Justice Ministry. The second Colombian to die from CCP virus was a 70-year-old woman in the city of Cali, the health ministry said on Sunday. Her daughter arrived in Colombia from Cuba, where she had been in contact with a person from the United States who is positive for the CCP virus. The daughter currently has a cough, the ministry said in a statement, while the victims 74-year-old husband is hospitalized and positive for the CCP virus. By Luis Jaime Acosta and Julia Symmes Cobb Epoch Times staff contributed to this report. Police has registered an FIR against two persons, hailing from Awantipora area of Kashmir, for concealing their travel history to avoid mandatory quarantine for those coming from coronavirus-hit countries. "Upon the information received from the magistrate that two persons of Awantipora area have concealed their travel history in order to evade necessary quarantine process, a case under relevant sections of the law has been registered against them at police station Awantipora," a police spokesman said on Monday. He said the booked persons are students and have recently returned to village Charsoo and village Goripora of Awantipora with a travel history of visiting Pakistan and Bangladesh. "They have been sent to EDI Pampore to undergo necessary quarantine and further action under the said FIR shall be initiated after their quarantine period is over," the spokesman said. Police has appealed the general public to cooperate with adminstration and cops in this unprecedented situation and disclose their travel history proactively. Representational Image Chile announces nationwide nightly curfew, coronavirus cases hit 632 March 23,2020 | Source: Reuters Chile announced on Sunday a nationwide, night-time curfew to keep people off the streets and away from one another as the number of cases of coronavirus continued to creep upwards in the South American nation. Health Minister Jaime Manalich confirmed 632 cases of the virus in Chile since the outbreak began 20 days ago, among the highest tallies in Latin America. He said 95 people had tested positive in the past 24 hours. Chile has opted for progressively restrictive measures day-by-day, even as neighbor Argentina, with fewer cases, earlier this week declared a nationwide quarantine to slow the spread of the virus. President Sebastian Pinera came under increasing pressure this week to declare a lockdown after citizens of Santiago, a city of 6 million, flocked to beach communities on the nearby Pacific Ocean this weekend. Local mayors protested their arrival from the capital, the focal point of the outbreak in Chile, and some coastal residents built burning barricades on major thruways to stop their advance. Manalich on Sunday ordered anyone who had left Santiago for a second-home back to their primary residence by Tuesday. The minister also announced measures to isolate several regions of the country where coronavirus has yet to appear, or where cases are few, including the island of Chiloe and Puerto Williams in Patagonia. The night-time curfew will span from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. 2020 National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. Theme(s): Others. "Once on This Island," with Kyle Ramar Freeman, left, and Courtnee Carter, is the first national Broadway tour to end because of the coronavirus. (Joan Marcus) The traveling production of "Once on This Island" has wrapped its scheduled run four months early, making it the first Broadway national tour to close prematurely because of the coronavirus. Michael Arden, who received his second Tony Award nomination for directing the acclaimed revival , announced the news on Saturday via Instagram . "Its a great loss for so many, but I am deeply proud of everyone who came together to make this production happen from day one, who lifted their voices, paintbrushes, hands and hearts to spread the word of love and forgiveness and celebrated the human spirits resilience against even the greatest of odds." "Thank you to the audiences who came to see us all over the U.S.," Arden continued in his post. "You are why we tell the story. The storm will end." The tour was next set to stop in Los Angeles for a monthlong run at the Ahmanson Theatre beginning April 7. As of Friday, Center Theatre Group had informed patrons that the venue was "exploring all options" for the production, "including the possibility of rescheduling" a plan of action other national tours have taken for the time being. Center Theatre Group told The Times on Monday that it is looking at all options including the possibility of joining with other theaters to remount this production." The company is asking ticket-holders to hold off asking for refunds. "We have been looking forward to this engagement for a very long time and are hopeful that we are able to secure a future for this show," read a company statement. The Tony-winning musical revival centers on Ti Moune, a fearless orphan girl who saves the life of a wealthy boy from the other side of the island and falls in love. The mighty island gods, however, make her a pawn in their cosmic bet as to whether love is greater than death. Michael Arden, photographed in 2016, earned his second Tony nomination for directing "Once on This Island" on Broadway. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times ) The original 1990 musical is loosely based on Rosa Guys Caribbean-flavored novel "My Love, My Love," which in turn is loosely based on Hans Christian Andersens tragic "The Little Mermaid." Story continues But the 2017 Broadway production of "Once on This Island" was gritty, guttural and grounded, raising the stakes of the story by presenting it without much embellishment. With few scenic set pieces or props, the major visual element of the show was Dane Laffrey's transportive set design, which was inspired by the aftermath of a 2016 hurricane in Haiti and included a jack-knifed 18-wheeler and a fallen telephone pole. L.A. theatergoers were going to experience a special take on the tour, with scenic pieces built out beyond the proscenium. "We wanted to put clotheslines out in the audience, and some broken architecture to make it look like the Ahmanson had been through something as well," Arden told The Times. The ruins, which included real sand and water, were the setting for Stephen Flaherty's invigorating rhythms and Camille A. Brown's vibrant, euphoric choreography rich signatures of Ti Moune's poorer side of the island, whose residents dance without any shoes or shame. Courtnee Carter as Ti Moune leads an exuberant dance number in "Once on This Island." (Joan Marcus) This onstage combination illustrated the takeaway of Lynn Ahrens' poetic book and lyrics: that such joy can exist amid devastation, and though there may be great losses to mourn, there always will be so much in this life to celebrate. The tour, which hit the road in October, was scheduled to also play in Seattle; New Brunswick, N.J.; Pittsburgh; Midland, Mich.; and New Haven, Conn., before wrapping its run in Washington, D.C., in July. However, the final performance was March 14 at the Smith Center in Las Vegas. "It's a shame that this particular show is closing, because I think that this is going to be what people need to see once we're able to go outside again," Arden told The Times. "It has this kind of defiance in its joy and heart. "But since we can't do this show for you in a theater right now, close your eyes, listen to the music, and go on Ti Moune's journey," he said in reference to the cast recording. "It might make what we're going through right now seem a little bit easier, and you might feel a little bit less alone." MADISON Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, criticized how Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, announced his "Stay at Home" order Monday. The governors announcement has created mass amounts of confusion," Vos wrote, opening a pagelong statement Monday. Last week, Evers said he did not want to issue a "shelter in place" order, has had been put in place in Illinois, New York and California. On Monday, the first-term governor said he was going to issue a similar "Stay at Home" order, after consulting with health, medical, governmental and business leaders around the state to slow the spread of COVID-19. Vos said that the Legislature did not hear about the decision before Evers let the public know about it via Twitter just after 9:30 a.m. Monday. The governors executive order came as a surprise to the Legislature," Vos said. It was a complete reversal from his repeated assurances. It should be noted that legislative leaders have asked on a daily basis whether or not this was the direction the governor was headed, and we were told it was not." The speaker, Wisconsin's top Republican, continued: "For days, Gov. Evers took a measured approach and reassured business owners that a shelter-in-place order may not be necessary. Legislative leaders even complimented him for it. The governors sudden change of course and lack of specific guidance have increased the level of uncertainty and anxiety in our state. The people of Wisconsin deserve clear communications during a public health emergency," Vos said. The rules surrounding what the "Stay at Home" order will include have been vague thus far, although they will include the closing of all non-essential businesses grocery stores and restaurants offering takeout are exempt from the order. Evers has promised that more details will be revealed Tuesday before the order actually goes into place. State Rep. Greta Neubauer, D-Racine, had the opposite reaction. She applauded the Stay at Home order. In a statement, Neubauer said: "These decisions are never easy, but if we all can limit our travel to only the most essential trips and limit our contact to our households, Wisconsin can flatten the curve ... In recent weeks, I have heard over and over from constituents in Racine that this is necessary to keep our community safe. Thank you, Gov. Evers, for responding to their calls." Vos concluded: We all want whats best for Wisconsin. We want people to stay safe and follow CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines. We would ask the governor to do a better job communicating to the people of Wisconsin. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 14:33:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HARBIN, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province has tightened the coronavirus testing and quarantine rules for travelers from overseas to reduce the number of imported infections, local authorities said Sunday. All people arriving in Heilongjiang from abroad are subject to temperature screening, nucleic acid testing (NAT) and self-paid 14-day concentrated observation, said Li Shengbin, deputy director of the provincial foreign affairs office, at a press conference. The confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases after returning from overseas have to pay their own treatment bills if they are not covered by basic medical insurance. There will be assistance for people in financial difficulties, Li said. Preventing imported cases has become a key task of China's epidemic prevention and control work. Also on Sunday, Shanghai and Guangzhou said all passengers arriving in the cities from abroad will undergo NAT to screen for coronavirus. The National Health Commission received reports of 39 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland Sunday, all of which were imported. Medical staff shows packets of a Nivaquine, tablets containing chloroquine and Plaqueril, tablets containing hydroxychloroquine at the IHU Mediterranee Infection Institute in Marseille on Feb. 26, 2020. The drugs have shown signs of effectiveness against the CCP virus. (Gerard Julien/AFP via Getty Images) Remdesivir, Hydroxychloroquine Are Being Used to Treat COVID-19 Patients: CDC Several drugs are being used to treat patients who contract the new CCP virus, which causes the COVID-19 disease, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Remdesivir, known as an anti-Ebola drug, and hydroxychloroquine, a drug used to treat malaria, are being used in the United States and other countries to treat COVID-19 patients, the agency, known as the CDC, said over the weekend. Chloroquine, another anti-malaria drug, is also being used, though its not as readily available as the closely related hydroxychloroquine. The Food and Drug Administration hasnt approved any drugs for the treatment of COVID-19, but hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine are being prescribed for so-called off-label use, which means that doctors can prescribe already approved drugs for uses other than the approved ones. In an update over the weekend, the CDC said that remdesivir is being used on an uncontrolled compassionate basis in multiple countries, including the United States. Hydroxychloroquine, meanwhile, has been administered to hospitalized COVID-19 patients on an uncontrolled basis in multiple countries, including in the United States, it stated. The information was posted on a CDC webpage meant to highlight the treatments for clinicians seeking therapeutic options for patients with the new illness. Male nurses wearing face masks and overalls bring a patient on a stretcher into the newly built Columbus Covid 2 temporary hospital to fight the new coronavirus infection at the Gemelli hospital in Rome on March 16, 2020. (Andreas Solano/AFP via Getty Images) Shortages as Orders Spike Doctors around the country have said theyve been prescribing hydroxychloroquine to patients, both to healthy individuals seeking to stave off the new virus or people with the virus who want to be treated. Alexander Morden, a physician in New York City, told the Washington Post that he prescribed the drug to about 42 people and has been taking it himself. Premier Inc. a healthcare improvement company of some 4,000 U.S. hospitals and health systems, said orders for both hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine have spiked between March 1 and March 17. The average monthly orders were 149 chloroquine units and 8,800 hydroxychloroquine units. That increased to 2,357 and 16,110 in the first two weeks of March, the group said. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists says shortages exist for both chloroquine phosphate tablets and hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets. Erin Fox, director of the drug information service at University of Utah Health Care, said the shortage of hydroxychloroquine is being exacerbated by MDs self-prescribing for themselves and family members. New York officials said that the state acquired 70,000 doses of hydroxychloroquine and 750,000 doses of chloroquine and plan to start trials on the drugs on Tuesday. Transmission electron micrograph of the CCP virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2, isolated from a patient. Photo published March 10, 2020. (NIAID) Array of Drugs Being Studied Remdesivir, the FDA said last week, has been given to about 250 patients through an expanded access program to allow the emergency use of the drug. Current treatment management includes preventing infections, government measures aimed at reducing contact, and supportive care for those who are infected, including supplementary oxygen and mechanical ventilation. An array of drugs approved for other indications as well as several investigational drugs are being studied in several hundred clinical trials that are underway across the globe, the CDC webpage states. The purpose of this document is to provide information on two of the approved drugs (chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine) and one of the investigational agents (remdesivir) currently in use in the United States. President Donald Trump championed hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine, and remdesivir, at a press conference last week, prompting FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn to clarify the anti-malaria drugs havent been approved for treating COVID-19 patients but are being studied in several trials. Two companies said last week that they were boosting production of hydroxychloroquine to fight the CCP virus. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mishandling allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said Friday that experts dont yet have proof that chloroquine or the related treatment can effectively treat the new illness. What we need to do, since there are suggestions anecdotally that it works, try to get it available but to do it in the context of a protocol where we accomplish two things, he said. We make something thats maybe hope and promising for someone. At the same time, we determine whether or not its safe and whether or not it actually does work. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo told reporters on Sunday that officials were optimistic about the possible treatments, including Zithromax, an antibiotic that the state also obtained and will study. omg i really love britney Reply Thread Link I donate some to a local food bank. My mom donate some to a local animal shelter. Mississippi Gov sounds like the Hobby Lobby's wife. Offers prays instead of closing crap down. Reply Thread Link ugh I live in New Orleans and there is this small corner store across from my work where all the kitchen ladies preach about how if they have jesus they won't get sick.....like y'all...... Reply Thread Link right like jesus isn't adhering to social distancing Reply Parent Thread Link I'm also in New Orleans, and amount of "Jesus will protect me" I've encountered is truly mind boggling. I almost lost it when I saw pictures of everyone setting up for crawfish boils etc by the lake yesterday. Reply Parent Thread Link People like this are waiting for their precious Second Coming, they want to die Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Did you see that hobby lobby is staying open because they got a vision from god lol Reply Parent Thread Link My uncle is an ER doc in NOLA. He was saying they were already experiencing a complete shitshow earlier last week, lord knows how it is now. They're running out of Fentanyl for vented patients, have hardly any PPE at all (he had to bring his own N95 mask from home), even people in their 40s are dropping like flies. Those kitchen ladies are gonna have to learn the hard way. Reply Parent Thread Link I swear with how people talk about Jesus, youd think hes a fucking genie granting wishes Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Maybe not now, but when the zombie apocalypse comes, those kinds people will be the downfall of us all ...not to mention what theyre contributing now to this pandemic Reply Parent Thread Link Sounds like my parents. Honestly if theres a God trust he/she does not give a shit about anything, let alone showing favoritism to people who worship them. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link "The world is in God's hands"...yeah, well, did God wash his hands first? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link a former co-worker of mine keeps posting these instagram/facebook stories of some pastor named joseph prince and she's convinced jesus/god is gonna save her and her family. Reply Parent Thread Link Omg that governor. Why are humans so dumb? :( Reply Thread Link I've repeatedly found myself wondering through this whole thing so far, "How have we not become extinct yet?!" Reply Parent Thread Link I know, right? I hope he gets it post-haste. Reply Parent Thread Link Finally some proper help. Not just singing Imagine and embarrassing themselves. Reply Thread Link who actually participated in this video? i haven't seen it and i need to know who to boycott. Reply Parent Thread Link american anti-intellectualism manifesting as trump/repubes thinking the USA can be the only country not to shut down.... smh Reply Thread Link British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a sweeping stay-at-home order for the UK. Without a huge national effort to halt the growth of this virus, there will come a moment when no health service in the world could possibly cope https://t.co/3KGaSuwHGZ pic.twitter.com/Wm9aaKT74E The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) 23. Marz 2020 Reply Parent Thread Link the British media has been treating him with kid gloves and it's infuriating Reply Parent Thread Link Negl I'm surprised at how quickly he changed his opinion. Reply Parent Thread Link kimye can have this one. i'll give them attention if it's positive. need some more of this energy Reply Thread Link I feel so bad for people who live with or around people using religion and prayer instead of common sense during this plague. Reply Thread Link Right? No prayer is gonna save you from a virus Reply Parent Thread Link mte. Maybe people could spin it and tell them: maybe this is God testing you, seeing if you'll put your neighbour's needs before yours. Reply Parent Thread Link Yup, Texas here! We're all fucked. Fucked for Jesus sakes! Reply Parent Thread Link Fucking Christ...speaking of.... Reply Parent Thread Link queen brit Reply Thread Link The Modern Family actor and his wife, Holly, have teamed up with the city and the Downtown Alliance to create a program Tip Your Server to give grants of $2,000 to employees of any Salt Lake City restaurant or bar who have been laid off recently.https://t.co/mooQUM6txE The Salt Lake Tribune (@sltrib) 20. Marz 2020 Edited at 2020-03-23 09:10 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link i could use this in nyc Reply Parent Thread Link This is honestly incredible. Reply Parent Thread Link this is so great Reply Parent Thread Link Every time I hear about him its because hes doing something nice. Hes basically IRL Phil Dunphy. Reply Parent Thread Link that is fantastic. Good for him! Reply Parent Thread Link FreeBritney people really annoyed me with this. Saying it wasn't her. She can't even do a good thing without them claiming it's some BS. Reply Thread Link They're so disgusting. For as much they accuse her people of treating her like a puppet, they should look at themselves! Edited at 2020-03-23 09:14 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Sweetney Spears! Reply Thread Link That's a wonderful thing Kimye is doing. I hope Ben and Erin of Home Town are doing the isolation thing. I like them, plus Laurel had that terrible storm last year. It's horrible that Mississippi has such terrible representation. Reply Thread Link I loved that the celebs that took part in that video will never be able to live this down. I'm still wondering what made them ALL think "yeah lets do it" even though churches here are closed there was a big group of viejitas gathering outside of our local church everyday at noon to pray and yesterday the police went over to them and got them off the street lol. they were blocking the sidewalk and didn't even care smh Reply Thread Link Honestly for the most part the list of celebs I saw for that video (I did not watch it, the secondhand embarrassment is just too much for me) were all ppl that I was like yeah they say and do out of touch shit so this tracks lol Reply Parent Thread Link "Never able to live that down"? In the next interview they'll be lauded as "reaching across the aisle", "showing unity", and "distracting us through entertainment" and whatever other kiss ass nonsense. I wish. Reply Parent Thread Link To the people who think Im lying... pic.twitter.com/uP9uEpyE2K Fan Account (@outtathispussy) March 21, 2020 heres a screenshot im so grateful the love i have for this woman.... pic.twitter.com/KlakAkbj69 Fan Account (@outtathispussy) March 21, 2020 It's so interesting to me that celebs are able to help people so directly nowadays (and are willing to do so - especially Brit who's had a terrible time being more accessible to the public before). I guess it says a lot about how celebrity culture has changed over the decades. This fan posted screen shots of Brit sending them money <3 I love her.It's so interesting to me that celebs are able to help people so directly nowadays (and are willing to do so - especially Brit who's had a terrible time being more accessible to the public before). I guess it says a lot about how celebrity culture has changed over the decades. Reply Thread Link benevolentney <3 Reply Parent Thread Link I love that she speaks with emojis even in private. She is so sweet. So nice of her! Reply Parent Thread Link She's perf!! Generous Queen of Pop. Reply Parent Thread Link i think they also feel genuinely comfortable with instagram, it's easy to master and has a generally positive vibe compared to fb and twitter Reply Parent Thread Link Put that receipt in the MoMA Reply Parent Thread Expand Link This is so sweet Reply Parent Thread Link so sweet Reply Parent Thread Link Three people in Nigeria have been taken to hospital with chloroquine poisoning after taking the drug to treat coronavirus. Health officials in Nigeria warned against using the anti-malaria medication to alleviate coronavirus symptoms after seeing a spike in its use, following its endorsement by President Trump. There has reportedly been as much as a 400 per cent rise in price of the drug since the president's comments during a press conference on Saturday. According to officials in the Nigerian capital of Lagos three people were hospitalized in the city after taking the drug and accidentally overdosing. Trump has continually pushed drugs used for malaria as a treatment option for coronavirus and his embrace of them has caused alarm in the medical community. The president said on Saturday: 'This [hydroxychloroquine] would be a gift from heaven, this would be a gift from god if it works. We are going to pray to god that it does work.' But since this briefing was beamed around the world, demand for malaria drugs chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine has soared. Task Force officials on the back of a pick-up truck after enforcing government directive on social gatherings at Ojota in Lagos. Health officials in Nigeria have warned against taking malaria drugs to treat coronavirus President Trump speaking about the coronavirus pandemic in the press briefing room of the White House in Washington DC yesterday Trump said that malaria drug chloroquine could be a 'gift from god' to cure the coronavirus Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr Anthony Fauci speaking during a coronavirus task force briefing at the White House on Saturday Both drugs are in short supply as demand has surged with the rapid spread of the outbreak. Some states have already taken steps to limit prescriptions of the drugs to those who need them most. Chloroquine is used to treat malaria, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. In Nigeria the Lagos State Health Ministry issued a brief statement saying there was no 'hard evidence that chloroquine is effective in prevention or management of coronavirus infection'. Kayode Fabunmi, a Lagos-based lawyer, said since Trump's comments the price of the drug has rocketed. He told CNN: 'The pharmacist knew the market and was saying to every incoming customer, ''You know Donald Trump has said this thing cures coronavirus'', and the price kept changing. 'The original price was 200 naira (around 50 cents), then it became 500 naira ($1.38) then it became 1,000 naira ($2.77) while I was there.' Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr Tony Fauci, said on Saturday Trump was 'talking about hope' when he bragged that the malaria drug could be a 'gift from god' to cure the coronavirus and not whether the medication 'actually works'. Dr Fauci, a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, said: 'The president is talking about hope for people and it's not an unreasonable thing to hope for people.' But, he added, his job as a scientist is to prove that a treatment and cure are safe and actually work. Dr. Tony Fauci said President Donald Trump was 'talking about hope' when he bragged that malaria drugs could be a 'gift from god' to cure coronavirus President Trump defended his embrace of malaria drugs without studies to back him up, saying 'what do we have to lose' 'There are those who lean to the point of giving hope and say give that person the option of having access to that drug and then you have the other group, which is my job as a scientist, to say my job is to ultimately prove without a doubt that a drug is not only safe, but that it actually works,' he said. Fauci acknowledged the two points of view - hope versus science - could come into conflict and noted he experienced just that during the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s. 'Those two things are really not incompatible when you think about it, particularly when you're in an arena where you don't have anything that's proven,' he said. For several days Trump has pushed drugs that have been used to cure malaria as a treatment option for the coronavirus, leading to questions as to whether he is raising unsubstantiated hope for people infected with the disease since there have been no studies proving it cures the virus. The president exploded in anger on Friday when he was asked just that as he touted orders of the drug cloroquine - despite Fauci saying at the same press briefing that there was no evidence it worked and that even its safety was unknown. Trump, on Saturday, argued 'what do we have to lose' when it comes to using the drugs. 'Look, I feel as the impression goes, what do we have to lose, because, you know, I feel very good about it,' he said. The president acknowledged Fauci and other doctors wanted data on the subject. 'Tony would feel like he likes samples done and I understand that too. Many doctors agree with that,' he said, adding 'we don't have much time. We have a lot of very sick people in hospitals all over the place.' The president has gotten defensive when asked about his embrace of the drugs as a coronavirus cure. 'I'm a smart guy,' he said on Friday. 'I feel good about it.' An angry Donald Trump went after NBC News' Peter Alexander simply for asking what his message was to 'scared' Americans NBC News' Peter Alexander had asked President Trump if he was putting too positive of a spin on the coronavirus crisis and if he had a message for scared Americans And he erupted at NBC's Peter Alexander who asked the president about the issue, saying: 'What do you say to Americans who are watching you right now who are scared?' Trump, who listened to the question with his eyes down, shaking his head, looked up and erupted: 'I would say that you're a terrible reporter, that's what I'd say. 'I think it's a very nasty question. And I think it's a very bad signal that you're putting out to the American people. The American people are looking for answers and they're looking for hope. And you're doing sensationalism and the same with NBC, and Concast, I don't call it Comcast [NBC News' ultimate parent company] for whom you work. You need to get back to good reporting. 'Let's see if it works.' Before entering the briefing room on Saturday, the president urged the Food and Drug Administration in a tweet to speed approval for a malarial drug and an antibiotic to treat coronavirus patients, despite warnings from experts that further study is needed. 'HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE & AZITHROMYCIN, taken together, have a real chance to be one of the biggest game changers in the history of medicine,' Trump wrote in a tweet on Saturday morning. 'The FDA has moved mountains - Thank You! Hopefully they will BOTH...be put in use IMMEDIATELY. PEOPLE ARE DYING, MOVE FAST, and GOD BLESS EVERYONE!' he continued. Trump noted that 'H works better with A,' referring to the drug combination, and cited a small French study published in the International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents. The president tagged the FDA and FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn in his tweet, apparently urging them to action. An FDA spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com. President Donald Trump has urged the Food and Drug Administration in a tweet to speed approval for a malarial drug and an antibiotic to treat coronavirus patients The president tagged the FDA and FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn (above) in his tweet The French study, carried out on 20 patients earlier this month, is highly preliminary and was non-randomized. However, it did find that six patients who received a combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin had their viral load reduced faster than those on either hydroxychloroquine alone or neither of the drugs. Hydroxychloroquine is a high-power drug used to treat malaria, which is a parasitic infection, as well as some non-infectious inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Azithromycin is a fairly common antibiotic that is used to treat a number of bacterial infections, such a strep throat. Neither drug has been previously indicated to treat a viral infection such as coronavirus, although there were anecdotal reports of hydroxychloroquine being used successfully to treat SARS, a close relative of coronavirus. Though both drugs are common, with side effects that are well understood, the combination of the two drugs is novel and its unclear what interactions they may have. For several days, Trump has been touting hydroxychloroquine, saying on Thursday that it is 'very powerful' and 'could be a tremendous breakthrough. Tremendous breakthrough.' This chart shows the average viral load in the patients in the preliminary French study that examined hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin in treating coronavirus At a press conference on Friday, however, the government's top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, bluntly rebutted Trump's more optimistic statements about the drug. Trump clung to his feeling that the malaria drug could be the answer-in-waiting to an outbreak spreading around the nation, shutting down major parts of the economy, and posing the biggest challenge he has faced as president. Calmly and quietly, Fauci insisted that the science is not yet there to validate Trump's hope. Neither man directly challenged the other. The extraordinary scene played out on national television Friday during the White House briefing on the outbreak. Anxious for answers, Americans heard conflicting views. Reporters asked both men - first Fauci, then Trump - if hydroxychloroquine could be used to prevent COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. A day earlier, when Fauci wasn't with him at that briefing, Trump had called attention to the drug. On Friday, Fauci took the reporter's question and got right to the point. 'No,' he said when asked if hydroxychloroquine had been proven effective to treat coronavirus. 'The answer ... is no.' At a press conference on Friday the government's top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, bluntly rebutted Trump's more optimistic statements about the drug 'The information that you're referring to specifically is anecdotal,' Fauci added firmly. 'It was not done in a controlled clinical trial, so you really can't make any definitive statement about it.' He went on to explain that the Food and Drug Administration is looking for a way to make the drug available for emergency use, but in a manner that gives the government data about whether it's safe and effective. Fauci is director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at NIH and in more than 30 years has handled HIV, SARS, MERS, Ebola and now the new coronavirus. Currently, there is no medicine specifically approved for treating COVID-19. But Trump stuck to what his gut was telling him at the Friday press conference. As the two men took turns at the podium, Trump said he disagreed with the notion that there is no magic drug for the coronavirus disease. 'Maybe and maybe not, ' he said. 'Maybe there is, maybe there isn't. We have to see.' He struck an upbeat note, while trying not to directly challenge Fauci. 'I think without seeing too much, I'm probably more of a fan of that,' he said, referring to the malaria drug. 'And we all understand what the doctor said is 100% correct.' Then the president added, 'It's a strong drug. So, we'll see.' Hydroxychloroquine and a similar drug - chloroquine - are sold around the world under a variety of brand and generic names. They can be prescribed off-label by doctors in the United States, though doctors risk higher legal liability when doing so. They may interfere with the coronavirus being able to enter cells, and some scientists have reported possible encouraging signs in test-tube and other small studies. Kylene Karnuth, a clinical lab scientist, and Robyn Kincaid, technical specialist, work with coronavirus samples as researchers begin a trial to see whether malaria treatment hydroxychloroquine can prevent or reduce the severity of coronavirus disease Researchers at the Microbiology Research Facility work with coronavirus samples as a trial begins to see whether malaria treatment hydroxychloroquine can prevent or reduce the severity of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis Other scientists are skeptical that those promising test-tube results will translate into benefits for patients. Fauci has a track record of being the fact-based counterpoint to the Trump administration's upbeat assessments of the coronavirus outbreak. For much longer than that, he's specialized in the same calm and persistent repetition of the information he thinks his audience - whether the public or physicians - needs to know. Weeks ago, after Fauci said that even with all deliberate speed a vaccine could take a year to 18 months, Trump told a political rally one could be ready 'relatively soon.' As administration officials repeatedly assured the public that coronavirus tests were rapidly becoming available, Fauci at a congressional hearing said the lack of widespread testing was 'a failing' of the system. Although Fauci has publicly supported Trump's travel restrictions to try to keep the virus out, he warned the worst was coming even as Trump suggested the crisis was under good control. Rather than fighting with Trump, he stepped up to the podium Friday to say he's not ruling the drug out, but that it must be studied before making any promises. Trump wasn't dialing back his enthusiasm. 'Look, it may work and it may not work and I agree with the doctor,' Trump said. 'I feel good about it. That's all it is. Just a feeling. You know, I'm a smart guy. I feel good about it ... You're going to see soon enough.' The two even debated the safety of the malaria drug, with Trump saying it has a proven record and Fauci cautioning that must be validated again for coronavirus disease. In the end, the scientist seemed to be trying to find a way to avoid a direct confrontation with the president. 'You know, I'm not dismissing it at all, and I hope that that interpretation wasn't widespread,' Fauci said later on Fox News. 'What I said is that we don't have definitive proof that it works.' It wasn't just Trump with whom Fauci took issue. In answer to a reporter's question at the White House, he called a suggestion by Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin that the administration was overreacting, given that thousands die on the highways every year, a 'false equivalency.' He added: 'I don't think with any moral conscience you can say, `Why don't we just let it rip and happen and let X percent of the people die?'' And asked about economist Kevin Hassett's suggestion that all Americans be tested so that uninfected people can get back to work, Fauci said, 'I don't connect the dots there.' It will take social distancing to slow the spread. For most people, the virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. CEO Grant Blackley Southern Cross Austereo has halted trading to assess its options to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. In the last month, shares have fallen more than 79%, now at 0.16c. SCA advises that the trading halt is necessary to enable SCA to assess the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on its business and to make an announcement to inform the market about those impacts and the actions being taken by SCA to address them, the company said in a statement to the ASX. According to The Australian Financial Review the regional broadcaster is not insolvent, but is halting trade to give Southern Cross as many as 10 days to work through its plan, which could include an equity raising or working with its banks to potentially relax covenants. NINE has turned into 49. As of yesterday, this was the total number of COVID-19 coronavirus cases recorded in Trinidad and Tobago. Road crash in Bangladesh kills at least 13: A speeding truck rammed into a vehicle in southeastern Bangladesh, leaving at least 13 people dead and three injured, police said. The accident occurred in Chittagong district when the salt-laden truck from the coastal district of Cox's Bazar hit the passenger vehicle, police said. Ten passengers died at the scene while three succumbed to their injuries on the way to a hospital. Road accidents in the South Asian nation kill thousands every year because of lax enforcement of traffic law, bad road conditions and poor signaling systems. The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted and cancelled most plans to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the birth of the quintessential genius of Western classical music, German composer Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827). Concert halls have shut their doors, and observances on every continent have been postponed or shelved. Carnegie Hall in New York City had announced an impressive lineup of more than three dozen concerts between January and June of this year, including performances of Beethovens nine symphonies, his complete 32 piano sonatas, 16 string quartets and much more. The planned Beethoven Celebration in New York also included programs to be held at other venues, in coordination with museums and various institutions around the city. Before the cancellations that began in early March, only a small portion of these events had taken place. The concerts featuring the London-based Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique (founded in 1989) came in just under the wire, so to speak. World-famous conductor John Eliot Gardiner, known above all for his role in the early music revival and the use of period instruments to re-create the music of the eras of Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and others, led the orchestra in five programs devoted to the nine symphonies of Beethoven. Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique and John Eliot Gardiner at Carnegie Hall (Photo creditRichard Termine) These programs, from February 19 to 24, were originally paired with another cycle of the same Beethoven symphonies, to be presented by the Philadelphia Orchestra under its Music Director and Conductor Yannick Nezet-Seguin in four concerts scheduled from mid-March through early April. The idea was to compare and contrast these famous works as performed by period instrumentsthose used in Beethovens dayand the modern orchestra of today. This writer attended two of the concerts featuring Gardiner and his orchestra. The programs included the First and the Eighth Symphonies, as well as the monumental Ninth, perhaps the most famous work in the entire classical music canon. Gardiner also participated in a panel discussion and demonstration dealing with the use of period instruments, as well as the significance of Beethovens work. Gardiner is a persuasive ambassador for historically informed performance, based on research into the style, technique and instruments used during earlier periods of musical history. Such an approach was particularly controversial when it appeared more prominently in the second half of the 20th century, but is less so today. Critics have argued that it is impossible to know what musical performance sounded like two centuries ago or even earlier. Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique, Lucy Crowe and John Eliot Gardiner (Photo creditChris Lee) There are advocates of period instruments and early performance practice who have taken a dogmatic approach, but Gardiner is certainly not one of them. He does not deny the role of modern instruments, especially in the work of Bruckner, Mahler, Richard Strauss and other late romantics. In his talk at Carnegie Hall last month, he stressed that his approach to Bach, Beethoven and other giants of the past did not involve musical archaeology or exhumation. He explained why he preferred the use of period instruments for Beethoven. Modern instruments are much more advanced technically, easier to play wonderfully, but there is a danger that the sound does not allow the listener to distinguish the different elements of the music. As wonderful as [Wilhelm] Furtwangler, [Arturo] Toscanini and more recent conductors are, they leave me with doubts if [modern instruments are] the appropriate soundscape for Beethoven. Period instruments include valveless horns and trumpets, and there are also differences between period and modern strings, winds and percussion instruments. The timbres are different in some cases, and the dynamic range is accompanied by greater clarity. His performances, Gardiner continued, are like open-heart surgery. Youll see all the inner strands, youll see the struggle, the life. According to the conductor, his Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique puts a premium on making the music both transparent and visceral at the same time. Gardiner spoke as well at some length on the social and political significance of Beethovens music, an issue he also addressed, along with the matter of historically informed performance, in an interview published last month in the New York Times. Expressing an interest in the historical questions rare in the field today, Gardiner told his Carnegie audience that Beethoven worked amid a maelstrom of political events. His music has to do with social equality, revolution and counterrevolution. He worked, Gardiner explained, in the disillusioned, stifling atmosphere of [the conservative Austrian diplomat Prince Klemens von Metternich[s] Vienna, the period of reaction that was ushered in by the Congress of Vienna in 1815. Beethovens work is very closely connected to that of revolutionary Enlightenment poet and playwright Friedrich Schiller. In Beethovens circle in Bonn, Schillers plays were like required reading, Gardiner said. He explained that the young Beethovens original contact with the Ode to Joy, which was to become the text of the final movement of the Ninth Symphony, came in 1785. That is the same year that saw the appearance of Schillers Don Carlos, with its theme of resistance to tyranny symbolized by the character of the Marquis of Posa, who was later also immortalized in Verdis greatest opera, sharing the same title as Schillers play. Beethoven was not consistent in his political views. There were times when he accommodated himself to the status quo, and a few occasions, though not many, when he composed inferior music, such as Wellingtons Victory (commemorating the Duke of Wellingtons victory over Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon Bonapartes older brother, at the Battle of Vitoria in Spain in June 1813). Ludwig van Beethoven in 1815 portrait by Joseph Willibrord Mahler His main inspiration, however, was a revolutionary one. Gardiner compares him to Spanish painter Francisco Goya, and the names of English poets Percy Shelley and Lord Byron also come to mind. In the aforementioned interview, Gardiner declares, He set out to encompass philosophical themes and even political themes, however unpalatable these might have been to the authorities in the repressive Vienna of his day. And because there are no words attached to eight of his nine completed symphonies, he gets away with it, without endangering life and limb. The conductor goes on to say that the composers Third and Fifth symphonies reflect[ed] his conviction that the values of the French Revolution that had spread like wildfire throughout Europe were now under threat and needed eloquent defense. Gardiner also discusses Beethovens significance today, rejecting the idea that the latters music exists in a vacuum. I dont think Beethoven needs an anniversary to be played a lot. Im sure he doesnt. But if we are going to go with this 250th anniversary, we must be very, very sure that we have somethingand that he had somethingto say to us now in 2020 that is pertinent to the way we look at life, society and culture. There are clear parallels between his situation in the early 1800s and ours today, between the political agitation and rebelliousness that he felt, the discomfort that he expressed in his symphonies, and the situation in which we now find ourselves. This living and passionate approach to Beethoven found vivid expression in the orchestras performances of the First, Eighth and Ninth symphonies last month. The composers tendency toward more relaxed efforts in his even-numbered symphonies, alternating with the earthshaking products of his genius in his last four odd-numbered symphonies (the Third, Fifth, Seventh and Ninth), has often been noted. It is as if he had to rest after mighty labors, but the slighter works are, of course, anything but slight. The rendition of the Ninth by the Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique did not disappoint. Twelve years separate the Eighth from the Ninth Symphony, a period when Beethoven composed the Missa Solemnis, works for piano and chamber music. The composer clearly struggled to find symphonic expression for the themes that occupied him. When the Ninth was finally premiered in 1824, its utter originality undoubtedly confused listeners, at least at first. With the Monteverdi Choir and soloists that included soprano Lucy Crowe, contralto Jess Dandy, tenor Ed Lyon and bass Matthew Rose, the February performance of the Ninth Symphony fully lived up to Robert Schumanns description: The first movement is epic, the second comic, the third lyric, and the last drama, a composite of all. The first movement arises almost imperceptibly out of stillness, with the melody unfolding only gradually, in a fashion that is very characteristic of Beethoven. Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique and John Eliot Gardiner (Photo creditRichard Termine) This movement calls to mind Giuseppe Verdis comment that Beethoven was not a melodist. The statement is not to be taken literally, but is significant nonetheless. As Harvey Sachs described it in his book The Ninth: Beethoven and the World in 1824, [W]hen outstanding composers have something to say that is worth hearing, it does not matter whether writing beautiful melodies is one of their principal virtues. Of course there is melody in Beethoven, but it is often angry, restless or explosive, not the conventionally pretty kind so often associated with the word. One can only imagine Beethovens furious response if he heard of those classical music radio stations today who say their aim is providing comfort or tranquility, a respite from the storm and stress of daily life. In the final movement of the Ninth, Beethoven quickly recapitulates the main themes of the first three movements, interrupting each by a brief passage with a speech-like pattern similar to operatic recitative. Briefly examining and discarding these themes, the composer then anticipates the famous Ode to Joy theme, which follows and leads to the central body of the movement, for chorus, soloists and orchestra. In this movement, virtually unique in conception, it is as though one is being asked to listen to and join in the struggle through which the composer has arrived at his final hymn to humanity, including Schillers words, Alle Menschen werden Bruder [All people become brothers.] The transparency to which Gardiner referred was much in evidence, along with the visceral quality that the conductor strives for. One was aware of both the parts of the work, and the whole, and the contributions of each section of the orchestra. The relatively small size of the ensemble did not diminish its power in the slightest. While there will be no opportunity to hear the Beethoven symphonies performed on modern instruments at Carnegie Hall this spring, there are many opportunities online to compare different performance practices in Beethoven and other work. Both styles have much to recommend them. The immense power of the music comes through with both modern and period instruments, as long as the orchestra responds to the passion and inspiration of the works themselves. National and local news publishers and the journalism they produce should be given essential service status in the event of a further restrictions of movement during the Covid-19 crisis. In a direct appeal to government and Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, the representative bodies for the national and local news publishing industries, NewsBrands Ireland and Local Ireland, said the 'vital role' of news media in informing the public must be recognised and protected. A co-signed letter from Newsbrands ceo Ann Marie Lenihan and Local Ireland director, Johnny OHanlon, went on: "News media ... are crucial to a healthy democracy, and particularly crucial during the current crisis where citizens must have access to accurate, fact-checked information, produced by professional journalists. "As a trusted source of quality news, Irish newspaper groups are well-placed to counter misinformation, which is rife on social media." Newsbrands Ireland ceo, Ann Marie Lenihan The representative bodies went on to stress that in the event of futher restrictions being placed on movement it was important that news media outlets are designated as an essential service and that steps are implemented to minimise the impact of disruption on the supply chain and support its continuity. They warned that quality journalism and news delivery rely heavily on advertising revenues and said that sharp declines across national and local newspapers advertising meant publishers were facing huge financial pressures. As result the industry groups concluded: "Appropriate provisions to facilitate the flow of news to the public must be incorporated in emergency planning arrangements in the immediate future." National and local news publishers request essential service status to protect the medias critical role in getting information to the public during the #COVID19ireland emergency @local_ireland https://t.co/bkfyHq92j8 NewsBrands Ireland (@newsbrandsirl) March 19, 2020 Meanwhile, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has appealed for a crisis forum between the media industry, unions, government, and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI). The NUJ said such a forum was rgently needed to adress and discuss how journalism could be supported during the coronavirus crisis. Seamus Dooley, NUJ Irish secretary, said one of the key priorities of any rescue package must be to ensure that workers remain in employment so that the best possible service is provided to readers and listeners. Across Ireland and the UK professional journalists are providing information across all platforms. The NUJ has long championed the concept of public service broadcasting and its value has been evident in these grim days. Throughout Ireland, North and South, our members are fearful for their future. We have consistently called for a Commission on the Future of the Media in Ireland to examine how the State can assist news organisations to survive and flourish and it is extremely regrettable that these calls have gone unheeded. "Regional and national media, newspapers and broadcasters, play a vital role in serving the community. Their importance in this unique crisis is underlined by the damage caused by the abuse of other platforms by keyboard warriors and conspiracy theorists posing as experts. NUJ Irish secretary Seamus Dooley. Mr Dooley said the appeal was "not special pleading" but a call to act on the acknowledgement by An Taoiseach that journalists have a key role to play in this period. "While the concentration is rightly on the massive challenges to the health services it is vital that media organisations are equipped to play their role in the provision of information." The first aircraft from China is expected soon with large number of tests and additional personal protective equipment Open source Starting from Monday, March 23, regions of Ukraine will receive tests for coronavirus and personal protective equipment; that is supposed to arrive from China in the near future. Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmygal stated this on the program Freedom of Speech of Savik Shuster on Friday evening, Interfax reports. "Now, the first aircraft from China is expected with a large number of tests and additional personal protective equipment. Tentatively, on Monday, the regions and regions of Ukraine will feel th effect of this distribution," Shmygal said. In addition, the Prime Minister promised that all regions and cities of Ukraine will receive analytics and forecasts from the government regarding the spread of coronavirus in the country. As we reported before, China has provided 10 million laboratory oronavirus tests and 10 artificial lung ventilators to Ukraine. They will arrive in the next 48 hours. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced this in a video address. "In the next 48 hours we expect the arrival of 10 million high-precision laboratory tests, which will be distributed to all corners of Ukraine, and 10 devices of artificial ventilation in Ukraine from China," Zelensky said. Coronavirus Outbreak LIVE Updates: Gujarat DGP Shivanand Jha said that from 12 am on Monday, the entire state will be under lockdown till 31 March. 'State borders have been sealed. Action will be taken against the people who will violate the lockdown,' he said. Auto refresh feeds Markets regulator SEBI and stock exchanges on Sunday said all segments of the bourses will operate normally on Monday. Exchange and regulatory officials dismissed suggestions about curtailment of trading hours. Meanwhile, the ongoing anti-CAA protest at Shaheen Bagh saw lesser numbers. At the beginning of the outbreak, some protesters had remained adamant about not stopping the agitation. A day after the Janta Curfew, a lockdown began in Delhi on Monday and will continue till 31 March as the coronavirus toll in India rose to seven. Curfew will remain imposed in Pune, Maharashtra till 31 March. All establishments, excluding emergency services and essentials will remain closed during this period. Any offender shall be punished under section 188 of Indian Penal Code, Pune Police told ANI. Additionally, persons who have been diagnosed as infected with COVID-19 shall mandatorily remain in an isolation facility of a hospital and shall leave the premises only after being discharged by the treating doctor:. The Delhi government ordered that 35000 foreign-returned persons staying in the city since 1 March and their contacts shall comply with directions of 14-day home quarantine. Any person found disobeying directions shall be prosecuted and punished with imprisonment or fine or both. He said Merkel had received a precautionary vaccine on Friday against pneumococcal infection. The German chancellor was informed about the doctors test shortly after holding a news conference on Sunday announcing new measures to curb the fast-spreading virus, her spokesman Steffen Seibert said. German chancellor Angela Merkel went to self-quarantine after being informed that a doctor who administered a vaccine to her has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said earlier the Olympics may have to be postponed if it can't run in "complete form," and the International Olympic Committee confirmed it's in talks with organizers on issues surrounding the impact of the virus on the Games, "including the scenario of postponement." Canada is the first team to announce it won't go to the Games because of COVID-19 risks. Canada will not send athletes to the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020 because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, Canadian officials confirmed in a statement Sunday night. It's calling on organizers to postpone the Games for one year. "The danger right now with the lockdowns, if we don't put in place the strong public health measures now, when those movement restrictions and lockdowns are lifted, the danger is the disease will jump back up," said Ryan. "What we really need to focus on is finding those who are sick, those who have the virus, and isolate them, find their contacts and isolate them," Mike Ryan said in an interview on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show. Countries can't simply lock down their societies to defeat coronavirus, the World Health Organization's top emergency expert said on Sunday, adding that public health measures are needed to avoid a resurgence of the virus later on. As Maharashtra continued to lead in the number of active cases, Health Minister Rajesh Tope again appealed to people to refrain from stepping out of their homes as 'isolation' is the key to battling the COVID-19 virus. Another 15 coronavirus cases were reported in Maharashtra since Sunday evening, taking the state's tally to 89, according to new agency ANI. The union territory administration in Sunday announced a lockdown across Jammu and Kashmir till 31 March as part of its efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus. People associated with 16 essential services, including healthcare, have been exempted from the restrictions. People were requested to stay indoors and not venture out unnecessarily. Police vehicles fitted with public address systems went around residential areas in the city and elsewhere in the Valley early in the morning to announce that restrictions under CrPC Section 144, barring assembly of people, had been imposed. Authorities in Kashmir on Monday started enforcing a lockdown to help check the spread of the novel coronavirus in the Valley. The exams were scheduled on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week, Laloo said, adding that spot evaluations have also been postponed. The decision was taken in view of safety and security of students, the board's controller of examination TR Laloo said. The state government has directed the Meghalaya Board of School Education to postpone remaining examinations until further notice, the official said. The ongoing Class 12 state board examinations in Meghalaya have been postponed for an indefinite period as a preventive measure in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, an official said on Monday. Ola is operating with few vehicles to support essential services in the city. An Ola spokesperson said the company "will enable a minimal network of vehicles to support essential services in cities, wherever applicable, as part of this national effort to reduce the contagion of COVID-19". The Delhi government on Sunday said the city will be in lockdown from 23 to 31 March, under which no public transport, including private buses, taxis and autorickshaws will be allowed. Services of Ola will not be available in Delhi till 31 March as the state government announced complete lockdown to contain the fast-spreading coronavirus infection. His Washington office began operating remotely 10 days ago, the statement said, and hence virtually no staff has had contact with him. The statement did not detail how long Paul had been in quarantine. Mr Paul "is asymptomatic and was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive travel and events," his office said on Twitter, and he has since self-quarantined. Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky, has tested positive for COVID-19, his office announced in a statement on Sunday. He is the first senator and the third member of Congress to test positive for the deadly virus. All Sensex components were trading in the red, with Axis Bank tanking up to 20 per cent, followed by ICICI Bank, IndusInd Bank, Bajaj Finance, Hero MotoCorp and M&M. As an automatic mechanism to freefall in the market, when an exchange plunges 10 per cent before 1 pm, trading is halted on stock exchanges for 45 minutes. After opening 2,718 points lower, the BSE barometer plunged 2,991.85 points or 10 percent to 26,924.11. Similarly, the NSE Nifty fell 842.45 points, or 9.63 per cent, to 7,903. Equity benchmark Sensex sank nearly 3,000 points to hit its lower circuit limit in morning session on Monday, triggering a 45-minute trading freeze as coronavirus-led lockdowns across the world stoked fears of a massive global recession. He died at the private hospital late Sunday night, it said. The man had initially tested positive for coronavirus and was under treatment at the civic-run Kasturba Hospital. He was later shifted to a private hospital after his test report came out negative, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said in a statement. This is the third death reported from Mumbai in connection with COVID-19. A 68-year-old man from Philippines, who tested positive for coronavirus infection and later recovered, has died at a hospital in Mumbai, the city civic body said on Monday. In an attempt to contain the rapidly spreading coronavirus outbreak in India, several states announced they will be imposing lockdown till 31 March. In some of these states the lockdown is state-wide while in others only the districts that have reported novel coronavirus cases have been put under lockdown. So far, 80 districts across the country have reported Covid-19 cases. The Centre has issued an order on Monday asking state governments to strictly enforce lockdown in coronavirus-affected areas as it was announced on Sunday. The government has also warned of legal actiona gainst violators. With this, Ahmedabad now has total 13 cases, Vadodara-six, Surat and Gandhinagar-four each, and Kutch and Rajkot-one each, the health department said. So far, one coronavirus patient has died in the state. Among the new patients, five are males and six females. Of these, five cases are of localtransmission and six patients have history of recent visits to countries like Saudi Arabia, France, Sri Lankaand the UK, it said. Eleven new coronavirus cases have been reported in Gujarat, taking the total number of those infected by the deadly virus in the state to 29, the state health department said on Monday. We shdould all be focussed on how to minimise spread of the problem. Situation is changing rapidly not just in India, but even in our export markets, added Bajaj. "There will no job losses and no salary cuts in the aftermath of production units being shut down to contain the novel coronavirus," Rajiv Bajaj told CNBC-TV18. The auto major will also take care of all its suppliers and vendor companies, he added. Rajiv Bajaj, managing director and CEO of Bajaj Auto said the company is preparing for a eight-week halt in its production units at Akurdi, Chakan, Aurangabad, Pantnagar. Delhi has reported 29 positive cases, including a foreigner, while Uttar Pradesh has recorded 28, also including a foreigner, it added. The number of novel coronavirus cases in Maharashtra stands at 89, which includes three foreigners. Kerala also reported 67 cases, including seven foreign nationals, data issued by the ministry showed. Total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the nation as on 23 March is 415, including the foreign nationals, according to Union Health Ministry. "Extremely proud of this team of @airindiain, which has shown utmost courage and risen to the call of humanity. Their outstanding efforts are admired by several people across India. #IndiaFightsCorona," the prime minister tweeted. The airline in a press release on Sunday said it was alarming that in many localities Air India crew members were facing ostracisation because they travelled abroad to evacuate Indians. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hailed the crew of Air India which has been evacuating stranded people from coronavirus-hit countries, a day after the airline complained that some "vigilante" resident welfare associations and neighbours were ostracising its crew members who went abroad as part of their duty. The high court directed the authorities to hold an urgent meeting on Tuesday to explore alternate methods for the test. The Delhi High Court on Monday ordered the concerned authorities to suspend the Breath Analyser Test (BAT) through tube process for air traffic controllers till 27 March in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. They have also have been constantly updating the public with all relevant information during this pandemic. A list of helplines for all the states and union territories have been released that people can call and ask for any information regarding the virus. In order to ensure that anyone who experiences symptoms of the disease can be tested, the government of India along with the Indian Council of Medical Research and the Ministry of Health and Family welfare have opened 52 testing sites around the country. As of 23 March, India has reported a total of 415 confirmed cases. Seven people have died due to the virus, meanwhile, 24 have been reported to have recovered. "Provide sanitisers for staff and passengers. Seat between two passengers must be kept empty," read the DGCA directive. The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued social distancing Measures for Airlines and Airport Operators on Monday. Some of the measures include to ensure adequate spacing in check-in counters between passengers. The Delhi government submitted that it will amend its prison rules to provide the options of special parole and furlough. It said a notification would be issued within a day to amend the prison rules to include the new provisions. A Bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Subramonium Prasad, taking note of the submission, directed the Delhi government to take the necessary steps during the day to implement the measures. The Delhi government told the Delhi High Court on Monday that it has decided to decongest the prisons in the National Capital by providing convicts with the options of special parole and furlough to contain the fast-spreading coronavirus. The HIgh Powered Committee will comprise - Chairman, who shall be chairman of the legal services commitee, Concerned Secretary of the State and DG prisons. In the wake of the fast-spreading coronavirus pandemic, the Supreme Court has asked each State to form a High Power Committee headed by chairman of state legal service authority to determine which class of prisoners can be released on parole or on interim bail. The decision was taken to avoid overcrowding in jails. In the wake of coronavirus outbreak, the Kerala High Court will remain shut till 8 April. Sittings will be held on Tuesdays and Fridays to consider emergency cases. Cases which affect individual freedom, Habeas corpus petitions and bail pleas will be considered only on these days. Across India, 80 districts including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Bengaluru were placed on complete lockdown on Sunday, which means only essential services will be allowed. Any person disobeying any regulation or order made under this Act shall be deemed to have committed an offence punishable under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, which can lead to a jail term of six months, a fine of Rs 1000, or both. Senior government officials said there are provisions under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) to take action against people disobeying lockdown ruled under the Epidemics Diseases Act of 1897. The Centre has asked state governments to strictly enforce lockdowns and take legal action against those who violated the restrictions after confirmed cases of coronavirus jumped to 415 on Monday. Earlier, the Benaras Hindu University (BHU) on Sunday announced that the OPDs of Sir Sunderlal Hospital has been postponed from 23 March till further orders. "In view of COVID-19, all OPDs of Sir Sunderlal Hospital has been postponed from March 23 till further orders," said a BHU official. In view of the increasing threat of the novel coronavirus, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) OPD services will remain closed till further notice, ANI reported. "All OPD services in All India Institute of Medical Sciences and all centres to remain closed till further orders." However, in order to contain the fast-spreading infection, the state government has decided to prohibit movement of all Inter-State passenger vehicles up to 31 March. All goods carrying vehicles, personal vehicles, vehicles on government duty and those used for emergency services are exempted. Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on his official Twitter handle posted, "We have noticed that this WhatsApp message is being circulated, which is completely baseless. We will let everyone know if the government takes any such decisions. Request everyone not to panic in our fight against COVID-19." Amid the coronavirus scare, several social media groups on WhatsApp are spreading fake news of a probable lock-down in the state of Assam, however CMO Assam's Twitter handle dismissed all allegations on Monday. A case under section 509 of the Indian Penal Code has been registered. Twitter user Akhu Chingangbam took to the social media platform to narrate the incident where a middle aged man allegedly spat on the woman "before fleeing from the spot on his white scooty". The Delhi Police on Monday registered a case against a man who allegedly spat on Manipuri woman and called her corona. The incident allegedly took place in Vijay Nagar area of North Delhi on Sunday night. "The functioning of this court as well as the courts subordinate thereto is hereby suspended till 4 April, 2020," the notification said. The decision, taken by an eight-judge committee headed by Chief Justice DN Patel, was communicated in a notification issued by the high court's Registrar General. The high court also said that the limitation period for any court proceeding would not be considered from 23 March till 4 April, 2020 subject to further orders. Period of limitation means the time period under which a suit, appeal or application has to be filed. The Delhi High Court Monday suspended its functioning as well as of district courts till 4 April in view of coronavirus threat. The matters of extreme urgency will have to be mentioned before the registrar or joint registrar telephonically and hearing will take place through video conferencing. District borders will be shut and only essential services will be available. With this, Tamil Nadu became the 15th state to go under lockdown as the number of confirmed cases climbed to 415. Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday enforced Section 144 across the state, effective from 6 pm on 24 March (Tuesday) till 31 March, in an effort to curb the fast-spreading coronavirus. The Arunachal Pradesh state government has invoked the Epidemic Act and has announced complete safety restrictions of state from 5pm on 23 March till the midnight of 31 March. All essential services shall be exempted, Chief Minister Pema Khandu said. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding measures to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus in the country. According to reports, Banerjee asked the Centre to stop all flights coming to the state and said that flights are causing a breach in the shutdown and quarantine protocol. "The statement said this decision was taken in view of the rapid spread of coronavirus (COVI-19) pandemic in the state. Acsording to the statement, around 10,000-15,000 people come to the Pune market at a single time. This increases the risk of spreading the infection. The state government has assured that the functioning of these markets will go unhampered as they come under essential commodities," The Indian Express reported. Fruit and vegetable sellers in the Pune wholesale market have decided to shut their businesses till 31 March, reports said, adding that commission agents and traders associations issued a joint statement saying that they "will suspend their operations from Wednesday (25 March) till 31 March. ANI reported that a 57-year-old patient admitted to the AMRI hospital has died of a cardiac arrest and was detected as having contracted the novel coronavirus on Monday. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the patient had travel history with Italy. Airlines have to plan operations so as to land at their destination before 11.59 pm hours on 24 March, the reports added. The operations of domestic scheduled commercial airlines will cease with effect from midnight on 24 March to 31 March as part of the government's measure to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus in the country. Reports added that the restrictions will not apply to cargo flights. No case of coronavirus has been reported in the state so far, while cases across India crossed 400 on Monday. He also said that banks and ATMs will function but all religious activities will be stopped. "In view of the fiscal year ending, only skeletal staff needed for financial transactions will be allowed in government offices and once those transactions are done the office will be immediately closed down," he said. Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday announced that the state will be on a "complete lockdown mode" from 6 pm on Tuesday to the midnight of 31 March. Only grocery shops, chemists, petrol pumps will remain open, the chief minister said in a press briefing, adding that except for ambulances and goods vehicles, Assam borders will be sealed for all kinds of vehicles. He added, "Yesterday we sealed the state borders and today we are sealing district borders. We will not allow it to spread to the districts which are unaffected as of now." "All district borders sealed, no inter-district transportation allowed as Maharashtra government announces a statewide curfew. All essential services to function and their transportation also allowed but with restrictions," he said. Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said that he was "compelled" to announce a statewide curfew because "people were not listening" to quarantine guidelines. "A casual approach will not be tolerated at all," he added. "Eye patients in Gauhati Medical College have been shifted to Sankaradeva Nethralaya. The eye unit will become a COVID-19 hospital. Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital in Guwahati will be converted to a COVID-19 hospital if needed," the chief minister said. The Assam government on Monday said that the leaves of medical professionals were cancelled in the state and that deputy commissioners have been asked to requisition hotels and guest houses to be accomodation for medical staff. Hong Kong on Monday banned all the arrival of all non-residents over the spread of the novel coronavirus. Hong Kong will ban all non-residents from entering the city from midnight on Tuesday evening in a bid to halt the coronavirus, AFP reported, adding that Chief Executive Carrie Lam unveilled plans to stop restaurants and bars serving alcohol. The health ministry, in its daily press briefing on Monday, said that a complete lockdown has been announced in 19 states and union territories. Some parts of six states and union territories have been kept under lockdown. Indian authorities have permitted the Iranian airlines, Mahan Airways, to evacuate around 600 Indians from Iran on 24 and 28 March. All these Indian nationals have tested negative for coronavirus, ANI reported. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday interacted with Indian industry leaders through video conferencing, over the spread of the novel coronavirus. "415 confirmed cases reported so far, 23 patients discharged, 7 deaths reported - some of them also had co-morbid conditions," Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry said. "12 laboratory chains have been registered and they have started functioning. These 12 have 15,000 collection centres across the country," he added. "I'd like to clarify that FDA/CE approval isn't mandatory. ICMR-NIV approved tests which will be done there on fast-track basis will also be acceptable for COVID-19 testing," he said. ICMR director general Balram Bhargava on Monday said that the process of kit manufacturing has been fast-tracked at the National Institute of Virology in Pune and two kit manufacturers have been already approved. The number of coronavirus cases in the state rose to 92 on Monday. The Kerala government on Friday announced a complete lockdown in the state. All borders in the state to remain closed, operations of all public transport to cease. All places of worship to also remain closed reports said. ICMR director-general Balram Bhargava said, "Hydroxychloroquine is recommended only for a healthcare worker who is treating a coronavirus-infected patient. Secondly, it's recommended only for persons staying and caring for a household positive patient. They can take that only for prophylaxis, only for prevention." Congress leader Rahul Gandhi questioned the Centre on Monday, claiming that the government had given approval to export protective gear like surgical masks till 19 March. The MHA on Monday said, "There have been cases where people of the Northeast, including athletes, have been harassed by linking them to the novel coronavirus. This is racially discriminatory. It is requested that all law enforcing agencies in states and Union Territories may sensitise to take appropriate action in these cases." The total number of positive cases in India on Monday rose to 433, including 23 discharged patients and 7 deaths, the health ministry said. We want the International Olympic Committee to make a definitive decision soon to bring clarity to all of those involved," the spokesperson was quoted as saying by CNN. "... (the players') health and safety, alongside that of sports fans and officials due to work at the Games, must be absolutely paramount. UK prime minister Boris Johnson on Monday said that the organisers of the 2020 Olympics "should look at cancelling" the event. The Karnataka government on Monday said, "All public and private passenger transport services including Ola, Uber, taxi and autorickshaws shall be stopped from tomorrow in Bangalore Urban, Bangalore Rural, Kalaburagi, Chikkaballapur, Mysuru, Madikeri, Dharwad, Mangaluru and Belagavi where restrictions are in place." Following the governor's initiative, the Raj Bhawan employees too decided to donate their one day's salary to the government, the report said. The Rajasthan governor Kalraj Mishra has donated his one-month salary for the state government's efforts to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, News18 reported. "The governor also sent an amount of Rs 20 lakh from the Governor's Relief Fund to COVID-19 Fund of Rajasthan CM Relief Fund," a Raj Bhawan statement was quoted as saying. "Only bare essential sections/ offices to function on a daily basis. Work from home to be implemented. "Additional districts/ extension of lockdown time frame by state governments will be adhered to as when promulgated. "Home delivery of grocery/ essential items catering to the requirements of the cantonments. The advisory was quoted by The Indian Express as saying, "All tasks related to response to COVID-19 should continue without hindrance. The Indian Army on Monday asked more of its personnel to work from with the aim of taking precautions against the novel coronavirus spread in the country. In a fresh advisory, the defence force said that the measures are to be enforced in all military establishments/cantonments/formations/units in 82 districts under lockdown. The nationwide lockdown in Nepal will be in place till 31 March, ANI reported. The Nepal government on Friday announced a nationwide lockdown from 6 am (local time) on 24 March in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. One more positive case was reported in the country on Monday, taking the total number of positive cases to 2. "The total includes cases from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and other US territories, as well as all repatriated cases," the report said. CNN on Monday reported that at least 34,000 cases of coronavirus have been reported in the US, while 414 people have died. Later, the statement also said that media personnel don't need a curfew pass. "Media personnel do not require a curfew pass, they will need to carry their identity cards," Delhi Police said. The Delhi Police has directed people who are on the move for essential services to get curfew passes from the district office to ensure the adherence to Section 144, reports said. "Manoj Parida, IAS, Adviser, has stated the individuals engaged in Essential Services including Police, Medical etc. will only be allowed curfew passes. Employees of Punjab, Haryana and central government will request for passes through their Chief Secretaries only. The deputy commissioner, Chandigarh will decide about the curfew passes. Moreover, the relaxation in curfew hours will be given for purchase of essential items in due course. The detailed orders are being issued by the deputy commissioner, UT, Chandigarh," the report said. The curfew mandates that all residents should stay indoors and the DGP has given "strict directions" to enforce the curfew without any relaxation, The Indian Express reported. Administrator of Chandigarh, VP Singh Badnore, said that curfew will be imposed in the union territory from midnight on Monday till further orders, reports said. Reportedly, the order is valid till 29 March, after which it will be reviewed. The Meghalaya government on Monday announced relief measures for construction workers who have suffered a hit to their livelihood due to the spread of the novel coronavirus, The Indian Express reported. The state government said that such people registered with the labour commissioner are entitled to Rs 1,000 per person, per week. "In addition to this two more major changes are railway station and bus stands are removed form the exempted category for internal transport and eateries located in them. Now railways and bus transport is completely blocked in the entire state," the advisory said. "Lockdown extended to full districts of Puri, Nayagarh, Jagatsinghpur. Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore, Dhenkanal, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda districts from tomorrow morning. So now the total number of districts under lockdown is 14. The Odisha government on Monday extended the statewide lockdown in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus. The lockdown was also extended to 21 districts and the railways and busstands areas. In absolute terms, New York has by far the greatest need in the nation, he said. He added that at least 157 people have died due to COVID-19 in the state as of Monday. Over 20,000 people in the state of New York have been infected by the novel coronavirus, the state governor Andrew Cuomo said in a press conference on Monday. The health ministry on Monday said that deaths due to the novel coronavirus all over the country have risen to nine. This is after a statement by the ministry said that the total number of positive cases in India were 467. According to the latest update, there are 97 coronavirus in Maharashtra, Mumbai Mirror reported . The report also gave a break down of the rise in cases in the last 24 hours, saying that out of 23 new cases, 17 were reported in the Mumbai-MMR region, one in Pune and Satara, and four in Sangli district. The Insurance Regulatory and Development authority on Friday directed insurers to extend grace period premium renewal by additional 30 days, CNBC-TV18 reported. In wake of the coronavirus outbreak, the entire state of Karnataka will be locked down from midnight on 23 March to 1 April, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said on Monday. "People are requested to strictly follow it," he added. Meanwhile, Rajasthan chief minister said that all private vehicles will be banned from Tuesday. "To save lives from coronavirus, we have taken the decision to ban all private vehicles on roads from tomorrow. Only vehicles related to essential services and those in exempted services would be allowed. State highway tolls will also be closed from midnight," he said. Gujarat DGP Shivanand Jha said that from 12 am on Monday, the entire state will be under lockdown till 31 March. "State borders have been sealed. Action will be taken against the people who will violate the lockdown," he said. The Telangana Police registered a case against a Deputy Superintendent of Police and his son who had returned from UK, for not following quarantine protocol. The DSP's son has been tested positive for COVID-19 now, ANI reported. A statement by the WHO's South-East Asia regional office said, Airborne spread has not been reported for COVID-19. Based on the information received so far and on our experience with other coronaviruses, COVID-19 appears to spread mostly through respiratory droplets (for instance produced when a sick person coughs) and close contact. This is why WHO recommends maintaining hand and respiratory hygiene. "The Chinese authorities reported that there could be a possibility of aerosol transmission in a relatively closed environment with prolonged exposure to high concentrations of aerosols, like in ICUs and CCUs in hospitals, but more investigations and analysis of epidemiological data is needed to understand this mode of transmission of the virus." Meanwhile, seven COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in Andhra Pradesh, the state public health department said. Puducherry chief minister V Narayanaswamy said that curfew has been imposed in the union territory with immediate effect till 31 March to contain the spread of coronavirus. "All shops and offices except for those involved in essential services will remain closed during this period," he said. The Tihar Jail will release around 3,000 inmates in the next 3-4 days, ANI reported. Of these, 1500 convicts will be released on parole and other 1500 undertrial prisoners to be released on interim bail, the Tihar Jail administration said. "Thats why WHO has launched the SOLIDARITY trial, to generate robust, high-quality evidence as fast as possible. The more countries sign up to the trial and other large studies, the faster we will get results on which drugs work and the more lives we will be able to save," he added. "Small, observational and non-randomized studies will not give us the answers we need. Using untested drugs without the right evidence could raise false hope and even do more harm than good and cause a shortage of essential drugs that are needed to treat other diseases," WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a press conference. CNN quoted the World Health Organisation as issuing a warning against using "untested drugs" to treat patients of the novel coronavirus on Monday. Uber Pool and Uber Intercity services have been suspended across the country, until further notice. On Friday, Uber said that in compliance with government directives to limit movement for reducing the spread of COVID-19, Uber services across India have been affected. While the company will continue to offer services for essential and urgent travel needs of commuters, some or all of Ubers rides services will not be available till further notice in the following cities: "In Sao Paulo, the city with the largest number of confirmed deaths and cases, the mayors office announced that 2,000 hospital beds would be added to the Pacaembu stadium and the Anhembi convention center in the next few weeks," the report said. Brazil will convert some stadiums, arenas, and convention centres into field hospitals to treat patients of coronavirus, CNN reported. Italy is currently facing 63,927 cases of the novel coronavirus. Italy has confirmed 601 COVID-19 deaths in the last 24 hours, CNN reported. This brings the total number of casualties to 6,077. The European country has crossed the number of casualties reported in China. Yamuna Expressway has been closed and police barricading has been done on the route. Those passing through the barricading will be allowed only if they have a valid reason for their movement. It'll also remain open for emergency services, said DCP (Greater Noida) Rajesh Kr Singh. We are strongly urging UK travellers overseas to return home now where and while there are still commercial routes to do so. Around the world, more airlines are suspending flights and more airports are closing, some without any notice. Where commercial routes dont exist, our staff are working round the clock to give advice and support to UK nationals. If you are on holiday abroad the time to come home is now while you still can," he said. UK's foreign secretary Dominic Raab on Monday said that all citizens abroad should return, CNN reported. In a statement, Raab "warned international travel is becoming highly limited with the further closure of air routes, land borders and domestic restrictions introduced daily," the report said. A statement by the WHO's South-East Asia regional office said, Airborne spread has not been reported for COVID-19. Based on the information received so far and on our experience with other coronaviruses, COVID-19 appears to spread mostly through respiratory droplets (for instance produced when a sick person coughs) and close contact. This is why WHO recommends maintaining hand and respiratory hygiene. "The Chinese authorities reported that there could be a possibility of aerosol transmission in a relatively closed environment with prolonged exposure to high concentrations of aerosols, like in ICUs and CCUs in hospitals, but more investigations and analysis of epidemiological data is needed to understand this mode of transmission of the virus." Meanwhile, seven COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in Andhra Pradesh, the state public health department said. Puducherry chief minister V Narayanaswamy said that curfew has been imposed in the union territory with immediate effect till 31 March to contain the spread of coronavirus. "All shops and offices except for those involved in essential services will remain closed during this period," he said. The Tihar Jail will release around 3,000 inmates in the next 3-4 days, ANI reported. Of these, 1500 convicts will be released on parole and other 1500 undertrial prisoners to be released on interim bail, the Tihar Jail administration said. "Thats why WHO has launched the SOLIDARITY trial, to generate robust, high-quality evidence as fast as possible. The more countries sign up to the trial and other large studies, the faster we will get results on which drugs work and the more lives we will be able to save," he added. "Small, observational and non-randomized studies will not give us the answers we need. Using untested drugs without the right evidence could raise false hope and even do more harm than good and cause a shortage of essential drugs that are needed to treat other diseases," WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a press conference. CNN quoted the World Health Organisation as issuing a warning against using "untested drugs" to treat patients of the novel coronavirus on Monday. Uber Pool and Uber Intercity services have been suspended across the country, until further notice. On Friday, Uber said that in compliance with government directives to limit movement for reducing the spread of COVID-19, Uber services across India have been affected. While the company will continue to offer services for essential and urgent travel needs of commuters, some or all of Ubers rides services will not be available till further notice in the following cities: Four new cases of coronavirus have been reported from Rajasthan's Pratapgarh and Jodhpur, taking the total number of COVID19 cases to 32 in the state, the state health department said. "In Sao Paulo, the city with the largest number of confirmed deaths and cases, the mayors office announced that 2,000 hospital beds would be added to the Pacaembu stadium and the Anhembi convention center in the next few weeks," the report said. Brazil will convert some stadiums, arenas, and convention centres into field hospitals to treat patients of coronavirus, CNN reported. Italy is currently facing 63,927 cases of the novel coronavirus. Italy has confirmed 601 COVID-19 deaths in the last 24 hours, CNN reported. This brings the total number of casualties to 6,077. The European country has crossed the number of casualties reported in China. Yamuna Expressway has been closed and police barricading has been done on the route. Those passing through the barricading will be allowed only if they have a valid reason for their movement. It'll also remain open for emergency services, said DCP (Greater Noida) Rajesh Kr Singh. We are strongly urging UK travellers overseas to return home now where and while there are still commercial routes to do so. Around the world, more airlines are suspending flights and more airports are closing, some without any notice. Where commercial routes dont exist, our staff are working round the clock to give advice and support to UK nationals. If you are on holiday abroad the time to come home is now while you still can," he said. UK's foreign secretary Dominic Raab on Monday said that all citizens abroad should return, CNN reported. In a statement, Raab "warned international travel is becoming highly limited with the further closure of air routes, land borders and domestic restrictions introduced daily," the report said. Coronavirus Outbreak LATEST Updates: Gujarat DGP Shivanand Jha said that from 12 am on Monday, the entire state will be under lockdown till 31 March. "State borders have been sealed. Action will be taken against the people who will violate the lockdown," he said. Meanwhile, Rajasthan chief minister said that all private vehicles will be banned from Tuesday. "To save lives from coronavirus, we have taken the decision to ban all private vehicles on roads from tomorrow. Only vehicles related to essential services and those in exempted services would be allowed. State highway tolls will also be closed from midnight," he said. According to the latest update, there are 97 coronavirus in Maharashtra, Mumbai Mirror reported. The report also gave a break down of the rise in cases in the last 24 hours, saying that out of 23 new cases, 17 were reported in the Mumbai-MMR region, one in Pune and Satara, and four in Sangli district. The Delhi Police has directed people who are on the move for essential services to get curfew passes from the district office to ensure the adherence to Section 144, reports said. The Indian Army on Monday asked more of its personnel to work from with the aim of taking precautions against the novel coronavirus spread in the country. In a fresh advisory, the defence force said that the measures are to be enforced in all military establishments/cantonments/formations/units in 82 districts under lockdown. The advisory was quoted by The Indian Express as saying, "All tasks related to response to COVID-19 should continue without hindrance. "Restricted movements in Cantonments and military stations. "Personnel engaged in essential services permitted to function (Medical establishments, fire, electricity/ water supply, communication, post offices and sanitation services). "Home delivery of grocery/ essential items catering to the requirements of the cantonments. "Social distancing while performing all tasks. "Additional districts/ extension of lockdown time frame by state governments will be adhered to as when promulgated. "All station CSDs to be closed forthwith. "Measures at IHQ of MoD(Army)/ (Army HQ) "Only bare essential sections/ offices to function on a daily basis. Work from home to be implemented. "Conferences and seminars postponed. Routine meetings and movements to be restricted. "Personnel attending office will adhere to staggered timings." The Nepal government on Friday announced a nationwide lockdown from 6 am (local time) on 24 March in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. One more positive case was reported in the country on Monday, taking the total number of positive cases to 2. The nationwide lockdown in Nepal will be in place till 31 March, ANI reported. The Kerala government on Friday announced a complete lockdown in the state. All borders in the state to remain closed, operations of all public transport to cease. All places of worship to also remain closed reports said. The number of coronavirus cases in the state rose to 92 on Monday. ICMR director general Balram Bhargava on Monday said that the process of kit manufacturing has been fast-tracked at the National Institute of Virology in Pune and two kit manufacturers have been already approved. "I'd like to clarify that FDA/CE approval isn't mandatory. ICMR-NIV approved tests which will be done there on fast-track basis will also be acceptable for COVID-19 testing," he said. "12 laboratory chains have been registered and they have started functioning. These 12 have 15,000 collection centres across the country," he added. "415 confirmed cases reported so far, 23 patients discharged, 7 deaths reported - some of them also had co-morbid conditions," Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry said. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday announced that the state will be on a "complete lockdown mode" from 6 pm on Tuesday to the midnight of 31 March. Only grocery shops, chemists, petrol pumps will remain open, the chief minister said in a press briefing, adding that except for ambulances and goods vehicles, Assam borders will be sealed for all kinds of vehicles. "In view of the fiscal year ending, only skeletal staff needed for financial transactions will be allowed in government offices and once those transactions are done the office will be immediately closed down," he said. He also said that banks and ATMs will function but all religious activities will be stopped. No case of coronavirus has been reported in the state so far, while cases across India crossed 400 on Monday. The operations of domestic scheduled commercial airlines will cease with effect from midnight on 24 March as part of the government's measure to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus in the country. Reports added that the restrictions will not apply to cargo flights. ANI reported that a 57-year-old patient admitted to the AMRI hospital has died of a cardiac arrest and was detected as having contracted the novel coronavirus on Monday. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the patient had travel history with Italy. Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday enforced Section 144 across the state, effective from 6 pm on 24 March (Tuesday) till 31 March, in an effort to curb the fast-spreading coronavirus. District borders will be shut and only essential services will be available. With this, Tamil Nadu became the 15th state to go under lockdown as the number of confirmed cases climbed to 415. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday that companies' expenditure to fight the coronavirus pandemic will be considered valid under corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities. The coronavirus outbreak will be treated as a disaster, the Finance Minister said on Twitter. "Keeping in view of the spread of novel coronavirus, its declaration as pandemic by the World Health Organisaton (WHO), and decision of the government to treat this as a notified disaster. It is hereby clarified that spending of CSR funds for COVID-19 is eligible CSR activity," Ministry of Corporate Affairs said in an official notification. In view of the increasing threat of the novel coronavirus, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) OPD services will remain closed till further notice, ANI reported. "All OPD services in All India Institute of Medical Sciences and all centres to remain closed till further orders." Supreme Court on Monday said that the lawyers chambers inside the court premises will remain shut from Tuesday 5 pm onward. The top court also said there will be no more in-person hearings till further orders. The Court will conduct videoconferencing to hear urgent matters. "Urgent matters will be taken up by court via video conferencing; lawyers may appear from their own offices. Lawyers chambers in the SC to be sealed at 5 pm on Tuesday. The Centre has issued an order on Monday asking state governments to strictly enforce lockdown in coronavirus-affected areas as it was announced on Sunday. The government has also warned of legal action against violators. In an attempt to contain the rapidly spreading coronavirus outbreak in India, several states announced they will be imposing lockdown till 31 March. In some of these states the lockdown is state-wide while in others only the districts that have reported novel coronavirus cases have been put under lockdown. So far, 80 districts across the country have reported Covid-19 cases. Complying with the Central and the Delhi government directives, Uber is likely to suspend its services in the National Capital till 31 March to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. Speaking about its pool services, an Uber Spokesperson said, "We are determined to help reduce the spread of coronavirus in the cities we serve. With that in mind, we are suspending the Uber Pool service across India. In line with the Government advisory, we urge people to stay safe and discourage non-essential travel." However, there have been no official statement from Uber about shutting services in Delhi. but off the record, it said, "as of now services suspended in Delhi." Another 15 coronavirus cases were reported in Maharashtra since Sunday evening, taking the state's tally to 89, according to new agency ANI. As Maharashtra continued to lead in the number of active cases, Health Minister Rajesh Tope again appealed to people to refrain from stepping out of their homes as 'isolation' is the key to battling the COVID-19 virus. Curfew will remain imposed in Pune, Maharashtra till 31 March. All establishments, excluding emergency services and essentials will remain closed during this period. Any offender shall be punished under section 188 of Indian Penal Code, Pune Police told ANI. India reported three new deaths due to the coronavirus on Sunday, including the first casualties coming in from Bihar and Gujarat, taking the toll to seven. While the number of COVID-19 cases rose to 341 in the country, the citizens, as asked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, observed a 'janata curfew' from 7 am to 9 pm, with most people staying at home as a precaution against the virus. The Centre has also decided to shutdown 75 districts across 22 states and Union Territories, which have reported cases of the COVID-19 and asked the respective governments to enforce a strict lockdown, allowing only essential services. Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary in the Union health ministry, clarified that essential services would include "ration, groceries, milk, medical services, transport of essential needs, among others." The Indian Council of Medical Research's Director-General Balram Bhargava, during a joint press conference with the Union health ministry, emphasised that "isolation, isolation, isolation" is the only way to halt the infection's march. He said that the country has the capacity to perform 50,000 to 70,000 tests for the coronavirus a week, and that 16 to 17 thousand tests have been conducted till now. Bhargava added that as many as 60 private laboratories have been registered to conduct the COVID-19 tests. Addressing the media, Bhargava said, "It is essential to understand the ailment. Eighty percent of the people will experience cold-like fever and they will recover. Some may need to be admitted to the hospital." On the restrictions imposed in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19, Agarwal said, "All train services including suburban and metro services, interstate passenger transports are suspended till 31 March. These are efforts to break the chain of transmission." The joint secretary also said that the Centre has provided additional N95 masks and personal protection equipment to states as per their requirements. However, he noted that states were asked to procure equipment through a letter on 17 January. Janata curfew observed nationwide Meanwhile, citizens across cities and states observed "janta curfew" in "letter and spirit" as urged by the prime minister, while some misconstrued the point of it all and took it a step further. Modi had urged the citizens to come out in their balconies and "clap" to show appreciation for the health workers and doctors who are working to fight the pandemic which has sent the whole world into a tizzy. Italy and France had demonstrated how, earlier this month. Modi's foremost message, during his address to the nation earlier this week, was "social distancing" and "self isolation". Visuals shared widely on social media and by news outlets, however, showed that while some stayed in their homes and clapped and beat utensils, several others took it to mean a community activity. Several people from across the country disregarded prime minister's appeal to stay at home, and participated in large processions in the evening. A Twitter user posted several videos of 'celebrations' in several cities. In Jaipur and Mysuru, crowds of people were seen on streets beating utensils and clapping. Crowds of people chanting slogans and dancing in Punjab. At Indore, people were seen taking part in large processions carrying the national flag. Some senior journalists strongly condemned such processions, and said that assembling in public during such an outbreak amounted to "obscurantism" and quackery." A little before 5 pm, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: Do remember, 5 PM this evening for 5 minutes... Be on your terraces, balconies or windows to express gratitude to all those who are working 24/7 so that our nation becomes free from COVID-19. #JantaCurfew pic.twitter.com/Cwds0v4cJ8 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 22, 2020 In the national capital, roads were deserted with barely some private vehicles and buses plying. Vendors were off the roads in the morning hours with people confining themselves to their homes. The busy streets of #Delhi bear a deserted look as people in the national capital observe #JantaCurfew#JantaCurfewMarch22 #IndiaFightsCoronavirus pic.twitter.com/pZ83wDGitK PIB India (@PIB_India) March 22, 2020 In Kolkata, the usually bustling Esplanade, and Dalhousie areas, besides airport and railway stations wore a deserted look as people stayed indoors to support the prime minister's call. Commercial capital Mumbai observed the restrictions on Sunday with the usually bustling western and eastern express highways and other arterial roads wearing an empty look and people staying indoors to support the curfew. However, at 5 pm, people rang bells and blew conchs, acknowledging the services of the thousands of doctors, nurse and other medical staff leading India's response to the deadly virus and making sure essential services remain unhindered. Prime Minister Modi thanked the people for expressing their gratitude and solidarity. Follow LIVE updates on the CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK here Cutting across party lines, chief ministers and others leaders urged the people to follow the self-imposed curfew, noting that "social distancing" was key to breaking the chain of transmission, as the number of coronavirus cases rose to 324 on Sunday. States like Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Bihar have announced either complete or partial lockdown till the month end. No passenger train from any railway station in the country has originated beginning Saturday night and the restriction will continue till 10 pm on Sunday while all suburban train services will be reduced to a bare minimum as well. Metro services, including in Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai, has been suspended for the day. Air carriers like GoAir, IndiGo and Vistara have curtailed domestic operations on Sunday. Traders' body Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) had announced that they will keep their establishments shut across the country for the 'Janata curfew'. Italy reports biggest day-to-day increase Italy announced its biggest day-to-day increase of infections, which rose by 6,600 with nearly 800 new fatalities from the virus that causes COVID-19. The country's total death toll of more than 4,825 has surpassed the number of deaths in China, where the first cases emerged late last year. Emirates Airlines, in a statement on Sunday, said, "Today we made the decision to temporarily suspend most passenger flights by 25 March 2020. SkyCargo operations will continue. This painful but pragmatic move will help Emirates Group preserve business viability and secure jobs worldwide, avoiding cuts. Having received requests from governments & customers to support repatriation of travellers, Emirates will continue to operate passenger and cargo flights to few countries until further notice, as long as borders remain open, and there is demand." In the US, where multiple states have ordered residents to stay indoors, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the government is literally scouring the globe looking for medical supplies. Health care workers from Oklahoma City to Minneapolis sought donations of protective equipment. Staff at a Detroit hospital began creating homemade face masks for workers. Even rural hospitals were strained as people increasingly felt the pandemic closing in. Behind China and Italy, Spain now has the third-highest number of infections worldwide, followed by the US. Spanish health authorities have acknowledged that some intensive care units in the hardest-hit areas are close to their limit. The army was building a field hospital with 5,500 beds in a convention center in Madrid, where hotels are also being turned into wards for virus patients without serious breathing problems. With inputs from agencies Subscriber content preview Scores of travelers have been rescued and two have died while seeking to retrace the steps of Christopher McCandless, who lived in the decrepit old bus right up to his death in 1992. By RACHEL D'ORO Associated Press ANCHORAGE, Alaska They're tired of the deaths and multiple rescues near a decrepit old bus whose legendary status continues to lure adventurers to one of Alaska's most unforgiving hinterlands, and now officials in the nearest town want the it removed, something the state has no intention of doing. The long-abandoned vehicle was made famous in the 1996 Into the Wild book and later in the movie of the same name. Scores of travelers have been rescued and two have died trying to cross the unpredictable Teklanika River while seeking to retrace the steps of Christopher McCandless along the Stampede Trail. . . . A New York City photographer has been identified as the man who was killed after jumping from a luxury Manhattan apartment block. Robert Herman, 64, jumped from the 16th-floor of the Tribeca Park building on Chambers Street at around 11pm Friday night. He died instantly after landing in the building's courtyard. Police sources identified the artist to the New York Post and said he left a note that read: 'How do you enjoy life?' New York City photographer Robert Herman, 64, has been identified as the man who leaped to his death from the 16th floor of an apartment block in Tribeca The emergency services were spotted outside an apartment building in Tribeca in Manhattan Herman had published two books showcasing his street photography of everyday New Yorkers - The New Yorkers in 2013 and The Phone Book in 2015. 'He was a very well-known fella, a very good photographer,' said former New York Post photographer Lawrence Schwartzwald. 'Quintessential New York work. It's such a shame.' Born in Brooklyn in 1955, Herman had been a street photographer since his days as an NYU film student back in the late 1970s according to his biography on Amazon which described him as 'an award-winning international photographer.' He first developed a love of photography using his father's Nikon F camera and a 50mm lens. Herman was a street photographer since his days as an NYU film student back in the 1970s Herman had published two books showcasing his photography which received good reviews - The New Yorkers in 2013, left, and The Phone Book in 2015,right 'He began by exploring the city as a means to connect with the people in his neighborhood and learn the craft of making images,' his profile reads. On Friday night some neighbors speculated the apparent suicide could have been related to the state's sudden regulations regarding coronavirus, self-isolation and the current pandemic. 'I came out to smoke a cigarette, and they told me someone jumped,' one resident told the Post. She added: 'You have to be mentally strong to take on isolation. The uncertainty of what's going to happen is scary.' Police have not linked the death to the coronavirus outbreak, or New York's lockdown. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced sweeping orders on Friday that severely restricts gatherings of any size for the state's more than 19 million residents and will require workers in non-essential businesses to stay home. Under the rules, non-essential gatherings of people of any size or for any reason are to be canceled or postponed, including parties and celebrations. Need to focus on finding those who are sick, who have the virus and their contacts, isolate them said Mike Ryan. Countries cant simply lock down their societies to defeat coronavirus, the World Health Organizations top emergency expert said on Sunday, adding that public health measures are needed to avoid a resurgence of the virus later on. What we really need to focus on is finding those who are sick, those who have the virus, and isolate them, find their contacts and isolate them, Mike Ryan said in an interview on the BBCs Andrew Marr Show. The danger right now with the lockdowns ... if we dont put in place the strong public health measures now, when those movement restrictions and lockdowns are lifted, the danger is the disease will jump back up. Much of Europe and the United States have followed China and other Asian countries and introduced drastic restrictions to fight the new coronavirus, with most workers told to work from home and schools, bars, pubs and restaurants being closed. Ryan said that the examples of China, Singapore and South Korea, which coupled restrictions with rigorous measures to test every possible suspect, provided a model for Europe, which the WHO has said has replaced Asia as the epicentre of the pandemic. Once weve suppressed the transmission, we have to go after the virus. We have to take the fight to the virus, Ryan said. Italy is now the worst-hit country in the world by the virus, and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned that Britains health system could be overwhelmed unless people avoid social interactions. British housing minister Robert Jenrick said that production of tests would double next week and ramp up thereafter. Ryan also said that several vaccines were in development, but only one had begun trials in the United States. Asked how long it would take before there was a vaccine available in Britain, he said that people needed to be realistic. We have to make sure that its absolutely safe... we are talking at least a year, he said. The vaccines will come, but we need to get out and do what we need to do now. Uranium Energy Corp Provides Corporate Update Posted by Publisher Internet Uranium Energy Corp (NYSE American: UEC, the ?Company? or ?UEC? https://www.commodity-tv.com/play/uranium-energy-ready-for-a-fast-restart-of-us-based-uranium-production/ ) is providing an update on measures the Company has taken to address the safety of its employees in response to COVID-19 and the proactive steps being taken to lower operating expenses and adjust timing on capital expenditures.? For the protection of our employees, we have arranged for our teams at the Vancouver, Corpus Christi and Paraguay offices to work remotely. Maintenance protocols at our Hobson Processing Plant and Palangana In-Situ Recovery (ISR) mine remain unchanged. Previous plans to resume last year?s successful drilling program at the Burke Hollow ISR project will be postponed along with the associated capital outlays until market conditions normalize.? In the meantime, the UEC team will continue to advance our ISR projects with engineering and geologic evaluations that support the Company?s production readiness strategy. As of our latest quarterly filing (for the period ending January 31, 2020), we held approximately $21 million of cash and securities. President and CEO, Amir Adnani stated: ?As we work through these challenging times, we will continue to maintain our core principles, keeping our employees safe and operating the Company with fiscal discipline.? Additionally, the recent global events and supply disruptions further underscore the importance of domestic supply chains for vital resources.? The proposed budget from the U.S. Administration outlining a 10-year, $1.5 billion program to purchase domestically mined uranium for a national Uranium Reserve will be crucial to reviving the 100% idled U.S. uranium industry. ?We are confident our fully permitted and low-cost ISR projects in Texas and Wyoming are ideally-suited to supply the national Uranium Reserve as well as longer-term utility demand.?? About Uranium Energy Corp Uranium Energy Corp is a U.S.-based uranium mining and exploration company.? In South Texas, the Company?s hub-and-spoke operations are anchored by the fully-licensed Hobson Processing Facility which is central to the Palangana, Burke Hollow and Goliad ISR projects.? In Wyoming, UEC controls the Reno Creek project, which is the largest permitted, pre-construction ISR uranium project in the U.S.? Additionally, the Company controls a pipeline of uranium projects in Arizona, New Mexico and Paraguay, a uranium/vanadium project in Colorado and one of the highest-grade and largest undeveloped Ferro-Titanium deposits in the world, located in Paraguay.? The Company?s operations are managed by professionals with a recognized profile for excellence in their industry, a profile based on many decades of hands-on experience in the key facets of uranium exploration, development and mining. Contact Uranium Energy Corp Investor Relations at: Toll Free: (866) 748-1030 Fax: (361) 888-5041 E-mail: info@uraniumenergy.com Twitter: @UraniumEnergy Stock Exchange Information: NYSE American: UEC +Frankfurt Stock Exchange Symbol: U6Z WKN: A?JDRR ISN: US916896103 Safe Harbor Statement Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented in this news release constitutes \forward-looking statements\ as such term is used in applicable United States and Canadian laws. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any other statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as \forward-looking statements\. Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Australia's chief medical adviser warned a 'new world' has emerged from the coronavirus crisis, where social distancing will be the new normal. With more than 337,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus spread throughout 192 countries - including 1,642 in Australia alone - the nation has taken steps toward a total shutdown. Brendan Murphy, Australia's chief medical officer, on Monday spoke of a new reality amid closures of pubs, bars, cinemas, gyms and restaurants. 'We are now in a different world,' he said. 'This world could last for some time... This is the world of social distancing. This is the new way of us interacting with each other all of the time.' There have been 1,642 cases of coronavirus confirmed in Australia. This map shows the states which have closed off the borders to one another amid the crisis Under the new social distancing and self isolation policies, Australians will have limited choices on activities in public. Visiting most beaches, holding a play date in the park or throwing birthday parties and christenings will all be discouraged for at least the next six months while authorities try to wrangle the virus. Similarly, stage one lockdown proceedings are underway across the nation, closing all restaurants, pubs and bars, as well as cafes, cinemas, places of worship and gyms. For now, people are able to visit retail stores, hair salons and beauticians, however these may be restricted again if the government is forced to impose stricter lockdowns. Another major difference in the 'new world' is the restrictions on interstate and international holidays. With school holidays fast approaching, families will no longer be able to take a quick trip away to celebrate. Almost every domestic border has implemented strict control policies, including mandatory 14 day self isolation for any new arrivals. SOCIAL DISTANCING: THE DOS AND DON'TS OF SELF ISOLATION DO: Create Home Workouts: With gyms closed, people are encouraged to keep active by working out at home. If you're not quarantined, you're able to go for a walk outside for exercise as long as you abide by the 1.5m social distancing policy. Get Creative: With the government encouraging people to spend more time indoors than ever before, it's a perfect opportunity to catch up on tasks you want done around the house. For little ones, its a great opportunity to do some arts and craft or baking. Contactless Delivery: Many delivery services are now giving people the option to choose a 'contactless delivery' - the best option for social distancing. Walk The Dog: Unless you've been ordered to stay indoors and self isolate due to concerns you could be carrying coronavirus, you should still take your dog for a walk - on your own. DON'T: The Beach: Any beaches where the government determined 500 or more people usually congregate have been temporarily closed. Walks along the beach, sandy picnics or going for a surf are not acceptable during self isolation. The Park: Parents should avoid taking their children to the park to play on any equipment or meet up with other friends during social distancing. Birthday Parties: People should refrain from throwing or attending parties until the threat of COVID-19 passes. Unnecessarily Travel: Unless there is an urgent need to leave home, or your suburb, it is best to stay put to avoid contracting the virus or passing it on to someone more vulnerable. Go To Appointments While Sick: At the moment, hairdressers and beauticians are still open. It is best to reschedule appointments if you're feeling unwell. Advertisement Beachgoers are seen at Bondi Beach on Friday (pictured) despite the threat of coronavirus, leading to the temporary closure of the beach Mr Murphy said it is imperative to public health that Australians begin taking social distancing policies more seriously. Poll SHOULD AUSTRALIA ENTER A TOTAL LOCKDOWN AMID CORONAVIRUS CRISIS? YES NO SHOULD AUSTRALIA ENTER A TOTAL LOCKDOWN AMID CORONAVIRUS CRISIS? YES 1254 votes NO 373 votes Now share your opinion On Friday, thousands flocked to Bondi beach despite government orders to remain at a safe 1.5m distance from one another. In response, Prime Minister Scott Morrison closed the beach - and many others - for the foreseeable future. 'Most Australians do the right thing but it is no longer acceptable to people to breach that,' Mr Murphy said. He said the 'draconian measures' that were introduced overnight to close non-essential places of gathering, including places of worship, were agreed upon by all state leaders after concluding that Australians weren't taking the crisis seriously enough. 'There may be minor differences in interpretation, but the message is very clear. Do not get close to people other than your family, and do not go to gatherings where you are close to people.' Mr Murphy discussed a 'social responsibility' to slow the spread of the virus by following public health advice. 'This is serious business now. Nobody can approach this in a cavalier way... I'm not directing that at young people, I'm directing that at all Australians. Empty tables at a restaurant in Circular Quay in Sydney on Saturday. Bars, restaurants and cafes have all been forced to close dine in services 'You are putting the lives of vulnerable people at risk if you don't toe the line.' In response to the growing threat of COVID-19, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the state would join the Northern Territory, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania in closing the borders. The ban will likely mean that anyone entering Queensland will have to isolate for 14 days. Australia closed the borders to non-residents last week, but anybody returning home will be required to 'rigorously quarantine for 14 days,' Mr Murphy said. 'If you know anyone who has returned from overseas and is not quarantining, please come down very hard on them. 'The imported cases will slow down but the challenge in the coming weeks and months is to slow the transmission of the virus.' LATEST: March 26, 9:30 a.m.: Mayor London Breed's office revealed more details about San Francisco's arts grant program and opened the application process. For grants, individual must be full-time San Francisco residents and not currently on or eligible for unemployment. Organizations must have an annual operating budget below $2 million dollars, with funding based on budget ($10,000 for budgets up to $999,999, $15,000 up to $1,499,999, $25,000 up to two million). Loans will be capped at $50,000, with a 2.5% interest rate and must be repaid within 12-24 months, with repayment plan to be determined between Northern California Grantmakers and the borrower. Applicants will need to submit their current yearly operating budget, financial statements, board roster, and several other documents. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, and there is currently no deadline listed to apply. March 23, 2:10 p.m.: Artists are some of those hardest hit by the coronavirus crisis and San Francisco Mayor London Breed's office appears to have their back. This morning Breed tweeted out a press release announcing an Arts Relief Program funded by $2.5 million from the city. Our artists and cultural institutions are at the heart of who we are as a City and a community, said Breed in the release. This community is also getting hit hard right now as people are suffering from job loss, business closures, and economic disruption during the COVID-19 outbreak. We need to do everything we can to stabilize our arts community now. I hope our public investment will encourage private donors to join us in supporting our vulnerable artists during this challenging time. RELATED: As coronavirus cancels concerts, I tried a new way to listen to live music The program has two options: grants and low interest loans. According to the release, $1.5 million of the budget will go towards "individual artists, teaching artists, and small- to mid-budget sized arts and cultural organizations administered by the Center for Cultural Innovation" and prioritizing the needs of organizations serving the most vulnerable "black, indigenous, immigrant, trans, and people with disabilities." The cap for awards is $2,000 for individuals and $5,000 to $25,000 for organizations, scaled to their budget. An additional one million dollars will be allotted to low-interest loans for arts and cultural organizations administered by the Arts Loan Fund of Northern California Grantmakers. In a phone call with SFGATE, a city official confirmed that they hope to have applications for the grants and loans online on Tuesday or Wednesday. In the meantime, they've directed artists to visit the San Francisco Arts Commission website for more resources. The city is also accepting tax-deductible donations via the website Give2sf.org. Dan Gentile is a digital editor at SFGATE. Email: Dan.Gentile@sfgate.com | Twitter: @Dannosphere MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE: Sign up for 'The Daily' newsletter for the latest on coronavirus here. NHS worker Jenny Hawkins urged people to stay at home as coronavirus spreads. (Jenny Hawkins/Facebook) An NHS worker whose husband is vulnerable to coronavirus has made a heartfelt plea to Britons to practice social distancing. Jenny Hawkins, who works at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford, used a Facebook post to urge people to stay at home. Thousands of people went to parks and beaches at the weekend and many Tube trains were packed in London on Monday. Her husband is one of those deemed most vulnerable to COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, as he has cystic fibrosis, a genetic condition that causes lung infections. She says she is moving out of their home in order to protect him and continue to help those in need during the coronavirus outbreak. Hawkins wrote on Facebook: I am an anaesthetist, I am also a wife. My husband has cystic fibrosis. I am about to move out of our home so I can give my all to the NHS and try and get through this. I am giving up my life temporarily so I can use my airway and ventilator skills to help save lives. All I ask of you is to try and stay home. I dont think Im asking you to sacrifice anywhere near what Im having to. Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice Live: Follow all the latest updates from the UK and around the world Fact-checker: The number of COVID-19 cases in your local area Explained: Symptoms, latest advice and how it compares to the flu Please stay at home so I can get home to my husband soon. Her post has more than 150,000 likes and has been shared on Facebook more than 142,000 times. There have been 68 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Surrey so far and eight deaths. Following her post, many people praised Hawkins on Facebook. (PA) Jenny Hawkins is an anaesthetist at a hospital in Surrey. (Jenny Hawkins/Facebook) Jenny youre amazing, wrote one user. Thank you so very much. Take care. Another wrote: You wonderful human. Another user said: You are a superstar. On Monday, health secretary Matt Hancock said he did not know why some people were ignoring the government's advice. Watch the video below "It's very selfish," he said. "The NHS is doing everything it can and preparing for the spread of this virus. Story continues Read more: NHS staff struggle to get food during Tesco coronavirus priority hour "If people go within two metres of others who they don't live with then they're helping to spread the virus and the consequences of that costs lives and it means that, for everyone, this will go on for longer." He said ministers were prepared to take stricter measures to clamp down on the spread of the virus if necessary. Indonesians being screened for the symptoms of the coronavirus at the Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad on March 16, 2020. One of the latest positive cases was a case of community transmission from the Indonesian set. (PTI) Hyderabad: Telangana added three more Covid-19 positive cases to its list this Monday afternoon. It has 30 now. Two of the three new ones are residents of Hyderabad, aged 21 and 30, with travel history to France and London. The third case is a 23-year-old male from Karimnagar who has no travel history but did come in contact with the group of Indonesians who tested positive in that town a few days ago. That would count as another case of local transmission of the virus, that is, infection that occurred localy here. The first community transmission of the coronavirus in Telangana was reported two days ago. The three new coronapositives have been taken to the designated hospitals and are in a stable condition. The Director of Public Health and Family Welfare requested the public to not panic and assured that the containment process has been initiated wherever there has been a positive diagnosis. He said persons who have been to a foreign country or been in contact with a Covid-19 case need to maintain self-quarantine for 14 days. In case one develops symptoms, they should contact the nearest government hospital. BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) A deadly riot broke out in a prison in Colombia's capital, leaving 23 inmates dead, authorities said Sunday, as tensions rise over the spread of the coronavirus in one of the most vulnerable locations: crowded, poorly kept penitentiaries. Justice Minister Margarita Cabello described the events at the La Modelo prison in Bogota as an attempted prison escape, but advocates for inmates said officials had cracked down on inmates staging a peaceful protest over conditions they feared would exacerbate infections with the virus. Today is a sad and painful day for the country, Cabello said. The conflict at La Modelo, which houses both suspects and convicts of crimes ranging from burglary to drug trafficking, began late Saturday evening. Inmates shared videos online showing people outside their cells, yelling as shots rang out in the distance. They have us abandoned here!" one inmate exclaimed. They have us like dogs. On Sunday, evidence of the violence was still visible: The body of one man lay face-up on a roof, dressed in bright blue shorts, white sneakers and a bloody gray sweatshirt. Family members, many wearing protective masks, gathered outside, clamoring for information. We're desperate because we don't know anything, one woman cried. Authorities did not provide a detailed account of how the inmates died, saying only that seven jail workers had also been injured, two critically. Cabello said no inmates had escaped and that to date, none had been diagnosed with coronavirus either. This was a criminal attempt to escape that was thwarted, she said in a video statement. Jhon Leon, director of Judicial Solidarity, an organization that works to improve inmate conditions, said prisoners had planned a nationwide protest Saturday evening after complaining about the dire state of jails for two weeks without getting a reply. The National Prison Movement, a group of inmates and their relatives, released a statement earlier in the week, saying Colombia's prisons don't have enough doctors and nurses on staff, nor sufficient medicines to treat basic illnesses. Story continues Those deprived of liberty raise our voices in rejection of the policies and ineffective actions that have been taken, the group said. Leon said about 5,000 people housed in the jail, some of whom are kept six to a cell while others sleep in hallways. Prisoners want elderly inmates and those with preexisting conditions to be moved to other locations and be put in isolation, he said. They also want more information on whether any inmates have been tested for the coronavirus. This was a peaceful protest, Leon said. The response of authorities was overhanded." Colombia had confirmed 231 coronavirus cases and two deaths as of Sunday. But with notoriously overcrowded and often violent prisons, many are concerned that the virus could spread quickly there. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever or coughing. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The government has taken a handful of initial measures, including barring relatives from visiting inmates. The penitentiary service also said it is reducing the number of workers in certain areas to create more distance between people, allowing older workers and those with preexisting conditions to stay home and organizing disinfection cleaning crews. One group of 10 inmates has been employed to create masks. But human rights advocates want the government to go further, taking measures like freeing those about to finish their sentences or who are jailed as a preventative measure for non-violent crimes. As of early 2019, there were 120,000 inmates in Colombia's jails, far beyond the official capacity to hold about 80,000 prisoners. The attorney general's office, among other institutions, has found that inmates have trouble accessing basic services like clean water. Colombia should take urgent action to mitigate the risks in the jails, said Jose Miguel Vivanco, Americas director for Human Rights Watch. It's an issue for many nations in the region and around the world: With nearly 1.5 million prisoners behind bars, Latin Americas packed jails are an ideal breeding ground for disease. In Brazil, hundreds of prisoners from several facilities in Sao Paulo state have escaped in recent days while family members of opposition activists jailed in Venezuela say they fear for their loved ones amid unconfirmed reports that four police officers at the countrys most notorious jail for political prisoners have come down sick with the illness. In the U.S., authorities across the country have been ordering the release of non-violent offenders and restricting the number of new detainees to prevent spread of the disease. But such solutions have been slower to materialize in Latin America, where jails are frequently overcrowded and run by violent gangs. _ Associated Press video journalist Marko Alvarez in Bogota and Joshua Goodman in Miami contributed to this report. TORONTO, March 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sprott Resource Holdings Inc. (SRHI or the Company) (TSX: SRHI) today provided an update relating to the COVID-19 related market uncertainty and an update on the immediate impact to the Companys copper mining operations at Minera Tres Valles (MTV) located in Salamanca, Chile. The constantly changing and escalating COVID-19 situation is unprecedented and for many is a time filled with uncertainty and concern, said Michael Harrison, Interim President and CEO. The safety of our employees is of the utmost importance to us. We previously implemented work-from-home mandates for our corporate and office employees and increased both employee education and sanitization at the mine site. All individuals entering the mine site are monitored for symptoms including elevated temperatures. On Wednesday, March 18, 2020, Chile declared a state of catastrophe over the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak that restricts freedom of movement within the country. Chiles armed forces are patrolling the nation collaborating with Chilean health officials. Over this past weekend, MTV has been in contact with Salamanca officials regarding the escalating COVID-19 pandemic. Officials of Salamanca have formally requested MTV to temporarily halt or restrict operations as a measure to slow the advance of the pandemic. Salamanca and its surrounding areas supply over 70% of the mine sites workforce. As of today, there is a single case of COVID-19 in Salamanca. We have a very strong bond with the community of Salamanca and have been in constant contact with the regions officials over the past several days, noted Luis Vega, CEO of MTV. We had already initiated a review of our mining operations with the expectation of escalating COVID-19 mitigating measures and we will now be implementing additional changes to MTVs operations in support of Salamancas requests. MTV will immediately initiate the following changes to its operations with additional actions continuing to be assessed. Temporarily halt the majority of all mining operations; Significantly reduce the employee base required to maintain minimal operations; Maintain the necessary staff to operate and monitor the leach pad; Maintain the necessary staff to operate its solvent-extraction and electrowinning processing plant where its copper cathodes are produced; and, Maintain the necessary staff to conduct preventative maintenance of key equipment These measures will add substantial financial stress to MTVs operations. MTV is working closely with its stakeholders, including its lenders, critical suppliers and shareholders (including SRHI) to seek additional financial support through additional capital injections and revised supplier payment terms. While management believes that it is likely that MTVs efforts will produce a positive outcome, there is no assurance that it will. Without this plan, MTV may be forced to further adjust its operations that could adversely affect the value of SRHIs investment MTV. About Sprott Resource Holdings Inc. SRHI is a publicly-listed diversified resource holding company focused on the natural resource industry. SRHI is currently focused on expanding its copper mining operation in Chile and divesting of its legacy investments. Based in Toronto, SRHI is managed under a services contract by a team of resource professionals and its business and investments are concentrated in the mining sector. For more information about SRHI, please visit www.sprottresource.com. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information Certain statements in this news release, contain forward-looking information (collectively referred to herein as the "Forward-Looking Statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, including statements pertaining to: mitigating measures to be taken by MTV; the expected impact to the operations of MTV as a result of implementing such mitigating measures and the anticipated outcome of managements plan with MTVs stakeholders. Although SRHI believes that the Forward-Looking Statements are reasonable, they are not guarantees of future results, performance or achievements. A number of factors or assumptions have been used to develop the Forward-Looking Statements, including there being no significant disruptions affecting the development and operation of MTV; the availability of certain consumables (including water) and services and the prices for power, acid and other key supplies being approximately consistent with assumptions in the Technical Studies; the availability of financing for MTVs planned development activities; assumptions made in respect of general marketing, political, business and economic conditions. Actual results, performance or achievements could vary materially from those expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Statements should assumptions underlying the Forward-Looking Statements prove incorrect or should one or more risks or other factors materialize, including: possible variations in grade or recovery rates; copper price fluctuations and uncertainties; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; risks associated with the mining industry in general (e.g., operational risks in development, exploration and production; delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to mineral reserves, production, costs and expenses; and labour, health, safety and environmental risks); performance of the counterparties; risks associated with investments in emerging markets; general economic, market and business conditions; catastrophic events, manmade disasters, terrorist attacks, wars and other conflicts, or an outbreak or worsening of a public health pandemic or other public health crises; market volatility that would affect the ability to enter or exit investments; failure to secure financing in the future on terms acceptable to the Company, if at all; commodity price fluctuations and uncertainties; the financial situation of MTV deteriorates; and a lack of success in SRHIs strategic alternatives for MTV; those risks disclosed under the heading "Risk Management" in SRHIs Managements Discussion and Analysis for the three and nine-months ended September 30, 2019; and those risks disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" or incorporated by reference into SRHIs Annual Information Form dated March 6, 2019. The Forward-Looking Statements speak only as of the date hereof, unless otherwise specifically noted, and SRHI does not assume any obligation to publicly update any Forward-Looking Statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be expressly required by applicable Canadian securities laws. Investor contact information: Lucknow, March 23 : The two month long anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protest at Lucknows Clock Tower was called off 'temporarily on Monday morning in view of the COVID-19 scare. The women protesters said that they were suspending their protest in view of the corona scare, but would return to protest against the citizenship laws as soon as the situation eases. The decision apparently came after senior cleric appealed to the protesters and asked them to call off the protest in the public interests. The women left behind their "dupattas" and their cots as a mark of their continuing protest. They also requested the local administration to allow a status quo at the protest site. The protest at the Clock Tower in Lucknow began on January 17 and repeated attempts made by the police to force the protesters out have failed. The administration did not allow the women to put up a tent and three protesters died after falling ill due to winter rains. 23.03.2020 LISTEN An Accra Circuit Court has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Lawrence Abrokwa, the former husband of Afia Schwarzenegger for refusing to appear before it. The court presided over by Mrs. Justice Abena Oppong Adjin-Doku, a High Court judge siting as an additional Circuit court judge, was expected to deliver its judgement today in the case in which Abrokwa was being held on two counts of domestic violence to wit emotional, verbal and psychological abuse, threat of harm, assault, publication of obscene material, carrying offensive weapon, causing unlawful damage and stealing. Abrokwa at the last sitting failed to appear in court and the trial judge adjourned the matter to Monday March 23, 2020. When the case was called on Monday the accused's counsel told the court that he has made several calls to the accused but to no avail. The court therefore issued a bench warrant for his arrest and adjourned the matter to April 1. Sergeant Opoku Aniagyei held the brief of the Prosecuting officer, Chief Inspector Kofi Atimbire. The accused had pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of GH20,000.00 bail with three sureties, who should be gainfully employed. The Prosecution had earlier told the Court that the complainant, Afia Schwarzenegger, and Abrokwa were legally married and lived together at Dome Pillar Two, a suburb of Accra, in the house of the complainant. According to the Prosecution, about three weeks before the domestic incident, Abrokwa packed his things and left the house for Dansoman, following persistent misunderstanding between them. He said on August 29, 2017, Abrokwa was informed by their house help, one Afia Nyamekye, there is a male visitor with her mistress who would be spending the night with her. The Prosecution said based on this information, Abrokwa armed himself with a kitchen knife and a bottle containing some liquid purported to be acid. The prosecution said Abrokwa proceeded to the house of the complainant, scaled the wall and entered the compound. He said the accused found a strange private car, which he believed belongs to the visitor parked on the compound and deflated two tyres of the said car, and entered the house through the back door, with the assistance of the house help. He said the accused entered the bedroom with his mobile phone and forced the bedroom door opened and found Afia and her male visitor naked in bed. The Prosecution said Abrokwa threatened them to stay put as he had found them for him to video them, or else he would pour acid on them to cause harm to their bodies. Prosecution said the male visitor managed to escape during the confrontation, but Afia was prevented by Abrokwa, who ordered her to go on her knees, to declare herself as a prostitute, while he held the bottle of the alleged acid in his hand. He said Afia obliged to his instructions, while Abrokwa continued his video filming of the complainant in her nudity amidst pleas from her to stop. The Prosecution said in the process, Abrokwa assaulted Afia and chased her out of the house. He said Afia escaped to a neighbour, who eventually clothed her. The Prosecution said the accused then transmitted the nude videos of his wife to his second mobile phone before reporting the matter to the Police with all the items belonging to the visitor and the first phone used for the video. He said when the complainant went to the house later, she alleged that her bedside drawer had been forced opened and 2,000 dollars and 500 pounds had been taken by the accused. He said the complainant reported the matter to the Police and Abrokwa was arrested, cautioned and granted bail later. According to Prosecution, whilst the case was being investigated, Abrokwa transmitted the video from his phone to Afia's father on his phone on September 1, 2017. He said the video, however, went viral on social media and the bottle containing the said acid was sent to the Ghana Standard Authority (GSA) for examination. He said on September 13, 2017, the Police received a report from the GSA that the content in the bottle was water and not acid. ---GNA As Californians stay home to comply with orders meant to fight the coronavirus, many now rely on online food ordering to avoid crowds at supermarkets. But people who buy groceries with CalFresh, the states version of food stamps, are barred from using the benefit for online or delivered orders, meaning that they or their helpers must buy food in person at stores. Among those who depend on CalFresh are tens of thousands of seniors and people with disabilities for whom avoiding public spaces has taken on extra importance. Having the option to purchase online just like everybody else is something our clients have been asking for for a long time, said Jessica Bartholow, a legislative advocate at the Western Center on Law and Poverty. The crisis elevates that request. A lot of our folks really need the food delivered. The Chronicle has learned that California is asking the federal government, which oversees the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, for temporary permission to allow online food shopping and delivery for CalFresh recipients. To help get food to Californians, particularly those that are most vulnerable, California has requested a waiver from our federal partners at Food and Nutrition Services to allow CalFresh beneficiaries to use their state-issued (Electronic Benefit Transfer) cards for online food purchases, wrote Scott Murray, a spokesman for the California Department of Social Services, in an email. The agency sent a letter to the regional SNAP administrator on Friday explaining that social distancing and the required home isolation for people age 65 or older could last for weeks or months. During this time, Californians will need to meet their food needs while reducing in-person interactions, said the letter, signed by Alexis Fernandez, chief of the CalFresh and Nutrition Branch at the social services agency. For some SNAP households, this may require grocery home delivery. Currently the card provided to CalFresh recipients works only in person at participating grocery stores, farmers markets and some restaurants. It would make life a lot easier to have online CalFresh ordering, said Clif, a 70-year-old Berkeley resident with a disability. He asked to have his last name withheld because he doesnt want people to know he uses CalFresh; The Chronicle agreed in accordance with its policy on anonymous sources. Currently, Clif must take a bus to Safeway to buy groceries and then stagger home, lugging the heavy bags with difficulty, as well as encountering numerous people on the bus and in the store. He was not aware that CalFresh allows recipients to send a trusted person to the store with their card. The Western Center on Law and Poverty backs pending legislation, SB33, from state Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, that calls for California to study how to allow online CalFresh ordering permanently. Inside the newsroom Anonymous sources: The Chronicle strives to attribute all information we report to credible, reliable, identifiable sources. Presenting information from an anonymous source occurs extremely rarely, and only when that information is considered crucially important and all other on-the-record options have been exhausted. In such cases, The Chronicle has complete knowledge of the unnamed person's identity and of how that person is in position to know the information. The Chronicle's detailed policy governing the use of such sources, including the use of pseudonyms, is available on SFChronicle.com. See More Collapse The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers SNAP benefits, is experimenting with online ordering in Alabama, Iowa, New York, Oregon and Washington, working with a limited number of stores. In light of the pandemic, it said it wants to work with other states that want to offer online purchasing. However, it requires that online transactions be processed in accordance with government guidelines for safety and security. California proposed implementing online purchasing with retailers that already are part of the USDA pilots, namely Amazon and Walmart. In addition, California wants to include Safeway. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The state asked the government to expedite approval of other vendors for online ordering. Bartholow said she hopes small, local grocers would be included, especially ones located in food desert neighborhoods. Once it gets federal approval, California can implement online CalFresh ordering within two to three weeks, the letter said. The USDA said that one option already available is for CalFresh recipients to shop at local stores that offer online ordering of groceries, which individuals or their helpers could then pick up and pay for using their benefits card in the store. Amazon said it already enthusiastically participates in the food stamps online trial in New York, Washington, Iowa and Oregon. The program works for qualified food ordered via the regular Amazon e-commerce site as well as Amazon Fresh, its grocery delivery service, and Amazon Pantry, its nonperishable grocery service for Prime members. Amazon is committed to making food accessible through online shopping, offering all customers access to low prices, selection, and convenience, said Kristina Herrmann, director of underserved populations at Amazon, in a statement. This is especially important as millions of Americans are being encouraged to stay at home. We continue to work closely with the USDA as the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot grows. Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @csaid New York Governor Andrew Cuomo held another press conference, which has now become appointment viewing for New Yorkers who are stuck inside their homes as the state confronts the rapid rise in coronavirus cases, to give an update on coronavirus cases, Sunday. During the press conference, Gov. Cuomo discussed his plans for the hospitals and that he wants to acquire more medical supplies to alleviate the problem with the scarcity of resources. He also said that with the current trend in which the virus is going, the state may need 110,000 more hospital beds since they only have 53,000 available. Moreover, Gov. Cuomo also stated that he plans on expanding the existing hospital capacity of New York hospitals by 100%. He also noted that whilst his goal seems ambitious, he has already started to reach it by creating a Department of Health Emergency Order which orders hospitals to increase their bed capacities by 50%. If imposed this will take the state's minimum hospital capacity by 75,000. Furthermore, as part of his plans to increase beds, he also said that he would cancel all elective and non-critical surgery by March 25. On top of this, Cuomo also stated that he plans to re-purpose building such as nursing homes and hotels to serve as temporary hospitals. He already announced on Saturday that he was planning to set up four temporary hospitals with 250 beds each across the state. Read also: LOOK: Coronavirus Healthcare Workers in Philippines Use Plastic, Garbage Bags as Improvised PPE The governor has already sought out help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for supplied and staff in order to aid in the setting up of temporary hospitals in the Javits Center. During the press conference, Cuomo also discussed a form of testing he wants the Food and Drug Administration to push. He suggested the development of serological testing that can find individuals with antibodies that can combat COVID-19. Another topic during the press conference was the drug trials, Cuomo said that the state has secured supplies that are needed for the trials which will start on Tuesday, March 24, including 70k Hydroxychloroquine, 10k Zithromax and 750k Chloroquine. Coronavirus pandemic could last up to 9 months During the conference, Cuomo also mentioned the pandemic can persist until 2021. He stated that it could take up to nine months before the pandemic would be controlled. However, he also said that the situation remains very fluid and even experts are not able to tell when the contagion will reach the end of its course. In response to the disease which has infected more than 15,000 people in the state of New York, the federal government has already taken several steps to mitigate and control the rise in cases. At the moment, New York has the highest density of COVID-19 cases in the United States, there are already 114 deaths that have been reported in the city and more than 9,000 of the 15,000 cases in the State are from New York City alone and he explained that this is because of the density of people in the city. Related article: Dr. Fauci Urges the Government and Public to Stay Home for At least Several More Weeks @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. For Houston-resident Trinidad Rivera, 45, having an online funeral was never something shed considered. But when her mother Maria Trinidad Mendez died March 17, she realized it was her only option. How do you mourn under the current restrictions? We could also not have a church service because theyve been canceled. It was blow after blow, said Rivera. When Joe Morales of Houstons Morales Funeral Homes approached Rivera about streaming her mothers funeral service, she did not hesitate to agree. Had it been another time, I am not sure how I would have felt about it. But under the current circumstances, we all have to find a different way to do things, said Rivera. It turned out to be the best thing. It was a ray of light because we were able to get closure. The novel coronavirus has taken a toll on restaurants, retailers, schools and other industries. Add to the list, the funeral home business. During a Facebook Live event on March 16 with the National Funeral Directors Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggested that funerals could still take place with a 50-person limit. A week later, a gathering of 50 people is inconceivable and the CDC recommends live streaming of funeral services. Although the decision was easy for Rivera, the idea of webcasting funeral services is tough for many to grasp. It is hard to get people not to come to a funeral. They want to pay their respects in person, said Morales. Funeral homes across the region have COVID-19 notices posted on their websites. Among them is Bradshaw-Carter Memorial & Funeral Services on West Alabama. During this public health emergency and in light of new guidance from city, county, and national health authorities, Bradshaw-Carter will host only private gatherings within our funeral home, limiting guests to groups of 10 people or less to prevent the spread of potential illness and protect the health of those who visit our home, the sites notice says. While Rivera and her immediate family were able to attend the viewing and chapel service in shifts, and in one small group, respectively other family members and friends could not. To allow them to be part of the service, it was filmed and uploaded to the funeral homes website. Rivera was provided with a link to the video, which she sent to her family, including her brothers who could not travel to Houston. I sent it to my nieces and nephews because they are all tech-savvy. They helped our family members with streaming it. Around 100 people had watched it as of Saturday, said Rivera. Burial services, however, still pose an obstacle for funeral homes. We dont have the equipment to stream from the graveside. We are suggesting they go in a small group of less than 10, stand 6-feet apart and do a Facebook Live post, said Morales. Martinez has been webcasting funeral services for nearly two years. An online funeral last year for a native of India had 5,000 views by family and friends all over the world. We have used it for families who are unable to come into town or have to work. Offering webcasting at the burial site is also an issue for Martinez. It is hard to tell people they cant come because it is limited to 10 people. Ive thought about doing it through Facetime. Soon, Martinez sees funeral homes moving away from services entirely and focusing only on burials. I dont think we will have any services in the chapel. Just direct interment service, he said. We already dont have Mass. Deacons are not coming to the chapel, only to the graveside. If it gets to that point, we will have a memorial service after this is over, with a portrait of the deceased so people can pay their respects. Congregation Beth Yeshurun on Beechnut has already done away with memorial services. It is something they started planning for in advance. We started having discussions and making plans months ago fearing this would happen, said Rabbi Brian Strauss. Since the CDC allows groups of 10 to gather, the synagogue is still able to conduct a traditional minyan consisting of 10 Jewish adults in one room to say prayers. Any less than 10 and we cant say them, said Strauss. That includes the Mourners Kaddish, which is an important prayer said in honor of the deceased. marcy.deluna@chron.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Benny Mawel (The Jakarta Post) Jayapura Mon, March 23, 2020 20:13 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206cee935 1 National Papua,West-Papua,COVID-19,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,coronavirus,Wamena,lockdown,pandemic Free The Papuan Customary Council has called on local authorities to limit access to Papua and West Papua following the report of the first two COVID-19 cases in the region on Sunday. "We demand that the authorities halt all flights to Papua," Customary Council head Dominikus Surabut said on Monday. He also urged the Papua and West Papua provincial administrations to restrict people's activities to further contain the spread of the virus. "There must be concrete action [to combat COVID-19]," Dominikus said, suggesting that prevention was better than cure. Papua's COVID-19 task force reported previously that 15 patients were under surveillance in Papua as of March 22. Two of them tested positive while two others were negative. The remaining 11 patients were still waiting for their test results. Papua Governor Lukas Enembe is set to hold a meeting with 29 regional heads, along with their respective health agencies, to discuss preventive measures. "We will announce whether or not a lockdown will be imposed on Wednesday," Lukas said on Monday. Separately, on Sunday, Mamberamo Tengah Regent Ham Pagawan said that he would ask for an aircraft from the central government to help transport potential COVID-19 patients from Papua's mountainous areas, which are difficult to reach by land. They would then be transported to Wamena, the capital of Jayawijaya regency, for treatment. "Wamena will be the community service center for people from mountainous areas," Ham said. As of Monday afternoon, Indonesia had recorded 579 confirmed COVID-19 cases nationwide, with 49 deaths. (vny) [March 22, 2020] Centric Software(R) Launches Quick-Start Collaboration Packages for Fashion, Retail and Manufacturers to empower collaboration CAMPBELL, Calif., March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Responding to the disruptions faced during the COVID-19 outbreak and requests from the market, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) market leader Centric Software announces the launch of a new series of quick-start, online collaboration packages designed to get brands, retailers and manufacturers working remotely in only a few days. Centric Software provides the most innovative enterprise solutions to fashion, retail, footwear, outdoor, luxury and consumer goods companies to achieve strategic and operational digital transformation goals. Leveraging a combination of market-driven, technology innovations and industry best practices, brands, retailers and manufacturers can collaborate closely, continuing business-critical operations such as sample reviews, design reviews, buying and go-to-market meetings and more all remotely. Adopting technology and best-practices also future-proof organizations while cutting time-to-market and streamlining costs. Three Centric 8 PLMQuick-Start Collaboration Packages are now available. Each is deployed in days, not weeks or months and can be deployed remotely. "Our customers are looking for ways to stay operational while respecting health guidelines on social distancing, remote working and travel," says Ron Watson, VP of Product at Centric Software. "In response, we have created packages that enable remote work for sample & fit reviews, vendor collaboration and buying sessions. These can be implemented in days so that businesses can be agile and proactive, gain critical oversight and alter strategies quickly." Each of the three packages was conceived for a different stage in a company's digital journey: For those new or unaccustomed to remote collaboration and digital work, a Sample and Quote Package digitalizes fit reviews, both physical and 3D materials, product sample reviews and vendor quote management. Leveraging innovations like cloud-based technologies, easy to use mobile apps and/or industry-leading 3D solutions as well as industry best-practices like guidance on holding online product/fit reviews, taking photos, etc., companies can take first steps into remote group collaboration built upon an intelligent structure for highly visual, daa-driven decisions. For companies with Centric PLM but who are not yet fully collaborating with vendors remotely, a second Vendor Collaboration Package gets them up and running with industry-specific innovations for co-design, sample reviews, RFQ management, evaluation, finalization and assortment building. If challenged by holding online buying, Centric's digital board solution, Centric Visual Innovation Platform (CVIP), can be rapidly deployed using out-of-the-box configurations whether or not a company already has a PLM solution in place. With the Buying Session Package, develop global, regional and store assortments, get regional feedback, finalize product quantity commitments and more in a highly visual and fully digitalized manner regardless of where teams are based. Zoe Wang, a designer at Chinese womenswear brand GLORIA, says, "Fortunately, our design department has Centric PLM, so we can work at home. Unlike other systems that can only be operated on the company premises, we can easily log into Centric PLM online to check and update development progress anytime, anywhere. The color and material libraries enable us to understand the characteristics of colors, fabrics and accessories without physical objects. Because PLM contains detailed, up-to-date images and data, we can design, match and combine products without using physical samples." Centric Quick-Start Collaboration Packages are available now from Centric Software, and the Centric team is ready to respond to the emerging challenges of existing and new customers as market disruptions unfold. "External influences make the marketplace increasingly unpredictable," says Chris Groves, President and CEO of Centric Software. "Our new packages have been developed in response to requests from our customers to be hyper-responsive to change. Our team will get customers up and running quickly on an easy-to-use, 'single actionable source of the truth' digital platform that has been developed specifically to facilitate remote meetings and digital work. We are prepared to help our customers be ready to meet new challenges in the weeks, months and years ahead." Learn more Centric Software (www.centricsoftware.com) From its headquarters in Silicon Valley, Centric Software provides a Digital Transformation Platform for the most prestigious names in fashion, retail, footwear, luxury, outdoor and consumer goods. Centric's flagship Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) platform, Centric 8, delivers enterprise-class merchandise planning, product development, sourcing, quality and collection management functionality tailored for fast-moving consumer industries. Centric SMB provides innovative PLM technology and key industry learnings for emerging brands. Centric Visual Innovation Platform (VIP) offers a new fully visual and digital experience for collaboration and decision-making and includes the Centric Buying Board to transform internal buying sessions and maximize retail value and the Centric Concept Board for driving creativity and evolving product concepts. All Centric innovations shorten time to market, boost product innovation and reduce costs. Centric Software is majority-owned by Dassault Systemes (Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), the world leader in 3D design software, 3D Digital Mock Up and PLM solutions. Centric Software has received multiple industry awards and recognition, including being named by Red Herring to its Top 100 Global list in 2013, 2015 and 2016. Centric also received various excellence awards from Frost & Sullivan in 2012, 2016 and 2018. Centric is a registered trademark of Centric Software. All other brands and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners. SOURCE Centric Software [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Please register or log in to keep reading. No credit card required! Stay logged in to skip the surveys. E-commerce major Amazon reportedly set aside a $25 million fund to help its delivery partners globally as the crisis created by COVID-19 pandemic continues to hit normal life. With the country is gradually heading to a total lockdown in the wake of mounting positive coronavirus cases, the work load has increased manifold for e-commerce firms as people in large numbers have started depending on online firms for daily use commodities. The immediate impact of this is that there is a delay in deliveries. E-commerce major Amazon has reportedly set aside a $25 million fund to help its delivery partners globally as the crisis created by COVID-19 pandemic continues to hit normal life, said a report in Business Insider. As the coronavirus pandemic is spreading across the world, people are forced to stay at home to prevent further spread of the epidemic. This has resulted in an exponential growth in the number of online ordersa number of products are unavailable and deliveries are delayed, said the report. To ensure there is no disruption of supply of essential commodities, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs had advised state governments and local administration to exempt e-commerce operations (warehouse and logistics facilities and services), wholesalers, their vendors and third party delivery partners who are part of the supply and logistic chain eco-system, from any type of prohibitory orders, reported PTI. Accordingly, delivery agents from Amazon, Flipkart, Zomato, Swiggy, Bigbasket, Grofers and others would be able to continue their services. On 21 March, Flipkart said that e-commerce world over has been the lifeblood for cities under shutdown to fight against coronavirus while lauding the government move to exempt e-tailers from any order that restrict supply through them, reported PTI. "We see that world over, e-commerce, powered by technology, has played a key role as a partner with the public authorities and has been the lifeblood for cities under shutdown to fight COVID-19," Flipkart spokesperson said in a statement. Demand for hand sanitisers, masks E-commerce companies have seen a jump in order across several categories in last several days and have run out of stock in some categories specially masks and hand sanitisers. Amazon said that the ongoing coronavirus crisis has impacted its operation in the short-term and it is working to resolve it. "In particular, you will notice that we are currently out of stock on some popular brands and items, especially in household staples categories. You will also notice that some of our delivery promises are longer than usual. We are working around the clock with our selling partners to ensure availability on all of our products, and bring on additional capacity to deliver all of your orders," Amazon said in a blog post. The company did not share any comment on the government move to exempt e-commerce for supply of essential items. Amid increasing lock down across the country, Amazon and Flipkart last week announced drastic measures to keep the orders moving albeit slowly as panic buying continues, reported IANS. According to Amazon, as COVID-19 has spread, it has seen an increase in people shopping online. "In the short term, this is having an impact on how we serve our customers. In particular, you will notice that we are currently out of stock on some popular brands and items, especially in household staples categories," the company said in a recent blog post. A Flipkart spokesperson said that during these unprecedented times, they are not only making efforts to keep running its operations as normal as possible but also ensuring that its supply chain is extremely safe for them. "We see demand in some categories increase and our teams are working relentlessly in partnership with our sellers to meet customer demand as people are increasingly following social distancing and are not stepping out of their homes," the e-tailer said in a statement, the IANS report said. Early this month, Flipkart pledged to give delivery workers leave with full pay and benefits if they contract COVID-19 or are placed under quarantine. Flipkart said it has made temperature screening using infra-red thermometers mandatory for all employees, vendors and visitors. Persons with suspected flu symptoms are advised to return home. --With inputs from agencies Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 22:20:22|Editor: mingmei Video Player Close Tourists visit Beijing Zoo in Beijing, capital of China, March 23, 2020. The Beijing Zoo, a popular tourist attraction in the Chinese capital, partially resumed operation from Monday. All outdoor tourist exhibits are reopened to the public from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., while indoor animal venues, science museums, exhibition centers and dining halls remain shuttered. The zoo asks visitors have their temperatures measured upon arrival, wear masks and maintain a distance of no less than 1.5 meters from each other. Visitor numbers are strictly controlled based on real-time monitoring data. Visitors are also required to reserve tickets at least one day in advance on the zoo's account on social media platform WeChat. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) AL-HAMRA MILITARY BASE, United Arab Emirates - U.S. Marines and Emirati forces held a major military exercise Monday that saw forces seize a sprawling model Mideast city, a drill conducted amid tensions with Iran and despite the new coronavirus pandemic. Troops raced over the dunes of the Al-Hamra Military Base to take the model city, complete with multi-story buildings, an airport control tower, an oil refinery and a central mosque. Controlled explosions rang out as Emirati troops rappelled from hovering helicopters and Marines searched narrow streets on the Persian Gulf for enemy forces. The biennial exercise, called Native Fury, shows the close ties between American forces and the UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula home to Abu Dhabi, the capital, and Dubai, its financial heart. It also comes after the U.S. killed Irans most prominent general in a drone strike in January, and Tehran retaliated with a ballistic missile attack on American forces in Iraq. While acknowledging the tensions, U.S. officials dismissed the idea of Tehran viewing such an exercise with suspicion, only some 300 kilometres (185 miles) from its shores. Provocative? I dont know, said Brig. Gen. Thomas Savage of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, the ranking U.S. commander at the event. Were about stability in the region. So if they view it as provocative, well, thats up to them. This is just a normal training exercise for us. The exercise saw 4,000 U.S. troops from the Army, Marines and Navy position armoured vehicles and other equipment from Kuwait and the island of Diego Garcia in al-Hamra using a portable pier system. The barren desert, some 200 kilometres (125 miles) southwest of Abu Dhabi, is home to the UAEs vast oil reserves as well as its new Barakah nuclear power plant. The combined U.S. forces and the Emirati troops then stormed the imaginary city of al-Hamra, whose blocks of stand-alone houses, hotels and apartment complexes include an unfinished gas station with a sign for the fast-food chicken restaurant Popeyes on it. While the gunplay included mostly blanks, the practice remains deadly serious for the UAE, which has spent billions on its military including the Blackhawk and Chinook helicopters that circled overhead, the armoured carriers that splashed into the citys canals and the facility itself. The UAE deployed forces into Afghanistan after the 2001 U.S. invasion targeting al-Qaida following the 9-11 attacks. Its day-to-day ruler, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has sought to project Emirati military power in the Mideast and into East Africa as well. Former U.S. Defence Secretary Jim Mattis famously proclaimed the Emirates little Sparta for its posture. That military push has included taking part in the long-running Saudi-led war in Yemen, which has seen sexual abuse at a UAE-controlled prison and the Emirates paying off members of al-Qaidas local branch there. The UAE since has pulled its troops out of Yemen, calling for a political settlement to end a conflict between the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels there and its Saudi-backed, internationally recognized government. Emirati military officials at the base in al-Hamra on Monday declined to speak to Associated Press journalists. U.S. Ambassador John Rakolta Jr., on hand for the event, praised the UAE. Partnerships are based on many aspects, many fundamentals, and this happens just one of them, he said when asked about Yemen. Trust is a huge, huge factor. Transparency, common values all work into a partnership. Rakolta also described the exercise as defensive in nature when asked about Iran. I dont believe that theyre intended to demonstrate a provocative act to the Iranians to say were coming, he said. Rather, were protecting ourselves and we want to sit down at the conference table and negotiate a lasting peace settlement. There was no immediate reaction in Iranian state media to the exercise. Irans mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Also a concern is the ongoing outbreak of the new coronavirus. Rakolta said no U.S. diplomat in the UAE had contracted the virus. Savage said those U.S. forces involved had had little contact with the outside world after shipping out for the event and none had tested positive since. However, he said the military remained vigilant in terms of sanitation while living at the desert base. This has been an incredible training opportunity for us to go through this and practice how we would do something if, God forbid, we are forced to go fight in this region again, Savage said. ___ Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP. China has seen a drop in COVID-19 cases with the country reporting no new locally transmitted case of coronavirus over the last few days. It is touted as a big achievement for China given the fact that deadly virus emerged from there. As the COVID-19 cases started increasing, China swung into action to control the spread of the virus by ordering lockdown of Wuhan, the epicentre of coronavirus. After the country started seeing fruits of its efforts, its citizens are doing every bit to thank medical practitioners for their selfless service in the fight against the pandemic. Hailing the medical practitioners, a city in China projected faces of healthcare workers on buildings. The city of Fuzhou in China put on display the faces of doctors and nurses on buildings and giant screens following their return from Wuhan. A video of this gesture by Chinese citizens is going viral on the internet. If reports are anything to go by, the residents of Fuzhou greeted around 200 medics who were deployed at 16 hospitals in Wuhan by plastering their faces on buildings after they return home. It was a way to express their gratitude to the medics, who put their lives at risk to treat infected patients. However, Fuzhou is not the only city honouring its medics. Apart from it, cities like Nanjing, Hangzhou, Tianjin, and Nanchang are also paying tribute to their healthcare workers. A few days ago, residents in Wuhan illuminated buildings and bridges with cheerful slogans for medics. President Donald Trump told Gov. Phil Murphy that New Jersey would get four pop-up hospitals to help handle the surge in patients from the coronavirus outbreak, the governor said Monday. Murphy said hes asked the president for the Federal Emergency Management Agencys help to build at least pop-up hospitals during a phone call with Trump earlier Monday. The president, to his credit, said he would support that," Murphy said at his daily coronavirus briefing in Trenton. We are clearly going to need these field hospitals. No details were provided about where the pop-up hospitals would be based. Murphy made the announcement as he said New Jersey now has at least 2,844 known coronavirus cases with 27 deaths as officials announced Monday 935 new positive tests on the same day the second state-run testing site opened in Monmouth County and quickly hit capacity due to overwhelming demand. The governor also said people should expect New Jersey schools to be closed for an extended period of time during the coronavirus outbreak. Murphy took the dramatic step Saturday of signing executive orders shutting down non-essential retail businesses in the state, canceling social gatherings, and instructing people to quite simply stay at home." The new orders calls for nearly all New Jersey residents to stay in and refrain from travel except for obtaining food and medicine, seeking medical attention, visiting family and close friends, exercise, and reporting to work at a business that is still open. The non-essential business shutdown took effect Saturday. The list of essential businesses that are allowed to keep operating is, according to the state website: Manufacturing, industrial, logistics, ports, heavy construction, shipping, food production, food delivery, and other commercial operations; and medical facilities where a sick or injured person is given care or treatment, such as doctors offices, hospitals, dentist offices, long-term care facilities and other medical offices. On Sunday, Murpphy kicked off his daily coronavirus briefing with a stern message to the residents of New Jersey: the state wont tolerate racism as it battles a pandemic. The governor, without providing any details of specific incidents, decried any racist attacks against members of New Jerseys Asian population, saying diversity is the core strength of the state. This repugnant and repulsive behavior is wrong. We are one New Jersey family. Everyone is fighting the same fight," he said. "We are going to get through this together. Also, he said hes really damned unhappy to hear stories hes hearing about New Jersey residents not abiding by his stay-at-home order to combat the coronavirus outbreak and warned Sunday to expected a law enforcement crackdown. Sign up for text message alerts from NJ.com on coronavirus in New Jersey: Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 14:50:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The world is now in battle against the common threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, a disease caused by a previously unknown coronavirus that has spread to over 180 countries and regions around the world. The following are the latest updates on the contagious illness. - - - - WELLINGTON -- New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday that the country will shut down in response to the community transmission of COVID-19 in two days. Ardern announced the country would adopt the most severe response, level four of New Zealand's COVID-19 response system, in 48 hours. "These decisions will place the most significant restriction on New Zealanders' movements in modern history. This is not a decision taken lightly. But this is our best chance to slow the virus and to save lives," Ardern said. - - - - SEOUL -- South Korea said on Monday that it will set up the so-called "walking through" virus testing facilities at the country's main gateway Incheon International Airport, west the capital Seoul, to help prevent the COVID-19 cases from being imported from abroad. Yoon Tae-ho, an overall officer of disinfection at the Central Disaster Management headquarters, told a press briefing that about 40 "walking through" testing booths are scheduled to be installed at the Incheon airport from Wednesday. - - - - TOKYO -- Japan's health ministry and local governments said Monday the total number of people infected with the COVID-19 virus stood at 1,102 as of 10:30 a.m. local time here. The death toll in Japan from the pneumonia-causing virus currently stands at a total of 49 people, according to the health ministry, with the figure including those from the virus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship that was quarantined in Yokohama, close to Tokyo. - - - - LOS ANGELES -- U.S. President Donald Trump has approved California's request for a presidential Major Disaster Declaration to bolster the most populous U.S. state's COVID-19 emergency response efforts, California Governor Gavin Newsom said Sunday. The announcement came hours after Newsom sent a letter to Trump to request the action in response to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. - - - - CANBERRA -- The Australian government has called out Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel to help manage the outbreak of COVID-19. Linda Reynolds, the minister for defence, on Monday confirmed that ADF teams will help overwhelmed health authorities with contact tracing of COVID-19 cases. Reconnaissance, planning and support teams from the ADF have also been deployed to state coordination centers. - - - - BEIJING -- China's banking and insurance institutions have mobilized resources to aid more than 20 countries and regions in their fight against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), an official said. The Bank of China, for example, has purchased medical supplies totaling 2.25 million pieces including face masks and protective suits to send to more than 10 countries and regions, said Zhou Liang, vice chairman of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission. - - - - PHNOM PENH -- A team of Chinese medical experts arrived in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Monday to help the country fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The seven-member expert team were warmly greeted by Cambodian Minister of Health Mam Bunheng and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian at the Phnom Penh international airport. Dozens of people also waved the flags of Cambodia and China to welcome them as they arrived at the capital's airport. - - - - WUHAN -- No new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were reported Sunday in Wuhan, marking the fifth day in a row of zero increase as the former hardest-hit city recovers from the epidemic. The health commission of Hubei Province, of which Wuhan is the capital, said the central Chinese province also registered zero increase in new confirmed cases on Sunday. No new suspected cases were reported on Sunday, as well. Florida's Governor Ron Desantis announced that he will require coronavirus testing of all air travelers arriving in his state from the New York City region after a 'huge amount' of people, who were given stay at home orders, began showing up in his state. Desantis, speaking at a news conference on Monday in Sumter County, noted that there are more than 190 direct flights from New York's airports, which includes Newark Liberty across the river in New Jersey. He also speculated that 'every flight has someone on it that is positive for COVID-19.' Florida's Governor Ron Desantis (pictured at a news conference Monday) announced that he will require coronavirus testing of all air travelers arriving in his state from the New York City region Desantis said he was ordering the testing after a 'huge amount' of people, who were given stay at home orders, began showing up in his state. Travellers in masks are seen at New York's JFK airport this weekend DeSantis noted that there are more than 190 direct flights from New York's airports, which includes Newark Liberty across the river in New Jersey. Pictured are travelers passing through terminal one at JFK Airport in New York DeSantis also speculated that 'every flight has someone on it that is positive for COVID-19.' Travelers in masks are seen arriving at Miami International Airport this weekend Desantis said the move to test travelers was necessary as part of his state's effort to slow the spread of the deadly pandemic, WKMG reports. The governor also said he still doesn't want to lock down the state and place residents under a shelter-in-place order due to the coronavirus. He pointed to New York's experience as further evidence that efforts to contain people, even at the urging of top health officials, can backfire. 'If you look at what happened in New York, when they did the stay at home order, what did people do?' DeSantis said, the Tampa Bay Times reports. 'Well, a lot of people fled the city. ... We're getting huge amounts of people flying in.' DeSantis said he spoke to President Donald Trump about the rise in travel on Sunday night, when New York City went into a lockdown and asked all non-essential workers to stay home. He said he also asked the president about limiting domestic flights more than a week ago. There are close to 42,000 confirmed cases in the US of the coronavirus, which has been blamed for 576 known deaths. As of Monday, Florida had 1,227 cases, resulting in 18 deaths. More than 46,000 people tested positive for coronavirus by Monday night, and close to 600 were dead How the number of new coronavirus infections in the US has escalated How the number of deaths resulting from the coronavirus has escalated in the US DeSantis said he spoke to President Donald Trump about the rise in travel on Sunday night, when New York City went into a lockdown and asked all non-essential workers to stay home. The president is pictured speaking at a coronavirus task force update Sunday 'For every action, there's a reaction,' DeSantis said. 'We're going to consider what makes sense for Florida.' DeSantis, speaking at The Villages, the largest retirement community in the US and a GOP stronghold, touted a new drive-thru testing lab that was set up in partnership with the University of Florida. While the school live-streamed the news conference on Facebook, viewers posted a flurry of comments pleading with DeSantis to severely restrict travel within the state. 'The longer you wait to shut us down, the longer it will take for our state to recover from all of this!' one woman wrote. A woman on named Sue Price responded to Governor Desantis' news conference as it was broadcast on Facebook, pleading with him to shut down the state Trump left it up to each state how they choose to respond to the coronavirus outbreak, prompting governors to issue local lockdowns which have impacted residents and non-essential businesses and services. The states that have issued shelter-in place orders, so far, are California, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Ohio, Oregon, Nevada and Pennsylvania. Florida has experienced a community spread of the infection, as images of Spring Breakers defying beach closings have created a backlash across the country. Florida has experienced a community spread of the infection, as images of Spring Breakers defying beach closings have created a backlash across the country. A skateboarder passes a 'Beach Closed' sign on the boardwalk in Miami Beach Sunday Rather than move to close the state off at this point, DeSantis argued that he and other officials have responded to the outbreak by following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control, or CDC. Among the state's counties, only Miami-Dade and Broward have ordered all non-essential businesses to close. DeSantis warned anyone who did not heed coronavirus warnings to immediately start social distancing, as recommended by health officials to help contain the outbreak. 'At the end of the day, you're going to have a group of people that are not going to comply, that are going to put themselves first,' he said Monday. 'I would just say for those folks, you need to cool it.' Your holiday, our lives turn around. Thats the message painted on a square of chipboard in red, green and yellow outside a house in the coastal town of Newport, Pembrokeshire. Similar signs across rural Wales are less polite. Locals in this tourist hotspot are incensed because second home owners and holidaymakers are travelling here to self-isolate in the countryside. Official advice is to avoid non-essential travel and the Welsh government has just ordered campsites, caravan parks and access to certain mountains to be closed. But those with second homes, cottage holiday bookings and touring caravans are simply being urged to stay away. The proportion of elderly here is higher than the national average. And NHS facilities are bare bones. There are seven intensive care beds in the nearest hospital, Withybush General, according to a 2016 document. Withybush is a half-hour drive away. The local health board says it is working with NHS Wales on increasing the number of beds and ventilators. But this is the main hospital in Pembrokeshire and serves the countys population of 125,000. If those who become ill in Newport cant be treated at Withybush, they will have to go to Glangwili General in Carmarthen, which is an hours drive and has 14 critical care beds. Its not just health fears that have locals worrying. Food shops were not prepared for an influx of visitors and supplies of staples such as flour, bread and lentils are becoming hard to find. Shop owners say the last few days have been as busy as the peak summer season. Clare Thomas, shopkeeper and owner of Whole Foods of Newport, is quickly adapting to the crisis. The 43-year-old has multiple sclerosis and a teenage daughter and knows she must avoid getting the virus but is keen to keep the shop open. She has noticed the town filling up over the last few days. A week last Friday, the first person I recognise from the summer came in, she said. He comes to us all the time, hes got a second home here, hes an accountant in London. He sort of said, Oh Londons absolutely crazy, Ive come down to escape. And I thought, Oh my god, I know the virus is a bit more advanced up there. It didnt feel very nice. Then Saturday, I just noticed more and more people coming in. By Monday, it was getting really busy, it seemed like summer here. She has made changes to the shop customers now order from a table at the front and only two are allowed in at a time but still she has been running out of stock. One of her two suppliers has stopped taking business and the other, Suma, has been able to deliver only half of her order. It isnt just panic buying; she knows which customers are local and can see an influx. The message in Newport, Pembrokeshire. Another on the right reads, I agree with next door (Emily Clark) My daughter and I were coming out of Newport at the weekend and seeing all these big posh cars and we had a joke first one to spot a local, she said. We went all through town and didnt spot anybody. There was a Lamborghini, a Mercedes, big Land Rovers. Wanting to swap crowded streets and public transport for green space, fresh air and wide beaches is understandable. I dont blame them, said Ms Thomas. But Im frightened of it and it is dangerous. Weve got an ageing population, theyll probably kill off half the people round here. There are nearly 4,000 second homes in Pembrokeshire, according to the council. The size of the average UK household is 2.4, so that could mean an extra 9,600 people for the county to take in. Earlier in the crisis, businesses welcomed tourists. One holiday cottage company produced an advert that read: SCHOOLS OUT! Escape to secluded Pembrokeshire with the family at non school holiday prices. They have since withdrawn the advert and have stopped taking bookings. Three counties in west Wales Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire issued a joint statement on Sunday asking tourists not to visit. Welsh Assembly minister Vaughan Gething said he and the Welsh first minister are considering how to use legal powers to stop second home owners and tourists from travelling to the country. The UK government updated its advice on Sunday, saying: Essential travel does not include visits to second homes, camp sites, caravan parks or similar, whether for isolation purposes or holidays. People should remain in their primary residence. Not taking these steps puts additional pressure on communities and services that are already at risk. For some here, that advice is not enough. They say measures need to be strengthened. Tim Thomas, an electrician who lives in Newport, said the Spar the main store in the town was stripped of food on Sunday night. I think its very selfish of them all, we havent got the infrastructure in this neck of the woods, he said. Jumping in the car and coming down to your second home is total stupidity. To anyone else thinking of travelling, he had a clear message: Stay at home Boris has made it quite simple. Its very very simple. These are meant to be intelligent people with lots of money, because they can afford second houses, and they cant put two and two together. Rajya Sabha will be adjourned sine die after completion of the business listed for Monday in view of the coronavirus outbreak, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu announced in the House. Soon after the House assembled for the day at 2 pm, Naidu said he had met leaders of various parties, including Leader of the House Thawarchand Gehlot and Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad. During the meeting, it was agreed that the House would be adjourned ahead of schedule keeping in mind the serious situation. Lok Sabha was also adjourned sine die after the passage of the Finance Bill 2020. The Budget Session was scheduled to end on April 3. Rajya Sabha paid tributes to the security personnel killed in an encounter with Naxals in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh last week. The House paid a tribute to them by observing silence. The members also prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the attack. The Upper House also commemorated the Martyrdom Day of freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru for their supreme sacrifice for the country on this day in 1931. The members also expressed hope that India will collectively overcome the huge challenge posed by the coronavirus outbreak in the coming weeks. Naidu said the panic outbreak of the dreaded coronavirus across the globe and the efforts being made to contain its spread is a major contemporary issue which the House needs to take note of. "The efforts of the central and the state governments and the people of our country are particularly noteworthy," he said. The Chairman said March 22 was a "Super Sunday for our country" and the voluntary curfew observed by the people for 14 hours to contain the spread of this virus was "unprecedented and heartwarming". "The people of our country rose in unison to the call of national duty in this hour of crisis," Naidu said. Naidu observed that the extraordinary response of the people was a clear demonstration of the collective resolve of the nation to address this formidable challenge. "It was also heartening that a sense of gratitude and appreciation for the doctors, nurses, media and all others in the forefront of the fight against the virus resonated across the country at 5 pm yesterday," he said. This House took note of the positive response to the janta curfew by thumping of benches. The Chairman further said the central and state governments are doing their best to tide over the challenge. "Several restrictions on the movement of the people are being imposed. This may certainly cause some inconvenience to the people but extraordinary situations warrant extreme measures," he said. "It is critical that we respect the directions and follow them scrupulously. This House urges the people to bear with such restrictions and cooperate as they had done yesterday," he said. Following the outbreak of the virus, many parts of the country has been put under lockdown with an aim to contain the spread of virus and creating social distancing. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Although not coined during the 2007-2008 financial crisis, the term too big to fail was used heavily at the time, as banks and multinational corporations were handed a lifeline in bailouts on account of their size. The term has been bandied about again recently, as Boeing (BA), one of the travel industry giants, is staring precipitously over the cliffs edge. Boeing shares are down by nearly 70% year-to-date, as investor concerns about liquidity have sent the stock price under $100 for the first time since 2013. Along with the energy sector, travel has taken the heaviest punch since the coronavirus began decimating the market. Boeing has now requested $60 billion in federal assistance, which has raised the question whether the government will force the company into bankruptcy. According to Merrill Lynchs Ronald Epstein, this scenario is unlikely on account of two reasons: (1) Boeing and its supply chain represent a critical industry for US economic growth and trade deficit reduction; and 2) Commercial Aerospace is a duopoly that needs to be supported long-term, the analyst said. Instead, quoting fellow BofA credit analyst Doug Karson, Epstein counts six possible outcomes: three of these are unlikely, and include a GM like bailout, a direct $60 billion loan and one which involves no action from the US government. Two further options are possible; the US government buys Boeing or a loan with a mix of high coupon preferred. The most likely scenario, according to the analyst, is a $60 billion bailout in a mixed loan. Epstein explained, We envision a bailout could be a mix of direct support for Boeing and a larger component of support for the supplier base. Of course we have no idea of the true size, but for illustration purposes, we can estimate $15bn for Boeing and $45bn for the supplier base. Under this scenario, $15bn of loans could be recourse to Boeing and sit on Boeings balance sheet. At year-end 2019, the pension-adjusted debt balance, pro forma for the new term loan, totaled $55bn. Prior to any government bailout, Boeings gross leverage, adjusted for pensions, was 3.7x, off of a 2019 EBITDA of $14.8bn. The $15bn government loan would increase leverage by 1-2x depending on how deeply EBITDA falls in 2020. Story continues So, from an investing point of view, is now a time to load up in the beleaguered airlines shares? Not just yet. The analyst reiterates a Neutral rating on BA, while slashing the price target from $180 to $135 on increased volatility. From current levels, the upside still comes in at a healthy 29%. (To watch Epsteins track record, click here) Out on the Street, 5 Buys, 13 Holds and 1 Sell amount to a Hold consensus rating for BA. Significantly, though, the average price target is $235.16, and represents possible upside of a massive 123%. (See Boeing stock analysis on TipRanks) ASX-listed jewellery seller Michael Hill has become the first major Australian retailer to close its doors in light of the coronavirus pandemic, putting the jobs of thousands of workers at risk. In a statement to investors on Tuesday morning, Michael Hill said it had been monitoring the effect of COVID-19 on its key trading markets, which include Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Jeweller Michael Hill will shut its Australian store network indefinitely due to COVID-19. The government's new strict social distancing guidelines, which require four square metres to be provided per person in any enclosed space, were "not consistent with the day-to-day conduct of our business", the retailer said. "The drop off in trade the company has experienced in Australia also reflects a customer base that is, of course, focused on more immediate issues," it said. TANZANIA is positioned to be a worlds tourist attraction destination, thanks to competitive marketing of the countrys tourist attractions. This is after the government has created a friendly tourist environment and strengthening security to make tourists visiting the country safer so that when they return to their countries of origin they may plan to visit the country the second, third and more other times. Above all, Tanzania has improved access to national parks and game reserves where visitors can visit and view a rich variety of wildlife and feel that they are at their second home. This has earned the country the Best International Wildlife Destination Award at the Outlook Travel Awards (OLTA), announced in New Delhi, India, on Sunday. Wow! Before this event, seven years ago Julius Nyerere International Airports (JNIA) and Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) the two international airports - scooped the top awards at the 8th Routes Africa event held in Kampala, Uganda on July 7-8, 2013. In February last year, Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) was awarded for the Best Decorated Booth at the OMT Mumbai 2018 travel show, a leading annual travel show in Asia and the Pacific. Again in March last year, Tanzania won an award for the Best Destination to the World in the category of Exotic Destination 2018 during the Russian National Geographical Traveller Award. That was after online voting conducted by the Russian Version of the National Geographical Magazine that involved 263,000 online readers. So, there are reasons for believing that Tanzania commands world recognition in tourism after making reforms in the sector and in wildlife conservation in general, thanks to the effective crackdown on poaching and illegal ivory smuggling and the governments efforts to make the country competitive in various sectors of the economy. All this is in line with the envisioned industrial and middle-income economy status by 2025. But what does the recent award the Best International Wildlife Destination Award mean to Tanzania? It simply means Tanzania has made a positive contribution to world as one of Africas leading travel destinations. With its expansion and modernisation of its airports and purchase of modern aircraft, there is the likelihoods of more positive results coming. One of them being Tanzanias participation for the 54th time since its inception of the International Tourism Fair Berlin (ITB) scheduled for March 4-8, this year. The international tourism fair will attract 10,000 exhibitors from 180 countries and over 160,000 visitors. So, competitive marketing of Tanzanias tourism attractions has started yielding positive results. Let us sustain them. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has announced four new coronavirus infections in the country. The announcement states that Nigerias COVID-19 infections now peak at 40. The NCDC made the announcement via its verified Twitter handle @NCDCgov on Monday night. Three of the cases are in Lagos State and one in the Federal Capital Territory. Two of these cases are persons who returned to Nigeria from overseas, NCDC said. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates The Delhi government on Monday allocated Rs 2,820 crore in the budget estimates for 2020-21 for its power subsidy scheme. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who presented the budget in the assembly, proposed an outlay of Rs 2,977 crore for the energy sector which included Rs 125 crore for programmes, schemes and projects in 2020-21. The power subsidy scheme, that is credited as one of the main factors behind the AAP's massive victory in the assembly polls in February this year, was described by Sisodia as an important element of Kejriwal model of governance. "Nearly 90 per cent households in Delhi are getting the benefit of subsidy on electricity. The scheme has also encouraged conservation of electricity as consumers try to minimise their consumption to take advantage of the subsidy," he said in his budget speech. "The power subsidy schemes for consumers are an important and well-known part of the 'Kejriwal model of governance' and will continue in the next financial year. I propose an amount of Rs 2,820 crore in the budget of electricity subsidy 2020-21," Sisodia said. The government has introduced zero power bill scheme for consumers using up to 200 units of electricity every month, irrespective of their approved load. Apart from this, a subsidy of Rs 800 is given to consumers whose monthly consumption ranges from 201 to 400 units. Subsidised power supply is also given to the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots, lawyers for their chambers and farmers, Sisodia said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NEW HAVEN City officials want to know how a homeless man with COVID-19, who was under a quarantine order at Yale New Haven Hospital, was able to walk out to be found eight hours later in Milford. New Haven police said the missing man was located in Milford around 7 p.m. after leaving the hospital at 10:40 a.m. Sunday without a medical discharge. The missing person search began when Yale New Haven Hospital Security Staff contacted New Haven police and reported the incident involving the 50-year-old patient. His return was being coordinated by the New Haven Health Department with Milford officials. Prior to his being located, New Haven officers had detained another individual in downtown New Haven before determining he was not the missing man. The patient was deemed to be a threat to public health, which was the reason a quarantine order was signed by the citys Health Department. It was signed several days prior when he was admitted to the hospital. Mark DAntonio, the spokesman for Yale New Haven Health, said he could not comment because of patient confidentiality. He was also asked how this will be prevented in the future. Elicker, at the press conference, said he was planning to have a conversation with the hospital later that night after they assess what happened to ensure that this does not happen again. The patient, according to police, left the hospital on foot and was last seen walking on York Street toward North Frontage Road. New Haven investigators issued a missing person broadcast to other law enforcement agencies and spent the day searching for the missing man. At around 4:30 p.m., on a virtual press conference Mayor Justin Elicker was holding Sunday, Chief Otoniel Reyes announced that the individual had been found. The individual is in custody, Reyes said. It was after that, however, that police determined it was the wrong man. Public Health Director Maritza Bond, at the press conference, said he was an inpatient at YNNH for a period of time before the left without a medical discharge. Elicker, in his daily update, also announced that the number of New Haven residents with COVID-19 is now 12 and the city has its first pediatric case. The mayor said the child is 10 and is in stable condition at the hospital. Bond reminded all residents that the coronavirus effects all demographics and age groups. We have a broad spectrum of ages, she said. The oldest city patient is 73. The health director also said another of the newest cases is an individual who had been participating in an outpatient detox program. She said her department has undertaken contact tracing to determine who else might have been there and exposed to the coronavirus. Bond also asked food establishments to follow proper food handling protocol and social distancing when preparing orders to go. She recommended curbside pickup only and not allowing customers to come into their establishments. She again repeated the number to call for residents with questions about the coronavirus: 203-946-4949. The mayor said the city is continuing to look for N95 masks, as well as other personal protective gear, and asked if individuals who have them to drop the items at the citys firehouses for public safety workers. He said they are pretty common items used not only by medical personnel, but construction workers and personnel at nail salons. He said when dropping them off to continue to practice social distancing and to go alone. Elicker was asked what he envisions will be the situation in New Haven in a week or two as the number of cases grow. What models is he thinking about? The mayor said he thinks about that every day in the context of families getting sick, friends dying and the stamina of his staff who have been going full speed ahead for a week now and we need to continue on this pace for a month, two months. He said the severity is getting more serious and while the talk before was about Italy and South Korea, now people are worried about New York. There is this balance in not wanting the public to panic ... but also people understanding the severity of this situation. I tend to lean towards always being as honest as possible of where we are going and I think it is not a good place, Elicker said. The mayor also said that Yale New Haven is continuing to provide care to the underinsured, the uninsured and undocumented individuals as its free care policies remain in effect. He said testing for COVID-19 will not be billed to those who are underinsured or are uninsured. Im very grateful to the hospital for continuing that policy and making sure that we can provide resources to those most unable to pay, Elicker said. Reyes said officers will be driving around with a recording of the mayor on loudspeaker reminding everyone about social distancing and to understand the gravity of this incident and the importance of us working together to try to get through it as soon as possible. The police chief said the department has modified many of our services. We are still trying to do the best that we can to provide the critical services to our citizens. He added, however, that under the present circumstances our officers are responding in limited fashion. He pointed to the police website for recommendations on where the public can get a response for other circumstances. The chief said police are also practicing social distancing and ask that residents come out of their homes to talk to the police when they arrive. We ask that you be patient with us and help us achieve these goals, Reyes said. Reyes, however, assured the public that law enforcement is occurring. Make no mistake about it, we are still enforcing the law. To any would be criminals, we are not going to allow anyone to take advantage of these times. We want to keep our citizenry safe ... for the minor crimes we are obviously right now worried about getting through this and so law enforcement will be relegated to really dealing with the more serious crimes, Reyes said. mary.oleary@hearstmediact.com; 203-641-2577 New Delhi, March 23 : India's political discourse seems not to leave any opportunity to be confrontational, even in face of Covid-19 pandemic. After Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the Centre of not stockpiling protective equipments for health workers despite WHO warning, BJP's Amit Malviya has thrown documents at Gandhi to prove him wrong. BJP's national social media head Malviya tweeted: "GoI had banned export of N95 masks, body overalls and 2-3 ply masks on 31 Jan itself, much before any WHO advisory. N95 respirators and body overalls being the most critical personal protective gear for COVID-19, haven't been allowed to be exported since." He even attached government documents to back his claim. This retort comes after Congress MP Rahul Gandhi quoted a news article to allege: "Respected Prime Minister, WHO's advice 1. Ventilator 2. Surgical Mask. Why did the Indian government allow the export of all these things till March 19, instead of having sufficient stock." Gandhi went on to assert, "What forces were behind this mess? Isn't this a criminal conspiracy?" The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in India stands at 415, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Seven people have succumbed to the virus till now. But that doesn't seem to have stopped India's ruling and prime opposition parties to indulge in mudslinging. President Donald Trump on Sunday night said that the government would reassess the recommended period for keeping businesses shut and millions of workers at home after this week, amid millions of job losses caused by the efforts to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF, Trump tweeted in all capital letters shortly before midnight. AT THE END OF THE 15 DAY PERIOD, WE WILL MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHICH WAY WE WANT TO GO! Officials have said that the initial 15-day period for social distancing limiting close contact between people by banning gatherings, closing schools and offices, encouraging remote work, and urging people to maintain a 6-foot distance from one another is vital to slowing the spread of the virus, for which more than 30,000 people in the United States have tested positive. Dr. Anthony Fauci, an infectious diseases expert and a member of the White House coronavirus task force, has said in interviews that he believed that it would take several more weeks until people can start going about their lives in a more normal fashion. Other infectious disease experts suggest even harsher measures than social distancing are required to truly beat back the outbreaks in the United States. But at the White House, in recent days, there has been a growing sentiment that medical experts were allowed to set policy that has hurt the economy, and there has been a push to find ways to let people start returning to work. Some Republican lawmakers have also pleaded with the White House to find ways to restart the economy, as financial markets continue to slide and job losses for April could be in the millions. Vice President Mike Pence indicated Sunday at a White House briefing about the virus that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would issue new guidelines Monday, allowing some people who have been exposed to the coronavirus to resume working outside their homes if they wear masks. The move could set the stage for states with relatively low numbers of cases to begin to unfreeze their economies, while large states like California and New York where there are more cases and where state officials have ordered nonessential businesses to close for the time being could continue remaining in a holding pattern. While some business owners are eager to end the more draconian measures that have been put in place, others would rather endure the pain at once rather than face repeated, disruptive orders to stop activities. Trumps tweet cast doubt on his confidence in the path to fighting the virus that he so reluctantly approved. For two months he largely dismissed the warnings that the virus would reach U.S. shores, for fear of causing economic disruption, predicting that cases would go down from a handful to zero in a few days. Only when the disruption came anyway, in the form of a historic stock market sell-off, was he convinced to act. But there could be consequences to ending the measures too quickly. The recent rise of cases in Hong Kong, after there had been an easing of the spread of the virus, is something of an object lesson about how ending strict measures too soon can have dangerous consequences. In a tweet Monday morning, Thomas Bossert, the former homeland security adviser who for weeks has been vocal about the need for the U.S. government to take stricter measures, said, Sadly, the numbers now suggest the U.S. is poised to take the lead in #coronavirus cases. Its reasonable to plan for the US to top the list of countries with the most cases in approximately 1 week. This does NOT make social intervention futile. It makes it imperative! Whatever the president chooses to do, there will be businesses still fearful to reopen and employees fearful of going to work as new cases of people infected with the virus are still being diagnosed by the thousands each day. And the president is facing potential pushback from the public health experts in his administration. After being slow to publicly react to the spread of the virus, the Trump administration swung in the other direction at the end of February, entrusting the health experts whose counsel had not been heeded in the preceding weeks and letting them help set the policies that hundreds of millions of people would be urged to follow. But Trump has become frustrated with Faucis blunt approach at the briefing lectern, which often contradicts things the president has just said, according to two people familiar with the dynamic. Trump knows that Fauci is seen as credible with a large swath of the public and with journalists, and so he has given him more leeway to contradict him than he has other officials. But the president has also resisted portraying the virus as an existential threat in a way that the public health experts have. In an interview with Science Magazine that was posted online Sunday evening, Fauci responded to a question about how he had managed not to get fired by saying that, to Trumps credit, even though we disagree on some things, he listens. He goes his own way, Fauci continued. He has his own style. But on substantive issues, he does listen to what I say. But he also said there was a limit to what he could do when Trump said things that were not true during those briefings. I cant jump in front of the microphone and push him down, Fauci said of Trumps erroneous statements. OK, he said it. Lets try and get it corrected for the next time. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Six of their usual volunteers have decided not to volunteer because they have concerns for their health, but they have dozens more, he said. Their focus has been centered more on ensuring everyone knows what the organization has had to do to adjust. Beginning Monday, they shifted their hours, Cotter said. While the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store where the pantry provides the food is now closed, the parking lot will be open during its new hours. The new open hours, from 9 a.m. to noon each Monday and Thursday, will operate the same as the pantry did Saturday. Repeat visitors will show their proof of address from their vehicle; new users must provide photo identification for all family members and a piece of mail with their current address. They serve all residents within the Baraboo School District. Volunteers will then load the food into their car. The downside is that we used to be able to give people a lot of choice, Cotter said. Now we cant. The Portage pantry has the same limitation now in an effort to combat the spreading illness. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Even with "a lot going on," including the coronavirus pandemic, the official said, Pompeo had "come all the way here" to "push" both Afghan leaders to form an inclusive government and to stress the dangers that could result "if they don't do the right thing." The official said there was particular concern that the Afghan defense forces could split between "two presidents and two commanders in chief, or worse." French limited company (societe anonyme) with capital of Euro 92,049,169 Registered office: 16-18, rue du Quatre Septembre, 75002 Paris, France Paris trade and companies register: 424 064 707 Press release concerning the publication of the 2019 Universal Registration Document and comment concerning the Company's 2020 guidance Regulatory News: Mercialys filed its 2019 Universal Registration Document with the French Financial Markets Authority (AMF) on March 23, 2020 under number D.20-0160. The 2019 Universal Registration Document includes: the 2019 annual financial report; - the Board of Directors' corporate governance report; - the statutory auditors' reports; - the disclosures concerning the statutory auditors' fees; - the sustainability performance report; - the integrated report, which notably presents the Company's business model; - the description of the share buyback program. This document is available on the Company's website www.mercialys.com and at its registered office. Update on the Company's 2020 guidance The start of 2020 has been marked by significant uncertainty linked to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) epidemic. As a result of it spreading in France, the government has rolled out significant measures, including closing non-essential stores and introducing a lockdown for the population. Several categories of Mercialys' tenant retailers are authorized to remain open, but footfall levels at its sites are being significantly affected. Although the majority of its rents include a fixed component (97.6% of overall rents), this health crisis could affect retailers' solvency and, as a result, Mercialys' ability to collect rent. In this context, and considering the targeted support measures that the Company could put in place, which have not been quantified to date, Mercialys is not in a position, on the date when this Universal Registration Document was filed, to quantify the impact of the Coronavirus crisis on its performance, results and guidance for 2020. The guidance announced when the 2019 full-year results were published in February 2020 is therefore no longer applicable and will be updated once the outlook for the health context has become clearer. This press release is available on www.mercialys.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200323005603/en/ Contacts: Analysts investors media: Alexandre Leroy +33 (0)1 53 65 24 39 aleroy@mercialys.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 08:06:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Video: U.S. Senator Rand Paul, Republican from the state of Kentucky, becomes the first member of the upper chamber of Congress to test positive for the coronavirus, says U.S. President Donald Trump in the White House, Washington D.C., on March 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong) The senator "is asymptomatic and was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive travel and events. He was not aware of any direct contact with any infected person." WASHINGTON, March 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Senator Rand Paul, Republican from the state of Kentucky, confirmed Sunday that he tested positive for the coronavirus, making him the first member of the upper chamber of Congress to be infected by the virus. "Senator Rand Paul has tested positive for COVID-19. He is feeling fine and is in quarantine," read a tweet on the senator's official Twitter account. The senator, the tweet continued, "is asymptomatic and was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive travel and events. He was not aware of any direct contact with any infected person." It added that the senator "expects to be back in the Senate after his quarantine period ends," and that his office was closed 10 days ago, "hence virtually no staff has had contact with Senator Rand Paul." Photo taken on March 12, 2020 shows the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington D.C., the United States. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua) The senator's confirmed infection came after two members of the House -- Republican Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida and Democrat Ben McAdams of Utah -- tested positive on Wednesday. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, who has been appointed to lead the White House coronavirus task force, have also been tested amid concerns of contact with individuals sickened by the virus. Their results are both negative. Confirmed cases and fatalities both continued to surge nationwide, reaching 31,057 and 390, respectively, according to the latest data from Johns Hopkins University updated Sunday at 2:13 p.m. ET. (Article by Xinhua Reporter Deng Xianlai) Desperate shoppers all over the UK are hunting for paracetamol with supermarkets and chemists facing running out of the painkiller by this weekend amid the coronavirus outbreak. Exports of the world's most popular painkiller, which the government is advising Brits to use to combat the symptoms of the killer virus, are being restricted by India while production in China dries up. Indian authorities fear a shortage of paracetamol in their own country and have restricted its export to the rest of the world, along with several other drugs. The nation leans on China for almost 70 per cent of the ingredients in its drugs, with the outbreak of the virus leading to significant supply issues. This has also affected the NHS and UK pharmacies, with India being one of the main suppliers of its generic drugs. Now, UK firms are reporting shortages of the raw materials that make up the popular painkiller while Boots has already warned staff its warehouses only contain enough supply until the end of the week. Paracetamol is selling out in pharmacies and stores during the coronavirus outbreak in the UK Shoppers were pictured queuing up outside chemists around Britain, with people in Reading adhering to social distancing rules as they waited. Several UK companies produce paracetamol to supply to businesses but rely on imported materials in from Asia. Aspar Pharmaceuticals, a manufacturer of pain relief medicines for chemists and supermarkets, including Tesco, is reported to have written to clients asking for around a 20 per cent increase in aspirin and paracetamol costs. Aspar told MailOnline that it was having trouble fulfilling orders as the price of raw materials for paracetamol is rising and supply of the products is drying up. Martin Sawer, executive director of the Healthcare Distribution Alliance said that there is 'plenty of paracetamol in the supply chain' but admitted that the demand for it had increased. Unlike over-the-counter medicines, paracetamol 'is not price controlled' and therefore the cost has increased, he added. North East London Local Pharmaceutical Committee secretary Hemant Patel revealed that pharmacies were struggling to source smaller packs of paracetamol. She said they are asking whether they can instead break up packs of 100. Contractor Olivier Picard said that his business had sold 200 paracetamol packets in just over a day and had run out of packets of paracetamol that did not require a prescription. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'There are no shortages of paracetamol in the NHS. 'The UK is well prepared to deal with any impacts of the coronavirus outbreak and we have central stockpiles of commonly used drugs like paracetamol. 'The Department is working closely with manufacturers, suppliers, the NHS and others to ensure patients can access the medicines they need and that export restrictions in other countries have limited impact on the UK.' People in Emmer Green shopping precinct adhere to the social distancing rule when queueing for the chemist Signs posted to a door of a local pharmacy in Leigh-on-sea state 'We have toilet rolls and Paracetamol in stock' Earlier this week, it advised people to use the painkiller instead of ibuprofen, admitting it did not yet know whether ibuprofen worsened the impact of Covid-19. By Saturday, Boots expects to have run out of paracetamol and has introduced measure to ration how much customers can buy. Why does the UK rely on India and China for paracetamol? The coronavirus outbreak has led to a slew of supply issues. Paracetamol is one of them, with fears the supply of the popular drug could run out in the UK. Britain, like the EU and the US, imports many ingredients for its medicines from China and India. In fact, the two countries are believed to supply 80 per cent of Europe's medical material. Ingredients are cheaper and manufacturing is subject to fewer regulations in both countries, making them an attractive choice. The raw main ingredient of paracetamol is also mainly manufactured in China. But with the virus hitting Chinese manufacturers, India have decided to limit exports of its supply to protect citizens, as it relies on China for about 70 per cent of all materials. Amid the current crisis, the EU is thought to be examining its dependence on drugs from the two countries. However, their cheapness and the cost of opening up new facilities in the UK and Europe to produce the materials makes it a difficult change. James O'Loan, consulting pharmacist at online firm Doctor-4-U, said: 'The raw ingredient of paracetamol is mainly manufactured in China and with coronavirus having originated from there, it has obviously affected the supply chain.' Advertisement A Boots spokesman said: 'We have seen an increase in customers looking to buy paracetamol in our stores, and we're sorry if there may have been limited occasions where we have sold out. 'We have been working closely with all of our suppliers and have more stock arriving in stores every day. 'To ensure we can support as many people as possible, there is currently a limit of two units per customer on hand sanitisers, soap and hand wash, pain relief products, cough and cold, all children's medicines, thermometers, tissues and hand wipes, baby milks, baby sterilising and antibacterial products, and hand creams. 'There is also a limit of one unit per customer for products containing paracetamol.' Sandra Gidley, RPS President, told MailOnline today: 'Pharmacies are experiencing much higher demand for paracetamol than usual, with people buying in supplies in preparation for any period of self-isolation they may face. 'However, the public can be reassured that paracetamol is still available. 'We know that packs of 16 are becoming harder to find both for individuals and for pharmacists. 'Pharmacies have been told that they can now break down larger packs of paracetamol, usually only available on prescription, to prepare smaller packs for people who need them. The pharmacy team should supply the paracetamol to the member of the public directly, with appropriate labelling and safety information supplied in a clear and understandable way. 'It is important that everyone remembers to only request what they need and not to stockpile medicines as this makes it difficult for others and creates the very shortages people are worried about.' Regulatory News: The Document d'enregistrement universel of TOTAL S.A. for the year 2019 was filed with the French Financial Markets Authority (Autorite des marches financiers) on March 20, 2020. It can be consulted and downloaded from the Company's website (total.com, under the heading Investors Regulated information). An English translation of the Document d'enregistrement universel (Universal Registration Document) is also available on the Company's website. The following documents are included in the Document d'enregistrement universel the 2019 annual financial report, the Board of Directors' report on corporate governance required under Article L. 225-37 of the French Commercial Code, the description of the share buy-back program, the report on the payments made to governments required under Article L. 225-102-3 of the French Commercial Code, the reports from the statutory auditors. The Document d'enregistrement universel 2019 presents the outlook of the Group updated on March 19, 2020. The annual report on Form 20-F of TOTAL S.A. for the year ended December 31, 2019 was filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 20, 2020. It can be consulted and downloaded from the Company's website (total.com, under the heading Investors Regulated information) or from the SEC's website (sec.gov). Printed copies of the Document d'enregistrement universel, Universal Registration Document and Form 20-F are available free of charge at the Company's registered office at 2, place Jean Millier, La Defense 6, 92400 Courbevoie, France. About Total Total is a major energy player, which produces and markets fuels, natural gas and low-carbon electricity. Our 100,000 employees are committed to better energy that is safer, more affordable, cleaner and accessible to as many people as possible. Active in more than 130 countries, our ambition is to become the responsible energy major. Cautionary note This press release, from which no legal consequences may be drawn, is for information purposes only. The entities in which TOTAL S.A. directly or indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. TOTAL S.A. has no liability for their acts or omissions. In this document, the terms "Total" and "Total Group" are sometimes used for convenience where general references are made to TOTAL S.A. and/or its subsidiaries. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" may also be used to refer to subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. This document may contain forward-looking information and statements that are based on a number of economic data and assumptions made in a given economic, competitive and regulatory environment. They may prove to be inaccurate in the future and are subject to a number of risk factors. Neither TOTAL S.A. nor any of its subsidiaries assumes any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information or statement, objectives or trends contained in this document whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200323005209/en/ Contacts: Total Media Relations: +33 1 47 44 46 99 l presse@total.com l @TotalPress Investor Relations: +44 (0)207 719 7962 l ir@total.com [March 23, 2020] Onit and SimpleLegal Offer Free COVID-19 Related Workflow Solutions and Launch Online Learning Initiative in Response to Changing Market Landscape HOUSTON and MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., March 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Onit, Inc., a leading provider of enterprise workflow solutions, and SimpleLegal, a modern legal operations platform offering e-billing, spend management, and matter management, today announced they are offering free Onit COVID-19 workflow solutions to their customers and prospects to help them manage the ever-changing remote workforce as a result of the global pandemic. The company is also launching a comprehensive thought leadership initiative, Lean Into LegalOps, to offer legal and business professionals an expanded toolkit with master classes, customer case studies and relevant content such as white papers, podcasts and webinars. We understand the unique situation of this new business environment as communities across the country feel the impact of COVID-19 and the related economic effect, commented Eric M. Elfman, CEO and co-founder, Onit. We are taking this time of social distancing and working from home to lean in to and invest in our community of more than 400 corporate and 8,000 law firm customers. Our goal with this new initiative is to build an even deeper online connection with the legal community and be a good corporate citizen during these times of uncertainty. For us here at Onit and SimpleLegal this means finding an immediate and concrete way to help our customer family and their families. Workflow Solutions Designed for 3 Critical Areas: Managing A Remote Workforce, Overseeing Business Changes and Mitigating Company Risk Onits free workflow solutions (Apps) are available to its more than 400 corporate law department customers and 8,000 law firm customers and prospects during this time of crisis. These workflow solutions are the first of a series of new business continuity Apps the company will release to support remote workers and their families that are sheltering at home. Additonal use cases under consideration are business stand-up and situation reporting workflows, managing work disruptions due to an illness or lack of childcare, COVID-19 exposure self-reporting Apps, and a set of Apps relating to assessing risk for the reopening of businesses when appropriate. Register for our webinar on Tuesday, March 24 at 11:00 a.m. CDT to learn more about these workflows and how we are working closely with our customers to identify new use cases to manage operations in this new distributed business environment. For nearly a decade, Onit has helped customers get key and confidential work out of email and spreadsheets. Never before has tracking this information been more vital. For SimpleLegal customers, their enterprise legal management platform is the core place of work for the law department and never before has the law department and the services of the operations team been more critical across the company. For the last 30 days, Onits team has been working nights and weekends to spin up these solutions to help our customers in what is clearly a time of need, said Elfman. Our flexible platform enables our teams to configure and deliver workflow solutions rapidly so we can respond in times of crisis. In the last few years, we have configured more than 300 workflow solutions and anticipate working closely with our customers during this time of need. Lean into Legal Ops: Online Curriculum with Master Classes & Toolkit The new online learning initiative will highlight programming from Onit and SimpleLegals customer base, industry thought leaders and innovators in the space. The master classes will cover topics such as how to use workflow tools to manage a distributed workforce, how to implement technology strategies that deliver immediate cost savings and ROI, how to quantify and defend the value in the legal department, process efficiency with a globally disparate workforce, and change management best practices in a challenging environment. To see a complete list of the upcoming programming, visit our online schedule. We will continuously update the content and send notifications to all subscribers. About SimpleLegal SimpleLegal provides a modern legal operations management platform that streamlines the way corporate legal departments manage their matters, track and interpret spend, and collaborate with vendors and law firms. SimpleLegal combines e-Billing and spend management, matter management, vendor management, and reporting and analytics into one comprehensive application to optimize legal operations and the management of the entire legal department. The company, founded in 2013, is privately held and located in Mountain View, California. For more information, visit www.simplelegal.com . About Onit Onit is a global leader of enterprise workflow solutions for legal, compliance, sales, IT, HR and finance departments. Our solutions transform best practices into smarter workflows, better processes and operational efficiencies. With a focus on enterprise legal management, matter management, spend management, contract management and legal holds, we operate globally and help transform the way Fortune 500 companies and billion-dollar legal departments bridge the gap between systems of record and systems of engagement. We help customers find gains in efficiency, reduce costs and automate transactions faster. For more information, visit www.onit.com or call 1-800-281-1330. Jill Black Onit, Inc. 713-560-9225 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Analysis banner Business Insider British Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds a news conference addressing the government's response to the coronavirus outbreak, at Downing Street in London, Britain March 12, 2020. REUTERS/Simon Dawson/Pool REUTERS/Simon Dawson/Pool The UK government's strategy to tackle the coronavirus could cause between 35,000 and 70,000 excess deaths, according to new scientific study. Experts who carried out the snap analysis said the government should "do more in the pursuit of suppressing the epidemic whether through enforced lockdowns or enforced social distancing rather than voluntary measures." Johnson's administration has come under intense pressure to explain why it has taken less stringent measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus than other European countries. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Boris Johnson's slow response to the country's coronavirus outbreak could cause up to 70,000 more deaths more than if more dramatic action had been quickly adopted, according to a new scientific study. The snap analysis, first reported in the Financial Times, warns that the government's strategy of merely asking people to stay at home does not go far enough to stop the disease from spreading. Experts at University College London, Cambridge University, and Health Data Research UK carried out the research, which has not yet been peer-reviewed. The team warned that the government should "do more in the pursuit of suppressing the epidemic whether through enforced lockdowns or enforced social distancing rather than voluntary measures." The number of deaths was estimated using NHS health records from 3.8 million adults in England. Johnson's administration has come under intense pressure to explain why it has taken less stringent measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus than other European countries dealing with outbreaks. Italy, France, and Spain have all introduced public lockdowns to encourage social distancing and to prevent people from leaving their homes. The UK prime minister has been much more reluctant to limit freedom in the UK and initially resisted calls to close down Britain's schools, pubs and restaurants until the end of last week. Story continues The UK is now currently on course to reach an Italian-level pandemic within two weeks. Johnson continues to hold back from imposing a strict public lockdown and has instead attempted to persuade the public to change their behaviour. However, on Sunday, multiple pictures shared on social media showed crowds of people ignoring government advice to stay two metres apart from each other and congregating in markets, parks, and other public spaces. The failure to mandate social distancing will have a direct effect on the level of deaths in the country, the authors of the study believe. Dr Amitava Banjeree of University College London, the lead author, told the FT: "The UK government is currently following a partial suppression policy of population-wide social distancing, combined with home isolation of cases, as well as school and university closures, but this is currently not [mandatory]." "Our study indicates that the government should implement more stringent suppression at population level to avoid not just immediate deaths but also long-term excess deaths," he said. Read the original article on Business Insider Gov. Greg Abbott on Sunday resisted ordering a statewide shelter-in-place to combat the spread of the new coronavirus, opting to leave that decision to cities and counties. Instead, he announced plans to deploy the National Guard to help with testing, made moves to allow hospitals to expand their capacity, and warned of dire equipment shortages during a press conference. Just hours after Abbotts speech, Dallas County issued a shelter-in-place order for its residents. Earlier in the day, the governors of Louisiana and Ohio both announced stay-at-home orders that take effect Monday. They join California, New York, Illinois, Connecticut, Oregon and New Jersey as states taking the most stringent steps to stop the spread. Statewide, Texas current order mimics national guidelines that prevent gatherings of 10 or more people. It also closes restaurant dining rooms, bars, gyms and schools. CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: Stay informed with accurate reporting you can trust Abbott pointed out that most Texas counties are still not reporting any cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. He said he would applaud any local authorities that implement the stricter shelter-in-place rules. Understand this, I am governor of 254 counties in the state of Texas. More than 200 of those counties in the state of Texas still have zero cases of people testing positive for COVID-19, he said. What may be right for places like the large urban areas may not be right at this particular point in time for the more than 200 counties that have zero cases of COVID-19. Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo had not issued any shelter-in-place orders as of Sunday evening. Rafael Lemaitre, a spokesman for Hidalgos office, said the judge was not expected to announce any updates Sunday. Mary Benton, the citys press secretary, said nothing has changed in Houston but added that she had not spoken to Turner. If anything changes, (the mayor) will be the first to speak to the public, Benton said. As of Sunday night, there were 146 positive cases in the Houston region, including 74 in Houston and Harris County alone. A Houston Chronicle analysis found 697 known cases statewide. About 8,700 people had been tested at the time of Abbotts press conference. Of the total positive cases, 334 had been confirmed, Abbott said. A woman in San Antonio became Texas seventh coronavirus-related death Sunday. Abbott announced several new strategies to prepare for a surge in hospitalizations, but acknowledged that Texas still does not have enough equipment for testing or personal protection. We have the money for it but the supplies are not available for us to be able to purchase, he said. We are asking the federal government to accelerate production and supply of personal protection equipment and COVID testing equipment. Abbott issued executive orders to increase staffing and patient capacity at hospitals, including stopping all non-essential surgeries and allowing hospitals to add more than one bed to a room. He waived regulations to address a shortage of nurses. He said he would allow temporary permit extensions for graduate or vocational nurses who have yet to take the nursing licensing exam. He would allow inactive nurses to reactive their license. Among other measures, Abbott said the National Guard would be deployed this week to help hospital staff and other healthcare providers around the state. The guard would be available at drive-thru testing sites and auxiliary medical facilitates, built to handle an expected surge in patients, he said. Abbott also announced a task force focused on global supplies of all resources needed to respond to COVID-19 in Texas, including emergency medical supplies. Among the people on the team are Clint Harp, Vice President of Transmission Strategic Services at Lower Colorado River Authority, and Elaine Mendoza, Chairman of the Texas A&M University Board of Regents. Abbott made clear that Texas is not getting enough help from the federal government, but did it in a far less confrontational way than Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who has drawn the ire of President Donald Trump on social media. The problem is the lack of availability of testing resources, Abbott said. The federal government is aware of both our demand as well as the inadequate supply and they are working aggressively to ramp up the supplies they are providing. Jeremy Wallace contributed to this report. julian.gill@chron.com >>> 65th founding anniversary of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party congratulated In the message, the CPVCC has lauded the sound leadership of the LPRP over the past 65 years, especially during the 35-year reform. The achievements the Lao Party has recorded not only hold significance to national construction, defence and development in Laos, but also serve as a great source of encouragement to the Vietnamese Party, State and people, the message said. The Party, State and people of Vietnam believe that their Lao counterparts will reap greater attainments in the reform process, successfully building a Laos of peace, independence, democracy, unity and prosperity. The message of congratulations highlighted recent important achievements made by the Party, State and people of the two countries, as well as the flourishing friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos. It said that the bilateral relationship has constantly been deepened across fields, contributing to the national construction and safeguard in each nation. On the occasion, the Vietnamese Party, State and people expressed their sincere thanks for great and valuable support provided by the Lao side for Vietnam during its struggle for national liberation in the past, and in national building and safeguarding at present. Vietnams Party, State and people will work closely together with the Party, State and people of Laos to further foster the Vietnam-Laos special solidarity, for the sake of the two countries people, and for peace, stability, cooperation in the region and the world, the message said. Four men have been charged after police seized counterfeit currency when a van failed to stop in Co Armagh on Saturday and rammed several PSNI vehicles Four men have been charged after police seized counterfeit currency when a van failed to stop in Co Armagh on Saturday and rammed several PSNI vehicles. Shortly before 12pm police were told a white van had failed to stop for the Garda and had made off towards Middletown. A short time later police on patrol on Armagh Road in Moy spotted the van and signalled for it to stop. However, it made off and was seen again in Newtownhamilton where it struck two police vehicles before making off again towards Newry. Police deployed a stinger device on Drumnahunshin Road but the van rammed another police vehicle before making off again. It was finally stopped by police on Carrickcloughen Hill in Camlough. Four men aged 25, 28, 32 and 35 were arrested and are due to appear in Newry Magistrates' Court today charged with possessing counterfeit currency and having an offensive weapon in a public place. The 28-year-old has also been charged with motoring offences. In a statement the airline said: Since the COVID-19 outbreak began, Emirates and Dnata have been adapting operations in line with regulatory directives as well as travel demand. The airline has aimed to maintain passenger flights for as long as feasible to help travellers return home amidst an increasing number of travel bans, restrictions, and country lockdowns across the world. It continues to maintain vital international air cargo links for economies and communities, deploying its fleet of 777 freighters for the transport of essential goods including medical supplies across the world. With many of its airline customers dramatically reducing flights or ceasing services altogether, dnata has also significantly reduced its operations, including temporarily shutting some offices across its international network. HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and chief executive of Emirates Group said: "The world has literally gone into quarantine due to the COVID-19 outbreak. This is an unprecedented crisis situation in terms of breadth and scale: geographically, as well as from a health, social, and economic standpoint. Until January 2020, the Emirates Group was doing well against our current financial year targets. But COVID-19 has brought all that to a sudden and painful halt over the past 6 weeks. "As a global network airline, we find ourselves in a situation where we cannot viably operate passenger services until countries re-open their borders, and travel confidence returns. By Wednesday 25 March, although we will still operate cargo flights which remain busy, Emirates will have temporarily suspended all its passenger operations. We continue to watch the situation closely, and as soon as things allow, we will reinstate our services. "Emirates Group has a strong balance sheet, and substantial cash liquidity, and we can, and will, with appropriate and timely action, survive through a prolonged period of reduced flight schedules, so that we are adequately prepared for the return to normality." Cost reduction measures The Emirates Group has undertaken a series of measures to contain costs, as the outlook for travel demand remains weak across markets in the short to medium term. This includes: Postponing or cancelling discretionary expenditure A freeze on all non-essential recruitment and consultancy work Working with suppliers to find cost savings and efficiency Encouraging employees to take paid or unpaid leave in light of reduced flying capacity A temporary reduction of basic salary for the majority of Emirates Group employees for three months, ranging from 25% to 50%. Employees will continue to be paid their other allowances during this time. Junior level employees will be exempt from basic salary reduction Presidents of Emirates and dnata Sir Tim Clark and Gary Chapman will take a 100% basic salary cut for three months On the decision to reduce basic salary, Sheikh Ahmed said: "Rather than ask employees to leave the business, we chose to implement a temporary basic salary cut as we want to protect our workforce and keep our talented and skilled people, as much as possible. We want to avoid cutting jobs. When demand picks up again, we also want to be able to quickly ramp up and resume services for our customers. "The Emirates Group has strong liquidity, with a healthy cash position but it is prudent that it take steps to reduce costs at this time. Emirates remains committed to serving its markets and looks forward to resuming a normal flight schedule as soon as that is permitted by the relevant authorities." Safeguarding customers, employees, and communities Emirates Group closely monitors the situation and keeps in regular contact with all relevant authorities, so that it can implement the latest guidance to keep travellers and its employees safe and healthy. The company has strongly discouraged its employees from non-essential travel, implemented work from home policies for all employees where operationally feasible, enhanced cleaning and disinfection protocols at its facilities, introduced temperature screening at its key office entry points, and launched internal educational campaigns on hand hygiene and health practices to reduce risk of COVID-19. Over the past weeks, the airline has also implemented enhanced cleaning and disinfecting measures on all of its aircraft departing Dubai as a precaution, and worked closely with airports to implement screening measures as required by the local authorities. Frontline employees such as crew and airport teams have also been provided with support to stay safe while on duty, including providing hand sanitizers and masks where required. The Emirates Group fully supports all initiatives to safeguard the health of communities in every market where it operates, including the UAE's national COVID-19 response. Sheikh Ahmed said: "These are unprecedented times for the airline and travel industry, but we will get through it. Our business is taking a hit, but what matters in the long run is that we do the right thing for our customers, our employees, and the communities we serve. With the support and unity that we have seen from our employees, partners, customers, and other stakeholders, I'm confident that Emirates can tackle this challenge and come out stronger." Analyst Saj Ahmad said: Emirates unprecedented decision to halt all passenger flights in the wake of the devasting effects of COVID-19 battering demand is one that would not have been taken lightly. With all corners of the globe effectively locking down cities, justifying operations has become so difficult, that flights in some cases simply could not proceed. In avoiding any staff furloughs o job cuts, the decision to reduce pay yet retain other benefits for staff, Emirates is acutely aware that at some point, demand will return and they will need their human resources and staff to help reinstate flights across its network. While theres no easy solution to mitigating against COVID-19, Emirates fortunate strength in its cash position as well as its ability to draw on other financial sources, the airline is better placed than many around the world. We have seen European, Asian and US airlines all clamouring for Government aid, but Emirates has thus far not sought to do the same if it can help it. Ahmad added: That said this situation is something no one could have ever foreseen. Emirates is reacting in the only way it can and thats by moving fast and moving now to supress costs and avoid compulsory layoffs. Some countries began preparations earlier than others, but by now, the scale of the crisis has set in across the continent. In Britain, which was particularly slow to act, government pronouncements are now accompanied by a palpable sense of panic and ever more desperate appeals. The mood in France has shifted from an initial nonchalance to heightened anxiety, as President Emmanuel Macron has imposed an increasingly strict lockdown period of 15 days, which officials have suggested may be extended. Former staffers are suing Michael R. Bloomberg's presidential campaign, saying they were promised employment through the general election but lost their jobs after the billionaire ended his White House bid. (Spencer Platt / AFP-Getty Images) Four field organizers for billionaire Michael R. Bloombergs aborted presidential bid sued his campaign on Monday, arguing that they were fraudulently promised employment and healthcare through the November election. Thousands of people relied on that promise. They moved to other cities. They gave up school, jobs, and job opportunities. They uprooted their lives, attorneys for three of the plaintiffs wrote in one of two class-action lawsuits filed in federal court in New York. But the promise was false. After the former New York mayor dropped out of the race, the lawsuit argues, his campaign unceremoniously dumped the campaign staffers, leaving them without jobs, income or health insurance during the COVID-19 pandemic and as the nation teeters on recession. One of the field organizers also sued for not being paid overtime. The Bloomberg campaign responded by saying its staffers were generously compensated, and announced plans to create a fund to provide healthcare coverage for all former campaign workers through the end of April. This campaign paid its staff wages and benefits that were much more generous than any other campaign this year, according to a Bloomberg representative. Staff worked 39 days on average, but they were also given several weeks of severance and healthcare through March, something no other campaign did this year. Bloomberg, who is one of the richest people in the world, announced in November that he was running for president. His late entry into the contest meant he had little time to build a robust campaign staff. He threw money at the problem, lavishly paying political operatives across the nation. Bloomberg also offered a job guarantee that was unprecedented in politics that he would hire them through the November general election, even if he wasnt the Democratic nominee. All of this, he said, was part of his overarching goal defeating President Trump. Bloomberg, after a dismal performance on Super Tuesday, ended his campaign this month and endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden. The businessman was expected to continue pouring his fortune into the race and to swing his extensive field organization behind Biden. Bloomberg had spent more than $935 million on his own presidential bid through Feb. 29, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission. Story continues Last week, Bloomberg announced that he was transferring $18 million from his presidential campaign to the Democratic National Committee, and transferring his offices in Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin to the state Democratic parties in those states. Former Bloomberg staffers in those offices would be paid through the first week of April, and could apply for jobs in these offices but would have no advantage over other applicants, according to DNC officials. Other staffers, who served at will, were let go this month. These terminations directly contradict what the employees were promised when they were hired by the campaigns, according to the lawsuits. One was filed by field organizers Alexis Sklair in Georgia, Sterling Rettke in Washington state and Nathaniel Brown in Utah, who say the promise of continued employment led them to sign with the Bloomberg campaign and turn down other opportunities, including other jobs and applying for law school. The other suit was filed by field organizer Donna Wood, who also alleges that she and other staffers routinely worked more than 40 hours per week and were never paid overtime, a violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Her suit also alleges that field organizers and others were promised employment through the general election. Were very surprised that someone who seems to be as concerned about his legacy as Mr. Bloomberg would end his highest-profile political venture by disappointing so many people that worked so hard for him, said Justin Swartz, one of Woods attorneys. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 20:17:40|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MUMBAI, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Indian market resumed its downward journey after trading was halted earlier in the day to record its biggest single day fall at 13 percent on Monday as lock down in major cities of the country over wider spread of the COVID-19 cases impacted sentiments. Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended at 25,981.24 points and 7,610.25 points, down 13 percent each or 3,934.72 points and 1,135.20 points to touch a three-year and four-year low, respectively over its previous close as selling pressure resumed with great intensity. "The rising number of cases of coronavirus has definitely impacted economic activity across the globe. On the domestic front as well increase in number of cases has forced the government to lockdown major cities impacting economic activity," said Ajit Mishra, VP - Research, Religare Broking, a domestic stock brokerage house. "Going forward, we expect the markets would continue to remain volatile as increase in number of cases in India would lead to selling pressure. Meanwhile, market participants would pin their hopes on stimulus package from the government to reduce the economic impact of coronavirus cases." Curbs imposed by the capital market regulator effective from Monday in cash and derivative segment was proved insufficient to tame the volatility as severe broad-based selling was witnessed in the market with all sectors ending deep in red. Investors at this point are panicking and waiting helplessly for more clarity on the coronavirus situation, said Choice Broking in its market review note. Indian rupee weakened by 1.17 percent to touch a low of 76.06 to the U.S. dollar following the selling pressure by foreign investors. A lot of turbulence in the financial markets space has led to concerns about impending economic turmoil, steering significant outflows from the domestic equities and causing the domestic currency to depreciate. The risk aversion is the primary reason because of which the domestic currency has been on a downwards spiral, said Sugandha Sachdeva VP-Metals, Energy & Currency Research, Religare Broking. As per Monday morning official update, India has 390 active cases of novel coronavirus including 41 foreign nationals with seven casualties so far in the country. Fighting the coronavirus requires people to socially distance themselves, but it also calls on community members to help one anotherand thats exactly whats taking place all around the globe. To answer the call for help, a network of Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers have stepped up to support and shield people in need. Teams are doing everything they can to aid their communities. Here is a glimpse into the help theyre providing all around the world. Different Countries, One Mission Italy is currently the most affected country and as a result, Italian Red Cross volunteers are delivering assistance 24/7. They are responding to calls, delivering medicine to the homes of vulnerable people in self-isolation, taking temperatures at airports and transporting patients to hospitals. They continue to share information on how to stay safe during this uncertain time and operate under the slogan, Be smart. Be safe. Be kind. As the coronavirus continues to surge through Korea, the Korean Red Cross is distributing emergency relief items like masks, hand sanitizers, meal kits and prevention kits to at-risk individuals. They are also providing emotional support and sharing lifesaving information on how to protect oneself from the virus. At the height of the crisis in China, the Chinese Red Cross mobilized more than 50,000 volunteers, who put their lives on the line to assist in the control of this pandemic. In Japan, as the need for medical professionals grows, the Red Cross is transferring doctors, nurses and pharmacists to support all government quarantine facilities. As the coronavirus makes its way to Africa, workers from the Kenyan Red Cross are actively engaging and sharing information about the virus with the community, particularly older adults. In Israel, Magen David Adom teams are working around the clock responding to over 20,000 calls a day, transporting quarantined people to and from the hospital, and taking lab tests from families homes. In the Netherlands, the Red Cross is supporting people in isolation through a coronavirus hotline so people can call in for emotional support, advice and to ask for practical helpsuch as grocery requests or childcare needs. Recently, the Hellenic Red Cross in Greece deployed their unit of nurses and volunteers by helicopter to the island of Kea to assist with temperature checks and health care for migrants. The Ukrainian Red Cross is educating people about how to stay safe across the country in creative ways. Theyre using billboards, calendars and posters to get peoples attention and promote safety. Across Latin America, local Red Cross teams are providing care to their vulnerable populations by supplying fresh food and advising on preventative measures. American Red Cross Contributes $720,000 to Global Coronavirus Response Here in the U.S., the American Red Cross is focused on continuing to deliver our lifesaving mission, including critical blood collection efforts, while also supporting the global response. A $720,000 contribution from the American Red Cross is helping international Red Cross and Red Crescent teams to mitigate the spread of this virus through community-based health and hygiene promotion, access to basic services and fighting stigma. The funds can also expand case detection, surveillance and contact tracing, among other activities. The American Red Cross is also providing data expertise to the global Red Cross Red Crescent network and has deployed a communications expert to bring attention to humanitarian needs and combat rumors about the virus. Were in This Together As we continue to isolate, its important to remember that this is not an isolated problem. Right now, helpers all around the world are stepping up to promote safety, help the helpless and shield the sick. In uncertain moments like these, just remember, look for the helpers. Donate Blood or Become a Volunteer In the face of emergencies like COVID-19, the American Red Cross and the entire global Red Cross Red Crescent network join together to ease peoples suffering. Find out how you can donate much-needed blood in the U.S. or volunteer at redcross.org. For more information about the work of the American Red Cross around the world, visit redcross.org/international. You can find more information on COVID_19 safety here. For the latest information, please visit the CDC website at cdc.gov/covid19. If you live outside the United States, health and safety tips can be found through the World Health Organization and by following your local Red Cross or Red Crescent societys social media channels. A congressman who tested positive for coronavirus last week is now in hospital suffering with breathing difficulties. Ben McAdams announced on March 18 that he had the virus, having developed symptoms on March 14. On Sunday the Utah Democrat said in a statement that he was admitted to hospital and was receiving oxygen. He added that his is now off oxygen, is 'feeling better', and is expecting to be released from hospital soon. In a statement posted on Twitter McAdams said: 'I was admitted and have been receiving oxygen as I struggled to maintain my blood oxygen at appropriate levels. I am now off oxygen and feeling relatively better and expect to be released as soon as the doctors determine it is appropriate.' Utah Democrat representative Ben McAdams tested positive for corornavirus and was hospitalized with breathing difficulties Republican Senator from Kentucky Rand Paul tested positive for the coronavirus on Sunday Ben McAdams announced he had been receiving oxygen in hospital after being diagnosed with coronavirus Members of Congress that have tested positive for the coronavirus Three members of the US Congress have tested positive for the coronavirus and at least 22 others so far have said they are self-quarantining. Senator Rand Paul Kentucky Republican Rand Paul said on March 22 that he has tested positive for COVID-19 and is in quarantine. He said he is asymptomatic and feeling fine, but was tested out of an abundance of caution. Representative Mario Diaz-Balart Florida Republican, Mario Diaz-Balart, said on March 18 that he tested positive after developing symptoms on March 14. That was less than 24 hours after he and more than 400 other members of the House of Representatives crowded into the chamber to pass a sweeping coronavirus aid package. Representative Ben McAdams Utah Democrat, Ben McAdams, said on March 18 that he had the virus, also having developed symptoms on March 14. He announced yesterday he had been hospitalized with breathing difficulties, but is now recovering well. Advertisement McAdams said he first became sick with 'mild, cold-like symptoms' shortly after returning to Salt Lake City from Washington. He then went to his doctor and began self-isolating at home and holding meetings on the phone. But after his symptoms got worse, including a fever, a dry cough and labored breathing, he said doctors tested him at a clinic and he received his result last week. He added: 'I'm very grateful to the skilled hospital medical staff for their efficient and effective treatment, as well as their preparations.' McAdams is one of three members of the US Congress that have tested positive for coronavirus, including Senator Rand Paul and fellow republican Mario Diaz-Balart. Even as lawmakers scrambled to pass more legislation to help cope with the pandemic, at least a further 22 other politicians have said they are self-quarantining after having contact with infected people. Senator Rand Paul, said on Sunday that he has tested positive for COVID-19 and is in quarantine. The Kentucky Republican, who is an eye surgeon, said he is asymptomatic and feeling fine, but was tested out of an abundance of caution. His diagnosis saw him become the first case in the Senate and raised fears about the further transmission of the virus among Republicans at the Capitol. Florida Republican, Representative Mario Diaz-Balart, announced on March 18 that he tested positive after developing symptoms on March 14 - less than 24 hours after he and more than 400 other members of the House of Representatives crowded into the chamber to pass a sweeping coronavirus aid package. Republican Senators Mitt Romney and Mike Lee said on Sunday they would self-quarantine after having spent time with Paul. When Lee and Romney placed themselves into quarantine, they stepped away from negotiations as the Senate worked on a $1.4 trillion economic rescue package for the coronavirus crisis. At least four others in the chamber have self-quarantined, including Republicans Cory Gardner, Lindsey Graham, Rick Scott and Ted Cruz who has since returned to work on Capitol Hill. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said: 'The coronavirus has hit the Senate today. It's not just back in our states but right here in the Senate.'' Some House members were pushing to be able to vote remotely during the coronavirus crisis after as many as 22 lawmakers were quarantined and three tested positive for the virus Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, a Democrat from Arizona elected in 2018, chastised Paul on Twitter, saying his decision to return to the Capitol after he was tested - but before he learned the results - was 'absolutely irresponsible'. Responding to criticism on Twitter, Paul's office said, 'We want to be clear, Senator Paul left the Senate IMMEDIATELY upon learning of his diagnosis. He had zero contact with anyone & went into quarantine. Insinuations ... that he went to the gym after learning of his results are just completely false & irresponsible!'' At least 18 House members have self-quarantined, some after prolonged exposure to Diaz-Balart or McAdams, and others from contacts with people from outside the US government. Not all are still in isolation. They include: Republicans Steve Scalise, Mark Meadows, Tom Cole, Doug Collins, Drew Ferguson, Matt Gaetz, Paul Gosar, and Ann Wagner along with Democrats Don Beyer, Anthony Brindisi, Julia Brownley, Jason Crow, Sharise Davids, Kendra Horn, Gwen Moore, Stephanie Murphy, Ben Ray Lujan and David Price. Shopee and Lazada have successfully controlled most of the Southeast Asian market. But in Vietnam, Tiki, Sendo and The Gioi Di Dong are preventing them from doing so. An iPrices report showed that the number of visits to the websites of the two giants in Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Singapore account for 80-90 percent of total visits. Meanwhile, they just hold 35 percent of market share in Vietnam. If considering the traffic, domestic e-commerce websites in Vietnam rank second in Southeast Asia in terms of competition with international companies, just behind Singapore. However, Singapore is the country where the two giants Lazada and Shopee, registered their business. Vietnam leads the region in terms of traffic market share of domestic businesses (66 percent), while Indonesia is behind Vietnam with the total traffic of domestic players accounting for 62 percent. iPrices David Chmelar commented that in Southeast Asia, there are two countries where domestic businesses reap big success Vietnam and Indonesia. Vietnam leads the region in terms of traffic market share of domestic businesses (66 percent), while Indonesia is behind Vietnam with the total traffic of domestic players accounting for 62 percent. They are Tokopedia, Bukalapak and Blibli in Indonesia, and Tiki and Sendo in Vietnam. Meanwhile, in the other regional markets including Malaysia, Thailand the Philippines, very few rivals can compete with Lazada and Shopee. The biggest advantages of Vietnams domestic e-commerce firms are the young population and qualified technology staff. People access international e-commerce later and less than other regional countries because of the language barrier. Lazada entered the Vietnamese market in 2012 and set up its first storehouse in 2013. Lazada was considered the leader, leaving other e-commerce firms far behind in terms of visits in Vietnam. However, in 2016, Lazada lost its No 1 position to the hand of Shopee, when Alibaba became a controlling stake holder. The number of visits to its website has decreased and it has been surpassed by domestic rivals including Tiki, Sendo and The Gioi Di Dong. Since 2018, Lazada has been mentioned as one of the top 5 in Vietnams e-commerce market. Meanwhile, Shopee, a foreign invested firm has been developing rapidly and jumped to the No 1 position in terms of traffic. The Vietnamese players Tiki, Sendo and The Gioi Di Dong, which understand Vietnamese clients, in turns shift their positions in the top 5 in Vietnam. They were also listed among top 10 e-commerce websites in Southeast Asia in 2019. If considering the firms as marketplaces, Tiki and Sendo can compete equally with the two global firms Lazada and Shopee. e-Conomy SEA 2019 said that Sendo and Tiki are believed by Google as having the potential to become unicorns in the future. Le Ha Popular preacher and founder of Living Faith Church, David Oyedepo, has responded to criticisms that followed his decision to hold church services on Sunday despite a government restriction on large gatherings to combat coronavirus. Mr Oyedepo on Monday said he allowed Sunday church services at Winners Chapel in Canaanland not in defiance of government directives against physical contact, but to enlighten members who may not have been aware of order. The cleric said the services were devoted to sensitising and mobilising members of the church regarding the dangers of COVID-19, a strain of coronavirus that has killed more than 10,000 people across the globe. Mr Oyedepo said the services were held to educate worshippers on the need to comply with the governments directives. His explanation followed a flurry of criticisms over his decision to continue holding Sunday services despite worldwide health advisory on social distancing as a primary precaution in curbing the spread of coronavirus. PREMIUM TIMES reported how the popular pentecostal preacher held services within hours apart at the headquarters of his Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel) situated at Sango-Ota, near Lagos, Nigerias commercial capital and worst-hit by coronavirus. Of the 36 confirmed cases in Nigeria, Lagos has 25 while, neighboring Ogun has two. Both states had restricted religious and public gatherings to only a handful of people, but the clergyman left doors of the over 200 thousand capacity Faith Tabernacle open to worshippers, brushing aside the order. Shutting down churches would be like shutting down hospitals, Mr Oyedepo said during March 22 Sunday service that streamed live online. There are many, many places that would never have any medical solution but in church. Clarification But in a statement Monday by his Special Assistant, Steve Ogah, and published by Vanguard among other media, Mr Oyedepo downplayed his earlier position. He said the church has been pressured to clarify why it held church services against government directives. It has become necessary to issue this statement to clarify issues surrounding why Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, the International Headquarters of Living Faith Church in Ogun State, held church service on Sunday, although with less than half of her regular worshippers, the statement said. There have been diverse responses varying from well-meaning concerns to uncharitable insinuations, misinterpretations, and unfounded allegations that the service was held in deliberate defiance of Ogun State Government ban on high-density gatherings, in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic. Nothing can be further from the truth. READ ALSO: The cleric said his decision to allow the service to hold followed a statement on Saturday by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) that church members who may gather in church premises, many of whom may not be aware of this regulations should be allowed to worship for the purpose of enlightenment on the subject matter. As we all know, the Church is made up of both literate and illiterate congregants; many are not in touch with any of the modern platforms of communication and this is what we did yesterday. Indeed, the service was devoted entirely to sensitizing and mobilizing members of the Church regarding the danger of this deadly virus and the need to comply with government directives. The Bishop has since engaged Ogun State Government at the highest level to clarify this issue and any misgivings and reiterated the full support of the church for the State Governments efforts to ensure public safety, towards curtailing the spread of this deadly virus. He appreciates the opportunity of direct engagement and the understanding of the government. Cooperation to safeguard public safety is not just a moral obligation or civic responsibility; the church also considers it a spiritual duty. For instance, to show how law abiding our organisation is and in compliance with government directives, all our primary and secondary schools across the nation have been directed to close down. Also, our students at Landmark University, Omuaran, Kwara state were sent back home, while Covenant University Students, who are currently on vacation were instructed to stay back at home while awaiting further directives from government. The popular preacher was however silent on whether physical service would continue to hold. Abimbola Oyeyemi, Ogun police spokesperson, told PREMIUM TIMES officers were at Canaan Land on Sunday to enforce compliance, but Mr Oyedepo and his ministers thwarted their efforts. Police officers were there to caution them but they refused and held their service, Mr Oyeyemi said. Mr Oyeyemi told PREMIUM TIMES that the churchs action was inappropriate, but officers had overlooked it with the hope that such would not happen again going forward. We hope that by next week Sunday they would listen to the voice of reason and comply, the police chief said. Nobody is above the law. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday (March 23) directed all states and Union Territories to constitute high-level committees to consider releasing on parole or interim bail prisoners and undertrials for offences entailing up to 7-year jail term to decongest prisons in the wake of coronavirus pandemic. The top court said overcrowding of prisons is a matter of serious concern, particularly in the present context of coronavirus (COVID-19). In regard to the provisions of Article 21 of the Constitution of India, it has become imperative to ensure that the spread of coronavirus within the prisons is controlled, the court said. A bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices L N Rao and Surya Kant said the state or UT could consider the release of prisoners who have been convicted or are undertrial for offences for which prescribed punishment is up to 7 years or less, with or without fine and the prisoner has been convicted for a lesser number of years than the maximum. "We direct that each State/Union Territory shall constitute a High Powered Committee comprising of (i) Chairman of the State Legal Services Committee, (ii) the Principal Secretary (Home/Prison) by whatever designation is known as, (ii) Director General of Prison(s), to determine which class of prisoners can be released on parole or an interim bail for such period as may be thought appropriate," it said. The top court said it would be open for the High Powered Committee to determine the category of prisoners who should be released depending upon the nature of offence, the number of years to which he or she has been sentenced or the severity of the offence with which he/she is charged with and is facing trial or any other relevant factor, which the Committee may consider appropriate. It also directed that the Undertrial Review Committee set up by the court in another matter, shall meet every week and take such decision in consultation with the concerned authority. It said that the High Powered Committee shall take into account the directions contained its 2014 verdict of Arnesh Kumar versus State of Bihar. It asked the states and UTs who have not filed their responses to do so within three weeks from today and listed the matter after three weeks. "Taking into consideration the possibility of outside transmission, we direct that the physical presence of all the undertrial prisoners before the Courts must be stopped forthwith and recourse to video conferencing must be taken for all purposes," the bench said, adding that the transfer of prisoners from one prison to another for routine reasons must not be resorted except for decongestion to ensure social distancing and medical assistance to an ill prisoner. It directed that there should not be any delay in shifting sick person to a Nodal Medical Institution in case of any possibility of infection is seen and prison specific readiness and response plans must be developed in consultation with medical experts. It said that 'Interim guidance on Scaling-up COVID-19 Outbreak in Readiness and Response Operations in camps and camp like settings' -- jointly developed by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC), International Organisation for Migration (IOM), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and World Health Organisation (WHO), published by Inter-Agency Standing Committee of United Nations on March 17, 2020 -- may be taken into consideration for similar circumstances. "A monitoring team must be set up at the state level to ensure that the directives issued with regard to prison and remand homes are being complied with scrupulously," it said. The top court added that looking into the possible threat of transmission and fatal consequences, it is necessary that prisons must ensure maximum possible distancing among the prisoners including under trials. The top court also noted the steps taken by various states and UTs including shifting of over 11,000 prisoners to less congested prisons in Jharkhand. "An overview of the responses reflects that considerable measures for protection of health and welfare of the prisoners to restrict the transmission of COVID-19 have been taken by the State Governments," the bench said. It said these measures generally include creation of isolation wards, quarantine of new prisoners including prisoners of foreign nationality for a specific period, preliminary examination of prisoners for COVID-19, ensuring availability of medical assistance, entry points scanning of staff and other service providers, sanitisation and cleanliness exercise of prison campus and wards, supply of masks etc. It said that significant measures have been taken by Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Tripura, Jharkhand, Goa, Kerala, Telangana and UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Chandigarh who have advised the prison authorities that visitors may be allowed to interact with prisoners only through video calling or telephonic call. On March 16, the top court had taken suo motu cognisance of overcrowding of prisons across the country and said it is difficult for jail inmates to maintain social distancing to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Amid the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, the Indian Army on Monday restricted movements in cantonments and military stations across all military establishments in the 82 districts which are under lockdown. However, personnel engaged in essential services have been permitted to functions, this includes, medical establishments, fire, electricity/ water supply, communication, post offices, and sanitation services. In the fresh instructions issued on Monday, the Indian Army has also advised all personnel to practice social distancing while performing all tasks and all tasks related to response to COVID-19 shall continue without any hindrance. In an attempt to avoid mass gathering, all CSDs have been shut, only bare essential sections/offices to function on a daily basis and work from home to be implemented. The personnel attending office will adhere to staggered timings. READ | COVID-19 Crisis: After Lockdown, J&K Administration Now Seals All Borders Of The UT Coronavirus crisis in India As of date, 415 positive cases have been reported of the pandemic Coronavirus (COVID-19) with Maharashtra reporting the highest at 89. Seven deaths have been reported till date. India has suspended all visas and barred travel from Afghanistan, Philippines, EU, UK, China, Malaysia and mandatory 14-day quarantine from several other countries and shut down over 82 districts across the nation. READ | Coronavirus In India LIVE Tracker: Total Cases, Deaths, Statistics And State-wise Breakup India has also closed the India-Pakistan border and restricted passenger movement at the border with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Myanmar. The government is monitoring all suspected cases and issued preventive advisories with Bihar, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Assam, Delhi, Kerala, Jammu - Kashmir declaring the disease an epidemic shutting down all educational institutions, monuments, parks, gyms, swimming pools, pubs and banning large gatherings. Lockdown in 82 districts The Centre and State governments have decided to announce a lockdown in 82 districts across the country where coronavirus cases have been reported, officials said on Sunday. It has also decided to suspend inter-state bus services till March 31, they said. The decisions have been taken at a high-level meeting attended by chief secretaries of all States and the Cabinet Secretary and the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister. READ | West Bengal Announces Complete Lockdown From March 23 To March 27 Amid Coronavirus In view of the need to contain the spread of COVID 19, it was agreed that there is an urgent need to extend the restrictions on the movement of non-essential passenger transport including inter-State transport buses till March 31, 2020, a home ministry official said. State governments will issue orders allowing only essential services to operate in about 82 districts with confirmed COVID 19 cases or casualties, the official said. READ | Tamil Nadu Government Extends Janta Curfew Till March 23 To Combat Coronavirus By Steven Lemongello, Orlando Sentinel Four University of Tampa students who had traveled together and with other UT students during spring break have tested positive for the coronavirus, the university said Saturday. The announcement comes as experts fear that Florida spring breakers could become spreaders of coronavirus in their campuses and hometowns. Pictures and videos of young people drinking, partying and going to the beach over the last few weeks, even as Gov. Ron DeSantis was warning not to congregate in groups larger than ten and restaurants and bars were closed, has sparked outrage on social media. Gregg Gonsalves, a professor of epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health, told Politico Saturday, What is happening in Florida with spring break partying-on by students oblivious to the epidemiological implications of their actions is nothing short of tragic." Of the four UT students, one did not return to campus after spring break while the three others returned. All four students were self-isolating, the latter three on campus, and none have been hospitalized. Per Florida Department of Health guidelines, the four students were not identified. DeSantis has been criticized for not mandating the closing of public beaches earlier, saying that he wanted to leave the decision to local governments. On Friday, Panama City became one of the last cities to close its beach, with Mayor Mike Thomas voting to close it while continuing to stress that it was unnecessary. He said DeSantis decision not to order beaches closed had been an opportunity for Panama City Beach, according to NBC. Weve got nine miles of beach ... plenty of room for people to spread out, Thomas had argued. African countries now have more than 1500 confirmed cases of Covid-19, and have recorded 50 deaths and 145 recoveries as at Monday afternoon. Cases in South Africa, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Burkina Faso, Tunisia, Senegal, Cameroon and Nigeria have also risen. South Africa has the highest number of cases on the continent. In less than 24 hours, 128 new cases were recorded in the country, resulting in a total of 401 cases. The President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, will address the nation on Monday evening on stricter measures that will be put in place to help curb the spread of the virus. However, South Africa has zero deaths and four recoveries. Egypt recorded an increase of 33 new cases, bringing its total number of positive cases to 327. Egypt was formally the worst-hit country in the continent. The ministry of health and population in the country announced on Sunday the increase in the number of cases. All cases he said, are those of people who had contact with positive Covid-19 cases. There is a total of 327 confirmed cases, 14 deaths and 56 recoveries, it said. The Algerian ministry of health confirmed 62 new cases. The total number of confirmed cases is 201, seven deaths, and 65 recoveries. Morocco on Monday confirmed 19 new cases, bringing its total to 134. Morocco has recorded four deaths and three recoveries. In Burkina Faso 24 new cases were announced. There is a total of 99 confirmed cases, four deaths, and five recoveries. On Sunday March 22, four ministers of the Burkina Faso government tested positive for the virus. Tunisia Fourteen new cases were reported in Tunisia. The health ministry announced at a daily press conference that 14 new cases had been registered out of a total of 126 tests carried out in 24 hours. Amongst the cases in Tunisia, 29 are local while 60 are imported cases. Tunisia has a total of 89 confirmed cases, three deaths, and one recovery. The ministry of health, Senegal on Sunday in a press statement announced 11 new cases; six of the new cases are imported while five are follow-up contact cases. To date, 67 cases have been declared positive, including five cured and 62 under treatment, the statement read. There are five affected regions in Senegal. These are Dakar, Thies, St Louis, Diourbel, and Ziquinchor. Cameroon has 16 new cases of Covid-19, bringing its total to 56 and two recovered cases. Also, in Cameroon, the speaker of the National Assembly of Cameroon has tested positive for Covid-19. Nigeria Nigeria on Monday confirmed six new cases, bringing its total to 36 (25 in Lagos, six in FCT, two in Ogun, one each in Ekiti, Oyo, And Edo). The Minister of Health Nigeria, Osagie Ehanire, has urged Nigerians to strictly observe precautionary measures in the bid to contain the spread of the virus. Advertisements The measures according to his tweet include regular hand washing, non-contact greetings, avoiding crowded gatherings, social distance (2 meters), and self-isolation if just returning from abroad. Auto stocks plunged up to 20 per cent on Monday as companies have suspended their production due to the coronavirus outbreak. Motherson Sumi Systems cracked 20 per cent and Ashok Leyland fell 18 per cent, Maruti Suzuki India (17.02 per cent), Bajaj Auto (13.95 per cent) and Apollo Tyres (13.86 per cent). Shares of TVS Motor Company settled 12.94 per cent down while that of MRF and Eicher Motors dropped 12.34 per cent and 11.87 per cent, respectively, on the BSE. Likewise, Hero MotoCorp declined 11.07 per cent, Tata Motors (9.95 per cent) and M&M (9.06 per cent). The BSE Auto Index tumbled by 13.35 per cent. The country's largest two-wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp on Sunday said it has suspended production at all its sites across the globe until March 31, 2020 in order to safeguard its employees against coronavirus infections. On Monday, Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) said Suzuki Motor Gujarat has suspended production at its Gujarat-based plant to check the spread of COVID-19. Suzuki Motor Gujarat manufactures cars on contract basis for MSI. The company has been informed by Suzuki Motor Gujarat Pvt Ltd (SMG) that pursuant to Gujarat government directive to check the spread of COVID-19 transmission, they are closing their plant operations with effect from B-shift from March 23 through March 25, 2020, as per a regulatory filing. Rockman Industries, the auto components arm of the Hero Group, on Monday said it has suspended all operations at its seven manufacturing facilities till March-end due to coronavirus outbreak. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The ongoing shortage of securing personal protection equipment for healthcare workers has led a north Alabama hospital to plead with the community for help. Athens-Limestone Hospital posted on its Facebook page Sunday that it is "urgently appealing" for help from the community to donate supplies that can be used to help keep healthcare workers safe as they interact with potential COVID-19 patients. The hospital opened a drive-thru clinic on Thursday to test for flu and strep throat as well as COVID-19 and has plans to keep the clinic open throughout the week. "Your support of Athens-Limestone Hospital has been an important part of our growth, and ability, right now, to respond to this COVID-19 outbreak," the Facebook message said. "We have opened community drive-thru testing units, and we are urgently appealing to our local suppliers and business leaders to share with Athens-Limestone Hospital any supplies, such as the following: hazmat suits, N-95 masks, isolation/surgical masks, gloves and goggles." Getting personal protection equipment, or PPE, has been a source of frustration throughout the country. On Sunday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said states were competing with each other to get vital equipment such as gowns and masks. He called on the federal government to intervene. President Trump so far has left getting the PPE up to the states. Im calling on the Federal Government to nationalize the medical supply chain. The Federal Government should immediately use the Defense Production Act to order companies to make gowns, masks and gloves. Currently, states are competing against other states for supplies. Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) March 22, 2020 The hospital said donations can be made through the Athens-Limestone Hospital Foundation, and will be tax deductible. Hours of drop-off are Monday-Friday, 7:00AM-3:30PM. Items for donation should be delivered to the loading dock located behind the hospital, which can be accessed from West Hobbs Street. Upon arrival, please call the phone number posted on the loading dock doors. Supplies needed! How you can help! Your support of Athens-Limestone Hospital has been an important part of our growth,... Posted by Athens-Limestone Hospital on Sunday, March 22, 2020 Alternate arrangements can be made by calling 256-233-9141. To make monetary donations, click here. For item donation questions and for tax deductibility questions, contact Caroline Canestrari at 256-762-7043 or carolinec@alhnet.org. Our hospital, like our community, is being proactive and resourceful in responding to this crisis, the Facebook post said. We are working day and night to ensure we have all supplies needed to meet the demands this unanticipated crisis generates. Resources: Follow our live updates. Find all of our coronavirus stories. A continuously updated vital information post. A free text-messaging service so you can receive the most urgent coronavirus updates on your cellphone. And ask questions. To sign up, subscribe to Alabama Coronavirus Urgent Alerts. A new weekday newsletter is available. You can subscribe here. Also, download our mobile app where you can receive on-the-go notifications. Gov. Tony Evers announced Monday that he will be issuing a "Safer At Home" order, effective Tuesday, March 24. It is expected to close all "nonessential" businesses. The order is to be issued after the state announced Monday afternoon there were 416 confirmed coronavirus cases in the state, five of which are in Racine County. There are a total of 33,404 reported cases in the nation. The county also issued two orders Monday, one requiring all long-term care facilities to lock down immediately and a second, requiring all first responders and emergency medical personnel to wear personal protective equipment, including face masks, goggles and gloves when responding to health emergencies. While first responders are currently equipped with protective gear, Racine County and the Racine County Emergency Operations Center are actively seeking and acquiring more personal protection equipment to ensure those working on the front lines are protected in the long term. Details on donations will be forthcoming. The first order includes nursing homes, assisted living facilities and memory care facilities. Many facilities have done this already. The order provides actions to take on visitor restrictions, healthcare personnel infection prevention strategies, resident monitoring and restrictions, general infection control, managing personal protection equipment and supply shortages, reporting to the health department, and requires documentation of residents who leave the facility for any reason. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that all nursing homes should assume that COVID-19 is in their community, including communities where it is not yet reported. What is 'Safer at Home?' The specifics of the state's "Safer at Home" order, including a possible end date, have not yet been released and are set to be detailed Tuesday before the order is signed by Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Andrea Palm. The order will be carried out by local law enforcement officers, including county sheriff's offices, according to Ryan Nilsestuen, the governor's chief legal counsel. In a series of tweets published at 9:34 a.m. Monday, the governor said that everyone should stay home as much as possible and that all "nonessential" businesses should close until further notice. Evers said the decision was made after talking "with public health experts and with business leaders and local elected officials around the state. Overwhelmingly, the response I heard is that we need an all-hands-on-deck approach to stopping the spread of COVID-19 in Wisconsin ... The experts and the scientists made it clear to me that this is the way to solve this problem." Last week, Evers said that he had hoped to avoid similar shelter-in-place orders issued in other states, including neighboring Illinois. On Monday afternoon, Evers said: Its not something I wanted to do. Its not a decision I take lightly." "You can still get out and walk the dogs its good exercise and its good for everyones mental health," Evers continued, "but please dont take any other unnecessary trips, and limit your travel to essential needs like going to the doctor, grabbing groceries or getting medication." Evers added that Folks need to start taking this seriously" regarding the pandemic. We need an all-hands-on-deck approach to stop the spread of COVID-19 in Wisconsin." Legislative reaction State Rep. Greta Neubauer, D-Racine, who said she has been practicing "social distancing" even before the state order, applauded Evers' decision. In a statement, Neubauer said, "This is an important next step in keeping our community safe and healthy through the COVID-19 pandemic. These decisions are never easy, but if we all can limit our travel to only the most essential trips and limit our contact to our households, Wisconsin can flatten the curve. Together, we can keep our vulnerable neighbors and essential workers safer from COVID-19. "In recent weeks, I have heard over and over from constituents in Racine that this is necessary to keep our community safe. Thank you, Governor Evers, for responding to their calls," Neubauer stated. Meanwhile, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, criticized how Evers announced his "Safer at Home" order. The governors announcement has created mass amounts of confusion," Vos wrote, opening a pagelong statement Monday. Vos said that the Legislature did not hear about the decision before Evers let the public know about it via Twitter just after 9:30 a.m. Monday. The governors executive order came as a surprise to the Legislature," Vos said. "It was a complete reversal from his repeated assurances. It should be noted that legislative leaders have asked on a daily basis whether or not this was the direction the governor was headed, and we were told it was not." The speaker continued: "For days, Gov. Evers took a measured approach and reassured business owners that a shelter-in-place order may not be necessary. Legislative leaders even complimented him for it. The governors sudden change of course and lack of specific guidance have increased the level of uncertainty and anxiety in our state. The people of Wisconsin deserve clear communications during a public health emergency," Vos said. 416 cases in state Five people in Wisconsin have died from COVID-19 in Wisconsin, the Department of Health Services confirmed Monday afternoon. The three most recent deaths all occurred in Milwaukee County. The first two deaths were in Fond du Lac and Ozaukee counties. These deaths are heartbreaking and compel us to work harder, together moving forward," Palm said. Between Saturday and Sunday, the number of confirmed cases in Wisconsin rose from 281 to 381. As of 1:50 p.m. Monday, 7,466 total COVID-19 tests had been completed in Wisconsin, with 7,050 coming back negative, according to DHS. Milwaukee County still has the highest number of cases. The total count there was 204 cases on Monday, up from 182 cases on Sunday, and 126 on Saturday. As for Racine County's other neighboring counties, Kenosha County has 12 cases, up from five on Saturday. Walworth County had three and Waukesha County had 31, according to state numbers released Monday afternoon. Thirty of Wisconsin's 72 counties have at least one confirmed case of COVID-19. Drive-thru testing Ascension Health said Monday that it has officially launched drive-thru testing for COVID-19 in Wisconsin, including at one location in Mount Pleasant. SC Johnson helped Ascension set up the testing location. "Ascension All Saints Hospital is incredibly grateful to SC Johnson for its support at a time we all need to come together," Kristin McManmon, Ascension All Saints Hospital president, said in a statement Monday. "We opened our first COVID-19 mobile testing site in Mount Pleasant today and deeply appreciate the generous assistance of SC Johnson as we all work to slow the transmission of COVID-19 and care for all those in need." Before getting tested, individuals still need to be screened by an Ascension provider by phone or online via Ascension Online Care. If a provider deems that the individual should be tested, they will be told where the nearest testing location is. Prescreening questions include travel history, inquiries about symptoms and potential contact with other COVID-19 patients. Once on site, patients will not leave their car. Nasal swab samples will be collected and then sent to a lab for testing, with results expected to take up to one week. Coronavirus webpages The City of Racine on Monday launched a website, racinecoronavirus.org, to keep its residents, employees, businesses and civic organizations better informed of the latest developments and news related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The website includes the latest information about the outbreak and the citys responses to the crisis. The site also features resources to help citizens navigate their way forward as the pandemic unfolds. The website will be updated daily with the latest information and guidelines for the public from the city, county and state. The county government also has launched an coronavirus informational website: racinecounty.com/coronavirus. More city closures The City Hall Annex, 800 Center St., will be closed to the public. Racine city departments are still working and city staff are still in the building, but all other personnel should work remotely. The City Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department is closing playground equipment due to not being able to sanitize the equipment properly or frequently. Public parks in Racine are not closed and people are encouraged to get fresh air while maintaining proper precautions such as social distancing. Carthage goes online-only Carthage College in Kenosha announced Sunday that it will be finishing its 2020 spring semester online-only, a decision made almost three weeks after the private school said it was extending spring break due to COVID-19 and just hours after announcing spring athletics had been suspended. I know this is not how we intended to spend our spring semester together. So much has changed, and so quickly, Carthage President John Swallow stated. Yet despite the uncertainty, our mission remains the same. All of us at Carthage are as committed as ever to giving our students the very best education possible. Together we will persevere. Along with the decision which was emailed to faculty, staff students and their families Sunday afternoon the in-person commencement ceremony was "halted." We are already considering creative ways to mark commencement in May, and hope that our seniors will send us ideas as well," Swallow said. "We look forward to scheduling an in-person celebration later this year for our May 2020 graduates. The University of Wisconsin-Parkside announced Friday that it will delay face-to-face spring commencement ceremonies, originally scheduled for May 16. Parkside has also announced classes were going online-only for the rest of the spring semester. Help for delivery drivers The state has also ordered insurers "to assist restaurants that have begun offering delivery service to customers during the COVID-19 public health crisis." In the order, coming from Insurance Commissioner Mark Afable and Evers, insurers "must cover delivery services for restaurants on personal auto insurance policies and must offer coverage for hired drivers and non-owned automobiles as a rider on a restaurants general liability insurance if it is requested both at no extra cost to the policyholders." There are nearly 13,000 restaurants in the State of Wisconsin, many of which don't normally offer delivery but have started to in the wake of forced closures due to the COVID-19 epidemic. The governor's order included an advisement that restaurants interested in the extra coverage should still contact their insurance agent/company directly. The order is expected to remain in effect until the public health emergency due to COVID19 is lifted. Small businesses The Wisconsin Small Business Development Center Network said it will be offering its resources to help small businesses in the state apply for low-interest federal disaster loans. Business owners face devastating, unprecedented challenges as cash flow and everyday lives are severely disrupted, Bon Wikenheiser, state director of the SBDC, said in a statement. They need expert advice they can trust now more than ever. For more info, go to wisconsinsbdc.org/disasterloans. Child Care help The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is coordinating efforts to find child care for families of workers providing vital service to the states COVID-19 response, the department stated in a release Monday. Child care available remains one of the top concerns to keeping health providers and essential employees at work. "Over the past 48 hours, work began on matching supply and demand to make sure health care workers were able to find the child care they needed," the release stated. DCF has sought hazard pay funding for child care workers remaining open and asked educators to volunteer in child care settings. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Editor's note:Read the latest on how the coronavirus is rattling the markets and what investors can do to navigate it. Since the equity market peak on Feb. 19, 2020, developed-markets sovereign debt outside the United States hasn't held up as well as U.S. Treasuries but still provided some much-needed ballast against the equity market's steep declines. Global Treasuries (ex-U.S.) hedged back to U.S. dollars were down 2.2% from the equity market peak on Feb. 20 through March 19 and roughly flat for the year to date through March 19. Taking on the underlying currency exposures wasn't quite as effective, as most currencies depreciated against the U.S. dollar: Unhedged returns were negative 2.8% and negative 4.2% for the respective periods but still a good outcome all considered. There have been some dizzying turns for global fixed-income investors as stocks have abruptly reversed course intraday or on days when investors ran to cash and liquidity seized up in unusual places. Yields on German and Japanese 10-year government bonds, traditional safe-haven assets, fell in tandem with the U.S. 10-year Treasury as the equity sell-off got underway. However, prices on these bonds became much more volatile starting on March 9 before stabilizing and rebounding during the middle of this week as the market welcomed increased central bank action and governments' stimulus measures. Even Italian and Spanish 10-year bonds, whose yields had climbed since the start of the equity market slide, have also found more solid footing in recent days. The currency market has seen ample volatility. The yen and Swiss franc have come along for the ride with the U.S. dollar, surging versus most currencies. The oil price slide has put heavy pressure on several others including the Canadian dollar, Norwegian krone, and Russian ruble (down 8%, 17%, and 20%, respectively, versus the U.S. dollar from Feb. 20 through March 19), while investors have also dumped emerging-markets currencies en masse (the Mexican peso and Brazilian real were down 23% and 15%). Story continues Global Treasuries, Safe-Haven Currencies Helping Certain Strategies The U.S. dollar-hedged Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate Index was down 2.7% from Feb. 20 through March 19, roughly on par with the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Index. (The unhedged version of this bogy slid by 3.8%.) U.S. dollar-hedged world bond funds, on average, have lost less in this downturn compared with their unhedged counterparts, particularly those like Vanguard Total International Bond Index VTABX (down 3%) that are underpinned by investment-grade sovereigns. That said, some active global bond managers who have considerable flexibility to deviate from the index in their rates and currency exposure have also limited losses to similar levels. Hartford World Bond HWDIX slipped by 3.2% over this stretch thanks to the team's risk-conscious approach, which keeps the fund anchored in developed-markets sovereigns (roughly half of assets) and included a large yen stake at the end of February. Templeton Global Bond TGBAX, which focuses on global sovereign bonds and currencies but resides in the nontraditional bond Morningstar Category because of its long-held negative duration stance, has also held up better than most (down 3.4%), thanks to its long yen and Swiss franc positions, a short on the Australian dollar, and double-digit cash stake, which have provided insulation against its riskier emerging-markets-bond positions. Credit, Emerging-Markets Taking Hits as Expected Pressures on corporate credit have been felt worldwide. European high-yield spreads have blown out more than those on emerging-markets hard-currency debt since Feb. 20, a sell-off that was roughly on par with U.S. high yield. IShares International High Yield Bond ETF HYXU was down 20.9% for this stretch, a level similar to U.S. high-yield index trackers. On certain days, investment-grade corporates have suffered more than high yield given concerns about massive downgrades of BBB rated debt, but overall losses have been less severe. SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF IBND slid by 10.7%, which again was somewhat similar to losses on U.S. investment-grade corporate-focused strategies. Global strategies with more exposure to emerging-markets debt have generally suffered as well. The JPM EMBI Global Diversified Index, which tracks hard-currency denominated emerging-markets sovereigns, was down 20.8%. Despite the cushion of being mostly U.S. dollar-denominated, roughly 45% of bonds in this index are below investment grade, and many of its constituent countries' fates are tied to commodities prices. Some of these sovereigns were already in default (Venezuela, Argentina, and Lebanon) prior to this sell-off. The JPM GBI-EM Global Diversified, which tracks emerging-markets sovereigns denominated in local currencies, was down 17.8% over this period. This is a more liquid market with more investment-grade debt, but steep currency losses have certainly taken their toll. Dodge & Cox Global Bond DODLX, similar to the firm's other offerings, has a healthy stake in corporates and emerging-markets bonds (38% and 25% at the end of 2019) and slid by 14.4%, trailing 90% of distinct world bond peers. BrandywineGlobal Global Opportunities Bond GOBIX, which has long had more exposure to emerging-markets debt and Mexico in particular (14% of bond exposure and 11% of currency exposure as of Feb. 29, 2020), plus lower exposure to the U.S. dollar, was down 16.9%. Dedicated emerging-markets bond funds have been among the hardest hit in the fixed-income universe--the category median loss was 20.5%--due to steep price declines on both rates and currencies. TCW Emerging Markets Income TGEIX, which invests across emerging-markets hard- and local-currency sovereigns as well as corporates, plunged by 27.6% because of its focus on Middle Eastern bonds, which have been suffered because of their oil dependence as well as a Ukraine overweight and some hard-hit corporates. Sit Tight, Rebalance as Needed Bond investors need to brace for more choppiness as markets react to coronavirus- and recession-related news, with emerging-markets and corporates likely to remain under pressure and the potential for more liquidity issues putting general strain on the markets. The best thing is to sit tight and rebalance as needed to stick to your allocation targets. Higher-quality bond funds should continue to provide cushion against the much more dramatic stock market declines. Skilled active managers have been through tough market conditions before, and they will take advantage of bargains that will pay off down the line. 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Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Lets take a break from COVID-19 and talk books. Last year I read Andrew Roberts biography of Winston Churchill, and enjoyed it. I didnt realize that he also wrote a biography of Napoleon Bonaparte in 2014 until one of my daughters gave it to me for Christmas. It is a terrific booklong, at 800 pages, but so absorbing that it could easily have been longer. I actually enjoyed Napoleon more than Churchill: Walking With Destiny, in part because its material was less familiar to me. Reading Napoleon made me realize the extent to which my knowledge of the Napoleonic Wars came from a British point of view and was, in fact, based in part on British propagandastill effective after all these years. I read a biography of Napoleon years ago, which left me with the impression that he had been crazy from a young age. And I have always considered the French Revolution an almost unalloyed evil. Napoleon, while by no means hagiographic, conveys a more balanced view of the great general and even of the revolution itself, as partially preserved by Bonaparte. He took from the revolution basic concepts of meritocracy and the rule of law and brought them to many corners of Europe. Napoleon also reminded me that his wars were largely defensive, against the various coalitions of legitimate monarchs determined to stamp out the legacy of the revolution. On a personal level, Napoleon comes across as a pretty good guy. He could be ruthless at times, but he was not cruela fact that distinguishes him from many of the great conquerors and rulers of history. To take just one example, he learned while campaigning in Italy that his first wife Josephine was being flagrantly unfaithful to him in Paris with a minor French officer named Hippolyte Charles. When he returned to France, he hurried to see Josephine and reconciled with her. He could easily have had Charles killed, but he did nothing to him at all, and Charles faded from historys pages. Everyone knows, or thinks he knows, that Napoleon was a raging egomaniac. In that context, I think this account, in a footnote, is remarkable: Adele Duchatel [one of Napoleons mistresses]was unimpressed by his sexual performance and said so. The Empress [Josephine] said you were useless, she said, laughing at (or possibly with) him. That it was like pissing about.Astonishingly for a man so proud in other areas of life, Napoleon doesnt seem to have minded. That is certainly more forbearance than most men could muster. Napoleon must have been one of the hardest-working men ever born. His sheer energy is hard to comprehend. Again, just one example among countless others: when Napoleon was in Malta in 1798 he replaced the islands medieval administration with a governing council; dissolved the monasteries; introduced street lighting and paving; freed all political prisoners; installed fountains and reformed the hospitals, postal service and university, which was now to teach science as well as the humanities. He wrote fourteen dispatches covering the islands future military, naval, administrative, judicial, taxation rental and policing arrangements. In them he abolished slavery, liveries, feudalism, titles of nobility and the arms of the Order of the Knights. He allowed the Jews to build a hitherto banned synagogue and even denoted how much each professor in the university should be paid. Napoleon was in Malta for six days. The secret police of one of his enemies used a code name for him: The Torrent. I once saw Napoleon described as the most competent man who ever lived, and Roberts biography supports that assessment. He seems to have declined in his later years (i.e., 1812 and thereafter), perhaps worn out by years of superhuman effort. It didnt help that his enemies adopted a number of his military innovations. A great deal more could be said, but I will leave it at that. Read this book! Toyota will develop a heavy-duty fuel-cell truck with its subsidiary Hino Motor as it sees hydrogen technology as a zero-emissions alternative to battery power for large commercial vehicles. The automakers noted that heavy duty trucks "account for about 60 percent of the total CO2 emissions from commercial vehicles operating in Toyota and Hinos home market of Japan." In a statement, Toyota said the truck, based on Hino's Profia model, would be equipped with two fuel cell stacks developed for the next model of its Mirai fuel cell sedan, along with high-pressure hydrogen tank and lithium ion battery pack. It would have a cruising range of around 370 miles (600 kilometers). The automaker says "steps are being taken, through comprehensive weight reduction, to ensure a sufficient load capacity," which is obviously important for the kind of work these trucks are expected to perform. Toyota has long touted fuel cell vehicles as the ultimate eco-friendly vehicle and sees the technology as more efficient than battery electric cars, embraced by many rivals as a zero-emissions alternative to gasoline vehicles. Reuters contributed to this report. Related Video: Click here to See Video >> As India fights to contain the spread of coronavirus, 80 cities including Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Bangalore have gone into lockdown. A rickshaw rider cycles along a near empty road in Delhi. (Bloomberg) People queue to buy grocery items outside a store before the start of the lockdown by West Bengal state government, to limit the spreading of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Kolkata. (REUTERS) People walk next to parked trains during lockdown by the authorities to limit the spreading of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in New Delhi. (REUTERS) Metros, trains and inter-state bus services have been suspended and malls, gyms, schools, colleges and markets have already shut down in most places. A man sits at New Delhi's border barricade during lockdown by the authorities to limit the spreading of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in New Delhi. (REUTERS) A view shows cars parked during lockdown by the authorities to limit the spreading of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in New Delhi. (REUTERS) Cabs, taxis and autos will not be allowed to operate in Delhi during the lockdown and private vehicles shall also be banned. However, the vehicles associated with essential services, such as police, electricity, chemists, health- are exempted from this rule. A police officer stands at New Delhi's border barricade during lockdown by the authorities to limit the spreading of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in New Delhi. (REUTERS) In Karnataka food, milk, fish, meat and grocery services to function. Certain parts of Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh shall also go into lockdown, and Telangana has sealed its borders and public transportation has been banned. In Goa, tourist buses have been banned. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter Romania imposes curfew, home quarantine to curb virus spread People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 13:35, March 22, 2020 The Romanian government late Saturday declared a curfew and required citizens to stay at home as much as possible during daytime in the latest move to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. Interior Minister Marcel Vela said the curfew will be imposed between 22:00 and 06:00 beginning Sunday, with the exemptions for professional reasons, shopping of daily necessities, and necessary medical services. The minister also advised Romanians not to travel in groups of more than three who do not live together. Meanwhile, malls and shopping centers will be closed from Sunday in Romania, while supermarkets, small shops and drug stores will be allowed to continue their operations, according to the authorities. Romania reported 59 more cases on Saturday, bringing its total to 367. On Feb. 27, the East European country reported its first case involving a 20-year-old Romanian national infected by an Italian visitor. The country entered a state of emergency on March 16 to curb the COVID-19 pandemic. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A further 46 people who tested positive for the coronavirus have died in England, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in the UK to 335. Patients were aged between 47 and 105 years old and all had underlying health conditions, said an NHS England statement. Their families have been informed. It came after the first UK patients were enrolled in a clinical trial for possible Covid-19 treatments. Researchers from the University of Oxford have launched a new clinical trial to test the effects of potential drug treatments for patients admitted to hospital with the virus. Of the UK deaths, 303 have been in England; 16 in Wales; 14 in Scotland, and two in Northern Ireland. Health secretary Matt Hancock said the government was working incredibly hard to expand testing, by buying tests in the UK and abroad. Next and O2 are the latest high-street chains to close their stores in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus. The patients died at hospitals run by the following NHS Trusts: Luton and Dunstable University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust: One Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust: One West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust: One St Georges University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: Two Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust: Two Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust: One Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust: One University College London Hospital NHS Trust: Two Royal Free London NHS Trust: Four Barts Healthcare NHS Trust: One Guys and St Thomas NHS Trust: Two North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust: One Epsom and St. Helier NHS Trust: Three Worcester Acute Hospitals NHS Trust: One Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust: Two The Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust: One Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust: One South Warwickshire NHS Trust: One Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: Three Sunderland and South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust: Two Tameside & Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust: Four Bolton NHS Foundation Trust: One Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust: Three Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust: One Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: Two Royal Cornwall Hospital NHS Trust: Two Actor Prithviraj Sukumaran has revealed that the shoot of his upcoming Malayalam film Aadujeevitham is currently underway in Jordan amid the coronavirus outbreak. However, he has revealed that the team is taking necessary precautions. Prithviraj took to Facebook to share an update regarding the films shoot. We are currently in Wadi Rum, Jordan and continuing shoot. We have decided so because, given the circumstances, that seems to be our best option. There are no international flights operating in and out of Jordan at the moment, and given the fact that all of us are already here, we can either stay put in our camp in the desert which is currently accommodating only our unit, or get out and shoot at our location which is barely a few minutes outside our camp. After consulting with the authorities and undergoing medical check-ups for each member of the unit, we have been given a go-ahead for the shoot as the location and the process of filming Aadujeevitham is in itself very isolated, he posted. He also revealed that two actors have been put on precautionary quarantine in Amman, and will be joining the team post the 14-day period. Aadujeevitham, based on the critically-acclaimed eponymous 2008 novel about an abused migrant worker in Saudi Arabia, is one of the most anticipated films of this year. Prithviraj Sukumaran plays the titular role of Najeeb Muhammad, an Indian immigrant going missing in Saudi, with Amala Paul as the leading lady. The film is being directed by Blessy. Also see: Deepika Padukone works out with her snack Ranveer Singh, he says Double the endorphin rush when shes around Aadujeevitham will mark composer AR Rahmans return to Malayalam films after more than 25 years. In 2018, speaking on the sidelines of a concert in Dubai celebrating 25 years of his musical journey, Rahman had said he was thrilled to have signed a Malayalam film after a long hiatus. His last Malayalam outing was Sangeeth Sivans 1992 film Yoddha, which was his second film as a composer. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop Actor Song Joong-ki's ongoing film project has been halted in Colombia due to the spreading coronavirus epidemic, and all of its cast and crew will return to Korea. "The Colombian government has banned foreign travelers from entering the country to contain the spread of the virus, and has also banned its own nationals from leaving the country," said one of the film's crew members. "We have decided to stop shooting the film and will monitor the situation to decide later when it is appropriate to resume filming." With the virus having reached Latin America, which had looked largely unscathed, countries there are bracing for coronavirus while implementing travel restrictions. Currently, there are over 200 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Colombia. As its title suggests, the film "Bogota," which depicts the lives of immigrants to Colombia in the 1990s, was due to be entirely filmed in Colombia. Shooting began there in January and was due to wrap up in May. Meanwhile, filming of director Kim Sung-hoon's new film has also been postponed. Based on a real story of a Korean diplomat who was kidnapped in Beirut, Lebanon in the 1980s, the film starring Ha Jung-woo and Joo Ji-hoon was supposed to start filming later this month in Morocco. Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 23, 2020 | PADUCAH By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 23, 2020 | 12:23 PM | PADUCAH Two Graves County men have been arrested in Paducah on drug charges. A McCracken County Sheriff's Detective was at a convenience store in the 3500 block of Lone Oak Road on Friday afternoon when he saw what he believed was a drug transaction taking place at the gas pumps. He stopped one of the men while the other one drove away. The detective says 23-year-old Michael Ivie was holding a bag with suspected cocaine when he was detained and subsequently arrested. Ivie was on felony probation at the time of the arrest. He is charged with possession of a controlled substance 1st degree (cocaine) and possession of drug paraphernalia. A Sheriff's Deputy found and stopped the other man, identified as 20-year-old Taylor West, in the 3100 block of Lone Oak Road. West was arrested on outstanding Graves County warrants for trafficking in methamphetamine and engaging in organized crime. A search of West and his vehicle led to seizure of cash believed to be the proceeds of illegal drug sales. He was also charged with trafficking in a controlled substance (cocaine). Ivie and West were taken to McCracken County Jail. Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra on Monday donated his one month salary for the state government's efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus infection. The governor also sent an amount of Rs 20 lakh from the Governor's Relief Fund to Covid-19 Fund of Rajasthan CM Relief Fund, a Raj Bhawan statement said. Following the governor's initiative, the Raj Bhawan employees too decided to donate their one day's salary to the government, it added. Mishra's one month salary is Rs 3.50 lakh, said the statement, adding the one-day salary of officials and employees of Raj Bhawan totals Rs 2.25 lakh. Accordingly, a sum of Rs 25.75 lakh is being sent to the Covid-19 Fund of Rajasthan Chief Minister's Relief Fund, it added. Governor Mishra also appealed to the people wishing to extend financial support in the anti-corona fight to to contribute by check or draft to the Governor Relief Fund. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Advertisement Britain's high streets will shut down this evening as many retailers and eateries including Greggs, Nandos, John Lewis, KFC and McDonald's shut their doors amid the coronavirus crisis. Costa Coffee along with dozens of other eateries closed their doors this morning as other businesses prepare to shut shop tonight. Many chains said they would be temporarily shutting stores in the UK, as retailers all over the country begin to deal with the fall out from the illness that has so far killed 335 people, with over 6,650 cases having been confirmed. This afternoon pastry favourite Greggs said it will close its entire store estate from the end of business on Tuesday, saying operating a takeaway service was not enough to maintain social distancing. Popular fried chicken chain KFC has also started closing its restaurants today, and confirmed they will all be shut by Wednesday March 25 until further notice. Many people across the UK will be laid off work due to the virus and chancellor Rishi Sunak is preparing a fresh coronavirus economic bailout to protect the UK's five million self-employed workers. He had announced on Friday that the Government would cover 80 per cent of employers' wage bills in a bid to stop mass lay-offs. Office workers all over the country had been urged to 'work from home where possible' in order to stop the spread of the virus. The closures today come after coffee chains such as Pret A Manger and Starbucks announced yesterday that they would be closing. Costa had yesterday announced that it would remove seating areas from its stores, as well as implementing card payments only. In a statement Costa said it would continue to serve the community and would provide key workers with cans of coffee. Nando's restaurants will also close today -as Primark and Timpsons announced similar measures in the battle against coronavirus. McDonald's previously shut down the seating areas of its restaurants, but has now confirmed in a statement that all its eateries will close at 7pm on Monday. It comes as: Frontline NHS staff claimed they are having to share facemasks amid growing demand for the items Rishi Sunak to announce cash bail-out for five million self-employed Britons facing coronavirus ruin - after promise to cover 80% of laid-off workers' incomes Teachers across the country begged parents to reconsider their 'key worker' status Commuters in London left furious as trains were still overcrowded today due to reduced services FTSE 100 opened five per cent down with drop of 266 to 4,923 points as coronavirus crisis continues to terrify investors - while pound trades at $1.16 amid chaos Shops across the UK have closed in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus, pictured above is H&M on Oxford Street, London A shorter version of the statement posted on the McDonald's Twitter account last night that details its reasons for closure Joggers and cyclists out and about in London today, a woman was seen running past a closed Pret A Manger on Oxford Street The Microsoft store in London had a sign on the window this morning that stated it was 'committed to the health and safety of customers and employees' The shops closing due to the coronavirus pandemic Advertisement Paul Pomroy, Chief Executive Officer of McDonald's in the UK & Ireland said: 'Over the last 24 hours, it has become clear that maintaining safe social distancing whilst operating busy takeaway and Drive Thru restaurants is increasingly difficult and therefore we have taken the decision to close every restaurant in the UK and Ireland by 7pm on Monday 23rd March at the latest.' On their website, Costa today said the safety of its staff and customers is a 'number one priority'. It said: 'We will do our best to keep Costa stores open in hospitals where we will continue to provide free takeaway coffee for the next two weeks to the NHS workers who are at the forefront of this crisis. Wherever possible, we will also keep our Costa Express machines available to serve you a great cup of coffee.' It also added that it would be paying all team members their full average weekly pay over eight weeks. 'We have pledged to provide support to those in need over the coming weeks and months, providing food and drink, and allowing our teams to support their own communities locally. 'We started last week, providing free coffee to our critical NHS workers. This week we will continue by delivering one million cans of coffee to other key workers across the country.' Subway also announced it is temporarily closing all of its stores in the UK and Ireland from 5pm on Monday. In a statement posted on Twitter, Subway said: 'We believe this is the best thing to support social distancing and keep everyone as healthy as possible for as long as possible.' The decision comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson called for pubs, clubs and restaurants to shut on Friday, although he stressed they could continue with a takeaway service. Nando's followed suit and said it will temporarily close all its restaurants in the UK today 'until further notice'. The chain has more than 400 restaurants in the country and said the decision was 'the best course of action'. In a post on Twitter, the company said: 'The health and safety of our customers and team is our highest priority. 'We have decided that the best course of action right now is to temporarily close our restaurants until further notice. 'We will keep you updated on our channels. We'll see you soon.' Pizza Express had said on Friday that it would close its dine in restaurants to customers but that it will still be offering delivery. But this afternoon it announced this was no longer viable. It said: 'Well also continue to increase production of our At Home range in order to enhance availability of our pizza in supermarkets during this time. 'Whilst were uncertain of what may happen over the coming few weeks, well continue to support our customers, teams and local communities as best we can and we remain committed to helping the UK get through these uncertain times'. It came after Primark announced it would close all 189 outlets in the UK and Patisserie Valerie will shut all its stores and online services today. Associated British Foods, which owns Primark, has already shut its 187 other venues across Europe and North America this week. It has also cancelled all new clothing orders from suppliers in countries including India, but will honour all orders already shipped to Primark stores. Next also said it would be closing until further notice. British clothing retailer Cath Kidston also announced its temporary closure and one expert said the timing had not been great for many struggling businesses. In a statement to its shoppers it said: 'Cath Kidston is committed to the safety of our customers and employees and so we have taken the difficult decision to temporarily close all Cath Kidston Stores, in the UK & Ireland in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Stores will close tonight, Saturday 21 March, until further notice. 'We are working to ensure our staff receive financial support and the assistance they need throughout this period of closure. 'We hope that the situation improves quickly for everyone. In the meantime, were here for you in these difficult times and send our love to all those affected. Stay safe, keep well and thank you for your unwavering support for our brand'. Nigel Frith, a senior market analyst at www.asktraders.com said: 'The increasingly stricter measures implemented by the government to contain the spread of coronavirus, combined with collapsing consumer confidence is proving to be every retailer's worst nightmare. 'The sector was already in a troubled place before coronavirus struck, now the chances of survival are greatly reduced. 'Cath Kidston is just the latest in what promises to be a very extensive list of retailers that will struggle to make it through the coming 3 months. Time is of the essence to find a buyer otherwise the floral and polka dot designs will disappear from the high street forever.' An Eat store in central London was seen boarded up this morning as people walked past it wearing protective facemasks So much for six feet! Commuters are STILL crammed onto Tubes 'risking health of vital workers' after Sadiq Khan cut services - despite him saying 'people will die' if they don't practise social distancing (while he works from home) Commuters were crammed onto Tubes in the morning dash to work today after Sadiq Khan cut services and told Londoners to enforce social distancing. The London Mayor has said Britons in the capital need to stay indoors to 'protect the ones they love' amid the outbreak of deadly coronavirus - which has infected 5,683 and killed 281 in the UK so far. London Underground staff were 'furious' after trains remained packed on Monday morning despite passengers being urged not to travel unless they have a critical job. One commuter tweeted at London's Northern Line asking where the southbound train at Colindale was, adding: 'No sight of the train, platform is full of people, thanks for nothing!' A special needs teacher told MailOnline he could not get to work safely this morning due to overcrowding - sharing images of a packed Central Line at 7.15am. Finn Brennan, district organiser for train drivers' union Aslef, expressed alarm at services which were extremely busy despite advice aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus. He wrote on Twitter: 'Still heavy loading on some Tube lines this morning making social distancing impossible. 'This is endangering the health of the vital workers who have to use the system. 'The Government must act now to ensure only ESSENTIAL journeys are made. 'I'm being sent pictures of crush loaded platforms at some Jubilee line platforms this morning. Drivers and other frontline staff are furious.' As 38 Underground stations remain closed this morning, one commuter tweeted at London's Northern Line asking where the southbound train at Colindale was, adding: 'No sight of the train, platform is full of people, thanks for nothing!' Advertisement On Sunday Timpson announced that all 2,150 of its stores - including its cobblers and locksmiths, and Johnsons - will 'go into hibernation' at 5pm tomorrow. CEO James Timpson confirmed that staff will remain on full pay. Patisserie Valerie chief executive James Fleming said that as of today they would be temporarily closing stores and online services. Pret A Manger chose to close all 400 of its UK stores, following a similar decision by coffee chain Starbucks, which has around 1,000 UK outlets. But B&Q and Screwfix stores remain open, with bosses introducing new social distancing measures in stores. This is while Ann Summers will close all stores and will pay staff their full salaries until next month. As many eateries closed across the UK, some decided to line up for a last meals at their favourite takeaways. Some eateries will remain open in order to serve food on platforms such as Deliveroo. And high street giant John Lewis decided to close all 50 of its stores from close of business tonight for the first time in its 155-year history. Waitrose will however remain open. The supermarket is also setting aside a proportion of hard-to-find and essential products for NHS staff and will be available to collect at any time of day to help work around their shifts. There will also be priority checkouts for NHS staff, along with donations of items including pillows and phone chargers. Food retailers have been increasing donations to food banks, with Asda agreeing to 5 million for FoodShare, and Co-op pledging 1.5 million. Co-op added it has built in additional working hours for store colleagues to undertake more frequent handwashing throughout the day. The companys funeral workers have also been designated as key workers. DFS said it would be paying all staff full pay for March and April, regardless of whether they are self-isolating or looking after family members. Timpson was founded in 1865 by shoemaker William Timpson and his brother-in-law Walter Joyce, who sold shoes from Oldham Road in Manchester. It expanded into shoe manufacturing in 1884 at factories in Kettering, and repairs in 1903. The company was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1929. Timpson boasted around 10million turnover in the 1950s, and was bought out by several large companies in the proceeding decades. It yet another staple of the British high street that has collaborated in the general panic after the Government encouraged public social centres to close. HMV also said it would be temporarily closing its stores for trade from the end of Sunday, although its online business would continue. Waterstones has also announced that it will temporarily close its doors by the close of trade today until further notice. Pano Christou, CEO of the food chain Pret, said in a statement posted on social media: 'I want to thank our amazing teams for serving you with so much passion and kindness over the recent weeks, including more than 100,000 NHS workers. 'Pret's first value is Happy Teams, Happy Customers and my priority is always to protect our teams as much as we can. A branch of Nandos in Windsor is seen above. The eatery announced it would close due to the coronavirus outbreak across the UK 'For this reason, we will be closing all our UK shops temporarily from this evening. Rishi Sunak to announce cash bail-out for five million self-employed Britons facing coronavirus ruin - after promise to cover 80% of laid-off workers' incomes A multi-billion pound rescue package to protect Britain's five million self-employed workers could be announced as soon as today. Chancellor Rishi Sunak is preparing the fresh coronavirus economic bailout amid warnings thousands of sole traders will not survive the crisis. He had announced on Friday that the Government would cover 80 per cent of employers' wage bills in a bid to stop mass lay-offs. But following criticism that the self-employed were not receiving a similar level of support, the Treasury has spent the weekend drawing up a new package. Chancellor Rishi Sunak (pictured on Friday) is preparing a multi-billion pound rescue package to protect Britain's five million self-employed workers Amid mounting pressure, more than 2,000 musicians have today written to the Chancellor warning that the outbreak has resulted in the 'complete shutdown of our places of work'. Signatories included musicians in the London Symphony Orchestra, band members in West End musicals such as Mamma Mia! and Strictly Come Dancing vocalist Lance Ellington. The British Chamber of Commerce last night warned that sole traders across the country were seeing their livelihoods 'vanish in the blink of an eye'. Dr Adam Marshall, director general of the BCC, said: 'While we understand the complexity involved, there are five million self-employed people who need help similar in scale and scope to that put in place for larger firms in recent days. We will work closely with ministers to find a way to deliver support to self-employed people and to ensure that the measures announced for larger businesses make it through quickly to the front line.' CBI director general Dame Carolyn Fairbairn said the Chancellor's rescue package last week had saved millions of jobs. But she contrasted his pledge to provide 80 per cent of employees' wages up to 2,500 per month with the support given to the self-employed, who were told to claim Universal Credit or statutory sick pay at a rate of 94 per week. On Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday show, Dame Carolyn said it was 'not enough for the self-employed to live on'. Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: 'It is operationally very difficult to create a scheme akin to [the bailout] for the self-employed but we are reviewing this. If there are further steps we need to do, we will take them.' Advertisement 'We will of course ensure any excess food goes to those who need it most. 'We look forward to being a part of your daily lives again soon. 'Until then, stay healthy and look after each other.' John Lewis Partnership chairman Sharon White declared: 'The welfare of our customers, communities and partners is always our absolute priority'. The group-owned supermarket Waitrose, which has more than 300 stores across the country, will remain open, she added. Ms White said the move was done 'with a heavy heart' even though the department store's website would remain operational. Topshop employees were laid off after the Arcadia Group closed its 300 UK stores an hour before the Government announced its coronavirus job retention plan. The group owned by billionaire Philip Green said in an emailed statement: 'In line with many other retailers, the Group has made the difficult decision to close until further notice all of our stores from 4pm this afternoon.' This includes Burton, Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Miss Selfridge, and Wallis. All these closures follow Chancellor Rishi Sunak's double-pledge to provide 350billion of Government-backed loans and cash grants to business, and pay 80 percent of workers' salaries up to 2,500 per month - the national average. Mr Sunak also vowed to increase welfare payments by 7billion and defer 30billion of VAT bills. His scheme will be up and running from April 1. Although these stores are technically allowed to remain open under Boris Johnson's Covid-19 lockdown plan, many have been spooked into closure. Despite the closure of stores, meaning in turn a loss of income for many, banks are still set to hike over drafts. Banks are pressing ahead with plans to raise overdraft rates to nearly 50 per cent despite the risk of customers falling into the red in the coronavirus crisis. High Street banks will all increase the cost to customers within days, meaning millions who use overdrafts responsibly face extortionate interest charges. Consumer experts are calling on banks to delay the move, which follows a change of rules by the City watchdog. Anthony Morrow, of financial advice site OpenMoney, said: 'We all need to do what we can to limit the financial burden that this crisis has created.' The new charges from April 6 come after the Bank of England cut the base rate to an historic low of 0.1 per cent. Nationwide, Santander, HSBC, and TSB have announced rises of up to 39.9 per cent, while NatWest will charge up to 39.49 per cent, and Barclays 35 per cent. Even though many stores are closing, many beauty salons and hair dressers have remained open. The establishments, which see members of staff come 'within the individuals' personal space', must go into lockdown to help the country cope with the virus' spread the minister warned. Now, the Conservative MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale David Morris, believes the government must add hairdressing businesses to the list of closed venues. A Primark store in Slough had its shutters up this morning with an sign on the door that informed customers it was closed because of the virus What is still open FOR NOW (places you can visit but can't mingle) Shops (clothes, goods) Supermarkets Takeaways Newsagents Dry cleaners Department stores Hairdressers and barbers Pharmacies Post offices Advertisement The politician, who previously owned six hairdressing establishments, told The Sun : 'Hairdressers don't wear gloves when cutting hair. It's impossible to do so. 'They touch other people on average 1,000 times per haircut. 'They are within the individuals' personal space.' The member of parliament added that while he did not wish to see the establishments shut down, it was in the interest of the nation that they do in a bid to slow down the spread of the illness. However Curry's PC World told customers it would be keeping their stores open 'for as along as we safely can' and would be redoubling on cleaning, providing hand sanitisers in the store and adopting social distancing precautions amid the outbreak. In an address to the public the company's CEO Alex Baldock said: 'As customers spend more time at home, were hearing that many of you are feeling isolated, or worried you soon will be. You want to stay connected to your loved ones, wherever they are. Youre working from home, cooking more meals, looking after (and now home-schooling) the kids and trying to keep active, entertained and healthy. Technology can give essential help with all this, and youre telling us you want it to. So were working hard to make sure we do our bit. 'Were keeping our stores open for as long as we safely can. Keeping our colleagues and customers safe is our number one priority. Everyone must feel safe in one of our stores. Thats why weve redoubled our cleaning, put in hand sanitisers, and adopted social distancing precautions. 'Were racing to put in express checkouts, kerbside collection and the contact-free, drive-thru shop this week, all of which will put even more safe distance between colleagues and customers. Where we need to limit customer access to the store to keep everyone safe, we will. And if we have to close stores for a time, well do that too. 'Right now our stores are open, but things are changing fast, and you can check before you go by visiting our online store finder. The information you see there will be up to date and itll say if the store is open or closed.' Experts also today claimed that people should not cancel their direct debits as many start to feel the pinch of not receiving a regular income. A spokesman for the Money Pig said services such as gyms and pay per view sports channels were particularly under pressure with so many sports events currently postponed. Ikea at the Lakeside shopping centre. All Ikea stores in the UK and Ireland have temporarily closed due to the Corona virus outbreak A Prezzo restaurant which has temporarily closed due to the Corona virus outbreak. Eateries were urged to close their doors on Friday Emirates Airline announces it will cancel all commercial flights from Wednesday amid worsening global coronavirus crisis Emirates Airlines has announced it will suspend all passenger flights amid the novel coronavirus outbreak. The Dubai carrier on Sunday said it had made the decision amid an 'unprecedented crisis situation.' The airline will temporarily suspend all passenger flights by 25 March. The airline wrote on Twitter: 'Today we made the decision to temporarily suspend all passenger flights by 25 March 2020.' Emirates Airlines has announced it will suspend all passenger flights amid the novel coronavirus outbreak CEO Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, said: 'The world has literally gone into quarantine due to the COVID-19 outbreak. 'This is an unprecedented crisis situation in terms of breadth and scale: geographically, as well as from a health, social, and economic standpoint.' On Friday, the United Arab Emirates announced the first two deaths from COVID-19 in the country. CEO Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, said: 'The world has literally gone into quarantine due to the COVID-19 outbreak' Advertisement But they said providers were often willing to give substantial discounts or even waive fees altogether for a lengthy period to ensure they retain customers. They warned consumers to be patient though as the coming weeks are likely to see a very high volume of calls and waiting times are likely to be lengthy. A spokesman for The Money Pig said: 'Millions of us are currently taking a long hard look at our finances and many will be tempted to cancel direct debits for things like gyms and sports clubs we won't be able to use over the next couple of months. 'What we are saying to people is just to reach out and speak to the companies who provide these services and see if they can negotiate a discount or even if they are prepared to waive their fees altogether for the next few months. 'This is a time when the whole country is pulling together and many people are finding that service providers are being very accommodating with short term incentives in order to keep their custom in the longer term. 'We have seen reports of gyms agreeing to freeze memberships at no charge and companies such as Sky TV and Virgin media offering customers free sports packages for the next three months. 'By speaking to the service provider and discussing the options rather than just cancelling, customers can make sure they pay less in the long term by avoiding any cancellation charges or having to fork out for re-joining fees at a later date. 'One word of warning though, holding times are currently very high so try emailing or lie chat options first to relieve as much pressure from call centres as possible. If you do need to call then first thing in the morning or later in the evening may work best.' Experts from personal finance website TheMoneyPig.com have urged the public to speak to their service providers and negotiate a discount rather than trying to cancel services. Scientists and medics say the vast majority of those killed by Covid-19, the illness created by the Wuhan virus, are elderly with 'underlying conditions'. Those 'conditions' include cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases, hypertension, diabetes, and cancer sufferers. Despite this, it was today reported that an 18-year-old man in the UK had died from the virus. He was said to have underlying health conditions but the update makes him the youngest patient yet. Boeing announced Monday it will temporarily halt production at a factory complex in Washington state that manufactures long-distance planes due to the coronavirus outbreak. The aerospace giant said it plans to suspend output starting Wednesday for two weeks in the Puget Sound region, which is where the company builds the long-range 777 jet, among other models. The company, which had already shuttered production at another major factory in Washington state due to the 737 MAX grounding, is seeking more than $60 billion in federal support for the US aerospace industry in the wake of the two crises. Monday's announcement does not affect production of the 787 plane in South Carolina. Workers will continue to be paid during the stoppage while the company conducts "additional deep cleaning" at its facilities, Boeing said. "This necessary step protects our employees and the communities where they work and live," said Boeing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun. A union that represents Boeing workers in Washington said a member in Everett, Washington had died as a result of COVID-19 and that the union was pressing so that members in high risk categories will be able to stay at home. The union, Machinists Union District 751, applauded Monday's announcement, saying "we hope this will reduce the rate of infection within our membership at work and in the community at large. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marchio Irfan Gorbiano and Rizki Fachriansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, March 23, 2020 12:46 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206cbfe5d 1 National COVID-19,coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus-in-Indonesia,outbreak-in-Indonesia,Jokowi,health-worker Free As health workers across the country are dealing with dwindling medical supplies because of the recent surge of COVID-19 patients, President Joko Jokowi Widodo said the government would provide financial incentives, on top of protective gear, to ensure their safety and security while they do their jobs. The government is to provide a Rp 15 million (US$886.79) incentive to medical specialists, Rp 10 million to physicians and dentists, Rp 7.5 million to nurses and Rp 5 million to other medical staff members, he added. We will also provide a total of Rp 300 million for compensation in case of death. This is applies to regions that have declared a state of emergency, Jokowi said on Monday. The COVID-19 pandemic has put a massive strain on Indonesias healthcare system. There are reports of inadequate medical supplies and the deaths of hospital workers as patient numbers continue to surge. An ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist from Bekasi, West Java, died on Saturday at Persahabatan Hospital in East Jakarta. Another doctor, a 34-year-old neurologist, died at the same hospital in the early hours of Sunday. A 70-year-old surgeon from Bogor, West Java, died at Gatot Subroto Army Hospital in Central Jakarta on Saturday. I would like to offer my deepest condolences over the passing of the doctors, nurses and health workers. They have dedicated their energy to mitigating the spread of the coronavirus. On behalf of the government, the country and the people, I would like to thank them for their hard work, the president added. The government distributed 105 pieces of protective health equipment on Saturday to hospitals across the archipelago. Medical aid from China arrived in Jakarta on Monday morning as part of government-to-government cooperation. As of Sunday, Indonesia recorded 514 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 48 fatalities. (rfa) After complaints from members who felt shut out during the 2016 presidential primary endorsement process, the national teachers unions vowed to better engage members in this years process. Have they succeeded? The stakes are high: Endorsements from the teachers unions bring campaign cash and hefty volunteer muscle in what will likely be a bruising campaign against President Donald Trump. The Democratic presidential-primary field has narrowed down to two people: former Vice President Joe Biden, who is currently leading in the delegate count, and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Earlier this month, the 3-million-member National Education Association, the largest labor union in the country, announced that it was endorsing Biden for president . In a statement, NEA said its members have led the recommendation process and have engaged in unprecedented fashion. Biden is the tireless advocate for public education and is the partner that students and educators need now in the White House, said NEA President Lily Eskelsen Garcia in a statement. Now, with so much at stake in this election, educators are determined to use their voice to propel Joe Biden to the White House. And on Sunday, the American Federation of Teachers endorsed Biden , too. In an interview before the endorsement, AFT President Randi Weingarten said the chosen candidate would have to share the AFTs values (which both Sanders and Biden do, she said), have a real path to defeating Trump in the general election, and reflect the consensus of its 1.7 million members. We have done so much with our members to really revamp our process, Weingarten said. AFT officials have held more than 300,000 interactions with members through town halls, presidential forums, regional meetings, and local affiliates engagement efforts since starting the endorsement process last year, she said, as well as polled members to understand their views. The AFT also commissioned Hart Research to do a telephone survey last week of 1,207 members who are Democratic primary voters. The survey found that 60 percent of respondents favored Biden and 30 percent favored Sanders. Three-quarters of the respondents view Biden positively, the survey found. During the 2016 race, both teachers unions endorsed Hillary Clinton for president very early onthe AFT in July 2015 and the NEA in October of that year. The decision angered many members of both unions, who felt like they had been left out of the process and wanted more consideration given to Sanders, who was in contention in 2016 as well. Union leaders say that this time around has been different: Members have had more opportunities to get involved and voice their opinions. But some teachers say they still feel disillusioned with the endorsement process. This just feels like a repeat of what happened [in 2016], said Michelle Voelker, an 8th grade teacher in Sacramento and an NEA member. The rank and file were not asked who they wanted to support. Weighing the Choices At the start of the campaign season, the NEA created a website where membersand the general publiccould submit their questions for the union to pass along to the candidates during town halls and interviews. Eskelsen Garcia did video interviews with eight candidates, including with Biden and Sanders. To make the final endorsement for the primary, the NEA PAC Council, which is made up of state representatives and the unions executive leaders, put forward a recommendation for consideration by the NEA board of directors. An NEA official said 98 percent of the PAC Council and 78 percent of the board of directors supported recommending Biden. Meanwhile, in February, before Super Tuesdays round of state primaries this month, the AFTs board of directors voted to encourage its state and local affiliates to support, be actively involved with, or endorse Biden, Sanders, or Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who later dropped out of the race. Weingarten, who then endorsed Warren in her personal capacity , said state and local union leaders appreciated the ability to make their own recommendations ahead of the national union. For example, Chicago Teachers Union President Jesse Sharkey and Vice President Stacy Davis Gates have personally endorsed Sanders, while New York Citys United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew backed Biden. Still, some members felt like equal weight was not given to all the candidates. It was abundantly clear that even though we were being told that AFT is endorsing all three candidates, ... the push was for Warren or Biden, said Robin Brownfield, a retired college professor who had been a member of the union for nearly 30 years. Ive never been very pleased with AFTs strategy regarding elections and endorsements because in all the years I and my husband have been members, weve never ever been asked what we think, she said. Well go to meetings, hell go to meetings [now], and be told who were campaigning for. Candidates Stances Although both Biden and Sanders have a good amount of support from teachers, Sanders has said that teachers are among the most common workers to give to his campaign. Dylan Toth, a sophomore at Illinois State University and an Aspiring Educator member of the NEA, said he thinks Sanders education platform is more aligned with NEAs values than Bidens plan. Joe Biden supports teachers, but thats about as far as his plan goes, he said. Theres no real structural plan. Sanders has promised to pay teachers a minimum of $60,000 a year, to triple Title I funding aimed at disadvantaged students, and to place significant restrictions on charter schools, including a ban on for-profit entities running the schools. Bidens education plan would also triple Title I funding, and districts would have to offer educators competitive salaries to access the expanded funds, although the plan doesnt set out a minimum salary. Biden, who has called for more accountability and transparency of charter schools, has also pledged to nominate someone with teaching experience as the U.S. secretary of education. Bidens education plan has appealed to Lisa Mikolajczyk, a high school special education teacher in Florida and an NEA member who is happy with her unions endorsement. He has a history of getting results, she said, adding that Bidens wife, Jill Biden, is an NEA member. Joe Biden has always been supportive of public schools, and public school teachers. Meanwhile, Mikolajczyk said she doesnt trust Bernie to follow through with anything. ... Hes not willing to compromise, and you need to be willing to compromise to get things passed. Despite his disappointment about the NEAs pick, Toth said he sees the political advantage of the teachers union making an endorsement early: If we are in good standing with Biden, we could almost be in his ear about education policy, he said. 'Janata Curfew over, now Indian economy needs help': Tweets P Chidambaram India oi-Mousumi Dash New Delhi, Mar 23: Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday late night tweeted, after the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's called "Janata (public) curfew" ended, to remind the centre that despite the success of the 14-hour lockdown, the Indian economy still needed protection against the ravages of the novel coronavirus outbreak. Chidambaram tweeted, "we now look to the central government to announce economic measures to deal with the consequences of COVID-19." The Janata Curfew is over. The experience of today has motivated several CMs to declare a lockdown in many parts of their respective State. P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) March 22, 2020 Besides this, the former Finance Minister also congratulated the Chief Ministers of various states for locking down their respective territories in an effort to halt the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Coronavirus cases rise to 324 as India observes 'Janta Curfew' Several Indian states including the national capital Delhi, have announced a complete shutdown from March 22 to March 31, this also includes taking public transport off the streets, sealing borders and shutting non-essential services and shops. Chidambaram took on to Twitter and wrote, "The Janata curfew is over. The experience of today has motivated several CMs to declare a lockdown in many parts of their respective states. We now look to the central government to announce economic measures to deal with the consequences of COVID-19." Economy was sliding due to Govts economic policies - inaction in Corona epidemic will be last straw that breaks camels back Govt needs to mobilize 500,000 crores in terms of immediate economic stimulus that will still be 1/20th of stimulus already announced by US or EU Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) March 22, 2020 On Friday, Finace Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said a package for coronavirus-hit sectors would be announced "as soon as possible". Individual states, however, have come out with relief packages, including BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh, where daily wage labourers and construction workers will get Rs 1,000 per month. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also said 72 lakh people would receive free rations and pension. Do lockdowns help fight coronavirus? Not really says WHO expert Along with Chidambaram, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has also reminded the centre of the need to support the economy. Moitra through a tweet urged the centre to work with the RBI for a one-time restructuring of corporate debt and an "immediate economic stimulus". For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, March 23, 2020, 10:08 [IST] An Egyptian man died in Italy on Sunday of coronavirus, and his family have been quarantined after testing positive for the disease. The 51-year old Egyptian lived in Rho town in the city of Milan, and contracted the virus from his employer who also passed away, Mohamed El-Abd, the head of the Egyptian-Italian Association, told Ahram Online. The mans wife and children also tested positive for the virus and have been quarantined, El-Abd said. He was negligent about his infection and tried to treat it as if it were a common cold, El-Abd said adding that, he went to the hospital after his condition deteriorated and died two days later. El-Abd said the man was quietly buried on Sunday in the presence of no more than 10 people since gatherings are prohibited. The number of Egyptians in Italy who have tested positive for the virus has increased, according to El-Abd. The infected people dont want the association to announce the numbers as they dont want to worry their families, El-Abd said, but there are more than 10 cases." Some of the cases are in a good condition but some arent . We contact the Egyptian consulate for coordination at least four times a day and we help the patients and their families." Ahmed El-Far, 58, was the first Egyptian to die of the epidemic in Italy. He passed away on 17 March. Italy is the world's hardest-hit country by the coronavirus pandemic. To date, the European country has registered more than 59,000 cases and over 5,000 deaths, more than those recorded in China, the epicentre of the outbreak. Search Keywords: Short link: In a short time, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed each of our lives. Its easy to feel anxious, uncertain, and weary when our lifestyles and normal running are completely uprooted, when we observe the grievous pain and suffering caused by the COVID-19 virus around the world, and when we need to live in relative isolation to help combat the viruss spread. The iRunFar community stretches around the world. Even if you feel alone right now, we want you to know that we remain together through iRunFar and our running. Today, we launch Operation Inspiration, a collection of virtual activities and articles meant to help us stay connected, inspire one another, and find routine in our new circumstances. Operation Inspirations Schedule of Events In the coming days, well roll out all the details on how to participate in each of these activities as well as our fundraising plans. Stay tuned! Operation Inspirations Health and Safety Guidelines As hard as it is to say out loud, were amidst a global health crisis. Our participation in Operation Inspiration must use the utmost care for the safety of ourselves, our community members, and our local government regulations. In this light, we: Ask you to follow all your local government requirements and guidelines; Ask you to follow the social distancing and health suggestions in our article, COVID-19: A Trail Running and Ultrarunning Community Guide; Discourage you from running with anyone outside your household; Discourage you from traveling more than a very short distance to go for a run; Discourage you from remote or risky runs that might divert healthcare professionals to your search or care; and Encourage you to be creative in finding inspiring runs that have been hiding in plain sight or finding ways to make your indoor workouts more enjoyable. How to Submit to Operation Inspirations Airdrops From now through April 5, submit photos, videos, and stories from your inspiring runs or other workouts to operationinspiration at irunfar dot com. Well choose from among the submissions in our Airdrop articles. Please limit submissions to 2 paragraphs of text, 3 photos (horizontal layout preferred), and/or 1 video up to 30 seconds in length (again, horizontal layout, please). If your submissions are too large for email attachments, upload them to your public cloud of choice and send a cloud link as part of your email message to operationinspiration at irunfar dot com. Include your name and where you live, and limit submissions to 1 per person. By submitting, you give us permission to use your name, location, and all or part of your submission in Operation Inspirations Airdrop articles, related video, and sharing these works on social media. We will never use your contact information or submissions for any other purpose. Final Thoughts In these highly dynamic times, anything can change in the flash of an eye, so well modify Operation Inspiration as needed. Whatever happens, well do our best to keep the inspiration flowing! Now, go inspire yourself and others! Bryon, Meghan, and the iRunFar Team Operation Inspirations Brand Support Thanks so much to Operation Inspirations brand partners whove helped make this project possible! Opening of Dawn Meats facility in Co Waterford in 2012. McDonalds is one of the processors bluechip clients The announcement that McDonalds have closed all their restaurants in Ireland and the UK comes as a serious blow to the beef trade particularly the Dawn Group who prided themselves as a major supplier to McDonald's. This Im sure is not the end of the road by any means for this relationship but right here right now its bad news for both companies and all their suppliers not just their beef farmers. There will be a ripple effect across the entire Irish beef industry in the short to medium term as the industry absorbs this news of that there can be no doubt. A ripple effect to add to all the other ripples that we saw surface last week as the hotel, pub and restaurant industries across both Ireland and Europe were forced to shut up shop. In real terms what the factories have left is the supermarket trade. People still have to eat meaning that with restaurants and fast food establishments closing the appetite of nations will now have to be catered for exclusively by the domestic kitchen. To that end, my sources tell me that factories are keen for supermarket beef with the emphasis on Angus and Hereford types plus your lighter 280-330kg continental heifer. This also means that once again the trade is turning its back on heavy cattle or anything out of spec. So where are we on prices? Anything bought in advance from last week on the bullock side appears to be operating from 3.60-3.65/kg with heifers 5c/kg better at 3.65-3.70/kg. However, as this week progress, the expectation is that both bullocks and heifers will ease back to no better than 3.60 and 3.65/kg respectively. After their fall of 20c/kg two weeks ago cull cows steadied last week with O grades at 3/kg and better Ps 2.90-2.80/kg. There is now an expectation that cow prices may take another hit, however. Trade for bulls also steadied last week with prices for Us marked at 3.60/kg while Rs remained at 3.50/kg, both prices dependent on overall cover. O grades varied with continentals floating around the 3.40/kg mark while some Friesian Os were little better than cow price at 3.30-3.20/kg. Granted at this time it seems inappropriate to ask the question yet it is a question that has to be asked. In the light of the supports being given to other sections of industry is there room in the equations of Government or the EU for some sort of direct farmer support to be given at this time for those caught with cattle to kill? Is there a possibility that meaningful supports will be given to the industry as a whole? One factory agent I spoke to reflected, In 2018 we had a drought then last year farmers shot themselves in the foot with the protest, and now this. When will it end? Good question. We often see insiders buying up shares in companies that perform well over the long term. Unfortunately, there are also plenty of examples of share prices declining precipitously after insiders have sold shares. So we'll take a look at whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in nmcn plc (LON:NMCN). What Is Insider Buying? Most investors know that it is quite permissible for company leaders, such as directors of the board, to buy and sell stock in the company. However, rules govern insider transactions, and certain disclosures are required. Insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing. But logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares. For example, a Harvard University study found that 'insider purchases earn abnormal returns of more than 6% per year. Check out our latest analysis for nmcn nmcn Insider Transactions Over The Last Year Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider sale was by the Director, Daniel Taylor, for UK56k worth of shares, at about UK6.06 per share. While insider selling is a negative, to us, it is more negative if the shares are sold at a lower price. The silver lining is that this sell-down took place above the latest price (UK3.70). So it may not shed much light on insider confidence at current levels. Daniel Taylor was the only individual insider to sell shares in the last twelve months. Notably Daniel Taylor was also the biggest buyer, having purchased UK90k worth of shares. Daniel Taylor bought 15.30k shares over the last 12 months at an average price of UK5.86. You can see the insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date! LSE:NMCN Recent Insider Trading, March 23rd 2020 nmcn is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Story continues Insider Ownership Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. Insiders own 26% of nmcn shares, worth about UK9.6m. We've certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders. So What Do The nmcn Insider Transactions Indicate? There haven't been any insider transactions in the last three months -- that doesn't mean much. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. Insiders do have a stake in nmcn and their transactions don't cause us concern. So while it's helpful to know what insiders are doing in terms of buying or selling, it's also helpful to know the risks that a particular company is facing. In terms of investment risks, we've identified 5 warning signs with nmcn and understanding them should be part of your investment process. If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. To no surprise, Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams the third overall pick in last years draft will not appear in court this week. Williams was arrested March 5 for illegally possessing a handgun at LaGuardia Airport. He was scheduled to appear Wednesday in Queens County Criminal Court. But because of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, that wont happen, a court spokesperson told NJ Advance Media on Monday. The pandemic has impacted all aspects of life in New York City, including the court system. So when will Williams appear in court? The spokesperson said Queens court is operating with these adjusted guidelines, amid the pandemic: Cases for people who are currently in jail are being pushed back 30 days. And cases for people not currently in jail are being delayed 90 days. So Williams is probably looking at late June for a new date. But that could also change, depending on what happens with the pandemic. Williams, 22, was scheduled to be formally charged Wednesday, during his first court appearance. He was arrested for criminal possession of a weapon. Williams was arrested because he does not have a New York permit for the gun, though he has an Alabama permit. He is originally from Alabama. He did not have ammunition on him when he was arrested. So he cant be charged with unlawfully possessing a loaded gun. Unlawful possession of a loaded handgun in New York carries a minimum sentence of 3.5 years in state prison. Thats the charge that sent former Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress to prison, in the wake of his 2008 accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound at a Manhattan nightclub. Burress wound up serving 20 months of his plea-bargained, two-year sentence. Williams Glock 19 pistol was in his checked bag when he arrived at the Delta check-in counter on March 5. So it was not in his carry-on bag. When the Delta employee at the check-in counter learned Williams was in possession of a gun, the employee called Port Authority Police to determine if Williams had a New York permit. When it was discovered he did not, he was arrested. After being arrested, Williams was processed and released. NFL analyst Darryl Slater may be reached at dslater@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DarrylSlater. WASHINGTON Illegal border crossings have dropped by half as the strictest U.S.-Mexico border policies yet went into place amid the coronavirus pandemic, but there was confusion about how it was all working. Anyone caught crossing the border illegally is to be immediately returned back to Mexico or Canada, according to the new restrictions based on an order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention late Friday. According to Mark Morgan, the acting head of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the decision applies to all migrants. Were not going to take you into our custody, he told Fox News. We dont know anything about you. You have no documents, were not going to take you into our facilities and expose you to CBP personnel and the American people as well as immigrants. But Mexican officials have said they would only take people from Mexico and Central America and only those who are encountered straight away not people already in custody. Officials later said the elderly and minors wont be taken back and that they expected to take in about 100 per day. If people who are not Mexican or Central American are returned to us, Mexico would not accept them, said Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard. The United States will take care of that. The majority of people crossing the border are from Central America, but not all. For example, there were some 6,000 Brazilians and nearly 1,200 Chinese who arrived between January and February this year, according to Customs and Border Protection data. But its not entirely clear what happens to those people. Morgan said the migrants should be expeditiously returned to the country they came from. CDC on Friday issued an order in effect for 30 days that bars anyone coming illegally in part because migrants are held in close quarters and there isnt enough staffing or space to keep them at a safe distance and to screen for the illness. Plus, migrants who are suspected of having COVID-19 are sent to local hospitals, possibly further infecting others, the CDC warned. The borders remain open, according to Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf, but only to facilitate trade; the U.S. has about $3 billion per day with Canada and Mexico. Tourists and shoppers were asked to stay home. Wolf said Sunday on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures that the number of migrants crossing illegally had plummeted, but it was important to keep supply chains open in a careful way that would limit the introduction and spread of the virus. There is growing concern on the Mexican side of the border that the number of migrants stranded there would only increase, with shelters already at capacity. Colleen Long and Maria Verza are Associated Press writers. IN EARLY March, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement seemed to have not yet gotten the memo that a deadly virus was threatening the country. The deportation agency was mustering hundreds of additional special agents, normally busy with long-term investigations, to surge into so-called sanctuary cities and round up undocumented immigrants by the thousands. Operation Palladium, as it was called Operation Pandemonium would have been more apt was already terrifying migrants and forcing them deeper into the shadows. That was exactly the wrong thing to do as a deepening public health crisis gripped society. [March 23, 2020] iSIGN Media Contributes its Safety Alert Messaging ("SAM") Technology Solution to Provide the Public with Instant Mobile Alerts for COVID-19 at No Charge TORONTO, March 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- iSIGN Media Solutions Inc. (iSIGN or Company) (TSX-V: ISD) (OTC: ISDSF), a leading provider of interactive mobile proximity marketing and public security alert solutions, today announced the offer of free use of its Safety Alert Messaging (SAM) solution to all levels of medical, health and emergency responders across Canada for the next six months. SAM is a technology based mobile messaging system that enables the controlled broadcast of critical information to registered recipients . Registered recipients can be as broad as the general public, or as narrow as salaried and contract employees and can be assigned into various sub-groups, allowing for messages to be directed only to specific groups or to everyone, depending on needs. Due to SAMs message received alert function, SAM messages are more obvious to recipients when they are received than texts and email. As an example, should a hospital administrator want to message individual groups of workers, such as doctors, nurses, cleaning staff, etc., iSIGNs backend dashboard can be used to assign all registrants into their respective groups. Then the administrator would simply select who they wished the message to be sent to one group, multiple groups or all groups. As SAM supports iOS and Android in-app messaging, the SAM app is available in both the Google Play and Apple app stores. Broadcasters log into the SAM dashboard via their web browser, create and then send messages to their registered recipients in a matter of minutes. Sent messages are stored within the dashboard for later reference as required until the sender deletes them. iSIGN is pleased to announce that the Abington Court Retirement Residence, located in Hamilton has accepted our offer for no charge SAM messaging. iSIGN has been requested to contact a major health facility located in iSIGNs home city of Richmond Hill, Ontario, who recently honoured iSIGN as one of the Citys four recipients of the 2019 Innovators of the Year. iSIGN has made the same no charge offer to Hi-Tek Media and its sister company Omni Veil Inc., located in Las Vegas, Nevada, who has gladly accepted. They will be reaching out to their various contacts to extend the same offer. The goal of iSIGN and Hi-Tek Media/Omni Veil Inc. is to hel our respective medical services, governments, schools and communities combat the spread of COVID-19 and aid in the return of normalcy to everyday life. About iSIGN Media iSIGN, a Canadian company based in Toronto (Richmond Hill), Ontario is a data-focused, software-as-a-service (SaaS) company that is a pioneering leader in the areas of location-based security alert messaging and proximity marketing utilizing Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity in complete privacy. Creators of the Smart suite of products, a patented interactive proximity marketing technology, iSIGN enables the delivery of messages to mobile devices in proximity, with real-time reporting and analytics on a variety of metrics. 2019 winner of Richmond Hills Innovator of the Year award. Partners include IBM, Keyser Retail Solutions, Baylor University, Verizon Wireless, TELUS and Mtrex Network Solutions. www.isignmedia.com About Hi-Tek Media Hi-Tek Media is a full-service digital advertising and marketing company with 21 years of experience in marketing. Hi-Tek is uniquely positioned to provide cutting edge marketing, digital production and media management Hi-Tek is certified with Google and Facebook and the expansion of our Omni Veil Digital Platform will set us apart from our competitors. www.Hi-TekMedia.com About Omni Veil Inc. The Omni Veil is a 24/7 Digital Network based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Network sends out instant traffic notifications, safety messages and branded content for all mobile users. The revolution of the mobile machines Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Application technologies was developed to keep the public notified, consider first responders safety and modernize the way businesses advertise in real time. www.theomniveil.com Forward-Looking Statements This news release may include certain forward-looking statements that are based upon current expectations, which involve risks and uncertainties associated with iSIGN Medias business and the environment in which the business operates. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking, including those identified by the expressions anticipate, believe, plan, estimate, expect, intend and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Company or its management. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect iSIGN Medias current expectations regarding future results or events. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations. iSIGN Media assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. 2020 iSIGN Media Solutions Inc. All Rights Reserved. All other trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners. Company contacts: Alex Romanov President iSIGN Media Solutions Inc. [email protected] Hi-Tek Media [email protected] Lacy Ramon Director of Digital Technology Omni Veil Inc. [email protected] Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor Its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the accuracy of this release. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday interacted with industry representatives from ASSOCHAM, FICCI, CII and several local chambers from 18 cities across the country via video conference in the backdrop of coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdown. The Prime Minister said that while the government was working on giving a fillip to the pace of growth in the country, an unforeseen hurdle in the form of COVID-19 came in front of the economy. He said that the challenge posed by the pandemic is "graver than even that posed by the World Wars and we need to be on constant vigil to prevent its spread," read a statement. Prime Minister Modi said that the fulcrum of the economy is trust. Trust has a unique yardstick - it is earned or lost in difficult and challenging times, he said and added that the parameters of trust are at a critical juncture in various sectors of the economy. He said that several sectors like tourism, construction, hospitality and daily life engagements including the informal sector have been hit due to COVID-19. The impact on the economy will be felt for some time to come. The industry representatives thanked the Prime Minister for leading from the front and taking swift, front-footed action to counter the threat, read the statement. They informed the Prime Minister about the steps being taken by them to maintain supply lines of essential items and medical equipment including ventilators, assistance in the creation of isolation wards, utilization of CSR funds for combating COVID-19 and provision of assistance to migrant labor. Moreover, the discussion was held regarding specific issues being faced by sectors like banking, finance, hospitality, tourism, infrastructure, and industry representatives requested for help to overcome these challenges through financial and fiscal assistance. Industry representatives also appreciated the importance of instituting a lockdown, irrespective of economic losses, to prevent the spread of the virus. The Prime Minister thanked the industry representatives for speaking in one voice on the needs of the unorganized sector and said that this marks a new dawn of economic integration. He asked them to allow employees to work from home wherever doing so is feasible through using technology. He exhorted them to adopt a humanitarian approach and not to cut down on the workforce in spite of the negative impact on their businesses. Prime Minister Modi said it is imperative that the production of essential items should not be impacted at this time, and black marketing and hoarding be prevented. He reminded them about the importance of 'swachhta' and following medical advice to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at factories, offices, and workplaces. The Prime Minister added that social distancing remains the biggest weapon in the fight against preventing the spread of coronavirus. He also requested them to use their CSR funding for humanitarian causes related to the pandemic at this critical juncture. Principal Secretary, Cabinet Secretary and Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade also participated in the meeting. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hundreds of Aboriginal men who became native mounted police in colonial Australia carried a significant burden of responsibility for law and order for white settlers in Queensland and other settlements. A long-running ARC-funded archaeology project has turned the lens on the recruitment to the Queensland Native Mounted Police and their part in the violent 'frontier wars' -- which created long-term traumatic impacts on the lives of the Indigenous people involved. "We argue that the massacres, frontier violence, displacement, and the ultimate dispossession of land and destruction of traditional cultural practices resulted in both individual and collective inter-generational trauma for Aboriginal peoples," says Flinders University Professor Heather Burke in a new article published in the Journal of Genocide Research. "Despite the Australian frontier wars taking place over a century ago, their impacts continue to reverberate today in a range of different ways, many of which are as yet only partially understood." Professor Burke, and Queensland researchers, say official records show of the history of the Queensland Mounted Police in terms of its development, its white officers, some day-to-day operations of the force, and how many people were killed during the frontier wars. The article looks at the ongoing psychological impacts of the historical dispossession and frontier violence. Based on more than four years of research, the Archaeology of the Queensland Native Mounted Police project combined historical records, oral and historical evidence from a range of sites across central and northern Queensland to understand more fully the activities, lives and legacies of the native police. It strives to present an alternative perspective on the nature of frontier conflict during Australian settlement, in order to initiative new understandings of the Aboriginal and settler experience, and contribute to global studies of Indigenous responses to colonialism. Background: The Queensland Native Mounted Police was organised along paramilitary lines, consisting of detachments of Aboriginal troopers led by white officers. It covered the whole of Queensland, including 170 camps, and was explicitly constituted to protect the lives, livelihoods and property of settlers and to prevent (and punish) any Aboriginal aggression or resistance. This was often accomplished through violence in many forms, leading Australian historian Henry Reynolds to characterise the NMP as "the most violent organisation in Australian history." The project's new publicly available national database covers the 50-year history of the Queensland Native Mounted Police (1849-1904) and stories of many of the 800 troopers and 400 officers. It is the only publicly available historical and archaeological dataset of their lives and activities. The excavations conducted over the past four years were the first archaeological investigations of any native police force operating anywhere in Australia. I thought of backing out after a seven-mile road run on Friday but got up at 6:00am Saturday morning and headed south on El Camino Real. It was dark and the streets empty. The Starbucks I frequented was well-lit but unexpectedly temporarily closed. Well, lack of caffeine would not stop the show, I moved on, and arrived at the Priest Rock trailhead 10min earlier at 7:20am. L planned this run and I was excited as it was a part of the Quick Silver 100km race that I hadn't seen. My energy level was not as good as I would like. Once we turned left at the T of the Priest Rock and Kennedy Trails, "It'll be all downhill. Good for your quads." they told me. And indeed, the descending felt relentless and never-ending. I barely survived, trailing behind the guys. We met interesting people on the trail including Larry who ran the Sean O'Brien 100 km with S & L and another guy with a British/Australian accent who was also a mountain climber. The latter told us a good place to train for elevation. The third one was the most amazing. As we were making our way back and ascending from the Kennedy side, I was leading and heard someone coming from behind. It turned out to be a young girl in her 20s or early 30s, short with black hair, and clad in running gear. She ran uphill faster than any of us and soon shot out of sight. Among ourselves, the conversation continued from the last weekend, when S asked the rhetorical question "Shouldn't the Uygur be allowed to practice their religion?" referring to the CCP's policy over the minority group in XinJiang. My understanding was that it was not as simple as black and white and had said maybe they shouldn't. My answer had shocked him. This week, I felt like to clarify and began with George Washington which everyone admired. "The first US president gave back power, returned to his farm after two terms, and set an example." I began. "There had been a tradition and a culture around that, however." I then told him about Cincinnatus of whom I was surprised to find that he did not know. Brutus and Cato have certainly been esteemed no less than Julius Caesar despite of the latter's greatness. "In such a culture, what Washington did not have to worry about was to face bloody retaliation from the opposing side once he stepped down. Would Mr. Xi in Beijing dare, even if he were willing, to do something similar?" I was glad that I was able to explain something that made some sense to S. Many things in China are done out of fear. A history of unspeakable cruelty and culture of fear grip every mind. In that tribal world, there is no general goodwill among strangers. For survival, trust is doled out in proportion to the closeness of blood. A man is assumed guilty until proven innocent. I myself as an example did not (or was not strong enough to) understand the simple concept of two wrongs do not make a right and believed in an eye for an eye and two wrongs canceling each other out. After I did come to see the wisdom of Jesus, Gandhi, etc., I wasn't ready to practice it. Even when I tried, I had to make a concious effort to avoid hating a person. "Don't stones get under your feet?" my running partners loved to make fun of my sandals. "They rarely do." I said as we were descending the last leg. And after that, every time they saw me stop to get rid of little grits (it happened twice during the entire run), they wouldn't stop teasing. The recovery was swift. My right foot hurt as usual with no injuries. I skipped lower-body strength training the next morning. I will have a better run next week. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 23) President Rodrigo Duterte will not abuse his proposed special powers, should both chambers of Congress give him the full authority to act on the COVID-19 crisis in the country, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea assured Monday. We assure Congress and our countrymen that this administration has no intent to abuse the powers we are asking of you today, said Medialdea, who addressed the House Committee of the Whole, during the deliberation of the lower chamber on House Bill 6616. The House version of the measure seeks to declare a national emergency arising from the COVID-19 crisis, and authorizes the President to exercise powers necessary to carry out the declared national policy on the issue. Our legislators would note that the powers we have requested today have their own expiry date as they will last only as long as the COVID-19 crisis would last and Congress itself will be able to closely monitor the actions of the Executive through the oversight committee to be created by the proposed law, Medialdea said. Citing the earlier declaration of martial law in Mindanao, Medialdea said the administration did not do away with democracy in the south, after fighters from the Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups laid siege to Marawi in 2017. When this administration declared martial law in Mindanao, there were similar speculations that we were about to do away with our democratic institutions but martial law in Mindanao came and went peacefully without the abuse prevalent in martial law, he said. On Sunday, both chambers of Congress confirmed that they have received a draft bill from Malacanang seeking to allow Duterte to lead COVID-19 responses through certain special powers while the Philippines is under a state of calamity. Among the controversial provisions of the measure is the proposal to allow Duterte to take over businesses, hospitals, and public utilities to maximize necessary resources, a move vehemently rejected by Senate President Vicente Tito Sotto III. He noted that such provision will not be supported by the upper chamber during the deliberations. The intent of the proposal was simply to grant to government a standby power--a power which we do not consider necessary to be exercised at all times, Medialdea said, referring to the particular provision. He added: The virus we are up against is so unpredictable and can spread rapidly in the community. The power to take over is intended merely as a standby power even when the crisis reaches its worst, even when our institutions are nearing shutdown, and even when the government is left with no choice but to take over such establishments. The Philippines currently has 380 cases of COVID-19, with 25 deaths and 17 recoveries. [March 23, 2020] Zahroof Valves Ranks No. 14 on the Inaugural 2020 Inc. 5000 Series: Texas With Two-Year Revenue Growth of 824 Percent NEW YORK, March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Inc. magazine today revealed that Zahroof Valves, Inc. (ZVI) is No. 14 on its inaugural Inc. 5000 Series: Texas list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing Texas-based private companies. Born of the annual Inc. 5000 franchise, this regional list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the Texas economy's most dynamic segmentits independent small businesses. The companies on this list show stunning rates of growth across all industries in Texas. Between 2016 and 2018, these 250 private companies had an average growth rate of 294 percent and, in 2018 alone, they employed 36,000 people and added $11 billion to the Texas economy. Companies based in the largest metro areasDallas, Houston, Austin, and San Antoniobrought in the highest revenue overall. Complete results of the Inc. 5000 Series: Texas, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, metro area, and other criteria, can be found at inc.com/inc5000-series-texas-2020 starting March 13, 2020. "We are so honored to be listed in Inc.'s top 15 fastest-growing Texan companies," said Anthony Gioffredi, CEO of Zahroof Valves. "We are committed to driving positive change to the oil and gas industry and our rapid growth is a testament to the market acceptance of our ground-breaking product." Founded in 2010, Zahroof Valves Inc. (ZVI) develops and markets a unique reciprocating compressor valve based on the Modular Reed Valve technology developed by its President and Founder, Zahroof Mohamed. The StraightFlo Valve (SFV) is a drop-in replacement compressor valve that is unique in that the valve assembly is made up of replaceable reed valve modules that are designed so that the gas flows essentially in a straight line through the valve, with very littledeviation resulting in very low losses in the valve. The StraightFlo Valve performs more reliably and efficiently than its competition and can significantly reduce emissions and carbon footprints. The metal housing has a 10-year warranty that is unheard of in the industry; valves can be serviced on site, easily, without any machining required. "The companies on this list demonstrate just how much the small-business sector impacts Texas's economy," says Inc. editor in chief Scott Omelianuk. "Across every single industry, these businesses have posted revenue and growth rates that are beyond impressive, further proving the tenacity of their founders and CEOs." The winning companies on the Inc. 5000 Series: Texas list will be announced at the Inc. Founders House event at SXSW on March 13, 2020. More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000 Regional Series Methodology The 2020 Inc. 5000 Regional Series is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2016 and 2018. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2016. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independentnot subsidiaries or divisions of other companiesas of December 31, 2018. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2016 is $100,000; the minimum for 2018 is $1 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. About Inc. Media The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com. About Zahroof Valves, Inc. Zahroof Valves, Inc. (ZVI) is an innovative company, headquartered in Houston, Texas, that develops and markets the revolutionary StraightFlo Valve for use in reciprocating gas compressors. The StraightFlo Valve delivers a step change in compressor valve performance, serviceability, and reliability. Thanks to these proven, measured improvements, ZVI is able to guarantee a 20% improvement in valve losses and a 100% increase in service intervals, with a 10-year warranty on the valve housing. For more information, please visit www.zahroofvalves.com. Media Contact: Jennifer Rodriguez Firecracker PR [email protected] 1-888-317-4687 ext. 702 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zahroof-valves-ranks-no-14-on-the-inaugural-2020-inc-5000-series-texas-with-two-year-revenue-growth-of-824-percent-301027668.html SOURCE Zahroof Valves [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Throughout history, theyve been the most ferocious and wily foe any general ever faced. They inflicted tens of thousands of casualties on Romes mighty Legions, on Napoleons troops and later on Grants and Lees. Microbes, were talking about here. Yes, germs. Nasty little buggers. Theyre everywhere, and its not paranoia to say so. Its plain fact. In various manifestations in amoebic and bacillary form microbes cost Union and Confederacy troops an estimated 100,000 dysentery deaths, the historians say. Other diseases thinned the ranks by additional thousands In World War I, the microbe, in the form of pyrexia trench fever debilitated a half a million troops on both sides of the battle lines. Some 63,000 U.S. troops died from disease in World War I 10,000 more than perished from combat wounds. In 1918, the Spanish Flu its still called that though likely a misnomer erupted in a U.S. Army barracks in Kansas and fanned out across the country, killing 675,000 Americans. Worldwide, the flu pandemic of 1918 took possibly 50 million lives. One way to look at it is that history has been a continuous saga of warfare between our bodies efforts to erect immune fortresses and pathogens efforts to storm them. From the time our ancestors started walking upright, these microscopic organisms have been our most formidable opponents. No force in history likely has been more influential than the mighty little microbe. For 1,500 years, until relatively recently, smallpox maintained a lethal reign, like a microbial underworld boss. Pandemics are a familiar scriptural refrain, devine retribution for sin, its suggested. Deep thinkers who ponder such matters speculate that maybe it wont be our ICBMs with their multiple independently targetable nuclear warheads that ultimately do us in, after all. That notion may be human hubris. The humble little germ could be the David that eventually slays the mighty Goliath, the human race, were told. Microbes were here billions of years before us and may be here long after us, the microscopic inheriting the earth. Theres a hint of the distinct possibility in the Black Death. It may have included cases of both bubonic plague and anthrax, scientific researches now say. In any event, the Black Death decimated Europe in the Middle Ages. Actually, it more than decimated Europe. Decimate literally means to kill one in every 10. The Black Death, or Blue Sickness as it was called then, killed one in three. It wiped out some 20 million lives in Europe within five years of its eruption there in 1347. Death on such a tsunamic scale, after threatening to wipe out human life on Earth, eventually changed everything on the planet economics, the social order, the law, the arts, religion, science, everything. (See, for example, historian Norman F. Cantors book, In the Wake of the Plague.) Anthrax comes from a rod-shaped microorganism, the Bacillus anthracis, via cattle. The bubonic plague came in the form of the bead-like Yesina pestis bacillus. It was a microbe inside fleas hitching a ride on rats in turn hitching a ride aboard ships out of Asia. Uh oh. Are we permitted to say that? Stern, scowling, finger-wagging social justice activists counsel us not to say that todays highly transmissible coronavirus came from the Wuhan region of China, although every scientific indication is that it did. The experts in such matters say the Wuhan pandemic may stem from a zoonotic microorganism one that jumped from animals to humans with the path of transmission possibly tracing back to the Wuhan delicacy of yuck! bat soup. Were not likely to find out the truth any time soon from the rulers of China. Its a regime that has synthetized the worst aspects of predatory capitalism and repressive Marxist ideology. Such regimes are always more concerned in any given circumstance with the maintenance of power than the determination of truth. Man does not live by logic alone forget about bread and never has. So microbes invariably provoke counterproductive or outright bizarre social behavior in humans, aside from the microorganisms physiological effects. In the Middle Ages, folks packed the churches, thereby facilitating the spread of the Black Death. People packed together and prayed while the disease preyed. Flagellants scourged themselves bloody as they led penitential processions through the streets, drawing crowds on which the disease feasted. Meanwhile, mobs eager to do Gods will sought out scapegoats. The word-of-mouth equivalent of todays World Wide Web spread the news that Europes wells had been poisoned. Whereupon mobs in Germany set about killing Jews by the thousands. The ferocity was, alas, but a trial run for hellish events yet to come in a future century. Vigilante searchers, meanwhile, were dispatched to ferret out the sick and remove them, by force if necessary, to isolated pest detention. Alas, the rats and fleas declined to be quarantined themselves. The searchers only succeeded in spreading the disease all the more. Bodies, piling up in the streets, were slowly disposed of in pits. Mass graves were filled to the brim, the top layer receiving only a thin covering of dirt. As a result, accounts of the time tell us of feral dogs running about the streets with chunks of human parts clamped in their jaws like soup bones. Theres nothing quite so drastically grisly as that today. But there is the occasional odd reaction for example, people storming the supermarkets to buy up and hoard toilet paper. A video of a literal knock-down/drag-out battle over the last rolls of Charmin in one supermarkets paper-goods aisle recently went, as they say, viral. Despite the volatile transmissibility of the Wuhan virus, there are political voices that loudly insist it was racist or xenophobic for President Trump to bar entry to the country from China even as a temporary, emergency precaution. Other political voices are insisting with equal vociferousness that the southern border must remain porous, and that those who defy our immigration laws must be encouraged to keep doing so by providing them free health insurance coverage. And never mind the stress the Wuhan virus already is applying to our creaking, overburdened medical infrastructure. President Trump ever the businessman hustler extraordinaire assures us the coronavirus is not only under control but, by golly, is under excellent control. He, of course, should never be taken literally. He presumably means our ever-ponderous government and our nearly as ponderous big corporations are on the case as best they can be and are following the groping, uncertain guidance of science. Meanwhile, it looks like Trump himself is being sized up as the political scapegoat for todays microbial turmoil. Hes the President, of course, and presidents have always served as our lightening rods for blame. Moreover, perhaps, he disposes himself to such blame thanks to his tendency to indulge in hyperbolic superlatives and Panglossian flights of fantasy. But it should come as no surprise if the Trump criticism careens wildly, recklessly, insanely out of control. Did Trump send out teams of political henchmen to cough and sneeze promiscuously, thereby spreading the virus in a diabolical scheme to suppress voter participation and steal the 2020 election the way he did in 2016? Does he have the assistance, again, of Vladimir Putin as in the last election? Should there not be yet another full, all-out, time-consuming, distracting, tax-dollar-squandering special counsel investigation and congressional impeachment inquiry? Given our crazed politics and our shrill, fishwife media, no scenario these days is too fatuous to catch on and spread like a prairie fire. Yet still, its a good wager that well prevail over this crisis as we have others, and that the economy will come roaring back with pent- up demand. Indeed, one of these days, science tells us, maybe well even harness some of these nasty little microbes to produce clean, plentiful energy for ourselves and perform other wonders at our command. Meanwhile, however, just in case, youd better brace yourself for the possibility of partisan paranoia on a scale of absurdity such as would not have seemed imaginable prior to the recent Russia collusion and impeachment mass hysterias. Johnathan Christie was looking forward to donning a cap and gown this May, when he and his twin brother would become the first in their family to receive college diplomas. He had worked hard for four years at Rutgers University-Newark, dreaming of the moment when he could make his parents proud and honor the work he has done for his family. I was blessed with the opportunity to go to Rutgers-Newark. Im graduating debt free, Christie said in a phone interview with NJ Advance Media. My parents were immigrants from the Caribbean. I worked this hard for them, got to this moment for them. But as state restrictions on large gatherings have ramped up due to the coronavirus pandemic, the university decided last week to postpone commencement indefinitely. Colleges across New Jersey have postponed graduation or moved the ceremonies to an online format as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to soar. The College of New Jersey and New Jersey Institute of Technology are planning virtual graduations as stand-ins until they can hold in-person ceremonies. Drew University and Fairleigh Dickinson University are considering them. At first, large gatherings of more than 1,000 were banned, then 250, then 50, until officials said no gatherings of any size were safe. They urge everyone not deemed essential personnel to stay home. When his ceremony was suspended, Christie said his deflated dad walked into the room and said, I was looking forward for years to this moment. Christie, a 21-year-old majoring in finance and minoring in social justice, said he hopes the ceremony will take place later this summer. But he recently received an email about cap and gown refunds that made him even more unsure. Were hoping to celebrate with a small gathering by the time May comes around, he said of his family. We dont even know what to do. All these things are shut down. Were hoping for the best and everything. Some students are unhappy with NJITs plan to move commencement online this spring and hold in-person ceremonies at a later date. More than 4,000 people have signed a petition calling on NJITs president to postpone the graduation, saying a virtual ceremony robs students of their chance to walk across the stage and receive their diplomas. While the precaution to move the rest of the semester online to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is understandable, cancelling commencement is unnecessarily rash and premature, the petition read. Furthermore, it is incredibly disrespectful to the student body who invested time and money into NJIT to further their education. Some seniors have gotten creative: Students at Drew held a mock graduation during their last days on campus, dressing in trash bags and and makeshift caps as they accepted fake diplomas. Its not just graduation thats on the line. Brittney Kim, a Rutgers senior studying business analytics and IT, said the pandemic has drastically shifted the final weeks of her college experience. First, the Paramus resident and her friends canceled their spring break trip to Miami, and she prepared to take classes online until April. But then they learned they would not be returning to campus at all. Kim, 21, said she and her friends have held video chat gatherings, working out or watching Netflix together. Even if commencement isnt rescheduled, they hope to hold a graduation party once its safe to do so. Our time was just cut short. It was just very unexpected, she said. We didnt really know that the time we had there was going to be the last time. Heres how colleges have addressed commencement so far: Sign up for text message alerts from NJ.com on coronavirus in New Jersey: Amanda Hoover can be reached at ahoover@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @amandahoovernj. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-24 02:40:41|Editor: yan Video Player Close TRIPOLI, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Libya's eastern-based government on Monday imposed a 24-hour curfew to fight any possible COVID-19 infections. The curfew starts from Wednesday and lasts for 10 days, the Interior Ministry of the eastern-based government said. Only small convenience shops will be allowed to open from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., the ministry said, confirming that there are enough foodstuff supplies for up to eight months. The army will use the air force against illegal immigration smugglers to prevent any virus infections, the ministry added. Libya is politically divided between eastern and western governments, both competing for dominance. Confirming that no coronavirus infections have been detected in the country so far, both governments have imposed curfews in order to fight the virus. The UN-backed Prime Minister Fayez Serraj last week declared state of emergency in the country. Serraj said Libya has allocated half a billion dinars (360 million U.S. dollars) to take protective measures against any possible infections. On Monday, the Libyan Foreign Minister Mohamed Siala told a press conference in the capital Tripoli that Libya has officially requested technical help from China against the virus. michael barbaro Jiayang, do you remember the first time that you started thinking about the backlash in this country against Asian-Americans in response to the coronavirus? jiayang fan Yeah, I mean, around, I guess, this is the beginning of March. I had seen on Instagram a friend and a fellow writer documenting an incident in Manhattan, where I think he is Korean-American, and he was told by a stranger to get away. But I remember reading about that incident and thinking, yeah, I mean, thats really terrible that this has happened, but wondering, is this a singular incident, or is there a trend? As a journalist and perhaps by my own personal temperament, Im pretty cautious. I dont like to make sensational generalizations that go well on a headline. I feel like I need very convincing proof that something is happening before I call it. And especially as a Chinese-American, I wanted to make sure that I was not crying racism before I had the full evidence. I wonder if its because if I dont make too big a deal out of it, it wont be fully real. michael barbaro From The New York Times, Im Michael Barbaro. This is The Daily. woman I get to the gate at LAX. man Home Depot. woman In an Uber Pool. man A grocery store, Wegmans. child We were walking from the gym to get in our classrooms. man I got some milk, a little pasta. Most everythings gone. woman And at that moment, there was this guy, looked like a regular guy. He was staring at me. michael barbaro As the death toll from the coronavirus rises in the U.S., so do reports of verbal and physical attacks against Asian-Americans woman And a couple of seats away from me, a man was seated. And presumably his wife comes back to sit down and says out loud man You people you, brought it. Youre sick. woman Fuck China. child China is stupid. man I ought to kill you. I ought to shoot you. woman This girl looks Chinese. She must have the virus. I cant sit next to her. michael barbaro Who say that they are being blamed for the pandemic. archived recording (journalist) A person at the White House used the term kung-flu. My question is, do you think thats wrong? archived recording (donald trump) Kung-flu? archived recording (journalist) Kung-flu. And do you think using the term Chinese virus, that puts Asian-Americans at risk, that people might target them? archived recording (donald trump) No, not at all. No, not at all. I think they probably would agree with it 100%. It comes from China. Theres nothing not to agree with. Ill have the last question. michael barbaro Today man When the president asked, I dont think they would mind it being called the Chinese virus, I mind! child It did make me feel different, and didnt really want to be Chinese because of the coronavirus. michael barbaro Jiayang Fan, a writer for The New Yorker magazine, shares her story. Its Friday, April 10th. Jiayang, can you tell me a little bit about your childhood? Where did you grow up? jiayang fan I was born in 1984 in Chongqing, China. My mom was a doctor. My dad was a researcher. And he was one of the first batch of scholars sent to the U.S. to bring Western knowledge and technology back to China. So he leaves when Im about two, so I have very little memory of him. But for my mom and I, life in China feels very serene and comfortable. [speaking chinese] Whatever sense I have of the outside world, the world beyond China, is very, very vague and incredibly hazy, like Im not quite sure it exists. But I think if one place were to stand out, it would be the United States. I remember my mom and her friends talking about the show Dynasty, which did telegraph the glamor of the U.S. archived recording I like that one. Its a rather expensive fur. I like the mink. That is mink? jiayang fan The sense that this is what an everyday Joe would inhabit. michael barbaro And this of course, is a soap opera about an incredibly wealthy oil family living in a crazy gorgeous home, and driving along oil fields. So its actually quite exceptional. archived recording My name happens to be Mrs. Steven Carrington. Im not used to haggling over what suits me, or what it costs. jiayang fan Well, it was the show, and it was also at the time in China what was very popular were these calendars of American families, where every member had golden hair, sparkling blue eyes and perfect bone structure, and they were always smiling with their perfect white teeth. They always were sitting by a perfect colonial house, or just out in nature, but in front of a park that they looked like they owned. [laughter] And I remember the food that really encapsulated America to me were Cheerios. michael barbaro Cheerios? archived recording Its the big yellow box that everyone knows. jiayang fan Yes, Cheerios. I had no idea what they tasted like, but the company did fantastic branding in China. archived recording Cheerios number one. We love it! Toasty oat goodness. jiayang fan I remember the picture of the perfect baby on these ads for Cheerios. You know, the round cheeks, the blue eyes. That baby got to have this superior breakfast food that I, in all likelihood, would never get to taste. archived recording Cheerios number one! jiayang fan So theres me, drinking my Chinese porridge, and eating my pickled vegetables, and having fantasies about Cheerios, which I learned years later to not be very tasty at all there. Theyre actually tasteless. michael barbaro To be like the definition of blandness, but in your mind, they are this superior food for this blond haired, perfect group of people. jiayang fan Yeah, for superior people, to put it bluntly. I mean, I still remember actually the first time I heard English. I think it might have been my fifth or sixth birthday, and my mom might have come back pretty recently from English language training sessions. And she just said the words happy birthday. That was astounding to me. It was like my mom was superwoman, that she knew how to say this language that did not sound like a language to me. Happy birthday. I still remember the way the syllables came out of her mouth, and the image, which was of a tsunami. There was this tidal wave of one syllable consuming the next one that, to me, was very incomprehensible. And I remember at the time thinking, I will never learn this language. I have no hopes of ever learning this language. Which is probably OK, because I only need one language, right? And its Chinese. michael barbaro Oh. [speaking chinese] jiayang fan But essentially something happens in the June of 89 that changes my fathers fate as well as that of my mom and I forever. archived recording (journalist) The noise of gunfire rose from all over the center of Peking. jiayang fan The Tiananmen massacre. archived recording (journalist) Theres a mood of terror in the center of the city and quiet jiayang fan So the U.S. government immediately makes provisions for Chinese scholars, who might need to flee from China. archived recording (journalist) The demonstrators in Tiananmen Square jiayang fan And that was when my mother and I joined my father in the U.S. [speaking chinese] michael barbaro What do you remember about first arriving in the U.S.? jiayang fan We land in J.F.K., and my father is living at the time in New Haven, Connecticut. And that drive from J.F.K. to New Haven, it is gray and drab, like tones that are not at all what I had imagined. So I keep waiting for the real America to reveal itself to me. So it is a rude awakening when my dad leads us to his second floor studio. Theres just a mattress on the floor, and I think it takes me a good minute to realize that this is my new home. And the loss of a language is pretty traumatic for me. michael barbaro How so? jiayang fan School started a few months later, and I could not understand my teachers, my classmates. And repeatedly my new American teachers ask me, why arent you talking more? Why arent you engaging? And those expectations, I think, are hard for me to fully understand. And I feel like Im walking blind into a game, where I dont know the rules. michael barbaro Mm-hm. jiayang fan I mean, not only do I not speak the language, Im bringing pickled fish and rice, and thats not sitting well with the other kids at a lunch table. All I feel is defeat. michael barbaro Hm. It sounds very lonely. jiayang fan Yeah, retrospectively, I think what made me feel most lonely was that I couldnt share those feelings with my mother. And I think for my mother, who worked very low paying menial labor jobs in the U.S., a drastic step down from her position as a doctor in China, she must have felt as marginalized and as embarrassed by her immigrant status as I do, but in an adult way, but similarly lacking in an emotional vocabulary to express those feelings. michael barbaro What do you mean? jiayang fan Like, I remember going to the mall for the first time with my mother. And my moms favorite pastime was window shopping, just looking at things that she couldnt afford. And I remember one time someone trying to hand her maybe a flyer for some store, and she said, no, thanks. But she couldnt pronounce it correctly, so this young man said No sex? Did you say no sex? No sex? And I think I was like 11 or 12 at the time. I remember that my mother actually just in this embarrassed way laughed, like out of anxiety, like she wanted it to be OK. She wanted to respond in a way to indicate that she was not offended. But I remember the way that my cheek just felt hot and red, they grew, and how I felt so humiliated on my mothers behalf. And that experience feels seared into my brain, not just because of the insult, but because my mother had to swallow her own humiliation. michael barbaro Did you understand, given your age, that this was racism? I mean, how did you process it in that moment? jiayang fan I think I turned over the incident in my mind for a long time after that. I dont think I would have coded it as racism. I think I almost only understood racism as something that white people inflicted on black people. I had no idea or I had very little idea of how Asians fit into the landscape of race in the U.S. And I didnt know how to understand incidents in which you were not called a very specific racial slur. Like that no thanks, no sex? Like michael barbaro What was that? jiayang fan What was that? Exactly. I think as an 11-year-old, in my head, I didnt want to be different. I didnt want to be the one lashing out at others for being racist because inevitably that would make me seem even more different. And I think my mother, my mother was the closest person in my life. But if she had a religion, it would be survival. I learned from my mother not to rock the boat, not to shake the existing system, to basically understand how the existing system works, and then to ascend it in some way, to climb the ladder. As long as you fit in better, you will live a more comfortable life here. And that should be the goal. michael barbaro And did things start to get a little bit better, eventually? jiayang fan I start speaking better English. I start really enjoying and then falling in love with the English language, something that I thought would never happen. Thats really important for me, I have to admit. When that language, English, came to feel like a part of my body, I have to say that felt like a homecoming to me. michael barbaro Hm. And how old are you at this point, where youre starting to fall in love with the language? jiayang fan I think around maybe 12 or 13. michael barbaro Mm-hm. jiayang fan And Ill never forget the first time in sixth grade, when I said the phrase come on. Like, this sounds silly, but it was only sixth grade when I could comfortably say come on to a schoolmate, and I felt very triumphant. michael barbaro As if to say, enough of that, come on. jiayang fan Exactly. When I could say that, I was so aware of myself saying it, and I was saying it the way that a normal American speaker would say it. And Ill never forget the sense of pride that coursed through me. And there was no one I could celebrate it with, right? Because imagine if then I turned to the classmate who I said come on with and said, did you hear me? I just said come on! [laughter] That would have totally defeated its purpose, but I remember it, because it felt like a real Americanism. And it just rolled off my tongue. michael barbaro So in that moment, you finally feel like you belong. jiayang fan Exactly. But I still see myself predominantly as a visitor, and that my existence is pretty probational on good behavior. And if I behave well, I will be able to minimize the number of times that I stick out as someone who doesnt belong. But then I started to realize, thats not exactly how it works. michael barbaro Well be right back. So, Jiayang, I wonder if you can tell me about what happened to you recently. jiayang fan So this was in mid-March, when there were rumors that New York City would be put under lockdown because of coronavirus. And I wanted to make sure I had enough food in the house, if I had to stay in for an indefinite period of time. michael barbaro Mm-hm. jiayang fan And I was also really worried about my mother, who has a neurodegenerative disease and lives in a nursing home close by. I knew that I wouldnt be able to see her for a while, and I had several errands lined up. One was to take out the trash. One was to mail my rent check. And one was to go a few blocks away to my neighbors house, to pick up a sack of rice. It was around evening time, and I had just left my apartment building, and I was on the phone, talking to my mothers health aide in Chinese. And as I was turning around after putting the trash in the trash bin this is right in front of my apartment. I heard Chinese, Chinese, Chinese bitch. Fucking Chinese. But it all I dont think I fully believed what I was hearing. And when I made eye contact with him, he kept speaking. Youre fucking Chinese. And I realized that that I was comprehending that what he was saying did not stop him. michael barbaro Mm-hm. jiayang fan That was when in my ear, my moms aide paused and said, Are you OK? Is something happening? And I couldnt really speak. I found myself walking down the street. I think I was still really set on, I need to get rice, but then I found it really hard to continue walking, because my legs just felt leaden. Like, I really, really wanted to continue walking. It would have only been a 10 minute walk away for me to fetch that rice, but I found myself coming to a halt. And even, I thought, if I just kept talking on the phone with my aide, but then I thought, Im talking in Chinese. Who else am I going to offend? And then I just got off the phone. And once I got off the phone, I felt even more scared, because I was so aware of being alone. michael barbaro So this is not embarrassment or even shame in this moment. This is just terror. jiayang fan This is a very real sense of fright that Im not going to make it to my friends house to get my sack of rice. michael barbaro Jiayang, we started this conversation with you saying that your instinct, and maybe its because youre a journalist, maybe its as an Asian-American, maybe its both, is to minimize these incidents, and to be slow to see them as part of a larger phenomenon. But it sounds like this was different for you. Am I right to think that? jiayang fan Yeah, I mean, this is not the first time Ive been called a Chinese bitch. But what was different about this incident was that this man seemed to really mean it. And I wondered. I mean, in retrospect, right, I wondered at the relationship between the sense of conviction in the mans voice, his certainty that he was in the right to point out my Chineseness and to call me a Chinese bitch. michael barbaro Mm-hm. jiayang fan And I think about the things that were going on in his day, like did he lose his job earlier in the day because of this virus? I mean, does he work in the service industry? Does he have a loved one who has also become a prisoner in a nursing home or hospital? And I think about the way that all those anxieties, and rage and sadness, might have hardened into something like an instrument, almost a weapon. michael barbaro Hm. jiayang fan And I think about me being a surface onto which he could use that weapon and lash out. michael barbaro Hm. jiayang fan And I think about the probational nature of my Chinese-American existence, in a sense that, in better times, in normal times, there are certain stereotypes that are cast upon me when I walk down the street. But in a moment of crisis, when it seems plausible that the country where I was born could be responsible for an unprecedented pandemic, that I become a person of suspicion, and I become someone who is quite easy perhaps to target all your ire and anxieties, and that maybe it gave him temporary relief to be able to identify someone or something as the cause for his hurt and for his anxieties. michael barbaro So what do you do? jiayang fan So I go home, double lock my door, pull out my phone and get on Twitter. [tutting] OK, yes. I describe what happened, and I tweet. I wasnt offended. I was afraid. I was worried he knew where I lived. For the longest time, Ive been telling friends in China that although racism against Chinese exists in this country, thats not what I feel in a pandemic. Ive never felt like this in my 27 years in this country. Ive never felt afraid to leave my home to take out the trash because of my face. I want to believe what happened is anomalous, and that were living in extraordinary times, and fear can deform us. I wonder now if I should have taken his picture. michael barbaro I wonder what your mother would make of this incident. And I wonder what she would think of the fact that you decided to share what happened to you so publicly. jiayang fan I think if I were to tell her about the experience, she might not fully understand the import of it. She would say, Well, were you hurt? And I would say, No. And she would say, Well, did you lose anything? And I would say, No. And she would say, Do you feel like this man is going to cut you down and kill you now? And I would say, Probably not, no. And she would say, Well, why are you even telling me this? What is the big deal here? michael barbaro Hm. jiayang fan Or if I were to tell her that I was having this conversation with you, she would say Why make something out of nothing? Right? She would say, Why are you crying victim here? Why are you making this into a bigger deal than it really is? Do you want this to be how youre remembered, for being that woman who was the victim of a non-incident? michael barbaro And what would you say in this imaginary conversation with your mother? jiayang fan I think I would try in English, because I think it would be hard for me to find the words in Chinese to explain the significance of it, not on my physical well-being. michael barbaro Help me understand what you mean. jiayang fan Because for the longest I mean, I think my mom and I both lived with this fiction that if we could be perfect versions of ourselves, for example, if my mother could pronounce thanks the way that its supposed to be pronounced, and for me, if I could say come on naturally, that had always been the goal of our American existence, was to somehow bend ourselves to a shape that America could accept. I never dared to believe that I could actually help to make America better. That was something I never dared to think was possible. But in experiencing this, it made me rethink my role as an American and how even me, even someone who is probationary, that I was in some very, very small way contributing to this country by pointing out the ways that its failing itself, making clear the way in which this country still makes me feel ashamed, is possibly one way in which I can make it better. michael barbaro Hm. jiayang fan And also, thats the best version of America. Like in all the conceptions of America that exist in my head, I actually think this ability to call out the worst parts of America to itself, my freedom to do so, this feels to me the most miraculous part of America. But I think all of that would be, frankly, a bit too abstract to my mother. I think her quest for survival has been so concrete and lived, Ill never be able to repay her for the way that her very concrete existence has paved the way for my more luxuriantly abstract one, but that maybe thats a boundary between us that Ive been able to cross, and that no matter how many ways I try to explain it in what language, if shell fully understand. But I really needed to make sure that, for my own sake, I could know that this did happen, that this was not a figment of my imagination, or that in an hours time, or in 12 hours time, I would try to minimize it in my own mind. michael barbaro Thank you very much for your time. We really appreciate it, Jiayang. jiayang fan Thank you so much for having me. michael barbaro Im so sorry that you had the experience you had. jiayang fan I am, too. But Im sure it will be a small experience in what is hopefully a very long and a much bigger one of living in America and being American. [speaking chinese] michael barbaro Well be right back. Heres what else you need to know today. man Majority leader. archived recording (mitch mcconnell) Our nation continues to battle the coronavirus pandemic. More than 400,000 Americans have tested positive. Nearly 15,000 have lost their lives. And important public health measures are creating an economic catastrophe. michael barbaro On Thursday, the Labor Department said that another 6.6 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits in the past week. archived recording (mitch mcconnell) That means. Mr. President, more than 16 million Americans have lost their jobs in only the last three weeks, a tragedy that is hard to even comprehend. michael barbaro Economists now believe that the U.S. unemployment rate is the worst since the Great Depression. The latest figures put even deeper pressure on Congress to adopt a new round of economic relief for workers. But on Thursday, that legislation hit a roadblock in the Senate. Democrats want to double the size of the bill by adding hundreds of billions of dollars for hospitals and local governments, which are facing major financial shortfalls. archived recording (mitch mcconnell) We dont have to divide along the usual lines so soon after we came together for the country. To my Democratic colleagues, please, please do not block emergency aid you do not even oppose just because you want something more. michael barbaro But Republicans, led by Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell, say that money can wait. archived recording (mitch mcconnell) Lets continue to work together with speed and bipartisanship. We will get through this crisis together. michael barbaro During his fourth public address in a week, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Sunday called for coordinated action from the European Union in a bid to face the war against the coronavirus. The head of the government made Spains position clear, and called on Brussels to launch a Marshall Plan that would involve massive public investment in the whole of the 27-country bloc. He also defended the idea of coronabonds, European debt issues that would help to share out risk among all EU countries. Until now, Spain had kept discreetly in the background during negotiations that have been going on for several weeks via video conferencing between European leaders to provide a response to the global pandemic. Italy and France lead a group of countries that are calling for more decisive action from the European institutions. And Germany and Holland, among others, represent the orthodox role of the northern EU countries, calling for the brakes to be put on and for prudence. The prime minister called for a coordinated European response to deal with the coronavirus emergency Sanchez made clear on Sunday which group he is in and dispelled any doubts about his position in the decisive negotiations that are coming this week. The prime minister called for a coordinated European response to deal with the coronavirus emergency. This is a symmetrical crisis that affects the whole of the EU, and as such, cannot be solved with just a national response. We have to find and articulate a European response, he said, after his address on Sunday and in response to a question from the Financial Times newspaper. Spain is one of the countries that has been hardest hit by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. The authorities have warned that the worst is still to come. The entire country has been on lockdown since the state of alarm was declared last weekend by the government, and the effect on the economy is likely to be tremendous. Sanchez on Sunday listed the requests he has made to the European institutions. Things that are so logical, so rational, that it would be difficult for the EU not to take them on, he said on Sunday. Spain is calling for a major public investment plan that would serve to stimulate the economy. No one has any doubts that Europe will fall into a recession this year, and that the pandemic will cause the destruction of thousands of jobs. We need to coordinate a major Marshall Plan for the whole of the EU, and to begin the process of rebuilding that we are going to need to have in the social and economic areas when this is all over, said Sanchez. Europe is at war against the coronavirus, and we have to respond with all of our weapons and means Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez The Spanish prime minister also added his voice to those of countries calling for so-called coronabonds, European debt issues to finance investment and social spending to combat the virus. We have championed that the European Stability Mechanism that the EU introduced after the 2008 crisis is used to issue bonds that spread the debt on a European level, by, for example, issuing coronavirus bonds, he said. This is what, for example, the governor of the ECB [European Central Bank], [Christine] Lagarde has called for, as well as the president of the [European] Commission, [Ursula] Von der Leyen, and which of course the Spanish government, as well as other countries, is calling for and demands. Sanchez concluded on Sunday with a warning of the danger of the enemy currently being fought. Europe is at war against the coronavirus, and we have to respond with all of our weapons and means. There is no excuse for not mobilizing all of those resources, he said. English version by Simon Hunter. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday asked the central government to give special funds to all the states to fight coronavirus in the country. "The Central government should give the special amount of funds to all the states in the country to fight coronavirus," she said. She also urged government to see that private firm employee do not face salary issue. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, so far has 467 confirmed cases of coronavirus have been confirmed across the nation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Coronavirus India: Delhi Police has registered a case under IPC section 509 for spatting on a Manipuri woman and calling her corona. The incident took place on March 22, 2020 at Vijay Nagar area of North Delhi. Coronavirus India: A case of racism has come to light in the backdrop of growing fear and panic around the spread of novel coronavirus-COVID-19. On March 23, 2020, Delhi Police has registered a case under IPC Section 509 against a man for spatting on a Manipuri girl last night at Vijay Nagar area of North Delhi. The man, who was on a scooty, also called her corona, associating her physical features to do something with the origin of coronavirus. Enraged by the incident, several users on Twitter have criticised the incident and slamming the racist mindset of the attacker. Sharing a photo of the Manipuri girl after the incident, the Twitter user said that the man was convinced from her looks that she had something to do with the origin of coronavirus. This shows the ill mindset of the society. Some are infected men on scooty and some who observe the incident silently. While North East migrants have time and again raised their voice against the racist attitude, the situation has worsened now. A student from Assam recently told a news portal that some people tell her that the virus has come from China to India through Northeast. She added that the situation is appalling but they cannot do anything about it. Also Read: Coronavirus: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal announces lockdown in capital till March 31 Delhi Police has registered a case under section 509 of the Indian Penal Code against a man who allegedly spat on a woman belonging to Manipur and called her "Corona" in Vijay Nagar area of north Delhi last night. pic.twitter.com/lBk88QGr8U ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2020 A Manipuri girl in Delhi was spat on by a man on a scooty. Her looks convinced him that she had something to do with the origin of #Coronavirus. He is right. No labs to confirm, but we are all ill. Some are infected men on that scooty. Others are those who stand & watch silently pic.twitter.com/ag77U4W9BS abhineet mishra (@AbhineetMishraa) March 22, 2020 A Manipuri girl at Vijay Nagar, Delhi was spat on by an middle aged man and shouted at Corona before fleeing on his white scooty.#Racism #COVID19 #COVID19outbreak#coronaupdatesindia#coronaviruspic.twitter.com/Kr1d7mHWZw Nighah Ban (@BanNighah) March 23, 2020 Also Read: Coronavirus India: Delhi Metro shuts services till March 31, after Railways, inter-state bus transport The total number of positive cases of COVID-19 in India has reached 415, according to ICMRs latest update on March 23, 2020. To counter the spread of virus, the Government of India has announced a lockdown in 75 districts with confirmed cases of COVID-19. Some of the states that are on a complete lockdown till March 31 include Uttar Pradesh, Maharastra, Ladakh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Delhi, Chattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Odisha and Punjab. Also Read: Shaheen Bagh protest called off temporarily amid coronavirus threat, number of confirmed cases rise to 341 For all the latest National News, download NewsX App The second IAB Insight event of the year and 14th episode of the series focused on the future of work and the trends that are transforming the digital economy. The digital economy is changing at such a rapid rate. What are some of the trends transforming the digital economy at the moment? In 2020, consumers need to familiarise themselves with a world that is always watching. Between the intricacies of data sharing and the rise of facial and voice recognition, the lines between private and public are starting to blur. Why do you believe being aware of and embracing these trends is important for business? Lets speak specifically to interactive marketing. What are the biggest trends in this space at the moment? How should businesses respond / change the way they approach interactive marketing? And then in terms of future trends, what do you foresee happening in the digital economy/industry in 2020? What to watch out for in 2020. In 2020, your consumers expect you to know them better than themselves. What does the future of work look like to you? Your sofa will last longer than the job you choose to be in, and rather than being defined by your possessions or the business you are working for, we are now selecting what we buy and what we do for work based on the values of that brand or business. The Johannesburg session was held at MultiChoice City on Friday, 28 February and was sponsored by Incubeta, in partnership with Kantar, DSTV Media Sales, GetSmarter, a 2U, Inc. brand and Bizcommunity.The panel comprised: Masego Sibiya, strategist at Sum of 21; Emma Carpenter, Fjord: group design director; Zubeida Goolam, co-founder and creative partner at Brandtruth/DGTL; Monique Claassen, client service director: Media & Digital at Kantar; and Roan Mackintosh, MD at incuBeta.Here, Carpenter, Goolam and Sibiya delve into some of these trends and tell us what to watch out for in 2020...Going forward, consumers will need to consider their potential privacy threats against the benefits these technologies and advancements will have.: One of our key trends at Fjord this year is the evidence of design transitioning from me to we. User-centred design specifically for digital is feeling more and more selfish as it has often separated humans from the ecosystems they live and work within. Mindsets are shifting from catering for the individual to the collective and the digital economy is only going to benefit from the impact of innovation for a broader interconnected audience.: Globally and locally customers and employees are questioning how business does business. Is driving profit the only way for companies to deliver growth or value? Is endless consumption the only way for humans to demonstrate their growth or value?: Trends are driven by actual human behaviour and basic human needs. If we ignore these, we ignore the potential connection points to our audience.: Technology innovation is something thats not going to stop anytime soon, and so we as individuals and businesses need to be able to keep up with these changes. Technological changes are the driving force for these trends and now that people have easier access to information, the demand for things to be convenient and faster has increased. Keeping up is all good and well, but does it make sense for the brands personality which means to say, does the adoption of a specific trend make sense with regards to the psychological need the business fulfils for its consumers? Businesses should always be aware of whats happening outside their doors, but they also need to ensure that keeping up with the changes has a positive impact on the individual.: The biggest trend in interactive marketing is hyper-personalisation of messages and contextual marketing so that people feel they have a personal connection with your brand.: With the rise of AI and Chatbots in South Africa, a growing trend is the inclusion of using the multiple languages in our country. AI and Chatbots should be able to accommodate more languages than just English were talking about digital transformation, which means that you can gain access anyone. With 11 official languages the inclusion of our languages will open up an opportunity for a larger amount of people using interactive marketing.: Self-expression is becoming increasingly important in a world where previous advertising agencies and demographic models are becoming redundant. Audience needs related to age, gender, race, living conditions and education can't be classified into the traditional LSM groups anymore. For this reason, brands have to listen to the different conversations happening and respond to each in the most relevant way and by using the best platform for each specific target audience.: There is a growing rate of people from different backgrounds now having access to the internet and information, we should be able to target them as well. As businesses challenges like these are often given a blind eye because thats our reality, and so we are used to it. We need to pull ourselves away from personal biases and try uncover what your everyday persons challenges are. We all want easier access to information, convenience and a higher customer experience, we should always ensure that we include ALL individuals and not just the small percentage. Uncover the human truth so you can access larger market.: 2019 was the year of accountability, activism and the c-suite taking a long hard look at the purpose and principles of their businesses. I think 2020 will be the year of transparency driven by the digital industry. Weve already seen in the first eight weeks of the year that organisations and governments that hide data or the truth are subject to intense scrutiny.Transparency will help remote global corporates get closer to the needs of their customers and Id like to see 2020 as the year when corporates voluntarily open their doors rather than being forced.: In addition to speaking to more targeted interest-based audiences or "tribes", it's especially important that as South African marketers we recognise the importance of adapting global trends to fit our very specific local context. It's not just about understanding the vernacular, it's about understanding the behaviour in the sub-cultures and how as brands we can serve them.: I think we need to recognise that people consume jobs like any commodity.Employee habits are changing, we no longer work to earn a living, we want to live as we earn and we want our work to support our changeable desires. Employers are asking their employees to constantly reskill, unlearn and relearn as technology evolves. I believe they will respond by demanding the right to alter the nature, values and industry of the business they are in. These fluid EVPs and employee experiences will make it harder for businesses to communicate direction top down, and as ever stronger voices lead brands from the floor, the c-suite will also need to constantly reinvent their roles to stay at the table.: The future of work means that automation solutions free up time for the areas that still require human input. Agencies will need to learn to be much more flexible and adaptable to accommodate working faster and smarter, for example, embracing dynamic advertising opportunities.For more insights, here's our coverage of the Cape Town session:The Series has temporarily been postponed.Standard tickets to attend these IAB Insight events cost R500. Free for IAB members. Email ten.asbai@aluaP for sponsorship opportunities and keep an eye on the IAB SA website or visit Facebook and Twitter for further updates! You can also subscribe to the IAB Insight Series' emailers and dont miss the IAB YouTube Insight Series To stop the spread of coronavirus, health officials have instructed the public to practice social distancing -- staying home, avoiding crowds and refraining from touching one another. Although living like that can be lonely, inconvenient and even frightening, it's for the greater good, says Danielle Ompad, an associate professor at New York University's School of Global Public Health. "It's uncomfortable," she told CNN. "But it requires us to be good citizens. People have to learn how to think about the collective rather than the individual." To help you do that, we answered your biggest questions about social distancing: Read more of CNN's coronavirus Q&A here. Public life Can I go to the grocery store? Yes. The grocery store is one of the few public places you can still go -- just be strategic about it. Dr. William Schaffner, a professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, suggests going to the store when you suspect less people will be shopping. This could be late at night or early in the morning. Make sure to thoroughly wash fruits and veggies after you buy them, and wash your hands after touching boxes and before eating. Not sure what to buy? Here's a sample checklist of foods to stock up on so you won't make multiple trips. Can I order takeout? Sure can! There's no evidence that the virus can live in food, so whatever you eat should be safe. Still, it's a good idea to disinfect the takeout containers and wash your hands afterward, says Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Chief Medical Correspondent. Ordering takeout also helps restaurants and delivery drivers who may be losing money during the pandemic. Dr. Celine Gounder, an infectious disease specialist at Bellevue Hospital Center, suggests paying and tipping online and asking the delivery person to leave your food outside the door to avoid interaction. Should I use public transportation? If you can avoid it, you should. Packing into a crowded, poorly ventilated subway car or bus can heighten your risk of infection. If you need to use public transportation to get to work, carry disinfecting wipes to clean seats and poles, and wash your hands as soon as your commute is over. If I still need to work, how can I keep myself safe? Practice as much social distancing as your work allows. Wash your hands constantly, and if your occupation requires it, wear a face mask. Can I go anywhere? Yes, a few places -- grocery stores, doctor's offices and some outdoor areas. But right now, staying home as much as possible is the best way to lower infection rates, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Restaurants, places of worship, movie theaters, sports venues, museums and more have already started closing. Save a trip to these places until government and health officials say it's safe to visit. Travel Can I still travel? Under most circumstances, you shouldn't. The US State Department issued a Level 4 "Do Not Travel" advisory, the most severe warning, urging Americans to cancel travel abroad. Airplanes, trains, buses and cruise ships can pack a lot of people in close quarters for long periods of time, which is a recipe for virus transmission. "If you're going for vacation, I would suggest you don't go," says Ompad, the NYU professor. "I definitely don't suggest you visit sick or elderly family. But some people don't have a choice -- they have to travel, work for airlines or trains or they're traveling because they're doing Covid-19 work or they can't afford to not do their jobs." But the fewer of us who travel, the safer those essential workers will be, she says. If I'm traveling abroad, should I return to the US? Yes. The State Department has advised Americans living or traveling internationally to return to the US immediately. If Americans abroad do not return soon, they risk getting stuck in a foreign country for an indefinite period of time. Health Should I wear a face mask in public? Probably not. Masks keep germs in by preventing sick people from coughing or sneezing into the air. But they don't protect healthy people from coming into contact with those germs. Sick people should stay home and avoid in-person contact with others until they've recovered. If available, sick people and those who live with them can wear masks at home, the CDC says. Can I exercise? Yes -- outdoors or at home. It's not a good idea to visit a gym, though. Distance is key. Going on a secluded run, walk or bike ride are fine ways to stay active outside -- just maintain at least six feet of distance from other people. At home, you can download exercise videos or apps and follow their instructions -- they're usually designed with minimal equipment in mind. Or you can follow these tips from CNN contributor Dr. Melinda Jampolis on how to work out at home. Can I go to the doctor or dentist? Not unless you have an urgent appointment or are seeking help due to coronavirus symptoms. It's best to cancel any appointments or elective procedures that aren't critical, says Dr. Carla Perissinotto, associate professor at the University of California-San Francisco's Department of Medicine. If you do have a critical appointment, ask your provider about telehealth appointments that don't require you to come into an office. If you think you're experiencing Covid-19 symptoms, call a physician before showing up at an office so you don't put yourself and others at a higher risk of infection. Family & Friends Can I visit older family members? You shouldn't. Adults over 60 are at a higher risk of serious infection from Covid-19, and you could unwittingly infect them. The best thing older adults can do is stay home and away from others as much as possible. Keep in touch with them over the phone or with video calls. If they live nearby, offer to help them with groceries or medications they may need while home. Can my friends come over? They shouldn't. Visitors aren't a great idea right now, Ompad said, even if they are your friends. But distancing yourself doesn't mean you have to be lonely. Instead, host video hangouts with friends or call them regularly. Ompad talks with her colleagues and friends on Zoom, a video conference service. She and her pals cook together and chat about their days. It's a way to stay sane while staying home, even if all the interaction is virtual. "Social distancing does not mean social isolation. It's really important we maintain our social connections," Ompad says. Can I schedule playdates for my kids? No. Kids aren't considered a high-risk group for Covid-19, but they can still spread the virus. It's not yet clear how infectious they are, so it's best to keep children apart from each other and, if possible, out of your home. Plus, kids might not heed the six-feet distance or constant hand-washing rules. "We know that kids touch each other and rough house with each other, and so we really want to be mindful about reducing that interpersonal contact and any potential spread," says Dr. Asaf Bitton of Ariadne Labs, a health innovation center. Where can my kids play? Going outside is still okay -- just supervise your children to make sure they keep their distance from other kids, Ompad says. If you don't have a backyard, large parks where you can maintain a significant distance from other families should be fine. But avoid playgrounds, where germs can lurk on slides and swings, she says. Can I take my kids to daycare? If it's your only option, then yes. But before you do, call the daycare center or meet with staff to ensure they're implementing social distancing measures. If you urgently need child care, ask a healthy family member to watch your child and maintain proper distancing measures. If you work with a regular babysitter or nanny, use caution. They should be keeping themselves healthy on their own, but may be putting themselves at risk while commuting to work. Do I need to distance myself from my child? Probably not, Ompad says, unless either of you are showing symptoms of sickness. Under most circumstances, if you and your child are living in the same home, you don't need to keep six feet of distance. But if possible, limit excessive physical contact. If my family member or roommate works in health care, do I need to distance myself from them? Health care workers are at a higher risk of infection, so it's wise to distance yourself from them. Emory University epidemiologist Rachel Patzer tweeted that her husband, a physician who treats Covid-19 patients, moved into the garage to avoid infecting their young children. "It is difficult to see pictures of all the people at bars and restaurants, socializing, making play dates, and ignoring social distancing recommendations when I know my husband and many other healthcare workers are risking their lives to treat more sick patients," she wrote. 'Please, take this pandemic seriously." How long will we have to keep social distancing? Probably for several months. But we may have to do it over and over again, since the outbreak could come in waves. Research by the Imperial College in Great Britain "would suggest you have to institute these kinds of measures for five months, very vigorously," says Gounder, the infectious disease specialist. "And then you may be able to relax for a period. And then you would re-institute as the cases go up again. But we're basically looking at doing this over and over and over again, even after a five-month period of strict social distancing, in order to curb cases until we have a vaccine." (Newser) Amid a sea of stories about Americans being stuck in their homes, a different version out of Northern California. CBS Sacramento reports that after heavy snow in Calaveras County, a 74-year-old man became trapped in his home. He was reportedly stuck there with no food, power, or phone with which to call 911 for five days. He had posted "Please help!" signs in his windows and blown a whistle over the course of two days. But it wasn't until two Pacific Gas & Energy workers were near Big Trees Village on Friday that the man was rescued. story continues below PGE Currents says employees Adam Gossett and Ean Collins heard "a faint, muffled yell" coming from near where they were working. They turned off their trucks and were able to trace the sound to a home "mostly hidden by large snowbanks," per the company. Inside they found a diabetic man whom the workers described as "clearly in distress." A 911 call was placed, and other nearby PG&E workers responded, helping to shovel clear the doorway so first responders could reach him. (These people needed to be rescued from a more famous snowy location.) Zach Kreitzer/U.S. Navy, FILE(WASHINGTON) -- A U.S. Navy hospital ship was heading to Los Angeles on Monday, with the intention of helping to alleviate the strain on the city's hospital system due to the influx of patients infected by the novel coronavirus. The USNS Mercy -- one of the Navy's two 1,000-bed hospital ships -- was originally expected to go to the Seattle region, but last week California Gov. Gavin Newsom sent a letter to President Donald Trump requesting that the Mercy be docked in Los Angeles instead. At a White House press conference on Sunday evening, the president confirmed the Mercy would be located off the coast of Los Angeles. In a Pentagon briefing on Monday, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said it was the Federal Emergency Management Agency that determined the Mercy's destination, despite his initial "hunch" that the ship would go to Seattle. "The men and women of the Mercy are highly trained professionals and are eager to join this fight to start helping their fellow Americans," Esper said, adding that he expected the ship to dock "later this week." Navy officials later said on Monday that the ship would take several days to travel from San Diego to Los Angeles because of required operational testing that has to take place at sea before coming into port. "We definitely have a sense of urgency, and we want to be there as quickly as we can to support his efforts with the local and state authorities," Cmdr. John Rotruck, the commanding officer of the Mercy's military treatment facility, told reporters during the briefing. The Mercy's sister ship, the USNS Comfort, will head to New York Harbor from its homeport of Norfolk, Virginia, in April -- with the later departure date due to scheduled maintenance, officials said. Meanwhile, on Sunday, Trump announced additional resources for Washington state, including four small federal medical stations, with 250 beds and three large federal medical stations with 750 beds. According to data from Los Angeles County Public Health, the county now has more than 400 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The county's more than 10 million residents are being told to shelter at home. "The ship will serve as a referral hospital for non-COVID-19 patients currently admitted to shore-based hospitals, and will provide a full spectrum of medical care to include critical and urgent care for adults," according to the Navy's Third Fleet in a statement about the Mercy on Sunday. "This will allow local health professionals to focus on treating COVID-19 patients and for shore-based hospitals to use their Intensive Care Units and ventilators for those patients." The Mercy was sailing from San Diego on Monday with more than 800 Navy medical personnel and support staff, as well as 70 "civil service mariners" who operate the ship and assist with cargo and repairs, among other ship-related tasks. The number of personnel will grow to more than 1,100 once the ship gains additional staff at port in Los Angeles, Navy officials said. In order to prevent the spread of the virus on the Mercy, all personnel -- including medical staff -- and future patients, would be screened for coronavirus symptoms prior to boarding, Navy Surgeon General, Rear Adm. Bruce Gillingham told reporters last week.Additionally, Navy officials said on Monday that the ship will have coronavirus tests on board should they need to verify it patients or staff have become ill. The nearly 900-foot Mercy is unique, with 1,000 hospital beds including 80 intensive care beds. Officials said nine of the Mercy's 12 surgical bays will be available for surgeries, though no pediatric or obstetric care will be provided by the ship's staff. The ship would also bring its own blood bank, a critical resource as blood banks across the United States report urgent shortages. Of the two Navy hospital ships, the Comfort most recently deployed on a five-month humanitarian mission to South America in order to lessen the burden on health systems overwhelmed by Venezuelan refugees. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Royal fans have gone wild over the striking similarity between the Duchess of Cambridge and her mother Carole Middleton in two recent Instagram snaps. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge shared a photo of Carole cradling a baby Kate to mark Mother's Day yesterday, and many followers noted how much Mrs Middleton, then 27, looks like her 38-year-old daughter today. The strong family resemblance was pointed out by another of Instagram fan accounts, including MiddletonMaven. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge shared a photo of Carole cradling a baby Kate to mark Mother's Day yesterday, and many followers noted how much Mrs Middleton, then 27, looks like her 38-year-old daughter today. Pictured right, Kate on a recent visit to 111 workers The strong family resemblance was pointed out by another of Instagram fan accounts, including MiddletonMaven. Pictured, royal fans commenting on the post One follower posted: 'Wow! I never noticed such a strong similarity before. Beautiful.' Another added: 'Omg they look so alike!! Beautiful ladies.' A third wrote: 'Good genes run in the family!' The photo of Carole and baby Kate was one of a number shared on the Kensington Palace Royal Instagram account yesterday. The Duke, 37, and Duchess of Cambridge, 38, penned: 'To mothers new and old and families spending today together and apart we are thinking of you all at this difficult time. Happy Mother's Day.' Royal followers were quick to note the similarity between Kate and Carole on Instagram The other images included a previously unseen snap of the duke and duchess giving George, six, and Princess Charlotte, four, a piggyback and one of William and brother Prince Harry as youngsters with their late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. They also shared a photo of a card made by six-year-old George for his mother. And fans from across the globe were delighted by the touching post - and thanked the royals for sharing during this difficult time. Taking to the Kensington Palace Royal Instagram account, the Duke, 37, and Duchess of Cambridge, 38, posted a selection of photos to celebrate Mother's Day yesterday. Pictured, Prince William and Kate Middleton with their children in Norfolk The royal couple shared an adorable card Prince George made to celebrate Mother's Day (pictured) In another photo, Prince Harry and Prince William, dressed in the same outfit, can be seen smiling alongside their mother, the late Princess Diana (pictured) 'We need more content like this in this difficult time! thank you. sincerely yours, from Indonesian royal watcher,' wrote one, while a second enthused: '3 beautiful and very loving mothers. Happy Mother's Day to all Mums. I love Prince George's card. Super cute.' A third praised: 'Aww we love all 4 photos! Happy Mother's Day. Mummies are our super heroes,' while a fourth added: 'Oh such a lovely inspiring post - thank you.' Meanwhile, the royal family shared a black and white image of the Queen, then Princess Elizabeth, in 1951 with her mother, Queen Elizabeth, holding on to their hats as they arrived at Westminster Abbey for a wedding. I saw two pieces of news footage today that concerned me. The first happened on the Today show on NBC, and it was a clip of the cars lined up in Birmingham for testing for coronavirus. The second was an informal interview that took place by AL.com from Orange Beach, AL, where there are throngs of people because it is supposed to be spring break. Granted, it was not as busy it usually it, but still, I was floored. Many of the comments I saw from this clip fell along the lines of this is no worse than the flu, I have an immune system, this is a hoax by the media. I am a home-grown Alabamian. I grew up in Birmingham. I live in Birmingham now. I am married with three children. I have siblings and parents and nieces and nephews that also live in Alabama. I say this to point out that I am like you: an Alabamian. I would like to speak to the people of Alabama, on the chance that my message might get to even one family that would make different choices which can change the domino effect of this epidemic. In addition to being an Alabamian, I am also a public health professional with over 20 years of experience in global health, focusing on maternal/child health and prevention of HIV in lower and middle income countries. I have lived and worked in countries that experience public health crises the likes of which we do not normally experience in the US. I have participated in national working groups to formulate government strategies to prevent and mitigate diseases like HIV, to strengthen health care systems, and to improve quality of care for all people. I have participated in epidemic response planning for other countries. I am also a social worker. I have a strong foundation for several concepts related to the health of the public including the realities of the challenges of planning, implementing, and monitoring public health recommendations (which boils down to doing hard things that dont have easy answers), and a strong sense of empathy which has been built over time working with people from all over the world dealing with critical health issues. I, along with millions of other Americans, have been following the Coronavirus situation. Weve watched as the messaging has progressed from a mild alert to the current severe warnings. I know how challenging it can be to formulate public policy that is appropriate for the entire population of a country, and I also know how hard it can be as a community member to adhere to recommendations that directly impact your daily life and change routines. I understand how distant the national experts can seem and how confusing the messages can be. I understand that the messages we currently hear every day are scary and cause an internal reaction of fear that plays out in different ways, some of which is pretending that life should go on as usual and feelings of denial. Last week, I had a close family member test positive for Coronavirus, in Alabama. Thank goodness it has been a mild case and they are on the mend. This surprised our entire family as our family member that tested positive hasnt traveled outside of the US recently, never had a fever, and didnt have the usual symptoms. And yet they tested positive. Most of the rest of our family were tested as well, and our results have come back negative (but to reiterate Ambassador Birx: testing negative one day doesnt negate your risk). Watching the news and my social media, talking to people, from all the data I have gathered completely anecdotallyI feel the need to share some messages to Alabamians: Public health is not a right that is guaranteed: Public health authorities can do their best to provide the most up-to-date and data-informed information, tools, knowledge, strategies, to help ensure public health. But in the US, its up to individuals to decide to act. This is a privilege we take for granted. From what Ive seen, the uptake is less than optimal: people arent taking this seriously. Ive experienced people trying to work their way around recommendations, using excuses that are not defensible (my kids are bored, my schedule is disrupted). The US system relies on the individual use of common sense to make the best decisions for the sake of the community; and in this current situation, its not going very well. We have to earn the health of our public, and many communities are showing us they are not upholding their end of the bargain. There is a continued Us"Them divide: there is a lack of connection between people. Coronavirus doesnt discriminate between the haves and the have-nots. Prevention measures are easier to implement the higher your socioeconomic status is, so the likelihood of people with less money, which can then translate into minority, immigrant and/or other status, will bear the brunt of the impact. Soon we will have confirmed cases along all lines of demographics and those in the Us category are going to be surprised that there are cases identified in their neighborhoods. The lack of sense of solidarity in this country is frustrating. We Americans feel we have the right to do what we wantand that includes putting ourselves and others at risk. However, just because we may consider this a right, does that mean we act on it? Dont we want to do what is best for our whole community, even if it means smaller individual sacrifices? There is a clear lack of understanding that we are all in this together: there are no winners in this scenario and it doesnt matter what your political opinion is. We will all experience consequences in some way unless and until we take collective action. The fact is, we function together as a society and my actions impact others. My decisions have a direct consequence for someone else. And turning our heads away from this reality is irresponsible and incredibly frustrating; however, its what I am seeing and experiencing. Despite my frustration and feelings of the need to shake some common sense into people, I also see signs of hope. We can do better as a state to come together; here are some things we can do: If you have the means to do so, follow all of the recommended CDC guidance. This is updated as the information changes, so make sure you stay up to date. The guidance can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html . This includes actions that might inconvenience you, might shift your schedule, might prove frustrating and scary; still follow the guidance. The guidance is our roadmap to resolving this epidemic as quickly and with as little fall-out as possible. Take responsibility for your actions and take ownership of the idea that each of us has individual power to make a difference. I dont care if its inconvenient, uncomfortable, unsettling, boring. Do it; stop making excuses. Parents, knock some sense into those kiddos that are headed to the beach or to hang out with friends. Stay up-to-date on world news: While it can seem overwhelming, it is important to understand how this is impacting other countries: are you aware of what is happening in Italy? Of how South Korea is handling this? This information is helpful to keep a perspective of how we are approaching this as a country and how easy some of these recommendations might be compared to the alternatives. It certainly makes temporarily postponing travel plans or dinner parties a better option than martial law and lockdown scenarios. I know its very hard to even conjure this type of scenario in the US, but do your best.the current recommendations are there precisely to avoid this situation. Do not base your decisions and actions on something you hear from a friend on social media: Jjust because your friend texted you with some information, that doesnt make it true. Follow-up to do your own research and dont assume that the rumor just spread by a social media contact is true. If you have the means, do something to help your fellow community members: let me be clear: I am not limiting community to those who live in close proximity to you. I am defining community as those who live in your county, your state, and your country. There are fellow community members who do not have the means to implement the recommendations: they dont have the funds to stock-up on supplies, their kids rely on school-based meal programs to get fed, they cant afford to miss work. There are multiple ways to contribute as a community member to help others: look to your faith community, look on your social media pages, google help out in..; you will find many opportunities to support your fellow community members. Doing something to help others can give you a sense of taking back your controlyou are contributing to the solution which is empowering. If we can stop turning a blind eye to our current situation, we have the collective power to make it better. We can be better; we can do better. Dont you want to be able to say that you did everything you could during this time to help? Thank you in advance! Birmingham resident Allison Spensley is a global health professional who spent the last five years in Zambia. Afghanistan reports 10 new coronavirus cases Saudi Press Agency Sunday 1441/7/27 - 2020/03/22 KABUL, March 22, 2020, SPA -- Afghanistan on Sunday reported 10 new cases of coronavirus as authorities restricted movement of civilians in the country, officials said, according to Reuters. Health minister Ferzoddin Feroz said 97 samples were tested in last 24 hours, 10 of them were positive. The total number of positive cases rose to 34 on Sunday, he said adding two lawmakers were among the suspects and their samples have been sent for test. --SPA 11:01 LOCAL TIME 08:01 GMT 0012 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New Delhi [India], Mar 23 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday thanked SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) members for their contribution towards the coronavirus emergency fund set up to fight the spread of the virus in the region. He thanked heads of states of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Afghanistan and Nepal for their contribution to the joint fund. In a tweet to his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina, Modi said, "Grateful to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh for announcing $ 1.5 million as a contribution to the COVID-19 Emergency Fund. Through our solidarity and working together, we will overcome challenges posed by COVID-19." "Deeply appreciate contribution of USD 200,000 by Government of Maldives to the COVID-19 Emergency Fund. It strengthens our resolve in this collective fight against the pandemic," the Prime Minister said in another tweet. Modi expressed his gratitude to the Sri Lankan government for contributing USD 5 million to the emergency fund. He tweeted, "Sincerely thank President of Sri Lanka @GotabayaR for contributing $ 5 million to the SAARC COVID-19 Emergency Fund. Our cooperation will go a long way in fighting this disease effectively." Afghanistan also made its contribution to the fund and pledged USD 1 million in the fight of SAARC countries against the virus. Thanking Afghan President, the Prime Minister said in a subsequent tweet, "Thank you Afghanistan, for contributing $ 1 Million to the COVID-19 Emergency Fund in solidarity with our South Asian neighborhood. Tashakkur President @ashrafghani." Modi also appreciated and thanked his Nepali counterpart KP Sharma Oli for his country's contribution to the fight against the virus. "Deeply appreciate PM KP Sharma Oli's announcement of the contribution of NPR 10 crores to the COVID-19 Emergency Fund. It reflects Oli Ji's commitment and support to the collective fight of SAARC countries against the pandemic," the Prime Minister said. During the video conference of the SAARC leaders held on March 15, Modi proposed a USD 10 million fund to combat the spread of the virus in the region. (ANI) Numerous sub-Saharan countries acted to stem the spread of coronavirus on Monday, with South Africa announcing a soldier-patrolled lockdown and Senegal and Ivory Coast each declaring a state of emergency. The pandemic had been slow to spread in Africa compared to the Middle East and Europe, but in recent days the number of deaths and infections have increased, sparking concerns about the continent's vulnerability to contagious diseases. South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa said the government had "decided to enforce a nationwide lockdown for 21 days" from midnight Thursday to "avoid a human catastrophe". There have been more than 400 coronavirus cases in Africa's most developed economy -- the highest in sub-Saharan Africa -- with the number multiplying six-fold in just eight days. Ramaphosa said the numbers could spiral given that South Africa has "a large number of people with suppressed immunity because of high HIV and TB and high levels of poverty and malnutrition." "This is a decisive measure to save millions of South Africans from infection," he said. "Without decisive action, the number of people infected will rapidly increase... to hundreds of thousands." Ramaphosa said the army would patrol the streets along with the police to ensure the ban is respected. - 'The situation is critical' - More African countries are expected to announce tough confinement measures after sealing their borders and closing public places. Senegal declared a state of emergency as well as a dusk-to-dawn curfew starting on Tuesday. "I say this to you with solemnity -- the situation is critical. The speed of the progress of the disease requires us to raise the level of the response," Senegalese President Macky Sall said late Monday, calling the pandemic a "true world war". Fellow West African nation Ivory Coast ordered a similar curfew, as well as progressive confinements measures based on the geographic spread of the virus. In the centre of the continent, DR Congo locked down its second city Lubumbashi for 48 hours on Monday and deployed security forces. Streets were deserted and stores were closed, an AFP journalist said. The move came after two people with coronavirus arrived on Sunday on a flight from the capital Kinshasa. The DRC has recorded 30 cases of coronavirus since March 10, two of them fatalities. - Rising cases - Africa hasn't yet suffered the kind of terrifying rise in virus cases seen elsewhere. The reason for this is unclear, but many African countries have used the precious time to impose travel restrictions, close schools and appeal for social distancing. However, those numbers are now rising significantly. According to a toll compiled by AFP, the number of known cases across the continent -- including North Africa -- stood at more than 1,600 on Monday, of which some 50 have been fatal. The first detected case south of the Sahara was announced in the Nigerian city of Lagos on February 28, and the first death was reported in the Sahel state of Burkina Faso last Wednesday. That was followed by fatalities in Gabon, the DRC and Mauritius. On Monday, three more countries were added to this list: Nigeria -- the most populous country in Africa -- as well as The Gambia in western Africa, and Zimbabwe in the south. All three deaths were of individuals who had arrived after making extensive trips abroad. - Peril for Africa - Ghana on Monday closed schools and universities and suspended public events, while in Burkina Faso a security source said the authorities "were thinking more and more about total confinement of the population for two or three weeks". Rwanda late Saturday barred all "non-essential" movement, Gabon imposed a night curfew, while the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius began a 14-day lockdown on Friday. Health experts have sounded loud and repeated warnings about Africa's vulnerability to coronavirus. Crowded shantytowns, poor sanitation and decrepit health infrastructure offer ideal opportunities for the lethal microbe. "The system itself is overstretched and inadequate to deal with a coronavirus epidemic," Zimbabwean doctor Norman Matara told AFP last week. But lockdowns too can have a catastrophic effect in countries where there is little or no social safety net to help people buy food or pay their bills. "In reality, partial or total confinement could have disastrous effects for the African continent," Cameroonian writer Calixthe Beyala said on her Facebook page. Face masks are becoming an increasingly common sight in Johannesburg as the coronavirus spreads throughout sub-Saharan Africa The muezzin at the Katindo mosque in Goma, northeastern DR Congo, called for prayers in a deserted house of worship on Sunday after the authorities appealed for social distancing Children in the notorious Nairobia slum of Kibera learn how to wash hands to help prevent coronavirus A nurse walks past one of the few working ambulances in Chitungwiza, a dormitory town of the Zimbabwean capital Harare As many parts of the country are undergoing lockdown, people are buying essentials and groceries in bulk for sustenance. Some of India's biggest consumer goods companies are now ramping up production to meet the sharp rise in demand. Hindustan Unilever, ITC, Godrej, Parle, and Amul said that production has been increased to ensure that there are no shortages due to panic, as mentioned in a report in The Economic Times. This appears to be a reversal of last year's fortunes, when companies slashed production due to weak consumption. However, experts told the daily that such a surge may be temporary and might not make up for slumping sales. While the governments have asked companies to shut manufacturing units to cut down on the spread of coronavirus, manufacturers of groceries and essential products, including food, hygiene and pharmaceutical segments have been exempted. However, these units would work with skeletal staff and stagger shifts. Also read: Coronavirus update: List of districts under lockdown till March 31 According to the report, Godrej Consumer Products is stepping up production of soaps, hand washes and sanitisers. Soap production is up 30 per cent and hand washes by 3.5 times Meanwhile, ITC is ensuring that there is adequate supply of all food products and staples. Parle has raised production 10-15 per cent that it plans to review on a weekly basis. Mayank Shah, category head at Parle Products said, "We are seeing a surge in demand for two weeks and don't want any unnecessary panic with supply shortages and prices going up. We want to ensure we don't go out of stock at any point of time," as mentioned in the report. Shah, however, believes that there will be a lull once the crisis is over. Also read: Coronavirus: Protective health gear, N-95 masks, coveralls in short supply Dairy company Amul India also said they have increased production by 15-20 per cent for its biggest-selling products such as tetrapak milk, paneer, cheese and butter, the report mentioned. Consumer goods slowed down sharply in January and February over the previous year. Growth for categories such as soaps, shampoos and skincare had dipped, as mentioned by Nielsen. Meanwhile, a Care Ratings report stated that most items of consumer goods and food products saw a slump in output in the October-December quarter. Also read: Panic buying due to coronavirus increases sales of Bigbasket, Grofers Also read: Coronavirus: Consumer goods fly off shelves as customers resort to panic-buying A 57-year-old man who had tested positive for Covid-19 and was admitted to a private hospital in Salt Lake township located to the east of Kolkata, died on Monday afternoon, marking the first death in West Bengal since the outbreak of coronavirus. Six more people have tested positive and are in hospital. The man was a resident of Dum Dum in the North 24 Parganas district. His wife and five other family members are already in isolation at a state-run hospital. The man died about one and a half hours before Bengal went into lockdown mode to contain the pandemic. Health department officials said the victim went to Bilaspur in Uttar Pradesh in the last week of February and returned home on March 2. He had travelled by train. Till Monday afternoon, 52 people were kept in isolation at different hospitals. The 57-year-old male patient, who was admitted in the Salt Lake unit on March 16 with high fever and cough, expired at 3:35 pm. Our critical care team tried their best and tried to use ECMO twice on Monday but the patient could not be revived. He was detected COVID-19 positive after samples were sent to NICED and SSKM Hospital on March 20 and 21, AMRI Hospital authorities said in a statement. All necessary steps have been taken to ensure the critical care team is safe. The state health department has been duly notified and all formalities will be followed as per official norms, the statement added. Workers cant negotiate away their right to compensation for time spent donning and removing protective gear, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled in a long-running legal battle between a Jefferson County farm and its employees. Nearly 230 current and former workers of Jones Dairy Farm in Fort Atkinson sued in 2010 seeking unpaid wages for time spent putting on and taking off their gear at the beginning and end of their shifts. The average amount of wages sought by each employee is about $675 per year for five years, according to court documents. The farm argued that the workers had given up the right to compensation for time spent dressing during collective bargaining. The farm also argued that the de minimis doctrine applies in the case. That doctrine permits employers to disregard otherwise compensable work that takes only a few seconds or minutes beyond scheduled working hours. Jefferson County Circuit Judge William Hue in 2018 rejected those arguments. The farm appealed and the state appellate court kicked the case directly to the state Supreme Court. The court ruled 4-3 to uphold Hues decision, finding that state law doesnt allow for modifying compensation for donning and removing personal protective gear through collective bargaining. The time employees spent dressing and undressing was not de minimis, the court went on to say, noting that the time translates to several hundred dollars per year. The rulings dont end the case, however. The justices sent the lawsuit back to the circuit court level after finding that Hue failed to analyze the farms other arguments, including that the wages would unjustly enrich the employees. The farms attorney, Bernard Bobber, said his clients were disappointed that four justices decided collective bargaining about payment for dressing time doesnt matter. But he said they were pleased that the court found the circuit judge must consider their other arguments. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Legislation Agribusiness Wisconsin Queensland businesses will have their payroll tax waived for the next three months as part of a $4 billion rescue package to be unveiled by the state government on Tuesday. Queensland's economy has been brought to its knees by the coronavirus outbreak, with thousands of workers losing their jobs after "stage one" restrictions were implemented from noon on Monday. Treasurer Jackie Trad says the payroll tax refund will put an average of almost $9000 into the hands of Queensland business owners. Credit:Glenn Hunt/AAP The latest Treasury modelling suggests the economic impact of coronavirus could see gross state product reduced by up to $3.4 billion this financial year, and $10 billion over the next two years. The state government had previously announced it would defer payroll taxes for six months, but it will now waive them completely for small and medium businesses. Philadelphia police investigate along the Schuylkill River in August 2014, after the bodies of brothers Viet and Vu Huynh were found stabbed and sunk with buckets of cement. A third man, Tan Voong, survived what he said was an abduction. Read more They stabbed him eight times, blindfolded him with duct tape, weighed him down with a bucket of cement, then threw him into the Schuylkill. And still, Tan Voong survived to clamber out of the inky waters, flag down a passing car, and eventually identify one of his would-be killers. His testimony helped put Tam Minh Le, a reputed Vietnamese gang member in South Philadelphia, on death row for the murders of Viet and Vu Kevin Huynh, brothers also left to drown that August night in 2014. But the identities of the masked men who Voong said had helped Le abduct, torture, and kill his victims remained unknown. Now, nearly six years after Voongs remarkable river escape, federal authorities have quietly charged six other suspects who they say either enlisted Le or helped him carry out one of the citys most vicious incidents of gang violence. In indictments unsealed as recently as this month, the six defendants range from a 48-year-old dim sum restaurant employee from Queens, once reputed to have been the fourth-highest-ranking member of a gang that terrorized New York Citys Chinatown in the 1990s, to a man who has confessed to helping Le escape Philadelphia as the dragnet tightened around him. Newly released court records and interviews with U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain, prosecutors in his office and FBI investigators reveal a broad account of the night the Huynh brothers died a story that spans several states and has its roots in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. The hope is that these men wont ever have the opportunity to do something like this again, said Scott Baber, a member of the team of Philadelphia-based FBI agents whose efforts led to the arrests. Until they were charged, we had people out on the streets who had quite literally gotten away with murder. Where is the money? The testimony that Voong, 24, offered at Les 2016 trial provided a starting point for an investigation that would last more than two years. He told jurors that his friends the Huynh brothers whom authorities had long known as South Philadelphia marijuana dealers sought his help on Aug. 26, 2014, to raise money for a $300,000 drug debt they owed their supplier in California. Voong scraped together what he could. But when he showed up as directed at Les house on 72nd Street in Eastwick with only $41,000, things quickly went south. Spotting the Huynhs tied up in Les garage and stripped to their underwear under the watch of masked gunmen, Voong turned and tried to flee, only to be pistol-whipped, stripped, and zip-tied like the others. They kept saying, Where is the money? he later told jurors. When his answers failed to satisfy, Voong testified, Le and his accomplices loaded their captives into a van and drove them to the river. Le was familiar to Voong. The Huynhs had previously introduced him to the man as their god-brother. But when FBI agents interviewed Voong after his escape, he couldnt identify any of the masked men. Mike Breslin, supervisor of the FBIs Organized Crime Task Force in Philadelphia, said that in tracking down those assailants years later, Les cellphone records from that night, which largely traced back to anonymous burner phones, were the only thing agents initially had to go on. This was the reverse of almost every other case that Ive been involved in, he said. Usually, you have a cooperator and you confirm what they tell you with [cellphone] records. Here we were starting only with records and without any witnesses. An FBI team of agents and analysts that included Baber, Mike Fischer, Elizabeth DeAngelo, and John Kardos persisted for years, zeroing in on the few calls that traced back to registered accounts. They knocked on doors in Philadelphia and New York City, all the while trying to persuade the people behind them to help sketch out the network of those who knew of or were involved in the brutal events of that night. There were language barriers and cultural barriers, Fischer said. But as a group, I think they understood that these guys were bad and were willing to share as much information as they had. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Livermore, the prosecutor overseeing the case, had his doubts. When youve been doing this for a year and you still havent been able to identify anyone, doubt starts creeping into your mind, Livermore said. I was certainly willing to throw in the towel long before [the agents] were. But eventually, the trail led them to Lam Trieu, a 48-year-old restaurant worker from Queens who shared a striking link with Le: Both had been ranking members of a gang of Vietnamese immigrants that named itself Born to Kill. Born to Kill Taking their name from a slogan painted on helmets of some U.S. soldiers during the Vietnam War, Born to Kill members earned a reputation in the 80s and 90s as much for their spiked hair, sharp suits, and dark sunglasses as for their penchant for violence. Based along Canal Street in Manhattans Chinatown, the gang largely recruited Vietnamese immigrants who, as children, had fled the political strife spawned by the war only to turn their aggression on Chinese and other Asian business owners in their adopted home city. They robbed rival gangs, ran protection rackets, and left a string of bodies across New York and North Jersey. The FBI identified Trieu as one of the gangs top leaders in a 1993 indictment that sent most of its upper echelon to prison and has since been credited with breaking Born to Kills back. He was ordered deported after his release from prison, but as with many of the gangs members, Vietnam refused to take him back. With nowhere to send them, the U.S. released Trieu and Le who faced a similar deportation order after his own prison stint for a 1993 pool-hall slaying in Rochester, N.Y. on immigration parole. Trieu settled into a seemingly quiet life with his wife, children, and a restaurant job in Queens. But federal authorities now believe that his old gang ties led to his involvement in the Huynh brothers deaths. If youd asked me before this case whether BTK still existed, Im not sure I would have said yes, Breslin said. Im still not sure Id say yes. But definitely, Tam Le and Lam Trieus prior involvement in BTK was a driving force in this. A remarkable escape According to court filings submitted as part of the governments investigation, the Huynh brothers supplier in California, whom authorities declined to identify and have not charged, deputized Trieu to collect on the $300,000 he was owed. Traveling to Philadelphia with three associates, Trieu allegedly made contact with Le and issued orders for the brothers to be kidnapped and, if necessary, returned to New York as hostages. But as Trieu returned home, leaving his men whom the FBI has identified as John Dao, 42; Jason Rivera, 34; and Trung Lu, 39 to assist Le, the plan quickly went awry. When Voong showed up with only $41,000, Le decided to have all three men killed. Prosecutors now believe that Le along with Trieus three masked associates and a fifth man, Minh Nguyen, whom Le had stationed outside his house as a lookout bundled the Huynhs and Voong into a van and drove them to the grandstands along Boathouse Row. I felt sand on my feet, Voong would testify later. Thats when they started stabbing. Vu Huynh was stabbed 32 times, his brother an additional 28. Their throats were slit and, chained to cement buckets, both were thrown with Voong into the river alive. Voong, who sustained stab wounds to his chest, back, and neck, recalled hearing the splash as the Huynhs hit the water and their anguished cries as they slowly drowned. He managed to make his way to a concrete wall lining the riverbank and clung to it to keep his head above water. Eventually, its rough surface helped tear the duct tape from his eyes, and over two to three hours he wriggled free from his bindings and climbed out. When Philadelphia police asked Voong later that night who was responsible, he replied: Lam [Trieu]. Brought to justice Dao, Rivera, and Lu returned to New York in the hours that followed. Investigators say Trieu was furious when he learned what had happened: Dead drug dealers dont pay debts. He allegedly sent the men back to Philadelphia to track down Voong and kill him before he could testify at Les trial. Those efforts failed, and Le was sentenced to death in December 2016. Agents arrested Trieu in New York two years later as he was taking his children to school. He has pleaded not guilty to charges including conspiracy, extortion, and drug and racketeering offenses. He faces trial in June. The three alleged masked men, Dao, Rivera, and Lu, also have been charged along with Nguyen, whom Le posted as the lookout outside his home that bloody August night. A sixth man, Hai Nguyen, 37, pleaded guilty earlier this month to lying to FBI agents about helping Le escape Philadelphia to upstate New York in 2014. It would be months before U.S. Marshals tracked down Le to Ashland, Va., in a Motel 6 where they caught him trying to escape through a bathroom ceiling. Le is now on death row. All have been arrested except for Lu, who the FBI believes fled to Vietnam. The bureau is offering $10,000 for information leading to his arrest. Bethenny Frankel, star from 'Real Housewives of New York,' has donated over 500,000 masks and other medical supplies across the country as part of her B Strong initiative. The B Strong, a foundation established by Frankel in association with the Global Empowerment Mission, is assembling relief bags in Miami which includes gloves, hand sanitizer, immune boosters, and gift cards which can be used for parents who otherwise cannot afford food for their children. Additionally, B Strong is currently producing 50,000 FDA approved, medical grade n95 masks that will be delivered to hospitals in New York and Boston. Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Yehor Bozhok met with Iranian Ambassador to Ukraine Manouchehr Moradi to agree on further cooperation in order to establish the causes of a UIA aircraft crash and bring the perpetrators to justice. The press service of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry reported this on Monday, March 23, following a meeting of Ukrainian and Iranian diplomats. During the meeting, the parties discussed issues related to the investigation into the downing of Ukrainian passenger jet PS752. In particular, they confirmed the need for urgent decoding of black boxes and agreed on a further interaction algorithm to establish the causes of the tragedy and bring the perpetrators to justice, the report says. The interlocutors also discussed certain issues of cooperation in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. In particular, they agreed to work together to return to their homeland Ukrainian and Iranian citizens who are now on the territory of both states. The Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) plane (Flight PS752) heading from Tehran to Kyiv crashed shortly after taking off from the Imam Khomeini International Airport at about 06:00 Tehran time (04:30 Kyiv time) on January 8. There were 176 people on board nine crew members (all Ukrainians) and 167 passengers (citizens of Ukraine, Iran, Canada, Sweden, Afghanistan, Germany, and the UK). They all died On January 11, Iran admitted that its military had accidentally shot down the Ukrainian passenger jet. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) accepted full responsibility for the downing of the Ukrainian airliner. ish 703 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Following a barrage of media reports showcasing spring-breakers partying on beaches and New Yorkers continuing to congregate in public parks, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams issued out a dire warning: Take the threat of coronavirus seriously, or else things are going to get worse. This week in particular will undoubtedly be the worst one yet, Adams said on Monday morning, while speaking as a guest on the TODAY show. Surgeon General has coronavirus warning: 'This week, it's going to get bad'https://t.co/fPvEWCNdZT TODAY (@TODAYshow) March 23, 2020 I want America to understand this week, its going to get bad, Adams said. The reasons for why things were getting worse were simple: people arent adhering to guidelines to socially distance themselves from others. Right now, there are not enough people out there who are taking this seriously, Adams added. The Surgeon General noted that young people needed to treat the threat of the disease differently to act as if they have the virus right now, as he put it. So, test or no test, we need you to understand you could be spreading it to someone else. Or you could be getting it from someone else. Stay at home. Coronavirus is spreading because people are not staying at home and practicing social distancing. "This week, it's going to get bad," U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams said. https://t.co/tNpZi7nIgT Lincoln Journal Star (@JournalStarNews) March 23, 2020 While Adams words should be heeded, young people in general are not the only ones not listening to the CDC when it comes to how they should behave during this crisis. In fact, empirical evidence suggests its older generations who need to change their mindsets. According to an Economist/YouGov poll conducted last week, among those who were asked whether they changed their behavior due to the spread of COVID-19, those between the ages of 18 to 29 were the age bracket who responded most in the affirmative, with 50 percent saying they did. Among 45-64 year-olds, only 37 percent said they changed their behaviors. There is also a noticeable partisan divide in who is taking the spread of the disease seriously. Among Democrats, 52 percent said they changed their normal behavior in last weeks poll, while only 35 percent of Republicans said the same. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Sorry! This content is not available in your region Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 21:06:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A member of the Chinese medical team prepares to board the plane bound for Cambodia in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, March 23, 2020. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) The Chinese side has also donated a batch of anti-epidemic materials to Cambodia, including test kits, N95 protective masks, surgical masks, isolation gowns and medical protective suits. BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government has sent a team of medical experts to Cambodia to help the country fight the COVID-19 pandemic, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang announced Monday. The seven-member team, organized by the National Health Commission, consists of experts selected by the Health Commission of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, arrived in Phnom Penh Monday morning. The Chinese side has also donated a batch of anti-epidemic materials to Cambodia, including test kits, N95 protective masks, surgical masks, isolation gowns and medical protective suits, Geng said at a press briefing. A staff member transports the medical supplies donated by China at the Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, March 23, 2020. (Xinhua/Mao Pengfei) The Cambodian side has expressed firm confidence and support for China to win the battle against the epidemic and the country's people from all walks of life also offered donations and epidemic prevention materials to China since the outbreak, Geng said. Currently, the Cambodian side is fighting hard against the epidemic, Geng said. "The Chinese side is sure to make its utmost effort to provide comprehensive assistance to Cambodia." Cambodian Minister of Health Mam Bunheng (2nd L, front) and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian (1st L, front) welcome the Chinese medical team at the Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, March 23, 2020. (Xinhua/Mao Pengfei) "This is not only a reflection of the special China-Cambodia friendship, but also what we should do as a community with a shared future and iron-clad friends," Geng said. He said China will continue to work with Cambodia to contain the epidemic and jointly make contribution to the regional public health security. To say that the world was not prepared for the coronavirus pandemic is an understatement, as nations scramble in setting up additional beds to accommodate the growing numbers of patients brought about by the virus. On the other side of the world, New York state officials have been searching high and low to source medical supplies and hospital beds after more than 10,000 coronavirus cases, including 56 deaths, have been confirmed. "Everything that can be done is being done. We are literally scouring the globe looking for medical supplies," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. Since the imposition of massive lockdowns, streets in major cities around the world have become deserted. Health workers from Oklahoma City and Minneapolis are seeking donations for personal protective equipment (PPE). Rural areas fared far worse. Medical staff have been wearing masks for their 12-hour shifts and changing in and out of their PPEs every time new patients diagnosed with the coronavirus come in. "There's definitely this underlying fear in the community. You can see it," said Dr. Robert Wagner. In Nebraska, 81 counties are without intensive care beds, while five healthcare organizations in Minnesota teamed up to convert a portion of a former prison into a makeshift isolation facility for coronavirus patients. In the capital Washington, negotiators from the Congress and the White House resumed their discussions on a $1 trillion-plus economic rescue package in hopes of keeping the economy standing despite the growing pandemic. "We are going to be celebrating a great victory in the not too distant future," an optimistic Trump said. Pandemic The effects of the coronavirus are being felt all over the world, with about 150 countries have confirmed cases and deaths. According to Johns Hopkins University, there are now 300,000 confirmed cases of the disease worldwide. The working class, who rely on their jobs for their daily consumption, have been losing their jobs. "I couldn't go back to work even if I was well because the mall where my shop is has been closed," said Debbie Velarde who went into self-isolation at her home in Denver after learning that a woman she trained during a work trip earlier this month is now hooked into a respirator after testing positive for the disease. Medical supplies have been running out at an alarming rate. In Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, which is New Hampshire's largest hospital, volunteers had to sew face masks for patients, visitors, and staff because they are no longer available in stores. A hospital in Oklahoma had to resort to asking for donations of masks, hand sanitizers, disposable gloves and other supplies. "When people realize the virus is in their community, the anxiety kicks in and they are rushing to the emergency room. It's the emergency rooms that are overrun by people who are frightened," Integris spokeswoman Brooke Cayot said. Unprepared The health sector has been jolted by the fast and massive spread of the virus, as the healthcare system has been poorly prepared for an emergency of this magnitude. Italy, which is the epicenter of the disease in Europe, has announced 800 new deaths and 6,600 new cases. "Our sacrifice in staying home is minimum compared to that of other citizens trying to keep the nation well and functioning," said Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte in a Facebook address. Health officials in Spain, which records the third highest number of infections worldwide, have acknowledged that some intensive care units are close to their limit. The army is now building a makeshift hospital with 5,500 bed capacity in a convention center in Madrid, where hotels are also being converted into medical wards for virus patients without serious breathing problems. Global Shutdown London's usually bustling Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square has become deserted as 1.5 million sick and vulnerable people were told to stay home for at least 12 weeks. Although they are behind neighboring countries in the number of cases, Britain has already asked 65,000 retired nurses and doctors to return to work. Back in the U.S. movements in Illinois, New Jersey and New York have been restricted. "Yes we have a problem and we will deal with it. But let's find our better selves doing it, and let New York lead the way in finding their better selves and demonstrating their better selves," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. Meanwhile, in Wuhan City, where it all started, there were no new or suspected cases of the virus reported for four weeks in a row. Related Articles: -COVID-19 Test Kit Restriction Lifted by FDA -COVID-19: Just How Contagious Is It Really? -Research Shows Individuals With Blood Type 'A' May Be More Prone to COVID-19 At the request of the State Customs Committee (SCC) of Azerbaijan, the World Customs Organization (WCO) conducted a Customs Risk Management Diagnostic Mission from 3 to 11 March 2020, funded by CCF Eurocustoms. The Risk Management Diagnostic Mission began with a meeting with senior managers, headed by First Deputy Chairman Mr. Huseynov Ismayil Xalil, on 3 March 2020. The pre-mission information concerning organizational structure, policies and priorities was confirmed. The main objectives, methodology and anticipated results of the diagnostic exercise were also discussed. The main objectives of this mission were (1) to conduct a comprehensive review of the SCCs Risk Management policy, strategy and infrastructure, including implementation; (2) to conduct a gap analysis by considering international good practices; and (3) to identify recommendations for Risk Management reform and modernization. Field visits were subsequently made to Samur Border Customs Head Directorate, Baku Customs Head Directorate and Baku Airport Customs Head Directorate. During a debriefing meeting held on 11 March 2020, the State Customs Committee (SCC) of Azerbaijan appreciated the WCOs expertise in the area of risk management and looked forward to receiving the full report. The First Deputy Chairman, Mr. Huseynov Ismayil Xalil, expressed his full satisfaction with the way the mission had been conducted and the positive discussions held during the debriefing meeting, as well as the three field visits. Criminal cases have been registered against four persons in Odisha, including a Bhubaneswar-based couple, for violating quarantine guidelines laid down by the government in view of coronavirus outbreak, police said. A case was registered against the couple on Sunday for flouting home quarantine rules after returning from abroad, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Anup Sahoo said. The couple has been shifted to a quarantine facility and kept under isolation by the authorities, he said. In the second incident, a 30-year-old man who recently returned from Uzbekistan, has been booked by the Danupali Police in Sambalpur on Sunday for violating COVID-19 quarantine guidelines, said Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Sambalpur, Tapan Mohanty. On getting information that the man registered for home quarantine was not doing so, the police carried out necessary verification and found that he was violating COVID- 19 quarantine guidelines, he said. The man was booked under section 188 (disobedience of government order) and section 271 (disobedience of quarantine rule) of the IPC, police said. In another case, a resident of Puri Ghat area of Cuttack who had recently returned from abroad had been advised to observe home quarantine, but he was found to be flouting the order, a police officer said. An FIR was registered against him for violating home quarantine norms and the person was sent to an institutional quarantine facility, he said People asked to stay in home quarantine must strictly remain in isolation or be prepared for serious consequences, the police officer said. As many as 3,474 persons from Odisha who returned from abroad, have so far registered themselves under Odisha governments Covid-19 portal, according to the state governments chief spokesperson on COVID-19, Subroto Bagchi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, on Monday offered his 1, Polo road official bungalow to the government for turning it into a makeshift quarantine camp or a testing centre for Covid-19. Taking to Twitter, the RJD leader also said that he would donate a month's salary to the chief minister's relief fund to help those in need in the wake of the crisis. As per the State Health Societys bulletin, of the 143 samples collected till Sunday, two have tested positive for Covid-19. One of them, a 38-year-old man, died at AIIMS, Patna, on Saturday, while the other patient was undergoing treatment. "As the leader of opposition, I have been allotted the 1, Polo road government bungalow. I would like to put it (bungalow) to better use," Yadav tweeted. "The bungalow could be used as a quarantine camp or a testing centre, or for setting up isolation wards and increasing the number of beds. It can also be used in any other manner to fight against the coronavirus outbreak," he wrote on the microblogging site. The former deputy chief minister also said he would support every step taken by the state government to contain the spread of the disease. "A person's life has been lost and there should be no more death. We will support the state government's every positive move in its fight to prevent the spread of coronavirus. We will not allow any laxity at any stage as every life counts," the RJD leader said, making an appeal to people to shoulder their responsibilities in these "trying times". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A new platform is working to connect thousands of local volunteers to desperate care homes that are facing severe understaffing amid the coronavirus crisis. The National Care Force (NCF), headed by former NHS doctor Charles Armitage, was launched on Tuesday and has already seen 6,000 people sign up to help with cooking, driving and clinical care at 1,000 care homes across the UK. It comes as the nation goes into isolation after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced social distancing measures to tackle the Covid-19 outbreak. Meanwhile, the NCF team is hoping to build a nationwide volunteer workforce while people's time is freed up that can then go on to aid the crippled social care system. Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures 1 /81 Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures A deserted Westminster Bridge PA A man wearing a face mask or covering due to the COVID-19 pandemic, walks past customers sat outside a restaurant AFP via Getty Images Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons Runners pass cardboard cutouts of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William during the London Marathon in London AP An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station Jeremy Selwyn Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield PA A sign is displayed in the window of a student accommodation building following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Mancheste Reuters People take part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions, in Londo AP People sing and dance in Leicester Square on the eve on the 10PM curfew Reuters Hearts painted by a team of artists from Upfest are seen in the grass at Queen Square, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Bristol Reuters Graffiti reads 'good luck and stay safe', as the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases grow around the world, under a bridge in London Reuters A sign is pictured in Soho, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London Reuters Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures, during a coronavirus briefing in Downing Street, London AP A person runs past posters with a message of hope, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Manchester REUTERS Riot police face protesters who took part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions in London AP An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London's Piccadilly Circus PA Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images Durdle Door in Dorset Reuters Captain Tom Moore via Reuters Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak PA An NHS worker reacts at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS Reuters Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno @AndrewStuart via PA Tobias Weller PA Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed London Landscapes: Hyde Park and the Serpentine, central London. Matt Writtle A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus PA Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue Reuters A young man cuts another man's hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford Reuters General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London via Reuters Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace Getty Images A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home PA Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak. PA Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers PA A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of "panic buying" cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus. Getty Images People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour PA Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus PA Children are painting 'Chase the rainbows' artwork and springing up in windows across the country Reuters Social distancing in Primrose Hill Jeremy Selwyn A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended PA Homeless people in London AFP via Getty Images A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow's street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss PA The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic PA A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world Reuters Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA Britain's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street Reuters The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh's Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak. PA Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear PA A sign at a Sainsbury's supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world Reuters Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" Getty Images A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads "Diseases are in the City" in Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors PA A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh PA A quieter than usual British Museum Getty Images A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre Getty Images A deserted Trafalgar Square in London PA Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport Getty Images Volunteers do not need prior experience to sign up, but will undertake a vetting process and have a DBS check before they begin work, Dr Armitage said. He told the Standard that there has already been a massive demand from care homes, looking for extra help from the NCF. They are just crying out for volunteers. They are all desperate, he told the Standard. Dr Armitage was working as a doctor when he saw first-hand the challenges facing both the NHS and the social care system. Everyone loves the NHS. I love the NHS. But we often forget about social care, which is completely separate, he said, adding that a massive 1.3 million people work in the UK care sector. Dr Armitage said he witnessed first hand the staffing problems working as a doctor on the NHS. / National Care Force/Florence But the challenges in social care are far worse than the NHS for staffing. There are huge retention and recruitment problems and its of course massively underfunded. So it takes a hit like this and the social care system is now completely on its knees, currently working with half the staff it needs. Dr Armitage said that in some homes they are struggling to get all the residents out of bed for the day because they do not have all the resources to even do that. The National Care Service comes off the back of Florence, a flexible staffing platform, which already connects homes directly to ad hoc workers in peace time. Coronavirus - In pictures 1 /106 Coronavirus - In pictures A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" is seen on an underground station platform Getty Images Customers wearing face masks shop at the pork counter of a supermarket following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Wuhan, Hubei province Reuters Westminster Bridge is deserted in London the day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the UK in lockdown PA Canadian passengers Chris & Anna Joiner ask for help onboard the MS Zaandam, Holland America Line cruise ship, during the coronavirus outbreak, off the shores of Panama City via Reuters A man crosses a nearly empty 5th Avenue in midtown Manhattan during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in New York City Reuters The London Eye is pictured lit blue in support of the NHS, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons Commuters cope with Coronavirus Jeremy Selwyn Milan's Piazza del Duomo empty AFP via Getty Images People in protective clothing walk past rows of beds at a temporary 2,000-bed hospital for COVID-19 coronavirus patients set up by the Iranian army at the international exhibition center in northern Tehran, Iran AP Martina Papponetti, 25, an ICU nurse at the Humanitas Gavazzeni Hospital in Bergamo, Italy poses for a portrait at the end of her shift AP Pope Francis celebrating a daily mass alone in the Santa Marta chapel at the Vatican, as part of precautionary measures against the spread of the new coronavirus COVID-19 AFP via Getty Imag Vysheyshaya Liga - FC Torpedo-BelAZ Zhodino v FC Belshina Bobruisk - Torpedo Stadium, Zhodino, Belarus, March 27, 2020 Players in action during the match despite most sport being cancelled around the world as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters Hanks and Wilson both have coronavirus Tom Hanks General view of an emergency makeshift field hospital as it is set up at Pacaembu Stadium for coronavirus (COVID-19) patients with a capacity of 200 beds in Sao Paulo, Brazil Getty Images People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour despite Prime Minister Boris Johnson calling on people to stay away from pubs, clubs and theatres, work from home if possible and avoid all non-essential contacts and travel in order to reduce the impact of the coronavirus pandemic PA Naomi Campbell catches a flight in a hazmat suit with goggles, a surgical mask and rubber gloves @naomi Sophie and Emily Ward pose for a photograph with their hand-drawn picture of rainbows and a message on their window in St Helens, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Corona virus outbreak. PA Shoppers queue outside a branch of Costco, in Croydon, south London, on the weekend after Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered pubs and restaurants across the country to close PA Charing Cross Tube Bakerloo Line very quiet at 8.15am Jeremy Selwyn A woman with a plastic box over her head on the London Underground. PA A Racegoer attend Cheltenham Festival on Ladies Day wearing a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits a laboratory at the Public Health England National Infection Service in Colindale PA A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn A couple kiss in Milano Centrale railway station in Milan on March 8, 2020 AFP via Getty Images A combination picture shows visitors wearing protective face masks following an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) looking at blooming cherry blossom nd a pigeon walking at an closed cherry blossom viewing spot during the first weekend after Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike (not pictured) urged Tokyo residents to stay indoors, in a bid to keep the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from spreading Reuters This combination photo created on March 5, 2020 shows tourists visiting Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap province on March 16, 2019 (top) and on March 5, 2020 AFP via Getty Images Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump looks at the $2.2 trillion coronavirus aid package bill as Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Vice President Mike Pence stand by during a signing ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House Reuters A satellite image shows an empty South Beach during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Miami, via Reuters General view inside the empty stadium as the two teams line up prior to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund at Parc des Princes UEFA via Getty Images A Sainsbury's supermarket in Cambridge is among those to sell out of antibacterial hand sanitizer PA Tents and ambulances are set up next to the Princess Cruises Grand Princess cruise as it sits docked in the Port of Oakland on March 09, 2020 in Oakland, California. The Princess Cruises Grand Princess has been held from docking until today as at least 21 people on board have tested positive for COVID-19 also known as the Coronavirus Getty Images Medical staff produce traditional Chinese medicine to treat patients infected by the COVID-19 coronavirus at a hospital in Wuhan AFP via Getty Images Army soldiers wearing protective suits spray disinfectant as a precaution against the new coronavirus at a shopping street in Seoul, South Korea AP Russian President Vladimir Putin wearing protective gear walks at a hospital for patients infected with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the outskirts of Moscow via Reuters A woman who has recovered from the COVID-19 is disinfected by volunteers as she arrives at a hotel for a 14-day quarantine AFP via Getty Images Passengers on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship are seen as the ship arrives at Daikoku Pier where it is being resupplied and newly diagnosed coronavirus cases taken for treatment as it remains in quarantine after a number of the 3,700 people on board were diagnosed with coronavirus Getty Images Dave Abel pictured in hospital in Japan Manchester United fans in the stands during the Premier League match at Old Trafford PA Police officers wearing masks stand in front of the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel in La Caleta, in the Canary Island of Tenerife AP Carnival revellers wear protective face masks at Venice Carnival Reuters A general view is pictured of Burbage Primary School in Buxton, Derbyshire after the closure of the school as a pupil's parent has tested positive for the novel coronavirus COVID-19 AFP via Getty Images People wearing face masks walk past the Olympic rings in front of the new National Stadium, the main stadium for the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Game Getty Images People leave Kents Hill Park Training and Conference Centre in Milton Keynes where Coronavirus evacuees are due to be released from quarantine today and allowed to go home PA Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA A woman wears a mask while crossing London Bridg Getty Images A general view of Worthing Hospital in West Sussex PA Passengers relax on board the Holland America-operated Westerdam cruise ship, which has been denied permission to dock in Thailand over coronavirus fears via Reuters A child waves as she sits in a vehicle carrying residents evacuated from a public housing building, following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, outside Hong Mei House, at Cheung Hong Estate in Hong Kong Reuters A woman wearing a Minnie Mouse face mask looks at her mobile phone in Beijing on February 11, 2020 AFP via Getty Images The Costa Smeralda cruise ship of Costa Crociere, carrying around 6,000 passengers, is docked at the Italian port of Civitavecchia after a health alert due to a Chinese couple and a possible link to coronavirus on board, in Civitavecchia, Italy Reuters A patient covered with a bed sheet at an exhibition centre converted into a hospital as it starts to accept patients displaying mild symptoms of the novel coronavirus in Wuhan AFP via Getty Images A medical official takes the body temperature of a man at the departure hall of the airport in Changsha, Hunan Province, as the country is hit by an outbreak of a new coronavirus, China Reuters The view of the Wuhan International Conference and Exhibition Center Getty Images A plane carrying British nationals from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, arrives at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire A police vehicle enters the gates of the Royal Air Force station RAF Brize Norton in Carterton AFP via Getty Images Passengers wear face masks as the push their luggage after arriving from a flight at Terminal 5 of London Heathrow Airport AFP via Getty Images French citizens arrive and settle aboard of an evacuation plane with destination southeastern France, before departure from Wuhan Airport (WUH), China AFP via Getty Images Police stand at a checkpoint at the Jiujiang Yangtze River Bridge that crosses from Hubei province in Jiujiang, Jiangxi province, China Reuters A member of staff at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside prepares for a bus carrying British nationals from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China PA Doctor Paul McKay, who is working on an vaccine for the 2019-nCoV strain of the novel coronavirus, poses for a photograph with bacteria containing fragments of coronavirus DNA, at Imperial College School of Medicine (ICSM) in Londo AFP via Getty Images Workers produce masks at the Thai Hospital Product Company Ltd. factory in Bangkok AFP via Getty Images Passengers wearing face masks are seen on a bus after disembarking from the Costa Smeralda cruise ship, after tests on a woman from Macau with suspected coronavirus came back negative, in Civitavecchia, Italy Reuters People hoard bottles of alcohol after the Philippine government confirmed the first case of the new coronavirus in the country, in Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines Reuters Taking precautions: with fears growing that the coronavirus will spread from China, a health official checks a womans temperature on the underground in Beijing Getty Images An empty road is seen in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province on January 27, 2020, amid a deadly virus outbreak which began in the city AFP via Getty Images Students wearing masks meditate prior to a lesson at a high school in Phnom Penh, Cambodia AP Medical staff at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital wear protective clothing to help stop the spread of a deadly virus AFP via Getty Images Staff move bio-waste containers past the entrance of the Wuhan Medical Treatment Center, where some infected with a new virus are being treated, in Wuhan, China AP Workers driving excavators at the construction site of a field hospital In Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. The builders will complete the 1,000-bed hospital by February 3 to cope with the surge of 2019-nCoV patients in the city Getty Images Buddhist monks wear masks as they walk near Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodi AP A woman and a child wearing protective masks walk toward check-in counters at Daxing international airport in Beijing AFP via Getty Images An employee sprays disinfectant on a train as a precaution against a new coronavirus at Suseo Station in Seoul, South Korea AP A policeman wearing a mask walks past a quarantine notice about the outbreak of coronavirus in Wuhan, China at an arrival hall of Haneda airport in Tokyo, Japan Reuters Paramilitary police wear face masks as they stand guard at Tiananmen Gate adjacent to Tiananmen Square in Beijing AP The resident wear masks to buy vegetables in the market in Wuhan Getty Images Staff sell masks at a Yifeng Pharmacy in Wuhan AP Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV AP Dr Armitage said that the Florence team got together last Sunday to brainstorm how they can help in this fight. At the moment the homes are short of staff and the escalation has been unreal with many more staff being unable to come in," he said. We thought: 'We can build technology fast and we can mobilise a national workforce quickly'. After launching on Tuesday and racking up 6,000 volunteers already, Dr Armitage said they are hoping that they will get 100,000 people registering by the end of this week. You do not need to be a health care worker, he said, adding that those who sign up will be vetted and will need a DBS check as safety is absolutely critical here. The team also launched a survey among the care homes to find out what jobs needed doing, as well as among the volunteers who were asked which tasks they would be willing to help out with. Cooking, preparing and serving meals, clinical care (ie. washing and helping residents get dressed), companionship and running errands were the major matches. Volunteers do not need prior experience in the care system / National Care Force/Florence But Dr Armitage also stressed that stopping the spread of coronavirus would come first. In terms of social activities, care homes will organise events that do not need people to come close together. Meanwhile, volunteers will have to complete a daily questionnaire, asking if they have had any of the symptoms or been around anyone who has shown signs of Covid-19. The team are currently in talks with the Department of Health to secure more funding to scale up the operation. Dr Armitage said: What we want to do is use the movement around coronavirus to build a massive population of volunteers. We would like to have 100,000 volunteers and then move the National Care Force into becoming an ongoing nationwide support network across the country. Although we are at a crisis point at the moment, I hope people will experience working in social care and will then want to continue beyond the coronavirus outbreak." Yes Bank on Monday said its board will consider a proposal to raise funds via equity and bonds, at its meeting later this week. "The meeting of the board of directors of Yes Bank Ltd is scheduled for Thursday, March 26, 2020, at Mumbai to consider, amongst other agenda items, a proposal for raising funds by issue of equity shares/ depository receipts/ convertible bonds/ debentures/ warrants/ any other equity-linked securities, through permissible modes," it said in a BSE filing. The fundraising plan will also include a qualified institutions placement, rights issue, and further public offer, among others, subject to such approvals, the bank added. The lender has already raised over Rs 10,000 crore from SBI and other key banks and financial institutions through sale of equity under its reconstruction plan approved by the government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Additionally, the RBI has also extended a Rs 60,000-crore credit line to Yes Bank for meeting obligations, as per sources. According to Section 17 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, the central bank can provide liquidity support to any lender in the form of loans and advances against collateral such as stocks, funds and securities (other than immovable property) in which a trustee is authorised to invest trust money by an Act of Parliament. According to the sources, the RBI's assessment found that Yes Bank had liquidity issues but no solvency problem or any other issue. The line of credit, however, is first such exercise by the central bank. After witnessing decent recovery since the RBI superseding its board and planning out the reconstruction scheme, the stock of the bank closed over 13 per cent down at Rs 39.75 apiece on the BSE due to the coronavirus pandemic gripping the markets globally. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Jindal Mansion houses various corporate offices of the Jindal Group. This Grade II, heritage-listed building constructed in the 80s is located on the busy Peddar Road in South Mumbai. The project brief was to refit the interiors of the ground, third, fourth and the fifth floor, which would serve as the corporate offices of the Jindal Steel Works group. However, no additions or alterations to the building envelope were permitted: this presented the primary design challenge for the architects to synchronise the buildings historic exterior with an elegant contemporary interior aesthetic. Another challenge was posed by the poor ingress of light into the workspace, which necessitated extensive reliance on mechanical means of lighting. We addressed these concerns by clearing out the bulky and compartmentalised existing interiors to the bare shell, so as to expose the volume of natural light that the space could hold. For this office space, a collaborative meeting space was created using wood finish screens, which render privacy. But at the same time, it doesnt block the light, and keeps the space airy. A lighter tone of Sycamore was chosen to keep the look lighter and brighter. The results were phenomenal; large amount of natural light filtering in the space set the tone for the design, with the guiding principle to create an ambience of openness within the structural restrictions posed by the built envelope. If we talk of the floor, the circulation areas have been done in Italian Marble Bottochino because its light in colour and helps bounce off the light. The earlier facility too had Bottochino Italian marble in a chequered pattern. We chose to retain the use of same material but introduced larger slabs, hence lesser joints. For work areas, carpet was used because it addresses the acoustical need of the space. The artwork on the right in smaller frame is by Vishakha Jindal, a young artist. Even for the desk, Sycamore has been used and the furniture is by Unifor (Italy). The windows are, existing, timber-framed in Burma Teak wood. These could not be changed due to heritage regulations. Some windows that had weathered were restored to their original look. The windows have been painted white, both externally and internally. The Jindals are great patrons of the arts, so their private collection became the thematic centrepiece of the design, with paintings and sculptures by artists like Anish Kapoor and Paresh Maity accentuating the spatial design. Sanjay Nayak, Director of Edifice Consultants Pvt Ltd. spoke to Nikita Sharma Boris Johnsons sombre television address last night marked a moment in this nations life which all who watched it are likely to remember for as long as they live. In what amounts to a dramatic escalation, the measures he unveiled surpass many of the restrictions introduced in the dark days of World War II. The whole country is effectively quarantined during the coronavirus pandemic, and we are for the most part confined to our homes. We may leave to shop for basics in a diminishing number of shops allowed to stay open. We can exercise outside once a day by ourselves or with people we are living with. Only essential travel is permitted. The police will enforce these measures. Boris Johnson plunged the nation into an unprecedented, nationwide lockdown during a televised address on Monday evening. His hope is the new measures will help to stop the coronavirus pandemic Needless to say, a fair number of ambiguities remain. But it is clear that these extraordinary new restrictions which I welcome with a heavy heart are an unprecedented infringement of our personal liberties. Only a few days ago, the Prime Minister plainly regarded such restraints with abhorrence. He did not come into politics to limit the freedoms of the British people. To the depths of his soul, he believes that liberty and Britishness have been forged together by our history, and that if at all possible the State shouldnt barge around in our lives. He has lived his own life according to these lights, prizing his freedom to do whatever he pleases within the law. When his father Stanley said last week that he would visit the pub if he wanted to, the familiar Johnson family gene was on show. Boriss innate horror of authority revealed itself when a journalist at Sunday afternoons No 10 press conference suggested that the police might be more proactive. He looked momentarily shocked. In his mental picture of Merrie England, it is not the role of the police to boss us around. This largely explains why the PM has consistently been behind the curve in recent days. He asked us not to go to pubs and restaurants. Most complied, but some ignored his plea. Such establishments were legally shut down some days later after numb-skulled people had continued to party. The Government also dithered over closing schools, with its advisers producing various arguments as to why it was inadvisable to do so. Then, last Thursday, children were at last told to stay away. It seemed as though every significant new measure had to be wrung from the Prime Minister, and came too late. Precious time was being squandered in the battle to curb the spread of the contagion. Again and again, he has apologised during these press conferences for asking us to adopt new forms of behaviour. He has frequently reiterated his regret, which Im sure is genuine, that he should be recommending measures which may seem coercive. At times, his natural desire to safeguard our liberties has collided with the advice he has proffered, leaving many of us confused, and unsure as to what we were being asked to do. For example, last Friday he said that he hoped to see his elderly mother on Mothers Day, which is what any loving son would hope to do. Yet the Government advice soon made clear that such visits were undesirable. On Sunday, the freedom-loving Boris stated of course I want people to be able to go out in the parks and open spaces and enjoy themselves before observing that even if you think you are personally invulnerable, there are plenty of people you can infect, and whose lives will be put at risk. So what has changed? A Prime Minister who weeks ago seemed unchallengeable has come under pressure from within the Cabinet. In particular, Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Minister for the Cabinet Office Michael Gove are said to have been pushing for more decisive measures. But it must have become clear even to our freedom-loving PM that exhortation by itself would not succeed in making everyone behave responsibly and with due regard for their fellow citizens. A significant minority of people were not prepared to play ball. On Sunday, the freedom-loving Boris stated of course I want people to be able to go out in the parks and open spaces and enjoy themselves before observing that even if you think you are personally invulnerable, there are plenty of people you can infect, and whose lives will be put at risk Over the weekend, there were countless cases of crowds flocking to the seaside, and to wide open spaces such as Snowdonia. Social distancing may have been sometimes observed, but the evidence of lots of photos is that it often wasnt. Others were not to blame for failing to observe official guidance. There have been pictures of people crammed together in tube trains in London the nations coronavirus hotspot almost inevitably spreading the disease. So a lockdown became inevitable if we are to have any chance of avoiding the tragic fate of Italy, which, as Mr Johnson pointed out in a newspaper article over the weekend, is only two weeks ahead of where we are. Even so, although the measures announced last night were undoubtedly very radical, they still do not match in severity those adopted by some European countries. We are not yet quite in the position of the French and Italians, who are required to download a form which they must fill in before leaving their homes so that they can satisfy the authorities. One cant helping thinking that, just as previous measures have had to be tightened up following their announcement, so last nights provisions may not be the last word so far as the terms of the lockdown are concerned. Moreover, there are other areas in which the Government needs to show greater clarity and more concentration of purpose. Why have flights from countries ravaged by coronavirus been allowed to land in the UK? Why isnt there more testing for the disease, which the PM has said is vital? The key question now is how people will respond to this extraordinary lockdown. Will free-born Britons cavil at the kind of undeniably coercive restrictions which we like to think are more acceptable to countries on the Continent with a history of authoritarian government? I believe most people will grin and bear it just as our grandparents put up with privations such as rationing during World War II. They will know that what Boris announced last night will be strictly temporary. Some will grumble, of course, and a few will disobey. And Im also sure that most of us will also recognise that Boris Johnson is a lover of liberty who did not introduce these measures lightly, and will not maintain them a second longer than is necessary. Over the past few days, as captain of our menaced ship, the Prime Minister has drawn an increasing amount of criticism not only from those who dont like him but also from among his own ranks. Is he up to the task? Is he the man for the hour? Has he caught the mood of the nation? Is he too laid-back and relaxed? These are the questions that are being asked up and down the land. There is no definitive answer to them yet. Mr Johnson is a life-enhancer who may not have been intended by the divinities who fashioned him to preside over a siege economy or introduce constraints on our freedoms. But such are the immense challenges of the hour. Boris is the Prime Minister weve got. Last night, there was reason at last to believe that he may be the one we need. Amid the coronavirus chaos, the news reports suggest that there may be a shortage of healthcare supplies in the country and to add to the woes, the infected cases are only increasing every day. The ongoing situation has persuaded tech executives including Apple CEO Tim Cook, Alibaba founder Jack Ma, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk to open their wallets and help the authorities and healthcare workers to fight back against the deadly outbreak. Echoing similar sentiments, Mahindra Group CEO Anand Mahindra also recently announced that his company would take a few crucial steps to help the medical professionals and the authorities to tackle the deadly virus. BCCL In a series of tweets, Mahindra said that the Mahindra Group will help healthcare system by manufacturing ventilators and will offer Mahindra resorts as temporary healthcare facilities to fight the COVID-19 outbreak. Checkout his tweet here- Going by various reports from epidemiologists, it is highly likely that India is already in Stage 3 of transmission. Cases could rise exponentially with millions of casualties, putting a huge strain on medical infrastructure (1/5) anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) March 22, 2020 He wrote, To help in the response to this unprecedented threat, we at the Mahindra Group will immediately begin work on how our manufacturing facilities can make ventilators. At Mahindra Holidays, we stand ready to offer our resorts as temporary care facilities. To help in the response to this unprecedented threat, we at the Mahindra Group will immediately begin work on how our manufacturing facilities can make ventilators. At Mahindra Holidays, we stand ready to offer our resorts as temporary care facilities. (3/5) anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) March 22, 2020 Not only this, he also offered help to the Indian government and the army in providing temporary healthcare facilities to tackle the deadly virus. BCCL He added, I will contribute 100% of my salary to it & will add more over the next few months. I urge all our various businesses to also set aside contributions for those who are the hardest hit in their ecosystem. We will encourage associates to voluntarily contribute to the Fund. I will contribute 100% of my salary to it & will add more over the next few months. I urge all our various businesses to also set aside contributions for those who are the hardest hit in their ecosystems (5/5) anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) March 22, 2020 The number of coronavirus cases in India has crossed 395 patients so far, and it is continuously increasing each passing day. Amid a surge in the number of cases, Mahindras support has gained a lot of praise from the people on social media and his series of tweets have gone viral on Twitter. Heres what people have to say about Anand Mahindras viral series of tweets- Indeed. Still better than clapping through the balcony mahua dey (@mahuadey20) March 22, 2020 Thank you, Sir. Am sure India will fight and defeat the virus in the coming days. Wash Your Hands Pallavi Kamat (@Pallavisms) March 22, 2020 Thats Riseing Up Vandana Trivedi (@Vandana_Trivedi) March 22, 2020 You always lead from front . Abhishek Dutt (@duttabhishek) March 22, 2020 Hats off to you Sir... Thanks isn't just enough for the initiatives that you are taking in individual capacity.. Pranava (@sameer3086) March 22, 2020 That's really commendable. Thank you sir Zainab Sikander (@zainabsikander) March 22, 2020 Definitely.True..Haina?Couldnt agree more! Recently, as per the reports, Indias ventilator manufacturers said that a ban on travel will cause a shortage of vital components needed to assemble ventilators. Mahindras initiative is extremely crucial at such a time in tackling the crisis. Malaysia will decide next week whether its two-week restricted movement order (RMO) to contain the coronavirus outbreak needs to be extended beyond the end of the month. Malaysias Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said on March 23 that the government may consider extending movement restrictions by up to two weeks, and would announce more economic stimulus to soften the blow from the coronavirus outbreak and weak oil prices. He also said the national security council would meet on March 30 to discuss on what will be the subsequent steps after the current curbs on movement and businesses expire at the end of the month, as per reports. The government had announced nationwide curbs on March 16, after 190 new infections were detected the previous day, doubling the number of existing cases to 428. READ: Mounting Tokyo 2020 Postponement Calls Put Pressure On Defiant Olympic Chiefs Since the restricted movement order, RMO was imposed on March 18, Malaysia has managed to avoid an exponential increase as seen in some other countries, which the Prime Minister reportedly said, shows that the order had positive results. However, the number of new cases continues to increase over 100 daily, surging to 1,306 in total, and the past week saw the first 11 deaths reported in Malaysia due to Covid-19, as per reports. March 18-31 restriction, which mandated the closure of most commercial activities and border closures, say experts, needs to be extended by up to two months. Oil prices hit their lowest in 17 years However, the economic impact of the RMO has been sorely felt in a week. Coupled with oil prices hitting their lowest in 17 years, fossil fuel-linked sectors make up a fifth of Malaysias gross domestic product, with which there are growing fears that over a million employees could end up jobless from the shutdown. READ: French Swim Federation Joins US Counterpart In Olympics Delay Call Tan Sri Muhyiddin said that a comprehensive stimulus package, following on an initial RM20 billion (S$6.56 billion) that has been launched last month, will be unveiled on 30th March. He also announced that that 12 million workers, aged below 55, would be allowed to withdraw RM500 monthly for the next year from their Employees Provident Fund accounts. The government estimates that this will generate about RM40 billion of funds in stages from next month, as per reports. It was also revealed that RM130 million will be divided equally among Malaysias 13 states to aid small traders, Covid-19 victims and front liners in the fight against the virus, as per reports. READ: US President Trump Reveals What He Said To Japan PM Abe On Tokyo Olympics 2020 Amid COVID READ: Mounting Tokyo 2020 Postponement Calls Put Pressure On Defiant Olympic Chiefs For two years, Louise has been on a waiting list for a rental unit in a 55+ building, and she finally gets to move in on March 28. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 20/3/2020 (662 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. For two years, Louise has been on a waiting list for a rental unit in a 55+ building, and she finally gets to move in on March 28. Or does she? At the moment, she cant be certain. The change the 61-year-old has been looking forward to for so long is anything but a sure thing at a time when most of the world is staying put. In a weeks time, will the moving company she hired still be driving? Will she be able to move in on time? Will she be able to move in at all? "I hope to heck I will be moving, but in the mean time, this is all very, very stressful," said Louise, who asked that her surname not be used. 'I'm prepared for fires, I'm prepared for floods, I'm prepared for parties. I have not prepared for Canadian society breaking down' Avrom Charach She isnt the only one stressed, and her situation, along with other renters, could change at a moments notice. Like many industries, the rental sector is currently manoeuvring through uncharted territory due to seismic social changes related to COVID-19. With mass layoffs and EI requests increasing on a daily basis, many tenants will find themselves scrounging even more than usual to pay their monthly rents, and property managers, who have fees of their own to cover including maintenance, utilities, employee payments, and mortgages will face uncertainty as well. Federally and in other provinces, rent relief packages have been set up. Ontario has halted all eviction orders and enforcement. The mayor of Vancouver has called on the British Columbia government to ban evictions and implement help for renters. In Manitoba, the provincial government has yet to institute any such policy. For the time being, that likely leaves both renters and landlords with more questions than answers, says Avrom Charach, the director of communications for the Professional Property Managers Association of Manitoba, as well as the vice-president of Kay Four Properties. "Its a circumstance thats reasonably unprecedented, if not entirely unprecedented (for property managers,)" he said in a phone interview Friday. "Im prepared for fires, Im prepared for floods, Im prepared for parties. I have not prepared for Canadian society breaking down." Many property managers, Charach said, are already having conversations about the proper course of action. But he said that blanket policies, including those freezing all rents, could have far-reaching effects without proper relief being offered to the property managers as well. A freeze could also lead to people whose employment has been unaffected by COVID-19 to withhold payment, he added. "Without government support, we cant eat 20, 30, 40 per cent unpaid rent for long, or really at all," he said. Already, the business has changed: Charach said the Residential Tenancies Board is encouraging residents who can do so to pay rent by means other than cash, unless thats how theyve normally paid. At Kay Four, the company is waiving fees normally associated with online payments to encourage as little interaction as possible. Charach said the reality of the situation is that his company, and others, cant close their doors, due to an obligation to their tenants. With the COVID-19 response shifting every day, that reality is becoming increasingly difficult to navigate. "This is uncharted territory," said Ron Penner, the senior vice-president of operations and COO of Globe Property Management, which oversees 5,000 rental units in Winnipeg. "Its a time where the decisions were making can vastly affect people." One of those people is Louise, who was first told by Globe shed have to sign and honour a three-month lease extension on her current unit in case she couldnt move. She wanted to pay month-by-month, still planning to go to the 55+ residence, and was "dismayed" by the three-month offer. But by Friday, she and Globe came to a tentative agreement, she said. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "Im very happy, during the course of the week theyve softened their stance," she said. Its an example of both renters and property managers figuring things out in real time, Penner said. Every day, decisions like these will come up, and for now, its up to each company to determine action on a case-by-case basis, Charach said. "Most of whats going on right now is figuring out how to operate," he added. At Globe, one change which, a month ago, would be impossible to believe is that in-person unit viewings are on hold; virtual showings are being favoured instead. For now, Louise is planning on moving on the 28th. "But that could all change very quickly," she said. ben.waldman@freepress.mb.ca Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has played down the idea of a coronavirus lockdown and said Ireland is following the South Korea model of social distancing, social isolation and contact tracing. Mr Varadkar said that the Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan and the national public health emergency team will examine whether further restrictions on the publics movement are needed. He said that people who turned up at crowded parks and public spaces at the weekend probably turned up not realising how bad they were going to be so I dont think we should be berating people about this. He added: If they recommend further restrictions, we will implement those further restrictions. But you know, I should say that any decision was made on further restrictions isn't going to be made because of what's trending on Twitter, or because of populism or political pressure. It will be made on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer, and his team of expert public health doctors and biologists, immunologists and that's as it should be. Mr Varadkar cited the comments of the executive director of the WHOs Health Emergencies Programme, Irishman Dr Michael Ryan, at the weekend that if there is too severe a lockdown the virus might come roaring back. He said: So what you need is a comprehensive strategy, involving social restrictions, social distancing, testing, contact tracing and isolation of those who are positive. That's very much what they've done in South Korea and that's actually the model we're following here, he said. The Taoiseach said the Government's current 203 weekly payment to those who have become unemployed is too low and will be increased. He also signalled that the Government will not implement a full lockdown of the country in response to examples over the weekend of people not sufficiently social distancing. Speaking after he visited the charity ALONE, which is operating a special helpline for the elderly, on Monday, he said: "We're going to increase payments, we're working on that at the moment and the second thing is having something in place for employers to encourage employers if they can to keep people on the payroll, but obviously this is going to be very expensive and we need to bear in mind that whatever we do now, we need to be able to pay the bill in the future. Mr Varadkar also dismissed as rubbish calls for the Government to draw down some of the 13bn Apple tax money to pay for Coronavirus crisis measures. Read More Asked about Sinn Fein leader, Mary Lou McDonalds suggestion on Sunday that 5bn from the 13bn Apple tax bill should be used to pay people wages during the crisis, Mr Varadkar said: Mary Lou McDonald should know better, like the Apple money is in an escrow account, and that's where it's being held until the European courts decide where that money's going to go, and the European courts will decide that that money either belongs to Apple, or if it comes to the Irish Revenue Commissioners. It will then have to be distributed out among the countries of Europe, it's not ours to take. It's in an escrow account and it's now before the courts, and she should know better than coming out with that kind of rubbish. Mr Varadkar also refused to say how many members of the Cabinet are currently self-isolating or disclose what arrangements are in place for himself and other essential public officials to be tested. Any information, any medical information about any individual whether they're a politician or a journalist or anyone at all is confidential to them and I'm not going to breach that, he said. When it was put to him that Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy disclosed last week that he was in self-isolation as a precaution and that it would be in the public interest to know what other Ministers may be impacted, he said: I don't believe so I think that anything that relates to any individual's medical history or condition should be a private matter. Mr Varadkar said talks between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail are ongoing and that his party remains open to discussions with other parties, but he did not namecheck Sinn Fein. Mr Varadkar said that the Government hoped to "get all the legislation that we need done through by the weekend" ahead of the election of a new Seanad next Monday. Mr Varadkar, as caretaker Taoiseach, will be unable to appoint 11 Taoiseach's nominees to the upper house meaning any laws it passes could be subjected to legal challenge. For the last few decades, we have watched the left's advancement of globalism, multiculturalism, and a world with no borders, to the detriment of our nation-state. Nationalism was viewed with disdain by the media elite and their counterparts in academia as an outdated paradigm to be relegated to the dustbin of history. In their effort to advance their mission, they created NAFTA, and under Bill Clinton, free trade with China was initiated in 2000. China was officially welcomed into the World Trade Organization in 2001 with promises to reform tariffs and policies, tariff reductions, and open markets. China also received Most Favored Nations Status. Its admittance significantly resulted in it receiving the lowest tariffs, fewer trade barriers, and the highest import quotas. Many of America's once thriving manufacturing companies moved their operations overseas, where cheap labor and fewer stifling regulations promised hefty profits and less governmental interference. As a result, millions lost their jobs in cities throughout the United States. The Rust Belt, once the manufacturing heartland of America in states such as Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and Pennsylvania, experienced urban decay and losses in population due to deindustrialization. Our leading auto manufacturers, steel suppliers, pharmaceuticals, and clothing manufacturers suddenly became a thing of the past. Cities like Detroit lost their base, as did Cleveland, a large supplier of steel. Currently, the Chinese produce 50% of the world's steel. American aluminum manufacturers during the '50s and '60s provided 80% of the world's supply, but by 2014, it had dwindled to 32%. We used to be a sizable supplier of rare earth minerals, but today, 80% of rare earth minerals critically needed in the production of cell phones, missile systems, hybrid cell batteries, and solar panels is mined in China. Additionally, 80% of our pharmaceuticals are now manufactured in Communist China. As China employed unfair trade deals that imposed huge tariffs upon our goods, it became clear that we were losing our economic edge and taking a backseat to a rising tyrannical world power. Under the watch of Bill Clinton, George Bush, and Barack Hussein Obama, the outsourcing to China continued unabated. There were conservatives within the GOP, particularly the Freedom Caucus, who objected, but they were quickly overruled by the establishment Republican old-guard globalists such as the late John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Mitt Romney, and Paul Ryan. Obama's philosophy was to "lead from behind," and behind we fell. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that if one is behind, one is not in the lead, but Obama sold that unbelievable illogical slogan to millions of gullible empty heads. For eight long years under Obama, our GDP never grew beyond 2%, and he shamelessly warned that without a magic wand, manufacturing jobs were never going to come back. While cities throughout Asia and the Middle East were building new skyscrapers, our infrastructure was falling apart. Highways, bridges, and city streets were old and in need of repair. Many urban areas such as Detroit, Cleveland, Baltimore, and Los Angeles were rotting from within. The entrance of President Trump, known for the art of the deal, into the Presidential campaign four years ago was met with ridicule and scorn by the elites in the media. For years, he had watched the decline of the United States from a distance. His decision to enter the race should not have been surprising. He hinted as far back as 1988 that he would consider a presidential run if needed. With America on the decline, new, bold leadership was indeed needed. Ultimately, it would take an outsider with financial independent means, not beholden to a corrupt oligarchy or the many various lobbying groups in operation, to reverse course. He entered the race with a mission to restore America's stature by making America great again. At odds with the elite globalists who had dominated D.C. for many years, he quickly became their target since the restoration of America's greatness required an end to the reign of corruption that governed much of D.C. His election to office marked the beginning of the end of their sweetheart deals made on the side while lining their pockets in return for either looking the other way or by literally selling out our country. With the aid of the politicization of the FBI, the CIA, and our Justice Department under Barack Hussein Obama, the Democrats along with their Deep State counterparts invented a Russian collusion hoax; the Mueller report, which found no grounds for indictment; and the Ukrainian quid pro quo charge and with less than a year left in his administration, they moved to impeach. They failed miserably! The economy was booming with low unemployment and a soaring stock market. The re-election of President Trump was promising and looked imminent, but it came to a screeching halt when the Chinese either intentionally or negligently unleashed the Wuhan virus upon the world in December of last year. Instead of focusing their energy upon a menacing totalitarian communist state on the world stage, House Democrats obsessed with Trump Derangement Syndrome, along with their sidekicks in the complicit mainstream media, spent all of December and January razor-focused upon a bogus impeachment trial. The use of biological warfare is illegal and criminal. When threatened with exposure, China retaliated with the threat of withholding much needed pharmaceuticals now needed more than ever. The promise of globalization and the end of borders as advanced by leftists, who like to label themselves as Progressives, is now in question. Political pundits who for years advanced policies that led to our dependency for goods that we once manufactured now have the gall to blame the president when it was their policies that led to the rise of China and our dependency. Totalitarian communist states can never be trusted. Their word is no good, and their signatures upon treaties are as worthless as their word. Consequently, President Trump is now a wartime president. He has amassed the best and the brightest among us in today's battle. The future is an unknown, but if he succeeds at winning the next round, and I believe he will, our economy will bounce back stronger than ever. If the past three years under President Trump are any indication, we will survive and thrive once again under his leadership. The Chinese and his Democrat nemesis may rue the day they construed his demise. Against all odds, his finest hour may by upon us as President Trump rallies our country against an enemy unleashed by a tyrannical regime. In so doing, history will regard him as the president who saved American exceptionalism during a time of hardship and war. It is he who will be credited with the rebirth of our nation, while globalism will be relegated to the dustbin of history, where it belongs. Shari Goodman is a political activist, writer, public speaker, and optimist. She has written for Israel Today, WND, American Thinker, and other publications. President Donald Trump has donated the fourth-quarter total of his 2019 salary to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In a statement posted to Twitter, White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham announced that the president would be donating his 2019 Q4 salary to the department in a bid to support the efforts being undertaken to confront, contain, and combat #Coronavirus. President @realDonaldTrump made a commitment to donate his salary while in office. Honoring that promise and to further protect the American people, he is donating his 2019 Q4 salary to @HHSGov to support the efforts being undertaken to confront, contain, and combat #Coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/R6KUQmBRl1 Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) March 3, 2020 Trump, who gave away his third-quarter remuneration to the fight against the ongoing opioid crisis, has been making good on his campaign promise to give away all his presidential paychecks to good causes. Past beneficiaries include the Department of Homeland Security to assist in building the wall on the southern US-Mexico border and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. As the wealthiest president in history, Trump can certainly afford the giveaways. In 2018, he declared a staggering $434 million in private income. As cases of the COVID-19 virus continue to surge across the United States, today the US Surgeon Dr Jerome Adams issued a stark warning to the American people. I want America to understand this week, it's going to get bad," he told NBC News, urging citizens to follow the stringent social distancing guidelines. We really, really need everyone to stay at home," Adams added. "I think that there are a lot of people who are doing the right things, but I think that unfortunately we're finding out a lot of people think this can't happen to them." Everyone needs to act as if they have the virus right now. So, test or no test. We need you to understand you could be spreading it to someone else. Or you could be getting it from someone else... stay at home. Addressing the nationwide shortage of specialist respiratory equipment, Adams insisted that the country was not going to be able to ventilator our way out of this problem, and that the focus should remain on enacting preventative measures to stem the rate of infection. The way you stop the spread of an infectious disease like this is with mitigation measures and preventing people from getting it in the first place, he said. The US now has over 35,000 confirmed cases of the illness, with over 450 deaths. With cities in quarantine and businesses shuttering, the United States Senate is busy hammering out a stimulus package expected to total well over a trillion dollars politicians hope will save the economy from plunging into a brutal recession. Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Tasos Katopodis/Stringer Will Maule is a British journalist who has spent the past several years working as a digital news editor. Since earning a degree in international relations and politics, Will has developed a particular interest in covering ethical issues, human rights and global religious persecution. Will's work has been featured in various outlets including The Spectator, Faithwire, CBN News, Spiked, The Federalist and Christian Headlines. Follow him on Twitter at @WillAMaule. Gentrification by stealth On 4th March, there were plans to have a rally against the privatisation of the public housing estate on Walker street, Northcote just north of Melbourne (Narrm). The rally was organised by Friends of Public Housing, one of the groups in the Save Public Housing Collective (SPHC). Unfortunately, due to concerns about COVID-19, the rally was cancelled but the fight continues. The Victorian government began a Public Housing Renewal Program (PHRP) in 2017 that aims to upgrade public housing estates with private developers. The public housing at Walker street is one of the ten sites undergoing redevelopment listed on Housing Vics website, the others include: Ascot Vale estate New Street, Brighton Gronn Place, Brunswick West Bills Street, Hawthorn Tarakan and Bell Bardia estates, Heidelberg West Abbotsford Street, North Melbourne Oakover Road and Railway Place West and Stokes and Penola Streets, Preston Bangs Street, Prahran Flemington estate (walk-ups only). The Victorian government describes this redevelopment on Housing Vics website as a project to create at least 1,800 new public housing homes, including social, private and affordable housing. The first thing that leaps out at you when you read this is: wait 1,800 public housing homes, including private housing? Isnt that an oxymoron? Also, what is social housing? Who decides what affordable is? What happened to, you know, public housing? Social housing In 2015, the Victorian government started to publicly discuss their plans to redevelop public housing and to transition into what they call social housing. The Andrews government made this official in the 2016 Housing Act which was based around social housing a combination of both public housing (state-owned housing) and community housing (owned by private not-for-profits). The waiting list for public housing in Victoria is now for social housing, a list combined of both private and public housing options. There are more than 15,000 applications for social housing in Victoria, with currently 7,267 in total on the transfer list, 3,687 priority access, and 3,580 register of interest applicants. The government has hidden its move to privatise public housing under the social housing terminology. Community housing This is housing that, according to the government, has transitioned from the public sector to the community sector. SPHC has elaborated on just what exactly the community sector is private, not-for-profit organisations. Rental costs under community housing increase from twenty-five per cent of renters income to thirty per cent. SPHC also note that renting conditions are not as secure as under public housing. The collective emphasises that this thirty per cent of income can just be a baseline for rent the not-for-profits can add extra fees on top of this, or request that a tenants Rent Assistance is paid fully to their organisation. Community housing also does not guarantee accessibility modifications on units for tenants with a disability. It is undeniable that there are much-needed improvements and upgrades to public housing so that public tenants are not living in poorer conditions than those in the private market. However, under capitalism, the state government needs to find a way to turn the money spent into a profit. It is clear that it has found its path to profit through transitioning properties into the community sector and selling off the rest. For Walker Street, Northcote, this redevelopment means a total loss of the 87 public housing units to be replaced by 143 private units and 106 community units, according to an RMIT University report. The RMIT report also notes how the case study on a public estate in Kensington, north-west of the city, showed results that completely contradicted government rhetoric on the positive outcomes of transitioning to the community sector. The Kensington buildings were in some cases falling apart due to government neglect, and so the government went about to redevelop the land from 2002 until 2012. This resulted in the 694 public units dropping to 429 public units. The rest of the redeveloped property, 512 units, became private with fifteen of those becoming community housing. Only twenty per cent of the previous public tenants returned after the development. Meanwhile, the developer was able to make a return of over $44 million, and an estimated net profit of fifty-one per cent much greater than the industry standard of twenty per cent. There are now very few owner-occupiers in the private units, and private tenants mostly occupy the private units. The two groups socialise separately as well public tenants keep to themselves and their community organisations and private tenants go out to what is now gentrified Kensington. Friends of Public Housing posted an update about how the public estates in Heidelberg West, northeast of Melbourne (Narrm), are now new apartment blocks, of which only fifteen per cent remained public. Many people lost their homes in their process. These transitions to social and community housing are causing financial and emotional strain on public tenants that can lead to suicide. The state is complicit in these deaths as it continues down the path of privatisation. Its important to note that the Kensington case study was conducted three years before the 2016 Housing Act and four years before the Public Housing Renewal Program. Its evidence that the government chose to move ahead on this trend so that it can turn a profit, even while knowing that it would cost public tenants livelihoods. In order to do this, they have created the social housing spin to make it seem like a positive transition to the general public. The current housing crisis is full steam ahead over 24,000 people in Victoria and 116,000 nationwide are homeless (2016 Census) with women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, youth, and disabled people most at risk of homelessness. The current struggle for secure public housing under the Victorian government echoes struggles around the country. As a response, the Andrews government opened an Inquiry into Homelessness in Victoria last year. In Friends of Public Housings submission to the inquiry, they emphasised that the push towards social housing is ideological and not based on any evidence or reason as shown by the Kensington case study. They demand an end to the combined waiting list of both public and community housing and pointed out that public housing is a healthy restraint on the cost of the high private rental market. This is an important point to make, because not only does privatisation create an immediate profit for the capitalist class, it also lifts the bottom floor of rent prices, causing the rental market to become even more expensive. Saving public housing is an issue for all, not just for public tenants. In Fair Go for Pensioners submission to the inquiry, they also note that of the thirty per cent of Australians who rent, three per cent is through public housing, down from six per cent two decades ago. This correlates with the beginning of mass privatisation that began in the 1990s mentioned in article Solidarity with RTBU VIC! NO PART-TIME (Guardian #1902) Daniel Andrews may have promised us to stop privatising public services before his re-election last year, but we are yet to see Victoria Labor slow down on selling out what is ours. The Communist Party of Australia demands that governments make emergency housing a top priority during COVID-19 public health crisis and reverse the present trend where governments spend six times more on private housing through grants and subsidies to home buyers than they spend on public housing. Lighthouse Property Insurance Corp. has hired David Howard as president, pending regulatory approvals. Howard will serve as president for Lighthouse and Lighthouse Excalibur Insurance Co., a wholly owned subsidiary. The news follows Lighthouses announcement that it will acquire sister company, Prepared Insurance Co. The merger will create a combined enterprise with $275 million in revenue. Howard joins the company with executive leadership experience in past roles as CEO, COO, EVP and president at AmRISC, Edison Insurance Group and Bankers Insurance Group/Insurance Management Solutions Group. He also brings a mix of experience in organizational management, business development, sales and agency management, regulatory compliance and risk management. As President, Howard will initially oversee Sales, Underwriting and IT/IS. He will work alongside CEO Patrick White, who will retain his role, to support the organizations strategic planning and executive leadership team. In addition to his experience in insurance, Howard is a former Army officer and founder of VetCor, a Tampa-based water mitigation company that was recently recognized by the Department of Labor for their track record in hiring veterans. Howard is a licensed property and casualty agent in the state of Florida and holds non-resident licenses in Texas and nine other states. Additionally, Howard formerly served as secretary of the National Flood Determination Association and as a member of the Council of Company Executive Officers, an affiliate of the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents. Established in 2008, Lighthouse Property Insurance Corporation (Lighthouse) is an admitted property and casualty insurance company authorized to write in Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas. In 2019, Lighthouse acquired Excalibur National Insurance Company (Excalibur), a Louisiana domiciled property insurance carrier. Excalibur was later relaunched as Lighthouse Excalibur Insurance Company (Lighthouse Excalibur) and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lighthouse. Lighthouse and Lighthouse Excalibur sell and distribute its policies through an exclusive network of licensed, professional independent agencies. Topics Carriers Property After discussions among area schools, the Nebraska health department and state and local officials, all ESU 5 schools have decided to close through Friday, May 1 due to COVID-19 concerns. This includes Beatrice, Bruning-Davenport, Deshler, Diller-Odell, Fairbury, Freeman, Meridian, Southern, Thayer Central, Tri County and Wymore schools, who all closed their doors on Tuesday, March 17. BPS released a statement Monday that the decision will be re-evaluated as circumstances change, and that an announcement will be made on April 22 regarding the rest of the 2019-2020 school year. This is a precautionary public health measure; local health and school officials are monitoring the COVID-19 situation in Southeast Nebraska closely, the statement said. School Superintendents met with Public Health Solutions and determined that this action would help prevent exposure to our area to flatten the curve and decrease the spread of disease. Continue the learning process through the materials and resources provided by your teachers. Beatrice Public Schools temporarily closed on Monday, March 16 to prepare for a longer closing. Lincoln and Stoddard Elementary Principal Kevin Janssen said it was a sad day seeing students and parents picking up educational materials, and that he misses the noises that come with kids learning in a school environment. It was neat to see the impact as an administrator, the impact that they have on those kids and parents, but sad at the same time because we dont know when were going to be able to see those kids again, and thats the scariest part, Janssen said. Janssen praised the district for closing early to allow teachers to prepare materials, saying some already prepared lessons for the next eight weeks. Paddock Lane Principal Betty Replogle said students should have work through the end of March, and that the district will meet this week to discuss how further materials will be sent out. BPS Superintendent Jason Alexander said current district expectations of the students is that they use this time to enrich their learning. He said technology has been given to any student in grades 6-12 that did not have prior access, and that the district is working with companies to provide internet access to those students. Janssen said some teachers are holding virtual lessons through the application Seesaw to record lessons for both students and guardians, and that all teachers are available to contact from 8:15-11:30 a.m. and 1-3:30 p.m. on weekdays to provide assistance. We have a log thats going so that if a parent doesnt respond to a Seesaw or an email message, or if we dont hear from them our teachers are reaching out to them again, Janssen said. [Teachers] are logging the time that theyre working with the parents to ensure that theyre giving the instruction that they need the best they can from where theyre at. In addition to the provided work, Replogle suggested parents research science and art activities online, turn games into learning activities and stressed that kids do additional reading, both reading out loud and being read to. If we dont get back into school its going to be what, five months that theyre going to be without school? That is going to cause a huge lag in what they remember, so that is just so important to keep up with, Replogle said. Janssen also suggested students keep a routine, and noted that parents do not need to teach them seven hours each day like a school setting would. Were here to help, were always going to be here, Janssen said. Use us to help. Alexander said he and Principal Jason Sutter are in agreement about the Beatrice High School graduation. We want to see graduation take place at some time, at some location, were just not certain on how that is going to happen right now, Alexander said. David Jespersen, a public information officer for the Nebraska Department of Education, released a statement on March 16 that all schools across the state should be prepared to remain closed for six to eight weeks, reviewing operations and considering re-opening on a two week basis. Alexander said the decision to extend the districts school year will likely be determined by the Nebraska State Board of Education commissioner, Matthew Blomstedt. BPS is distributing free meals to kids age 1-18 from 11a.m.-12p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Mondays and Wednesdays will provide two breakfasts and two lunches, and Fridays will provide one breakfast and one lunch. Alexander said 338 meals were served to students on the first day alone. Kids need to be present when the meal is handed out. Distribution locations have expanded, and are currently at the north parking lot at Lincoln Elementary School, the east parking lot at Paddock Lane Elementary School, the southwest teacher parking lot at Stoddard Elementary School, Fourth Street heading north at Beatrice Middle School, Beatrice Community Preschool, the Beatrice Mary Family YMCA parking lot, the Beatrice Public Library parking lot, the Friends Gathering Event Center at 604 West Court Street, the Meriwether and north Bell Street intersection, the south Eighth and Green Aveue intersection, the Third Street and Belvedere Avenue intersection and Roszell-Exmark Park at Union Avenue and west Park Street. St. John's Lutheran Church, located at 701 N. Sixth St., will also be handing out backpacks to families already utilizing the Backpack Program. Pick up times are Fridays from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., and those unable to make those times can call 402-223-1536. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. WASHINGTON Concerned about widespread shortages of masks and other supplies for health care workers, U.S. Sens. Chris Murphy and Brian Schatz introduced legislation Monday that would force President Donald Trump to use a war-time law allowing the government to oversee private sector manufacturing and distribution of the goods during the coronavirus outbreak. The legislation comes as some Connecticut hospitals may within days of running out of personal protective equipment for their staffs. Governors have complained to Trump that they are competing against each other and the federal government in bids to obtain this equipment amid spiking supplies, according to media reports. Unsure when more will be available, local hospitals and health centers said Monday they are trying to conserve and reuse their supply of high-demand equipment, like masks. The current system, in which states and hospitals are competing against each other for scarce equipment, is both unnecessary and barbaric, said Murphy, D-Conn. Its time to centralize the critical medical supply chain and distribution during this public health crisis. Trump has signed the Defense Production Act, allowing him broad authority to direct the production of goods for national security reasons, but he has not yet used it to address shortages of masks, gloves, gowns, swabs, ventilators and other critical medical supplies. The bill from Murphy and Schatz, D-Fl., would force Trump to use the act and direct the distribution of supplies to states and hospitals to reduce competition. CNN reported that business leaders have contacted the White House urging the administration not to use the law, concerned that it would create problems for their businesses including profit losses. Connecticut requested over 250,000 each of masks, gloves, surgical gowns, coveralls and face shields from the Strategic National Stockpile on March 11. The governors office said Wednesday it expected to receive some of the supplies soon, but did not respond to questions Monday about whether shipments arrived. But the shipments expected were only a small fraction of the states request. Connecticut expects to receive about 34,000 respirators and 82,000 face masks or surgical masks. It expects about 45,000 gloves to arrive and just 65 out of 250,000 coveralls requested. Connecticut hospitals are doing their part by assessing supplies, eliminating unnecessary use, and looking for additional resources, said Fiona Phelan, a spokesperson for the Connecticut Hospital Association. Businesses and the public can play a part, too. We are aware that businesses such as dental offices, veterinary clinics, and even construction companies may have supplies like respirators that could be used in the hospital. We encourage individuals and businesses who may want to donate these supplies to contact 211. Connecticut residents are encouraged to donate gloves, masks and other items through the United Ways 211 page. There, they can fill out a form detailing what they have and how they can be contacted. United Way spokeswoman Annie Scully said that hundreds of residents have already completed the intake form. She said everyone who fills out the form will receive an email that thanks them for the donation, confirms the offer has been received and makes clear that if it is necessary to mobilize their donation, they will be contacted directly. The State of Connecticuts framework for donations will ensure that the donation is received by the appropriate hospitals and long-term care facilities, she said. Meanwhile, some health facilities said Monday they have enough supplies for now, but are bracing for the impact that an onslaught of patients will have. At present time, we are in good shape, said Jim Cardon, chief clinical integration officer and cardiologist at Hartford HealthCare, the umbrella to seven acute hospitals, including Hartford Hospital and St. Vincents Medical Center in Bridgeport. However, he said, as more patients come in, it is expected that supplies will deplete and the system is accepting donations of PPEs. Those interested in donating are asked to email COVIDDonations@HHCHealth.org. Another healthcare organization, Optimus HealthCare, also is in decent shape, for now. The federally qualified health center, which has 30 locations statewide, received a donation of small N-95 masks on Friday, said Optimus CEO Ludwig Spinelli. But he said workers are being asked wear the same mask for a whole day. Conservation is key, he said. emilie.munson@hearstdc.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson In the backdrop of coronavirus pandemic, the Navy has issued guidelines and is monitoring the health of its officers and sailors. "Navy warships are carrying out necessary operations. The health of officers/sailors is being monitored. Navy has issued guidelines for manning in all commands and units in accordance with government guidelines while ensuring necessary operational functionality is maintained," said Indian Navy sources. The total number of coronavirus cases in the country reached 467 and nine people have died due to the infection, the health ministry said on Monday. According to the official data, India has 424 active cases and 34 discharged and cured cases. There is also a migrated case of coronavirus in the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (Bloomberg) -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is considering using the army to help implement a possible 21-day shutdown in which citizens rights to move freely would be severely curtailed in a bid to halt the spread of the coronavirus. A presentation prepared for the presidency recommends that citizens be allowed to leave their houses only under strictly controlled circumstances and that only grocers, pharmacies and hospitals remain open. It also urged easier access to tests and door-to-door screening in some cases. Many roads will be closed and citizens may need to produce permits to be allowed to travel. The number of Covid-19 cases in South Africa already is likely to be much higher than the 402 confirmed and, if left unchecked, there could be more than a million within weeks, according to a presentation prepared by Olive Shisana, a public health specialist and adviser to the president. Entire communities will need to buy in to the need to prioritize contributions and actions in the common interests of the country, the presentation says. Individuals will not be allowed to leave their homes except under strictly controlled circumstances. Ramaphosa declared a state of national disaster on March 15, when the number of cases in South Africa was 61. Hes scheduled to address the nation at 7:30 p.m. local time, a day after meeting business leaders and members of the National Command Council, which coordinates the response to the pandemic. A South African Army Infantry Formation warning order seen by Bloomberg calls for the deployment of two sub-units of a battalion in Gauteng, the nations economic heartland. One sub-unit is to be posted to each of South Africas remaining eight provinces, according to the order dated March 22 and signed by Brigadier-General Bayanda Mkula. This conceptually entails supporting other government departments in terms of disaster relief, humanitarian assistance and crisis response, it said. All leave has been canceled while the order is in force, which will be at least 21 days and as long as three months, it said. Story continues The army will give assistance to the police and the forces are encouraged to execute tasks, such as searches and cordons, in concert. Defense Ministry spokesman Siphiwe Dlamini said he couldnt immediately comment as he was in a meeting. Statistical models presented to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases on Monday highlighted risks in some local communities and the need to test strategically, supporting the case for a 21-day shutdown in order to contain the spread of the virus, according to a person familiar with the presentation. Under the lockdown, anyone found driving a vehicle on national roads would need to provide a permit that they are performing an essential service, the person said. Any plans to implement regional shutdowns, such as those done in South Korea, would need to be accompanied by a properly resourced track-and-trace system, the person said.NICD communications manager Sinenhlanhla Jimoh declined to comment. Presidency spokeswoman Khusela Diko couldnt comment when contacted by phone and didnt immediately respond to questions sent by text message. (An earlier version of the story was corrected to show Shisanas current role.) (Adds movement restrictions in second paragraph) For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. Does the March share price for IMAX China Holding, Inc. (HKG:1970) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. I will be using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple! We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model. Check out our latest analysis for IMAX China Holding Crunching the numbers We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$47.3m US$51.0m US$47.5m US$45.5m US$44.4m US$43.9m US$43.7m US$43.8m US$44.1m US$44.5m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x3 Analyst x4 Analyst x3 Est @ -4.1% Est @ -2.41% Est @ -1.22% Est @ -0.39% Est @ 0.19% Est @ 0.6% Est @ 0.89% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 7.5% US$44.0 US$44.1 US$38.2 US$34.1 US$30.9 US$28.4 US$26.3 US$24.5 US$22.9 US$21.5 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$314m Story continues After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the intial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 10-year government bond rate (1.6%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 7.5%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2029 (1 + g) (r g) = US$44m (1 + 1.6%) 7.5% 1.6%) = US$756m Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$756m ( 1 + 7.5%)10= US$366m The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is US$680m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of HK$13.8, the company appears about fair value at a 8.7% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind. SEHK:1970 Intrinsic value, March 23rd 2020 Important assumptions Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at IMAX China Holding as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 7.5%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.944. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. Next Steps: Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it shouldnt be the only metric you look at when researching a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For IMAX China Holding, We've compiled three additional aspects you should further research: Risks: Take risks, for example - IMAX China Holding has 1 warning sign we think you should be aware of. Future Earnings: How does 1970's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the SEHK every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton on Monday urged hospitals to report coronavirus tests immediately to the state and the CDC, but said she does not know how many tests have been given in the state. We have to know the results of those tests as they occur, Acton said. It really helps us do our work a lot better. Ohio has 442 confirmed cases of the coronavirus known as COVID-19, with six deaths. But Acton said she knows there are more. At the states daily news briefing with Gov. Mike DeWine, Acton said on Tuesday shell start giving more updates on numbers. But she said tests from private laboratories are lagging. And she does not know how many people in Ohio have been tested. The Ohio Department of Health has received reports of only positive tests. Theres sort of a free for all, Acton said about the drive-thru testing at hospitals and testing at private labs. We equally would like to know how many numbers would be tested in Ohio," she said. "We will make every bit of data available as we have it, but the way this has played out with the private and public sector its just not something we have a handle on in our state yet. She also urged public health workers to quarantine household members of coronavirus patients and treat them at home, even without a test. We now know that some of our spreading is in nursing homes and hospitals," Acton said. "The more you can keep patients at home and not in a waiting room, and conserve that PPE, the better. PPE refers to personal protective equipment, including masks and gloves. The state is sending out 80 percent of its stash to hospitals throughout the state to hospitals. The rest it is keeping to handle clusters of cases. Were talking small boxes, not truckloads, she said. That is the reality. We are clearly working up our curve, Acton said, about the increased number of cases. Read more Ohio coronavirus coverage: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine will freeze state government hiring, seek big spending cuts amid coronavirus crisis Ohio lawmakers favor rescheduling primary election earlier than June 2, House Republican says Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine officially orders nonessential businesses closed in response to coronavirus Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine orders special coronavirus restrictions on daycares starting Thursday Wuhan govt dismisses rumors saying city has over 100 new COVID-19 cases Global Times Source:Global Times Published: 2020/3/22 10:53:02 Wuhan, the capital city of Central China's Hubei Province, which has not seen new confirmed cases of COVID19 for four consecutive days, dismissed rumors on early Sunday that the city had newly confirmed cases. The figure is objective and true, the Wuhan government said on Thursday, in response to some online articles alleging that over 100 new cases in the city have been found. All medical institutions and disease prevention and control departments at all levels have reported directly via the internet in accordance with laws and regulations, the Wuhan government said. On March 19, Wuhan reported no new confirmed cases for the first time since the outbreak. The city has not seen new confirmed cases of COVID19 for four consecutive days as of Sunday. In an online article titled "My most memorable day," the writer alleged that some communities in Wuhan had found confirmed cases and that Tongji hospital had confirmed more than 100 cases of COVID19. The Wuhan government responded to the cases mentioned in the article one by one. On March 20, the article said that the Meigui Xiyuan residential community in Wuhan's Hanyang district announced, "There are two new confirmed patients in Unit 116, and this unit will be closed." After investigation, one patient was diagnosed on March 6 and is currently hospitalized and the other tested positive on March 11 and is now recovering at a quarantine station. Neither was a newly confirmed case, the Wuhan government said. The Wuhan government also said that the allegation saying the Hanjiatun community had new cases on March 20 is wrong. A resident surnamed Zhang from the community was asymptomatic, which means he could not be categorized as a confirmed case based on the standard issued by the National Health Commission. Tongji hospital, including two other branches in Wuhan, did not find new confirmed cases, the Wuhan government said, refuting rumors that the hospital was receiving new patients. Regarding the case of a woman surnamed Liu from Fangyingtai community, the Wuhan government said Liu is now hospitalized in the Hubei Provincial People's Hospital and tested negative for COVID19. The article also wrongly said hospitals in Wuhan have been unwilling to accept patients, or are not willing to accept patients from other districts in the city, resulting in patients not being able to be admitted to the hospital for testing. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Local school district boards met last week to ensure that paychecks will keep arriving for teachers and other employees, including hourly workers and support personnel such as bus drivers, as campuses stay closed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Northside Independent School District Superintendent Brian Woods assured staff in an email Thursday that they will continue to be paid as normal for the remainder of the school year after his board voted Wednesday. For those who do not work a regular schedule, such as substitute teachers, we are working on a plan for you to also continue to be paid, Woods said. This is true whether you are working in a NISD facility, working from home or temporarily not working, Even before the closures, as districts were extending their Spring Breaks, employees and state and local unions asked if staff would have to use personal days off if unable to physically go to work because their children are suddenly at home and they dont have child care, because theyve been ordered to self-quarantine or because their jobs simply dont exist while kids arent going to classes. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio area school districts extend classroom closures by two weeks Area schools are currently slated to start again April 6, but many districts warn that it might be later. And some officials, including Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath, have begun planning in case school is suspended for the remainder of the spring semester. On Thursday, the Texas State Teachers Association urged state and local leaders to ensure that bus drivers, cafeteria workers, custodians and other support staff will be paid while the schools are closed. Unlike teachers and other professional staff, who are under contracts with their districts, these hourly workers have no guarantees that they will be paid, a statement from the union said. Support employees are an essential part of our public school system and are on the front lines, protecting the safety, health and well-being of students. Local unions Northside AFT and the San Antonio Alliance said they were trying to represent employees having difficulty following directives to return to work. Required Reading: Get San Antonio education news sent directly to your inbox Your concerns of having children at home, elderly parents you care for and those of you who may be immune compromised, going back to work right now, are beyond valid, Northside AFT officials wrote in a statement posted to its Facebook page. Resolutions adopted by the Northside, North East, San Antonio, Judson, South San Antonio and Southwest ISD boards last week attempt to address those circumstances. Nearly all of them give the superintendent authority to make special determinations. The board delegates to the superintendent the authority ... to make determinations on use of available paid time off and other leave balances, before expending additional funds for absences during a closure, reads the North East ISD resolution adopted Friday. The board authorizes the superintendent or designee to make compensation decisions and adjustments to impacted employees as deemed appropriate. On ExpressNews.com: Get the latest update on coronavirus and a tracking map of U.S. cases The resolution also said employees instructed to self-quarantine may continue to receive pay and benefits as determined by the superintendent, subject to the administrations determination regarding accrued state/local leave days and their use. San Antonio ISD trustees passed a resolution Tuesday to pay all full-time employees, including cafeteria workers and bus drivers who work at least 20 hours a week, while schools are closed. The district is also trying to plug in substitutes, who are part-time employees, to fill teacher and aide vacancies during the ongoing shift to remote learning. Whatever was happening in the world, we needed to have a meeting to get this passed, board President Patti Radle said. At two SAISD campuses, many of the employees work for charter networks: Democracy Prep at Stewart Elementary and Texans Can Academy, a school for over-age students at Highlands High School. The boards of those operating partners have also voted to continue paying their employees, said Mohammed Choudhury, chief innovation officer for SAISD. Most districts are making this jump, Choudhury said. In Judson ISD, trustees voted to give broad authority to the superintendent in a variety of areas, including employee pay. A summary on the districts website states that it will allow all employees to be paid for the days that the district is closed due to the COVID-19 virus starting on March 16, 2020, and extending an undetermined amount of time. Actor Sophie Turner has taken a swipe at fellow actor Evangeline Lilly and anyone refusing to self-isolate during the coronavirus pandemic after she went live on Instagram. Earlier this week, actor Lilly announced on her Instagram that she was practicing business as usual and took the kids to the gymnastics camp and earned backlash, confirmed media reports. Sophie along with her husband Joe Jonas Live streamed a video that featured her husband showing to the audience how to make a good English coffee, while she responded to fans' questions. She, however, eventually switched to the coronavirus awareness telling people to take precautionary measures and maintain social distance. She urged fans to stay indoors and take the pandemic more seriously making a reference to the actors like Lilly and Vanessa Hudgens who earlier said on Instagram that freedom was more important and defended their choice. I have two young kids, Lilly told a fan who called her decision irresponsible. Some people value their lives over their freedom, some people value freedom over their lives. Read: Sophie Turner To Katy Perry; A Look At Celebrities Who Are Expecting In 2020 Read: Antoine Griezmann Transfer: Barca Preparing Sale For $220M Star Amid Coronavirus Crisis Stay safe and quarantine Turner, meanwhile, urged her own followers to quarantine and stay safe and not heed the recommendations from such people. She said, stay inside and dont be stupid. She further added saying, Even if you count your freedom over your health. You could be infecting other people, other vulnerable people around you by doing this. So stay inside guys, she repeatedly urged mentioning that it wasnt a choice but an obligation. A Self-portrait photographer Georgia Rosie Hardy also wrote on Instagram in response to Lillys opinion urging people to adopt more sincere measures. She posted, Whilst yes, you may value your freedom over your life and that is your own choice, unfortunately, you also are saying you value your temporary freedoms over someone elses life. Your choice affects them too. Read: Coronavirus: Cops Deployed In Strength To Enforce Lockdown In Jammu Read: Idris Elba Says Coronavirus Outbreak Is 'world Reacting To Human Race' Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment. President Donald J. Trump Approves Washington Disaster Declaration March 22, 2020 Today, President Donald J. Trump declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Washington and ordered Federal assistance to supplement State, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic beginning on January 20, 2020, and continuing. The President's action makes Federal funding available for Crisis Counseling for affected individuals in all areas in the State of Washington. Federal funding is also available to State, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, for all areas in the State of Washington impacted by COVID-19. Pete Gaynor, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Michael F. O'Hare as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected areas. Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the State and warranted by the results of further assessments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran receives China's anti-coronavirus donations IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, March 22, IRNA -- Two planes carrying China donations including 64 tons of face-masks and scrubs arrived in Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Air Port on Sunday. Managing director of Iran's Ministry of Mine, Industry and Trade for commercial services Mohammad Ghebleh said the shipment consisted of 2 million N-95 masks, 5 million three-layer masks and 200,000 scrubs. He noted that another consignment will also arrive in Iran tonight. The shipment will be distributed in Iranian Health Ministry and University of Medical Sciences, he added. Chinese people and government have so far sent 18 health and medical consignments to Iran for fighting coronavirus. Chinese people in less than 24 hours, donated half a million dollar to Iran for fighting coronavirus epidemic and called for launching a channel for collecting non-cash contributions. Iranian embassy in China on March 5 released a message in 'Weibo' which is a leading social media in China and introduced a bank account for Chinese people's cash contributions to fight COVID19 and people of China helped 4b Yuan ($576,000). In response to Chinese people memorable act, Iranian embassy in a message said Chinese people's good-will "has impressed us and we now feel a heavy responsibility toward them." It added that aid provided by Chinese people will be spent for fighting coronavirus outbreak. Head of Iran's Health Ministry Public Relations Office Kianoush Jahanpour said on Sunday that 7,913 people out of a total of 21,638 infected by the coronavirus have survived the deadly disease while 1,685 have unfortunately succumbed to death. Jahanpour said that 1,028 new affected cases have been detected since yesterday. Over the last 24 hours, 129 people succumbed to death due to the virus, he added. 9376**1424 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Democratic Republic of Congo's second largest city began a 48-hour lockdown and three more African countries led by Nigeria announced coronavirus fatalities Monday as the disease extended its reach south of the Sahara. Security forces were deployed in the city of Lubumbashi, in southeastern DRC, where the streets were deserted and stores were closed, an AFP journalist said. The move came after two people with suspected coronavirus arrived on Sunday on a scheduled flight from the capital Kinshasa, the authorities of Haut-Katanga province said. Fast-track tests were carried out on them and the results were positive. Samples have been sent to the National Institute for Biomedical Research (IRNB) in Kinshasa for confirmation, Health Minister Eteni Longondo said. "A 48-hour-long total confinement has been declared over all Haut-Katanga province as of Monday," Governor Jacques Kyabula said in a statement. The measure "will enable the authorities to identify the other passengers aboard this plane for quarantining," he said. The plane was carrying 77 passengers, the authorities said. Haut-Katanga, rich in copper and cobalt, is one of 26 provinces in the DRC, the largest country in sub-Saharan Africa. The DRC has recorded 30 cases of coronavirus since March 10, two of them fatalities. Four legislators in Kinshasa on Monday urged President Felix Tshisekedi to place the sprawling capital "in quarantine and isolate it from the rest of the country." "We are extremely concerned about the risk of the virus spreading as a result of travel from Kinshasa and the rest of the country," they said. Rising cases Africa has been slow to follow the terrifying rise in virus cases seen in the Middle East and Europe. Children in the notorious Nairobia slum of Kibera learn how to wash hands to help prevent coronavirus. By Yasuyoshi CHIBA (AFP) The reason for this is unclear, but many African countries have used the precious time to impose travel restrictions, close schools and appeal for social distanding. Now, though the numbers are now rising significantly. According to a toll compiled by AFP, the number of known cases across the continent -- including North Africa -- stood at just under 1,500 on Monday, of which 49 have been fatal. The first detected case south of the Sahara was announced in Lagos on February 28, and the first death was reported in the Sahel state of Burkina Faso last Wednesday. It was then followed by fatalities in Gabon, the DRC and Mauritius. On Monday, three more countries added to this list: Nigeria -- the most populous country in Africa -- as well as The Gambia in western Africa, and Zimbabwe in the south. All three deaths were of individuals who had arrived after making extensive trips abroad. The Nigerian fatality was a 67-year-old man who had returned from medical treatment in Britain and had cancer and diabetes, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control said. The death in The Gambia was of an itinerant 70-year-old teacher from Bangladesh who had arrived in from neighbouring Senegal. "He was said to have travelled from six other countries where he was carrying out similar preaching," the Gambian health ministry said in a statement. In Zimbabwe, the ministry of health reported the death of a 30-year-old man who had travelled to New York last month and returned home on March 9, transiting through Johannesburg in neighbouring South Africa. Peril for Africa Health experts have sounded loud and repeated warnings about Africa's vulnerability to coronavirus. A nurse walks past one of the few working ambulances in Chitungwiza, a dormitory town of the Zimbabwean capital Harare. By Jekesai NJIKIZANA (AFP) Crowded shantytowns, poor sanitation and decrepit health infrastructure offer ideal opportunities for the lethal microbe. "The system itself is overstretched and inadequate to deal with a coronavirus epidemic," Zimbabwean doctor Norman Matara told AFP last week. He said there were only eight functioning intensive care and two isolation units in the whole of his country. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 12:24:41|Editor: Liu Video Player Close SYDNEY, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Papua New Guinean (PNG) Prime Minister James Marape has declared a nationwide state of emergency in the country after the nation confirmed its first COVID-19 case, according to reports reaching here from Port Moresby. The state of emergency will start from Tuesday and last for 14 days, the reports cited a PNG government statement issued on Sunday as saying. During this period, the Commissioner of Police will assume control assisted by the military to ensure lawful order and abiding to control measures. Following the ban on inbound international flights, all domestic flights, public transportation and interprovincial travel will be stopped for the next 14 days from Tuesday. Only approved cargo and medicine and police or military personnel will be allowed to move. Military and police forces in border areas will be beefed up to stop border crossing on foot or by boat. "It is a 14-day lockdown in our country wherever you are." Marape said, "We will get through this phase." Provincial governors, administrators, police commanders as well as respective health authorities will be control points in all provinces. All heads of department and private companies are required to embrace safe work practice and non-essential staff shall stay at home for the next 14 days. Schools will take the first term holiday as of Monday, and the next 14 days are to be school holidays. At the same time, the government will work with banks, financial institutions and super funds on economic rescue packages. PNG confirmed its first case of COVID-19 on Friday. The government said it will monitor the COVID-19 situation in the country and review relative measures after the 14 days. The life-threatening COVID-19 disease has been characterized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization and with 170 cases in India, it can spread fast. In this tough time, let's stand together to support each other, do whatever we can to strengthen our shared fight against Coronavirus and win this battle. As an effort in this direction, we at MyOperator are offering free-of-cost helpline number to all NGOs, government bodies, and Bank of Ireland has announced the temporary closure of 101 branch offices around the country, including those in Mohill and Drumshanbo. The branches will, however, continue to provide an external ATM cash withdrawal service. In a statement, the bank said, "Bank of Ireland is working to serve customers impacted by coronavirus, while also supporting its colleagues in all parts of the business. To achieve this, the Bank is making changes to its branch network in the Republic of Ireland from Tuesday, 24 March to ensure resources are focused on banking services most in demand by customers right now. Other local branches affected include Elphin and Strokestown in Co Roscommon, Arva, Co Cavan and Bundoran, Co Donegal. From tomorrow: 161 branches nationwide will be open as normal. 148 of these will provide a full service to customers, including counter services for cash, coin and cheque services. 13 locations are Advice and Self Service branches these provide cash and cheque lodgement and cash withdrawal facilities through self-service devices, but do not offer a counter service. While 101 locations will close temporarily during the pandemic, every Bank of Ireland branch will continue to provide an external ATM cash withdrawal service. Normal opening hours will continue in the branches that are open. These branches will also continue the provision of prioritised services for over 65s and carers between 10am and 11am, Monday to Friday. "Over the past ten days, the Bank has seen a reduction in footfall in branches, predominantly at Advice and Self Service locations, while at the same time there has been an increase in customers needing a range of other supports. "The changes announced today will allow colleagues from temporarily closed branches to support the Banks larger branches and help contact centres manage the increased volume of customers requiring COVID-19 support, especially for Mortgage and SME loan payment breaks." Discussing the changes, Gavin Kelly, CEO Retail Ireland, said: Were constantly reviewing our operations to ensure we are providing the right supports for customers through this challenging period. These changes help us to respond to the most pressing needs of our customers right now thats support in managing the impact of coronavirus on their personal finances and on their businesses. These changes also refocus our branch network to our larger locations, which will help us support social distancing. This is extremely important for our customers and colleagues, whose safety and well-being is our priority. This will complement the enhanced cleaning and hygiene measures we have in place in our branches. Bank of Ireland has a range of Covid-19 supports for customers including mortgage and loan payment breaks and flexible arrangements, and emergency working capital and payment flexibility on loans for businesses. Visit www.bankofireland.com for further information on all Covid-19 related financial supports. According to its Deputy Minister, today, on March 23, over 60 thousand citizens managed to come back to Ukraine The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that more than 27,000 Ukrainians were expected to return home. This was stated by Deputy Minister of Ukraines MFA Yehor Bozhok, Ukrinform reports. According to him, today, on March 23, more than 60 thousand citizens managed to come back to Ukraine. However, over 27,000 remain to be abroad. Bozhok noted that the Foreign Ministry had already taken control of the situation with the return of Ukrainians from Europe and the Middle East, while the resolution of the issues in the Asia-Pacific region was being finalized. "We have created hubs. We have opened several opportunities to get back: by air transport, land transport, railway. Now we are moving to Latin America and the Caribbean," the Deputy Minister added. As we reported earlier, nearly two thousand Ukrainian tourists are unable to fly home from Thailand after an airline shutdown was introduced in Ukraine due to the COVID-2019 epidemic. According to the instructions on the embassys website, the only opportunity to return to Ukraine is to get to the nearest hub - Dubai, Doha or Istanbul. City Editor Tom Roeder is the Gazette's City Editor. In Colorado Springs since 2003, Tom has covered the military at home and overseas and has covered statehouses in Denver and Olympia, Wash. His main job, though, is being dad to two great kids. Al Bello/Getty Vice President Mike Pence said Sunday that the coronavirus task force, in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, would issue guidance this week about how people exposed to the virus could return to work by wearing a mask. Pence, along with President Donald Trump and other task force officials, appeared in the White House briefing room for a press conference with reporters Sunday evening. The briefing lasted more than an hour and consisted of long portions of the president speaking about his 2016 campaign and the hardships that rich people face when running for president. In between the presidents remarks, Pence alluded to the fact that some Americans who have been exposed to someone with the virus may be returning to work and that they could do so safely if using a mask. His statement comes as most Americans hunker down at home, some abiding by state orders to stay inside except for grocery and pharmacy trips and other essential outings. Meanwhile, the number of coronavirus cases continues to grow at a rapid pace in the U.S. On Sunday, the number of people infected with COVID-19 surpassed 30,000, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Four hundred people have died. Trump and his coronavirus task force continue to face criticism for its slow response to governors cries for shipments of essential medical supplies such as masks, gloves and gowns. In past briefings and interviews task force officials have dodged questions about the scale and timing of those deliveries to state governments. On Sunday, FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor said the federal government had shipped hundreds of tons of supplies from the national stockpile to coronavirus hotspot states such as New York and that the deliveries would arrive within the next 48 hours. Tapper Grills FEMA Chief on Mask Shortage: Doesn't Fill People With Confidence Last week Trump signed the Defense Production Act, which if implemented would allow the federal government to direct private companies to meet the needs of the national defense. Since then, though, the president has refrained from enacting a plan to direct American companies to ramp up domestic production of essential medical supplies. Story continues White House adviser Peter Navarro, who is working on an executive order to force companies in the U.S. to buy American medicines and goods, said the president has not moved forward with the Defense Production Act because corporations are volunteering to help. What were seeing is the greatest mobilization of the industrial base since World War II, Navarro said. Were getting what we need without putting the heavy hand of government down." Gov. Andrew Cuomo in New York on Sunday said Trump should order companies to manufacture medical supplies instead of relying on volunteers. New York has the highest number of coronavirus cases in the country with a total of 10,356 infected and 76 dead. Cuomo said New York has a limited number of hospital beds and that the state needed the federal governments help to build new facilities to treat patients. During the press conference, Trump said the National Guard will activate its units in California, Washington state, and New York to help fight the outbreak, and that the Army Corps of Engineers would dispatch to Cuomos state to build alternate care sites consisting of medical stations and beds. Were enduring a great national trial, Trump said. Were doing everything we can every day to... defeat this visible enemy. For those of you who are feeling alone and isolated, I want you to know we are all joined together as one people. Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, lawmakers are in the midst of trying to pass a massive stimulus bill that would help manage the economic fallout of the coronavirus outbreak. After days of negotiations, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said Sunday morning that the party had many, many problems with the bill in its current form, adding that it would include a large corporate bailout provision with no protections for workers and virtually no oversight." Were working urgently with Congress. Our goal is to get relief to Americans as quickly as possible. This will help our economy. You will see our economy skyrocket, Trump said. The only reason a deal wouldnt get done is pure politics. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. Passengers on a subway train in the Southeastern city of Daegu sit apart, Monday, after the government enforced two weeks of social distancing nationwide to prevent the spread of COVID-19. /Yonhap By Bahk Eun-ji The central government and municipal administrations are taking stronger action against some Protestant churches and other institutions that have not followed guidelines aimed at preventing any further spread of the highly-contagious COVID-19 pandemic, officials said Monday. The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) ordered a ban Monday on worship services at several churches including the Sarang Jeil Church in northern Seoul, which violated quarantine guidelines to prevent the virus spreading. The administrative order was issued after Prime Minister Chung Se-kyun said the government will take stricter measures, including the prohibition of rallies by religious groups that ignore the guidelines. "What the church did was a serious threat to public safety not only for individuals but also for our entire community. The government order should not be taken only as bluff because we are in an emergency situation that is almost equivalent to wartime," Chung said earlier in the day. Followers of Sarang Jeil Church confront civil servants of Seoul Metropolitan Governments and the health authorities during their weekend service at the church in Seongbuk, northern Seoul, Sunday. /Yonhap New Delhi, March 23 : An Indian novel published in 2018 and set in various parts of Asia and Europe was uncannily prescient about the possibilities of accidental or otherwise release of biotechnology products and how it can trigger an epidemic comparable to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. In "The Butterfly Effect" (Niyogi Books) by Rajat Chaudhuri, North Korean agents steal an untested genetically modified rice variety from a UK lab and carry it back to Korea, which cross-pollinates crops and triggers an epidemic of rapid aging across the continent with high fatalities. The prestigious Nature journal reported last week about the arrest of a Harvard chemistry chief for making false statements about receiving research funding from China. It is alleged that he received 'hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Wuhan University of Technology (WUT) in China and agreed to lead a lab there'. Although the involvement, if any, of the arrested professor cannot be assumed or rejected at this stage, it is well known that Wuhan is the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak. In the Indian novel, a scientist working in Britain unknowingly engineers a dangerous variety of GM rice which wreaks havoc among the Asian population. "The Butterfly Effect" is listed as one of the 'Fifty Must-Read Novels about Eco-disasters' by the Book Riot (US) website and the author has presented it at the Museum of Science Fiction (Washington), Sahitya Akademi (Delhi) and several other places.. According to Chaudhuri who has also written about these issues in the mainstream media, "as a writer and activist I have been aware of the dangers posed by GM food, virus-mediated gene delivery and a gamut of other technologies which if used without precaution can have unimaginably severe consequences. My novel recognises these dangers and amplifies them to a fictional scale." Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 21:27:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MOSCOW, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Russia has sent about 100 experts and diagnostics and disinfection equipment on nine military aircraft to Italy to help fight the coronavirus. The medical help includes leading virology and epidemiology experts along with modern equipment for diagnosis and disinfection, the Russian defence ministry said in a statement. The aircraft landed at Pratica di Mare Air Base, some 30 km southwest of Rome, it said. The aid is part of an agreement reached on Saturday during a phone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. Alessandro Grassani for The New York Times Victor Moriyama for The New York Times Andrea Mantovani for The New York Times During the 1950s, New Yorks Museum of Modern Art organized a famous photo exhibition called The Family of Man. In the wake of a world war, the show, chockablock with pictures of people, celebrated humanitys cacophony, resilience and common bond. Today a different global calamity has made scarcity the necessary condition of humanitys survival. Cafes along the Navigli in Milan hunker behind shutters along with the Milanese who used to sip aperos beside the canal. Times Square is a ghost town, as are the City of London and the Place de la Concorde in Paris during what used to be the morning rush. The photographs here all tell a similar story: a temple in Indonesia; Haneda Airport in Tokyo; the Americana Diner in New Jersey. Emptiness proliferates like the virus. The Times recently sent dozens of photographers out to capture images of once-bustling public plazas, beaches, fairgrounds, restaurants, movie theaters, tourist meccas and train stations. Public spaces, as we think of them today, trace their origins back at least to the agoras of ancient Greece. Hard to translate, the word agora in Homer suggested gathering. Eventually it came to imply the square or open space at the center of a town or city, the place without which Greeks did not really regard a town or city as a town or city at all, but only as an assortment of houses and shrines. Thousands of years later, public squares and other spaces remain bellwethers and magnets, places to which we gravitate for pleasure and solace, to take our collective temperature, celebrate, protest. Following the uprisings in Tiananmen Square, Tahrir Square, Taksim Square and elsewhere, Yellow Vest protesters in France demonstrated their discontent last year not by starting a GoFundMe page but by occupying public sites like the Place de la Republique and the Place de lOpera in Paris. Both of those squares were built during the 19th century as part of a master plan by a French official, Baron Georges-Eugene Haussmann, who remade vast swaths of Paris after the city passed new health regulations in 1850 to combat disease. Beset by viruses and other natural disasters, cities around the world have time and again devised new infrastructure and rewritten zoning regulations to ensure more light and air, and produced public spaces, buildings and other sites, including some of the ones in these photographs, that promised to improve civic welfare and that represented new frontiers of civic aspiration. Their present emptiness, a public health necessity, can conjure up dystopia, not progress, but, promisingly, it also suggests that, by heeding the experts and staying apart, we have not yet lost the capacity to come together for the common good. Covid-19 doesnt vote along party lines, after all. These images are haunted and haunting, like stills from movies about plagues and the apocalypse, but in some ways they are hopeful. They also remind us that beauty requires human interaction. I dont mean that buildings and fairgrounds and railway stations and temples cant look eerily beautiful empty. Some of these sites, like many of these photographs, are works of art. I mean that empty buildings, squares and beaches are what art history textbooks, boutique hotel advertisements and glossy shelter and travel magazines tend to traffic in. Their emptiness trumpets an existence mostly divorced from human habitation and the messy thrum of daily life. They imagine an experience more akin to the wonder of bygone explorers coming upon the remains of a lost civilization. They evoke the romance of ruins. Beauty entails something else. It is something we bestow. It will be the moment we return. emptyspaces-05 London This is what rush hour looks like now in a major metropolis. Andrew Testa for The New York Times emptyspaces-06 Munich A subway without commuters. Laetitia Vancon for The New York Times emptyspaces-07 Moscow The seats were empty at rehearsal, and remained so for the online performance. Sergey Ponomarev for The New York Times emptyspaces-08 Beijing A lone diner in a neighborhood known for its nightlife. Gilles Sabrie for The New York Times emptyspaces-09 Caracas Day 2 of Venezuelas nationwide quarantine. Adriana Loureiro Fernandez for The New York Times emptyspaces-10 Los Angeles An unchanging ocean, a barely recognizable beach in Santa Monica. Philip Cheung for The New York Times emptyspaces-11 Barcelona Pigeons had Las Ramblas to themselves. Maria Contreras Coll for The New York Times emptyspaces-12 New Jersey The Americana Diner in West Orange was open but only for takeout. Bryan Anselm for The New York Times emptyspaces-13 Srinagar, India In a tourist season without tourists, boats without passengers. Atul Loke for The New York Times emptyspaces-14 Bangkok Streets of fear in a city popular with Chinese visitors from Wuhan. Amanda Mustard for The New York Times emptyspaces-15 Berlin Keep your distance: That is the plea from the German government. Emile Ducke for The New York Times emptyspaces-16 New Delhi A day at the fair in Red Fort. Saumya Khandelwal for The New York Times emptyspaces-17 Rome The view from the Spanish Steps. Alessandro Penso for The New York Times emptyspaces-18 Washington Even cherry blossom season did not draw visitors to the Lincoln Memorial. Alyssa Schukar for The New York Times emptyspaces-19 Tokyo When the world stops traveling. Noriko Hayashi for The New York Times emptyspaces-20 Seoul South Koreas outbreak was, for weeks, the worst outside China. Woohae Cho for The New York Times emptyspaces-21 Seattle A hot dog was as unlikely as a visit to the Space Needle. Grant Hindsley for The New York Times emptyspaces-22 Milan The Navigli, where the Milanese often gather at the end of the day. Alessandro Grassani for The New York Times emptyspaces-23 San Francisco California residents have been ordered to stay home. Rozette Rago for The New York Times emptyspaces-24 Rawalpindi, Pakistan No standees, and few seat takers. Saiyna Bashir for The New York Times emptyspaces-25 New York A major transit hub, the Oculus, in a city no longer on the move. Victor J. Blue for The New York Times emptyspaces-26 Yangon, Myanmar Nothing to see here: Tourists used to come for the panoramic view. Minzayar Oo for The New York Times emptyspaces-27 Sao Paulo The last picture show, or one of them, before theaters were shut. Victor Moriyama for The New York Times emptyspaces-28 Siem Reap, Cambodia No visits to Angkor Wat, and no Pub Street toasts afterward. Adam Dean for The New York Times emptyspaces-29 Sydney, Australia Sunset is normally prime photo-taking time at the Opera House. Matthew Abbott for The New York Times emptyspaces-30 Hong Kong A popular viewing point, but few takers. Lam Yik Fei for The New York Times emptyspaces-31 Yogyakarta, Indonesia Only the buildings needed guarding at a temple complex. Ulet Ifansasti for The New York Times emptyspaces-32 Paris The view is still there, the viewers far less so. Andrea Mantovani for The New York Times emptyspaces-33 Bogota, Colombia An empty cloverleaf tells the story of a city on lockdown. Federico Rios for The New York Times [March 23, 2020] Dr. Susan Bakewell-Sachs from Oregon Health & Science University Appointed Chair of the AACN Board of Directors The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) is pleased to announce that Susan Bakewell-Sachs, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean and vice president for nursing affairs at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) School of Nursing, has been appointed Chair of the AACN Board of Directors. Dr. Bakewell-Sachs began her two-year term as the AACN's highest elected official at 10:30 AM (ET) today. "As Board Chair, I look forward to working collaboratively to continue AACN's lead role in academic nursing during this extraordinary time and to supporting nurse leaders across the country. AACN will remain a catalyst for excellence and innovation in nursing education, research, and practice," said Dr. Bakewell-Sachs. "I am fully committed to working with my fellow Board members to advocate for quality nursing education and research while amplifying the impact AACN has on improving the nation's health and health care." Dr. Susan Bakewell-Sachs is a nationally recognized scholar and clinical expert in the care of prematurely born infants, as well as a distinguished leader in academic nursing. Prior to assuming her current role at OHSU in 2013, she served as nursing faculty at the University of Pennsylvania; program director, professor and dean at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) School of Nursing, Health & Exercise Science; and Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at TCNJ. A strong nurse advocate, she was the director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's (RWJF) New Jrsey Nursing Initiative, chair of the New Jersey Association of Baccalaureate and Higher Degree Programs, member of the March of Dimes National Nursing Advisory Council, and on the steering committee of the Oregon Action Coalition. Dr. Bakewell-Sachs was an RWJF Executive Nurse Fellow, Cohort 2007, where her leadership development project focused on strategic effectiveness and nursing education. In support of AACN's mission, Dr. Bakewell-Sachs has served on the Governance Task Force, as chair of the Program Committee and the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) Steering Committee, member of the Government Affairs Committee, and state grassroots liaison for New Jersey and Oregon, among other key roles. A graduate of AACN's Leadership for Academic Nursing Program, she has helped shape many of the association's signature programs through her service on the Board, including the advancement of the CNL role, support for academic-practice partnerships, and the re-envisioning of the AACN Essentials. "During my tenure as Board Chair, I will support coalition building and AACN's leadership around addressing faculty and workforce needs, building inclusive learning environments, and accelerating the move to competency-based education to improve practice, research, and education," added Dr. Bakewell-Sachs. Joining Dr. Bakewell-Sachs on the AACN Board of Directors are these continuing and new members: Chair-Elect Cynthia McCurren from Grand Valley State University; Treasurer Lin Zhan from the University of Memphis; Secretary Jean Leuner from Auburn University Montgomery; Jean Giddens from Virginia Commonwealth University; Judith Karshmer from Arizona State University; Jerry Mansfield from Mount Carmel Health System; Victoria Niederhauser from the University of Tennessee Knoxville; Randolph Rasch from Michigan State University; Julie Sanford from the University of Mississippi Medical Center; Jan Strom from Aurora University; Terri Weaver from the University of Illinois at Chicago; and Marge Wiggins from the Maine Health System. In addition, AACN's President and Chief Executive Officer Deborah Trautman serves as an ex-officio member of the AACN Board. To read more about AACN's 2020 election results, click here. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) is the voice for academic nursing representing more than 840 member schools of nursing at public and private institutions nationwide. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) is the national voice for baccalaureate and graduate nursing education. AACN works to establish quality standards for nursing education; assists schools in implementing those standards; influences the nursing profession to improve health care; and promotes public support for professional nursing education, research, and practice. Learn more at aacnnursing.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200323005457/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] In the years following the Homestead Act of 1862, Americans moved westward and Dakota Territory came alive as new homesteads covered the prairie. These early settlers chased down dreams of a new life and new home, bringing with them an indomitable spirit of courage. On the edge of South Dakotas Black Hills, the Piedmont Valley Foothills became home to many new homesteaders who not only cultivated the land, but a vibrant community as well. Although more than a century has passed since the pioneering days, there are certain things that time cannot change. The story of one pioneering family opens a window to local history and reminds us that the values nurtured so many years ago still live on. In 1917, nearing the end of World War I, the Albert and Anna Opstedahl family moved to South Dakota from Iowa. Along with many homesteaders in the early 1900s, their families were immigrants and had moved to South Dakota with dreams of building a new life. Third generation from Norway or the Old Country, the Opstedahls carried with them not only a rich history and deep love for the land, but dreams full of hope. In recalling the move, Albert looked back on traveling to SD as something found only in books. He and the older children traveled with the few cows, two teams of horses, farm machinery and household goods by immigrant car, while some of the family traveled on a passenger train. As their travels brought them to the Piedmont Valley foothills, they found a land of beauty and promise. Bearing evidence of rich history and times past, teepee rings covered the hills and new trails stretched out. With their journey at its end, the Opstedahl family put down roots and built a community. Their children attended the nearby one-room schoolhouse just a mile away, at the corner of what is now Elk Creek Road and Erickson Ranch Road. Later, their first car was a Model T Ford, the iconic automobile of the 1920s. In 1937, the youngest son of the family, Arnold Opstedahl, married his sweetheart Gladys Bren, who had grown up just a couple of miles away. Amid the struggles of Americas dustbowl era of the 1930s, the newlyweds bought what is referred to as the old Sam Hill place. In time this property became known as the AR Ranch. The family built a Hereford cattle operation, milked cows, and raised chickens. They farmed the land through drought and hail storms, and put up hay in the summer along with the local ranchers. The neighborhood community grew stronger with each generation, branding cattle together each spring and sharing in the struggles that are inevitably a part of ranch life. Embracing the strong work ethic, grit and determination that South Dakotans value, the community of homesteaders was strong. The Opstedahl children recall riding horseback through the timber and trapping bobcats in the nearby area. As recorded in a South Dakota historical journal*, Arnold Opstedahl reminisced about how the AR Ranch had at one time been home to a post office and store, and served as a stopping place for freight en route to Deadwood. Their daughter Loretta (Opstedahl) Tibbs remembers finding old mule and ox shoes, evidence of the 19th century thoroughfare. Looking back on the AR Ranch and its history, Ronald Opstedahl, who is now in his 80s and resides near Union Center, says that it hasnt changed with time. Despite the dramatic improvements in local infrastructure and residential expansion from Rapid City, the area has remained a peaceful spot where the Piedmont Valley foothills and prairie meet. Today a portion of the AR Ranch has become AR Ranch Estates, offering residential lots and homes on acreages. Located six miles north of Rapid City off Erickson Ranch Road, the AR Ranch Estates expansive Black Hills views and protected valley provide the serenity of country living just 10 minutes from Rapid City. The AR Ranch estates honors the pioneering heritage of its past and welcomes a new community. More information on the AR Ranch Estates can be found at www.arranchestates.com *Echoes Thru the Valleys, Southwestern Meade County You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 (Alliance News) - Cora Gold Ltd on Monday said it is "pleased" with the final drilling results from work at the Sanankoro gold project in southern Mali. Cora's final part of the programme consisted of six holes covering 837 metres at Zones A and B at the project, which is on the Yanfolila gold belt. At Zone A, Cora intersected expected gold in both holes, including 13 metres at a grade of 1.41 grams of gold per tonne of ore and 4.4 metres at 1.28 grams of gold. In Zone B, Cora found grades as high as 44.6 grams of gold over 0.9 metres and 5.2 grams of gold over three metres. Chief Executive Bert Monro commented: "These are the final round of drilling results from this work programme, following on from two previous sets of drilling results on the Sanankoro gold project. We are pleased the combined results have identified significant scope to extend resources both at depth and along strike. "These latest results are further signs of our confidence in the project. Having recently announced a GBP2.9 million conditional fundraise, we have the capital available to continue to move Sanankoro forward with an initial focus on resource growth and then in time further study work." Cora shares were 1.2% higher on Monday afternoon in London at 4.35 pence each. By George Collard; georgecollard@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. By Laura King and Jennifer Haberkorn Los Angeles Times (TNS) WASHINGTON Congressional leaders and the Trump administration raced Sunday evening to reach agreement on an enormous financial rescue package totaling nearly $2 trillion meant to steer the U.S. economy through the coronavirus crisis and help ordinary Americans weather devastating job losses. But lawmakers appeared far apart as negotiations headed deep into the night. Although both parties said they agreed on the urgency of passing a measure quickly as unemployment rapidly mounts and jittery markets prepared to reopen Monday, the two sides remained at loggerheads on several key issues, including how much money to provide state and local governments faced with the crisis and how much authority to give administration officials to decide which major businesses to bail out. As lawmakers and their staffs prepared to meet into the wee hours, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., warned of an ugly Monday in financial markets without a deal. He planned to try again to bring to the floor a key procedural vote on Monday. Our nation cannot afford a game of chicken, McConnell said, adding that he hoped for a change of heart from Democrats. But Senate Democratic leader Charles E. Schumer of New York said he had been meeting with Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin, representing the administration, and that there was a good chance well have an agreement in the morning. The hardball tactics from both parties came at the end of a weekend of negotiations among rank-and-file lawmakers and between congressional leaders and Mnuchin. Earlier Sunday, Democrats defeated McConnell in a test vote. The motion, which would have required a bipartisan 60-vote majority to pass, failed 47-47, with six senators absent. Futures markets fell sharply. The bill, which currently totals about $1.8 trillion, would include direct payments to individuals and families (on average about $3,000 for a family of four, Mnuchin said), expanded unemployment benefits and a massive loan program to tide over small businesses. It would be by far the largest such measure in U.S. history, equivalent to roughly half the current federal budget. The bill is intended as a bridge to get the country through the worst of the crisis over the next eight to 10 weeks, with the possibility of further spending later if the emergency continues. I think the president has every expectation that this is going to look a lot better four or eight weeks from now, Mnuchin said of the outbreak and efforts to contain it. If for any reason, 10 weeks from now with this virus, we havent won this, well go back to Congress again. While the two sides agree on major parts of the bill, they remain far apart on some elements. Democrats say that a $500 billion fund to bail out industries hard-hit by the economic disruption caused by the virus amounts to a corporate slush fund that the administration could use to reward its friends. And, they say, the bill doesnt contain enough protections against layoffs by businesses that get federal help. McConnell and other Republicans say they already have made major concessions to Democrats. President Donald Trump, at a White House news briefing Sunday evening, took an unusually conciliatory tack, declining to criticize Senate Democrats for holding out. We all want to get to the same place, he said. Were very close, Trump said. The Democrats want to get there, and so do Republicans, he said. I dont think anybody has a choice. Asked if he would swear off receiving assistance for his own businesses, Trump demurred, saying that it cost me billions and billions of dollars to be president and that he had gotten no credit for declining his annual salary. McConnell was in a less conciliatory mood than Trump, blaming Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., for derailing bipartisan negotiations. Were fiddling here, fiddling with the emotions of the American people, fiddling with the markets, fiddling with our health care. Schumer, who met several times during the day with Mnuchin, said the two sides were making progress and were closer than we have been at any point in the last 48 hours. In addition to fears about the economy, lawmakers faced another pressure toward quick action concerns about their own health. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., announced Sunday that he had tested positive for the coronavirus, although he said he felt fine. Worry has run high in the Senate about other members falling ill, since many had spent time with Paul. By Sunday afternoon, four Republican senators announced they were self-quarantining on the advice of congressional doctors because of their contact with Paul or others with the virus. Their announcements threatened to wipe out the Republican majority in the Senate, which does not allow members to vote remotely. All senators are going to seek medical advice as to what action we should take to make sure that we dont in any way spread the virus ourselves, said Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, one of those who announced a self-quarantine. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., told colleagues he saw Paul in the Senate gym Sunday morning, before he found out the result of his test, according to Morans spokesman. Members of the House are already back in their districts, with no return date in sight. There is increasing speculation that once senators pass the latest economic stimulus bill, they could leave Washington for weeks. Meanwhile, the full effects of the public health emergency are only beginning to be felt, experts warned, as state governors stepped up pleas for more robust federal intervention. In Louisiana, Gov. John Bel Edwards issued a stay-home order and closed nonessential businesses, saying the state had the fastest growth rate of confirmed cases in the world and risked becoming the next Italy, which currently has the worst death rate from the disease caused by the coronavirus. This emergency is going to get worse before it gets better, he said. Were in a race against time with this. The state currently has the third-highest per capita rate of cases after New York and Washington: 830 cases and 20 deaths, according to state figures. In New York City, which has the nations highest concentration of cases, Mayor Bill de Blasio warned that the crisis could last months. The worst is yet to come. April is going to be a lot worse than March. And I fear May could be worse than April, he said. Nationwide, were going to get hit, theres no doubt about it, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the governments top infectious-disease specialist, said Sunday. But Fauci, the director at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, said in an interview on CBS Face the Nation that the drastic steps being taken across the country school closings, business shutdowns, shelter-in-place orders would pay off by helping to stem the virus spread. Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Peter Gaynor, appearing on NBCs Meet the Press, said federal authorities were trying to keep up with states demands for medical equipment and protective gear for health care workers. But Gaynor struggled to say precisely when the federal government would be able to provide states with hospital masks, gowns, respiratory equipment and other badly needed medical supplies. His advice for the nations governors: If they find a supply source on their own, go buy it. When Kellie Messer, owner of Texas Borders Bar & Grill, found out Harris and Fort Bend Counties were closing restaurants to dine-in business due to the COVID-19 outbreak, she said she was shocked and feared for her employees livelihood. Messer says it was a misunderstanding when a KPRC reporter showed up at her Katy location at 20940 Katy Freeway on Tuesday, March 17, about the restaurant having customers in it past Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgos order to only serve takeout or delivery. Top hits: Get Houston Chronicle stories sent directly to your inbox People that know me for 23 years know who I am and how I run my business and how we weve been in this community for a long time, Messer said. Im very active in this community. Many people know me. I mean, Ive been around for 23 years. I would never jeopardize my reputation or my business. The KPRC report showed a private party sign in the restaurants window a day after the order was issued, but Messer said, whatever happened on any news channel has gotten proportionally blown out of control. Messer stated that when cameras showed up, the people in the Katy location were regular customers that had come out to show their support and that all the service at that point was for people waiting for their takeout orders. She said both her locations followed all county orders. Messer said a St. Patricks Day party on March 17 at the 26440 FM 1093, Richmond, location wrapped up in time for Fort Bend County Judge KP Georges order to close dine-in business by midnight. Morning Report: Get the top stories on HoustonChronicle.com sent directly to your inbox When Messer heard about the policies that would affect her restaurants, she was primarily concerned for her employees, the bartenders and servers that take care of her customers every day. As the locations adjust to serving food and drinks to go, Messer explained they are looking out for one another, working on a voluntary basis as the hours are few. So for now, Texas Borders Bar & Grill 1093 is serving up a to-go menu filled with popular choices like boiled crawfish, fajita platters, burgers and items from a special Keto menu. And for the meantime, they are now able to serve bottled beer and wine and mixed drinks to go. There are also specials. Messer encourages people to patronize not only her restaurants but others as well because employees depend on those jobs. You know, well be able to plow through this, but on the perspective of employees that are tipped and they, you know, they need their livelihood. That is the hard part to swallow, Messer said. tracy.maness@hcnonline.com Pirelli has stopped manufacturing F1's tyres for 2020. After Australia, it emerged that the almost 2000 tyres taken by the sport's official supplier to Melbourne had to be destroyed and recycled. "It's not safe to re-use them once they have been fitted to a rim and then removed," Pirelli's F1 chief Mario Isola told Racer. "But we've halted production for the other races until we know if and when they are taking place, while existing tyres that haven't yet been put onto rims can be carefully stored and then used later," he added. Isola admitted that some 2020 tyres had already been en route to Bahrain and Vietnam when those races were also postponed. "They can be kept there in temperature-controlled containers until the races happen, so they won't suffer," he said. (GMM) Appointment 23 March 2020 Paul Salem will be replacing Murren as the Chair of the Board of Directors, who currently is a member of the MGM Resorts Board of Directors and Chair of the real estate committee of MGM Resorts, which is in the process of executing the asset-light strategy. Paul Salem is a senior managing director emeritus at Providence Equity Partners, a world leading private equity firm specializing in the media and communication industries. He served for 27 years as a senior managing director on Providence's investment team and served as a member of the investment committee and management committees helping grow Providence Equity from $171 million in assets to over $50 billion in his years of service. In 1999, Mr. Salem established the London office for Providence Equity and in 2008 helped start Providence's credit affiliate Benefit Street Partners. In 2014, Mr. Salem lead the purchase of Merganser, a Providence affiliate and in 2017, helped start Providence Public, a long/short hedge fund. Mr. Salem previously served as a director on many of Providence Equity portfolio companies, including Asurion, Eircom, Grupo TorreSur, Madison River Telecom, MetroNet (formerly AT&T Canada), PanAmSat, Tele1 Europe, Verio, Wired Magazine and several other Providence investments. Prior to joining Providence in 1992, Mr. Salem worked for Morgan Stanley in corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions. Prior to Morgan Stanley, he spent four years with Prudential Investment Corporation, an affiliate of Prudential Insurance, where his responsibilities included private placement financings, leveraged buyout transactions and helping establish Prudential's European office. Mr. Salem received a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Arts from Brown University. Mr. Salem is Chairman of the Board at Year Up, a non-profit focusing on closing the opportunity divide for urban young adults and a board member of Edesia Global Nutrition, a social enterprise that treats acute malnutrition around the globe. Mr. Salem is Clerk (Chair) of the Board of the Moses Brown School and is on the advisory board of the Carney Brain Institute at Brown University. BEIRUTDown on Earth, the coronavirus outbreak was felling lives, livelihoods and normalcy. A nation-spanning blessing seemed called for. So up went a priest in a small airplane, rumbling overhead at an epidemiologically safe distance from the troubles below, wielding a sacred golden vessel from a cockpit-turned-pulpit. Before his flight over Lebanon, a soldier at an airport checkpoint asked the Rev. Majdi Allawi if he had a mask and hand sanitizer. Jesus is my protection, said Allawi, who belongs to the Maronite Catholic Church. He is my sanitizer. Religion is the solace of first resort for billions of people grappling with a pandemic for which scientists, presidents and the secular world seem, so far, to have few answers. With both sanitizer and leadership in short supply, dread over the coronavirus has driven the globes faithful even closer to religion and ritual. But what is good for the soul may not always be good for the body. Believers worldwide are running afoul of public health authorities warnings that communal gatherings, the keystone of so much religious practice, must be limited to combat the virus spread. In some cases, religious fervour has led people toward cures that have no grounding in science; in others, it has drawn them to sacred places or rites that could increase the risk of infection. In Myanmar, a prominent Buddhist monk announced that a dose of one lime and three palm seeds no more, no less would confer immunity. In Iran, a few pilgrims were filmed licking Shiite Muslim shrines to ward off infection. And in Texas, the preacher Kenneth Copeland braided televangelism with telemedicine, broadcasting himself, one trembling hand outstretched, as he claimed he could cure believers through their screens. The anchors of religious practice have taken on a greater urgency just as religious authorities move to restrict them. An Egyptian pharmacist, Ahmed Shaban, 31, travelled to Saudi Arabia this month to make a pilgrimage to Prophet Muhammads birthplace and tomb. Millions of Muslims throng the sites every year, many of them pausing to kiss the Kaaba, the black-and-gold cube in Mecca that is Islams most sacred shrine. In times of hardship, fear or panic, Shaban said, either you think, How can God do this to us? or you run to him for protection and for guidance, to make it all make sense. The day Shabans visit was scheduled, the Saudi government suspended all pilgrimages to Mecca and Medina indefinitely. This month, al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem closed for prayer, making it a clean sweep: Islams three holiest sites were now off-limits. With good reason, at least from a medical standpoint: Coronavirus outbreaks have been linked to a South Korean church, a gathering of 16,000 faithful at a mosque in Malaysia and an Orthodox Jewish congregation in New Rochelle, New York. But social distancing can leave the faithful feeling distant from God. How do you receive the body and blood of Christ when the communion cup might be a vector? How do you feel the warmth of communal prayer, the experience that draws the faithful to houses of worship around the world, in the cold blue light of a livestreamed service? Spiritual advisories from religious authorities sought to redirect believers energies inward. Rabbi David Lau, the Ashkenazi chief rabbi in Israel, called upon Jews to say 100 blessings daily, as King David did when confronted with a plague. The Sephardic chief rabbi, Yitzhak Yosef, urged Jews to petition the Almighty to stop the epidemic and to leave his throne of judgment and sit instead on the throne of mercy. The Coptic patriarch of Egypt, Pope Tawadros II, said the pandemic was a wake-up call to repent. If there are differences between people, he said in a sermon, this is the time for reconciliation. In a world where so many routines have been obliterated, it is the rites themselves that many cherish. Im taking precautions in my life generally against the virus, but communion is the body and blood of God, said Monica Medhat, 26, an executive at an Egyptian brewery who is a Coptic Christian. It cant get infected with anything. If anything, the times have strengthened her faith. I believe everyone dies when theyre destined to die, she said. It doesnt matter if its from a virus or a car accident. God help us all. People may have already unknowingly spread the virus in the name of piety. Despite New Yorks recent bans on large gatherings, several large weddings went ahead in Brooklyns Hasidic Jewish communities, which have reported a spike in confirmed cases in recent days. Iran is home both to one of the worlds worst outbreaks and to dozens of major Shiite Muslim shrines, which have remained open to crowds for weeks even as the coronavirus left the country shell-shocked. When the government finally heeded health officials pleas and shuttered two popular shrines in the cities of Mashhad and Qum on Monday, crowds of the faithful pushed in, Iranian state media reported, shouting, The president is damn wrong to do that! India has so far refused to call off an annual festival that starts Wednesday in honour of the god Ram, also known as Rama. In normal times, it draws as many as 1 million people to Ayodha, which some believe to be the birthplace of Ram, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. The state has asked devotees to celebrate at home this year. Organizers, however, are carrying on. People are getting the opportunity to have glimpses of Lord Rama, said Vinod Bansal, a national spokesman for the group, Vishva Hindu Parishad. Its not appropriate to deprive them of this opportunity. Many faiths are adapting to the new reality. Houses of worship are closed or empty. Holy water is splashed from individual bottles instead of a font. Friday prayer has been cancelled across the Middle East. Muezzins in the West Bank and Kuwait entreat the faithful to avoid the mosque and instead pray at home. This will be the fourth week without Mass across Italy. But in the Sicilian city of Palermo, the mountain sanctuary of Saint Rosalia, who is believed to have saved Palermo from a plague in 1625, remains open. Under current government restrictions, Italians are not supposed to leave home except for emergencies. But the Rev. Gaetano Ceravolo, the sanctuarys chief caretaker, said around 40 pilgrims had nevertheless trekked up to the shrine last Sunday, praying briefly and far apart from one another. For us, shes a friend, a point of reference, said Francesco Tramuto, a member of the group that has carried the saints reliquary through Palermo yearly for three centuries. Others may be devoted to the Virgin Mary, but for Palermo, she is the expert in plagues. In Israel, all three main Abrahamic faiths have sought to accommodate the faithful without endangering them. The Western Walls plaza has been subdivided into smaller prayer areas to discourage large groups, and synagogues held services with smaller quorums and told the high-risk to stay home. West Bank churches were closed. On the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary, Muslims were allowed to pray only outside. The internet offered a sterile way to worship from home. The Popes Mass was livestreamed. So was a burning rite to dissipate the virus at the Kinpusen-ji Buddhist temple in Japan. South Korean churches offered YouTube-only services for the first time anyone could remember. To the dismay of religious leaders in South Korea, whose congregations gathered through Japanese occupation and war, worship services have attracted unusual scrutiny there. A majority of South Koreas 8,800 cases have been traced to a large, unconventional church in the southeastern city of Daegu. I am so sad that a place of prayer and solace has become a place of fear, said Kim Jeong-ja, 58, a churchless churchgoer in Seoul. I wonder how long this will last. Praying online watching YouTube is not like going to your church on Sunday. Amid the coronavirus anxiety, it was perhaps inevitable that some would interpret the pandemic as a divine missive. What it said was less clear. Some Egyptian Muslims expressed certainty on social media that God was smiting non-Muslim countries by giving them the virus, apparently unaware that Egypt has registered nearly 200 cases and may have many more uncounted. Some Islamists, especially supporters of the banned Muslim Brotherhood, cast the outbreak as punishment for the Egyptian publics support of the military takeover that brought the countrys authoritarian leader, President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, to power in 2013. Some sought earthly remedies inspired by higher powers. Video emerged last week of Hindu activists in India drinking cow urine to stave off the coronavirus. At the Lebanese government hospital where infected patients are being treated, a woman recently arrived carrying a mixture of holy water and dirt dug from the mausoleum of Saint Charbel, who is revered among Lebanese Christians. Some Christians were said to be drinking similar solutions as a precaution. Hospital administrators tested the soil and, finding it unlikely to cause harm, consented to keep it for any patients who might find it comforting. Who were they to judge? a hospital official said. It was high time, in any case, for a miracle. Clark County Commission Chairman Marilyn Kirkpatrick and community partners have launched a pilot called Delivering with Dignity to bring high-quality meals directly to the most vulnerable families in the Las Vegas Valley, keeping them and the community safe by reducing the risk of exposure to COVID-19. The Delivery With Dignity service is intended for people struggling with poverty on a daily basis who are most at risk according to U.S. Center for Disease Control guidelines for contracting coronavirus if they leave their homes including the elderly, those with underlying medical conditions and their family members living in the same household. Organizers say potentially tens of thousands of local residents could fall within those guidelines, and they are working with nonprofit organizations in the community to identify and provide service to the entire population in-need in the Las Vegas Valley. Financial donations to Delivering with Dignity are being accepted at moonridgefoundation.org. Inquires about volunteering for the program or service requests are being directed to the United Way of Southern Nevada at (702) 892-2300. As we deal with the public health threat posed by coronavirus, its imperative that we find creative ways to meet the needs of the most vulnerable residents and families in our community while following the recommendations of health officials, said Commission Chairman Kirkpatrick. Thankfully, Las Vegas is a caring and compassionate community. We have some incredible partners who are working together to deliver meals directly to the homes of elderly and medically-fragile residents in our community who may not be able to get out to grocery stores or food distribution sites, and cannot afford to order takeout from restaurants. To launch the pilot program, Commissioner Kirkpatrick partnered with the Elaine P. Wynn and Family Foundation; Healthcare Partners Nevada Intermountain Healthcare; The Moonridge Foundation; Blau + Associates; Honey Salt Restaurant in Rampart Commons and Buddy Vs restaurant at the Venetian; Foster Kinship, a Las Vegas-based nonprofit that supports relatives and close family friends raising children who are unable to live safely with their parents; and Copia, a for-profit technology company that intelligently redistributes highly perishable excess food from businesses and restaurants directly to nonprofits most in need of food. Delivery With Dignity was created to provide meals to seniors and other vulnerable residents who cannot leave their homes in the middle of this pandemic. We hope to expand the service with support from the community, philanthropists and government grants. Simultaneously, it is also important to us to provide employment to as many of the restaurant workers in the valley who are healthy yet without work, explained Punam Mathur, Executive Director of the Elaine P. Wynn and Family Foundation. Chefs at Honey Salt prepared 800 meals to be delivered with dignity to the homes of nearly 100 of the most vulnerable families identified by Foster Kinship. Many of the meals delivered on Monday with the help of seven volunteer drivers were taken to households headed by senior citizens raising their grandchildren. Many of the family members we contacted were in tears when we called them to offer this service to them as part of the pilot, said Dr. Alison Caliendo, Founder & Executive Director of Foster Kinship. We are working with many elderly people who have health problems of their own, and they literally are putting their health at risk each time they get in their car to take their children to a food distribution site. These families are very vulnerable on any given day, let alone trying to cope with the challenges presented by coronavirus. Each family will receive two meals serving a family of four, or a total of eight people. These arent your average PB&J or turkey-sandwich type of meals. These are meals prepared by the culinary chefs from Honey Salts kitchen. The restaurant is generously providing these meals at a reduced rate with private donations helping to cover the cost of ingredients, production, and distribution, said Julie Murray, president of The Moonridge Foundation and Co-Founder of Three-Square. We are grateful to be able to serve the community in any way we can during this difficult time, said Elizabeth Blau, of Blau + Associates, which operates Honey Salt restaurant and Buddy Vs. The governors closure order allows restaurants to operate on a take-out basis, so our chefs and staff are thrilled to keep our kitchen open and offer their talents for such a critical cause. Copias logistics and food matching technology allows the meals to remain fresh by providing drivers with the most efficient route to drop-off food to vulnerable families closest in proximity. Delivering with Dignity debuts with Copia in Las Vegas. As part of this pilot initiative, Copia re-engineered their technology to provide food directly to individual families in need instead of redistributing it to shelters or food pantries that serve larger populations. Copia is Solving the Worlds Dumbest Problem. We believe in a world with so much technology, innovation, and abundance issues like hunger shouldnt exist. It is not a lack of food thats the issue, its an ineffective distribution of food. Hunger is not a scarcity problem, its a logistics problem and Copia is out to solve it. Weve mastered the matching, routing, and delivery of highly perishable prepared food from restaurants, hospitals, and commercial kitchens to afterschool programs and veterans agencies in 150+ cities. Well feed over 4 million people this year with incredible food that would have otherwise gone to waste, said Komal Ahmad, SF-based, Vegas-native and founder and CEO of Copia. Now, our engineering and ops team are working around the clock to re-engineer our platform to best serve Clark County and our partners with high-quality food delivered with dignity to those most vulnerable in the face of this pandemic. Find out more about the support services Foster Kinship provides at www.fosterkinship.org, by phone at (702) 546-9988, or email: FamilyAdvocate@FosterKinship.org. The organization also calls on Nevadans to make financial donations and provide diapers size 4 and 6, pull ups, formula, hand sanitizer, and Lysol wipes. Hungry to make change yourself? Have food to donate? Want to manage and track food waste in your business? Visit GoCopia.com or email them to get involved at hello@GoCopia.com. Chloe Dao never imagined she'd be making surgical masks. But the Florida medical clinic that had all of its surgical masks stolen is one of her many new customers. The Houston designer and Project Runway winner closed her 20-year-old namesake boutique last week because of the coronavirus and wanted help people dealing with the pandemic. Dao saw the demand for surgical masks increasing, so she began creating her own to give away for free. "It's really been overwhelming, and I don't get overwhelmed easily," Dao said, "But we have had some many people call who really need the masks. People whose parents have cancer, health workers who can't get any. This is just a crazy time." Dao, with her small boutique staff, is making about 150 masks a day and gives them away at no charge. She makes them out of cotton fabric with a pocket in which a piece of another fabric can be inserted for extra protection. While her staff uses protective gloves to handle the masks, Dao advises that the masks be washed first before using. The Florida clinic has requested 100 masks, another medical office needs about 300, and then there are the everyday people who also have contacted Dao's store for masks. While Dao continues to pay her staff, people can make $10 donations on her site to for the masks. Click here. By Olivia Rose TESTING for coronavirus in the Turks and Caicos Islands requires capacity building and highly trained personnel. This is according to Premier Sharlene Cartwright Robinson who said the Government is working assiduously to conduct testing for the virus locally. Speaking at a press briefing on Monday (March 16), Cartwright Robinson said although the Ministry of Health and by extension the Government is working to make testing available locally, the alternative measures in place are working adequately. Currently the TCI is sending blood samples to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad and the Bahamas for testing in suspected cases. The territorys first samples of suspected cases were returned to the TCI in one week and the results were negative. Some local politicians and health experts have suggested that this time frame is too long. The premier said: "I wish to also address the question of testing. I cannot do so without expressing profound thanks to CARPHAs lab team in Trinidad who remain available for use by TCI and who received our first samples. "There are few labs in the region with PCR testing capability and the closest to us are Bahamas and Jamaica. "We have made arrangements with the Bahamas and are grateful for their swift sample testing over the weekend. "The Bahamas has proven over and over to be a true friend to these Islands. "The question is why do we not have testing capabilities at home? The short answer is we are working on it. "As the Ministry of Health has stated multiple times - it requires capacity building in terms of the physical space as well as training of personnel. She stressed that building the requisite capacity in terms of skills, knowledge, tools, equipment, and other resources needed to competently test for the highly contagious disease is a work in progress. "In the meantime, we are pleased with the current arrangements and will continue to use and pursue the swiftest testing rate, she said. The premier also used the opportunity to clarify the difference between suspected and quarantine cases. She said: "Suspected and quarantine cases have caused some confusion but it is not indigenous to TCI. "Suspected cases are those cases by WHO standards where there are symptoms being exhibited similar to those of COVID-19. These persons meet the case definition to be tested. "Those in quarantine are those who may have had exposure but show no signs or symptoms. She reminded the populace that quarantine numbers will go up as health officials and individuals take precaution. "And again quarantine can be self-imposed or state imposed, she said. Minister of Health Hon. Edwin Astwood on Tuesday, March 10, said his ministry is in the process of procuring testing kits. "We are looking to test here on the ground. We had Public Health England here last week and they recommended the best test kits and the best way forward for us. "We are looking at a number of them. Im happy to say that we are now actively in the process of sourcing them. He continued: "Also in terms of quarantine and dealing with persons who may become infected, we are now finalising the purchase of stand-alone units that you may see the army use when they set up medic emergency sites on the battlefield. "So were looking at that those kinds of units for the hospital and other health facilities. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Jerusalem Mon, March 23, 2020 09:09 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206caab83 2 World Al-Aqsa,mosque,Jerusalem,coronavirus,prayer,COVID-19,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,health,novel-coronavirus Free All Muslim prayers at Jerusalem's al-Aqsa mosque compound will be suspended from Monday until further notice in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus, religious officials said on Sunday. The doors of the mosque and the adjoining Dome of the Rock had already been shut, but worshippers were still able to gather in the open areas of the hilltop compound, known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as the Temple Mount. "It was decided to suspend the arrival of worshippers to prayers through all the gates to al-Aqsa mosque starting Monday," said a statement issued by the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs in Jordan, which acts as custodian of the site, the third holiest in Islam after Mecca and Medina. The new edict suspends the outdoor prayers as well. Those sessions usually draw large crowds, though the numbers have dwindled in recent weeks. The Palestinian director of the mosque, Sheikh Omar Kisawni, confirmed the decision to Reuters. Religious leaders at other holy sites in Jerusalem's walled Old City, such as the adjacent Western Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, have also set precautionary limitations. The compounds religious workers and guards will continue to be allowed entry and the Muslim call to prayer will continue as normal, said the Waqf council, which oversees Jerusalem's Islamic sites. In new report, Human Rights Watch claims Egyptian security forces tortured children as young as 12 in custody. Egyptian police, security forces and military officials have arbitrarily arrested, tortured and disappeared hundreds of children, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW). The New York-based rights group released a report on Monday, claiming Egypt has, since 2013, detained and abused children as young as 12 as part of a crackdown on dissent against the countrys military government. The 43-page report states the crackdown and the use of torture against all detainees, especially minors, has weakened the rule of law in Egypt to the point of extinction, as prosecutors and judges exacerbated abuses through due process violations and unfair trials. Egypt has not responded to the new accusations, but the countrys State Information Service (SIS) has in the past dismissed similar claims as a smear campaign. Titled, No One Cared He Was A Child: Egyptian Security Forces Abuse of Children in Detention, the HRW report documents abuses against 20 children who were aged between 12 and 17 when they were arrested. Fifteen of the 20 children said they were tortured in pretrial detention, usually during interrogation and while being detained incommunicado. Seven children said security officers tortured them with electricity, including with stun guns. One boy said his interrogators tied him to a chair for three days. And a boy whom authorities forcibly disappeared and tortured at age 16 told a relative that he was worried he might never marry or be able to have children because of what security officers had done to him during interrogations. In the case of 12-year-old Abdullah Boumadian, who was forcibly disappeared, security officers waterboarded and electrocuted him before placing him in solitary confinement for about 100 days. Two other children, aged between 14 and 17, recounted how, after they were forcibly taken by security officials, they were suspended by their arms and dislocated their shoulders. Egyptian law requires authorities to present detainees to a prosecutor within 24 hours of arrest [Mohamed El-Masry/HRW] Juvenile justice The 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) set out the conditions under which a child, defined as a person under the age of 18, can be detained for crimes they have been convicted of, but mandates that children be held separately from adults and imprisonment is a measure of last resort. In Egypt, prison officials do not separate children from adults in places of detention, according to HRW. Egyptian law requires authorities to present detainees to a prosecutor within 24 hours of arrest. However, prosecutors covered up lengthy enforced disappearances of children by falsely stating when they were arrested, according to HRW. In none of the cases documented by HRW did authorities present an arrest warrant. We have found that prosecutors and judges are complicit in these violations, as they tend to protect officers and policemen by ignoring these allegations, Hussein Baoumi, Egypt researcher at Amnesty International, said. This is especially true in cases where the Supreme State Security Prosecution was involved, as they do not open serious investigations into allegations of torture, including when the allegations are made by children. According to Amr Magdi, Middle East and North Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch, there is no effective oversight mechanism that monitors prison conditions in Egypt. A report released in 2018 stated that children have been tortured and involuntarily disappeared by the Egyptian state [Mohamed El-Masry/HRW] Previous reports This is not the first time Egypt is accused of torturing and abusing children in detention. Amnesty International released a report in 2018 stating children were tortured and involuntarily disappeared by the Egyptian state. A 2017 report by the UN Committee against Torture found torture was practised systematically in Egypt, including in police stations, prisons and state security facilities and it was perpetrated by police, military officers and prison guards. Shortly after the release of Amnestys 2018 report, the SIS responded saying that Egypt had complied with the CRC and Amnestys report was not based on well-informed sources. The SIS urged Amnesty as a large and prominent organisation to be more accurate while relaying allegations of human rights violations in Egypt. SIS further stated that Egyptian authorities offered the necessary guarantees of justice to two children whose cases were mentioned in detail in Amnestys report. SIS called on Amnesty not to take part in the systematic smear campaign that aims to damage the image of the Egyptian state. Egypt was one of the six initiator countries to call for convening the 1990 World Summit for Children [Mohamed El-Masry/HRW] Violation of international law Experts believe that, by torturing children, Egypt is violating a range of rights contained in the CRC. Principal among these rights, said Aoife Nolan, professor of international human rights law at the University of Nottingham, was the prohibition on children being subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Torture is also a flagrant violation of the states duty to ensure [to] the maximum extent possible the survival and development of the child, Nolan said. Egypt was one of the first 20 countries to ratify the CRC, and was also one of the six countries that called for convening the 1990 World Summit for Children. Egypt should enforce provisions of its 1996 Child Law and its 2008 amendments that established special protections for children, such as alternatives to detention and penalties for officers who detained children alongside adults, HRW said. The rights group called on Egypt to fully cooperate with United Nations and African Union experts on torture, arbitrary detention and enforced disappearances, and to invite them to conduct country visits. Nolan said: The impact of torture on children is especially profound. Children have a right to special protection from the state a duty which is heightened when they are in detention. It is hard to imagine a more serious violation of childrens rights than those documented in HRWs report. Mark Drumbl, professor of international law at Washington and Lee University agreed. Evidence from the experience of child soldiers suggest that children may have greater susceptibility to trauma than adults. After a woman employee of a leading IT firm here in Maharashtra tested positive for coronavirus, the company said it has evacuated two buildings here and asked the employee's colleagues who came in contact with her to quarantine themselves and closely monitor their health. The woman is among the four people who tested positive for the deadly virus in Pune on Sunday. The company, operating at the Hinjawadi IT Park here, evacuated two buildings where the coronavirus infected employee worked, and said these premises will remain closed for deep cleaning and sanitisation. "We can confirm that an employee in Pune has tested positive for the coronavirus. The employee is under medical supervision and we have asked colleagues who were in contact with the employee to self-quarantine themselves and closely monitor their health," the firm said in a statement. "As a precautionary measure, we are also sanitising the entire campus and have sent a detailed communication to the employees working from that campus," it said. The company said it has taken and will continue to take necessary precautions to keep its employees and communities safe. District Collector Naval Kishore Ram said the IT firm employee who tested positive for the coronavirus is a close relative of a 41-year-old woman who was earlier diagnosed with COVID-19. So far, there are 16 COVID-19 patients in Pune city, according to officials. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Save Romania Union (USR) draws attention to the fact that our country has entered the "yellow zone" on the coronavirus epidemic map and calls for an urgent increase in testing capacity, in order to isolate COVID-19 cases early. "With more than 500 cases, Romania is entering the yellow area on the coronavirus epidemic map today. It is even more serious that today a woman from Suceava died because of COVID19 infection and she had not traveled abroad nor did she know to have been in contact with a positive tested person. Therefore, the authorities cannot deny the community spread of the new coronavirus in Romania today, and in this situation, the capacity of testing and thus the early identification and isolation of COVID-19 cases must be increased urgently. There is a risk that there will be outbreaks of intra-community transmission without epidemiological traceability, and Romania can quickly reach the situation of Italy," USR shows in a Facebook post.The Union recalls that currently only symptomatic patients who have been in the red zone or in contact with a patient already confirmed with COVID-19 are being tested. Thus not tested are:- symptomatic contacts of a person returned from the red zone in the last 14 days;- people with symptoms coming from areas that at the time of departure were not red or yellow;- symptomatic patients, regardless of symptomatology, without precise identification of the strict epidemiological context. Bacon isnt just for breakfast anymore. Heres a sampling of restaurants throughout the region where you can dig into some sinfully delicious strips of bacon from breakfast right through to lunch, dinner and even dessert. Lock 29 with Rebel Hill... For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME. Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire. Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever. Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation. View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union. Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history. Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words. Kenya banned FGM in 2011, but Europeans still bring their daughters to underground clinics there to be cut. Nairobi, Kenya In a good month, about 100 girls will be brought by their families to Halima Hirsis* underground clinic in Nairobi to be subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM). Families come here from all over the world, willing to pay $150 a time for their daughters to be cut. The Somali diaspora are good people for my business, says Hirsi, 69, the manager of the clinic, who also carries out procedures. The clinic is located in the Eastleigh district of Nairobi, which is known locally as little Mogadishu. It mostly receives Somali clients from Europe particularly the United Kingdom, Sweden and Norway and the United States. Hirsi works with Abdilatif Ali*, a broker or middle man who acts as a gateway to the clinic. People pay me to identify a clinic to help their young girls, he explains. Business is good; sometimes we can attend to over 30 clients a week. The parents travel thousands of miles, paying large sums of money, to ensure that their daughters undergo a procedure that can range from losing the tip of the clitoris to having the entire inner and outer labia sliced off and the opening to the vagina sewn up. While most clients at Hirsis clinic opt for the former, it does cater to the latter. It is like butchering a human When Amina Duba, now 29 and a mother of five, underwent FGM as a teenager, she was told by her aunties that the rite was going to make her a complete woman. When she was cut, Aminas vaginal opening was also completely sewn closed. This caused terrible complications when she gave birth to her children, and makes even her monthly period difficult and painful. In short, Duba says, the lingering pain is a nightmare, and she has no money for treatment to help alleviate the agony. Sitting on a thick mattress in the sitting room of her two-room house in the Gitathura slum in Nairobis Korogocho district , with her 13-year-old daughter by her side, she explains how badly the procedure has affected her life. It was bad and I regret it but I could do nothing because it is the parents who decide, she says. They removed the labia minora and majora. It is like butchering a human. I would never allow my daughters to go through this and that is why they will never be circumcised. It is all a myth about a circumcised girl being more desirable for marriage. Amina Duba sits in her home in Korogocho [Abdullahi Mire/Al Jazeera] Ready for marriage FGM is illegal in Kenya; it has been since both the practice and procurement of it were banned in 2011. Theoretically, practitioners and brokers can be jailed and fined. The minimum punishment is three years imprisonment and a $2,000 fine. But there are no official statistics on the number of people who have been prosecuted, and judges can be reluctant to punish offenders who are often parents responsible for the care of their children. Rates of FGM vary widely across the country. Only 0.4 percent of Luhya girls and 0.2 percent of Luo girls both ethnic groups in western Kenya are subjected to the practice. But in some eastern and northeastern counties of Kenya such as Mander and Wajir, the number rises to 90 percent. Overall, about 21 percent of women and girls still suffer FGM in Kenya, according to the non-government organisation (NGO), 28toomany. The highest prevalence (97 percent) is in northeastern Kenya, where Amina Duba originally came from, and some parts of western Kenya in Kisii county, it is nearly universal and girls go through the rite between the ages of five and seven. It is more prevalent in rural communities where 26 percent of women and girls undergo FGM than in cities, where prevalence is nearly 14 percent. Instead of ending the practice, some critics say Kenyas law against it has driven it underground. Circumcisers from Dubas Borana community in the Gitathura slum have started to move to other parts of Kenya where there is more acceptance of FGM. Ibrahim Guyo, a coordinator at the NGO, SASA, which promotes awareness about issues such as FGM and womens reproductive health, says: FGM is secretly performed by community elders and nurses in peoples homes but the business is undergoing a slump in Nairobi because of the ban, but not in other parts of the country. Clients continue to come to Halima Hirsis clinic in Nairobi from overseas, however. And, while the traditional, female elders who perform FGM have started to move on, local demand for clinical procedures also remains strong in cities like Nairobi. Most of the procedures she performs involve removing the tip of the clitoris something she says takes a few minutes to do and requires about two weeks of recovery time. The more extreme procedure that involves removing all the flesh of the labia minora and majora and leaving only the entrance to the vagina can take an hour or longer, with girls needing at least 40 days of recovery time, she says. The resulting pain and complications can last much longer than the 14 to 40 days, however. Most girls brought to the clinic stay with relatives. But for an additional $150 to $200 they can stay in a house where Hirsi says they are looked after and well-fed. When they heal they are now considered ready for marriage, she adds. The steps up to the FGM clinic in Eastleigh, Nairobi [Abdullahi Mire/Al Jazeera] I will pay anything Hirsis clinic is hidden in the midst of a maze of narrow, dark streets that lead into a slum in Eastleighs Section 3 area. Abdilatif, the broker, talks to us in low tones as we enter a dark room. On the day that we visit the clinic, five women sit on a wooden bench in a room curtained by a red cloth. Halima Hawo*, 64, one of the clients who has brought her five-year-old granddaughter from Sweden, says: My granddaughter is getting older. I need her to [have undergone FGM] before she goes back home. She explains that when her granddaughter is older and marries a Somali man in Sweden, she will be expected to have undergone the procedure. Before she heard of this clinic, she says she recently arranged for three of her nieces who live in Colorado in the US to travel to Garissa in northeastern Kenya for FGM. There, she says, they perform the correct the most extreme version of FGM. The girls are kept in isolation in a house for 40 days, she explains, with their legs restricted by a rope to prevent movement. Fartun Khadija*, 39, has brought her five-year-old daughter to the clinic from the UK. She sits fidgeting on her mothers lap. I will pay anything, she says. I was thinking of taking her to Somalia for Grade A circumcision but a friend advised me it can be done here in Nairobi. Which is good news, she says. Khadija has opted for highly invasive surgery for her daughter Grade A circumcision means the removal of the clitoral glands and all the visible parts of the clitoris as well as the labia majora and minora. Circumcised girls are still seen as clean The locals who use the clinic pay between $2 and $8 much less than the foreigners. Among the mainly Somali communities around Eastleigh, circumcised girls are seen as clean and a woman with a clitoris is viewed as a liability she is thought likely to be unfaithful to her husband. At a coffee shop in downtown Nairobi, a Somali elder, 70-year-old Hussein Farah, says: Who will ever marry unclean girls in our community? FGM is protection against sex before marriage. He describes himself as a very bold man who likes to speak the truth. Amina Ahmed, 69, is a circumciser who has been practising since the 1980s in different countries including Somalia, Ethiopia and, now, Kenya. She works at Hirsis clinic and performs FGM procedures alone, without assistance. She also works as a midwife in the local community. She acknowledges that there can be lifelong complications caused by FGM but says she takes precautions to prevent this, although she does not expand on what those precautions are. She does say that wealthier clients at the clinic can buy pain relief medicine which costs between $40 and $50. Last week I served two girls one from Canada and another from Sweden, but many are local. I do at least five clients a week, she says. These days our girls dont want it But, while practitioners like Ahmed claim business is still booming, more and more women are choosing not to force their daughters down this path. These days our girls dont want it, Duba says. She adds that her peers other parents her age feel the same way. She has not heard about FGM being performed in her Korogocho community for nearly 10 years. She hopes the practice will eventually die out altogether as people become better educated about the dangers of FGM. We have been sensitised [to this issue] by the TV and also by activists. It is not the government which made us stop this ritual. We saw it was not good because of the scars and pain it has left in our lives, Duba says. Its not about religion but culture, she adds. But the generational attitudes are changing and women and young girls are more empowered by information. These days our girls dont want it and we support them. *Some names have been changed for anonymity Australia will belatedly change its coronavirus testing criteria to target more people and prevent asymptomatic cases from unwittingly spreading the disease. Since COVID-19 took hold in Australia, only those people who had arrived from overseas, or been in contact with someone who had a confirmed case, qualified to get one of the limited amounts of tests. However that was about to change, with overseas experience showing the countries most successful in slowing the spread had sought out and tested those who had potentially been exposed, even if they did not know it. Australia's borders were shut last Friday to everyone but citizens and permanent residents and they were ordered to undertake 14 days of isolation. Deputy chief medical officer Paul Kelly admitted the testing guidelines would soon change The guidelines for testing for COVID-19 will be changed this week to drop the overseas travel component, as the coronavirus spreads A nurse takes a sample for testing at the newly opened COVID-19 drive-thru testing facility at Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre in Adelaide, Tuesday, March 24, 2020 About 80 per cent of Australia's cases before this week were contracted overseas but in recent days there has been a growth in local transmission. 'As we learn more about the virus, we have continued to review the testing criteria,' the Health Department said on Monday night. 'In light of our stronger travel restrictions, the focus logically moves to the community with COVID-19 symptoms, on top of returned travellers and close contacts of cases.' The announcement followed comments on Q&A by deputy chief medical officer Paul Kelly, admitting the testing guidelines would soon change. 'We'll be removing the traveller component, but we're working on that at the moment,' he said, and promised an announcement this week. About 140,000 people in Australia have been tested and health authorities recently obtained another 100,000 test kits from overseas. A nurse takes a sample from a driver at a new COVID-19 drive-through testing facility at Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre in Adelaide, Tuesday, March 24, 2020 A man in South Korea undergoes a swab of the back of his nasal cavity to test for coronavirus A new test, Cepheid Xpert Xpress SARS CoV-2, which gives a result in just 45 minutes, has just been approved by Australian regulators. It is hoped this test will allow far more people to be rapidly screened. Another test that takes 15 minutes was also approved. Senator Rex Patrick, who also appeared on the show via video link from quarantine, said the previous strict testing criteria led to him contracting the virus. He said he likely caught it form fellow senator Andrew Bragg, who was showing flu-like symptoms at a Senate inquiry hearing. However, Senator Bragg did not know he had coronavirus because he did not meet the criteria to be given a test. 'A week later he became aware of others that had gone to a wedding that he had been to that had contracted coronavirus, and at that point, he did qualify for a test,' Senator Patrick said. A nurse takes a sample from a driver at a new COVID-19 drive-through testing facility at Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre in Adelaide, Tuesday, March 24, 2020 A nurse speaks with patients at the door of a new coronavirus clinic opening at Mount Barker Hospital in Adelaide 'If he had have been tested when he first had symptoms, I would not have spent eight days working in country South Australia. 'Why is the test criteria so strict? Can you see how 10 minutes two weeks ago could have saved so much time and significantly reduced the risk of my infecting anyone?' Professor Kelly argued Australia was doing a better job at testing than other countries where the virus has hit much harder. 'We've been testing and finding many more mild cases,' he said. 'Italy mainly tested the top of the pyramid, the very serious cases that came into hospital. That's what their first 1,000 were. 'Our first 1,000 were mainly community cases, mostly involved with travel from overseas. We've only had 20 people through this whole period that have been in intensive care.' So far around 140,000 Australians have been tested for COVID-19 with 1,886 cases and seven deaths being recorded so far He defended the initial guidelines on who could be tested, as so many of the cases in Australia directly came from overseas travellers. 'We need to test where it's most likely to be positive. Up to this point it's most likely to be in people that have been returning from overseas,' he said. There was also a global shortage of testing kits which meant the health authorities had to be very selective on who they were used on. 'Mostly the guidelines for testing are about a travel component and the travel is decreasing,' Professor Kelly said. He said the coronavirus was 'much more infectious than the flu', making social distancing and isolation important to stop its spread. 'It does spread quickly and reasonably short contact can actually allow that to spread from person to person.' The district administration of Devbhoomi Dwarka in Saurashtra region of Gujarat on Monday imposed section 144 of CrPC and announced that all but essential services will shut down till March 31 in view of coronavirus pandemic. While the districtitself has not reported any positive case so far, the administration issued the order under section 144 of CrPC, section 135 of the Gujarat Police Act, and sections of Epidemic Diseases Act. As per the order, shops and establishments, except those providing essential goods and services, shall be closed till March 31. Establishment involved in production and distributionof essential commodities, providing banking services, telecommunication services, food, vegetables and groceries, hospitals, media houses, petroleum, etc. will remain open. Government offices, electricity services, local self- government offices will also remain open, it said. Earlier, the state government imposed partial lockdown in cities like Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Vadodara, Rajkot and Surat as well as Kutch districttill March 25. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Government services minister, Stuart Robert, insisted on Monday that the MyGov website was still working despite it having appeared to crash following a mass exodus online of Australians scrambling for a welfare lifeline offered in response to COVID-19. Appearing to back-pedal following a spate of media reports throughout the morning, Robert later told journalists in Canberra the site had been the subject of a DDoS attack. He also stressed the government had bolstered its digital channels by a factor of 10 in anticipation of the rush. Over the weekend, we took our number of users of MyGov from an average of 6,000 concurrent users to what is now 55,000 concurrent users, Robert said. Weve put a 10-fold increase on our digital channels over the weekend in preparation, unfortunately this morning we also suffered a distributed denial of service on our main channels, which also highlights that other threats are still inbound. But by late afternoon Robert corrected himself in parliament, saying there was in fact no DDoS attack. The DDoS alarms show no evidence of a specific attack today, he said. The misunderstanding appeared to have stemmed from the fact that just before 10am there were almost 100,000 users on MyGov, which has a maximum capacity of 55,000. Robert said the surge triggered a DDoS false alarm. Earlier in the day, thousands of Australians were seen queuing at Centrelink offices across Australia following the federal governments decision to double welfare payments as job losses and financial anxieties mount. As the queues at Centrelink offices started to swell, the government urged people to go online to help stem the tide. In a message on social media it said: If you dont currently get an income support payment and you need help because youve lost your job or had your income reduced, please start your claim online. If you need to provide proof of identity and youre in self-isolation or feeling unwell we can do this over the phone but please defer until later if you can. We urge you not to come into our service centres if youre unwell. By mid-morning people trying to access MyGov received the message: MyGov is currently unavailable: We apologise for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience. Addressing the problem on twitter Robert stated: There is unprecedented demand for the MyGov service right now, but we ask Australians to be patient as we work hard to help them all. Try logging on later today or even tomorrow. MyGov is working, but the best option right now is for people to be patient. By late afternoon MyGov was back online. With the Punjab government imposing a statewide curfew, the city turned into a fortress, and police stopped all vehicles and brought down the shutters of all shops around noon, leading to utter confusion and chaos. The curfew has been enforced without any relaxations. However, on Wednesday, it is expected that the restrictions may be relaxed for a few hours for the public to make essential purchases. There are, however, no restrictions for medical emergency cases, para military forces, military, government officials on duty. CARRIERS OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES STOPPED TOO On Monday, the drivers of the mini-trucks and pick-up vehicles, and even vegetable vendors, who were until then unaware of the curfew, were baffled as to why the police was stopping them. A number of these drivers were seen arguing with cops that what they are carrying falls under essential commodities. Some of them were even seen making frantic calls to their company officials to find a way out. The dairy workers who supply milk in the city were also stopped and residents who came out to purchase vegetables, medicines and other essential commodities were also left in tizzy. Police had a hard time explaining to people that a curfew has been imposed in the state and that means all shops will remain closed and time-bound relaxation for essential commodities will be announced soon. Ludhiana goods transport association president Didar Singh and press secretary Jagdish Jassowal said that after the announcement of curfew in the state, the transport sector came to a complete halt. Other states have also closed their borders and no truck from other states is being allowed to enter. The trucks carrying vegetables, medicines and other essential commodities also came to a halt due to which residents may face shortage in the coming days. Even labourers are not ready to load and unload the goods due to fear of infection, he said. The decision to impose curfew has also left the dairy owners also in a dilemma over the supply of milk in the city from Tuesday onwards. President of Tajpur road dairy owners association , DS Oberoi said that the government should give relaxation for providing milk and other essential commodities to the residents. On Monday also, a four-hour relaxation was given to us but dairy owners faced problems in supplying the milk in the evening as the police stopped their vehicles. The administration should give relaxation in the evening also otherwise they would suffer losses and the residents will not get the supply milk, he added. Curfew call triggers panic to hoard more groceries Meanwhile, as the news of curfew being imposed spread like wildfire, panic gripped the residents with regard to supply of vegetable, milk, grocery and other essential items. The residents threw caution to the wind and gathered in large numbers pushing away the idea of social distancing. One of the residents of Model town extension, Gurvir Singh, who was purchasing vegetables from a vendor near Jawaddi canal bridge, said the state government should have given some time to residents to gather grocery and essential items. This has triggered panic among the residents and large numbers of residents have come out to gather essential commodities, said Singh. Uncertainty looms over supply of veggies: While the Ahrtiya associations in main vegetable market in the city were mulling closure of the market for two days Wednesday and Thursday for taking up sanitisation of market area, the administration has been able to convince them for operating the market from 5 am to 11 am daily so that the public should not face any problem. Chairman of Sabzi Mandi Ahrtiya Association, Raju Malik said that even if they operate the market, there is no vendor who would supply the vegetables in the city as curfew has been imposed and the vendors also fear infection. Even if they do not receive supply for next few days, there is enough stock in the mandi to ensure supply in the city but with no vendors it is not possible, he added. 1. Yes. The downtown area needs a good draw. Some quality taverns would be a plus. 2. Yes. Too many storefronts are vacant. Bars could help to bring in needed revenue. 3. No. Putting a number of bars downtown is just asking for trouble. Dont change things. 4.No. Several churches have located downtown. Putting bars close by would be a bad fit. 5. Unsure. It would depend on how the law is written and what standards are enacted. Vote View Results The Australian government missed critical opportunities to secure the country's borders against a coronavirus outbreak, a leading infection control expert says, as the nation plunges into shutdown. Professor Bill Bowtell, a health adviser who led Australia's response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, said the federal government should have quickly introduced temperature testing at the border, as Taiwan and Singapore did. He said the nation was also slow to shut the door on travellers from the United States, where there appears to have been a large number of undetected cases. The government had belatedly introduced bans on all non-residents and even returning citizens were required to self-isolate for two weeks after arrival. However Daily Mail Australia can reveal police are yet to fine or charge a single person for breaching those self-isolation rules, raising serious questions about how many people are adhering to them. 'It has been very clear for weeks and months what controls should be put in place at borders,' said Prof Bowtell, from the University of New South Wales's Kirby Institute of Infection and Immunity. 'A lot of things that ought to have happened at airports did not happen ... You have to ask why that didn't happen in Australia'. Ramping up: A staff member in protective medical clothing speaks to arriving passengers in Brisbane on last Monday A health expert said 'a lot of things that ought to have happened at airports did not happen'. Above, the scene at Sydney Airport last Friday Bill Bowtell, from the UNSW Kirby Institute of Infection and Immunity As authorities gnash their teeth over border bungles - including allowing 50 infected passengers to disembark from a cruise ship in Sydney - Prof Bowtell said Australia should have looked to Taiwan and Singapore, which have been widely praised for seemingly getting in control of the pandemic. Taiwan itself has a similar sized population to Australia, with 23 million people, but much more experience of dealing with infectious diseases such as SARS and swine flu. The island has reported just 153 positive cases and two deaths, compared to Australia's more than 1600 cases and seven deaths. Both Taiwan and Singapore had enforced strict border measures and intense contact tracing and quarantine since the outbreak first began in Wuhan, China, last December. Singapore even has a contact-tracing app, so authorities can see where infected people have been. While Australia's borders may have closed last week, the nation will be grappling with the fallout from infectious international arrivals for months to come. Bungles at the border The crisis of infected international arrivals landing in Australia was thrown into stark relief at the weekend. South Australian officials revealed 10 US tourists travelling through the famous Barossa Valley wine region had tested positive. Three flights from San Francisco into Sydney alone carried infected passengers last Monday Authorities said the tourists arrived in the state separately and were believed to have flown into SA. US citizens could still fly into the country until the border closed at 9pm on Friday. Last Monday alone, positive COVID-19 cases were detected on three flights from San Francisco to Sydney: Qantas flights QF12 and QF4 and United flight UA863. They were allowed to land despite the government already closing the border to arrivals from other virus hotspots such as Italy, Iran, China and South Korea. Prof Bowtell said the government's early closure of the border to Chinese visitors was 'commendable' but it should have broadened it to several other countries. A list of finternational lights into Sydney with passengers who tested positive to COVID-19. On right, rows possibly affected OUTBREAKS FROM FOREIGNERS ARRIVING IN AUSTRALIA At least thirty-five cases have been linked to a wedding at Stanwell Tops in Sydney's south on March 6. The transmissions were possibly linked to a couple who travelled from the US. Ten American tourists tested positive for COVID-19 during a wine tour to South Australia's Barossa Valley last week. Every day from March 1 to March 17 international flights brought infected cases into Australia at Sydney airport alone, NSW Health data shows. Fifty passengers who disembarked the Ruby Princess cruise ship have tested positive to the virus. Advertisement Meanwhile, NSW authorities have revealed 50 passengers allowed off the Ruby Princess cruise ship have tested positive. An incredible 2,647 passengers were allowed to disembark from that ship in total. Four separate cruises affected by COVID-19 were also allowed to dock in Sydney. The cruise ship debacle has sparked a blame game between the federal and state governments over who was responsible. A Department of Home Affairs spokesman pointed out the border was now closed to foreign nationals and all Australian citizens and residents are required to self-isolate. The spokesman said: 'Our number one priority is to slow the spread of coronavirus and save lives'. (The Health ministry was approached for comment). Some the final international travellers into Sydney before the borders shut to non-citizens and residents on Friday night Debacle: More than 2400 passengers got off the Ruby Princess cruise ship - and 26 of them have tested positive to COVID-19 Fears at the airport WHAT THE HEALTH MINISTER SAYS Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt was confronted about the cruise ship, airport checks and South Australian tour group on Sunrise on Monday. Mr Hunt said the government has imposed a universal quarantine on all passengers flying into the country. Everyone must self-isolate for 14 days upon arriving Down Under. The Cabinet official also noted Australia was one of the first countries in the world to close its borders to China, Iran, South Korae and Italy. The health minister said everyone who lands is disembarks in Australia is given information about self-isolation and people who are perceived as unwell are reviewed. But he said: 'We will continue to step those items up.' Mr Hunt noted the government has carried out more than 135,000 tests for the virus so far. Daily Mail Australia put questions to the Federal Health Department but a spokesperson was unable to respond by deadline. Mr Hunt's office was approached for comment. Advertisement Arrivals have fretted that there aren't enough checks being done at our borders, as countries overseas are doing. One elderly couple from Britain said they were in the air when Australia's strict ban on foreigners was introduced. When they arrived in Adelaide they declared that not only had they been in Britain before coming to Australia, but also in Spain - which has been ravaged by the virus. 'They told us we'd need to self-isolate for 14 days, but we said, 'we're only in Adelaide for three days, and then we are going to Melbourne for a two and on to Sydney to see our son. 'They just said 'we can't force you to do anything' and away we went. 'We were shocked to be honest and have done our best since - but we've been to three cities now. Australia has been too relaxed.' A passenger who flew in from Queenstown, New Zealand, to Sydney on the first day self-isolation restrictions kicked in said she and her husband was just waved through. We've been to three cities ... Australia has been too relaxed 'A customers officer asked us a few questions and we were considered low risk', the passenger said. 'They just asked 'where did you come from' and 'have you been to any other countries.' They agreed to abide by isolation restrictions when prompted by an e-passport desk. Like hundreds of passengers, they were handed a letter about self-isolating. No one has checked on the couple, who live in New South Wales, to ensure they are abiding by the isolation requirements. Police haven't fined anyone CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement State police forces told Daily Mail Australia they are yet to charge anyone or issue a single fine for breaking isolation during the coronavirus pandemic - despite widespread evidence of clear breaches of enforcement. The nation's chief medical officer, Professor Brendan Murphy, told reporters on Sunday evening that there had been examples of people flouting self-isolation rules. 'We've seen some irresponsible behaviour from people who were told to quarantine and have not. And they have spread the virus,' he fumed. Queensland Police said officers have conducted 1,850 checks as of March 16, but no one in the state has been fined for breaching a self-isolation order. Daily Mail Australia understands self-isolation checks in Queensland are no longer being carried out after an initial phase of enforcement. Queensland Police were reluctant to issue fines because from the moment the first penalty was issued, authorities would have to continue doing so at the same level, Daily Mail Australia has been told. NSW and South Australia Police both refused to reveal statistics, but there have been no reports of anyone in either state being charged or fined for breaching quarantine. Police patrol Bondi Beach on Sunday after thousands of people flouted social distancing rules Officers closed Balmoral Beach - a popular site in Sydney's north - on Sunday as the crackdown began Victoria Police has confirmed nobody has been charged in the state for breaking self-isolation but would not comment on fines. MAXIMUM PENALTIES FOR BREACHING PUBLIC HEALTH ORDERS NSW - $11,000 fine and six months jail QLD - $13,345 fine SA - $25,000 fine WA - $50,000 and 12 months jail TAS- $8,400 fine VIC - $6,600 fine Advertisement But that state premier Daniel Andrews announced Victoria Police have now allocated 500 police to a special task force for enforcing coronavirus rules. Western Australia Police were yet to respond to a request for comment. From Tuesday afternoon, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory will extend compulsory isolation periods to anyone arriving from interstate. Australians who refuse to follow public health acts can be jailed for up to a year or be fined as much as $50,000, with penalties varying by state. Each state has different punishments for breaches of public health orders. In New South Wales, people who breach the public health order can be fined up to $11,000 and face six months behind bars. Queenslanders that fail to comply with health orders could see fines of up to $13,345 along with other penalties, while Victorians could face a fine of up to $6,600. The country's battle with the disease is just beginning. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 23, 2020) - Intercontinental Gold (TSXV: ICAU) ("Intercontinental Gold" or the "Company") reports that on Saturday, March 21, the Government of Bolivia announced it has closed its borders and all international flights are suspended for 14 days to combat the spread of COVID-19. The quarantine measures also include: curfews, restricted in-country travel between government departments and an order for all persons to remain in their homes 24 hours a day with an exception made for emergencies. As a result, we have temporarily closed our Bolivian operations to comply with this order. We are closely monitoring the situation and will provide regular corporate updates during this unprecedented time. Gorden Glenn, Intercontinental Gold's President & CEO remarked, "The health and safety of our employees, small gold miner clients and all parties we are in daily contact with is of utmost importance to our Company. In advance of this announcement we had already initiated social distancing and increased office sanitation procedures for our office & refinery staff and visitors. We have taken the additional, necessary steps to comply with the Bolivian Government order and all gold buying, refining and export operations have been suspended. Our offices and assets have been fully secured and will continue to be monitored during this temporary closure. While the temporary suspension of business operations is likely to have a short-term impact, our business is highly elastic and gold export volumes are merely deferred until after that travel restrictions are lifted. In the medium and longer-term we fully expect to maintain and even accelerate the demonstrated high growth of our unique gold refining, commodity trading business plan." About Intercontinental Gold and Metals Ltd. Intercontinental Gold and Metals Ltd. is a Next Generation Metals and Mining Company. We believe our gold refining, physical commodities marketing and trading operations can provide insights in global primary supply and demand trends that create a strategic and competitive advantage for further investment and expansion opportunities on a global basis. The Company generates revenues from the purchases and sales of gold (accounted for as revenue). Cost of sales is measured at the fair value of the precious metals purchased and inventory sold, which is purchased at a competitive discount from licensed artisanal and small gold miners (ASGM) in Latin America (LATAM). Global ASGM supply is significant and supports a sustainable revenue generation model. We are unique being the only publicly listed gold refining company servicing the LATAM ASGM market. Intercontinental Gold has 18,040,000 common shares issued and outstanding that are listed on Canada's TSX Venture Exchange (ICAU.V). ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS INTERCONTINENTAL GOLD AND METALS LTD. Gorden Glenn President & Chief Executive Officer (647) 985-2785 info@intercontinentalgold.com Forward Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking information. The statements are based on reasonable assumptions and expectations of management and Intercontinental Gold provides no assurance that actual events will meet management's expectations. In certain cases, forward-looking information may be identified by such terms as "anticipates", "believes", "could", "estimates", "expects", "may", "shall", "will", or "would". Although Intercontinental Gold believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected. Commodity trading has inherent risks. In addition, factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from the forward-looking information stated herein include any factors, which may include changes in market conditions, changes in metal prices, general economic and political conditions, environmental risks, and community and non-governmental actions. Such factors will also affect whether Intercontinental Gold will ultimately receive the benefits anticipated pursuant to relevant agreements. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the forward-looking statements. These and other factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Intercontinental Gold does not undertake to update any forward-looking information contained herein except in accordance with securities regulation. Actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, save and except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53686 HBO aired the second episode from Westworld's third season on Sunday, featuring a rather surprising cameo from Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. Benioff, 49, and Weiss, 48, were spotted in a brief scene as Westworld techs, who were seen discussing whether or not they could make off with the massive dragon, which was none other than Drogon from Game of Thrones. Westworld creators Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan spoke with Variety on Sunday night following the episode, revealing how they brought the Thrones creators on board. Cameo: HBO aired the second episode from Westworld's third season on Sunday, featuring a rather surprising cameo from Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss Nolan and Joy, who are married and have two children together, had met Benioff and Weiss when they were filming the first season of Westworld, with Nolan stating that Benioff and Weiss are, 'the f***ing nicest guys in the world.' 'They were so welcoming and so kind to us at a moment in which we were struggling through a first season and trying to figure out how it will work. Weve remained friends,' Nolan added. The writers added they were also friends with Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin, who had constantly been pitching a crossover between Game of Thrones and Westworld. Nicest guys: Nolan and Joy, who are married and have two children together, had met Benioff and Weiss when they were filming the first season of Westworld, with Nolan stating that Benioff and Weiss are, 'the f***ing nicest guys in the world' Welcoming: 'They were so welcoming and so kind to us at a moment in which we were struggling through a first season and trying to figure out how it will work. Weve remained friends,' Nolan added Nolan added that in the original Westworld movie, released in 1973 and based on Michael Crichton's book, there was a 'Medieval World,' and they, 'couldnt resist' a crossover. Joy added that she just, 'had to see them in those tech suits,' while Nolan added they were both, 'fully up for it.' Benioff is married to actress Amanda Peet, with Joy revealing that the best reaction to the cameo came from her. Wife: Benioff is married to actress Amanda Peet, with Joy revealing that the best reaction to the cameo came from her 'She writes to me and shes like, "You needed an actor. And the person you called was my husband, the worst actor of all time?!"' Joy said. Just before their scene, Ashley (Liam Hemsworth) tells Bernard (Jeffrey Wright) that the park is still closed and techs are waiting to see if they get laid off. When Ashley and Bernard walk past, we see what the techs are working on - a clone of Drogon, the last of Daenerys Targaryen's (Emilia Clarke) last dragon in Game of Thrones, talking about whether or not they can steal it and flee to Costa Rica. Drogon: When Ashley and Bernard walk past, we see what the techs are working on - a clone of Drogon, the last of Daenerys Targaryen's (Emilia Clarke) last dragon in Game of Thrones, talking about whether or not they can steal it and flee to Costa Rica When asked who came up with the idea to have the techs talking about stealing the dragon and going to Costa Rica, Joy said it was her husband's idea. 'Thats the kind of weird s that gets you going,' she said, while Nolan said they pitched it to them, 'And they thought it was great fun.' When asked if the dragon was just digitally copied and pasted into Westworld, Nolan revealed it was a 'real' physical dragon. Real dragon: When asked if the dragon was just digitally copied and pasted into Westworld, Nolan revealed it was a 'real' physical dragon 'We were working with their vendor, Pixamundo, who built the dragons for them. So its the real dragon,' Nolan said. Joy added, 'I remember there was a whole big debate about which season dragon for its size because the dragon grew.' When asked if the cameos meant they were creating a Game of Thrones-themed world within the sprawling theme park, Nolan added with a laugh, 'I guess thats definitely open to speculation, before stating, 'No, we couldnt.' Postponing the 2020 Olympics "may become inevitable" if the new coronavirus outbreak makes it impossible to hold the Games safely, Japan's prime minister said Monday. Shinzo Abe told parliament Japan was still committed to a "complete" Games, but added: "if that becomes difficult, in light of considering athletes first, it may become inevitable that we make a decision to postpone." This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! Topics San Antonians are used to gathering in great numbers and in close quarters to pay tribute and support each other when someone dies. But thats no longer possible as novel coronavirus continues to spread. So local funeral providers are pivoting to bring services to customers who cant be there to pay their respects in person. Many providers have long offered online guest books that allow friends and family to leave comments from afar, but a more recent development is offering a livestream broadcast of a funeral service a move the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has encouraged so mourners can watch online without having to set foot inside a chapel or church. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and San Antonio city officials have said the 10-person limit imposed on gatherings dont apply to funerals. But they urge funeral providers to keep mourners a social distance away from each other and to follow the CDCs guidance on hygiene and cleanliness. On ExpressNews.com: Get the latest update on coronavirus and a tracking map of U.S. cases We have imposed no particular restrictions on funerals, Abbott said during a town hall meeting last week. The best practice would be this try as best as you can to limit it to no more than 10 people ... It may be impossible to do that. Lets say you cannot limit it to 10 people try separation practices so that you remain separated enough so that people will not be contagious to somebody else. Mission Park Funeral Chapels has responded quickly to the changing dynamics. The family-owned business is providing drive-through visitations at all of its facilities, an accommodation its providing at no additional charge during the national emergency. Mourners can drive up to a window, view the departeds casket or urn, then leave a spoken message for the grieving family. An attendant will record their words. Those leaving condolences dont even have to roll down their car windows. Leaving a message for the family is no different than like using Siri, said Mission Park Chairman Robert Dick Tips. Were going to have a microphone there for you to be able to speak to ... You dont have to leave your car. Its probably new for everybody. Weve redesigned our facilities to accommodate for this in short order. Mission Park also continues to hold traditional funeral services, but is seating guests several feet apart from each other to comply with the governors and the citys orders on social distancing. On ExpressNews.com: With first cases of community coronavirus transmission, San Antonio officials brace for more Porter Loring Mortuaries is limiting the number of guests at funerals to 10 people, president Helen Loring Dear said Friday. The San Antonio funeral provider is also offering livestream broadcasts of funeral services at no cost to accommodate mourners who cant attend services in person. The funeral home can also film funeral services and post that footage on a website or provide it to the family free of charge, Dear said. For funerals that arent livestreamed, Porter Loring is no longer publicizing service times and locations in obituaries to better control the number of people who attend. Families are being asked in such cases to share funeral service details by word of mouth. Every family has been completely understanding of this, Dear said. Because they are, of course, aware of whats going on as well. And they want to be safe, too. Service Corporation International, which owns the Dignity Memorial brand of funeral homes, said its working to ensure funeral services can continue and is meeting with client families individually to make arrangements that comply with state and municipal guidelines. The company said its following the CDCs guidance on public gatherings. We are exploring technology alternatives, where available, to stream services online, which will aid in reducing the number of people at a service, Service Corporation International said in a statement. These arrangements will be managed on a case-by-case basis. On ExpressNews.com: Jefferson: Empty sidewalks, eerie silence on San Antonios River Walk amid coronavirus outbreak Carter-Taylor-Williams Mortuary on the East Side is prepared to offer livestreaming services for funerals that could draw large crowds of mourners, said Vera Williams Young, president and funeral home director in charge. If its a little small service, I can still do it and handle it, Young said. But huge services livestreaming is my feeling and idea. And were prepared to do that. Young doesnt expect the face-to-face interactions between funeral home staff and bereaved families will change. I think people appreciate the relationship between the funeral director and the family, she said. At Lewis Funeral Home, a family-owned business on the East Side that has operated for 111 years, chief operating officer Tony Hendricks said its hard to explain social distancing to customers going through an emotionally trying time. But I do believe that the families are aware of the situation, he said. Mission Park is offering financing for customers who may not have an income right now. Most funeral providers require full payment upfront. But Mission Park will allow customers to arrange financing so they hold their loved ones funeral immediately, then pay off the bill over time, Mission Park President Kristin Tips said. Mission Park also offers online grief support through its website, which Tips said could serve as an important resource for the bereaved since some grief support counseling groups have temporarily stopped meeting. The funeral provider also just launched a new endeavor providing bereaved families a $100 gift card to Silo Elevated Cuisine restaurants so they can take loved ones and friends to dinner at a later date once eating establishments reopen for full-service dining. Its going to be a tough time for (grieving families) not to be able to sit there and be in a chapel full of people who love them and who care about them, Dick Tips said. So were hoping that we can help out some of the restaurants, quite frankly, that are really struggling and be able to bring some fellowship in the future. Peggy OHare reports on the census, demographics and occasionally crime and general assignments in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | pohare@express-news.net | Twitter: @Peggy_OHare . , . , , , , , , ... An academic who has been tracking the progress of the coronavirus in Ireland, Prof Liam Glynn has said it is too early to tell if social distancing measures have been working. To be honest it is very difficult to tell where we are until we have the results of the 40,000 tests outstanding, he told Newstalk Breakfast. YEREVAN, MARCH 23, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan, the Superintendent in charge of the state of emergency measures amid the COVID19 situation, has asked grocery stores and supermarkets to have separated hours during the day (10:00-12:00) for senior citizens only, and to call on citizens of other ages not to go shopping during that time. The coronavirus situation is more dangerous for our senior fellow citizens. Therefore, I call on grocery stores and supermarkets to define the time period from 10:00 to 12:00 starting March 24th for only senior customers. I am asking citizens of other age groups not to go to the stores during this time and by minimizing contact to preserve the health of our senior generation fellow citizens, Avinyan said on social media. He also posted photos of elderly citizens holding signs saying We are safe if you are home, Your self-quarantine saves lives. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan Pune, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/23/2020 -- Fortune Business Insights published the above information in a recent report, titled, "Global Military Drone Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Fixed-Wing, Rotary-Wing, and Hybrid/Transitional), By Range (VLOS, EVLOS, and BLOS), By Propulsion Type (Battery Powered, Fuel Cell, and Hybrid Cell), By Technology (Remotely Operated Drone, Semi-Autonomous Drone, and Autonomous drone), By Application (ISRT, Delivery and Transportation, Combat Operations, Battle Damage Management and Others) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026." As per the report, the military drone market size is projected to reach USD 21.76 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 12.4% during the forecast period. However, it stood at USD 7.93 billion in 2018. The global military drone market size is set to gain traction from their increasing demand from the defense sector as they possess high surveillance capability. Besides, these drones are nowadays equipped with several state-of-the-art technologies, namely, cloud computing-based services, multi-sensor data fusion for UAV navigation, and artificial intelligence (AI). It would affect the market positively in the coming years. Increasing Border Disputes in Developing Nations to Propel Growth Armed forces worldwide are mainly focusing on bolstering their defense domain owing to increasing transnational security threats, as well as border security issues. This, in turn, is upsurging the expenditure on defense in the developing economies. The countries in Asia Pacific, for instance, are at present going through several border disputes. China is focusing on enhancing its defense sector with the help of government support. The government of China spent USD 177.61 billion on improving combat capabilities and developing infrastructure for the armed forces. These factors are anticipated to propel the military UAV market growth in the coming years. Request a Sample PDF Brochure: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/military-drone-market-102181 Fortune Business Insights profiles list of all the reputed organizations present in the military drone market. They are as follows: Thales Boeing Leonardo S.P.A. Aeronautics General Atomics Saab Lockheed Martin Textron Lockheed Martin Israel Aerospace Industries Raytheon Aerovironment China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Elbit Systems BAE Systems Other key market players Browse Complete Summary of a Premium Research Report on Military Drone Market: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/military-drone-market-102181 North America to Dominate Backed by Rising Research & Development Activities In terms of region, the market is segregated into Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific. Out of these, North America is considered to house the largest market and is expected to lead in terms of military drone/unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) market revenue during the forthcoming years. The region held USD 4.67 billion share in 2018. This growth is attributable to increasing research and development activities to develop new drones. Apart from that, joint ventures by industry giants, as well as rising investments in developing technologically advanced drones for supporting numerous military applications, would accelerate growth in this region. In addition to that, countries, such as Canada and the U.S. are adopting military drones for maritime and border surveillance. Asia Pacific, on the other hand, is expected to showcase the highest CAGR owing to the upsurging demand for military drones in countries, namely, Japan, India, and China. AeroVironment, Inc., a defense contractor based in California, teamed up with the government of India to produce Raven, a unique hand-launched drone. The Middle East & Africa would experience considerable growth as Israel is one of the largest exporters of drones for military use. The deployment of UAVs and their sub-systems are also increasing in Turkey. Key Players Focus on Gaining Contracts to Strengthen Position in Market The market consists of numerous big, small, and medium enterprises that are striving persistently to gain the maximum military unmanned aerial vehicle market share during the forecast period. For that, they are signing new contracts and agreements with the other renowned military UAV companies. Below are a couple of the latest key industry developments: December 2019: Northrop Grumman, an aerospace and defense technology company headquartered in Virginia, received a contract worth USD 251.5 million from the U.S. Navy to deliver four MQ-4C Triton drones. This modification procures three low rate initial production lot 4 MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft, tooling, trade studies, ground stations, and other related support equipment. The MQ-4C Triton is a long-endurance, high altitude drone that is created under the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) program. August 2019: AeroVironment, Inc. bagged a contract worth USD 45 million from the U.S. Army for RQ-11B Raven small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Raven is one of the most widely utilized small UAS in the U.S. Army's fleet. It is a fully hand-launched and man-portable small UAS specially designed for land-based operations. Get Your Customized Research Report on Military Drone Market: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/customization/military-drone-market-102181 About Us: Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. We tailor innovative solutions for our clients, assisting them to address challenges distinct to their businesses. Our goal is to empower our clients with holistic market intelligence, giving a granular overview of the market they are operating in. Our reports contain a unique mix of tangible insights and qualitative analysis to help companies achieve sustainable growth. Our team of experienced analysts and consultants use industry-leading research tools and techniques to compile comprehensive market studies, interspersed with relevant data. At Fortune Business Insights, we aim at highlighting the most lucrative growth opportunities for our clients. We, therefore, offer recommendations, making it easier for them to navigate through technological and market-related changes. Our consulting services are designed to help organizations identify hidden opportunities and understand prevailing competitive challenges. Contact Us: Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd. 308, Supreme Headquarters, Survey No. 36, Baner, Pune-Bangalore Highway, Pune - 411045, Maharashtra, India. Phone: US: +1 424 253 0390 UK: +44 2071 939123 APAC: +91 744 740 1245 Every name on the BrandBucket marketplace is exclusively listed with BrandBucket. That means that all of our sellers are very responsive, making for quick domain transfers. A dedicated BrandBucket agent will manage your domain transfer from beginning to end, ensuring a secure and easy transaction. They will manage the receipt of the domain into one of BrandBuckets secure registrar accounts and then complete the transfer to you. 1. Verification and registrar choice After we receive the payment and verify it, we will reach out via email to confirm which registrar you want the domain transferred to. We also provide a link to our tracking system, where you can communicate with us, check on the status of your transfer, view your invoice, and download your logo files. 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Verify with the buyer that the transfer is complete Once we confirm that you have received the name, we consider the escrow process to be complete. Only then do we release payment to the domain seller. The national spokesperson of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Lanre Issa-Onilu, has refuted a claim by his deputy that he resigned from his position due to an interim order issued by Sokoto State High Court. Based on this order of the High Court restraining the party from appointing or electing Mallam Lanre Isa-Onilu or any member into the office except through a national convention, the APC deputy spokesperson, Yekini Nabena, in his statement released on Sunday, announced himself as the partys acting national publicity secretary. The case was filed by the reinstated national vice-chairman (North-west) of the party, Inuwa Abdulkadir, challenging the process that brought Mr Issa-Onilu to the seat. Mr Abdulkadir was suspended by the APC national working committee (NWC) following his expulsion by the Magajin Gari A Ward, Sokoto North Local Government Area of the party in Sokoto State, who accused him of working against the party in the run-up to the Sokoto State governorship election. His suspension was recently reversed by the Adams Oshionmhole-led NWC as part of the process to resolve the partys troubles. He was reinstated alongside the deputy national chairman (North) of the party, Lawal Shuaibu, last week. However, in a phone interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Monday, Mr Issa-Onilu denied the validity of the said court verdict and alleged his deputy, Mr Nabena, of doing the bidding of Mr Abdulkadir, who is trying to get back at me for daring to announce the decision of the NWC last June upholding the decision of his state (Sokoto) branch of the party to suspend him. In Sokoto judicial procedure, an ex parte can last seven days. They issued the order on the 13th (March), even if that order was reasonable, it has expired. Two, the guy himself (Abdulkadir) as at the time he brought that order was not a member of the party. The injunction of the court even stated that any member cannot be elected or appointed except through national convention. That is not our partys position, the party position is that you are elected through the national convention but in the case of replacement when they are replacing midway for whatever reason, the established procedure is the zone where the position is being zoned to produce another person from that region. They will follow it up with a zonal convention to ratify that person before sending the name to NWC for approval. That has always been the procedures. That was how not less than five members of the NWC in the past were brought in, including Bolaji, Masari, the national welfare director. I came in through the same process. In June last year, it was all over the media that North-central met, including all the governors, members of the house of assemblies from the zone, even the deputy speaker present, he told this reporter. COVID-19: Oshiomhole orders closure of secretariat Meanwhile, the national chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole has ordered the closure of the APC national secretariat in Abuja for about two weeks while it observes the coronavirus outbreak. We, as APC leaders, must be seen to obey the federal governments rules, it is no longer a secret that we are facing a pandemic all over the world and Nigeria has its own share of the coronavirus although, it is not as bad as other countries but clearly the numbers are increasing as it is said, prevention is better than cure. We had a conversation among ourselves, we the NWC, and decided to come up with this decision to shut down because I am not sure how many of you have private cars, some of you use public transport to come to work which at this moment could be dangerous and I dont think we will want to take any risk so we have decided to close the office, Mr Oshiomhole told journalists at the secretariat on Monday. Its only been one week since the Portland metro area essentially shut down, and it could be months or years until we unpack all of the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. On the latest episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, we talked about what we know now about the effects on schoolchildren, parents, small businesses and low-wage workers and what economic shoes might be left to drop. First, The Oregonians Eder Campuzano talked about his coverage of low-wage workers in the Portland area and how theyre faring. Campuzano, our Portland Public Schools reporter, also explained what the crisis means for the states largest district and why virtual learning isnt an option for most Oregon students. Then, business and technology reporter Mike Rogoway explains what we know about the potential catastrophic economic fallout from the unprecedented shutdown in the first week, what industries he is keeping an eye on next and how this pandemic compares to previous economic recessions hes covered. We also asked for listeners to share their stories about how coronavirus is changing your daily life, by submitting a voice memo from your phone to us at podcasts@oregonian.com Heres the full episode: You can subscribe to Beat Check with The Oregonian on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts. -- Andrew Theen; atheen@oregonian.com; 503-294-4026; @andrewtheen Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. WASHINGTON, DC -- The U.S. federal government has issued the following statement concerning its response to the coronavirus outbreak: "Visit Coronavirus.gov for the latest official information from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Task Force at the White House. Visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for official Coronavirus (COVID-19) health information. Visit FEMA for answers to coronavirus myths and rumors. What is the Federal Government Doing in Response to COVID-19? Health and Safety Travel, Immigration, and Transportation Money and Taxes Education Federal Student Aid has information for students, borrowers, and parents. Scams and Fraud Benefits and Grants Housing Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued guidance for public housing authorities, landlords, shelters, non-profits, grantees, and stakeholders. Federal Building Status Updates and National Parks Voting and Elections Communications Businesses International Cooperation Cybersecurity Federal Workforce Here's a list of the agencies responding to coronavirus (COVID-19). How Are States Responding to COVID-19? Visit your state Health Department website for the latest coronavirus information, resources, and guidance." Students move out of dorm rooms on Harvard Yard on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. on March 12, 2020. Due to the risk from the CCP virus, all classes will be moved online for the rest of the spring semester. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) Professors Worry About New Scrutiny as CCP Virus Forces Classes Online As the pandemic caused by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) forces college and university lectures online, left-wing academics in the United States are apparently nervous about the possibility that what they are teaching may be publicized by right wing sites, Campus Reform reports. Conservatives and others have long criticized the nations institutions of higher learning for what they say is academias radical bent and have tried to bring accountability to the field. But those efforts to make what professors say in the lecture halls public have been met with often fierce resistance by schools that invoke privacy rights and even copyright laws to keep lectures offline. Left-wing academics have been sharply critical of websites such as Turning Point USAs Professor Watchlist, which aggregates media reports on individual professors, and Canary Mission, which tracks professors and students it deems anti-Semitic. Now, some professors are using social media to share tips on how to cap the number of people able to view their lectures over the internet to keep unwanted viewers away, according to the report. While a selection of tweets by academics is hardly a scientific study, it may offer a window into what academics are thinking as social relations change in an era of enforced isolation and sudden change. In recent days, Texas Christian University associate professor of political science Emily Farris wrote on Twitter, If you are recording a lecture on anything controversial, be prepared for right wing sites to ask students to share it. The settings on her Twitter account were subsequently changed to limit public access to her page. After Farris wrote March 17, Im sorry, it is a real fear, Italian-born Marcello Graziano, a professor at Central Michigan Universitys College of Science and Engineering, invoked violent imagery. Graziano wrote, Fear nothing. But you may want to create an upsidedown [version] of [the] video. Thats how fascists should end up, possibly a reference to Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, who was executed and whose body was then hung upside down. Conservatives have long complained that radical academics frequently denounce their critics as fascists, regardless of their actual views. Christen Rexing, an assistant professor of public health at LaSalle University in Philadelphia, Penn., responded to that tweet, asking why others might find topics such as gun safety, womens health, elections, etc. to be controversial, because they are evidence-based. Seems like the flood gates could open, Rexing added. University of North Carolina political science graduate student Stephanie Shady wrote on Twitter, Annnnd I just realized that the second half of my course focuses on public opinion towards and politicization of immigration. This will be interesting. A user going by the Twitter name Prof CWO responded on the microblogging site, Sigh, I teach about white nationalism and this has been my biggest fear since we began transitioning to online instruction. Columbia University political science professor Jeffrey Lax noted on Twitter that he has been thinking about how students might record classes. Rachel Michelle Gunter, who identifies herself as a history professor at an unidentified school in Texas, wrote, Im taking steps to limit this but nothing is foolproof. Remy Levin, a doctoral candidate in UC San Diegos economics department, suggested a course of action in a tweet. Wasnt that already a possibility with recording lectures for disability accommodations? Profs could put in place similar access limits to videos for online lecturesonly share in the case of a reasonable accommodation. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed it to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. Hydroxychloroquine a less toxic derivative of choloroquine (also an anti-malarial drug) has been prescribed by doctors for decades. It is relatively cheap, widely-manufactured and its side effects are well known. With the coronvirus causing more and more lockdowns around the world and a potential vaccine being 12 to 18 months away, many in the public are hoping for a magic bullet. As countries around the world race to find a cure, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has recommended the use of anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine for treatment of COVID-19 in cases where patients are at high risk. Hydroxychloroquine a less toxic derivative of choloroquine (also an anti-malarial drug) has been prescribed by doctors for decades. It is relatively cheap, widely-manufactured and its side effects are well known. The drug first came into the limelight when US president Donald Trump, in a press conference Thursday, touted its benefits in fighting the coronavirus and erroneously stated that it had been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Trump's comments were immediately disavowed by the agency which told Bloomberg the drug had not been approved for coronavirus patients. Trials offer hope As per a report in Forbes, the US president seemed to be speaking positively based on a small study conducted by researchers in France. As per the study, 14 of 20 patients treated with hydroxychloroquine tested negative for the virus at day 6, as were all six patients who were treated with hydroxychloroquine and the antibiotic azithromycin. While the study showed there was some upside in prescribing hydroxychloroquine, others point to serious flaws. As per a report in Vox, researchers examined only 36 patients, of which 26 received the drug. And the study wasnt blinded, meaning the patients knew what they were getting, nor was it randomised, which limits the scientific merit of the study, as per the report. Meanwhile, Chinese researchers have conducted lab cell culture tests showing hydroxychloroquine can slow infections from the virus behind Covid-19, SARS-CoV-2, blocking it from entering cells. Some doctors in China and South Korea have also used it to treat patients, as per the Vox report. Experts cautious In Jordan, authorities have authorised the use of the drug but only on "compassionate grounds." Dr Hayel Obeidat, the head of Jordan's Food and Drug Administration, told Al Jazeera, "Hydroxychloroquine should only be used as part of a treatment protocol with other antiviral components with doctors' supervision. It is not a prevention mechanism." Obeidat added that the treatment should be for "compassionate use" for patients who are in stage 2 of the disease or suffer serious complications. Dr Anthony Fauci, the US government's top expert on infectious disease, has said the evidence of hydroxychloroquine curing the coronavirus was 'anecdotal'. He later told CNN "there's no magic drug." Dr Janet Diaz, a WHO official similarly told Forbes: For chloroquine there is no proof that that is an effective treatment at this time. We recommend that therapeutics be tested under ethically approved clinical trials to show efficacy and safety. As per a report in The Times of India, hydroxychloroquine is currently under investigation in clinical trials for the pre-exposure or post-exposure treatment of patients with mild, moderate and severe COVID-19. While some trials have shown promise, far more research is needed before the drug can be widely administered, as per the report. And thus the reason why the ICMR has sought to limit its use. Many Israeli officials were certainly happy to read the latest US State Department report. Their satisfaction didn't stem from any compliment offered to Israel in the 2019 Country Report on Human Rights Practices, issued March 11. Rather, the officials were pleased to discover a change of language. For the first time in these annual reports, East Jerusalem Palestinians were defined as non-Israeli residents instead of Palestinians. All in all, this recent report is quite gloomy. It refers, among other things, to the recently enacted Nationality Law (on Israels Jewish nature), which changed Arabic from an official language to a language with a 'special status,' and emphasizing that the law recognizes only the Jewish people as having a national right to self-determination. Another point is that the law calls for promotion of Jewish settlement within Israel, ignoring the right of non-Jews to settle. The report stresses that Arab Christians and Muslims, Druze and Ethiopian citizens faced persistent institutional and social discrimination. There are many cited examples, including an October incident in which Israeli soldiers attacked individual Bedouins at a gas station where the soldiers received only minor sentences for their deeds. The report also refers to Price Tag vandalism acts by extreme rightist-religious groups of young Jews, most of them from settlements in the West Bank, targeting Muslim and Christian holy sites. In the context of labor conditions in Israel, the report says that Palestinian laborers continued to suffer from abuses and labor rights abuses as a result of a lack of adequate government oversight and monitoring. Still, Jerusalem was happy because of the decision of the State Department to ignore the 350,000 Palestinians who live in the area of greater Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty, calling them non-Israeli despite the fact that several thousand of them have full Israeli citizenship. All this is typical of the fake gifts that Israel gets from the Trump administration, and of the childish manner with which the Netanyahu administration receives the gifts. The American decision to move the US Embassy to Jerusalem in 2018 failed to create a wave of other countries following suit or to take the very controversial issue of Jerusalem off the table. President Donald Trumps deal of the century didn't take the Palestinian refugee problem off the table, either, and the State Department's move to refer to the West Bank as Judea and Samaria didn't put an end to the fact that millions of Palestinians live there. Trump's recognition in 2019 of the Israeli annexation of the Golan Heights didn't make this area more Israeli and will not prevent a future Israeli government from withdrawing from the area as a result of peace negotiations with a future Syrian government. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's November declaration that the Israeli settlements in the occupied territories are not illegal did not make them legal, and didn't change international law. It leaves Israel with the same threat of approaching a situation in which a minority of Jews may dominate a majority of Palestinians. The main question remains how we can assure that Israel is a Jewish and democratic state, and not whether the totally unneeded West Bank settlements are legal or not. When the coronavirus crisis is over, and a new government is formed in Israel, and when Israeli and Palestinian leaders return to the negotiating table, all Trump's gifts, including his almost unnoticed peace plan and the new definition of the Palestinians who live in Jerusalem as non-Israelis, will be gone with the wind. For a true solution and peace to be achieved, Jerusalem will have to be divided, not necessarily in a physical way. All the Arab neighborhoods would be part of the Palestinian capital of al-Quds and a special arrangement would be reached with Palestinians currently living in Jerusalem, either as citizens of Israel or permanent residents. The Palestinian state would be allowed to absorb as many Palestinians as it wishes, and contrary to the Trump plan Israel would not dictate any quota that would limit the number of the emigrants to Palestine. There would be an agreement about a limited number of Palestinians who would be allowed to live in Israel, and every refugee household from 1948 would get compensation from an international fund that Israel would be part of. Israel would withdraw from the West Bank with minor modifications to the 1967 cease-fire line. The settlers who chose to remain in their homes could stay inside Palestinian State as obedient Palestinian residents (and Israeli citizens), if the Palestinian interlocutor so agreed. We cannot skip the phase of significant negotiation with the Palestinians. The idea that any third party, including the United States, can solve our problems by unilaterally recognizing annexation, or by changing the definition of the Palestinians in East Jerusalem, is no more than wishful thinking. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Mayor Bill de Blasio said that while New York City is aiming to reopen public schools by April 20, schools may be closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. Right now, even though April 20 is our goal to reopen, I cant see it, de Blasio said during an interview with PIX11 on Monday morning. De Blasio announced on March 15 that the largest school system in the United States with approximately 1.1 million public school students would close beginning March 16 until at least April 20. However, he said at the time: We may not have the opportunity to reopen them in this full school year. When asked if he anticipates schools closing for the rest of the school year on Monday, de Blasio said the city will make that judgment as it gets closer to the possible reopening date of April 20. But the trajectory were on now, I cant see it. I do, unfortunately, believe the likelihood right now is that we lose the whole school year, which is really, really deeply unfortunate," de Blasio said in the interview. *** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK *** The interview comes after confirmed cases of the deadly illness toppled 10,000 in New York City Sunday night, with an additional 36 deaths reported since this morning -- bringing the citys fatality total to 99. As of 6 p.m., 10,764 cases were confirmed, City Hall said, with at least 1,800 hospitalizations. Of those individuals, at least 450 are in the ICU. There are 666 cases on Staten Island. Remote learning began on Monday, and the mayor said that the city is still working on getting more kids laptops and technology they need, as well as internet access. This is part of why I was so hesitant to close our schools because weve got hundreds of thousands of kids we cant even reach with distance learning, he said in the PIX11 interview. Its just going to have to be an ongoing thing. Were getting a lot of help from the private sector. Its going to be, you know, day by day, week by week. But we will reach a lot more kids over time. Some parents have been scrambling to secure the proper technology for their children so theyre able to participate in online learning. Those who are in need of technology should fill out an online form to sign up for a remote learning device via the Department of Education (DOE). The DOE is working to deliver 300,000 Apple iPads to students in need across the five boroughs. The first 25,000 iPads are expected to be given out this week, according to the DOE. Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza asked parents to sign up for the NYC Schools account, which will be critically important as the DOE pushes information out and resources for remote learning needs. You can go to www.myschools.nyc for more information. There are also four Staten Island sites for daytime care of the children of first responders, health care workers, and transit workers. The sites opened on Monday, and are expected to be open weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. *** Be the first to know: Sign up for our newsletters; and get breaking news and top stories pushed to your phone with the SILive.com mobile app. 53 The coronavirus life in New York City: The new normal RELATED COVERAGE: Online learning starts Monday for NYC schools: What you need to know Coronavirus: AP exams will be online, shortened to 45 minutes Schools closed: Heres where NYC students can get free meals Coronavirus: Several Staten Island schools announce confirmed cases Schools closed: Heres where NYC students can get free meals Wagner College postpones commencement due to coronavirus 10 tips for families as NYC schools move to online learning How prepared are teachers, parents for remote learning? Child care for first responders: How many sites on Staten Island? Coronavirus: All standardized exams suspended this school year 2 coronavirus cases confirmed at Wagner College Staten Island parents scramble to obtain technology for online learning College of Staten Island campus reopens: Operating with minimal staff Parents fear lapse in special ed services: I am not a trained therapist Coronavirus: New York suspends state reading exams FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER. Former RBC adviser Kinza Hanif says she felt terrified working at the banks Meadowvale office in Mississauga after learning two employees there tested positive for COVID-19. Hanif told the Star she feels the company did not take appropriate steps to ensure the staffs safety. I live with my grandpa who has COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and is almost 90, and Im not the only one whos in touch with vulnerable people, Hanif told the Star. Im not a hypochondriac so I was actually less stressed than others. But people were panicked, she said. In an Instagram post shared last Thursday that has now gone viral, Hanif describes the fear she faced and the lack of support she felt from her supervisors. She claims that even though two positive cases of the coronavirus were confirmed on another floor at her facility, the company decided only those who worked on the same floor would be sent home to self-isolate. We shared common spaces, like the elevators, the cafeteria, and we werent taking extra-special precautions as we had no idea (about the COVID-19 cases) in the days before the staff members tested positive, Hanif claims. RBC confirmed there were two positive cases of COVID-19 at its Meadowvale offices. The first employee tested positive for COVID-19 on March 5, and staff working on the same floor were alerted by phone that evening and told to self-isolate. RBC also confirmed a second case the following week, on March 9, but the employee was already in self-isolation. RBC confirmed two emails were sent to employees confirming the two positive cases of COVID-19. The company said it followed Peel Public Health guidelines and kept all employees up to date on the rapidly changing situation. Currently, the Meadowvale branch is open, and employees who worked on the floor where the two staff members tested positive were cleared to return to work this week. The company told the Star it has implemented safety measures including daily deep cleaning and supplying sanitizing tools such as hand sanitizers and wipes. Hanif told the Star that employees at the Meadowvale branch were notified by the company via email of the first COVID-19 case March 6 and received another email the following week about a second positive case of the coronavirus. Hanif alleges that she and other employees were told not to wear masks because it scared customers. RBC disputes this claim, saying it sent an email to all GTA branches telling employees while there is no evidence to suggest that wearing a regular face mask prevents the spread of COVID-19, there may be employees who are opting to wear one for their own comfort level. Their choice to do so should not be interpreted as a signal that these employees are unwell. The Star spoke to another employee at the Meadowvale branch who confirmed Kinza's account of the events. Hanif also told the Star that on March 7 she had a sore throat and called into her work absence line as she believed it was best to stay home. She claims a manager later asked her for a sick note, which she didnt provide because she said she followed the protocol of Ontario Public Health urging people to stay home if they experience symptoms of the virus. When she returned to work following her regular days off, she alleges her manager told her she wouldnt be paid for the sick day. RBC noted in a statement to the Star that we have not required a doctors note for COVID-related absences and have leave policies that protect those impacted by COVID-19. Hanif, who is now employed elsewhere for an unrelated reason, acknowledged to the Star on Sunday that she isnt sure if she was paid for that day. Her last day with the company was March 17. The reason I decided to make this public is because I am now in a position where I can speak for the rights of the employees. They are not able to voice their concerns due to fear of getting trouble. But I am in a rare situation in which I can speak up, she told the Star. The company said it has informed employees across its GTA branches that if they are unwell they should stay home, following the directions of public health officials. Those in self-isolation would be paid, it said. RBC also told staff it would be offering a 10-day paid leave to help them through the weeks following schools being closed. RBC has to balance their employees safety with the need of providing essential services to Canadians to keep the economy stable, get clients home under increasing travel restrictions, and connect clients with important client-relief programs to help them manage the months ahead, the company statement to the Star reads. RBC told the Star the company is following guidance from public health authorities, government officials and feedback from employees to ensure we keep our workplaces clean and safe with appropriate social distancing. The company announced last Tuesday it would temporarily close some branches to slow the spread of COVID-19. RBC also told the Star it was setting up work-from-home options for staff, keeping in mind clients privacy. Hanif says she would have liked to have seen the company push for work-from-home options for the branch as soon as the first COVID-19 case was confirmed. Looking back at her six-month employment at RBC, Hanif said she really liked the work environment and staff at the company, but it was the two weeks of uncertainty she felt following the positive tests that pushed her to publish the Instagram post. Everyone was anxious, stressed and asking questions she claims. Management did thank us for putting our 100 per cent in the calls (to customers), but mentally I dont believe a lot of us were in the right space. Read more about: US Republican Senator Mitt Romney has gone in isolation due to exposure to a fellow Senate Republican Rand Paul who has tested positive for the coronavirus. "Since Senator Romney sat next to Senator Paul for extended periods in recent days and consistent with CDC guidance, the attending physician has ordered him to immediately self-quarantine and not to vote on the Senate floor. He has no symptoms but will be tested," informed Romney in an official statement on Sunday. Romney said that he would self-quarantine after Senator Paul announced he had tested positive for COVID-19. This comes hours after Paul made the announcement through his Twitter account. "Senator Rand Paul has tested positive for COVID-19. He is feeling fine and is in quarantine. He is asymptomatic and was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive travel and events. He was not aware of any direct contact with an infected person," Rand Paul twitter account read. His twitter account further said: "He expects to be back in the Senate after his quarantine period ends and will continue to work for the people of Kentucky at this difficult time. Ten days ago, our D.C. office began operating remotely, hence virtually no staff has had contact with Senator Rand Paul." On Saturday, United States Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen Pence had tested negative for the novel coronavirus. According to CNN, the number of people who have got infected with coronavirus in the US has reached 32,149, with at least 400 fatalities. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) H arvey Weinstein has tested positive for coronavirus while in prison. The former Hollywood producer and convicted sex offender is now in isolation, according to Michael Powers, president of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association. Weinstein, who was behind films including Shakespeare in Love and Pulp Fiction, is being held at Wende Correctional Facility, near Buffalo in upstate New York. Mr Powers said several members of staff had been quarantined at the prison over the Covid-19 spread. New York jurors acquitted him of the most serious charges, of predatory sexual assault, which could have seen him given an even longer jail term. His lawyers have vowed to appeal against his convictions. Imran Ansari, a lawyer for Weinstein, said his legal team had not been informed of the coronavirus diagnosis. "Given Mr Weinstein's state of health, we are of course concerned, if this is the case, and we are vigilantly monitoring the situation," he said. Before arriving at Wende, Weinstein had spent time at Rikers Island, a prison in New York City and a hospital where he was treated for heart problems and chest pains . The lords mayor of three Irish cities have united to call for a nationwide lockdown. Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor John Sheehan, a GP with more than 30-years' experience, said the call from the Lord Mayors of Cork, Galway and Dublin, is prompted in part by events over the weekend which saw thousands of people flocking to beaches and beauty spots, and in many cases flouting public health guidelines on social distancing in a bid to minimise the spread of the coronavirus.. But the Fianna Fail councillor said it has also been prompted by concerns about the backlog in Covid-19 testing with some 40,000 people awaiting a test, with the wait now at up to five days. The HSE has more than 30 testing centres in place and expects to significantly ramp up the rate of testing over the coming days. But Mr Sheehan said the scale of the challenge is unprecedented, with testing rates over the coming days expected to reach the same rate of tests for flu in an average flu season. "The State has one chance to get its response to the Covid-19 crisis right. We have to get ahead of this," he said. "The HSE has been fantastic but there is a significant backlog in testing underlining the scale of the challenge facing the health service. The only way to address this now is to introduce an immediate lockdown. "It will have significant economic implications and significant social implications. It is not a decision that we take lightly. But what we dont want to see, as we wait for those tests to be done, is a huge spike in cases." A number of food outlets across the country are closing this evening until further notice. Nando's, Subway, Starbucks, Beshoff Bros and Krispy Kreme have all decided to shut. The closures come as McDonald's announced last night it will also be shutting its stores from today. Cllr Sheehan said: "We are already in semi lock-down as it is. We have seen closures of McDonalds restaurants, of Bank of Ireland branches, and many other businesses but if this Government introduces this immediate lockdown now, it will take the pressure off making the decision from remaining businesses and will give some a sense of relief that we are in it now and just need to get on with. "This will be hard and challenging but we have one chance to get this right," he said. Under a national lockdown, movement of the public would be severely restricted with exceptions made only for essential trips outside the home for food, medicines or medical treatment. The Taoiseach has said the Government will base any decisions on a possible lockdown on medical advice from the National Public Health Emergency Management Team, and not on what is trending on Twitter. An update is expected this evening. [snippet1]987600[/snippet1] Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 23) The Health department denied speculation that it prioritizes VIPs in testing for COVID-19, but admitted it gives courtesy to certain officials when it comes to testing for the viral disease. The DOH assures the public that there is no policy for VIP treatment and that all specimens are being processed on a first-in, first-out basis with courtesy accorded to officials holding positions of national security and public health, the department said Monday in a statement. The statement came in the wake of public criticism for the testing given to President Rodrigo Duterte, members of the presidential family, Cabinet members, and a number of senators even if they do not exhibit virus symptoms.Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III and Senator Francis Tolentino cleared the air on their use of limited test kits for the novel coronavirus after they received backlash online. Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III and Senator Francis Tolentino cleared the air on their use of limited test kits for the novel coronavirus after they received backlash online. Sotto admitted he first used a coronavirus test kit that was not accredited by the Department of Health nor the Food and Drug Administration, despite the warnings of health officials. He said the "instant" test was administered by his friend. "The testing kit is different from what the DOH is using right now. I know that a number of PUIs need the DOH-approved test kits more," he said in a Facebook post, referring to patients under investigation. After the first test came out negative, he went for a confirmatory test, this time using a kit from the DOH after he began exhibiting dry cough and sore throat. He clarified he is still awaiting test results stressing he is not given VIP treatment. "It's been a week now and to clarify this, I haven't received the results as I never asked to be prioritized," he stressed. Tolentino said his test kit did not come from the DOH, but did not specify which test he took. He said he decided to take the test after being exposed to a person who tested positive for COVID-19, then exhibiting flu-like symptoms. "My colds and dry cough had persisted during my self-quarantine period, thus I took the test after my self cough medication appeared insufficient after four days," he said in a Facebook post. The lawmaker also apologized after he posted on Facebook that he received the COVID-19 test in his private space. "If I came out positive, I would have posted it as well... My apologies to those offended," he wrote. The FDA has cautioned the public against the use of unregistered testing kits as the quality and accuracy of the results cannot be guaranteed. It has only approved eight COVID-19 tests for commercial use, but the DOH said the tests still need to be brought to accredited laboratories for processing. DOH recently revised its guidelines as to who can get tested for COVID-19 even if they do not exhibit virus symptoms. Health spokesperson Ma. Rosario Vergeire said before the protocol was revised, the government officials passed the criteria, such as showing flu-like symptoms, exposure to positive cases, or travel to areas with local transmission. Under the revised DOH protocol, only patients who are exhibiting severe symptoms are tested. For those with mild symptoms, tests are conducted only if they are high risk individuals such as senior citizens and pregnant women. COVID-19 has infected 380 people in the Philippines, with 25 of them dying because of the disease caused by a virus called SARS CoV-2. Seventeen of those infected have recovered. Globally, over 339,000 have been infected and 14,705 have died because of the viral disease. Over 98,000 have recovered. The disease is spread through small droplets from the nose or mouth when people infected with the virus cough or sneeze. To prevent infection, authorities are urging people to practice regular hand washing, cover their mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, and avoid close contact with those who show respiratory symptoms. Commonly reported COVID-19 symptoms are fever, dry cough and shortness of breath. Those with severe and critical symptoms should call the Health Department at (02) 8-651-7800 local 1149-1150. CNN Philippines correspondent Joyce Ilas contributed to this report. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, March 23, 2020 17:02 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206ce1154 1 Business health-ministry,BKPM,imports,COVID-19,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,COVID-19-rapid-test,COVID-19-test,coronavirus Free The Health Ministry ranks second among all ministries currently processing license requests since the COVID-19 pandemic triggered soaring demand for health equipment in Indonesia, according to the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM). Requests to import, produce and distribute health equipment filed to the ministry have spiked since February as the country grapples to contain the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, BKPM chairman Bahlil Lahadalia said during an online broadcast of the inauguration ceremony of the agency's command center. When COVID-19 entered Indonesia, [requests for licenses] from the Health Ministry jumped to second place, just below the Trade Ministry, from sixth place, Bahlil said on Monday. According to the BKPM, between February and March 23 demands for licenses to import and distribute health equipment filed with the Health Ministry topped the list with 1,482 requests, followed by health equipment distribution certificates with 1,255 requests and health equipment production certificates with 877 requests. The BKPM is easing distribution and import licensing processes for health equipment, raw materials and other necessities required to curb the spread of COVID-19. The Health Ministry and the BKPM are committed to prioritizing [licenses] necessary to mitigate the virus, he said. Previously, a plan to import some 500,000 COVID-19 rapid testing kits by state-owned diversified manufacturer PT Rajawali Nusantara Indonesia (RNI) from China reportedly faced hurdles because of slow licensing at the Health Ministry. State-Owned Enterprises Ministry spokesman Arya Sinulingga said on March 18 that the RNI had submitted the import request on March 10, but the company still awaited a response. Arya later said that a number of COVID-19 rapid testing kits were to be shipped to Indonesia starting March 19 and that the RNI would handle the distribution of the testing kits to COVID-19 referral hospitals. Indonesia had confirmed at least 514 positive COVID-19 cases and 48 fatalities as of Sunday. (mpr) Kerala closed its borders, suspended public and private buses and shut shops from Monday night until March 31, locking down the state to spread of the coronavirus. Only essential services would be allowed, said the state government after detecting 28 new coronavirus cases. As many as 91 patients are being treated in the state now. "The State is entering into an unprecedented situation and we are announcing lock down across the State till March 31. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Abba Kyari, the chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, has written to the leadership of the national assembly over how some of its members have bluntly refused to submit themselves for the mandatory screening for COVID-19 at the airports. The letter was dated March 21 and was addressed separately to Senate President Ahmad Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house. It has been brought to the honourable minister of health recently reported to this office that some members of the house of representatives are refusing to subject themselves to medical screening at airports, the letter read. As you are aware, these airport screenings are our primary line of defense and refusal by any citizen to subject to these tests is a threat to our nation. Read Also: Covid-19: Set Prisoners Free, Use Prisons As Quarantine Centres Reps Member Accordingly, you are kindly requested to direct all members of the house of representatives who returned to Nigeria from foreign trips to report themselves to the nearest NCDC test centre with immediate effect. STAMFORD The citys Office of Public Safety, along with the Stamford Department of Health, is closely monitoring the new coronavirus (COVID-19) and is in frequent communication with the Centers for Disease Control and Precention and the state Department of Public Health. The city has set up an emergency hotline 203-977-8840 about COVID-19 and will have brief recorded information that will be updated as warranted, as had Stamford Hospital 203-276-4111 where health care officials are available to answer questions or concerns regarding the coronavirus 7 days a week from 7 a.m.- 7 p.m. Here are some of the latest updates and impacts of the new coronavirus on Stamford: Mayor orders expedited testing for first responders, health care workers On Monday, Mayor David Martin announced he had signed two executives orders relating to city employees and COVID-19. Stamford police officers, firefighters, emergency first responders, nurses, dental hygienists, and employees tasked with inspections related to the health of Stamford residents will have expedited COVID-19 testing if they show symptoms of the virus or come in contact with a diagnosed case. These employees are an important part of serving the public every day and are even more important during these difficult times, the mayors executive order said. Its vial that Stamfords employees who are on the front lines defending residents against this virus have the support they need to protect themselves and their fellow employees. The second order established a list of work safety procedures for city employees. Its directives include general ones such as sanitize and/or wash your hands frequently maintain 6 feet distance from all other employees, contractors, and members of the public at all times, as well as more specific instructions, like tape off 6 feet on floor around Kronos clock so employees can eb reminded to observe 6 feet distancing when clocking in and out. cracine@hearstmediact.com Himes touts organizations with relief efforts Rep. Jim Himes has released a list of list of organizations that have launched relief efforts in response to the new coronavirus. So much is changing on a daily basis and we know that we have a long road ahead of us. In times of crisis, its important that we come together to help lift one another up, Rep. Jim Himes said in a statement. Remembering that we are one community during this uncertain time will help us get through this dark period. Those from Stamford include The Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County, at 461 Glenbrook Road; Domus, at 83 Lockwood Ave.; Person-to-Person, at 425 Fairfield Ave.; and Americares, at 88 Hamilton Ave. cracine@hearstmediact.com Ways to help in Stamford Mayor David Martins office has issued a couple of ways residents can help out the wider Stamford community during the COVID-19 pandemic. The American Red Cross has requested residents consider donating blood. In Stamford, a drive is set for Friday at Tully Health Center, 32 Strawberry Hill Court, from 7:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. and on April 1 at Stamford Church of Christ, 1264 High Ridge Road, from 2 to 7p.m. Building One Community has compiled an Amazon wish list for essential items needed for the community, including detergent, soap, and more. Donations of both food itself and money are requested for The Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County. The economic impact of this public health emergency will disproportionately affected residents who are most in need, Martins office said. Volunteers are needed locally for the Medical Reserve Cops a national network of medical and public health professionals who assist communities with public health and emergency response. cracine@hearstmediact.com We know that washing our hands properly is one of the most effective ways to slow down the spread of Covid-19 - but for people with skin conditions, such as eczema or psoriasis, very frequent hand-washing can cause significant problems. Even for those of us with normal, healthy skin, an overuse of soaps and hand-sanitisers can cause the skin to dry out and crack, explains Professor Anne-Marie Tobin, clinical lead for dermatology in Ireland and a dermatologist at Tallaght University Hospital. "Everyone will have sore hands to some degree - we've seen this already, particularly with health-care workers because of the increased rates of hand-washing," she explains. In fact in recent weeks, since fears about the Covid-19 pandemic have intensified, there have been reports of increased incidences of eczema and skin rashes as a result of constant hand-washing. While alcohol-based gels or soap and water, for example, will rinse away germs and dirt, they can also strip the natural protective oils from your skin, causing it to dry out. Expand Close Make sure to wash your hands / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Make sure to wash your hands However, more than 70,000 Irish people already suffer from psoriasis, a skin disorder which causes skin cells to multiply up to 10 times faster than normal, resulting in bumpy, red patches and white scales. Meanwhile eczema, a condition where patches of skin become inflamed, itchy, red, cracked, and rough and can even result in blisters, affects up to 20pc of children and around 12pc of adults. For these people, the effects of the multiple, extended daily hand-washings being recommended as a result of the coronavirus can result in dry, cracked skin, which in turn can cause other problems - the cracks or fissures that form on drying skin can increase your risk of contracting infection. The question that some people in this position are asking is: if we're self-isolating and not leaving the house, can we reduce the recommended amount of hand-washing to allow our hands to heal? According to Professor Tobin, even those with uncomfortable skin conditions should understand that the important thing is still to keep washing your hands regularly as advised by the health authorities - even if you are self-isolating and staying in the house. To counteract the drying effects of the use of either soap and water or alcohol-based sanitisers, she advises the regular use of generous quantities of moisturiser. Professor Tobin suggests investing in a jar of Silcock's Base for daily use. This is a widely available and gentle emollient that soothes and nourishes dry, itchy skin. "Increase your use of moisturisers and moisturise your hands every time after you wash them," she says, adding that alcohol hand-gels can be very drying, so for people with eczema or psoriasis, it may be worth experimenting with a switch to a mild soap-and-water substitute. "Have your moisturiser right beside your hand-washing station, and moisturise, moisturise, moisturise," she advises, adding that people with skin conditions should use gloves for normal domestic chores. "Remember, what you are trying to do is maintain a barrier on the skin," she explains. "Protect your hands from further irritation by wearing water-proof cotton-lined gloves while peeling or squeezing lemons or oranges, or while peeling potatoes, because the juices irritate the skin." When cleaning surfaces - which she points out is something that many people will now be doing far more frequently, given the danger of contracting Covid-19 - always wear gloves to ensure your skin does not come into contact with cleaning substances, such as detergent. And if your eczema or psoriasis flares up, use a steroid ointment to soothe it, she advises. Rubbing in Vaseline and wearing cotton-gloves at night can go some way towards helping those with skin conditions counteract the drying effects of increased hand-washing, advises Dublin GP, Dr Andrew Jordan, a former chairman of the National Association of General Practitioners. "Vaseline is your friend," he quips, adding that this traditional ointment is quite effective at helping skin recover from dryness. "At night, it's a good idea to use lots of Vaseline on your hands, then cover your hands with cotton gloves and let the Vaseline soak in while you sleep," he advises. On top of that, he explains, simply changing the way you dry your hands after washing can also help with dry skin. Dr Jordan also advises against any reduction in the amount of suggested hand-washing, no matter what your circumstances. "If you're at home, you should still wash your hands for up to 20 seconds. Use soap and water and rinse away. The recommendation is that everyone should wash their hands as often as possible. "My advice is to wash your hands whether you have self-isolated or not. "Most people are living in houses or apartments with other people; having a room all to yourself can be a challenge." The new anti-coronavirus hygiene advice is a challenge for people with dry skin conditions, he acknowledges, but practising the correct strategies to counteract it can help significantly, he believes. Gently patting the hands dry after washing them in the correct manner, rather than rubbing them completely dry with a towel can help reduce skin dryness, he says. "This will leave some moisture on the skin. When we're washing our hands regularly, the water actually dries out your skin," he says, adding that while alcohol-based sanitisers will kill microbes on the skin, they can also irritate the hands. "Remember, if your skin cracks, it can facilitate germs getting under the skin and thus lead to infection. "Don't wash less, wash more, but use more moisturiser. If you're washing your hands 20 or 40 times a day, you really will need to moisturise properly." While he, like many other doctors, advises the use of Silcock's Base to moisturise during the day, he acknowledges that people going to work will need to find a moisturiser that is not as greasy. "There are only a few things that will be of huge assistance in preventing Covid-19 transmission - keeping a personal distance of up to two metres, sneezing into your elbow, and hand-washing," he declares. Be alert to the warning signs of a skin infection resulting from drying, cracked skin, advises Waterford GP and author Mark Rowe. "If your hands are dry, look red and feel warm, then you may be developing a secondary skin infection and, in that case, phone your doctor for advice about potential need for antibiotic therapy. "During this very challenging time for all of us, I urge everyone to pay close attention to their hand-washing, social distancing and all other measures needed to slow down the spread of coronavirus. We are all better together." Case study: Her hands were bleeding My seven-year-old daughter had been using hand-sanitiser in school for a week or so before the schools closed and, by the time they did, her hands were sore and dry. I had given her a lightly fragranced bar of soap and a hand-cream to use at school and these had exacerbated the condition. She was complaining of sore hands and, when I checked, her hands were cracked and bleeding. As we didn't have the option of reducing hand-washing, I switched to a fragrance-free soap and I also applied a topical hydrocortisone cream that we had at home, after checking with the pharmacist that it was okay, for two nights. This cleared up the worst of it. Thereafter, we stuck with the fragrance-free soap and she used Child's Farm moisturiser as a hand-cream after each wash. I slather her hands in Vaseline before she goes to sleep and we haven't had any problems since. CHANDIGARH: A day after the central government issued fresh orders, the Punjab government may also revise its orders for staff deployment and run its offices with skeletal staff strength to stem the spread of coronavirus. The instructions issued by the Centre for staff deployment in its office are under consideration of the state government, according to government sources. The Centres department of personnel and training (DoPT) on Sunday announced fresh preventive measures, telling all heads of department (HoDs) to draw up a new roster of staff required to render essential services within each department. The office should function with skeletal staff, read the office memorandum issued in supersession of earlier instructions that allowed 50% of Group B and C employees to work from home. The Punjab had on Friday issued similar orders to allow half of its Group B, C and D employees to work from home for a month from March 23. The staff attendance is thin in most government offices due to suspension of public transport and lockdown imposed by the authorities in Punjab, Chandigarh and Panchkula (Haryana). Punjab Civil Secretary Employees Union president Sukhchain Singh Khehra also urged the state government to allow government employees, except those involved in providing essential services, to work from home till March 31, on the pattern of the Government of India. With so many curbs on the movement of vehicles and growing coronavirus concerns, the government should have only skeletal staff in departments dealing with essential services. We have requested the government, he said. Press Release March 23, 2020 Sponsorship speech on the "Bayanihan to Heal as One Act" Thank you, Mr. President. Una sa lahat, sa ngalan ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Durterte, gusto kong iparating ang taos-pusong pasasalamat, kasama ng aking mga kasamahan sa Senado, sa lahat ng ating mga kababayan na nagkaisang sumunod sa mga pahayag ng ating Pangulo hinggil sa Enhanced Community Quarantine at nanatili sa kanilang mga bahay upang hindi na lalong kumalat pa sa ating bansa ang Coronavirus. Nagpapasalamat din po kami sa lahat ng ating mga health workers at frontliners na walang tigil na naglilingkod sa bayan, mapaaraw man o gabi. Ang panukalang batas na ito ay para sa ikabubuti ng ating bansa - para mabigyan ang gobyerno ng sapat na awtoridad na maglaan ng pondo ng bayan para tugunan ang mga pagsubok na dala ng COVID-19. Saan kukunin ang pondo? Yan ang magandang balita ko sa inyong lahat. May pera po tayo. Huwag po kayong mangamba, naging responsable ang ating gobyerno sa pamamahala ng ating pera. Kung ihahambing ko ang kalagayan ng ating gobyeno sa isang pamilya, sa isang mabahay, ganito po iyon: Ang pamilya natin ay naging responsable nitong nakaraang mga taon, mayroong sapat na ipon, at nagplano nang maigi para sa ating mga gastusin. Kung kailangan mang umutang sa tindahan, walang problema. Tayo po ay pahihiramin dahil nakakabayad tayo nang maayos. Kaya huwag po kayong mabahala. Ang kailangan nalang ay ipasa ang batas na ito para bigyan ang administrasyon ng awtoridad lipunin ang pera sa iba't ibang departamento at ibigay sa mga taong nangangailangan at sa mga programang nararapat. And this is where I go into the details of what needs to be done: We must be able to secure the welfare of the 24.6 million Filipino families, particularly the 18 million families who are poor or from the informal sector. Our immediate goal is to provide each of these 18 million with 5,000 to 8,000 pesos a month for the next two months. This will provide for their food and other daily needs, and will increase the chances that they will stay home and keep themselves safe and other Filipinos safe. Our enhanced community quarantine in Luzon is designed precisely, and if done properly, to slow the spread of the transmissions, to save lives, and allow us to expand our health system to test and treat our people. This enhanced community quarantine is coupled with numerous measures, which need to be carried out at all levels of government, by the private sector, and civil society. These are urgent and extraordinary actions because this virus spreads fast. We need to slow it down and eventually halt it for good. However, these necessary actions do not come without economic cost. The island group of Luzon accounts for 72 percent of our gross domestic product or GDP. Without additional intervention, our positive GDP growth rate may reverse to negative 0.6 percent. If we are able to beat this virus in three months and redouble our efforts to recover our growth trajectory in the second half of the year, the economy can still grow by up to 4.6/4.3 percent,according to NEDA. Para sa milyon-milyong pamilyang Pilipino, nakasalalay sa mga numerong ito kung kanilang malalagpasan o hindi ang krisis at sakripisyo na kanilang dinaranas ngayon. We must prepare for challenging times. Given the likely contraction in GDP growth, this year's budget deficit will surely exceed the 3.6 percent threshold that our economic managers estimated before the enhanced community quarantine was put in place. It is crucial, however, for the government to keep fighting COVID-19 and to keep investing in our infrastructure program and our people so that economic sectors are jumpstarted and jobs are created as quickly as possible once the outbreak is behind us. HINDI TAYO NAG-IISA. Economies around the world are taking a hit, and governments will spend beyond their means to protect their people from this menace. Where we differ from many are in our strong macroeconomic fundamentals and effective debt management. A large part of this strength comes from the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program, which we passed and has allowed us to raise revenues in advance as assurance against these kinds of risks. At dahil nagkaisa tayo para ipasa ang Comprehensive Tax Reform Package, nakalikom tayo ng dagdag na pondo para makatugon sa mga 'di inaasahang banta sa ating bayan, gaya ng pandemic na kinakaharap natin ngayon. Secretary of Finance Sonny Dominguez recently shared that we are now in talks with the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank for concessional financing of up to 2 billion dollars (or around 100 billion pesos). We have also received a grant of 3 million dollars from ADB and a loan of 100 million dollars from the World Bank to fight COVID-19. We will work with other sources to finance the balance. The confidence that the financial sector places in our country signifies that they are confident in our ability to reenergize the economy and pay back what we borrow. It was a very different fiscal picture back in 1997, during the Asian Financial Crisis, when it was much harder to borrow from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The national government was in a difficult fiscal position, which led to a fiscal crisis in 2003. In 2009, during the global financial crisis, we tried to gather idle cash from various national government agencies to mobilize a decisive response, but we were prevented by various laws. The lessons must be learned: we cannot address new challenges with tools designed for old ones. This health emergency is a "black swan," and our current budget does not account for a challenge of this magnitude--one that is having this much impact on our way of life. We must have the ability to ensure that all 24.6 million families in the Philippines do not fall below the standard needed to survive. The government has done its best within its present means to support low-income families and we clearly need to do much more. Congress has the power to make this happen. Nakasalalay sa ating pagpapasya ang gagawing pagtugon ng pamahalaan para maprotektahan at matulungan ang ating mga mamamayan. Some 6.6 million families, or about one in four, belong to the formal economy and can avail of their savings and other benefits from their places of work to survive. We ask the private sector to take care of their employees and their contractual staff during this difficult time, and many have responded generously. Hindi ko na sila iisa-isahin. Pero batid natin at ng ating mga mamamayan ang positibong pagtugon ng mga pribadong kumpanya, malaki man, katamtaman, o maliit, para ayudahan ang kanilang mga manggagawa, gayundin ang iba pang mga nahihirapang sektor. The remaining 18 million families work in the informal economy, or are poor or near-poor. If they do not work, they have no income. "No work, no pay", "isang kahig isang tuka," ika nga. These are excruciatingly difficult times, especially for them, and we must do what we can to help. Hindi natin pababayaan ang ating mga kababayan. The bill that I sponsor today proposes to raise enough money to support families for two months, so that each of these 18 millionhousehold gets between 5,000 to 8,000 pesos per month from various national government and local government programs, whether in cash or kind. The exact amount is determined in proportion to the minimum wage of their respective region. There is a chart that shows the details: Region Daily min wage Monthly minimum wage (26 days) Subsidy amount NCR 537 13,962 8,000 CAR 350 9,100 5,500 1 340 8,840 5,500 2 370 9,620 5,500 3 420 10,920 6,500 4A 400 10,400 6,500 4B 320 8,320 5,000 5 310 8,060 5,000 6 395 10,270 6,000 7 404 10,504 6,000 8 315 8,190 5,000 9 316 8,216 5,000 10 365 9,490 6,000 11 396 10,296 6,000 12 326 8,476 5,000 CARAGA 320 8,320 5,000 ARMM 325 8,450 5,000 Among these 18 million families, 4.4 million households are current beneficiaries of the 4Ps or conditional cash transfer or CCT program. They receive, on average, around 2,150 pesos per month, so we will just top-up their subsidies to reach the proposed 5,000 to 8,000 pesos, depending on their region, so that they can avail of basic food, medicine, and toiletries. Ang dagdag na mga sabsidiyang ito para sa 4.4 milyong pamilya sa ilalim ng CCT ay magkakahalaga ng 15.5 bilyong piso bawat buwan. The balance of 13.5 million non-CCT households will get 5,000 to 8,000 pesos in total also from various national and local government programs, so that they can avail of basic food, medicines, and toiletries. Ang ayuda naman sa 13.5 milyong mahihirap na pamilyang ito na wala sa CCT ay aabot sa 82 bilyon kada buwan. The total Emergency Subsidy Program will require a total of 97.4 billion pesos per month, or roughly a little bit less than 200 billion pesos for 2 months for all households working in the informal sector, plus 5.1 billion of administrative cost. Tulad nga ng aking nabanggit, ang ayudang ito ay maibabahiga sa pamilyang Pilipino sa pamamagitan ng national and local government social programs, both in cash and kind, lalo na para sa mga pangunahing pangangailangan tulad ng pagkain. The cost is clearly significant but we have the cash available. What we do not have is the flexibility to use the available cash to beat this virus. This bill that I sponsor today will precisely do that. In consultation with the economic managers, we will keep the 2020 spending program of 4.1 trillion pesos intact, and give the President the power, as needed, to move funds within the General Appropriations Act or GAA from non-essential to essential items that are required for fighting COVID-19. Moreover, our accounting of the financial situation shows that we have some 175 billion pesos of available cash and its equivalent in various GOCC accounts. We also have some 100 billion pesos in various national government agencies' accounts outside the Treasury Single Account (TSA). The total amount available off-budget is about 275 billion pesos. This can be made available quickly to finance the Emergency Subsidy Program. This scheme will allow us to deliver emergency subsidy to the people without affecting our national government's fiscal position. These actions can protect our people and ensure their survival. Looking ahead, the economic team has assured us that they are crafting an economic stimulus plan. The additional public resources that we have identified will, for now, go directly to Filipino families. Wala pong ibang pupuntahan ang ayudang ito kundi direkta sa mga pamilyang pinaka-nangangailangan nito. To get this done, we in the Senate and our counterparts in the House of Representatives must immediately enact special law to allow the President to move and reallocate funds to where they are most urgently needed and create new budget items for new programs, so that we can deliver emergency aid to our people without delay. The proposed bill, among others, will accomplish the following: First, it will authorize the President to reprogram, reallocate, and realign any appropriation in the 2020 GAA as may be necessary and beneficial to fund measures that will respond to the COVID-19 emergency, including social amelioration for affected communities and the recovery and rehabilitation therefrom; and, Second, allocate cash, funds, and investments held by any government-owned or controlled corporation (GOCC) or any national government agency as necessary to address the COVID-19 crisis. Under the proposal, any unobligated amount, whether released or unreleased in the budget, shall be considered to have their purpose abandoned or fulfilled, as of the date of the declaration of the State of Emergency. The balance of these funds as of the effectivity of this Act will be appropriated as needed to address and respond to the COVID-19 emergency, including the recovery and rehabilitation therefrom. Upon passage, the authority granted under this bill shall be effected for 3 months, unless extended by Congress. Bawat linggo, magsusumite ng report ang Pangulo sa Kongreso. Ito'y bahagi ng pagsisiguro sa transparency at pagkilala sa checks-and-balances. Finally, the President shall be authorized to undertake such other measures as may be reasonable and necessary to enable the government to carry out the mandates of this proposal. The proposal also carries other measures to ensure that the President can act swiftly to address the needs of our people in times of crisis. The proposal empowers the President to continue to adopt and implement measures to prevent or minimize further transmission and spread of COVID-19 and to continue testing and observation of persons under monitoring and persons under investigation. We need to sustain these efforts. In these extraordinary circumstances, where adherence to the national strategy is crucial to contain COVID-19, the proposal also authorizes the President to ensure that local governments adhere to the declared national policy and strategy, while allowing them to continue exercising their autonomy in matters undefined by the National Government. The President shall also be authorized, when the public interest so requires, to temporarily direct the operations of certain facilities necessary to address the needs of the public during the COVID-19. Ang panukalang ito ay hindi bago o kakaibang konsepto. Atin itong inihahain alinsunod sa Article XII, SECTION 17 ng ating kasalukuyang Konstitusyon. The President shall have the power to continue to protect the people from hoarding, profiteering, injurious speculation, manipulation of prices, product deceptions, as well as cartels and monopolies. This will ensure that our people are not taken advantage of by unscrupulous individuals under strenuous market conditions. Nakalulungkot at nakakagalit isipin na sa gitna ng pagsasakripisyo ng lahat, ay may mga kababayan pa rin tayo na nakukuhang magsamantala sa kanilang kapwa Pilipino. As time is of the essence in combating this disease, the President may also procure essential goods and services such as medical supplies, rented venues for quarantine centers, and other services needed by the public healthcare system during the health emergency as exceptions to the Procurement Law. Other powers include extending credit to productive sectors of the economy, liberalizing the grant of incentives for the manufacture and importation of necessary goods and equipment, requiring businesses to prioritize and accept contracts for goods and services necessary to deal with the health emergency, regulating the operation of public and private transportation, regulating traffic on all roads, authorizing alternative work arrangements for employees in the Executive branch, and if necessary in the private sector, and regulating the use of our energy supply. The best way to defeat this disease is to be ahead of it, and these powers will allow the President and our public health authorities to act as swiftly as they need to. Fellow Senators of the Republic, these are extraordinarily trying times. This virus does not differentiate on party, creed, or wealth. It's an impersonal, invisible enemy. Without fear or favor, it infects, and without intervention, it moves very quickly. But I am confident that if we sustain and enhance the measures that we have taken, and if all of us do our part, we will be able to defeat this virus, together. Health workers are manning the frontlines in this battle, some have sadly lost their lives. As was said in the past, never has so much been owed by so many to so few. We thank them for their selfless and courageous services. To our factory workers, truck drivers, storekeepers, and our peacekeepers, we send our deepest gratitude. To those who keep essential services running, the farmers, the fishermen, maraming salamat po. To the many heroes we see and are able to thank, and to the many other warriors who toil without rest or recognition, our collective efforts will not succeed without your invaluable work. Sa mayorya ng ating mga kababayan, lalo na yung mga nasa informal sector, sa mga tricycle driver, jeepney driver na nawalan ng pasada, sa mga vendors na nawalan ng mga suki, mga manggagawa, sa mga namamasukan sa arawan, batid namin ang lahat ng inyong sakripisyo, at lubos kaming nagpapasalamat sa inyong pag-unawa at pakikiisa sa ating pamahalaan. Let us in the Senate do our duty to aid them in this time of great need, and may this country come out of this hour of challenge stronger, more compassionate, and more united. We have the funds necessary to address COVID-19. What we do not have much of is time. By passing this bill, we give the administration the authority to access these funds and move quickly to save more lives. Panawagan ko ang suporta ng bawat isang miyembro ng Kapulungang ito. Let us pass this bill with urgency, Bayanihan to Heal as One. Thank you very much, Mr. President. The former head of the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA), Michael Somers, who helped set up the agency during the crisis of the late 1980s, said the banks could do much more during the Covid-19 crisis but that a State guarantee for small firms including restaurants and pubs may be required to spur lending. Mr Somers said he was speaking as the former head of the NTMA and not for broker Goodbody, where he is chairman, nor for financial services firm Fexco, where is a non-executive director. In an interview with the Irish Examiner, Mr Somers said the economic crisis sparked by the Covid-19 fallout was by any measure severe and that the write-off of wealth was staggering. Any one relying on a pension based on a portfolio of shares will be facing a catastrophic loss of wealth as stock markets tumble, he said. People have been on to me about their pension funds and unless there is a swift recovery, the devastation will be severe just like in the last financial crisis when people found the value of their house dropping and their incomes falling, he said. It affects everybody one way or the other. No one knows what the knock-on effects will be. Will this cause a further hit to house prices, for example, because peoples wealth is going to be down and they will be reluctant to take on loans even if the banks are willing to give them? Mr Somers said. If we end up with 400,000 to 500,000 unemployed, the knock-on effects are going to be huge. Everybody will be affected one way or another and then the question is how do you restart the economy again? he said. The banks, he said, were very recently talking about being over-capitalised and there was talk of them returning some of their excess capital to shareholders. They could take a bit of a hit in terms of their capital. I think the banks have surplus capital at the moment which would allow them to take on more risk and lend, Mr Somers said. On the banks, he said the availability of liquidity was not an issue during the Covid-19 crisis because the ECB was prepared to pump billions into the system. Last time round, it was a question of liquidity. Last time around, they [the banks] loaned too much. This time they are reluctant to lend, he said. He said the only way to get the banks to lend after the three months interest holiday expires may be to get a Government guarantee for small business loans. He said there would be a push back against the idea of the State giving any guarantee to banks given the bitter experience of 2008. However, he said: If a bank is approached by a restaurant to start up again, it is difficult, you may need a State body to give a guarantee for small loans. You need some sort of eurozone backing but someone would need to start it and small countries can get things done, Mr Somers said. He said that the lessons of the late 1980s and the setting up of the NTMA could be used by putting together some sort of new national recovery agency that would tap people around the world for ways of getting the Irish economy up and working again. There are a lot of people around the world who would be willing to join such an agency because small countries can drive these ideas, he said. Iran today called on the United States to lift its sanctions to help contain the coronavirus which Tehran says is killing one person every 10 minutes. President Hassan Rouhani rejected Washington's offer of humanitarian aid, saying: 'American leaders are lying. If they want to help Iran, all they need to do is to lift sanctions .... Then we can deal with the coronavirus outbreak.' Yesterday Ayatollah Ali Khamenei alleged that the virus, which has killed around 1,700 and infected more than 21,000, was designed to target 'the genetic data of Iranians.' The 80-year-old ruler ferociously rebuked the American offer, claiming that doctors and medicine sent by the US could be 'poisoned.' Washington said it would provide humanitarian assistance to the worst hit Middle Eastern nation despite the recent tensions which peaked in the New Year when the US assassinated Tehran's highest ranking general. President Hassan Rouhani rejected Washington's offer of humanitarian aid, saying: 'American leaders are lying. If they want to help Iran, all they need to do is to lift sanctions .... Then we can deal with the coronavirus outbreak' Fire brigade crews wearing protective masks carry out disinfection works due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak last week in Tehran Last week the Ayatollah praised the 'dazzling sacrifice' of his medics and asserted that Iran had in fact benefited from US sanctions, which had made them 'self-sufficient in all areas.' It came after the country's health ministry revealed the horrifying scale of the COVID-19 outbreak, saying it was killing one person every minute, a fact which does not tally with its reported death toll. Khamenei on Sunday referred to an accusation made by Chinese officials about the origins of the virus, saying: 'I do not know how real this accusation is but when it exists, who in their right mind would trust you to bring them medication? ... Possibly your medicine is a way to spread the virus more.' He said that COVID-19 'is specifically built for Iran using the genetic data of Iranians, which they have obtained through different means'. 'You might send people as doctors and therapists, maybe they would want to come here and see the effect of the poison they have produced in person,' he added. Despite Khamenei's claims that US sanctions had benefited the country, Rouhani and other officials have urged Washington to lift the penalties. US President Donald Trump gestures as he speaks during the daily briefing on coronavirus on Sunday Indeed, the deputy health minister has accused the UK of impeding its efforts to fight the crisis by prohibiting the sale of a million surgical masks due to US sanctions. Iranian authorities have blamed U.S. sanctions for hampering its efforts to curb the outbreak and Rouhani has urged Americans to call on their government to lift sanctions as Iran fights the coronavirus. Alireza Raisi claimed last week: 'We had bought several million masks from Britain before [the epidemic started] but the country did not deliver them to us due to the sanctions.' Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted today: 'U.S. is NOT listening, impeding global fight against #COVID19. The ONLY remedy: DEFY U.S. mass punishment. MORAL & PRAGMATIC imperative.' Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has publicly declared that the United States created 'a special version' of the deadly coronaviruswith the intention of infecting Iranians using genetic information But the United States has sent Iran a blunt message: the spread of the virus will not save it from U.S. sanctions that are choking off its oil revenues and isolating its economy. 'You have blocked Iran's oil exports, you have stopped Iran's banking transactions... Your help offer is the biggest lie in the history,' Rouhani said. On Sunday Ayatollah Khamenei said: 'The American leaders have said several times that 'we are willing to provide you with treatment and medical assistance.' He added: 'First of all, you face shortages yourselves. If you have anything available, use it yourselves. Second, you, Americans, are accused of producing this virus. I do not know how true this accusation is. But as long as this accusation stands, which sane mind will trust you?' The accusation is the latest propaganda effort against the United States, with the Chinese government already accusing the USA of manufacturing the virus. Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused American officials of dishonesty over what the US government knows about the disease. Fire brigade crews wear masks to disinfect the streets of Tehran last week Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs conspiratorially accused American officials of covering up what the US government knows about the disease Despite Twitter being banned in China's tightly controlled internet, Zhao Lijian's comments were widely circulated on throughout China as part of a conspiratorial propaganda war According to the New York Times, the unfounded conspiracy theory was recirculated on China's tightly controlled internet on Friday after Zhao Lijian made the accusations on Twitter. The conspiracy theories mark ever deepening tensions between the US and Iran, and the US and China. In 2015, the US imposed greater sanctions on Iran after the Trump administration pulled out of the nuclear deal and launched a renewed economic blockade of the country. It has since tightened its economic strangle-hold on Tehran which has refused to bow to America's will. Yesterday Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan waded into the row, appealing to President Trump in a tweet to lift the sanctions. 'I want to appeal to President Trump on humanitarian grounds to lift the sanctions against Iran till the COVID-19 pandemic is over,' Khan wrote. 'The people of Iran are facing untold suffering as sanctions are crippling Iran's efforts to fight COVID-19. Humanity must unite to fight this pandemic.' Iran on Thursday granted a medical furlough to imprisoned US Navy veteran Michael White who has been in prison since his arrest in 2018. But his release is conditioned on him staying in Iran, U.S. Secretary of state Mike Pompeo said. White was later sentenced to at least 10 years in prison on charges of insulting Khamenei and posting anti-establishment remarks on social media under a pseudonym. It is not clear exactly how many Americans Iran may hold, but Washington has warned Tehran that it would hold the clerical rulers directly responsible for any American deaths since the outbreak has infected the Islamic Republic. Khamenei has ruled out any talks with Washington to reach a new nuclear deal, as demanded by Trump, unless it lifts crippling sanctions that Tehran blames for hampering its efforts to contain the speedy spread of the coronavirus across the country. But growing discontent over economic hardship, combined with the coronavirus outbreak's economic impact, could force Iran to choose diplomacy over confrontation with the United States. (Photo : 5 Tips for Working with a Workplace Injury Lawyer) Injuries are bound to happen even in the workplace. In the United States, workers file close to 3 million claims related to workplace injury or illness per year. The process of getting compensation after a workplace injury is usually a stressful process. If you are a victim of workplace injury, then you should have tips on how to handle the issue with a lawyer. Here are 5 tips you should consider working with a workplace injury lawyer. 1. Learn Your Rights You need to know your rights before filing a compensation claim. This is because understanding your rights will also play a crucial role in helping you decide on the right workplace injury lawyer. If you get the chance of having a lawyer before filing a claim, you should ask them to inform you of your rights. When you get injured while on the job you are entitled to a workers' compensation. The compensation is meant to help you pay for the expenses that arise as a result of the injury. The expenses that are paid for are medical expenses, hospital fees, rehabilitation or retraining expenses, and compensation for the period of inactivity as a result of the injury. You should go through your insurance to learn what compensation you are entitled to incase an injury occurs. This will also help you in giving the right details to your lawyer. 2. Get the Right Lawyer You should always get a qualified workplace injury lawyer. You should also consider the licensing of a lawyer to know if they can represent you. For instance, If you have been injured in California, you should get an injury lawyer for California workplace. To get reliable contacts for a lawyer, you can always check online, on directories or get a referral. Referrals are always the best way to get a lawyer as you get better reviews. Referrals are from friends, family or colleagues and usually provide first-hand experience. You should research on the services that the lawyers offer and check their track record of similar cases they have handled in the past. 3. Discuss with your lawyer before signing an agreement Before signing the agreement with your lawyer on the claim, it is important that you agree on what is to be done. You should discuss the fees that you will be charged for consultation upfront before you get billed even more than what you are seeking as compensation. From this point, it is apparent that you should meet with your lawyer before and face-to-face instead of phone conversations. During the meeting with the lawyer, you will be able to understand them and even make a judgment on their capability to handle the case. At this point, it is always good to go with your gut when making a decision about hiring the lawyer. 4. Get help in Filing a Claim Once you get an injury while on the job, you should first seek medical attention. After getting medical attention, you should always file a claim for compensation. This will help in alerting your employer and the insurance company of the accident or your injury. If it is a minor injury, you can always file a claim on your own. However, if an injury occurs and you consider it to be serious or even fatal, then you need to get a good layer. The very first thing that the lawyer will help you with is to file a workers' compensation claim. The claim is submitted to your employer for processing. You should file the claim properly to avoid dismissal by your employer. There is no reason to worry about this as all your doubts will be cleared by the lawyer. 5. Legal Proceedings take Long so get an out-of-court Settlement Agreement You should be prepared for prolonged proceedings once you have filed a claim. When an accident occurs in the workplace, you should take care of yourself. This includes spending your own money on medical treatment before compensation comes. Once you have submitted the claim, your lawyer will probably not take care of you medically; after all, the lawyer is not your personal doctor. As a result, it is important that you take care of yourself during the process. Remember that the process could even take longer if you go to court with the matter. Therefore, your lawyer should provide information on the best settlement agreements you can get with your employer out of court. Conclusion In conclusion, there is no one who would wish to get a workplace injury. However, if it happens, you need to be compensated and at times this involves the help of a lawyer. The tips provided above will help you in circumstances when you are working with a workplace injury lawyer. Stay safe! 2015 Latinos Post. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A respected law lord was not deluded when he left a 580,000 home to his second wifes step-daughters instead of to his own sons, a High Court judge has ruled. Baron Templeman of White Lackington had dementia when he died aged 94 in 2014. His home, Mellowstone, near Exeter, was left to Sarah Edworthy and Jane Goss-Custard in a will signed six years earlier. The former judge was known for his sharp wit and intellect, and nicknamed Sid Vicious for his uncompromising decisions. But his son, retired barrister Michael Templeman, launched a High Court battle over the home, saying the will should be ruled invalid on health grounds as his fathers decision was irrational. He wanted a 2001 will to represent his fathers final wishes but Mr Justice Fancourt ruled against him, finding Lord Templeman had been on an emotional journey before deciding to leave the house to his step-daughters. I consider that he was making a gift of Mellowstone because that is what he wanted to do, the judge said. Retired barrister Michael Templeman outside the High Court / Champion News Lord Templemans first wife Margaret Peters mother died in 1988 and he stood down as a member of the Judicial Committee of the House of Lords in 1994. He married second wife Sheila stepmother of Mrs Edworthy, 66, and Mrs Goss-Custard, 70 in 1996 and they moved in together at Mellowstone which had been her home since the Seventies. In his 2001 will, the law lord had split his estate between his sons, Michael and the Rev Peter Templeman, but two months after Sheila died in 2008 he made the new will. Mr Templeman, 68, argued that his fathers memory was not working well and he was not thinking clearly, saying he struggled to work a Sky TV remote. Sharp wit: Baron Templeman / Avalon However, the judge concluded that although Lord Templeman was struggling with his memory, he remained a strong and decisive person. He added: It is very clear that, in sharing with Jane and Sarah the final years of his life with Sheila, he became very attached to them They helped him to care for Sheila at the end of her life and they helped him to look after his and her affairs before her death and then helped him to cope with his grief. The judge said Lord Templeman may have misjudged his step-daughters attachment to the house as they went on to sell it, but added: He left it to them because he felt, emotionally, that that was where Mellowstone belonged. Hong Kong, March 23 (IANS) Hong Kong will halt all foreign tourist and transit arrivals to the city from Wednesday and ban the sale of alcohol at more than 8,000 bars and restaurants to contain the spread of the coronavirus, after a sudden spike in cases, with the majority of them imported. Making the announcement at a press conference on Monday, Chief Executive Carrie Lam said the ban on foreign arrivals would last 14 days, reports the South China Morning Post. From Wednesday morning, all non-Hong Kong residents who arrive at the airport will be barred entry, along with anyone from mainland China, Macau or Taiwan who has a recent travel history elsewhere. Those arriving from Macau or Taiwan directly will be allowed in, but subject to quarantine orders, as has been the case for mainland arrivals for some weeks. Lam said the government would amend the law to forbid 8,600 restaurants, bars and clubs that hold a liquor licence to sell alcohol. She did not give a targeted effective date. Explaining the reason behind the drinking crackdown, she said: "In restaurants, meals can still be served (without alcohol)... But in bars, people sometimes get intimate after drinking, and this will raise the risk of cross-infection." As of Monday morning, nine confirmed COVID-19 patients were known to have visited bars and restaurants in Hong Kong's famed nightlife district of Lan Kwai Fong, the South China Morning Post quoted the Centre for Health Protection as saying. Lam also announced tougher penalties against those who violate the mandatory quarantine orders or those under home-quarantine who remove their electronic bracelet to elude detection. The move to ban tourists comes a day after Singapore announced it would no longer allow short-term visitors to enter from Monday, following the decision of other countries to do the same. Lam's government had come under mounting pressure to effect a similar measure. Hong Kong as so far reported 327 coronavirus cases with four deaths. --IANS ksk/ Flash China on Saturday announced to donate $100,000 to the World Health Organization (WHO) for the purchase of protective kits and medical equipment as part of COVID-19 response in South Sudan. Hua Ning, Chinese ambassador to South Sudan, said in a statement issued in Juba that the prevention and control of imported infections have become a prominent challenge for South Sudan. "We are hereby pleased to announce that the Chinese Embassy in South Sudan will donate 100,000 dollars to the WHO Country Office in Juba. The donation would be used to procure protective kits including medical equipment which are urgently needed for the country," Hua said. Hua said COVID-19 is a global pandemic and currently confirmed cases have been reported in more than 40 African countries. The envoy said the embassy will work closely with South Sudan, WHO and international partners to contain the virus in a spirit of solidarity. To support South Sudan's preparedness on COVID-19 at this critical moment, some other medical supplies donated by the Chinese government and Chinese companies will be delivered to South Sudan soon, Hua said. There is no confirmed case in South Sudan so far. Greece on Monday put out a call for health volunteers to help combat the spread of the coronavirus, a government official said. There are 17 recorded deaths and 624 officially announced infections from the coronavirus in Greece, which has a population of 11 million. "The volunteer programme is addressed to whoever can offer services, such as doctors, medical staff, psychologists, medical students and retired health scientists," acting government spokeswoman Aristotelia Peloni told reporters. Administrative staff and technicians are also welcome, she said, adding that regional authorities will subsequently share out volunteers depending on local needs. Greece's public health system has been drastically weakened by a decade of dwindling spending and staff cuts. A quarter of national output was wiped out and official unemployment soared to nearly a third of the workforce during the 2010-2018 crisis, originally sparked by reckless state spending and misreporting of fiscal data to the EU. Thousands of trained doctors emigrated during the crisis, most of them to Germany and Britain. The union representing public hospital staff has also warned of a possible shortage in essential sanitary equipment, while other insiders say not enough people have access to test kits. Officials last week said there are 120 beds available for coronavirus patients requiring emergency care, and that more beds are being added. The government has also put out a call for 2,000 additional medical staff. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The MIT prototype Private Kit: Safe Paths app works by sharing location data between users, without revealing who the users are. The free and open-source prototype Private Kit app was developed by teams at MIT and Harvard as well as software engineers of Facebook and Uber who worked on it in their free time. Chennai: The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab has developed an app that tracks the location data of users and shares it with other userswithout violating their privacyin an effort to inform people if they have come into contact with someone infected with the coronavirus. The app depends on users voluntarily declaring if they have contracted the coronavirus disease COVID-19. By sharing location data with others on the network, users can check if they have crossed paths with infected persons. The Private Kit: Safe Paths app is similar in intention to Singapores TraceTogether app which is also used in contact tracing, on which Deccan Chronicle had reported a couple of days ago. Where it differs is that the MIT app shares encrypted location data between users without it being accessed by a nodal authority, whereas the Singapore governments app sends Bluetooth signals between phones within close proximity of 2 metres to detect other users of the app. The free and open-source prototype Private Kit app, was developed by teams at MIT and Harvard as well as software engineers of Facebook and Uber who worked on it in their free time. It is available for download on Apples App Store and Googles Play Store. Ramesh Raskar of MIT Media lab, who heads the team that developed the app, was quoted as saying by MIT technology review that only if enough people are using it will the app have any meaningful data to share. He said a fine-grained tracking approach would allow authorities to seal off and disinfect areas in the route map of infected persons. Giving the example of South Korea, where contact tracing of infected persons identified coronavirus hotspots, Raskar said testing stations were set up outside buildings that visited by the carriers of the virus. However, he cautioned that information on the app would give users a false sense of security about some places being safe while others were not. But in reality, the app can only pinpoint locations that the virus has been and not where it is going. Several users have given suggestions and pointed out glitches to the MIT team, on App store and Play store, to which the response seems quick. So, download the app and give it a go. You would be doing your bit to keep yourself and others safe. America's banks are entering the most severe global crisis since 2008 as a pillar of strength in the economy, and that's giving them a powerful lever to press Congress to relax regulations to keep credit flowing. It's a stunning turn of events after a decade in which banks found their political standing in Washington severely tarnished over their role in unleashing the last financial meltdown and the multibillion-dollar government bailout that followed. With stronger balance sheets and layers of new oversight imposed since the last crisis, the banks are now touting a "we're here to help" message which some delivered personally to President Donald Trump at the White House earlier this month. They're also leaning on lawmakers and regulators to ease rules that they say could limit relief to consumers and small businesses. The effort is bearing fruit. Senate Republicans granted a handful of the banks' key requests in their coronavirus legislation this weekend, which stalled on Sunday, including what could be a vast government backstop of their operations. But the lobbying push is also facing resistance from lawmakers who say they're concerned about the longer-term consequences to the financial system and note that some of the banks' requests were lobbying priorities well before the emergence of Covid-19. The height of a pandemic is not the time to tear down rules that protect hardworking families from financial crises," said Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee. "Banks should be pitching in to help their communities and working to keep families afloat, not lobbying Congress for handouts." Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, speaks during a Senate Finance Committee hearing with pharmacy benefit managers on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, April 9, 2019, exploring the high cost of prescription drugs. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Paul Merski, group vice president for congressional relations and strategy at the Independent Community Bankers of America, rejected that argument, saying banks aren't looking for handouts but instead want to see credit flowing to small businesses that are at risk of shutting their doors. Story continues "There are no bank bailouts needed because the banks going into this pandemic are in extremely solid positions, both with capital levels and liquidity levels," Merski said. "This is absolutely not a 2008 situation. It's the reverse." On Capitol Hill, the current potential legislative vehicle is a "phase 3" stimulus package but Congress will likely pass additional legislation to address the economic fallout of the pandemic. Among the industry's asks are recommendations that would let banks more freely dip into their financial buffers and allow more time to comply with a new accounting standard that requires them to immediately record potential losses on their books when they make loans. Some Hill Democrats and watchdog groups were already on alert after one of the industry's lead trade associations the Bank Policy Institute published a list of deregulatory recommendations in the early days of the pandemic reaching the U.S. "That really made it difficult to have an open conversation about the full range of measures that ought to be taken here," said Graham Steele, director of the Corporations and Society Initiative at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a former aide to Brown. "It's made this a hard environment to engage in because there are just concerns that we're only going to get the deregulatory ideas, we're not going to get those other pieces that build the system back up." But in recent weeks, the nation's largest banks have embarked on a remarkable PR campaign, touting their financial strength and a willingness to help save an economy that Wall Street nearly destroyed 12 years ago. It started with a fully televised White House meeting on March 11 where the CEOs of Bank of America, Citigroup and other banking giants pledged to do their part. They've since made joint promises to temporarily stop buying back their own stock to help free up capital pausing a controversial practice that mainly helps investors and to tap into emergency Federal Reserve funding to remove the stigma attached to that and encourage other banks to do the same. "The Covid-19 pandemic is an unprecedented challenge for the world and the global economy, and the largest U.S. banks have an unquestioned ability and commitment to supporting our customers, clients and the nation," eight of the country's biggest banks said via their exclusive trade association, the Financial Services Forum. Banks are now trying to tap into the emerging goodwill with requests to cut red tape. Some of the asks are intended to address logistical challenges as much of America stays at home for potentially months to come. Others are focused on making sure more lenders can participate in federal small-business lending programs that are quickly ramping up and allowing larger businesses to receive the assistance. Some requests target financial safeguards that have been implemented in the years since the crisis. The recommendations vary by type and size of bank, which is typically the case in Washington's finance industry community, and the companies have been jockeying over where to focus their lobbying firepower. Bank representatives said a few consensus items are emerging. One area of focus for banks are regulations governing the capital and liquidity buffers they must maintain to support their operations. Regulators have encouraged the banks to dip into those buffers for lending. But companies want more certainty through concrete legislation or regulation that they will be able to do so. Small banks are lobbying Congress to allow more community lenders to take advantage of streamlined capital requirements. Regional, mid-size and community banks are urging Congress and financial regulators to delay the industry's compliance with a rule that requires lenders to immediately account for potential losses when they issue loans. The thinking behind the rule is that banks should have funds to cover losses earlier in the life of a loan. Banks argue that the required reserves take away resources that could be put toward lending. Some lenders have floated the idea of delaying required stress tests that are designed to gauge the resiliency of banks in a crisis. Some want regulators to temporarily suspend bank examinations. A potential increase of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s deposit insurance limit is also top of mind for some banks. Banks' lobbying efforts paid off this weekend, when Senate Republicans' revealed a coronavirus economic stimulus bill that would give the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. expanded authority to backstop the banking system beyond the traditional $250,000 of insurance it offers depositors. The GOP proposal would allow the FDIC to guarantee the banks' own debt including that of the biggest Wall Street banks -- and provide an additional guarantee for business transaction accounts used for things like payroll. The measure, which would resurrect authority used by the FDIC during the 2008 meltdown, prompted immediate criticism that Congress was offering a giveaway to Wall Street banks. "The FDIC is supposed to stand behind Americans' hard-earned deposits, not reward big banks for taking on too much debt," Steele said. In addition, the bill would make it easier for small banks to take advantage of less-onerous capital requirements and give lenders a break from complying with the accounting standards that they've argued could inhibit lending during the outbreak. Moderate Democrats are also exploring the ideas. Rep. Bill Foster (D-Ill.) has been soliciting recommendations for how to free up credit by temporarily easing certain bank regulations and intervening in markets. The business-friendly New Democrat Coalition in the House wants Congress to encourage financial agencies to publish regulatory guidance for banks that want to provide forbearance on home mortgage and other consumer loan payments. Industry watchdogs are lobbying against the banks' efforts and looking to further rein in the industry by banning financial firms' payouts to investors via stock buybacks and dividends. "It would be dangerously counterproductive and irresponsible to weaken the very rules that have made the financial system so much stronger and more resilient," Better Markets President Dennis Kelleher said. "Those rules are why we dont already have a financial crisis." YEREVAN, MARCH 23, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Finance informs that a total of 398 million and 401 thousand drams has been donated to the Armenian government for its anti-coronavirus efforts, ARMENPRESS reports the government said. The treasury account (900005001947) was opened on March 17th for citizens and organizations willing to make donations. The government said a total of 2210 payments were made since. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan A series of about 130 Romanian citizens who will arrive on Monday night with a charter flight at the "Mihail Kogalniceanu" International Airport, from the red areas of Italy, will be quarantined for 14 days at the Techirghiol Spa Sanatorium, the manager of the unit, Elena Almasan told AGERPRES. In turn, the prefect of Constanta county, George Niculescu, said that a third aircraft with repatriated Romanians from Italy will land on the "Mihail Kogalniceanu" International Airport on Monday, around 22,00hrs."There will be 137 persons on board and after landing, the same strict epidemiological triage protocol will be followed and our nationals will arrive under escort in the quarantine center in Techirghiol. There, they will enter institutionalized quarantine for the next 14 days and the measures of guard and public order will be provided by gendarmes. At the same time, on Tuesday, the fourth plane will land from Italy, with an unspecified number of passengers for now, who will follow the same route and procedures as those arriving tonight," the prefect said. The border crossing between Egypt and Sudan has been closed by agreement between the two countries as a preventive measure against the spread of coronavirus. The Egyptian embassy in Sudan has announced that the Egypt-Sudan Eshkeet border crossing has been opened one last time on Monday and Tuesday to allow the return of Egyptian citizens and trucks from Sudan before the crossing is closed indefinitely starting 25 March. The embassy urged members of the Egyptian community in Sudan who want to return to seize this last opportunity before the border is closed, which is part of measures taken by Egypt and Sudan to protect their citizens against the spread of coronavirus. The border crossing between Egypt and Sudan has been closed by agreement between the two countries, and has been reopened several times to allow the return of stranded citizens. According to the Federal Ministry of Health in Sudan, 47 people are still in isolation in two centres in Khartoum. In total, 341 people have been cleared and discharged from quarantine, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says. Egypt has 327 confirmed coronavirus cases and 14 deaths, according to the latest Egyptian health ministry report. Search Keywords: Short link: When Rochelle Jue and Melissa Riches met in the International Terminal at San Francisco International Airport on Monday, they bonded because both were trying to find their kids. Jues son Simon was returning from India via Vancouver; Riches daughter Lindsay Millett from Brazil by way of Chicago. Both in their 20s, Simon Jue and Millett both had their mission service for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints cut short because of the coronavirus pandemic. Whirlwind flights were booked over the weekend to get them back home Jue to Livermore and Millett to Portola Valley. This is unprecedented, Riches said. Finally, Jue saw them: six young men dressed in white shirts, dress pants and ties. She ran to greet them, laughing and relieved, showing off the Welcome Home Simon sign, and handing out turkey and Swiss cheese sandwiches to the five others waiting for connecting flights to Salt Lake City. Riches found her daughter, too, and the families left. The travelers would self-isolate at home for 14 days. Theyre among scores of Americans scrambling to get back home as countries lock down, borders close and governments restrict travel, sometimes overnight. The U.S. now bans foreign nationals who have been in 30 countries in the past 14 days and screens Americans arriving from those countries for their health. The United States is not checking other passengers, to the concern of some, given the now-global reach of the pandemic. The U.S. issued a global advisory not to travel, and flight demand has nosedived. At SFO, passenger traffic is down nearly half compared to March 2019, with the most cuts internationally, according to spokesman Doug Yakel. The airport is still running as an essential business under shelter-in-place public health orders, and air travel to and from the Bay Area has not been banned. In fact, as the virus recedes in China, the country that first saw a deadly outbreak, signs of normal life are re-emerging, including travel. Air China and China Eastern have resumed flights to SFO, Yakel said, but added that federal restrictions apply. Foreign nationals who have been in 30 countries China, Iran, United Kingdom, Ireland and the rest of Europe in the past 14 days are banned from entering the U.S. Americans who come from those countries are subjected to enhanced screening. SFO is one of 13 airports where such screening is performed, and only those airports can receive flights from the designated countries. Each passenger signs a Travelers Health Declaration, which is reviewed by Customs and Border Patrol. If travelers show symptoms of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, theyre referred to a separate station run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for medical assessment and quarantine. If they dont, theyre encouraged to isolate at home for 14 days and monitor their health. But there are no other standardized health or travel history checks for other passengers who may be coming from or have passed through other countries that also have high numbers of cases. For Hilay Farooq, it was a nightmare getting out of Bali, where shes been living for months, with her visiting cousin. She said that, in Indonesia, her temperature was taken going into the grocery store. She was so surprised there were no health checks at SFO that she even asked about it. They didnt do any check, which is really weird, Farooq said. We came from Jakarta, which is infested, its so bad there, Im really mad we didnt get flagged to have any sort of check. Its really aggravating to show up here and hear so much, things are really bad, but do absolutely nothing to check anybody. Farooq and her cousin were trying to find a nearby hotel where they could spend the night to avoid going home to protect their families in San Ramon including Farooqs grandmother, whose health is already poor. Whats the point of taking all these precautions for us to find a place to quarantine ourselves to keep our families safe if they dont really care about anyone at all? Farooq said. It seems pointless. A spokesman for the border agency didnt respond to specific requests about how passengers are screened and where, but said that only passengers from the 30 flagged countries are screened. Tony Misch, who arrived from Europe last Thursday, said the health screening process at SFO was reassuring. He said they unloaded 10 people at a time from the plane and had an equivalent number of really nice and efficient CDC staff asking questions and having passengers fill out forms. When going through customs, he was asked to press his hand on a screening pad, and raised alarm that it wasnt being cleaned after each persons touch. The Custom and Border Patrol spokesman did not respond to a specific question about cleaning such equipment. Sean Luo, from Shanghai, also noticed that he had to touch four fingers to the pad and worried about how clean it was. Luo was one of few travelers in the nearly deserted International Terminal at SFO Monday who wasnt coming home he was leaving. Because of the travel restrictions on Chinese citizens, he stayed in a hotel in Thailand (a country hes never visited and where he knows no one) for 15 days so that he could enter the U.S. after a connection in Japan. He wanted to come to start a masters program in computer science at a college in the Bay Area, despite the shelter-in-place order that has closed many schools and university campuses. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes After leaving China, Luo was surprised his temperature wasnt taken at SFO. I think its better to take a test of every passenger, it doesnt need too much time. I think its necessary, he said. Other passengers, like Amanda Forth, were simply grateful to be home. After talking to her grandparents, 90 and 96, on a FaceTime call, she closed the doors of the jewelry store she opened in Bali just six months ago and packed her bags to try to get on the next flight back to the U.S. I just wanted to be near my family, Forth said as she sat beside a cart full of luggage. She ended up booking a backup flight just in case but made it to Singapore, then SFO. She said the humanity in the shared experience was incredible with strangers helping each other get on flights and offering extra bags. You think youre the only one feeling it: Am I going to get home? Am I going to get on this flight? But every single human is having the same fear. If were stuck, were stuck together, she said. Forth even found an empty apartment through a connection with a college friend where she can quarantine herself for 14 days before moving in with her brother and his fiance in San Francisco. This was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life to travel and Ive never seen more beautiful acts of humanity, she said. Chronicle staff writer J.D Morris contributed to this report. Mallory Moench is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@mallorymoench Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-24 06:07:33|Editor: zyl Video Player Close Photo taken on March 23, 2020 shows the almost-empty Roma Termini railway station in Rome, Italy. The COVID-19 pandemic had claimed 6,077 lives in locked down Italy by Monday, with the cumulative number of confirmed cases reaching 63,927, according to new figures released by the Civil Protection Department. (Photo by Augusto Casasoli/Xinhua) ROME, March 23 (Xinhua) -- A total of 63,927 coronavirus cases have been assessed in Italy since the pandemic broke out in its northern regions on Feb. 21, the Civil Protection Department managing the COVID-19 emergency said on Monday. The number of total infections grew by 4,789, or 8 percent from 59,138 cases recorded on Sunday. Further 601 fatalities were also registered on Monday, with the death toll reaching 6,077. The daily fatality figure dropped from Sunday's 651 and Saturday's 793. Although still upward, the figures showed the daily rise in both the number of people testing positive and the number of deaths has been less marked for the second day in a row, Civil Protection Chief Angelo Borrelli told a press conference late Monday afternoon. Health authorities, however, warned that it was still too early to confirm a decreasing trend in the ongoing pandemic. "The more we have consecutive (downward) measurements, the more confident we can be," Silvio Brusaferro, president of Italy's National Health Institute (ISS), said at the press conference alongside Borrelli. "I am looking carefully and favorably at such numbers, but I do not want yet to commit myself to saying whether this is a trend or not," he stressed, adding that this week would be crucial for evaluating the trends. As in the previous days, the ISS chief also warned that a crucial goal for national authorities and the health system remain to be avoiding the dynamics of strong circulation of the virus seen in the northern regions "reproduced in the South." Still on daily data, Borrelli said recoveries also kept increasing, with 408 more people added, bringing the total to 7,432. "Of the 50,418 people who are positive, some 26,522 are currently under home isolation -- being asymptomatic or with light symptoms -- another 3,204 are in intensive care, and all the other hospitalized in ordinary wards," he specified. Considering all statistics, the total number of assessed cases Italy reached 63,927. Borrelli also said that Italy was benefitting from the solidarity of several countries in its fight against the COVID-19, and especially thanked "the Russian Federation, the People's Republic of China, France, and Germany, all of which have provided us with additional staff and means against the epidemic." Among countries that have sent medical materials and experts were also Cuba and Venezuela. The most affected regions remained northern Lombardy (18,910 positive cases), Emilia Romagna (7,220), Veneto (4,986), and Piedmont (4,529), plus central Marche (2,358) and Tuscany (2,301), data showed. Lombardy's regional authorities also reported slight positive signals on Monday, yet sounding cautious as well. "We count 28,761 positive people today, with a daily increase of 1,555 cases, while the previous daily rise in infections was of 1,691," Lombardy's Welfare Councillor Giulio Gallera told a press conference broadcast live on social media and TV networks from Milan. "Another beautiful signal concerns the number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized (in ordinary wards), which is now 9,266, against 9,439 in the previous day ... it is the first time," Gallera stressed. Echoing the warning from Brusaferro, Gallera said it was still too early to claim the pandemic was really slowing down, and he strongly appealed to people to keep respecting all restrictions implemented since a national lockdown went into effect on March 10. In related daily news, Health Minister Roberto Speranza said the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) approved the testing of the antiviral drug known as Avigan against the COVID-19, local media reported. "The agency's Secretary General told me that -- following a first analysis of available data on Avigan, the (AIFA) technical-scientific committee is developing a testing and research program to assess the impact of the drug in the initial phases of the disease," Ansa news agency quoted the minister as saying. UPDATE (8:45 a.m., March 24): Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo issued a stay-at-home order Tuesday morning, closing most businesses for the county until April 3. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo on Tuesday morning is expected to order most residents to stay home except for groceries and errands, or if they work in essential industries, in order to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, county officials with direct knowledge of the plan said. The directive, which would take effect at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday and apply to unincorporated Harris County as well the city of Houston and other municipalities, would restrict businesses deemed non-essential through April 3. County officials on Monday evening were working to complete a list of exempt businesses, which will include markets, pharmacies and other stores necessary for daily life to function. CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: Stay informed with accurate reporting you can trust Churches will be limited to online-only services, the officials said. Parks will remain open, except for high-traffic areas like playgrounds. Without a mandatory order limiting public interactions, Houston-area hospitals are at risk of being overrun with coronavirus cases, public health officials said. Medical experts for days have urged Harris County to take such a step. The facts are clear, William McKeon, president and CEO of the Texas Medical Center, told the Chronicle. Earlier and more aggressive restriction of public movement is much more effective at reducing community spread of COVID-19 than later and less aggressive restrictions. We must come together by standing apart. Hidalgo plans to announce the order at a news conference at 8:15 a.m. Tuesday. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner declined comment Monday evening, though a spokeswoman said he would attend the announcement. County leaders in Bexar, Travis and Galveston counties also plan issuing similar directives, their leaders said. Fort Bend County closed some businesses. Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins issued a shelter-in-place order Sunday. By Monday, the Houston area was the most populous in the country without a shelter in place order. In a highly unusual move, chief executive officers of the Texas Medical Center on Monday unanimously and strongly called on civic leaders to invoke such an order to further reduce community spread of the new coronavirus, which has now infected nearly 800 people in Texas and caused nine deaths. The leaders came to the consensus during their daily teleconference on COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. Doctors and health experts across the country have said such orders are necessary to prevent COVID-19 from spreading so rapidly that it overwhelms the nations health care system. McKeon of Texas Medical Center said Monday morning the presidents of TMC hospitals and other institutions were unanimous in our strong recommendation to move to shelter in place. Already, 35 states have instituted statewide closures of non-essential businesses, according to the National Governors Association. Hidalgo said at a news conference Monday morning her office was working on a possible stay-at-home order and seeking the advice of other local leaders including Turner. Hidalgo on March 11 issued a disaster declaration that gives her broad authority to issue a shelter-in-place order or establish a curfew. The most drastic step Hidalgo and Turner have taken to date is an order a week ago closing bars and clubs and limiting restaurants to takeout and delivery for 15 days. Hidalgo justified that step by expressing dismay that many county residents were ignoring health officials advice to avoid crowds. Dr. Umair Shah, the countys public health director, said Friday it was too soon to tell whether social distancing measures taken to date have been effective in preventing a spike in coronavirus cases. The Harris County directive would come on the heels of Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins shelter-in-place order Sunday, which allows residents to go on walks, get groceries and medicine, and visit businesses deemed to provide essential services. The Dallas County order provides an expansive definition of businesses that are considered essential, including take-out, drive-through delivery business at restaurants and breweries, construction crews, banks, warehouse and hardware stores, liquor stores, laundromats, auto supply and repair shops, childcare centers, businesses that supply products needed for people to work from home, and businesses that deliver groceries and other goods. Hidalgo said Monday if the county issues such a directive, calling it a shelter-in-place order is not the right term because it evokes hurricanes, chemical incidents, makes you think of an active shooter drill. Turner noted on Monday that a number of venues and events in Houston schools, gyms, theaters, clubs, arts events, conferences, conventions have already been closed or postponed, while restaurants and bars are limited to takeout orders. Seven of the 10 largest cities by population are under a lockdown-type order. On Sunday, Gov. Greg Abbott declined to issue a statewide shelter-in-place order at a news conference announcing other coronavirus-related measures. He has already recommended against gatherings of more than 10 people, closed schools and restricted restaurants and bars to takeout orders. There were 164 known cases of COVID-19 in the Houston region by Monday evening and 812 such cases across Texas, according to a Chronicle database. Todd Ackerman contributed to this report. zach.despart@chron.com jasper.scherer@chron.com mike.morris@chron.com Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is pictured on February 29, 2020. Lucas Jackson/Reuters A former worker on Michael Bloomberg's presidential campaign filed a proposed class-action lawsuit on Monday, saying that she and other staffers were tricked into the job. The billionaire entered the race in November, pledging to keep his campaign running through the election, even if he didn't become the Democratic Party nominee. But last week, he laid off his remaining staff and transferred $18 million to the Democratic National Committee instead. Donna Wood, who worked on the Bloomberg campaign in Miami, is the staffer behind the lawsuit. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Three days after Michael Bloomberg laid off his remaining campaign workers, a former staffer has filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against the campaign, saying she and thousands of others were hired under false pretenses. When the billionaire entered the race at the end of November, he promised that even if he didn't win the Democratic Party's nomination, he would keep his campaign going to help the eventual nominee defeat President Donald Trump. But just days after dropping out of the race earlier this month, he closed all of his offices except those in six key swing states. Then on Friday, he shuttered those as well, leaving thousands of his campaign workers unemployed and about to lose their health benefits in the midst of a global pandemic. Bloomberg supporters cheer on the candidate at a Super Tuesday party on March 3, 2020 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Lynne Sladky/AP Donna Wood worked for the Bloomberg campaign in Florida and was let go on Friday. On Monday, she filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against the campaign in New York federal court, arguing that she and others were hired under the false promise that they would have a job through November, and that they were deprived of overtime pay. According to the lawsuit, the campaign "deprived them of promised income and health care benefits, leaving them and their families potentially uninsured in the face of a global pandemic." Story continues "This is a tight-knit community, and they're all mad, they're all hurt and they're all scared, especially at a time when health insurance is so important," one of Wood's lawyers, Gregg I. Shavitz, told The New York Times on Monday. Insider reached out to a campaign spokesperson for comment Monday afternoon, but did not immediately receive a response. While Insider saw campaign materials which showed promises were made about the length of the jobs being offered on the campaign, staffers said they were at-will, meaning they could be laid off at any time. Insider previously spoke to two former Bloomberg campaign staffers who were let go in the first round of layoffs just a few days after Bloomberg dropped out of the race on March 4. They said they were afraid to go into such an uncertain time without benefits, and felt lied to by the campaign, which repeatedly promised that they would have a job through November 2020. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaks at an event to announce the suspension of his presidential campaign on March 4, 2020. Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AP "The timing of this could not be worse for me and all of us who were let go. No campaigns are hiring right now, the normal day-to-day operations that you do as organizers in some states is illegal at the moment and probably will be in the immediate future," a former Bloomberg organizer in Minnesota told us. Both said that during a conference call announcing the end of campaign last week, staffers were encouraged to apply for jobs with the Democratic party, but weren't made any guarantees. "We were given no more information than this; they hung up immediately without allowing for any questions or further elaboration," a former Bloomberg staffer in Virginia said. Both declined to speak on the record, citing non-disclosure agreements they had signed upon joining the campaign. It was also revealed that before the announcement was made Friday that the remaining offices would be closing, dozens of staffers who worked at Bloomberg's New York City campaign headquarters learned that they had been exposed to the coronavirus, according to a report from Politico. Read the original article on Business Insider The young man on the line sounded strained. He had just moved from New York to Maryland, he said. His girlfriend was developing flu-like symptoms, and they got into a big fight when he asked whether she might have the novel coronavirus spreading across the United States. He was also growing worried about his elderly parents especially his father, whom he is close to. 23 Mar - TVB actress Elaine Yiu has dismissed rumours that she and ex-boyfriend Raymond Young have rekindled their romance. As reported on Mingpao, rumours of the two reconciling sparked earlier this month, after sources claimed to have seen her and the I-Dragon executive attending a friend's party. However, when asked about it at the taping of "Cantopop at 50", Elaine denied it, saying that it is normal for everybody to be communicating with each other at their mutual friend's party. "We are all adults. There is no reason that I can't be friends with my ex-boyfriends," she said. As to whether there is a chance for them to be dating again in the future, the actress responded, "What happens in the future will be discussed in the future." On the other hand, the actress shared that work is scarce following the pandemic, with both her promotional work in Malaysia being cancelled and her Canadian project being postponed. (Photo Source: Elaine Yiu Instagram) An Ongoing Series on Coronavirus Who could forget the legendary scene from Jaws when Mrs. Kintner, whose boy had been killed by the shark, slapped Chief Brody: I just found out that a girl was killed here and you knew it! You knew there was a shark out there! You knew it was dangerous! But you let people go swimming anyway! You knew all those things! But still my boy is dead now. And theres nothing you can do about it. My boy is dead. I wanted you to know that. Mayor Vaughn: Im sorry, Martin. Shes wrong. Chief Brody: No, shes not. Chief Brody and Mayor Vaughn ignored their problem, with disastrous results. We too have a shark problem, but rather than doing everything to combat that threat, we continue to feed the predator known as coronavirus. The last installment discussed how government incompetence allowed COVID-19 (C19) to spread. But incompetence loves company, so schools, hospitals and people have joined the fray. The point of illustrating incompetence is to learn from those mistakes not blame for the sake of blame so we are better prepared next time. And lets be clear: that next time is both today, and very possibly this fall, should C19 go dormant this summer. But first, several things. Most Donald Trump supporters exhibit common sense and rationality. But significant numbers have turned a blind eye to the many mistakes the government, and, by extension, the president, have made handling corona. We wont rehash those errors, but claiming that the administrations response thus far has been wonderful, while casting blame on the past administration, speaks to an astounding ignorance. Giving carte blanche approval to any leader, even when obvious mistakes are made, is counterproductive in normal times, but downright dangerous during a crisis. Some may take offense at my tone, labeling it caustic and preferring a more genteel message. Not going to happen. I dont give a damn if people like me, since a commentator shouldnt have any friends. Popularity isnt my aphrodisiac; taking people to task, and hopefully changing hearts, minds, and, in this case, behavior, is. And if a global pandemic with a totally unknown virus isnt enough for us to act responsibly, maybe shaming irrational people will. If not, God help us all. * The following situations promoted the spread of coronavirus: Cruise Ship: This boggles the mind. After the corona-stricken Princess cruise ship where over half of those tested were C19-positive docked in Oakland, California, what did the top brass from the U.S. government, including on-site experts from the CDC and NIH, do? In front of the entire world, they herded thousands of passengers together, funneling them down the gangway and into processing tents, with everyone standing literally less than a foot apart! How can officials be in full protective gear, but order passengers with no protection to violate the CDCs 6-foot separation rule? The on-site officials should be fired for endangering lives, but the Trump Administration should also be held responsible. No, the president didnt make that idiotic decision, but those agencies are under his command, and the buck stops with him. But the passengers themselves are also to blame. Just as some in the second Twin Tower blindly followed a security guards order to go back to their offices which became a death sentence so too did passengers do what they were told, without question, and without invoking common sense or gut instinct. For days, they had maintained personal distancing, yet jettisoned that rule when they needed it most. Clearly, being an infectious disease doctor or a Ph.D. in Public Health arent automatic qualifications for making the right decisions. We need to be smarter, all around. Beaches Still Open: How is it possible that Floridas Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, still STILL! has not closed the beaches? What more does he need? Not only is there no health benefit in keeping them open, but he is killing himself and the GOP politically. The governors impotence has him being shamed and outmaneuvered by mayors across the state who are doing it themselves. This is a microcosm of the nation, as President Trump has frequently been beaten to the punch by governors doing the right thing. When Republicans lose because of their paralysis to act, they will have only themselves to blame. Millennials and Generation Z: This column has long hammered millennials for their unprecedented entitlement and lack of empathy. Thankfully, many others are joining that chorus after thousands ignored warnings to stay home, and instead chose to congregate on beaches. Most may be relatively unscathed if they contract C19, but they will, with 100 percent certainty, kill people when they return home and transmit it. And know what well see? No true remorse, but plenty of social media postings about what they wore to funerals, and countless thoughts and prayers emojis to garner self-validating likes. Never have two generations been so utterly worthless. Doctors: Numerous doctors became infected after recently attending ready for this? crowded medical conferences, including one in Times Square, that discussed ways to stop the spread of coronavirus! You cant make this up. So not only did they infect each other, but many got on crowded airplanes, flew all over the country, and saw patients. And these are the experts? Nursing Homes: Washington State nursing homes were Americas original epicenter, where many victims died. The authorities answer to stop corona? Limit visits to one outside person, per day like corona only strikes after a residents first visitor. Its truly petrifying that such people have oversight over the care of our most fragile citizens. Celebrities: After testing positive, English actor Idris Elba was featured on national television while in quarantine. Yet right next to him was his wife, who was potentially uninfected. But too few called Elba out on his terrible example since, if you are positive, you need to be isolated! Yet in a remarkable display of irresponsibility, Elba defended his action. What do these people not understand? Oklahoma Guv: Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt posted a photo of himself eating at a crowded restaurant with his very young children. Being an idiot is one thing, but endangering kids, who can also be super-spreaders, is beyond inexcusable. Then again, Gov. Stitt also recommended that Oklahoma schools remain open, so what would we expect? Schools Not Closed: As of last week, far too many schools around the country were still open, and several states had done virtually nothing to stem C19s spread. Do those in power think theres an award for staring into the face of the beast the longest, with no protective measures? Tragically, theyve forgotten that its not about them, but the safety of children and their families. Many colleges waited too long to close. But why the delay? Of course they were going to close; they were just too obtuse to see it. No college could risk thousands of students returning from spring break with corona in tow, yet their indecision was staggering especially since the worlds most elite universities proactively took the initiative, from Harvard to Rice, and Vanderbilt to Stanford. Ditto for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, which sent out a voluminous March 12 letter (with too many out of an abundance of caution lines to count) stating that all extracurricular activities would be canceled, but schools would remain open. Hello? So the virus only attacks during CYO games? The archdioceses message was beyond ludicrous which is why, less than a day later, it closed all schools. Brilliant. But the churchs incompetence didnt end there. It failed to cancel Masses quickly, didnt stop Communion-by-mouth, and waited far too long to postpone sacraments in some cases, procrastinating until the day before to call them off. Hospitals: Many healthcare systems lacked foresight to stock up on protective gear. Now, many face serious shortages, including some of Philadelphias best hospitals, resulting in nurses and doctors ill-equipped to face the virus. Many failed to lock up what gear they did have, resulting in widespread theft. And some greedy physicians are still performing elective surgeries, needlessly endangering everyone. How long will we ignore our killer shark before acting responsibly? BJP MP from Chandigarh, Kirron Kher, on Monday released Rs 1 crore from MP Local Area Development Fund (MPLAD) for the purchase of essential items especially ventilators by Government Medical College and Hospital here to curb COVID-19. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the number of affected persons due to COVID-19 is six in Chandigarh as of 6 pm today. The number of coronavirus positive patients in India rose to 467 on Monday, as per official data. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China's anti-virus model urged as global solution by Chinese experts as confirmed COVID-19 cases expected to hit 1 million Global Times By Yang Sheng and Chen Qingqing Source:Global Times Published: 2020/3/22 20:33:40 As country after country of different development status, political systems and societal values fail to come up with a sound plan to stem the coronavirus pandemic, Chinese analysts on Sunday called on countries to put aside their political differences and swiftly and resolutely adopt China's model, which they believe the "only" proven successful model so far that could be replicated to halt the virus once and for all, so as to save millions of lives. Despite advanced warnings from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the time bought by China's unprecedented efforts in the virus fight, the number of confirmed cases outside of China has reached 223,419 and is expected to hit 1 million within a week, foreshadowing, beyond the numbers, total devastation for individuals, families and nations around the world. Analysts attributed the increasingly out-of-control situation to a half-baked, chaotic response from countries including traditional global powers such as the US, where scientific evidence and facts have only been used for petty political expediency and ideological bias that has blinded leadership from the pursuit of effective solutions. In the worst-case scenario, 80 percent of the global population could become infected if other nations cannot effectively control COVID-19, although it's hard to believe the situation has become so serious, as China has already played the role of a "whistleblower" for the world and effectively curbed its domestic outbreak, Chinese experts said. On March 16, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in other regions and countries surpassed that of China, reaching 87,464. Within a week, confirmed cases across the world reached 267,013, while China has stemmed the flow to 81,416 cases. The surge resembles the situation in the early stage of the outbreak in Central China's Hubei Province. Johns Hopkins University's Center for Systems, Science and Engineering estimated that the global figures reached 303,816 cases with 12,950 deaths as of Saturday. Chinese experience Countries including the US and major European countries have reacted variously to the outbreak based on their own national condition and best judgment. The soaring confirmed cases outside China suggest their measures are ineffective. This is no time to debate ideology or pass the buck, but time to resolutely replicate China's proven effective approach and experience: Track the infection source, find and quarantine all confirmed and suspected cases, try to save every patient and reduce the economic burden on hospitalized patients, Chinese experts said. Given the rapidly accelerating spread of the pandemic, global confirmed infection numbers could reach 1 million within a week, Song Qinghui, a Shenzhen-based economist who closely follows the situation from an economic statistic perspective, told the Global Times. The situation has been increasingly severe, for example in the US. There has been no testing on a mass scale, and some frontline medical staff are not sure whether they have been infected or not, which has become the biggest risk facing the nation, Song noted. "If virus hotbed countries and regions do not have effective containment measures nor an effective vaccine, about 80 percent of the global population is likely to contract the virus, especially in some less developed countries and regions, the result would be disastrous," Song further said. The main reason that countries, especially those in the West, missed the time window created by China's dedication to reining in the virus spread is that most of them didn't pay enough attention and some even used the outbreak to attack and accuse China's political system as a failure to governance, which is totally against the factual evidence, experts said. Various US senior officials and politicians see the pandemic as a chance to serve their strategic purpose to weaken China and they are attempting to politicize the pandemic to "pass the buck" onto China. US President Donald Trump has also been "vocal" in such efforts by using the racist term "Chinese Virus." Song said "in the most hard-hit countries such as Italy, Spain, the US, Germany, Iran and France, the inflection point has not appeared yet. We forecast Spain and Italy to reach their peaks on April 15. The worst-case scenario is if the inflection point arrives after more than two-thirds of every country's population is infected, it would be more effective to adopt the Chinese model as the pandemic response, Song said. "If the Chinese model were adopted earlier, global infections might have been tamed by now," he noted. World's whistleblower Many WHO experts and officials also warned the world about the looming pandemic and urged other WHO members to learn from China, including Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Bruce Aylward, head of WHO Experts Advance Team who visited China during the most severe period in early February. China's counterattack against the COVID-19 outbreak can be replicated, WHO expert Aylward said at a press conference during his trip to China, but it will require "speed, money, imagination and political courage." However, their warnings and recognition of China's measures have been viewed from an ideological perspective by many mainstream Western media outlets, and some assumed that the WHO was pressured by China. The WHO considered China's approach and methodology correct and they hoped more nations can learn from it. Zhang Weiwei, a professor and director of the China Institute of Fudan University in Shanghai, told the Global Times on Sunday the failure by Western countries to contain the outbreak is caused by their slow responses, shortage of funds, lack of imagination and political courage. "Recapping at the very beginning of the outbreak, China was a country seriously insulted by the West. Now the situation has made a U-turn. China is moving toward a final victory step by step, and those Western countries who mocked and bullied China are mired in a serious virus crisis," Zhang said. The arrogance and bias from their national leaders, political elites and journalists is hurting their own people with their arrogance and ignorance, Zhang noted. Song Luzheng, a Paris-based political scientist and commentator, told the Global Times that many European countries don't understand how serious the outbreak could be. And in late January, when China sacrificed economic activities among many other things to lock down Wuhan and even Hubei Province to control the virus, some European media mocked and criticized the approach, accusing the practice as violating "freedom" and "human rights." Political elites in European countries have lessons to learn in dealing with the pandemics - from criticizing and questioning China's measures to learning from China's experiences and even seeking assistance from China, but the process took too long, and the tardy response has caused unnecessary loss and casualties, Chinese observers noted. Politicians in major Western countries care too much about economic data and stock markets, rather than death rates and numbers of confirmed cases, and liberal journalists care more about political values such as "individual freedom and rights," but they need to understand that without lives, those things they care about won't exist anymore, Chinese experts warned. A Beijing-based expert on epidemic prevention and control who requested anonymity told the Global Times that China has warned countries around the world, and kept the other major countries, especially the US, posted since the very beginning of the outbreak, and China has also been frank about the mistakes it made earlier. "China is the whistleblower for the world," and it would be immoral and irresponsible to blame China. With virus situation increasingly spiraling out of control beyond China, what China could do is to prevent imported infections at all costs, as Chinese people could not suffer another outbreak, and what China can do for other countries is to maintain its production capacity of medical materials, so that material supplies to other countries could be stabilized at least, and also enhance exchanges with other countries to convince their leaders to show more political courage to fight the virus, he noted. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address With the snowy Sangre de Cristo range as a backdrop, Roger Welles fly-fishes on the Arkansas River just east of Cotopaxi on Thursday. The temperature in nearby Canon City hit 75 degrees Thursday and Welles said he couldn't pass up the chance to get on the river. He said he lives in Canon City and fishes the Arkansas year-round. Photo by MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VANCOUVER, BC (March 23, 2020) Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (CSE: AGN) (FRANKFURT: AGW) (OTCQB: AGNPF) (the Company or Algernon) a clinical stage pharmaceutical development company announces that it has awarded the contract to manufacture the active pharmaceutical ingredient for NP-120 (Ifenprodil), to U.S. based Cascade Chemistry. Algernon has made the decision to scale-up cGMP manufacturing of Ifenprodil to support its quickly evolving clinical program for acute lung injury (ALI), its urgent clinical focus on COVID-19 (Coronavirus), as well as its idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) clinical program. Cascade Chemistry, based in Eugene Oregon, are specialists in chemical synthesis. As work begins on the synthesis of Ifenprodil, the Company will also be moving forward as soon as possible with toxicity testing, as well as the development of new formulations for parenteral injection for ALI and an oral slow release formulation for IPF. We are every pleased to have appointed Cascade Chemistry to start the synthesis of Ifenprodil, said Christopher J. Moreau, CEO of Algernon Pharmaceuticals. The Company believes strongly in the potential of Ifenprodil to treat patients who are suffering from a severe acute lung injury as a result of various forms of respiratory diseases including coronavirus, influenza, and IPF. About Cascade Chemistry Cascade Chemistry, is a contract research and manufacturing organization focusing on developing and scaling synthetic processes and working with clients APIs from discovery to clinical manufacturing. For nearly 40 years, Cascade Chemistry has provided crucial chemistry problem solving services to its clients. Over this time, it has developed a reputation as a reliable and experienced outsourcing partner. Cascade Chemistry continues to expand its R&D, process chemistry, and cGMP offerings. https://cascadechemistry.com/ About NP-120 (Ifenprodil) NP-120 (Ifenprodil) is an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NDMA) receptor glutamate receptor antagonist specifically targeting the NMDA-type subunit 2B (Glu2NB). Ifenprodil also exhibits agonist activity for the Sigma-1 receptor, a chaperone protein up-regulated during endoplasmic reticulum stress. Although the anti-fibrotic activity of Ifenprodil in IPF is not known, recent studies have suggested a link between both receptors and pathways associated with fibrosis. Glutamate (Glu) is the main excitatory neurotransmitter which acts on glutamate receptors in the central nervous system (CNS) but overactivation of these receptors can cause several damages to neural cells including death. Recent studies show that the glutamate agonist N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) can trigger acute lung injury (ALI). ALI is a direct and indirect injury to alveolar epithelial cells and capillary endothelial cell, causing diffuse pulmonary interstitial and alveolar edema and acute hypoxic respiration failure. ALI is characterized by reduced lung volume and compliance, and imbalance of the ventilation/perfusion ratio, inducing hypoxemia and respiratory distress and its severe stage (oxygen index <200) known as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). (1) Furthermore, pathological findings show that 64% of ARDS patients may have pulmonary fibrosis during convalescence (2). NP-120 (Ifenprodil) was initially developed by Sanofi in the 1990s in the French and Japanese markets for the treatment of circulatory disorders. The drug is genericized and sold in Japan and South Korea to treat certain neurological conditions. About Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc. Algernon Pharmaceuticals is a clinical stage pharmaceutical development company focused on advancing its lead compounds for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), chronic kidney disease (CKD) inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and chronic cough. Algernon has filed new intellectual property rights for NP-120 (Ifenprodil) for the treatment of respiratory diseases and is working to develop a proprietary injectable and slow release formulation. CONTACT INFORMATION Christopher J. Moreau CEO Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc. 604.398.4175 ext 701 info@algernonpharmaceuticals.com investors@algernonpharmaceuticals.com www.algernonpharmaceuticals.com . The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not in any way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. CAUTIONARY DISCLAIMER STATEMENT: No Securities Exchange has reviewed nor accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release. This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to product development, licensing, commercialization and regulatory compliance issues and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as will, may, should, anticipate, expects and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Companys expectations include the failure to satisfy the conditions of the relevant securities exchange(s) and other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by applicable law. We never spoke out openly, because we were afraid of the IRA and what they might do if we revealed our true feelings. But the dam burst when those three children died. There had been other tragic deaths, but the tragedy of the little Maguires was the moment when I felt we just could not take any more. Im happy with Presidents Musevenis press briefings but I think we are missing an opportunity hereBesigyes message on this disease was so powerful and should be all over our media. It should be interpreted in various languages too. Besigye should be standing shoulder to shoulder with Museveni in press briefings and guide the public on what to do. Politics should be put aside, for now. Please, dont fight me or anybody on this, inform. The enemy is the Corona Virus. Besigyes message was just awesome, and Im not just saying that to score points here. He basically gave the best presentation in Uganda, regarding the Corona Virus. I liked the part where he talked about stress. Please understand that stress is an immune suppressant, and right now, our immune system is what will keep most of us alive during this thing. For many, it's all we have, considering the volongoto(poor) healthy system in our country. People should also drink plenty of water, eat plenty of healthy food, vitamin C (as Besigye explained), and breathe, breathe, breathe. Reducing contact with people is essential, hard as that is, for everyone for a while. And I am more concerned with the countless number of people with HIV/AIDS and TB patients. They have literally zero immunity against this, nothing to fight it off with. Our best shot to fight this, especially in Africa, is our body immunity. Viruses, as a whole, are a bitch. There are no cures for viruses, hence things like the flu and HIV being the problem that they are. We can only treat the symptoms. Antiretrovirals slow down the HIV, keeps the viral load low, but it doesn't cure it or eradicate it. Antibiotics don't work for the flu or viruses, only for bacteria. So, the only way to eradicate a viral disease, is vaccination. Smallpox for instance has been successfully eradicated. Problem is, vaccines take time to develop, sometimes years. It seems we may be lucky and have one for COVID19 next year. Netflix has a series called Explained, the Pandemic episode is brilliant. Have different people conveying messages about the disease-it helps. Where I am in the UK, the virus has been around longer, in which case people may be more aware of how serious this is. In Uganda, on the other hand, plenty of people are still going to work, spending time with friends in restaurants, coffee shops, etc, despite the presidential directive. We're only just waking up to it. We haven't been testing until recently, and only one person has so far tested positive. Our economy is in tatters and our hospitals have been run into the ground. We are hopelessly under prepared. It makes me angry. This is a very transmissible contagion and much of it is alarming, but there are also reasons to stay calm. I'm hoping continued data updates on the world meter reveals a lot more insight, like that the virus will be negatively impacted by heat/summer. The analysis of data from some researchers in Beijing suggests that high humidity and high heat reduce the spread. So, Uganda and other African countries may miraculously survive this. Anyway, even if there is some sort of seasonality to it, that only delays the problem until the next winter. It doesn't wipe out the disease. E.g. the real impact of the Spanish flu was the following winter. Yes, the Corona virus might destroy all of life, and guess what? It might not, as well. You can only control what you can control, but we shouldnt make decisions based on fear. Abbey Kibirige Semuwemba Stalk my blog at: http://semuwemba.worldpress.com "Men in authority will always think that criticism of their policies is dangerous. They will always equate their policies with patriotism, and find criticism subversive." - Henry Steele Commager 1902-98 LONDON The British choreographer Liam Scarlett on Monday left his position as the Royal Ballets artist-in-residence, after an investigation into accusations of sexual misconduct with dance students. Mr. Scarlett will no longer work with, or for, the Royal Ballet, the company said in a statement, which added that a seven-month, independent investigation the company commissioned found there were no matters to pursue in relation to alleged contact with students of the Royal Ballet School. A spokesman for the Royal Ballet said the company would not comment further on the announcement. Mr. Scarlett did not immediately answer an email requesting his response. Mr. Scarlett, once heralded as a choreographic wonder boy of British ballet by The New York Times, has created works for dance companies worldwide, including the American Ballet Theater. This month, the Royal Ballet was forced to end the sold-out run of his Swan Lake at the Royal Opera House after the coronavirus pandemic shut down the venue. US President Donald Trump addresses his administration's daily coronavirus task force briefing at the White House in Washington, March 20, 2020. [Photo/Agencies] By Ye Shuhong The US is facing mounting pressure over prevention and control of the COVID-19 as the pandemic wreaks havoc around the world. The latest statistics show that the US has had more than 19,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases cumulatively and more than 200 deaths. The White House tried to play down the outbreak at first and only woke up to its severity recently. Its mishandling has aggravated the situation, said an article published on POLITICO, a Washington-based website and newspaper that focuses on American politics. In the face of such a global public health emergency, a responsible government should be focused on dealing with the crisis, but certain American politicians and media chose to shift the blame on China at this critical moment. They used the language Chinese virus, spread rumors of virus made-in-China, and brazenly demanded compensation from China, aiming to instigate xenophobia and racism, shift the focus of public opinions, and find excuses for their misconduct and incompetence. The COVID-19 pandemic is a global test. As a major world power, the US capability of coping with the crisis is not doubted, and much hope is placed on it to join the international efforts against the virus. However, certain US politicians and media, turning a deaf ear to the international call for solidarity and cooperation, adhere to their Cold War mentality of criticizing or opposing everything China proposes. Being led ever farther astray by their narrow nationalism and ideological prejudice, they have lost one score after another in this global test. First, the US is losing scores in international morality. Ever since the pandemic broke out, China has launched an all-out war against it, making immense sacrifices and efforts to buy time for the world to prepare. But Washington has not only laid back with folded arms without heeding the WHOs call for solidarity, but also faked the gesture of providing aid by paying lip service. Furthermore, US senior officials have wasted no time in smearing the Chinese system at international conferences, advocating the flow-back of American manufacturing jobs because of the epidemic, and doubting the integrity of WHO. Such actions of taking advantage of a countrys adversity are against international morality. Second, the US is losing scores in international responsibility as a major country. Washington is lambasted for downplaying the epidemic and its retarded response, which the US website The Atlantic attributed to bureaucracy, information non-transparency, and wrong decisions. But some American officials, instead of reflecting on their mistakes and showing any sense of responsibility in face of these doubts and criticisms, tried to shift the blame to China by concocting absurd accusations like the virus originated in China, Chinas virus data are flawed and China refused to cooperate. American magazine National Interest pointed out sharply that with the quickly worsening pandemic and the forthcoming election, some American politicians tried to make China a scapegoat to divert criticisms at the White House. Third, the US is losing scores in media responsibility. The international community has to get through the pandemic with solidarity, but some American media are so prejudiced in their reports that they smear Chinas anti-epidemic efforts and incite discrimination against the country, rather than focus on how dangerous the virus is and how hard China has tried to contain its spread. Their biased coverage is so misleading that the American people have seriously underestimated the severity of the pandemic. Smearing China and shifting blame will in no way help the epidemic prevention and control in the US or the international cooperation against the virus. Foreign experts on international health laws from many countries have written articles for The Lancet, saying that measures based on fear, rumor, racism, and xenophobia cannot save people from a global emergency like COVID-19. Yuri Tavrovsky, a professor at the Peoples Friendship University of Russia, said the political virus born out of ideological bias and double standards is more dangerous than the novel coronavirus. As an old Chinese saying goes, turn inward and examine yourself when you encounter difficulties in life. The American stock market has had four meltdowns in 10 days, and the panicky stock dumping reflects the markets concern over the scale of the epidemic as well as the possibility that the US government deal with it effectively. We advise certain American politicians to focus on fighting the epidemic and do something constructive for the global anti-virus efforts and international public health security, instead of wasting time on attacking, smearing and complaining. With the pandemics spreading, the global crisis doesnt appear to be stopping its footsteps. In an age of globalization, worldwide cooperation is the right way to tackle the emergency while narrow nationalism, xenophobia and racial discrimination dont help at all. Only when all members of the international community join hands and help each other will mankind win the final victory in this battle without smoke. Virginia schools will be closed for the rest of the year, Gov. Ralph Northam ordered Monday. Northams order applies to all K-12 schools in the state, both public and private, and comes as the coronavirus continues to spread in Virginia. Richmond-area school districts had already announced that schools would be closed until at least April 13. Virginia joins Kansas in announcing that schools will be closed for the rest of the year. All but four states - Idaho, Nebraska, Iowa and Maine - are under mandated school closures, according to Education Week. "As disruptive as this will be for students, families and staff, I believe it's the right decision given the healthcare crisis we're facing," Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras said. "I applaud the Governor for taking this bold step now." Northam announced March 13 that schools across the state, serving roughly 1.5 million students, would close from March 16 through at least March 27, a step the governor hoped would help mitigate the spread of the virus, which has killed six people in the state. Virginia also joined other states in asking the U.S. Department of Education to waive mandatory testing requirements, something normally done in the spring. U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos said Friday that the agency would accept applications for waivers, something Virginia is preparing. The state should know if Standards of Learning tests are canceled for the year by mid-April. Northam also said retail stores can stay open -- ABC stores included -- but they must have 10 or fewer patrons. Restaurants must do takeout or delivery only. "Gatherings of more than 10 are banned," Northam said. "We do not make these decisions lightly." Recreation businesses, such as bowling alleys, theaters, etc., are ordered closed. WASHINGTON, March 23 (Reuters) - Forging an oil alliance between the United States and OPEC's top producer Saudi Arabia is one of "many, many ideas" being floated by U.S. policy makers but it is uncertain whether it will become a formal proposal, the U.S. energy secretary told Bloomberg TV on Monday. "I don't know that that's going to be presented in any formal way ... as part of the public policy process," Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette told Bloomberg. He said no decisions have been made on "anything of that nature." Bloomberg News interview with U.S. Energy Secretary https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2020-03-23/u-s-saudi-oil-alliance-under-consideration-brouillette-says-video The Wall Street Journal said in a report on Friday that officials at the Energy Department were seeking to convince the Trump administration to push Saudi Arabia to quit the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and work with the United States to stabilize prices. Oil prices have dropped more than half in the last two weeks as Saudi Arabia and Russia launched a price war and the coronavirus pandemic destroyed demand. U.S. crude oil was trading around $22 a barrel on Monday, after tumbling 29% last week in its steepest slide since the outset of the U.S.-Iraq Gulf War in 1991. A source with knowledge of talks between the Energy Department told Reuters on Monday that those officials had not been closely involved in talks between the department and the White House on how to stabilize energy markets. The Trump administration will soon send a special energy representative to Saudi Arabia from the Energy Department for months at least to improve talks between the two countries. As the world's largest oil exporter, Saudi Arabia has long led the production group's efforts to stabilize oil prices in the past, usually by reeling in production. Brouillette told Bloomberg TV that the Trump administration would at some point engage in a diplomatic effort on oil markets. Brouillette said he would work with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other officials on that push. (Reporting by Timothy Gardner Editing by Marguerita Choy) 23.03.2020 LISTEN I was gripped with an astonishing fear when I overheard our brothers (Muslims) proclaim their Azan in preparation to go to the mosque to worship on Thursday, 19th March 2020, as I sat in the comfort of my home in a self-quarantine, one of the preventive measures to help slow or eliminate the spread of this hysterical coronavirus entirely. I was quite amused at the number of people who trooped into the mosque on the day, so I assumed probably, the virus is a Muslim and therefore can not infect any even if it gets to their doorstep. In curiosity, I joined the public transport the next day fully protected with my nose mask, hand gloves, hand sanitizer, etc. to witness the Kumasi Central Mosque and its operation. Astoundingly, a twelve-passenger van was taking fifteen passengers. I was so flabbergasted at how the people of Kumasi were not ready to help stop the further spread of this Virus. Contributing my quota to the already existing public education and as a concerned citizen of this nation, in an attempt to educate the public came out a voice in the van saying, naked we came, naked shall we go, if we are to die of this virus we will die no matter how you cover yourself. I felt somehow embarrassed because everybody in the van turned to look at me. The statement that was made meant to me that, the public is massively aware of the virus and how deadly it is, yet have turned death ear to it precautions. Upon arrival at the Kumasi Central mosque at exactly, 12:50 pm, they had already finish proclaiming their Azan, from there I saw my brothers with their ablution can performing their daily ablution. Well, I thought they may be doing individual worship not to flaunt the social distancing directive. Before I had finished thinking, almost the place was full. Then I ask, who is not playing his role, the government, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, the security agencies or the citizens? I went on to further ask, what else can be done after all these measures if citizens are not ready to comply to these basic rudiments? The Government and the Ministries have done their part by outlining certain preventive measures which could one way or the other help combat this pandemic. What then as citizens do we have to do? Ours is just to observe these measures which seem to be the easiest to do yet, we get people flaunting these directives each and every day. The Government would have been uselessly criticized when nothing was done about this pandemic grown epidemic yet the same people are out there promoting the spread of the disease. Maybe the Government should order the task force and security agencies mandated to patrol around all corners of the nation to ensure that all public gathering and social distancing are well adhered to. Sometimes I think following the directives of other countries by releasing thousands of tigers in the street to ensure citizens are self-quarantined will even see some people wandering in the street to see if they are real. The cure to this virus is with us and not in the hands of any health director of medical doctor. No one knows who is okay or who can infect you. Be responsible, stay in quarantine. Enning Richnard Aboagye Executive Secretary Captains Connekt Foundation. (TNS) Mid-Columbia cities and counties in Washington State are closing offices, limiting access and restricting services as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.From paying a bill to buying a business license, heres a look at some of the changes:Pasco City Hall will remain open for now but the city is strongly encouraging customers to use online or phone payment options for Utility Billing Building Permits and other city services.Pasco council members will use teleconferencing equipment for council meetings and residents are asked to use online/TV viewing, via Facebook or YouTube , or PSC-TV Channel 191 on Spectrum Cable, to watch the meetings.Comments and questions to the council can be submitted online via Facebook or the citys website Pasco Municipal Court will reschedule all civil and criminal and out of custody hearings, including jury trials. Notices will be mailed to individuals effected by these changes.Individuals with a contested hearing or mitigation hearing that do not want to appear at a later hearing can request a decision on written documents. The form is found on the city website or contact the clerk with questions.The Parks and Recreation department is closing all park restrooms and doesnt expect to book park, shelter and recreation facility rentals until May. Existing rentals on the books between now and the end of April will be refunded. Richland City Hall is closed to public access, so officials are asking people to go online or call for the common services.People can pay utility bills by calling 509-942-1104, going online at www.ci.richland.wa.us/myutilities or by using the drop box in the southwest side of the building.If theyre looking for a business license or related services, those are available at www.ci.richland.wa.us/businesslicensing.The Planning and Building Divisions can do much of their work online. Most general questions can be answered over the phone. People can call 509-942-7794. Building inspection requests can be made online.The landfill remains open during regularly scheduled hours.The Richland Police Department closed to the public at 1 p.m. Thursday. Business hours via telephone will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at 509-942-7340.Residents may make police reports by phone that dont need a police presence.We do not undertake this step lightly, but our goal is minimizing risk and spread of infection, as well as keeping our officers healthy and able to respond to emergencies, the police department posted on its Facebook page as part of the announcement.Richland closed its community center, closed its park restrooms and started offering only skeleton library services.Wednesday afternoon the city announced the Richland Public Library would close at 2 p.m. March 20, after saying earlier this week that the library would remain open limited hours to allow customers to pick up items placed on hold.The only service offered through 2 p.m. Friday is pickup of held materials.Return drop boxes will remain open. Kennewick City Council has canceled all of its scheduled meetings through the end of May, except for a meeting April 21.Special council meetings may be scheduled for essential operational items between now and the end of May.The public is encouraged to watch any council meetings scheduled online at bit.ly/KennewickBroadcast rather than in person at City Hall.All city board and commission meetings also are canceled through May unless there are business items that cannot be delayed.However, a public hearing on an ethics complaint filed against Kennewick Mayor Don Britain has not been canceled. It is set for 6 p.m. April 16 at City Hall, 210 W. Sixth Ave.The public may attend but no comments will be heard from the audience.Kennewick city offices have closed to the public through the end of March, but business can be transacted by telephone and e-mail.A drop box for utility payments is on the east side of City Hall. Payments also can be made through the citys automated telephone system at 509-585-4266, online or through private bill-payer services.For non-emergency calls, police can be reached at 509-585-4208 and fire at 509-585-4230. All other city services are at 509-585-4200.West RichlandThe Municipal Services Facility is closed except for mission-critical functions and duties that do not require close personal contact with the public.Utility payments can be submitted online , by calling 800-918-0468 or placed in the citys utility drop box at 3100 Belmont Blvd. More detailed information and instructions to set up or disconnect a utility account are available at westrichland.org/utilities or by calling 509-967-3431, option 4.Garbage service through Eds Disposal will run as normal without interruption, but the companys offices in Pasco and Walla Walla are closed to walk-in customers.Community Development Services will switch to processing planning and building permits online, and building inspections will continue. General questions can be directed to 509-967-5902. For permits and instructions on submitting online applications, call 509-967-7144 or email permits@westrichland.org.It is business as usual for the Public Works Engineering Department with a few changes. Inspections on all city and private construction projects will continue, but emphasis is being placed on social separation practices.Civil plan and street cut permit reviews will only be taken electronically. Applicants can email public.works@westrichland.org or call 509-967-7107 for instructions on how to submit.All communications or meetings with Public Works will be done by email, telephone or tele/videoconferencing.West Richlands water supply continues to be monitored and tested, and is safe to drink, the city says.The police departments lobby remains open, though staff are not doing fingerprinting services, Department of Corrections check-ins or citizen ride-alongs.City board and commission meetings have been canceled, and the City Council will not meet April 7.Not all, but most of the county offices are closed to in-person visits from the public. This went into effect at the close of business Tuesday.While staff will still be in through this week at all county agencies, some offices will then close March 23 except for essential services.Those offices that remain open will operate in a limited capacity at the discretion of the elected official who heads the office or the county administrator.All county offices hope to re-open to the public April 6 for normal business hours, unless the closures are extended.We are doing everything we can to protect the public and our employees in the midst of this expanding public health crisis, the county said in a news release . We will continue to provide essential services to residents but we are monitoring the situation closely and urge the public to follow the guidance of the Benton-Franklin Health District Washington State Department of Health , and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) .The sheriffs office lobbies in Kennewick and Prosser will be open during regular hours of operation. However, people are asked to come in only if it is imperative to public safety.Deputies will attempt to handle service calls over the phone first to limit in-person contact. Fingerprinting services have been suspended for now, and records requests should be submitted electronically to BCSORecords@co.benton.wa.us.The Prosecutors Office announced Wednesday it is limiting operations, starting with the immediate closure of its Justice Center-based office to in-person visits from the public.Starting March 23, only essential employees will be on site, with non-essential employees working from home.Someone who has what they believe is an emergency need for an in-office visit is directed to call 509-735-3591, or 509-735-7316 if its a child support matter. They can also email prosecuting@co.benton.wa.us.The front counters for District Court in Kennewick and Prosser are closed through April 24. The public is directed to communicate with the office via online , email at District.Court@co.benton.wa.us and telephone at 509-735-8476.Mental Health and Veterans Courts will conduct business telephonically. Superior Court and Juvenile Court also are operating at a reduced schedule, with all trials canceled until April 24.The clerks office stopped taking passport applications Wednesday, and asked for the publics understanding for the inconvenience while staff continue to provide other services during the public health crisis.The Office of Public Defense is available by phone at 509-222-3700 or by email opd@co.benton.wa.us. Public defense attorneys will continue to be available to clients and the public remotely, and provide services in court as needed.The commissioners and administration offices are monitoring emails and phone calls. However, the commission will continue to hold its regularly scheduled board meetings on Tuesdays, unless otherwise posted.Human Services is available via phone at 509-783-5284, and the assessors office at 509-786-2046 or assessor@co.benton.wa.us.The treasurers office has property tax payment drop boxes at the Kennewick Annex, 5600 W. Canal Drive, and the Benton County Courthouse, 620 Market St., Prosser. Payments also can be made by mail and online at bentoncountytax.com People needing assistance with Real Estate Excise Tax or manufactured home transfers or plats should contact 509-735-8505 to schedule an appointment. All other inquiries can be directed to treasurer@co.benton.wa.us.Appointments can be made with the auditors office at 509-736-2727 or auditor@co.benton.wa.us to record documents or apply for marriage licenses. Title companies are encouraged to use e-recording.For questions about licensing, contact one of the licensing sub-agents All events scheduled to take place at the fairgrounds have been canceled through May 1. Event holders will be fully refunded any fees or invited to reschedule their event at no extra cost within 12 months, the county news release said. Contact 509-222-3751 or bc.fairgrounds@co.benton.wa.us.Canine shelter staff will monitor calls to 509-460-4923 and provide emergency services, but are not allowed to take visitors or facilitate adoptions at this time.Road maintenance operations will continue without interruption, and building inspections will go forward with certain site restrictions. Inspections can be scheduled at 509-736-2763.Those hoping to use their free time to get in some practice at the range should be advised the Rattlesnake Mountain Shooting Facility is now closed.Other county parks, like Badger Mountain and Candy Mountain Preserves, remain open.Franklin County commissioners are asking officials to close or partially close offices through April 5, but still maintain the continuity of essential operations of county government.Employees are being asked to work remotely when they can, and administrative leave is being authorized to minimize the economic disruption to the employees.While the courthouse remains open on a limited basis, each office and department has been tasked with ensuring appropriate social distancing restrictions are followed and assisting with essential needs of the public, County Administrator Keith Johnson said.People are asked to call ahead if they have business at the county. Drop boxes are set up for people to pay property taxes.The sheriff has limited access to the Franklin County Corrections Center for visitors and volunteers. They are only allowing three visitors at a time to use the kiosks in the front lobby during Saturday and Sunday visiting hours. Once the visits are complete the machines will be wiped down.All volunteer programs have been canceled. The sheriffs office staff plans to re-evaluate the situation on March 31.More information about individual closures are available through countys website. www.co.franklin.wa.us.Kennewicks administration center on Fourth Avenue is closing to the public starting March 20 and lasting through April 3.District staff will be conducting school business over the phone and through email. Only the in-person appointments that are deemed necessary are going to held.We are committed to continuing to serve our staff and families during this temporary closure, district officials said in a notice Thursday.The school board met in an emergency session Wednesday and adopted a resolution that suspends board policies so recommendations from the state superintendents office can be implemented. ANSAmed - Today's events in the Mediterranean (ANSAmed) - ROME, MARCH 23 - These are the main events scheduled in the Euro-Mediterranean for today: BRUSSELS - Conference call meeting of the EU Foreign ministers on the monitoring of the arms embargo in Libya. DUBAI - Exhibition at the Etihad Museum entitled 'Photographs in dialogue Uae-1971-Uk', a photographic journey through the relations between Great Britain and the United Arab Emirates over the years 60s and 70s (to December 12th). (ANSAmed). The real reasons Africa has another locust plague By Paul Driessen The ChiCom coronavirus and COVID-19 outbreaks, deaths and responses continue to dominate US, European and Asian news. Meanwhile, a very different infestation is devastating East African crops and leaving tens of millions at risk of starvation and death. If COVID hits these weakened populations, amid their malaria and other systemic diseases, it would bring tragedy on unimaginable scales. Across Somalia, desert locusts in a swarm the size of Manhattan have destroyed a swath of farmland as big as Oklahoma, the Wall Street Journals Nicholas Bariyo reports. In Kenya, billions-strong clouds of the insects have eaten through 800 square miles of crops and survived a weeks-long spraying campaign. They have swept across more than 10 nations on two continents. In parts of East Africa they are destroying some 1.8 million metric tons of vegetation every day, enough food to feed 81 million people. East Africa has a Desert Locust Control Organization. But it, the region and the individual countries were totally unprepared for the onslaught, unaware the hordes were coming, irresponsibly underfunded, with almost no pesticides or aircraft to spray them. By the time they acted, it was too little, too late. The massive swarms are hardly unprecedented. Locusts covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they ate every herb of the land and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left. So there remained nothing green on the trees or on the plants of the field throughout all the land of Egypt. [Exodus 10:15] Locusts pillaged long before that, and have returned hundreds of times since. The 1986-87 plague was calamitous. As the late entomologist Dr. J. Gordon Edwards noted in 1988, four major locust species hatched simultaneously in 15 countries, and the crops were so totally devastated that the UN Food and Agricultural Organization predicted 50 million Africans and Asians might starve to death. Malnourished survivors would suffer reduced mental capacity and have greater susceptibility to diseases. Other near-biblical infestations have ravaged Africa with predictable regularity and results. The obvious, burning, essential question is this: In this era of amazing modern agriculture, aviation and pest control technologies, how could Africa have reached this frightening precipice yet again? These 2019-2020 swarms originated in the vast deserts of Oman, Somalia and Yemen, parts of which are lawless and war-torn. That made it difficult and dangerous to monitor them for the emergence of billions of hoppers, following tumultuous downpours two years ago or to spray them with insecticides when they were most vulnerable, before their wings matured and they could fly thousands of miles. But it also means East African countries needed to work together, despite these obstacles, to prevent such plagues. These are horrifically poor countries, where bureaucrats live relatively well largely on outside donor funds, often corrupt top-gun politicians live very well on the same money, and some 90% of the people exist on a few dollars a day, on the edge of starvation and debilitating disease, tilling tiny patches of land. Too often their governments ability to plan for recurring crises like this are minimal, their priorities are skewed to whatever the donors want, and funding for insect control is minimal at best. Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda didnt even pay their Locust Control membership dues for years, or decades much less acquire the aircraft and pesticides they would need for the inevitable next locust plague. Their focus was on elections (getting reelected), essential or just showy infrastructure projects, and climate change. Indeed, it seems nothing will be allowed to get in the way of the UN, EU and environmentalist obsession with climate change as the single greatest threat facing humanity and planet. But climate cataclysms exist in models and headlines, are decades away, are hardly unprecedented for East Africa, and can hardly be worse than these recurring locust cataclysms. But UN, EU, World Bank and eco-centered foundation money drives the agenda and pays Africas leaders and bureaucrats. So recurring real-world crises get short shrift. When it comes to insect control, the driving force is aid money totally skewed to agro-ecology and its perverse focus on food sovereignty, and traditional subsistence farming with wood plows and oxen, in harmony with nature, free from Western seeds, fertilizers, tractors and, above all, pesticides. The new moniker is clever, but the ideology and donor-driven attitudes are nothing new. Dr. Edwards documented them in his 1988 article. The FAO, USAID, USEPA, World Bank, Environmental Defense Fund and other organizations were pushing all-natural, biological, integrated pest management practices back then, too. They were totally opposed to the use of dieldrin and other insecticides that actually work. They keep families, communities, clinics and hospitals dependent on minimalist wind and solar electricity. Just as today, their focus back then was on alleged, possible side effects from modern insecticides, which used properly by trained applicators are safe for people, livestock, wildlife and most non-target insects. The key is having the necessary staff, equipment and chemicals ahead of time. Under pressure by all these external forces, East Africa failed to do that and now it is reaping the proverbial whirlwind. The donor agencies and pressure groups attitude is akin to demanding that chemotherapy for cancer be banned, because the chemicals impair patients immune systems and cause hair to fall out. Saving their lives is inarguably far more important than these side effects just as saving millions from starvation and associated diseases, and preventing total crop and habitat annihilation, is inarguably far more important than the temporary loss of some insects or even slight risks to cattle, wildlife or people from the sprays. (An upcoming article will document who is behind the eco-manslaughter today, and who is funding them: from US, EU and UN organizations to their Swiss, Swedish, pseudo-African and other counterparts.) Back in 1987, Dr. Edwards noted, Senegal requested and received the loan of four American DC-7 transport aircraft that could hold 18,400 pounds of cargo (8.4 metric tons). They sprayed two million acres and killed 95% of that countrys immature locusts. But elsewhere FAO anti-pesticide ideologies prevailed, and billions of locusts matured, flew off, mated and produced tens of billions of locusts the following year. They destroyed croplands, wildlife habitats, communities and lives in a dozen other African countries. This years efforts are far too little, far too late. Kenya has eight small crop-spraying aircraft operating around the clock; the Locust Control consortium has four antiquated little planes. Theyre apparently spraying fenitrothion (an effective locust killer), pyrethroids (somewhat effective) and malathion (also somewhat effective though it breaks down within a few hours under Africas hot, humid conditions). But they didnt get the hoppers. They waited until swarms the size of Manhattan were upon them. Against those countless billions of voracious locusts, ground-based equipment is useless. A dozen small crop dusters makes almost no difference. And traditional methods like banging on pots are a sick joke. However, there could still be hope. A single Lockheed KC-130 Hercules tanker plane equipped with Modular Aerial Spray Systems can cover up to 150,000 acres a day. Each plane can carry 2,000 gallons of the most appropriate pesticide-water mixture. The benefits would be immediate and tremendous. President Trump could order the Air Force to provide a KC-130 or two and enough fenitrothion, Lorsban or other effective insecticide for a few weeks of locust-eradication spraying. He could save millions of lives and help change attitudes, policies and practices across Africa and the world. The President could also order his US Agency for International Development (USAID), State Department and other agencies to end their funding of climate and agro-ecology programs, and start making the East Africa Desert Locust Control Organization the forward-thinking, effective operation it was meant to be. He could have blunt discussions with the heads of EU nations about their agro-ecology, anti-pesticide and anti-biotechnology policies, funding practices and import restrictions toward Africa which are an undeniable crime against humanity. Finally, he could direct the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service to review (and terminate) the tax-exempt status of organizations and foundations engaged in lethal, eco-imperialistic lies and pressure campaigns in Africa, Asia and South America. The locust plagues, starvation and deaths from readily preventable diseases like malaria must end now. The poorest people in these impoverished countries should not be the ones paying the price, too often with their lives. This president is one of the very few politicians who could make these changes happen. Paul Driessen is senior policy advisor for the Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow and author of Eco-Imperialism: Green power-black death, and articles on environmental and human rights issues. Home A high-ranking and respected civil servant has 'let down the children of Derbyshire' but has avoided jail after stealing 92,000 from the council that employed her. Former teacher Sally Fitton had a glittering and successful career striving to improve the lives of vulnerable and failing schoolchildren. But after reaching a 56,000-a-year salary as a senior schools adviser at Derbyshire County Council, she disgraced herself by abusing her position to take the cash. She used the money to help her daughter buy a house. The 64-year-old, from Belper, cried in the dock at Derby Crown Court as the true extent of her fraudulent behaviour was made public. And in a hard-hitting victim impact statement, Jane Parfrement, director of children's service at the county council, said: 'We trust our staff with the lives of our children and although the amount may not seem much it was money which should have benefited those children. Former teacher Sally Fitton has avoided jail after stealing 92,000 from Derbyshire County Council, for whom she was a senior schools adviser 'It was a massive abuse of trust from someone that worked in a profession that should have put the children first. 'Behind the facade of a dedicated professional she was exploiting this for her own gain. 'Motivated by greed and arrogance she has let down the children of Derbyshire.' Justin Wigoder, prosecuting, said Fitton, of Chesterfield Road, began her career as a teacher and then, in 2002 began working for the council. He said moving up the ranks she achieved a position in the children's service department whereby she was trusted with high-value budgets. But when central government pulled funding for projects she was heading, she began moving 'large amounts' of taxpayer money around bank accounts. Mr Wigoder said schools that paid tens of thousands of pounds into those projects included Wilsthorpe School, Alfreton Grange and Long Eaton School. He said: 'This concerns public funds. In 2011 her daughter purchased a house in Museum Street, Lincoln, and the defendant transferred 77,000 from the account of one of her projects to the solicitors instructed to complete the purchase. 'It was not until, January 2017 that an investigation internally uncovered the error and Sally Fitton was suspended from work and the police became involved.' Mr Wigoder said that, in total, 92,042.70 was found to have been taken by Fitton, who was supported by her daughter and two other women in the public gallery. She pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position. Handing her a two-year prison term, suspended for two years, Judge Shaun Smith QC said: 'What an enormous fall from grace you have had. 'At the age of 64, at a time when you should be enjoying the fact you have made a significant contribution to the lives of others, many of them young and vulnerable children, you are sat in the dock at a criminal court facing a prison sentence you richly deserve. 'What you did was very, very, wrong indeed and you did not need to hear what Miss Parfrement said about you because you know it yourself.' As part of her suspended sentence, Fitton, who is now retired and has no previous convictions, must carry out 240 hours unpaid work. Tom Wainwright, her barrister, urged Judge Smith to suspend any prison term as his client cares for her 89-year-old mother and her sick partner who both require daily treatment and care. He said she has also paid back all of the money she took from the council. Mr Wainwright said: 'Her method of working was haphazard and disorganised. 'The difficulty arose when the central Government funding was cut. 'She knows all of the children she dedicated her working life to have been let down by her. 'For a woman who had a stellar career it is a terribly sad way for it to finish.' For our free coronavirus pandemic coverage, learn more here. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Ensure your mouth and throat are always moist. Stomach acid can kill coronavirus. It's just the flu. China created COVID-19 as a biological weapon. At least 60 per cent of the population needs to be exposed to build up "necessary resistance" to the virus. All of these claims are inaccurate or unfounded but have quickly spread across the modern information landscape. They've been shared on social media, in some cases by well-known media personalities and politicians, and forwarded in WhatsApp messages to countless Australians. As the coronavirus pandemic spreads, so does viral misinformation. As personal hygiene becomes an imperative, experts warn information hygiene is almost as important. The world may be battling two outbreaks; one of viral disease and one of viral misinformation. Credit:Bloomberg The public is facing information overload, making it hard to distinguish between what is fact and what isn't. Social media users will often hit post or retweet a lot of what they see and agree with, without fact checking it. Fake news is not new. But in the midst of a pandemic, it is particularly dangerous. A 2019 study by Caroline Fisher, the deputy director of the University of Canberra's News & Media Research Centre, which surveyed 2010 Australians, found only 36 per cent checked information they found online against other sources. Advertisement "The problem is we have a really bad record of checking things," Ms Fisher explains. "Last year, we asked people about whether or not they engaged in fact-checking behaviours ... most people share stories [even if they think they're dubious]. They dont go and check with other sources of information. Very few people only 30 per cent of people check one story against other sources." Last Wednesday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison urged Australians to stop believing unverified content circulated on the internet and through text messages, after an online post that claimed to be based on information from an Australian government cabinet briefing said the country would be locked down by later this month. The post was a direct copy of a Malaysian government announcement. "There's a lot of ridiculous stuff that's circulating on text messages and the internet about lockdowns, and sadly, even cases of wilful fraud and fraudulent preparation of documents even recordings alleging to represent cabinet meetings and things of this nature," Mr Morrison said. "Don't believe it it's rubbish." The viral hoax message on coronavirus is a copy of Malaysia's announcement. Australian academics warn that increased use of social media combined with higher volumes of news content are causing misinformation and panic to spread more rapidly. For example, a graph created by Andreas Backhaus, a research fellow at Brussels-based think tank CEPS to help explain why coronavirus-related deaths were so high in Italy, spread rapidly across the internet without attribution last week. The graph was quickly contested with some sceptics asking whether it was from an authoritative source. Others pointed out that commentary in tweets accompanying the graph was incorrect such as the false claim Italy is solely testing people with symptoms (high-profile ABC medical commentator Norman Swan was among those who retweeted this misinformation). Advertisement Monash University's Dr Carlo Kopp, who has been researching fake news since the 1990s, says the pandemic has created ideal conditions for the spread of misinformation, a problem amplified by more people working from home or being isolated. "We are seeing several nation state actors spreading conspiracy theories about the origin of the virus, we are seeing speculation being presented as fact by parties in parts of the mass media and social media, there has been a deluge of de facto and actual scams promoting false cures for the disease, sometimes intended to sell useless products, or promote dubious agendas, and in some nations, to distract the public from government bungling," Mr Kopp says. "The problem is compounded by increasing numbers of nations going into lockdown, with anxious citizens sitting at home spending time browsing the web or engaging on social media while off work. This has potential to become the proverbial 'perfect storm' of fake news propagation." Loading Misinformation related to the coronavirus pandemic has been circulating social media since January. Earlier this year, Communications Minister Paul Fletcher urged Australians to remain sceptical of what they read online, after NSW Health issued a public statement about a false post that urged people not to consume certain foods or visit locations in Sydney. There's also conspiracy theories the US and China have separately been accused of creating COVID-19 as a bio-weapon. Advertisement And then there's countless emails and WhatsApp messages which are not based in fact. Ms Fisher says the spread is being caused by the "reflexive" nature of social media. "The reason why it is being spread so quickly is because it is an emotional response, people are not thinking," she says. "Everyone is scared, so theres that panic. The virality of social media amplifies and facilitates that. "At the moment, there is no break between your adrenaline kicking in and you pressing share. It's this immediate reflex." A lack of clarity from authoritative sources like the federal government can also generate more confusion and panic. ABC chair Ita Buttrose recently complained mixed messaging from the Morrison government and state leaders over the dangers of coronavirus had confused the public. She's not the only person to make this point. But it's not just the government causing confusion. Advertisement Two weeks ago, Dr Swan, who has accumulated a large following because of his prominent role at the public broadcaster, argued the government should shut down schools. But on his new podcast, Coronacast, last week, he was urging children to be in school. 2GB's Alan Jones, one of the most powerful radio broadcasters in the country, insisted most people would get a "mild illness". And on Fox Footy, Eddie McGuire suggested the warmer weather could slow the virus' spread and that it is "just the flu". Australia's Chief Medical Officer, Professor Brendan Murphy, said it was important non-medical experts did not give medical advice to the public. It is a call backed by peak bodies such as the Public Health Association Australia which wrote to members last Wednesday asking them to reinforce the advice of Professor Murphy and his state-based colleagues. Loading Ms Fisher warns the media industry can play a part in misleading the public and causing panic. "This type of event ... it is the perfect news story. It ticks all of the boxes of prominent news values on conflict, fear, drama," Ms Fisher says. "What we need at a time like this is for journalism to be constructive, service journalism and not sensational clickbait. We need the news media to be providing accurate news information that is not increasing alarm in the community." Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter are working to fact-check articles and posts on their platforms to improve the situation. A joint statement from Microsoft, Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Reddit, Twitter and YouTube earlier this week said the companies were working together on responses to the pandemic. Facebook uses fact-checkers to help remove misleading content and is working with global and regional health organisations to push out authoritative content for consumers. But it faced a glitch last Wednesday when a bug in its software caused user posts of news and information to be blocked as spam. Twitter is similarly trying to direct people to more accurate information. If users search coronavirus or COVID-19, a prompt at the top of the screen urges them to "know the facts", directing them to authoritative sites such as the Australian Department of Health. Advertisement A Casper man on Friday night shot his wife in their home before calling 911 and confessing to the crime, according to court documents filed by prosecutors in the case. Edward E. Robertson, 49, faces a single count of first-degree murder in connection with the death of Dana Marie Robertson, 42, also of Casper. He currently faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, and prosecutors could also choose to seek the death penalty; they have yet to say if they will. According to court documents filed in support of the single charge Edward Robertson faces, police began investigating the case on Friday night, when he called 911 and said he had shot his wife. Officers arrived at about 11 p.m. at the couples Maple Street home. Robertson walked out with his hands in the air and was handcuffed, according to the documents. Police inside found the body of Dana Robertson, who had been killed by a single gunshot. In an interview the same night, Edward Robertson told a detective that a few weeks before the shooting he had kicked his wife out of the home because he thought she was cheating on him, according to the documents. They reconciled but on Friday she asked for a separation, he told a detective. When his wife refused to come to bed with him, Robertson told the detective, he went into another room, where she lay on the floor in a makeshift bed, the documents state. Robertson shot her once in the head, the documents state he told police. Robertson said he then tried to shoot himself, but the gun jammed, according to the documents. Instead he called 911. His diabetic pump also failed to keep his blood sugar elevated during the interview with police, which he said was somewhat of an attempt at suicide, according to the documents. After his reported confession, Robertson was booked into Natrona County Detention Center, where he was held until Monday in advance of a bail setting. Court appearance On Monday, Robertson appeared in Natrona County Circuit Court by video call from the jail, the result of a policy change attempting to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus. During the few minutes Robertson spent in front of the jails camera, he answered Judge Brian Christensens biographical and procedural questions. When Assistant District Attorney Will Chambers asked for a half-million dollar cash bail setting, he did not detail the allegations that underlie the first-degree murder charge. Chambers instead only cited the severity of the charge and the potential penalty of life imprisonment. Robertson did not contest the requested bail amount. And once Christensen had ruled in favor of the prosecutor, Robertson could be seen on screen walking the few steps from his seat in front of the camera to a plastic blue chair against a wall made of gray cinder blocks. Although first-degree murder is in Wyoming punishable by death, District Attorney Dan Itzen declined to say Monday if he had decided whether he would seek the penalty in the case. Itzen said that once the case is transferred to district court, he will notify the judge of his decision. The death is the fifth since late fall that authorities have termed a domestic homicide. Including Robertsons, four cases are ongoing: Officers in November arrested two people on suspicion of involvement in the murder of a 54-year-old Casper woman. Then, in December, police arrested a local man and prosecutors charged him with manslaughter in the death of his wife. Earlier this month, sheriffs deputies accused a man of murder in the death of his girlfriend; he faces life in prison. The fifth case was not prosecuted. In February, police found a married couple dead in their home. Detectives believe in that case a man shot and killed his wife before completing suicide. When women are killed by men, more than a third of the time the killer is a romantic partner using a gun, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 2 Sad 13 Angry 16 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already returned more than 60,000 citizens to Ukraine, and more than 27,000 people are waiting to return home. To date, we have managed to return more than 60,000 citizens to Ukraine. Another 27,000 people, even more, remain abroad, Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Yehor Bozhok said on the air of Suspilne:UA TV channel on Monday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. He added that the Foreign Ministry had already taken control of the situation with the return of Ukrainians from Europe and the Middle East, and currently made decisions on the Asia-Pacific region. "We created hubs. We have provided several opportunities to get back by air, ground transport, rail. We now pass to Latin America and the Carribeans, the deputy minister said. Since March 18, all domestic long-distance passenger services, including rail, bus and air, were stopped in Ukraine. As reported, the national lockdown was introduced in Ukraine until April 3 to counteract the spread of Covid-19 coronavirus infection. In particular, educational establishments and all shops except groceries, pharmacies, gas stations and banks were closed. The operation of subways in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipro was suspended. The intercity and interregional road, rail and air passenger transportation was stopped. In addition, the foreigners are banned from entering Ukraine and the international passenger services are suspended. Infrastructure Minister Vladyslav Kryklii stated that Ukraine would return its citizens even after the closure of air services and borders. ol Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said curfew will be imposed in the entire state from Monday midnight as the fight against coronavirus has reached a "turning point". Photograph: Sahil Salvi for Rediff.com IMAGE: Policemen stand guard at Mumbai's CSMT station to ensure no movement of people. The next few days would be crucial, Thackeray said, adding that crowds will not be tolerated in public places and action would be taken against those violating the government's guidelines. He, however, assured that all essential services will remain open during the time of curfew. "We will be enforcing curfew in the entire state from Monday midnight. We have come to a turning point in our battle against the COVID-19 outbreak. The next few days would be extremely important. We are also sealing borders of all districts to check the spread of coronavirus," the chief minister said. "We will not tolerate crowds in public places at any cost. Except in case of an emergency, no one will be allowed to roam on the streets. If these guidelines are violated, people will face legal action," Thackeray warned. All essential services, medical stores, veterinary doctors and their shops will continue to operate during the curfew, he said. "The way we clapped yesterday (March 22), it was, in fact, a siren of warning. We need to observe complete restraint at this moment, or we will regret forever. This is the turning point in our fight against coronavirus," Thackeray said. Home quarantine, he said, is mandatory as it is the advisory from health experts and government. "We need to win the battle against coronavirus. The state government is also training anganwadi (state-run women and child care centres) and ASHA (accredited social health activist) workers and home guards as the state would need extra manpower in the fight against COVID-19," he said. The chief minister said he has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi, requesting him to suspend domestic flight services. "We will allow only essential services. If we cannot check the coronavirus outbreak at this moment, we may face the fate of some European countries," he said. Italy is the hardest-hit European country with 5,476 deaths so far while the coronavirus has claimed 2,182 lives in Spain. "The state borders are almost sealed. Supply of food, grains, cereals, milk and medicines will continue from one district to another. No other movement will be allowed," Thackeray said. Shops pertaining to agriculture services, like sale and distribution of fertilisers and pesticides, were also open, he added. "Their movement will also be allowed in this time. This situation will not last long, but we need the support of people," Thackeray said. All religious centres will remain closed as well. "They are not exempted during the curfew time. Priests can go to temples, mosques and churches and perform the rituals, but no mass gathering will be allowed," the chief minister said. Meerut, March 23 : The historic Nauchandi Mela in Meerut, which withstood the First War of Independence in 1857 and the Partition, has been cancelled in view of the spread of novel coronavirus. This will be the first time in the 1000-year history of the fair that it will not be held. The fair was held even during the 1857 great rising and post-Independence riots. Mufti Mohammad Ashraf, the 63-year-old trustee of Hazrat Bale Mian dargah and 23rd generation descendant of Hazrat Bale Mian's brother, said: "Even major events like 1857 mutiny and communal riots at the time of partition in 1947 could not stop this month-long fair that starts a fortnight after Holi every year. But this year, the circumstances have led to its cancellation." Hazrat Bale Mian was a Sufi saint who was killed at a young age of 19 years. A shrine, Bale Miya Dargah, was built in his memory. The saint was killed on new moon night and after that, a congregation began on his death anniversary at the shrine which is adjacent to Meerut's Nauchandi Ground. Later, it transformed into an annual fair and came to be known as Nauchandi Mela. The importance of the fair could be gauged by the fact that the government has named a train after it -- the Nauchandi Express. Meerut District Magistrate Anil Dhingra categorically stated that it would not be possible to hold the fair at this time. Russia is currently building fourth-generation submarines and designing fifth-generation. Little is known about the new submarines, but it is clear they will eliminate problems encountered by modern nuclear submarines, online Gazeta.ru publication writes. In April 2018, a concept of the USC submarine emerged on the occasion of the Malakhit bureaus 70th anniversary. This concept features, in the nose portion, a module with Kalibr or similar missiles along with eight mounting seats for modules in the central part. On the sides are hydroacoustic system antennas. A jet propeller serves as a propulsive unit. There is little open information on the latest Husky-class fifth-generation submarines. Their characteristics can be only imagined. In particular, the underwater displacement is likely to comprise 12-13 thousand tons. They will have a two-section construction and the crew will number close to 90 men. They will be smaller than the current Yasen-M-class SSGN of project 885M. It will increase the maneuverability and stealth characteristics of new submarines. Reports said the Husky is designed in two options. The antisubmarine option will fight U-boats, mostly SSBN of the US Columbia class and the British Vanguard. The second option will be armed with Tsirkon hypersonic missiles to destroy big surface warships, nuclear aircraft carriers, cruisers and destroyers, universal amphibious assault ships, etc. Tsirkon has a cruising speed of over 7000 km/h and can hit targets at a distance of 1000 km. The submarines will be less noisy than fourth-generation U-boats. They will have a composite hull. Composites will be used to make the bow and stern rudders, stabilizers, mast housing, propellers and shaft lines. The materials will decrease the reflection of adversary sonars and the weight of a submarine. The Husky will have a single integrated combat information system with artificial intellect. The fifth-generation submarine is designed by Malakhit Bureau in St. Petersburg. The Husky has to replace Antey-class SSGN of project 949A, as well as SSN of project 971, Shchuka-class project 671TMK, Condor-class project 945A, and Barracuda-class project 945. Some reports said the fifth-generation submarines will have a completely new reactor instead of the water-cooled and water-moderated one (VVER). It is likely to be a development of the reactor installed in Lira-class SSN of project 705. The main power plant of the project was a reactor and a steam generator with a liquid crystal heat exchanger (lead and bismuth alloy) and a single-shaft steam turbine, expert Konstantin Makienko said. Submarines with liquid-metal plant exceeded second-generation VVER submarines two times in maneuverability and 1.5-2.5 times in power/weight ratio. They are 1.3-1.5 times better in specific weight indicators. However, liquid metal demands to constantly keep the steam unit in a hot state and thus triggers additional power consumption. Besides, special operations to prevent alloy oxidizing, control its state and periodically withdraw oxides were necessary to keep the physical-chemical stability of the liquid-crystal heat exchanger. There are grounds to believe the Husky will not face the problems. The main power plant is likely to be a single-shaft, single-reactor unit with a steam turbine and increased steam parameters. The latest underwater detection means are of specific significance for the Husky. It is important to achieve a longer monitoring range of the underwater situation, increase the precision of coordinates and reliability of target identification. Otherwise, it would be problematic to dominate in an armed standoff with adversary submarines in the World Ocean. There is no doubt that domestic shipbuilders want to create a maneuverable, speedy and relatively small-displacement submarine, considerably cut the crew, introduce effective arms and complex automation. One of the main tasks is to decrease underwater noise several times against previous submarines, Makienko said. He believes that if the Husky is constructed by the modular method, the approach will boost Russian underwater shipbuilding, Gazeta.ru said. Chandigarh, March 23 : All Cabinet Ministers in the Congress-ruled Punjab and Akali Dal legislators and its parliamentarians here on Monday consented to donate their one-month salary to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for battling coronavirus. The government was pro-active in providing medical care and treatment to the people, said Local Government Minister Brahm Mohindra. The government was working closely with coronavirus warriores, comprising police personnel, doctors and paramedical staff, who were striving to check Covid-19 spread, he added. Acting on the appeal of Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, all SAD legislators and members of Parliament have agreed to donate their one-month salary. The SAD chief also urged party workers to contribute their might to combat the pandemic. He asked the SAD district presidents to help the administration in this task besides reaching out to doctors and patients in hospitals by providing them much-needed masks, ventilators and medicines, or simply by ensuring free 'langar' for the needy. The PCS Officers Association also announced to donate one-month salary to the CM relief fund. Sr. Monica Omowunmi Rowland, the Superior General of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Nigeria has narrated how one of her Sisters, Sr. Henrietta Alokha, the school principal of Bethlehem Girls College died while rescuing students. Paul Samasumo Vatican City With the worlds focus rightly on the coronavirus pandemic, the huge 15 March 2020 blast in Lagos, Nigeria, did not make much news. The explosion reduced much of Bethlehem Girls College and nearby houses to rubble. Bethlehem College is owned by the Archdiocese of Lagos and managed by the Congregation of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Students were at Mass Apart from Sr. Henrietta Alokha, the college principal, 17 persons were confirmed dead while 25 others were injured. It is still not yet clear what caused the blast, but a gas explosion near the International Trade Fair Complex, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State may have been the cause. Over 200 persons were displaced as 50 nearby houses were destroyed. Some students and people in the vicinity, who sustained injuries, were treated at nearby hospitals. Sr. Henrietta prevented a stampede Recounting what happened, the Superior General told Vatican News, the college students were gathered in the school chapel for the Eucharistic Celebration when the students noticed an unusual white fume coming from the gate side direction towards the chapel. The Principal, Sr. Henrietta calmly told the students to move towards the backdoor of the chapel. She shielded all the students and tried to make sure there was no stampede. Fortunately, all the students were evacuated from the chapel. Immediately afterwards, a loud blast shook the whole community and beyond leaving Bethlehem Girls College levelled to its foundation. Sr Henrietta Alokha and a female security staff died in the process of making sure the students were safe. Sr. Henrietta could not account for two of her students after rescuing the others, so she went in search of them even when she was told not to, she preferred to take the risk to save the missing two, who shortly after she left ran out from a different direction to join the others. Nevertheless, Sister trying to make it back after the search got hit on the head and sustained a deep cut by the collapsing building and she died on the spot, explained Sr. Rowland. Some staff members were trapped and died in their living quarters Five other staff members who were in the staff quarters were also killed when buildings collapsed. In our moment of grief, we commiserate with the families of all those who lost their lives and homes. We pray for the repose of their souls and quick recovery for those injured. The cause of this explosion has not really been ascertained; however, some allude it to a truck that hit gas cylinders, while others believe it was a bomb blast. Whatever, it is, will not bring the dead back, but one thing is certain the society has failed Sr. Henrietta Alokha and all those who died in the inferno. May they Rest in Peace, said the Superior General of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Small bars will be allowed to deliver cocktails directly to Sydney's doorsteps from Tuesday, as the NSW government lifted the licensing restrictions around supply of alcohol by licensed venues. Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello signed an order on Monday afternoon allowing licensed venues in the state, including restaurants, cafes, pubs, and bars, to provide takeaway and home delivery services. Fabrizio Culici and Tess Robens from The Rio Bar in Summer Hill bottle cocktails for home delivery. Credit:Steven Siewert The move hands a potential lifeline to the small bar industry, which was effectively shuttered on Monday as the federal government ordered the closure of non-essential services including pubs and clubs to stop the spread of coronavirus. As restaurants and cafes across Sydney scrambled to pivot to takeaway-only service, small bars appeared fated to fall into a regulatory gap, their trading halted by NSW's alcohol licensing conditions. Supervisor Nathan Mather said in situations like this there is always a lot of misinformation going around. Wright said there is a 24-hour hotline at 1 (800) 244-7431 or 211 for official information. Wright also emphasized practicing social distancing, hand washing and following the guidelines set up by the Centers for Disease Control. Sorensen said several other businesses closed by gubernatorial declaration since the last supervisor meeting on March 19. He hasn't heard of a sunset date, but expected the closures to run until at least March 31. Johnson County seems to have the most confirmed cases in the state with 32 and Scott County had its first resident confirmed case over the weekend, he said. Its in the area now and I think everybody needs to be safe and pay attention to what health professionals are recommending, Sorensen said. Monday was also the first day the supervisors meeting was closed to the public and people were only allowed in if they had specific business with the supervisors. People entering the locked building had to answer a battery of screening questions before being allowed in. Several discussions of the day were done over a phone line, but 11 people including the supervisors were in the chamber. Muscatine Mayor Diana Broderson said on her social media page the city is also working on a declaration of emergency which will allow access to emergency funding. Another 100,000 are supposed to reach the Ukrainian capital several days later; medics are the first to get these masks Open source 70,000 respiratory masks, previously ordered by Kyiv city hall have reached the city. Within several days, the authorities also expect another batch of 100,000 masks produced by domestic enterprises. Vitaliy Klitschko, Kyiv mayor said so during the online briefing on March 23. "Another 100,000, as I said before, were handed over to the city by [representatives of] socially responsible businesses. And we'll be grateful for any sort of assistance", he said. Medics are the first to get these masks and other protective devices. All express tests that Kyiv currently gets will be passed to hospitals and family doctors who visit and examine those who have coronavirus symptoms and run tests operatively. Ukrainian cargo aircraft IL-76 landed in Boryspil international airport on early Monday. The plane arrived from Guangzhou, China, carrying 250,000 tests for Covid-19, the coronavirus. The press service of the Office of the President of Ukraine reported that on March 23. There were two kinds of tests aboard: the PCR tests, and the express diagnostics tests. There were also medical masks, sanitizers, lung ventilators and other devices to combat the spread of the disease. Express tests and masks are supoosed to cover the needs of medics, military employees, police workers, members of the State Border Guard and others; they will also be used by urgent medical aid teams who check people with increaed body temperature for coronavirus. Drivers are no longer required to spend hours by going from one insurer to another in order to get quotes. Nowadays, with the help of internet obtaining multiple insurance quotes is faster and can be done in just a few minutes, said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director For any driver, it is important to save as much money as possible. Car insurance policies are not cheap and wasting money should be avoided. That's why drivers are recommended to compare multiple online car insurance quotes before buying an insurance policy. Online quotes can offer numerous benefits to drivers who are searching to get coverage. The most important ones are the following: Online quotes are ideal for comparing insurance prices and finding the best deals. These are the main purposes of online quotes. Drivers can easily find the best insurance deal available in their areas, after comparing several online quotes. In many cases, drivers can save hundreds of dollars each year. Online quotes can help drivers avoid being scammed. Its not uncommon for people to receive emails or ads with really low insurance prices offers. These cheap offers are usually scam attempts. Drivers are advised to obtain several online quotes from trusted insurers. If the price differences are too big, then those cheap email and ad offers are definitely a scam. Online quotes can prepare drivers for real negotiations. Usually, the online questionnaires use the same questions that an insurance agent would ask in a real negotiation. Drivers that compared online quotes will know what documents they need to prepare and what info about their vehicles and driving history should know. Online quotes are time-saving. It only takes a few minutes to complete an online questionnaire and obtain the results. Before the internet, persons that wanted to obtain insurance quotes had to travel from one insurance agency to another, or they had to call the insurance agents. Obtaining several quotes in order to compare was very slow, and it usually took several hours. Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. For more information, free quotes and money-saving tips, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/ Amid COVID-19 outbreak in India, Indian government has advised the states to take lockdown seriously and punish the offenders. Prior to this, PM Narendra Modi had tweeted that there are still many people who are not taking the lockdown seriously. PM Narendra Modis call for Janata Curfew has been followed by a lockdown in about 78 districts where positive cases of novel coronavirus-COVID-19 have come to light. As the menace caused by the deadly virus in India grows in scale and magnitude with the identification of about 415 confirmed cases, the Government of India has asked the states to strictly enforce the lockdown and take legal action against violators. The Indian government released its advisory after PM Modi tweeted that there are many individuals who are still not taking the lockdown seriously. In his tweet, PM Modi urged the people to save themselves and their family by following the instructions seriously. He also requested the state governments to enforce these rules. States like Uttar Pradesh, Maharastra, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, and Gujarat among many others are on complete lockdown, barring essential services till March 31, 2020. After passenger trains and Inter-state buses, metros in several states have also been suspended temporarily. Also Read: Coronavirus in India: After Janata Curfew, lockdown kicks in for 75 districts Government of India asks states to strictly enforce lockdown, legal action will be taken against violators. #Covid19 pic.twitter.com/19yRUp3YVz ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2020 , , Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 23, 2020 Total number of positive Coronavirus cases in the country is 415 and 7 deaths: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare pic.twitter.com/dKtaPhrHSo ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2020 Also Read: Coronavirus India: Delhi Police books man under IPC section 509 for spatting on Manipuri woman and calling her corona This has been coupled with the implementation of Section 144 of CrPc, which prohibits the assembly of four or more people in an area. On account of failing to do so, the violators can be imposed with a fine of Rs 200 and jail up to one month or more. A case of violation of the rule has come to light from Ahmedabad in which 40 people have been booked for gathering outside their house on March 22. FIR has been filed against 40 people from Khadia area who had gathered outside their house on 22 March as Section 144 of CrPC is imposed in Ahmedabad: Ashish Bhatia, Commissioner of Police, Ahmedabad ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2020 Also Read: Coronavirus: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal announces lockdown in capital till March 31 For all the latest National News, download NewsX App The chairman and CEO of 3M (NYSE:MMM) was critical of retailers with supplies of N95 respiratory masks when healthcare workers and hospitals are facing shortages. Mike Roman told CNBC's Squawk on the Street show this morning, "It's disappointing when you see that because we're trying to redirect everything to health-care workers." He was likely responding to reports over the weekend that Target (NYSE:TGT) was found to have large supplies of the masks on its shelves in Washington. Hospitals in the Seattle area have faced a shortage of N95 masks, which protect the wearer from airborne particles and liquid contaminants. The retailer subsequently apologized for the "mistake" and said it was shipping its supply to the Washington Department of Health. It said it would also search its inventory to see if there were additional masks it could donate to area hospitals. Increasing shipments and capacity 3M says it is producing 35 million respirators a month in the U.S. and has doubled its global output to more than 1.1 billion annually, or some 100 million per month. It is shipping 500,000 respirators to New York and Seattle, with more shipments ready to be expedited to the rest of the country. 3M anticipates being able to nearly double its capacity again over the next year, reaching almost 2 billion respirators globally. CHICOPEE The fire department is seeking donations of personal protective equipment, currently in short supply nationwide due to the spike in COVID-19 cases, to protect its members from exposure to the spreading virus. Lt. Nicholas Brown, EMS coordinator for the department, said Monday it has been almost impossible for the department to obtain the much-needed gear, also known as PPE. We are not alone in Chicopee, he said. Everyone else is in the same boat. Items sought by the busy department include goggles, face masks, N95 surgical respirator masks, isolation gowns, face shields and gloves. Area businesses willing to donate such items are asked to contact Brown at 413-594-1626 to arrange a drop off. Brown said N95 masks and isolation gowns are especially needed. All personal protective equipment should be new and in the original packaging. The department is also seeking new, unopened containers of hand sanitizer. Other Western Massachusetts organizations and businesses have been stepping up to help hospitals and emergency responders cope with the shortage. Last Friday, staff members at the non-profit Dakin Humane Society in Springfield packed up a van and a trailer with cases of disposable surgical gowns, booties and other personal protective equipment and brought it to Baystate Medical Center. Adam Quenneville Roofing, the South Hadley-based roofing company, announced the same day that it is coordinating an effort among contractors to donate the N95 masks and protective eyewear they use at work to help Baystate Health doctors and nurses do their jobs. Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton is also seeking donations of personal protective equipment, including homemade face masks. Editor's Note: With so much market volatility, stay on top of daily news! Get caught up in minutes with our speedy summary of today's must-read news and expert opinions. Sign up here! Economic forecasts are becoming gloomier as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, and there is the potential for a credit crisis as well due to high debt levels, said Hussein Sayed, chief market strategist at FXTM. The strategist said the outbreak in many countries may be about to reach a stage where things get out of control, as weve seen in Italy. This is likewise a challenging time for investors, since they dont know whether the economy is headed for a mild recession or maybe even a depression, Sayed said. So far, its almost impossible to know where we are heading towards, Sayed continued. Everything depends on when the coronavirus infections peak and begin to slow down. The strategist pointed out that U.S. economic-growth estimates from big investment banks are becoming increasingly dire. He noted that JP Morgan expects gross domestic product to shrink 14% in the second quarter, while Goldman Sachs sees a 24% fall and Morgan Stanley now anticipates a 30% drop. The scariest scenario is that it turns into a credit crisis, which will break the financial system, Sayed said. Leverage has skyrocketed over the past several years with inflows into U.S. corporate and emerging-market debt at very high levels. With most investors trying to withdraw their money from these asset classes, it could soon turn into a very deep financial crisis. Sayed later added: While it is tempting to buy stocks at their current cheap valuations, investors need to keep in mind that we still dont have a clear picture on how the situation will evolve from here. The World Health Organization warned Monday that the use of untested medicines to treat COVID-19 without proper evidence of their efficacy could be dangerous and raise false expectations. "Using untested medicines without the right evidence could raise false hope and even do more harm than good, and cause a shortage of essential medicines that are needed to treat other diseases," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told journalists in a virtual briefing. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla has called a meeting of the government and Opposition leaders at 1.30pm on Monday in his chamber to decide on an early closure of the budget session in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak. A senior official said there was little possibility of continuing the session especially after a lockdown was announced in several states and health experts emphasis against large gatherings. Only the Finance Bill 2020 must be passed before the session is adjourned. The Finance Bill, a money bill, requires Lok Sabha approval and just a mention in Rajya Sabha, said an official. Signalling its intent for an early closure of the session, the government has listed the Finance Bill for passage in Lok Sabha on Monday. Last week, it was dropped from the list of business while four other bills were added to government agenda. The decision came on a day the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the second-largest opposition party in Parliament, and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) asked MPs to return to their constituencies. Pointing out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke of the urgent need for social distancing and urged those above 65 to not step out, the TMCs letter said, In a health emergency like this, it is essential for MPs to be back in their states and constituencies, assuaging fears of the citizens. Click here for complete coverage on coronavirus outbreak Hours later, the NCP announced that it, too, wants it lawmakers to remain where they are. Request all MPs of NCP - LS [Lok Sabha] & RS [Rajya Sabha] not go back to Delhi, please stay where you are and assist Govt [government] agencies help citizens to fight the #Coronavirus pandemic, NCP chief Sharad Pawar tweeted. The Shiv Sena followed suit. Keeping the Covid-19 situation in mind, all Shiv Sena MPs wont be attending Parliament from today. The decision has been taken by our party chief and CM Uddhav Thackeray for helping the government to fight this pandemic, Sena leader Sanjay Raut tweeted. On Monday, the House will not have question hour or zero hour and may straightaway take up the Finance Bill. Parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi met Birla on Saturday and discussed the demand for curtailing the session. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A grieving mum spent Mother's Day without her eldest daughter hoping she will finally see her killer get the punishment he deserves. Carol Corr's daughter was murdered by Michael O'Connor in a brutal attack that left her with 52 injuries. Joleen was killed in April 2018, but O'Connor only confessed his guilt at Downpatrick Crown Court this year. Her family is praying for a lengthy minimum term when the murderer is sentenced next month. On Mother's Day they remembered Joleen - who had a little boy with her killer - as a doting daughter, big sister and mum. "She was the eldest of my five kids and almost a second mum to her younger siblings. She helped with bath times and changed nappies," said Carol (48), from Beechmount Grove in west Belfast. "Even when she moved into a flat of her own, she was always popping in and asking what I needed done. "She was a dab hand in the kitchen and Sunday dinners were her specialty - roast beef or chicken with all the trimmings." Joleen adored siblings Cherie (26), Jim (23), Chloe (15) and Christine (12). She and Christine were particularly close. Expand Close Joleen Corr / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Joleen Corr "She studied beauty and she used Christine as her wee model, dip-dying her long brown hair and painting her nails lollypop pink," said Carol. "She was a loving daughter too. She called our days together her 'me and Mam quality time'. We'd go out for an eyebrow tint and have lunch." Carol took an immediate dislike to her daughter's boyfriend, who introduced himself to her as 'Micky Dope', when they met in 2013. "As soon as I saw him, I knew that he was trouble," she explained. "He strutted into my living room like he owned the place, in his tracksuit and fancy trainers. Too cocky by far. "I hoped that he'd be just a phase for Joleen, but weeks passed and his appearances at my dinner table became more frequent. Soon he'd moved into her flat." By September 2013 Joleen had told her mum that she was going to be a grandmother. "A child is always a blessing, but they'd only been dating for a matter of months," said Carol. "I was very worried and I begged her to be careful, not that I saw much of her on her own anymore since Micky was always with her and keeping an eye on her." It wasn't until after Joleen's son was born that Carol discovered the real story behind her daughter's tired looks and heavy make-up. Joleen (left) sought shelter at her mother's house and admitted that her partner had been violent towards her. "She told me he'd been hitting her since the very first weeks of their relationship," Carol said. "She'd used heavy concealer to cover her black eyes. He'd even kicked her when she was pregnant with his child." Tragically, Joleen found it hard to distance herself from abusive O'Connor. Carol describes him as being "like a worm inside her head". Expand Close Michael O'Connor is awaiting sentencing for the killing of Joleen Corr / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Michael O'Connor is awaiting sentencing for the killing of Joleen Corr Over the next couple of years she left him several times and sought refuge with her mum before going back to her abuser, saying she wanted to try and be a family for the sake of their son. Finally, in September 2016, Joleen parted from him for good and even moved to Downpatrick to put some distance between them. Carol's last memories of her daughter are positive. It was as though a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. However, just days after her 26th birthday on December 2, 2016, O'Connor paid Joleen a visit, after which she was found unconscious, "beaten black and blue" and was admitted to the intensive care unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. Carol was stunned when she went to visit her daughter. "I couldn't believe it when I first saw her in hospital, surrounded by beeping machines and tubes," she said. "She was almost unrecognisable and had 52 separate injuries from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. "She had a fractured jaw and a serious head injury with swelling to the brain. Surgeons operated to release the pressure. "Me and the kids kept a vigil at her bedside, willing her to wake up, but scans showed that the left side of her brain was completely dead." Joleen was kept alive for the next 17 months. During that time she was transferred to Musgrave Park Hospital for rehabilitation, but repeated scans showed no brain activity. "We tried everything. Christine sang to her and brushed her hair. We painted her nails and spritzed her favourite Ted Baker perfume onto her skin," Carol said. Expand Close Joleen Corr at home with her family. Mum Carol, Jim (brother), sisters Chloe (12) and Christine (10). Credit: Colm O'Reilly / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Joleen Corr at home with her family. Mum Carol, Jim (brother), sisters Chloe (12) and Christine (10). Credit: Colm O'Reilly "But Joleen's body was just a shell. My radiant girl had gone." In March 2018 the family won the legal right to withdraw treatment and Joleen was moved to the Northern Ireland Hospice. She died in her mum's arms on April 26 as Carol sang Somewhere Over the Rainbow. O'Connor continued to deny his involvement, so Carol decided she would go to court and see him face-to-face. On February 3 she had a large number of family members, including Joleen's dad Joseph McNurney and her brother and sisters, show up at Downpatrick Crown Court. On the first day of his trial, O'Connor changed his plea to guilty. "I couldn't help myself. I punched the air in jubilation as soon as we were outside the courtroom," said Carol. "As we headed out down the steps and outside, a rainbow appeared. I knew Joleen was watching over us that day. "We're waiting on his sentencing and hoping he gets a lengthy minimum term. Nothing can ever bring my Joleen back, but at least that scumbag won't be able to hurt anyone else. "To anyone out there in an abusive relationship, please read my daughter's story and think twice. They never change. Get out, get yourself to a safe place and never let them back into your life. "Don't let another family suffer the heartbreak of losing a daughter, sister and mummy." BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan will be sworn in Madhya Pradesh chief minister for the fourth time at 9 pm on Monday. He was elected state BJP Legistature Party leader here in the evening. The legislature party members - wearing masks due to coronavirus threat and sitting two chairs away from each other - unanimously elected Chouhan as their leader. BJP's central observers Arun Singh and Vinay Sahasrabuddhe joined the meeting via video conferencing from Delhi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) N ew Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has called on kiwis to "go home" as the country prepares for a four-week lockdown to stem the coronavirus outbreak. The number of coronavirus cases in New Zealand shot up to 102, more than double since Friday, as the country reported 36 new infections. While the country currently has had no deaths, Ms Adern said on Monday that a foreign origin of two cases could not be established and were believed to show signs of community transmission. While the total confirmed cases is still relatively low compared to some countries, she said: "We have always said we will act early, decisively and go hard. And we will." Jacinda Ardern announced the new measures during a press conference / Getty Images Speaking at a press conference, the PM announced that the country will move into its highest alert level, with all-non-essential services, schools and offices to be shut over the next 48 hours. The move means bars, cafes, restaurants, gyms, pools, libraries and cinemas will all be shut. Ms Adern said that supermarkets, service stations and pharmacies would remain open but all schools would close from Tuesday. Coronavirus - In pictures 1 /106 Coronavirus - In pictures A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" is seen on an underground station platform Getty Images Customers wearing face masks shop at the pork counter of a supermarket following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Wuhan, Hubei province Reuters Westminster Bridge is deserted in London the day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the UK in lockdown PA Canadian passengers Chris & Anna Joiner ask for help onboard the MS Zaandam, Holland America Line cruise ship, during the coronavirus outbreak, off the shores of Panama City via Reuters A man crosses a nearly empty 5th Avenue in midtown Manhattan during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in New York City Reuters The London Eye is pictured lit blue in support of the NHS, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons Commuters cope with Coronavirus Jeremy Selwyn Milan's Piazza del Duomo empty AFP via Getty Images People in protective clothing walk past rows of beds at a temporary 2,000-bed hospital for COVID-19 coronavirus patients set up by the Iranian army at the international exhibition center in northern Tehran, Iran AP Martina Papponetti, 25, an ICU nurse at the Humanitas Gavazzeni Hospital in Bergamo, Italy poses for a portrait at the end of her shift AP Pope Francis celebrating a daily mass alone in the Santa Marta chapel at the Vatican, as part of precautionary measures against the spread of the new coronavirus COVID-19 AFP via Getty Imag Vysheyshaya Liga - FC Torpedo-BelAZ Zhodino v FC Belshina Bobruisk - Torpedo Stadium, Zhodino, Belarus, March 27, 2020 Players in action during the match despite most sport being cancelled around the world as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters Hanks and Wilson both have coronavirus Tom Hanks General view of an emergency makeshift field hospital as it is set up at Pacaembu Stadium for coronavirus (COVID-19) patients with a capacity of 200 beds in Sao Paulo, Brazil Getty Images People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour despite Prime Minister Boris Johnson calling on people to stay away from pubs, clubs and theatres, work from home if possible and avoid all non-essential contacts and travel in order to reduce the impact of the coronavirus pandemic PA Naomi Campbell catches a flight in a hazmat suit with goggles, a surgical mask and rubber gloves @naomi Sophie and Emily Ward pose for a photograph with their hand-drawn picture of rainbows and a message on their window in St Helens, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Corona virus outbreak. PA Shoppers queue outside a branch of Costco, in Croydon, south London, on the weekend after Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered pubs and restaurants across the country to close PA Charing Cross Tube Bakerloo Line very quiet at 8.15am Jeremy Selwyn A woman with a plastic box over her head on the London Underground. PA A Racegoer attend Cheltenham Festival on Ladies Day wearing a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits a laboratory at the Public Health England National Infection Service in Colindale PA A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn A couple kiss in Milano Centrale railway station in Milan on March 8, 2020 AFP via Getty Images A combination picture shows visitors wearing protective face masks following an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) looking at blooming cherry blossom nd a pigeon walking at an closed cherry blossom viewing spot during the first weekend after Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike (not pictured) urged Tokyo residents to stay indoors, in a bid to keep the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from spreading Reuters This combination photo created on March 5, 2020 shows tourists visiting Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap province on March 16, 2019 (top) and on March 5, 2020 AFP via Getty Images Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump looks at the $2.2 trillion coronavirus aid package bill as Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Vice President Mike Pence stand by during a signing ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House Reuters A satellite image shows an empty South Beach during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Miami, via Reuters General view inside the empty stadium as the two teams line up prior to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund at Parc des Princes UEFA via Getty Images A Sainsbury's supermarket in Cambridge is among those to sell out of antibacterial hand sanitizer PA Tents and ambulances are set up next to the Princess Cruises Grand Princess cruise as it sits docked in the Port of Oakland on March 09, 2020 in Oakland, California. The Princess Cruises Grand Princess has been held from docking until today as at least 21 people on board have tested positive for COVID-19 also known as the Coronavirus Getty Images Medical staff produce traditional Chinese medicine to treat patients infected by the COVID-19 coronavirus at a hospital in Wuhan AFP via Getty Images Army soldiers wearing protective suits spray disinfectant as a precaution against the new coronavirus at a shopping street in Seoul, South Korea AP Russian President Vladimir Putin wearing protective gear walks at a hospital for patients infected with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the outskirts of Moscow via Reuters A woman who has recovered from the COVID-19 is disinfected by volunteers as she arrives at a hotel for a 14-day quarantine AFP via Getty Images Passengers on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship are seen as the ship arrives at Daikoku Pier where it is being resupplied and newly diagnosed coronavirus cases taken for treatment as it remains in quarantine after a number of the 3,700 people on board were diagnosed with coronavirus Getty Images Dave Abel pictured in hospital in Japan Manchester United fans in the stands during the Premier League match at Old Trafford PA Police officers wearing masks stand in front of the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel in La Caleta, in the Canary Island of Tenerife AP Carnival revellers wear protective face masks at Venice Carnival Reuters A general view is pictured of Burbage Primary School in Buxton, Derbyshire after the closure of the school as a pupil's parent has tested positive for the novel coronavirus COVID-19 AFP via Getty Images People wearing face masks walk past the Olympic rings in front of the new National Stadium, the main stadium for the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Game Getty Images People leave Kents Hill Park Training and Conference Centre in Milton Keynes where Coronavirus evacuees are due to be released from quarantine today and allowed to go home PA Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA A woman wears a mask while crossing London Bridg Getty Images A general view of Worthing Hospital in West Sussex PA Passengers relax on board the Holland America-operated Westerdam cruise ship, which has been denied permission to dock in Thailand over coronavirus fears via Reuters A child waves as she sits in a vehicle carrying residents evacuated from a public housing building, following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, outside Hong Mei House, at Cheung Hong Estate in Hong Kong Reuters A woman wearing a Minnie Mouse face mask looks at her mobile phone in Beijing on February 11, 2020 AFP via Getty Images The Costa Smeralda cruise ship of Costa Crociere, carrying around 6,000 passengers, is docked at the Italian port of Civitavecchia after a health alert due to a Chinese couple and a possible link to coronavirus on board, in Civitavecchia, Italy Reuters A patient covered with a bed sheet at an exhibition centre converted into a hospital as it starts to accept patients displaying mild symptoms of the novel coronavirus in Wuhan AFP via Getty Images A medical official takes the body temperature of a man at the departure hall of the airport in Changsha, Hunan Province, as the country is hit by an outbreak of a new coronavirus, China Reuters The view of the Wuhan International Conference and Exhibition Center Getty Images A plane carrying British nationals from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, arrives at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire A police vehicle enters the gates of the Royal Air Force station RAF Brize Norton in Carterton AFP via Getty Images Passengers wear face masks as the push their luggage after arriving from a flight at Terminal 5 of London Heathrow Airport AFP via Getty Images French citizens arrive and settle aboard of an evacuation plane with destination southeastern France, before departure from Wuhan Airport (WUH), China AFP via Getty Images Police stand at a checkpoint at the Jiujiang Yangtze River Bridge that crosses from Hubei province in Jiujiang, Jiangxi province, China Reuters A member of staff at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside prepares for a bus carrying British nationals from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China PA Doctor Paul McKay, who is working on an vaccine for the 2019-nCoV strain of the novel coronavirus, poses for a photograph with bacteria containing fragments of coronavirus DNA, at Imperial College School of Medicine (ICSM) in Londo AFP via Getty Images Workers produce masks at the Thai Hospital Product Company Ltd. factory in Bangkok AFP via Getty Images Passengers wearing face masks are seen on a bus after disembarking from the Costa Smeralda cruise ship, after tests on a woman from Macau with suspected coronavirus came back negative, in Civitavecchia, Italy Reuters People hoard bottles of alcohol after the Philippine government confirmed the first case of the new coronavirus in the country, in Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines Reuters Taking precautions: with fears growing that the coronavirus will spread from China, a health official checks a womans temperature on the underground in Beijing Getty Images An empty road is seen in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province on January 27, 2020, amid a deadly virus outbreak which began in the city AFP via Getty Images Students wearing masks meditate prior to a lesson at a high school in Phnom Penh, Cambodia AP Medical staff at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital wear protective clothing to help stop the spread of a deadly virus AFP via Getty Images Staff move bio-waste containers past the entrance of the Wuhan Medical Treatment Center, where some infected with a new virus are being treated, in Wuhan, China AP Workers driving excavators at the construction site of a field hospital In Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. The builders will complete the 1,000-bed hospital by February 3 to cope with the surge of 2019-nCoV patients in the city Getty Images Buddhist monks wear masks as they walk near Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodi AP A woman and a child wearing protective masks walk toward check-in counters at Daxing international airport in Beijing AFP via Getty Images An employee sprays disinfectant on a train as a precaution against a new coronavirus at Suseo Station in Seoul, South Korea AP A policeman wearing a mask walks past a quarantine notice about the outbreak of coronavirus in Wuhan, China at an arrival hall of Haneda airport in Tokyo, Japan Reuters Paramilitary police wear face masks as they stand guard at Tiananmen Gate adjacent to Tiananmen Square in Beijing AP The resident wear masks to buy vegetables in the market in Wuhan Getty Images Staff sell masks at a Yifeng Pharmacy in Wuhan AP Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV AP We are all now preparing to go into self isolation as a nation," the PM told a news conference. Ms Ardern said the decisions will place the most significant restriction on New Zealanders movements in modern history, but it was needed to save lives and slow the virus. She added that tens of thousands of people could die without these measures. The worst-case scenario is simply intolerable, it would represent the greatest loss of New Zealanders lives in our history and I will not take that chance, she said. I say to all New Zealanders: the government will do all it can to protect you. Now Im asking you to do everything you can to protect all of us. Kiwis go home, she added. The situation here is moving at pace, and so must we. The trajectory is very clear, act now or risk the virus taking hold as it has elsewhere. Ms Ardern also said if the country did not lock down New Zealand could face a death toll beyond anything ever experienced before so she wanted to give health services a fighting chance. We currently have 102 cases, but so did Italy once, now the virus has overwhelmed their health system, and hundreds of people are dying every day, she said. Today, get your neighbours phone number, set up a community group chat, get your gear to work from home, cancel social gatherings of any size or shape, prepare to walk around the block while keeping a two-metre distance between you. "If in doubt, dont go out, she added. People lined up outside supermarkets shortly after the announcement to stack up essentials, despite assurances from the government that there were sufficient supplies and stores will remain open. A family packs its shopping into their car in a supermarket in central Christchurch, New Zealand / AP Crowds were also expected at domestic airports as New Zealanders return home before complete lockdown takes effect for the next four weeks. New Zealand has already closed its borders to foreign nationals. Police Chief Mike Bush said more officers will be seen across the country to make sure instructions are followed and order is maintained. We dont want to get to a place where we need to enforce these instructions, but we will if required, Mr Bush told reporters. Ms Ardern said the cabinet agreed that effective immediately, the country of 5 million people would move into alert level 3 nationwide, and after 48 hours it will be at the highest level 4. The move also comes after neighbouring Australia, which has thousands of Covid-19 cases, implemented tougher measures on Monday, but has stopped short of self-isolation. Schools will be closed from Tuesday, except for children of essential workers such as our doctors, nurses, ambulance drivers and police. Schools will close entirely from midnight Wednesday. Workplaces were asked to implement alternative ways of working. New Zealands opposition National Party said it had put on hold its campaign for a general election on September 19. Probe opened into Russias regional health official over quarantine breach RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 17:09 23/03/2020 MOSCOW, March 23 (RAPSI) Investigators opened a probe into the infection disease chief officer of Russias Stavropol Krai Irina Sannikova, who had failed to go under the 14-day coronavirus quarantine after her return from Spain, the Investigative Committees press service reports Monday. A criminal case has been launched over negligence and withholding information dangerous for health or life, the statement reads. According to the investigation, on March 6, professor and external main infection illness specialist of the region behind the back of the ministry and her university fled to Spain. When returned on March 9, she did not inform her chiefs about the trip and was not placed under the quarantine to prevent the coronavirus spread. She resumed her work in the university, took part in conferences, and attended other institutions and departments. Several days later, on March 17, she was hospitalized because of feeling unwell, where she tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Investigative Committee. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Fender is offering three months of free online guitar lessons to the first 100,000 people who sign up, to help us all get through the coronavirus crisis. Music has the power to connect people, the guitar company wrote on Facebook. Click here to access the offer. In Italy, where more than 47,000 people have contracted COVID-19 and more than 4,000 have died, people shut in their homes are using their balconies for concerts. Italians have now been at home for nine days, and, from Bologna to Rome, they have invited their neighbors to engage in what they call a Flash Mob Sonoro, or a sound flash mob, writes the New Yorker. Musical competency is not a requirement, and neither is possessing a traditional instrument. A pot or a wooden spoon can suffice, if only because their sounds will join those of many other people who, from their balconies and windows, are hoping to create a bond through music." Were all going to be spending more time inside, said the guitar company, so we might as well make some noise. So go ahead. Practice inside. Play on your porch. Spread some joy. Not feeling musical? Cleveland.coms Joey Morona has 10 other ideas to improve your life while youre sheltering in place. Maybe a sweat session would make you happy. Jazzercise is offering 60 days free on Jazzercise on Demand, with the code 60DAYSFREE. Audible just made hundreds of audio books free. A senior delegation from the Thani Bin Abdullah Bin Thani Al-Thani Humanitarian Fund is briefed on relief items distributed to Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. UNHCR/Ayat El Dewary UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the Thani Bin Abdullah Bin Thani Al-Thani Humanitarian Fund announced today in Doha Sheikh Thani's largest contribution so far to UNHCR. More than US$43 million, channelled through four separate agreements, will fund UNHCRs work in support of refugees and displaced people in Yemen, Lebanon, Bangladesh and Chad. For the second year in a row, the contribution of a leading Qatari philanthropist will be aiding millions through support for UNHCRs efforts to protect and shelter those forced to flee their homes. This years donation is the largest ever individual contribution to UNHCR. This generous donation by H.E. Sheikh Thani Bin Abdullah is timely and substantial. It will help UNHCR respond to the dire needs of those forced to flee their homes and those hosting them in four of our major operations. Sheikh Thanis exemplary giving is a true testament to the strong tradition of philanthropy in the Islamic world and will be used to alleviate the plight of refugees in Asia, Middle East and Africa, said Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Today, more than ever before, the need to come together to end the suffering of millions around the world has never been greater. I believe the time has come for the world to use its immense resources and capabilities to respond to humanitarian crises worldwide and for the Muslim world to exercise Zakat as a powerful tool to do so, added Sheikh Thani Bin Abdullah. The latest donation will be split into four parts. The first part will be directed to Yemen to assist over 600,000 internally displaced people, returnees and extremely vulnerable members of host communities through cash grants. These will allow them to cover their basic needs such as rent, food, education and health-care services. The second tranche will provide vital monthly cash assistance to 143,000 vulnerable Syrian refugees who are currently living under the poverty line in Lebanon. The country is currently hosting the largest number of Syrian refugees per capita. The third part of the donation will be implemented in Bangladeshs Cox Bazar refugee settlements. The aim is to help create sustainable and dignified living conditions for some 84,000 Rohingya refugees and members of the host communities. Funds for these three operations will be channelled through UNHCRs Refugee Zakat Fund, a globally trusted structure, governed by UNHCR. The Fund allows individuals and institutions alike to fulfil their Zakat obligations efficiently with 100 per cent of contributions delivered directly to the most vulnerable refugees and to internally displaced families. The fourth section will support shelter, education and health care for 330,000 Sudanese refugees in Chad including some 10,000 newly displaced Sudanese refugees who fled violence in Darfur since January 2020. These funds will be channelled through UNHCRs Sadaqah initiative. For more information please contact: Ayat El Dewary, Senior External Relations Officer, [email protected] Ola Anan, Public Information Associate, [email protected] About UNHCR UNHCR leads international action to protect people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. We deliver life-saving assistance like shelter, food and water; help safeguard fundamental human rights; and develop solutions that ensure people have a safe place to call home where they can build a better future. We also work to ensure that stateless people are granted a nationality. About Thani Bin Abdullah Bin Thani Al-Thani Humanitarian Fund The Thani Bin Abdullah Bin Thani Al-Thani Humanitarian Fund was established to support the displaced and those most in need globally to alleviate their plight with the support of the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR). Yi-Chin Lee, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Nearly 269,000 hotel supported jobs will be lost in Texas due to the coronavirus, according to an analysis of Oxford Economics data by the American Hotel and Lodging Association. Texas stands to lose 41 percent of its hotel sector employment in the coming weeks as the coronavirus hurts travel and forces officials to implement social distancing measures to slow the spread of the virus. [March 23, 2020] Elk River Wealth Launches RIA with Unique Client Experience and Full-Service Offering Elk River Wealth Management, LLC is proud to announce that it has officially launched as an independent Registered Investment Advisor (RIA). Based in Denver, CO, with offices in Phoenix, AZ, Elk River delivers investment management, complete planning and wealth solutions to help individuals, families and business owners enhance every aspect of their financial life. Elk River Wealth will be led by CEO and Chief Investment Officer, Chris Freimuth, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder with decades of experience. Prior to founding Elk River Wealth, Chris was President and CIO at CoBiz Wealth. Before that, Chris spent 15 years at Alexander Capital Management Group, a firm founded by industry veteran Howard T. Alexander and eventually acquired by CoBiz. The launch comes at a time when Americans need a trusted partner to understand their immediate and long-term needs and goals and make objective and prudent decisions amidst a global pandemic, a volatile marketplace, and an uncertain economy. "It may seem like an odd time to start a firm, but we think just the opposite," said Chris Freimuth. "Now more than ever, people are uncertain about their personal and financial well-being and we stand ready to help. That's why we created Elk River Wealth and decided to launch today: to help the great people of our region across every aspect of their financial life." To do so, Elk River has aligned an exceptional team to deliver tailored investment advice, complete planning and personal service to help protect and advance the best interests and well-being of clients. The team will be driven by a highly experienced group of professionals, including Rita Koch Day, Juliet Hull and Brooks Merrifield. Rita brings decades of experience to her new role as Chief Compliance Officer and Managing Director of Operations at Elk River. Julie is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professional who will serve as Director of Relationship Management. Brooks will join the firm as Senior Wealth Advisor and merge his current RIA, Merrifield & Company, under the Elk River brand. Chris and the Elk River team have worked together for many years, collectively managing over $1 billion in assets under management at their prior firms. To make it all possible, the firm has partnered with Welth Advisor Growth Network (WAGN) to help ensure the continued delivery of a complete and unique experience for clients. WAGN will provide access to deep industry expertise and a world-class network of specialists to help solve complex client needs. "With WAGN's help, we've invested time and resources to align the digital tools to make life easier, safer and more productive for clients," reinforced Chris Freimuth. "These actions will enable us to conduct virtual, interactive meetings to help clients navigate today's environment." In addition, WAGN's recently formed strategic partnership with Merchant Investment Management will provide essential support to Elk River. WAGN is led by industry experts John Phoenix and Jay Hummel. In addition to being former RIA owners, John and Jay have played senior roles at Envestnet and American Century Investments, respectively. Jay is also the author of both The Essential Advisor and Success and Succession, two books focused on helping advisors and customers build value in their relationship. John and Jay will both serve as Partners at Elk River Wealth. "We're proud to partner with Elk River Wealth and welcome the firm as a strategic partner of WAGN," said John Phoenix. "We are excited to help Chris and the team create something special for clients across Colorado, the Rocky Mountains and the entire Western United States." "Too many big institutions are pushing products while too many small RIAs feature limited offerings," added Jay Hummel. "Elk River Wealth offers the unique blend of personal touch and local focus backed by the depth and breadth of world-class specialists and resources." The firm has and will remain focused on keeping employees and clients safe by following best practices as it relates to social distancing, group gatherings and will be meeting with prospects and clients digitally. About Elk River Wealth Management Elk River Wealth Management is a registered investment advisor that delivers financial planning and investment advice to help individuals, families and business owners build on their success. For additional information, please visit: https://www.elkriverwealth.com/ About Wealth Advisor Growth Network (WAGN) WAGN works with RIAs to help them build the best run firms in the industry, deliver faster growth, and create more value for their clients. For additional information, please visit: https://wagn.biz/ About Merchant Investment Management, LLC Merchant is a private partnership providing growth capital, management resources, strategic opportunities and direction to independent financial services companies, particularly those focused on wealth and asset management. For additional information, please visit: https://www.merchantim.com/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200323005131/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Members of a military emergency unit arrive to carry out a general disinfection at a residence for the elderly in Madrid, Spain, on March 23, 2020. (Oscar Del Pozo/AFP via Getty Images) Spain Announces Highest Daily Death Toll as Abandoned Elderly Found Dead In Their Beds Spain has registered its highest daily COVID-19 death toll, as the countrys defense minister said emergency crews found elderly people left behind and dead in their beds. According to a Johns Hopkins University tally, as of Monday at 2:55 pm ET, there were 33,089 confirmed cases of the respiratory disease in Spain, with 2,207 deaths. According to a Reuters tally, 462 people died there in the last 24 hours, the highest daily toll in the second-hardest European country to be hit by the CCP virus, after Italy. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement of the outbreak in Wuhan allowed the virus to spread across China and fan a global pandemic. Spains Minister of Defense said as numbers of the deadly respiratory disease soar in the country, responders have found elderly people dead in their residences, left behind. Margarita Robles told broadcaster Telecinco that members of the specialist Military Emergencies Unit had found the corpses in the course of their duties, which include visiting nursing homes. During some of its visits, the army has seen some totally abandoned elderly peopleeven some who were dead in their beds, Robles told the Ana Rosa TV program, The Guardian reports. She called the discovery an outcome of inhumane treatment that would not go unpunished and urged care staff to take their responsibilities seriously. The virus has also infected nearly 4,000 Spanish health workers, who make up more than a tenth of known cases in the country. The rising death count has put pressure on hospitals and funeral homes around Madrid, prompting health authorities to set up a makeshift morgue at the Palacio de Hielo, a large ice rink. This is a temporary and extraordinary measure primarily intended to mitigate the pain of victims families and the situation in Madrids hospitals, the officials said on Monday, according to The Guardian. The repurposed skating facility is close to a conference center that has been kitted out with hospital beds and already received 126 of the 1,300 patients it expects in the coming week. Soldiers were also deployed to Barcelona to help build a temporary homeless shelter at the citys Fira event center. The shelter, to be managed by the Red Cross, will allow up to 1,000 homeless people to isolate themselves in hygienic conditions, Barcelonas Mayor Ada Colau said. The official in charge of the health emergency, Fernando Simon, said 87 percent of those who had died were aged 70 or older. On Monday, the head of the World Health Organization called on countries to take strong, coordinated action to stem the accelerating outbreak. We are not helpless bystanders, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, noting that it took 67 days to reach 100,000 cases worldwide but just four days to go from 200,000 to 300,000. We can change the trajectory of this pandemic. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Essential workers who are traveling to their jobs via public transportation should be aware of several changes to their normal way of commuting Monday. Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, New York City is officially on pause as of 8 p.m. Sunday, with the exception of essential workers. Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently mandated that 100% of the states non-essential workforce should no longer report to work. To help reduce exposure and spread of COVID-19, various measures are being implemented within the citys transportation network. Starting Monday, New York City local buses about 4,200 of the MTAs 5,600-bus fleet will board via rear-door only. Select Bus Service routes will also load via the rear door. Rear-boarding riders will not be charges a fare. MTA Chairman and CEO Patrick Foye said the decision was made to minimize the risk to all transit workers, subways, buses, Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road. The reason for that is to reduce contact between passengers and bus operators to make sure that as many transit workers, subway, bus, Metro-North, Long Island Rail Road, can show up for work and take first responders to and from their jobs, Foye said on Good Day New York on Monday morning. Foye confirmed that 30 MTA workers have tested positive for the coronavirus. As we have said, this is not unexpected as testing continues to ramp up, which will help contain the spread of the virus, he said. We expect this number will only continue to increase. *** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK *** MODIFIED STATEN ISLAND FERRY SCHEDULE The Staten Island Ferry is operating every 20 minutes from both the St. George and Whitehall terminals during the morning and evening rush hours 7 a.m to 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., according to the city Department of Transportation. The reduction begins Monday, days after Mayor Bill de Blasio said that ferry ridership is down 70% when compared to this time last year. During rush hour, weekday schedules will be reduced from four to three boats. From noon to 5 p.m., boats will run every 60 minutes, leaving on the hour and half-hour from each terminal at all other times. There simply isnt a ridership to justify the kind of frequency we have now, and we have to be smart about that, de Blasio said. Every resource right now has to be used best to fight coronavirus. Every part of the city government has to support every other part. ACCESS-A-RIDE, RIDE SHARING Last week, the MTA announced it would no longer schedule shared rides for Access-A-Ride customers, who are some of the citys most vulnerable residents. Customers will still be allowed to travel with a personal assistant and approved guest. Our paratransit customers are particularly vulnerable during this public health crisis, and we are doing everything we can to protect their health and safety. We will continue to aggressively disinfect our full fleet of Access-A-Ride vehicles around the clock and work closely with, and follow the guidance of, all our partners and public health officials at the state, city and federal levels, said MTA NYCT Interim President Sarah Feinberg. Access-A-Ride, the MTAs paratransit service, provides door-to-door transportation within New York City on an advance reservation basis to persons who, because of a physical or mental disability, are unable to use public transit buses or subways. De Blasio signed an executive order that bans shared rides on popular e-hail services in an effort to promote social distancing. For for-hire vehicles, we want to protect drivers and we want to protect riders alike. This Executive Order will ban ride shares and pooling of customers. This has been done in agreement with major for-hire vehicle companies such as Uber, Lyft and Via, de Blasio said. New York City Transit, MTA Bus, Access-A-Ride, Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North are significantly increasing the frequency and intensity of sanitizing procedures at each of its stations and on its full fleet of rolling stock. (Andrew Cashin/MTA New York City Transit) SANITIZATION EFFORTS The MTAs mass transit divisions -- New York City Transit, MTA Bus, Access-A-Ride, Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North -- have doubled the frequency of their sanitizing efforts, using products approved by the Environmental Protection Agency and endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Frequently touched station surfaces like turnstiles, handrails and MetroCard vending machines will now be disinfected twice a day, as opposed to the originally announced once-daily cleanings. The agencys full fleet of trains, cars and buses will continue to undergo full sanitization every 72 hours or less. This includes 472 stations throughout the subway system, 21 stations along Staten Island Railway, 124 stations and terminals along Long Island Rail Road and 101 stations throughout Metro-Norths New York territory, as well as 6,714 New York City Transit subway cars, 64 Staten Island Railway cars, 1,100 Long Island Rail Road and Metro-Norths cars, 5,700 buses and 1,341 dedicated Access-A-Ride vans. The Department of Transportation (DOT), responsible for maintaining and operating the Staten Island Ferry, has stepped up its cleaning efforts in an attempt to curtail the spread of the coronavirus. The DOT will maintain its around-the-clock cleaning of the St. George and Whitehall ferry terminals, supplemental cleaning on the boats throughout the day, according to the agency. The agency has said that ferryboats will be subject to deep cleanings of all surfaces and touch points at least once every 72 hours. Be the first to know: Sign up for our newsletters; and get breaking news and top stories pushed to your phone with the SILive.com mobile app. RELATED COVERAGE Coronavirus: DMV shuts down all offices, auto bureaus Relief for homeowners: 90-day mortgage extension and more Rapidly shifting real estate market: Canceled open houses, virtual tours Coronavirus: Senate passes paid-leave bill for all New Yorkers Staten Island sees 120% jump in confirmed coronavirus cases, with 165, as testing capacity expands Small business owner: Coronavirus is going to crush us Governor: 75% of non-essential employees must work at home Coronavirus: NYC travel industry in triage mode Judge in MH17 trial gives Pulatov's lawyer time to prepare for hearing on June 8, grants access to case materials to lawyers for deceased passengers The judge presiding over the case of the downed MH17 has allowed the defense of one of the four accused, Oleg Pulatov, to study the case materials in order to prepare their position for a hearing scheduled for June 8, and granted representatives of relatives for deceased MH17 passengers limited access to official case materials. The relevant decision was announced on Monday at the Schiphol court complex, where the trial is taking place. The meeting was held only with the participation of interested parties - presiding judge Hendrik Steenhuis and two substitute judges, one prosecutor and one representative of the relatives of the deceased. Neither the press nor other process observers were due to restrictive measures introduced because of the coronavirus epidemic. Pulatov's defense lawyers were not present. According to the presiding judge, they will monitor the trial via the live stream on the court's website. Eight years ago, the TaxPayers Alliance reported that in the last year, five times more Labour people were appointed to public bodies than Tories. It currently reports that almost half of avowedly political appointees last year owed their allegiance to Labour Party, compared to less than a third for the Conservatives. Despite the selection of some Party members or supporters to fill important posts, over time, the Conservatives have punched beneath their weight when it comes to public appointments. One of the reasons seems to be that Tories simply dont apply in the same number as Labour supporters. To help remedy this, each week we put up links to some of the main public appointments vacancies, so that qualified Conservatives can be aware of the opportunities presented. Regulatory Horizons Panel Member As we enter the Fourth Industrial Revolution, a wave of technological innovation is creating new industries, disrupting existing ones and transforming the way things are made and the way we live. From AI-powered legal services to autonomous ships, new products, services and business models are emerging which dont fit with existing regulatory systems. In its White Paper on Regulation for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the Government committed to establishing a Regulatory Horizons Council (RHC) to identify the implications of technological innovation with high potential benefit for the UK economy and society and advise the government on regulatory reform needed to support its rapid and safe introduction. Time: 1-2 days per month. Remuneration: 380 per diem. Closes: 23 March Financial Conduct Authority Chief Executive This is an opportunity to take on an intellectually demanding role at the heart of international financial services, leading a sizeable and complex organisation. There is a requirement for strong leadership in a challenging environment to undertake a critically important role. Under Andrew Bailey, the FCA has formulated a transformation programme, to equip the organisation for the next phase of its development: a data strategy and enhanced analytical skills to rapidly identify harm across an exceptionally broad range of firms of all sizes exploiting fast-moving changes in technology and distribution to target consumers; enhance employee capabilities and processes to act swiftly on the harms identified; [and] and with a regulatory framework which is appropriate following the completion of EU withdrawal, and which takes advantage of the opportunities for better and more efficient regulation brought by technology and behavioural science. Time: Full-time. Remuneration: Competitive. Closes: 27 March British Council Chief Executive The Chief Executive will assume office at a time of unprecedented external change. The political landscape in Europe and around the globe is altering with increasing pace and less predictability. The British Council is also in constant transformation to deliver within funding constraints in a demanding, more client and customer-facing world. The aims and goals of the British Council are more necessary than ever. Delivering them in the complex world of 2020 is more difficult than at any time since 1945. The resulting demands on the Chief Executive in terms of vision, agility, ability to simplify and lead with clarity and purpose are substantial. The Chief Executive will be instrumental in redefining both soft power and cultural relations at this pivotal moment and will help define the place of the United Kingdom, for the better, in a disrupted and uncertain geopolitical world. Time: Full-time. Remuneration: Up to 150k per annum plus bonus to 8 per cent and Civil Service Pension Closes: 27 March Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership (C2C LEP) Chair The Coast to Capital Strategic Board comprises private sector and local authority Members, setting a vision for and overseeing delivery of economic prosperity for all in the Coast to Capital area, including through Government funding of projects through the Local Growth Fund. They are accountable to the LEP Board and for the proper governance of the LEP. Coast to Capital is seeking an influential and persuasive senior business figure from the C2C area to help lead the region and meet the ambitious vision set out in its strategic plan. Currently chaired by Tim Wates, who will be stepping down in July 2020, the Board brings together a diverse mix of regional business leaders alongside senior politicians and leaders from Universities and Further Education. Time: Four days per month, three-year term. Remuneration: 20,000 per annum. Closes: 30 March NHS Resolution Chair The last few years have seen major changes to NHS Resolutions role and standing in the system as a result of both its revised strategy and the new clinical negligence scheme for GPs. It has been a pleasure and privilege to Chair the organisation through this period of significant change. Although the course is set for the next few years some of these changes are still at an early stage and need to be embedded, there is now a need to progress the development of our infrastructure to support the enhanced role and the NHS will continue to evolve. I am sure therefore that the next Chair will also find the role both challenging and rewarding. Time: 2-3 days per week. Remuneration: 63,000 per annum. Closes: 06 April Office of Tax Simplification Board Member The Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) provides the government with independent advice on simplifying the tax system, to make things easier for taxpayers. The OTS Board is led by an independent Chair (Kathryn Cearns OBE) and Tax Director (Bill Dodwell) and has representatives from HM Treasury and HMRC and up to four independent members, supported by a diverse staff team drawn from the civil service and the private sector, led by the OTS Head of Office David Halsey. The four independent members of the OTS Board are currently Dame Teresa Graham, John Cullinane, Kathleen Russ and until his recent resignation Paul Johnson. To support its work and further development, the OTS would like to identify an exceptional individual with relevant experience to join its Board as one of its independent members. Time: Approx. 10 days per annum. Remuneration: Reasonable expenses. Closes: 06 April HM Treasury Financial Regulators Complaints Commissioner The Office of the Complaints Commissioner is headed by the Financial Regulators Complaints Commissioner (the Commissioner) who is a statutory appointment required under the Financial Services Act 2012. This is a senior position and, whilst the appointment is made by the regulators, it is an independent role, subject to approval by HM Treasury. The current Commissioner carries out his duties through a company limited by guarantee (Office of the Complaints Commissioner) from premises based in the City of London. He is assisted by three staff. The Commissioners role is to review independently complaints about the actions or inactions of the UKs current financial services regulators, the Financial Conduct Authority, the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Bank of England (but only in respect of its oversight of the banking clearing houses and payment schemes). Time: Est. three days per week. Remuneration: Remuneration is on a level with judicial salaries, pro-rated as appropriate. Closes: 13 April The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Sunday recommended that no gatherings with 50 people or more take place for the next eight weeks to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. The agency said these gatherings include conferences, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings and other types of assemblies. "Large events and mass gatherings can contribute to the spread of COVID-19 in the United States via travelers who attend these events and introduce the virus to new communities," the CDC said in its new guidelines. The CDC recommended organizers "cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States." The recommendation does not apply to some organizations like schools or businesses. The new guidance underscores just how much life in the United States will change as the country continues to fight the outbreak, and as officials nationwide order more schools, bars and restaurants to close. "For a while, life is not going to be the way it used to be in the United States," Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday morning. "We have to just accept that if we want to do what's best for the American public." There are at least 3,482 coronavirus cases in 49 states, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and Washington DC, according to government agencies and the CDC. At least 65 people have died. West Virginia remains the only state without any confirmed cases. The US can expect more cases and deaths, Fauci said at a White House briefing Saturday, telling reporters: "We have not yet reached our peak." New York schools will close, mayor says As of Sunday night, more than 30 states had announced statewide school closures. Maine Gov. Janet Mills became one of the latest leaders to issue a state of emergency Sunday, recommending an end to classroom instruction in public schools statewide "as soon as reasonably practical." New York City schools will also close until at least April 20, following spring recess, Mayor Bill de Blasio said. Schools will be closed Monday, but teachers will report to work from Tuesday through Thursday for professional development on remote learning, according to the New York City Department of Education's website. Students will be able to pick up technology for remote learning on Thursday and Friday. Remote instruction will begin Monday, March 23, per officials. There will be special sites for children of crucial health care workers and first responders. Meals will be available for students. Schools in Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk counties will also close for two weeks beginning Monday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday. Restrictions placed on bars and restaurants With the threat of further spread on the horizon, officials across the country have imposed a slew of restrictions to curb the spread of the virus. Local governments have encouraged residents to stay home and practice social distancing. Some states, including California, New York and Washington, have banned large gatherings. And the restrictions and closures keep coming. Bars and restaurants in the state of Ohio will close beginning at 9 p.m. Sunday night, Gov. Mike DeWine said Sunday. Carryout and food delivery will still be allowed, the governor said. A similar order was announced in California, where Gov. Gavin Newsom said Sunday that bars, nightclubs, wineries and brewpubs will be closed. Restaurant capacities must also be reduced by half. In Pennsylvania, Gov. Tom Wolf ordered all restaurants and bars in five counties to close their dine-in facilities for 14 days starting Monday. Businesses that offer takeout, delivery and drive-through food and beverage service may continue to do so. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker ordered bars and restaurants to close, beginning at close of business Monday until March 30, he said Sunday. State officials are working to help coordinate food delivery with restaurants and delivery services. Drive-through and curbside pickup will be allowed, the governor said. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said Sunday he's banning on-premises eating and drinking at all restaurants and bars throughout the state but will still allow establishments to offer food for takeout or delivery. Baker also amended the state's earlier guidance, prohibiting gatherings of 250 people or more, to now ban gatherings of over 25 people. In New York, de Blasio said Sunday night he will sign an executive order Monday limiting eateries and bars to takeout and delivery, and order the closure of nightclubs, movie theaters, small theaters and concert venues. The order will go into effect Tuesday at 9 a.m. In New Orleans, Mayor LaToya Cantrell ordered all full-service restaurants with seating capacity to close at 9 p.m. and asked that establishments attempt to reduce capacity by half. Officials in Hoboken, New Jersey, announced a city-wide curfew starting Monday. Residents will be required to stay in their homes from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., with exceptions for people who are required to report to work, Mayor Ravinder Bhalla said Saturday. Bars and restaurants in Hoboken stopped being able to serve food inside their locations as of Sunday at 11 a.m. They "will be permitted to conduct food takeout and food delivery service only," Bhalla said. In Colorado, Gov. Jared Polis issued an executive order Saturday requiring downhill ski resorts close for a week due to the presence of coronavirus in the mountain communities with limited care capacity. Officials will continue to monitor the outbreak and may amend the executive order, the governor's office said. More closures and curfews could be coming. Vice President Mike Pence said in a White House briefing Sunday that new guidelines regarding potential curfews and closures would be released Monday morning. Travelers returning to US find long airport lines President Donald Trump expanded restrictions on entry into the United States from Europe to include the United Kingdom and Ireland. The travel restrictions go into effect Monday at midnight. Restrictions from 26 other countries in Europe went into effect Friday. US citizens and their family members are exempt from both sets of restrictions, but they are subject to enhanced medical screenings upon arrival. Some passengers returning from Europe said they faced long lines and confusion upon landing at US airports. Katherine Rogers landed at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on Saturday. After waiting in line for about five hours to be screened by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, she was told she had an hour more to go. "No one seems prepared," she said. "To take us off planes from all over the world and put us together for hours seems counterproductive." Illinois Gov. Pritzker criticized federal officials for the long lines, telling NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday they should have increased the number of personnel to handle the influx of travelers returning to the United States. "Last night, as people were flooding into O'Hare airport, they were stuck in a small area. Hundreds and hundreds of people. And that's exactly what you don't want in this pandemic," the governor said. "And then today," he added, "it's going to be even worse. There are a larger number of flights with more people coming. And they seem completely unprepared." Long lines also greeted travelers arriving at John F. Kennedy International Airport, where passengers said they were instructed to share pens to fill out paperwork even as Americans are being urged not to come in close contact with one another. "They didn't have pens and told us to share, which sounds like a great thing in the middle of the pandemic," passenger Katelyn Deibler said. Acting US Customs and Border Patrol Commissioner Mark Morgan said in a statement the wait times at some locations Saturday "were unacceptable." "CBP continually adjusts its resources, in real time, as needed," Morgan said, "and we will continue to do so." "With this national emergency, there will unfortunately be times of disruption and increased processing times for travelers," Morgan said. "CBP is working around the clock to minimize these inconveniences." Trump says more tests will be available President Trump declared a national emergency Friday, freeing up $50 billion in federal resources to combat the outbreaks. "No resource will be spared, nothing whatsoever," he said. More than 2,000 laboratories across the country will have high-speed testing capacity, Pence said. Since the emergency declaration, Pence said, public health services have worked with FEMA and "have reached out to all 50 states to create a process that will enable all Americans who need to be tested to go to a community-based testing site outside of usual health care facilities." These tests, Pence noted, will be focused on those "most in need." The Trump administration said Friday it was partnering with the private sector to also boost testing capacity with both more tests and drive-thru testing. The country's testing system has received stark criticism from health officials and people who said they were turned away despite showing symptoms. Fauci said earlier this week the US testing system was failing to meet the public's needs. Friday, Trump said 5 million coronavirus tests would be available within a month. He also said American retail executives would be donating resources to facilitate drive-thru testing across the country. But those companies later said they had few details on what they could offer or when test kits would be available. Trump told reporters Saturday that he took a coronavirus test Friday night. The White House later said the test was negative. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Budi Sutrisno (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, March 23, 2020 14:11 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206ccc2ad 1 National COVID-19,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,virus-corona,medical-equipment,APD,Indonesian-Military,TNI,China Free An Indonesian Military (TNI) Hercules C-130 aircraft arrived at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in East Jakarta on Monday morning after picking up medical equipment from China to help medical personnel working against COVID-19. The military aircraft flew to the Chinese city of Shanghai on Saturday to transport the medical equipment to Indonesia and headed to Raden Sadjad Air Base in Natuna, Riau Islands, on Sunday before flying to Jakarta. The medical equipment includes disposable masks, N-95 masks, protective clothing, goggles, gloves, shoe covers, infrared thermometers and surgical caps, which will be used by the countrys doctors and fast-response team for COVID-19. The operation was a response to Defense Minister Prabowo Subiantos request for the TNI to provide military aircraft to transport the medical kits from Shanghai, following his limited meeting with President Joko Jokowi Widodo last week. Arriving at the handover ceremony shortly after the plane landed in Jakarta, Prabowo said the distribution effort would continue and that more and bigger planes would fly out for the same mission. The Chinese minister of defense asked about our needs and I sent our list. This is a form of international cooperation between countries and they already have the experience. Now that they are giving assistance to us, we accept the offer, he said. Jokowi previously said he had received many complaints regarding the lack of personal protective equipment available and asked for understanding that about 180 countries were fighting to get such equipment. Alhamdullilah [thank God], on Saturday, we were ready with around 105,000 pieces of medical personal protective equipment, which will be distributed today to hospitals around the country, Jokowi said. He detailed that 45,000 items would be distributed to Jakarta and its surrounding areas that included Bogor and Banten, 40,000 items for West Java, Central Java, East Java, Yogyakarta and Bali, 10,000 for provinces outside of Java and 10,000 as reserves. Indonesia has confirmed 514 positive cases of COVID-19 across 20 provinces, while the death toll has reached 48 as of Sunday. Jaunpur became the 17th district in Uttar Pradesh where a lockdown was imposed after a fresh case of coronavirus was detected, taking the total number of patients in the state to 33. According to a bulletin issued by the Directorate of Health Services, of the 33 cases, eight each are in Agra, Noida and Lucknow; three in Ghaziabad; and one each in Lakhimpur Kheri, Moradabad, Varanasi, Kanpur, Pilibhit and Jaunpur. The lockdown in Jaunpur was imposed after a man who recently arrived from Saudi Arabia was tested positive for the infection. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has urged people to take the lockdown seriously to check the spread of the disease. "With the cooperation of the people of the state, we will be able to effectively check this epidemic ," Adityanath told mediapersons, adding that 11 of the COVID-19 infected people have recovered. "The condition of the remaining is stable. All those who are undergoing treatment are recovering," the chief minister said, stressing that he is personally reviewing the situation. "We have a sufficient number of laboratories and arrangements for conducting tests. Till now, we have 2,000 beds in different districts. Efforts are on to increase their number to over 10,000 in next two to three days," he said. On Sunday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had announced in Gorakhpur that 15 districts in the state will be under lockdown in the first phase, from Monday to Wednesday. A few hours later, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi said Pilibhit has been added to the list of districts. On Monday evening, Jaunpur become the 17th district under lockdown. The UP lockdown is in force in the districts of Lucknow, Agra, Gautam Budh Nagar, Ghaziabad, Varanasi, Allahabad, Kanpur, Aligarh, Moradabad, Lakhimpur Kheri, Bareilly, Azamgarh, Meerut, Gorakhpur, Saharanpur, Pilibhit and Jaunpur. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) North Rhine Westphalia State Premier Armin Laschet statement on the spread of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Duesseldorf FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Germany will ban public meetings of more than two people unless they are about work on slowing the spread of the coronavirus, the premier of North Rhine-Westphalia state said on Sunday. "The danger lies in the direct social interaction," state premier Armin Laschet said, adding that the federal government and regional states had agreed on the stricter rules. (Reporting by Matthias Inverardi; Writing by Ludwig Burger; Editing by Andrew Heavens) Kaduna state governor, Mallam Nasir El-rufai has ordered a partial lockdown of Kaduna state with emphasis on religious gatherings following the coronavirus pandemic. The governor made this known in a statement he released via his official Twitter handle on Monday. Full statement below: My dear people of Kaduna State, let us face this danger with utmost faith in Almighty God who has gifted us with the knowledge to make rational decisions. Let each of us do our duty to prevent coronavirus from spreading among us. -Malam Nasir @elrufai KDSG has announced extraordinary preventive measures against coronavirus: Civil servants from Level 12 and below are to stay at home for the next 30 days, except for those on essential service; only sellers of food & medicines can open their shops in the markets from tomorrow Security agencies will enforce restrictions on large gatherings, especially in churches and mosques and as well as the closure of schools, whether public or private, religious or secular, Islamiya or run by Christian missions. Read Also: Fellaini Tests Positive For Coronavirus At a time of danger, non-essential travel is a dangerous luxury and there is no point pretending that we are in normal times. People are advised to stay at home and avoid moving around, unless it becomes absolutely necessary. To this end, we have contacted the relevant federal authorities to stop the Abuja-Kaduna train service and thus limit the danger from contact on the train and the influx from people who might have been exposed to infected persons. Malsam Nasir @elrufai has put on record KDSGs gratitude to those religious leaders who complied with the restriction on large gatherings and have also spoken up to support the preventive measures. Over the weekend, govt also sadly observed shocking levels of complacency as some people ignored their responsibility to uphold preventive measures. We received reports of congregations in some churches and mosques, as well as large crowds in weddings and other social activities. KDSG will not hesitate to impose a statewide curfew, should that become the only way to enforce compliance & make everyone understand the collective danger that we face. Prevention is the only logical thing to do because our health system cannot cope with an outbreak of Covid-19. It is better to impose restrictions and save lives, than to be complacent and bury victims. Countries that have hesitated to impose extraordinary measures to contain coronavirus are now regretting. We have a chance to avoid such mistakes. The Kaduna State Government is closely observing the implementation of these measures and the evolving global picture and will not hesitate to impose a lockdown of the entire state, if events dictate. My dear people of Kaduna State, let us face this danger with utmost faith in Almighty God who has gifted us with the knowledge to make rational decisions. Let each of us do our duty to prevent coronavirus from spreading among us. -Malam Nasir @elrufai Governor Kaduna (@GovKaduna) March 23, 2020 KDSG has announced extraordinary preventive measures against coronavirus: Civil servants from Level 12 and below are to stay at home for the next 30 days, except for those on essential service; only sellers of food & medicines can open their shops in the markets from tomorrow Governor Kaduna (@GovKaduna) March 23, 2020 Security agencies will enforce restrictions on large gatherings, especially in churches and mosques and as well as the closure of schools, whether public or private, religious or secular, Islamiya or run by Christian missions. Governor Kaduna (@GovKaduna) March 23, 2020 At a time of danger, non-essential travel is a dangerous luxury and there is no point pretending that we are in normal times. People are advised to stay at home and avoid moving around, unless it becomes absolutely necessary. Governor Kaduna (@GovKaduna) March 23, 2020 To this end, we have contacted the relevant federal authorities to stop the Abuja-Kaduna train service and thus limit the danger from contact on the train and the influx from people who might have been exposed to infected persons. Governor Kaduna (@GovKaduna) March 23, 2020 Thanks for following along, everyone. A small sliver of normalcy returned to our lives today in CNY: snow in late March. If you're just stumbling into us now, stay up-to-date with our complete coronavirus coverage throughout the evening | News about the coronavirus in New York and around the country Some highlights, if you're like high school me and just prefer to read the Cliff Notes: We're up to 53 confirmed cases in Onondaga County, including an employee at Ascioti's meat market in Solvay. Officials are asking anyone who visited the store on March 17 between 12:30- 4 p.m. to contact their doctor. Centro bus will waive all fares for the bus system starting Tuesday. Ridership might be down, but the bus system is not scaling back service. Thats an effort to create more space within the buses, so that people can ride apart from each other. Do you use Instacart for grocery delivery? Apparently a lot of us do because the service is so backed up that wait times last a few days, instead of a matter of hours. Theyve gone virtual rather than meeting in person, but counselors from the citys Financial Empowerment Center are ready to help Syracuse residents hit with economic hardships. High school sports canceled their winter sports championships, and the 2020 Summer Olympics appear to be nudging closer to a postponement. No official word yet, but an IOC member said postponement would be happening, likely to 2021. Nate Mink The trial in absentia of three Russians and a Ukrainian charged with multiple counts of murder over the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014 resumed briefly at The Hague on March 23 amid coronavirus restrictions. The Dutch judges in the trial read out several preliminary decisions before ruling to adjourn the case until June 8 in order to give the defense lawyers of one of the accused more time to prepare their case. The courtroom was almost empty during the 45-minute session, which was livestreamed on the Internet due to restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus. Flight MH17 was shot down July 17, 2014, by a Russian-made Buk missile fired from territory in eastern Ukraine controlled by pro-Russian separatists. The civilian passenger plane was on a flight from Amsterdam to Malaysia when it was shot down. All 298 passengers and crew were killed. The victims included 193 Dutch citizens as well as 43 Malaysians and 38 Australians. The four accused -- Russian citizens Igor Girkin, Sergei Dubinsky, and Oleg Pulatov, and Ukrainian Leonid Kharchenko -- remain at large despite the issuance of international warrants for their arrests. Only Pulatov has appointed defense lawyers to represent him at the trial in the Netherlands. When the trial opened on March 9, it was attended by lawyers, judges, family members of victims, and journalists. But the number of prosecutors, lawyers, and other staff on March 23 was reduced over the coronavirus pandemic. Family and media were not allowed to attend the trial in person, and judges sat separated from one another by empty seats. Prosecutors say the four men helped to arrange the supply of the Russian missile system used to shoot down MH17. Girkin, a former colonel in Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), was the top military commander of a separatist group in eastern Ukraine while Ukrainian Kharchenko was in charge of a combat unit in the region, according to the Dutch-led Joint Investigation Team (JIT). Dubinsky and Pulatov were connected with Russia's Military Intelligence Service (GRU), the investigators concluded. Despite evidence that Russia's military was directly involved in shooting down of Flight MH17, the Kremlin has repeatedly denied any involvement. The Kremlin also denies providing any military or financial support to Ukraine's pro-Russia separatists, despite evidence assembled by the JIT and the Bellingcat open-source investigative group. With reporting by AP, Reuters, AFP, and dpa Albany, N.Y. Hundreds of thousands of masks and other pieces of medical equipment will soon be on their way to New York hospitals to help them confront the coronavirus outbreak. Gov. Andrew Cuomo today offered a breakdown of the equipment the state has secured so far and where it is all headed. Most of the gear will end up downstate, where most of the cases so far are concentrated. A slide from Gov. Andrew Cuomo's press briefing showing medical supplies the state has secured and where they are headed.Gov. Andrew Cuomo YouTube Hospitals in the New York City area in particular have been expressing worries in recent days that staff could soon run low on critical equipment, Cuomo said. The effort to find more has been somewhat successful, but its not nearly enough. "This won't get us through the entire situation," Cuomo said. "But this is a significant amount of supplies that will be going out." Cuomo continued to call for federal authorities to take over the effort to secure and distribute medical equipment. It makes no sense for different states to be competing and attempting to beat each other with higher bids on important items. He again said President Donald Trump should use the Defense Production Act to order U.S. businesses to manufacture certain necessary products. "Yes, it is an assertion of government power on private sector companies," Cuomo said. "Yes. But so what? This is a national emergency. You cannot continue to do these supplies on an ad hoc basis. Cuomo also continued to outline steps the state is taking increase its current total of 53,000 hospital beds. He has said the state could need more than double that number when the virus peaks in early May. Hospitals in the state must increase their current bed capacity by 50 percent and Cuomo said he's asking them all to double it. Staffing remains a concern too. He said the state has heard from 30,000 retired or former medical professionals who are willing to help respond to the outbreak if needed. He said New York is also reaching out to insurers with doctors and nurses on staff to see if those individuals can be temporarily deployed to hospitals instead. After todays press briefing, Cuomo planned to head to four downstate sites recommended by the Army Corps of Engineers as temporary hospitals. They include the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, the Westchester Convention Center and State University of New York campuses in Stony Brook and Old Westbury. New York now has over 20,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus. Thats the most in the nation by far. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources How and when does NY life restart after coronavirus shutdown? Cuomo working on it First CNY coronavirus death: Elderly person with health problems Coronavirus: Former doctors, specialists answer the call to help with pandemic Where can I still go? What NYs coronavirus stay at home order means Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598 English Finnish Incap Corporation March 23, 2020 at 19:30 EET Stock exchange release Insider Information Incap following Karnataka government instructions on lockdown, to close down its production unit until end of March 2020 Governments across the world are taking significant steps to contain the COVID-19 outbreak by restricting the movement of people. To contain the pandemic the government of India has today instructed all state governments to initiate legal action against the violators of lockdown. Karnataka government has locked down the whole state from midnight tonight until midnight of 31st March. Due to the lockdown and restrictions on inter-district and inter-state movement, Incaps unit in Tumkur, like many others, is also affected temporarily. The freight forwarders are on lockdown and inbound or outbound goods are not transported until the end of the month. All international flights are cancelled in the country. As a result, Incap is now taking measures to close down its Tumkur factory from midnight today until end of March 2020. Incap continues to closely monitor the situation in all its markets and follows the instructions provided by the local governments and health protection agencies. "The health and safety of our employees, customers, and partners are our highest priority. Our focus, dedication, and support are unwavering as we navigate through these extraordinary times", said Otto Pukk, President and CEO of Incap Corporation. For additional information, please contact: Otto Pukk, President and CEO, Incap Corporation, tel. +372 508 0798 Murthy Munipalli, Managing Director Incap India, tel. + 91 98802 31431 INCAP IN BRIEF Incap Corporation is an international contract manufacturer. Incap's customers are leading suppliers of high-technology equipment in their own business segments, and Incap increases their competitiveness as a strategic partner. After the acquisition of AWS Electronics Group in January 2020, Incap has operations in Finland, Estonia, India, Slovakia, U.K. and Hong Kong, and the company employs approximately 1300 people. Incap's share is listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd. as from 1997. Additional information: www.incapcorp.com. Photo: Serge Melki/Flickr Missed the most recent top news in Chicago? Read on for everything you need to know. Police break up parties violating state's stay-at-home order Video showed heavy police response, as officers reminded party-goers of the statewide order in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19. Read the full story on ABC11 WTVD. Loyola University confirms first case of coronavirus among students Administrators learned of the diagnosis Saturday morning after the student told a professor about it online, officials said in an email to students, faculty and staff. Read the full story on NBC 5 Chicago. City to provide child care to first responders, health care workers The city has launched a new initiative to help its workers find reliable child care. Read the full story on ABC 7 Chicago. Burglars smash through glass door of Lincoln Park liquor store, escape with merchandise, cash A group of people in dark clothing broke into a store early Sunday in the 2300 block of North Clark Street. Read the full story on Chicago Tribune. This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. The Department of Agriculture and its agencies are implementing business continuity plans to provide the essential services necessary so that food producers and processors can continue to operate effectively and keep supply lines open. The Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine, Michael Creed held meetings with key stakeholders and Agencies across the agri-food, fisheries and forestry sectors last week as part of the implementation of the Governments Action Plan on Covid-19. The meetings focussed specifically on maintenance of key supply chains across all sectors. Minister Michael Creed stated, Faced with this global public health crisis, it has become clear how important our food production system is to our everyday lives and our wellbeing. Food production and the proper functioning of the food supply chain is essential through this difficult period. The work that our farmers, our fishers and those who work in processing, retail and distribution continue to do is particularly important at this critical time. Of course, the work they do is made possible by staff in my Department and its agencies, who dedicate themselves to ensuring our food is safe and of the highest quality. Minister Creed, chaired a special meeting of the Food Wise High Level Implementation Committee (HLIC) on Wednesday 18 March, to discuss the implications of the Covid-19 pandemic for the agri-food sector. He also held tele-conferences on Wednesday with the heads of agri-lending in the main banks regarding the liquidity and financing needs of farmers and agri-food businesses, and will liaise with his colleague Minister Donohoe in this regard. I have stressed the need for the banks to support and work with their customers through the challenging period ahead. It is equally important that farmers and food businesses should engage with their bank in order to flag any emerging cashflow problems. Farming Minister Creed and Department officials continue to engage with the leaders of the farming organisations and other stakeholders, to ensure that essential services such as payment processing, TB testing, animal welfare inspections, animal identification and passport issuing, BVD testing, controls at livestock marts and animal export certification can continue to enable the business of farming to operate. Minister Creed has already asked Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski to ensure that the full range of market supports available under the Common Market Organisation Regulation are available for deployment in response to any emerging market disturbance. The Minister will participate in next weeks Agriculture Council, which will be held by video-conference, chaired by the Croatian Presidency of the EU, to discuss Covid-19 impacts and responses for the agri-food sector. Meat and dairy industry On Thursday, Minister Creed chaired teleconferences with dairy and meat industry CEOS and representative organisations to discuss contingency planning and priorities. Participants were briefed on the whole of Government response to Covid-19 and more specifically on the measures put in place by DAFM to try to ensure the continuity of vital services to the sector. Challenges faced by Industry in the short and longer terms were discussed and the existing strong co-operation both within the sectors and with DAFM was stressed. All parties committed to continuing to work together to protect the essential food supply chain. The Odisha government on Monday said migrant Odia workers who have returned from coronavirus-hit states may be at "potential risk" and district collectors have been asked to keep them in home isolation. Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) P K Jena in a twitter post on Monday tagged a message of the health and family welfare secretary Nikunj B Dhal to all the district collectors to this effect. "Many migrant workers have come from coronavirus-affected states such as Kerala, Maharastra over last 2/3 days in very cramped trains. They are potential risks. Need to keep them in home isolation," Dhal was quoted in the message posted by Jena. At the same time, the community must not boycott them socially, the message said. The workers who have returned to the state are isolating themselves to keep others safe, so they need support of the community, Dhal said. While 3,474 persons have returned to the state from abroad, the state government has no record of the number of Odia workers employed in other states of the country. "Stopping of train service and inter-state buses will, however, help reduce the number of people coming to the state," a senior official said. The state government has asked Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) to keep track of the migrant workers who have returned to their villages, and advise them on the necessity of maintaining social distancing and quarantine rules. Ruling BJD Shramik Samukhya general secretary and recently elected Rajya Sabha MP Subhas Singh said that those who have returned to Odisha from other coronavirus-hit states, have been told to report immediately at the nearest health centre, if they develop symptoms of cough, cold or fever. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Lambert Strether of Corrente. Politics But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? James Madison, Federalist 51 They had one weapon left and both knew it: treachery. Frank Herbert, Dune They had learned nothing, and forgotten nothing. Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord Key dates coming fast now, so I added some counters: Some of the next primaries. (I picked the major dates; here is a complete calendar.) * * * 2020 Realignment and Legitimacy Coronavirus Spurs Vote-By-Mail Push, But Barriers Remain [Time]. But there are no magic fixes in a country where the rules governing elections make up a confusing patchwork from state to state. Expanding universal vote-by-mail options for Novembers election will require either the passage of federal legislation or a series of changes to state laws, especially in the states that now require an excuse for absentee ballots. Money and momentum matters, though states would still quickly have to make a series of decisions governing how such ballots would make their way into voters hands and be returned, handled and counted securely; the deadline to return ballots to be counted; as well as how to verify them and give voters the chance to address problems questions different states answer in different ways. What I am not seeing is a prohibition on either privatized or party counting. Stats Watch At reader request, I added some business stats back in. Please give Econintersect click-throughs; theyre a good, old-school blog that covers more than stats. If anybody knows of other aggregators, please contact me at the email address below. Employment Situation: U.S. Jobless Rate May Soar to 30%, Feds Bullard Says [Bloomberg]. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard predicted the U.S. unemployment rate may hit 30% in the second quarter because of shutdowns to combat the coronavirus, with an unprecedented 50% drop in gross domestic product. This is a planned, organized partial shutdown of the U.S. economy in the second quarter, Bullard said. The overall goal is to keep everyone, households and businesses, whole with government support. It is a huge shock and we are trying to cope with it and keep it under control.' If Bullard things a one-time $3000 bridge payment is going to make American households whole, hes out of his mind. * * * Manufacturing: Chinas Factories Work 24/7 to Build Ventilators for Milan, New York [Bloomberg]. For companies like Beijing Aeonmed, though, its roaring business as orders pour in from dozens of countries, many of which are chartering planes or using military aircraft to pick up the machines. Aeonmed isnt the only Chinese company racing against the clock to build ventilators. All the ventilator factories in China have reached their maximum capacity, occupied fully by foreign demand, said Wu Chuanpu, director of supply chain at Vedeng.com, one of the main platforms in China connecting medical equipment suppliers and buyers. The factories have orders to keep them at full capacity until May, according to Wu. Vedeng is still getting more than 60 to 70 new orders every day, each asking for hundreds or thousands of such machines, he said. Many are from governments. The Fed: Fed, saying aggressive action is needed, starts unlimited QE [MarketWatch]. Saying aggressive action was needed to soften the blow to the economy from the coronavirus pandemic, the Federal Reserve on Monday announced it would purchase an unlimited amount of Treasurys and securities tied to home and business mortgages to ward off a credit crunch. The Fed said it would buy assets in the amounts needed to support smooth market functioning and effective transmission of monetary policy. The Fed had previous set a $700 billion limit for asset purchases. In addition, the Fed announced several new lending programs worth $300 billion to support all corners of the financial markets. Economists said the Fed action was big. The only parallel that comes to mind is with [former ECB chief Mario] Draghis whatever it takes moment, except that these are not just words, said Robert Perli, a former Fed staffer and now an analyst with Cornerstone Macro. Swell. Now about that one-time bridge payment of $3000, sick leave for everbody, and free treatment. * * * The Bezzle: AirBnB bubble bursts: In the last two weeks, the east bay has seen a huge (50+%) increase in new rental listings And yet during this shelter-in-place order, how many of our neighbors are still without shelter? https://t.co/yViTUeQ3yX pic.twitter.com/EFk2PayAB4 East Bay DSA (@DSAEastBay) March 22, 2020 Todays Fear & Greed Index: 9 Extreme Fear (previous close: 8 Extreme Fear) [CNN]. One week ago: 3 (Extreme Fear). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Mar 18 at 12:56pm. Havent ever seen the needle pinned at zero. Last updated Mar 23 at 12:23pm. Still moving up, albeit slowly. Rapture Index: Closes up two on Unemployment. The Great Job Crash of 2020 will leave million jobless [Rapture Ready]. Record High, October 10, 2016: 189. Current: 182. Remember that bringing on the rapture is a good thing. It certainly is odd to see the Fear and Greed index in Freefall, and an index that measures the likelihood of the Apocalypse is stable in the midst of what, in Biblical terms, should surely be a plague. +2 is a big jump, for the Rapture Index. The Biosphere Everyone, everywhere: the global challenge of climate change [Nature]. Climate change demands action: humanity must shift from persistent destruction to intentional regeneration. So, how best to make that happen? Two new books give very different answers. In one, the solution lies exclusively with nation states and their protection of security and self-interest. The other expects a global-scale spirit of shared endeavour to harness the collective power of governments, corporations and individuals. National monuments and economic growth in the American West [Science]. Our results using a rich longitudinal micro-dataset and quasi-experimental econometric methods suggest that national monuments provided a boost to local economies in some ways and in other ways had no effect at all. We estimated an increase in the average number of business establishments and jobs in areas around the monuments, an increase in the establishment growth rate and no effect, positive or negative, on the number of jobs in businesses in operation at the time of designation, average wage incomes, or the net job growth rate. We also found no effect on the natural resource industries that rely on public lands and that detractors claim are hurt by monumentsnamely, mining, forestry, and livestock grazing. Several service industries and the construction industry exhibit positive effects from monument designations. An important previous study of monument designations found no change in per capita income at the county level after designations (23). Our findings for average wage income at the ZCTA level are consistent with these results. Health Care I mentioned the stress ok, privilege alert of monitoring my body constantly, each cough, each twinge, to alert reader dk, who responded with the following useful advice: You dont have to check your body constantly. Just before bed, in the morning sometime, and during the day or after a physical task (like an errand) is completed. Relax in a standing position and take a couple of deep breaths with an erect but relaxed posture (loose belly). Pay attention to the breaths. It takes a few seconds, if something is unusual youll notice right away. Its called listening to the body and one notices aches and pains which are normal for an aging person. Those are to be expected, and we shouldnt let our brains overthink them. This is the much inflated and hucksterized idea of holism. Its simple, not mystical or spiritual: were the product of millions of years of evolution, a little faith in our own biologys fairly robust processes is warranted. The brain isnt in charge, but it can help monitor the situation. The most common intellectual mistake is to power through, I always think of Jim Henson of Muppet fame, who keeled over from a six week walking pneumonia. The opposite is hypochondria, which can lead us to overuse medications and needlessly harass doctors+nurses. But using simple home remedies early is a way to address nervousness and test a theory of illness onset. Somewhere in the middle is hmm Ive had a scratchy throat for 4 hours, Ill gargle with warm salt water (or similar) until it feels better. If that doesnt work, analyze surrounding circumstances and consider a more aggressive remedy (chicken soup? epsom salt bath?) or (and eventually) medical assistance. Useful, I think (though personally I gargle honey). Readers? * * * Chloroquine for COVID-19: Cutting Through the Hype [The Scientist]. While some of the hype has been fuelled by a document generated outside the scientific literature, chloroquines potential in treating COVID-19 is gaining traction in the medical community. The drug has a long track record in medicine, having been used since the 1940s as an antimalarial. The modern drug is made from the bark of the Cinchona plant, which was taken as an herbal remedy by indigenous Peruvians four centuries ago to treat fever. And there are some early indications it could work against SARS-CoV-2 infections. Small-scale experiments in which chloroquine has been given to COVID-19 patients in China and Australia have also shown encouraging results as far as shortening the course of the disease. Larger clinical trials will be necessary to determine how effective the drug is. Larger clinical trials will be necessary to determine how effective the drug is. This is a level-header survey, well worth a read. Understandably, some dont want to wait. (It would be helpful if Trump stopped flapping his big mouth on treatment; and it would also help if the Maddows of this world didnt feed The Worlds Greatest Troll. The noise, er, both sides generate makes it all that harder to sort what can really help, which a lot of us need to do in real time. Can a century-old TB vaccine steel the immune system against the new coronavirus? [Science]. Researchers in four countries will soon start a clinical trial of an unorthodox approach to the new coronavirus. They will test whether a century-old vaccine against tuberculosis (TB), a bacterial disease, can rev up the human immune system in a broad way, allowing it to better fight the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 and, perhaps, prevent infection with it altogether. The studies will be done in physicians and nurses, who are at higher risk of becoming infected with the respiratory disease than the general population, and in the elderly, who are at higher risk of serious illness if they become infected.. Vaccines generally raise immune responses specific to a targeted pathogen, such as antibodies that bind and neutralize one type of virus but not others. But [bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG)] may also increase the ability of the immune system to fight off pathogens other than the TB bacterium, according to clinical and observational studies published over several decades by Danish researchers Peter Aaby and Christine Stabell Benn, who live and work in Guinea-Bissau. Prolonged presence of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in faecal samples [The Lancet]. Our data suggest the possibility of extended duration of viral shedding in faeces, for nearly 5 weeks after the patients respiratory samples tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Although knowledge about the viability of SARS-CoV-2 is limited,1 the virus could remain viable in the environment for days, which could lead to faecaloral transmission, as seen with severe acute respiratory virus CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome CoV.2 Therefore, routine stool sample testing with real-time RT-PCR is highly recommended after the clearance of viral RNA in a patients respiratory samples. Strict precautions to prevent transmission should be taken for patients who are in hospital or self-quarantined if their faecal samples test positive. Dating and Coronavirus: Can You Still Kiss, Have Sex, and Go on Dates During Social Distancing? [Teen Vogue]. Even if youre a teen or young adult, you should stop to consider your other contactsnot just the person youre in a relationship with, but your family, your grandmother or grandfather, says Michael Chang, MD, an infectious disease specialist at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. The effects go beyond just the two of you at this point.' Area megachurch holds Sunday services despite coronavirus concerns [Journal-News]. While other congregations across Ohio are encouraging their worshipers to stay home and worship online to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Solid Rock Church held in-person services Sunday morning and evening in Warren County. We are open! the church posted this morning via Facebook, publicizing its 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. services. Thankful the governor hasnt placed restrictions on churches. Join us today! If you cant make it or arent feeling well [(!!!!)], watch us online at www.solidrockchurch.org. The church is known nationwide for its iconic Lux Mundi statue of Jesus, and its predecessor, which was struck by lightning in June 2010.Supporters of Solid Rock commented on Facebook that Bishop was fearless and asked that God bless him with boldness.' Solid rock NTNU in Norway Warns about Coronavirus, the United States Healthcare and Infrastructure [Truth or Fiction]. Yes, they said it: On March 14 2020, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) advised students abroad to return home in the face of a global COVID-19 pandemic. The warning was for countries with poorly developed collective infrastructure, for example the USA, where it can be difficult to get transport to the airport if you dont have a car and the same applies if you dont have health insurance.' A mess in America: Why Asia now looks safer than the U.S. in the coronavirus crisis [Los Angeles Times]. In Asian countries that initially faced the gravest risk from the coronavirus, the shambolic U.S. response to the pandemic has elicited confusion, horror and even a measure of pity. Suddenly, it seems, the U.S. is the basket case, an aloof, inward-looking power that had already weakened its alliances, failed to lead on global emergencies such as climate change and shrunk in a crisis. Democrats abroad seem to agree: .@BernieSanders wins Democrats Abroad primary (180 countries) in highest turnout in history. "Our voters believe in affordable healthcare & education, & a government that looks after its people, both those citizens at home and abroad," https://t.co/3Eg1Hwen2M Jane O'Meara Sanders (@janeosanders) March 23, 2020 Im going to keep pushing. Anthony Fauci tries to make the White House listen to facts of the pandemic [Science]. Well worth reading in full. Pertinently: Q: Big picture: Weve had all this pandemic preparedness. Why did this fail? What went wrong? A: I think well have to wait until it is over and we look back before we can answer that. Its almost like the fog of war . After the war is over, you then look back and say, Wow, this plan, as great as it was, didnt quite work once they started throwing hand grenades at us. It really is similar to that. Obviously, testing [for the new coronavirus] is one clear issue that needs to be relooked at. Why were we not able to mobilize on a broader scale? But I dont think we can do that right now. I think its premature. We really need to look forward. As Mike Tyson (apocryphally) said: Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth, a less subtle version of No plan survives contact with the enemy. Your No-Panic Guide: What We Do (And Dont) Know About The U.S. Medical Stockpile [LAist]. About $8 billion worth of vaccines, pharmaceuticals, protective gear, ventilators and other kinds of medical equipment are housed in warehouses that are strategically located around the United States. From the outside, these warehouses look ordinary. Inside, however, armed guards stand watch over a vast collection of materials. Giant freezers keep certain products cold. Locked, caged-off sections of the warehouses store controlled substances like painkillers. Rows of ventilators, which can support people who are having trouble breathing, are kept charged-up and ready to roll at a moments notice. When the stockpile started, back in 1999, the goal was to get prepared for unusual, unprecedented national threats, says OToole, who chaired an advisory committee on the stockpile for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine The stockpile can fill gaps in supply chains or respond to sudden surges in demand caused by emergencies, says OToole, but it is not big enough, and it can never be big enough to replace the supply chains. Its a bridge, she says. Its not a replacement for the private sector. That means there could still be shortages of critical items, as it will take time for manufacturers to ramp up production. We love our insurance: One of 30 million uninsured Americans gets $35,000 medical bill for coronavirus treatmenthttps://t.co/Uvm9lk6Qk2 Jeffrey Stein (@JStein_WaPo) March 20, 2020 Feral Hog Watch The next dominant species? Diagonal con Balmes pic.twitter.com/xaD7IWmfnV Ana Raventos (@a2z75) March 19, 2020 Class Warfare The weak suffer as they must. Important thread: The initial spread outside of geographical epicenter has been via global travelers & in global conferences & such It has yet to fully & really hit (outside of China & neighbors), poorer less connected countries & the poorer residents in wealthier countries. That sadly can't last Chris Arnade (@Chris_arnade) March 21, 2020 Quite right: We have to seriously restrict the movement of rich people because they dont make good choices. https://t.co/uBrrOeby7H Tressie McMillan Cottom (@tressiemcphd) March 22, 2020 As the Hamptons will find out in two weeks, and Blaine County in Idaho, home of Sun Valley, already knows. News of the Wired Le Show For The Week Of March 22, 2020 (podcast) [Harry Shearer, Le Show]. Harry is back stateside and stuck inside like the rest of us for this weeks Le Show. The show where self-isolation is not a mandate, its a lifestyle. Sheltering in place: My 8 year old daughter just yelled Oh no the toilet is smoking!! My wife and I ran to the bathroom to find this. Its just day 4 of home school. pic.twitter.com/tG92vJPOtR Matthew Berry (@MatthewBerryTMR) March 19, 2020 * * * Readers, feel free to contact me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, with (a) links, and even better (b) sources I should curate regularly, (c) how to send me a check if you are allergic to PayPal, and (d) to find out how to send me images of plants. Vegetables are fine! Fungi and coral are deemed to be honorary plants! If you want your handle to appear as a credit, please place it at the start of your mail in parentheses: (thus). Otherwise, I will anonymize by using your initials. See the previous Water Cooler (with plant) here. Todays plant (RB): RB writes: Spring is here in Puget Sound. Flowering cherries, apple trees, and my pear tree are starting to bud. A snap frost last week made me fear for the trees. Which reminded me a couple of winters ago we had a snap frost that interrupted the melt-off of a late winter snow. The result was this. I took pictures drivers seat looking out of my car to the left in my driveway. Through the window: that is a Monterey pine that gives me occasional grief with branches breaking from the weight of snow. * * * Readers: Water Cooler is a standalone entity not covered by the annual NC fundraiser. So if you see a link you especially like, or an item you wouldnt see anywhere else, please do not hesitate to express your appreciation in tangible form. Remember, a tip jar is for tipping! Regular positive feedback both makes me feel good and lets me know Im on the right track with coverage. When I get no donations for five or ten days I get worried. More tangibly, a constant trickle of donations helps me with expenses, and I factor in that trickle when setting fundraising goals: Here is the screen that will appear, which I have helpfully annotated. If you hate PayPal, you can email me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, and I will give you directions on how to send a check. Thank you! Back when Angela Panzica and Bill Read began dating, theyd often watch classic films together. Turns out they were both old souls. One of these films was 1951's "A Streetcar Named Desire," based on the famed Tennessee Williams play of the same name. Panzica particularly enjoyed the scene where actor Marlon Brandos character, the salesman Stanley Kowalski, comes home shouting the name of his wife, Stella, played by Kim Hunter, a role that won Hunter a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award. Pretty much ever since Panzica and Read first met, four years ago at a local St. Petersburg, Fla. martini spot called Back Bar, they've talked about opening their own place. Two years ago, Read, chief financial officer with a consulting business, received a job opportunity in Huntsville. "We saw the potential for growth in the city and decided to put roots in the area," says Panzica, a graphic designer with a marking/branding background. After moving from Florida, they saw the need for "an enchanting, more upscale lounge" here, she says. Then in November 2019, they saw a second floor space at 127 Holmes Ave. N.W. was for a rent. The space included two outdoor patios. "It sparked our creativity. Panzica says, "and we spent the rest of the afternoon walking through downtown developing business concepts for a bar." Soon, Panzica and Read will realize their dream of opening their own bar, with Stellas Elixir Lounge, named for that Streetcar Named Desire character, located there in the same Holmes Avenue building as standout Mexican eatery La Esquina Cocina. "When we were conceptualizing names for the lounge, Panzica says, we wanted something that was sexy and had a feel of sophistication. There was an added hook. We felt Stella, meaning star in Latin, she says, was the perfect name for a bar in the Rocket City. Angela Panzica, owner/general manager of Stella's Elixir Lounge, a new venture planned for downtown Huntsville. (Courtesy image) Previously, the couple thought theyd do a martini bar similar to where theyd met. But after walking the Holmes Avenue space, they felt compelled to go for more of a vintage Hollywood vibe, mixed with contemporary flair. Stellas will have capacity for roughly 80 guests on its front and back patios combined, and another 60 or so inside, where the decor will be mid-century modern, with natural materials, moody spaces broken up with light and bright vibrant areas with lots of texture and color, Panzica says. The front rooftop patio will be outfitted with cozy couches and fire pits. There will also be five semi-private cabanas out there. On the back patio, there will be cafe-style table seating with TVs and a bar with three roll-up windows opening into the lounge. "The future plan for this space is to build an awning," Panzica says, "so it becomes an all-seasons area" with views. Guests will access Stella's from a street-level entrance and then by going up stairs to the lounge's second floor entrance. There will be exterior signage below their rooftop. Once the back patio awning's in the place, there are plans to install another sign there, visible from Clinton Avenue. Panzica is working with Chapman Sisson Architects on the Stellas' project, including lead architect Alison Corey and designer Laura Schwarze. Read says the health department has approved Stella's plans and they expect their building permit to be approved soon. They plan to start construction immediately and for Stella's to open mid-summer. Earlier, the most challenging thing about getting the venture going was navigating a swamp of regulations, particularly since alcohol sales are involved. But the plot thickened about 10 days ago, as coronavirus concerns heightened dramatically, as did public and private responses, particularly involving bars and restaurants. "So far, we have been fortunate in that COVID-19 has had little negative impact on our progress," Read says, referring to the disease coronavirus causes. "Hopefully, our contractors will be able to continue moving forward while protecting against the spread of the virus. With any luck, Stellas will be opening right in time for everyone to shake off the cabin fever blahs." He adds, "Our hearts are with our fellow neighbors in the service industry that have been especially hit hard by the impacts of social distancing. I think our industry is resilient and well come out of the other side stronger, but it is going to be painful getting there. A lot of our friends who are bartenders and servers live on tips. They are really hurting right now." Libation wise, Stella's will focus on classic cocktails, such as martinis, bee's knees, Manhattan, old fashioned, whiskey sour and Tom Collins. Some of Read and Panzica's personal go-to's include a dirty gin martini, Moscow mule, single-malt scotch, high-end tequila and bourbon. The Stella's space is too small for a kitchen, but they'll allow for delivery from nearby restaurants, including La Cocina, Moes Original BBQ and Purveyor. Stella's hopes to employ a staff of around 10. They plan open 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily, in order to serve everyone from unwinding downtown office workers to service industry stopping by after late shifts. There will be some volume-correct live-music - think solo acoustic acts, etc. What is it about rooftop bars that makes them a special hang? Panzica says its humans (and particularly Alabamians') innate connection to the outdoors. When you can integrate an outdoor space with memorable times, special friends and a great drink, it elevates the whole experience. No pun intended. More info online at stellashsv.com, phone 256-384-4313, social media facebook.com/stellashsv and instagram.com/stellashsv. MORE ON LOCAL CULTURE Huntsville breweries and coronavirus Coronavirus impacts Alabama musicians, concert pros A standout new Alabama album Self-serve beer now pouring in downtown Huntsville Downtown Huntsvilles most colorful joint yet, now open Robert Shiller, Nobel Prize-winning economist at Yale, thinks about the long-term effects of the coronavirus crisis, but not in the way you might imagine. Sure, hes concerned about sudden unemployment and the stock market crash. Hes written extensively about the Great Depression and, at 73, is now moving this semesters course on financial markets online. And absolutely, hes fretful about the pandemics human tally, especially if it means mass deaths on the scale of a war. But for Shiller, the legacy of this crisis is not about numbers. Its about narratives, the stories that will reverberate for generations, and how theyll shape our behavior; how they will shape public life, politics and prosperity. Its not all bad. Could our intense moment of shared sacrifice bring a trend toward more income equality? Does the effort in Congress to give every American adult $1,200 open the way for a guaranteed, universal basic income like presidential candidate Andrew Yang pushed? Maybe all this working from home will lead to a move away from cities, or some other change in attitude about life and work and prosperity. Certainly were growing closer to the people in our households, and that has meaning not just in the moment. Its too early for answers or detailed predictions. Sweeping scenarios race through Shillers mind, all through the lens of storytelling. Thats the subject of his last book, Narrative Economics: How Stories go Viral and Drive Major Economic Events, in which Shiller declares that economists spend way too little time studying the role of collective stories. Narratives go viral just like germs do, Shiller said from his home in New Haven, by telephone, not in-person. The epidemic is growing initially almost exponentially and thats a driver for another exponential growth of stories. For example: Im just thinking out loud that in a time of crisis it doesnt seem as important to show off and have a big expensive house, Shiller said. Does that mean well have a generation of less conspicuous consumption, in much the same way that the Great Depression led to a generation of worried money-savers? Were part-way there, with millennials favoring experience over stuff, generally. Thats the big question, Shiller said. It might last for a generation. Its a question of how vividly this lives in our memories. And that, of course, depends on the rate of deaths and the depths of the likely recession well feel after we emerge from sheltering in place. This might be the biggest downturn in GDP since the great depression, he said, referring to gross domestic product, the total value of all goods and services produced in the nation. The crash that we just saw one recent day was just as big as the 1929 crash, he added, at least the first day of it. But theres a big difference: There is this other story that demands attention. Its not so much focused on one days stock price movements. Back then, for workers thrown out of work with a collapse of the economy, They were despairing, whereas in this case theyre happy to be home because they dont want to catch it. Happy to stay healthy, that is. Not happy to see all theyve worked for disappear. As for the current market collapse, Its the fading away of irrational exuberance, Shiller said, referring to the title of his most famous book about behavior that drives markets upward. Stories of shared sacrifice, especially at a time of war and this in many ways acts like a war bring people together and thats a plus, in Shillers telling of it. Ive been home for about a week now. Its been nice, I feel closer to my wife, he said late last week. As long as we dont get sick. The community spirit quickly extends outward. I felt such warmth toward the man who delivered our groceries the other night, he said, describing the couriers mask and gloves. I felt like he was a hero, just like in wartime. And aside from the obvious death toll comparison, wars to an economist who studies behavior through time mean a sense of community that leads to less wealth inequality. War, he said, is also a time when inequality seems more painful. Shiller cites the research of two scholars, one of then a Yale professor, Kenneth Scheve, showing that the rise of inheritance taxes through American history, enough to help equalize wealth, has been linked to mobilization for war. It might change the politics of that, and even the policies eventually, Shiller surmised. It could take years...I dont have a clear prediction. No prediction, but plenty of evidence. Were hearing President Donald Trump respond to the crisis with calls for not only bailing out industries such as airlines and cruise lines, but families. Election year posturing? Maybe, but the crisis does demand immediate relief for workers. On Saturday, Trump said hed like to see a ban on stock buybacks, the major way publicly traded companies have handed shareholders the cash windfalls theyre harvested from tax breaks. It sounds like a good thing, Shiller said of a buyback ban, one of the rare examples when I agree with Trump. Shiller and I spoke about Narrative Economics, the book and the concept, on stage at the Mark Twain House last fall, in a program sponsored by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut. It was much more abstract back then, about how Trump uses narratives to get his way, for example, and about how stories of excess in the 1920s led to the Great Depression. Suddenly now, its specific. Shiller devoted a section of the book to the groundbreaking, 1927 research on how epidemics spread the same research that underlies the famous flattening of the curve for COVID-19 now dominating our lives. Shiller used the formulas to describe the viral spreading of stories. And so, in 2020, we have a viral narrative epidemic about a viral disease epidemic. All this talk about community values and coming together and family cohesiveness will shape the economy and culture positively. But Shiller is clear that the coronavirus crisis is a negative, overall. I ask him to balance the likely positives and negatives over time, on a scale of 1 to 10, assuming a mid-range prediction of, say, 200,000 deaths. You ask me to value human life, he says, declining. That cost is high and I dont mean to say that theres anything good about an epidemic except to say that well come closer together for it. Will he write a book about the coronavirus-inspired narratives? Maybe, if I survive. dhaar@hearstmediact.com Hayley Moore, 30, arrived back at Heathrow Airport today and was furious at the apparent lack of social distancing measures Packed like sardines as they wait to clear immigration and collect their luggage, there was disturbingly little evidence of social distancing to help fight coronavirus as passengers arrived at London's Heathrow Airport today. Hundreds of travellers disembarking from flights all over the world were forced to stand shoulder to shoulder as they endured hellish waits of more than an hour with some bitterly complaining to airport officials about people breathing, sneezing and even coughing in close proximity to them. The government has urged all Brits to practice social distancing and keep a minimum two metres away from each other as a way of minimising the spread of coronavirus. The scenes at border control today came amid a raging row over whether the government should ban arrivals from coronavirus hotspots. Passengers from countries such as Italy, China, Iran and Spain - which have been particularly badly hit by the disease - continue to arrive at Heathrow and Gatwick airports. Former Cabinet minister Theresa Villiers has called on the government to 'suspend routine air travel from Iran' amid similar calls for the same action to be taken for other countries. But a government spokesman said there was 'no evidence' that closing borders or implementing a ban on travel 'would have any effect on the spread of infection'. The worrying images at Heathrow today were taken by Hayley Moore, 30, who had just arrived from Dubai having started her journey in Thailand, where she had been on holiday with her partner James Morrisey. She told MailOnline: 'It's unbelievable that we were all made to stand so close to each other. I pointed this out to airport staff and told them that we should all be two metres apart, but they just shrugged their shoulders. They weren't bothered at all, it's criminal that we were made to go through this. 'People are arriving from all over the world and it wouldn't surprise me if some were carrying the virus and others became infected as they waited at Heathrow. I'm just praying that it isn't going to be me.' Pictures taken by Ms Moore show that passengers arriving at Healthrow today were not standing at least two metres away from each other as the government has recommended The UK has warned against all but essential international travel during the coronavirus outbreak Ms Moore revealed that she became so worried about becoming infected as she waited amongst a large group of fellow passengers that she donned a face mask she had bought in Thailand. 'There were literally hundreds of us packed together. From what I could see I was the only one who had taken any precautions,' she fumed. Passengers also expressed concern that as they got off their flights, no checks were being carried out on anybody suspected of being infected with coronavirus and that no information was given to them on any precautions they should take. Mr Morrisey, 30, who works for the NHS, said: 'There are tough checks being carried out at airports all over the world but not at Heathrow and that's dangerous and ridiculous. We started our journey in Thailand and our temperature was checked before we could get on the plane. 'Anybody could be coming into Britain with coronavirus and we have no way of knowing. The government keeps telling us that we are in the middle of a major crisis, but they don't seem to understand that one way of battling the virus is to prevent potential carriers from coming here. That's just common sense.' It took the couple from West London almost 50 hours to get home as they struggled to get a direct flight back to London after cutting short their two-week Thailand break, fearing that Heathrow might close to help stem coronavirus. Ms Moore revealed that prior to leaving Thailand she had bought dozens of hand sanitisers and face masks for herself and family members. She moaned: 'I'm being as careful as I can but then I get back to Heathrow and I'm put in a very dangerous situation, exposed to coronavirus. The authorities in Britain are a joke. They really need to get their act together otherwise things are going to get even worse.' A Heathrow spokesperson said: 'The welfare of our passengers and colleagues is our top priority. 'In line with Public Health England's advice, we have enhanced thorough cleaning processes, increased the availability and provision of hand sanitisers, and continue to urge anyone working or travelling through the airport to follow the Government guidance on social distancing and good hand hygiene at all times.' The coronavirus outbreak may mean that business is down at Pats Pizza and Bistro in West Bethlehem, but owner Yianni Kyziridis is using the downturn to find ways to do good in his community. Last week, he donated 200 meals to two schools in the Bethlehem Area School District -- Marvine Elementary School and Nitschmann Middle School. Now hes working on creating a pop-up pantry in the parking lot of his restaurant Wednesday. Kyziridis is using the eaterys Facebook page to urge others to pay it forward during the coronavirus outbreak. Its bad times so it comes with a heavy heart that we have to do all that, but we have to stand together and take care of each other as much as we can, Kyziridis said in a video posted to the page. We thought that those baskets over here might bring a little bit of joy to a family that is going through tough times right now. The restaurant is accepting donations to help create 60 meal baskets, which will start being handed out at noon Wednesday to anyone in need until supplies run out. Pats has also surprised healthcare workers at both St. Lukes University and Lehigh Valley health networks with lunch during the outbreak. Reached Sunday afternoon, Kyziridis said he is not accepting food donations over sanitary concerns, but anyone can make a monetary donation by calling the restaurant, emailing or contacting the eatery on Facebook. He saw a flurry of donations after announcing the pop-up food pantry on social media. I am all about community, Kyziridis said. I am very sensitive when it comes to people in need. That is what drove me basically. He admits he is somewhat of an unusual businessman because he doesnt care too much about money. I want to have a healthy business. I want to be able to provide a good working environment for my employees, he said. Thats why I have not let anyone go. The stores keeping shorter hours and running a tighter schedule; measures that have allowed Pats Pizza to stay open and give back, he said. Theres no criteria (to receive a basket). I am just asking everyone to put the word out, if they know someone who has fallen on hard times or been laid off or elders in the neighborhood who are avoiding the grocery store, Kyziridis said. We have products that are rare finds in the super markets. Theres absolutely no pasta on the shelves. Pay It Forward at Pat's Take a look at this basket! During this difficult time we should all come together and help... Posted by Pats Pizza & Bistro - Bethlehem on Saturday, 21 March 2020 Kyziridis paused his interview with lehighvalleylive.com to answer a call on the restaurants mainline. It was an elderly couple who had been relying on grocery delivery, but now faced a major delay. He promised to set aside a basket for them Wednesday and resumed the interview describing how the basket contents will vary. But theres one constant: There will be homemade bread in every basket, Kyziridis said. Our bread is amazing. Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email her. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Over 35 districts in Madhya Pradesh have so far declared lockdown in view of the growing threat of coronavirus in the state. Six people in the state have tested positive for the coronavirus so far - one from Bhopal and five from Jabalpur. The lockdown period in districts varies from 72 hours to April 3, official sources said. State capital Bhopal, Tikamgarh, Dindori, Raisen, Rajgarh, Chhatarpur, Datia, Morena, Hoshangabad, Umaria and Anooppur will remain under lockdown till March 31, while Narsinghpur will remain so till April 3. Besides, Sehore, Shajapur, Agar Malwa, Rewa, Shivpuri, Katni, Gwalior and Bhind will be locked down till March 24, Shahdol, Alirajpur till March 23, Dewas, Neemuch, Singrauli, Guna, Ratlam, Mandla, Mandsaur, Balaghat, Seoni, Ujjain, Sheopur, Jhabua, Vidisha till March 25, Jabalpur till March 26. Betul and Chhindwara will be under lockdown till further orders, the sources said. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC have also been imposed in all these districts, they said. Meanwhile, the state's acting health minister Tarun Bhanot told PTI that the condition of six persons suffering from COVID-19 is stable. The five coronavirus patients from Jabalpur came directly or indirectly in contact with over 4,000 people and of them, those identified have been advised to remain in isolation as per the protocol, Bhanot said, adding that public support is more important at this juncture. Bhopal collector Tarun Pithode also appealed to the media and people not to reveal the identity of the coronavirus- affected persons. So far, 75 samples from the state have been sent for coronavirus testing. Of these, six tested positive, 48 turned out negative and results of 21 are awaited, sources said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) UK considering tougher action to enforce 'social distancing' Iran Press TV Sunday, 22 March 2020 3:38 PM The British government continues to demonstrate indecisive leadership over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, as demonstrated by its inability to enforce a strict lockdown. The government's instructions to people to stay indoors and avoid public transport is merely advisory, but there are signs that may be about to change. Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary, Robert Jenrick, told Sky News the government is contemplating "tougher action" to bring people to heel. The call for tougher action is an implicit admission that the government's soft approach on the issue has failed to deter people from mixing in public spaces, particularly by using public transport. Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, ordered all cafes, pubs, bars, restaurants and gyms closed on March 20 "for the foreseeable" as part of a broader effort of switching from a policy of "mitigation" to one of virus "suppression". Speaking to Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday show, Jenrick claimed the government still prefers to avoid following European states, such as Italy, Spain and France, which are enforcing military-style lockdowns. "We want to live in a free society where we can continue to go about activities while continuing to follow the medical advice", Jenrick said. But he was also cautious to add that "this isn't a game, this is very serious; people need to follow that [the government] advice". Jenrick ended the interview with a warning that if people continue to ignore official advice then the government will "have to consider other options". Jenrick's tough words and warnings unfold against a broader context of government indecision and half-hearted approach to adopting a tough virus suppression strategy. The PM continues to refuse to adopt tougher measures in London, for instance by shutting down the capital's underground system, let alone quarantining the metropolis, which is home to nearly nine million people. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address While Australia has been criticised for being slow to act as the coronavirus takes hold, Rebecca Gibney has shown just how seriously our neighbours in New Zealand are taking the pandemic. In a post on Instagram on Monday, the 55-year-old New Zealand-born actress revealed the police had paid her a surprise home visit to make sure she was self-isolating. Having been in Australia filming the Packed to the Rafters reboot, Back to the Rafters, Rebecca recently flew home and went straight into self-isolation after production was put on hold because of the pandemic. Door knocking: In a post on Instagram on Monday, Rebecca Gibney revealed the police had paid her a surprise home visit in New Zealand to make sure she was self-isolating Sharing a photo of the police officer who stopped by to check on her, Rebecca thanked him for keeping New Zealand's citizens 'safe'. 'This is Sam. Sam is from the Dunedin Police checking that I'm self-isolating,' she captioned a photo of the police officer maintaining a safe distance outside her home. 'Thanks to people like Sam and our health care professionals we are being kept safe. Good on you Sam.' Flying home: On Saturday, Rebecca Gibney shared a selfie from her Qantas flight back to New Zealand, revealing she had been just one of three passengers onboard the flight as travel restrictions take hold On the rise: The number of coronavirus cases in Australia jumped from 1,355 to 1,610 on Monday, while New Zealand has 102 confirmed cases On Saturday, Rebecca shared a selfie from her Qantas flight back to New Zealand, revealing she had been just one of three passengers onboard the flight as travel restrictions take hold. '3 passengers and 8 crew but god bless you @Qantas for getting us home to loved ones and for bringing back those Aussis [sic] stranded in NZ,' she captioned the photo. 'Oh and just a side note we were all up the front of the plane and the crew treated us like royalty. Acting up: Having been in Australia filming the Packed to the Rafters reboot, Back to the Rafters, Rebecca recently flew home and went straight into self-isolation. Pictured with co-star Michael Caton 'The pilots even came and chatted to us. You guys really are the Spirit of Australia.' She added the hashtags: '#thankyou #yourcrewsareworldclass #covid_19 #sucks #letskickthismothertothecurb #selfisolationcomingup #staysafeandwell #andbekind #seeyousoonAustralia'. The number of coronavirus cases in Australia jumped from 1,355 to 1,610 on Monday, while New Zealand has 102 confirmed cases. Turkey's health minister said Monday that the country is using a drug sent from China on patients suffering from the novel coronavirus. "From this morning we have brought a special drug used in China which is claimed to have resulted in improvements in intensive care patients, cutting their time in care from 11-12 days to four days," Fahrettin Koca told reporters. He did not give more information on the drug but the anti-malarial drug chloroquine has recently been used to treat coronavirus patients in China as well as France. Some researchers have said chloroquine shows great promise, though scientists have agreed that only more trials would determine if it really works and is safe. According to figures released late Sunday, Turkey has officially recorded 1,236 coronavirus cases and 30 deaths. Koca said 50,000 rapid detection kits had arrived from China on Monday and had begun to be used, with 300,000 expected by Thursday. The minister added that the Chinese government agreed with Turkey to share information on the novel coronavirus as the two countries step up cooperation to fight against the virus. While Koca did not detail where the positive cases were in Turkey, he said the virus had spread across the country. He did say there were fewer than 10 cases in Turkey's Van province, which borders badly-hit Iran. He also said some health workers had caught the coronavirus, without giving specific figures. A further 32,000 health workers would be employed during the crisis, he told a press conference in Ankara. Koca also said that face masks produced in Turkey "will not be exported" as the country was in need. There had been speculation Koca might announce a state of emergency, but he urged Turks to "announce their own state of emergency" as he insisted citizens adhere to measures already announced by Ankara. Turkish authorities have ordered those aged 65 and above and those with chronic illnesses to stay at home, while most public spaces have been temporarily shut. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) There's only been one thing on everyone's mind for the last week, throwing everyone together into an emotional soup of sorrow and dread: Princess Beatrice's wedding. She has been forced to cancel her wedding reception at Buckingham Palace for her May 29 nuptials, and it seems likely that her wedding will be limited to just five people (the celebrant, the couple, and two witnesses) in line with the Church of England's advice. In these uncertain times, we are all asking ourselves the same question: when will Princess Beatrice catch a break? When sister Eugenie married Jack Brooksbank in 2018, the world was a very different place: Harry and Meghan were choosing a couch for Frogmore, Prince Andrew was just another problematic but benign boomer, and proles could roam the street as they pleased waving Union Jacks and forming cheering crowds. But Covid-19 isn't the first inauspicious event to blight young Beatrice's journey to the altar. After first suffering the indignity of having her (so publicly) younger sister marry (so publicly) first, her eventual engagement announcement was marred by gossip about the circumstances under which their relationship developed - her fiance was previously married, and he has a toddler son. But we were all, naturally, thrilled: Beatrice, eldest daughter and emotional support to Fergie, had earned it. And then her father Prince Andrew became embroiled in the darkest celebrity story of the decade, and gave that seminal Newsnight interview. Gone was Beatrice's modest hope of her husband and family smiling and waving on the steps of the church on her wedding day. No one wants to be reminded again that Prince Andrew exists. Unfortunately for Princess Beatrice, her mere existence is a reminder. And she knows it. Poor old Beatrice. ******* Video of the Day Apart from weddings, millennials' biggest problem right now is content. We have much more time, to be sure, but we also have more content. Too much content. More content in a day than anyone could consume in a lifetime: blogs and videos and memes - God, so many memes - and an exponential growth in podcasts, quarantine-casts, corona-casts. Content is on an exponential curve and we are drowning in it. But the bad content won't get lost - as Gal Godot (more commonly known as Wonder Woman) found out to her significant detriment last week, when her naively well-intentioned home video went viral for all the wrong reasons. Gal, bare-faced and radiant, on day six of self-isolation, muses to the selfie-camera, ''these past few days got me thinking a bit philosophical''. She had seen a video of an Italian trumpeter playing John Lennon's Imagine on his balcony, to raise his neighbours' morale - these beacons of hope and solidarity against Italy's backdrop of grief, terror and loss of livelihoods were eminently shareable and struck a chord worldwide. Gal Godot thought the concept ''powerful'' but appeared to believe it could be improved by replacing said poignant Italians with cocooned and quarantined multi-millionaire celebrities. From Chris O'Dowd to Jamie Dornan to Natalie Portman to Will Ferrell and Sarah Silverman and Zoe Kravitz, a host of A-listers mortified themselves by sincerely singing a line of the song each, from their (literal or figurative) mansions: imagine no possessions, they implored us. Cara Delevingne, Ashley Benson, and Kaia Gerber's clip appeared to have gotten lost on the way to TikTok. Godot notes, brown eyes made of compassion, that ''it doesn't matter who you are, or where you're from: we're all in this together'', implicitly admitting that this celebrity call to arms is different: because they are at risk too. Not real risk, mind, with their private testing and access to healthcare, and money that means they won't starve or lose the roof over their head, but definitely, technically at risk. This realisation seemed to have been, to our host of Hollywood stars, profoundly moving. The video was the source of much hilarity for a bored and fractious internet. This is surely the beginning of more humiliating content from celebrities and non-celebrities alike, as all sense of social norms and grace goes out the window with isolation, and perspective becomes dangerously loose. Stay safe, millennials: you'll be tempted to put a lot of things on the internet in the coming weeks. I'm begging you, for my sake and yours: think twice. Focus instead on training your boomer parents on internet-literacy, and verifying sources, and not helping to spread untruthful medical advice and conspiracy theories over WhatsApp. We have our work cut out for us: these boomers are like herding cats. ******* But it turns out that in the time of corona, with Hollywood on hold, there are still myriad ways for celebrities to self-implode. Vanessa Hudgens of High School Musical fame took the opposite (and somehow less offensive) route to the disturbing compassion of Gal and her pals. "Umm, yeah, 'til July sounds like a bunch of bulls**t," she said in response to a potential timeline for being quarantined. "I'm sorry, but like, it's a virus, I get it, like, I respect it, but at the same time I'm like, even if everybody gets it, like yeah, people are going to die, which is terrible but like, inevitable?" Her hair looks amazing, her valley girl vocal fry makes the actual words that are coming out of her mouth even more surreal: she sounds like she should be saying, ''So a lot of you have asked me about my skincare routine,'' not ''Maybe we should just let people, like, die??'' Hudgens has the air of someone who's so beautiful that she's never had to think very deeply, or answer for herself. The backlash was huge and she has since apologised - but it was no harm for the whole thing to play out anyway. Hudgens is far from the only person to think that death is inevitable and lockdown boring - she was just the most famous. Australia's pubs, clubs, cafes, gyms and cinemas put up shutters on Monday as severe new restrictions to battle the coronavirus pandemic began. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced 'stage one' restrictions on Sunday night, ordering pubs and licensed premises close for six months. The restrictions also covered places of worship, casinos, nightclubs and registered clubs while restaurants and cafes can operate only for takeaways and deliveries. But before the lockdown came into play across the nation on Monday, gym junkies got in one final workout - and pub-goers took a farewell drink. Scroll down for video A group of eager gymgoers shows off their muscles during one last work out at Anytime Fitness in Burwood Fitness fanatics like Glen Armener (pictured) rushed into gyms for one final workout before the lockdown comes into play across the nation at midday on Monday Stacey Steiner, a personal trainer and fitness model, is among City Gym's longtime staff who is effectively now out of a job An elderly woman reads a sign outside a club in Frankston, south-east Melbourne, on Monday as such venues across the nation were shut Scott Morrison's decision to shut fitness centres in a bid to reduce the spread of coronavirus was anticipated to result in the loss of 20,000 jobs. The owner of one of Sydney's biggest gyms slammed the government's decision, arguing the facilities should be regarded as one of the 'essential' services that are exempt from closures. City Gym owner Billy Kokkinis told Daily Mail Australia they had put serious efforts in place in a bid to stay open. 'For us it's a bit of a disaster, we can't understand why we have to shut - we played by the rules and did everything possible,' he said. 'We spent extra money on cleaners, kept people away from each other and did everything the government asked of us. 'To come up on us and close us down... we hope we can have something to come back to when it's all over, but we don't know.' Pubs across the country also shut at midday on Monday, with some punters enjoying one last drink for the foreseeable future The Deck did not bother opening its doors for the small window available on Monday morning Two patrons sit alone inside an otherwise empty pub, severely affected by the government's coronavirus measures NRL legend turned gym owner Mark 'Spudd' Carroll is afraid he will not be able to keep his business afloat over the coming months Stacey Steiner, a personal trainer and fitness model, is among City Gym's longtime staff who is now facing the prospect of months out of work before gyms are allowed to re-open. 'My partner and I are personal trainers so it's going to hit us really hard,' Ms Steiner said. 'I'm going to lose a lot of shape and you just don't know how long it's going to go on for. 'It's a bit eerie coming in here for one last session in who knows how long?' NRL legend turned gym owner Mark 'Spudd' Carroll is afraid he will not be able to keep his business afloat over the coming months. He believes the loss of physical conditioning for his clients will not be their biggest problem. 'The mental health is going to be the biggest one of all and this is where the government has got it wrong in terms of gyms,' Mr Carroll said. 'It's not only body, it's mind. If people say to me: "Spudd, can I train?" Of course I am going to train them. City Gym owner Billy Kokkinis (right) said the shutdown was 'a bit of a disaster' for his and many other businesses Fitness centers like City Gym (pictured) had put in place stringent measures to avoid the spread of COVID-19 in recent weeks, including employing extra cleaners There are more than 1,600 cases of coronavirus in Australia, with seven deaths related to the virus 'I've lost 75 per cent of my business in the last week, because everyone is worried out there - we hear different messages every hour. 'How long is it going to last? Three months or six months? I'll back myself to start up again, but who knows?' CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement Australian Hotels Association boss Stephen Ferguson said it was a 'sad day' for pubs and clubs across the country. 'The health and well-being of our staff and patrons is paramount to all other considerations,' Mr Ferguson said. 'In times like this, it is essential for us all to follow the instructions of our governments and medical officers. 'But there's no doubt this move is already having a devastating impact on our direct national workforce of 250,000 and our millions of patrons. 'We saw what an important role hotels play in their communities during the recent bushfires across large parts of the nation - today's closure is an unprecedented move which will have a big social impact for months to come.' An employee of the U.S. Postal Services Lehigh Valley Processing & Distribution Center in Bethlehem Township has tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. The status was confirmed by the health department in Lehigh County, a statement from the Postal Service reads. The health department provided guidance which the Postal Service is following moving forward, the statement reads. We believe the risk is low for employees who work at the Lehigh Valley P&DC but we will keep our employees apprised as new information and guidance becomes available, the statement provided by spokeswoman Karen Mazurkiewicz reads. Due to federal guidelines, the Postal Service isnt naming the patient or providing more information on their medical condition, the statement reads. The safety and well-being of our employees is our highest priority, the statement reads. To ensure the health of our employees, we are continuing to follow recommended guidance and strategies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Citing the CDC, the U.S. surgeon general and the World Health Organization, the Postal Service indicates current understanding is the virus cant be spread through the mail or packages. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email him. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Cases of the coronavirus could peak at 125,000 a day in Australia unless more drastic social distancing measures are implemented, health experts have warned. University of Sydney associate professor Tim Newsome is urging the government to tighten its restrictions across the country to slow the rate of COVID-19 infections. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the closure of all pubs, clubs, gyms and 'non-essential' gatherings on Sunday. While the potential effects of the 'Stage One' restrictions won't be known for nearly two weeks, infectious disease modellers say Australia could still record 125,000 cases a day at the peak of the crisis - even if the measures were successful. Confirmed cases of the coronavirus could rise by 125,000 a day unless more action is taken to keep Australians isolated, health experts have warned (pictured: People waiting outside Royal Melbourne Hospital to be tested) Prime Minister Scott Morrison addresses the media on the coronavirus pandemic on Sunday. Health experts are urging the government to put Australia into lockdown 'I think what we're seeing is very concerning,' Prof Newsome told The Australian. 'We're looking very exponential at the moment. We are tracking in a way which could potentially overwhelm our health systems unless we start seeing effects from social distancing and more stringent measures.' Professor Newsome said the government needs to confine people to their homes, except to get food or medicine. The peak, which is believed to occur unless Australia goes into complete lockdown, is expected to reach levels where hospitals will be unable to cope There are now a national total of 1,716 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Australia He said with the current epidemic curve, cases would likely double every three days in the coming weeks. They are currently doubling about every four days. University of Melbourne epidemiologist Tony Blakely said if that trajectory were to continue, cases could rise by 500,000 per day within weeks. But by analysing the impacts of the current social distancing measures, Professor Blakely said the spread of the virus would likely be reduced by the end of May. At that point, at the pandemic's peak, there would be 125,000 new cases a day, with 60 per cent of the population infected, Professor Blakely said. Professor Blakely said based on that scenario, 165,000 Australians would need intensive care. Hospitals would not be able to cope as the amount of people requiring intensive care could surpass the number of beds available, he said. Meanwhile, thousands of Australians have been forced out of work by the new restrictions and were seen lining up outside Centrelink offices on Monday hoping to to lodge claims for unemployment benefits and emergency assistance. On Monday, the prime minister vowed to continue to support the most vulnerable as he warned that many more would likely lose their jobs as a result of the pandemic. 'The tests, hardships and sacrifices that will be placed on all of us, on our national character, will undoubtedly break our hearts on many occasions in the months ahead,' he said as he addressed parliament. 'But we must resolve today, as Australians, to come together and to pledge to each other across our nation that this coronavirus will not break our Australian spirit. 'So, together, and with the rest of the world, we face this unprecedented challenge. A once in a hundred year event. People queue for access to a Centrelink Service Centre in Sydney on Monday The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus has surged to 1,716 in Australia on Monday. Nurses Tamzin Ingram and Skye Haagmans are pictured preparing for patients at the Covid-19 Clinic at the Mount Barker Hospital in Adelaide 'A global health pandemic that has fast become an economic crisis, the likes of which we have not seen since the Great Depression.' In a bid to slow the spread of the deadly illness, pubs and licensed premises will be closed from midday Monday for about six months. The restrictions also cover places of worship, casinos, restaurants and cafes without takeaway services, nightclubs and registered clubs. As news broke of the looming closures, panicked shoppers headed in droves to liquor stores to stock up on alcohol, however, bottle shops will remain open. The stricter rules come after tens of thousands of people flocked beaches across the country on Friday and Saturday, ignoring the ban on mass gatherings and social distancing orders. Prime Minister Viktor Orban expressed his condolences and offered help to Croatia, which was hit by an earthquake on Sunday morning. In his letter to Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, Orban said he was saddened by the reports on the natural disaster, which caused damage and injuries in and around Zagreb. I believe that in these trying times it is important for the nations of Central Europe to express their solidarity with one another in every possible way. On behalf of the Hungarian people, I would like to express my sympathy and offer the assistance of Hungary, Orban said. Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto offered his condolences to those injured, and wished them a speedy recovery in a Facebook post. Croatia can count on Hungarys help in the reconstruction, he said. House Speaker Laszlo Kover sent a telegram to his Croatian counterpart Gordan Jandrokovic, expressing his sympathies to Croatians who had to face this fearful natural disaster while living through an epidemic emergency. Hungary is ready to provide help to Croatia at this challenging time, the speaker said. MTI Photo: Marton Monus By Jamie Freed and Anshuman Daga SYDNEY/SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Widening travel curbs to contain the spread of the coronavirus prompted more flight cancellations on Monday, with new restrictions spanning India, Australia, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan. The toll on jobs rose, too, with engine maker GE Aviation saying it would cut 10% of its U.S. workforce, while around 10,000 staff at Singapore Airlines will be affected by cost-cutting measures, including unpaid leave. Globally the number of scheduled flights last week was down more than 12% from a year ago, flight data provider OAG said, with many airlines having announced further cuts to come. "It is a war against a virus," Andrew Herdman, director general of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines, told Reuters by telephone on Monday. The impact on planemakers has been deep and sudden. On Monday, planemaker Airbus announced new steps to bolster its financial position, including the signing of a credit facility for 15 billion euros ($16.1 billion). Airbus added it was withdrawing its 2020 financial guidance, dropping a proposed 2019 dividend that had a cash value of 1.4 billion euros ($1.5 billion) and suspending funding to top up staff pension schemes. Its U.S. rival Boeing is under similar pressure and has called for a $60 billion lifeline for the U.S. industry. "GREATEST CHALLENGE" India's commercial airlines were to cease domestic flights from midnight Tuesday, a civil aviation ministry spokesman said, the latest country to impose tight air travel restrictions. Cargo flights were exempt from the order. Australia and New Zealand both warned against non-essential domestic travel. Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan took steps to ban foreign transit passengers. The UAE, home to major carriers Emirates and Etihad Airways, said it would suspend all passenger flights and airport transit for two weeks to help rein in the virus. Story continues The UAE's decision takes effect in 48 hours, with cargo and emergency evacuation flights exempted. Emirates responded by saying it would temporarily suspend all passenger services for two weeks from March 25. Singapore Airlines grounded most of its fleet after the Asian city-state banned entry or transit by short-term visitors on Sunday. "This is the greatest challenge in the SIA Group's existence," Chief Executive Goh Choon Phong said in a memo to staff. The CEO is, for his part, taking a 30% salary cut from the start of April . The airline normally relies on connecting passengers from markets such as Australia to Europe and India to North America through its Singapore hub. Taiwan announced similar travel curbs that will hit China Airlines Ltd and EVA Airways Corp, which have marketed Taipei as a convenient and affordable transit airport, competing with Hong Kong and Singapore. GOING SOUTH In the southern hemisphere, Qantas Airways Ltd, Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd and Air New Zealand Ltd were re-examining schedules after their governments advised against non-essential domestic travel. Regional Express Holdings Ltd (REX), which serves remote Australian towns, said it would shut all operations, except some subsidised routes, from April 6, unless governments quickly expressed a willingness to underwrite its losses. In mainland China, domestic capacity has been rising as some internal curbs are eased, but there are concerns that passengers on international flights could re-import the virus. China's aviation regulator said all international flights due to arrive in the capital will be diverted to other airports from Monday. ($1=1.7483 Australian dollars) ($1 = 0.9340 euros) (Reporting by Jamie Freed; Additional reporting by Alexander Cornwell in Dubai, Stella Qiu in Beijing, Ben Blanchard in Taipei, David Shepardson in Washington and Sudip Kar-Gupta and Laura Marchioro in Paris; writing by Alexander Smith; editing by Lincoln Feast, Clarence, Keith Weir and Larry King) A total of 113 Indians stranded at the airport at Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia are returning to the country on Monday in a special Air Asia flight that will take back some Malaysian nationals, people familiar with developments said. Though close to 300 Indian nationals are currently believed to be at the airport in Kuala Lumpur, only those who had already cleared immigration are being brought back in the special flight that took off at 9.20 pm Malaysian time, the people cited above said on condition of anonymity. The others who are at the airport but hadnt cleared immigration are being convinced to go to hostels, hotels and other facilities by officials from the Indian high commission, the people said. The Air Asia flight coming to India with 113 Indians will also take back some Malaysian citizens stranded in New Delhi, a person said. On March 17, the Indian government had approved two special Air Asia flights to New Delhi and Visakhapatnam to evacuate a total of 405 Indians. The people said another flight is expected to bring back more Indians from Iran this week. Only those Indians who had been screened and tested negative for the Coronavirus will be allowed on to this flight, they said. Hundreds of Indians were stranded at Kuala Lumpur after the government barred the entry of all passengers from 32 European countries, Turkey, Afghanistan, the Philippines and Malaysia till March 31. On March 21, hundreds of the Indians stranded at the airport in Kuala Lumpur were taken to hotels, hostels and other safe locations, the Indian high commission had tweeted. In a separate tweet on Sunday, it had said that officials from the mission were providing food and medicines day and night to the Indians who remained at the airport. The people cited above said several countries, including France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Israel, had sought special arrangements for flights to evacuate their nationals from India. Many of these flights are likely to be arranged this week, a second person said. Malaysias foreign ministry said on March 19 that 1,075 Malaysian citizens were stranded in India. The figures for the nationals of the other countries couldnt immediately be ascertained. KABUL The State Department said it was cutting $1 billion in aid to Afghanistan this year, and potentially another $1 billion in 2021, after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo failed to persuade rival Afghan leaders Monday to support a unified government, which U.S. diplomats consider crucial to preventing peace negotiations from falling apart. Pompeos announcement came as he was flying back to the United States after meeting with President Ashraf Ghani and the Afghan former chief executive, Abdullah Abdullah, in an attempt to mediate between the two rivals who both claim to be the legitimate president a crisis that threatens to split the government and sink hopes of ending the war. For the top American diplomat to travel halfway around the world in the middle of the global coronavirus epidemic signaled how seriously the United States was taking the internal Afghan bickering and the risks posed for both countries. And the cutoff in aid, a major blow to the Afghan government, revealed just how frustrated the United States was with the impasse, which further imperils an already precarious peace deal with the Taliban. The United States is disappointed in them and what their conduct means for Afghanistan and our shared interests, Pompeo said in a statement. Their failure has harmed U.S.-Afghan relations and, sadly, dishonors those Afghan, Americans and coalition partners who have sacrificed their lives and treasure in the struggle to build a new future for this country. Speaking to reporters aboard his plane, Pompeo made clear that U.S. support for Afghan security forces would continue. We are going to continue to do everything we need to do to support those Afghan security forces, he said. It is central. The money could be restored, Pompeo said, if Afghan leaders choose to form an inclusive government that can provide security and participate in the peace process. Ghani was declared the winner of a bitterly disputed election last month and was inaugurated on March 9. His opponent, Abdullah, also declared himself winner and held his own inaugurationon the same day. During his eight hours in Kabul, Pompeo met with both Afghan leaders, separately and then together, in an attempt to get them to work together. On his way back to Washington on Monday night, Pompeo stopped in Doha, Qatar, to meet with Taliban officials who have been negotiating with U.S. envoys on a peace process. Mujib Mashal and Lara Jakes are New York Times writers. Aragon Announces Free Inquiries For Small Businesses & Local Government Agencies During COVID-19 Outbreak Aragon offers free service to small businesses to help sustain operations Many businesses are feeling the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak, but small businesses often do not have the same resources as large enterprises to face the unique challenges brought on by the pandemic. Aragon Research is pleased to offer our services for free to any small business or local government agency (city, county) that needs advice during this time to support their people and strengthen their business operations. Our free services include: Business model and strategy evaluation Understanding business and technology trends Understanding how to reduce the risks associated with possible roadblocks Advice on technologies and services for your business Guidance on business governance and metrics Advice on how to support your employees remotely To schedule your free 30 minute phone call with Aragon analysts, you are encouraged to fill out our inquiry form. Organizations can also access additional resources to assist them during the COVID-19 outbreak by visiting Managing the Coronavirus in the Workplace. About Aragon Research Aragon Research delivers high-impact visual research, consulting, and advisory services to provide enterprises the insight they need to make better technology and strategy decisions. Aragon Research serves business and IT leaders and has a proven team of veteran analysts. For more information, visit https://www.aragonresearch.com/. Harvey Weinstein Convicted Hollywood producer, Harvey Weinstein who was convicted on February 24 in New York City for raping a woman and sexually assaulting another woman, has reportedly tested positive for coronavirus in prison. 68-year-old Weinstein was taken into custody upon conviction before being entered in New York Citys jail system. He was treated at Bellevue Hospital and was later transferred to Rikers Island jail in New York City. After being handed a 23-year jail sentence on March 11, he was again taken to Bellevue Hospital and later transferred back to Rikers as he waited to be moved to a state prison. Rikers is however facing one of the countrys worst reported coronavirus outbreaks, with at least 38 people testing positive as of last week. On March 19, Weinstein was taken to a maximum-security prison outside Buffalo, Wende Correctional Facility in the town of Alden in Erie County. Niagara Gazette reported that Harvey is currently in medical isolation at Wende Correctional Facility. The local newspaper in upstate New York cited anonymous officials in its report. Michael Powers, president of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA) said; There is no better breeding ground for this virus than a closed environment such as a correctional facility. It has been reported that 21 inmates and another 17 workers at Rikers have tested positive for COVID-19. The prison is now monitoring 58 inmates. When contacted, representatives from New York States Department of Corrections did not respond to requests from news outlets for direct confirmation due to its policy that they cannot comment on an individuals medical record. They however confirmed that two inmates at the facility have tested positive. A spokesperson of the facility said; The Department cannot comment on an individuals medical record. However, we can confirm that two of the Departments approximately 43,000 incarcerated individuals, both at Wende Correctional Facility, have confirmed cases. With each confirmed case, DOCCS worked with the Department of Health to identify any potentially exposed individuals in order to provide notifications and to stop the spread of the virus. It is however not clear if he contracted the deadly virus while at Wende or Rikers, or during one of two stays at NYCs Bellevue hospital where he was treated for high blood pressure and chest pains. Officials believe he was already ill with the virus by the time he was transferred last Wednesday March 18. A spokesperson for Weinstein told The Sun on Sunday afternoon that he had not been informed of a positive test result. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Berlin Mon, March 23, 2020 21:50 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206cf1b25 2 World COVID-19,Angela-Merkel,Germany,self-isolation Free Angela Merkel is "doing well" in self-imposed quarantine and awaiting the results of her coronavirus test, her spokesman said Monday, as the veteran chancellor joined millions of Germans in working from home. Merkel decided to self-isolate as a precaution after learning on Sunday that a doctor who vaccinated her last Friday was infected with the novel coronavirus. "The chancellor is doing well," her spokesman Steffen Seibert told reporters. Dialling in from her Berlin flat, Merkel, 65, led a cabinet meeting that decided on a major rescue package for virus-stricken companies and employees in Europe's top economy. "She was tested today and now we are waiting for the results, and we'll see what comes out of that," Seibert said, adding that any next steps would be guided by advice from doctors and Germany's Robert Koch Institute (RKI) disease control agency. Seibert thanked everyone on Merkel's behalf for "the many, many well wishes and messages for the chancellor to stay healthy". The spokesman declined to say whether Merkel's chemistry professor husband Joachim Sauer was quarantining with her, saying he would not share information about family members. Asked if he himself, as a close Merkel staffer, should self-isolate, Seibert said he last met with the chancellor on Sunday afternoon but had stuck to the advice of keeping a safe physical distance from people. News that Merkel was going into quarantine came shortly after she gave a press conference in Berlin where she showed no symptoms of ill health. She used the press conference to announce fresh curbs on social interactions to contain a pandemic that has infected over 22,600 people in Germany and killed 86. The latest measures include a ban on gatherings of more than two people, on top of last week's closures of schools, non-essential shops, bars and restaurants. The head of the RKI, Lothar Wieler, on Monday said he was "optimistic" that the restrictions were paying off, noting that the outbreak's "exponential growth curve had started to flatten a bit". He expected to have a clearer view of the trend by Wednesday. Home Just In Nepali student who returned from France tests positive for coronavirus: Minister Kathmandu, March 23 Nepals Minister for Health and Population Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal says a Nepali student, who recently returned from France, has tested positive for the coronavirus.* This is the second case of coronavirus infection found in Nepal so far. Earlier in January, a Nepali student who had recently returned from China, where the virus originated, had tested positive. However, he is said to be recovered now. During a press meet in Kathmandu on Monday, the minister said the 19-year-old girl had also landed in Kathmandu from France via Doha of Qatar on March 17. The person had not shown any symptoms but was self-quarantined. A test at Shukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital in Teku of Kathmandu had confirmed the infection yesterday. The patient is undergoing treatment at the hospital. Addressing the conference, the minister said the government would not lose its patience with the discovery, adding it would be able to stop its spread. Other government officials expressed their belief that the government could contain the pandemic in Nepal as it already suspended international flights, closed border points and shut long-haul bus services. *Correction: An earlier report said the patient was a French national. The error is regretted. With the COVID-19 epidemic showing no signs of slowing down in Iran, the army on Monday announced a series of steps to show it is playing a notable role in confronting the coronavirus. Iranian Army's biological Defense Headquarters says it is going to set up a makeshift hospice in Tehran within 48 hours for 2,000 Coronavirus patients to spend their recuperation period after they are discharged from hospitals. This probably means the establishment has 2,000 beds for the patients to rest, but there is no medical equipment available. Deputy Commander of the Iranian Army, Admiral Habibollah Sayyari told reporters at a news conference in Tehran Monday morning March 23 that this is part of a drill by the army to assist with the fight against COVID-19 outbreak. Earlier, Sayyari's Chief Commander Mohammad Baqeri had promised to launch major disease control operations, but he was never heard from again. However, the army appears to be willing to do more to combat the spread of the virus. The commander of the South-eastern region of the Iranian army Brigadier General Memarbashi said on Monday that his units have set up 9 coronavirus test centers in Kerman Province and another 8 in Sistan and Baluchistan Province during the past days to help with the national endeavor to curb the spread of COVID-19. Memarbashi said the test centers offer their screening services free of charge. People who go to the centers, will receive medical advice for problems other than COVID-19, but if they are infected with the virus and have respiratory problems, the centers will refer them to hospitals. In the meantime, the spokesperson for the Iranian Health Ministry, Kianush Jahanpur, told the press Monday morning that 23,049 Iranians have contracted COVID-19 as of Monday morning. The figure announced for Monday is 1,411 more than the figure for the previous day, meaning that the contagion is still on an ascending curve. In other words, the worst is still to come. Meanwhile, 127 patients have died during the past 24 hours, bringing the overall death toll to 1,812, Jahanpur said. These are the governments official figures, but Radio Fardas independent screening of Irans media and announcements by local officials puts the number of infections at 52,000, with more than 2,000 dead. Jahanpur also added that so far, more than 36 million Iranians have been screened for the infection all over the country. Jahanpur continued that 8,376 patients have recovered and returned to their families, however, he did not explain how the medical staff make sure those discharged from hospitals do not carry the virus. He explained that the average age of those who catch the virus in Iran is 59, and the average age of those who died was 64, adding that most of those were male patients with underlying problems such as heart disease and diabetes. Meanwhile, President Hassan Rouhani also rejected the United States' aid offer saying, "It is a big lie that the United States wants to help Iran fight the coronavirus.," adding that "the United States is offering us a glass of muddy water while depriving us from our fresh-water resources." He said, "the United States has imposed a series of oppressive, illegal and terroristic sanctions on the people of Iran." Rouhani was obviously referring to sanctions that are meant to bring Tehran to the negotiating table to discuss limiting its destabilizing military ambitions and adventurism in the region, its dangerous ballistic missile program and its nuclear program which have caused concern in the region and the world. Rouhani said that America has created problems for the people of Iran by creating barriers for Iran's economy and banking system. He also accused the United States of being involved in "the biggest crimes in the region and in Iran." On Sunday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei charged that the United States may have been involved in creating Coronavirus in order to do harm to Iran, although he failed to present any evidence to back the conspiracy theory. Meanwhile, in an act elaborately initiated to probably please Khamenei, a deputy health Minister said on Sunday that the ministry will be conducting research to find out if as Khamenei said the virus has been designed to target Iranian's genes. DES MOINES - Iowas regent universities have established emergency funds to support students who may be adversely affected by the COVID-19 virus. Iowa State University, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa launched the funds to help students address their most urgent needs as they quickly transition from living and learning on campus to online instruction. Alumni, fans and friends of the states universities who are interested in supporting students can donate to one or more of the funds, which will help students with issues such as housing and food insecurity, travel expenses, technology expenses for online learning, and other financial challenges. Iowas public universities made the move to virtual instruction upon recommendation from the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, and are restricting residency on campuses in an effort to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19. Funds can be found at: ISU Cyclone Strong Fund: fundisu.foundation.iastate.edu/cyclonestrong UI Student Life Emergency Fund: givetoiowa.org/students UNI COVID-19 Student Support Funds: pawprint.uni.edu/g/studentsupport At UNI, for more information on the emergency funds, please contact: Sarah Parsons, director of advancement communications, the University of Northern Iowa Foundation, (319) 273-2505, sarah.parsons@uni.edu LANE COUNTY-- On Saturday, local leaders wrote a letter urging Governor Kate Brown to issue a statewide Stay-at-Home order. RELATED: OFFICIALS URGE GOVERNOR TO TO ENACT STATEWIDE STAY AT HOME GUIDELINES Members of the community spoke out about how they would feel if this order were to be enacted across Oregon. I think its the right thing to do, Eugene reside Barbara Nagay said. I feel great about it. When it comes to those still choosing to travel and gather in groups, Nagay said that nothing is worth the risk. Theyre taking chances, and you don't know, Nagay said. You cant tell if somebody has the virus, until maybe its too late. You can be asymptomatic and still have the virus. Her son, Paul Nagay, agreed and would like to see this order enacted. I have a friend, who I just saw on Facebook, who is sick because they don't have enough protective gear. We need to do this for our community. He hopes Governor Brown decides to implement a Stay at Home order and said it is necessary to keep everyone safe. Its essential for the safety and health of our community, our hospital and healthcare workers," Nagay said. There are others who disagree and believe that a mandated order would have negative effects on businesses and the workforce in Oregon. Its just traumatic, Kapsa said. It really is. I have friends in the restaurant business, and theres no way for them to even know where this is going to go. RELATED: GOVERNOR KATE BROWN ISSUES ORDER TO STOP RESIDENTIAL EVICTIONS Area around the ghantaghar (Clock Tower) was sanitized on Monday after women who were staging an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) demonstration here called of their protest temporarily earlier today. The anti-CAA, NRC and NPR protest was temporarily suspended due to the government's orders of lockdown in 75-disricts of the country were issued after the cases of Covid-19 emerged. "The anti-CAA, NRC and NPR protest in Lucknow's Ghantaghar has come to an end," Commissioner of Police, Lucknow, Sujeet Pandey said. However, the women have symbolically left behind the stage, set up for the demonstrations, and their dupattas (stoles) as a mark of their protest. In a letter written to the Commissioner of Police, Lucknow, the women's body leading the protests said that the demonstrations will resume as soon as the government withdraws the orders issued to combat the COVID-19 situation in the country. It has also requested the administration to leave the stage constructed at the protest site untouched. Many anti-CAA protests, around the country, have been temporarily called off in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The Uttar Pradesh government has put 16 districts under total lockdown till April 25, which include Agra, Lucknow, Gautam Budh Nagar, Ghaziabad, Moradabad, Varanasi, Lakhimpur Khiri, Bareilly, Azamgarh, Kanpur, Meerut, Prayagraj, Aligarh, Gorakhpur, Pilibhit, and Saharanpur. The Health Ministry has reported 23 positive cases of coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh including one foreign According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), India so far has 415 confirmed cases of the infection. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Representative image As India begins a protracted battle against coronavirus, ventilators are emerging as one of the key medical devices that need to be used to treat severe cases of COVID-19. This testing time has highlighted the severe shortage of the respiratory device in India. Overall, India imports around 80-85 percent of all medical devices for intensive care, including ventilators and high-end diagnostic and robotic surgery instruments. Sources within the medical devices industry have said that there are around 1 lakh ventilators in the country. According to medical experts, India needs around 2.1 ventilators per 10,000 patients to battle the COVID-19 crisis alone. A few large private hospitals have 80 to 100 ventilators in one city, but have stated that they were being used on existing critical care patients. The number of ventilators available in various cities and states varies. For example, reports suggest that Mumbai alone has 800 to 1,000 ventilators, while states such as Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh have 1,500 and 1,800, respectively. The city of Bengaluru, according to the head of a top hospital chain, has approximately 400 ventilators, whereas the requirement is around 1,000. Experts now fear that there could be a severe shortage of ventilators in rural areas as most ICU beds are concentrated in urban areas. Hence, there is a pressing need to prevent COVID-19 from entering rural areas. At present, ventilators are mainly imported, assembled in India or partially produced here. Experts suggest that India does not have a single indigenously manufactured ventilator as the companies that produce ventilators import some or many of their components. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show Now, experts state that there is a shortage of around 70,000 ventilators in India and the short term supply requirement would be to procure around 4,000-5,000 ventilators per month. Although demand from the government machinery has gone up, the industry is not equipped to meet the requirement. One of the key issues here is that the global supply of ventilators and spares have depleted. Each country is trying to conserve or build their own resources to meet the demand for ventilators. For example, India has banned the export of ventilators, while Germany is looking to ramp up supplies, as the latter looks to increase the number of ICU beds to 22,000 beds per 1 lakh units from the current 12,000. China is one of the few countries that is looking to supply components for ventilators to India, but logistics could be an issue due to the travel restrictions, industry sources said. Homegrown companies like Bengaluru-based medical devices manufacturer Skanray Technologies have been asked to ramp up production. As per sources, the government of Karnataka has ordered for 1,000 ventilators and 5 lakh pieces of protective gear from the company. While this is an opportunity for the company, Skanray could face supply chain issues as components for the final product are imported. Sources close to the company has said that there could be a possibility of Skanray manufacturing an improvised version of ventilators. Although there is a real shortage of ventilators, the situation has sprung in some interesting developments. While Gujarat-based stent manufacturer SMT is looking at 3D manufacturing of ventilators, Mahindra Group is believed to be working on manufacturing ventilators at their factories. Watertown, NY (13601) Today Light snow this morning will give way to snow showers this afternoon. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 60%.. Tonight Occasional snow showers. Low 26F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 50%. Snow accumulations less than one inch. In the midst of a besieged Sarajevo, as bombs rained down and people risked lives for a loaf of bread, in the basement of an old, derelict building a 17-year-old blonde named Inela Nogic was crowned the city's beauty queen. When asked what she would do with her year as Miss Sarajevo, Nogic replied: ''I have no plans, I could be dead tomorrow.'' Beauty, you may think, is too trivial - even too self-absorbed - to count in a crisis. But history, and the human spirit, proves otherwise. Before she took the crown, Nogic told foreign media how continuing to look good was her form of resistance. No matter how long the enemy tried to destroy her city, who died or what buildings crumbled, Inela would put on her lipstick in the morning and look beautiful. They would not break her spirit. Her story isn't unique. Throughout war, poverty, genocide, terminal illness - and yes, even a global health pandemic like coronavirus - people strive to look good. It's why, in recent days, Amazon announced that, although it will limit sending "non-essentials" to warehouses until April 5, it will continue to ship (as part of its list of five "essentials" such as health products and groceries) ''beauty and personal care'' items. It's why in the 2008 financial crash, sales of lipstick rose despite people feeling more cash-strapped than any time in the previous decade. An interest in physical appearance is more than vanity. It's a psychological weapon. It's about keeping normalcy and holding on to the things you can just about control when your world is falling asunder. It's about showing people you are staying positive, maintaining your sense of pride and self-worth, even when going through hell. It's why doctors skilled in spotting depression warn that one of the first things to go is physical appearance. When the human spirit is crushed, simple acts like combing your hair or brushing your teeth feel pointless. Just as the gentle sound of a shower running or a loved one appearing at the kitchen table out of their pyjamas for the first time in weeks, can signal the green shoots of recovery. Video of the Day In her blog ''The power of lipstick'', Tonya Leigh describes being a nurse in an intensive care unit where a beautiful, vibrant 63-year-old woman was dying of breast cancer. She recalls: "When I'd walk into her room to start my shift, I'd often find her with her beautiful engraved mirror, lining her lips and putting on her lipstick du jour. One day, I overheard her son ask, "Mom, why are you putting on lipstick?" She replied: "Son, I may be dying, but that doesn't mean I have to look like hell while doing it." If personal stories don't convince you, then know it was crisis itself that propelled make-up to go mainstream. In World War II, women stayed at home and joined the workforce taking on traditional male labour roles. Make-up became an essential tool to maintain ''femininity'' and uphold the day's gender norms. Cosmetic companies cashed in, warning that the stress and strain of ''war face'' was to be avoided at all costs. They also offered the chance to give a V-sign to the enemy. Compacts carried propaganda messages and news that Hitler hated lipstick meant that smearing on shades like ''Victory Red'' was empowering as well as uplifting. Even in the top echelons of the government where you would think they might have better things to worry about, secretaries working in an underground bunker and under constant threat of attack, left their boss Winston Churchill a memo before that prime minister set off on an official trip to Washington. Typing the words ''Operation Desperate'' on official paper, they demanded he return with supplies of three "vital commodities" - silk stockings, chocolate and cosmetics. He duly fulfilled their request. But as the war ploughed on, things became really desperate. The ingredients used to produce cosmetics were redirected into producing war materials. Make-up became "cherished, a last desperately defended luxury", according to Vogue magazine in 1942, and women were forced to ration the precious contents of their make-up bag. Lipsticks were used down to their bare nubs and every last drop was squeezed from face creams. Who you chose to put on your face for became the tell-tale sign of where your heart resided. Indeed, one of the most famous war photographs of all time does not capture death or suffering but a woman named Meliha Varesanovic in Sarajevo in 1994. Head held high, wearing heels and a figure-hugging dress, she passes an armed soldier, cocking her face up to the sky, as if he has no bearing whatsoever on her day. "I always tried to be neat and nicely dressed," she told journalists afterwards, "spite and defiance were added to that walk and pride, it was my way to banish fear." The same pride and dignity displayed by Sarajevan beauty queen Nogic was eventually immortalised by Bono in the song Miss Sarajevo, which in turn forced the world to pay attention to the conflict. Performed with Pavarotti, the lyrics "Is there a time for Kohl and lipstick? A time for cutting hair?" alongside "Is there a time for keeping your head down?" pay homage to the fact that the simple pleasures of life and the difficult nature of it can exist - and yes, even feel important - all in the same day. This is the bizarre moment an elderly woman walks her dog from her first-floor balcony during coronavirus quarantine before lifting the pooch back into the home by its long lead. The strange scenes were recorded in the Serbian capital Belgrade where people over the age of 65 have been prohibited from leaving their homes due to the risk of them contracting COVID-19. In the video, an elderly woman whose name has not been reported, can be seen standing on her balcony holding a long lead with her small pooch on the ground below. In the video, an elderly woman whose name has not been reported, can be seen standing on her balcony holding a long lead with her small pooch on the ground below. Pictured right: the dog midair on his way back up Another clip then shows the woman, accompanied by an unidentified person, lifting the hound back into the flat using its long lead. The dog can be seen hanging from its collar as she lifts it up onto the balcony with the people recording bursting into laughter. Social media users were quick to comment, with one writing: 'Luckily the woman doesn't live on the 5th floor'. Another clip then shows the woman, accompanied by an unidentified person, lifting the hound back into the flat using its long lead Another commented: 'Oh my God, poor dog' and someone else said: 'This is sad'. On the other hand, there were some who thought that the dog was happy being out. According to local media, the Serbian government has restricted the movement of the elderly who are not allowed to leave their homes from 10am until the end of the day. According to the latest government measures, owners are now allowed to take their pets out for 20 minutes between 8pm and 9pm. Serbia has 222 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and has recorded two deaths. The bride wore white, but there was no surgical mask or gloves in sight. A couple in Staten Island, New York, on Sunday flouted sweeping new restrictions imposed by Governor Andrew Cuomo to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus by celebrating their nuptials with a church wedding. Irene Sanzone and John Fuchs reportedly exchanged their vows in front of about two dozen guests at Our Lady of Pity Catholic Church located on Richmond Avenue. What coronavirus? Irene Sanzone and John Fuchs Jr (left and right) celebrated their wedding in Staten Island, New York, despite sweeping restrictions related to coronavirus The couple have been together more than five years and got engaged in June 2019 The loved-up pair celebrated their nuptials at Our Lady of Pity Catholic Church in Staten Island, where they were joined by about two dozen guests According to the New York Post, which first broke the story, several of the guests were elderly. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that people 65 years and older are at a higher risk for severe illness from the novel coronavirus and are encouraged to self-isolate at home and avoid gatherings. Joseph Zwilling, a spokesperson for the Archdiocese of New York, slammed the ceremony for violating its guidelines and said the couple should not have gone through with it at this time. As of Monday morning, there were 16,916 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New York and 153 deaths. The country's top public health official, Surgeon General Jerome Adams, on Monday warned American that the crisis was 'going to get bad' this week. On Friday, Cuomo issued a state-wide order requiring all non-essential workers to stay home. At a weekend press conference, Cuomo excoriated 'arrogant' New Yorkers for ignoring social distancing rules after seeing city parks crowded with people. 'You would think there was nothing going on in parts of New York City. You would think it was just a bright sunny Saturday., he told reporters. 'I don't know what I'm saying that people don't get. I don't know what they're not understanding. The happy couple's wedding ceremony lasted less than an hour, according to reports The bride and groom were accompanied by a wedding party, complete with a flower girl 'This is not life as usual. None of this is life as usual.' Meanwhile in Staten Island, the bride and groom arrived at Our Lady of Pity Church in their finery to say 'I do.' Sanzone was photographed wearing a princess-style ballgown with a bedazzled bodice and cap sleeves, accessorized with a dramatic full-length veil covering her black tresses. She and Fuchs were accompanied by bridesmaids wearing mermaid-style red gowns, groomsmen in tuxedos and a flower girl in a festive white frock. The ceremony was officiated by a priest and wrapped up in less than an hour. Effective 8pm on Sunday, New York state imposed a ban on any and all public gatherings of 'any size for any reasons.' Church gatherings fall under a religious exemption from the ban, but state officials are encouraging limiting groups to no more than 10 people. At the Fuchs-Sanzone wedding, there were said to be somewhere between 20 and 25 attendees who were spread around the church about three people to a pew, reported the Post. DailyMail.com on Monday reached out to the Archdiocese of New York for comment. As of Monday morning, there were 16,916 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New York and 153 deaths According to Facebook posts, Sanzone and Fuchs have been together for more than four years and got engaged in June of last year. President Donald Trump imposed a 15-day national action plan a week ago urging Americans to follow the direction of the 'stay at home' orders of state and local officials. At the same time, he has also been far more optimistic than health experts have been about the prognosis for the outbreak while also voicing concern about the negative effect of shutting down wide swathes of the economy. 'We cannot let the cure be worse than the problem itself,' Trump tweeted in all capital letters overnight. 'At the end of the 15-day period, we will make a decision as to which way we want to go.' Hanoi: This AP photo shows U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un smiling before a summit meeting at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi on February 27, 2019. (Yonhap/IANS) Image Source: IANS News Washington, March 23 : US President Donald Trump confirmed that he has sent a personal letter to Kim Jong-un, offering assistance to North Korea in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. "We are open to helping other countries," Trump told reporters during a press conference at the White House on Sunday. Trump said it was a very serious time and added that the US had also offered help to Iran which is also facing a tough time, Efe news reported. Information about the letter was made public by Kim's sister and central committee member of the Workers' Party, Kim Yo-jong, on Sunday. It came day after the North Korean leader oversaw a test launch of the powerful tactical guided weapon on Saturday, prompting criticism from Seoul in the context of the health crisis and amid the stalled denuclearization talks between Pyongyang and Washington. Kim Yo-jong in a statement released by state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the letter sent by Trump was "good judgment" by the US President. She said it was a step in the right direction to keep the "good relations he had with our chairman" going. The "personal letter again", she said, was delivered "at a time when big difficulties and challenges lie in the way of developing the bilateral relations". "He (Trump) also explained his plan to propel the relations between the two countries and expressed his intent to render cooperation in the anti-epidemic work," concerning the COVID-19 infections around the world, she said. Kim's sister said Trump also "expressed his willingness to keep in close touch with the chairman in the future", and that the North Korean leader appreciated the personal letter from the US President. North Korea has so far not reported any coronavirus cases, but on Sunday, its main newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, urged the people to keep at least one meter away from one another and avoid public transport to prevent contagion. Relations between Washington and Pyongyang have progressively cooled since the failed Hanoi summit in February 2019. Earlier this year, Kim said he saw no reason to maintain the self-imposed moratorium on his nuclear tests and missiles to foster dialog with the US. EDWARDSVILLE While most know that everyone should wash their hands, cover their mouths and noses when sneezing or coughing and keep at least six feet between themselves and strangers to thwart the spread of coronavirus, circumstances can still affect people mentally. Brian Radzom, a licensed clinical social worker in Edwardsville said Friday that until March 14, his office had stopped taking new patients because all of the counselors dockets were full. Since last Saturday, people have been canceling appointments left and right, Radzom said. He estimated that one-third to one-half of the counselors clients vanished in the past three or four days. He explained that some people only wanted face-to-face visits, that telehealth visits wouldnt be the same, or they had technological concerns about using telehealth options. Radzom Counseling, with offices in Edwardsville, Maryville and Troy, suspended all in-office visits Thursday. Almost every client is talking about the epidemic, regardless of age, said Kristin Moore, another Radzom counselor. Its affecting everyone a little differently; most people are self-isolating due to either their work requesting or in the case of parents, having children who now need in-home care. For most people, its a matter of when not if they will get sick. Younger clients seem to believe that they will not be affected as severely as the older population. There is definitely a shift in concern, whereas most people even a week ago were not too concerned, but now as everything is shutting down, we see a direct correlation of increased concern and as a result, increased anxiety, she said. Many people are canceling their appointments due to concerns. However, that does not need to be the case. We are now [as of Thursday] doing all sessions online using Telehealth for the safety of both our staff and clients. Telehealth (also known as Telemedicine, Tele Mental Health, or Skype Therapy) is the practice of conducting a standard counseling session with a client in a remote location using some form of audio/video conferencing software/hardware. Telehealth can broadly refer to many service delivery options (e.g. sessions conducted by phone or by video conferencing). Many providers at Radzom Counseling are available to meet with clients remotely via telehealth. Radzom also admitted that, according to Maslows Hierarchy of Needs, a five-tiered pyramid used in psychology that starts with a persons basic needs, most people were probably more anxious about those needs, such as how to buy more food and how to pay bills than whether they should talk to a therapist. We have a lot of dual working parents [as clients] and theyre stressed about affording childcare, struggling to pay bills and they find it hard to try to educate their kids while trying to work from home, he said. More Information To get more information or to set up appointments with either of the offices listed in the story: Metro East Therapy (618) 581-8304 www.metroeasttherapy.com Radzom Counseling (618) 248-2040 info@radzomcounseling.com www.radzomcounseling.com See More Collapse Radzom described this past week as a starting point similar to cabin fever, but will last far longer than the winter woes typically do. On Friday, Gov. J.B. Pritzkerordered Illinoisans to shelter in place until at least April 7. Another issue Radzom mentioned is that one-third of his counselors live in Missouri and he feared they wouldnt be able to provide telehealth services from the Show-Me State. However, Pritzker relaxed those rules Thursday in Executive Order 2020-09. Radzom said he expects a bounce-back in clients over the next few months as people become adjusted to their new normal. While the office has had new clients, too, Radzom said they called for reasons unrelated to COVID-19. Beginning April 1, counselors will start teleconferencing from a new office location, 1946 Edwardsville Club Plaza Road. On another front, with area schools, public and private, shut until at least April, it means district- or school-offered speech pathology and occupational therapy services halt, too. Metro East Therapy in Edwardsville hopes to pick up some of the slack. We primarily serve school-age children providing speech and occupational therapy, said Maggie Block, the owner, on Friday. A large portion of our children are now at home. In order to continue services, we have started a teletherapy platform. She said prospective clients need a Wi-Fi network, a desktop, laptop or tablet computer. They can call the office (see accompanying information box for contact details) then receive a link from Metro East that takes care of the rest. Block said some mobile phones work better than others with the platform. We know children will regress without continued therapy, Block said. She emphasized that her officer provides flexible scheduling and everyone on staff is certified. She also wanted to make it clear that the services are not some form of alternative therapy or simply a FaceTime substitute; its interactive therapy. Metro East Therapy analyzes, investigates, addresses, treats and helps to prevent an array of disorders related to speech and language. Reach reporter Charles Bolinger at (618) 659-5735. A video has gone viral on Twitter where Spanish policemen are trying to cheer up the people locked down in the city. In the video, the policemen come in their PCR vans and park it in the street with the music on and they start singing, dancing to cheer people up who are locked down in their homes. A policeman is also seen playing a guitar and grooving to the beats of the song. People also join them in singing the song from their balconies and clapping while the policemen were 'performing'. Video was posted by Rachel Clarke who wrote, "These Spanish policemen know exactly how to cheer up a city on lockdown. Just gorgeous" The 1.40 minutes long video has over 69 lakh views and has been shared over 24 thousand times on social media giant Twitter. These Spanish policemen know exactly how to cheer up a city on lockdown. Just gorgeous pic.twitter.com/of8LBJqYNG Rachel Clarke (@doctor_oxford) March 22, 2020 There has been a lockdown in most of the countries amid the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak. This step has been taken by several governments to stop COVID-19 from spreading. The deadly virus that started from Wuhan in China has taken over 15,307 lives globally till March 23 evening. The number of positive COVID-19 cases has crossed 3,49,800. Bradley Madsen has been waking up at 5 a.m. ever since the coronavirus pandemic arrived in New Jersey. His stress has increased every day with the ever-changing news cycle. More draconian steps are taken, as Gov. Phil Murphy put it, to mitigate the spread of coronavirus in New Jersey, which has infected more than 1,900 people in the state, including 20 people who died. First schools closed, then malls and casinos shut down. Now most retailers are ordered shut as Murphy requires everyone to stay home and gatherings to be canceled. As the rules get tighter, Madsens livelihood is more and more at risk. Madsen, a South Orange-based musician, depends on weddings, bar mitzvahs and other large events for an income. As banquets and funerals get canceled after Murphy prohibited events of more than 50 people and then banned them altogether, Madsen is watching his earnings plummet. Im staring at no income for the foreseeable future, the 35-year-old trombone player said. Some gig economy companies like Instacart and Uber are offering sick leave provisions and some sick pay, but independent contractors have few protections, like unemployment benefits. And the app-based gig workers have been proving essential to keeping the economy moving as restaurants shift to take out, while people like Madsen watch his bookings plummet from 30 to zero. A man delivering food for Grub Hub navigates his way through the pedestrian area of Newark Ave. in Jersey City. (Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media) Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media Theyre facing a stark new reality: risk getting sick to make some money, or dont get paid at all. Myself, Im looking at no unemployment and no help from the government. Do I go out there and expose myself or potentially expose other people if Im asymptomatic? Or do I stay home and not be able to pay my mortgage and feed my family?" Masden said before Murphys Saturday decision to close down all events. Each phone call Madsen receives is another event being canceled or a wedding being rescheduled. His side projects of writing music and playing with other bands will have to wait. He worries his savings will dry up. Event photographer Joy Yagid said shes stuck in the same sinking boat as Madsen. Her previously-scheduled maternity photoshoots call to cancel and school graduations are suspended. With none of these bookings, she could make as little as 20% of her annual income. She recognizes photography is a form of discretionary spending, and as the economy flails, people will have less pocket change. Dollarwise, Im not trying to think about that at the moment. I mean, I have a running number in my head but I cant even begin to tell you how many of thousands of dollars this will cost me, Yagid said. To compensate, Yagid is calling on lawmakers to provide a safety net for independent contractors and gig workers. Low-interest loans dont cut it for small businesses and freelancers who cant take on more debt, she said. On Friday, Murphy signed a number of bills to benefit small businesses and employees: one measure (A3845) permits the states Economic Development Authority to offer business grants during a declared emergency and another (A3848) prohibits employers from firing an employee who takes time off of work due to a coronavirus diagnosis. Neither of these bills included protections for gig workers or independent contractors. A failed bill in the state Senate in the last session would have deemed many of these independent contractors as employees, requiring employers to provide unemployment and insurance benefits. A new bill, S683, was introduced but is still in committee as the government focuses on coronavirus bills. But some of these freelancers arent sure that wouldve helped, even now. LePree and Yagid agreed the bill wouldve put them out of work. Madsen said the bill might have been well-intended, but it overlooked the nuances of each freelancer and didnt address the whole industry. But the government should be providing relief to these gig workers anyway, he said. They could offer unemployment at the same rate that they would be for someone working a W2 job. Theres a disaster relief fund thats federally set up through FEMA. Independent workers should be included in these relief efforts, whatever theyre going to be, he said. Even the freelancers who are faring well such as writers and contributing reporters who have more articles to write and truck drivers keeping up with the demand for food and medical supplies are asking the government to not let independent contractors fall through the cracks. I think that something for set up for freelancers, artists, people who performs. Theyre all really being impacted by this, greatly, said Joy LePree Anderson, a freelancer writer for 20 years. Shes seen her work largely unchanged, a reason shes thankful to be a freelancer. As far as my daily life goes, Ive been social distancing since before everyone else was, LePree said. Sign up for text message alerts from NJ.com on coronavirus in New Jersey: Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. Sophie Nieto-Munoz may be reached at snietomunoz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her at @snietomunoz. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Tripura will be placed under a lockdown from 2 pm on Tuesday till March 31 in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb announced. Public transport would be not permitted during this period and shops, commercial establishments, offices, factories and workshops will remain closed, he told a press conference on Monday. Any gathering in public places is banned as prohibitory order under 144 CrPC has already been imposed. The move came soon after a central advisory, even though the state has reported no positive COVID-19 case. The lockdown termed as Complete Safety Restrictions has been notified under section 2,3 and 4 of the Endemic Disease Act 1897 for prevention and containment of the coronavirus, according to an official notification. Any person found violating these restrictions shall be deemed to have committed a punishable offence, it said. The public distribution system has been exempted from the lockdown and there would not be any restrictions on selling, storage and transportation of groceries, vegetables, fruits, meat, fish, bread and milk. Medicine shops, optical stores, pharmaceutical manufacturing and transportation will operate normally, as per the notification. Banks and ATMs have been exempted from the restriction, besides petrol pumps, LPG gas, oil agencies, their godowns and transportation have also been excluded. There will be exemption to all kinds of transport to and from hospitals, the airport, railway stations and bus stand terminals. Deb said the state has sufficient food stocks at present and is considering to grant additional ration benefits to 5.86 lakh Antodaya Annapurna Yojana (AAY) beneficiaries under the public distribution scheme. He said Tripura has got rice buffer stock that would last 76 days, 52 days stock of wheat, sugar stocks for 15 days, salt stocks for 24 days, petrol stocks to last for 8 days and "sufficient" stocks of LPG. The chief minister said border curfew has been imposed along the state's 856-km-long international boundary with Bangladesh and interstate bus services were stopped to avoid spreading of the virus. Deb further informed that the state has asked the Centre to provide infrared thermal scanners, N-95 masks and disinfectants. He said, 256 people are currently under quarantine in the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russian investigators today opened a criminal case against a top infections specialist who tested positive for the coronavirus after visiting Spain but neglected to self-isolate. Irina Sannikova, an infectious disease professor and top consultant in the southern Stavropol region is alleged to have been 'patient zero' for the coronavirus there, exposing hundreds to the disease. Prof. Sannikova 'went on holiday to Spain, where she was from March 6 to 9, without telling her superiors' and did not self-isolate after her return, the Investigative Committee, Russia's federal criminal investigation unit, said in a statement. Irina Sannikova, an infectious disease professor and top consultant in the southern Stavropol region is alleged to have been 'patient zero' for the coronavirus there, exposing hundreds to the disease Prof. Sannikova (left) 'went on holiday to Spain, where she was from March 6 to 9, without telling her superiors' and did not self-isolate after her return, the Investigative Committee, Russia's federal criminal investigation unit, said in a statement She 'continued her usual routine, giving lectures in the university, attending conferences' and was eventually diagnosed after she went into hospital on March 17 because she was feeling unwell, it said. Local governor Vladimir Vladimirov on Sunday said on Instagram that Prof. Sannikova's infection was confirmed, as angry commentators called for her to be put on trial and banned from working again in medicine. By Monday, some 350 people who been in contact with Prof. Sannikova were under monitoring, with at least 11 suspected of having contracted COVID-19, regional officials said. Russia has so far reported 438 new coronavirus infections, most of them in Moscow. One person who was infected has died but officials are not linking the death to the virus. Job Title: Senior Protection Assistant Organisation: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Position No.: 10027166 Vacancy Notice: Internal/ External Vacancy Notice No. 001/2020 Reports to: 10007650 Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda Post Grade: GS-5 About UNHCR: The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. UNHCRs mandate under the Statute of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is to lead and co-ordinate action for international protection to refugees; seek permanent solutions for the problems of refugees and safeguard refugee rights and well-being. UNHCR has an additional mandate concerning issues of statelessness, as it is given a designated role under Article 11 of the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. Job Summary: The Senior Protection Assistant reports to a more senior Protection colleague. The incumbent monitors protection standards, operational procedures and practices in protection delivery in line with international standards and provides functional protection support to information management and programme staff. The Senior Protection Assistant provides quality, timely and effective protection support to persons of concern (PoC) and identifies opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and safeguards in operational responses. S/he contributes to designing a comprehensive protection strategy and may liaise externally with local authorities and partners on protection issues as guided by the supervisor. The Senior Protection Assistant also ensures that PoC are involved in making decisions that affect them, whether in accessing their rights or in identifying appropriate solutions to their problems. To achieve this, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern, local authorities and protection and assistance partners. Key Duties and Responsibilities: Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct. Provide counselling on protection issues to PoC; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation. Support activities in protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners. Conduct preliminary information gathering and interviews in support of eligibility, status determination, durable solutions and social needs assessment. Contribute to measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness. Contribute to a country-level child protection plan as part of the protection strategy. Contribute to a country-level education plan for PoC as part of the protection strategy. Monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities. Participate in individual protection case management including cases of SGBV and child protection. Monitor and report on cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents. Assist in identifying durable solutions for PoC in voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement. Contribute to the design, implementation and evaluation of protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners. Draft reports, routine correspondence, update relevant databases and compiling statistics within the Area of Responsibility (AoR). Contribute to initiatives to enhance national and local protection capacities. Select PoC for preliminary interviews and decide which relevant information to share. Enforce integrity in the delivery of protection services by local implementing partners. Perform other related duties as required. Qualifications, Skills and Experience: The ideal candidate for the United Nations UNHCR Senior Protection Assistant job vacancy should hold a High school diploma At least five years of previous job experience relevant to the function is required. Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English is required Completion of certificates or licence in international law or political science is desirable Analytical Thinking Political Awareness Stakeholder Management How to Apply: All interested Ugandan nationals who wish to join the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the aforementioned capacity are encouraged to click on the link below and follow the application instructions after reviewing the job details. Click Here Deadline: 24th March 2020 For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline 28 Shares Share Theres a saying in medicine that: If youre holding a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Its our way of acknowledging that we all suffer from a particular set of blinders unique to our own specialties. Usually, our focused way of viewing the patient facilitates our ability to serve them, to see their problem, and fix it. Occasionally, it prevents us from seeing that there may be a deeper meaning to the patients problem. That meaning is often carried in the emotions that precede or accompany the illness. Usually, there is a relationship between the patients underlying emotional state and the symptoms for which they seek treatment. Being difficult to quantify or measure, emotions receive little regard in Western medicine. This is not to say that a patients physical symptoms are all in their head, but rather, that emotions can have physical and very real manifestations that are often wrongly attributed to an exclusively organic source. When we fail to entertain the possible emotional message manifesting in the body, we may miss an opportunity for greater healing. What we call a symptom may actually be a message of ancient wisdom, offering healing rather than posing a threat. It is only our blinders that prevent us from seeing the messenger for what it is. The first time I realized this, I was still a medical student. Mrs. Jones husband of many years had died recently, and she was struggling to make sense of her life without him. They had been high school sweethearts. They had married, raised several children, and fawned over their grandchildren. Their children teased that they still behaved like newlyweds. Without warning, a ruptured brain aneurysm took him from her. Following his death, she sank into a deep grief, despairing that he had betrayed his promise never to leave her. He said it was forever, she told me tearfully. He said I was his one true love and that hed never leave me. My heart broke for her as we sat together in our pre-op area while the nurses readied her for a procedure. Mrs. Jones was scheduled for electroconvulsive therapy, a rigorous treatment reserved for the most difficult cases of depression. Her psychiatrist, a well-respected physician whom I knew to be compassionate and professional, if a bit conservative, believed she suffered from major depression with psychotic features. Simply put, her depression was so severe it caused her to have disturbing hallucinations. She had sought treatment because of a recurrent experience that was causing her great distress. She reported that every night she would awaken to see a wolf sitting at the foot of her bed. She was quite certain that she was not dreaming, insisting she was fully awake. Knowing wolves to be predators, she was puzzled by his demeanor. He didnt growl or bare his teeth and was not threatening in any way. He simply sat at the foot of her bed, watching her with a steady gaze. Still, she was distressed by his presence. Her psychiatrist, steeped in science, viewed the situation through the lens of Western medicine and interpreted the wolf to be a hallucination. I wondered, though, if there werent another possibility, one that offered both explanation and healing. In Native American culture, it is believed that when wolves die, they return to their clan members to teach and share healing. They are pack animals with a strong sense of family. Most auspiciously, wolves mate for life and are fiercely loyal. Was it possible that the wolf was a loving visitation from her husband? Had he come to show his faithfulness to her? Was he, like a loyal dog, keeping watch over his beloved as he had always promised? I mentioned this possibility to the psychiatrist, who immediately dismissed the thought. No, he had replied with certainty. This is major depression with psychotic features, plain and simple. As I was just a lowly medical student, I didnt push the issue, nor did I mention it to the patient. We proceeded with the electroconvulsive therapy, repeating the treatments every few days over the span of several weeks. During that time, Mrs. Jones hallucinations slowly abated. The wolfs visitations became less and less frequent until he finally disappeared altogether. Although still suffering greatly at the loss of her husband, Mrs. Jones felt relieved for the wolf to be gone, and her psychiatrist deemed the treatments a success. I was left with a sense of missed opportunity and uncertainty that we had actually served Mrs. Jones well. Sometimes to understand the Mystery that is our Universe, we must remove our blinders. Left in place, we may cure the disease, but fail to heal the patient. Michelle Grua is an anesthesiologist. Image credit: Shutterstock.com By PTI MUMBAI: Police have imposed prohibitory orders in Mumbai, Pune and Thane cities of the state from early Monday to March 31. Police have invoked section 144 of the CrPC, which gives them wide-ranging preventive and remedial enforcement powers. As per the orders, the restrictions have been imposed in Mumbai, Pune and Thane cities from Monday 5 am to March 31. The Mumbai police had earlier issued a separate order for section 144 for a period between 9 pm on Sunday, the time the Janata curfew ended, till 5 am on Monday. As per the orders, religious events, cultural ceremonies, festivals, fairs, sporting activities in private or public places where five or more people come together, will be prohibited. The order will restrict the presence or movement of one or more persons in public places and also any vehicles carrying such persons. The ban is also applicable to restaurants, eateries, permit rooms, pubs, malls, theatres, swimming pools, schools, colleges and gyms. However, the order does not apply to establishments that come under essential services such as hospitals, pathology labs, post offices, banks, water supply, power companies, groceries, clinics, petrol pumps railway stations, ST stands, airports and last rites. Violators would be punished under section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code, the order said. Nearly two months after it began, the anti-CAA protest at Nagpada here, which came to be known as the 'Mumbai Bagh' protest, was put on hold from Sunday due to the coronavirus outbreak, its participants said. The protest against the CAA, NRC and NPR was going on since January 26 this year. "The protesters have started returning home due to the coronavirus outbreak and also because section 144 has been imposed in the state. The stir has been put on hold temporarily. But it will resume again later," one of the protesters said. "We are equally willing to stop the spread of coronavirus by not gathering at the protest site. The protest will, however, continue online," a woman protester said. "We may have differences with the government on CAA NRC and NPR, but we are with the government in the fight against COVID-19," she said. Rubaid Ali Bhojani said, "All the protesters at Mumbai Bagh have withdrawn due to the coronavirus pandemic and as responsible citizens, we are following the state government's guidelines and measures." PTI ZACoronavirus: Anti-CAA 'Mumbai Bagh' protest put on hold Mumbai, Mar 22 (PTI) Nearly two months after it began, the anti-CAA protest at Nagpada here, which came to be known as the 'Mumbai Bagh' protest, was put on hold from Sunday due to the coronavirus outbreak, its participants said. The protest against the CAA, NRC and NPR, was going on since January 26 this year. "The protesters have started returning home due to the coronavirus outbreak and also because section 144 has been imposed in the state. The stir has been put on hold temporarily. But it will resume again later," one of the protesters said. "We are equally willing to stop the spread of coronavirus by not gathering at the protest site. The protest will, however, continue online," a woman protester said. "We may have differences with the government on CAA NRC and NPR, but we are with the government in the fight against COVID-19," she said. Rubaid Ali Bhojani said, "All the protesters at Mumbai Bagh have withdrawn due to the coronavirus pandemic and as responsible citizens, we are following the state government's guidelines and measures." Global emergency efforts to slow the coronavirus pandemic ratcheted up Monday with more nations and cities imposing extraordinary lockdowns, as the death toll soared towards 15,000. From Germany banning gatherings of more than two people, New Zealand announcing a four-week lockdown and Hong Kong shutting its borders to all non-residents, the new round of containment efforts highlighted a deepening sense of panic around the world. The Tokyo Olympics slated for July also looked increasingly likely to be postponed, with Canada announcing it would not send athletes to Japan then and Australia saying it was preparing for a one-year delay. In the United States, President Donald Trump ordered thousands of emergency hospital beds to be set up at coronavirus hotspots as a trillion-dollar economic rescue package crashed in the Senate. "We're at war, in a true sense we're at war," Trump said. The death toll from the virus surged to more than 14,400, according to an AFP tally on Sunday, with Europe the epicentre. Police and other security forces gather outside the Bellvitge hospital near Barcelona to applaud and cheer healthcare workers. By Pau Barrena (AFP) Italy's world-worst toll from the pandemic approached 5,500 with another 651 deaths reported on Sunday, a day after it surpassed China with the highest number of fatalities. European nations continued to choke people movement, with Greece on Monday morning to follow Italy, Spain and France in imposing a nationwide lockdown. In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday announced the ban on gatherings of more than two people. She did so while in quarantine herself because she had met an infected doctor. Like in Europe and elsewhere around the globe, the lockdowns have decimated the tourism industry. "That was heartbreaking. We have made a huge investment preparing for a successful tourism season," hotel owner Tamriko Sikharulidze told AFP in Tbilisi after Georgia declared a state of emergency over the weekend. Pope plea Police patrolled the deserted streets of Rome on the weekend, while checks were carried out on Italian beaches after local officials complained people were defying isolation orders by catching some time in the sun. In his weekly prayer, streamed online to avoid attracting crowds, the Pope urged all Italians to follow isolation measures "for the good of us all." Spain's prime minister said he would ask parliament to extend a 15-day state of emergency, which bars people from leaving home unless absolutely essential, until April 11. Spain recorded close to 400 new fatalities Sunday, bringing the total to 1,720, suggesting the lockdown was failing to be effective. Opera star Placido Domingo said he had tested positive. Graphic showing summary of the largest number of daily cases of COVID-19 from March 16-22.. By (AFP) Residents across France, where the death toll jumped to 674, remained shut in their homes. A curfew was imposed in some regions and the mayor of Paris called for even more drastic confinement measures in a city under lockdown. Britain inched towards similar measures as Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned the country was a couple of weeks behind registering similar numbers to Italy. Great Depression fears In the United States, more than a third of Americans were under various forms of lockdown, including in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, but the number of infections in the country has continued to climb. Highlighting the desperation inside the world's biggest economy, the mayor of New York said his city was just 10 days away from running out of ventilators. And a trillion-dollar Senate proposal to revive the US economy crashed Sunday after receiving zero support from Democrats, further traumatising investors who are watching stock markets implode worldwide. A curfew was imposed in some areas of France with police patrolling the streets. By FRANCK FIFE (AFP) Asian markets were hammered on Monday, and European stocks followed with a drop of four percent at the open, as they absorbed the failed US stimulus effort and the barrage of other bad news from across the world. "This is the biggest economic shock our nation has faced in generations," Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said as he warned the pandemic could lead to a crisis akin to the 1930s Great Depression. Moral burden As the pandemic overwhelms hospitals, doctors are having to quickly prioritise patients based on their chances of survival, inflicting a huge moral burden. Roughly one billion people around the world are enduring quarantines. By Marvin RECINOS (AFP) "We go into medicine to heal people. Not to make choices about who can live," said Philippe Devos, an anaesthesiologist in Belgium. The virus emerged in China late last year, after first being detected at a market that sold wild animals for human consumption in the central city of Wuhan. China has since sought to sow doubts over whether the virus began in Wuhan, while portraying itself as a saviour in the global fight and a role model for quarantines. China on Monday reported no new local cases of the virus, but confirmed another 39 infections from overseas. However, Beijing's communist leaders have also been criticised at home and abroad for a perceived lack of transparency, particularly at the start of the outbreak. Trump has been among those critics and angered China by branding it the "Chinese virus". On Sunday he complained again about a lack of information and transparency from Beijing. "They should have told us about this," Trump said. "I'm a little upset with China. I'll be honest with you." Second wave There are fears across Asia of "imported" cases from Europe and other hotspots. New Zealand has yet to be hit hard but on Monday Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced a four-week lockdown to prevent a Europe-style crisis. "The worst-case scenario is simply intolerable," Ardern said. "It would represent the greatest loss of New Zealand lives in our history and I will not take that chance." Hong Kong, which had largely avoided the virus in the first wave despite being so close to the Chinese mainland, announced a ban on all non-residents from entering. Chief Executive Carrie Lam said restaurants and bars would also be banned from selling alcohol. "Sometimes when people drink more, there may be some intimate acts," she told reporters. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on Monday appealed to the business community leaders in the country to join in the effort to fight the coronavirus outbreak. "At this time of crisis for our nation and the world, I appeal to leaders of India's business community to join in the effort to fight the outbreak of #Covid_19india," she said in a tweet. She stressed that businesses in country across the globe are diverting funds and resources towards the supply of essential medical products and equipment. "We are about to face a massive and unprecedented load on our health services, India needs your support, please do all you can to help," she said. The number of coronavirus patients in the country rose to 467 with nine deaths, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) There is a renewed crisis in the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the position and the seat of the ruling partys National Publicity Secretary. Naija News understands that The substantive spokesman Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu and his deputy Yekini Nabena are laying claim to the role. Nabena said there was a court order restraining Issa-Onilu. National Legal Adviser Babatunde Ogala yesterday said Issa-Onilu remained the partys National Publicity Secretary. The clarification followed Nabenas claim that he had taken over the office of the National Publicity Secretary in an acting capacity. Nabena, in a statement issued in Abuja, said there was a court order restraining Issa-Onilu from performing the role. According to Nabena, a Sokoto High Court last week restrained the party from appointing or electing Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu or any member into its top positions except through a national convention. But, Issa-Onilu dismissed the claim, describing it as a joke taken too far. He insisted that he remained the partys spokesperson. He told our reporter that there was no case in any court restraining him from carrying out his duties as APC spokesperson. Ogala told our reporter that he was also not aware of any court order as claimed by Nabena. He said: I am not aware of any court order, nor have I seen Nabenas statement. But to the best of my knowledge, if there is a court order, the party ought to have been notified. It should have been brought to our knowledge.In the face of the party, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu is the National Publicity Secretary. Share this post with your Friends on PLOs commission for prisoners affairs called on UN to urge Israel to release detainees amid coronavirus fears. The Commission for Prisoners Affairs at the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) has called on the United Nations to urge Israeli authorities to release Palestinian detainees held in Israeli jail amid fears of the spread of the coronavirus. The head of the commission, Qadri Abu Bakr, was quoted by local media as saying the UN is aware that Israeli jails are among the most crowded in the world. They [Israeli jails] lack the minimum health and safety conditions creating an environment for the spread of the coronavirus, Abu Bakr said. The call came after Israels Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan last week ordered the release of some 500 Israeli prisoners who have been placed under house arrest. According to the Palestinian Prisoners Club, at least four Palestinian prisoners in an Israeli prison have tested positive for COVID-19. Prisoners have threatened to launch a hunger strike if measures to protect them against the virus are not implemented. Last year, Erdan promised to worsen conditions for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, including rationing water supplies and reducing the number of family visits. According to official statistics, the number of Palestinian prisoners behind bars has reached 5,000, including 180 children and 43 women. Some 430 are under administrative detainees, a procedure which allows Israel to imprison them without charge or trial for an indefinite period. Rights groups say dozens are in need of medical care, with many suffering from serious or chronic illnesses. Many Palestinian prisoners say they have been subject to torture and violence while in custody. There have been many protests against poor conditions in recent years, including several hunger strikes. Many prisoners also suffer from medical negligence in jails. Prisoners must pay for their own medical treatment, and are not provided with adequate healthcare. Al Jazeera previously reported that many are given pain killers as medication and a solution to chronic illness. There are a handful of countries that have released prisoners in an attempt to curb the spread of the highly infectious novel coronavirus, including Iran and the United States. Meanwhile, Turkey is working on passing legislation to facilitate the early release of some 100,000 prisoners. Quarantine violators in Karnataka may face 6 months prison India oi-Madhuri Adnal Bengaluru, Mar 23: The Karnataka government on Monday said anyone who violates quarantine restrictions can be booked under provisions of the Indian Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment up to six months and fine. "We will book a case against them. IPC Section 271 (Disobedience to quarantine rule) is a clear section, there is imprisonment for six months or a fine or both and is a non-cognisable (offence)," Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai said. Take lockdown seriously, use the law against violators: Centre tells states Speaking to reporters here, he said: "therefore, we will notify the quarantined, if it is violated, a case will be booked. Asked if the law applied to the quarantined if they are from other states, the Minister said, "whoever it is or from wherever they are once quarantined, they should not go out, only after quarantined days are over they should go. Once they come here and we have identified and stamped them they have to be quarantined here only, they cannot go." Earlier speaking to reporters, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said it has been decided to notify quarantined houses with public notice. According to officials, the home quarantine stamped people should remain at home, the default period being 14 days. Six new COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Karnataka on Sunday, taking the total number to 26 -- the highest number of positive cases in a single day in the State. Despite lockdown, life appears to be near normal in 82 districts The Karnataka government has announced shutdown of all commercial activities barring essential services in nine districts, where COVID-19 cases have been reported, till March 31. They are: Bengaluru city, Bengaluru Rural, Mangaluru, Mysuru, Kalaburagi, Dharwad, Chikkaballapura, Kodagu and Belagavi, Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai said. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, March 23, 2020, 17:27 [IST] San Antonio has recorded its first death from the coronavirus, city officials said Sunday. The patient, a woman in her 80s, was being treated at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio and had a history of underlying health issues. She died Saturday in hospice care. The exact location is unknown and still being investigated. No other information about the patient or her case was released. Stay up to date on the latest coronavirus news with mySA.com: Todays tragic development illustrates the importance of the aggressive steps we are taking to thwart the spread of COVID-19, said San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg. Stay home unless you must go out. Follow the health experts guidelines. We can all play a role in saving lives through social distancing and healthy behaviors. Together we will overcome this challenge. Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff expressed condolences to the womans family. It is very important for our community to continue to take precautions, practice safe distancing, stay at home when you feel sick, and wash your hands often, Wolff said. We are working hard to slow the spread of this virus and are keeping the interests of Bexar County residents, and our families first and foremost. Your cooperation during this time is of the utmost importance and I thank you for your helping us by doing your part. The womans case does not appear to have been factored in to the total number of patients that Metropolitan Health District reports have become sickened by the coronavirus so far. More Information Local coronavirus information Call the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District for information about coronavirus: 210-207-5779 (Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., English and Spanish). Email questions to COVID-19@sanantonio.gov See More Collapse This is a developing story. Check back for updates. MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE: Peggy O'Hare reports on the census, demographics and occasionally crime and general assignments in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | pohare@express-news.net | Twitter: @Peggy_OHare | Sig Christenson covers the military and its impact on San Antonio, Bexar County and the nation. To read more from Sig, become a subscriber. sigc@express-news.net | Twitter: @saddamscribe AMHERST, N.S. - Nova Scotia imposed new restrictions at its provincial boundary with New Brunswick on Monday as part of a series of measures aimed at tightening social distancing requirements to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/3/2020 (660 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. AMHERST, N.S. - Nova Scotia imposed new restrictions at its provincial boundary with New Brunswick on Monday as part of a series of measures aimed at tightening social distancing requirements to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Under the restrictions that took effect at 6 a.m., anyone coming to Nova Scotia through land, sea and air entry points will be stopped, questioned and told to self-isolate for 14 days. David Kogon, mayor of Amherst, N.S., poses in this undated handout photo. The mayor of a Nova Scotia town that borders with New Brunswick says he supports newly imposed entry restrictions at the provincial border. Amherst Mayor David Kogon says Nova Scotia's move to put in place border screening is balanced in that it allows essential commercial traffic and workers to continue to travel across. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Town of Amherst Exemptions are allowed for healthy workers in the trades and transport sectors, as well as those going to work in areas such as health care and for patients who need access to essential health services. Amherst, N.S., Mayor David Kogon, whose town is near the provincial boundary, said he supports the province's move to enforce screening as a balanced approach that addresses both health and economic concerns. "There are a lot of people who work in New Brunswick and live in Amherst, so they need to be able to cross over. And I'm one of those people," said Kogon, who is also a doctor and works at a hospital in Moncton, N.B. "There are also people who work in Nova Scotia but live in New Brunswick so there are dispensations for these people." Kogon said the exemptions are important to towns like his and Sackville, N.B., where a number of Amherst's town staff live. Cross-border movement will be allowed for those who work in town services that are considered essential, he said. Otherwise the restriction applies to all non-essential travel. "So it's not that they've actually closed the border, but they are screening at the border and allowing people to go through when it's essential that they do," Kogon said. The mayor said while health concerns are paramount, the commercial implications of closing the border altogether can't be ignored. Kogon said up to $55 million in commercial goods flows across the Nova Scotia-New Brunswick boundary every day by highway transport and rail. "That's huge for our commerce in Nova Scotia," he said. In Sackville, Mayor John Higham said that under normal conditions there are typically so many business and personal interactions between two provinces it's as if "the border doesn't exist." He said it remains to be seen how much inconvenience will be caused by Nova Scotia's move, although he supports it. "We do have people who run businesses from one side or the other ... so those people are going to be in more difficulty if their stores are open," said Higham. "So it's going to affect individuals quite a bit I would suspect." Leeya Hicks lives in Amherst but owns Joey's Pizza & Pasta in Sackville, where she has been continuing to run a takeout and delivery service. Hicks said she had no problem getting to work on Monday, but would find out on her return ride home what the actual requirements for her will be and whether she will have to self-isolate. "It may be an issue," said Hicks. "I'm told I should be all right but I won't know until I go home." As it is, Hicks said she's lost about 90 per cent of her normal business and she's had to reduce staff from 16 to two. "I'm down to me and one other person working," she said. Members of the RCMP were at the border crossing on Monday to help with vehicle checks, which were conducted at the inbound weight scales off the Trans-Canada Highway, spokeswoman Cpl. Jennifer Clarke said in an email. "Our current role is to assist provincial personnel as they set up the area in relation to the province of Nova Scotia's recent declaration of a state of emergency," said Clarke. Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil said late Monday the process of vehicle checks had proven slow-going. He said a number of workers were caught in long lineups. "This will smooth out," he said. "We are creating an essential service line that will make it faster for those who need to get across. If you are not an essential service worker you should not be crossing the border, you should stay home." McNeil declared the provincial state of emergency on Sunday, saying it was necessary because people had been blatantly ignoring a previous order for social distancing and self-isolation. In addition to the border measures, the province announced that people were prohibited from gathering in groups larger than five. Individuals caught violating the limit would face a $1,000 fine, while businesses would face a $7,500 fine. By Keith Doucette in Halifax This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 23, 2020. He spent three months in Great Lakes, three months at the University of Illinois diesel school and two more months at diesel school at U.S. Destroyer Base, San Diego. When he graduated, Bomersback was put on the USS Sheridan (APA-51). The USS Sheridan would head to Wellington, New Zealand, before making its way to the Gilbert Islands for the Battle of Tarawa. One morning before the battle, Bomersback recalls an armada of American ships as far as he could see on the Pacific Ocean. "We're going to Tarawa. We're going to take back the Gilbert Islands that included Tarawa and Makin," he said. "I was 19 years old, and I had enormous pride because this is America." In November 1943, Bomersback found himself on Tarawa, a stretch of land about 2 miles long and a half-mile wide. When the Navy and the 2nd Marine Division made it to atoll, the landing craft, vehicle, personnel (LCVP) hit the reef "at full speed and wedged on it," Bomersback said. Tacos, in their basic form, are one of the most perfect, Mexican comfort food. Every bite fills your mouth with the taste of savory and tender grilled protein, along with a citrus kick from the lime, salsa and cilantro, all wrapped in a crunchy tortilla. Imagine it this way: flaky, whole grain wrap? Present. Full-flavored, melt-in-your-mouth, lean meat? Present. Plant-based fixings that add texture and a different flavor profile? Present. Plenty of regional combinations and variations to prepare and eat every single day for the rest of your life? Present. A great taco has the ability to transport you back to the colorful streets of Mexico. It has been adapted by different cultures from different groups of people. In the present day, you'd find modernized tacos filled with crema fresca and salmon, and some weird combinations such as gator (yes, alligators) taco, sushi taco, smores taco, and even larvae taco---trust me, you don't want to know. The Secret So what really makes a great taco? Is it the protein? Is it the salsa? Experts say: it all lies in the tortilla. Restaurants that serve handmade tortillas are quite hard to find, largely due to its high price point as well as the labor required to produce these high-quality tortillas. Traditional tortillas require grinding corn kernels that have already been cooked and bathed in an alkaline solution into a masa. Corn tortillas are risky. More often than not, the product comes out botched and bland---which is why others turn to the next best thing, wheat or flour tortillas. Flour tortillas are incorrectly considered inauthentic. They are, however, used for tacos even in Mexico. Can't get enough tacos? Check these out: The Ratio Tacos are yummy pockets full of colorful and unique combinations of food. A good taco has everything from avocados, to a whip of cream, to a dash of hot sauce. Great tacos---the memorable ones---often maintain the traditional route. With tradition comes proper proportions for best results. Here's how popular tacos are built. Tortilla The tortilla will also be 50% of any taco. Tortillas should contain just as much enjoyment as everything it holds. Handmade tortillas will always outperform machine-pressed products. Most machine-made tortillas are made with rehydrated corn flour that leaves an awful aftertaste of preservatives. Handmade tortillas, when drenched in oil and meat drippings, will give you a toasty and extremely unforgettable taco experience. Protein The best taco meat should bring that smoky, juicy taste that's both tender and bright in flavor. Tacos are usually made with carne asada, nopales, and al pastor. Some variations use fish, turkey, mole, mushrooms, and duck confit. Salsa There are two types of taco salsa: red and green. Red salsa typically includes cooked tomatoes mixed with toasted Mexican chiles. Green salsa is a combination of fresh tomatillos, cilantro, and either jalapeno or serrano chile for that refreshing flavor. Toppings Most taquerias offer diners a choice of standard toppings like minced onion, chopped cilantro, and a burst of lime. Fish tacos are best paired with minced cabbage for a fat-cutting crunch. The Tortilla There are plenty of tortilla recipes online. Recipes include everything from simple corn or wheat tortillas, to ones that take the traditional route. We've scoured the internet for ones that are both simple and flavorful. Check them out below. Flour Tortillas Corn Tortillas New Delhi [India], Mar 23 (ANI): In a significant development, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has given a green signal to 12 private laboratories across the country to conduct the coronavirus (COVID-19) testing in India. Now, states like Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Delhi have private laboratories functional. However, these private labs would charge customers for COVID-19 diagnostic tests. The apex medical research body has already issued guidelines for private laboratories by capping the test rates. The maximum cost for testing samples is capped at Rs 4,500. (Rs 1,500 for screening test for likely cases and additional Rs 3,000 for confirmation test) "Till today, we have registered at least 12 private laboratories to perform the COVID-19 diagnostic services and they have started their work from now on. All these 12 laboratories have over 15,000 laboratory chains across the country. Our work is in progress to include more laboratories soon," said Dr Balram Bhargava, Director General of ICMR. These include Lal Path Labs from Delhi, Unipath Specialty Laboratory from Gujarat, Strand Life Sciences and SRL Limited from Haryana, CMC and Apollo Hospitals in Tamil Nadu. While Maharashtra has five laboratories which include Thyrocare Technologies Limited, Suburban Diagnostics (India) Pvt. Ltd, Metropolis Healthcare Ltd, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Centre, Molecular Medicine, Reliance Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd and SRL Limited. "As far as testing kits manufacturers are concerned, we have fast-tracked approval for Indian COVID-19 testing kits for commercial use. About two manufacturers have already got the approval," Dr Bhargava said. "This is in addition to the US FDA approved kits that are currently being used. ICMR has established a fast-track mechanism for validation for no-FDA approved kits at ICMR and NIV Pune," he added. "Only test kits with 100 per cent concordance among true positive and true negative samples have been recommended for commercial use in India. In addition, US FDA approved kits can be used directly after due approval from DGCI and intimation to ICMR," Dr Bhargava further said. Till today, India has reported 467 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 23, 2020 / IMC International Mining Corp (CSE: IMCX ) (OTC:IMIMF ) (FRA:3MX) (the "Company" or "IMC"), is pleased to announce, further to its press release dated March 20, 2020, that the Company will hold an additional conference call today, Monday, March 23 at 4:30pm EST. The call, hosted by GoldStocks.com, will be open to all current & prospective shareholders and interested parties. The purpose of this call will be to discuss the recently announced acquisition of Thane Minerals Inc. ("Thane") and to provide an overview of the company's developments and direction. The call will be hosted with in-coming Chairman of IMC International Mining Corp & Director of Thane Minerals Inc., Mr. Greg Hawkins. Mr. Hawkins holds a BSc in Geology from the University of Alberta and an MSc in Mineral Economics from McGill University. Mr. Hawkins is currently a Director of New Pacific Metals Corp. (NUAG) and was the founding project consultant and/or founding Director of seven public and private exploration/development ventures (Brohm Mining, Dayton Mining, Nevsun Resources, Banro Resource Corp., Tagish Lake Gold Corp., African Gold Group, Yellowhead Mining Inc.) and has participated in or been responsible for the definition of at least one mineral resource/reserve in every case, with six of those cases resulting in production in the USA, Chile, Ghana, Mali and DRC. These ventures collectively have accounted for over $2.1 billion in market cap at the companies' respective peaks. Shareholders and all interested parties are invited to participate in the conference call hosted by GoldStocks.com. The call will start promptly at 4:30 pm EST on Monday, March 23, 2020. The toll-free dial-in number for the call is +1 844-854-2222. Conference call access code is 872827. Investors whom are unable to tune in live, will have access to the recording on GoldStocks.com and on IMC's Website shortly after. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Brian Thurston Chief Executive Officer and President ABOUT INTERNATIONAL MINING CORP. IMC International Mining Corporation is a junior exploration and development company. It is focused on creating shareholder value through the advancements of its assets which include the Cathedral Property in Northern British Columbia and the Bullard Pass Property in Arizona. The Company continues to look for further assets in North & South America as it increases its asset portfolio. International Mining will utilize its heavily experienced management team to evaluate assets that provide shareholder value. IMC continues to evaluate additional properties to add to its portfolio of mining assets. About GoldStocks.com Gold Stocks (GoldStocks.com) is the top online destination for all things Gold & Mining Stocks. GoldStocks.com covers all the mining sectors top news, updates, articles and provides real-time research tools via QuoteMedia, Inc. INVESTOR RELATIONS: i r@internationalmining.ca 1 (604) 588-2110 https://imcxmining.com Forward-Looking Information: This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to statements regarding the Acquisition, and the Company's business and plans, including with respect to undertaking further acquisitions, completing the Acquisition of Thane and carrying out exploration activities in respect of its mineral projects. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance and developments to differ materially from those contemplated by these statements depending on, among other things, the risks that the Acquisition does not complete as contemplated, or at all; that the Company does not complete any further acquisitions; that the Company does not carry out exploration activities in respect of its mineral projects as planned (or at all); and that the Company may not be able to carry out its business plans as expected. Except as required by law, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation and does not intend to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information in this news release. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct and makes no reference to profitability based on sales reported. The statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release. The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this press release SOURCE: IMC International Mining Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/582045/IMC-International-Mining-Corp-Announces-Additional-Corporate-Update-Conference-Call-with-Director-of-Thane-Minerals-Inc-Greg-Hawkins (Bloomberg) -- Amazon.com Inc. Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos warned his companys 800,000 employees that the coronavirus outbreak will likely get worse before it gets better, according to an open letter shared Saturday on his Instagram account. The letter follows cries from U.S. lawmakers and his own employees that the worlds largest online retailer isnt doing enough to protect its warehouse workers and delivery drivers who endanger themselves delivering products to Amazon customers looking to avoid stores. This isnt business as usual, and its a time of great stress and uncertainty, Bezos wrote. Its also a moment in time when the work were doing is its most critical. Bezos letter, his first public comments about the outbreak, comes when lawmakers and regulators around the country are making decisions about which businesses are essential and should keep operating, and which ones should close down so employees can remain at home and reduce their exposure to the outbreak that has infected more than 300,000 globally and killed at least 13,000. Amazon has seen a surge in demand from customers ordering baby formula, hand sanitizer and medical supplies. It announced plans to hire 100,000 workers to meet demand and is temporarily boosting pay among its warehouse employees and instructed its contract delivery partners to also raise wages for drivers who dont work directly for Amazon. Key rival Walmart Inc. is also hiring workers and doling out bonuses to staff helping it meet demand. More Pay Both companies face criticism from lawmakers, workers and activists for not doing enough to protect hourly workers on the front lines of the crisis. The pressure ramped up Friday when a group of workers from Walmart, Amazon and other big retailers, called United for Respect, demanded paid leave for those affected by the coronavirus outbreak and better protective measures from their employers. Amazon on Saturday announced hourly workers in its U.S. delivery network would received double pay for every hour they work in excess of 40 each week, effective March 15 through May 9. That follows temporary raises of $2 per hour that will be in effect through April. Story continues Monica Moody, a 22-year-old Amazon warehouse worker near Charlotte, North Carolina, said she and her fellow employees dont have adequate protective gear or sufficient time to wash their hands during their shifts. She argued that the warehouse should close temporarily to be sanitized. More Aggressive Measures Also on Friday, four Democratic senators, led by Cory Booker of New Jersey, wrote to Bezos asking that the company implement more aggressive safety measures and offer more hazard pay to its employees. The letter cited news reports in the past week in which workers at the front lines of Amazons logistics network raised concerns they didnt have the time or resources to protect themselves as they helped speed packages to customer doorsteps. The Amazon delivery drivers in California told Bloomberg they received one single disinfecting wipe to clean vans before the start of their shifts. Bezos said the company has increased cleaning in its facilities and implemented instructions for employees to maintain a safe distance from one another, and continues to meet daily to address safety issues. Getting proper equipment remains a challenge, he said. On Wednesday, Amazon reported the first confirmed case among its U.S. warehouse workforce -- at a delivery station near New Yorks LaGuardia Airport. Weve placed purchase orders for millions of face masks we want to give to our employees and contractors who cannot work from home, but very few of those orders have been filled, Bezos said. Masks remain in short supply globally and are at this point being directed by governments to the highest-need facilities like hospitals and clinics, he added. Its easy to understand why the incredible medical providers serving our communities need to be first in line. When our turn for masks comes, our first priority will be getting them in the hands of our employees and partners working to get essential products to people. Amazon is now one of the three most biggest U.S. companies by market value, making Bezos the worlds richest man. Critics say he could do more. Talk is cheap, said Dania Rajendra, director of Athena, a group that advocates for hourly workers and small businesses, and a frequent critic of Amazon. Rather than focusing on unavailable equipment, or issuing half measures that dont come close to tackling the scale of the crisis, Bezos and his corporation should make real moves that protect public and worker health, starting with the very basics, like enough time for workers to wash their hands, health coverage for everyone who needs it, and paid leave, so people who need to stay home can, she said. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. Mary Lou McDonald has called for a complete shutdown of non-essential services in order to tackle Covid-19. The Sinn Fein leader said that after events at the weekend, the government should implement a ban on gatherings and workplaces that cannot safely implement social distancing. A number of incidents of mass gathering were reported over the weekend, including at the Sally Gap in the Wicklow Mountains, and at a beach car park at Lahinch in Co Clare, with the gardai eventually closing both in order to discourage people from entering the area en masse. "Social distancing in the first instance needs to be a policy and approach that's championed by every arm of the state, and in real terms, the only way that that can be done is to now close all non essential business," she said. "To ensure everybody is safe, to ensure that we prevent to the greatest extent the transmission of this virus, and by extension that we give some relief, and time to our health services when they are stretched to capacity. "I think at this stage delay is dangerous. "I think it is unacceptable to leave tens of thousands of workers in conditions that are not safe, where they know they risk contracting and transmitting this virus, where they risk bringing this virus home to their families and their children." The announcement by Ms McDonald, made in Dublin, is expected to be mirrored in Belfast on Monday afternoon, in which it will be announced by First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill, that all non-essential businesses will shut. Sinn Fein have repeatedly called for an "all-island" approach to the crisis as cross-border implementation has already created a considerable amount of confusion regarding schools closures and approaches to testing. Sinn Fein are also calling for an income support scheme and for the government to go further than they have done in social welfare reforms for those who have been left out of work due to the pandemic. "Rather than telling us where the money won't come from, he needs to now apply himself to securing the necessary funding, because this income support scheme needs to happen," she added. "The Dail needs to meet as a matter of urgency because I understand that legislation will be required for the measures that I have outlined in terms of income support. "Certainly if I were Taoiseach, I would be announcing today at the shutdown of all non essential business. "I think it's the only responsible course of action, and I think the the workforce of Ireland and the families of Ireland at deserve that kind of leadership at this time." Essential businesses, according to Sinn Fein are supermarkets, fuel stations, pharmacies and emergency services. Restaurants who are able to abide by social distancing measures in order to provide takeaway food should also stay open according to Ms McDonald. The Pennsylvania Department of Education announced Monday that all schools will remain closed through at least April 6 to help curb the spread of COVID-19, according to a news release. K-12 schools in Pennsylvania have been closed since Monday, March 16. The new order takes effect Tuesday, March 24. The closure order could be extended beyond April 6 if necessary. When its determined that students can return to school, administrators, teachers and other staff will be given two days to prepare before students return on the third day, according to the release from the state education department. Secretary of Education Pedro A. Rivera said his decision to close all schools for the additional period aligns with the governors stay-at-home directive announced Monday for seven counties Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Monroe, Montgomery and Philadelphia. Protecting the health and safety of students, families, teachers and all employees who work in our schools is paramount during this national health crisis and we must continue our efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus, Rivera said. The states 29 intermediate units will work with local school districts to develop instruction plans for all students, including those with disabilities and those for whom English is a second language. Last Thursday the state cancelled all PSSA testing and Keystone exams for the 2019-20 school year. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email him. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook. R. Kelly Photo: Antonio Perez/Pool via Getty Images R. Kelly is doing his best to practice social distancing at Chicagos federal jail to avoid coronavirus, the same way people outside of jail are taking precautions to stop this deadly viral outbreak, his lawyer told Vulture. I think its fair to say that hes trying to follow the same advice as the rest of us, and be smart, and you know, stay away from others, said Kellys attorney, Steve Greenberg. Hes practicing whatever level of social distancing you can practice in jail. Hes concerned because hes in probably the worst possible situation, in terms of social distancing, that you could be in, Greenberg said at one point. Kellys coronavirus concerns come in the wake of reports that producer turned convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein tested positive for COVID-19 in prison. R. Kelly is presently in jail awaiting trial on sex-abuse and racketeering charges. He has maintained his innocence. Greenberg said that while Kelly has generally kept to himself since being jailed, he is doing this more in the wake of COVID-19. (Jails and prisons are the kind of close quarters that make key preventive measures such as avoiding close contact with others incredibly difficult.) Kelly does have a cellmate, Greenberg said. According to the jails website, the facility houses 640 inmates. Visits to the facility have been suspended, the website also said. He is not in isolation, nor has he asked to be put in any isolation. He generally stays in his cell as much as possible, so thats sort of like the rest of us who are living at home, he said. I dont know that you can totally isolate. Greenberg said he didnt know whether the jail had increased access to things such as soap and hand sanitizer. Is Kelly washing his hands more? Its a jail, so I dont know, Greenberg said. Meanwhile, R. Kellys upcoming video arraignment for his latest indictment in Brooklyn Federal Court was postponed until April 30, following a district mandate that puts many proceedings on pause due to coronavirus. The ends of justice served by taking this action outweigh the interests of the parties and the public in a speedy trial, Judge Ann M. Donnelly said in her order Monday. Update, March 26, 2020: Kellys legal team filed paperwork in Brooklyn Federal Court on Thursday asking for him to be released, claiming he is within the group of people the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has categorized as most-at-risk for contracting COVID-19, a dangerous illness spreading rapidly across the world. Lawyers for Kelly, 53, claim his age and the multiple surgeries he has undergone including a recent surgery while incarcerated, as well as conditions at jail, necessitat[e] his temporary release on bail until this pandemic has ended. The current medical emergency could cause the trial in this case to be unnecessarily delayed as a result,Kellys team also wrote in reference to health risks both to him and his lawyers, later saying, From Mr. Kellys perspective, his lifenot only his libertyis on the line, creating a powerful incentive to abide by any release conditions this Court may impose and changing the calculus that initially led to the denial of bail in this case. Update, March 30, 2020: The Brooklyn U.S. attorneys office filed paperwork Monday opposing Kellys bail request, insisting that hes well under the age of older adults at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. (Public-health officials, the Feds point out, say risk increases at age 65 or older.) Prosecutors who maintain that Kelly is likely to flee if released also said that he continues to have access to soap and cleaning supplies at no cost, and may purchase additional soap from the commissary if he so chooses. Kelly, they conclude, hasnt given a compelling reason to be released on bail. This is a breaking news story and has been updated. Are we the best at judging our own attractiveness? New research out in Frontiers in Robotics and AI shows that we might not be after all. Researchers from the Experimental Virtual Environments (EVENT) Lab at the University of Barcelona examined the difference between how we believe we look, and how we view our own body from an outsider's perspective. What they found was that people rate their own body more negatively when embodied in it, compared to viewing their exact same body except as an outsider. So, how exactly do we view our own body as an outsider? The researchers set out to answer this by recruiting 11 men and 12 women from the University of Barcelona. Participants filled out one questionnaire on eating disorders and one on body shape perception. The team used virtual reality to create three virtual bodies ("avatars") for each participant: one based on how participants indicated measurements of their own body as their own image of it, one based on their ideal body shape, and one based on their real body measurements. Once these computer models were created, participants were immersed in virtual reality to view these three avatars from two different perspectives -- first-person (like how we see our own bodies day to day) or third-person (how others in public would see us). They were then asked to rate the attractiveness of each of these virtual bodies. "Our results suggest that a change in perspective affected the evaluation of the attractiveness of a virtual body. For female participants, when the same virtual body was perceived from a third person perspective, it was evaluated as more attractive than when it was perceived from a first-person perspective," says lead author Dr. Solene Neyret. "Importantly, we also observed that the internal representation that people create of their own body is highly inaccurate." The researchers found that individuals' prior beliefs about 'the self' may be responsible for this effect and could prevent people from accurately judging their real appearance. Interestingly, the researchers also noted that the "ideal body" described by participants often had similar physical attributes one to another. This points towards the predominance of an 'ideal body shape' within the study's cultural environment. By using virtual reality, the researchers were able to give participants a new perspective on themselves -- in more than just a physical sense. The gap between the reality of how we look versus how we perceive how we look can often be at the root of many body perception disorders, and the techniques described here may have future applications for treatment. "By showing their real body to our female participants from a third person perspective, it appeared more attractive to them than when the same body was seen from a first-person perspective. We believe that this method can be particularly efficient for increasing body satisfaction in patients with eating disorders," states Neyret. "This method could help patients to understand the biased representation they have of their own body. This knowledge could re-orientate their attention to the real features of their body shape in a more accurate and objective way, that isn't affected by the negative prior beliefs they have about themselves," says Neyret. By being able to see ourselves as from an outside perspective, we might learn to get a more objective perception of our bodies, and start to live with a healthier and more accurate body image. I suggest it isnt when you are cooped up at home. Instead, though, I recommend we think of the great things we do have. Family and friends come to mind. Talk to them. Remember, this too will pass. Thank God that you are alive and healthy, when many are neither. Stay safe but keep yourself connected to the ones you love. Reach out to those youve forgotten, because the rat race is temporarily on hold. Think of this moment as an opportunity to connect, in small numbers of course. Do what youve been meaning to do for years but didnt have the time or energy to do. Bollywood actor Bhumi Pednekar on Monday showed concern for her family, while she practices social distancing by staying at home amid the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic. The 'Pati Patni Aur Who' actor took to Twitter and shared that the only thing in her mind these days is to keep her family safe. Bhumi shared a picture with her mom, where she is seen sitting near her feet. She captioned the post as, "To keep her safe is the only thing on my mind. Which means I am practising social distancing, I am self-isolating my family, we are being as responsible towards our community as possible by abiding by the govt. restrictions." The 30-year-old actor further appealed the netizens to take the necessary precautions to stay safe. She tweeted, "Please stay indoors, wash your hands, don't go to public places. If you feel you have any symptoms quarantine yourself and take immediate action. Don't feel ashamed !!!" Pednekar also asserted to "get together" as the next 4 weeks are very crucial. She tweeted, "We need to do this together. The next 4 weeks are so crucial #indiafightscorona #family #staystrong #CoronaStopKarona." On Sunday, Bhumi expressed gratitude to the relentless medical professionals who are working to cure the coronavirus patients. A 'Janata curfew' was observed yesterday to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic, which has claimed and over 13,000 lives worldwide. The total number of novel coronavirus cases in India rose to 415 on Monday including seven deaths. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Finnish English Finnveras Annual General Meeting: New members appointed to Supervisory Board Finnvera Plc Stock Exchange Release 23 March 2020 On 23 March 2020, Finnvera's Annual General Meeting appointed new members to the company's Supervisory Board. No changes were made in the composition of the Board of Directors. Pentti Hakkarainen, Member of the Supervisory Board, ECB Banking Supervision, will continue as Chairman of the Board of Directors, Antti Neimala, Director General, as First Vice Chairman and Terhi Jarvikare, Director General, as Second Vice Chairman. Ritva Laukkanen, MBA; Pekka Nuuttila, forester; Pirkko Rantanen-Kervinen, B.Sc (Econ.); and Antti Zitting, Enterprise Councellor, Chairman of the Board will continue as members of the Board of Directors. Lauri Muranen, Head of Industrial Affairs in The Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions SAK and Anne Niemi, Member of the Boards work committee in The Federation of Finnish Entrepreneurs, were appointed as new members to the Supervisory Board. Sofia Vikman, Member of Parliament, continues as Chairman of the Supervisory Board and Johannes Koskinen, Member of Parliament, as Vice Chairman. As members of the Supervisory Board will continue Members of Parliament Eeva-Johanna Eloranta, Mari Holopainen, Anne Kalmari, Juho Kautto, Juha Pylvas, Lulu Ranne, Wille Rydman and Joakim Strand continue as members to the Supervisory Board as well as Leila Kurki, Senior Adviser (Finnish Confederation of Professionals STTK); Kari Luoto, Managing Director (Finnish Grocery Trade Association); Veli-Matti Mattila, Director, Chief Economist (Finance Finland FFI); Jaana Montti, Finance Manager (Finnvera); Tommi Toivola, Director (Confederation of Finnish Industries) and Anette Vaini-Antila, II Vice Chairman (The Finnish Business School Graduates). The Annual General Meeting adopted the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Parent Companys Financial Statements for the period 1 January31 December 2019, discharged the Supervisory Board, the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer from liability, and approved the proposal made by the Board of Directors for the use of the parent companys profits. KPMG Oy Ab was appointed as the regular auditor with Marcus Totterman, Authorised Public Accountant, as the principal auditor. Further information: Risto Huopaniemi, Senior Vice President, Administration, Legal Affairs and Administration tel. +358 29 460 2520 India is capable of conducting 10,000 coronavirus tests a day and conducted 5,000 tests last week, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Speaking to the media, ICMR Director-General Balram Bhargava said the testing capacity could be increased above 10,000 if needed. Ensure that unless there are symptoms, there should not be any test, but isolation On indiscriminate testing, Bhargava said people were running for tests. "We ensure that unless there are symptoms, there should not be any test, but isolation," he said and added, it was essential to understand the ailment. "About 80 percent of the people will experience cold-like fever and will recover. Twenty percent may experience cough, cold, fever, and some of them may need admission to hospital," he said. Source: IANS Advertisement "In the last week, we have tested 5,000 cases, and the total could be around 15,000. It''s important that indiscriminate testing is not done. Those returning from abroad should go for isolation," he said. Marathwada Water Grid project is following the hybrid model, in which the company implementing the scheme will be investing 60 percent of the money. Experts say when the companies invest money, they expect returns, and no municipal corporation in Marathwada is in a position to pay more for water. Editor's note: This is the final article in a three-part series on Maharashtras water management process. Read Part I and Part II here. *** In June 2019, the then Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis told reporters that a blueprint of Marathwada Water Grid project is being prepared by the state government. Two months later, he said problems of the drought-hit region would be history once the project is in place. Three months later, Fadnavis was no longer the chief minister of the state. In 2016, Fadnavis had mooted the water grid project, when the drought in Marathwada was so acute that more than 4,000 tankers had to be deployed in the region. Costing the exchequer Rs 25,000 crore, it envisions an integrated piped network connecting 11 dams in the region to ensure year-long water supply for drinking, irrigation and industrial purposes. However, the new government under chief minister Uddhav Thackeray is reviewing feasibility of the ambitious project. Speaking to BBC Marathi, Water Supply Minister in the Uddhav government Gulabrao Patil in February 2020 said that the project has not been stayed, but the government is in the process of reviewing it. Comprising eight districts, Marathwada, or the Aurangabad division of Maharashtra recieves scanty rainfall of 700 millimetres. It is a drought-prone region, where water is considered the biggest asset. With April just a week away, water supply, even in Marathwada's biggest town of Aurangabad, comes down to once a week. Bulky, imposing water tankers navigate through the city, selling water illegally to the residents, because the corporation is unable to meet the demands of a growing city. Sanjeev Unhale, senior journalist and activist based in Aurangabad, said the daily trade of water tankers in Aurangabad during the months of April, May and June varies anywhere between Rs 30-35 lakh. "Hundreds of tankers run dozens of daily trips through the day. They extract groundwater from private borewells. Even though the groundwater recharge is depleting, the practice is rampant. If you have a bit of capital to invest, selling water is the most lucrative trade here," Unhale said. A 2,000-litre water tanker costs Rs 500 during peak summer. If used judiciously, a family of four usually ends up purchasing a tanker every week. "A daily wage labourer earns Rs 6000 a month. It means they spend one third of their monthly income on a necessity, which ideally should be their right, Unhale explained. To rid the region of this hex, Fadnavis had come up with the Marathwada Water Grid scheme. It is a variant of the river linking project. Under the project, The 11 dams that will be connected include Jayakwadi, (Aurangabad), Yeldari (Parbhani), Siddheshwar (Hingoli), Majalgaon and Manjra (Beed), Lower Terna and Sina Kolegaon (Osmanabad), Dhanegaon (Latur), among others. It aims to source water from sufficient area to the deficient one. At least, 76 towns, 79 talukas and more than 12,000 villages of the Marathwada region spread across 64,000 square kilometres with a population of 1.87 crore are supposed to benefit from the Marathwada Water Grid project. However, the project, believe experts, runs the risk of being a waste of taxpayer's money. Aurangabad-based Pradeep Purandare, water expert and retired associate professor at Water and Land Management Institute (WALMI), said the entire project is divided into ten parts. The first eight parts pertain to the internal water grid system of Marathwada. The last two deal with getting water from Konkan region, as well as, the catchment area of Krishna River. "The assumption of the project is that the dams would have water to be transferred from one place to another. But Marathwada has a water dispute with Nasik and Nagar. And the region itself gets limited water. Even Marathwada's biggest dam of Jayakwadi does not fill up every year. How will you transfer water when the dams hardly fill up," wondered Purandare. In the upstream of the Jayakwadi dam, there are 34 medium and big irrigation projects and hundreds of small projects. An analysis of the last 43 years (between the period 1975 to 2017) shows that for 24 years, or 56 percent of the time, water availability in the dam was inadequate during the Rabi season - which is when farmers sow the winter crops. The period between 2012-2015, all four years were especially bad. With erratic monsoons and sordid effects of climate change, observers say the bad years will outnumber the good ones, which means the other dams in Marathwada will be of no help. In October 2019, when farmers start preparing for the Rabi season, six of the 11 dams of Marathwada were at dead storage. Purandare said that when the water availability is uncertain, the transfer of limited water could lead to chaos and politicisation of the issue. "Today, specific dam is supposed to be the source for a specific district. A politician might use his influence to ensure more water for his district while depriving others of their rightful share. It could be chaotic and trigger water disputes," he added. The entire model of Marathwada Water Grid project is based on Israel. Israel's national water company Mekorot Development and Enterprise is carrying out the master plan for technology of implementation. The company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the government of Maharashtra. "There is a difference between Israel enforcing a plan and us emulating it. The scheme requires a certain law, discipline, and alertness. We do not have that," Purandare added. The project entails a pipeline of 1,300 kilometers which will require serious maintenance. Experts wonder if the state and its officials have the integrity and competence to carry that out sincerely enough. The existing 40-kilometer pipeline - from Jayakwadi to Aurangabad - is operating only at 50 percent capacity, triggering criminal wastage of water. Purandare asked if there are leakages and illegal connections on the current pipelines, "How are we to assume that the Water Grid pipeline would be immune from it?" Even in Latur, councillors don't know how much of that water is wasted when it's being transferred from the dam to people's homes. "The water is lifted from Dhanegaon dam, but how much of it actually reaches the people and how much of it is wasted is something we do not know," said a councillor on the condition of anonymity. "We need to install water meters for that and the corporation does not have money." The Israel model is not just difficult to emulate because of the state's inability to execute a plan so ambitious. Atul Deulgaokar, a senior environment journalist based in Marathwada's Latur district, said that Israel is a country which does not have problems related to energy and capital. "The Water Grid scheme is energy intensive, which means it will require heavy usage of electricity to pump water through the pipelines. In times of climate change, we have to think about conserving energy. This project does exactly the opposite. There are certain districts where the topography is such that we can use gravity for water transfers. That is the way to go forward," Deulgaokar said. Marathwada Water Grid project is following the hybrid model, in which the company implementing the scheme will be investing 60 percent of the money. Experts say when the companies invest money, they expect returns, and no municipal corporation in Marathwada is in a position to pay more for water. In July 2019, Latur's municipal corporation had a debt of Rs 350 crores, of which Rs 70 crore was just water bills. Councillor Ashok Govindpurkar said they spend Rs 12 crore a year for water. The recovery, however, is not even 10 percent of what they spend. "Half the expenses on water are for electricity bills because the water is pumped from dams built outside the city," he said. Urban local bodies across Maharashtra are in the same situation. There are 264 of them 26 Municipal Corporations (MCs), 231 Municipal Councils and 7 Cantonment boards. The fourth finance commission report of Maharashtra that came out in 2015 said the "total deficit for Municipal Corporations and Municipal councils in Maharashtra comes to Rs 13,673.71 crores". It also noted, "During the period FY 2008 to 2014(BE), the (state) assistance to Urban Local Bodies has grown by almost 1.8 times." With added electricity bills, the water grid project will only increase their financial burden. Instead, Purandare said, the current Maharashtra government should focus on improving the efficiency of existing schemes, betterment of infrastructure that are already in place and water conservation at the demand level. "The government should seriously reconsider this project," Purandare said and added, "It will not quench Marathwadas thirst, and will make things worse. It is an absolute waste of money." The author is a WASH Matters 2019 Media Fellow. Reporting for this story was supported by WaterAid India's 'WASH Matters 2019 Media Fellowship Programme' By Barry Sheelan, in Sardinia, Italy Today (Monday) marks two weeks since the national lockdown was announced by the Italian government. As of this afternoon, there have been 367 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 Coronavirus here on the island of Sardinia, and a total of 8 people have now died due to the virus. Following restrictions in place since March 10th, we can only leave our homes in order to go grocery shopping, for medical reasons, or for essential work. Supermarkets follow strict distancing measures, and we must queue outside in order to enter on a basis of one out, one in. Following new restrictions, announced over the weekend, most factories have also been forced to close - only those who can produce essential goods can remain open. Many textile factories across Italy have diversified, and are now producing face masks in order to meet the demand nationwide, and as such, can stay open. We are also now strongly advised against going for walks and runs outside, and some individual cities and towns in Sardinia have even outlawed this completely. Others stipulate that you must stay within a 250-metre radius of your home. Police continue to patrol the streets, stopping people in order to verify that they have a justified reason to be out and about. When were out, we must carry a self-declaration form that states, among other things, the reasons for travel, that youre not currently under quarantine, or positive for the COVID-19 Coronavirus. This must always be accompanied by photo ID. The Police were also recently joined by the Italian military in performing these checks. Following Italian Prime Minister Contes emergency decree on March 10th, it is now against the law to be travelling, either on foot or by car, without a valid justification. Any member of the public found to be in defiance of this law, risk being fined 206, and any repeat offenders risk up to three months imprisonment. Undeterred by these strict measures, small numbers of people unfortunately still continue to meet in groups, or to leave their homes without a valid reason. Daily, we hear news of people being reported to the Police and fined. It is constantly reinforced that these people are putting everyone at risk. The precautions advised by governments and health organisations arent there just to protect ourselves from the COVID-19 virus, but in order to protect those in our community that are most at risk. These people may not fare so well if they contract the virus. At home, my wife and I are coming to terms with whats going on - life under lockdown is becoming the new normal. We now spend the majority of our time reading, writing, playing music, studying, and cooking. Our Saint Patricks Day consisted of a two-hour long Skype video chat with my family, accompanied by a few beers, and some tunes played on the guitar. Just because were isolated, it doesnt mean that were alone. Family, friends, and community, are the reason why we are going through this tough period of social distancing. Despite the negativity I see on the news every day, I remain optimistic that everything will be alright. This feeling is helped by the great community spirit in the town where I live. Its worth noting that even the smallest act of kindness can go a long way to making us feel more connected. Just because were keeping a distance, doesnt mean we cant smile and wave to our neighbours, or be kind to others. Keep up to date with Barry at his personal blog: www.vivaladolcevita.com Seven Britons have been detained in hospital isolation rooms in India and stopped from returning to the UK after six members tested positive for COVID-19. Janet Leigh, 83, from Norfolk, Nairn Lawson, 76, from Somerset, Elizabeth Lawson, 75, from North Somerset, Steven Hancock, 61, from Suffolk, Ann Williams, 61, from Suffolk and Jane Jackson, 63, from Kettering, have been living in the hospital in Kerala since last week. The group had been part of a 19-people tour across the southern coast of the country when just six days into the holiday one person fell ill with flu-like symptoms and was tested for the virus. Six have since tested positive for the virus while the seventh is the partner of a person who tested positive. Among the seven British nationals who are being kept in Kerala, India, by the authorities is Janet Leigh (right) Elizabeth and Nairn Lawson (pictured) are among the group of British citizens who are being kept in Kerala One member of the group is now symptomatic and is using a ventilator as he battles pneumonia while the others do not yet show any symptoms of the virus. However the nationals are now pleading with the Foreign Office to be brought back home, with the daughter of one of the members of the group stating the conditions that her father was made to live in was 'unhygienic and unsanitary'. Steven Hancocks's daughter Evie Hancock, 31, from Chigwell, Essex, said the group were scheduled to fly back home on March 15 when they were removed from their flight. She said: 'They were on a structured trip around Kerala, southern India, it included a tour of the tea plantations, some time with the elephants. They were in a group of 19 on the trip.' 'Six days into the holiday, one person fell ill with flu-like symptoms. He was tested and was confirmed negative. 'The group were then told to fly home because everything was closing down and coronavirus was stepping up. They all boarded a flight on Sunday March 15. They were on the tarmac for 30 minutes before they were removed from the flight. Steve Hancock and Ann Willams (pictured) had been on the group tour through India when just six days in one person fell ill with flu-like symptoms Jane Jackson 63, from Kettering, is among the seven British national who are being detained in a hospital in Kerala 'They were told that the results that were given were incorrect and that he was actually positive and then he and his wife were taken off to hospital. We haven't heard anything about them. 'The rest of the group went to a hotel called Lotus 8 near the airport and were held there on one floor from the Sunday to the Friday just gone. 'They were swabbed on the Wednesday, and the results came back showing five out of the 17 were positive. 'At the moment they are still in their hospital rooms, and haven't been allowed to leave. I think they asked to remain together because I don't think they would cope by themselves. The daughter of Steven Hancocks, Evie Hancock, 31, from Chigwell, Essex, described the conditions the group were living in (pictured) Ms Hancock, who is demanding action from the Foreign Office, said the group's living conditions were 'unhygienic and unsanitary'. Pictured: The living conditions the group claim they are staying in The worried daughter went on to say that despite the conditions the group were not allowed to leave. Pictured: The rooms that group claim they are staying in 'When they tested positive on Friday, they were taken at speed to the Kala-Messary Government Medical College.' She claimed that: 'It is unhygienic and unsanitary, and they are taking blood from them in the room because they're not allowed to leave.' The group's tour operator, Mercury Holidays, has since said they have arranged secure and comfortable accommodation for the group to move to and are trying 'everything in their power' to persuade the Indian authorities to transfer the tourists. Ms Hancock continued: 'Mercury holidays have confirmed they have paid for them to move to a private hospital. 'The minister hasn't confirmed yet whether they can be moved to the private hospital, that's the brick wall they are facing and they are going into the third night in that accommodation. 'I think they are all struggling mentally but they are trying to keep each other spirits up. They are not being fed properly and they are not in an environment that is remotely okay to leave an animal in let alone a human. 'We don't have anyone on the ground liaising for us, we don't know how many negative results we have to get back before they can be moved out of isolation. 'My dad has asthma which is not ideal and he has previously been prone to pneumonia so he is definitely at a high risk.' Ms Hancock said she now needed the Foreign Office to 'act immediately' and find a way to return the group back home. She added: 'We need to act immediately in the situation and understand that this is a vulnerable group of elderly British nationals who need to be considered as a group. 'We need to try and find a way to work together to get them moved to a suitable facility as soon as possible before we potentially run into further health complications which could be irreversible. 'This needs the attention of the deputy High Commissioner or anyone else who is able to get this group moved. Mercury holidays are happy to front the cost for this so what do we need to do to help them move.' The group's worried family members in the UK are now appealing for help from local MPs. A Foreign & Commonwealth Office spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Our staff are supporting a group of British people currently undergoing medical treatment in India and are in touch with the local health authorities.' A spokesman for Mercury Holidays said: 'Our first and only priority is to get our customers into safe, secure and comfortable accommodation where they can receive the highest quality of care. We are doing everything that we can to make this happen and we will pay for all those in Kerala to have private medical care. 'We are continually speaking to the Foreign Office and have been for a number of days. We urge them to do everything in their power to persuade the Indian authorities to transfer our customers so they can get the critical care they need.' Publisher Pearson issued a profit warning and suspended its 350million share buyback programme to preserve cash as it's hit by school closures around the world and exams cancellations in the UK. The company said it has had to close down the majority of its VUE test centres at least until the middle April, and as a result it expects to take a hit of 25million to 35million to profits this year. 'As we manage the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, and with the likelihood of prolonged uncertainty, the Pearson Board has decided it is prudent to pause our share buyback,' it said. Pearson is being hit by school closures around the world and exams cancellations in the UK But it also said it has seen in increase in demand for its digital resources and online learning business, which it expects to include fully online university programmes too. 'We believe that this growing interest should translate into increased billings later in the year and thereafter, although the scale will depend in part on how long the disruption to face to face teaching and learning persists,' it said in an update to investors today. Shares closed 9 per cent lower at 454p on Monday. The former owner of the Financial Times, Economist and Penguin was already struggling with falling sales of its printed university course books before the coronavirus outbreak. The company, which now focuses mostly on higher education courseware, has been struggling to adjust quickly enough to the digital shift. But perhaps this crisis will force it to act faster in that direction. 'We are seeing many administrators and educators reach out to discuss large scale solutions for virtual schooling as well as potential interest from new states which have not previously considered virtual schooling as a choice for students,' it said. Analyst Neil Wilson at Markets.com said: 'Pearson has paused its buyback but is benefiting from a significant rise on online product - it could be a key moment in this division, albeit clearly there is an impact on its businesses that rely on learners and staff being able to access physical sites.' Russ Mould at AJ Bell said the suspension of the share buyback programme 'makes perfect sense' as it is 'a quick and easy way to preserve cash'. But he added: 'It does question the long-term value of buyback schemes as it could be argued that boardrooms have fallen into the trap of buying near the top. 'The programmes have offered no support to share price at all, either, which is something else to consider in the future.' The coronavirus pandemic and the resulting lockdowns on Monday led a foreign brokerage to sharply cut India's growth forecast for the next financial year starting 1 April, to 4 percent from the 5.1 percent estimated earlier New Delhi: The coronavirus pandemic and the resulting lockdowns on Monday led a foreign brokerage to sharply cut India's growth forecast for the next financial year starting 1 April, to 4 percent from the 5.1 percent estimated earlier. In a note, UBS Securities said it expects India to clock a 4.8 percent growth in FY20. "For the full year, we now expect India's real GDP growth to slow further to 4 percent year-on-year in FY21 (previously 5.1 percent)," UBS said in a research note. It can be noted that a lot of worries are being voiced on the economic impact of the ongoing pandemic, which has resulted in over 400 Indians getting infected and at least seven deaths. Calls for a stimulus from the government and the RBI are also being made. "The challenge for India vs its peers is starker if infections spread rapidly considering the higher density of population per capita and weaker health infrastructure," UBS' economist Tanvee Gupta Jain said. The brokerage said, increased risks of a global recession and recent mobility restrictions and social distancing measures are moving it to place India under the "severe pandemic" scenario. The real GDP growth will slow to under 2.5 percent for the June 2019 quarter, from the estimate of 4 percent for March, it said. It said the economic impact will be determined more by the mobility restrictions on the population, rather than the growth of the affected cases per se. It said the shutdowns like those of shopping malls and of select districts will impact consumption in the economy. It can be noted that in the past, economists have been stressing that India is a consumption-driven economy. The brokerage pitched for a coordinated and concerted fiscal stimulus in the light of the current scenario. This can either be a direct consumption stimulus in form of cash transfers or indirect one by giving sector-specific incentives to industries to avoid large-scale job losses which will be directed towards small and medium enterprises or stressed sectors, it said. The RBI is most likely to cut rates at the 3 April review meet and cut its key rates by 1 percentage point over the next year, it said. Two sisters in Pennsylvania just finished a full week of learning at home since their school was closed to help stop the spread of coronavirus. But even though Carrington, 6, and Brooke, 8, aren't going to their school in Hummelstown, a few miles away from Hershey Park, they're still going to their front yard every morning to say the Pledge of Allegiance, their dad, Jeff Paukovitch, told CNN. In a video Paukovitch posted on Twitter, Carrington and Brooke can be seen with their backpacks filled with books, lunchboxes in one hand and their other hands over their hearts as they recite the pledge as they would do in their schools. Paukovitch and his wife are educators and feel they have the tools they need to get them through this time at home. "I think a lot of parents wouldn't think of that (the Pledge of Allegiance), but that's my normal life too because I teach second grade and that's kind of my everyday," he said. Carrington and Brooke said adding the pledge to their school at home routine was Paukovitch's idea. His daughters have been enjoying the time at home but still stick to a schedule. The sisters still wake up, get dressed as if they're going to school, do their hair and head out the front door for the pledge at 9 a.m. "We didn't explain much to them in terms of the actual virus," Paukovitch said. "They know that when we go outside and play we can't play with other kids in the neighborhood and that we can't go to stores right now, but they're kind of just in their own little world and enjoying playing. They don't really understand the scope of what's going on." Paukovitch said they have at least another week of at home learning ahead of them. But, like so many other educators and parents around the US, he isn't really sure how long it will last. CONTACT: Pamela D. Wilson 303-810-1816 Email: Inquiry_For_Pamela@pameladwilson.com Golden, Colorado March 23, 2020 The Caring Generation Living With Elderly Parents Golden CO- Caregiving expert Pamela D. Wilson hosts The Caring Generation radio program for caregivers and aging adults this coming Wednesday, March 25th, on the Bold Brave Media Network. The program airs live at 9 p.m. EST. The Caring Generation aired initially from 2009 to 2011 on 630 KHOW-AM in Denver, Colorado. On The Caring Generation radio show for caregivers and aging adults this Wednesday evening, March 25th, Pamela D. Wilson shares ten situations and solutions for Setting Boundaries With Elderly Parents. Being a caregiver involves learning to set limits for the caregiver and the elderly parent. Setting limits and boundaries is difficult for caregivers who want to be helpful and who feel responsible for the care of elderly parents. Setting Boundaries The March 25th radio program offers solutions for caregivers in situations where elderly parents refuse to help themselves, parents who expect adult children to care for them at home instead of moving into a care community, and elderly parents who refuse to listen to medical recommendations. A significant part of being proactive in caregiving situations involves being proactive with health What happens when elderly parents refuse to allow paid assistance into the home so that adult children have support? Do elderly parents have the right to demand that the only caregivers be family members? Caregiving support for elderly parents begins with tasks around the home and extends to managing chronic health conditions. The subject of chronic disease is more relevant today because the elderly who have multiple chronic diseases are more susceptible to the coronavirus. Chronic diseases and the poor health of elderly parents have a significant effect on the careers, finances, and the personal health of family caregivers. Chronic diseases affect more than 60% of Americans, according to the CDC. Caregivers with chronic diseases today become the elderly of tomorrow who will need family care. The Prevalence of Chronic Disease Chronic diseases include heart disease, stroke, cancer, COPD and breathing concerns, obesity, diabetes, arthritis, kidney disease, and dementia. Consumers have a personal responsibility to learn about health prevention and disease management. Transmission of viruses, like the coronavirus, will have less power if consumers choose to change lifestyle habits to reduce the prevalence of chronic disease. The Partnership for Chronic Disease reports that adults with chronic conditions are the most frequent users of healthcare in the United States, with 81% of all hospital admissions, 91% of prescriptions filled, and 75% of all physician visits. These statistics confirm why healthcare costs are high and why hospitals are presently stretched to treat persons with the coronavirus. The Coronavirus It's Not A Supply Issue It's a People Issue The issue with the coronavirus is not a supply issueit's a people issue. As we see from younger generations who are ignoring recommendations for social distancing, a belief exists that "we're healthy until we're not." The belief that "we're healthy until we're not" extends to all ages until the diagnosis of a chronic disease or a virus happens. Consistent hygiene practices reduce the prevalence of all infections. Health and hygiene practices don't become relevant until illness or a virus becomes a personal threat. Employers Have a Responsibility to Support Caregivers Working caregivers are the primary support for elderly parents. Juggling work and caregiving continue to be a concern. Caregivers worry about how to work and care for elderly parents. Instead of waiting for a caregiving pandemic to force the issue, providing education for working adults who care for elderly parents is a prevention strategy. Caregivers learn from caring for elderly parents. Being proactive about health and planning for care when older are the positive effects of being a caregiver. Pamela D. Wilson offers digital caregiving programs for corporations interested in supporting working caregivers Wilson also develops content for companies seeking to communicate with family caregivers. Join Pamela on The Caring Generation to learn the answers to these and other questions about living with elderly parents. The Caring Generation radio program airs live at 6 p.m. Pacific, 7 p.m. Mountain, 8 p.m. Central, and 9 p.m. Eastern every Wednesday night. Replays of the weekly programs are available in podcast format with transcripts on Pamela's website and all major podcast sites. More information about Pamela and her support programs are available on her website. # BioMax COVID-19 Isolation Room Our goal is to help healthcare providers establish safe and effective isolation spaces; hopefully slowing the spread of this devastating virus. - Bruce Powell, President and Founder of ExhibitMax. Today Minnesota-based engineering and fabrication company, ExhibitMax, announced their new BioMax Isolation Systems, enabling hospitals to meet increased quarantine requirements of the rapidly spreading COVID-19 virus. Our goal is to help healthcare providers establish safe and effective isolation spaces; hopefully slowing the spread of this devastating virus. said Bruce Powell, President and Founder of ExhibitMax. BioMax Isolation Systems are an ideal containment solution for infectious disease treatment. Each Isolation System is completely turn-key including professional on-site installation which can be completed without ward closure in less than one day. Constructed of aluminum framework with PVC panels, BioMax Isolation Systems are easy to disinfect, are movable, and are highly customizable. They are a unique and cost-effective alternative to brick and mortar solutions with proven technology that has been used for years in cleanroom applications. Optional fan and filter offerings are available to create either positive or negative pressure systems. BioMax Isolation Systems can also be conveniently combined with BioMax Partition Wall Systems to create entire temporary wards. Developed in response to the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, BioMax Isolation Systems help hospitals and other healthcare providers treat a larger number of patients. BioMax Isolation Systems can be produced and installed in as little as 14 days, giving providers a timely response to overcrowding. With rental periods starting at three months, BioMax Isolation Systems present hospitals with the ability to respond quickly without large overhead investment. As the COVID-19 virus continues to spread, hospitals are finding themselves overwhelmed and unable to cope with exploding numbers of patients. The CDC and WHO continue to recommend that hospitals react immediately, quarantining any who are believed to be infected with COVID-19 for the safety of the general public. However, most hospitals are not equipped to keep multiple individuals in isolation at once. ExhibitMax is prepared to begin deploying BioMax Isolation Systems today, increasing healthcare providers capacity for infectious disease treatment in a safe secure structure. ExhibitMax and BioMax Isolation Systems are either registered trademarks or trademarks of ExhibitMax Inc. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. For more information on BioMax Isolation Systems: https://biomaxsystems.com/ For pricing and availability, please contact: Bruce Powell (952) 641-6771 or (612) 804-9264 bpowell@exhibitmax.net The Whisler family has become accustomed to uncertainty. Childhood cancer, they said, forces you to take things one day at a time. Their son Colton, now age 5, was diagnosed in January 2018 with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of cancer that develops in soft tissues and bones. Colton underwent two years of treatment at St. Judes Childrens Hospital, but during his 55 chemotherapy treatments and eight rounds of radiation, he had something to look forward to. He was going to get to pet a penguin. Hes just always loved penguins, said Coltons mother, Stephanie. She said Colton has a favorite stuffed penguin, and he often speaks about the day hell get to pet a real one. And, thanks to Make-A-Wish Nebraska, he was going to get to pet that penguin at SeaWorld in Orlando. After Colton showed no sign of disease this January, the trip was scheduled and they planned to leave on May 22: Coltons sixth birthday. Additional reporting by Aoife Moore Detailed policy papers are to be exchanged this week between Leo Varadkar and Micheal Martin in a bid to kickstart Government formation talks. The papers, to centre on the economy, health, and housing, will be exchanged to explore the development of a programme for government. Discussions between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are to take place tomorrow, but neither side could give any indication as to how soon a new government could be formed. Speaking at Leinster House yesterday, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin confirmed that talks between the two parties will occur tomorrow, and it is expected the two parties will exchange papers aimed at forming a majority government. There will be meetings this week in relation to that. And there will be an exchange of papers between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael in relation to that this week, thats towards the middle of the week, he said. Mr Martin refused to state if he would be happy to allow key Fine Gael ministers such as Simon Harris and Simon Coveney remain in their positions to deal with the crisis, as suggested by Green Party leader Eamon Ryan. We will be entering those discussions this week. And as far as were concerned ... Ive already had discussions with the Taoiseach some weeks back with clear understandings in terms of how that would develop, he said. Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald said she was not yet giving up hope of being involved in the next government, even though both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have ruled out working with her. She said the people voted for change, and things have radically changed since then. I think we need a government people mandated, a government of change, she said. Things have changed radically since then. But no, I think the process for government formation needs to continue. I tell you another thing: The Dail needs to meet there needs to be parliamentary oversight. When asked if her party were still holding talks, she replied: Yes, absolutely. Mr Varadkar, speaking in Dublin, refused to be drawn on his position, other than to say that talks are continuing. In terms of government formation, you know talks are ongoing between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, and we remain open to talk to parties, like the Green Party, Labour, Social Democrats, should they wish to speak to us, he said. Six weeks on from the election, the advent of the Covid-19 crisis has slowed formation talks to a halt. There is mounting pressure on Fine Gael and Fianna Fail to come together with either the Green Party or the so-called Regional Group of Independent TDs who have said they are willing to serve or support a government. Following the Greens call for a national unity government to be formed a move rejected out of hand by both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael there has been some cooling in the desire to work with Eamon Ryan and his now expanded party of 12 TDs. The group of independents, which includes Sean Canney, Denis Naughten, Noel Grealish, and Michael Lowry, has opened strong working channels with both Mr Varadkar and Mr Martin, and there is a sense they would be more solid in government than the Greens. The Taoiseach also said that he will recall the existing Seanad to pass new legislation in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic before the weekend. As coronavirus threat continues to grip the country, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar apprised about his interaction with Sri Lanka's foreign minister Dinesh Gunawardena on SAARC-COVID Summit decisions. With India leading the battle against the global pandemic Coronavirus (COVID19), Prime Minister Modi, on March 15, addressed a video conference with the SAARC nations to share efforts and issues as the seven countries battle the pandemic. The video conference was led by PM Modi and was attended by Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani, Maldives President Ibrahim Solih, Sri Lanka president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bhutan Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering, Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's assistant - Dr Zafar Mirza. PM Modi highlighted the SAARC's ancient ties and said that 'we must work and succeed together'. Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar stated that the disruptions caused by coronavirus are being addressed by the neighboring countries. Just spoke to FM @DCRGunawardena of #SriLanka. Reviewed follow-up to the #SAARC-COVID Summit decisions. As good neighbours, we work closely to address the #COVID disruptions. Look forward to keeping in touch. Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 23, 2020 READ: SAARC Disaster Management Centre launches website to share info on coronavirus PM Modi announces COVID-19 Emergency fund Taking the initiative to battle the pandemic Coronavirus (COVID-19), PM Modi, during the SAARC video conference had announced setting up of a common 'COVID-19 emergency fund' and pledged $10 million as India's contribution to it. "I propose we create a COVID-19 emergency fund. This could be based on a voluntary contribution for all of us. India can start with an initial offer of USD 10 million and any one of us can use this fund for battling COVID19. We are assembling a Rapid action team of doctors in India along with testing kits to be on standby at your disposal if required," the PM said. READ: Coronavirus LIVE Updates: All domestic airlines shut,19 states & UTs under lockdown READ: Reliance sets up India's first COVID-19 dedicated hospital in Mumbai READ: MASSIVE: All domestic commercial airlines to cease operation from midnight on 24 March [March 23, 2020] Technology allows Walsh to transition spring semester and student services to 100% remote delivery TROY, Mich., March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- While some universities and colleges are cancelling their next semester and others are feverishly working to bring courses and services online, Walsh has transitioned 100 percent of all courses and student services to remote delivery in a week's time. On March 13, Walsh moved all exams, classes and student services to a remote delivery format. Final exams were converted and administered remotely the week of March 16. Spring semester, starting March 30, will be 100 percent remote delivery and all Walsh locations will remain closed until April 20. Every Walsh student receives a Zoom Pro account once enrolled in classes. This has allowed uninterrupted access to resources such as: admissions and advising counselors, career services, faculty consultations, financial aid, free tutoring, library resources, and records. Student organizations have been converting on-site events to virtual events. Students can purchase books and return them free of charge online and use the Navigate Student app to schedule advising appointments, form study groups and receive account updates and other reminders. Walsh is also offering special emergency funds for current students in need. "Taking care of our students' safety is our number one priority," said Marsha Kelliher, President and CEO. "With the technology we had in place and 96 percent of Walsh students already attending partially or entirely online, our online learning and IT teams expediently and effectively transitioned the school to 100 percent remote delivery of courses and student services. Walsh students can safely and seamlessly continue their education during these challenging times." Several of Walsh's online degree programs, such as the Master of Business Administration, have received international and natonal recognition for excellence. "For students experiencing an interruption in their education due to closures, Walsh welcomes you," said Patti Swanson, Vice President and Chief Marketing and Enrollment Officer. "We hope to help you keep your academic momentum moving forward during downtime at your current school." Current and prospective students can meet with an advisor by phone or virtually Monday through Thursday 9am to 7pm and Friday from 9am to 5 pm. Email [email protected] or [email protected]. Updates on Walsh's response to the coronavirus are available at www.walshcollege.edu/coronavirus Registration for spring semester is open through April 5. Classes begin March 30. ABOUT WALSH Walsh is an all-business, private, independent, not-for-profit, fully accredited college offering undergraduate, graduate and doctoral business and technology degrees, as well as certificate programs. Founded in 1922, Walsh is one of Southeast Michigan's largest graduate business schools, offering classes in several locations and online. Our nationally-ranked programs integrate theory and application to prepare graduates for successful careers. Walsh degree programs include accounting, finance, information technology, human resources, management, marketing, taxation and other fields. For more information, please visit www.walshcollege.edu. Walsh is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (www.hlcommission.org) and the Accreditation Council for Business Schools & Programs (www.acbsp.org). Media Contact: Patti Swanson VP, Chief Marketing and Enrollment Officer Walsh Mobile - 248-302-1360 [email protected] View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/technology-allows-walsh-to-transition-spring-semester-and-student-services-to-100-remote-delivery-301028428.html SOURCE Walsh [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has called on government to adopt what it described as more aggressive measures to prevent further spread of the coronavirus in the country. According to the TUC, government should consider a total lockdown if necessary. Mr. President, the risk of spread of the virus in Ghana remains high. We need more aggressive measures to protect the people from this deadly virus, including a lockdown if that is what is needed to protect the people, TUC noted in a letter to President Nana Akufo-Addo signed by its General Secretary, Dr. Yaw Baah. Although the TUC commended the government for the measures so far put in place to combat the virus, it in the letter appealed to government to equip frontline health officials with the necessary equipment. Free sanitizers TUC also urged government to provide Ghanaians with free sanitizers or subsidize the prices of the produces to make them affordable for everyone. Only workers performing essentials services should be allowed to work but they should be adequately protected from the infection. The Pharmaceuticals industry and others that produce basic household supplies must be given financials and fiscals incentives to increase production. We strongly suggest that the government should provide sanitizers to all residents in Ghana free of charge or they should be subsidized to make them affordance to everyone, regardless of their income levels, TUC pleaded in the letter. Coronavirus cases in Ghana The novel coronavirus cases recorded in Ghana have risen to 24. Twenty-three of the confirmed cases are receiving treatment in isolation and one of the cases who had an underlying chronic pulmonary condition prior to having COVID-19 died [on Saturday, March 21], ---citinewsroom A close up of a test kit for testing for the coronavirus, Covid-19 is seen at Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Newton, Massachusetts on March 18, 2020, as the hospital has set up three tents in the parking garage where patients who have been pre-screened can show up for testing. Homeowners rest assured: Thieves are not posing as health officials testing for the coronavirus. A particularly viral hoax has spread across local news outlets, police departments and social networks cautioning citizens in various parts of the world to beware of scammers posing as "coronavirus testers," sometimes in hazmat suits, determined to break into homes. Despite reports from news agencies and police departments from the United States to South Africa and the U.K., there does not appear to be any evidence of the viral urban legend occurring in real life. But articles and posts around the world warning of the phenomenon have garnered millions of shares on Facebook. Read more from NBC News: Sen. Amy Klobuchar says her husband has tested positive for coronavirus Florida closes state parks after criticism of its response to coronavirus Love in the time of coronavirus: New York City couple married on street by friend in window NBC News contacted several police departments that issued warnings about door-to-door scammers. None said that they had substantiated reports of such activity, and many said they were pushed to respond due to concern on social media. The rapid and international dissemination of the warnings shows how false or misleading information can end up in legitimate channels, even those that are looking to serve the public interest, misinformation experts told NBC News. The hoax offers regionalized versions of the same narrative, with the fictitious robbers posing as CDC officials in American iterations, and Red Cross or the U.K.'s National Health Service in others. Similar hoaxes predate the coronavirus, including some that used the upcoming U.S. census in place of the coronavirus. Variations of the alleged hoax popped on social media up in early March. These were amplified and legitimized by police departments who issued warnings to the public despite little to no evidence of door-to-door scammers. Claire Wardle, executive director of First Draft, a nonprofit dedicated to tackling misinformation, said that government agencies including police departments need to be "triple checking" the information they release to avoid eroding public trust. "Governments are worried about the economic impact, health supplies and food logistics, but I don't think government agencies are prepared for real-time debunking," she said. Wardle said many of coronavirus hoaxes currently circulating rely on familiar false narratives. "We are seeing a lot of templated hoaxes right now," Wardle. "If they worked before, why come up with something new." The Piscataway Township Police Department in New Jersey was among the first police departments to release a statement on its Facebook page on March 10, advising residents that "representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are not going door-to-door to conduct coronavirus-related surveillance." The department acknowledged that there had been no reported incidents in the area, but said it was responding to social media posts about such a scam. Other New Jersey police departments followed suit, and the story was picked up by local news outlet My Central Jersey. In total, the posts have received hundreds of thousands of shares on Facebook the last week. Since the police reports went viral across Facebook in the U.S., the rumors have evolved to include references to the scammers wearing protective clothing. "These people are pretending to test for COVID and going door to door," wrote one person in Pasadena, California on hyper-local social network Nextdoor along with a picture of four people wearing what appear to be white hazmat suits. "They are imposters and are robbing homes. DO NOT OPEN your door to these people." The city of Pasadena subsequently posted a scam alert on Twitter. A spokeswoman for the city said that they had a "few reports on one block but couldn't locate the person they were referring to." Police departments in New York, Texas, California, Ohio, Florida and Arkansas issued warnings to the public that were picked up by local media. Most of them referred to the CDC but some, including Kent County in Michigan, said that scammers were pretending to be from the Red Cross. Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office tweeted a "scam alert" on Thursday stating that "people in white lab coats, masks & gloves are knocking on doors stating that they're from the Department of Health of the CDC." Palm Beach Police issued a similar warning Friday. "We didn't have any incidents of anyone going round to scam people, but we wanted to warn the public instead of waiting," said Michael Ogrodnick, public information officer for Palm Beach Police. On the same day, New York state Attorney General Letifia James published a statement about the scam referring to "reports of Otsego County residents" being targeted by scammers. A spokeswoman for the Otsego County health department told NBC News that it had not received calls from members of the public about this scam, but that she had heard that there were social media posts about it. Joan Donovan, the director of the Technology and Social Change Project at Harvard's Shorenstein Center, warned of a "media effect" that could drum up fear of a baseless rumor at a time when reliable information matters more than ever. "With this rumor, there are invisible intruders, along with next-level fears of who might be a carrier and who isn't," Donovan said. "These rumors get dangerous with that added fear and suspicion." C hildren of key workers who are allowed to attend school must be kept more than two metres apart, ministers said today as mass classroom closures began. Health Secretary Matt Hancock acknowledged it would be a challenge but said it was the best way to stop coronavirus spreading. Headteachers, who are supported by only a skeleton staff, were today bracing themselves for the scale of demand with experts predicting two million pupils a quarter of the UK school population could still arrive. Only the children of key workers such as medics, police and food distribution staff, as well as vulnerable youngsters, are now allowed to attend school. Matt Hancock leaves Downing Street / Getty Images Asked about protective equipment for teachers on BBC Breakfast, Mr Hancock said: There will be far, far fewer children in schools so they should be as much as is possible I have three small children so I know this is a challenge they should be kept more than two metres apart. That is the best way to stop the spread of this virus whether in a school or any other place. He said it was really important schools stay open for the children of key workers but added if they could make alternative arrangements then even those youngsters should not go. Parents have been warned they could be in for difficult conversations if they take their children to school when they have an alternative means of looking after them. The Department for Education has urged parents to keep their children at home unless their work is deemed critical to the countrys response to Covid-19 and they have no other option. If required, schools can ask for simple evidence that the parent in question is a critical worker, such as their work ID badge or pay slip. Union bosses urged parents to keep their children away from schools. Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said sending a child to school should be seen as a last resort, while Dr Mary Bousted, joint head of the National Education Union, said the schools can operate only if everyone plays fair. Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures 1 /81 Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures A deserted Westminster Bridge PA A man wearing a face mask or covering due to the COVID-19 pandemic, walks past customers sat outside a restaurant AFP via Getty Images Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons Runners pass cardboard cutouts of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William during the London Marathon in London AP An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station Jeremy Selwyn Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield PA A sign is displayed in the window of a student accommodation building following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Mancheste Reuters People take part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions, in Londo AP People sing and dance in Leicester Square on the eve on the 10PM curfew Reuters Hearts painted by a team of artists from Upfest are seen in the grass at Queen Square, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Bristol Reuters Graffiti reads 'good luck and stay safe', as the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases grow around the world, under a bridge in London Reuters A sign is pictured in Soho, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London Reuters Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures, during a coronavirus briefing in Downing Street, London AP A person runs past posters with a message of hope, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Manchester REUTERS Riot police face protesters who took part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions in London AP An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London's Piccadilly Circus PA Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images Durdle Door in Dorset Reuters Captain Tom Moore via Reuters Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak PA An NHS worker reacts at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS Reuters Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno @AndrewStuart via PA Tobias Weller PA Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed London Landscapes: Hyde Park and the Serpentine, central London. Matt Writtle A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus PA Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue Reuters A young man cuts another man's hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford Reuters General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London via Reuters Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace Getty Images A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home PA Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak. PA Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers PA A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of "panic buying" cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus. Getty Images People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour PA Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus PA Children are painting 'Chase the rainbows' artwork and springing up in windows across the country Reuters Social distancing in Primrose Hill Jeremy Selwyn A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended PA Homeless people in London AFP via Getty Images A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow's street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss PA The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic PA A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world Reuters Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA Britain's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street Reuters The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh's Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak. PA Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear PA A sign at a Sainsbury's supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world Reuters Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" Getty Images A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads "Diseases are in the City" in Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors PA A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh PA A quieter than usual British Museum Getty Images A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre Getty Images A deserted Trafalgar Square in London PA Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport Getty Images Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said as many children as possible should stay away from school, adding: To do otherwise will risk the health of your family and the successful response to Covid-19. Please do not confuse Dunkirk Spirit with recklessness. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said the Government would be closely monitoring the situation, adding: If your work is not critical in the response to coronavirus then please keep your child at home. This will help to halt the spread of the virus, protect the NHS and save lives. Loading.... As parents told how they were home-schooling, a senior law enforcement boss urged them to be alert over what their children were doing online. Steve Rodhouse, director general of operations at the National Crime Agency, warned that criminals will try to exploit the unusual circumstances created by the coronavirus crisis. He told the BBCs Radio 4 Today Programme: We are also concerned about the amount of time that young people in particular will be spending online and the risk that poses to them being victims of sexual exploitation. 23.03.2020 LISTEN Ghanaian actress and entrepreneur Mrs. Frimpong, popularly known as Fella Makafui is set to go off social media for some time. The actress has often been under social media backlash for her actions and certain utterances. Recently she was being trolled after her real face surfaced online. The actress has finally decided to go off social media for a while and the reason for this is to distance herself and enjoy real life. However, her business pages will be fully active for business purposes. Some are of the view, she is doing this because she is pregnant and doesnt want the publics interference. Screenshot below; See video below The Reserve Bank of India may soon allow corporate bonds as collateral for repurchase operations in an attempt to cool the recent sharp uptick in corporate bond yields in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, sources said. "We have to work it out. Under the RBI Act, we are not allowed to take any other collateral other than government securities. But we are not looking upon that as an impediment," a senior official said. "We will look at ways in which we can directly reach the corporates. We are saying just give us time to work our way through these regulations and all, but we are indeed looking at directly helping them out," the official added. The RBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Ukrainian border guards processed over 22,000 people, including 15,000 for entrance. Over 13,000 are the Ukrainians who returned from abroad. The procession of the evacuation trains from Latvia and Poland is expected today as the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reported. It is reported that one of the arrivals is diagnosed with Covid-19 coronavirus. At Boryspil checkpoint, during the procession for arrival, a passenger of one of the flights, a citizen of Ukraine complained about feeling bad. A man had the express test, which showed a positive result and confirmed the infection with coronavirus. The diseased was transferred to the infectious unit of the hospital, the message said. Besides, the border guards expect two evacuation trains from Poland and Latvia. The procession of Przemysl-Kyiv will be processed in Lviv region, while Riga-Kyiv train will be processed in Kyiv. Moreover, the particular decisions were made on the crossing of the border at the disengagement line was made in the Donbas Conflict zone. 100 people crossed the border there, while 215 crossed the administrative border with Crimea. On March 17, Ukraine blocked all types of traffic across the state border as part of measures to combat the Covid-2019 epidemic. Meanwhile, the number of people infected with coronavirus in Ukraine has reached 73 people. Just 15 months after losing power, BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan was back as Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister on Monday night for a record fourth term and immediately faces the daunting task of stemming the spread of the coronavirus. The 61-year-old MLA from Budhni took oath of office in a simple function at Raj Bhawan, where he was sworn-in by Governor Lalji Tandon at 9 pm. Chouhan was on the only one to be sworn-in and is likely to name his cabinet later this week. In the evening, Chouhan was elected leader of the state BJP legislature party at its meeting here. He reached Raj Bhawan about half an hour before the ceremony to stake claim to form the government and completed other formalities. Outgoing chief minister Kamal Nath also attended Chouhan's swearing-in ceremony. Former chief minister and BJP leader Uma Bharti was also present on the occasion. The function was not open for the media. However, BJP MLAs, most of them wearing masks, reached the Raj Bhawan from BJP office in three buses amid the coronavirus scare. Some BJP leaders accompanied these MLAs, who were seen flashing victory. The Madhya Pradesh BJP legislature party unanimously elected Chouhan as its leader, paving the way for him to take over as chief minister, succeeding Nath, whose government collapsed following a rebellion by 22 Congress MLAs. In the meeting, senior BJP MLA and ex-leader of opposition Gopal Bhargava proposed the name of Chouhan as legislature party leader, which was endorsed by Narottam Mishra, Vijay Shah, Meena Singh, Paras Jain and other MLAs. After this process, party's central observer, general secretary Arun Singh, who was participating through video conferencing from Delhi, announced Chouhan's name as leader of the BJP legislature party. This will be Chouhan's forth term as CM. He had became CM for the first time in November 2005. Later, he won two consecutive assembly elections in 2008 and 2013 and extended his term in office, eventually becoming the longest-serving CM, a record earlier held by Congress veteran Digvijaya Singh (1993-2003). Popularly known among his followers as 'Mamaji', Chouhan was sworn in chief minister thrice earlier - in 2005, after Uma Bharti stepped down over a riots case, and for later two full terms in 2008 and 2013. After failing to gain majority in November 2018 Assembly election, which was a closely fought affair between the BJP and the Congress, Chouhan had to step down as CM on December 12, 2019. The BJP (109 seats) lost the election despite getting more vote share than the Congress, which emerged as the single largest party with 114 seats. In the 230-member house, the BJP currently has 107 legislators. The Congress strength got reduced to 92 following the resignations of 22 of its MLAs. Stumped by the rebellion of party colleague Jyodiraditya Scindia, who joined the BJP and resignations of 22 Congress MLAs, Nath resigned as chief minister last week, paving way for Chouhan's return. Nath stepped down on March 20 after the assembly speaker accepted the resignations of rebel Congress MLAs. With this, the strength of the house also reduced to 222, trimming down the majority mark to 104. In this situation, the BJP has the majority with 107 107 MLAs and it is likely to get the support of Independents as well as BSP and SP MLAs. Earlier, the Supreme Court, while hearing a petition filed by Chouhan, had directed Nath to prove his majority on the floor of the assembly by 5 pm on March 20. Nath opt to resign instead of facing the floor test. Born on March 5, 1959, to a farming family of Prem Singh Chouhan and Sundar Bai at village Jait in Sehore district, Chouhan's long journey in public life began with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) when he was just 13 years. Chouhan rose through the ranks in the BJP and became one of the formidable state leaders of the saffron party. During his decades-long political career, he served in different party posts and also as an MLA, MP and eventually became chief minister. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Disadvantaged by poverty, unsanitary housing and poor to non-existent health services, the people of Rio de Janeiro's teeming favelas are preparing for the worst when the coronavirus takes a grip on Brazil. "The irony is that the disease was brought to Brazil by plane, by the rich, but it is among the poor that it will explode," said Paulo Buss, director of the center for international relations at Fiocruz, a benchmark public health research center. The confirmation on Saturday of a first case of COVID-19 in the City of God, an emblematic favela which inspired the 2002 film of the same name, has set alarm bells ringing. Almost a quarter of Rio's inhabitants -- or 1.5 million people -- live in the favelas, crowded jumbles of tin-roof shacks and narrow, impromptu streets. They are often situated on the hills overlooking wealthy neighborhoods. That is the case of the Tabajaras favela, which has a spectacular view of the famous Copacabana beach district below. "Here, people are very afraid," said Vania Ribeiro, vice president of the local neighborhood association. "The nearest health center is the same that the elderly people in Copacabana and tourists from all over the world use," she said. - 'Social vulnerability' - The usual guidelines for how to protect oneself from the coronavirus, "social distancing" and "barrier gestures," are difficult to apply here. "We are told that we have to wash our hands all the time, but what if the running water is regularly cut off? We're hardly going to wash our hands with mineral water!" Ribeiro said. Rio city hall told AFP it had "intensified prevention campaigns in the favelas," as the number of coronavirus cases in Brazil has shot to 1,546, with 25 deaths, making it the hardest-hit country in Latin America. The standard advice from municipal authorities recommends that people who feel they may be infected self-isolate in a separate room from the rest of their family. "If your home only has one room, infected people should stay at least a meter away from other family members," says city hall. "Official statistics show that most of the favela houses have two or three rooms, with five to eight inhabitants. How can you isolate an infected person in these conditions?" asked Buss. Beyond the high population density, unsanitary conditions in some dwellings also pose problems. "In the favela, most houses have few windows, which prevents good air circulation, prevents daylight from entering and promotes the spread of respiratory diseases," said Patricia Canto, pulmonologist at the National School of Public Health. In particular, tuberculosis continues to wreak havoc in the favelas, with infection rates sometimes 10 times higher than the national average. "For the coronavirus, we say that we must protect the most vulnerable by talking about the elderly, but we must not forget the cases of social vulnerability," said Canto. - Informal economy - In the favelas, many people depend on the informal economy to make a living, and confinement risks taking away all forms of subsistence. Rio has so far escaped the total confinement regime being experienced in much of Europe and neighboring Argentina. But schools and shops have been closed, as have beaches and other tourist spots, where many street vendors from poor neighborhoods sell their products. "People who do not have a formal job must continue to go out to work because they have no choice. Either they die of hunger, or they risk dying by catching the coronavirus," said Joelma Sousa, of the NGO Redes da Mare, located in a set of favelas near Rio's international airport. But Sousa is especially worried about the hit and miss nature of the health services. "The clinics are sorely lacking in equipment and staff. These days, they are closed at 3:00 pm, three hours earlier than normal, because there is no doctor left," she said. In Tabajaras, Ribeiro says locals are facing another problem. "Here, the most practical way to climb the heights of the hill is by motorbike taxi. We are going to ask the police to no longer make it compulsory for passengers to wear a helmet, otherwise the same helmet will pass from head to head." That is just one of the many daily puzzles for poor neighborhoods in Rio in the midst of a global pandemic. A general view of the Rocinha shantytown (favela) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil The COVID-19 pandemic is highlighting the class character of politics. The health care system has been cut to pieces, hospitals privatised and trimmed for profit, laboratory capacities and nationwide treatment options massively restricted. Despite warnings from China, no preparations have been made to protect the population. The government cares only about the interests of big business and is making unlimited financial resources available to corporations and banks. Although the danger of the virus was known, and public life has been drastically restricted, many workers are being forced to continue their work without adequate protection. Resistance is growing against this criminal irresponsibility by the government and employers. Various opposition groups are forming on the internet to refute government propaganda and describe and fight against the dramatic conditions in hospitals, rescue stations, care facilities and factories, but also the devastating effects of government measures on workers in precarious employment. Angela Merkel (Wikipedia Commons) Politicians have responded to this opposition with calls for censorship and dictatorial measures. At the beginning of the week, Lower Saxonys state Interior Minister Boris Pistorius (Social Democratic Party, SPD) called for sanctions against the distribution of so-called fake news in connection with the Coronavirus pandemic. He demanded that the government urgently intervene, saying, It must be prohibited to publicly spread false allegations about the supply situation of the population, medical care or cause, ways of infection, diagnosis and therapy of COVID-19. According to Pistorius, the government must examine whether bans could already be based on the infection protection law. If not, the penal code or the law on administrative offences should be amended as quickly as possible. The greatest misinformation currently being spread comes from the government itself. It claims that the German health care system is well prepared for the spread of the pandemic, and no one need worry. For weeks, the government played down the dangers. Now that reality has refuted its propaganda, any criticism of it is to be criminalised and suppressed. If Pistorius has his way, the government will rigorously enforce its monopoly on information and opinion. This is a call for censorship and dictatorship. Pistorius has long been known as a right-wing social democrat in the tradition of Gustav Noske, who during the November Revolution in 1918 allied with the German army and far-right Freikorps to suppress working-class opposition to the bourgeois order. For seven years as Lower Saxonys interior minister, he has been advocating a strict right-wing course against refugees and for stepping up the repressive powers of the state. In summer 2017, he presented an SPD position paper on domestic policy, the central point of which was strengthening the federal police force financially and with more personnel. One year later, more than 10,000 people demonstrated in Hanover against the new police law of Lower Saxony, which Pistorius had drafted, because it massively expands the powers of the security authorities while at the same time restricting elementary civil rights. With his call for censorship and police-state measures, Pistorius speaks for a party that has always responded to crisis situations and resistance from the population by calling for the strong state and dictatorial measures. Pistorius comes from the same political stable as former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder, who brutally smashed up the welfare systems with the Hartz laws. For the past three years he has also been living in a relationship with Schroders fourth wife, Doris Schroder-Kopf, from whom the former chancellor separated in 2015. There is no doubt that the fight against the pandemic requires the restriction of social contacts and individual freedom of movement. However, it must not be allowed that the conditions for a dictatorship are created under the slogan necessity knows no law! The coronavirus pandemic, its ominous health, social and economic consequences and the drastic measures required to combat it raise the question of who exercises power and controls the statethe financial oligarchy or the working class? The ruling class everywhere is trying to use measures against the Corona crisis to strengthen its power. According to information from DPA and Der Spiegel, the president of the Bundestag (federal parliament), Wolfgang Schauble (Christian Democratic Union, CDU), for example, has proposed to the leaders of the parliamentary groups that they expand the Emergency Laws by amending the constitution. The Emergency Laws, which were passed in May 1968 in the midst of the largest workers strikes and student protests of the post-World War II period, give the state quasi-dictatorial powers in crisis situations (natural disaster, uprising, war). Among other things, they allow for the Bundestag and the Bundesrat (the upper chamber of parliament) to be replaced by an emergency parliament, the Joint Committee. This committee consists of only 48 selected members but has the full powers of both chambers of parliament and would thus largely override the existing parliamentary system. Schauble has now brought up the idea of including a similar regulation in the constitution for the case of an epidemic. The deployment of the Bundeswehr (armed forces), which Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer announced at a press conference on Thursday, must also be seen in this context. For the time being, the focus is on logistical tasks. The Bundeswehr has five hospitals of its own, 3,000 doctors, mobile military hospitals as well as logistics and transport capacities that can be used in the fight against the virus. But Kramp-Karrenbauer has more in mind. In addition to the deployment of up to 50,000 soldiers, there is also talk of mobilizing 75,000 reservists. At the press conference, the defence minister emphasized that the troops will only be properly deployed when the civilian authorities and organizations have reached the end of their capabilities. She claimed that in the area of security and order, assistance from the military would only be available under strict conditions, but in a daily order to the troops she wrote, We will help with health care and, if necessary, with ensuring infrastructure and supplies as well as maintaining security and order. Chief of Staff Alfons Mais wrote to soldiers saying the Bundeswehr now had the task of maintaining operational readiness for any required support. We are at the beginning of a road whose direction and length we cannot yet estimated, he declared. In Bavaria, the conservative state government declared a disaster situation last Monday. This enables them to take far-reaching measures against the spread of the coronavirus and to call on citizens to help in the form of services, material and work. However, the disaster situation also means a far-reaching encroachment on democratic rights, which can be used to suppress social and political opposition. The working class must be on its guard. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has called for greater restrictions on public gatherings in a bid to combat the spread of Covid-19. Speaking ahead of a briefing of political leaders with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Mr Martin called on the Government to replicate moves by other governments to allow people see up to 80% of salaries paid during the crisis. He said where possible, employees in companies struggling to cope with the impact of the crisis should be stood down rather than laid off. I think the 75% to 80% of employees pay is probably where we should be at. And that's what Denmark is doing UK and other countries to a lesser or greater degree. But also, I think the key is to link that to the employer so that the workforce if you like, is stood down not made redundant. I think that's important in terms of getting an enterprise going again, he said. He added that he is clear that a much more substantive comprehensive package is required, similar to what other countries have been doing. He cited Denmark, the UK where substantive supports for employees and people who've been laid off have been put in place. Mr Martin also called for greater and more flexible supports from the main banks to allow business ride out the crisis. Because I think that is the key so that the enterprise when this is over, can restart as quickly as possible. And for that to happen. There will have to be softer loans, interest free loans and working capital supports, so that companies can restart quickly in the aftermath of the worst impact of this particular crisis, he said. He also said there needs to be much greater clarity around where cases of the virus are confirmed to allay public scaremongering. Because there is a lot of concern out there. There should be at this stage greater transparency, where outbreaks happen, and where clusters happen, because when rumour develops, it's in my view, more counterproductive to good behaviour, Mr Martin said. Todays meeting of political leaders was exclusively to deal with the Covid-19 crisis, Mr Martin did confirm that further talks between his party and Fine Gael will happen later this week. There will be meetings this week in relation to that. And there will be an exchange of papers between beautify and finagle in relation to that this week, that's towards the middle of the week." Mumbai, March 23 : At the current speed at which COVID-19 is spreading in the country, India is at the threshold of a major medical calamity within a month, and the country must implement a 'Janata Curfew' for at least two weeks, warns a leading microbiologist. "We feel if asocial distancing' is not implemented seriously, by end-April hospitals may be full of patients and the situation could be totally unmanageable," a concerned A.M. Deshmukh, President of Microbiologists Society, India (MSI), told IANS. Expressing worries over the manner in which people are blatantly flouting norms of asocial distancing' and continue to crowd in open, Deshmukh said this poses a huge risk of spreading the virus by 'contact'. The MSI has shot off a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding that in view of this, the 'Janata Curfew' of March 22 must be extended and continued for at least another 14 days to effectively check the spread of the coronavirus. The MSI statement came even as Modi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar and Congress state President Balasaheb Thorat expressed distress over the hordes which trooped out after yesterday's 'Janata Curfew' in Mumbai on Monday (March 23). The crowds thronged despite statewide near-total lockdown implemented since midnight of March 22-23 till March 31 by Thackeray, along with prohibitory orders right up to Nagar Panchayat jurisdictions. Deshmukh explains that the COVID-19 has an incubation period of 14 days after which the patient tests either negative or positive, but if infected (positive) he/she will be hospitalized, like in China, Italy, Iran, Germany, Spain, Portugal, US, UK, etc. "We are confident that by implementing 'Janata Curfew' for another 14 days will control the outbreak and we will succeed to bring the outbreak in reverse direction," said the MSI plea to the PM. Referring to global statistics that COVID-19 commands upto 2 per cent death rate, Deshmukh pointed out that if the WHO-declared pandemic is not controlled immediately, then in the next quarter, everyone in this country could be a potential infectee. Deshmukh said any major spread could be catastrophic for India's 125-crore population, though the silver lining is the ensuing heat of summer may have an adverse impact on the coronavirus. "Moreover, India has severe limitations in the health-care sector, like shortages of beds, ventilators, medical and para-medical staff, etc, so even a miniscule percentage of the affected population poses a monumental challenge," Deshmukh said. He admits that such a long period of 'Janata Curfew' would play havoc with the poor, daily wage-earners, senior or single citizens, the sick or handicapped, especially in the big cities. "They are the responsibility of the government and society... The government and society must take proper care of such persons by ensuring they get proper meals and other life essentials. It is for the larger good of the government and people, so they can do this much for this helpless class," Deshmukh urged. With around 350 members, the Maharashtra-based MSI was founded in 1996 as an apex body of microbiologists and works in different spheres including environment, agriculture and academic. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Partisanship Explodes as Senate Stumbles Toward $2 Trillion CCP Virus Economic Relief Deal WASHINGTONSenate Republican and Democratic leaders ripped each other on the Senate floor March 23 as a $2 trillion economic stimulus package stumbled amid intense partisan bickering. Are you kidding me? Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) demanded, during an impassioned floor speech. This is the moment to debate new regulations that have nothing to do whatsoever with this crisis? McConnell continued, saying: Here are some of the items on the Democratic wish list over which they choose to block this legislation last night. Tax credits for solar energy and wind energy. Provisions to force employers to give special new treatment to Big Labor. And listen to this: New emissions standards for the airlines, McConnell said. Thats what theyre up to over there and the American people need to know it. Democrats wont let us fund hospitals or save small business unless they get to dust off their Green New Deal, he said. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) immediately followed McConnell, vigorously rejecting the Republican leaders criticisms. The bill still includes something that most Americans dont want to see. Large corporate bailouts with almost no strings attached, Schumer said, claiming the relief package allows corporations to receive billions of dollars of loans and other assistance with no public accountability. Still, Schumer declared that were very close to reaching a deal, very close, and our goal is to reach a deal today, and were hopeful, even confident that we will meet that goal. The conflict followed a 4747 essentially party-line vote on March 22 that prevented the Senate from limiting debate on the package and holding a final vote on it possibly as early as March 24. The debate-limiting motion required 60 votes to pass. With all of the Senates Democrats voting against it, the motion would have failed even if five Republican senators werent absent due to self-quarantining as a result of the CCP virus. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mishandling allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. The failure of the motion sparked an outpouring of negative media headlines, led by The New York Times, which declared, Emergency Economic Rescue Plan in Limbo as Democrats Block Action. In the story, the NY Times stated, In voting to block action, Democrats risked a political backlash if they are seen as obstructing progress on a measure that is widely regarded as crucial to aid desperate Americans and prop up a flagging economy. McConnell pointed to a statement by House Majority Whip Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) to explain why Senate negotiations that had been bipartisan and seeming to move toward a quick resolution took a sudden partisan turn over the weekend. Remember what one of Speaker Pelosis top lieutenants said just a few days ago and this is a direct quote: This is a tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision. That was the Democratic Whip in the House just laying it out there. There was no agreement among Democratic and Republican strategists interviewed March 23 by The Epoch Times on the reasons for the partisan blowup. Jim Manley, former communications director for then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), said the idea that Senate Republicans are criticizing Speaker Pelosi is as pathetic as it is wrong. The fact of the matter is that at the beginning of this latest series of negotiations, McConnell made it very clear that he didnt want Pelosi involved. Manley added that the idea that he just thought that House and Senate Democrats would just swallow this $500 billion slush fund without any oversight showed me that he really wasnt interested in cutting a bipartisan deal. Robert Weissman, president of the liberal advocacy group Public Citizen, dismissed the idea that Democrats could suffer from a voter backlash due to blocking the bill on March 22. First of all, there is almost certainly going to be a deal. By November, no one will worry about whether it happened on Sunday night or Monday or Wednesday, or even remember the vote at all. Second, the Democrats are demanding protections for workers and accountability for bailouts. Thats both right on the merits and almost certain to be well received by voters, Weissman said. But Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) President Tom Schatz disagreed, arguing that Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader Schumer should be ashamed of themselves for failing to agree to the legislation that Senate Democrats negotiated over the past week. Now, Schatz said: Republicans negotiated in good faith on the coronavirus legislation with their Democrats colleagues. They should keep up the pressure for Democrats to agree to move the bill to the floor expeditiously and get it enacted into law. Brian Darling, former counsel to Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), warned: This is one of those rare moments in politics where the voters really want to believe that Congress is working to solve a problem. Blocking a bill because Democrats want more in a bill that has already ballooned to $2 trillion is politically dangerous and risky. And Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), claimed that Democrats are not just playing politics, they are holding needed legislation hostage for more earmarks directing billions to their favorite political friends, who will be expected to return the favor in campaign contributions. Taxpayers Protection Alliance President David Williams suggested: It may be time to do this legislation piecemeal by immediately providing relief to small business and individuals and extending unemployment benefits. If they do this, they still need to address the financial impact on distressed industries. Doing nothing is unacceptable. Williams said, It appears that Senate Majority Leader McConnell negotiated in good faith with Sen. Schumer, so its easy to see why the blame is being placed on Democrats. Contact Mark Tapscott at Mark.Tapscott@epochtimes.nyc. Delhi declared a complete lockdown on Sunday to prevent the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) from taking hold, adding to the central governments extraordinary new measures that effectively confined about a fifth of all Indians to their homes by suspending trains, buses, Metro rail services and private taxis in unheard-of actions necessitated by the outbreak that has killed at least 13,000 worldwide. In Delhi, from 6am on March 23, public transport services Metro, private buses, taxis, auto-rickshaws, 75% of DTC buses shops, markets, religious places, privates offices, commercial establishments and factories are not being allowed to function. All borders of the Capital have been sealed; only essential workers and vehicles will be allowed to move about. The ban will remain in place till March 31. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures, said chief minister Arvind Kejriwal as he spoke at a news briefing along with Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal. The Delhi government previously closed all educational institutions, restaurants, malls, weekly markets, cinema halls, gyms, nightclubs and spas. While Kejriwal said all domestic flight in and out of the Capital were also being grounded, the Centre appeared to overrule his decision, with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) announcing that flights operations will continue. It was unclear, however, how travellers will commute to and from the airport in the face of the lockdown. The Delhi Police imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure till March 31, banning gatherings and other public activities. The law bans the assembly of four or more people in one place. The drastic measures in the Capital, welcomed by experts who have been calling for a pre-emptive lockdown to keep the disease at bay, followed sweeping lockdown announcements by the Centre earlier in the day. India clamped a virtual lockdown for the rest of the month across states by suspending trains, interstate buses and Metro rail services, a decision that on Sunday followed millions of Indians heeding Prime Minister Narendra Modis call for a day-long voluntary shutdown to break the chain of coronavirus infections. The Indian Railways announced the unprecedented suspension of all its 13,523 passenger services, including suburban operations, from March 22 midnight to March 31; only goods trains will run during this period. The Centre also ordered a complete lockdown in 82 districts where cases of Covid-19 have been reported, leaving only essential services open. All districts of Delhi, and Noida, Gurugram and Ghaziabad are among the districts being locked down. Other districts being locked down were in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Chandigargh, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karantaka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, and the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh and Pondicherry. Many states, including Maharashtra, Kerala, Haryana, UP, Uttarakhand and West Bengal, announced partial or complete lockdown for varying periods. Nagaland said it was imposing an indefinite lockdown from midnight Sunday. A high-level meeting involving the Prime Ministers principal secretary, cabinet secretary and all state chief secretaries, ordered the suspension of transport till March 31. India reported three more Covid-19 deaths on Sunday, including the first casualties from Bihar and Gujarat, taking the toll to seven and the number of confirmed cases to 360, up from 315 a day earlier, officials said. For the first time in 46 years, the sprawling Indian Railways network, including Mumbais iconic local trains that ferry about 8.5 million people every day, will shut down completely. In 1974, socialist leader and later Union minister George Fernandes spearheaded a 20-day-long all-India strike that crippled the rail network. Since the strike, nothing has been able to entirely halt the railways passenger network. Most trains remained cancelled, several domestic flights grounded, and shops shut for the 14-hour janta curfew, a one-day voluntary shutdown that many saw as a test of Indias ability to contain the pandemic, which has killed at least 13,000 people globally. Otherwise bustling streets and public places in the national capital Delhi and financial hub Mumbai wore a deserted look as Sundays shutdown began at 7am. The day-long calm was broken only once with a clangour across neighbourhoods at 5pm when, on the PMs appeal, millions clapped and rang utensils amid sounding of sirens to mark their gratitude to the essential workers still on the ground during the outbreak. Prime Minister Modi later thanked the people for expressing their solidarity. According to the Union health ministry, Maharashtra has reported the highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases at 63, followed by Kerala (52) and Delhi (27). Uttar Pradesh has recorded 25 cases, Telangana 21 cases, Rajasthan 24 cases and Haryana 17 cases. While the government has taken measures to shut down non-essential operations over the past week, experts believe it still needs to massively ramp up testing to stave off a worsening of the public health crisis. Guidelines for testing at private labs have been notified by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) but it wasnt immediately clear when the process could begin across the country. Sixty private labs have registered so far to conduct tests. Many of them are being approved as we speak, said ICMR director general Balram Bhargava. Following the high-level meeting on Sunday, a government statement said: In view of the need to contain the spread of Covid-19, it was agreed that there is urgent need to extend the restrictions on the movement of non-essential passenger transport including interstate transport buses till March 31. To be sure, it wasnt immediately clarified whether the ban on interstate passenger transport would also include flights. At present, airlines are cutting down on flight operations due to low passenger load. GoAir on Saturday announced the suspension of all flights on Sunday in the wake of janta curfew. Indigo also announced that the airline will be operating only about 60% of its normal domestic schedule. The Centre said all chief secretaries informed top officials that there was overwhelming and spontaneous response to the call for janta curfew made by the Prime Minister. While the lockdown was not mandatory, PM Modi urged the population of 1.3 billion to help prepare for the challenges ahead. Let us all be a part of this curfew, which will add tremendous strength to the fight against COVID-19 menace, Modi tweeted. Stay indoors and stay healthy. Health ministry joint secretary Lav Aggarwal said the government was seeking unity in isolation. There may be little inconvenience to public because of the measures that are being taken but people must understand these are important steps needed to break the disease transmission cycle. Social distancing is the key and whatever steps are required to implement that will be taken. The states have been directed to take measures at the highest level, he said. The Delhi chief minister said that essential services, including the hospitals, police, pharmacies grocery stories, news outlets, ration supply, internet, will continue to function ceaselessly. Unless its very important, do not step out of the house, he said. If a person gives a valid reason that he is out for essential work or to get supplies, he will be believed, Kejriwal said. He added that all private firms being shut will have to pay their employees the full months salary. The measures were widely appreciated, but experts said a lack of testing could be masking the true scale of the health crisis in the country. Experts said that a sudden and sharp spike in cases could hinder efforts to prevent the outbreak from taking hold if more aggressive and random testing is not carried out across India. Some even believe that community transmission has already begun silently and that it can be tackled only if many more people are tested at random. South Korea, which has been able to slow the advance of the disease despite reporting about 9,000 cases, has tested about 280,000 people since February. Though the US has tested 90,000 people, Covid-19 cases have raced to alarming levels in the country, leading to widespread criticism of its authorities for intractable delays in making tests available. Asking people to remain indoors is the key to break the transmission cycle in a country like ours with a huge population size. If people dont go out then chances of person-to-person transmission will automatically reduce. There has to be judicious use of testing, said Dr Ekta Gupta, senior virologist with a Delhi government hospital. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Monday issued several guidelines on social distancing for airlines and airport operators as the number of cases in India soared to 415 and the government clamped a lockdown in many states. From requesting flyers to keep a distance of minimum one metre at check-in counters, waiting areas and during security checks, the regulatory body also asked authorities to provide sanitisers for staff and passengers at the aircraft gates. One of the guidelines was for cabin crew to maintain adequate distance while serving the passengers. Passengers to be advised to sit at adequate distance in waiting area, keeping one seat vacant. Ensure that boarding is done in a manner to avoid bunching of passengers at any time and also ensure adequate spacing between passengers in boarding lines, DGCA said in a circular. Seat allocation at the time of Check-in to be done to in a manner to ensure that the seat between two passengers is kept empty, it said. Earlier in the day, Delhi High Court directed authorities to suspend breath analyser tests (BAT) through tube process for air traffic controllers till March 27. The high court directed the authorities to hold an urgent meeting on Tuesday to explore alternative methods for the test. Justice Pratibha M Singh directed the Directorate General of Medical Services to hold an urgent meeting with DGCA, the Air Traffic Controllers Guild (India), doctors and the Airport Authority of India (AAI) to explore alternatives of BAT. The court listed the matter for further hearing on March 27. The court was hearing a plea by the Air Traffic Controllers Guild (India) seeking direction to DGCA and AAI to temporarily suspend the BAT through the current tube process to prevent further spread of the virus. The European Union is set to begin talks with Albania and North Macedonia about membership of the European Union. According to reports, there was a unanimous decision by the unions 27 members regarding the memberships. The vote took place on March 23 and it is expected that the details will be finalized this week. Last bastions of opposition no more France and Netherlands have repeatedly voiced objections to the membership of the two Western Balkan nations giving their track records regarding democracy and fighting corruption. As per reports, the members were also fearful of allowing new members to join the union during a time when Brexit threatened the blocs cohesion. France and Netherlands objections to Albania and North Macedonia joining EU as member states have reduced in recent weeks, and even though Europe has become the new epicentre of the deadly coronavirus the call for Albania and North Macedonia to become members of the European Union. Greece was the last nation to show opposition to Albanias inclusion into the bloc. The decision has to be unanimous. But as pre-reports Greece agreed to the inclusion after the latest draft included stronger language on protecting national minorities in Albania. Read: Noida: Europe-returned Man Tests Positive For COVID-19, Total 5 Cases; Over 1,600 Under Surveillance Read: Brazil Bans Entry Of Europeans, Asians To Contain Coronavirus Outbreak Albania which is officially known as the Republic of Albania is a country in Southeast Europe and is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas which is within the Mediterranean Sea. Albania shares land borders with Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, North Macedonia in the East and Greece in the south. Albania is a member of multiple international organizations like the United Nations, World Bank, NATO and etc. North Macedonia which is officially known as the Republic of North Macedonia is a country in the Balkan Peninsula in South-East Europe. It gained its independence in 1991 and is one of the successor states of Yugoslavia. North Macedonia is a landlocked country. Read: Coronavirus: Europe Orders 30-day Entry Ban, Germany To Impose Forthwith Says, Merkel Read: WHO Calls For 'boldest Actions' In All European Countries To Battle Coronavirus KALAMAZOO, MI A Kalamazoo County Sheriffs Office deputy has tested positive for coronavirus, Sheriff Richard Fuller said today. Sheriff Fuller announced during a March 23 news conference in Kalamazoo that the deputy tested positive for COVID-19. Earlier in the day, Kalamazoo County announced three people had tested positive for COVID-19. Fuller said the deputy is one of the three confirmed cases in Kalamazoo County. Related: 3 coronavirus cases identified in Kalamazoo County The three adult cases are unrelated, the news release states. Two have travel histories within Michigan and one has no known travel history outside of Kalamazoo County, a news release from Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services states. I wanted to let you know that one of the infected persons is a deputy with the Kalamazoo County Sheriffs Office, Fuller said on March 23. The deputy has received medical care and is recovering the sheriff said. The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases statewide continued to rise over the weekend, jumping from 549 on Friday to 1,328 by Monday afternoon. Fifteen people have died, with dozens more being treated in intensive care units. The announcement from Kalamazoo County officials Monday afternoon came in the wake of the latest executive order from Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, which instructed all residents to stay in their homes except under limited circumstances for the next three weeks. Related: All Michigan residents, most businesses ordered to stay home to slow spread of coronavirus For the new cases confirmed in Kalamazoo County, local health officials say they have investigated contacts those patients may have made, and those people have been advised of what they should do. Fuller said that investigation has shown the deputy who has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus had contact with a very limited number of people," which he clarified to be less than a half dozen. Those who may have had contact with the deputy have been notified, the sheriff said. Its not like this person was out there interacting with the community at a great amount, Fuller said. Kalamazoo County Medical Director William Nettleton, said the deputy was most likely exposed to the virus, in eastern Michigan, in a community where the virus was known to be present. Watch the full news conference here: Officials discuss first coronavirus cases in Kalamazoo County Posted by Kalamazoo Gazette on Monday, March 23, 2020 Complete coverage of coronavirus in Michigan. Also on MLive: Kalamazoo Public Safety closes facilities to the public during COVID-19 outbreak Bronson Healthcare asks for coronavirus donations including protective gear, homemade masks Michigan Gov. Whitmer urges residents not to panic during three-week stay home order Michigan reports first coronavirus case in prison inmate There is no further information about the captives. Seven Ukrainian sailors from the MSC Talia F container ship, flying the flag of Madeira, Portugal, have been captured by pirates in the Gulf of Guinea, off the coast of Africa. Read alsoFM Kuleba says Ukrainian citizen freed from Nigerian pirates' captivity The vessel was heading from the port of Lome (Togo) to the port of Libreville (Gabon), the Seafarers journal.com said on March 22. There were 17 crew members on board. During the attack, the pirates captured seven sailors, all of them are reportedly Ukrainian nationals. There is no further information about the captives. The vessel continued its voyage, the publication said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Humeyra Pamuk (Reuters) Kabul, Afghanistan Mon, March 23, 2020 18:01 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206ce8402 2 World US-Taliban,Afghanistan,US-Secretary-of-State,Mike-Pompeo,Kabul,political-crisis,politics Free US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived on Monday in the Afghan capital, on a previously unannounced visit to help salvage a historic deal between Washington and the Taliban, struck in February but marred by a political feud. Pompeo will meet President Ashraf Ghani and longtime rival Abdullah Abdullah, who contests the result of a September presidential vote, raising the prospect of parallel governments that has paralyzed selection of negotiating teams for talks. His visit is being watched closely for clues to whether it can resolve the weeks-long political deadlock. "We'll see if...that would mean things are negotiated and they are ready for a final settlement," said a diplomatic source in Kabul. Pompeo is scheduled to meet the men separately and also hold meetings with both together on Monday. A row over the release of prisoners and the politicians' rivalry have hampered progress in mediation between the Taliban and the Afghan government, which was not a party to the US-Taliban deal, signed in Doha. The deal signed on Feb. 29 aimed to pave the way for the Taliban to negotiate with the Afghan government, including a pact to withdraw foreign troops that would effectively end the United States' longest war. But the Afghan government and the Taliban have not begun formal negotiation as planned, stymied in part by the bitter feud between Ghani and Abdullah, which has stalled appointment of a negotiation team to represent the Afghan government. Pompeo's visit comes at a time when much global travel has been stalled by the coronavirus pandemic, which has infected more than 300,000 and killed more than 14,000 globally. US Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad, who has spent much of his time in Kabul since the deal signing, made a plea to both sides last week to act fast on the release of prisoners, a condition the Taliban have set for the talks. Khalilzad said the pandemic added urgency for the release, illustrating how the outbreak is affecting one of US President Donald Trump's top foreign policy priorities. With 40 infections in Afghanistan, fears are growing that the thousands returning home from neighboring Iran every day might fuel the outbreak in a nation with a public health network devastated by years of war. The Taliban and the Afghan government held a "virtual" meeting on prisoner releases on Sunday, officials said. In February, Afghanistan's Electoral Commission announced incumbent Ghani as the winner of the presidential election, but Abdullah said he and his allies had won and insisted that he would form a government. Brian May says heart medication almost cost him his life It's strange, talking about it now, it seems unreal. It feels like it couldn't possibly have happened, it couldn't possibly have been that bad. A new wave of federal assistance to battle the effects of the coronavirus is headed to California after Gov. Gavin Newsom requested Sunday and President Trump approved a Major Disaster Declaration for the state. The declaration clears the way for individual assistance programs to assist those affected by the outbreak, including medical care, emergency aid, unemployment assistance, legal services and supplemental nutrition assistance. In addition, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will ship eight mobile hospital units with 2,000 beds to California in the next few days, and the federal government will pay for National Guard deployments aimed at helping in the response to what is expected to be a surge in coronavirus cases across the state. The looming impacts of the coronavirus are of such severity that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the state and affected local governments, Newsom wrote Trump on Sunday saying that without the resources freed up by such a declaration, impacts will be felt throughout the nation, as well as around the world. Over the weekend, other governors castigated the president over what they called a lack of a coordinated federal strategy to respond to a virus that now has spread to all 50 states, with more than 33,000 cases and 400 deaths reported worldwide as of Sunday evening. But Newsoms letter was a study in calibrated tact. He began by thanking Trump for the presidents declaration of a national state of emergency on March 13, and how you and many of the members of your Coronavirus Task Force have been personally available to me and my team. After Trump agreed to Californias request for open-ended aid, the governor struck an equally positive tone. The declaration will supplement our states comprehensive COVID-19 surge planning and make vital resources available, Newsom said in a statement released by his office Sunday evening. We appreciate the quick response and partnership from the White House. The long-term price tag could be vast, given the number of Californians whose lives have been thrown into economic turmoil by the ripple effects of the virus. Particularly disruptive, by intent, is the move by Bay Area counties and then the state to close all nonessential businesses for at least the next two weeks in a bid to slow the spread of COVID-19. The declaration will unlock federal unemployment benefits for workers who dont qualify for regular state unemployment benefits. This includes the self-employed, business owners and people who havent worked long enough to qualify or who have run out of benefits in California or any other state. In the past, these benefits have been made available to people who lost work as a direct result of natural disasters, including the 2017 North Bay wildfires. How much workers can get under the Disaster Unemployment Assistance program depends on their income. In the past, benefits have gone up to $450 a week for 26 weeks in California, the same maximum for regular state unemployment benefits. The disaster declaration capped a day where recorded coronavirus cases continued to grow in both numbers and extent. The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the region was 772 as of Sunday evening, with Napa County reporting its first two cases and becoming the final Bay Area county to do so. Nearby Yolo County reported its first death, increasing the number of confirmed COVID-19 fatalities to 35 in the state; of these, 13 have been in the Bay Area. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The city of Hayward, meanwhile, announced it will open a free testing facility Monday. The COVID-19 Testing Center at Hayward Fire Station No. 7, 28270 Huntwood Ave., will open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will be managed by Hayward firefighter-paramedics and EMTs. Its free and open to anyone, regardless of immigration status. Up to 370 people a day will be tested, said city spokesman Chuck Finnie, and Hayward police will be on hand to control traffic. The desire is to avoid an unnecessary rush to get the tests giving priority to first responders, health care workers and people who are already ill. We want sick people to come, Finnie said. We want the wondering and the worried to stay home and continue to shelter in place. Hayward officials partnered with Avellino Lab USA, Inc., in Menlo Park, which will process the test kits in as little as six hours or by the next day, officials said. All drivers who pull up to the testing site will be asked a series of questions, such as whether they traveled recently or if theyve had contact with someone who has the virus, Finnie said. Those who qualify for testing will then get screened for fever, cough, shortness of breath and respiratory issues, among other symptoms. San Francisco Chronicle business columnist Kathleen Pender contributed to this report. John King and Tatiana Sanchez are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: tatiana.sanchez@sfchronicle.com, jking@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TatianaYSanchez, @johnkingsfchron. Galveston County Judge Mark Henry expects U.S. Census 2020 figures to reflect a population explosion in the northern part of his county. Almost half the county lives north of FM 517, he said. If you drive a mile in any direction, theres construction everywhere, largely residential. Census forms were mailed in March and participants may respond online for the first time, or complete the form in writing or by phone. Though population estimates wont be available until the end of the year, Henry estimated the current county population stands at about 320,000, possibly more, an estimate up by about 50,000 from a decade ago. League City poised to surge He said its not so much new industry thats driving the growth although new businesses are continuing to pop up but rather widespread recognition of the areas central location in the Houston region in terms of work and play. People are figuring out that were about halfway between Downtown Houston, the (Texas Medical Center) and Galveston Bay and just an extremely attractive place to live, he said. He also cited the areas well-regarding Friendswood and Clear Creek independent school districts as selling points. Land availability is still high in some areas of the county, including League City, which is only about 50 percent built out. It would not be crazy to see them get to 250,000 people in the next 15 to 20 years, Henry said. County to expand facilities The county has plans underway for facility expansions. It will begin construction this year on a $6.3 million project to provide more space for medical examiner facilities. The current medical examiners office is 5,650-square-foot facility at 6607 Texas 1764 in Texas City. The county is adding to the medical examiners offices space by renovating and expanding another building at 1205 Oak St. in La Marque. That building, which should be finished by the end of 2021, will boast 13,465 square feet for the office when renovated. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is set to reimburse the county for approximately 82 percent of the cost, something the county has been chasing since after Hurricane Ike. The countys Jerry J. Esmond Juvenile Justice Center in Texas City will also be expanded. Originally built to serve a county population of 190,000, the facility, which has capacity for 23 boys and six girls, is often full. At this point it just cant keep up, Henry said of the 36,704-square-foot building at 6106 Attwater Ave., which also includes 10 additional beds for post-detential residential services for eight boys and two girls. County officials expect to break ground in 2021 to expand accommodations to be able to serve 50 boys and 20 girls. Zach Davidson, Judge Henrys communications director, said the new buildings size is not yet determined. We dont have a proposed square footage for the expansion to the juvenile justice center, but the county has put together (a request for quotation) for architects. This is the same for the cost of an expansion, but we are still early in the process, he said in an email. Ritual ceremonies are forbidden, since there is threat of spread of infection The World Health Organization has recommended that no special rules be used for the burial of coronavirus-related deaths. Deputy Minister of Health Viktor Lyashko said this during a briefing, which was broadcast on 112 Ukraine TV channel. The Ministry of Health has developed instructions for the burial of the dead due to coronavirus. First of all, ritual ceremonies have the greatest risk in burial, where a large crowd of people is possible, where farewell kisses are possible, these are all risk points that must be excluded and prevented. Therefore, we would not like this, but we are forced to recommend reducing the time and number of people who escort people on their last journey with coronavirus disease," - the report said. Ritual ceremonies for the quarantine period are prohibited, because during their conduct there is a threat of the spread of infection. Currently, 73 cases of coronavirus infection have been confirmed in Ukraine. Over the past 24 hours, 26 people have been infected with coronavirus in Ukraine, of which 20 in Kyiv, 1 in Kyiv region and 3 in the Ivano-Frankivsk region. As we reported before, The Minister of Health, Illya Yemets, is asking the Verkhovna Rada to introduce a state of emergency due the coronavirus in Ukraine Yemets called on MPs "to show willpower, not to be afraid, but for the sake of saving Ukrainians" to get together and vote for the imposition of a state of emergency. The New York City region has emerged as the new epicenter of the outbreak accounting for nearly 5% of cases worldwide and the toll of US fatalities crossed 400 as President Donald Trump has sought to ramp up assistance to the three states hit the hardest, New York, California and Washington with medical supplies such as masks and respirators and mobile hospitals. Adding to the urgency of the crisis facing many American businesses large and small and individuals and families, US Senate failed to agree on a massive $1.8 trillion federal relief and stimulus package Sunday. Negotiations continue however as both sides are keen to find common ground. At least 414 people have died of the coronavirus so far and more than 34,000 people have tested positive including Rand Paul, a Republican senator and a close ally of President Trump, who is now the third American lawmaker infected. Four of his colleagues self-quarantined shortly after. Calling Paul a great friend, President Trump said at the daily White House briefing the virus is getting quite close to home, and its a terrible thing thats going on. The New York City region, which had been the presidents home for many decades until recently and continues to host the headquarters of his business operations, now accounts for roughly 5% of the cases around 340,000 cases worldwide, with more than half the 20,000 cases reported in New York state. The increase in numbers is reflection of the increase in the number of tests being conducted, state officials have said and not necessarily of the spread of the virus. I need every New Yorker to understand how serious the situation is right now, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Sunday evening, We have to change the way we live if were going to bend the curve of this epidemic. Do your part: stay home. That is the single most important thing someone can do right now. He said there have been 9,654 positive cases of COVID-19 and 63 fatalities so far (99, according to some reports Monday morning) in New York City. The mayor has been calling his city the epicenter of the global outbreak, in effort to highlight the gravity of the situation. It is now clearly the epicenter of this American crisis literally, one-third of all the cases in this nation right here in my city, sad to say, and two-thirds of the cases in New York State, and climbing, he said on CNN Sunday. New York has turned into a virtual ghost town compared to the bustling city most residents and visitors have known it for long. All non-essential workers are staying home on orders of the local authorities, shutting down nearly every part and aspect of the city, stores, restaurants bars. Ravi Batra, a leading Indian American lawyer, is among the citys growing number of people to have tested positive, along with two members of his family. Since Friday, he has been on anti-malarial drug treatment, which is scheduled to be rolled out on an expanded trial basis in New York Tuesday, in a move strongly backed by the president. My fevers (come and go) with a rollercoaster vengeance, going from low to 104.3, he wrote in a text message, adding, I expect my fever fight to continue till COVID-19 (illness caused by the coronavirus) is beaten. Millions of Americans nearly one in five are staying home as an increasing number of states are issued stay-at-home orders or version of restricting outdoor activities to prevent the spread of the virus. States of Ohio, Delaware, and Louisiana and Philadelphia city in Pennsylvania states went under state-at-home restrictions on Sunday, joining New York, California, Washington and Illinois. Several cities have resorted to nighttime curfews, such as Hoboken in New Jersey, just across a river from New York City. The Trump administration has declared New York and Washington state as disaster-hit areas for the purposes of speedy deployment of federal assistance and the same as being processed for California as well, the president said Sunday evening. He added that large volumes of supplies such as surgical masks, respirators, gowns and overalls have been send to New York and Washington already, and large medical stations with thousands of beds are being despatched to those states as well, also to California. Two US navy hospital ships are also on their way. Were at war, Trump said. In a true sense, were at war. And were fighting an invisible enemy. The president then went on to detail his administrations response in a continued bid to address earlier criticism for being inadequate and sluggish, stemming largely from his own reluctance, reportedly, to acknowledge the gravity of the crisis. S ocial media users have started #covidiots trending on Twitter as the world gets to grips with the coronavirus crisis. Over the weekend, photos emerged showing crowds of people visiting open spaces across many parts of the UK. The Government has said it is safe to exercise as long as people keep at least two metres away from other people. Around the world people have taken to social media with a newly coined word #covidiots to describe those who behave badly during the global pandemic. A fake dictionary definition of what it is to be a covidiot is even doing the rounds... A covidiot is described as "1. A stupid person who stubbornly ignores social distancing protocol, thus helping to further spread Covid-19". "Usage: 'Are you seriously going to visit grandma? Don't be a covidiot'. "2. A stupid person who needlessly hoards groceries needlessly spreading Covid-19 fears and depriving others of vital supplies. "Usage: 'See that guy with the 200 paper rolls, what a covidiot.'" The Prime Minister is expected to address social distancing in his speech later today, as well as the options for those who are self-employed. Calls for more responsible social distancing came in the UK as an 18-year-old was thought to have become the youngest victim of the virus in Britain, as the number of deaths in the UK rose to 281. One of the country's largest public-service unions endorsed former vice president Joe Biden on Monday, further consolidating a key part of the Democratic coalition around the leader in the party's nomination contest. The 35-member executive board of the American Federation of County, State and Municipal Employees met Monday afternoon, speaking by teleconference because of the coronavirus outbreak, and voted unanimously to support Biden. "We believe that it's time to prepare to work like hell for Joe Biden and to bring the party together so we're unified behind one candidate," AFSCME President Lee Saunders said in an interview with The Washington Post. Members of the board used "a lot of colorful language" to describe how President Donald Trump's policies have hurt workers, particularly in the Midwest, according to a person familiar with the proceedings who was not authorized to discuss a private meeting. Saunders last spoke with Biden in late February, around the time of the Nevada caucuses, but he said the union and Biden's team have been in frequent contact. He added that Biden's organization has been receptive to the union's policy suggestions. "We've always had good conversations, and now's the time to coalesce around his candidacy," Saunders said. "I really believe that it's very, very important for unions and other organizations that play in the political arena to come together and to unite behind the one candidate." The move comes at an unusual political moment. Biden has all but wrapped up the Democratic nomination. If influential groups continue to publicly embrace Biden it could send additional signals to Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., that he should formally withdraw, something many Democratic leaders privately want him to do. Asked if Sanders should leave the campaign, Saunders said that it is "his own personal choice" but added, "I think he understands the importance of bringing the party together and unifying, because our number one priority right now is to defeat the present occupant in the White House." Two other major service unions, the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers, also recently backed Biden. The fourth, the Service Employees International Union, has so far not endorsed in the Democratic primary, though some of its local affiliates have backed Sanders. Biden also has the support of 13 former 2020 presidential candidates. In the 2016 Democratic primary, AFSCME backed Hillary Clinton early in the process, drawing ire from members who supported Sanders. This time, union officials waited much longer and conducted several membership polls to determine which candidate had the most support. The most recent poll showed AFSCME members backing Biden by a 2-to-1 margin, Saunders said. The union represents about 1.4 million workers, including nurses, corrections officers, school bus drivers and child-care providers. Saunders declined to say exactly what type of support Biden can expect from the union. Labor groups typically provide an army of organizers who can go door-to-door for a candidate, but with the coronavirus pandemic, the union is focusing more on digital organizing. Biden has faced criticism in recent days that he is keeping a low profile at a time when he needs to speak out. His campaign recently constructed a TV studio in his home so he can more frequently communicate with the public, and he gave brief remarks from the new facility Monday morning. "His people are putting together a strategy to move forward," Saunders said. "He is going to have to be visible, obviously. I mean, we're in a crisis situation right now." Sanders has sent mixed signals about the future of his campaign, with some of his confidants urging him to stay in the race if only to collect additional delegates and have a stronger voice in shaping the party's platform. Mumbai : Nearly two months after it began, the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protest at Nagpada in Mumbai, which came to be known as the 'Mumbai Bagh' protest, was put on hold from Sunday due to the coronavirus outbreak, its participants said. The protest against the CAA, the National Register of Citizens and the National Population Register, was going on since January 26 this year. "The protesters have started returning home due to the coronavirus outbreak and also because section 144 has been imposed in the state. The stir has been put on hold temporarily. But it will resume again later," one of the protesters said. "We are equally willing to stop the spread of coronavirus by not gathering at the protest site. The protest will, however, continue online," a woman protester said. "We may have differences with the government on the CAA, the NRC and the NPR, but we are with the government in the fight against COVID-19," she said. Rubaid Ali Bhojani said, "All the protesters at Mumbai Bagh have withdrawn due to the coronavirus pandemic and as responsible citizens, we are following the state government's guidelines and measures." While the unprecedented nature of this pandemic and the governments evolving response seem to demand some restraint related to criminal enforcement of this order, if a violator has been made aware of the state health order and the refusal to comply presents a threat to public health and safety, the penalties of (the law) are available as an enforcement tool," Marshall wrote. The state attorney general said a person found guilty of violating an order of the State Board of Health shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, would be fined between $25 and $500. The virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, for most people. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover. Update: Sunday, March 22, 11:15 a.m. Publix to host senior-only shopping on Tuesday and Wednesday Beginning Tuesday, Publix is designating Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from 7 to 8 as senior shopping hours for customers age 65 and over, according to a news release from the Lakeland, Fla.-based company Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Screen Producers Australia has urged the government to reject suggestions that Australian content requirements for commercial television broadcasters should be cut. Yesterday the Sydney Morning Herald reported the government is considering temporary relief from broadcasting spectrum licence fees and local content obligations, as networks face an unprecedented onslaught from COVID-19. Producers are acutely aware of the interruptions that COVD-19 will cause to the delivery of new Australian content to broadcasters. Producers are confronting the devastating impacts of project shutdowns right across the industry at present, with over 60 affected productions, and the likely consequence of complete business failures with extensive job losses, said SPA CEO Matthew Deaner. However, any Government response that involves reductions to annual content quotas would be excessive and deal a hammer blow to a production sector already on its knees. We cannot see any burden shifted to the independent production sector. While we understand challenges the collective industry and economy is facing, this would simply compound problems wiping out the production sector, removing small business and employment, stifling creativity and harming Australian culture. SPA recommends averaging flexibility for broadcasters across the next one to two years to reflect delayed or lack of delivery of new content. This would allow near term quota obligations to be deferred into following years, providing flexibility, without reducing the overall quantum of content delivered in the longer term, said Deaner. Any regulatory forbearance or deferral should be considered on a case by case basis by the regulator, the ACMA and should be based on evidence of disruption to the expected pipeline of content delivery. Crucially, this would ensure the return of demand into the production sector when the current crisis has eased. In order to return to health, the production sector will need a heart start when production activity is able to resume. Importantly, we can also expect consumers to be hungry for relevant, locally produced content at this time, as we have already seen a spike in viewership numbers across commercial networks and subscription television as Australians begin to self-isolate and work from home. SHELTON The senior center, libraries and community center as well as the school central office and city departments with the exception of the city clerk will be closing until further notice. The announcement came two days after Gov. Ned Lamont ordered that nonessential workers, public and private, stay home to promote social distancing and slow the spread of the coronavirus. The Stay Safe, Stay Home initiative, developed in conjunction with New York State, started at 8 p.m. Monday and will last until April 22, subject to revisions. The city will be monitoring the current situation on a daily basis and will make adjustments as necessary, said Mayor Mark Lauretti. All city meetings have been canceled, and Lauretti has delayed release of his 2020-21 fiscal year budget for at the least the next couple of weeks as he watches how the pandemics effect on the economy impacts the citys plans moving forward. Lauretti said the city will provide updates on the coronavirus and its preparation efforts as it relates to the community at www.cityofshelton.org. Residents can call the city clerks office between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday to schedule an appointment. According to the city website, the Shelton Community Center, Shelton Senior Center, libraries, animal shelter, Richard O. Belden Cultural Center, registrar of voters office and the youth service bureau are also closed until further notice. All city parks, playgrounds and trails will remain open. The city yard and transfer station will also remain open during regular hours, officials said. In a Facebook post, Shelton Parks & Recreation officials stated Please keep in mind when using any of Shelton's public parks, playgrounds, and walking trails to practice social distancing. This involves staying at least 6 feet away from others and not gathering in groups, especially with children on the playgrounds. Public works, emergency services, police, fire and ambulance services are essential services and will remain open and available, said Lauretti. Emergency services will continue to respond to 911 and calls for service using enhanced procedures to keep our first responders and community members safe. Lauretti said Shelton police will continue to take reports over the telephone for minor issues or incidents which would not require an officer to visit a home or business. Interim school Superintendent Beth Smith, in an email to parents and staff March 22, stated that all Shelton public schools and central office will be closed beginning March 24. Employees, including those at the central office, will be working virtually, and all Board of Education and Board of Education committee meetings are postponed until further notice. Anyone experiencing technology issues must email Helpdesk@sheltonpublicschools.org, stated Smith. Smith asked that parents not call the HelpDesk as there is no call forwarding for that phone. Any parent who was unable to pick up materials on Friday, should email bsmith@sheltonpublicschools.org and include their child's name, school, and materials desired. During this closure, our food distribution at Shelton High School will continue, said Smith. I encourage all families to take advantage of this service offered by Whitsons Food Service, which is available to all students enrolled in the Shelton public schools and Holy Trinity Catholic Academy. For more information, check the Shelton public schools website and Facebook pages regularly. Residents can also follow Smith on Twitter @SheltonCTSuper. For real COVID-19 relief, suspend the payroll tax By Mark Alexander It's a race to raid the national treasury, and the winner is... The primary beneficiaries of proposed measures to prop up the economy in the wake of the COVID-19 epidemic devastation should be America's working men and women, whose jobs and income stability are threatened by the extreme measures to slow the Chinese WuFlu infection rate. It's no small irony the communist Chinese will also be beneficiaries, as they float a lot of U.S. debt, including the debt necessary to fund the economic props. The House Democrats' so-called Families First Coronavirus Response Act was delivered to the Republican Senate for expected affirmation. It had been stalled in negotiations, as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) tried to attach allocations to the $105 billion bill for expenditures that have nothing to do with COVID-19 relief. That graft initially prompted 40 Republicans to vote against the bill. Continuing her shamelessly partisan shots at President Donald Trump and Republicans, Pelosi insisted, "During negotiations, the Democratic House will continue to make clear to the administration that any emergency response package must put families first before any aid to corporate America is considered." Because, you know, Democrats want you to believe that they put families first. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is keeping Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and his $750 billion bill sidelined as McConnell rallies his troops behind an almost $1 trillion Trump administration proposal. Schumer insisted, "We will need big, bold, urgent federal action to deal with this crisis." But it won't be his action. McConnell declared: "We need to directly help American workers and families face this uncertain period, and particularly we're examining policy tools to put money directly and quickly into the hands of American families. We also need to ... help American small businesses survive this disruption and thrive on the other side of it. In particular, we are preparing bold steps to ensure that Main Street can access liquidity and credit during this extraordinary time." Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said of the administration's proposal: "It is a big number. We've put a proposal on the table that would inject a trillion dollars into the economy." Yes, it's a "big number," a number much larger than the $787 billion stimulus package doled out after the 2008 financial crisis. But the circumstances are very different, and so are the beneficiaries. With this bill, as with the Democrats' 2009 stimulus, the objective is to restore confidence in the economy. The 2009 package largely failed, however, because it focused on giveaways to Democrat special interests (remember all those "shovel-ready jobs"?) rather than to the American middle class and the small businesses that drive our nation's economy. In fact, it took the election of Donald Trump in 2016 to really restore confidence in the economy. And, for the record, as I mentioned in my analysis on social distancing this week, Trump has more business experience than any president in a century. While there are no "good options" for dealing with this epidemic, some options are better than others, and this president and his administration understand this as well as any president in my lifetime. But I also questioned, "Are we going to flatten the infectious-spread curve so long that we flatline the economy?" The administration's proposal is an effort to re-inflate consumer and business confidence, as well as economic optimism. So, to recap ... financing a government-mandated economic shutdown is expensive. First, on 6 March, President Trump signed the $8.3 billion congressional bill providing urgent funding for vaccine development and state- and local-government prevention efforts and a few other things. Second, on 13 March, Trump declared a National Emergency to accelerate response and recovery. Third, as noted above, the Senate will take up the $105 billion House bill now that most of the Democrats' graft has been removed. And fourth, Senate negotiations will also move forward on the massive spending package proposed by the Trump administration as the preferred alternative to the Senate Democrats' $750 billion proposal. The administration initially said its proposal would be $850 billion but that's "The Art of the Deal." The Trump administration's fiscal plan includes enormous financial relief to certain industries hit hardest by the shutdown which, by extension, is relief to American workers and their families. Unfortunately, Democrats will never connect the two. Notably, it includes about $500 billion in direct payments of more than $1,000 to most American adults. "We want to make sure Americans get money in their pockets quickly and small-business owners have access to funds," Secretary Mnuchin said, adding, "We're looking at sending checks to Americans immediately ... in the next two weeks." That would be some version of Sen. Mitt Romney's version of former Demo presidential contender Andrew Yang's version of direct payments to individuals. However, by far the most sensible way to increase income to working men and women is Trump's proposal to suspend the payroll tax through the end of this year. Here, the administration is angling for some mix of payroll-tax rollback and direct distribution. The president has called for a 0% payroll tax for the next nine months, which would immediately increase take-home pay for tens of millions of American breadwinners. White House legislative-affairs director Eric Ueland said, "The president believes very strongly in his payroll-tax-cut idea and has made it crystal clear more than once his interest in seeing action on the payroll-tax cut from Congress this year. However, there are also many other good ideas that members of Congress have." The payroll tax is imposed on employees and businesses (which is to say, on employees), ostensibly to fund Social Security, Medicare, and other government programs all of which are actually "funded" by treasury IOUs to be repaid by future generations. The PT rate has increased from 4% in 1955 to 15.3% today, almost 400% now maxing out at $7,960 for a single-earner family. Today, more than 70% of Americans pay more in payroll taxes than income taxes. If Trump's proposed payroll-tax suspension were fully implemented, it would amount to an $800 billion tax cut between now and January 2021. That's about 5% of gross domestic product, and it would inject every dime back into the economy. But a payroll-tax suspension is political kryptonite for Democrats, because the last thing they want their constituents to know is what their paychecks would look like without government taking that big cut right off the top. Nonetheless, Democrats know the kryptonite option is better than the option of suspending income-tax withholding which they know the administration would propose if they balk on the payroll suspension. The withholding tax was an emergency World War II measure implemented as the Current Tax Payment Act of 1943. But it never went away. If it were now suspended and the American people actually had to set aside or scrape together the funds necessary to make the annual April tax-filing deadline, they would then become acutely aware of the cost of government. And Democrats want to avoid that scrutiny at all costs. One caveat with the direct payments: Republicans need to exercise caution so they don't reseed renewed calls from leftist Democrats for the ultimate socialist redistribution scheme Universal Basic Income. Let the political shenanigans continue. Mark Alexander is the executive editor of the Patriot Post. Home Today A mix of clouds and sun. Not as harsh by the afternoon. Tonight Partly cloudy. Tomorrow Mostly cloudy and not as cold. There might be a passing rain or snow shower, mainly north or west. Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) has postponed the evaluation process for class 10th or matriculation examination after the Bihar government has announced lockdown in all districts of the state in view of coronavirus outbreak. According to the BSEB chairman Anand Kishor, The evaluation process for matriculation examination has been postponed till March 31. It will be resumed after further notice. There are over 100 evaluation centres in Bihar where over 20,000 evaluators were deputed to check the answer copies of board examinees. According to a source, the evaluation process for intermediate exam have been completed while around 50% of the class 10th answer books have been completed till date. However, there is no announcement of delay in the result declaration. BSEB had earlier announced that the Bihar Board intermediate exam results are likely to be declared by the last week of March or by the first week of April. Bihar Board has already released the answer keys for both, class 10th and 12th examination 2020. Bihar reported the first death due to coronavirus on Sunday after which the state government announced lockdown in all the 38 districts of Bihar. Central government has also ordered to lockdown other 80 districts in various states of India where Covid-19 positive cases have been reported. India reported a total of 364 positive cases of coronavirus till date. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Health officials in the Gaza Strip are sounding the alarm after two cases of the novel coronavirus were reported in the besieged territory. The densely populated strip announced its first confirmed cases of COVID-19 March 22. We are more concerned now than we have been by the Israeli military attacks over the past 20 years, Dr. Abdullatif al-Haj, an official in Gazas Ministry of Health, told Al-Monitor. Our already fragile health system cannot survive, said Haj. According to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, two Palestinian men who had recently returned from Pakistan and entered Gaza through Egypt have contracted the virus. Both are in stable condition and under quarantine in the town of Rafah near the Egyptian border, officials said. Hamas, which rules Gaza, has introduced a series of new restrictions including the closure of schools and restaurants, a ban on large gatherings and the suspension of Friday prayers in mosques. Hospitals, schools and hotels have been designated quarantine centers and are currently housing some 1,200 travelers who have recently returned from abroad. According to The Jerusalem Post, Hamas is calling for Palestinian unity at the national level in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. The newspaper reports Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem urged Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas to lift economic sanctions imposed on the Gaza Strip in 2017. In a statement, Hamas said it invited Palestinian factions and the Ministry of Health to contribute to the fight against COVID-19. Experts previously warned an outbreak of COVID-19 in the tiny enclave of some 2 million people, many of whom live in crowded refugee camps, would present a massive challenge for Gazas health care system. Military conflict with Israel, internal political instability and a 13-year Israeli-Egyptian blockade have left hospitals overburdened and understaffed. According to Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, Gazas hospitals are equipped with just 70 intensive care unit beds and face a shortage of oxygen devices and protective equipment. In Israel, where coronavirus cases surged to 1,238 on March 23, authorities have already taken sweeping measures to further restrict the movement of Palestinians entering the country. Over the weekend, the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories, which coordinates Israeli policy in the Palestinian territories, announced the closure of all border crossings to Gaza and the West Bank. The health of all citizens in the region stands above all and is our top priority, Maj. Yotam Shefer, head of the international department of the civil administration, said on Twitter. We will continue in collaboration with the [PA] in a joint effort to eradicate the continuous spread of the virus." Officials in the West Bank announced March 22 a mandatory two-week isolation period for residents. Palestinian health officials have so far confirmed 53 cases of the coronavirus. The French authorities evacuated several patients with coronavirus on board the Tonnerre assault helicopter carrier warship on Sunday in Ajaccio on the French island of Corsica. The French authorities evacuated several patients with coronavirus on board the Tonnerre assault helicopter carrier warship on Sunday in Ajaccio on the French island of Corsica. Tonnerre assault helicopter carrier warship (Picture source: Wikipedia) Ambulances and other emergency vehicles could be seen approaching the docked ship, and driving up ramps to board it. The evacuation will "allow the Ajaccio hospital to face the wave that we are anticipating with a bit of respite," as Corsica expects more infections in the coming weeks, said regional police chief, Franck Robine. The patients will be transferred to the south of France if "if all goes well, where they are expected to be evacuated to Marseille's hospital facilities," said Tonnerre's captain, Arnaud Tranchant. According to the latest figures compiled from global reports by Johns Hopkins University, at least 315,500 people have been infected by COVID-19 worldwide and over 13,500 people have died. There have currently been 14,485 cases confirmed in France with at least 562 deaths. Andrew Clark - Doing Time In Whistler: Theotim Trabac - Ride At Home: Keegan Wright In Maydena: Hardtail Hooning In South West England: Best of PoneyStyle: Build: Jono Kurthy Rips His Reign 29er: Beaumont 96: Episode 1 - Isolation: 2019 Adventure Tape: The Canyon CLLCTV Rides The Spectral: Mutt Lyf Movie: Eclat Natives - Sean Burns: Sean Burns - Anthem II: Sean Burns - Ender Ender: Primitive Skateboard's "Rome" Video: Sculpted In Time - The Artist: The Fifty - Ep. 20 - Mt. Rainier - From Giant Surf to Giant Mountains: The Lifer: Coronavirus - Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Why Fighting Coronavirus Depends On You: Tired and hungover after a solid week of Deep Summer madness, we skulked around the bike park being weirdos and having a helluva time. Here's a mashup baked with love. Video: Jim Topliss.Video: Paul Fisson.90 seconds of Keegan Wright ripping up Maydena Bike Park.When the race bikes get packed away and the hardtails come out you know the winter has come. With help from four of the best hardtail pinners in the south west, we decided to create a tribute video to showcase just how fun hardtails are.When you have to stay home due to the Covid-19, a best of is the best way to pass the time.A huge part of mountain biking is building; without builds there would be no rides. For some people who really devote themselves, envision a goal, and strive to make the creation they desire to see, they find that building can be a time to think over those simple moments in life. It's about progression and seeing the fruits of your labor.Shredding in Australia.Just me and my bike racing through the forest. Enjoy. Video: Will Cheaney.Compilation of my favourite rides of 2019.We hand over our latest EMTB to three UK CLLCTV riders. Let the session begin!Once upon a time four mutts traveled to the other side of the world to experience Europe and everything that comes with it. Did they make it out alive?Sean Burns recently had a severe crash and broke his back. He's doing a fundraiser for hospital bills and rehab if you have the means to help. One of the alltime great BMX video parts.Our Ender Ender video series continues today with Episode 6 and Sean Burns' hauntingly large banger gap from his Anthem II DVD section. Sean explains the intricacies of creating a run-up through a graveyard in the middle of the night and how Crandall managed to jinx the whole situation. Just look out for the Van Buren Boys!Primitives international super squad checks in to stretch the limits of skating. After Miles Silvas, Robert Neal, and the rest light up Floridas hot spots, the star from Stalin Plaza, Roman Lisivka, finishes the job on the other side of the sea. This promo hits hard.In The Artist, filmed on location at Sunshine Village, we get a glimpse of the incredible energy of the Canadian Rockies and how the colour, light, and texture of the mountains around Sunshine Village inspire skiers and artists alike. The viewer meets local visual artist Dan Hudson as he ruminates on the very mountains that define his lifestyle, and inspires his artistic expression. The film tracks the artist as he shoots skiers and snowboarders on the mountain and then into his studio as nature becomes muse and inspiration flows both ways, translating to canvas.Mt. Rainier as known as the North American training ground of mountaineering. Which is why professional big wave surfer, Ian Walsh, joins Cody on Mt. Rainier in an attempt to prepare for his goal of climbing and riding Denali, the highest mountain in North America. Rainier brings a bevy of lessons to the inexperienced Walsh and experienced Townsend as they navigate whiteouts, crevasses, altitude, and the decision making on whether to continue and risk it all for a line or to turn around and call it a day.Russ Clune is a cornerstone of Black Diamond history and an integral part of climbings humble beginnings in America. Recently, BD Athlete Sam Elias paid Clune a visit at his home in the Gunks, where he sampled the historic routes of the past, and attempted a rare ascent of the new-school trad testpiece: Brozone (5.14b). But perhaps the most important thing Sam walked away with, amid all the climbing history lessons, and constant, often hilarious, Clune cliff-banter, was an intimate view into the soul of a man who has dedicated his entire life to climbing.As coronavirus spreads in the US, John Oliver discusses whats being done to fight the illness, whats gone wrong, and how to stay safe.If we can slow the virus down, it could save hundreds of thousands of lives.Photo: blackapturphoto To check out videos submitted by fellow Pinkbike members that didn't quite make Movie Mondays here Brussels, Belgium (PANA) The European Council on Monday decided to expand the scope of the mandate of the European Union military mission contributing to the training of the Malian Armed Forces (EUTM Mali) The government plans to send two chartered planes to evacuate Koreans from coronavirus-ravaged Italy. The Foreign Ministry said on Friday that about 570 Koreans in Rome and Milan have expressed a wish to return home. They had initially sought to arrange flights independently but faced difficulties due to costs and travel restrictions within Europe. Details on the flights have yet to be decided. 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You may remember that certain social demographics (and genders) display this type of behaviour better than others. But now that this work happens through the fish-eye camera of your laptop, in Zoom after Zoom after Zoom, the goalposts have moved. Now it is less about what you say than what others can see in the background behind you while youre saying it largely because the audio went wibbly when you made your point. This change is, if not a universal leveller, then at least an opportunity to change the rules of owning a room. Set the scene Pitching your workstation in front of a pile of laundry/Deliveroo detritus/your booze stockpile semaphores chaos. That six-pack of blue WKDs is not any more ironic at a 9am Zoom conference than it is in real life. Top line: remove all signifiers of your human weaknesses from shot. Now, start adding in signifiers of your superiority. This is a details game. It would be ideal if you have any of the following to hand: a Roman bust, a tapestry, a harp, an easel propping up a promising canvas. If not, setting up your desk in front of a carefully curated bookshelf will do. By my estimate check with a test run about 12 books will be in shot. Ensure they give the impression of a well-rounded reader; someone curious and ambitious, sensitive yet rigorous, someone who rides that zeitgeist (has the new Hilary Mantel) but simultaneously dabbles in the esoteric (an Olga Tokarczuk, perhaps, or anything German and not translated). For the avoidance of doubt, Freakonomics should not make the cut. Other top props include posters (framed) from galleries MoMA, the Getty, something obscure with a cedilla and a secondary bookshelf, which emphasises that your collection is so bounteous it can hardly be contained. See the light You are already haunted by your Zoom avatar: a person who is to all intents and purposes you, but who feels like a stranger. Does your nose always do that when you concentrate? Did you always have a pronounced overbite? It is uncanny; both you and not you. Stay calm: adequate lighting conceals many sins. Also, that energy-saving bulb swinging from the ceiling does not scream CEO in the making. Open the curtains (natural light equals professional light), and remember: soft lighting makes it feel like you are trying to date everyone on the call. Candles even expensive ones are creepy. Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures 1 /81 Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures A deserted Westminster Bridge PA A man wearing a face mask or covering due to the COVID-19 pandemic, walks past customers sat outside a restaurant AFP via Getty Images Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons Runners pass cardboard cutouts of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William during the London Marathon in London AP An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station Jeremy Selwyn Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield PA A sign is displayed in the window of a student accommodation building following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Mancheste Reuters People take part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions, in Londo AP People sing and dance in Leicester Square on the eve on the 10PM curfew Reuters Hearts painted by a team of artists from Upfest are seen in the grass at Queen Square, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Bristol Reuters Graffiti reads 'good luck and stay safe', as the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases grow around the world, under a bridge in London Reuters A sign is pictured in Soho, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London Reuters Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures, during a coronavirus briefing in Downing Street, London AP A person runs past posters with a message of hope, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Manchester REUTERS Riot police face protesters who took part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions in London AP An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London's Piccadilly Circus PA Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images Durdle Door in Dorset Reuters Captain Tom Moore via Reuters Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak PA An NHS worker reacts at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS Reuters Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno @AndrewStuart via PA Tobias Weller PA Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed London Landscapes: Hyde Park and the Serpentine, central London. Matt Writtle A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus PA Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue Reuters A young man cuts another man's hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford Reuters General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London via Reuters Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace Getty Images A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home PA Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak. PA Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers PA A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of "panic buying" cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus. Getty Images People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour PA Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus PA Children are painting 'Chase the rainbows' artwork and springing up in windows across the country Reuters Social distancing in Primrose Hill Jeremy Selwyn A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended PA Homeless people in London AFP via Getty Images A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow's street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss PA The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic PA A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world Reuters Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA Britain's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street Reuters The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh's Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak. PA Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear PA A sign at a Sainsbury's supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world Reuters Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" Getty Images A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads "Diseases are in the City" in Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors PA A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh PA A quieter than usual British Museum Getty Images A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre Getty Images A deserted Trafalgar Square in London PA Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport Getty Images No extras Whether you now WFH with your three children, are hutching up with four housemates, or its you and your other half forever (and ever), try to separate church and state. Having your boyfriend/toddler/housemate wander through in PJs mid-call will undermine your professionalism so much that even a harp solo (see above) will not repair your rep. Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau issued a stern warning to those ignoring pleas to practice social distancing. Speaking at his daily news conference, Mr Trudeau explained that social distancing is the single best way to keep the people around you safe. Striking a sterner tone then at his previous briefings, Mr Trudeau criticised people who are seemingly ignoring the advice. Weve all seen the pictures online of people who seem to think they are invincible. Well, youre not, Trudeau said on Monday. Enough is enough. Go home and stay home. Mr Trudeau also suggested that new measures might be brought in to make sure the advice to stay home is followed by all. Were going to make sure this happens, whether by educating people more on the risks or by enforcing the rules if thats needed, he said. The prime minister is to speak to the premiers of all provinces, to discuss what other measures can be taken to help tackle the pandemic. Mr Trudeau suggested that one measure that could be taken is imposing strict limits on the movement of people in individual provinces. He will discuss with them what the federal government can do under the 1988 Emergencies Act, which could allow provinces to impose restrictions to ensure the safety of citizens. Mr Trudeau has been self isolating after his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau tested positive for coronavirus. Ms Trudeau thanked those who sent her messages of support: Although Im experiencing uncomfortable symptoms of the virus, I will be back on my feet soon, she said. Being in quarantine at home is nothing compared to other Canadian families who might be going through this and for those facing more serious health concerns. According to a tracking project hosted by Johns Hopkins University, upwards of 1,482 people have tested positive in Canada. The death toll has reached at least 21. TORONTO, March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Nighthawk Gold Corp. ("Nighthawk" or the "Company") (TSX: NHK;OTCQX: MIMZD) is pleased to report assay results for the ten remaining holes (3,333 metres) of its 110 drillhole (40,834 metre) 2019 drill program (Table 1). Drilling was expanded into the central region of the Colomac Main sill ("Colomac Main"), including less explored portions of Zones 2.5, and 2.0, part of Nighthawk's Colomac Gold Project ("Colomac"), located within its Indin Lake Gold Property, Northwest Territories, Canada. All holes reported intersections of broad and continuous mineralization progressing to new depths within a largely untested area of Colomac Main. Dr. Michael Byron, President and Chief Executive Officer said, "We have now reported on all of our 2019 program drillholes - our most productive campaign to-date. Drilling on the Colomac Main has continued to demonstrate a consistency in breadth and continuity of mineralization throughout all areas of the deposit. While the central 1-kilometre section of Colomac Main remains largely unexplored, with few holes below 250 metres vertical depth, our current holes have tested the sill well below previous intersections, successfully extending mineralization to new depths. "Our 2019 drilling at Colomac has changed how we view the deposit. The recent discovery of the sill's dramatic widening of its mineralized portion to depth of up to 3 times its near surface true width represents an incredible opportunity that may result in the exponential growth of tonnage and contained ounces." Colomac Drilling Highlights: Zone 2.5 Holes C19-47 and C19- 47B bracketed a new discovery of higher-grade near-surface mineralization intersected by previous holes C18-27 and C18- 27B (see press release dated November 19, 2018 ) about 325 metres south of the former producing open pit (" Pit 2.0 ", Figure 1). bracketed a new discovery of higher-grade near-surface mineralization intersected by previous holes C18-27 and C18- (see press release dated ) about 325 metres south of the former producing open pit (" ", Figure 1). Hole C19-47, which plotted above C18-27 and below historical shallow drilling, intersected 36.10 metres (26.00 metre true width) of 1.86 grams per tonne gold ("gpt", "Au"), including 6.75 metres of 5.46 gpt Au, and including 2.25 metres of 12.87 gpt Au (Figures 1, 2). Drilling on this section has traced relatively uniform and expansive mineralization from near surface to 260 metres depth where it remains open and unconstrained. (Figures 1, 2). Drilling on this section has traced relatively uniform and expansive mineralization from near surface to 260 metres depth where it remains open and unconstrained. Hole C19-45 was collared 50 metres south of hole C19-47 (Figure 1) to drill below previous holes C18-25 and C18- 25B (see press release dated November 19, 2018 ), the first holes drilled in the area to explore beneath historical shallow intersections, confirming that strong mineralization exists and traced it to new depths. (see press release dated ), the first holes drilled in the area to explore beneath historical shallow intersections, confirming that strong mineralization exists and traced it to new depths. C19-45 extended mineralization an additional 70 metres in depth to upwards of 250 metres below surface, intersecting 28.50 metres (13.00 metres true width) of 1.26 gpt Au, and including 13.00 metres of 1.66 gpt Au, and including 3.50 metres of 2.57 gpt Au (Figure 3). (Figure 3). Holes C19-43 and C19- 43B were drilled 130 metres north of C19-47 to infill a 150-metre gap in drilling between previous drilled series holes C19-06 and C19-09 (see press release dated May 28, 2019 ). Limited historical drilling had tracked shallow mineralization to 150 metres vertical depth. were drilled 130 metres north of C19-47 to infill a 150-metre gap in drilling between previous drilled series holes C19-06 and C19-09 (see press release dated ). Limited historical drilling had tracked shallow mineralization to 150 metres vertical depth. Hole C19-43 undercut the area intersecting 19.75 metres (14.00 metres true width) of 1.25 gpt Au, including 8.00 metres of 1.78 gpt Au, and including 4.25 metres of 2.68 gpt Au (Figure 4). (Figure 4). The steeper hole C19- 43B ran 120 metres below C19-43 and although it intersected 70 metres of downhole mineralization it returned moderate lower-grade intervals. Drilling on this section remains open below 350 metres depth. ran 120 metres below C19-43 and although it intersected 70 metres of downhole mineralization it returned moderate lower-grade intervals. Drilling on this section remains open below 350 metres depth. Holes C19-28, C19- 28B , and C19-28C were drilled from a common setup within the southern part of the zone, 350 metres south of C19-47 to infill a 100-metre gap in drilling between previous series holes C19-25 (see press releases dated July 31, 2019 ) and series C18-23 (see press releases dated November 19, 2018 ). , and C19-28C were drilled from a common setup within the southern part of the zone, 350 metres south of C19-47 to infill a 100-metre gap in drilling between previous series holes C19-25 (see press releases dated ) and series C18-23 (see press releases dated ). The steeper hole C19-28C intersected 40.15 metres (15.00 metre true width) of 1.22 gpt Au, including 15.50 metres of 1.83 gpt Au, and including 6.00 metres of 2.64 gpt Au (Figure 5). Drilling on this section has extended near surface mineralization to 275 metres vertical depth where it remains open. (Figure 5). Drilling on this section has extended near surface mineralization to 275 metres vertical depth where it remains open. Infill drilling of extensive near-surface gaps in coverage has confirmed historical intersections and established continuity of mineralization to depth, paving the way for additional discoveries within areas of the sill that remain largely unexplored. The abundance of historical higher-grade shallow intercepts is strong guidance that with continued drilling of these targets to depth, the opportunity exists for the discovery and delineation of additional gold zones. Drilling confirms the same style of robust mineralization characteristic of the host quartz diorite portion of the Colomac Main Sill is present within this lesser explored central region of the sill. Other areas of the sill drilled to greater depth show a pronounced widening of the sill's mineralized portion to depth. It's believed that the same general "wedge shaped" form is present within the central sill, and represents a new exploration opportunity. Note: All assays are uncut (see Table 1) Table 1. Colomac Drill Results Summary Table (uncut) The FULL ASSAY TABLE is available as a media document within this release as well as on the Company's website at https://www.nighthawkgold.com/news Hole ID Zone Collar Orientations (degrees) Intersection (Metres) Core Length True Width Gold Grade Azimuth Dip From To (Metres)* (Metres) gpt C19-28 2.5 295 -45 143.55 160.05 16.50 12.00 0.44 including 143.55 144.25 0.70 2.30 C19-28B 2.5 295 -60 192.00 203.25 11.25 9.00 2.42 including 197.25 203.25 6.00 4.20 211.75 217.00 5.25 1.87 including 211.75 214.75 3.00 2.40 C19-28C 2.5 295 -70 227.50 267.65 40.15 15.00 1.22 including 235.90 251.40 15.50 1.83 including 237.50 243.50 6.00 2.64 including 239.75 243.50 3.75 3.08 including 247.90 251.40 3.50 2.06 including 255.00 259.50 4.50 1.40 including 265.40 266.90 1.50 2.26 C19-43 2.5 300 -55 229.25 249.00 19.75 14.00 1.25 including 238.50 246.50 8.00 1.78 including 242.25 246.50 4.25 2.68 261.00 285.25 24.25 18.00 1.09 including 270.75 278.75 8.00 2.04 including 272.25 276.25 4.00 2.81 including 277.00 278.75 1.75 2.23 including 282.25 284.50 2.25 1.81 C19-43B 2.5 300 -70 335.25 336.50 1.25 1.36 345.50 350.00 4.50 0.52 384.75 386.25 1.50 1.49 C19-45 2.5 285 -70 246.00 274.50 28.50 13.00 1.26 including 250.50 263.50 13.00 1.66 including 250.50 254.00 3.50 2.57 including 258.50 263.50 5.00 1.82 including 259.75 263.50 3.75 2.04 including 265.35 268.00 2.65 1.62 including 265.35 267.00 1.65 1.97 including 271.75 274.50 2.75 1.34 including 271.75 274.00 2.25 1.43 C19-46 2.0 290 -75 278.00 281.75 3.75 0.86 including 278.75 280.25 1.50 1.43 289.25 349.50 60.25 0.76 including 289.25 302.75 13.50 0.97 including 295.25 300.50 5.25 1.35 including 297.50 300.50 3.00 1.63 including 322.00 349.50 27.50 0.84 including 322.00 324.25 2.25 2.25 including 330.00 345.75 15.75 0.93 including 330.00 339.00 9.00 1.19 including 338.25 339.00 0.75 2.64 including 344.25 345.75 1.50 1.47 C19-47 2.5 285 -45 152.60 165.55 12.95 0.71 including 160.00 165.55 5.55 1.07 176.25 213.60 37.35 1.81 including 177.50 213.60 36.10 28.00 1.86 including 178.25 185.00 6.75 5.46 including 178.25 180.50 2.25 12.87 C19-47B 2.5 285 -70 251.50 289.25 37.75 16.00 1.29 including 254.25 278.50 24.25 1.61 including 254.25 264.75 10.50 2.16 including 254.25 263.50 9.25 2.22 including 254.25 256.00 1.75 5.72 including 260.25 263.50 3.25 2.72 including 272.25 276.00 3.75 1.89 C19-52 2.5 110 -60 408.25 414.75 6.50 0.73 including 413.50 414.75 1.25 1.70 * Lengths are reported as core lengths. True widths vary depending on drill hole dip. The central region of the 9-kilometre-long Colomac Main remains largely unexplored below 250 metres from surface, however the documented abundance of higher-grade shallow intercepts indicates the potential for additional broad well-mineralized gold zones developing to depth. Technical Information Nighthawk has implemented a quality-control program to comply with best practices in the sampling and analysis of drill core. Drill core samples were transported in security-sealed bags for analyses at ALS Global Assay Laboratory in Vancouver, BC ("ALS Global"). ALS Global is an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory. Pulp and metallics assaying for gold was conducted on the entire pulverized sample. As part of its QA/QC program, Nighthawk inserts external gold standards (low to high-grade) and blanks every 20 samples in addition to the standards, blanks, and pulp duplicates inserted by ALS Global. About Nighthawk Nighthawk is a Canadian-based gold exploration company with 100% ownership of a district-scale land position within the Indin Lake Greenstone Belt, located approximately 200 km north of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. Nighthawk is focused on advancing the Colomac Gold Project with a current inferred resource of 2.6 million ounces of gold (50.3 million tonnes at an average grade of 1.62 grams per tonne gold), as well as advancing its other regional gold deposits and showings within this largely underexplored Archean gold camp. The Company has an experienced and dedicated team and is well funded to complete its goals and objectives over the next 12 months. Qualified Person Dr. Michael J. Byron, Ph.D., P.Geo., President & Chief Executive Officer of Nighthawk, who is the "Qualified Person" as defined by NI 43-101 for this project, has reviewed and approved of the technical disclosure contained in this news release. Please refer to NI 43-101 technical report "Technical Report and mineral resource estimate update on the Colomac Property of the Indin Lake Project", dated July 26, 2018, as filed under the company's profile on www.sedar.com . Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange has neither reviewed nor accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, information with respect to the Company's continued exploration programs (including size and budget) and the ability to advance targets and the timing and results thereof; and the ability to expand the current resource at Colomac with additional drilling. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "does not anticipate", or "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", or "will be taken", "occur", or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is made, and is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Nighthawk to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including risks associated with the exploration, development and mining such as economic factors as they effect exploration, future commodity prices, changes in foreign exchange and interest rates, actual results of current exploration activities, government regulation, political or economic developments, environmental risks, permitting timelines, capital expenditures, operating or technical difficulties in connection with development activities, employee relations, the speculative nature of gold exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities of grades of reserves, contests over title to properties, and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined as well as those risk factors discussed in Nighthawk's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2018, available on www.sedar.com. Although Nighthawk has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Nighthawk does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. SOURCE Nighthawk Gold Corp. Related Links nighthawkgold.com Democrats blocked the phase three coronavirus economic stimulus package again on Monday, even though Republicans claimed ahead of the vote that they were proposing a bipartisan bill. Senators voted 49-46 Monday afternoon on the nearly $2 trillion stimulus bill with a few 'aye' votes missing as five Republican senators self-quarantine over coronavirus fears. Although Democrats and Republicans have spent days negotiating this package, talks dissolved on the Senate floor Monday as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer blamed each other for holding up the relief. As the bipartisan effort in Congress continues to crumble, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is preparing to bring to the House floor her own phase three package. The 'Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act' is a counter bill that was proposed after McConnell blames Democrats for delaying the bill's progress. Pelosi claimed in a statement that the Republican bill in the Senate puts 'corporations first, not workers and families.' Some of the measures outlined in the new bill are already included in the Senate GOP package, but Senate Democrats claim the final product of the revised Senate bill still didn't meet their minimum demands. The noon vote on an economic stimulus package dissolved Monday into a Senate floor quarrel as Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer blamed each other for delaying financial aid to American people and companies. Senate Majority Leader McConnell went on a tirade when he took the podium Monday, railing against Democrats for blocking the first version of the phase three economic stimulus bill Sunday night. Democrats again were able to block the GOP-backed phase three economic stimulus bill as Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer's Senate-floor statements dissolved into a partisan argument over who was holding up aid to the American people As the package was blocked for the second time in two days, Nancy Pelosi revealed she was unveiling a counter proposal Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Monday Democrats are trying to get their 'wish list' of unrelated measures passed in the phase three economic stimulus bill which he claims is why they blocked the bill Sunday night 'Every time we hear the Majority Leader come out it's a partisan screed,' Chuck Schumer shot back, claiming Democrats are 'trying to get things done' The Kentucky Republican insisted that Democrats are holding up money to try and get measures passed that he claims are irrelevant. 'Yesterday, when the time came to vote on these urgent measures, our Democratic colleagues chose to block it,'McConnell said of the phase three bill brought up for a vote Sunday night. 'Why are Democrats filibustering the bipartisan bill they helped write? An appropriate question to ask this morning as the country waits on us,' he continued. 'So let me give the American people a taste of the outstanding issues we woke up to this morning.' Schumer shot back during his statement immediately following McConnell's that he is trying to 'get things done,' while he claims Republicans are playing the partisan blame-game. McConnell shared what he called the 'Democratic wish list' of unrelated measures they were hoping to get passed with the nearly $2 trillion relief package, including tax credits for companies using solar and wind energy and setting new emission standards for airlines. 'Are you kidding me?' McConnell said, clearly aggravation. 'This is the moment to debate new regulations that have nothing whatsoever to do with this crisis? That's what they're doing over there. American people need to know it.' 'Democrats won't let us fund hospitals or save new businesses unless they get the dust off the Green New Deal,' he criticized. Schumer said it was Republicans who were making the situation into partisan squabbles, but didn't push back that his party was trying to get things passed in the bill that weren't related to relief from coronavirus. 'Every time we hear the Majority Leader come out it's a partisan screed,' Schumer asserted. 'While I'm in my office with the president's Secretary of Treasury, the president's congressional liaison, getting things done.' 'We Democrats are trying to get things done, not making partisan speech after partisan speech,' he continued. Steven Mnuchin urged lawmakers earlier in the day Monday to get the nearly $2 trillion package passed through Congress to continue combatting the economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak. 'We are going to make sure we get through this and we are going to win this war,' the Treasury secretary told Maria Bartiromo on Fox Business Network Monday morning. 'I want everybody to know, we need to get this legislation passed today,' he pleaded. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin urged senators to get the phase three stimulus package passed Monday after the first version of the bill failed to get through the upper chamber on Sunday 'I want everybody to know, we need to get this legislation passed today,' Mnuchin said during a phone call interview with Fox Business Monday morning, adding he was getting off the phone soon to head to the Senate to meet with bipartisan leadership there Mnuchin has been spearheading the administration's efforts to get a bipartisan bill passed. The former Democrat has worked with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in the past and was able to help get the $100 trillion phase two bill passed earlier this month. 'I am on my way to the Senate this morning to meet with Mitch McConnell and his team and Senator Schumer,' Mnuchin told Fox Business. 'You can ask that question to Democrats,' he said when asked why Democrats are pushing back on the bill that was already proposed. 'What I am saying is we need this to pass today.' Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Mnuchin spent all night negotiating measures both Republicans and Democrats could agree on, meeting a handful of times Sunday to get the bill ready. 'Leader Schumer and Secretary Mnuchin are working late into the night, and they just had another productive meeting,' a spokesman for Schumer said in a statement after 9:00 p.m. Sunday night. Majority Leader McConnell is prepared to lay out the new bill on the Senate floor at 12:00 p.m. A bit after midnight Schumer spoke to reporters on Capitol Hill, telling them there were major 'problems' with the first version of the bill McConnell presented Sunday night. 'Huge amounts of corporate bailout funds without restrictions or without oversight you wouldn't even know who is getting the money,' the Democratic leader said at 12:20 a.m. of the failed measure. 'Not enough money for hospitals, nurses, PPE [personal protective equipment], masks all the health care needs. No money for state and local government, many of whom would go broke. Many other things,' he continued. 'So we're working hard to make them better, and we are making progress,' Schumer said of bipartisan efforts. 'We're getting closer and closer. And I'm very hopeful, is how I'd put it, that we can get a bill in the morning.' Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is brought the revised phase three economic stimulus package to the floor for a second vote Monday afternoon, but it was blocked by Democrats 49-46 Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters at the Capitol after late-night negotiating that there were major 'problems' with the first version of the bill presented by McConnell Schumer met several times Sunday with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin (center) on Sunday to discuss the more than $1.5 trillion bill Congressional leadership met several times over the weekend to negotiate the details of the bill. McConnell's office revealed a picture of him talking with house Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin The third phase of a stimulus package was unable to pass through the Senate Sunday as Democrats blocked the GOP measure meant to target economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak. The 'ayes' fell particularly short Sunday night as five Republicans self-quarantined and were unable to go to the floor to cast their votes. The measure failed with a tie vote of 47 voting in favor of the stimulus package and 47 voting against it. Kentucky Republican Rand Paul announced Sunday afternoon that he tested positive for coronavirus, causing a handful of other GOP senators to self-isolate over fears they contracted the virus. 'He is feeling fine and is in quarantine,' a tweet from his official Twitter account revealed in the statement announcing Paul's condition. 'He is asymptomatic and was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive travel and events. He was not aware of any direct contact with any infected person,' the statement continued. 'He expects to be back in the Senate after his quarantine period ends and will continue to work for the people of Kentucky at this difficult time.' Paul is the first senator to test positive for the fast-spreading respiratory disease and the third member of Congress. Representatives Mario Diaz Balart of Florida and Ben McAdams of Utah revealed last week that they have also tested positive. Five Republican senators are self-isolating, including Rand Paul, who's office announced Sunday that he tested positive for coronavirus becoming the first senator to contract the disease Utah Senator Mitt Romney announced Sunday he was quarantining after coming into close contact with Paul several times in the last week and claimed he would be taking a test to see if he contract the virus Utah Republican Mitt Romney announced Sunday he would be self-isolating after coming in close contact with Paul several times in the last week. 'Since Senator Romney sat next to Senator Paul for extended periods in recent days and consistent with CDC guidance, the attending physician has ordered him to immediately self-quarantine and not to vote on the Senate floor,' Romney's office said in a statement. The announcement came about an hour after Paul's office revealed the senator's situation. McConnell is facing extra obstacles on getting the bill passed as the Republican majority has essentially slimmed with five unable to show up for votes as they remain in self-isolation. Democrats, Republicans and Trump have all expressed they are interested in implementing a temporary measure to allow lawmakers to vote remotely as more and more self-quarantine over fears of contracting or spreading coronavirus. More than 50 congressmen and women have already signed onto a resolution proposed by California Democrat Eric Swalwell demanding that the House allow remote voting. The number of coronavirus cases and deaths in the U.S. have skyrocketed in the last few days as nearly the whole country is working form home and self-quarantining There are more than 35,000 confirmed cases and 471 deaths The measure argues that Congress is breaking the guidelines outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on social distancing by gathering hundreds of people into the same space for sessions. Democratic Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois and Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio are proposing a similar remote voting resolution on the Senate side of Congress. 'We could be in a position where I certainly would be in favor of it. Where they could vote from a certain outside location. I would be in favor of it,' Trump said Sunday during a White House coronavirus task force briefing. 'I was thinking about it today, I mean we could be in this look, with what's going on, nobody's seen anything like this. You could have a lot of people in there from Congress,' he continued. 'I would be totally in favor of it on a temporary basis.' Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 10:55:54|Editor: Wang Yamei Video Player Close PHNOM PENH, March 23 (Xinhua) -- A team of Chinese medical experts arrived in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Monday to help the country fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The seven-member expert team were warmly greeted by Cambodian Minister of Health Mam Bunheng and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian at the Phnom Penh international airport. Dozens of people also waved the flags of Cambodia and China to welcome them as they arrived at the capital's airport. The Chinese medical team, from south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, came over with tons of medical supplies including ventilators, medical masks, test kits and others. Cambodia has so far recorded a total of 84 confirmed cases of the COVID-19, and two of the patients, a Chinese man and a British woman, have fully recovered and been discharged from hospitals, according to a Ministry of Health statement released late on Sunday. CALGARY - The COVID-19 pandemic has walloped tourism-dependent mountain towns by cutting short what had been shaping up to be a great ski season in Western Canada. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/3/2020 (659 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A ski instructor is seen walking along the base of Whistler Mountain in Whistler, B.C. Sunday, March 15, 2020. The Whistler Blackcomb resort which is owned by Vail Resorts shut down operations Saturday due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis taking place worldwide. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward CALGARY - The COVID-19 pandemic has walloped tourism-dependent mountain towns by cutting short what had been shaping up to be a great ski season in Western Canada. At the same time, there are concerns too many people are heading to wilderness trails and that regional hospitals can't cope with a potential surge in novel coronavirus cases among outsiders. A normal March afternoon in downtown Revelstoke, B.C., would be "absolute pandemonium" with skiers and snowboarders looking for a meal or some drinks, said Mayor Gary Sulz. "All the streets would be full. There would be no place to park," he said. Not so, this past week. "Pretty much all of our downtown merchants have closed their stores. It's like a ghost town downtown." Local railroad and sawmill employees are still working, but everything else has dried up, said Sulz. "It's a devastating blow, but it's a necessary thing to keep people safe." Up until about a week ago, ski resorts in Banff National Park had seen a steady stream of visitors drawn by "incredible" snow conditions, said Leslie Bruce, president and CEO of Banff Lake Louise Tourism. Only a few days before hills shut down, people in neighbouring British Columbia were being encouraged to get onto the slopes for some fresh air. "We're devastated. We're finding this incredibly difficult," said Bruce. "It feels like it's happened so fast." Bruce said some businesses that shut down may never reopen, and people in the tight-knit Rocky Mountain community are supporting each other as best they can. Banff Mayor Karen Sorenson said the town normally has a year-round population of 9,000. It's estimated up to half have been laid off over the last week. A good portion were young people on working holidays from places such as Australia. "Our hearts break for these kids who came out here for an adventure," said Sorenson. "It's kind of all disappeared for them." Sorenson said the town will be re-examining its budget this week to see what spending cuts it can make and what tax relief it can offer locals. It has set up an email service to field questions about work visas, mental-health supports, housing and other matters. National parks remain open, but not their visitor centres or washrooms. The same goes for Alberta Parks. Careless visitors were scolded in a Twitter post Sunday. "This weekend we noticed garbage, used tampons, diapers, and even human waste next to our facilities! Help us keep parks clean. Whatever you take in, take it back out." Canmore, Alta., a scenic town just east of the Banff gates, wants visitors to stay out. "Driving through the mountains to enjoy the scenery is not prohibited by the government of Alberta, but we need Canmore residents and visitors to make socially responsible decisions," Mayor John Borrowman wrote on Facebook. A doctor in Invermere, B.C., penned an open letter last week urging Albertans with vacation homes in the Columbia Valley to think twice before heading there. William Brown said the local hospital only has eight beds, eight full-time doctors and one ventilator. "Our town is small and isolated and our closest intensive care unit will likely be strained with our regional cases," wrote Brown, who noted that patient transport between provinces is difficult at the best of times. Pete Bourke, executive director of the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce, said most part-time residents would understand Brown's plea. "It's a common sense approach," he said. But COVID-19 will be tough on a region where tourism is "hugely important," said Bourke. In the winter, visitors head to the Panorama Mountain Resort near Invermere and the Fairmont Hot Springs Ski Resort. In the summer, Lake Windermere is popular with boaters and beach-goers. "Anyone that's affected by out-of-market tourism and travel guests have had to make some really tough choices," said Bourke. "There's just a lot of uncertainty in general out there, a lot of questions that people have that we're trying to find answers to." This report by The Canadian Press was first published on March 23, 2020 Liam Whelan is in Peru with his family and cant get home Irish tourists stranded in Peru are urging the Government to get them home immediately as the threat of violence looms over them. Liam Whelan (60) from Dublin said his son was recently pelted with eggs from angry locals who were disgruntled that he wasn't wearing a face mask. However, he insists that there are none left available to buy, and believes tensions are swiftly on the rise. Mr Whelan is currently stranded in a hostel in the Peruvian capital of Lima with six members of his family, including his two grandchildren - aged seven and 11. Since the country announced a national lockdown on March 16, he said he has not received any assurance from the Department of Foreign Affairs that they will be brought home. EMERGENCY This is despite Tanaiste Simon Coveney's promise that the 135 Irish citizens stuck in Peru will be rescued with an emergency charter flight in the coming days. Speaking to the Herald, Mr Whelan urged the Government to ramp up its efforts in helping its citizens come home. "We're relying on the Irish media for any developments in our situation," he said. "The Department of Foreign Affairs isn't telling us anything, unfortunately. "I received just one email from the Irish consulate here, just telling us to stay calm and follow government advice. "There are other Irish tourists, too, who are desperately eager to get home, because I believe things will start to get violent here very soon. "The locals are becoming very frustrated with being on lockdown. "Public transport has stopped and there are no taxis. "All restaurants, pubs, government buildings and factories are closed. "The local shops are only open for a few hours, and that's if you dare to venture out. "The other day, my son was on his way to pick up supplies and people began to shout abuse and throw eggs at him for not wearing a mask. "But how could he? You can't get them anywhere. "There is a curfew and the army and police are also becoming increasingly hostile. "Our situation is very grim and will only get worse the longer we're here," he warned. Mr Coveney said Aer Lingus has agreed with British Airways to send a charter plane to collect them from Lima in the coming days. He said that Irish people who were not in the Peruvian capital would have to make their way there and said that the Department of Foreign Affairs was working to make that happen. Mr Coveney said the hope is that the flight home will happen before the middle of the week. He told the Irish people stranded in Peru that they would not face a big bill to return home and that the Government would seek to recoup up to 70pc of the 300,000 cost from the European Union. Mr Coveney said putting the rescue flight in place had not been straightforward due to the Peruvian lockdown, which has effectively shut down the airspace there. He said "this will require negotiation", but added: "I think we're in a good place there to get that done." Separately, Mr Coveney said there is a contract in place to spend more than 200m on personal protective equipment that is going to come from China. He also said the Government was close to agreement on securing 100,000 test swabs per week from China and that Aer Lingus would run flights to transport the equipment here. Mr Coveney said he had a long discussion with the Chinese ambassador and expects to be speaking to the foreign minister in the coming days. He said that China "understands this virus better than anybody else and is a country that has huge resources that can help us". Mr Coveney also said: "I can promise you this - pride isn't going to get in the way of Ireland seeking help from abroad if and when we need that." LONDON, March 23 (Reuters) - German government bond yields extended earlier falls on Monday, tracking a move in U.S. Treasuries after the U.S. Federal Reserve stepped in with further aggressive moves to protect the economy in the face of the coronavirus outbreak. The Fed, citing tremendous hardship caused by the coronavirus pandemic, said it would begin backstopping an unprecedented range of credit for households, small businesses and major employers. German government bond yields extended their falls, with 10-year Bund yields last down 5 basis points on the day at -0.39%. Ten-year U.S. Treasury yields were last down 21 bps on the day at 0.73%. U.S. President Donald Trump is facing increasing calls from some U.S. senators and congressmen to pressure Saudi Arabia into ending the oil price war, with one of his own Republican party - Senator Kevin Cramer last week urging him to impose an embargo on oil imports from Saudi Arabia, Russia and other OPEC nations. It is not because the U.S. shale producers cannot deal with a much lower sustained oil price environment as they can. It is because in order to cope with this environment, capital expenditure will have to be trimmed back to the sorts of ratios seen the last time that the Saudis tried the same thing from 2014 to 2016. The U.S. shale sector won last time and it will win this time (along with Russia) but behind the scenes, the U.S. Presidential Administration is also being advised that it already has the ultimate weapon to make Saudi Arabia end the oil price war right now, OilPrice.com understands from legal sources in Washington. The weapon is the NOPEC Bill Bomb. The NOPEC Bill Bomb refers specifically to the No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act (NOPEC) that was last threatened by the U.S. in October 2018 when the Saudis had enabled the Brent oil price to remain above the key US$70 per barrel level since March. Any sustained Brent price above US$70 per barrel was and is regarded by the current Presidential Administration as being in an area where the benefits to U.S. shale producers of higher prices are outweighed by the relative damage done to the U.S. economy. More specifically, it is estimated that every US$10 per barrel change in the price of crude oil results in a 25-30 cent change in the price of a gallon of gasoline, and for every 1 cent that the average price per gallon of gasoline rises, more than US$1 billion per year in consumer spending is lost. As Bob McNally, the former energy adviser to the former President George W. Bush put it: Few things terrify an American president more than a spike in fuel [gasoline] prices. Story continues In any year, this is bad news for the sitting U.S. President but at that specific point in 2018 when the U.S. (in March) was looking to re-impose sanctions on Iran just a couple of months later it looked like Saudi was taking advantage of the U.S. position, rather than helping its most important ally, as one senior Washington-based legal source told OilPrice.com last week. It came at a time when we were concerned anyway that the Saudis were becoming too dependent on Russia because of the OPEC-plus deals and were listening too much to its [Russias advice], he added. With the oil price during the March-October period consistently well above US$70 per barrel of Brent and in September trading at nearly US$85 per barrel and looking like it was going higher, Trump warned Saudi Arabias King Salman that: He would not last in power for two weeks without the backing of the U.S. military. This was also the occasion when the Saudis were remainder of the NOPEC Bill, according to the legal sources in Washington. Related: Russia Moves In On European Gas Markets As Oil Prices Crash Specifically, the NOPEC bill would make it illegal to artificially cap oil (and gas) production or to set prices, as OPEC and Saudi Arabia do. It would also now work as a very neat trick to prevent Russia from resuscitating OPEC+, rather than just OPEC, as if it did then it too would face the consequences of the NOPEC Bill, once it was approved and became the NOPEC Act. The bill would also immediately remove the sovereign immunity that presently exists in U.S. courts for OPEC as a group and for each and every one of its individual member states. This would leave Saudi Arabia, for instance, open to being sued under existing U.S. anti-trust legislation, with its total liability being its estimated US$1 trillion of investments in the U.S. alone. The U.S. would then be legally entitled to freeze all Saudi bank accounts in the U.S., seize its assets in the country, halt all use of U.S. dollars by the Saudis anywhere in the world (oil, of course, to begin with, is denominated in U.S. dollars), and to go after Aramco and its assets and funds, as it is still a majority state-owned production and trading vehicle. It would also mean that Aramco could be ordered to break itself up into smaller, constituent companies that are not deemed to break competition rules in the oil, gas, and petrochemicals sectors or to influence the oil price. Up until recently, the bill was progressing at a pace through the U.S. system and came very close indeed to being passed into law before Trump stepped in and vetoed it after the Saudis did what he told them to do. In February of last year, the House Judiciary Committee passed the NOPEC Act, which cleared the way for a vote on the Bill before the full House of Representatives. On the same day, Democrats Patrick Leahy and Amy Klobuchar and most remarkably two Republicans, Chuck Grassley and Mike Lee, introduced the NOPEC Bill to the Senate. Even before this, the full approval of the Bill has only been stopped by the President. In 2007, the full House of Representatives and Senate passed the NOPEC legislation and it was passed again in 2008 by the House. In terms of presidential views on the Bill, George W. Bush always threatened a veto and Barack Obama opposed it, but Trump has veered from initially being against it to being a lot less clear. Related: Rig Count Plummets As Oil Price War Rages On Aside from the various threats to King Salman whenever oil prices have come near to the US$70 per barrel level, and the increasing omni-toxicity of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman documented here - Trump also, understandably, has a big problem with OPEC. Since the U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (Iran nuclear deal) in May 2018, Trump has regarded OPEC and Saudi as looking to take advantage of the short term supply constraints [at that time] that resulted from the U.S.s attempts to force Iran back to the negotiating table for a better deal for the U.S. by imposing sanctions on it, according to one of the Washington-based legal sources. In addition to telling Saudi Arabias King Salman that he and his family would not be in power without U.S. support entirely true, incidentally Trump also blamed OPEC via Tweets for the 2018 multi-month oil price spike. He said: Looks like OPEC is at it again. With record amounts of Oil [sic] all over the place, including the fully loaded ships at sea, Oil [sic] prices are artificially Very High [sic]! No good and will not be accepted! He later added at the U.N. General Assembly in September 2018 that OPEC is ripping off the world. Shortly after this, Trump told reporters when asked about the NOPEC Bill specifically: The United States is firmly committed to open, fair, and competitive markets for global energy trade. We do not support market-distorting behaviour, including cartels. Quod erat demonstrandum. By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Read this article on OilPrice.com NSW is at a "critical stage" in relation to the coronavirus pandemic after a substantial spike in confirmed cases overnight, Premier Gladys Berejiklian says. As of Tuesday morning, NSW had recorded 818 cases of COVID-19, an increase of 149 new cases overnight. The total number of cases across Australia has surpassed 1700. The increase in infections came as the Premier warned there were harsh penalties for people who were not taking self-isolation seriously. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian speaks to the media during a press conference in Sydney on Tuesday. Credit:AAP "My heart breaks for those businesses, who have had to close their doors. My heart breaks for those people who have lost their jobs," Ms Berejiklian said. A multi-billion-dollar relief package, the plan to close borders, a new record spike in Queensland coronavirus cases, it has been a crucial day as authorities attempt to stem the spread of COVID-19 and help those worst affected. Loading Queensland has recorded 397 cases of COVID-19 so far, with 78 new infections detected overnight. It represents the biggest daily spike in cases to date. The government has detailed a $4 billion relief package to help households, Queenslanders who have lost their jobs, and businesses plus invest in more health services. From 12.01am on Thursday, Queensland's borders will close and be policed RBT-style. There are exemptions for essential travel such as heading to work, delivering freight, and seeing a doctor. People coming into Queensland for non-essential purposes will have to self-isolate for 14 days after arriving. Today's live coverage has come to an end. Visit our main site for the latest on COVID-19 overnight. The white cliffs of Dover are striking from any perspective. From the sea, they look like a giant white face rising up from the water, dotted with green grass for hair. From the land, they are a jagged rope up and down the coast, a stunning juxtaposition where grazing fields meet precipice. They offer unparalleled views of the sea, and on a clear day, walkers along the cliffs footpaths can see 20 miles across the Strait of Dover to France on the other side. The cliffs are capsules of history, imprinted by some of Englands most significant events. Situated on the narrowest part of the Channel, the cliffs were instrumental to Britain during the Second World War. Large gun batteries were constructed along the coast, and tunnels, known as the Fan Bay Shelter, were carved deep into the chalk for use as shelters. The South Foreland Lighthouse stands from the Victorian era, and it guided hundreds of ships to safety until its decommissioning in 1988. My own history, too, has been timestamped by the cliffs. My memories of the cliffs intertwine with memories of my family. My parents left the United Kingdom for a job in the United States before I was born, which means Ive grown up with my feet planted here and my fondest memories there, when all our extended family was together. View from a beach. (David Genders) I remember first really noticing the ivory walls from the lookout at Dover Castle. My grandad, a lover of history, had a fascination with King Henry VIII. He had taken me there, and in his thick, northern English accent, gave me information of questionable accuracy that the guidebook didnt include about his life and six wives. I remember looking at the cliffs and thinking about how much life they had seen; how wise they were. The cliffs and my grandad seemed to have so much in common. My favorite walk on the cliffs is one I have repeated several times in my life: first as a teenager, then as a newlywed, and most recently as a mother. Its a walk along the cliffs footpaths, usually starting at St. Margarets Bay, down to The Zetland Arms pub in Kingsdown, and then back again: about six miles in total. In my memory I am always dressed in sneakers and shorts on this walk, with enough money for a pint in my back pocket, navigating grazing ponies and small rocks in the footpath as I chat with an aunt or cousin. The sun is shining, the sea breeze just strong enough to keep us comfortably cool as we share with one another as much as we can about our own worlds away from these cliffs: lives lived so far away from one another but still significant enough to want to know about. Were a walking family: I have very few recollections of us all being together that dont involve three or four hour hikes, broken up by a cup of tea or pint at a pub. Walking together, I think, is a key to how we have stayed so close, so many miles apart from one another. A cozy atmosphere at The Zetland Arms. (Courtesy of The Zetland Arms) Enjoying a pint. (Courtesy of The Zetland Arms) Footpaths stretch 16 miles along the cliffs, providing iconic views in every direction. Meadows grow right up to the edge of the cliff, and in order to preserve the cliffs in the best way possible, the grass is maintained by grazing animals. Its not uncommon to come across sheep or ponies munching their way through the day. Sometimes one of us would bring up the war while we walked. Wed talk about what it might have felt like to watch Spitfires zooming through the air, or to watch evacuees from Dunkirk come home. My cousins and I wondered what it would feel like to witness history, even as we witnessed our own adolescence unfolding, and made jokes and played games that would become part of our own familys story. Wed stop, hungry and thirsty, at The Zetland Arms. Its a quaint, cozy place to rest our legs and enjoy a pint or a pot of tea, or both. The pub features fresh seafood, chips, and local beers like the Spitfire Ale, a Kentish ale first brewed to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. The place feels simultaneously like a local hangout and a tourists dream. With a cozy, crackling fire in the winter and seating on the pebbly beach outside in the summer, the Zetland is a place to linger, something we always seemed to do: telling stories while creating the memories well one day tell stories about. Finally, full and sleepy, wed stretch and make the trek back to our car. The Zetland Arms pub in Kingsdown. (Courtesy of The Zetland Arms) I most recently visited the cliffs and The Zetland Arms last fall. My grandmothers hips wont let her walk the way they used to, so we went early to have a cup of tea while we waited for the rest of the family to walk down and join us. As we sat on a picnic table on the pebbled beach, our faces tilted to the sun and the white chalky precipice at our backs, I thought about these cliffs capacity to hold memories. The cliffs had been witness to key events throughout history, and had served as a backdrop for my own childhood memories. Something about the cliffs makes room for life to happen. Maybe its their beauty or their grandeur. They shake us from our ordinary routines and remind us that we are alive, that we are capable of awe. The white cliffs connect moments in history to one another. They serve as a steady link throughout Englands many phases. As I watched my relatives wind down the road to the pub, I realized the cliffs offer a link to me, too. They are an integral part of our family history. Rachael Dymski is an author, florist, and mom to two little girls. She is currently writing a novel about the German occupation of the Channel Islands and blogs on her website, RachaelDymski.com Democratic presidential front-runner Joe Biden said on Sunday he needed to start vetting possible running mates 'in a matter of weeks' and that he discussed the pick with former President Barack Obama. Biden's vice presidential options will include at least six or seven women who will be subjected to background checks to ensure there will not 'be any snafu,' he told donors at a fundraising event held by telephone. 'I have to start that vetting process relatively soon, meaning in a matter of weeks,' he said. 'I think there will be a group that is in excess of six or seven people who I'll look at.' Joe Biden says he is about to seriously consider who is to be his running mate and has said that he has spoken to former President Barack Obama Joe Biden says he is about to seriously consider who is to be his running mate and has said that he has spoken to former President Barack Obama. The pair are pictured here in 2009 Biden said at a Democratic debate last week that he would pick a woman for the job, a qualification he reiterated on Sunday. Biden also emphasized that the woman would have to agree with his fundamental view on policies, including healthcare, education and the need for expansive U.S. influence in the world. He said he shared that kind of common ground with Obama - whom he served as vice president - although they sometimes differed on tactics. Above all, the person would need to be qualified to serve as president immediately. Biden has said he is likely to pick a woman as his running mate. Elizabeth Warren, pictured Sen. Kamala Harris has thrown her support behind former Vice President Joe Biden. Could she be his pick for VP? 'I've actually talked to Barack about this - the most important thing is that it has to be someone who, the day after they're picked, is prepared to be president of the United States of America if something happened,' said Biden, 77. Biden holds a strong lead over Senator Bernie Sanders, his lone remaining rival for the party's nomination to face Republican President Donald Trump in November's election. Sidelined from campaigning in public because of the coronavirus crisis that has put nearly one in three Americans under orders to stay at home, Biden said he would start broadcasting on Monday morning from his home in Delaware. Those briefings will give Biden a way to offer an alternative to the daily news conferences on the coronavirus held by Trump, whose disaster response Biden has criticized. Harvest House Publishers Enjoying a Season of Top-Selling Books Four Current Titles Recognized as Bestsellers NEWS PROVIDED BY Harvest House March 23, 2020 EUGENE, Ore., March 23, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- Harvest House celebrates an outstanding month in March 2020 with four bestselling titles, setting the tone for more successful releases in the rest of 2020. Stop Calling Me Beautiful by Phylicia Masonheimer hit two bestseller lists in its first month, charting at #18 on Publishers Weekly Trade Paper Nonfiction list for the period ending March 2, 2020, and landing a #43 position on ECPA's Christian Bestsellers March 2020 list. Masonheimer shares her journey of transformation, beginning with seeking discipleship and theological understanding and finding that the more you pursue God to better understand Him, the more prepared you are to fulfill your greater purpose. Foundations by Ruth Chou Simons and Troy Simons charted on the Publishers Weekly list as the #13 Hardcover Nonfiction bestseller for the period ending March 16, 2020. This is Ruth Chou Simons' third title in a row to chart on bestselling lists. The Simonses invite parents to guide their families in leaning into God's teachings through Scripture, devotions, and discussion based on 12 key truths about God. The Day Approaching by Amir Tsarfati landed the #21 spot on the Publishers Weekly Trade Paper Nonfiction list, also in the period ending March 16, 2020. Tsarfati's latest title offers a view of the return of Christ from the author's perspective as a Jew who has converted to Christianity. He encourages readers to turn to the Bible alone for truth when seeking signs and clarity about the final days. Beyond Betrayal by Phil Waldrep charted at #21 on ECPA's Christian Bestsellers March 2020 list. Waldrep shares God's solutions to overcoming resentment and not letting past hurts limit future relationships in this latest bestseller. "We consider it an honor to have so many bestselling books on our list," said Bob Hawkins, president of Harvest House Publishers. "It's a real testament to our authors' ability to connect with their readers, and we anticipate continued success with the stellar titles we are publishing in the coming months." New titles coming in Spring/Summer 2020 from Harvest House include In Unison by CCM artist Jeremy Camp and wife Adrienne Camp, Fields of Joy by Ruth Chou Simons, The Connected Parent by Dr. Karyn Purvis and Lisa Qualls, The Power of a Woman's Words by Sharon Jaynes, and Stronger Together, Weaker Apart by Tony Evans. For more information about Harvest House, visit www.harvesthousepublishers.com. About the Publisher Harvest House, a Christian publishing company based in Eugene, Oregon, publishes more than 135 books per year and carries a strong backlist offering more than 1,200 titles. Over 140 million Harvest House books have been sold worldwide through diverse distribution channels, and additional millions have sold in more than 75 different languages. SOURCE Harvest House CONTACT: Jana Burson, 615-429-3900, jana@epic.inc Related Links www.harvesthousepublishers.com A spend of more than 550m by tourists in Northern Ireland is at risk this year as a result of coronavirus, it has emerged. Tourism industry experts have said they believe that the second and third quarter of 2020 will be hit hard as a result of the social distancing measures being put in place to slow down the spread of Covid-19. According to official figures from 2018, the tourism spend in Northern Ireland in the second quarter of the year - April, May and June - was 230m, while the tourism spend in the third quarter was 314m. Joanne Stuart, CEO of the Northern Ireland Tourism Alliance, said it is impossible to predict the full extent of the damage that is being done to the economy in Northern Ireland as a result of the virus. However, she said tourism will play a key role in the recovering of the economy and stressed it is vitally important that Stormont does everything in its power to ensure the future of the sector. "At the moment, we are looking at a variety of different ways in which staff can be redeployed into different roles," she said. "We need innovative and forward-thinking ideas to ensure there is as little damage to the tourism, hospitality and hotel industry as possible. "As far as quarter two is concerned, that is done, that is gone, but when the social distancing measures are lifted and things start going back to normal, tourism will be a really important part of the recovery. "We might not have many people coming in to Northern Ireland for a while, but there will be opportunities for domestic tourism, you will have people looking to book a night away in Belfast, or a short trip away for the weekend. "That's why it's so important to keep the industry going. "When things do start to get better, you can't just open everything back up, that is going to take time. "Look at the likes of the museums and Titanic Belfast, they aren't going to open up overnight, so we need plans in place, we need to get cash into the industry now so that jobs can be protected, so wages can be paid. "The focus should be on trying to deal with the immediacy of the economic impact, we need loans so staff can be paid so that it can be all hands to the pump to try and do our best to save the summer season. "It's important to remember that we will get through this and when that happens, we need to be looking about getting back out there and promoting that Northern Ireland is open for business to the rest of the world." According to figures from 2018, which were likely to be replicated, there were almost 3m overnight trips in Northern Ireland in quarter two and three. [March 22, 2020] Ryan Launches Mini Science Centre to Aid in Development of ZPHS Kondapur Ryan, a leading global tax services and software provider, has launched a mini science centre (MSC (News - Alert)) at Zilla Parishad High School (ZPHS) in Kondapur as part of its objective to provide long-term education support for the underprivileged children living in the local community. "Our MSC is an interactive learning forum with a hands-on approach to teach the concepts of science and math for students of Class 5 and above. This modern way of teaching helps students easily understand multiple concepts and implement them for the progress of the community," said Ryan's Community Outreach Leader Govind Aare. "The mini science centre consists of 65 working table-top science models, 33 informative easy-to-grasp charts, and in-depth manuals that are made available in English and other regional languages." Unique features of Ryan's MSC include: An innovative program that delivers 50% of the elementary education initiatives for students from 5th to 10th grade, aligning with the global goals of India's Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, Education for All (EFA) program, and Right to Education (RTE) Act. A teacher training program that delivers a pedagogical transformation. A process that reduces teaching time by 50% and provides clarity on science and math concepts to students. About Ryan Ryan, an award-winning global tax services and software provider, is the largest Firm in the world dedicated exclusively to business taxes. With global headquarters in Dallas, Texas, the Firm provides an integrated suite of federal, state, local, and international tax services on a multijurisdictional basis, including tax recovery, consulting, advocacy, compliance, and technology services. Ryan is an eight-time recipient of the International Service Excellence Award from the Customer Service Institute of America (CSIA) for its commitment to world-class client service. Empowered by the dynamic myRyan work environment, which is widely recognized as the most innovative in the tax services industry, Ryan's multidisciplinary team of more than 2,700 professionals and associates serves over 15,000 clients in more than 50 countries, including many of the world's most prominent Global 5000 companies. More information about Ryan can be found at ryan.com. "Ryan" and "Firm" refer to the global organizational network and may refer to one or more of the member firms of Ryan International, each of which is a separate legal entity. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200322005001/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] WATERLOO Authorities are warning residents to be cautious of scams related to the COVID-19 pandemic. There are people out there who will try and take advantage of COVID-19 for selfish financial benefit. I am asking everyone in our communities to stay vigilant and report suspected fraud, said Peter E. Deegan Jr., U.S. Attorney for Iowas Northern District, which includes Waterloo. We also all need to care for the most vulnerable citizens in our society and do our best to prevent them from becoming victims of unscrupulous criminals. Deegan said schemes may involve people selling fake cures for COVID-19, phishing emails from entities posing as the World Health Organization or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Other examples included malicious websites and apps that appear to share Coronavirus-related information to gain and lock access to devices, pleas for donations for illegitimate or nonexistent charities, and medical providers obtaining patient information for testing and then using that information to fraudulently bill for other tests and procedures. Deegan urged the public to report suspected fraud schemes related to COVID-19 by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud NCDF hotline (866) 720-5721) or to the NCDF e-mail address disaster@leo.gov . To find more about Department of Justice resources and information, please visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus . The warning came as the FBI reported a rise in coronavirus fraud. FBI officials asked the public to use good cyber hygiene and security measures like not opening attachments or clicking on links in emails from senders they dont recognize and not disclosing personal information or financial data in response to an email or robocall. Residents should verify the web address of legitimate websites and manually type them into your browser and check for misspellings or wrong domains within a link. Photos: Coronavirus threat impacts the Cedar Valley Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. TEL AVIV, Israel and ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Panaxia (TelAviv: PNAX), the largest manufacturer and distributor of pharmaceutical cannabis products in Israel, and its partner Ultra Health have announced the arrival in Israel of the first shipment of hemp extract, having been awarded a first-of-its-kind permit to export cannabis oil from the US to Israel. This unique license was granted to the companies in light of their recent qualification to manufacture and distribute at their joint New Mexico (Bernalillo) facility, including hemp extracts of particularly low (<0.3%) THC concentrations. The companies have recently been licensed to manufacture products at the New Mexico facility and distribute them throughout the US. The facility was designed by Panaxia US and is operated by it while Ultra Health supplies raw materials and distributes the products. Manufacturing had begun this month, and the extracts delivered to Israel will be used in the manufacture of CBD-rich medicinal cannabis products under the premium brand of Axiban. Panaxia aims to produce within a short period of time an inventory large enough to satisfy several months of demand of all Israeli patients requiring this care. The products are designated for the Israeli market only and may not be distributed outside of Israel. Panaxia's CBD-rich oil is targeted at specific group of patients that require a miniscule dose of THC (categories C20, C24) among whom is a large group of children suffering from epilepsy or autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Dr. Dadi Segal, Panaxia CEO: "We are pleased to be able to extend care to our patients in Israeli who are in acute need of this kind of medicinal cannabis care. Panaxia's superb R&D capabilities combined with the added value of a high-quality strategic company such as Ultra Health prove themselves time and again, especially with regard to the high quality of the products and stringent regulatory compliance." Duke Rodriguez, President and CEO of Ultra Health We are grateful to the New Mexico Environment Department and the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, who had a key role in making all of this happen," said Duke Rodriguez, CEO, and President of Ultra Health. "Based upon the success of this historical export and import, today we have agreed to buy 1,000 pounds more of New Mexico-produced hemp to begin expanding production further. About Ultra Health Ultra Health is New Mexico's #1 Cannabis Company and the largest vertically integrated medical cannabis provider in the United States. The provider currently operates 20 dispensary locations statewide, with another 10 stores slated to open by the second quarter of 2020. Ultra Health provides unparalleled medical cannabis care by producing accurately dosed, smokeless cannabis products such as sublingual tablets, oils, pastilles, suppositories and more through its partnership with Israeli pharmaceutical group Panaxia. Ultra Health has been at the forefront of patient-rights issues and continues to fight for adequate supply and rural access in the New Mexico medical cannabis market. About Panaxia Israel Panaxia Israel (www.panaxia.co.il) is part of the pharmaceutical group of the Segal family, operating for over four decades, and manufacturing over 600 different pharmaceutical products, which it distributes in over 30 countries. Panaxia was founded by Dr. Dadi Segal, Dr.Eran Goldberg and Assi Rotbart, LL.b, and constitutes the Group's cannabis division. In addition, the sister-division of North America manufactures over 60 pharmaceutical products based on medical cannabis, including sublingual tablets, oral tablets, oils, inhalers, and more, intended to treat conditions such as post-traumatic stress, cancer, chronic pains, epilepsy, anorexia, burns, and many other medical conditions. Panaxia employs around 90 employees and all clinical experiments are conducted by the company. For further info: Email [email protected]/ Tel (305) 933-4646 SOURCE Panaxia Pharmaceutical Industries Related Links https://panaxia.co.il/ Self-described 'prepper' Charles Dawson was the very first to arrive at 6.30am. Equipped with a chair and a camouflage backpack stocked with cash, food and survival gear, the 51-year-old waited for three hours in the cold and wet outside the Martin B. Retting gun store in Culver City, Los Angeles. When the doors finally swung open at 9.30am, the line behind him had swelled to 50 - everyone desperate to buy a gun. 'LA's a big scary place and when it goes off, it goes off. It's a bit of home security to help me sleep better at night,' Dawson told DailyMailTV. Dawson, a hairdresser from West LA, isn't alone in fearing the worst amid the hysteria. Gun stores across the City of Angels were swamped by similarly large crowds stocking up on firearms and ammunition last week, afraid coronavirus will lead to looting, break-ins and riots. People in LA flocked to Martin B. Retting gun store (pictured) in Culver City, Los Angeles last week to load up on firearms Self described 'prepper' Charles Dawson (pictured) told DailyMailTV: 'When you see all the shelves empty it's like living in a movie, you can't believe it' The crisis appears to have prompted many around the country to stock up on guns and ammo as well as cleaning out the nation's supermarkets of tinned foods, cleaning products and toiletries Gun stores across the City of Angels were swamped by similarly large crowds stocking up on firearms and ammunition last Monday, afraid coronavirus will lead to looting, break-ins and riots. Pictured: People in line at the LAX Range and Ammo Lines snaked around the building at weapons stores in Culver City, Inglewood, Burbank and Reseda, with many prompted by the impending health crisis to buy guns for the first time in their lives. Worried Dawson, who switched out to a bright red rain jacket and hunting cap for our photos, posing in front of his Bronco and a huge 'GUNS' sign, says he now fears the worst. 'When you see all the shelves empty it's like living in a movie, you can't believe it,' he explained. 'So you start buying more food and then you think what next? I need a gun. Everyone else has got one so I want one. It's that herd mentality. 'I've been trying to get in all week. This line's been going round the corner all week. So I got here this morning at 6.30am. I was the first one here, because I was determined to get guns.' The hairdresser said all his clients have cancelled in the past 48 hours after the city entered strict isolation rules over the weekend. 'I'm worried that there's not going to be enough police if people lose their jobs and become desperate to pay the rent,' he said. 'If there's break-ins, the cops can't be there for everybody so I want to be able to take care of myself.' COVID-19 has killed 471 and infected more than 35,000 in the US alone, and appears to have prompted many around the country to stock up on guns and ammo as well as cleaning out the nation's supermarkets of tinned foods, cleaning products and toiletries. Lines snaked around the building at weapons stores in Culver City (pictured), Inglewood, Burbank and Reseda, with many prompted by the impending health crisis to buy guns for the first time in their lives COVID-19 has killed 115 and infected more than 6,500 in the US alone Online ammunition store Ammo.com revealed they saw a 68% increase in sales from February 23 to March 4 compared to the 11 days before February 23 the day Italy reported a major outbreak of the coronavirus. Carla Apodac, 27, said the panic around COVID-19 pushed her into taking the plunge and buying a gun. 'I'm here for self defense, obviously because of the coronavirus,' she said. 'But before that I was already thinking about it. This is just the catalyst that pushed me to do it. 'I came last Friday but it was full and they told me to come here at 8am.' Apodac said she was worried that layoffs due to social isolation could lead to desperation and looting. Carla Apodac, 27, said the panic around COVID-19 pushed her into taking the plunge and buying a gun 'I'm pretty sure people are going to panic more and more, especially as deaths go up because of the virus,' she told DailyMailTV. 'Who knows what they might do. Until the National Guard comes, there might be a lot of looting, stuff like that. Being a young woman it's not the safest to be without personal protection. That's the way I see it. 'My family are elderly as well and my father's quite sick. I'm the first line of defense.' Many of the would-be gunslingers lining up at stores in LA waited for hours but were turned away by staff after failing to qualify for weapons purchases under California rules, which include background checks and a 10-day cooling off period after obtaining a permit. The owner of Burbank Ammo & Guns said wait times at his store were around two hours, and a neighboring store closed after their stock completely sold out in a frantic rush last weekend. 'We've had more in a day than we usually do in a month,' owner David Schwartz, 42, told DailyMailTV. 'Right now we're just trying to keep our heads above water. It's important to me as a community service member, federally licensed, to do this for these people. 'They might not even be able to buy a gun today, they're just going to get this silly little piece of paper that says they can buy a gun. But if that's what makes them happier in their life when they go home, so be it. 'I am here to do my job. I'm not here to protect anybody, I'm not here to judge anybody. We're here to do our service, and that's it.' Gun store owner David Schwartz (left) 'said: We've had more in a day than we usually do in a month. 'Right now we're just trying to keep our heads above water. It's important to me as a community service member, federally licensed, to do this for these people. Anthony Kwon (right) said he had never considered owning a gun before, but became scared after seeing the impact coronavirus has already had on the city The owner of Burbank Ammo & Guns said wait times at his store were around two hours, and a neighboring store closed after their stock completely sold out in a frantic rush last weekend. Pictured: Customers outside the Burbank Ammo And Guns store in Burbank One of Schwartz's customers, Hollywood restaurant manager Anthony Kwon, said he had never considered owning a gun before, but became scared after seeing the impact coronavirus has already had on the city. 'I'm trying to get a certificate. You don't need it til you need it,' the 33-year-old said, echoing a recent tweet by Donald Trump Jr. 'And by then it's too late.' 'Obviously I don't want to use it, I don't want to get to the point where I have to use it. I want to feel safer I guess. 'I live at home with my wife and my mom, she's older. I just worry that if something should happen I wouldn't be able to defend myself.' Kwon said the ban on dining at restaurants has hit the Sugarfish restaurant he manages in Hollywood hard and left him reeling. 'I had to decrease a lot of my staff's hours,' he said. 'I haven't seen any of my regulars. It's like a ghost town, it's super eerie. A journey that usually takes 30 minutes takes 10 minutes because there's no one on the streets. It's really, really strange. 'Hopefully it'll die down. Hopefully it's just mass hysteria and everything will go back to normal. But you never know. I still can't believe this is what it's come to.' The Guns Direct store in Burbank was forced to close in order to restock its supplies after customers wiped the store clean Outside the Retting gun store a former Marine told DailyMailTV he was stockpiling boxes of bullets because of the spike in demand. 'I currently have a Colt Match Target assault rifle which is a pre-ban, registered assault rifle; a Beretta 25-caliber; and a Kahr Arms P380,' said Jordan Glasmacher, 53. 'We've seen situations like with Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters where a lot of people have been looting, attacking and victimizing others. 'I don't foresee that happening, but this is a once in a lifetime, once in the history of LA kind of event. We don't know how far it's going to go, how long it's going to last, and how extreme things may get. 'My mother is elderly and takes a lot of medication so she is in the high risk range. I'll be checking on her more frequently because she could be a victim. It would be really easy to attempt to rob her because she is living alone.' 'Prepper' Dawson, who was born in Sheffield, England said he bought a 9mm handgun and a shotgun but that he daren't tell his mother back home. 'If my mum found out I got a gun it would break her heart,' he said. 'My friends are just terrified of guns. They hate it. But it's just a decision that I've made for myself. Guns are so foreign back home but here they're everywhere. Mum, I'm sorry but I had to get it.' Prosecutors said Paterimos had been at the bar celebrating with his brother and friends when he and Tansey began fighting. (Tansey) was severely intoxicated and was bumping into people inside the bar, prosecutors said in a court document. He and Paterimos started punching each other and both fell to the floor, according to the document. From all witnesses interviewed, it is unclear who started the fight. Dr. Bruce Aylward has almost 30 years experience in fighting polio, Ebola and other diseases, and now, hes turned his attention to stopping the spread of COVID-19. Aylward, the senior adviser to the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), is one of the worlds top officials in charge of fighting the coronavirus pandemic. The doctor, who led a joint WHO mission to China in February to study the effectiveness of the coronavirus response in the country, has seen firsthand the measures Beijing took to fight the virus. Now hes sharing what he learned with governments and communicating with the WHO response teams working to fight COVID-19 in virus epicenters around the globe. In an extensive teleconference interview with TIME from his office in Geneva, Aylward shared what he thinks needs to be done to stop the pandemic, and what the future might hold. The following excerpts from the conversation have been condensed and edited for clarity. Do you expect COVID-19 to continue to spread? We can get little glimpses into the future from places that are recently getting infected, places that arent infected, but also the places where it all started. And if you go back and look at China right now, they [identified the virus] in early January, they had a full on response, sort of threw everything at it, and its middle of March now and they estimate maybe end of March theyll be coming out of it, so a full three months. When you look around the world in Europe, North America, the Middle East, you can see that were really at the period of exponential growth, were still seeing the virus going up very, very rapidly, even in hard hit places like Italy, for example. These countries still have months of this challenge in front of them. When you look to other parts of the world, like Africa, for example, and parts of the Indian subcontinent you can see that its just beginning. Even though they have very, very few cases, if you look carefully at that curve, its also in a phase of exponential growth. Story continues What do you think the coronavirus pandemic will look like six months from now? I expect we will be emergingstill with disease in various parts of the worldbut we should be emerging from a bad wave of this disease across a large swathe of the planet. The challenge is were going to be back into the flu season. And one of the big questions is, are we going to see a surge of it again at that period? Looking further into the future, what do you anticipate? Will COVID-19 ever disappear? What it looks like is that were going to have a substantial wave of this disease right through basically the globe unless something very different happens in the southern hemisphere. And the question then is: Whats going to happen? Is this going to disappear completely? Are we going to get into a period of cyclical waves? Or are we going to end up with low level endemic disease that we have to deal with? Most people believe that that first scenario where this might disappear completely is very, very unlikely, it just transmits too easily in the human population, so more likely waves or low level disease. A lot of that is going to depend on what we as countries, as societies, do. If we do the testing of every single case, rapid isolation of the cases, you should be able to keep cases down low. If you simply rely on the big shut down measures without finding every case, then every time you take the brakes off, it could come back in waves. So that future frankly, may be determined by us and our response as much as the virus. The U.S. and Europe had quite a head start to get ready for this. Was a major outbreak inevitable, or could it have been stopped? I dont like to use the word squandered, thats a big word. But we probably havent optimized how we used that time. Now what weve done is, weve gained time again by putting in place these big shutdowns. All they do is they buy time, they dont actually stop the virus, they suppress it, they slow it. What you want to do now is use that time well to get the testing in place, to get the systems in place, so that you can actually manage the individual level cases that are going to be fundamental to stopping this. And the big question right now is Are countries going to use this time during these shutdown periods optimally? Because if you just shut it down your societies, your economies and hope for the best This is guerrilla warfare against a virus, the virus is just going to sit you out, itll just circulate quietly among households and then youre going to let them all go again and phoom theres no reason it shouldnt take off again, unless youre ready for it. How long do you think this outbreak will impact daily life in the U.S. and western Europe? How long do you think itll take for life to return to normal? You have to compare it to the few examples you have that have been through this, hence you have to go back to China, look at [South] Korea, look at Singapore. These countries in the very early stages, if they were to throw everything at it, probably a solid two months in front of them, if not a bit longer, maybe three months. What were seeing is that theyre throwing bits and pieces at it. Most countries in the west frankly are really struggling with, Can we really test all these cases? Can we really isolate all the confirmed cases? Theyre struggling with that. So theyre approaching it a bit differently than China did and the big question is going to be: Is that approach going to work and limit it to just a few months, that hard hit China took? Or is it going to drag it out so long that the bigger societal, economic impacts linger longer than anyone want? Do you think the U.S. lost critical time with its testing rollout issues? I think every country may not have optimized the use of the time it had available, and for different reasons. Some people just continued to think this might be flu and some cases they may not have had the testing capacity. Is there reason to be concerned about a second wave of infections in China? Absolutely, and China is concerned. As we traveled around China, one of the most striking things that I found, especially in contrast to the West, as I spoke to governors, mayors, and their cases were plummetingin some of the places they were down to single digit cases alreadyas I spoke to them and I said, So what are you doing now? They said, Were building beds, were buying ventilators, were preparing. They said, We do not expect this virus to disappear, but we do expect to be able to run our society, run our economy, run our health system. We cannot end up in this situation again. Have you seen examples of politics overruling public health or slowing down responses? No. I know a lot of people will challenge my assessment. The reasons that there have been problems in some countries is they havent had a consensus on the severity of the disease, or they havent had a consensus around the transmissibility. You have to have that consensus that youre dealing with something serious and severe and dangerous for your society and individuals. Otherwise you just cannot generate the public support which is fundamental to accepting the measures, but also the implementing. Why does the fatality rate in Italy looks to be so high? Its a combination of factors. If you look at Italy, and the age distribution, its the second-oldest country in the world after Japan, people forget that. You have an older population number one, they get the more severe disease and theyre more likely to die. What countries are in the most vulnerable situation? Everyone is vulnerable, but the big question of course is whats going to happen when this really starts to take off in those low-income countries where they dont have as much medical capacity such as in Africa. Its one of those things that you dont want to imagine because the numbers could be so grave. The population distribution could help. Is the humidity and the temperature going to help make a difference? I would hope so, but look at the situation in Singapore, thats a hot, humid country. So the situation in these countries could be very difficult. The WHO is urging countries to test, test, test. Are there any countries in particular that you think are not doing enough testing? Thats much easier answered the other way around. Is anyone doing enough testing? There its limited. Its China, [South] Korea, Singapore. Is there reason to be concerned that the number of people infected in Iran is higher than the official numbers being reported? Absolutely. And Iran is concerned for the same reason. When I spoke with the deputy minister last week, one of their concerns was just getting the information from all the facilities, all the provinces. I hear all the time people say, Oh, this country is hiding cases, or This country is not sharing all its data. Usually the countries are struggling to get meaningful data. The worst thing they could do is go out with guesstimates that they think they have gigantic numbers. There are reports of people dying of coronavirus who are otherwise healthy. What have your teams seen in terms of who the virus is killing? One of the things that terrifies me now is, as this is spread in the west is, theres this sense of invulnerability among millennials. And absolutely not. Ten percent of the people who are in [intensive care units] in Italy are in their 20s, 30s or 40s. These are young, healthy people with no co-morbidities, no other diseases. We dont understand why some young healthy people progress to severe disease and even die and others dont. We dont have clear predictors. What would your message be for young people around the world? This is one of the most serious diseases you will face in your lifetime, and recognize that and respect it. It is dangerous to you as an individual. It is dangerous to your parents, to your grandparents and the elderly in particular and it is dangerous to your society in general. You are not an island in this, you are part of a broader community, you are part of transmission chains. If you get infected you are making this much more complicated and you are putting people in danger, not just yourself. Never, never underestimate a new disease, theres just too much unknown. What we do know is it will kill young people, it will make young people sick in large numbers. Youve gotta respect this. What should a countrys first priority after locking down be? Test, test, test, test, test. Not test, test, test, test, test everyone, but test the suspects, test the suspects, test the suspects. Then, effectively isolate the confirmed cases. The third piece is the quarantine piece. How do you think this will end? This will end with humanity victorious over yet another virus, theres no question about that. The question is how much and how fast we will take the measures necessary to minimize the damage that this thing can do. In time, we will have therapeutics, we will have vaccines, were in a race against that. And its going to take great cooperation and patience from the general population to play their part because at the end of the day its going to be the general population that stops this thing and slows it down enough to get it under control. Heres what you need to know about coronavirus: Advertisement An Australian man and his American wife have revealed how they managed to pull off a 'beautiful' wedding via livestream in New York's Central Park this weekend - despite strict coronavirus restrictions meaning they had to completely change their dream day. Aaron Cook, 39, from Perth, and his bride Jera Foster-Fell, 30, from New York, were originally set to have a rehearsal dinner, a small ceremony in Central Park and a reception at Jera's aunt's apartment on the Upper West Side of New York. But as the virus continued to spread around the world last week and the news developed with New York going into lockdown on Friday, the young couple knew they would either have to totally change or cancel their plans if they wanted their wedding to go ahead. 'It was such a whirlwind of a week leading up to the wedding,' Jera told FEMAIL. Scroll down for video An Australian man and his American wife (pictured on their wedding day) have revealed how they managed to pull off a 'beautiful' wedding via livestream in New York's Central Park this weekend - despite strict coronavirus restrictions Aaron Cook, 39, from Perth, and his bride Jera Foster-Fell, 30 (both pictured), from New York, were originally set to have a rehearsal dinner, a small ceremony in Central Park and a reception at Jera's aunt's apartment on the Upper West Side of New York - but everything changed when coronavirus hit But rather than cancel or postpone their big day, the couple decided to go ahead and had just a few witnesses and family members present (pictured during one of the readings) 'Every day, there was a new cancellation or a shift. With the news developing so rapidly, we knew we would have to simplify our plans if we wanted our wedding to go ahead.' The couple's original plan was that Jera's dad would fly in from Vermont, and Aaron's parents would come from Australia to attend a ceremony in Central Park before a lavish reception with their guests in the apartment. But with travel bans in place, neither were able to get to the wedding, while local friends in New York City and further afield also told Jera and Aaron that they would not be risking attending. 'I had drama with my dress and had to find a backup dress in case my original dress didn't arrive, we had a guitarist for the ceremony who cancelled because he wasn't feeling well and our photographer pulled out just 24 hours before the big day,' Jera said. Family members were dialled in over Skype and then put on speaker (pictured), where they did their readings for the happy couple Jera and Aaron (pictured) said the few people that were there maintained social distancing - and they also brought along antibacterial wipes for all the guests But despite all of the setbacks, Jera said she and Aaron pushed forward with their plans, and managed to find a replacement photographer in Amanda Leethal and a new ceremony musician within mere hours. 'After many conversations during the week, we decided to move forwards with the wedding despite all of the challenges,' Jera said. 'We did this because at the end of the day, the most important thing to us wasn't a big wedding. The most important thing was celebrating our love and we could have done that with just the two of us.' 'We did the wedding because at the end of the day, the most important thing to us wasn't a big wedding. The most important thing was celebrating our love and we could have done that with just the two of us,' Jera said (pictured on her wedding day) The couple decided to host their wedding for those who could come and livestream it for all of the friends and family members who couldn't be there. Jera's mother, her aunt and a 'handful of friends' attended and did readings from the likes of Winnie the Pooh, while other significant family members were dialled in via Skype. 'We Skyped in my dad in Vermont and Aaron's parents in Australia and connected them via speaker so that they could still do their readings,' Jera said. 'We brought antibacterial wipes and those of us who were there spaced ourselves out as much as possible. Our dog completely stole the show as our ring bearer!' The couple had their dog (pictured) as their ring bearer, and they said he 'completely stole the show' Jera and Aaron also livestreamed their wedding via Jera's Instagram profile, so that friends and family who weren't able to be there could witness the vows. By the time they had uploaded the video so that it could be viewed for 24 hours, Jera said over 16,000 people had tuned in. 'Things don't always go how you planned 'em, but that doesn't mean the outcome is any less beautiful,' the 30-year-old posted on her Instagram page. 'Yesterday, I got to marry my best friend. My soulmate. My love... I don't think we would have ever livestreamed our wedding in any other context, but it just made so much sense to include everyone in this bright moment of love and joy in a time when we ALL need it. 'It was a beautiful day that we'll never forget. We are married!' Jera and Aaron also livestreamed their wedding via Jera's Instagram profile , so that friends and family who weren't able to be there could witness the wedding, with some 16,000 people tuning in to watch it 'Yesterday, I got to marry my best friend. My soulmate. My love... I don't think we would have ever livestreamed our wedding in any other context, but it just made so much sense to include everyone in this bright moment of love and joy in a time when we ALL need it,' Jera said (pictured on her wedding day) Thousands of Jera and Aaron's followers on social media loved how they pulled off their wedding in the face of a global pandemic (the couple pictured over the weekend) Thousands of Jera and Aaron's followers on social media loved how they pulled off their wedding in the face of a global pandemic. 'Most memorable wedding ever. Love you my friend! We watched in bed crying but wished I coulda been there like planned!!' one friend posted on Jera's profile. 'I get this. My sister was married this weekend - all you need is love - the rest can be stripped away and you're still left with all you need,' another follower added. Religious sites in Iran have never before been closed even during the war with Iraq yet with the spread of the novel coronavirus across the country, infecting tens of thousands and killing hundreds every week, things have changed. The decision by Irans Interior Ministry to close all the shrines in Qom, Mashhad and Tehran has stirred mixed feelings among Iranians, assuring some while infuriating others. To some Iranians, the closure of the shrines is a grim act that will never be forgotten. The spiritual attachment Iranians have with Ali ibn Musa al-Reza, the eighth Shiite imam buried in Mashhad, and his sister Fatima Masuma, whose tomb is in Qom, goes beyond religiosity. This bond is part of a culture that has been engraved in the Iranian collective identity and perhaps thats one of the reasons why a decision to close these places took time to be adopted. But Qom became the epicenter of Iran's coronavirus problem as in the beginning pilgrims were encouraged to keep coming to Qom, A decision to close shrines and likewise one to lock down cities has presented a challenge to the government of President Hassan Rouhani, who has been under tenacious pressure to plow ahead with measures to stem the spread of COVID-19. He had economic concerns when it comes to locking down cities, as closed businesses would mean a mass economic crash that could complicate efforts to combat the coronavirus, which had killed 1,685 in the country as of March 22. Iranian journalist Siavash Fallahpour told Al-Monitor that Rouhanis decision not to close businesses and cities is due to the situation Iran is facing under sanctions. Close cities and businesses while you are under sanctions and these businesses will fall; this will mean more pressure on the government that then will not even be able to pour money into the fight against the spreading virus, he said. But closing cities and locking down the country isnt as sensitive as the closing of shrines in a country where relations between the general public and rituals have greater cultural than religious importance. Visits to the shrines are not limited to the strongly religious; Iranians of all stripes flock to holy cities in Mashhad, Qom and Ray in Greater Tehran to get the traditional blessings of Imam Reza, Hazrat Masuma and Shah Abdul Azim, or dozens of imamzadehs (sons of imams) whose shrines are scattered throughout the capital and other cities. Some Iranians visit during vacations or on religious anniversaries, and others go to pray seeking healing from disease or seeking to become married or to be blessed with children, among other requests. These are predominantly devout lay Shiites who are inclined towards a relatively fundamentalist practice of the faith, being anti- or pro-Revolution is not necessarily a relevant factor in defining their collective identity, said international relations scholar Mohammadreza Kalantari of Royal Holloway, University of London. He told Al-Monitor that practicing Shiite rituals, be they commemorating the tragedy of the battle of Karbala or taking sanctuary at holy shrines, is the defining factor of this group of believers. Kalantari said, Intercessory prayer at Shiite holy shrines in Mashhad and Qom is a case of this ritual. He said this forms their collective identity, and that therefore, the closure of shrines would be perceived as a threat, hence causes contention. This is not only about Iran; in Iraq, too, there are similar communities that are resisting on a daily basis the decision to close the shrines. Iraq is the burial place of six of Shiite Islams 12 imams. And to make matters worse, March 20 marked the anniversary of the death of Imam Reza's father, the seventh imam, more than 1,200 years ago in Baghdad. Those resisting efforts to shutter shrines produced several religious chants (known as latmiyas and often accompanied with ritual chest beating) and poems attacking the concept of wearing masks while entering shrines, or the idea of closing the shrines because people might be infected while gathering inside. Some resisted in a different way by going into the shrines and making videos of themselves having direct contact with the metal barriers around the graves, in an attempt to prove that they are confident that nothing is going to happen to them. The believers are concerned about their identity, especially when scientific research clashes with religion, Haidar Hoballah, a senior teacher at the seminary in Qom and an author of several books, told Al-Monitor. Hoballah said other elements affecting the current situation include the surge of sectarianism in the past quarter century and the prevalence of emotional sectarian ideas, the rise of religious currents, some of which are led by people with no real religious jurisprudence background and a political element linked to the problematic relation between some religious currents and the establishment in Iran. Its worth mentioning that many Shiite clerical authorities in Iran and Iraq issued clear fatwas urging people to refrain from gathering and to abide by what health officials are calling for; this includes Ayatollah Ali-Sistani in Najaf, Iraq, who on March 10 suspended Friday prayers, and the Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom, which includes most of the high-ranking marjas in the citys seminary. So who are those resisting if the highest Shiite authorities are pushing for full abidance of health officials instructions? According to reports from Iraq and Iran, many of those are followers of non-mainstream schools of thought within the Shiite community, some are followers of Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who openly criticized the approach adopted by Sistani and other clerical authorities. Sadr wrote March 14 on Twitter, Im astonished when the West and Trump are calling on people to pray tomorrow, while those in the East suspended their prayers and ziyaras (religious visits), they even closed their shrines. (Whatever US President Donald Trump may have said earlier, on March 16 he called for gatherings of no more than 10 people.) Among those resisting the approach are followers of Ayatollah Sadegh Shirazi, a critic of the Islamic Republic of Iran; his supporters in Iraq, mainly in Karbala, and in Iran stormed into the shrines and raised slogans against Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Rouhani's government. Iranians often refer to followers of Shirazi as British Shiites an insult. They are members of a group that was part of the new system introduced after the 1979 revolution; however, in early 1980s their leader, Ayatollah Mohammad Shirazi (Sadegh Shirazi's brother), started opposing the rule of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, calling for replacing the velayat-e faqih (guidance of the jurist) doctrine, with shura al-fuqaha (the council of the jurists). The group was very influential at the beginning of the Islamic Republic and some compare its power within the state to that of the Turkish preacher, now in exile, Fethullah Gulen. The Islamic Republic has blamed the group for attacks on Iranian interests abroad A third group is made up of pro-establishment radicals in Iran who backed off when they understood that this isnt a decision by the Rouhani government, but rather an establishment approach that has the blessing of the supreme leader. Kalantari said of this third group, Its during this sort of crisis that a couple of embedded paradoxes of political Shiism come to the fore. In recent decades, the Islamic Republic and its leadership have promoted groups of Shiite panegyrists [speakers] and encouraged their base to be atash-be-ekhtiar (free to speak out) when it comes to safeguarding the revolution and its fundamental belief. He said that some of this group's members led protests against the closure of the shrines based on the above concept, yet many of those who led the protest against the closure of the shrines have posted videos online and humbly apologized to the leader. They are the white-gloved sentries, standing guard at New York Citys better addresses, so signature a feature of life here that we tend to forget that in other metropolitan centers like Paris, London, Chicago or Boston uniformed doormen (and, less often, women) barely exist. They form a small army, some 35,000 residential doormen, concierges, porters, handymen and supers represented by a powerful union, 32BJ. They open doors, of course, load cars, receive packages, pass dogs off to professional walkers and in general make themselves indispensable to an ease of life many in this demanding town take for granted. Yet as protectors of the border between public and private, doormen play a role crucial to the currents of the metropolis, one never more evident than now when the front line of a global pandemic is ones threshold. Yes, its a job, but we also try to keep the building as a home, said Alberto Ventura, 65, who has worked the door at the same Park Avenue building for 42 years. With the virus, were trying to take it a day at a time and be as calm as we can. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 20:06:08|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BERLIN, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Germany increased by 4,062 within a day to 22,672 on Monday, the president of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) Lothar Wieler announced on Monday. However, not all health authorities in Germany had submitted data over the weekend and the figures would converge in the course of the week, stressed the president of federal government agency and research institute responsible for disease control and prevention. Germany recorded a total of 86 COVID-19 deaths by Monday. Wieler said that the average age of people dying from the disease in Germany was 82 years, while that of people infected with the COVID-19 was 45 years. "It is and remains important to detect and isolate infected and sick people as early as possible" to identify contacts and to isolate them in quarantine, emphasized Wieler. "There is also good news," said the RKI president. At least 2,809 people in Germany had recovered from the disease based on the transmitted data. However, RKI is assuming that the actual number of recovered patients was even higher. Shortly after announcing a limited curfew in the country on Sunday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel was informed that a doctor who had given her a prophylactic pneumococcal vaccination on Friday afternoon had tested positive for the coronavirus. As a result, the Chancellor had decided to move immediately into home quarantine. She would continue her governmental work and be tested regularly over the next few days, according to government spokesperson Steffen Seibert. Many British travellers are stranded abroad and struggling to get home as air routes continue to be axed and borders close. Here are some escape routes to try if youre heading back to the UK. Getting home from Europe and the Mediterranean Repatriation flights are continuing from Spain, where the highest number of British tourists are concentrated, and the Foreign Office is working with the Spanish authorities to get people home as soon as possible. Elsewhere, there are more flights than you might think, as British Airways and other carriers do what they can to get people where they need to be before global aviation grinds almost to a halt. BA has arrivals at Heathrow and Gatwick from Germany, Spain, France and many other countries, and the airline is a good place to start looking for flights home. Rail is an option from France and Belgium on Eurostar, though there is no certainty about how long trains will continue to operate and how feasible it is for British travellers to gain access to the stations. What about the British people stuck in Asia? The main problem is flight bans being imposed by individual countries. British Airways still has flights from Japan, Thailand and other nations coming in. Many travellers were relying on the Gulf-based airlines, especially Emirates, to get them home, but the UAE has now imposed a flight ban from Wednesday 25 March. Understandably the few remaining departures before then are very heavily subscribed and no seats are available at reasonable prices. One feasible option may be Aeroflot. The leading Russian airline has reasonable availability at decent prices from Bangkok and Tokyo on 25 March and Kuala Lumpur on 27 March. Visa-free airside transit is currently allowed at Moscows Sheremetyevo airport, but that will only apply if you book a through flight. Can I get home from Australia and New Zealand? Travellers in Australia and New Zealand are seeing options closing down almost by the hour. While Qantas has been operating its nonstop between Perth and Heathrow which has the huge advantage of no en-route stops bookings are very heavy. Singapore has banned transit passengers, which means that route is now closed and both Dubai and Abu Dhabi are also to close. Air New Zealand has ended its Auckland-Heathrow link. Travelling back from Latin America There are troubling stories from those attempting to return to the UK. More than 600 travellers are stranded in Peru.The country is under lockdown, with official permission required for any non-local journey. On Sunday British travellers were emailed to say that several repatriation flights should operate this week with passengers asked to pay only 250, after they have returned home safely. But there is still no clarity about when or where the flights will depart (except that they may take off from military airports instead of civilian facilities). The Independent has also heard from travellers in neighbouring Bolivia about the sheer impossibility of leaving due to the multiple travel bans in force. Further north, a group of 20 young British travellers on a volunteering mission in Honduras are still unable to get home. Travellers in Mexico can access daily flights to the UK but to reach Mexico from Honduras requires transiting Guatemala. Is there a travel ban from North America? No. Flights are continuing from both the US and Canada, with United Airlines and others planning transatlantic links to and from Heathrow until further notice or until further flight bans or a complete collapse in demand renders them unviable. What about Africa? Kenya Airways is shutting down, and many African countries are imposing no-fly bans. But British Airways is continuing to fly from South Africa, and Ethiopian Airlines is offering connecting flights from a wide range of destinations through its Addis Ababa hub. Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Show all 20 1 /20 Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Top: Nabi Younes market, Mosul Bottom: Charles Bridge, Prague Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Grand Mosque, Mecca Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Sagrada Familia, Barcelona Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Nabi Younes market, Mosul Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Basra Grand Mosque, Iraq Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Charles Bridge, Prague Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Taj Mahal hotel, India Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Dubai Mall, UAE Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Beirut March, Lebanon Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Gateway of India, Mumbai Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Cairo University, Egypt Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Amman Citadel, Jordan Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Beirut March, Lebanon Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Cairo, Egypt Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Cairo University, Egypt Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Victoria Memorial, India Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Amman Citadel, Jordan Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Amman Citadel, Jordan Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Sidon, Lebanon Reuters Is the Foreign Office doing enough? Diplomatic and consular resources are impossibly stretched. Staff who normally have a workload of a few lost passports and medical emergencies each week are having to deal with thousands of distressed travellers. Anyone who can look after their own situation should do so, to allow consular staff to work with cases of urgent need. After the coronavirus crisis passes, travellers will need to contemplate how we can sustain ourselves in far flung corners of the world, and consider the medical, psychological and financial stresses that travel can involve. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called for an "immediate global ceasefire" in all corners of the world, emphasising that it is time to put armed conflict in lockdown and focus on the fight against the rapidly-spreading coronavirus pandemic. His appeal came as the total number of deaths due to coronavirus crossed 15,000 globally. Over 341,300 cases have been registered in 174 countries and territories since the epidemic first emerged in China in December. Addressing UN correspondents in a virtual briefing, Guterres said: "Our world faces a common enemy: COVID-19. The virus does not care about nationality or ethnicity, faction or faith. It attacks all, relentlessly". He voiced concern that as coronavirus spreads across the world, armed conflict rages on around the world and the most vulnerable -- women and children, people with disabilities, the marginalised and the displaced -- pay the highest price. Noting that these people are also at the highest risk of suffering devastating losses from COVID-19, he said that health systems have collapsed in war-ravaged countries. "The fury of the virus illustrates the folly of war. That is why today, I am calling for an immediate global ceasefire in all corners of the world. It is time to put armed conflict on lockdown and focus together on the true fight of our lives," the UN chief said. Guterres called on the warring parties to pull back from hostilities, put aside mistrust and animosity and silence the guns; stop the artillery; end the airstrikes. "This is crucial... to help create corridors for life-saving aid. To open precious windows for diplomacy. To bring hope to places among the most vulnerable to COVID-19," he said. Guterres said while it is inspiring to watch coalitions and dialogue slowly taking shape among rival parties to enable joint approaches to COVID-19, he said there is a need for much more. "End the sickness of war and fight the disease that is ravaging our world. It starts by stopping the fighting everywhere. Now. That is what our human family needs, now more than ever," he said. The coronavirus pandemic has sickened more than 341,500 people and as of Monday morning, at least 15,187 people have died. There have been 39 cases of coronavirus in the UN system so far. Guterres said he will be sending a message to the G-20 leaders and intends to have a virtual conference with all of them. When asked how he is feeling in the current situation, Guterres said: "I'm feeling strongly determined. This is the moment in which the UN must be active, the UN must fully assume its responsibilities in doing what we have to do - our peacekeeping operations, our humanitarian agencies, our support to the different bodies of the international community, the Security Council, the General Assembly". "But at the same time, this is a moment in which the UN must be able to address the peoples of the world and appeal for a massive mobilisation and for a massive pressure on governments to make sure that we are able to respond to this crisis, not to mitigate it, but to suppress the disease and to address the dramatic economic and social impacts of the disease. "And we can only do it if we do it together, if we do it in a coordinated way, if we do it with intense solidarity and cooperation," the UN chief added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Silver jewelry (Taxco) They say one of the must haves when visiting Taxco is a piece or two of their fine jewelry, which is known as some of the finest metalwork in the Western Hemisphere. Metalwork in Taxco goes back during the pre-Columbian times, when they are used for making intricate pieces to be used for decorative or ritual purposes. Although mining is no longer their main source of income, Taxco it is still considered as one of the most important mining areas in the region. Textiles and woven rugs (Oaxaca) Colorful and distinct patterns are the hallmark qualities of textiles and woven rugs made in Oaxaca. The city is a melting pot for different groups of indigenous peoples, each of whom have their own distinct style and tradition in making textiles. While textiles and woven rugs are the most common pieces in Mexican folk art , Oaxaca rugs are still worthy to be mentioned whenever the topic arises due to the laborious work it involves. Alebrijes (Oaxaca) If intricacy is to be the measure of craftsmanship in Mexican folk art, the Alebrijes from Oaxaca are some of the pieces that should not be missed. Originating in Mexico City in 1936, Alebrijes are intricate wood carvings depicting animals, people, objects and imaginary creatures hand painted with bright colors and intricate patterns. These handmade pieces are surprisingly lightweight and fragile, and must be handled with extra care. Leather goods (Leon, Guanajuato) We have long believed that Europe is the leather capital of the world. How wrong we all are! Shoe aficionados (the Pope included) go all the way to the city of Leon to get the best leather shoes. Leatherworking it its major industry, producing all kinds of leather goods from shoes, to bags and belts-even leather jackets. But if you are interested in how they make their leather goods, don't expect to find schools focusing on leatherwork here. Shoemakers pass down their knowledge with their apprentices and children, keeping it a community-based industry, rather than a commercialized one. Huichol beaded products (Jalisco, Durango r Nayarit) The Huichol people are known for creating heavily elaborate art pieces made from hundreds of thousands of tiny, brightly colored beads. The art has evolved so much that it grew from religious purposes to a full commercial industry. They create a wide range of pieces, from dainty earrings, statement pieces to unconventional designs like heavily adorned jaguar sculptures and beaded sugar skulls. Pottery (Oaxaca, Puebla and Jalisco) Pottery in Mexico dates back before the pre-Columbian era, making it one of the country's most extensive art forms. The changes in Mexican pottery shows the different periods and influences that shaped the art to what it is today. From simple pots made for family use, it grew to create glazed sculptures and modern pieces using lead-free glaze to show how Mexican pottery has adapted to the times, but retained the style that has been loved over the centuries. Oaxaca, Puebla and Jalisco pottery are regarded as the gold standard for Mexican pottery, boasting highly polished, almost artificial looking black pottery while Puebla is known for using Talavera tiles. Hammocks (Yucatan) To truly get a feel of local Mexican culture, make sure to buy handcrafted hammocks in the Yucatan region. Known for its durability and practicality, many houses in Mexico have built in hooks where they tie their hammocks for a relaxing afternoon siesta. Tree of Life (State of Mexico) Intricacy is one of the hallmarks of Mexican art, and the Tree of Life from the State of Mexico is proof of that. Traditionally, these statues are focused on biblical themes, but modern design also include depictions of other tales. For Mexicans, the Tree of Life is more than decorative pieces. They are given out as wedding gifts to ensure them good harvest not only for future children, but also for their livelihood. Paper craft (anywhere in Mexico) Mexico is known for its colorful and intricate art, that unassuming pieces, like paper artwork, are easily overlooked by travelers who are new to Mexican art. Mexican paper craft vary from bright paper flowers used to decorate tombstones and altars, to custom made paper flags. Maybe it's because papercraft did not really start out as an art form, rather for documenting daily life during the Mayan era. It is only recently that paper crafts are getting attention as delicately laser cut banners used to decorate buildings and houses. Hand-blown glass (Tonala and Tlaquepaque, Jalisco) Colorful Mexican art goes with anything: from clothes and accessories to our homes and dinner tables. Hand blown glass is a favorite among locals and tourists because of its practicality. Producing hand blown glass involves special techniques to create unique pieces such as margarita glasses and wine goblets. Glass makers use a 500-year-old technique, that involves blowing into a long hollow pipe through a blob of molten glass. By constantly turning the glass over, a shape is formed. From community-based art, hand blown glass art has grown into a full blown industry that enjoys unparalleled success. Team Zelensky's "optimistic" scenario: GDP to fall 5% 22:00, 23.03.20 3896 The national budget deficit is expected to increase to 7% of GDP. YEREVAN, MARCH 23, ARMENPRESS. The ministry of emergency situations informs that on March 23, as of 08:10, roads are mainly passable in Armenia. The ministry told Armenpress that the roads leading to the Amberd Fortress and Lake Kari will remain closed for uncertain time. The Georgian side informed that the Stepantsminda-Lars highway is open only for trucks. Drivers are urged to use snow tires. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan Russian gov't sends aid to Italy to fight coronavirus The death toll in Italy has reached over 5,470, making it the country with the highest number of fatalities from the contagion. Russia said Sunday it had sent to Italy much-needed aid to help the country battle against the deadly coronavirus outbreak that killed over 5,400 people. MILITARY PLANES WERE SEND The Russian Defense Ministry said four military planes carrying virologists, epidemiologists, medical equipment and supply of pharmaceuticals were expected to land at the Pratica di Mare Air Base some 30 kilometers southwest of the capital Rome. "The military transport aircraft of the Russian Air Forces will deliver to the republic 8 mobile teams of Russian military specialists-virologists and doctors, automobile complexes for aerosol disinfection of transport and territory, as well as medical equipment," the ministry said. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia did not seek an end to cooperation with OPEC or a sharp drop in oil prices, a senior Russian official told the TASS news agency, saying the Gulf nations are to blame for the crisis on global oil markets. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Russia this month failed to agree how their deal to cut oil output should work. With global oil demand slumping because of the coronavirus, OPEC wanted to deepen supply cuts but Moscow said it would agree only to an extension to the existing pact. Oil prices fell from nearly $50 a barrel on March 6, when the deal collapsed, to less than $27 on Friday after Russia and Saudi Arabia, the de facto leader of OPEC, said the world's two biggest oil exporters would open the taps from April 1. "(The) Russian position was never about triggering an oil prices fall. This is purely our Arab partners' initiative," Andrei Belousov, Russian first deputy prime minister, was quoted as saying by TASS late on Saturday. "Even oil companies who are obviously interested to maintain their markets did not have a stance that the (OPEC+) deal should be dissolved." Belousov reiterated that Russia was proposing to extend the existing curbs by at least one more quarter and potentially until the end of 2020. "But (our) Arab partners took a different stance," TASS quoted him as saying. Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak has called a meeting with oil companies on March 23 to discuss the state of global oil markets, the Interfax news agency reported on Sunday, citing two sources. Igor Sechin, head of leading Russian oil producer Rosneft , has always opposed the three-year supply pact, saying it allows non-OPEC members such as the United States to increase market share at the expense of those cutting supply. "Is there a point to cut further if other producers will increase?" Sechin was quoted as saying on Friday in his first public comments since the deal fell apart. Story continues Sechin said he believed that global oil prices could return to $60 a barrel by the end of the year if shale oil - produced in large quantities by the United States - is forced out of the market. Belousov believes that oil prices will balance at about $35-$40 a barrel. (Reporting by Katya Golubkova; Additional reporting by Polina Ivanova; Editing by Frances Kerry and David Goodman) The Government has updated its advice to say that all holidays and non-essential travel within the UK should now be off limits to slow the spread of coronavirus. Previously, the ban only applied to international travel. The new guidance means staycations are no longer advised. The guidelines stated: Following on from the governments guidance on social distancing in relation to COVID-19, people should avoid travelling unless it is essential. It continues: This guidance is for people planning to visit second homes or holiday premises during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Essential travel does not include visits to second homes, camp sites, caravan parks or similar, whether for isolation purposes or holidays. People should remain in their primary residence. Not taking these steps puts additional pressure on communities and services that are already at risk. It comes after Boris Johnsons most strongly worded address so far, in which he warned tougher measures might have to be introduced if people continue to flout social distancing rules. The prime minister said that curfews and restrictions on movement could be imposed as they have been in Italy as the death toll in the UK rose to 281. He added that the decision to keep parks open was also under constant review following a number of pictures showing hundreds of people congregating in green spaces being shared on social media over the weekend. Some holiday hotspots in the UK are already encouraging tourists to stay away. The Welsh government tourism body is circulating a picture with the message Visit Wales. Later. It goes on: Please do not visit Wales at this time and avoid all unnecessary travel within Wales. Following these guidelines will save lives. We look forward to welcoming you back in future; but for now, lets all #staysafe. Visit Cornwall has published a statement saying: Visitors should not come to Cornwall at this time, in order to slow the spread of the virus, to protect themselves, as well as the communities of Cornwall. The organisation is critical of the governments lack of clarity about whether domestic tourism is acceptable. Meanwhile, the Scottish Government has issued a travel warning and criticised the irresponsible behaviour of those travelling to the Highlands in campervans or to stay in second homes. Rural Economy and Tourism Secretary Fergus Ewing said: I am furious at the reckless and irresponsible behaviour of some people travelling to the Highland and Islands. This has to stop now. Let me be crystal clear, people should not be travelling to rural and island communities, full stop. They are endangering lives. Do not travel. Ireland cannot use the 14 billion euro in disputed tax it collected from Apple to help people affected by Covid-19, the Taoiseach has said. On Sunday, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said the state could right this minute use the account where the funds are being held to help the Irish economy. In 2016, it was ruled by the European Commission that the Irish state had given undue tax benefits worth 13 billion euro to Apple, which is illegal under EU state aid rules, and said it allowed Apple to pay substantially less tax than other businesses. Ireland was ordered to recover the illegal aid, plus interest, however the state and Apple are currently appealing against the ruling. Mary Lou McDonald should know better, the Apple money is in an escrow account and that is where it is being held until the European Commission decides where that money is going to goLeo Varadkar Political rivals have claimed this shows Fine Gaels dedication to corporations rather than the public. On Monday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar dismissed Ms McDonalds suggestion. Mary Lou McDonald should know better, the Apple money is in an escrow account and that is where it is being held until the European Commission decides where that money is going to go. The European courts will decide whether that money either belongs to Apple or comes to the Irish revenue commissioners and then has to be distributed out among the countries of Europe. Its not ours to take and its now before the courts. She should know better before coming out with that kind of rubbish. Mr Varadkar said a significant financial package will be announced this week for those who have lost their jobs due to Covid-19 and others at risk of becoming unemployed. Rather than the Taoiseach telling us where the money won't come from, he needs to now apply himself to secure the necessary funding because this income support scheme has to happenMary Lou McDonald Responding to Mr Varadkar, Ms McDonald said: I would say to the Taoiseach, we need an income support scheme. I am not interested in having a squabble with him as to where the monies are raised. It is going to be an expensive scheme and it is going to be necessary. It is going to be the wisest money we will invest in our workforce and in our economy at this time of emergency. I want the Government to go further than they have gone so far. I think at this stage, delay is dangerous. It is unacceptable to leave tens of thousands of workers in conditions that are not safe, where they know they risk transmitting and contracting this virus and bringing it home to their families and children. This emergency requires us to be innovative. Rather than the Taoiseach telling us where the money wont come from, he needs to now apply himself to secure the necessary funding because this income support scheme has to happen. Security personnel stand guard after a government announced to lockdown the city concerns over the spread of the coronavirus, in Karachi (AP) The United Arab Emirates, home to the worlds busiest international airport, has announced that it is suspending all passenger and transit flights for two weeks to stymie the spread of the new coronavirus. The announcement came a day after the first cases were reported in the Gaza Strip and Syria, where years of conflict have severely degraded the local health care infrastructure. The new cases also raised fears about other vulnerable areas, such as war-torn Libya and Yemen. Solidarity among nations, solidarity among #healthworkers, solidarity among all of us is the only way to stop this #COVID19 pandemic. #Solidarity. #coronavirus https://t.co/AbSEvLvnEt Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) March 23, 2020 Dubais airport is a vital hub connecting Western nations with Asian countries and Australia, and suspending transit flights there affects travellers around the world. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has announced that an evening curfew will go into effect starting on Monday from 7pm to 6am for three weeks. Countries across the Middle East have ramped up restrictions on daily life in an effort to contain the global pandemic. Most people only experience mild symptoms from the Covid-19 disease caused by the virus and recover within weeks. But it is highly contagious and causes severe illness in some patients, particularly the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. People can carry and spread the virus without showing any symptoms. A mostly empty street is seen in a commercial district in central Tehran (AP) More than 331,000 people have been infected worldwide, and more than 14,400 have died. Nearly 100,000 people have recovered. There are around 26,800 cases of the virus confirmed in the Middle East, but more than 21,000 of those cases are in Iran and many others are linked to travellers from Iran, which has reported nearly 1,700 fatalities. The UAEs emergency and crisis management body and its Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement that the decision to stop all commercial flights, including even transit flights, would take effect in 48 hours. The aviation authority said cargo and emergency evacuation flights would be exempt from the ban. Saudi Arabia and at least seven other countries in the Middle East have already suspended all commercial flights to try and stop the spread of the virus. Also, several countries in the region, including Iraq and Kuwait, have imposed evening curfews. The UAEs interior ministry announced that people should only leave their homes in their personal cars for work or necessities. It said further announcements would be made regarding rules for taxis and public transport, which many foreign labourers and workers across the country rely on. It warned that violators could face fines or imprisonment. Restrictions are coming into place in the United Arab Emirates (AP) The UAE also announced that malls, shopping centres and restaurants will be closed for at least two weeks, although restaurants can still offer delivery service. The decision affects some of worlds biggest malls and indoor mall attractions in the emirates of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Grocery stores, pharmacies and wholesale food suppliers are exempt from the ban. Countries across the Gulf have already closed schools, gyms, parks, beaches and mosques to the public, including Islams holiest sites in Mecca and Medina. The cases in Gaza and Syria have raised particular concern, as both would be ill-equipped to detect or contain an outbreak. Authorities in Gaza say two people tested positive and were isolated after returning from Pakistan. Syria said a 20-year-old woman tested positive after entering from another country. Workers disinfect the ground around the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia (AP) Gaza has been under an Israeli and Egyptian blockade since the Islamic Hamas movement seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. The coastal territory is home to more than two million people but it only has around 60 ventilators, and all but 15 are already in use, according to Abdelnasser Soboh, director of the World Health Organisations Gaza office. The nine-year civil war in Syria has left millions of people internally displaced. Poverty is rampant and many medical facilities are barely functioning. There are similar concerns about a catastrophe if the virus turns up in Libya or Yemen, which are both divided by civil wars that have ruined their healthcare systems. Afghanistan reported its first death on Sunday, a man in his 40s. The war-ravaged country has reported 34 confirmed cases. In Pakistan, which has reported more than 800 infections and four deaths, authorities have asked people to self-quarantine for two weeks. The government has said it hopes it will not have to order a mandatory lockdown. Many people seem to be ignoring the advice, and instead going about daily life wearing face masks that provide little if any protection. Others have resorted to panic buying, fearing a curfew could soon be imposed. Nearly all the cases in Pakistan have been linked to travel to Iran. Authorities have quarantined more than 2,500 people who have returned from Iran, mainly pilgrims, and are testing them for the virus. To support the medical community during the coronavirus pandemic, the Costume Designers Guild is gathering members to sew masks for hospitals to deal with the shortage of materials. Salvador Perez, president of the guild, said that the drive will also help keep the members "busy" in the current scenario where everything has come to a standstill. They will go ahead with the initiative after a conference call with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, he said. "We are organizing all our members from local 892 and local 705 costumers who can sew, to manufacture masks for hospitals. It will be good to keep busy and help the community," Perez told Variety. The call comes after the government and companies race against time to help hospitals with their mask shortage. Grey's Anatomy, The Good Doctor and Station 19 are among the television shows that have already donated their masks and gowns amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In a letter to the members of Motion Picture Editors Guild, national executive director Cathy Repola appealed to them to contribute in any manner possible. If any of you sew or want to volunteer to deliver the masks (without violating the social distancing guidelines), please let us know and we will put you in touch with those coordinating, Repola said in the letter. She also called on members to support residents of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, adding that residents are without any group activities or meals and isolated in their rooms. We are social beings by nature (some more than others), so we must make efforts to maintain a sense of community in the midst of social separation," Repola said as she asked members to be in touch with those is self-isolation via video messages. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The panic buying frenzy by shoppers is finally slowing down with supermarket giants reporting 'business has returned somewhere towards normal'. Coles chief operating officer Matt Swindells said most shoppers over the weekend had taken note of Prime Minister Scott Morrison's stern warning to Australians last week to stop hoarding groceries amid the coronavirus outbreak. 'I'm pleased to report that certainly the shopping through our supermarket business has returned somewhere towards normal, and that's allowed the teams with all the hard work they're putting in to get stock back into the system,' Mr Swindells told Channel Nine's Today Show on Monday. Coles is reporting that business 'somewhat returned to normal' over the weekend after weeks of panic buying chaos. Pictured is Coles Bondi Junction in Sydney on Friday. He then added there was still a long way to go. 'Anybody that has shopped over the weekend would see the gaps on shelves are still there and so we've got to continue this process of normalised demand, pushing more stock than ever, to put the supermarkets back together,' Mr Swindells said. He hoped the nationwide panic buying that has sparked chaos and hostile confrontations over scarce supplies in supermarkets in recent weeks doesn't spread to bottle shops. Shoppers rushed to liquor stores on Sunday to stock up on alcohol supplies amid fears they would be shut down before Mr Morrison later reassured bottle shops would remain open. 'It would be really, really sad to think that the learnings from our supermarket shoppers can't then translate into the bottle shops and we all hold our nerve and just shop in normal patterns, so we don't see the same thing happen within liquor,' Mr Swindells said. 'Anybody that has shopped over the weekend would see the gaps on shelves are still there,' Coles' Matt Swindells (pictured) said Woolworths managing director Claire Peters also appeared on the program to assure customers the business is working with federal and state government to ensure supplies continue to be delivered to stores across the nation after several states closed their borders. 'Clearly our supply chain, just as Matt has described, is essential to restocking of the shelves. So we are able to do that across all borders in Australia,' she said. Woolworths has introduced new social distancing measures to ensure the 1.5 metre rule is being followed, which came into effect on Saturday. Supermarket giants hope the recent panic buying frenzy by shoppers will slow down. Pictured are two shoppers fighting over toilet paper 'It was really from feedback from our own team, wanting to ensure that they remained safe, because being an essential, as supermarkets are, which will remain open through this health crisis, we wanted to ensure we were doing some of what were the PM described, which would be included having that - easiest to describe it as a trolley's width between you and the next customer,' Ms Peters said. 'You will see some markings in the store which we encourage customers to help each other with, just to keep that distance.' The supermarket giants are unsure of whether they will go as far as limiting shoppers to 50 in store at any time. 'I think we need to consider all options that keep the team safe, and give the public confidence that they can continue to shop,' Mr Swindells said. 'The crisis is evolving and we're working closely with Department of Health. We will do what it takes.' Woolworths managing director Claire Peters (pictured) assured shoppers they're working with governments to ensure stock continues to be distributed to stores across Australia The panic buying forced Coles and Woolworths to introduce dedicated shopping hours for elderly and disabled shoppers to avoid the chaos. A Coles spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia its dedicated 'community hour' will continue further notice. It appears shoppers are getting the message after Mr Morrison called for panic buying frenzy addressed the nation last week, describing it as unAustralian. 'Stop hoarding. I can't be more blunt about it. Stop it,' he said. It's not sensible, it's not helpful and I've got to say it's been one of the most disappointing things I've seen in Australian behaviour in response to this crisis. 'That is not who we are as a people. It is not necessary. It is not something that people should be doing.' SPRINGFIELD With tens of thousands of Illinoisans out of work, experts warn that people applying for unemployment benefits need to be patient. Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued an emergency order last week that shuttered all non-essential businesses statewide to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois. The move was a broad-stroke effort to tamp down the spread of the virus, according to public health experts. It has also exposed tens of thousands of Illinoisans to something they may have never experienced before: Applying for unemployment benefits. For those who have been laid off, perhaps the most important piece of advice is to stay calm. I know its not a very easy thing to do and people are probably very tired of hearing that, said Julie Courtney, director of McHenry County Workforce Network. Courtneys public entity administers the federal Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act. Step one, she said, is to properly file for unemployment. You can visit the state website, ides.illinois.gov, or you can call their customer service center and get help that way, she said. Typically, the state will confirm receipt of the application, later approving it, and then depositing an unemployment check into the persons account or sending them a check. Courtney said this process wasnt immediate and can take a week. Typically, the person has to be able and actively seeking other employment to receive unemployment benefits, but IDES changed its rules to allow for benefits to be paid as long as the worker is ready to return to the position they were laid off from as soon as the employer calls back. For those not expecting a callback, this is when the job hunt begins. Courtney said Illinoisworknet.com is one state resource for job hunters. It also has a section to connect workers to one of the high-demand positions amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Sixteen districts in Uttar Pradesh, including Lucknow, will be locked down till Wednesday amid a spurt in coronavirus cases in the state. The districts where the lockdown has been enforced in the first phase are Lucknow, Agra, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Ghaziabad, Varanasi, Allahabad, Kanpur, Aligarh, Moradabad, Lakhimpur Kheiri, Bareilly, Azamgarh, Meerut, Gorakhpur, Saharanpur and Pilibhit. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday told reporters in Gorakhpur that 15 districts in the state will be under lockdown in the first phase. The lockdown will continue till Wednesday, he said, appealing to people to stay in their homes. In a late night order, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi said Pilibhit has also been added to the list of districts that will be shutdown in the first phase. Barring essential services, all government offices, educational institutes, autonomous bodies, business establishments, private offices, malls, shops, factories, godowns and public transport will remain closed in these districts, the state government said. The government will time to time evaluate the situation and redefine the essential services, Principal Secretary Medical, Health and Family Welfare Amit Mohan Prasad said. The services that have been declared as essential are medical, health and family welfare, medical education, home, intelligence/prison administration, police/armed force and para-military forces, personnel department and district administration, energy, urban development, food and civil supplies, disaster relief, fire services, civil defence, information, emergency services, telephone, internet, network services and IT-enabled services. Postal services, banks, ATMs, insurance companies, e-commerce, print, electronic and social media, petrol pumps, LPG gas, oil agencies, medicines shops, medical equipment shops and medicine producing units, units related to agriculture production and animal fodder too have been classified as essential services. The chief minister asked people to avoid unnecessary gathering at public places. "We are standing at a juncture where even a slight laxity can prove to be harmful," he said. Adityanath said officials of the police and district administration would patrol these districts. "We will review the situation tomorrow. If any family needs anything in emergency, 112 service of the state police will be available," he said. He said the districts where the lockdown has been enforced are those where coronavirus cases have been reported. "These districts will be thoroughly sanitised. Cleanliness drives are already going on for the last three days," the chief minister said. "People from Mumbai, Surat and other places arrived in large numbers at Jaunpur, Mirzapur, Mau, Kushinagar, Jhansi, Ghazipur, Ayodhya, Basti, Barabanki, Deoria, Ballia, Santkabirnagar and Gonda district yesterday and today. My appeal to them is to stay at home. The administration is making the list of such persons and making provisions to keep them separately," he said. On the slightest suspicion, they would be immediately sent to isolation wards and given free treatment, he said. He asked residents of Nepal bordering districts like Maharajganj, Siddharthanagar, Shrawasti, Balrampur, Bahraich and Pilibhit to remain alert. "If there are any health issues, people can call on 102 and 108 helpline numbers," the chief minister said. The Uttar Pradesh State Roadways Transport Corporation will remain completely closed from Monday to Wednesday. "No bus from Uttar Pradesh will go to Nepal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan or any other state," he said. The chief minister said to spread awareness, the state government has put huge hoardings, posters etc. outside every gram panchayat, school, hospitals and religious places. "We have already made arrangements for labourers, daily wagers, street vendors and others," he said. Late Sunday night, Adityanath held a meeting with officials and directed them to ensure a successful lockdown. He said passengers arriving at railway stations and bus stands should be screened for the coronavirus infection and sufficient equipment required in isolation wards must be ensured. The state has reported 27 coronavirus cases so far, the Union Health Ministry said on Sunday. Also read: Coronavirus Live updates: PM Modi to interact with industry bodies on economic impact of COVID-19 Also read: Coronavirus update: What's shut, what's open in Delhi? Shoppers around the country have left notes in their local Woolworths and Coles supermarkets to thank the shelf stackers, checkout workers and employees for their hard work amid the coronavirus outbreak. Supermarkets across Australia have been hammered in recent weeks due to panic buying, with many workers copping abuse from customers on account of stock shortages and item limits. However, not everyone feels the same way, and some shoppers have been keen to showcase their appreciation for supermarket employees - by way of notes and even bouquets of flowers for their local workers. Shoppers around the country have left notes in their local Woolworths and Coles supermarkets to thank the shelf stackers, checkout workers and employees for their hard work (pictured) Shoppers around the country left notes in their local Woolworths and Coles supermarkets to thank the shelf stackers, checkout workers and employees for their hard work (note pictured) 'This is so cute! I saw this in Woolworths Carlton Victoria today,' one woman posted, alongside a note that reads 'To all Woolworths staff. Thank you for your efforts'. Others soon added their own notes or those that they had seen in supermarkets. One was shared from Ballarat in Victoria and read 'Dear staff. Thank you for all you're doing to keep your community stocked with essentials! You're doing a fantastic job! We appreciate your hard work! Thank you'. The note ended with the hashtag 'the kindness pandemic'. Another note from Victoria highlighted people's appreciation despite the fact that the workers 'also have to deal with some people's fears, angers and panic'. Another note from Victoria highlighted people's appreciation despite the fact that the workers 'also have to deal with some people's fears, angers and panic' (pictured) It wasn't just notes that were being left for supermarket workers, but bouquets of flowers and boxes of chocolates too. 'I took a bunch of flowers to my local Woolies to say thank you to the girls for all their hard work,' one woman wrote. 'It's the least I could do when they are trying their best.' An Aldi employee also posted on Facebook, writing 'I am one of many hundreds of staff who work at Aldi. 'We as staff members are here to help you all.' It wasn't just notes that were being left for supermarket workers, but bouquets of flowers (pictured) and boxes of chocolates too She continued: 'I just want to write something uplifting that happened to me yesterday while I was at work among the chaos from customers scrambling to get the basic groceries. 'I was on the main register at work serving some decent customers and along comes my eldest daughter with a bunch of flowers for the whole team at work. 'Just to say thank you for all the hard work we do and what we cop. It just brought a tear to my eye.' Other employees said they have received boxes of chocolates from well-wishing customers. SIOUX CITY -- Officials this weekend confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease, or COVID-19, in both Woodbury and Sioux counties. The Woodbury County case, announced by the Siouxland District Health Department Saturday night, is a middle-aged woman between the ages of 41 and 60 years old. She is self-isolating at home. The Sioux County case is an older individual, between the ages of 61 and 80, according to Gov. Kim Reynolds' office. The individual is in isolation and little else is known about them or their condition. Also, Wells Enterprises revealed in a press release Sunday that an employee of its corporate center in Le Mars has tested positive for the virus. It is not clear if this is the same individual from the Woodbury or Sioux County cases, or if this is a different individual altogether. They are the first known cases of the virus in Northwest Iowa. In a press conference Sunday morning, Siouxland District Health Department Director Kevin Grieme said that more individuals in Woodbury County are undergoing testing for the coronavirus. "While this is the first confirmed case, we will acknowledge this is probably not our last case," Grieme said. The Woodbury County woman's symptoms are reportedly mild enough that she can be at home without needing to be at a hospital. It's unclear how long the woman had been experiencing symptoms; she was tested for the virus at some point in the past week. How exactly the woman contracted COVID-19 is not known. Tyler Brock, deputy director of Siouxland District Health, said that travel is a possibility. "There is travel associated with this person, but it is not able to be 100 percent determined that, yes, this was the cause," Brock said. On Sunday morning, Gov. Reynolds' office released updated figures on the coronavirus outbreak indicating a total of 90 cases, which includes the Woodbury and Sioux County cases. As of Sunday, the Associated Press reported there have been more than 33,000 cases of COVID-19 nationwide, and more than 400 deaths. Health officials have been working to identify those who were "close contacts" of the Woodbury County woman. Family members are regarded as close contacts, while others -- coworkers or anyone else she may have casually interacted with in a store, or elsewhere in public, are not necessarily regarded as close contacts. "We're not going to focus a whole lot on workplace exposures, shopping exposures, and things like that," Brock said. "It might be a little bit hard to understand why we're going down that road, but again, I just want to repeat that the vast majority of cases are spread through prolonged, close contact." Grieme said that Siouxland District Health is unable to release other information about the woman, including which town in the county she lives in, the nature of her work or places she may have visited. "We need to protect their privacy," Grieme said. "We also know, whether it's Sioux City or a small community, there's potential that word gets out, and it may actually identify them," he added. Anyone who feels they may be a close contact is not encouraged to call a hospital or their local health department, Grieme said, unless they have taken ill. "What we're going to do is, ask the general individual (to) refrain from calling Siouxland District Health Department to inquire if they're a close contact, and also medical providers, and the hospitals," he said. "However if you do have symptoms, we still encourage that. But to call in and say, 'Am I a close contact?' That is not an answer that we can provide." Grieme said that about 80 percent of people who contract COVID-19 "should experience only mild to moderate illness," and that those who are mildly ill will likely not need to visit a healthcare provider. Those who are sick, he said, must isolate themselves at home until they have had no fever or cough for 72 hours, without the aid of anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin or ibuprofen, and at least seven days from when their symptoms first appeared. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Thailand is effectively the Detroit of South East Asia; undeniably the major regional auto manufacturing hub. Toyota, Ford, Honda, Isuzu, Mitsubishi, Chevrolet (up until the end of the year), Ford, and more have big factories here, and they export to the ASEAN Free Trade Area; including us. But one important thing to note is that there hasn't been much word about automobile factory shutdowns in the country that supplies the majority of Philippine market volume: Thailand. Car companies worldwide are winding down their production operations in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Major automakers in the U.S., Europe, and South America are shutting down production lines. Japanese and Korean automakers are looking to shut down manufacturing as well, while local assembly plants have ceased as all of them are located in Luzon; mostly in Laguna. We've been asking our regional contacts with various brands, and most have been fairly quiet, except for one: Ford. Our various contacts with the regional offices of the U.S. automaker told us that they are evaluating the possibility of shutting down the factories temporarily given the current situation. Ford gets vehicles from two factories, the first is Ford Thailand Manufacturing (FTM) which is owned by Ford. The other plant is AutoAlliance Thailand (AAT), which is a joint venture with Mazda. The majority of the Philippine units come from AAT as it is the factory tasked to produce the Everest SUV as well as the left-hand drive double cab Ranger units. FTM is the factory that produces the remaining Ranger model (single cab, crew cab, etc), including the Ranger Raptor. If Ford does announce a shut down in Thailand, the primary reason will, of course, be about employee health. Thankfully there has been no word on any confirmed COVID-19 cases at the factories. The other reasons that Ford (and other Thai-based automakers) would shut down temporarily are related to parts and sales. The supply of parts has been largely affected by the outbreak. Sales, both regionally and globally, have plummeted as more and more countries implement quarantines. As to what the numbers are, we don't know yet. "Can't imagine demand is high under these conditions when no one knows what is going to happen next, said one of our contacts at Ford. SPRINGFIELD The juggernaut of the coronavirus has become the ultimate wedding crasher. And, not the fun, zany type that adds a comic twist to a reception. Rather, the kind forcing couples across Massachusetts to scrap long-hatched wedding plans, leaving them scrambling to reschedule their nuptials to a (fingers crossed) pandemic-free date. The public health crisis also has sent the wedding industry estimated to yield $72 billion in annual revenue in the U.S. into a tailspin. While many brides- and grooms-to-be eyed the steady drumbeat of bad news headlines uneasily, most held out hope that their big days would go off as planned. Then, Gov. Charlie Baker on March 15 announced unprecedented crowd control measures that made large gatherings impossible. Baker enacted a ban on dining and drinking establishments through April 6, but for take-out and delivery. He initially restricted gatherings to no more than 250 people, then later amended that cap to 25. On Monday, he dropped it to 10. Brides and grooms with gowns and tuxes, self-drafted vows, venues, and guests coming in from out-of-town at the ready have been driven to Plan B in the face of the pandemic. Vincent LaDuke and Katie Kalinko, a construction worker and social worker, respectively, from Springfield, were scheduled to be married at Old Sturbridge Village on April 25. Although the date fell outside the current Baker ban, the couple saw the writing on the wall after the governors drastic announcement on Sunday night. We were up at 3 a.m. I was just holding her, LaDuke said. The couple became engaged just over a year ago. A super-organized Kalinko said she had their wedding plans settled within a month of their engagement. She pooh-poohed her mother in the early stages of COVID-19 when she worried aloud the global spread of the disease may affect their wedding. I said Youre crazy mom, its never gonna get to that, Kalinko recalled. Turns out not so crazy. They were faced with sounding an alarm to about 160 prospective guests, some of whom were traveling from as far as California and Arizona. But, when the shock wore off, they said the wedding coordinator at Old Sturbridge Village allayed their fears by quickly setting up a new date and keeping everything else intact. I emailed her on Monday morning. We had the wedding re-planned in like an hour, Kalinko said. Im still in good spirits which I never thought I would have been. Meantime in Worcester, Long Island natives Donna Brothers and Connor Dunbar had planned a small, minimalist wedding ceremony at City Hall for April 3. Even as the cascade of state mandates came down, Brothers thought their plans were safe given that the couple only planned to include about a dozen family and close friends to witness their vows and celebrate at Russo Italian restaurant after. It was where Dunbar popped the question in November, and their favorite eatery in their new hometown. I still thought we were safe, even when they closed the restaurant, Brothers said. But the lights went out on their plans when City Manager Ed Augustus Jr. announced that Worcester City Hall would be closed to the public indefinitely beginning March 18. I guess I was a little bit in denial about how crazy this was going to get. We just moved into a house after living in a triple-decker. Then, I went to Trader Joes to get groceries and there was no food, Brothers said. Rather than crying over their dashed wedding plans, however, Brothers said she and Dunbar are choosing to look on the bright side. They are both employed, and both healthy. In retrospect, she would not have insisted that friends and relatives in New York City travel out-of-state when that city is on the cusp of a shelter-in-place order. Its disappointing of course but what can we do? Im grateful for what we have. If I was still in New York I worked in a restaurant so Id be out of work, she said, adding that theyve simply put their wedding plans on hold until the future is less uncertain. Back in Springfield, Liliana Aragon, a paralegal, and Odelito Crespo, a lab worker, had long planned to be wed on a special date: March 21. It was the anniversary of their first meeting through friends, while Aragon was a student at Bay Path University in Longmeadow nine years ago. I knew the very first time I saw her that I wanted to marry her. I told all my friends that, Crespo said. He felt the same instant resolve when he spotted the perfect ring in the window of a jewelers last year. Crespo also followed his instincts to spontaneously choose just the right moment to propose on Aragons 25th birthday. The two were celebrating with friends at a house party. Guests were playing Mannequin Challenge, a viral video internet challenge set to music which requires players to freeze in place when a song stops. When Bruno Mars Marry You stopped, Aragon turned to find Crespo down on one knee, a ring lifted in the air. She said yes. The couple planned to wed Saturday at the Munich Haus in Chicopee in front of about 135 family and friends. I still have all the decorations on our dining room table, ready to go, Aragon said during an interview this week. I just paid off everything... the cake, the DJ, the venue, everything. She said the couple is out about $2,000 in deposits. They are unclear whether they will recoup all their money, but said the vendors have thus far been compassionate. After days of hand-wringing, Aragon believes she pulled off a miracle. She found a last-minute venue, so they could still be married on their chosen day. The two were wed Saturday at the historic Valentine Mansion in Springfield, after she combed Airbnb for an alternative setting. I called and said, OK, this is the deal ... So, instead of being disappointed, we got excited again," Aragon said. "We will have fewer than 25 guests, but the two of us will be there, and thats whats most important. Our first wedding anniversary will be the 10th anniversary of when we first met. In addition to upending nuptials, COVID-19 also threatens to take down the wedding industry comprised mostly of solo shops or very small businesses: florists, bakers, DJs, photographers, wedding planners, hair and make-up artists, party rental companies and the like. Lisa Powers is as entrenched in the Pioneer Valley wedding scene as anyone. She, her husband and two children have cultivated a West Springfield-based business CJC Creative and CJC Events based on everything bridal. They publish an industry magazine called Wedding Day Sourcebook digitally and in print, are a linchpin in a network of hundreds of local wedding vendors and host bridal shows at the MassMutual Center in Springfield twice annually. The last was March 8, just before things for their industry started going rapidly downhill. The attendance was a little lighter, but the mood was happy and there was plenty of food and cake, Powers said. It was a good show considering the cloud of the virus was over our heads. Then, the phones stopped ringing, followed by a hailstorm of cancellations. Vendors struggled to do their best to console and accommodate overwrought brides but also worried for their livelihoods. This is financially devastating to an event and wedding industry like nothing weve every seen, Powers said. Case in point: Michael Linton, of Michaels Party Rentals in Palmer, has steadily built a business beginning with one tent in 2000, when he launched the venture in his parents garage. The company is now one of the largest party rental companies in Western Massachusetts providing tents, tables, chairs, cooking equipment and other party trappings for weddings, corporate outings and other large gatherings. The coronavirus outbreak and related emergency social policies have posed the greatest threat to his business in its history. The middle of last week, we just took cancellation after cancellation after cancellation, Linton said. In March, we lost 80 percent of our gross revenue. And, March is a low season for us. The first major blow came when Holyoke canceled its St. Patricks Day road race and parade. He lost approximately $20,000 in revenue in a single day. The company has historically provided 10,000 square feet in tenting for the road race, Linton said. The event is usually the kick-off of the firms high season. Linton employs 18 full-time workers. During the summer, 30 seasonal employees may get 50 to 60 hours of work per week many of them high school and college students. But this summers outlook is obviously gloomy. Our business specializes in large gatherings, and large gatherings are no longer happening. In 20 years, Ive never seen anything like this, he said, adding that he has gotten a limited amount of tenting business for staging disaster relief services related to the outbreak. Wedding planner and owner of All Events Realized, Mary Ann Dennis, of Chicopee, typically ushers 30 to 40 brides per year to the altar and their receptions in style. She has thus far only had one cancellation, but expects more. Everyone is just praying to God this thing blows over quicker than August, Dennis said, referring to public speculation over when the crisis may abate. In the meantime, she is staying hopeful for her clients and offering alternatives. These include getting married on their special date by a officiant, taking video and photos of the vows, then staging a grander celebration some months later. Theres always a solution. Theres always a way to make it special. Theyve already done the hard part in finding the person they want to spend the rest of their lives with, Dennis said. Christine Adams, owner of Badgers Flowers & Company in Northampton, caters primarily to weddings and large events. She has already felt the squeeze, and one of her brides is bereft. I have one client whose wedding is scheduled for April. Shes devastated and Im devastated for her. She met this guy when they were young; theyve been dating for years and years, Adams said. Im trying to pick her up and point her in a new direction. While the future of the wedding industry may look immediately bleak, Powers and Linton have their sights trained on staying afloat, supporting one another and waiting for the storm to pass. When this is all over, people are going to want to party, Powers said. Update: This article was reported and published before Gov. Charlie Baker set a new limit on gatherings. It has been updated to reflect the limit of 10 people set on Monday, March 23. With a soft-spoken voice and easy smile, Joe Williams relates how guns and ammunition at Battle Rifle Co. have been flying off the shelf during the novel coronavirus pandemic. The sales representative at the business a gun manufacturing gun facility and shop in a strip center at 17313 El Camino Real told how subcompact concealed carry pistols had sold out on a recent day. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Coronavirus live updates: Harris County prepares shelter-in-place order, CDC gives $36.9M to Texas Williams describes the stores traffic as the busiest in years. The last sale like this was the Obama scare, he said, referring to a buying rush that occurred when then-President Barack Obama called for new restrictions on firearms. And now the coronavirus scare is a competitor with that. Anytime something gets thrown into a panic, guns and ammo get thrown into the mix. Its the way people operate, I guess, Williams said. Gun business wasnt prepared for this Owner Chris Kurzadkowski agreed. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Gun sales in Houston soar as anxiety spreads over coronavirus People who have never owned a gun are walking into the store, Kurzadkowski said. Last week, he expected sales to double for that week and to triple for the month. Its not just handguns that are hot. TOP HITS: Get Houston Chronicle stories sent directly to your inbox Our rifles here, theyve been pretty steady, Williams said. We make them in-house; so were able to regenerate these. But weve had shotguns and other little rifles, and theyre all gone. People are coming and just buying stuff they normally wouldnt. The gun business was not really prepared for this. Theres a strain on the supply chain, said Kurzadkowski, noting his store and others were unusually low in ammunition. No time to teach The uptick in business has done something else. Its limited Kurzadkowskis opportunity to teach, especially first-time buyers. I like to teach people on gun safety, but unfortunately, this panic doesnt allow that, Kurzadkowski said. The store does set aside days when it holds instruction for concealed weapon and firearm safety. As manufacturer of weapons for law enforcement and government agencies, the store has international customers. It has a shipment of machine guns ready to send to Lebanon, but that country is in lockdown. Williams is glad for the increase in revenue, but all in all, but hed also be glad for a return to normalcy. Hopefully, it finds an end and everything goes back to normal so that people dont freak out, Williams said. The company can be contacted at https://bit.ly/3adNGFl. ravery@hcnonline.com The most vulnerable in society have been swept to the sidelines in the headlong panic towards herd survival. Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images The coronavirus crisis is telling us a lot about ourselves. Sociological doctorates on the crisis will fill the shelves of academia for a century to come. The behaviour of the herd, the behaviour of families, the actions of individuals, the role of the media and the responses of states will be parsed and analysed. Photographs of people pushing shopping trolleys laden with toilet paper will be used to illustrate the days of COVID-19. Those with responsibility for public health and well-being have a difficult balancing act to accomplish as they seek to alert the public to the dangers of the spread of the virus while looking to keep people calm. In this regard they have been eager to reassure us that most of the population will not be affected. It appears a certain section will catch the virus, another percentage will become ill and recover, while anything from 1pc to 3pc of those who contract it will die as a result of it. In the rush to reassure the majority, the fragile and vulnerable minority - made up of older people and people with underlying conditions - have been treated almost like sacrificial lambs that will be swept up by the Angel of Death while the rest remain relatively unscathed. Those under 60 and in good health have little to fear, those over 60 would want to be careful, but those over 80 are regarded as vulnerable along with those of any age with certain underlying conditions. Sensitivity I'm sure that when it comes to it the health services will do their best to protect the most vulnerable cohort, but a bit more sensitivity towards them would not go astray in these heady days when the pace of events is driving the narrative. My recent brush with serious illness was mercifully brief but it did give me an insight into vulnerability and afforded me a glimpse at that cloud of unknowing we call mortality. I can only imagine the profound fear of those living constantly with conditions that render them exposed to the extreme effects of COVID-19. The fear of those of advanced years whose physical capacity to fight it may not be what it once was is very real. In the coverage of the crisis to date there is little comfort on the airwaves, online or on the pages of newspapers for these people. They are like collateral damage, unfortunate but inevitable. In terms of proportionality, far more airtime, column inches and online chatter have been devoted to the impact of the virus on the stock market, the airline industry, tourism and sport. The rush to assure the broader sweep of the populace that they 'will be grand' means the quality of life of older people and people who have endured a lifetime of suffering is being even more impoverished. Friends tell me that their elderly relatives are at their wits' end, with many phoning their solicitors to make sure their affairs are in order. Isn't it interesting that despite all the lip service we pay to protecting the most vulnerable in society, no sooner is the whole of society threatened than the most defenceless are swept to the sidelines in the headlong panic towards herd survival. These past few weeks have been a time of great insight into how far we have come in the fields of medical and bio-medical science, and how information technology and artificial intelligence are putting modern human beings at a huge advantage when facing the most complex of natural threats. However, these days have also left us with questions about how civilised we really are. Last Saturday I listened to the BBC's Orla Guerin talking on RTE radio about the immigrant crisis on the Turkish border. She described how she witnessed an Afghan family walking toward the border with Greece carrying an extremely weak, elderly relative on a metal chair. When this became too awkward, they lay him on a blanket and carried on, but when this became too much one of the younger men carried him on his back. I remember a story from the war in Kosovo in the late 1990s. A man who joined those fleeing the conflict crossed the mountains into Albania pushing a wheelbarrow of blankets. When he arrived at a refugee camp, he unwrapped the blankets to reveal his elderly mother. Surely this is what civilisation means. Mainland's only new local patient infected by imported case leads to vigilance over a second outbreak: expert Global Times By Xu Keyue and Liu Caiyu Source:Global Times Published: 2020/3/22 13:35:31 Patient linked to imported case sounds an alarm The only new local COVID-19 infection in the Chinese mainland on Saturday was confirmed in South China's Guangdong Province, a person who was infected by someone traveling from overseas, the first of its kind in the mainland, reminding cities to raise their vigilance over imported cases to prevent a second wave of infections. On Sunday, 46 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the mainland, 45 of which were imported, said the National Health Commission. The only new domestic transmission was confirmed in Guangzhou, Guangdong provincial health commission announced on its WeChat account on Sunday. The patient, a 54-year-old man surnamed Jin, first displayed symptoms on March 17, feeling weak with muscle aches, but no fever. He rested at home, and was confirmed infected on March 21, local health authorities said. According to contact tracing, Jin had been in close contact with a 34-year-old woman surnamed Lin, who had returned from Turkey on March 9. On arrival, she had passed temperature checks at the airport and was allowed to return home by car. She is reported to have mostly stayed at home and wore a mask. Lin returned home by car and stayed there most of the time, occasionally doing activities around the home wearing a facial mask. She was confirmed to have been infected with the coronavirus on March 21. Eighteen people who had close contact with Jin have been identified and quarantined. Guangzhou reported two other confirmed cases, one imported from the Philippines, and the other traveled from Turkey. People entering Guangzhou from other countries and regions, including travelers from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, are now required to undergo testing for COVID-19 and undergo a 14-day quarantine at home or a designated quarantine center, according to a notice from the local government on Sunday. People who continue to test negative after the quarantine period can be released. Shanghai allows home quarantine if the person lives alone or all members of the same family need to be quarantined. The Chinese mainland reported zero new infections for three days from March 18 to 20, while Wuhan has reported zero new infections for four consecutive days. Meanwhile, the only new local COVID-19 patient infected by an imported case from abroad has led to worries among netizens that there may be a resurgence of the disease in the mainland. Wuhan virologist Yang Zhanqiu told the Global Times it is unlikely the contagion will reemerge in the Chinese mainland, as entry ports have been strictly screening for possible cases of infection from abroad. However, a domestic case infected by an imported case reflects loopholes in these preventive measures and a failure to cut off these transmission channels, Yang said. Guangdong should follow the example of Beijing by arranging for anyone coming in from overseas to be sent to designated places for quarantine, whether they have symptoms or not, rather than allowing them to undergo home quarantine, Yang suggested. Anyone entering Beijing from abroad has to undergo quarantine at designated venues, and no home quarantine is allowed except in special cases such as people traveling with minors, the elderly and people with underlying conditions. Wang Peiyu, a deputy head of Peking University's school of public health, warned cities in China to raise their vigilance over imported cases. "At present, new confirmed cases of COVID-19 are mainly imported. The new case of domestic transmission related to an overseas imported case means everyone should raise their vigilance," Wang told the Global Times, noting that it should remind everyone that epidemic prevention cannot be loosened despite the improving domestic situation. Wang said that the focus on cases in people coming from overseas has only recently become a focus of prevention and control in China, and that there may be problems in coordination between departments which could increase the possibility of infections. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ten days into her trip, Carina Lee knew something was wrong after spending a short time in Ecuador. Lee, 30, of Glen Ridge, left New Jersey on Feb. 20 for a three-month overseas adventure that would have also taken her to Colombia and Brazil. But ... A week ago, I was out of it," Lee said by phone on Saturday. Little by little the coronavirus symptoms took over. Her body ached, she had a slight fever and a persistent cough that wouldnt go away. Id wake up two to three times a night and cough for 20 minutes," Lee said. Shes better now and hopes her United Airlines flight, which should have left Sunday morning, leaves on time in the wee hours on Monday. But ... Im nervous," Lee said. She has every right to be. Lee tried to get a flight earlier in the week from Guayaquil. That city, however, is eight hours from Otovalo, a small community where Lee is staying with a kind-hearted yoga instructor. The woman -- God bless her -- is the mother of a woman Lee befriended in the Galapagos, one of the foremost destinations in the world to view rare wildlife and plant species. The people Lee met there, travelers from across the globe, thought they were in a safe place because the coronavirus was reported in North America and Asia. As far as they knew, Lee said, nothing had turned up in South America. But ... I have no idea how I got it," Lee said. After leaving the Galapagos, Lee planned to check out Otovalo for its mountains and local markets before heading to Colombia to meet her boyfriend. But the woman whom Lee met in the Galapagos insisted Lee stay with her mother, a yoga instructor, to cut down expenses. Lee accepted the invitation and was supposed to be there for two days. Her illness turned it into a weeklong stay. In that time, Lee said shes been keeping her distance inside the home of the woman, who has treated her like a daughter. Shes very well-centered, telling me, 'Dont worry," Lee said. I know Im being so well cared for. Thousands of Americans are facing similar challenges returning to the United States. As the pandemic grows, they find themselves stranded overseas when countries close borders. Glen Ridge was looking bleak to Lee. Aside from the $1,300 ticket one-way plane ticket, bus and train travel had been canceled to Guayaquil. It was impossible to fly out of there" she said. But ... She still had hope. Lee saw a Facebook group organized by an Ecuadorian man, whom she called an absolute hero." He chartered a plane to take Americans stuck in Ecuador to Florida. There, his wife and children, who were stranded in the U.S., would fly back to Ecuador. But ... Lee missed those arrangements by 90 minutes. Thats how fast the tickets sold. The last option was a surprise she cant explain. Lee said her sister, who works in the U.S. Embassy in Jordan, told her that United Airlines was sending a plane to Ecuador. Lee has a ticket, and if everything goes well, she should be in the air early Monday, headed for Houston. She hopes there are no buts this time. If I dont get on this flight, I dont know when I might be able to get home," she said. It might be months." Read More 1,000 meals for seniors and counting: Meet the coronavirus guardian angels with a grill Coronavirus heartbreak: These spunky great-grandmas are being smart, but seclusion can be lonely 2,000 pounds of corned beef we cant sell. Bizzes cope with coronavirus shutdown. Barry Carter may be reached at bcarter@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BarryCarterSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. The son of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar, has tested positive for COVID-19. Mr Abubakar made this known via his verified Twitter handle late Sunday evening. My son has tested positive to coronavirus. The @NCDCGov (Nigeria Centre for Disease Control) has been duly informed, and he has been moved to Gwagwalada Specialist Teaching Hospital in Abuja for treatment and management. I will appreciate it if you have him in your prayers. Stay safe, coronavirus is real, he wrote on Twitter. This brings the total number of cases in Nigeria to 28. Two of the infected have fully recovered and have been discharged while no death has occurred from the disease in Nigeria. A breakdown shows that Lagos has the highest number of confirmed cases with about 19. My son has tested positive to coronavirus. @NCDCGov has been duly informed, and he has been moved to Gwagwalada Specialist Teaching Hospital in Abuja for treatment and management. I will appreciate it if you have him in your prayers. Stay safe, coronavirus is real. -AA Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) March 22, 2020 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js There might be a rise in cases as the government has intensified contact tracing to trace those who might have been in contact with the infected people. So far, nobody has died from the virus in Nigeria as compared to other places across the globe where the virus has killed over 13,000 people. Global cases Cases of COVID-19 have continued to soar globally as confirmed cases topped 300,000 Sunday morning. As of Sunday, 11:00 GMT, a total of 311,796 infected cases have been reported with 13,071 deaths globally. Also, a total 95,838 people have so far recovered and have been discharged globally. READ ALSO: Coronavirus how pregnant women can protect themselves Since the release of the second season of "Kingdom," a Korean-made Netflix original, 10 days ago, the series has been talk of the town among drama fans around the world. Courtesy of Netflix Since the release of the second season of "Kingdom," a Korean-made Netflix original, 10 days ago, the series has been talk of the town among drama fans around the world. Foreign media such as Forbes have compared the Korean historical zombie thriller with the American horror TV series "The Walking Dead" or the smash-hit fantasy "Game of Thrones." Many fans have called the creatures in the six-episode series "K-zombies," modeled after expressions like "K-pop," and asked producers to come up with a third season. "I'm so sorry for being mentioned with 'Game of Thrones,'" Kim Eun-hee, the screenwriter of the Netflix series, said in an online interview on Friday. "I'm happy to hear that the drama is called a 'K-zombie' series." "Kingdom" is about a mysterious plague that breaks out during the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty shortly after the Japanese invasions of the late 16th century. Its six-episode first season, released in January last year, covered the struggle of crown prince Lee Chang, played by Ju Ji-hoon, to fight a deadly disease that even affects the king. The second season focuses on the crown prince becoming the only hope to save the zombie-hit kingdom. The screenwriter attributed the series' global popularity to its period details, citing the traditional Korean hats, accessories and costumes that fascinated fans across the world last year. "I think 'Kingdom' has its own dramatic, oriental atmosphere like the outfits and settings without guns and cars," said the author, who has created many hit TV series including the thriller "Signal" (2016). Screenwriter Kim Eun-hee. Courtesy of Netflix A short story for Mothering Sunday by author Julie Roberts, from Caversham NINA LOUKAS dropped her silk wrap on the bed. Naked and bronzed, she picked up a jar of cream, scooped the expensive jelly on to her fingers and spread it over her belly. There were still a few stretch lines shed like to erase. She posed with her hands high above her head and looked at her reflection in the mirror. Pregnancy had not changed her; she was still beautiful, tall, dark haired and sensual the mistress of Hektor Panos, one of Athens richest men. Nina slipped the wrap back on. She was going to pamper herself today with a massage, a new hairstyle and, if she had time, a new dress from one of her favourite boutiques. A cry from her son made her hurry through the connecting door into the nursery. She gently picked him up and laid him over her shoulder. There, there, my sweet. Mama is here. Nina rocked her son until he settled. After she laid him down, she stroked her finger over his head, a frown creasing her forehead. The landing door opened and his day nurse came in shaking a bottle of formula milk. Erons still fretful, Maria, said Nina. Ill be back by four, any problems phone me. I will, Nina. Have a nice day. This cliche always irritated but the girl was a gem and she said nothing to upset her. Thirty minutes later she drove out of the underground garage of her Chelsea apartment. Nina relaxed as the masseurs hands stroked her back. Lying face down after so many months was wonderful and she was enjoying every moment as his fingers circled and kneaded her shoulders. Fedor, I think a few more minutes and then a steam bath, she said. Will you ask Rosa to make sure she is free for my facial afterwards? Of course, Miss Loukas. I will go as soon as we are finished. Weve missed your visits over the last few months. May I ask how your little son is faring? Eron is the most beautiful baby ever born and will grow to be the most handsome man in the whole of Europe. How can he be otherwise when he has two Grecian parents? She hadnt seen Hektor for two weeks. He was in Geneva negotiating a deal with old Altair Kairis but he was back this afternoon. Everything she was doing today was for Hektor tonight. She felt a little tap on her bottom. All finished, Miss Loukas. I would suggest at least three times next week, to get you toned back into shape. You make it sound as if Ive gone to flab, Fedor. My little Eron was not a large baby my Mama was most disappointed. Never, said Fedor bowing, you are a Greek goddess, Miss Loukas, forever. Flattery will get you a large gratuity. Ask reception to add 20 per cent to my account. Nina wrapped a large white towel around her and clipped the opening with a butterfly clasp. Fedor opened the door and she walked down the corridor to the steam room. Knightsbridge was teeming with tourists, all rushing to get their Harrods green bags, even if it only held a bar of chocolate. Nina turned into a narrow street and then through an unobtrusive varnished door. She went up the stairs to the first floor and into a salon adorned with pale silk wall hangings and matching velvet settees. Sitting behind a Georgian table was a petite woman, her dark hair coiffured in a smooth chignon; her blood red fingernails making a dramatic contrast against a black dress. Nina, ma chere, at last you are here for something other than the robe de grossesse. Oh, Francine, yes, they are gone. I want something flimsy, feminine, low cut and rose pink. I am going to seduce Hektor tonight, all night. We will not sleep until the dawn, Nina laughed. Shame on me, Madame, but I am Greek and you are French. We can admit all, yes? Oui, Mademoiselle. Come and sit down, I will bring you the robe extraordinaire. Nina chose four gowns to try on. Each one was beautiful but the last was what shed been dreaming about for the last six months. Ill take this one with me now, Francine. Will you have a new wardrobe ready for me to view next week? Of course, I will phone when it is ready. This seasons colours and styles are perfect for you. Nina nodded and said: Thank you, au revoir. She hurried out into the street, feeling young again, refreshed in body and soul, yet all she wanted was to go home and hold her son. The spring day had turned into a starlit evening. Nina closed the curtains and dimmed the lights. An orange glow from the fire reflected off the scallop shells decorating the walls, giving the room a touch of Grecian magic and warmth. She straightened a napkin on the small round table, adjusted Hektors silver knife to match her own. Everything was perfect. She turned and looked in the large scroll-framed mirror: the rose pink dress was a deception of beauty, its line hiding the little extra plumpness she still had around her hips. Tonight shed left her girdle hidden away in the dressing room. There was to be nothing to hinder Hektors caresses when he arrived. She opened the nursery door and tiptoed across to Erons cradle. She had bathed and clothed him in a new white sleeping suit, the scent of his baby talc fresh and wholesome. He was so perfect. She had loved him from the moment of conception, through those difficult early months, and even when she walked like a waddling duck. She had thought her love could not grow any more but the moment he was placed in her arms her heart had found the extra space for him beside her Hektor forever. Nina heard the front door open. Her lover was here. She smiled, and whispered: Sleep well and long, Eron, tonight is for your Mama and Papa. Hektor dropped his brief case on the floor and held out his arms. When he was away, their only contact was a few telephone calls. He never emailed, joking that secretarues eyes loved to pry given the opportunity. She went to him looking like the woman he had met at that magazine launch three years ago. She had walked into that room and a magnetic, unrealistic desire had run through her. But she had held back. He was an icon, a celebrity, married, a father and a Catholic. She could only be his mistress, a hidden love. Yet, guilt had not stopped her. Now they had a son, a second sin, but so be it. She went into his arms, stood close so he could feel her slimness. She circled her arms around his neck and touched his lips with hers. Words were not needed as he kissed her with a hunger she understood. Welcome home, darling, she whispered. Hektor held her even tighter. Yes, home, my dearest. As they parted, he looked at her properly. You are perfect again. And you are wearing my favourite colour. He ran his finger along the neckline, stopped at the bottom point and slipped his finger down between her breasts. Its just for you, Hektor. But you must need a drink was everything a success? Yes. Signed, sealed and settled. Ill have a whisky after Ive showered. Hektor went into their bedroom but did not close the door. She smiled and followed. Nina sat in the elegant Georgian decor of the consultants waiting room. Over the past weeks it had become a place of heartache and fear. Her hands wouldnt stop shaking as she hugged Eron tightly against her, while he, oblivious to all chanted, Bear, bear and bounced his teddy bear up and down. The door opened. Dr Milos will see you now, Miss Loukas. Hektor was away, yet again. This time she resented his absence. He should be here. Here to help her and his son face the man who might be going to pass a dreadful sentence on their child. She stood up, Eron in her arms. Her legs didnt want to move, her heart beat so hard it felt like a pain and her mouth was so dry. Dr Milos stood behind his desk. He was the image of Savile Row in his dark suit over a white shirt, a perfectly knotted red tie. Good morning, Miss Loukas. Please, sit down. Nina acknowledged with a nod, sitting in one of the green silk cushioned chairs. He didnt speak and she wrapped her arms around Eron, wanting to protect him from the doctors grave expression. Dr Milos walked round his desk and sat in the chair opposite her. He touched Erons hand with his finger. I do not have good news, Im afraid, he said. She stared at him, taking in his words, but her mind was like treacle. Your son is now over a year old and the tests confirm our fears. Ill not prolong my diagnosis, he has Achondroplasia, dwarfism of the arms and legs and he paused, I am very sorry. Sorry! He was sorry! Her perfect baby was going to be deformed, ridiculed. She couldnt think. Where was Hektor when she needed him most? Did money mean more to him than their son? In that moment she hated him. He had abandoned her. Had he suspected this result? Had he found out and left her to face this alone? Eron wriggled and she looked down. She stroked his dark baby curls that she hadnt cut yet. Maybe the tests were wrong? Maybe they had got muddled up and belonged to someone else? How could this be true? Hektor and she were so normal, so perfect to look at. This is not what any parent wants to hear but there is help and advice available, said the doctor. I have a package of information for you. But, of course, please ask me anything you wish to know. All Nina could think was why? Why my son? Is there a cure, any treatment? Money is not a problem. Please, I can take him anywhere, anywhere in the world. Hektor could pay. He always paid. I wont give you false hope, Miss Loukas. There is no cure. Money cannot buy it for him. I feel it best you understand this now. His professional manner softened. Would you like to go with my secretary and have a moment to yourself? She will make you a cup of coffee. Nurse James will look after Eron. Thank you. Yes. I need time I need to think, speak to Erons father. She got up, lifting Eron on to her arm, conscious how small he was for his age. A lump filled her throat, she loved him so much. Had she loved him too much? Was this her punishment for conceiving him out of wedlock? Had God done this? Her whole body was a bag of trembling terror. The door opened and his secretary came in. Nina let the woman guide her towards the door and Dr Milos voice followed her out: I would like to see Eron next month; then we can decide on a way forward The door closed. The coffee was hot and strong. Nina wrapped her cold hands round the fine china mug and hugged it until her mind cleared. The family life she had imagined with Hektor and Eron would now take an alternative path yet with the same outcome. Eron would achieve his goals and take his place in society, maybe with a stronger personality than any man standing beside him. She looked across at the young nurse playing with him and his teddy bear. Tears slipped down her cheeks. All she could do was teach him how to live. Thank you for the coffee, Mrs Wilson. I want to go home now, Eron needs his lunch. In the taxi home each time she thought of Hektor her anger grew. She had no idea where he was his call last week was from Dubai. She would have to phone the hotel there and see if they knew where he was going on to. He would be furious if she contacted his London office, but she had to speak to him, now! Hektor came to the apartment two days later. They sat on the settee facing each other. Nina gazed at his perfect body, long limbs and the dark wavy hair. His handsome face was tanned and those grey eyes that could show such love for her were full of tears. Oh, darling, I should have been with you but life has been very arduous. I have lost so much money; the financial situation is still very precarious. I am holding things together but he paused, there is not a bottomless pit of cash anymore. What do you mean? Eron will need a lot of care, special equipment. There must be special schooling. I I might have to reduce your allowance. There is my wife and my children to consider. Nina lifted her head, seeing his face colour. I see. I am the mistress who must come second when things go wrong. Your duty remains firstly to your wife. No. I did not mean that but, Nina, a dwarf child? Fathered by me? Are you accusing me of being unfaithful? I will not belittle myself with an answer. Hektors face flushed crimson. She stood up and went into the nursery and lifted Eron from his cot and took him back into the sitting room. Hektor said: Where is Maria? I should not like her listening Nina raised her hand, stopping him in mid-sentence. She is not here; I gave her the day off. Do you think me that stupid? Tell me this is not your son. Look at him closely, while he is still a baby, before he changes too much. Hektor got up and embraced them together. Im sorry, Nina. I dont know what I was thinking. Of course Eron is mine. But I wont be around much from now on. I have a lot of travelling to do, deals to set up and complete. But Ill try and make sure your allowance stays the same. Nina knew this was the beginning of the end. Thank you. I think you should now leave your key on the hall table. She felt him stiffen, then kiss her temple, his tears on her cheek. But the reality remained. He was leaving. A moment later the front door closed. Nina couldnt believe Hektor had ended their relationship as though he were withdrawing from a business deal gone bad. Did he see Eron as a never- ending burden, a threat to his family? She could have pleaded with him, but a rift had already grown between them and would widen. She had put Hektor on a pedestal like a Greek God but he was afraid, a turncoat to his son who had his genes, regardless of how they had developed. She sat down and Eron snuggled close, his little hands clinging to her. When would he become aware that he was different? She sat up straight; her love for Eron would never falter. She would protect him always for he had been conceived in love by a man she would never forget. Nina tucked her legs up on the settee and cuddled Eron until he fell asleep. Standing up, she carried him into the nursery and laid him in his cot. There were decisions to be made. She and Hektor had never talked about an end to their affair. She loved him, she trusted him. There was no signed contract for a single penny he could stop it anytime. Hektor had paid for everything: the apartment, her designer clothes, the spa appointments, the Porsche, plus a very generous allowance. Now, there would only be the allowance. She could go back to modelling, but she hadnt lost those extra inches needed to get her back on the glossy covers of fashion magazines. She wandered into their bedroom her bedroom now it was all so painful. His presence was there, in the bed, the lover, the man she had thrown everything away to be with. She opened her wardrobe and took out the flowing rose-pink dress. The silent apartment was like a cloak keeping in the fear that was slowly filling her. What was she going to do? Where could she go? There was only one place where she could plan her and Erons future. She would go home to Corfu, to her Greek roots to her mother to the villa hidden amongst the cypress trees in the hills. Eron would love the clear sea water, the tortoises that lived in the sand dunes. Nina held the dress against her and gazed at her reflection in the mirror. She was pale now, a very different woman than what she had been a year ago. When she had worn this dress on that magical night she had been radiant with her hair swept high and held in place with an emerald clip, the colour of her eyes. Hektor was Erons father and he had been her husband in all the duties required of him. She needed no marriage certificate. She loved Hektor and would have been faithful to him until the day she died. Her gaze burned into her image and the base animal instinct of a lioness surged through her and she whispered: I will love and protect you, Eron, always. Shareholders might have noticed that Dexin China Holdings Company Limited (HKG:2019) filed its annual result this time last week. The early response was not positive, with shares down 3.6% to HK$2.95 in the past week. Revenues were CN9.5b, 19% below analyst expectations, although losses didn't appear to worsen significantly, with a per-share statutory loss of CN0.60 being in line with what the analyst forecast. The analyst typically update their forecasts at each earnings report, and we can judge from their estimates whether their view of the company has changed or if there are any new concerns to be aware of. So we gathered the latest post-earnings forecasts to see what estimate suggests is in store for next year. Check out our latest analysis for Dexin China Holdings SEHK:2019 Past and Future Earnings, March 23rd 2020 Taking into account the latest results, the most recent consensus for Dexin China Holdings from lone analyst is for revenues of CN12.4b in 2020 which, if met, would be a major 31% increase on its sales over the past 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are predicted to increase 8.8% to CN0.65. Yet prior to the latest earnings, the analyst had been anticipated revenues of CN16.0b and earnings per share (EPS) of CN0.71 in 2020. Indeed, we can see that sentiment has declined measurably after results came out, with a large cut to revenue estimates and a small dip in EPS estimates to boot. Despite the cuts to forecast earnings, there was no real change to the CN3.66 price target, showing that the analyst doesn't think the changes have a meaningful impact on its intrinsic value. Taking a look at the bigger picture now, one of the ways we can understand these forecasts is to see how they compare to both past performance and industry growth estimates. It's clear from the latest estimates that Dexin China Holdings's rate of growth is expected to accelerate meaningfully, with the forecast 31% revenue growth noticeably faster than its historical growth of 11%p.a. over the past three years. Compare this with other companies in the same industry, which are forecast to grow their revenue 16% next year. Factoring in the forecast acceleration in revenue, it's pretty clear that Dexin China Holdings is expected to grow much faster than its industry. Story continues The Bottom Line The biggest concern is that the analyst reduced their earnings per share estimates, suggesting business headwinds could lay ahead for Dexin China Holdings. They also downgraded their revenue estimates, although industry data suggests that Dexin China Holdings's revenues are expected to grow faster than the wider industry. The consensus price target held steady at CN3.66, with the latest estimates not enough to have an impact on their price target. Following on from that line of thought, we think that the long-term prospects of the business are much more relevant than next year's earnings. We have analyst estimates for Dexin China Holdings going out as far as 2022, and you can see them free on our platform here. Don't forget that there may still be risks. For instance, we've identified 3 warning signs for Dexin China Holdings (1 is significant) you should be aware of. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 12:05:25|Editor: Liu Video Player Close WASHINGTON, March 22 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Saturday issued the first emergency use authorization for a point-of-care COVID-19 diagnostic for the Cepheid Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 test. "The test we're authorizing today will be able to provide Americans with results within hours, rather than days like the existing tests," said Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar. Media reports said the test developed by the molecular diagnostics company Cepheid based in California is expected to shorten the coronavirus detection time to about 45 minutes. The company intends to make its point-of-care testing available by March 30, according to the FDA. "With the development of point-of-care diagnostics, Americans who need tests will be able to get results faster than ever before. More and more options for reliable, convenient testing are becoming available at an incredibly rapid pace," Azar said. FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said it marks an important step in expanding the availability of testing and, importantly, rapid results. Point-of-care testing means that results are delivered to patients in the patient care settings, like hospitals, urgent care centers and emergency rooms, instead of having samples sent to a laboratory, according to Hahn. The number of COVID-19 cases in the United States topped 33,276 as of 21:00 Eastern Standard Time Sunday, with 417 deaths, showed data by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. Saros Abdullah was furious last Wednesday. Seated in a narrow lane at Phnom Penhs Phsar Tuol Sangke, the Cambodian Muslim chicken seller was seething at the comments she was reading on Facebook about her community causing the spread of coronavirus in Cambodia. Some Khmer brothers and sisters said these Muslims brought the virus into Cambodia, she said, her voice steadily rising in volume. I got very upset and that led to a clash of words with other people here. Last week, the Ministry of Health, over three days, reported several Cambodians, from the religious minority, had returned from a gathering in Malaysia and tested positive for the novel coronavirus. However, while the ministry had refrained from revealing the religious identities of other people who had the respiratory disease, officials revealed that of the 79 Cambodian Muslims who traveled to Malaysia, around 26 of them had the virus. As of Monday afternoon, Cambodia had reported 86 positive cases of COVID-19. The most recent spike was attributed to a group of 31 French tourists who tested positive over the weekend in the port-resort town of Sihanoukville. The revelation of the religious identity of infected individuals set off a deluge of online hate directed at the minority community. I got angry and I criticized those who said it, Saros Abdullah said, in her home market in the capital's Russey Keo district, some seven kilometers north of the city center. They are confused that I insult Khmer people but I didnt mean to. That led to a verbal confrontation in this market. The 49-year-old chicken seller is referring to Horm Sreymom, who sits six feet away from Saros Abdullah and also sells chickens. She is very reckless, Horm Sreymom said, pointing directly at Saros Abdullah. When she said these Khmer I got so furious that I had to respond. Then ensued an argument that reverberated across the market, and beyond. I heard they were fighting about Chams, said one vendor, referring to ethnic Cham minority groups, who also practice Islam. Horm Sreymom denies verbally targeting the Muslim community in the argument. She said she only wanted to make the point that Saros Abdullah was generalizing about all Khmers, referring to the Cambodian Buddhist majority. We live in a Khmer country. Do no insult Khmer people, was Horm Sreymoms retort to Saros Abdullah. The Ministry of Health, in a Facebook post, reported on March 15 that two Khmer Islam had tested positive for the viral disease. The same social media post announced that a French man and his toddler tested positive, yet their religious identities were not mentioned. That Facebook post received around 250 comments but a March 16 statement announcing around 19 new cases linked to the Malaysia gathering, had some 1,100 comments. Many of these social media comments were targeted at the Muslim community in Cambodia, with Facebook users blaming the community for the spread of the disease in the country. They should be locked in their homes, read one post last week. Why are you foolish and ignorant bringing in trouble for other people, read another post. A number of these comments were just the word Cham written in Khmer, even though not all Cambodian Muslims belong to the ethnic Cham minority. Those people say they fear God more than COVID, read another post from Friday. But when they get infected, they accuse Khmer of discrimination. On Wednesday, March 17, government spokesperson Phay Siphan asked the media to refrain from using identifying information for those who tested positive, even though it was the Ministry of Health that had released this information. We are facing the COVID-19 problem why should we create more problems in our communities, Phay Siphan said at a press conference last Wednesday. Please, members of the press, understand and make adjustments in your choice of words to avert discrimination. However, he did not acknowledge whether the ministry was mistaken for releasing sensitive information. Othsman Hassan, a senior minister and one of the few political leaders for the Cambodian Muslim community, also downplayed the inappropriate language used against the community, instead of blaming a group of unnamed opportunists. But we have to be careful of the opportunists who aim to polarize our internal solidarity within the nation cracking and breaking our solidarity for them to gain benefits for any of their purpose, he said, in a press conference on Saturday. In Chrang Chamreh market, north of Phsar Tuol Sangke, another meat seller, Sann Vanny, has seen a drop in chicken sales. She feels it is likely regular customers are staying away from her business because of her religion, but cannot be sure of that. Whether they do not dare to come out of their homes or whether this is a form of discrimination against us, I dare not conclude, she told visiting reporters. Like other community members, Sann Vanny was upset at the tone of comments against Cambodian Muslims, both online and in the neighborhood. You see they speak this kind of language they are like that; that is why they dont have a country to stay in, the chicken vendor said, referring to a Facebook comment she had read. Is this acceptable? Vanny said she was concerned that younger, hotheaded members of her community would reach a breaking point, and intense verbal exchanges could escalate a conflict rapidly. A hundred meters down the street, Mann Pitri is walking around the market, selling sugarcane juice. The 38-year-old vendor said he had what may be seen as a small incident but one that was unpleasant for him as a Cambodian Muslim. Last Friday, a Cambodian woman with two children was riding on a motorcycle when one of the children asked for a glass of sugarcane juice, said Mann Pitri. The woman responded that the left market vendor shook. She said do not buy from the Chams, he said, adding that he had never heard someone say that to him before. Chak Sopheap, executive director at the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said it was dangerous to identify COVID-19 patients by religion, adding that it places a heavier burden on minority communities, especially the Muslims in Cambodia, who largely live in peace and are well integrated into society. Muslims make up less than two percent of Cambodia's population. Additionally, the decision to publish their religious identities was irrelevant and it impinged on their right to privacy, Chak Sopheap said. It is essential that the right to privacy of patients is maintained, and that sensitive and superfluous personal information, such as religion, that is not in the public interest, is withheld, Chak Sopheap said in an email. Across the Tonle Sap, on the capital's Chroy Changvar peninsula, word of Saros Abdullahs quarrel with Horm Sreymom at Tuol Sangke market has reached the small Muslim community centered around the Muk Dac Mosque. There is a sense of tension in the community. The mosque was closed for Friday prayers and community members were reluctant to speak to VOA Khmer reporters about the backlash against Cambodian Muslims. After some hesitancy, a few, younger members of the community began to express their concerns at online comments targeting them. Several of them were flabbergasted at how people are targeting Islam, rather than questioning the actions of individuals. This is now very chaotic and we feel very fearful, said one man. Another woman called the discrimination unfortunate because members of the community were suffering as victims of the virus. The group then started talking over each other, making it hard to understand what they were saying, though it was clear they were irate, and hopeless at the same time. I suggest that all religions are the same. We live in the same country, said 34-year-old Math. We should unite as one in the country. Just stop the discrimination, brothers. Here I am at lastI have made it to all seven continentsand finally I have arrived at the continent that everyone who fancies himself a world traveler yearns to someday set foot uponAntarctica. And what am I thinking? What in the world am I doing here?thats what Im thinking! The weather is miserableovercast, dreary, and drizzly. From the moment we disembarked our comfortable ship to get into the group of thick rubber-tube-like Zodiac motorboats that dropped us onto the Antarctic continent I have not been able to see more than a few feet ahead through the thick cold mist. This woman enjoys just sitting back and relaxing while watching the show penguins put on for her. (Copyright Fred J. Eckert) I have with me two great Nikon cameras, some fine lenses and all the right different kinds of films, but theres not much point getting them out of my camera bag. It has been four days since the ship that I am traveling on, the M/S Explorer, set sail from the tip of Argentina. The thought of spending four more days like this one in Antarctica and then two days sailing back across the Drake Passage to Argentina is not a fun thought. And then, as in all stories that have a happy ending, slowly the weather begins to turn and the sun starts coming out and I begin to see that I am in a place that is breathtakingly beautiful and wonderfully unlike any other place I have ever experienced. It was to be this way for most of the rest of my time in Antarctica. Tourists get from ship to landing and back aboard a small rubber vessel called a Zodiac. (Copyright Fred J. Eckert) First Stop: Chile My journey to the Antarctic continent got underway in Santiago. After spending a day touring the very modern and pleasant capital city of Chile, I joined up with my Abercrombie & Kent Antarctica tour group for a chartered LanChile flight to Ushuaia, the small town at the bottom tip of Argentina that bills itself as the southernmost city in the world. Crossing the Drake Passage to Antarctica generally takes two days, depending on sea and ice conditions. The 238-foot, shallow draft, ice-strengthened hull M/S Explorer is the perfect vessel for Antarctic expedition cruisingsafe and big enough to be comfortable yet small enough to maneuver narrow channels and inlets. It carries a maximum of 100 passengers and a staff and crew of 75. Ships any smaller rarely provide a high level of services because of low staff-to-passenger ratios. Larger ships have the distinct disadvantage of poor maneuverability that significantly limits their choice of routes and landing spots, and their large passenger numbers also diminish the frequency and enjoyment of shore visits. The M/S Explorer carries enough Zodiacs so that all passengers are able to go on each shore excursions at the same timeno staggered landings. While the ship is very comfortable and its food always outstanding, what is most impressive about the M/S Explorer is the universal excellence of its staff and crew and their friendly team spirit. Part of the fun of getting there is learning more about the Great White Continent and its wildlife. The ships naturalists and lecturers provided a very impressive and informative program. Tourists trek up a hill to catch a spectacular view of the vast Antarctic. (Copyright Fred J. Eckert) Are We There Yet? Are we there yet? is a question that even adults can ask without embarrassment when your destination is Antarctica. Thats because the boundary of Antarctica is a moving target. The generally accepted definition of the boundary line for what we call Antarctica is that it begins at the point where the warmer, more saline waters of the sub-Antarctic flowing south meet up against the colder, less saline waters flowing northand this point is fluid. This is called the Antarctic Convergence. It usually occurs around 60 degrees south latitude, give or take a degree or two. Once you are on its south side you are in Antarctica, which is not quite the same as being on the Antarctic continent. Whether calling it cute, funny, or amusing, people seem to find it entertaining to watch a penguin waddle along. (Copyright Fred J. Eckert) After two days at sea, we were in Antarctica proper and set ashore on King George, the largest of the South Shetland Islands that lie off the coast of the continent. Thick fog and cold air enveloped us as we set out to see the sights. There werent many penguins around. But there were lots of interesting birds. We didnt come across any better weather at our next shore excursion, but we sure did see penguinsby the thousands! Our rules may prohibit us from approaching a penguin too closely, but penguins apparently have no rules restricting them from approaching humans. All you have to do is sit down and soon penguins will be checking you out up close or walking right by you, totally indifferent to your presence. Truly Awesome Once the good weather set in what had up until then been a very interesting and educational experience turned into something much more, something truly awesomethe sort of experience that you know you will treasure for as long as you live. I may have seen thousands of penguinsbut I was always ready to see some more. Penguins are certainly cute to look at and they are a fascinating little creature to observe. I would see three different kinds of brush-tailed penguinsthe Adelie, the Gentoo, and the Chinstrap. A Gentoo penguin with its chick. (Copyright Fred J. Eckert) The Adelie, named for the wife of a French explorer, is closest to the image that most of us conjure up when we picture a penguin. Like most penguins, it looks like a little tuxedoblack in back, white shirt in front. What makes it stand out is that it is purely black-and-white and has a white ring around each eye. This is Antarcticas smallest penguin, averaging two feet four inches in height and weighing about 12 pounds. There are maybe 5 million of them, and it is not all that unusual to see them in groups of 100,000 or more. The Gentoo, which is found over a wider area than other penguins, looks only a bit different from the Adelie. It has an orange bill and, instead of a white ring around the eyes, it has a flash of white behind each eye. It weighs about the same as an Adelie and is only a couple inches taller. Two gentoo penguins against a backdrop of the vast Antarctic wilderness. (Copyright Fred J. Eckert) The Chinstrap is roughly the same height as the Adelie and Gentoo but a few pounds thinner. Also black and white, of course, it gets its name from the fact that the black line that connects its black cap to below its chin looks like a chinstrap. While it occurs only on the Antarctic Peninsula and the islands south of the Antarctic Convergence, it is the most populous penguin, with an estimated population of more than 12 million. There is no way to distinguish male from female from their markings; in each penguin species the female is slightly smaller. All these millions of penguins roaming around a cold desert climate in a barren landscape require tons of food to eat each day. But there is no vegetation, there are no farmlands to raid, no supermarkets. How do they manage for food? Very well, actually. Penguins love to dine out on krillhighly nutritious shrimp-like marine animals that happen to be very difficult to process for human consumptionand the waters of Antarctica are teeming with krill. There is little competition for food among penguins because there is plenty to go around. So named because the black line that connects its black cap to below its chin looks like a chinstrap, the Chinstrap penguin is Antarcticas most populous penguin. (Copyright Fred J. Eckert) Except for some predator birds that go after their chicks, penguins have no natural enemies while on land. But they have to be much more careful while in water because both leopard seals and killer whales (orcas) do eat them. The fact that I was in Antarctica in Januarythe middle of summer in the Southern Hemispheremeant that I was able to see a lot of penguin chicks, mostly little fluffy brown Adelies. I also saw a good number of Gentoo chicks. They were quite large, nearly three-quarters the size of their parents already, and within days of being able to fend for themselves. Chinstrap babies dont start arriving until late February. SummertimeDecember through Februaryis, of course, the only time that tourists can visit Antarctica, it being prohibitively cold and blustery during the rest of the year there. Throughout our visit the temperatures were often in the mid-to-high 30s and on a nice clear day, Antarctica is a truly spectacular sight to behold and experience. Tourists love that its so easy to get truly close-up photos of penguins. Often penguins waddle right up to you and all but pose. (Copyright Fred J. Eckert) No Polar Bears We did not see any polar bears. Thats because polar bears do not inhabit the Antarctic region, only the Arctic. It seems to be a widely held misconception that they dobut, then, it also happens to be a widely held misconception that there are penguins in the Arctic region. Penguins and other birds and whales and sealsthats the wildlife that you see in Antarctica. Especially penguins. Penguins are birdsflightless birds. What enables them to endure the extreme cold is the insulation that is provided for them by their very short, very densely packed feathers and their thick layer of blubber that also stores energy for them. Their bones are dense and heavy, which helps make it easy for them to dive and stay submerged. They can dive very deep. Their wings are more like firm paddles that help propel them through the water, and they use their feet and tail as a rudder. They can travel through water at about five miles per hour and when you watch one swimming along it is almost like watching a porpoise because a penguin leaps out of the water every several feet, which is how they are able to breathe. No other place on Earth is even remotely like Antarctica. The Artic may have glaciers but Antarcticas dwarfs them. (Copyright Fred J. Eckert) One sight that looks quite peculiar the first few times you see it is a penguin suddenly leaping out of water surprisingly high into the air and then landing on the edge of a rock or an iceberg. It looks like a circus act and you feel like applauding the little guys. Lots of the things that penguins do are fun to watch. They wave their heads and flippers around. They bow. They steal stones from their neighbors nests to add them to their own. And if a couple of them are in a dispute they will stare and point at one another and, occasionally, charge the other one. To attract a female, a male will pump his chest, angle his flippers, stretch his head skyward and let out a loud braying sound. Sometimes this touches off a chorus of similar performances from other nearby males. What I found most amusing about penguins is the way that they move about on land. They can be very awkward. Because their legs are so short, being set so far down in their bodies, they have to walk with very erect posture, which, along with the fact that they look like tuxedos, makes them appear very formal. Actually they dont so much walk as waddle. Sort of like a toddler who is still working on his walkingone of the many things that make them seem so cute to us. Its interesting to watch a penguin approach a rock in his path as he waddles along. If the rock isnt too big, odds are he wont bother to walk around it, hell hop over it. One of the funniest sights is watching a penguin having difficulty walking through the snow. If it gets too much of a bother for him what he is likely to do is use himself as a sort of sled and push himself along the snow on his stomach. To attract a female, a male penguin will pump his chest, angle his flippers, stretch his head skyward, and let out a loud braying sound. (Copyright Fred J. Eckert) The Last Great Journey I would go back to Antarctica just to watch penguins. But while they are my fondest memory of the place there are so many other outstanding memories. I saw seals up close. And all sorts of different birds. I saw lots of whalesminke whales, killer whales, and humpback whalesand I saw some of them from remarkably close up from a small Zodiac boat and even had the experience of having a whale swim underneath our boat. I saw icebergs the size of skyscrapers that dwarfed any I have ever seen in Alaska. And I saw icebergs with brilliant blue hues that were magical to behold. I saw scenery of stunning beauty amid an absolute silence that amplified the experience to something I had never before imagined. And from time to time I had the strangest sensation come over me when I paused to realize that I might well have been standing at a spot where no other human being has ever stood. The majesty of Antarctica came powerfully home to me one day as I sat on a snow bank and gazed off into the distance. There was no one else in sight. Up ahead a lone penguin was waddling along away from me. There was nothing but the snow on the ground and the crisp air between us. Beyond the lone little penguin was the vast Antarctic wilderness, a panoramic vista of snow and mountains and clouds and clear blue sky. There was no sound. Just this unforgettable scene. It felt for a moment as if all there was in the world was this penguin and me. I reached for my Nikon camera and captured the moment. And then I thought about what the great explorer Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton had said of Antarctica: Its the last great journey left to man. I was thrilled that I had made the journey. The Adelie penguin is the species closest to the image that most of us conjure up when we picture a penguinpurely black-and-white with a white ring around each eye. (Copyright Fred J. Eckert) If You Go Best time to go: Its not just the best time to go, its the only time of year tourists can visit Antarcticawhen its what passes for summertime there. Remember, seasons are reversed in the Southern Hemisphere. Departures only occur from late November through early February. Photography: Better know this if you plan to do any photography: Taking photos in Antarctica can be tricky. Do not depend on your built-in metering system. Even the most advanced automatic metering systems are fooled because of the preponderance of white in so many scenes. If you do not take special care, you could end up with snow that appears drab gray. You also have to take care to avoid snow coming out in your photos as extremely blue. Take the time to check out a couple of good photography books that explain nature photography and how to shoot in snow. Highly recommended are Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson and The Nature Photographers Complete Guide to Professional Field Techniques by John Shaw, both published by Amphoto Books. Also, bear in mind that you go through batteries much faster in very cold weather. Health and Safety: Antarctica is generally considered a safe place to visit. The better tour operators have a physician accompanying their guests. Communications: Telephone and e-mail are likely available aboard your ship via satellite. Double-check to make sure. Guidebooks: Check Amazon for books that rate and detail tour operators who cover Antarctica. A book about the wildlife would enhance your experience. Packing: Your tour operator should provide you with a thorough briefing book on Antarctica that contains a complete checklist of what you need to bring. Some also provide you with a very comfortable Antarctic parka and a travel bag. Information: A number of leading tour operators serve Antarctica. My journey was done through Abercrombie & Kent. Fred J. Eckert is a retired U.S. ambassador and former member of Congress. His writings have appeared in many leading publications, including Readers Digest and The Wall Street Journal. He is also an award-winning photographer whose collection of images spans all seven continents. See his work at EckertGallery.com. : In the wake of the shutdown in several districts of the state to control the COVID-19 spread, Karnataka government on Monday said food would be provided free of cost through Indira Canteen for the poor who depend on daily wages for their livelihood. The state-sponsored subsidised 'Indira Canteens' as of now serves breakfast at Rs 5 and lunch and dinner at a cost of Rs 10. "In the interest of the poor, it has been decided to serve free food for poor. Through Indira Canteen, free food will be served for the entire day for the poor," Yediyurappa told reporters. The Karnataka government has already announced shutdown of all commercial activities, barring essential services, in nine districts where COVID-19 cases have been reported till March 31. They are: Bengaluru city, Bengaluru Rural, Mangaluru, Mysuru, Kalaburagi, Dharwad, Chikkaballapura, Kodagu and Belagavi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Washington Mon, March 23, 2020 23:06 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206cf5ea8 2 World HRW,childrens-right,Egypt Free Human Rights Watch on Monday accused Egyptian security forces of torturing children in jails, saying it was typical of "the brutal security tactics" employed by the North African state. In a 43-page report, HRW and Egyptian rights group Belady documented alleged abuses against 20 children between the ages of 12 and 17. They called on the United States, France and other European countries to halt arms support to Egyptian security forces "until Egypt takes measurable steps to end the abuses and hold accountable those responsible". The rights groups accused the police, the interior ministry's National Security Agency and the military of wide-ranging abuses including arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, beatings, waterboarding and electrocution. "The children's accounts of torture and other abuse are typical of the brutal security tactics Human Rights Watch, Belady and other organisations have documented against children and adults detained for alleged political or security offenses in hundreds of cases since 2014," the groups said. One minor interviewed in the report called Belal B. was 17 years old when National Security officers arrested and put him in solitary confinement at a Cairo police station. "I knew nothing about my parents and they knew nothing about me," he was quoted saying in the report. He said officers "tied me to a chair for three days" causing severe pain. Fifteen of the 20 children whose testimonials were compiled in the report said they were tortured in pretrial detention, usually during interrogation while held incommunicado. Others reported torture with electricity including with stun guns. "Children are describing being waterboarded and electrocuted on their tongues and genitals, and yet Egypt's security forces are facing no consequences," said Bill Van Esveld, HRW associate children's rights director. The report also documented how children were held with adults in overcrowded cells and denied adequate food as well as medical care. The allegations come at a time when activists have called on authorities to release prisoners, fearing the spread of the coronavirus in jails. Egypt's interior ministry could not be immediately reached for comment but authorities systematically deny allegations of torture in prisons. I think we should be closed (along with everyone), but we dont have the resources to do that, Durning said. (Closing down) has shown to be the worlds medicine to slow this down. ... Sometimes, medicine doesnt taste good. I just hope it doesnt kill the patient. Prasanta Mazumdar By Express News Service GUWAHATI: When most lawmakers in the Northeast chose to remain indoors to self-quarantine vis-a-vis novel coronavirus, an MLA in Mizoram is moving about places and helping people to ensure that they stay safe. Lalrinsanga Ralte of the ruling Mizo National Front is concerned about the health of people in his Serlui constituency in northern fringes of Mizoram bordering Assam and Manipur. He has installed 18 water tanks at nine places such as Vairengte, Bilkhawthlir, Saiphai, Saipum, Phainuam, Saihapui V, Phaisen, Buhchangphai and Rengtekawn so people can frequently wash their hands as advised by the government. The MLA has also provided soap and hand sanitizer which are mixed with the water that is sourced locally by some NGOs. Water is scarce in the land-locked Mizoram. Given the constant movement of people from the two states to the border villages, I thought the people living there are vulnerable to novel coronavirus and hence, some extra measures need to be taken. I installed the water tanks to ensure that they can stay safe by frequently washing their hands, Ralte told this newspaper. He said the installation of more such water tanks in the border areas would depend on the local needs. He felt if the virus makes its way into Mizoram, the people of his constituency will be the first to get infected and suffer. The tiny Mizoram is getting serious about protecting its small community from total annihilation by ordering a partial lockdown till March 29 as a preventive measure to contain the outbreak and spread of the novel coronavirus. An order to this effect was issued on Saturday night. The government has clamped prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC in all districts. The order will remain in force till April 10. Mizoram has a population of 1,091,014 as per the 2011 census. It is the second least populous state in India covering an area of 21,087 sq km, about 91 per cent of which is forested. Around 95 per cent of the current population is of diverse tribal origins. Chinese firms will begin exporting medical face masks, but their choice starting point, Vietnam, has little demand that goes unsatisfied by local producers. Vietnam offers little unmet demand for medical mask imports Shanghai Wisdom Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. has issued an introduction about its medical and regular face masks which are effective to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic. Moreover, it also affirmed that the epidemic has been brought under control in China after effective actions. The three-layer non-woven face masks which are produced in a strictly monitored, clean workshop the meet certification and key index requirements from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), CE reportand match EN14683-Type I standards. Customers placing a larger order will be able to enjoy lower unit costs. We can ship from our factory in China by DHL to your family/office/warehouse in usually just seven days after payment is received, noted the announcement. Shanghai Wisdom Supply Chain Management's move to start exporting masks shows the recovery of China. It is a surprise because just a month ago, the country had to import large volumes of masks from Vietnam. Notably, in the first six days of February, Vietnam exported 27.9 million masks to China, even causing pressure on the local market. Concerns about mask and medical equipment inflow from China According to the National Development and Reform Commission, before the COVID-19 epidemic broke out in China, the volume of masks produced in this country made up 50 per cent of the global supply with the daily capacity of 20 million units. Since then, the figure increased to 116 million units as of February 29. Gao Shen, a Chinese expert forecast, that the production capacity of China this year will be as high as 10 times the original capacity. This prediction is understandable because the pandemic drew about 3,000 more enterprises on board to produce masks, many of which have been operating outside the textile and garment sector such as automobile manufacturer BYD and SAIC-GM-Wending, technology firm Foxconn Technology, and gas and petrol group Sinopec. Gao Shen said that this manufacturing speed will cause a domestic surplus and will point China towards accelerating exports to markets that are suffering from the health crisis. Shanghai Wisdom Supply Chain Management's introduction of its products in Vietnam suggests its export plans will begin with Vietnam as China is already one of the largest import markets for the country. Meanwhile, local supply already covers demand. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Vietnam has approximately 38 enterprises producing three-layer masks with the capacity of 1.24 million units a day and two other firms producing N95 masks with the daily capacity of 32,000 units. Along with masks, the National Medical Products Administration of China has approved the use of Favilavir, an anti-viral drug, as treatment for coronavirus. The drug has reportedly shown efficacy in treating the disease with minimal side effects in a clinical trial involving 70 patients. The clinical trial is being conducted in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. As Vietnam may import Chinese products due to the huge demand for anti-COVID-19 items, local health specialists have voiced their concerns about importing Chinese products. Regarding the treatment of coronavirus patient by Favilavir, Nguyen Trung Cap, head of the emergency department of the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, said the medicine is still in the experimental stage and is not widely used even in China. The treatments in Vietnam are based on experiences from many countries, including China. The treatments we adopt have been effective, so I believe we should follow the recommendations of the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), Cap emphasised. Relating to the products that will be present in the local market, the MoH stated that based on procedures on drug registration for circulation stipulated at Circular No.32/2018/TT-BYT, all new medicines have to go through clinical trial before being put into circulation. Echoing this, Nguyen Ngoc Sang, doctor of the tropical diseases department of Cho Ray Hospital (Ho Chi Minh City), who directly treated two first COVID-19 patients, said that clinical testing for the drugs is essential, and it is more important to follow the MoHs directions. Along with good treatment, COVID-19 patients who have a strong immune system will recover from the disease within 7-10 days, said Sang, claiming that the use of new products seems somewhat unnecessary. Currently, in Vietnam, the Ministry of Science and Technology has approved the project on reviewing the effects and safety of adding Lopinavir/Ritonavir to COVID-19 treatment. However, the clinical trial will take at least four weeks and research results are only expected in about 12 months. According to the Decree No.36/2016/ND-CP, all healthcare devices require import licenses from the MoH before they can be brought into the country. For the items classified as type A (medical equipment with a low level of risk), the manufacturers have to get documents proving that they comply with the standards set by the provincial and city departments of health and Vietnam Customs. VIR Kim Anh Australians deserve better than the conflicting messages from state and federal governments about the scale of the community shutdown. The obvious friction within the national cabinet does nothing to shore up confidence that Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the premiers can see out this coronavirus emergency. Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian (on screen) during Sunday night's national cabinet meeting to discuss COVID-19 from the teleprescence room of Parliament House in Canberra. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Companies and their staff were given an edict on Sunday night to close or curtail their operations in a way that is certain to put workers on the jobless queue. This came after a shambolic day on Sunday when leaders engaged in thinking out loud before they met at 6.30pm to make a decision at the national cabinet meeting. Rising refinery capacity, strategic inventory filling, and flat domestic production resulted in China importing record volumes of crude oil last year, an average of 10.1 million bpd, up by 900,000 bpd from the 2018 average, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said in an analysis on Monday. China continues to be the worlds largest importer of crude oil after surpassing the United States in 2017. This year, the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted Chinese fuel consumption and has upended previous estimates about Chinese crude oil imports, refinery operations, and domestic consumption. The economic and transportation effects from this outbreak are still developing and will likely affect Chinas crude oil imports, refinery runs, and domestic consumption through the second quarter of 2020, the EIA said today. Last year, the majority of Chinese crude oil imports, or 55 percent, came from OPEC, the EIA analysis based on the China General Administration of Customs and Bloomberg showed. Although OPECs top producer and the worlds top oil exporter, Saudi Arabia, boosted its crude oil exports to the worlds largest oil importer China in 2019, the overall share of OPEC in Chinese imports slumped to its lowest level since at least 2005, according to the EIA. The reason for the lower Chinese imports from OPEC was not only the OPEC+ pact, but also the U.S. sanctions on Iran and Venezuela, whose sales in China have drastically dropped. Saudi Arabia was the single largest oil supplier to China last year, with 16 percent of all Chinese imports, followed closely by Russia with a 15-percent share, EIAs data showed. Russia was also the largest non-OPEC supplier to China in 2019, followed by Brazil which overtook Oman as the second-biggest non-OPEC supplier. Chinas crude oil imports from the United States fell in 2019, due to the trade spat and the Chinese tariffs on U.S. goods, including crude oil. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Amid the increase in Coronavirus cases in the country, Odisha government on Monday decided to paste stickers outside the houses of people placed under home quarantine. According to a state government official, the district administration would paste stickers outside the homes of people under home quarantine to restrict their mobility. The people who have covered the mandatory isolation period will not be included under this category. Currently, over 3,600 people, who returned from abroad, are under home isolation. The home isolation stickers will mention the duration of home quarantine, details of the house and the family. The community members would be instructed not to visit those houses, the official said. READ | Courts in locked-down Odisha districts to function for 1 hour To ensure the proper enforcement of home quarantine, the state government has issued a notification stating that a form would be affixed on the residence of a quarantined person in the interest of public health. A citizen who recently returned from Uzbekistan was found to be violating the COVID-19 guidelines set by the government. Based on the report of empowered authority and preliminary police inquiry, the Dhanupali Police in the Sambalpur district has registered a case against the defaulter under section 188/271 IPC. According to the Union Health Ministry report on Monday, death toll due to COVID-19 rises to 9; number of cases climbs to 468, including 424 active cases. Multiple states across the country have taken up measures to contain the spread of the virus and have ordered a complete lockdown at least till March 31, with an extension likely. READ | Odisha announces lockdown till March 29 to arrest the spread of Coronavirus Odisha Announces Lockdown Till March 29 Earlier on March 22, the Odisha government had decided to impose a lockdown in the state till 9 pm of March 29. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday had urged people to stay at home and step out only for essential services. "If you go out - you risk bringing the virus to your family. The administration will take tough action on anyone violating this and risking their lives, their family members and people of Odisha," the Chief Minister said. READ | COVID-19: IISER-Berhampur, ITI jointly manufacture hand sanitisers for Odisha govt employees READ | Coronavirus: 4 persons booked for violating home quarantine rules in Odisha UPDATE: LANTA bus driver is latest Bethlehem resident diagnosed with the coronavirus, city says Bethlehems Health Department is now tracing the steps of four city residents who have been diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. The city sent out an email alert Monday afternoon notifying residents of the four positive tests, which include two previously disclosed patients who live in the Lehigh County portion of the city. All close contacts of these people will be quarantined for at least 14 days, the city said. City health director Kristen Wenrich said she did not know if the Pennsylvania Department of Health included the two new cases in its daily COVID-19 case tally. She noted the state reporting tends to lag a day behind the citys reporting. The new coronavirus has claimed the lives of at least six Pennsylvanians, including two Northampton County residents. At least 644 Pennsylvania coronavirus cases have been reported. The health department keeps track of cases based on where the patient resides. Northampton County was home to Pennsylvanias first person to die of COVID-19 last week, Carmine Fusco, a 55-year-old horse-racing trainer originally from New Jersey. Also on Monday, immediately to the east, a Warren County resident was among seven new deaths in New Jersey, where at least 2,844 people have been sickened and 27 have died. If you may have been exposed or exhibit the symptoms of COVID-19 fever, cough and shortness of breath contact your healthcare provider. For more information on the coronavirus, consult your state health department at health.pa.gov and the CDC website. Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email her. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Married At First Sight's Connie Crayden reportedly 'hit it off' with former Bachelor Matt Agnew at a social event in Melbourne recently. And on Monday, the marine biology student, 27, spoke about her rumoured romance with the handsome astrophysicist. She told NW magazine: 'I have always been attracted to a man with a very big brain. Matt seems like a highly intelligent man.' 'I'm blushing!' Married At First Sight's Connie Crayden (pictured) has offered a very cheeky response to rumours she is dating The Bachelor's Matt Agnew Connie added: 'I've always pictured myself with a man who has a PhD under his belt. I'm blushing, so there's your answer!' PhD is short for Doctor of Philosophy, a prestigious university degree awarded in recognition of original research. It's also millennial slang for 'pretty huge d**k'. At last week's commitment ceremony, Connie voted to stay while her 'husband', Jonethen Musulin, voted to leave for the third week in a row. Double entendre: 'I've always pictured myself with a man who has a PhD under his belt,' Connie told NW magazine. Pictured: Matt Agnew on The Bachelor last year Naughty! PhD is short for Doctor of Philosophy, a prestigious university degree awarded in recognition of original research. It's also millennial slang for 'pretty huge d**k' She was labelled a 'stage-five clinger' on social media for keeping Jonethen in the experiment, even though she insisted she was staying for her own 'personal growth'. Reflecting on the criticism, she told TV Week: 'I'm only human and words hurt. 'I didn't want anyone thinking I was clinging on to something that wasn't there. I'm not an idiot, I knew he'd checked out - even I was done. 'I just came in with high hopes that this was going to be it for me.' Awkward! At last week's commitment ceremony, Connie voted to stay while her 'husband', Jonethen Musulin (right), voted to leave for the third week in a row It comes after OK! magazine reported on Thursday that Connie and Matt had 'hit it off' at an event in Melbourne. 'Connie was chatting with Matt for ages,' said an onlooker. 'They seemed to really hit it off. There was definitely some serious chemistry between them.' Matt has a history of dating scientists. He previously dated chemical engineer Chelsie McLeod after meeting on The Bachelor, but they split in November. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang's Regular Press Conference on March 23, 2020 2020/03/23 Q: As the pandemic is spreading across the world, medical supplies are insufficient in many countries. You announced a few days ago that China has provided assistance to 82 countries. Will China continue to provide assistance to other countries? A: The pandemic knows no borders but it brings out the best in humanity. Earlier on, the international community has offered political support and medical supplies to China in the hardest time. As the domestic situation continues to improve, China has started to provide assistance to other countries in urgent need within its capacity while continuing to do a good job in domestic epidemic prevention and control. For countries that have assisted China in its fight against the epidemic, we will reciprocate their kindness without any hesitation if they need it. We will offer assistance as our capability allows to friendly countries that are in a severe situation and lack of prevention and control materials, especially those developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, as well as regional organizations such as the African Union. As I said last time, in addition to intergovernmental assistance at the state level, local governments and enterprises in China have taken action and donated supplies to the worst-affected countries. As far as I know, local governments of China have donated medical supplies to subnational governments in 19 countries, including Algeria, Angola, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Pakistan, Peru, the ROK, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, and the United States. Chinese companies have donated goods to 20 countries, namely Cambodia, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Japan, the ROK, Laos, Malta, Mongolia, Myanmar, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, the United Kingdom and the United States. Upholding the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, many Chinese companies operating overseas have also donated supplies to their local communities with a strong sense of social responsibility. By doing so, China has lend firm support to the global fight against the pandemic, made contributions to global public health security, fulfilled its role as a responsible major country and put into practice the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind. Q: President Trump said at press conferences on March 20 and 21 that China could have told the US earlier about the outbreak. According to US media reports, on March 20, the White House National Security Council launched a communications plan across multiple federal agencies that accuses China of "orchestrating a cover-up and creating a global pandemic". What is your comment? A: I've read that report. And I also saw another report saying that on March 20, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told the press that China, Russia and Iran were spreading disinformation and smearing US epidemic response. Putting them together, you will find that on the very day of March 20, the US was on the one hand pushing federal agencies to speak against China and on the other hand accusing China, Russia and Iran of disseminating disinformation. I just can't help asking who is really spreading disinformation to mislead the public? The US, like a thief crying stop thief, has played such a cheap trick of slander and smear. Last Friday, I detailed the notification and communication on COVID-19 between China and the US since the outbreak in a timeline. China has been sharing epidemic information with relevant countries and regions, the US included, in an open, transparent and responsible manner, which is universally acclaimed by the international community. Over the past two months or so, the Chinese people have united as one to fight against it. We have bought precious time for and made significant contributions to the world. The WHO said that countries like Singapore and the ROK have made full use of the precious time China bought for the world and taken necessary prevention and control measures to stem the spread of the epidemic. What has the US done during the same period? Since January 3, China has been regularly updating the WHO and countries, the US included. On January 23, China announced suspension of outbound public transport from Wuhan. When the US government announced the denial of entry by foreigners who had visited China in the past 14 days on February 2, only about 10 confirmed cases were reported in the US. Fifty days on, the number of confirmed cases in the US has soared from 10 to more than 30,000. Has the US taken any effective measures in the past 50 days? The US side has done nothing but waste the precious time China bought. Now the US has nothing better to do than discredit others, deflect responsibilities and find scapegoats. This is immoral and irresponsible. It will not help the US stop the pandemic, nor will it support the international community's joint efforts against it. I once again urge the US to immediately stop politicizing the pandemic, stigmatizing China and denigrating other countries. The US should focus on getting its own house in order and play a constructive role in the global combat against the pandemic and safeguarding global public health security. Q: There is much talk of postponing the Tokyo Olympics. Does China share the same opinion? A: We noted relevant reports and that some countries have called for the Olympics to be postponed. Our stance on supporting Japan in hosting the 2020 Olympics has not changed. We also respect the decision made by the ICO and the Japanese side. Q: You announced last week China would hold a video conference on COVID-19 prevention and control with Eurasian and South Asian countries. Do you have more details? A: On March 20, the Chinese Foreign Ministry, together with the National Health Commission and the General Administration of Customs, held an online video conference to brief 19 Eurasian and South Asian countries on China's experience in the prevention and control of COVID-19. A press release was issued and you may refer to it. The participating countries attached great importance to the meeting, which was attended by heads of health departments and the centers for disease control and prevention, and officials from departments of foreign affairs, civil aviation, the customs and WHO representatives in 11 Eurasian countries including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia as well as eight South Asian countries including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, the Maldives, India and Bhutan. In response to the concerns of their foreign counterparts, Chinese experts briefed them on the experience and practices on epidemic prevention and control, clinical diagnosis and treatment, equipment support and port inspection and quarantine, and answered more than 80 questions raised by the attendees. This four-hour meeting proved very relevant and effective, which was attended by over 200 people. Those participants highly appraised China's achievements in fighting against the epidemic and its great contribution to global public health. They said this video conference was very timely and necessary as they could learn a lot from China's experience. They stand ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China to jointly tackle the challenge of COVID-19. Going forward, China will continue to uphold the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind and the spirit of mutual assistance and solidarity, share information with the international community, the Eurasian and South Asian countries included, in an open, transparent and responsible manner, and deepen international cooperation in epidemic prevention and control. Q: At an interview with AXIOS and HBO, Chinese ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai said that it was "crazy and very harmful for diplomats to speculate about the origins of the coronavirus". Is it the official position of the Chinese foreign ministry? A: Recently I have stated China's position repeatedly here on this podium, and I would like to stress that once again. The origin of the novel coronavirus is a matter of science that requires scientific and professional assessment. There is a clear consensus by WHO and the international community that a virus should not be linked to any specific country, region or ethnic group and such stigmatization should be rejected. For quite a while, certain US politicians and senior officials have used the pandemic to defame the Chinese government's and people's efforts to fight COVID-19 and to stigmatize China. We are firmly opposed to that. Facing the pandemic, all countries should work together to tide over the difficulties. Trying to shift blame and shirk responsibility will neither help their epidemic response nor promote international cooperation in this area. Q: In a recent press briefing, a US State Department official said that China's expulsion of American journalists came as "a surprise" and that "there was no prior coordination", which could prevent overreactions. Do you accept this? Did you consider communicating with the US to avoid the deterioration? A: These allegations run counter to facts and seek to confuse opinions. As a matter of fact, the Chinese side has repeatedly lodged stern representations with the US side in both Beijing and Washington. Let's go through them briefly. On February 18, the US announced to designate five Chinese media entities as foreign missions. On February 19, the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson deplored and rejected this decision, denounced the unwarranted and unacceptable disruption and obstruction Chinese media outlets were subjected to in the US, urged the US to get rid of its ideological bias and Cold-War zero-sum mentality and stop wrongful acts that undermine mutual trust and cooperation, and stated that China reserved the right to take further actions. On February 20, head of the MFA Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs lodged stern representations with the principal official of the US embassy in China, strongly urging the US to discard its ideological bias and immediately correct its wrongful policy and practice, and stating clearly that China reserved the right to take reciprocal countermeasures. On February 25, US media reported that the US may expel Chinese journalists in the country. On February 26, head of the MFA Department of Information lodged stern representations over this to the principal official of the US embassy in China, saying explicitly that if the US were to take harassing and restrictive measures on Chinese media outlets in the US, China would not fail to take countermeasures reciprocal in both scale and degree and that the US should not underestimate China's determination. On February 28, the principal official of the Chinese embassy in the US explicitly told the US State Department official in charge of the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs that the designation is politically-motivated. It will not only restrict Chinese media's normal operation, but also seriously impact China-US relations. China was firmly opposed to it and urged the US to change its wrong course immediately. On March 2, the US announced the slashing of 60 staffers at Chinese media's American outlets, which was expulsion in all but name. US officials were asked if they were prepared for possible countermeasures from China at a State Department teleconference on background. On the same day, the Chinese ambassador to the US lodged solemn representations with the US side. He urged the US side to change its wrong course immediately, pointing out in explicit terms that if the US insisted on carrying out the restrictive measures, China would have no other choice but to take countermeasures reciprocal in both scale and degree. On March 3, head of the MFA Department of Information lodged stern representations with the principal official of the US embassy in China, reiterating China's firm opposition and condemnation over the US expulsion of Chinese journalists, urging it to correct its mistake, and stating China's reserved right to take measures in response. The official also stressed that the US side offended and provoked China first and China was only responding in legitimate self-defense. On the same day, the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson sent the same message to the US in the regular press conference. On March 11, head of the MFA Department of Information once again lodged stern representations with the principal official of the US embassy in China and clearly said that the US-claimed "reciprocity" was wrong calculations; all options were on China's table; China hoped the US would take its concerns seriously, think twice before acting and not underestimate China's determination and will. If the US were bent on going down the wrong path, China would not remain silent but will respond with firm countermeasures every step of the way. The US side should heed the warning before it's too late. These are plain facts. On the very first day the US started all this, we informed it that China reserved the right to take countermeasures and there would be grave consequences if the US were bent on moving ahead. Unfortunately, the US turned a deaf ear to all our warnings and went further and further down the wrong path despite the repeated representations and reiteration of China's position. The US has all along been fully aware that China will take countermeasures, so just stop faking innocence and feigning surprise. In fact, since the very first day it took actions on Chinese media, the US side has known it will need to answer for its decisions because China will never sit idly by as its interests are harmed. I stress once again that the measures China has taken on US media are completely necessary reciprocal countermeasures, which are legitimate and justified self-defense in every sense. And now, the US has resorted to the trick of confusing opinions. Once again we advise it to take our solemn position seriously, stop the politically-motivated oppression and unwarranted restrictions on Chinese media, and correct its mistake immediately, or else China will have to make further responses. Q: A team of medical experts sent by the Chinese government arrived in Phnom Penh this morning, being the first to a neighboring country amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Is this because of the special friendship between China and Cambodia? Apart from the team, has China provided any assistance to Cambodia? A: The Chinese government sent the team of medical experts to help Cambodia fight the COVID-19 outbreak. The team of seven arrived in Phnom Penh this morning receiving a warm welcome from the Cambodian government and people. China also donated to the Cambodian side a batch of supplies including testing reagents, N95 respirators, disposable surgical masks, fluid-resistant isolation gowns and surgical gowns. After COVID-19 broke out, His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni and Her Royal Highness Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk both wrote to President Xi Jinping, expressing sympathies and providing donation in cash. Prime Minister Hun Sen visited China shortly after the outbreak to express confidence in and support for China's victory over the challenge. Cambodian people from all walks of life made financial and material donations to China as the Chinese people fought an all-out war against the virus. Now as Cambodia is facing a daunting task to contain the spread of COVID-19, it goes without saying that China will do its utmost to help in every possible way. This is not only an embodiment of the special ties between us, but is also fitting for our iron-clad friendship and community with a shared future. China will continue to work hand in hand with Cambodia to prevail over the pandemic and contribute to regional public health security. Q: Africa is a weak link in international public health security. Most African countries are currently experiencing outbreaks, and the Africa CDC predicts that the next wave of outbreaks in Africa may be massive. The Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation have donated materials to African countries which arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on March 22. Could you brief us on the overall situation of China's assistance to Africa? A: China and Africa are good friends, good partners and good brothers. The two sides have always supported and helped each other. Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in China, African countries and regional organizations have voiced and provided valuable support to China. China pays close attention to the situation in Africa and has actively offered supplies to African countries and the African Union including testing reagents and medical protective supplies. Some of these materials have been delivered to the African side. The Chinese side also held a video conference to exchange relevant experience with the African side and mobilized Chinese medical teams in Africa to actively participate in the actions in their host countries. Many Chinese enterprises, non-governmental organizations and overseas Chinese in Africa also provided assistance to Africa on their own initiative. We appreciate the kind donation made by Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation, which vividly illustrates the friendly sentiments of the Chinese people towards the African people. Going forward, China will continue to increase its support to African countries' efforts against the pandemic. Emergency assistance provided by the Chinese government will be delivered in batches to Africa. China will also continue to coordinate and encourage Chinese enterprises and private institutions to actively provide support to African countries. Q: First, there's a steady rise of imported cases of COVID-19 in the last few days or weeks. Can you provide us some details on the number of foreigners and whether the majority are overseas Chinese coming back to the country? My second question is, in the list of countries you spoke of, the donor countries that have assisted China, India is absent. India, if I remember it right, has sent 15 tons of materials needed by China after ascertaining its needs. And there is also a steady rise of cases in India. Are there any approaches between India and China in the regard of whether China can send whatever assistance required? Is China planning to ascertain that from India? A: Regarding your first question, according to statistics released by the National Health Commission this morning, as of 24:00 on March 22, a total of 353 confirmed imported cases had been reported. I don't know exactly how many of them are foreigners or what their nationalities are. If you are interested in these specifics, you may ask the competent authorities. On your second question, since the outbreak of COVID-19, China and India have maintained communication and cooperation on epidemic prevention and control. Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a letter of sympathies to President Xi Jinping, and External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar had a telephone conversation with State Councilor Wang Yi. The Indian side has also provided medical supplies to China, and Indian people have supported China's fight against the epidemic in various ways. We express appreciation and thanks for that. The Chinese embassy in India establishes a contact mechanism with the Indian health department to keep the Indian side informed of how the situation evolves in a timely manner. China also provides necessary help and convenience for the Indian government to take back Indian citizens in Hubei, and protect the health and safety of Indian citizens in China. The COVID-19 is taking footholds and keeps spreading in many parts of the world. We note the current situation in India. I want to point out that China and India are the only two major countries in the world with a population of more than 1 billion and face common challenges in public health. China stands ready to share its experience in epidemic prevention and control and diagnosis and treatment, and provide further support and assistance to the best of our capability in light of the needs of the Indian side. In addition, I mentioned India when I briefed you on the video conference held last week between China and Eurasian and South Asian countries. India participated in the video conference and the communication between the two sides was very smooth and close. A Sikh non-profit organisation has opened emergency food banks in Canada to cater to the increasing demand for food supplies and hygiene products in view of the coronavirus outbreak, which has claimed over 15,000 lives globally. United Sikhs, a UN-affiliated non-profit, non-governmental organisation, said the food banks aim to help disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, especially seniors citizens and children, the Globe Newswire reported. All the supplies from United Sikhs are free, the organisation said, which include canned goods, hot meals, dry goods, medicines, the report said. United Sikhs Chief Executive Officer Jagdeep Singh said, "Those who are financially able should consider donating to United Sikhs today so this free emergency food bank of life essentials can be expanded to everyone who needs it." United Sikhs, which also takes up humanitarian relief and development activities, has appealed to the public against "panic buying", the report said. The Canadian government has alreadt warned business owners looking to take advantage of the COVID-19 crisis. "When the general public is asked to stock their shelves for an undetermined amount of time, they overlook a great number of families who cannot afford to do so," United Sikhs manager, Canada chapter, Harpreet Singh said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As countries around the world get to grips with flattening the curve of the coronavirus outbreak, Vietnam sits alongside other Asian nations in receiving plaudits for their handling of the crisis in the last few months. Since the start of World War 2, many Brits have kept the motto keep calm and carry on in mind when a particularly stressful situation arises. The phrase, from a motivational poster produced by the British government in 1939, was intended to raise the morale of the public, threatened with attacks on major cities. Today it is a different enemy, one with no face, as COVID-19 makes its presence felt not only in the United Kingdom but across almost every nation on Earth. Sharing a border with the epicentre of China, Vietnam was one of the first countries to be affected by the outbreak in its early days, but several months on, the number of cases here is at odds with many others that are struggling. And many Brits are based in Vietnam, be it for work purposes or for travel with many now at a point of having to choose to return home, or keep calm and carry on in Vietnam. I feel like I either have to leave now, not knowing how it is back home, or stay here and wait and see, said Englishwoman Josephine, who volunteers with children near Danang. I watch the UK news and they believe the crisis will not peak for several months. Many there are not ready for something like that, and Ive seen images of my local shops running out of food and toilet paper, its madness. For many foreigners in Vietnam, this country is now their home. Josephine has not been back to the UK in over a year. Andrew, a teacher from Scotland, has been in Vietnam for a lot longer, but almost made the move to return as the schools continued to remain shut. Its so frustrating. I almost booked flights home several weeks ago, but I managed to get work teaching online, which will have to do for now, Andrew explained. If nothing changed in my little town back home, I could just work with my dad and stay at my parents for a while. But things are about to be shut down there too. Part of the reason for being so conflicted is that Vietnam is, on the whole, doing a strong job of suppressing the spread of the coronavirus. While some major global news outlets have focused on the good work carried out by Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan in COVID-19 measures, Vietnamese and foreigners alike are doing their best on social media to put across that Vietnam should be mentioned in the same breath. Just before the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Europe the hotspot of the crisis, Vietnam went three weeks without a new case, an astonishing statistic compared to most other destinations. New cases since then have originated from flights from Europe, and as yet there have been no deaths. But with government actions to track down those who may be affected by these clusters, travellers and expats in the country have frequently posted that they feel safer in Vietnam, impressed by its measures. The government has been more transparent in fighting epidemic than some others, said a Facebook user based in Hanoi. People seem willing to give up their privacy and co-operate strongly with the local authorities in disease prevention. One expat named Dale flew back into Hanoi two weeks ago, and outlined his experience in being tested for coronavirus. The situation is messy, and doctors and nurses have to work so hard in the hospitals this whole time and dont get to see their families. They are doing a brilliant job and I am so grateful for their efforts, Dale said. But if you have only very minor symptoms like I did, its better to self-quarantine at home, because this will help keep a burden off the system. One British tourist who was featured prominently in the media two weeks ago with his description of being in quarantine in Vietnam, last week offered an update. Soldiers are taking good care of us and are being very kind. Everything is disinfected with spray daily, and we have specific no-go areas, he said. They are clearly very prepared. I salute Vietnam for its kindness and for treating us well, and I wish other countries were this prepared. On Twitter, Do Thanh Hai posted an image of another group of Vietnamese military men, sleeping in a common room to save their dorms for quarantine rooms for civilians. They cook, serve, care, clean, and secure the places for quarantined people, Hai said. They are quiet men at the forefront of the fight. Using a Twitter hashtag based on Vietnam leaving nobody behind, other foreigners entering the country have offered thanks for the preparedness of the country. We respect the fact that this is what had to happen in the circumstances and we are very thankful to the hospital and all the staff for looking after us so well, said one couple placed into quarantine. And, dismayed by the somewhat slower response by countries such as Italy and the UK, one British traveller placed into isolation as he arrived in the country posted, While the rest of the world waited, Vietnam has been preparing. Furthermore, the WHO itself praised the work carried out by the Vietnamese government. Early detection, early isolation, and active treatment is extremely important. Vietnams early actions stopped further spread of the disease, saving thousands of lives. These actions in the country echo those made in Singapore and South Korea, which have been praised internationally for using quarantine effectively, providing services to get checked, ramping up testing, and more. Back in Britain, many have been upset at Londons sluggishness in activating measures, but also enforcing them, with many simply suggestions rather than orders. In contrast, Vietnams government was timely to issue daily updates on mandatory changes involving closing schools, avoiding certain areas, and wearing masks, for example. Strict as they may be, for people in Vietnam, at least they know where they stand. As one other British twitter user said last week, Vietnam has got a long way to go but they knew what they were doing from the outset. I remember thinking it (closing schools) felt like an overreaction, but I was totally wrong. VIR Quang Bao Billboard praises Vietnamese song on coronavirus fight guidance US magazine Billboard has heaped praises on a Vietnamese song guiding the prevention of the novel coronavirus in a recent article, calling it an insanely catchy tune. Up until last week, local tourism in Laois-Offaly supported 4,400 jobs and generated 66 million in local tourism revenues annually. The coronavirus shutdown has had a major impact on jobs in both counties and nationwide. Hotels and guesthouses in Laois-Offaly are seeking the urgent support of local TDs to help save Irish tourism and secure the livelihoods of thousands of people employed across the country. Dara Cruise, Chair, Midlands Branch of the Irish Hotels Federation states: Safeguarding public health is an absolute priority for us, and this must go hand-in-hand with ensuring we have a viable economy to return to after the crisis. The health and wellbeing of our people is intertwined with the economy. People will need livelihoods when this is all over including the 260,000 people across the country who, up until recently, were employed in tourism and hospitality. This represents 11% of total employment nationally. It is also important to note that 70% of these jobs are outside of Dublin which highlights the regional contribution of tourism. Over 100,000 have already been laid off and it is deeply regrettable that many more will follow in the coming days. Tourism makes a vital economic contribution to our local economy here in Laois-Offaly and, up until last week, it supported 4,400 jobs and generated 66 million in local tourism revenues annually. Within a short number of weeks, we have seen revenues plummet by up to 100% across the sector. Tourism businesses have now closed with thousands of people being laid off on a daily basis across the country. We must do everything within our power to ensure that these closures are temporary. The challenges we now face are existential and far greater than anything we went through during the financial crisis. We require extraordinary measures and political leadership right now to ensure these closures and layoffs are temporary. That is why the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) has called on the Government to act extremely quickly to ensure that large parts of our economy, including tourism, are not obliterated by the current crisis. When we look across the water to the UK, we see a range of seriously impressive measures to save jobs and the economy, such as the UK Governments decisive commitment yesterday to pay up to 80% of the salary of employees if businesses keep them on their payroll as the economy crashes. Here in Ireland, we need our own great national effort to protect jobs along similar lines. It is extremely regrettable that the response so far by Government has been inadequate and this is causing alarm across our sector given the lessons learnt from the financial crisis and urgency required to minimise long-term damage to vulnerable sectors of the economy. Last week, for example, the Government moved to defer commercial rates for businesses impacted by the crisis. Such a deferment is futile for tourism businesses that have no revenue as it just means they are being asked to accumulate the liability. It fails to tackle the underlying problem and will do little to get our people in Irish tourism back to work as part of rebuilding Ireland. For those businesses most affected, including those that have closed, these Local Authority rates must be waived until the crisis is over. Cash flow, in particular, is the killer of businesses in crises like this, and we have called on the Government to implement measures that will assist with cash flow now as well as reducing the rates of tourism VAT and employers PRSI to zero for the duration of the crisis. In addition to our call for local authority rates to be waived, we are seeking direct business supports, including finance and marketing assistance. We now expect societal and business interruption to last far longer than originally anticipated, and this significantly changes the context and scale of Government intervention required. Nothing short of a drastic intervention will secure the future of Irish tourism. Hoteliers in Laois-Offaly are calling for urgent Government action on the following issues to protect the long-term viability of the 260,000 Irish tourism jobs and the wider economy: Employees: Government should commit to paying 80% of the salary of workers if businesses keep them on their payroll. Similar to mortgage deferments, provide grants for employees who are renting. Cashflow / Finance: measures to assist with cashflow for businesses facing short term problems, including: Interest-free loans with deferred capital payment structures Government-supported and targeted bank support initiatives 12-month payment deferment on Senior debt (Capital and Interest) Government grants: business interruption grants to help businesses reopen and interest-free Capex grants that are repayable over time Local Authority rates and water charges: to be waived for the duration of business interruption and initial recovery period due to Covid-19. Taxation: tourism VAT rates and employers PRSI to be reduced to zero until the industry has recovered. Insurance: grants to cover businesss public liability and property insurance for the duration of the crisis and for Government to require the insurance industry to be more flexible with charges in relation to businesses that are closed. We are all in this together and local tourism businesses, including hotels and guesthouses, are determined to get through this crisis and get the 260,000 people back to work in tourism. There is only so much we, as individual businesses, can do in the face of such an overwhelming crisis that threatens to obliterate Irish tourism. That is why, on behalf of all our members and local tourism businesses, we urging all TDs in Laois-Offaly to support our call for decisive and exceptional measures at this time of national crisis, concluded Mr Cruise. The coronavirus pandemic has led to a rare surge of online posts in Thailand questioning King Maha Vajiralongkorn and the monarchy. On Sunday a government minister subsequently warned that inappropriate posts could lead to jail. Insulting the monarchy is a crime, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Thailand has been a constitutional monarchy since a 1932 revolution ended absolute royal rule, but the monarchy remains a central part of traditional Thai culture. Some Thais consider the king to be semi-divine. Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn (R) and Queen Suthida during their wedding ceremony in Bangkok in May last year. Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn, pictured being carried on the royal royal palanquin by royal bearers during the Royal Procession outside the Grand Palace in Bangkok King Maha Vajiralongkorn, shown here being greeted by crowds along with Queen Suthida on the final day of his coronation, was crowned in May 2019 However, a Thai-language hashtag that translates to #whydoweneedaking? was one of the top trending topics on Twitter in Thailand after an overseas Thai activist posted about King Vajiralongkorn continuing to travel in Germany during the coronavirus crisis. Thailand confirmed its first and only death from Covid-19 on March 1. The country has had 721 cases since the outbreak. King Vajiralongkorn, 67, who was crowned last year, has a second home in Germany on Lake Starnberg, according to German news website Bild. He spends much of his time outside Thailand. King Maha Vajiralongkorn pictured walking through a mall in Thailand. He has been the country's king since 2016 King Maha Vajiralongkorn is often seen travelling abroad, and is known to enjoy riding his bike around Germany and Swizerland. He is pictured here wearing a croptop in Swizerland. King Maha Vajiralongkorn and former General Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi. Sineenat was Thailand's first royal consort in around a century, however the Thai king stripped her of all titles and military ranks for being 'disloyal' and conducting a rivalry with Queen Suthida the palace said in October The King reportedly has a house in Germany near Lake Stamberg, which is also on lock-down during the coronavirus outbreak The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Thailand has risen to 721, the second highest-number in Southeast Asia after Malaysia, according to official data announced by national health authorities. One person has died. The hashtag questioning the monarchy was used more than 1.2 million times in 24 hours by Sunday, according to data on Twitter based on hashtags trending for users in Thailand. Thailand's Royal Palace did not respond to requests for comment on the posts. On Twitter, Minister of Digital Economy and Society Puttipong Punnakanta posted a warning to citizens against breaking laws on online content, accompanied by an image of a handcuffed hand above a keyboard Thailand's Minister of Digital Economy and Society Puttipong Punnakanta posted a warning on Twitter to those using the hashtag that such actions can lead to jail time in the country 'I'd rather not comment,' he told Reuters when asked whether his March 22 post was related to those about the monarchy. 'I didn't specify what this was about - this is a general reminder. We follow all issues, like fake news,' he said. 'We are monitoring regularly as much as we can. We respect self-expression but if it causes damage, we will exercise the law.' When asked whether the government would take action over the posts, government spokeswoman Narumon Pinyosinwat said the situation was being monitored, but any government action would depend on consultations with security agencies. Among the first to use the hashtag was prominent Thai exile Somsak Jeamteerasakul, who posted on Saturday that the king was travelling in Germany while Thailand was dealing with the coronavirus outbreak. Investigating this, Reuters was unable to verify where the king had travelled during this period. Andrew MacGregor Marshall, journalist and author of 'A Kingdom in Crisis: Thailand's Struggle for Democracy in the Twenty-First Century' tweeted images that appear to demonstrate King Vajiralongkorn growing unpopularity. 'Another interesting sign of King Vajiralongkorns worsening unpopularity in Thailand is the number of defaced banknotes in circulation,' wrote, while posting an image of a defaced bank note. Marshall also shared a story that said King Vajiralongkorn had donated 100 ventilators to Thai hospitals, claiming that this was 'fake news'. He said: 'The photo used in yesterday's fake news about King Vajiralongkorn donating 100 ventilators to Thai hospitals has been identified. It was taken in Italy and has nothing to do with Thailand.' Open disparagement of the monarchy has been rare, but in the past year other Twitter criticism has included a #royalmotorcade hashtag about traffic jams caused by members of the royal family. The king later ordered police to limit roadblocks for motorcades. Thailand was the first country outside China to record a case of the virus in January, but reported only 42 infections before the start of March, according to statements from the Ministry of Public Health. As cases have surged, more stringent control measures have been imposed. Those include requirements that anyone travelling from outside the country, including Thai citizens, needs special travel papers to fly to the country. The tourist industry that accounted for more than a tenth of gross domestic product has suffered heavily. Provincial authorities announced on Saturday that the capital Bangkok will close malls for 22 days although supermarkets will be allowed to remain open. Bars in the city will remain closed for that period, as will schools. Other Thai provinces are increasingly applying restrictions. Shares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money. Shares puts on free Investor Events throughout the year across the country. They provide an opportunity for investors to learn more about companies on the stock market and hear from a range of investment experts including fund managers and Shares journalists. A doctor couple and their daughter, who returned from the US recently, were forcefully taken to the isolation facility in Rajarhat on Monday after they were found to be ignoring the advice of home quarantine and venturing out, officials said. The two doctors, residents of a housing complex off EM Bypass near Ruby Hospital, were going out freely though they were advised to be on home-isolation for 14 days, they said. The couple, who runs a nursing home in the city, and their daughter were taken to the isolation facility at the second campus of the Chittaranjan Cancer Hospital by a team of the health department in a special ambulance, a senior official of the department said, adding that the Kolkata Police assisted the medical staff in shifting them. They were flouting the norms and going out. The residents of the complex complained, he added. We have shifted them as per the West Bengal Epidemic Disease COVID-19 Regulation, 2020. We want people to follow the protocol of being on home quarantine for a period of 14 days or else we will have to take strict action, a senior officer of the Kolkata Police said. In a similar incident, the city police on Friday shifted two women, who returned from abroad a few days back, to the Rajarhat quarantine facility after they were found flouting the advice of being on home isolation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) German Minister of Finance Olaf Scholz (L) and Minister of Economics and Energy Peter Altmaier hold a press conference on coronavirus and its economic impact in Berlin, Germany on March 13, 2020. Photo: Abdulhamid Hosbas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images The federal government in Berlin has signed off on a 156bn (144bn, $168bn) supplementary rescue package to save companies and jobs, and protect Europes largest economy during the coming months of coronavirus upheaval. That is in addition to its $600bn economy stabilisation fund, which includes 400bn to guarantee loans to companies from the state development bank and 100bn for the government to buy stakes in companies. Finance minister Olaf Scholz said Germany was able to stump up this 750bn package thanks to its good financial cushion from years of saving. The 156bn supplementary budget will be financed by new debt, and marks the first time the government has suspended its constitutional debt-break law and abandoned the so-called black zero balanced budget. Speaking at a press conference today, Scholz said that the health system would get a major funding boost to cope with the coronavirus crisis. He said that the number of emergency room beds in Germany needed to be doubled from the current level of 28,000 beds. READ MORE: Lufthansa grounds 95% of flights and looks to state aid for survival The government said some 50bn will go towards grants and loans for self-employed people, freelancers and small businesses of up to 10 employees. Economy minister Peter Altmaier described the financial measures as a protective shield for businesses, of a magnitude not seen in Germanys post-war history. He noted that the governments strict adherence to the debt-brake for the past 15 years meant it was in a position to support the economy with these huge measures now. We see this as an attempt to minimise the structural damage, e.g., through bankruptcies, caused as the economy is temporarily put on hold by social distancing measures in the effort to suppress the spread of Covid-19, Morgan Stanley economist Markus Guetschow said in a note. The IfO Institute said today that the Covid-19 crisis could cost the German economy more than half a trillion euros and over a million jobs. "The costs are expected to exceed anything known in Germany from economic crises or natural disasters in recent decades," said Ifo President Clemens Fuest. Story continues National lockdown Germany announced radical country-wide restrictions on Sunday to try and slow the spread of the virus. As of Monday 23 March, data from Johns Hopkins University shows the country has 26,159 confirmed cases of coronavirus, and 106 deaths. Under the new rules, all non-essential shops must be closed, and people can only go out either solo, or with one other person. Chancellor Angela Merkel is now under home-quarantine after she had an appointment with a doctor, who later tested positive for coronavirus. Her office said she would be tested during this week. READ MORE: Merkel goes into quarantine as Germany imposes extreme restrictions on public life Government ministers in Berlin are also concerned that the crisis will make key companies and industries vulnerable to hostile foreign takeovers. Federal transport minister Andreas Scheuer said in an interview that weakened German companies could be targeted by international investors and that the government needs to get laws in place to avert that. "There is worldwide interest in successful German companies, Scheuer told the paper, adding that he was talking to other ministries to draw up countermeasures. It is about securing economic power in Germany after the crisis, he added. MADURAI/COIMBATORE: A 54-year-old man from Madurai and 48-year-old man from Tirupur tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday. Meanwhile, Chennai reported one more case with a 25-year-old man testing positive on Monday. Sources from Government Rajaji Hospital said that the patient, on Saturday was rushed to a private hospital after he showed symptoms of acute respiratory illness. Sources from the hospital said that as he had no travel history to a foreign country, he was tested for viral pneumonia and swine flu. When he tested negative for swine flu, the patient was referred to the GRH. His blood sample was sent to Government Theni Medical College, the results of which were out on Monday, declaring him positive of COVID-19. The patient had not even travelled out of Madurai recently, said sources. The district administration said that a team has undertaken contact tracing.Meanwhile, a 48-year-old man from Tirupur district tested positive for novel coronavirus on Monday evening. He is at the isolation ward in the ESIC Hospital in Singanallur. Health Minister C Vijayabaskar, who confirmed the developments, tweeted that the patient had returned from London on March 15 at Chennai International Airport. When he was subjected to screening at the airport, he showed symptoms of the infection and was admitted to ESIC Hospital on March 16. Doctors at the hospital collected his throat swabs and sent them to Guindy for testing. However, the result was negative. When the fever did not recede, the Health Department tested him again. This time, the result was positive. As the test was done at an earlier stage, the results had come negative, the health officials said, adding that the mans condition is stable. Sources told Express that his family members were home-quarantined and his driver was asked to do the same. They were told to inform the Health Department if they showed any symptoms.Meanwhile, the entire State is set for a lockdown as Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami announcing a slew of measures to contain the virus from spreading. 2 in isolation at Kumari Nagercoil: A 60-year-old woman and a 26-year-old man, with travel histories to Kerala and Abu Dhabi respectively, were admitted to the isolation ward at Government Kanniyakumari Hospital on Monday for suspected coronavirus infection. A senior doctor from the hospital said that blood samples of the patients have been sent to Tirunelveli Medical College and Hospital, and the results would arrive on Tuesday. The youth returned from Abu Dhabi six days ago, whereas the woman returned from Kerala a week ago, said the doctor. An official from the Health Department said that no suspected COVID-19 patient has been admitted to any of the other hospitals in the district till Monday evening. Oman returnee unwell Tenkasi: Government Headquarters Hospital (GHQH) in Tenkasi on Monday referred a resident of Kuthukalvalasai to Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital (TvMCH), after he showed COVID-19 symptoms. The man had returned from Oman ten days ago, said a health official. A doctor from GHQH told Express that the patient has been under self-isolation since his return. He arrived at the GHQH, in an auto-rickshaw, as he developed body ache and a few other symptoms of COVID-19. We have informed the TvMCH residential medical officer of the patients travel history, and he would be isolated and treated in Tirunelveli, said the doctor. Meanwhile, a woman with severe fever has been kept under isolation in the GHQH. Advertisement The number of flights taking off from airports has dropped by more than 40 per cent in a fortnight as the coronavirus pandemic grounds planes around the globe. While 181,341 planes took to the air on March 11, that figure had fallen to just 102,182 flights yesterday, a drop of 44 per cent according to tracking site Flight Radar - with airlines set to make further steep reductions. It comes as travellers are either urged or forced to stay home amid a coroanvirus pandemic that has sickened some 300,000 and killed more than 15,000. The USA has banned most international travel to or from Europe and China, the two epicentres of the disease, while the UK has warned people against all non-essential travel overseas. Flight tracking data shows that the number of aircraft taking off from airports around the world has plunged 44 per cent in a fortnight - from 181,341 a week ago to 102,182 on Sunday Aircraft belonging to Lufthansa are immobilised on the tarmac at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany, on March 23, 2020, as the group kept just a fraction of its flights going A view of an empty baggage collection area, as airlines reduce flights following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at Singapore's Changi Airport There are still thousands of planes in the air around the globe, but significantly fewer than there were two weeks ago On Monday, new restrictions spanning India, Australia, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan were also brought in. 'It is a war against a virus,' Andrew Herdman, director general of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines, told Reuters by telephone on Monday. India's commercial airlines were to cease domestic flights from midnight Tuesday, a civil aviation ministry spokesman said, the latest country to impose tight air travel restrictions. Cargo flights were exempt from the order. The impact on planemakers has been deep and sudden and on Monday planemaker Airbus announced new steps to bolster its financial position, including the signing of a credit facility for 15 billion euros ($16.1 billion). Airbus added it was withdrawing its 2020 financial guidance, dropping a proposed 2019 dividend that had a cash value of 1.4 billion euros ($1.5 billion) and suspending funding to top up staff pension schemes. Its U.S. rival Boeing is under similar pressure and has called for a $60 billion lifeline for the U.S. industry. A view of self check-in machines with no queues, as airlines reduce flights following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at Singapore's Changi Airport Passengers wear protective suits and face masks as they arrive at the Hong Kong airport in order to protect against the virus Passengers arrive to Madrid Barajas international airport after Spain repatriated some 350 people from Ecuador A view of an empty Changi Airport in Singapore, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Australia and New Zealand both warned against non-essential domestic travel, while the UAE halted flights and Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan took steps to ban foreign transit passengers. 'What we have to do is take care of the institutions and people's livelihoods, the soft capital, so that we can restart effectively in a timely way when the time comes,' Herdman said. The UAE, home to major carriers Emirates and Etihad Airways, said it would suspend all passenger flights and airport transit for two weeks to help rein in the virus. The UAE's decision takes effect in 48 hours, with cargo and emergency evacuation flights exempted. Emirates responded by saying it would temporarily suspend all passenger services for two weeks from March 25. Singapore Airlines grounded most of its fleet after the Asian city-state banned entry or transit by short-term visitors on Sunday. 'This is the greatest challenge in the SIA Group's existence,' Chief Executive Goh Choon Phong said in a memo to staff. The group said it had reached agreements with unions on a set of cost-cutting measures, including unpaid leave, affecting about 10,000 staff. The chief executive is taking a 30% salary cut from the start of April. The airline normally relies heavily on connecting passengers from markets such as Australia to Europe, and India to North America through its Singapore hub. Taiwan announced similar travel curbs that will hit China Airlines Ltd and EVA Airways Corp, which have marketed Taipei as a convenient and affordable transit airport, competing with Hong Kong and Singapore. An airplane takes off from Beijing after China announced that all flights due to arrive at the airport will be directed to 12 other port of entry for additional screening In Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd has cut its passenger capacity by 96% in April and May as government restrictions hit travel. In the southern hemisphere, Qantas Airways Ltd, Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd and Air New Zealand Ltd were re-examining schedules after their governments advised against non-essential domestic travel. Regional Express Holdings Ltd (REX), which serves remote Australian towns, said it would shut all operations, except some subsidised routes, from April 6, unless governments quickly expressed a willingness to underwrite its losses. In mainland China, domestic capacity has been rising as some internal curbs are eased, but there are concerns that passengers on international flights could re-import the virus. China's aviation regulator said all international flights due to arrive in the capital will be diverted to other airports from Monday. In the countdown to the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, Good Morning America and our partner National Geographic present Extraordinary Earth: 20 in 2020. We will visit 20 amazing places around the globe to learn about our evolving planet. This week, ABC News' Will Reeve reports live for "GMA" from the Masaya Volcano in Nicaragua to see how one of the worlds most active volcanoes helps our planet. Nicaragua's Masaya Volcano is one of the worlds most active volcanoes. PHOTO: Lava inside the Masaya volcano bubbles from the crater, near Managua, Nicaragua. (Roberto Destarac/Shutterstock) MORE: Volcanic eruption sparked a weeklong thunderstorm, and scientists want to know why In thirty years, its erupted 13 times. PHOTO: A couple looks at clouds erupting from Masaya Volcano, 13 miles from Managua, Nicaragua, April 23, 2001. (Javier Galeano/AP) And just five years ago, an extraordinary lava lake was formed with the fastest churning lava on record. PHOTO: A tourist takes pictures of a lava lake inside the crater of the Masaya Volcano in Masaya, May 19, 2016, in Nicaragua. (Inti Ocon/AFP via Getty Images) It sort of volcanoes within a volcano, said National Geographic Geology Expert Maya Wei-Haas. Its about four miles by seven miles across. And so Masaya actually its one of the few volcanoes in the world that hosts a lava lake, which is essentially a roiling pit of molten rock. MORE: These lava lakes drained catastrophicallyand scientists caught it in action But along with its wonders and beauty, the temperamental volcano, which is dubbed the mouth of hell can also be quite terrifying. PHOTO: A lava lake boils in the Santiago crater of the Masaya volcano in Nicaragua, May 3, 2016. (Barcroft Media via Getty Images) Satellite imaging from Penn State University found that Masaya has a reservoir of magma almost two miles from the crater, which means that it could erupt without any warning. In 2016, scientists installed Wifi throughout the volcano to monitor any signs of eruption in real time. PHOTO: Scientists measure the temperature of the lava lake on April, 2016 in Masaya, Nicaragua, in April 2016. (Barcroft Media via Getty Images) Some experts believe the destructive force of an eruption could stretch almost 19 miles, reaching as far as Nicaraguas capital and putting millions of lives at risk. PHOTO: The lights of the city can been seen from the Masaya Volcano on April, 2016 in Masaya, Nicaragua, April 2016. (Barcroft Media via Getty Images) So monitoring for early warning signs is a high stakes effort. And Jeffrey B. Johnson, a volcanologist and a National Geographic explorer, has pioneered technology that lets experts "listen" to lava. "Volcanoes like to speak in sounds low frequency sounds that humans can't perceive, called infrasound," said Johnson. "So we develop the sensors that we can deploy to listen to the volcano talk to us." Story continues The Masaya volcano emits over 330,000 tons of carbon dioxide each year. In fact, each year the nearly 1,500 volcanoes around the world put 130 to 140 million tons CO2 into our atmosphere. PHOTO: A man on horseback rides past Masaya Volcano, a shield volcano south of Managua, Nicaragua, Sept. 15, 2012. (Kike Calvo/AP) The emissions, along with the dangerous and unpredictable nature of the volcano, have fed into a long-running myth that volcanoes release more damaging carbon dioxide than humans. But according to the Deep Carbon Observatory Program thats not true. PHOTO: Steam reflects the light from hot lava inside the Masaya Volcano in Nicaragua. (Tanguy de Saint-Cyr/Shutterstock ) Their report found over the past 100 years that human carbon emissions have been forty to 100 times greater than emissions from volcanoes. PHOTO:Gases rises from the lava lake at the Masaya Volcano, during a day in April 2016 in Masaya, Nicaragua. (Barcroft Media via Getty Images) Its a common misconception that volcanoes somehow drive our current changes in climate, said Haas. Its true that volcanoes do passively release carbon dioxide over time. And theyve been doing this since our planets infancy. But theyre a natural part of the carbon cycle. Surprisingly, in terms of climate impact, volcanic eruptions actually have a temporary cooling effect on the planet by releasing a cloud of ash and dust into the stratosphere that reflects the sun back into space. PHOTO: Tourists pose for photos next to the Masaya volcano crater at Masaya Volcano National Park, Nov. 10, 2012. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images) The same thing happened at Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippines after it erupted in 1991. Sulfuric Dioxide got into the atmosphere and spread further out around the world and caused a few degrees of cooling over a couple of years. MORE: Colossal volcano behind 'mystery' global cooling finally found That's one of the many remarkable qualities of volcanoes that makes Masaya such a dazzling and captivating part of our extraordinary Earth. PHOTO: The lava pool glows from the crater of the Masaya Volcano at twilight, Masaya, Nicaragua. (Francisco Blanco/Shutterstock) I think theres a certain thing about volcanoes and volcanic lakes in particular that just kind of capture the imagination, said Haas. These are pretty spectacular systems to take in. MORE: How climate change affects coffee bean production in Nicaragua MORE: The technology that helps keep sea turtles thriving in Nicaragua Extraordinary Earth: How Nicaragua's Masaya Volcano helps cool the planet originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com PR-Inside.com: 2020-03-23 20:31:38 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 314 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 OTTOWA, ON / ACCESSWIRE / March 23, 2020 / Innovative Medicines Canada (IMC) issued the following statement in response to the federal government's announcement today of measures to aid in the rapid mobilization of large-scale efforts by Canadian researchers and life sciences companies working to combat COVID-19, including through the development of solutions to diagnose, treat and prevent the virus:"IMC welcomes today's announcement by the federal government. It will help advance projects that are already underway through collaborations with provincial governments and public and private entities and ensure domestic supply of potential vaccines and treatments at such a critical time. The funding will allow IMC members, such as Quebec-based Medicago, to rapidly move forward on clinical trials and further accelerate the development of vaccines."COVID-19 has fostered a new level of collaboration across the Canadian innovative pharmaceutical industry as we work closely and collaboratively with federal and provincial governments, public agencies, universities and research centres across the country to accelerate the development of vaccines and treatments for patients. Today's announcement adds to the positive steps taken by industry, by Canadian governments and by other stakeholders, to aid in the response to this unprecedented public health crisis."Our members will continue to proudly play their part, and work closely with all levels of government, the research community and public agencies to develop solutions to address the spread of this virus." Learn more about how our member companies are contributing to the fight against Covid-19.About Innovative Medicines CanadaInnovative Medicines Canada is the national voice of Canada's innovative pharmaceutical industry. We advocate for policies that enable the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative medicines and vaccines that improve the lives of all Canadians. We support our members' commitment to being valued partners in the Canadian healthcare system.For further information:Sarah Dion-MarquisMedia RelationsTelephone: 613-769-6510E-mail: sdmarquis@ imc-mnc.ca SOURCE: Innovative Medicines Canada Countless industries are being hit by the coronavirus pandemic, with a skyrocketing number of Americans losing their jobs. But while some of the suffering industries are obvious restaurants, bars, travel, sports, gambling, movie theaters, retail, automakers, gyms it turns out that Instagram influencers, too, are losing most, if not all, of their income. Several of these social media stars, who rely on brand partnerships to fund their lavish lifestyles, are suddenly seeing all of their offers dry up and while they're still posting glamorous photos to entertain followers, they have shared that they are now having to do it all on their own, even sorting their own hair and makeup, whereas before they'd all in professionals to glam them up. Money honey: Countless industries are being hit by the coronavirus pandemic and even influencers are hurting Tough: Abigail Ratchford, who has nine million followers on Instagram, said she usually makes $500,000 a year from sponsored posts, but deals are drying up DIY: California's 'Safer at Home' order means she can't pay makeup artists, hair stylists, and photographers to help her with pictures so anything she posts, she has to do herself Three influencers spoke to TMZ this week about how their lucrative careers have taken a dramatic dip since the pandemic dominated headlines and lives. Abigail Ratchford is one of them. She has nine million followers on Instagram, a number that usually commands big bucks from brands who want her to promote their products. She usually makes $500,000 a year from sponsored posts, but it looks like that number is going to drop for 2020. Though she said she still has some deals in the works, her last sponsored post was for Fashion Nova back on February 18. What's more, she complained that California's 'Safer at Home' order means she can no longer pay makeup artists, hair stylists, and professional photographers to come over and help her with her pictures so anything she posts, she has to do herself. That includes a short video of herself in a black bikini top and a Louis Vuitton-branded face mask. Dry: Ella Rose who has 811,000 Instagram followers and a baby with the NFL's Julian Edelman told TMZ she has had no new ad inquiries for a week One-woman show: Ella, who lives in LA, can also no longer hire photographers to shoot her photos and has to do it herself Shilling: Influencers make their money from posts like these in which they promote products and brands Meanwhile, Ella Rose who has 811,000 Instagram followers and a baby with the NFL's Julian Edelman told TMZ she has had no new ad inquiries for a week. Usually, she gets several a day. Ella, who lives in LA, can also no longer hire photographers to shoot her photos and has to do it herself. Yet another popular influencer, who remained anonymous, told the site that several brands want to wait until April to renegotiate contracts. Plus, some brands that have already set up sponsored posts with her have asked her not to post just yet, because the products are made in China. Sticking to savings: Desiree Schlotz said that she's also lost work, and some companies are delaying payments Home? She also complained that it's difficult to produce interesting content when you can't leave your house but she's been posting photos from Antigua Finally, Desiree Schlotz told TMZ that she's also lost work, and some companies are delaying payments. She also complained that it's difficult to produce interesting content when you can't leave your house. Interestingly enough, though, she does seem to have left home. While she spent some of March posting photos from her bedroom, bathroom, and parking garage, she has most recently shared images and video from Antigua. 'Wouldn't wanna quarantine myself anywhere else,' she wrote, filming herself on a terrace overlooking the beach. Staying home: Travel influencers, like Mel Vandersluis, from Canada, are halting their trips due to the coronavirus outbreak 'A lot of people are in panic mode,' Mel Vandersluis said Travel influencers have also taken a financial hit since the pandemic began. In late February, before any US cities or states has begun banning large gatherings and closing business, several travel influencers told Business Insider that they were already putting trips on hold. 'A lot of people are in panic mode,' Canadian influencer Mel Vandersluis, who has 186,000 Instagram followers, said. 'Some press trips have went to a halt, some have been cancelled. They obviously don't want influencers to contract the virus while on the trip.' Other influencers were preemptively cancelling plans, including influencer couple Stefan Arestis and Sebastien Chaneac, who call themselves the Nomadic Boys and have 122,000 Instagram followers. Even before it was cancelled, the pair planned to stay home from a big LGBTQ travel and tourism conference in Italy this year. Better safe than sorry: Travel influencer couple Stefan Arestis and Sebastien Chaneac, who call themselves the Nomadic Boys, decided to stay home from a major conference On hold: UK resident Becky van Dijk , who has 105,000 Instagram followers, has postponed a move from the US Then there were others who are worried that if they traveled, their countries wouldn't let them return home, and they'd be stuck in quarantine. UK resident Becky van Dijk, who has 105,000 Instagram followers, is one of them. She'd been planning to move to the US soon, but has now paused the move for the foreseeable future. 'I don't want to risk being quarantined. It's just not worth it,' added Johnny Jet, who has nearly 30,000 Instagram followers and a travel website. Some influencers were slower to cancel their travel plans, and used the opportunity to allay fears and share safe travel tips. Why worry? However, some influencers are using the opportunity to allay fears and share safe travel tips 'If you keep listening to the news that's trying to scare you, you're not going to go anywhere,' said Alyssa Ramos said 'If you keep listening to the news that's trying to scare you, you're not going to go anywhere,' said Alyssa Ramos of My Life's a Travel Movie, who has 214,000 Instagram followers. 'Followers ask me questions about if they should cancel their plans. I get very angry about it because I want people to travel,' she told Business Insider. Writing on Instagram, she added: 'Ive been traveling full time for over 7 years, including during the last couple "dangerous disease outbreaks."' She thinks the news is '100 per cent fear mongering everyone, and infecting you with fear at a faster rate than the virus is spreading,' and added that there is a high recovery rate for those who have contracted the disease. 'I'm not scared of getting the actual virus...I'm worried about the chaos the hysteria is causing,' she said on March 12 and even pointed out that flights are cheap right now. Eventually, though, even Alyssa was forced to self-isolate in Barcelona. A statement issued by parliament's Secretary-General Mahmoud Fawzi on Monday afternoon said the House's coming plenary meetings will be held on 12 April instead of Sunday 29 March. "The postponement comes in line with state efforts to ban gatherings that might lead to the spread of the coronavirus," said the statement, noting that as "MPs come from different governorates, it has become a necessity that they should not gather in one place." The decision is also in line with Article 277 of the House's internal by-laws which grants the speaker a mandate to change the date of plenary meetings whenever necessary. "As a result, Speaker Ali Abdel-Aal decided that the House's plenary meetings which were scheduled for 29 March be postponed to 12 April." Parliament issued a statement on 20 March, urging citizens to abide by the precautionary measures taken by the government to contain the coronavirus. Guests and staff are not currently allowed to enter the House's building unless they test negative for coronavirus. Search Keywords: Short link: What started as a trickle is now becoming a flood: More craft beverage distilleries across Central New York and beyond are using their expertise and equipment to produce coronavirus-killing alcohol-based sanitizers. Several of the areas small distilleries, which typically make vodka, gin, whiskey etc., have joined in an effort coordinated through Centerstate CEO, the local economic development agency. It will get their hand sanitizers to emergency personnel, hospitals and law enforcement agencies. Distillers involved in that project include Old Home Distillers and Madison County Distillery, both in Madison County, Last Shot Distillery in Skaneateles, Lock 1 Distilling in Phoenix, Oswego County and Watermans Distillery in the Southern Tier. Some are also involved in their own sanitizer projects on the side. Other companies are doing their own bit: The larger 1911 Established distillery, part of Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards, is making its own hand sanitizer to donate to health and emergency agencies and to market to individuals. Hall Island Distilling in Cicero has been working for the past week to make a surface sanitizer for the health and retail industries in partnership with Haun Welding Supply. Even the big Anheuser-Busch brewery just outside of Baldwinsville is getting involved in producing and packaging a sanitizer. The distillers are all capable of making a product to the minimum 60 percent alcohol level the Centers for Disease Control says is needed to kill the virus. They are making ethyl alcohol (ethanol), then mixing it with glycerin and hydrogen peroxide to make the sanitizer (which makes it undrinkable). - Eddie Brennan, president of Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards and 1911 Established, holds up two bottles of hand sanitizer made at this distillery. 1911 Established temporarily converted operations to make hand sanitizer instead of alcohol, to help with shortages resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.Katrina Tulloch | ktulloch@syrac 1911 Established in the past few days temporarily turned over its entire distillery on Route 20 in LaFayette into to making high-proof enthanol and mixing it into a hand sanitizer. Some will be donated to hospitals, nursing homes and similar operations, Beak & Skiff president and general manager Eddie Brennan said. The rest will be marketed to individuals at a reasonable cost, he said. Our team has really come together quickly to make this happen, Brennan said. 1911s head distiller Ed OBrien said he can produce about 40 to 50 gallons every few days. Brennan said the company has already heard from more than 4,000 interested customers since it posted its intention to make the sanitizer on Facebook over the weekend. Though it is a brewer, not a distiller, Anheuser-Busch can produce and package sanitizers. The A-B brewery in the Radisson Business Park on Route 31 is New York states largest brewery. Anheuser-Busch, the global brewing giant with a plant near Baldwinsville, N.Y., is making a hand santizer for use during the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. As we have in the past, we are leveraging our capabilities, our relationships and our reach to provide assistance to those in need, Cesar Vargas, A-Bs U.S. chief external affairs officer, said in a statement. "As a first step, we are using our supply and logistics network to produce and distribute bottles of hand sanitizer to our internal teams and, with the help and direction of the American Red Cross, to the communities where its needed most. We are in this together and there is more to come. The Centerstate CEO effort to coordinate the production and distribution of hand sanitizers mostly involves smaller distillers, who have struggled to keep themselves afloat during a shut-down of their on-premises tasting rooms due to the coronavirus. (They can sell their products for pick-up and delivery). Its kind a win-win for the distilleries and for the community to be able to get these sanitizers despite the overall shortage, said Ben Reilley, a former Cazenovia distillery operator who helped Centerstate recruit distillers to the project. Its great to see the community come together like this. They also found help through Jason Barrett of Black Button Distilling in Rochester, who helped come up with a recipe for the sanitizer. Lock 1 Distilling is helping match up the products with the agencies that need them. Centerstate is also consulting with the Onondaga County Emergency Management office to connect producers with recipients, said Eleanor Hanna, spokesperson for Centerstate. The emergency management office is doing triage to determine who has the greatest need and who a given product matches best, she said. CenterState CEO has a team working on this helping to funnel information for that process and to make connections to resources. They are also still looking for suppliers. Those interested can contact support@centerstateceo.com. While most of the sanitizers are not potable, or drinkable, there is one exception., Old Home Distillers in Lebanon, Madison County, is making a 140-proof (70 percent alcohol) corn whiskey that is drinkable and can be used as a effective cleaner for certain applications, like food preparation surfaces. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources First CNY coronavirus death: Elderly person with health problems Coronavirus: Former doctors, specialists answer the call to help with pandemic Where can I still go? What NYs coronavirus stay at home order means Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The global smart pills market is expected to reach USD 3.0 billion by 2025 at a CAGR of 15.5% during the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Increase in prevalence of diseases such as colorectal cancer and gastrointestinal disorders, expansion in geographical reach of major players, rising cancer screening awareness programs, and expeditious FDA approvals are prime factors that are expected to drive market growth over the forecast period. Smart pills have transformed the landscape of small bowel, colon, and gastrointestinal endoscopy by providing a non-invasive and accurate method for visualizing distal duodenum, jejunum, small bowel, colon, gastrointestinal, and ileum. Smart pills are mostly used for screening and treatment of diseases such as colorectal cancer, gastroparesis, gastric ulcers, and gastroesophageal disorders. Consumers of smart pills mostly include geriatric population, immobile patients, and patients with paralysis. Considering the steady rise in geriatric population around the globe, the demand for advanced medical devices will also increase as they offer a degree of convenience to patients. Established players in this market are enhancing their portfolio by upgrading existing devices. On the other hand, new players are focused on capturing emerging economies with breakthrough products that are both advanced and affordable. Further Key Findings from the Study Suggest: Capsule endoscopy is the largest application segment owing to factors such as growth in cancer screening awareness programs, increase in incidence of Crohns disease and bowel cancer, and increase in demand for minimally invasive procedures North America is the dominant region with the largest revenue share. Wide availability of products, favorable reimbursement policies, increase in government investments in healthcare, and an overall rise in healthcare expenditure support market growth Asia Pacific is expected to witness the fastest growth over the forecast period. Factors such as increase in disposable income, mandatory healthcare insurance, and rise in healthcare expenditure are expected to drive the market Commercially available smart pills include PillCam Capsule, ABILIFY MYCITE, CapsoCam, and Olympus Endocapsule Key players in the smart pills market include Medtronic, Olympus Corporation, Proteus digital Health, MediSafe, and CapsoVision Request a Sample Copy of the Global Smart Pills Market Research Report @ www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/smart-pills-market/request/rs1 Grand View Research has segmented the smart pills market on the basis of application and region: Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) Product Capsule Endoscopy Drug Delivery Tools Patient Monitoring Software Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) North America U.S. Canada Europe U.K. Germany Asia Pacific China Japan Latin America Mexico Brazil MEA South Africa Access full research report on global smart pills market: www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/smart-pills-market A man in the United States was arrested and charged for using a fake doctor's note claiming he had contracted coronavirus. According to reports, 31-year-old Jeffrey Travis Long from Inman, South Carolina used the fake note which caused shut down of his workplace for five days and created panic after visiting his children in school. Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright while talking to the media said Long was charged with breach of peace and forgery. Read: UK Expert Says New Coronavirus Symptoms Could Be Loss Of Smell Or Taste According to reports, Long showed his employer a fake doctor's note from VA hospital in Asheville, North Carolina, allegedly to force them into shutting down the place. Long's company in a statement said that the workplace was sanitised after the incident. Sheriff Chuck Wright said that the actual price for the sanitisation work is not known yet but he is sure that it is expensive. According to Wright, Hospital officials told investigators that Long's note did not carry the official stamp from the facility and that they had not seen him in two weeks. Wright further added that it seems Long wanted a two-week long paid vacation that could be the reason behind the irresponsible act he displayed in these hard times. Read: US Airlines Call For Payroll Protections Amid Coronavirus Lockdown The United States has seen a sudden surge in coronavirus cases in the last 14 days which have forced authorities to take draconian steps like shutting down all borders and banning all public gatherings in the country. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States is only second to China and Italy, countries which have recorded the most number of cases and deaths. The United States has logged in 452 deaths so far, of which 33 came in the last 24 hours. There are currently 34,087 active cases in the country. Read: Trained Microbiologist Explains COVID-19 In Cricket Terms, Says 'it's An All-rounder' Coronavirus outbreak The COVID-19 has claimed more than 14,600 lives across the world and has infected nearly 3,38,000 people globally since it first broke out in December 2019. China is the most affected country in the world as experts believe that the virus originated from a seafood market in Wuhan city, the epicentre of the disease, where animals were reportedly being traded illegally. Italy, Iran, and Spain are the most affected countries outside mainland China, where, as of March 22 the combined death toll stands at 8,933. Italy has surpassed China to record the most number of deaths in the world due to the virus outbreak, while Iran and Spain both have crossed the 1,500 mark. Read: Poland Launches App For Quarantined People To Send Selfies From Home As Proof PHNOM PENH, Cambodia, March 23, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - Democratization is a journey that requires participation from all stakeholders. After having experimented with liberal democracy for more than two decades, Cambodia has begun to realize that democracy is the underpinning upon which peace and development thrive. In spite of internal and external upheaval, Cambodia's democracy has proven to be quite resilient and it may prove to be a role model in the Mekong region if the nation continues to consolidate its democratic institutions and values. Although there have been some setbacks along the way, democratization in Cambodia has been evolving in a positive way. Cambodia's democratic landscape, which includes numerous political parties with various platforms and orientations, civil society organizations, trade unions and a multitude of media outlets, is far more vibrant than that of many other countries in the region. Cambodia continues to adhere to its constitutional multi-party democratic system. There have been six general elections and four sub-national elections with high rates of voter turnout. Many political parties have participated over the years. 20 signed on for the 1993 vote, 39 were on the ballot in 1998, 23 came forward in 2003, 11 in 2008, 8 in 2013 and 20 were in the running in 2018. The fifth sub-national elections are to take place in May of 2022 and the seventh general election is slated for July of 2023. Civil society organizations are important political actors. More than five thousand local and international non-governmental organizations have been actively working on a wide range of issues, from human rights and democracy to climate change and community development. More than four thousand trade unions are working actively to protect the interests of workers. The democratic space in Cambodia is expanding in tandem with the proliferation of the public sphere. Traditional and non-traditional media have markedly contributed to political debates, have helped to keep the power of government in check and have held political leaders more accountable to the electorate. The middle class is an emerging driving force of democratic change and public intellectuals are shaping discourses and narratives of democracy and good governance. The Asian Vision Institute (AVI) believes that these vibrant forces will keep Cambodia on the path to progress. There are bumps in the road but checks and balances continue to improve. Political distrust is a condition that affects all nations. AVI encourages political parties to engage in useful dialogue within and without their ranks. They must learn to accept criticism, to tolerate differences, to accept opposing views. A healthy democratic culture depends on this. Political and social cleavages are threats to democracy. The media have a moral responsibility to publish the views of all parties in order to assuage social and political tension. The current generation of political party leaders must build and reinforce a foundation of trust, upon which reconciliation and national unity will grow. AVI believes that democracy thrives when people from all walks of life actively and constructively participate in the process. Narrowing the divide between the so-called elites and the grassroots is critical to safeguarding and consolidating democracy. Cambodia, as a young democracy, has a promising future. We must embrace democratic governance and continually educate our people about their role and duties as citizens in a democratic society. Everyone must contribute. Hope, compassion and trust will move mountains. The Asian Vision Institute (AVI) https://www.asianvision.org/ is an independent think tank based in Cambodia. Media Contact: Dr Chheng Kimlong Phone: +855-6121-1800 Email: admin@asianvision.org Related Links https://www.asianvision.org/ SOURCE The Asian Vision Institute (AVI) The third hearing in MH17 trial in the Netherlands lasted less than an hour, the next hearing is scheduled for 8 June 2020. "The court decided to postpone the decision on additional investigations until the hearing, which will begin on June 8, 2020," head judge Hendrik Steenhuis said, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. He stated that the defense and the prosecution would be able to raise their preliminary objections and requests for additional investigation on June 8, 2020, at 10:00 local time. He also noted that the relatives of the victims asked the court for access to the case files. "The court ruled that a large number of documents and files had been collected during the criminal investigation of the case, which began on July 17, 2014 and continued up to this day. The defense noted that it had managed only recently to get these files, which include about 36,000 pages and a large number of multimedia files, and was unable to fully study this information. So the defense will be able to review and prepare its position for a hearing on June 8, 2020, or later," the judge said. According to him, it is not possible to consider the case in more detail at this stage. The judge also noted that relatives of crash victims would be granted access to materials but would be forbidden from making copies, discussing the contents with anyone other than clients. The first hearings in the MH17 criminal proceedings took place on 9 and 10 March 2020. Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down over conflict-hit Donbas in July 2014. There were 283 passengers and 15 crew members on board. All of them died. The JIT reported that the plane had been shot down from a Buk missile system that belongs to the 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces stationed in Kursk. In May 2018, the Netherlands and Australia formally accused Russia of being responsible for the downing of the Malaysia Airlines passenger jet. On June 19, 2019, the international Joint Investigation Team named four suspects believed to be involved in the transportation and combat use of the Buk missile system, from which MH17 flight had been downed. Three of them are Russians: Igor Girkin (Strelkov), former colonel in Russia's FSB intelligence service and former so-called defense minister of the so-called Donetsk Peoples Republic; Sergey Dubinskiy, general (at the time of downing colonel) of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces and head of the so-called Main Intelligence Directorate of the Donetsk Peoples Republic; Oleg Pulatov, lieutenant colonel of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces. The fourth suspect is Leonid Kharchenko, a Ukrainian civilian, who fought on the side of the so-called Donetsk Peoples Republic. None of them was present at the court hearing. The interests of Pulatov are represented by the lawyers. ol A ll jury trials in England and Wales will be put on hold as part of the ongoing efforts to halt the spread of Covid-19. In a statement on Monday, the Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett said no new trials will start and that ongoing trials will be paused while arrangements are put in place so they can continue safely. One of the most high profile cases affected by the suspension will be the Pc Andrew Harper murder trial. Earlier in the week, Lord Burnett, the most senior judge in England and Wales, said no new trials expected to last three days or more would go ahead amid the deepening coronavirus crisis. But, as pressure from members of the legal profession mounted on the Government to halt court hearings, the extraordinary step of suspending all new trials was taken. Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures 1 /81 Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures A deserted Westminster Bridge PA A man wearing a face mask or covering due to the COVID-19 pandemic, walks past customers sat outside a restaurant AFP via Getty Images Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons Runners pass cardboard cutouts of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William during the London Marathon in London AP An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station Jeremy Selwyn Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield PA A sign is displayed in the window of a student accommodation building following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Mancheste Reuters People take part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions, in Londo AP People sing and dance in Leicester Square on the eve on the 10PM curfew Reuters Hearts painted by a team of artists from Upfest are seen in the grass at Queen Square, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Bristol Reuters Graffiti reads 'good luck and stay safe', as the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases grow around the world, under a bridge in London Reuters A sign is pictured in Soho, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London Reuters Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures, during a coronavirus briefing in Downing Street, London AP A person runs past posters with a message of hope, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Manchester REUTERS Riot police face protesters who took part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions in London AP An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London's Piccadilly Circus PA Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images Durdle Door in Dorset Reuters Captain Tom Moore via Reuters Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak PA An NHS worker reacts at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS Reuters Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno @AndrewStuart via PA Tobias Weller PA Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed London Landscapes: Hyde Park and the Serpentine, central London. Matt Writtle A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus PA Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue Reuters A young man cuts another man's hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford Reuters General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London via Reuters Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace Getty Images A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home PA Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak. PA Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers PA A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of "panic buying" cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus. Getty Images People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour PA Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus PA Children are painting 'Chase the rainbows' artwork and springing up in windows across the country Reuters Social distancing in Primrose Hill Jeremy Selwyn A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended PA Homeless people in London AFP via Getty Images A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow's street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss PA The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic PA A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world Reuters Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA Britain's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street Reuters The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh's Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak. PA Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear PA A sign at a Sainsbury's supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world Reuters Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" Getty Images A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads "Diseases are in the City" in Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors PA A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh PA A quieter than usual British Museum Getty Images A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre Getty Images A deserted Trafalgar Square in London PA Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport Getty Images Lord Burnett said: As the Prime Minister has been telling the country, the spread of Covid-19 has continued to accelerate. The clear message from Government is to take all precautions to avoid unnecessary contact. A review of the arrangements in our courts is called for. I have decided that we need to pause jury trials for a short time to enable appropriate precautions to be put in place. Lord Burnett said arrangements have been made to conduct as many hearings as possible using telephone, video and other technology, and that HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is working round the clock on these new measures. Loading.... But he said some hearings, the most obvious being jury trials, could not be carried out remotely. He said: My unequivocal position is that no jury trials or other physical hearings can take place unless it is safe for them to do so. Today no new trials are to start. Jurors summoned for this week are to be released, if possible without entering the building, and told that they will be asked to return for trials where specific arrangements to ensure safety have been put in place. All other hearings in the Crown Court that can lawfully take place remotely should do so. The judge said jury trials which have already started should continue if possible, with strict social distancing procedures at all times and at all places within the court building. Coronavirus in numbers: Worldwide deaths exceed 13,000 He also said ongoing trials must be adjourned, if necessary, to allow these safety measures to be put in place. Lord Burnett added: Considerable imagination and flexibility may be needed to achieve that. This is already happening in some Crown Courts. HMCTS will continue to work to ensure that safety measures are in place in all parts of the court building in which trials are already taking place. The basic hygiene arrangements urged upon us by the Prime Minister must be available. Resident judges, with their staff, will determine whether a trial can safely be continued. If it is necessary to adjourn trials already under way for a short period to put those safety measures in place, this must be done. Lord Burnett said the same considerations will apply to Magistrates Courts, which will need to continue to deal with urgent work, and that hearings should take place remotely if the facilities exist. Regarding the civil and family courts, where some hearings were held over Skype last week, he said physical hearings should only take place if a remote hearing is not possible and if suitable safety arrangements can be made. Lord Burnett said the guidance would be updated as events continue to unfold. Prime Minister Boris Johnson responded to a question about courts during a press briefing on Sunday, saying: Firstly, on the courts quickly, many courts are already using video trials, using remote technology to do their business, but we are keeping that under constant review. Earlier on Sunday, Susan Acland-Hood, chief executive officer of HMCTS, referred to jurors being included in the list of key workers published at the end of last week in response to a query on Twitter. She added that advice to jurors was: Dont come if you are vulnerable, or showing symptoms. But otherwise, do come because justice is not optional. But a number of members of the legal profession said the courts should not keep running amid the crisis. Joanna Hardy, a criminal barrister at Red Lion Chambers tweeted: Put simply jury trials involve people coming to court. And, for the moment, the assembly of groups of people should be stopped because people are dying. That isnt a value comparison between justice and death. Its a pause. To take stock. To work out what we do next. Mukul Chawla QC, a partner at BCLP Law and former criminal barrister, tweeted: After todays PM briefing and the fundamental importance of social distancing, it is simply unfathomable that the courts are still requiring jurors to attend court. They should be told in clear and uncertain terms to stay at home. Augusta Itua, who works with legal charity Just for Kids Law, said on Twitter that closing courts is a public health imperative. On Friday, the Young Legal Aid Lawyers group released a statement calling for immediate action to protect junior legal aid lawyers including immediately (ceasing) all in-person court hearings. The group added: Unless urgent action is taken, there will be a serious impact on vulnerable people who desperately need legal advice and representation at this time. In a message to the judiciary on Thursday, Lord Burnett said the default position in all courts must be that hearings should continue with one or more participants attending remotely either by Skype, video link or telephone. We would like to make some comments on the COVID-19 criticism, as also uttered by Dr. Wolfgang Wodarg, MD, cf. Wolfgang Wodarg, Die Panikmacher - Die Medien schuren zum Coronavirus die Angst., Rubikon News, 14. Marz 2020, https://www.rubikon.news/artikel/die-panikmacher [Translation] The panic makers - The media stir up fear of the corona virus Note: Dr. Wodarg 's website ( www.wodarg.com ) contains further detailed information and is partly available in English. From there the following link, John P.A. Ioannidis, A fiasco in the making? As the coronavirus pandemic takes hold, we are making decisions without reliable data, Stat News, March 17, 2020, https://www.statnews.com/2020/03/17/a-fiasco-in-the-making-as-the-coronavirus-pandemic-takes-hold-we-are-making-decisions-without-reliable-data/ To better understand what Dr. Wodarg is saying one should know the peculiarities of the PCR method. Dr. Wodargs arguments go further and, based on his years of expertise, include important epidemiological aspects. We only refer to the PCR aspect. Dr. Wodarg was heavily attacked for criticizing measures of the German government. Wrongly, because these are valid arguments that reasonable people would have checked before(!) making a decision. There is no reason to discredit these arguments later, because it was believed that a discussion was not necessary and that the measures taken by politicians are now too drastic for further criticism. It concerns our core criticism of current biomedicine: large parts of biomedicine live on assumptions that are sometimes not even plausible. Consensus on a presumption regularly replaces scientific evidence in biomedicine. Attacks of this type, such as those against Dr. Wodarg, are well known from other topics, e.g. the US opioid crisis and the glyphosate discussion. They are always driven by the desire not to allow for a scientific discourse on convenient (and usually profitable) assumptions. The attack on the person replaces the argument and at the same time deters others. Due to the dependency on reviewers for their own research proposals, hardly anyone in the ongoing research business can afford to represent controversial positions contrary to a consensus presumption. The suppression of criticism violates any scientific standard and is never in the patient's interest. The peculiarity of the PCR method is that it can only find what one is looking for. This is different than e.g. the light microscope, which amplifies everything that reflects light at the same time! PCR searches with so-called primers. There are always 2 of them, one forward primer and one reverse primer. These are 20-40 bases long DNA single chains, so quite short. (If you are looking for RNA, it must first be translated into DNA in the sample. The resulting cDNA is then analyzed with PCR). At room temperature, DNA consists of a double strand that is not very reactive (outside the cell). DNA is doubled using the enzyme DNA polymerase (the P in PCR). The cell does this during cell division. You then have 2 double strands. Here is the PCR cycle: increasing the temperature divides the double strand into 2 single strands. Now the primers can dock on in their complementary positions. Namely the forward primer on one strand and the reverse primer on the (complementary) other strand. On a (very) short piece, one now has a double strand consisting of a single strand of the sample and a primer. This step determines the specificity of PCR. Do the primers dock or not? The sample is now cooled and the DNA polymerase now extends these short pieces along the respective single strand by incorporating base molecules from the medium. You then have 2 complete double strands again. Now you can repeat the step (cycle), i.e. increase the temperature again to divide the double strand, allow primer to dock, cool and extend primer along the single strands, etc., to generate 4 DNA double strands, 8, 16, etc. (this CR in PCR - chain reaction). PCR is ultra-sensitive, i.e. it can detect absurdly low levels of DNA. On the other hand, it is only moderately specific in that PCR amplifies everything to which the primers can dock. That is the curse of the PCR method. On the one hand, the sample purity plays a role. Is the DNA to be examined sufficiently purified or are there any residues of other DNA? These residues can also come from neighboring species, in other words from other virus strains that have not been sufficiently removed in the sample preparation. On the other hand, the base sequence of the primers does not determine the docking of the primers alone, although this is an essential factor, but the electronic structure of the primers. A so-called gold standard is also required, i.e. a method independent of PCR to demonstrate that PCR amplifies the right thing. These are usually serological tests, but they are difficult to apply for viruses because viruses are sometimes difficult to cultivate and isolate. For this reason, in the past few years, also due to the lack of alternatives, PCR has been declared its own gold standard. That is extremely questionable. However, PCR is not so unspecific that it can amplify any DNA strands, but there must be a sufficient match with the primers. If you look into the same sample with other primers, another DNA strand is (if sufficiently matching) amplified. Most of the time, one tries to avoid these problems by using several different primer pairs, which are supposed to dock at different locations of the DNA to be examined. It becomes difficult if there are pathogenic and harmless viruses in a sample, which may have similar gene sequences. Were the primers sufficiently specific or did the harmless viruses cross-react with the primers for the (presumably) dangerous viruses? Often only guess helps here. If you ask the manufacturers, you usually get the statement that the primers bought are very, very specific. Concerning cross-reactions it should also be noted that such reactions are usually excluded on the basis of the laboratory samples that have just been used to develop the test. This is based on the very far-reaching assumption that the virome in the rest of the world looks exactly the same as in the laboratory. That is a very questionable. Note 1: The topic of cross-reactions in PCR tests is usually downplayed, since most of the publications come from the manufacturers themselves. It's been like this for 20 years. And it is particularly bad with the PCR protocols recommended by the WHO. The WHO seems to have never heard of the word cross reaction. Note 2: PCR cannot detect whether viruses are neutralized by antibodies. PCR is also unable to detect whether the viruses are capable of reproduction. Usually, it is only fragments of the viral genome that are amplified by PCR. Note 3: whether or not something is found with PCR has nothing to do with the question of whether the species in question, to which the DNA (RNA) examined belongs, is the cause of the disease. Note 4: PCR diagnostics is a billion dollar market. Now the comments on the COVID-19 criticism by Dr. Wolfgang Wodarg, MD. 1) Selective measurements on the sick and seriously ill The influence of the roll-out of the new WHO measurement method (= new primers) is currently being measured in the case numbers. This is because most of the measurements are still from sick or critically ill people and the least from healthy or symptom-free people. The SARS-CoV2 attributed death rate is therefore high. New figures from China are well below the value given by the WHO. 2) Search with PCR for SARS-CoV2 Every year there are virus waves with a seasonal peak in winter. Classic corona viruses are involved in 5 - 15% of the cases, vgl. Nickbakhsh et al., Virusvirus interactions impact the population dynamics of influenza and the common cold, PNAS December 26, 2019 116 (52) 27142-27150, https://www.pnas.org/content/116/52/27142 You can look for these because you know what the PCR primers must look like. But these viruses also mutate and change. This means that there are slightly different corona viruses every year. On the one hand, one has not searched for SARS-CoV2 PCR primers in the past, because they did not exist. This means that no SARS-CoV2 could be found or assigned to SARS-CoV2 primers. On the other hand, PCR also leads to cross-reactions between different coronavirus strains, so that one does not know exactly what has been measured and assigned to the PCR primers used at that time. Nobody knows what the set of all corona viruses looks like. I.e. nobody can say whether SARS-CoV2 has not existed before, because no one searched for it with SARS-CoV2 primers or whether SARS-CoV2 was measured with other (classic) primers due to cross-reactions. It is naive to think that biomedicine knows exactly what is in the cells. It is very far from that. See also on cross-reactions of coronaviruses, Patrick et al., An Outbreak of Human Coronavirus OC43 Infection and Serological Cross-reactivity with SARS Coronavirus., Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol. 2006 Nov; 17(6):330-6, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18382647 This publication also underlines that classic corona viruses can have serious consequences in an older population (i.e. in a nursing home). 3) Zoonotic hypothesis PCR cannot prove that SARS-CoV2 is new. And the meaning of the genetic distance between two types of virus is completely open. For the zoonotic hypothesis of SARS-CoV2, which is important for an increased pathogenicity (no time for adaptation), there is not the slightest proof, only guesswork. There is also the question of why >85% of confirmed cases show no or only mild symptoms in case of a new pathogen? This suggests that large parts of the population are adapted to the pathogen, which speaks against a new pathogen. What protects these people? Antibodies against classic coronaviruses? They cannot have antibodies against the new virus. The fact that homologous gene sequences were found across the entire planet within a few weeks(!) is also no evidence of zoonosis. On the contrary, if the virus spreads so easily, why aren't the infection numbers much higher? It can be argued that the virus had time to spread. In Wuhan the new primers were only used for measurement first . 4) Cause of symptoms There are a variety of viral pathogens that can cause mild or severe respiratory diseases, e.g. flu viruses. In all cases, this would have to be verified with PCR, or better not, to exclude it. However, if you only look for SARS-CoV2 with PCR, you will only find that or assign it to SARS-CoV2. It cannot be said whether it is (exclusively) the cause of the respiratory disease. The flu virus continues to exist. You can't tell from the fever or cough what pathogen it was. Molecular diagnosis is difficult. This is also because quantification of the viral load with PCR is very error-prone. The tremendous sensitivity of PCR can amplify even the tiniest amounts, a few viruses per ml. These are amounts that are so small that they cannot be associated with any acute symptom. Determining the cause of a disease is usually a very complex process that involves an in-depth and controversial discussion before agreeing(!) on what the current state of science is. At least it should be like that. With SARS-CoV2 it took a few weeks. It gives the impression that one has been waiting for years for a second SARS chance. The mood in biomedicine is like this. Everything that seems dangerous to fatal drives research forward. And research is always good. Can you ever know enough? However, instead of creating knowledge, it is often merely suffices to reach a somewhat contradiction-free consensus. That doesn't bother anyone as long as the research billions and profits flow. It does not matter that healthy people also carry many different viruses, some with vital tasks (human virome). Nor does it matter that many types of virus and strains are not pathogenic. To differentiate, one simply assumes ultra-specific methods. Dr. Drosten, the SARS (co)discoverer, has benefited disproportionately from these circumstances in the past. Scientific standards exist for a good reason. And haste doesn't produce quality. Science, and with it politics, is now running behind. There it is easier to discredit valid arguments as fake news. Scientist Heinz Frei has spent decades working toward building an artificial version of one of nature's most elegant and effective machines: the leaf. Frei, and many other researchers around the world, seek to use photosynthesis -- the sunlight-driven chemical reaction that green plants and algae use to convert carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) into cellular fuel -- to generate the kinds of fuel that can power our homes and vehicles. If the necessary technology could be refined past theoretical models and lab-scale prototypes, this moonshot idea, known as artificial photosynthesis, has the potential to generate large sources of completely renewable energy using the surplus CO 2 in our atmosphere. With their latest advance, Frei and his team at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) are now closing in on this goal. The scientists have developed an artificial photosynthesis system, made of nanosized tubes, that appears capable of performing all the key steps of the fuel-generating reaction. Their latest paper, published in Advanced Functional Materials, demonstrates that their design allows for the rapid flow of protons from the interior space of the tube, where they are generated from splitting water molecules, to the outside, where they combine with CO 2 and electrons to form the fuel. That fuel is currently carbon monoxide, but the team is working toward making methanol. Fast proton flow, which is essential for efficiently harnessing sunlight energy to form a fuel, has been a thorn in the side of past artificial photosynthesis systems. Now that the team has showcased how the tubes can perform all the photosynthetic tasks individually, they are ready to begin testing the complete system. The individual unit of the system will be small square "solar fuel tiles" (several inches on a side) containing billions of the nanoscale tubes sandwiched between a floor and ceiling of thin, slightly flexible silicate, with the tube openings piercing through these covers. Frei is hopeful that his group's tiles could be the first to address the major hurdles still facing this type of technology. "There are two challenges that have not yet been met," said Frei, who is a senior scientist in Berkeley Lab's Biosciences Area. "One of them is scalability. If we want to keep fossil fuels in the ground, we need to be able to make energy in terawatts -- an enormous amount of fuel. And, you need to make a liquid hydrocarbon fuel so that we can actually use it with the trillions of dollars' worth of existing infrastructure and technology." He noted that once a model meeting these requirements is made, building a solar fuel farm out of many individual tiles could proceed quickly. "We, as basic scientists, need to deliver a tile that works, with all questions about its performance settled. And engineers in industry know how to connect these tiles. When we've figured out square inches, they'll be able to make square miles." advertisement How it works Each tiny (about 0.5 micrometer wide), hollow tube inside the tile is made of three layers: an inner layer of cobalt oxide, a middle layer of silica, and an outer layer of titanium dioxide. In the inner layer of the tube, energy from sunlight delivered to the cobalt oxide splits water (in the form of moist air that flows through the inside of each tube), producing free protons and oxygen. "These protons easily flow through to the outer layer, where they combine with carbon dioxide to form carbon monoxide now -- and methanol in a future step -- in a process enabled by a catalyst supported by the titanium dioxide layer," said Won Jun Jo, a postdoctoral fellow and first author of the paper. "The fuel gathers in the space between tubes, and can be easily drained out for collection." Importantly, the middle layer of the tube wall keeps the oxygen produced from water oxidation in the interior of the tube, and blocks the carbon dioxide and the evolving fuel molecules on the outside from permeating into the interior, thereby separating the two very incompatible chemical reaction zones. This design mimics actual living photosynthetic cells, which separate oxidation and reduction reactions with organic membrane compartments inside the chloroplast. Similarly in line with nature's original blueprint, the team's membrane tubes allow the photosynthetic reaction to occur over a very short distance, minimizing the energy loss that occurs as ions travel and preventing unintended chemical reactions that would also lower the system's efficiency. "This work is part of Berkeley Lab's commitment to contribute solutions to the urgent energy challenges posed by climate change," said Frei. "The interdisciplinary nature of the task requires the breadth of expertise and major facilities unique to Berkeley Lab. In particular, the nanofabrication and imaging capabilities of the Molecular Foundry are essential for synthesizing and characterizing the ultrathin layers and making square-inch-sized arrays of hollow nanotubes." In order to colonize other organs and grow into metastases, tumor cells that detach from the parent tumor need to manipulate their new microenvironment and create a 'metastatic niche'. Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center and the Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine have now discovered that some cancer cells stimulate connective tissue cells in their environment to release transmitters that promote metastasis. This discovery plays a key role in better understanding how these dangerous metastases arise. If cancer cells detach from a tumor and move around the body, they are entering enemy territory. Many detached cancer cells do actually die before they manage to colonize other tissues and form metastases, because the body's immune system is geared toward protecting healthy tissue from intruders of all kinds. Moreover, these migrant cancer cells can only survive if they manage to manipulate the cells in their new environment to create a metastatic niche that helps the migrant cancer cells survive. Thordur Oskarsson and his team at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and at the Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine (HI-STEM gGmbH) are investigating how this metastatic niche arises. The scientists have now discovered both in cell cultures and in mice that some particularly aggressive breast cancer cells induce a situation similar to inflammation in lung tissue. This ultimately ensures that they can colonize the tissue and grow into metastases. Specifically, the detached tumor cells release two inflammatory signaling molecules, known as interleukins, which stimulate fibroblasts in the lung to release two further inflammatory signaling molecules into the microenvironment: CXCL9 and CXCL10. In turn, these attach to a receptor molecule that several aggressive migrant cancer cells carry on their surface, marking a decisive step in the process of growing into a metastasis. These aggressive breast cancer cells thus benefit directly from the inflammation and from the signaling molecules CXCL9 and CXCL10. Interestingly, the very tumor cells that stimulate the fibroblasts to produce CXCL9 and CXCL10 also have the relevant receptor for these cytokines and thus benefit from the process. That underlines how crucial the cellular communication between the detached cancer cells and the fibroblasts in their new microenvironment is for metastasis." Maren Pein, lead author of the study Furthermore, the scientists prevented metastasis in the lung in an experimental setting by treating mice with an inhibitor that blocked the receptor molecule on the cancer cells. Tumor tissue samples from patients show that this cellular interaction probably plays a role in breast cancer patients too: Thus cancer cells that carry the relevant surface receptor and can therefore harness the interaction with fibroblasts to form metastases are also found in patients with metastatic breast cancer. Oskarsson emphasized that it was still too early to identify a new treatment approach from these findings. "Our work is initially designed to help understand the underlying mechanisms that are necessary for metastases to actually arise," he explained. "But we obviously hope that this better understanding will lead to us being able to prevent metastases some time in the future." But she is filled with anxiety about whether her father understands the severity of the situation and whether he will follow the protocols she has set in place. She worries that without his physical therapist he will lose strength in his legs or that he will forget to take his medications. She has hidden his car keys so that he does not try to drive. When Hamilton activist Cameron Topp got on a flight home from Taiwan, the local airline staff took his temperature, gave passengers masks and sanitized hard surfaces throughout the flight. You could tell everyone was really serious, Topp said. If someone coughed on the plane, everyone flinched. Topp and his family arrived at Pearson International airport at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday night and were greeted, he said, by about a dozen airport staff with wheelchairs for older passengers. None of them had masks on. It did not seem as if they felt there was any urgent crisis, he said. Walking with his wife and two adult sons, Topp encountered officers in the airport hallway leading to the international customs processing area. They made a brief comment, like, You guys understand you are going to need self-isolation right? After 40 minutes inside Pearson quicker than usual nothing Topp witnessed made him feel that Canadas largest airport is taking COVID-19 as seriously as the airports in Taiwan or Vietnam, where his journey began. Its scary as hell that this is how its working right now. The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) faced a public backlash earlier this month, with passengers complaining of lax screening and overcrowding. On Sunday, spokesperson Tori Gass said the GTAA is working with the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency to ensure that all proper measures are taken with all international arriving passengers. Weve installed extra hand sanitizer stations in our terminals and weve implemented more frequent cleaning, including kiosks and in bathrooms, Gass said in an email. High traffic areas are being regularly disinfected. Weve used more than 1,000 litres of sanitizer, 180,000 sanitizing wipes and 1,500 litres of disinfectant On March 15, Pearson started reconfiguring lines and holding planes on the tarmac during peak periods to slow foot traffic through the airport, Gass said. On March 21, they began airing announcements encouraging travellers to practise social distancing. Roving teams of officers with the Canada Border Services Agency are distributing updated pamphlets with the latest advice that advises travellers to self-isolate, said CBSA spokesperson Jacqueline Callin. The officers (and all electronic kiosks) are supposed to ask passengers if they have a cough, difficulty breathing or a fever and require travellers to acknowledge they are asked to self-isolate for 14 days, Callin said. Topp said passengers from his flight merged with those from three other airplanes at the immigration area. He said the other passengers, sporting suntans, appeared to be wrapping up March break. Nobody seemed concerned, said Topp, known for climate change activism and dumping manure in front of Premier Doug Fords constituency office. After his family collected their bags, they walked through the crowd waiting to greet passengers and went upstairs to the Subway restaurant. It wasnt just take-out like we expected, he said. There were six tables. None were far apart. And two people sitting there were border guards! Saira Haque flew from Dubai to Toronto with her two daughters on Saturday. Shes working on her masters degree in the University of Torontos aging and the life course. Haque said she was horrified to see so many vulnerable elderly people at Pearson, with no system to monitor temperatures, as airports in Asia or the Middle East are doing. This was a shock to me, Haque said. The border guard asked her if she had been to China, Italy, Spain or Iran, where the outbreaks have been extreme. I said, shouldnt you be asking me if Ive been to the United States? Americas delayed response to the pandemic has placed many at risk. Haque said she and her children were wearing gloves and masks. Workers handed her a COVID-19 pamphlet when she left the airplane and she sanitized it with Lysol wipes immediately. Later, an elderly gentleman, he must have been 65, handed me another pamphlet. He said he worked for Health Canada. Why is he standing there in the airport, for the greater good? None of the border officers spoke to her about social isolation, she added. I know the risks. This is not a joke. But Im sure a lot of people will take this lightly. Most disheartening was watching the airport luggage porters, greeting passengers while wearing no protection. Those poor porters, none are wearing masks. Why are they not taught how to protect themselves? Why are airport officials not telling them to wear gloves? On Twitter and Facebook, new postings appeared from passengers who arrived at Pearson over the weekend. Not all saw big crowds. Sandra Macklin made a Saturday afternoon connection, enroute to Mexico after visiting Dublin. On Facebook, she said she landed in an empty Pearson with no health checks upon arrival only a pamphlet suggesting we should self-isolate and wash our hands more often even though many of the passengers were coming from Spain. On Thursday, Karen K. Ho, a freelance business and culture reporter with a recent focus on COVID-19 and economics, flew home from New York City. The flight attendants were wearing protective gloves and masks. Ho spoke to a veteran flight attendant whose voice cracked with emotion. She sounded like she was going to cry. She and everyone else on that team was hyper aware of the risk of catching COVID because of their job. Arriving at Pearson, the mood was not as intense. Ho has studied the responses of other international airports to the COVID-19 threat and said South Korea and China, for example, perform temperature checks using infra-red thermometer devices. She did not see any temperatures taken at Pearson. There were no crowds, Ho said, and she used ski gloves on the touch screen kiosks required for returning passenger check-ins. There was a question asking if the passenger felt ill, she said, and later, someone handed her a pamphlet on self-isolation. Ho said she is now in her family home, living in one room with her own washroom, for the next 14 days. Shes not certain that passengers were given enough information to understand the importance of self-isolation. I really worry that good intentions will not be enough for a pandemic. Moira Welsh is a Toronto-based investigative reporter. Follow her on Twitter: @moirawelsh Read more about: The Union Territory of Chandigarh was placed under curfew on Monday, hours after the Punjab government imposed it in the entire state in a bid to curb the coronavirus spread. Punjab Governor and Union Territory Chandigarh Administrator V P Singh Badnore decided to impose curfew in the city with effect from Monday midnight till further orders, said an official statement here. The Punjab government clamped the curfew earlier during the day to fight coronavirus spread, making it the first state to take the drastic measure after finding that many people were ignoring the state-wide lockdown. With the imposition of the curfew, all residents will be required to stay indoors, the Chandigarh's UT administration said in a release. The police was given strict instructions to enforce the curfew without any relaxation whatsoever, it said. Manoj Parida, the adviser to the UT administrator, said those engaged in providing essential services only, including police, doctors and medical staffers, will be allowed curfew passes. Employees of Punjab, Haryana and the central government will request for passes through their chief Secretaries only. The Chandigarh deputy commissioner will decide on the requests for curfew passes, the release added. The release added that the relaxation in curfew hours will be given for purchase of essential items in due course. The detailed orders will be issued by the Chandigarh's deputy commissioner, it sauid. The UT of Chandigarh has reported seven coronavirus patients so far. Parida said the Chandigarh administration has tied up with states of Punjab and Haryana for continuous supply of essential commodities including oxygen and LPG cylinders and petroleum products. A separate block of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Nehru Block, has been designated as Covid-19 isolation ward for exclusively housing and treating corona-hit patients, the release said. It was also decided to requisition Sood Dharamshala where 125 isolated rooms with toilets are available to be used as isolated ward, if necessary, the ase said. Newspaper distributors and hawkers have been advised to follow hygiene standards and use protective gear for distribution of newspapers. he Administration has also taken up with the government of India for advance payment of ration money for two months under the public distribution system in Chandigarh. The Chandigarh administration has also decided to pay Rs 3,000 to each registered construction worker for the loss of their income due to coronavirus, the release said. A control room has been set up for answering queries or calls made by people in Chandigarh. A total of 100 calls were received at the control room till 5 pm and most of the queries were about opening of shops and offices, gathering of crowd, besides the information about people who have returned from abroad. The senior officers of the UT administration will be available round the clock and will coordinate with the concerned department to resolve any grievances of people of Chandigarh. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) facebook like button Tweet tweet button for twitter Published March 20, 2020/Updated March 24, 2020 Housing/Dining FAQs Please see below for an updated housing and dining FAQ. ULM is urging all of its residents to move out for the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester. 1. Will I be required to completely move out of my residence hall? Residents will have until noon on Sunday, March 29 to completely move out. For each student who successfully completes move-out by noon on Sunday, March 29, ULM will be offering a 25% refund on your Spring 2020 housing and Aramark will be offering a 25% refund on your Spring 2020 meal plan and they will be refunding any flex dollars you have left over (more information will be e-mailed to you regarding these refunds. Estimated time to receive your refund is by April 15). To receive your refund you must: Be completely moved out of your residence hall by Sunday, March 29, noon. Successfully complete the check-out procedure which includes having your room inspected, keys turned into Res Life, etc. The refund minus anything you might owe, will be direct deposited if you have direct deposit set up already. If not, the ULM Controllers office will be contacting you. Students who are unable to leave campus will be accommodated but they will have to relocate. If you are unable to return home or leave campus, you must inform your Resident Assistant as soon as possible, but no later than the close of business Monday, March 23, 2020. Please note effective immediately, campus visitation is restricted to residents ONLY unless your guest is assisting you with move out. 2. Can I check out but leave my belongings in my room? Unfortunately, you cannot. If you checkout, you are required to take all of your belongings home with you. If you left ULM / moved out of your residence hall before Friday March 20, please contact ULMs Office of Residential Life at reslife@ulm.edu 3. What about a vehicle? If you are going to leave your vehicle at ULM, (1) contact UPD and let them know and (2) move your vehicle to the UPD parking lot. Vehicles will not be permitted to remain at any other location on campus. 4. Are there any charges associated with check out? Only those charges associated with improper check out, lost keys or damage to the unit that was not on the move in inventory. 5. Are there any changes in the checkout process? When you check out of your room you are asked to limit the number of individuals you bring to campus to assist you to preserve the health of our residential community. 6. Is there an additional charge for staying on campus if I need to remain? There will not be an additional charge to stay on campus once you have been approved to do so however please note the following: The SUB, Starbucks and the PODS will be closed effective Friday, March 20. Schulze will be open for to-go meals only. Beginning Sunday March 29, pick-up times for meals are as follows: Breakfast 8-9:30 Lunch 11-1:00 Dinner 5-7:00 The bookstore will be closed. Should you have questions for the bookstore, please e-mail Stacey Cordell at cordell@ulm.edu. The bookstore will provide a free shipping label for you to use in returning your books. Visitation, social gatherings, etc., will be prohibited on campus. The Campus Post office will be open from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Monday Thursday and 10-11:30 a.m. on Friday. UPS, Fed Ex, etc., will deliver all packages to the ULM Post Office. 7. If I remain in the residential community, is anything else changing? The library and SSC will remain open with social distancing practices in use. All offices on campus will continue to operate via telephone, email or video conferencing. All buildings will be locked down and accessible by ID only to essential personnel. ULM Library hours this week are: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 5:00pm and Friday 7:30am - 4:30pm. The Library will close Sunday, March 29th until further notice. The Student Success Center will be open 7 days a week 1:00pm-5:00 pm effective Saturday, March 28. SSC Computer Lab hours will be contingent upon demand. 8. Counseling Center personnel will be available 24/7. During business hours, Crisis support is available by phone by calling 318-342-5220. A counselor will be notified of the students need for assistance and will return their call immediately. After normal business hours and on weekends, students may contact University Police at 318-342-5350 to make arrangements to speak with a counselor. If a students in crisis is unable to participate in video or phone counseling, go to the nearest emergency room or dial 911. 9. Will the Food Pantry be open? Yes, the Food Pantry located in the AC will be open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 12 noon until 3 p.m. 10. Additional Questions? Housing Questions 318-342-5240 / reslife@ulm.edu 11. What can I do to help? Make sure you notify UPD if you are leaving your vehicle at ULM and move your vehicle to the UPD parking lot. Make sure you are completely moved out of your residence hall by noon on Sunday, March 29 and make sure you have completed the check-out procedure which includes having your room inspected and turning in your keys, etc. OR you have notified Res Life by 5 p.m. on Monday, March 23 providing them with the reason you cannot leave on-campus living. Check your @warhawks e-mail often. For those of you not graduating, the Housing Application for Fall 2020 is now live. Make sure you complete your housing application as soon as you can. We will do everything possible to make sure you are returned to your current housing assignment. Should you want to change your housing assignment for Fall 20, please indicate that in the appropriate section. If you are wanting to move off-campus for Fall 20, that application is due by April 1 to Auxiliary Enterprises, Sandel Hall 387. You can e-mail your completed application and any necessary information to auxiliary@ulm.edu March 9 At 6:11 p.m., Officer Marcotte observed two vehicles leaving the Holloway Daycare without picking up any children in the 6300 block of North Third Street. One of the vehicles was stopped on a traffic violation and both occupants were arrested on active warrants. Stolen merchandise was found, and an investigation revealed the two vehicles had been involved in an earlier robbery in Houston. Both subjects were charged with credit card abuse and Houston Police will pursue additional charges. March 10 At 10:20 a.m., Officer Lysack met with the victim at the Bellaire Police Department. The victim in 1100 block of Colonial Street stated an unknown suspect used his identifying information to open a Best Buy credit card and then purchase a laptop. At 2:50 p.m., Officer Baylis observed a maroon Honda Accord sedan traveling southbound in the 7000 block of South Rice through the 20 miles per hour school zone at 30 miles per hour. Upon investigation 144 grams of a green leafy substance was located in the vehicle and seized. A stolen firearm, confirmed with the Houston Police Department, was located and recovered. Both vehicle occupants were arrested and charged with unlawful carrying of a weapon. Officer Baylis completed the report. At 9:30 p.m., Officer Marcotte initiated a traffic stop on a 2003 BMW for speeding, expired registration, and a defective taillight in the 7000 block of IH 610 southbound. The driver had a suspended license and showed signs of intoxication. He was charged with driving while intoxicated as a 3rd offense. At 11:54 a.m., Officer Jenkins was dispatched to meet a subject in the lobby of the Bellaire Police Department concerning a burglary of a motor vehicle in the 5100 block of Pine Street. Officer Jenkins arrived at 11:58 and spoke the victim. The victim parked his truck in front of a new house under construction and went inside. When he returned to his vehicle his wallet was missing. The victim stated he did not see anybody by his vehicle. At 12:30 p.m., Officer Jenkins met with the victim at the Bellaire Police Department station concerning a burglary of her vehicle in the 5400 block of Alder Circle. The victim stated she parked her vehicle in her driveway about a month ago and when she returned to it she realized someone had stolen items from inside. At 1:30 p.m., Officer Jenkins was dispatched to meet a subject concerning a burglary of a motor vehicle in the 900 block of Lennette Street. Officer Jenkins arrived at 1:38 p.m. and spoke to the victim. The victim parked his truck in front of a new house under construction and went inside. When he returned to his vehicle items were missing. The victim stated he did not see anybody by his vehicle. Video shows a silver four door car back up to the truck and a black male exit the vehicle from the passenger side and enter the victims vehicle. March 11 At 8:59 p.m., Officer D. Norman was dispatched to the police department lobby in reference to an identity theft in the 100 block of Marrakech Court. An unknown person(s) used the victims identifying information and credit card to place fraudulent purchases. At 9 p.m., Officer Marcotte initiated a traffic stop on a 2001 Ford for invalid registration in the 6700 block of IH 610 southbound. The driver was found to have a suspended drivers license and was arrested for driving while license invalid (DWLI). March 12 At 3:23 p.m., Officer Marcotte initiated a traffic stop in the 4600 block of Bellaire Boulevard on a 2015 Nissan for exiting the freeway illegally. The driver was found to have warrants and a suspended driver's license and was arrested. Once being booked in the Bellaire Jail, she threated an officer. Service Honor Courage March 13 At 1:01 a.m., Officer Schwausch was patrolling the 6200 block of IH 610 northbound when he observed a vehicle speeding. Officer Schwausch conducted a query on the license plate and found the vehicle was stolen. The driver was charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and was found to have multiple warrants out of Chambers County Sheriffs Office. At 4:48 p.m., Officer D Rocha was dispatched to the Bellaire Police Department to meet with reportee (victim) in reference to his identifying information getting used online to obtain funds in the 5200 block of Holly Street. Victim also found his social security number was used in attempts to file taxes by unknown suspect. At 11:11 p.m., Officer Schwausch and Officer Salinas were patrolling the 6500 block of the IH 610 east service road when they observed a black Nissan truck driving on the wheel with no tire. Officers initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and conducted a welfare check on the driver. Further investigation found the driver to be intoxicated. The driver was arrested for and charged with DWI. March 14 At 1:48 a.m., Officer Schwausch and Officer Salinas were patrolling the 6800 block of the IH610 west service road when they observed a Camaro with expired registration. Officers initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and found both occupants to have confirmed warrants with various agencies. Further investigation found the driver to be in possession of 169 methamphetamine/ecstasy pills which weighed approximately 39 grams. The driver was also charged with possession of a controlled substance. At 11:46 p.m., Officer Schwausch was dispatched to a DWI in progress in the 5200 block of Bellaire Boulevard. Officer Bailey found the driver passed out behind the wheel in the parking lot of 5240 Bellaire Blvd. Further investigation by Officer Schwausch found the driver was driving while intoxicated. Service Honor Courage The driver was arrested for driving while intoxicated and was transported to the Bellaire Jail without incident. March 15 At 11:15 p.m., Officer Schwausch was patrolling the 5200 block of IH 610 northbound when he observed a vehicle speeding, fail to maintain a single lane, fail to signal, and almost cause an accident. Further investigation found the driver to be driving while intoxicated with a previous conviction. The driver was charged with driving while intoxicated 2nd and transported to the Bellaire Jail without incident. At 2:11 a.m., Officer Younger initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle for speeding near the 7000 block of IH 610 southbound. During the traffic stop investigation, the driver was found to be driving under the influence of drugs/narcotics and placed into custody for driving while intoxicated. At 2:20 a.m., Officer Schwausch was patrolling the 8200 block of Bellaire Boulevard when he observed a silver Honda travelling in front him speeding, fail to signal lane change, fail to maintain a single lane, and litter. Officer Schwausch initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and found the driver was driving while intoxicated. The driver was arrested for driving while intoxicated and booked in the Bellaire Jail without incident. LANSING, MI -- Michigan marijuana shops may remain open during the COVID-19 coronavirus stay-at-home order issued Monday by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, the Marijuana Regulatory Agency says. While Michigan is ordering medical and recreational marijuana stores to close, they will be able to make curbside sales and home delivery, Marijuana Regulatory Agency spokesman David Harns said. In-person transactions within the licensed facility or establishment are prohibited, he said. "Additionally, licensees must comply with social distancing requirements for staff within the facilities and establishments. Licensees must designate only as many employees as necessary to show up to work to cover supplies and provide services and to maintain the value of inventory in general. The Marijuana Regulatory Agency on March 16 committed to expediting requests for marijuana business home delivery authorization and said it will temporarily allow medical provisioning centers and recreational retailers to make curbside sales, something that wasnt previously allowed. Members of the Michigan marijuana industry send Whitmer a letter March 18 asking that she designate marijuana an essential item. Whitmers stay-at-home order takes effect Tuesday continues through April 13. Executive Order 2020-21 prohibits all businesses and operations from requiring workers to leave their homes unless those workers are necessary to sustain or protect life or to conduct minimum basic operations. Businesses must determine which of their workers are necessary to conduct minimum basic operations. Dont try and skirt the rules, Whitmer said. If youre not an essential business you need to close and you need to protect your employees." Critical businesses identified in the executive order include the following: child care, health care, law enforcement, public safety, first responders, food and agriculture, energy, public utilities, transportation, communication and information technology, manufacturing, hazardous materials, financial services, defense. Public schools will remain closed through April 13, Whitmer said. More specifics of the executive order The number of confirmed cases continued to rise over the weekend, jumping from 549 on Friday to 1,232 by Monday. Fifteen people have died, with dozens more being treated in intensive care units. Sorry, but your browser does not support frames. PREVENTION TIPS In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores. Complete coverage of coronavirus in Michigan. Read more on MLive: Whitmer issues stay-at-home order Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer expected to issue coronavirus Stay at home order Michigan to allow curbside marijuana sales President Trump promises help for American workers as stimulus package gets held up in Senate Trumps claims that GM, Ford making ventilators right now not true Almost 109,000 in Michigan filed for unemployment last week compared to 5,000 in typical week For the past week, my 70-year-old husband and I have been doing as instructed: washing our hands religiously, keeping 6 feet away from everyone but each other, and doing our bit to flatten the curve. I even wore an N95 mask (purchased long before the pandemic) to the grocery store. But after a week inside, watching too much agitating news and spending too much time on Facebook, we were going stir-crazy. The order to shelter in place, we figured, didnt mean fester. What harm would there be in packing up a picnic and heading for Mount Tamalpais? The virus flourishes best, after all, in the air of crowded indoor spaces and on man-made surfaces. Outdoors, its easier to keep others at a healthy distance. Nature is one of the safest, most soothing places any of us can be right now. Its a great reset for the epidemic of anxiety accompanying the pandemic. At the Bootjack parking lot halfway up Mount Tam, we found the metal boom barrier down and padlocked, festooned with a sign from California State Parks explaining that the closure was due to the pandemic. A few hundred feet further uphill, just beyond the Pantoll parking lot, a similar boom closed off the road to the top of Mount Tam. Later in the afternoon, we found the Stinson Beach parking lot also locked. Like many others, we found a way onto the mountain anyway, and later onto the beach. Everyone I saw, with the exception of a half-dozen college-age kids at Stinson who were hugging and roughhousing, kept a safe distance from others. The weather was clear enough to see the Farallones, the sea sparkling, the quiet hush in the forest and on the ridges deeply nourishing. Everyone we saw was less exposed, and did less to expose others, than they would have milling around Whole Foods, a doctors office or the dentist. We werent giving in to panic, stockpiling toilet paper, or demanding a scarce COVID-19 test when we had no symptoms. We were walking and surfing and kayaking and throwing balls for dogs and sitting on benches staring at the sea. We were saner, calmer and less agitated than we otherwise would have been. My husband and I returned home feeling better than we had in a week. We are all now a week into a new normal to beat all new normals. We can expect at least three weeks of tight restrictions on direct human connection, followed perhaps by a short period of easing, followed by another crackdown. According to bioethicist Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, this is the best way to spread the pandemic into a series of manageable waves, rather than having it move so fast that it brings our health system, like Italys, to its knees. This virus is likely to be with us for 18 months to three years. Epidemiologists expect it to work its destructive way around the world, spreading from group to group, mildly sickening 80% of those exposed, and killing a small percentage of the population. It is unlikely to peter out until we either develop a vaccine, or see enough hardy people survive it to develop antibodies and give the rest of us herd immunity. To endure our new normal for that many months, well need the stoicism and civic-mindedness of the Brits during the London Blitz. Well have to care for our souls as well as our bodies. Human beings need both solitude and companionship. Families in crowded living situations will be under tremendous stress, as will isolated older people living alone. I feel for housemates and couples who werent getting along well before the virus hit and are now cooped up indefinitely together. I understand the necessity of a public health order that has effectively suspended our First Amendment right to freely congregate. To be sure, we should use common sense: go in separate cars if youre not in the same household; stay 6 feet away from others and call out those who forget; pass single file; take your picnic supplies with you; and dont overrun West Marin and mill about downtown Pt. Reyes, as happened over the weekend. But I fail to understand the logic of discouraging people from getting outside by locking up some parks (thus overloading others) and forbidding camping. Late Sunday, Marin's public health department ordered all Marin parks closed, from the Golden Gate National Recreation Area to the smallest town parks. We are in this for the long haul, and if we arent encouraged to practice emotional self-care, we can expect rates of suicide, domestic violence and child abuse to skyrocket. Gov. Gavin Newsom: Dont just open up the parking lots at Stinson Beach and Mount Tamalpais and other state parks. Let the people go camping. Encourage everyone to get outside, to exercise, to take walks outdoors, to sing out the windows like the Italians and, at a safe distance, to smile and wave to each other. Katy Butler is an award-winning health care journalist and the author of The Art of Dying Well. She lives in Mill Valley. The efforts of Air India, which has been sending special flights to bring back stranded Indians particularly students from coronavirus-hit countries, were the latest to be highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The national carrier has brought back a large number of Indians from Chinas Wuhan as well as from Japan, Italy and Iran in its special flights in the last few weeks. Extremely proud of this team of @airindiain, which has shown utmost courage and risen to the call of humanity. Their outstanding efforts are admired by several people across India, the Prime Minister tweeted. Modis praise came a day after Air India criticised vigilante resident welfare associations for ostracising crew members after they travelled to coronavirus-hit countries to evacuate stranded Indians. Extremely proud of this team of @airindiain, which has shown utmost courage and risen to the call of humanity. Their outstanding efforts are admired by several people across India. #IndiaFightsCorona https://t.co/I7Czxep7bj Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 23, 2020 The airline had in January issued guidelines for crew members and operational staff about handling passengers and self-care. It has also clarified that crew members who are landing in India from Covid-19 affected cities are sent on home quarantine and also to designated hospitals for a check-up as part of the protocol. The airline has appealed to all citizens, particularly the law enforcement agencies, to ensure that its crew were treated with the courtesy, respect and freedom that they deserve. A 90-day moratorium on evictions for failure to pay rent due to the novel coronavirus pandemic is on the agenda when the Hayward City Council meets on Tuesday, along with a moratorium on no-fault evictions that otherwise would be allowed under the city's residential rent stabilization ordinance. The council will also consider a six-month delay in implementing a city minimum wage increase scheduled to take effect July 1. A vote on a delay would be held at a future meeting. To reduce the chance of COVID-19 exposures and transmission, the council meeting will be closed to the public and mechanisms are being put in place to instead allow council members to meet remotely via teleconference. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast live on Comcast Channel 15 and available via live stream on the city website, www.hayward-ca.gov. Written comments on items appearing on the meeting agenda can be sent by email to council members at List-Mayor-Council@hayward-ca.gov, or online until 3 p.m. on Tuesday via a new eComment tool available at the Meeting & Agenda Center. Telephone comments on items appearing on the agenda can be made during the meeting by calling (510) 583-4400. All public parks in Marin County - from the Golden Gate National Recreation Area down to the smallest town parks - were ordered closed Sunday Marin County Department of Health and Human Services to stem the tide of visitors during the COVID-19 coronavirus emergency. The closure, effective immediately and until further notice, will affect town, city and county parks, open space preserves, all state parks including Mount Tamalpais State Park, Marin Municipal Water District lands and federal lands such as Point Reyes National Seashore and Muir Woods National Monument, two of the most popular tourist attractions in Marin. The park closure order comes one day after Bay Area residents flocked to Marin County locations, most notably its Pacific Ocean beaches, putting vulnerable residents at risk because of unsafe social distancing and traffic that clogged the roads. Passenger counts are down dramatically at the Bay Area's three major airports, and the situation isn't expected to improve significantly anytime soon in this time of travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 coronavirus. Passenger volume at Mineta San Jose International Airport on Friday was down about 89 percent from the volume of the third Friday of March 2019, airport spokeswoman Demetria Machado said this weekend. The volume of passengers for the first 20 days of this month is down about 44 percent from that same period in 2019, she added. Passenger traffic is down at Oakland International Airport, as well, though exact numbers were not available Saturday, said Keonnis R. Taylor, an airport spokeswoman. Chris Morgan, an airport duty manager at San Francisco International Airport, said that on Friday, approximately 15,000 passengers passed through SFO, either arriving or departing. That compares with about 79,000 passengers going through SFO on Friday, March 22, 2019. That's a drop of about 81 percent over a year. Two people died in Santa Clara County Saturday, bringing the total number of COVID-19 coronavirus deaths in that county to 10, the Santa Clara Public Health Department said Sunday. The ninth death was a woman in her 60s, and the tenth a woman in her 40s who was hospitalized Monday, according to a health department news release. No further information about either patient was released Sunday. Santa Clara County also reported 39 new coronavirus cases Sunday, bringing that county's total cases to 302. County health department officials continue to work closely with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the state Department of Public Health and other partners as the coronavirus situation continues to change. Napa County Public Health officials on Sunday confirmed a second local case of COVID-19 coronavirus in Napa County, just hours after announcing the county's first coronavirus patient. The second patient is isolated in St. Helena. Health officials said there is no known connection between the St. Helena patient and the earlier one, who on Sunday was in isolation in the City of Napa. Citing medical privacy requirements and to protect their identities, no further information about either patient is being released, at least for now. Napa County was the last of the nine Bay Area counties to report a COVID-19 coronavirus patient. A 52-year-old Richmond man was arrested Saturday in connection with a Friday homicide in Berkeley, police said Sunday. Members of the Berkeley Police Department's Special Response Team arrested Hosea Askew in Richmond, where he lives. Askew was wanted in connection with the shooting shortly after noon Friday of a man in his 20s shot and wounded near the corner of University Avenue and Chestnut Street, just east of San Pablo Avenue. Paramedics were unable to revive the victim at the scene, police said. Homicide detectives are continuing their investigation. Anyone with additional information about this crime is asked to call the Berkeley Police Department's Homicide Unit at (510) 981-5741. A Santa Clara County employee, Director of Communications and Public Affairs Mara Leticia Gomez, has tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus, county officials said Sunday. Gomez fell ill on March 13, and was tested at that point for COVID-19. She has been isolated at home since that date, and was described Sunday as "doing well." Santa Clara County has instructed all its employees, including those who have been in contact with Gomez, that they should stay home from work if they show any symptoms of illness. The county is also specifically notifying workers who may have had close contact with Gomez that they may have been exposed to the COVID-19 coronavirus. One man was shot and killed Sunday afternoon, and another taken into custody, in an incident just east of Interstate Highway 680 in San Jose's Ludlow neighborhood, police said. Police were called about 3:50 p.m. Sunday to the 2300 block of McKee Road, where they found a man who had been shot at least once, said San Jose police Officer Gina Tepoorten. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died a short time later. The identity of the victim will be released by the Santa Clara County Coroner's Office after he is identified and after family is notified. Police found another man at the scene, and arrested him in connection with the killing, Tepoorten said. His name was not immediately released Sunday night. No other suspects are being sought, she added. This is San Jose's eighth homicide of 2020. Monday will be partly cloudy in the morning, then becoming mostly cloudy. Highs will be in the mid to upper 50s. West winds will be 10 to 20 mph. Monday night will see a chance of rain in the evening, then rain likely after midnight. Lows will be around 50. West winds will be 10 to 20 mph, before becoming west winds at 5 to 10 mph after midnight. Tuesday will likely see rain. Highs will be in the mid to upper 50s. West winds will be 5 to 10 mph, increasing to 10 to 20 mph in the afternoon. The chance of rain is 70 percent. Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Highlights Redmi K30 Pro will feature a Super Night Scene 2.0 mode. Xiaomi teases the Zoom Edition will offer 30X zoom capabilities. Redmi K30 Pro Zoom edition will use the 64-megapixel Sony IMX686 sensor. The Redmi K30 Pro is one of the most anticipated smartphones to come out this year. Similar to last year's Redmi K20 Pro, the K30 Pro will target buyers looking for an affordable flagship phone that gets all the latest specifications without burning a hole in the wallet. An earlier tip suggested that Xiaomi may not focus on the camera performance in a bid to keep the prices low but based on the teasers so far, it seem otherwise. The Redmi K30 Pro could cause some super expensive phones to sweat concerning the camera performance. Xiaomi has released a couple of teasers for the Redmi K30 Pro Zoom Edition -- the one that will get the high-resolution zoom camera. While the images of the device haven't been shared yet, Redmi has released a couple of sample images taken from the Redmi K30 Pro and they all look promising. Redmi is flaunting a new Super Night Scene 2.0 on the K30 Pro and as the name suggests, it hints at a better low light mode. A sample of a cityscape has been shared on Weibo and it shows off impressive exposure controls and brightness levels in a photo that could put most phone cameras under pressure. The photo captures the clouds and the building lights evenly. It still doesn't seem on par with what a Google Pixel 4 or iPhone 11 Pro can do. Apart from the low light mode, Xiaomi is also teasing the zoom capabilities of the phone. The K30 Pro Zoom Edition will get a high-resolution zoom camera similar to most premium phones we have seen recently. Xiaomi may have used a 3X optical zoom camera that produces crisp photos while zooming three times. However, beyond that, the phone will rely on AI algorithms to get hybrid zoom up to 10X clearly. You can even zoom all the way up to 30x but the image clarity takes a hit. Do note that these zooming capabilities are reserved for the Redmi K30 Pro Zoom Edition and chances are that the regular Redmi K30 Pro may not feature a telephoto camera. Xiaomi may copy the Mi 10's model lineup strategy and simply go for a wide-angle camera, a macro camera and a depth camera for the regular model, hence keeping the costs in check. The Redmi K30 Pro will be unveiled at an event in China on March 24 and rumours suggest that it will be the most affordable smartphone with a Snapdragon 865 chipset. Coronavirus scare has singed preparations for Maha Kumbh Mela, one of the largest congregations in the history of mankind. This temple town of Uttarakhand is set to host the Kumbh Mela next year starting March 11. Kumbh is held after every 12 years- each time at one of the four places in the country- Allahabad, Haridwar, Nashik, Ujjain. As per Indian mythology, it is at these four places that the drops of elixir, overflowing from the pot of nectar, which had emerged from the Churning of the Ocean by the gods and the demons, got mixed with water of the rivers, thus sanctifying the streams of water there. Crores of devotees, from all over the country and abroad, gather at these places during the Kumbh, to take dips of salvation. But this year, due to the lockdown imposed by the Uttarakhand state government in a bid to contain the deadly bug, workers are unable to carry forward the preparations. On Sunday, the Uttarakhand government announced lockdown in the state in the wake of coronavirus scare. During the meeting, it was decided that the interstate buses and public transport services in the state will also remain prohibited. However, the essential services will remain operational. The official also said that the government will deposit Rs 1,000 in the bank accounts of the registered labourers. The Kumbh Mela administration, therefore, has asked the Uttar Pradesh government for a 10-day closure of the Ganga Canal, from March 22 to April 2, during which various works of the Mela will be expedited. It is pertinent to mention here that there is an annual closure of Gangnahar from Dussehra to Deepawali every year in Haridwar. During this time the work of maintenance of canals, dams and desilting work in the Ganga is undertaken by the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation department. In January, this year, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had also highlighted that divine and grand Kumbh was not possible without the cleanliness of river Ganga. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-24 05:48:08|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close Photo taken on March 23, 2020 shows an Irish navy ship being transformed into a COVID-19 testing centre in Dublin, Ireland. Two more COVID-19 patients died while another 219 new coronavirus cases were confirmed in Ireland on Monday, the country's Department of Health said in a statement. To date, there have been a total of 1,125 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and six COVID-19-related deaths in the country, said the statement, adding that the latest two victims of the disease are both male from the east of Ireland. (Xinhua) DUBLIN, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Two more COVID-19 patients died while another 219 new coronavirus cases were confirmed in Ireland on Monday, the country's Department of Health said in a statement. To date, there have been a total of 1,125 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and six COVID-19-related deaths in the country, said the statement, adding that the latest two victims of the disease are both male from the east of Ireland. Officials of the department said that the two death cases had no underlying health conditions. In another development, Irish Minister for Health Simon Harris told local media on Monday that priority testing for COVID-19 may be implemented as there are a large number of people in the country who are waiting for a test. Harris said that efforts are underway to increase the testing capacity in the country. He also said that more personal protective equipment is due to arrive from China at the end of the week. Earlier in the day, local media quoted public health officials as saying that around 40,000 people in Ireland are currently waiting for a COVID-19 test and the average waiting time for a test is between four and five days. The United Nations is will create a global fund to prevent the spread of coronavirus and support the treatment of patients worldwide, Norway said on Monday. The money will be aimed at helping developing countries with weak health systems in addressing the immediate crisis and tackling the long-term consequences. Norway, which suggested the fund, has not committed how much money it would put into the initiative, but said it could be similar to a 2014 United Nations Ebola Response Fund. We want to make sure that the efforts are as unified as possible and as early as possible so that we can answer up to the demands that countries will have, especially the poorest countries, said the countrys foreign minister Ine Eriksen Soereide. The UN could make a formal announcement on the fund this week, said the Norwegian government. The UN's World Health Organization has already created a coronavirus response fund to which individuals can donate. Almost 350,000 people have been infected by the novel coronavirus across the world and more than 15,000 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University. In Africa, Angola, Eritrea and Uganda have confirmed their first cases, while Mauritius recorded its first death as the virus spreads across the continent despite efforts by governments to hold it back. In the Middle East, the first two cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the densely populated Gaza Strip on Sunday. UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres has called on wealthy countries to not just think about their citizens but help less-prepared nations tackle the crisis. A wealthy country must not be convinced that it has only to deal with its own citizens. Its in the interests of a wealthy country to contribute to a global response because the crisis can come from wherever, at any moment, he said. Additional reporting by Reuters Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 19:23:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Here are the latest developments on the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in China: -- East China's Zhejiang Province, one of the hard-hit regions by the COVID-19 epidemic, further downgraded its emergency response to the novel coronavirus outbreak to the third level. Meanwhile, the province on Monday tightened quarantine rules for inbound passengers to curb cross-border spread of the novel coronavirus. The province demanded all people traveling to Zhejiang from abroad, regardless of their nationalities and whether they come directly to the city or via other cities, be put under centralized quarantine for 14 days. -- Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region reopened all elementary and high schools on Monday, the first provincial-level region in the country to do so amid the coronavirus epidemic. The reopening came after the region had reported no new cases of coronavirus infection for 34 days as of Sunday. -- Clinical observation showed that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has proven to be effective in the treatment of over 90 percent of all confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland. A total of 74,187 COVID-19 patients, or 91.5 percent of the total confirmed cases on the Chinese mainland, have received TCM treatment -- Over 4,900 medics from TCM hospitals and institutions across China have been sent to aid the epidemic fight in Hubei. "The scale and strength of the TCM aid team are unprecedented," said Yu Yanhong, Party chief of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine. -- No new domestically transmitted cases of the COVID-19 were reported on the Chinese mainland on Sunday. Wuhan, the hardest-hit city in Hubei Province, has not reported new cases for five days in a row as it is recovering from the epidemic. -- The National Health Commission received reports of 39 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland Sunday, all of which were imported. Hubei registered no new COVID-19 cases on Sunday. -- Beijing and Shanghai both reported 10 new confirmed cases of the COVID-19 from other countries Sunday. -- Also on Sunday, nine deaths and 47 new suspected cases were reported on the mainland with all of the deaths from Hubei Province. A total of 459 people were discharged from the hospital after recovery on Sunday, while the number of severe cases decreased by 96 to 1,749. The overall confirmed cases on the mainland had reached 81,093 by the end of Sunday, including 5,120 patients who were still being treated, 72,703 patients who had been discharged after recovery, and 3,270 people who died of the disease. -- By the end of Sunday, 317 confirmed cases including four deaths had been reported in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), 21 confirmed cases in the Macao SAR, and 169 in Taiwan including two deaths. A total of 100 patients in Hong Kong, 10 in Macao and 28 in Taiwan had been discharged from the hospital after recovery. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) in the Senate subway area of the Capitol in Washington on Feb. 4, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Trump Endorsement, Paul Self-Quarantine Revive Serious Look at Remote Voting in Congress WASHINGTONProspects for Congress establishing some form of emergency remote-voting process were boosted March 22 when President Donald Trump endorsed the idea and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) began self-quarantining after testing positive for the CCP virus. I would certainly be in favor of it, where they could remote-vote from some outside location, Trump told the nation during his CCP virus daily news conference at the White House. Trump said he was thinking about the remote-voting possibility after Paul and another congressional Republican, Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida, confirmed they had tested positive for the disease and had opted to self-quarantine. Rep. Ben McAdam (D-Utah) also has tested positive. Four other Republican senators are also self-quarantining, including Mike Lee and Mitt Romney of Utah, Cory Gardner of Colorado, and Rick Scott of Florida. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas previously self-quarantined for two weeks. The CCP virus has hit the House of Representatives hard as well, with eight Republicans and 17 Democrats self-quarantining, at latest count. Sixty-seven House Democrats wrote to House Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) asking him to change House rules to allow for a remote-voting process to be used temporarily. The absent Republican senators have made Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnells (R-Ky.) job much harder as he oversees the tense negotiations with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and congressional Democrats on the $2 trillion economic stimulus package. With only 48 of the Senates 53 Republican members available to vote, McConnell holds a razor-thin, one-vote edge against Democrats. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) introduced a remote-voting resolution on March 19. Under the resolution, the Senates majority and minority leaders would have to agree to allow remote-voting for 30 days. The full Senate would have to approve continuing the process. We live in an age where national emergencies, public health crises, and terrorism can threaten the ordinary course of Senate business, Durbin said in a statement announcing the proposal. We need to bring voting in the Senate into the 21st century so that our important work can continue even under extraordinary circumstances. As news spread March 22 about Paul, Portman told the Senate that the remote-voting resolution is a bipartisan effort to ensure that we can be able to do our duty, as the legislative branch, Article I, we have responsibilities here. This is our duty station. And yet, if we cannot be here, we still need to be able to do it remotely. With the technology we now have, we have the ability to do that, as my colleague from Illinois has said, in a safe and secure way. Portman added that my hope is that we can have this as a possibility, should we not be able to gather. I think what has happened in the last several hours as weve learned about our colleagues who are self-quarantining, one who tested positive, as I understand it, its very important that we have that ability. Also on March 22, two veteran advocates of remote voting took to the pages of The Washington Post to encourage adoption of the process and to remind readers that a similar public discussion was held in the months after the 9/11 attacks in 2001. There are no provisions, constitutionally, legally or within congressional rules, to enable Congress to meet remotely, wrote Norman Orenstein of the American Enterprise Institute and Thomas Mann of the Brookings Institution. Both are senior fellows at their respective foundations. This is true even though these challenges are not new; we faced them in the aftermath of 9/11 and with the subsequent anthrax threat that could have left a majority of members of the House and Senate incapacitated. Yet, Congress failed to seriously address these vulnerabilities, they said. Remote voting could be especially relevant with the CCP virus, because it spreads through close personal contacts and mainly threatens older people, especially those with weakened immune systems or underlying conditions such as heart or lung disease. Given that these are people who are disproportionately older, who reflexively shake hands, and who work in close proximity to one another, a coming crisis of government is not implausible. But dont say they werent warned, they continued. Nothing changed after 9/11, despite their efforts. Every year for the past 19, we have tried to raise these issues again, and neither partys leadership has been interested, they wrote. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. Contact Mark Tapscott at Mark.Tapscott@epochtimes.nyc. SUZHOU, China, March 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CMAB Biopharma (Suzhou) Inc. ("CMAB"), has continued to monitor the development of the COVID-19 pandemic and has taken proactive measures to primarily protect the health of our employees worldwide. Based on our continuous assessment and management of the situation at our facility in Suzhou, we have succeeded in maintaining the safe and consistent operation of our R&D and manufacturing services for our employees and clients. CMAB has now resumed full operation and remains vigilant in accordance with local and national guidelines. On January 21st, 2020, CMAB set up a pandemic prevention and control Committee, led by Dr. Yongzhong Wang, CEO. Our Committee deployed various pandemic prevention and control measures in advance, led by our Environment, Health and Safety (EHS), Public Relations (PR), Human Resources (HR), Procurement, Supply Chain Management (SCM) and IT departments. Under the premise of ensuring the safety and health of employees and in order to ensure the continuous progress of our customer projects, CMAB has gradually resumed operation with the approval of the local government on February 2nd. On March 11th, CMAB officially realized full-scale operation after strict risk assessment and detailed deployment by our Committee. The pandemic prevention and control measures of CMAB included: formulation of guidelines and management measures, implementation of personal health registration for all staff and visitors, establishment of health check points for daily temperature monitoring, provision of personal protective equipment (medical masks, protective goggles, protective gloves), and alcohol disinfection every two hours, At the same time, CMAB strictly regulated employees, visitors and third-party personnel in accordance with local government requirements to reduce unnecessary business trips and visits. For remote and international customers the company has implemented dedicated video and teleconference channels to avoid the potential risks of in person meetings. Dr. Wang Yongzhong, CEO of CMAB said: "With careful management and a proactive response to the recent pandemic, we have been able to mitigate major negative effects to the business of CMAB. We continue to evaluate the potential impact of the pandemic on the global supply chain of key raw materials and are actively take corresponding measures. At the same time, we are maintaining one-on-one communication with customers to ensure the rapid progress of projects and maximize the benefits of customers. As a leading global biologics CDMO, CMAB has consistently prioritized our employees and customers in everything we do. We continue to work towards being the CDMO that achieves the fastest drug listing in China and globally based on our international product quality system and the experienced regulatory team in dual IND filings in both China and the United States." About CMAB Biopharma Inc. CMAB Biopharma Inc. is a flexible full-service CDMO dedicated to providing bespoke development and manufacturing services for antibodies and biologics for clients in China and across the globe. Our adaptable, service-oriented business enables clients to take their innovative concepts for tomorrow's medicines from DNA to cGMP product today. SOURCE CMAB Biopharma Limited India's neighbouring countries - Bhutan and Nepal - have sealed their borders as part of preventive measures to control the spread of novel coronavirus (Covid-19). Lotay Tshering, Prime Minister of Bhutan, said the borders were sealed from 6 am on March 23, 2020. The Bhutan government said only essential supplies - food, medicines and fuel - would be allowed to enter the country, and returning Bhutanese citizens would be held under quarantine. Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck said that the nation was resorting to "drastic measure" of sealing its borders because of the coronavirus pandemic. Jigme Khesar, while addressing the nation, said, "As you have been made aware through various government bulletins, the virus is spreading, causing immense disruption worldwide, and drawing closer to us each day." The King added, "At such a time, the health and safety of the people of Bhutan is of the greatest priority, and as such, we are putting in place every measure necessary to safeguard the people of Bhutan." The Bhutan king assured nationals working abroad or studying "not to worry". Nepal, on the other hand, sealed its borders completely with India at around 10 am on today after the cabinet's decision on Sunday. Earlier, India and Nepal had decided to keep four checkpoints at the border to be operational, but the Nepalese authorities expressed concern about the "largely unrestricted" movement of both countries' citizens through other crossings along the 1,800-km unmanned border, reports the Kathmandu Post. With the rise in Covid-19 cases in India, Nepalese citizens in Indian cities had started to return, "stoking concerns (if) they were properly screened before entering Nepal", reported the daily newspaper. "With all flights to Nepal suspended, health experts had said that the only way the coronavirus could now enter Nepal, if it has not already, was via the open border with India," said the report. (With inputs from agencies) Also Read: Coronavirus in India Live updates: AIIMS to shut OPD wing; Parliament defers budget session Also Read: Coronavirus scare: RBI announces OMOs purchase of Rs 1 lakh crore to boost liquidity Also Read: Coronavirus: Protective health gear, N-95 masks, coveralls in short supply World Health Organization says testing for the novel coronavirus is to start within days in northwest Syria. Syrians rushed to stock up on food and fuel Monday amid fears that authorities would resort to even stricter measures after reporting the first coronavirus infection in the country, where the healthcare system has been decimated by nearly a decade of civil war. According to the World Health Organization, testing for the novel coronavirus is to start within days in northwest Syria, amid fears of a disaster if the pandemic reaches overcrowded displacement camps. Testing will be available in Idlib in two days, WHO spokesman Hedinn Halldorsson said on Monday. Some 300 COVID-19 diagnostic kits are to be delivered to a laboratory in Idlib city on Wednesday and testing should start shortly afterwards, he said. An additional 2,000 tests would be delivered as soon as possible, he added. So far three suspected cases in northwest Syria have tested negative after hospitals sent samples to Turkey, Halldorsson said, but fears remain high. WHO is extremely concerned about the impact COVID-19 may have in the northwest, Halldorsson said. Displaced people [there] live under conditions that make them vulnerable to respiratory infections, he told the AFP news agency. Those included overcrowded living conditions, physical and mental stress, as well as a lack of housing, food and clean water. As part of a wider response plan for the region, three hospitals with intensive care units have been modified as isolation units equipped with ventilators, the WHO spokesman said. Up to 1,000 healthcare workers have been mobilised, and a new delivery of protective gear, including 10,000 surgical masks and 500 respirator masks, should arrive within the week. Bracing for wider closures Concern about all the displaced was increased after the Damascus government on Sunday announced the countrys first official case of the novel coronavirus. Lines formed outside grocery stores, banks and petrol stations across the Syrian capital, Damascus, as people braced for wider closures. The government has already closed restaurants, cafes and other businesses, and has halted public transportation. The citys famed Hamidiyeh souk, a network of covered markets running through the Old City, was deserted after the government ordered all shops closed on Sunday. Authorities closed border crossings with Lebanon and Jordan, and Damascus International Airport was closed to commercial traffic after a final flight arrived from Moscow. State-run newspapers issued their last print edition and will only be available online. Syria has close ties to Iran, which is a key ally of the government in the civil war, and Shia pilgrims frequently travel between the two countries. Syrias health ministry reported the first case of coronavirus late Sunday a 20-year-old woman it said had arrived from another country, without elaborating. Ravaged by war An open-ended curfew went into effect Monday in parts of northern and eastern Syria, which are controlled by a Kurdish-led civilian administration. It was not immediately clear how that would affect hundreds of US troops stationed in the region. Syrias healthcare system has been ravaged by nearly a decade of war that has displaced millions of people and spawned rampant poverty. Hospitals and clinics across the country have been destroyed or damaged. The government is also under heavy international sanctions linked to its conduct during the war. Most people only experience mild symptoms from the COVID-19 disease caused by the virus and recover within weeks. But it is highly contagious and causes severe illness in some patients, particularly the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. People can carry and spread the virus without showing any symptoms. Hundreds of thousands of people have been infected worldwide, and more than 15,000 have died. About 100,000 people have recovered. By Trend Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 25 times, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijani Defense Ministry on March 23. The Armenian armed forces were using large-caliber machine guns and sniper rifles. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Oil clawed back some gains after plunging 29% last week as the U.S. signaled the possibility of a joint U.S.-Saudi Arabia alliance to stabilize prices. Futures in New York rose 3.2% Monday in a mixed day of trading. Prices initially bounced following a second wave of initiatives by the Federal Reserve to support a shuttered American economy. A rally in other risk assets such as equities was soured by a second failed effort by Congress to agree on a stimulus bill. Almost hitting the lower trading bounds in the 20s has given some support for WTI and Brent, said Ryan Mckay, commodities strategist at TD Securities. Generally, the stimulus is helping sentiment, even if its not helping demand. Investors may be hanging on to a sliver of hope that an OPEC-Texas relationship may transpire. U.S. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette said the possibility of a joint U.S.-Saudi oil alliance is one idea under consideration to stabilize prices after the worst crash in a generation. PREVIOUSLY: Oil tumbles after Russia raises output As part of the public policy process, if you will, our interagency partners often get together and talk about a number of different items, but weve made no decision on this, he said. At some point we will engage in a diplomatic effort down the road. But no decisions have made on anything of that nature. Oil has lost 48% in March alone as the coronavirus outbreak brings economies worldwide to a standstill. U.S. lawmakers failed to agree on a stimulus bill over the weekend and again fell short of the needed Senate votes on Monday. The severe demand shock has dimmed traders outlooks for consumption with some estimating a collapse of as much as 20 million barrels a day this year. At the same time, a price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia showed no signs of abating. Hopes for a production deal between OPEC and Texas faded amid mounting criticism by regulators and drillers in the biggest U.S. oil state. FUEL FIX: Get our energy news in your inbox each weekday WTI for May delivery gained 73 cents to settle at $23.36 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent for May settlement lost 5 cents to settle at $27.03 a barrel on the ICE Futures Europe Exchange after dropping to as low as $24.68 earlier. Thats less than the benchmarks $24.88 a barrel close on Wednesday, which was the lowest since May 2003. Gasoline futures settled at the lowest level since 1999. U.S. cities are poised to see pump prices below $1 a gallon as the pandemic sharply curtails transportation amid widespread economic shutdowns. Even if crude demand recovers to normal levels by the middle of the year, 2020 is still on course to suffer the biggest decline in consumption since reliable records started in the mid-1960s. Until now, the biggest annual contraction was recorded in 1980, when it tumbled by 2.6 million barrels a day as the global economy reeled under the impact of the second oil crisis. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed Monday for an "immediate global ceasefire" to protect vulnerable civilians in conflict zones from the ravages of the coronavirus pandemic. "The fury of the virus illustrates the folly of war," he said in a brief speech at UN headquarters in New York. "That is why today, I am calling for an immediate global ceasefire in all corners of the world. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. Telangana recorded an alarming spread of the Sars-Cov-2 or coronavirus with six more cases being reported on Monday, taking the total number of cases to 33 by evening, while one more positive case was reported from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh taking the total number of positive cases to seven. According to the latest official bulletin released by the Telangana medical and health department on Monday night, the six new Covid-19 positive cases included: a 21-year-old man from Balkampet of Hyderabad with travel history to France; a 30-year-old man from Shantinagar in Saidabad area with travel history to London; and a 23-year-old student from Karimnagar who contracted the virus from a group of Indonesians, who came to the city on a religious mission last week. The other three positive cases were of: a 20-year-old student from Somajiguda with travel history to New York; a 25-year-old student from Gachibowli with travel history to London and a 56-year-old business man from Kukatpally with travel history to Sri Lanka. All of them are undergoing treatment in hospital and their condition is stable, the bulletin said. Andhra Pradesh reported a seventh case on Monday that of a 25-year-old male tourist from the UK who came to Visakhapatnam and tested positive for Covid-19. Both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments announced a complete lockdown of their respective states till March 31, in the wake of the growing number of cases. Both the states had sealed inter-state borders and shutdown all public transport services. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 04:00:29|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese medical team members step off the plane upon arrival in Belgrade, Serbia, March 21, 2020. (Xinhua/Shi Zhongyu) "The People's Republic of China is a country that has remarkably confronted the COVID-19 virus and we are extremely happy to have you here with us," said Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic. BELGRADE, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said on Sunday that Chinese medical experts are "the most valuable resource in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus infection." Brnabic made the remark while meeting with the six Chinese medical experts along with Minister of Health Zlatibor Loncar and Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Chen Bo. Noting that the novel coronavirus is still under-explored, Brnabic said Serbia put its biggest hopes in the Chinese expertise. "The People's Republic of China is a country that has remarkably confronted the COVID-19 virus and we are extremely happy to have you here with us. There are currently no people in the world who know more about this infectious disease and whose experiences would be more useful to us who are currently fighting the battle with the coronavirus. Thank you very much once again for being with us," said Brnabic, according to a release from the government's press office. The Chinese medical team arrived in Serbia on Saturday night to share their experiences in fighting the COVID-19, as well as to offer advise on measures that have produced the best results in China in preventing the spread of COVID-19, the government explained. At the meeting, it was agreed that Chinese experts will assist Serbian epidemiologists in monitoring the situation and adopting new measures in order to protect the citizens of Serbia to the greatest extent possible from the infectious disease caused by the coronavirus. Medical experts from China attended a staff meeting on COVID-19 crisis chaired by Brnabic, which reiterated that isolation and self-isolation measures are the key and most effective means of combating the spread of virus infection. So far two people died and 222 tested positive for COVID-19 in Serbia. A State of Emergency was introduced a week ago, limiting people's movements, transport and closing schools and border crossings. The Serbian government took some stricter measures to fight the coronavirus. Restaurants in Serbia now are closed, city transportation suspended, gatherings of more than five people indoors are banned, while citizens older than 65 are not allowed to leave their homes. Medical supplies donated by the Chinese government are unloaded from an airplane in Belgrade, Serbia, March 21, 2020. (Xinhua/Shi Zhongyu) Textile Ministry, in a meeting, discussed shortage of important equipment needed to protect healthcare staff from infection while treating coronavirus patients. The meeting was held on March 18 to discuss the availability of protective equipment for healthcare professionals. "There is a shortage of body coveralls and N-95 masks," said the minutes of the meeting, according to The Economic Times. The minutes also said that there was a shortage of material used for making the masks and that the supply was not able to meet the demand. According to the minutes of the meeting, a senior Textile Ministry official had suggested the supply masks and coveralls should be controlled by the Health and Family Welfare Ministry. The official said it would lead to better synchronisation between departments. HLL Lifecare failed to procure PPE HLL Lifecare, which is the government's nodal agency for procuring Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) had floated a tender for 1.5 million N-95 masks, 1 million 3-ply masks and 725,000 body covers, according to the daily. Rajiv Nath, the forum coordinator of the Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (Aimed), said the demand was not met since the industry was made aware of the tender after March 21. The All India Drug Action Network (AIDAN), an NGO, had then asked the Prime Minister that HLL should be removed as the nodal agency for centralised procurement. "It is our demand that HLL be immediately removed as the nodal agency for centralised procurement of PPE. Healthcare institutions should be permitted to procure PPE independently without delay... the health ministry should put out public guidance on minimum PPE specifications which can be followed by public and private healthcare institutions. It should be coupled with a centralised monitoring mechanism housed within the ministry," the letter by AIDAN to the PM said. Manufacturer's Perspective In February, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had called on the industry and all governments across the world to increase equipment manufacturing by 40%. According to industry experts, the Indian government had failed to make any forecasts and that the resulting "last-minute rush" is not enough. The manufacturers of personal protective equipment in India blame "unnecessary requirements" such as sending the samples of body overalls to a testing facility in Coimbatore for the shortage of PPE, the daily reported. "While other countries took measures to not only ban the export of PPE products but also raw materials, it did not occur to India to do so till March 19. In the meantime, Indian companies continued catering to foreign governments which were stockpiling," said Sanjiiiv Relhan, Chairman, Preventive Wear Manufacturer Association of India. Relhan also said that the industry had raised the need for creating stockpiles of PPE but it was ignored by the government. The association had reached out to the government and had requested that all anti-profiteering measures should be put in place, claimed Relhan. However, according to Relhan, the government put no such measures in place. Relhan said that since February the prices of materials required to make 3-ply maks had gone up from Rs 250 per kg to Rs 3000 per kg and the elastics used in making the masks were not available at any price. Alos Read: Coronavirus in India Live updates: PM Modi to interact with industry bodies on economic impact of COVID-19 Also Read: PM Modi to hold video conference on economic impact of coronavirus at 4 pm Hyundai Motor and Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) have announced the suspension of manufacturing operations at their respective plants amid coronavirus outbreak. Hyundai has decided to halt production at its Chennai plant while TKM has put brakes on manufacturing at its Bidadi facility in Karnataka. "The company will be taking the preventive counter-measure of suspending its manufacturing operations at the Chennai facility from March 23 till further notice to stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) - a global pandemic," Hyundai Motor India said in a late-night statement on Sunday. TKM said that keeping the safety of employees as the top priority, the company has voluntarily decided to temporarily halt production in its plant in Bidadi, Karnataka till further announcement. The company has also expandedwork from home for all its employees in its regional SBUs (Strategic Business Units) in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata & Bangalore, it added. On Sunday, various automakers like Maruti Suzuki India, Honda Cars, Mahindra & Mahindra and Fiat announced a temporary halt in manufacturing operations at their respective facilities. Two-wheeler makers Hero MotoCorp, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India and Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd (SMIPL) have also suspended production at their manufacturing plants. The suspension is in view of precautionary measures taken in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and in line with the state governments' directives, the companies have announced. As the virus cases climbed in the country, the central and state governments have decided to completely lock down 80 districts in 17 states from where COVID-19 cases have been reported while the states can extend the list of districts as they deem fit. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi, March 23 : After lockdown in 80 districts across the country, the Indian Army on Monday has closed its canteen stores and decided to provide home delivery of grocery and essential items. These restrictive measures are taken by "all military establishments/ cantonments/formations/units in the 82 districts which are under lockdown". The force has asked his men to maintain social distancing while performing all tasks. "All tasks related to response to COVID-19 should continue without hindrance," the advisory stated. The Army has also restricted movements in cantonments and military stations. The force had permitted personnel engaged in essential services such as medical establishments, fire, electricity/water supply, communication, post offices and sanitation services. "Additional districts/extension of lockdown time-frame by state governments will be adhered to as when promulgated," it stated. At Ministry of Defence and Indian Army Headquarters, the force has stated that only bare essential sections and offices would function on a daily basis. "Work from home to be implemented," it stated. It stated that conferences and seminars would be postponed and routine meetings and movements would be restricted. The force has highlighted personnel attending office will adhere to staggered timings. China uses various media to share experience against COVID-19 with other countries China is actively sharing its experience in fighting the novel coronavirus with the rest of the world through a variety of media, including videos and books. On Feb. 15, the China Hunan Provincial Science and Technology Department released the countrys first cartoon micro-video that outlines the transmission routes, susceptible population groups, and prevention methods for novel coronavirus in English. Takeuchi Ryo's film (Photo/huanqiu.com) Meanwhile, a documentary on epidemic prevention stories in the Chinese city of Nanjing, filmed by the Japanese director Takeuchi Ryo, recently became popular in Japan. His short film documents how people in the city are staying at home to ensure everyones safety and taking online courses amid the pneumonia outbreak. I hope that the film will help Japanese people learn from Chinas experience in fighting the epidemic, he said. The Peoples Medical Publishing House Co., Ltd., together with the Chinese Preventive Medicine Association, published the English version of the guidance for the coronavirus disease online on March 1 for foreigners to read for free. Meanwhile, the Shaanxi Normal University General Publishing House Co., Ltd. has published an English guide providing psychological assistance for foreign readers amid the pneumonia outbreak. On Feb. 29, Zhang Mingzhou, president of the International Board on Books for Young People, called on Chinese writers and publishers to donate the copyrights on childrens books about the novel coronavirus, and translators to volunteer to translate them into foreign languages to help children stricken by the pneumonia. By the end of March 3, more than 40 publishing houses responded to Zhangs initiative, with over 100 translators in English, Japanese, and other languages volunteering to translate the books. AT&T has announced it will waive domestic wireless voice and data overage fees for customers nationwide. The fees will be waived retroactive to March 13, according to an announcement released by John Emra, AT&Ts Connecticut president. The company will not terminate the service of any wireless, home phone or broadband residential or small business customer because of their inability to pay their bill due to disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Emra said. Jeff McElfresh, AT&Ts chief executive officer, said in a statement that company officials understand connectivity is always essential to our customers - doctors and nurses, first responders, governments, banks, grocery stores, pharmacies and others delivering vital services. Its even more critical during a public health crisis thats challenging everyone, McElfresh said. In fact, as a critical infrastructure provider, AT&T views it as our civic duty to step up and keep our customers and communities connected. AT&T has a entire page on its website devoted to coronavirus-related issues. Jeff Kagan, a Georgia-based telecommunications analyst, said AT&Ts announcement is a recognition that people cant afford now what they could afford a month ago, because of the decline in business activity associated with the coronavirus. This is not a question of them expecting to recover whatever amount they will lose because of it, Kagan said. Its a question of them doing the right thing, something that I think their customers will appreciate. luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com On Saturday, I checked with a good friend in Mexico and we spoke about the coronavirus down there. To say the least, many are unhappy with President Andres Lopez-Obrador's casual attitude. After that , I joked with him about another anniversary of "Who shot JR"? Like many Mexicans, my friend is a huge fan of "Dallas. Then he asked: "Who shot Colosio"? Down in Mexico, they still ask that question: Do you believe the official story about the lone gunman who shot presidential candidate Luis Donaldo Colosio? In 1994, I left a Toastmasters meeting and got the news from the radio. The PRI's candidate, a 40-something man known by his supporters as Luis Donaldo, was killed in a rally in northern Tijuana, by coincidence not too far from the U.S. border. It was quite a shock, to say the least. I can't recall the last time that a major Mexican political figure was assassinated. It shook up the country to such an extent that Mexicans were imagining tanks in the streets and hearing talk of President Carlos Salinas declaring martial law and a coup de etat. Colosio's victory in July was a done deal. Back in 1994, the PRI had a monopoly on nominating and electing presidents. They controlled every inch of the electoral process, so he was going to be the next president. They had run the country since the 1920s. Nevertheless, Colosio inspired a lot of people with his talk about reform and ending corruption. It was a bit like today's President Lopez-Obrador, but not so far to the left. At times, it sounded like he was being critical of the incumbent President Salinas, something that the incoming guy never does. He didn't sound like "uno del PRI," someone from the PRI, as Mexicans would say. Within years, there were books and theories about the assassination. How did a guy with a gun get that close to him? Did President Salinas have him shot over the criticism? No one really knows, but the official word is that the guy got through security and shot him. Every time the topic comes up, and it comes up a lot more often than you may realize, Mexicans compare this one to President Kennedy's assassination. They'll say: Don't you think that the explanation of both assassinations are a bit strange? I always say respectfully, no. I believe that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone... but I have my doubts about the guy who ended Colosio's life one late afternoon in 1994. PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter. Lighter Capital, a US provider of growth capital to tech startups, is making its debt financing offerings, including term loans and lines of credit, available to the Canadian market. The expansion of Lighter Capitals debt-financing business will provide Canadian entrepreneurs with an alternative to traditional equity sources such as venture capital or bank financing. Led by Thor Culverhouse, CEO, Lighter Capital is a fintech company that has created a new fundraising path for early-stage tech companies. The firm provides founders up to $3 million of non-dilutive growth capital. Rather than take equity, Lighter takes a percentage of monthly revenues over the life of the loan, doesnt require board seats, warrants or personal guarantees from its borrowers. Since 2012, the firm has invested over $200 Million in more than 350 U.S.-based startups in over 650 rounds of financing. FinSMEs 23/03/2020 Healthcare and Hospitality Bed Sheets and Towels in Stock Thomaston Mills, a producer of quality linens since 1899, is one of the largest remaining manufacturers of bed linens in the USA. Increased levels of inventory are available in all sizes of healthcare and hospitality sheets and bath towels to serve facilities with increased needs due to Covid-19. Thomaston Mills, a producer of quality linens for the hospitality, healthcare and retail sectors since 1899, is one of the largest remaining manufacturers of bed linens in the USA. With over 100 years of experience in the textile industry, Thomaston Mills has been honored to be a known as a quick turnaround supplier during difficult times. Now, with the ramp up of beds in hospitals and the conversion of hotels to shelters and healthcare facilities, they are ready with large quantities of bed and bath supplies. The company workforce is following CDC guidelines and is prepared with strategies to quickly ship product. They have thousands of flat, fitted, draw and surgical sheets and pillowcases in stock, available for immediate purchase. Towels, washcloths and hand towels are also in inventory ready for quick shipment . Thomaston plants in Georgia and South Carolina have millions of yards of fabric available to use for manufacturing all custom requirements which can be shipped in as little as 1 week. GSA schedule contracts are available for companies looking to supply government facilities. Thomaston hopes everyone stays healthy and safe during this difficult time and wants to thank all of the healthcare workers for their service. For more information, please contact: Timothy Voit Chief Marketing Officer Email: tvoit(at)thomastonmills(dot)com Web: thomastonmills.com 135 Greenwood Avenue Wyncote PA 19095 USA Phone: 1-877-474-3300 ext 2336 About Thomaston Mills Thomaston Mills prides itself on crafting quality linens with a focus on its customers. A leading manufacturer of quality linens since 1899, they are one of the largest manufacturers of Hospitality and Healthcare bed linens in the USA. The spat over responsibility for the coronaviruss spread came as Iran and America both battle escalating rates of infection among their populations. Over the weekend, the United States overtook Iran and other nations to become the country with the third-largest number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the world, with more than 40,000 reported as of Monday. Iran said Monday that the number of infections in the previous 24 hours had climbed by 1,411 to 23,049, with 127 deaths, bringing the toll to 1,812. Containers sit stacked at Qingdao Port on Nov. 8, 2018 in China's Shandong province. Visual China Group | Getty Images The biggest task facing the world right now is stopping the spread of the coronavirus. But even when the global public health crisis is under control and global supply chain disruptions caused by COVID-19 end, many large companies expect that business will not return to normal for between three to six months. That's according to the latest CNBC Global CFO Council survey, in which 40% of companies that already have or expect supply chain issues said it could take between three and six months to get business back to normal once the issues end (25% said six months). "It is complete chaos," said Andrew Sherman, a partner with Seyfarth Shaw who works with Fortune 1000 clients. One-third of CFOs taking the CNBC survey indicated it is still too early to know if there will be supply chain disruptions. "That's the only reasonable answer here," said Yossi Sheffi, professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and director of the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics. "Nobody knows. The economic issues are totally driven by public health issues. You tell me how long we will be at home and I will tell you how long it will take for the economy and supply chains to recover." The CNBC Global CFO Council represents some of the largest public and private companies in the world, collectively managing more than $5 trillion in market value across a wide variety of sectors. Forty of the 137 members of the council responded to the survey, which was conducted from March 4 to March 16 (16 from North America, 12 EMEA and 12 APAC.) Sheffi said if companies want the economy and supply chains to return to normal, they need to join the "war" effort to beat the virus first. Those moves started to occur more rapidly over the weekend, with auto manufacturers GM and Tesla among the companies that started working on production of ventilators in short supply at hospitals, and Apple and Facebook among the large U.S. firms donating protective masks. HanesBrands announced on Saturday that it is converting production of apparel to production of cotton masks approved by the Federal Drug Administration for use when N-95 masks are not required (or are unavailable). HanesBrands is manufacturing the masks under contract with the U.S. federal government. The company will be retrofitting some of its factories and expects to ramp up production to 1.5 million masks weekly, and the consortium as a whole is expected to ramp up production from 5 million to 6 million masks weekly using HanesBrands' design and patterns. President Donald Trump so far has been reluctant to invoke true war powers, like the Defense Production Act, which allows the government to take control of operations like manufacturing. Sheffi said the "war footing" talk in the U.S. will need to be matched by more action in terms of manufacturing to take control of the crisis. "Right now we see companies in the U.S. being affected because they have less people to load and unload trucks. Everyone is having issues with getting product to the stores. So short term, outbound is a big issue," said Bart DeMuynck, Gartner research vice president who focuses on supply chains. Sherman said inventory levels are out of whack due to hoarding, disrupting the supply chain, while shipping and transport industries are taking a hit due to people who work in warehouses or trucking now out of work due to illness or home quarantine. States are demanding that only "essential" workers go in to protect public health, but the definition will have to be made more clear, as the lack of clear business guidance is making it difficult for companies to maintain operations and for supply chains not to collapse. Border closings are allowing trade through, but shipping is at risk from worker health disruptions. "Until we are above full clearance of workers at borders for shipping, it's hard to see how shipping can operate normally," said Carl Larry, performance director at Refinitiv. Texas exports $16 billion to China each year, and that is going to be severely impacted by lack of workers, not only at ports but those quarantined from normal everyday work, Larry said, noting that The Port of Houston had to close last week because of an employee testing positive for COVID-19. China coming back online With China ramping up their production again, soon we'll start seeing ocean carriers starting to put the normal volume of ocean-freight capacity back online. "Then the question is, are we going to domestically have the network in place to be ready to absorb that surge of inbound movement and be able to get product back to all of the distribution centers as well as all the stores and where the product needs to go?" DeMuynck said. "This is going to create a lot of inefficiency and a lot of complexity in the supply chain of companies," he said. Chinese manufacturing and transportation will need time to ramp up, said Carl Larry, performance director at Refinitiv, but once it does, consumer spending may remain below healthy levels. "This is where the supply chain will be at odds on both ends supplier and consumer," Larry said. California, for example, imported $129 billion worth of goods from China in 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The state's jobless claims are spiking already and are on pace to hit 525,000 by the end of the month. "Losing California even temporarily will have a direct effect on China's exporting economy. It's unprecedented, so we can argue that China may be ready to bring the supply chain back to normal, but obviously without consumers the supply chain is far from normal," Larry said. Institute for Supply Chain Management CEO Tom Derry said companies that rely on Chinese supply have been helped in the short term by stocking up in late 2019 ahead of the latest U.S. tariffs as well as buying ahead of the Chinese New Year. But replenishment of inventory becomes the issue now, and it is not clear how quickly China can return to normal. Given that the Chinese workforce relies on mobility of workers and there are still restrictions in place, "it will be impossible for Chinese companies to get to full production," Derry said. "We can begin to see a recovery in the second half of the year, as companies figure out disruptions from shuttering of production. We can get back to normal by the end of the first half of 2020, but that's if things don't get worse in Europe." The big supply chains: Boeing and the automakers Sheffi said the largest supply chains in the world are at risk from the collapse of air travel and auto manufacturing shutdowns. He cited a key market parallel from 2008, when then-Ford Motor Co. CEO Alan Mulally went to Capitol Hill and implored Congress to save Ford's competitors GM and Chrysler. "He knew if GM and Chrysler went down, their suppliers would go down, too, and the ecosystem would go down. And if the supply chain ecosystem went down, Ford would go down, too, because there would be no supply." "Is it two weeks that the auto manufacturers are shuttered?" Sheffi said. "Most suppliers will survive two weeks, but more than two weeks? It's what happens beyond that." Many firms that supply to the auto sector don't have much cash on hand. "It's a tough spot for smaller suppliers," Derry said. "The U.S. ought to be looking at more supply chain finance and bolstering it," he said, because these supply chains are linked across sectors, and many consumer products, from technology to kitchenware, rely on the same sourcing. Small firms running low on inventory are also short on information needed to make their products, and some are pooling resources to develop temporary economies of scale. "Insufficient data is a crisis, by definition," Derry said. DeMuynck said companies that already use advanced supply chain technology will probably be able to get back to some form of normality within the next two, three months. But he added, "they are going to be hurting, and it might take them six months to nine months to effectively get through this and get back full up and running." Boeing will require a bailout by the government to protect its competitors and a huge global supply chain. "If Boeing goes down, then Airbus goes down, and Bombardier, and all the suppliers beyond that, from the big parts to the little companies supplying screws. These companies will go down," Sheffi said. "There will be a huge economic hit to countries, and it will take time to rebuild supply chains. It's not like you can turn around next Friday and start over. It's not just one company but a whole ecosystem, and regulated parts with a long approval process." In the least, given the economic repercussions of the current crisis and the toll it has taken on airlines, Boeing is going to be reducing orders at a time when airlines are canceling orders. And as supply orders go down, it is not long before it reaches the level of fourth- and fifth-tier providers "family-run suppliers and other small suppliers making specialized parts," Sheffi said. And even though the majority should be expected to survive, he added, "Those guys will start going down." Australia's eSafety commissioner will be able to order internet providers to block websites hosting terrorist content under comprehensive rules developed in the wake of the livestreamed Christchurch attack last year. The new protocol will be invoked during crises where graphic terrorist content is being shared online, with the commissioner able to designate sites to be blacklisted by providers including Telstra, Foxtel, Optus, TPG, Vodafone and Vocus. The Christchurch shooter livestreamed his actions on Facebook. Credit:AP Following the mass murder of Muslim worshippers in Christchurch last March, individual internet providers voluntarily blocked sites hosting the alleged attacker's viral video. At the time, there was no uniform legal basis for taking that step and the telcos have sought clarity on how to deal with future incidents. "The Christchurch terror attacks taught us that we cannot be complacent in the face of the willingness of terrorists to exploit the internet to traumatise the community and incite further heinous acts," eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-24 04:13:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke over phone on Monday night and voiced support for the role of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Xi extended sincere sympathies to the British government and people over their fight against the coronavirus disease. Upon request, he introduced China's epidemic prevention and control measures. Xi stressed that China hopes that Britain will enhance coordination with China to minimize the risk of the epidemic's spread while ensuring necessary flow of people and trade. China is ready to provide support and help for Britain, said Xi, adding that he is confident that Britain will surely prevail over the epidemic under Johnson's leadership. Reiterating that the Chinese government attaches great importance to protecting the health and safety of Chinese citizens overseas, Xi expressed his hope that Britain will take concrete and effective measures in safeguarding the health, safety and legitimate rights of Chinese nationals on its soil, particularly those studying in Britain. Viruses know no national boundaries or races, and only by working together can mankind win the battle against them, Xi pointed out. He called on all nations to push forward cooperation within the frameworks of the United Nations and the Group of 20 (G20), enhance the sharing of information and experience, boost collaboration in scientific research, support the WHO in playing its due role, and improve global health governance. They should also increase macro-economic policy coordination, so as to stabilize the market, maintain economic growth, safeguard people's well-being, and keep the global supply chains open, stable and safe, added the Chinese president. Xi said he believes that after beating the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Britain will have deeper mutual understanding and more extensive consensus, as well as broader prospects for bilateral cooperation. For his part, Johnson said he congratulates the Chinese government and people on the remarkable achievements they have made in epidemic prevention and control with strenuous efforts and enormous sacrifices. At present, the COVID-19 situation in Britain is grave, he said, adding that Britain has been studying and learning from China's useful experience and taking scientific and effective prevention and control measures. He said the British side thanks China for its valuable support and help, and will do its best to take care of the health and safety of Chinese nationals in Britain, especially the students. The prime minister said he fully agrees with Xi that no country can wall itself off from the epidemic and all countries should strengthen cooperation. Britain, he added, supports the WHO in playing an important role, and hopes that all parties will deepen relevant cooperation within G20 and other multilateral frameworks. Noting that China and Britain will hold the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the 26th UN Climate Change Conference respectively this year, Johnson said the two sides should take them as opportunities to promote international cooperation in health and epidemic prevention. He added that he looks forward to maintaining close contact with Xi and visiting China at an early date after the epidemic, so as to jointly promote the development of Britain-China relations. The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye has revealed what God told him on why he allowed Coronavirus to plague the earth. Pastor Adebayo said God is using Coronavirus to prove to the world that hes still God Almighty and in control of the whole earth by sending everybody on compulsory holidays. According to him, as soon as God has proved to the whole world that he can shut down the whole earth if he wants, then he would remove the plague. Addressing members of his church in a broadcast on Sunday, Pastor Adeboye said: He (God) told me loud and clear that the whole world will be on compulsory holiday. I knew the time the world got close to a compulsory holiday was when there was an attack on the World Trade Centre in America. So when he said the whole world is going to be on compulsory holiday, I thought something like that was going to happen as it happened during 9/11 and if somebody had prophesied it. When it happens, the Interpol will come and pick up the person and say you heard about the plot. You knew when they were planning this thing and you didnt speak so I kept my mouth shut. Now, the compulsory holiday is here. Pastor Adeboye went on to say that the current pandemic was Gods way of making the world know he remained in control. The good news is that as soon as he has achieved his purpose, as soon as he has proved to the whole world that he can shut down the whole earth if he wants, then he will remove the plague. How long before that happens? Im sorry I cant tell you. Enjoy your rest, enjoy your public holiday declared from heaven. The cleric maintained that although some prophets including Prophet T B Joshua had claimed that the disease will soon end, coronavirus will not die. I have heard one prophet say the coronavirus will soon die. And I said amen. You know prophets are greater than pastors. I heard that one prophet say coronavirus will end by March 27 and I said Amen. I heard another prophet say the world will experience rain for seven days and (it) will wash the plague away. I said amen. But I am speaking with you, my children. The coronavirus will certainly subside after God has removed the plague but to say it will die, let me speak in local parlance, na lie (it is a lie). What makes coronavirus interesting is that it is noisy. It is called noisy pestilence. It is making so much noise, and it is making this noise for a purpose: God must get the attention of the whole world. God has declared a compulsory holiday, he said. KanyiDaily had reported that the Nigerian Center For Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed that the number of coronavirus cases in the country had hit 30. Auto component maker Minda Industries and Bharat Forge on Monday said they will suspend operations at their manufacturing locations as part of precautionary measures to prevent the spread of deadly coronavirus. In a regulatory filing, Minda Industries said "in light of heightened concern on spread of COVID-19 in select districts in India, government directives and certain OEMs (original equipment manufacturer) announcing production closure, it has been decided to suspend the manufacturing operations in Northern India, Rajasthan and Maharashtra till further notice". Meanwhile, Bharat Forge in a filing to the BSE said, "the company has decided to suspend operations at all their offices and manufacturing locations in India with effect from March 23, 2020 to March 31, 2020, to ensure employee safety and contain the spread of COVID-19. This action is also in line with the directions issued by the Government of Maharashtra on March 22, 2020, Bharat Forge noted. Minda Industries further said the duration of this shutdown will depend on government policy. It also noted that production has been significantly impacted at its overseas operations in Spain, Mexico and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). At global engineering and development centres in Europe, work from home has been implemented, Minda Industries said. "Well-being and safety of our employees is of utmost priority. We are carefully monitoring the rapidly evolving COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to proactively respond based the evolving situation. We have implemented work from home for staff and provided employees with adequate support," Minda Industries added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Advertisement US President Donald Trump said he is in favor of members of Congress having the ability to vote in legislation from their homes as three lawmakers have confirmed they tested positive for coronavirus. Trump made his comments Sunday night after the third phase of a coronavirus stimulus package was unable to pass through the Senate Sunday as Democrats blocked the GOP measure meant to target economic fallout from the deadly outbreak. The infected lawmakers were Republican Senator Rand Paul, and Representatives Mario Diaz-Balart, a Republican from Florida, and Ben McAdams, a Democrat from Utah. Among those who came in contact with the three was Republican Senator Mitt Romney, who has gone into self-quarantine. Two House members also announced last week they contracted the virus. Several who came in contact with them, as well as Paul, have isolated themselves, including Republican Senator Mitt Romney. 'Romney's in isolation?' Trump asked when he learned of the self-quarantine at a press briefing Sunday, to which a reporter answered, 'yes.' 'Gee, that's too bad,' the president joked. Donald Trump said Sunday during the now-daily coronavirus White House briefing that he wants lawmakers to be able to vote remotely while concerns of the pandemic continue to rock the nation He made the comments at the same time Democrats blocked the GOP phase three economic stimulus package bill from passing through the Senate Five Republicans were not part of that vote after going into isolation over fears of coronavirus as Rand Paul (pictured) announced Sunday afternoon that he tested positive for the virus Paul is the first senator to contract the virus, and on Friday was in a GOP luncheon where he came in close contact with several other Republican senators The first two phases of the economic stimulus packages made it through Congress with few hiccups but the first phase cost $8.3 billion while the second allotted more than 100 billion. The new GOP bill would filter nearly $2 trillion into the American economy to keep business, industry and citizens financially stable through the uncertainty. Mitch McConnell blasted the Democrats after the bill failed on Sunday. He said: 'The notion that we have time to play games here with the American economy and the American people is utterly absurd. 'The American people expect us to act tomorrow and I want everybody to fully understand if we aret able to act tomorrow it will be because of our colleagues on the other side continuing to dicker when the country expects us to come together.' Democrats have said that Republicans are trying to push a partisan bill that favors large corporations, while the GOP says Dems are trying to include liberal policies which they couldn't otherwise get into law. Chuck Schumer said: 'The legislation has many problems. At the top of the list it includes a large corporate bailout with no protections for workers and virtually no oversight.' Passing a third phase could prove even more difficult as more lawmakers leave Washington D.C. and head home to wait out their isolation periods. With that possibility, Trump made his argument for allowing lawmakers to vote by remote. 'We could be in a position where I certainly would be in favor of it. Where they could vote from a certain outside location. I would be in favor of it,' Trump said during a White House coronavirus briefing Sunday of the proposed measure. 'I was thinking about it today, I mean we could be in this look, with what's going on, nobody's seen anything like this. You could have a lot of people in there from Congress,' he continued. 'I would be totally in favor of it on a temporary basis.' Paul's office announced Sunday that the the senator tested positive for coronavirus, while Diaz-Balart and McAdams were confirmed infected last week. Several who have come in contact with these three have isolated themselves to make sure they have not contracted and don't continue to spread the disease even further. Among those self-quarantining is Romney. 'Since Senator Romney sat next to Senator Paul for extended periods in recent days and consistent with CDC guidance, the attending physician has ordered him to immediately self-quarantine and not to vote on the Senate floor,' Romney's office said in a statement Sunday afternoon. The announcement came about an hour after Paul's office revealed the senator's situation. A reporter at the press briefing told Trump of the senators quarantining themselves, including Senators Romney, Mike Lee of Utah, Cory Gardner of Colorado and Rick Scott of Florida. When the president cracked his joke about Romney testing positive, saying, 'Gee, that's too bad,' the reporter who informed him about the senator's self-quarantine asked, 'Is that sarcasm there, sir?' 'No, no,' Trump said, smiling and shaking his head. 'None whatsoever.' While Romney's office added in its statement Sunday that the Utah senator 'has no symptoms,' he will 'be tested.' Senator Mitt Romney's office announced he was self-quarantining since he had sat next to Paul for extended periods of time in the last few days 'Romney's in isolation?' Trump asked a reporter questioning him during the press briefing Sunday. 'Gee, that's too bad,' he quipped Trump suggested that he was unsure how long some of the lockdowns and isolations would last as coronavirus continues to rock the nation and claimed even if it's usually against the Constitution, he feels it would be appropriate to make a temporary exception. More than 50 House members have already signed onto a resolution proposed by California Democrat Eric Swalwell demanding that the lower chamber allow remote voting. The measure argues that Congress is breaking the guidelines outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on social distancing by gathering hundreds of people into the same space for sessions. Democratic Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois and Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio are proposing a similar remote voting resolution on the Senate side of Congress. 'Yes, it is new,' Durbin said on the Senate floor of the idea of remote voting. 'Yes, it is different. Yes, it reflects the 21st century and reflects a challenge the likes of which we have never seen.' The impact of coronavirus in the U.S. have skyrocketed in the last week to more than 30,200 confirmed cases and nearing 400 deaths. Romney said Sunday before going into isolation that all senators are now seeking medical advice on how to proceed and are considering self-quarantine after all GOP senators attended lunch with Paul on Friday. 'Rand Paul has been diagnosed with COVID-19. Wish him the very best. He's compromised given health conditions he's had in the past. And so we'll be praying for him and thinking about it,' he Utah senator told reporters at the Capitol Sunday, referencing Rand's previous medical issues following getting jumped by a neighbor in 2017. The assailant broke five of Paul's ribs and in August 2019, the senator had to have part of his lung removed as a result of the injuries he sustained during the attack. 'And, of course, all the senators are going to seek medical advice as to what action we should take to make sure that we don't, in any way, spread this virus, ourselves,' he continued. When asked about the GOP lunch, Romney confirmed Paul attended and suggested he came in close contact with many of the senators. 'Yes, yes, we were in lunch together with Rand,' Romney said. 'Hope he's doing very well, but we have to determine whether any of us should self-quarantine as a result of being in the same room.' Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 06:24:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close RAMALLAH, March 22 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian man was declared dead Sunday night after being shot by Israeli soldiers near the West Bank city of Ramallah, Palestinian Ministry of Health said. Another Palestinian was hospitalized after being lightly injured by Israeli gunfire in the same incident, the ministry said in a statement. The two men were driving to their home in the village of Nilin, west of Ramallah, before they saw a military checkpoint at the village's entrance, where they were shot at. However, Israeli sources said that the Israeli soldiers opened fire at the two Palestinians because they hurled stones at the checkpoint. In just three days, New Jerseys number of confirmed coronavirus cases has increased by more than 150%, going from 742 cases on Thursday to 1,914 cases on Sunday, the early days of a spike that health officials have been warning residents about for days. Gov. Phil Murphy cautioned that an even bigger jump was likely as the state is continuing to ramp up testing for the virus, including opening a second state-run testing site on Monday at the PNC Arts Center in Holmdel. This is not a surprise," Murphy said during a telephone briefing with reporters on Sunday. "We knew, especially as we opened up testing, we could have bigger numbers. Some of this is community spread, no question. The first state-run testing site in New Jersey opened Friday at Bergen Community College with massive lines that stretched for miles. The site hit capacity on Sunday less than an hour after opening in Bergen County, the county with the most cases in the state. The first positive case in Salem County was announced Sunday, meaning all 21 New Jersey counties have reported cases. With 1,914 confirmed cases, New Jersey has more coronavirus cases as of Sunday than every state in the country other than New York and Washington, which have 15,793 and 1,996 confirmed cases, respectively, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University and the Seattle Times. Murphy on Saturday ordered the closure of all non-essential businesses and moved to ban all gatherings across the state, all in an effort to slow the spread of the virus, which has killed 20 people in N.J. as of Sunday. Such measures are key to slowing the spread of coronavirus, public health experts agree. But researchers in the state are projecting that even if residents conform to a high level of social distancing isolating themselves at home and staying more than six feet away from others at all times New Jersey will see a staggering number of cases. With a high level of social distancing, New Jersey could still end up with around 1.1 million people sick with the coronavirus, according to a NJ Advance Media analysis based on Rutgers University-Camden data. The analysis shows that with only moderate social distancing, coronavirus cases could reach 1.3 million in the state, while an extremely high level of distancing could limit cases to around 700,000. Those numbers reflect people actually showing symptoms, not everyone carrying the virus. Reports have already surfaced across the state of people violating Murphys ban on gatherings and the governor said Sunday that he would be taking steps to ratchet up enforcement. We banned any social gatherings in the state. We want people to stay home, Murphy said. "We want all of these steps to be enforced aggressively. If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter. Payton Guion may be reached at PGuion@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @PaytonGuion. CHAMPAIGN Heading off a disease outbreak like COVID-19 means motivating people to assess their risk and alter their behavior, and yet the role of social media in that process is little understood. A recently published study of social media use in South Korea during a 2015 MERS outbreak suggests emotions might play a key role. In the study published online by the journal Health Communication, researchers examined the role of fear and anger in connection with exposure to MERS-related information through social media. They found that those with higher levels of fear and anger related to the disease also were more likely to report that they consumed more information about it through social media. The researchers also found those emotions appeared to play a role fear more than anger in motivating those who had consumed more disease information through social media to engage in preventative behavior. The lead author of the study was Sang-Hwa Oh, a professor in advertising at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Oh has focused her recent research on social media effects related to health issues including studies underway during the current pandemic. Ohs interest in the media and health was spurred by a 2008 protest by South Koreans against the importation of American beef, resulting from fears about an outbreak of mad cow disease. Evidence suggested the risk might be low, she said, but the government had done little to address public concerns. I became particularly interested in how government can play a better role in explaining or communicating with the population regarding risk issues, Oh said. Infectious disease became a particular interest with the growing use of social media, she said. People during outbreaks come to social media in search of the most-updated information. Especially when other government or media sources are lacking or misleading, social media offers the ability to share information immediately and with a wide range of people, and its accessible all the time from everywhere, she said. Social media also makes it easy to share emotions, Oh said. Peoples initial reaction to an infectious-disease outbreak can be very emotional and intense. They think about how that kind of disease can affect them, immediately, or their family. In South Korea in 2015, as in 2008, Oh felt the government failed to adequately address the publics concerns, giving them added incentive to rely on social media. According to one survey conducted during the outbreak, more than 70% of respondents said they got their MERS-related information primarily through social media. Oh and her research colleagues found participants for their study through an online survey firm that supplied a representative sample based on age, gender and region. They analyzed survey responses from 400 participants. Half of the respondents were male, half female, with an average age of about 38. Participants were asked to assess how much they had seen information on MERS on social media such as blogs, Facebook, Twitter or YouTube. They also were asked to assess their levels of risk perception, fear and anger related to the outbreak, and the degree to which they had engaged in specific preventative behaviors such as not going to public spaces and washing their hands. Oh said the findings suggest that public health communicators and policymakers should pay more attention to the role of emotions during infectious-disease outbreaks, and maybe monitor those emotions through social media in order to better address public concerns. Many experts or scientists assume that people are going to make a judgement about risk based only on scientific statistics, but thats not true. Rather, social, cultural, psychological and communicative factors affect the process of assessing risk, and thus it is a much more complicated process, she said. Those experts and scientists sometimes criticize the publics reaction to risk as irrational, but if they dont understand peoples emotional responses, then theyre not going to do a good job in explaining the risks and communicating what to do. Telling people dont panic will not work unless you adequately address and act upon what makes people worried, fearful and upset. Editors notes: To reach Sang-Hwa Oh, a professor in the Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising at Illinois, email sanghwa2@illinois.edu. The paper The effects of social media use on preventive behaviors during infectious disease outbreaks: the mediating role of self-relevant emotions and public risk perception, published by the journal Health Communication, is available online or from the News Bureau. Phoenix, AZ, March 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- No Borders, Inc. (OTC:NBDR), today announced that the Company has executed an agreement with its existing suppliers in Hong Kong to bring its 15 minute At Home Serological COVID-19 test to the USA. The brand new MediDent Supplies 15 Minute Rapid Result Covid-19 Test is being manufactured by a MediDent Supplies partner with existing US FDA registrations for both the manufacturer and the serological test kit itself. MediDent Supplies is actively engaged with the FDA to obtain an Emergency Use Authorization for its COVID-19 blood test and the Company believes due to a recent update to the FDA COVID-19 testing guidelines which now include serological testing as an acceptable means of testing, that it will receive expedited approval for these tests very quickly. MediDent Supplies has already purchased thousands of units of this test and has expedited Air Freight delivery of these tests to the USA in order to be fully ready to distribute them nationwide the moment the Companys EUA is processed by the FDA. No Borders is actively engaged with the FDA, FEMA, Congressman Paul Gosars and Congressman Kevin McCarthys offices and is proud to have direct support from these and many other government members in its efforts to move quickly, deploy nationally and help Americans combat the COVID-19 epidemic. Our entire team is committed to deploying every ounce of effort we can to help America through this trying time. Millions of people around the world have used these serological tests to identify COVID-19 antibodies in the blood and these tests will have a dramatic impact on Americas ability to scale national real time testing efforts with a proven, effective blood test, said Joseph Snyder, CEO of MediDent Supplies. He continued, Working quickly with our partners in Hong Kong and government officials here in the USA we have already purchased and expedited shipment of thousands of units of these tests. With the existing FDA registrations for our manufacturing partner and the test as a medical device in hand I believe that MediDent Supplies will be able to receive an expedited EUA from the FDA within weeks if not days. In order to mitigate lag time in bringing these critically needed At Home 15 Minute COVID-19 Blood Tests to Americans all around the USA, the Board of Directors has approved the purchase and expedited shipment of our first batch of tests and they are being shipped immediately. I am incredibly proud of our No Borders and MediDent Supplies teams; it is simply breathtaking to see how much people care and give. Please stay home, cover your cough and WASH YOUR HANDS. These tests that MediDent Supplies is shipping into the USA use whats called a serological technique, which looks for antibodies in a patients blood. These are only present if someone has been exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, since, as of right now, researchers havent found any evidence that natural antibodies to this particular virus exist without exposure to the virus. By contrast, the types of tests that are currently in use in the USA and at labs around the world are PCR tests, which use a molecular-based, batch testing approach to determine if the virus is present genetically in a mucus specimen. The PCR method of testing is technically more accurate than the serological variety, but the serological version is much easier to administer, and produces results without the need for taking specimen samples to a lab for batch testing, which takes days, resulting in a much broader national testing deployment very quickly. Its also still very accurate overall, and is much cheaper than the current PCR in lab testing procedures available in the USA today. Plus, it will dramatically expand efforts to scale testing beyond only the most severe cases with symptoms present, and do a much better job of illuminating the full extent of the virus spread, including those who are asymptomatic but carrying the virus with the possibility of infecting others. About No Borders Inc. No Borders, Inc. (OTC:NBDR) is a multifaceted corporation specializing in the acquisition, creation and scaling of commercial and consumer products by utilizing cutting-edge technologies to reduce costs while increasing revenues and shareholder value through technological superiority and Intellectual Property ownership across its portfolio of assets. The Companys portfolio of brands includes: No Borders Naturals Inc., a purveyor of health and wellness products for active consumers and their pets. (www.NoBordersNaturals.com) No Borders Labs Inc., which provides leading-edge tech tools to NBDR internal companies while also offering consulting, architecture and software development services to external businesses looking to update their technology infrastructure for greater efficiency, security and transparency (www.NoBordersLabs.com). www.CBDLabChain.com a powerful, Patent Pending tool to demonstrate in an unbiased and unchangeable way a clear sense of security to consumers of CBD products by recording Certificate Of Authority (COA) on a blockchain technology platform. No Borders Dental Resources Inc., a provider of equipment and supplies to medical and dental professionals across the U.S. through the trade name MediDent Supplies (www.MediDentSupplies.com). No Borders is headquartered in Arizona with resources in the U.S., South America, Asia and Europe. For more information, visit the Companys website at www.NBDR.co. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Joseph Snyder Chief Executive Officer and Director 18716 E. Old Beau Trail Queen Creek, AZ 85142 (760) 582-5115 Source: No Borders Inc. (NBDR) OTC PINK: NBDR This press release may include certain statements that are forward-looking in nature and that involve a number of uncertainties and risks. Such forward-looking statements are within the meaning of that term in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on No Borders, Inc., current expectations and projections regarding future events, which are based on currently available information. The forward-looking statements in this press release may also include statements relating to No Borders, Inc. 's anticipated new developments, business prospects, financial performance, strategies and similar matters. No Borders, Inc. disclaims any obligation to update any of its forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law. Matt Walsh warns complacent Christians: Tolerance and acceptance are not biblical virtues Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Conservative Christian commentator Matt Walsh is condemning complacent Christians in America, saying that, in some cases, Christians are called to be intolerant. Walsh, a nationally known podcast host and writer for the conservative online website The Daily Wire, is warning that many Christians in America today are constructing their own religion based on cherrypicked ideas from the Bible that support their agenda of tolerance and inclusion. Walsh released his second book earlier this month titled Church of Cowards: A Wake-Up Call to Complacent Christians. He told The Christian Post that the book offers his diagnosis of the problem that most Christians recognize in our culture. If you look at the statistics, we know that the number of Christians is declining while the number of secular atheists is going up, Walsh told CP in a recent phone interview. I think we also know that the problem is even worse than the numbers suggest. If you were to talk to the professed Christians [in the U.S.], a startling percentage of them dont actually believe in some of the essential doctrines of the Christian faith. A 2017 survey from the American Culture and Faith Institute shows that only about one in 10 Americans hold a biblical worldview even though nearly half of them claim to lead a Christian life. Among millennials, only four percent have a biblical worldview. Various factors can play a role in a person's faith and worldview formation. According to Walsh, those include parents, the church, education and culture. And that's a problem because the culture itself is so aggressively hostile to Christian faith and very determined to, especially with kids, convert them into secularism and relativism, Walsh argued. That's an enormous problem because you've got so many Christians who don't really know what their faith professes or what their faith even is. And if you don't know what you believe in, exactly, then youre not going to be able to maintain those beliefs. At a time when there is increasing societal and political pressure for people to be accepting of the same-sex relationships and LGBT lifestyles, Walsh said that Christians with a superficial understanding of the Gospel are picking out things from the Bible that they like and confirm what they already want to believe. They kind of construct their own religion for themselves based on this amalgamation of out-of-context verses. And that's a big problem because the Bible is so long and vast and diverse, he explained. It's not even really a book. It's a library of books. And there's so much in it, that if you're going to go in and throw context to the wind, you can find anything you want. You can find justification for anything. I think that's how a lot of people are approaching the Bible." Walsh feels that Christians in the West need to reclaim our warrior spirit and their willingness and eagerness to fight back against sin and corruption and evil that we see in our society. I think Christianity has always been a warrior faith. If you go back to the Gospels, now Jesus is often portrayed as being this peacenik-hippie type of figure. But again, if you actually go and read the Bible, particularly the Gospels, you'll find thats not who Jesus was, Walsh explained. Jesus is obviously loving. But in that love, He confronts sin and you find that in the Gospels. He resists the tide of the culture that He was in back 2,000 years ago. And we need to follow that model and we need to be willing to do that. Walsh contended that Christians are not "forfeiting love" by confronting sin. It's not that we're confronting and fighting back against evil in spite of the fact that we're supposed to be loving; it's because we love that we do those things, he said. As some denominations over the past decade have affirmed homosexuality, Walsh believes that it is impossible to defend homosexuality in Scripture. The greater issue is just the misrepresentation of what you find in the Gospel. A good example would be things like tolerance and acceptance are now presented in the church as virtues, even biblical virtues, Walsh warned. They're not virtues at all. There's nothing wrong necessarily with tolerating. It depends on what you're tolerating. But there is nothing virtuous about it. He warned that some churches are teaching that tolerance is the ultimate virtue and synonymous with "compassion" and "love." To be intolerant of something is thought of automatically as bigotry, he noted. The worst thing you can ever be is intolerant. But it's just not the case. We should be intolerant of bad things and intolerant of things that harm people. We should be intolerant with children in our culture. We should be intolerant of sin within ourselves and in the world. So I think we think we're called to intolerance in many cases. Compassion is virtuous, but the version of compassion that is preached so often is something synonymous with acceptance and tolerance. Compassion actually means co-suffering. That's the etymology of the world of the word, which means that you're suffering alongside somebody and taking on their sufferings to alleviate that burden. Christ is the ultimate example of that. [Compassion] is a much more active and sacrificial thing than how it is often portrayed. According to Walsh, churches need to be bolder in addressing the problems in the culture today and need to focus more on calling people to repentance and self-sacrifice. "We have to stop being afraid of preaching that message," he said. "It may scare some people away. But the people who are scared away aren't really Christian anyway. If they don't want to hear the Christian message, they are not Christian. But for everybody else, this is what they want. This is what they are searching for. I think we have to provide that in the Church." The Phoenix Hill Sports Park in the capital of Southwest Chinas Sichuan province hosted the 2021 Chinese FA Cup final as its inaugural event Sunday. Covering an area of 128,000 square meters, the park consists of two world-class sports venues, a retail and hotel complex, and a public plaza. It will be one of the venues of the 31st Summer World University Games Jan 12, 2022 05:45 PM Some are calling it the next wave of colonisation. Others are praising Chinas canny foresight. Whichever way you look at it, China is playing a significant role in ICT development across Africa and there is no end in sight. Companies like Huawei, ZTE and China Telecom are driving much of the core IT infrastructure across the continent. Chinas foreign direct investment in Africa grew 40 percent annually over the past decade, according to Mckinsey and Co. The China Investment Global Tracker calculated the value of Chinese investment in sub-Saharan Africa between 2005 and 2018 at US$299 billion. In 2018, Chinese president Xi Jinping pledged a further $60 billion in investment to African nations. In the past, big tech vendors didnt really see Africa as a place to make money, whereas Chinese companies were more willing to take the perceived risk, according to Gyude Moore, visiting fellow at the Centre for Global Development (CGD) and former public works minister of Liberia. This resulted in investment in a range of areas. Network backbones in most African countries were paid for by loans from China and so usually use a Chinese provider. Moore cites the example of cellular communications: 50 percent of 3G systems used by African telcos were built by Huawei and another 20 percent to 30 percent were built by ZTE, while Huawei has built up 70 percent of 4G networks and is likely to build all 5G networks. Chinese vendors have an African track record While 5G has brought the role of Huawei one of the few major equipment providers for the superfast mobile technology into the global spotlight, both Huaweis and ZTEs involvement in Africa goes back over 20 years, notes Mark Williams, managing director at Berkeley Research Group. Their initial competitive advantage was around cost as they were cheaper than their main rivals from Europe, Williams says. Over recent years, the Chinese vendors have moved into fibre-optic networks and have been supplying equipment and constructing networks across the region. But Chinese companies are not just developing Africas infrastructure spine they have impacted hardware design as well. Chinas Tecno Mobile, for example, invested a great deal in handsets for the African market, such as developing a camera that responded well to dark skin and investing in batteries that last longer to accommodate electricity-access issues, Moore notes. In addition, Chinese venture capitalists are starting to fund logistics and fintech start-ups. A group of Chinese investors made a splash last November with a $120 million investment in OPay, the mobile money service in Nigeria. Norway-based Opera, which founded Opay, is majority-owned by Chinese investors. Going beyond infrastructure China is expanding its role from initially simply building the infrastructure to now building the apps that are used on that infrastructure, something that was exclusively the purview of Western VC firms and investors, Moore says. Otherwise, the presence of these Chinese low-cost equipment manufacturers has reduced operating costs for telcos in Africa and accelerated the rollout of mobile broadband in a way that would have been difficult to imagine 20 years ago, says Ian Waters, senior director of EMEA marketing at ThousandEyes. Response to Chinese investment is mixed, depending on who you talk to. While the continent is not a homogenous whole, there is general acknowledgement throughout the region of the positives that such investment is bringing, tempered with concerns about the impact on local providers. As Chinese businesses expand into the fintech arena, for example, and competition increases, there is downward pressure on price, the CGDs Moore notes. This is a positive impact since price point decides most of the decisions in the African market. But the impact on local businesses can be significant. Because a single Chinese investor can come into a country with $300 million, local firms are going to struggle to compete, Moore says. Squeezing out local providers Even though most employees that are hired by the Chinese-backed start-ups are Africans, most of the value that is created is to the Chinese investor, Moore says. There is a fear that they will crowd out local investors and entrepreneurs, Moore adds. Concerns have also been raised about the influence of China on African development and culture. Mandarin has started to be offered in schools in Kenya and South Africa, but response has been mixed, with some critics noting language can be used as a tool of colonisation. Increasing interest in Chinese is only logical, though, given that since 2009, China has surpassed the U.S. as the continents single-largest trading partner, Moore noted. In addition, Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (originally dubbed One Belt One Road or OBOR), meant to further develop trade routes and economic integration with Europe and Africa, will give the country even more influence. These investments in Africa must be making the lives of normal citizens better and thats all that should matter, says Stanley Chao, author of Selling to China and managing director for All In Consulting, which advises companies that want to do business with China. But the better lives and low-interest loans do come with strings. These African countries will be satellite countries for China. In fact, I believe any country heavily involved in Chinas OBOR (One Belt One Road) initiative will be part of Chinas sphere of influence. Securing the future Its not only competition and culture that are subjects of concern. A growing dependency on Chinese ICT products brings up security issues. For example, the U.S. governments position is that Huaweis close ties to the Chinese government, seen in light of Chinas history of espionage against the West, suggests that the companys products may be engineered to capture and leak data back to Beijing. But Chinese networking products are already at the core of African infrastructure, and African network operators are more dependent on their suppliers than service providers in other regions, especially given their tight financial constraints. Chao believes that China has broad control over Africas ICT systems. The Chinese will use it to their advantage, Chao said, adding that I think these African countries realize it, and accept the consequences for accepting the low-interest loans. But since Africas networks and systems are not built by Africans and do not use African components, there is always the risk that whoever is building an ICT product may create some sort of backdoor, Moore notes. In fact, documents leaked by former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden and published by various news organizations have shown that the NSA has conducted its own surveillance campaigns, including programs to hack into equipment from Chinese networking manufacturers. Moore relates a conversation he had with a high-ranking African official. They were talking on WhatsApp and the official suggested they change to WeChat, widely used in China. When Moore quipped that the Chinese would be listening in, the official replied: Somebodys always listening; Id rather its the Chinese. Moore does believe, though, that once access becomes ubiquitous, African countries will be more interested in who is listening and what they have to gain. U.S., European businesses losing out For now, Chinas investment in Africa is a key example of soft geopolitics, notes Jonathan Brufal, partner focused on Africa at international law firm Gowling WLG, cautioning that it is possible that Western companies will lose out if they dont try to invest alongside the Chinese in Africa. No question the U.S. is concerned and should be concerned they are losing control and influence over Africa as well as the other OBOR countries, Chao said. I see the world bifurcating into two distinct trading zones and spheres of influence. China will control one sphere with its OBOR countries, and the U.S. will control the other with the EU and some other countries. To a certain extent, Chinas future in Africa is going to be dependent on what happens to the Chinese economy as a result of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. Africa is significantly dependent on China and depends on China more for trade, which represents a quarter of all African trade, than it does for investment, Moore noted. But, he said, holding all things constant, he believes there will be an increase in that investment with continued diversification. He also believes this will encourage a lot more European investment. Whether it is the U.S. or Europe, they have begun to look at Africa differently because of Chinese investment. I am looking forward to seeing growth over the next five years. Last Monday, the Australian Broadcasting Corporations Four Corners program aired previously unreleased footage of Australian Special Air Service (SAS) troops committing war crimes in Afghanistan, including the murder of civilians and the brutalisation of others. The program is the latest in a series of exposures of illegal actions by elite SAS troops over many years. As with the previous revelations, the material revealed by Four Corners has been met with worthless pledges of an official investigation and an attempt to suppress any broader discussion of the predatory, neo-colonial character of the ongoing occupation of the central Asian nation. The most explosive footage was from an SAS dog handlers helmet camera. It shows the unprovoked murder of Dad Mohammad, an unarmed civilian, by another SAS soldier near the village of Deh Jawz-e Hasanzai in Uruzgan province. Within three minutes of the patrol disembarking from a Black Hawk helicopter in late 2012, Mohammad had been shot. The video shows one of the soldiers training his weapon on the young man and asking a superior officer: Do you want me to drop this c***? The soldier then shot Mohammad, who was lying in a prone position on the ground, three times at point blank range. In an act of damage control, the Special Forces soldier responsible for Mohammads murder was suspended on Friday. He was referred to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner by the Defence Minister. This followed a statement by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, declaring that any alleged war crimes would be investigated. Four Corners revealed, however, that Mohammads death was investigated by the Australian Defence Force (ADF) shortly after the incident and was deemed a lawful killing. Investigators claimed that killing was an act of self-defence because Mohammed was holding a radio. The footage, however, shows that the young man was holding rosary beads. There is no doubt that the Labor Party, which was in government at the time, and the Liberal-National Coalition, were aware of the footage of the execution. This only underscores the fact that the actions depicted were not just those of an individual soldier, but were part of an official policy of terrorising the Afghan population and suppressing widespread opposition to the occupation. It is not an accident that the cases uncovered by Four Corners followed a massive surge in Afghanistan carried out by the US administration of Barack Obama, along with the Australian Labor government of Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Braden Chapman, a former Signals Intelligence Officer who came forward to speak about crimes he witnessed being committed by the SAS during his deployment in 2012, made clear that the actions of the soldiers were known throughout military command. Chapman stated: I just feel if people dont come forward, it's just going to be swept under the rug again. The whistleblower described a separate raid on a village in early 2012, where an SAS soldier shot at a civilian who had put his hands up. The man was shot in the chest twice and then in the head. Chapman said: I was only five to ten metres behind him at the time it was almost like target practice for that soldier. One of the soldiers assault dogs began chewing on the head of the man who had been shot. Chapman commented: I remember looking to the dog handler and saying can you get this thing away from it And hes was just like, oh let him have a taste. A representative of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) outlined an investigation conducted by the organisation into an SAS raid on the village of Sarkhume in March 2012. SAS soldiers had killed two civilians and injured seven others. Australian soldiers were reported to have tortured detainees. In August 2012, SAS troops terrorised the village of Sola after an Afghan soldier shot three Australian military personnel. The SAS killed two civilians and injured a number of others. Four Corners interviewed some of those who witnessed the atrocities. Rafiullah, a Sola villager, stated: When my father finished his prayer, they kicked him in the head while he was trying to stand up. His turban fell down, and they stood him up. They tore his turban up into pieces and tied up the hands of the other people in the mosque. They beat me up very badly. Mohammad Qasim said that his brother Abdul Jalil was shot by a soldier in the mouth and heart. His father, Haji Mohammad, was shot in the side of the head and body. The official defence investigation declared that Jalil had reached for an SAS soldiers weapon and that Haji Mohammad was allegedly seen talking on a radio. Shahrzad Akbar from the AIHRC rejected these claims, stating that both of the victims were civilians who had made no attempt to attack the Australian forces. The program demonstrated the way in which official Australian army regulations are used to carry out, and cover up, war crimes. The regulations claim that soldiers are legally allowed to execute people who report on the soldiers positions via radio. Chapman told Four Corners that it was a common practice for soldiers to plant radios and weapons on the bodies of civilians they had killed. He stated: I did see plenty [of radios] that were planted. Members of my troop used to joke about how the same serial number on an AK-47 was in every single photo of a dead Afghan. Chapman explained that when his deployment began, he was told by a senior SAS soldier: I hope youre ready and prepared for this deployment because you need to make sure that youre okay with me putting a gun to someones head and pulling the trigger 'cause I don't want to read about it in 10 or so years. The Four Corners program is one of a series of reports documenting illegal acts by SAS troops in Afghanistan. Previous exposes have revealed evidence of civilian killings and the desecration of corpses. In 2017, The Afghan Files published by the ABC reported at least 10 extrajudicial killings by the SAS. They included a young boy shot in Kandahar Province in 2012 and a teenager murdered in a separate incident. The authorities have responded by establishing a series of secret investigations, including one under the direction of the Australian Federal Police and another being led by the ADF. Their aim is to cover up the extent of the crimes and ensure that the revelations do not impinge on Australian imperialisms predatory military operations in Central Asia and the Middle East. At the same time, the federal Coalition government, with the support of the Labor opposition and the entire political establishment, has spearheaded a witch-hunt of those who have exposed the crimes. David McBride, a former military lawyer who leaked the Afghan Files material to the ABC, faces decades in prison after being charged with violating secrecy laws last year. In June 2019, the AFP, acting under government direction, raided the Sydney headquarters of the ABC over the Afghan Files. The unprecedented operation followed a separate raid targeting the home of Newscorp political editor Annika Smethurst, over a story she had written revealing government plans for expanded domestic spying. In both cases, the journalists may still face prosecution. The sharpest expression of this assault on press freedom is the support of the Australian ruling elite for the imprisonment of WikiLeaks publisher and Australian citizen Julian Assange in Britains Belmarsh Prison. Assange, whose legal and democratic rights have been trampled on, is subject to extradition proceedings aimed at dispatching him to the US where he would face Espionage Act charges and life imprisonment for exposing war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan. The containers of tulip flowers in storage at Henk van der Slots farm in The Netherlands were supposed to go to Vatican City. The Roman Catholic Church planned to use them to help celebrate the Easter holiday on April 12. But travel and transport restrictions forced a change of plans. The church will go without the famed Dutch flowers this year. The church is not alone in that. The coronavirus is a disaster for the Dutch flower industry, said Michel van Schie. He is the press officer at Royal FloraHolland, a group of growers that sells some 12 billion plants and flowers each year. But, van Schie said 85 percent of the market turnover has disappeared. That is a big problem for the industry. Last year, Dutch flower exports brought in more than 6 billion euros. The Dutch government says the country has a 44 percent share of world trade in flowers and plants. Some Dutch farmers are now giving away tulips to health care workers as a way to thank them for helping fight COVID-19. It is not only growers in The Netherlands who are hurting. The pain has spread to farmers in Europe and Africa. In Kenya, few people are at work at Maridadi Flowers, a farm about 90 kilometers north of Nairobi. Normally, 120 people are busy at work in the companys product quality control area. But it is almost empty now. The few employees there are cutting down roses and throwing them away --- about 230,000 to 250,000 flowers each day. Owner Jack Kneppers is a Dutchman who has worked in Kenya for many years. He said about 80 percent of his 720 employees are at home. This is costing us about half a million dollars a month, Kneppers said. He said he will start to dismiss employees if the situation continues much longer. At Royal FloraHollands large auction, few flowers are being traded. The auction was the point of sale for about 4.7 billion Euros worth of flowers last year. Now it is asking farmers to send only about 25 percent of their usual crops. Frans van der Slot is keeping his tulips in cold storage for as long as possible. He is hoping sales will recover around Easter on April 12, but if he is wrong, he will have to throw out his flowers. Earlier this week, he threw out a lot of tulip bulbs because it would not be economical to plant them. They fed them to cows, he said. They were first-class bulbs. The coronavirus crisis could not have hit at a worst time in the Netherlands. In the middle of spring, fields around the country are filled with color as tulips and other flowers bloom. Kneppers says the business situation is the worst he has ever seen. One of his workers, Carol Gikundi is worried. She has three children and her mother to provide for. We are scared for our jobs, she said. In the Netherlands, Frans van der Slot has set up a little store outside his farm to sell flowers he cannot send to auction. Fifty flowers cost 5 euros ($5.40), much less than they sell for in stores and markets across the Netherlands. He said he has no choice. If his business fails, Van der Slot said, I lose all my savings. Im John Russell. The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story auction - n. a place where people compete to pay a high price for items they really want bulb - n. the rounded, underground part of a plant that grows into a new plant first-class adj. the best possible quality bloom - v. when a plant flowers scared adj. having a fear of something Joe Bidens first major event since his March 15 debate with Bernie Sanders is set for Monday at 11:30 a.m. EDT, when he will discuss the coronavirus crisis from a studio thats been set up in his Delaware home. [Update, March 23, 2020, at 11:45 a.m.: Biden went on a bit earlier than expected and spoke for about 15 minutes.] His reclusiveness in recent days has become news in itself: His only real or virtual public appearances last week, during the most alarming series of events to transpire in America for at least 19 years, were a five-minute speech about Tuesdays primary elections and a Friday conference call with reporters. At the end of that call, he apologetically said his campaign was just on the verge of getting digital streaming figured out. They tell me theres ways in which we can do teleconferencing via us all being in different locations, he said in a way that did not quite convey steely confidence and managerial focus, adding: Weve hired a professional team to do that now. And if you excuse the expression, its a little above my pay grade how to do that. (Bernie Sanders, despite being older than Biden and having a full-time job in the Senate, has already been holding regular events online.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bidens absence has been noted by his critics in the left-liberalsphere, who are asking what exactly the point is of having a nominee whose main selling point is a steady, affable public persona if hes not going to be appearing in public when stability and morale are running low. His disappearance, its said, has allowed Donald Trump to dominate the crisis narrative and somehow possibly to put himself in a position to win an election by belatedly semi-fixing a problem he created himself. But Bidens campaign has always been about the collective idea of Joe Biden rather than the day-to-day reality. His comeback to presumptive nominee status didnt happen because he gave a series of stirring performances or because his ideas seized the public imagination but because of other peoples endorsements and strategic electoral skepticism about Sanders. His speeches and debate sound bites are about Barack Obama and Donald Trump more often than they are about himself, and his baffling non sequiturtoappearance ratio is close to 1:1, which is probably why, even before the virus hit, he held relatively few campaign events and press conferences. Sure, it might be nice to have a nominee with the energy and mental focus to appear in public every day during the possible end of civilization, but the 2020 edition of Biden was never such a person, and you cant disappear if you were never really there. Right now he is giving Democrats exactly what they voted for: a distant presence who will not be actively alienating and who is associated with enough good ideas and capable people that you could reasonably bet on him to be an improvement over the current disaster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Consider that Biden does actually have a coronavirus plan, which is outlined on his website, and which covers all the points that any high-information consumer of COVID-19 news could ask for: immediate boosts to hospital capacity and medical supply chains; consolidation of national public information efforts; funding for universal testing, treatment, and sick leave; and multifaceted relief for suddenly un- and underemployed workers (and their employers). Theres discussion of preventing future pandemics via goals that range from the quotidian (staffing up at federal agencies) to the existential (mitigating climate change). And there are basicbut at this point welcomestatements of values like put scientists and public health leaders front and center in communication with the American people and ensure that public health decisions are made by public health professionals and not politicians. To the extent that it is possible to judge such things here in the eye of the storm, Bidens coronavirus proposal is a good one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Did Biden write this plan out by hand from his house in Delaware before the internet guys posted it on his site? I cant say. But at the least it shows that he is smart enough to associate himself with the right coronavirus people, a point proved further when he said during his conference call that hes been in touch with Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who have been acclaimed for proactive and transparent handling of their local outbreaks. (Given Bidens extreme affection for being a guy who Remembers That Whether Were Republicans or Democrats, Were All on Team USA, his failure to mention equally active Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is a galling oversight.) Last week, Bidens campaign posted a well-produced video of his former chief of staff Ron Klainwho, as the Obama administrations Ebola czar, took the novel approach of preventing tens of thousands of Americans from being infected by a deadly virususing a whiteboard and a marker to break down Trumps mishandling of the crisis and explain what needs to be done to make up for it. It was a great case for electing Joe Biden to let Ron Klain handle 100 percent of pandemic stuff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And while many alarmed feelings were felt on the left half of the political spectrum when an ABC News/Ipsos poll released Friday found that 55 percent of Americans approved of Trumps handling of the coronavirus, there are no other indicators of a groundswell of support for the president, whose approval rating is holding steady at a (not good) 43.5 percent. In fact, the only head-to-head general election poll conducted last week for which results are available was done by Emerson, which found Biden leading Trump by six points nationallya net swing of 10 points in Bidens favor since the last time the same pollster asked the question. Whatever Joe Biden is doing by not doing things, it seems to be working. For more on the impact of the coronavirus, listen to Mondays episode of What Next. Chinese medics arrive in Serbia to fight COVID-19 PLA Daily Source: Xinhuanet Editor: Chen Lufan 2020-03-22 15:33:23 "This exceeds politics. We wish to show respect to people that managed to beat the biggest enemy of today's world, the COVID-19," Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said in welcoming Chinese medical experts. BELGRADE, March 22 (Xinhua) -- A team of Chinese medical staff with experience in fighting COVID-19 arrived in the Serbian capital on Saturday evening to help with the Balkan state's battle against the virus. The six-member expert team were greeted with warm applause of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Health Minister Zlatibor Loncar, Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin and other government officials at the Belgrade Airport. The Chinese doctors, who specialize in such areas as infectious disease prevention (IDP), pulmonary and critical care medicine (PCCM), have also brought with them medical supplies urgently needed in Serbia, where 171 COVID-19 cases have been reported with one death. With experience in containing the spread of coronavirus, the Chinese experts are expected to provide valuable advice to Serbia, which declared a state of emergency five days ago in an effort to curb the virus' spread and appealed to China for help. The Chinese medical team came over with ventilators, medical masks, test kits and other medical supplies in the first batch of 16 tons of donations. The second batch are being loaded in China for another flight. Vucic said in a welcome address that the Chinese experts' coming to help is of "immense importance for our country," and the medical aid is "life-saving." "From now on, we will listen to everything they say. This exceeds politics. We wish to show respect to people that managed to beat the biggest enemy of today's world, the COVID-19," he said. Vucic also thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese people for the friendship and support they extended to the Serbian people at this difficult time. "We give them our immense gratitude, especially for sending their experts. They have proven as friends in the most difficult times when we fight for lives of Serbian people," said the Serbian president, adding "each of these ventilators means a saved human life here in Serbia." Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Chen Bo said that the experts from the southern Chinese province of Guangdong came straight from the frontlines of China's battle against COVID-19. "We are in the most difficult times, China, Serbia and the whole world. The COVID-19 virus represents an enemy to the whole mankind, and solidarity is most important at this moment," noted Chen, who also commended Serbia for its medical aid and support when China was hit hard by the virus. "Together we are stronger. We will fight together with our Serbian friends until the final victory," said Chen. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Airbus said that it expects production and assembly work to partially resume in France and Spain on March 23 following health and safety checks after the implementation of stringent measures. In addition, the company is supporting efforts globally to tackle the COVID-19 crisis, a statement said. Airbus has carried out extensive work in coordination with its social partners to ensure the health and safety of its employees, while securing business continuity. The implementation of these measures required a temporary pause in production and assembly activities at the French and Spanish sites for a period of four days. Work stations will only re-open if they comply with the new health and safety measures in terms of hygiene, cleaning and self-distancing while improving the efficiency of operations under new working conditions. The same measures are being deployed across all other sites without full interruption, the statement said. For other non-production activities globally, Airbus continues to support home-working where possible. Some employees will be asked to return to support business continuity following the implementation of these new measures. In February, the Airbus Final Assembly Line in Tianjin, China, reopened following a temporary production stoppage related to the coronavirus outbreak and is now operating efficiently. Airbus is supporting those in the health, emergency and public services that rely on its aircraft, helicopters, satellites and services to accomplish their critical missions. In addition, in the past days, the Company has donated thousands of face masks to hospitals and public services around Europe and has started to use its test aircraft to obtain larger quantities from suppliers in China. A first flight with a test A330-800 aircraft has this weekend transported approximately 2 million masks from Tianjin back to Europe, of which the large majority will be donated to the Spanish and French authorities. Additional flights are planned to take place in the coming days. Health and safety is our number one priority at Airbus so the work stations at our sites in France and Spain will only re-open if they meet the required standards. Id like to salute the strong commitment from our employees to ensure business continuity in close cooperation with our social partners and other stakeholders, said Airbus chief executive officer Guillaume Faury. At the same time we are doing all we can to support those on the frontline to fight the coronavirus and limit its spread. We try to live up to our values, humbled by the complexity of the situation, and contribute as much as we can to society in these very difficult times. - TradeArabia News Service [March 23, 2020] WBK DEADLINE - Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC Reminds Westpac Banking Corporation Shareholders With Losses Exceeding $100K of Class Action and Lead Plaintiff Deadline: March 30, 2020 Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Westpac Banking Corporation ("Westpac" or the Company") (NYSE: WBK) and certain of its officers, on behalf of shareholders who purchased Westpac securities between November 11, 2015 and November 19, 2019, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: www.bgandg.com/wbk. This class action seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) contrary to Australian law, the Company failed to report over 19.5 million international funds transfer instructions to AUSTRAC, Australia's anti money-laundering and terrorism financing regulator; (2) the Company did not appropriately monito and assess the ongoing money laundering and terrorism financing risks associated with movement of money into and out of Australia; (3) the Company did not pass on requisite information about the source of funds to other banks in the transfer chain; (4) despite being aware of the heightened risks, the Company did not carry out appropriate due diligence on transactions in South East Asia and the Philippines that had known financial indicators relating to child exploitation risks; (5) the Company's AML/CTF Program was inadequate to identify, mitigate and manage money laundering and terrorism financing risks; and (6) as a result, defendants' statements about its business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint you can visit the firm's site: www.bgandg.com/wbk or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Investor Relations Analyst, Yael Hurwitz of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 212-697-6484. If you suffered a loss in Westpac you have until March 30, 2020 to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff can select a law firm of its choice. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff. Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a corporate litigation boutique. Our primary expertise is the aggressive pursuit of litigation claims on behalf of our clients. In addition to representing institutions and other investor plaintiffs in class action security litigation, the firm's expertise includes general corporate and commercial litigation, as well as securities arbitration. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200323005083/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] ANN ARBOR, MI University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel has recommended firing tenured opera professor David Daniels, who was placed on paid leave in 2018 after being accused of sexual assault. The UM Board of Regents is expected to vote on the matter at its March 26 meeting, which will take place over the phone due to coronavirus concerns. UM faculty in 2015 warned of need to tell David Daniels to keep his hands off students In his recommendation, Schlissel said Daniels conduct is inconsistent with the character of tenure at the University of Michigan and therefore constitutes cause for dismissal... He also recommends that Daniels not be eligible for severance pay. Daniels was placed on paid leave in August 2018 after several sexually charged claims, including accusations that he solicited students online for sex, drugged and raped a Rice University student with his husband, William A. Scott Walters, and assaulted another student who is suing the university. Daniels and Walters have denied the allegations. MLive/The Ann Arbor News previously reported that Daniels was awarded tenure less than two months after the university received an anonymous complaint alleging he had used the dating app Grindr to offer a student money in exchange for sex. The regents unanimously approved tenure for Daniels based on multiple recommendations from students and faculty. UM professor tenured weeks after complaint of Grindr proposition According to court documents filed last month in connection with a federal lawsuit, faculty members at UMs School of Music, Theatre & Dance expressed concern over the hiring of Daniels in 2015, with one expressing a need to tell him to keep his hands off students. More than 20 witnesses, including students, faculty or staff, have provided firsthand accounts involving Daniels engaging in sexually suggestive communication with students, according to court documents. UM opera professor David Daniels still on payroll School of Music Dance and Theatre Dean David Gier initiated the process of terminating Daniels, a renowned countertenor who makes nearly $192,000 a year, in April 2019. Hes been on leave since August 2018, when UMs Office of Institutional Equity launched an investigation into claims the professor offered a student $300 for sex via the dating application Grindr. Firing a tenured professor requires a hearing and possible appeals. A UM spokesperson said a hearing was held, leading to Schlissels recommendation to fire Daniels. Report reveals new misconduct claims against University of Michigan Professor David Daniels Daniels attorney Francyne Stacey said she believes the move to fire the professor is a mistake, but its not my decision to make. Read more: Sexual assault claims false and malicious, says opera singer, UM professor UMich professor, opera singer on leave amid rape allegation University of Michigan removes Martin Philbert as provost amid sexual misconduct allegations Lawsuit seeks to represent likely thousands of victims of former UM doctor To keep our community informed of the most urgent coronavirus news, our critical updates are free to read. Ongoing coverage is available to subscribers. Subscribe now for full access and to support our work. Its March 23 and the city officially moves into the second full workweek of the coronavirus pandemic and its attendant restrictions. As a light fog blanketed the city, those lucky enough to work from home got up, turned on their computers, fed the dog, checked in remotely with loved ones and thought this again? San Antonio woke up on Monday to the same reality: Working from home, cabin fever and who ate the last Oreo cookie? Yes. Our new-ish national nightmare continues, so forthwith here is the latest edition of the New Normal, a (sorta) lighthearted roundup of news-you-can-use and other tidbits in the time of epidemic. First, a major (and not at all lighthearted) development: San Antonio recorded its first coronavirus death Saturday, a woman in her 80s with underlying health conditions. She had received treatment at Brooke Army Medical Center and died at a local hospice. Mayor Ron Nirenberg said the death illustrates the importance of continuing to adhere to all the aggressive measures he set in place last week: Stay home as much as you can. Practice social distancing. Wash your hands. No gatherings of 10 or more. You know the drill. Together we will overcome this challenge, he said. For those keeping count, here are the most up-to-date numbers regarding the virus: 45 infected in Bexar County, 723 in Texas. Statewide, seven have died. If youve ever looked for the upside of living in a sweltering oven like San Antonio, where the heat and humidity can make life all but unlivable from summer to early fall, heres some potentially good news: The New York Times reports that global and national rates of coronavirus transmission are slower in areas with warmer climes. Bring on the Coppertone! Texas, Arizona and Florida have all seen slower outbreak spreads than Washington, New York and Colorado. Remember this when sweat trickles down your back in September. Assuming there is a September, of course. Are you a parent who cant make it to those meal delivery sites to pick up breakfast or lunch for your kids? Help is on the way, in the form of a yellow school bus. San Antonio, North East and East Central independent school districts are launching bus stop service in specific neighborhoods. The kids need to be there in order to receive the packaged meals, but they dont have to be students in the district. Speaking of bus drivers, officials at many area school districts are stepping up, ensuring that they, along with other hourly workers, such as cafeteria workers, will continued to be paid as schools stay closed. Same for teachers, obviously. Schools are slated to reopen April 6, but many districts warn it might be later, if not the entire spring semester. Unlike governors in New York, California, Illinois, Connecticut, Oregon, Ohio and Louisiana, Gov. Greg Abbott thus far has resisted issuing a stay-at-home order, which bans residents from leaving their homes, except for essential trips, such as buying groceries. He explained that Texas just has too many counties -- like, 200 that havent seen a single case of folks testing positive for the virus. Some mayors are disagreeing. Hours after Abbott made his statement, the mayor of Dallas County issued his own stay-at-home order for that countys 2.6 million residents. Critics say Abbott has moved too slowly with his measures to fight COVID-19, trailing local officials (like our mayor) when it comes to such moves as closing schools and shuttering bars and restaurants. What do you think? Is Abbott simply showing an abundance of necessary caution? Or is he foolishly wasting precious time? In brighter news, the New Normal tries each day to find an example of heroism in the time of pandemic. Joining the ranks of doctors, nurses, H-E-B employees and first responders is this guy, Luciano Ciorciari, who runs a restaurant wholesale company. On Sunday, he and two local restaurants banded together to make 300 bags of free food to give to out-of-work restaurant employees. Feeding those who feed us. Nice job, Luciano. Here are some other businesses and residents who are stepping up in this time of anxiety and uncertainly to help others. In the annals of messed-up honeymoons from hell, San Antonio natives Jay and Carmen Martinez indisputably take the top prize. Theyre presently marooned on a Norwegian Jewel cruise ship in the Pacific Ocean, along with 2,000 others. The boat has been turned away from four different ports, including one in Honolulu, even though no one on board has shown symptoms or tested positive for the virus. The two UTSA grads are now helping their shipmates contact loved ones via a limited number of computers, as they await their eventual (and surely it will happen one day?) release. Is it just me, or does this sound like an amazing setup for a prestigious HBO drama? The morale on the ship has fluctuated, Jay said, but theres a real sense of camaraderie among the stranded. After all, he said, were all in the same boat. Jay also gets the top prize for best use of metaphor that matches real life. Lets all try to be decent people during this time of challenge, people. Follow simple etiquette guidelines at H-E-B. If youre out driving, be civil. Smile and wave at your neighbors, from a distance. If you visit a drive-thru restaurant, consider leaving a generous tip, if you can. And maybe thank the employee for his or her service. We did both last night at a Dairy Queen on Fredericksburg Road, and the smile we got in return was even better than the hot fudge sundae. Until tomorrow, the New Normal out. Melissa Fletcher Stoeltje is a general assignment reporter covering breaking news, cultural trends and interesting people and goings-on around San Antonio and Bexar County, as well as all across South Texas. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | mstoeltje@express-news.net | Twitter: @mstoeltje A FEW days before the Chinese Lunar New Y ear, or Spring Festival, an epidemic of novel coronavirus pneumonia (CO V ID-19 ), which started in Wuhan city, the provincial capital of Central China Hubei province, propagated all over the country. It is a major public health emergency that has spread in the fastest speed, caused the most extensive infection and is the most difficult to contain in China since the founding of the Peoples Republic. Under the strong leadership of H.E. President X i Jinping and with the unity and painstaking efforts made by the Chinese people, the epidemic control in China has been yielding good results. As of 29 February, in mainland China, the number of daily new confirmed cases has decreased around 9 0 percent compared with the peak number (3,8 8 7 ), which appeared on 4 February; O ver 20 provincial-level administrative regions have been reporting zero new confirmed cases for several consecutive days; The number of cured cases has exceeded the number of new confirmed cases for 12 straight days; Altogether 4 1,6 25 patients have been cured and discharged from hospitals with a nationwide cure rate of 52.1 percent, and the cure rate in regions outside Hubei is as high as 8 0.8 percent; For the first time the number of suspected cases fell below 1,000. Many Tanzanian friends commended China for its marvelous work in epidemic control, and asked me what are the reasons behind. The answer lies in the notable strength of Chinas state and governance systems. Firstly, the greatest strength of the socialism with Chinese characteristics is the leadership of the Communist Party of China ( CPC). In the battle against the epidemic, the CPC has played the role of assuming responsibility for the overall situation and coordinating the efforts of all quarters. The CPC G eneral Secretary X i Jinping has been making plans and taking command of the battle by himself, including establishment of working mechanisms and adoption of relevant policies. Party institutions at various levels responded to X is calls rapidly and a nationwide system of joint prevention and control was quickly established. The over 90 million CPC members volunteer for battle and play an exemplary role as pioneers. Secondly, coordinating national activities and mobilising various resources for big undertakings are not only the strength of Chinas governance system, but the key to effective prevention and control of the epidemic. China has conducted unprecedented mobilisation and reallocation of resources at the national level. To contain infection at the source, China imposed lockdown in Wuhan, a megacity with over 11 million population. To assist other cities in Hubei province, 19 provincial-level administrative regions are paired with these cities. More than 330 medical teams and 4 1,6 00 healthcare workers coming from different parts of China, including the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), gathered in Hubei to fight the disease. Daily necessities and medical supplies are sent to Wuhan from various parts of the country in large quantities. Within two weeks, two hospitals, namely Huoshenshan and Leishenshan, were built to treat CO V ID-19 patients. Currently, to win the battles in Hubei and Wuhan, China focuses on two key aspects: epidemic prevention and control, and treatment of the patients. After 9 -day field trip in China, Dr Bruce Aylward, head of the international expert panel of the WHO - China Joint Mission on CO V ID-19 , said, What they (the Chinese) have done has only been possible because of tremendous collective commitment and will of the Chinese people from the most bottom-level community leaders we met and talked to, to the governors at the top. It was an extraordinary, what we call all-of-government, all-of-society approach, but it is rare to see. Thirdly, the strength also comes from the people-centered approach pursued by the CPC and the Chinese G overnment. Chinas battle against the epidemic is for the people and depends on the people. Since the outbreak of CO V ID-19 , President X i Jinping has repeatedly stressed that peoples lives and health should be put in the first place and the epidemic prevention and control is Chinas most important task. In this smokeless war, the whole Chinese nation has been mobilised, and the 1.4 billion Chinese people are united as one. People stay at home, as schools and universities closed, and the work in factories and construction sites postponed. They even canceled their New Y ear calls on relatives and friends, an ancient and unchanged tradition during the Spring Festival. Many citizens make donations to support the people in Wuhan. Healthcare workers are praised for their great sacrifices. Up to now, over 20 doctors and nurses have lost their lives in the fight against the epidemic. Some oldaged medical experts like Dr Zhong Nanshan and Prof. Li Lanjuan have been taking the lead in conducting scientific research on the disease and curing the seriously ill patients. Fourthly, China has been doing a remarkable job in shouldering its responsibilities to contain the spread of the virus, which is a vivid demonstration of Chinas efforts to build a community of a shared future for the mankind. Virus respects no boundaries. In the face of the CO V ID-19 outbreak, the mankind is a community with a shared future, bound together by common interests. From the very beginning, China has been publicizing information of the epidemic on a daily basis in the fastest, openest and the most transparent manner. It has also shared with the WHO and the rest of the world the genetic sequence of the virus, and carried out cooperation in clinic medical care, medicine and vaccine research. The Chinese G overnment has been protecting foreigners in China as if they were its own citizens and caring for overseas students studying in China as if they were the children of the Chinese people. Tanzanian students and those from other foreign countries have been well looked after and considerate arrangements have been made. For instance, special hot lines have been set up to solve the problems that international students have encountered, and online teaching and learning are being conducted. By far, none of the over 5,000 Tanzanians in China has been infected with the CO V ID-19 . Just as what WHO Director- G eneral Dr Tedros Adhanom G hebreyesus said, We would have seen many more cases outside China by now and probably deaths if it were not for the governments efforts, and the progress they have made to protect their own people and the people of the world. When asked by the WHO Mission on CO - V ID-19 why they are willing to stay at home for weeks, ordinary citizens in Wuhan replied, This is our duty. We want to protect the whole world. That is why Dr Aylward touchingly responded, Thank you, people in Wuhan. The world owes you a debt. The unprecedented measures taken by China to fight against the virus has won extensive admiration from the international community and wide support from the friends across the world. Heads of more than 170 countries and 40 international organisations, including President of Tanzania H.E. John Pombe Magufuli, have expressed their condolences and support to China and dozens of governments and their people have extended helping hands by continuously sending various supplies to Wuhan. I was moved when H.E. President Magufuli told me that as long as Chinese brothers are in need, we would dispatch doctors to help fight the virus in China at any time. Everyday I am immersed by such touching and encouraging words as Tuko pamoja kila wakati and Baki imara China from our Tanzanian friends to support us. Although the situation of the epidemic is still serious on the global scale and some countries are facing severe challenges, the practice of China in preventing and controlling the epidemic has offered an important lesson to other countries. Just as what President Xi Jinping pointed out, China will further strengthen international cooperation in epidemic prevention and control, continue close communication and collaboration with the WHO and other countries, and share with them Chinas experiences. Chinas practice has fully demonstrated that the CO V ID-19 is preventable, controllable and curable. As we are in March, I would like to say, The winter has passed and the spring is coming. With the approach of relying on science and rationality and adhering to openness and transparency, and in the spirit of building a community of a shared future for the mankind, in this promising spring, China and the world at large will finally win the battle against this epidemic. HOUSTON, March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- KBR (NYSE: KBR) announced today that it has been awarded a $26.8 million task order to provide additional cybersecurity engineering support to the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) Engineering Directorate Cyber Systems Engineering Division. KBR was awarded this cost-plus-fixed-fee task order under the Department of Defense Information Analysis Center's (DoD IAC) multiple-award contract. The task order is part of the DoD IAC's Cyber Security and Information Systems Technical Area Task (CSTAT). This task order was awarded by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) Installation Contracting Center. KBR won a seat on the CSTAT contract in December 2015. Under the new task order, KBR experts will develop cybersecurity frameworks for U.S. Air Force command and control (C2) and rapid cyber acquisition (RCA) customers. C2 and RCA systems provide integrating communications capabilities that permit almost all other Air Force weapon systems to operate and communicate securely. The cybersecurity of these systems is paramount to the secure operation of key assets including fighter, bomber, and remotely piloted aircraft. KBR will provide system and software security, mission assurance, risk management, and resilience in developing, implementing, training, verifying, and executing cybersecurity strategies across the portfolio of C2 and RCA weapon systems for AFLCMC. Through this work, which will be performed at Hanscom AFB in Massachusetts, KBR will increase the cybersecurity and resiliency of USAF systems while helping to ingrain cybersecurity best practices into the engineering processes of systems in acquisition. "This award demonstrates the military's trust in KBR's ability to provide knowledge-based cybersecurity services," said Byron Bright, KBR President, Government Solutions U.S. "KBR's growing cybersecurity portfolio underscores our position as a leading provider of cutting-edge cyber and electronic security solutions for the government." KBR offers an array of IT and cyber capabilities, including software engineering and development; big data analytics, computer network management, defense and support; cyber certification and accreditation; cyber policy development, translation and training; vulnerability assessment and evaluation; utility monitoring and control; health IT; and cloud security. About DoD IAC Program The DoD IAC program operates as a part of Defense Technical Information Center and provides technical data management and research support for DoD and federal government users. Established in the 1940s, the IAC program serves the DoD science & technology (S&T) and acquisition communities to drive innovation and technological developments by enhancing collaboration through integrated scientific and technical information development and dissemination for the DoD and broader S&T community. About KBR, Inc. KBR is a global provider of differentiated professional services and technologies across the asset and program lifecycle within the Government Solutions and Energy sectors. KBR employs approximately 38,000 people worldwide (including our joint ventures), with customers in more than 80 countries, and operations in 40 countries, across three synergistic global businesses: Government Solutions, serving government customers globally, including capabilities that cover the full lifecycle of defense, space, aviation and other government programs and missions from research and development, through systems engineering, test and evaluation, program management, to operations, maintenance, and field logistics Technology Solutions, featuring proprietary technology, equipment, catalysts, digital solutions and related technical services for the monetization of hydrocarbons, including refining, petrochemicals, ammonia and specialty chemicals, as well as inorganics Energy Solutions, including onshore oil and gas; LNG (liquefaction and regasification)/GTL; oil refining; petrochemicals; chemicals; fertilizers; differentiated EPC; maintenance services (Brown & Root Industrial Services); offshore oil and gas (shallow-water, deep-water, subsea); floating solutions (FPU, FPSO, FLNG & FSRU); program management and consulting services KBR is proud to work with its customers across the globe to provide technology, value-added services, integrated EPC delivery and long term operations and maintenance services to ensure consistent delivery with predictable results. At KBR, We Deliver. Visit www.kbr.com Forward Looking Statement The statements in this press release that are not historical statements, including statements regarding future financial performance, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company's control that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the outcome of and the publicity surrounding audits and investigations by domestic and foreign government agencies and legislative bodies; potential adverse proceedings by such agencies and potential adverse results and consequences from such proceedings; the scope and enforceability of the company's indemnities from its former parent; changes in capital spending by the company's customers; the company's ability to obtain contracts from existing and new customers and perform under those contracts; structural changes in the industries in which the company operates; escalating costs associated with and the performance of fixed-fee projects and the company's ability to control its cost under its contracts; claims negotiations and contract disputes with the company's customers; changes in the demand for or price of oil and/or natural gas; protection of intellectual property rights; compliance with environmental laws; changes in government regulations and regulatory requirements; compliance with laws related to income taxes; unsettled political conditions, war and the effects of terrorism; foreign operations and foreign exchange rates and controls; the development and installation of financial systems; increased competition for employees; the ability to successfully complete and integrate acquisitions; and operations of joint ventures, including joint ventures that are not controlled by the company. KBR's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequent Form 10-Qs and 8-Ks, and other U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings discuss some of the important risk factors that KBR has identified that may affect the business, results of operations and financial condition. Except as required by law, KBR undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason. SOURCE KBR, Inc. Related Links www.kbr.com Doctors say Kashmir, which has been under a security lockdown since August, is ill-equipped to deal with the pandemic. Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir As the world scrambles to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, fear and anxiety prevail in Indian-administered Kashmir after four COVID-19 cases were detected. Hospitals in the disputed Himalayan region have an acute shortage of doctors and paramedics, while its healthcare facilities are insufficient to meet the crisis which has unsettled countries with world-class medical infrastructure. Given the situation, residents of the valley fear the potentially disastrous consequences of the coronavirus pandemic after the first case of infection was reported on Thursday. Apprehensions abound that this may be just the tip of the iceberg as several hundred people, most of whom had travelled to other countries, were placed under quarantine. In nearby Ladakh, which until August was part of Kashmir before it was separated and turned into a federally-administered territory, 13 cases tested positive, most of whom had travelled to Iran. The Muslim-majority region has been under a strict security and communication lockdown since August 5 when New Delhi stripped the disputed Himalayan regions of its special status. The internet was restored earlier this month, but it remains slow as 4G services are still not allowed. Residents fear the potentially disastrous consequences of the coronavirus pandemic [Shuaib Bashir/Al Jazeera] Series of measures Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmirs main city and home to a million people, turned into a ghost town this week as markets were shut, public transport banned and entry of travellers restricted. We arent testing proactively and enough, Junaid Mattu, mayor of Srinagar, said. We arent preparing for the worst. The valleys administration, which now reports to New Delhi, has taken a series of measures aimed at containing the spread of the virus, including a lockdown that has grown in recent days. Schools, colleges and universities, which reopened last month after seven months of an earlier lockdown, have been shut again as people stock up on essential supplies in preparation for another lengthy period of isolation. The fear over the pandemic is compounded by a feeling among Kashmiris that the administration is not being transparent with them. Trust me, if I share a summary of daily events, no one in Kashmir will sleep, Shahid Chaudhary, head of the civil administration in Srinagar, wrote on Twitter. Lets keep our egos aside, work collectively and instead of raising panic and alarm help each other to improve. This (is) 3rd World War. Nothing less. Hospitals ill-equipped The real crisis, however, may well lie in Kashmirs hospitals, which remain understaffed and ill-equipped to fight the outbreak. A veteran doctor, the former principal of Government Medical College (GMC) in Srinagar who is acquainted with the regions healthcare facilities, warned that a major disaster could occur. The college has seven major hospitals associated with it. We need lockdown for one month, he told Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity. If it [coronavirus pandemic] happens here, we will be devastated. We will die like cattle. The doctor said Kashmirs healthcare system is ill-equipped to deal with even normal things in normal times. It will crush us and devastate us, unless the community intervenes, he said. Samia Rashid, current GMC principal, said the outpatient department and all elective surgeries have been suspended in the associate hospitals. Only emergencies will be examined and cancer surgeries performed. Patients who do not require immediate treatment are requested to not visit hospitals, she urged. Rashid said the GMC administration has more than 13,000 N95 masks, 3,300 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits, adding that they also procured 122,000 triple layered masks. N95 respirator masks and surgical masks (face masks) are used by doctors and other health workers to protect them from infections while treating COVID-19 patients. Rashid said that while there were enough ventilators to contain the situation right now, there was a shortage of manpower. Our manpower to run them all is not sufficient. An official audit of healthcare facilities conducted in 2018 found that the existing manpower was barely sufficient to run the health institutions in view of sustained increase of patient flow across the state. [Kashmir] is severely short of nursing staff. Against a requirement of 3,193 nurses there are only 1,290 sanctioned posts of staff nurses in the [former] Jammu and Kashmir state with a deficit of 1,903 posts which need to be created, the audit found. The audit noted that the doctor to patient ratio in the Kashmir region is one of the lowest in India. Compared to the doctor-patient ratio of 1:2,000 in India, Jammu and Kashmir has one allopathic doctor for 3,866 people against the WHO norm of one doctor for 1,000 population, it said. Authorities in Indian-administered Kashmir impose a complete lockdown amid the growing fears of COVID-19 spread. [Shuaib Bashir/Al Jazeera] Doctors fear going home Ahmad, a doctor at Srinagars Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital, told Al Jazeera doctors fear going home after work. We do not have the required protective equipment. We just wear a surgical mask, normal gloves and surgical gown and a cap. We cannot tell a patient to maintain distance, he said. It is the first place where people come with symptoms and their first contact with a doctor. Ahmad said doctors like him are at risk of being exposed to coronavirus infection and do not want to be the carrier of the virus. If we get infected, the whole hospital staff would have to be quarantined. We need proper equipment so that the health system keeps going, he told Al Jazeera. The Resident Doctors Association at the hospital, in a statement, this week said every patient visiting the hospital should be viewed as a potential COVID-19 case and rued the dearth of protective infrastructure and sanitisers at the hospital. Welfare of public depends on doctors, and if doctors themselves are sick, how can they provide healthcare to general public. At the regions two major hospitals, which see thousands of patients daily from across Kashmir, two doctors have been put in quarantine after they developed symptoms of COVID-19. Amnesty International has condemned the continuous suspension of high-speed internet in the region [Shuaib Bashir/Al Jazeera] Internet shutdown Amid the alarming threat of the spread of COVID-19, Kashmir also faces a crippling blockade of high-speed internet which has effectively hampered an effective awareness campaign among the people as well as among doctors. High-speed internet services in the region have been blocked since August to prevent protests against the abrogation of the regions autonomy. Iqbal Saleem, a professor of surgery at GMC, said he could not download a COVID-19 manual for doctors. This is so frustrating. Trying to download the guidelines for intensive care management as proposed by doctors in England. 24 Mbs and one hour. Still not able to do so, he said on Twitter referring to using the low-speed mobile internet that is the only thing available in the region. Another doctor working at a hospital in north Kashmir said the low-speed internet was handicapping them when it came to getting updated information from around the globe. We dont know anything, and we are not able to download research papers etc, its very hard, he said. The ban of high-speed internet has also made it impossible for many in Kashmir to work from home, one of the important precautionary measures taken in many countries to contain the spread of the disease. We dont have the option to work from home as there is not enough mobile internet speed to connect our laptops, Arshad, an IT employee, said. Amnesty International has condemned the continuous suspension of high-speed internet in the region and asked the Indian authorities to fully restore it. In wake of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Government of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir must restore full access to internet services in the region of Jammu and Kashmir and ensure that people have full access to health and safety related information, said Avinash Kumar, Executive Director of Amnesty International India, in a statement. Kumar said restricting the internet speed makes it difficult for people to navigate their way through a difficult time further undermining their trust in the authorities. The Government of India needs to adopt a rights-respecting approach to protect public health and restore access to 4G speed internet. When asked about the restoration of high-speed internet, Jammu and Kashmir government spokesperson Rohit Kansals response was: Whenever there is some information, we will update you. Amid the growing concerns, more than 170 academics from around the world have written a letter to the World Health Organization and UN special rapporteurs about the restoration of high-speed internet in Kashmir. Despite the region reporting multiple positive cases of COVID-19, the Indian government has, criminally, barred residents from accessing reliable, high-speed internet. Only recently, through an administrative diktat, the Indian authorities extended the ban on high-speed internet until 26th of March, the letter said. Makinwa who took to her twitter handle to express how furious she is with the spread of the disease said China should be made to pay dearly for the lives and jobs lost. The disaster in Italy does not stem from gross government negligence. Rather, analysts say it is partly a consequence of the weeks between the emergence of the outbreak and the government decision to absolutely lock down the population. And though many in Italy now argue that their government waited too long, democracies across the West have been mulling the same decisions and in some cases have acted less decisively. 23.03.2020 LISTEN The robotic club students at Obuasi Technical School have joined the fight of the pandemic coronavirus diseases which has claimed a life in Ghana. In regards to safety measures recommended by the World Health Organisation to be observed by the public in order to reduce the risk of contracting the virus, the robotic club has assembled a robotic washing bowl which does not need users to touch the tap before washing their hands. As demonstrated by one student, the tap automatically opens immediately one puts the hand below the tap in an attempt to wash the hands. The purpose was to avoid people contacting the virus by touching the tap as they wash their hands since the coronavirus according to research lives on the surface of materials. Ghana since March 17th, 2020 has recorded 24 confirmed cases and one death. The President of the republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on March 21st, 2020 addressed the nation on safety measures to avoid the spread of the novel coronavirus of which he has ordered the closure of all borders from human trafficking and declared 25th March 2020 a national fasting and prayers daily. This was after he had suspended all social gatherings and the closure of all educational institutions in the country. ---Gideonsweb.com HONOLULU A cruise ship that had to cut short its trip because of the coronavirus and mechanical problems docked Sunday in Honolulu's harbor. The Norwegian Jewel, which carried about 2,000 passengers, docked in the late afternoon, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported. Montana's U.S. Sens. Jon Tester and Steve Daines both sent press releases saying the 16 Montanans who were on the ship are getting flights home. Im so glad to have helped get these Montanans back home safely from around the world during the outbreak," Daines said in an emailed statement. "The families and loved ones of these 16 Montanans will be happy to see them back on U.S. soil and on their way home. Tester's office said it was in close contact with the Montanans and their families. My office has been working around the clock to help these 16 Montanans return home, and Im thrilled theyre finally on their way," Tester said in an emailed statement. "We continue to assist many more Montanans who are still stranded abroad, and are working with the State Department, cruise operators, airlines, and other agencies to help secure their safe travel back to the United States. U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte also sent an emailed statement Monday about the passengers' return to the state and said anyone else struggling to get back to the state amid travel restrictions should ask for help from the delegation. I welcome these Montanans back home, and urge any Montanans who are stuck overseas to reach out so we can work to bring you home. Well get through this outbreak together and stronger on the other side," Gianforte said. Last week Montana Gov. Steve Bullock issued a advisory urging Montanans who have traveled internationally to self-quarantine for 14 days upon returning to the state. Bullock's office said Monday it has been keeping in regular touch with the passengers and is eager to have them home. The governor's office has connected the passengers with their local public health authorities for guidance on how to follow self-quarantine guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control that apply to anyone returning from a cruise ship. The ship has problems with its propulsion, which will be repaired at Honolulu's harbor, the Hawaii Department of Transportation said. The repairs to the ship must be made without passengers aboard, the department added. A detailed plan is being developed with Norwegian Cruise Line that keeps passengers isolated to avoid any potential strain on Hawaiis resources, while also addressing the well-being of the cruise line passengers who have been at sea for a very long time, said Jade Butay, director of the Hawaii Department of Transportation. The ship had to cut short its 23-day cruise of Australia and French Polynesia because many ports were closed due to the coronavirus, the ship's owner, Norwegian Cruise Line, said in a statement. The passengers last disembarked in Fiji on March 11, the transportation department said. Charter flights have been arranged for ship passengers on Monday and Tuesday from Honolulu to Los Angeles; Sydney; London; Vancouver, British Columbia; and Frankfurt, Germany, the company said. Because of the additional precautions we are taking in response to the COVID-19 crisis, it will take some time to transport these passengers safely to their chartered planes and we thank the public for its cooperation and understanding, Butay said. There are no confirmed cases of the coronavirus among the ship's 2,000 passengers and 1,000 crew members, the transportation department said. On Thursday, the Norwegian Cruise Line said the Norwegian Jewel was turned away by Fiji and New Zealand. The ship had refueled in American Samoa but was not allowed to disembark at the Port of Pago Pago. The Norwegian Cruise Line suspended the ship for all voyages from March 13 to April 11. Please know that we will continue to consult with The World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to take action as necessary," the company said in a statement. Our business also relies on the availability and accessibility of ports around the world. As such, we will continue to monitor the situation and evaluate the feasibility of redeploying our ships as planned on April 12, 2020." Lee Newspapers' state reporter Holly Michels contributed to this story. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 23) A court in New York has dismissed conspiracy charges filed by the Bangladesh central bank against a Philippine bank and local casinos over a 2016 heist that took away $81 million from Dhaka. In a disclosure, Bloomberry Resorts Corporation the operator of Solaire Resort & Casino said the United States District Court in the Southern District of New York junked the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act or RICO conspiracy claim filed by Bangladesh Bank against the company, as well as the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, Eastern Hawaii Leisure Company, Ltd., Centurytex Trading, and remittance firm Philrem Service Corp. and their officers. RELATED: Makati court finds ex-RCBC manager guilty of money laundering The civil case stemmed from the February 2016 heist where thieves tapped into the system of the US Federal Reserve in New York and authorized multiple fund transfers from the Bangladesh Bank's account to several fake bank accounts under RCBC. The funds were wired during a long weekend, which left no time for regulators to block the transactions. The funds were withdrawn, converted into pesos and eventually into poker chips and gambled in casino tables here, where the money trail vanished. RELATED: Bangladesh Bank official's computer was hacked to carry out $81M heist diplomat The casino operator said a March 20 opinion from the US court granted the motion to dismiss charges filed by defendants for Dhaka's failure to prove the conspiracy claim. Bloomberry said the civil case was filed by Bangladesh Bank to collect the amount it allegedly lost to North Korean hackers. READ: Bangladesh heist perpetrators may never be identified ex US official The RICO law allows parties to go after organized syndicates, which covers financial crimes like wire fraud and money laundering. Bangladesh filed the charges in January 2019, three years after the crime. Of the amount, only $17 million has been recovered. The case is the biggest money laundering incident involving the Philippines, which prompted lawmakers to require casinos to regularly report big-ticket and suspicious transactions to authorities. A mother who was infected with the coronavirus couldnt smell her babys full diaper. Cooks who can usually name every spice in a restaurant dish cant smell curry or garlic, and food tastes bland. Others say they cant pick up the sweet scent of shampoo or the foul odor of kitty litter. Anosmia, the loss of sense of smell, and ageusia, an accompanying diminished sense of taste, have emerged as peculiar telltale signs of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, and possible markers of infection. On Friday, British ear, nose and throat doctors, citing reports from colleagues around the world, called on adults who lose their senses of smell to isolate themselves for seven days, even if they have no other symptoms, to slow the diseases spread. The published data is limited, but doctors are concerned enough to raise warnings. We really want to raise awareness that this is a sign of infection and that anyone who develops loss of sense of smell should self-isolate, Professor Claire Hopkins, president of the British Rhinological Society, wrote in an email. It could contribute to slowing transmission and save lives. She and Nirmal Kumar, president of ENT UK, a group representing ear, nose and throat doctors in Britain, issued a joint statement urging health care workers to use personal protective equipment when treating any patients who have lost their senses of smell, and advised against performing nonessential sinus endoscopy procedures on anyone, because the virus replicates in the nose and the throat and an exam can prompt coughs or sneezes that expose the doctor to a high level of virus. Two ear, nose and throat specialists in Britain who have been infected with the coronavirus are in critical condition, Hopkins said. Earlier reports from Wuhan, China, where the coronavirus first emerged, had warned that ear, nose and throat specialists as well as eye doctors were infected and dying in large numbers, Hopkins said. The British physicians cited reports from other countries indicating that significant numbers of coronavirus patients experienced anosmia, saying that in South Korea, where testing has been widespread, 30% of 2,000 patients who tested positive experienced anosmia as their major presenting symptom (these were mild cases). The American Academy of Otolaryngology on Sunday posted information on its website saying that mounting anecdotal evidence indicates that lost or reduced sense of smell and loss of taste are significant symptoms associated with COVID-19, and that they have been seen in patients who ultimately tested positive with no other symptoms. The symptoms, in the absence of allergies or sinusitis, should alert doctors to screen patients for the virus and warrant serious consideration for self isolation and testing of these individuals, the academy said. The organization has reminded its members that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has urged all clinicians to prioritize urgent and emergency visits for the next several weeks and to reschedule elective and routine procedures. There is evolving evidence that otolaryngologists are among the highest risk group when performing upper airway surgeries and examinations, said a notice posted on the academys website Friday. A high rate of transmission of COVID-19 to otolaryngologists has been reported from China, Italy and Iran, many resulting in death. Dr. Rachel Kaye, an assistant professor of otolaryngology at Rutgers, said colleagues in New Rochelle, New York, which has been the center of an outbreak, first alerted her to the smell loss associated with the coronavirus, sharing that patients who had first complained of anosmia later tested positive for the coronavirus. This raised a lot of alarms for me personally, Kaye said, because those patients wont know to self quarantine. Most ENTs have on their own accord tried to scale down, she said, adding that her department at Rutgers had already started using personal protective equipment and stopped performing nonessential exams. In the areas of Italy most heavily affected by the virus, doctors say they have concluded that loss of taste and smell is an indication that a person who otherwise seems healthy is in fact carrying the virus and may be spreading it to others. Almost everybody who is hospitalized has this same story, said Dr. Marco Metra, chief of the cardiology department at the main hospital in Brescia, where 700 of 1,200 inpatients have the coronavirus. You ask about the patients wife or husband. And the patient says, My wife has just lost her smell and taste but otherwise she is well. So she is likely infected, and she is spreading it with a very mild form. A study from South Korea, where widespread testing has been done, found that 30% of some 2,000 patients who tested positive for the coronavirus reported experiencing anosmia. Hendrik Streeck, a German virologist from the University of Bonn who went from house to house in the countrys Heinsberg district to interview coronavirus patients, has said in interviews that at least two-thirds of the more than 100 he talked to with mild disease reported experiencing loss of smell and taste lasting several days. Another physician who studied a cluster of coronavirus patients in Germany said in an email that roughly half of the patients had experienced a smell or taste disorder, and that the sensory loss usually presented after the first symptoms of respiratory illness, but could be used to distinguish people who should be tested. Dr. Clemens Wendtner, a professor of medicine at the Academic Teaching Hospital of Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, said that the patients regained their ability to smell after a few days or weeks, and that the loss occurred regardless of how sick they got or whether they were congested. Using nasal drops or sprays did not help, Wendtner said. Several American patients who have had symptoms consistent with the coronavirus, but who have not been tested or are still awaiting test results, described losing their senses of smell and taste, even though their noses were clear and they were not congested. Andrew Berry, 30, developed a fever and body aches about 10 days ago, and then a sore throat and debilitating headaches. He tested negative for influenza and has not gotten the result of a coronavirus test taken four days ago, but his physician was convinced that he had the virus, he said. Now, Berry said, he literally cannot smell the coffee. Even with a clear nose, I just realized I couldnt smell the food that I was cooking, and I couldnt taste the food that I was making, said Berry, a tattoo artist based in Orlando, Florida. He was cooking a plantain dish with onions and vinegar, yet he could not smell it. Amy Plattmier, a woman from Brooklyn, was not tested for the coronavirus during a recent illness, but her husband then became sick and had a positive test. Amy Plattmier said she usually had a very sensitive nose, but now could barely smell anything not the bleach she was using to clean the counters, which usually makes her feel nauseated, or the dogs accident in the bathroom, which she cleaned up. Berry has also lost some weight, because he has not had much of an appetite. Hopefully its not a prolonged effect, he said. I can imagine it changes the quality of life. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Besides, the Healthcare Ministry will reconsider the algorithm of testing and treatment approaches Open source The ambulance units will do express tests for coronavirus infection for the urgent patients as 112 Ukraine TV channel reported citing Deputy Healthcare Minister Viktor Lyashko. Yesterday we received information that the ambulance units will hold the testing with express tests. Yes, it will be held but in exceptional cases, when they will come for provision of the urgent aid to patients, Lyashko said. Besides, the Healthcare Ministry will reconsider the algorithm of testing and treatment approaches. The document will include criteria with specification who and when should be hospitalized or transferred to the intensive care unit. Earlier, it was reported that the express tests for coronavirus will be conducted only by doctors of certain healthcare establishments. On March 23, Ukrainian cargo aircraft IL-76 landed in Boryspil international airport. The plane arrived from Guangzhou, China, carrying 250,000 tests for Covid-19, the coronavirus. Meanwhile, the number of people infected with coronavirus in Ukraine has reached 73 people. Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Yehor Bozhok and Ambassador of Iran to Ukraine Manuchehr Moradi at a meeting on March 19 have coordinated an algorithm of cooperation to investigate into downing of a plane of the Ukrainian International Airlines (UIA) in January, the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine reported. "During the meeting, the issues related to the investigation of the downed PS 752 Ukrainian plane were discussed, in particular, the need for urgent decoding of black boxes was confirmed, and a further interaction algorithm was agreed to investigate into the causes of the tragedy and bring the perpetrators to justice," says a report on the ministry's website on Monday. In addition, Bozhok and Moradi discussed certain issues of cooperation in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular, they agreed to work out joint measures to return the Ukrainian and Iranian citizens, who are now on the territory of both states. As reported, a Boeing 737-800 of Ukraine International Airlines crashed in the vicinity of Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport soon after takeoff on January 8. None of the 167 passengers and nine crewmembers survived the crash. There were 11 citizens of Ukraine, 82 citizens of Iran, 73 of Canada, ten of Sweden, four of Afghanistan, three of Germany, and three of the United Kingdom on board the plane. Iranian authorities acknowledged on January 11, that the Boeing was downed by the Iranian military by mistake. Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Aerospace Forces Amir Ali Hajizadeh assumed full responsibility for the crash of the Ukrainian plane. Entering the Detian Transnational Waterfall Scenic Area located in Guangxi, our visions are filled with the sight of the flaming kapok and the waterfall adding radiance and beauty to each other. Tourists walking around, rejuvenated the magnificent scenic spot. According to the person in charge, on March 8, 2020, Detian Transnational Waterfall Scenic Area resumed operations in an orderly manner. On the day, it received 153 tourists coming from 11 provinces, with local tourists accounting for 46%. Recently, the scenic area is slowly recovering, and the number of tourists has remaining stable at around 300 daily. The photo shows the beautiful scenery of Detian Waterfall on March 10. (Photo taken by Yu Jing/Chinanews.com) Detian Waterfall is located in Detian Village, ShuoLong Town, Daxin County, Chongzuo City of Guangxi Province. It is situated on the upstream of Guichun river at the China-Vietnam border and is connected to Ban Gioc Waterfall in Vietnam. Detian Waterfall is the largest transnational waterfall in Asia and the fourth in the world. In 2015, the Chinese and the Vietnamese government signed an agreement on Cooperative Protection and Development of the Detian (Ban Gioc) Waterfall Tourism Resources between Vietnam and China. This is the first cross-border tourism cooperation zone in China. On March 10, the bamboo rafts used for sightseeing in the scenic area were suspended. (Photo taken by Yu Jing/Chinanews.com) Qin Yimin, deputy secretary of Daxin County party committee said, "Based on the consensus reached by the two countries, the cross-border tourism cooperation zone is planning on running a trial operation in the first half of this year. However, due to the epidemic situation, the two sides have postponed the date of the trial. Once the outbreak is over, I believe that with the state leaders of the two countries pushing forward, the trial operations for the zone can successfully be put into operation within this year. " Qin further mentioned that China and Vietnam have done a lot of preparation for this upcoming trial operation and both sides have upgraded and improved many aspects of their respective scenic spots. China has built the Detian Waterfall into a 5A-level scenic spot. At present, it is speeding up the construction of the Ascend a Height area to look over Vietnam and Sino-Vietnam duty-free shopping street projects. This is expected to be completed and put into use later in July this year. Meanwhile, Vietnam is also improving the construction of the parking lot and the waterfall viewing platform in the scenic spot. "Presently, both sides have almost completed the construction of inspection points for tourist access in the cooperation zone. The Chinese side has installed the inspection equipment for the Department of Customs and Frontier Inspection situated at the inspection points, and is currently debugging the equipment," Qin said. He added that after the opening of the cooperation zone, tourists will only need to complete simple customs clearance procedures to watch the waterfall in Vietnam, and can enjoy the scenic spots within 2 square kilometers of both China and Vietnam. According to the consensus reached by China and Vietnam, there will be two ways for tourists to enter and leave the cooperation zone. For tourists that carry a passport with them, they can directly go to Vietnam through the inspection channel with their passport. For tourists who do not have a passport, they can apply for a simple pass in the Exit and Entry Service Hall of the scenic spot. They will be allowed to go back and forth the scenic areas in both zones across the Sino-Vietnam borders, and will be able to visit the two countries within one day, enabling them to experience the different folk customs of both countries. (Compiled by Zhang Xinfeng) Petoskey High School closed for in-person classes until at least Jan. 17 There was no school for high school students on Wednesday, while virtual classes will take place on Thursday, Jan. 13, and Friday, Jan. 14. National Bank asks Cabinet to allow non-bank financial institutions to operate amid quarantine 18:40, 23.03.20 2968 The central bank says its move will ensure uninterrupted provision of financial services to all citizens. Americas burgeoning industrial capacity inspired numerous military inventions The United States was on the cusp of becoming an industrial giant when the Civil War burst into flame in 1861. The local, cottage-industry system was already on its way out as railroads, canals, and steamboats brought goods manufactured in industrial centers to remote parts of the country. Take the steamboat Arabia that hit a snag and sank in the Missouri River near Kansas City, Mo., in 1856. Her cargo, headed for the frontier and preserved in a museum in the same city, was an Amazon-like potpourri of just about everything a settler would need, hardware, tools, food, and clothes, the list could go on. No need to weave cloth or forge a hammer. Just get to work. In such an industrially charged atmosphere, its no surprise that the war inspired many to get to work designing military items that provided comfort or killing power. What is surprising is the varied background of the designers, and the wide range of items they produced. Some succeeded, and others underwhelmed. The following is a small sample of the designs of war. Forfeited Fortune In 1856, Henry Hopkins Sibley designed a teepee-like canvas tent for use in the field by the U.S. Army. His design differed from other bell tents in that its center pole was secured by a supporting tripod, eliminating the need for easily tangled guy ropes and pegs. The collapsible tripod system made the canvas tent and its components easier to store and transport than its predecessors. The conical tent stood about 12-feet high and 18-feet in diameter and could comfortably house about a dozen men, and the U.S. Army used the tent during the winter of 185758 Utah Expedition. Sibley later designed a similarly conical-shaped metal stove that could be used to heat the tent and for cooking. The easy-to-use and transport Sibley tent and its corresponding stove were an economical choice for the Army when it suddenly found itself with tens of thousands of men to house at the outset of the Civil War. Nearly 44,000 of the pair were ordered for use during the conflict. In 1858, Sibley had patented both inventions as a member of the U.S. Army and was contracted to receive a $5 royalty for each item produced. His would-be fortune was forfeited, however, in 1861 when he resigned to fight for the Confederacy. It Bombed The Ketchum Grenade looks like it was designed by a cartoonist. The actual inventor, however, was William Ketchum, a former mayor of Buffalo, N.Y., from 1844 to 1845. His weapon consisted of a conical iron body with a plunger, and a stick with fins inserted into the opposite end of the body to provide aerodynamics. To arm the grenade, which came in 1-, 3-, and 5-pound versions, the user pulled out the plunger, inserted a percussion cap into the body, and replaced the plunger. Black powder was poured into the hole of the base, and the fin stick was firmly shoved in to seal the hole. The grenade was then ready to lob at the enemy. If things went well, the plunger hit a hard surface and the bomb detonated. But things often didnt go well. Just arming the grenade was a cumbersome process, and it often landed on its side and failed to explode. Nonetheless, Ketchums grenade, patented on August 10, 1861, was used by the Union Army at Vicksburg, Petersburg, and other sieges with mixed success. During a Union charge on the Confederate works at Port Hudson, La., in July 1863, Southern troops softly caught the grenades in their blankets and tossed them back at their attackers. Burnsides Breechloader In the mid-1850s, well before his stint as the commander of the Army of the Potomac, Ambrose E. Burnside designed and patented the .54-caliber Burnside Carbine. The breechloader was designed to give mounted troops a light and quick-loading weapon. When a latch connected to the trigger guard was pressed down, the breech block dropped open and allowed the user to insert a cartridge, which was also unique and invented by Burnside. The conical cartridge, containing powder and a bullet, was dropped base first into the breechblock. The trigger guard was then raised, forcing the bullet into the breech of the barrel. A raised brass ring on the cartridge sealed the breach and eliminated the tendency to leak hot gas that most breechloading guns suffered from. When the trigger was pulled, a conventional percussion cap was used to create a spark that burned through a hole in the base of the cartridge. The U.S. government didnt show much interest in the gun at first, but orders exploded with the onset of the Civil War. More than 55,000 were ordered for use by Union cavalrymen. It was the second most popular carbine used during the war, and saw action in all theaters. The Burnside Carbine was manufactured in Rhode Island by the Bristol Firearms Company and later, the Burnside Rifle Company, from about 1857 to 1865. The Burton Ball Henry Burtons redesign for a French captains bullet occurred just in time for the Civil War, and his mass-produced version of the Minie Ball maimed thousands of Americans and put thousands more in their graves. Burton was the acting master armorer of the Federal Arsenal in Harpers Ferry, Va., during the 1850s when he rethought the slug developed by French Captain Claude-Etienne Minie in 1849. The French officers bullet was conical instead of round, and made slightly smaller than the diameter of a muskets barrel with a hollow base that could expand when the gun was fired to catch the rifling. For the first time Minies bullet allowed for the rapid loading of rifled weapons that formerly had been so slow to load that only special riflemen could use them while the rank and file carried smoothbores. But the French version required a small metal plug that was forced up into the bullet upon firing, an extra step that slowed production. Burtons concept, adopted by the U.S. Army in 1855, omitted the plug, which allowed the bullets to be swaged in mass quantities. Burton also thinned out the base, which was encircled by three rings meant to hold a lubricant to ease loading and also catch the rifling. Cheesebox on a Raft When the Federal high command caught wind in mid-1861 that Confederates were converting the captured USS Merrimack to an ironclad, the Unions desire to have armored vessels on the water became urgent. Swedish-born inventor John Ericsson firmly believed that victory in the Civil War will rest upon the side which holds possession of the seas. On August 29, 1861, he submitted to President Abraham Lincoln his plan for a subaquatic ironclad vessel with a gun turret. The ships unique design, distinguished most notably by its revolving turret, garnered many snickers and doubts from concerned government officials, but on October 4, 1861, a contract was issued to Ericsson for an ironclad, shot-proof steam battery. It specified that the vessel must be provided with masts and sails and that it should make 6 knots under sail and 8 knots under steam. It was also agreed that said vessel and equipment in all respects shall be completed and ready for sea in 100 days from the date of this indenture. Ericsson did not disappoint. The USS Monitor was launched on January 30, 1862, from the Continental Iron Works in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, N.Y. On March 9, 1862, it came head to head with the Virginia and the world took note. Even decades later, in 1937, Winston Churchill wrote, The combat of the Merrimac and the Monitor made the greatest change in sea-fighting since cannon fire by gunpowder had been mounted on ships about four hundred years before.D.B.S. and M.A.W This story appeared in the June issue of Civil War Times. In a bid to combat the outbreak of novel coronavirus and considering the prevalent situation, Delhi High court on Monday decided to suspend the functioning of Delhi High Court and all district courts in the capital till April 4. The court said that if any fresh matter of extreme urgency comes up, the Registrar or Joint Registrar should be contacted telephonically and added that the hearing of such matters will be conducted through video conferencing. "The respective District and Sessions Judges shall prepare a roster of Judicial Officers for dealing with remand related to fresh arrests. For fresh matters of extreme urgency, one Administrative Officer (Judicial) be nominated in each District who can be contacted telephonically by the Advocate/party," Delhi High Court said in an order. It said that necessary directions will be issued and uploaded on the website by the concerned District and Sessions Judges. "The matters which are already fixed up to April 4 be adjourned en-bloc to subsequent dates and the information in this regard be uploaded to the website of the district and entered into CIS so that auto-generated messages are received by all concerned," the order said. This comes after the Bar Council of Delhi, on Monday, suggested a total shut down of the Delhi High Court and district courts amid the ongoing coronavirus fear. This comes after at least 415 confirmed cases of coronavirus have been reported across the country. According to official data, there are 30 COVID-19 cases reported from Delhi, including one person who died of the disease. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Wellington, March 23 : New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday announced the country will go into lockdown on Wednesday after the first coronavirus cases of community transmission were suspected. The country reported 36 new cases on Monday, bringing the total to 102. The majority were linked to overseas travel, but two cases are thought to be local transmission, reports Efe news. Ardern in a press conference said the country had moved into Level 3 on Monday, shifting the population into self-isolation in preparation for the highest Level 4 lockdown on Wednesday, which is expected to last for four weeks. Level four means schools will close from Tuesday, with only essential services, such as supermarkets, doctors, pharmacies, service stations, in place. "These decisions will place the most significant restriction on New Zealanders' movements in modern history," Ardern said. All non-essential businesses are ordered closed within 48 hours, all indoor and outdoor events banned, and schools to be closed from Tuesday. Essential services such as supermarkets and healthcare centres will remain remain open, while people were allowed outside in unpopulated open spaces on their own or with people they are in isolation with. "If community transmission takes off in New Zealand, the number of cases will double every five days. If that happens, unchecked, our health system will be inundated, and tens of thousands of New Zealanders will die," Ardern said. "It is the reality we have seen overseas - and the possibility we must now face here. Together we must stop that happening and we can," she added. Schools will be closed from Tuesday, except to the children of essential workers such as our doctors, nurses, ambulance drivers and police - this will give them time to plan. This will be temporary, and schools will close entirely from midnight on Wednesday, the Prime Minister said. Air travel and public transport will only be applicable to people undertaking essential services, for medical reasons, and the transport of freight, including ferry services between the North and South Island, after 48 hours, she said. The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] in the 2019 General Elections, Atiku Abubakar, has announced that his son tested positive to coronavirus. He made his known via his Twitter handle on Sunday. My son has tested positive to coronavirus, he tweeted. According to the former Vice-President of Nigeria, his son has been moved to Gwagwalada Specialist Teaching Hospital in Abuja for treatment. The @NCDCGov (Nigeria Centre for Disease Control) has been duly informed, and he has been moved to Gwagwalada Specialist Teaching Hospital in Abuja for treatment and management. I will appreciate it if you have him in your prayers. Stay safe, coronavirus is real, he added. My son has tested positive to coronavirus. @NCDCGov has been duly informed, and he has been moved to Gwagwalada Specialist Teaching Hospital in Abuja for treatment and management. I will appreciate it if you have him in your prayers. Stay safe, coronavirus is real. -AA Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) March 22, 2020 Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 23:31:04|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- China urged the United States to stop politicizing COVID-19 and stigmatizing China, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang said Monday. Geng made the remarks at a press briefing in response to a question regarding recent allegations from the U.S. side. U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on March 21 that he wished "China would have told us more about what was going on in China." Meanwhile, the White House is reportedly launching a communications plan across multiple federal agencies that focus on accusing China of orchestrating a cover-up and creating a global pandemic. Geng said the Chinese side has noticed relevant reports and added that on March 20, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused China, Russia and Iran of "carrying out disinformation campaigns related to the coronavirus pandemic." Calling the U.S. accusations clumsy slander, Geng stressed China has kept the World Health Organization (WHO) and relevant countries and regions, including the United States, updated with its domestic epidemic situation in an open, transparent and responsible manner. China's efforts have been appreciated by the international community, Geng said, adding that Chinese people have gone all out to fight against COVID-19 in the past two months and won precious time for other countries. "With routine exchanges of information with the WHO and other countries including the United States since Jan. 3, China announced the closure of Wuhan's outbound channels on Jan. 23," the spokesperson said. On Feb. 2, the U.S. government announced its decision to completely ban foreigners who had visited China in the past 14 days from entering the country when only around 10 confirmed cases were found. Within 50 days, the number soared to around 30,000, said Geng. What effective measures have the United States taken in the 50 days?" Saying the United States has completely wasted precious time won by China in COVID-19 fight, Geng reiterated that defaming, scapegoating and shifting blame to others is immoral and irresponsible. "It will do nothing to help the U.S. COVID-19 prevention work and global cooperation in pandemic control," Geng stressed. China called on the United States to manage its own business well and play a constructive role in international cooperation on fighting the pandemic and safeguarding global public health security, Geng said. BANGALORE, India, March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Dental consumables and dental equipment are the main categories in the dental market. North America and Europe, followed by the rest of Asia, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Australia, are the leading regional dental markets. Dental consumables are products used on patients to treat dental impairments, repair the tooth, and address associated gingival tissues. Dental equipment, on the other hand, is instruments used by dentists to provide optimum dental care. In 2017, the global Dental market size was 26000 million USD and it is expected to reach 40500 million USD by the end of 2025, with a CAGR of 5.7% between 2018 and 2025. Get Free Sample: https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/QYRE-Othe-0N213/Dental_Market TRENDS INFLUENCING THE DENTAL MARKET SIZE : Demand for dental care services is expected to increase significantly in the coming decade. Increasing demand for healthcare, as well as a rising economy, means greater care will be needed with improved infrastructure and facilities, creating opportunities for the private sector. The new private sector is made up of many independent clinics, creating a significant opportunity for large chains with a reputation for quality. This scenario is expected to increase the market size of the dental market. Furthermore, the growth of the world's elderly population and an increasing consumer understanding of oral healthcare needs are driving the development of the global dental market. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Othe-0N213/dental-market-size Market segment by Regions/Countries, this report covers : North America Europe China Rest of Asia Pacific Central & South America Middle East & Africa . Inquire for Regional Report: https://reports.valuates.com/request/regional/QYRE-Othe-0N213/dental-market-size This report focuses on the global top players, covered : Dentsply Sirona Danaher Align Technology Planmeca Ivoclar Vivadent J Morita Corporation 3M Carestream Dental GC Corporation Zimmer Biomet Septodont Ultradent Shofu Dental Kulzer Vatech Coltene Angelalign Kangda Medical Sinol Dental Fujian Meisheng Shandong Huge Others. Market segment by Type, the product can be split into: Dental Consumables Dental Equipment. Market segment by Application, the market can be split into: General Hospitals Dental Hospitals Dental Clinics. Buy Now: https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode=QYRE-Othe-0N213 View Similar Reports: 1. Dental Implant Market Research Report In 2018, Dental implants market size was USD 4590 Million and is projected to reach USD 8350 Million by the end of 2025, rising at a CAGR of 7.8 percent between 2018 and 2025. The EU holds the biggest manufacturer and customer sector for Dental Implants with a production market share of almost 39% and a sales market share of nearly 44%. The second position is North America, with a 33% production market share and a 27% sales market share. The report studies the market size of dental implants by players, countries, product types, and end industries. Furthermore, this report also studies the global competitive environment, market drivers and patterns, opportunities and challenges, risks and entry barriers, distribution channels, distributors, and Porter's Five Forces Analysis. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-1564/global-dental-implant-market 2. Dental Consumables Market Research Report The global dental products market size is expected to increase from USD 28,312.12 Million in 2018 to USD 46,120.12 Million by 2025, at a 7.21 percent CAGR. The market for dental consumables is highly competitive and characterized by the presence in the industry of a large number of international and regional players. Some of the major market players include Geistlich Pharma AG, Henry Schein Inc., Ivoclar Vivadent AG, Kuraray Co. Ltd., and Mitsui Chemicals Inc. This report offers in-depth insights into demand estimates, industry dynamics, and micro and macro indicators. Moreover, it highlights the factors that drive and inhibit the demand of the market for dental consumables. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/360I-Auto-9T16/dental-consumables-market 3. Dental Lab Market Research Report Growth in dental lab market size is mainly due to a rise in the geriatric population, the resulting rise in the prevalence of edentulism, and increased outsourcing of personalized prosthetic solutions to dental laboratories. The Dental Lab market report has incorporated analyzes of various factors which are expected to increase the growth of the market. It provides patterns, constraints, and drivers that either positively or negatively turn the market. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-17T806/-dental-lab-market-size 4. Dental Services Market Research Report Dental services are offered by dental practitioners, including diagnosis, prevention, and dental disease care. The major factors contributing to the growth of the dental services market size include the growing prevalence of dental caries & other periodontal diseases, high demand for cosmetic dentistry & laser dentistry, increased awareness of dentistry among people through various dental awareness campaigns, and technological advancements in dental services such as whitening of dents. The report analyses the size of the demand for dental services by companies, countries, product types, and end industries. It also examines the dynamics of global market competition, market factors and patterns, opportunities and threats, risks and barriers to entry, distribution channels, distributors, and Porter's Five Forces Analysis. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Othe-0X160/global-dental-services-market 5. Dental Laboratory Market Research Report Growing demand for cosmetic dental procedures, along with an increase in the geriatric population, is expected to accelerate the growth of the dental laboratory market. This Dental Laboratory market report studies the key market trends and provides insight into the market size and key regions. Based on global sales, the report lists the major producers in the regions and their respective market share. This report also outlines their strategic moves in recent years, investments in product innovation, and leadership shifts to remain ahead in the market. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-30T1146/global-dental-laboratory-market 6. Dental Restoration Market Research Report Dental reconstruction is the recovery and regeneration of the oral and dental tissues that have been damaged due to illness or trauma. Due to factors such as a change in people's lifestyles, increased sugar consumption, reduced fluoride intake, and the lack of national programs to curb oral diseases, the incidence of dental caries is growing rapidly, especially in low-and middle-income countries, thereby boosting the growth of the dental restoration market. Based on global sales, the study lists the major players in the regions and their market share, respectively. The report also outlines its strategic moves in recent years, investments in product innovation, and leadership shifts to remain ahead in the market. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Othe-2T250/dental-restoration-market 7. Dental Elevators Market Research Report The dental elevator is a device that is used by dental professionals for tooth extraction. The major factors responsible for the increase in dental elevators market size are rising incidences of dental disorders, aging populations' high risk of tooth loss, rising injuries that lead to tooth deformities, and growing technological advancements in dentistry. The dental elevator research report analyzes various factors that increase the growth of the market. It provides patterns, constraints, and drivers that either positively or negatively turn the market. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-39E1118/global-dental-elevators-market ABOUT US: Valuates offers in-depth market insights into various industries. Our extensive report repository is constantly updated to meet your changing industry analysis needs. Our team of market analysts can help you select the best report covering your industry. We understand your niche region-specific requirements and that's why we offer customization of reports. 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CONTACT US: Valuates Reports [email protected] For U.S. Toll Free Call +1-(315)-215-3225 For IST Call: +91-8040957137 WhatsApp : +91 9945648335 Website: https://reports.valuates.com Twitter - https://twitter.com/valuatesreports Linkedin - https://in.linkedin.com/company/valuatesreports Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/valuatesreports/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082232/Valuates_Reports_Logo.jpg SOURCE Valuates Reports He recently detailed how he maintains his three-stone weight loss by eating eggs, brown bread and skipping dinner. And Gregg Wallace revealed he's taking a break from his gym workouts as he encouraged self-isolation amid the coronavirus pandemic. In a series images shared onto Instagram on Sunday, the MasterChef star, 55, lifted up his sweaty T-shirt to display his toned abs as he poked fun at his brief rest from his local health centre with the joke: 'Its all gonna be ok, I've got a good gut feeling!' 'Its all gonna be ok, I've got a good gut feeling!' Gregg Wallace revealed he's taking a break from the gym amid the coronavirus pandemic (L this year, R in 2018) The presenter beamed with delight as he flaunted his sculpted midsection in sportsgear in a recent snap from a recent exercise session. 'Me & Gym aren't seeing each other for a bit!', he told his social media followers during the COVID-19 crisis. Coronavirus was classed a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) earlier this month, leading countries such as Italy, Spain and the UK to implement nationwide lockdowns As of Monday, COVID-19 has claimed 285 lives out of 5,683 confirmed cases in the UK. Smart choice: 'Me & Gym aren't seeing each other for a bit!', the MasterChef host, 55, told his social media followers during the COVID-19 crisis Last month, Gregg shared the secrets behind how he keeps up with his three-stone weight loss - something that's made harder by working as the co-host of MasterChef. The host detailed his routine in a chat with Radio Times, explaining that he eats particular food during the day and often skips dinner. 'I might have a chocolate bar on the go for energy. I always eat breakfast as Ive just come out of gym and Im ravenous for protein,' he said. 'I have boiled eggs, brown bread with chicken sausages or smoked fish on Ryvita with horseradish. I used to eat dinner after a filming day. Not now.' Secrets: The media personality recently detailed how he maintains his three-stone weight loss by eating eggs, brown bread and skipping dinner (pictured last week) Of his exercise regimen, the media personality shared: 'I try to be as fit as possible, so I do a lot of exercise every day. Cardio, weights, uphill walking. 'I am just over 12 stone, and I have less than 18 per cent fat. Im trying to reduce that to 15 per cent.' Gregg also admitted he doesnt go to dinner parties any more since he started working on the show - which is in its 16th year. 'I havent been invited to anyones for dinner since the show began,' he said. 'I like eating with friends in restaurants instead. You all choose what to eat, have a starter, main and dessert, and then you go home.' Utility company PG&E is to plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter charges following the California wildfire in 2018. The felony criminal charges are in connection with the company's role in the fire that decimated the town of Paradise and led to 85 deaths, the deadliest in the state's history. PG&E agreed to plead guilty to 84 counts of manslaughter and one count of unlawfully causing a fire, the WSJ reported on Monday. The news came following a regulatory filing from the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fire destroyed more than 18,000 residential and commercial buildings and burned through 153,000 acres. Fire crews battled for 17 days to get the blaze under control. There were 85 fatalities, including civilians and fire personnel, and three injuries. The wildfire began on 8 November in Butte County north of Sacramento and spread rapidly, aided by high temperatures, winds and dry vegetation during one of the hottest years on record. The cost of the damage from Camp Fire was $16.5bn, the worlds most expensive natural disaster of 2018. The deadly fire was named after Camp Creek Road, where the fire broke out. Cal Fire, the department of Forestry and Fire Protection in the state, concluded that electrical transmission lines belonging to PG&E, Pacific Gas & Electric, caused the fire, following a "thorough and meticulous investigation", NBC reported. The company said in February 2019 that its equipment had probably caused the fire, a month after it filed for bankruptcy protection. At the time, Donald Trump claimed that the fire spread due to Californias poor forest management and threatened he would cut off federal funding to the state, The Washington Post reported. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo delivers a speech at Fordham Law School in the borough of Manhattan, New York City, on July 18, 2019. (Scott Heins/Getty Images) New York Approved For Experimental COVID-19 Treatments: Cuomo New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday that the New York State has been approved to begin clinical trials of a new type of treatment using the blood of patients who have successfully recovered from COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP virus. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement of the outbreak in Wuhan allowed the virus to spread across China and fan a global pandemic. Speaking at a press conference in Albany, Cuomo said the treatment would be made available under the compassionate use framework, which lets doctors use experimental treatments or medications that have been approved for other ailments to treat COVID-19 patients. Under this model, medical practitioners are required to share all patient info regarding administration of and response to the drug, thereby helping inform ongoing trials and regulatory initiatives. What it does is takes the plasma from a person who has been infected with the virus, processes the plasma, and injects the antibodies in a person whos sick, Cuomo said, adding that tests show the process stimulates and promotes patients immune system against that disease. He added that the trial is intended for people who are in serious condition. Not a Proven Treatment Earlier, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed that it was already working on developing this form of treatment, known as convalescent plasma. FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said last Thursday the treatment involved the use of plasma from blood taken from patients who have recovered from the CCP virus. If youve been exposed to coronavirus and youre better, you dont have the virus in your blood. We could collect the blood now this is a possible treatment. This is not a proven treatment, I just want to emphasize that, Hahn said. Researchers would collect the blood, concentrate it, and, after verifying its virus-free, give it to other patients. The immune response could potentially provide a benefit to patients, Hahn said. Earlier, Cuomo said New York has obtained the go-ahead to proceed with clinical trials of drugs that experts say show promise in the treatment of COVID-19. Trials will begin Tuesday, Cuomo said in a statement Sunday, noting that New York State had obtained 70,000 doses of hydroxychloroquine, 10,000 doses of zithromax and 750,000 doses of chloroquine for drug trials to treat patients infected with the CCP virus. Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are both anti-malaria drugs that are prescribed to treat other conditions, like arthritis. Were also implementing the trial drug, Cuomo said in a statement, adding, We get these facilities, we get the supplies, we will save lives. If we dont, we will lose lives. I dont mean to be overly dramatic, but I want to be honest and that is the simple fact of this matter. Cuomo added that the FDA had moved quickly to provide New York with the supply of drugs to use in trials. I want to thank the FDA for moving very expeditiously to get us this supply. The President ordered the FDA to move and the FDA moved, Cuomo said in the announcement, adding, The President is optimistic about these drugs and we are all optimistic that it could work. Ive spoken with a number of health officials and there is a good basis to believe that they could work. The New York State Governor said some health officials are encouraged by the low infection rate of COVID-19 in Africa in context of the widespread use of anti-malaria drugs there and the potential use of those drugs elsewhere. It may actually be one of the reasons why the infection rate is low in Africa, Cuomo said. We dont know, but lets find out and lets find out quickly. And I agree with the President on that and were going to start and were going to start Tuesday. President Donald Trump championed hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine, and anti-viral drug remdesivir, at a press conference last week, prompting Hahn to clarify the anti-malaria drugs havent been approved for treating COVID-19 patients but are being studied in several trials. Two companies said last week that they were boosting production of hydroxychloroquine to fight the CCP virus. Hahn said Thursday that while the anti-malarial has shown promise in treating patients and is already being studied as a possible COVID-19 treatment by researchers at the University of Minnesota, it has not yet been approved for use in patients with the new disease. Many Americans have read studies and heard media reports about this drug chloroquine, which is an anti-malarial drug. Its already approved, as the president said, for the treatment of malaria, as well as an arthritis condition. Thats a drug that the president has directed us to take a closer look at, as to whether an expanded use approach to that could be done to actually see if that benefits patients, Hahn said. Some pharmaceuticals are prescribed by doctors even if theyre not approved for specific uses by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in whats known as off-label use. From the FDA perspective, once the FDA approves a drug, healthcare providers generally may prescribe the drug for an unapproved use when they judge that it is medically appropriate for their patient, the FDA states on its website. Off-label use includes using a drug for a disease or medical condition that its not approved to treat. Asked if the agency supports off-label use of chloroquine, an FDA spokesman noted a press release issued later in the day that states: While there are no FDA-approved therapeutics or drugs to treat, cure or prevent COVID-19, there are several FDA-approved treatments that may help ease the symptoms from a supportive care perspective. According to data collected by Johns Hopkins University, as of Monday at 1:00 pm ET, there were 41,026 confirmed COVID-19 infections in the United States, and 479 deaths. Zachary Stieber contributed to this report. The people of Guadalupe, Arizona are very proud of their history. The towns name comes from Our Lady of Guadalupe. It is linked to the reported sightings of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, in Mexico during the 1500s. Yaqui Indian refugees from Mexico established Guadalupe in the southwestern United States over 100 years ago. Today the town is known for religious ceremonies connected to the Christian holiday of Easter. But people there are a little worried about outsiders as they prepare for the 2020 census. The U.S. Bureau of the Census plans to gather information about the countrys population and their communities next month. Town leaders hope to ease any unwillingness to join the population count, which takes place once every 10 years. That is because the census could decide if Guadalupe gets more federal money. The local government has a budget of $12 million. The town uses the money to repair roads and the local waste water treatment system. Every revenue stream is important to a community as small as this one, Town Manager Jeff Kulaga told the Associated Press (AP). Across the country, small, poor towns such as Guadalupe present problems for census workers. These communities are often home to one or more ethnic groups. Language barriers and poverty can be a problem. It can be very difficult to count people who move from place to place to find employment. Such individuals can be distrustful of the government. The U.S. government has already delayed sending workers to count college students during the coronavirus pandemic. As people are asked to keep their distance from one another, counts in places like Guadalupe could grow even more difficult. Native Americans make up almost one-third of the 6,500 people living in Guadalupe. About 70 percent of all people there identify as Hispanic. A third struggle with poverty in the community where the average yearly household income is around $32,000, and the average owner-occupied home is worth less than $90,000. Just 60 percent of adults finished high school. The town of Immokalee, Florida It is a similar story in Immokalee, Florida. A recent wave of immigration by indigenous Guatemalans who speak Mayan languages has created challenges for the local government. The nearest hospital is nearly 50 kilometers away, in the wealthy community of Naples. Immokalee is a farming town and home to 25,000 people. It has been called a food desert meaning it has few food stores. More than 43 percent of the population is in poverty. A similar percentage have not finished the first year of high school. An AP study shows that such small, poor and largely Latino communities historically have been under-counted in earlier censuses. DVera Cohn writes about the census for the Pew Research Center. She said it is an increasingly difficult and costly job to count these hard-to-count groups. It may be because they distrust the government or are moving around or people who dont speak English, said Cohn. The Census Bureau is spending $500 million in advertising $50 million for ads designed to ease the fears among some Latinos. This includes trying to ease their concerns that they will be asked about citizenship, which is incorrect. Language and cultural barriers can make communication difficult in Guadalupe. Most people there speak Spanish in addition to English. Older tribal members often choose to communicate in the Pascua Yaqui language. Tribal officials said they are preparing group presentations and employing speakers of Pascua Yaqui and English to explain the census to older members. This includes explaining the direct connection between being counted and getting the community things it needs. We did a lot of work around the 2010 census, and we feel people are a lot more comfortable this time, said Letticia Baltazar. She is a research specialist for the tribe. The Pascua Yaqui have up to 20,000 members nationwide, including several thousand in Guadalupe. In Immokalee, the challenges lie in the English language and educational limitations of the community. More than 72 percent of town residents are Latino, with large numbers of immigrants from Mexico and Guatemala. Between 2009 and 2016, the number of native Guatemalans there rose 200 percent. And it is expected to keep rising, with more Central American families arriving in Florida over the past two years. Im Pete Musto. Anita Snow, Adriana Gomez Licon, and Angeliki Kastanis reported on this story for the Associated Press. Pete Musto adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story proud adj. very happy and pleased because of something you have done, something you own, or someone you know or are related to revenue stream n. a way of earning money pandemic n. an occurrence in which a disease spreads very quickly and affects a large number of people over a wide area or throughout the world income n. money that is earned from work, investments, or business owner-occupied adj. lived in by the owner indigenous adj. produced, living, or existing naturally in a particular region or environment challenge(s) n. a difficult task or problem comfortable adj. causing no worries, difficulty, or uncertainty Smartphone maker Xiaomi will donate N95 masks and protective suits to state governments, hospitals and police forces this week, a top company official said on Monday. Price of N95 masks in India has seen around 18-fold spike and the stock is unavailable in most parts of the country due to high demand, following outbreak of deadly coronavirus. "..we have imported lakhs of N95 masks and protective suits to India. We are working with all government authorities to donate these. Lakhs of N95 masks will be donated across state governments such as Karnataka, Punjab and Delhi government, government hospitals and state police starting this week," Xiaomi India Managing Director Manu Jain said in an open letter to fans and employees. Xiaomi leads Indian smartphone market with around 28 per cent market share, according to Counterpoint Research report. Jain said that the company will also donate hazmat suits to doctors across a few government hospitals like AIIMS, St. Johns. Xiaomi has seven factories operational in India, set up in partnership with contract manufacturers Foxconn and Flex. Over 30,000 employees in India work on its projects. "At Xiaomi India, we have taken several measures of precaution such as curtailing business travel and external meetings, ensuring employees and all partners wear masks in public and keep their hands clean and sanitized. We have also implemented work from home for employees in offices and encourage maintaining social distance for all employees," Jain said. To promote social distancing, Xiaomi is attending only four customers at a time across its more than 2,000 service centres. "We are taking social distancing measures and only appointments via our online token system will be allowed, ensuring no more than 4 customers in the service centers at any point and all devices are sanitized. For all home service requests, all our engineers use masks, shoe covers, sterile gloves and sanitize their hands and devices to ensure maximum hygiene and caution," Jain said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) - Alex Gonzaga just proved that she is also one of the celebrities who has a generous heart - She personally distributed relief items to families affected by the novel coronavirus pandemic - Happiness can be traced on the faces of those who received the help of the actress - Many social media users, meanwhile, lauded the celebrity for helping the people in need PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed Alex Gonzaga received words of appreciation on social media because of her good deeds toward families affected by the novel coronavirus pandemic. KAMI learned that the famous actress and her family personally handed over some relief items to random people in Rizal. It can be seen in the much-talked-about photos that the Home Sweetie Home star was giving bags of bread, canned food, and other grocery items to those in need. To ensure that they are safe, Alex and her team wore face masks and observed social distancing while distributing the relief goods. Meanwhile, through a series of Instagram posts, the celebrity showed to the public how she, her parents, and her family members tirelessly packed the goods to be given. Thank you sa Team Gonzaga Taytay Chapter for helping us repack! Day 1 pa lang! Kahit hindi nila kasama family nila, pamilya pa rin naman kami dito sa bahay at ang reyna namin ay si Pinty! she wrote. PAY ATTENTION: Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! A lot of netizens immediately aired their words of appreciation for Alex because of her generosity amid this trying time. Here are some of their comments: Buti pa ang mga Gonzaga, may ginagawang aksyon. Nice one, Cathy! Continue to be a blessing. Take care, Gonzaga family God bless sa buong pamilya. Sana more blessing p aang dumating sa inyo para marami pa kayong matulungan. Wow buti pa kayo ma'am Alex namimigay ng relief good. Dito sa amin wala pa hanggang ngayon. Wooooww ang galing naman! Ang sarap ng feeling na nakakapagbigay ka sa panahong kailangang kailangan ng kapwa mo. In a previous article by , Roxanne Barcelo was recently bashed by the fans of Alex. Roxanne immediately apologized. Alex Gonzaga is a prominent showbiz personality in the Philippines. She is also a YouTube content creator with over 6.2 million subscribers as of this writing. POPULAR: Read more news about Alex Gonzaga! Please like and share our Facebook posts to support KAMI team! Dont hesitate to comment and share your opinion about our stories either. We love reading about your thoughts! TikTok dance challenges are taking over social media. We are always on point in asking passers-by to dance to famous songs together with our host Andre! Dont forget to subscribe to HumanMeter! Source: KAMI.com.gh March 12 At 7:50 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the police station for an Identity Theft Report. The victim stated that an unknown person(s) used their identity to obtain a payday loan without their effective consent. An Id Theft report was generated. March 13 At 2:32 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the Whole Foods parking lot in reference to a minor accident. The victim said an unknown person(s) struck her vehicle and fled the scene without leaving any information. At 4:11 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the 6700 block of Stella Link for a report of a fraud in progress. The suspect had already fled the scene when officers arrived. The bank manager said that the suspect attempted to cash a forged check. March 14 At 3:36 a.m., an officer observed a vehicle parked in the 5800 block of Auden with the driver asleep behind the wheel. A welfare check was conducted and after further investigation, the driver (Brian Alan Daigle) was arrested for Public Intoxication. At 9:56 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 3600 block of University Blvd in regards to the welfare check of a juvenile. Upon arrival and through investigation, it was discovered the juvenile was a run away. The juvenile was transported to the police department where the juvenile was released to the custody of a parent. At 7:04 p.m., an officer observed a vehicle traveling westbound in the 4100 block of Bissonnet with expired registration. A traffic stop was conducted and after further investigation, the driver (Brianna Ashley Gilchrist) was arrested for outstanding warrants through the City of West University Place Municipal Court. An individual (Adrian James Savoy) who later arrived on scene was found to have an outstanding warrant through the Ft. Bend County Sheriffs Office and was subsequently arrested. March 15 At 9:46 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the West University Place Police Department in regards to found property. The property was taken into custody for safekeeping. March 16 At 10:33 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the 4100 block Byron St, Colonial Park in regards to found property. The property was taken into custody for safekeeping. March 18 At 1:21 p.m., detective units in an unmarked vehicle conducted a check by sweep at a known area for criminal activity involving burglary of motor vehicle break ins in a commercial parking lot of Whole Foods located at 4000 Bellaire. Unmarked police units observed a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot area, displaying a fictitious temporary tag, not returning to a registration. The driver parked the vehicle and began lurking into other parked vehicles, as Detectives conducted surveillance. The driver, a black male, peeked into a couple of vehicles, as to attempt to burglarize the vehicle for property, but quickly left the parking lot without doing so. At the same time, another separate subject was observed walking around vehicles in another section of the parking lot, and subsequently got into a secondary vehicle, and also abruptly left the parking lot area, with what appeared to be in company of the first vehicle, following each other. Marked police units were summoned to the area for further investigation, and conducted traffic stops on both suspicious vehicles, for traffic violations. Upon further investigation, the initial vehicle driver (Clarence Lamark Wortham) was taken into custody for outstanding traffic warrants and local traffic violations (fictitious tag). The DA refused charges for Class B Fictitious Registration. The secondary vehicle driver (Albert Brian Small) was also taken into custody, and subsequently charged with felon in possession of a firearm. March 19 At 10:29 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the 3100 block of Nottingham for a report of theft. The victim said he sold an item to the suspect, and the suspect then cancelled payment from the credit card without returning the item. At 9:30 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the 5400 block of Kirby in reference to a burglary of a business. Upon the officers arrival, the victims said an unknown person(s) smashed the front door glass window to gain entry into the business. After further investigation, the suspects took money and product from inside the business without the victims consent. At 10:02 a.m., an Officer was dispatched to the 6400 block of Brompton in reference to an aggravated robbery that had already occurred. The Officer arrived and met with the complainant who advised that a B/M had entered the jobsite and demanded money while pointing what appeared to be a firearm. The complainant advised that he handed over money and the subject left the area. The Officer obtained the required information and filed a report concerning the incident. At 10:29 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the West University Public Works facility at 2801 N. Braeswood for a report of criminal mischief. The reportee said that he found a hole that was cut into the chain link fence. At 3:35 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the police department in reference to a case of fraud. The officer called the victim who said an unknown person(s) left a voice message on her phone stating a Center Point bill needed to be paid within 30 minutes by a Green Dot money pack. A report for theft was generated. Louisiana Has Fastest CCP Virus Growth Rate in the World: Governor 'No reason to believe that we won't be the next Italy' Louisana Gov. John Bel Edwards said his state has the fastest CCP virus growth rate in the world. Within a week, Louisiana has gone from having fewer than 100 cases to over 800 as of Sunday evening, according to Edwards. He provided a graph that shows the state on a steep upward trajectory similar to Italy, which has reported thousands of deaths and tens of thousands of cases, and Spain, which has reported a surge in patients and deaths the past week, according to Fox2Now. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. We have the fastest growth rate of confirmed cases in the world over the first 13 days, right here in Louisiana, Edwards told reporters on Sunday. In the last two weeks, our growth rate has been faster than any state or country in the world. This is why it matters. Thats a ten-time increase in seven days, Edwards also explained during the news conference, citing a jump to 800 cases in a week. There is no reason to believe that we wont be the next Italy, the governor also warned. Edwards was citing a study from the University of Louisiana Lafayette for his data. Male nurses wearing a face mask and overalls bring a patient on a stretcher into the newly built Columbus Covid 2 temporary hospital to fight the new coronavirus infection, at the Gemelli hospital in Rome on March 16, 2020. (Andreas Solano/AFP via Getty Images) In South Korea, measures much like a statewide order that is set to go into effect on Monday, effectively reduced the number of cases, he said. Thats one of the reasons why he made the decision to ban all but the most essential travel and work across the state. Of the 837 cases reported Sunday night, 24 of them were confirmed at the Lambeth House, a retirement community in New Orleans, Dr. Alexander Billioux, assistant secretary of health for the states Office of Public Health, told CNN. Christina Fay, board director of Lambeth House in New Orleans, told the news outlet that several have died at the facility in recent days, adding that staff and the local community are devastated. Lambeth House is truly a community of people who care deeply about one another. Any single death of a resident is felt very acutely by one and all, Fay said to CNN. The intensity of sadness that accompanies what our community is currently enduring is almost indescribable. Orleans Parish in New Orleans has 450 cases as well as 15 deaths while Jefferson Parish has 184 cases and three deaths, according to NOLA.com. St. Tammany Parish reported 25 cases. Meanwhile, officials have reported 20 cases in East Baton Rouge Parish, and Ascension Parish has 17 cases, according to the website. Leading FMCG player Hindustan Unilever on Monday announced the acquisition of female intimate hygiene wash brand VWash from homegrown pharma major Glenmark Pharmaceuticals for an undisclosed sum. The deal would include an upfront cash payment and a deferred consideration over the next three years, Hindustan Unilever said in a statement, without disclosing the acquisition amount. The two companies have entered into an agreement for the sale which they expect to complete in next few months, it said. VWash was launched byGlenmarkin 2013 and has established itself as the market leader in the female intimate hygiene category, the statement noted. The acquisition of VWash would help HUL have a larger play in the chemist channels as it is already getting brands as Horlicks, Boost, Sensodyne and Crocin from the acquisition of GSK Consumer and Healthcare Business, HUL Chief Financial Officer Srinivas Phatak said in a teleconference. As product like this is useful for ecommerce prospects and from health and beauty prospect, he said, adding This is going to be a new category entry for us. Phatak also said that though the urban penetration of this product is very low, the company would use its vast distribution channels to increase its penetration. Glenmark in a statement said as part of the divestment of VWash brand, the pharma company will sell the main brand and all other brand extensions. Under this agreement, the brand and other trademarks, copyrights, know-how associated with VWash business will be transferred to HUL, it said. While the statement did not disclose the deal value, it said Glenmark will receive an upfront payment (undisclosed) and royalty (undisclosed) on sales for three years. The sale does not include the transfer of employees, Glenmark said, adding the transaction is expected to be completed in the next few months subject to customary approvals. Glenmark launched VWash, a liquid vaginal wash, as an OTC product in 2013. The company continued to invest in building the brand and established it as a market leader in the intimate hygiene category. Over the years, Glenmark launched multiple line extensions like VWash Wipes to expand the brand offering across different consumer needs. The decision to divest VWash brand is driven by the strategy to focus on our core therapy areas. While we have been able to establish VWash as a category leader, we are confident that HUL's strong market presence and large distribution network will accelerate its growth further, said Sujesh Vasudevan, president for Glenmark's formulations division said. Commenting on the development, HUL CMD Sanjiv Mehta said: The acquisition ofVWashgives us an entry into the currentlyunderpenetratedand rapidly growing female intimate hygiene segment. The brand has a leadership position and fits well into the white spaces in our Beauty & Personal Care business. We look forward to completing the acquisition and strongly believeHULis well-positioned to further scale up this business, given the strength of our market development and distribution capabilities, he added. The deal includes the acquisition of intellectual property rights including trademarks, design and know-how related to theVWashbrand. Phatak said HUL is only buying the brand and the business and not acquire any manufacturing facility and take any employee as part of this transaction. Glenmarkwill continue to manage the business until the transaction is completed, and will also continue to manufacture forHULfor an agreed period of time, the statement added. The proposed acquisition is in line with HUL's strategic intent to enter fast-growing segments of the future in the premium Beauty & Personal care. Glenmark said post divestment, it will strive to consolidate its position in the core therapy areas of respiratory, dermatology and oncology. Its OTC business will focus on its other leading brands like Candid Powder, Scalpe and also introduce new Rx to OTC switches. Mumbai-based Glenmark is a global research-led pharma company with presence across generics, speciality and OTC business with operations in over 50 countries. Its key therapy focus areas include respiratory, dermatology and oncology. The proposed acquisition is in line with HUL''s strategic intent to enter fast-growing segments of the future in the premium Beauty & Personal care. Anglo-DutchFMCGgiant Unilever in December 2018 had announced the acquisition of health food portfolio, including popular brandsHorlicksand Boost, fromGSKCH Indiaand over 20 other markets for 3.1 billion pounds (about Rs 27,750 crore). Under the deal, Unilever''s Indian arm, HUL is acquiring GSKCH India via an all-equity merger, valuing the total business of the latter at Rs 31,700 crore. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Restricted movement of Army personnel will be adhered to by the units located in 82 districts that are put under lockdown, Indian Army said on Monday. "Restricted movement of Army personnel to be adhered by the formations/units located in 82 districts as notified by the government. Additional restrictions as and when promulgated will be adhered to. Station CSD (only) to be closed forthwith. Army personnel on move for posting to new unit to report to transit camp/new location," said Indian Army. Further, the Army said: "Attendance further reduced in Headquarters. Work from Home enhanced. Personnel engaged in Essential services only including Medical Services to continue." The number of coronavirus patients in the country rose to 433 on Monday, as per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nepal on Monday announced a nationwide lockdown for a week amidst concern over the possible spread of the deadly coronavirus pandemic. A meeting of the high-level committee for the prevention and control of COVID-19, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Ishwar Pokhrel, took the decision on Monday evening, hours after a second coronavirus case was confirmed. There will be a nationwide lockdown from Tuesday 6 AM, officials said, adding that the mobility of people, except for emergencies, will be halted. The Ministry of Health on Monday said that a 19-year-old Nepali student who returned from France via Qatar tested positive for COVID-19. "We have decided to go for a lockdown from 6 AM Tuesday for a week," said Bhanubhakta Dhakal, minister for health and population, who is a member of the high-level committee. In an eight-point order released by the committee, all public movement outside of home, except to seek medical attention or purchase essential foodstuff, has been prohibited. All public and private vehicles, except for those with prior permission, those belonging to security forces and those for health workers, are also forbidden from the streets. "People can come out of their homes to buy essentials as shops selling essential goods will remain open," according to the order. Most of the shops are already closed in Kathmandu for the past few days after the government imposed a semi-lockdown. For those who suspect they might have COVID-19, the government has formed a Patient Receiving Team under the leadership of the home minister to transport such suspected patients to the hospital, said the officials. All flights have also been suspended, except those of security forces. Private industries, except for those involved in medicine and medical equipment, foodstuff, drinking water, milk and fuel, will have to send their employees on leave. Anyone defying the government order will be booked under the Infectious Disease Control Act. All government services, except those related to daily essentials, will be closed and government officials kept on alert for emergencies. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hundreds of motorists argued and pleaded with policemen at the borders of Delhi and Faribabad on Monday even as scores of workers walked several kilometers, braving the barriers, in a desperate bid to reach home in the wake of an unprecedented lockdown prompted by the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). The police mostly turned deaf ears to the pleadings, and stuck to the guidelines. Some relented, occasionally, allowing a few motorists drive past the checkpoints. And at times, they issued fake threats of challans to dissuade a few while using portable loudspeakers to warn the others from getting into an argument. Please, no arguments, a policeman repeatedly told a man on a car on the Faridabad side who wanted to return to his home in Dwarka. My children and wife are alone at home. I had visited Faridabad last night to drop some relatives to their home, Santosh Pathak, who works for a telecommunication company, told the policeman. He produced his cars registration certificate in a bid to convince the police that he was a resident of Delhi, but the police refused to see his documents. Policemen on duty also told motorists that they had nearly 12 hours to cross the border after the lockdown was announced on Sunday evening. The Delhi Police commissioner, SN Srivasatava, eatlier said residents of the city would be allowed to come in if they were stuck in the bordering areas. The police, however, did allow people who produced identity proof to back their claims that they provided essential services -- be it working at hospitals or for the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC). But they did attempt to stop motorists who produced hospital slips to say that they were visiting hospitals. Motorists on both sides were stopped twice -- once by the police of the city they were coming from and then by the police of the city they were entering. The motorists who passed the first checkpoint, found themselves stuck in a jam at the next. But the worst affected were factory workers on both sides. Many of them said they knew only of the janata curfew (on Sunday, as announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi), and not about the lockdown. My factory owner made me work till last night. Today he told me I had to leave, said Jawed Khan, who works in a perfume unit in Faridabad. He walked with a bag on his back for several kilometers towards the Delhi border. I hope to find a bus in Delhi, said Khan who lives in Okhla. Workers walked with strangers to keep them company even as they frantically waved at passing vehicles in the hope of getting a ride. Bhuvan Singh, who is in a field job in Govindpuri, said he got a bus till the Badarpur border, but plans to walk all the way to his home in Palwal. If I keep walking, Ill reach my home by today or tomorrow, he said about his 40-kilometre walk plan. Singh said he didnt know of the lockdown until Monday morning. I have a basic phone and keep to myself, he said, when asked why he wasnt aware of the lockdown. The police at the borders allowed the workers to walk past them and cross over. As of today, 13 out of the 24 patients are in hospitals, and another 11 are in self-isolation. Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko says there are 24 confirmed coronavirus cases in the city. "The number of coronavirus patients in the capital city is unfortunately growing," he said at a briefing on Monday, March 23, according to an UNIAN correspondent. "In the past 24 hours, Kyiv had another 14 lab-confirmed cases. Thus, the total number of coronavirus patients in the city is 24." Read alsoHealth Minister Yemets: Ukraine enters second phase of war on coronavirus Fourteen of the confirmed cases are female patients aged between 25 and 49 years and six are male patients aged between 23 and 56, he said. According to him, the 24 confirmed cases include 22 residents of Kyiv who have returned from European countries, namely France, Spain, Germany. "There are two locally transmitted [coronavirus] cases from patients from Zhytomyr region and the city of Kyiv," Klitschko said. As of today, 13 out of the 24 patients are in hospitals, and another 11 are in self-isolation, receiving treatment at home under doctors' supervision. "In the capital city, 594 residents of Kyiv have been tested with the use of rapid test kits today. We've sent 22 samples to Kyiv's city laboratory center of Ukraine's Health Ministry to verify the diagnosis," Klitschko added. Earlier, the ministry said that there were 73 confirmed coronavirus cases in Ukraine as of Sunday evening, including 29 in Kyiv (of them, 20 were confirmed in the past 24 hours). Dr. Scott Isaacs has worked as an endocrinologist for more than two decades, focused on the medical needs of adults with diabetes in the Atlanta area. He never expected to be serving on the front lines of a pandemic. For weeks, his phone has been ringing off the hook. His diabetes patients, a high-risk group for coronavirus infection, want to know: How can they get tested? How can they stockpile extra medication? And can he write to their employers to recommend they work from home? Last week, Isaacs saw a patient with Type 1 diabetes, a nurse who is 10 weeks pregnant. She asked him how long she should stay home from work to avoid possible exposure, and he had to respond honestly: I really dont have an answer to that. Isaacs is used to relying on his medical expertise, but the coronavirus has suddenly put him in new territory, an experience shared by many medical specialists who may serve as the primary physicians of patients with particular medical needs. Physicians across every field who are trained to care for very specific medical problems are confronting a surge of patient questions and scrambling to keep up with rapid changes in case numbers and advisories from governments and health agencies. Were hearing a lot of anxieties from specialists who dont know what the right thing to do is for their patients, said Dr. Megan Ranney, an emergency physician in Rhode Island. Dermatologists, ophthalmologists, were even hearing from dentists. Dr. Sandra Weber, president of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, said the coronavirus outbreak had made it immediately clear how much Americans rely on medical specialists. It has exposed that not every person has a primary care provider, she said, referring to people who may not regularly see an internist or family doctor. Their first calls to the medical system could be to a specialist theyve been seeing for a particular health problem. Specialists in heart medicine, lung care and obstetrics have training that is highly pertinent to treating the effects of the coronavirus. But specialists in other fields are hearing queries they may not be used to answering. Endocrinologists like Weber are helping their patients coordinate extra supplies of medication, in case they need to self-isolate. And psychiatrists, especially on campuses, are facing a barrage of questions on an array of topics, like potential virus exposure and the sudden upending of work and academic schedules. For Dr. Gauri Khurana, a psychiatrist who works predominantly with college students, the coronavirus questions began as a trickle from patients with family in China. In recent weeks, its become a flood of anxious phone calls from young people wondering about how theyll complete graduation requirements or whether they might be infected. I dont think a lot of them have primary care doctors and at this point everyone is terrified, wondering whats going to happen, she said. I have patients that want to drop out of school, move to Canada. Theyre grateful for any advice, especially coming from a doctor because theres so much misinformation. So Khurana, reading news articles nonstop to educate herself on the virus, has done her best to counsel her patients on practical steps to prevent exposure: using credit cards instead of cash, wearing gloves when going outside and carrying personal items in sandwich bags. I wish I had taken sandwich bags to work and given everyone a sandwich bag, she said. For specialists who treat high-risk demographics, the best medical advice for the coronavirus outbreak can feel contradictory: To stay safe, try to avoid the doctors office. Both the Surgeon General and the American College of Surgeons have advised that hospitals cancel elective procedures in the coming weeks, and some states have ordered postponements. Dr. Rajeev Jain, a gastroenterologist in Dallas, sees a large number of patients with autoimmune disorders like Crohns. To help minimize their risk of coronavirus exposure, he has canceled appointments that arent immediately necessary on a normal Monday and Tuesday he would see 30 patients, and this week hell see six. Much of his time is now spent fielding calls from patients who wonder if they should stop taking their immunosuppressive medications in order to minimize risk of serious infection. Following a joint advisory from American gastroenterological associations, Jain has told patients to continue their course of normal treatment. He worries that if his patients stop taking medications, they could contract other illnesses and be hospitalized. Thats where a large reservoir of COVID-19 is at the moment, he said. Thats the last thing I want to do. As physicians brace for what they realize will be an increasingly challenging period, representatives of medical associations say they are moving quickly to develop and distribute resources to support their members. Patrice Harris, president of the American Medical Association, said the association had developed a COVID-19 online resource center and physicians guide. She added that the association was aware of and working to address shortages in protective equipment for physicians, like N95 respirators. As fears about the virus spread in local communities, physicians are also facing unanticipated stress. Isaacs said his clinic had been robbed four times of masks, sanitizing wipes and hand soap. Dr. Supriya Mahajan, a neurologist at a private practice in Ohio, said that shes had to confront the financial losses of converting most in-person appointments to telemedicine because her partner in the practice is her father, whose age makes him at high-risk for severe COVID-19. And some specialists wonder whether, in the weeks to come, they might be called in to assist with front-line care. Jain works at a Dallas hospital that treated Ebola patients in 2014 and recalls when ICU doctors were put in quarantine. We dont know if in two weeks there will be a surge and well be pulled in to take care of patients in the ER, he said. The system is already starting to get overwhelmed. Jains days are now filled with all sorts of new precautions: designating clothing just for work, removing his scrubs before coming home, hand sanitizing more often than he already did. Its an adjustment, he said, to his routine life as a gastrointestinal specialist. But foremost on his mind is the health of his patients. Im reminded that this is why I got into medicine in the first place, Jain said. I need to step up now and do what I can to help. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Haryana Police have booked a UK-returned Panchkula resident on Monday for allegedly flouting home quarantine orders. An FIR has been registered against 65-year-old Mahinder who had recently returned from the UK, Kalka SHO, Inspector Kamaljeet Singh said over the phone. He said Mahinder upon his return from coronavirus-hit UK recently had been asked by the health department to home quarantine himself for two weeks. But instead of paying heed to these directions, he along with three accomplices was travelling to Himachal Pradesh, which has already banned the entry of tourists to curb the spread of coronavirus pandemic. "Haryana police had set up a check barrier in Kalka close to Parwanoo barrier and we were checking every vehicle. "Mahender along with three others was travelling towards HP when they were stopped. None of them even had masks with themselves. On questioning, we found out that he was advised by health department to home quarantine but he chose to flout the directions, the SHO said. He said a FIR was registered against him and he along with three others were sent for being quarantined in a government facility. We registered a FIR against him under Section 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and 269 of the IPC (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and a section under the provisions of the Epidemic Diseases Act, he said. Notably, 14 people have so far tested positive for Covid-19 in Haryana. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) If you want to offer your baby the best things money can buy, starting with only the worlds most luxurious cribs, baby bottles and even pacifiers, you need to check out Spanish design company Suommo. There are plenty of companies that sell premium baby products, but Spanish design studio Suommo is on a whole different level. They are basically the Louis Vuitton of babies, although LV probably isnt quite as exclusive as this small yet very expensive brand. From cribs and bassinets priced in the tens of thousands of euros, to the worlds most decadent baby bottle, Suommo has established itself as the most luxurious choice of everything baby-related. Founded in 2010 by Ximo Talamantes, a Spanish designer with 20 years of experience in both luxury residential and commercial interior design, Suommo quickly established itself as the premier luxury baby brand in the world. It did do by launching some of the most outrageously expensive baby products ever created, from the Dodo Bassinet Solid Gold edition, a bassinet priced at 12 000 000 ($12,900,000) to a Russian Doll-inspired baby bottle, which at one point had a price tag of $272,000. Neither the solid gold bassinet nor the gold baby bottle are listed on the Suommo website these days they were launched over 5 years ago but there are plenty of other decadent products for new parents to spend their money on. From bespoke baby room designs, to individual items like a 60,000 ($65,000) baby crib or a 68,000 ($73,000) chest drawer. But the most luxurious thing you can buy on the Suommo shop these days is a line of pacifiers, described as the worlds most expensive pacifiers, at 100,000 ($108,000) each. There are three version available: diamond and pure gold, diamond and white gold and diamond and rose gold. So what makes Suommo products so expensive? Well this is a luxury baby brand, so the name itself has a price, but its most expensive items are allegedly either made of solid gold r at least plated with 18K gold. Also, every product description of the companys online shop speaks of impossible angles, the finest quality materials and impeccable craftsmanship. If spending tens or even hundreds of dollars on luxury baby furniture and accessories is a bit too much, youll be happy to know that Suommo offers some budget options as well, like a 10,000 ($10,750) crib, or a 6,000 ($6,400)chest drawer. Theyre not the best money can buy, but at least they bear the Suommo name, and thats better than shopping at IKEA The company seems to have gone silent on social media over the last couple of years, but their website and online store are still online, so its unclear if Suommo is still in business. net2phone Announces Unlimited Calling at No Cost for Microsoft Teams By Maurice Nagle , Web Editor COVID-19 impact is unavoidable, with the pandemic continuing to build momentum what the final fallout will look like is still unknown. Fortunately, technology is offering a means to mitigate further spread of thee virus, as cloud communications are assisting to maintain business operations while the workforce transitions home. New Jersey-based net2phone announced 90 days of service at no cost for Microsoft Team users that sign up for net2phones fully integrated Global Calling Plan for Microsoft Teams. Coverage includes unlimited calling in Canada, the United States and more than 40 international destinations. "Reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating adoption of Microsoft Teams and other platforms that facilitate collaboration across the enterprise for a dispersed workforce," said Jonah Fink, President of net2phone. The offer is activated with service enrollment, and is available to Microsoft Teams users in Hong Kong, Spain, Colombia, Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Canada and the U.S. deployment is managed, automated and rapid via the cloud. The Global Calling Plan for Teams users allows professionals to initiate calls to extensions, numbers or contacts with just a click of the mouse. "Businesses must have reliable untethered and 'boundary-less' communications and collaboration to compete. That's why we are offering our Global Calling Plan for Microsoft Teams free for 90 days. The Plan features seamlessly integrated calling including unlimited international calls to most popular destinations within the Teams environment," Jonah Fink added. The cloud is empowering companies at a time of such vulnerability. The mass migration of employees home is challenging cloud communications providers to live up to the promises of the digital age. Are your communications in the cloud? Please enable JavaScript to view the Edited by Maurice Nagle An IL-76 aircraft of the Ukrainian Armed Forces delivered a batch of coronavirus test kits to the Boryspil International Airport (Kyiv) from Chinese Guangzhou. The military aircraft has delivered two types of test kits to Ukraine: for PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and 250 thousand tests for rapid diagnostics. The delivered cargo also included medical masks of various degrees of protection, disinfectants, ventilators and other means necessary to combat the spread of COVID-19, the press service of the Head of State reports. Once the disinfection measures are completed, the aircraft will be unloaded by the health service. Medical equipment, including PCR tests, will be transferred to laboratories in every region of Ukraine already on Monday. Rapid tests and medical masks will be provided for the primary needs of doctors, servicemen, police officers, the State Border Service and others. Rapid tests will be used by emergency teams to test people with fever and suspected coronavirus disease. In case of a positive test result, doctors must take an additional sample to confirm it in the laboratory using a PCR test. The purchase of medicines in China was carried out pursuant to the agreements of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and representatives of big businesses. The delivery process was coordinated by MPs from the Servant of the People party and government officials, reads the statement. This is the first shipment of medical supplies from China. A few more flights are scheduled this week. ol Comment: In the teeth of a crisis, we need art as well as science In Emily St. John Mandels powerful 2014 novel Station Eleven the Georgia flu rips through global society and kills most of the population. Survivors live in the ruins of the old world camping out in small communities based in airports or petrol stations. Its been five years since I read that book, but it has never quite left me. For obvious reasons, it has been particularly in my mind over the last few weeks. Art has the power to offer imaginative landscapes that help us understand our own reality. Our current pandemic is, thankfully, neither as deadly nor as infectious as the fictional Georgia flu, but it is undoubtedly going to change all of our day-to-day lives in the coming months. As our horizons narrow through social distancing, the journeys we can take within our minds are going to be more and more important. Despite its premise, Station Eleven is not a true dystopia. It is too shot through with hope. The society after the Georgia flu has lost electricity, medicine, government and law. It is profoundly unsafe. But it is also a world where a caravan of people travels in horse-drawn former vans from tiny settlement to tiny settlement, performing Shakespeare and classical music. Where their motto is survival is insufficient (yes, it is a quote from Star Trek). In the teeth of a medical crisis, we certainly want our best scientists on the case. Frontline health workers, immunologists, epidemiologists and microbiologists all deserve our gratitude and support. This is a good time to reflect on the progress made by science in making us all safer through better public health. (And an excellent moment to give those anti-vax conspiracy theories a rest.) And yet, while we can all be glad that there are medical experts there to care for those of us who are hit hard by COVID-19, for most, this crisis is going to be about taking care of our mental health. Anyone with ongoing difficulties will be vulnerable, as we all face a slew of frightening news and our usual coping strategies are disrupted by social distancing. For those with obsessive compulsive disorder, fear of contamination is one of the most common obsessive thoughts, alongside fixations around order and counting, and so current government advice for coronavirus may undermine their psychological treatment. My own anxiety, which has been broadly under control for years, has been quietly building. My dad, back in my native Belfast, is one of those who will now be strictly isolated for the next 12 weeks because of underlying health problems. As for many Irish people here in Scotland, the North Channel suddenly seems very wide. The natural desire is to hold our loved ones close, but in this very particular crisis the best thing is to stay apart. Its profoundly unsettling. Breathing exercises have become important again, as have the benefits of a solitary walk or run. But, when we have to keep our distance, the most powerful force we have to bring us closer is art and storytelling. Music, film, books, magazines, TV culture is all too often seen as the condiment rather than the main course, but here we are in a crisis and it turns out its essential nourishment. Cooped up in self-isolation, we turn to the transformative power of music, the escape of a great box set, the comfort of a favourite film. We travel the world in the pages of a novel, discover new interests in a magazine, or find solace in poetry. Until there is a cure or a vaccine, the coronavirus has to be controlled by social measures. The muscles uniquely worked by culture those of empathy and understanding are the ones we will rely on. Theyre the ones that will give us the resilience to continue disrupting our lives for the benefit of people we may never meet. Yet in the very moment when we need artists most, they are facing an existential threat. With music venues, theatres and cinemas closed, events cancelled, and everyone advised against gathering in any numbers, the money going to performers, writers and other artists is drastically reduced. The vast majority of artists are freelancers, so lost work means no income. The arts and cultural sector is difficult, underpaid and highly competitive at the best of times, so few creatives have a cushion to keep them going. As I write, the government response has been adding to the pressure. By advising people not to go to theatres, clubs or pubs but stopping short of ordering closures Boris Johnson has left cultural venues, as well as the hospitality sector as a whole, in limbo. Many have already deemed it the right thing to do to shut, but without an official order, even the best insurance is unlikely to cover them. In the immediate instance, anyone who is suddenly without income must be helped. With foodbanks on the rise, its been clear for some time that our safety nets are not good enough. This crisis is going to throw a sharper light on their inadequacies. We must use this as an inflection point to improve how we treat people when they fall on hard times. Looking further ahead, we must redouble our backing for the arts and artists. Art is how we understand and improve ourselves. Culture is the basis of our civilisation, as well as a source of joy and transcendence. If youre able, think about how you might support the creatives that mean something to you. Pre-order that book you fancy reading. Check out the Patreon of your favourite comedian or writer. Buy a record rather than streaming it. Get yourself a magazine subscription. Look into whether you can support your local venue by buying vouchers for a later date. Above all, keep speaking up for the value of culture in the face of overwhelming pressure to think only about bare practicalities. The arts can save us, but first, we have to save the arts. Because survival is insufficient. The extraordinary actions of the Federal Reserve on Monday morning can be boiled down to two sentences: There is a rapidly developing shortage of dollars across the economy. And the Fed will do anything it needs to, on any scale imaginable, to end this shortage. Its announcement was phrased in the dry bureaucratese typical of statements from a central bank. But it contains a powerful idea. The Fed, the one entity in the world with the power to create dollars out of thin air, has every intention of doing so at whatever magnitude is necessary to try to reduce the severity and limit the duration of the coronavirus economic crisis. The Federal Reserve is committed to using its full range of tools to support households, businesses and the U.S. economy over all in this challenging time, the statement begins. Unlike some past grand statements from central bankers promising to do whatever it takes to solve a crisis, this one was accompanied with actions matching the scale of the words. Its really two distinct crises the Fed is trying to solve, with overlapping tools. One is an already-underway crisis in which financial markets are breaking down, failing in some of the same ways they did in the 2008 financial crisis and thus threatening to make the economic crisis worse. The other is the threat of widespread business failures that could create mass bankruptcies, leaving millions of Americans jobless even once the virus is contained. Proteona, Synovo, and NMI collaborate to launch an innovative AI-driven genomic and proteomic analysis platform for single-cell multi-omics profiling to explore human micro-tumours Singapore based Proteona Pte. Ltd. has announced the DeepSee collaboration on developing a platform for patient-derived micro-tumors for drug screening and discovery using single cell multi-omics analysis. The strategic partners include the German drug discovery firm Synovo, and the NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tubingen. The project receives funding from Enterprise Singapore jointly with the central innovation program (Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand, ZIM) initiated by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi). To find the right treatment for individual cancer patients, understanding the heterogeneity of drug response on single cell level is imperative, commented Dr. Andreas Schmidt, CEO of Proteona. A small subset of cells can lead to disease relapse or treatment failure. This tiny signal, often overlooked in bulk analysis, will be accurately captured with Proteonas single cell multi-omics platform. By combining it with the patient-derived micro-tumor technology, we offer a powerful tool not only for individual patient treatment selection, but also for drug discovery and new cancer therapy development. The collaboration is a further step towards truly personalized precision medicine. The patient-derived micro-tumors simulate patients cancer and microenvironment makeup, and allow multiple therapies and therapy combinations to be tested at once. Using a combination of traditional assays as well as single cell multi-omics analysis, the platform will be able to characterize immune-infiltrating lymphocytes and their response to immunotherapy such as check point inhibitors on a single cell level. The rich information will then be analyzed with specialized algorithms to derive patient-specific drug response information. The collaboration aims to develop and commercialize a full service from wet lab procedures to state-of-the-art data analysis. The key to tumor immunotherapy is finding means to activate the immune cells in tumors. Screening for substances that do this is best done in a context that replicates the tumor micro-environment, said Dr. Michael Burnet, managing Director of Synovo. Synovo chemists will work together with the NMI and Proteona to optimize substances that release immune suppression. Data on the activity of new substances provided by Proteona analysis will be used to select improved candidates in a process of evolutionary optimization. Although the NMI has been conducting research on micro-tumors for several years, even the established research institute is constantly reaching its limits: "The tissue samples are usually very small, which limits the number of parallel analyses," explains Christian Schmees, head of the Tumor Biology group at the NMI. By being able to carry out single cell analyses, which are considerably more sensitive and therefore require smaller sample quantities, the number of analyses from micro-tumor samples can be increased and the informative value improved. This is particularly relevant due to the close cooperation with the University Hospital in Tubingen. As a project partner, the NMI has two functions: it does not only generate micro-tumor samples for subsequent analyses, but is also actively involved in the development of new methods. "We ourselves hope to be able to use the jointly developed technology in our laboratories in the future in order to carry out more extensive analyses and be able to identify and investigate treatments that are specifically adjusted to individual patients," says Schmees. Proteona is privileged to work with Synovo and NMI, who are leaders in drug discovery solutions and novel therapy/diagnostics development in Germany, said Schmidt. Proteona has long benefited from strong ties with German biotech and pharmaceutical industry. Our German daughter company, Proteona GmbH, is an example of how German and Singapore collaboration can accelerate technology exchange, innovation, and jointly creating a clinical impact. Immunotherapy is a type of emerging cancer treatment that boosts the bodys defense, the immune system, to kill cancer cells. Several types of immunotherapy have been developed, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, and chimeric antigen T Cell therapy. The collaboration is part of Proteonas continued effort to advance precision medicine using single cell proteogenomic analysis. Proteona has recently awarded grants under the Proteona Oncology Challenge to top researchers using single cell multi-omics for improving clinical outcomes. The UAE Cabinet has approved a Dh16 billion ($4.35 billion) economic stimulus package as part of the Government's additional measures to support the national economy, ensure businesses continuity, and mitigate the coronavirus impact. This came during a virtual meeting held Sunday under the chairmanship of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, as a preventive measure to protect everyone from the Covid-19 coronavirus, reported state news agency Wam. The latest financial support complements those announced recently by the emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, along with that of the Central Bank of the UAE, taking to Dh126.5 billion the total value of stimulus packages introduced since the COVID-19 outbreak to survive the current challenging conditions. The measures include a renewable six-month suspension of work permit fees and reduction of labour and other charges to cut the cost of doing business, support small businesses and accelerate major infrastructure projects. During the virtual meeting, Sheikh Mohammed said that the UAE government is ready to deal with all future circumstances, adding that the country will be part of the global efforts to contain COVID-19 pandemic. "Our message for everyone is that we are completely ready to deal with all circumstances," noted Sheikh Mohammed. "Over the past 10 years, we have invested in smart learning, electronic and smart services to enhance our readiness for emergencies and disasters. Today we are reaping the fruits of our strenuous efforts as evidenced by the continuation of our educational process and basic government services. We are being proactive in dealing with global health conditions." "Coronavirus is a health virus, an economic virus, and a political virus too... and we say to all the countries of the world: It is the time for unity, cooperation and solidarity to fight the worst enemy of humankind. All differences diminish in the face of this challenge and the world can overcome it faster if the strong stood with the weak and the rich with the poor." "We have adopted new systems in the banking, economic, and public sectors and provided a healthy infrastructure to deal with the worst possibilities. We have a national team that works around the clock. We will safeguard the health of our society. We will protect our economy. We will protect education. We will cross such a global crisis with confidence," Sheikh Mohammed added. Addressing the meeting, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said the ministry is closely following up the conditions of Emirati students and citizens abroad to ensure their safe return. He highlighted the country-level efforts to adopt the remote learning system launched today, affirming that no efforts are being spared to ensure the full readiness of all educational institutions to help students utilise the distance learning system in the best possible way. Social distancing near me: How COVID-19 is affecting Humble, Huffman ISDs Humble ISD Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Fagen is impressed by the efforts of teachers, staff and community during the ever-changing situation with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Our staff, our community they have been incredible with these announcements, Fagen said. Everybody is being supportive and contributing in every way that they can for the greater good. There is so much positive stuff all over Twitter from our staff. That piece of it is really impressive. According to Fagen, community partners have also stepped up to the plate to help fill the needs of students during this time. Comcast has offered two months free of internet basic to low-income families so that they can be connected, Fagen said. Ive seen authors who have given permission for their books to be read online. Ive seen a lot of different software platforms offer the software free for the remainder of the year. Everybody is stepping up in the way that they can towards this collaborative effort. Its really making a positive out of a challenging situation. COVID-19 hitting close to home has prompted precautions to be put into place to prevent the spreading of this virus across the Houston Metropolitan area, including Humble ISD and Huffman ISD. The virus has taken the world by storm, quickly spreading across multiple continents and countries over the past month. As of March 16, the virus has been confirmed in 140 countries around the globe, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In the United States, 4,226 cases had been confirmed as of March 17. The Harris County website reports that 110 confirmed cases have been reported within the state of Texas and 11 of those specifically within Harris County. Humble ISD, with a total enrollment of 45,381 students, released on Monday that schools within the district will be closed, with all events and activities canceled, through Friday, April 10. This is part of the ongoing effort to support our nations need to flatten the curve of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Houston area continues to see an increasing number of confirmed cases of COVID-19. Health officials report that this number is expected to continue to increase as more testing is made available. According to Fagen, The health and safety of the community has to be our top priority right now, and is one of the reasons behind the decision to suspend attending school on campuses. Along with that, Fagen continued, we want to provide distance-learning opportunities to the students. We want to make sure that the children have food. And we want to partner in supporting our health-care system so that we can flatten the curve as they say. Were really committed to focusing on those items and doing our part as a school district. Fagen encourages parents to stay connected directly with teachers for specific information about their child and their learning. For information about food being offered and things like that, I would encourage them to go to the district website. For information about having your children at home or anything like that, I really encourage our parents to get on Twitter and follow their teacher, follow the district, follow the school leaders. Theres a lot of information being shared there. According to a statement released by Humble ISD Chief Communications Officer Jamie Mount, the district has designated locations for meals to be served to children within the community from ages 1-18. The current schedule lists meals available for breakfast and lunch through March 20. According to the Humble ISD website, humbleisd.net, There will be no charge for the meals. Families can drive through the car-rider line or walk up to obtain a carry-out meal [starting this] Wednesday through Friday. Breakfast will be available from 8-10 a.m. and lunch will be available from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Meals may be picked up at Elm Grove Elementary School, Oaks Elementary School, Ridge Creek Elementary School, River Pines Elementary School, Humble Middle School or Ross Sterling Middle School. Children should be present on site to receive the meal. No child will be turned away. Meals are available to children beginning at age 1. Reservations are not required but are greatly appreciated to help us have correct quantity at each location on the first day that we provide meals. The statement also said, Families will receive an email from their school later this week about learning opportunities while campuses are closed. During Spring Break, Humble ISD stated schools would email parents information tonight. However, principals and teachers are now readjusting plans to best serve students over a longer period of time. Please watch your email for information from your childs school. Though campuses are closed for learning, some facilities on the grounds will remain open to the public at the moment. Please note, the statement continues, Throughout Humble ISD, high school campuses are closed; this includes all outside facilities. Middle school tracks remain open to the public at this time. Elementary school playgrounds remain open to the public at this time, and playground equipment will be cleaned daily. Despite daily cleaning, families should be aware that the coronavirus can live on hard surfaces for days. Health officials recommend frequent hand washing and social distancing. As far as the public school board meeting that is usually held the first Tuesday of the month, Mount said, It is the goal to hold the next school board meeting Tuesday, March 24. The district is working on plans that would allow the meeting to occur while maintaining social distancing. The meeting notice will be posted on humbleisd.net. According to Fagen, communication between school districts across the state and local regions is happening on a regular basis to help come up with the best plans for moving forward. Superintendents across the state are on calls with the TEA [Texas Educators Association] nearly daily, Fagen explained. And superintendents across Region 4, which is the Houston area, are also on calls almost daily. So there is constant collaboration, sharing of ideas. We are sharing the best of our ideas with one another. Huffman ISD also released that the district will be closing operations until April 10. According to the statement, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has outlined the need for all communities to implement a social distancing protocol. The president has publicly shared that the community should not gather in groups larger than 10 people. The district will remain flexible as leaders plan for long-term delivery of instruction and continue to navigate the many details of this unprecedented situation. Please continue to monitor your email and visit the district website and social media channels for more information on plans to deliver instruction and information on our feeding program. The health of Huffman ISD students, staff and community is the districts top priority, and district leaders are working to ensure the community has the most current information available. Huffman ISD teachers are expected to reach out to parents about distance-education opportunities during the closures, and according to the statement, Huffman ISD will also be offering grab-and-go lunches at the Huffman Elementary School Cafeteria starting Monday March 23 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. In an address to the nation, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered sweeping restrictions across the United Kingdom on Monday night. Johnson ordered the closing of most stores, banned gatherings for three weeks and other measures. People will only be allowed to leave their home for the following very limited purposes," the prime minister said. "Shopping for basic necessities, as infrequently as possible; one form of exercise a day for example a run, walk, or cycle alone or with members of your household; any medical need, to provide care or to help a vulnerable person; and traveling to and from work, but only where this is absolutely necessary and cannot be done from home. LONDON (AP) British Prime Minster Boris Johnson orders closure of most stores, bans gatherings for three weeks to stop coronavirus. Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) March 23, 2020 You can read the full text of Johnsons address on The Guardian. You can watch Johnsons entire address to the nation here: ** ** ** Previous story: LONDON British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to address the nation tonight amid mounting speculation that he is to announce more draconian restrictions to combat the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Johnson, who cancelled his daily afternoon news conference, is currently meeting with senior members of his government and health experts within the COBRA emergency committee. The prime minister is coming under mounting pressure to introduce tougher measures, even of an Italy-style lockdown, after many people were seen over the weekend not observing the government's social distancing recommendations. British government figures Monday show another 54 people who had tested positive for the COVID-19 disease had died from the previous day, taking the total to 335. The British government has also updated its travel advice and is now urging all British travelers to return home as soon as possible. ** ** ** The Associated Press contributed to this report. MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE Some Amazon orders now will take at least a month to deliver Coronavirus: AP exams will be online, shortened to 45 minutes Stock market slides again, despite Fed aid, as coronavirus bill stalls Coronavirus fact check: Trump says he always knew COVID-19 was pandemic Coronavirus: Syracuse native and family stuck in Peru, she has significant health issues Apple CEO Tim Cook, left, speaks as Marc Benioff, chairman and co-chief executive officer of Salesforce.com listens during a keynote at the 2019 DreamForce conference in San Francisco, California, U.S., on Nov. 19, 2019. On the same day, Zuckerberg said Facebook is donating its emergency reserve of 720,000 masks to health workers. Facebook had initially bought them in case the wildfires in California continued. Zuckerberg said the company is also "working on sourcing millions of more to donate." Cook said on Sunday that Apple will donate "millions of masks" for health professionals in the U.S. and Europe. U.S. technology CEOs including Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and Apple's Tim Cook have pledged to donate masks to medical professionals as large corporations try to do their part to help battle the coronavirus outbreak. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff also said Sunday that the company had delivered 9,000 masks to the University of California, San Francisco. "We are working hard across all of our resources & relationships to deliver an additional 5 million masks this week plus additional critical PPE (personal protective equipment)," he added. @Benioff: Thank you to our Ohana for delivering our first 9000 masks to UCSF. We are working hard across all of our resources & relationships to deliver an additional 5 million masks this week plus additional critical PPE. All of us need to focus on getting PPE to our local hospitals. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said his company is making ventilators and expects to have over 1,200 to distribute this week. @elonmusk: We expect to have over ~1200 to distribute this week. Getting them delivered, installed & operating is the harder part. China, which was the epicenter of the coronavirus for a while, has seen a dramatic slowdown of new cases. In fact, China's National Health Commission said there were 39 new cases as of the end of March 22, all of them imported. Meanwhile, the virus is spreading to the rest of the world and governments are fighting to get a grip on the situation. The U.S. has quickly become one of the hardest hit nations, with at least 35,000 cases and 471 deaths, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University. SHANGHAI American front-line medical personnel are running desperately short of masks and protective equipment as they battle the coronavirus outbreak. China, already the worlds largest producer of such gear by far, has ramped up factory output and is now signaling that it wants to help. Reaching deals wont be easy. Increasingly acrimonious relations between Washington and Beijing are complicating efforts to get Chinese-made masks to American clinics and hospitals. A breakdown over the last few days in the global business of moving goods by air around the world will make it costly and difficult as well. At heart, the two countries, which only recently reached a truce in President Trumps trade war, have some similar problems. Both face harsh questions over their missteps in responding to the outbreak. Washington and Beijing make handy foils for each other and essential protective gear could get caught in the middle unless they reach an understanding. The Trump administration is signaling it isnt too proud to buy Chinese masks, gowns, goggles and other equipment. At the same time, said Peter Navarro, a senior Trump administration trade official, it will object to any Chinese effort to turn deliveries into fodder for propaganda that would bolster Chinas image at home and abroad. The diseases expert leading the Trump administrations response to coronavirus, Dr. Anthony Fauci, has said that he has never called the coronavirus the Chinese virus. In an interview with Science magazine on Sunday, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said he will never name the virus in the same way that President Donald Trump has done in recent days. The US President has dismissed claims that referring to the coronavirus as the China or Chinese virus was racist, insisting that it was accurate. Dr Fauci told Science magazine on Sunday that he generally did not disagree with the substance of Mr Trumps messaging, but that announcements were made in a way that I would not express it, because it could lead to some misunderstanding about what the facts are about a given subject. He said: I cant jump in front of the microphone and push him down. According to the immunologist, the Trump administration needed things to be repeated four times before action was taken. He said: When youre dealing with the White House, sometimes you have to say things 1,2,3,4 times, and then it happens. So Im going to keep pushing. Despite praise from the President he had become become a major television star, Dr Fauci criticised Mr Trump for shaking hands on stage during the daily coronavirus taskforce briefings. He told Science magazine: We should not be doing that. Not only that we should be physically separating a bit more on those press conferences. The interview comes amid mounting speculation about tensions between Mr Trump and Dr Fauci, who last week publicly rebuked the Presidents claim that chloroquine could be immediately introduced to treat coronavirus. On Friday, Dr Fauci appeared to facepalm at the Presidents remark about the Deep state Department. The leading doctor told the New York Times in an interview published on Saturday that he was performing a balancing act with the Trump administration. He said: I had been walking a fine line; Ive been telling the president things he doesnt want to hear. I have publicly had to say something different with what he states. He added: Its a risky business. But thats my style. Download Image: Web Lycoming College faculty member, Michael E. Heyes, Ph.D., assistant professor of religion, published his monograph in December, Margarets Monsters: Women, Identity, and the Life of St. Margaret in Medieval England (Routledge), providing a look at St. Margaret of Antioch, the patron saint of childbirth and virgins. With an interest in the demonic, monstrosity, and ritual practices, the study of St. Margaret of Antioch was a fitting research project for Heyes. Existing studies of Margaret are analytical pieces that focus on manuscript tradition and literary strains, whereas Heyes work is very much about how people have used the material to inform their sexual identities. An excerpt from the book states: St. Margaret was one of the most popular saints in medieval England and, throughout the Middle Ages, the various Lives of St. Margaret functioned as a blueprint for a virginal life and supernatural assistance to pregnant women during the dangerous process of labor. In her narrative, Margaret is accosted by various demons and, having defeated each monster in turn, she is taken to the place of her martyrdom where she prays for supernatural boons for her adherents. This book argues that Margarets monsters are a key element in understanding Margarets importance to her adherents, specifically how the sexual identities of her adherents were constructed and maintained. With funding from a Lycoming College Student Research Grant, Heyes was able to take on an undergraduate student assistant as he wrapped up research during the summer of 2019. Rachel Rose Rubright 20, religion and psychology major from New Philadelphia, Pa., earned a credit in the book by assisting with the editing process and completing manuscript research for Heyes. The project gave her access to rare manuscripts housed in the British Library and several libraries at both the University of Oxford and Cambridge University. "During my time with Dr. Heyes, I mainly assisted in editing his book. I proofread each chapter several times over in addition to verifying that all citations were in the correct format and correcting along the way. I also kept record of the sources used for the bibliography as well as tracking word usage to create the book's index. I also travelled with him to the library at Oxford, Cambridge, and the British Library amongst other stops to study the texts of saint Margaret first hand, said Rubright. The experience meant a lot to me, not only helping with my own editorial skills, but to show me how to better conduct my own research. I hope after Lycoming to become a professor of religion myself, and apply the research and communication skills that this opportunity has brought to me." As a scholar, Heyes approaches religion differently than others. As an instructor, he changes students viewpoints and understanding of religion. I tend to think of religion as anything that rests on the authority of a text, a person, or a group. Whenever we react to those things, we are acting religiously at that moment, explained Heyes. My classes dont stop at the big 5 or big 6 religions. We also cover American civil religion. The way we act toward America is religious. For example, we as a country enshrined George Washington in the Capitol with the saints. We treat all of the founding fathers like divinity. Our roots are much more religious than we first thought. Heyes received a masters degree in comparative religion from the University of Washington, and a doctoral degree from Rice University. Prior to his work on Margarets Monsters, Heyes edited Holy Monsters, Sacred Grotesques: Monstrosity and Religion in Europe and the United States (Lexington Books). He is currently planning a book about the film The Exorcist and its effect on religion in the United States and the treatment of mental illness. More information on Margarets Monsters, can be found at: https://www.amazon.com/Margarets-Monsters-Identity-Margaret-Medieval-ebook/dp/B0829CXRKL. The coronavirus pandemic has created confusion, delays and uncertainty in housing projects around the Bay Area, despite a crushing need for new homes from an industry deemed essential to work through the regional lock-down. Shutdowns in local government offices have distanced city planners and inspectors from developers, making the already sometimes Byzantine development process more complicated. Staff in Bay Area cities are shifting as many development functions as possible online. Residential builders and small contractors are struggling to understand and adapt to the variety of new work policies and limits forced on local governments by the coronavirus. The regions housing crisis, already hampered by high land costs, a lengthy local process and environmental regulations, is getting a roundhouse from the pandemic. Things will be slower, said Bob Glover, executive officer of the Building Industry Association of the Bay Area. But industry insiders say no one yet knows how long the delays will last. But the slowdown will ripple or crash through the industry with unknown damages to affordable and market-rate housing projects, smaller contractors and construction workers. A survey by the National Association of Home Builders released last week before shelter-in-place restrictions spread across the country found developer confidence remained solid with strong consumer demand for new homes, although industry executives say they expect the pandemic to slow sales during the next six months. Much of the work needed to finish and fill a home or condo from final inspections to recording of title depends on government services. Bay Area cities have shuttered planning and inspection services, telling developers and contractors to call or email. Rosalynn Hughey, director of the San Jose department of planning, building and code enforcement, said the office has switched to its emergency plans to keep projects going. Most planning functions are being done online or through email, videoconferencing and by phone. Inspectors with appropriate protection and social distancing will be allowed to perform site visits on housing projects, she said. The city is setting up video inspections for small home renovations, like kitchen remodels, and plans to grant final sign-offs remotely. Without a doubt, there are going to be delays, Hughey said, but how long were not really sure. Stanford University has temporarily shut down construction projects. Mountain View has ceased taking new and resubmitted planning applications. Inspections for private developments have been limited to health care facilities and affordable housing projects, according to the city. In Redwood City, commercial development has been halted but work on all types of housing and crucial infrastructure continues. City inspectors and site workers are being asked to follow precautions recommended by the public health officials. The city is also considering remote video inspections. In Oakland, planning services are being offered by phone, online or, in some cases, by appointment. Walnut Creek and Concord offer similar limited, remote services, according to city websites. Developers and contractors are scrambling to figure out the new rules and levels of service. The local chapter of the Building Industry Association expects to send surveys to 100 cities in the region seeking clarity. Everyone might not be providing the same level of service during this three-week period, Glover said. Some homeowners are in limbo, waiting to move into their new homes while expecting to leave their old ones. How do you accomplish those key things to get people into new units? SummerHill Homes CEO Robert Freed said the company is managing a variety of challenges keeping employees safe, adjusting project deadlines and meeting client needs. SummerHill has housing projects in various stages of development across the region, including Moraga, Santa Clara, Fremont, Foster City and Mountain View. Progress has varied from city to city, depending on the availability of inspectors and other city staff. Where possible, we are continuing to build, said Freed, who has spent three decades in the industry. Sales work, including client conferences and virtual tours, are being done remotely. The consequences for affordable housing typically dependent on a complex collection of funding sources, and layers of government oversight and deadlines are more daunting. California Housing Partnership CEO Matt Schwartz said the delays could seriously impact project deadlines and financing. As the economy weakens, investors become more cautious. If bankers pull back from new investments in affordable housing, he said, bold projects to address the states housing needs could be knocked back on their heels. Right now, the dominant factor in the market seems to be fear, Schwartz said. That could be devastating for housing production generally. Developers of affordable housing say tax incentives and financing are tied to strict construction deadlines. Missing target dates could endanger projects. We need our contractors to work and we need our local and state inspectors to inspect that work in order to meet those deadlines, Eden Housing president Linda Mandolini said in an email. We are also working on extending the deadlines which require both federal and state action. There are significant financial consequences for missing them. Smaller contractors are also wrestling with shelter-in-place guidelines. Despite pent-up demand for new housing and home improvements, an extended shutdown could stifle projects and lead to industry layoffs. Randy Zechman, CEO of solar installer CleanSolar in San Jose, said most in the industry considered the shelter-in-place restrictions to ban smaller commercial and residential projects. Even if contractors are considered essential, he said, how many customers are really going to be calling to get solar? Zechman does not plan layoffs from his 50-employee company right now and expects the slowdowns will be hardest on his installers and electricians. Generally, he said, the majority of workers in the construction space are paycheck to paycheck. The company can hold out for a few months, he said. Beyond that, he said, I dont know the answer. Editors Note: Because of the health implications of the COVID-19 virus, this article is being made available free to all online readers. If youd like to join us in supporting the mission of local journalism, please visit napavalleyregister.com/members/join/. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. As we remember Abhay Xaxa's steel, determination, and his intellect to think beyond the reasonable, we also need to remember that he fought hard to break notions, build bridges and strengthen a stoic image of the marginalised communities in India. Abhay Xaxas association with the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights started in the year 2012, with him being young, full of energy, and carrying a fire in his eyes. He never had small plans; he dreamed big about empowering the Adivasi and Dalit communities with access, rights and entitlement. Even though he was crusading for Adivasi rights, one must not forget that he was a human rights activist first, with expertise in bonded labour, Dalit rights, Adivasi rights, budget rights, education justice, among several other subjects. However, strangely, we choose to only perceive and remember him as an Adivasi rights activist. With his passing away, the loss is being felt by the entire human rights fraternity right now. If there was one Adivasi leader who was trying to build bridges between the two communities of Dalits and Adivasis, undoubtedly, it was Abhay. He was fondly referred to as 'Dada' or 'Baba' by his peers and colleagues, which made him more than just a co-worker it made him a brother and a friend. Abhay would love to dress up in a suit, and would ask, Dont I look dapper in this? His face would almost instantly light up on receiving a compliment. His presence at team meetings would mean sparks of new ideas, different perspectives, and an understanding so sound that it felt like he was born to rule. He was ready to take on challenges, perhaps far more than he could handle sometimes, and yet, his indomitable spirit and willingness to go beyond his call of duty was what made him stand out. His humility and childlike demeanour kept him going inspite of everything happening around him. Abhay's commitment towards protecting the rights of Adivasis and ensuring that their voices are heard was second to none. His lifelong strife entailed bringing the issues of Adivasis and the Tribal communities to the mainstream, to make certain that the policies took into account the views of said communities. Through his being and effort, he touched many lives, with the youth looking to him for guidance and wisdom, considering his deep understanding and knowledge of policies, their implications, implementations, flaws, limitations, while always being armed with suggestions to improve them. One was often left wondering about the depth and extent of his knowledge, and how he managed to acquire so much of it. Evidently, Abhay Xaxa's aspirations were big, sometimes too big, with people often failing to live up to them. He would always say: My dream is to work for my people, it is my responsibility to do this, as many people are looking to me for leading the movement. Through his life, Abhay inspired several young people to push their limits and cross several hurdles, which he went through himself in order to accomplish what he did. As a result, he was visibly quite excited to complete his PhD, thereafter wanting to work as a professor, as he felt that it would allow him to contribute to the lives of young people. One of Abhay's deepest regrets was not being able to teach on account of encountering insurmountable barriers put in place by institutions, which ultimately proved to be extremely frustrating and disappointing for him. However, this did not deter him. He went on to mobilise the Adivasis, and build a strong movement towards their fight for forestland, water, mountains, in turn striving to break the existent cultural hegemony. The tribal Sub-Plan was Abhay's passion. Despite its many loopholes, both the Centre and States were using the strategy against tribal interests, which made the activist challenge and start a movement against it, and claim budget resources as Adivasi rights. He was part of a small group that drafted a legislation for sub-plans. This was testimony to his uncanny ability of successfully reaching out to both the youth and the old, the academics and the activists, while trying to build ways to connect two different worlds. Today, we grieve but also celebrate Abhay Flavian Xaxa, and his immense contribution to the Adivasi movement. He refused to accept Adivasis as an esoteric-ethnic community, but also felt that they bring a strength of sustainability, which the wider society needs to accept. He held conviction about the rights of the tribal community, besides being a strong believer of consolidating Adivasi leadership. His profound commitment to ensuring social justice and making one believe that without putting the voices of the marginalised whether it is the Dalit or the Adivasi community no policy will be effective in bringing about development. His dedication and focus on these issues led him to initiate the National Campaign on Adivasi Human Rights, in order to help them find their feet in mainstream society. Abhay's source of inspiration came from the very lives and struggles of the Adivasi communities, their culture, their habits, but he did not want any of this to be appropriated. He believed another world is possible, where we actively educate, organise, and agitate against all the injustice that is happening to Adivasis. As we remember his steel, his determination, and his intellect to think beyond the reasonable, we also need to remember that he fought hard to break notions, build bridges and strengthen a stoic image of the marginalised. His vision and his call to the nation is to respect the land, its people and its culture, encouraging all to carry forward his mission of social justice, equity, and dignity. Hul Johar! and Jai Bhim!, Abhay a light has gone out too soon, leaving a void that will be hard to fill. But, we will refuse, reject, and resist any labels, like you've inspired us to do. As we bid farewell to Abhay Xaxa, we leave with a poem that he wrote: Beautiful Damaged People Among the doom and gloom they smile, Mistaken for idiots by the mad rational world. The Adivasis, beautifully damaged people! On the treasures of iron, gold and diamond they sit, Poor and powerless, holding the curse of nature. The curse of loving their land , water, forest, where they prefer to die as mad lover beautifully damaged people! With stars in their eyes, n moon in their minds, Thoughts flowing like an un-dammed river with hearts unadulterated with twisted philosophies, Religions, ideologies, lust and greed. Their vision misunderstood as juvenility, On the face of violence, loot and hopelessness they remain, Dreamy, defiant and deviant, Beautifully damaged people! Totally unfit in the world of money and power, Locked in the mental asylums of nature and culture, They are teased, played, raped and killed With the weapons of development and benevolence, Time after time, history after history. The beautiful damaged people! They fail to understand the logic of intelligent world, Why mines are important than forests, Or water become a commodity to buy and sell, Why love, dance and mahua should be restrained Why its dangerous to be David against the Goliaths! Beautifully damaged people! The ugly normal people of the world, Disciplined, insecure, greedy and lusty Beneficiaries of loot, cheating and mayhem Fearing to figure out a future of their generations, Suddenly realising that they were reading their book upside down, Confused between mindless and mindful, need and greed Keep pondering why Adivasis stay happy! For if there is any hope of future for this world, It is by the beautifully damaged people. Who among the doom and gloom, smile and survive In togetherness with nature, The Adivasis! N Paul Divakar is the Chairperson at Asia Dalit Rights Forum, and Beena J Pallical is the General Secretary at the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights-DAAA. Kaduna State Government has directed all civil servants from Grade Level 12 and below, to remain at home for the next 30 days, effective from Tuesday. Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who made this known in a state broadcast on Monday, said that the directive became necessary to prevent the spread of Coronavirus. The governor however said that workers providing essential services, workers in the health, security and emergency service sectors, are exempted from this directive. Mr El-Rufai, who decried the flouting of governments directive against large gatherings, however expressed gratitude to those religious leaders who complied with the directive. He said government received reports of congregations in some churches and mosques, as well as large crowds in weddings and other social activities. Over the weekend, we also sadly observed shocking levels of complacency as some people ignored their responsibility to uphold preventive measures, he said. He said that government has now decided to move from advice to actual enforcement of its restrictions on large gatherings, especially in churches and mosques. According to him, security agencies have been directed to ensure compliance across the state. These agencies will also enforce compliance with the decision to close all schools, whether public or private, religious or secular, Islamiya or run by Christian missions. El Rufai warned that the state government will not hesitate to impose a state wide curfew, should that become the only way to enforce compliance and make everyone understand the collective danger that we face. He also directed that markets would remain partially open as only traders selling food and medicines are permitted to open their shops, effective from Tuesday, 24th March 2020. This directive will be vigorously enforced by the security agencies and the Kaduna Markets Development and Management Company which will also ensure that all markets are fumigated, he added. The governor said that he will not hesitate to impose a lockdown of the entire state, if events dictate, adding that this will be done with every effort to take care of the poor and vulnerable. The governor however reiterated that no case of Covid-19 has been reported in the State so far but the government has a duty to work with all our leaders and residents of our state to jointly ensure that everything is done to reduce the chance of the disease taking root and spreading in the state. According to him, it is better to impose restrictions and save lives, than to be complacent and bury victims. Countries that have hesitated to impose extraordinary measures to contain coronavirus are now regretting. We have a chance to avoid such mistakes. The governor further directed people to stay at home and avoid unnecessary travel. He advised residents to postpone every trip until this pandemic is curtailed, arguing that only those who are alive can travel. To this end, we have contacted the relevant federal authorities to stop the Abuja-Kaduna train service and thus limit the danger from contact on the train and influx from people who might have been exposed to infected persons, he added. Mr El Rufai also urged all residents who recently returned from travel overseas to self-isolate for 14 days. Any symptoms of cough, fever or difficulty in breathing should be reported to the following numbers: 08025088304, 08032401473, 08035871662 and 08037808191, he said. (NAN) Advertisements Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 20/3/2020 (663 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Policies leave most vulnerable behind Re: Carbon-tax changes could hurt low-income households and Cutting taxes in uncertain times a senseless move (March 19) These articles both point towards Broadway. The people of Manitoba re-elected Premier Brian Pallister, whose actions continue the policies of slash-and-burn to save us from damnation of the NDP. Mayor Brian Bowman, re-elected a few months ago, is at his dictate. People seem to not connect the dots between our mayors cuts to community services and our premiers agenda. With no increases in municipal grants, what are our mayors and reeves supposed to do? The off- and on-again homemade carbon tax will do more harm to our poorest citizens. Pallister does not hesitate to help those more privileged insurance brokers and home builders but he expects those less fortunate to be home cooking up breakfast. Yet he continues to put barriers in their way. The federal carbon offsets help the poor; a cut in the sales tax does not help those with only enough to buy essentials. Perhaps Pallister can contemplate this on his next sojourn to warmer climes. Thomas Tierney Winnipeg International students pitching in While people throng to grocery stores due to fear of their shutdown because of COVID-19, leaving some grocery store shelves empty, several international students and non-profit organizations have come forward to help new immigrants, ill persons and senior citizens get groceries. Volunteers are sharing their contact numbers, offering free rides to the people who dont own cars to go to the grocery stores. "Students or people, who dont own a car, can call me. I can help them," wrote one international student on Facebook. Khalsa Aid, an international relief organization, has also announced a program to provide food and essential support for seniors who are in isolation due to COVID-19. "Its a very crucial moment for us. Several people dont have cars and some are self-isolated. We are trying to help such people and feel satisfied by helping them," said a volunteer from the Indians in Winnipeg team, which is distributing free food among people. Such initiative by volunteers and organizations is commendable. Sarbmeet Singh Winnipeg Many workers at risk Consider all those who work in health care, at the grocery store, in the coffee shop, at the liquor mart, as couriers, as cabbies and other humans who are serving the public right now: they should be getting hazard pay from our governments generous multibillion-dollar aid program, added on to every paycheque right now. They are risking their own health and the health of the families they are coming home to in order to perform their duties. It is very stressful for many of them to go to work right now. I say, "Thank you!" to each and every one of you for going into work each day to keep us comfortable! Lynn Murphy Winnipeg By the numbers As public health authorities cite mortality risks and prioritize reducing peak demand on critical-care beds, people have embraced the public health researchers statistical conceptualization of people as disease vectors. People have embraced a kind of altruistic policy, suggested by public health officials for indefinite implementation. We can see this collective enforcement everywhere, including in certain cities around the world where COVID-19 rages. Today and for some indefinite time, the only people allowed to move their bodies in plague-riddled Milan are people who have dogs to walk, recalling the days when the only people allowed to take breaks at work were smokers. While we admire the brand of altruism, there is also a very strong element of inhumanity in our approach to the pandemic. Though surely dogs are better for health than cigarettes, indefinite detention and the prohibition of walking is also torture in a walking species, which is what humans are. Yet if we agree with population-management experts in law that immobilizing criminals in prisons is a necessary cost, surely we can respect the similar recommendation of population-management experts in health that immobilizing disease vectors in their homes is a necessary cost? In deference to the public health model, the Trudeau government is stepwise imposing extended mass quarantine and immobilization, and most Canadians are pleased to co-operate with trusted authorities. We are a blessed nation. The federal government has offered $85 billion to compensate businesses and individuals for the economic depletion that will accompany extended shutdown of all but "essential" services, apparently such as, looking out my home office window, issuing parking tickets to the quarantined. Yet, another approach is possible in many places. In Vo, an Italian town where a COVID-19-related mortality occurred, the government instead tested everyone and isolated the three per cent of the population that proved to be infected (80 per cent of whom were asymptomatic). In a mere two weeks, the blanket-testing and selected-isolation approach eradicated COVID-19 from that population. While blanket testing costs money, it is more efficient and effective, and likely costs less than shutting down society and the economy and indefinitely treating all people inhumanely as nothing more than disease vectors, per the technocratic statistical population-management model. The blanket testing/selected isolation approach may not work in cities, such as Milan and London, where for specific reasons of age demographics, culture and global-transportation centrality, COVID-19 rages throughout the population. For those cities, selected testing/blanket isolation and immobilization is considered the most appropriate policy. But blanket testing/selected isolation would probably work best in places such as Manitoba, and most of Canada. This is not the only policy area in which governments in Canada treat Canada and regions such as Manitoba with policy better suited for Milan or London. In this pandemic, a blanket testing/selected isolation approach would cost some percentage of $85 billion, yes. It would also reduce the potential runaway risks and costs of universalizing blindness to the multiple conditions humans need to thrive and survive. Mara Fridell University of Manitoba Department of Sociology & Criminology Winnipeg Re: Manitoba virus cases rise to 17 (March 19) I, for one, think the most telling statistic is: number of tests performed vs. number of confirmed cases. Thanks to Carol Sanders and Larry Kusch for their reporting; hoping those numbers will continue to inform us. Derek Pratt Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Winnipeg That really Stings Re: Pandemic playlist (March 20) Erin Lebars playlist in the paper is great. She forgot one key song: The Police, Dont Stand So Close to Me. Ken McLean Starbuck Say your local furniture store is open in defiance of Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolfs order for all non-life-sustaining businesses in the state to close by 8 a.m. Monday to protect the community from the spread of the coronavirus. Whats going to happen after you check the list of open and closed businesses, and call police (Be sure to call your countys or state police barracks non-emergency number, listed below, and not 911) to report that the store is open? Troopers on patrol, of course, will take action if they see a store open in their jurisdiction thats not supposed to be. The response wont look like the National Guard has arrived to keep the peace, Pennsylvania State Trooper Nathan Branosky said. The goal, he said, is compliance, not enforcement. So someone whose jurisdiction includes that furniture store -- in this case local police or state police, but in other instances it could include the state departments of health or agriculture -- would stop by and point out that the owner is in violation of the governors order. The goal would be to get the owner to shut without it going beyond that, Branosky said. And if the owner isnt sure theyre supposed to be closed, they will be told to call the state Department of Community and Economic Development to work it out, Branosky said. Thousands of waivers were requested and that caused the enforcement phase to be delayed from Friday until Monday. There are potential criminal penalties -- the initial offenses would be summaries, which include a court date and, if found in violation, possible fines and even jail time, state police said in a news release. If the business still refuses to close, there could be more serious action, authorities said. But initially, its an educational endeavor, Branosky said. While the state police liquor control agents -- who are not troopers -- are far more experienced with this sort of activity, since they regularly go into bars to enforce the rules, troopers as well receive training and are equipped to take on their new tasks, Branosky said. Its nor something we do on a regular basis, he admitted. But they are prepared and have been kept informed as the order has developed, he said. We want to work together with the business owners to meet the orders goal of limiting people gathering in public, he said. Allentown police will investigate cases reported to its number -- 610-437-7751 -- to Lehigh County emergency dispatch, Chief Glenn Granitz said. An officer will document the situation and the departments Community Services Unit will follow up with business owners and determine if a violation has occurred, he said. Businesses owners in Allentown will be given an initial warning before they receive citations, Granitz said. The Allentown Police Department appreciates all of the efforts of residents and businesses to assist in slowing the spread of COVID-19, he said. State police by their nature can be intimidating, but thats the opposite of how they want to be in these interactions, Branosky said. And if someone thinks police might be distracted with new duties on Monday and figures it might be a good time to commit a crime, Branosky said state police are staffed to handle new and regular duties and troopers and agents will be shifted around in the state if necessary to ensure that. Were prepared to respond to any calls, he said. Col. Robert Evanchick, commissioner of the state police, said that for the most part business owners will want to help. We believe most Pennsylvanians want to act responsibly and do their part to help slow the spread of the deadly virus, he said Sunday in a statement. Troopers and liquor control officers will make every effort to achieve voluntary compliance by educating business owners and using discretion when appropriate. "But our message is clear: COVID-19 (the disease caused by the virus) is a serious health and public safety risk that requires an extraordinary response from law enforcement and the public. I urge everyone to stay home, stay calm and stay safe. Northampton County non-emergency number is 610-759-2200 and Lehigh Countys is 610-437-5252. The state police numbers in Lehigh and Northampton counties are Bethlehem (610-861-2026), Fogelsville (610-395-1438) and Belfast (610-759-6106). If you own a business and have questions about if you should be open or closed, state police issued the following: Those businesses requesting clarification on whether they are defined as life-sustaining should check this list, email the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) customer service resource account at ra-dcedcs@pa.gov, or call 1-877-PA-HEALTH and select option 1 to reach DCED staff. For businesses that determine from the list that they are non-life sustaining, but would like to seek a waiver, there is an online waiver application. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email him. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. One new case of COVID-19 has been confirmed in Lagos, Nigerias Centre for Disease Control has disclosed. The new case was reported as an update on the health agencys situation report dashboard. http://covid19.ncdc.gov.ng/index.html This was updated some minutes after the confirmed death from the virus in the country. This brings the total number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the country to 36 as at the time of reporting. With the newest update, Lagos has so far reported 25 cases of the virus, FCT 6 and Ogun 2. Oyo, Ekiti, and Edo state has one case each. So far, a breakdown of the current situation shows that 33 cases are active, 2 have been discharged and one death reported. READ ALSO: Contact tracing is currently ongoing to identify all those who have been in contact with the infected people. The government also emphasises self-isolation for 14 days for people who have just returned to the country from high risk countries. GBP/EUR Exchange Rate Eases as UK Lockdown Fears Threaten Economy The Pound to Euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rate dipped by -0.2% today, with the pairing currently trading around 1.08. Sterling has shed some of Fridays following UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned of a possible Italy-style lockdown after social-distancing measures appeared to be ignored over the weekend. Downing Street said in in Sundays statement: We will think about this very actively in the next 24 hours. If people cant make use of parks and playgrounds responsibly, in a way that observes the 2-metre rule, then of course were going to have to look at further measures. The Pound (GBP) has struggled from the coronavirus pandemic, with the substantial negative impact on the global economy and the UK threatening to plummet the nation into a recession. Furthermore, with Downing Street now expected to ramp-up more draconian measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19, we are likely to see the GBP/EUR exchange rate continue to fall in the near-term. Catherine Burnet, a Senior Partner at KPMG UK, comments: Fiscal measures and immediate relief action from the Scottish and UK governments have gone some way to help mitigate some of the damage, but theres widespread acknowledgement that more action will be needed in the coming months to keep the economy moving. Euro (EUR) Edges Higher Last Weeks ECB Bazooka Stimulus Package The Euro (EUR) edged higher against Sterling in spite of the ongoing coronavirus dimming the Eurozones economic outlook. However, following last weeks bazooka stimulus package from the European Central Bank (ECB), the EUR/GBP exchange rate has stepped up today as the blocs economy shows relative stability for the time being. EU Economics Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni commented: The union project was born after a war. After a successful common fight against this terrible pandemic it could flourish, or it could be dramatically weakened. So, this for me as an Italian is a wake-up call for all of us in the European institutions. Single currency investors are growing increasingly concerned for the fate of the Eurozones economy, however, with the Euro-areas lockdown threatening to plunge the blocs sensitive economy into a recession. Additionally, with investors continuing to seek out the safe haven of the Euros largest competitor the US Dollar the EUR/GBP exchange rate could face further headwinds as the coronavirus pandemic develops. Looking Ahead: Sterling Could Sink on Weak UK Services PMI The Pound (GBP) could benefit if Chancellor Rishi Sunak capitulates to growing pressure to provide more fiscal aid for the self-employed. However, with the UKs economic future remaining uncertainty, some of Sterlings gains are likely to be compromised. Tomorrow will see the release of the preliminary UK Services PMI which is forecast to sink into recession territory at 45. This will also be followed by the Manufacturing PMI which is also expected to contract. Euro (EUR) could also come under further pressure as the blocs economy is set to struggle throughout the Euro-areas continued lockdown this week. With Britain's darkening economic outlook, its likely we'll see the GBP/EUR exchange rate will remain subdued throughout much of this week. With Wuhan, China as the frontline epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic, Singapores new TraceTogether contact app will track coronavirus encounters. TraceTogether contact app tracks coronavirus encounters The new app does as the name suggests: it traces the encounters phone users have with others. It passes Bluetooth signals between phones over a 2-meter distance. All the contacts users encounter within 2 meters, no matter where they go, are recorded and stored on their phone. The data log, however, is encrypted and doesnt grant location information to authorities. Singapores health ministry may require users to submit their data logs. This is due to the phone encryption that prevents authorities from accessing phone data logs automatically. Advertisement TraceTogether targets the lethal nature of COVID-19 TraceTogether targets the lethal nature of COVID-19. Some focus on the fact that not everyone is contracting the disease. While that is true, its also the case that the disease is a silent infecter. It spreads from person to person while those spreading it show no signs or symptoms. In many cases, individuals who are not traveling to highly risky areas contract COVID-19. When these individuals contract the disease, they cannot reveal who they encounter that has the disease. The new contact-tracking app allows user phones to track who they encounter that has the disease. While users cannot see other users locations, the data logs that track these encounters could prove useful to authorities as they continue to work to contain the disease. TraceTogether is more privacy-friendly than Close Detector app Singapores new contact-tracking app could prove to be popular and a huge help to the nations fight against COVID-19. The reason for its upcoming success is due to its privacy-friendliness. The app does not share user location data, so users cannot find out where certain individuals live who may have coronavirus. Advertisement TraceTogether is in large contrast to Beijings Close Detector app. Close Detector is Chinas first app to combat COVID-19. It requires users to login with their governmental ID to discover if they are at risk of contracting the disease or have had a risky encounter. Unfortunately, that app is privacy-invasive. With no data encryption, Close Detector uses phone cameras, Bluetooth, internet signals, and perhaps facial and iris scanning to record its results. TraceTogether is working only for the efforts to combat COVID-19. After the disease outbreak subsides, authorities say the app will no longer be available. Whether China removes Close Detector after the coronavirus battle is unknown at this time. Singapore phone users can download TraceTogether at the Google Play Store. Scotland's former first minister Alex Salmond was on Monday acquitted of attempted rape and a string of sexual assaults, including one of intent to rape. The 65-year-old, who led the Scottish National Party's unsuccessful 2014 campaign for independence, was acquitted of all 13 charges against him after an 11-day trial at the High Court in Edinburgh. Salmond -- one of Britain's most recognisable politicians who since stepping down has worked as a chatshow host on Russia Today -- showed little emotion as the verdicts were returned. He spoke only to thank two court security officers and the judge, Leeona Dorrian, according to an AFP reporter in court. Outside court, he told reporters his faith in Scottish justice had been restored, thanking the jury, the courts, his legal team, friends, family and the public for messages of support. He promised that evidence that could not be put before the court would eventually come out but as the country faced up to the coronavirus outbreak, that would be done at a later date. "Whatever nightmare I've been in over the last two years is as of nothing compared to the nightmare every single one of us are living through," he said in a brief statement. "People are dying. Many more are going to die... My strong, strong advice to you is to go home, those who can and are able to take care of your families. And God help us all." Salmond was originally charged with two counts of indecent assault, 10 of sexual assault, an attempted rape and a sexual assault with intent to rape. But the judge formally acquitted him of one charge of sexual assault after prosecutors offered no evidence during the trial. The prosecution alleged the offences were committed at various locations across Scotland between June 2008 and November 2014. The most serious allegation of attempted rape is said to have happened in June 2014 at the first minister's official Bute House residence in Edinburgh. The jury returned not guilty verdicts on 12 of the charges, including the alleged attempted rape, and not proven on one charge of assault with intent to rape. Under Scots law, not proven has the same legal status as an acquittal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The NSCIA, therefore, solicits the cooperation of the Imams and all Muslims in the FCT to ensure compliance to this directive as it is in the interest of all and sundry. May Allah Subhanahu Wataala assist humanity to stop the spread of this deadly disease across all the protect us all, ameen. A mother-of-two could be Britain's unluckiest bride after her honeymoon was cancelled by Thomas Cook collapsing, her hen do ruined by a stripper breaking his leg and her wedding day scrapped due to coronavirus. Steph Carr, 31, from Staines, Surrey, had been over the moon when her partner of 13 years James Fuller, 35, popped the question. But a month later her dream wedding venue booking was cancelled when Netflix bought the venue. She booked another place and also a two-week trip to Florida for her honeymoon, but devastatingly lost the 3,500 holiday when Thomas Cook collapsed. Steph Carr, 31, from Staines, Surrey, pictured on her hen do, could be Britain's unluckiest bride Then her hen do ended in disaster when a Dreamboy stripper broke his leg and knocked an elderly woman unconscious after falling in the crowd. Now her wedding next week and subsequent re-booked honeymoon have been cancelled - due to coronavirus. Mother-of-two Steph said: 'It has been absolutely devastating - you start to feel like your wedding is cursed, like, how could so many things go wrong? 'This is supposed to be every girl's dream come true and a fairytale day, but it has been more like a nightmare. Steph, pictured with groom-to-be James Fuller, told how her honeymoon was cancelled by Thomas Cook collapsing, her hen do ruined by a stripper breaking his leg and her wedding day scrapped due to coronavirus 'I'm really organised, I had the venue booked a month after we got engaged and by January 2019, everything was sorted - the dress, the caterers, the lot. 'Every time something went wrong, I'd work so hard to fix it and find an alternative, but with coronavirus hitting the UK weeks before the wedding, there was no way it was going ahead. 'We are having to postpone the wedding now, our venue have been helpful with looking for another date but I don't know if our suppliers can do then so it's all a mess. 'I am really upset, I just wanted to marry James and it seems like the world has done everything it can to stop that which is so devastating.' Mother-of-two Steph, pictured with James, said: 'It has been absolutely devastating - you start to feel like your wedding is cursed, like, how could so many things go wrong?' Pictured: Steph Carr and James Fuller's original wedding venue Shepperton Studios was bought by Netflix Groom-to-be and assistant branch manager James proposed in August 2018 at their home. Enlisting the help of their children Sophie, 11, and Harry, six, James and the kids surprised management accountant Steph with flowers, Prosecco and a beautiful ring. Just one month later the happy couple had booked their dream wedding venue - Littleton Park House at Shepperton Studios. With the venue booked, Steph busied herself with organising the rest of the wedding - but was shocked to receive a call from the venue in April 2019 cancelling her big day. Steph said: 'The venue rang me and just said, "We're really sorry but we're cancelling your wedding and you'll get refunded". James enlisted the help of their children Sophie, 11, and Harry, six, pictured, to propose to Steph 'I was devastated, I'd fallen in love with the venue and when I asked them why, they were super vague and just said they're not doing weddings any more. 'We'd already set our wedding date by then and loads of venues had been booked so we struggled to find another one at late notice and the cheapest we could get was 2,000 more than we'd spent on the first venue. 'I sued Shepperton Studios for the 2,000 excess because it was their fault we were left paying that much for a new venue, and they settled out of court with us and paid us the money. 'It wasn't until three months later that I saw in the press that Netflix had signed a production deal with Shepperton Studios and I realised that's why they'd cancelled my wedding.' In July 2019, Netflix announced they had struck a deal to set up a permanent production base at Shepperton Studios, guaranteeing the streaming service exclusive access to most of the facilities there. Steph's hen do in the limo on the way to the Dreamboys show in London - but they didn't get to see it as a stripper broke his leg as they arrived Steph admitted she was gutted they didn't get to celebrate at the For Your Eyes Only club in Shoreditch, as they headed back home in the limo A spokesperson from Shepperton Studios said: 'Unfortunately, a vendor scheduled events when our facilities were unavailable. We are very sorry to any parties that have been impacted by this.' Steph booked another venue and focused on the rest of her wedding, planning an exciting honeymoon through Thomas Cook at Disneyland Florida for two weeks with James and their children. In another cruel turn of events, Steph was devastated to learn of the collapse of the travel agency, meaning she lost her 3,500 holiday. Steph said: 'I couldn't believe it, I was in total shock. We had chosen to get married in 2020 so that we could combine it with taking the kids to Florida as Harry wanted to swim with dolphins and he turned six that year which is the minimum age you have to be. 'We'd been saving up forever for this holiday and the kids were so excited and it was all coming crashing down around us. 'I couldn't get hold of anybody at Thomas Cook, it was mayhem, I had no idea if I would get my money back at all and we totally panicked. Groom-to-be James said he is devastated by what's happened, but is looking forward to marrying Steph 'whenever that will be' 'As soon as we could put a claim in for our money back, we did, but they said it would take three months before we could know if we were getting a full refund. 'I took a gamble and booked the holiday on credit cards before we knew if we'd get the refund, and I booked through Disney directly this time with American Airlines. 'It was more expensive as prices had soared due to the collapse, but we did thankfully get a full refund from Thomas Cook three months later.' With a new honeymoon booked, Steph thought that would be the last of her troubles and everything seemed to be going well again for the rest of the year. Dressed up with her friends in February 2020, the bride-to-be climbed into a limo and headed to London for a wild hen do. When Steph told the children about the cancellations, she told how son Harry, pictured left, said: 'I hate this planet' Arriving at the For Your Eyes Only club in Shoreditch to watch the sexy male strip show Dreamboys, Steph and her friends were just entering the venue when disaster struck. A stripper shattered his leg after jumping onto a 20ft fireman's pole that ripped out of the ceiling, sending him crashing into the audience and knocking an elderly lady unconscious. Steph said: 'We'd literally just arrived when it happened and the club was carnage. 'We were all sent to the back of the room whilst this poor guy lay on the stage with his leg facing the wrong way. 'It was an absolute mess, the night was ruined and we didn't want to stay in London so we just called the limo back and went straight back home. Steph and James have had no choice but to postpone the celebrations indefinitely due to coronavirus 'We ended up in a cocktail bar back in our local town and we still had a good time, but I wanted my hen do to be at the show so it was disappointing to leave so suddenly.' It had been disaster after disaster for the poor couple, but they had still hoped to walk down the aisle as planned on March 27, 2020. But as coronavirus took hold of the country, Steph and James have had no choice but to postpone the celebrations indefinitely. Steph said: 'I've got elderly relatives who wouldn't be able to come, the hotel advised us to reschedule and with the rule about social distancing, we had to make the decision to postpone. Steph told how all their wedding stuff has the original date on 'We're looking at rescheduling it for September 2020 as the venue said they can give us a date then, but all our wedding stuff has our original date on and I don't know if my suppliers would be available. 'Speaking to Disney about the honeymoon is proving to be a nightmare - they won't honour our free breakfast dining if we reschedule for October and the hotel isn't available so would cost loads more to re-book. 'I'm absolutely gutted. I've had two guests say to me today that they don't think they can get time off for the new date which is understandable but so upsetting. 'James is obviously upset and so are the kids - my son Harry actually said, "I hate this planet" when we told him. 'I'm feeling very stressed and deflated and I don't really know what more I can do to make everything work like it did before.' Groom-to-be James said: 'I'm devastated that this has happened and there is nothing I can do to change it or make things better. 'It's all been very upsetting for all of us but I am still looking forward to marrying Steph, whenever that will be.' A German-Afghan translator for the German army has been sentenced to six years and 10 months in prison for treason after he was found guilty of having spied for Iran in exchange for money. Judges found that Abdul S., 51, had "passed on state secrets of a military nature to an employee of an Iranian intelligence service" in a "particularly serious case of treason", the higher regional court in Koblenz said in a statement on Monday. His German-Afghan wife Asiea S., 40, convicted of having aided and abetted treason and was handed a suspended sentence of 10 months. Treason usually means a sentence of at least 15 years in Germany, but the judges took into account that both defendants had confessed to their crimes and had no previous convictions, the court said. Kabul-born Abdul S. worked for several years as a civilian translator and cultural adviser to the German Bundeswehr at the Heinrich-Hertz barracks in the town of Daun, near Koblenz. The court found that he had met with Iranian intelligence contacts in different European cities on "at least eight" occasions between 2013 and 2017. At those meetings, he had passed on information including "German army maps about military situations" and "defence ministry analyses of particular countries and topics". He reportedly earned 34,500 euros for his espionage before deciding to break off contact. His wife supported him from 2016 onwards by helping him with "logistical" matters such as travel arrangements, the court said. Abdul S. was arrested in January 2019, reportedly after a tip-off from abroad and an sting operation to catch him in the act. The trial, which opened in January, took place largely behind closed doors and was covered by strict and rarely used confidentiality procedures to protect state secrecy. Germany's BfV domestic intelligence agency has identified Iran has one of the countries most active in spying on Germany, along with China and Russia. In 2018, Germany arrested a Vienna-based Iranian diplomat suspected of being a spy. Prosecutors alleged he was plotting with a Belgium-based couple to bomb an Iranian opposition rally in Paris. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Boryspil to remain Ukraine's only operating airport pending quarantine 20:40, 23.03.20 7005 Starting March 24, passengers will be banned from flying abroad on tourist trips. Beijing (Peoples Daily) - Since the onset of the outbreak of COVID-19, the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) has been closely following the situation and stands firm in demonstrating solidarity and enhancing cooperation with all partners in response to this public health emergency of international concern. UNOSSC immediately reached out to the United Nations resident coordinator system in the country, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in China, and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Centre of Excellence in China for advice on applicable procurement channels. The urgently needed non-invasive respirators and medical protective suits worth $100,000 were procured through UNDP China and reached the city of Wuhan on February 22 and the city of Yuxi, a project partner, on February 24. Jorge Chediek, envoy of the secretary-general on South-South Cooperation and director of UNOSSC appreciated the efforts taken by China against COVID-19 with a special message sent to People's Daily on March 20. The following is the whole message: Dear friends, my name is Jorge Chediek. I am the director of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation and envoy of the secretary-general for South-South Cooperation. I would like to first commend China for how it has fought this pandemic, this virus, this sickness, this coronavirus. This slowing of the virus spread is particularly remarkable as it was achieved, while China at the time continued to make progress toward its ambitious poverty eradication goals. I would also like to recognize China for what you are doing right now in terms of cooperating with other countries in the spirit of South-South and global collaboration. Today in Iran, in Iraq, in Italy, in the Philippines, in Serbia, and in Spain, among many other countries China is contributing with donations of medical supplies, sending health workers to bridge unprecedented gaps in capacity, and sharing lessons on how to flatten the growth curve of the virus as China has done. We commend private philanthropists also, like Jack Ma, the (co-)founder of Alibaba, who donated test kits, masks and protective suits to all 54 countries in Africa, a real example of South-South solidarity. Our office, the UN Office for South-South Cooperation, is proud to have been working closely with its partners in China since the onset of the outbreak to mobilize needed resources. The Office provided medical protective suits and non-invasive respirators, and mobilized donations from partners, for Yuxi City in Yunan Province and Xiaogan City in Hubei Province. A long-standing partner of the Cities Project, the Maritime-Continental Silk Road Cities Alliance Business Council (Quanzhou, China), mobilized a donation of over 80,000 surgical masks from its members around the globe including from Cambodia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Vietnam to assist the Isfahan city of Iran and other cities of Iran, one of the most affected countries at this stage of the outbreak. In addition, our South-South Galaxy platform is also publishing calls for donations of personal protective items jointly with our partner the Finance Center for South-South Cooperation. Moving forward, through the South-South Cooperation Facility for Poverty Eradication, we will continue working with China and other development partners from across the global South to facilitate connections and sharing of home-grown solutions, including through digital innovation. We stand ready to join hands with all developing countries and partners to respond to the pandemic. We need to do it. This is a global threat. We need a global response that is an expression of solidarity, and win-win collaboration. We want to thank China for your contribution and your example. We look forward to the world to working together to defeat this serious enemy. Together we will do it. When the first case was confirmed last March 19, the Japanese automaker announced that Takaoka plant production line #1 was temporarily halted for disinfection. However, operations immediately resumed within the day. With a second case confirmed now in the same workplace, Toyota has taken more drastic measures by shutting down the production line for a few days to disinfect. Toyota Motor Corporation has announced that they will be temporarily shutting down production at their Takaoka I Plant, in Toyota City, Japan after two employees have tested positive with the virus. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has hit automakers hard with plant shutdowns across Asia, Europe, and the United States. Now the disease has now begun affecting automakers in Japan more directly as well. The temporary shutdown of Takaoka plant production line #1 will be held from March 23 to 25. Toyota will be disinfecting the workplace again and consider any additional countermeasures that may be needed to prevent further spread of the virus. With a second employee infected within the same workforce, the automaker also ordered more than 17 employees who have been in close contact to stay home. As such, a total of 33 employees of the production line have been asked to stay at home for the time being for being in close contact with the two infected employees. We sincerely apologize for any anxiety or concern that this news may cause for people in the surrounding regions. We will do our best to will implement measures to prevent further spread of the virus and provide timely updates if the situation changes, said the manufacturer in a statement. Toyotas Takaoka plant production line #1 currently produces the Corolla as well as the Harrier crossover. Now before you get concerned about buying a Corolla, do remember that Toyota Motor Philippines sources its Corolla models from Thailand. Japan seems to be having good control over the virus in its country. As such, we might not see long-term automotive plant closures, similar to the cases in Europe. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei refused American assistance to fight the coronavirus citing a conspiracy theory, claiming it could be man-made by the United States government. His comments came as Iran faces crushing US sanctions blocking the country from selling its crude oil and accessing international financial markets, Al Jazeera reported. While Iran in recent days has increasingly criticised those sanctions, 80-year-old Khamenei instead questions the real origins of the virus. "I do not know how real this accusation is but when it exists, who in their right mind would trust you to bring them medication?" Khamenei said. "Possibly your medicine is a way to spread the virus more." He also alleged the virus "is specifically built for Iran using the genetic data of Iranians, which they have obtained through different means". However, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo denounced Ayatollah Khamenei's remarks on Monday, saying his "lies" were endangering people's lives. The statement also mentioned "failed" steps taken by Iran to counter the virus as "facts that Iran regime would like to keep from the world". The US secretary of state accused Iran of "putting millions of lives at risk and infecting its people with running 55 flights between Tehran and China in February, ignoring repeated warnings from its own health officials, and denying its first death from the coronavirus for at least nine days". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Several European nations are evaluating powerful but potentially intrusive tools for fighting the coronavirus pandemic, a move that could put public health at odds with individual privacy. The tools in question are apps that would use real-time phone-location data to track the movements of virus carriers and the people they come in contact with. The aim would be to develop a better sense of where infections are flaring up, how they are spreading and when health authorities need to order quarantines and related measures to limit the spread of COVID-19. Britain, Germany and Italy are among the nations considering the enlistment of individual location data in the fight against the virus. That worries privacy advocates, who fear such ubiquitous surveillance could be abused in the absence of careful oversight, with potentially dire consequences for civil liberties. These are testing times, but they do not call for untested new technologies, a group of mostly British activists said in an open letter Monday to the countrys National Health Service. The letter noted that such measures could put human rights at risk and may not work. Unless the data in question can be effectively anonymized, the new tools would mark a substantial departure from existing European disease-surveillance efforts, which have focused on tracking peoples movements with aggregated phone location data designed not to identify individuals. Italian police also began mobilizing drones on Monday to enforce restrictions on citizens movements. But there is a powerful argument in favor of more powerful digital tools, even if they shred privacy: They have been used by several of the Asian governments most successful at containing the pandemic, including in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea and Singapore. Last week, Israel took the most extreme step yet by charging its Shin Bet domestic security agency with using smartphone location data to track the movements of virus carriers for the prior two weeks, using historical data to identify possible transmission. Epidemiologists call this process contact tracing, although traditionally it involves questioning newly diagnosed individuals about their contacts with others. So far, theres no indication the U.S. government plans to track identifiable individuals for disease surveillance. A spokesperson for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy said it was not currently working on such an app. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did not immediately respond to questions from The Associated Press. The White House has reached out to Big Tech companies for help in the worst pandemic in a century, but Google and Facebook both told the AP they are not sharing peoples location data with governments. A Google spokesperson said the company was exploring ways to use aggregated location information against COVID-19, but added that the location data Google normally gathers from phone users isnt accurate enough for contact tracing. An AT&T spokesperson said the company was not sharing real-time location tracking with U.S. government virus-trackers. Sprint declined to comment and Verizon did not immediately respond to a query. Contact-tracing apps being considered by European governments would, like Israels effort, go well beyond what those governments are currently getting from wireless carriers to identify hot spots of disease and human concentration. While legal safeguards exist in most democracies to protect digital privacy, the danger of the coronavirus could quickly compel policymakers to override them. On Friday, the European Unions Data Protection Authority cautiously endorsed putting privacy on pause during the public health emergency. Italys Lazio region, which includes Rome and is home to 5.9 million people, rolled out a voluntary app over the weekend to assist people placed under quarantine or who think theyve been in contact with others infected by the coronavirus. Privacy advocates worry that such apps can be used to track people. Poland has introduced a more intrusive app its instructions say its voluntary to enforce 14-day quarantine for an estimated 80,000 people. Jens Wille, CEO of the Hamburg digital mapping company UbiLabs, developed an opt-in app prototype for contact tracing that he said German officials evaluated but chose not to adopt. Officials at the Robert Koch Institute, which is managing the countrys COVID-19 response, told the AP they did not yet have anything to say on the issue. They are working on something, said Wille. The chief executive of the innovation arm of Britains National Health Service, Matthew Gould, said in a statement that his office was looking at whether app-based solutions might be helpful in tracking and managing coronavirus, and we have assembled expertise from inside and outside the organisation to do this as rapidly as possible. In South Korea, a compulsory app enforces self-isolation for those ordered to maintain it. Anyone violating quarantine could face a $8,400 fine or up to a year in prison. Taiwan and Singapore also use smartphone apps to enforce quarantines via electronic fences that alert authorities when someone moves out of quarantine. Hong Kong health authorities use electronic wristbands to monitor all overseas travelers ordered into self-isolation. Italys minister of technological innovation, Paola Pisano, said in an interview Monday that a government task force is putting out a request for tracking-app candidates on Tuesday and expects to evaluate them by the end of the week. Pisano said she expects Italys app to be voluntary and for the government to protect individual privacy. One-sixth of Italys 60 million people dont use the internet, she said, and older people those most susceptible to being killed by the virus are generally disinclined to download a new app, and might rebel if forced to do so. Europeans are closely examining the South Korean model of contact tracing, which involves the use of personal information such as immigration, public transportation and credit-card records in addition to location-tracking GPS data. But the Korean government disclosed so much ostensibly anonymous personal data that digital sleuths were able to identify virus carriers based on such information as where patients visited just before testing positive. Some people boycotted businesses, stigmatized carriers and even used the data to track alleged marital infidelity. On Friday, South Koreas Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it was drafting new guidelines to scale back such abuses. Michael Parker, an ethicist on an Oxford University team, said people are more likely to contact-tracing app if theyre not coerced and the greater the participation the better the odds of identifying hot spots and containing the virus. Identification and notification could be done anonymously, he said. You wouldnt need to have to tell people where their possible infection came from. But Ashkan Soltani, a former U.S. Federal Trade Commission chief technologist, cautioned that contact tracing via app needs to be complemented with other means of disease surveillance, as in South Korea. That begins with universal testing for the virus, which the U.S. doesnt have yet. There are other problems. Location data from wireless carriers alone can produce a lot of false positives. Even phone-based GPS data is often inaccurate, Soltani noted, and could inaccurately identify strangers as meeting when theyre actually just in the same high-rise apartment building. Israels Army Radio reported Monday that some people had been erroneously forced into quarantine as a result of location errors. It did not say how many. Adi Carmi, a former Shin Bet official, told the station that such anomalies happen with any large scale system. Its reasonable to assume that there will be mistakes here and there, he said. Amid the uproar, the Israeli health ministry launched a smartphone app that lets users opt into tracking system so it can notify them if they have overlapped with any virus carriers over the past 14 days. The app is constantly updated with epidemiological data. The closest analogues in the U.S. are apps from startups K Health and Buoy Health that let people self-diagnose with an online questionnaire. If their symptoms are consistent with COVID-19, the individual can be connected with medical professionals to determine next steps. New York-based K Health shares data with the government for a heat map of virus spread but says it is keeping personal data private. AP correspondents Kelvin Chan in London, Ilan Ben Zion in Jerusalem, Tong-hyung Kim in Seoul and Frank Jordans in Berlin contributed to this report. Bajak reported from Boston, Winfield from Rome. A man has died and his wife is under critical care after they ingested a chemical found commonly found in fish tank cleaner thinking it was the miracle coronavirus cure President Donald Trump touted at a press conference last week. Banner Health, a non-profit hospital system based in Arizona, issued a statement urging the public against the use of inappropriate medications and household products to prevent or treat COVID-19 on Monday. To emphasize the importance of the warning, officials disclosed a few details of what happened with an unnamed couple that ignored the advice and took their medical care into their own hands. The couple, both in their 60s, were rushed to the hospital about 30 minutes after ingesting chloroquine phosphate, according to the statement. It's believed that they confused the chemical - an additive often used at aquariums to clean fish tanks - with hydroxychloroquine, an antimalaria drug that's shown promising results in treating COVID-19 patients. President Donald Trump touted chloroquine as a 'miracle drug' at a press conference last week, but Dr Anthony Fauci, the White House coronavirus expert, quickly followed Trump's comments by saying more work was needed before it could be heralded as a solution Dr Fauci (center) has not been at the White House coronavirus task force briefing for two days A man has died and his wife is under critical care after they ingested chloroquine phosphate, a chemical found commonly found in fish tank cleaner, thinking it was the miracle coronavirus cure President Donald Trump has been touting at his press conferences Banner Health experts emphasized that people should not take chloroquine under any circumstances unless it's prescribed by a doctor. 'Given the uncertainty around COVID-19, we understand that people are trying to find new ways to prevent or treat this virus, but self-medicating is not the way to do so,' said Dr Daniel Brooks, Banner Poison and Drug Information Center medical director. 'The last thing that we want right now is to inundate our emergency departments with patients who believe they found a vague and risky solution that could potentially jeopardize their health.' Experts noted that the majority of people diagnosed with the novel coronavirus would recover without complications, and that 'the routine use of specific treatments, including medications described as "anti-COVID-19", is not recommended for non-hospitalized patients'. 'We are strongly urging the medical community to not prescribe this medication to any non-hospitalized patients,' Brooks said. The statement did not say whether the couple who ingested chloroquine phosphate had been diagnosed with COVID-19 prior to doing so. As of Monday there are nearly 42,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in the US and 576 deaths New York state officials are expected to begin trials with hydroxychloroquine on Tuesday, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced at a press conference Monday (pictured) Hydroxychloroquine has not yet been proven as effective in battling COVID-19, but President Trump drummed up excitement over it when he called it a 'game changer' last week. Dr Anthony Fauci, the White House coronavirus expert, quickly followed Trump's comments by saying more work was needed before it could be heralded as a solution. New York state officials are expected to begin trials with the medication on Tuesday, according to Governor Andrew Cuomo. Meanwhile, many people across the US have praised the drug and credited it with saving their lives - albeit after they were prescribed it by doctors. The U.S. Commission for the Freedom of Religion (USCIRF) recently expressed concern that religious freedom should not be infringed upon in the COVID-19 response of governments. The data released on Monday by USCIRF policy analysts Scott Wiener and Dominic Nardi and USCIRF International Legal Specialist Kirsten Lavery introduced some countries where quarantine authorities' actions against COVID-19 infringe on religious freedom. In China, where the first confirmed virus was detected in early December, it was criticized for its belated quarantine response and information censorship. Currently, China's confirmed number of people is about 80,000 and the death toll is known to be 3,000. The Communist government has taken strong quarantine measures, including shutting down Wuhan and several other cities and has also used surveillance apparatus to monitor potentially sick citizens. The USCIRF said human rights activists are concerned that the danger of COVID-19 and the government's response to it continue to infringe upon religious freedom. China is one of the most serious countries in terms of persecution of Christians on Open Doors USA's World Watch List. The Chinese Communist Party has persecuted and monitored various religious minorities over the past three years, including 1 million Uighurs and Muslims. "The Chinese authorities sent Uighurs to factories all over China to make up for reduced production during the quarantine period," the USCIRF said, warning that "the spread of the virus could cause a humanitarian disaster because it would be difficult for elderly people who are brainwashing in concentration camps to get medical help." In addition, China quarantined millions of people in Xinjiang in January without warning. Some Uighur residents in the city of Ghulja have limited access to food, and local officials demanded payments in order to bring supplies," he added. Among the non-Asian regions, Italy has the largest number of confirmed cases with over 59,000 people, second only to China. The Italian government shut down schools, theaters, and public places. They also include religious facilities. The USCIRF said, "The Roman Catholic Church shut down public services and stopped worshiping Wednesdays of ashes. "Some religious leaders are questioning the decision to stop public Masses until March 8, and in the case of the northern city of Milan, worshippers can visit the church and offer personal prayers, but not have a large gathering," he said. The Roman Catholic Patriarch of Venice Francesco Moraglia told The New York Times, "We asked the regional government of Veneto to allow just a ceremony to commemorate the Mass. The Vatican said on March 8 that it will suspend all Mass and events until April begins. In Iran, which has a confirmed number of over 23,000, some countries in the Middle East have issued travel restrictions visits to religious sites in Iran such as the Qom and Mashhad seminaries. In addition, the COVID-19 spread to prisons such as Evin, Urmia and Kazal Hesar, raising concerns about the health of the imprisoned minority religious people. Iran has released a total of 70,000 people so far, including 54,000 prisoners, on March 3, according to the USCIRF. In Saudi Arabia, the number of confirmed cases is currently 562. Saudi Arabia has banned foreigners from visiting Mecca and Medina. The USCIRF said, "The Saudi government was concerned about the virus' influx through Iranian travelers. "Iran is home to several Shia religious pilgrimage sites, so the quarantine around Qatif stands to limit this particular element of Shia religious practice," it said. In collaboration with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital has set up a dedicated 100-bed centre at Seven Hills Hospital, Mumbai, for patients who test positive for COVID-19. (Image: Moneycontrol) Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has built a fully-equipped isolation facility as a steadfast approach to combat the coronavirus outbreak in the country. (Image: Moneycontrol) RIL has also built a fully-equipped isolation facility in Lodhivali, Maharashtra, and handed it over to the district authorities, as an initiative to battle against the outbreak. (Image: Moneycontrol) RIL has deployed the combined strengths of Reliance Foundation, Reliance Retail, Jio, Reliance Life Sciences, Reliance Industries, and all the 6,00,000 members of the Reliance Family on this action plan against COVID-19. (Image: Moneycontrol) The facility includes a negative pressure room that helps in preventing cross-contamination and helps control infection. (Image: Moneycontrol) RIL is looking to ensure that all its subsidiaries pull out all stops to support the government in its efforts to contain the deadly coronavirus outbreak. (Image: Moneycontrol) The hospital has also offered to set up special medical facilities to quarantine travelers from notified countries. (Image: Moneycontrol) Not to be outdone by the childrens and YA authors "signal boosting" their fellow authors on Twitter, two novelists, Caroline Leavitt and Jenna Blum, are promoting their colleagues with an ambitious initiative called A Mighty Blaze. Anyone can participate in the conversations on A Mighty Blaze on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram about new releases, but for authors wanting their books to be signal boosted on these platforms, there are a few requirements: the book has to be traditionally published for adult readers, and the authors book tour has to have been canceled. A Mighty Blaze began with the cancellation of Leavitts appearance at the Texas Library Associations annual conference earlier this month to promote her latest novel, With Or Without You (Algonquin, Aug.) I had already memorized my speech, complete with hand movements to make it funny, she recalled during a Zoom conference call with PW and Blum, explaining that she then made a video of her presentation and sent it to the TLA. They liked it and said well send it to our libraries and I thought maybe I can do this for other authors." Leavitt branded her initial effort as Nothing Is Canceled Virtual Book Tours, which signal-boosted short videos by other authors. After hearing that Blum was doing something similar, Leavitt and Blum joined forces and rebranded it as A Mighty Blaze. On Tuesdays--when most new books are released--A Mighty Blaze goes into overdrive, promoting authors whose books are being released that day with elevator pitches, interviews and discussions, and other group interactions, complete with visuals, such as author headshots and book covers. Were just two writer girls trying to help our friends, Blum said, explaining that she sympathized with writers who had spent three, five, eight years writing their books, and were devastated that they now were being denied the opportunity to meet their readers. Jenna came up with this line which I really love, Leavitt added, Were two technophobe female novelists in yoga pants trying to save authors from canceled tours and indie bookstores from being shuttered and were doing it every Tuesday. While A Mighty Blaze began as authors helping other authors, its grown quickly since March 13, when it was officially launched on social media. It now has more than 1,000 followers on Facebook, though it has not caught on as well on Twitter and on Instagram. Not only are prominent authors like Jodi Picoult, Alice Hoffman, Dani Shapiro, and Anne Lamott participating by promoting others on A Mighty Blaze, so are literary organizations and publishers. To date, A Mighty Blaze lists 28 partners, including the Authors Guild. Were trying to bring everyone in from the literary community, Blum said, noting that the two have had to add staff to help them, such as a scheduler, tech person, and literary festival outreach coordinator (all are working for free). The most recent hire was an indie bookstore liaison. Plans are also in place to launch a website and Blum is trying to have Stephen King and Reese Witherspoon participate. Currently, participation in A Might Blaze is free, but the Leavitt and Blum are thinking about monetizing it in some fashion at some point. Literary organizations and publishers, even indie bookstores can participate by promoting A Mighty Blaze on their own social media platforms. And on April 25, A Mighty Blaze will host the Newburyport (Mass.) Literary Festival on social media with live author interviews and virtual cocktail parties. A Mighty Blaze intends to further involve indie bookstores by posting bookstore logos on A Mighty Blazes social media platforms, conducting fundraising campaigns, and branding Wednesdays as Indie Bookstore Wednesdays and spotlighting a different indie each week. Blum is also contemplating adding Favorite Line Fridays and hosting virtual cocktail parties on Friday evenings. Its so good to be connected with other authors and to feel youre doing good, she said. Its like were holding each others hands, Leavitt added, Theres such s sense of community; its exhilarating. People are sequestered but they still need books." While A Mighty Blaze was conceived as a response to the social lockdown accompanying the coronavirus pandemic, Leavitt and Blum are contemplating keeping it going even after the virus passes and life returns to normal. After all, Leavitt says, bookstore events in real life are always subject to external factors, such as distance, bad weather, or the World Series, she said. If theres video, people can watch author events at their favorite indie any time they want to. Description GIS 23 March 2020: The number of cases of Covid-19 continues to rise in Mauritius, with a total of 28 cases registered as at now, announced the spokesperson of the National Communication Committee on Covid-19, Dr Zouberr Joomaye, at a press conference, this morning, at the Treasury Building, in Port Louis. He recalled that the country will be under a Curfew Order, under regulation 14(1) of the Prevention and Mitigation of Infectious Disease (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020 of the Public Health Act, as from today at 20 00 hours local time until Thursday 2 April 2020 at 20 00 hours local time, to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 across Mauritius. Dr Joomaye indicated that supermarkets will be opened from Monday to Friday as from 09 00 hrs to 15 00 hrs during the Curfew Order and that Petroleum stations, bakeries and pharmacies will remain open during their normal working hours. He cautioned that the elderly are more prone and vulnerable to Covid-19 and appealed to them to stay indoors. He also encouraged the youth to inform the elderly and sensitise them of the danger they will be exposed to if they do not remain confined. He appealed to the public to comply with the confinement order to stop the propagation of the Covid-19 as is the case in Italy where the registered number of death related to Covid-19 has reached some 5 500. For his part, the Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, Dr Renganaden Padayachy, stated that the country has been inactive economically for almost 15 days now and this situation is considerably impacting the countrys economy. In view to limit the socio-economic impacts, he stated, Government is putting in place several measures. They are, namely: Wage Support Scheme - Government will contribute 50% of the first basic salary for those earning Rs 25 000 up to Rs 50 000. This represent an amount of Rs 5 000 to Rs 12 500, that is, persons earning Rs 10 200 will receive Rs 5 100, and those earning between Rs 25 000 to Rs 50 000 will receive Rs 12 500, thus representing a cost of Rs 2.6 billion to the Government. Employers who wish to benefit from the Scheme are requested to submit an online application to the Mauritius Revenue Authority. Special Assistance Plan by the Bank of Mauritius- Families having contracted a housing loan at any Commercial Bank will be entitled to a moratorium of six months to pay the capital of their loans. Write-off of interest for housing loans for persons earning up to Rs 50 000 as from 1st April to 30 June 2020. As for the Director of Health Services, Dr V. Gujadhur pointed out that the number of infections can increase alarmingly if citizens do not abide to the national confinement put in place by Government. He stressed that the population need to understand the severity of the situation and to act in the most responsible manner. He, thus, exhorted the population to abide at all times to the Curfew Order and to go out only in case of emergencies. As regard the newly registered cases, he indicated that there are currently teams working on contact tracing which will unremittingly be carried out to detect any infected cases. DCP K. Jughroo pointed out that many individuals are not respecting the laws as regard the National Confinement. He also announced that severe legal measures will be implemented as from today as soon as the Curfew Order kicks off. Every person not possessing the required work permit access can be subject to arrest without warrant as the Police Force has the powers of arrest without warrant now. He made a strong plea to the population to abide at all times by the Curfew Order so as not to compromise their lives as well as that of their families. She said some of the suggestions would be forwarded to Cabinet for possible adoption. That is what they are thinking and we like those suggestions as they come as wider as they might be. We look at them, we consider them, we give guidance and that technical guidance is taken up. Cabinet looks at it and comes up with final Government decision on what Zimbabwe will do. Again, it speaks to us working collaboratively as a team not the Ministry of Health alone. We are the technical arm of Government when it comes to health and its consolidated looking at other aspects. Those suggestions are very welcome they actually help us craft whatever guidance that is required that is looked at, she said. Following the upsurge in the prices of hand sanitizers in the country due to the demand from Ghanaians to combat COVID-19, some Ghanaian companies have started manufacturing hand sanitizers at a cheaper cost. Some pharmacies and supermarkets in the country increased the price of hand sanitizer by 200 percent others 1000 percent. However, the good news is that more companies and institutions have started manufacturing hand sanitizers at a cheaper cost. One of such companies is Kasapreko Company Limited. GIHOC Distilleries is also out with a hand sanitizer. Apart from this, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi and Sunyani Technical University have ventured into the production of hand sanitizers. The KNUSTs University Relations Officer, Dr. Norris Bekoe said the sanitizers were yet to hit the open market but were available for bulk order by wholesalers. Renowned Broadcast Journalist, Kofi Okyere Darko (KOD) on his Facebook wall commended Kasapreko Company Limited for coming out with the hand sanitizer. ---First1news.com Several months before the coronavirus pandemic began, the Trump administration eliminated a key American public health position in Beijing intended to help detect disease outbreaks in China, Reuters has learned. The American disease expert, a medical epidemiologist embedded in Chinas disease control agency, left her post in July, according to four sources with knowledge of the issue. The first cases of the new coronavirus may have emerged as early as November, and as cases exploded, the Trump administration in February chastised China for censoring information about the outbreak and keeping US experts from entering the country to help. It was heartbreaking to watch, said Bao-Ping Zhu, a Chinese American who served in that role, which was funded by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 2007 and 2011. If someone had been there, public health officials and governments across the world could have moved much faster. Zhu and the other sources said the American expert, Dr. Linda Quick, was a trainer of Chinese field epidemiologists who were deployed to the epicenter of outbreaks to help track, investigate and contain diseases. As an American CDC employee, they said, Quick was in an ideal position to be the eyes and ears on the ground for the United States and other countries on the coronavirus outbreak, and might have alerted them to the growing threat weeks earlier. No other foreign disease experts were embedded to lead the program after Quick left in July, according to the sources. Zhu said an embedded expert can often get word of outbreaks early, after forming close relationships with Chinese counterparts. Zhu and the other sources said Quick could have provided real-time information to US and other officials around the world during the first weeks of the outbreak, when they said the Chinese government tamped down on the release of information and provided erroneous assessments. Quick left amid a bitter US trade dispute with China when she learned her federally funded post, officially known as resident adviser to the US Field Epidemiology Training Program in China, would be discontinued as of September, the sources said. The US CDC said it first learned of a cluster of 27 cases of pneumonia of unexplained origin in Wuhan, China, on Dec. 31. Since then, the outbreak of the disease known as COVID-19 has spread rapidly worldwide, killing more than 13,600 people, infecting more than 317,000. The epidemic has overwhelmed healthcare systems in some countries, including Italy, and threatens to do so in the United States and elsewhere. During a press briefing on Sunday shortly after this story was first published, President Donald Trump dismissed the Reuters report as similar to other stories regarding the CDC that he described as 100 percent wrong, without addressing whether the role had been eliminated. US CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield maintained the agencys presence in China is actually being augmented as we speak, without elaborating. In a statement to Reuters before the report was published, the CDC said the elimination of the adviser position did not hinder Washingtons ability to get information and had absolutely nothing to do with CDC not learning of cases in China earlier. The agency said its decision not to have a resident adviser started well before last summer and was due to Chinas excellent technical capability and maturity of the program. The CDC said it has assigned two of its Chinese employees as mentors to help with the training program. The agency did not respond to questions about the mentors specific role or expertise. The CDC would not make Quick, who still works for the agency, available for comment. Asked for comment on Chinese transparency and responsiveness to the outbreak, Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs referred Reuters to remarks by spokesman Geng Shuang on Friday. Geng said the country has adopted the strictest, most comprehensive, and most thorough prevention and control measures in an open, transparent, and responsible manner, and informed the (World Health Organization) and relevant countries and regions of the latest situation in a timely manner. One disease expert told Reuters he was skeptical that the US resident adviser would have been able to get earlier or better information to the Trump administration, given the Chinese governments suppression of information. In the end, based on circumstances in China, it probably wouldnt have made a big difference, Scott McNabb, who was a CDC epidemiologist for 20 years and is now a research professor at Emory University. The problem was how the Chinese handled it. What should have changed was the Chinese should have acknowledged it earlier and didnt. ALERT FROM CHINAS CDC Alex Azar, secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) said on Friday that his agency learned of the coronavirus in early January, based on Redfields conversations with Chinese colleagues. Redfield learned that this looks to be a novel coronavirus from Dr. Gao Fu, the head of the China CDC, according to an HHS administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Dr. Redfield always talked to Dr. Gao, the official said. HHS and CDC did not make Azar or Redfield available for comment. Zhu and other sources said US leaders should not have been relying on the China CDC director for alerts and updates. In general, they said, officials in China downplayed the severity of the outbreak in the early weeks and did not acknowledge evidence of person-to-person transmission until Jan. 20. After the epidemic exploded and China had imposed strict quarantines, Trump administration officials complained that the Chinese had censored information about the outbreak and that the United States had been unable to get American disease experts into the country to help contain the spread. Azar told CNN on Feb. 14 that he and CDC director Redfield officially offered to send a CDC team into China on Jan. 6 but still had not received permission for them to enter the country. HHS oversees the CDC. Dr. Redfield and I made the offer on January 6th - 36 days ago, 60,000 cases and 1,300 deaths ago, Azar said. We made the offer to send the CDC experts in to assist their Chinese colleagues to get to the bottom of key scientific questions like, how transmissible is this disease? What is the severity? What is the incubation period and can there be asymptomatic transmission? Days later, the World Health Organization secured permission to send a team that included two US experts. The team visited between Feb. 16th and 24th. By then, China had reported more than 75,000 cases. On Feb. 25, the first day the CDC told the American public to prepare for an outbreak at home, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused China of mishandling the epidemic through its censorship of medical professionals and media. Relations between the two countries have deteriorated since then, as Trump has labeled the coronavirus the Chinese virus - a description the Chinese have condemned as stigmatizing. Last week, the Chinese government announced that Americans from three US news organizations, The New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal, would be expelled from China. ONCE FRIENDS, NOW RIVALS The decision to eliminate Quicks job came as the CDC has scaled back the number of US staffers in China over the last two years, the sources told Reuters. We had already withdrawn many technical public health experts, the same expert said. The CDC, however, disputed that staffing was a problem or that its information had been limited by the move. It was not the staffing shortage that limited our ability it said. The US CDC team in Beijing now includes three American citizens in permanent roles, an additional American who is temporary and around 10 Chinese nationals, the agency said. Of the Americans, one is an influenza expert with expertise in respiratory disease. COVID-19 is not influenza, though it can cause severe respiratory illness. The CDC team, aside from Quick, was housed at US Embassy facilities. No American CDC staffer besides Quick was embedded with Chinas disease control agency, the sources said. China in recent weeks has reported a dramatic slowdown in new cases, the result of drastic containment measures including the lockdown of Hubei province, home to 60 million people. Nevertheless, the infectious disease experts who spoke with Reuters said, the United States could use people like Quick with contacts on the ground, especially if fears of a second wave of infections materializes. Thomas R. Frieden, a former director of the CDC, said that if the US resident adviser had still been in China, it is possible that we would know more today about how this coronavirus is spreading and what works best to stop it. Dr. George Conway, a medical epidemiologist who knows Quick and had served as resident advisor between 2012 and 2015, said funding for the position had been tenuous for years because of a perennial debate among U.S health officials over whether China should be paying for funding its own training program. Yet since the training program was launched in 2001, the sources familiar with it say, it has not only strengthened the ranks of Chinese epidemiologists in the field, but also fostered collegial relationships between public health officials in the two countries. We go there as credentialed diplomats and return home as close colleagues and often as friends, Conway said. In 2007, Dr. Robert Fontaine, a CDC epidemiologist and one of the longest serving US officials in the advisers position, received Chinas highest honor for outstanding contributions to public health due to his contribution as a foreigner in helping to detect and investigate clusters of pneumonia of unknown cause. But since last year, Frieden and others said, growing tensions between the Trump administration and Chinas leadership have apparently damaged the collaboration. The message from the administration was, Dont work with China, theyre our rival, Frieden said. Trumps re-election campaign sent out a statement Sunday evening dismissing controversy about the CDCS cut as a matter of politics. Democrats are eager to politicize the coronavirus crisis and weaponize it against President Trump, the statement said. In so doing, theyre siding with the Chinese and providing cover for Beijings cover-up. Amid the climate of uneasiness and fear caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Sister Kathleen Atkinson tries to exude an aura of calm. She talks using her sister voice and has classical music playing at the local food pantry and ministry that she helps run. Ministry on the Margins is seeing an increase in the number of people seeking food and basic supplies. At the same time, federal authorities are urging people to stay home, practice social distancing and avoid gathering in groups of 10 or more. Thats a fine dance, Atkinson said. Local aid organizations in Bismarck, including United Ways emergency homeless shelter, Heavens Helpers Soup Cafe, and Ministry on the Margins, are finding ways to balance worker, volunteer and patron safety while continuing to serve a community that needs them more than ever as services close amid the outbreak of the highly infectious coronavirus that has upended most aspects of daily life in the U.S. Ministry on the Margins Ministry on the Margins has suspended all evening support, worship and Bible study groups. Bingo and Jenga game hours are done for now. Cookies and candy at the door have been replaced with prewrapped protein bars. The ministry also has suspended its clothing pantry to keep people from lingering in the pantry, and it has stopped accepting clothing and other items. The food pantry is still open, but adjustments have been made. Clients are being given prepared food bags, rather than being allowed to pick out food themselves. Anyone entering the pantry gets a squirt of hand sanitizer, and the nonprofit has increased how often things are cleaned. Volunteers are told not to show up if they are feeling sick. Thats the caution piece, Atkinson said. We want people to be welcome, but we dont want to create a necessity to linger. Ministry on the Margins is working to collaborate with other organizations and is taking note of services in the area that have closed. It also is working to identify which clients havent been coming in, some of whom are older and more vulnerable to the coronavirus, and making sure they are OK foodwise. The pantry is in need of donations of food and basic necessities, including toilet paper. The best times for donations are from 11-11:15 a.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and from 3-4:30 p.m. on Thursdays. For those in need, Ministry on the Margins is open from 9:30-11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and from 5-7 p.m. on Thursdays. Ministry on the Margins is at 201 N. 24th St. in Bismarck. It can be reached by phone at 701-223-6315. United Way emergency shelter The homeless population is already more vulnerable to infectious diseases, and congregate living spaces are some of the least-ideal living situations to prevent the spread of disease. So far, United Way has not seen an influx of new clients in its emergency shelter, but it is anticipating and preparing for it by working to limit the number of people in the shelter and helping people try to find other living arrangements. When people call asking about shelter were just having a very frank conversation with them that we have congregate living, we have a small space, and if they have somewhere safe that theyre currently living, to stay put, said Jena Gullo, executive director of Missouri Slope Areawide United Way. United Way is working to expedite housing assistance, such as putting down a security deposit for people seeking an apartment. If someone has a place to stay outside of Bismarck that is not a congregate living situation, the nonprofit is helping with a bus ticket. Clients who are vulnerable, such as those with underlying medical conditions and families, are given an offer to stay in a hotel room. We want to do what we can to reduce the number of people in our shelter -- and that includes volunteers, Gullo said. Volunteers can still drop off food but wont be allowed to enter the shelter as a precaution. For those with nowhere else to stay, the shelter is having them sleep head to foot and is putting up barriers between beds to prevent the spread of disease. The shelter is still accepting new clients, and the police department can still drop people off there 24/7, but the drop-in center is being limited to current clients. A person is required to wash hands before entering the shelter. Officials also are increasing the frequency and thoroughness of daily cleaning. United Way also runs a backpack program for kids who need food during the weekend. Out of precaution, volunteers arent being allowed to pack the bags anymore, but school food distribution program workers are helping to pack and distribute the bags instead. However, filling the backpacks is another issue. Sams Club wasnt able to fulfill an order this week due to supply shortages at the store, so this week we were scrambling, Gullo said. Donations of food and household items such as bleach and toilet paper are needed, she said. Donations can be made online at www.msaunitedway.org/shelter or can be dropped off at the shelter. United Way also is working to set up funds for those who are going to lose their jobs. The United Way emergency shelter is at 1140 S. 12th St. in Bismarck. To contact the shelter, call 701-401-5606. Heavens Helpers Soup Cafe Heavens Helpers Soup Cafe was affected by the executive order Gov. Doug Burgum signed Thursday directing bars, restaurants, gyms and theaters to close to on-site business. The cafe has adjusted its hours and will offer only to-go and delivery options as a result. "We won't be shutting down," Executive Director Mark Meier said. "We'll still be feeding people. It's just a matter of how and at what capacity." To-go meals were an option before but are now mandatory. A delivery service from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3-5 p.m. will be available starting Monday for people unable to leave their homes. Before the executive order came down, Meier said, the cafe served 250 meals on Tuesday, with 50 of those as to-go meals. Regular patrons aren't coming in as often but he's noticed an uptick in kids, families and people who work in a sales- or commission-type job. "We're starting to see some cracks," Meier said. "There's a lot of people who live paycheck to paycheck. If that's disturbed, then there's some problems." Meier knows that for some, there is stigma about visiting a soup kitchen, but he said the soup cafe is a "judgement-free zone." "Don't be embarrassed to come and get a meal," Meier said. "Just come and pick something up. There's no questions asked." The Cafe is run by volunteers who are required to wash hands upon entry, and they are needed now more than ever, Meier said. The cafe has seen some no-call, no-shows in recent days and that limits how long the cafe can be open. Volunteers can sign up online at www.soupcafe.org/volunteer/. Donations of food, products and money are still needed. The Cafe also is asking for plastic containers and spoons for the to-go meals. People wishing to donate those items are being encouraged to shop online or locally at Capital City Restaurant Supply in Bismarck, either by stopping in or calling 701-255-4576. Hevens Helpers Soup Cafe is at 220 N. 23rd St. in Bismarck. It is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays, as long as there are enough volunteers. It can be reached by phone at 701-751-SOUP (7687). Reach Bilal Suleiman at 701-250-8261 or Bilal.Suleiman@bismarcktribune.com Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 2 Sad 1 Angry 2 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Recent viral videos from across a hunkered down nation show teachers forming parades of cars, weaving in and out of the neighborhoods near their campuses, to help boost the spirits of their students, who are forced to be home and participate in distance learning in effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. San Antonio teachers are jumping in on the idea too. Stay up to date on the latest coronavirus news with mySA.com: Faculty and students in the Northside Independent School District, like Hoffman and Krueger elementary schools and Luna Middle School, are reuniting from a distance as many campuses began online classes Monday morning. Olivia Villa, whose children attend Krueger Elementary, shared videos and photos of a parade she estimated totaled about 55 faculty members waving and honking through the Wildhorse Parkway area with signs that read "We miss you" and "Love you, be well!" Even the school mascot waved from a top down Jeep Wrangler driven by the school's principal and vice principal. RELATED: San Antonio couple sewing homemade masks during COVID-19 crisis says even beginners can make them Villa said the moment was "uplifting" for her family. NISD Spokesman Barry Perez said Hoffman planned a parade for Monday afternoon and has a second date in the works to cover more ground. He said Luna Middle School is also working on one for 4 p.m. Hoffman's Parent Teacher Association shared information via Facebook for its "social distance-approved" parade. Rules include: families must stay on their doorways or driveways, students cannot approach the vehicles or run into the streets and students must have parental permission to go outside if they are alone. The Hoffman teachers have created a route which will visit Santa Maria, McMullen Grant and DeZavala Grant. Families not in those areas are invited to park on El Bosque in Santa Maria, on Volunteer Parkway, on the campus parking lots and Defenders Parkway in McMullen Grant. "Be ready to wave at us from your home or vehicle," the guidelines say. Madalyn Mendoza is a breaking news reporter and general assignment writer. Read her on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | mmendoza@mysa.com | @MaddySkye MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE: By Sam Richards and Chris Campos Bay City News Passenger counts are down dramatically at the Bay Area's three major airports, and the situation isn't expected to improve significantly anytime soon in this time of travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 coronavirus. And the situation could be made worse by an order from the governor of Hawaii requiring anyone flying into that state, tourist or resident, be placed on a mandatory two-week quarantine to protect against the coronavirus. That order takes effect at midnight Thursday. Passenger volume at Mineta San Jose International Airport on Friday was down about 89 percent from the volume of the third Friday of March 2019, airport spokeswoman Demetria Machado said this weekend. The volume of passengers for the first 20 days of this month is down about 44 percent from that same period in 2019, she added. "We're part of the national story of all airports," Machado said. Passenger traffic is down at Oakland International Airport, as well, though exact numbers were not available Saturday. "As most U.S. airlines are in the process of reducing flight schedules to meet diminishing demand, we anticipate there to be some impact," said Keonnis R. Taylor, an airport spokeswoman. Additionally, on Saturday, several flights from Oakland to the Chicago Midway and Las Vegas airports were canceled because Federal Aviation Administration personnel who work out of those airports have tested positive for coronavirus, Taylor said. "Flight loads appear to be similar to what we've seen all week, which reflects generally light passenger activity," she added. Chris Morgan, an airport duty manager at San Francisco International Airport, said a few flights into or out of SFO on Saturday were cancelled by weather problems, but that most of the recent downturn in passenger traffic is directly because of coronavirus-related travel restrictions, recommendations against non-essential travel or simply fewer places to go that aren't slowed down by concern about coronavirus. "It's been a pretty serious dropoff," Morgan said. On Friday, approximately 15,000 passengers passed through SFO, either arriving or departing. That compares with about 79,000 passengers going through SFO on Friday, March 22, 2019. That's a drop of about 81 percent over a year. The number of flights in and out of SFO, Morgan said, hasn't dropped as much as the number of people. On Friday, there were about 900 flights in and out of that airport, down from the 1,200 to 1,300 a day in "normal" times. This suggests that there are many more flights flying at less than capacity than a year ago, Morgan said. The number of flights will likely be cut back. Machado said that All Nippon Airways (Japan) and Hainan Airlines (China) have suspended flights in and out of San Jose, and that Air Canada plans to follow suit on April 1. In Hawaii, Gov. David Ige said he worked with the state's tourist industry, particularly the airlines that serve the islands, in advance of making the order so that tourists and residents would have enough time to change or cancel their travel plans. Hawaiian tourism topped 9.3 million visitors in 2018, with 19 percent of them coming from California. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell expressed support for the quarantine, noting the difficulty of preventing transmission of the virus on the state's crowded beaches. Caldwell added that he expects that the order will "cut off the spigot" of tourism to Hawaii. In response to the quarantine, Hawaiian Airlines announced late Sunday that it will make "significant reductions" in its domestic and international flights starting Thursday. Hawaiian Airlines has regular scheduled flights in and out of all three major Bay Area airports. Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. It should have been done since the very beginning, when the first cases were observed, Illya Yemets says Ilya Yemets, Ukraine's Health Minister https://moz.gov.ua/ Ukraine's Healthcare Minister Illya Yemets supported the emergency mode on the entire territory of the country. He said so on air of 112 Ukraine TV channel. "I said so since the very first day of my work in this government. It should have been done since the very beginning. If it was done, there would be no such spread that is now developing at an exponential rate", he claimed. Currrently, the emergency mode was introduced in some regions of Ukraine where coronavirus cases are observed. In general, 73 cases have been reported since the disease first reached Ukraine. The first fatality is confirmed in Ukraine; a 71-year-old woman, resident of Zhytomyr region, northern Ukraine succumbed to the disease. There's an emergency situation mode in three regions of Ukraine as of March 20 - Chernivtsi, Zhytomyr and Kyiv regions. Kyiv City Administration also introduced an emergency situation in Ukraine's capital. Ukraine also temporarily suspended operation of subway on March 18. Public transport in Kyiv will also be restricted. MUSKEGON, MI - The former Younkers department store, which has stood empty at the Lakes Mall since 2018, has been sold. Jonathan Jon Bryant of Underground Building Maintenance in Jenison purchased the building last week for an undisclosed sum, he told MLive. He said he intends to gut and renovate it before leasing the space to a retailer. The work on the former Younkers store is expected to take up to a year, at which point realtors from Colliers International - West Michigan will lease it out, said Bryant. Realtors are in conversations with three types of realtors: a boat dealership, a clothing store, and general store franchise Blains Farm & Fleet, according to Bryant. Representatives from Colliers did not respond to MLives calls for comments. The 106,000-square-foot store will require about $1.5 million in renovations to update the aesthetics of a store that opened to the public in 2001, as well as to update the fire protection system, Bryant said. We didnt buy it to hold it," he said. "We bought it to renovate it so it benefits the mall and it benefits the community. Bryant said he also is in talks to acquire the former Sears building, he said. The Lakes Mall, 5500 Harvey St. in Fruitport Township, opened in August 2001, with Younkers and Sears among its anchor stores. After years of closures and vacancy - including Younkers in April of 2018 and Sears in December of that year - the mall transitioned to new management last spring. Julie Sustaita, the new general manager, told MLive at the time that filling vacant anchor stores would be among the most challenging aspects of filling 10 total vacant storefronts. While malls across the country struggle to stay afloat amid a global retail downturn, Bryant said this purchase seemed like a wise investment because the malls new owners are committed to turning it around. Generally the reason why malls go down is because people arent willing to invest money in them, he said. But if youre willing to invest money ... itll be successful again. A work crew was at the site within 24 hours of the deal closing, Bryant said. Given coronavirus concerns, he said that the workers had been separated into groups, and focused on outdoor work, including removing trees and letters spelling out Younkers on the buildings exterior. Bryants company has worked on various projects around West Michigan, including converting a 225,000-square-foot industrial building in Grand Rapids, and a former KMart that closed at the North Kent Mall in Plainfield Township in 2016. This is Bryants first Muskegon area project. Its a nice area, he said. Hopefully if we can get Sears to sell and do something (there), this whole malls going to turn around. Read more on MLive: New Lakes Mall manager sets goal to save it Food truck park slated to launch in Norton Shores Burlington store coming soon to Muskegon area Operation Condor: the CIA is not innocent Recent disclosures linked to the Crypto AG company confirm that the CIA did not learn about Operation Condor via espionage. The gruesome extermination plan was planned, advised, and implemented by US intelligence services. Over the years, the CIA has spied on the diplomatic and military communications of hundreds of nations by using encryption machines from a Swiss company owned by the CIA and Germanys Federal Intelligence Service (BND), as revealed by the National Security Archive, an independent research centre. Both the Washington Post and the German public-service television broadcaster (ZDF) have recently published this investigation, with great media impact worldwide, as hundreds of international news agencies reported the news and commented on the information. It turns out that the Swiss company Crypto AG, owned by the CIA and BND, has for years sold and installed thousands of encryption machines in several nations, including Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Spain, Greece, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq, Indonesia and the Philippines, among others. The encryption machines enabled the CIA to decode, for example, thousands of messages closely related to Operation Condor; the 1973 military coup against the Popular Unity Government in Chile; the 1976 coup in Argentina; the 1976 assassination of former Chilean Foreign Minister Orlando Letelier in Washington; the Falklands War; and more than a few others. According to the National Security Agency, the CIA used Crypto AGs machines to spy on those implementing Operation Condor a coordinated extermination plan carried out by several Latin American dictatorships in the 1970s and 1980s to eliminate leftist, democratic, and revolutionary forces in those nations. They, the executioners, encrypted their communications, without knowing the United States might be listening. The encryption machines used by Condortel, Operation Condors communications network, were provided by Crypto AG by agreement with the CIA and the repressive governments involved in Operation Condor. According to The Washington Post and ZDF, the spy project was first known as Thesaurus, and then Rubicon. The Post pointed out that both the CIA and the US National Security Agency have controlled nearly all aspects of Crypto AG since 1970, in collaboration with BND. Most of the media outlets, that commented on or simply published the information, put forward the incredible theory that the CIA acquired knowledge of crimes committed by Operation Condor through the spy operation. Referring to either Thesaurus or Rubicon, some went further in their naivete and took up the story that some CIA officials were frightened by information regarding the horrors perpetrated by the military dictatorships and wanted to denounce them. Did the CIA know about Operation Condor or not? Plans for repression, the forerunners of Operation Condor, emerged from the School of the Americas and the Conferences of American Armies in the 1960s, where US sponsored preventive actions in the region were mapped out, as part of intelligence, psychological and cultural warfare operations conducted under the slogan of no more Cubas. Declassified CIA documents dated 23rd June, 1976, published by the Uruguayan newspaper La Republica, July 29, 2007, revealed that security officials from Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia met in Buenos Aires as early as 1974, to organize coordinated actions against subversive targets. The National Intelligence Dailys top-secret report, prepared by the CIA director for high-ranking officials only, likewise reported that Argentines had conducted spy operations against subversive elements, as did Chileans and Uruguayans. US researcher Patrice McSherry states that this document proves that coordination of repressive efforts by South American dictatorships began in 1973 and 1974, before the extraterritorial plans were named Operation Condor at a meeting in Chile in 1975, and that the CIA was deeply involved in the planning and execution of the actions. Operation Condor was an intelligence plan designed and coordinated by the CIA and security services of Latin American military dictatorships, to annihilate the left. Along with the Gladio and Phoenix Operations, it was part of the United States global strategy during the Cold War to confront the advance of communism in the world. Declassified CIA files indicate that, in 1975, Chilean Chief of Intelligence Manuel Contreras was invited to the CIAs Langley headquarters, where he stayed for fifteen days. After this visit, Contreras met with leaders of military intelligence services from Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay on 25th November 1975. Later, Brazil joined the group. According to the Archives of Terror discovered in Paraguay, Operation Condor led to the tragic loss of more than 50,000 civilian lives, over 30,000 missing, and some 400,000 prisoners. Gladio was a secret organisational structure composed of military and civilians who, in collaboration with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and sponsored by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), operated in Europe from the late 1950s through October 1990. Gladios secret armies in Europe, mainly Italy, carried out multiple acts of terrorism and selective crimes, under the pretext of confronting the threat of the Red Army occupying the region, in the event of a third world war. It was Cuban-born terrorist Orlando Bosch Avila, involved in the infamous Barbados bombing with Luis Posada Carriles, who fired the machine gun that seriously wounded Bernardo Leighton and his wife in Rome, in an assassination attempt organised by Italian terrorist Stefano Delle Chiaie, a member of Operation Gladio. Phoenix was a top-secret program, developed by the CIA in Vietnam in 1967, in an attempt to neutralise the Vietcong by killing South Vietnamese civilians suspected of supporting combatants in the North and Vietcong soldiers. William Colby, CIA director in that time, admitted in 1976 that Phoenix operations killed more than 20,000 between 1967 and 1972. The My Lai massacre was just one Phoenix operation. Phoenix methods and techniques were used in Operation Condor. United States intelligence services did not learn about Operation Condor via espionage. The CIA organised, planned, advised and was involved in implementing the gruesome extermination plan. It is responsible for crimes against humanity, crimes for which the US government should be brought to justice. The CIA has enjoyed impunity for years, but cannot escape history, which has already conducted a trial and issued its ruling. In context A few examples of Operation Condor crimes: In Buenos Aires, Chilean Army General Carlos Prats and his spouse Sofia Cuthbert were killed by a remote-controlled bomb. High-ranking Uruguayan army officers secretly travelled to Porto Alegre, capital of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, and kidnapped a couple, activists in the Uruguayan opposition, Universindo Rodriguez Diaz and Lilian Celiberti, with their two children, Camilo and Francesca, eight and three years of age, respectively. Orlando Letelier, former minister in Salvador Allendes government, was killed by a car bomb in Washington. His assistant, Ronni Moffitt, a US citizen, also died in the explosion. Kidnapping and disappearance of the Zaffaroni couple in Argentina. Granma EU's chief diplomat says no deal on Irene mission for Libya Migrant division still an issue, 'I hope by end of March' (ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, MARCH 23 - EU High Representative Josep Borrell said Monday that there were still unresolved issues that needed to be worked out prior to beginning the Irene military operation for the monitoring of a UN arms embargo on Libya. The mission is meany to replace Operation Sophia. The main unresolved issue is the distribution of migrants rescued at sea, he noted. Borrell was speaking after a video conference with the EU's 27 foreign ministers. he noted that he hoped that an agreement would be reached by the end of March. (ANSAmed). Delhi to ease restrictions, if Covid cases come down in next 2-3 days: Health Minister Lata Mangeshkar health update: Doctor says,'She in ICU with Covid-19 and pneumonia, will be under observation' India readies for lockdown as death toll rises to 7 India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Mar 23: India reported three more coronavirus deaths on Sunday, including the first casualties from Bihar and Gujarat, taking the toll to seven and the number of COVID-19 cases rose to 341, officials said, as authorities suspended all passenger train and inter-state bus services till March 31 in unprecedented steps to contain the spread of the infection. A 38-year-old man with a kidney ailment and recent travel history to Qatar died at AIIMS-Patna and a 67-year-old man died at a hospital in Surat in Gujarat, state officials said, but the Union Health Ministry was yet to confirm the deaths. Another death was reported from Mumbai of a 63-year-old man. As the virus cases climbed, the central and state governments decided to lock down 75 districts from where COVID-19 cases have been reported to break the chain of transmission, and the Health Ministry said states would earmark hospitals to exclusively treat coronavirus patients. Millions of people stayed indoors to observe a "Janta Curfew on Sunday after an appeal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but they stood outside their homes or in their balconies at 5pm to thank the health workers at the forefront of the fight against the virus. Delhi locked down: What you should know Beating bells, metal vessels and conchs, people acknowledged the services of the thousands of doctors, nurse and other medical staff leading India's response to the deadly virus and making sure essential services remain unhindered. Prime Minister Modi thanked the people for expressing their gratitude and solidarity. Shortly thereafter, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that his government was placing the national capital under a lock down from 6 am on March 23 till midnight March 31. Essential services will continue, Kejriwal said. Several states, including Maharashtra, Kerala, Haryana, UP, Uttarakhand and West Bengal, announced partial or complete lockdown for varying periods. Nagaland said it was imposing an indefinite lockdown from midnight Sunday. Earlier Sunday, the Railways announced it was suspending all passenger services until March 31 and said only goods trains will run during the period. The suspension includes all suburban train services. Trains that commenced their journey prior to 4 am on March 22 will complete their journeys, it said, adding that passengers can claim a full refund for trains cancelled during this period till June 21. The government also suspended all inter-state bus services until March 31. The country's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India said it has decided to suspend production at its facilities in Haryana that churn 15.5 lakh vehicles per annum with immediate effect. The extraordinary decisions were taken by the government a day after the Railways reported three incidents (12 positive cases) of people asked to remain in quarantine travelling on trains and amid an exodus of people from urban areas to their home states, raising fears of the virus spreading to the countryside. The West Bengal government said in a notification that Kolkata and several other areas of the state will be under lockdown from Monday 5 pm till Mar 27. 16 districts in UP locked down According to the Health Ministry, Maharashtra has reported the highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases at 63, followed by Kerala (52) and Delhi (27). Uttar Pradesh has recorded 25 cases, Telangana 21 cases, Rajasthan 24 cases, Haryana 17 cases. Karnataka has 20 patients. Punjab and Ladakh have 13 cases each. Gujarat has 14 cases while Tamil Nadu has 6 cases. Chandigarh has reported five cases. Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and West Bengal reported four cases each. Andhra Pradesh and Uttarakhand reported three cases each. Odisha and Himachal Pradesh reported 2 cases each. Puducherry and Chhattisgarh reported one case each. The Indian Council of Medical Research said they are ramping up testing efforts, but added that they won't do indiscriminate testing for COVID-19. The strategy is to test only those who show symptoms, its director general said. The paramilitary forces, comprising about 10 lakh personnel, also ordered immediate suspension of movement of troops and directed them to 'be where they are' till April 5, officials said. Families of prisoners and detainees from Kashmir lodged in jails outside the region are worried and demanding they are brought back or released as the coronavirus disease or Covid-19 spreads across the country. Kashmiri leaders, human rights activists and people are also making pleas to bring back prisoners and detainees many of whom have been lodged in various jails of the country under preventive detentions after the special status of Jammu and Kashmir was revoked on August 5 last year. Social media users have also been expressing concern over the health of Kashmiri prisoners and how jails are prone to the pandemic. Union minister G Kishan Reddy informed Parliament in December last year that 261 prisoners belonging to Jammu and Kashmir are currently lodged in different jails of Uttar Pradesh (234) and Haryana (27). Besides, he also said, 3248 prisoners are in jails in Jammu and Kashmir. Khuram Parvez, human rights activist and coordinator of a coalition of civil society, said that the spread of Covid-19 was a threat to the lives of prisoners and the government should release them as most of them are under preventive detentions. We want their immediate release. Most of them are under preventive detentions and the best safety for them right now is the confines of their homes, Parvez said. At this stage, no one can disturb law and order. People in big number everywhere is a threat owing to Corona and if it goes out of control no one will be safe, he added. Families say many of the detainees are either of vulnerable age and some have underlying health conditions. Relatives of 73-year-old Mian Qayoom, Kashmir High Court Bar Association president who has been detained under public safety act since August and is currently lodged in Tihar Jail, said he was vulnerable. He is diabetic, lives on a single kidney and also has hypertension. He is a risky patient and the coronavirus has increased our fears. Our whole extended family is disturbed, said Mian Muzaffar, nephew of the detainee. On the one hand, there are advisories not to travel and on the other hand, we have to reach him as he is ailing. We all feel helpless. We just appeal the government to release him till this subsides, he said. While National Conference president and Srinagar member of parliament Farooq Abdullah was the first to demand last week the shifting of prisoners before their ultimate release, separatist organisation Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also demanded their release on humanitarian grounds on Friday. Their well-being is under threat in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Crowded jails are most vulnerable in the spread of the virus among inmates, which is a matter of grave concern, the Hurriyat said in a statement. Immediately after his release, Farooq Abdullah had sought the unity of all political leaders of J&K in demanding the shifting and ultimate release of detainees. The already onerous financial burden (on the families of detainees) is made worse by the health risk they now face because of Covid-19. At a time when people are being advised not to travel these families are being forced to put their lives at risk, he said. This is a humanitarian demand and I hope others will join me in placing this demand in front of the government of India, he said. VK Singh, director general of prisons in Jammu and Kashmir, refused to comment on the demands of shifting of prisoners but said they were regularly getting health updates of the detainees from outside prisons. I cant comment on the shifting as that is the mandate of the home department. However, we get their health bulletin daily and the detainees are fine. However, there are those with previous case histories, he said. Singh said they have come up with a standard operating procedure for the prisons of the Union territory to prevent the spread of Covid-19. All preventive steps are being taken. We have stopped mulakat to visiters, thermal screening devices have been installed in some jails while they are being procured where not installed, he said. All measures of handwashing like sanitisers have also been installed. For all new admissions and those sick, two weeks of quarantine is necessary. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON She welcomed her baby boy Roman earlier this month and on Sunday Lucy Mecklenburgh celebrated her first Mother's Day. The ex TOWIE star admitted it wasn't how she expected to be marking her first Mother's Day amid the coronavirus crisis, but she 'felt lucky to be spending every moment with my little family.' Lucy's fiance Ryan Thomas documented the family day on Instagram as Lucy revealed he had treated her to the ultimate gift - ten hours sleep. Celebrating: Lucy Mecklneburgh was treated to a takeaway roast dinner on her first Mother's Day as fiance Ryan Thomas documented their Sunday on Instagram 'Theres know denying this isn't exactly how I saw my first Mother's Day... BUT we are trying to stay positive and I feel very lucky to be spending every moment with my new little family,' Lucy wrote on Sunday morning, pointing out she'd get: 'Unlimited cuddles and kisses for my little man and we have him all to ourselves.' As well as a 'Mum' mug and card, the new mum revealed her ultimate present as the family headed out on a walk in the sunshine. 'So Ryan gave me the best Mother's Day present ever, ten hours sleep! He's the best!' she gleefully revealed. Walk: Ryan and Lucy took little Roman out for a walk in his pram before stopping to pick up food to take home 'I did the last feed, I expressed and fed in the middle of the night and did the first feed this morning so I got a full ten hours and I feel amazing. The best Mother's Day present for a new mum you could ask for.' Ryan also shared a sweet video of himself pushing Roman in his pram while Lucy carried a bag with takeaway roast lunch. But Lucy and Ryan's choice of Mother's Day activity attracted some criticism as Lucy later shared on Instagram that she was getting messages saying the trio shouldn't have gone out on a walk after previously posting about the government advice to 'stay at home.'. Critics: But Lucy and Ryan's choice of Mother's Day activity attracted some criticism as Lucy shared on Instagram that she was getting messages saying the trio shouldn't have gone out 'For DM's about me going for a walk being hypocritical.. I walk with Ryan and Roman for an hour a day. We don't come into contact with anyone or touch anything,' she wrote. Lucy added that during her walk she could see others not adhering to the social distancing rules. 'From a distance I could see big groups of people having coffees together on bench's, shops full, groups of people chatting, coffee shops packed!! I don't understand!! Social distancing'. Hitting back: 'For DM's about me going for a walk being hypocritical.. I walk with Ryan and Roman for an hour a day. We don't come into contact with anyone,' she wrote The fitness guru, 28, announced her pregnancy last August, after fiance Ryan, 35, proposed during a trip to Italy's Amalfi Coast in June. Ryan is already dad to Scarlett, 11, with his ex Tina O'Brien. The couple met on Celebrity Island With Bear Grylls in early 2017. They brushed off split rumours in December 2018 after Lucy was pictured looking cosy with a man in a Dubai nightclub, believed to be her friend and business associate Adam Rossiter. At the time, Ryan was said to be 'in pieces' over the pictures but the couple quickly moved on after Lucy explained it was her pal. News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. Some NHS medical staff in the UK feel like 'cannon fodder' over the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) against coronavirus, and on Monday the government said the military would help ship millions of items including masks to healthcare workers who have complained of shortages. Frontline staff in UK hospitals treating COVID-19 patients have been begging for masks, gloves, face shields, and hazmat suits. The situation is so desperate that some nurses and doctors were and are reportedly improvising by tying plastic aprons around their heads, and affixing clinical waste bags around their legs. From the Guardian: Responding to staff concerns, Dr Rinesh Parmar, chair of the Doctors' Association, told BBC1's The Andrew Marr Show: "We have had doctors tell us they feel like lambs to the slaughter, that they feel like cannon fodder. GPs tell us that they feel absolutely abandoned. "We are all pleading with Boris Johnson that [the government] really look into arranging the vital personal protection equipment that all of us need on the NHS frontline. What our doctors are telling us is that although equipment is arriving, some of it is inadequate, some of it doesn't meet the World Health Organization guidance. That really doesn't fill frontline healthcare staff with the confidence that they need." Nurses in the Royal Free hospital in north London have been affixing clinical waste bags around their legs, the Guardian has been told, while at North Middlesex hospital they have been tying plastic aprons around their heads. One nurse, who did not wish to be named, said: "Widespread nurses are making their own PPE. I know friends I trained with doing the same. We have to protect ourselves, some of us have children and babies. We are trying to help people but have to protect families. I don't know why we are not getting PPE." Read more at the Guardian: NHS staff feel like 'cannon fodder' over lack of coronavirus protection And at Reuters, an update on the military delivering gear to NHS hospitals: UK calls in army and warns people to stay home or face lockdown HBO's new series "The Plot Against America" addresses a thorny truth about U.S. history that we're not taught in school: Millions of Americans who considered themselves patriots were dead set against our participation in World War II. Based on the 2007 novel by Philip Roth, the series was created by David Simon and Ed Burns, the remarkable team behind "The Wire," perhaps the greatest TV series ever, and the outstanding Iraq war drama "Generation Kill." The show is airing Monday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and, unlike most contemporary streaming shows, it's not designed to be scarfed down in one extended binge session. Every episode is loaded with ideas and plot developments that demand reflection before you take on the next one. The one-week breaks actually allow the drama to build over time and increase its impact. Like the original novel, the story focuses on a Jewish family in Newark in the days before the United States entered World War II. Except, in this alternate history, famed aviator Charles Lindbergh wins the 1940 Republican nomination, promises to keep the country out of war and defeats FDR in a landslide. It's a fact that Lindbergh (and many other Americans) admired the economic turnaround and perceived social stability that the Nazi government brought to Germany in the 1930s. Many Americans didn't think we should have participated in the Great War in 1917 and wanted to keep out of the current conflict in Europe in 1939. Was President Lindbergh a politically naive front for pro-Nazi elements in the United States or was he a willing leader of forces that aimed to enact policies that were both racist and oppressive to religious and ethnic minoriites? Neither Roth the novelist nor Simon and Burns the show creators answer that question, allowing the aviation hero to remain an amiable cipher. Roth's novel focused on an eight-year-old boy named Philip Roth. The show changes the family's name to Levin and no longer tells the story solely from the young boy's perspective. Parents Herman and Bess Levin (Morgan Spector and Zoe Kazan) are raising their sons Phillip (Azhy Robertson) and Sandy (Caleb Malis) when the story begins. Bess' unmarried sister Evelyn (Winona Ryder) starts a romance with the much older Rabbi Lionel Bengelsdorf (John Turturro), a community leader who vocally supports Lindbergh even though most of his congregation is shocked by his defense of the candidate's supporters. The pilot's victory fuels a precipitous social rise for Evelyn and Lionel, one that cuts Evelyn off from her family. The Levins have been raising Herman's nephew Alvin (Anthony Boyle) after the death of his parents. Alvin shocks the community by running off to Canada to join the fight against Hitler. After Lindbergh signs a peace agreement with Germany, Alvin's heroism suddenly becomes a problem for the family after the FBI determines that his foreign military service is now an anti-American act. "The Plot Against America" is the opposite of the escapist fare that most quarantined Americans have embraced over the last couple of weeks. Simon and Burns have always written characters that inspire remarkably focused and intense performances from their actors, and these may be the most deeply felt performances they've ever gotten from a cast. American history (at least the version taught in our schools) tends to suggest that outcomes were inevitable and that we've collectively come together in times of crisis to make the right choices. That myth leads to the idea that current leaders are doing a terrible job and that things were better back in the day. "The Plot Against America" reminds us that politics has always been chaos. If the Roosevelt administration had managed to cut a deal with Japan in early 1941 (or if FDR had lost the 1940 election), we may never have been attacked at Pearl Harbor. Millions of Americans who were dead set against war had an immediate change of heart on Dec. 7, 1941. What if there had been no attack? Would the destruction of freedoms around the world and the systematic killings of entire ethnic groups have eventually inspired us to join the war? Roth's novel corrects the course of history with a shocking turn of events that's never fully explained and sets America back on a course that would be recognizable to us today. The series suggests more concrete reasons for that turn but also doesn't fully embrace the course correction the author offers in his novel. "The Plot Against America" arrives right on time, aiming to remind viewers that the course of history is never certain and that no one should take for granted that doing the right thing will be easy for our nation. It's not always easy to watch, but it's a great show with substantial rewards for everyone who sticks with its uncomfortable tale. The Jharkhand government on Monday barred the media from publishing personal details of coronavirus-affected persons, and doctors and other medical staff treating them. Chief Minister Hemant Soren expressed concern over people coming out of their homes violating the lockdown order, and urged them to remain indoors. "It is not a holiday." The health department in a notification said, "No media shall publish the name and address of the person infected/affected with COVID-19, his/her parents, relatives, the doctor treating the patient and the assisting medical staff, obtained through any source, in any Print/Electronic/WEB/Social Media. "The media shall not interview any patient affected with COVID-19, his/her parents, relatives, the doctor treating the patient and the assisting medical staff." The information relating to these persons, including their residential address is to be kept confidential, the notification said, adding that not following the directive would be a punishable offence. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Soren appealed to the people to take the lockdown seriously and remain at home. "Lockdown has been announced in Jharkhand. Markets remained closed on the first day, but the movement of people has not stopped," Soren said and asked deputy commissioners of all the districts to tell the people not to move outside unnecessarily. "All the DCs should inform people that it (lockdown) is not a holiday. We have to protect them from the disease," he said during a video conferencing with the DCs. The lockdown along with Prohibitory Orders under Section 144 CrPC was announced on Sunday in the entire state. Officials said no positive case of coronavirus has been reported in the state so far. Only those in essential services should venture outside, the chief minister said, asking officials to ensure no gathering of devotees at religious places. The chief minister also directed the officials to arrange home delivery of essential commodities like ration, medicine and milk to people and deploy adequate security near ration shops. He also asked them to take immediate legal action against fake on social media. Officials should facilitate people of the state, stranded on the borders, reach their homes, he said. Soren also directed them to set up 200-bed isolation ward in Ranchi Sadar Hospital with doctors and medical staff. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) WASHINGTON (AP) Top-level negotiations between Congress and the White House teetered Sunday over a now nearly $2 trillion economic rescue package, as the coronavirus crisis deepened, the nation shut down and the first U.S. senator tested positive for the disease. As President Donald Trump took to the podium in the White House briefing room and promised to help Americans who feel afraid and isolated as the pandemic spreads, the Senate voted against advancing the rescue package. But negotiations continued on Capitol Hill. I think you'll get there. To me it's not very complicated: We have to help the worker. We have to save the companies," Trump said. We're enduring a great national trial and we will prove that we can meet the moment. We're at war." At the otherwise emptied out Capitol, the draft aid bill was declared insufficient by Democrats, who argued it was tilted toward corporations and did too little to help workers and healthcare providers. The setback sent Republicans back to the negotiating table. With a population on edge and shell-shocked financial markets poised for the new work week, doubts emerged about the fate of an agreement that would provide some relief against health and economic crises that are likely to stretch for several months. Louisiana Spotlight: Virus threat brings all parties, mostly, together in politics Disasters often make strange bedfellows, but the new coronavirus has thawed some of the frostiest relationships in Louisiana politics or at Americans don't need to see us haggling endlessly, warned Senate Majority Leader McConnell, R-Ky., his voice rising on the Senate floor. He sought passage of the package by Monday. But Democrats say the largely GOP-led effort does not go far enough to provide health care and unemployment aid for Americans, and fails to put restraints on a proposed $500 billion slush fund for corporations. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said the draft package significantly cut back our hospitals, our cities, our states, our medical workers and so many others needed in this crisis. While the congressional leaders worked to send help, alarms were being sounded from coast to coast about the wave of coronavirus cases about to crash onto the nation's health system. Even as coronavirus testing expands, social distancing critical in Louisiana, official says The volume of coronavirus testing in Louisiana is expanding rapidly as commercial labs ramp up capacity and hospitals begin processing tests a New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio had dire, urgent news from the pandemics U.S. epicenter: April and May are going to be a lot worse, he said on NBCs Meet the Press. De Blasio all but begged Washington to help procure ventilators and other medical supplies. He accused the president of not lifting a finger to help. Trump urged Congress to get a deal done and, during the Sunday briefing, responded to criticism that his administration was sluggish to act. He cited his cooperation with the three states hardest hit New York, Washington and California and invoked a measure to give governors flexibility in calling up the national guard under their control, while the federal government covers the bill. But even as Trump stressed federal-local partnerships, some governors, including Republican Greg Abbott of Texas, expressed unhappiness with Washington's response. The president himself took a swipe hours earlier at Gov. J. B. Pritzker, D-Ill., saying that he and a very small group of certain other Governors, together with Fake News" should not be blaming the Federal Government for their own shortcomings." This came as the first senator, Republican Rand Paul of Kentucky, announced he tested positive for the coronavirus. Paul, who is a doctor and close ally of the president, said in a tweet he was not showing symptoms and was in quarantine. Paul was seen at a GOP senators' lunch on Friday and swimming in the Senate gym pool on Sunday morning. His office said he left the Senate immediately after learning his diagnosis. A growing list of lawmakers have cycled in and out of isolation after exposure, and two members of the House have said they tested positive. Five senators were in self-quarantine Sunday evening. In recent days, Trump invoked the Defense Protection Act, a rarely used, decades-old authority that can be used to compel the private sector to manufacture needed medical supplies like masks and ventilators. Officials said Sunday that it would be used voluntarily and businesses would not be compelled to act. We are a country not based on nationalizing our business, said Trump, who has repeatedly railed against socialism overseas and among Democrats. Call a person over in Venezuela. Ask them, how did nationalization of their businesses work out? Not too well." Vaccine news in your inbox Once a week we'll update you on the progress of COVID-19 vaccinations. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The president tweeted Sunday that automakers General Motors and Tesla were given the go ahead to make ventilators and other products. But no automaker is anywhere close to making medical gear such as ventilators and remain months away, if not longer. Nor do the car companies need the presidents permission to move forward. Two days after he lashed out at a reporter who asked about his message to frightened Americans, Trump said, ``For those worried and afraid, please know as long as I am your president, you can feel confident that you have a leader who will always fight for you. But minutes later, when he learned that rival Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, was one of those in isolation, he declared "Romney's in isolation? Gee, thats too bad." Trump said he was not being sarcastic. He also, at one moment, incongruously complained about the lawsuits and scrutiny has faced in his short political career, saying I think it's very hard for rich people to run for office. +4 Coronavirus is stoking fear and anxiety. Here's what mental health experts say Anxiety might not be an actual symptom of coronavirus, but it's a common response to the uncertainty, feelings of isolation and disrupted dail The urgency to act is mounting, as jobless claims skyrocket, businesses shutter and the financial markets are set to re-open Monday eager for signs that Washington can soften the blow of the healthcare crisis and what experts say is a looming recession. Stock futures declined sharply as Trump spoke Sunday evening. Officials late Sunday put the price tag of the ballooning rescue package at nearly $2 trillion. That does not include additional measures being taken by the Federal Reserve to shore up the economy. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who was leading a third day of nonstop talks on Capitol Hill, said the plan was meant to prop up the nations weakened economy for the next 10 to 12 weeks. Mnuchin said workers and businesses will get assistance to help cover payrolls for the next 10 weeks; unemployment insurance; and a one-time bridge payment of about $3,000 for a family of four. Hospitals, he said, will get approximately $110 billion for the expected influx of sick patients. The treasury secretary said a significant part of the package will involve working with the Federal Reserve for up to $4 trillion of liquidity to support the economy with broad-based lending programs. But Democrats have pushed for add-ons, including food security aid, small business loans and other measures for workers saying the three months of unemployment insurance offered under the draft plan was not enough. They warned the draft plan's $500 billion for corporations does not put enough restraints on business, saying the ban on corporate stock buy-backs is weak and the limits on executive pay are only for two years. We're not here to create a slush fund for Donald Trump and his family, or a slush fund for the Treasury Department to be able to hand out to their friends, said Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren. We're here to help workers, we're here to help hospitals. The president, when pressed by a reporter, dodged a question as to whether his own business would seek federal funds. He also said, unlike his predecessors at times of national crisis, he would likely not call any past presidents for advice, saying I don't think I'm going to learn much. The details are coming from drafts of both bills circulating among lobbyists but not yet released to the public. They were obtained by The Associated Press. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover. ___ Bev Banks contributed. Associated Press writers Colleen Long, Hope Yen, Mary Clare Jalonick, Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Alan Fram and Padmananda Rama contributed to this report. ___ The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Pinecrest senior living center in Hickory is the site of Catawba Countys first COVID-19 case. On Monday morning, Karen, a Florida-based support center employee for the national company which owns Pinecrest, confirmed there was a case at the center but had no additional details. Pinecrest is a retirement community on 29th Avenue NE in Hickory. Catawba County Health Director Jennifer McCracken announced the countys first case on Friday but she did not name the center where the case was identified. She said the patient was being isolated in a local hospital. McCracken said the home has taken precautions to prevent spread of the disease. As of Friday morning, the county was investigating the case. The Record has reached out to the county for an update on the status of the investigation and will include more information when it becomes available. Volatile market, stock volatility Billionaire investor Warren Buffett was forthright when he said that the coronavirus and falling oil prices are the one-two punch causing markets to plunge. For Canadian investors, this is double-barreled attrition because the energy sector composes 16.4% of the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX). Berkshire Hathaway, Buffetts conglomerate, has holdings in Canadian oil sands king, Suncor Energy. He admits that its the first time in 89 years that hes witnessing a combination of two blows in rapid succession. The decline in crude oil prices in particular is a shock to Canadas economy. But the one-two punch should also impact profoundly on Warren Buffetts other TSX stock investment: Restaurant Brands International (TSX:QSR)(NYSE:QSR), or RBI. The company that owns Tim Hortons, Burger King, and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is facing tough times. Expect the business to plummet due to the coronavirus scare. Tough times ahead Warren Buffett maintains a junk food empire composed of several brands like Coca-Cola and Kraft Heinz in his investment portfolio. But in the restaurant industry, the holdings are in RBI only. Sales of restaurants and fast-food chains will decline dramatically as people stay indoors or do strict home quarantine. Many fast-food chains are opening only for takeout and delivery to prevent the spread of the virus. Customers can no longer eat inside restaurants. Theres also the worry that RBI will run out of buns, burger patties, chicken, or potatoes for fries. According to RBIs CEO Jose Cil, the company has a vast supply chain network, and its therefore unlikely to experience food supply shortages. But even more than the problem of inventory, the implementation of social distancing will rock the industry. Safety concerns The main concern is preventing the spread of the deadly virus. Quick-service restaurants like RBI need to be 110% sure about safety, no-contact delivery or drive-thru and pick up. Takeout, however, is equally hazardous because a worker or workers handling food preparation could be carriers of the virus. Story continues As the panic scenario plays out, the effect on restaurants, fast-food chains, and coffee shops will be devastating. The public around the world has been warned to avoid mass gatherings. The only thing owners can do right now is monitor the evolving health situation closely. Hopefully, there will still be takeout, delivery, and curb services. A new world The coronavirus outbreak is perpetuating a new world that businesses in the restaurant industry will be fighting for. Passing of infection is likely during pick-ups and door-to-deliveries. If operations scale down and stores start closing, scores of employees are in danger of losing their jobs. Warren Buffett said that the current panic brought about by the one-two punch isnt as bad as the financial crisis. He adds that markets react to news in a big way. However, lives are stake here. People should cooperate, follow safety directives, and stay home. Governments are mobilizing and implementing aggressive measures to defeat the novel coronavirus. Canadas borders are now closed to most foreign nationals. The lifting of this exceptional measure is until further notice. Keep safe, Canada. The post Coronavirus and Oil Price 1-2 Punch Is Terrible for Canada Investors appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada. More reading Fool contributor Christopher Liew has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Berkshire Hathaway (B shares). The Motley Fool recommends RESTAURANT BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC and recommends the following options: long January 2021 $200 calls on Berkshire Hathaway (B shares) and short January 2021 $200 puts on Berkshire Hathaway (B shares). The Motley Fools purpose is to help the world invest, better. Click here now for your free subscription to Take Stock, The Motley Fool Canadas free investing newsletter. Packed with stock ideas and investing advice, it is essential reading for anyone looking to build and grow their wealth in the years ahead. Motley Fool Canada 2020 The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), along with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), gave updates and new guidance after Missouri Gov. Mike Parsons March 21 announcement regarding COVID-19. One of the bigger education-related announcements made last week is that state testing will be foregone. According to DHSS, schools cannot resume classes before April 6. Schools will have the option to extend their closing beyond that date. Schools are also encouraged to continue preparing and serving food as they have since the closures began last week. DESE urged school districts to ensure they practice social distancing when staff members report to work. They ask for school leaders to evaluate which duties being performed are critical and then explore how those tasks could be performed remotely or virtually. On Thursday, Missouri Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven announced the cancellation of all statewide assessments for the remainder of this school year. Vandeven made the announcement by video on DESEs Facebook page. There is a time and a place for statewide required assessments and now is not the time, said Vandeven. Effective immediately, Missouri will be canceling statewide required assessments for this school year. These statewide assessments called the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) include grade-level, end-of-course (EOC) and alternate assessments. Grade-level testing consists of tests in third through eighth grades in English language arts and mathematics and science for grades five and eight. EOC tests are given for English I and II, Algebra I and II, Geometry, U.S. History, U.S. Government, Biology, and Personal Finance. These assessments are designed to see if students in the state are making academic progress by meeting the grade-level expectations. DESE supports you as you continue to focus on the health and well-being of your students, a statement on DESEs assessment page of their website announced. Find innovative ways to continue teaching and learning; and provide as much normalcy as possible for students, faculty and staff. U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos followed up with the announcement that the department will grant a waiver to any state that is unable to assess its students due to the ongoing national emergency, providing relief from federally-mandated testing requirements for this school year. She said, Students need to be focused on staying healthy and continuing to learn. Teachers need to be able to focus on remote learning and other adaptations. Neither students nor teachers need to be focused on high-stakes tests during this difficult time. Students are simply too unlikely to be able to perform their best in this environment. Our actions today provide turnkey flexibilities for state and local leaders to focus on the immediate needs of their students and educators without worrying about federal repercussions. DeVos said she has spoken with many area education leaders recently and she was inspired by their efforts to help their students continue to learn and grow. We're going to continue to provide every flexibility possible to help make that as simple as possible. Pam Clifton is a contributing writer for the Daily Journal. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here SOUTHWICK History teacher George Romeo had a routine. It started with being at Southwick Regional High School by 7:30 a.m. to prepare for his students. These days, he is sleeping in a little later and walking his dog five miles per day. All of us teachers have to be at school by 7:30 a.m., and we stay busy the whole day with meetings, contacting parents, teaching, he said. Theres a lot to do, and it goes by quickly. Now, Romeo spends a couple of hours each day checking the virtual high school work his students have submitted and posting new assignments. Many of his students, however, dont have access to the web or are special education students who need additional help that is no longer available. Its tricky, he said. No one knows how this will play out. Romeo and more than 70,000 other Massachusetts public school teachers are in the same boat while the caronavirus pandemic remains a threat. Schools across the state are closed until at least next month by order of the governor. Superintendent Jennifer Willard announced on March 13 that all Southwick schools would close for two weeks. Teachers learned on March 15 that the two-week closure was extended to three weeks through April 6. We intend to provide opportunities for continuous learning while our students are at home, Willard said in an online letter to families. The intent of these resources is for our students to exercise their minds while away from school so they are ready to resume new learning when they return. Romeo said the focus of the online lessons is enrichment and review and not new learning, but he is still faced with questions from students who dont understand. Its a little frustrating. I drop off the lessons and tell them what to do, but I get that some might not understand, and I cant help, Romeo said. Im hearing from kids, and Im telling them to just do the best they can. Romeo, who has taught at Southwick Regional High School for 24 years, concedes that his situation is much better than that of many of his colleagues who carry heavier workloads. Im in a better place than most, he said. I teach three classes, and one of them is an online course. The online teaching hasnt changed at all. Weve just extended the deadlines. Romeo said he misses his students and colleagues and the regular routine of his day, including gathering with friends. Im not seeing friends, the gym is closed, and theres nowhere to get a beer, he said. Every generation has had to sacrifice. Others were called to war. Weve been called to our living rooms. Related Content: As free agency wears on, Bill Belichick continues to make under-the-radar signings. A day after signing linebacker Brandon Copeland, the Patriots reached a deal with Cody Davis, according to his agent, Jordan Woy. A core special teamer for the Jaguars, Davis also played a bit of safety. He seems sure to slot in as Nate Ebners replacement. Now 30 years old, Davis has played more than 80% of his teams special teams snaps in four of the last five seasons. His 382 last season were the third most in the NFL. His time on defense was limited in Jacksonville, as he only played 78 snaps in two seasons there. Before landing with the Jaguars, Davis spent five seasons with the Rams. He was an undrafted free agent out of Texas Tech, and was also a contestant on The Price Is Right. Related content: New Canaan first responders are asking those who suspect there is a case of COVID-19 to call personal physicians unless the situation is an emergency. Seven New Canaan first responders were in quarantine after responding to a call involving a patient later diagnosed with COVID-19. Four firefighters, two emergency medical technicians and one paramedic are nearly through their two-week isolation. None have shown signs of the coronavirus. A third New Canaan resident has died from COVID-19, and there are eight residents who have tested positive, Emergency Management Director Michael Handler said Sunday night, March 22, 2020. The third victim is identified as a woman in her 80s who was living at home and died at Norwalk Hospital. A man in his 80s and 91-year-old William Pike have also died from the coronavirus. Both men were in the New Canaan Mens Club, which has canceled its weekly Friday meetings at St. Marks Episcopal Church until further notice. Statewide there have been eight deaths and 327 cases of the virus in Connecticut, according to Gov. Ned Lamont. I cant say weve transported a lot of patients, New Canaan EMS President Barbara Clayton said Friday, March 20, 2020. I can say weve transported enough to know we have COVID in our community. Drive-through testing by appointment only will be offered in New Canaan Monday from 1 to 4 p.m. Those who previously registered do not need to re-register, and those who were previously given March 27, 2020 appointments were to expect a call Monday morning, March 23, 2020, giving a Monday time slot, Handler said. Testing is also anticipated Tuesday, March 24, 2020, Handler added. Murphy Medical Associates tested 50 residents Friday at Saxe Middle School. As of Friday, March 20, 2020, some 300 residents had registered for testing. It will be several days before the results are known to patients. Because the town arranged Fridays testing, The Health Department will receive both positive and negative results. With tests administered elsewhere, the town is only notified of positive tests. It would be helpful for us to get both negative and positive results, Clayton said. Tests are given based on CDC guidelines, and require an appointment and a prescription. Appointments and required prescriptions for testing in New Canaan can be obtained by filling out three forms at coronatestct.com. Drive-through tests are also available by appointment and with a prescription from a personal physician at Norwalk and Stamford hospitals. Clayton said those who suspect there is a case of COVID-19 should call their personal physician for treatment rather than calling 911. New Canaan EMS Capt. Philip Sheibley said 911 operators are working with an updated protocol to do a first screening of potential COVID-19 risk factors on a call, then alerting EMS and police so they know if special protocol is required at the scene. Crews are donning full isolation gear for any call on which COVID-19 is suspected, Clayton said. That equipment can consist of a mask, eye protection, gloves, and a hospital-type isolation gown, Sheibley said. Crews will apply a surgical mask to the patient, which reduces the chance of transmission for those near the patient he added. Police on such calls will have access to the same equipment, carried on ambulances. After each call ambulances are cleaned. Police, often the first to arrive at a medical call, also need to be protected. We have a variety of personal protective equipment items (gloves, masks, hand sanitizer, etc.), which our officers use to protect themselves, New Canaan Police Chief Leon Krolikowski said. We are working closely with NCVAC and our Health Department to ensure our officers are protected as we maintain our usual high level of service to the New Canaan community, Krolikowski added. Director of Emergency Management Michael Handler, who previously was captain of what was then called the New Canaan Volunteer Ambulance Corps, said Monday that police are the first to respond at a medical emergency, with backup from the Fire Department if police cannot respond, then EMS. The change now, Handler said, is that police or firefighters do not enter the scene unless it is a life-threatening emergency. Our crews will lean toward the aggressive stance on use of protective gear, which is not meant to cause our patients concern, but rather to minimize the chances of having EMS staff required to self-isolate for 14 days, which will happen if we treat a COVID-19 positive patient without appropriate PPE, Sheibley said. Handler said responders are beginning to operate under the assumption that all patients could be carrying COVID-19, and are wearing protective equipment at all calls. That, he said, will further tax the supply of masks, gowns and other gear. The number of responders having contact with a patient will be minimized, Sheibley said, with care paid to patient safety. Handler said one member of the ambulance crew, in personal protective equipment, will enter and assess a scene, and put a surgical mask on the patient before anyone else enters. Caregivers at Waveny need masks and gloves, Waveny LifeCare Chairman Kathleen Corbet said. New Canaan closed its Town Hall as of Monday to limit contact among people. There are widespread demands among educators across Australia for the closure of schools to protect the safety of teachers and students amid the coronavirus pandemic. Teachers outrage is directed not only at the federal and state governments and education departments, but also the teacher unions, for their inaction and complicity with the effort to keep the schools open as a means of allowing the continued extraction of corporate profit ahead of a total lockdown (see: Australian state of Victoria shuts down school system, other states remain open). On March 18 the Committee for Public Education (CFPE) posted the statement, Close Australia Schools to stave off coronavirus! Form action committees of teachers and school staff! The CFPE has since received emails and comments from teachers in the public, Catholic, and independent education sector, explaining the situation in their schools. In a desperate effort to silence teachers, education departments and some school principals have warned teachers against speaking to the media. Reflecting the demands of the federal and state governments, some school administrations are using bullying tactics and threats of disciplinary action. As a result, these comments of teachers and education support staff must remain anonymous. A primary school teacher in Melbourne: This week our union sub-branch met to discuss the COVID-19 virus. Staff were concerned about the lack of discussion and support. Some staff seemed to be unaware of the magnitude of the situation, possibly because we have been told that it is business as usual at schools. We have had no support in addressing the well-being of our students, let alone ourselves. I arrived at school on Monday with no direction about how to speak about this to the students. I was feeling unsure, as so many developments had unfolded over the weekend. My young students arrived telling stories to try to understand itsome said they might have the virus, others said they could see it in the street. We had a discussion to support them, assure them that they are safe, that we can take steps to stay safe, including washing hands, etc. I felt the enormity of keeping these little kids safe and keeping them calm, while addressing their fears and trying to help them navigate the information they were sharing. Meanwhile, they were sneezing, coughing, touching, blowing in each others faces and just being kids. I was lucky to have some hand sanitiser in my room as a parent had donated it at the beginning of the year. Other classrooms have no soap and water or sanitisers. A staff meeting was called to discuss the provision of online learning if schools close. Website after website was shown, we were bombarded with access codes and instructions. More pressure on us. Meanwhile at that point there had been no discussion about the safety of staff, including the most vulnerable, including pregnant teachers. Several staff have now taken leave out of concerns for their health. The union has done nothing to support teachers. This is a matter of life and death, yet we are treated with disdain and deliberate neglect. A public school teacher in Sydney: There have been no union meetings at the school. Teachers in my faculty are very concerned and are texting each other hourly about developments with the government and the union. The attitude of the principal is that everything is under control. This is definitely not the caseschools are being left in chaos. While keeping the schools open, we are being asked, in our own time, to completely reorganise the way we teach. We are meant to be developing online and remote leaning skills. This is all while schools are still open. So, we have to teach the 30 percent who are at home plus the remainder who are at schoolthis is a major workload issue. I heard a report from an Australian now living in Italy who said that what was happening in Australia now was a rerun of what took place there two weeks ago: delay and a refusal to follow the advice of medical authorities, with the crisis not being taken seriously. Its becoming obvious that for the government and the unions, peoples lives are simply collateral damage. I fully agree with the CFPE call for Action Committees of teachers, support staff and parents, to firstly discuss measures to resolve this crisis, starting from the interests of workers and their families. This is absolutely urgent. An education support staff member at a Melbourne secondary school: At my school, there is a pervading sense that teachers and educational support staff have become cannon fodder for the coronavirus. The Australian governments refusal to provide the necessary social welfare, to enable parents to look after the children at home under lockdown, may end up being a death sentence for staff and students. I personally feel very susceptible due to the nature of my work ( integration disability services), and at risk of passing the disease on to my family. As a collective we feel deeply let down, not just by the government but also our alleged representatives in the union. They have shown themselves to be intent on following the government line and forcing us to remain open. They seem only to be concerned about protecting their own positions and image. If were forced to reopen after the school holidays then I feel the staff will have to go on strike in order to protect the lives of staff and students. A secondary teacher in a Melbourne Catholic school: At my school, students are fully aware of the incredible contradiction between the social distancing measures being announced by the governmentbanning inside gatherings of more than 100 people, the requirement of 4 square metres surrounding each person insideand the insistence that schools remain open. The VIEU (Victorian Independent Education Union) bureaucracy has acknowledged in its public statements that the measures of social distancing recommended for schools are totally unrealistic and cannot be implemented in a school setting. It also recognises the lack of necessary antiseptic hand wash. It even says in its statement that the health and well-being of its members is being put at risk due to the inadequacy of the preventative strategies. Yet they do not call for the closure of schools. The unions have stated: The rate of transmission in Australia is still extremely low, and current evidence suggests that children present a relatively low transmission risk. This may changeand we will change our position if we think the health of our broader membership is being put at risk In the meantime, we have a vital role to play, not as childminders, but as educators, carers, community leaders, and role models. In other words, teachers are being ordered to be role models by subordinating their own health and safety to the needs of the capitalist class. This is war-time propaganda. A teacher from a Sydney independent school: The situation at my school is very troubling. Our principal has made clear that we will not shut down until the government makes an order. School events, performances and parent-teacher interviews were cancelled, but classes are all proceeding. There has been no official staff meeting to discuss the dangers. Emails have been sent to staff directing us to implement social distancing, hand-washing procedures and general cleaning. Cleaners have been called in to do some extra cleaning, but teachers are expected to keep the areas they use clean. I am not aware of any cleaning material being provided. Members of staff have said they are worried about the lack of safety concerns for teachers, but the focus and pressure on us is to keep the business running so that the school can survive economically. But our lives, and the lives of our families, are at risk. For those teachers over 60 with pre-existing medical conditions who are even more at risk, nothing has been said. One of my friends raised they were unable to teach face-to-face, and provided a doctors certificate. The principal questioned the non-attendance at school saying, but youre not sick! Everything is being left to the individual teacher to fight these battles, and it can be quite intimidating when you are in a one-on-one situation with your principal. The IEU (Independent Education Union) admits they have been inundated with queries from anxious membersbut union officials have not been near the school. We should not be expected to work in these unsafe conditions, and students should not be expected to go to school either. Life before profitsclose the schools down! Teachers and school workers can contact the CFPE via: Email cfpe.aus@gmail.com Facebook https://www.facebook.com/commforpubliceducation/ Twitter https://twitter.com/CFPE_Australia Sydney neurologist Dr Kate Ahmad is among a group of leading Australian doctors to call for a full escalation of the country's lockdown to stem the coronavirus pandemic Some of Australia's leading medical experts have called for a full escalation of the country's lockdown to stop the spread of the coronavirus before it's too late. Prime Minister Scott Morrison ordered a series of draconian measures from midday on Monday including the closure of bars, cafes and restaurants. But as the national number of cases surged past 1,700 on Monday evening, top doctors from across Australia called on Mr Morrison to close schools and place the country into total lockdown. As part of a joint video message, Sydney neurologist Dr Kate Ahmad said she was 'terrified' the rapidly increasing case count could overwhelm the country's health system. The number of infections in Australia has more than doubled in the space of four days from 710 last Thursday to 1,716 on Monday. 'I am terrified the increasing number of cases are going to overwhelm our hospitals and we are going to have to make terrible triage decisions and we are not going to get the care we need,' Dr Ahmad said. Scroll down for video Prime Minister Scott Morrison addresses the media on the coronavirus pandemic on Sunday. Leading medical experts have called on the Australian government to close schools and extend Monday's partial lockdown 'I've been a doctor for 35 years and I'm scared,' associate professor David Allen added. Their comments were echoed by the Western Australian president of the Australian Medical Association Andrew Miller. 'I'm calling on the government to jump on the breaks. We want them to impose lockdown until we have this under control,' he said. The editor of the Medical Journal of Australia Nick Talley meanwhile said more had to be done by the government to stem the virus' spread. Front line health workers are also being put at risk by the lack of a shutdown, the chair of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists warned. 'All non-essential services should be shut down now, we ask governments of all persuasions to act now,' Dr Angelo Virgona said in the video uploaded on Sunday. 'The spread of this virus is going to lead to a catastrophe for health workers who are on the front line and we need to protect them.' The editor of the Medical Journal of Australia Nick Talley said more had to be done by the government on top of the new restrictions to stem the virus' spread Queensland will shut its borders from midnight on Wednesday to slow the spread of coronavirus after the Northern Territory, Western Australia, Tasmania and South Australia announced the same move. New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT still have open borders. Unemployed Australians forced out of a job by the new restrictions were lined outside Centrelink offices on Monday hoping to to lodge claims for unemployment benefits and emergency assistance. On Monday, the prime minister vowed to continue to support the most vulnerable as he warned that many more would likely lose their jobs as a result of the pandemic. 'The tests, hardships and sacrifices that will be placed on all of us, on our national character, will undoubtedly break our hearts on many occasions in the months ahead,' he said as he addressed parliament. CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement 'But we must resolve today, as Australians, to come together and to pledge to each other across our nation that this coronavirus will not break our Australian spirit. 'So, together, and with the rest of the world, we face this unprecedented challenge. A once in a hundred year event. 'A global health pandemic that has fast become an economic crisis, the likes of which we have not seen since the Great Depression.' In a bid to slow the spread of the deadly illness, pubs and licensed premises will be closed from midday Monday for about six months. The restrictions also cover places of worship, casinos, restaurants and cafes without takeaway services, nightclubs and registered clubs. As news broke of the looming closures, panicked shoppers headed in droves to liquor stores to stock up on alcohol, however, bottle shops will remain open. The stricter rules come after tens of thousands of people flocked beaches across the country on Friday and Saturday, ignoring the ban on mass gatherings and social distancing orders. Photo: Nan Palmero/Flickr Read on for the most recent top news you may have missed in San Antonio. Woman dies in San Antonio hospital due to coronavirus Read the full story on MySanAntonio. Family of homeless man shot in Alamo Plaza says victim suffers from mental illness Read the full story on Graham Media: KSAT 12 . South Side grocery store owner responds to price-gouging allegations Read the full story on Graham Media: KSAT 12 . Drive-in church service draws out hundreds Sunday morning Read the full story on Graham Media: KSAT 12 . San Antonio Zoo asks for donations, starts emergency fund Read the full story on San Antonio Zoo. This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. San Antonio has recorded its first death from the coronavirus, city officials said Sunday. The wife and sister of a homeless man who was shot three times in Alamo Plaza Saturday afternoon are speaking out against gun violence, while raising awareness for mental health. Thrift-T-Store has been serving customers on the city's south side for over 50 years. However, the store was faced with accusations of price gouging after customers noticed a change. Church members listened to their pastor's message on the radio to abide by the COVID-19 self-distancing regulations. Ritwika Mitra By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Sita, a homeless woman who lives in the streets of Delhi, learnt about the dos and donts regarding coronavirus when she dialled a number on her mobile phone. No government official or advisory has reached her, so far. Mobile company kuch kuch bolta hain (Mobile operators say something), Sita said as she segregated waste. Pointing to her infant son in a makeshift cradle, the 19 year-old said she is optimistic he would be safe from this dangerous virus. As the concepts of social distancing and handwashing gather momentum in the popular vocabulary, Sampati less than a metre away from Sita - wonders how would can people like her wash hands frequently. We drink, bathe and cook in the same water we get from the pipe. I am not educated. Dooniyan jo baatein karte hain wohi sunte hain (I come to know from what people passing on the streets discuss), said the 23-year-old. India has more than 1.7 million homeless residents, of which 938,384 live in urban areas. Advocacy group Housing and Land Rights Network estimates that the urban population of homeless can be extrapolated to be at least 3 million. According to the 2011 Census data, the density of population per sq. km. is 382 persons in India. Eviction threats, lack of access to basic amenities, and absence of government interventions continue to haunt the lives of people in informal settlements. How do we keep washing our hands with Dettol? The kids alert us when water comes in the near-by park every two days and we go and fill up our buckets, said Shiela at the Nehru Place MTNL informal settlement. We are scared too. But what can we do? We are living in cramped places in big numbers. There is no help. According to the 2011 Census, around 13.7 million households, or 17.4 per cent of urban households, live in informal settlements. Roughly, around 68 million people live in informal settlements in India. Housing and Land Rights Network executive director Shivani Chaudhry pointed out that the Census indicates that 69 per cent of Indian houses have only one or two rooms. A basic precautionary measure is to stay at home. But how do homeless stay at home? Moreover, it is almost impossible to practice social distancing in informal settlements and homeless clusters and shelters. The homeless living in high-density areas such as shelters and informal settlements are most at risk, she added. The state needs to prioritise access of all for basic services, including clean, sufficient water. On Wednesday, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing urged the governments to take extraordinary measures for securing the rights of housing in the wake of the pandemic. We need to talk about the liveability of neighbourhoods, and health is a very important part of it. This will help us build strategies for neighbourhoods that are at risk. For example, we know the resettlement colonies we studied in Mumbai have a pre-existing burden of TB, and hence, are at higher risk of coronavirus. These colonies will require special attention, said Namrata Kapoor of Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS). Sunil Kumar Aledia, the founder member of the Centre for Holistic Development, said immediate interventions were required as the homeless live in close proximity to each other inside shelter homes. Providing liquid soap near public toilets, supervisory visits of shelter homes are the way forward, he said. Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board member Bipin Rai said besides sensitising people on how they can safeguard themselves, the DUSIB would urge them to abide by the voluntary lockdown of shelter homes. Additionally, three shelter homes would be made ready for people with symptoms and doctors would visit them daily. The government will provide them with lunch and dinner. It will be decentralised. There will be some locations from where food will be distributed and at homes where they have kitchen space, NGOs would be asked to draw up facilities there, said Rai. Federation of Resident Doctors Association president Dr Shivaji Dev Burman called for reaching out to the people in informal settlements. Overcrowding and inadequate hygiene measures can lead to other infectious diseases, he said. Pedestrian crossings have been changed forever in Sydney to stop the spread of coronavirus. Pedestrian crossing buttons have been officially turned off and the traffic lights automated so pedestrians don't have to touch the buttons. 'The state government has set all lights in our CBD to cycle between traffic and pedestrian access automatically,' Sydney Mayor Clover Moore said on social media. 'If you need to be in the CBD, dont push the button just wait for the green signal then cross.' Pedestrian crossing signs in Sydney are no longer controlled by the public and will rotate automatically in a bid to stem the spread of the coronavirus A notice informing pedestrians of the change in Sydney's CBD. Lord mayor Clover Moore has warned Australians against all but essential travel in the city Sydney's lord mayor added the new procedure would be in place for the 'foreseeable future'. Ms Moore also called for Sydneysiders to stop all non-essential travel as the number of COVID-19 cases in Australia spiked dramatically overnight to 1,676 with seven deaths. It comes as Queensland announced it would shut its borders from midnight on Wednesday to slow the spread of coronavirus after the Northern Territory, Western Australia, Tasmania and South Australia announced the same move. New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT still have open borders. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the state cabinet's decision on Monday. Anyone entering Queensland will have to isolate for 14 days. Providers of essential services such as food and oil will likely be exempt. The number of COVID-19 cases in Australia spiked dramatically overnight to 1,676 On Monday afternoon, Health Minister Greg Hunt told Parliament that efforts are under way to double the number of intensive care beds and ventilators in the country amid fears hospitals will soon be overwhelmed. Australia currently has around 2,500 ICU beds, only enough to cover 0.01 per cent of the population at once. Mr Hunt said several Australian manufactures including medical company ResMed have offered to produce ventilators. He also revealed that one million masks are being distributed around the nation today - and there are 300million more on order. The Romanian authorities will take "even tougher measures the moment they become absolutely mandatory" to restrict the COVID-19 spread, President Klaus Iohannis said on Monday. "We are confronted with an unprecedented situation, in which the life of each citizen is up to firm decisions. I want each Romanian to understand we shall not stop and we will take even tougher measures the moment they become absolutely mandatory to restrict the spread of the virus," the head of state said.Iohannis pointed out that, together with PM Ludovic Orban and the ministers, he is constantly assessing the development of the infection spread."The restrictive measures so far have been taken gradually, depending on the stage in which we were from the point of view of the virus being transmitted inside the community. As a man who loves democracy, any restriction on the exercise of fundamental rights troubles me deeply. The generations that have had the most to suffer from the deprivations of a regime that suppressed our rights and freedoms for decades in a row probably understand best how difficult it is to take such measures today. It is not an easy decision, but it is necessary to protect the health of Romanians and their families," said Iohannis.The head of state also spoke of the aid to be given to those in need."Nonetheless, we shall equally continue to help all those affected by this crisis. The social and economic measures adopted recently will be added a new package, meant to solve the problems of even more categories of entrepreneurs and businessmen confronted with great difficulties," Klaus Iohannis said. AGERPRES Covid-19 continues to spread across Europe. On March 10, the European Council identified four priorities: limiting the spread of the virus, provision of medical equipment, promotion of research, and dealing with the socio-economic consequences. Limiting the spread of the virus is key. On St Patrick's Day, our Taoiseach addressed the nation and gave a clear message to the people: stay at home to save lives. The international experience tells us that an exponential increase is expected in the absence of drastic action. We are beginning to see the surge. Now, on a daily basis, we see harrowing images of Italian healthcare workers attempting to cope with increasing numbers of patients. These patients are rapidly succumbing to severe pneumonia and other life-threatening complications. Our Italian colleagues, like those in Wuhan, have urged us to act quickly and shut down all non-essential services. Our own intensivists are pleading with the public not to become one of these patients by staying apart, staying in, staying at home. Healthcare workers are becoming increasingly concerned about numbers of cases, staffing, vital equipment and protective gear. Medical experts agree that testing needs to be expanded, particularly to include those who are contacts of confirmed cases, not just those who are showing symptoms. This is because of the possibility of asymptomatic transmission of the virus. Testing also needs to be available for frontline healthcare workers who are exposed. More than ever now they need to be protected. Supply chains (of medical equipment) will be under strain despite our best efforts. Everyone is working to ensure that we are as prepared as we can be, but it may not be enough. In Ireland many retail outlets and small businesses are already acting, closing for health and economic reasons. Financial packages and supports will surely help with these brave decisions. There has been a phenomenal public response to this effort in terms of engagement with social distancing, social isolation for high risk groups, and community support for the vulnerable. It is heartening to see the incredible response to the HSE 'Be on call for Ireland' campaign. We are a hugely connected and compassionate nation. But it is not enough and more is required. Countries and regions which have managed to curb the spread of the transmission are those which introduced early stringent measures. Taiwan and Singapore have experience of the Sars epidemic and were prepared for Covid-19. Because of the Sars outbreak, Singapore had a strong disease surveillance policy and fastidious contact tracing. Key to their success was early aggressive action. Travel restrictions were introduced (despite contrary recommendation by WHO), a policy of rigorous detection and quarantine was imposed and school, work and public communication policies drawn up. China imposed strict containment measures in Wuhan on January 23, the largest known quarantine in history. On March 18, they reported no new local infections. In Europe, Denmark was one of the first countries to close its borders, among other measures. Other countries with emerging epidemics, such as Italy, France and Spain, have closed all non-essential businesses and imposed public transport restrictions while keeping food suppliers and pharmacies operational. The Department of Foreign Affairs now advises against all non-essential overseas travel until March 29, and those returning home are advised to restrict their movements for a period of 14 days. Exemptions are in place for essential services. Border closures restrict the transport of key items such as food, equipment and medical supplies and cannot be implemented without greater cost to the health and economy of the population. However, non-essential travel should be defined and limited. Quarantine imposition or testing those returning from epidemic areas should be mandatory. We need to introduce more stringent measures, and now. This is required to slow down the spread of disease and protect our frontline staff. We need time to organise and equip our hospitals and healthcare workers, and time to increase our testing facilities. What we did last week, and do this week, will dictate what happens next. The only way to reduce the exponential rise in the number infected during this epidemic is to isolate, contact trace and test as many as possible. We need to do as other countries have done, lock down, to buy time. What would this look like? More stringent measures would require that, for a period of time, non-essential work would also cease, with work from home mandated. Many factories and businesses would close. Travel restrictions would apply and public transport be minimised. Again for a limited period of time only. In this crisis, no country has regretted action, rather they've regretted delay. Procrastination in the hope that we will not require "the authoritarian response" of other countries ignores the most recent experience in northern Italy and Wuhan. The surge has begun. There is no time for half measures. This is our best shot. Dr Carmen Regan MD, FRCPI, FRCOG, is an obstetrician at the Coombe Hospital, Dublin (Alliance News) - The UK's Financial Reporting Council on Monday said it supports the request made by fellow regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority, for all London-listed companies to postpone the release of their annual results for at least two weeks amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The FRC said the basis on which companies are reporting and planning is changing rapidly due to the virus spread. At least 341,000 people have contracted the novel coronavirus around the world and over 14,700 have died, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. In the UK, confirmed cases have totalled 5,683, with 281 deaths. Financial markets around the globe have recorded huge losses and swings due to the virus pandemic. Stock prices in London opened firmly in the red on Monday as fears of a global economic meltdown from the coronavirus mounted, prompting company after company to stop shareholder returns and apply the brakes to spending. The FTSE 100 index was down 4.2% at midday. "It is important that due consideration is given by companies to these events in preparing all reporting. The FRC therefore encourages listed companies and their auditors to consider carefully whether they should delay other corporate reports for the next two weeks, such as interim financial statements and final audited financial statements, except where necessary to meet a legal or regulatory requirement," the corporate governance regulator said. The FRC is in talks with the FCA and the Bank of England's Prudential Regulation Authority regarding a package of measures aimed at ensuring companies and their auditors take the necessary time to prepare appropriate disclosures and address current practical challenges and the three bodies intend to announce details shortly. The FCA, which regulates the financial services industry in the UK, at the weekend had made the request to companies due to produce preliminary financial statements in the next few days to delay publication. The watchdog had urged all listed companies to observe a moratorium on the publication of preliminary financial statements for at least two weeks. A number of companies on Monday said they will delay their results following the regulatory requests. Among these were home improvement products retailer Kingfisher PLC, greeting card retailer Card Factory PLC, and soft-drinks maker AG Barr PLC. Others include: -Tonic water maker Fevertree Drinks PLC delayed the release of its 2019 results, which were had been slated for Tuesday. The company said it has made a solid start to 2020, with trading in the first two months in line with the board's expectations, with the US in particular seeing strong trading. It says it is too early to quantify Covid-19's impact on 2020. Fevertree noted it is debt free and has GBP128 million in cash. Shares were down 3.0% on Monday. - Oil & gas producer RockRose Energy PLC also delayed 2019 results, planned for Thursday. The company will issue a revised results announcement date following FCA's guidance, it said. Shares were down 15%. - Financial services company CPPGroup PLC delayed the release of its 2019 results, pending further advice. Shares were down 14%. - Consumer healthcare firm Integrated Diagnostics Holdings PLC delayed 2019 results, previously slated for Thursday. It said it has not seen any disruption to its core operations in Egypt due to the virus spread. It has not suffered any interruption of testing kit supply and currently has a stock of three months of kits for its most-used test types. The company's business in Jordan is currently carrying out reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction tests for the novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19. IDH enjoys a solid liquidity position, it said with a cash balance of EGP706 million, around GBP39 million, as of end of February. Shares were down 6.1%. - SDX Energy PLC, a Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan-focused oil and gas company, has delayed the release of its 2019 results but will release them as soon as possible. Shares were down 3.8%. - Information management software company Idox PLC delayed the publication of its results for the financial year ended October 31, 2019. These were earlier scheduled for Tuesday. The company's financial 2019 results remain in line with the board's expectations. Shares were down 4.9%. - Housing and social care provider Mears Group PLC delayed its 2019 results that were scheduled for release on Tuesday. The company said it remains confident of reporting 2019 results in line with current market expectations and its January guidance. Shares were down 1.7%. - Oil rig construction firm Lamprell PLC has agreed to follow the FCA's request and defer the release of its 2019 results, which will not now be issued this week as planned. The company plans to issue a new results date in due course following FCA's further guidance, it said. Shares were down 8.5%. - Financial services company STM Group PLC has decided to adhere to FCA's request to delay the release of its 2019 results, initially scheduled for Tuesday. STM said it expects to report 2019 revenue of GBP23.0 million, reported pretax profit of GBP3.8 million, and underlying pretax profit of GBP2.5 million. Shares were down 4.8%. -Gulf Keystone Petroleum PLC will delay the publication of its 2019 results, which were scheduled to be released on Thursday, to a date that will be determined as soon as possible. Gulf Keystone will provide an update on its operations on Tuesday. Shares were down 8.9%. By Tapan Panchal; tapanpanchal@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. As the toll of coronavirus deaths neared 400 and New York city emerged as the new epicentre of the outbreak and a third US lawmaker tested positive for the virus, President Donald Trump ramped up assistance to the three states hit the hardest, New York, California and Washington. Adding to the urgency of the crisis facing many American businesses large and small and individuals and families, US congress failed to agree on a massive $1.8 trillion federal relief and stimulus package Sunday. Negotiations continue however as both sides are keen to find common ground. At least 390 people have died of the coronavirus so far and more than 31,000 people have tested positive including Rand Paul, a Republican senator and a close ally of President Trump, who is now the third American lawmaker infected. Two of his colleagues self-quarantined shortly after. Calling Paul a great friend, President Trump said at the daily White House briefing the virus is getting quite close to home, and its a terrible thing thats going on. New York City, which had been the presidents home for many decades until recently and continues to host the headquarters of his business operations, now accounts for roughly 5% of the cases worldwide. Mayor Bill de Blasio is calling his city the epicentre of the outbreak, with a third of all US cases and two-thirds of all New York state cases. New York is a ghost town compared to the bustling city most residents and visitors have known it for long. All non-essential workers are staying home on orders of the local authorities, shutting down nearly every part and aspect of the city. New York state, California and Washington have been declared as disaster areas enabling greater federal assistance and President Trump said Sunday extra supplies of masks, gowns and respirators are being rushed to them to help them deal with a a crisis that they fear will overwhelm them. Mayor de Blasio first put his city at the center of the global health crisis last Friday as he urged federal government for help citing depleting local resources. I hate to say this, but its true: We are now the epicenter of this crisis, he had said then, with only 5,000 confirmed cases then. There are 16,887 cases now. Nobody walks outside these days, shops are all closed and only the delivery guy is outside, said a visitor from India who asked not to identified. Its impossible to know the eventual repercussions of the three leaders actions, given the uncertainty about the pandemics length and ultimate effects. Like many other state and city leaders, all three have been more proactive and factual than President Trump, who ignored warnings from intelligence agencies, played down the threat for weeks and has repeatedly spouted misinformation about it. In the latest episode of The Short Squeeze Lucy Battersby from The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald talks with IG Markets analyst Kyle Rodda about how the Reserve Bank is trying to support Australia's economy through the coronavirus crisis. They also ask whether anyone can benefit from the crisis, how a higher oil price could help, why do humans always act like they do in a crisis? FILE PHOTO: Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi speaks during a meeting with the Economic Club of New York in New York City By Supantha Mukherjee and Tina Bellon (Reuters) - Uber Technologies Inc's chief executive on Monday called on U.S. President Donald Trump to include independent drivers and delivery workers in the country's planned $1 trillion coronavirus stimulus package and urged U.S. lawmakers to change labor laws in the long term. Lawmakers in Washington are discussing a deal to pump more than $1 trillion into the economy to limit the economic damage caused by the coronavirus health crisis, in addition to the hundreds of billions of dollars in fiscal and monetary stimulus that has already been deployed to prop up the world's largest economy. The Trump administration is also considering https://in.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-usa/trump-presses-for-1-trillion-stimulus-as-u-s-coronavirus-deaths-cross-100-idINKBN2142EP a plan to send checks to individual Americans and families to help them weather the crisis, although details of the proposal remained to be worked out by Congress. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi in a letter to the president said the rights of so-called gig workers, who are currently not included in the federal aid proposal, had to be strengthened. He also called on lawmakers from both parties to pass new laws that would allow independent contractors to be provided with more benefits without classifying them employees. "My goal in writing to you is not to ask for a bailout for Uber, but rather for support for independent workers and, once we move past the immediate crisis, the opportunity to legally provide them with a real safety net going forward," Khosrowshahi said in the letter https://twitter.com/dkhos/status/1242080166731337729. The status of Uber's drivers and delivery workers as independent contractors is crucial to the company's business model, as Uber is not required to pay for health insurance and other employee benefits. As contractors, Uber drivers are generally also not entitled to workers' compensation and unemployment insurance. Story continues California, the most populous U.S. state, in January implemented a law that makes it harder for gig economy companies to classify their workers as contractors. Uber and other companies, including smaller rival Lyft Inc and food delivery companies, oppose the law, saying their workers cherished the flexibility that comes with on-demand work. Uber, Lyft and Doordash have earmarked $90 million for a planned November 2020 ballot initiative that would exempt them from the California law. Khosrowshahi in his Monday letter called on the federal government and state governors to update labor laws, establishing what he called a "third way" that would grant gig economy workers more protections and benefits without classifying them employees. (Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee in Bengaluru, Tina Bellon in New York; Editing by Bill Berkrot) Longtime Eastern Iowa newsman Dean Borg, whose career took him from Iowa to Southeast Asia and Europe and included interviews with every president from John Kennedy to Barack Obama, has died. Borg, 81, a longtime Iowa Public Radio political correspondent and former host of Iowa PBS Iowa Press, died Sunday of complications caused by pancreatic cancer. Borg, a Forest City native, whose professional career started at WMT in Cedar Rapids, was known by media colleagues for his civility as much as his tenacity. Dean was a mentor that shared more than a half-century of journalism experience with his colleagues and our viewers, said Iowa PBS senior producer Andrew Batt, who worked with Borg on the long-running Iowa Press program. He believed Iowa Press and public affairs journalism was a public service, and Dean strived for truth and in-depth information in an era of partisan political coverage. His calm demeanor and professionalism leaves a void for all of us. Gov. Kim Reynolds referred to Borg as an icon who will be remembered for his curiosity and fairness of an inquiring journalist and his unwavering pride in both his state and Forest City roots. Borg appeared on the inaugural Iowa Press broadcast in 1971 and, until his retirement in January 2017, hosted the statewide program. STORMS, BROKEN LEG Borg was so committed to the show that he often battled snowstorms to make the trip from his Mount Vernon home to the Iowa PBS studio in Johnston to host the show. He once showed up still wearing a hospital wristband after being treated for a broken leg earlier in the day. I always admired Deans work ethic arrived early, stayed late, said David Yepsen, a former Des Moines Register political reporter and columnist who succeeded Borg as Iowa Press moderator. He always remembered the viewer was king: If we got into too much jargon or insider stuff, he would ask the guest to explain things. And Radio Iowa news director O. Kay Henderson, a member of the Iowa Press panel of reporters, remembers Borg as in two parts personal and professional. Theres the personal part a true gentleman, a good friend and a devoted family man, Henderson said. Then, theres the professional part the tenacious, determined journalist, and I think that explains his popularity with the Iowa Press audience. I think they could see and sense all of that. Borg graduated from Iowa State University as the Outstanding Broadcast Journalist in 1959 and later earned a masters degree in public administration from the University of Iowa. He reported from Little Rock, Ark., where forced school integrations was taking place in the 1950s. In the 1960s, he reported on economic challenges faced by Midwest farmers. He produced news and public affairs coverage from South Vietnam and Southeast Asia, as well as Europe. He also produced news and health programming for the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and hosted nationwide television public affairs programs on military affairs topics for NBC. In addition to his work for Iowa PBS, from 2000 until his passing, Borg reported for Iowa Public Radio. His award-winning work often was carried nationally by other broadcast networks, including PBS and NPR. Iowa Public Radio has lost a treasured and respected colleague, and Iowans have lost one of the best reporters the state has ever seen, said IPR Executive Director Myrna Johnson. Borg gave us context and reporting that helped us understand our world always with a steady hand and complete integrity. MEMORIALS Borg is survived by his wife, Sheila, of Mount Vernon, four sons and a daughter. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the family will hold private funeral services. A memorial service may be scheduled later in the year. Memorials are preferred to the Mount Vernon Schools Foundation. Donations to the Iowa PBS Foundation will help fund an annual internship. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 2 Angry 2 Home and Away star Ada Nicodemou, 42, began dating millionaire Adam Rigby, 50, in 2016, months after she split from husband of nine years, Chrys Xipolitas. And in Monday's Woman's Day magazine, it's been claimed that the pair have 'quietly split'. It comes after Adam was slapped with an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) in January, after an alleged incident with Chrys on Christmas Day. 'It's been stressful': Ada Nicodemou (left), 42, and boyfriend Adam Rigby (right), 50, have 'quietly split', according to Monday's Woman's Day magazine, after the millionaire was slapped with an AVO following an alleged incident with her ex-husband Sources close to Woman's Day have claimed that the stress from the alleged AVO took its toll on the couple, resulting in their 'split'. 'Of course it's been stressful for Ada and Adam, she can't help but feel guilty Adam has been dragged into her messy personal life,' they said. Ada, who would often share loved-up photos with Adam to Instagram, hasn't posted a picture of the couple since February 15. Claims: 'She can't help but feel guilty Adam has been dragged into her messy personal life': Sources close to Woman's Day have claimed that the stress from the alleged AVO took its toll on the couple, resulting in their 'split'. Pictured: Adam and Ada Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Ada's management for comment. Back in January, Woman's Day reported that Adam and Chrys had been involved in an alleged dispute on the doorstep of Ada's home on Christmas Day. The exact reason for their argument is unknown. Dispute: Woman's Day reported in January that Adam (left) and Chrys had been involved in an alleged dispute on the doorstep of Ada's home on Christmas Day Adam attended an AVO hearing at Sutherland Local Court in January, after NSW Police took out a temporary AVO on behalf of Chrys. A NSW Police spokesperson said: 'On Wednesday 8 January 2020 at Sutherland Local Court, a 50-year-old man [Adam] was served with a provisional Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) following an application by NSW Police.' The AVO reportedly forbids Adam to destroy or damage property that belongs to Chrys. Breaking the AVO terms could result in imprisonment for up to two years and a maximum fine of $5,500. Exes: Ada and Chrys, who split in 2016 after nine years of marriage, are pictured in June 2006 Family: The former couple share custody of a seven-year-old son, Johnas Xipolitas (pictured) Ada and Chrys split in 2016 after nine years of marriage. They share custody of a seven-year-old son, Johnas Xipolitas. The couple also experienced the heartache of a stillborn child in 2014. Ada began dating Adam, whom she met at a work function, several months after her separation. Adam is the CEO and founder of Upside Realty, a fixed-fee real estate agency. Ada confessed to thinking Adam was 'The One' during an appearance on The Kyle and Jackie O Show in June last year. I'm really happy at the moment, everything's really good in my life,' Ada said. When radio host Kyle Sandilands asked the soap star if she believes Adam is 'The One', she responded: 'I think so, yeah.' President Donald Trump has revealed that a young woman who was 'horribly accosted' amid the coronavirus pandemic has been returned to the parents in the US in a secretive military operation. Trump refused to reveal the identity of the young American, saying only that 'bad things were happening to her in a certain country' after borders were shut down in a bid to stem the spread of the killer virus. The president announced the news at a White House press conference on Sunday after complaints emerged of US citizens being stranded in foreign countries. Critics include Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider, who criticized Trump on Friday after launching an appeal to get his 23-year-old daughter Cheyenne back home from Peru. President Trump refused to reveal the identity of the young American woman, saying only that 'bad things were happening to her in a certain country' after borders were shut down in a bid to stem the spread of the killer virus In the press conference Trump announced: 'We were able to get a young woman released from a certain area who was being horribly accosted, horribly treated.' He said that General Mark Milley, the highest-ranking officer in the US military, 'took care of it' and that he 'does not play games.' 'We went in and we got her out, but that was rough stuff,' he said. Trump refused to go into more detail, saying that it was being kept 'somewhat private.' He said: 'We got her out and she's OK, and she's back with her parents.' Trump said that General Mark Milley, the highest-ranking officer in the US military, 'took care of it' and that he 'does not play games' He thanked Milley 'and all the people involved and people who went in to get her.' The president also announced that efforts were being made to bring US citizens home who are stranded in Peru and Honduras, with the co-operation of the countries' governments. Some American citizens have been unable to return to the US as countries around the globe enforce measures such as travel restrictions in order to tackle the rapid spread of COVID-19. On Friday Rock star Snider shared a plea in a video posted on Facebook for assistance in bringing his daughter home and took the country of Peru, as well as the US government, to task for 'hanging people out to dry' as many countries shut their borders. There is no indication that Cheyenne was the woman rescued by the army, and Snider continued to draw attention to her plight on Sunday night. He tweeted: 'We thank @POTUS and his team for their efforts to get our citizens home around the world but please don't forget the ones stranded in the outer reaches of all these countries like my daughter and 26 others in Iquitos, Peru!' Stranded: Twisted Sister rocker Dee Snider begged for help to get his 23-year-old daughter back from Peru where she is stranded after the country closed its borders because of coronavirus, in a Facebook video on Friday Trapped: Cheyenne was traveling alone on a spiritual retreat in Peru and got stranded Five days before she was scheduled to return home Peru shut its borders due to the coronavirus A former contestant on Trump's Celebrity Apprentice, Snider previously called the president's response to the pandemic a 'mockery' and said he would rather vote for a 'baked potato' than cast his ballot for Trump in November. In a video he said: 'There are literally thousands of American citizens stuck in foreign countries under quarantine and not being allowed to return home. 'I know this because my daughter Shy, or Cheyenne, is one of over 800 stuck in Peru right now. The borders have been closed and there are no flights going out. They are not being let out.' Actress Kangana Ranaut paid tribute to Indian freedom fighters by singing a song written by Kaifi Azmi on the her birthday, that coincides with Shaheed Diwas on Monday. Thanking all her friends and fans who are constantly sending her birthday wishes, the actress said: "I am taking a moment to thank everyone for sending so much love on my birthday. But it is an important day in our history, as we know that three freedom fighters - Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were Martyr today; I would like to sing a song written by veteran poet Kaifi Azmi." And then she sang the song "Saans thamti gayi ab tumhare hawale wataan sathio". She added: "How it must have been when our freedom fighters gave their lives in the name of the nation." Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were hanged till death on March 23, 1931, by the British Government for the assassination of John Saunders, a British police officer in 1928 in Lahore jail. Kangana's sister Rangoli shared pictures that show the actress celebrating her birthday with her parents and family by performing puja. She wrote: "Kangana performing janamdin pooja and Kanya pooja, our parents organised, this is how they always celebrated our birthdays, navagrah pooja followed by worshipping Maa Durga in the form of little girls." Kangana's upcoming films include the J. Jayalalithaa biopic Thalaivi, the action drama Dhaakad, and Tejas where she plays an Air Force pilot. Follow @News18Movies for more DGAP-Ad-hoc: Airbus SE / Key word(s): Miscellaneous Airbus SE: Airbus announces measures to bolster liquidity and balance sheet in response to COVID-19 23-March-2020 / 06:30 CET/CEST Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Ad-hoc release, 23 March 2020 Airbus announces measures to bolster liquidity and balance sheet in response to COVID-19 - New 15 billion credit facility - Withdrawal of 2019 dividend proposal with cash value of 1.4 billion - Suspension of top up pension funding - 2020 guidance withdrawn - Strong focus on support to customers and delivery Airbus SE (stock exchange symbol: AIR) announces measures to bolster its liquidity and balance sheet in response to the COVID-19 pandemic as it continues to assess the ongoing situation and the impact on its business, customers, suppliers and the industry as a whole. "Our first priority is protecting people while supporting efforts globally to curb the spread of the coronavirus. We are also safeguarding our business to protect the future of Airbus and to ensure we can return to efficient operations once the situation recovers. We have withdrawn our 2020 guidance due to the volatility of the situation. At the same time, we are committed to securing the liquidity of the Company at all times through a prudent balance sheet policy. I am convinced that Airbus and the broader aerospace sector will overcome this critical period," said Airbus Chief Executive Officer Guillaume Faury. Reflecting the Company's prudent balance sheet policy and to ensure financial flexibility, Airbus' management has received approval from the Board of Directors to: secure a new credit facility amounting to 15 billion in addition to the existing 3 billion revolving credit facility; withdraw the 2019 dividend proposal of 1.80 per share with an overall cash value of approximately 1.4 billion; and suspend the voluntary top up in pension funding. Given the limited visibility due to the evolving COVID-19 situation, the 2020 guidance is withdrawn. Operational scenarios, including measures to minimise cash requirements, have been identified and will be activated depending on the further development of the pandemic. With these decisions, the Company has significant liquidity available to cope with additional cash requirements related to the coronavirus. Liquidity resources previously standing at approximately 20 billion, comprising around 12 billion in financial assets at hand and around 8 billion in undrawn credit lines, were further bolstered by converting an existing 5 billion credit line into a new facility amounting to 15 billion. Available liquidity now amounts to approximately 30 billion. By maintaining production, managing its resilient backlog, supporting its customers and securing financial flexibility for its operations, Airbus intends to secure business continuity for itself even in a protracted crisis. Safe and efficient air travel is a key backbone of global economic development and cultural exchange. Airbus therefore highly welcomes governmental efforts around the globe to stabilise this industry by supporting the financial health of its airline customers and its suppliers. Airbus continues to monitor the overall health of the industry. Airbus has convened its 2020 Annual General Meeting in Amsterdam on 16 April. Due to the global outbreak of COVID-19, Airbus discourages physical attendance and strongly encourages shareholders to vote by proxy in line with public health and safety measures. * * * Note to editors : Live Webcast of Analyst Conference call At 08:30 CET on 23 March 2020, you can listen to an analyst call related to this announcement with Chief Executive Officer Guillaume Faury and Chief Financial Officer Dominik Asam via the Airbus website. About Airbus Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. In 2019, it generated revenues of 70 billion and employed a workforce of around 135,000. Airbus offers the most comprehensive range of passenger airliners. Airbus is also a European leader providing tanker, combat, transport and mission aircraft, as well as one of the world's leading space companies. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions worldwide. Contacts for the media Guillaume Steuer guillaume.steuer@airbus.com +33 6 73 82 11 68 Rod Stone rod.stone@airbus.com +33 6 30 52 19 93 Stefan Schaffrath stefan.schaffrath@airbus.com +33 6 16 09 55 92 Martin Aguera martin.aguera@airbus.com +49 175 227 4369 India has an estimated 40,000 working ventilators, a number experts said will be inadequate in case there is a surge in Covid-19 infections that, in approximately 5% of the cases, sends patients to intensive care units (ICU) with acute breathing problems. The number of patients in India reported another sharp rise on Sunday, with 45 fresh infections taking the tally up to 360, raising the possibility that the outbreak is on a trajectory seen in other countries where the virus has become difficult to control. The number of fatalities in the country are now at 7. A similar trend has led to a surge in patients in some of the worst-hit countries, such as Italy and Iran, where health facilities have been overwhelmed with high volume of patients who need intensive care. Also Watch | Coronavirus: 80 districts across India under lockdown as cases cross 365 The coronavirus attacks peoples lungs, in some cases compromising their ability to breathe as they develop pneumonia. Ventilators, which deliver air to the lungs through a tube placed in the windpipe, are crucial to keep these patients alive. According to Dr Dhruva Chaudhry, the president of Indian Society of Critical Care, a rough tally of medical devices deployed across the country suggests active ventilators may be around 40,000 and are mostly deployed in government medical colleges and private hospitals in metros, state capitals and semi-metro towns. If there is an unreasonable surge, we will definitely have huge problem. We have 20% the number of ICUs South Korea has as a result of chronic underfunding. We need to expand testing, identify the infected sooner, and treat them effectively to delay their getting into a critical stage. Its the same strategy we followed for HIV and AIDS, said Sujatha Rao, former health secretary and director general, National AIDS Control Organisation, ministry of health and family welfare. South Korea has been widely held up as an example of a country that has successfully tackled the virus. Data from China shows around 15 % Covid-19 patients get sick enough to need hospitalisation and 5% require ventilator support in ICU. If these patients do not get the device, they are likely to die. High fatality rates in Italy and Iran are partly blamed on lack of access to ICUs. Nobody has enough ventilators, no one will be able to cope. We have 100 people on ventilators at any given time. Even cancelling elective surgeries in hospitals to free up ICU beds will not be enough because there is a huge shortfall, said Dr Yatin Mehta, chairman of critical care at Medanta. Dealing with a surge will be a challenge, so the strategy is to delay spikes in numbers so that fewer people get infected, which will lower the number of people needing critical care all at once. Thats why measures like janta curfew and social isolation are very effective in preventing transmission, said Dr Chaudhry, who is also the head of the department of pulmonary & critical care medicine, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS), Rohtak. India has banned exports of ventilators, cancelled elective surgeries to keep ICU beds on standby, and imposed a peoples curfew on Sunday to socially isolate people. It has also restricted travel in order to contain the outbreak. A top panel of scientists cleared on Saturday an industry proposal to ramp up production of ventilators in the country, according to government officials who asked not to be named. In 2019, government-run hospitals were the biggest procurers of ventilators, with the public sector HLL Lifecare Ltd placing an order for 1,286 units, and Maharashtra, Hyderabad and Telangana placing separate orders, including for cheaper ambulatory ventilators. After the Covid-19 outbreak, they have ordered for the acquisition of 1,200 units, said Lav Aggarwal, joint secretary, ministry of health, on Sunday. On average, a ventilator costs 8-10 lakh. Around 8,510 ventilators valued at 444.74 crore were bought by public and private hospitals in 2019, with imported equipment accounting for 64% by numbers and 75% by value of units, according to industry estimates. Training medical staff to use ventilators and ensuing there are enough skilled operators to run them 24x7 is a bigger challenge than procuring machines, some other experts said. Its a more complex issue than simply buying a machine. You need to train nurses and ensure continuum of care. If you factor in shifts, one unit of ventilators needs at least four nurses and five units need four resident doctors for round-the-clock care. Most government hospitals work at half the strength at any given time. A sudden increase will lead to Gorakhpur-like situation, where scores of children die because they cant get adequate care, said Dr Chaudhry, referring to the deaths of children in 2017 due to acute encephalitis syndrome. ICU units vary in sizes, depending on the size of the hospital. In India, there is one doctor for every 1,457 people -- lower than the World Health Organization recommended 1:1,000 ratio. People living in rural areas are completely dependent on government hospitals and clinics, with the doctor-patient ratio at 1:10,926. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sanchita Sharma Sanchita is the health & science editor of the Hindustan Times. She has been reporting and writing on public health policy, health and nutrition for close to two decades. She is an International Reporting Project fellow from Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at the Bloomberg School of Public Health and was part of the expert group that drafted the Press Council of Indias media guidelines on health reporting, including reporting on people living with HIV. ...view detail People's Liberation Army soldiers attend the opening ceremony of the joint training at a military training field in Cambodia's Kampot province, on March 15, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua] The Chinese military donated 15,000 sets of study, sport and medical materials to Cambodia on Saturday amid a joint training exercise, the Ministry of National Defense said. A ceremony was held on Saturday at a military training field in Cambodia's Kampot province in the presence of military personnel from both nations as well as local officials, medical workers and students, the ministry said in a statement published on its website on Sunday. Senior Colonel Zhang Tiren, an officer with the People's Liberation Army and head of the Chinese team, was quoted as saying that China and Cambodia were good neighbors and friends. He said the donation of humanitarian aid represented China's good will toward the Cambodian people and also symbolized the two militaries' determination to fight together against the novel coronavirus outbreak. The statement also quoted Cambodian officers as saying that their country was deeply grateful for China's help and that the materials were urgently needed to solve some of Cambodia's outstanding difficulties. Code-named "Golden Dragon-2020", the joint training kicked off on March 15 in Kampot and will conclude on April 1. More than 800 troops from the Chinese and Cambodian armed forces are involved in the training, which is the fourth of its kind between the two sides and focuses on joint counterterrorism operations. The training is expected to strengthen strategic mutual trust, cooperation and exchanges between the two armed forces and enhance their ability to jointly tackling international security threats, said defense ministry spokesman Senior Colonel Wu Qian. The majority of the 265-member Chinese team is from the PLA Ground Force's 75th Group Army and consists of several combat elements such as air assault, artillery and armored units. Weapons used by the Chinese troops include self-propelled howitzers and attack helicopters. Major General Pen Sokreth Vithyea from the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces told the Khmer Times that 2,746 soldiers, six helicopters, nine tanks, 12 armored personnel carriers and other heavy weapons from the Cambodian military are participating in the exercise. China and Cambodia started organizing the Golden Dragon joint training exercises in December 2016, when the first was held in Cambodia's Kampong Speu province. General Vong Pisen, commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, said at the training's opening ceremony on March 15 that such occasions create opportunities for mutual learning, experience sharing and personnel training and contribute to the improvement of joint responses to challenges. SPRINGFIELD As the state saw the largest single-day jump in confirmed COVID-19 cases and an infant tested positive for the virus, Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Sunday called for volunteerism from healthy Illinoisans and increased blood donations. State health officials announced 296 new confirmed cases, bringing the total to 1,049, and three new deaths, bringing the total to nine. A total of 8,374 people have been tested in the state, according to coronavirus.illinois.gov, which has a database of information related to the virus and the states response. The number of affected individuals range from the infant to age 99. Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, said experts are still learning about this new, novel virus, and information and guidance is rapidly evolving. At this time, it is still unknown if a pregnant woman with COVID-19 can pass the virus to her fetus during pregnancy or delivery, Ezike said at a daily COVID-19 briefing in Chicago. According to the (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), no infants born thus far to mothers with COVID-19 have tested positive for the virus. In these cases, which of course are still a few in number, the virus was not found in samples of amniotic fluid, nor breast milk. Ezike said experts still need more information on the virus and a recent increase in testing is helping to provide it as the state works with hospitals to increase the number of people tested. She also said the number of cases and deaths will continue to increase in the near future. The three new deaths are a Cook County man in his 80s, a Chicago man in his 80s and a McLean County woman in her 70s. The virus has now confirmed in at least 30 of the states 102 counties, as Jo Daviess, Livingston, Rock Island and Stephenson counties are now reporting cases. Experts, however, have urged that Illinoisans should act like the virus is already in their communities as lack of testing means it has probably spread far beyond the reported cases. As the state reported the biggest single-day spike in confirmed cases, the governor directed potential volunteers to serve.illinois.gov, where those looking to help will be matched with service organizations that are in need of volunteers. This is an opportunity for healthy college students looking for something to do, or individuals who arent able to work from home, an opportunity for people who are healthy and looking to help, Pritzker said at the briefing. He said the Serve Illinois Commission is providing CDC guidance to service organizations across the state. This includes daily health surveys and temperature checks for volunteers and staff, disinfecting surfaces at shift changes, and limiting volunteer groups to no more than 10 people at a time, all with proper social distancing parameters. He also called for blood donations as blood drives across the state are canceled, and noted there is no evidence that respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19 can be spread through the blood stream. He also emphasized that donating blood does not weaken ones immune system. A blood shortage would only worsen the health care crisis that were facing right now. So we need your help, he said. He also called for donations of personal protective equipment, or PPE. His administration can be contacted on the matter via email at PPE.donations@illinois.gov. Jenne Myers, CEO of the Chicago Cares charity, said there is still a great need for volunteerism. We build community, we share resources, we strive to build a more vibrant and equitable Illinois, she said of volunteers and volunteer organizations. And for many of us, the COVID-19 pandemic is challenging this call to action. Im here to tell you, though, that theres still a great need for volunteers throughout the state to help our most vulnerable neighbors. She said potential volunteers should reach out to neighborhood organizations or the Serve Illinois website, and she noted food pantries, shelters and related organizations need volunteers. She also urged people to check on neighbors and go shopping for those who cannot leave the house. Celena Roldan, CEO of the American Red Cross of Illinois, said every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. To date, more than 6,000 Red Cross blood drives have been canceled across the country, resulting in 200,000 fewer blood donations, she said, adding that 120 of those cancellations came in Illinois after the COVID-19 crisis started. One of the most important things that you can do to ensure that we do not have another health crisis is to give blood, she said. Appointments for giving blood can be made by calling 1-800-red-cross or by making an appointment at redcrossblood.org. Pritzker also addressed concerns over his Saturday call for retired health care professionals to rejoin the field. He said older retirees would be kept away from COVID-19 patients and would likely deal with patients in need of other care. Hospitals would make an effort to separate those with COVID-19 from the regular population, he said. For those who are older we certainly want people to take extra care we wouldnt want anybody who deems themselves to be at risk or falls into a high-risk category to come into the health care profession and be exposed to COVID-19, he said. He said the call is also for people who have recently left the health care field for other jobs to come back to the field. You may have gone into business or decided that you want to stay home and take care of a family, and you may now deem yourself available to serve, do some hours as a health care professional, so we invite you please to volunteer yourselves to come back in and help us out during this time of great need, he said. For health questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) New Delhi Mon, March 23, 2020 16:08 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206cdcfa0 2 Lifestyle Corona,coronavirus,COVID-19,India Free A clothing store named "Corona" in a small town in India has become a hotspot for selfies as the deadly new coronavirus pandemic sweeps the world. The shop owner, who gave his name as Pareed, said people were flocking to his store in the southern state of Kerala, many take photos in front of the outdoor sign and ask him questions about the name. "When I started the store 27 years ago, there was no internet," said Pareed, who owns the store in the small town of Muvattupuzha. Locally the shop owner is known as "Corona Pareed." Read also: Semarang herbalists develop Jamu Corona to boost immune system "I really liked the word 'corona' when I saw it in the dictionary. It had a reference to the sun, among other meanings," he told AFP. The 60-year-old said his new found fame however has not boosted sales. "Business in general is down since Kerala is quite strict about movement these days. So people are not exactly stepping out to shop for clothes," Pareed said. Kerala authorities have closed schools, postponed government events and called for residents to avoid large gatherings. Twenty-seven people have tested positive for the coronavirus in Kerala out of 151 cases across India, according to the national government. Photo: Contributed A wrecked pontoon boat that has been floating on Shuswap Lake since January will be sticking around for the foreseeable future. A property owner in the Eagle Bay area reached out to Castanet, voicing their concern over the potential environmental concerns this homemade boat could cause. "Half of the pontoon is on the water, the other half is in wreckage on land," says the resident. "Someone has came down and burnt a bunch of it recently, but it's still there. "I found some oil cans on the shore line too, so there may be more on the boat itself, which could pose some serious risk to the lake. I cleaned up a lot of insulation from it the other day, it's a real mess." The matter was brought to the attention of the Ministry of Environment, who passed it along to the Canadian Coast Guard's Environmental Response group. Since it was a potentially polluting vessel, it was their jurisdiction. The group carried out an investigation on January 7, and found little issue with the watercraft. "The houseboat in question had two small outboard engines and an unknown amount of gasoline onboard no visible pollution was present at that time," says Andrew Patrick, Public Affairs Officer for the Ministry of Environment. "The Canadian Coast Guard determined that the vessel posed minimal pollution risk at the time, and the file was passed onto the Vessels of Concern group within the agency." 03/23/2020 Photo (c) nito100 - Getty Images During an interview on NBCs Today show on Monday, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams warned that the coronavirus outbreak is poised to take a turn for the worse this week. "I want America to understand -- this week, it's going to get bad," Adams said. He echoed the advice of health officials nationwide in saying, "We really, really need everyone to stay at home. Nearly half of people polled recently by STAANCE said they are fearful of the virus, but just 17 percent said they think they will get it. Health officials, including Adams, are concerned that many Americans -- especially young people -- arent taking the threat of the virus seriously. Adams specifically called out people going to California beaches and looking at cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C. I think that there are a lot of people who are doing the right things, but ... we're finding out a lot of people think this can't happen to them, he said. Serious threat The number of coronavirus cases in the U.S. has risen dramatically in recent weeks. The latest figures from Johns Hopkins University place the number of infected people in the U.S. at more than 35,000. The virus has been reported in all 50 states, and at least 473 people have died. Americans are strongly urged to adhere to the guidance of staying at home and practicing social distancing when its necessary to leave the house. Symptoms of the virus could take as many as 14 days to surface, meaning individuals who go out could unwittingly be spreading the illness to others. Consumers are also advised to step up their hygiene practices in light of the discovery that the coronavirus can contaminate and live on certain surfaces for up to three days. Everyone needs to act as if they have the virus right now. So, test or no test, we need you to understand you could be spreading it to someone else. Or you could be getting it from someone else. Stay at home, Adams said. ASHLAND, Ore. With Oregon's students now stuck at home until at least April 28, schools are increasingly turning to online learning. The City of Ashland is now offering something that could help in this mission free access to its fiber network. The City announced on Monday that the Ashland Fiber Network and Ashland Home Net would offer free broadband internet service to all K-12 students, college students, and school staff. RELATED: SOU will go online-only for spring term after break ends The offer lasts until the end of the school year or the end of the school closures, whichever comes first. Students and staff can get cable modem service at 30 Mbps if they are not currently customers of the network and haven't been for the past 30 days. "During this time, activation fees will be waived, and a cable modem will be provided. Installation of service will be dependent upon installer availability," the City said. Anyone who accepts the offer will just have to return the modem within a 10-day grace period for no charge. "If interested in maintaining service beyond the remainder of the school year, just contact the AFN or AHN staff to convert to a permanent account with our standard pricing with no activation fee for internet service or cable modems for those wishing to continue service," the City said. Eligible Ashland residents can contact the Ashland Fiber Network at www.ashlandfiber.net/sign-up and (541) 552-2222, or Ashland Home Net at http://ashlandhome.net/contact.asp and (541) 488-9207. Mumbai: Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday (March 23) imposed curfew across the state to check the spread of coronavirus. Issuing a message to people of Maharashtra, through social media, Thackeray said the country, as well as the state, are going through a major crisis. The moment you see me on TV, you must be thinking that once again I have come to say something. "We have now come to the last stage in relation to the coronavirus. We have more or less serious situations like other countries. On the Prime Minister's call, we clapped, banged steel plates to salute the heroes who are fighting against coronavirus." Maharashtra CM said, "Essentials like groceries, milk, bakery, medical, etc will remain open. People need not panic. All religious places will remain closed. Only the priests and clerics alone will be inside and pray." adding "Today I am compelled to announce a statewide curfew. People were not listening and we are compelled." CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray addressing the State https://t.co/oSgBuNv9Ex CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) March 23, 2020 Even now, if we do not improve then we will think why did we we fail to take timely step. From today, mean of communication are being stopped in the state, besides closing all transport, the CM said. He also informed to have written a letter to the Prime Minister, in which, he had asked to put a ban transport at the international level. Earlier in the day, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has announced a "full curfew" in the state "with no relaxations" in a bid to combat the coronavirus pandemic. Prime Minister Modi has asked state governments to ensure rules of lockdown are followed properly and called on citizens to take the issue seriously. "Many people are still not taking the lockdown seriously. Please save yourself by doing this, save your family, follow the instructions seriously. I request the state governments to ensure the rules and laws are followed," he tweeted. Notably, the number of coronavirus positive patients in India today rose to 415, as per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Judging by Chinas experience, this first wave may take 10 weeks or more. Certainly the business leaders who are thinking about how to move on are right; someone should be planning for the reentry of workers into the economy. If our health-care systems survive the first wave and are properly supplied, and testing is widely available, then adjustments can be made to the social distancing regimen to help get people working again. Some careful thought should be given to how those who have recovered and show immunity can work without spreading infection to those who are still vulnerable. It will require a surge in medical supplies and testing; someone should be gearing up for that, even as others manage todays health crisis. Fashion giant H&M will redirect its suppliers to manufacture thousands of masks, gowns and gloves for doctors. It said it would use its 'purchasing opera- tions' and transport networks to deliver masks to hospitals 'as soon as possible'. The firm may also buy kit from existing mask manufacturers in its bid to help fight coronavirus. H&M will redirect its suppliers to manufacture thousands of masks, gowns and gloves for doctors and use its 'purchasing operations' and transport networks to deliver them Helena Helmersson, who took over as chief executive in January, said: 'We see this as a first step in our efforts to support in any way we can.' This week Louis Vuitton's parent LVMH ordered 40m masks from China for France, after switching its cosmetics factories to making hand sanitiser. Yesterday Brew Dog, a British craft beer company, delivered hand sanitiser made at its distilleries to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary's Intensive Care Unit. ROME, March 22 (Reuters) - The death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in the northern region of Lombardy, which has borne the brunt of Italy's contagion, has risen by around 360 in a day to more than 3,450, a source told Reuters on Sunday. The number of cases in the region, which includes Italy's financial capital Milan, has increased by around 2,590 to more than 28,370. However, a number of results were still awaiting confirmation and it was not clear if they would be added later. Sunday's figures represented an improvement on Saturday, when the death toll in the region rose by 546 and new cases increased by 3,251. The national death toll is due to be released later on Sunday. The tally stood at 4,825 on Saturday -- the highest in the world. (Reporting by Gavin Jones, writing by Giselda Vagnoni; Editing by Crispian Balmer) Several Bollywood stars including actor Sonam Kapoor, Richa Chadha, Nimrat Kaur have criticised the way people "celebrated" janata curfew on streets on Sunday, defying social distancing as advised by the central government during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Janata Curfew was an initiative by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which was meant to give a shout-out to people who have been providing medical and other essential services to fight the COVID-19 outbreak. The prime minister had urged people to come out to their doorsteps or balconies to express gratitude to those who have been providing essential services during this crisis. However, soon social media was flooded with videos of people out on the streets, celebrating by banging plates, dancing, taking out rallies in huge numbers and even playing 'Corona Garba.' Taking to Twitter, Nimrat criticised the manner in which people handled the situation. "The attitude behind the circus that's unfolded in so many parts of the country over 'celebrating' the end of #Covid19 is the exact reason why we should be so worried for India. Praying the price we pay for this utter embarrassment and horror isn't irreversible and drastic," "The Lunchbox" star said. Sharing a video of children dancing on the streets, Richa tweeted, "Stupid level max. This is the opposite of a #jantacurfew." Re-tweeting a thread of several videos of people celebrating on the streets, Sonam said, "Sharing because it's tragically hilarious."A day after Janata Curfew, the prime minister on Monday appealed to state governments to ensure that rules and regulations of the coronavirus lockdown are enforced as he noted that many people are not taking the measure seriously. "Many people are still not taking the lockdown seriously. Please save yourself, save your family, follow the instructions seriously. I request state governments to ensure rules and laws are followed," he said in a tweet in Hindi. Replying to PM's tweet, filmmaker Anubhav Sinha wrote, "Thank you sir. These people also need your scolding once." Filmmaker Karan Johar also underlined the importance of social distancing, by tweeting, "Stay apart or fall apart! Your choice! #IndiaFightsCorona" Actor Kritika Kamra tweeted that one must strictly stay at home as there is "nothing to celebrate". "Let's make sure we don't spread this to the elderly, vulnerable and underprivileged. And eventually, I really hope we come out of this as better people. We need to do better as a society. And vote for upliftment, inclusivity, equality," she tweeted. According to the Union Health Ministry, the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country rose to 415 on Monday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) IQALUIT, NUNAVUTMost travel into Nunavut is being prohibited by the territorys chief medical officer of health in an effort to keep COVID-19 out of the eastern Arctic. Dr. Michael Patterson says that starting Wednesday only Nunavut residents and critical care workers will be allowed into the territory. Any Nunavut resident returning home will have to undergo a 14-day period of self-isolation. Critical care workers will require written permission from Dr. Pattersons office. Post-secondary students studying outside the territory and their families must also isolate for 14 days in either Ottawa or Winnipeg before they will be chartered to their home communities. Nunavut remains the only federal jurisdiction in Canada with no confirmed cases of COVID-19. Gardai attached to the Special Detective Unit, have today arrested three males in a search operation targeting dissident republican groups and activity. Three (3) males, two in their forties and one in his fifties, were arrested today, Sunday, March 22 in the midlands area under the provisions of section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. The males are currently detained in Garda Stations in the Dublin Metropolitan Region. The Special Detective Unit were supported by the Emergency Response Unit and other National Units during the arrest operation. This remains a live operation and further searches are being carried out by the Special Detective Unit supported by Divisional Search team and the Garda Dog Unit. Deputy Commissioner Twomey, Policing and Security said: "This ongoing operation demonstrates An Garda Siochana determination to ensure the security of our state, in the midst of the ongoing critical COVID-19 situation. "All of An Garda Siochana's specialist units whose responsibility it is to protect the security of the state continued to be fully resourced and active keeping people safe at this time." During such challenging times, lets all remember that everyone has an unsuspected reserve of strength inside that emerges when life puts us to the test. Remember, we are better together, even when apart, Calverics statement continued. Fredericksburg City Public Schools superintendent Marci Catlett said in a message to families that the division would not be able to answer questions immediately, but would communicate further information as the Virginia Department of Education sends its guidance. To the students, we love you, Catlett said. Number one, have no fear. Know the facts, stay well informed and maintain an varied routine. Number two, follow the instructions of our highly competent health providers, city officials and your parents and number three, remember the 4Pspreparedness, positivity, productivity and patience help to eliminate panic. As a community, we will persevere. In a message to parents, Stafford County Superintendent Scott Kizner said teachers and staff are working to provide quality online instructional material for students that would not add to what is already a stressful situation for families. I realize you may be working at home with disrupted work schedules. The computers you have may be needed for your own telework purposes. Your children will continue learning, and we are working through a transitional program over the next few weeks that will not cause overload or unnecessary anxiety to you and your child, he said. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The novel coronavirus outbreak seems to have brought the dual nature of humanity to new levels of absurdity. And in India with its 1.3 billion-strong population, it seems the crisis has barely revealed its tip with a majority of the population still ignorant to the true extent of the problem. On Sunday, Indians across the country observed a 14-hour long "Janata Curfew" from 9 am in the morning in keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for self-isolation and social distancing. The call to action included coming to one's own balcony at 5 pm, a la Italy, and clapping or beating utensils together as a mark of respect for the frontline health workers and medical professionals who were working day and night to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and selflessly treating patients who are affected by it. Sunday morning saw desi social media swarming with posts about birds chirping and eery silences on empty streets as Indians across the nation stayed indoors to observe the curfew. Shops and public transport remained shut and people from various walks of life seemed to be practicing social distancing, Many even shares their inspiring lockdown diaries with the world. Very good! Step back and appreciate the finer aspects of life. #JantaCurfew https://t.co/Hfws6UqLYH Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 22, 2020 Union Minister Smriti Irani even indulged in a game of "Twitter Antakshari" to keep Indians busy and, more importantly, indoors. However, the evening saw many enthusiastic Indians take to the streets. Ironically, it was to support the BJP government's call to commemorate doctors. At 5 pm, many Indians who had so far remained indoors took to streets with pots and pans, drums and conches, and cheerfully celebrated the victories of doctors. One can only guess what exactly they were celebrating since the virus is still at large and spreading rapidly with experts claiming India has already entered the third phase of transmission of the virus. While attempts to flatten the curve that represents the virus's spread have begun, it seems many Indians continue to neither understand the severity of the situation or have a clue about what social distance or self-isolation even means. Sample some of these instances from across the country. People in Mysuru were seen beating drums and clapping together on a street. Mysureans express gratitude to those providing essential services amid #CoronavirusPandemic.#JantaCurfew pic.twitter.com/huJnpz3Gj2 Bangalore Mirror (@BangaloreMirror) March 22, 2020 Mumbiakars were also seen "celebrating" the "demise of coronavirus" as an angry netizen almost succinctly put. Bombay folks celebrating the demise of coronavirus by coming out on the street in groups pic.twitter.com/nNQ8uNb3Bt Ankur Bhardwaj (@Bhayankur) March 22, 2020 People in Jaipur also took to the streets to beat vessels. They brought children too. Thread Visuals from #Rajasthan Men, women , children come out on streets of Jaipur to support unsung heroes of our society In the backdrop of iconic hawa mahal chant slogans #CoronaBhagao #ThaliBajao #JantaCurfew #JantaCurfewChallenge#Covid_19india #CoronavirusPandemic pic.twitter.com/x7smbL17hD Tabeenah Anjum (@TabeenahAnjum) March 22, 2020 Similar scenes were seen in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. And Punjab. More Punjab. What a fantastic job we did today. pic.twitter.com/yD7slwSVqA Roflindian (@Roflindian) March 22, 2020 In fact, such videos poured in from a number of cities across India. The point of the Janata Curfew should have been to preach the importance of self-isolation and social distancing, which medical experts and epidemiologists across the world have agreed upon as effective means to slow down, if not completely stop, the transmission of the virus. However, many Indians seem neither aware nor concerned about the pandemic that has already killed over 13,000 people across the world in a span of just three months. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia tweeted one such video, captioning it, "These people are society's Corona. Before the treatment of Corona, this disease needs to be treated. Otherwise, the work of our health workers and doctors will be a waste." Indian billionaire entrepreneur Kiran Mazumdar show also tweeted yet another video of people taking to the streets and wrote, "This is not what the Prime Minister wanted". This is NOT what our PM @narendramodi ji wanted. Dont they understand what social distancing means? pic.twitter.com/XR0EFMXr7s Kiran Mazumdar Shaw (@kiranshaw) March 22, 2020 One of the biggest problems seems to be misinformation. With PM Modi announcing a 14-hour curfew on Friday, it seems many assumed the virus would only last for twelve hours. The call for clapping for five minutes during the curfew also convinced many that the virus could be killed by loud "vibrations". The volume of the misinformation, which was spread via social media and messaging platforms like WhatsApp was such that even the Press Information Bureau of India had to issue a clarification. NO ! The vibration generated by clapping together will NOT destroy #Coronavirus infection#PIBFactCheck: The #JantaCurfew clapping initiative at 5pm is to express gratitude towards the Emergency staff working selflessly to counter #coronavirusinindia #Covid19India pic.twitter.com/WHfK4guxys PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) March 22, 2020 Despite repeated advisories, it seems Indians at large remain unaware of what the COVID-19 virus is, how it spreads, and how important it is to arrest its rate of transmission. As per a recent survey conducted by Josh Talks, over 60 percent of the 45,000 Indians interviewed were of the belief that coronavirus would not affect India as it was a warmer country. It is true that the efforts of the Indian government in terms of making people more aware of the measure to take against coronavirus have spanned all mediums including messaging though traditional media channels as well newer, digital mediums such as social media. However, the incidents on Sunday may go some way in proving that the messaging on "Janata Curfew" has to change to solve what could potentially be the worst public health crisis the country (and the world) has ever faced: Beat your thali, in your home. This morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to tell Indians that lockdown needs to be taken seriously. ALBANY Oscar-winning movie producer Harvey Weinstein, now one of New York's most notorious prison inmates after being sentenced for sexual assault, has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, according to officials connected to the state prison system Weinstein, who turned 68 last Thursday, is being isolated at Wende Correctional Facility in Western New York, officials told CNHI Sunday. He is one of two Wende inmates who have tested positive, the officials said. Weinstein is serving a 23-year sentence for rape and sexual assault in a prosecution that attracted world-wide attention amid the #MeToo movement. Officials familiar with his situation said it is believed Weinstein was positive for the virus when he entered the state prison system last Wednesday from Rikers Island, a New York City jail. Weinstein was sent to Wende, where the prison system operates an intake center for new state inmates. Inmates are typically sent to other facilities from there after medical and security concerns are assessed. Weinstein was accepted by the prison system last week following his sentencing at a Manhattan courtroom. During his trial, he had been alternating his time between Rikers Island and a New York City hospital, where he was treated for high blood pressure and chest pains. Michael Powers, president of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA), said he could not comment on Weinstein's situation or elaborate on any inmate's health record due to privacy rules. Powers acknowledged the union has urged state corrections officials to immediately suspend all "non-essential" transfers of inmates from one state facility to another as well as the transporting of local jail prisoners to the state prisons during the ongoing health emergency. "There is no better breeding ground for this virus than a closed environment such as a correctional facility," said Powers. The producer of "Shakespeare in Love," a film for which Weinstein was awarded an Oscar, is in prison for raping an actress in 2013 and performing oral sex on a production assistant in 2006. The officials who said Weinstein has tested positive spoke on the condition of anonymity, noting they were not authorized by the corrections agency to publicly comment on the situation. State Assemblyman Billy Jones, D-Chateaugay, a retired corrections officer, said he has been pushing for strict new limitations on the transportation of inmates for the past two weeks due to the heightened health concerns in the prisons. "These are measures that need to be implemented," he said, noting inmates should only be transported in emergency situations. The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, the agency overseeing state facilities, declared last week it is suspending all visits to prison inmates to counter the spread of the virus through April 11. In addition, the prison agency has moved to reduce density in offices, by instructing non-security and other civilian staff to remain home for two weeks. Powers said several state corrections officers are among those who have tested positive and numerous officers throughout the system are being monitored after coming in contact with people believed to have been infected, he noted. The corrections officers being monitored include 58 NYSCOPBA members in the Hudson Valley, including 28 assigned to the maximum security Green Haven Correctional Facility, Powers said. Ten of the prison agency's 29,000 employees have confirmed cases of COVID-19, state officials confirmed. Those employees include corrections officers assigned to Green Haven, Shawangunk, Sing Sing, Downstate and Fishkill correctional facilities, along with parole officers from Westchester County and the Bronx, a civilian who works at Fishkill Correctional Facility and two civilian staffers in Albany. State officials said they have imposed new restrictions on transportation of prisoners, including a suspension on the intake of incarcerated individuals from county facilities to the state prisons. Throughout the prison system, posters with safety tips and information about the virus are now being displayed. The agency has also stepped up monitoring of inmates recently accepted from local jails, officials said. Cookie Preferences Cookie List Cookie List A cookie is a small piece of data (text file) that a website when visited by a user asks your browser to store on your device in order to remember information about you, such as your language preference or login information. 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You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated sale of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website. Islamabad: Now the havoc of Corona rising on one side has increased so much. That there is only a view of Tawahi everywhere. As of now, the number of people who have died from this virus has exceeded 12000. At the same time, the fear of this virus is spread among people. At the same time, cases of corona virus are increasing rapidly in Pakistan. According to the news agency, 745 positive cases have been reported in the country so far. On the other hand amid the epidemic, Leader of the Opposition Shahbaz Sharif returned to Pakistan from London on Sunday. Let us tell you that to prevent the epidemic from spreading a day earlier, Pakistan banned international flights for two weeks. President of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and younger brother of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif landed at Islamabad International Airport, where he was tested for corona virus. So returned to Pakistan: According to the information, after coming to Pakistan, he tweeted, 'I have just landed in Islamabad. Keep distance from each other and try to stay in your homes so that no one is affected by this virus from us. Love you all. 68-year-old Shahbaz said that he has returned to Pakistan on the instructions of Sharif. He said, 'I believe that I need more in Pakistan at the time of crisis. Nawaz Sharif has instructed me to help the victims of Coronavirus and stay among them at the time of need. Situation worsened in Sindh, 333 cases were reported: While it is still being said that in brief conversation with the media after his arrival, Shahbaz said that Pakistan will fight against the deadly corono virus like a nation and defeat it. Shahbaz said that the treatment of former Prime Minister Nawaz will start soon, because his doctors have returned from leave. He said that PML-N is united under the leadership of Sharif. According to reports, there have been 41 new cases in Pakistan's Sindh province. According to the report of Pakistani newspaper, the number of infected patients has reached 333 in Sindh alone. In Karachi, 123 corona patients have been reported. Also Read: Corona had knocked in this country before China, claims scientist Giuseppe Remuzzi Doctor given vaccine for corona found infected 'Corona' orgy continues in America, 419 people died so far China turns down Trump's proposal, says no help needed A pilot used their flight path for a very specific message, writing the words stay home in the sky. The sentiment can be seen by using a flight tracking site, which shows planes exact routes. They left the message while flying a Diamond DA40 single-engine aircraft over Austrian airspace. Taking off from Weiner Neustadt in Austria on 23 March, they touched down 24 minutes later in Graz. Austria currently has more than 3,800 confirmed coronavirus cases and 16 deaths. Recommended Plane draws giant Christmas tree in the sky on test flight It comes as governments across Europe are increasingly telling citizens to stay indoors to help stop the spread of Covid-19. Spain and France have both gone into lock-down mode, while this weekend Boris Johnson implored Britons to save lives by better observing social distancing rules and staying at home wherever possible. The UK government has additionally updated its advice to ban all non-essential travel within the UK, telling residents to stay in their primary residence rather than go on holiday or visit second homes. Its not the first time a pilot has used their flight path to draw something in the sky, although previous examples have carried a less serious message. In November 2019, a Boeing 747 pilot drew an incredible picture in the sky to mark the aircrafts final journey. The plane had served Israeli airline El Al for 48 years before making one last special retirement flight from Rome in Italy to Tel Aviv. The captain at the helm of Queen of the Skies made the trip more memorable by altering the flight path so that it resembled the silhouette of a Boeing aircraft while flying over the Mediterranean Sea. Meanwhile, a Lufthansa flight path earlier this month created a shape that resembled a penis when the aircraft was forced to circle above the airport upon arrival. Coronavirus Public Service Announcement from Belfast Health and Social Care Trust The image can be seen on FlightRadar24, a site that tracks commercial flights all over the world. It shared a snap of the rude-looking flight path on social media, tweeting it alongside the caption: LH350 landed on second landing attempt with a crying-with-laughter emoji. It is not known whether the outline was intentionally provocative or not. In a massive win for the security forces, a newly formed terrorist organisation, TRF/JK Fighters The Resistance Front, was nipped in the bud with the top leadership of this Pakistan-backed outfit arrested by Jammu & Kashmir Police (JKP). While six terrorists of this outfit have been arrested, four are still at large. The emergence of this new terror outfit was certainly a cause of concern by it has been nipped in the bud, said a top source within the security apparatus. This outfit was operating under the patronage of banned terrorist organisation LeT. This outfit was gathering momentum in the valley by making attempts to recruit local youth. They had also received a huge cache of arms and ammunition which has been seized. The crackdown began when JKP received information about the illegal delivery of arms and ammunition at District Hospital Sopore. Four teams from Rafiabad and Sopore were formed to carry out the investigation. In the first attempt after reaching the spot, JKP arrested four people Ahtisham Farooq Malik, Musaib Hassan Bhat, Nisar Ahmad Ganai, and Shafqat Ali Tagoo. The arrested terrorists were then questioned by multiple security agencies. During questioning, they admitted that they were working for one Pakistani person who was known by the name Andrew Jones on Telegram Messenger and Khan Bilal on Whatsapp. He was operating the newly formed terrorist organisation TRF/JK Fighters-The Resistance Front. The four terrorists arrested by the police were the main handlers deputed by Khan Bilal to recruit local youth from the valley for terrorist activities, particularly in North Kashmir. The terrorists also received a consignment of illegal arms and ammunition from one Kabeer Ahmad Lone 02 Pistols, 18 Hand Grenades, 04 Pistol Magazines., 32 9MM live Rounds. This consignment was kept with Musaib Hassan Bhat for two days. Thereafter, Ahtisham Farooq Malik demanded six hand grenades and one pistol with ammunition and along with Shafqat Ali Tagoo delivered four hand grenades and pistol to some unknown person at Markaz, Sopore and two hand grenades to another unknown person near Guru Petrol Pump Sopore as directed by the Pakistani handler. The four terrorists also supposed to receive a consignment of six AK-47 Rifles with ammunition. According to the police, the main purpose of the outfit was to accumulate the arms and ammunition and go for target killings of politicians and police personnel . READ | J&K: 5 suspected terrorism, their associates held in Kupwara TRF LEADERSHIP: 1. AHTISHAM FAROOQ MALIK S/O FAROOQ AHMAD MALIK R/O MUMKAK MOHALA BATPORA SOPORE; 31 YEARS; SHOPKEEPER (MADINA TEXTILES AT BHAT COMPLEX) 2. SHAFQAT ALI TAGOO S/O MURTAZA ALI TAGOO R/O JALALABAD SOPORE; 30 YEARS; ENGINEER AT JIO INFO COM 3. NISAR AHMAD GANAI S/O MOHD AKBAR GANAI R/O PUJIPORA KRANKSHIVAN SOPORE; 33 YEARS; BAKER 4. MUSAIB HASSAN BHAT S/O GH. HASSAN BHAT R/O MOHALLA MUMKAK BATPORA SOPORE; 28 YEARS; SHOPKEEPER 5. KABEER AHMAD LONE S/O BASHIR AHMAD LONE R/O KERAN BALA KUPWRA 6. SHARAFAT AHMAD KHAN S/O LATE LAL BADSHAH KHAN R/O KERAN PAYEEN KUPWARA. 7. NASEER MIR S/O SAFEER MIR R/O KERAN KUPWARA 8. TANVEER BHAT S/O BASHIR BHAT R/O KERAN KUPWARA 9. ISHRAQ KHAN S/O AKHTER KHAN R/O KERAN KUPWARA 10. ABID KHAN S/O NAQASH KHAN R/O KERAN KUPWARA READ | Terrorists hurl grenade at security forces in J-K's Pulwama RECOVERIES MADE 1. 12 HAND GRENADES 2. 01 PISTOL 3. 02 PISTOL MAGAZINES 4. 16 PISTOL AMMUNITION (09 MM) TOTAL RECOVERY: 1. AK-74 RIFLE06 2. AK-47 RIFLE 02 3. AK-MAGAZINES25 4. AMMUNITION 7.62 MM750 RDS 5. PISTOL (09MM)09 + 01 6. PISTOL MAGAZINES16 + 02 7. PISTOL AMMUNITION351 RDS + 16 RDS 8. HAND GRENADES77 + 12 9. DETONATOR FUSE21 10. PITHU BAGS04 READ | NIA files charge sheet against 8 Hizbul terrorists in RSS Activist killing case READ | US puts ISIS Chief on terror blacklist months after killing al-Baghdadi Piers Morgan isnt one to stay silent when something annoys him. So, when he discovered that non-key workers were planning to send their children to school this morning, he let rip on air. Those schools are only opening for people who are absolutely needed at the frontline for the war on this virus, he exploded, branding those that just wanted togive themselves a break as pathetic. A break from what? he continued. A break from doing jigsaws? Its not the first time the controversial TV personality has spoken his mind when it comes to the coronavirus. Only last week, he berated singer Sam Smith for sharing pictures of their self-isolation meltdown on Instagram. Piers Morgan on Good Morning Britain. (ITV) I can't take any more of this celebrity attention-seeking bullsh*t, Morgan posted on Twitter. Get a grip, the lot of you. This is a war, not an Instagram story op. Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice Live: Follow all the latest updates from the UK and around the world Fact-checker: The number of COVID-19 cases in your local area Explained: Symptoms, latest advice and how it compares to the flu More and more journalists are taking to Twitter to agree with Morgans direct approach to addressing the UK governments handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Only this morning, Owen Jones took to Twitter to praise the Good Morning Britain presenters interview with health minister Matt Hancock. Yes, Im going to say it: huge kudos to @piersmorgan for holding the government to account, and its an example other journalists should follow pic.twitter.com/2gpzLBwhTJ Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) March 23, 2020 In order to keep people safe, ITV have already suspended the filming of several of its daytime shows. Both Lorraine and Loose Women have stopped broadcasting. But Good Morning Britain and This Morning remain on air for now. Story continues Read more: Lorraine and Loose Women suspend filming as ITV changes schedule amid coronavirus pandemic We are all being tested and were all being asked to make sacrifices, said Morgan. Adding, Stop being so damn selfish too. I dont want to hear that you cant look after your children. Dont have children if you cant look after them. It is absolutely pathetic. ATLANTA, March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Southern Company Gas Foundation, Southern Company Gas and its subsidiaries are investing $2.5 million this year to support coronavirus (COVID-19) relief efforts in California, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. While the company continues to provide safe, reliable fuel to its customers and works to maintain the health and safety of its employees and communities, it is taking immediate action to address the increasing difficulties the global health crisis is creating for those living across the regions it serves. "These are unprecedented times, and it's more important than ever for us to engage with those who know our communities' needs best," said Kim Greene, chairman, president and CEO of Southern Company Gas. "Whether it's supporting health care providers and first responders or agencies focused on helping businesses and their employees get back on their feet, we are committed to providing resources where they are needed most." The Southern Company Gas family of companies and its charitable foundation are working with relief organizations located in seven states such as Meals on Wheels, the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and United Way to help lessen the health, community and economic impacts of the pandemic. Southern Company Gas will be identifying nonprofit partners on a rolling basis as the needs resulting from COVID-19 evolve. A major part of this effort will take place in Georgia, where Southern Company Gas headquarters and two of its subsidiaries are located. The company's local distribution business Atlanta Gas Light is working with the Public Service Commission and Georgia Watch on Atlanta Gas Light's plan to allocate $1 million for supplemental low-income energy assistance, with a specific focus on aiding the elderly. These efforts follow a decision by Southern Company Gas' local distribution companies on March 14 to institute a moratorium on disconnections for nonpayment, continuing service for those economically impacted by COVID-19. In addition, the Southern Company Gas Foundation is launching a new website highlighting COVID-19 support resources and information on how to give back to local communities. Visit scgcares.org for more. About Southern Company Gas Southern Company Gas is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE:SO), America's premier energy company. Southern Company Gas serves approximately 4.2 million natural gas utility customers through its regulated distribution companies in four states with approximately 700,000 retail customers through its companies that market natural gas. Other nonutility businesses include investments in interstate pipelines, asset management for natural gas wholesale customers and ownership and operation of natural gas storage facilities. For more information, visit southerncompanygas.com . About the Southern Company Gas Foundation The Southern Company Gas Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to supporting those who are transforming lives by tackling complex challenges with revolutionary vision. Every year, the Foundation donates millions of dollars in grants to organizations that align with Southern Company Gas' values and that passionately work to improve the lives of the communities the company serves. As an independent, nonprofit philanthropic foundation, the Southern Company Gas Foundation is funded solely by Southern Company Gas through shareholder dollars. SOURCE Southern Company Gas Related Links http://southerncompanygas.com At least 23 people have been killed as they rioted in one of Colombias largest prisons in Bogota over fears that the coronavirus could be spreading within its walls. It started out as a protest against what inmates across the country said was overcrowding and poor health services in its jails. The government has described it as an attempt to escape and has dismissed accusations that conditions were unsanitary. Al Jazeeras Alessandro Rampietti reports from Bogota, Colombia, about the unrest and what governments across the region are doing to fight the viruss spread. Kogi State on Monday joined Lagos in directing civil servants to stay away from work for the next two weeks to slow the spread of coronavirus. The directive is effective from Monday, Kingsley Fanwo, Kogi commissioner for information and communication said in a statement. Affected workers are grade level 1 to 13. They constitute 70 per cent of the states workforce. But workers in emergency and essential services such as healthcare and fire services are not included in the directive. The Governor of the State, His Excellency Alh Yahaya Bello has approved the Work from Home approach to ensure the virus doesnt spread through contacts at government offices across the state, the statement read. Those who render critical services will be communicated through the Office of the Head of Service of the State on how to keep the system running without endangering the workers, despite the inevitable decision of Government. There is no confirmed case of coronavirus yet in Kogi. But the statement said it is leaving no stone unturned to ensure the virus doesnt find its way to the state and in the unfortunate scenario it does, Government is prepared to control and manage the cases. The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Sunday announced almost the same directive barely hours after three new cases of the new coronavirus were confirmed in the state, bringing to 19 the total number. So far, 30 cases have been recorded in Nigeria with two fully recovered and no deaths. Popular movie maker, Wale Adenuga has stated that the movie industry is not as profitable as people think. Adenuga added that most actors live large by depending on sugar mummies and daddies. Read Also: Police arrests man for impersonating Wale Adenuga He made this known in an interview with newsmen in Ibadan on Sunday. He said: Many people are oblivious of the fact that many of the young Nollywood actors and actresses who live flamboyant lifestyles make their money outside film making. They make people believe everything is alright in the film making. You see them building big houses, living in affluence, but their source of money is beyond making the film. Suleiman Achimugu, an engineer and former Managing Director of Pipelines and Products Marketing Company has been identified as the 67 year-old Nigerian who died from coronavirus infection. His family said Achimugu returned to Nigeria from the United Kingdom two weeks ago and showed symptoms of the virus last Tuesday, multiple reports said. He reportedly died around 2:00am on Monday after coughing severely for most part of Sunday. NCDC officials came to the house and took his blood specimen. Even though it tested positive, they never got back to us until he died at a hospital in Gwagwalada, a family source told the online platform Sahara Reporters. We are all currently under quarantine in the house, the source said. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control(NCDC) announced Monday, the first Nigerian to die of the virus. But it did not unveil the identity. The 1st #COVID19 death in Nigeria has been recorded. The case was a 67 year old male who returned home following medical treatment in UK He had underlying medical conditions- multiple myeloma & diabetes & was undergoing chemotherapy. Our thoughts are with his family, NCDC tweeted. NCDC earlier announced an increase in coronavirus cases in Nigeria, from 30 to 35 as at 9.45 am on Monday. Five new cases of #COVID19 have been confirmed in Nigeria: 2 in FCT, 2 in Lagos & 1 in Edo 2 cases are returning travellers from the UK As at 09:45 am on 23rd March, there are 35 confirmed cases of #COVID19 in Nigeria. 2 have been discharged pic.twitter.com/brTI9PFsYH NCDC (@NCDCgov) March 23, 2020 WASHINGTON California didnt get everything it was seeking when it secured a major disaster declaration from President Trump left out was money for numerous types of individual aid, including broader access to food stamps and unemployment benefits. In his declaration Sunday, which Trump issued just hours after Gov. Gavin Newsom requested it, the president gave a green light for funding to help state, local and tribal governments cope with response efforts to the coronavirus. The request from the state of California was just received, and we will have it approved very quickly, Trump said Sunday during a briefing on the outbreak. Well be working I told that to Gavin Newsom. And we are were working on getting that done very quickly. In his letter requesting a disaster declaration, Newsom wrote, It is clear additional resources are immediately necessary to adequately respond to the unmet needs of the people and businesses of California. He said the pandemic has disproportionately affected California and its nearly 40 million residents. Although Trump quickly approved the government aid, he didnt address several specific Newsom requests for individuals, including: Disaster assistance that would provide relief to people who dont qualify for state-funded unemployment, such as business owners and people who are self-employed. Gig workers and freelancers whose income has dried up would be included among self-employed people. Funding for case workers to help the states more than 150,000 homeless people secure shelter. Newsom said many homeless people will not be able to recover from the outbreak because city and county governments are soon going to run out of resources to help them. Funding to expand the number of people eligible for food stamps. Under Newsoms request, people could more easily qualify for food stamps if they lose a job because of the coronavirus outbreak, and people who already get food stamps could get extra assistance. The only specific request for individuals that Trump approved Sunday was funding to pay crisis counselors to help people struggling with mental health issues due to the outbreak. Newsom wrote in his letter that the state expects to deal with more mental health and substance-abuse problems because of the pandemic. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which oversees disaster relief, declined to explain why the other types of assistance werent granted in Trumps declaration. An agency spokesperson said, All other requested programs remain under review at this time. The White House did not respond to a request for comment. The Trump administration said in a news release Sunday that additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by (California) and warranted by the results of further assessments. Newsoms office declined to comment Monday. The governor praised the Trump administration in a statement Sunday, saying, We appreciate the quick response and partnership from the White House. New York and Washington states requested similar levels of support in requests for major disaster declarations. Trump also granted those Sunday, but in both cases approved only the money for governments and for crisis counseling for individuals. Sen. Kamala Harris has been pushing for legislation that would make it easier for FEMA to provide individual assistance to people. The California Democrats bill, the Pandemic Assistance Disaster Act, would clear up a legal question about whether pandemics qualify as a natural disaster under federal law in the same way as wildfires, earthquakes and floods do. Harris said she wants relief, such as food stamps, unemployment benefits, child care assistance and funeral assistance, to be quickly available to people in a public-health emergency. Under federal law, the president has broad discretion to grant disaster declarations and decide what types of FEMA funding to unlock. Governors generally request the aid for their states. At a time when a global pandemic is threatening the financial stability of working families across our country, there is no reason for FEMA to treat those impacted by biological threats any differently than when a natural disaster strikes, Harris said in a statement. Dustin Gardiner is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dustin.gardiner@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dustingardiner As Canadians sun themselves on beaches on Nova Scotia and British Columbia while others continue moving freely to liquor stores and malls, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is facing growing calls to implement new measures to slow the spread of COVID-19. Other countries have already taken a far more stringent approach. Heres a look at how other leaders are battling the pandemic. China The first case of the coronavirus was reported in Wuhan, China in December 2019. Since the outbreak, the government has implemented several measures to slow the spread of COVID-19. These include a quarantine of Hubei Province, which involved controlling all movement in and out of the area and suspending public transit. Chinese New Year celebrations, which are normally attended by millions every year, were cancelled, and the national government mandated that all foreigners arriving in the country be quarantined for 14 days. According to graphics from the New York Times, China has dramatically flattened the curve from its apex of more than 4,000 cases per day in February. Hong Kong also instituted a 14-day quarantine for all incoming travellers. In order to enforce this measure, the government has mandated all arrivals to wear a tracker wristband. According to Quartz, each wristband has a unique QR code. The user will have to download an app on their phone, scan the code, and then walk around their dwelling in order to calibrate the device. If quarantine is breached, the wristband will detect it, inform the government, and the user will either face up to six months in prison or face a fine of 25,000 Hong Kong dollars ($4,685). Singapore The government banned all travellers from China and required the temperatures of each person entering the country be taken. This was also done for anyone entering schools and restaurants. Early in the outbreak, it decided to test all cases of influenza and pneumonia, and tracked down every person who could possibly be infected using police and flight manifestos. France President Emmanuel Macron ordered a nationwide lockdown to battle the coronavirus. Other measures include banning all gatherings of more than 100 people, the closure of all non-essential public spaces such as restaurants, cafes, and cinemas, and postponing the second round of municipal elections. People in France will also have to fill out an online form to obtain a permit allowing them to be outside otherwise they could be fined. Norway The Norwegian government has also confirmed that anyone caught breaking quarantine or isolation rules will be fined 20,000 kroner ($2,575) or face 15 days in jail. Other measures include banning entry to all foreigners, and ordering their citizens who fled for their mountain cabins to return to their primary residence. Germany German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is in self-isolation after her doctor was reported infected with COVID-19, announced recently that all gatherings of more than two people were banned, except for families. It is one of the strictest emergency measures implimented in the world. Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte ordered a lockdown of the main island of Luzon, which contains the capital city, Manila, and is home to more than 53 million people. Travel has been severely restricted, curfews have been implements, public events have been cancelled, and checkpoints put in place to monitor peoples motivation for movement. Some cities have begun using a system of quarantine passes similar to in France where only one person per household is designated to go outside and purchase basic necessities. Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced strict measures to protect "sensitive" remote Indigenous communities from a potential COVID-19 outbreak, banning all non-essential travel to and from remote areas under the Biosecurity Act. Policy makers didn't have to look too far into the history books to understand why these precautions were so urgently needed. Cottages at the Barambah Aboriginal Settlement in Queensland in 1919. Credit:State Library of Queensland In 1919, when Australia was in the grip of the Spanish influenza, a small Aboriginal community in Queensland would become one of the worst-affected places in the country, though the history remains largely unknown. The virus reached the government-run Barambah Aboriginal Settlement, three hours north of Brisbane, in late May, 1919. The town is now called Cherbourg. EDWARDSVILLE The coronavirus pandemic has left no facet of life untouched, even when it is time for loved ones to commemorate the end of a family members life. According to the Illinois Funeral Directors Association (IFDA), all gatherings of 10 or more should be canceled or only conducted with a limit of 10 or fewer people. That total includes funeral home employees, said Thomas Saska, owner of Saska Funeral Homes in Edwardsville and Granite City. Families have been getting very picky, he said Thursday, describing a recent service that was originally going to include family members from both coasts. However, once they learned of the new group restrictions, they decided against coming. He said before another recent service, he instructed three staff members not to come to work so it was just himself and a helper, with the family comprising the remainder of the 10-person total. Its not what I want to do; its what I have to do, he said. Brandon Rodney of Weber & Rodney Funeral Home in Edwardsville said many families have either postponed memorial services to a later date or have chosen to have a small private service due to the restrictions on the size of gatherings. Yes, burials are taking place. Families are limited to 10 or less people, he said. The families who have had recent deaths during this crisis have been extremely understanding and cooperative. Our priority is the safety of the families we serve as well as our community. The IFDA said viewings should only be conducted on bodies that have been embalmed and should only be permissive with 10 or fewer people. Graveside services should be private and conducted with 10 or fewer people. This information is subject to change per recommendations by the federal government and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). More Information Some funeral homes are taking additional measures such as: Encourage people who are ill or who are part of an at-risk population (e.g., the elderly, immune-compromised, etc.) to stay home Reminding families how to prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as by staying home if you are sick, social distancing, and covering coughs and sneezes Keep soap dispensers filled in public (and employee) restrooms. The CDC has several informational flyers on handwashing you can post in public and staff restrooms Offer alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol to guests (and employees) Scaling back direct contact with families and guests (e.g., handshakes, hugs, etc.) Keeping the front door open (weather permitting) or ensuring a staff person is always available to open a door during visitations and services to prevent people from touching the doorknob Offering free or reduced cost webcasting With limited supplies of disinfectants and protective gear in many areas, the National Concrete Burial Vault Association recommends that funeral homes immediately discontinue the use of the following items, and any other similar items, due to inability to easily disinfect them and to enable social distancing: Lap blankets Water cooler service Chairs and chair covers Tent sidewalls See More Collapse Last week, the IFDA said cemetery personnel will be discouraged from handshaking and any unnecessary physical contact to minimize the potential transmission of germs and viruses until the pandemic conditions are under control. Per the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), CDC guidance states, There is currently no known risk associated with being in the same room at a funeral or visitation service with the body of someone who died of COVID-19. However, the CDC also notes, People should consider not touching the body of someone who has died of COVID-19. Saska said the longest he has stored a body on-site was for five weeks, about four years ago. If we start doing that, its going to get crowded here, he said. Last Sunday, the CDC issued new guidance for mass gatherings recommending that for the next eight weeks (until May 10), organizers cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States. The following day, the CDC mentioned that funerals can still take place under the 50-person limit. For funerals taking place, they suggested limiting attendance to select family and livestreaming the service for those who cannot attend; services could also be recorded and the video shared with whomever the family deems appropriate. They further advised that those who are ill and are at-risk (e.g., elderly, immune-compromised) should be encouraged to stay home. Funeral homes should also urge attendees to follow recommended healthy habits such as social distancing, hand hygiene, covering cough and sneezes, etc. Saska said he has used people to livestream previous funerals but now, the cameraman and helper would constitute two of the 10 people permitted in the building at any one time. Ultimately, funeral homes have to determine how they will best balance the important guidance they are receiving from federal, state and local public health officials with the needs of their families. Reach Charles Bolinger at (618) 659-5735. In an interview with Science Magazine, Dr. Anthony Fauci explains how he is trying to get the Trump Administration to actually work against the progress of this COVID19. Dr. Fauci will not be calling COVID19 the 'Chinese Flu.' Science Magazine: Q: What about the travel restrictions? President Trump keeps saying that the travel ban for China, which began 2 February, had a big impact [on slowing the spread of the virus to the United States] and that he wishes China would have told us three to four months earlier and that they were "very secretive." [China did not immediately reveal the discovery of a new coronavirus in late December, but by 10 January, Chinese researchers made the sequence of the virus public.] It just doesn't comport with facts. A: I know, but what do you want me to do? I mean, seriously Jon, let's get real, what do you want me to do? Q: Most everyone thinks that you're doing a remarkable job, but you're standing there as the representative of truth and facts but things are being said that aren't true and aren't factual. A: The way it happened is that after he made that statement [suggesting China could have revealed the discovery of a new coronavirus three to four months earlier], I told the appropriate people, it doesn't comport, because two or three months earlier would have been September. The next time they sit down with him and talk about what he's going to say, they will say, by the way, Mr. President, be careful about this and don't say that. But I can't jump in front of the microphone and push him down. OK, he said it. Let's try and get it corrected for the next time. Q: You have not said China virus. [Trump frequently calls the cause of the spreading illness, known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a "China virus" or a "Chinese virus."]? A: Ever. Q. And you never will, will you? A: No. From fake charities to bogus cures to an online extortionist accused of threatening to infect people with the conoravirus, scammers are rushing to profit from public anxiety over the pandemic. Last week, the U.S. Department of Justice took its first action in the outbreak by accusing an online operator of wire fraud, saying it was offering fake coronavirus vaccine kits supposedly obtained from the World Health Organization. In fact, there are currently no legitimate COVID-19 vaccines, and the WHO is not distributing any such vaccine, declared a DOJ news release, which noted that a federal judge in Austin quickly issued an order to block public access to the website coronavirusmedicalkit.com. Attorney General Barr has directed the department to prioritize fraud schemes arising out of the coronavirus emergency. We therefore moved very quickly to shut down this scam, said U.S. Attorney John F. Bash of the Western District of Texas. My office will continue to be aggressive in targeting these sorts of despicable frauds for the duration of the emergency. No one has been charged in the case, which remains under investigation. The court filings claim the website used a photograph of Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health in order to add the imprimatur of the United States government to its claims. The Department of Justice also published a 10-item list of precautionary measures including, Ignore offers for a COVID-19 vaccine, cure or treatment. Remember, if a vaccine becomes available, you wont hear about it for the first time through an email, online ad or unsolicited sales pitch. The Texas Attorney Generals Office has received more than 100 complaints about coronavirus scams and about 1,500 for price gouging. They are primarily cyberscams. Some are ransomware, and then there are scams that are fake charities. They claim to be helping the victims of the pandemic, but they are really putting the money into their own pockets, attorney generals spokeswoman Kayleigh Date said. Nationally, the Federal Trade Commission and Consumer Reports have issued detailed warnings about coronavirus scams. The alerts have warned against a host of frauds, beginning with fake online sellers who offer hard-to-get goods such as health and medical supplies but never deliver. They also warned against fake charities set up by scammers using plausible organization names as well as fake robocalls offering coronavirus treatments. And they warned against phishing schemes pretending to be from entities such as the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control or Johns Hopkins University. The Health and Human Services inspector generals office said Medicare recipients are being targeted by marketers offering Senior Care Packages and tests for COVID-19 that do not exist. Some claim that President Donald Trump has ordered that seniors get tested. Its a straight-up ruse to get your Medicare number or your Social Security number under the guise of having a test kit or a sanitary kit sent to you, said Christian Schrank, an assistant inspector general for investigations. In Oklahoma, the Red Cross recently was forced to respond to complaints of impersonators going door to door offering coronavirus testing to seniors. We never confirmed it. It was going around on social media, Red Cross spokeswoman Brittney Rochelle said. In Daly City, Calif., the police were forced to warn the public about someone posing as a representative of the CDC who was calling people and urging them to reserve a vaccine for the COVID-19 with a credit card or Social Security number. The most bizarre account of an online shakedown involving the coronavirus recently was described by Paul Ducklin, a writer for cybersecurity firm Sophos. In the shakedown letter seeking $4,000, the extortionist claims, If I want, I could even infect your whole family with the Coronavirus. What to do? Dont send any money. Its all a pack of lies, Ducklin wrote. In scams like these, the crooks dont have any data on you. John MacCormack is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | JMacCormack@express-news.net | Twitter: @JohnMacCormack Nursing Homes Ireland has today launched Comfort Words - a national initiative encouraging children to reach out to older people in nursing homes during Covid-19. Comfort Words is encouraging children to support older people during this difficult time by writing to them. With almost 30,000 people across the country are in nursing home care. NHI believes children can fulfil an important role in promoting positivity amongst residents and maintaining contacts in the weeks ahead by connecting with them. Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO, explained the concept behind Comfort Words. We are launching a national campaign encouraging children to engage in the most traditional form of communication with nursing home residents," he said. "Were asking them to write to residents in our nursing homes to connect with these special people and bring a smile to their faces. We want children who know residents in their local nursing homes and also those who dont know the people living in them to participate. "It presents opportunity for children who know people in their nursing homes to tell them how much they mean to them and how important they are to them. And children who dont know anyone in a nursing home can write a letter for all the residents, telling of their appreciation for older people and encouraging them to remain positive during Covid-19. We believe letters to individual and collective residents will bring great comfort and pleasure to people in our nursing homes. Comfort Words can demonstrate the power of inter-generational solidarity during these extraordinary times." A listing of nursing homes is available to download from the Nursing Homes Ireland website. Mr Daly urged children to be mindful of the importance of hygiene in preparing the letters, urging children and their parents to wash their hands prior to preparing. He also advanced the possibility presents for the letters to be emailed to nursing homes. Comfort Words does not have to be unique to older people in nursing homes and can also be replicated for older people living in the community, he added. We would also encourage people to utilise the free postcards being provided by An Post for connection with residents in nursing homes. He paid tribute to staff in nursing homes across the country who are making exceptional efforts to ensure residents are positively engaged and supported during Covid-19. In exceptionally difficult circumstances, he said nursing homes are delivering broad programmes of interest for residents and are being creative in ensuring they have regular access to relatives and friends via face-time technology. NHI is encouraging the sharing of Comfort Words letters and they can be emailed to michael@nhi.ie or shared on social media under #ComfortWords The National Transportation Safety Board says two drivers, Tesla and lax regulation of new partially automated driving systems are to blame for a fatal 2019 crash in Florida involving a Tesla on Autopilot. The NTSB, in a report issued last Thursday, said the design of the Autopilot system contributed to the crash because it allowed the Tesla driver to avoid paying attention. Tesla also failed to limit where Autopilot can be used, allowing drivers to activate it in areas it wasnt designed for, the report said. The board, which investigates crashes and makes safety recommendations, also took the unusual step of accusing the governments National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of contributing to the crash. The agency failed to make sure automakers put safeguards in place to limit use of electronic driving systems to areas where they are designed to work, the report said. The report was another case of sparring between the two federal agencies over regulating new electronic driver-assist technology, which NHTSA so far has been reluctant to do. The March 1, 2019, crash in Delray Beach, Florida, killed the 50-year-old driver of a Tesla Model 3. The car was traveling 69 miles per hour (111 kilometers per hour) when neither the driver nor the Autopilot system braked or tried to avoid a tractor-trailer that was crossing in its path on U.S. 441 around 6:17 a.m. The car struck the trailer, whose driver the report cited for turning in front of the Tesla. The trailer sheared off the Teslas roof. The truck driver was not hurt. Safety Criticism This is not the only time the NTSB has criticized Tesla or the NHTSAs approach to regulating semi-autonomous vehicles. Learn more. The Delray Beach investigation marks the third fatal vehicle crash we have investigated where a drivers over-reliance on Teslas Autopilot and the operational design of Teslas Autopilot have led to tragic consequences, NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt said in a statement. At a hearing last month on a California fatal crash, board members were frustrated that safety recommendations from previous Tesla Autopilot crashes had been ignored by Tesla, and that NHTSA has not taken action on its recommendations. NHTSA referred to a previous statement that it will review the NTSBs report and that all commercially available vehicles require human drivers to stay in control at all times. The Delray Beach crash was remarkably similar to one in 2016 in Williston, Florida, which also killed a Tesla driver. In the Delray Beach crash, the driver turned on the cars adaptive cruise control system, which keeps it a set distance from vehicles ahead of it, 12.3 seconds before impact, the NTSB found. Autosteer, which keeps the car centered in its lane, was turned on 2.4 seconds later. No pressure was detected on the steering wheel in the 7.7 seconds before the crash, the report said. Tesla told the NTSB that the driver wasnt warned about not having his hands on the wheel because the approximate 8-second duration was too short to trigger a warning under the circumstances, the report said. The NTSBs report said Autopilot wasnt designed to work in areas with cross traffic, yet Tesla allows drivers to use it under those circumstances. Tesla told the NTSB that forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking systems on the Model 3 in the Delray Beach crash werent designed to activate for crossing traffic or to prevent crashes at high speeds. According to Tesla, the Autopilot vision system did not consistently detect and track the truck as an object or threat as it crossed the path of the car, the report said. A message was left Thursday seeking comment from Tesla, which warns in owners manuals that Autopilot is designed for use on limited access highways with no cross traffic. The company also says Autopilot is a driver-assist system and that drivers must be ready to intervene at all times. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Auto Florida Personal Auto Tesla Autonomous Vehicles VMware has opened its first office in Egypt as it seeks to help the country drive digital transformation across a range of sectors, including government, education, healthcare and industry, in line with the Egyptian governments ambitious Vision 2030 agenda. VMware has a strong track record in Egypt by helping organisations to realise the benefits of enterprise technology while also helping to ensure that the next generation is equipped to play a major role in the ICT space. VMware views the country as a key market in the Middle East and North Africa region. The new VMware office, located in Cairo, will serve the local and regional market focusing on a range of services including support, commercial and technical sales, project management and cloud consultancy. To ensure its complete portfolio of solutions is available with full local support for the market, VMware intends to hire more than 130 people in Egypt in the first year of operating the new office. Having a local presence in-country will support VMwares vision to help companies build, run, manage, connect and protect any app, on any cloud and any device. This is especially important in Egypt, which has a large population of young people, creating strong demand for quality customer experience and employment opportunities. Speaking about the opening of the new office, Ahmed El Saadi, Country Manager - Egypt, North Africa and Levant at VMware, said: Were hugely excited to open our first office in Egypt and were confident that this will be a game-changer for VMware in Egypt, as well as neighbouring countries in North Africa. Our decision to open the office demonstrates the level of confidence we have in the country and our commitment to supporting the digital transformation plans set forth in Egypt Vision 2030. VMware has already helped Egypt to push ahead with digital transformation initiatives, particularly in the important area of skills and training. The company is expanding ICT knowledge in Egypt through its partner programs, and through recent initiatives such as its collaboration with Egypts National Telecommunication Institute (NTI). The two organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in December 2019 to establish the VMware IT Academy regional lead for the Middle East and Africa. The initiative will help train the next generation of ICT instructors and university students, helping organizations in Egypt digitally transform and embrace a future based on a software-defined infrastructure approach. VMware also formed a collaboration with Egypts Information Technology Institute (ITI), an affiliate of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) in April 2019, to support Egyptian ICT students with professional training to help bridge the gap between academic studies and the skills needed in todays competitive job market.-- Tradearabia News Service Services of Ola and Uber will not be available in Delhi till 31 March amid the lockdown announced by the state government to contain the spread of coronavirus infection Services of Ola and Uber will not be available in Delhi till 31 March amid the lockdown announced by the state government to contain the spread of coronavirus infection. The Delhi government on Sunday said the city will be in lockdown from 23 to 31 March, under which no public transport, including private buses, taxis and autorickshaws will be allowed. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced a lockdown sealing its borders, shutting down markets and directing private firms to give compulsory paid leave to all employees, including contractual until the end of March. Beyond the 80 districts, states, including Maharashtra, which is leading in the number of coronavirus cases, Rajasthan and Punjab are now under effective statewide lockdowns after they imposed Section 144 that bars gatherings of more than four people. "Uber is complying with all Central and State Government directives related to its services for containing the spread of Coronavirus," an Uber spokesperson said in response to a query. An Ola spokesperson said the company "will enable a minimal network of vehicles to support essential services in cities, wherever applicable, as part of this national effort to reduce the contagion of Covid-19". The two companies -- which account for a major share of the taxis running in the national capital -- had already suspended temporarily their shared rides on their respective platforms. Speaking about its pool services, an Uber Spokesperson said, "We are determined to help reduce the spread of coronavirus in the cities we serve. With that in mind, we are suspending the Uber Pool service across India. In line with the Government advisory, we urge people to stay safe and discourage non-essential travel." The Centre and state governments have decided to completely lock down 80 districts across the country where coronavirus cases have been reported. In view of the need to contain the spread of the deadly Covid-19, it was agreed that there was an urgent need to extend the restrictions on the movement of non-essential passenger transport. The districts where lockdown was announced include Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Delhi will be locked down from 6 am on 23 March and continue till midnight on 31 March. The city's borders will remain sealed during the lockdown, but essential services related to health, food, water and power supply will continue, and 25 percent of the DTC buses will run to transport people associated with essential services. All domestic and international flights have been suspended in Delhi. (With PTI inputs) Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison on 11 March under the charges of sexual assault and rape. Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has tested positive for the coronavirus in prison, according to reports. The Niagara Gazette reports that the 68-year-old had been moved into isolation at Wende Correctional Facility, a maximum-security prison near Buffalo, New York, where he is currently serving a 23-year term, after being found guilty on two charges of a criminal sex act and rape in the third degree. This is just days after his 18 March transfer from Rikers Island. "There is no better breeding ground for this virus than a closed environment such as a correctional facility," said Michael Powers, president of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA) to the Niagara Gazette. A lawyer for Weinstein said on Sunday night that his legal team had not been notified of the coronavirus diagnosis. Given Mr. Weinsteins state of health, we are of course concerned, if this is the case, and we are vigilantly monitoring the situation, said lawyer Imran Ansari, who is based in New York. Two prisoners at the Wende Facility have confirmed cases of COVID-19, a state prison official told Reuters. When contacted, representatives from New York States Department of Corrections did not respond to requests from news outlets for direct confirmation due to its policy that they cannot comment on an individuals medical record. It isnt clear if he contracted the deadly virus while at Wende or Rikers, or during one of two stays at NYCs Bellevue hospital, where he was treated for high blood pressure and chest pains. Weinsteins conviction was hailed as a victory for the #MeToo movement against sexual misconduct by powerful men. More than 100 women, have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct stretching back decades. He has denied the allegations, saying any sex was consensual. Weinstein also faces separate sexual assault charges in Los Angeles. Weinstein won an Academy Award for producing Shakespeare in Love and was responsible for other acclaimed films including Pulp Fiction, The English Patient and Gangs of New York. (With inputs from agencies) Boeing announced on Monday it temporarily halted production at a factory in Washington state that manufactures long-distance planes due to the coronavirus outbreak. The aerospace giant said it plans to suspend output starting Wednesday for two weeks in the Puget Sound region, which is where the company builds the long-range 777. Monday's announcement does not affect production of the 787 plane in South Carolina. The company, which is seeking $60 billion in federal support for the aerospace industry, had already shuttered production of the 737 MAX in Renton, Washington, which remains grounded following two crashes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three persons have been arrested in connection with an IED explosion near a BSF camp in Manipur's Thoubal district, police said on Monday. Explosives weighing 2.5 kg, seven detonators, a remote control device, a dry battery, three mobile phones and a two- wheeler were seized from their possession, a senior police officer said. The blast occurred around 7.30 pm on Sunday near a BSF camp at Wangjing Tekcham area, in which no security personnel was injured, he said. "Police commandos along with BSF personnel launched a search operation in the area during which a trail of blood was found near a house. "The security forces surrounded the building in Wangjing Wangkhei area and nabbed a 22-year-old man who sustained injuries in the explosion of the IED he had planted," Thoubal district Superintendent of Police S Ibomcha Singh told reporters. Based on the information given by the accused, another person involved in planting the bomb was arrested, Singh said. Another person, suspected to be the mastermind of the blast, was arrested from Khangabok area in the district, the SP said. "During preliminary investigation, it was found that the prime accused and the suspected mastermind had travelled to the India-Myanmar border town of Moreh, where they were taught the basics of making a bomb by a militant of the banned PREPAK outfit," Singh added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Six private laboratories are set to start testing for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) after receiving approvals from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Sunday, although the government has no immediate plans to allow walk-in testing of asymptomatic individuals without a history of foreign travel or contact with an infected person. The government issued guidelines for private labs to test for Covid-19 caused by the Sars-Cov-2 virus, on Saturday, and 60 private laboratories applied for mandatory registration on Sunday, according to ICMR. Indias apex body for biomedical research has already shared the so-called positive controls for the test , which will help the laboratories test for the virus. The six private laboratories approved so far to conduct the test are: Thyrocare, Suburban Diagnostics, Metropolis Healthcare Ltd, and Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Centre, all headquartered in Mumbai; Unipath Specialty Laboratory, Ahmedabad; and Neuberg Anand Reference Laboratory, Bengaluru. To be sure, many of these are laboratory chains with branches across Indian cities, including Delhi. Our people are looking at the requests made by private labs; about 60 labs have approached ICMR for registration, and six labs have been approved so far. It is a dynamic numbers as approvals are being given in batches based on their fulfilling the necessary requirements, said Dr Balram Bhargava, director general, ICMR. The private laboratories will add to the countrys testing capacity. Currently, 116 government laboratories have been approved to test for Covid-19. Together, they have the capacity to test for around 10,000 samples a day (which can be doubled without too much difficulty, some experts said). However, the government has no plans of changing the testing criteria at the moment. Indiscriminate testing is not the solution; the solution lies in isolation to break the transmission cycle, which is why lockdown is a pertinent step, said Bhargava. Since mid January, India has tested about 17,000 samples, which , as an average of the total population, is far lower than many other countries battling the outbreak. It is not to say that we wont be expanding our testing criteria. Its an evolving situation and we have an expert committee constantly reviewing the situation. If they feel the need in future, the criteria could be changed, Bhargava added. The primary criteria for the labs that will be approved are for them to have National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration accreditation, a minimum of level -2 in terms of biosafety, and a requirement that they will share real-time testing data with the government . The private labs will have to acquire their own kits (approval is contingent to them having the kits) and test patients on the basis of a prescription signed by a qualified physician who has followed testing criteria laid down by ICMR. The base price should not exceed Rs 4,500, including 1,500 for preliminary testing and 3,000 for confirmatory testing, although the government has requested the private firms to offer to test for free. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rhythma Kaul Rhythma Kaul works as an assistant editor at Hindustan Times. She covers health and related topics, including ministry of health and family welfare, government of India. ...view detail Strategic Thinkers Network-Africa (STRANEK-Africa) has appealed to Parliament to summon the Health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman Manu on the state of Ghanas medical reserve and supplies center in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic. The Central Medical Store located in Tema in January 2014 caught fire, leading to the destruction of over GH200 million worth of medical supplies. Subsequently, the Ministry of Health approved the reconstruction of the ultra-modern facility at the cost of GH8 million by NMS Infrastructure Limited, a British-owned construction firm. To date, however, the state of the medical reserve and supplies center remains unknown. In a statement at a time where Ghana could really use supplies from the medical center to fight the Coronavirus, STRANEK-Africa insists the Health Minister must be dragged to parliament to give an update on the state of the medical store. STRANEK-Africa makes a passionate call on Parliament of Ghana to summon the Minister of Health to present progress on the state of Ghanas medical reserve and supplies in the wake of this Covid-19 pandemic. This will help us as a country in assessing our capacity in dealing with this outbreak, the statement signed by Emmanuel Osei who is the Director of Policy and Political Affairs for the policy think thank said. Meanwhile, the group has commended the government for initiating steps to bring together all locally manufacturing pharmaceutical companies to harness their capacities to produce locally what we need in case we are confronted with the Italy experience. We are hopeful that government will walk its talk in supporting them financially. The statement from STRANEK-Africa concludes, Government of Ghana should as well bring on board, local companies that can produce ventilators in support of the fight against COVID-19 just as it is being done in the United Kingdom, the United States of America among other countries. CLEVELAND, Ohio At the Avenue at Tower City on Sunday afternoon, security guards strolled past shuttered stores and birds chirped from their lofty perches near the ceiling. The downtown shopping mall, which was dying before the novel coronavirus pandemic hit, quietly emptied out during the past week. Brooks Brothers, Foot Locker and Bath & Body Works posted see-you-later signs on their doors as national retailers temporarily closed across the country. A handful of restaurants maintained take-out service but asked customers to stand at least 6 feet apart. A hand-lettered sign in the window of A Dollar, a store filled with colorful tchotchkes, read Store closed on Saturday & Sunday due to virus. Bedrock, the malls Detroit-based landlord, announced early Monday that it will waive rent, expenses and parking fees for small-business retailers and restaurants at its buildings in April, May and June. That move comes as property owners nationwide are searching for ways to keep temporary closures and cutbacks prompted by the coronavirus from leading to long-term vacancies. As the real estate arm of billionaire Dan Gilberts Rock Ventures family of companies, Bedrock is perhaps better positioned than most landlords to give tenants a break. Property investors across the country are trying to balance the need to ease burdens on retailers and eateries in a crisis without falling behind on their own bills and defaulting on their mortgages. We think that by doing the right thing, we can provide leadership, said Matt Cullen, Bedrocks chief executive officer, during a phone conversation Saturday. But were not suggesting that that which is the right thing for Bedrock is the right thing for everyone else. What we do know is that small business is a critical part of the ecosystem in Cleveland, as it is everywhere else. National retailers including T-Mobile have posted signs in their windows outlining how long they expect to be offline. Local tenants at the mall also were closed on Sunday, but they weren't as consistent about communicating with customers.Michelle Jarboe, The Plain Dealer The bulk of Bedrocks retail space is in Detroit, where the companys expansive portfolio includes 210 office tenants and 125 stores and restaurants. In Cleveland, Bedrock affiliates own the Avenue, office space and parking flanking the mall, the Ritz-Carlton Cleveland hotel and the nearby May Co. building, a former department store thats being transformed into apartments. The company acquired the three-story, 366,000-square-foot Avenue in 2016 and has let many of the shops at the already-struggling mall go dark as it considers redevelopment options. Cullen wouldnt discuss Bedrocks plans for the property, most recently earmarked as a possible site for an entrepreneurship hub called City Block. When the governors of Ohio and Michigan started shutting down restaurants and other businesses to stem the coronavirus spread, a team at Bedrock called tenants to get a sense of independent retailers plans and to find out what they needed. In Detroit, fitness tenants at the companys properties have launched online classes. A cocktail bar expects to sell a mixology e-book, with proceeds going to its employees. A three-month rent break will give small businesses the ability to plan and the chance to explore ways to stay active, virtually or at a brick-and-mortar location, during this crisis, Cullen said. The largest retailers, were kind of assuming they will take care of themselves, he added. Bedrock hasnt announced any relief programs for office tenants or apartment dwellers, though the company has shut down workout rooms and common areas at residential buildings. Were literally, tenant by tenant and building by building, working to get through this together, Cullen said. Customers can't sit down to eat in the food court at the Avenue, in the wake of a state-mandated shutdown on dine-in restaurants.Michelle Jarboe, The Plain Dealer On Friday, Bedrock cut back the Avenues hours, limiting retail and restaurant traffic to noon to 5 p.m. On Sunday afternoon, Gov. Mike DeWine announced a stay-at-home mandate and identified essential businesses that still will be allowed to operate a move that will shut any lingering stores at the mall, though restaurants still are permitted to offer take-out meals. Some mall landlords announced shopping-center closures last week. But its impossible to completely block off the Avenue, which sits atop Clevelands main train station and connects to office buildings, two hotels and hundreds of new apartments inside Terminal Tower. On Sunday, only two businesses in the mall were open. A single customer chatted with employees at Charleys Philly Steaks in the food court, where the seating areas are closed and passersby are being warned not to linger. At Rainbow, a chain clothing store, junior manager Tashieona Taylor stood between racks of brightly patterned dresses, wishing she could leave. All the stores are closed. Why arent we closed? asked Taylor, 20, who lives with her father in Cleveland. Over the past week, shes seen only a handful of shoppers each day. Shes nervous about touching boxes and unpacking clothing. Customers are polite, she said, but some of them cough or sneeze without covering their mouths. In this moment, commerce isnt her priority. I just want to be home and be safe, she said. Thats it. Read more coronavirus coverage: Coronavirus shutdowns limit options for Clevelands homeless Oriana House releases hundreds of residents Do you have loved ones in the hospital you cant visit? Scarcity, health care rationing and coronavirus How and where to get tested for coronavirus Childcare centers, parents grapple with tough choices Acts of kindness amid coronavirus pandemic Workers at highest risk Health care workers, whats it like handling coronavirus cases? During an ASEAN-EU ministerial teleconference on cooperation in coping with the epidemic on March 20th, Minh informed participants about ASEANs active and timely response to the outbreak in the spirit of Cohesive and Responsive as the theme for the ASEAN Year 2020. ASEAN has shown the highest determination to combat the epidemic by issuing the ASEAN Chairs Statement, and statements of ministers in charge of national defence, economy and tourism on measures to jointly fight COVID-19. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh at the meeting (Photo: VNA) Vietnam also chaired a meeting of the ASEAN Connectivity Coordinating Council to coordinate efforts of the bloc, he said, adding that active efforts of the ASEAN Community have brought about positive results with low rate of deaths compared to other regions in the world. In the near future, ASEAN will continue stepping up specific actions and cooperating with partners in the regard, he said. Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh suggested the EU offer technical assistance and partner in scientific research on the disease control and treatment, thus mitigating its socio-economic impacts. ASEAN and EU agreed to enhance the sharing of information and experience, policy consultation, especially in diagnosis, treatment and vaccine production. Vice-President of the European Commission and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrel proposed that ASEAN countries make it easier for EU citizens travelling in Southeast Asia to return home. ASEAN member countries also wished that the EU would provide treatment for their infected citizens living and working in Europe./. The UK has exported the most coronavirus cases back to China's capital city after the epicentre of the outbreak shifted to Europe, according to health officials. Out of the 107 'imported cases' reported by Beijing, more than a third were detected among people travelling from Britain, followed by those coming from Spain and Italy, authorities revealed. The news comes as four members of the same family, including a one-year-old girl, all tested positive for the virus after arriving in Beijing following an eight-day-long stay in the UK. As of Sunday, Beijing had recorded 107 infections in new arrivals from abroad, and 34 of them had flown into the Chinese capital from the UK, according to official statistics. In the file picture above, a woman carries a child at Beijing's Capital International Airport on March 17 The UK is seeing a spike in the number of deaths and infections. At least 289 Britons have lost their lives to the killer bug and more than 5,800 have contracted the disease. As of Sunday, Beijing had recorded 107 infections in new arrivals from abroad. Among them, 34 people had arrived from Britain, making the UK the biggest 'exporter' of the deadly disease, reported China News. Spain and Italy ranked the second and the third 'source nation' after 29 people arriving from the former and 18 people flying from the latter had been diagnosed with the virus. The three countries were followed by the United States (seven cases), Austria (three cases) and Hungary (three cases). More than a third of the imported coronavirus cases in Beijing arrived from the UK. One of China's top coronavirus experts today warned that the nation is facing a second outbreak due to the increasing number of infections detected among new arrivals from abroad Last week, four members of the same Chinese family were all diagnosed in Beijing after flying to the Chinese capital city from Britain via Singapore. The case was revealed by the Beijing Center for Diseases Prevention and Control reported at a press conference yesterday. According to spokesperson Pang Xinghuo, the family has six members and stayed in an unspecified city in Britain from March 7 and 15. On March 13, a one-year-old girl in the family started to have coughs and a runny nose. She and the other members then returned to China with the Singapore Airlines via Singapore on March 16. Her mother and grandmother were found to have fevers during health screening at the Beijing international airport. Four members of the same Chinese family, including a one-year-old girl, all tested positive for the coronavirus last week after spending eight days in the UK, Beijing's health officials said On March 18, the girl and her family were taken to the Xiaotangshan Hospital, a purposely built medical facility for quarantining people arriving from abroad. She tested positive on March 20 and was confirmed to have the virus the next day. Her mother and grandmother were diagnosed on March 18 and her brother was diagnosed on March 21. Her father and sister have been placed under quarantine in the same hospital. One of China's top coronavirus experts today warned that the nation is facing a second outbreak due to the increasing number of infections detected among new arrivals from abroad. Professor Li Lanjuan, a member of Beijing's expert team on the virus, said she was 'very worried that imported cases could trigger another large-scale epidemic in our country'. Her comment came after health officials reported the country's first case of someone who is believed to have contracted the disease, known as COVID-19, from another person returning from abroad. Professor Li Lanjuan (pictured), a member of Beijing's expert team on the virus, said she was 'very worried that imported cases could trigger another large-scale epidemic in our country' Doctors in Guangzhou, the provincial capital of Guangdong, have diagnosed a coronavirus patient who fell ill after having close contact with a person entering China from Turkey. The 54-year-old man, known by his surname Jin, experienced muscle pain and a lack of strength on March 17. He was hospitalised on March 20 with a slight fever and tested positive the next day. Mr Jin was a close contact with another confirmed case, 34-year-old Ms Lin, who stayed in Istanbul from January 22 to March 8 on a business trip. Ms Lin flew back to Guangzhou on March 9 via Bangkok. She did not show any symptoms upon entering the country and stayed at home most of the time afterwards. Chinese health officials today reported no new local cases of the deadly virus but confirmed another 39 infections brought from overseas. Worldwide, more than 15,000 people have been killed by the contagion and around 350,000 people have been infected. The Indian government has asked Facbook, TikTok and other social media platforms to stop the spread of fake news. This comes after the rampant rise of fake news and misinformation about the Coronavirus hitting social media Were moving into the next stage of the Coronavirus outbreak as many states in India have finally gone under lockdown up until March 31. Its been a tough and strange couple of months and it doesnt help matters that there is a ton of fake news and misinformation being spread across social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, TikTok and more. Doing its part to stop the spread of fake news, the Indian government has written to companies such as Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, TikTok and ShareChat to clean up their respective platforms of misinformation during this trying time. The advisory states, Coronavirus the outbreak has become a global concern and it has been reported that there is a trend of circulation of misinformation and sharing anonymous data related to the virus, creating panic among the public. The government has even asked social media platforms to look into starting more awareness campaigns and to spread and promote the correct information and news regarding the outbreak. In a country of a billion people, there are bound to be miscreants and trolls looking to spread fake news. Experts have said that this is already huge flow of fake news and misinformation on Facebook and even on WhatsApp. The government is trying its level best to curb this. In an interview with IANS, Pavan Duggal, one of the countys leading cyberlaw experts also said, Dedicated cybercriminal groups are spreading panic and the Indian government is helpless. Daily supplies are getting over fast as cybercriminals piggybacked on Dr. Trehan's popularity to send fake letter out and created panic. In a bid to curb the spread of fake information, Google has just launched a Coronavirus Search Hub and you can read more about it, here. Testing for COVID-19 has been a critical component of containing the virus in numerous countries, and global health officials stress the importance of widespread testing, yet New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and his administration have suddenly switched gears to discourage testing in recent days. Last week, de Blasio pivoted his focus to securing medical supplies rather than pushing testing, as testing results can no longer be used strategically to stop the viruss spread. Theres also the possibility that those waiting to be tested could spread infection, especially when lines to test are as long as they were outside of Queens Elmhurst Hospital on Saturday. On Sunday, the city ended up canceling remote COVID-19 testing, outside of hospitals, to focus on securing resources for hospital sites, for that exact reason. Gov. Andrew Cuomo is pro-testing. Thanks to a sharp rise in testing over the last week, New Yorkers know there are currently 20,875 cases of the virus that have been identified in New York state, which has now tested 78,289 people. On Saturday, March 21, the governor announced that New York is now conducting more tests per capita than China and South Korea. In South Korea mass testing was used to determine how many people had COVID-19, even if they did not display symptoms, which helped slow the viruss spread by keeping asymptomatic or presymptomatic carriers of coronavirus in quarantine. They tested around 20,000 people per day and even launched drive-through testing areas to test as many people as possible. Because the country acted quickly, they did not need to enforce the severe social distancing practices that other countries have. However, some are concerned that the continued push for more COVID-19 testing will actually do more harm than good. The time for mass testing, unfortunately, is gone, New York City Councilman and Health Committee Chairman Mark Levine told City & State over the phone. According to Levine, the time for mass testing was a few weeks ago, when New York City, which is home to a majority of New Yorks statewide cases, could have identified everyone with COVID-19 and traced their contacts while those infected were in quarantine. However, the federal government did not create a testing infrastructure fast enough, meaning that many New Yorkers with less-severe COVID-19 symptoms were unable to access tests at that time. It's no longer practical or a good use of resources to identify everyone and trace all of their contacts, Levine said. We need to shift to the true battle ahead, which is in our hospitals. And it's a battle that's going to require us preserving all our resources for the most severely sick, that also includes testing. Resources being used to test individuals, such as personal protective equipment, medical staff and the COVID-19 tests, should be diverted to hospitals to treat the severely ill, Levine said. And we all know that when we really needed the testing, when it could have been absolutely strategically crucial, we didn't have it, de Blasio said during a press conference Sunday. And now, we're at a point where we have to treat testing on a priority basis given this massive community spread. But even that has to now be thought about in terms of the supplies and the equipment needed, even just to keep the testing going as much as we want because the first obligation is to save human lives. Some experts agree. "If we had all the resources in the world and could wave a magic wand, we would be happy to test these people, but they're not there, so I'm afraid we're having to prioritize," Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told CNN. Levine also noted that, in terms of treatment, the test results are not relevant in less severe cases. We get no useful information out of a test result, because either way the doctor is going to tell you stay home, rest, hydrate, take some meds for the headache or call a doctor if the situation gets worse, Levine said. The city must also contend with a shortage of protective gear for medical personnel doing the testing. For that reason, since Friday, despite the states ramped-up capacity to test for COVID-19, tests in New York City are being reserved for those who wind up being hospitalized. Levine said that even if the state suddenly had South Koreas testing capability it would be a waste of time at this point, though it could prove helpful in the future. There will come a day when we're on the other side of this pandemic and the number of (COVID-19) cases is dwindling, he said. And we can once again identify and trace individual contacts. But we are very, very far from that stage and that is many months away. Now all that matters is preserving resources. In place of testing, Levine and de Blasio urge social distancing to prevent the virus spread. But social distancing alone is not enough to completely suppress the virus. Should social distancing measures get scaled back as positive cases decrease, its likely that we would soon see the virus return. A combination of rampant and fast testing, strict social distancing, isolating the sick and contact tracing tracing the places and people infected individuals have come in contact with can adequately suppress the virus, The New York Times reports. But neither the state nor the country has been able to sufficiently execute all of these measures yet. Widely testing for the virus, however, can give medical officials insight as to where resources are needed to combat the virus and make social distancing more effective once more positive cases are identified. And testing can still provide epidemiologists and health care experts with valuable data moving forward. When we look at this retrospectively, knowing that is going to be important, Tara Smith, an epidemiologist at Kent State University, told FiveThirtyEight. The data we need to look at the genomics of the virus, who transmitted to whom, who sparked clusters in new areas, we get all of that data from testing. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram On March 11, Khadicha Askarova, the wife of imprisoned journalist Azimjon Askarov, wrote a letter to Kyrgyzstan President Sooronbay Jeenbekov pleading for the journalists release. Askarov, 68, has been in jail since June 2010 serving a life sentence on retaliatory charges over his journalism, and has developed cardiac problems including tachycardia and hypotension while imprisoned, according to CPJ research. In her letter, Askarova notes that he has also required painkillers for bone and joint pains. CPJ has repeatedly called for Askarovs release from prison. Kyrgyzstan announced its first cases of COVID-19 on March 18 and declared a state of emergency on March 22, according to news reports. The virus is particularly dangerous to older people with underlying medical conditions, according to the World Health Organization. The letter, which CPJ translated to English, can be read here. By Trend Two planes carrying China donations including 64 tons of face-masks and scrubs arrived in Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Air Port on Sunday, Trend reports citing IRNA. Managing director of Iran's Ministry of Mine, Industry and Trade for commercial services Mohammad Ghebleh said the shipment consisted of 2 million N-95 masks, 5 million three-layer masks and 200,000 scrubs. He noted that another consignment will also arrive in Iran tonight. The shipment will be distributed in Iranian Health Ministry and University of Medical Sciences, he added. Chinese people and government have so far sent 18 health and medical consignments to Iran for fighting coronavirus. Chinese people in less than 24 hours, donated half a million dollar to Iran for fighting coronavirus epidemic and called for launching a channel for collecting non-cash contributions. Iranian embassy in China on March 5 released a message in Weibo which is a leading social media in China and introduced a bank account for Chinese peoples cash contributions to fight COVID19 and people of China helped 4b Yuan ($576,000). In response to Chinese people memorable act, Iranian embassy in a message said Chinese peoples good-will "has impressed us and we now feel a heavy responsibility toward them." It added that aid provided by Chinese people will be spent for fighting coronavirus outbreak. Head of Iran's Health Ministry Public Relations Office Kianoush Jahanpour said on Sunday that 7,913 people out of a total of 21,638 infected by the coronavirus have survived the deadly disease while 1,685 have unfortunately succumbed to death. Jahanpour said that 1,028 new affected cases have been detected since yesterday. Over the last 24 hours, 129 people succumbed to death due to the virus, he added. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz W indows across the world have transformed into colourful canvases as children post rainbow pictures to brighten the publics mood. The chase the rainbow trend has seen kids and their families in the UK, US and beyond painting and drawing multicoloured displays along with messages of hope. It shot to popularity among Brits after schools were shut on Friday, as the government ramped up efforts to tackle the coronavirus outbreak. Manchester mother Vicky Corbleys children wrote captions reading dont worry and well get through alongside their vibrant displays. Chase the Rainbow - In pictures 1 /18 Chase the Rainbow - In pictures Billy Taylor Writtle with his window painting in Chesham Matt Writtle A picture of a rainbow is seen in a window in Enfield as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues. Enfield Reuters Marisa Macner Migdal, 35, leads her daughters Cecelia, 2, and Genevieve, 5, on a rainbow hunt as part of the Quarantine Rainbow Project in Brooklyn, New York Reuters Whit, 8 and Colton, 6, display pictures they drew in their home on a rainbow hunt as part of the Quarantine Rainbow Project in Brooklyn, New York Reuters A picture of a rainbow is seen in a window in Enfield as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues. Enfield Reuters Daniel Hambury Getty Images Reuters Daniel Hambury Lucia, who created a rainbow out of Play-Doh as part of the Quarantine Rainbow Project, poses in Brooklyn, New York Reuters Pictures drawn by children as part of the Quarantine Rainbow Project in Brooklyn, New York Reuters Marisa Macner Migdal, 35, leads her daughters Cecelia, 2, and Genevieve, 5, on a rainbow hunt as part of the Quarantine Rainbow Project in Brooklyn, New York Reuters Pictures drawn by children as part of the Quarantine Rainbow Project in Brooklyn, New York Reuters Marisa Macner Migdal, 35, leads her daughters Cecelia, 2, and Genevieve, 5, on a rainbow hunt as part of the Quarantine Rainbow Project in Brooklyn, New York Reuters I think we all need all the positivity we can get right now, the 33-year-old mum said. Everywhere we look on social media, its full of people panicking, worrying, scared. So doing something like this hopefully will lift peoples spirits, even if its just a smile plus its keeping kids busy, too! Ms Corbleys kids also thanked delivery drivers and postal workers as part of their motivational message. Meanwhile, north Somerset mum Nikki Holt shared a heartwarming video of her daughter Lucinda teaching viewers how to say rainbow using Makaton language skills. Lucinda, who has Down's syndrome, sits alongside her mum in the clip, as the pair teach viewers the word using the communication system which comprises symbols, signs and speech. Ms Holt told the Standard Lucinda and her brothers had each created rainbow contributions and that the exercise had put a smile on her daughters face. Further north, Danielle Oliver, 31, from Sunderland, agreed that the idea could be a welcome activity for youngsters during a very challenging and difficult time for everyone. She said: It not only provides young children who are out of school with an engaging activity, but also helps to encourage the children to be out exploring their local community safely. The neighbours have already been interested and it has been lovely to see smiles on peoples faces as they walk past the house. Karen Cumming, 34, from Dunblane, has helped get her kids involved by putting a rainbow in her sons bedroom window, and said she has seen another nearby already. I have two kids, one at eight years old with disabilities and a seven-month-old, Ms Cumming said. Neither understand what is happening in the world right now. My older son likes his school routine, which has obviously had to stop. As the battle against COVID-19 wages on, investors are seeking refuge. Nations around the world are taking drastic measures to flatten the curve, but these efforts are expected to hit the economy hard. Amid the ongoing public health crisis, even the most seasoned Wall Street observers have been spooked. Three months after the virus began its rapid spread, so much remains unknown about COVID-19 and the amount of time that social distancing will be necessary. As a result, investors are turning to less risky plays, but even safer investments like Treasury bonds have been put through the wringer. With this causing recession fears to mount, investment firm Goldman Sachs notes that some companies have what it takes to outperform in the long run, namely those with strong balance sheets. Bearing this in mind, we used TipRanks database to get all the details on two of the firms stock picks with plenty of cash on hand. On top of Goldman Sachs vote of confidence, both have received enough bullish calls from other analysts to earn a Strong Buy consensus rating. That being said, Goldman Sachs reminds investors not all names are poised to weather the storm and emerge as a long-term winner. So, we took advantage of the same tool to learn more about one ticker that has fallen out of favor with not only the firm, but also the rest of the Street. Lets dive in. Bunge Limited (BG) Bunge operates in the agricultural sector, providing grains and oilseeds to food processors as well as crop transportation services. While it hasnt managed to escape the broader market sell-off, Goldman Sachs sees a turnaround on the horizon. Adding BG to the firms Americas Conviction List (CL), analyst Adam Samuelson points to its strength in the Brazilian market. Corn and soybean sales have already exceeded year-ago and long-term averages for both the 2019 and 2020 harvests. According to Samuelson, this implies that first quarter Agribusiness earnings are slated for a boost. In addition, crush margins are still healthy, and spot margins in Brazil, Argentina and China have improved during the quarter thanks to strong soybean availability. The COVID-19 outbreak also isnt expected to have a material impact on Q1 operations or margins. Story continues With the company placing a significant focus on reorienting its operations and risk management as well as improving ROIC, Samuelson believes there is scope for material further asset sales, a resumption in buybacks and other operational levers to achieve its 9%+ ROIC target. Expounding on this, he stated, We view BG as a unique self-help story with a meaningful catalyst path ahead including scope for above-consensus Q1 results and the opportunity for management to further outline its internal transformation plan at the investor day. Add this to a 6.3% dividend yield and it becomes clear why Samuelson noted, ...we believe longer term investors will be rewarded as the pathway to medium-term earnings and returns improvement crystallizes over the next several months. To this end, the analyst reiterated his Buy recommendation and $69 price target. Should the target be met, shares could be in for a 117% twelve-month gain. (To watch Samuelsons track record, click here) What does the rest of the Street have to say? As it turns out, other analysts are on the same page. 3 Buys compared to no Holds or Sells issued in the last three months add up to a Strong Buy consensus rating. Not to mention the $68.67 average price target suggests 116% upside potential. (See Bunge stock analysis on TipRanks) SkyWest (SKYW) At first glance, airlines might not look like the most compelling opportunities right now. Like the rest of the industry, increasing restrictions on travel have weighed down SkyWest. However, Goldman Sachs believes that the company is ready to fly past its peers in the long-term. Weighing in on SKYW for Goldman, analyst Catherine O'Brien acknowledges that the travel industry has been dealt a major blow, and while the company does face less revenue risk, shares have been on the decline since the World Health Organization started tracking the number of infections. Explaining the decline, OBrien stated, We believe this is due in part to its higher-than-industry leverage position. However, we believe the companys leverage is somewhat misunderstood, as the majority of its debt is aligned with its capacity purchase agreements (i.e., it has contracted revenue to cover its interest payments). Furthermore, our illustrative stress test analysis implies the potential for upside from current share price levels. Its also important to mention that most of the airline companys debt is tied to its Embraer E175 fleet. However, should SKYW fail to secure new capacity purchase agreements for this fleet, there are essentially no interest coverage considerations because it will own the aircraft once maturity is reached. Additionally, OBrien points out that during the quarter, SKYW won several flying contracts. We have seen several major airlines consolidate their regional partners, with SkyWest winning additional contracts through this process. If the company secured additional contracts in the future, this would drive incremental organic earnings growth, she said. Based on all of the above, OBrien upgraded her rating from Neutral to Buy. Even though the Goldman Sachs analyst reduced the price target from $73 to $58, this still leaves room for potential upside growth of 187%. (To watch OBriens track record, click here) With 100% Street support, or 5 Buy ratings to be exact, the message is clear: SKYW is a Strong Buy. At $68, the average price target is more aggressive than OBriens, and puts the upside potential at 236%. (See SkyWest stock analysis on TipRanks) American Airlines (AAL) While Goldman Sachs is bullish on SkyWests long-term growth prospects, the same cant be said for its peer American Airlines. In the last month alone, shares have slid 63%, with the firm not expecting the narrative to change anytime soon. Analyst Catherine O'Brien, who also covers SKYW, restated that the airline industry as a whole has been negatively impacted by COVID-19. However, the current climate has made her less optimistic about AALs standing specifically. Our Buy rating was predicated on a unique opportunity at American to concentrate growth out of its most profitable hubs through 2021, and detailed analysis on the companys debt which gave us greater confidence that it could weather the challenges as the most levered name in our airlines coverage universe. Although American has started to execute on its hub connectivity plan starting with DFW in 2019, and there is still room to run with this initiative, we believe progress has likely slowed due to heightened uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, OBrien commented. It should also be noted that AALs leverage could create problems for the company. ...although we do not expect American to run into liquidity challenges based on our current forecasts, we believe that the companys leverage position will likely contribute to higher volatility in the stock price in the near-term. While we admit that this volatility could drive an upside surprise in the future, we do not think the risk/reward profile warrants a Buy rating, OBrien explained. Taking all of this into consideration, OBrien decided to watch from the sidelines and dropped the rating down from Buy to Neutral. The price target was also cut from $34 to $15, indicating 45% upside potential. Looking at the consensus breakdown, the bears have it. Based on 3 Buys, 4 Holds and 5 Sells received in the last three months, the word on the Street is that AAL is a Hold. Having said that, its $21.25 average price target implies that shares could soar 105% in the next twelve months. (See American Airlines stock analysis on TipRanks) Ireland's government is considering plans to pay up to 75% of the wages of thousands of staff temporarily laid off as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the Irish Times reported. Irish ministers are working on plans similar to those introduced by the British government on Friday that will see businesses paid up to 80% of a worker's salary, up to 2,500 pounds, if the employer keeps them on the payroll, the newspaper reported on Saturday. The Irish government already has a COVID-19 scheme that allows employers to claim a refund of 203 euros a week for employees temporarily laid off because of the pandemic, and on Friday said it would allow employers to top that up. It said 58,000 people had already claimed the emergency payment by Wednesday. On Friday, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said he accepted that 203 euros was not enough for many and the government was looking at what else it can do to both help those who have lost their jobs so quickly and support those who are still in a job. "Yes I'm aware of what the UK has done but we're also studying quickly what is happening in other European countries and we're going to see is there something we could do here and what would it be," Donohoe told national broadcaster RTE. Asked about the Irish Times story, a spokesman for the finance ministry gave the same response as Donohoe on Friday. (Reuters) Source: www.businessworld.ie As initiated and facilitated by the Government of Srilanka, SriLankan Airlines brought back 829 citizens who were stranded in India due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. They have been arriving in the country from March 20 to 22, as Sri Lanka was going into 48-hour quarantine curfew. "The national carrier took every measure to bring them home swiftly and safely, given that these passengers mainly consisted of senior citizens, an age group that has been advised to take extra precautions to be safe from the virus," the airline said in a statement. "Ever since the global outbreak, SriLankan Airlines has been playing a pivotal role in facilitating passage home to many Sri Lankans, which includes the mercy flight that was operated to Wuhan. The airlines operational areas have been fully functional despite the government declared holidays and work-from-home , and the staff members have been attending to their work dedicatedly and diligently, understanding fully the role that they are expected to play during these difficult times," it said. - TradeArabia News Service The Belfast Road in Bangor where a man died in a road crash A motorcyclist who died in a road collision in Co Down has left the local community "deeply saddened" at this "awful tragedy", an MLA has said. Andrew Browning (56) was killed in the incident which took place on the Belfast Road in Bangor last Friday evening. He was from the Donaghadee area. The PSNI revealed the two-vehicle collision - which occurred on the outskirts of the town at Rathgael - involved a Renault Captur and a motorcycle. Speaking at the weekend, North Down MLA Gordon Dunne said: "This is tragic news, and my thoughts and prayers go out to the family affected at this terrible time. "It is an awful tragedy for any family to have to face and I know local people are shocked and saddened at this latest fatality." Mr Dunne added: "This is a very sad reminder of the dangers of our roads." Police are appealing for witnesses, particularly anyone with dash-cam footage, to get in touch via 101 quoting reference number 1215 of 20/03/20. PR-Inside.com: 2020-03-23 16:38:43 Press Information Published by ACN Newswire +65 6304 8926 e-mail https://www.acnnewswire.com/ # 728 Words ACN Newswire+65 6304 8926 SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Mar 23, 2020 - Starting from a meteoric rise to fame in San Francisco as an iconic fashion and street photographer, Christopher C. Lee has riveted the attention of photography lovers nationwide with the grand opening of his boutique photography studio, Christopher C. Lee Photography & Film. He is also renowned as a portrait photographer who is able to "bring out the soul" of his subjects, capturing them in timeless frames. Chris is the founder of Photomochi ( https://www.photomochi.com) , an acclaimed Bay Area production studio, the lead designer of streetwear label Troo Wear ( https://www.troowear.com) , and the top-selling author of "The Japan Book", a cult classic travel photography book depicting the most beautiful locations of the island country.On the corporate side, Christopher has provided quintessential photography and videography for projects involving Google, Microsoft, Dropbox, YouTube, and more, earning him the nickname as the "Crown Jewel Photographer of Silicon Valley". His roots and reach span far greater than just being the media expert of the technology sector, however. He has photographed promotions for crystal jewelry brand Swarovski, as well as Australian luxury lingerie label, Honey Birdette. Christopher C. Lee is the leading San Francisco photographer for photography agency Snappr, bringing in hordes of clientele for the start-up. He is also well-known among the ranks of food photographers for Doordash and Forkable, photographing several tasty dishes for their menu. Experienced in car photography, he has previously photographed for Bring A Trailer as well as Porsche. His creative momentum and visual repertoire is endless and can be traced back to his drive for creative freedom.Christopher believes in achieving the apex of photography not only through visual design, but through the power of empathy. He is renowned for his unique approach to the business strategy of a creative company for art professionals. Firmly focusing on a grassroots, freelancer perspective, his criteria for his team of elite production experts span many levels, usually on themes regarding their independence, positivity, and humanity. Upon joining the team, his professionals are welcomed with immediate social and financial support to see their vision through. Each professional is catered to with an individualized support network and personal space to create. This parameters are recognized and set during the interview process. He firmly establishes a professional connection based on mutual trust and empathy, allowing his staff to have full personal stake in their work. Though the bar is set high, his team at Christopher C. Lee Photography & Film, as well as Photomochi, has always delivered.Notable projects include the viral music video for "Popout" ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmvL48okIFw) , a hit single by Empire Distribution and Afficials artists $tupid Young and MB Nel, from their collaboration album "The Yellow Tape". He has worked on the video promo Axent Wear, a designer headphone brand, gathering over 3 million dollars in funding as well as half a million views on it. He has provided photography services for top ranking blockchain organizations such as ETH San Francisco, photographing Vitalik Buterin, founder of Ethereum, and Balaji Srinivasan, CTO of Coinbase. Christopher's reach spans an audience of millions through his meticulous work, and he is tirelessly committed to perfecting his craft.All areas of pre-production - client consultations for project ideation, project treatments, location scouting and preparation, shot planning, set construction, talent acquisition, equipment rentals, are all done in-house and seamlessly so. Production comes in at full-force with a handpicked team of photographers, cinematographers, production assistants, set designers, wardrobe stylists, make-up artists, directors, assistant directors, producers, grips, and more, all up to the client's specifications. Post-production covers everything from editing to visual effects to color grading to digital mastering of deliverables. They even offer marketing and promotional services as well.Behind his hulking reputation as a photographer, Christopher C. Lee is known for being a genuine and kind professional amongst his creative peers. He is a solid team player and gives all of his employees the best shot at personal success. With his ability to lead a talented staff across all of his projects, nothing is impossible.Contacts:PhotomochiSan Francisco Bay AreaOffice: 1-415-212-9329E-mail: showtime@ photomochi.com Website: https://www.photomochi.com Christopher C. LeeSan Francisco Bay AreaOffice: 1-415-289-9644E-mail: contact@ chrisclee.com Website: https://www.chrisclee.com Dr Alex George has urged the NHS to provide complimentary car parking to all staff during the global coronavirus pandemic. With over 20,000 extra employees being called to help the fight against COVID-19, the Love Island star, 30, has called for 'hospital car parks to be free', as a worker's vehicle was clamped after they were forced to park at their local leisure centre. The media personality, who returned to his career as an A&E doctor in November 2018, wrote on Twitter on Sunday evening: 'Controversial but maybe this is a good time for hospital car parks to be free for NHS staff? Retweet if you agree.' Advice: Dr Alex George has urged the NHS to provide complimentary car parking to all staff during the global coronavirus pandemic Alex admitted he was left emotional when he received a message which agreed with his statement: 'Should be free anyway. Bournemouth hospital staff parked at the local leisure centre, which is CLOSED, came out to find themselves clamped!!' [sic] Earlier in the day, he thanked McDonald's for announcing its closure until further notice from Monday. Alongside the company's statement, the TV star shared: 'I know this will disappoint many but the right decision has been made [clapping hands sign].' Alex went on to share a snap from his recent YouTube video with Love Island's 2020 finalist Demi Jones, but clarified that the clip was filmed weeks ago, and he is following the government's advice to practise social distancing. Generous: With over 20,000 extra employees being called to help the fight against COVID-19, the Love Island star, 30, has called for 'hospital car parks to be free' Unfortunate: A worker's vehicle was clamped after they were forced to park at their local leisure centre Coronavirus was classed a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) last week, leading countries such as Italy, Spain and the UK to implement nationwide lockdowns. Social distancing, advised by the World Health Organisation (WHO), involves maintaining at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who coughs or sneezes, as the small liquid droplets sprayed could contain the virus. The measure also includes staying at home if you have a cough or fever even if you have not travelled and 'cocooning' elderly people suspected of being more vulnerable to the infection. Over the weekend, the Welshman enjoyed a home workout with his girlfriend Amelia Bath while the couple self-isolated amid the global crisis. 'Putting me through my paces': Over the weekend, the Welshman enjoyed a home workout with his girlfriend Amelia Bath while the couple self-isolated amid the global crisis 'Amelia putting me through my paces Face with tears of joy', he captioned the image, which saw the Ibiza Weekender, 25, perform a weighted squat. Earlier this month, Alex gave Good Morning Britain viewers an insight into working on the NHS frontline. During his TV appearance, the reality star begged fans to adhere to social isolation advice and not go to pubs, clubs and bars. Alex told presenters Adil Ray and Ranvir Singh that people need to take the pandemic seriously as he has seen first-hand how sufferers are having to use ventilators. Alex, who works at University Hospital Lewisham hospital in London, said: 'Patients who are becoming very unwell are requiring a lot of help and support. He pleaded with viewers not to go out unnecessarily, explaining: 'We're seeing that number grow.' 'Please take it seriously, especially when it comes to our advice when comes to self-isolation, not going to pubs, clubs and bars. It really makes a difference and ultimately, will save lives.' YEREVAN, MARCH 23, ARMENPRESS Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan sent a congratulatory address to President-elect of the Republic of Abkhazia Aslan Bzhania on March 23. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of Artsakh President's Office, the congratulatory address runs as follows: Honorable Mr. Bzhania, On behalf of the Artsakh Republic people, authorities and personally myself I extend my most heartfelt congratulations to you on the victory in the presidential elections of the Republic of Abkhazia. Your past way, knowledge and experience of state and political figure will undoubtedly serve the further comprehensive development of Abkhazia and strengthening of its state sovereignty. Fraternal relations with Abkhazia, based on the traditions of friendship and close cooperation, are highly appreciated in Artsakh. I am confident that the ties between our countries and peoples will deepen and expand further on. I once again congratulate You, honorable Mr. Bzhania, on being elected to the high and responsible post of head of the state wishing welfare and success in all your endeavors for the peace and prosperity of Abkhazia. - CS Mutahi Kagwe said they were Kenyans who had defied the mandatory 14 days self-quarantine orders and among them was Kilifi deputy governor - Gideon Saburi landed from Germany on March 1 and reportedly failed to self-quarantine and even interacted with Kilifi residents - He tested positive for the highly infectious disease and will be prosecuted in court for contravening government orders Kilifi deputy governor Gideon Saburi has tested positive of coronavirus after returning from Germany early this month. Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe confirmed Saburi's condition hours after reports of him defying self-quarantine emerged. READ ALSO: Maria series actor Luwi leaves fans in stitches after stepping out in woman's wig Gideon Saburi tested positive for the coronavirus. Photo: UGC. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: African beauty: Nameless showers his twa-mate Wahu with praise as she turns year older Speaking on Sunday, March 22, Kagwe said the deputy governor will also be arrested and charged for failing to quarantine, thus putting lives at risk. "We have therefore decided that all persons who violent self-quarantine would be forced to quarantine, and thereafter arrested and charged. "This would apply to a senior government official in Kilifi who refused to self-quarantine and who has tested positive," Kagwe said. READ ALSO: First of its kind: Kenya unveils telemedicine technology to boost fight against COVID-19 Reports emerged indicating the Kilifi leader failed to self-isolate after returning from Germany on March 1. Locals went to social media to bash the governors for absconding quarantine and endangering the lives of the people he interacted with. According to a report by Daily Nation, some of the locals claimed they shook hands and even hugged Saburi after his trip. After the confirmation of his condition, Kilifi governor Amason Jeffa Kingi has since admitted he interacted with patient. Kingi said he went into self-quarantine from Thursday, March 19, and even did a COVID-19 test but the results came negative. "Despite turning negative, coronavirus protocol dictates a self-quarantine for 14 days and I will fully comply," the governor said in a statement. In the meantime, cases of coronavirus have spiked to 15, as of today, Sunday, March 22. Health CS said the new eight cases involved five Kenyans and three foreigners. Kagwe asked Kenyans to remain vigilant and avoid social gatherings to step the spread of the virus. Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly. I have never met my mother | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke Jabin T Jacob Currently, there is a full-blown propaganda effort by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) underway to try and make the world forget about Chinas original sin of allowing the novel coronavirus Covid-19 disease to spread beyond the country. There are at least five elements to this endeavour. First, there is an effort to magnify the scale and scope of Chinas mitigation efforts. Hitherto, China had used its economic might and political heft to ensure that the World Health Organization (WHO) kept Taiwan out of the membership of the world body. After the virus outbreak, Beijing has also been able to prevent any WHO criticism of Chinas actions. A joint WHO-China report on the coronavirus disease was practically hagiographic in tone, talking about how China had rolled out perhaps the most ambitious, agile and aggressive disease containment effort in history and that the measures China has adopted are the only measures that are currently proven to interrupt or minimize transmission chains in humans. As impressive as all this sounds, it is the case that as with the SARS epidemic of 2002-2004 that originated in China, the global spread of Covid-19 is directly attributable to the fact it was not contained within China in the early stages. Chinese political exigencies initially dictated a cover-up of the outbreak of the disease was the best way forward. Chinas report card is therefore, mixed at best and it is probably too early even to say yet that China has completely stopped the spread of the virus. Second, even if it might not be schadenfreude, China has in recent weeks highlighted the struggles of other countries in dealing with their own outbreak and attempted to pay back in kind for the criticism it copped in the early days of the epidemic. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show For instance, it quoted the WHO Director-Generals March 14 comment that more coronavirus cases were being reported each day outside of China than the latter had reported at the epidemics peak, and that Europe had become the new global epicentre of the disease. Chinese media has highlighted the US overconfidence and lack of knowledge on the virus that stopped it from preventing the virus from spreading. Part of this exercise reflects also in the highlighting of cases of Covid-19 now entering China from overseas. Third, there is an increasing effort to advertise Chinas contribution to helping other countries fight Covid-19. China has sent medical aid and offered training to several countries from Iraq to Italy, and Iran to the Philippines. It has also highlighted without fail the gratitude each of these has apparently expressed to China for such aid. Meanwhile, Alibaba founder Jack Mas philanthropic foundation as well as the companys own foundation have planned donations of medical equipment to every country in Africa. Ma had earlier also announced a donation of 500,000 coronavirus testing kits and 1 million masks to the US. Fourth, is a desire to underline the robustness and legitimacy of the Chinese political system. The earlier WHO-China report, for instance, highlighted the sincerity and dedication of not just the medical personnel and scientists but also of Chinese Governors and Mayors, thus indirectly absolving the CCP leadership of its mistakes. Criticism of the US, while often warranted, has also involved references to the Chinese central governments decisive measures as well as advice to the US one of the first modern federal states on strengthen[ing] coordination between the US federal and state governments. References in the report to the community grid management system in China and its role in fighting the 2019-nCov while accurate, also elide over the fact that it is the same system that also aids and abets draconian surveillance and control measures over minority ethnic populations in Tibet and Xinjiang. The pandemic is also seen as offering an opportunity for China to push CCP General Secretary and Chinese President Xi Jinpings rhetoric of a community of common destiny part of the narrative of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as a way of framing Chinas help to the outside world. Calling Xi, commander-in-chief of Chinas war against COVID-19 now that the epidemic is apparently within control inside China is also about reinforcing not just his leadership supremacy at home but offering him as a model for other leaders and peoples around the world. Finally, there is now an active Chinese effort to deflect blame and spread misinformation. The most prominent part of this campaign has been the effort to somehow pin the blame for the origins of the virus on the US. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian, formerly Deputy Chief of Mission in Islamabad, has unashamedly pushed the narrative that the novel coronavirus was introduced into China by the US military and has incoherently but successfully, going by the number of retweets linked proceedings in the US Congress to his conspiracy theory. China has even gone after Mario Vargas Llosa, one of Latin Americas most prominent writers and the 2010 Nobel Prize winner for Literature, saying that his claim of the novel coronavirus coming from China was inaccurate. The sophistication and spread of the Chinese propaganda campaign shows how seriously its rulers take their countrys image abroad and the importance of this image to maintaining their hold on power at home. OTTAWA - Canada's door to the world edged open on Monday as the government announced new flights to repatriate stranded travellers abroad, but it was clear that door will soon slam shut, leaving many with no apparent options for coming home. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/3/2020 (659 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addresses Canadians on the COVID-19 situation from Rideau Cottage in Ottawa on Monday, March 23, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick OTTAWA - Canada's door to the world edged open on Monday as the government announced new flights to repatriate stranded travellers abroad, but it was clear that door will soon slam shut, leaving many with no apparent options for coming home. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced multiple new flights to bring stranded Canadians home from North Africa, Europe and Latin America due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Stranded Canadian travellers have been issuing desperate pleas over social media as they have been caught behind borders sealed in an effort to stem the spread of the virus. Despite the new flights, Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said in an interview with CBC radio that it won't be possible for the government to repatriate all Canadians stranded abroad. Champagne offered insights into the unprecedented international horse-trading he has been undertaking with foreign governments to negotiate landing rights, among other things. The prime minister also struck a stark tone, suggesting the sudden provision of new flights should not be interpreted as any kind of a new normal. He urged Canadians abroad to keep pursuing their own flight options, and to register with the government so they can receive proper updates. "You need to do this if you haven't done it already," Trudeau said Monday in his daily press conference outside his Rideau Cottage residence in Ottawa. "For Canadians stranded abroad, we're working with airlines to get people home. People should be returning by commercial means while they're still available." Meanwhile, Air Canada, Air Transat, WestJet and Sunwing airlines all have flights planned this week, Trudeau said. That will include three new Air Canada flights to bring Canadians back from Peru, which has otherwise closed its airspace, he said. Two more Air Canada flights are to reach Canadians in Morocco in the coming days, he said. Global Affairs Canada said in a statement after Trudeau spoke that the first of those flights was scheduled to depart on Monday. Global Affairs said it would continue to support the country's airlines in their efforts to repatriate Canadians. "In the past week WestJet, Air Transat and Sunwing brought home tens of thousands of Canadians from around the world, with more flights on their way," the department said in its statement. Global Affairs said an Air Canada flight to Spain is being planned. "Further work is being co-ordinated with Air Transat," the department said, for two flights to Honduras and one each to Ecuador, El Salvador and Guatemala. If any of the returning Canadians are expecting a warm embrace from a loved one or a quick trip to the grocery store to stock up before heading into self-isolation, Health Minister Patty Hajdu offered this firm reality check: forget it. "When people are coming back after international travel it is essential that they don't stop for groceries, that they don't visit their friends or family on the way home that they're not stopping anywhere but going directly home and doing so safely," Hajdu told a briefing on Monday. "What we're finding is that some people obviously don't have private transportation from the airport when they're returning, and so we're looking at measures we can put into place to make sure that they are not unwittingly coming into close contact with other people like taxi drivers or other public-transportation riders." She said the details on how that would happen were still a work in progress, but that it was essential. Paraphrasing her cabinet colleague, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Hajdu said: "sometimes we are making decisions and planning the details afterwards." In his interview with CBC's The Current, Champagne also acknowledged the challenges the government is facing in trying to bring home stranded Canadians in the face of unprecedented circumstances airport and airspace closures, border closures and the fact some countries have imposed martial law. "Considering the number of Canadians abroad, considering that we're facing very unusual and exceptional circumstances this is a world crisis there will indeed be Canadians who won't be able to return home, and we'll do our best to support them where they are." Global Affairs said in its follow-up statement that it is ready to provide consular services "to the extent possible, while respecting the decisions of local health authorities as they manage this public health emergency. Some limitations may be in effect in some areas of the world." The department said it is trying to help as many Canadians get home as possible, "but some may remain outside of the country for an indeterminate amount of time." It offered this advice to Canadians abroad: Monitor local media and follow instructions from local authorities Read the Global Affairs' travel advice and advisories for up-to-date information on the current situation in the country Check with health insurers to find out more about their policies related to COVID-19, including whether travellers are covered for medical treatment if they become infected or for extended stays outside of Canada Contact Global Affairs' emergency centre in Ottawa at +1-613-996-8885 (collect calls accepted where available) or by email at sos@international.gc.ca if emergency consular assistance is needed. Champagne told the CBC that Global Affairs Canada had received 10,000 calls and 14,000 emails in the 48 hours leading up to Monday morning. The government is negotiating an "aerial bridge" with Britain and France, and working in Latin America and Asia to help travellers find safe passage back to Canada, he said. Champagne said he had to negotiate into Sunday's late hours to gain air access to Peru despite the fact the country is closed, and it is controlled by the military. "My job is to negotiate on a case-by-case basis where we have a cluster of Canadians, and where Canadians can gather in one place," he said. "Sometime, getting the plane is Step 1, and the easiest one. Then it's to make sure we land there, make sure we can have safe passage for our crew, safe passage for Canadians who want to return home." This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 23, 2020. Patna: Bihar's Principal Secretary (Health) Sanjay Kumar has said that the government is tracing the contacts of the two positive cases of COVID-19 in the state. "Two COVID-19 positive cases in Bihar till now, both from Patna. One died due to renal failure. One of the family members of the second positive case has a travel history to Italy. The family member was in quarantine and showed no symptoms. We are tracing contacts of the cases," Kumar said. The samples of the 38-year-old man who passed away on Saturday due to kidney failure in Bihar`s state capital tested positive for coronavirus, according to Doctor Prabhat Kumar Singh, AIIMS Patna. "A 38-year-old man passed away in Bihar due to kidney failure has tested positive for COVID-19. He was from Munger and died yesterday at AIIMS in Patna. He had returned from Kolkata two days ago," said Singh. The man, a resident of Munger district, had a travel history to Qatar, and on his arrival in Patna via Kolkata was admitted to AIIMS.Following his death, the hospital administration had sent his samples for COVID-19 testing and they returned positive on Saturday evening. A debt jubilee is the only way to avoid a depression. By Michael Hudson March 22, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Even before the novel coronavirus appeared, many American families were falling behind on student loans, auto loans, credit cards and other payments. Americas debt overhead was pricing its labor and industry out of world markets. A debt crisis was inevitable eventually, but covid-19 has made it immediate. Massive social distancing, with its accompanying job losses, stock dives and huge bailouts to corporations, raises the threat of a depression. But it doesnt have to be this way. History offers us another alternative in such situations: a debt jubilee. This slate-cleaning, balance-restoring step recognizes the fundamental truth that when debts grow too large to be paid without reducing debtors to poverty, the way to hold society together and restore balance is simply to cancel the bad debts. The word Jubilee comes from the Hebrew word for trumpet yobel. In Mosaic Law, it was blown every 50 years to signal the Year of the Lord, in which personal debts were to be canceled. The alternative, the prophet Isaiah warned, was for smallholders to forfeit their lands to creditors: Woe to you who add house to house and join field to field till no space is left and you live alone in the land. When Jesus delivered his first sermon, the Gospel of Luke describes him as unrolling the scroll of Isaiah and announcing that he had come to proclaim the Year of the Lord, the Jubilee Year. Until recently, historians doubted that a debt jubilee would have been possible in practice, or that such proclamations could have been enforced. But Assyriologists have found that from the beginning of recorded history in the Near East, it was normal for new rulers to proclaim a debt amnesty upon taking the throne. Instead of blowing a trumpet, the ruler raised the sacred torch to signal the amnesty. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Like a puppy chasing its tail, some new investors often chase 'the next big thing', even if that means buying 'story stocks' without revenue, let alone profit. And in their study titled Who Falls Prey to the Wolf of Wall Street?' Leuz et. al. found that it is 'quite common' for investors to lose money by buying into 'pump and dump' schemes. In the age of tech-stock blue-sky investing, my choice may seem old fashioned; I still prefer profitable companies like Instem (LON:INS). While profit is not necessarily a social good, it's easy to admire a business that can consistently produce it. Loss-making companies are always racing against time to reach financial sustainability, but time is often a friend of the profitable company, especially if it is growing. Check out our latest analysis for Instem How Fast Is Instem Growing Its Earnings Per Share? In the last three years Instem's earnings per share took off like a rocket; fast, and from a low base. So the actual rate of growth doesn't tell us much. Thus, it makes sense to focus on more recent growth rates, instead. Like a falcon taking flight, Instem's EPS soared from UK0.087 to UK0.11, over the last year. That's a impressive gain of 26%. I like to see top-line growth as an indication that growth is sustainable, and I look for a high earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) margin to point to a competitive moat (though some companies with low margins also have moats). Instem shareholders can take confidence from the fact that EBIT margins are up from 6.5% to 10%, and revenue is growing. Ticking those two boxes is a good sign of growth, in my book. In the chart below, you can see how the company has grown earnings, and revenue, over time. To see the actual numbers, click on the chart. AIM:INS Income Statement, March 23rd 2020 Of course the knack is to find stocks that have their best days in the future, not in the past. You could base your opinion on past performance, of course, but you may also want to check this interactive graph of professional analyst EPS forecasts for Instem. Story continues Are Instem Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders? It makes me feel more secure owning shares in a company if insiders also own shares, thusly more closely aligning our interests. As a result, I'm encouraged by the fact that insiders own Instem shares worth a considerable sum. To be specific, they have UK11m worth of shares. That shows significant buy-in, and may indicate conviction in the business strategy. That amounts to 17% of the company, demonstrating a degree of high-level alignment with shareholders. It means a lot to see insiders invested in the business, but I find myself wondering if remuneration policies are shareholder friendly. A brief analysis of the CEO compensation suggests they are. For companies with market capitalizations under UK170m, like Instem, the median CEO pay is around UK276k. Instem offered total compensation worth UK243k to its CEO in the year to . That seems pretty reasonable, especially given its below the median for similar sized companies. CEO remuneration levels are not the most important metric for investors, but when the pay is modest, that does support enhanced alignment between the CEO and the ordinary shareholders. It can also be a sign of a culture of integrity, in a broader sense. Should You Add Instem To Your Watchlist? For growth investors like me, Instem's raw rate of earnings growth is a beacon in the night. If that's not enough, consider also that the CEO pay is quite reasonable, and insiders are well-invested alongside other shareholders. This may only be a fast rundown, but the takeaway for me is that Instem is worth keeping an eye on. Before you take the next step you should know about the 2 warning signs for Instem that we have uncovered. Of course, you can do well (sometimes) buying stocks that are not growing earnings and do not have insiders buying shares. But as a growth investor I always like to check out companies that do have those features. You can access a free list of them here. Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. President Trump announced Sunday that the federal government would activate the National Guard to help California, New York, and Washington three of the states hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic deal with the outbreak. The federal government will be funding 100 percent of the cost of deploying national guard units to carry out approved missions to stop the virus while those governors remain in command, Trump said at a White House briefing, adding that he saw the move as a backup to the state leaders, who will remain in command. Well be following them and we hope they can do the job and I think they will. I spoke with all three of the governors today, just a little while ago and theyre very happy with what were going to be doing, the president stated. Trump has approved disaster declarations for all three states and has directed Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to send medical stations with thousands of additional hospital beds, as well as Navy hospital ships to New York and Los Angeles, to assist in the effort against the outbreak. As of Sunday, New York, Washington, and California had 16,887, 1,996, and 1,468 cases, respectively. Last week, California governor Gavin Newsom and New York governor Andrew Cuomo both ordered their millions of residents to stay home and all non-essential businesses to close. Newsom said Thursday that the order would be in place until further notice, although he doubted it would last many, many months. Were going to take it to the ultimate step, which is were going to close the valve, Cuomo stated on Friday. More from National Review Coronavirus banner The entire world appears headed toward a lockdown as more countries work to slow the spread of the coronavirus which has now infected more than 350,000 people globally and led to more than 15,000 deaths as of Monday afternoon. Countries are closing their borders, shutting down nonessential businesses and encouraging people to keep at least 6 feet apart from one another. Spain was one of the first countries to sound a state of alarm, on March 14. The restrictions were set to be lifted March 29. But Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told regional leaders during a teleconference on Sunday that he is seeking to extend the shutdown for another two weeks. Spain has the third most coronavirus fatalities of all countries, currently 2,206. Sanchez called the virus a cruel disease. Its an unprecedented challenge, he said. A challenge that has forced us to take exceptional measures. Parliament will vote on the extension Wednesday. Residents of Spain are coping as best they can with the rules and mandates. One of those people is Giselle Abinader, a HuffPost UX designer (HuffPost is a subsidiary of Verizon Media) who is studying abroad in Barcelona for a masters degree in design. Being under quarantine in her flat during a pandemic was the last thing Abinader imagined she would have to deal with, she told Yahoo News in a video diary. Getty Images When I first came here I thought I was going to be spending weekends in London and Paris and Rome, and definitely all three of those are out of the question, Abinader said. There's no businesses open right now unless it is selling you supplies for you to stay in your house. Abinader said some grocery stores have security guards outside who look like bouncers to enforce strict distancing rules and limit the number of shoppers inside. She said there are markers on the floor to separate shoppers on the checkout line. Small shops and bakeries, a big part of the Spanish culture, allow only one or two customers inside at a time as long lines form outside the stores. A friend of Abinader was ordered to go home by police as she was outside filming a project for class. Story continues As adjustments to the shutdown continue to be made, Adinader says she continues to see the community come together. Everyone supports the health care workers and the people who are doing deliveries and making sure supplies are in stock for all the people who have to stay home, she said. So theres a round of applause every night. I think around 8:00 p.m. or 9:00 p.m. it kind of varies, but people last night were kind of clanking their pots and pans. ... Theres definitely a sense of camaraderie. (Getty Images) Even in these circumstances, Abinader believes people are working to deal with the pandemic as best as possible. Were all in this together, but everyones human, she said. We all know what its like to be cooped up in your house. And especially now everyones kind of trying to help each other out, but at a distance. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: - Musalia Mudavadi said despite the government's efforts to curtail the spread of coronavirus, there was need to look into the financial worries of Kenyans - He said Kenyans needed safety nets, especially of protection from eviction by landlords and also ways to ensure Kenyans remain afloat - Mudavadi further urged the government to reduce all types of personal and business taxes Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader Musalia Mudavadi has urged the government to look into the financial burdens that the common mwananchi is bound to face as the fight against coronavirus takes shape. Mudavadi said the Jubilee administration was doing a good job on preventing the spread of the disease but also called on measures to ease the financial worries which were already occupying Kenyans. READ ALSO: Coronavirus: DStv, GOtv reorganise programmes to fit pandemic situation Musalia Mudavadi said Kenyans needed economic protection due to the coronavirus. Photo: Musalia Mudavadi. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Rapper Kanye, wife Kim Kardashian exposed as phone call with Taylor Swift gets leaked For starters, he asked the government to provide safety nets such as protection against eviction from landlords, loans from banks and further called for a more coordinated state-led initiative to help Kenyans. "There are other financial worries occupying the citizens' mind such as their monthly rents, bank loans, monthly bill and other recurrent concerns. "Businesses and citizens will need safety nets protection against eviction by landlords in this difficult and uncertain times," he said. READ ALSO: Coronavirus: US President Donald Trump wishes China told him earlier about pandemic Mudavadi said the government should also reduce taxes. Photo: Musalia Mudavadi. Source: Facebook The politician also urged the government to consider temporary reduction of corporate and personal taxes as well as those taxes on goods and services. "Our economy should be protected since there are many cases of unemployment and many others will also loose their jobs and thus the government should look into reducing taxes," he added. His statement comes after a Nyandarua landlord brought smiles into his tenants' faces after asking them not to pay rent for two months. File photo: Coronavirus has posed a myriad of economic challenges. Photo: New York Times. Source: UGC The landlord identified as Michael Munene said he was well aware of the tough economic situations in Kenya which have been worsened by the pandemic. Speaking to Citizen TV in the evening of Saturday, March 21, Munene said he was touched by the plight of his customers who may experience challenges in raising rent. Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly How street families in Kenya are dealing with the Coronavirus pandemic | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke A Chinese driver has slammed his car into a shopping centre after he refused to prove to local health officers that he doesn't have the coronavirus. Shocking video shows the angry driver crashing his car into the entrance of a shopping mall yesterday in the Chinese central city Luoyang. The front bumper is seen falling off the wrecked car as the resident dashes off. The unidentified driver got upset after being asked to prove that he was not a potential coronavirus carrier, a witness told the local press. The resident has been detained by local police. An investigation is underway. The picture shows a Chinese driver has slammed his car into a shopping centre after he refused to prove to local officers that he doesn't have the coronavirus The Chinese driver was reportedly asked by a security officer to show his 'health code' while entering the car park of the Saibo Digital Shopping Mall on March 22. 'He didn't want to [show the code] and he was furious,' an anonymous witness told The Beijing News. The enraged driver then smashed his car into the glass doors repeatedly before leaving the shopping centre. The Chinese driver was reportedly asked by a security officer to show his 'health code' while entering the car park of the Saibo Digital Shopping Mall in Luoyang city on March 22 The city of Hangzhou, in eastern China's Zhejiang Province, has classified its citizens into three groups represented by three corresponding 'health codes'. The green code means the person is not a confirmed or suspected patient. The yellow code means the person is in quarantine but has less than seven days left. The red code mean the person needs to be isolated for 14 days The police managed to track down the driver after his car bumper and license plate fell off before he rushed out of the parking lot. Cities across China have ordered their citizens to scan dedicated barcodes at the entrance of public places or transport stations to prove they are not potential coronavirus carriers. Residents who have not been in contact with confirmed or suspected patients are assigned a green code, which will allow them to leave their homes without restriction. Those who are under quarantine are given a yellow or red code depending on how many days they have isolated themselves for. If they have just started their quarantine, they will be tagged with a red code; but if they have isolated themselves for more than a week, a yellow code will be issued. Cities across China have ordered their citizens to scan dedicated barcodes at the entrance of public places or transport stations to prove they are not potential coronavirus carriers Residents who have not been in contact with confirmed or suspected patients are assigned a green code, which will allow them to leave their homes without restriction. Two women are pictured using their mobile phones in Beijing today Residents are required to pass the virtual health checks before going into restaurants, shops, public buildings and residential complexes or using the subway and buses. 'When the verification result is green, [they] can pass; when the verification code is red or yellow, [they] will be dealt with according to regulations,' said Hangzhou News, quoting a government statement. To have their health tags changed from yellow or red to green, the locals must provide their ID information as well as their location records on their mobile devices for the past 14 days to their residential committee. Those without smart phones can apply for a physical health card. Residents are required to pass the virtual health checks before going into restaurants, shops, public buildings and residential complexes or using the subway and buses. People are seen scanning a QR code to submit their personal information at an entrance of a grocery market This comes as one of China's top coronavirus experts has warned that the nation is facing a second outbreak due to the increasing number of infections detected among new arrivals from abroad. Professor Li Lanjuan, a member of Beijing's expert team on the virus, said she was 'very worried that imported cases could trigger another large-scale epidemic in our country'. It also came as life in former epicentre Wuhan is slowly returning to normal following a two-month draconian lockdown. Worldwide, more than 15,286 people have been killed by the contagion and over 348,000 people have been infected. anatakti Among others, the site gives information on measures for preventing the spread of novel coronavirus and the recent measures restricting movement.The migration and asylum ministry on Saturday announced the creation of a new Facebook page @migrationinfogr providing information to asylum seekers in Greece. This improves on the page previously run by the Greek asylum service and provides information in the languages that asylum seekers tend to understand.Among others, the site gives information on measures for preventing the spread of novel coronavirus and the recent measures restricting movement, including movement into and out of refugee and migrant facilities.The same information is also available on the ministry website www.migration.gov.gr and other social media, while there are plans to enable two-way communication with asylum seekers through individual accounts.In a video message, Migration and Asylum Minister Notis Mitarakis stressed that the ministrys aim was to convey important information that concerns you as asylum seekers in our country and noted that the top priority at this time was to prevent the spread of coronavirus, which led to a decision to restrict movement to and from refugee and migrant facilities.We have already shut down asylum services within the facilities and restricted the movement of employees to and from the facilities, so as not to allow the entry of coronavirus into these, in some way, closed communities. An emergency plan for these facilities has been drawn up. We have already started to place healthcare huts on the perimeter of the facilities to deal with any possible cases and will cooperate according to each instance, he said.Source: a.p.e. SAN FRANCISCO, March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- JLL Capital Markets announced today that it has arranged $991.77 million in financing for a geographically diverse, 17-property portfolio totaling more than seven million square feet across major U.S. markets. JLL worked on behalf of CalSTRS and their advisor, PCCP, to arrange the 10-year, fixed-rate loan with New York Life Insurance Company. The portfolio's five office assets comprise the majority of the portfolio's value, with the remaining properties consisting of nine industrial and three multi-housing assets. The properties are located across major markets in seven states, including California, Arizona, Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia and Massachusetts. The commercial property portfolio is leased to a diverse mix of creditworthy tenancy from varied industries, including financial services, media, software, government, food, law, internet, e-commerce and healthcare. JLL Executive Managing Director Kevin MacKenzie, Senior Managing Director Bruce Ganong and Managing Director Brian Torp represented the borrower. A support team of JLL's Spencer Bergthold, Sam Godfrey, Bercut Smith and Andie Fezell assisted with the transaction. JLL Capital Markets is a full-service global provider of capital solutions for real estate investors and occupiers. The firm's in-depth local market and global investor knowledge delivers best-in-class solutions for clients whether investment advisory, debt placement, equity placement or recapitalization. The firm has more than 3,700 Capital Markets specialists worldwide with offices in nearly 50 countries. For more news, videos and research resources on JLL, please visit the firm's U.S. media center Web page: U.S. newsroom. - ends About JLL JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. JLL shapes the future of real estate for a better world by using the most advanced technology to create rewarding opportunities, amazing spaces and sustainable real estate solutions for our clients, our people and our communities. JLL is a Fortune 500 company with annual revenue of $18.0 billion, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of more than 93,000 as of December 31, 2019. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit jll.com. About CalSTRS CalSTRS provides a secure retirement to more than 964,000 members whose CalSTRS-covered service is not eligible for Social Security participation. Members retire on average after more than 24 years in the classroom with a monthly benefit of approximately $4,547. Established in 1913, CalSTRS is the largest educator-only pension fund in the world. CalSTRS demonstrates its strong commitment to long-term corporate sustainability principles in its annual Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Report. For more information, visit CalSTRS.com. About PCCP Since 1998, PCCP has been providing commercial real estate debt and equity solutions in the U.S. Its hands-on investment management team has raised, invested or managed over $21.8 billion of institutional capital. Connect with us https://www.linkedin.com/company/jll https://www.facebook.com/jll https://twitter.com/jll https://www.instagram.com/jll Contact: Kevin MacKenzie, JLL Executive Managing Director CA License #: 01898953 Phone: + 1 949 253 8800 Email: [email protected] Contact: Kristen Murphy, JLL Senior Manager, Public Relations Phone: +1 617 848 1572 Email: [email protected] SOURCE JLL Related Links http://www.jll.com Our Divisions Copyright 2021-22 DB Corp ltd., All Rights Reserved This website follows the DNPA Code of Ethics. I want to add my voice to the March 20 collection of responses to the coronavirus, Its a waking nightmare. I have been sick for about two weeks. On Friday, I was as sick as I had been at the onset. I strongly believe I have covid-19. I have made multiple efforts over the past week to get Fairfax County to test me. County officials have not provided any information as to where I can get tested. The response from my local hospital has been the same. On Thursday, I sent an email to my county board supervisor asking for help. So far, I have not heard back. As of Friday, Fairfax County said it had 15 confirmed covid-19 cases. Because it seems impossible to get tested, that number is a joke. I have self-quarantined since I became ill, and I will continue to do so. I do wonder how long I will be ill and how I will know when it will be safe to have contact with people. Novo Nordisk A/S (CPH:NOVO B) stock is about to trade ex-dividend in 3 days time. You will need to purchase shares before the 27th of March to receive the dividend, which will be paid on the 31st of March. Novo Nordisk's next dividend payment will be 5.35 per share, on the back of last year when the company paid a total of 8.35 to shareholders. Calculating the last year's worth of payments shows that Novo Nordisk has a trailing yield of 2.3% on the current share price of DKK359.35. If you buy this business for its dividend, you should have an idea of whether Novo Nordisk's dividend is reliable and sustainable. So we need to investigate whether Novo Nordisk can afford its dividend, and if the dividend could grow. Check out our latest analysis for Novo Nordisk Dividends are usually paid out of company profits, so if a company pays out more than it earned then its dividend is usually at greater risk of being cut. Novo Nordisk is paying out an acceptable 51% of its profit, a common payout level among most companies. Yet cash flows are even more important than profits for assessing a dividend, so we need to see if the company generated enough cash to pay its distribution. Over the last year it paid out 55% of its free cash flow as dividends, within the usual range for most companies. It's positive to see that Novo Nordisk's dividend is covered by both profits and cash flow, since this is generally a sign that the dividend is sustainable, and a lower payout ratio usually suggests a greater margin of safety before the dividend gets cut. Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends. CPSE:NOVO B Historical Dividend Yield, March 23rd 2020 Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing? Stocks in companies that generate sustainable earnings growth often make the best dividend prospects, as it is easier to lift the dividend when earnings are rising. Investors love dividends, so if earnings fall and the dividend is reduced, expect a stock to be sold off heavily at the same time. For this reason, we're glad to see Novo Nordisk's earnings per share have risen 10% per annum over the last five years. Novo Nordisk has an average payout ratio which suggests a balance between growing earnings and rewarding shareholders. This is a reasonable combination that could hint at some further dividend increases in the future. Story continues Many investors will assess a company's dividend performance by evaluating how much the dividend payments have changed over time. Novo Nordisk has delivered 19% dividend growth per year on average over the past ten years. Both per-share earnings and dividends have both been growing rapidly in recent times, which is great to see. Final Takeaway From a dividend perspective, should investors buy or avoid Novo Nordisk? Higher earnings per share generally lead to higher dividends from dividend-paying stocks over the long run. That's why we're glad to see Novo Nordisk's earnings per share growing, although as we saw, the company is paying out more than half of its earnings and cashflow - 51% and 55% respectively. Overall, it's hard to get excited about Novo Nordisk from a dividend perspective. While it's tempting to invest in Novo Nordisk for the dividends alone, you should always be mindful of the risks involved. In terms of investment risks, we've identified 1 warning sign with Novo Nordisk and understanding them should be part of your investment process. A common investment mistake is buying the first interesting stock you see. Here you can find a list of promising dividend stocks with a greater than 2% yield and an upcoming dividend. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. An Airbus A380 passes the moon as it takes off from Heathrow Airport. (Steve Parsons/PA) Airbus (AIR.PA) on Monday said that it would suspend its 1.4bn (1.3bn) shareholder dividend, withdraw its 2020 financial guidance, and secure a new 15bn (13.4bn) credit facility to bolster its balance sheet in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The European planemaker, which last week temporarily suspended production at its facilities in France and Spain, said that the new measures will mean that it has significant liquidity available to cope with the financial impacts of coronavirus. In 2019, Airbus has said it would issue a dividend of 1.80 per share, amounting to an overall cash value of around 1.4bn. The new 15bn credit facility, which was converted from an existing 5bn credit line, now means that Airbus has around 30bn in available liquidity to withstand the crisis. Read more: European stocks sink as US fails to agree on coronavirus stimulus package The company also said on Monday that it would suspend a voluntary top-up in employee pension funding. Airbus said on Monday that it continued to assess the ongoing situation and the impact of the pandemic on its business, customers, suppliers and the aviation industry as a whole. Last week, Airbus said that it would close its facilities in France and Spain for four days so that the company could implement new hygiene standards. The planemaker on Monday also said that it was forced to withdraw its full-year guidance, citing the volatility of the situation. Airbus had expected to deliver around 880 commercial aircraft this year, and guidance issued last month suggested it would post operating profits of 7.5bn, up from 6.9bn in 2019. Our first priority is protecting people while supporting efforts globally to curb the spread of the coronavirus. We are also safeguarding our business to protect the future of Airbus and to ensure we can return to efficient operations once the situation recovers, said Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury on Monday. Read more: Merkel goes into quarantine as Germany imposes extreme restrictions Story continues We have withdrawn our 2020 guidance due to the volatility of the situation. At the same time, we are committed to securing the liquidity of the company at all times through a prudent balance sheet policy, he said. I am convinced that Airbus and the broader aerospace sector will overcome this critical period. Travel and aviation industry stocks have been among the worst hit in Europe, as the sector contends with the spiralling coronavirus pandemic. The Centre for Aviation, an industry analysis and research group, warned that many airlines could be bankrupt within months, as demand for air travel sinks. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 18:29:38|Editor: mingmei Video Player Close MAPUTO, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM) announced Monday the occurrence of an armed attack by insurgents on the barracks of the Defense and Security Forces in the village of Mocimboa da Praia district in the northern province of Cabo Delgado. PRM spokesman, Orlando Mudumane said at a press conference in Maputo that the attack occurred in the early hours of this morning, and the Defense and Security Forces have been fighting against those insurgents. "Today, at 4:30 am, criminals attacked the headquarters town of Mocimboa da Praia. They attacked the barracks of the Defense and Security Forces and hoisted their flag in the village," said Orlando Mudumane. Modumane said that insurgents set up barricades at the main entrances to the village, and "right now, they (the insurgents) are in crossfire with the Defense and Security Forces looking to recover Mocimboa da Praia". The spokesman said efforts are underway to restore order and public security are on the spot and in other places where the insurgents are supposed to have gone. The village of Mocimboa da Praia is the very place where the series of insurgents' attacks began in October 2017, which spread to other districts, leading to hundreds of deaths since then. Today we'll take a closer look at Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (HKG:2318) from a dividend investor's perspective. Owning a strong business and reinvesting the dividends is widely seen as an attractive way of growing your wealth. On the other hand, investors have been known to buy a stock because of its yield, and then lose money if the company's dividend doesn't live up to expectations. A high yield and a long history of paying dividends is an appealing combination for Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China. We'd guess that plenty of investors have purchased it for the income. During the year, the company also conducted a buyback equivalent to around 0.7% of its market capitalisation. There are a few simple ways to reduce the risks of buying Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China for its dividend, and we'll go through these below. Explore this interactive chart for our latest analysis on Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China! SEHK:2318 Historical Dividend Yield, March 23rd 2020 Payout ratios Dividends are typically paid from company earnings. If a company pays more in dividends than it earned, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. As a result, we should always investigate whether a company can afford its dividend, measured as a percentage of a company's net income after tax. Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China paid out 24% of its profit as dividends, over the trailing twelve month period. We'd say its dividends are thoroughly covered by earnings. Remember, you can always get a snapshot of Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China's latest financial position, by checking our visualisation of its financial health. Dividend Volatility Before buying a stock for its income, we want to see if the dividends have been stable in the past, and if the company has a track record of maintaining its dividend. For the purpose of this article, we only scrutinise the last decade of Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China's dividend payments. The dividend has been cut on at least one occasion historically. During the past ten-year period, the first annual payment was CN0.15 in 2010, compared to CN2.05 last year. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 30% a year over that time. Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China's dividend payments have fluctuated, so it hasn't grown 30% every year, but the CAGR is a useful rule of thumb for approximating the historical growth. Story continues So, its dividends have grown at a rapid rate over this time, but payments have been cut in the past. The stock may still be worth considering as part of a diversified dividend portfolio. Dividend Growth Potential With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to see if earnings per share (EPS) are growing. Why take the risk of a dividend getting cut, unless there's a good chance of bigger dividends in future? Strong earnings per share (EPS) growth might encourage our interest in the company despite fluctuating dividends, which is why it's great to see Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China has grown its earnings per share at 28% per annum over the past five years. The company is only paying out a fraction of its earnings as dividends, and in the past been able to use the retained earnings to grow its profits rapidly - an ideal combination. Conclusion To summarise, shareholders should always check that Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China's dividends are affordable, that its dividend payments are relatively stable, and that it has decent prospects for growing its earnings and dividend. We're glad to see Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China has a low payout ratio, as this suggests earnings are being reinvested in the business. Next, earnings growth has been good, but unfortunately the dividend has been cut at least once in the past. Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China has a credible record on several fronts, but falls slightly short of our standards for a dividend stock. Investors generally tend to favour companies with a consistent, stable dividend policy as opposed to those operating an irregular one. Meanwhile, despite the importance of dividend payments, they are not the only factors our readers should know when assessing a company. Taking the debate a bit further, we've identified 2 warning signs for Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China that investors need to be conscious of moving forward. We have also put together a list of global stocks with a market capitalisation above $1bn and yielding more 3%. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. She's self isolating in Los Angeles with husband Nick Jonas. But Priyanka Chopra joined in with a movement from back home in Indian on Sunday, as she applauded first responders, while standing on her balcony. 'People around the world have shown their appreciation for the doctors, nurses, and all first responders battling @Covid19 by clapping on their balconies,' the Bollywood star, 37, captioned a video of herself clapping. 'Although I couldn't be there in India today to join, I am there in spirit #jantacurfewindia' United! Priyanka Chopra showed her solidarity with her native India and walked out on her balcony and began clapping in honor of first responders amid the coronavirus pandemic Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for people across the country to emerge from their homes at 5pm on Sunday and salute first responders on the front lines in the fight against the coronavirus. Although quarantined at her home in Los Angeles with husband Nick Jonas, Priyanka showed her solidarity with her home country. Prime Minister Modi made the request when he addressed the nation on Thursday and asked everyone to stay indoors from 7am to 9pm, with the exception of essential services, in a show of solidarity to help stamp out the spread of coronavirus. Chopra has been vocal in her support of home quarantine and social distancing on social media since many countries heightened its response over the last couple of weeks. Heartfelt: 'Although I couldn't be there in India today to join, I am there in spirit #jantacurfewindia,' the Quantico actress wrote in caption On Saturday the Quantico star shared a sweet snap of herself laying down with pet pooch Gino, as husband Nick Jonas caresses her during their home quarantine. In a move to promote social distancing, she added the hashtag #stayathome, along with @nickjonas, @ginothegerman and two heart emojis. She also shared a couple of other photos of herself snuggling with Gino the previous week. 'Staying home during this time is the safest thing to do. @ginothegerman giving mommy hugs makes it so much better,' she wrote in the caption. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 06:01:42|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO, March 22 (Xinhua) -- At least 11 people were killed and another 17 injured when a bus collided head on with a truck in southeast Brazil's Minas Gerais state on Sunday. According to the Federal Highway Police, the accident took place around dawn along a highway near the town of Pirapora, after the bus invaded the opposite lane, and crashed into the oncoming truck. The bus was heading from northeast Bahia state to the city of Paracatu, in Minas Gerais. The truck, meanwhile, was heading towards Bahia from Sao Gotardo, in Minas Gerais. All of the fatal victims were men traveling aboard the bus. The injured were taken to a nearby hospital, some in serious condition. Close Donald Trump mocks Mitt Romney's coronavirus threat 'gee that's too bad' The US now has the third-highest number of coronavirus cases in the world, as New York mayor Bill de Blasio implores Donald Trump for more federal assistance and warns that the citys 11 public hospitals only have enough medical supplies to last for the next week. The Senate reached yet another stalemate over a $2trn (1.7trn) economic stimulus package on Monday after Democrats have argued that the Republican-led bill amounts to a slush fund for the president and his corporate allies in its present form. Republican majority leader Mitch McConnell hit back, saying that our nation cannot afford a game of chicken" as both sides moved to reassure the public that they are very close to coming to an agreement on the bailout. The president has meanwhile continued to push to re-open the US from its effective shutdown within weeks, rather than months, as the White House approaches the end of a 15-day shuttering next week. He said: "Our country wasn't built to be shut down." After arguing that business as usual should continue in the coming weeks to keep the economy moving, he said that doctors in his administration haven't "endorsed" easing those restrictions but he claimed "they're OK with it". Asked whether any health officials agree that guidelines should be eased within a week, the president said: "If it were up to the doctors, they may say, 'Let's keep it shut down. Let's shut down the entire world.'" The president also promoted the use of a controversial drug that will begin trials this week to determine its efficacy combatting the virus. A man in Arizona died after trying to recreate the drug from an aquarium cleaner, days after Mr Trump had contradicted his own health officials in declaring it a "game changer" against the virus. Follow live coverage as it happened Please allow a moment for the liveblog to load The Trump administration eliminated a key American public health position in Beijing, intended to help detect disease outbreaks in China, several months before the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic began, The last person in the post a medical epidemiologist embedded in China's disease control agency left in July, according to four sources with knowledge of the issue. The first cases of the new coronavirus may have emerged as early as November, and as cases exploded, the Trump administration in February chastised China for censoring information about the outbreak and keeping US experts from entering the country to help. "It was heartbreaking to watch," said Dr Bao-Ping Zhu, a Chinese American who served in the role, which was funded by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 2007 and 2011. "If someone had been there, public health officials and governments across the world could have moved much faster." Dr Zhu and the other sources said the American expert, Dr Linda Quick, was a trainer of Chinese field epidemiologists who were deployed to the epicentre of outbreaks to help track, investigate and contain diseases. As an American CDC employee, they said, Dr Quick was in an ideal position to be the eyes and ears on the ground for the United States and other countries on the coronavirus outbreak, and might have alerted them to the growing threat weeks earlier. Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Show all 20 1 /20 Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Top: Nabi Younes market, Mosul Bottom: Charles Bridge, Prague Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Grand Mosque, Mecca Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Sagrada Familia, Barcelona Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Nabi Younes market, Mosul Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Basra Grand Mosque, Iraq Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Charles Bridge, Prague Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Taj Mahal hotel, India Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Dubai Mall, UAE Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Beirut March, Lebanon Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Gateway of India, Mumbai Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Cairo University, Egypt Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Amman Citadel, Jordan Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Beirut March, Lebanon Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Cairo, Egypt Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Cairo University, Egypt Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Victoria Memorial, India Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Amman Citadel, Jordan Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Amman Citadel, Jordan Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Sidon, Lebanon Reuters No other foreign disease experts were embedded to lead the program after Dr Quick left in July, according to the sources. Dr Zhu said an embedded expert can often get word of outbreaks early, after forming close relationships with Chinese counterparts. Dr Zhu and the other sources said Dr Quick could have provided real-time information to US and other officials around the world during the first weeks of the outbreak, when they said the Chinese government tamped down on the release of information and provided erroneous assessments. Dr Quick left amid a bitter US trade dispute with China when she learned her federally funded post, officially known as resident adviser to the US Field Epidemiology Training Program in China, would be discontinued as of September, the sources said. The CDC said it first learned of a "cluster of 27 cases of pneumonia" of unexplained origin in Wuhan on 31 December. Since then, the outbreak of the disease known as Covid-19 has spread rapidly worldwide, killing more than 13,600 people, infecting more than 317,000. The epidemic has overwhelmed healthcare systems in some countries, including Italy, and threatens to do so in the United States and elsewhere. During a press briefing on Sunday shortly after Reuters first reported on Dr Quick's departure, Donald Trump dismissed the report as similar to other stories regarding the CDC that he described as 100 per cent wrong, without addressing whether the role had been eliminated. Dr Robert Redfield, director of the CDC, maintained that the agency's presence in China "is actually being augmented as we speak", without elaborating. In a statement to Reuters before the report was published, the CDC said the elimination of the adviser position did not hinder Washington's ability to get information and "had absolutely nothing to do with CDC not learning of cases in China earlier". The agency said its decision not to have a resident adviser "started well before last summer and was due to China's excellent technical capability and maturity of the program". The CDC said it has assigned two of its Chinese employees as "mentors" to help with the training program. The agency did not respond to questions about the mentors' specific role or expertise, and would not make Dr Quick, who still works for the agency, available for comment. Asked for comment on Chinese transparency and responsiveness to the outbreak, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs referred to remarks by spokesperson Geng Shuang on Friday. Mr Geng said the country "has adopted the strictest, most comprehensive, and most thorough prevention and control measures in an open, transparent, and responsible manner, and informed the [World Health Organisation] and relevant countries and regions of the latest situation in a timely manner". One disease expert told Reuters he was sceptical that the US resident adviser would have been able to get earlier or better information to the Trump administration, given the Chinese government's suppression of information. "In the end, based on circumstances in China, it probably wouldn't have made a big difference," Scott McNabb, who was a CDC epidemiologist for 20 years and is now a research professor at Emory University. "The problem was how the Chinese handled it. What should have changed was the Chinese should have acknowledged it earlier and didn't." Alex Azar, the US secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), said on Friday that his agency learned of the coronavirus in early January, based on Dr Redfield's conversations with "Chinese colleagues". Dr Redfield learned that "this looks to be a novel coronavirus" from Dr Gao Fu, the head of China's equivalent to the CDC, according to an HHS administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "Dr Redfield always talked to Dr Gao," the official said. HHS and CDC did not make Mr Azar or Dr Redfield available for comment. Dr Zhu and other sources said US leaders should not have been relying on China's CDC director for alerts and updates. In general, they said, officials in China downplayed the severity of the outbreak in the early weeks and did not acknowledge evidence of person-to-person transmission until 20 January. After the epidemic exploded and China had imposed strict quarantines, Trump administration officials complained that the Chinese had censored information about the outbreak and that the United States had been unable to get American disease experts into the country to help contain the spread. Mr Azar told CNN on 14 February that he and Dr Redfield officially offered to send a CDC team into China on 6 January but still had not received permission for them to enter the country. HHS oversees the CDC. "Dr Redfield and I made the offer on January 6th - 36 days ago, 60,000 cases and 1,300 deaths ago," Mr Azar said. "We made the offer to send the CDC experts in to assist their Chinese colleagues to get to the bottom of key scientific questions like, how transmissible is this disease? What is the severity? What is the incubation period and can there be asymptomatic transmission?" Days later, the World Health Organisation secured permission to send a team that included two US experts. The team visited between 16-24 February. By then, China had reported more than 75,000 cases. On 25 February, the first day the CDC told the American public to prepare for an outbreak at home, Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, accused China of mishandling the epidemic through its "censorship" of medical professionals and media. Relations between the two countries have deteriorated since then, as Mr Trump has labelled the coronavirus the "Chinese virus" - a description the Chinese have condemned as stigmatising. Last week, the Chinese government announced that Americans from three US news organisations, The New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal, would be expelled from China. Recommended Trump appears to mock Mitt Romney over coronavirus isolation The decision to eliminate Dr Quick's job came as the CDC has scaled back the number of US staffers in China over the last two years, the sources told Reuters. "We had already withdrawn many technical public health experts," the same expert said. The CDC, however, disputed that staffing was a problem or that its information had been limited by the move. "It was not the staffing shortage that limited our ability," it said. The US CDC team in Beijing now includes three American citizens in permanent roles, an additional American who is temporary and around 10 Chinese nationals, the agency said. Of the Americans, one is an influenza expert with expertise in respiratory disease. Covid-19 is not influenza, though it can cause severe respiratory illness. The CDC team, aside from Dr Quick, was housed at US Embassy facilities. No American CDC staffer besides Dr Quick was embedded with China's disease control agency, the sources said. China in recent weeks has reported a dramatic slowdown in new cases, the result of drastic containment measures including the lockdown of Hubei province, home to 60 million people. Nevertheless, the infectious disease experts who spoke with Reuters said, the United States could use people like Dr Quick with contacts on the ground, especially if fears of a second wave of infections materialises. Thomas Frieden, a former director of the CDC, said that if the US resident adviser had still been in China: "It is possible that we would know more today about how this coronavirus is spreading and what works best to stop it." Dr George Conway, a medical epidemiologist who knows Dr Quick and had served as resident advisor between 2012 and 2015, said funding for the position had been tenuous for years because of a perennial debate among US health officials over whether China should be paying for funding its own training program. Yet since the training program was launched in 2001, the sources familiar with it say, it has not only strengthened the ranks of Chinese epidemiologists in the field, but also fostered collegial relationships between public health officials in the two countries. "We go there as credentialled diplomats and return home as close colleagues and often as friends," Dr Conway said. In 2007, Dr Robert Fontaine, a CDC epidemiologist and one of the longest serving US officials in the adviser's position, received China's highest honour for outstanding contributions to public health due to his contribution as a foreigner in helping to detect and investigate clusters of pneumonia of unknown cause. But since last year, Mr Frieden and others said, growing tensions between the Trump administration and China's leadership have apparently damaged the collaboration. "The message from the administration was, 'Don't work with China, they're our rival'," Mr Frieden said. Mr Trump's re-election campaign sent out a statement on Sunday evening dismissing controversy about the CDC cut as a matter of politics. "Democrats are eager to politicise the coronavirus crisis and weaponise it against president Trump," the statement said. "In so doing, they're siding with the Chinese and providing cover for Beijing's cover-up." Reuters Grahamedia.net.id scored 51 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2.5/5.0 Stars by Social Team This CoolSocial report was updated on 28 Jul 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. The total number of people who shared the grahamedia homepage on StumbleUpon. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the grahamedia homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if grahamedia has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the grahamedia homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. The total number of people who shared the grahamedia homepage on Delicious. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the grahamedia homepage on Twitter + the total number of grahamedia followers (if grahamedia has a Twitter account). Basic Information PAGE TITLE PT. Grahamedia Informasi - Internet Service Provider - Salatiga DESCRIPTION PT. Grahamedia Informasi - Internet Service Provider. Salatiga, Kudus, Magelang, Semarang, Demak, Mranggen, Pati, Purwodadi, Jepara, Kendal, Ungaran, Ambarawa, Temanggung, Boyolali, Sragen, Jawa Tengah KEYWORDS internet service provider, jasa layanan penyedia internet, jaringan, murah, paket hemat, wireless connection, dial up connection, broadband, unlimited access, wifi, highspeed internet, proxy, gateway, server, instalasi, web desain, web hosting, salatiga, OTHER KEYWORDS grahamedia, selamat, salatiga, selamat hari, semarang, fiber optik, 2010 selamat The title found in the head section of the homepage. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. Domain and Server DOCTYPE XHTML 1.0 Transitional CHARSET AND LANGUAGE ISO-8859-1 DETECTED LANGUAGE English English SERVER Apache/2.2.22 (Ubuntu) (PHP/5.3.10-1ubuntu3.5) OPERATIVE SYSTEM Linux Linux Character set and language of the site. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) The language of grahamedia.net.id as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Type of server and offered services. Operative System running on the server. Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world. Referring domains for grahamedia.net.id by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines. Facebook link FACEBOOK PAGE LINK NOT FOUND The URL of the found Facebook page. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The total number of people who like website Facebook page. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. The type of Facebook page. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND Thousands of sought-after N95 masks - allegedly stolen by a man from Portland have been recovered and donated to local hospitals. According to a report in the Portland Police Bureau, between 20 to 25 cases of the masks, which are used by nurses when treating patients with Covid-19, were stolen from the Rebuilding Centre, a non-profit facility that collects donated unwanted construction materials, located in the Oregon city. The masks are estimated to be worth $2500 and the police were alerted to their location after the accused thief listed them for sale on Craigslist. The victim of the theft found what looked like a listing of the masks and set up a meeting with the seller, before alerting the police. The authorities went to the agreed location and arrested and charged Vladislav Drozdek with theft. Upon receiving the stolen goods, the victim donated them to local hospitals to help cope with mask shortages. Assistant Chief of Operations Mike Frome praised the work of his team, while highlighting the pressing need for health supplies, amid the coronavirus pandemic. This was a good example of interagency teamwork and cooperation, along with some helpful detective work by the victim, he said. This is even more significant during a time when these medical supplies are in such short supply. Last week, US vice president Mike Pence asked construction companies to donate N95 masks to hospitals to help ease the load on nurses and doctors, amid the crisis. We would make one specific request, and that is we would urge construction companies to donate their inventory of N95 masks to your local hospital and forego additional orders of those industrial masks, Mr Pence said. Those industrial masks that they use on construction sites are perfectly acceptable for healthcare workers to be protected from a respiratory disease. According to a tracking project hosted by Johns Hopkins University, upwards of 35,530 people have tested positive in the US. The death toll has reached at least 473. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended a two-week ban on gatherings of more than 50 people as part of the battle to contain the spread of the contagion. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 23:31:45|Editor: yan Video Player Close JOHANNESBURG, March 23 (Xinhua) -- South African banks offer payment holiday to Small and Medium Enterprises and students amid COVID-19 outbreak. First National Bank (FNB) said in a statement on Monday that"FNB has reaffirmed its commitment to Small and Medium Enterprises (SME's) whose financial position is affected by COVID-19. The bank continues to work with the Banking Association of South Africa, in engaging with South African Reserve Bank and government on a variety of solutions." Africa's largest bank Standard Bank is to offer a three-month payment holiday for small businesses with a turnover of less than R20 million (1.13 U.S. dollars), as well as for full-time students with student loans. "We understand the pressures of being a small business owner. So we would like to lighten the load by giving our customers with a turnover of less than R20m a 3-month payment holiday, effective from 1 April 2020," the bank said. The relief to small businesses and students came amid growing calls for banks to assist consumers during this period. Calls have been made to other banks to match Standard Bank's loan payment. However, Jannie Rossouw, Head of School of Economic and Business Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand, cautioned about pressurizing banks to do this. "While this is good, banks must first consider their balance sheet. If banks start offering relief they can't afford, their own balance sheet might be untenable,"he told Xinhua, "We can't make a blanket rule for every bank. This help from banks must be welcomed, but liquidity problems should be avoided." Economist at Efficient group Dawie Roodt welcomed the assistance. "It's an important and bold move by the banks. But businesses which are in distress should be the one's taking up this offer and not those doing well." He said there was a possibility that the banks would work with government in supporting small and medium term businesses. Measures to contain the outbreak have affected some businesses as restaurants and taverns are now required to operate between 09:00 to 18:00 weekdays. Sporting and other events have been suspended as gatherings of 100 people are prohibited. South Africa has 402 COVID-19 cases with no fatalities up until Monday. The Telangana Police has registered a case against a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and his son who had returned from UK, for not following quarantine protocol. The DSP's son has been tested positive for COVID-19. At present, they are under home isolation. The total number of coronavirus cases in the country reached 467 and nine people have died due to the infection, the health ministry said on Monday. According to the official data, India has 424 active cases and 34 discharged and cured cases. There is also a migrated case of coronavirus in the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Viewers have slammed Dancing with the Stars after the popular Channel 10 show flouted social distancing restrictions on Sunday amid the coronavirus pandemic. 'Is Dancing with the Stars an essential service? Nobody on that show is practising social distancing,' one viewer commented on Twitter. Another added: 'Guess we'll find out soon if #DWTSau is an essential service.' Careless: Viewers have slammed Dancing with the Stars after the popular Channel 10 show flouted social distancing restrictions on Sunday amid the coronavirus pandemic Several Twitter users accused the contestants of having a self-important attitude in the face of a global health crisis. '@DancingOn10 #DWTSau - I didn't realise that being a celebrity was an antidote for the coronavirus,' one person tweeted. 'Where is all the social distancing between the judges, the non-dancing contestants and hosts? You should be leading by example, if we are going to reduce the workload of our ICUs.' Disbelief: 'Is Dancing with the Stars an essential service? Nobody on that show is practising social distancing,' one viewer commented on Twitter 'Guess we'll find out soon if DWTS is an essential service': Fans expressed outrage on Twitter, with several claiming that the show was setting a bad example While DWTS is no longer being filmed in front of a live audience, the show's format forces its celebrity competitors to physically interact with their dance partners. Meanwhile, viewers also noticed the show's judges were seated closer together than the recommended six-foot distance. At one stage, hosts Amanda Keller and Grant Denyer joked about social distancing by pulling out a tape measure to inspect the distance between them. Too close for comfort: Ironically, Sunday night's episode was interrupted by an emergency press conference from Prime Minister Scott Morrison Ironically, Sunday night's episode was interrupted by an emergency press conference from Prime Minister Scott Morrison. 'On the weekend, what we saw was a disregard of those social distancing practices,' Mr Morrison said, referring to the hordes of people seen at Sydney's Bondi Beach. 'This sent a very clear message to premiers, chief ministers and myself that the social distancing practices are not being observed as well as they should be.' 'Don't take it away from me': However, other fans thought Dancing with the Stars was exactly what people needed in a time of fear and uncertainty However, other fans thought Dancing with the Stars was exactly what people needed in a time of fear and uncertainty. 'Please let us have our sanity back; we would like to not think about coronavirus for TWO SECONDS. Just two seconds,' tweeted one viewer. Another added: 'They better not DARE take #DWTSau from me next week. It's slim pickins' for joy round these parts.' Making light of a bad situation: At one stage, hosts Amanda Keller and Grant Denyer joked about social distancing by pulling out a tape measure to inspect the distance between them The show's producers have taken steps to protect the cast and crew after contestant Christian Wilkins' coronavirus scare last week. The 24-year-old fashion stylist was tested for COVID-19 after his father, Weekend Today host Richard Wilkins, tested positive on March 15. Christian's test later proved to be negative, but he was forced to self-isolate in a hotel with dance partner Lily Cornish for several days. All staff members and participants have been told to self-monitor for symptoms. As of Monday, there are 1,610 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Australia, resulting in seven deaths. Health scare: The show's producers have taken precautionary steps after contestant Christian Wilkins' coronavirus scare last week. Pictured with dance partner Lily Cornish on Sunday BCCL In a massive decision, the government has decided to suspend all passenger flights starting March 25. The decision has been taken in the wake of deadly coronavirus pandemic which has killed thousands of people globally. Read more Here's more top news of the day: 1) Manipuri Girl Spat On By Delhi Man Who Called Her Corona & Fled In Yet Another Shameless Racist Incident Twitter With the spread of the deadly coronavirus pandemic across the world, racism has found a platform too. There have been several incidents where people from across the world are calling names to the Chinese people and even termed the coronavirus as the Chinese virus. Read more 2) Stock Market Crashes As Coronavirus Worries Escalate, Rupee Hits Record Low Of 76.06 Against Dollar Twitter Indian markets continue their bearish slide as stocks plunged over 9 per cent on Monday in early trade, as the rapidly spreading coronavirus pandemic sent major states including the country's capital into a lockdown amid increasing fears that this outbreak could bring world economies to a grinding halt. Read more 3) Faith Vs Coronavirus - Delhi Gurdwara Committee Offers Majnu Ka Tilla Gurdwara To Set Up Quarantine Facility The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee has offered the 'Serai' (inn) at the Gurdwara Majnu Ka Tilla to set up isolation wards and quarantine facilities to treat those affected by coronavirus. Read more 4) AirAsia Pilot Exits From Cockpit Window After 1st Row Passengers Are Suspected For Coronavirus Pilots of an AirAsia Pune-Delhi flight opted to exit via the secondary gate after some passengers suspected of being infected with coronavirus were in the first row. They later tested negative. Read more 5) Hotels & Govt Accomodations In Kashmir Have Turned Into Quarantine Facilities For Coronavirus Patients BCCL In the latest development, the district administration has decided to use hotels and government owned accommodations as quarantine facilities for the people arriving in Kashmir from other parts of the country and foreign nations. Read more A loss of VND30 trillion According to Deputy Minister of Transport Le Anh Tuan, Vietnamese airlines have reported that the initial damage due to stopping routes is about VND30 trillion (US$1.3 billion). As of March 15, airlines had stopped all flights to China and the Republic of Korea (RoK) and reduced 34% of flights to Chinese Taipei. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong (China) route had also decreased by nearly 72%, with the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines operating only four flights a week as compared to 47 previously. General Director of Vietnam Airlines Duong Tri Thanh said on March 19 that the corporation has had to temporarily stop all flights on international routes until April 30 due to the complicated developments of COVID-19 as well as the travel restrictions and border shutdowns undertaken by many countries. In Southeast Asia, Vietnam Airlines has temporarily suspended flights between Vietnam and Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar since March 21. Routes between Vietnam and England and Japan have been cancelled since March 23 while those connecting Vietnam and China, Hong Kong (China), Macau (China), Chinese Taipei, RoK, France, Russia and Malaysia had been suspended earlier. Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) Dinh Viet Thang said that in the most optimistic scenario where the disease is under control by April, the total number of passengers for the period will reach 67 million, down 15.4% compared to 2019. In a worse situation when the epidemic is under control by June, the total market will reach only 61.2 million passengers, down 22.6% year-on-year. According to the CAAV, China accounts for 26.1% of the passenger and cargo volume that domestic carriers transport to and from international destinations. The suspension of flights to China has consequently caused Vietnamese airlines to lose 400,000 passengers per month. They have also had to pay for ticket exchanges, cancellations, and sterilisation, the authority said. Disinfection work is reinforced within a Vietnam Airlines aircraft to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (Photo: VN+) Proposals to cut several taxes and service prices At a meeting on March 12 with private economic groups including big companies in the tourism, services, aviation, food and manufacturing sectors, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked ministers and the sectors to consider the exemption of several taxes and service prices for aviation industry. Luong Hoai Nam, an airline expert, said that as regulated in Circular No. 53/2019/TT-BGTVT on the price and price range of aviation-related items at the airports and aerodromes of Vietnam, airlines now have to pay 16 service fees, which can amount to huge figures in VND every year. They have also to pay otherfees for the airports as well as taxes such as aviation fuel tax, environmental taxes, and income tax. In its latest document, the Ministry of Transport proposed the Government assign the Ministry of Finance to consider the exemption of import tax and environmental protection tax on jet fuel for three months. In a case of budget difficulties, its expected to cut 50% of import tax, environmental protection tax on jet fuel and allow enterprises to extend tax payment times and budget contributions. The ministry also suggested the Government reduce take-off and landing prices, as well as flight operation service fees for departures and arrivals of domestic flights, by 50%, starting from March 1 to May 31, 2020, with the percentage able to be adjusted relative to the prevailing epidemic situation. At the same time, the ministry asked the Government to apply a minimum tax and fee of VND0 for specialised aviation services, including catering, ramp and push back services, in order to create conditions for businesses to provide discount services for airlines and businesses. Chairman of the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) Lai Xuan Thanh said that the COVID-19 epidemic and its impacts could result in a 40% decrease in the passenger volume through Vietnamese airports this year and international visitors will decrease by 70%. The corporations profit this year is predicted to decrease by VND10 trillion (US$426.5 million) compared to 2019. In a move to cushion airlines from the COVID-19 impacts, the ACV on March 20 announced a reduction in airline service fees for six months from March to August this year for both domestic and international airlines. Accordingly, ACV decided to reduce fees for a range of airline services at airports, including service fees for aircraft navigation (cut by 50%); and pipe ladder services, carousel rentals, automatic baggage handling, check-in counters and ground services (by 10%). The corporation will also waive office rental fees for airlines that have stopped flying, and reduce these by 30% for airlines that are still operating flights. Bank of Ireland has confirmed that it is closing three branches from tomorrow. The branches are in Kilcullen, Leixlip and Monasterevin. Bank of Ireland said it is making changes to its branch network in the Republic of Ireland from Tuesday 24 March to ensure resources are focused on banking services most in demand by customers right now. Branches will be operating as normal in Athy, Celbridge Kildare, Maynooth, Naas and Newbridge. According to Bank of Ireland, from tomorrow: 161 branches nationwide will be open as normal. 148 of these will provide a full service to customers, including counter services for cash, coin and cheque services. 13 locations are Advice and Self Service branches these provide cash and cheque lodgement and cash withdrawal facilities through self-service devices, but do not offer a counter service. While 101 locations will close temporarily during the pandemic, every Bank of Ireland branch will continue to provide an external ATM cash withdrawal service. Normal opening hours will continue in the branches that are open. These branches will also continue the provision of prioritised services for over 65s and carers between 10am and 11am, Monday to Friday. A statement added: "Over the past ten days, the Bank has seen a reduction in footfall in branches, predominantly at Advice and Self Service locations, while at the same time there has been an increase in customers needing a range of other supports. The changes announced today will allow colleagues from temporarily closed branches to support the Banks larger branches and help contact centres manage the increased volume of customers requiring COVID-19 support, especially for Mortgage and SME loan payment breaks." Discussing the changes, Gavin Kelly, CEO Retail Ireland, said: Were constantly reviewing our operations to ensure we are providing the right supports for customers through this challenging period. These changes help us to respond to the most pressing needs of our customers right now thats support in managing the impact of coronavirus on their personal finances and on their businesses. These changes also refocus our branch network to our larger locations, which will help us support social distancing. This is extremely important for our customers and colleagues, whose safety and wellbeing is our priority. This will complement the enhanced cleaning and hygiene measures we have in place in our branches. Bank of Ireland said it has a range of Covid-19 supports for customers including mortgage and loan payment breaks and flexible arrangements, and emergency working capital and payment flexibility on loans for businesses. This video screen capture shows leaders of the eight-member South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and other representatives participating in a video conference, March 15, to discuss collective action on the spread of coronavirus. The conference was proposed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The SAARC comprises of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. / Embassy of India By Yi Whan-woo Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders of countries in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) had a joint video conference last week to discuss collective action on the spread of the coronavirus. The SAARC consists of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Initiated by Modi, the conference on March 15 came "in the context of the pressing need to join hands at a regional level," according to the Embassy of India in Korea. The embassy said the conference also took into account the extent to which the pandemic has strained healthcare systems across the world and the priority that must be assigned to humanitarian needs, collective action and cooperative efforts to tackle the virus. "This is a key initiative of Prime Minister Modi to encourage the region to rise beyond bilateral differences at this time of crisis," the embassy said. It added India is willing to use any and all mechanisms to promote mutually beneficial cooperation and has already bilaterally assisted some SAARC members at their request. An Indian Rapid Response Team of doctors, specialists and testing equipment is on standby. Prime Minister Modi suggested a COVID-19 Emergency Fund based on voluntary contributions. He noted the SAARC "can respond best by coming together, not growing apart," and stressing the need for "collaboration, not confusion; preparation, not panic." Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina suggested a video conference among the SAARC health ministers and officials. Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa proposed establishing a SAARC ministerial-level group to share best practices and coordinate regional matters on combating COVID-19. Nepalese Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli underscored the need for community awareness and effective mobilization to tackle the contagious disease. Meanwhile, the SAARC Disaster Management Centre will identify and popularize best practices in fighting COVID-19. "All countries must commit to transparency, information sharing, and partnership so as to avoid extremes of reaction," the embassy said. It pointed out President Moon Jae-in has proposed a similar video conference for G20 leaders to tackle the spread of the coronavirus. F ormer Bank of England Governor Meryvn King today urged the Financial Conduct Authority to keep Londons equity markets open amid calls to close them as panic selling spreads. The FTSE 100 tumbled another 4%, or 217.32 points at 4973.46, but King believes closing the markets would only cause more damage. King told BBC Radio 4: "I dont think there is any obvious reason for suspending trading. That might well create even greater uncertainty as to what the values of assets and exchange rates will turn out to be further down the road." The comments come as the FCA told companies over the weekend to delay preliminary financial statements due to the stress caused by the coronavirus outbreak. The FCA believes the statements are adding to the panic and led to speculation the authority might close the markets altogether. But Minerva analyst Kathleen Brooks agreed with King and said shutting the markets would suck liquidity from the UK financial system and not let investors who need cash sell their positions. She said: I understand the FCA does not want to see falls of 15%-plus. But it would be a risky strategy as once you tell companies not to file how do you get them to again once things are back to normal. The discussion raged as panic spread across global markets after worries overnight that the US might not be able to get its $4 trillion support package through Congress. London listed companies with a large presence in the US were sold off, including plumbing equipment seller Ferguson which dropped 493p to 4163p. But there were some highlights for investors, including private hospital operator Spire Healthcare which became the latest FTSE company to join the fight against coronavirus as the battle rages on all fronts to contain the disease. Spire has signed an agreement with the NHS to make all of its 35 hospitals in England available to the NHS for a minimum of 14 weeks. The move comes as NHS chief executive Simon Stevens scrambles to block buy beds amid an expected spike in coronavirus cases over the coming weeks. Spire said beds, operating theatres and recovery facilities would be repurposed to provide respiratory support for Covid-19 patients. The NHS will pay Spire weekly in advance to cover the private healthcare companys costs. Spire shares were up 11p at 65p. Pizza delivery company Dominos also rose as it is expected to see a short-term boost from people staying at home and being stuck in their houses. What has the U.S. contributed to global human rights cause as certain people in the U.S. have kept pointing fingers at the human rights situation in other countries? Frequently declaring wars and interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, the U.S. is the creator of numerous severe humanitarian disasters in the world and its human right records are bad. The State Council Information Office of China recently issued a report on the human rights situation in the U.S. titled The Record of Human Rights Violations in the United States in 2019. The irrefutable facts in the report show the world that the U.S., though burdened by domestic human right issues, has kept trampling on human rights in other countries and pursuing hegemony in the name of human rights, creating a large number of human rights disasters. U.S. militarism has led to chaos and serious humanitarian disasters. In a speech delivered in June 2019, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter pointed out that the United States had only enjoyed 16 years of peace in its more than 200-year history, making the country the most warlike nation in the history of the world. The United States had been at war for decades, including the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen and so on. These wars caused large casualties and aggravated the situation of terrorism in those countries. The estimated cost of the United States global war on terror since late 2001 stood at 6.4 trillion U.S. dollars and it was estimated that up to 801,000 people have died in post-9/11 wars, according to reports released by the Costs of War project based at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University in 2019. Statistics showed that the Afghanistan war claimed the lives of more than 40,000 civilians and around 11 million Afghan people became refugees. More than 200,000 civilians died in the Iraq war and around 2.5 million became refugees. The death toll of civilians in the Syrian war surpassed 40,000 while 6.6 million fled the country. The U.S. adopted the zero-tolerance immigration policy, but it was the culprit of the worsening immigration problems in the Americas. The families in the migrant caravans trudging toward the U.S. border are trying to escape a hell that the U.S. has helped to create. Hegemony worshippers in the U.S. are obsessed with wars and killing and dont care about the right to survival and development of tens of millions of people. The U.S. unilateral sanctions have grossly infringed on human rights in other countries. At present, the novel coronavirus epidemic is spreading globally. Working together to fight the epidemic and maintaining global public health security is the proper approach to promote human rights development. However, the United States has gone the other way by continuing to impose unilateral sanctions on Iran. Such practice has violated the humanitarian spirit. In the book Invisible War: The United States and the Iraq Sanctions, U.S. scholar Joy Gordon said that what we should know from Iraq is this: that causing destitution in distant lands does not make the world a better place, or make the United States, or anyone else, more secure. Waving the big stick of sanctions, the U.S. is trampling on the human rights of other countries. According to a report by the United Nations on May 28, 2019 titled Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba, the economic and commercial embargo in almost six decades was a massive, flagrant and systematic violation of the human rights of all Cubans. In a statement published by the UN website on Aug. 8, 2019, High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet pointed out that the unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States on Venezuela would have far-reaching implications on the rights to health and to food in a country where there were already serious shortages of essential goods. At the 42nd session of the UN Human Rights Council on Sept 9, 2019, the U.S. unilateral sanctions were condemned by representatives of relevant countries and non-government organizations. However, the U.S. turned a deaf ear to the call of justice from the international society, and took human rights as a bargaining chip to punish other countries, which is typical political bullying. The U.S. has been wantonly pursuing unilateralism. It bragged about its human rights situation and shirked international responsibilities. At the crucial moment when the world is fighting against the coronavirus, the U.S. announced to cut its funding to the WHO by half in the 2021 fiscal budget. In recent years, the United States withdrew from multilateral mechanisms out of its own interest, including the UN Human Rights Council, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and the UN Global Compact on Migration, and refused to ratify multiple key international human rights conventions, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The U.S. bullying actions have threatened international institutions. John Bolton, former U.S. national security adviser, and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, warned in September 2018 and in March 2019 respectively that if the International Criminal Court (ICC) went ahead with investigating personnel from the United States and its allies on their crimes in the war in Afghanistan, the United States would impose retaliatory measures against the personnel that were directly responsible for the investigations such as a ban on their entry to the United States, fund freeze and even economic sanctions on the ICC. Adopting UN human right rules that fit its own interests and abandoning those that dont, the U.S. has become a stain on international human rights cause with its double-standard practices. The self-touted world human rights defender couldnt hide the truth that it has adopted double standards on human rights issues and used them to maintain hegemony. International morality and human conscience cannot be violated; international human rights cause is not a pie in the sky, and it marches forward only when countries work to promote common development and prosperity. The U.S. is advised to lay down arrogance and prejudice, seriously face up to and examine its own serious human rights issues, stop making troubles in the world under the guise of human rights and stop the hegemonic actions that create human rights disasters, and fulfil its international human rights obligations. (Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by Peoples Daily to express its views on foreign policy.) The airline industry can be accused of many sins. It is infested with brassy billionaires, such as the avaricious Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, the founder of EasyJet, and the egregious Sir Richard Branson. It is responsible for pollution that is poisoning the planet. Customer service is sometimes woeful and industrial relations, wherever the main fault lies, are abysmal. So I absolutely understand why many people have deep misgivings about plans for a Government bailout that are being hatched with the help of investment bankers from the august City firm, Rothschild. The airline industry is infested with brassy billionaires such as the founder of EasyJet Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou (pictured) Plenty of angry passengers can't see why British taxpayers owe the airlines any favours, particularly at a time when so many industries are in distress and in need of a helping hand resulting in a bill we will all have to pay in the end. As one City friend of mine put it: 'I'd be happy to see them go bust, as many airlines have over the years. Someone else will pick up the pieces and re-start them.' I sympathise with that viewpoint, but I don't agree. Yes, it sticks in the craw. Nonetheless, it is a case of when, not if, there will be a bailout. The only reason one has not been pushed through already is that the Government is trying to craft an arrangement that is structured in such a way that taxpayers are not taken for a ride. This is the right approach. However under serving some operators may be, it would cause far greater harm to let them go under at this point. It would be another huge blow to confidence in the stock market, as millions of small pension savers have already seen their nest-eggs drastically eroded. In the short term, it could jeopardise the transport of medical cargoes. And when we eventually emerge from this trauma, we will need a strong aviation industry to power economic recovery. Therefore, just as we did with the banks a decade ago, we need to hold our noses and bail them out, because deciding not to do so out of misplaced moral scruples would be a worse evil. What the Government absolutely must do is make sure it is shortterm help and not a free ride. There must be stringent conditions attached to state support. These should include a ban on dividend payments for the duration and a ceiling on bosses' pay and bonuses. Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor (pictured), has of course already launched unprecedented help, including 330billion of loan guarantees to businesses to get them through the crisis Wealthy shareholders, including the likes of Sir Stelios and Branson's Virgin Group, which owns a major stake in Virgin Atlantic, should also be forced to put their hands into their own, very deep pockets. In an ideal world Sir Stelios would be made to repay the dividend of around 60million he was due last week. This may not be legally enforceable, but it is a moral imperative, considering he and his family, as major shareholders in EasyJet, have had around 400million in dividends in the last four years, including the latest payout. BA's parent IAG proposed a dividend of more than 300m in February, when the ravages of the coronavirus were already apparent. Investors who have received this largesse, including the Qatari state airline which has a large stake, should certainly share in the pain. The Government, on behalf of taxpayers, should take a controlling shareholding in any airlines that are saved by an injection of public money. That way, as and when they recover, taxpayers will take a share in the upside. Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, has of course already launched unprecedented help, including 330billion of loan guarantees to businesses to get them through the crisis. But many airline operators have gone into this crisis laden with debt, loans taken on to buy planes that now lie idle, and cannot realistically burden themselves with billions more. With fleets of planes grounded as the entire planet has become a virtual no-fly zone, even those that have plenty of shortterm liquidity, such as BA's parent company IAG, will burn through cash at an alarming rate. The losses suffered by the airlines are mind-boggling. Industry body IATA reckons the industry had lost more than 94billion in sales by the first week of March. That will already have ballooned. Not all of the airline industry may actually want to be bailed out. Willie Walsh, the chief executive of BA's parent, appears keen to avoid it, but with the entire industry at a standstill, he may be unable to hold that line. There are concerns in Government that relatively strong operators such as IAG might be perfectly happy to see weaker rivals go under, leaving them in a position to clean up when the crisis is over. Whatever bailout deal is put together, the Government needs to ensure we do not end up with a monopoly able to charge what it likes. This is by far the biggest crisis the aviation industry has suffered in its existence. Coronavirus puts September 11, previously the worst, entirely in the shade. Here in Britain the tab will run to unknown billions. It will take time for holidaymakers and business flyers to regain sufficient confidence to travel. We must save the industry because we need it for our future prosperity. But that does not mean giving opportunist bosses and owners carte blanche to exploit this crisis of humanity for their own gain. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 23) The current director of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine will remain at her post, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Monday as he shrugged off claims of the supposed controversial sacking. In a phone interview with CNN Philippines, Duque clarified Dr. Celia Carlos was not replaced, noting there had been an "error" in the DOH-issued personnel order that made rounds on social media over the weekend. "The circulating issuance stating that Dir. Carlos has been replaced by Asec. Santiago is an erroneous draft of the document which was inadvertently posted but immediately taken down," DOH said in a separate statement. The leaked memo dated March 21 confirmed the supposed designation of Health Assistant Secretary Dr. Nestor Santiago as the Officer-in-Charge-Director IV of RITM, with the order deemed "effective immediately." Duque, however, stressed that Santiago was only provided oversight function or supervision to "help out" in the processes in the RITM, where samples for coronavirus testing are delivered. The department said Santiago "shall guide and manage the expansion of testing capacity to public and private laboratories, and attend to coordination with other agencies" so that Carlos can focus on "optimizing" the RITM's functions. The health chief earlier noted Santiago "cannot take the directorial post" as it would be a form of demotion from his Assistant Secretary position. Netizens have earlier slammed the agency's alleged move to replace Carlos, with some speculating that she was booted out for refusing to expedite the testing processes for some "VIPs" particularly public officials. Santiago's designation came in the wake of supposedly leaked chats circulating in social media on alleged complaints from RITM personnel that they were being asked to give priority to the testing of politicians and their families. Some senators and other local officials who were asymptomatic at the time also came under hot water for availing of the service, while some patients under investigation have yet to gain access to the tests. Previously, the only COVID-19 test kits available in the Philippines were the ones at the RITM donated by the World Health Organization. Local scientists from the University of the Philippines National Institutes of Health have also developed cheaper rapid test kits for the infectious disease, with select hospitals already beginning clinical trials. Some international organizations and governments including China, where the mysterious virus first spread have also donated thousands of COVID-19 test kits to the Philippines amid the global pandemic. Irvine, Calif., March 23, 2020 - Researchers at the University of California, Irvine have shown that they can give cells a short-term boost of energy through mitochondrial transplantation. The team's study, published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, suggests that mitochondrial transplantation could one day be employed to cure various cardiovascular, metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders - and even offer a new approach to the treatment of cancer. "Mitochondria are the engines that drive many activities performed by our cells," said first author Paria Ali Pour, a UCI Ph.D. candidate in biomedical engineering. "If these organelles are mutated or deemed dysfunctional, the clinical manifestations are devastating, so we decided to study the intracellular consequences of mitochondrial transplantation and determine whether it would be a viable method for mitigating these adverse situations and helping patients." There have been prior attempts to use mitochondrial transplantation in the form of direct injection to the heart muscle in infants with end-stage heart disease, but the UCI study is the first to seek data on the precise outcomes of mitochondrial transplantation at the cellular and subcellular levels. The JAHA article outlines the researchers' successful endeavor to achieve mitochondrial transplantation and how they systematically quantified its ability to boost cellular energy. For the experiments, Ali Pour first isolated mitochondria by differential centrifugation, followed by transplantation through coincubation. Once the mitochondria had settled in their new host cells, she performed metabolic flux analysis to measure two key parameters: the oxygen consumption rate and the extracellular acidification rate, which provide important information about cellular metabolism and how well the cells are consuming/producing energy. The analyses were conducted at two, seven, 14 and 28 days. "This is essentially a technique for studying how much oxygen is being consumed and protons emitted, or the total acidification rate, as the mitochondria produce adenosine triphosphate, the fuel for our cells," Ali Pour said. "Metabolic flux analysis is a comprehensive way to evaluate bioenergetics indices - the mechanisms by which cells process nutrients into energy and how well they do this. It helps us understand and make decisions about how mitochondrial transplantation affects cellular bioenergetics and metabolism." She said the endosymbiosis origin of mitochondria is what inspired their work. "Billions of years ago, mitochondria were prokaryotic bacteria that came into close contact with our ancestral eukaryotes. At that time, they were completely autonomous - to this day, mitochondrial DNA is separate and different from the genetic code in our cells' nuclei - but now they're semiautonomous," Ali Pour said. "That led us to hypothesize that if cells freely adopted mitochondria ages ago, it should - theoretically - be possible to also achieve this in a directed manner." Her doctoral adviser and the paper's lead author, Dr. Arash Kheradvar, a UCI professor of biomedical engineering and medicine, said this is exactly what she succeeded in doing. "Paria was able to show in a definitive way, for the first time, that it is possible to control cell bioenergetics by changing the content of the mitochondria in a cardiomyocyte," Kheradvar said. A key part of the team's experiments was to transplant healthy mitochondria from skeletal muscle cells into cardiomyocytes of a different breed (nonautologous) to focus on questions specifically related to cell bioenergetics. The studies confirmed that cellular bioenergetics improves in the host cells two days after transplantation, but this supercharged state diminishes later on. "Regarding the viability of mitochondrial transplantation in different cell lines, we've done a lot of variations, including work with skeletal muscle cells, T-cells and cardiomyocytes," Ali Pour said. "We even tested the feasibility of transplanting mitochondria from rat cells to commercially available human cells, in our lab, to see if there's a mechanism that prevents such a procedure; we found that transplanting mitochondria between different species is also possible." Next, the team plans to investigate whether the internalized mitochondria establish signaling with the cell's nucleus and whether they'll be adopted by the host on a long-term basis. "We took a very cautious and fundamental approach with this project, because these cellular procedures, as a potential biotherapy, can have unknown and possibly grave consequences," Kheradvar said. "We didn't want to rush into human experimentation without knowing all of the potential ramifications in terms of safety and efficacy. Although we have a few hypotheses, nobody firmly knows what's happening when these mitochondria are introduced inside the cell - or whether there will be side effects. There are a lot of unanswered questions that need to be addressed." ### Study co-author M. Cristina Kenney, a UCI professor of ophthalmology, also contributed significantly to the project, particularly on analyses and interpretation of metabolic flux data. Funding was provided by UCI's Council on Research, Computing and Libraries. Ali Pour was supported by a training grant from the National Institutes of Health for cardiovascular applied research and entrepreneurship. About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UCI is the youngest member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. The campus has produced three Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 36,000 students and offers 222 degree programs. It's located in one of the world's safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County's second-largest employer, contributing $5 billion annually to the local economy. For more on UCI, visit http://www.uci.edu. Media access: Radio programs/stations may, for a fee, use an on-campus ISDN line to interview UCI faculty and experts, subject to availability and university approval. For more UCI news, visit news.uci.edu. Additional resources for journalists may be found at communications.uci.edu/for-journalists. Montgomery County Public Schools Special Needs Bus Attendant Bhavin Savla helps distribute bags of food donated by Manna Food Center at Quince Orchard High School as part of a program to feed children while schools are closed due to the coronavirus, in Gaithersburg, Maryland, on March 20, 2020. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) We Will Not Be Broken Commentary Many have observed that a crisis often brings out the best in humanity. Its a joyful, hopeful truism that has been proven out time and again. Indeed, one cannot help but wonder if we have an inborn need to take on and defeat the most frightening of challenges. Theres much in mankinds history that suggests thats the case. I, for one, believe that well not only get through the COVID-19 crisis, well emerge from it better than ever, proud of having battled through tough times and more certain of the inherent good thats at the core of almost every human being on planet earth. We will help each other and we will be helped. We will sacrifice. We will make do. We will conduct ourselves in this crisis the way that human beings have conducted themselves during the horrors of the Black Plague to the rise of genocidal maniacs such as Hitler, Stalin, and Mao in the 20th century: We will maintain our dignity, our empathy, and our determination, for these are the traits that makes us human. We will do more than survive. We will thrive. You wait and see. For proof, consider the plucky, stubborn island nation of Great Britain 80 years ago. In March of 1940 the Brits and their French allies believed they could stand up to Hitlers mighty Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe when the inevitable invasion of the Low Countries and France commenced. A few months later the Netherlands, Belgium, and France had surrendered to the Nazi juggernaut. Only a few hundred thousand Allied troopsmostly British but including some Frenchescaped across the English Channel through Dunkirk. Finding themselves adrift and alone to do battle with the most powerful armed forces the planet had then ever seen, the British people could be forgiven if they had surrendered to despair. Some did, of course, but most did not, thanks in part to their new, unquenchable prime minister who understood the temperament of his people so well. And this spirit only burned brighter when Hitler turned the Battle of Britain from an attempt to destroy the Royal Air Force into a crusade to destroy London. Wreaking havoc on the United Kingdoms largest and most important city would rip the soul out the nation he reasoned. With their capital a smoking pile of ruins, the British people would finally understand the futility of resisting the power of the Third Reich. Of course, it didnt work out that way. Londons residents established and learned to live with a new normal, one that saw them taking shelter in subway stations every night as the bombs fell, then emerging each morning to clear rubble and make their contributions to the war effort anew. It was a magnificent achievement, one that Hitler never truly understood, even after the ordinary German people displayed the same stoic resolve under the onslaught of Allied bombs four years later. Churchill? He was not surprised at all. He knew that people are made of stronger stuff than they ever suspect. And so, I believe, it will be with us. We may shelter like Londoners did 80 years ago, but like them we will not cower. This battle with a relentless enemy will go on, but it will not go on forever and it will not break us. Until its over let us adopt that wonderful five-word mantra that so sufficiently captured the spirit of the British people during the worst of the Blitz: Keep calm and carry on. Richard Trzupek is a chemist and environmental consultant as well as an analyst at The Heartland Institute. He is also the author of Regulators Gone Wild: How the EPA Is Ruining American Industry. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. TDT | Manama His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa yesterday paid tribute to Bahraini mothers, hailing their landmark achievements in all fields and on all levels. HM the King took pride in the crucial role played by Bahraini women in the countrys renaissance, hailing them as a school, which brought forth successive generations that contributed to the Kingdoms progress and prosperity. In recognition of Bahraini womens noble responsibilities in bringing up generations and caring for their families, HM the King directed the governments concerned authorities to enable mothers affiliated with ministries and government bodies to work from home. The royal gesture, which takes into consideration the family needs during this exceptional period, provides support to Bahraini working mothers to enable them to take care of their children during the temporary closure of public and private schools and kindergartens. Competent authorities shall regulate this procedure, taking into account the public interest, which requires working mothers to continue performing their duties in vital functions, especially in the health and security sectors, in the service of the homeland and its citizens as well as residents in all honour and honesty. The ruler of Iran has suggested that America created a new strain of the coronavirus with the intention of infecting Iranians. According to the Independent newspaper, Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has publicly declared that the United States created 'a special version' of the deadly coronavirus now ravaging the country. The deadly coronavirus has killed at least 1,685 Iranians, including 129 in the last 24 hours. Ayatollah Khamenei also rejected US offers of help in a speech on Sunday marking the beginning of the Persian calendar year. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has publicly declared that the United States created 'a special version' of the deadly coronaviruswith the intention of infecting Iranians using genetic information He also suggested Washington would exploit any acceptance of American aid. In his speech, the Ayatollah said: 'The American leaders have said several times that 'we are willing to provide you with treatment and medical assistance.' He added: 'First of all, you face shortages yourselves. If you have anything available, use it yourselves. Second, you, Americans, are accused of producing this virus. I do not know how true this accusation is. But as long as this accusation stands, which sane mind will trust you?' The accusation is the latest propaganda effort against the United States, with the Chinese government already accusing the USA of manufacturing the virus. Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused American officials of dishonesty over what the US government knows about the disease. According to the New York Times, the unfounded conspiracy theory was recirculated on Chinas tightly controlled internet on Friday after Zhao Lijian made the accusations on Twitter. The conspiracy theories mark ever deepening tensions between the US and Iran, and the US and China. Iran's deputy health minister, Alireza Raisi, has already accused the UK of impeding its efforts to fight the crisis by prohibiting the sale of a million surgical masks due to US sanctions. Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs conspiratorially accused American officials of covering up what the US government knows about the disease Despite Twitter being banned in China's tightly controlled internet, Zhao Lijian's comments were widely circulated on throughout China as part of a conspiratorial propaganda war He said: 'We had bought several million masks from Britain before [the epidemic started] but the country did not deliver them to us due to the sanctions.' Mr Raisi did not elaborate of details of the deal. More than 21,000 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Iran, which has been the third most affected country after China and Italy respectively. Speaking to the Fars News Agency, Mr Raisi said that many Iranian medical staff had become sick because of shortages of protective equipment and masks, and that efforts to obtain the materials had been prevented by long-standing sanctions on the Iranian regime. In 2015, the US imposed further rules were after Donald Trump's administration pulled out of the nuclear deal and launched a renewed economic blockade of the country. Mr Raisi added: 'We are facing serious problems for ordering, purchasing and transferring money due to the sanctions,' 'We cannot buy ventilator systems and ICU [intensive care unit] beds. Also, transferring money to purchase certain drugs is not possible for us. A Canadian couple who purchased a supermarket's entire supply of meat and 'bragged' about it while checking out, are now claiming that they are living in fear after receiving numerous death threats. Dan Marcotte and his girlfriend were captured on video by customer, Taylor Born, stockpiling on several types of meat at the Save On Foods in Lake Country last weekend. The video shows the couple standing in the checkout line with two shopping carts full of meat at a time when millions of people have flooded stores to stock up on essentials amid the coronavirus pandemic. Scroll down for video A Canadian couple who purchased a supermarket's entire supply of meat (pictured) and 'bragged' about it while checking out, are now claiming that they are living in fear after receiving numerous death threats Dan Marcotte and his girlfriend were captured on video by customer, Taylor Born, stockpiling on several types of meat (right) at the Save On Foods in Lake Country last weekend Born told Kelowna Now that Marcotte and his girlfriend 'ran in front of other customers, cutting them off to take every last item'. She claimed they even 'bragged' to everyone about wiping out the stock and leaving 'nothing left for anyone to get'. Marcotte, who owns the Dan-Mel moving company, has since spoken out about the incident and blamed it on panic-buying amid the coronavirus outbreak that has seen thousands of people in the US and other countries flock to grocery stores and wipe out items like toilet tissue, paper towels and sanitizers. 'Everybody knows who I am, because I put myself out there, (now) I'm getting death threats and I don't answer the phone so I'm losing business. My own mother is ashamed of me,' Marcotte told news site, Vancouver Is Awesome. Marcotte said he has also donated $1,000 to the Lake Country Food Bank after the incident. He called the stockpiling a 'mistake' after he got caught up in the anxiety surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. Over the last three weeks, people have been panic-buying across the world. This image shows panic shoppers in Ontario, Canada on March 7 Canadians are seen purchasing essential items in Markham, Ontario, on March 7 'If me and my girlfriend had done this two months ago nobody would say a bloody word. We're getting crucified for buying two carts of meat. We might have gone overboard, but we didn't push people or laugh at anyone. 'I'm not feeling safe, and me and my girlfriend are scared.' The video of Marcotte and his girlfriend has since been removed from Facebook. Representatives from Save On Foods have also announced their new policies limiting customers to how much of certain items they are allowed to buy. Panic buyers continue to empty shelves across North America despite officials saying it's not necessary Americans have been panic-buying since early March, stockpiling on items like toilet paper, paper towels, bottled water and sanitizer. The anxiety caused by the coronavirus pandemic has caused for people clear out shelves of supermarkets, wholesale stores and even pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS. Just a few days ago, Americans were seen crossing the border into Mexico just to buy toilet tissue. More than 600 shoppers, most of them from California, who were desperate to get their hands on coveted items, were seen lined up outside a Tijuana Costco last Tuesday. And the stockpiling has continued into this week despite President Donald Trump and other officials telling Americans to take it easy. Americans (pictured outside a Costco in Los Angeles) have been panic-buying since early March, stockpiling on items like toilet paper, paper towels, bottled water and sanitizer A shopper fills a cart with soft drinks for an older family member as shoppers fill a Kroger grocery store during the coronavirus outbreak in Bloomington, Indiana Shoppers fill a Kroger grocery store stripping many shelves clean of merchandise, during the Covid-19 national emergency in Indiana Donald Trump insisted Sunday that people stop panic buying and hoarding food and goods as the coronavirus death toll in the U.S. hit 63 and cases neared 3,500. 'We're going to be so good,' Trump claimed in a press conference at the White House Sunday evening, adding, 'Relax, we're doing great. It all will pass.' 'You don't have to buy so much. Take it easy. Just relax,' Trump said. 'There's no need for anybody in the country to hoard essential food supplies.' Trump said he spoke with the top industry leaders of various retailers and food stores who have assured him that the shelves will be replenished. Vice President Mike Pence, who is leading the coronavirus task force, also assured Americans that stores would remain open indefinitely. 'As the president said, he received a commitment from those grocery executives that stores will stay open throughout the days that lie ahead,' he said, adding that hours might be changed or reduced so they could do additional cleanings and resupplies. 'American families can be confident, your local grocery stores will be open, it's going to be well supplied. And they specifically asked us to encourage Americans just buy your weekly needs in grocery. Because the grocery stores will remain open,' he reassured. Several Houston firefighters have been told to self-quarantine after a man they treated Thursday for knee pain and a fall later tested positive for the novel coronavirus, officials said. The eight firefighters were told Saturday night to quarantine, but four of them will be holed up at an undisclosed hotel until further notice because they were unable to isolate themselves at home. The four will remain at the hotel until their two-week quarantine ends or if a COVID-19 test becomes available to them and comes back negative. HFD Chief Sam Pena said he picked out the lodging for them, adding that the daily taxpayer cost will be $69 for each firefighter or about $3,800 for the two weeks if it comes to that. The cost will be further impacted by any additional firefighters who need to be isolated, he said. One of the quarantined firefighters has since gone to a drive-thru testing site in Katy after coming down with a scratchy throat and cough, said Marty Lancton, head of the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association. He is aware of two other firefighters who have been tested at Butler Stadium. The group came into contact with the man on Thursday night and Lancton said they had no reason to wear more protective gear than usual, such as a mask or suit. The medical call was for a fall, Lancton noted, and not related to the rapidly-spreading illness that has been attributed to seven deaths in Texas. The firefighters had no reason to believe the man was likely asymptomatic and returned to service, Lancton continued. A firefighter at the hotel said he was unable to quarantine because a loved one at home is considered by the Centers for Disease Control as being at-risk for serious illness. The union leader took exception to the lack of a pre-planned quarantine location for the firefighters, feeling it was inevitable that an HFD employee would come into contact with a positive case. Questions on how to proceed amid the growing pandemic started in early March when HFD paramedics were told to return to service after transporting an individual from Hobby Airport to a hospital for flu-like symptoms. A test on the patient later came back negative, Lancton said at the time. Its the time in between thats concerning, Lancton said. Everyone is on heightened alert. Firefighters, paramedics, theyre out there running a high number of calls. They dont know everything about everyone. I think its just fear of the unknown. He also pointed to the quarantine as an example of why first responders should have better access to COVID-19 testing and hard-to-find protective equipment. Lancton was aware of 16 to 20 firefighters who have had medium to high risk exposure to someone with the novel coronavirus. According to HFD, they are instructed to quarantine and self-monitor their symptoms. There are no known cases yet of Houston firefighters testing positive for COVID-19. Four Harris County Sheriffs Office deputies received positive tests over the weekend. James Parrott, director of economic and fiscal policies at the Center for New York City Affairs at the New School, estimated that the city lost 750,000 jobs in the cultural, restaurant, retail, airline and other sectors, with lost wages of $1.5 billion to $2 billion per month. The city does have a surplus in the fiscal year 2020 budget of about $2.7 billion, according to the comptrollers office. The city also has about $4.7 billion in the retiree health fund that could serve as a rainy-day fund if necessary, the Independent Budget Office said. Mr. Stringer said direct federal aid to the city will be crucial because it is a difficult time for the city to raise taxes or cut services. Harvey Weinstein tests positive. Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced film producer who was convicted in February of rape, has contracted the coronavirus in prison, according to two people familiar with the matter. Mr. Weinstein recently tested positive and was being held in isolation at the Wende Correction Facility near Buffalo, according to the two people, who spoke anonymously to discuss a private medical matter. Mr. Weinstein falls squarely within the category of people for whom the disease could be dangerous. He is 68 and has had a series of recent health problems: He was hospitalized twice for high blood pressure, heart palpitations and chest pain once after his conviction and once this month after he was sentenced to 23 years in prison. During his first stay there, he had a procedure to alleviate a blockage near his heart. And so did an inmate at the Manhattan jail where Jeffrey Epstein killed himself. Dispatches from the pandemic (Camily Tsai / For The Times) Wedding postponed By Ben Houston I was supposed to get married yesterday. I was supposed to be cracking cold ones, watching March Madness while getting ready with my groomsmen and my brother Will, my best man for life. I was supposed to be getting anxious right before the ceremony just like my dad who had to bring out a paper bag and a shot of whiskey to calm his nerves before his wedding. I was supposed to lose it when I saw Lauren at the end of the aisle. Then I was supposed to become we and everyone would lose it. Our kiss, our first dance, trying to steal a moment to eat at the reception, we were ready for it all. We should have been twirling around to Whitney Houston in a friends backyard in Phoenix, me looking like Paul Newman in a navy suit and her like Joanne Woodward in a white gown I still havent seen. Life had other plans. Instead we are in our pajamas eating Girl Scout cookies, self-isolating in our apartment in Los Angeles along with the rest of the city. Were devastated and heartbroken but, at the same time, at peace, confident we made the right decision. Those are the emotions that happen when you call off your wedding six days before the day because of a vicious global pandemic. Seriously, what the hell? The run-up to our wedding ran parallel to the spread of COVID-19. First, several older guests dropped out. Then guests who worked in healthcare couldnt get the time off. Then a bridesmaid was stuck in New York. Every day, we worried more and more about the big day. Butterflies and joy gave way to travel bans and quarantines. It was the toughest decision weve ever made. But as soon as we made it, we knew it was the right one. We all have to make sacrifices to stop this deadly spread. We postponed the most important day in our lives and sacrificed hours of planning and thousands of dollars but we did the right thing. Our wedding will mean more than ever, when we can have it. When my new bride and I finally walk out on that dance floor, we will be able to bust the moves weve been practicing in isolation, and it will feel so good. Story continues Love in a time of coronavirus, right? Ben Houston is an advertising licensing director for a motion picture studio. Protecting the vulnerable By Mary Lou Fulton The coronavirus crisis really hit home as I read media accounts of Italian doctors forced to play God in overwhelmed hospitals. Younger, healthier people with the virus received treatment a bed, oxygen, respirators. Older people might just be left to die. My mom is one of those people who could get written off. Shes 78 and on kidney dialysis that she performs nightly at home. Her immune system is shot, and it took her six months to recover from a terrible bout of shingles just two years ago. So if shes going to stay feisty and flirty and ready to play the slots when the casinos reopen, we cant roll the dice. Ive told my mom it isnt safe for her to leave her Boyle Heights home except for doctor appointments. A week ago, I quit my full-time job, intending to start a new chapter focused on writing and music making. Now my job is protecting us from the virus. I'm mindful that any move I make could bring infection into her home, so I have new routines. When Im out, I wear gloves and carry wipes to clean door handles and shopping carts. I get to the grocery store when it opens, hoping to avoid crowds. Ive read that heat can kill the virus, so I toss my hoodie into the dryer before going into the house. Once inside, I wash my hands and wipe down what Ive touched doorknobs, a light switch, my phone, the credit card I used at the store. As each day brings more restrictions, Im thinking ahead. Instead of waiting a few weeks for my moms next dialysis-supply delivery, I drove 90 minutes to the warehouse to pick up as many supplies as I could fit in my Kia Soul. I take my moms temperature twice a day, and mine, too. So far, so good. But that could change, and if it does, my moms odds arent so good. I have Facebook friends who say they arent worried because if youre younger than 50, theres just a 1% chance the virus will kill you, based on Chinese data. For my mom and others in their 70s, its almost one in 10. For folks in their 80s, its 18%. So Im asking the young and healthy to think about the ripple effect of every choice they make. Stay home, keep your distance, reduce the spread of the virus so that hospitals will have the capacity to care for older people instead of pushing them aside. You can count on me to protect your mom. Will you help me protect mine? Mary Lou Fulton is a writer, musician and former program officer at the California Endowment. Hunkering down By LaVonne Ellis Back before everything turned upside down when was that, last week? I was happily van camping in the Arizona desert with my dog, Scout. This was after we had escaped from San Diego with two parking tickets and a quite rational fear of impoundment. A few years ago, I decided to live in my van so I could stretch my funds and travel. But San Diego and many other cities have made living in a vehicle illegal, and Id already received a police warning on that front. Since I am working on a book about the conflict between cities and van dwellers, heading to the desert to write in peace seemed the reasonable thing to do. Then I heard about an RV park for the homeless in Austin, Texas. I wanted to see it, maybe interview some of the inhabitants you know, for research. But by then, word was making the rounds about a highly contagious virus that started in China. I wondered: Should I worry? I wasnt sure, but heading to a big city and meeting lots of people suddenly didnt sound like such a good idea. I changed my mind about going a couple of times, embarrassed to be perceived as alarmist but also feeling increasingly alarmed. After I embarked on my trip, the news on the radio got worse every day. There was a death up in Washington state and then more and more deaths. People in my over-70 age group were said to be more likely to die from the virus. The illness had a chilling name, COVID-19, and it sounded like it was spreading fast. When I stopped to visit friends in a remote corner of eastern Arizona, I looked at a map and saw that my best friend Lindas place, high in the mountains of northern New Mexico, wasnt too far out of the way. Might as well pay her a visit. The thing about best friends is that theyre always glad to see you. And this very special friend has a permanent welcome mat out for me. The closer I got to her place outside of Taos, the more I realized Austin could wait. And I could wait out this virus far from all the craziness, in a beautiful spot half a mile from the nearest neighbor and 30 miles from the nearest town. No one can call me homeless now. LaVonne Ellis is a former correspondent for ABC Radio News. College interrupted By Remi Godinez Rumors that we would be sent home started flying on Tuesday morning. The official news broke in an email around 5 p.m.: All undergraduates would have to leave campus by the following Tuesday, and classes would move online for the rest of the semester. For students poised to graduate: Please pack as if you will not return to MIT for classes. Minutes after the message arrived, the seven seniors in my mechanical engineering seminar sat at a table in the lab with Danny, our professor, all trying to grasp the idea that this was how our senior year would end. Our seminar was making a windlass, a kind of winch used to raise an anchor. Ours was made according to an 1899 diagram from the renowned Herreshoff boat builders. Sitting in the seminar with my senior year suddenly in shambles, I knew that if I only had one week left at MIT, I wanted to spend it machining. And looking at the faces around the table, I could see my classmates felt the same way. The mood at our seminar, the determination to make the most of this last week sand-casting bronze, machining parts, putting teeth in aluminum gears was echoed by a lot of the seniors I talked to over the next couple of days. MIT can be brutally challenging and demoralizing at times. Theres a campus expression that students often invoke: IHTFP which translates, in one version, as I hate this frigging place. But what sustains us is what got us there in the first place: our passion for the work we do. We wanted to keep doing what we love with the people we cared about until the bitter end. The initial high spirits and resolve of that first night faded quickly as we all tried to grasp the ramifications of leaving midsemester. It was easy to say that wed finish our courses online, but chemistry labs and advanced manufacturing courses dont lend themselves to virtual classrooms. And for some students, the news was devastating. One roommates family told her not to come home because of the risk to her pregnant sister and aged relatives, so instead she was planning on holing up alone in Maine. Some lacked access to fast internet in their family homes and wondered how theyd be able to join even a semblance of class. I was with my friend Miguel when he learned he couldnt go home to El Salvador because hed have to quarantine for 30 days upon arrival. My college experience ended two months early. Ill always be a mechanical engineer who makes things, and I know that Ill stay in touch with my closest friends. But Im sad about leaving all the people that make MIT the intense, passionate community it is. Its the unrealized potential in relationships with people on the gymnastics team, my lab partner whod teased that one of his friends was interested in me, or the friends with a small f that Id wanted to have lunch with before I was done that make leaving so hard. During orientation, every MIT freshman receives a list of 101 things to do before you graduate. No. 101 on the list is Understand the true meaning of IHTFP. Taking stock of everything Ive lost, both academically and socially, the deeper meaning of the phrase is suddenly so clear I have truly found paradise. Remi Godinez is hunkered down in Los Angeles. Facing risk By Eric Snoey I am a 60-year-old ER doc. How do I balance caring for my patients and myself? Dr. Roberto Stella, a 67-year-old Italian physician, died of COVID-19 on March 10. He had insisted on treating patients even after protective gear ran out. "We don't stop. We are careful, and we go on," he was quoted as saying. His colleagues heralded him as a hero. Its a romantic image: The selfless doctor stalwart against an indiscriminate virus, much like a soldier carrying a wounded comrade or a firefighter rushing into a burning building. The analogy, while flattering, is wrong and dangerous for doctors. Police, firefighters and soldiers knowingly put their lives at risk when they raise their hand for that work. Very few physicians are wired that way. What we do may look like courageous improvisation amid catastrophe, but its scripted, routinized for everyones safety and enormously dependent on hospital resources. All of us in the emergency room are fervently committed to our lifesaving roles. But if being an ER doc means the routine potential of catching a lethal disease, many of us will reconsider our early choices. This is exactly the situation I find myself in. The chaotic environment of a county hospital ER or intensive care unit presents a real risk of contamination with the mysterious, transmissible coronavirus. Patients line up at our front entrance with every kind of medical problem; they are medically complex, often non-English speaking, sometimes homeless. To sort COVID-19 from the scores of other possible diagnoses means interfacing in the most intimate way with each of them. Its hard to do this perfectly and safely even in the best of circumstances, and we are in far from the best of circumstances. In my ER, we ration coronavirus tests no more than 10 a day for 200 patients. Masks are recycled, provided they werent "touched." I assess patients from the doorway of the exam room, the medical equivalent of social distancing. Is that cough, that fever coronavirus? Or just the flu, asthma, heart disease? At my age, if I get the virus, I have 3.6% chance of dying from it about the same as for some forms of heart attack or coronary bypass surgery. COVID-19 has already killed dozens of doctors; hundreds more have become ill. Two ER docs, in Seattle and New Jersey, are in critical condition because of their exposure to the coronavirus; two more have tested positive in Illinois. I pray the U.S. doesnt become like Italy, where the virus has so overwhelmed the healthcare system that infected patients over 65 were simply refused treatment. My colleagues respond to all this with quiet resignation; resolute, if still anxious. We understand how treating ever growing numbers of infected patients could sweep us down a path to where, like Dr. Stella, we cross a threshold. A 60-year-old colleague tells me she assumes she will get the virus and survive. Im not that sanguine. Perhaps supplies will get replenished, the tests will become common, containment will help. It cant happen soon enough. Dr. Eric Snoey is vice chair of emergency medicine at Highland Hospital in Oakland. Dr Linda Quick was a trainer of Chinese field epidemiologists who helped track, investigate and contain outbreaks. Several months before the coronavirus pandemic began, the administration of US President Donald Trump eliminated a key American public health position in Beijing that was intended to help detect disease outbreaks in China, Reuters news agency has learned. The American disease expert Dr Linda Quick, a medical epidemiologist embedded in Chinas disease control agency, left her post in July, according to four sources with knowledge of the issue. The first cases of the new coronavirus may have emerged as early as November, and as cases mounted, the Trump administration in February chastised China for censoring information about the outbreak and keeping experts from the United States from entering the country to help. It was heartbreaking to watch, said Bao-Ping Zhu, a Chinese-American who served in that role, which was funded by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 2007 and 2011. If someone had been there, public health officials and governments across the world could have moved much faster. Zhu and the other sources said Quick was a trainer of Chinese field epidemiologists who were deployed to the epicentre of outbreaks to help track, investigate and contain diseases. As an American CDC employee, they said, Quick was in an ideal position to be the eyes and ears on the ground for the US and the rest of the world on the coronavirus outbreak and might have alerted them to the growing threat weeks earlier. 200321090012632 No other foreign disease experts were assigned to lead the programme after Quick left in July, according to the sources. Zhu said an embedded expert can often get word of outbreaks early, after forming close relationships with Chinese counterparts. Zhu and the other sources said Quick could have provided real-time information to US and other officials around the world during the first weeks of the outbreak, when they said the Chinese government curbed the release of information and provided erroneous assessments. Job discontinued Quick left when she learned her federally funded post, officially known as resident adviser to the US Field Epidemiology Training Program in China, would be discontinued as of September, the sources said. The CDC said it first learned of a cluster of 27 cases of pneumonia of unexplained origin in Wuhan, China, on December 31. Since then, the outbreak of the disease known as COVID-19 has spread worldwide, leaving more than 14,600 people dead, and overwhelming healthcare systems in some countries. At a press briefing on Sunday, Trump dismissed the Reuters report as similar to other stories on the CDC that he described as 100 percent wrong. CDC Director Dr Robert Redfield said the agencys presence was actually being augmented as we speak, without elaborating. In an early statement to the news agency, the CDC said the elimination of the adviser position did not hinder Washingtons ability to get information and had absolutely nothing to do with CDC not learning of cases in China earlier. The CDC would not make Quick, who still works for the agency, available for comment. Asked for comment on Chinese transparency and responsiveness to the outbreak, Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs referred Reuters to remarks by spokesman Geng Shuang on Friday. Geng said the country has adopted the strictest, most comprehensive, and most thorough prevention and control measures in an open, transparent, and responsible manner, and informed the (World Health Organization) and relevant countries and regions of the latest situation in a timely manner. One disease expert told Reuters he was sceptical that the US resident adviser would have been able to get earlier or better information to the Trump administration, given the Chinese governments suppression of information. In the end, based on circumstances in China, it probably wouldnt have had made a big difference, Scott McNabb, who was a CDC epidemiologist for 20 years and is now a research professor at Emory University. The problem was how the Chinese handled it. What should have changed was the Chinese should have acknowledged it earlier and didnt. Medical workers in protective suits attend to COVID-19 patients at the ICU of a hospital in Wuhan in early February [China Daily via Reuters] Alex Azar, secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), said on Friday that his agency learned of the coronavirus in early January, based on Redfields conversations with Chinese colleagues. Redfield learned that this looks to be a novel coronavirus from Dr Gao Fu, the head of the China CDC, according to an HHS administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Dr Redfield always talked to Dr Gao, the official said. HHS and CDC did not make Azar or Redfield available for comment. Zhu and other sources said US leaders should not have been relying on the China CDC director for alerts and updates. In general, they said, officials in China downplayed the severity of the outbreak in the early weeks and did not acknowledge evidence of person-to-person transmission until January 20. After the epidemic took off and China had imposed strict quarantines, Trump administration officials complained that the Chinese had censored information about the outbreak and that the US had been unable to get American disease experts into the country to help contain the spread. The WHO secured permission to send a team that included two US experts, by the time they visited between February 16 and 24, China had reported more than 75,000 cases. On February 25, the first day the CDC told the American public to prepare for an outbreak at home, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused China of mishandling the epidemic through its censorship of medical professionals and media. Relations between the two countries have deteriorated since then, as Trump has labelled the coronavirus the Chinese virus a description the Chinese have condemned. Quicks job was eliminated after the CDC moved over the past two years to reduce the number of US employees in China, the sources told Reuters. We had already withdrawn many technical public health experts, the same expert said. The CDC, however, disputed that staffing was a problem or that its information had been limited by the move. It was not the staffing shortage that limited our ability, it said. The CDC team in Beijing now includes three US citizens in permanent roles, an additional US citizen in a temporary role, and approximately 10 Chinese nationals, the agency said. Of the US citizens, one is an influenza expert with expertise in respiratory disease. Coronavirus is not influenza, although it is a respiratory disease. Personal ties The CDC team, aside from Quick, was housed at US Embassy facilities. No American CDC staffer besides Quick was embedded with Chinas disease control agency, the sources said. Dr Thomas R Frieden, a former director of the CDC, said if the US resident adviser had still been in China: It is possible that we would know more today about how this coronavirus is spreading and what works best to stop it. Dr George Conway, a medical epidemiologist who knows Quick and was resident adviser between 2012 and 2015, said funding for the position had been tenuous for years because of perennial debate among US health officials over whether China should be paying for funding its own training programme. Yet, since the programme was launched in 2001, the sources familiar with it say, it has not only strengthened the ranks of Chinese epidemiologists in the field, but also fostered collegial relationships between public health officials in the two countries. We go there as credentialled diplomats and return home as close colleagues and often as friends, Conway said. In 2007, Dr Robert Fontaine, a CDC epidemiologist and one of the longest-serving US officials in the advisers position, received Chinas highest honour for outstanding contributions to public health due to his contribution as a foreigner in helping to detect and investigate clusters of pneumonia of unknown cause. But, since last year, Frieden and others said, growing tensions between the Trump administration and Chinas leadership have apparently damaged the collaboration. The message from the administration was, Dont work with China, theyre our rival,' Frieden said. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In the view of the Coronavirus outbreak in India, ride-hailing giant Ola has announced that it would provide financial aid for their driver-partners and their spouses in case they test positive for COVID-19. As per a statement released by Ola, the driver-partners and their spouses will be covered by a sum of Rs 30,000 under which they will receive a compensation of Rs1000 per day for a maximum of 21 days for an individual from the date they are tested positive for COVID-19. The Rs 30,000 cover would include their hospital expenses and home quarantine prescribed by a doctor. So how can the drivers make a claim? Any driver or his spouse who is infected with COVID-19 can make a claim for this compensation by providing necessary medical documents issued by a hospital. This cover will be applicable from immediate effect and it is available for all Ola driver-partners in India across all categories including Ola Bike, Ola Auto, Ola Rentals and Outstation. To further enhance the safety of their drivers, Ola has partnered with a leading online doctor consultation app called the Mfine, that aims to provide free medical help for driver-partners and their family members. The app will allow the driver-partners to avail three free doctor consultations through the Mfine platform. They can use this facility for themselves and their family members using a special code on the app. Talking about providing financial security to their driver-partners, Anand Subramanian, Head of communications, Ola said, The outbreak of COVID-19 poses a risk of impacting the health and livelihoods of millions across the country including that of our driver-partners and their families. Through our tailored insurance offering, we are able to help driver-partners and their spouses, through assured financial support if they are diagnosed with COVID-19. In addition, through access to free medical help for all driver-partners and their families, we aim to ensure their personal health and wellbeing. We continue to think of all the various means in which we could work with our entire ecosystem of driver-partners and their families, consumers, and citizens at large to emerge stronger together from these challenging times. Earlier Ola said in a statement that they had shared health advisories with all their partners to educate them about the deadly virus and what measures to take to combat the coronavirus. They had advised their driver-partners to use hand sanitizers frequently and had also asked the drivers to wear a mask if they have flu-like symptoms. Republican Senator Rand Paul admitted Monday he didn't qualify to be tested for the coronavirus even though he received one and got a positive result. And he refused to apologize for exposing his fellow lawmakers while he waited on his result. The Kentucky senator faced criticism for working in the Senate - including lunch with his colleagues and going to the Senate gym - after being tested for the coronavirus instead of self-isolating while awaiting his result. But Paul, a doctor, argued in a new statement that since he 'didn't fit the criteria for testing or a quarantine' that he didn't have to do so. Republican Senator Rand Paul admitted Monday he didn't qualify to be tested for the coronavirus even though he received one Senator Rand Paul is the first senator to contract the virus, and on Friday was in a GOP luncheon where he came in close contact with several other Republican senators There have been reports of shortages of coronavirus testing kits from around the country; above a health care worker dispenses a test in Jericho, New York The front door of Senator Rand Paul's Senate office in the Russell Senate Office Building He noted he only got tested because he travels extensively as a senator and has pulmonary issues due to having part of one of his lungs removed - neither of which meet Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for testing. Complaints have been reported from medical professionals around the country of a shortage of kits to check patients for the virus. And it's led to allegations that the rich and the powerful are able to obtain tests while others have not. 'The nature of COVID-19 put me and us all in a Catch-22 situation. I didnt fit the criteria for testing or quarantine. I had no symptoms and no specific encounter with a COVID-19 positive person. I had, however, traveled extensively in the U.S. and was required to continue doing so to vote in the Senate. That, together with the fact that I have a compromised lung, led me to seek testing. Despite my positive test result, I remain asymptomatic for COVID-19,' Paul said in a lengthy statement. 'For those who want to criticize me for lack of quarantine, realize that if the rules on testing had been followed to a tee, I would never have been tested and would still be walking around the halls of the Capitol. The current guidelines would not have called for me to get tested nor quarantined. It was my extra precaution, out of concern for my damaged lung, that led me to get tested,' he added. Paul's statement did say he received the test in Washington D.C. but his office declined to be more specific when contacted by DailyMail.com. Rand Paul came under criticism from some senators - including Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona - for working in the Senate while waiting for his test results The senator did use the occasion to argue for more testing. 'I believe we need more testing immediately, even among those without symptoms,' he said in his statement. His positive test result sent shockwaves through the Capitol on Sunday. Two Republican senators went into isolation after Paul's announcement of his results. Both Senators - Mitt Romney and Mike Lee - said in statements they consulted with the office of the attending physician of the Capitol on the matter and agreed to self-isolate for 14 days. Romney said he was being tested while Lee said he was not. 'Since Senator Romney sat next to Senator Paul for extended periods in recent days and consistent with CDC guidance, the attending physician has ordered him to immediately self-quarantine and not to vote on the Senate floor,' Romney's office said in a statement Sunday afternoon. 'Upon learning that my colleague Sen. Paul tested positive for COVID-19, I consulted the Attending Physician of the U.S. Congress Dr. Harding. She advised me that because I have no symptoms or other risk factors, a COVID-19 test was not warranted. However, given the timing, proximity, and duration of my exposure to Sen. Paul, she directed me to self-quarantine for 14 days,' Lee said in his statement. The office of the attending physician of the Capitol, led by Dr. Brian Monahan, oversees healthcare for members of Congress and the nine Supreme Court Justices. Senator Mitt Romney's office announced he was self-quarantining since he had sat next to Paul for extended periods of time in the last few days Senator Mike Lee also is self-quarantining after spending time with Rand Paul Senator Lindsey Graham, who tested negative for the coronavirus, said he had his test done by Monahan's office. Paul's office announced Sunday that the the senator tested positive for coronavirus, but, said in that statement noted he was 'he is asymptomatic and was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive travel and events. He was not aware of any direct contact with any infected person.' But, as the news of the diagnosis shocked the Capitol, senators pointed out they have seen and worked with Paul over the past week - after he had been tested and before he learned of the result. It led to criticism that the senator, who is a medical doctor, should have known to self-isolate while waiting to hear his results. Democratic Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona was one of those to criticize Paul. 'Ive never commented about a fellow Senators choices/actions. Never once. This, America, is absolutely irresponsible. You cannot be near other people while waiting for coronavirus test results. It endangers others & likely increases the spread of the virus,' she wrote on Twitter Sunday. Paul is the third member of Congress who announced they were diagnosed with the virus. Two House members, Representatives Mario Diaz Balart (left) of Florida and Ben McAdams (right)of Utah, revealed last week that they have also tested positive In 2017, Paul was jumped by a neighbor in Kentucky. The assailant broke five of Paul's ribs and in August 2019, the senator had to have part of his lung removed as a result of the injuries he sustained during the attack. Additionally, Paul was a guest at the Speed Art Museum's March 7 'Speed Ball' in Louisville where two attendees tested positive for the disease. He was among many state officials there, including members of Congress and the governor. Paul said he had no contact the two who tested positive. 'As for my attendance at the Speed Art Museum fundraiser on March 7, unlike the other Kentucky government officials there, I had zero contact or proximity with either of the two individuals who later announced they were positive for COVID-19. The event was a large affair of hundreds of people spread throughout the museum,' he said in his statement. Paul is the first member of the Senate to test positive for the virus. Representatives Mario Diaz-Balart, a Republican from Florida, and Ben McAdams, a Democrat from Utah, have also tested positive for the disease. Hundreds attend Ohio churchs drive-in church worship service Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A congregation in Ohio decided to host Drive In Church services as a way of gathering people together for worship while being wary of concerns over spreading the coronavirus. Genoa Church of Westerville held two Drive In Church worship services on Sunday morning, one at 9:15 a.m. and another at 11:00 a.m., with around 600 people in 300 cars attending. The church had a raised platform for speakers, with attendees remaining in their parked cars to listen to the music and preaching through an FM transmitter. Genoa Church Pastor Frank Carl told The Christian Post in an interview on Monday that this was the first time that his congregation had held such a service, having been inspired by the famed Crystal Cathedral of California offering a similar worship experience years earlier. We decided to do this as an alternative way to allow people to worship collectively in a safe environment of their own car and to honor the guidelines of our governor, explained Carl. The services followed a similar order of worship to their usual church service, including sacred music led by their Music Pastor Kerry Buck and a sermon by Carl. We had a complete worship set, sermon, and offering buckets were in the exit as people left if they wanted to contribute and they did so very generously, continued Carl. Yesterday, instead of folks saying 'amen,' our outdoor gathering would enthusiastically honk their horn to show support in the moment. Genoa has contacted other local congregations about doing similar services, with the church thinking about possibly making it a regular part of their weekly worship post-coronavirus. Starting next week, they intend to hold three drive-in services each Sunday, with as many as six possibly being offered on Easter Sunday next month, according to the church. Over the past few weeks, large numbers of churches in the United States and elsewhere have closed their doors due to concerns over spreading the coronavirus. As a result, many congregations have looked toward alternative means of holding worship, usually through online streaming services or pre-recorded sermons posted to social media. For example, Jentezen Franklin, senior pastor of the multi-campus Free Chapel Church in Gainesville, Ga., moved his megachurchs service to an exclusively online format earlier this month. All thats here are empty seats because the building and the seats are not the church. The people are the church, preached Franklin on Sunday, March 15. In the Old Testament, God had a temple for His people. But in the New Testament God has a people for his temple. He said Ill live in you and your body will be my temple. The Spanish government has extended the travel restrictions already in place at Spains borders in a bid to halt the spread of the coronavirus outbreak. Six days ago, the authorities closed the countrys land borders to everyone apart from residents and goods vehicles. Now the restrictions have been applied to Spains airports and seaports, and will be in place for the next 30 days. Only Spaniards or residents of Spain, residents of the European Union and countries associated with the Schengen Area who can prove that they are returning to the place of residence will be permitted entry at these transport hubs. The restrictions will not be applied at Spains borders with Andorra nor Gibraltar This measure, which was agreed last Tuesday by the European Union, includes several exceptions. As well as the aforementioned cases, travelers will be permitted to enter Spain at these border points: if they hold a long-term visa issued by an EU state or a country from the Schengen Area to which they are headed; if they are cross-border workers; if they are health professionals or take care of seniors and are on they way to carry out their duties; if they are employees in the sector of goods transportation; and if they are flight crew who are needed to carry out air freight activities. These measures do not apply to diplomatic or consular staff, nor those from international organizations, members of the military or humanitarian staff, provided they are traveling in order to carry out their duties. Also exempt are those traveling due to imperative family motives that are duly accredited, as well as those who can provide documents that show they are traveling due to causes of force majeure or are in a situation of necessity. Humanitarian reasons can also be cited. The toughening of border controls comes at a time when Spain is facing one of the most dramatic moments of the coronavirus crisis, with more than 2,000 dead and 33,000 confirmed infections. The order will be in place for 30 days but may be extended According to the Spanish government, the measures are aimed at protecting the health and safety of citizens, and containing the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. The order was signed by Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska and came into force at midnight. It will be in place for 30 days, notwithstanding, where appropriate, eventual extensions that may be agreed. The order specifies that the restrictions will not be applied at Spains borders with Andorra nor Gibraltar, and also orders the temporary closure of the crossings at Spains North African exclave cities of Ceuta and Melilla. English version by Simon Hunter. Priests on Monday began rituals for shifting the Ram Lalla idol here to a temporary new location, clearing the site to allow construction of a Ram temple. The deity and two others idols will be shifted to a temporary structure nearby till the planned construction of a Ram temple is completed on the site, allotted for it by the Supreme Court in a landmark verdict in November. The special prayers began amid restrictions forced upon the organisers by the coronavirus threat. The puja will continue on Tuesday and the idols will be shifted to the new structure, a silver throne, on Wednesday morning. The prayers on Monday were held in the presence of Ram Janmabhoomi Teerath Kshetra Trust members Bimlendra Mishra and Anil Mishra. The trust was constituted by the Centre in February, days before the expiry of the three-month deadline set by the Supreme Court. Ram temple trust secretary Champat Rai said seers from Ayodhya were not invited for the prayers due to the coronavirus threat. "We will keep a watch on the situation till March 24 and decide the future course of action," he added. On Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's proposed visit to Ayodhya on Wednesday, Rai said it was not final yet. "The chief minister is responsible for the safety and security of people during the present situation. This is the first duty of a 'Raja'," he added. On Wednesday, the idols will be placed on a 9.5-kg silver throne made by artisans from Rajasthan's Jaipur. The Ayodhya administration has ordered the closure of all temples to contain the spread of coronavirus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More TVS Motor Company has decided to halt all manufacturing operations at its plants in India and Indonesia till further notice following the coronavirus outbreak. All relevant employees have already been provided with work from home facility, the company said in a statement. "The well-being of the employees is paramount for the company. The immediate focus is to ensure the safety of employees, their families, and the extended enterprise including suppliers, dealers and our customers," it said. The company said it will protect jobs and salaries following the COVID-19 pandemic. The company would work closely with its dealers and suppliers and extend all support to them in the face of "this unexpected difficulty," the statement added. No casualties reported amid three enemy attacks in Donbas in past 24 hours JFO HQ Russia-led forces violated the ceasefire in Donbas three times in past 24 hours, the press centre of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) has reported. "Yesterday, on March 22, there were no casualties among the troops of the JFO as a result of the enemy shelling attacks," the JFO staff said in its update on Facebook on Monday morning. Russia-led forces engaged 82mm mortars, which are banned under the Minsk peace agreements, as well as grenade launchers of various systems, large-caliber machine guns, and rifles, it said. A bill to establish a National Forensic Sciences University by upgrading the Gujarat Forensic Sciences University was introduced in LoK Sabha on Monday. Introducing the National Forensic Science University Bill, 2020, Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy said it is also proposed to declare the Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Sciences, New Delhi as an institution of national importance. The minister said the criminal justice covers the entire gamut of processes through which crimes are investigated, criminals identified and apprehended, judged, punished and steps taken to prevent recidivism. He said the forensic sciences, criminology and applied behavioural sciences play a critical role in criminal investigations and prevention of crimes. Though, augmentation of machinery and equipment in the forensic facilities in several states is done through procurement, the availability of trained and qualified manpower to use the same for criminal investigationis lacking. Reddy said the National Forensic Science University Bill, 2020 will address this gap as it is proposed to establish a National Forensic Sciences University by upgrading the Gujarat Forensic Sciences University at Gandhinagar in Gujarat, established under the State Act, that is, the Gujarat Forensic Sciences University Act, 2008. It is also proposed to declare the Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Sciences, New Delhi, as an institution of national importance, the bill said. According to the bill, the National Forensic Sciences University seeks to facilitate and promote studies and research, and to achieve excellence in the field of forensic science in conjunction with applied behavioural science studies, law, criminology and other allied areas and technology and other related fields for strengthening criminal justice system in the country. It would be a teaching, research and affiliating university, and may affiliate colleges and other institutions in the states and Union territories. Apart from imparting education, the proposed university would also set up centres of excellence in the area of forensic sciences and provide modern facilities in these areas. The university will grant degrees and other academic distinctions;make the university open to all persons irrespective of gender, race, caste, creed, disability, domicile, ethnicity, social or economic background. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (Newser) Just a couple of weeks ago, Tito's warned consumers not to use its vodka as a DIY hand sanitizer amid the coronavirus outbreak. But perhaps that got management thinking about how it actually could help during the pandemic, because now Tito's has made itself a full-fledged partner in hand sanitizer output. As the New York Daily News reports, the liquor-maker announced Sunday it will be transforming its distillery into a production facility for hand sanitizer, with an expected initial output of 24 tons, followed by more "as needed." "Currently, we are testing our formula, procuring necessary components of supplies and packaging, and preparing for production as we wait for the additional required ingredients to be delivered to the distillery," the company said in a statement. story continues below Distilleries nationwide have been jumping into the hand sanitizer effort since the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau relaxed its regulations last week so such companies could make ethanol-based sanitizers. Tito's notes it will be giving the hand sanitizer away for free locally and to "those most in need." Breweries are also now joining Team Hand Sanitizerspecifically, Anheuser-Busch, which announced over the weekend it would similarly be pitching in, per WABC. "We have a long history of supporting our communities and employeesthis time is no different," the company said in a Saturday tweet. "That's why we are using our supply and logistics network to begin producing and distributing bottles of hand sanitizer to accommodate the growing needs across the United States." (Read more coronavirus stories.) Amid concerns over the spread of coronavirus, the courts in the national capital have virtually gone into shutdown as the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court on Monday decided to hear only matters of "extreme urgency" through video-conferencing. While the apex court decided that bench may be constituted to hear only "matters involving extreme urgency" which would be decided by the presiding judge, the high court suspended its functioning as well as of the district courts here till April 4 in view of the coronavirus threat. "The bench(es) may be constituted to hear only matters involving extreme urgency, to be decided by the presiding judge of such bench(es) on the basis of prayer made by Advocate-on-Record (AoR)/party-in-person by way of a signed and verified application containing a synopsis of extreme urgency not exceeding one page, similar to urgency affidavit filed during court vacation periods," a circular issued by the apex court said. "The application must also contain a separate paragraph giving consent that the matter may be taken up through the video-conferencing mode. In the application, the AOR/party-in-person must specify as to whether he would link through own desktop/mobile or would prefer to appear at such facility in the Supreme Court premises," the circular said. Similarly, the high court said that matters of extreme urgency will have to be mentioned before the registrar or joint registrar and thereafter, it will be listed and heard by the bench concerned through video-conferencing. This arrangement has been made in the high court till April 4. The decision of the high court, taken by an eight-judge committee, was communicated in a notification issued by the high court's registrar general. "The functioning of this court as well as the courts subordinate thereto is hereby suspended till April 4, 2020," the notification issued by the high court administration said. Regarding the functioning of trial courts in Delhi, the high court has directed the district and sessions judges to prepare a roaster of judicial officers for dealing with remand proceedings related to fresh arrests. In the circular issued by the apex court administration, it has been directed that "entry into the high security zone be further regulated by suspending entry of advocates on the basis of their proximity cards, till further orders". "The Registry would keep only such offices open with skeletal staff as may be required to facilitate the holding of the bench for extreme urgent cases or as directed from time to time, and for facilitating all matters that may be connected to smoothly holding of such bench, by video-conferencing or otherwise," the circular said. Earlier in the day, lawyers' bodies of the apex court -- Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) -- have said that a decision was taken to "shut down" the top court premises with immediate effect and hearing in urgent matters would take place only through video-conferencing. The SCBA and SCAORA have said that decision was taken at a meeting of justices L Nageswara Rao, Surya Kant and Aniruddha Bose with office bearers of these two lawyers' bodies. The death toll due to the coronavirus pandemic rose to nine on Monday after West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh reported a casualty each, while the number of confirmed cases soared to 468, the Union Health Ministry said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Coronavirus outbreak has become a global concern. The pandemic has created an atmosphere of fear. With the death toll across the globe spiking up daily, people have self-isolated themselves. In times of crisis situation, the Melbourne zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo have come up with an idea to cheer people up. Both the zoos have started live streaming services so that people at large can watch their favourite animals and lift their moods. Taking to their website, Melbourne zoo wrote: We're live streaming our zoo so you can enjoy #AnimalsAtHome. Weve set up a few live stream cameras from Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo, so you can enjoy the zoo from anywhere. Cant see them? Thats because our animals live in areas that are much bigger than what a camera can capture and they have the choice to wander wherever they please. Check back in later to spot them. Currently, they have installed cams at snow leopard cub enclosure. They have installed two cameras, one inside the cub and the other one is outside the cub. You can watch the live stream here. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 23:48:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DAMASCUS, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Monday discussed the U.S. "theft" of Syrian oil with visiting Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu, according to the state news agency SANA. Both sides discussed the situation in northeastern Syria, where the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are in control as well as the U.S. capture of key oil fields in that region. The official report described the U.S. control over the oil fields as a "heist." Meanwhile, Assad discussed with his Russian guest the Turkish-Russian agreement reached on March 5 about the cease-fire in Idlib province in northwestern Syria. According to the report, the discussion also touched upon the rebels' violations of the cease-fire and the implementation of other parts of the agreement such as securing the M4 highway, which links the northwestern province of Latakia with Aleppo province in northern Syria. According to the deal, Turkey must force the rebels to clear the road and fall back six km as a prelude for opening the road. Italy further tightens lockdown rules, closing all non-essential businesses People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 10:04, March 22, 2020 In an unexpected announcement made via Facebook, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said late on Saturday that all commercial activities in the country would be shut down unless they performed an "essential" role for the country in its battle against the spread of coronavirus. With his declaration, Conte further tightened what is the most dramatic peacetime lockdown in recent history. Conte himself called the current crisis in Italy "the country's most difficult since the end of World War II." Conte said that supermarkets and pharmacies would remain open, and banking and vital transport services would still be available, but that all non-essential commercial activities would be prohibited. That amounts to a near-total shutdown of the Italian economy, with factories and offices that had been able to operate in some limited capacity no longer operating. The new rules are expected to enter into force starting Monday. Conte spoke for less than five minutes with more than 30,000 people logged onto the site despite the fact that he spoke around 11:30 p.m. local time and with little advance notice. Conte said he was speaking via social media because of a desire to "operate with complete transparency." The news came hours after Italian civil defense officials in Rome revealed that COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, had claimed 793 more lives in Italy over the previous 24 hours. The number of active cases of the infection rose to nearly 43,000. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Occidental Petroleum is nearing a deal with activist investor Carl Icahn who launched an offensive against the companys management after the acquisition of Anadarko, sources in the know who wished to remain anonymous have told Reuters. Icahn was among the most vocal critics of the US$38-billion takeover of Anadarko, in which Occidental beat Chevron. The deal was supposed to cement and expand Occidentals position as the largest oil producer in the Permian after it incorporated Anadarkos acreage, which comes in at some 600,000 acres gross in the Delaware Basin, part of the largest and most prolific shale play in the United States. The activist shareholder warned that the acquisition, for which, according to him Oxy had paid too much, could turn sour in case oil prices fell. It seems he may well have been spot on. West Texas Intermediate has slumped to less than $23 a barrel since the start of the month after Saudi Arabia announced it was turning the oil taps to maximum. Occidentals stock price went with it. Related: Saudi Arabias Oil Price War Is Backfiring From close to $38 per share at the end of February, Oxy has plunged to a bit over $10 as of Friday. This gave it a market cap of just $9.16 billion, as everyone with exposure to U.S. shale is slashing spending and conserving cash. Now, Occidentals executives are negotiating with Icahn and a deal could be inked before the end of the month, according to the Reuters sources. It will give two board seats to Icahn associates and give the activist investor the power to name a third independent director. This means the company has caved to the pressure, agreeing to give Icahn a bigger say in important decisions such as acquisitions. Meanwhile, Oxy is tackling its $29-billion debt pile. According to a Bloomberg report from last week, the company has started contacting debt and equity investors to find ways for easing the load. Oxys debt was downgraded to junk status last week. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Senator Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) on Monday afternoon slammed Democrats for delaying a vote on a massive coronavirus-relief package, accusing them of holding up the bill in an attempt to check of items on their ideological wish-list. There is a good bill, a bill that was negotiated in good faith over the weekend with many Democrats . . . that they are now blocking, that they will not even start debate on because of ideological wish-list items, Cotton said on the Senate floor. It is disgraceful, and it is dangerous to the lives of our people and their economic well-being. The competing bill promoted by House speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) includes measures to cap carbon emissions for airlines, mandate diversity initiatives for corporate boards, and forgive student-loan debt. Democrats want to impose quotas for race and sex on corporate boards, Cotton said. Is that going to stop anyone from getting sick from coronavirus? Senator Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.), who spoke immediately after Cotton, also said the Democrats proposed stimulus was a non-starter. Its not gonna work. Were not gonna do this, Graham said of the bill, accusing the House of holding hostage relief for Americans. The Democrats proposal was revealed following House majority whip James Clyburns (R., S.C.) comments on Thursday that the bill represented a tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision. Democrats in the Senate voted on Monday to prevent debate on the Republican package for a second day in a row, with only Senator Doug Jones (D., Ala.) breaking ranks. Negotiations among the Trump administration and senators of both parties are said to be ongoing. More from National Review and appliance makers like Samsung, LG, Panasonic and Godrej Appliances have suspended manufacturing till March 31 amid lockdown in several states to contain the spread of infection. These organisations will review resumption in production around March 31, depending on further directives from the governments at that time. South Korean major Samsung, which manufactures a range of products like mobile phones, refrigerators and washing machines, has suspended operations at its Noida and Chennai plants. "As a measure to safeguard our employees and their families against Covid-19 and in compliance with directives from the government, we have decided to currently suspend our manufacturing operations and have asked employees at our sales, marketing and R&D offices across India to work from home, Head Corporate Communications Partha Ghosh said. There is a complete lockdown in 19 states, all Union Territories and some parts of six states due to outbreak of Coronavirus, which according to the health ministry has infected around 390 people here so far. Japanese firm Panasonic is also closing down its production units in India, including its largest facility at Jhajjar in Haryana where it manufactures washing machines, ACs, refrigerators and audio products. At Panasonic, we aim to comply with all Government orders and safety of our employees and citizens at large is of paramount importance to us. In line with the current scenario, Panasonic India has taken a call to close production at our factories temporarily," Panasonic India spokesperson said. The spokesperson added that the company willkeep reviewing the situation for any further actions. LG Electronics India said it is monitoring the situation and following the government's instructions, it has suspended production at its manufacturing units at Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh and Pune. In the current situation, we have decided to suspend production in our manufacturing facilities in Greater Noida till March 25 and at Pune till March 31. This action is being taken to help ensure the health and safety of our employees, an LG spokesperson said. Haier Appliances India President Eric Braganza said the company hasceased all operations at its Pune industrial park till March 31. "We will continue to assess the situation on the ground," he added. Production of the was already hit due to supply constraints. The manufacturers, which sources components from mainly from China, were low on stocks as outbreak in Wuhan had caused disruption in production and supply of many key components. Godrej Appliances on Monday said it has suspended manufacturing operations at its Mohali (Punjab) and Shirwal (Maharashtra) factories. As a preventive step, we at Godrej Appliances have decided to suspend its manufacturing operations at both factory locations in Mohali and Shirwal factories, and all operations from its offices, branches and warehouses with effect from midnight of March 22, 2020, until midnight of March 31, 2020, Godrej Appliances Business Head and EVP Kamal Nandi said. He added that during this period, all employees, trainees, contract personnel can stay at home to safeguard themselves, their families and the community at large. Chinese tech giant Xiaomi, which works with contract manufacturers to make devices in India, said its partners would abide by the conditions laid out by the government. Each facility such as corporate office, warehouse, service centre, Mi Home, Manufacturing plant will abide by the lockdown orders issued by the state and UTs, a Xiaomi spokesperson said. BEIRUT The camp school is only a tent cold and cramped, its floor covered by a rug whose intricate pattern is hard to make out under the crowd of kneeling students. The walls are plastic sheets. There are no desks, no chairs, no toilet, hardly any books. But there is a whiteboard. A teacher has written a series of addition problems: 687 + 536. 450 + 276. 265 + 603. Little girls in pigtails and teenagers in headscarves bend their heads in concentration, scrawling sums on borrowed notebook paper. The school, in a camp for displaced people in northwestern Syria, serves about 60 students, boys and girls, ages 4 through 14. Most are among the nearly 1 million people, more than half of them children, who have fled toward the Turkish border over the past three months. They are running for their lives to escape Syrian government forces and their Russian allies, who are storming through Idlib province, the last refuge of antigovernment forces, in a campaign to reclaim it after nine years of civil war. Northwestern Syria has been in a state beyond emergency for so long that most children cannot remember what normal life is supposed to be like. Shelter, food, medicine, warmth there is not nearly enough of any of it in Idlib, where a cease-fire has done little to bring people home. Yet aid workers have kept going, trying to deliver tents, water, food and fuel. Doctors and nurses have continued to provide care. And inside the cold tent in the camp for the displaced outside the small village of Bhora, four teachers offer all they can: a few hours of instruction, a flicker of normalcy. Their school is called Return School. Were hoping to be back home soon, said Qassem al-Ahmad, 30, a teacher at the school, explaining the name in a phone interview. Merely attending school can be a hardship. In the camp, many parents need their children to collect wood to burn or to earn extra income by doing odd jobs. Families frequently leave the camp in search of better shelter, perpetually rootless in a situation in which nobody can say what places are safe, or how long safety will last. Aid groups say about a quarter of the displaced are surviving on one meal a day. Inside, the teachers pair the students who cannot read or write with more advanced ones, hoping some learning will rub off. Age no longer corresponds to level. Some of the fourth graders are 14 years old. Vivian Yee and Hwaida Saad are New York Times writers. Spring ISD students can start their schoolwork againnot in the classroom, but at home, as the district is adjusting to deal with and prevent the spread of coronavirus. Related: Coronavirus hits Houston: What you need to know Empowered Learning At-Home is the new website where parents and students can see resources for their studentranging from Pre-K to 12th grade, as well as special education resources and additional services for Gifted and Talented students and students with dyslexia. Resources include daily schedules as well as a weekly non-digital plan of activities to help students structure their days, Spring ISD Superintendent Rodney Watson wrote in a statement. My first goal with this strategy is to protect our students, staff and families as much as possible, Watson said in a video statement. My second goal is to mitigate the impact of the virus on the graduating class so everyone can continue on their academic journeys. Related: What to know about taking your child to a playground Watson acknowledged that some students may not have access to internet or a computer at home, which is why the district sent out a survey to families to gain a better understanding of their technology needs. Many parents are also still working, Watson said, so the district doesnt want to overwhelm students or parents. We dont want to overwhelm students or parents right now, Watson said. We are working with teachers to provide more structured learning opportunities in the near future. Other ways parents can support students right now, Watson said, is by encouraging them to read every day and talking with them about their reading, or have them practice writing by keeping a journal or composing an email to a friend. Learning doesnt have to look like it usually does in the classroom for students to benefit and grow, Watson said. Another top priority of Spring ISD is continuing to provide meals to Spring ISD students, Watson said. To make meals more accessible to students whose families may have impacted budgets or livelihoods, the district will now be adding evening pickups to their curbside meal program at Smith Elementary School, 26000 Cypresswood Drive, and Claughton Middle School, 3000 Spears Rd., this week. Families can also pick up free breakfasts and lunches for their children 18 or younger between 8 and 11 a.m. at these elementary schools: Anderson Elementary, 6218 Lyngate, Spring Bammel Elementary, 17309 Red Oak Dr., Houston Booker Elementary, 22352 Imperial Valley Dr., Houston Clark Primary, 12625 River Laurel Dr., Houston Claughton Middle, 3000 Spears Rd., Houston Hoyland Elementary, 2200 Wittershaw Dr, Houston McNabb Elementary, 743 East Cypresswood Dr., Spring Meyer Elementary, 16330 Forest Way Dr., Houston Ponderosa Elementary, 17202 Butte Creek Rd., Houston Reynolds Elementary, 3975 Gladeridge Dr., Houston Smith Elementary, 26000 Cypresswood Dr., Spring Children must be present with their parents at the drive-through area in front of the school to receive their breakfast and lunch. Learning cant happen unless our students have access to nutritious meals, Watson said. One goal Spring ISD is staying committed to, Watson said, is graduating the 2020 class of students. We dont know when, where or how that will happen yet, but I promise you that we will keep you informed as we figure out next steps, Watson said. The remote learning plan and resources will continue to be updated, he added, so continue checking https://www.springisd.org/athome. paul.wedding@hcnonline.com Victorian authorities have placed an urgent order for around 2000 ventilators, in a move to increase the capacity of intensive care beds around the state. The state currently has around 1000 ventilators as the government announced 61 new cases of the virus, bringing Victoria's total to 355. Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos Credit:AAP State Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said they are attempting to find ways to manufacture the equipment themselves, and the government was "treating this as if were in wartime conditions". "We are pulling out all stops, were doing everything possible to prepare our hospitals in particular, but also across our health system. Success is going to be determined by everyone doing their bit. Everyone needs to adhere strictly to advice around social distancing if we are to give our health system a fighting chance." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, March 23, 2020 18:07 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206ce9faa 4 Food rendang,semur-jengkol,coronavirus,soto,sambal-roa,gulai,cakalang-rica,COVID-19,food Free Amid the alarming COVID-19 pandemic, people who self-quarantine are perhaps stocking up on instant foods and frozen products such as instant noodles, chicken nuggets and frozen sausages in their refrigerator. However, there are actually many Indonesian foods that offer better options for stockpiling. Traditional dishes such as rendang (slow-cooked meat in coconut milk and spices), semur (stew) and sambal roa (fish chili paste) are not only long-lasting due to their combination of spices and slow-cooking technique, but also boast better nutritional value than the frozen, highly processed instant foods and of course, they taste so much better. Prior to serving such dishes, celebrity chef Ragil Imam Wibowo said that one should simply steam the frozen, pre-made Indonesian food. What's important is to steam the food to reheat it, afterward it's safe to fry, bake, grill, or boil [the dishes] to preserve their taste, Ragil told kompas.com on Sunday. The following are some recommended Indonesian traditional dishes that can be made in batches and stored for long-time use: Rendang The world-famous beef rendang can be made in large quantities and then stored in the fridge for a long time without losing its flavor or nutritional content. It was this particular durability that made the Sumatran dish popular among the Muslim community, as it was traditionally made as a food supply for pilgrims making the long journey from Indonesia to Mecca. Corporate chef of Parador Hotels and Resorts, Gatot Susanto, told kompas.com that a well-preserved rendang could be a perfect food supply during self-quarantine. He recommended the food be stored in a vacuum-packed plastic bag first before being stored in the fridge. It can make the rendang more durable as the food is stored in an airtight container." To make beef rendang, the beef is cooked with garlic, onions, chili and many other herbs and spices in thick coconut milk for at least eight hours at a low heat until the milk evaporates, leaving tender and flavorful beef chunks smothered in a caramelized curd of oil and spices. A good rendang will have the spices and herbs infused into the thickness of the beef chunks. After it is cooked, the rendang can be stored in heat-resistant plastic bags and put in the freezer. If stored well, rendang can be good for at least two months. Read also: Seven high-protein foods to include in your meals Cakalang rica This spicy fish option can last at least one month in good storage. Cakalang, or skipjack tuna, has solid, white flesh that can retain its shape during reheating. You can use fillet of fresh cakalang or smoked cakalang to cook this dish. To prepare the dish in large batches, you start by deep frying the cakalang first. Afterward, you saute the cakalang in a pan of sambal paste made of crushed garlic, three kinds of red chili (birds eye, curly red chili and cayenne), onion, lemongrass, ginger, tomatoes and salt. After it is cooked, put the dish in a plastic bag, vacuum-pack it and then store in the fridge. Sambal roa Sambal roa is a Manadonese traditional dish that can serve as a condiment when eaten with kerupuk (crackers) or other protein such as fried tempeh and tofu. It also can function as nutritious protein when eaten with rice or fried banana as a full meal. The dish is made with smoked roa (ballyhoo fish) flakes mixed with spices. It can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature, or put in the fridge for even longer consumption time. Semur Semur is a typical Indonesian meat or vegetable stew with a thick, sweet gravy. The gravy is usually made with sweet soy sauce, shallots, onions, garlic, ginger, candlenut, nutmeg, cloves, pepper, coriander, cumin and cinnamon. Many kinds of protein can be used to cook semur, such as beef, chicken, hard-boiled egg and beef tongue. Vegetarians meanwhile can opt to have the notorious jengkol or stinky bean. Many add potatoes in the semur stew. However, when cooking semur for self-quarantine supply, you have to cook the proteins well first and half-cook the potatoes so that the latter won't be overcooked when reheated. Gulai Gulai (curry soup) is another popular Indonesian dish made with meat cooked in turmeric-infused coconut milk. Unlike rendang, in which coconut milk is evaporated and transformed into an oily sauce, the coconut milk in gulai is soupy and great for cold, rainy days. You also can have many options for protein when cooking gulai, such as chicken, beef, lamb and innards. Gulai can be stored in airtight containers and put in the freezer to preserve it. Fried chicken Unlike Western-style fried chicken in which the chicken is marinated and breaded, Indonesian fried chicken is made using the ungkep method. To cook chicken using such a technique, you put the chicken in a pan with spices, usually including turmeric. Add water, or coconut milk in many households, to the pan. Close the lid and cook the chicken at a low heat until the liquid evaporates and leaves the chicken in a thick curd. Chicken that has been cooked in the ungkep method can be stored in the freezer as a supply. When you want to prepare it for dinner, steam it first for defrosting and then deep fry it. Soto ayam Soto (aromatic soup) is the country's national soup that varies widely from the western to the eastern parts of the archipelago. Soto ayam is chicken soup with spices and vegetables, good to eat with sambal and a little hint of lime juice. You can make it in big batches and freeze it with the cooked chicken. When you want to prepare it for dinner, steam the soup with the chicken, and then put it in a soup pan for direct boiling. Serve the soup and the chicken in individual bowls with freshly boiled vermicelli and fresh vegetables such as cabbage, bean sprouts and celery. (gis/kes) For immigration historians and other scholars, a CNN article begins, the way US President Donald Trump is describing the coronavirus pandemic has a familiar ring. And the frequency with which historians and other scholars draw tortured analogues between this administration and various historical horrors means that regular people are also all too familiar with the bell sounding in the minds of our vaunted historians and scholars. Trumps use of the term Chinese virus has drawn the ire of many in the media who feel he is stoking anti-Asian sentiment among the public. Hence an entire genre of think-pieces making some version of the case that hate is spreading faster than the virus has cropped up in the wake of the viral outbreak. Those pieces tend to begin with a cryptic reference to increases in hate crimes against Asian Americans, a claim that makes a certain intuitive sense, even in the absence of robust statistical evidence. People are on edge because of the pandemic, and many feel anxious about the economy and the well-being of themselves and their families. Perhaps some marginal individuals, who are already disposed to such behavior, will feel emboldened upon hearing the president associate the virus with its country of origin. To the extent that this has occurred in reality, it is, of course, a lamentable development. In all of the pieces I read, however, authors do not accurately show their work to demonstrate the increase in violence against Asian Americans. They rely on the same handful of anecdotes four or five incidents over the past two months that, while abhorrent and unacceptable, represent a vanishingly small number in a country of 327 million people. Its almost certainly the case, of course, that some number of anti-Asian attacks have gone unreported thats the nature of these events, and its bound to be true that some victims have not disclosed incidents of violence but we have no idea how large or small that number is. In the absence of such evidence, however, many in the media continue to run with the narrative that Americans are indiscriminately assaulting their Asian-American neighbors, which would continue unabated if not for the enlightened intervention of advocates in the media. The press corps betrays their rather low opinion of Americans when they presume that assaulting strangers in a fevered racial hysteria is just the sort of thing the American people do. Story continues With the dearth of hard statistical evidence on hate crimes against Asians since the advent of the coronavirus, these pieces tend, within paragraphs, to devolve into the collected wishcasting of experts who assert, as a matter of their expertise, that a rise in anti-Asian violence is soon forthcoming, even if it is not yet here. John Yang of the Asian Americans Advancing Justice group told NBC News, The use of this term [Chinese virus] by [Trump] and others even in the last couple of weeks have [sic] led to a noticeable incline in hate incidents that we are seeing. I do think that there is a correlation. The Washington Post solicited the opinion of a lecturer in Asian-American and Asian diaspora studies at UC Berkley, who claimed that Trumps decision to reference the geographic origin of the coronavirus is racist and it creates xenophobia and begets a very dangerous situation for Asian Americans. Some unforeseen acts of bigotry will presumably ensue from the creation of that dangerous situation. We face an actual pandemic, of course, one that actually arose from China and that has actually killed thousands of people around the world. Even so, media outlets use precious bandwidth to speculate about incidents that have not yet occurred, but that they presume will occur in the future, because of the vague wishcasting of self-appointed experts on the relative depravity of the American public. Cecilia Vega of ABC News used the second question at a White House press conference to ask the president of the United States amid a pandemic shutting down major cities, killing thousands globally, and grinding the economy to a halt why he insisted on calling a virus that emanated from China the Chinese virus. There are reports of dozens of incidents of bias against Chinese Americans in this country, Vega pleaded. Your own aide, Secretary Azar, says he does not use this term. He says that ethnicity does not cause the virus. Why do you keep using this? A lot of people say its racist. (A lot of people say its racist can reliably be read as Cecilia Vega thinks its racist.) Trump reminded Vega that the disease originated in China and that the Chinese are currently waging a massive disinformation campaign to blame the virus on the United States. The fact that Vega asked this question, and the endless hand-wringing in the media about real and hypothetical instances of xenophobia, put the warped priorities of many in the media on full display. The Chinese government a body singularly adept in the creation and dissemination of propaganda knows that racial hang-ups in the United States are ripe for exploitation. The Chinese propaganda outlet Xinhua Network has tweeted out the sort of anti-racist bromide you might expect to hear Don Lemon bark at a hapless Trump surrogate: Racism is not the right tool to cover your own incompetence. A few Orwell novels should suffice to resolve the apparent irony of a Chinese government that lectures Americans about bigotry all while placing Muslims in internment camps. Thats not much of a mystery, as these things go. More concerning, perhaps: Why do the Communist Chinese sound so much like the American news media? More from National Review By Express News Service KAKINADA/GUNTUR/ELURU/VISAKHAPATNAM/TIRUPATI/KURNOOL: One more Covid-19 positive case was reported from Visakhapatnam on Monday, taking the total number of cases to seven. The patient is a 25-year-old native of Vizag, who returned from Birmingham, UK, to New Delhi and from there to the Port City on March 17. According to the medical bulletin issued by the government, he travelled to his residence in Thagarapuvalasa by car with his father. He developed corona symptoms on March 19 and visited the Gayatri Vidya Parishad on March 21 along with his parents for a check up. He was referred to the Chest Hospital where he was admitted the same day and his samples were taken. Meanwhile, eighteen more persons with Covid-19 symptoms were admitted to the Government General Hospitals in Kakinada, Guntur, Eluru, Visakhapatnam, and Chittoor districts on Monday. Eight suspected patients were admitted to the isolation wards at Kakinada General Hospital. Samples of all of them were collected and sent for testing. Two of them are from Kesavaram, one from Vetlapalem and the rest from Kakinada. Except one person, all of them returned from abroad between March 8 and 18. A 45-year-old woman from Kesavaram in East Godavari district returned from Muscut one month ago. She developed symptoms of Covid-19 and was shifted to Kakinada GGH on Monday by her relatives. Another woman aged 30, also from Kesavaram, returned from Dubai on March 8. She too was suffering from cold and cough and was admitted to Kakinada GGH on Monday. A 42-year-old man from Vetlapalem, who also returned on March 8 from Dubai, was admitted with coranavirus symptoms. Doctors said of the five cases that were admitted to the GGH from Kakinada city on Monday, a 33-year-old man returned from Canada on March 10, a 38-year-old man and woman aged 29 returned to Kakinada from Amsterdam on March 13. A 20-year-old youth returned from Paris on March 14 and a 23-year-old man returned from London on March 18. Meanwhile, in Guntur, four people got themselves admitted to Chest Hospital on Monday with complaints of cold and cough. Though there was no travel history to any foreign country, hospital authorities put them in the isolation ward and sent their samples for testing. Among them, a 26-year-old man is from Kadapa, a 22-year-old youth is from Uttar Pradesh, a 52-year-old man from Kondepi in Prakam district and another man from Mangaldas Nagara in Guntur district. Three persons with coronavirus symptoms were admitted to the isolation ward at Eluru GGH on Monday.A woman among the three patients had returned from New York to her native village of Korumamidi in Nidadavolu mandal through Dubai, Hyderabad, and Rajamahendravaram. According to officials, she has travelled along with a person, who tested positive, from Dubai to Hyderabad. For the past two days, she was suffering from fever, cold and cough. Another one among those three patients had returned from Dubai to Hyderabad and from there to his native village of Manchili in Tanuku mandal of West Godavari district. He too was suffering from COVID-19 symptoms for the past two days. The last among the three came from Muscut to his village of Irgavaram via Hyderabad. He was suffering from cold and cough since March 18. Two more suspect cases were admitted to Chest Hospital in Visakhapatnam on Monday. A young man in his twenties returned from the UK and was suffering from cold and fever. His mother was also suffering from the same symptoms. Both were admitted to the isolation ward and their samples were sent for testing. In Kurnool, one more suspected case was admitted to Kurnool Government General Hospital on Monday. A 27-year-old engineering scholar from Germany was admitted with coronavirus symptoms. He returned from Germany on March 11 and for the past few days was suffering from cold and cough. Throat swab was taken from him and sent for testing. Meanwhile, Nandyal government hospital doctors conducted medical tests on 19 people from various villages in Nandyal mandal, who returned after an excursion to other States, on Monday. Though all of them are healthy, as a precautionary measure, medical tests were conducted and they were advised to be in-home isolation for next 14 days. In Kadapa district, a 28-year-old from Peddaputta village of Vallur mandal, who was suffering from cold and cough, was brought to Kamalapuram PHC. He is a software engineer working in Bengaluru and returned home three days ago. His family members took him to Kamalapruam PHC, where tests were conducted and he was diagnosed to be suffering from viral fever. However, he has advised home isolation for 14 days. Health Minister visits KGGH Health Minister Alla Kali Krishna Srinivas (Alla Nani) visited Kakinada GGH on Monday and took stock of the situation. Speaking to mediaperosns, he said on the directions of Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, he was visiting the districts, where positive covid cases were reported, and reviewing the measures initiated. There is a need for taking more precautionary measures in the districts where positive cases were reported and people should be on high alert. The spread of coronavirus can be contained only with public cooperation, he said and urged people to stay indoors. He said the health condition of the six positive cases reported in the State was stable and explained that coronavirus in the State was in second stage and efforts are being made to prevent it from entering the third phase. Elaborating on the measures being taken, he said a 100-bed isolation ward being set-up for each constituency. 108 emergency staff are being equipped with modern equipment and protective gear. He maintained that compared to other States, Andhra Pradesh fares better. At the same time, he stressed the need of people maintaining social distance. He warned those who try to take advantage of the lockdown to hike prices of essentials and said such people will not be spared. Coronavirus: AB InBev helping European health workers Global brewer AB InBev has unveiled a package of support for frontline European health services in the fight against coronavirus. Countries including Italy, Europe's worst-hit nation, Spain and France have enforced lockdowns to prevent the spread of Covid-19, which is piling immense pressure on healthcare providers. In a bid to help, Belgium-based brewer AB InBev is producing 50,000 litres of ready-to-use disinfectant alcohol for European hospitals, using the surplus alcohol from its alcohol-free beers including Juliper 0.0 and Beck's Blue. This initial run, produced in partnership with KWST and Jodima, will be delivered across the continent and AB InBev has committed to producing and donating more disinfectant alcohol as needed. It has also produced 26,000 250ml bottles of hand sanitiser which will be given out to pharmacies and frontline workers across Europe. Jason Warner, president of AB InBev in Europe, said: "Unlike many other products you buy, beer is local - we grow our barley here in Europe and brew it close to source in our breweries, which means we are deeply rooted in our local communities and will do everything we can to help them in these times. "Turning our efforts from brewing with barley and hops to producing disinfectant and hand sanitisers was a different challenge, but one that we rose to given the current situation. "In this unprecedented time we want to turn our attention to supporting public health efforts and ensuring those around us can stay safe and healthy." AB InBev's Beck's brewery in Bremen, Germany also completed a first production run of 1,000 disinfectant liquids on Monday, repackaged in flint Beck's beer bottles and distributed to local businesses and services. It is also offering billboards to advertise public health awareness messages in Belgium and the Netherlands and has pledged to hand out more than one million bottles of its alcohol-free beer in the coming weeks to frontline workers in Europe battling Covid-19. In addition to its public health support efforts, AB InBev is also pledging financial support to European hospitality sector. The brewer has been offering deferred rent payments, free tap cleaning services and keg restocks to hospitality industry customers. It has also launched "pre-paid pint" scheme in various countries. These see people purchase vouchers through online platforms to "pre-pay" for a beer in their favourite bar, which can be redeemed once the venue reopens. So far almost 500,000 beers have been "pre-paid", with AB InBev matching donations. The schemes include Cafe Courage in Belgium, through which some 75,000 beers have been bought; Save Pub Life, launched by Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I in the UK; the Salva il tuo Bar scheme in Italy; and Bar Solidaire in France. The brewer says it has so far raisd around 6 million for restaurants, pubs and bars across Europe through donations, business support and "pre-paid pints". 23 March 2020 - Bethany Whymark EXPERT OBSERVER On Tuesday (24 March) I will be hosting a lunchtime webinar in which I will discuss the impact of the coronavirus on real estate with Rich Harvey of propertybuyer. Weve been inundated with registrations and it will the most popular webinar ever hosted by Hotspotting. Not surprisingly, with the virus impact dominating news media, people have an urgent interest in how this will play out for real estate. The virus impact is creating volatile share markets but I expect the outcomes for property markets to be quite positive by comparison. At times of extreme uncertainty and volatility, Australians tend to retreat to the solidity and relative safety of bricks and mortar. We saw that the last time there was a global crisis impacting on our economy and causing the Federal Government and the Reserve Bank to take special action and that was in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis in 2008. At that time we were inundated with economists and others seeking their 15 minutes of fame by forecasting a collapse in housing values. Academic Steve Keen famously predicted that our property values would drop at least 40% in 2009. If hed been right, it would have been an unprecedented demise of house prices, not only in Australia but anywhere in the world. And Keen was not alone. At that time, and in subsequent years, there was a seemingly never-ending line-up of doomsday forecasters for Australian real estate. One American spruiker, seeking to drum up publicity for an Australian seminar tour, claimed that house values would drop 60% and that land values would fall 90%. Renowned doomsday ranter Harry S Dent has claimed our property values were on the point of collapse on at least three separate visits to Australia over the past decade. Keen, Dent and all the other forecasters have one thing in common: they were all proven spectacularly wrong, every time. In 2009, at a time when Keen predicted a 40% drop in Australian property values, house values rose 13.6% - thats the weighted average increase across the eight state and territory capital cities in calendar 2009, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Every capital city except Adelaide recorded a double-digit rise in house prices in 2009. And in 2010 property values rose another 6%, according to the ABS, with all capital cities recording some level of growth, except Perth. One of the messages we received from those times, and from other periods when share markets have over-reacted to situations in the global economy, is that the Australian property market does not follow the lead of the share market. In fact, often it does the opposite. One of the factors that will keep residential real estate solid amid the virus crisis is the general shortage of homes in Australia, amid times of strong demand from owner-occupier buyers, including first-home buyers. There was relatively little construction of new dwellings in 2019. Vacancies across Australia are very low in most locations and listings of properties for sale remain well down on the levels of recent years. One measure showing the general shortage of homes is the vacancy rate figures published each month by SQM Research. Their latest report shows that, for the first time in many years, every one of the eight state and territory capital cities has a vacancy rate below 3%. In recent years both Perth, Brisbane and Darwin have had quite high vacancy rates and Sydney recently also had a vacancy rate above 3%. But now Perth is down to 2%, Brisbane is 2.2% and Darwin has dropped steadily lately and is now 2.7%. Sydneys rate has also fallen and its now 2.9%. Hobart, Canberra and Adelaide all have vacancy rates around 1%, which means their rental markets are very tight. Melbourne has fallen lately and well as its vacancy rate is now just 1.9%. So four of the capital cities are below 2% and all of them are lower than 3%. With availability of rental properties so low, were seeing rents rising in most of the capital cities. If vacancies are tight and rents are rising, prices are likely to heading north as well and thats certainly the case at the moment. The price report published by CoreLogic earlier this month showed prices had risen in the previous three months pretty much everywhere in Australia in all eight capital cities and in all seven state regional jurisdictions. The SQM Research figures published on 17 March showed strong growth in our largest cities, with Sydney up 11%, Melbourne 9% and Brisbane around 7%. But Hobart still leads, according to these figures, with house prices 14% higher than a year ago. And there were also moderate rises in cities like Canberra and Adelaide. So, overall, the data shows that our property markets are very strong and well placed to handle whatever outcomes arise from the virus crisis. Terry Ryder is the founder of hotspotting.com.au [email protected] twitter.com/hotspotting As a retired doctor living alone in Switzerland, Marie-Claude was concerned about how to minimize her exposure to COVID-19. Then the phone rang. It was her friend Shadi Shhadeh, a Syrian refugee, asking how he could help. When the coronavirus started, he immediately called me: Do you need anything? He almost became a son, says Marie-Claude, in her late sixties, whose grown-up children live hundreds of miles away in Germany and Austria. Seeking practical ways to help others, in the country that gave him safety, Shadi swiftly mobilized a network of volunteers in Geneva and Lausanne to shop and run errands for the elderly, the infirm and others at greatest risk in the pandemic. The Syrian refugee community swung into action, drawing on a deep sense of responsibility for those in greatest need and years of experience surviving danger and uncertainty. We lived, and we are still living, a crisis as refugees, says Shadi, 34, who is originally from Daraa, south of Damascus, and came to Switzerland in 2013. That makes us probably in a better position to understand that there is a crisis and how to help. Switzerland, with a population of 8.5 million, has over 11,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, making it one of the 10 most-affected countries worldwide. We are a group of Syrian refugees, ready to help you stay at home by doing your shopping. When the pandemic was declared, Shadis wife, Regula, who is Swiss and has elderly parents, realized that many people would need help. She turned to Shadi to enlist his Syrian friends, who began putting up flyers in apartment block lobbies and supermarket foyers. We are a group of Syrian refugees, ready to help you stay at home by doing your shopping, reads the colourful poster, which provides an email contact [email protected] for those who need help. Shadi screens the emails and assigns neighbourhood volunteers, who head out several times a day to shop on demand. "A woman called and said, Im not a refugee, can I still use this service? I said, Of course, we are all refugees now, says Shadi, who works for a Geneva humanitarian organization. To minimize the chance of contracting or spreading the virus, he insists that the volunteers follow the strictest public health guidelines. The objective of this campaign is to help people to remain in their protected zone. In this case, the protected zone is their home, he says. Thats why its important to stress safety. He adds: These people are protecting themselves, but they are also protecting our medical system from breaking down. We need to support that. Breakdown of health services is something that millions of Syrians have experienced in the course of nine years of civil war, especially as hospitals became targets. So we know what is a medical system being down, Shadi says. We know people who died from little injuries because they received no treatment, and we dont want to reach that. If we stand together now, we will support the medical system. The groups volunteers are instructed to wash their hands thoroughly, wear protective gloves, disinfect shopping bags, observe a minimum distance and limit social chat with those they are helping to phone calls. Everyone can do this ... invite people to copy this idea and implement it. The network comprises 26 volunteers, 18 of them Syrian. So far the group estimates it has shopped for 100-200 people in Geneva and Lausanne, and their volunteer network is growing by the day. Regula, a communications specialist who came up with the idea, hopes the initiative will inspire others. I hope that the people who are able to do something can help, so that those who really shouldnt have any social contact stay at home, she says. Everyone can do this. All you have to do is print the flyer and hang it in your building or in the supermarket. Shadi wants all those who read this story to act in their communities. I support, and I encourage and I invite people to copy this idea and implement it, he says. If we have in every building one person who can help, it will be remembered decades later. With additional reporting by Sylvie Francis and transcription by Haude Morel. Body of woman discovered in Ramsey woodland The body of a woman has been found in woodland on the Island. Police were notified of the discovery near Ramsey Hairpin earlier today. Investigating officers say the 39-year-old woman was local. The death is currently being treated as suspicious. Anyone with information is asked to contact CID at Police Headquarters on 631212. The University of Utah Health disclosed a security breach, it has discovered malware on its systems and revealed unauthorized access to some employee email accounts. The University of Utah Health disclosed a security breach, the research hospital has discovered unauthorized access to some employee email accounts along with the presence of malware on its systems. Attackers breached the organization with a phishing attack, the intrusion took place between January 7 and February 21, 2020. From January 22 to February 27, 2020, we became aware that there was unauthorized access to some employees email accounts. This unauthorized access occurred between January 7 and February 21, 2020. The unauthorized access occurred as a result of phishing schemes sent to the employees email accounts. reads the alert issued by the hospital. We quickly secured the email account, began an investigation, and engaged a cybersecurity firm to assist. The University of Utah Health announced that it has immediately secured the compromised accounts and launched an investigation. The investigation determined that some patient information was exposed, including names, dates of birth, medical record numbers, and limited clinical information about care received at the hospital. The investigation additionally revealed that the staff at the hospital discovered on February 3, 2020, that an employees workstation had been infected with a common type of malware. Additionally, on February 3, 2020, we became aware that a common type of malware may have been placed on an employees workstation. We quickly secured that workstation, began an investigation into this incident, and engaged a cybersecurity firm to assist. continues the alert. The investigation determined that the malware may have allowed access to some patient information from the employees email account, including patient names, dates of birth, medical record numbers, and limited clinical information related to the care U of U Health provided to patients. The investigation into the incident is still ongoing, the good news is that the hospital is not aware of any abuse of the exposed information. The University of Utah Health is notifying the impacted patients via letter, it also established a dedicated call center to provide them support and answer their questions. Patients are recommended to review statements received from their healthcare providers and immediately report discrepancies or services that they did not receive. We deeply regret any concern or inconvenience this may cause our patients. We are actively reviewing information protocols, reinforcing information security procedures with our employees and implementing changes where needed to help prevent an incident like this from happening again, the hospital concludes. Pierluigi Paganini (SecurityAffairs hacking, University of Utah Health) Photo: Jim McIntosh/Flickr Read on for the most recent top news you may have missed in Boston. Haymarket open for business with reduced number of vendors The Boston open-air market, one of the oldest in the nation, did get customers Saturday, but it clearly did not get the amount of business it usually does. Read the full story on WCVB Channel 5 Boston. Person shot outside Codman Square KFC A person was shot twice in the leg on Washington Street, across from Regina Road, around 6:10 p.m. Sunday. Read the full story on Universal Hub. Veteran Boston strategist, Joe Biden confidant Larry Rasky dies Rasky, 69, was the chairman and CEO of Rasky Partners and had more than 30 years in the public relations business with offices in Boston and Washington. Read the full story on WCVB. Forced off campus, students scramble for shelter in tough market From cases where landlords hiked the rental price of apartments and living spaces by 30% to 40% in less than a day, to violations of Boston's five-or-more rule, problems persist for students in the region. Read the full story on DigBoston. This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. Minister of information, Lai Mohammed has advised Nigerians to be prepared for tougher measures amid the coronavirus outbreak. Alhaji Lai at a media briefing in Abuja on Monday, expressed that the federal government may be forced to employ the services of the military and police for contact tracing. Also Read: Ezekwesili Mourns As Nigeria Records First Coronavirus Death Mohammed urged people who just returned to the country to give themselves up, saying if contact tracing is not properly done, the number of people who have been infected will multiply every five days. He added that necessary measures will be unveiled before the end of the day or on Tuesday. Harvard University Postpones Graduation Ceremony, Hosts Virtual Ones Instead In light of the CCP virus threat, Harvard University will replace its commencement ceremony originally scheduled for May 28 with virtual events. In a March 20 email, Harvards President Lawrence S. Bacow explained to students and faculty that the decision was made in response to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the schools own health experts. Given the advice we are receiving from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, other public health officials, and our own faculty, who are among the worlds leaders in infectious disease, epidemiology, and virology, it is difficult to imagine how we could safely hold such a large gathering this spring, Bacow wrote. We recognize that people need to start making plans soon, so we thought it best to provide guidance now. According to student newspaper The Harvard Crimson, thousands of members of the Harvard community, including family members, faculty, and alumni from around the world, would gather on campus for the graduation ceremony each May. This years event would feature a speech by Martin Marty Baron, the executive editor of The Washington Post. The traditional gathering will be indefinitely postponed, Bacow wrote. In order to make sure the Class of 2020 graduate on time, individual schools will host their own virtual ceremonies, and graduates will receive their diplomas in the mail. Bacow said in the email that the University is considering putting on a belated ceremony for the Class of 2020 in the future. We plan to host an in-person celebration sometime later, once we know it is safe to bring people together again, Bacow wrote. We intend for this ceremony to have all of the pomp, circumstance, and tradition that is typical of a Harvard Commencementwith as many of the traditional campus festivities that typically precede Commencement as possible. Bacows announcement comes after a series of measures were taken to try to curb the spread of the virus in the Harvard community. The Ivy League school decided last week to move all its classes online after spring break. All of its 36,000 students were told vacate their dorms by March 15. Harvard is the latest to join a growing list of American colleges and universities that have decided to cancel or postpone their graduation ceremonies this year. According to a tracker created by Forbes, nearly 70 institutes across the nation have announced that they wont hold the ceremonies as originally scheduled. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Floridas governor says a Fort Lauderdale senior living facility allowed workers who were infected with the coronavirus to enter its space and spread the disease, which caused the deaths of three residents. Governor Ron DeSantis announced over the weekend that a third person who lived at Atria Willow Wood had died from COVID-19. The governor did not reveal details about the fatalitys identity or age. Last week, two other residents of the home, 77-year-old Richard Curren and an unidentified 93-year-old man, also died of coronavirus infection. Richard Curren, 77, a retired travel agent and magician, died in Fort Lauderdale last week after he was infected with coronavirus Curren and his wife retired to South Florida after relocating there from their hometown of Chicago Curren is one of three residents of the Atria Willow Wood senior living facility who died after contracting coronavirus last week DeSantis blamed the facility for the three deaths. The facility did not follow any of the regulations, the governor told WPLG-TV. The construction staff, the food service, the regular staff; they were coming in when they were sick and they were allowed to enter these facilities. The three fatalities are among seven residents of the facility who were hospitalized and have also tested positive for the virus while results are pending for five others, according to ProPublica. As soon as the Department of Health office in Broward County notified us of a confirmed case in our community, we immediately escalated our safety and infection control protocols and expanded our extensive emergency-scenarios planning, Mike Gentry, the facilitys senior vice president of care, said. Since March 16th, the Department of Health has been on site several times to review our plans and has been supportive of our response and protocols. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (above) criticized the facility, saying it was allowing sick workers to enter the premises and spread the virus to others In total, 12 residents have been hospitalized - seven of whom were confirmed cases of coronavirus and five others whose tests are pending Curren was a retired travel agent and magician who moved to South Florida with his wife from their hometown of Chicago. He had a history of respiratory problems, so relatives were not overly concerned when he wasnt feeling well since that was common. But when it became obvious that he was feeling weak and had trouble breathing, he was rushed to the emergency room. Last Monday morning, he was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Authorities in Florida said they are investigating at least 18 other senior living facilities for possible violations of safety rules meant to stop the spread of coronavirus. So far, 14 people have died in Florida after contracting coronavirus. Nationwide, the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus has surpassed 41,700. There have been a reported 576 deaths from the pathogen in the United States, according to officials. Burgeoning coronavirus outbreaks at nursing homes in Washington, Illinois, New Jersey and elsewhere are laying bare the industrys long-running problems, including a struggle to control infections and a staffing crisis that relies on poorly paid aides who can't afford to stay home sick. That came into clear focus at the deadliest single spot in the nation's coronavirus crisis, the Life Care Center in the Seattle suburb of Kirkland, where federal investigators believe a contributing factor in 35 deaths so far was low-pay workers who came to work with the illness and potentially even spread it to other nearby facilities where they took shifts. Beyond that outbreak, at least 15 more have died and dozens have been infected at long-term care facilities across the nation, with major outbreaks of 46 infected in the Chicago suburb of Willowbrook, four deaths in at least two facilities in New Jersey, 13 infected in Little Rock, Arkansas, and 11 infected in Troy, Ohio, with 30 more showing symptoms. 'Nursing homes would always have been ground zero, but given we already have huge staffing shortages, this will be magnified,' said David Grabowski, a Harvard Medical School professor who has studied staffing problems at homes. 'It could be worse for todays nursing homes than ever.' Most troubling, he said, is that 75 percent of the nations nursing homes don't meet federal suggested minimum levels for staffing and many workers are inexperienced. Four out of five nursing home employees are hourly workers, and given the low wages often leave for retail and restaurant jobs just as they become familiar with proper care procedures. And staffing problems at the nation's 15,000 long-term care facilities could only be exacerbated by the coronavirus crisis, experts said, because lockdowns and school closures have left many such workers with no choice but to stay home and take care of their children. 'We have the most vulnerable people in a situation where ... nursing homes don't do what they have to do because they are understaffed, not sufficiently trained and there is high turnover,' said Steven Levin, a Chicago lawyer who has sued nursing homes over their practices. 'I am extremely frightened.' We are suspending all international passenger flights for the foreseeable future Interjet Airlines confirmed today, it is suspending all international passenger flights for the foreseeable future, effective March 24, 2020, in its effort to combat the spread of the coronavirus. Interjet will continue to serve its domestic markets. For us, nothing is more important than the health and safety of our customers and employees, said William Shaw, CEO of Interjet Airlines. While this is not a decision we took lightly, it is the right one given the worldwide pandemic and spread of COVID-19. We will continue to assess the situation daily and when the time is right, we will be back to flying internationally, he added. Interjets decision to end international flights followed the announcement that the U.S. will close its borders with Mexico as well as significant reductions in air travel to and from the airlines other international destinations it serves. Affected customers should visit http://www.interjet.com for information about refunds or rebooking at a later date or contact their travel advisor for assistance. About Interjet Interjet is an international airline based in Mexico City carrying 15 million passengers annually within Mexico and between Mexico, the United States, Canada, Central, and South America. In all, it provides air service to 55 destinations in 10 countries offering passengers greater connections and travel options through agreements with major airlines such as Alitalia, All Nippon Airways (ANA), American Airlines, British Airways, Emirates, Air Canada, LATAM Group, Iberia, JetBlue, Lufthansa, Hainan Airlines, Qatar Airlines, and Japan Airlines. Interjet has been honored with Skytraxs World Airline Award as the Best Low-Cost Airline in Mexico and Best Cabin Crew in Mexico as well as being awarded the Travelers' Choice Trip Advisor Award as the best Mexico airline. FB: @Interjet; TW: @Interjet; IG: @Interjet Media Contact Julieta Pena Flores Tel. +52 (55) 9178 5500 x5833 Email: julieta.pena@interjet.com.mx U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Mnuchin walks from a meeting for a coronavirus relief package in Washington By Andrea Shalal and Stephen Kalin WASHINGTON/RIYADH (Reuters) - Finance ministers and central bankers from the world's 20 largest economies agreed on Monday to develop an "action plan" to respond to a coronavirus pandemic that the IMF now expects to trigger a global recession, but they offered no specifics. The G20 secretariat issued the statement after the finance officials met by video conference for nearly two hours, amid growing criticism that the world's "fire station" has been slow to respond to the worsening crisis. G20 leaders are due to gather for an extraordinary virtual summit in coming days as the world races to contain the virus, which has infected 370,000 globally and killed over 16,000. The summit, called by this year's chair, Saudi Arabia, will be complicated by an oil price war between two members, Saudi Arabia and Russia, and rising tensions between two others, the United States and China, over the origin of the virus. U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told Fox News his counterparts agreed to act to support their own economies, and coordinate internationally as needed. But he gave no specifics. Mnuchin will chair a conference of G7 finance ministers and central bankers early Tuesday, according to a source familiar with the plans. He said the United States was working closely with G20 countries, the Group of Seven (G7), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in responding to the crisis. "This is a team effort to kill this virus and provide economic relief," said Mnuchin, who is simultaneously struggling to win congressional approval for a nearly $2 trillion U.S. rescue package. G20 leaders need move beyond recent squabbles and "stop weaponizing the new coronavirus in the fight for global influence," to help stabilize public confidence and markets, said Hung Tran, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. Potential concrete actions could include sharing test results of new treatments and vaccines; rolling back tariffs that were dragging down global growth even before the crisis; and synchronized fiscal action, he said. Story continues "Simply repeating the mantra that 'we'll do whatever it takes' is not adequate anymore," he added. The IMF and the World Bank on Monday both forecast the pandemic would trigger a global recession in 2020. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva welcomed fiscal and monetary steps already taken by countries, but said more would be needed, especially in the fiscal arena. The average size of fiscal measures announced by over 20 countries amounts to around 1.8% domestic gross domestic product (GDP), below the 2% packages offered by G20 countries in 2009 during the financial crisis, Tran said. G7 finance ministers and central bankers will hold a conference call of their own early Tuesday, according to a source familiar with the plans. Japan, a member of the G7, expressed concern about the impact of the coronavirus, and urged G20 members to act "without hesitation in a timely manner." Argentina, whose debt has been deemed unsustainable by the IMF, warned fellow G20 member they must act decisively to "avoid a social meltdown" as the pandemic spreads. Argentina's Finance Minister Martin Guzman told fellow ministers on the G20 call that countries should use the "entire toolkit" of economic policies, including the extension of bilateral swaps to aid those nations most in need. Monday's G20 meeting was far from smooth, although no open disputes broke out, said one senior official from a G7 country, adding that Tuesday's G7 statement would focus heavily on cooperation but also offered little in the way of new ideas. "There aren't very exciting things in there," said the official, who was not authorized to speak publicly. "But I have the impression that we're on the same page now." (Reporting by Andrea Shalal and David Lawder in Washington; Michael Nienaber in Berlin and Stephen Kalin in Riyadh; Editing by Tom Brown and Lisa Shumaker) , We're sorry, this article is not currently available Trisha Stewart, owner of Barbarella Beauty salon in Ambler, Pa. She's working with lenders and vendors to get financial breathing room in the wake of coronavirus. (Credit: Deana Clement Photography) Read more Trisha Stewart, a small business owner in Ambler, was blindsided by the coronavirus pandemic. Ive owned my salon Barbarella Beauty for 14 years, I had 11 employees. she said. Stewart laid off her staff until the salon can reopen, and instructed them to file for unemployment. Were being told by the state to give your employees two weeks pay. It was suggested. But how can we do that? We have no funds. She also filed a claim for business interruption insurance with carrier The Hartford. Its so hard to read our contract, but this is a civil authority shutting us down so were covered. Her salon lies in the heart of Montgomery County, which has the most cases in the region. . I cant get through to anyone. The county office is shut down. Theres no one to talk to. Shes taking matters into her own hands, and asking everyone involved in her business lenders, vendors, her mortgage banker, and even utilities to defer asking for payment. Im asking for forbearance. Most companies say well take it through the end of the month. And thats great, said Stewart. Citi, Chase Bank, and her car lease through Ford gave her three-month deferrals on loans, specifically for business. She has also pestered creditors, both business and personal, for understanding. She still pays SunTrust Bank a small student loan payment every month, and theyve given her some time off from paying. Her mortgage holder, Flagstar Mortgage, asked her to fill out forbearance paperwork, which included income-tax returns, monthly bills, and other assets. Its a lengthy process, but it gives us some breathing room. Stop the autopay Since her husband is in sales, and thats also dried up, the Stewarts also put a hold on autopay for accounts such as Comcast and Verizon cable and phone service. For credit cards, I just put the ones with the higher rate in forbearance. I kept some others open in case we have to resort to that. Shes also pursuing a loan through the Small Business Administration, which is currently in the process of approving Pennsylvania as a disaster area. I can get a small loan through PNC. But I want to wait until I hear from SBA, she said. Health insurance Tria co-owner Jon Myerow said hes learned from his 70 or so staff members that health care is much more important to them than getting paid. So hes working with Independence Blue Cross to make sure they remain insured. Hourly staff is all furloughed, as opposed to laid off, which means they are technically accruing benefits. The management team is still working this week, we are open for takeout and delivery, including wine takeout, he said. On finances, were trying to get extensions from lenders. More importantly, Im trying to get loans so we can pay our outstanding and ongoing obligations.. Hes pursuing three options: SBA loans through a bank, a loan through PIDC and the City of Philadelphia, which was supposed to happen in the coming days, and state relief out of Harrisburg. But what do his workers need most? Health insurance. Weve committed to paying for health insurance through April 30 for our staff that have insurance. Were giving each other ideas and support. Pivoting in crisis Charisse McGill, who leads Lokal Artisan Foods, does mostly pop-up sales at farmers markets, the Piazza in Northern Liberties, and other campus events. Her business is pivoting as we speak. This pulled the rug out from under me. Her French toast bites, regular or vegan, are coated with her signature French toast seasoning and drizzled with toppings. Our backup plan now is to set up on the street, and still do pickup and delivery partnering with GrubHub, Doordash, and Uber Eats, she said. A member of the African American Chamber of Commerce, shes also working with lenders for a possible line of credit. So far weve been totally debt free. I saved a lot in the third quarter of 2019. Were OK until June 2020. Any business affected by the statewide shutdown and interested in seeking a waiver to the order can reach out to Pennsylvania directly: ra-dcexemption@pa.gov. or call 1-877-PA-HEALTH and select option 1. Opinion Article 23 March 2020 Yesterday was a sad day. We made the unavoidable decision to close our two New York City hotels, The Standard High Line and The Standard East Village, The Standard Miami and our first international hotel, The Standard London. It was gut wrenching because hotels, and our hotels in particular, are anchors of their neighborhoods. Unlike restaurants, we never close. Ever. We are the places where people feel safe. Where people come together. To eat, drink, stay, play and enjoy each other's company. To live life to the fullest. Where locals mingle with visitors to our remarkable city. And where our staff makes it their job to take care of all who come, to welcome and delight them. Advertisements Our job is to make you happy. And we love to do it. In fact, we live to do it. Our livelihoods depend on making you happy. Day in and day out, almost 17 million hospitality workers in this country (and some 266 million globally) take care of you. Housekeepers, front desk agents, concierges, bartenders, security guards, cooks, servers, bussers, maintenance crews. Many unseen, most uncelebrated. They work in a 24x7, 365 day a year. Nights, weekends, holidays. Always. All the while smiling. Because this business attracts people that love to take care of people. That is why I love it. And they are why I do what I do. And that is why I am writing this. One of our team members reached out to Amber Asher, the President of our company a few days ago. To remind us that in times of trouble, The Standard always helps our local communities. Whether the East Village explosion, Chelsea pipe bomb or the California wild fires. It's true. And I loved that helping the community during this crisis was his first thought. It speaks volumes to me about the culture of The Standard. But my only response to him was, "I wish we could do something, but this time, we are the community in need." This time we need to be taken care of, by you. Today, by you, our government. Tomorrow, by you, our guests. Will you allow us to cash in the loyalty points we have earned? Despite the big brand names you see, most hotels are owned by small companies or individuals. Hotels are operations that employ lots of people. They have very high fixed costs to operate, and competition is severe. Profit margins are thin, and have been getting thinner even before this crisis. What that means is modest drops in revenue from things like weather hurt profits. Big drops like the financial crisis, bite hard. Epic drops like the past week, kill. As Arne Sorensen, CEO of Marriott, said in his beautiful message to employees, "Covid-19 is having a more severe and sudden financial impact on our business than 9/11 an the 2009 financial crisis combined." We simply cannot pay all of our staff if we have no guests. Our employees, like many others in the service industry, tend to live paycheck to paycheck. Most are hourly, often relying on tips. Many are immigrants without family infrastructure here. Few have savings. Most will not be able to pay rent next month. Without relief, many will leave our cities in a few months altogether. The government needs to step in now for them to survive on a human level, and for us to be able to reopen when this crisis subsides. This past week the UK government announced measures to cover 80% of employee wages for businesses forced to shut down because of the Covid-19. Our government should follow suit with similar quick, clear, decisive action. If they do not, not only will the personal family tragedies be severe, our ability to reopen our hotels for our communities when this subsides will be impaired. When, god willing, we do reopen, we also need you, our guests, to step back in. Through our doors. To bring back the spirit of travel, exploration and adventure that makes life richer. The human connections that make life worth living. That bring us closer together in this, more obviously than ever, interconnected world. Today, Amber announces Standard Stands Together, an employee relief fund she led the creation of to support our employees displaced by the crisis. What do you say, can we cash in some of the loyalty points we have earned? Amar Lalvani, CEO Standard Hotels https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-standard-stands-together-relief-fund Quire Its our responsibility to contribute something to our community and society and help businesses grow in this difficult time. We want to reach out and help Nonprofits with low budgets to achieve their missions. As thousands of businesses and organizations have already implemented the mandatory work-from-home policy amid the coronavirus pandemic, Quire, an award-winning cloud-based project management software has announced to offer completely free accounts for Nonprofits during the outbreak. In recent years, Quire has become a rising star in the productivity industry as an invaluable tool for remote teams to collaborate from all over the world and ensure the business long-term success. Though Quire has already remained free since its launch, this time they went an extra mile for the Nonprofits and Education Institutions. During this challenging time, Quire decided to lift the quota limits for eligible Nonprofits accounts. Quire hopes to help Nonprofit organizations achieve their missions while still staying within budget. Amid the outbreak, mobile working and social distancing help slow down the spread of the virus and prevent public exposure to the infected persons. Thousands of businesses have immediately adopted a project management software to cope with the mandatory remote working situation. Nonetheless, most of the tools in the market require a big check to onboard the whole team and filing for a budget in such short notice seems to be a problem for Nonprofits. Helping people achieve their dreams has always been our core value and we thrive to provide a transparent and reliable platform for everyone to collaborate from anywhere in the world, said Tom Yeh, CEO at Quire. Its our responsibility to contribute something to our community and society and help businesses grow in this difficult time. In the spirit of sharing, Quire offers free accounts for every Nonprofits users without any strings attached, lifting the users quota limitation and providing unlimited resources for Nonprofits teams to collaborate. In addition to the free accounts offer, Nonprofits and any businesses can also reach out to the Quire Support team and schedule a free demo session. It is critical for employees and businesses that are not familiar with a cloud-based collaboration tool to have a detailed and thorough step-by-step demo to be productive in a remote working environment. As the COVID-19 pandemic now becomes a global health and social emergency, Quire commits to do their part to support businesses to the fullest extent during this challenging time. About Potix Corporation Potix Corporation is a privately held software company that owns and develops ZK framework - a leading open source enterprise Java Web Framework with over 3 million downloads from 193 countries. Customers such as Bank of America, Deutsche Bank, Sony, Toyota, Dreamworks, eBay, Airbus, Fujitsu, Roche, Oracle, Sony and Samsung deploy ZK framework to their systems. In 2014, Quire was developed to become a new-generation collaborative platform to organize and manage from small enterprise projects to large-scale initiatives. [March 23, 2020] Kaplan Survey: Amid COVID-19 Uncertainty, Most Parents of High School Students Express Optimism that Schools Will Reopen Before September Parents of high school students across the United States are bullish that schools closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic will reopen relatively quickly, according to a new Kaplan survey*. Of the parents surveyed, 33 percent think high schools will reopen at the start of the regularly scheduled fall semester; 30 percent think they will reopen before the current school year is over; 20 percent believe they will reopen over the summer; 4 percent think they will start up again within a few months after the regularly scheduled 2020-2021 year begins; two percent say in January 2021 or after; and 11 percent say they don't know. According to one study, as of March 22, 46 states have decided to close their schools because of the COVID-19 crisis, affecting at least 54.5 million students. Overall, 77 percent of parents say their child's high school has done a good job of communicating with them during the COVID-19 crisis. But when it comes to providing guidance as to what their child should actually be doing at home, that percentage was lower. While 67 percent of parents believe their high school has done a good job of providing the support their child needs to continue their learning from home, the range of support offered varies greatly across schools: Less than half (43 percent) say their school has provided their child with homework assignments 37 percent say their school provided them with an online/virtual learning environment 28 percent say they have been provided with online tutorials 27 percent said they were provided with laptops or tablets 25 percent say they were provided with online study tools like the Khan Academy or Quizlet 20 percent report that their school recommended that their children read certan chapters in textbooks 18 percent say the high school has organized virtual study sessions with classmates 15 percent say their high school is not requiring any work while closed 8 percent report that their high school has provided stress management resources "Given the grim news we've been hearing lately about statewide shelter in place orders and the closures of all non-essential places of business, it may be surprising that so many parents of high school students are relatively optimistic that their children will be back within the walls of their school again so soon," said Dennis Yim, director of academics, Kaplan Test Prep. "No doubt that every parent wants what's best for their child and thinking positively is important, but it's also quite possible that what many are calling 'the new normal' may be here for longer than many anticipate. It's important that schools remain in close contact with both parents and students to provide guidance and support about how to continue learning. It seems likely that as the weeks go by, we may see even more guidance from schools in terms of how their students can keep up with their studies. Likewise, parents will have to consider what the best path forward may be for their children learning outside the traditional classroom, for the time being." For more information about Kaplan's survey results, contact Russell Schaffer at [email protected] or 917.822.8190. *Based on the results of a nationwide survey conducted by email of 320 parents of high school students, between March 19 and March 20. About Kaplan Test Prep Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com) is a premier provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses. Established in 1938, Kaplan is the world leader in the test prep industry. With a comprehensive menu of online offerings as well as a complete array of print books and digital products, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 200 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school. Among those tests are the SAT, PSAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, and MCAT. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services. Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC) View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200323005125/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] By Matthieu Protard and Tim Hepher PARIS (Reuters) - Airbus boosted its liquidity with a 15 billion euro ($16 billion) expanded credit facility on Monday while suspending its 2020 outlook in response to the coronavirus crisis that has grounded much of the global airlines fleet. The European planemaker also joined U.S. rival Boeing in scrapping its 2019 dividend, worth a total of 1.4 billion euros. It also said it would suspend the voluntary top-up of staff pension schemes. "These measures are designed to protect the future of Airbus and to ensure we can resume normal business or future business as soon as the situation improves," CEO Guillaume Faury told reporters. Airbus has not drawn down any credit lines and said it had enough liquidity to cope with the coronavirus with some 30 billion euros worth of liquidity available. "We have a lot of runway with this 30 billion," Chief Financial Officer Dominik Asam said. Airbus shares fell 10% versus a wider French CAC40 market index <.FCHI> down by around 4%. Faury called for "strong government help" for airlines across the world that have been forced to ground fleets, as well as for distressed aerospace suppliers. The French government has offered 300 billion euros of loan guarantees to help companies, but Airbus said its own credit facility was commercial and did not fall under the scheme. Boeing, already battered by the year-old grounding of its 737 MAX airliner, last week called for $60 billion in U.S. support for the U.S. aerospace sector. PARTIAL PRODUCTION Faury said it would become increasingly difficult to deliver jets and some would be stored. Most airlines continue to pay deposits even though many have called for deferrals, he said. Airbus said it would use customer financing "very selectively" to help distressed airlines and that it expected leasing companies, which are involved in almost half of its deliveries, to play their role as a "shock absorber". Airbus also said it had identified operational measures to save cash as it resumed partial production at factories in France and Spain after a four-day shutdown. Story continues Airbus, which sources say had been producing 58 single-aisle jets a month before the crisis, declined to say at what rate it would resume output. Factories have installed extra spacing between workers and shorter shift times to allow for sterilising tools. Its immediate goal is to maintain parts flowing from a fragile supply chain at a sustainable rate, Faury said. "We need to stabilise and see from what base we can restart," he told analysts. Industry executives say shortages are beginning to emerge in the supply chain and some contractors have paused production. Germany's MTU Aero Engines, which is a supplier to Pratt & Whitney engines used on many Airbus single-aisle jets, said it would halt output for three weeks from March 30. (Additional reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta, Christoph Steitz and Laura Marchioro; Editing by Kim Coghill and Jason Neely) Around 1,300 people arrived here from Europe on Sunday, about 100 more than usual. Those with a temperature and other telltale symptoms of coronavirus were examined at a quarantine section at Incheon International Airport, but those who did not were transported to eight examination centers for testing. The government requires mandatory testing of all travelers from Europe. The government foots the bill for the test, which costs W150,000 per person (US$1=W1,245). Almost W200 million was spent on coronavirus tests on Sunday alone. The government also pays temporary accommodation for all -- around W65,000 per night -- until test results come out. Visitors staying in Korea for more than 90 days must be placed in self-quarantine for two weeks even if the initial test comes out negative, and the government pays each of them W212,300 to cover living expenses. Those who test positive have to spend more than W4 million for treatment, which the government also covers. The measures are designed to ensure public safety, but critics say this puts a huge burden on taxpayers. Many countries have sealed their borders to visitors from risky countries and do not require such high levels of spending. Government officials here did not heed repeated calls from medical experts early on to ban visitors from China. The government insisted it could contain the spread of infections here by enforcing stricter entry screening. The school included a note about COVID-19 on both its school and church pages, though it was not clear when that note was written. It said freedom to assemble and exercise religion is one of the most foundational and defended rights in our nations history. This God-given right is protected by our Constitution and has been reaffirmed countless times by our courts amidst many attempts of government overreach. Bangladesh contribute 1.5 mn USD to SAARC to fight off corona Dhaka, Mar 22 (UNI) Bangladesh has decided to contribute 1.5 million US dollar to proposed SAARCs health hazard prevention fund to combat deadly COVID-19 pandemic. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday approved the fund in favour of SAARC secretariat to face health hazards due to outbreak of the coronavirus in South Asia, its Foreign minister Dr A K Abdul Momen told media here. India has already announced to give 10 million US dollar to the fund while Nepal and Afghanistan declared to provide USD 1 million each and Maldives and Bhutan committed 2,00,000 and 1,00,000 US dollars, respectively. Britain's coronavirus response does not go far enough and could still mean 70,000 deaths, experts warned today. The analysis by scientists from University College London, the University of Cambridge and Health Data Research UK will heap pressure on Boris Johnson to enforce 'social distancing' rules. Using NHS health records from 3.8m adults in England, the team estimated the number of victims of the epidemic - taking into account those who would have died anyway and the government's existing measures. They found between 35,000 and 70,000 are likely to lose their lives. Demands are growing Boris Johnson to bring forward a European-style lockdown after extraordinary images emerged this morning of still-packed Tube trains in London The PM (pictured at a press conference last night) dramatically stepped up the government's response last week after modelling showed there could be hundreds of thousands of deaths In other developments in the global coronavirus pandemic: Coronavirus patients are being treated on the floor of a packed Madrid hospital as the city is overrun with cases and country's death toll tops 2,000 Boris Johnson is 'facing Cabinet revolt' unless he imposes European-style lockdown which could see police arrest people travelling in large groups A primary school teacher in Cumbria has died just days after contracting coronavirus Slowdown in infections and deaths in Italy offers hope that national lockdown is working two weeks after it was put in place An A&E doctor in London has warned even people in their 30s are fighting for their lives in intensive care because of the virus London has started to shut its parks after thousands flaunted coronavirus social distancing rules The Government has suspended franchises for railway firms for six months to avoid a total collapse caused by the pandemic Children of coronavirus key workers including firefighters have been turned away at school gates amid a row over who qualifies as a key worker The latest paper - reported in the Financial Times but not yet published in a peer-reviewed journal - warns ministers should 'do more in the pursuit of suppressing the epidemic whether through enforced lockdowns or enforced social distancing rather than voluntary measures'. Dr Amitava Banerjee of UCL, the lead author, said: 'The UK government is currently following a partial suppression policy of population-wide social distancing, combined with home isolation of cases, as well as school and university closures, but this is currently not [mandatory]. 'Our study indicates that the government should implement more stringent suppression at population level to avoid not just immediate deaths but also long-term excess deaths.' The government's chief scientist, Patrick Vallance, suggested last week that a UK death toll of around 20,000 would be a 'good outcome', albeit still 'horrible'. The PM dramatically stepped up the government's response last week after modelling showed that there could be hundreds of thousands of deaths. But demands are growing for Mr Johnson to bring forward a European-style lockdown after extraordinary images emerged this morning of still-packed Tube trains in London - regarded as the engine of the UK outbreak. After a weekend in which crowds flocked to parks and landmarks to take advantage of sunshine, Mr Johnson effectively put the nation on its final warning last night, saying there should be 'no doubt' he would take draconian action. Health Secretary Matt Hancock underlined this morning that a decision is expected 'very soon', hitting out at 'selfish' behaviour and saying 'nothing is off the table'. He pointed to measures in Italy and France - where all municipal spaces have been closed, forms have to be filled out to leave the house, and police are on patrol handing out fines. But Mr Hancock was embroiled in a furious spat with Piers Morgan after accusing the ITV Good Morning Britain host of spreading 'tittle tattle' over infighting within the government. Morgan retorted: 'How dare you!' The backlash was mounting against Mr Johnson's 'relaxed' style today, with warnings of a 'full-scale mutiny' among Cabinet if the lockdown is not extended, and Labour MPs claiming his 'mixed messages will cost lives'. The government's chief scientist, Patrick Vallance (pictured in Downing Street today), suggested last week that a UK death toll of around 20,000 would be a 'good outcome', albeit still 'horrible' Downing Street today dodged questions about the prospect of a mutiny, and said it was looking at evidence to decide whether social distancing must be enforced. 'If our analysis is that people haven't stopped their interaction then we will take further measures,' the PM's spokesman said. Labour's official position has shifted to insist it is time to introduce harsher 'compliance measures'. Traffic monitoring has suggested the capital is still running at a third of its normal rate, far higher than other European capitals. Brutal restrictions appear to be looming as the UK death toll rose by 48 in just 24 hours to 281 people, with more than 5,600 confirmed cases. These who died in England were aged between 18 and 102, authorities said. There were appalling scenes over the weekend as Britons across the UK flocked to beaches and parks up and down the country to take a stroll with their loved ones for Mother's Day, despite Mr Johnson urging families to stay apart and meet via Skype or other remote communications. In explosive clashes with Mr Hancock on ITV today, Piers Morgan demanded to know why the PM was not already 'locking down the country'. The presenter said: 'Your strategy has not been the same all alongit changed dramatically. Herd immunity was the strategy then dramatically, it changed. So please don't insult my intelligence by telling me we followed the same strategy we haven't.' Mr Hancock insisted: 'Herd immunity has never been the strategy, as I've made clear repeatedly.' But Morgan went on: 'I'm seeing the leader of this country refusing to take draconian measures to lock down the country when almost every other country has done so. 'He believes that it's wrong to remove people's liberty. I couldn't give a stuff. I think that you think we should be locked down, don't you?' Mr Hancock said: 'People need to stay more than two metres apart from people who aren't in their household and if that isn't followed we are going to have to take more draconian measures as we have been prepared to. I'm working every hour that there is to protect people. I am not going to get into the tittle tattle that you're talking about.' Italy's death toll from coronavirus has surpassed China, but there is evidence that the steep rise is starting to taper off after draconian lockdown measures (data correct as of midday March 23, GMT) The figures were revealed despite one victim seen lying in the street after collapsing at a bus stop in Rome before being loaded into an ambulance Slowdown in infections and deaths offers glimmer of hope that national lockdown is working in Italy Italy may have started to turn the tide on coronavirus after data showed a significant slowdown in infections and deaths at the weekend in the first evidence that a draconian nationwide lockdown may be working. Italy remains the world's worst-affected coronavirus country - with almost 5,500 people killed by the disease in total and confirmed infections at almost 60,000. But a drop in the rate of deaths and new infections between Saturday and Sunday night could indicate that the curve is finally starting to flatten out, two weeks after the entire country was placed into lockdown. Authorities in Rome reported that 651 people died on Sunday - a staggering figure but significantly lower than the record 793 who died Saturday. The country also confirmed 5,560 new cases of coronavirus between Saturday and Sunday, a significant drop on the 6,557 cases confirmed between Friday and Saturday. Until now, Italy had been following an exponential growth curve seen in most western countries including the UK and US - with cases and deaths roughly doubling every three days. While the latest data may be a temporary blip, it offers the first evidence that lockdown measures are helping to 'flatten the curve'. Flattening the curve of new infections eases pressure on medical services, allowing doctors to better treat patients and helping to lower the death rate. The two week gap between the start of Italy's nationwide lockdown and the slowdown in deaths and infections is significant, because analysts have said this is how long it takes social isolation measures to show up in the data. While the effects of lockdown are felt immediately in real time, the delay between people being infected, developing symptoms, and then seeking treatment means the data lags behind the real-world effects. It is doubly significant because analysts have also warned that the UK - with 281 deaths - is exactly where Italy was a fortnight ago, though the government has so-far resisted calls to enact a nationwide lockdown and force people to stay at home. Without such measures, critics argue, the UK faces a more serious fate than Italy - where one person died from coronavirus every two minutes at the weekend. Italy's current lockdown measures mean that people cannot leave their homes except for work, medical reasons or emergencies. Advertisement But the angry presenter said: 'Tittle tattle - how dare you. You think what I'm saying is tittle tattle.' In a tough message to the public from Downing Street last night, Mr Johnson said that even though he understood the physical and mental health benefits of open spaces, he would take drastic steps to protect health. He suggested the UK could copy some of the more extreme lockdowns in other parts of Europe, such as Italy and France. 'I don't think you need to use your imagination much to see where we might have to go,' he said. 'We will think about this very, very actively in the next 24 hours. 'We need to think about the kinds of measures that we have seen elsewhere, other countries that have been forced to bring in restrictions on people's movements altogether. 'I don't want to do that because I have tried to explain the public health benefits.' 'Even if you think you are personally invulnerable, there are plenty of people you can infect,' he said. 'Take this advice seriously. Follow it. Because it is absolutely crucial. 'We will keep the implementation of these measures under review and of course we will bring forward further measures if it is necessary.' Hammering home the point, he added: 'If people cannot make use of parks and playgrounds responsibly, in a way that observes the two-metre rule, then of course we are going to have to look at further measures.' The escalation is looking increasingly likely as Tory pressure grows for tougher action. One source told Buzzfeed that the mood among Cabinet ministers and senior advisers would be 'full scale mutiny' if he does not upgrade the response. Mr Hancock warned today that the behaviour of a minority of the public was 'selfish'. 'We have been really clear in the actions that we have taken,' he said. 'We have demonstrated if we need to that we are willing to take more action.' Asked about measures such as bans in Germany on public gatherings of more than two people, 'Nothing is off the table. Of course we are looking at what other European countries are doing.' Mr Hancock said he accepted the police might need to be deployed to enforce such measures. 'These are unpleasant and very difficult times,' he said. He said other European countries were further along the curve of the outbreak, but added: 'That means we can act sooner and earlier in this crisis.' Shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth said: 'Labour will continue to try to support the government's response to the coronavirus emergency as best we can. 'But after another weekend of apparent public confusion and widespread non-compliance with 'social distancing', of grave scientific warnings and brave medical professionals talking of being sent to work like 'lambs to the slaughter' with inadequate protective equipment, something has to change. 'Other countries have taken further far reaching social distancing measures. We now call on the government to move to enforced social distancing and greater social protection as a matter of urgency.' Rosena Allin-Khan, the Labour deputy leadership candidate and practising doctor, said Boris Johnson's 'relaxed' approach to coronavirus could cost lives. The Tooting MP told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'If we look at the fact that we are two weeks behind Italy, we are headed for a disaster if people do not heed the social distancing measures. 'The Prime Minister simply said yesterday he wants people to enjoy themselves outside while also saying that people should stay two metres apart outdoors. 'This relaxed style, mixed messaging will cost lives and I believe people are struggling to follow guidelines because they are just not clear.' The emergency department doctor confirmed she would support a 'full lockdown' if that was proven to be the way to save lives. In Dorset many strolled across the sands while others thought nothing of going for a dip in the sea this afternoon. London has begun to shut its public parks after thousands of people flaunted coronavirus social distancing rules at the weekend. Hammersmith and Fulham Council has become the first local authority in the UK to close all of its parks after they were 'full of people' on Saturday and Sunday. Meanwhile, The Royal Parks which runs numerous public spaces in the capital including Hyde Park, Regent's Park and Richmond Park has threatened to shut all of its gates unless people follow social distancing guidelines. The government has advised against all non-essential travel and social contact with those who do go outside for exercise told to stay at least two metres away from other people. Rep. Jim Banks: Chinas Communist Party Should Be Forced to Pay Reparations for Coronavirus Coverup How is the Chinese Communist Party responsible for the global coronavirus, or CCP virus, pandemic? What steps can the US government take to hold Chinas leadership accountable? Why is it critical to disentangle US supply chains from Chinas economy? How is it that the Chinese Communist Party hopes to pin the blame for the coronavirus pandemic on America? Today we sit down with Congressman Jim Banks (R-Ind.), who serves on the Houses Veterans Affairs, Armed Services, and Education and Labor Committees. This is American Thought Leaders , and Im Jan Jekielek. Jan Jekielek: Congressman Jim Banks, so great to have you back on American Thought Leaders. Rep. Jim Banks: Great to be with you. Mr. Jekielek: So were doing this remotely, of course. Youre back in your district in Indiana. I really appreciate you taking the time. Rep. Banks: I wish we could do it in person, but we are practicing what we preach and social distancing. And its important for me as a congressman to be back in my district, working with our local leaders to combat this pandemic, and the response, but I look forward to being with you in person sometime soon. Mr. Jekielek: Look forward to that too. Now, I want to talk to you a bit about your local situation, especially this issue of blood donation, which seems to be very important, and I know youve been championing that, but before we do that, lets dive into the macro issues. China is reporting today zero new cases of coronavirus. What do you think of these numbers? Rep. Banks: Well, first of all, we should readily dismiss anything that we read coming out of China. As you know, just a couple of days ago, China banished a number of US journalists representing a number of our premier journalistic outlets like the Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. That was an act of informing the rest of the world that they have no intent upon being transparent. So any statistic or anything that you read coming out of China should be readily dismissed simply because of that. Mr. Jekielek: We typically see the number of infected and the number of deaths in China prominently displayed. Are you disputing that? Rep. Banks: Im suggesting that the Chinese propaganda machine is going to tell us what they want the rest of the world to hear, not necessarily what is fact. By banishing US journalists who were there to tell the real story, that tells us everything we know about their lack of transparency. So I readily dismiss news about statistics coming out of China. We have to discount it because we dont know if its the truth. Theres a long record here of Chinas propaganda machine telling the world what they think is in their best interest that isnt necessarily always rooted in fact. Mr. Jekielek: There are many different reports of China covering up the virus initially, silencing doctors and so forth. Can you speak to that a bit? Rep. Banks: Way back in January, in the early days of reporting about the outbreak in Wuhan, the CDC tried to go into the area and study the virus, study the effects, and study how the United States could prepare for it. The World Health Organization as well tried to go into China and in both cases with the CDC and the WHO were prevented from going in and looking into the situation in a more serious manner. This week the Presidents National Security Advisor Robert OBrien said that the Chinese blocking the CDC from coming into study the virus back in January cost the United States two months in our response time, and thats a significant point to make because that means that two months weve lost in trying to prepare for this, and all the while my local economy, constituents in my district, are seeing the havoc that is the result of Chinas negligence. You also saw a report in the last couple of days by Axios, who is well said that 95% of cases of coronavirus could have been prevented if the Chinese would have allowed us to come in and study this in the early days before it spread all over the world. China should pay a severe price for that negligence, for their role in the matter of allowing this to happen. And what do I mean by that? I mean, at the moment, the United States Senate is taking up a $1 trillion-plus stimulus package. Weve also already passed two bills that the President signed into law with a price tag of well over 100 billion dollars on top of the package is being debated currently. That the United States taxpayers and my daughters generation will pay the price of Chinas negligence is just wrong. Im calling on the President to make China pay for it, whether its relieving the over trillion dollars that China holds in our national debt, or instituting tariffs on China that we can take funding from, and retool that into some kind of Coronavirus Victim Relief Fund for those who have been affected, whether infected or affected by the economic consequences. And on top of that, you and Ive talked about this many times before, we should stop our federal agencies like the VA, the largest healthcare network in the world, from purchasing medical equipment coming from China. Thats just to start with, but we should also disentangle our supply chain at large in our economy from Chinas economy, because now were seeing the drastic effect of what happens as a result of that in a time like this. Mr. Jekielek: How would you imagine getting China to relieve the debt to actually work, given what we know about the Chinese Communist Party? Rep. Banks: I dont know yet. I do know that we have a president who takes this very seriously. He said in his press conference earlier today that China should be held accountable. He believes deeply in exactly what Im talking about. There is a historic precedent in reparations for World War II that Germany paid to allied nations for the result of their behavior. I would liken the aftermath of what were experiencing in the United States to what those reparations might have looked like, and China being a founding member of the UN would give some credibility to the subject that Im raising about forcing them to pay reparations to the United States and other countries that are right now experiencing the havoc created by Chinas negligence. They should pay for it, not my daughters generation [which] is going to be saddled with a whole lot more debt and the economic consequences of what China has placed on the United States today. Mr. Jekielek: So what do you think the purpose was of this censorship and disinformation? Rep. Banks: China doesnt want the real story to be told. I mean, in recent days, youve seen them try to pin blame on the United States and on our United States military for spreading what we know started in Wuhan. They dont want the real story to be told because they know that they are culpable. And they know that this coronavirus will always be associated with the current regime and the CCP leadership in China today. They dont want that real story to be told. And thats why theyre always going to try to change the story through their large propaganda machine. I tell my constituents about how the China Daily (a state-sponsored newspaper from China) is dropped on my doorstep as a member of Congress in my House office building. Thats just skimming the surface of how powerful and how advanced the Chinese propaganda machine really is. That propaganda machine is built up so that in a time like this they can misinform the public and tell a story thats rooted in fiction, rather than the story that American journalists would have told for independent media outlets like the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post, who they banished from their country preventing them from telling the real story. Mr. Jekielek: To that point, many of our (Epoch Times) journalists were actually arrested back in 2000. And all our operations over there have had to be underground. So, were very familiar with this reality, I guess some other media are tasting that reality to some extent now. Rep. Banks: Some of those media outlets have dismissed this reality in the past. And now theyre seeing that what many of us have been warning others about for a long time has actually become true. So I hope we learn from that. And I hope that it raises the American publics skepticism about Chinas intent and behavior moving forward, and what many of us have been warning about Chinas intent upon dominating the United States, not just economically, but militarily for the generation or generations to come. Its becoming more and more evident in the outcry over the outcomes of what were experiencing due to the coronavirus. Mr. Jekielek: Propaganda from Chinese media has been saying how the US has achieved this record time in developing a phase one trial of a vaccine for the coronavirus (CCP virus). Theyre saying that shows that the US knew about the virus. So clearly it had to come from the US. Rep. Banks: The type of disinformation that were probably going to see a whole lot more of, in the days, weeks and months to come. On the other side of this, its very heartwarming to me, to see our allies like Taiwan and Israel step up to the plate to provide support through vaccinations, through their efforts to help the United States deal with the aftermath of this pandemic. So we know who our friends are in a time like this because our friends are those who step up to the plate to support us, and reading the news in the last couple of days about Taiwans efforts have been very heartwarming to me. Mr. Jekielek: Why do you think the US is the specific target here? Rep. Banks: Well, I dont know that the US is the specific target. Weve seen other European countries like Italy hit so hard by this pandemic, but its not at all lost on me that Chinas efforts at diminishing Americas role in combating and preparing for the pandemic cost us. What the National Security Advisor said was [that we lost] two months time and preparation, or that 95% of cases could have been avoided if China would have allowed us to take an early look at what this virus really was, and how to stop it. So, its that negligence that shouldnt be lost on any American at this point. This isnt a partisan issue. This isnt Donald Trump and Joe Biden, this isnt Republican and Democrat. This is about Chinas efforts to stop America from preparing for this, and ultimately how they should be held responsible for that type of behavior. Mr. Jekielek: Theyre not saying that the virus came from Italy or wherever. Theyre saying its the US thats responsible. And Im very curious why its the US. Rep. Banks: China has never made it a secret that they see the United States as their chief rival and their efforts to become the global dominant superpower. And in a time like this, many of their threats in recent days to shut down the medical supply chain that we rely on in the United States tell us everything that we need to know, and hopefully should be a warning to Americans. Now more than ever, we have to disentangle ourselves from the Chinese economy and bring our supply chain home to the United States or to North America, or to our allies instead of doing business with China. I can tell you, the heat has been turned up in the Congress. My colleagues on both sides of the aisle are having conversations that many of us have been pushing for, about how we disentangle ourselves. And that conversation is only going to grow more heated in the days to come as my colleagues are introducing more pieces of legislation. Theyre signing more letters than Ive ever seen before. Ive been requested to sign on to a number of letters this week, from colleagues who have never taken an interest In the China threat, who all of a sudden are seeing how real and true this is. And they want to do something about it because their constituents are demanding that they do something about it. So hopefully we capitalize upon that and find ways to solve this problem so that we never go through something like this again. Mr. Jekielek: I noticed that Senator Josh Hawley is calling on multinational corporations that are expecting support from the US government, from taxpayers, to explain how they would be moving their supply chains into the US if they want to benefit from those dollars. What do you think of that? Rep. Banks: Senator Hawley is a strong ally. And hes absolutely right. And we should not bail out any industry or company that has entangled themselves in the Chinese economy I will certainly do everything that I can to oppose any effort that would bail out a company that would maintain a supply chain or a presence in China moving forward. Weve learned our lesson. And its maybe for some, its too late. But for most of us, and for the resilient American economy, if we dont learn from this and prevent it from happening again, then shame on us. Mr. Jekielek: Youve been vocal about the biggest retirement fund in the country, CalPERS in California, investing in China heavily. You also called for the firing of Ben Meng, who runs the investment of CalPERS. Hes been a member of the Thousand Talent Program. I want to give you a chance to talk about this a little bit because I find it incredibly important. Rep. Banks: Well, on the eve of the coronavirus, before we could have imagined what were dealing with today, this was something that caught my eye. CalPERS is the largest state pension fund in America. It is not an anomaly. Most state pension funds are guilty of doing the same thing, and investing in Chinese companies. But CalPERS is the largest and the biggest example of a state pension fund that has contributed heavily in the Chinese military, Chinas naval shipbuilding, military aircraft industry, all the while, also investing in Hikvision, a company that is largely responsible for developing the technologies used for surveillance and persecution of the Uighur Muslim population in China. So this is a ripe moment for our nations governors to pull state pension funds out of dangerous Chinese investments. I hope that our governors will heed that call. California is the biggest offender of this. But almost all the states in some way are guilty as well. The Thrift Savings Plan, which is the federal pension program, is guilty of this as well. I wrote a bill to reverse the recent decision by the TSP to allow for these investments to occur. But we should take a serious look at this, [and see] how we can pull these pension investments out of Chinese funds, and reinvest them in profitable companies right here at home. Mr. Jekielek: Why call for the firing of Ben Meng? Rep. Banks: In my letter to California Governor Gavin Newsom, I said that if it were up to me, I would fire Ben Meng because of his background of being a part of something called Thousand Talent Program. [Meng] was recruited to the SAFE Fund, which is a trillion-dollar Chinese government-controlled investment fund. After he signed a contract with Thousand Talent Program and declared in a Chinese language newspaper that he would do everything that he could to help the homeland and help his native land of China, then he came back to CalPERS. And because of his efforts to replace a number of investments in CalPERS that were invested in US investments with Chinese investments, this raises a startling question of how and why that would occur. So Ive called on Governor Newsom to take a look at it. I didnt necessarily call for him to fire Ben Meng. But if I were governor thats certainly what I would do. I would dig deeply into how the Chief Investment Officer of the largest state pension fund in America would allow someone who has replaced a number of investments in US companies with Chinese investments that help the Chinese military. And this is what is deeply troubling to me as a veteran who served in Afghanistan We have the largest defense budget in American history. And the reason why is because were building up the American military to compete with the biggest existential threat and adversary that we have on the global stage today, which is China. And as China builds up their navy and their military, in some ways exceeding capabilities that we have in the United States. Were asking taxpayers to help us build the largest military that weve ever had [in order] to compete with China, and at the same time, CalPERS is investing in Chinas military and Chinas Air Force, and in other funds that are related to building up the Chinese military. The taxpayers are getting screwed on both ends when it comes to seeing those types of investments. Mr. Jekielek: Youve described Chinas response to the coronavirus as their Chernobyl. Can you expand on that? Rep. Banks: Chernobyl has become popularized in a recent Netflix series. So as people learn more about that disaster, [they will find that] there are a lot of similarities between [the coronavirus pandemic] and the Soviet Unions response to Chernobyl. I would love to hear your listeners and readers thoughts on the similarities. The global reaction to the coronavirus brings a lot of comparisons to Chernobyl, but also the cover-up, the lies, and the disinformation coming from China remind us a great deal of the Chernobyl incident. Mr. Jekielek: You talked about China being an existential threat just now. How does this whole disinformation campaign fit into Chinas broader ambitions? Rep. Banks: Its a great question. We know that China wants to dominate the United States economically, we know that China wants to dominate the United States militarily and raise themselves to become the dominant, super global power on the horizon. We know about their 100-Year Plan to accomplish that. So none of this is a secret. More Americans just need to become more aware of it and better informed about this existential threat, and in this moment, as we deal with the coronavirus, Im finding that more of my constituents are learning about these threats and the past threats more than they ever have before. So the disinformation campaign by China about the coronavirus has awakened so many Americans, so many of my constituents in northeast Indiana, to what were up against. And weve talked about a lot of examples already from state pension fund investments in the United States, and Chinas military, to Chinas large scale propaganda machine dropping China Daily newspapers off on the doorsteps of every member of Congress and thought leaders all over Washington DC. These are examples that Ive raised in the past before Id ever even heard or imagined what the coronavirus could be. But these were warnings to us along the way of what were up against. Thousand Talent Program, the Confucius Institutes on college campusesthese are examples along the way that pointed that in a time like this, we should be fully aware of Chinas disinformation campaign, and skeptical of anything that we hear, or anything that comes out of their country during a crisis like this. Mr. Jekielek: On social media, there are a lot of spokespeople echoing these talking points, that the US is responsible, that its actually a bioweapon from the US. Yet social media is actually blocked in China itself. How should the US be responding to this sort of thing? Rep. Banks: In the US we need to keep an open social media platform. It should remain open and transparent to the public. We need to be careful and skeptical of organizations that have received large donations from the CCP, from the Chinese government, or CCP-controlled businesses. Ive learned a great deal in the last year about the sheer amount of money that companies like Huawei have donated to think tanks and to college campuses around the United States. And I believe that Americans are smart enough at this point, and are skeptical of the nature of those who are a part of Chinas large scale propaganda and disinformation campaign. We have to remain skeptical, and preserve the trustworthy institutions in our own nation that arent biased or purchased by Chinas propaganda machine. Mr. Jekielek: Its been proposed by some people that there should be some restrictions or regulations on people or agencies that are acting as Chinese agents, officially or unofficially. Any thoughts on that? Rep. Banks: I would love to find a way that we could create some kind of a system to tell that story. The National Security Strategy designates China and Russia as our adversaries, then we should treat them that way. We should be transparent about Chinas interest in the United States and find ways to highlight that. Mr. Jekielek: People say that this economic decoupling that youve been advocating for insulates America from being an active member of the global community. What do you think of that? Rep. Banks: I think of the constituents in my district who have lost their job or make less money because whatever they were making or producing before is being purchased for less from China. My dad, by the way, is retired from a factory that made auto parts here in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Thats what our economy here is built on. We have more manufacturing that comes from the rust belt or from this part of my state in Indiana than anywhere in the country. But many workers have been negatively affected by the outcome of outsourcing jobs or supplies to China. And now were paying the price for that by entangling ourselves in that supply chain and maybe saving a few pennies here and there from products coming from China. Now, were seeing the wrecking ball of the economy in a time like this when that supply chain is wiped out because of something like the coronavirus. So now is the time to do something about it. And I believe that President Trump, more than anyone before, is serious about cracking down on that important subject and doing something about this geopolitically. And I look forward to being a lawmaker in the process, whos partnering with President Trump to get that done. Mr. Jekielek: What do you make of these stimulus packages? I mean, unprecedented efforts to prop up the economy here. What do you think of them? Rep. Banks: The desperation that Im hearing from my constituents and local businesses, and hourly wage employees who have been sent home in the midst of all thiswe have to do something to build our local economies from the ground up after this is over with. So, Im eagerly waiting to see what the Senate comes up with this week in the third phase of the legislative response. And it will probably be sometime next week when members of the House go back to vote on this, but the senators are in the drivers seat at this moment putting this large trillion-dollar-plus stimulus package together. My hope is that we target that stimulus at the people who need it most, those who have lost their job, or who have been most negatively affected, rather than large bailouts to companies that would go in a different direction than it would if we targeted those directly who need it the most. Mr. Jekielek: What do you think is the best-case scenario with respect to dealing with China right now? China has been talking about getting out of this phase one trade deal agreement because of coronavirus. I might add also that they signed it while knowing coronavirus was there. Rep. Banks: The best-case scenario is that the President puts pressure on China that theyve never felt before. I know hes capable of doing this. Ive called on him to continue to be tough, like he has been in the past toward China, to hold them accountable. That America will learn an important valuable lesson in this moment that we will never repeat, and disentangle ourselves from the Chinese economy and rebuild our economy right here at home. As a younger member of Congress, who plans to be a member of the House for years to come, Im looking forward to being one of the leaders as a part of that rebuilding process. Whether its militarily or economically, putting ourselves in the best position to compete with the China threat for a long time. This is a moment in time in American history where were learning a really important lesson that I hope we never repeat. Mr. Jekielek: And what would be the worst-case scenario for you? Rep. Banks: The worst-case scenario is that we dont learn those lessons, that we go back to business as usual, that we repeat the same mistakes of buying medical equipment from China, or that we continue to allow America to invest through their pension funds in Chinas military, that we continue to appease China rather than take a very tough posture toward them. As a society at large, were fully aware of Chinas intentions moving forward. Mr. Jekielek: Chinese propaganda media says that calling it the China virus is a racist thing. Your thoughts? Rep. Banks: It doesnt matter what you do, theyre going to call you a racist for doing it. Theyre calling the president a racist, even though he sat down in good faith with Chinese leaders and negotiated the trade package that he did, and frankly, praise them after the package was signed. And we moved on toward phase two, but it seems to me that it doesnt matter what you do. Thats the charge that we hear from those who are on the side of China, and those from the left that see this more in political terms. Its easy to largely dismiss it because we hear it so frequently and often. All the while my constituents are begging us to do something to hold China accountable. So, I dont care what they call me. My constituents want me as a lawmaker to go to Washington and fight back against this threat, and restore the American economy and make our military strong again in a way that it will never allow China to compete with us on the horizon for generations to come. Mr. Jekielek: So lets talk a little bit about your local area in Fort Wayne. Whats the situation on the ground? Rep. Banks: Ive seen extraordinary things in the last few days, Ive seen a community come together, and try to help those that need it. A local barbecue restaurant thats giving free food and delivering food to those who need it the most. T&T Floral Shop in Columbia City is giving flowers to the elderly in nursing homes and partnering with people in the community to bring a smile to the face of the elderly who are shut off from the rest of the community and from their loved ones. The local Red Cross, who put out a notice and said, were losing thousands of blood donations because blood drives in schools have been canceled, and you have people beating down their door to come and get blood. I mean thats what community looks like. We have a great example of that here in northeast Indiana, people going out of their way to help other people in need. I imagine were going to see a lot more of that for a long time to come. But thats why America is what America is. Our economy is resilient, were going to come back from this, were going to be stronger than ever when we do, because were going to learn some big lessons in the process that are going to make us better for the future and for future generations. And thats why I remain optimistic about what America will be after this pandemic passes, and were going to be better off when it does. Mr. Jekielek: Youve been championing blood donation. A lot of people might be scared to go to do this. How is that working? Rep. Banks: On Twitter yesterday morning, I saw my local Red Cross chapter put out a notice that they are hurting. Theyre in desperate need of blood donations because something like 2700 blood drives nationwide had been canceled, and thousands of donations were lost because of those cancellations. So that was a significant moment for me as I thought about what I could do as an individual in my community to give back. Giving blood was a simple way that I could do it. Now, let me say from the outset that giving blood is not something that I enjoy doing. Most people dont get up excited about giving blood. But every time I do it, and Ive done it a handful of times in my life, its never as bad as I think. Its not painful. The professionals at the Red Cross do a great job to make it a painless process. So you can simply go to 1-800 Red-Cross, and they will patch you through to your local donation center. And you can schedule your donation. Mr. Jekielek: What are your recommendations to the Administration and to Congress? Rep. Banks: Constituents are beating down my door to make the case that we have got to hold China accountable and make them pay. And there are some ways that President Trump can do that. He can find a way to hold China accountable for the vast amount of our national debt that China holdsover a trillion dollars. And find a way to seek reparations to relieve some or all of that national debt to offset the enormous costs on the American economy and taxpayers, because of the coronavirus due to Chinas negligence. I also believe that we should institute tariffs of some sort as a punishment to China, and we could use dollars that come from those tariffs and put them into a coronavirus victim relief fund to help those who have either lost their job, been affected, or infected by the coronavirus. And then thirdly, we need to stop the VA and the DOD, two of the largest healthcare networks in the world, from purchasing medical equipment from China. And by doing so, that will put a dent in Chinas economy. Thats the type of accountability that my constituents are demanding we put in place to hold China accountable for inflicting the coronavirus on the United States and on Americans. Mr. Jekielek: Rep. Banks, such a pleasure to speak with you. Rep. Banks: Great to be with you. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. Over 100 transit passengers from India, who were stranded in Malaysia due to the travel restrictions imposed by the Indian government in view of the coronavirus pandemic, left for home on Monday, officials here said. The Indians were earlier taken to different hostels and hotels in close coordination with local NGOs and community organisations, the Indian High Commission here said. The High Commission of India in Kuala Lumpur coordinated the safe return of 113 transit passengers stuck at Kuala Lumpur airports due to travel restrictions. The Indian mission tweeted pictures of the Indians with a caption "Home bound and relieved!" The transit passengers were stranded due to the travel restrictions imposed by the government back home in response to the fast-spreading coronavirus pandemic. "All Indian nationals in Malaysia urged to respect the movement restrictions. Pl stay safe, stay healthy," the High Commission tweeted on Sunday. On Saturday, it said, "Hundreds of Indians stranded in Malaysia waiting at KLIA2 taken to different hostels, hotels etc. by @hcikl in close coordination with local NGOs and community organisations." India has reported 415 coronavirus cases, the health ministry officials said, adding that the death toll stands at seven. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Primark announced it will close all 189 of its stores as retailers across the UK began locking down in an attempt to slow the spread of coronavirus. The fast-fashion business said the measure would affect some 37,000 staff but committed to paying employees their contracted hours for the next 14 days. Primark will continue to closely monitor the situation, following WHO [World Health Organization] advice as well as local and national government guidance, a spokesperson said. It came as a host of other high street shops, including John Lewis, HMV, Topshop and New Look, also announced they were closing stores. Online shopping websites will not be affected by the shutdown. Arcadia Group, the company that owns fashion brands including Topshop, Dorothy Perkins, Wallis and Miss Selfridge, had already closed its stores until further notice from 4pm on Friday. All store staff remain employees during this time and will be paid their normal pay for March plus any outstanding overtime payments, after which we will review this situation and will be keeping our store teams updated, the firm said in a statement. Ikea shut its 22 UK stores the same day, along with TK Maxx, Clarks and several other brands. New Look closed its stores at 5pm on Saturday and said it had extended its refund policy to 90 days. HMV said it would be temporarily closing its stores from the end of Sunday, although its online business would continue. All 50 John Lewis stores are due to close on Monday evening but the groups 338 Waitrose branches will remain open. More than 2,000 John Lewis staff are already working in Waitrose shops to cope with unprecedented demand for groceries following the coronavirus outbreak. Sharon White, the chair, said in a statement: While it is with a heavy heart that we temporarily close our John Lewis shops, our partners will, where possible, be taking on important roles in supporting their fellow partners, providing critical services in Waitrose shops and ensuring our customers can get what they need through johnlewis.com, which is seeing extremely strong demand. The partnership has traded for over 155 years, during which time we have faced many difficult periods, including two world wars and the 2008 financial crisis. We all need to continue to support each other and our strength and resilience will be tested. But they will not be broken. Additional reporting by agencies A businessman who used the Find My app to track his stolen iPad to a thieves den was forced to retrieve it when police failed to show up. The 51-year-old, who asked not to be named, says he was confronted by five men inside the house in west London. His iPad, bank cards and other items were swiped at a pub in Holborn on February 26. The app indicated the tablet was at an address in Southall. The man told the Standard: I repeatedly rang police. Eventually the operator, who spoke to his supervisor, said: If you drive down to the address, well support you whilst you knock on the door. There were no police when he arrived and when he called back he was told sorry, we cant make it, so he knocked on the door himself. He said: This huge man came out and swore at me, telling me to leave. It really got hairy when four others appeared at the door. Another man arrived and after screaming and shouting, the iPad and wallet were returned. As I started to walk away, another of the guys beckoned me closer and wanted to hand over my driving licence, he said. He rang police to complain and says an inspector later apologised and promised an investigation. He added: The inspector said he had listened to the tapes and thought it was absolutely outrageous that they were prepared to send me to an address when they had all the information and didnt turn up. A 20-year-old man was arrested in Southall on March 6 on suspicion of theft and police say they recovered suspected stolen goods linked to at least two other crimes. A police spokesman said: The investigation continues, including enquiries to identify outstanding suspects. As several countries across the including China, India and South Korea have gone under lockdowns to stall the spread of the coronavirus, imposing lockdown in Pakistan amid the crisis would cause "untold misery" to the multitudes that survive on daily wages or those with small businesses dependent on a steady income to make ends meet. "Rapid transmission of COVID-19 has been checked in China and South Korea through lockdowns. Such a drastic step, given the realities of Pakistan, would cause untold misery to the multitudes that survive on daily wages or those with small businesses dependent on a steady income to make ends meet," according to an editorial by Dawn. As cases in Pakistan continue to rise, experts are suggesting the government to impose a complete lockdown. The country has so far reported 873 confirmed cases of the deadly virus and six deaths. However, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that state-imposed curfew is not possible in the country as one-fourth of its population is under the poverty line and survives on daily wages. "A complete lockdown means imposing a curfew administered by state and army, forcing people to stay indoors. Our country's 25 per cent population lives below the poverty line and survives on daily wages. We are taking steps, keeping our on-ground status in mind," Pakistan Prime Minister's Office wrote on Twitter. "However, there may come a point when the government decides it has no choice but to impose such a lockdown at least in some parts of the country. In any case, the closure of markets and schools -- places where hawkers tend to find customers -- has already begun to impact the poor. An intervention by the state is urgently required," the editorial said. "In concert with provincial dispensations, the government must devise a streamlined plan of action that also co-opts the private sector -- including organisations already engaged in charitable work -- so that efforts are not replicated and equitable distribution of relief goods is ensured. Low-income families must be provided the wherewithal to make it through this unfolding nightmare," it added. Sindh province reported 42 new coronavirus cases on Monday -- three in Karachi and 39 in Sukkur. The provincial tally is now 394. There is a discrepancy between the numbers of confirmed cases released by the Control and Command Centre set up to deal with the crisis and those given by provincial governments, which are possibly more up to date. The Pakistan daily, in its editorial, said that Sindh has shown itself to be commendably responsive to the multi-faceted challenge posed by COVID-19. However, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has begun rolling out a coherent strategy. While Sindh has shown itself to be commendably responsive to the multi-faceted challenge posed by COVID-19, and KP has begun rolling out a coherent strategy. The total number of COVID-19 cases in Punjab has now gone up to 246. Meanwhile, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) so-called 'Prime Minister' Raja Farooq Haider announced that a complete lockdown will be imposed in the region for three weeks starting midnight on Monday. "This is no time for politics or platitudes. It is a moment that calls for our leadership to rise above their differences and formulate a coordinated response that can make efficient and judicious use of available resources," the Dawn editorial stated. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi government's health department has revealed that around 35,000 foreign-returned had arrived in the capital since March 1. The government has ordered all Districts Magistrates (DM) of the National Capital Territory (NCT) to verify and ensure that all 35,000 foreign-retuned persons staying in Delhi since March 1 are following the mandatory 14-day home quarantine protocol. The protocol had been put in place by the government to halt the spread of the deadly coronavirus. The order issued on Sunday by the Delhi Health and Family Welfare Department stated that the DMs have to ensure that these people remain in home quarantine for a minimum period of 14 days. The order invoked the Delhi Epidemic Diseases, COVID-19, Regulations, 2020 under Epidemic Disease Act, 1897 to issue directions to the 35,000 foreign-returned staying in Delhi. " All the aforesaid foreign-returned persons shall strictly comply with the directions of home quarantine for a minimum period of 14 days without fail." The order also said that any person who has come in close contact with the 35,000 foreign-returned should also strictly follow the 14-day home quarantine protocol. The order clearly says that any person infected with the COVID-19 will have to stay in the isolation facilities of hospitals. The person would only be allowed to leave after being discharged by the treating doctors. "Any person found disobeying the aforesaid directions shall be prosecuted and punished with imprisonment or fine or both under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1880) as per Section 3 of the Epidemic Disease Act, 1897," says the order on anyone not obeying the directions issued. As per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the number of active cases of COVID-19 in the country were 329 as of 6:30 pm on March 22. Globally, the number has climbed to over 3,30,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including around 14,000 deaths. Only 23 people have been treated for the coronavirus and discharged from the hospitals, these include the three people who were treated in Kerala last month. So far, seven people in the country have died due to the deadly virus. Alos Read: Coronavirus in India Live updates: PM Modi to interact with industry bodies on economic impact of COVID-19 Also Read: PM Modi to hold video conference on economic impact of coronavirus at 4 pm 510 Shares Share In Why doctors should get political, I focused on the need for doctors to voice their opinions in order to rally patients and inspire them to take control of their own health, but what about the responsibility we have to ourselves, our families, and our colleagues? Who will advocate for us as health care providers and especially for those on the front lines putting themselves at risk every day? In the midst of the coronavirus crisis, while the focus has been on eradicating the spread of the virus and practicing social distancing to flatten the curve, little has been done to ensure those on the front lines are well-prepared to take on this arduous fight. Health care providers across the country have been using their voices to urge leaders to take heed of their concerns regarding equipment shortages such as ventilators and lack of personal protective equipment. The COVID-19 crisis has also shed light on the grave inconsistencies within our health care system, ones that we knew were already present, but did not anticipate having to deal with on such a grand scale. My home state of New York, being the epicenter of this crisis is already invoking wartime imagery as many of my colleagues who work in ambulatory settings are essentially drafted to work in the EDs, ICUs, and inpatient settings throughout their hospital systems. They are being expected to handle situations they do not typically deal with on a daily basis, all the while doing it without proper protection. Having trained in NYC and being cognizant of the lack of support and equipment most NYC hospitals already struggle with, its no surprise that a pandemic such as this has created an immense burden on the health care system. This all hands on deck approach while necessary, has understandably engendered resentment and outrage amongst health care professionals who feel their protection is not being taken seriously. Over the last few weeks, weve seen the images of health care providers holding signs that read we stay here for you, please stay home for us, signed various petitions advocating for measures to help protect health care workers, watched as good samaritans pitch in and fashion masks designed to protect us and read the multitude of stories recounted by health care workers refused testing by their hospital systems when they come down with symptoms because there arent enough tests. Meanwhile, celebrities are getting tested for minor symptoms. The discrepancies within our health care system are made clear. The rich and powerful get access to testing merely because of who they are, whereas the health care workers on the front lines who need it the most are being denied. We are just expected to keep our heads down and continue working despite the conditions, despite the fact that we may go home to our loved ones and unknowingly infect them, despite the fact that we ourselves may be immunocompromised, elderly or pregnant, despite the fact that we do not have proper armor or ammunition to fight a war that seems insurmountable. Some of us even feel guilty for having concerns over our own well-being. We tell ourselves, well, we signed up for this-this selfless mission of medicine that teaches us to serve others, always put our patients first and provide equitable care. We were taught throughout our training to respect authority, make a good impression, achieve honors on our rotations, make personal sacrifices, and do it all without complaining. We are submissive to the demands of our profession. This is not the time however, to be submissive and put all our trust in authority figures because authority figures are not producing results. We must be a faction that breaks off from the commander and dictates our own trajectory. Weve committed our lives to the well-being of our patients, but how can we make our patients better if we cannot take care of ourselves? How can we provide equitable care if we are deciding which patients life to prioritize because we do not have enough ventilators? We were given a window into what the very near future held by Italys account of the conflict health care providers were faced with. As quoted in the New York Times, Flavia Petrini, the president of the Italian College of Anesthesia, Analgesia, Resuscitation and Intensive Care referred to the dilemma as catastrophic medicine, which requires a system of prioritizing which patients have the best chance of success and best hope of life considering the shortages of life-saving equipment facing the health care system. This does not sound like equitable care; this sounds like rationing of care to compensate for the failure of the system that was built to protect our patients and protect us. We need to stay healthy for our patients, but also for ourselves and our families. We need to mobilize the faction not just with regard to this pandemic, but by anticipating the arrival of others. So how do we advocate for ourselves? A great way to start is continuing our conversations amongst our colleagues and sharing experiences, looking to local businesses in our communities who are helping us procure masks and other supplies (several salons have already started contributing their supplies to local hospitals), and demanding more from our government going forward. Our government is prepared to increase spending when it comes to the military (in 2019, Congress authorized 716 billion in military spending), but health care workers are now in the midst of a devastating war, and all we are offered are substandard responses, there arent enough tests, do what you can with what you have, wear bandanas etc. Remember these moments going forward. Remember the failure of the system to support us. Remember the fear, the anxiety, the guilt for not being able to do more. Take these wartime memories and harness them into political power because we are far more powerful as a unit than we are as lone warriors. Jessica Kiarashi is a neurologist and can be reached on Twitter @jkiarashimd. Image credit: Shutterstock.com BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 23 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: Turkey's export of chemical products to Uzbekistan increased by 3.67 percent and amounted to $34.3 million from January through February 2020, Turkeys Trade Ministry told Trend on March 19. Turkey's export of chemical products to Uzbekistan amounted to $17.7 million in February 2020, showing an increase of 0.99 percent compared to February 2019. From January through February 2020, Turkeys export of chemicals to world markets increased by 1 percent compared to the same period of 2019, and amounted to $3.2 billion. Over the reporting period, Turkeys export of chemicals amounted to 10.9 percent of the country's total export. Turkey's export of chemical products to world markets amounted to $1.5 billion in February 2020, which is 7.8 percent less compared to February 2019. In February 2020, Turkeys export of chemical products amounted to 10.3 percent of the country's total export. According to the ministry, Turkeys export of chemical products amounted to $20.6 billion from February 2019 through February 2020. Turkey's foreign trade turnover in Jan. 2020 amounted to $33.9 billion. In Jan. 2020, Turkey's export increased by 6.4 percent compared to Jan. 2019 and amounted to $14.8 billion. Turkey's import increased by 18.8 percent in Jan. 2020 compared to Jan. 2019, amounting to $19.2 billion. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu The 22 rebel Congress MLAs (who have now joined the BJP) will have to win the by-elections, which won't be easy as Digvijaya Singh and Kamal Nath will leave no stone unturned to secure those seats, reports Sandeep Kumar. IMAGE: BJP leaders Jyotiraditya Scindia and Shivraj Singh Chouhan flash the victory sign during the filling of Scindia's nomination papers for Rajya Sabha elections at the state assembly in Bhopal. Photograph: ANI Photo The succession of political occurrences in Madhya Pradesh, leading to the resignation of Chief Minister Kamal Nath, was somewhat a re-enactment of what happened in Karnataka last year, when a coalition government was brought down to make way for a Bharatiya Janata Party-led one. The departure of Jyotiraditya Scindia, who crossed over to the BJP, was a work in progress since December 2018, when the Congress chose Nath chief minister after its election victory. Since then he found himself increasingly sidelined. After Nath resigned, Scindia tweeted: People have won in Madhya Pradesh today. I have always believed politics should be a medium of public service, but the state government had deviated from this path. Truth has won again. Satyameva Jayate. Any deal? There is strong speculation that Scindias induction into the Central government is just a matter of time and likely to happen in April itself. But what about the MLAs who have been his loyalists and, by resigning from the Congress, have paved the way for the formation of a BJP government in Madhya Pradesh? A close aide of Scindia said: These MLAs put their political careers at stake for Maharaj, who respects their love and affection. This is the biggest reward one can ask for. There are rumours that after the by-elections to the assembly seats that have fallen vacant due to the resignations, Tulsi Silawat will be deputy chief minister. He was considered the Dalit face of the Congress until Nath removed him, along with five other rebel ministers, from his cabinet. At least 10 other MLAs will be inducted into the new government. Praduman Singh Tomar, Imarti Devi, Govind Singh Rajput, and Prabhram Choudhary are some of them. Tough road ahead Many of these MLAs are from the Gwalior-Chambal region, the stronghold of Scindia, a former royal. All of them have to face by-election. However, there are a few facts one should bear in mind. Of the 22 rebel Congress MLAs (who now have joined the BJP), 15 had represented the Gwalior-Chambal region. The BJP was the runner-up in 20 seats in which these rebel MLAs had won. The margin of victory was thin in many seats. In 11 seats it was less than 10 per cent. As a result, if political commentators are to be believed, winning them may not be a doddle. The BJP has 107 MLAs in the assembly, whose current strength is 206. To secure a majority, the party has to win at least six seats even if all the independent MLAs support the BJP. Otherwise the party will have to win nine seats. Digvijaya Singh and Nath are experienced politicians. Nath will not forget this defeat easily. They will leave no stone unturned to secure those seats. Nath possesses the kitty, and Singh enjoys enormous political experience and also some influence in that area. Local BJP leaders might also turn hostile, said political analyst Anil Jain. Congress spokesperson Syed Jafar thinks the party stands a fair chance of winning the by-elections. I am sure the voters would punish the defectors. This will be a lesson for their backers, said Jafar. The Congress will contest the by-elections on the slogan 15 months vs 15 years, he said. The road ahead After the by-elections, when new members (Scindia loyalists) serve in the cabinet, the BJP has to fine-tune things. There may be some resentment among smaller groups in the party but overall the BJP looks to be in a position to hold the reins. Political analyst Girija Shankar thinks the BJP coming back to power was bound to happen because the people of Madhya Pradesh never really voted it out. The Congress government failed because it resembled the 2003 era of Digvijaya Singhs government. People hadnt voted for the Congress for another dark era of bad governance. It ended pro-people schemes of the previous regime. A dejected party worker in the now silent Congress office in Bhopal said: The party lacked a survival instinct. The state unit was fragmented. We have to learn a lot from the BJP. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 06:05:04|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIRUT, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon on Sunday received at least 22 billion Lebanese pounds (about 14.5 million U.S. dollars) donated by citizens, expatriates and officials to combat COVID-19, the MTV reported. The donation will be delivered through Bank Audi to Rafic Hariri hospital and other public hospitals involved in the fight against COVID-19, in addition to the Lebanese Red Cross and vulnerable people who are in dire need to secure daily income to make a living, it said. People made phone calls, sent emails and messages to "Sar El Wakt," a political program broadcast on MTV on a weekly basis, to make their donations. Lebanon has been fighting COVID-19, or novel coronavirus, for around a month now amid a shortage of medical supplies such as ventilators, masks and other equipment. On Sunday, Lebanon's total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases rose to 248, of whom four have died. Srinagar, March 23 : Iltija Mufti, daughter of former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has written a letter to Lt. Governor G.C. Murmu demanding the release of Kashmiri prisoners in jails across the country. "As you're aware, thousands of Kashmiris. including my mother Ms. Mufti, ex-Chief Minister J&K have been jailed since 5th August. As the world prepares to battle the deadly COVID-19 (already declared a global pandemic by WHO), India in all likelihood has entered Stage 3 in which the virus spreads through community transmission. "J&K has already reported four cases and the numbers will go up exponentially in the coming weeks," letter reads. She said, "Since no known medication/vaccination for COVID-19 existed as yet, self isolation has emerged as the safest bet to fight the outbreak. Overcrowded jails and lack of healthcare therefore makes these detainees highly vulnerable to the deadly contagion. "It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that prisons all over India might become the new epicentre of this epidemic." Iltija Mufti further wrote: "Senior citizens over 65 and those with an underlying illness such as diabetes, hypertension and breathing issues are especially susceptible to COVID-19. There are hundreds of senior citizens from the valley battling multiple ailments across jails in the country. Some of these detainees come from humble families where the members haven't been able to afford a single trip to visit their sons and brothers lodged in jails outside Kashmir. You can well imagine their anxiety and concern in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic. "Keeping in mind the aforementioned circumstances, I would like to request you to release all detainees immediately and allow them to return home. At a time when jails even in USA are releasing inmates, one fails to understand reluctance of GOI in freeing detainees jailed for the past eight months on trumped up charges. "We are in the midst of an extraordinary medical situation and healthcare systems all over the world are collapsing. I urge you to consider my request. I'm sure you will agree the collective health and well being of each of these detainees overrides every other consideration/rationale for their detention," letter reads. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) By Steve Holland WASHINGTON, March 20 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday came close to blaming Iran for a rocket attack in Iraq last week in which two American troops and a British service member were killed. "Maybe we shouldn't say yet," said Trump when the question was posed to Pompeo at a White House news conference. Said Pompeo: "Let me just get back to you on the answer to that." The Pentagon said last week that Trump had authorized the U.S. military to respond to the March 11 rocket attack in Iraq. Trump has been preoccupied with addressing the coronavirus pandemic. The United States has blamed Iran-backed militia for the attack but has not yet said whether it was linked to the Iranian leadership in Tehran. Tensions have been running high between the two longtime adversaries since Trump ordered a U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani on Jan. 3. When Pompeo was asked about whether Iran was responsible, Trump interjected: "We know plenty." Pompeo added: "Weve made clear that the Iraqi Shi'a militias are funded, trained and equipped by the Iranians. We've urged the Iranians not to do that. Weve told the Iranians that they will be held responsible for those attacks when they threaten American lives." (Reporting by Steve Holland; editing by Jonathan Oatis) In this joint operation, none of the slain or injured belonged to CoBRA battalion, as the CRPF headquarters clarified. The killing of 17 security force jawans by the Maoists in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh, whose bodies were recovered on Sunday, questions the preparedness of the forces engaged in guerrilla warfare. Experts on counter-terrorism and Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) have raised concerns on whether the jawans from the local forces who went on to take the Naxals head-on in the core Maoist area, were professionally trained and prepared for the highly-risked job. In a fierce gun-battle between the Naxals and the joint security force comprising CRPFs elite CoBRA battalion and Chhattisgarh Polices Special Task Force (STF) and District Reserve Guards (DRG) near Kasalpad in Sukma district, 17 jawans from STF and DRG were killed and 14 were injured on Saturday evening. Though the police have claimed that eight to 10 Maoists and their leaders were also eliminated during the encounter, none of their bodies has been recovered yet. This was one of the biggest setbacks and the most horrifying Maoist attack on security forces after 2017 incident, in which 25 CRPF personnel were killed. More than 300 Maoists had attacked a road opening party comprising 90 CRPF personnel near Chintagufa in Sukma in 2017. Later, in 2019 during Lok Sabha election, Maoists triggered an IED blast and killed BJP MP from Dantewada, Bhima Mandavi, along with his five security personnel and driver. The encounter On 21 March, Saturday afternoon, the gun-battle took place inside the forest near Chintagufa -- between the hilly terrains of Kasalpad and Koraj Dongri between security forces with strength of 600 personnel and nearly 250 Maoists. Based on an intelligence input about a large gathering of Maoists planning to launch a big attack, an encounter was planned and the troops left Dornapal for the destination on 20 March. The joint force was divided into five teams. According to police sources, when the troops didnt find any Maoist gathering, they retreated. On the way back, they got entrapped in an ambush laid by the Maoists. The tribal jawans of STF and DRG who were at the forefront got killed. Thousands of rounds of bullets were fired by both sides. The Maoists snatched weapons from slain jawans and escaped, which includes 12 AK 47 rifles, one Under Barrel Grenade Launcher, one INSAS rifle and one Excalibur rifle. Sources said that Maoists were led by the dreaded commander of PLGAs military Battalion One, Hidma, who operates out of Sukma and is an astute military strategist. In the past, Hidma, who belongs to Puvari village in Sukma district, had planned and led several deadly attacks on security forces. It was a joint operation in which more than 600 jawans were involved. It was a very tough encounter in which, according to our estimate, 250 Naxals were firing on our jawans from the other side. Our jawans gave a fitting response. We had 17 casualties and evacuated 14 injured jawans, Inspector General (Bastar) of Chhattisgarh Police, P Sundarraj told reporters on Sunday. What experts think about 17 jawans death? Almost every encounter, whether inside the forest or in an urban area comes under scrutiny. The death of 17 jawans -- five STF and 12 DRG jawans, almost all of whom were tribals, raises doubts on whether the slain received adequate training like CRPF jawans in handling an anti-Naxal operation of this magnitude. Apart from this, leakage of operation details and ignoring the recent Maoist threat could have been the factors that led to the killing. In this joint operation, none of the slain or injured belonged to CoBRA battalion, as the CRPF headquarters clarified. The Chhattisgarh Police formed DRGs in Naxal-affected districts in Chhattisgarh by recruiting local tribal youths and surrendered Naxals to combat Maoists. Their knowledge of local tribal languages like Gondi, Halbi, etc and that of Bastar terrain give them an edge. Its an advantage to have local tribals in the force to combat Naxalism, as they know the difficult terrain of Bastar and local language. But are they professionally trained in guerrilla warfare as their counterparts in CoBRA battalion or Greyhounds? Lack of proper training and regular upgradation is one of the main causes of loss of lives of these tribal jawans, who are being recruited by the state police, counter-terrorism analyst, Anil Kamboj, who had headed various anti-terror training programmes, including LWE told Firstpost. CRPF and BSF recruit local tribal youths and provide them with high-level training and they have always proved to be excellent fighters. The state police need to provide specialised training to these local recruitsfrom physical combat to weapons. Knowledge of using guns wont do. It needs a deeper understanding and knowledge to combat terrorism and insurgency, he explained. Unlike 2017 Naxal attack on CRPF team which was sudden and unexpected, the Saturday encounter was a pre-planned one. The combined force, whose strength was double of the Maoists, was well-equipped. This is the first instance when so many local tribal jawans of DRG force have got killed, which has emerged as a serious concern among the locals in Bastar. Going by the operation details available in public domain, the Maoists attacked the teams, while they were returning. It appears that Maoists gave a safe passage to the troops while they entered the forest in search of them. The jawans didnt find anything and on way back they were caught unaware and attacked. Its an old tactic used by the Naxals. They made the troops feel as if there had been no gathering of Maoists in the jungle. In many cases, this makes troops a bit complacent and they are caught unaware. This might have been one of the causes of such a big casualty, said a retired senior police official, who had earlier served in Bastar, on condition of anonymity. The security experts have also pointed fingers at the apparent leakage of operation details, which helped Maoists to successfully get the troops into their trap through an ambush. There seems to be a leakage of details of the operation, which might have been another reason of this killing. It clearly appears that the Maoists were aware of the encounter and its details; and therefore instead of getting in the hands of troops, they laid an ambush for the latter. The troops walked into the trap. Otherwise it wouldnt have been possible to kill so many jawans in one go. There wasnt any IED blast. It appears as if the gun-battle was one-sided, the retired official said. Was the Maoist threat taken lightly? Question has also been raised on whether a threat issued recently by the banned CPI (Maoist) was ignored or taken lightly. While dubbing Operation Prahar an anti-Naxal operation by a joint force comprising CRPFs CoBRA battalion, Chhattisgarh Polices Special Task Force (STF) and District Reserve Guards (DRG) as fake and an attempt by the state to suppress the revolutionary peoples movement of the Naxals, the South sub-zonal bureau, Dandakaranya of CPI (Maoist) had issued a statement on 3 March and said that its military wing, Peoples Liberation Guerrilla Army, would strike hard. The statement had appealed the tribal villagers to join hands with the Naxals. A few days ago, in two different encounters, three Maoists were killed. Probably the police force was riding high on confidence and thought it would successfully crack this encounter as well but underestimated the preparedness of the large Maoist force this time, a local source from Sukma said. Face saving exercise While hailing the deceased jawans and the troops for the courage they showed during the operation, the Chhattisgarh Police claimed on Sunday that eight to 10 Maoists were killed during the gun-fight. Even Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel on the basis of inputs from the police, said that a large number of Maoists have been killed. However, not a single body of Maoists has yet been recovered, which is surprising. Its a known fact that Maoists usually take away the bodies of their slain comrades to show that the security forces failed to incur any damage to the Maoist cadre. It appears to be a face-saving attempt by the police. The Maoists do take away bodies of their killed ones, but in a gun-battle of this magnitude where so many jawans got killed and not a single body of a killed Maoist has been recovered sounds surprising. On what basis the police claimed that nearly 10 or more Maoists were killed, including their leaders? questioned Kamboj, a former BSF official and a senior fellow at Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses. Theres no iota of doubt about the determination and exemplary courage being shown by the troops of the combined force, especially the local tribals while taking Naxals head-on but casualties show that a lot of ground needs to be covered as far as training of personnel is concerned. The Senate voted 47-47 on a $1.8 trillion bill to shore up the economy during the COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic, far short of the 60 votes needed to advance the legislation. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who wrote the bill Saturday night, vowed Sunday night to bring it up for a vote again at 9:45 Monday morning, repeatedly daring Democrats to vote against it again as the stock market plummets further. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said no. Negotiations continued overnight. Republicans are "throwing caution to the wind for average workers and people on Main Street and going balls to the wall for people on Wall Street," Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) said Sunday. Schumer laid out most of the Democratic concerns about the legislation, which The Washington Post calls "by far the largest financial rescue ever attempted by Congress," earning a three-word response from Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas). Blah blah blah https://t.co/zkJ1fsKMGc Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) March 23, 2020 But Democrats weren't the only ones concerned that the legislation gives too much to large corporations while demanding too little in return. "Any relief for big corporations must limit executive compensation, ban stock buybacks, and require companies to pay back loans w/ interest. Or I'm not voting for it," Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) tweeted. Democrats voiced special concern about the $500 billion available to large companies with little oversight, including $425 million to be doled out at the discretion of Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, the recipients able to shield their identities for six months. "We're not here to create a slush fund for Donald Trump and his family, or a slush fund for the Treasury Department to be able to hand out to their friends," Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said Sunday. Democrats also want the funds contingent on companies retaining 90 percent of their workers, not just "to the extent practicable," as McConnell's legislation allows. New York Times economic columnist Binyamin Appelbaum found that point the most baffling. Story continues The stock market is going to crash tomorrow morning and it's important to understand that the problem isn't the failure of this GOP bill. The problem is that the GOP failed to propose a bill that protects American workers from economic catastrophe. Binyamin Appelbaum (@BCAppelbaum) March 23, 2020 House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said "we're so far apart," the House will "be introducing our own bill and hopefully it will be compatible" with the Senate deal. More stories from theweek.com Trump, whose hotel business is losing millions, says 'I'll be the oversight' of $500 billion coronavirus 'slush fund' People are dying after self-medicating with unproven COVID-19 drug promoted by Trump Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick thinks grandparents should be willing to sacrifice their lives to save the economy Dubai-based Emaar Group, a leading global property developer, said it has adopted a work-from-home policy for its employees effective March 23 as part of preventive measures being undertaken in the UAE to safeguard the communitys health. The move is aligned with the countrys Stay at Home campaign aimed at combating the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. During this period, Emaar Group will continue to monitor global developments and prevention measures, and update its actions based on how the worldwide situation evolves. Mohammed Al Abbar, Chairman of Emaar Properties, said Emaar places the highest priority on the health and safety of its employees, their families, its customers and the broader community. The world is facing one of the biggest challenges in its modern history, said Al Abbar. The UAE has set an example for precautionary and preventive measures against COVID-19. Collective efforts are vital to tide over this critical period. He called on all Emaar employees to abide by the guidelines issued by the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention, the Dubai Health Authority and other authorities advising people to practice social distancing. He also assured Emaars customers, partners and affiliates that these measures will not impact the companys operations. We are committed to delivering our services without compromising quality and overall customer satisfaction. We remain united as a group in providing exceptional services as per our customers expectations, Al Abbar said. The real estate developer said its daily operations department will continue to go the extra mile for its customers. The companys customer channels will be reachable 24/7 and its frontline team is fully committed to providing seamless services during this sensitive period. The group highlighted it is confident of overcoming any challenges and is united under the One Emaar banner to provide comprehensive support to its customers and communities. TradeArabia News Service Hanoi police have warned the public not to share unconfirmed information about Covid-19 that causes confusion in the community. Hanoi police on March 21 summoned and questioned two Facebook users for posting fake news about the Covid-19 situation in the capital city, Kinh Te & Do Thi reported. The two people, 22 and 25, claimed on their Facebook page, alluding to an emergency meeting presided over by Hanoi mayor Nguyen Duc Chung earlier this week, that the epidemic situation in Hanoi "is spinning out of control." A street in Hanoi is sterilized. Photo: Trung Kien The posts caused panic and confusion among the public, said the police. When requested by the police, the two people removed their posts, admitted to acting illegally and promised not to repeat it. They will have to pay fines in the coming days. Hanoi police have warned the public not to share unconfirmed information about Covid-19 that causes confusion in the community. Chairman of the municipal People's Committee Nguyen Duc chung affirmed that Hanoi's government has not released any information about city lockdown, and retailers are totally capable of ensuring enough goods to meet people's demand without price increases. The situation is under control and people should stay calm and do not stockpile supplies, Chung said. Vietnam's Cybersecurity Law prohibits the spreading of incorrect information which causes confusion among people and damages socio-economic activities. The Vietnamese government has been cracking down on people spreading rumors about the Covid-19 evolution. Several people, including celebrities, have been penalized for sharing fake news on social media. Hanoi has the highest number of Covid-19 patients in hospital now in the country as of March 21, 29 out of 94 nationwide. Hanoitimes Anh Kiet-Cong Tho Experts slam fake 'virus protector cards' Experts have warned that so-called virus protector cards advertised online offer no protection against the SARS-CoV-2 (covid-19). Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., the likely Democratic nominee against President Trump in this years general election, was asked a question during a virtual fund-raiser on Sunday that reflected a challenge looming over his campaign as the coronavirus outbreak intensifies. What Im concerned about is that we see Donald Trump every day with this crisis giving his press report, said one donor, according to a pool report from the fund-raiser, which was conducted by telephone. And I would just love to see you more. Like, how do we get more of you and less of him on our airwaves? Mr. Biden has been taunted by online critics over his relatively low profile since the coronavirus forced him off the campaign trail, with Trump campaign officials and others needling him with the hashtag #WhereIsJoe. The former vice president has not made an appearance on camera in front of the public since he gave a brief live-streamed address from his home on Tuesday, when primaries were held in Florida, Illinois and Arizona. At Sundays fund-raiser, Mr. Biden said that a recreation room in his home in Delaware had been turned into a television studio, and that he planned to give remarks on Monday. On a conference call with reporters on Friday, Mr. Biden said his campaign was working to increase his ability to speak to the public. Vietnams mathematics community has only two female professors Hoang Xuan Sinh and Le Thi Thanh Nhan. With Decision No 131 signed by the then Prime Minister Pham Van Dong on April 29, 1980, 83 individuals who were university lecturers and researchers were granted the professor title. One of them was Hoang Xuan Sinh, the first female mathematics professor in Vietnam. Pro Hoang Xuan Sinh Sinh was born in Hanoi in 1933. In 1951, after obtaining the first high-school diploma in linguistics, she went to France to obtain the second diploma majoring in mathematics. At that time, she chose to study mathematics, not any other subject, because her parents said being good at sciences would be useful for developing the country, and Sinh found mathematics the easiest learning subject. When returning to Vietnam, she became a lecturer at the Hanoi University of Education. Some years later, she successfully defended the doctoral dissertation at Paris 7 University before famous mathematicians, including Prof Field Medal winners Henri Cartan and Alexandre Grothendieckm. The dissertation defending ceremony lasted 2.5 hours only, but it took Sinh many hours to write when she was in a village on evacuation. Vietnams mathematics community has only two female professors Hoang Xuan Sinh and Le Thi Thanh Nhan. Later, she wrote the second dissertation in Paris, which took her two months. Both the dissertation aimed to solve the problems of modern mathematics. Prof Sinh was the first foreign woman who came to Paris to successfully defend national doctoral dissertation in mathematics. In Vietnam, in addition to giving lectures at the Hanoi University of Education, she compiled textbooks for university and general education. She many times led the Vietnamese delegation of students attending International Mathematics Olympiads. Sinh was one of the founders of the Thang Long University, the first private university in Vietnam, in 1988. She was a member of the reviewing council for Kovalevskaya awarding in Vietnam. Vietnamese had to wait 35 years to see the second female mathematics professor Le Thi Thanh Nhan, who got the title in 2015, at the age of 45. Graduating from the Viet Bac University of Education, she became a lecturer at the school when she turned 20. Later, she obtained a masters degree and then doctorate before the age of 30. In 2005, at the age of 35, she became the youngest associate professor in mathematics in Vietnam. Nhan has more than 20 scientific research works published in prestigious journals, including Vietnam Journal of Math and Communication in Algebra. She was invited by the French Mathematical Institute, Italian and Swiss Institutes of Theoretical Physics to study. Nhan now works at the Department of Personnel Organization under the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET). Vietnam has granted the professor title to 91 individuals so far, including 89 individuals living and working in Vietnam. Chi Mai Mathematics professors: low number of professors, high scientific publication index Of 89 recognized professors who live and work in Vietnam, only 35 professors are below 70 years old and are still working. A student moves out of her dorm at the University of Michigan on March 17, 2020. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) Michigan Mandates People Stay at Home Amid CCP Virus Pandemic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered Michigan residents to stay at home amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Whitmer signed an executive order mandating all state residents stay at home with exceptions for people who work in jobs critical to keeping society running, are engaged in outdoor activity, or performing necessary tasks, such as going to a hospital or grocery store. People who go outside are required to adhere to social distancing measures, such as remaining at least six feet from people from outside their household, to the extent that is feasible. The order also requires all businesses and operations that are not necessary to sustain or protect life to temporarily suspend in-person operations. The order goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. on March 24. It will last for at least three weeks. In just 13 days, weve gone from 0 to over 1,000 COVID-19 cases, Whitmer said in a statement. This is an unprecedented crisis that requires all of us working together to protect our families and our communities. The most effective way we can slow down the virus is to stay home. I know this will be hard, but it will be temporary. If we all come together, get serious, and do our part by staying home, we can stay safe and save lives. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in a file photograph in Clawson, Mich., on March 18, 2019. (Paul Sancya/File Photo via AP) Taking aggressive action to protect our communities is the most important thing we can do to mitigate further spread of COVID-19, added Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Chief Deputy for Health and Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun. If we do this now, we can make sure our hospitals and healthcare workers are prepared to take care of the sickest people. It is crucial that people do the right thing by staying home and staying safe. Similar orders have been signed by governors in other states, including California, New York, and Illinois. COVID-19 is a disease caused by a virus that originated in China last year. The Epoch Times refers to it as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mishandling allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. Whitmer said at a press conference that she didnt understand why people were continuing to congregate in groups in light of the spread of the new illness. Workers leave FCA Chrysler Warren Truck Assembly after the Detroit three automakers have agreed to UAW demands to shut down all North America plants as a precaution against the CCP virus, in Detroit, Michigan on March 18, 2020. (Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images) But the fact of the matter is, people are still doing it, she said, prompting her to sign the new order, which she said would save lives. Whitmer alleged that the United States is on a trajectory that looks like the increase in cases seen by Italy, which has the highest reported death count from COVID-19 in the world. Italy has nearly 60,000 cases and 5,476 deaths, for a mortality rate of 9.2 percent. The United States mortality rate is currently 1.3 percent. Experts say Italys sizeable population of elderly persons and individuals with underlying health conditions has contributed to the high death rate, as well as the collapse of the healthcare system in some parts of the country. Social distancing measures and orders to largely stay at home are meant to avoid a similar situation in America, according to some officials and experts. The new virus spread primarily from person to person between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People can also become sick by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their face. Ways to avoid contracting the illness include frequently washing hands, regularly cleaning objects and surfaces, and avoiding sick people. YEREVAN, MARCH 23, ARMENPRESS. The Government of Armenia is considering the possibility of making changes in the freedom of speech restrictions imposed during state of emergency, Justice Minister Rustam Badasyan said in parliament. Badasyan said they are currently considering either cancelling the restrictions altogether or defining another circle. He was referring to the law of the state of emergency by which the news media or social media users covering the COVID19 outbreak must do so only by citing official information provided by the authorities. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan The London stock market was deeply in the red again today despite the US monetary authorities revealing unlimited stimulus to combat the economic effects of the coronavirus crisis. The FTSE 100 index of leading shares plunged nearly 5 per cent on the open as investors and traders braced for a fifth week of turmoil. After the Federal Reserve announced an indefinite bond-buying programme to prop up the US economy, the blue-chip index recovered quite sharply at first, nearly overturning the morning's losses. But London stocks were soon dragged down again as US shares failed to rally convincingly on the central bank's move. The FTSE 100 index closed 196.9 points down on the day at 4,993.9, a fall of 3.8 per cent. Ghost town: A near-deserted Carnaby Street in London on a normally bustling Saturday. Government advice to stay home has also sent a wrecking ball through Britains high streets The US Fed mounted an extraordinary new array of programs to offset the 'severe disruptions' to the economy caused by the coronarvirus outbreak, including an unprecedented range of credit for households, small businesses and major employers. It is effectively an open-ended, bottomless quantitative easive programme to prevent the conomy collapsing. But despite the move, all three main US indices were trading 2 to 3 per cent down this afternoon. In Asia overnight, the Indian stock market had lost more than 13 per cent of its value, while Honk Kong's Hang Seng index had closed nearly 5 per cent down. Craig Erlam, Senior Market Analyst at OANDA, said it was 'frightening how normal it feels to wake up on Monday morning and see markets flashing red and down another 5%'. 'Governments and central banks, to their credit, are not taking the crisis lightly and have announced enormous stimulus packages to protect households and businesses, but even that hasn't been enough,' he added. 'As long as we continue to see this kind of exponential growth around the world, the case for a stock market bounce is weak. Even stability will be hard to come by. If investors hate uncertainty, they'll despise this. 'The v-shaped recovery is a hope of the past, everyone is now just hoping that the temporary unemployment spike doesn't become more permanent or we have a real problem on our hands.' Boris Johnson ordered bars, pubs and restaurants to close at 5.10pm on Friday, after the markets closed. But he hinted yesterday that a lockdown could soon come into force as the public flouted advice on social distancing in the fine spring weather. Government advice to stay home has also sent a wrecking ball through Britains high streets with many businesses including Timpsons, John Lewis and Arcadia closing thousands of shops over the weekend. Yesterday Primark, which also announced store closures, confirmed it had taken the drastic measure of cancelling all outstanding orders to cut costs, devastating many suppliers businesses. The dire outlook for many of Britains best-known businesses means the FTSE 100 which has plunged 36 per cent since mid-January is likely to face further falls. Business groups have pleaded with the Government to make emergency cash from grants and loans available immediately to avoid mass staff lay-offs. Some firms, including Sir Philip Greens Arcadia group, have already axed staff raising the spectre of spiralling demand and a long-term hit to the economy. A new report released today by KPMG said the UK economy will shrink 2.6 per cent this year, or 5.4 per cent if the Governments massive stimulus package does not work. City tycoon Crispin Odey said he believed the markets had already priced in a recession, and expected a recovery in the stock market by the end of the year. Experts said the rapidly-changing picture is a minefield for private investors, who were urged to look for companies that had enough cash to survive the onslaught. The Financial Conduct Authoritys decision to ask companies to delay their financial results until the effects of the outbreak on their business is better understood. Dozens of the nations biggest companies have already ditched guidance this year an admission that they do not know how bad the situation could get. AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould said: There will be ripple effects for some time but it depends on how long the lockdown lasts for. How the Left is exploiting the Coronavirus for political gain Despite Rishi Sunaks unprecedented economic measures, some members of the Left still arent happy with the Governments response to the Coronavirus crisis. John McDonnell immediately commented that he hasnt gone far enough. But far greater an issue for the whole country is Left-wing activists. Momentum, for example, has claimed that this crisis is political and there must be a political response, adding that we will make demands. What will these demands look like, many will be wondering. The group has requested full sick pay for all workers (including those on zero hours contracts) and an end to all benefit sanctions, among others. But perhaps the more important question is what will happen if the Government ignores these requests. Will the Left try to exploit the Coronavirus to advance a political agenda? There are increasing signs that this is the case. Guido Fawkes has already picked up on their use of Zoom (the video-conferencing tool) to politicise the pandemic. On Friday Ian Lavery, Labour Chairman, was found telling his fellow comrades that the crisis offered a great opportunity. Elsewhere, The World Transformed (described on Twitter as a 4-day festival and year-round political education project to build left power) has been using Zoom for similar purposes. Tomorrow Rebecca Long-Bailey will join a Mass Zoom Call with the organisation, in which she will discuss how we, as a movement, respond to Coronavirus. In a newsletter to her followers, Long-Bailey who has already pressed for Universal Basic Income in the last week publicised the conference, which is titled Coronavirus: How can we win our demands? The description of the event goes as follows: As the impacts of the Coronavirus crisis continue to ramp up in the UK and beyond, its becoming clearer day by day that we cannot rely on Boris Johnson and this Tory government. It adds that there is still huge scope for traditional workplace organising and tactics such as strikes to be successful. Last week, The World Transformed hosted another activist event about the Coronavirus. One of the main speakers was Helen OConnor, an organiser from the trade union GMB, who has been campaigning for Lewisham Hospital cleaners to get paid after they walked out over nonpayment of wages. She calls for all hospital services to be brought back under the control of the NHS as a matter of urgency. Elsewhere OConnor says that if the issue isnt sorted, there could be further walkouts next week. Grace Blakeley, an economist and author, who attended last weeks Zoom call, demonstrates just how ideological an opportunity some activists see the Coronavirus. In a piece she writes: We must demand not simply a bigger state, but a more democratic one too. The only way to counter the oligarchic tendencies now emerging within many western democracies is to deepen the accountability of public officials to working people. Government departments, central banks, and quangos must all be subject to much deeper public scrutiny. If the government does embark upon a programme of mass bailouts, the corporations it saves should be run by the people, not just a tiny elite, before suggesting the epoch-defining pandemic could signal the beginning of state-monopoly capitalism. Given that The World Transformed has said: We cannot sit back; that its crucial we open up new and empowering spaces, and that comrades should be ready for a rapidly evolving sequence of events, the Government clearly has another problem on its hands. They are going to have to watch out for the radical Left Photo: The Canadian Press Pacific Gas & Electric said Monday it will plead guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the 2018 fire in Northern California that killed 84 people and decimated three towns. The utility said in a statement will also admit to a single count of unlawfully starting a fire. Under a plea agreement with the Butte County district attorneys office, PG&E will pay the maximum fine of about $4 million. The company has also agreed to fund efforts to restore access to water for the next five years for residents impacted by the loss of a canal destroyed by the fire. "Our equipment started the fire. Those are the facts, and with this plea agreement we accept responsibility for our role in the fire," PG&E CEO and President Bill Johnson said. White supremacists are exploiting the coronavirus pandemic to stoke fear and target minorities, NJ Advance Media has learned. White supremacist extremists are taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to advocate for the theory of accelerationism, says an intelligence note from the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness to law enforcement agencies, obtained by NJ Advance Media. The theory states that participating in mass attacks or creating other forms of chaos will accelerate the imminent and necessary collapse of society in order to build a racially pure nation. Officials are concerned the rhetoric could potentially lead to an attack in New Jersey by those inspired by the messaging. The memo references a neo-Nazi media group that has encouraged its supporters to induce panic by shooting guns in cities, including through car windows, as people are social distancing in their homes. The memo also mentions a French neo-Nazi blog that has proposed exterminating minorities and certain ethnic populations by prohibiting them from receiving medical treatment for COVID-19. The best remedy for COVID-19 [was] the swastika, the blog states, according to the intelligence note. The NJOHSP memo, sent to New Jersey law enforcement agencies Saturday, comes as ABC News reports that the FBI in New York is alerting police that racist extremist groups are encouraging members infected with the disease to spread it to cops and Jews. Members of extremist groups are encouraging one another to spread the virus, if contracted, through bodily fluids and personal interactions, the FBI note states, according to the ABC News report. In New Jersey, law enforcement is already on high alert after a NJOHSP report issued in February increased the threat posed by white supremacist extremists from moderate to high in 2020. Jared Maples, director of the NJOHSP, said in an interview after the release of the report that there was no specific or credible threat in New Jersey from white supremacist groups. But when these groups advance their rhetoric online, it can inspire people to commit violence, Maples said. In the past, before these attacks, you see an uptick in some of the same things the rhetoric, the recruiting, Maples said, citing the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting and the mass shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival in California. Because weve seen that correlating uptick in New Jersey of those things, we want to get ahead of that before it becomes an attack. And thats why were heightening it. In an interview on Friday, Maples said his office has already seen at least 100 incidents involving white supremacist extremists which includes recruiting, graffiti and online rhetoric. There is a movement from foreign organizations that are fomenting confusion, saying theres a national lockdown, Maples said. Well, there is no national lockdown. But those groups are then glomming onto that. Theyre saying, Look, cause more disfunction and chaos. Officials with the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups around the country, said white nationalists are using social distancing and quarantines to reach a broader audience online, according to a report in Rolling Stone magazine. We are seeing a huge uptick in such rhetoric, Eric Ward, executive director of the Western States Center, told reporters in a conference call. A lot of it is happening on YouTube platforms and videos and others, at a time where much of the country is sheltering in place or practicing social distancing. Ironically, it will serve to give these individuals much more access [to an audience] than they would normally have. Ward said there has been an uptick in racist incidents targeting Asian Americans in light of the origins of the coronavirus outbreak. Earlier this month, the NYPD announced it had arrested two people who made anti-Asian remarks to people. One of the victims told the New York Post he was walking his son to the bus stop when a man approached him and yelled, Where the f--- is your mask? In New Jersey, a 65-year-old man in Vernon, Sussex County, was arrested March 15 after he berated a fellow ShopRite shopper in line, blaming him for the COVID-19 pandemic, police said. At a press conference on Monday, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said there have been disturbing reports around the country and in New Jersey of incidents or racism. Hate in all of its forms, whether its discrimination or bias crime, is a disease, Grewal said. Its a disease we have to contain in this moment like all moments. So in my mind even if theres a handful of incidents, thats a handful too many in this state. Gov. Phil Murphy, during his press briefing on Sunday, decried any racist attacks against members of New Jerseys Asian population, saying diversity is the core strength of our state. Murphy did not provide any details of specific incidents. We are hearing from our Asian American communities, Murphy said in a conference call with reporters. This repugnant and repulsive behavior is wrong. We are one New Jersey family. Everyone is fighting the same fight," he said. "We are going to get through this together. Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. New York City has become the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States, with over 10,000 diagnosed cases. The virus has shut down the citys famed cultural institutions and left area hospitals in dire need of protective equipment for health care workers and patients. But since late last week, members of the Broadway theater community have come together and launched a program, the Broadway Relief Project, that is set up to sew thousands of gowns and masks for the citys health care workers and hospital patients. Javier Munoz, who has starred in the musical Hamilton, is one of the people who helped coordinate the effort. For Munoz, it began last Friday when he started thinking that the many tailors who work on Broadway could be put to work sewing protective masks. Thats how I approached this. It was like, I know people. I know a lot of people. How can I connect everyone so that we can do this together? Munoz said in a conversation with Yahoo News. Because I cant stitch a thing, but I know a ton of people who can. As he began trying to kick-start his plan, Munoz ended up getting involved with a team effort that included tailors and costume makers. He was introduced to Molly Braverman, director of the Broadway Green Alliance, a group that focuses on encouraging environmentally friendly practices in the theater industry. Braverman was in touch with organizations that had supplies of fabric that could be repurposed for use in hospitals. Munoz also linked up with Bruce Barish, CEO of Ernest Winzer Cleaners, a family-owned laundry company in Manhattan that has dry-cleaned Broadway costumes for over a century. Barish offered his fleet of vans to transport the supplies and finished masks. To me, this is such a beautiful example of what the theater community does best, Braverman said. In three days we went from lots of people trying to help in different places to a fully fledged project. Munoz said he was heartened to see so many of his colleagues willing to help during this crisis. Story continues This is so beautiful because the moment I just wanted to do something, I found a sea of people doing the exact same thing. A sign outside the Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway announces the cancellation of performances of Hamilton, March 12. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters) But it wasnt an easy road. Even with tailors, fabric and transportation in place, there were still a number of questions that needed to be answered before sewing could begin. Munoz said he had not received responses to his offer of help from the New York City mayors office or the office of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. It was unclear where they could get instructions for making the gear and how to deliver it. They also wanted answers about whether the dry-cleaning vans would be allowed to move through the streets given new, potentially tightened restrictions. Munoz ended up getting in touch with the office of Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, who has set up a website to serve as a clearinghouse for requests for help and offers of assistance. Adamss office told him there was a greater need for gowns than for masks. The office also helped him address logistical questions, find guidelines for making gowns and put him in touch with the New York City Economic Development Corporation, which is responsible for managing several emergency response efforts in this crisis. The group was told dry cleaners and laundromats have been deemed essential businesses in New York and Barishs vans would be able to move through the city amid a shelter-in-place order. However, they still needed a space to serve as a workshop for the tailors and as storage. Any space needed to be big enough for people to work while staying 6 feet apart, following the new social distancing guidelines that have been issued to stop the spread of the coronavirus. On Saturday night, they connected with Jeff Whiting, CEO of Open Jar Studios, an approximately 8,000-square-foot space in Manhattans theater district. Whiting had been working on his own to launch a mask-making effort in conjunction with Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer. The groups joined together under the umbrella of Whitings Broadway Relief Project, which is using his space to manufacture protective gear. According to Munoz, even once all this was in place, a crucial component was missing the sign-off from local officials so the protective gear could be accepted and used by the hospitals. The big problem here was how to get the attention from the city and how to get the proper CDC-regulated instructions to build the things so we werent just wasting material and our time, he explained. That was the hardest hurdle to jump. In the past week, some U.S. hospitals have asked for volunteers to sew cloth masks, which can be used as a last resort amid the shortage of N95 masks, which have filters to block microscopic particles. There have been multiple efforts to meet the need, including from fashion designer Christian Siriano and the Costume Designers Guild in Hollywood. Barish, whose dry-cleaning trucks are being used for the Broadway Relief Project, explained that its important to coordinate with officials to ensure any hand-sewn products are needed locally and made to proper specifications. There have been people that have said, Why dont we just start making masks? And what Javier and myself and a few other people were finding out is that didnt seem to be the most important need, Barish said. Its great that there are people at home doing this, but I think those masks are really for you and me at this point. Javier Munoz performs during the Statue of Liberty Museum dedication ceremony in New York on May 16, 2019. (Jemal Countess/Getty Images) As the Broadway groups came together, they still did not have a green light from any local official to begin producing gear. We were trying to scream and yell as loudly as we could, Munoz said. Finally I just had a fit and I went onto Twitter and I just yelled. Munozs tweets to his more than 100,000 followers brought in new offers of help and attention. At one point, Maya Rupert, who managed Julian Castros presidential campaign, was helping contact and coordinate with elected officials. Munoz heard from the governors office and New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, but he still didnt have a green light. On Monday, Adams, the Brooklyn borough president, told Yahoo News he was authorizing the Broadway Relief Project to begin producing masks and gowns. Adams said he would ensure that the equipment met proper specifications and would reach health care workers in need. It is a critical moment for elected officials to step up and do more than usual to protect New Yorkers, to ensure they have access to vital services and information. My office and I take that responsibility very seriously, and we will be watchdogging the procurement, production and delivery of these medical supplies because there is no time for delay from the city, state or federal government, Adams said. I have mobilized Brooklyn Borough Hall into a remote clearinghouse for people who need help or want to give help; please visit my website to get involved. Munoz was overjoyed to hear sewing could begin. He said the Broadway Relief Project has over 100 stitchers itching to get started on something who can make thousands of gowns and masks each day. All the cooks in the kitchen managed to get the attention and get things moving, Munoz said. It could not be truer to the Broadway theater community. It really is exactly what we do. We collaborate and we make the thing, and there is no one superstar. Its all of us, and we all, were trying to make this happen. This story has augmented reality! Tap the video above to see how it looks and download the Yahoo News app to launch the full experience. Augmented reality is currently available to iPhone users (iPhone 8 and later) with the latest version of iOS. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople expresses his solidarity for the Italian people hit by the pandemic. By Robin Gomes Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople has sent separate messages to Pope Francis and Italian President, Sergio Mattarella. In it, he expresses his solidarity with the nation that is grappling with the pandemic. Italy is the hardest hit. Saturdays death toll soared to 793, the highest in a single day. The coronavirus has now infected a total of nearly 60,000 people and claimed 5,476 up to Sunday. The infection and death rate dropped slightly on Sunday, bringing some relief. The number of persons currently infected stands at 46,638. Northern Italy is the worst affected. Spirit of sacrifice In his messages, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians commends the spirit of sacrifice and courage that Italys healthcare workers are demonstrating. He also expresses his gratitude for the enormous efforts of doctors and nurses in assisting the sick. At the same time, Patriarch Bartholomew expresses his closeness to the families of the those who have lost the battle against the virus. In addition, he pledges that "during Holy Lent, he will constantly pray to the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, for the healing of the sick, eternal repose for those who died and comfort for their relatives. Message to the Orthodox faithful Earlier, in a message to the Orthodox faithful, Patriarch Bartholomew called for suspending church liturgies and services until the end of March. The 80-year-old Patriarch asked the faithful to respect the indications of authorities, beginning with staying at home. He also thanked those who are fighting the pandemic, especially the healthcare personnel. The Patriarch said he was joining others in praying so that science may win this war against the virus. The Eastern Orthodox Church is not in communion with the Catholic Church. It is the second-largest Christian Church, with approximately 260 million members worldwide. As the first among equals among all the bishops of the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, based in Istanbul, Turkey, is regarded as the spiritual leader of Orthodox Christians globally. Photo Illustration by Lyne Lucien/The Daily Beast/Getty On a warm fall evening in late 2018, I received a message on Twitter from a group of self-described anonymous hackers who claimed theyd swiped Special Counsel Robert Muellers database. We are like hundreds of others, but we are the one and only who got the Special Counsel Mueller database, the message read, busted English and all. They claimed theyd tapped into a local Russian server, accessing all and sundry from what Mueller and his team had already compiled. The hackers passed along a series of files, a supposed good-faith offer of their findings, so that I could amplify Muellers findings, Muellers work, Muellers accusations far and wide. You might wonder why we want to share all this information with you, the message giddily closed. So, youre just one of the few who can handle it in the right way. You are the one who can tell people the truth! Russian Trolls Release Fake Dirt on Robert Mueller And much of what they sent was the truth, just not the whole truth or nothing but the truth. Much of the material in the files had come directly from Muellers investigation into Russias social-media interference efforts. There were the memes and photos, images of Hillary Clinton as Satan and Barack Obama as a Nazi-in-Chief, the garbled texts and histrionics all aimed at tearing Americans apart. As someone whod spent far too many hours knee-deep in material published by Russias Internet Research Agency trolls, all of the posts fit the mold wed come to expect. Buried in the files, though, were other sites and other posts that no onenone of the researchers or journalists, none of the experts or policy analystshad ever linked to Russian efforts. Popular Facebook pages like Occupy Democrats, popular Instagram accounts like Baller Alert, feeds with millions of followers were supposedly, per this database, fingered by the Mueller investigation as part of the Russian schemes. After bouncing the database off a number of other experts, it quickly became clear that these accounts were plants: honeypots, so to speak, designed to lure us into believing that Mueller had claimed these immensely popular feeds were also, at their core, Russian. It was, as one of the other researchers who received the files later said, some galaxy brain stuff they wanted us to believe. Story continues It didnt take long to learn what the trolls ultimate aim was. A few months later, Muellers office filed court documents revealing that the self-described hackers had specifically attempted to discredit the investigation by trying to make it appear as though the irrelevant files were the sum total evidence Mueller and his team had already uncovered. That is, these hackers had somehow gotten hold of Muellers actual database, and then injected a slew of clearly non-Russian pages and accounts in the hopes of painting Muellers investigation as a bumbling, McCarthyite operation, accusing any and all of being secret Russian accounts. And without saying as much, there was a clear implication in the prosecutions filings: that the Russian defendants in Muellers case had funneled Muellers database to the self-proclaimed hackers. And theyd hoped to use me, and the handful of others these hackers contacted directly, to disseminate that material far and wide. Thankfully, none of us bit, and Muellers prosecution against Russias troll-farm operators proceeded apace. While Muellers other prosecutions faltered under pressure from the White House, the prosecution of the trolls who stoked Texas secessionists and racial fissures pushed on. Or it did, until last Monday, when the Justice Department dropped charges against a pair of the shell companies involved in Russias social-media interference operations. The reason? Prosecutors were no longer confident that sensitive information shared with the defendantsinformation about sources, about investigative methods, about findings as a wholewould remain confidential, or for defendants eyes only. And this was thanks in large part to questions about the relationship between the shell companies and the hackers who slipped their messages to me in late 2018. According to prosecutors, these companiesconnected directly to sanctioned Russian figure Yevgeny Prigozhin, known colloquially as Putins chefrefused to comply with its obligations as a party to this litigation. The companies had been eager and aggressive in using the judicial system to gather information about how the United States detects and prevents foreign election interference. The decision was, to say the least, a blow to Muellers prosecutorial legacy, and to the broader efforts at holding Russian entities responsible for their election meddling in 2016. But it also pointed to another strain of Russian interference efforts thats gotten less acclaim, and less attention, than others over the past few years, centering on upending American judicial proceedings. These efforts are understandably less splashy than secretly organizing, say, armed white supremacists on the streets of downtown Houston, or whipping up support for neo-Confederates online. But theyve nonetheless chipped away that much further at potential ramifications for those responsible for Russian interference efforts more broadlyand exposed holes in the American judicial system, calling into further question whether any costs will actually be incurred for those in Moscow and St. Petersburg. In 2018, for instance, the Atlantic Councils Anders Aslund detailed a raft of Russian efforts aimed at deflating or upending American judicial proceedings against Kremlin proxies and those in Moscows good graces. Much of this has centeredlike the Mueller proceedingson obtaining information about the American prosecutions methods, and even, in some cases, tracking down plaintiffs themselves. One 2017 case saw a U.S. federal subpoena issued against a former shareholder of a private Russian bank whod fled to the U.S. after backing Russias flagging opposition. When the defendant (accurately) detailed how sanctioned Russian figures had helped orchestrate the subpoenawhich would have transmitted sensitive data back to pro-Kremlin forcesthe American court nonetheless allowed it to proceed, no matter what sensitive information may come out. Another recent case saw a subsidiary of Russias state-owned, and notoriously corrupt, Rosneft energy behemoth convince a U.S. court to permit discovery against an associate of a Russian national whod fallen out of the Kremlins favor. (The American court, Aslund wrote, was not swayed by the evidence of rampant corruption by the Russian Federation and [the subsidiarys] affiliates.) And then, of course, theres the Kremlins rampant abuse of Interpols Red Notice system to try to convince American authorities to haul in dissidents and political opponents alike. The examples run on and on. Some have tossed cold water on the notion that this presents interference, insofar as all of these moves remain technically legal. But the intent remains the same: capsizing judicial proceedings against Kremlin proxies and their supporters. Its unclear what the next steps for the prosecution may be, or what Muellers ultimate legacy will be. But one thing appears certain: Russias victory last week in our courts is only going to further embolden the trolls as we go through the 2020 election. Self-described hackers are going to accelerate their efforts to try to con support from those of us who can tell people the truth!and who will continue to be the target of hacking, trolling, and interference operations that are pushing on and amping up, with little reason to stop now. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. On Friday, Ghana's parliament passed the Narcotics Control Commission Bill, which will allow the use and cultivation of cannabis for medical and industrial uses -- but only the variety that is better known as hemp. The new law limits the allowable concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the plants -- the substance that gets people high -- to less than 0.3%. That's the same level that was made legal for cultivation in the U.S. by the 2018 Farm Bill. However, cannabidiol (CBD), which is believed to provide health benefits, can be extracted from hemp. Recreational cannabis use remains illegal in Ghana. Nana Kwaku Agyemang, president of the Hemp Association of Ghana, says legalizing hemp isn't about getting people high: "We are not promoting smoking, we are promoting the industry, we are promoting cleaning up the environment, we are promoting creating a new revenue stream for government in terms of taxing from cultivation and export and we are talking about promoting medicines that are far better than opioids, medicines that cannot kill you because no one has died from taking cannabis." Ghana is just the latest African country to loosen laws surrounding cannabis. Earlier this month, Malawi also legalized marijuana for medical use. Other countries that have made similar moves include Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa, and Lesotho. Going global a key part of the strategy for North American producers Aurora Cannabis (NASDAQ:ACB) has one of the largest global reaches of any cannabis company, with a presence in more than two dozen countries, including some in Africa. Its CanniMed subsidiary has an agreement with South African company Akula Trading to supply South Africa with cannabis. Cannabis companies have been looking beyond North America not only to reach a larger market of potential customers, but also to find sites for lower-cost cannabis production. (Newser) There hasn't been much uplifting news during the coronavirus outbreak, but there was at least one bright spot amid the pandemic last week in New York City. NBC News reports on the plight of 28-year-old Reilly Jennings and Amanda Wheeler, 38, who'd planned on getting married in October but suddenly found those plans upended due to concerns about travel, the possible closure of their venue, and the loss of income they suffered after the gym where Wheeler worked closed. And so they applied for their marriage license on Thursday and were about to head out to tie the knot Friday when they heard bad newsMayor Bill de Blasio announced the city's Marriage Bureau was closing indefinitely. The couple frantically texted pals to see if any were certified to officiate their nuptials. Enter Matt Wilson, who agreed to do the deed. story continues below Jennings and Wheeler, who met at a gym in 2013, donned their wedding attire and headed over to Washington Heights, where Wilson conducted the ceremony from the window of his fourth-floor apartment. The couple stood on the sidewalk below, with a few friends present but at safe distances, as per CDC recommendations. In a video posted on Instagramportions of which can be seen in a Good Morning America clipWilson read an excerpt from Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Love in the Time of Cholera before pronouncing the couple wed. "What a day," Jennings wrote. "Amidst the uncertainty and despair we all feel right now, marrying the love of my life in the most NYC moment was perfect." The honeymoon was also guided by society's new normal: The couple dragged their mattress into the living room to hunker down for some Netflix and chill. (Read more coronavirus stories.) 23.03.2020 LISTEN The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has urged all media houses and journalists to adhere strictly to the health and safety protocols recommended by the Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Health. This, it said, would help them to protect themselves against the novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the discharge of their core mandate of getting the public informed and educated on issues. This was contained in a statement signed by Mrs Linda Asante-Agyei, the Vice President of the GJA, and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra. In the news gathering process and programming, such as interviewing and discussing programmes, journalists faced greater risk of being infected by COVID-19, it said. The Association, it said, recognised with satisfaction the arrangements made by some media houses to uphold safety protocols against COVID-19 and urged others to adopt similar safety measures. The health crisis is likely to have serious consequences on media practitioners and their working conditions in newsrooms, given the closeness of contact in their workplaces, "it said. "The situation has become even more precarious with the recording of community transmission cases of COVID-19. In keeping with ethical principles of fact, truth, balance and the people's right to know, journalists cannot cover COVID-19 from self-quarantine, as there is the need to go to the field, which then increases their risk of infection. "In order to stay safe from the pandemic, the GJA therefore, advises media practitioners to, as much as possible, adopt innovate ways of news gathering and reporting such as the use of Skype and telephone for interviewing instead of inviting panelists to the studios for interviews". This would ensure the practice of social distancing, help to reduce human contact and the risk of getting infected by the disease. The GJA also encouraged media owners to acquire Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) such as gloves, bodysuit and full face mask for use by their reporters who might be engaging infected persons or reporting from compromised sites. It also called for the provision of running water or Veronica Buckets where necessary as well as soaps, alcohol-based hand sanitizers and other protective equipment for journalists in order to guarantee them optimal protection. We also encourage media houses to adopt remote work systems that allow staff to work from home and ensure their safety and protection since we are not in normal times, the statement added. The GJA in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and the Ghana Health Service, will from Monday, March 23, roll out training programmes on how to report effectively on COVID-19 and equip the media with the appropriate information," the statement said. The training programmes, which will take off in Accra, will be extended to all the regions within the week. As journalists scale up efforts to educate the public on the pandemic, we reiterate the need for them to spread calm and not fear. The GJA commends the government for the measures put in place to contain the situation, and health professionals for their dedication and commitment to duty at this critical moment of our national life, the statement said. ---GNA In the age of the coronavirus, we can be excused for thinking we elected President Oprah Winfrey after all. You get a bailout! And you get a bailout! we cry, riffing on Oprahs car giveaways to audience members back in the day. Three weeks after I wrote cynically, I thought that President Donald Trumps feckless incompetence in the face of a pandemic would double the federal deficit to $2 trillion, its likely the Senate will vote Monday on $2 trillion in new stimulus to keep the economy from cratering. Say this for Trump: Hes performed the wrecking of the US economy weve come to expect of Republican presidents in three years it took George W Bush eight. The economy may have shed 3.5 million jobs last week, wiping out every private sector job added in America since May 2018. With this much federal dough bandied about, theres no shortage of people who would like to get some. Trump, for one, acknowledged hell probably seek help for his smallish hotel empire, whose flagship DC hostelry is only 5 per cent full on recent nights. How to tell all the people who want money without a scorecard? Bailout Santa is here, with the guide to the deserving, and the not-so-much, as the bill is pounded into form. The good list Restaurants: No ones unfamiliar with the parlous state of restaurants, forced to close to all but takeout business in much of the country. In my town, this leads to the anomaly of Lorenas, a top-100-ranked US restaurant as recently as 2016, with a sign in its window for takeout, a mark of desperation as poignant as any I want to see. Restaurateurs employ 12 million Americans, living all around us. The proposal set for a vote Monday sets aside $350 billion for small businesses, and restaurants will likely get most of it. Lets hope its enough. Next, the easy one for everyone but Senate Republicans: Low-income workers go on the nice list but whether theyll get properly taken care of is up in the air. One hangup in the Senate is whether the aid will require businesses not to lay off workers. Opposing that is weird, even for a dedicated tool of corporate interests like McConnell, since avoiding an avalanche of layoffs is why were spending $2 trillion. Another oddity is that Republicans seem determined to nickel-and-dime lower-income workers, trying to give millions of them smaller cash stimulus payments than families making nearly $150,000 a year. Replaying Mitt Romneys 2012 presidential campaign, with its resentments against working people for paying too little in income taxes, is not a winner. Economically or politically. Heres a harder case. Airlines: Dont believe the hype that they blew all their money on stock buybacks. Anyone who knows airline finances knows that for years, airlines went crazy during good times, and got caught with excess capacity (both workers and planes) when slowdowns hit. This time, finally, airlines showed discipline, running planes more than 80 per cent full, and profitably, and had no need for the bankruptcies and layoffs that roll through the business in every recession. America needs airlines, and they dont need much money. American Airlines said its losing $50 million a day, or $4.5 billion over the likely three-month duration of the crisis. Lend it to them: Airlines problem isnt mismanagement, its that the governments botched response to coronavirus emptied planes overnight. But give them loans with a no-layoff pledge (and a buyback moratorium until they pay it back), so their workers, among other things, can go out to restaurants. Same for the hotel business, which is seeking $150 billion. Saving the economy, not specific companies shareholders, is the point. The Naughty List Boeing? Yes, the maker of the 737-MAX the plane model that crashed twice in its first few months of use, killing 346 people and roiling airlines that planned to rely on it wants a bailout. Boeing doesnt have a coronavirus problem: It has a MAX problem, which should be worked out in bankruptcy reorganization if needed. No one will need to explain to Boeing workers that their bosses, not Congress, punted their jobs away. McDonalds. The fast food giant entered this conflagration with cash on its balance sheet equal to five days sales then lobbied against paid sick leave for workers who quarantine. McDonalds has plenty of credit available to keep workers on. Its franchisees can figure it out, too. They get coal a stiff minimum-wage hike next year, plus paid leave, to make them get the point. Spring break doofuses, of all ages. Weve all seen the tape from Miami of college kids going on about their right to party even if they spread the virus, in tape recruiters will play back for them at job interviews. We told you to stay off social media when youre drunk, son. Did we have to mention CBS Evening News, too? Trump. From I alone can fix it, his boast at the 2016 GOP convention about a near-full-employment economy, to making a fool of himself daily. Gloating Sunday over Romneys having to quarantine himself for two weeks after being exposed to coronavirus by a fellow GOP Senator was an especially graceless touch. The crisis makes it likely Trump will approach the fall election with the worst job-creation record since Herbert Hoover. Even if the stimulus prevents that, hell get little credit for cleaning up the mess he made. Still, Democrats should slip a provision into the bill preventing his hotels from getting federal money. After all, Don, only you can fix it. At least his reaction to the 73-year old Romneys exposure to a virus often deadly to seniors gives us the exact words well use November 4th to comfort Trump himself. Gee, thats too bad. Businesses like salons and spas are closed, and getting your nails done or hair colored suddenly seems like an unnecessary luxury. Even though you may only be going out for essentials or a quick dog walk, theres no reason to give up your beauty routines. In fact, trying to keep them up while at home may help get through these challenging times, says licensed clinical psychologist Alana Kingsley, who practices in Chicagos River North neighborhood. Vietnam offers little unmet demand for medical mask imports Shanghai Wisdom Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. has issued an introduction about its medical and regular face masks which are effective to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic. Moreover, it also affirmed that the epidemic has been brought under control in China after effective actions. The three-layer non-woven face masks which are produced in a strictly monitored, clean workshop the meet certification and key index requirements from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), CE report and match EN14683-Type I standards. Customers placing a larger order will be able to enjoy lower unit costs. We can ship from our factory in China by DHL to your family/office/warehouse in usually just seven days after payment is received, noted the announcement. Shanghai Wisdom Supply Chain Management's move to start exporting masks shows the recovery of China. It is a surprise because just a month ago, the country had to import large volumes of masks from Vietnam. Notably, in the first six days of February, Vietnam exported 27.9 million masks to China, even causing pressure on the local market. Concerns about mask and medical equipment inflow from China According to the National Development and Reform Commission, before the COVID-19 epidemic broke out in China, the volume of masks produced in this country made up 50 per cent of the global supply with the daily capacity of 20 million units. Since then, the figure increased to 116 million units as of February 29. Gao Shen, a Chinese expert forecast, that the production capacity of China this year will be as high as 10 times the original capacity. This prediction is understandable because the pandemic drew about 3,000 more enterprises on board to produce masks, many of which have been operating outside the textile and garment sector such as automobile manufacturer BYD and SAIC-GM-Wending, technology firm Foxconn Technology, and gas and petrol group Sinopec. Gao Shen said that this manufacturing speed will cause a domestic surplus and will point China towards accelerating exports to markets that are suffering from the health crisis. Shanghai Wisdom Supply Chain Management's introduction of its products in Vietnam suggests its export plans will begin with Vietnam as China is already one of the largest import markets for the country. Meanwhile, local supply already covers demand. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Vietnam has approximately 38 enterprises producing three-layer masks with the capacity of 1.24 million units a day and two other firms producing N95 masks with the daily capacity of 32,000 units. Along with masks, the National Medical Products Administration of China has approved the use of Favilavir, an anti-viral drug, as treatment for coronavirus. The drug has reportedly shown efficacy in treating the disease with minimal side effects in a clinical trial involving 70 patients. The clinical trial is being conducted in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. Conservative import outlook As Vietnam may import Chinese products due to the huge demand for anti-COVID-19 items, local health specialists have voiced their concerns about importing Chinese products. Regarding the treatment of coronavirus patient by Favilavir, Nguyen Trung Cap, head of the emergency department of the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, said the medicine is still in the experimental stage and is not widely used even in China. The treatments in Vietnam are based on experiences from many countries, including China. The treatments we adopt have been effective, so I believe we should follow the recommendations of the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), Cap emphasised. Relating to the products that will be present in the local market, the MoH stated that based on procedures on drug registration for circulation stipulated at Circular No.32/2018/TT-BYT, all new medicines have to go through clinical trial before being put into circulation. Echoing this, Nguyen Ngoc Sang, doctor of the tropical diseases department of Cho Ray Hospital (Ho Chi Minh City), who directly treated two first COVID-19 patients, said that clinical testing for the drugs is essential, and it is more important to follow the MoHs directions. Along with good treatment, COVID-19 patients who have a strong immune system will recover from the disease within 7-10 days, said Sang, claiming that the use of new products seems somewhat unnecessary. Currently, in Vietnam, the Ministry of Science and Technology has approved the project on reviewing the effects and safety of adding Lopinavir/Ritonavir to COVID-19 treatment. However, the clinical trial will take at least four weeks and research results are only expected in about 12 months. According to the Decree No.36/2016/ND-CP, all healthcare devices require import licenses from the MoH before they can be brought into the country. For the items classified as type A (medical equipment with a low level of risk), the manufacturers have to get documents proving that they comply with the standards set by the provincial and city departments of health and Vietnam Customs. UPDATED Worried that coronavirus testing disruptions will harm their college applications, a coalition of student groups is calling on colleges and universities to accept applications without SAT or ACT scores when application season starts up again next fall. Led by Student Voice, the coalition posted a petition online Monday asking that admissions offices adopt test-optional policies for the application season that begins this fall. The petition notes that the College Board has already cancelled its May SAT testing date, that the ACT has delayed its April date, and that experts project that the effects of the coronavirus will last for months. The widespread closure of schools will also disrupt college-admissions testing, since many students take the SAT or ACT free during the school day as part of statewide college-access initiatives. Because the SAT and ACT are required components of the majority of college applications, widespread cancellations will negatively impact current high school juniors as they apply to college in the coming year, the petition said. Even before the coronavirus, the test-optional movement had already spread to many colleges and universities, reflecting questions about the value and fairness of those exams. FairTest, an advocacy group that tracks that movement, lists more than 1,000 colleges that make SAT or ACT scores optional in admissions. But many still requireand assign a lot of importance tothose entrance exams. The college admissions process has always been daunting, Maodan Tohouri, a junior at Amador Valley High School in Pleasanton, Calif., said in a statement released by Student Voice. With the cancellations of the SAT, the feeling of anxiety is amplified. My friends and peers are trying to represent ourselves in the best light, but during this time some students will have to jump over more hurdles to do that. David Hawkins, the policy director for the National Association for College Admission Counseling, said a few colleges have discussed the possibility of waiving college-entrance-exam requirements for the next admissions cycle. Case Western Reserve University announced last week that it would go test-optional for the next admission cycle, in response to the coronavirus. Tufts University announced a three-year test-optional policy on Tuesday, and Boston University followed with a one-year policy on Wednesday. But there isnt a widespread inclination among colleges to do likewise, at least yet, Hawkins said. That could evolve, though, given the rapid pace of events, he said in an email to Education Week. If this somehow extends beyond a few months, all of that could change. Media focused on blaming coronavirus on Trump By Michael R. Shannon After years of Russia, Russia, Russia and a few months of Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine we now have another bunch of foreigners interfering in our presidential election. The difference is the Opposition Media welcomes this interference because of the damage it may do to President Trumps reelection. While Russian interference was invisible and the results negligible, Chinese interference, while also invisible, has very tangible results. The natural, catchy term for his interference would be the Chinese Flu. Its not entirely precise, but it hits the bullseye on the origin of the disease. Unfortunately, the Speech Police has managed to persuade itself that the most populous nation on earth is inhabited solely by minorities. That makes any reference to China that contains even the slightest intimation of disease automatically racist. So were stuck with coronavirus for the duration of the epidemic. The geographic origin of the disease is immaterial to the left. As far as theyre concerned the coronavirus is a godsend. Dead Americans and an economy on life support are a small price to pay for the left and its media stenographers, if it beats Trump in November. US deaths and economic upheaval arent the fault of a bunch of bateating Chinamen. The fault belongs to Trump as far as the OpMedia is concerned. The playbook will be the same one used in the aftermath of Puerto Ricos Hurricane Maria. Trump was blamed for power outages, supply snafus, destroyed homes, damp tortillas and deaths that occurred weeks after the hurricane. Three years later, it turns out hurricane aid failures werent Trumps fault after all. Puerto Rican relief officials are indicted for corruption and its discovered other incompetent Puerto Ricans managed to misplace warehouses full of relief supplies. But the damage to Trumps reputation is already done. Which was the goal all along. Currently the focus of the lefts wrath is on the lack of coronavirus test kits. Until Trump acted, any disease testing kit had to receive approval from the FDA before it could be used in the field. That meant there were only federal testing kits when the coronavirus hit, because no one else wanted to jump through FDA hoops on the off chance there might be a disease to test in the future. The US was dependent on a solesource provider, the CDC, who manufactured a faulty test. It was another in a long line of government healthcare failures. Trump pointed out this fact and ordered an expedited approval process. In gratitude the OpMedia has accused Trump of lying and personally blamed him for the shortage of test kits. A story in the rabidly antiTrump Daily Mail makes my point. Leftist stenographer Emily Goodin writes, Donald Trump doubles down on discredited claim OBAMA is to blame for lack of coronavirus testing kits. Note the allcaps OBAMA. That means criticizing The One is heresy and totally out of bounds for decent people. Emily mentions the test controversy twice the first time a claim that has been debunked and the second time, an accusation that has been shown not to be true. She doesnt even bother to inform readers who was doing the debunking. Not so much as a single, lying anonymous source. Were just supposed to take Emilys word for it. There is a problem with that. In the same March 6th issue theres another story that proves Trump was right all along. This concerns a North Carolina company that has produced a coronavirus test that is already being used in China, helping officials there to diagnose more patients, faster. The test is also being used in South Korea, Japan and Italy. So if it works, why isnt the test available here? But the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved the test under the emergency measure it announced Saturday. Proving there was an Obamaera rule change that Trump had to alter. Even the CDC was hamstrung by the Obama micromanagement. Rather than devise a new test, the CDC opted to fix the faulty test. That would be faster, because even when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) itself developed a test, it had to get approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before distributing it. The reason we cant test for coronavirus like we should and we dont have nearly enough tests is not Trumps fault. The delay and consequent response missteps are due solely to the dead hand of Obama functionaries micromanagement and controlfreakism. Thats not an explanation youll get from the left, which is busy burying the truth beside coronavirus victims. If the OpMedia has its way, youll learn what really happened regarding the coronavirus test kit shortage sometime during Gropey Joe Bidens first term. Michael R. Shannon is a public relations and advertising consultant with corporate, government and political experience around the globe. He is a dynamic and entertaining keynote speaker. He can be reached at mandate.mmpr (at) gmail.com. He is also the author of Conservative Christian's Guidebook for Living in Secular Times (Now with added humor!). Home Self-proclaimed Married At First Sight villain Michael Goonan has set the record straight on false rumours he took drugs during filming last year. The 28-year-old managing director told New Idea he never used cocaine on set, despite reports he was 'cautioned' for his supposed drug use. He said: 'I was never warned or cautioned for the use of drugs on the show. I never took drugs on the show.' 'I never took drugs on the show': Self-proclaimed Married At First Sight villain Michael Goonan has set the record straight on false rumours he took drugs during filming last year He added that producers had a 'zero-tolerance policy' on drugs, and he would have been kicked off the show if he'd been found with illegal substances. Despite this, some of Michael's co-stars allegedly spread rumours about him taking cocaine during filming. These unfounded suspicions resulted in him being drug tested three times, but every test came back negative. Coming clean: The 28-year-old managing director told New Idea he never used cocaine on set, despite reports he was 'cautioned' for his supposed drug use Michael, whose partying landed him in trouble with 'wife' Stacey Hampton on their honeymoon, also claimed he was never drunk on set. 'You will never see me drunk or slurring my words on camera. Yes, I had a few boozy nights out when we weren't filming, but I never broke the rules of production or the curfew,' he said. Michael, who has a son, Connor, from a previous relationship, also lashed out at Stacey for calling him a 'deadbeat dad' in a recent interview. Hitting back: Michael said that producers had a 'zero-tolerance policy' on drugs, and he would have been kicked off the show if he'd been found with illegal substances Michael described Stacey's allegations as 'disgraceful' and 'complete lies'. The Melbourne-based businessman shares custody of Connor with his ex-partner, who resides in Adelaide. Connor lives with his mother, but Michael often travels to Adelaide to see his son. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Sterlite Power today said that it has concluded divestment of its three power transmission assets worth $100 million in Brazil. The three assets, including Arcoverde, Novo Estado and Pampa, have been sold to Investment Fund Vinci Energia, ENGIE Transmissao de Energia Participacoes, and FIP Brasil Energia and CYMI Construcoes, respectively, for a total consideration of BRL 566 million or $100 million, the company said in a statement. It said, after these transactions, the company retains seven projects in several Brazilian regions, which are at different phases of execution. Vineyards, in Rio Grande do Sul, is in the advanced phase of construction, already partially energised, corresponds to 70 percent of the enterprise and is scheduled for final delivery this year. The other six are in different phases of environmental licensing. Passing through the Northeast with Dunas, Borborema and Sao Francisco. In the midwest, Goyaz, and in the north, there is Marituba and in the Southeast, the company continues with Solaris. Pratik Agarwal, Managing Director, Sterlite Power, said We delivered our first project ArcoVerde in May 2019, much ahead of schedule." "Recently we divested some of our projects to marquee developers and investors, which reflects the high quality of assets in our portfolio. We remain committed to sustainable execution of our projects which contribute to the expansion of the energy transmission system of Brazil. Acquired by Investment Fund Vinci Energia, the project Arcoverde in operation since May 2019 and delivered 28 months ahead of the schedule established by ANEEL (The Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency) (August 2021). The Sterlite Power is a global developer of power transmission infrastructure with projects of over 13,315 circuit kms and 23,885 MVA in India and Brazil. It is also the sponsor of IndiGrid , India's first power sector Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT), listed on the BSE and NSE. HONG KONG, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection (CHP) reported on Sunday afternoon 44 additional COVID-19 cases confirmed during the past 24 hours, taking the total number of confirmed cases in Hong Kong to 317. Out of the 44 newly diagnosed patients aged between 20 months old and 72 years old, 29 have travel history during the incubation period, including seven students who were studying overseas and an athlete who traveled overseas for training, Head of the CHP's Communicable Disease Branch Chuang Shuk-kwan said at a daily press briefing. Among the 15 patients who have no travel history during the incubation period, several have been to Lan Kwai Fong, a famous nightclub zone in Hong Kong's Central district. One had attended a private party and one works at a same secondary school with several previously diagnosed patients. Some of the new cases are probably related to clustered outbreaks, including a tour group to Canada in which seven members have been infected, and a wedding ceremony of which eight attendees have been diagnosed. Linda Yu, a chief manager of Hong Kong's Hospital Authority (HA), said at the briefing that as of Sunday noon, four COVID-19 patients have passed away, 100 confirmed cases have been cured and discharged from the hospital, and the rest are being treated in isolation at over 10 hospitals across Hong Kong. Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam announced on Saturday a string of strengthened epidemic-prevention measures to curb the spread of the disease, as many people are expected to return to Hong Kong from overseas amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Noting that Hong Kong is likely to see more community transmissions of the virus in the coming weeks than in any period in the past two months, Lam urged Hong Kong residents to keep social distancing. At Sunday's briefing, Yu also repeated the HA's appeal on behalf of medical staff to members of the public: "We stay at work for you, you stay at home for us." For many older adults, aging-in-place, or remaining in their own home as they age, is a priority. Decision making and planning is critical to successful aging-in-place, yet often older adults defer decisions about their aging-in-place and long-term care needs. As a result, when seniors experience a health crisis, loved ones often must step in as surrogates to make emergent decisions about their medical care and living situation. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) recently awarded $3.9 million to fund research by Northwestern Medicine that aims to better understand how older adult aging-in-place and long-term care decision making and implementation is impacted by age-related changes, social influences and environmental factors. "We know that the majority of seniors do not want to leave their home as they age, yet very few people plan for their home-based needs required to safely age-in-place," said principal investigator Lee Lindquist, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., chief of geriatrics at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. "The most important decision that most people navigate is how to balance age-related changes, such as worsening cognition and decreasing mobility, with their needs. Many older adults underestimate how much support they'll need as they age, while others outright dismiss planning for home support. Without planning, aging-in-place is not a safe option for many older adults." Through earlier research funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), Lindquist led a team of seniors, geriatricians, university researchers, social workers, communication experts and home care specialists in developing PlanYourLifespan.org, a web-based tool that facilitates making decisions and planning to age-in-place. The tool addresses later-in-life issues including hospitalizations, falls and memory loss, as well starting conversations with loved ones and financial planning for future needs. "Through education about future health and home-based needs, as well as access to these resources, older adults can make choices and share them with loved ones for their future needs," said Lindquist. "Our earlier research found that the Plan Your Lifespan tool is effective in improving decision making about aging-in-place for older adults. However, we still don't know if having these plans has translated into seniors achieving their aging-in-place goals." With the NIA funding, Lindquist seeks to answer that question, as well as to better understand how decision making for aging-in-place is influenced by older adults' age-related changes, social factors and environments and how these things may impact timely adoption of these plans and the ability for seniors to successfully age in place. "Do age-related changes like cognitive decline or increased disability have a greater impact than social influence from a spouse, adult offspring or friends? Does where seniors live, such as a city or rural environment or in a house versus apartment, make a difference in if older adults actively plan for their future needs," said Lindquist. "All of these factors likely play a role and by understanding those influences, we can better support older adults in making decisions and implementing plans that will support them in aging-in-place successfully and safely." Lindquist and her team will conduct a 42-month longitudinal study of older adults who are using Plan Your Lifespan. Surveys will be conducted every six months in conjunction with cognitive, social, functional and health literacy data collection. In addition, data will be collected on decision changes, resource use, timing of plan implementation and goal concordance. (A Wellness Update is a magazine devoted to up-to-the minute information on health issues from physicians, major hospitals and clinics, universities and health care agencies across the U.S. Online at www.awellnessupdate.com.) Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 : A priest who conducted a mass at a church in Kerala on Monday morning defying the government order against mass gatherings in view of the coronavirus outbreak, was arrested, police said. The priest Pauly Padayatti, Vicar of the Lady of Perpetual Help church at Koodapuzha in Chalakudy, had conducted the mass in which at least 100 people had participated, police said. The priest was later let off on bail. Case under 269 IPC (Negligent act likely to spread infection of diseases dangerous to life) and 118e of the Kerala Police Act (causing danger to public) has been registered against the priest and hundred odd faithful, police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Advertisement A desperate disabled grandmother and her terminally ill husband says that they have been 'left to die' in the coronavirus pandemic, while local councils have urged the government to tell them the names of vulnerable people who need help. Kathryn Hadley, 63, says the country is 'not united at all' and the term 'love thy neighbour' has been lost amongst the panic over the virus, leaving her unable to get supplies for herself and her husband Dave, 55. The couple have been self-isolating at their home in Clutton, Somerset for 13 days as Mr Hadley has Stage 4 bowel cancer and suffers from diabetes and MS. This means he is one of the 1.5 million people the NHS has written to and told to quarantine immediately for 12 weeks as they are vulnerable to the virus. However, Ms Hadley claims that the couple have been left to fend for themselves as they try and deal with self-isolation. Kathryn Hadley, 63, and her husband David, 55, who are in self isolation in Clutton, Somerset. Mr Hadley has terminal cancer and Kathryn is in a wheel chair The couple have been self-isolating at their home in Clutton, Somerset for 13 days as Mr Hadley has Stage 4 bowel cancer and suffers from diabetes and MS She was so desperate for help she wrote to a newspaper saying that in her village 'not one person has telephoned or put a note through the door asking if we are OK'. Ms Hadley added that 'there obviously is no community spirit. All we can see is greed and selfishness', as she revealed that their lifeline of food delivery from a supermarket arrived half empty - because of panic buying. It comes as Anthony May, the chief executive of Nottinghamshire county council, said he has been overwhelmed with offers of support, but has had no details on who requires help from the government. Boris Johnson and his government had previously ordered the 1.5 million people to self-isolate for their own safety. The government had also announced that unprecedented packages of food and aid will be delivered to those affected. However, Ms Hadley says she has also been unable to buy her husband high-fat food items he requires from the supermarket due to the shelves being bare. Who are the 'at risk' groups who need to stay at home? People with underlying health conditions including severe asthma and specific cancers are being urged to stay at home 'at all times' amid the coronavirus pandemic. Children and adults already suffering from serious health conditions face the highest risk of needing hospital treatment for Covid-19, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said. The Government has strongly advised people who fall into the high-risk categories to exercise 'shielding' measures by staying at home at all times and avoid any face-to-face contact for at least 12 weeks. Those at risk will be contacted by NHS England via letter and should implement the measures from the day they receive it, the DHSC said. People who are most at risk include: Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radical radiotherapy for lung cancer, as well as those with cancers of the blood or bone marrow who are at any stage of their treatment. People having immunotherapy or other continuing antibody treatments for cancer. Those undergoing targeted cancer treatments which can affect the immune system, such as protein kinase inhibitors. People who have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the past six months or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs. Those with respiratory conditions including severe asthma, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cystic fibrosis. Pregnant women who have significant heart disease. The DHSC said people with rare diseases and inborn errors of metabolism that significantly increase infection are also classed as high-risk. Advertisement The grandmother-of-one, says it has been 'impossible' to pick up basic shopping in the supermarket and she hasn't had any help whatsoever. Writing in the Telegraph she said: 'Sir - My husband, who is only 55, has terminal cancer. He has also suffered from diabetes all of his life and a few years ago was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. 'I am 63 this year, in a wheelchair because I am unable to walk due to an amputation, and I suffer from depression. 'We put ourselves in isolation about 10 days ago. Unfortunately, we have received no help at all from anyone. 'We live in a small village, the type where everyone knows everyone's business and not one person has telephoned or put a note through the door asking if we are OK. 'There obviously is no community spirit. All we can see is greed and selfishness. When the shopping arrived last night, half of it was missing because selfish people had cleared the shelves. 'When I am feeling really down I just feel like we have been left to die.' The grandparents went into isolation on March 10 after realising they formed part of the high-risk category of Brits likely to catch coronavirus. Ms Hadley added: 'Dave is dying. It's just such a worrying time. If he were to get it it would almost definitely shorten his life span. 'I decided to self-isolate as I just didn't want to be the one to give it to him. We were able to get a slot for a food delivery last week but half of the shopping was missing because everyone had gone over the top in the supermarket. 'We're just left to fend for ourselves. We live in a village where everybody knows everyone's business. 'If there's bad news or if someone has run off with the milkman it will only be a matter of hours before everyone knows. 'Everything flies around the village. If there's an argument in the street we'll all know who was in the right and who was in the wrong in no time. 'But despite that being the nature of the village, at this time of crisis we're vulnerable and on our own. 'I look out the window and see neighbours their boots absolutely full of carrier bags from the supermarkets. 'I feel like shouting from my window for them to stop but that would only serve me looking like a mad hatter. 'I've just seen countless car loads full of food. The shelves at our local shop are completely bare. 'I need to get in as much high fat foods as I can for Dave so he can keep the weight on. 'Things like puddings and cheese on toast to keep him fighting. But it's just been impossible trying to get the basics like bread in. 'I actually learnt how to make bread just before the coronavirus but I can't for the life of me get any flour. 'I just want people to stop all these greed. I don't know what it is or where it has come from. Mr Hadley is one of the 1.5 million people the NHS has written to and told to quarantine immediately for 12 weeks as they are vulnerable to the virus. However, Ms Hadley claims that the couple have been left to fend for themselves as they try and deal with self-isolation The grandmother-of-one, says it has been 'impossible' to pick up basic shopping in the supermarket and she hasn't had any help whatsoever 'Not that I was around at the time but my grandparents used to tell me during the war people pulled together. 'If anyone was growing anything in their garden they would walk along the road and see if anyone wanted any green beans and would check in. 'There's just no comradeship. There's no love thy neighbour at all. We call this country the United Kingdom but it isn't united anymore. 'There's just greed and people looking out for themselves. 'This isn't going to stop tomorrow, this is going to keep going. I've even heard it will last right up until Christmas. I just want people to stop and think about what they are doing. Anthony May, the chief executive of Nottinghamshire county council, said he has been overwhelmed with offers of support, but no details on who requires help. 'My husband is dying and I can't risk going on buses or going outside to get the basics.' It comes as Mr May said he has an army of volunteers ready to help people at risk from coronavirus and is just waiting on the Government for a list of those in need. The Government yesterday revealed they will ask 1.5 million vulnerable people on a list of at-risk groups to self-isolate for at least 12 weeks as Boris Johnson warned that people must follow guidelines or he will have to bring forward 'tough measures'. At the daily press conference on Sunday Mr Johnson said the 'shielding' of the people considered to be the most vulnerable to coronavirus would do 'more than any other single measure to save life'. The NHS is expected to contact the elderly and those with serious health conditions by post tomorrow then, followed by a text and phone call, urging them to stay home. But speaking to Today, Mr May warned it would be days before the plans his council has put in place could be acted on without the names. 'What we expect to receive this week after the initial contact from the NHS is a list of those people that require our help locally,' he said. 'If people are in need then yes were gearing up for whatever they need, particularly those who have been identified as having underlying health needs. 'We know this is going to be a really difficult time for them. Are partnerships locally are used to dealing with vulnerable people, so this isnt in that sense new, but the conditions and circumstances are of course very new.' Mr May added the government had 'helpfully' given him advance warning last week of their plan to demand at risk group self-isolate for three months, with the local authority bringing together its partners to create a support plan. In other major developments today: The government has suspended rail franchises to maintain services, as operators faced collapse with passenger numbers tumbling; Mr Hancock has insisted he will ensure that NHS staff get all the personal protection equipment they need, amid fear they are currently 'lambs to the slaughter' when treating patients; The government has formally warned Britons flocking to campsites and holiday homes away from cities that it does not count as 'essential travel; Chancellor Rishi Sunak is preparing a fresh economic bailout for five-million self-employed amid warnings thousands of sole traders will not survive the crisis; The children of coronavirus key workers including firefighters have been turned away at the school gates while parents who fail to meet the criteria have verbally abused teachers and threatened to sue; The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Burnett, has said no new trials will start and that ongoing trials will be paused while arrangements are put in place so they can continue safely; Health minister Nadine Dorries, the first MP confirmed with coronavirus, has returned to work after recovering from the illness; The government is pushing emergency legislation through the Commons today, but Tory and Labour MPs have secured more checks on the measures including a fresh vote in six months; Research has suggested that the government's current policy could still result in up to 70,000 deaths from coronavirus; Speaking to MailOnline later on, he added: 'We know the NHS is working hard to get letters out this week to all vulnerable people who will then be asked to register. Once people have registered, the details of those that need help will be passed to the local hubs. 'Nottinghamshire County Council, like all councils, have already been working closely with partners to get the hub ready. We are working on the finer details, but initially we will encourage vulnerable people to use their normal support mechanisms, such as family, friends and neighbours who can run errands and leave supplies on the doorstep. 'We hope to be able to start helping vulnerable residents within days of getting their details and assessing who is most in need.' But without the local lists of at-risk individuals, the hundreds in each council are being left confused. Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said that now was the time to 'go further' to shield clinically vulnerable people, and pledged that they are 'not alone' Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Robert Jenrick and Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Jenny Harries attend the news conference 'We need the data, we're not going to let the data get in the way, we need to get help to these people. We've got some military planners to help us with logistics,' added Mr May. 'We've got offers of volunteers, more than we can cope with actually.' Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said last night that now was the time to 'go further' to shield clinically vulnerable people, and pledged that they are 'not alone'. 'In recent weeks heroic workers in the NHS, social care and public services in local government have been shouldering the country's burden,' he said. 'I think we owe it to them and the most vulnerable in society to stay home, to protect the NHS and, by doing this, to save lives. 'And so today we have to go further to shield the most clinically vulnerable people to help save their lives.' He added: 'I don't underestimate what we are asking of people, it will be tough, but if you are one of these people I want to reassure you on behalf of the government that you are not alone. 'We will be with you throughout to support you.' Mr Jenrick said the Government was creating a network of local 'hubs' to ensure those without family or friends to support them received their medicines and other vital supplies. The ambitious plan is being overseen by the country's best military planners, with medicine and food parcels being left on vulnerable people's doorsteps. He added: 'This will be a very worrying time for people with these health conditions, but while more people will be required to be by themselves at home, and that's difficult, let's guarantee, that they are never alone, and when all of this is done that we emerge as better neighbours, to each other, as stronger communities and that we are all proud of the part we played in this effort.' Deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries said 1.5 million people who have been identified as clinically vulnerable will be advised in the coming days to take shielding measures. Those measures include staying at home at all times and avoiding any face-to-face contact. However she said the Government may have overestimated the number. 'For any of the public listening who might be in this group, because we want to be as inclusive as possible, we may slightly overestimate the number of individuals,' Dr Harries said. Earlier on Sunday, Mr Jenrick said that GPs were writing to thousands of patients with pre-existing health conditions and would be asking to stay at home. Speaking to Sky's Sophie Ridge yesterday Mr Jenrick added that those without a 'family at their side' would be given food medicine and deliveries possible from the armed forces to help them through the crisis. The operator of the cruise ship Magnifica, which will soon arrive in Fremantle, has denied claims by Premier Mark McGowan that passengers possibly infected with COVID-19 are on board. In a press statement issued by MSC Cruises, a spokeswoman said all the passengers and crew on the ship were well. "No passengers or crew on board suffer from any respiratory diseases or present any flu-like symptoms," she said. MSC Magnifica, which is steaming for Fremantle with 250 suspected COVID-19 passengers. "There is no evidence to suggest that anyone on board may be infected with COVID-19." 3M Chairman and CEO Mike Roman told CNBC on Monday that he was not happy to find out that N95 respirator masks, which health-care workers need to protect themselves from the coronavirus, were available at some retail stores. "It's disappointing when you see that because we're trying to redirect everything to health-care workers," Roman said on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street." Roman's comments came one day after 3M said it is sending to New York and Seattle a half-million N95 respirator masks in response to the ongoing shortage of health-care equipment. Around 350,000 should arrive in New York alone on Monday, Roman said. Reports surfaced in recent days of a Target in Seattle, an area hit hard by the COVID-19 outbreak, having shelves full of the N95 masks. Target has apologized and said it is reviewing its inventory for additional masks. TWEET The N95 respirator masks that have ended up in retail locations in recent days are likely due to existing inventory, Roman said. "There was some inventory, as you would expect, throughout the supply chain from what was happening even as we came into 2020," Roman said. "About 90% of our respirators go to industrial customers, sometimes through retail channels, in a normal business environment." The company has now shifted more than 90% of its masks to health-care workers, while the rest goes to "other industries also critical in this pandemic" such as food, energy and pharmaceuticals companies, Roman said in a statement Sunday. 3M has been producing nearly 100 million N95 masks per month since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, the statement said. More than 35 million per month are being produced in the U.S., where more than 35,000 people have been infected. Roman said 3M's ability to shift the bulk of its masks toward health-care workers came in early March after a regulatory change from the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The move, announced on March 2, allowed respirator masks the FDA had not regulated to be used by health-care workers. That included certain N95 masks, according to the FDA's statement. "All of that allowed us to shift what are normally industrial respirators, the N95, over to health-care workers. It gave us the certification that we needed to be able to do that," Roman said. He said other companies in areas such as logistics are working with 3M to help it continue to expand its capacity. "We're ready to expedite respirators to wherever they're needed," Roman said. At the end of January, when the coronavirus was starting to dominate the headlines, Roman told CNBC that 3M was "ramping to full production." He added at the time, "We're going 24/7." The Covid-19 pandemic has placed all of us in unprecedented circumstances, and exceptional measures are required from all of us to get through it. As the Taoiseach so aptly put it in his address to the nation: "In years to come, let them say of us, when things were at their worst, we were at our best." Just as our healthcare workers, our emergency and public transport services and our food retail staff are demonstrating, bank staff too are striving to do their best to support customers and the economy. Many of the 28,000 people who work across financial institutions in Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) member firms are working on the front line. They are helping to ensure continuity of service in the day-to-day banking and payments services that we readily take for granted - whether we avail of those services through the branch, telephone, internet or mobile device. These are the people who help facilitate the 3.5 million debit and credit card payments, 406,000 ATM transactions and 73,000 cash-based transactions in bank branches that typically take place here daily. Continuity of service is just one key challenge. Another is the capacity of our customers to sustain themselves financially in the face of growing unemployment. Uniquely, all of the main retail banks have come together to provide a range of supports for personal and business customers whose circumstances have been impacted by the virus crisis. These important measures include: A payment break for up to three months, which is available to personal and business customers. Such breaks can be followed by further reviews, depending on the extent of the customer's financial difficulties. Customers seeking a payment break should contact their bank. Each is implementing a streamlined application process. Banks deferring court proceedings for three months. Provision of working capital facilities and supply-chain supports to businesses. Following discussions with the Central Bank, we are satisfied a repayment break of up to three months will not adversely impact on the customer's credit record or on the bank's reporting of this facility. Further discussions are taking place with the Central Bank regarding the implications of any longer-term repayment break. Mortgage-related payment breaks and deferrals of court proceedings are also being made available by the non-bank mortgage lenders and main credit-servicing firms. This effectively means the vast majority of mortgage holders in Ireland can seek these support measures. By means of these measures, borrowers can gain financial breathing space and, hopefully, better cope in these very challenging times. I would urge customers to contact their bank if they feel the need for any of the supports I have outlined. Many people are facing reduced household income through no fault of their own. Our banks are standing by to assist them wherever possible. Early engagement is key. It trumps unilateral action by the customer any day. Those fortunate enough to continue making their repayments should do so, otherwise debt will be built up unnecessarily. Our member firms are working flat out to honour their commitments by putting in place streamlined systems to facilitate customer applications efficiently and to deliver appropriate solutions over the weeks and months ahead. However, banks' call centres are experiencing a 200-fold increase in the volumes of call. So while people's anxiety to find ways to quickly deal with their financial difficulties is perfectly understandable, patience is needed to make sure we get these things right. At BPFI we have put in place several cross-sector co- ordinating groups drawn from across our member firms. These are working daily to provide continuity of existing services and to develop and manage contingency plans for all sorts of challenges which may lie ahead. Undertaken in close consultation with the Central Bank of Ireland, the Government and other stakeholders, this work will mitigate, as much as is humanly possible, any service disruptions for customers. In this regard, the statement by Central Bank governor Gabriel Makhlouf in the 'Sunday Independent' - that no effort will be spared to protect consumers, households and firms from the economic effects of this crisis - is very reassuring. So is the commitment of the Central Bank to work with BPFI and our member firms to provide financial breathing space to our customers. Which brings me back to people. Yes, automated systems deliver a great deal, not least in the financial sector. But we still depend hugely on our people to take decisions, to implement them and to deliver them across the range of banking services. The commitment and capacity of our people are our strongest resources in this battle against the coronavirus and in our sector's determined efforts to play the best role we can in supporting others. Brian Hayes is chief executive of the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland. BPFI represents the interests of 100 member firms, including licensed domestic and foreign banks, non-bank mortgage lenders and credit-servicing firms. Former President John Dramani Mahama, has joined calls for the state to provide clarity on its plans to combat the novel coronavirus pandemic. Speaking during a service streamed online to mark the end of the NDCs three days of fasting and prayers over the virus, Mr. Mahama acknowledged the importance of faith and spirituality amidst this pandemic. But he noted that the government, which has declared March 25 a national day of fasting and prayers , needed to give Ghanaian something extra to hold on to. Our leaders owe this nation not just prayers but a plan too. One that all of us can believe in, that we can rally around, and that we can commit our hearts and mind to. For while hope brings comfort, it is not in itself a strategy, Mr. Mahama said. Among other things, he advised that the government project the course of this disease while taking a cue from best and worst-case response scenarios such as Korea and Italy even as the world accelerates research towards the production of a vaccine. Mr. Mahama added that the national plan must involve ensuring that frontline health care workers as a matter of urgency have the manuals, appropriate training and protective logistics to boost their confidence in fighting this disease. This notwithstanding, Mr. Mahama still urged Ghanaians to observe next Wednesday as declared. Ahead of this plea, the leader of the Minority side in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu made similar calls for a detailed plan from the government in a letter to the Speaker of Parliament on behalf of the NDC. To date, the Executive has shared no such a plan with Parliament and, regrettably, does not as yet appear to have one, Mr, Iddrisu noted in the letter. Recent government interventions Ghanas most recent measures to combat the pandemic have been to close all its borders from today [Sunday]. The border closure is to last for two weeks according to President Akufo-Addo though it will not apply to goods, supplies and cargo entering the country. Ahead of the closure, all travellers who were allowed into the country were quarantined. The government expects to improve testing for the virus as it is in the process of securing some 50,000 test kits. All persons who may have come into contact with any patient who tested positive for the virus will also be tested. The Ministry of Health is also engaging the services of retired and new health professionals as the country braces itself for a potential surge in the number of infections. Confirmed coronavirus cases in Ghana currently stand at 21 with one of the patients dying. ---citinewsroom By Kirsty Needham SYDNEY, March 23 (Reuters) - On the burning question of whether Australian schools should close as coronavirus cases increase, Prime Minister Scott Morrison was adamant: "Children should go to school." Morrison emerged from a special meeting of state and territory leaders on Sunday evening to urge parents to keep children in class, even as non-essential services including restaurants and cinemas shut. "There is no change in the medical expert advice," he said. Yet before school gates opened on Monday, Gladys Berejiklian, premier of the most populous state, New South Wales (NSW), was urging parents to keep children at home. Public confidence in Morrison's leadership was dented by the recent bushfire crisis, according to polls, as state leaders, including Berejiklian, emerged as stronger public voices. A new rift between Morrison and state leaders over the coronavirus epidemic raises the spectre of political volatility in a country that had seen five prime ministers in five years when he took power in 2018. NSW has the highest number of coronavirus cases, with 669 of Australia's tally of more than 1,600. A third of students had already stopped attending classes, Berejiklian said, as she urged children to stay away. "For practical reasons in NSW, we will be encouraging parents to keep their children at home," Berejiklian told reporters. A National Cabinet made up of the prime minister, state and territory leaders was formed to forge a united response to the coronavirus, after a summer in which the bushfires saw blame flying between layers of government. Yet as the number of coronavirus cases climbs, a united public voice is failing to hold. Decisions in the National Cabinet must be implemented through state regulation. On Monday, as a sense of urgency grew, some states appeared to go their own way. AT SEA Victoria, the second largest state, will end the school term early, on Tuesday, while in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), geographical home of the federal parliament, schools would become "pupil-free" from Tuesday, its authorities said. Story continues "The decision the ACT Government has made is consistent with NSW and Victoria and won't change. I don't know why the PM suggested otherwise," ACT deputy chief minister Yvette Berry wrote on Twitter after Morrison's Sunday news conference. Teachers in the northern state of Queensland said they would strike on Wednesday if their state government did not close schools. States have one by one declared border restrictions to deter interstate travellers. People entering Tasmania, Queensland, the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia must undertake 14 days self isolation. The public has watched another war of words break out between layers of government over cruise ships carrying ill passengers. Border Force commissioner Michael Outram told Sky News it was the decision of NSW Health to allow 2,700 passengers to disembark the vessel Ruby Princess in Sydney last week, of which 48 have since tested positive for the coronavirus. NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard blamed the "massive inflow of ships" to Sydney after the Morrison government imposed a 30-day ban on cruise ships docking. Outram said a similar vessel at port in Victoria was not allowed to disembark until passengers had been tested and results were known. Western Australia, meanwhile, banned the MSC Magnifica from disembarking as 250 out of its 1,700 passengers fell ill, with state premier Mark McGowan saying he didn't want "what happened in Sydney to happen here". Public confidence in Morrison appears to be wilting, if the queues for toilet paper and groceries are anything to go by. Monday brought more sobering scenes with queues outside social services offices, of people laid off work since the coronavirus crisis blew up, registering for welfare. (Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Sydney Editing by Robert Birsel) Boris Johnsons 'relaxed' approach to coronavirus could cost lives, a doctor MP has warned. (Ian Vogler/Pool via Reuters) Labour deputy leadership candidate Rosena Allin-Khan, a practising A&E doctor, has said Boris Johnsons relaxed approach to coronavirus could cost lives. The Tooting MP told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: If we look at the fact that we are two weeks behind Italy, we are headed for a disaster if people do not heed the social distancing measures. The prime minister simply said yesterday he wants people to enjoy themselves outside while also saying that people should stay two metres apart outdoors. Thousands of people visited the seaside town of Whitstable at the weekend despite the prime minister's advice on social distancing. (Ben Stansall/AFP) The MPs comments came as the number of confirmed UK coronavirus cases climbed to 5,683 on Sunday night, and the official death toll reached 281. Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice Live: Follow all the latest updates from the UK and around the world Fact-checker: The number of COVID-19 cases in your local area Explained: Symptoms, latest advice and how it compares to the flu Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, MP for Tooting, said Boris Johnson's 'mixed messages could cost lives'. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) Allin-Khan added: This relaxed-style mixed messaging will cost lives and I believe people are struggling to follow guidelines because they are just not clear. She confirmed she would support a full lockdown if that was proven to be the way to save lives. On Monday morning, Johnson called again for people to stay at home, tweeting: If you dont follow these instructions, you are putting peoples lives at risk: You must stay at home to protect our NHS and save lives. #StayHomeSaveLives If you dont follow these instructions, you are putting peoples lives at risk: You must stay at home to protect our NHS and save lives. #StayHomeSaveLives Boris Johnson #StayHomeSaveLives (@BorisJohnson) March 23, 2020 Health secretary Matt Hancock rejected the suggestion current policy was risking lives in an interview on Monday morning. He said: If youd seen how hard the prime minister is working, like I have, every day from first thing in the morning until last thing at night, we are doing everything we possibly can to keep people safe. Story continues And the actions that we have taken over the last week are unprecedented. And taking those decisions is a huge thing. Crowds of people are pictured walking on Clapham Common on Saturday 22 March 22 after Boris Johnson urged people to stay at least two metres apart. (Peter Summers/Getty Images) The National Trust has closed its parks after thousands of visitors descended upon its properties on Saturday. (Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) Allin-Khans comments come after she told the House of Commons last week about visiting her father in a care home during the outbreak, and called for Johnson to scale up the response" to the epidemic. She said: Last night I visited my father in a care home and I'm acutely aware I may have fed him for the very last time. We are in unprecedented times. I would like to know where was the forward-planning for PPE [personal protective equipment] for our NHS and care staff? Where is the testing for medics? Why are we waiting so long for mass testing? And why are social distancing measures merely just suggestions? Prime minister, it is right that we have all put party loyalty aside to work together during this time of national crisis, but we must scale up the response. Without good leadership people in this country will start to panic. There must be no more time for delay the time to act is now. After the speech, Johnson thanked Allin-Khan for her service in the NHS and said: We have stockpiles of PPE equipment and we're proceeding in accordance with the best scientific advice. The Prime Minister has advised people in Britain to stay at home and avoid social contact, but has stopped short of enforcing a complete lockdown. At the weekend people were pictured clustered together in parks and on beaches. Ma Anand Sheela, best known as the personal secretary of Rajneesh, aka Osho, will give readers an unwaveringly honest view of her life in her memoir, By My Own Rules. (IANS photo) TOLEDO, OH -- A plastic surgeon from Michigan with offices in both Michigan and Ohio has been indicted on charges for allegedly drugging and sexually assaulting several women while recording the encounters. According to the Associated Press, Manish Gupta, 49, of Sylvania, Ohio was charged with one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and one count of illegally distributing a controlled substance to the sex trafficking victim, federal prosecutors said Friday. Prosecutors allege that Gupta drugged and assaulted several escorts he hired while traveling to medical conferences across the U.S. The indictment handed down Friday revolves around an alleged 2016 assault. Guptas lawyer, Ian Friedman denies the accusations against his client. It is too early for anyone to characterize the case as being anything beyond a mere allegation, Friedman said. Gupta was arrested earlier this month following an FBI investigation into claims that he was assaulting women. A search of his Toledo-area house recovered several devices including cameras, tripods, videos and a large amount of drugs that can produce memory loss. Investigators have identified more than 20 different victims who appeared to be unconscious on the recordings. Gupta operated clinics in Taylor, MI and in the Toledo area. CLEVELAND, Ohio Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Monday said he told the states sheriffs to issue warnings and, if necessary, criminal citations for anyone who breaks the governors stay-at-home order he issued to stem the spread of coronavirus. DeWine said at his Monday news conference that he spoke in a conference call with Ohios sheriffs about enforcing the order, which goes into effect at 11:59 p.m. Monday. He cautioned that local law enforcement officers and state health departments could enforce his order by issuing criminal citations, but said he hopes that officers can give warnings instead of issuing misdemeanor tickets. It is a violation of the law if they violate it, DeWine said. Its like anything else in the law. The law is an instructor, and the law is a deterrent. What you hope is that the law does not have to be applied very often. Thats what our hope will be. It shows weve ratcheted this up, and its quite serious. We would not have issued this if it wasnt a matter of life of death. DeWine said he did not want to see arrests, but that local police and sheriffs deputies will have to make those decisions based on the circumstances. He also said local health departments could take action against non-essential businesses that remain open despite the order, which bans groups of 10 or more. The governor said hed have another conference call with chiefs of police on Monday night. Cleveland police officials have not responded to questions about how the department plans to respond to DeWines edict. The order allows for a slew of exceptions, including for people to visit grocery stores and gas stations and to take walks outside, as long as they stay at least six feet away from others. Two county sheriffs and Cuyahoga Countys Chief of Public Safety said they would not patrol the streets looking to issue citations. But if a deputy sees a large group, theyd likely try to break it up and send them on their way. We are not going out patrolling for crowd control, said Cuyahoga County Public Safety Chief Robert Coury. If theyre driving around and see 22 kinds hanging around in a group, theyll do something, but would likely not issue citations. Geauga County Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand said several sheriffs asked questions about enforcement. Still, it appears that enforcing the order will be difficult for local law enforcement, unless there are obvious issues, such as a large group of people at a non-essential business. I dont expect there to be too many citations for this, Hildenbrand said. I think its more designed for crowds of people that are going to be close together, like bars and restaurants, where everyones pretty close. Even if you go to Walmart, its easy to be six feet away from another person. But even if people arent, as long as theyre practicing social distancing of six feet and not congregating with 10 or more people, Hildenbrand said it would be difficult to take legal action. How do you prove that theyre doing something wrong, Hildenbrand said. They could just say they were going to the dry cleaners or one of the other essential businesses that are allowed to remain open, and residents are allowed to frequent under DeWines order. Lake County Sheriff Frank Leonbruno echoed the statements. I dont see us citing people, Leonbruno said. We would certainly like to work with everybody. Obviously, if there were major issues, wed get in touch with the health department and prosecutors office. But were not the movement police. Read more from cleveland.com: When will Ohio end its stay-at-home order and other coronavirus restrictions? Judge orders northern Ohio federal courthouses closed to public due to coronavirus Heating sinuses with hairdryer, taking lots of vitamin C will not prevent coronavirus: Debunking COVID-19 myths In its turn, Ukraine organized the departure of the citizens of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to their homeland On the night of March 23, SkyUp aircrafts transferred 264 Ukrainians who were evacuated from Estonia. Ukraine's Ambassador to Estonia Mariana Betsa announced this on her Twitter page. "With the active assistance of the Embassy of Ukraine in Estonia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and SkyUpAirlines, on March 22, two special flights from Tallinn evacuated 264 Ukrainian citizens," Betsa said. According to her, the first flight was conducted from Oslo to Kyiv via Tallinn. There were 54 Ukrainians on it. The other 189 arrived in Ukraine later. In its turn, Ukraine organized the departure of the citizens of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to their homeland on the same day. As we reported earlier, as of March 22, the number of people infected with coronavirus in Ukraine reached 73 people. This was reported by the Center for Public Health of Ukraine's Ministry of Health. Over the past day, doctors have discovered 26 new cases of COVID-19. Overall, three patients died and one successfully recovered. Dubai carrier Emirates reversed on Sunday its decision to suspend all passenger flights, shortly after it said it would halt operations from March 25 amid the novel coronavirus outbreak. The airline said it "received requests from governments and customers to support the repatriation of travellers" and will continue to operate passenger flights to 13 destinations, down from its usual 159. Emirates will continue to fly to the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Australia, South Africa, the United States and Canada. The announcement was made just hours after a previous statement said the carrier "will have temporarily suspended all its passenger operations" by March 25. "We continue to watch the situation closely, and as soon as things allow, we will reinstate our services," said the airline's chairman and CEO, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum. The United Arab Emirates on Friday announced its first two deaths from the COVID-19 disease, having reported 153 infections so far, of which 38 people have recovered. Maktoum said that, until January this year, the Emirates Group was "doing well" against current financial year targets, but "COVID-19 has brought all that to a sudden and painful halt over the past six weeks". "The world has literally gone into quarantine due to the COVID-19 outbreak," he said. Emirates also announced it will slash the basic salaries of a majority of employees by between 25 and 50 percent for three months, but will not cut jobs. "Rather than ask employees to leave the business, we chose to implement a temporary basic salary cut, as we want to protect our workforce," Maktoum said. "We want to avoid cutting jobs." Gulf countries have imposed various restrictions to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic, particularly in the air transport sector. The UAE has stopped granting visas on arrival and forbidden foreigners who are legal residents but are outside the country from returning. CHICAGO, March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Vibration Monitoring Market by Component (Hardware and Software), System Type (Embedded Systems, Vibration Analyzers, and Vibration Meters), Monitoring Process (Online and Portable), Industry, and Region Global Forecast to 2025", published by MarketsandMarkets, the global Vibration Monitoring Market size is projected to be valued at USD 1.5 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach USD 2.2 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 7.4% during the forecast period. Factors such as the rising trend of remote monitoring through wireless systems, growing awareness toward predictive maintenance, increasing demand from emerging applications such as heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HAVC), and penetration of smart factories are driving the growth of the vibration monitoring market. Ask for PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=29273491 "Embedded systems to hold the largest market share in the global vibration monitoring market." The embedded systems segment is expected to lead the vibration monitoring market during the forecast period. Effective and continuous monitoring through embedded systems that are installed directly on the machines allows real-time assessment of the machine condition as well as an optimized maintenance program. Embedded systems are ideal solutions, being the complete and reliable detection and analysis systems for equipment defects, performance shifts, imbalances, and other anomalies. These systems include sensing, analysis, storage, and alarm capability and offer quick notifications related to vibration shifts. Industries such as oil & gas, energy & power, metals & mining, and chemicals have a huge demand for embedded vibration monitoring systems as several assets used during production are critical as they mostly require continuous monitoring. "Automotive industry is expected to exhibit the highest growth from 2020 to 2025." The vibration monitoring market for the automotive industry is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during 2020-2025. The global automotive industry is emphasizing on automating and upgrading assembly lines, which require motor monitoring. Motor current signature analysis helps reduce machine failures and extends the life of machines. The automotive industry is witnessing significant growth in the number of units produced per day. The machinery on the production floor is required to be appropriately maintained to minimize the production cycle and increase production output. Thus, the market for the automotive industry is likely to grow at a significant rate during the forecast period. Browse in-depth TOC on "Vibration Monitoring Market" 64 Tables 59 Figures 168 Pages Inquiry Before Buying: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=29273491 "North America expected to hold the largest share in the vibration monitoring market between 2020 and 2025." The growing adoption of smart manufacturing or Industry 4.0 in various industries creates a massive demand for vibration monitoring in the region. Besides, factors such as the increasing focus on optimum asset utilization, stringent government regulations for the workplace & personal safety, and tight quality control in the oil & gas, chemicals, and food & beverage industries are driving the demand for vibration monitoring systems in North America. Increasing emphasis on plant asset management and the presence of prominent market players such as General Electric, Emerson Electric, Honeywell International, National Instruments, and Parker-Hannifin in the US are contributing to the high demand for vibration monitoring in the region. Emerson Electric (US), General Electric (US), Honeywell International (US), National Instruments (US), and SKF (Sweden) are some of the major players operating in the global vibration monitoring market. Related Reports: Machine Condition Monitoring Market by Monitoring Technique (Vibration Monitoring, Thermography, Oil Analysis, Corrosion Monitoring, Ultrasound Emission, MCA), Monitoring Process, Deployment, Offering, Industry, and Region - Global Forecast to 2025 NVH Testing Market by Application (Environmental Noise, Pass-by-noise, Noise Mapping, Sound Power, Telecom Testing, Sound Quality, Building Acoustics, Human Vibration, Product Vibration), Type, End User, Geography - Global Forecast to 2023 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Sanjay Gupta MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Visit Our Web Site: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/vibration-monitoring-market.asp Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/vibration-monitoring-equipment.asp SOURCE MarketsandMarkets Germany's economic output to shrink by 'at least 5%' in 2020, says economy minister Two more doctors die from coronavirus in France: Report A woman undergoes thermal screening as a precautionary measure amid rising coronavirus concerns, at Civil Hospital, Sector 10, in Gurugram on Sunday, 22 March 2020. Fresh coronavirus cases rose steadily in the US, Spain and Italy as the virus continued to put entire nations in lockdown. Spain imposed emergency until April 11 as the nation reported struggles to control Europe's second-worst outbreak of Covid-19. Italy saw 651 new fatalities over the last 24 hours. The country with 5,476 covid-19 deaths has crossed China in terms of death-toll. India has reported 7 deaths due to coronavirus. New Delhi and Mumbai along with several other state capitals are observing a lockdown as coronavirus affected numbers touched 468 across the nation. Over 330,000 people continue to be affected by coronavirus across the world, of which 99,003 have recovered. Here are the LIVE updates from the coronavirus outbreak: White House Correspondent Tests Positive for CCP Virus White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) President Jonathan Karl told members of media organizations that a colleague tested positive for the CCP virus. He wrote Monday we have been informed that one of our colleagues has a suspected case of COVID-19. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. The person, who was not identified, was at the White House on March 9, 11, 16, and 18. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence held briefings about the White Houses efforts to deal with the pandemic on three of those days. We encourage all journalists who were at the White House during this time period to review public health guidance, consult their medical professionals and take the appropriate next steps, Karl said in a statement to news outlets. The WHCA has been in contact with the officials news organization and the office of the White House physician. All journalists who can stay at home or work remotely should try and do so, he said. According to Karl, the WHCA said it will implement a new seating chart in an attempt to provide more social distancing. As we have said since this crisis began, our priority is ensuring that we can maintain a healthy pool to provide coverage of the president. To that end, the WHCA took the emergency step last month to issue a new, temporary seating chart, the statement said, according to The Hill. The new seating charge change is effective immediately, it said. Last week, Trump told reporters that they are sitting too close and half-joked that they will probably have to ultimately leave amid the virus crisis. Youre actually much too close, he said and pointed at a reporter. You should move. You should move immediately. Really, we should probably get rid of about 75, 80 percent of you. Ill have just two or three of you that I like in this room. I think thats a great way of doing it, Trump said at the time. Trump was responding to a question about members of Congress testing positive for the CCP virus. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) announced on Sunday that he tested positive for the virus. The 57-year-old junior Kentucky senator is feeling fine and is in quarantine, according to his staffers. He is asymptomatic and was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive travel and events. He was not aware of any direct contact with any infected person, his office wrote in a statement. Two more people, including a two-year-old child, were tested positive for coronavirus, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 23 in Punjab, an official said. The child is the grandson of the Germany-returned Nawanshahr man who died of cardiac arrest last Wednesday, Civil Surgeon Rajinder Prasad Bhatia over the phone. The 70-year-old man, who had returned from Germany through Italy on March 7, had died before the arrival of his report, in which he was tested positive for the disease. With the detection of his grandson as a COVID-19 patient, now 11 of his family members are infected with the virus. The other patient, an 80-year-old woman, is the landowner of a friend of the Chandigarh's first coronavirus patient, an officials said. A 23-year-old woman who had recently returned from London was tested positive for the disease last week after which her 27-year-old friend was also confirmed to be a case of coronavirus. In Punjab, there are 15 confirmed coronavirus cases in Nawanshahr, five in Mohali, two in Amritsar and one in Hoshiarpur. As of now, 251 samples have been tested, of which 183 were declared negative while reports of the rest 45 are awaited. Close contacts of all confirmed case have been quarantined and surveillance, as per medical bulletin. The Punjab government on Monday clamped a curfew to fight coronavirus, making it the first state to take the drastic measure after finding that many people were ignoring the state-wide lockdown ordered by it. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As cases of coronavirus increase steadily, the central and state governments have decided to lockdown on multiple districts across the country. From shops to public transport, the governments have asked states to ensure that all non-essential services are cut down to curb the spread of coronavirus. However, the government has specified that essential services would be exempted from the restrictions. Factories manufacturing essential commodities such as medicines, vaccines, masks, medical devices, sanitisers would also not undergo the restrictions. As multiple districts across the country go under lockdown, here's a lowdown on what comprises essential services: Government departments Health, police, fire, water, electricity, sanitation, civil supply department employees would continue to work. While different governments have different arrangements, around 75 per cent of employees from other departments have either put on paid leaves of rotational duties. Also read: Coronavirus in India Live updates: 55-year-old man dies in Kolkata; country's records 8th death Groceries and markets Groceries, vegetables, medicines, milk are also essential commodities. Shops providing the same will remain open. Online grocery services would also be operational. Transport While states have shut down public transport for non-essential services, public transport for essential services such as carrying food, medicine, ambulance, oil supplies are functional. State-run buses connecting places of strategic importance will also be operating. Petrol pumps LPG distribution agencies, petrol stations and PDS distribution centres will be operational. Also read: Coronavirus: PM Modi to discuss economic impact with industry bodies Army While Indian Army has announced the reduction of personnel reporting to work, security forces responsible for the internal and external security of the country are exempt from the restrictions. Media Print and electronic media including newspapers, TV news, websites, radio stations employees will be allowed to report to work, Communication Telecom and internet services including IT and IT-enabled services will be operations. Postal services would also be operational. Banks While the full strength of all banks would not be operational, employees would work on rotational basis. Bank services are effective online. Some banks have also set up helplines to help customers with emergency loans. Also read: Coronavirus: Protective health gear, N-95 masks, coveralls in short supply Also read: Coronavirus: Unilever, ITC, Godrej, Amul ramp up production as India stocks up due to lockdowns The Interior Ministry of Pakistan on Monday issued an order allowing the deployment of armed forces in all four provinces including the national capital city of Islamabad, Gilgit Baltistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). The decision has been made under Section 245 (functions of armed forces) of the Constitution and Section 131(A) (power to use military force for public security and maintenance of law and order) of the CrPC. Separate notifications have been issued by the Interior Ministry, approving the request made by the administrations of all provinces and territories. Meanwhile, Sindh Minister for Education, Labour and Human Resources Saeed Ghani announced on Twitter that he has tested positive for coronavirus. He said that he is asymptomatic and is going under voluntary self-isolation at home and will continue to serve the province from quarantine. PoK on Monday imposed a lockdown for three weeks as the coronavirus cases in the region rose to 72. PoK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider has announced that a complete lockdown will be imposed starting midnight on Monday, Dawn reported. Amid the lockdown, people will not be allowed to travel or go outside unnecessarily; transport will be suspended. One person from each family will be allowed to go out to purchase food. Special passes will be issued to the people for travelling in unavoidable circumstances. PoK has also announced a three-week complete lockdown. Punjab has imposed a 14-day partial lockdown, closing down parks and public places. Punjab province has reported 225 cases, second highest. Pakistan has so far reported 804 confirmed cases of the deadly virus and six deaths. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Alesha Dixon attends the 2020 NBCUniversal Winter Press Tour at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena on January 11, 2020 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic) In the years since leaving girlband Mis-Teeq, Alesha Dixon has forged an impressive presenting career for herself but there was a time she feared she had "lost everything". The mother-of-two decided to pursue a solo career in 2005 after six years as part of the group, whose hits include "Scandalous". However, she was dropped from her label after working on her debut album Fired Up, a set back that came before her marriage to MC Harvey came to an end. Read more: Katie Price makes social media return Writing in The Big Issues Letter To My Younger Self, the 41-year-old shared: There I was, sitting in my house with no record deal, having pretty much lost all the money Id ever worked for, and some other things that were going on in my life that have been very publicly documented. British pop stars Su-Elise Nash, Sabrina Washington and Aleesha Dixon arrive at The Brit Awards 2003 held at Earl's Court Exhibition Centre on February 20, 2003 in London. (Photo by Dave Benett/Getty Images) I literally thought Id lost everything. And then the universe just said: Thats what you thought, but here we go. Youre about to enter into this new phase of your life. And then I had a hugely successful solo record and had this incredible journey when in 2007 I became a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing and I won. And that took me on to becoming a judge on the show. The biggest risk brought the biggest pay-off. Dixon appeared on the Strictly Come Dancing panel for three series before moving on to join the Britain's Got Talent team. Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon, David Walliams and Amanda Holden at the Lowry Theatre for Day 3 of the Manchester auditions for "Britain's Got Talent". (KGC-246/STAR MAX/IPx) Since 2012, she's been part of the judging line-up alongside Amanda Holden, Simon Cowell and David Walliams. Most recently, she's also been seen as a presenter on dance contest The Greatest Dancer on BBC One. Last year, Dixon welcomed her second daughter Anaya with her partner, former backing dancer Azuka Ononye. The pair were already parents to Azura, who was born in 2013. T he number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK has surged by 967 to 6,650. The national death toll has also jumped to 336, with 55 new cases confirmed as of 1pm on Monday. The Department of Health announced the latest figures on Twitter just after 5.30pm. It declared that a total of 83,945 people have now been tested in the country: 77,295 negative, and 6,650 positive. In England alone, a further 46 coronavirus patients were confirmed to have died, with a total of eight more fatalities confirmed in Wales and Scotland and one in Northern Ireland. Loading.... Announcing the new death toll, NHS England said all the patients had underlying health conditions. They were aged between 47 and 105. The health body said in a statement: A further 46 people who tested positive for the coronavirus (Covid-19) have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in England to 303. Loading.... Patients were aged between 47 and 105 years old and all had underlying health conditions. Their families have been informed. Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures 1 /81 Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures A deserted Westminster Bridge PA A man wearing a face mask or covering due to the COVID-19 pandemic, walks past customers sat outside a restaurant AFP via Getty Images Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons Runners pass cardboard cutouts of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William during the London Marathon in London AP An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station Jeremy Selwyn Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield PA A sign is displayed in the window of a student accommodation building following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Mancheste Reuters People take part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions, in Londo AP People sing and dance in Leicester Square on the eve on the 10PM curfew Reuters Hearts painted by a team of artists from Upfest are seen in the grass at Queen Square, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Bristol Reuters Graffiti reads 'good luck and stay safe', as the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases grow around the world, under a bridge in London Reuters A sign is pictured in Soho, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London Reuters Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures, during a coronavirus briefing in Downing Street, London AP A person runs past posters with a message of hope, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Manchester REUTERS Riot police face protesters who took part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions in London AP An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London's Piccadilly Circus PA Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images Durdle Door in Dorset Reuters Captain Tom Moore via Reuters Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak PA An NHS worker reacts at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS Reuters Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno @AndrewStuart via PA Tobias Weller PA Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed London Landscapes: Hyde Park and the Serpentine, central London. Matt Writtle A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus PA Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue Reuters A young man cuts another man's hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford Reuters General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London via Reuters Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace Getty Images A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home PA Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak. PA Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers PA A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of "panic buying" cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus. Getty Images People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour PA Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus PA Children are painting 'Chase the rainbows' artwork and springing up in windows across the country Reuters Social distancing in Primrose Hill Jeremy Selwyn A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended PA Homeless people in London AFP via Getty Images A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow's street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss PA The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic PA A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world Reuters Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA Britain's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street Reuters The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh's Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak. PA Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear PA A sign at a Sainsbury's supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world Reuters Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" Getty Images A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads "Diseases are in the City" in Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors PA A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh PA A quieter than usual British Museum Getty Images A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre Getty Images A deserted Trafalgar Square in London PA Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport Getty Images Worldwide, there have now been more than 300,000 cases of coronavirus reported as the World Health Organisation warned: "The pandemic is accelerating." It comes as the Health Secretary said people who are ignoring social distancing advice to stay two metres apart are very selfish. In a sign that the UK could be moving towards greater lockdown, Matt Hancock said the Government was willing to take more action if needed to stop coronavirus from spreading. Over the weekend, photos emerged showing crowds of people visiting open spaces across many parts of the UK. Pedestrians use a path across Clapham Common in south London / PA The Government has said it is safe to exercise as long as people keep at least two metres away from other people. But Labour urged ministers to act now by moving to enforced social distancing. Speaking on BBC Radio 4, Mr Hancock said he did not know why some people were ignoring the Governments advice. Its very selfish, he said. The NHS is doing everything it can and preparing for the spread of this virus. If people go within two metres of others who they dont live with then theyre helping to spread the virus and the consequences of that costs lives and it means that, for everyone, this will go on for longer. Mr Hancock said ministers were prepared to take stricter measures to clamp down on the spread of the virus if necessary. Asked by the BBC whether he would move to telling people not to go out at all rather than simply advise against it, he said: Yes, and on Saturday I signed the order to give the police the power to be able to shut bars, restaurants and pubs if they are still open. This isnt the sort of thing I ever wanted to do but it is the sort of thing as a nation we have to be prepared to see to stop this virus. A Vietnamese fast ferry crew has had the honor of being chosen twice by the United States Navy for the reception of two U.S. aircraft carriers visiting Da Nang City in central Vietnam. The crew, comprising 15 members, is part of the Ho Chi Minh City-headquartered Greenlines DP fast ferry company. They operated two fast ferries Greenlines DP K7 and Greenlines DP C9, which welcomed two U.S. aircraft carriers USS Carl Vinson and USS Theodore Roosevelt to Da Nang in March 2018 and earlier this month, respectively, alongside tens of speedboats run by other companies. As the two huge warships had to be docked about four nautical miles off Da Nang, the Vietnamese fast ferries were deployed to transport thousands of people between the shore and the ships anchored location. The Greenlines DP C9 fast ferry is seen near the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt off the central Vietnamese city of Da Nang, March 2020. Photo: B.D. / Tuoi Tre According to Greenlines DPs general director Tran Song Hai, the Greenlines DP K7 and Greenlines DP C9 were qualified for their safety as they were built by a shipbuilder managed by the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense, though they are not the two most powerful and modern fast ferries of the company. It was not easy to be chosen, Hai said, adding that gaining the U.S. Navys satisfaction after completing the task was even more difficult. Greenlines DP K7s captain Le Ba Minh told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the crew members of the two fast ferries had been selected and undergone months of preparation prior to each U.S. aircraft carriers arrival in Da Nang. During the aircraft carriers stays, the 15 crew members were not allowed to leave the fast ferries so that they could concentrate on their assigned tasks. The U.S. naval force also carried out both planned and unscheduled inspections during their visits. We worked three or four times more than usual and had only a few hours at night to rest. It was very exhausting but also an honor, said captain Minh as he recalled his latest reception for the USS Theodore Roosevelt, which visited Da Nang from March 5 to 9. Despite having had experience from the last visit of the USS Carl Vinson in March 2018, the 48-year-old Vietnamese captain and his crew still encountered several difficulties this time around. People disembark from a Greenlines DP fast ferry in the central Vietnamese city of Da Nang, March 2020. Photo: T.S.H. / Tuoi Tre The rough sea made it so hard to embark or disembark the giant aircraft carrier that a number of visits had to be canceled. The situation lasted until the third day of the visit. The most memorable trip to the crew members was probably the one conducted at nearly midnight on March 5. It was 11:00 pm that day that Greenlines DP K7s crew was informed that some seamen from the USS Theodore Roosevelt had yet to be taken onshore. In spite of the high waves, captain Minh ordered his crew to turn the Greenlines DP K7 back to the USS Theodore Roosevelt to pick up the remaining U.S. seamen. The captain asked his men to go slowly and maneuver carefully through the rough waves to ensure safety. It was nearly 00:00 on March 6 that the Greenlines DP K7 successfully brought the U.S. naval members to shore. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Season 3, Episode 2: The Winter Line One of the funniest running jokes in Westworld check that, maybe the only running joke in Westworld is that the hosts are virtually indistinguishable from the guests, and yet the scripted loops in the park are Z-grade genre television. The show hasnt had the opportunity to return to that joke much recently, save for a version of the saloon heist that played out in Shogun World, but the opening of this weeks episode is clever opportunity to stick a fully woke host in a chintzy, down-the-dial World War II spy thriller. The post-credits scene in last weeks episode teased Maeves return in Warworld, an environment that offers guests the apparent thrill of being stuck in a Nazi-occupied Italian village. If that sounds baffling, no one is more surprised than Maeve herself, who knows her surroundings are fake but has the programming to go through the motions. (Thandie Newtons confused expression when she starts speaking Italian is nice touch.) Maeves instinct is to find a way out of the loop, but the show works some Groundhog Day variants into her team-up with a Hector clone (Rodrigo Santoro) and their daring escape from a villa with vital information. If your plan calls for us to run all the way, she says, Id have worn sensible shoes. The scribe responsible for this sparkling dialogue is Lee Sizemore (Simon Quarterman), who has returned from the dead to help Maeve or so she and the viewer believe. Lee tells her that hes stuck her in Warworld because its the world closest to the Forge, and if they can find their way there, she can join her daughter in the Valley Beyond. It takes multiple rounds between Warworld and the Mesa for Maeve to realize that shes in a simulation within a simulation, a twist that is handled with elegant hint-dropping and stylistic touches on loan from The Matrix. Theres a reason Sylvester and Lutz genuinely dont recognize her when shes back at the Mesa, for example, and something conspicuously odd about Sizemores behavior, like the sketches of her that are piled on his desk. (Hes too self-obsessed, she correctly surmises.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 10:02:36|Editor: zyl Video Player Close Namibia's newly appointed ministers and deputy ministers take their oath of office at State House in Windhoek, Nambia, March 23, 2020. Namibian President Hage Geingob on Sunday appointed eight members of parliament and unveiled his new cabinet, local media reported citing a statement from the presidency. (Xinhua/Jacobina Mouton) WINDHOEK, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Namibian President Hage Geingob on Sunday appointed eight members of parliament and unveiled his new cabinet, local media reported citing a statement from the presidency. "They are appointed by virtue of their status, special expertise, skill or experience and ensuring regional balance," Namibian Broadcasting Corporation quoted the statement as saying. Additionally, 11 officials were given new positions, including former Minister of Finance Calle Schlettwein, who is appointed to lead the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, and former Bank of Namibia Governor Ipumbu Shiimi, who has taken over the Ministry of Finance. On Wednesday, Geingob re-appointed Vice President Nangolo Mbumba, Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila and Deputy Prime Minister Netumbo Ndandi-Ndaitwah as top office-bearers in his new cabinet. Easyjet has confirmed it will cancel all flights between the Isle of Man and UK from tonight. The decline in air travel due to the Covid-19 pandemic has led the airline to ground the majority of its fleet of aircraft from Tuesday onwards. All flights from Liverpool, Belfast, Gatwick and Bristol to the Island have been cancelled until further notice. These are unprecedented times for the airline industry, said easyJet CEO Johan Lundgren. We know how important it is for customers to get home and so are continuing to operate rescue flights over the coming days to repatriate them. Significantly reducing our flying programme is the right thing to do when many countries have issued advice to their citizens not to travel unless it is essential and the aircraft groundings will also remove significant levels of variable costs at a time when this remains crucial. Aer Lingus Regional flights to Dublin from the Isle of Man will also finish tomorrow. A spokesperson for Isle of Man Government told Energy FM News: "Whilst the Government is confident that flights operated by Loganair will continue, it is possible that some airports in the UK may close which could cause some disruption to schedules." TDT | Manama The second batch of Bahraini citizens repatriated from the Islamic Republic of Iran due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is scheduled to arrive today. Ministry of Health undersecretary Dr. Walid Al Manea confirmed yesterday that work is underway to complete the procedures for their arrival on a chartered flight. The evacuation procedures are in full accordance with medical and internationally approved measures, and are a part of the ministrys evacuation plans in order to safeguard the well-being of its arriving citizens and their families. Dr. Al Manea indicated that the ministry is continuing its efforts towards intensifying all precautionary and preventive measures to contain and prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The ministry is requiring citizens, upon their arrival, to undergo laboratory tests under the supervision of a specialised medical team. Based on these results, they are to be transferred to a precautionary quarantine centre or to isolation and treatment centres, according to the guidelines and standards approved by the World Health Organisation. Dr. Al Manea pointed out that the Ministry of Health continues to coordinate with the relevant authorities to evacuate all citizens still in Iran while ensuring that the highest levels of efficiency in health and treatment is provided to all who are arriving. Earlier this month, the first group of repatriated Bahrainis from Iran returned to the Kingdom. A total of 165 individuals were in the batch, 77 of whom tested positive for the coronavirus. Those infected were taken to an isolation and treatment centre, while the others were transferred to a precautionary quarantine centre. Bahrains programme to evacuate its citizens from Iran follows the suspension of air travel between the two countries. Bolivia is not usually one of the places that come to mind when you are thinking about where to visit next. Try to think of something that you have always wanted to see that happens to be in Bolivia. Have you ever even heard much about the country? Ever noticed it on any of those lists of where to find great bargains? So you probably dont think it would be an interesting place to visit, right? My thoughts exactlyuntil recently. But on a particularly pleasant day, as I dined on some delicious seafood at a restaurant outdoor table high up on a bluff overlooking a scenic vista of Lake Titicaca and the Royal Range of the Andes, I was very pleased that I had decided to visit Bolivia. Lake Titicaca and many of its islands are a delight to the eye. What most people who have heard of this 3,200-square-mile lake 12,580 feet high up in the Andes Mountains usually know that it is called the highest navigable lake in the world (although, in fact, there are a couple of small lakes in the Andes of Peru and Chile higher still upon which you can navigate a small boat). A Bolivian Andean Indian fisherman in his reed boat, which is made of held-together bundles of reeds. (Copyright Fred J. Eckert) Tiwanaku: Bolivias Lost Civilization What few people seem to know is that by the shores of this lakeSouth Americas second-largestthere once stood one of the biggest cities in the world, part of a civilization that both pre-dated and surpassed that of the Incas and is considered the most important civilization that developed during the pre-Colombian period. Thats what drew me to Boliviathe chance to walk among the ancient ruins of Tiwanaku (just as often spelled Tiahuanaco) and learn about this great civilization that is said to date back to 1500 B.C. Long ago, around 200 B.C., Tiwanaku was a flourishing place, with an extensive system of roads and a highly sophisticated agricultural system that featured terraced planting surfaces set among a network of irrigation canals that retained heat, thereby keeping crops from freezing during cold Andes nights. At the same time, algae and aquatic plants grew in the canals and were used to organically fertilize the crops. In the late 20th century some Bolivian Andean farmers experimented with copying the ancient Tiwanaku system and increased their crop yields by doing so. Some archaeologists say that in many aspects Tiwanaku was as advanced as ancient Egypt. It faded into lost civilization status sometime around 1200 A.D. for reasons not certain, one theory being that a drop in the level of Lake Titicaca left the settlement too far removed from a shoreline. The capital of La Paz, with mountains in the background. (Dudarev Mikhail/SHUTTERSTOCK) While the ruins at this World Heritage Site may not rival a site such as Ephesus, they are very impressive. But this is not a place the normal traveler should experience without a good guide. Nor for that matter is Bolivia. For the traveler who would like to see Bolivia but hasnt seen Peru, and especially for anyone who would like to see Tiwanaku but hasnt seen Machu Picchu, a great idea would be to take the trip that brought me there: Abercrombie & Kents highlights of Peru with Bolivia extension tour. In 12 days, traveling in comfort with a small group, you take in many of the most memorable sights of both countries, enjoy the best accommodations, and learn from guides who know their subjects in-depth and go out of their way to make your experience truly enjoyable. The sparkling white cathedral of Copacabana. (Copyright Fred J. Eckert) Other Highlights Tiwanaku may be the highlight of Bolivia for some, but for others, it will be shopping in La Paz, Bolivias largest and the worlds highest capital city, or experiencing Bolivian landscapes and culture while traveling on Lake Titicaca or around the stark Altiplano (high plateau) region. After flying into La Paz, Bolivia, following our visits to the Peruvian sights of Lima, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and Cusco, our A&K tour headed straight to Lake Titicaca. First we visited the Altiplano Museum, where we learned a bit about the archeology and anthropology of the high plateau region, then came the Andean Roots Eco Village, featuring the folkloric heritage of the areas local Indian communities. This included demonstrations about how they built the reed boats for which the Lake Titicaca area has so long been famous. These are the people who built the boats that Thor Heyerdahl sailed in his epic Pacific expeditions. Surviving members of the Uru Iruito tribe like this man and woman live as their ancestors did on Lake Titicacaon floating islands or thick floating mats made from papyrus, a reed-like aquatic plant. (Copyright Fred J. Eckert) Here we saw up close and learned about Andean wildlife such as llamas, alpacas, and vicunas. In the evening we met with a local shaman, one of the natural medicine doctors who believe you have to first heal the soul before you can heal the body and who are equally authorized as MDs to practice medicine here. A day-long tour of Lake Titicaca aboard a large hydrofoil boat included stops to visit the town of Copacabana, situated on a picturesque bay, and a visit to an unusual place where surviving members of the Uru Iruitos tribe live as their ancestors didon floating islands that are sort of thick floating mats made from papyrus, a reed-like aquatic plant. Their floating island is not only a truly unusual experience but also a good place to shop for native handicrafts. Shopping When it comes to shopping, La Paz is Bolivias gem. This city of a million has its interesting sights, including an appealing contrast of Spanish colonial-era architecture adjacent to modern; a huge Indian market right downtown; but its the shopping opportunities that truly set it apart from other big South American cities. If you think leather goods are a great bargain in Peru, Ecuador, or Argentina, just wait until you shop in La Paz. And nowhere else in South America have I ever come across such great bargains in Alpaca sweaters. Bolivia may not be a destination that you have ever given much thought to, but you might want to think again. Its a very interesting destination. A young girl leads a llama on Sun Island, Lake Titicaca. (Thomas Wyness/SHUTTERSTOCK) If You Go For information about Abercrombie & Kents highlights of Peru with Bolivia extension tour, or other South American destinations, call 1-800-554-7016 or visit AbercrombieKent.com Travel tip for peace of mind: Especially when you travel to remote spots, think of this: If you ever had to be medically evacuated, it could cost you tens of thousands of dollars. Many plans that claim they cover this fall far short. We cover ourselves against this with membership in MedjetAssist, which takes effect anytime we are more than 150 miles from home. Surprisingly, two-thirds of their medical evacuations occur in the United States. Travel Guides: There arent many travel guides for Bolivia. The Rough Guide to Bolivia receives more favorable comments than others. Fred J. Eckert is a retired U.S. ambassador and former member of Congress. His writings have appeared in many leading publications, including Readers Digest and The Wall Street Journal. He is also an award-winning photographer whose collection of images spans all seven continents. To see his work, visit EckertGallery.com The Nigerian government has announced the immediate closure of all the countrys borders to human traffic. The announcement comes as Nigeria records 36 cases, with one patient reported dead Monday morning. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, stated this while addressing a news conference on Monday. All land borders that have been hitherto under partial closure shall now be closed for human traffic for four weeks effective, 23rd March, 2020. Mr Mustapha said the new measures are in addition to closure of the countrys air space from international travels. The government also announced the suspension of the weekly meeting of ministers, the Federal Executive Council. A meeting of the National Council of State scheduled for Thursday is also cancelled, according to the SGF who heads the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 Pandemic. He said the new decision is part of additional measures taken to further control the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic. The government enjoined residents of Abuja and Lagos to restrict their movements. All Abuja and Lagos residents are strongly advised to stay at home, avoid mass congregation of any kind as well as non-essential outings, until further advice is given. Mr Mustapha said the government will also roll out instructions that will guide conduct of civil servants during the emergency period. Read full text of Mr Mustaphas address below: In furtherance of our ongoing engagement with the public and stakeholders through the Presidential Task Force (PTF) and the Honourable Minister of Health (HMoH), I have found it necessary to update you on recent developments regarding the management of matters arising from COVID-19 Pandemic. 2. Let me remind you that as at the time the Honourable Minister of Health (HMoH), briefed you earlier today, the numbers from the World Health Organisation (WHO), confirmed that the virus has covered 192 countries, reporting over 329,000 cases. In Africa, 42 out of 54 countries have reported cases while 48 deaths have been recorded. 3. In Nigeria 36 cases have been reported and one fatality has occurred. The first responders, particularly the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), continues to attend to reports received through telephone calls and other medium. 4. We commend Nigerians for stepping out to report and/or make enquires through the dedicated hotlines. Records show that on Sunday, 22nd March, 2020, over 4500 calls were received. This shows the high level of awareness amongst Nigerians. 5. The strategy of government is to focus on testing, detection and containment through contact tracking in order to minimize hugely, the possibility of community spread. We urge anyone experiencing the symptoms of the virus or has been in contact with anyone who has been suspected or tested positive to please report at the nearest medical facility or the designated center. 6. The Presidential Task Force (PTF) continues to monitor the global and domestic developments and has isolated Lagos and Abuja for particular attention in view of their population, mobility and number of cases already reported. READ ALSO: 7. As you are all aware, a number of advisories have been issued and measures taken. Part of the measures being taken presently include the following: i.escalating the nations capacity for testing and detection through the acquisition of more testing kits and establishment of additional test centres; ii.acquisition of personnel protection equipment (PPE) for different categories of frontline personnel; iii.enhancing contact tracking; iv.deepening awareness creation; Advertisements v.mobilization of experts and trained personnel whether in service or retired; vi.introduction of social distancing policies and banning mass gathering of over fifty (50) persons vii.closure of schools and tertiary institutions; viii.The total ban on international travels shall commence at 12.00 midnight tonight at all our airports; and ix.leaders of different faiths have been encouraged to restrict services and activities that involve mass gathering of more than fifty of their adherents. State governments are also enforcing this policy at different levels. 8. Ladies and gentlemen, after a further review, Mr. President on the recommendation of Presidential Task Force (PTF) has approved the following additional measures: i.Suspension of the weekly FEC meetings until further notice; ii.Postponement of the meeting of the Council of State scheduled for Thursday 26th March, 2020; iii.All land borders that have been hitherto under partial closure shall now be closed for human traffic for four weeks effective, 23rd March, 2020; iv.In order to protect Federal Civil and Public Servants, a circular to be issued by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF) shall direct on actions to be taken immediately; v.If and when the need arises, any national assets required for use in the response to COVID-19 shall be mobilized and deployed; vi.Federal Government, is at the highest level, engaging with State Governors in order to ensure a collaborative and effective response to COVID-19 Pandemic; and vii.All Abuja and Lagos residents are strongly advised to stay at home, avoid mass congregation of any kind as well as non-essential outings, until further advice is given. 9. Finally, the PTF assures all Nigerians of the concerns of Mr. President and his determination to mobilize all resources to backup this national response. However, this commitment should be reciprocated by all citizens by respecting the advisory and obeying measures put in place to curtail the spread of COVID-19. The Presidential Task Force (PTF) shall be updating Nigerians from time to time when the need arise. 10. I thank you very much. As the number of people with COVID-19 continues to spike in Ontario - with 78 new cases and six deaths announced on Monday - the effort to stop the spread is being amplified. Ontarians can expect a dramatic shift in public life now that the province has given notice of a shutdown of non-essential services. On Wednesday, any business deemed non-essential will only be able to continue operating with employees working from home or through other measures. The orders are in place for 14 days, and can be extended if necessary. Essential services like groceries stories, pharmacies, public transportation and emergency care at vet or dental clinics will continue to operate. A list classifying what specific services are open or closed, along with a 1-800 number and website, will be available on Wednesday. Here is the complete list of essential workplaces in Ontario: Supply chains: businesses that supply other businesses with support, supplies, systems or services Specific retailers and wholesalers that sell essential goods, including Food, pet food and supplies, and essential consumer goods Products for animal welfare (food, medical supplies, bedding etc. for pets) Beer, wine and liquor stores and sellers; alcohol producers; cannabis producers and sellers Gas stations, diesel, propane and heating fuel providers including motor vehicle, watercraft and aircraft fuel Motor vehicle and auto repair and supply, including bicycle repair, aircraft repair, heavy equipment repair, marine vehicle repair, car and truck dealerships as well as related facilities Hardware stores and other stores that provide essentials related to the repair and maintenance of homes and businesses Pharmacies, dispensaries and other establishments that provide pharmaceutical services Safety equipment supply stores Food services and accommodations, including delivery or takeaway restaurants, food delivery services; hotels, motels and student residences Businesses that provide support an maintenance services, including Urgent repair services Property management services Plumbers Electricians Custodial/janitorial services Cleaning services Security services Fire safety and sprinkler system services Building systems maintenance and repair technicians, engineers and mechanics like escalator and elevator technicians Businesses that provide or support information technology including online services, software products and related services Providers of telecommunication services including phone, internet, radio and cell phones and related support services like call centres Taxis and other private transportation providers Businesses and facilities that provide transportation services to businesses and individuals and related support services like mechanics Businesses that provide materials and services for the operation, maintenance and safety of transportation like snow clearing, collision response and repairs Businesses, facilities and services that support the global or North American supply chain Businesses involved in the food supply chain, including Farming, processing or distributing food including animal products and by-products, crops, hunting and fishing Businesses supporting food supply chain distribution, food safety and food waste management Businesses that provide commercial veterinary services Construction projects and services associated with the healthcare sector, as well as those related to critical infrastructure or industrial, commercial, institutional and residential sectors Financial services including capital markets, banking and related activities, insurance, pension and employee benefit services, payroll services and payment processing Resource-focused businesses that conduct and support mining, natural resources, petroleum, drinking and wastewater, and produce emergency response requirements like sandbags Utilities and community services including Waste collection Potable drinking water Electricity generation, distribution and storage Natural gas distribution, transmission and storage Police, fire and emergency services Road construction and maintenance Corrections and court services Government services like licenses and permits Critical infrastructure repair like railways, highways etc. Communications industries including newspaper publishers, radio and television broadcasting and telecommunications providers Businesses engaged in research and development activities, and their supporting businesses Health care services including home care, retirement homes, long-term care facilities, laboratories and specimen collection centres and independent health facilities Manufacturers and distributors of products and services related to pharmaceuticals and the delivery of health care products and services Businesses concerned with assistive medical devices Health care professionals providing emergency services including dentists, optometrists and physiotherapists Not-for-profit organizations supporting people with physical disabilities Businesses and services that support economically disadvantaged and other vulnerable individuals through the provision of food, shelter etc. Businesses and services that support the justice and legal system Rental and leasing services for automobiles, machinery and equipment Mail, shipping and courier services Laundromats and dry cleaners Professional services including lawyers, paralegals, engineers, accountants and translators Funereal services including morticians, cremation, transfer and burial services as well as related products like coffins Land registration, real estate and moving services Security and safety services like security guards and surveillance companies Animal welfare businesses including veterinarians, farms, kennels, stables, zoos etc. Home child care services for less than six children and child care services for essential workers Cheque-cashing businesses Authorities that regulate and inspect businesses Story continues What the government controls in a state of emergency Kenneth J. McBey is an emergency management professor at York University. He says Ontarios orders, which fall under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, give the government power over a number of aspects of the community at large. It allows them to control how people assemble, commandeer or seize goods or property and gives them power to shut down businesses or institutions. The order can last between 14 and 28 days. Anything longer, must be taken back to the assembly for further approval. It gives the government more freedom in order to be able to direct for the safety and wellbeing of Ontarians, McBey tells Yahoo Canada News. Ontario's last provincial emergencies were in 2003 when they were declared first of all for the SARS outbreak, and then again later in the year when declared for the North American blackout/power outage. This weekend, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said they would enforce fines for anyone not complying with emergency orders. These include fines between $750 - $1000 for individuals and $500,000 for corporations. Extreme measures are a way to give government legal weight in order to enforce emergency measures during a crisis. A woman in Quebec who tested positive for the coronavirus was recently arrested for breaking her quarantine by going for a walk. This is basically making it a bit more formalized to direct resources, and the government has flexibility as to what they deem essential, and remains open, and they can further clamp down on that, says McBey. The chance for transmission is so high and we cant afford it. Karim Bardeesy, executive director of Ryerson Leadership Lab, says these kinds of measures can also be implemented locally during dire emergencies, like a natural or chemical disasters. However, nothing in recent times has been of this magnitude. He hopes in the coming days theres more leadership to outline how people can access essential resources. Some guidance needs to be given at some point as to how to do those things that are also expected, he says. Groceries, replenishment, exercise...were going to need guidance on that. Many B-town stars have shown gratitude towards those leading the fight against coronavirus and Priyanka Chopra is also one of them. Despite not being in India, Chopra lent her support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal for a 'Janta Curfew'. "Although I couldn't be there in India to join, I'm there in spirit. #jantacurfewindia," Priyanka wrote on her Instagram story. On Monday, the 'Desi Girl' of Bollywood posted a video of herself clapping outside in a balcony. Giving a shout out to healthcare professionals and first responders working amid the coronavirus pandemic, Chopra wrote, "People around the world have shown their appreciation for the doctors, nurses, and all first responders battling #Covid19 by clapping on their balconies." On Sunday, several Bollywood celebrities including Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Janhvi Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, Varun Dhawan, Karan Johar, and many more took part in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Janata Curfew clapping initiative, to pay tribute to all those people who are working round the clock to eradicate COVID-19 from India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to be a part of the 'Janta Curfew' as that it will add tremendous strength to the fight against COVID-19. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "Patient 116," 29 years old and the first doctor to be infected by the novel coronavirus in Vietnam, works for the emergency ward of the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Dong Anh District, Hanoi. He has been involved in the Covid-19 fight since January 31, screening suspected cases and treating those confirmed infected. The Health Ministry said he was fully equipped with protective gear at work. After work, he stayed and rested in an isolated area for medical staff at the hospital. On March 19, the doctor had a sore throat. A day later, he started coughing and developed a fever and muscle pains. The next day, he isolated himself in the emergency department's area. His swab samples tested positive for the novel coronavirus at the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology. The National Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Dong Anh District has admitted 50 Covid-19 patients since late January, five having recovered and been discharged. Dr. Nguyen Trung Cap, head of the emergency ward at the hospital, said he and his colleagues are aware of the transmission risks because no protective gears can keep the medical worker completely safe from the virus. "But we won't turn away from patients because of that," Cap said. "Patient 114" is a 19-year-old Vietnamese student from the Netherlands who landed March 15 at the Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi on Singapore Airlines flight SQ176 after transiting in Singapore. He was quarantined at a military camp in Hanois Son Tay District upon arrival. On March 19, after the patient had a sore throat and developed high fever, he was transferred to the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Dong Anh District. His swab samples tested positive at the hospital the first time and at the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology the second time. "Patient 115," a 44-year-old Vietnamese woman living in the Czech Republic, is the daughter of a 64-year-old woman from the northern province of Bac Giang, who was confirmed positive Saturday night. She is also one of five family members that boarded Aeroflot flight SU290 and landed March 18 at Hanois Noi Bai Airport. Her swab samples were confirmed positive Monday morning. As of Monday morning, Vietnam has recorded 100 new Covid-19 cases since March 6, one having been discharged. Sixteen other patients were discharged after treatment last month. Of the current active cases, 10 have tested negative either once or twice. Many of active cases are Vietnamese nationals retuning from Europe and the U.S. and foreigners visiting from the same regions. Starting Sunday, in an unprecedented move, Vietnam has suspended entry for all foreign nationals, including those of Vietnamese origin and family members with visa waivers. Adrian Stevenson, head of militaria at Hansons, said he'd never found an account of the Battle of the Somme's first day until now A battered diary which was written by a young British soldier recounting the Battle of the Somme in chilling detail from the trenches has fetched 2,600 at auction. The historic journal was found gathering dust in a Midlands barn after being penned by Private Arthur Edward Diggins from the Western Front over a century ago. Written in pencil, it describes the grim reality of the bloody conflict which claimed more than 300,000 lives and the horrors of trench warfare during the First World War. The 104-year-old notebook was expected to sell for 300-400 when it went under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers, but it ended up smashing its estimate to fetch 2,600 in Etwall, Derbyshire, on Friday. Adrian Stevenson, head of militaria at Hansons, said: 'The Somme diary was a stunning find - and it was a stunning sale result. The journal was found in a Midlands barn and was written by Private Arthur Edward Diggins from the Western Front over a century ago A battered diary which was written by a young British soldier recounting the Battle of the Somme has fetched 2,600 at auction 'We had interest from all over the world in this item and it thoroughly deserved to soar at auction. 'I have never had a diary that covers the first day of the Battle of the Somme in my 45 years collecting. 'To think that it had been languishing in a barn for decades is quite astonishing. Thank goodness it was discovered and saved for posterity.' The 104-year-old notebook was expected to sell for 300-400 when it went under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers in the Midlands The diary reveals extracts of his daily life such as spending his 21st birthday away from home as well as a miracle escape when a piece of shell from a German bomb landed on a candle in his living quarters. The harrowing account also includes an entry from the first day of the battle - July 1, 1916 - in which Pte Diggins wrote: 'Something awful. Never witnessed anything like it before. 'After a bombardment of a week the Germans mounted their own trenches and the infantry reckon that every German had a machine gun*.' Pte Diggins was one of the lucky few to survive the conflict before marrying his wartime sweetheart and going on to become a father in Islington, London. Mystery surrounds how his diary came to be found in a Leicestershire barn where it had been stored alongside other military memorabilia for decades. Mr Stevenson added: 'The owner had no idea who any of the items related to but said his mother had been the recipient of old family heirlooms. 'It's a complete mystery how this Somme diary ended up in the Midlands, particularly as Arthur was born in London. 'I'm just relieved such an important piece of military history has been found and can now be preserved. The diary, written in pencil, describes in bloody detail the horrors of trench warfare and includes an entry from the first day of the Battle of the Somme 'When I opened it, I was amazed - and I had to flick straight to the July 1 entry.' The first day of the Battle of the Somme, which lasted from July 1 to November 18, 1916, is regarded as the bloodiest in British Army history. Out of 120,000 Allied troops in the initial attack, nearly 20,000 were killed, most in the first hour. One man was killed every 4.4 seconds. Somme casualties went on to top one million, including 300,000 deaths. Mr Stevenson, who discovered the diary at a valuation event, added: 'The fact that both the diary and the soldier survived is pretty remarkable, given those awful statistics.' The historic journal bears scuffs and stains on its cover and a word now hardly legible, 'Army'. The opening page states that the diary was started on February 13, 1916 but ends abruptly on October 11 of that year. Mr Stevenson added: 'Because of this we feared Arthur must have been a casualty of the conflict but my research proved otherwise. 'Not only did he survive the First World War, he returned to his loved ones in England and became a husband and father. 'I'm always delighted when finds like this come in. 'They provide us with an opportunity to look back at important moments in history and celebrate the stories of long-forgotten servicemen.' Records show Arthur was born on August 26, 1895, in St Pancras, London. At the age of 16 in 1911 he was working as an electrician. He later signed up to serve with the Royal Engineers, Signals section, serial number 1412. He had the rank of Sapper (Private). He served in the Gallipoli campaign which took place on the Gallipoli peninsula from February 17, 1915 to January 9, 1916. He was at the Somme on the Western Front in France with the 29th Division. At that time, he would have been just 20-years-old. His wartime diary reveals extracts of daily life, such as, July 6, 1916: 'A shell drops just a few yards in front of our billet. We were all out except three of the boys. 'One was wounded, a good job I was not on my bit as a piece of shell buried itself in my candle. Oh, you lucky devil'. More than 300,000 soldiers lost their lives during the First World War conflict, which took place from July 1 until November 18 ,1916 On July 10, 1916 he put: ' Out on lines' and on July 11: 'Ditto, everything OK. Except being fed up'. But it wasn't all doom and gloom for him during the conflict. He wrote on July 30, 1916: 'The town of Ypres has been my godsend' and on August 11, 1916, 'Still going OK. 'Start making a model aeroplane out of the copper dome of St Jacques Church, Ypres. A few curious'. An entry from August 26, 1916 adds: 'Going Ok. Another birthday (his 21st) away from home in France this year.' And on September 11, 1916, he wrote: 'Received a letter from Alice I shall never forget'. The last line in his diary is chilling in its simplicity: 'Well, we are at the Somme front once more'. The frustration centres on the growing realisation that hospitals and medical facilities are likely to be overwhelmed. Lead or get out of the way. That was the message from state and local officials on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States over the weekend, with many officials saying they were increasingly dismayed at the federal governments response to the crisis to date. Much of the frustration centered on the growing realisation that hospitals and medical facilities are likely to be overwhelmed in the coming days as the number of cases increase and that the equipment and supplies they need to cope have not been forthcoming. New Yorks Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo, whose state is now the US epicentre of the outbreak, on Sunday called on President Donald Trump to use the powers vested to him under the Defence Production Act to force manufacturers to make essential supplies such as ventilators, face masks and testing equipment. Leading medical organisations such as the American Medical Association and the American Hospital Association joined the chorus. We need the product now, Cuomo said at a news conference on Sunday. We have cries from hospitals around the state. Ive spoken to governors around the country, and theyre in the same situation. Cuomo said the decision is one that could mean the difference between life and death. We are desperate, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy told ABC Sunday morning. Weve had a big ask into the strategic stockpile in the White House. Theyve given us a fraction of our ask. Trump said on March 18 that he had signed an executive order invoking the act, but has so far resisted implementing it and favoured a more market-oriented approach that relies on voluntary efforts by business leaders. Were a country not based on nationalising our business, Trump said at a briefing Sunday. The concept of nationalising our business is not a good concept. The feud between Trump and state officials erupted openly on Sunday when the president took to his Twitter megaphone and said the Democratic governor of Illinois, JB Pritzker, was part of a clique of governors and cable news networks, which he disparaged as fake news, lined up against him for political reasons. You wasted precious months when you could've taken action to protect Americans & Illinoisans. You should be leading a national response instead of throwing tantrums from the back seat. Where were the tests when we needed them? Where's the PPE? Get off Twitter & do your job. https://t.co/WESJITCAwg Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) March 22, 2020 Earlier, Pritzker had appeared on CNN to say he was finding it hard to control my anger with Donald Trumps response to this crisis. Donald Trump promised to deliver for all the states weeks ago, and so far has done very little, Pritzker said. This is the time for serious people, not the carnival barkers that are tweeting from the cheap seats. All I can say is get to work or get out of the way. Democrats were not the only officials criticising the federal response to date. We are getting some progress. Now, its not nearly enough. Its not fast enough. Were way behind the curve, Marylands Republican Governor Larry Hogan said on NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday. The administration, he added, has to take the lead in securing medical items. At his briefing later in the day on Sunday, Trump took a more conciliatory tone, praising his relationship with New Yorks Cuomo and promising that he and other governors will be very happy with the federal response going forward. The governors, locally, are going to be in command, Trump said, as he pledged support from the US National Guard and federal agencies. We will be following them, and we hope they can do the job. And I think they will. .@JBPritzker, Governor of Illinois, and a very small group of certain other Governors, together with Fake News @CNN & Concast (MSDNC), shouldnt be blaming the Federal Government for their own shortcomings. We are there to back you up should you fail, and always will be! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 22, 2020 On Monday, a group of US senators also signalled frustration over Trumps hesitation to forcefully ramp up production of medical equipment and introduced a bill that would compel the president to do so. The current system, in which states and hospitals are competing against each other for scarce equipment, is both unnecessary and barbaric, one of the bills sponsors, Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, said in a statement. Enough is enough. Its time to centralize the critical medical supply chain and distribution during this public health crisis. The requested page is currently unavailable on this server. Back to [RTHK News Homepage] Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir Grewal addresses the media after Gov.-elect Phil Murphy nominated him for attorney general in Trenton, N.J., on Dec. 12, 2017. (Jeffrey Granit/NJ Advance Media via AP, File) New Jersey to Release Up to 1,000 Inmates Over New Virus Hundreds of inmates will be released by Tuesday morning by jail officials in New Jersey, including inmates who are serving sentences as a condition of probation. Inmates whose sentences stemmed from a conviction in municipal courts were also being released, under an order (pdf) from Judge Stuart Rabner, the chief justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court. The order was made after state prosecutors, public defenders, and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Jersey hammered out an agreement aimed at reducing the number of inmates in county jails to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP virus. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mishandling allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. The inmates must be released no later than 6 a.m. on Tuesday, with some exceptions, Rabner ordered. Inmates serving sentences as a condition of probation might be required to re-enter jails at some point while inmates in the other group will have the rest of their sentences suspended until further order by the court. New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal signed the agreement, along with Public Defender of New Jersey Joseph Krakora, Alexander Shalom of ACLU, and Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo Onofri, the recently named president of the County Prosecutors Association of New Jersey. NJ Transit buses wait for people arrive to commute in Exchange Place, New Jersey, on March 23, 2020. (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images) Up to 1,000 inmates will be released, the ACLU said. New Jersey has shown resiliency and a willingness to solve problems together, and every New Jerseyan should be proud of this agreement. Unprecedented times call for rethinking the normal way of doing things, and in this case, it means releasing people who pose little risk to their communities for the sake of public health and the dignity of people who are incarcerated, Amol Sinha, executive director of the groups New Jersey chapter, said in a statement. Krakora said in a letter to Rabner on March 19 that the virus would spread into county jails and when that happened, the health and well-being of inmates and jail staff members will be at tremendous risk. It is therefore incumbent upon the criminal justice system to reduce our county jail populations to the extent possible without compromising public safety, he added. Grewal, appointed in 2017 by Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, said in a statement onMarch 20 that the current public health emergency might make it safer to temporarily release these individuals to their homes than to keep them detained in a county jail. He said he was working with prosecutors, Krakoras office, and others to identify solutions that appropriately balance public safety, public health, and the rights of crime victims. In a statement after the agreement was made public, Grewal said, Jails can be incubators for disease so we have to take bold and drastic steps. Other states have also released inmates, including California and Maine. SPRINGFIELD, Mass., March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 16, 2020, Big Y World Class Markets (Big Y) donated $125,000 to five area food banks in order to help them respond to the challenges they face in helping to feed others during these challenging times. The Greater Boston Food Bank, The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, the Worcester County Food Bank in Massachusetts, and Foodshare and the Connecticut Food Bank in Connecticut each will receive an immediate donation of $25,000. All of our stores also now have collection boxes to allow customers to make food donations for local pantries and shelters. As part of our recent 10th annual Sack Hunger/Care to Share program, Big Y also provided over $11.5 million of food to area food banks, which amounts to a total of 5.7 million meals to help those in need throughout the region. In addition to Sack Hunger, we donate healthy food to these food banks six days a week throughout the year. Two-thirds of those 5.7 million meals include donations of meat and fresh produce, and bakery, nonperishable grocery items, frozen food and dairy products account for the rest. In fact, these almost daily donations have become routine and a natural part of Big Y's operations. These food banks depend upon this steady flow of food to feed those in need. We also encourage support in any amount for area food banks right now. The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts estimates that every dollar donated will provide four meals for those in need. Boston : gbfb.org : gbfb.org Western Massachusetts : foodbankwma.org : foodbankwma.org Worcester County : foodbank.org : foodbank.org Hartford and Tolland Counties: foodshare.org and Counties: foodshare.org Connecticut *: ctfoodbank.org * Fairfield , Litchfield , Middlesex , New Haven , New London and Windham counties. Additionally, Big Y donated $50,000 to the COVID-19 Response Fund hosted by the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts. The fund will provide flexible resources to Pioneer Valley nonprofit organizations serving populations most impacted by the crisis, such as the elderly, those without stable housing, families needing food and those with particular health vulnerabilities. More information and updates on our COVID-19 response can be found at: https://www.bigy.com/AboutUs/News/Coronavirus About: Big Y Foods, Inc. is one of the largest independently owned supermarket chains in New England. With almost 12,000 employees, Big Y operates 83 locations throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut including 71 supermarkets, Fresh Acres Market, Table & Vine Fine Wines and Liquors and 10 Big Y Express gas and convenience locations. Big Y has been recognized by Forbes as a Best-in-State Employer in Massachusetts and Connecticut, as well as Employer of Choice by the Employers Association of the Northeast. Founded in 1936 by brothers Paul and Gerald D'Amour, the store was named after an intersection in Chicopee, Massachusetts where two roads converge to form a Y. Media Contact GCAi for Big Y Foods, Inc. Darcy Fortune, 413-736-2245 [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE Big Y A homeless woman waits as city workers and volunteers with the Salvation Army set up cots at Westwood Recreation Center, which is now doubling as a shelter because of the coronavirus. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times) Just like for-profit businesses across California, the Salvation Army has taken a hit from the social distancing measures enacted to slow the spread of the coronavirus. On Wednesday, with foot traffic drained, the giant nonprofit best known for its Christmastime bell ringers shut down 17 thrift stores in Los Angeles County and 10 in Orange County. The next day, top brass from the military-structured organization made an unexpected appearance in federal court in Los Angeles, offering up its stores and several other facilities as part of the response to COVID-19, which threatens to ravage homeless encampments across the city. The Salvation Army is now in talks with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority to determine if any of its facilities, which include two mountain camps and an 80,000-square-foot warehouse in the city of Bell, would be useful for housing homeless people either to prevent them from being exposed to the virus or to quarantine those who may come down with it. It's a long shot. In an interview, Heidi Marston, interim executive director of the homeless authority, tried to put a damper on the prospects for opening homeless shelters in the nonprofit's 27 thrift stores, which are still full of merchandise. "So it's about whether the juice is worth the squeeze," Marston said. But she said there's potential in the Bell warehouse and at the mountain camps. The talks were an unexpected sideshow in an unorthodox emergency hearing called by U.S. District Court Judge David O. Carter to pressure officials from Los Angeles city and county for quick action on protecting homeless people from the virus. While formally inviting officials including L.A. County Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey and Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez, Carter placed a private call to the Salvation Army. He knew two of its leaders, Commissioner Kenneth Hodder and Lt. Col. John Chamness, from their work setting up a shelter as part of the resolution to a lawsuit that forced officials in Orange County to add beds for homeless people. Story continues Before Thursday's federal court hearing was over, Carter had the Salvation Army officers confer with Marston in a corner of the courtroom to hash out a plan. The details proved too much for a quick breakthrough, though, and the two parties continued their talks over the weekend. They are due to report back to Carter on Tuesday. Salvation Army spokeswoman Pilar Buelna said the nonprofit has given the homeless authority a list of the properties, but conceded that some of its thrift stores could be problematic. Besides the stock of used clothing and other products, which could be removed, some of the stores lack sprinklers or have other issues with city code that make them unsuitable for human habitation. They are looking to see if any are going to work out, Buelna said Friday night. Over the weekend, officials from the homeless authority visited the Bell warehouse and the youth summer camp in Calabasas, Buelna said. Conferences at the camp have been suspended as a result of the pandemic. It has sleeping quarters, kitchen facilities and bathrooms to accommodate 500. Because of its isolation it would be good for quarantine, Buelna said. The Salvation Army's second camp in the Big Bear area was considered too remote, but would be available if needed, Buelna said. The facility in Bell is part of a warehouse formerly on a U.S. Army Air Corps base. It was transferred to civilian use as a homeless shelter in 1988. Salvation Army currently operates a 350-bed shelter in about a third of the space. It uses the remainder for storing goods for its charitable activities. But there is ample empty space. We anticipate that that facility could accommodate as many as 1,500 people," said Hodder, one of the two officers who attended the court hearing. It could be used for triage, for housing those who are medically fragile or for quarantine, he said. Hodder said the Salvation Army decided to offer all of its resources for whatever use could be made of them to help blunt the virus. Salvation Army would not have a single piece of property, we would not have a dime to our name without the extraordinary generosity of the American people, Hodder said. We believe we can do no less at this point, because of the extent and depth of this need, that everything the Salvation Army has is available to help. New Delhi, March 23 : Former India opener and East Delhi MP Gautam Gambhir has offered to release rupees 50 lakh from his Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) fund for the equipment to treat coronavirus patients in Delhi government hospitals. "In furtherance of the united effort to save to our city and citizens from this pandemic, I would like to pledge ?50 lakh from my MPLAD fund for equipment that may be needed for COVID-19 treatment in State government hospitals," Gambhir wrote to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Delhi is under lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus. Gambhir had earlier urged people to strictly follow the rules in place amid lockdown announced by the various governments across the country in a way to stop the spread of the deadly virus. Lockdown in various parts of the country has been put in place from Monday morning. However, many people were seen openly flouting the rules and taking out procession on the streets, making the moment a celebration time. "You will also go and take your family too! Quarantine or jail! Do not be a threat to the whole society and stay at home! The battle is not with jobs and business, but with life! Those who provide essential services should not be disturbed. Follow the lockdown!! Jai Hind,' Gambhir tweeted in Hindi. The Centre has, infact, advised the states to take legal action against those who are found violating the lockdown orders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also appealed to the countrymen to take the lockdown seriously and protect their families along with them. Modi also requested the state governments to strictly follow the rules and regulations. Nestle Vietnam and WASI have joined hands to study drought-resistant coffee varieties to support farmers The beneficiaries are Ben Tre, Long An, and Tien Giang provinces, receiving donations of a total value touching VND1 billion ($43,480). Along with this, nearly 110,000 litres of bottled La Vie mineral water, equal to about VND600 million ($26,090), are being handled out to local households across Ben Tre and Long An province, particularly in Ba Tri, Giong Trom, and Mo Cay Nam districts, and Ben Tre city (Ben Tre province), as well as Tan Tru and Can Giuoc districts (Long An province). Simultaneously, Nestle Vietnam part of Nestle Global, a global leading good and beverage company will donate food and drinks valued at around VND400 million ($17,390) to residents in several regions in Ben Tre and Tien Giang. This initial support will be handed out to about 5,000 households, particularly those in difficult conditions and will be further expanded to help even more in need in the delta region. The five localities in the Mekong delta Ben Tre, Tien Giang, Kien Giang, Ca Mau, and Long An have issued an emergency state due to the impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion that are considered the most critical in history. Nestle Vietnams factories have set forth the target of using water resources effectively and in fact succeeded in saving 30 per cent of water used in production in 2019 against 2010. According to the Directorate of Water Resources under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, around 82,000 households in the delta region are facing water shortages due to saltwater intrusion and the figure is expected to almost double to 160,000 households in the upcoming dry season. In addition, to mark World Water Day on March 20, La Vie and Nestle Vietnam have deployed a raft of activities to improve peoples knowledge about the value of water resources, inspiring them to join the efforts to manage water resources in a sustainable manner to cushion the impacts of natural disasters, especially amid the growing implications from climate change. Working to protect water resources since 2011, Nestle Vietnam and La Vie, which became a member of Nestle Waters from 1992, have been deploying a slew of co-operative programmes associated with local communities for sustainable development in economic, social, and environmental aspects, highlighting sustainable agriculture, water resources protection, and effective water usage. La Vie and Nestle Vietnam provide fresh water to households in the Mekong Delta In 2011, Nestle Vietnam deployed the NESCAFE Plan initiative, supporting coffee growers in Central Highlands provinces to develop coffee sustainably through skill and knowledge training. The project helps coffee farmers save up to 40 per cent of water, alongside other positive outcomes such as reducing 20 per cent of fertiliser and 40 per cent of pesticide in use. Nestle Vietnams factories have set forth the target of using water resources effectively and succeeded in reducing water usage for production by 30 per cent in 2019 against 2010. Remember when the Sunday shows were filled with Democratic presidential candidates, or Republican lawmakers spreading debunked claims about Trump and Ukraine? In recent weeks, as the coronavirus crisis has taken hold and relegated recent huge stories to the realm of distant memory, administration officialsMike Pence, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Surgeon General Jerome Adams, and othershave (often virtually) made the rounds. Yesterday, it was the turn of Peter Gaynor, the Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator, who appeared on ABC, NBC, and CNN. On the latter network, Jake Tapper tried to pin Gaynor down on the number of protective masks the federal government has acquired and sent out to hospitals. Gaynor wouldnt even venture an estimate. You understand though, of course, that the inability of the federal government to give a number in terms of masks alarms people, Tapper said. Without a number, it doesnt fill people with confidence. Tapper then pressed on other urgent supply issues, to little avail; Again, he said, nobodys doubting the sincerity of your effort, but the lack of numbers is alarming. Wrapping up, Tapper wished Gaynor well. Please let us know if theres anything we can do to help, Tapper said. God bless you, and good luck in this. These days, its common for interviews with officials to end on a warm note; on NBC yesterday, for instance, Chuck Todd told Gaynor, Were all pulling for you. But that doesnt mean the preceding interviews havent been tough. Increasingly, journalists interacting with public officials must strike a difficult balancing actbetween aggressive scrutiny of missteps and misstatements, which is always our job, and the effective communication and amplification of government public-health guidelines, which has rarely, if ever, felt so urgent. Related: Pandemic, photography, and psychological distance Theres a lot to scrutinize right now, with the availability and distribution of crucial medical supplies (rightly) at the tip of the iceberg. Trumps regular press briefingswhich, at the very least, can be said to existcontinue to absorb a lot of our attention, and judgment. (Last weeks suggestions that his tone had turned a corner proved, unsurprisingly, to be premature; some observers, including Margaret Sullivan, of the Washington Post, have argued that the briefings are harmful, and that networks should stop carrying them live.) Also, last week, we found out about senatorsincluding, prominently, Richard Burr, Republican of North Carolinadumping stocks prior to the coronavirus market slide. Yesterday, we learned that a first senator, Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky, tested positive for the coronavirusthe same day he used the Senate gym and pool. (On Twitter, Paul accused Seung Min Kim, a Post reporter, of making the false and irresponsible insinuation that he used the facilities after he received his test result.) Some journalists asked why the Senate gym is still open; others asked how Paul, who says he is asymptomatic, can get tested when many symptomatic Americans cant. Also yesterday, Senate Democrats blocked the progress of a massive coronavirus stimulus/rescue package, arguing, among other things, that its insufficiently pro-worker. This morning, Politico called the situation a $1.6 trillion game of chicken. And all this is just in DC. The decisions of governors, mayors, and other officials across America are driving reams of coverage, and scrutiny, too. At the same time as asking politicians and bureaucrats tough questions, the press must boost certain aspects of their messaging right nowabout washing hands, respecting lockdown orders, and so on. The twin imperatives, while unusual, arent necessarily contradictory. Nonetheless, there are challenges to navigate here, not least around trust. We have one shot and we have to have a huge degree of trust that what were being told is accurate about the need to sacrifice, David French, a senior editor at conservative site The Dispatch, told Todd on NBC yesterday. The government is asking for that trust in a very low-trust time in American history. The media, needless to say, is not exempt from this dynamic. Calling into question the effectiveness of the administrations responsewhile assuring news consumers of the righteousness of much of its medical adviceis a tough needle to thread in a credible way. Yet thread it we must. The coronavirus is requiring everyone to pull together in a spirit of cooperation, but the state must lead that effort, and the media must keep the state honest. Yesterday, Chris Christie, the former Republican governor of New Jersey, said on ABC News, where he is a contributor, that hed like reporters to ask fewer questions on equipment-provision failures, and instead look to the future, and what can be done next. Martha Raddatzwho, like Tapper, had just grilled Gaynor, of FEMA, on such failurespushed back on Christie. You say its water under the bridge, but weve got a crisis right now because of that water under the bridge, she said. They dont have enough masks, they dont have enough ventilators. And were getting mixed messages out of the White House all the time. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Below, more on the coronavirus: Other notable stories: ICYMI: Why did Matt Drudge turn on Donald Trump? Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop. Cab aggregators Uber and Ola have suspended their operations till March 31 amid the lockdown announced by the state governments. Both cab companies said that this decision has been taken to reduce the spread of coronavirus after the Delhi government notified on Sunday that the city will be under lockdown from March 23 to 31 and no public transport, including private buses, taxis and auto-rickshaws will be allowed to ply. "In compliance with the government guidelines, we are temporarily suspending all Uber services in your city. This means that Uber rides services will not be available until further notice. We don't take such measures lightly, and we ask that you please follow the instructions of the public health authorities," said Uber in a statement. An Ola spokesperson said the company "will enable a minimal network of vehicles to support essential services in cities, wherever applicable, as part of this national effort to reduce the contagion of COVID-19". Also read: Coronavirus Live updates: PM Modi to interact with industry bodies on economic impact of COVID-19 Both the companies had already temporarily suspended their shared rides to reduce spread of coronavirus. The Centre and state governments on Sunday decided to lock down 75 districts across the country where coronavirus cases have been detected. The governments decided that in order to cut the spread, restriction on the movement of non-essential passenger transport was urgently needed. Many districts in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala have been locked down. Delhi will be under lockdown from 6 am on March 23 till midnight on March 31. The city's borders will remain sealed during the lockdown, but essential services related to health, food, water and power supply will continue, and 25 per cent of the DTC buses will run to transport people associated with essential services. Noida Metro has also announced that it will suspend operations, while Delhi Metro is expected to come up with the announcement soon. Also read: Coronavirus: ICMR approves six private labs for COVID-19 tests Also read: Coronavirus: Kejriwal says domestic flights won't enter Delhi; DGCA says they will Love Island Australia couple Amelia Plummer and Josh Moss have slammed Bondi beachgoers for their total disregard of social-distancing measures set up to stop the spread of the deadly coronavirus across the state. The pair, who recently returned from a New Zealand holiday, spoke exclusively to Daily Mail Australia from self-isolation on Sunday. Halfway through their 14-day isolation on New South Wales' Central Coast, Josh and Amelia said they were absolutely horrified seeing thousands of people flock to the beach and 'mocking' the global pandemic. Scroll down for video EXCLUSIVE 'People were taking the pi**!' Love Island Australia couple Josh and Amelia slam Bondi beachgoers who 'mocked' social-distancing rules as they continue to self-isolate on New South Wales' Central Coast Remember them? The couple first rose to fame on the inaugural Love Island Australia season in 2018, and are the only original match still together from their season Thousands of careless sun-seekers headed to Bondi Beach to enjoy the 34C temperatures on Friday, and were accused of putting lives at risk by ignoring social distancing rules. The sunbathers ignored 1.5metre social distancing guidelines as they lay together on the sand and helped each other apply sunscreen. The shocking images prompted criticism from across the world, with many incensed by the revellers lack of awareness about the virus. Shocking image: Thousands of careless sun-seekers flocked to Bondi Beach to enjoy the 34C temperatures on Friday (pictured), and were accused of putting lives at risk by ignoring social-distancing rules 'We were really frustrated, because there's so many people doing the right thing and taking it serious, and then on the other side so many people, even people we know and are friends with, were taking the pi** out of the whole situation and saying "look at me self-isolating" sitting right next to someone drinking a beer and having a laugh about it.' 'With that attitude, this is going to blow this out of proportion. We felt helpless,' Josh added, encouraging others to adhere to government guidelines regarding COVID-19. 'With that attitude, this is going to blow this out of proportion': Josh and Amelia said they were 'frustrated' with how many people they knew were making jokes about the virus and flaunting their disregard for avoiding crowded places 'We need to take this serious. You're watching stuff in Europe and overseas, and those countries are out of control and it's purely because at the start people weren't taking it serious and they were going about their everyday life and that's what we can learn from. 'We should try and not get to that stage, because when it gets to the stage where you're thinking "oh maybe I shouldn't have done that", it's probably too late.' Amelia also said after posting a story on her Instagram about the shocking display, many of her followers from Spain and Italy reached out. 'They were saying everyone was acting exactly the same as Australia last week, and now they're locked in their houses, have police doing checks and army monitoring the streets,' she explained. Wise words! Josh warned the public to rethink their actions, adding: 'when it gets to the stage where you're thinking "oh maybe I shouldn't have done that", it's probably too late' Sign of what's to come? Amelia said many of her international fans said their countries were as carefree as Australia last week, but now they are locked in their houses, have police doing checks and army monitoring the streets The couple first rose to fame on the inaugural Love Island Australia season in 2018, and are the only original match still together from their season. Having travelled with each other numerous times over the past two years and now self isolating for two weeks, they admitted taking the next step to move in together doesn't seem far off. 'We've done really well. I'm so impressed and I think we're going to really grow a lot from this short experience. It's pretty intense. 'I think we're going to really grow a lot from this short experience': Josh and Amelia said that after travelling with each other and self-isolating, the thought of moving in together is a definite possibility Meanwhile, Prime Minister Scott Morrison condemned thousands of people who flouted the social distancing measures and flocked to Bondi Beach to soak up the sun over the weekend. 'What happened at Bondi Beach yesterday was not OK and served as a message to federal and state leaders that too many Australians are not taking these issues seriously enough,' he told reporters on Sunday. The beaches are now closed, as are a host of other businesses, including gyms, clubs, and casinos. The Senate on Sunday failed to clear a key procedural hurdle on a $1.6 trillion emergency rescue package, raising pressure on both parties to try again to reach a deal to address the economic devastation of the coronavirus outbreak. On a 47-47 vote, the measure fell well short, after Democrats denied Republicans the 60 votes needed to move forward. Among the sticking points remaining are provisions for corporations getting federal assistance, including policy on stock buybacks and executive pay, as well as unemployment insurance and worker protections. A livid Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) chastised Democrats for voting against moving forward and blamed Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for interfering. "I want everybody to fully understand if we aren't able to act tomorrow, it will be because of our colleagues on the other side continuing to dicker when the country expects us to come together and address the problem," McConnell said on the floor. He added that over the last 48 hours there were bipartisan discussions among "regular members of the Senate, not in the Leadership office, not in the speaker's office for goodness sakes." "She's the Speaker of the House, not the Speaker of the Senate," McConnell added. "We were doing just fine until that intervention." Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., make a statement ahead of a planned late-night vote on the coronavirus aid package deal at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, March 13, 2020. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) blamed McConnell for adopting a partisan stance by holding the cloture vote without an agreement, and said the package still has "many problems." "The majority leader was well aware of how the vote would go before it happened but he chose to go forward with it anyway even though negotiations are continuing," Schumer said on the floor. "So who's playing games? But our caucus is united to deliver a bill that addresses this health and economic crisis quickly and we're committed to working in a bipartisan way to get it done." Story continues Drew Hammill, a senior Pelosi aide, chided Republicans: Rule of thumb from the speaker of the House: dont call the vote until you have the votes. Republicans and the White House insist that a deal has to be reached by Monday or financial markets will further deteriorate, exacerbating an already precarious position for the U.S. economy. Late Sunday night, McConnell was forced to reschedule a repeat of the same vote he lost. McConnell had wanted to hold it at 9:45 a.m., shortly after Wall Street opened, to pressure Schumer and Senate Democrats. But Schumer objected to that schedule, and now the re-vote will be held at noon Monday. "Maybe there will be some miraculous coming together tonight. I hope so," McConnell said as he left the building. "If not, we will now be voting at noon rather than 9:45." Even as McConnell walked out, Schumer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin were huddling in Schumer's office off the Senate floor, their seventh such discussion of the day. Meanwhile, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) announced he had become the first senator to test positive for the virus and would be isolating himself. Soon after, Utah GOP Sens. Mike Lee and Mitt Romney said they would be self-quarantining after recently spending time with Paul. And with Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) and Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) already having quarantined themselves because of possible exposure, GOP leaders are now short five Republican votes. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who is weighing his next steps on his presidential campaign, also didn't vote. Democrats signaled earlier in the day that the procedural vote could fail. "It does not appear that there is going to be enough votes to proceed right now," said moderate Democrat Doug Jones (Ala.). "It would be better for Sen. McConnell to just delay, let folks continue, because if we can get a deal done we get it to the floor and get it passed quickly." According to a senior Democratic aide, the party's concerns with the GOP proposal center on $500 billion for corporations; stock buyback language that can be waived by the Treasury secretary; only a two-year time frame on executive compensation limits; and no provisions to protect individuals from eviction. Democrats also object to what they say is an insufficient amount of money for state and local governments and providing only three months of unemployment insurance. Democrats initially asked for $750 billion in state aid, and Republicans have countered with far less. Schumer and Pelosi are also seeking an additional $200 billion for hospitals and other health-care providers as part of a supplemental government spending bill included in the overall rescue package. The White House had initially sought $48 billion for federal agencies, and Republicans upped that total to $242 billion, including $75 billion for hospitals. Democrats want to further increase it to $450 billion. Senate GOP leaders circulated text of a nearly 580-page bill to senators' offices and K Street before the vote. On Sunday, McConnell met for nearly an hour with Schumer, Pelosi, Mnuchin, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). Pelosi indicated afterward that House Democrats didn't support the Senate bill and will forge ahead with their own proposal. Well be introducing our own bill and hopefully it will be compatible," Pelosi said after leaving McConnell's office. Pelosi pushed a "laundry list" of demands at that meeting, according to a GOP official, including a proposal to wipe off $10,000 from anyone who owns federal student loans, as well as election-security funding. The Republicans countered those issues were not germane to the stimulus debate; Democrats say they have insisted these matters needed to be discussed all along. "I can tell you what happened we're continuing to talk," Schumer said. Delaying approval of a rescue package could be politically risky for Democrats as the party seeks to win the Senate back. McConnell and President Donald Trump could then hit them for obstruction in the face of a unprecedented public health emergency and economic slowdown. But Democrats said they needed to make a stand, and Pelosi's announcement suggests she is not considering just taking up the Senate bill and passing it through the House on a unanimous consent basis if it were somehow to be passed by the Senate. That also means the House may be forced back into session, even though many lawmakers are concerned about the threat from the coronavirus and the difficulties in reaching Capitol Hill from their home districts. Schumer and Pelosi have stayed in close touch with Mnuchin throughout the negotiations. Pelosi flew back to Washington on Saturday. While outstanding issues remain, Democrats are expected to get a win with $250 billion allocated to unemployment insurance. In addition, billions are expected to go to hospitals to address the influx of patients due to the pandemic. Schumer has called for a Marshall Plan for hospitals. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) also reached an agreement in principle Saturday evening with Sens. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), on the packages small business provisions. The final deal on small businesses would amount to $350 billion, covering 58 million American workers and more than 30 million small businesses, Rubio tweeted Saturday. Democrats have also pushed for expanded paid leave provisions. But Republicans are showing little interest, with GOP aides noting the House-passed second aid package already included provisions to expand paid sick leave. Republicans are also pushing for $250 billion in direct cash payments to workers. Under the original GOP proposal, individuals and families would receive $1,200 and $2,400 in direct cash payments, depending on their income level. Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Mitt Romney (R-Utah) have raised concerns that the original language of the provision penalizes lower-income Americans who do not have a taxable income. But Republican aides say the issue will be resolved in the final text. Heather Caygle and Victoria Guida contributed to this story. Italy reported 793 deaths on account of Covid-19 on Saturday, taking the total toll to 4,825. By Sunday night, the number had increased to 5,476 (there were 651 on Sunday alone). Thats over 35% of the total death toll around the world. China enforced a military-style lockdown once the threat posed by the Sars-Cov-2 virus became clear. Italy was slow to do so. Worse, Italians were lax in following whatever restrictions were put in place. Not many practised social distancing, self-isolation or quarantines. Experts around the world believe the Italian experience proves the importance of containment measures (including isolating areas ravaged by the disease), curbs on free movement of people, even a comprehensive lockdown. On Sunday, India seemed headed in that direction. All passenger trains were cancelled till the end of the month, as were all interstate buses. All Metro services, and Mumbais suburban network, also announced closure till March 31. It was always clear that the peoples curfew called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was a trial for an extended curfew. Now, all signs are that this could happen sooner than anyone thought. By late evening on Sunday, many states and Union Territories had announced hard lockdowns. In addition, 82 districts across 22 states and UTs (the ones where there are a significant number of Covid-19 cases) have also been locked down . The science on lockdowns in evolving. There is now no doubt that these flatten the curve, by reducing the opportunity for infections to be transmitted but there is also research to suggest that the subsequent removal of lockdowns could result in a so-called second wave of infections. People are expecting this in China, where factories have opened, and travel restrictions have eased. One such second wave is already manifesting itself in Hong Kong. This is not the time to debate whether India left it till too long to announce a lockdown. Nor whether the disease is in Phase 2 or Phase 3 in India (Phase 3, community transmission, is when the source of a patients infection cant be traced back to travel to a Covid-19-plus country or contact with another infected person). This writers own opinion is that India has announced a lockdown at the right time, that the disease is already is in Phase 3, and that the country missed an opportunity by not aggressively testing enough people when it should have (which could have prevented the disease from entering Phase 3). More people are likely to be tested over the next few weeks in India the testing criteria has been expanded to asymptomatic individuals and private laboratories have been allowed to start offering tests, although there seem to be some teething troubles on that front . And the lockdowns they will be difficult to endure, but are necessary -- will help break the chain of infection irrespective of what phase it is in. But while hoping for the best (and that research may establish that the virus will not survive the notorious Indian summer), India needs to prepare for the worst. That means measures aimed at mitigation. This will involve creating the health care infrastructure required to treat those severely affected by the virus. The experience of most countries where a large number of people have been affected by Sars-Cov-2 shows that four things are needed more than just about anything else: protective equipment for health care workers; ventilators ; hospital beds; and quarantine facilities. India has already barred exports of ventilators, and Anand Mahindra, the head of the Mahindra Group, has said that his conglomerate will focus its efforts on quickly manufacturing ventilators. Vishwaprasad Alva, the founder of a Mysore-based start-up, Skanray technologies, which makes ventilators, says that while some of the components come from Europe (and supplies of these have been disrupted), the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) can help make these locally. The government would do well to put someone it could be a minister, a bureaucrat in Niti Aayog, even a businessman from the private sector -- in charge of these efforts, a sort of manufacturing czar whose mandate is to boost local manufacturing of masks, protective equipment, and ventilators -- and quickly. Its possible that India wont need these, just as its equally possible that it will need a lot. The country ended Sunday with 396 infections and 7 deaths. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani did something unusual last week. In an open letter to the American people, he appealed to their conscience to end the sanctions against his country. The context, of course, was the coronavirus. The pandemic has closed schools, canceled public ceremonies and suspended businesses, he wrote, and yet the sanctions on Iran remain. Can the American people accept that these malicious pressures are brought to bear on the Iranian people in their name, as a result of their vote, and by the means of their taxes? he asked. Rouhanis public letter dovetails with his regimes broader strategy since 2018, when President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal and re-imposed secondary sanctions on Irans oil. Iran has escalated its military pressure, while playing the victim. At the beginning of the year, the U.S. responded in kind, killing the countrys most important general, Qassem Soleimani. With the outbreak of coronavirus in Iran, the countrys outlook is bleak. As of this writing, there were 20,610 cases in Iran, according to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center. That number is probably low. As the Atlantics Graeme Wood has reported, estimates suggest Iran is facing more than half a million cases. Faced with such a huge public health crisis, Irans leaders are understandably pleading for economic relief. The problem is that even in Irans moment of need, its regime remains aggressive and defiant, as my colleague Bobby Ghosh has noted. This month alone, Iranian proxies attacked a U.S. base in Iraq, the regime denied access to international nuclear inspectors in Iran and the commander of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps suggested the virus might be a U.S. biological weapon. If Rouhani wants the U.S. to relieve the sanctions against his country, then the countrys supreme leader needs to end militia attacks on Americans in Iraq, allow U.N. inspectors access to all of the countrys nuclear sites and stop spreading propaganda about the virus. That is also the view of a senior State Department who spoke to me on Saturday. Story continues That said, the U.S. has tried to make it easier for the regime to purchase or trade for medicine and hospital equipment since the pandemic started. Last month, the U.S. and Swiss governments established a humanitarian aid channel to make it easier for banks and financial institutions to underwrite such transactions with Iran. The Iranians have not used it to make significant purchases. (The sanctions against Iran already include an exemption for humanitarian aid such as food and medicine, but banks shied away from it, fearing the aid could be diverted and expose their institutions to fines and penalties from the Treasury Department.) The truth is that there is little anyone can do for Iran at the moment. Even if the oil sanctions were lifted tomorrow, the price of oil has plummeted. The countrys main export will not yield very much revenue to help fight the pandemic. Even if it did, an infusion of cash would not fix the public health crisis for which Irans leaders were not prepared. Fred Kagan, an Iran policy expert at the American Enterprise Institute, told me he thinks it unlikely that Irans regime will collapse as a result of the coronavirus. Nonetheless, he thinks the possibility is greater today than it was before the outbreak. Members of the military and internal security militias might choose to stay home and care for sick relatives, he said, than do the violence necessary to disperse restless crowds if protests begin anew. As for lifting U.S. sanctions on Iran, Kagan says that would be pointless to discuss now. When the Iranian government actually articulates a coherent set of needs, we can have a sensible conversation about what the U.S. should do, he said. They have not done that. In his open letter to the American people, Rouhani notes that the path of sanctions and pressure has never been successful and will never be so in the future. Instead, he writes, It is human discourse and action that produce results. That much is true. Rouhani should try leading by example. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners. Eli Lake is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering national security and foreign policy. He was the senior national security correspondent for the Daily Beast and covered national security and intelligence for the Washington Times, the New York Sun and UPI. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. YouTube standard video resolution has been 720p, but the platform is lowering it to 480p to reduce network congestion in the coronavirus crisis. YouTube video resolution lowered to 480p in coronavirus crisis We are making a commitment to temporarily switch all traffic in the EU to standard definition by default, YouTube said in a statement to Reuters. YouTube isnt alone. Rival streaming giant Amazon says that its Amazon Prime video service will do the same. Prime Video is working with local authorities and Internet Service Providers where needed to help mitigate any network congestion, an Amazon spokesperson said. YouTubes decision to lower its video resolution pertains to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses and schools have been sending employees and students home for the sake of social distancing. With more citizens at home than ever before, internet usage is on the rise. The increase in internet usage leads to network congestion. Advertisement Think of internet network congestion as highway traffic congestion. The more vehicles on the highway, the greater the traffic congestion. At some point, the highway will become impassable, with no room for new vehicles. With greater internet congestion, few new internet users will be able to join the information superhighway. Additionally, internet highway congestion will result in an inferior experience for those who use the internet regularly. Internet congestion is bad for everyone, whether new user or old user. 480p YouTube video resolution is a band-aid on a deep technological wound YouTube and Amazon are lowering their standard video resolution to 480p, but this is more of a band-aid on the wound instead of the solution. First, lowering the standard video resolution will only provide an inferior experience for customers who may notice the difference in resolution. Advertisement Internet congestion may result in interruptions, blurry on-screen content, abrupt pauses in video playback, and so on. Lowering video resolution may prove to exacerbate the problem (alongside playback disruptions) rather than relieve it. At some point, there may need to be more spectrum available for the quick growth in internet usage. Video resolution changes are no substitute for good ole spectrum. Lowering video resolution could lead to net neutrality violations Net neutrality is a rule that says that internet performance must remain the same for all, regardless of their inability to pay more or less. Theres been some fight to oppose net neutrality, allowing video demand services to charge more for a superior experience. Advertisement Lowering standard video resolution could very well lead to a rollback of net neutrality. Companies could start charging more for superior playback. Companies are running out of space on video platforms for users. A greater need for more spectrum and money for it could result in some users having a better experience than others. The financial shortage behind coronavirus could move companies to raise money any way they can. Network congestion becoming a problem in the US as well as the EU The European Union isnt the only one battling internet traffic congestion. The same thing is occurring here in the United States. Just this week, Microsofts Teams service reported an outage on Monday morning due to the 40% rise in usage on the video conferencing platform. Top US carrier Verizon Wireless is using emergency spectrum from smaller carriers to offset its network congestion. Australian lithium miners Galaxy Resources and Orocobre announced the suspension of on-site operations at their Argentinian projects on Monday March 23 to comply with the governments nationwide lockdown. Galaxy's workforce from its pilot Sal de Vida project is being demobilized from the site with only a handful of workers... COVID-19: Iran Deaths Jump To 1,812 03/23/20 Source: RFE/RL Iran has again rejected the United States' offer of humanitarian assistance, with President Hassan Rohani saying that Washington should lift sanctions if it wants to help Tehran fight the coronavirus outbreak. "American leaders are lying.... If they want to help Iran, all they need to do is to lift sanctions.... Then we can deal with the coronavirus outbreak," Rohani said in a televised speech on March 23. A coronavirus awareness mural at a street corner in Tehran: "Be Afraid" Official Iran's statistics on coronavirus as of March 23 Infections: 23,049 Deaths: 1,812 New Cases: 1,411 Recovered: 8,376 Iran is the Middle Eastern nation worst hit by the coronavirus. The Health Ministry announced on March 23 that another 127 Iranians had died from the virus, bring the death toll to 1,812, with more than 23,000 confirmed cases, an increase of over 1,400 cases from the previous day. Washington has offered humanitarian assistance to its longtime foe. But Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected the offer on March 22. Tensions between Iran and the United States have been running high since 2018, when President Donald Trump abandoned a 2015 nuclear deal Tehran reached with six world powers in 2015 and reimposed sanctions that have crippled the Iranian economy. Iranian authorities have blamed U.S. sanctions for hampering its efforts to curb the outbreak. "You have blocked Iran's oil exports, you have stopped Iran's banking transactions.... Your offer of help is the biggest lie in history," Rohani said. The United States has said the spread of the coronavirus will not save Iran from U.S. sanctions that are curbing its oil revenues and putting huge pressure on its economy. Edgar Wright, Kris Rey, TT the Artist and more filmmakers on watching their latest movies, and their industry at large, fall to a pandemic. Photo: Focus Features The spread of COVID-19 has put Hollywood at a standstill, as active productions go on hiatus and movies slated for release amble in a world of empty theaters. The likes of Mulan and the latest James Bond installment have retreated to release dates later in the year, but smaller titles have had fewer options available to them. Among those indie filmmakers gearing up for a theatrical run this spring, some have had to yank the rip cord for a video-on-demand release instead, while others are holding out hope for a delayed debut on a crowded fall calendar should the theaters ever reopen. For first-time directors eager to amass some buzz at now-canceled film festivals, the prospects of ever distributing their films is looking slimmer and slimmer. Over the coming weeks, Vulture will be conducting interviews with filmmakers whose movies were set to come out this year about the effects of the novel coronavirus on their industry, both in terms of their own work and the business at large. Their sentiments run the gamut from hope to doom (Ive been wondering when the next mass extinction event would come. This is it.) and collectively form an uncertain picture of the future of film. Kris Rey, director of SXSW Film Festival selection I Used to Go Here South by Southwest is the ideal place for a premiere. You get to see it with an audience. [My film] is a comedy, so you get a sense of what people will laugh at. Its a fun, satisfying way to cap off the years of work everyone has put into making this happen, but its also the first stop for making sure that it has a life beyond the festival. Normally, you hope that there will be buyers at the premiere and, hearing the reactions from everyone around them, theyll make a bid after everything gets out. Since thats not taking place, and suddenly everyone in the industry has to work from home without knowing what happens next, everyones unsure about what to do. Everyone wants to believe this is a big blip. But every day were accepting that this will have an impact deeper than just a slight pause. Were sending out links to the movie to different possible buyers, most of whom are individual people presumably seeing this on their laptops along with a lot of other movies from people in this situation. No one knows whats going to happen. I cant tell if more movies will be bought because they need new on-demand stuff, but my instinct is that people are scared to spend money. That goes for both individuals and companies. Everyone wants to believe this is a big blip. But every day were accepting that this will have an impact deeper than just a slight pause. I dont know. It feels like its going to be a while. Were going to be home and people want to see movies. And with all these work stoppages, all these films in production have to shut down, so no one can say when theyll return or in what capacity My most optimistic outlook is that the streaming services will be hungry for content. Finished, unreleased movies and TV will be scarce. [I Used to Go Here] could be among a group of movies that will be the last ones made for a while. Carlo Mirabella-Davis, director of Swallow My head is still spinning from how quickly everything collapsed. At first, it was devastating to see our dreams of a theatrical release for Swallow vanish overnight, but intrepid film journalists came to our rescue by reviewing the movie in droves. In addition, a groundswell of enthusiastic appreciators of the movie who watched it on VOD have been flooding social media with ebullient recommendations and fan art. Independent films rely heavily on word of mouth to expand visibility. A successful theatrical run in select theaters can spark that and motivate a wider release which happened to us in France, where the film expanded to 98 screens and played for eight weeks. My head is still spinning from how quickly everything collapsed. I think the coronaviruss impact on the industry is hitting the new voices of independent cinema especially hard. Its easy for me to lament the loss of our theatrical release, but in many ways, Swallow was extremely lucky to make it over the finish line before everything shut down. The people my heart is breaking for are all those indie first-time feature filmmakers who were going to premiere their new visions at the magnificent Tribeca and wonderful SXSW film festivals. Their vibrant creations now have to sit on a shelf for who knows how long. For me, storytelling is essential to a healthy world because it brings us together, increases empathy. At a time where a lot of us are locked into our homes, Ive become even more grateful to the filmmakers and television shows that have given us something to fill our days with, as well as a much-needed time capsule to remind us what it was like when we didnt have to live in isolation. My love of movies was imparted to me by my parents, who are in the most vulnerable demographic of COVID-19s impact, and I worry about them every day. One of the things I miss most is the fact that my parents, my sister, and I cant spend an evening together watching one of our favorite films. Movies unite us and will continue to unite us during this trying time, even if were not physically in the same room. Alex Ross Perry, director of the upcoming The Dark Half There are innumerable benefits to not living in Los Angeles. Chief among them is that I have no interaction with anybody who I technically work for. At most, I see producers or executives who I am collaborating with two or three times a year. I work from home and talk on the phone a lot. So my current writing projects are almost entirely unaffected. Timelines are the same, because drafts are going to be useful, and when (if?) this crisis subsides, the machinery is going to have to start up again. Two of these jobs are still in the first-draft stage, so any chance of them moving into production would be at least nine months to a year away. Unlike a writers strike, which will leave screenplays only 75 percent complete and television scripts unable to be written at the speed they require, my understanding from various conversations last week is that, much like how the cultural calendar is wiped clean only for the next five to six weeks, the hope is that by May or June, everything will have to return to some version of normalcy. Ive been wondering when the next mass extinction event would come. This is it. Relevant side note: There is a writers strike threatened to begin May 1. At this moment, writers are some of the least affected people in the industry, at least compared to below-the-line crew and people currently in production. If this pandemic subsides and a strike begins immediately, the entire pipeline of available film and television product for the remainder of 2020 and into 2021 will collapse beyond repair, no question. The biggest issue here is the extreme shock and tragedy of the delicate ecosystem that supports hundreds of my friends and colleagues totally collapsing in a matter of days. Movies that were to premiere at SXSW or Tribeca and fight for a morsel of attention are perhaps doomed to obscurity forever. Shoots that had been in the works for a year may never happen, and nothing will replace the income people are not collecting right now. Mulan and 007 will be released on 4,000 screens, someday. I do not know what future awaits [Eliza Hittmans] Never Rarely Sometimes Always, but it will never have the momentum it did two weeks ago. I know that Netflix will properly reschedule the cast and crew of Stranger Things. I do not know how Paul Schrader reconvenes Oscar Isaac and Willem Dafoe to shoot only five more days on his new movie. This is the apocalypse that has been on the horizon for a long time. Its been over a decade since the financial collapse brought an end to the Paramount Vantages and Warner Independents of the world. Ive been wondering when the next mass extinction event would come. This is it. Edgar Wright, director of the upcoming Last Night in Soho As a producer-director, its very disheartening to have to send people home on a job, but the health of the planet is of paramount importance. Just through my own colleagues, I know of so many people who are currently out of work. I cant even imagine what the number is when you combine all of the TV and film productions that went on hiatus recently. Its a uniquely uncertain time that everyone is pulling for to be over soon. I know of so many people who are currently out of work. I cant even imagine what the number is when you combine all of the TV and film productions. Despite the fact that the entire world is at home binging films, I have to remain optimistic about cinema returning to the big screen when all this is over. Its a huge blow to the community to have screens literally go dark, and I urge anyone who is passionate about a favorite local cinema, and can afford it, to become a member and help keep them afloat so they can flicker back to life as soon as possible. Even though Ive made two apocalyptic comedies that are bleakly funny in places, Id like to think they are warm and hopeful in some others. Id like to project this latter, more hopeful outlook by doing what I can to support the arts through this. As a filmmaker and as a ticker buyer. Lets call it an intermission, and Ill see you back in an auditorium soon. TT the Artist, director of SXSW Film Festival selection Dark City: Beneath the Beat I was gonna put the film out last year in the state that it was in, after a decade of development. I was told by so many people to wait for SXSW or Sundance, but I told myself that I didnt make this film for festivals. It wasnt until I started applying for grants that I came around to the idea. You want to get bought, especially if you dont have insider connections, so youve got to do the festival thing. I was creating music for Insecure. I basically worked my way up to being a shadow director for season four, and thats how I got connected with Issa Rae and her team. They saw a trailer Id made for Dark City and told me they wanted to help me get to where I needed to go. They came in and helped us complete post-production and talked with us about marketing. Those discussions were about festivals, getting the soundtrack on Baltimore radio. The question was how we get this in front of the right people. Whats tough about losing out on SXSW was that I never cared about notoriety or recognition; I just wanted to give Baltimore something it needs. This wasnt about TT the Artist. Its for the whole city, showing the beautiful imagery that isnt what the mainstream is accustomed to seeing. That was always the goal. With SXSW canceled, I couldnt go into panic mode. I went into creative mode. Im solution-based. What were discussing now is the smartest way to get content out there. Were thinking about going online, but in what way, is the thing. Were still looking for distribution, from someone who can get real numbers of people to experience this. Im hopeful. Andrew Ahn, director of the upcoming Driveways My film Driveways was supposed to screen at festivals and in theaters leading up to our digital release in May, but all of those physical screenings have been canceled. It really dampens the excitement you hope to experience when you put a film out into the world. On the production side, Im left on hold, waiting to hear if projects will get postponed or canceled. Its hard to plan for my year financially without having a sense of when things will go back to normal. Thankfully, I can always fall back on writing. Its the only thing thats kept me sane and gives me the belief that once things go back to normal, Ill be ready to move forward on a number of projects. I honestly believe that cinemas collective experience is just so powerful. People want to be part of an audience, whether its at a theater or a film festival. Current brick-and-mortar movie theaters might close, but if they do, new ones will pop up. Even now, were seeing a resurgence of interest in drive-ins. The cancelation of SXSW and Tribeca due to coronavirus has really shaken up the American independent film industry. I cant even predict the downstream effects; its massive. However, the defining characteristic of independent films is that they are made by sheer force of will and passion. The infrastructure and the system might not survive, but the art form will. Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed on Sunday night states would virtually shut down from midday on Monday but rejected suggestions the national cabinet process had broken down after Victoria and NSW announced their own plans ahead of the meeting. He said from noon all states would shut pubs and clubs as well as cinemas, nightclubs, casinos, gyms, indoor sporting venues, churches and places of worship, while cafes and restaurants would only be open for takeaway. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy announce drastic new bans. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Mr Morrison said children "should go to school tomorrow" and for the remainder of the school term in all states and said there was "no change" to the health advice from authorities. Schools across Victoria will still close on Tuesday, bringing forward the Easter school holidays, however Mr Morrison said the leaders agreed they should reopen after the break. T wo of Britain's leading police officers have said enforcing the Government's restrictions on movement will be "a real challenge" and even impossible with the number of officers available. Prime Minister Boris Johnson told Brits on Monday evening that they have to stay at home, apart from for medical reasons, critical work, shopping and exercise once a week. Any gatherings of more than two people will be broken up by police, Mr Johnson said. But Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, told Sky News: "Its going to be very difficult what is put in front of us. I dont doubt for one minute that my colleagues will rise to the challenge, because thats what we always do and its what the public expect us to do." Mr Marsh added that the Government hadn't told the police the details of what their new powers will be. And he said that the police would not be able to carry out their new duties without support from the public. Boris Johnson: British public must stay at home "It will be very, very challenging and very difficult for us with whats put in front of us," he said. But we dont actually know what is being put in front of us yet other than were going to be asked to disperse crowds, its going to be a real, real challenge. He added: One thing I would say straight off the bat to the public is please, please, youve got to come with us on this one, youve got to help with this, otherwise its going to get really, really impossible. We will be dealing with it, but Im not sure we will have the resources to be able to see it through." John Apter, national chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, echoed Mr Marsh's plea for public support. Saving lives and protecting the public is the number one priority for us all and at this time of national crisis it is essential that we all come together and play our part in doing so. The practicalities of policing this lockdown will be challenging, but policing will do all it can to keep the public safe, but we need the public to support us... and stay at home unless absolutely necessary." Mr Apter said this would enable police to concentrate on keeping the streets safe. New Delhi [India], Mar 22 (ANI): SAARC Disaster Management Centre on Sunday launched a website for information related to coronavirus pandemic in the region as announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the recent video conference with SAARC leaders. Ministry of External Affairs Raveesh Kumar tweeted about the website: "From regional plan to regional action! SAARC Disaster Management Centre launches a website for information related to the COVID-19 pandemic in the SAARC region, as announced by PM @narendramodi during the video conference with SAARC Leaders." The website -- http://www.covid19-sdmc.org -- gives full data and updates about the evolving situation of the novel virus in the SAARC countries that include India, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, and Nepal have also joined India voluntarily in contributing to the SAARC COVID-19 Emergency Fund. Prime Minister Modi has pledged an amount of US$ 10 million as an initial contribution from India. Among others, the proposals shared by the leaders include continuing the consultation process through meetings at the ministerial and experts' level, identifying nodal experts to take further action on the proposals discussed during the Conference It was also decided in the conference to formulate a comprehensive regional strategy against coronavirus through the SAARC process and other appropriate mechanisms. (ANI) As millions of students nationwide start to settle into virtual learning programs to slow the spread of the coronavirus, a massive new research analysis sounds another note of caution about the effects of exposing children, particularly younger ones, to significantly more screen time. A new meta-analysis out today in the journal JAMA Pediatrics finds that while high-quality educational screen content is associated with better language skills, more overall time on screens each day, regardless of its quality, is linked to lower language development. What we do see is, as the number of hours increases, so too does the risk for problematic outcomes, said lead researcher Sheri Madigan of the University of Calgary in Canada. What this work suggests is that the quality of screen-viewing matters, but I think it all needs to be used in moderation. Researchers led by Madigan analyzed the quantity and educational quality of screen timeincuding television, computer, tablet, and even telephone programmingconsumed by nearly 19,000 children under 12 across 42 studies. While earlier studies within the meta-analysis focused mainly on television use, later ones looked at laptops, tablets, and phones, and about a quarter looked across all modes. The researchers found similar trends across all types of screen time, and moreover, the dose of screen time seemed to build similarly regardless of what combination of devices a child used; for example, a child who spent two hours on tablet apps, watched a movie and then browsed around the internet for an hour had still spent five hours on screens. That time could start adding up quickly for the millions of students across the country whose entire class days are moving onto screens during school closures. Surveys of average daily screen time, such as those by the nonprofit group Common Sense Media, have typically not included school time. And to be fair, Madigan said digital programming that has been specifically designed for children, to improve language skills, with narrative arcs they can follow interactively, tends to be associated with better language skills. Its just that it will still need to be factored into the overall screen time children are consuming on a daily basissomething most families and even educators dont do now. Teachers can also inform parents what they do that technically goes into the screen time hours that kids should receive in a day, she said. So being able to allow parents to know that if they watch that two-hour movie with an 8-year-old, at that point youre actually hitting your max in terms of the number of recommended hours of screen viewing in a day. I think its important to communicate that back to parents to think about. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommended back in 2016 that screen time of any kind be limited for those ages 2 to 5 to co-viewing with parents who can explain what is going on and for no more than 1 hour per day of high-quality educational programming. It had not put hard limits on screen time for school-age children ages 6 and up, but the academy said limits should be made and screen time should not interfere with childrens sleep or exercise habits. Yet in the years since, research has suggested older children may also be affected by long periods online or in front of the television. A longterm, ongoing study of pre-adolescents shows those who spend hours of screen time a day across phones, tablets, and video games had lower cognitive skills, particularly in translating two-dimensional to three-dimensional objects. And studies of older adolescents and adults suggest reading in digital formats over long periods of time may reduce reading flow and comprehension , particularly for longer texts. Educators Can Help School leaders and educators can help mitigate the effects of expanding screen time, Madigan said, by encouraging and supporting parents in developing a holistic plan to incorporate childrens different types of screen time over the course of the week, and also by training parents in how to use online and video resources with their children. When parents sit down and watch screens together with their kids, thats associated with language development. So that might be because theyre co-viewing: You can monitor what kids are watching, you can kind of help childrens learning because you can tell them whats happening on the screen, she said. This can help children sort of make sense of what theyre watching and learn from it. In particular, the researchers found that boys were more likely than girls to see lower language skills associated with more screen timebut also to have greater benefits than girls did from co-using digital devices with their parents. In part, the researchers found, this was because on average, girls had higher language skills at each age range, so boys had greater windows for improvement, but Madigan said boys may also be less likely than girls to receive a lot of digital-related social interaction with their parents, particularly as they get older. Photo: Tony Berastegui, 12, left, and his sister Giselle, 9, do school work via computer on the dining room table after the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic forced schools to close March 16, 2020, in Laveen, Ariz. New research suggests academic screen time should be taken into account with childrens overall screen consumption to avoid them getting too much. Source: AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin Six Pakistani officials have been suspended for clicking a selfie with their colleague who was tested positive for coronavirus, according to a media report on Monday. As on Sunday, the coronavirus pandemic has claimed four lives and infected over 750 people in Pakistan. The deputy commissioner of Khairpur district suspended six revenue officials from different areas of the district for clicking a selfie with their colleague who was tested positive for coronavirus, the Dawn News reported. The infected man had recently returned from Iran, it said. Quoting an official privy to the development, the report said the six had paid a visit to their colleague at his home as a goodwill gesture over his return from pilgrimage after almost a month. READ| ABSURD: Pakistan Guv turns quack, says 'hot water' prevents lung damage by Coronavirus "By that time, he was not showing any symptoms of the virus, neither had complained about any unwellness. As a trend, these days, all the six colleagues and the host took a selfie. A few of them later posted that picture on their social media account. When the man tested positive a few days ago, all those who were in contact with him were being spotted and isolated," the official said. Imran Khan refuses 'complete shutdown' Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on March 22 ruled out complete lockdown in the country, saying it will create chaos and urged people to self-quarantine to curb the spread of the coronavirus, which has so far claimed four lives and infected 646 people in the country. Addressing the nation as cases of the novel coronavirus surged across the country, Imran Khan reiterated that lockdown will create chaos as more than 25% of people were living below the poverty line and their lives will be shattered. He said the situation in Pakistan does not call for a lockdown yet. Let me first tell you what a complete lockdown is. It means imposing a curfew and locking people in their homes, said Imran Khan. We cannot afford complete lockdown as it will create massive unrest, he said, adding that the situation in the country is not as bad as in Italy or France. If the condition was similar to that of Italy, I would have imposed a lockdown, he said. He urged the people to follow the policy of self-isolation and stay inside their homes. He said the government was constantly watching the situation and all the necessary measures will be taken accordingly. The government on March 21 suspended all international flights for two weeks and curtailed train services to curb the spread of the virus, which has turned into a major global crisis. Official data issued by the National Disaster Management Authority showed at least 646 confirmed coronavirus cases. (with PTI inputs) READ| Coronavirus: Shoaib Akhtar ridicules Pakistani public for not practising social distancing READ| Pakistan Army wades into Coronavirus war, Army chief Bajwa ready to send in the troops Louth TD Ruairi O Murchu has called for 'a strong governmental health and financial response to the Covid-19 pandemic', and has said that Sinn Fein will be taking such proposals to the Taoiseach later today. In a statement issued this afternoon, Deputy O Murchu said; We need societal restrictions to save lives, monetary safeguards for families and protections for businesses. We need everyone to play their part. We need all financial institutions, including vulture funds to offer interest free mortgage holidays and to make applications as easy as possible. We need further rent and tenancy protections and waivers to be enacted by the Minister for Housing. Insurance companies cannot be allowed to welch on business interruption insurance. They seem to be playing a win-win game by refusing to pay-out. Real action is needed. Business owners have contacted me about multiple instances of being refused legitimate insurance payments as they do their civic duty, protecting their workers and the community by closing their premises. The Central Banks role in responding to this crisis has been shameful so far. Their consumer protection role has been absent. Some banks and vultures are hitting borrowers hard even with the three month mortgage and loan holiday proposal. We will be bringing a suite of proposals to scale up emergency measures and restrictions in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic with the Taoiseach this afternoon at the party leaders briefing at Government Buildings." The newly elected TD continued: "Sinn Fein representatives across Louth are being contacted by workers who are extremely concerned about not being able to engage in social distancing in their workplaces. Workers and their families run the risk of contracting or transmitting the virus. This situation is unacceptable. "Necessary interventions have been made to get ahead of this virus, to slow it down and to 'flatten the curve'. It is now time for the government to introduce full measures to protect these workers and to move to the next stage of physical distancing by shutting down non-essential business activity. This means the immediate introduction of an Income Support Scheme that will guarantee an income of up to 525 per week for 20 weeks for all workers who have been laid off. This would benefit every worker and would mean that everyone who earns up to 32,500 a year will receive their full wage. "The Dail needs to sit urgently to address all these issues. There is also a responsibility on all of us to ensure we follow all social distancing and hygiene directives, but it is clear that not everyone is doing this. The health service has many systematic shortcomings and we must do all we can so our wonderful health workers are given the time and opportunity to prepare and to save as many lives as possible. I want to commend those strictly following public health instructions. I also want to praise our frontline healthcare workers, those engaged in food and essential goods provision, our public servants, particularly those in the Department of Foreign Affairs working on Irish citizen repatriation. "I welcome the monetary compensation of their workers by certain employers in food retail. This is a recognition of the hard work and importance of these workers and this would be welcome right across the sector. We need everyone to play their part in this crisis and this includes politicians. There is no room for exclusionary politics. The government must step in and take the necessary actions", Deputy O Murchu concluded. The son of Atiku Abubakar, a former Vice President of Nigeria and 2019 Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has contracted the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19). Naija News reports that the former Vice President made this known in a tweet on the micro-blogging site, Twitter on Sunday night, March 22. Atiku said the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has been duly informed and that his son has been moved to Gwagwalada Specialist Teaching Hospital in Abuja, Nigerias capital for treatment and management. The PDP Presidential candidate tweeted: My son has tested positive to coronavirus. @NCDCGov has been duly informed, and he has been moved to Gwagwalada Specialist Teaching Hospital in Abuja for treatment and management. I will appreciate it if you have him in your prayers. Stay safe, coronavirus is real, the tweet read. My son has tested positive to coronavirus. @NCDCGov has been duly informed, and he has been moved to Gwagwalada Specialist Teaching Hospital in Abuja for treatment and management. I will appreciate it if you have him in your prayers. Stay safe, coronavirus is real. -AA Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) March 22, 2020 Meanwhile, this is coming a few hours after the Federal Ministry of Health confirmed that Nigeria currently has thirty confirmed cases of the deadly coronavirus in the West African country. The Lagos State Government on Sunday evening, March 22 recorded fresh three cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) with 2 out of the three cases returning from travel and one a contact of a confirmed case. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) tweeted: Three new cases of #COVID19 have been confirmed in Lagos, Nigeria. 2 cases are returning travellers and 1 is a contact of a confirmed case. As at 05:28 pm on the 22nd of March, there are 30 confirmed cases of #COVID19 in Nigeria. 2 have been discharged with no deaths, the tweet added. NEW DELHI (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd March, 2020) The office of the prime minister of Bhutan announced in a statement on Sunday that the country would close its international borders starting from March 23 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. "From 06:00 am, March 23, [00:00 GMT], 2020, the Royal Government of Bhutan will close all our international borders," the statement read. According to Johns Hopkins University, Bhutan has so far confirmed two cases of the coronavirus disease in the country. Citywide Emily Baedeker, owner of Florette salon, launched a fundraising campaign to help with expenses. | Photo: Teresa Hammerl/Hoodline Haircuts, mani-pedis and facials are not considered essential services under San Francisco's shelter-in-place order, which went into effect on March 17 and will continue through April 7 to prevent the spread of COVID-19. That means at least three weeks of no income for the city's hairdressers, manicurists and aestheticians, many of whom already operate on thin margins with the city's high commercial rents. "No one who has been making a business plan thought this would happen," said hairstylist Emily Baedeker, who operates a Mission pop-up salon, Florette. "It's unprecedented." Baedeker, a single mom, had just managed to find a space for Florette in November, with a year-long agreement to share the storefront of Zoe Bikini (3386 18th St.) Like many stylists, she's an independent contractor who only gets paid when she works. She's responsible for paying her own health insurance costs a struggle with no income coming in. And even if she is able to go back to work in a few weeks, schools could remain closed, which means she'll need childcare for her son as she meets the demand from all the appointments she's had to cancel. "The expense of living here [in San Francisco] is one of the biggest reasons I am unable to sufficiently save money for times like these," she said. "Its even harder when there is only one of me." At Edo Salon. | Photo: Ruby C./Yelp Aesthetician Katie Woods is the owner of Hayes Valley's Ritual Skincare (120 Hickory St.), where she offers services like facials and hair removal. She said that the shelter-in-place order is especially difficult because she doesn't know when it will end. "It makes it incredibly challenging to plan ahead," she said. She's facing a near-total loss of income, while owing rent on "a space that I can't even use," she said. Baedeker expressed gratitude that Mayor London Breed has instituted a moratorium on evictions for small and medium-sized businesses that are unable to pay rent as a result of the COVID-19 closures. "We all have a level of anxiety," she said. Story continues Katie Woods of Ritual Skincare. | Photo: Ritual Skincare As the crisis wears on, both women are adapting. Woods launched an online store on Sunday, offering curbside pick-up, delivery and shipping for the local skincare products that she normally sells at her studio. She's also been taking her business online in a different way: "Virtually, I also offer online skincare consultations as well as courses and consulting for other industry pros," she said. Baedeker has begun selling gift cards online, and created a GoFundMe campaign for clients who want to help support her, her son and her two pets while she weathers the crisis. "People want to help," she said. "Thats whats been really beautiful." At Church Barber. | Photo: Teresa Hammerl/Hoodline Many other salons are encouraging customers to buy gift cards and pre-pay for appointments, including the Lower Haight's Edo Salon and Divisadero's Belli Capelli. "Its a tight squeeze on the industry, [so] please consider pre-paying for your next appointment if you can," Mission salon Dreamers and Make Believers wrote on Instagram. Salon owners say they're trying to think positively about the potential rush of clients upon their return, as gray roots, unvarnished nails and overgrown locks continue to grow in self-isolation. "We look forward to a line of scruffy friends outside of our door when we return," Hayes Valley's Church Barber joked on Instagram. In the meantime, Woods and Baedeker are hoping the relationships they've built over the years can help sustain them through tough times. "Hairdressers have a relationship with clients," Baedeker said, noting that many of her regulars have reached out to offer assistance. "Its personal." Sudan will impose a nationwide curfew starting on Tuesday beginning at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT) and lasting until 6 a.m. to help curb the spread of the coronavirus, a member of the ruling transitional council said on Monday. Sudan will also halt all long-haul bus trips between cities and states beginning on Thursday from 6 p.m. local time, the council member, Sadig Tawir, said on state television. "All the state's capabilities will be at the disposal of the committee to fight coronavirus," Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of Sudan's sovereign council, told a press conference, referring to a task force of cabinet members and sovereign council members dedicated to fighting coronavirus. Sudan confirmed its second case of the coronavirus last Friday. It has so far confirmed one death from the disease. The country closed all airports, ports and land crossings and declared a public health emergency last week. Only humanitarian, commercial and technical support shipments would be excluded from the restrictions, according to a spokesman for the ruling council, in charge of the country since the ouster of veteran ruler Omar al-Bashir. Search Keywords: Short link: Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat. (PHOTO: YouTube screengrab) SINGAPORE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Heng Swee Keat will deliver a Ministerial Statement on Thursday (26 March) in Parliament on the governments additional support measures for workers, businesses and households in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In his second speech to the nation on the COVID-19 situation, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on 12 March that the government is working on a second package of measures following the $4 billion Support and Stabilisation Package announced by Heng in his Budget speech last month. Lee said then that the impact from the pandemic was especially serious for some sectors including hotels, aviation, hospitality, and freelancers in the gig economy. There will be live television and radio coverage of the Ministerial Statement on Thursday afternoon. The full Ministerial Statement will be published on the Singapore Budget website (www.singaporebudget.gov.sg) after delivery. Related stories COVID-19: Singapore economy taking big hit, nobody has been spared PM Lee Budget 2020: $5.6b packages to help alleviate economic slowdown Hasbro stock soared Monday morning after CEO Brian Goldner told CNBC that the company was experiencing strong demand during the coronavirus pandemic. "Overall we are seeing great demand in our products," Goldner said on "Squawk Box." "In fact, our supply chains are back up and running in China," he added. Shares of Hasbro closed up 12.5% on Monday to $51.87 each. The stock was trading around $105 in early February but fell dramatically as investors responded to growing uncertainty around the economic consequences of the coronavirus. Even with Monday's bounce, Hasbro is down around 50% from its early February levels. The stock hit a 52-week high of $126.87 in July. The broader market closed down about 3% Monday as Wall Street waits on fiscal stimulus legislation from lawmakers in Washington. In late February, Hasbro warned investors in a regulatory filing that the COVID-19 outbreak in China could cause "significant negative impact on our revenues, profitability and business." "Our first quarter has been quite good," Goldner told CNBC on Monday. "We may miss some shipments as we're catching up, as production is catching up. We believe that by April our production will be fully caught up." But the situation around the coronavirus remains fluid, Goldner stressed, "as certain markets are closing while others are still open and robust." For example, Hasbro employees in Hong Kong are back working remotely after a recent surge in cases in the semi-autonomous region, Goldner said. Goldner said demand for Hasbro's games, such as Monopoly and Operation, and Play-Doh have been particularly strong. He said the company is also planning new products in response to the widespread "stay-at-home" directives being issued across the country. "This week we'll launch a program called 'Bring Home the Fun,' trying to give parents and caregivers the resources they need to keep kids occupied to help them get educated and keep creativity going on," he said. About Covid19 signs are seen at the Times Square in New York City, United States on March 20, 2020. Fauci, who has been on the front line of the government response to the COVID-19 outbreak, flagged that testing is one "clear" issue that needs to be looked at again. "It's almost like the fog of war. After the war is over, you then look back and say, 'Wow, this plan, as great as it was, didn't quite work once they started that throwing hand grenades at us,'" the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said in the interview published Sunday. "It really is similar to that." In answer to what went wrong in the U.S. and "why did this fail" despite the country's pandemic preparedness, Fauci said: "I think we'll have to wait until it is over and we look back." The battle against the coronavirus pandemic is like "the fog of war," top U.S. health official Dr. Anthony Fauci said in an interview with Science magazine . He said it was "premature" to assess whether the U.S. plan has failed or not. Testing for the coronavirus across the U.S. has been criticized as unacceptably inadequate and slow. That has prevented health officials from understanding the full scope of the outbreak, American hospital leaders told CNBC earlier in March. "Why were we not able to mobilize on a broader scale? But I don't think we can do that right now. I think it's premature. We really need to look forward," Fauci told Science. Those who have criticized the amount of testing in the U.S. point to the aggressive approach taken by countries such as South Korea, where more than 200,000 people have been tested since early January. New York state now has more coronavirus cases than France or South Korea as the number of confirmed infections soared to 15,168, according to data released by Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Sunday. Asked by the magazine's Jon Cohen about how he manages disagreements with President Donald Trump, Fauci said: "Even though we disagree on some things, he listens. He goes his own way. He has his own style. But on substantive issues, he does listen to what I say." Fauci acknowledged that he has been calling for people to be physically separated during press conferences, but that has not always been possible. "I keep saying, is there any way we can get a virtual press conference. Thus far, no," he told the magazine. "But when you're dealing with the White House, sometimes you have to say things one, two, three, four times, and then it happens. So I'm going to keep pushing." Read more about Anthony Fauci's interview with Science magazine here. CNBC's Dawn Kopecki and Kevin Stankiewicz contributed to this report. Where's Joe Biden? After promising us he'd play pretend-president with daily briefings about the coronavirus crisis, blasting yet also plagiarizing President Trump, who's showing himself to be a stellar crisis president, Biden's now weirdly missing from any public appearances. Which doesn't exactly sound like the captain you'd want in a storm. The latest excuse coming from his team is that it's all due to "lighting issues" which presumably might make his Hollywood smile look less bright to voters on camera. Biden's team has leaked to reporters that their man was back home in Wilmington trying to get the lighting right for his big cavalcade of upcoming play-president events, and well, they're still working on it. He didn't have any problems with lighting before, the twitterati pointed out, and the argument has brought out tweets of his luxury digs in Delaware, highlighting that public office has made Biden a very rich man indeed. Biden's last lost-in-space speech came against a black backdrop and two flags, and was, according to some reports, in any case done at his house. this is the excuse being provided for why biden isn't being seen during a national emergency pic.twitter.com/gmdgBFgyg5 Current Affairs (@curaffairs) March 22, 2020 Here's Breitbart, citing a perplexed CBS network official: Democrat presidential front runner Joe Biden has largely gone into hiding as the coronavirus crisis ballooned this week. CBS News reporter Bo Erickson estimated Biden has been seen publicly for about six minutes since last Fridays disastrous virtual town hall meeting. In past week, Joe Biden has only had 1 on-camera public address as COVID escalated. (He spoke for ~6 mins on Tuesday from his home.), Erickson wrote on Twitter. He also hosted a tele-town hall w/voters, answered Qs on press call & video chatted w/donors. Everything else has been statements ripping POTUS, he said. Breitbart notes that the last time Biden was seen in public was St. Patrick's Day, wearing a green tie, looking lost into space, and having to be told to get off the stage by his wife. CNN reported that Biden held a six-minute no-appearance (he still hasn't heard of Zoom) phone call with reporters on Friday, sniping at President Trump, apparently unaware that navigating a big ship in a crisis storm is going to be hard even for an experienced captain: Joe Biden on Friday lambasted President Donald Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, telling Trump to "stop swerving between over-promising, buck-passing, and start delivering protection to our people." "He's all over the map. In a crisis we need leadership that's straightforward, clear and reliable," the former vice president, who has been home in Wilmington, Delaware, said during a call with reporters. Biden has built a near-insurmountable lead over Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders for the Democratic 2020 nomination. Biden said Trump is "behind the curve" and "promising results he has not delivered and announcing actions that he has not even ordered," pointing to Trump's comments that don't match reality on the availability of coronavirus tests and a vaccine. Which is pure backseat driving at a time of national crisis. He also seemed to be out of the loop with congressional Democratic leaders, who had been plotting over the weekend to derail the bipartisan economy bailout package, including $1,200 checks to Americans, apparently calling for its passage. According to CNN: But on Friday, he urged Congress and the White House to "surge dollars into the economy" to help workers and small businesses. He said big businesses that get federal government help need to meet "their obligations to the community" and cannot be allowed to use that money for stock buy-backs or benefits for executives. Jobless claims are through the roof now, American workers were promised money and now they get nothing and Old Joe is missing in action. Oh, his aides did apparently try to create the appearance of an appearance, first with a political hack named Ron Klain offering up a Ross Perot-style charts-and-graphs video, noted here, and then with a non-live Instagram post supposedly from Biden, but Joe's a guy who just learned about teleconferencing. Who believes he really knows anything about Instagram? As Dianny at Patriot Retort notes: For crying out loud, Joe couldnt even figure out how to stay on camera during his own livestream video. Does Symone Sanders actually think wed believe that Joe himself logged onto his Instagram account, found this livestream video for some dude hes probably never heard of and commented using a thumbs up emoji? Meanwhile, Bernie Sanders, who's banking on a Biden flameout and therefore not dropping out of the presidential race, has been on the job, not worried about the lighting. According to the Bernie-friendly lefty site Common Dreams: While users on social media asked Friday why Democratic presidential frontrunner Joe Biden appears to be missing in action on the coronvirus crisiscausing the #WhereIsJoe hashtag to trend Sen. Bernie Sanders indicated his intention to remain focused on the global pandemic by announcing a virtual roundtable event focused on the crisis. The campaigns of both remaining Democratic contenders have been dramatically curtailed by the infectious disease, but Sanderswho remains a sitting member of the U.S. Senatehas been much more active and vocal on the subject of how to manage the outbreak over the last week, even as his presidential hopes have been dashed by repeated primary losses to Biden. Common Dreams placed this acid quote about Biden in its subheader: "Trump is in front of the cameras every day, reassuring people, putting on the appearance of 'leadership,'" said one Democratic critic. "Where is Biden? Why isn't he dominating the airwaves?" In any case, Bernie got around any lighting issues he might have had by holding his briefings outside: Mr. President, get your act together. Utilize the Defense Production Act and protect our medical personnel. pic.twitter.com/ozuT72PYQN Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) March 21, 2020 It's a really bad look for the Democratic frontrunner to be projecting at the height of a crisis. Is he sick, or out of his mind? Why doesn't he just say so -- lots of political leaders have gotten sick these days, it's actually no shame to say so. Instead, he disappears, offers fake and obviously dishonest excuses and leaves voters wondering. Is Biden's so hung up on the vanity priority of lighting that he can't make his statements about the crisis? He sure as heck isn't treating this as a crisis, by going AWOL on his supporters. He promises to appear. He doesn't appear. He looks lost the last time he did appear. He does placeholder appearances with aides and Instagrams, raising further questions about where he really is. He lets his rivals take the money and run. He plagiarizes his opponent, while offering only sniping to him instead of a unified front. He engages in obvious deception as to why he won't show up in public, raising questions of trust. He's showing the broader mass of voters exactly why you wouldn't want him anywhere near the levers of power during a national crisis. This series of moves and deceptions shows that he's completely unfit for the presidency. Image credit: Dianny, Patriot Retort, by permission Restaurant chains in Hanoi and HCMC are shutting down outlets due to dwindling revenues as the Covid-19 pandemic keeps customers away. Golden Gate has closed five of its Gogi House Korean-style BBQ restaurants in Hanoi since March 11 after revenues fell by 30-40 percent. Golden Gate operates over 20 chains with 112 outlets around the country. It also plans to shut seven Kichi-Kichi hotpot restaurants in Hanoi out of a total of 87 it has in the country. Nhan Sushi has shut down all three of its restaurants in Hanoi for two weeks from March 10. The owner of the chain, Luong Hoang Long, said on his Facebook page: "I only want customers to walk into my restaurants to enjoy the food, not to worry about the disease." The closures come amid an increasing number of novel coronavirus cases, which is causing people to avoid public places. The number of confirmed cases has risen to 113. In HCMC, restaurants in the swank Cresent Mall area in District 7 are no longer busy like before. Even during weekends few tables are occupied, and some outlets have already closed with managers saying revenues have plummeted by half since the outbreak. Mai Truong Giang, CEO of TGFood, which owns the fried chicken restaurant chain Otoke Chicken, said revenues at its 14 outlets in the city have fallen by up to 50 percent. He is negotiating with landlords for a 20 percent discount on rents for three months. The company also plans to lay off staff to reduce costs. "Reducing staff working hours, negotiating rents and requesting delays in bank repayments are what we are seeking to overcome the disease." If the situation persists, he estimates a 30 percent staff cut and a 30 percent pay reduction for the remaining workers. With customer numbers plummeting, restaurants are focusing on delivery to survive the outbreak. Golden Gate now offers BBQ and hotpot delivery including kitchenware for customers who want to enjoy their food at home. Smaller businesses have taken the same route. Phuong Mai, owner of a hotpot restaurant in Hanois Cau Giay District, said in the last two weeks there has been a rising number of delivery orders for hotpots costing VND350,000-600,000 ($15-26). Other restaurants offer free drinks with ginger or lemongrass, said to boost the immune system. They also provide hand sanitizers to customers and require staff to wear face masks. Economist Le Dat Chi said delivery services are only a temporary solution as restaurants might have to bear higher costs if they dont have a good strategy, he said. "There is actually no good solution amid an outbreak like this." Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan went before the cameras last week and broke some bad news to his constituents the state had recorded its first death from the coronavirus. We pray for his family, Hogan said of the victim, a man in his 60s with an underlying condition. Unfortunately, we are only at the beginning of this crisis and while this is the first death in Maryland it will not be the last. Hogan also noted that a 5-year-old girl was among the confirmed coronavirus cases in the state, a development all the more alarming because the vast majority of infected people have been older. This fight against pandemic is a race against time and we must take action now, Hogan said. We cannot afford to delay. That has been Hogans mantra from the start of the crisis. The Republican governor took steps to protect Marylanders on Feb. 27, when he first inked parts of emergency legislation to increase funds for the fight, cancelling out-of-state travel for state workers, establishing a help-line for the public and meeting regularly with his coronavirus response team. In comparison, on the following day, Trump called the coronavirus new hoax drummed-up by Democrats to damage him and his administration. Hogan also declared a state of emergency in Maryland on March 5 more than a week before President Trump made a nationwide emergency declaration. The end result is that Hogan and fellow governor Andrew Cuomo, Democrat of New York, have at times eclipsed Trump as a national leaders in the battle against the deadly pandemic. And the steps Hogan has taken in Maryland to combat the coronavirus have been as aggressive as those taken by other take-charge governors in hard-hit states like Mike DeWine of Ohio, who is also a Republican, and Jay Inslee of Washington and J.B. Pritzker in Illinois, both Democrats. Hogan hasn't been shy about criticizing the Trump administrations slow response in the first days of the crisis or its inability to say for sure when badly needed supplies like masks, ventilators and test kits will be available. Story continues I can tell you that there's quite a bit of frustration on the part of all of the governors that we don't have answers to those questions, Hogan said earlier in the week. And the first answer is no, we don't have enough test kits and neither does any other state, and no, the federal government does not have an answer. Hogans frustration comes from a deeply personal place he is a 63-year-old cancer survivor, putting him in one of highest risk categories for coronavirus complications. So his life depends on this. But the fact that Hogan has been willing to criticize the Trump administration does not come as a surprise for people who have followed the career of a Republican who was first elected governor in 2014 and was re-elected four years later in a deep blue state. Hogan, who is only the second Republican to be re-elected in the states history, was never a fan of Trump and made that clear even before he won the GOP nomination in 2016, said Todd Eberly, associate professor of political science at St. Marys College of Maryland. What set Hogan apart from other Trump critics, however, is that most of those critics eventually fell in line behind Trump or left office, Eberly said. Hogan governs in a different manner and has rarely hesitated to criticize or disagree with Trump sometimes forcefully and sometimes more subtly. Last July, when Trump lashed out against revered Baltimore congressman Elijah Cummings, a Democrat, and called his Baltimore district dangerous and disgusting, Hogan fired back via his spokeswoman saying Baltimore City is truly the very head of our state. When it comes to Hogan's aggressive approach to the coronavirus crisis, none of the academics and journalists interviewed by NBC News found fault. "I haven't heard a whiff of serious criticism," said Josh Kurtz, editor of the Maryland Matters news site, who has covered Hogan for years. "Gov. Hogan has been way ahead of the federal government in addressing and responding to the coronavirus, Kurtz added. He's been proactive and open with Marylanders. In his role as chairman of the National Governors Association, he's been involved in some of the earliest federal briefings on the virus and has been good about relaying that information to his team and to his constituents." When NBC News reached out to Senate President Bill Ferguson, a Democrat who has sparred with Hogan in the past on various issues, Ferguson's spokesman gave an assessment of Hogan that could pass for praise in these politically fraught times: "We have nothing negative to contribute at this point," said Yaakov Weissmann in an email. Hogan, unlike Trump, was quick to recognize the coronavirus threat and quick to mobilize the other U.S. governors, Eberly said. As chair of the National Governors Association, Hogan was already in a leadership role and I think he used that role quite wisely to get people to understand just how serious the situation was, Eberly said. How has Hogan managed to thrive in a blue state like Maryland during a period of intense political polarization? Part of it is Marylanders just like Hogan, the experts said. He is married father of three, grandfather of four, and his wife Yumi Hogan is the "first Korean-American first lady in United States history," according to his official biography. He exudes competence and confidence, said Stella Rouse, associate professor of government and politics at the University of Maryland. And Hogans not afraid to tell off his constituents when he sees them straying from the rules that have been set in place to protect them. Despite our warnings, despite rapid escalation of virus, some people are treating this like vacation with parties and large gatherings, Hogan said during his Thursday update. If you are engaged in this type of activity, you are in violation of state law and are endangering lives of fellow Marylanders. Another reason Hogan thrives, Kurtz said, is that Maryland isn't as liberal as people assume it is. Hogan has found the sweet spot where a lot of the voters are, Kurtz said. He's held the line on taxes and a lot of people like that. He's a pretty unassuming guy, and handled a cancer diagnosis early in his tenure with good humor, grace and grit. In 2015, Hogan revealed hed been fighting skin cancer and appeared in public with his white mane gone and bandages on his face. Before you get into speculation about what the other guy looked like, I wanted to tell you about it, he joked. Rouse said Hogan is more a pragmatist and less of an ideologue, which is a rarity in the national Republican Party these days. The result is he has a lot of political capital in a state that is 2 to 1 Democratic, Rouse said. Eberly agreed. He made clear when he ran for governor that abortion and marriage equality were settled law and he had no desire to re-litigate them, Eberly said. On gun control, he made no mention of dialing back what Democrats had accomplished. Now, Eberly said, Hogan maintains a statewide approval rating that seems to defy gravity. Kurtz said there is already talk of Hogan running for Senate in 2022 when his term ends, but what might dissuade him is that he would have to take on Sen. Chris Van Hollen, who is a Democrat. Van Hollen is pretty popular, and a Republican hasn't won a Senate race in Maryland since 1980, Kurtz said. Hogan could also, conceivably, run for president in four years. Hogan likes to describe himself as a John McCain/George H.W. Bush kind of a Republican, Kurtz said. If that kind of a Republican ever comes back in fashion, he could be a serious contender. You can read Boris Johnsons full speech at the bottom of this article. Boris Johnson has announced an Italy-style lockdown on the UK to fight the coronavirus outbreak with gatherings of more than two people banned. Police will enforce the new restrictions, including by issuing fines and dispersing gatherings. Almost all shops are required to shut and draconian measures on when people can leave have been implemented. The prime minister, who had appeared reluctant to introduce the measures, announced them in a speech on Monday evening. We will beat the coronavirus and we will beat it together, Johnson said, adding that the measures are vital to protect the NHSs capacity to deal with sick people in hospital. Boris Johnson has announced new measures to fight the coronavirus outbreak. (Pool via AP) Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice Live: Follow all the latest updates from the UK and around the world Fact-checker: The number of Covid-19 cases in your local area Explained: Symptoms, latest advice and how it compares to the flu The measures are set to last three weeks initially. The public has been told they should only leave to go for exercise, shopping for necessities, medical reasons, and travelling to and from work if needed. Weddings and baptisms should not go ahead, but funerals can still take place. Places of worship must shut, the PM said. No more than two people who are not part of the same household will be allowed to meet, Johnson said. The move towards a lockdown like those seen in Italy, Spain and France comes after it became clear many people were not listening to government advice. Pubs continued to be packed after Johnson said not to go to them, scenes of revellers enjoying a final night out were broadcast on Friday after they were told to close, and parks were filled over the weekend as people tried to get outdoors. From Monday night, only supermarkets, convenience stores and pharmacies can be open and people will only be able to leave the house once a day to exercise and once to go to the shop. The measures have been introduced after 335 patients who tested positive for coronavirus died. Story continues The number of confirmed coronavirus in the UK rose by almost 1,000 to 6,650 in Mondays report from the Department of Health. The rise of 967 is the biggest leap in cases yet. Globally, there are more than 370,000 confirmed cases and more than 16,000 deaths. 6,000 of those are from Italy, according to Johns Hopkins University, the worst-hit country from the coronavirus, which continues to keep its population under lockdown. Johnson had previously made it clear he was prepared to introduce stricter measures. Matt Hancock criticised people who had disregarded government advice. (PA Images) The health secretary, Matt Hancock, previouslycriticised those who had ignored the government advice. We will act if we need to, he told the BBC. As health secretary, it is my job to protect life and the way that we protect life from a virus like this is to stop its spread and the way that you stop its spread is by people not interacting with others. Here is Johnsons statement, broadcast on Monday night, in full: Good evening, The coronavirus is the biggest threat this country has faced for decades and this country is not alone. All over the world we are seeing the devastating impact of this invisible killer. And so tonight I want to update you on the latest steps we are taking to fight the disease and what you can do to help. And I want to begin by reminding you why the UK has been taking the approach that we have. Without a huge national effort to halt the growth of this virus, there will come a moment when no health service in the world could possibly cope; because there wont be enough ventilators, enough intensive care beds, enough doctors and nurses. And as we have seen elsewhere, in other countries that also have fantastic health care systems, that is the moment of real danger. To put it simply, if too many people become seriously unwell at one time, the NHS will be unable to handle it meaning more people are likely to die, not just from coronavirus but from other illnesses as well. So its vital to slow the spread of the disease. Because that is the way we reduce the number of people needing hospital treatment at any one time, so we can protect the NHSs ability to cope and save more lives. And thats why we have been asking people to stay at home during this pandemic. And though huge numbers are complying and I thank you all the time has now come for us all to do more. From this evening I must give the British people a very simple instruction you must stay at home. Because the critical thing we must do is stop the disease spreading between households. That is why people will only be allowed to leave their home for the following very limited purposes: shopping for basic necessities, as infrequently as possible one form of exercise a day for example a run, walk, or cycle alone or with members of your household; any medical need, to provide care or to help a vulnerable person; and travelling to and from work, but only where this is absolutely necessary and cannot be done from home. Thats all these are the only reasons you should leave your home. You should not be meeting friends. If your friends ask you to meet, you should say No. You should not be meeting family members who do not live in your home. You should not be going shopping except for essentials like food and medicine and you should do this as little as you can. And use food delivery services where you can. If you dont follow the rules the police will have the powers to enforce them, including through fines and dispersing gatherings. To ensure compliance with the Governments instruction to stay at home, we will immediately: close all shops selling non-essential goods, including clothing and electronic stores and other premises including libraries, playgrounds and outdoor gyms, and places of worship; we will stop all gatherings of more than two people in public excluding people you live with; and well stop all social events , including weddings, baptisms and other ceremonies, but excluding funerals. Parks will remain open for exercise but gatherings will be dispersed. No Prime Minister wants to enact measures like this. I know the damage that this disruption is doing and will do to peoples lives, to their businesses and to their jobs. And thats why we have produced a huge and unprecedented programme of support both for workers and for business. And I can assure you that we will keep these restrictions under constant review. We will look again in three weeks, and relax them if the evidence shows we are able to. But at present there are just no easy options. The way ahead is hard, and it is still true that many lives will sadly be lost. And yet it is also true that there is a clear way through. Day by day we are strengthening our amazing NHS with 7,500 former clinicians now coming back to the service. With the time you buy by simply staying at home we are increasing our stocks of equipment. We are accelerating our search for treatments. We are pioneering work on a vaccine. And we are buying millions of testing kits that will enable us to turn the tide on this invisible killer. I want to thank everyone who is working flat out to beat the virus. Everyone from the supermarket staff to the transport workers to the carers to the nurses and doctors on the frontline. But in this fight we can be in no doubt that each and every one of us is directly enlisted. Each and every one of us is now obliged to join together, to halt the spread of this disease, to protect our NHS and to save many many thousands of lives. And I know that as they have in the past so many times, the people of this country will rise to that challenge. And we will come through it stronger than ever. We will beat the coronavirus and we will beat it together. And therefore I urge you at this moment of national emergency to stay at home, protect our NHS and save lives. Workers are producing protective suits at a factory in Binzhou city of China's eastern Shandong province on Feb. 13, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) China Is Pursuing a Post-Virus Plan to Overtake the US Economy, Report Says News Analysis Amid the disruptions of the global COVID-19 pandemic, China is seizing the opportunity to leapfrog the U.S. economy, according to a report by Horizon Advisory, China expert and independent strategic consultancy firm. While other countries are scrambling to contain the pandemic, Beijing extends its soft power as it plans to ramp up production in strategic industries in order to control global supply chains. The Chinese Communist Partys (CCPs) initial cover-up and delayed response over the CCP virus outbreak, which began in Wuhan city in November of last year, created an epidemic across China and unleashed the first global mass pandemic since the 1918 influenza. The Trump administrations three-year strategy to decouple China from American high-tech supply chains was succeeding. But chaos from COVID-19 lockdowns of U.S. businesses and schools have now presented the CCP with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to achieve its goal of supplanting the United States as the worlds leading economic, diplomatic, and military power, according to Horizon Advisory. Beijing is already working hard to bolster its image around the world by claiming that it successfully curbed the spread of the CCP virus. Despite China and Hong Kong censors banishing 13 New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post journalists, the New York Times website is parroting the CCPs propagandists alternative reality spiel with a recent opinion piece titled: China Bought the West Time. The West Squandered It. China watcher Curtis Ellis commented on the CCPs new playbook: After covering up the novel infection and unleashing it on the world, Beijings rulers bought up the worlds supply of protective gear and respirators. Then they sell these critical goods to Italy while portraying themselves as the heroic humanitarian savior of the world, not unlike a pyromaniac who takes credit for calling the fire department. Ellis said that as the economies in the West shut down due to the pandemic, Beijing uses the opportunity to extend its soft power and tighten its grip on global supply chains. The Horizon Advisory report has documented statements and writings from CCP officials and leading players in state-run industries. On March 12, Song Zhiping, representative to the 15th Party Congress, former party committee secretary, and chairman of the state-owned China National Building Materials Group Corporation declared: China will turn crisis into opportunity: It will transform and upgrade and strengthen its position in the international industry chain. Chinese enterprises must not just resume production. They must also boost economic development and exposure to the world in order to speed up the adjustment of the industrial structure, to enhance competitiveness in the international industrial chain, and to build an advance strategic positioning. The CCP Central Committee identifies industries to seize in the adjustment of the international industrial chain while fighting the epidemic and resuming production. These include 5G construction, urban high-speed rails, urban rail transit, new energy vehicles, big data in infrastructure, artificial intelligence, automobiles, electronics, ships, aviation, power equipment, and machine tools. The Chengdu municipal government echoed the Party line on March 5, calling on enterprises and individuals to focus on turning crisis into opportunity: Make full use of the important window after the epidemic and focus on the strategic opportunities such as the new technological revolution it will bring about, the new international market demand, and the shortcomings of supply which will need to be filled .Deeply integrate into the global supply chain system in the fields of biomedicine, electronic information, intelligent manufacturing, and agricultural products. Beijings post-pandemic plan and the industries mentioned above are in line with its longstanding Made in China 2025 strategy for global dominance of crucial industries. Han Jian of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and director of the Ministry of Civil Affairs China Industrial Economics Association put it more succinctly on March 4: It is possible to turn the crisis into an opportunityto increase the trust and the dependence of all countries around the world of Made in China. The Council on Foreign Relations has described Made in China 2025 as the central villain, the real existential threat to U.S. technological leadership. It warned that the CCP would achieve its goals by promoting foreign acquisitions, mandating forced technology transfer agreements, and committing cyber espionage. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mishandling allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 19:07:05|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close In an effort to help the globe combat #COVID-19, China has shared its anti-virus experience with more than 100 countries and organizations, given a 20-million-U.S.-dollar donation to the WHO, and sent supplies and medical teams to countries in need. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said China's "impressive" efforts in tackling the public health crisis not only effectively contained the virus at home but also created a window of opportunity for the world. On the global stage, China has shared its anti-virus experience with more than 100 countries and organizations, given a 20-million-U.S.-dollar donation to the WHO, and sent supplies and medical teams to countries in need. President Trump's attempt to overturn a ruling that prevents him from blocking Twitter critics has been shot down -- at least for now. An appeals court has denied the Trump administration's request for a review of the decision after a majority of judges decided a review wasn't necessary. Circuit Judge Barrington Parker described the original decision as a "straightforward application" of existing actions and precedent. If Trump is going to use his personal Twitter account for official statements (and he does), that account becomes a public forum where critics are allowed to voice their disagreements. It's not clear how Trump's team will respond. He may face stiff odds if he tries to take the case to the Supreme Court, though, as Judge Parker cited Supreme Court examples when rejecting Trump's request for a review. The denial will likely have implications across the aisle when Democrat House Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ran into similar trouble. The appeals court decision will still allow blocking users for harassment and threats, but it may force politicians to think very carefully about how they use their personal accounts. Like it or not, they may have to accept angry people in their mentions. Written by ACM *Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- It's after incidents Between the successive Presidencies of Yushchenko (2005-2010) and Yanukovych (2010-2014), that a Handicapped Russian, WheelChair-bound, faced Criminal Prosecution and Prison Detention, at Crimea, for the comparatively Minor accusation of allegedly having "Threatened" a Policeman, who had vainly Detained his Son at an unrelated Murder Case, and "Punched" a local Official, that he considered responsible for having Cut Electricity to his restaurant, in addition, (Disputes on which, Curiously, Nothing is said by the ECHR's judgement published Today). A. K. Vagapov, Despite being Aged 55 and Suffering from "the Most Severe Level of Disability" ("Category 1"), with "Paraplegia of his lower Limbs", since "a Gunshot Wound to his Spinal cord", leaving him "WheelChair-bound" during 24 Years, provoking also "a Skin ...Ulcer", Nevertheless, he was "remanded in Custody, Pending Trial", right from the Start of the Investigation, afterwards Condemned into "3 Years ImPrisonment", and later Jailed. He was Released only towards the End of September 2013, after "having Served his sentence in Full", ECHR observed. "During his Detention", he had to be Treated for "Aggravated" "PyeloNephritis", and underwent "Surgery" for that Ulcer, was "Diagnosed with Aggravated ...Bronchitis", and found with "a Black Burn Wound" and "a Burn Blister" on his Feet, (later "Diagnosed" as "3rd Degree -out of 4- ...Burns") that "Failed to Heal", added to an "Aggravation" of his Skin Ulcer (advanced into a "PuruloNecrotic Stage, with ...Fistulas"), but also to "Urinary InContinence", "Acute Conjunctivitis of both Eyes", "a Purulent Inflammation of ...Cellular Tissues" (with an "Abscess" which should "be Surgically Drained" : something reportedly "Contra-Indicated in the ...Conditions pertaining" in his Detention area), and even "a Broken Rib" (sic !) with "Pain in the Chest area", (etc)... But the "Request(s)" of his "Lawyer" for "a Panel of Medical Specialists" to Examine the ImPrisoned Handicapped man in order "to determine his State of Health and Medical Needs", and Whether it was "Possible to Meet those Needs", or not, inside his place of Detention, or at least to "Allow a Civilian Doctor to Examine" him, were Both Rejected by the Ukranian Authorities. Thus, meanwhile, Vagapov "had Refused the Treatment(s) recommended by ...These Doctors", (of the Prison System), Complaining that they had "Understimated" the "Poor Condition of his ...Health", and that he had been "Denied Access to the Doctor of his (Free) Choice". + In Addition, that Prison "had Not been Adapted for WheelChair-bound detainees", Obliging him to be "Dependant on other InMates for his Basic Needs", (f.ex., "Toilet", "Shower", "Meals", etc), "Deprived of daily Walks", stay "Held in a Cell measuring about 11 sq. m and Shared by 3 Inmates, with No Space for any Movement in a WheelChair", have "Fewer Meetings with his Lawyer..., as ...his CellMates had had to Carry him", also provoking "several Accidents..., such as Burning his Feet with Hot water, and Breaking a Rib (Comp. Supra), etc, while "the Physical Conditions of his Detention had been Poor". => Therefore, the Jailed Handicapped man "complained to the ECHR that "the Conditions of his Detention", "with regard to his Physical DisAbility", and that "Medical Treatment" were "InAdequate", and Violated the "Article 3" of the PanEuropean Convention on Human Rights, which Prohibits "Torture or ...InHuman/Degrading Treatment", in any circumstances. ------------------- Russia indicated that "they did Not Wish to exercice their Right to Intervene in the proceedings" (given also the Russian Nationality of the Jailed DisAbled man), as ECHR noted. As for the Ukranian Government, it Claimed that, "Although" that Jail "had Not been Adapted for WheelChair-Bound Detainees", nevertheless ,"2 people from the Staff (would) have been Alloted to Assist" the DisAbled prisoner. ECHR "took Note of the (Ukranian) Government's Acknowledgment of the Lack of technical Arrangements" for "the detention of individuals with physical Disabilities", and "reiterate(d) that", as a matter of General Principle, "where the Authorities decide to place and Keep a Disabled person in continued Detention, they should demonstrate Special Care in Guaranteeing such Conditions as Correspond to the Special Needs resulting from his or her Disability". On the Controversy whether the Handicapped Prisoner "had been Assisted by ... fellow InMates, or by the (Jail's) Staff" (Comp. Supra), ECHR observed that the Ukranian "Government did Not provide Any Details in that connection", Not even "whether the ...Staff had been Trained or had the Necessary Qualifications"... Moreover, the Ukranian "Government" did Not Say Anything "on the Incidents which led to ...sustained boiling-water Burns in the course of taking a Shower ..., and having his Rib Broken", as Vagapov had Denounced, (Comp. Supra), ECHR notes, pointing at the incredible Helplesness into which Handicapped People may fall, if they are Obliged to live their EveryDay Life in outlets Deprived of the slightest Facility for Autonomous Movements, (as, f.ex., Metalic Bars, etc)... => "Therefore", the PanEuropean "Court found Plausible... that the ... Injuries" were "a Result of the Failure to Meet" the Handicapped Prisoner's "Basic Needs, in Conditions that would Respect his Human Dignity". "This ...shows that the (alleged) Assistance of the (Jail's) Staff, IF Any, (Comp. Supra), "could Not have ensured (his) ...Autonomy or ...Physical and Moral Integrity". Indeed, as ECHR had Already noted, at a previous decision on this case, when it had Initially raised relevant Questions to the Ukranian Government, in order to find out its reactions, it's also the f. UN Rapporteur on Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment ..., Mr Manfred Nowak", who stressed that "Persons with Disabilities often find themseles in [situations of Powerlessness], for instance When they are Deprived of their Liberty, in Prisons, or Other Places", where "the particular Disability of an individual may render him or her more Likely to be in a Dependent situation, and make him or her an easier Target of Abuse". +Moreover, ECHR "refer(ed) to the Findings of the CPT (CoE's Anti-Torture Watchdog) in 2013, that Conditions in the Cells" of that Crimea's Jail, in general,"had been as Miserable as some Thirteen Years Previously (i.e. on 2000), when (it) had First Visited that facility... >>> In Consequence, "and" given "the Cumulative Effects" of such Facts, ECHR Concluded that "the specific Conditions" of the Handicapped Prisoner's "Detention, in view of his Physical Disability, ...in particular, his InAbility to Access the various parts" of that Jail "Independently, including the Canteen and the Sanitation Facilities, and ...the Lack of any Organized Assistance" for "his Mobility ... or his Daily Routine, must have Caused him UnNecessary and Avoidable Mental and Physical Suffering, Diminishing his Human Dignity". "That amounted to Inhuman and Degrading Treatment", in "Violation of Article 3, of the" PanEuropean "Convention" of Human Rights, ECHR Concluded. ---------------- + The Handicapped man had also Denounced to the ECHR that the Ukranian Court's decision to Condemn him in 3 Years of ImPrisonment was "an Arbitrary and UnNecessary measure", which "had Not been Based on relevant and Sufficient Reasons", and "had Failed to Take into Account (his) ...state of Health; it had Never Examined an Alternative, ... such as a Commitment Not to Leave the Town, or Bail", etc. In fact, an Initial "Undertaking Not to Abscond", imposed by a 1st Court, had been "Changed", by a 2nd Court, into "Remand in Custody", under Pretext of the alleged "Seriousness and the Nature of the Criminal Offences in issue", (Comp. Supra)... But the ECHR found that "Neither the (Ukranian) Government's observations, Nor ... that Court ...had made an Appropriate Assessment of the Facts ... (on) Whether ... (this) was Necessary ..., in particular in view of the applicant's DisAbility". "Neither did (it) ...state Which Risks Justified the ... Detention on remand, (f.ex. the Risk of ...Absconding, Influencing Witnesses, or Hindering Investigation"). This was Contrary to "Article 51" of the PanEuropean "Convention" on Human Rights, which stressed that "Everyone has the Right to Liberty and security of person. No one shall be deprived of his liberty save in the following Cases, and in accordance with a Procedure prescribed by law ... (c) the Lawful arrest or detention of a person effected for the purpose of bringing him before the competent legal authority on reasonable Suspicion of having committed an offence, or when it is reasonably considered Necessary to prevent his committing an offence or Fleeing after having done so", EuroJudges observed. => Therefore, ECHR judged that the contested Measure "did Not Afford the applicant the Adequate Protection from Arbitrariness, which is an Essential element of the "Lawfulness" of Detention, within the meaning of Article 51 of the Convention", and, "Accordingly, there has been a Violation of that provision" too. ------------------------ >>> In Consequence, it's "Unanimously" that the Strasbourg's Court held that "there has been a Violation of Article 3 of the (PanEuropean) Convention" on Human Rights, because of Inhuman/Degrading Treatments (Comp. Supra) "on account of the specific Conditions of the applicants Detention ... in view of his Physical Disability", and "a Violation of Article 51 of the Convention", about Personal Liberty (Comp. Supra), Deciding to "Award" to the Victim "EUR 3.000, (three thousand euros)", "in respect of Non-Pecuniary Damage, Plus any Tax that may be chargeable", due to be Paid by "the Respondent State", i.e., in this case, Ukraine. (../..) ("Draft-News") People entering Delhi from any of its borders will require special curfew passes, the Delhi Police announced on Monday, intensifying unprecedented restrictions meant to tackle the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak, with measures that have now raised questions on how operations of some key essential services will function under these curbs. The move was among several issued by police commissioner SN Shrivastava, who said the enforcement of prohibitory order under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure was not up to the mark on the first day of the nine-day isolation of the city. Section 144 prohibits the assembly of four or more persons at one location. At many places across the city, people not employed in essential services, which are exempted from the lockdown, tried to cross the borders or move around the city on Monday. At the borders, people were stopped and asked to return home. Monday nights order issued by Shrivastava said that all border posts would be sealed for everyone except people heading in for essential goods and services. The curfew pass approval system announced by the police, however, gives businesses engaged in such essential services less than a days window to apply for passes before the new entry system comes into force. Hundreds of thousands of people cross into Delhi from the several bustling satellite towns -- Gurugram, Noida, Ghaziabad and Faridabad -- for jobs. These include health care workers, food delivery personnel, bank staffers and journalists who are part of what have been identified as essential services that will continue during the lockdown. Several essential services also have key supply lines across the amorphous National Capital Region (NCR) that could get affected by these rules. For people in private organisations, their employers will now have to seek curfew passes from the office of the deputy commissioner of police (DCP) in the area where their office is located -- a process that could turn out to be cumbersome and impractical. According to the order, those in Gurugram and Manesar must seek their passes from the office of the South-West DCP, those in Faridabad from the office of South-East DCP and Ghaziabad applicants from the Shahdara DCP s office. Those in Noida will need to apply to the East DCP office, Sonepat to the Outer-North DCP and Bahadurgarh and Jhajjar to the Outer Delhi DCPs office. The passes are only for inter-border movement, and will not be required for those living and commuting within Delhi. According to polices latest order, government officials engaged in providing essential services would be let in on the basis of their identity cards. For employees of private companies to whom the essential service is outsourced by the government, the movement shall be permitted on the basis of identity card and authorization issued by concerned government organisation, the order said. The police chief also wrote that there should be strict checking within the city and at the borders to ensure that no gathering or movement takes place in violation of the prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC. Randhawa, the Delhi Police spokesperson, said that individuals need not visit the DCPs office for the curfew passes. The organisation can send a list of names and we will issue the passes after assessing the genuine requirements, said Randhawa. Thats because of concerns that many applicants could gather at these DCP offices and lead to overcrowding, defeating the purpose of social distancing. KABULU.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived on Monday in the Afghan capital, on a previously unannounced visit to help salvage a historic deal between Washington and the Taliban, struck in February but marred by a political feud. Pompeo will meet President Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, who contests the result of a September presidential vote, raising the prospect of parallel governments that has paralysed selection of negotiating teams for talks. His visit is being watched closely for clues to whether it can resolve the weeks-long political deadlock. Well see ifthat would mean things are negotiated and they are ready for a final settlement, said a diplomatic source in Kabul. Pompeo is scheduled to meet the men separately and also hold meetings with both together on Monday. A row over the release of prisoners and the politicians rivalry have hampered progress in mediation between the Taliban and the Afghan government, which was not a party to the U.S.-Taliban deal, signed in Doha. The deal signed on Feb. 29 aimed to pave the way for the Taliban to negotiate with the Afghan government, including a pact to withdraw foreign troops that would effectively end the United States longest war. But the Afghan government and the Taliban have not begun formal negotiation as planned, stymied in part by the bitter feud between Ghani and Abdullah, which has stalled appointment of a negotiation team to represent the Afghan government. Pompeos visit comes at a time when much global travel has been stalled by the CCP virus pandemic. U.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad, who has spent much of his time in Kabul since the deal signing, made a plea to both sides last week to act fast on the release of prisoners, a condition the Taliban have set for the talks. Khalilzad said the pandemic added urgency for the release, illustrating how the outbreak is affecting one of U.S. President Donald Trumps top foreign policy priorities. With 40 infections in Afghanistan, fears are growing that the thousands returning home from neighbouring Iran every day might fuel the outbreak in a nation with a public health network devastated by years of war. The Taliban and the Afghan government held a virtual meeting on prisoner releases on Sunday, officials said. In February, Afghanistans Electoral Commission announced incumbent Ghani as the winner of the presidential election, but Abdullah said he and his allies had won and insisted that he would form a government. By Humeyra Pamuk With schools forced to close down owing to COVID-19 threat, many prominent schools of Sangam city have decided to turn to technology and declare results of their annual home exams online. Many of them have started sending messages to parents also informing them about their decision. Taking a lead, principal of St Josephs College Rev Fr Thomas Kumar has cancelled the scheduled parent teacher meetings that were scheduled between March 21 and March 28. He also sent a message to all parents of the students, enrolled in his institutions informing that results of annual exams will be declared online on April 3 or later. The results are ready with us but we will wait for declaring them. This is owing to the common practice of the parents of rushing to book shops immediately to procure prescribed subject books for their wards for the new classes to which they have been promoted. This we fear will increase the threat of the spread of COVID-19, informed Fr Thomas. He said that some of the parents might even rush to the school and to avoid it, school would declare the result on April 3 or later and that too in online mode so that no one was required to come to the school for the results. The school was confident of successfully releasing the results online as it had done this once in the past also when floods had impacted life in Sangam city in September-October 2019, said the principal. The ML Convent group of schools that have institutions in various localities of the district including, Meerapur, GTB Nagar-Kareli, Mehdauri, Baghambari Gaddi (Allahpur) and Karelabagh, has also decided to opt for the online route to declare results of its home exams this time. We have decided to declare results online for classes 1 to 8. We have also decided to promote students of up to class 8 to their next classes if their exams could not be held owing to the prevailing coronavirus crisis, said Puneet Verma, head of the ML Convent group of schools. Shri Mahaprabhu Public School in Shivkuti has also announced that results of annual exams of classes 1 to 9 and class 11 would be declared online this time. The results will get declared online on March 23 morning, said the school principal Ravinder Birdie. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON (Bloomberg) -- Jack Ma, Asias richest man, pledged 1.8 million face masks and 210,000 coronavirus test kits to some of the continents poorest nations, the latest step from his foundation to push back against whats become a global pandemic. Ma also promised to ship 2 million masks, 400,000 test kits and other aid to 24 Latin American countries. We will hurry, he said in a tweet. The Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. co-founder took to Twitter for the first time on Monday to announce that the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation were sending a donation of emergency supplies to the U.S. Having previously aided virus-fighting efforts in Japan, Iran and Italy, his philanthropic groups also sent thousands of testing kits and masks to countries in Africa. On Saturday, Ma said that Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, the Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka would all receive protective suits, ventilators and thermometers. On Sunday, he said 104 ventilators will be sent to Latin America, helping efforts in countries like Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador and Peru. Global shortages of essential medical and protective equipment have affected even the most developed economies, with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo saying more ventilators, ventilators, ventilators were needed to help his state handle the anticipated number of infected people needing treatment. (An earlier version of this story corrected the number of test kits sent to Asia.) (Updates with Latin America shipments in second paragraph.) For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. As the caseload of patients with the new coronavirus grows, masks and other personal protective equipment are in short supply and nurses in Washington state are resorting to workarounds to try to stay safe. Wendy Shaw, a charge nurse for an emergency room in Seattle, said her hospital and others have locked up critical equipment like masks and respirators to ensure they dont run out. Shaw is the de facto gatekeeper, and is now required to run through a list of questions when anyone comes to get a mask: What are you using it for? What patient? Whats the procedure? I have become a 'jailer' in a sense of these masks, she said. We now have to learn how to work with less, and how to be good stewards of the resources that we have, Shaw said. For Shaw, theres a very personal stress driving her to be careful. She has Type 1 diabetes, and so does her young son, which puts her at high risk for complications if she were to be infected. I am cleaning like I have never cleaned before. I am hyperaware of what I touch, who has brushed up against me, said Shaw. We think about this all the time. Every day I wake up without a fever or a cough is a win for me. At some hospitals, nurses and doctors said they are being told that, contrary to standard protocol of disposal after a single use, they should try to clean and reuse their N95 masks, a respirator that protects the face from airborne particles and contaminated liquid. Meanwhile, office staff at the corporate headquarters of Providence St. Joseph Health in Renton, Washington, have opened an ad hoc workshop where they are assembling masks and face shields on their own, to bolster resources. At any given time, we are days away from running out of personal protective equipment, said Melissa Tizon, with Providence St. Joseph Health. Tizon said the health system has already delivered 500 face shields to Providence-affiliated hospitals in Seattle and Everett, Washington, and plans to start sewing masks in the coming days. Some nurses are even crowdsourcing masks. Bobbie Habdas, an ICU nurse at Swedish Medical Center, took to Facebook asking for help from her community. I never thought that wed necessarily be doing this, said Habdas. Her post gained lots of attention, and she collected more than a hundred masks to share with co-workers. Honestly, it shocked me and it really touched me its extremely appreciated, she said. The outpouring was a bright spot, but Habdas wonders why nurses have to scrounge for supplies, in addition to their regular duties. There is a huge feeling of panic, not only externally, but also internally within the hospital, said Habdas. She said spending time looking for supplies during her shift doesnt help with the stress of responding to the coronavirus pandemic. Patients have died from the disease in Washington, with at least 74 COVID-19 deaths recorded across the state as of Thursday afternoon. Sally Watkins, executive director of the Washington State Nurses Association, said nurses are being forced to make do with less. They are not being protected at the level that they should be, said Watkins. She hopes the region will get more supplies from the federal stockpile soon. Communication breakdowns After 39 years as an intensive care nurse, Mary Mills has dealt with other infectious disease crises, but her hospitals response to the coronavirus outbreak feels different. She remembers helping to intubate HIV patients in the early days of the AIDS crisis, when there was still a lot of fear and unknowns about that illness. Everybody was on the same page, Mills said. There was clear communication. Mills works at one of the five hospitals run by Swedish Medical Center in the Seattle area. I hate to say I dont feel particularly supported now, she said. Like many health care workers, Mills feels frustrated because the guidance on when to use personal protective equipment, or PPE, keeps shifting, sometimes daily. What they decide I need, in terms of my safety, is being changed based on availability of product, rather than the science, Mills said. This is super contagious. We can spread it to our kids, our parents and grandparents, she added. Worries about health care worker exposure Mills believes that hospital managers have not been taking nurses concerns seriously enough, especially when it came to testing patients and staff in the early days of the outbreak. She said two nurses she works with have already become sick with what seemed to be COVID-19. One went out with a cough and a fever, all the classic five symptoms, Mills said. On the eighth day, they finally agreed to have her tested for COVID-19. Mills said this type of response only erodes nurses trust in hospital leadership, harming a relationship that is critical as the entire Seattle-area health care workforce is called upon to care for an increasing number of patients with the disease. Health care workers being exposed to coronavirus is a central concern throughout the region. Multiple hospitals in the Seattle area have reported cases among staff at their facilities. An emergency room doctor in Kirkland was hospitalized after being infected. Dr. Chris Dale, the chief quality officer for Swedish, said his hospital system is focused on caregiver safety. We cannot effectively provide safe care for patients if our caregivers first arent safe, said Dale. The hospital just launched pop-up clinics where staff and patients can get tested. He said that testing around Washington has improved significantly as more labs have come online in recent days. Currently, results are coming back within three to four days, he said, compared with earlier, when it took a week. He said the number of Swedish Medical Center health care workers who have contracted COVID-19 remains low, but did not give specific numbers. With this extraordinary pandemic, and the squeeze that we are seeing on supplies, we need to balance both supply and the very real need to keep caregivers safe, said Dale. Swedish follows the World Health Organization guidance when treating patients with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19, he said. Staffing issues Nurses from Swedish Medical Center began confronting this pandemic at a time when they were already locked in a divisive labor dispute, related to staffing levels. In January, thousands of health care workers from their union went on a three-day strike, unrelated to the coronavirus crisis. The nurses contend that chronic understaffing inside the hospitals can negatively affect patient safety. Dale said Swedish has recently hired about 300 temporary nurses, called travel nurses, and is actively recruiting more. But Mills still worries there wont be enough nurses to handle the surge in patients. It is not just about physical beds or ventilators, said Mills. A room and a ventilator dont mean anything if you dont have a nurse. Mills said she hopes management starts dealing with these urgent issues. After decades of working in the ICU, she said her No. 1 commitment is to her patients. Already, she has treated some patients with COVID-19 who died in isolation sometimes with no family members there in-person. The hospitals policy currently does not allow any visitors to COVID-19 patients for safety reasons, though the hospital said it makes exceptions in extreme circumstances. The tragedy of not having family there to support the super sick you feel a greater burden to deliver some form of compassion to these people who are totally isolated, said Mills. The only people there are the ICU nurses. This story is part of a partnership that includes NPR and Kaiser Health News. New Delhi, March 23 : Slamming the government for ill-preparedness to tackle the coronavirus spread, the Congress on Monday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the people what they should do, but didn't say what the government would do to contain the pandemic. It also demanded a financial package for the poor. "We know the Prime Minister may announce a financial package, and we hope it will not be for his capitalist friends but for the poor, daily wagers and people who have lost their jobs," Senior Congress spokesman Ajay Maken tweeted. Criticising the government for not conducting enough coronavirus tests -- India ranked below even Pakistan as only one test per 100,000 is being conducted -- it asked for more tests to contain the spread. The Congress-ruled Punjab has imposed curfew, and Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh have announced complete lockdown. The party also slammed the government for not responding to former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's call who raised the first alarm on February 12 through his tweets. The government was caught off guard, it added. Rahul Gandhi had also raised the issue of export of masks and ventilators till March 19. The Congress later demanded sacking of the Commerce Minister over it. Rahul Gandhi had tweeted in Hindi: "Respected Prime Minister on the advice of the WHO the government was advised to keep stock of ventiltors and masks. But the opposite had happened and these items were exported. On whose behest this was done?" WASHINGTON Texas was making record gains getting voters on the rolls. Now the coronavirus threatens to grind that progress to a halt, throwing up major hurdles to Democratic efforts to make the states November elections competitive for a change. Texas' emergence as a battleground in 2020 depends largely on new voters, and both Democrats and Republicans have poured millions into efforts to register them massive campaigns that have already added two million voters since the 2016 election. But the coronavirus countermeasures particularly limits on public gatherings threaten to seriously hamper those efforts. Because Texas is one of 11 states that do not allow voters to register online, much of the work depends on face-to-face interaction going door to door and setting up booths on college campuses, at concerts, naturalization ceremonies, graduations and other big events that are prohibited in the time of COVID-19. CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: Stay informed with accurate reporting you can trust Crises like this really expose the failures in our system the fact that we dont have online voter registration, the fact that we are a state currently that doesnt allow vote by mail, said Cristina Tzintzun Ramirez, a former Democratic U.S. senate candidate who launched Jolt, a group focused on mobilizing Texas voters, where she is now a consultant. The virus hit as Texas topped 16 million registered voters for the first time. The state had been adding voters faster than its population grows heading into the 2020 presidential election. Now it has everyone rethinking the outreach campaigns that were underway. Engage Texas, a Republican super PAC with nearly $10 million on hand, says its redirecting field staff to start calling people. As of January, the group said it had registered 100,000 conservative voters. Now its focusing mostly on calling people whose voter registrations have lapsed or who may not know they arent already registered. Theyre making good contact by phone, and obviously since people are at home perhaps more often now than they were in the past, it makes sense that telephone contact is more successful this week or these days than it has been in the past, said Ray Sullivan, a spokesman for the group. For subscribers: Gov. Abbott shuts Texas schools, restricts bars and restaurants through April 3 The Texas Democratic Party, meanwhile, says it is reworking everything, launching a fully digital organizing project that will include a new Nextdoor.com-style website where people can post about everything from politics to whats happening in their communities during the pandemic. They say theyre doing aggressive outreach to get people on it. And the party says it is starting weekly calls with groups in all 254 Texas counties. Obviously the challenges are not insignificant, said Cliff Walker, Deputy Executive Director of the Texas Democratic Party. But it helped us reorient and take our organization program that was going to be focused on voter registration at the doors and we had great plans to ramp up a lot of that type of face-to-face interaction and to do something thats different and could be a silver lining on a really big dark gray cloud. The party says its most effective registration efforts in 2018 were reaching out to people who were new to Texas and that effort wont change now. But the virus makes other outreach efforts impossible. Its a tragedy. Its a democratic tragedy, said Drew Galloway, executive director of Mobilize Organize Vote Empower, a group that registered 7,500 voters on college campuses in three weeks in before the pre-primary deadline in February. For subscribers: Texas exploring all vote-by-mail ballots for May runoff MOVE used to set up on 55 college campuses across Texas, where they would help students fill out registration forms and then mail the forms for them. Now the group can do little more than send links to voter registration forms and pester students with follow-up texts and emails urging them to fill it out and mail it in. Advocates see those setbacks as setbacks caused by broader problems with the states election system that the virus is exposing. Because Texas doesnt yet allow everyone to vote by mail, Gov. Greg Abbott has already delayed at least one round of elections something advocates say could be avoided if people could vote from their homes. MOVE is part of the Texas Youth Power Alliance, a group that set a goal of registering 300,000 new voters in 2020. Jolt, which is also part of the alliance, claimed its organizers talked to some tens of thousands of potential voters in 2018, seeking to register voters on college campuses and at quinceaneras. It is much harder to get students many of whom are no longer in their dorms on campus to print a form when many dont even have printers, than it is to simply show up on campus and get their signatures, Galloway said. Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox That is a 10-step process, versus what used to take two minutes to do, he said. If we did have online voter registration, they could go online, register to vote, change their address and do that in a couple minutes. The outreach to college-age students matters especially in Texas, which is a very young state, he said. More than 40 percent of the population is under 30. There are going to be students regardless of party that are not going to be registered to vote and are not going to be able to vote in the upcoming election because of our current voter registration laws, Galloway said. ben.wermund@chron.com Red Tractor has announced that it has suspended physical inspections on farms 'until further notice' as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The food assurance scheme said it will instead carry out a remote assessment to maintain certification. It said it was "working with our certification bodies to determine what these will look like and the consequences for our members in each sector". Red Tractor said it was an 'unprecedented time' for UK farming and food production due to the virus outbreak. "We will be suspending all physical inspections in these schemes until further notice," the assurance body said in a statement. "In making this decision Red Tractor has consulted with the Food Standards Agency and other enforcement bodies that we have earned recognition arrangements with and members can be reassured that these arrangements will be unaffected by the decision to suspend assessments. This includes earned recognition around dairy hygiene inspections as well as food and feed hygiene inspections carried out by Local Authorities. For pig members where both the member and the vet mutually agree it is safe to do so, then Quarterly Vet visits can go ahead." In order to maintain certification to the Red Tractor scheme, there will be a requirement for the certification body to carry out a remote assessment. Red Tractor added: "We continue to work with our certification bodies to determine what these will look like and the consequences for our members in each sector. Certification bodies will confirm this to those members affected and we will provide more details on our website as soon as it is available. COLUMBUS, OhioDuring the past couple of weeks, Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton have signed a number of sweeping orders to curb the spread of coronavirus, including a stay-at-home" order that takes effect at 11:59 p.m. Monday. Of course, theres no way to tell exactly how long the coronavirus threat will expand and remain in Ohio or the rest of the world. But what are the criteria for DeWine and Acton to decide when is the right time to eventually lift their orders? When asked that question Monday, neither DeWine nor Acton gave specific answers. But they offered some insight into their thought process. DeWine, a Greene County Republican, said during his daily coronavirus briefing that its up to him to decide when to lift the stay-at-home" order, as well as other orders closing non-essential businesses, halting K-12 classes, and prohibiting most mass gatherings for at least until early April, among other restrictions. That decision, he said, will be informed by how we save lives. DeWine added: Look, we do not want to keep these orders on one second longer than we have to. ...I am very much aware of how much suffering is going on out there, that (there are) people who have lost their jobs. I do not take that lightly. Acton said the decision to lift the orders will be determined by a complicated set of things that include studying both the situation within Ohio and what happens in places outside of the state when restrictions are brought to an end. I mean, we have the best minds in the world working on this, to figure out exactly how we can withdraw this once weve gotten through that hospital surge, she said, adding there are also other facets to the disease that well be taking into account. Acton added that she has teams of people talking to experts worldwide who are studying the best ways to minimize the spread of the virus, which as of Monday had killed six in Ohio and infected at least 442 in the state. Well do that in the most responsible way possible, she said. Mark Cameron of the Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences at Case Western Reserve University said public health experts are looking for signs that coronavirus cases are on the other side of the peak. That puts us months away, Cameron said. During the SARS outbreak in Toronto, Cameron said, there were two waves of infection -- the second of which came after social distancing measures were too quickly eased. Letting down guard too early is part of the equation, Cameron said. The idea, he said, is to keep measures in place long enough for scientists and doctors to roll out potential therapies and a vaccine for COVID-19. Both approaches are months away. A flatter curve is also a longer curve. We have to break our own transmission chain," Cameron said. "How long will this last in terms of these dramatic measures? Well be watching for an indication that were on the other side of the peak. Read more Ohio coronavirus coverage: Essential Ohio Lottery sales will continue, lottery commission announces Democrats including Ohios Sherrod Brown block Senate GOP coronavirus bill Ohio coronavirus relief bill may include change in how public corruption cases are handled Six in Ohio now dead from coronavirus: Department of Health update for Monday, March 23 Ohio lawmakers favor rescheduling primary election earlier than June 2, House Republican says In the past week, two prominent political analysts in the US have revised their predictions for the November election. His campaign for president upended by the coronavirus, former Vice President Joe Biden emerged from the political shadows to address his supporters openly for the first time in nearly a week on Monday and called on the president to move faster to contain the pandemic. Let me be clear: Donald Trump is not to blame for the coronavirus, but he does bear responsibility for our response and I, along with every American, hope he steps up and starts to get this right, said Biden, who is currently the frontrunner to challenge President Donald Trump in the November general election. No, this isnt about politics. This is simply too much at stake, too many lives, too many livelihoods, too many homes and families and businesses and communities at risk. The address was billed as the first in a series of shadow briefings on the coronavirus and the governments response to it. Biden spoke for 15 minutes from the basement recreation room of his Wilmington, Delaware, home where campaign officials have constructed a makeshift television studio. On Tuesday, Biden is scheduled to use the new studio to make an appearance on The View on the ABC television network. The outbreak has thrown the Democratic nomination process into chaos and left campaign officials of all stripes scrambling to come up with alternatives to the traditional methods of courting voters. At least 13 states have postponed voting, and more delays are possible as health officials warn that social distancing and other measures to contain the virus might be in place for weeks, if not months. Senator Bernie Sanders, who is still challenging Biden for the Democratic nomination, is using online addresses to try to stay in the news. The most recent was a Sunday evening effort that included several guests, including progressive congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. The crisis has propelled Trump recently to give daily briefings with news outlets nearly every day in the White House briefing room, a place he had largely avoided during his first three years in office. The addresses, so far, have veered between upbeat assessments of his administrations handling of the crisis, attacks on the media and updates from public health authorities. With the briefings, Trump is attempting to reposition himself from a political street fighter into a wartime president guiding the nation through one of its darkest hours. The effort floundered at first, with his approval ratings inching downward, but they have since rebounded. Two polls released late last week showed a majority of Americans supporting the presidents handling of the crisis, but another released on Monday by Monmouth University found 48 percent standing by the president and 46 percent unhappy with his work. In the past week, two of the most prominent political analysts in the US have revised their predictions for the November election and said Biden now enjoys an edge over Trump on the electoral college map. US President Donald Trump addressing his administrations daily coronavirus taskforce briefing in Washington, DC, US [Jonathan Ernst/Reuters] The President is an underdog now in his bid for a second term, Stu Rothenberg, founder of the Rothenberg Political Report, wrote in a column published late last week. That doesnt mean he cant win. It simply means that he is in a more difficult place than he was before, in part because Democrats have united behind a consensus candidate who has potentially broad appeal. In Mondays address, Biden used his new platform to criticise Trump for not getting out ahead of the pandemic and downplaying the dangers in the early going. For too long, the warning signs were ignored. For too long, the administration said the threats were, quote, under control, quote, contained, quote, like the flu, Biden said. The president says no one saw this coming. Well, thats just not accurate. Biden called on the president to be more forthcoming in the briefings in the days and weeks ahead. Later today, youll hear from the president in his daily briefing. These briefings are an important opportunity to inform and reassure the American public. Theyre not a place for political attacks or to lash out at the press; theyre about the American people, Biden said. I hope today, and in the days ahead, the president will give us the unvarnished truth he added. Thats what the American people need and what they deserve. Since his victories in last weeks primaries in Illinois, Florida, and Arizona, Biden has kept a low profile and spent much of his time at home in Delaware making calls to legislators and meeting with advisers. Mondays address is seen as an effort to appease critics who have challenged him for not taking a more public stance during a national crisis. Sudrania Seamless Impact Impact investing is close to our heart. Community development is very important to Sudrania and we are thrilled to continue helping more funds in the CDFI space. Sudrania Fund Services Corp ("Sudrania") is excited to announce the release of Seamless Impact, the latest version of their flagship fund administration platform, Seamless Investment Backoffice. Seamless Impact has been tailored to the needs of funds in the impact investment space - Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) as well as Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investments. Impact investments are in need of more technology. Many funds have large transaction volume for small investment amounts. In the past, this posed an issue of making fund administration very expensive relative to socially conscious investment mandates. However, with the use of technology, Sudrania can now offer fund administration services at an optimized cost for these funds. Sudrania is proud to play a part in the next generation of investment management. "We are happy to contribute our technology to community projects. Impact investing is close to our heart. Community development is very important to Sudrania and we are thrilled to continue helping more funds in the CDFI space, said Nilesh Sudrania, Founder & CEO of Sudrania. The founding team and executives of Sudrania have more than 100 years of combined experience in providing fund administration and back-office services to investment managers, CDFIs and Impact Investment funds. Sudrania offers an extensive suite of services especially designed to allow investment managers to outsource their back-office operations and fund administration to third parties with outstanding technology and talent. For more information about Sudrania's Seamless Impact solution, please visit https://www.seamlessimpact.com/. "Setting up an impact investment fund like MWM Fund is very difficult, without the support of others like Sudrania and the whole team. I cant imagine we would be where we are at now. They've rolled everything up into one nice suite of services. The biggest thing I look for when working with someone is how they understand the specific situation and that not everyone fits into the same box. As we continue to roll out more funds for all to invest in, Sudrania will be right by our side along the way," said TJ Osterman, Managing Member & Partner of Money With Meaning Fund ("MWM"). About Sudrania Sudrania Fund Services Corp is a Chicago, IL based fund administrator marrying the power of cloud computing with boutique service model scaled for volume. Sudranias Seamless platform (including Seamless Impact) is an integrated portfolio, fund, and investor accounting system with full scale general ledger system, capability to process millions of trades, and produce daily NAV for impact funds, hedge funds, crypto funds, commodity pools, mortgage funds. This integrated software system is equally capable of supporting automation of capital calls/distribution and other complex calculations for private equity and real estate funds as well as SPVs. In its short history of 3 years, Seamless platform has been shortlisted among top fund accounting system many times by industry leading publications. For more information, visit http://www.sudrania.com. About MWM MWM is an Orlando, Fl based impact fund with a mission to destroy pre-conceived notions and rebuild Americas core by investing in the people who need it! MWM pools the crowds buying power together in a way what governments and non-profits can only dream of. It is MWM's mission to restore underserved American mortgages, neighborhoods, and communities to financial well-being and share the rewards with the investors. For more information, visit https://www.mwmfund.com. Even as positive coronavirus test results came back and other tests had not been returned, Gov. Gavin Newsom approved releasing Grand Princess cruise passengers from California back to their homes over the weekend, days before their 14-day quarantines at Travis Air Force Base were scheduled to end, a source close to the situation told The Chronicle. However, federal health officials charged with overseeing the quarantined cruise ship passengers struggled with making the transportation logistics secure enough, so the idea was scuttled, a federal official familiar with the Travis quarantine and testing said Sunday. The passengers are now to be released on the originally planned dates at the end of their 14-day quarantines, ranging from Monday to Friday, depending on what day they arrived at Travis. Passengers who spoke to The Chronicle said those who were tested for the virus as long as a week ago will be released before the test results are received. The planned early release would have happened shortly after seven passengers, none of whom had exhibited symptoms before swabbing, tested positive for COVID-19. Their results were among the first batch of 110 swab results from voluntary testing that came back Friday, the federal official said. On Saturday, five more asymptomatic passengers received positive test results and were also sent to an off-base facility for treatment, the official said. The Chronicle agreed not to identify the federal official in accordance with its policy on the use of anonymous sources. Now that the passengers will be released on the originally planned dates, many of those released will be taken to airports to fly home on commercial flights, the federal source said. The governors office, state Office of Emergency Services and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to requests for comment on the release plans Sunday. One infectious disease expert said the idea of releasing any of the passengers before their 14-day quarantine was a problem. It would be an issue if people were released before the 14-day quarantine ended, period, said John Swartzberg, a UC Berkeley infectious disease expert. That would be a problem because its not the accepted practice. Experts agree that the incubation period for most COVID-19 cases does not exceed two weeks, which is why the 14-day quarantine is critical. The early release plan was hatched days after The Chronicle reported that two-thirds of the passengers from the stricken cruise ship had declined to be tested for COVID-19, often at the encouragement of federal health officials. The cruise ship had been forced into a previous quarantine off the coast of San Francisco after 21 passengers and crew tested positive for coronavirus, with only a small number tested. Vice President Mike Pence said before their quarantines began that all passengers would be tested. The bulk of the passengers were sent to military installations across the country, the largest contingent to Travis. The federal official said many COVID-19 test results are yet to come back, so its likely some passengers will return home before knowing if they are infected. Bay Area passenger Michelle Heckert told The Chronicle she will be able to leave Monday on her 14-day release date whether her coronavirus test results come back or not. She was tested on March 15. So ... what Im hearing is that we can leave quarantine with our COVID-19 test results still pending and then well be contacted later by the state of our results? she said in a tweet. Passengers have said that federal officials dissuaded them from getting tests, advising that the 14-day quarantine would suffice and that taking the test could delay their release. They said the delay warning led to 568 passengers initially declining tests. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. We were all told that if our test results were still pending at the time of our scheduled release, we would have to remain here in quarantine until our test results were returned. It was on that basis that many declined the test, Stuart Freedman, a 61-year-old retired high school math teacher from Elk Grove, said in an email. However, just (Saturday) we were informed theyve changed that policy, and anyone asymptomatic will be released on time, regardless of whether or not theyve received their test results, Freedman said. Based on all that, I contend that everyone here should be given the opportunity to take a test upon exit. Inside the newsroom Anonymous sources: The Chronicle strives to attribute all information we report to credible, reliable, identifiable sources. Presenting information from an anonymous source occurs extremely rarely, and only when that information is considered crucially important and all other on-the-record options have been exhausted. In such cases, The Chronicle has complete knowledge of the unnamed person's identity and of how that person is in position to know the information. The Chronicle's detailed policy governing the use of such sources, including the use of pseudonyms, is available on sfchronicle.com. See More Collapse Some among the passengers have now asked for the virus test, the federal official said, without the concern that a delayed result would keep them at Travis. Freedman, who took an early test at Travis and was negative, now has concerns that he might need a new test due to the manner in which this facility has been run. I was an E6 (petty officer) in the U.S. Coast Guard, and if one of the facilities I served at was run this poorly, with so many violations of basic policies and procedures, then the person in charge would have been demoted or drummed out of the service, Freedman said. He, along with other passengers, particularly raised questions about the first few days of the quarantine, when they sat close together on the bus from the cruise ship to Travis and were able to gather in large crowds in common areas of the base. Despite the contradictions and tense days on the air base, the mood among passengers was reportedly giddy as they prepared for a long-awaited return home. One inmate, Freedman said, bought 400 pizzas so the rest of the passengers could all enjoy one last lunch together while separated in their rooms. Matthias Gafni is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: matthias.gafni@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @mgafni The Nepal government has closed its borders with India and China for a week starting Monday, in a bid to prevent a possible outbreak of the novel coronavirus in the Himalayan nation. Although the cross-border human movement is halted till midnight of March 29, supply of goods from the countries will continue, as usual, Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada told a press conference on Sunday night. "The government took the decision to seal both the southern and the northern borders as entire South Asia and South East Asia are heavily affected by the coronavirus pandemic. There is a greater risk of the disease spreading into Nepal due to cross-border human movement," Khatiwada said. Nepal, which shares a 1,800-km open border with India, has total of 37 motorable land entry points with it, while with China it has four such entry points. The government's decision to seal the border with India and China came following its decision to suspend all international flights to and from Nepal effective from March 22 to March 31 as a precautionary measure to control the spread of COVID-19. Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa on Sunday held a discussion with Indian Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra on closing the border, officials said, adding that the two sides agreed to cooperate with each other to contain the coronavirus spread. The Nepal government will develop the Armed Police Force (APF) hospital in Kathmandu as a dedicated medical centre for COVID-19 patients, Khatiwada said. The government will deploy medics from the Nepal Army, Nepal Police and the paramilitary forces to treat COVID-19 cases if any, he said. The government has also decided to set up quarantine facilities at provincial and local levels as a precautionary measure to provide quick treatment to people infected with the deadly virus. Khatiwada said the government will contribute Rs 500 million to the Coronavirus fund it has created to purchase logistics to be used for the treatment of COVID-19 patients in case of an outbreak. All Cabinet ministers will donate their one-month salary to the fund, he said. Meanwhile, a prominent industrialist and Norvic International Hospital chairman Basanta Kumar Chaudhary has announced to donate NPR 100 million to fund. (Image courtesy: Nepal PMO) PHILIPSBURG:--- The Department of Collective Prevention Services (CPS) which falls under the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA), hosted a workshop on Implementation and Monitoring of Integrated Vector Management Strategies, recently. Dr. Laura-Lee, Boodram, Head of Vector-Borne Disease and Mr, Raj Ragoo, Technical Officer, Vector-Borne Disease Unit, of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) conducted the workshop which took place at the Government Administration Building. CARPHA in collaboration with the European Union (EU) provided funding for the workshop. The Objectives for this workshop were to: assess the existing or potential entomology laboratory in Sint Maarten; train vector control personnel in entomological laboratory techniques associated with the collection and data management of Aedes Aegypti mosquito; and to develop and implement feedback mechanisms for entomological indices and vector control field operation. The expectation is that after the workshop, vector control operations on Sint Maarten will be adjusted and implemented accordingly based on the Integrated Vector Management strategy. The workshop was attended with participants from various government departments such as the Department of Infrastructure Management (Ministry VROMI), Social Development, Family and Humanitarian Affairs, , Public Health, Department of Education, the external partners such as St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC), and the Public Health Departments of Curacao and St. Eustatius. More than 150 medical workers from southwest Chinas Sichuan province dispatched to combat the COVID-19 outbreak in the city of Wuhan in Hubei province have started their journeys home, after painstakingly treating coronavirus patients in the city for more than 50 days. Zhao Yingming (Photo/Xinhua) Zhao Yingming, a nurse from Guangyuan, Sichuan, is among the returning medics. On Jan. 28, Zhao started her journey to Wuhan. Her husband, Jiang Haojun, who was seeing her off, shouted: "Zhao Yingming! Remember! If you come back safely, I will do all the chores for a whole year!" In responding, Zhao promised that she would return safe and sound to see if Jiang could fulfill his commitment. Jiang Haojun (Photo/Xinhua) The story overwhelmed the internet as proof that love can stay strong in the face of the virus, and the husbands words lingered on the minds of many. As the day for reunion approaches, Chinese net users took to social media, asking Jiang if he is ready to live up to his promise. The excited husband said he is happy to do a years housework because nothing is more important than his wife being safe. Roads and streets of Kolkata wore a deserted look on Monday as the lockdown in the city and several other areas of West Bengal began at 5 pm, which will continue till March 27, officials said. Police personnel were seen asking people through public address systems to return homes and shopkeepers to down the shutters of their business establishments. A 57-year-old man infected with coronavirus died at a hospital in the city earlier in the day, making it the first COVID-19 death in the state. Six other persons from the state are infected with coronavirus. According to a state government notification issued on Sunday, Kolkata and all other urban areas of the state will be under lockdown from 5 pm on Monday till March 27 in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. The lockdown will apply to areas under the jurisdiction of Kolkata Municipal Corporation, all municipal towns in North 24 Parganas district besides Malda, Murshidabad, Nadia, West Burdwan, North Dinajpur and Howrah districts. Siliguri, Darjeeling and Kurseong towns will also be put under the lockdown, according to the notification. All shops, commercial establishments, offices, factories and workshops shall also shut their operations, it said. "People are required to stay at home and come out only for basic services. Any congregation of more than seven persons shall be prohibited in public places," the notification said. Foodgrains, groceries, vegetables, fruits, meat, fish, bread, milk, medical services, home delivery, petrol pumps, pharmacies, the IT sector and banks and ATMs, among others, have been exempted from the purview of the lockdown. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) MBABANE For the first time in many years, only 10 motorists were arrested for drink-driving countrywide. Just last week, 145 offenders were nabbed. This is because police suspended using the breathalyser as it posed a threat to suspected offenders in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak which has claimed over 10 000 lives globally. This was confirmed by a traffic police officer when quizzed about the absence of drink-driving offenders at the Mbabane Magistrates Court yesterday. Determination The breathalyser was suspended and there was no immediate alternative to use on suspected offenders. The only body that could have given a green light to using a breathalyser is the court, said the traffic police officer. At least 145 offenders were arrested and charged for getting behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol last week but only 10 were arrested countrywide this weekend as confirmed by chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superrintendent Phindile Vilakati yesterday. She said although they did not utilise the breathalysers to detect or determine whether the person was drunk, they used other evidence for determination. Although she was not specific on what the evidence was, she did state that driving negligently in front of the traffic police officers or being involved in a car accident were some of the substantiation tools that the police used to distinguish whether a person was sober or not. Section 91 (9) of the Road Traffic Act 6 of 2007 states that a person shall provide a breath or specimen, as the case may be where a reasonable suspicion exists that such person is contravening this section and shall not be detained for longer than the time necessary to obtain the specimen. Influence Ministry of Public Works and Transport Principal Secretary Khangeziwe Mabuza, said there was nothing that her ministry could do under the circumstances because its employees were not mandated to go to the road but they were there to make sure that the road was used appropriately and all safety measures were in place. She said it was incumbent upon every user of the road to make sure that they were responsible on the road.If a user of the road fails to be responsible, what would the ministry do? Every road user is an adult beyond 18 years and government cannot be responsible for people who are irresponsible on the road regardless of all the efforts that government has put into ensuring safety on the roads. Everyone should do their part; we cant do beyond what can be done, she said. Mabuza said the ministry could only be indulged when there were no road signs or lack of any other precautionary measures on the road but getting behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol was a deliberate act. It is unfortunate that innocent lives are lost on the road because someone chose to be reckless but using the current situation of the coronavirus as a ticket to do things recklessly on the road is inhumane, she said. KHSL - As people stock up on groceries and supplies, the Centers for Disease Control is urging everyone to remember their prescriptions. But for some who can't make it, pharmacies are changing their delivery policies. CVS will deliver your prescription to your home for free through May 1. Walgreens is waving delivery fees for all eligible prescriptions. The idea is to reduce foot traffic inside the store and limit vulnerable populations' exposure to the virus. "It's going to make all the difference," pharmacy owner, Kristin Holmes said. "So, we are actively encouraging, when we know those patients and they're elderly, they have diabetes or asthma, or anything that really puts them at risk - where if they got this thing they would be seriously ill, we're really encouraging them to stay home. Let us bring your meds to you." Some insurers are also changing policies to help, like waiving early medication refill limits. For delivery from CVS, Click Here For delivery from Walgreens, Click Here Depending on your insurance, some online prescription delivery services might be covered, too. Amazon's PillPack offers free standard shipping. Click Here Noida Police on Monday night closed the Yamuna Expressway for commuters amid a major lockdown across the country due to the coronavirus outbreak, officials said. Commuters will only be allowed passage on the Yamuna Expressway, a key high-speed multi-lane road connecting Delhi with Agra and further interior into Uttar Pradesh, if they have a "valid reason" for travelling, the officials said. "The Yamuna Expressway has been closed and barricaded. Those wanting passage will be allowed only if they have a valid reason. The expressway would remain open for emergency services," Deputy Commissioner of Police, Greater Noida, Rajesh Singh, said. The district police has also put restrictions on the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway, which connects road traffic with the Yamuna Expressway. Media persons, who have been listed in essential services during the lockdown by the UP government, will be allowed passage on producing valid identity card, the police said. "Please cooperate with the police and have a valid photo identification card during inquiry. There won't be any problem for those with valid id cards," they said. The central government on Monday night said 30 states and Union Territories, covering a total of 548 districts, are under complete lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus. The death toll due to the novel coronavirus pandemic rose to nine on Monday, while the number of confirmed cases soared to 468, the Union Health Ministry said. The figure includes 35 people who have been cured/discharged/migrated and 40 foreign nationals, according to a ministry data. PTI KIS http://ptinews.com/images/pti.jpg We bring the World to you"Disclaimer : This e-mail message may contain proprietary, confidential or legally privileged information for the sole use of the person or entity to whom this message was originally addressed. Please delete this e-mail, if it is not meant for you. http://ptinews.com/images/pti.jpg We bring the World to you" Disclaimer : This e-mail message may contain proprietary, confidential or legally privileged information for the sole use of the person or entity to whom this message was originally addressed. Please delete this e-mail, if it is not meant for you. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The boss of the largest internet provider in the US has said its network is seeing some signs of stress as a result of coronavirus containment measures. AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said the increased number of people working from home has put added strain on its broadband network, as more people are using video conferencing and other bandwidth-hungry applications. That face-to-face communication that once existed is now happening over mobile devices, its happening over WiFi, and the infrastructure is holding up quite well, Mr Stephenson said in an interview on CNN, which is owned by AT&T. Were seeing some signs of stress. Were having to go out and do some augmentation of networks... But right now the network is performing quite well. His comments came after a series of outages in the US, UK and Europe related to the Covid-19 pandemic. Last week, major phone networks and internet providers in the UK suffered widespread outages and down time due to a significant increase in web traffic. The issue is expected to worsen over the coming weeks, as containment measures intensify and more people stay at home playing online games or streaming shows and films on the internet. Schools across the UK have also shut down, meaning lessons will be carried out using remote working apps. In an effort to ease the burden on internet infrastructure, Amazon Prime, Netflix and YouTube all announced plans to reduce the quality of streaming on their platforms. Despite concerns of more outages, BT offered assurances on Friday that its broadband network has the capacity to cope with the surge in demand. The UK is one of the worlds most advanced digital economies, so we overbuild our networks to compensate for our love of high-definition streaming content, BTs chief technology officer Howard Watson wrote in a blog post. The Covid-19 outbreak is causing changes to the way our networks are being used. Were monitoring those changes carefully to make sure we can respond rapidly if needed. There have so far been more than 340,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus around the world, resulting in close to 15,000 deaths. The sharpest rise in cases in recent days has been in the US, which overtook Spain, Germany, Iran, France and South Korea over the last week to be the third worst affected country behind China and Italy. More than 100 million Americans have been ordered to stay at home, with eight states currently under lockdown. Retail giants including McDonalds and Primark announced full store closures due to the coronavirus pandemic amid growing concerns about safe social distancing. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has faced calls for tougher restrictions especially in London, such as only allowing food stores and pharmacies to remain open. But thousands of outlets pre-empted any decision by voluntarily closing their doors. McDonalds announced that it will close every single one of its restaurants in the UK and Ireland from 7pm on Monday, following concerns about maintaining safe social distancing. There are approximately 1,300 McDonalds restaurants in the UK and Ireland and the decision will affect 135,000 staff members. Paul Pomroy, chief executive of McDonalds UK & Ireland, said he was proud of employees who had taken every step to keep customers safe. We have not taken this decision lightly and know that our restaurants have been playing an important role in the community providing hundreds of thousands of free drinks to frontline health and social workers and emergency services personnel, he said. But I have been clear throughout this that we would only continue to operate whilst it was safe for our people and together with our franchisees, we feel now is the time to make this decision to temporarily close. An update from McDonalds UK and Ireland See you soon pic.twitter.com/43moFRrWRR McDonald's UK (@McDonaldsUK) March 22, 2020 I want to thank every single one of our 135,000 employees. I am so proud of them all for adapting so quickly to a constantly evolving work environment, taking every step to keep our customers, couriers and teams safe and looking after each other so very well. Story continues Mr Pomroy added it had become clear that maintaining safe social distancing whilst operating busy takeaway and Drive Thru restaurants [was] increasingly difficult. Late on Sunday evening, Nandos said it would be closing more than 400 restaurants in the UK. In a post on Twitter, the company said: The health and safety of our customers and team is our highest priority. We have decided that the best course of action right now is to temporarily close our restaurants until further notice. Mr Johnson said on Sunday the Government was ready to impose tougher restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus if people do not follow the guidance on social distancing. Retailers have been forced to close stores as the pandemic continues (PA) Other fast food restaurants such as Burger King and KFC remain open but have changed to take away only. Restaurant chains that have closed due to the Covid-19 outbreak include Pizza Express, TGI Fridays and Bills. Zizzi, Ask Italian and Prezzo were the first to implement temporary closures on Thursday, before a full closure of pubs and restaurants was announced by the Prime Minister. Patisserie Valerie chief executive James Fleming said both its in-store and online services will also cease as of Monday. A note from our CEO James Fleming. Please look after yourselves pic.twitter.com/SXlOrpseeu Patisserie Valerie (@valeriecafe) March 22, 2020 This is unprecedented and never have I had to make such difficult decisions, he said. I do however genuinely believe that with the support and loyalty of our wonderful teams and guests, Patisserie Valerie will come back stronger and better than ever. Meanwhile, fashion retailers have also been hit by the coronavirus crisis. On Sunday Primark confirmed that it was closing all 189 of its UK stores, affecting around 37,000 jobs though employees would be paid in full for the next 14 days, the company said. The jobs of 37,000 people will be affected after Primark announced it will be closing all UK stores until further notice (PA) Other clothing chains including Kurt Geiger, Topshop and New Look have announced mass store closures. The John Lewis Partnership said it is the first time in its 155-year history that it will not open its shop doors for customers but its online services will continue. HMV closed its stores for trade at the end of Sunday, although customers could still order through the website, with Foyles and Waterstones both closing their doors at the end of trade on Monday. Bosses at Cineworld were sent an open letter by a group of 800 staff who were made redundant after the cinema chain closed all its UK venues on Tuesday causing pay cuts of up to 60% and scores of redundancies. Card Factory decided to temporarily close all of its shops just three hours after announcing on Monday that it expects to begin selectively closing stores. In a statement to investors, Card Factory said: Further to our earlier announcement, we have decided to close temporarily all of our shops from the end of business today. We will keep this under continuous review and update further in due course. Following the Hawaiian state governments order over the weekend that all arriving travelers (locals and visitors alike) must self-quarantine for 14 days, Hawaiian Airlines has become the first carrier to announce it will cut back service from the mainland, including the Bay Area. The governments order takes effect Thursday for all passengers arriving in Hawaii, whether they are coming from the mainland or foreign countries, including returning state residents. Hawaiian said it will maintain its regular schedules through Wednesday. But after that, the airline said, it will suspend most long-haul passenger service. The impact of that decision wasnt immediately clear because the airline hasnt yet identified specific routes that will be cut. Hawaiian said on Monday it has started notifying passengers about the new quarantine rule and has started to restrict bookings as it works on a final schedule for April. Hawaiian is committed to providing one daily nonstop flight between Honolulu (HNL) and Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco and its Thursday flight between HNL and American Samoa (PPG) in order to provide a baseline of out-of-state access, the company said, adding that it may provide passenger access on any additional flights for travelers willing to undergo that mandated self-imposed quarantine. UPDATE: Both Southwest and Alaska Airlines have made similar deep cuts to schedules, including Hawaii flights. Before the government issued the 14-day quarantine order on Sunday, its governor had urged visitors to postpone trips to the islands for 30 days. Don't miss a shred of important travel news! Sign up for our FREE bi-weekly email alerts The states Department of Transportation said arriving travelers will be required to proceed directly from the airport to your designated quarantine location, which is a location identified and affirmed by you on the mandatory State of Hawaii Department of Agriculture Plants and Animals Declaration Form, and to stay there for 14 days or until the order is lifted. Violators could be fined up to $5,000 or put in jail for up to a year. Hawaiian also plans to cut back its inter-island schedules, initially suspending Honolulu-Kapalua, Maui service on Wednesday, but said it will keep a network that will continue to provide connectivity for guests traveling within the state. Given the uncertainty about its schedules and the news about the governments quarantine order, Hawaiian said it is seeing an unprecedented volume of calls from customers, so it is asking passengers not traveling in the next 72 hours to wait until closer to their trip date to contact the airline. Heres a link to the carriers latest coronavirus-related information. The governors 14-day self-quarantine order is the first of its kind to restrict travel within the U.S., but it is similar to new rules that have been issued by many nations over the past couple of weeks. Other airlines flying to Hawaii havent yet announced any schedule cutbacks but given the quarantine mandate and the stay-at-home orders issued by many states, were likely to see far fewer flights to the islands in the days ahead. We will be ready to resume our schedule when the quarantine has been lifted, Hawaiian said. Hawaii Governor David Iges order is due to remain in place through May 20 unless terminated by a separate proclamation, the governor said. Southwest Airlines president Tom Nealon told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser last week that although his airline is planning to reduce capacity in the weeks ahead, Hawaii was not on the list for cutbacks. But that was before the states quarantine order came out. Read all recent TravelSkills posts here Chris McGinnis is SFGATE's senior travel correspondent. You can reach him via email or follow him on Twitter or Facebook. Don't miss a shred of important travel news by signing up for his FREE biweekly email updates! SFGATE participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. "It's like a ghost town," says a local walking his Yorkshire terrier through the empty streets of Belfast city centre on Saturday night. It is almost 8pm in the evening on the cobbled alleyway outside the historic Duke of York bar in the Cathedral Quarter, which would normally be bustling with revellers any other week. The dog walker said he doesn't normally take this route but was curious to witness for himself the eerie atmosphere of the capital's deserted streets, as well as capture a snap for social media. Half an hour beforehand, two baffled tourists arrived to marvel at the artwork, bric-a-brac and neon lights that normally help bring the alleyway to life and are a magnet for visitors. Instead, they only served to accentuate the loss of activity, noise and energy that habitually thrives among the throng of patrons at weekend hotspots that have been shut down indefinitely among the many economic casualties of the viral pandemic. Expand Close St Annes Square Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp St Annes Square For the most part, the city centre streets are vacant and soulless for long periods, punctuated only by sporadic signs of life - after the bemused tourists and the dog walker, I only see a police Land Rover on patrol and the odd taxi driver hoping to stumble upon a fare. Normally the taxi rank opposite the Merchant Hotel would be one of those backed up for business, but not tonight. As I walk from the Duke through the heart of Belfast's social life, there is no one to be seen. At St Anne's Square, home to the MAC theatre, a hotel, a gym and many restaurants, padlocks are on gates and signs inform of closure because of the threat of Covid-19. The shutters are down and doors are locked as we walk past The Harp Bar, The Dark Horse, The Dirty Onion, The Thirsty Goat, 21 Social, The Cloth Ear, The National ... you get the picture. Some establishments like The Spaniard and Pablos took the precaution of protecting their shop windows by having them boarded up with a wood facade, evoking a sad reminder of the aftermath of bars blown up or firebombed during the Troubles. Pubs along Belfast's famous entries - The Morning Star, The Jailhouse and Henry's - were remarkable only in the fact that darkness enveloped the alleys rather than the bright vibrancy of nightlife. Belfast city centre amid the lockdown was a haunting contrast to the norm, with the stillness and quiet a world away from sounds of music, chatter and laughter that normally fill those pubs, restaurants, streets and alleyways. Expand Close Hill Street in the city centre Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Hill Street in the city centre But one ray of light comes in the form of Willie Jack, owner of Cathedral Quarter mainstays The Duke of York, The Dark Horse and The Harp Bar, as well as The Friend at Hand Whiskey Shop. He told the Belfast Telegraph: "Outside The Duke of York we're going to change the umbrellas to something, we'll do a few art installations for the brighter days ahead, whether it's six weeks or eight weeks or more. "And there's a new neon to hand, installations for above the buildings and we will kick back in, there will be things by The Dark Horse in that courtyard. "We will be lighting up the umbrellas and neons again soon and we will be doing more exciting projects to make Belfast brighter again. The darkness won't last hopefully for too long and I'm going to make Belfast bright again. "I intend to spend quite a bit of money and make it a spectacular street, for the tourists who will come back and for the hotels and the taxi drivers. "The taxi drivers say, 'Fair play to him, he does all the murals free, he does the lights'. People come down and do Instagrams. Cruise ship liners bring tourists, but it does show Belfast not with painted kerb stones, not red, white and blue or green, white and gold - look at Belfast, we've come on from a dark place 30 years ago. "Unfortunately we've come back to darkness, despite the love of people to each other, because of a worldwide issue, but we will get brighter days. "A little museum of Belfast is a dream of mine, to put it into the middle of Belfast so young people can learn things, so there's things that will be good and positive. Expand Close A deserted Dirty Onion Bar Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A deserted Dirty Onion Bar "It will happen and I want to see more messages of love and hope and joy while we get through this. In Belfast, good bars will last." And with St Patrick's Day celebrations cancelled across the island of island, Willie has promised that he is planning a shindig to make up for it later in the year instead. He added: "On October 17, just over six months from now, there will be an alternative St Patrick's Day party on a Saturday night in mid October - my God, can you imagine we'll go green in October?" In 2017 David Burritt was appointed CEO of United States Steel Corporation (NYSE:X). This analysis aims first to contrast CEO compensation with other companies that have similar market capitalization. Next, we'll consider growth that the business demonstrates. Third, we'll reflect on the total return to shareholders over three years, as a second measure of business performance. This method should give us information to assess how appropriately the company pays the CEO. See our latest analysis for United States Steel How Does David Burritt's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies? According to our data, United States Steel Corporation has a market capitalization of US$901m, and paid its CEO total annual compensation worth US$13m over the year to December 2019. We note that's an increase of 15% above last year. We think total compensation is more important but we note that the CEO salary is lower, at US$1.2m. We further remind readers that the CEO may face performance requirements to receive the non-salary part of the total compensation. We looked at a group of companies with market capitalizations from US$400m to US$1.6b, and the median CEO total compensation was US$3.3m. Next, let's break down remuneration compositions to understand how the industry and company compare with each other. Talking in terms of the sector, salary represented approximately 36% of total compensation out of all the companies we analysed, while other remuneration made up 64% of the pie. Readers will want to know that United States Steel pays a modest slice of remuneration through salary, as compared to the wider sector. Thus we can conclude that David Burritt receives more in total compensation than the median of a group of companies in the same market, and of similar size to United States Steel Corporation. However, this doesn't necessarily mean the pay is too high. We can better assess whether the pay is overly generous by looking into the underlying business performance. You can see a visual representation of the CEO compensation at United States Steel, below. Story continues NYSE:X CEO Compensation, March 23rd 2020 Is United States Steel Corporation Growing? On average over the last three years, United States Steel Corporation has grown earnings per share (EPS) by 46% each year (using a line of best fit). It saw its revenue drop 8.8% over the last year. Overall this is a positive result for shareholders, showing that the company has improved in recent years. Revenue growth is a real positive for growth, but ultimately profits are more important. Shareholders might be interested in this free visualization of analyst forecasts. Has United States Steel Corporation Been A Good Investment? Given the total loss of 83% over three years, many shareholders in United States Steel Corporation are probably rather dissatisfied, to say the least. It therefore might be upsetting for shareholders if the CEO were paid generously. In Summary... We compared the total CEO remuneration paid by United States Steel Corporation, and compared it to remuneration at a group of similar sized companies. We found that it pays well over the median amount paid in the benchmark group. However, the earnings per share growth over three years is certainly impressive. However, the returns to investors are far less impressive, over the same period. So shareholders might not feel great about the fact that CEO pay increased on last year. Considering the per share profit growth, but keeping in mind the weak returns, we'd need more time to form a view on CEO compensation. On another note, we've spotted 1 warning sign for United States Steel that investors should look into moving forward. Arguably, business quality is much more important than CEO compensation levels. So check out this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. FLINT, MI -- In grocery stores, people maintain distance from one another. Parking lots of big-box stores have emptied. Many leaving the house to complete essential tasks don gloves and masks. A sampling Flint of community members spoke overwhelmingly in support of Governor Gretchen Whitmers Monday, March 23, order that people remain at home as cases of COVID-19 spread across Michigan. The number of confirmed cases in Michigan continued to rise over the weekend, jumping from 549 on Friday to 1,232 by Monday. Fifteen people have died, with dozens more being treated in intensive care units. All Michigan residents, most businesses ordered to stay home to slow spread of coronavirus The virus is spreading exponentially," Whitmer said during a news conference announcing the order that residents and most businesses stay home. Whitmer estimated 70 percent of the states population could become infected, 7 million people total, deeming the order "absolutely necessary. Before the order, many local businesses were proactive in having employees work from home. Michigans coronavirus stay-at-home order torture, but good for some and way overboard for others 100 K Ideas moved to being completely remote last week, said Brandee Cooke-Brown, director of community engagement for the downtown Flint nonprofit. She said she agrees with Whitmers executive order. It really just came down to safety for everybody," she said. "As much as you try to keep things normal, theres a point where we say, OK, now we really need to hunker down and do our part. People should understand why they need to stay home and keep their distance from each other, she said. It might be a little uncomfortable, a little inconvenient temporarily, just for the bigger picture of being able to get back to normalcy a little sooner, Cooke-Brown said. Hopefully thats the shared vision of all the things going on and thats why people realize we have to do this. Many millennials have not been taking the virus seriously, Andre McGee Jr, 25, said. He hopes the stay-home order will help push the message that people should be limiting interaction. When thinking about how to react to the pandemic, McGee thinks of his grandmother who died two years ago, after suffering various illnesses. Its about compassion and empathy for me," McGee said. "We take so many things for granted thinking were not affected because were young. But how would your grandmother feel if she was going through this? If my grandmother was around and had it right now, I wouldnt be joking around. McGee started a new job at General Motors three weeks ago. Now, his career is on hold. While this has been a source of stress, he said practicing caution is bigger than himself. It is time to use social media and technology to connect rather than risk spreading the virus on to the next person or getting infect yourself, he said. It will take a collective to minimize the affect of the virus, McGee said. It feels better to fight this as a team than to do it by yourself, he said. Flint resident Kevin Johnson wears a mask as he fills his car with groceries in the parking lot of Kroger on Corunna Road. If this is going to help stop the spread, youve got to take all the precautions you can to keep everybody safe from the spread of it, he said. Locking down now to shorten the time it take to go back to normal is key, Johnson said. Staying off the streets, doing what they asked us to do -- thats all we can do, he said. A group handed out bagged lunches Monday outside of Glam Boutique near the intersection of Second and Saginaw Street downtown. The group has been handing out meals for a week. Flint businesswoman helping feed school kids during coronavirus closures With the new executive order, however, the service will temporarily halt, said Dezha Peterson, a youth development professional with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Flint. I think (the shelter in place) is necessary at the same time. Im sad because I think about all the kids that were helping an all the people in the community that come out every day, Peterson said, adding that she worries about the population that relies on community groups for food. The group handed out over 500 meals and over 350 toys in the past week, she said. She said she worries halting some food hand out services will add to burdens facing Flints most vulnerable populations. It is necessary for safety and safety precautions, Peterson said. Im just saddened that we have to stop our service to the community. PREVENTION TIPS In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores. Complete coverage of coronavirus in Michigan. Read more on MLive: Hurley suspends all routine visitations due to coronavirus Mass Transportation Authority to continue services amid coronavirus Stay Home, Stay Safe order What Grand Rapids residents are saying about Michigans stay-at-home order Were just trying to get done what we can, Ann Arbor workers say of stay-at-home coronavirus order Why didnt I get my haircut 2 weeks earlier? Jackson resident reacts to stay-at-home order Tokyo assesses the first ever postponement of the Olympics. Seoul strengthens quarantine measures for those arriving from abroad. Dialogue with Pyongyang. Taipei closes airports and records a slight increase in contagion cases. Tokyo (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe today admitted for the first time that the Tokyo Olympics could be postponed due to the coronavirus (Covid-19). The change in direction came after Canada and Australia withdrew from the event, which is set to start on July 24, asking for it to be postponed to 2021. The Olympic Committee is set to make a decision by the end of April. Yesterday Japan reported 34 new cases of infection. There are a total of 1100 infected in the country with 45 dead. South Korea's health authorities, meanwhile, say the government must tighten quarantine measures to avoid a wave of foreign infections. Having overcome the initial difficulties, Seoul has been effective in containing the spread of Covid-19. The South Korean strategy ("Trust") is based on a strong control and quarantine measures, resorting to homogeneous tests and a rigorous treatment system for patients. Yesterday, 64 new infections occurred in the country: the lowest number since the beginning of the crisis. Of these, 14 are cases imported from other countries. Overall, almost 9 thousand people are infected and 104 people have died. The South Korean ministry for Unification has approached North Korea to work together to prevent the spread of lung infection. Yesterday Pyongyang announced that U.S. President Donald Trump said he intends to help the North Korean government fight the epidemic. Officially, North Korea did not report any cases of infection, despite doubts from the international community. In Taiwan, all airports will be closed from March 24 until April 7, at least. Due to the low number of users, local railways have announced that services will be reduced between April 18 and June 21. Taipei has so far successfully tackled the epidemic. But there were 26 new cases of infection yesterday, bringing the total to 195; the dead are 2. Analysts believe the sharp increase, compared to previous numbers, provoked a sharp drop in the local stock exchange, which is about to close with a loss of 3.72%. What happened Shares of Ford Motor (NYSE:F) were falling on Monday, down about 5.1% as of 11:30 a.m. EDT, after the company said that it will close more factories and an influential analyst cut his price target for the automaker. So what Ford said on Monday that it has shut down its factories in India, South Africa, Thailand, and Vietnam as the coronavirus pandemic intensifies in those regions. A total of eight factories are affected. Ford's decision to shut down plants in its International Markets Group follows last week's moves to close factories in Europe, the U.K., and North America. The company's decisions to close plants are in response to worker concerns about safety, as well as the need to reduce production as consumers stay away from dealerships. Health authorities in much of the world are urging citizens to practice "social distancing" to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Separately, in a note on Monday morning, Barclays analyst Brian Johnson cut his price target for Ford to $4 from $9. He maintains a hold rating on the stock. Now what Ford should have plenty of cash to weather this shutdown. The company suspended its dividend and drew down $15.4 billion from its credit lines last week, in a bid to bolster its balance sheet. That adds to an already-hefty reserve: Ford had $22.3 billion in cash available as of Dec. 31, its most recent report. Ford is not seeking a bailout from the United States government at this time. Minister for Health Simon Harris has acknowledged that it is likely further recommendations will be made this week in relation to social distancing and public gatherings. Social distancing is not something nice to do, it is about saving lives and Ireland cannot go the way of Italy, Mr Harris told RTE radios Morning Ireland. Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan will look at all the options and make recommendations then, added the Minister. It was important to look after people's physical and mental health, but mass gatherings in parks were not on. Mr Harris said he had been overwhelmed by the sense of solidarity being displayed around the country and also by the dedication of those in the health service. The welfare of health care workers was key and everyone needed to work extremely hard to protect health workers. When asked about the possibility of further restrictions, Mr Harris said people were making a conscious effort at social distancing. He said he would await greater guidance about playgrounds and public spaces. He expects further recommendations from the National Public Health Emergency Team. People still need to abide by social distancing, he said. People must stay two metres apart. Mr Harris said orders of face masks, goggles and gowns were being packed up in China and an airline was going to collect them, they should arrive by the end of the week. On the issue of wait times for tests, Mr Harris said the changed criteria for testing had brought about huge pressures. Efforts were underway to get more testing kits, there are now far more testing centres and there are 10 labs around the country running the tests. We are testing, testing, testing, but the most important thing is that if you think you have the symptoms you must self-isolate. That is the most important thing you can do for yourself, your family, your country. The president of the Irish College of General Practitioners, Dr Mary Favier, has said it was inevitable that more measures will be introduced to ensure physical distancing. Dr Favier told RTE radios Morning Ireland that physical distancing was a much better description than social distancing and that more needed to be done as particular groups did not seem to understand the necessity for physical distancing. It was up to us as a society to make the personal decision to create a physical distance rather than to have to introduce mandatory measures, she said. Ultimately it was people in the community who would save lives, doctors would pick up the pieces. Dr Favier acknowledged there was a significant backlog on testing, but pointed out that GPs could not expedite tests or results which would go directly to patients. We would ask people not to ring their GP, we dont have the information. However, she said that anyone who developed respiratory symptoms or anyone who was awaiting testing and their symptoms got worse should immediately contact their GP. In the meantime the broader issue of community health needed to be addressed and GPs needed to look after patients with other illnesses, the ordinary things, she said. It would not be good to deal with the Covid-19 problem and then find other problems that had not been addressed. Testing for health care professionals was vital, added Dr Favier as there was already a shortage of GPs in the country and the health service could not afford to have GPs going into isolation while awaiting testing. Dr Eoghan de Barra, consultant in Infectious Diseases at Dublin's Beaumont Hospital, has said that the way for Ireland to avoid similar death rates to Italy is for stricter interventions to be made sooner. It is the bluntest instrument we have. If people aren't willing to comply then the State already has the tools to enforce this, he told RTE radios Today with Sean ORourke show. Dr de Barra said it was concerning to see people not complying with Covid-19 social distancing guidelines. He called for things to be enhanced beyond what they are at the moment. The virus doesn't move, people do. The majority of people are going to be well, but the portion that is not is going to overwhelm the (health) system. When we're planning for the surge, we are going to have to make difficult decisions about prioritising patients, and who gets a high level of care and who doesn't. It's not easy to stay in on a sunny Sunday, but staying in might reduce the number of difficult decisions we have to make in the weeks ahead. He said it is imperative for people who are awaiting test results, or who have tested positive for Covid-19 to practice strict self-isolation. [snippet1]987600[/snippet1] Mick Clifford Podcast Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Kornelius Purba (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, March 23, 2020 08:11 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206ca7ed1 1 Opinion #commentary,COVID-19,Jokowi,COVID-19-lockdown,social-distancing,pandemic,infectious-diseases Free I received two videos through WhatsApp, one featuring the popular song Ibu Pertiwi (Motherland) and the other Michael Jacksons We are the World, while waiting for a COVID-19 test last week Ill explain later. Knowing the sender, I knew he was expressing his concern over our divisive society. Hostility, revenge and hatred are still growing steadily. The choice is often limited; You are with us or against us. Religious and ethnic minorities often become targets of bullying. Can this pandemic at least lessen this dangerous situation? It was early morning on Thursday in the parking lot of the Persahabatan Hospital in East Jakarta when I received the videos. The first song is about a mother(land) who is crying because her wealth and environment are being destroyed. But the children of the nation promise they will guard their motherland with their own blood. The second song was performed by superstars in 1980s to demonstrate solidarity for millions of starving and dying Africans. The first video features a choir of Indonesian students performing the song, which has become a national hymn, on a street in Rome long before the pandemic. The song has often been performed during difficult times in Indonesia, such as after the devastating 2004 tsunami in Aceh, to lift up spirits and to mobilize charity for victims. Many Indonesians do not know the song was actually a total adoption of a Christian hymn, What a Friend We Have in Jesus written by Joseph M. Scriven in the 19th century, long before the Indonesian version was introduced without identifying the composer. Never mindits always used for good purposes. So why did I go to the hospital? I was very nervous after learning that three family members of a friend who died last week had been diagnosed positive for COVID-19. As I had gone to pay my last respects, I came into direct contact with the mourning family. So I went to Persahabatan, one of the main referral hospitals for COVID-19, which specializes in lung-related ailments. The hospital provides health screening and tests for people with strong reasons to fear they are infected. The health screening costs Rp 231,000 (US$13). I know we are importing rapid-test kits from China, but these are only for blood samples. At the above hospital the medical tests include lung X-rays, blood sample tests and, on the decision of the physician in charge, also swab testing, to take samples from the nose and throat. Results of the X-rays and blood tests are revealed the next day. However, you might only discover the swab test results when, about five days later, an ambulance comes to your door to take you to the hospital. My initial tests thankfully concluded I did not have the disease, but there is no guarantee that Ill be permanently free of the virus, at least as long as there is no vaccine against it available. So I could somehow relate to the aforementioned songs regarding this apocalyptic situation. Indeed, the Motherland is in sorrow, tears flowing from her eyes. But her faithful sons and daughters pledge to preserve the heritage for our homeland and nation, although we dont know exactly how in this unprecedented pandemic. And We are the World, which todays youth may not know, never fails to lift our spirits. We are the world/ We are the children/ We are the ones who make a brighter day, so lets start giving Initially, President Joko Jokowi Widodo was reluctant to make swift decisions to anticipate the pandemic early on, maybe partly because he has been a regular consumer of the traditional jamu (herbal medicine) since childhood, a habit that raises confidence in ones immunity. Now the President has changed his mind and has issued major orders to curb the disease, which has been spreading across the country. Indonesia is entering an economic recession and the consequences will be dreadful for all. Jokowi, however, still defies calls to impose a total or partial lockdown, apparently fearing the devastating economic impacts, although he may also be considering the near impossibility of locking down this vast archipelago. Perhaps hes also betting on the dry season, expected in a few weeks, which may be less friendly to the virus. One things for sure: Millions of Indonesians are losing their sources of income. The government has announced plans to provide cash for the hungry and jobless at the grassroots level, but previous experience has shown a few months are needed to disburse funds because of technicalities and red tape. How about the super rich and politically powerful people? So far, at least in public, we have seen few philanthropic acts. Maybe they dont want to be seen as overtly pleasing the government. They should come forward, before we enter chaotic time when the rich are hoarding while the poor are looting. The Angel of Death, as I sensed, has come so close. No one can escape the death sentence, unless we tightly unite right now. Hatred, selfishness, blind religiosity are among the keys to end your life, if we blatantly defy calls to delay our important events, for instance. No matter how much you love or hate our President, we must entrust him to be in full command in this very dangerous period. As this coronavirus is everywhere, can we put aside hostility and even mutual hatred? We should not help the virus kill us all just because we are too selfish. Let us help the government of President Jokowi for the sake of ourselves and the nation. By Express News Service KENDRAPARA: As many as 218 people, who had returned from abroad and 630 from other parts of the country, have been placed under home quarantine in the district. Additional District Medical Officer Dr Mirza Babbar Baig said all of them have been advised to remain in isolation for two weeks in their homes and not interact with others. Authorities have set up isolation wards for 100 patients in hospitals across the district. We want people with travel history to pay heed to the advice of health officials and behave responsibly to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The authorities will arrest those who skip the mandatory social-distancing period, he said. In fact, the district administration on Sunday sought help of police to keep 30 persons, who returned to their villages from Mumbai, in their homes. Five Bangladeshis including a seven-year-old boy and a person who had returned from Mumbai were recently admitted to isolation ward of SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack. We are on high alert to provide preliminary treatment to all suspected coronavirus patients, said Dr Baig. However, a major challenge is tracing 25,000 people from the district who work as plumbers abroad. Most are employed in the Middle East countries and returning home. It is high time for the Health and Family Welfare department to set up isolation wards for 500 persons in the hospitals across the district to check the spread of coronavirus as hundreds of plumbers and others are rushing to their villages from their work places, said Jagajiban Das, a trade union leader of Kendrapara. Most of the plumbers belong to Pattamundai, Aul, Rajkanika and Rajnagar blocks. With such odds at hand, large scale vacancies in hospitals and health centres are a major problem. Of 171 sanctioned posts of doctors in Kendrapara, 70 are lying vacant for the last two years. The highest number of vacancies are in the district headquarters hospital which has 40 doctors against the sanctioned strength of 62. We have already informed the authorities about vacancies and hope Government will soon appoint more doctors in the district, said Dr Baig. Health services have taken a back seat in 230 gram panchayats with a population of 14.60 lakh owing to shortage of doctors. Government health care centres, especially Community Health Centres and Primary Health Centres are marred by gross inadequacies in terms of staff, basic infrastructure and and medicines, said former minister and senior Congress leader Ganeswar Behera. Eye on travellers Administration seeks help of police to keep 30 persons, who returned to their villages from Mumbai, in their homes 5 Bangladeshis including a seven-year-old boy were recently admitted to isolation ward of SCBMCH Most of the plumbers belong to Pattamundai, Aul, Rajkanika and Rajnagar blocks One police officer was killed and another was injured by an explosion in the city of Lashkar Gah in the southern Afghan province of Helmand, a source told Sputnik KABUL (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd March, 2020) One police officer was killed and another was injured by an explosion in the city of Lashkar Gah in the southern Afghan province of Helmand, a source told Sputnik. "A bomb exploded near a police checkpoint in the Shaheed Ghaltan area of the First District of Lashkar Gah, killed one policeman and injured another one," the source said. At the same time, local police chief Abdul Baqi Barz told Sputnik that only one police officer was injured in the blast. Afghanistan has long been suffering from an unstable security situation. The government has been fighting the Taliban, which has been waging a war against Kabul for almost two decades, and the Islamic State terror group (banned in Russia). After a peace deal was signed between Washington and the Taliban, the latter continued its attacks in the wake of Kabul's refusal to release 5,000 Taliban prisoners. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani later conceded to the demands and ordered the release of the prisoners. However, the group rejected the phased release of its members. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said the people should observe the lockdown in the national capital to contain the spread of coronavirus or face strict action. He also announced that 50 per cent of the DTC buses will be operational from Tuesday to ensure that those involved in essential services do not face problems. He said that there were 30 cases in Delhi till date, out of which 23 were reported from people who came from the affected countries and seven were infected through the local transmission. He also appealed to the landlords to not force tenants to pay rent and announced that mid-day meals will be delivered at the homes of children and Aanganwadi workers. In an online media briefing, Kejriwal said the lockdown, which is in place till March 31 midnight, is for everyone''s benefit and it is important to ensure that the virus does not spread further. "Today, Delhi witnessed that the majority of the people are following the rules but some people have violated the order of lockdown. "It is important to understand the situation of this pandemic. The Delhi government does not wish to make the lives of people difficult but we are doing this to tackle the crisis," he added. He also cited the examples of Italy and the US where the number of patients was in hundreds initially but rose exponentially within weeks. Kejriwal said that on February 23, Italy had only a hundred reported cases and today there were more than 40,000 cases in country, of which more than 5,000 people had died. In America on February 29, there were only 68 reported cases and only one death was reported, but today there were more than 35,000 cases and more than 418 people had died. "This virus doesn't see gender or class of people, therefore, the lockdown was mandatory... "The situation of Delhi is under control but this is not the time to cheer up but to follow the restrictions because if we do not take action today and the disease spreads to a large number of people then the situation will become very tough," he said. He said the Delhi government will take strict action against violators. Kejriwal requested the people to follow the order of lockdown and not leave their houses. "Whatever we are doing today is for you and the entire Delhi. From tomorrow if anybody is violating the order of lockdown then the government will be forced to take strict action against the violators. The government will have to take strict action to make you safe and to make Delhi safer," he said. Kejriwal said that the restrictions imposed in the wake of coronavirus were causing a financial burden on the poor and daily wage labourers. "We had initially decided to set-up kitchens across the city and distribute free food to the poor, but the idea had to be shunned because free distribution of food will result in a mass gathering of the people at a particular spot," he said. He announced that the government hasdecided to provide 7.5 kilos of free rations to 72 lakh beneficiaries attached to the ration scheme for one month. Earlier, wheat was available at Rs 2 per kg, rice at Rs 3 per kg and sugar at Rs 13 per kg. "Now, the ration will be provided free of cost at 50 per cent more quantity than normal entitlements for April. We will also supply the ration for April, from March 30, because it will take us time to procure the ration from the central government and distribute it," he said. He also urged people to maintain a distance of one meter in the ration queues. Around 18 lakh families will be covered under the ration scheme. The government has also decided to double the pension under the widow pension scheme for 2.5 lakh beneficiaries, the old-age pension scheme for five lakh beneficiaries, and disability pension scheme for one lakh beneficiaries, he said. "The beneficiaries will get the pension amount for March and April, by April 7. We are also arranging for free lunch and dinner facilities in 220-night shelters for every person," he said. Kejriwal said that on the first day of the lockdown, it was observed that several people involved in providing essential services reached late to work and faced several hassles. "To ensure that they don't face problems, we will increase the DTC bus services to 50 per cent from Tuesday," Kejriwal said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime minister Boris Johnson during a coronavirus daily update briefing with UK media. (PA) The UK government has ordered the closure of all non-essential stores, as well as playgrounds and libraries, and has imposed a range of drastic measures on public life, in a significant escalation of the governments efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic. Instead of a daily coronavirus briefing on Monday, prime minister Boris Johnson made the announcement at 8.30pm local time, following a Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms meeting commonly known as COBRA which are reserved for crisis management. Not only will all non-essential stores be closed but Johnson said that people will only be able to leave their home for shopping for basic necessities and on a limited basis. These movements include: Shopping for basic necessities One form of exercise a day Any medical need to provide care or help a vulnerable people Only to travel to and from work where absolutely necessary Johnson confirmed that if you dont follow the rules the police will have the powers to enforce them, including through fines and dispersing gatherings. To ensure compliance with the governments instruction to stay at home, we will immediately close all shops selling non-essential goods, including clothing and electronic stores and other premises including libraries, playgrounds and outdoor gyms, and places of worship. We will stop all gatherings of more than two people in public excluding people you live with. And well stop all social events, including weddings, baptisms and other ceremonies, but excluding funerals. It was not clear from Johnsons speech how fines would be implemented. The announcement follows the confirmation that a further 46 people in England have died after testing positive for Covid-19, pushing the death toll in Britain to 335. So far, over 15,000 people have died from the coronavirus in the world. Earlier on Monday, the head of the World Health Organization said the coronavirus pandemic is "accelerating. The UK's foreign secretary Dominic Raab then called for all British travellers to return home now. "If you are on holiday abroad the time to come home is now while you still can, he said. Story continues Rapid change of strategy Calls had been mounting for the government to order stricter measures to limit the spread of the virus and save lives. Over the weekend, Johnson warned that tougher measures would be put in place if the public did not adhere to social distancing requests by the government. He said, if people did not act now, the NHS would be overwhelmed by the accelerating spread of the coronavirus. The governments response has also included emergency coronavirus legislation, giving central government, the police and military sweeping powers to enforce self-isolation and social distancing. The measures have received support across the political spectrum, but some MPs fear for civil liberties and want a shorter time limit on the powers. Health secretary Matt Hancock called those failing to follow official advice very selfish earlier on Monday. Those at-risk people such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions are strongly advised not to go out for 12 weeks to protect themselves. It was also confirmed that 1.5 million people will receive letters from the National Health Service (NHS) identifying them from being in a vulnerable or at-risk category, advising them to stay indoors for several months. Graphic: Yahoo Finance On 20 March, he had announced that all cafes, bars, clubs, shops, and restaurants should close but stopped short of imposing a lockdown. He urged that people also do not go out unless absolutely necessary. However, numerous reports showed that people were flouting the warnings heading to pubs, parks and shops that were still open. However, the government has switched strategy rapidly, which has been criticised for delivering mixed messaging to the public. Johnson initially announced following the mitigation strategy, which involves home isolation of suspect cases and their family members but allows the rest of society to roam about freely and no restrictions are put on others. This would encourage herd immunity. However, the Imperial College Covid-19 Response Team, which advises the government, found that the strategy previously being pursued by Johnson and his cabinet would result in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and overwhelm the NHS. They recommended the UK government to switch to the suppression strategy, which will lead to restrictions on wider society. However, at the time, this is not a lockdown that would involve official measures and authorities stopping the movement of people and officially imposing closures. Aid for businesses and the economy According to KPMGs latest quarterly economic outlook, it warned that high street closures will push the UK into a deep recession this year. This month, the UK Treasury announced a financial package worth 15% of UK GDP, up from a package announced the prior week, which was worth 1% of GDP, and includes 330bn ($388bn) government-back loans and guarantees to help firms survive the crisis was open for applications through leading financial firms. Viable companies will be able to borrow up to 5m in government-backed loans, interest-free for 12 months. The Bank of Englands new governor released a statement with the chairs of leading UK banks stating they were here to help firms and households get through the pandemic. It said co-ordinated activity between the government and major banks in recent days meant Britains financial system now had enormous scope to provide support. Read more: Job security fears among UK workers soar to eight-year high Most of them live hand-to-mouth existences, with about one in nine having the ability to save up and feed themselves. Sex workers from one of the worlds largest brothels appealed to the Bangladesh government on Monday for emergency funding after a ban on customers to prevent the spread of coronavirus. More than 1,500 sex workers are based at the Daulatdia brothel, about 100km (60 miles) west of capital Dhaka, which is one of about 12 officially sanctioned brothels in the South Asian country, and receives an estimated 5,000 customers every day. On Friday, the government announced the closure of the brothel a series of shacks spread over a maze of alleyways until at least April 5, but promised to give all of the sex workers a package of 30kgs of rice, $25, and a freeze on rent. Government official Rubayet Hayat, executive officer of the sub-district of Goalanda where the brothel is located, said the aid was expected to arrive late this week. Hand-to-mouth existence But women working at Daulatdia appealed for immediate help, saying they no longer had money to pay for food for themselves or their children due to the sudden closure of the brothel. If we were informed beforehand, we could have tried to save up as much as possible. Now, many of us have to take loans to not stay hungry, said Kalpona, a 30-year-old sex worker, who has been living in the brothel for nearly two decades. Right now, we need the government aid as soon as possible, she added, declining to give her full name for fear of reprisals. Sex work is legal in Bangladesh, although it is considered immoral by many in the Muslim-majority nation of about 160 million people, which has so far reported three deaths from COVID-19 with at least 33 other confirmed cases. Daulatdia has been running for more than a century, set up until British colonial rule, although it moved to its current location near a ferry station in 1988 after fire destroyed the old premises. Charities say many sex workers are underage. Ataur Rahman Manju, coordinator of the rights group Mukti Mahila Samity that supports sex workers, said most of them live hand-to-mouth existences, with only about one in nine having the ability to save up and feed themselves. On an average, workers earn between $12 to $24 a day, according to Manju. The workers in high demand, about 100 or 200 of them, can probably survive for a month like this, but for the rest of the 1,500, the situation is really difficult. They immediately need food, Manju told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone. Lily, 35, a sex worker, said she had not been able to send money to her 8-year-old son who lives with a family outside the brothel, and she feared he was not being fed properly. While government aid was promised, Kalpona was unsure it was going to help them in the long term. Even if restrictions are lifted next month, I dont think people will come to the brothel for a long time because of the disease, she said. Burma Myanmar to Deport 86 Chinese Migrants for Illegal Residency After Yangon Bust Myanmar police inspect a house crowded with illegal Chinese migrants in Thingangyun Township on Saturday night. / Aung Kyaw Htet / The Irrawaddy Yangon A total of 86 of 118 Chinese people will be deported for violating Myanmars immigration rules, according to Yangon Regions Ministry of Immigration and Human Resources. More than 100 Chinese people in the two houses had failed to apply for form C with the townships immigration department. Some of them arrived this month, according to the authorities. A total of 64 Chinese people were found in the Hninsi Street house and another 54 were detained on Pannwar Street. They worked for two Chinese-owned companies: the One by One online marketing firm and Fresh Wave Business Services, a computer programming firm. A Yangon immigration ministry representative told The Irrawaddy that 86 of the Chinese citizens failed to apply for form C. The form allows a house or company owner to report foreigners within 24 hours. Those detained had passports, visas, housing details and recommendation letters. Today, we will deport the first 18 Chinese people. We are also planning to deport the rest, said the spokesperson. The authorities said they were investigating the firms and the homeowners to find out who was responsible for submitting form C. The Yangon authorities were cooperating with the Myanmar Investment Commission to find out who was responsible for the companys registration. To counter the threat of the coronavirus, cinemas and nursery schools have been closed and religious festivals have been postponed or canceled under orders from the Presidents Office. The Thingyan water festival is being postponed until at least April 30. Citizens returning from countries suffering from COVID-19 outbreaks must also be quarantined for 14 days. No visas are being issued until at least April 30. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 335,000 people have tested positive with the coronavirus and around 14,800 people have died. You may also like these stories: Italy Reports 148 Deaths From Coronavirus, With Over 3,800 Infected Amid Coronavirus, God Goes Online to Reach Worshippers (Natural News) As you may recall, weve warned that the coronavirus case fatality rates in the USA may be much higher than whats being reported in other countries due to the extremely unhealthy American population that mostly lead sedentary, pharmaceutical-addicted lifestyles based on the consumption of nutrient-depleted processed food. The Big Pharma-dominated mainstream media has openly attacked nutrition for decades, telling people that nutrients dont work but drugs do. And Big Pharma has worked diligently to keep the American people sick in order to maximize pharma profits that are based on cholesterol drugs, chemotherapy, blood pressure medications and other medical scams that only produce suffering and death, not health and longevity. Now, it seems, America is about to pay a devastating price for relying on toxic drugs while censoring and silencing the truth about nutrition and natural cures. The near-complete censorship of NaturalNews.com is indicative of a nation that has rejected nutrition and will therefore see mass deaths due to over-reliance on toxic pharmaceuticals and vaccines that rarely work. Big Tech has been part of this entire effort, too, censoring natural health websites in order to push pharmaceutical profits, because the American culture has become one of greed over humanity, where the endless quest for corporate profits supercedes any last shred of human decency, knowledge or wisdom. If this coronavirus ends up destroying Google, Facebook, YouTube, Wikipedia and Twitter, that will at least be one silver lining from all this, as those techno-fascist monstrosities deserve to be dismantled and gone from our world so that humanity can begin to share real knowledge about natural health and natural cures without tyrannical censorship and Orwellian, anti-truth fact checkers who are all working for Big Pharma one way or another. If humanity is to survive, we need a world without borders on speech, a world where unpopular views are allowed to participate in the public dialog. In essence, we need a world without Google and all the techno-fascists. The coronavirus case fatality rate in America is, at the moment, 72% The price the America will have to pay for this techno-fascism censorship, rejection of natural health principles and the pursuit of Big Pharma greed and rigged science may be far greater than anyone has yet imagined. Out of the 670 coronavirus cases which have so far been closed in America, 483 have died. Thats a 72% case fatality rate. (187 have recovered) Via Worldometers.info as of March 23rd, 2020: This doesnt mean the 72% rate will stay that high, since many people are still in the process of recovering from mild conditions and will be released from hospitals over the subsequent days and weeks. That 72% will likely fall well below 10% at some point. However, given the widespread immunocompromised status of the American people who are hooked on processed foods, pharmaceuticals, vaccines and horribly bad misinformation from Wikipedia, Big Tech and the lying mainstream media, theres little question the case fatality rate in America will exceed 5%. In fact, we are probably looking at something closer to Italys case fatality rate of around 9%. And that means millions will likely die, sooner or later. Heres how the spread is progressing across the nation. Notice that we are now at 40,855 confirmed infections. We were at half that number just two days ago, which tells you something rather horrifying about the speed of the spread of this virus. And if youre curious where all this is headed, just observe the shape of this quadratic / exponential curve showing US deaths: Still think its just the flu, Rush Limbaugh? Read Pandemic.news if you want to live. The insurer said PHI claims in Australia and New Zealand were more heavily skewed towards discretionary (or elective) treatment than the public system, with 94% of the 4.5 million private-hospital admissions in the 2018 financial year being elective or planned. nib calculates that for every 1% drop in hospitalisation for the remainder of 2020 (i.e. 9 months), arhi [Australian Residents Health Insurance] claims expense (including risk equalisation) would fall by $8.8 million and a 1% drop in dental treatment would reduce claims expense by $3.5 million, said Steve Crane, nib chairman, in a letter to shareholders. As hospital admissions increase for COVID-19-related illness, nib does face some additional claims exposure. Subject to their cover we anticipate claims for lung and heart treatment. However, this is expected to be minor relative to what we anticipate occurring with the diminution of elective treatment. nib also reported strong sales and retention in its arhi business and NZ residents businesses, with net growth year to date (YTD) remaining ahead of budget, due likely to heightened concern about COVID-19 and disease risk. It is targeting a growth rate of 1% to 2% in Australia and NZ, despite high risk of economic recession and increased numbers of unemployed in both markets. nib Travel insurance (travel) sales, meanwhile, posted a below-budget YTD and are expected to be severely damaged in the months ahead by extreme travel restrictions. As for nibs joint ventures in China and Honeysuckle, the insurer expects these businesses will be enhanced by heightened awareness of health and disease risk. Longer term assumptions around COVID-19 are, of course, much more problematic, Crane said. While we all hope the crisis will pass quickly and market conditions repair, the timing is extremely unpredictable. And macroeconomic consequences, shifts in consumer behaviour, government policy responses and a range of other factors could impact the PHI market and nib permanently (including in a positive way). As such, we have not attempted to form any assumptions beyond the near term other than that nib will emerge from the COVID-19 crisis in good shape and as full in ambition as weve ever been. The fundamentals in both Australia and New Zealand of an ageing population, growing healthcare spending and stress on public healthcare delivery and financing gives us confidence to assume an increased reliance on the private healthcare system in the longer term. The number of Covid-19 patients in Madhya Pradesh reached seven with a man testing positive in Jabalpur on Monday, health officials said. The man worked in a Dubai returnee businessman's shop from where another employee tested positive on Sunday, officials said. Four persons- three who returned from Dubai and one from Germany- had tested positive for the virus on Friday in Jabalpur, they said. Caretaker health minister Tarun Bhanot said around 4000 people had directly and indirectly come in contact with the Covid-19 patients before they were quarantined. A woman who returned from London on March 17 is the state's first Covid-19 patient. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The number of known COVID-19 cases in North Carolina stood at 297 on Monday, including a second case in Davidson County, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. However, it can take 24 to 48 hours for cases reported by individual counties to be included in the state figures. The News & Observer of Raleigh reported Monday that North Carolina had at least 410 cases of coronavirus, counting those additional cases reported by the county health departments. There are no confirmed deaths in North Carolina from the novel coronavirus. By comparison, there were 39 cases statewide a week ago. The biggest factor is the gradual increase of individuals being tested for the virus. The number of cases in Forsyth County remained at 12 Monday. Altogether, there are 31 in the Triad and Northwest North Carolina: 11 in Guilford, three in Alamance, two each in Davidson and Watauga and one in Davie. According to Sundays DHHS count, Mecklenburg County leads the state with 79 cases, but its health department cites 80. Wake County is listed with 46 by DHHS, but 52 today by its health department with another 54 individuals being evaluated. AB 5 Keeps Needed Health Care Personnel From Working SANTA ANA, Calif.As the need for medical personnel skyrockets due to the CCP virus, frustrated California health care workers anxious to help are finding themselves hampered by the states new AB 5 law, which inhibits independent contractors. AB 5 impacted me by classifying my [business] as illegal, nurse educator Laurie Blunk told The Epoch Times. Blunk taught some of the courses required by certified nursing assistants (CNAs)but that came to a crashing end when Assembly Bill 5signed last year by Gov. Gavin Newsomstopped her, leaving them unable to finish their requirements. If you dont have your hours, you cant work, said Blunk. Health care workers in California are mandated by the Department of Public Health to complete a set amount of continued education units every two years, in order to renew their licenses. So, I can guarantee you that CNAs the ones who dont have their hours donetheyre having panic attacks right now, she said. Unless the state overhauls the new regulation, we cant offer them classes via Skype or Zoom, Blunk said. That leaves willing health care workers unable to work, at a time when they are needed most. So, when your loved one is in the hospital or youre in the hospital, theyre the ones whos getting your water, whos changing your bed, whos cleaning your bottom, whos emptying the bed pans, said Blunk. They do the hands-on physical care. Health care job postings have skyrocketed in response to the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus. Employment recruitment website Glassdoor.com reported on March 11 that coronavirus-related job postings had tripled in the previous week. One of the job postings, located in San Diego, was listed in urgent needrecruiting registered nurses to conduct COVID-19 phone screeningsa job Blunk said she could handle if restrictions were relaxed. So somebody like me, I am educated enough, said Blunk. You know, if CDC put some guidelines in and said, Okay, can you screen these calls all day? And then I could point them in the right direction: Yes, this is an emergency room visit, or, No, this is you need to stay home. She added: But then theres too many barriers, and then heres what would happen with me personally: If I make too much money, Im going to lose my Social Security, which I need for the long-term. But if I can stay in business, then I can deduct everything. And it works. Assembly Bill 5 requires companies to hire independent workers as employees rather than classify them as contractors. Blunk is legally disabledwith 35 benign bone tumors on her bodyso being an independent contractor allowed her to set her own schedule. But that ended when the new AB 5 law went into effect on Jan. 1. The woman I was getting my work from opted not to transition me to employee status, Blunk explained. Blunk was approached by another organization to start teaching some of its health care workersbut all classes have been canceled due to the CCP virus pandemic. AB 5 Affects Medical Translators The AB 5 law is so wrong, in so many aspects, Ildiko Santana told The Epoch Times. Yet, we have been repeating ourselves like broken records. Santana has worked for the past 20 years as a freelance medical and legal translator, translating documents from Hungarian to English and English to Hungarian. AB 5 has limited her ability to utilize her skills in the fight to control the spread of the CCP virus. Indirectly, AB 5 contributes to heightened exposure and creates health and economic hazards, in addition to an exponentially growing pandemic, Santana said. I know there is currently a higher demand to provide workers with timely information related to COVID-19 in various languages other than English, she added. Health care providers are seeing an increase in patients who do not speak English or are limited English proficient, according to a medical blog posted on the translator-employment website Interpretertrain.com on March 16. U.S. health care providers need to be prepared to treat and communicate with every patient that may come through, the blog stated, citing the need for both in-person and remote medical interpreters. During a pandemic, this goes beyond individual translators and interpreters losing their livelihoods, said Santana. Multitudes of those who would enjoy their services are potentially left in the dark and put in harms way. She called the law, which limits her ability to provide translation services as an independent contractor, immoral, criminal, and in this age of high-techwhen such services do not require physical proximitycompletely unacceptable. Some of us are becoming suicidal, she added. AB 5 Hinders Medical Technicians Kathy Seress, a medical technician for 20 years, used to travel all over the country, teaching health care workers how to operate specialized medical devices. Her area of expertise was known as videonystagmography, a technology used to test inner ear and motor functions. But when AB 5 passed, the company she worked for could no longer afford to reimburse her for those trips. Instead, they hired her as an hourly employee, limiting the hours of work she was permitted. As an employee, she is no longer able to deduct her travel expenses. We medical personnel need our 1099s, she told The Epoch Times, referring to the tax filing which allowed for the deductions. She used to be able to deduct her office, supplies, auto, and lab coat expenses. And now I am hourly, and do not get reimbursements, she added. I have a roomI have a special machine therewhere I set up to fuse the blood. You know, I cant separate the blood on my kitchen table, she said. So I have a special room. I have to wear special equipment. Seress solely conducts life insurance exams now, for the same company, in her patients homes, without reimbursements. A basic exam includes drawing blood, measuring height and weight, taking blood pressure and pulse readings, and an electrocardiogram. However, due to the CCP virus outbreak, many of those scheduled exams have been canceledand she remains essentially out of work. Lawmakers Disagree With their wide variety of skills desperately needed, medical personnel affected by AB 5 have taken to social media to request exemptions. Thousands of independent contractors throughout California have been calling on state legislators to repeal the bill, arguing that it has had an adverse effect on dozens of industries, including the health care sector. While those negatively affected by AB 5 are calling for the bill to be suspended immediately, lawmakers are at odds with whats best for independent contractors during the pandemic. Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (DSan Diego), who helped write the original bill, has been adamant about keeping AB 5 in place. Proper employee classification is essential because at times like this, its important all employers have been paying their fare (sic) share into the fund, she wrote on Twitter. Assemblyman Kevin Kiley (RSacramento) has been vocal in his opposition, often detailing stories of contractors who lost their livelihoods due to the controversial law and advocating for them to be included in government stimulus packages. It appears the federal Stimulus Package may include income replacement for independent contractors based on recent earnings, Kiley wrote on Twitter on March 22. Im encouraging Members of Congress to make sure this doesnt exclude Californians whose earnings dried up over the last few months because of #AB5. Nearly 57 million independent contractors across the country work freelance jobs, making them ineligible to qualify for unemployment benefitsthough self-employed individuals may be included in the countrys $1 trillion relief package stimulus. On March 19, Kiley planned to bring an additional bill to a vote on the assembly floor that would give enforcement of AB 5 a grace periodbut due to the virus, the meeting was indefinitely canceled. Since the Legislature wont meet for several weeks, unfortunately the only chance now for immediate relief from #AB5 is for the Governor to suspend it, Kiley wrote on Twitter on March 16. I will urge him as strongly as I can to exercise this power. Health care practitioners eager to aid overwhelmed medical services in slowing the spread of the CCP virus agree, and are calling on legislators to repeal the bill as an emergency resolution. But until then, many freelance health care professionals will continue to feel frustratedready, willing, and able to contribute to the ongoing efforts to contain the CCP virus, but unable by law to do so. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mishandling allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. The father of a toddler has been handed a prison sentence anonymously in a revival of secret jailings in family courts. The man, identified only as DZ, was given a 12-month suspended term for contempt of court. The decision to hand out an anonymous jail sentence runs against orders for judges which say that the public naming of individuals sent to prison is mandatory with no exceptions. The ruling sets out that the father received a suspended prison term because he faked a drug test to persuade the court to allow him to have contact with his son. A stock image is used above [File photo] This rule applies to sentences in which people are jailed immediately and suspended sentences. But there are now tighter restrictions on information released by family courts in order to provide anonymity for children. Designated Family Judge Anthony Hughes, who is in charge of family courts in Milton Keynes and Oxford, released his committal ruling on DZ weeks after handing out the suspended sentence. He said the judgment is properly anonymised and even the age and sex of the child were removed. He is said to have a history of cocaine addiction and parted ways with his sons mother in September 2018. A stock image is used above [File photo] The toddler has now been revealed to be a boy. The ruling sets out that the father received a suspended prison term because he faked a drug test to persuade the court to allow him to have contact with his son. He is said to have a history of cocaine addiction and parted ways with his sons mother in September 2018. During his attempt to win contact with his son, he falsified his drug test to show he had stopped using cocaine. Judge Hughes said in his ruling that cheating was a serious perversion of the course of justice and would normally merit immediate imprisonment. But he said the father was co-operating with the court and it would not be in the childs interest to know his father was in prison. A spokesman for the judiciary said the anonymity was to provide an opportunity for the relationship between father and son to develop. But following inquiries by the Mail, the fathers identity is to be made public. A string of family cases and incidents in the closely-linked Court of Protection have raised concerns that major lifechanging decisions are being made without public knowledge. The order to prevent secrecy was made in 2013 after a scandal over the imprisonment of property developer Wanda Maddocks. She repeatedly tried to move her 80-year old father from a care home where she thought his life was in danger. The judge who had ordered Miss Maddocks, from Stoke-on-Trent, not to interfere sentenced her to five months for contempt of court. Miss Maddocks was not present in court and was attacked in prison because inmates did not believe why she was there. All details of the case remained unknown to the public for six months and, as a result, senior judges ordered that no-one should be imprisoned in secret. But in recent years, new restrictions on public information have been brought in. The names of social workers, doctors and expert witnesses are now removed from published judgments, and councils whose social workers remove children from their parents are not identified. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, March 23, 2020 15:10 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206cd5d86 1 City KCI,commuter,commuter-line,commuters,commuter-trains,Bekasi,Greater-Jakarta,Greater-Jakarta-commuters,COVID-19,coronavirus,COVID-19-Indonesian-patients Free State-owned commuter line operator PT Kereta Commuter Indonesia (KCI) has reverted to normal operations after its decision to reduce the number of trips and operating hours to encourage social distancing backfired on Monday. Photos on social media showed packed train cars on Monday morning, despite Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan's plea for corporations to close down their offices for the next 14 days in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19. kondisi commuter line pagi ini! tolong banget siapapun yg membuat kebijakan seperti ini masa mau diulang kembali seperti minggu lalu saya naik transjakarta yg menumpuk?? kiranya kejadian penumpukan seperti ini tidak terjadi lagi bapak2 pembuat kebijakan yg terhormat @CommuterLine pic.twitter.com/WyfahDsbVG dik (@diknams) March 22, 2020 "We carried out evaluation this morning and we will revert operation times to normal starting 3 p.m this afternoon," KCI spokesperson Anne Purba said in a written statement on Monday. The commuter line will once again run 991 trips and operate from 4 a.m. to 12 a.m. on Monday after initially reducing the number of trips to 371 and shortening its services to 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.. Hildagardis Ananta, 23, a bank employee, who took a 6.47 a.m. commuter train from Bekasi to Jakarta Kota Station, said the train started getting packed after arriving at Cakung Station. "They said it was supposed to be 40 people maximum per train car but it was way beyond that," she told The Jakarta Post. She said that she would consider not taking the commuter line again due to COVID-19 concerns. "Im sure that Im in good health right now but I'm worried that I might be a virus carrier. So I'll probably take app-based ride-hailing transportation next time," she said. Anies declared a 14-day state of emergency in the capital on Saturday to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. He urged all stakeholders including corporations, social organizations and religious groups to take drastic action to prevent the spread of the disease during the state of emergency. As of Monday morning, Indonesia has announced 514 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 307 of which are in Jakarta.(trn) CUSCO, PERU A Syracuse native and her family are currently stuck in Peru after officials there announced strict quarantine measures and closed the countrys borders last week in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Mary (Cappotto) Boyle, her husband, Robert, and son Aidan, 15, all from Des Moines, Iowa, are spending most of their time in their room at the Marriott Hotel in Cusco, a small city in the South Central Andes Mountains. Boyle, who said she has significant health care issues said she will be running out of prescription medications in less than a week. In addition, Cusco is at 11,000 feet above sea level an altitude similar to base camp at Mt. Everest, she said. Boyle said she is suffering from altitude sickness and has had to get oxygen treatment at the hotel from paramedics several times so far. Apart from going downstairs in the hotel to get meals, getting some fresh air in the hotels courtyard, or walking across the street to a small grocery store or nearby pharmacy, the Boyle familys movements are heavily restricted. Her family was supposed to leave Sunday to travel back home to Iowa, but now things are uncertain. The quarantine and border closing that began March 16 was only supposed to last 15 days. However, the country has since announced things will be permanently closed for an indefinite period of time. Once you step foot out of the hotel, youre swarmed by police. There are automatic rifles all over the place, said Boyle. All modes of transportation have been shut down. Roads, boats. Only those with special IDs, such as hospital workers or hotel workers are allowed to be out on the streets. Her family was supposed to leave for home Sunday, but now things are uncertain. Boyle, 55, grew up in Eastwood and graduated from Bishop Grimes High School and Syracuse University with a degree in finance. She currently works as an IT consultant for John Deere, the company that also employs her husband. She and her family arrived in Peru on a vacation taken during her sons spring break from school on March 11. They then traveled to a lodge deep in the Amazon jungle, where they were completely cut off from the internet, unable to use their cell phones and unaware of what was transpiring in Peru and back home in America. We left on the worst possible day. At that point, there were no cases in Peru or the surrounding countries. We had no worries about getting into Peru, only concerns about getting back into our country, Boye said. The only countries people were talking about then were China, Italy and Iran. Ten days ago it was not the same as it is today. Things have just deteriorated so rapidly. She said word came to the Amazon lodge where they were staying on March 16, at which time she and family were immediately transported by boat to the tiny, community of Puerto Maldonado, where there was no food or water at the airport. They were hoping to get a flight back home from Lima, the countrys capital. But all those airline seats were already taken before everything was shut down. The Boyle family was transported by boat from the Amazon lodge they were staying at to Puerto Maldonado. It was after they learned that the country's borders were being shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic. The best they could manage was a flight to Cusco, getting the last few available seats on a plane thanks to a gift from the owner of the Amazon lodge where they were staying to one of the airport officials. In a Facetime interview, Boyle said Peru still hasnt been hit bad yet by the coronavirus. There have only been 60 reported cases in a population of 30 million people. However, the countrys leaders have decided to be pro-active and close the borders, as has Columbia, and Ecuador. Chile and other South American countries are expected to follow soon, she said. She said at this point, there are some 5,000 U.S. citizens stuck in Peru and wanting to leave 1,000 in Cusco alone. She said the U.S. State Department wasnt helpful in the early going, failing to provide accurate daily updates. There has been a lot of false information going around (concerning air flights out of the country), she said. Our State Department really fell down. We felt abandoned the first three or four days. She said she and her family have been relying more on Americans Stuck in Peru, a Facebook group page to piece information together about the situation. Friends have also started a Bring the Boyle Family Home from Peru Facebook page, which Boyle said was created by a old classmate of hers at Bishop Grimes.. During the past 24 hours, Boyle said she and family members nd friends back home have been contacting and pleading with federal lawmakers for help in the situation. It appears to have worked. Obamas tweet is evidence As of today (Monday), shes heard that the State Department is chartering flights with United and American Airlines. Word is there are two flights a day out of Lima, carrying 250 passengers each. Shes hopeful that her medical status will get her and family moved up on the priority list. Meanwhile, thanks to the Internet, she and her husband have continued to get some work done for their company in the hotel room, and since spring break has ended her son has started doing some distance learning lessons on the computer. Luckily Im a planner and packed some games and stuff to help kill the time, she said. And were watching a lot on Netflix. Thank God for Netflix. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources First CNY coronavirus death: Elderly person with health problems Coronavirus: Former doctors, specialists answer the call to help with pandemic Where can I still go? What NYs coronavirus stay at home order means To ease the anxiety surrounding COVID-19, the CDC and Microsoft are partnering together for the launch of a coronavirus self-checker chatbot. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Microsoft have created a self-checker for those who fear they may have COVID-19. The bot (short for robot) is an automated chat assistant who asks questions to see if you have symptoms resembling the virus. The chatbot guides those who are displaying physical symptoms. Those who have anxiety but have no symptoms will find the chatbot could relieve their fears about the worst. According to the CDC, The purpose of the Coronavirus Self-Checker is to help you make decisions about seeking appropriate medical care. This system is not intended for the diagnosis or treatment of disease or other conditions, including COVID-19. This system is intended only for people who are currently located in the United States. Advertisement There are times when people fear the worst. Anxiety levels can often confuse people and make them think they are sick when theyre not. Anxiety can contribute to the rise in blood pressure. Rising blood pressure can lead to short breathing. One symptom of coronavirus is breathing difficulty, but this symptom could be anxiety rather than the disease itself. Someone experiencing breathing difficulty could easily assume theyre sick with coronavirus. A simple chat with the chatbot could ease their fear and reduce their heavy breathing. The new self-checker cannot replace the medical advice of a doctor. The CDC is clear about that. It reduces their fear or anxiety over coronavirus. No one wants to get sick. Few persons are medical experts that can diagnose their conditions. The chatbot cant provide medical advice, but it may provide some small comfort. Self-Checker is a relief, not a solution The new self-checker prepares people by helping them relax. And yet, once they relax, they must consider whether or not they have coronavirus or not. If they dont have coronavirus, then they must continue to relieve their anxiety levels. Advertisement If they do have coronavirus, then they must seek medical advice. Googles new COVID-19 warning in Maps advises users to call a doctor before making a hospital visit. Those who are displaying symptoms of COVID-19 must quarantine themselves at home. If they have difficulty breathing, they must consult a doctor about what to do next. And yet, apart from checking for symptoms, theres little comfort the new self-checker provides. Someone who does have COVID-19 has little access to a vaccine, a testing kit, or medical supplies. Such individuals can do very little to help themselves in this climate which could increase anxiety levels. Coronavirus vaccines, testing kits, and declining infection numbers would all help ease global anxiety over COVID-19. Some with the disease may display few to no symptoms, so the self-checker wont help them at all. The potential unemployment situation for some brings a level of anxiety that a self-checker cannot solve. Additionally, the self-checker is only for Americans, so global citizens wont find any comfort in it. Advertisement COVID-19 health tech resources The self-checker isnt a panacea for the worlds problems right now. It is, however, one thing the CDC and Microsoft are doing to fight the battle against this deadly disease. Microsoft is sending employees home to socially distance themselves. Additionally, the Redmond company has a tracker map to show the location and number of increasing infections in the US. Apart from CDC and Microsoft, the World Health Organization (WHO) is partnering with WhatsApp to provide COVID-19 news alerts and health information 24/7 for WhatsApp users. New York, March 23 : The US state of New York will build four temporary hospitals to address imminent capacity issues due to the coronavirus pandemic, Governor Andrew Cuomo said. On Sunday, he listed the four sites selected as the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan, a Westchester county center, and locations at State University of New York's Stony Brook campus and Old Westbury campus, reports Xinhua news agency. The state, which has been deemed the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak in the US, has been working with the Army Corps of Engineers to explore possible locations to be turned into temporary medical facilities, Cuomo told the media here. "And now we just have to get it done and get it done quickly," he said. Regarding the fact that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will erect a federal hospital within the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, he said: "The federal hospital by FEMA is different than (from) the Army Corps of Engineers temporary facility." "The FEMA hospitals come with staff and with supplies. They're in 250-bed configurations. We're asking for four of those 250-bed configurations to be assembled in Javits Center," Cuomo added. Experts predicted the peak of COVID-19 outbreak in New York will take place in early May, which would require as many as 110,000 hospital beds. Currently, the state has about 53,000. The Governor also urged President Donald Trump to implement the Defense Production Act, which could mandate private companies to produce essential medical equipment. "We have cries from hospitals around the state. I have spoken to other governors across the country. They have the same situation," said Cuomo. "So I believe the federal government should immediately utilize the Defense Production Act." Earlier on Sunday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city, where some 9,000 coronavirus cases have been confirmed, wass running out of medical supplies, such as gloves, gowns and masks, in 10 days. Confirmed cases and fatalities both continued to surge nationwide, reaching 33,276 and 417, respectively, according to the latest data from Johns Hopkins University. Of the overall confirmed cases, New york state accounted for about 15,000 of them. I opened up the Medford needs list spreadsheet and was blown away by the dozens of rows of requests for banal household items, out of stock medical supplies and even cash donations. Next to each one was a contact number and next to that, an offer of help from another community member. Of course, none of these networks is an adequate replacement for swift and urgent government action to provide a safety net to corporations, small businesses and vulnerable workers. But amid the national chaos surrounding the virus, the spreadsheet was a spiritual balm an uplifting, real-time document of people helping people. I am incredibly grateful for all you have done for me during this turbulent time! It is unreal to see how much this community has banded together! read one message in the spreadsheet from a person whod received a Venmo donation to help pay next months rent. The successes might sound small but, in a crisis, theyre life-changing. In one instance, neighbors donated a corned beef meal to an elderly woman who couldnt go to the store to help maintain a decades-long St. Patrick's Day tradition. One man living out of state asked if somebody could go grocery shopping for his 83-year-old mother. Within 15 minutes, the network had somebody at the store for her. Its facilitated dozens of prescription pickups. And then theres old-fashioned cash donations. In one week, the network has redistributed more than $12,690. Still, Ms. Freedman told me the first week has been difficult. Were building the plane as we fly, she said. Among the groups worries is making sure the network is reaching the most vulnerable members of its coverage area and crossing language barriers. Translation is a big need, she said, noting that while the network is working on Haitian Creole and Nepali translations of their resource documents, its still looking for multilingual staff for hotlines. In the coming weeks, she says, she and counterparts in the area are hoping to continue to connect their neighborhood networks so they can share resources and redistribute money further to those in need. Thanks to the template system the group set up, replicating the process neighborhood by neighborhood is relatively easy. Anyone with a Google account can look at the documents via the cloud. There are simple instructions on how to copy the forms for a new network or neighborhood pod. Photo credit: HBO From Harper's BAZAAR WARNING: Spoilers for Westworld Season 3 ahead. Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss made a brief, surprise appearance in Westworld's third season as technicians tending to a medieval-themed Delos park. They were accompanied by a CGI rendering of a dragon from Game of Thrones, presumably Drogon. After Game of Thrones took a less than favorable final bow with its series finale last summer, its showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss returned to HBO in a sneaky way. Tonight, the duo made a cameo in Westworld's Season 3, Episode 2, playing technicians in a newly-revealed medieval theme park. Joining them in the brief scene was a Game of Thrones dragonmost likely Daenerys Targaryen's favorite, Drogon. They appeared as Bernard (Jeffrey Wright) and Stubbs (Luke Hemsworth) walked through a Delos facility, passing by the staff who continued to work even though the parks were shut down. Weiss is overheard mentioning that he plans to sell pieces of Drogon to a startup in Costa Rica as he approached the giant creature with a circular saw. R.I.P, Drogon. Photo credit: HBO Photo credit: HBO Though the scene was short-lived, it was a subtle nod to an older theories that suggested Westeros, the land in Game of Thrones, is actually a Delos theme park in Westworld. However, no other GoT characters were spotted in the episode, and the hosts for the park were dressed in different garb than GoT's usual characters. Photo credit: HBO As one theorist pointed out, the original Westworld film in 1973 did include a medieval world. This scene was likely an homage to that. You Might Also Like Morphisec Logo "Making Morphisec available to license for free for remote workers will allow organizations to quickly adjust to the situation and ensure they address the cybersecurity vulnerabilities that inherently come with having an entirely distributed workforce. Morphisec, the leader in Advanced Threat Prevention, today announced that its Unified Threat Prevention platform is free to license for enterprise work-from-home employees during the COVID-19 response. The Coronavirus pandemic has shifted the way the world works, forcing companies into having a fully remote workforce faster than anyone could have predicted. To help enterprises secure their rapidly evolving remote workforce during these unprecedented times, Morphisec is making its automatic and deterministic prevention of in-memory attacks and evasive malware, free for remote employees through June 1. The COVID-19 outbreak has shifted the way the world works, forcing companies into having a fully remote workforce at a pace that would stretch even the best IT team, said Ronen Yehoshua, CEO at Morphisec. CISOs and cybersecurity professionals are struggling to adjust to these unprecedented times, and Morphisec is answering the call to ensure endpoints, and ultimately mission-critical memory, can be defended in this radically altered environment. Making Morphisec available to license for free for remote workers will allow organizations to quickly adjust to the situation and ensure they address the cybersecurity vulnerabilities that inherently come with having an entirely distributed workforce. As workforces adjust to the new reality of working from home, employees are subjected to a dramatically less secure environment and unreliable WiFi networks. Both traditional antivirus and EDR tools depend on network connectivity, which limits their overall effectiveness in this environment. Morphisecs approach to endpoint protection is ideal for remote workforces as it doesnt rely on connectivity or analysts in order to prevent advanced threats. Instead, its Moving Target Defense technology perpetually hides key memory from attacks without the need to recognize threats. It creates confusion for attackers by scrambling the locations of .dlls, memory structures, and commonly used resources. Authorized programs such as browsers and email attachments remote workers rely on function normally without any business disruption. The Morphisec Unified Threat Prevention Platform utilizes Moving Target Defense technology to prevent advanced threats without generating alerts to chase, impacting system performance, or impeding business operations. It is highly effective against blocking unknown threats and for organizations looking to instantly secure their workforce with no operational maintenance. With free licensing of the Unified Threat Prevention Platform, enterprise remote workforces will receive: Protection of remote employees against the most dangerous advanced threats including fileless attacks, evasive malware, in-memory exploits and zero-days Integration with Windows Defender AV through Morphisecs partnership with Microsoft for bulletproof Windows 10 security Immediate installation with no reboot, configuration or tuning required Zero-touch maintenance and full offline protection without requiring home connectivity for heavy signature or patch updates No CPU performance impact to home computers or Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Business continuity that automatically locks down attacks through instant hardening of remote computers and VDI instances Prevention of browser-based attacks to ensure remote employees can securely access the SaaS solutions they need Like the rest of the world, the business world needs to come together in battling the coronavirus pandemic, added Yehoshua. Organizations navigating this new territory must rest assured their critical assets are secured against advanced threats that are targeting them at their most vulnerable state. Morphisec is committed to securing enterprises of all sizes so they can stay focused on maneuvering through this crisis and ensuring the health of their employees. Enterprises interested in this free offer to secure their remote workforces and ensure business continuity can inquire here. About Morphisec Morphisec offers an entirely new level of innovation to customers in its Endpoint Threat Prevention product, delivering protection against the most advanced cyberattacks. The companys patented Moving Target Defense technology prevents threats others cant, including APTs, zero-days, ransomware, evasive fileless attacks and web-borne exploits. Morphisec provides a crucial, small-footprint memory-defense layer that easily deploys into a companys existing security infrastructure to form a simple, highly effective, cost-efficient prevention stack that is truly disruptive to todays existing cybersecurity model. Islamabad, March 23 : A group of 75 staff members of the US embassy in Islamabad have returned to America aboard a special flight amid the coronavirus pandemic. In a statement on Sunday, a spokesperson for the US embassy said that the Department of State on March 14 had authorised the voluntary departure from any diplomatic or consular post of US government personnel and family members who have determined they are at a higher risk of a poor outcome if exposed to the novel coronavirus or who have requested departure based on a commensurate justification, reports Dawn news. The statement said that the staff in Islamabad departed for Georgia, US, on a flight contracted by a private company. The US mission in Pakistan continues to provide emergency services to American citizens and visa applicants. It further said that they recommended US citizens to register themselves in the smart traveller enrolment programme at https://step.state.gov/ to receive updates on any departure options. Married At First Sight's Connie Crayden has accused her 'husband', Jonethen Musulin, of secretly hooking up with intruder bride KC Osborne. But the 27-year-old marine biology student told Hit FM's Josiah & Herbie on Monday that viewers may never get to see the couple swap on TV. 'There is almost another couple swap between KC and Jonny that never came to air. Why that storyline didn't play out, I don't know,' she said. Spoiler alert! Married At First Sight's Connie Crayden (pictured) has accused her 'husband', Jonethen Musulin, of secretly hooking up with intruder bride KC Osborne 'I thought it would have been good TV drama. But there was a little something, I don't know the full extent of it though,' Connie said. When asked whether Jonethen and KC had kissed, Connie simply replied: 'Mm-hmm!' Connie said she wasn't upset by the kiss because Jonethen had already voted to leave the experiment three times and she didn't feel like she was 'in a position to be upset'. 'I was just like, "Yeah, cool,"' she said. Exposed! Connie told Hit FM's Josiah & Herbie on Monday that viewers may never get to see the couple swap on TV. Pictured: KC Osborne (left) and Jonethen Musulin (right) It is believed Jonethen and KC's fling will be addressed at the upcoming cast reunion, which was filmed on January 15. Meanwhile, Connie also hit back at rumours she is dating ex-Bachelor Matt Agnew. She said she'd never met the Melbourne-based astrophysicist nor watched him on television, but 'probably wouldn't say no' if he asked her on a date. No hard feelings? Connie said she wasn't upset by the kiss because Jonethen had already voted to leave the experiment three times and she didn't feel like she was 'in a position to be upset' 'I don't know anything about him, but from what I do know he's a very intelligent, very handsome man,' she said. It comes after fellow MAFS bride Natasha Spencer told Daily Mail Australia producers had encouraged couple swapping in the final weeks of the experiment. 'KC and Jonny went on a date. They got partnered together and sent on a high-class date,' Natasha said. Married At First Sight continues Monday at 7.30pm on Channel Nine Covid-19 has taken away bread and circuses, laying bare the true American empire By Michael McCaffrey March 23, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Regular Americans can no longer numb themselves with sports and gluttony, freeing them to clearly see the malignantly craven ruling class that exploits and despises them. If only they would open their eyes to reality. Anyone who has eyes to see can clearly make out that America is an addled empire in steep decline that is firmly entrenched in its bread-and-circuses stage. This has been brought into clear focus due to Covid-19. Since there is now a shortage of bread, as supermarket shelves are bare, and the distraction of the circus of sports has been indefinitely removed from the culture, Americans are left with little to distract them from cold, hard reality. With no brawls or ballgames to watch, and the fear of potential hunger gnawing at their bloated bellies and brains, and with social distancing leaving them isolated with little but their thoughts as company, Americans will now find it harder and harder to ignore the truth about their country and its deplorably corrupt media, financial, government, education and health care systems, that is staring them in the face. As the old adage goes, crisis reveals character, and the coronavirus contagion is a crisis of epic proportions that is revealing America to be utterly devoid of any redeeming character whatsoever. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter If America were a sane, healthy, and rational country this would be a great opportunity for change to occur...alas, it is not. America is an insane, unhealthy and irrational nation, and so any genuine change is inconceivable. For example, this crisis has once again revealed the house of cards that is the smoke and mirrors American economy. The American economy has long been rigged through financialization, where stock buybacks and accounting shenanigans inflate the stock market but create nothing of substance for the masses except the illusion of prosperity. Here in America the economy long ago stopped working for regular folks, as evidenced by the fact that despite productivity soaring, for the last forty years wages have remained stagnant, while the cost of living has escalated. The American Way has devolved into a bizarre reverse-Robin Hood world, where the rich steal from the poor and keep it for themselves. Proof of this is that this Covid-19 crisis will undoubtedly be used, just as the 2008 collapse, as a way for the malicious narcissists in Washington, Wall Street and in corporate boardrooms to come together to assure that all their losses are socialized and their profits privatized. Casinos, cruise lines, airlines, hotels and others are already lining up including of course the scoundrels on Wall Street for their taxpayer-funded handout. Bailing out working- and middle-class Americans, though, is an absolute non-starter for the ruling elite. The upper crust will throw around vacuous catch phrases, like the deliciously ironic moral hazard, to make their argument, which is pretty rich considering the vermin on Wall Street and their cronies on Capitol Hill are so morally bereft, it is a hazard to all humanity. Coronavirus is not nearly as deadly as the cancerous corruption that is endemic in our oligarchic corporatocracy. For proof of that look no further than Nancy Pelosis emergency sick pay bill, that exempts companies of over 500 employees from paying sick pay and has a boatload of special exemptions for businesses below that threshold which leaves all but 20% of workers eligible for benefits. The holes in Pelosis bill are bigger than the gaping void where her brain and soul should be. This corruption of the elites is bipartisan, as evidenced by two Republican Senators, Richard Burr and Kelly Loeffler (who is married to Jeffrey Sprechter, chairman of the New York Stock Exchange), who allegedly took advantage of classified briefings on the impending severity of coronavirus in late January and early February to pull off some slick insider trading maneuvers so they could cash in before the public had any clue what was coming. Both, of course, deny any impropriety. The egregious economic divide in America is further highlighted by the Covid-19 debate over whether to close schools amidst the crisis. The reason this debate raged on well past the rational time to act is that our education system is not a system of learning but rather a glorified daycare and food delivery service. Proletarian parents are unable to stay home and raise their kids anymore because it now takes two parents usually working multiple jobs to make less equivalently than what one working parent did forty years ago. In the Los Angeles Unified School District, 70% of all students are below the poverty line and rely on the school system for the majority of their meals. In the wealthiest country on the planet, that is absolutely disgraceful. The virus of structural economic inequality isa much more long-term and deadly problem than coronavirus, and the ruling class and their shameless lackeys in the press, have no interest in ever honestly addressing or acknowledging it. The corporate whores in Congress and the White House (of both parties) also gleefully inform Americans that universal, single-payer health care, which every other industrialized nation in the world already has, is a pipe dream and impossibility. They tell us they could never ever pay for something so decadent and luxurious as health care, but then they magically pull $1.5 trillion out of their gold-plated assholes in order to stave off a collapse of their own making. It is amazing how the Lords of Finance can make money miraculously appear in order to get things done when it is their exorbitant wealth on the line, and not ordinary Americans health and wellbeing. Coronavirus is a crisis that is revealing the ugly truth about America and the malignant character of its ruling class. The crisis is going to get worse before it gets better, but it eventually will get better. America, on the other hand, will only get much worse, with no hope that it is ever going to get better. Michael McCaffrey lives in Los Angeles where he works as an acting coach, screenwriter and consultant. He is also a freelance film and cultural critic whose work can be read at RT, Counterpunch and at his website mpmacting.com/blog. - " Source " Contra Costa County Fire Protection District crews are at the scene of a 1-alarm residential structure fire in Antioch early Monday morning, according to fire officials. The blaze was first reported at 3:18 a.m. at a two-story home at 229 Hillside Rd., Fire Captain Lisa Martinez said. All residents were reported out of the home and a primary and secondary search determined nobody else was inside. The New York State Attorney Generals Office has been alerted to thousands of possible examples of price-gouging across the state in the days since the coronavirus outbreak intensified, according to a spokeswoman. The office is soliciting all complaints about the illegal practice, which entails placing unconscionably excessive prices on necessary consumer goods and services during the outbreak. So far, the office has received more than 2,000 complaints across New York State, a spokeswoman said. The number of complaints from a specific location, like Syracuse or Upstate New York, was not immediately available. The complaints have mostly been about hand sanitizers, disinfectant sprays and rubbing alcohol, according to the office. Sellers can jack up the price on some products during the outbreak without drawing the AGs attention, according to the office. For example, face masks can sell for higher-than-normal prices without issue, because the Centers for Disease Control and the Surgeon General do not recommend face masks for the general public. On the Syracuse Craigslist, one seller is offering vintage childrens gas masks promised to protect children from the virus better than the much-sought-after N95 masks for $40 apiece. They sell online elsewhere for between $15 and $23. Before city authorities cracked down in New York City, one shop sold Purell for $79 a bottle and another sold toilet paper for $10 a roll, in addition to other examples, the Associated Press reported. Price-gouging complaints can be submitted on the AGs office website. Patrick Lohmann covers breaking news and many other topics. He can be reached at (315)766-6670 or via email at PLohmann@Syracuse.com. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources First CNY coronavirus death: Elderly person with health problems Coronavirus: Former doctors, specialists answer the call to help with pandemic Where can I still go? What NYs coronavirus stay at home order means Trump: 3 US Automakers to Manufacture Coronavirus Ventilators By Ken Bredemeier March 22, 2020 President Donald Trump said Sunday that three U.S. automakers General Motors, Ford Motor and Tesla have been "given the go ahead" for fast-paced production of ventilators and other metal products needed to treat Americans infected by the deadly coronavirus. "Go for it auto execs, let's see how good you are," Trump said on Twitter. The Republican Trump is under attack from some opposition Democrats for not invoking 1950s Korean War-era powers to force American companies to manufacture medical equipment to fight the coronavirus infections, but he so far has resisted a direct order while praising voluntary efforts by U.S. corporate giants. In another tweet, Trump thanked Frederick Smith, chief executive of the FedEx package delivery service, "for the rapid emergency deliveries you are making all over our Nation. Keep it going!" Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator Peter Gaynor told CNN on Sunday that Trump hasn't invoked the Defense Production Act to force companies to manufacture masks, ventilators and other crucial medical supplies because they are being made voluntarily. "It's happening without using that lever," Gaynor said. Trump on Friday said, "Amazing things are happening. We are getting calls from automobile companies and other companies saying they have capacity and they want to make ventilators and other things. We are literally being besieged in a beautiful way by companies that want to do the work and help our country." But some Democrats said the volunteer corporate effort is not adequate. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, himself a corporate titan as part of the family that owns the Hyatt hotel chain, told CNN that states like his are "competing against each other, we're competing against other countries" for medical supplies. "And indeed we're overpaying, I would say, for [personal protective equipment] because of that competition," he said. Pritzker said he's gotten only a fraction of the masks, gloves and gowns he has requested from the federal government. So Pritzker said he is using Illinois state workers to purchase supplies internationally on the open market. "I've got people on the phones, working the phones across the world, frankly, to get this stuff shipped to Illinois," Pritzker said. Another Trump critic, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, urged him to invoke the war powers act, saying his reluctance to do so would "cost lives" in her state, one of the hardest hit in the U.S. by the coronavirus. "We're thankful to anyone who's pitching in on this effort," she said, "but we are nowhere near the beds and the capacity that we need in this country." "We're hearing it every step of the way from this administration," she said. "First we were hearing it was a hoax. Then we were hearing that everything was fine. Then we were hearing that the fundamentals of the economy [were] OK until the crash comes. And we cannot wait until people start really dying in large numbers to start production." Trump later responded on Twitter, saying that Pritzker and "a very small group of certain other Governors, together with Fake News CNN & Concast (MSDNC), shouldn't be blaming the Federal Government for their own shortcomings. We are there to back you up should you fail, and always will be!" There are more than 27,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the U.S. and at least 323 deaths, figures that are growing by the day. But Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. government's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told the CBS show "Face the Nation," that he does not think that the U.S. will become like Italy, which now has surpassed China as the country with the highest death toll. The reason for his optimism, he said, was because U.S. officials have emphasized the need for Americans to practice safe physical separation from other people to avoid becoming infected. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address On March 22, Russian mercenaries landed three attacks on positions of Ukrainian troops in Donbas. The enemy used mortars, grenade launchers, machine guns and small arms. The press office of Ukraine's Defence Ministry reported that on Monday. All ceasefire violations were observed in Donetsk region. 82 mm mines hit the vicinities of Vodyane. In Pavlopol, pro-Kremlin armed gangs fired from grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms. In Berezove, they opened fire from the mounted anti-tank grenade launcher and a heavy machine gun. No casualties were observed among Ukrainian forces. Earlier, a 35-year-old Sergeant of the Joint Forces passed away after a sniper shot in Donbas on March 19. The Joint Forces Operation HQ reported that on Facebook. "Armed formations of the Russian Federation once again breached the ceasefire and attacked the emplacements of the Joint Forces. Unfortunately, today, March 19, Ukraine lost another courageous defender. A military serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine deceased from enemy sniper fire at a position in Luhansk region", the message said. The tragedy took place near Popasna, Luhansk region. The Ukrainian Sergeant was 35 years old. He served with military unit No.0409. The slippage has especially hurt children a recent analysis of new census data by The Times found that the number of children without insurance rose by more than 400,000 between 2016 and 2018. Now, as the coronavirus sweeps through the country, many state officials are relying on the Affordable Care Act to provide health coverage for residents who have none. On Friday, California became one of the latest states to set up a special enrollment period so people can sign up for insurance on their state-run marketplaces, and the Trump administration is considering reopening enrollment in the larger federal marketplace, which serves most states, for a limited period. It hasnt curbed costs enough. For many Americans, the Affordable part of the Affordable Care Act has seemed like an empty promise, as premiums, deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs continue to be an extraordinary burden on millions of households. But the law has made health care far more affordable in a number of less conspicuous ways. For Marque Dailey of Dallas, 35, who has multiple sclerosis, the Affordable Care Act was the only way to get private insurance. Before the law, insurance companies were allowed to deny coverage to people like him who had expensive medical conditions, or to charge such a high price that many could not afford the premiums. About half of all Americans had such pre-existing conditions, including high blood pressure or lung disease, that resulted in their being denied or potentially priced out of coverage, according to one federal estimate. After the law passed forcing insurers to accept anyone without raising premiums, Mr. Dailey was able to enroll in a Blue Cross plan in Texas, which covered his medical care that at times approached $200,000 a year. His income was low enough that he also qualified for generous federal subsidies under the law that kept his monthly premiums at no more than $235, and his out-of-pocket costs capped at around $1,000 a year. The law has also played an important role in keeping care affordable for the 160 million Americans who get coverage from an employer, including by requiring those plans to cover the children of beneficiaries until age 26. Before the law, employer-provided plans often set strict limits on what they would pay toward medical bills during a single year and over a lifetime. An estimated 105 million Americans had some sort of lifetime cap before the passage of the health care law. Indian benchmark indices opened in red on Monday (March 23) with the Sensex going down 2,624.69 points or 8.77% at 27291.27, and the Nifty declining 757.05 points or 8.66% at 7988.40 due to coronavirus pandemic. About 90 shares have advanced, 860 shares declined, and 42 shares are unchanged. Benchmark indices traded weakly in the pre-opeing session with the Sensex losing 2,372.42 points or 7.93% at 27543.54, and the Nifty plunging 792.35 points or 9.06% at 7953.10. The Indian rupee opened at record low level at 75.69 on Monday after closing at 75.19 on Friday (March 20). Sources said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to hold a meeting with all industry bodies on Monday to review the state of economy in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. PM Modi is scheduled to preside the meet via video conferencing at 4 pm. On Friday(March 20), the benchmark indices ended higher after breaking the four-days losing streak. The Sensex was up 1,627.73 points or 5.75% at 29915.96, while the broader Nifty was also up 482 points or 5.83% at 8745.45. Major gainer stocks on the Nifty were Bharti Infratel, GAIL, ONGC, and UltraTech Cement, while Yes Bank, HDFC Bank, IndusInd Bank, and Adani Ports were top losers. The chief justice of South Africa is a man named Mogoeng Mogoeng, whose name reminds me of Jimmy Durante. New York, New York, Durante used to say: a city whose names so nice, you got to say it twice. In addition to being the chief justice, Mogoeng is a pastor, and he made a most extraordinary statement about the coronavirus. He made it on March 17 (and he was wearing a green tie, which may or may not have been coincidental). What we must never forget is our national anthem, said Mogoeng. Our national anthem is a call to prayer, and so is the preamble to our constitution. The national anthem says, among other things, Hear our prayers, and, Lord, we ask You to protect our nation. The preamble says, May God protect our people. Mogoeng said, We are exposed we are not protected and my call is to all those who can pray to see it as an absolute necessity, starting from today, to do so. He continued, We need an economy that is flourishing, we need normalcy to shake hands and hug, and those who know just how powerful prayer can be, I plead with you from the depth of my heart that, at least every Wednesday and every Sunday, you go out there in groups that do not exceed 70 to pray, knowing that, with prayer, nothing is impossible. Remember, the chief justice made these remarks on March 17, and he may consider groups of 70 too large now. Anyway, he continued, I know others may reduce these remarks to something to be mocked, but you know the potency of what I am appealing to you to do. He said the word potency explosively with an explosive conviction. The church cannot afford to be running helter-skelter, as it appears to be doing now, said Mogoeng. It is time for you to demonstrate the power that you have been preaching about, the power that you have been talking about, by identifying all kingdom-minded people and crying to God for the sake of this country, for the sake of the continent, and for the sake of humanity. Story continues You can hear this statement in a long video starting at 6:35 here. I wanted to share it with you, because it is one of the most extraordinary and startling statements I have ever heard a leader make. By now, you are familiar, I wager, with the name of Dr. Anthony Fauci, a veteran immunologist with the National Institutes of Health. He is one of the leaders in our country in the fight the mobilization against the coronavirus. Last week, he was sparring with President Trump over a malaria drug called hydroxychloroquine and its application to the coronavirus. (For an article, go here.) On Saturday, Howard Mortman, of C-SPAN, tweeted a clip from 1988: a clip from one of the general-election presidential debates that year. Both Vice President Bush and Governor Dukakis were asked about heroes present-day heroes who could inspire Americans. Dukakis, who went first, did not name anyone in particular, except for Jonas Salk. He spoke in generalities (very good generalities). Bush first named Jaime Escalante, an American schoolteacher, born in Bolivia. He taught in a rough neighborhood of L.A., and was the subject of a film called Stand and Deliver. Bush also named Armando Valladares, the Cuban dissident and former political prisoner. And Rick Hauck, a shuttle astronaut. He further said, I also think we ought to give a little credit to the president of the United States, meaning Reagan. He is the one who has gotten us that first arms-control agreement. But before he got to Reagan, Bush said, I think of Dr. Fauci. Probably never heard of him. But he was a very fine researcher, a top doctor, at NIH, working on a cure for AIDS. To see Howard Mortmans tweet, with its clip, go here. And to see a transcript of the relevant debate: here. In his press conference on Friday, President Trump was in characteristic form a form beloved of millions and loathed by millions. The NBC correspondent, Peter Alexander, asked, What do you say to Americans who are watching you right now who are scared? Trump said, I say that youre a terrible reporter. Thats what I say. This is absolute catnip to the base. But what about the country at large, especially in these terrible, fearful times? How will it play? The day before, the president had called on a correspondent from OANN, or One America News Network. This is a strongly pro-Trump organization that is famous, or infamous, for conspiracy theories, including about Seth Rich. Calling on the OANN correspondent, Trump said, Very good. Thank you very much. They treat me very nicely. Go ahead. The correspondent asked, Do you consider the term Chinese food racist? Trump said, No, I dont think its racist. I dont think its racist at all. The correspondent then condemned the major left-wing news media, even in this room, for having teamed up with Chinese Communist Party narratives, etc. This prompted Trump himself to issue a long condemnation of the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal. OANNs correspondent then said, Theyre siding with state propaganda overseas. Trump said, Well, I think they do, and, They are siding with China. The day before, the Chinese government i.e., the Chinese Communist Party had expelled all reporters from the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal. They did this because these reporters were reporting the truth about China, which the CCP cannot bear. (For the White House transcript of Thursdays press conference, go here. For its transcript of Fridays, go here.) From where I sit, Americans have loved the debate over the term China virus because its in their comfort zone. Indeed, its in their wheelhouse. This is a game they have always played, and its a game they play well. Culture war. Im pretty good at it myself. But it doesnt matter. You can call this plague a ham sandwich just stamp it out. We are the Dunkin Society. (Makes me kind of hungry for donuts, with cider.) Left dunks on Right, Right dunks on Left, day in, day out. Its what we do. Here a dunk, there a dunk, everywhere a dunk dunk. But, to adapt FDR, Dr. Dunk had better become Dr. Beat-the-Plague. (You remember that FDR spoke of Dr. New Deal and Dr. Win-the-War.) Its obvious why we love China virus or Chinese virus right now. Everything is abnormal horribly, disorientingly, alarmingly abnormal and culture war is reassuringly familiar. Its like the old days. In his Friday press conference, President Trump referred to the State Department as the Deep State Department. Humorous? Out of bounds? Nutty? About three years ago, with the rise of Trump, many Americans on the right fell in love with the term deep state. It comes from Turkey. There, it had meaning. I like what National Review said in an editorial last December: Americans should unlearn this imported term. But Im afraid its too late. Also, I thought of our Foreign Service officers, especially those in dangerous spots, of which there are many. The names of some 250 of our diplomats are on plaques in a State Department lobby. These people died in the line of duty. What does Deep State Department, from the lips of the president, do for morale? No big deal? Flattering? Insulting? This is something to be thought of, I think, in the midst of all the other things to be thought of . . . There are smart people in this world who think that, economically, we are facing something more like 1930 than like, say, 2009. I take this very seriously. At the same time, Im a big believer in American ingenuity, and in human ingenuity. Theyre a clever race, those humans. They also have a certain daring of spirit. I wouldnt count them out, in this situation as in others. Do you know what I mean? I loved a tweet from Dana Rubinstein, a reporter at Politico New York. Bad news, lovebirds, she said. The NYC marriage bureau is closed as of today. I loved the old-fashionedness of that tweet. Lovebirds getting married? Married? Beautiful. Here is a nice story, outta New York. Headline: Two 20-somethings extend invisible hands in virus outbreak. Opening sentence: Liam Elkinds big heart and his break from college was a highlight of 83-year-old Carol Sterlings week. Have a little more: Elkind, a junior at Yale, and a friend, Simone Policano, amassed 1,300 volunteers in 72 hours to deliver groceries and medicine to older New Yorkers and other vulnerable people. They call themselves Invisible Hands, and they do something else in the process provide human contact and comfort, at a safe distance, of course. Invisible Hands! H/t Adam Smith, as they might write on Twitter . . . In my Friday Impromptus, I told a story about home confinement Vladimir Horowitz (the great pianist) did not leave his home for twelve years. (He was a very complicated man.) In the last few days, I have thought of a movie I enjoyed very much, when it came out in 1999: Blast from the Past. Its about a family confined to a nuclear-fallout shelter for some 35 years. I understand it was not a critical success. (For the Wikipedia entry, go here.) But I liked it a lot, for a range of reasons. Give it a shot, I say. Scheherazade, the symphonic suite by Rimsky-Korsakov, has come up in my life lately. On Friday, a colleague wrote me to say how much he admired it. I told him that, years ago, I interviewed Valery Gergiev, the famed Russian conductor. How did he first get captured by music? Gergiev told me that his parents had some LPs around the house, including one of Scheherazade. That one did it. Then, on Sunday, my friend Ed told me a story. Scheherazade came up again, out of the blue. Ed was describing some of his boyhood in the 1930s. On Sunday, the family went to church and, afterward, had either pancakes or French toast. At 2 oclock, they listened to the New York Philharmonic on the radio. (The family lived in smalltown Michigan.) At about 5, they had dinner. Ed was smitten by music in part because of these radio broadcasts. His sixth-grade teacher had two records, just lying around the classroom. He gave them both to Ed. (I dont think any other student was interested in them.) They were the first two of a set of six. In those days, it took six records to encompass all of Scheherazade. So, Ed had just the first third of the piece. He listened to it over and over, to the point where his mother said she had memorized every note. He wore the grooves off, as we used to say. The performers? The Philadelphia Orchestra, under Stokowski. To hear the whole thing at the flick or two of a finger go here. Thanks for joining me, dear friends, and talk to you soon. If youd like to receive Impromptus by e-mail links to new columns write to jnordlinger@nationalreview.com. More from National Review 23.03.2020 LISTEN Mr George Dosoo Doyen, an Investigative Expert, has cautioned the public not to accept nose masks from untrusted sources in these times of COVID-19 pandemic since criminals can lace them with chloroform to perpetrate evil. He noted that after the innocent person had used the laced nose mask, he or she could fall into coma or experience convulsion and the criminals could kidnap, rape or even kill the victim. Some criminals can pretend they're from a Foundation and so in this period of shortage of nose masks, gloves and sanitizers, they will start distributing free personal protective equipment to the unsuspecting public and if you're not smart, you'll fall victim to their trap, Mr Doyen cautioned the public. Apart from washing of hands with soap under running water, he encouraged Ghanaians to sanitise their bracelets, watches and bangles after use, to avoid the risk of spreading the virus unconsciously. Mr Doyen, also the Principal of Doyen's Leverage Institute of Intelligence and Investigations, gave the advice at the graduation of private investigators in Accra, at the weekend. Doyen's Leverage, a security and safety firm, would this year engage with 10 million people across the country and provide them with security and safety tips including how to counter kidnapping, human trafficking and smuggling of contraband goods. Last year it sensitised about 50,000 people including staff of Parliament House, Bank of Ghana, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, National Peace Council, and Stanbic Bank on security and safety tips, Mr Doyen said. The graduands underwent theological training in Professional Private Investigations Course and a year industrial attachment to gain practical experience. Some of the graduands are professional engineers, investigators, procurement officers and nurses working within public and private institutions across the country. Mark Akwasi Ampomah, the Course Leader, noted that security was the bedrock of intelligence, and it was imperative to build the capacities of personnel in the security industry to promote peace and harmony in society, and ensure the overall development of the nation. He was of the conviction that the graduands had received sufficient knowledge and understanding to help curb emerging crimes including terrorism, contraband trafficking, illegal mining and kidnapping. ---GNA An employee pumps fuel into a motorbike at a fuel station in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Thanh. State-owned oil giant Petrovietnam expects revenues to plummet after the novel coronavirus pandemic and global geopolitics dragged down energy prices. The company said in a recent statement that oil prices had fallen to below $30 per barrel against an expected price of $60 this year. Brent crude fell 45 percent to $28.36 on Monday from earlier this month. The price fall will cut Petrovietnams revenues by half to around $2.36 billion this year. Besides, with the falling prices, the company expects losses in some ongoing projects, it said. Its CEO, Le Manh Hung, said at a meeting last week: "This is one of the most difficult times ever for the company." Oil inventories have been rising fast at Vietnams refineries as buyers postponed orders due to low demand. Dung Quat Refinery in the central Quang Ngai Province said it could run out of storage capacity this month. Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Jsc, a subsidiary of Petrovietnam and the operator of the refinery, reported a loss of VND313 billion ($13.4 million) last month due to dwindling demand. Nguyen Viet Son, director of the Ministry of Industry and Trades oil, gas and coal department, said: "Oil production and sales have been hit by plummeting crude oil prices and demand falling 30 percent due to Covid-19." Petrovietnam is considering stockpiling crude oil and selling it when demand recovers. Economist Le Dang Doanh said in the worst case scenario the company might have to consider suspending production to cut losses. Son said the Ministry of Finance should consider providing income and value-added tax breaks to energy businesses and defer tax payment. PARIS Young German adults hold corona parties and cough toward older people. A Spanish man leashes a goat to go for a walk to skirt confinement orders. From France to Florida to Australia, kitesurfers, college students and others crowd the beaches. Their defiance of lockdown mandates and scientific advice to fight the coronavirus pandemic has prompted crackdowns by authorities on people trying to escape cabin fever brought on by virus restrictions. In some cases, the virus rebels resist threatening police as officials express outrage over public gatherings that could spread the virus. Some consider theyre little heroes when they break the rules, French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said. Well, no. Youre an imbecile, and especially a threat to yourself. After days of noncompliance by people refusing to stay home and venture out only for essential tasks, France on Friday sent security forces into train stations to prevent people from traveling to their vacation homes, potentially carrying the virus to the countryside or beaches where medical facilities are less robust. The popular Paris walkway along the Seine River was closed and a nightly curfew was imposed in the French Mediterranean city of Nice by Mayor Christian Estrosi, who is infected with the virus. Florida officials closed some of the states most popular beaches after images of rowdy spring break college crowds appeared on TV for days amid the rising global death toll, which surpassed 13,000 on Sunday. Australia closed Sydneys famous Bondi Beach after police were outraged at pictures of the crowds. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Saturday that people from 18-to-49 account for more than half of the states coronavirus cases, warning them youre not Superman, and youre not Superwoman. Many people were not complying with social distancing recommendations to stay away from each other in New York Citys vast city park network ahead of a ban on congregating in groups that goes into effect Sunday night, Cuomo said. You can wind up hurting someone who you love, or hurting someone wholly inadvertently. Social distancing works, and you need social distancing everywhere, Cuomo warned. As new coronavirus cases in China dropped to zero several days in a row, the chief medical officer for the International Clinic of Wuhan was alarmed at those elsewhere refusing to follow rules to contain the virus. Dr. Philippe Klein said people should look to Chinas confinement of tens of millions as an example to emulate with courage, with patience, with solidarity. I exhort you, the French, to apply the rules in our way, said Klein, who is French. Worldwide, over 307,000 people have been infected. For most, the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms. But it can cause more severe illness in others, especially older adults and people with existing health conditions. Some 92,000 people have recovered, mostly in China, where the virus first struck late last year. The virus rebels tend to range from restless teens to wealthy adults who can travel to their getaway homes. Even in Italy, where the virus death toll soared beyond Chinas last week, authorities are still trying to rein in people from going outside for fresh air, sun and visits with friends to escape walled-in lives. French farmers markets where people congregate to shop for food have posed a special challenge for police trying to keep people apart from each other at the recommended 2 meters (6 feet), along with neglected urban housing projects where distrust and disobedience of authorities runs deep. In Clichy-Sous-Bois, a Paris suburb where nationwide riots triggered by police harassment allegations erupted in 2005, a person bit a police officer trying to enforce confinement rules, said Linda Kebbab, a police union spokesperson. And a large crowd threatened to spit on officers who had planned to disperse them in the southeastern city of Lyon but left instead, she said. In the southern German state of Bavaria, Gov. Markus Soeder lamented that there are still corona parties, there are young people who cough at older people and shout corona for fun and, above all, there are an incredible number of groups being formed. National police in Spain, which has the second-highest number of coronavirus infections in Europe after Italy, are using helicopters to spot groups of people meeting up outdoors. Then agents are sent in to break up the gatherings. Spanish police have also taken to highlighting examples on social media of what people should not do in public during the countrys state of emergency. In the southeastern Murcia region, they posted video of police stopping a person waddling outside in a full-body dinosaur costume and tweeted that pets can be taken for brief walks by owners but that having a Tyrannosaurus Rex complex is not allowed. And in Spains northeastern region of Catalonia, police posted a picture of a man walking a goat on a leash, apparently trying to take advantage of the pet walking exception. France now has 100,000 security personnel on the streets who are issuing fines amid a new national Stay Home mantra and warnings by officials that the countrys two-week lockdown could be extended if the countrys infection rate keeps rising. More than 1.7 million checks were carried out in the last five days and more than 22,500 people fined, the Interior Ministry said. By Sunday, France counted more than 16,000 confirmed infections and 674 deaths. In Greece, the prime minister tried to convince people to say home, warning citizens that future virus prevention measures depend on our behavior. But after Floridas officials shut down some of the states famed beaches, some businesses were still trying to draw in tourists, including Clearwater Mega Bite Shark Boat, a 40-foot (12-meter) vessel with a bow shaped like a sharks snout that cruises the Gulf of Mexico off Floridas western coast. The boat can carry 50 passengers but the owner was limiting trips to 10 to comply with federal advice. Only four people signed up for a Saturday trip, said an employee named Chase who answered the phone but declined to give his last name. Normally wed be packed this weekend, he said. ___ Associated Press writers contributing to this report include: Frances dEmilio in Rome; Joe Wilson in Barcelona; Elena Becatoros in Greece; Geir Moulson and David Rising in Berlin; Michael Hill in Albany, New York; Tamara Lush in St. Petersburg, Florida; and Sarah El Deeb in Beirut. ___ A previous version of this story was corrected to show that Florida officials closed some of the states most popular beaches, not the governor ordering all of them shut. ___ The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. ___ Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak At a March 17 meeting at the Los Angeles City Council chamber, the public was told to gather in a tent outside and watch the proceedings on video. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez announced Monday that she has canceled council meetings scheduled for Tuesday and the following week, saying the city is not yet ready to conduct a remote meeting. The move alarmed labor unions, nonprofit groups and activists who had been hoping council members would act on a rent freeze and other forms of relief for those suffering during the coronavirus pandemic. Those groups, which have organized under the banner "the Healthy LA Coalition," urged Martinez to call an emergency meeting and finalize measures to protect workers, tenants and unhoused people. The coalition has been calling on council members to halt cleanups of homeless encampments that require people to move property, tighten restrictions on evictions and forgive rent payments during the crisis, among other proposals. Los Angeles City Council must show leadership during a crisis that will have devastating impacts on Angelenos, said Laura Raymond from Alliance for Community Transit-Los Angeles, which is part of Healthy LA. Tuesday's meeting had been planned, in part, as a teleconference during which members of the public could call in with comments. Some council members would have attended in person, Martinez said. All items on Tuesday's agenda will be taken up at a future meeting. If necessary, the council will hold an emergency meeting once all the "safety and logistical concerns have been met," Martinez said. "The status is fluid," she said in a statement. "But please know, the Los Angeles City Council will meet to do the peoples business as soon as possible. Last week, council members put forward a long list of proposals to address the needs of Angelenos during the coronavirus pandemic, including boosting sick leave and restricting evictions. But those measures still must be drafted and passed as laws. Council members also announced over the weekend that they would pursue new emergency proposals, including a rent freeze. They were expected to take up some proposals that have already been drafted, including rules regulating employee layoffs. Story continues Councilman Mike Bonin called the cancellations incredibly frustrating, saying his colleagues can't take action on eviction measures and other protections if they don't meet. "Ill go in with a mask or gown or whatever we need, or Im perfectly willing to do it remotely, he said. Stuart Waldman, president of the Valley Industry & Commerce Assn., said he wasn't troubled by the situation. His group has been raising concerns about a proposal to require employers to lay off workers, or bring them back, in order of seniority. Such decisions should be left up to businesses, he said. Waldman argued that Mayor Eric Garcetti could easily enact any needed changes through executive orders. "The council is looking to push things Garcetti and his staff are already enacting them," he said. Rob Quan, an organizer with the anti-corruption group Unrig LA, said the council nonetheless has an important role to play, including acting as a check on the mayor. "The idea that the City Council is not an essential service in this whole response is kind of ridiculous," he said. In their attempt to limit health risks, council members had already cut the number of weekly meetings from three to one and canceled committee meetings altogether. Still, some city meetings are moving ahead. The board that oversees the Department of Water and Power is set to convene on Tuesday, meeting remotely and taking public comment by phone. The Board of Public Works, which oversees repairs of roads, sidewalks and other infrastructure, also had been scheduled to meet Tuesday. But that session was canceled Monday after staffers tested the system for allowing remote public comment, said agency spokeswoman Elena Stern. "We still have some stuff to work through," she said. Times staff writer Benjamin Oreskes contributed to this report. The first bill, the IA said, will create a bespoke, streamlined regulatory framework for the issuance of insurance-linked securities (ILS) through the formation of special purpose insurers (SPIs). ILS are alternative risk-management tools for transferring insurance risk to the capital markets, which increases the capacity of the insurance market and provides institutional investors with more options for diversification. The central government has announced support for mainland insurers to issue catastrophe bonds in Hong Kong, said Dr Moses Cheng, chairman of the IA. The proposed legislative amendments will pave way for Hong Kong to become the preferred domicile for ILS, in particular catastrophe bonds. This will facilitate insurers to better capture business opportunities, and, more importantly, extend the capacity of the insurance industry; thus enhancing its sustainable development. The bill also seeks to widen the scope of risks covered by Hong Kong-based captive insurers, which will help the industry to harness business opportunities brought about by the Belt and Road Initiative. Meanwhile, the second bill seeks to create a firm legal basis for the IA to exercise jurisdiction over the holding companies of multinational insurance groups. If passed, the bill will create a legislative framework for the IA to perform effective group-wide supervision and ensure that the insurance regulatory system in Hong Kong will help the insurance groups maintain strong, well-capitalised, and well-managed operations. Using a principle-based, outcome-focused approach, the new framework will put Hong Kong on a par with international standards and practices, thus strengthening its competitiveness in the global insurance market and reinforcing its position as a regional insurance hub, Cheng said. The IA said that it will maintain close dialogue with industry stakeholders on the details of the bills and provide its full support to the Legislative Council as it tackles the proposals. Saudi Arabia could book a budget deficit of as much as $61 billion this year under the double blow of the coronavirus pandemic and the global oil glut, research from financial firm Jadwa Investments has suggested. This would represent almost 8 percent of the Kingdoms GDP, Arabian Business reported, adding that the budget revenue for the year will be a bit lower than what the government projected in its budget draft, at $210 billion (791 billion riyals). Spending, on the other hand, will come in at $270 billion (1.02 trillion riyals). "Overall, it is worth noting that, at this moment in time, the range of potential effects of Covid-19 on the kingdoms economy are highly uncertain," the Saudi firm said as quoted by Arabian Business. Some 511 cases of Covid-19 have been diagnosed so far in the Kingdom. According to Jadwa, as negative as the pandemic is for oil prices, there is space for optimism, mostly because governments are pledging fiscal stimulus and other support measures for national economies. According to the Saudi company, this should lead to a rebound in oil demand and this, in turn, will help Saudi Arabia achieve significant economic growth, from 0.3 percent for 2019 to as much as 6.3 percent. Related: Largest Oil Glut In History Could Force Crude Prices Even Lower How realistic this is remains to be seen, as many analysts expect crude oil price to fall even further, not least because of Saudi Arabias commitment to boost production past the 12-million-bpd mark starting next month. Under the weight of the combination between a pandemic and a rising supply of oil, Brent and West Texas Intermediate have both dropped below $30 a barrel, with Brent at $28.52 and WTI at $22.84 a barrel at the time of writing. Meanwhile, analysts are warning that global oil storage is filling up and this could push prices further down, possibly as low as $10 a barrel. There are some 750 million barrels of oil in storage globally, according to calculations from data analytics company OilX, and this could rise to 1 billion barrels. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: SEOUL, South Korea (AP) President Donald Trump sent a personal letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, seeking to maintain good relations and offering cooperation in fighting the coronavirus pandemic, Kims sister said Sunday. The latest correspondence came as Kim observed the firing of tactical guided weapons over the weekend, drawing criticism from South Korea, as nuclear talks remain deadlocked. In a statement carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency, or KCNA, Kims sister and senior ruling party official, Kim Yo Jong, praised Trump for sending the letter at a time when big difficulties and challenges lie ahead in the way of developing ties" between the countries. In the letter, she said Trump explained his plan to propel the relations between the two countries ... and expressed his intent to render cooperation in the anti-epidemic work, an apparent reference to the global coronavirus outbreak. She said her brother expressed his gratitude for Trump's letter. North Korea has repeatedly said there hasnt been a single case of the coronavirus on its soil. Some foreign experts question that claim and say an outbreak in the North could cause a humanitarian disaster because of its poor medical infrastructure. Last month, the State Department expressed concerns about North Koreas vulnerability to a potential coronavirus outbreak and said it was ready to support efforts by aid organizations to contain the spread of the illness in the North. A senior Trump administration official said Sunday that Trump sent a letter to Kim that the official said was consistent with Trump's efforts to engage global leaders during the pandemic. The official said Trump looks forward to continued communications with the North Korean leader. Kim Yo Jong said Trumps letter is a good example showing the special and firm personal relations between the North Korean and U.S. leaders. But she said its not a good idea to make hasty conclusion or be optimistic about the prospect for bilateral relations. In my personal opinion, I think that the bilateral relations and dialogue for them would be thinkable only when the equilibrium is kept dynamically and morally and justice ensured between the two countries, she said. Even at this moment we are working hard to develop and defend ourselves on our own under the cruel environment which the U.S. is keen to provide. Earlier, Trump sent birthday greetings to Kim Jong Un, who was believed to have turned 36 on Jan. 8. Senior North Korean official Kim Kye Gwan said at the time that the birthday message won't lead his country to return to talks unless the U.S. accepts its demands. Kim and Trump have met three times and exchanged letters and envoys on many occasions since 2018, when they launched talks on the fate of Kims advancing nuclear arsenal. The two leaders have avoided harsh language against each other, and Trump once said he and Kim fell in love. But their diplomacy has largely come to a standstill since the breakdown of their second summit in Vietnam in February 2019, when Trump rejected Kims demands for broad sanctions relief in return for a partial disarmament step. Kim pressed Trump to come up with new proposals to salvage the negotiations by the end of last year. Kim later vowed to bolster his nuclear deterrent and unveil a new strategic weapon, and warned that he would no longer be bound by a major weapons test moratorium. In recent weeks, North Korea has fired a slew of artillery and other rockets into the sea in what experts say is an attempt to improve its military capabilities. The weapons were all short range and did not pose a direct threat to the U.S. mainland. A resumption of long-range missile or nuclear weapons tests by Kim would likely completely scuttle diplomacy with Trump, experts say. KCNA said Kim watched the test firing of tactical guided weapons on Saturday with Kim Yo Jong and other top officials. South Korea's military called the demonstration very inappropriate at a time when the world is struggling with the coronavirus pandemic. South Koreas military said Saturday that it detected two presumed short-range ballistic missiles that flew from a site in western North Korea across the country and landed in the waters off the east coast. The weapons flew 410 kilometers (255 miles), according to South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff. ALBANY - Toward the end of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's daily coronavirus briefing Tuesday at the state Capitol, he veered into how the growing crisis is affecting him personally. His eyes welled up ever so slightly, a rarity for the tough-talking, self-described "Queens boy" who rides motorcycles and fixes muscle cars on the weekends. But Cuomo knows this challenge is different than any other he has dealt with in nearly 40 years in and around state and federal governments; a career officially started at age 25 in 1982 as the campaign manager for his father, Mario, who went on to three terms as governor. One of his three daughters, all in their 20s, was self-quarantined because of the novel coronavirus. His 88-year-old mother and former New York first lady, Matilda, is holed up in her Manhattan apartment. Cuomo himself is living in the cavernous governor's mansion a block from the state Capitol. "I have not seen my daughter in over two weeks. It breaks my heart," Cuomo said softly. "And then this concept of maybe I can't get next to her because of this virus. There is a distance between me and my daughter because of this virus. It saddens me to the core, and it frightens me to the core." The fright is both personal and professional. Cuomo, 62, is staring down the largest outbreak of the coronavirus in the nation in New York, a place with the most dense population in the country. Gov. Andrew Cuomo entered the Red Room at the state Capitol on March 15, 2020, to give a daily briefing on the spread of coronavirus. Cuomo's experience, though, is unmatched by any governor in the U.S.; he's also currently the longest serving one. He has set up a war room within his suite of offices at the Capitol. He urged the federal government to make more ventilators, sent the New York National Guard to the virus' hot spot in New Rochelle and scoffed at suggestions state lawmakers might stay home rather than continue the legislative session in Albany. The Democratic governor's control of the situation has set up fights and some criticism from local leaders, but he has insisted that state government is in charge. Story continues He has served as New York's commander in chief by wielding all the power of the state's massive government to close schools, malls, bars and restaurants, and at the same time he has taken on the role as its comforter in chief by preaching calm in the face of crisis. "We will lose people, yes, like we lose people every year with the flu," he said Tuesday. "We are going be challenged and tested. There are going to be periods of chaos, yes. We have been through that before also." More: Coronavirus: New York residents ordered to stay home as much as possible A career built for crisis Cuomo's aides and supporters said this challenge is what Cuomo is built for that at his core, instilled by learning at his father's side, is the belief that people need an effective government at their time of most need. "In his DNA is the notion that government matters," said Benjamin Lawsky, a former aide when Cuomo was attorney general from 2007 through 2010 and then when Cuomo took office as governor in 2011. "A lot of time in life, people dont want to be bothered with the government. But in a time of real crisis, everyone knows that government matters. The world sort of starts to align with his vision of what government is supposed to be about." Supporters say that few politicians understand the levers of government like Cuomo does or have a better grasp of the consequences of government action or inaction. That savvy has garnered him praise from supporters and scorn from foes during his 10 years in office. More: Coronavirus restrictions in New York: A list of the latest closures you need to know In 1998, when he was secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Cuomo wrote a 55-page book titled, "HUD Disaster Recovery Guidebook." The subtitle was, "Promoting Recovery, Hope and a New Beginning." Howard Glaser, who worked under Cuomo at HUD and was his first director of state operations in Albany, recalled Cuomo's visits to floods in Grand Forks, North Dakota, in 1997; and in subsequent years to Hurricane Georges in the Dominican Republic and Hurricane Mitch, which destroyed over half a million homes in Central America. "So he quickly built up a lot of experience, with the details of logistics, with making government work during crisis," Glaser said. Glaser was at Cuomo's side during Superstorm Sandy in 2012, traveling the flooded streets of lower Manhattan as water poured out of subway stations. A year earlier, it was Hurricane Irene that crushed upstate. "Throughout, he focused on two jobs: Job one, to marshal and deploy the resources of government to address the crisis and protect people. Job two, to communicate the severity of the problem while conveying confidence that well pull through," Glaser said in an email. More: The Army Corps of Engineers will aid NY. Why it may be a major boost to fighting coronavirus More: Coronavirus: Yes, you can get cocktails delivered in New York. Here's what to know How Cuomo is juggling his role amid the coronavirus crisis Gov. Andrew Cuomo holds a briefing on coronavirus at the state Capitol on March 15, 2020. Cuomo's elbows-out style of governing is often his greatest strength but also one his critics pounce on. He has used it to bend the will of the Legislature and to raise enough campaign cash to win three terms, crushing opponents to his ideological left and right with ease. The response to the coronavirus has put his governing bravado on full display. His executive orders have usurped much of the local control; he said it's important to have continuity across the state. He took exception to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio suggesting Wednesday that the city may "shelter in place" because of the growing number of cases. More: Local governments brace for revenue to plummet. How it will impact New York taxpayers "I spent half my day knocking down rumors that we're going to imprison people in their homes, that there is going to be a roadblock around New York City," Cuomo said Thursday on CNN. But his style has also produced results from an unlikely ally: President Donald Trump, a Republican who has been criticized by Cuomo at almost every turn, whether it is immigration, tax reform or political rhetoric. Trump and Cuomo, both from Queens, soon figured they were better off working together than as adversaries. The enormity of the virus' potential became more apparent in recent days. More: Coronavirus: NY may need 24,000 more ventilators to fight COVID-19. Heres how it could get them Cuomo went from putting the federal response on par with the botched rescue after Hurricane Katrina to praising Trump's commitment after a Tuesday morning call between the two leaders. The cajoling worked: Trump went on national television to say he and Cuomo had reached a detente. "We had a very good talk, and I think we are right down the same track," Trump said. "So its going to be very successful." That day the federal government said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would come to New York to help assess how to build more hospital beds. A day later, Trump announced a massive Navy hospital ship was on its way to the Hudson River. On Friday, Cuomo said he talked again to Trump about a possible antidote, just hours after the governor declared a shutdown on all non-essential businesses. More: Coronavirus: President Trump, NY Gov. Cuomo trade barbs, then compliments The challenges ahead for Cuomo New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, in hat, gets a briefing from Michael Kopy, the NYS Director of Emergency Management, at Glen Island Park in New Rochelle, as New York State's first drive through COVID-19 mobile testing center opens, March 13, 2020. Cuomo has received praise for his handling of the situation from Democrats and Republicans, putting aside scandals that had rocked his administration, including the conviction of two close aides in bid rigging and bribery cases. The Democratic governor has led a coalition of Northeastern governors to all commit to the same business closures so there is uniformity for residents. He holds daily briefings at the state Capitol after drawing criticisms for years for not making himself readily available to the Albany press corps. His office did not make him available for an interview for this article. The briefings have had moments of levity, like when he said the new state-made hand sanitizer smelled like a "floral bouquet" or when he has chided reporters who have been covering him for years. He goes daily on national news programs, something he eschewed during his first term in office, and has given updates on the nightly CNN show hosted by his younger brother, Chris where the exchanges have drifted into comical arguments over who is their mother's favorite. In The New York Times, media columnist Ben Smith had a piece titled "Andrew Cuomo is the Control Freak We Need Right Now." He likened him to "the purest master of the machine since Lyndon Johnson in his prime" amid a wobbly federal response to the pandemic. His daily briefings, which are usually aired live on national TV, has even got him a bit of a fanbase. A column Thursday in Jezebel titled "Help, I Think I'm in Love with Andrew Cuomo???" went viral. Cuomo then gave the reporter a courtesy call. More: Chris Cuomo debates brother Andrew Cuomo over mom's 'favorite son' during CNN coronavirus coverage But there are growing challenges ahead that will test Cuomo's bandwidth. A deal for an on-time state budget is due by March 31 amid a plummeting economy and lawmakers contracting coronavirus. His social agenda, which includes legalizing marijuana and softening controversial bail reforms, faces an uncertain fate. He's facing pressure to provide an economic stimulus and to extend new mortgage protections to renters as the state's finances are in tatters. More: Coronavirus in New York: As testing grows, positive cases jumped by 1,000 in one day. Here's where. And he has wanted to cut aid to hospitals to fund a massive gap in Medicaid, but now those health-care facilities are on the front line of protecting the state. He estimates New York will need more than 24,000 new ventilators and perhaps as many as 110,000 new hospitals beds as people get sick from the virus. And all the control he has instilled on state government hasn't been able to stop coronavirus from spreading. He will undoubtedly need to put more control on people's movement to slow it. The number of confirmed cases in New York nearly doubled overnight Thursday to 4,152 and grew to 7,100 on Friday, with more than 26 deaths. So Cuomo says the state will continue to prepare, but even a control freak can't control this one. "Nobody can tell you when this is going to end," he said Thursday with his daughter Michaela, home from a closed college, at his side. "Nobody can tell you." More: Coronavirus: NY businesses need to keep 75% of staff home; Relief coming on mortgages More: COVID-19 may overwhelm hospitals. Here's how race for treatments could help Joseph Spector is the New York state editor for the USA TODAY Network. He can be reached at JSPECTOR@Gannett.com or followed on Twitter: @GannettAlbany Support local journalism We cover the stories from the New York State Capitol and across New York that matter most to you and your family. Please consider supporting our efforts with a subscription to the New York publication nearest you. Check out the latest offer. This article originally appeared on New York State Team: Andrew Cuomo and coronavirus: Who is he and what is his history? [March 23, 2020] Voice of the Car Summit Becomes Worldwide Online Event, April 7-8, 2020 NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Voice of the Car Summit, which focuses on the intersection of voice tech, conversational AI and the modern connected car, is now a worldwide online event, taking place April 7-8. The summit which was previously scheduled for the same dates at Club Auto Sport in San Jose, Calif. is part of the Project Voice Series and presented by Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America, Inc. Numerous leading companies will share insights, including Mercedes-Benz, Google, Amazon, Intel, General Motors, Ford Motor Company, iHeartMedia and more. "Voice of the Car Summit was previously sold out; however, given the current conditions, we're shifting this event to an online conference that can be attended by everyone around the world," said Bradley Metrock, executive producer of Voice of the Car Summit and host of "This Week In Voice." "Those who attend will walk away with valuable intelligence, best practices and direction on where we'r headed as well as who's leading in this rapidly evolving space." Highlights: Opening keynote by Robert Bruchhardt, senior software engineer, Mercedes-Benz R&D North America Update on Google Assistant by Austin Chang , director of product management, Google Assistant head of automotive and emerging markets, Google , director of product management, Google Assistant head of automotive and emerging markets, Google Fireside chat with Noah Clemons , senior staff, developer technical consulting, Intel , senior staff, developer technical consulting, Intel "Implications for Audio Content in the Car: 2020 and Beyond" by Michele Laven , president of strategic partnerships, iHeartMedia, and John Vermeer , senior vice president, business development and partnerships, iHeartMedia , president of strategic partnerships, iHeartMedia, and , senior vice president, business development and partnerships, iHeartMedia A look at conversational AI in the automobile by Katie McMahon , vice president and general manager, SoundHound Inc., the leading independent voice/AI company , vice president and general manager, SoundHound Inc., the leading independent voice/AI company An update on how Ford Motor Company is bringing voice to the connected car by Shyamala Prayaga , product owner digital assistant, Ford Motor Company , product owner digital assistant, Ford Motor Company An exclusive conversation with Brian Roemmele , the Silicon Valley legend who coined the term "voice-first" , the Silicon Valley legend who coined the term "voice-first" "Voice UX Considerations for the Connected Car" by Laura Rosenbaun , voice interaction designer, General Motors , voice interaction designer, General Motors Insights on how consumers are using Alexa in the modern automobile by Arianne Walker , chief evangelist of Alexa Automotive, Amazon , chief evangelist of Alexa Automotive, Amazon The first-ever live broadcast of the No. 1 tech podcast "This Week in Voice" a special automotive episode And a powerhouse program that includes HEAD acoustics, Bespoken, what3words, Loom.ai, SapientX, Hi Auto, ReadSpeaker, Botmock, Audioburst, Kardome, Cerence and Potato. Registration and information for the Voice of the Car Summit can be found at https://www.VoiceoftheCar.com. All attendees will receive complimentary conference proceedings. To learn more about the entire Project Voice Series of events that lead the discourse on voice technology and conversational AI, or to request the prospectus, email [email protected]. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/voice-of-the-car-summit-becomes-worldwide-online-event-april-7-8-2020-301028333.html SOURCE Score Publishing / Project Voice Series [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Agartala, March 23 : Tripura Puppet Theatre (TPT) group in a novel move has undertaken the task to educate people about the dreaded COVID-19 through traditional "Putul Nach" (puppet dance), drawing people's attention and appreciation. The TPT, a 65-year-old folk cultural body, from March 21, the World Puppet Day, has started a unique endeavour to make people aware about the danger of novel coronavirus (nCoV) and how to protect from this disease. A video of the puppet dance on novel coronavirus, prepared by the artists of TPT group, and uploaded on the "YouTube" platform and other social media is attracting huge people's attention and admiration. One of the founders of TPT, Prabhitangshu Das said that like every year they had planned a puppet dance event to observe the World Puppet Day on March 21 but due to the preventive measures announced by the government they had to call off the programme. "Since we are unable to perform our annual puppet dance event due to COVID-19, we have chosen to go online this year through diverse social media to make people aware against the danger of the disease and defensive measures," Das told IANS. In Bengali language, TPT's 1.11 minute awareness video with English subtitles portrayed a story where a government official coughs and shows flu-like symptoms and is advised by his wife and daughter to consult a doctor. The doctor in his set of advisories explained the worried family about the disease. The video, containing three puppet dolls, ends with a slogan, "Stay clean and hygienic" and highlighted the messages of World Health Organisation and other international bodies besides the advice of doctors. Das, son of TPT's founder Haripada Das, said that all the characters (puppets) of the video are made by their members. "Puppetry is one of the powerful traditional folk cultural medium and it has shown numerous examples of efficacy in public health issues," said Das, who was awarded the "Sangeet Natak Akademi Akademi Award" in 2016 in recognition of his immense contribution to contemporary puppetry. He said: "My father late Haripada Das started the puppet dance culture in mountainous northeastern state of Tripura in 1956 to propagate the social awareness messages through puppetry. As an employee of the Social Welfare and Social Education Department of Tripura government, my father through the puppet dance had started informing, educating, and entertaining people on diverse issues and making them aware about their social responsibilities and cultural heritage." The TPT excelled participated in different International and national puppet festivals and workshops in India and abroad. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Australia's capacity to test people for coronavirus will soon be boosted significantly, with more than 500,000 rapid-test kits set to arrive this week. The OnSite Rapid Test Kit, which was approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration on Friday, works in a similar way to an at-home pregnancy test but requires two drops of blood instead of urine. Xavier Lawrence, chief executive of MD Solutions, told the Financial Review that the company plans to bring in half a million tests each week until the kits are no longer required. OnSite Rapid Test works in a similar way to an at-home pregnancy test Although the product was designed to be used at home, only GPs, medical centres and hospitals will be able to administer the tests here. Eventually though, Mr. Lawrence believed the kits should be able to be used by consumers at home. With an accuracy rate of 96.9 percent after five days of infection, the kit works by detecting two distinct antibodies which are produced by the body in response to the virus. As health authorities around the globe face a huge backlog of testing due to the extreme demand, Mr. Lawrence said faster results were vital to getting infected people into isolation and allowing those who are uncertain of their status to return to work more quickly. 'Its specificity allows it to separate influenza and cold sufferers from COVID-19 sufferers,' he said. Developed by researchers in Wuhan where the COVID-19 pandemic first began, the kits are now being manufactured in the United States by CTK Biotech. Australia's total number of infections has surged to 1630 on Monday afternoon About seven people with coronavirus symptoms were rushed to the Civil Hospital on Monday, civil surgeon Dr Rajesh Bagga said, adding that their samples had been sent for testing. This takes the total of suspected coronavirus cases to 26 even though no patient has tested positive in the district. We have also taken measures to look up those under home quarantine. Now our teams will visit quarantined families and see if anyone needs to be hospitalised. This is being done to have fewer people visit hospitals. Helpline numbers have been shared for medical assistance, he added. Separate building for coronavirus cases Meanwhile, hospital senior medical officer (SMO) Dr Ravi Dutt said they were planning to house all coronavirus patients in a separate building. Currently we have 16 beds and to increase the capacity we are trying to identify a building. One of the possibilities is a burn unit which does not have too many patients, Dutt said. Flu corner Any patient suffering from flu-like symptoms or related problems will also be treated separately in a flu corner set up at the vacant pharmacy at the entrance of the civil hospital. Nearly 500 people home quarantined Meanwhile, the administration has put up stickers outside the homes of nearly 500 residents with recent travel history under home quarantine, Dr Bagga said. Merkels contact with a coronavirus-positive doctor was only brief, says chief of staff. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has tested negative for coronavirus, a German government spokesperson said. Earlier on Monday, her Chief of Staff Helge Braun said Merkel only had brief contact with a doctor who later tested positive for coronavirus. Merkel had on Friday afternoon received a vaccine shot against pneumococcus, a pneumonia-causing bacteria, from the doctor and went into quarantine on Sunday after learning of his positive test result. Merkel, 65, will be tested repeatedly over the next few days. Merkel has said she will not seek a fifth term as chancellor in federal elections due by October 2021. She has loomed large on the European stage since 2005, helping guide the European Union through the eurozone crisis and opening Germanys doors to migrants and refugees fleeing war in the Middle East in 2015, a move that still divides the bloc and her country. Before going into quarantine on Sunday, Merkel said in a televised news briefing that Germany would ban public meetings of more than two people, amid a large number of further measures. The great aim is to gain time in the fight against the virus, she said, citing an agreement between the federal government and regional states. Lockdown tightens For at least the next two weeks, people will not be allowed to form groups of three or more in public unless they live together in the same household, or the gathering is work-related, she added. Restaurants can only serve patrons via takeaway, while hairdressers and beauty, massage and tattoo parlours must close. Governments in Europe, the epicentre of the global pandemic, have escalated their emergency responses amid a rising death toll. Italy banned travel within the country after freezing non-essential business activity. Spain wants to extend until April 11 a state of emergency it imposed this month. Regional states in Germany had previously taken differing approaches in the fight against the virus. Bavaria and smaller Saarland had gone furthest, imposing restrictions to keep people inside their homes save for a number of work-related exceptions. We are reducing public life and social interaction further and we are making sure to impose the same rules in principle across Germany, Merkel said. St. Pauls students in Richard Pichon's Principles of Engineering elective recently traveled to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette to attend "Engineering Day." The students were invited to classes to meet students and engineering faculty. On their guided tour, students saw student projects, examined the engineering department and curriculum, and met with a group of future employers. The business representatives shared samples of their work and talked to the students about needed job skills. It was a day planned to open the students' eyes to the world of engineering and to encourage their continuing education in the field. Ten years ago today, the Affordable Care Act became law. One of former President Barack Obamas enduring legacies, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has been at the center of heated debate ever since he signed it into law. Supporters, such as Sen. Bob Casey Jr., cite its landmark protections, including provisions blocking insurers from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions and allowing younger adults to get health care under their parents policies. Critics, and there are plenty, contend it has raised costs and placed federal health care programs on an unsustainable track. President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers made campaign promises to get rid of the law widely called Obamacare. On the 10th anniversary of the laws passage, Casey said the Affordable Care Act is needed more than ever as American confronts the coronavirus. The Democratic senator from Scranton said the law provides a remedy, albeit an unlikely one. Casey said if Trump wants to offer more help during the coronavirus crisis, the president can create a special open enrollment period for Americans to get coverage through healthcare.gov. The enrollment period is usually in the fall but Casey said a special enrollment period should happen now. Lets get them enrolled in a health care plan. The way you do that is open up the enrollment period and say, Go ahead and sign up," Casey told PennLive. "The president has the power to open up a new enrollment period and let people sign up for health care. Trump has repeatedly derided the Affordable Care Act and has sided with legal challenges to revoke the law. Still, the federal government is considering the possibility of a special enrollment period, The Wall Street Journal reported over the weekend. Gov. Tom Wolf has also petitioned the federal government to allow a special enrollment period for consumers to get coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Pennsylvania is moving toward operating its own state-based health exchange, beginning in 2021. Until that time, Pennsylvania remains on the federal platform, healthcare.gov, and needs the federal government to approve a special enrollment period for residents of the Keystone State, Wolf said. During this unpredictable health crisis, we are asking for a special enrollment period so all eligible uninsured and underinsured Pennsylvanians can purchase comprehensive health coverage through the federal platform, and for that coverage to be effective immediately, Wolf said in a statement. Casey has long been a vocal defender of the law, which he refuses to call Obamacare. I never use that phrase because I dont think it explains it, Casey said. He repeatedly uses the full name of the law in an interview. Its called the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Casey said. You could not be denied coverage or you couldnt be charged a higher premium because you had a preexisting condition. The patient protection part meant more than 100 million people had protections in law they didnt have before. The future of the Affordable Care Act is tenuous at best, Casey acknowledged. The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments in a lawsuit that could upend the law. The justices will hear an appeal from 20 states of a lower-court ruling that declared part of the law unconstitutional. The Trump administration has supported the legal efforts to dismantle the law. Casey is not optimistic about the outcome of the case, which court observers say isnt likely to come until after the 2020 election. I have to believe based upon the makeup of the court now, I think we should get ready for a 5-4 decision against the Affordable Care Act, Casey said. The minute that happens, premiums will go through the roof, Casey said. "More importantly, millions of Americans will lose coverage. Virtually all Republicans in Congress have denounced the Affordable Care Act and sought to upend it. U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., has been one of the leaders in efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Toomey has said the law failed to live up its name, forcing Pennsylvanians to endure higher premiums. Too many are limited to the choice of only one insurer on the federal government exchange, Toomey has said. Toomey is among those who have argued that Medicaids costs are overwhelming the federal government. After another effort to replace the law stalled in 2017, Toomey said, History will look back on this moment and harshly judge this Congress for not beginning the process of replacing Obamacare and for failing to put Medicaid on a sustainable trajectory when we had the opportunity to do so." Some moderate Republicans over the years have resisted efforts to overturn the law. Former U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent, a Lehigh County Republican, was never a fan of the law. But he objected to GOP efforts to repeal the law without having a viable alternative to replace it. While the law has plenty of detractors, a recent poll found supporters outnumber opponents. The NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released Friday found 42 percent support the Affordable Care Act, 35 percent oppose it and 23 percent had no opinion. Casey has repeatedly said health care is on the ballot in the 2020 election. Hes backed former Vice President Joe Biden in his quest for the Democratic presidential nomination. Biden has called for sustaining and improving the Affordable Care Act, while Bernie Sanders has called for a far more expansive approach with a plan to provide Medicare for All. Still, Casey hasnt been shy about criticizing the contenders for the Democratic nomination for not spending enough time talking about the legal threat to the Affordable Care Act. Casey focuses most of his frustration on Trump, who has made abolishing the Affordable Care Act a primary focus of his presidency. For the life of me, I dont understand why the president doesnt take the Affordable Care Act as it is, try and make improvements to it and then come up with a bipartisan solution to lower prescription drug costs," he said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. More from PennLive Who is Rachel Levine? Pa. health secretary offers calm, reassurance amid pandemic Coronavirus and elections: Pa. county officials fear they cant pull off April 28 primary without changes COLUMBUS, OhioOhio lawmakers on both sides of the aisle favor holding the states primary election earlier than June 2, the date set by Secretary of State Frank LaRose after coronavirus fears led the original primary date of last Tuesday to be postponed, according to a top House Republican. Its very clear that both sides want an earlier date than June 2, said House Majority Whip Jay Edwards, an Athens County Republican, on Monday. Im not sure the Republicans and Democrats differ on this. I know like we feel like we can get a safe and fair election much sooner than June 2. ...We want to be the ones setting the election (date), and that is the legislatures job." Edwards said lawmakers are still working to agree on when the primary should be rescheduled. Several different dates have been put forward, he said. The Ohio Democratic Party has already sued to move the primary to April 28. House members are believed to favor holding an all-mail vote, setting April 28 or another day close to then as the deadline to accept ballots. Education groups have pushed for an earlier date than June 2, citing pending school levies and other local tax issues. But LaRose, in a letter sent to lawmakers last weekend, stated that holding the election before June 2 is logistically impossible. We simply cannot put a postage-paid absentee ballot request in the hands of each eligible voter and afford them reasonable time to cast a ballot any earlier, stated LaRose, a Hudson Republican, in the letter. A plan that does not afford every Ohioan an opportunity to vote free of charge would be unconstitutional. State lawmakers are also looking at a number of other vital issues to take action on, including passing testing waivers, adjusting graduation requirements for high-school seniors, and following the federal governments lead in moving this years tax-filing deadline to July 15, Edwards and other lawmakers said. The Ohio Senate could vote as soon as Monday, while the Ohio House is set to meet as early as Tuesday. Legislators and staff say the plan is for all these coronavirus-related issues to be put into a single omnibus bill, rather than having lawmakers stay at the Statehouse to vote on a variety of separate bills. However, House Democrats are looking to introduce about a dozen separate bills this week, stated caucus spokeswoman Amber Epling in an email. Over the weekend, Democratic state Rep. David Leland of Columbus announced he has filed legislation seeking to stop evictions and foreclosures during the coronavirus crisis, as well as to prevent utilities from shutting off service during the emergency. Other Democratic measures being worked on would deal with issues such as hand hygiene education; tele-health coverage expanding unemployment compensation; food stamps, cash assistance, and child-care benefits; paid sick leave, and closing the health-insurance coverage gap for diagnoses, according to Epling. State Sen. Matt Dolan, a Chagrin Falls Republican, said Monday hes been tasked with setting restrictions on child-care centers (similar to what Gov. Mike DeWine talked about Sunday), pushing back Ohios tax-filing deadline, ensuring school-lunch programs are funded and open while schools are closed, waiving the one-week waiting period and work requirements for Ohioans to receive unemployment benefits (which the governor also ordered), and ensuring that all water shutoffs be postponed. I believe what the Senate is going to come in and do is going to be very targeted, emergency tier-1 crisis policy, Dolan said. There is a whole list of things that need to be done in the future that are going to be an impact of this crisis that we will also be doing in due time, but not this week. My concern is that we just send a message that were working in coordination with the governor, and were doing whats necessary to get people through this crisis. Though Republicans hold solid majorities in both the Ohio House and Senate, they will need at least some Democratic votes for any legislation they pass to take effect right away. Normally, any legislation passed by the Ohio legislature doesnt become law until 90 days after the governor signs it. For a bill to take effect immediately, it must include an emergency clause, which requires two-thirds support in each legislative chamber. Legislative leaders are also still working out how to have lawmakers vote during a global pandemic. Gov. Mike DeWine has said that the state health departments 10-person limit on mass gatherings doesnt apply to the Ohio General Assembly, but many lawmakers are still concerned about how to safely gather to vote in a way that passes constitutional muster. One potential idea being floated in the House, Edwards said, is for lawmakers to spread out across the entire House chamber (keeping at least six feet apart from each other), walk up individually to announce their vote, then depart. I think that the (Ohio House) speaker and the president of the Senate are kind of wanting to get people to Columbus, get this thing done and over with, and get people out of Columbus back home and into our houses, Edwards said. The Ohio Senate is also still working out the protocol of how to hold a vote while maintaining social distancing. This could involve staggering the number of members who are in Senate chambers at any given time, excusing absences for those with health concerns. John Fortney, a spokesman for Senate Republicans, said President Larry Obhof is focusing on guidance from the governor and health officials while designing legislation. We want to remain focused on the issues that were directly affected by the virus outbreak, he said. Read more Ohio coronavirus coverage: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine officially orders nonessential businesses closed in response to coronavirus Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine orders special coronavirus restrictions on daycares starting Thursday Ohio to impose stay at home order, close nonessential businesses with sweeping exemptions: Gov. Mike DeWines Sunday, March 22 coronavirus briefing Ohio Pharmacy Board moves to prevent stockpiling of anti-malarial drugs being tested as COVID-19 treatment Gov. Mike DeWine orders developmental disability day service centers be closed due to coronavirus UAE-, Saudi-backed militants clash in Yemen's Aden again Iran Press TV Sunday, 22 March 2020 6:31 AM Yemen's port city of Aden has been rocked by violent clashes between UAE-backed separatists and Saudi-backed militants, amid a deepening rift within the Riyadh-led military coalition waging war on the impoverished Arab nation. Eyewitnesses said the infighting broke out between the southern UAE-backed separatists and Saudi-backed militants loyal to ex-Yemeni president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi. It came after the Storm Brigades affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council, which is backed by the United Arab Emirates made an attempt to break into Camp 20, which is supported by Saudi Arabia. On Friday, Saudi forces attempted to take control of Aden International Airport from the so-called Emirati-trained Security Belt Forces in order to hand it over to other local forces receiving military training in the kingdom. Both the UAE-sponsored separatists and the Saudi-backed militants loyal to Hadi serve the Riyadh-led military coalition and have been engaged, since March 2015, in a bloody war on Yemeni people. Ties between the two sides have soured over a number of issues, including what the Yemenis view as the UAE's intention to occupy Yemen's strategic Socotra Island and gain dominance over major waterways in the region. The US-based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), a nonprofit conflict-research organization, estimates that the Saudi war on Yemen has claimed more than 100,000 lives over the past nearly five years. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have purchased billions of dollars worth of weapons from the United States, France and the United Kingdom in their war on Yemen. The UN says over 24 million Yemenis are in dire need of humanitarian aid, including 10 million suffering from extreme levels of hunger. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The coronavirus (COVID-19) has been dominating headlines all around the world the past couple of months. It gets a lot of attention due to the large amount of countries that have been infected as well as the famous faces who tested positive for COVID-19. By now, many fans probably have heard about Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, and Idris Elba being among the celebrities who have come out about their infections. COVID-19 does not spare royalty either. In fact, Prince Albert II of Monaco, the son of the late Grace Kelly, is now among the list of well-known people who are living with the new disease. The palace says that Prince Alberts heath is not worrying at all Prince Albert II | Kevin Winter/Getty Images Last week, the palace in the small country of Monaco released a statement revealing that their head of state, Prince Albert II, has tested positive for COVID-19. Despite the shocking news, the palace reassured its citizens that the princes health is not worrying at all. The Prince is being monitored by his doctor and treated by the specialists at the Princess Grace Hospital, the statement said. Prince Albert continues to work from his private apartment and is in close contact with the members of his cabinet, government, and closest collaborators. This report came just days after Prince Albert issued an order for stricter measures to take place in Monaco to prevent the spread of the virus. He addressed citizens in a video and said that all travel within the country would now be limited to essential trips only, such as for health care or grocery purposes. He also urged businesses to allow workers to telework and announced that group activities would be halted. The prince is one of Grace Kellys three children With his extended family by his side, Prince Albert ll of Monaco presided over the ribbon cutting of the reopening of the Kelly Family Home- where Princess Grace grew up. PGF-USA is proud to have taken part in such a special event. #gracekelly #princessgrace #family #legend #icon pic.twitter.com/3EkRtyqzKN Princess Grace Fdn. (@PrincessGraceUS) May 12, 2018 Prince Albert was born in March 1958 to the late Grace Kelly and her husband, Prince Rainier III of Monaco. Kelly was a famed Hollywood actress in the 1950s, starring in films like Mogambo (1953), The Country Girl (1954), Dial M For Murder (1954), and To Catch a Thief (1955). She met Prince Rainier at the Cannes Film Festival in 1955, and the two subsequently started a relationship with each other. They got married in 1956. Aside from Prince Albert, the couple had two daughters: Princess Caroline (b. 1957) and Princess Stephanie (b. 1965). In 1982, Kelly suffered a minor stroke while driving on a steep hill outside of Monaco. She lost control of her car and quickly crashed, passing away at a hospital the following night. Princess Stephanie, who was only a teenager at the time, was inside the car with her mother, though she survived the accident. Prince Albert was 24 years old. Prince Rainier passed away in 2005 from a severe lung condition, upon which Prince Albert assumed the throne. As the monarch of his country, Prince Albert focuses a lot of his work on environmental awareness, especially through the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, which he founded in 2006. Additionally, he is also the vice-chairman of the Princess Grace Foundation-USA, which is an American charity organization that aims to support dancers as well as theater and film artists. Prince Albert is currently married to a former Olympian Although Prince Albert did not marry a Hollywood star like his father, he did tie the knot with a former Olympic swimmer from South Africa. His wife is Princess Charlene, who used to compete in the Olympics and other international competitions under her maiden name, Charlene Wittstock. The couple met in 2000 and got married in 2011. Prince Albert and Princess Charlene have two twin children: Gabriella and Jacques. Both were born in December 2014. London, March 23 : UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak is set to announce a multi-billion pound rescue package to protect Britain's five million self-employed workers after he promised to cover 80 per cent of laid-off workers' incomes amid the coronavirus pandemic, it was reported on Monday. The Indian-origin Chancellor Sunak was preparing the fresh coronavirus economic bailout amid warnings thousands of sole traders will not survive the crisis, the Daily Mail newspaper reported. He had announced on March 20 that the government would cover 80 per cent of employers' wage bills in a bid to stop mass lay-offs. But following criticism that the self-employed were not receiving a similar level of support, the Treasury spent the weekend drawing up the new package. Amid mounting pressure, more than 2,000 musicians on Sunday wrote to the Chancellor warning that the outbreak, which has killed 281 people and infected nearly 6,000 others, has resulted in the "complete shutdown of our places of work". The British Chamber of Commerce on Saturday night warned that sole traders across the country were seeing their livelihoods "vanish in the blink of an eye". In addition to the workers' bailout, the airline industry, on the brink of disaster due to grounded flights, may benefit from a separate deal. A man was rushed to hospital in a critical condition after he was assaulted in the street in the inner-Brisbane suburb of West End on Monday, according to police. It will be alleged a 41-year-old Highgate Hill man was attacked on Boundary Street just after midnight. A police spokeswoman said it was not believed the alleged attacker knew the victim. The man was rushed to the Princess Alexandra Hospital where he remained in a critical condition with a serious head injury on Monday night. A crime scene was declared on Boundary Street - which was closed between Vulture Street, Jane Street and Russell Street for a significant period on Monday morning. Russias Energy Minister Alexander Novak will meet executives from the nations key oil companies today as global crude prices hover at their lowest in nearly two decades, according to a person familiar with the schedule. The ministry plans to hold the meeting face to face rather than via a video link, the person said on condition of anonymity as the plans are not public, Bloomberg reported. Novak had said before that the ministry may have to discuss production plans with the companies heads regularly over global oil-price volatility. San Antonio has recorded its first death from the coronavirus, city officials said Sunday. The patient, a Bexar County woman in her 80s, died in hospice care Saturday. The exact location of her death was not immediately known. She had received treatment at Brooke Army Medical Center and had a history of underlying health issues, city officials said. No other information about the patient was released. The city doesnt yet know how the woman became infected with the virus, said assistant city manager Colleen Bridger, who oversees the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District. City officials are continuing to investigate the womans case. This is consistent with the message that weve been sharing since the beginning, which is that COVID-19 is a much more significant illness for the elderly and has a much higher fatality rate for them than it does for healthy, young individuals, Bridger said during an interview Sunday with the San Antonio Express-News. The womans death also reinforces why the city is asking residents to limit their interactions with others, she said. More Information Local coronavirus information Call the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District for information about coronavirus: 210-207-5779 (Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., English and Spanish). Email questions to COVID-19@sanantonio.gov See More Collapse I know a lot of folks are like Im healthy if I get it, it will be like I get the flu and Ill get over it and Ill be fine. And thats likely true, Bridger said. What we want people to think about is these older Americans and people who have compromised immune systems. And we all need to band together to help protect them. The city was notified simultaneously of the womans illness and death, which is why her case wasnt included in Metro Healths reports on the total number of patients sickened by the coronavirus so far. The latest data posted at noon Sunday which was current as of 8 p.m. Saturday made no mention of any patients in their 80s. On ExpressNews.com: Get the latest update on coronavirus and a tracking map of U.S. cases Todays tragic development illustrates the importance of the aggressive steps we are taking to thwart the spread of COVID-19, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said in a statement Sunday. Stay home unless you must go out. Follow the health experts guidelines. We can all play a role in saving lives through social distancing and healthy behaviors. Together we will overcome this challenge. Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff expressed condolences to the womans family. It is very important for our community to continue to take precautions, practice safe distancing, stay at home when you feel sick and wash your hands often, Wolff said in a statement. We are working hard to slow the spread of this virus and are keeping the interests of Bexar County residents and our families first and foremost. Your cooperation during this time is of the utmost importance, and I thank you for helping us by doing your part. The latest data posted by Metro Health shows six new coronavirus cases in Bexar County, bringing the total to 45. In all, 26 are related to travel to places where the virus had already spread, up from 16 reported the day before. Ten people contracted the virus through community transmission, meaning they were exposed from an unknown source. That was up from nine Saturday. Seven cases originated from close contact with someone who had the virus. Metro Health is investigating two other cases, down from nine the day before. Metro Health has done 311 coronavirus tests, and the vast majority 273 were negative, as of 8 p.m. Saturday. On Sunday alone, the citys mobile testing site had performed 75 tests by 3 p.m., Bridger said. On ExpressNews.com: Were at war - what to expect as coronavirus continues to spread in San Antonio A third of those who have tested positive so far are people in the 40- to 49-year age range. But positive cases have turned up in almost every age range, from people 19 or younger to seniors ages 70 to 79. The bulk of the testing will shift from Metro Healths lab to private labs in the coming days, Bridger said. Joint Base San Antonio reported that 13 people have tested positive for the coronavirus as of Sunday, up from 11 the day before. The new cases are a retiree and a reservist. The soldier, assigned to JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, is in isolation at home, while the retiree is being treated at BAMC. Those doubting the necessity of taking precautions or questioning whether the virus is real only need to look to the West and to the East, Bridger said. They need to really pay attention to whats happening in New York, New Jersey, California and Washington state, she said. They are farther along in this epidemic than we are. They need to think about lessons that we can learn from those states who unfortunately had some of the earlier cases. That could perhaps prevent us from having to experience that severe of an infection rate and the provider challenges that theyre starting to see in those states. Its real. Its serious. And we really do need people to pay attention to the precautions and social distancing and staying at home. Because thats the only way were going to get through this without significant infections. An Irish doctor living in Australia has told how he is uprooting his life and returning home to help out on the frontline in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis. Dr Paddy Barry (25), from Greystones, Co Wicklow, is among thousands who have responded to the HSE's recruitment drive for extra medical staff. Dr Barry and his partner, Erika, have been scrambling since Thursday to book flights, pack up everything they own and leave their jobs to return home from Perth. He said the move home was a last-minute decision he made after seeing how quickly the outbreak was progressing throughout the country. "It was on Wednesday we started thinking about maybe we should come back and help, and on Thursday we started noticing all borders are closing," Dr Barry told the Irish Independent. "When it started in Ireland, it seemed like there were a few cases. We're always talking every second or third day to our parents and friends back home so you're not getting constant updates unless you're actually following it on the news. "It kind of started progressing very fast like it always does because it's doubling every two to three days or so. It starts off with a few cases, less than 100, and then once it kind of catches over the hundred mark it just starts increasing rapidly. "So, the problem with that is it gives you very little time to decide if we should come back or not. "We just said during a time like this when you had Leo Varadkar and Simon Harris appealing to people to come home, you just kind of have to answer the call and come back." The Trinity graduate had been working as a senior house officer at Royal Perth Hospital before having to formally resign and forfeit his visa in order to come back to Ireland. "I went into work on Thursday at 4pm, and I basically asked would it be OK if I was to go home for a few months. Obviously they can't really hold the position so I had to formally resign." A National Australia Bank employee whose apparently fake coronavirus test result led to an evacuation at the bank's Melbourne head office has reportedly been sacked. NAB's chief people officer Susan Ferrier emailed staff on Monday to tell them the worker at the Bourke St building had falsified the positive result for a COVID-19 test on March 17. 'We have since determined the testing information provided by the colleague appears to have been falsified,' she wrote, according to The Age. 'The colleague subsequently undertook a test which was negative. Reflecting the severity of this matter, the colleague will not be returning to NAB.' The employee was working on the ground floor of the building at 700 Bourke Street in Docklands (pictured) Ms Ferrier apologised for the uncertainty and stress caused by the situation. The employee was working on the ground floor of the building at 700 Bourke Street in Docklands. The entire building was evacuated on Tuesday and underwent a 'pandemic clean' as per the NSW Health guidelines. CEO Ross McEwan sent an email to all employees and informed them to work from home until further notice. 'In consultation with health authorities, we are vacating the 700 Bourke Street building and will have it pandemically cleansed,' it read. 'All colleagues ... should go home and continue to work from home. As one of nearly 700 attorneys in the Chattanooga Bar Association (CBA) who either did not take the time to vote or was inadvertently not attentive enough to exercise my right and "privilege" to praise or take anonymous cheap shots at judges I am a little reluctant to comment on said process ---- but I will. In the four adjoining counties of Hamilton, Rhea, Bradley, and Marion there ... (click for more) Gov. Tom Wolf announced a stay-at-home order has been issued throughout the Philadelphia region and in the Pittsburgh area. The governor also announced that the closure of public schools will be extended until early April. Schools had already been closed this week and last week. Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine provided an update to the states response to the pandemic. Beginning at 8 p.m., the stay-at-home order takes effect for Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Monroe and Allegheny counties and lasts for at least two weeks. Philadelphia issued its own stay-at-home order earlier today. With the order, more than 4 million residents in seven counties are directed to stay in their homes. The update will be streamed online. You can watch it here, or through the embed that will be added below once it starts. Wolf said the measures are tough and impose hardships on residents and businesses but these are necessary steps. Before we can recover, we must survive, Wolf said. For those in a county with a stay-at-home order, Wolfs message was sobering. Dont leave your home unless someones life depends on you leaving, Wolf said. He added that someones life depends on you staying home. Earlier today, state officials said 165 new cases have been confirmed, raising the statewide total to 644 cases. About 75 percent of the states cases are in the counties under Wolfs stay-at-home order. Pennsylvania now has confirmed cases in 34 of the states 67 counties. When asked why he hasnt issued a statewide stay-at-home order, Wolf said officials are putting in the tougher measure in the counties where theres a significant outbreak. Thats why Im focusing on those counties and those counties alone, Wolf said. Levine said six fatalities have now been reported across the state, up from three fatalities in state data released earlier Monday. Two deaths have been reported in Northampton County and the other deaths were reported in Allegheny, Lackawanna, Monroe and Montgomery counties. State health officials have said the exponential growth in cases is driving the states tougher measures to prevent hospitals from being inundated with more cases than they can handle. Wolf has taken aggressive steps to stem the spread of the coronavirus. He has ordered businesses that arent considered life-sustaining to close and the enforcement of that order began at 8 a.m. State police and other state agencies will be enforcing the order. Public schools were closed all last week and this week as well. With the governors announcement today, schools will be shut down across Pennsylvania until at least April 6. The extended school closure is ordered for all of Pennsylvania, not just the counties with stay-at-home orders. Were going to extend it for another two weeks, all across the state, Wolf said. Levine said workers, including those in the health care industry, must stay home if they are sick. We cannot work through this illness, Levine said. The governor explained his move to impose a hiring freeze amid other efforts to curb state spending. He said the tanking of the economy means much less revenue is coming in to support government services. The revenues have softened pretty dramatically, Wolf said. I track that every day. Wolf and Levine said they are very concerned about the rapid growth in cases in Pennsylvania overtaking the capacity of Pennsylvanias hospitals. The first case was reported just over two weeks ago. What were worried about is the spread of this disease is going to overwhelm the health care system, Wolf said. The governor said he doesnt want to see whats happening in Italy, which has passed China in the number of deaths, repeated in Pennsylvania. Thats what keeps me awake at night, Wolf said. MORE: Grocery stores in central Pa. continue to operate with adjusted hours, limits on some products List of central Pa. restaurants offering takeout, delivery during coronavirus pandemic: Updated Free audiobooks offered by Audible: Perfect for kids (and adults) during coronavirus isolation Pa. primary could be moved to June 2 due to coronavirus Divided Pa. Supreme Court rejects challenges to Gov. Wolfs business shutdown order over coronavirus The leader of the opposition in Assam Legislative Assembly, Debabrata Saikia, on Monday wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressing concern over the targeting of people from the north-east following the coronavirus outbreak. The Congress leader, in his letter to Shah, said that he was bringing to his notice the fact that at a time when the country was struggling to cope with the threat posed by coronavirus, certain racist elements in some parts of India were abusing and vilifying people with Mongoloid features who hail from the north-eastern states. "I have already received information about several such incidents, where persons from the north-east have been abused as chinkis, bat-eating tribe etc," Saikia said. He said that at a shopping mall in Pune, a middle-aged woman abused a young girl from the north-east ostensibly because she suspected the victim of being a Chinese national, and therefore, responsible for spreading the coronavirus. "Other incidents include another young woman from the north-east being spat upon by a scooterist in New Delhi for apparently the same reason. A woman named Angelica Aribam was so appallingly abused on social media that she was compelled to lodge an FIR with the Delhi Police against the culprits," he said. It needs to be borne in mind that this sort of abuse is not only racist, but it violates the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, the Congress leader said. He requested the Union Home Minister to issue strict instructions to the administrations of all states and Union Territories, barring the north-east, to take immediate and effective steps to protect domiciles from the region from all kinds of physical and mental harassment on the pretext of the coronavirus outbreak. "In particular, I would further like to urge you to instruct the Delhi Police to book and take appropriate action as per law against the persons responsible for harassing Angelica Aribam," Saikia added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) A Purdue University student may have tested positive for COVID-19, according to an email sent out to some engineering faculty. Sunday night, Purdue Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Head Dimitrios Peroulis said one of their undergraduate students was diagnosed with coronavirus. Peroulis said the case has been reported to Purdue officials and they "are in the process of contacting the student." Peroulis also said more cases may come at Purdue in the weeks to come. A Purdue spokesperson could not confirm the case. The Tippecanoe County Health Department said, as of Monday morning, there were still two cases of coronavirus in the county. It is unclear where the student is located or if the case is confirmed by medical professionals. Purdue will resume classes online Monday following spring break. All in-person classes and events are canceled for the remainder of the spring semester. The Indiana State Department of Health releases updated numbers every day at 10 a.m. Click here for updates from Purdue. World Health Organization director general Tedros Adhanom (L) shakes hands with Chinese President Xi jinping before a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Jan. 28, 2020. President Xi Jinping is under growing political pressure from within the ranks of the ruling Chinese Communist Party over his handling of the coronavirus crisis. An open letter circulating online since last week calls for an emergency, expanded meeting of the Politburo to discuss "Xi's issues" and to decide if he should step down from his leadership of party, government and military. The letter says Xi's handling of the coronavirus epidemic should be discussed, but also the trade war with the U.S. and his fueling of mistrust of China in Hong Kong and Taiwan. The letter was shared to WeChat by Chen Ping, founder of Hong Kong-based broadcaster SunTV, according to Deutsche Welle and Radio Taiwan International. Chen wrote in a WeChat post: "I saw it in a WeChat group, and I felt that it was moderate and rational, so I reposted it." "But I don't know who wrote it," he said. "A lot of other people reposted this anonymous letter online." Former Tsinghua University politics lecturer Wu Qiang said the letter comes soon after the disappearance and presumed detention of social media star and property tycoon Ren Zhiqiang. Ren is currently incommunicado, believed detained, after an article critical of the government's response to the emergence of the coronavirus in Wuhan appeared online. Health authorities in China are reporting no new infections in the central city of Wuhan where the COVID-19 epidemic first emerged, but local residents have said they fear there could be a resurgence of new cases amid an ongoing official cover-up. Princelings diverging? Wu said there is also growing discontent over Xi's rule among the second-generation "princeling" faction in the ruling party which includes some prominent offspring of veteran Communist Party heroes and revolutionary leaders. "More and more princelings are diverging further and further away from Xi Jinping," Wu said. "The divergence is caused by the disappearance of Ren Zhiqiang." "Naturally, Ren's disappearance has to do with the earlier ... open letter," he said. "It is indicative of a growing sense of disappointment among the princeling faction that is getting harder and harder to hide." "It goes along with a sense of fellow feeling [over Ren's disappearance], which is now developing into open criticism," Wu said. The article attributed to Ren was titled "The lives of the people are ruined by the virus and a seriously sick system." While it didn't mention President Xi, it took aim at decisions made under his direct command, including the decision to go ahead with a mass Lunar New Year banquet for thousands of people in Wuhan, that resulted in a huge cluster of COVID-19 cases in the weeks that followed. "The emperor is holding up a piece of cloth, trying to cover up the fact that he is wearing no clothes at all, although his ambition to be a strong leader is naked enough," the article quipped. A Hong Kong-based academic surnamed Li said he wasn't optimistic that the open letter would spark any change at the top. "For one thing, it's being circulated anonymously, and on the other, nobody within the current power structure has come out to endorse it," Li said. Propaganda offensive Instead, Beijing has gone on the offensive with a wave of propaganda about its handling of the coronavirus epidemic. "The Chinese Communist Party has unleashed a wave of propaganda boasting about the advantages of the [Chinese political] system," he said. "Further brainwashing of population should ease some of the pressure they are under from public opinion." China's leaders have been known to hold expanded meetings of the Politburo at times of national crisis, when retired politicians have been allowed to attend. Such meetings have been held at key moments in Communist Party history, including one in December 1966 that paved the way for the 10 years of political turmoil and violence known as the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). In 1980, late supreme leader Deng Xiaoping presided over another expanded Politburo meeting, heralding more than three decades of economic reform. A similar meeting paved the way for the ouster of late premier Zhao Ziyang in the wake of the 1989 student-led mass movement on Tiananmen Square. The open letter posted by Chen Ping calls for a similarly expanded Politburo meeting in the spirit of the 1980 meeting. The anonymous letter is the latest in a string of high-profile criticisms of Xi. China's state security police are currently investigating detained dissident Xu Zhiyong for subversion after he called in an open letter for Xi to resign. Xu is currently being held incommunicado in "residential surveillance at a designated location" (RSDL), where he can be held without contact with family or a lawyer for up to six months. Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that he would communicate with the people of his Lok Sabha constituency -- Varanasi -- on March 25 to discuss the situation arising out of coronavirus pandemic. "I will communicate with the people of my constituency, Varanasi on the situation arising due to coronavirus. You can join this conversation through video conferencing at 5 pm on March 25. If you have any suggestions, ideas or questions, you can share it in the comment section of the Narendra Modi app," he tweeted. Earlier today, Prime Minister Modi interacted with the representatives from industry bodies such as Assocham, FICCI, CII and several local chambers from 18 cities across the country via video conference in the backdrop of coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdown. The Prime Minister said that social distancing remains the biggest weapon in preventing the spread of coronavirus. He also requested them to use their CSR funds for humanitarian causes related to the pandemic at this critical juncture. According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of COVID-19 positive cases in the country has climbed to 467 including nine deaths. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) When she gives programs on African American history in Jacksonville area schools, Ruth Linear often has students assume the roles of historic characters who experienced slavery, segregation and the civil rights movement. The student-performed dramas are familiar territory for her. I write the script because I lived it, said Linear, 79. Im interested in history of all kinds, but Im especially interested in African American history because thats who I am. Linear is a native of what she described as a very segregated Hannibal, Missouri. She moved in 1963 with her husband to Jacksonville, where she raised a family and spent her entire career working with special needs students in area schools. Since retiring in 2005, Linear has volunteered for a number of organizations, but her most rewarding activity has been the in-demand African American history presentations she makes in local classrooms. I like to tell the students about what it was like back then, Linear said. When I go into a school to talk about black history, youd be surprised at the students, and the teachers, who had no idea of any of this stuff that black people had to encounter. The students are especially interested in what Linear experienced when she was their age, and those who have heard her speak previously usually ask, Mrs. Linear, will you tell that story? That story refers to the start of desegregation in the mid-1950s, when Linear and her classmates at the all-black school in Hannibal became the first students to be integrated into the previously all-white school. When we went to the white school, some of them wanted us there and some of them didnt. This one girl, she didnt like me at all. She would snub me and call me the n word, Linear said. At that time, you knew you couldnt fight. But naturally, it hurt. And I thought, Im going to pay you back. I dont know how, but I know Im going to. Payback came in an unusual way for the then-15-year-old Linear. Her mother earned money by doing laundry and ironing clothes for white residents, and Linear was expected to help. One of her mothers laundry customers was the mother of the hostile girl from school. I was ironing that girls blouse, and I thought, thats it! Ill wear this blouse! Linear said. So I wore her blouse to school that next day and she saw it, and she knew it was hers, but there was nothing she could do. The girl told her mother, who confronted Linears mother, but the teenage Linear denied it. Rather than being deterred, Linear continued to wear the girls clothes every day, changing into them in the school bathroom in the morning and back into her own clothes after school so she would not arouse suspicion at home. This girl kept getting new clothes because she didnt want to wear her clothes because I had been wearing them, Linear said. And every time she would get new clothes and her mother would bring the laundry to my mom, I would wear some of her clothes. Linears luck ran out one day when she didnt have time to change back into her own clothes after school. It was bad for that to happen because it took $2.50 for me to go to school for a week, and losing that ladys laundry meant my mom got $3 less per week, Linear said. I learned a lot in life. You cant try to be shrewd and get away with it. It will come back to bite you. Linear learned a lot at the white school but still treasured the education she received at the all-black school because they taught us about black history there, and more than just Harriet Tubman and George Washington Carver, Linear said. For instance, Linear learned that Independence Day for African Americans is not the Fourth of July, its Juneteenth, referring to the June 19, 1865, date when the final enslaved blacks were freed in the then-Confederate state of Texas. Linear also learned that while The Star-Spangled Banner is the U.S. national anthem, for those who are black, its Lift Every Voice and Sing. Students dont know this because they havent been taught, and some of the reason they havent been taught is that white people dont know it, Linear said. And they dont know it because they dont want to know it. And some African Americans dont want to learn about black history because it opens up a wound. Linear isnt shy about describing segregation and discrimination in Jacksonville during the 1960s and helps students to realize that prejudice isnt something they were born with but a learned behavior. The students also enjoy hearing about Linears white childhood friend and the cultural discovery that took place when the two kids played hairdresser. We didnt know it but with a white person you do not put oil in their hair, and with black people you do not use a home permanent, Linear said. Her mother washed her hair for days to get the oil out, and my mom had to wet my hair and comb it wet to get the tangles out. I dont even know Im black because I have so many white friends, Linear said. I know Im different because of my skin. It just doesnt bother me. Linear and Art Wilson are developing the soon-to-open African American History Museum on the third floor of the former Congregational Church in Jacksonville. Linear likes to do genealogical research and has documented 30 African Americans who served in the Union Army during the Civil War and are buried in Jacksonville East Cemetery. She also co-founded the local Juneteenth observance and enjoys visiting with her three sons, six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. But some of Linears greatest joys occur when students respond to her classroom history presentations. They are getting it, Linear said. And they say thanks, Mrs. Linear, for teaching us things we did not know. . If you have a suggestion about someone who should be profiled, send their name and any contact information available to communitynews@myjournalcourier.com. YEREVAN, MARCH 24, ARMENPRESS. 41 new cases of coronavirus infection has been recorded in Armenia, ARMENPRESS reports Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said in a Facebook Live. ''Today we recorded 41 new cases and this number, also its geography are somehow concerning. A citizen working in a factory in Kotayk Province and a citizen working in a factory in Yerevan's Erebuni district have been tested positive for coronavirus. 26 out of 235 coronavirus patients have developed pneumonia but their health condition is under control. Most of the infected have normal body temperature'', Pashinyan said. On March 16th, Armenia declared a nationwide state of emergency until April 14th to tackle the coronavirus situation. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked citizens for a few weeks in his address to the nation on Thursday. He hinted quite clearly that the peoples curfew on March 22 would serve as a test for the future. Restrictions on mobility have kicked in over the past week. And that is why, perhaps, it did not come as an outright surprise when the Centre and various states decided to go in for a more strict lockdown across states, urban centres, affected districts in the last 48 hours. Citizens must follow the directives, and exercise a high degree of responsibility. On Sunday, after the 5 pm applause for those who are on the frontline of battling the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) and those still keeping essential services going, in many pockets, there were large congregations. On Monday, in key cities, there was a resumption of movement on a scale that was potentially dangerous. There is no doubt that the lockdown is inconvenient. But citizens must realise that they are not merely staying home for themselves they are doing it for their families and for the larger community, given the high rates of transmission. In fact, they must begin preparing for a longer period of lockdown that extends beyond March 31. The impact of the lockdown will not be discernible immediately. Instead, expect a spike in cases for now because of the time lag between getting infected, showing symptoms, and getting tested. But if the lockdown is successful and social distancing is practised, in a few weeks, India may see, first, a slower rate at which cases are increasing, and then the flattening of the curve. For this to succeed, the government needs to, simultaneously, implement the following measures. One, get ready to extend the lockdown beyond March 31 if theres reason to do so. And then review the situation. Two, based on the recognition that this lockdown is extracting a huge economic toll, especially for the poor, come up with an economic plan which entails cash transfers. Three, use this period to build up hospital capacity, source key items which will be needed for severe cases, and transport it to key centres. And four, ramp up the capacity of district hospitals because with many migrant workers having returned home, it is likely that the infection will now spread to rural India. The lockdown is the first step in a long battle. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Arya Dipa (The Jakarta Post) Bandung Mon, March 23, 2020 15:49 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206cd8d1d 1 National Bandung-West-Java,baby,COVID-19,coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus,pandemic,health,SARS-CoV-2,novel-coronavirus Free A 1-month-old baby has tested positive for COVID-19 and is currently receiving treatment at Hasan Sadikin Hospital (RSHS) in Bandung, West Java. A hospital spokesperson said on Sunday that the hospital treated 23 patients who were under surveillance for COVID-19. Seven of them, whose ages range from 24 to 53 years old, tested positive for the coronavirus disease. Previously, three patients under surveillance at the hospital died within three days, with a 53-year-old man and 41-year-old man dying on Thursday and a 69-year-old man dying on Saturday. The 69-year-old passed away before his lab results came in. As of Sunday, the RSHS had put 196 people under general monitoring for COVID-19. (aly) It is now widely known that the brain is much more malleable than once thought. Even after stroke or brain injury the brain often succeeds finding a new balance between the failed regions and the functions they serve. Commonly, neighbouring regions are activated as well as homologues on the other side of the brain side. During language processing, the homologues of the left-dominant language areas are usually less active and are kept in check by the dominant half - until the emergency case occurs. Until now, it was unclear whether these mechanisms also apply in the event of a second attack. Does the brain retain its capacity to adapt? This is important as up to 15 percent of those affected will have a second stroke. In addition, there was disagreement about whether an activated right brain is generally good for healing. Some studies suggest that involvement of the right hemisphere helps recovery, at least in the short term. Others had shown, however, that a loss of language areas in the left half can literally inhibit the right half. In that case the contribution of the right hemisphere has nothing to do with language and can cause confusion. The brain gets out of step. Further, studies had also found that the patients are better off if the overactive half is restrained by inhibitory magnetic stimulation. The activity is more and more shifting back to the left hemisphere. It wins the upper hand again. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences (MPI CBS) in Leipzig, Germany, have now found that the brain areas on the right side also become more active when there is a second injury in the left language areas. "In the recovered brain, the right side's contribution was still little after the first impairment. After the second event, in which large parts of the left hemisphere are not working anymore, its role becomes much more important", explains Gesa Hartwigsen, research group leader at the MPI CBS and first author of the article, which has been published in the high-ranking, open access journal elife. "The second lesion increased the contribution of the right brain", Hartwigsen said. The scientists examined these relationships using 12 patients in whom the regions for processing properties of sound in the left hemisphere were injured. The incident had happened to them at least six months prior. Their brain had the opportunity to regenerate and adapt to the new situation. The researchers simulated the second disruption using so-called transcranial magnetic stimulation, which can be used to briefly halt certain areas of the brain through electrical stimuli. It can be used to simulate how the brain would react if certain areas actually fail due to a stroke or other events - and how this affects the ability to recognize sounds, for example. To do this, Hartwigsen and her team used a simple decision task. The participants heard the word "cat" and had to decide whether it consisted of one or two syllables. The individual impairment predicted the activation on the right side.The researchers also found that the stronger the fibre connection between the sister areas on the right side, the less the patient was affected by the interruption on the left. "These results show that after large-scale disturbances, in which large parts of the left hemisphere no longer function as they should, the right hemisphere probably plays a beneficial role. Often, there is a lot of tissue in the left half of the brain that only works to a limited extent and needs support from the right side. "Other studies show that recovery is helped when the activated right side later down regulates itself and thus contributes to normalization on the left side", said Hartwigsen. On the other hand, if the right half remains permanently up-regulated, healing is delayed. Findings on how the damaged brain adapts to repeated injury could help to improve the therapy of stroke patients in the long term. "This may make it possible, at some point, to assess whether it would be more helpful to regulate specific areas up or down," says Hartwigsen, confidently. ### Italian health officials voiced cautious hope Sunday after the coronavirus death toll edged down from the previous day's world record and the rate of infections slowed. The Mediterranean country's world-topping toll from its month-long crisis approached 5,500 and the number of COVID-19 infections neared 60,000. But top health officials sounded -- while not upbeat -- encouraged to see daily deaths fall back from Saturday's grisly 793 to a slightly less shocking 651. The number of new infections rose by a relatively modest 10.4 percent. "The figures announced today are lower than those for yesterday," Italian civil protection service chief Angelo Borrelli told reporters. "I hope and we all hope that these figures can be borne out in the coming days. But do not let your guard down." - National sacrifice - Italy has sacrificed its economy and liberties by shutting down and banning almost everything to halt the spread of a virus the government views as an existential threat. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte took the extra step Saturday of announcing plans to close "non-essential" factories until April 3. Conte has also indicated that the national lockdown will almost certainly be extended for an unknown number of weeks or even months. Police fines for those wondering the streets without a good excuse have been cranked up in the hardest-hit north around Milan from 206 euros to 5,000 euros ($5,360). Saturday's record death toll suggested that everything the Italian authorities were trying was failing. Sunday's numbers suddenly gave them hope. "We must not get too enthusiastic or over-interpret things," the government's scientific committee expert Franco Locatelli cautioned. But, he added: "It is a sign that we welcome positively". Italy's toll since the day the first European died of COVID-19 in Milan's Lombardy region on February 21 now stands at 5,476. - 'Glass half full' - "These figures are always a matter of either seeing the glass as half full or half empty," said Lombardy's regional health chief Giulio Gallera. "Today, the glass is half full. But we are not declaring victory just yet." Containment measures around Lombardy have been in effect since March 8 -- five days longer than for Italy as a whole. Some of the local measures around Milan's financial district and surrounding towns are even stricter that those for Italy as a whole. Lombardy governor Attilio Fontana created international headlines on Saturday by banning jogging. Both local and national officials pleaded with Italians while announcing their restrictions to give up their freedoms for the nation's good for two weeks. The two-week deadline in Lombardy expired on Sunday. The stakes were high -- and the new numbers showed the measures might just be bearing fruit. Milan's region reported just 30.4 percent of Italy's new infections on Sunday. It had reported 51.6 percent of the infections on March 8. It had also been reporting about two-thirds of Italy's coronavirus deaths throughout the crisis. The region of 10 million officially registered 55.5 percent of Sunday's COVID-19 deaths. Yet a range of other statistics pointed to a world-class healthcare system that was being tested to the utmost. Sunday's figures showed the number of patients receiving intensive care rising above 3,000 for the first time. There were just 650 intensive care patients with COVID-19 two weeks ago. Endowment Minister Mohamed Mohkhtar Gomaa also allocated EGP 50 million to support the vulnerable, especially those with irregular employment who have lost their jobs during the current conditions. Egypt's Ministry of Endowment said on Monday that it has decided to cancel Hajj (greater pilgrimage) trips that it usually grants its ideal employees every year and redirect the funds to assist Egyptians affected by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The ministry called on people who intend to perform the voluntary Hajj or Omrah lesser pilgrimage this year to instead help those who are needy and are negatively affected by the consequences of the outbreak. Muslims have a religious duty to perform the Hajj at least once in their life provided that they have the means to do so. Accordingly, performing the Hajj more than once is not obligatory and is thus called voluntary Hajj. Endowment Minister Mohamed Mohkhtar Gomaa also allocated EGP 50 million to support the vulnerable, especially those with irregular employment who have lost their jobs during the current conditions. Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia suspended the Omrah to stem the spread of the coronavirus. Egypt has so far registered 327 coronavirus cases, including 14 fatalities. Search Keywords: Short link: Gov. Eric Holcomb has approved a new law requiring the drinking water equipment at every public and private school in Indiana be tested at least once for lead contamination, with Lake County schools subject to regular, ongoing water tests. Under House Enrolled Act 1265, which takes effect July 1, officials responsible for a school building must have its water fountains and taps tested for lead by Jan. 1, 2023, unless it previously has been tested and found in compliance since 2016. In Lake County, the water equipment in every school building must also be tested at least every other year starting in 2023, in recognition of the environmental problems associated with the Region's heavy industry, including lead contamination. Officials at buildings where the lead in the water exceeds the federal action level of 15 parts per billion must take action to remediate the contamination, according to the new law. The law also states schools are responsible for the cost of water testing and any remediation. Though it encourages school leaders to seek testing grants from the state or federal government. Being incarcerated would put Mr Lucas, an assistant manager at a South Coast Woolworths and expectant father, at higher risk of contracting the illness, the court heard. Benjamin Lucas was charged on Friday with one count of acts done in preparation for, or planning, terrorist acts. He appeared at Nowra Local Court on Monday and applied for what the Bega District News reports was a COVID-19 related bail application. An alleged terror plotter has failed in his coronavirus-based bid for bail. Mr Lucas, 23, was arrested outside Nowra police station last Sunday when police allegedly found hunting knives and survivalist equipment in his car. Loading He was detained by police for five days before being charged with preparing for a terrorist act. He was also charged with two counts of possessing a prohibited firearm. His younger brother Joshua Lucas, 21, was charged with the same offence 10 days ago. Police allege the pair had planned to attack an electrical substation on the state's South Coast. AFP Commissioner Scott Lee told reporters that Joshua Lucas' ideology is alleged to be similar to that of 28-year-old Christchurch mosque attacker Brendon Tarrant, who killed 51 people on March 15, 2019. Houston ISD officials have created an online portal for distance-learning tools that will serve students and parents throughout the extended closure caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic. The portal is named HISD @ H.O.M.E. Accessible at the website houstonisd.org/home, the portal currently contains links to online learning applications, advice on creating an in-home school schedule and support for accessing digital tools. Starting March 31, HISD staff will begin posting more detailed curriculum and activities through the portal, as teachers provide more individualized instruction to students. CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: Stay informed with accurate reporting you can trust HISD also is seeking responses to a survey, available here, asking about students technology and social welfare needs. District officials said staffers will be contacting families this week to gauge their access to technology, with plans to distribute paper materials to students who cannot access computers. HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said employees are reviewing their campus and district technology inventories to identify devices that can be given to children in need. Students with disabilities will receive first priority, she said. What Im asking trustees, staff members and our parents is to be patient with us as we work through pushing out online learning, Lathan said during an HISD board meeting Thursday. CORONAVIRUS IN HOUSTON: All of the latest news, numbers and analysis to keep you up-to-date, only on HoustonChronicle.com Districts across the region are launching similar portals, often with links to digital programs such as Imagine Learning and Edgenuity. Similar to HISD, many districts are still developing deeper plans this week. Many districts also continue to provide daily curbside meal pickup, with locations and times available on each districts website. All Houston-area districts have canceled in-person classes through at least April 10, though there is a widespread belief that the closures will extend beyond that date. Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath has said a large number of Texas students could miss the remainder of the school year. jacob.carpenter@chron.com twitter.com/chronjacob Advertisement The third phase of coronavirus stimulus package was unable to pass through the Senate Sunday as Democrats blocked the GOP measure meant to target economic fallout from the deadly outbreak. Senators continued negotiations over the $1.8 trillion bill all weekend, and continued even after the procedure vote fell short of the 60 votes needed to move forward. The 'ayes' fell particularly short as five Republicans self-quarantined and were unable to go to the floor to cast their votes. Donald Trump said Sunday evening that he is in favor of members of Congress having the ability to vote in legislation from their homes as three lawmakers have confirmed they tested positive for coronavirus. 'We could be in a position where I certainly would be in favor of it. Where they could vote from a certain outside location. I would be in favor of it,' Trump said during a White House coronavirus briefing Sunday of the proposed measure. 'I was thinking about it today, I mean we could be in this look, with what's going on, nobody's seen anything like this. You could have a lot of people in there from Congress,' he continued. 'I would be totally in favor of it on a temporary basis.' Donald Trump said Sunday during the now-daily coronavirus White House briefing that he wants lawmakers to be able to vote remotely while concerns of the pandemic continue to rock the nation He made the comments at the same time Democrats blocked the GOP phase three economic stimulus package bill from passing through the Senate Five Republicans were not part of that vote after going into isolation over fears of coronavirus as Rand Paul (pictured) announced Sunday afternoon that he tested positive for the virus Paul is the first senator to contract the virus, and on Friday was in a GOP luncheon where he came in close contact with several other Republican senators The first two phases of the economic stimulus packages made it through Congress with few hiccups but the first phase cost $8.3 billion while the second allotted more than 100 billion. The new GOP bill would filter nearly $2 trillion into the American economy to keep business, industry and citizens financially stable through the uncertainty. Mitch McConnell blasted the Democrats after the bill failed on Sunday. He said: 'The notion that we have time to play games here with the American economy and the American people is utterly absurd. 'The American people expect us to act tomorrow and I want everybody to fully understand if we aret able to act tomorrow it will be because of our colleagues on the other side continuing to dicker when the country expects us to come together.' Democrats have said that Republicans are trying to push a partisan bill that favors large corporations, while the GOP says Dems are trying to include liberal policies which they couldn't otherwise get into law. Chuch Schumer said: 'The legislation has many problems. At the top of the list it includes a large corporate bailout with no protections for workers and virtually no oversight.' Passing a third phase could prove even more difficult as more lawmakers leave Washington D.C. and head home to wait out their isolation periods. Senator Rand Paul's office announced Sunday that the Kentucky Republican tested positive for coronavirus and will be quarantining himself. Two House members, Representatives Mario Diaz-Balart, a Republican from Florida, and Ben McAdams, a Democrat from Utah, also announced last week they contracted the virus. Several who have come in contact with these three have isolated themselves to make sure they have not contracted and don't continue to spread the disease even further. Among those self-quarantining are Republican Senator Mitt Romney. 'Since Senator Romney sat next to Senator Paul for extended periods in recent days and consistent with CDC guidance, the attending physician has ordered him to immediately self-quarantine and not to vote on the Senate floor,' Romney's office said in a statement Sunday afternoon. The announcement came about an hour after Paul's office revealed the senator's situation. A reporter at the press briefing told Trump of the senators quarantining themselves, including Senators Romney, Mike Lee of Utah, Cory Gardner of Colorado and Rick Scott of Florida. 'Romney's in isolation?' Trump asked. 'Yes,' the reporter clarified. 'Gee, that's too bad,' the president joked. 'Is that sarcasm there, sir?' the reported retorted. 'No, no,' Trump said, smiling and shaking his head. 'None whatsoever.' While Romney's office added in its statement Sunday that the Utah senator 'has no symptoms,' he will 'be tested.' Senator Mitt Romney's office announced he was self-quarantining since he had sat next to Paul for extended periods of time in the last few days 'Romney's in isolation?' Trump asked a reporter questioning him during the press briefing Sunday. 'Gee, that's too bad,' he quipped Trump suggested that he was unsure how long some of the lockdowns and isolations would last as coronavirus continues to rock the nation and claimed even if it's usually against the Constitution, he feels it would be appropriate to make a temporary exception. More than 50 House members have already signed onto a resolution proposed by California Democrat Eric Swalwell demanding that the lower chamber allow remote voting. The measure argues that Congress is breaking the guidelines outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on social distancing by gathering hundreds of people into the same space for sessions. Democratic Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois and Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio are proposing a similar remote voting resolution on the Senate side of Congress. 'Yes, it is new,' Durbin said on the Senate floor of the idea of remote voting. 'Yes, it is different. Yes, it reflects the 21st century and reflects a challenge the likes of which we have never seen.' The impact of coronavirus in the U.S. have skyrocketed in the last week to 35,214 confirmed cases and nearing 500 deaths. Romney said Sunday before going into isolation that all senators are now seeking medical advice on how to proceed and are considering self-quarantine after all GOP senators attended lunch with Paul on Friday. 'Rand Paul has been diagnosed with COVID-19. Wish him the very best. He's compromised given health conditions he's had in the past. And so we'll be praying for him and thinking about it,' he Utah senator told reporters at the Capitol Sunday, referencing Rand's previous medical issues following getting jumped by a neighbor in 2017. The assailant broke five of Paul's ribs and in August 2019, the senator had to have part of his lung removed as a result of the injuries he sustained during the attack. 'And, of course, all the senators are going to seek medical advice as to what action we should take to make sure that we don't, in any way, spread this virus, ourselves,' he continued. When asked about the GOP lunch, Romney confirmed Paul attended and suggested he came in close contact with many of the senators. 'Yes, yes, we were in lunch together with Rand,' Romney said. 'Hope he's doing very well, but we have to determine whether any of us should self-quarantine as a result of being in the same room.' Alex Salmond, the former first minister of Scotland, was acquitted on Monday of sexual offenses that involved accusations from nine women. A jury at the High Court in Edinburgh found Mr. Salmond, the former leader of the Scottish National Party, not guilty of 12 charges, including one count of attempted rape and several sexual assault charges. The trial, which started on March 9, ended on Monday after the jury deliberated for about six hours, according to British news reports. Mr. Salmond, who was first investigated by Police Scotland after two women said that he had sexually harassed them in the past, was initially charged with 14 offenses, in January 2019. He denied all the accusations against him. Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Two people were killed on Monday when shells hit Ain Zara area, south of Tripoli, which has been plagued by armed clashes in recent days An Opelika man is dead after an apparent stabbing at a residence Saturday afternoon. Joel Pouncey, 30, died at East Alabama Medical Centers emergency room at 3:01 p.m. Saturday from apparent multiple stab wounds, Lee County Coroner Bill Harris said in a Sunday morning news release. Law enforcement received a 911 call about an altercation on Lee Road 621. Officers and EMS responded to the residence where they found Pouncey suffering from the wounds, Harris said. Pouncey was rushed to the emergency room, where he later died. The incident is being investigated as a homicide, Harris said. It is still unclear at this time as to what transpired leading up to the alteration, the release reads. Pounceys body was taken to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences medical examiners office in Montgomery for postmortem examination. The incident is under investigation by the Sheriffs and the Coroners offices. Anyone with any information about the case is asked to call the Lee County Sheriffs Office at 334-749-5651, Lee County Crime Stoppers at 888-522-7847 or the Lee County Coroner Secret Witness line at 334-742-4339. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Boeing Co will halt production at its Washington state factory for two weeks due to risks from coronavirus. The company announced on Monday that the temporary operations shutdown at its twin-aisle jetliner factory in Seattle would begin from March 25 and last 14 days. The shut down will include a deep clean of its buildings and equipment. Boeing, which employs some 70,000 people in Seattle's Puget Sound area, has more than dozen confirmed coronavirus cases among employees. One worker has died from the coronavirus, according to a friend's Facebook tribute. The fast-spreading coronavirus has disrupted life across the United States, hammering the economy and virtually wiping out air travel demand. It has also compounded a crisis over the year-old grounding of Boeing's best-selling 737 MAX jetliner after fatal crashes. Boeing announced on Monday that the temporary operations shutdown at its twin-aisle jetliner factory in Seattle would begin from March 25 and last 14 days Boeing Chief Executive Officer Dave Calhoun said in a statement accompanying the announcement that the planemaker was working closely with public health officials, customers, suppliers and others affected by the temporary suspension. 'We regret the difficulty this will cause them, as well as our employees, but it's vital to maintain health and safety for all those who support our products and services, and to assist in the national effort to combat the spread of COVID-19,' Calhoun said. Boeing already instructed many employees to work from home. It said factory and other workers unable to work remotely would receive 10 days paid leave during the planned suspension period. Boeing said last week it was seeking $60 billion in 'public and private liquidity' for the aerospace industry, which is struggling amid a COVID-19 outbreak that has halted major travel and shuttered many businesses. The Trump administration has said it would back Boeing, which is also a top U.S. defense contractor. Former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley resigned from Boeing's board last week after opposing the proposed $60billion bailout for the airline industry. Boeing is among the companies whose stocks are tumbling amid the COVID-19 outbreak. The company said last week it was freezing hiring and industry sources have said layoffs or furloughs are likely as virus concerns peak. The International Monetary Fund has predicted there will be a recession in 2020 that will be as bad as the Global Financial Crisis but that the economy will recover in 2021. The shut down will include a deep clean of its buildings and equipment. Boeing, which employs some 70,000 people in Seattle's Puget Sound area, has more than dozen confirmed coronavirus cases among employees Drugstore chain CVS said on Monday it was hiring 50,000 employees across the United States to assist patients and customers with the coronavirus outbreak CVS, Dollar General, Instacart and Papa Johns among the later to announce hiring binges The spread of the virus has created a massive disruption in the work place with many companies sending workers home. However, other companies, largely those considered essential during the outbreak, have gone on a hiring binge. Drugstore chain CVS said on Monday it was hiring 50,000 employees across the United States to assist patients and customers with the coronavirus outbreak. The new hires will include full-time, part-time and temporary roles. Positions include store associates, prescription delivery drivers, distribution center employees and member/customer service professionals. CVS said it would provide bonuses ranging from $150 to $500 to employees who are required to be at CVS facilities to assist customers during the pandemic. 'Our colleagues have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to providing essential goods and services at a time when they're needed most,' CVS CEO Larry Merlo said. 'As they continue to be there for the individuals and families we serve, we're taking extra steps to provide some peace of mind and help them navigate these uncertain times.' Last week, the company said it was opening a COVID-19 testing site for a limited population in the parking lot of a CVS pharmacy in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. Instacart said on Monday it plans to hire 300,000 gig workers over the next three months, more than doubling its current base, as demand surges for grocery delivery services due to the coronavirus pandemic forcing people to shop from home. Amazon.com Inc said last week it would hire 100,000 warehouse and delivery workers in the United States to deal with a surge in online orders. Walmart Inc said it would hire more than 150,000 hourly workers through the end of May in its stores and fulfillment centers. Instacart said order volumes had risen over 150% in the last few weeks as the disease has forced states to impose lockdowns and fueled stockpiling of bread, milk, toilet paper, hand sanitizer and other household items. Dollar General will hire up to 50,000 workers by the end of April as people ordered to stay home clear the bargain chain's shelves and stock up pantries. Dollar General said Monday that most of the jobs will be temporary but that some may be long term. Papa John's is also hiring up to 20,000 people with demand for pizza elevated. The need for new workers is so great, the company said on Monday, that interviews can turn into punching the clock on the same day. Domino's already announced additional hiring. Aircraft manufacturers and hotel industry struggle to cope amid coronavirus The rapid spread of the coronavirus since it was first reported in China has dealt an unprecedented shock to the global economy. As governments attempt to stabilize their economies, companies are struggling to cope and millions of people are facing job losses and disruptions in supplies of goods and in services. GE aviation has plans to cut about 10 percent of its U.S. workforce. David Joyce, vice chairman of GE and CEO of GE Aviation, will give up half of his salary starting April 1. The aviation arm of General Electric also said that there will be a temporary lack of work impacting approximately 50 percent of its US maintenance, repair and overhaul employees for 90 days. GE Aviation had already announced a hiring freeze, the cancellation of a salaried merit increase, a dramatic reduction of all non-essential spending, and a significant decrease in its contingent workforce. The hotel industry is predicting that about 44 percent of all hotel employees in the United States could lose their jobs as a result of the outbreak. The American Hotel and Lodging Association says four million jobs have been eliminated already or are on the verge of being cut within the next few weeks. In certain cities, including Seattle, San Francisco, Austin and Boston, hotel occupancy rates have already dropped below 20 percent and some hotels and major operators have already shut down operations. Coronavirus has already pushed the world economy into a 'deep recession', according to Goldman Sachs. The slowdown caused by the Covid-19 pandemic will cause the global economy to shrink by 1 per cent this year, analysts at the investment bank said. That is weaker than the year following the global financial crisis just over a decade ago. Goldman's warning came as Lord King, former governor of the Bank of England, said the uncertainty caused by coronavirus would be even worse than the 2008 crash. The slowdown caused by the Covid-19 pandemic will cause the global economy to shrink by 1% this year, analysts at Goldman Sachs said And in a startlingly bleak forecast, James Bullard, president of the St Louis Federal Reserve, said the US economy would shrink by 50 per cent in the second quarter of the year as unemployment jumped to 30 per cent. King, 71, said: 'I think this is much more serious and much more difficult to cope with. 'In the financial crisis, we were dealing with a relatively small number of financial institutions, we knew broadly what we had to do. 'In this case, the situation is extremely uncertain.' He added that the Government should commit to borrowing 'whatever is necessary' to allow businesses and the self-employed to survive until the pandemic passes. The Government has already committed to pay 80 per cent of people's wages if they are forced to stop working, up to a maximum of 2,500 per month, which Goldman's analysts believe will cost 40billion. By the 2024-25 financial year, Goldman thinks public sector borrowing will have grown to 4 per cent of Britain's economy, compared to 2.25 per cent had the virus not hit. Analysts at Swiss bank UBS have predicted that Europe's economy will shrink by 4.5 per cent this year, similar to 2008. Ukraine seeking from IMF double the amount of aid it asked for earlier 20:00, 23.03.20 3886 All tranche money is set to be allocated for the budget. In July 1962, the Food and Drug Administration sent an urgent message to its field offices with an assignment it said was one of the most important we have had in a long time. Overseas, thousands of babies in Germany, England and other countries were being born with severe defects tied to their mothers use of thalidomide, a drug widely taken for insomnia, morning sickness and other ailments. Meanwhile, the federal government sought to figure out what had happened in the United States, and how many babies had been affected. The drug was not approved in the United States in the 1960s, but as many as 20,000 Americans were given thalidomide in the 1950s and 1960s as part of two clinical trials operated by the American drug makers Richardson-Merrell and Smith, Kline & French. Cargo aircraft of Ukraine's Armed Forces also brought PCR tests, medical masks, sanitizers, lung ventilators and other devices to combat the disease Ukrainian cargo aircraft IL-76 landed in Boryspil international airport on early Monday. The plane arrived from Guangzhou, China, carrying 250,000 tests for Covid-19, the coronavirus. The press service of the Office of the President of Ukraine reported that on March 23. There were two kinds of tests aboard: the PCR tests, and the express diagnostics tests. There were also medical masks, sanitizers, lung ventilators and other devices to combat the spread of the disease. Express tests and masks are supoosed to cover the needs of medics, military employees, police workers, members of the State Border Guard and others; they will also be used by urgent medical aid teams who check people with increaed body temperature for coronavirus. PCR tests will be passed to laboratories in every region of Ukraine on Monday. Previously, Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Kyrylo Tymoshenko reported that Ukrainian aircraft will be delivering the tests and other devices from China in two stages. The novel coronavirus doesnt appear to sicken pets, but the pandemic is impacting their care. Gov. Kate Brown issued an order last week that prevents health-care providers in Oregon -- including veterinarians -- from doing non-emergency procedures during the crisis, so as to preserve face masks, gloves and other such vital equipment for medical staff treating people suffering from Covid-19, the illness caused by the virus. For veterinarians, that means procedures whose postponement wont cause an animal harm are being shelved for now. It also means that Oregon veterinary clinics are jumping into telemedicine. For sick animals, we are trying to triage as much as we can over the phone and then have people drop off their pets or at least limit our contact when they come in, Buckman Veterinary Clinic owner Valori Johnson told The Oregonian/OregonLive. Johnsons Southeast Portland clinic launched into telemedicine last week, both as a triage tool and as a way to do consults remotely, she says. So far, she adds, things seem to be going smoothly. Some other clinics in the area, such as Portland Veterinary Wellness Center on Northeast 82nd Avenue, had already worked telemedicine into their practices before the coronavirus outbreak, and so theyre now ramping up remote wellness check-ups, prescriptions through the mail and other basic care at a remove. Cherice Roth, a veterinarian at Portland Veterinary Wellness Center, acknowledges that putting off non-emergency procedures to save personal protective equipment (PPE) can be difficult for clients, who hate to see their beloved pets in any discomfort. If an animal has a condition that causes some pain but can wait, we provide analgesics, Roth says. In most cases, she says, the pain medicine is very effective. Our clients have been really understanding, she adds. We will be in danger of running out of PPE at some point. Everythings on back order, and rightfully so. And thats a key reason for holding off on non-emergency procedures: it will help ensure that veterinary clinics have the necessary equipment when they have to spring into action to save an animals life. When your pet needs us, we need to have this equipment, and we want our clients to know we will be there for them, Roth says. The coronavirus hasnt just meant that veterinarians must put off some procedures for now. Clinics are also hearing concerns about whether their pets could pick up the virus and transmit it. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states there is currently no evidence to suggest that companion animals, pets or service animals can spread the novel coronavirus. That said, the new virus is believed to be particularly sticky -- it appears to survive on various surfaces for a relatively long time. And your pet potentially could be one of those surfaces. That means you should take some basic precautions, recommends Brian Larsen, a former nurse whos the CEO of the pet-supplement company RestoraPet. When you get back from walking your dog, wash your hands, then wash your dogs paws and any part of the [animals] body that came in contact with anything, then wash your hands again. Larsen says that, with such basic hygiene, you shouldnt worry about your pets getting coronavirus or spreading it to you. In fact, your pets should be a comfort for you during this stressful time. Pets serve a vital role for us, he says. They make us feel better. They can help us get through this. It can be good to step away from whats going on in the world right now and play with your pets, bond with them. -- Douglas Perry @douglasmperry Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has arrived in Kabul on an urgent visit to try to move forward a peace deal signed last month with the Taliban. The trip comes despite the coronavirus pandemic, at a time when world leaders and statesmen are curtailing official travel. Since the signing of the deal, the peace process has become stalled amid political turmoil in Afghanistan, with the country's leaders squabbling over who was elected president. President Ashraf Ghani and his main rival in last September's presidential polls, Abdullah Abdullah, have both declared themselves the country's president in duelling inauguration ceremonies earlier this month. During his visit Monday, Pompeo is expected to try to help end the impasse, which has put on hold the start of intra-Afghan peace talks that would include the Taliban. Those talks are seen as a critical next step in the peace deal, negotiated to allow the United States to bring home its troops and give Afghans the best chance at peace. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Donald Trump is already having second thoughts about telling Americans to stay at home in order to limit the spread of the coronavirus, because he is worried about how badly it will hurt the economy (and, presumably, the Dow). The president reportedly began talking privately about reopening the country as early as last week. Hes also being nudged in that direction by conservative pundits, advisers within his own administration, and Wall Street figures who have urged a quick return to normalcy, in order to limit the blow to businesses and workers. And so we got this all-caps pronouncement on Sunday: Advertisement WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF. AT THE END OF THE 15 DAY PERIOD, WE WILL MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHICH WAY WE WANT TO GO! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 23, 2020 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is an extremely dangerous line of thinking, and not just because it will likely lead to more casualties. Encouraging Americans back to work before the virus is contained will not save the economy from catastrophe. Rather, it will set the country up to limp along, half-functioning as the pandemic spreads further. As MSNBCs Chris Hayes put it: Advertisement Advertisement In fact, you risk ending up with the worst of both worlds: mass death and sickness AND ALSO an economy that's essentially shut down. Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) March 23, 2020 Lets recall why public health officials have asked Americans to stay home in the first place. Its not because COVID-19 is incredibly deadly (though it does appear to be more fatal than the flu). Rather, its because the new coronavirus is so highly contagious that if even a small percentage of the people who stand to be infected end up hospitalized, it will completely swamp our health care system, as already seems to be happening in New York. If even 20 percent of Americans catch this thing in the next yearwhich is the sort of best-case scenario researchers are envisioningvast swaths of the country will run out of hospital beds. We will not have enough room in intensive care units or available ventilators to properly care for the ill. Heck, we already dont have enough masks. Lots of people with COVID-19 will likely die because there simply will not be space or resources to keep them alive. People with other serious conditions will die as well, because they too will not be able to get care. All sorts of acute illnesses will become more deadly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many people will not return to their normal lives in a country that is being ravaged by an unchecked disease just because the president has announced a reopening. Many arent going to return to restaurants and bars or go on family vacations to Disney. Many companies arent going to tell their employees to come back to the office. Many cities and states will keep businesses shut down in order to try to contain the illness as much as possible within their own borders. But some wont. And many Americans will try to resume life as usual, the same way many are ignoring the warnings to stay in now, which means the virus will continue spreading. We will have a half-functioning economy and nonfunctioning health care system, with untold numbers of Americans dying from an illness that causes victims to suffocate as fluid floods into their lungs, on the way to total organ failure. Advertisement Advertisement Avoiding that nightmare will require more dramatic actions than we have taken so far, not more restraint. So far, the Trump administration has not really tried to coordinate a national lockdown. Instead, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued some toothless public guidelines urging Americans to stay home for 15 days to Do Your Part to Slow the Spread of Coronavirus, like it was reminding campers to prevent forest fires. This has left states to decide their own paths forward. Schools are shut down across almost the entire country, thankfully. But so far, only some states have issued stay-at-home orders and are closing nonessential businesses. That patchwork approach to combating the disease means were unlikely to contain it nationwide. Meanwhile, were already facing an unprecedented economic downturn, with potentially millions of layoffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The more sensible approach to taming this virus and saving our economy would be to orchestrate an actual nationwide lockdown for at least three or four weeks while the government essentially pays everybodys bills (see: the economic aid bill Congress is working on). During that time, the country could ramp up production of tests and ventilators, and put in place measures necessary to set up an effective regime of testing people suspected of being ill and tracing their contacts, which appears to have worked in both South Korea and Taiwan. Wed face a dramatic economic downturn, yes. But we might also enjoy a relatively quick, V-shaped recovery as life returned to some semblance of normality. Advertisement The coronavirus crisis is going to create a severe economic hardship. Theres no escaping that. The question is whether it will be a short-lived disaster that we can begin pulling ourselves out of with the help of a serious public health mobilization, or if it will be a long, lingering horror we muddle through as people die. The fact that Trump is already having doubts about the half-measures he took last week unfortunately suggests he doesnt have the stomach or foresight to pick the right course, because hes too worried about the daily fluctuations of the stock market. Instead, hes steering us toward a long pandemic and a depression all at once. For more on the impact of the coronavirus, listen to Mondays episode of The Gist. Koreans, evacuated from coronavirus-hit Iran on a Korean government-chartered flight, arrive at Incheon International Airport, Thursday. / Yonhap By Kang Seung-woo The government faces a quandary over whether to send charter flights to retrieve Koreans from coronavirus-hit countries amid growing calls for rescues. Some Koreans who reside in countries that have currently suspended direct flights to Korea due to the COVID-19 pandemic, are calling on the government to arrange charter flights despite having alternative options. According to the Consular Assistance for the Protection of Overseas Korean Nationals Act, assistance is provided only if an overseas Korean national faces problems from an incident or accident that cannot be settled by any other means, such as by themselves, with the help of a relative or through the laws of the country they are in. The government initially chartered three flights to evacuate about 850 Korean nationals from the city of Wuhan, China, in January and February. Since then, the government has also chartered flights for Korean passengers on a cruise ship docked in Yokohama, Japan, and Iran. However, the latest charter flight decision to fly two planes to Italy one for Rome and the other for Milan is raising questions over necessity. According to the foreign ministry, the Korean community in Italy has had trouble in arranging a charter flight with local airlines, so the government stepped in to charter a flight for evacuation. The Mediterranean country has the second-highest number of coronavirus cases behind China. Some point out that other than a charter flight, those who are now in Italy can still leave by transiting through other countries. "There are other options for them other than flying back to Korea, but they only depend on the government," an internet user said on an online community. Along with Italy, 10,000 Koreans in the Philippines are calling for charter flights due to the lack of non-stop commercial flights to Korea. In addition, given that an arrangement of a charter flight requires using taxpayers' money although the passengers pay part of the fare, the special transport needs to be one of last resort, according to the foreign ministry. The government already used a 1 billion won ($783,000) from the budget assigned this year for emergency financial assistance for overseas Koreans in chartering flights and it is now considering seeking supplementary money. Meanwhile, 200 Koreans stranded in Peru, including volunteers from the Korean Agency for International Cooperation, are expected to return home on a chartered flight through Mexican airline Aeromexico. According to the Korean Embassy in the South American country, they will leave the Peruvian capital of Lima, Thursday (local time), for Incheon with a refuel layover in Mexico City. A domestic flight is also planned to bring Koreans from the tourist town of Cusco to Lima. The airfare from Lima to Incheon is 3.7 million won, while one for the domestic route costs $400. The Peruvian government closed its borders and halted all flights amid the coronavirus outbreak, March 15. The administration is also considering sending a charter flight to South Sudan to extract 210 rotational troops of the 270-service personnel Hanbit Unit without sending replacements. The country asked Korea and other countries not to send fresh troops due to growing concerns over the COVID-19 outbreak, according to the defense ministry, Monday. NHS workers across the country have been left in tears after shop workers greeted them with applause and flowers at UK supermarkets during a dedicated shopping hour for key workers amid coronavirus panic buying. Supermarkets up and down the country including Tesco and Sainsbury's enforced a shopping hour just for key workers last week after frenzied shoppers cleared the shelves of essential items such as toilet roll, as well as cupboard staples such as pasta and tinned foods. The illness has so far killed 335 people, with 6,650 cases having been confirmed in the UK, and the increased panic had meant workers were not able to get their hands on supplies. Supermarket workers today lined up at the entrance of a store in Swansea and clapped as nurses and doctors walked through the doors. NHS workers posted pictures of the flowers they received during the special hour put on for NHS staff As NHS workers entered the store in Swansea today they received a round of applause from workers NHS workers queue outside Costco in Thurrock , as Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the government is ready to impose tougher restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus if people do not follow the guidance on social distancing This is while stores in Truro, Newton and Shrewsbury also gave workers bouquets of flowers. The medical staff in Swansea were visiting the Tesco store in Llansamlet to shop for food before getting back to battle the coronavirus pandemic. One shopper said: 'It's time to thank our NHS workers. They are around the clock and risking their own lives to save others. 'They are the everyday heroes who are doing something incredible all as part of their day job.' One social media user posted this picture of a Tesco store in Newtown today, the store had been giving flowers to workers Beautiful bouquets! NHS workers posted pictures of the flowers they had received while doing their shopping One NHS worker was given these flowers while shopping in Tesco today as a thank you Tesco is allowing NHS workers to shop for an hour each day before the store opens to the general public. Another shopper said: 'We have never needed our doctors and nurses more.' NHS workers also took to social media today to thank the supermarkets for their support. One user tweeted: 'Nearly cried in the supermarket today... went to the early NHS shop time for @sainsburys and everyone was so kind and gave me a free bunch of flowers as I left and said thank you Thats the best end to a weekend on call'. Another said: 'Thank you #Morrisons store in Chapel-le-frith Derbyshire staff for early #NHS opening and to be given a lovely bunch of flowers as I left was a fab start to a very strange week xxx.' NHS workers took to social media today to thank people working in supermarkets who gave them flowers today It comes after an A&E doctor warned that even people in their 30s are fighting for their lives in intensive care because of the coronavirus crisis - making the work NHS workers are carrying out every day even more imperative. Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, an emergency doctor and Labour MP for Tooting, south London, revealed doctors will soon have to start rationing life support machines. After working at shift at St George's Hospital in the capital at the weekend Dr Allin-Khan said the number of people being hospitalised is increasing 'very, very quickly'. So much for six feet! Commuters are STILL crammed onto Tubes 'risking health of vital workers' after Sadiq Khan cut services - despite him saying 'people will die' if they don't practise social distancing (while he works from home) Commuters were crammed onto Tubes in the morning dash to work today after Sadiq Khan cut services and told Londoners to enforce social distancing. The London Mayor has said Britons in the capital need to stay indoors to 'protect the ones they love' amid the outbreak of deadly coronavirus - which has infected 5,683 and killed 281 in the UK so far. London Underground staff were 'furious' after trains remained packed on Monday morning despite passengers being urged not to travel unless they have a critical job. One commuter tweeted at London's Northern Line asking where the southbound train at Colindale was, adding: 'No sight of the train, platform is full of people, thanks for nothing!' A special needs teacher told MailOnline he could not get to work safely this morning due to overcrowding - sharing images of a packed Central Line at 7.15am. Finn Brennan, district organiser for train drivers' union Aslef, expressed alarm at services which were extremely busy despite advice aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus. He wrote on Twitter: 'Still heavy loading on some Tube lines this morning making social distancing impossible. 'This is endangering the health of the vital workers who have to use the system. 'The Government must act now to ensure only ESSENTIAL journeys are made. 'I'm being sent pictures of crush loaded platforms at some Jubilee line platforms this morning. Drivers and other frontline staff are furious.' As 38 Underground stations remain closed this morning, one commuter tweeted at London's Northern Line asking where the southbound train at Colindale was, adding: 'No sight of the train, platform is full of people, thanks for nothing!' Advertisement She said patients with other health problems were having to be shipped out to children's wards so there was enough room to treat the people with COVID-19. Almost 5,700 people in the UK have been officially diagnosed with the disease but the true number is thought to be dozens of times higher. Almost 300 patients have died. Dr Allin-Khan said the UK is 'heading for disaster' and pleaded with people to obey social distancing rules and stop going to busy areas after thousands of people were pictured defiantly visiting tourist destinations at the weekend. The MP added that doctors will soon have to choose who does and doesn't get 'the last ventilator' in intensive care. Many key workers are still having to use the tube and many workers 'do not feel protected' Doctors' Association chairman Dr Rinesh Parmar yesterday made an appeal to Boris Johnson, warning doctors and nurses feel like 'cannon fodder' because of a lack of protective equipment and kits. It also follows a letter in the Sunday Times from almost 4,000 NHS workers who called on the Prime Minister to 'protect the lives of the life-savers' and resolve the 'unacceptable' shortage of protective equipment. In their letter to The Sunday Times, the 4,000-strong group said medical workers were 'putting their lives on the line every day' by treating coronavirus patients without appropriate protection, and called on Mr Johnson to ensure an adequate supply of masks, safety glasses, gloves, aprons and protective suits. NHS England said millions more items of PPE had been delivered over the last few days to hospitals, ambulance trusts and care homes among others. It said the army would 'play its part' from this week, offering personnel to 'help to manage and offload supplies in busy NHS settings' and distributing PPE supplies to the front line. The Health Secretary revealed he had signed new laws over the weekend, allowing police to enforce stringent bans on going to pubs, clubs and restaurants. He told GMB: 'As we've seen, the number of people not following the advice is incredibly damaging to the effort to stopping the spread of the virus.' But Piers asked: 'Given it is costing lives, why is the PM not mandating it? Why is he not locking down the country? 'If that is the new strategy, having pursued a different strategy two weeks ago, lock the country down. 'Your strategy has not been the same all alongit changed dramatically. 'Herd immunity was the strategy then dramatically, it changed. So please don't insult my intelligence by telling me we followed the same strategy we haven't.' Mr Hancock insisted herd immunity, 'has never been the strategy.' Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-24 06:41:19|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close The Eiffel Tower glitters twice as long as usual to thank and support hospital staff during the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in Paris, France, March 23, 2020. As of Monday, France has detected 19,856 cases of coronavirus infection, and 860 people had died from COVID-19, French Health Minister Olivier Veran announced at a daily update. In the last 24 hours, 3,176 more people were diagnosed with the virus, which claimed 186 new lives. (Photo by Aurelien Morissard/Xinhua) PARIS, March 23 (Xinhua) -- French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said on Monday that the confinement rules imposed last Tuesday to contain the spread of the coronavirus might last several more weeks and his government will be tightening restrictions on people's movement. "Many French people would like to return to normalcy, but it will not (happen) for tomorrow," Philippe told French television TF1 news. "We feel the lockdown measures that we have taken, and which we will toughen yet again ... could last several weeks," he added. Philippe announced that open-air markets would be closed from Tuesday. People would be allowed to go out for a walk with their children or to exercise once a day for no more than one hour, and within one kilometer of their home. Sanctions against those who break the rules would be tougher. Ruling out nationwide curfew, the prime minister said localized curfews could be imposed based on local authorities' decision. The Rivera cities of Nice, Perpignan and Beziers in southern France had imposed from Saturday a curfew in response to the fact that many people had ignored calls to strictly respect social distancing. On March 17, France was put into lockdown for at least 15 days, and the government asked the public to stay at home and avoid non-essential travel. Only trips for reasons of work, health needs or shopping of necessities are allowed. Under the new rules, French citizens who do want to travel will need to fill in a document explaining their reasons for doing so and carry it with them. If they are found to have violated the instruction, they risk being fined for up to 135 euros (144.8 U.S. dollars). Some 100,000 police and gendarmes are mobilized and checkpoints are set up country-wide to guarantee a full respect for the containment measure. France has already ordered a country-wide closure of all public institutions and museums, suspending sporting events, halting non-essential activities to cafes, restaurants, cinemas and nightclubs. Despite these measures, the epidemic situation was deteriorating, health authorities warned, expressing alarm at the apparent lack of concern in the general public. "A lot of citizens respect confinement with rigor, and I understand what that means in terms of constraints. But, we do know that in some places a number of people don't follow the rules," Philippe said. "To cope with this wave, we must strictly, very strictly respect the movement restriction measures," he added, noting that the confinement results would be achieved "over time." As of Monday, France has detected 19,856 cases of coronavirus infection, and 860 people had died from COVID-19, Health Minister Olivier Veran announced at a daily update. In the last 24 hours, 3,176 more people were diagnosed with the virus, which claimed 186 new lives. A doctor puts on protective gears at the HCMC Hospital of Tropical Diseases, March 13, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran. With 14 new people testing Covid-19 positive, Vietnams Sunday tally went up to 19 and the national total to 113. Of the new patients, one is quarantined in HCMC, six in the Mekong Delta and seven in Hanoi. Sundays 19 new infections was the highest number in a day since Vietnams first Covid-19 case was recorded late January. The country recorded five new cases in the afternoon. "Patient 100" is a 55 year-old man living in District 8, Ho Chi Minh City. He has a history of diabetes and arthritis. He returned to Vietnam from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on AirAsia flight AK524 on March 3 and had quarantined himself at home. From March 4 to 17, he went to pray five times a day at the Jamiul Anwar Mosque in District 8. On March 18, he was still asymptomatic, but his samples were taken by the District 8 medical center because he was among the people who had participated in a Muslim ceremony in Malaysia that later recorded hundreds of infections. He was confirmed Covid-19 positive Sunday by the HCMC Pasteur Institute. He is currently being treated at the HCMC Hospital of Tropical Diseases. In the quarantine zone of Mekong Deltas Dong Thap Province, four more Covid-19 patients were detected - all passengers on Vietnam Airlines flight VN50 from the U.K. that landed March 18 in Can Tho. All of them were asymptomatic on arrival. "Patient 101" is 26-year-old Vietnamese woman from Vung Tau who was on seat 26F; "Patient 102" a 9-year-old girl from Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, on seat 20D; "Patient 103" a 22-year-old man from Phu Nhuan District, HCMC, on 12F; and "Patient 104" a 33-year-old man from District 12, HCMC, on seat 27D. The remaining two patients are quarantined in the Mekong Deltas Tra Vinh Province. They had boarded AirAsia flight AK575 from Malaysia and landed March 18 in Can Tho. These two were also asymptomatic on arrival. "Patient 105" is a 35-year-old woman living in the Mekong Delta's An Giang Province, who was on seat 6E. "Patient 106" is a 20-year-old woman also from An Giang, seat 6C. Their swab samples were tested at the HCMC Pasteur Institute. Among the seven Hanoi patients, six are Europe returnees. "Patient 107," a 25-year-old Vietnamese woman, is the daughter of one of two Covid-19 infected nurses working at the Bach Mai Hospital. The mother and daughter live together in Thanh Xuan District. "Patient 108" is a 19-year-old resident of Cau Giay District studying in the U.K. He landed in Hanoi March 18 on Vietnam Airlines flight VN054. "Patient 109" is a 42-year-old lecturer at a U.K. university who resides in Hoang Mai District, Hanoi. He landed in the capital city March 15 on Thai Airways TG560 seat 37E after transiting in Thailand. "Patient 110" is 19-year-old student in the U.S. who lives in Dong Da District, Hanoi. He flew from the U.S., transited in Japan and landed March 19 in Hanoi on Japan Airlines flight JL571, seat 1A. "Patient 111" is a 25-year-old woman from the northern province of Nam Dinh who is studying in France. She landed in Hanoi March 18 on Vietnam Airlines flight VN18. "Patient 112" is a 30-year-old man living in Hanois Hoan Kiem District studying in France. He also landed March 18 in Hanoi on flight VN18. "Patient 113" is an 18-year-old resident of Hoan Kiem District who is studying in the U.K. She landed in Hanoi March 18 on Vietnam Airlines flight VN54. As of Sunday, Vietnam had recorded 96 Covid-19 cases since March 6. The earlier 17 patients have been discharged from the hospital. Of the current active cases, 10 have tested negative either once or twice. The Covid-19 pandemic has so far infected more than 300,000 people globally, claiming more than 13,000 lives. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 11:18:45|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close URUMQI, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region recorded more than 20 billion yuan (about 2.81 billion U.S. dollars) in imports and exports in the first two months of this year, local authorities said Monday. Xinjiang's export volume during the period reached 12.95 billion yuan, while its import volume soared to 7.08 billion yuan, up 38.5 percent year on year, according to the customs of Urumqi, the region's capital. "Private enterprises still played a leading role in Xinjiang's foreign trade," said Wu Wei, the deputy director of Urumqi Customs. Xinjiang's private enterprises' foreign trade reached 14.06 billion yuan, accounting for 70.2 percent of Xinjiang's total foreign trade during the period, according to the customs. In the first two months, Kazakhstan topped the list of Xinjiang's major trade partners, with trade volume between them growing by 29.1 percent to 10.83 billion yuan. Wu said the customs has issued several favorable measures to help stabilize Xinjiang's foreign trade, support China-Europe freight train services and promote the development of comprehensive bonded areas. Burma Thai Border Closures Over COVID-19 Spark Myanmar Migrants Return, Health Concerns A Myanmar health team checks the temperatures of migrant returnees at the second Mae Sot-Myawaddy Friendship Bridge on March 23. / Bo Bo Wai Maung / Facebook Myanmars health minister announced on Sunday that any migrant workers returning home from foreign countries must remain under home quarantine for 14 days as their numbers are too large for quarantine centers to handle. The announcement came after at least 10,000 Myanmar workers rushed home over the weekend, shortly before Thailand closed its border checkpoints with Myanmar on Monday due to COVID-19 concerns. Between Saturday and midday on Monday, over 11,000 people crossed into Myanmar at the second Thailand-Myanmar Friendship Bridge in Myawaddy, Karen State. As of Monday, Thailand has 721 people infected with the coronavirus; one person has died and seven are in critical condition. Bangkok, nearby provinces and Chiang Mai are all in a state of shutdown for two-to-three weeks. Myanmar still has no confirmed COVID-19 cases, though 206 people suspected of having the disease were under observation as of Sunday evening, according to the Myanmar Ministry of Health and Sports. Test results showed that 187 of these people do not have the coronavirus, while 19 people are still awaiting test results. On Monday, 1,840 migrant workers had returned to Myanmar across the border with Thailand by midday. About 6,000 people returned on Sunday and 3,400 people returned on Saturday, said U Thant Zin Aung, the state parliamentarian from Myawaddy Township, citing official government figures. As Myanmar migrant workers have seen their workplaces in Thailand shut down and many more are returning home, Myanmar and Thai authorities kept the Mae Sot-Myawaddy Bridge No. 2 checkpoint open until 6 p.m. on Monday. The Thai government closed all other border checkpoints starting Monday morning. The governor of Thailands Tak Province, where Mae Sot is located, closed the Mae Sot-Myawaddy Bridge No. 1 on Saturday. Starting Monday, Thailand will allow only drivers transporting goods to cross land borders and enter the country. Mounting fear Pictures of people waiting to enter Myanmar at the Thai immigration facility in Mae Sot went viral on Facebook over the weekend, prompting fears and questions over the spread of COVID-19. Officials worked to ensure everyone entering Myanmar at the immigration checkpoint in Myawaddy had to pass a health screening and body temperature check. Officials also asked everyone to stand one meter away from one another. On Monday, the Karen State government also arranged transportation for the migrants back to their hometowns after they passed the necessary health and immigration checks, according to U Tay Zar Aung, the Myawaddy District administrator. U Thant Zin Aung said that seven buses had left the town for other states and regions on Monday morning. We have communicated with the respective state and regional governments to follow up with [the migrant workers] home quarantine process, he added. However, questions still remained about the efficacy of home quarantine for the migrants as they may be unable to follow quarantine rules. Dr. Cynthia Maung, physician and founder of Mae Tao Clinic, told The Irrawaddy that given the number of people at the checkpoint, it would be hard to say whether they are all free of the virus. It is important that the migrants returning home understand that it is compulsory to do self-isolation, said the physician. Dr. Cynthia Maung has been providing healthcare services and health awareness to migrant workers and residents along the Thailand-Myanmar border for more than three decades. She also pointed out that as the migrant workers are returning from Thailand, which has cases of COVID-19, their home communities must not discriminate against the workers or blame them for possibly carrying the virus into Myanmar. Dr. Sid Naing, the country director of Marie Stopes International in Yangon, said the Myanmar governments efforts to alert the migrant returnees about self-quarantine will be somewhat effective, even if its flawed. As a health professional, the governments tackling [of COVID-19] may seem slow and weak. However, given the political and socioeconomic circumstances our country is facing, what more could the government do? he said. The Myanmar government has already struggled to quarantine hundreds of those entering the country by air. Now we have massive waves of people going back to their homes from work in other countries. Human and financial resources and the locations are the biggest challenges, he explained. Returning home Myanmar migrant workers have been returning en masse from Thailand due to both factory and workplace closures as well as challenges around visa and work permit extensions. The annual extension period for migrant workers visas is ending in late March. My visa is expiring on March 31 and I could not extend it as the cost this year is too high, said migrant worker Ko Htike, who plans to leave Thailand for his home in a village in Ayeyarwady Region. He is one of tens of thousands of migrant workers whose work permits and visas will expire at the end of this month. Last year, the visa extension fee was 1,000 baht (US$30.35), Ko Htike said, but this year agents asked for 4,600-5,000 baht to extend a visa. We have less overtime work and our earnings are decreasing, so we could not afford it, he told The Irrawaddy. In Thailand, if migrant workers change employers, it costs them extra, as they will have to seek a new work permit with new employer in addition to a visa extension. Last year, Ko Htike said it cost some 5,000 baht for processing altogetherincluding medical insurance, visa fees, new work permit fees and other costsbut this year the agents are asking for 17,000-18,000 baht. The cost of bus tickets has also increased. Until last Thursday, it cost 500 baht to travel from Nakhon Pathom to Mae Sot, but Ko Htike said that since last Friday, the bus fare has doubled. According to Ko Htike, many of his friends have returned to Myanmar and some are still planning to return. We follow the news and many of us are affected economically by the COVID-19 pandemic. We will stay in home quarantine, so we will feel safe both for our family and our community, he said. But with the official border checkpoints closed, he said, We will take a chance and will cross the border by other means. He may be lucky, as the Myanmar government so far still allows border crossings by boat across the Moei river at the three unofficial border crossing gates mostly controlled by the Karen Border Guard Force (BGF). The BGF announced last week that they closed nine of the border gates they control. Three border crossings are still open and we have prepared the necessary health screenings and checks at these gates, said U Thant Zin Aung. While ten of thousands of migrant wokrers are returning, some of them are sticking it out in Thailand and avoiding visits to their homes for the Thingyan holidays, a time when families traditionally gather. Ma Sandar Win, who is from Tat Kone Village, near Naypyitaw, has been working in Thailand for six months. As she came with a passport with a two-year work permit, known as an MOU passport, she does not need to go back yet. I will stay in Thailand and my employer has also urged us not to go out here. We do not go to crowded places and we only commute from home to work and sometimes go to the local bazaar. Our parents are worried for us, but we told them not to worry, she told The Irrawaddy. You may also like these stories: Myanmars Military Braced for Coronavirus Outbreak: Spokesman Calling it a terrible loss, U.S. Middle District Chief Judge Christopher C. Conner on Monday reported the death of long-serving Senior Judge James M. Munley. Munley, who was 83, died Sunday evening, Conner said. Munley died 12 days after the death of another of the courts veterans, 81-year-old Senior Judge A. Richard Caputo. A former Lackawanna County judge, Munley has served 21 years on the federal bench for the central portion of Pennsylvania. That was couple with the 20 years he previously served on the county court. Judge Munley was a skilled jurist who adroitly handled many, complex cases filed in the district, Conner wrote in notify court personnel of Munleys death. Despite his senior status, he carried a significant caseload and consistently offered his assistance when his senior colleagues left the bench. We will remember Judge Munleys great wit and engaging personality as well as his steadfast dedication to our Court. We extend our thoughts and prayers to the Munley family at this difficult time, Conner added. Hunleys death marked the second such loss for the Middle District Court this month. On March 11, Caputo died of complications from a lung infection. After Caputos death, Conner called him a judges judgea strong, direct and erudite juristwho instinctively knew how to cut to the heart of complex legal issues, prompting their resolution. He made many extraordinary contributions to the Wilkes-Barre vicinage, to our entire court, and to our country. Our district will be forever honored by Judge Caputos distinguished service, and he has bestowed upon our court a truly memorable legacy, Conner wrote. Caputo, of Luzerne County, was appointed to the federal court in 1998. Flags at the districts courthouses will be flown at half staff in honor of both men, Conner said. BRIDGEPORT A Dominican citizen is facing either jail or deportation after police said they seized two and a half pounds of heroin from him as he stood on a city street. Jeison Marinez-Matos, 28, was charged Saturday with possession of heroin with intent to sell, possession of a controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a school and possession of a controlled substance. He is being held in lieu of $350,000 bond. Interim States Attorney Cornelius Kelly told Superior Court Judge Joan Alexander on Monday that ICE has already placed a detainer on Marinez-Matos for deportation to his native Dominican Republic. According to court documents, Marinez-Matos has been here less than a month. Police said on Saturday officers were patrolling the West Side of the city about 4 p.m. when they spotted a man later identified as Marinez-Matos walking on Maplewood Avenue while carrying a grocery bag and talking on a cell phone. When the officers approached him, police said Marinez-Matos appeared very nervous and tried to quickly walk away. He was taken into custody and while being patted down for possible weapons, police said, officers felt a large package under Marinez-Matos coat. Police said the package was wrapped in black tape. They said Marinez-Matos began crying and stated the package was not his and he had found it on the sidewalk. Police said they also found two cell phones on Marinez-Matos, both which continuously rang. The tape-wrapped package contained suspected heroin. Police said the grocery bag was filled with smaller bags of corn chips. By Peter Nurse Investing.com - European stock markets are set to open lower Monday, with investors worried about the extent of support from policymakers to combat the economic damage from the coronavirus as the number of cases continue to rise sharply around the world. At 3:29 AM ET (0729 GMT), the DAX futures contract traded 0.9% lower. France's CAC 40 futures were down 1.1%, while the FTSE 100 futures contract in the U.K. fell 1.3%. Trillions of dollars of support have been injected into markets and the broader economy in the last week or so, but investors are still looking to policymakers for more support in the coming days with companies losing customers and workers being thrown out of jobs. St. Louis Fed President James Bullard warned on Sunday that the U.S. economy could shrink by an annualized 50% in the second quarter as the virus reaches its peak. Worse, U.S. politicians failed to agree on the terms of a funding package of more than $1 trillion, resulting in it not getting enough votes in a key Senate procedural vote late Sunday. All the while, the number of confirmed cases of the Covid-19 virus continues to rise. Globally, there are now over 330,000 confirmed cases, more than doubling in the last week, and approaching 15,000 deaths. In corporate news, Airbus (PA:AIR) announced new steps on Monday to bolster its financial position as the pandemic cripples the travel industry, including the signing of a credit facility for 15 billion euros ($16.1 billion). The European planemaker added it was withdrawing its 2020 financial guidance, dropping a proposed 2019 dividend that had a cash value of 1.4 billion euros and suspending funding to top up staff pension schemes. Royal Dutch Shell (LON:RDSa) (RDSa), meanwhile, said it will cut its capital spending program by over $5 billion as part of a package of measures aimed at saving between $8 billion and $9 billion. The company said nothing about its dividend, which hasn't been cut since the Second World War. Story continues Economic indicators are limited in number in Europe Monday, with the eurozone consumer confidence figure, at 11 AM ET (1500 GMT), set to show a sharp drop, unsurprisingly. However, the PMI data coming out later this week in the U.S., U.K. as well as the eurozone will be of interest as they are likely to provide the most comprehensive overview so far of the coronavirus impact. The positive tone seen in the oil markets as last week drew to an end has largely disappeared. On Friday, OPEC Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo invited Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton to the organisations summer meeting in June. This invitation quickly raised hopes for a deal to stabilize oil prices, and Sitton did call for reduced production of Texan crude output for the first time since 1970. However, with neither Saudi Arabia nor Russia backing down in the ongoing price war, it seems unlikely that it will be the U.S. that bends first. U.S. crude futures traded 0.1% higher at $22.66 a barrel, recovering a little. The international benchmark Brent contract fell 3.5% to $26.05. Elsewhere, gold futures rose 0.4% to $1,491.10/oz, while EUR/USD traded at 1.0728, up 0.3% on the day. Related Articles EU watchdog says markets must stay open for investors French energy group Total steps up cost cuts, suspends buybacks Apple scraps curbs on online buyers of iPhones amid virus outbreak Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until his wrath has passed by. Isaiah 26:20 In reading this verse alone it probably seems eerily familiar to the coronavirus quarantine. Is this a warning, a command, a promise? What should we make of this verse today and how can we apply it? Lets start by looking at the full passage. The chapter title in Isaiah 26 is: A Song of Praise in the NIV and You Keep Him in Perfect Peace in the ESV. In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; God makes salvation its walls and ramparts. Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps faith. You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal. He humbles those who dwell on high, he lays the lofty city low; he levels it to the ground and casts it down to the dust. Feet trample it down the feet of the oppressed, the footsteps of the poor. The path of the righteous is level; you, the Upright One, make the way of the righteous smooth. Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness. But when grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and do not regard the majesty of the LORD. LORD, your hand is lifted high, but they do not see it. Let them see your zeal for your people and be put to shame; let the fire reserved for your enemies consume them. LORD, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us. LORD our God, other lords besides you have ruled over us, but your name alone do we honor. They are now dead, they live no more; their spirits do not rise. You punished them and brought them to ruin; you wiped out all memory of them. You have enlarged the nation, LORD; you have enlarged the nation. You have gained glory for yourself; you have extended all the borders of the land. LORD, they came to you in their distress; when you disciplined them, they could barely whisper a prayer. As a pregnant woman about to give birth writhes and cries out in her pain, so were we in your presence, LORD. We were with child, we writhed in labor, but we gave birth to wind. We have not brought salvation to the earth, and the people of the world have not come to life. But your dead will live, LORD; their bodies will rise let those who dwell in the dust wake up and shout for joy your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead. Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until his wrath has passed by. See, the LORD is coming out of his dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will disclose the blood shed on it; the earth will conceal its slain no longer. Isaiah 26:1-21, NIV What Do We Know about the Book of Isaiah? Who Is Isaiah and Did He Actually Write the Book? Before we talk about Isaiah the prophet, what is a prophesy? The NIV Study Bible states, A prophecy is a God-given message that speaks to people about their condition, urges change, and may describe future events as a means to motivate the people to faithfulness. Isaiah (the LORD saves or Yahweh saves) was a prophet in the 8th Century BC, a contemporary of Amos, Hosea, Micah, and Jonah. His messages were delivered between 739 and 701 BC. Isaiah is named as the son of Amoz (not to be confused with Amos); the Bible says nothing more about Amoz, but the ESV Study Bible quotes Jewish tradition as claiming Amoz to be brother to Amaziah, king of Judah, which would put Isaiah into the royal family. What we do know about Isaiah is that he was married with a family in Jerusalem and he took up the call to be Gods prophet. Isaiah is the only author listed in the book. Though some scholars question if he is the author of chapters 40-66 due to a change in style and vocabulary; however, the traditional view is that Isaiah authored the entire book. One probable cause of the difference in style is that Isaiah switches from talking about his current time to talking about a distant future; another explanation is that a number of years may have lapsed between the sections. And lastly, even if a disciple of Isaiah wrote the last section, he would have used Isaiahs ideas from the Holy Spirits inspiration. Related Video on who Isaiah was from Emmanuel Bible Church. What Kind of Literature / Genre Is the Book of Isaiah? Isaiah is a prophetic book that contains historical narrative and messages of judgment; his writing includes (a lot of) poetry, imagery, and prophetic details. Isaiah records Gods message for the people of Israel and Judah as well as prophecies for the future, which point to the Messiah. In fact, the last third of Isaiah contains prophecies for the future. But its not just propheciesIsaiah seeks to assure Gods people of their place in His redemptive plan for the world. The book holds rich theological truths pointing out Gods presence from creation to redemption. The NIV Study Bible relays, These genres are mixed together in often bewildering ways. This variety supports the conclusion that Isaiah may have originally delivered many of the individual units independently from each other and later combined them in their present form. The ESV Study Bible seconds this notion, A book this large, and lacking a narrative line, must be viewed as an anthology or collection of individual compositions. It is often futile to look for a smooth flow from one unit to the next. The book swings bac and forth between oracles of judgment and oracles of salvation. What Is the Main Theme / Purpose of Isaiah? Isaiah is set in the midst of an ongoing political crisis due to dominating Mesopotamian powers. Israel was under an incorrect impression that as long as they just went through the motions that God would spare their cities and temple from harm. They learned a hard lesson when Assyria destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 BC, followed by Babylons destruction and exile of the southern kingdom of Judah in 586 BC. Isaiah responds to questions and doubts from Israel about who God is and if He is for them. His message is to point the people of God to the only refuge they can trust in, their God. He is faithful and no matter what happens and no matter where they go, He remains their God. Yahweh is to be trusted over human power, and the people are called not to make alliances with these foreign powers though it is tempting in order to save their current way of life. Isaiah also covers theological questions about Gods desire to deliver His people from exile. Later chapters cover Israels return from exile and what it means theologically to exist as Gods people returned from exile without a king or an army. God requires righteous behavior and Isaiah assures the people that though they cannot keep the covenant on their own, God is sending One who can keep it for themthe Messiah who will destroy the real enemy: sin. What Is the Meaning of Isaiah 26:20? Chapter 26 is all about praising God for his sovereign care over His people. The ESV Study Bible points out the prophetic nature of Isaiahs words that the time perspective in ch. 26 shifts between the past, present, and future. It is a song of confidence in God, for He achieves the final victory on our behalf. Ligonier Ministries shares, The song in chapter 26 prophesies the deliverance of the Jewish people from captivity. When they initially were led into captivity, they undoubtedly would have despaired had they not been encouraged with such promises. Isaiah composed this song for the people, even before the calamity occurred, to help bolster them in their resolve. Thus, they might be better prepared to endure it and might hope for better things. On the basis of the song, they could rest assured that Jerusalem would be fully restored and the city of God would rise above the terrible city of man. Verse 20 shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the fury has passed by. (ESV) creates a contrast to the open the gates idea in verse 2 of the chapter. The ESV Study Bible also relays that Isaiah is referencing Genesis 7:16 when God shut Noah into the ark so that he would be safe during Gods judgment. Chapter 26 is speaking of Gods judgment past, present, and future and how He keeps His people safe, hidden in Himself as their refuge. God will protect us in life and in death. The NIV Study Bible comments that this section Isaiah 26:1-27:13 reflects the meaning of the victory in the previous chapters; there is a longing for Gods judgment because with His judgment comes rescue and peace for His people. The song in chapter 26 is one of salvation, and in response, the people renew their trust in the Lord. Yahweh is the Rock eternal (v. 4) he can be trusted over all else. In vv. 9-11 there is a plea for Gods judgment, and v. 20 answers that plea with a command to wait with quiet faith, confident in Gods plan, assured of Gods promise. How Should We Apply Isaiah 26:20 Today? Just as the people of God learned in the Book of Isaiah simply being a person of God or doing the right things does not mean you will be spared from earthly harm, illness, or suffering. This fallen world is filled with illness and suffering, and we can often find ourselves in the midst of harm. In Psalm 53, David says: Be merciful to me, my God, for my enemies are in hot pursuit; all day long they press their attack. My adversaries pursue me all day long; in their pride many are attacking me. When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise in God I trust and am not afraid. Some days may feel like this, being afflicted all day long by whatever is happening or going on. What does David do? He puts his trust in God and does not fear because he knows that no matter what happens God will be his refuge. God will show mercy to His people and He will protect you for eternity whether in this life or through deathyou will be kept safe in the arms of God. Do not look at this life as all there is, for there is goodness and glory beyond comprehension awaiting us in eternity. James 4:13-15 reminds us that we are not in control, Now listen, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money. Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, If it is the Lords will, we will live and do this or that. Isaiah 40:7-14 and Is. 40:27-31 is part of a longer passage but well worth the read for the reminder and comfort it brings. The passage is reminiscent of Job, as well, who faced a multitude of suffering all at once. He came to the same conclusion who is God that we would question His purpose even in the hard things of life? 'The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever. You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, Here is your God! See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? Who can fathom the Spirit of the LORD, or instruct the LORD as his counselor? Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge, or showed him the path of understanding? (Is. 40:7-24) Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Is. 40:27-31) This promise is everything. It should mean everything to Gods children what is most important in life is trusting God through all thingsknowing there is something infinitely better waiting for us at the end of this earthly race. So lets run it well, lets run it with peace in our hearts, and lets run it with our eyes on the One true God. He is our Heavenly Father, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Prince of Peace, Savior of the World, and Everlasting Spirit. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and JacobHe is your God and mine. Greatly is He to be praised in all circumstances at all times. Let us be grateful for each day we are given no matter the hardship, for His grace and mercy cover us in all things. Related: Are Christians to Be Free from Sickness and Disease? How Should We Act in the Midst of Uncertainty? Being grateful in the midst of trials does not mean that Christians are to be some sort of stoic never showing emotion or pain; it means when you are in pain, when you are down, when you are ill and when you are suffering you can go to Him in prayer, you can put your trust in His ultimate healing (whether on this earth or in death), you can find peace in His refuge because your soul is safe in His hands. It means you can call on your church and friends to pray with you and help you, it means in all things look to God and be comforted because He is in control. Quiet faith does not mean we stop working for God's kingdom. God will still provide opportunities in this quarantine from the coronavirus. Ask God to allow you to help people in this time, whether through prayer, a phone call, volunteering to get groceries for an older couple in your church etc. You can still share the gospel with others from home; share your hardship and share how God is with you every step of the way. Let them know that its not easy, sometimes we fail to remember God's promises, sometimes we fail to enjoy Gods presencebut theres grace, abounding grace, because of the sacrifice Jesus made for us. His life covers all our misdeeds, our doubts, our caved temptationsthrough the helper He left us with. Through God the Holy Spirit, we are being sanctified each day for our good and God's glory. We are being made holy each day, through our failures and through our gratitude, the Lord is making us new each day. Do not be discouraged at what life brings or about personal failures because God is with us through it all. Jesus died while we were yet sinnersthat means we dont have it all together, we can never have it altogether without Jesus who grants us His perfect life record, paying the penalty for sin and death, granting us eternal life now and to come. Cling to the hope and promise that you belong to God and no one and nothing can remove you from His protection. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10:28 Related: Prayers for the Coronavirus Pandemic: Photo credit: GettyImages/tommaso79 Liz Auld is the managing editor for Salem Web Network; she edits and writes content across the editorial sites (Crosswalk.com, Biblestudytools.com, iBelieve.com, Christianity.com). She has a B.A. in Religious Studies and has taken post-graduate classes in Theology and Global Studies. She enjoys reading books from a variety of genres, trying new recipes, and visiting family. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh announced that the city has hired a consulting firm to review and help coordinate its response to the coronavirus outbreak. The McChrystal Group, which will be led by retired four-star Army general Stanley McChrystal, will work to help coordinate response efforts, ensure the best use of the citys resources and communicate plans to residents during the crisis, Walsh told reporters on Monday. The team of experts began their work on Sunday. We expect that this work will be done with urgency, he said. Our goal is to share the insights and best practices of The McChrystal Group with cities and towns across the Commonwealth, if its helpful to them. There are 133 cases of COVID-19 among Boston residents, Walsh said. Fifteen people have recovered from the virus in Boston, meaning they had two consecutive negative test results, Walsh said. Two Boston residents have died from coronavirus-related illness. These are interesting times, and well get through them, Walsh said. Statewide, there are 777 cases of the virus, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported Monday. Nine people have died as of Monday. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency earlier this month and ordered school programming to be canceled through April 6. He has also deployed the Massachusetts National Guard to help. On Monday, Baker ordered all non-essential business closed and limited gatherings to fewer than 10 people. Essential operations, like grocery stores, pharmacies, mortuaries and transportation workers, as well as first responders and health care workers, can continue. Related Content: The Nepal government has closed its borders with India and China for a week starting Monday, in a bid to prevent a possible outbreak of the novel coronavirus in the Himalayan nation. Although the cross-border human movement is halted till midnight of March 29, supply of goods from the countries will continue as usual, Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada told a press conference on Sunday night. "The government took the decision to seal both the southern and the northern borders as the entire South Asia and South East Asia are heavily affected by the coronavirus pandemic. There is a greater risk of the disease spreading into Nepal due to cross-border human movement," Khatiwada said. Nepal, which shares an 1,800-km open border with India, has total 37 motorable land entry points with it, while with China it has four such entry points. The government's decision to seal the border with India and China came following its decision to suspend all international flights to and from Nepal effective from March 22 to March 31 as a precautionary measure to control the spread of COVID-19. Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa on Sunday held a discussion with Indian Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra on closing the border, officials said, adding that the two sides agreed to cooperate with each other to contain the coronavirus spread. The Nepal government will develop the Armed Police Force (APF) hospital in Kathmandu as a dedicated medical centre for COVID-19 patients, Khatiwada said. The government will deploy medics from the Nepal Army, Nepal Police and the paramilitary forces to treat COVID-19 cases, if any, he said. The government has also decided to set up quarantine facilities at provincial and local levels as a precautionary measure to provide quick treatment to people infected with the deadly virus. Khatiwada said the government will contribute Rs 500 million to the Corona virus fund it has created to purchase logistics to be used for the treatment of COVID-19 patients in case of an outbreak. All Cabinet ministers will donate their one-month salary to the fund, he said. Meanwhile, prominent industrialist and Norvic International Hospital chairman Basanta Kumar Chaudhary has announced to donate NPR 100 million to fund. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An accused drug trafficker has been granted bail because of the threat coronavirus poses to the prison and justice system, in what is believed to be a Victorian first. Supreme Court judge Lex Lasrys decision to grant a 32-year-old Ballarat woman bail last week is expected to pave the way for a surge in bail applications from people wanting to get out of jail before any COVID-19 outbreak in the prison system. A surge in the number of bail applications is expected. The present circumstances change the dynamics of an application such as this quite dramatically, Justice Lasry said. This is not an ordinary application in an ordinary time. "With the total number of medical spas, plastic surgeons and cosmetic dermatologists in this country, we should be able to donate well over a million dollars worth of supplies. And thats the goal. The American Med Spa Association (AmSpa) on Monday announced an initiative to donate millions of dollars worth of personal protective equipment (PPE) to hospitals and caregivers across the United States to help combat the growing shortages due to the COVID-19 crisis. Medical spas provide voluntary aesthetic medical treatments, such as Botox, lip fillers and laser rejuvenation services, to patients worldwide. With 3,000 members and growing, AmSpa is the largest association of medical spas and aesthetic clinics in the United States. Medical spas and aesthetic clinics are in a unique position because, as medical facilities, we utilize some of the personal protective equipment that is at such a shortage nationwide, says Alex R.Thiersch, JD, founder and CEO of AmSpa. Since most medical spas are closed because they only provide voluntary, non-essential medical services, we need to do our part and make sure any PPE in our possession gets to the folks who really need it. Last Thursday, AmSpa called on all medical spas and aesthetic clinics to close nationwide to assist in reducing the spread of coronavirus. Now, AmSpa is calling on those same medical spas to donate any gloves, swabs, gowns and masks they have to their local hospitals or other hospitals in need in the hopes that the industry can help protect those medical professionals who are dealing with the pandemic. If your medical spa or aesthetic clinic has supplies but doesnt have a local hospital in need, please log on to http://www.donateppe.org and donate through this site to make sure your supplies get to those who need them the most. Thiersch also is calling on all plastic and cosmetic surgeons performing non-essential aesthetic surgeries to participate in the PPE drive, as well. This is all hands on deck, says Thiersch. Our health care workers on the front lines need the supplies and if you have some, please donate them immediately to your local hospital. With the total number of medical spas, plastic surgeons and cosmetic dermatologists in this country, we should be able to donate well over a million dollars worth of supplies. And thats the goal. To that end, Thiersch requests that medical spas that donate PPE for this cause keep track of the value of these supplies and take photos of the donations taking place, so that the industry can create a document of this moment in history. Participating medical aesthetic practices are asked to complete the form that can be found at this link about your donation, and upload a picture of the medical supplies being shipped to your local hospital: https://americanmedspa.typeform.com/to/DtWcIe Along with that, those who donate are encouraged to share their efforts with AmSpa on Instagram. Take the photo of your donations mentioned above and post it on your Instagram account using the hashtag #AmSpaPPEDrive. Please tag @AmSpa_AmericanMedSpa and caption what you donated for a chance to be featured on AmSpas social media channels. About the American Med Spa Association (AmSpa) The American Med Spa Association (AmSpa) provides business and legal resources to medical spas and aesthetic practices across the country. AmSpas eventsincluding Medical Spa & Aesthetic Boot Camps and The Medical Spa Showprovide business and legal best-practices to anyone entering the medical spa space or looking to improve their existing practice. AmSpa members receive access to legal summaries of laws governing medical spas in their state, discounts, a robust and growing webinar library, and many other benefits. For more information visit http://www.americanmedspa.org, call 312-981-0993, or email info@americanmedspa.org. A young mother who has recently returned to work at Sainsbury's after taking time off while her two-year-old daughter fought cancer has revealed she's been spat at, pushed and threatened by panic buyers. Shannon Latham, 24, from Blackpool watched helplessly as her two-year-old daughter, Cleo, was intubated and kept alive on life support after a year-long fight with an aggressive form of cancer. She thought her ordeal was over when Cleo started to recover and she was able to return to work a few weeks ago, but has now blasted shoppers who push and shove her as she guards toilet rolls, verbally abuse her, spit on the floor at her feet Shannon said she she may have to leave the job she loves because of greedy hoarders who abuse, push and threaten her as the battle of Britain's shopping aisles rages. The checkout worker said: 'I have no choice but to leave the house and go to work to continue helping feed the nation and I don't deserve to be downgraded and spoken to in such disgusting manner. Shannon Latham, 24, has recently returned to work at Sainsbury's after taking time off while her two-year-old daughter fought cancer. She has revealed she's been spat at, pushed and threatened by panic buyers The tot endured gruelling rounds of chemotherapy and even had to be resuscitated following a massive cardiac arrest. Thankfully, Cleo bounced back and mum, Shannon, returned to work at Sainsburys a few weeks ago following a year in hospital with her daughter. The Sainsbury's checkout worker (pictured left in uniform) said: 'I have no choice but to leave the house and go to work to continue helping feed the nation and I don't deserve to be downgraded and spoken to in such disgusting manner. She added she was worried for her immunosuppresed daughter, pictured right 'On one occasion when I was guarding toilet rolls, other decent customers were appalled and security and another colleague had to come assist me. 'I do not enjoy putting myself at risk of this virus daily, then going home and risking giving it to my adrenal insufficient and immunosuppressive daughter. 'What makes people think I want to go to work and be abused? I absolutely do not. 'What people don't understand is that supermarket workers have families too, we are only humans and we are still going to work to help. Despite Shannon and Cleo's dad, Ryan, being told to expect the worst, the youngster, now aged three, finally rang the cancer ward bell in in December, signalling an end to treatment (pictured) 'You don't ever want to see your child intubated trust me, and her ordeal should be a reminder to everyone to stay at home and stop spreading this illness.' Shannon was given the devastating news in January 2019 that her two-year-old daughter had cancer after her stomach swelled so much it left her looking pregnant. Cleo also began showing early signs of puberty, including pubic hair, mood swings and greasy hair. But tests revealed that Cleo was in fact suffering from a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Shannon returned to her job at Sainsburys (pictured in uniform) in January and says the firm showed her nothing but support during her daughter's illness. But now she fears she may have to give up the job she loves Despite Shannon and Cleo's dad, Ryan, being told to expect the worst, the youngster, now aged three, finally rang the cancer ward bell in in December, signalling an end to treatment. Shannon returned to her job at Sainsburys in January and says the firm showed her nothing but support during her daughter's illness. But now she fears she may have to give up the job she loves. She said: 'I'm so proud of Cleo and wish I was as strong as her, she's an inspiration to everyone, she deserves the world and hopefully she'll be able to live her life like a normal child. Shannon was given the devastating news in January 2019 that her two-year-old daughter had cancer after her stomach swelled so much it left her looking pregnant. Cleo (pictured) also began showing early signs of puberty, including pubic hair, mood swings and greasy hair. Shannon said: 'I'm so proud of Cleo (pictured) and wish I was as strong as her, she's an inspiration to everyone, she deserves the world and hopefully she'll be able to live her life like a normal child' Cleo, pictured in hospital, has now recovered from her rare form of aggressive cancer 'I don't want to put my daughter at risk but I've had to return to work because as a family, we still need to live and I need to earn money to feed my three daughters. 'I love my job and I love the idea that I can really help people at this awful time. 'What I don't deserve is abuse from shoppers.' It comes as the UK coronavirus death toll reached 281. Deaths jumped by 48 in 24 hours yesterday, with victims aged between 18 and 102. The 18-year-old, who had underline health conditions and lived in the West Midlands, is Britain's youngest victim so far. A&E doctor and Labour MP for Tooting Dr Rosena Allin-Khan warned Britain is 'heading for disaster' on a par with Italy's as hospitals in the UK approach full capacity. After completing a shift at St George's Hospital in south London over the weekend she stressed it is not just elderly and vulnerable patients at risk of dying of the virus. Young and healthy Britons are being admitted to intensive care units, with a 36-year-old nurse from the West Midlands currently on life support. As of 9am on Sunday, 78,340 people had been tested for coronavirus in the UK, with 5,683 patients confirmed positive. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the Government is ready to impose tougher restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus if people do not follow the guidance on social distancing. His warning came after parks, beaches and nature reserves were pictured Northern Irelands Chief Pharmaceutical Officer Cathy Harrison said the volume of prescription orders has quadrupled in some pharmacies amid the coronavirus crisis.Screenshot taken from NI Assembly website. The volume of prescription orders in Northern Ireland has quadrupled in some pharmacies amid the coronavirus crisis. As community pharmacies across the country face mounting pressure, Northern Irelands Chief Pharmaceutical Officer made a plea to the public not to stockpile medication. Cathy Harrison told the Northern Ireland Health Committee on Monday that GPs have ordered double the amount of paper to print their prescriptions. Despite repeated warnings for people who need medication not to stockpile, pharmacies have been flooded with orders. Chief Pharmaceutical Officer @cathyharrison00 tells the Committee that the supply chain of medicines is working. There is no need to stock pile medicines. Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for Health (@niahealth) March 23, 2020 The Chief Pharmaceutical Officer said the coronavirus has not caused a shortage, adding that the general medicine supply chain is flowing across the UK. However, the demand from the public for prescription medicines has been tremendous, she said. In Northern Ireland some of our pharmacies are reporting more than four times the volume of prescription items. Unfortunately, the messages around stockpiling and over-ordering have not totally got through to the public and I would really like to make a plea to people that there is no need to over-order and theres no need to stockpile medicines, that weve got to keep that medicine supply chain flowing. The virus is like nothing this generation has ever faced before, and its devastating consequences are there for all to see.Pam Cameron Unfortunately, there are always pressures in the supply chain and at the moment I envisage short term pressures caused by this incredible spike in demand. We can take action to address particular concerns but in general the supply chain is flowing but it does rely very much on everyone playing their part, not over ordering or stockpiling medicines of any type. She said there are around 200 recently retired pharmacists that could return to the register to help ease pressure in community pharmacies. Ms Harrison told the Health Committee they are focusing on retired pharmacists before moving to recently graduated pharmacists and students in their final year at university. She said they are not considering introducing mandatory measures as they have received a great response from pharmacists who want to help. The committee also heard that community pharmacies are being supported in helping with the delivery of prescriptions to those who need it the most. The advice for everyone is, where possible ask a family member, a friend or a neighbour to collect your prescriptions for you, Ms Harrison added. Then in extreme situations when people have no other help at all the pharmacies would be in a position to deliver, but we really have to preserve those services for the people who are most in need for deliveries. DUP MLA Pam Cameron warned the public to act responsibly and heed health experts advice. The deputy chair of the health committee said: Now is not the time for complacency or ignoring warnings. The virus is like nothing this generation has ever faced before, and its devastating consequences are there for all to see from China, Iran, Italy and other parts of the world. Were living in extraordinary times and we must all act responsibly to get through this together. The Government advice on self-isolation and social distancing must be followed or else the consequences for our families and communities could be fatal. To those ignoring the seriousness of the situation, please listen to the expert medical advice and consider others who you might come into contact with. I have confidence that the defiant spirit of our people will see this through. Temporary sacrifices in our daily lives can give us the time to prepare and finally overcome this virus for good, but this will only happen if we follow the expert advice that was given. Ms Cameron commended the thousands of health care workers. Your dedication and bravery in the face of this threat is an inspiration to us all. As a community we must not let you down by ignoring the guidance. To the people in Northern Ireland: stay positive and take precautions. A team led by UC Riverside geologists has discovered the first ancestor on the family tree that contains most familiar animals today, including humans. The tiny, wormlike creature, named Ikaria wariootia, is the earliest bilaterian, or organism with a front and back, two symmetrical sides, and openings at either end connected by a gut. The paper is published today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The earliest multicellular organisms, such as sponges and algal mats, had variable shapes. Collectively known as the Ediacaran Biota, this group contains the oldest fossils of complex, multicellular organisms. However, most of these are not directly related to animals around today, including lily pad-shaped creatures known as Dickinsonia that lack basic features of most animals, such as a mouth or gut. The development of bilateral symmetry was a critical step in the evolution of animal life, giving organisms the ability to move purposefully and a common, yet successful way to organize their bodies. A multitude of animals, from worms to insects to dinosaurs to humans, are organized around this same basic bilaterian body plan. Evolutionary biologists studying the genetics of modern animals predicted the oldest ancestor of all bilaterians would have been simple and small, with rudimentary sensory organs. Preserving and identifying the fossilized remains of such an animal was thought to be difficult, if not impossible. For 15 years, scientists agreed that fossilized burrows found in 555 million-year-old Ediacaran Period deposits in Nilpena, South Australia, were made by bilaterians. But there was no sign of the creature that made the burrows, leaving scientists with nothing but speculation. Scott Evans, a recent doctoral graduate from UC Riverside; and Mary Droser, a professor of geology, noticed miniscule, oval impressions near some of these burrows. With funding from a NASA exobiology grant, they used a three-dimensional laser scanner that revealed the regular, consistent shape of a cylindrical body with a distinct head and tail and faintly grooved musculature. The animal ranged between 2-7 millimeters long and about 1-2.5 millimeters wide, with the largest the size and shape of a grain of rice -- just the right size to have made the burrows. "We thought these animals should have existed during this interval, but always understood they would be difficult to recognize," Evans said. "Once we had the 3D scans, we knew that we had made an important discovery." The researchers, who include Ian Hughes of UC San Diego and James Gehling of the South Australia Museum, describe Ikaria wariootia, named to acknowledge the original custodians of the land. The genus name comes from Ikara, which means "meeting place" in the Adnyamathanha language. It's the Adnyamathanha name for a grouping of mountains known in English as Wilpena Pound. The species name comes from Warioota Creek, which runs from the Flinders Ranges to Nilpena Station. "Burrows of Ikaria occur lower than anything else. It's the oldest fossil we get with this type of complexity," Droser said. "Dickinsonia and other big things were probably evolutionary dead ends. We knew that we also had lots of little things and thought these might have been the early bilaterians that we were looking for." In spite of its relatively simple shape, Ikaria was complex compared to other fossils from this period. It burrowed in thin layers of well-oxygenated sand on the ocean floor in search of organic matter, indicating rudimentary sensory abilities. The depth and curvature of Ikaria represent clearly distinct front and rear ends, supporting the directed movement found in the burrows. The burrows also preserve crosswise, "V"-shaped ridges, suggesting Ikaria moved by contracting muscles across its body like a worm, known as peristaltic locomotion. Evidence of sediment displacement in the burrows and signs the organism fed on buried organic matter reveal Ikaria probably had a mouth, anus, and gut. "This is what evolutionary biologists predicted," Droser said. "It's really exciting that what we have found lines up so neatly with their prediction." ### Ashes to ashes and dust to dust is a common refrain often heard at funerals, or more specifically, at the grave site right before burial. However not everyone has a traditional burial. More and more people are choosing cremation. In a recent survey conducted by Choice Mutual, 44% of Americans prefer cremation while only 35% prefer traditional burial. One of the major reasons people choose cremation is because of the high cost of funerals which average between $7,000 - $12,000. Compare that to cremation, which can cost as little as $1,000. However, as Christians we cant just make cost the final reason. We must also consider what the Bible say about cremation. In case youre wondering, the Bible doesnt say specifically that cremation is wrong. But lets dig a little deeper so we can have full perspective on this issue. What Happens to the Body at Death? In Genesis, we know that man was formed from the dust of the ground. After Adam and Eve sinned, death entered the world. Because of their sin, we now face suffering and death. Here is what happens to our bodies after death: By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return (Genesis 3:19). The natural evolution of the body after death is that it will eventually return to dust. The length of this process can vary depending on how the body is treated after death, but regardless it is going to happen. You might even consider cremation as the express version of what is going to happen naturally. In biblical times within the nation of Israel, cremation was not practiced burial was the tradition. We see this in both the Old and New testaments. Here are two examples: 1 Kings 2:10 Then David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. Acts 8:2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. These are just two examples but there were plenty others including Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, Hezekiah, Lazarus, even Jesus himself. Burial was an important part of the process of mourning and respecting those who had died. In spite of this, the Bible doesnt make any mandate that the body at death has to be treated in this fashion. This could be seen very much as a cultural decision and not necessarily a spiritual one. Was Anyone Ever Cremated in the Bible? We do find in Scripture an instance where a dead body was cremated. After Saul and his sons died on Mount Gilboa, the Philistines found their bodies. They cut off Sauls head and hung the bodies of Saul and his sons on the wall of the city of Beth-shan. Here is what happened in response. 1 Samuel 31:11-13 When the people of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, all their valiant men marched through the night to Beth Shan. They took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth Shan and went to Jabesh, where they burned them. Then they took their bones and buried them under a tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and they fasted seven days. While we cant draw specific conclusions as to why the decision was made to burn the bodies, what we can glean from this is that cremation is not considered sinful. Its quite possible the men who did this were actually honoring the bodies of Saul and his son which had been desecrated by the Philistines. I am not saying cremation is honorable or not, but in this case, that could have been the motivation. Photo credit: Getty Images/Marc Bruxelle Will Cremation Impact Your Soul? Cremation has no impact on your soul. The most important thing that will impact your soul is your relationship with Jesus Christ. If he is your Lord and Savior, then your soul is fine. Jesus said in John 11:25 I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die. You can rest confidently knowing that you are safe in Christ and cremation wont change that. Remember Romans 8:38-39 that gives you assurance that there is nothing that can separate you from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. So, cremation will not separate you from Gods love and will not affect your eternal destiny. Even though cremation does not impact your soul, you might be wondering if it will affect your resurrected body. Not to sound coy but some may think if I am cremated how can God resurrect my ashes? This thought may be even more prevalent in cases where people choose to spread their ashes. It is important to remember that your resurrected body will not be anything like your natural body, it will be far superior. In 1 John 3:2 it says Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Our earthly bodies have their origin from the dust of the earth and when we die that is where our bodies return. Our new bodies will have their origin from heaven and thus will be able to exist eternally because we will have the same type of body that Jesus does. In other words, God is not recreating your body from the dust of the earth, but recreating your body from the glory of heaven. This will apply regardless if your body is cremated or if it naturally decays over time. Should You Choose Cremation? The underlying tone to this question and what you might really be asking is this, Is choosing cremation sinful? The answer takes us back to our original question: what does the Bible say about creation? In this case, there is no indication from Scripture that you are sinning if you choose cremation. With that being the case, whether you choose it or not is a personal decision. I will tell you if you make this your decision, there will be people who may disagree with you. However, the case for their disagreement isnt really scriptural but personal. Since God has not made a definitive statement on this matter, you have the freedom to decide what you think is best for you. What Does it All Mean? As I said from the beginning, you can view cremation as the express method of what is going to happen to your physical body after you die. When you look at all the factors and add in what the Bible says about cremation, you can put your mind at ease knowing that you can decide what you want to be done with your body once you die. If you are in Christ you are safe and will be with him forever. Besides, lets not spend so much time thinking about this corruptible body and what we do with it at death. You should be rejoicing because there is a new incorruptible body that is waiting for you. At the end of it all, that is the body that truly matters most. Photo credit: Getty Images/Anze Furlan/psgtproductions German Chancellor Angela Merkel gives a media statement on the spread of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, March 22, 2020. Michel Kappeler/Pool via REUTERS The German chancellors first test for coronavirus has come back negative, her spokesman Steffen Seibert said on Monday afternoon. However, Merkel must remain under quarantine in her apartment in the Mitte district of Berlin, where she will be undergo further tests later in the week, Seibert said. The German leaders office issued an announcement on Sunday saying that Merkel would go into self-quarantine at home, as she had seen a doctor on Friday, who himself later tested positive for Covid-19. Before announcing her quarantine, Merkel had led a Sunday video-conference between the federal government and the heads of Germanys 16 states, where they agreed to impose nation-wide restrictions on people and public life to try and slow down the spread of the coronavirus. The rules, not recommendations as Merkel described them, include a ban on being outside in a group of more than two people, and a shutdown of all restaurants apart from for take-away orders. READ MORE: Germany bids goodbye to black zero with 750bn coronavirus package As of Monday afternoon (23 March) Germany has 27,546 confirmed coronavirus cases, and 115 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. Merkel, who lives in a comparatively modest apartment in Berlin with her husband Joachim Sauer, was spotted in her local Berlin supermarket last week buying two rolls of toilet paper, three bottles of wine, and sundries. She has repeatedly warned against stockpiling, or hamster buying as it is called in Germany. The Bild tabloid pointed out that she paid with card, avoiding unnecessary contact. SPOTTED! Angela Merkel shopping in local supermarket in Berlin : wine and toilet paper .. no hoarding #coronavirus https://t.co/kvvBmDHt4Z katya adler (@BBCkatyaadler) March 21, 2020 Her spokesman today refused to comment on whether Merkels husband was now forced to quarantine with her in the flat. Story continues Merkel is not the first world leader to go into self-quarantine. Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau is also isolated at home after his wife tested positive for the virus. Many have tested positive for Covid-19, including the European Unions chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, Monacos Prince Albert, and Begona Gomez, the wife of Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez. The German government said today it has now flown home 120,000 of some 200,000 German tourists, who were marooned abroad; it had earmarked 50m for the repatriation effort. Earlier today, the government green-lit a 750bn package of fiscal stimulus and measures to protect companies, jobs, and the economy as it fights the effects of coronavirus, abandoning its constitutional ban on taking on fresh debt. The law was allowed to be relaxed in extraordinary cases. As the coronavirus crisis deepens, Education Minister Stephen Lecce is reassuring parents more measures are in the works to keep kids learning if the two-week suspension of school is extended past April 6. Efforts are also underway with the Ministry of Colleges and Universities to make sure graduating students can apply for post-secondary spots regardless of the situation this semester, he said in an open letter released Sunday night. No graduating student will have their ability to graduate impacted by the two-week closure and COVID-19 developments, he added. We are preparing in the event the closure period is extended. Lecce pledged teachers will be involved as his ministry works with school boards to create online options. Well be providing guidelines and guidance to them, he told a news conference earlier in the day that was attended by a lone television camera operator and broadcast live to journalists watching safely at home. We know they want to be part of the solution, he added in a reference to teachers, giving a shout-out to many who have been working remotely with their students during March break following a series of rotating strikes by teacher unions. Unions representing public school elementary teachers and Catholic teachers have reached tentative contracts with the government, leaving the unions representing public high school teachers and teachers with French-language boards yet to settle. A key concern of teacher unions was the governments push for more online courses which will now be part of the measures to help students continue their course work and accumulation of credits. Lecce said the government has to find a solution for children who are not online at home to ensure students that currently do not have access to a computer gain the technology needed to participate. Last week he announced measures for the coming two weeks as children are out of school following the March break on the recommendation of Ontarios chief medical officer, Dr. David Williams. The government will rely on his advice on the merits of a longer closure. Some other jurisdictions have suspended school indefinitely given the trajectory of the new coronavirus is unknown. In any event, school boards will be given extra funding for deep cleaning of schools, daycare centres located in schools and school buses, Lecce said. He recommended parents who need help explaining the dramatic and frightening circumstances around COVID-19 get in touch with Kids Help Phone at kidshelpphone.ca or 1-800-668-6868. New Delhi: In the wake of the novel coronavirus outbreak, the lockdown has been extended to 30 states and Union Territories, covering 548 districts, according to Centre's communication to state governments. Three states/UTs, however, have imposed lockdown in certain areas of their territories covering as many as 58 districts. Curfew has been imposed in Punjab, Maharashtra, and Puducherry on Monday (March 23) as state governments acted with a sense of urgency to strictly enforce the restrictions on the movement of people, deploying police on streets, sealing borders and booking violators. Punjab became the first state to go ahead with a curfew as Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh today announced a state-wide curfew in order to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. The state government also announced Rs 20 crore from the Chief Minister`s relief fund to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. The Chief Minister, after reviewing the situation with Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh and DGP Dinkar Gupta, announced "full curfew with no relaxations." The orders came as Amarinder Singh announced a slew of relief measures to support the affected masses as a result of the restrictions imposed in the light of the growing coronavirus threat. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray also imposed the curfew across the state to check the spread of coronavirus. Issuing a message to people of Maharashtra, through social media, Thackeray said, "Today I am compelled to announce a statewide curfew. People were not listening and we are compelled." Thackeray further adding, "Essentials like groceries, milk, bakery, medical, etc will remain open. People need not panic. All religious places will remain closed. Only the priests and clerics alone will be inside and pray." The state has reported 97 cases. Meanwhile in Delhi on Monday night, Section 144 of CrPC was imposed. Delhi Police Commissioner SN Srivastava told ANI, "In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed in Delhi. We expect that everyone will stay at home other than people related to essential services. Strict action will be taken against those who will not follow the restrictions." Earlier today, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that lockdown imposed in the backdrop of coronavirus pandemic will strictly be enforced in the national capital as Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked the state governments to ensure that rules of lockdown are followed properly. Kejriwal tweeted, "I completely agree with you, Sir. Today, several people violated the lockdown. This is not acceptable. Due to this, the health of all citizens is at risk. This would be strictly enforced in Delhi." Meanwhile, the lockdown was also imposed in many districts of six other states and UTs, but concerns mounted that people were not following the restrictions, prompting the Centre to ask the states to take strict legal action against those defying the curbs and increasing the risk of community transmission as the number of cases mounted to above 430. According to media reports, Kerala, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Manipur, Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh ordered statewide lockdown on Monday till March 31, joining Delhi, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Nagaland. Similar curbs were announced in multiple districts of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, allowing only essential services, barring people from venturing out and restricting entry and exit of people at borders. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami told the Assembly that the state will be under a lockdown till March 31 from 6 PM on Tuesday. Several state governments have also issued advisory to private establishments not to terminate employees or reduce wages. A day after the Janta curfew, when people voluntarily stayed indoors for 14 hours across the country, people were seen on roads, markets and heading to bus terminals. This irked Prime Minister Narendra Modi who lamented that the people were not following the restrictions seriously. He urged the states to ensure that rules and regulations are followed. After the suspension of all passenger trains and interstate bus services till March 31, the central government today announced that no domestic flight will be allowed to operate in the country from midnight Tuesday till the month-end. Like Punjab, Delhi, and Maharashtra, other chief ministers have also urged the people to strictly follow the restrictions, warning that action will be taken against the violators. Twenty-nine people have been booked in Rajasthan for violating prohibitory orders and spreading rumours, while a case was registered in Ahmedabad against the group of residents who assembled on Sunday evening in Khadia when people rang bells and other instruments to pay tributes to the frontline staff involved in the fight against coronavirus. The action was also taken against people violating quarantine guidelines. In Odisha, police said criminal cases were registered against four persons including a Bhubaneswar-based couple, for violating quarantine guidelines. In Kerala, priest Pauly Padayatti, Vicar of the Lady of Perpetual Help Church at Koodapuzha in Chalakudy, was arrested and later let off on bail for conducting a mass on Monday morning in which at least 100 people had participated, police told PTI. Police personnel, wearing masks, were deployed in strength across the Jammu region to enforce the lockdown to counter the spread of novel coronavirus in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Over 35 districts in Madhya Pradesh have so far declared lockdown, including state capital Bhopal, where new Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan was administered the oath of office on Monday at 9 pm. Notably, establishments providing essential services like the ones tasked with law and order and magisterial duties, police, medical and health, sanitation, fire services, banks and ATMs, electricity, water supply, etc are out of the purview of restrictions. Egypts interior ministry dismissed on Monday a statement published by a fake Facebook page attributed to the ministry'' claiming that a curfew will be imposed starting Monday as a precautionary measure against the coronavirus. Such rumors aim to create confusion among the public... and legal measures are being taken against the page and those who manage it, the ministry said in a statement. The Ministry of the Interior stressed that all news or releases it issues are published through its official Facebook page only (www.facebook.com/moiegy), and any other pages are not affiliated with the ministry. Later on Monday, the Interior ministry announced that the owner of the forged Facebook page had been arrested and he would be subject to legal procedures. Search Keywords: Short link: Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday said tribal women of naxal-affected Dantewada in Chhattisgarh have been engaged by NMDC in production of masks and sanitisers, which have been in high demand amid the coronavirus outbreak. NMDC, under the administrative control of the Ministry of Steel, is the country's largest iron ore miner. In a media statement, the minister informed he has"involved tribal women from Dantewada in the fight against coronavirus." Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) of Dantewada will make masks and hand sanitisers for NMDC which will be distributed among its employees, he said. The PSU has been taking various measures to contain spread of the virus, he said adding NMDC will also give an additional financial assistance of Rs 1,000 to all its regular and contractual employees in "this challenging time". An NMDC official said the masks and sanitizers which are being manufactured as per suggestions of World Health Organization (WHO) will be distributed to its employees and to the needy villagers living in the periphery of operational mining projects of the company free of cost. Maximum women in SHGs are tribal from Dantewada which is a naxal affected region, the official said. The chemical for manufacturing of sanitisers has been sourced from Visakhapatnam, he added. "NMDC has ordered mask to one SHG which will manufacture 10,000 masks in first phase. Another SHG of same district will manufacturer sanitiser as per chemical formula suggested by the WHO," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pedestrians walk past graffiti urging people to 'wash their hands' in the Grafton Street area of Dublin. Photo: AFP via Getty Images A rapidly growing number of Irish organisations, including the HSE, are turning to an Italian firm that uses ozone gas to kill Covid-19 and other viruses in rooms and vehicles. More than 1,000 portable sanitation units developed by Sanity System of Limena, Italy, have been sold in Ireland this year - five times the level of sales for all of 2019, according to its local distributor, Bunzl Irish Merchants. Bunzl managing director Paul Candon said use of ozone gas to kill viruses and bacteria in enclosed spaces was catching on quickly amid the crisis. Mr Candon said the HSE uses Sanity Systems units to clean ambulances and other "high-risk vehicles". He sees the technology growing even after the Covid-19 threat ebbs. "If a business has a sign on display, on a bed or in a hired car, saying 'this is a sanitised environment', it will give customers much-needed comfort and confidence," he said. Sales director Robert Kane said the units - which cost 2,300 to 4,100 - "sanitise all surfaces, including difficult-to-reach places". Enrollments have fallen at business schools in recent years, with critics questioning their relevance, students fretting over their cost and professors worried about their future. Most two-year programs offering a masters in business administration saw a drop in applications last year, according to the Graduate Management Admission Council. A decrease in international students due to restrictive immigration policies and a reduction in American students who are choosing to keep working during a strong economy are to blame, the council reported. But there also has been a growing sense that MBA programs have not kept up with the times. Data and financial analysis, along with artificial intelligence, are the hot new fields. The traditional case-study method pioneered at Harvard Business School feels out of date. The deans at two of Texas top business schools are rolling out new curricula, and more importantly, new strategic visions. Tomlinsons Take: How UH students are helping Third Ward entrepreneurs Shannon Deer, assistant dean for graduate programs at Texas A&M Universitys Mays Business School, said students should expect cutting-edge curricula. A few years ago, we did mostly Harvard business school pieces, and you know, some of those cases might be new, and some of those cases might be old because they were really classic cases, Deer said. But now theyre analyzing real marketing data, and they have to make decisions with it. Employers expect graduates to know Tableau data visualization software, the R programming language for statistical computing and SQL programming for data management. Excel is no longer enough. A lot of our marketing students are going into data analytics roles when theyre graduating, which is a different kind of quantitative field than maybe a finance role, but still more quantitative than our students think coming into an MBA, Deer added. Mays is also working harder to attract applicants by partnering with BusinessCAS. The centralized application service allows students to identify and apply to multiple business schools at once. Were trying to do a better job of differentiating our brand, our culture, and the quality of what we offer to students in the market because it is competitive, Deer added. Paul Pavlou took over as dean at the C.T. Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston last year. Bauers entrepreneurship program ranks among the best in the nation, but Pavlou felt the college needed to roll out a new strategic vision to stay ahead. Were launching a comprehensive redesign, a rethinking of the MBA, he said. Pavlou wanted to lead the nation in online education before the new coronavirus spurred universities to shutter classrooms. The college also works with local employers to ensure students receive real-world experience. Our goal is to take all of our degrees, courses, everything online, he explained. One of the biggest challenges we have is more practical, real-life, face-to-face experiences. The emphasis on remote learning dovetails with the University of Houstons mission to provide affordable and accessible education, particularly to working students. Bauer still offers resident MBA programs, but will also offer accelerated and more convenient executive and professional programs. Pavlou plans to expand the number of specialized MBAs to 10 from eight over the next few years, mostly by teaming with other UH graduate programs in health care, law and public policy. Wed like to see students coming from all colleges to get an MBA as part of a joint degree, he said. Old-timers too often equate online education with old-fashioned correspondence courses, many of which were useless. While the full-time MBA program will still be mostly face-to-face, Pavlou insisted that online classes are becoming more interactive and sophisticated. We can replicate the classroom experience while providing the convenience and flexibility of online, he added. Tomlinsons Take: Texas economy depends on more skilled workers Both Deer and Pavlou face the challenging task of attracting students and then convincing them to take hard, technical courses that employers expect from an MBA graduate. Deer said many Mays students are not interested in programming and statistics until they meet with recruiters who ask for those skills. Pavlou acknowledged that students are both the customers for their program and the product. Working with industry is extremely important, thats why experiential learning is a hallmark of the college, he said. Preparing students for the best jobs is the mission, Pavlou added. Deer said a survey of the Mays MBA Class of 2019 saw their salaries rise from $59,766 before graduation to an average base salary of $111,834 after. The biggest challenge for employers today is finding workers with the right skills. An MBA can help, but only if you attend the right school and take the valuable courses. Tomlinson writes commentary about business, economics and policy. twitter.com/cltomlinson chris.tomlinson@chron.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Julien Mivielle (Agence France-Presse) Paris Mon, March 23, 2020 09:35 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206cae0ac 2 Business oil,oil-and-gas,oil-price,Russia,Saudi-Arabia,price-war Free Confronted with a dizzying drop in prices, oil firms face a real challenge as they try to cut investment spending in order to survive a coronavirus-induced collapse in demand coupled with a Russia-Saudi Arabia price war. Investment in oil exploration and production was set to hit just over half a trillion dollars this year according to the French research body IFPEN, as firms sought to maintain and expand output. But the emergence of the coronavirus, which has seen nations across the world confine citizens at home and shutter businesses to slow its spread, has upended all forecasts. The International Energy Agency, which advises oil-importing nations on energy policy, now expects the first annual drop in oil demand since 2009 during the global financial crisis, as the global economy tips into recession. Read also: We have many tanks to fill: Indonesia to make the most out of globally low oil prices The main international benchmark, Brent crude, has fallen from just shy of $60 per barrel to under $25 this week, before regaining some lost ground. The main US benchmark, WTI, tumbled from nearly US$54 to just over $20. Not all of the drop is due to the coronavirus. The price of oil had been supported for the past couple of years by production limits agreed by the OPEC oil cartel led by Saudi Arabia and a number of other producers including Russia. However Russia and Saudi Arabia failed to agree earlier this month on deeper cuts to take account of falling demand due to the coronavirus pandemic. Saudi Arabia subsequently slashed prices and announced it would boost output and Russia followed suit, leading to the vertiginous drop in prices. Cut and shift "All companies in the sector will be seeing what more they can do to cut costs, shift their activities to the lowest cost fields they can, trim investment and think hard about what dividend they can pay," said Professor David Elmes at Warwick Business School. While reducing investment is relatively easy in the near term, the longer prices remain low the more firms will need to look at shutting down production that is more expensive, such as offshore. "For the majors, the prospect of $30 per barrel of oil or below for a period of time is an extreme challenge," said Biraj Borkhataria, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets. He said that if these prices persist more than six months, then oil majors would need to cut into the generous dividends they pay -- which is why they are prized by many investors -- and that prospect has already been partly incorporated into their share prices. 'Unprecedented' Saudi Aramco says it will cut investment to $25-$30 billion this year, a modest drop on the $32.8 billion it spent last year. "Based on this unprecedented environment, we are evaluating all appropriate steps to significantly reduce capital and operating expenses in the near term," said Exxon Mobil Corporation's chief executive Darren Woods. British oil major BP is targeting a 20 percent drop in spending this year, its chief financial officer Brian Gilvary said in an interview on Bloomberg television. There are also many smaller oil companies who may struggle. Brent crude oil prices collapse by most since 1991 as 'OPEC+' disintegrates. (Reuters/-) "The medium-sized independent companies will be hit hard," said Moez Ajmi at auditing firm EY in France. "Decisions will be taken to delay projects and we'll see restructurings of debt." The boom in shale oil production made the United States the world's top producer and even a net exporter, but the industry is fragile. Many of the independent shale firms have been built on debt and even before the drop in prices had trouble turning a profit, according to analysts. Poor returns Environmental activists can barely hide their joy at the difficulties the oil industry faces. "We consider it is pretty much good news considering that these (exploration and development) projects shouldn't see the light of day given the urgency of climate change," said Cecile Marchand of the French chapter of Friends of the Earth. She acknowledged abandoning these projects may not be permanent unless major political and economic policy changes are made. Marchand also warned of the risk of "a concentration of the market in the hands of the majors who are more resilient that the small firms." Elmes at Warwick Business School said some positive outcomes were also possible. The European oil and gas majors have already indicated they intend to reduce their reliance on these fuels and become more active in renewables such as wind and solar. "There will be intense discussions on what they can do to move faster," he said. The industry as a whole may also find it is no longer the darling of investors. "Bankers will throw up their hands and bend to the pressure from institutional investors now demanding transparency for the emissions associated with their investments," said Elmes. "The profitability of the oil and gas sector used to be attractively high but now it has the worst return over the last five years across 33 different industries," he noted. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Louisiana grew faster in the first 14 days than anywhere else in the world, data shows. The states number of COVID-19 cases grew 67.8% in the first two weeks after the initial diagnosis on March 9, a figure that outpaced New York, which saw its cases grow by 66.1% after getting its first diagnosis, according to data compiled by Gary Wagner, Acadiana Business Economist at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Coronavirus cases in Louisiana up to 1,172, including 34 deaths, more cases in Acadiana The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Louisiana increased over the past 24 hours from 837 to 1,172 with 14 additional deaths, bringi The growth rate in Louisiana is also similar to Italy and Spain in number of cases after 100 positive tests. Gov. John Bel Edwards issued a statewide stay-at-home order until April 12 in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus. I would say that Louisiana was not on and still is not on a very good trajectory compared to other countries in the world who have been exposed to the virus longer than we have, Wagner said. What a lot of people are worried about and you can see this happening in Italy you have this huge growth in cases and you have a huge percentage of people diagnosed that require hospitalization. You can quickly overwhelm the ability to provide health care services. In two weeks, Louisiana went from zero to 837 confirmed cases and 20 deaths in 36 of its 64 parishes. Most of the cases were reported in the New Orleans area, and Orleans Parish reported 106.9 confirmed cases per 100,000 residents, a mark that was fifth-highest among counties in the country behind New York County and Westchester County in New York. As of Tuesday afternoon, Louisiana has 1,388 positive tests and 46 deaths, Louisiana Department of Health data shows. Louisianas rate compared to Italy does not mean that the state was hit the worst by the virus, Wagner noted. Italy, which data shows had 1,128 cases after two weeks, had its number of cases explode after that to almost 70,000 on Tuesday. Top stories in Acadiana in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Louisiana issues statewide stay-at-home order to combat coronavirus spread; see details here Gov. John Bel Edwards issued Sunday a statewide "stay at home" order until April 12, requiring Louisiana residents to shelter in place unless New York, which reported its first case before Louisiana, has almost 26,000 cases. The fact that Louisiana and New York are up there regardless of testing tells us something, Wagner said. We were not and are not the worst place on Earth (for coronavirus). We were certainly on a trajectory where we could be one of the worst place on Earth. These cases have been growing so fast in different areas of the world. If you pause too long, it becomes very difficult to catch up. Out of Louisiana's 1,388 confirmed coronavirus patients, about 20% of them are currently hospitalized, according to LDH data. Of those patients 271 are hospitalized with 94 of them requiring ventilators. President Trump announced Tuesday he would like the country to get back to normal by Easter despite a number of states including Louisiana having stay-in-place orders and other shutdowns to curb the number of positive cases. +2 52-year-old Baton Rouge woman dies from coronavirus, coroner says; 3rd death in capital city A third person in the Baton Rouge area has reportedly died from the novel coronavirus, the coroner announced Tuesday morning. The number of cases in Louisiana will continue to rise in the short term, Wagner noted, and Easter may not be possible if the number of cases continue to rise. I have a hard time seeing how thats true considering that no state has been very successful in slowing the growth in cases, he said. I think you can start returning to normal when growth in cases starts slowing down, but thats not the case. People need to keep following social distance rules and hopefully in seven to 10 days well start to see a slowdown in the growth rate of new cases. by Melani Manel Perera As of tonight, high risk districts are under a curfew. Price controls have been imposed for basic items like dhal and canned fish. Sunday Mass is telecast. Only cargo planes are authorised to land. Borrowers are given a six-month grace period. Colombo (AsiaNews) The Sri Lankan government has adopted a series of measures to stem the spread of coronavirus in the country; they include curfew in some areas, a three-day mandatory holiday on 17-19 March, price controls of basic items, and aid to businesses. Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi today issued the latest bulletin of the infection: 53 positive cases and 204 people hospitalised in 18 hospitals and quarantine centres. An overnight curfew (from 4.30 pm until further notice) has been imposed on several districts in western and southern Sri Lanka: 11 in Puttalam, and seven in Chilaw, Negombo and Kochchikade. These areas are deemed "high risk" because they are home to 800 of the up to 2,000 Sri Lankans who returned to the island between 1 and 9 March from three countries seriously affected by Covid-19, namely Italy, South Korea and Iran. Army Commander General Shavendra Silva asked people in self-isolation to avoid contacts with the outside world. Meanwhile, public schools and universities, catechism courses, and Christian educational facilities are closed until 20 April. The Catholic Church and Protestant denominations have offered to work with the government and comply with its measures. Last Sunday, Sirasa TV telecast live the Mass celebrated by Card Malcolm Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo. Church leaders have cancelled all religious rites, pilgrimages, prayer services and other activities scheduled for Lent. President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has banned commercial flights as of midnight today until 31 March. Bandaranaike Katunayake International Airport will remain open only for planes already en route. Restrictions do not apply to cargo flights. The president also announced financial help for businesses, instructing banks to offer a six-month grace on loans. Speaking to the nation last night, he announced prices controls on some basic items and pledged future aid. As of midnight today, the price of a kilo of dhal and a tin of canned fish cannot exceed 65 and 100 rupees (US.65 and US.55) respectively. More prominent agricultural shows and events have been forced to cancel following the government's coronavirus restrictions. The Nottinghamshire County Show, which was due to take place on 9 and 10 May, will not go ahead due to the outbreak. The Newark and Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society (NNAS) admitted their decision will come as a 'huge blow' to the public and rural economy. But the show organisers said the decision is the 'sensible approach' in the interest of public health and the wellbeing of community and staff. Explaining the decision in a statement, the NNAS said: This is incredibly disappointing, not only for the team who have been working hard to get to this point but all our valued participants, volunteers, exhibitors, sponsors and partners who make the show the success it is. We welcome thousands of visitors every year, and despite many offers of support and encouragement, we have received so many responses from supporters highlighting difficulties in being able to run the show that our efforts will be unfortunately frustrated. "Making this decision now will help us to limit the impact on our charity and keep the safety of everyone involved at the heart of all we do." The show team will be in contact with all ticket buyers, competition entries, sponsors and trade stands in due course, the society added. Elsewhere, the Board of Trustees of the South of England Agricultural Society has cancelled both Spring Live! (2 & 3 May) and South of England Show (11, 12 & 13 June). The South of England Show is the regions premier country event, attracting more than 65,000 visitors from all over the country across three days. In a statement, the society said: "We understand the impact that this decision will have on the individuals, organisations, businesses and communities that support our shows and we will work with them in the best way we can during this difficult time. "The Board of Trustees and Directors of the Event Centre confirm that our venue remains available to hire subject to events meeting current government advice. "We are expecting and hoping to proceed with a bigger and better than ever Autumn Show & Game Fair (3 & 4 October) and Winter Fair (21 & 22 November)." Kenilworth Show, which was due to be held on 6 June in Warwickshire, has also been cancelled due to the spread of Covid-19. A spokesperson said the safety and security of all visitors, businesses and volunteers is of 'paramount importance'. A huge amount of work by volunteers goes into staging this event which has been at the heart of the community for almost eight decades, and we would like to thank everyone for the help and support this year. We hope we will be back stronger than ever on June 5, 2021 and we wish everyone the best during what is an extremely testing time. Other shows to have been cancelled include the Royal Highland Show, Beef Expo, the British Pig and Poultry Fair and the Grassland & Muck Event. Open source The currency rate of Ukrainian hryvnia has a bit stabilized on March 23. The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) set the rate of dollar on the level of 27.73 UAH per 1 USD. This is mentioned on the official webiste of the NBU. Thus, dollar somehow cheapened. So did Euro and Russian ruble; according to the official rate of the NBU, 1 Euro costs UAH 29.63, and 1 Ruble costs UAH 0.343. Earlier, Alfa Bank decided to temporarily close their offices in Ukraine because of the spread of coronavirus. This is mentioned in the message posted on the bank's website. "Today, we had to make decisions that would affect the working mode of the bank and our clients. We count on your support and understanding of the situation, and on our behalf, we're going to do everything so that the regular bank services work without any hindrance", the message says. It is also known that the cash sale is postponed, one can exchange currency online. As we all do what we can to limit the spread of the coronavirus, help is coming from an unexpected source. Pennsylvanias distilleries. Many in the region are cutting back on their spirit-making operations and are now making hand sanitizer instead. And some are just giving it away in this time of need. Coming from a military background, if I can do something to help, were going to do it, said Pat Devlin, one of the owners of the Tattered Flag Brewery & Still Works in Middletown. We saw a need, and the need is great right now. He estimates the distillery has produced close to 400 gallons of hand sanitizer since they switched over their operations on Tuesday or Wednesday. Devlin said all of the hand sanitizer produced so far has been donated to those who need it most first-responders, health-care workers and the like. The demand is great, but he hopes to soon be able to sell it, likely at cost, in smaller quantities to the general public. Many distilleries in the state and nation are taking similar steps as they swap out vodka and whiskey for the cleansing gel that is about as coveted as toilet paper these days. Eight Oaks Farm Distillery in New Tripoli, near Philadelphia, made national news for their efforts last week. We are in a national emergency, founder Chad Butters told The Associated Press. Whats the right thing to do? The right thing to do is support this community by providing something that is in desperate need. Well flood the valley with hand sanitizer and drive that price right down. And since then, many other distillers have joined their ranks. At Midstate Distillery in Harrisburg, they are preparing to switch over their operations to produce hand sanitizer, too, said Dan Healy, one of the owners. On Sunday, they were in the process of cleaning their mixing tanks to prepare them for hand sanitizer production, which they hope to start as early as Monday. Like other distilleries making the switch, they are following the formula recommended by the World Health Organization, he said, which consists of three main ingredients. He has plenty of the first ingredient high-proof ethanol alcohol. Healy is hoping to get a shipment by Monday of the other two ingredients. Hydrogen peroxide for further purification and a coagulating agent like glycerin. As soon as those are in, he can begin production. While distilleries normally cannot make or sell hand sanitizer without certain permits, that restriction has been temporarily waived by the federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to meet hand-sanitizer needs in an emergency, distillers say. Whether he can continue making spirits will all depend on staffing capacity, Healy said, but right now, the priority is going to be the production of hand sanitizer. Our priority is going to be front-line responders, Healy said. If we have the capacity to make it available to the public, we will. Once first responders are getting a steady supply, he hopes to ramp up production to make smaller, 4-ounce bottles for the public. This was never something Healy expected to do when he got into the distillery business. It was very unexpected, but as things progressed with this situation, it quickly became apparent that, as a distillery, we had the opportunity to contribute, Healy said. It was a bit of a no-brainer. In New Cumberland, Dead Lightning Still Works is just giving away the hand sanitizer they have been making. Were here to help, co-owner Andrea Montgomery said Sunday. You dont have to buy anything. Just walk right into the bar. You just have to bring your own container. On Saturday, they gave away five gallons of hand sanitizer. She and her husband, Eric, opened Dead Lightning in honor of their son, Skyler Montgomery, 21, who was a hobby moonshiner before his untimely death several years ago. A Grateful Dead fan and a peaceful, loving person, she said each specialty-flavor bottle bears one of her sons slogans thats worth remembering, particularly in tough times -- dont judge people, hug your parents, and memories over money. Were here to keep his spirit alive forever, she said. And knowing the kind spirit of her son, she knows he would have been among the first to help others in this situation, she said. In Lansdale, Boardroom Spirits is producing free hand sanitizer for the local community and for first responders. Owner Marat Mamedov said they have made 500 to 600 gallons so far and are giving away 4 ounces of hand sanitizer per day per person. Were creating as much as we can right now to keep up with the demand, he said. Bring your own bottle, preferably a spray bottle, he added. Its been a balancing act between coming up with a new business model in four days and creating as much hand sanitizer as possible. But were figuring it out as a team, he said. Its kind of a weird and uncertain time, but fortunately, everyone here has positive attitude, and were doing the best we can to cater to the community and provide a product to help our first responders. Crostwater Distilled Spirits near Lewisberry has hand sanitizer in stock now and is switching over to the World Health Organizations formula this week. Owner Vicki Close said they expect to have 16-ounce bottles for sale, as well as disinfectants. Some will be available for purchase by the general public, but much of it is being donated to community groups, first responders and senior centers, she said. In addition to making ethanol in-house for hand sanitizer, she said they are working as part of a statewide initiative to make alcohol to ship out to help manufacturers boost their own hand-sanitizer production. Back at the Tattered Flag, Devlin said he is proud of the community of distilleries out there and how they are stepping up to help. Distilleries have changed and adapted and tried to fill this need we have during these trying and difficult times, he said. Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. CAIRO - Forces of General Khalifa Haftar in Libya said the ceasefire currently in place due to the coronavirus emergency was violated Monday in an artillery bombing in south Tripoli, following the announcement on Sunday by medical sources that one person was killed and two were injured in rocket launches by Haftar's forces. Ahmed al-Mismari, spokesman for Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA), said "terrorist militias are violating the ceasefire in south Tripoli and bombing our positions with artillery". Mismari posted his comments Sunday evening on his Facebook page, referring to an episode on Sunday afternoon. Also on Sunday, Libyan broadcaster al-Ahrar cited a "medical source" in a tweet in which it said "a father was killed and his two sons were injured after rockets launched by Haftar's militias fell on their home in Ain Zara", a district on the outskirts of the Libyan capital. Following pressure by the UN, the US, and Italy, first the government of Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj and on Saturday also the LNA said they were committed to respecting a ceasefire to allow for containment of the virus. New Jerseys Department of Corrections has canceled in-person education classes at state prisons indefinitely, after requiring teachers to report to work last week, NJ Advance Media has learned. The decision was made Saturday night, according to three people who work in the prisons education system. The move comes after Gov. Phil Murphy signed an order Saturday that shut down non-essential services throughout the state and urged residents to stay inside in order to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Several teachers who work in the state prison education system told NJ Advance Media they were angry that they were made to report to work last week, as teachers at schools around the state were told to stay home. Its a positive step in the right direction, but it shouldnt have taken two weeks to put this in place," a longtime Department of Corrections teacher said Sunday. Im pretty pissed off about it, said the teacher, who lives with a cancer survivor who has a weakened immune system, added about having to teach last week. They have no concern of our safety or health." Both spoke on the condition of anonymity, fearful of reprisals. Teachers at Southern State Correctional Facility and Bayside State Prison held classes on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday last week, according to multiple people who work at the prisons, and spent Thursday and Friday at the facilities devising plans to continuing teaching amid the coronavirus. When teachers reported to work at one of the prisons on Friday, they were told they could not wear personal protective equipment, like masks, into the facilities and would not be allowed to unless directed to do so by management while working at the prisons, according to an email sent by a Department of Corrections employee and obtained by NJ Advance Media. While there are no confirmed COVID-19 cases in state prisons as of Sunday, people can contract and transmit the disease despite not showing any symptoms. Experts have warned that an outbreak of the disease in correctional facilities, where inmates are held in closed quarters that can often be unsanitary, could have devastating effects. One educator described last week as "very tense and very discouraging. The state announced last weekend that it would be temporarily suspending visits at state prisons for at least the next 30 days, as "ensuring the health and safety of our inmate population, residents, staff and the public are of paramount importance during this public health crisis, Commissioner Marcus Hicks said in a statement. A Department of Corrections spokesperson declined to answer specific questions. Education provides a positive outlet that supports rehabilitation, and we are working to provide a level of academic continuity that keeps students engaged while simultaneously keeping everyone safe, the spokesperson said in a statement on Satruday. New Jersey state prisons offer a variety of educational courses, including GED programs and vocational classes. State prisons, and their teachers, are required to have all the same state Department of Education certifications as teachers who work in the public school system. On Saturday, the teachers were told to prepare learning packets for inmates to complete, like they would during snow storms, government shutdowns and emergencies at the prisons, though the teachers must report to the prisons at least once every two weeks to pick the packets up and drop off new ones, the sources said. Teachers at Southern State Correctional Facility said one of their concerns had been that they werent allowed to wear any protective gear as they worked in the prisons, where the classrooms can be tight quarters. According to an email obtained by NJ Advance Media, a high-ranking employee at the prison wrote, no staff members should be wearing masks unless directed to do so and that no staff members are authorized to enter the institution wearing a (personal protective equipment) mask. The directive was another reason why multiple teachers said they were worried about how the school remaining open last week could affect themselves, the inmates and other prison staff going forward. The inmates dont want us to be there because they knew as soon as one of brings it in to the prison, it is just going to go through the entire prison like wildfire," a Department of Corrections education employee said. Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com. Follow on Twitter @monavage. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Russians say infection could spread quickly as authorities are slow to act, while the rich allegedly hoard ventilators. Even though Russians have generations-old, almost genetic resistance to wars, famines, political instability and purges, the coronavirus pandemic seems totally different, says Natalya Amelina, a Russian hairdresser in Moscow. The jovial mother of two understands that at 45, she is not among the people most at risk of the infection. But still, she is torn between panic and carelessness, after witnessing what she describes as a slow response by authorities to the danger. In Moscow, authorities are pretending to be getting ready, but nothing has changed so far, except for the shelves in the shops. People are sweeping everything off the shelves, she told Al Jazeera. Only one Russian, a 79-year-old woman in Moscow, has died of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus, and 438 people have been diagnosed with the infection as of Monday, including 71 in the past 24 hours, officials say. Russias numbers are far fewer than the hundreds of deaths reported daily in Italy, where at least 5,476 have died, and in France, where there are some 16,000 confirmed cases. Just over 150,000 people have been tested for COVID-19, so far in Russia, a nation of 143 million that stretches across nine time zones and borders 14 nations, including Norway and China, where the virus originated. That gives Russia one of the worlds lowest ratios. There is only one lab in Russia capable of conducting coronavirus tests. It uses equipment produced in the western Siberian city of Novosibirsk. Russias first confirmed coronavirus patient said he was tested three times, and the second test came negative. The virus was confirmed in my third test, it was not seen in my blood but was in my saliva, David Berov wrote on Instagram on March 5. As I was told, they could barely see it, so thats why they were in doubt for so long. The low number of detected infections has prompted some critics to claim that that the Kremlin is hiding the real number. There is an outbreak of coronavirus worldwide. In Russia, there is an outbreak of pneumonia that is treated outside hospitals. And, as usual, there is an outbreak of official lies and of intimidation of health workers, Anastasiya Vasilyeva of the Doctors Alliance, a Moscow-based trade union, said in a video posted online on Thursday. The number of pneumonia cases that can potentially be caused by coronavirus increased by 37 percent in Moscow year-on-year in January, according to Rosstat, Russias state-run statistics agency. Its data shows that Moscow recorded 6,921 pneumonia cases in January, up from 5,058 the previous year. Nationwide, pneumonia cases also grew by over three percent year-on-year. Until Thursday, Russians arriving from abroad, including pandemic-struck nations, were not isolated. Fiction writer Svetlana Volkova, a resident of St Petersburg, Russias second-largest city, said that her friends returned from Austria, which borders Italy and where authorities have reported more than 3,000 cases and six deaths. The travellers had their temperature taken at the airport and were instructed to self-isolate. They nodded their heads and took the metro home, Volkova told Al Jazeera. No one stopped them. She believes Russians may contribute to the epidemic. Having been told not to leave their homes, [Europeans] dont. Try to keep Russians under control like that, she said. Another observer said that Russians belatedly realised the perils of the pandemic. On the surface, yes, on social media Russians mostly neglect the virus and dont understand its danger, Germany-based, Russia-born historian Nikolay Mitrokhin told Al Jazeera. But now, we understand that Italians and Germans had the same attitude before authorities imposed restrictions, he said. Russia is closing its borders on Wednesday. It has already banned outdoor festivities and public gatherings, shut down schools and gyms, closed access to attractions such as the Red Square mausoleum of Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin. The Kremlin has stopped short of cancelling the April 22 nationwide referendum on constitutional amendments that include the nullification of President Vladimir Putins presidential terms that will allow him to stay in power until 2036. But Putins spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said of the vote: The health of the countrys citizens is most important If the growth of the epidemiological situation gives cause to reschedule, then it will be done. Putin said in televised remarks on March 18: Thank God, we have things under control in general. I hope it will go on like this in the future. The pandemic is already litmus-testing Russias underfunded healthcare system. After the 2014 annexation of Crimea and widely publicised, expensive infrastructure projects such a bridge linking the Black Sea peninsula to mainland Russia, the healthcare system underwent significant budget and personnel cuts. The effect was immediate. There were four ambulances in our district, and now we have only one, Tatyana Korotkykh, a 57-year-old living in a village outside the Urals Mountains city of Chelyabinsk, told Al Jazeera. My brother died of a heart attack last year, because this single ambulance was reviving [someone else] and got to him four hours after he called. Another factor that may contribute to the spread of the virus is technological. Only 42 percent of Russian companies can allow their employees to work from home, according to a poll by Bitrix24, a business consultancy. Survival of the richest? Meanwhile, many Russians are preoccupied with purely economic problems. Russias recent oil price war with Saudi Arabia sent hydrocarbon prices down along with the ruble, and the temporary shutdown of businesses prompts fears of financial losses. Everything is falling apart. We may sink lower than in 2008, when a global economic crisis hit Russian business hard, Stanislav, a wholesale alcohol distributor, told Al Jazeera. And just as in the West, where, unlike most people, the rich can afford coronavirus tests and have been buying up private plane tickets as they head to remote areas, wealthy Russian are focused on their health and self-isolation. They rush to set up private clinics in their suburban mansions and hoard ventilators that help coronavirus victims breathe, depriving average Russians of access to the life-saving equipment, The Moscow Times reported on Saturday. Our oligarchs never invested in local hospitals because they never thought they would have to be treated there, cardiologist Yaroslav Ashikhmin was quoted as saying. Now, they might experience the hell that they helped create. The vivo S6 5G is expected to arrive on March 31, and we already knew the phone will have two selfie cameras. Today, the company revealed the design of the phone in official renders and promo images, along with its brand ambassador Turbo Liu (known also as Liu Haoran), a 22-year-old Chinese actor. vivo S6 5G promo images From the renders we see four shooters - three of them lined vertically, the fourth one sitting in the right side of the circular setup. vivo revealed the main snapper will have a 48MP sensor, and thats pretty much all we know specs-wise. The setup looks similar to other vivo phones - it is like the mixture between the NEX 3 circle and the vivo S1 Pro rhombus. We can also see a dual-colored LED flash below the circle. Some more vivo S6 5G promo images On the left side of the three vertical cameras it says 48 MP with some other camera-related stuff, and thanks to an official listing at JD.com, we can see at least two colors - Pink-Blue-White gradient and Dark Blue-White gradient. Registrations for the vivo S6 5G are opened. The phone is expected to appear for pre-order on its launch date, but actual shipping is yet to be confrimed. Source 1 Source 2 (both in Chinese) | Via Financial District, North Beach Photo: Mark Hogan/Flickr Here are some notable crime incidents in SFPD's Central District since our last biweekly recap. Most of the crimes listed below occurred prior to the institution of an official shelter-in-place order by the city of San Francisco on Tuesday, March 17, in response to the COVID-19 virus. The district encompasses Chinatown; the Financial District; the Embarcadero; Russian, Telegraph and Nob Hills; North Beach and Union Square. Two pedestrians assaulted in early morning hours On March 18 at 4:45 a.m., a 40-year-old man and a 47-year-old woman were walking at California and Market streets and made a remark to a man they believe was aged between 30 and 35. In response, the man pushed the woman and punched the man, causing non-life-threatening injuries. Both victims were transported to a hospital, and no arrest has been made. Phone robbery victim approached by bike-riding suspect On March 16 at 4 p.m., a boy believed to be 16 or 17 approached a 63-year-old woman on his bicycle on the 200 block of Davis Street (between Sacramento and Clay). He then grabbed her phone out of her hand and fled. The woman suffered non-life threatening injuries, and no arrest has been made. Purse robbery at gunpoint On March 13 at 11:55 p.m., a man believed to be between 19 and 23 years of age pointed a handgun at a 38-year-old woman on the 1800 block of Stockton Street (between Greenwich and Lombard). A second suspect, believed to be about the same age, then took the victim's purse, containing a wallet. Both suspects fled in a sedan. No arrest has been made. Fighting teens shoot bystander with BB gun On March 11, at 10 p.m. four boys believed to be between 16 and 18 years old got into a physical altercation at Pacific Avenue and Battery Street. When a 29-year-old man attempted to run from the scene, one of the teens shot him multiple times with a BB gun, then stole his phone. The victim suffered non-life threatening injuries, and no arrest has been made. Story continues Man stabbed in park On March 11 at 11:30 a.m., a 34-year-old man was injured in a stabbing at Sue Bierman Park (Washington and Drumm streets). Police say the victim got into an argument with a man of unknown age, who stabbed him before fleeing the area. The victim suffered non-life threatening injuries and was transported to a hospital. No arrest has been made. Anyone who has information about any of these incidents is encouraged to contact SFPD via the department's anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444, or text TIP411 with "SFPD" at the start of the message. Heres why we usually dont include suspect descriptions in crime reports. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 20:28:41|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SHANGHAI, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. materials science giant Dow intends to invest another 300 million U.S. dollars in the next five years in Zhangjiagang, eastern China's Jiangsu Province, the company said on Monday. Dow on Monday signed its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for collaboration with the Zhangjiagang Free Trade Zone. The investment is aimed at facilitating expansion and increasing capacity at Dow's signature manufacturing site in Zhangjiagang to meet growing global demand for differentiated silicone products, according to the company. "Due to megatrends such as globalization and urbanization and a growing focus on sustainable development, customers across industries are seeking more innovative, sustainable and differentiated silicone products -- especially customers in China and the Asia Pacific region," said Mauro Gregorio, president of the Dow Performance Materials & Coatings. Gregorio noted the five-year investment plan will enable Dow to better address customers' fast-growing needs across a wide range of key industries, such as mobility and transportation, building and infrastructure, electronics and home and personal care. "The MoU we are signing today is a testament to our long-standing commitment to growing alongside the city of Zhangjiagang and our partners in China," said Yoke Loon Lim, president of Dow Greater China, who signed the MoU on behalf of Dow. "We view China as a rapidly growing market, and the planned investments reflect our confidence in this view," Lim said. SPRINGFIELD - By now, Carlton Ford probably wishes he listened to Gov. Charlie Baker and stayed at home. Ford, 21, of Manor Court, Springfield, was arrested Friday evening in Sixteen Acres after police found him sitting in an unregistered vehicle that had the engine running and parked facing the wrong direction. Officers found him smoking marijuana and could see a gun in plain view inside the car. The gun turned out to have been reported stolen in North Carolina. He is charged with possession of a firearm without a license, possession of a loaded firearm, improper storage of a firearm, receiving stolen property, and driving an unregistered, uninsured vehicle. He was also cited for having no inspection sticker on the car, and for possession of an open container of marijuana in a vehicle. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-22 03:36:08|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close Few people are seen at a metro station in Budapest, Hungary, on March 22, 2020. The number of patients diagnosed with the COVID-19 in Hungary has risen to 103 on Saturday, according to a statement on the government's official website dedicated to information on the coronavirus. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua) BUDAPEST, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The number of patients diagnosed with the COVID-19 in Hungary has risen to 103 on Saturday, according to a statement on the government's official website dedicated to information on the coronavirus. "The number of those infected has risen to 103," the statement said, adding that Hungary had reached the second stage of the epidemic: the stage of group disease, when infection spreads in public upon personal contact. The number of people dead due to the COVID-19 has increased to four, while seven people recovered, according to the statement. The government announced on Saturday that a general curfew in Hungary was not yet an option, but if necessary it would be announced in due time. Cumulative doses of oral steroids in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases are associated with increased hypertension (blood pressure) for those who take them regularly, found new research in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). "The cumulative effect of oral steroid doses on hypertension is substantial, and given that these are commonly prescribed medications, the related health burden could be high," says Dr. Mar Pujades-Rodriguez, Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, affects one in five adults around the world and can have significant negative health effects. Previous studies have reported a dose-related response between oral steroids and hypertension, although evidence has been inconclusive. This study of more than 71 000 patients from 389 general practices in England looked at the relationship between oral glucocorticoid doses and hypertension in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases between 1998 and 2017. The most common underlying diseases included inflammatory bowel disease (35%) and rheumatoid arthritis (28%). Researchers found that in the cohort studied, there were 24 896 (35%) new cases of hypertension. When patients reached cumulative doses, rates of hypertension increased accordingly in a dose-response pattern. The authors recommend that health care providers closely monitor blood pressure in patients who routinely take oral steroids. ### The Medical Research Council TARGET Partnership Grant, the National Institute for Health Research and the European Research Council funded the study. "Oral glucocorticoids and incidence of hypertension in people with chronic inflammatory diseases: a population-based cohort study" is published March 23, 2020. World leaders are calling for a global ceasefire as it finds the coronavirus pandemic is 'accelerating'. With more than 362,000 cases worldwide, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Monday: 'It is time to put armed conflict on lockdown and focus together on the true fight of our lives,' Guterres told a virtual news conference. Elsewhere, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organisation, told reporters the pandemic is accelerating. He said: 'More than 300,000 cases of Covid-19 have now been reported to WHO, from almost every country in the world. 'The pandemic is accelerating. It took 67 days from the first reported case to reach the first 100,000 cases, 11 days for the second 100,000 and just four days for the third 100,000.' Rubble lines a heavily damaged street in the town of Sarmin, near Idlib, Syria, where a ceasefire has been in place since March 6. The World Health Organisation is now calling on other countries to to lower their arms and focus on overcoming the coronavirus pandemic United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, pictured at a February press conference, called for a global ceasefire on Monday as the UN works to end conflicts in Syria, Yemen and Libya while providing humanitarian assistance to millions of civilians The spread of the highly contagious COVID-19 respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus has drawn comparisons with painful periods such as World War Two, the 2008 financial crisis and the 1918 Spanish flu. 'The virus does not care about nationality or ethnicity, faction or faith. It attacks all, relentlessly. Meanwhile, armed conflict rages on around the world,' Guterres said. 'The most vulnerable - women and children, people with disabilities, the marginalized and the displaced - pay the highest price,' he said. 'They are also at the highest risk of suffering devastating losses from COVID-19.' The United Nations has been trying to mediate an end to conflicts in countries including Syria, Yemen and Libya, while also providing humanitarian assistance to millions of civilians. Guterres warned that in war-torn countries health systems have collapsed and the small number of health professionals left were often targeted in the fighting. 'End the sickness of war and fight the disease that is ravaging our world," he said. "It starts by stopping the fighting everywhere. Now. That is what our human family needs, now more than ever.' Elsewhere, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, director general of the WHO, told reporters the pandemic is accelerating. He said: 'More than 300,000 cases of Covid-19 have now been reported to WHO, from almost every country in the world. 'The pandemic is accelerating. It took 67 days from the first reported case to reach the first 100,000 cases, 11 days for the second 100,000 and just four days for the third 100,000.' WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says social distancing can only 'buy time,' as he called for 'aggressive and targeted tactics' to beat the pandemic on Monday He said asking people to stay home and other social distancing measures are important to 'buy time', but added: 'They're defensive measures. 'To win, we need to attack the coronavirus with aggressive and targeted tactics - testing every suspected Covid-19 case, isolating and caring for every confirmed case, and tracing and quarantining every close contact.' Russia follows China and Cuba in helping Coronavirus-hit Italy. The first of nine planes from Russia carrying military doctors and medical supplies to help Italy with its Coronavirus emergency landed at Pratica di Mare, a military air base south-west of Rome, on the night of 22 March. The military cargo planes being sent to Italy are carrying a cargo of masks, ventilators, protective suits and testing kits as well as doctors and special disinfection vehicles, destined for Italy's worst hit region in the north, reports Italian newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano. The planes come to Italy from Moscow after Italian premier Giuseppe Conte spoke to Russia's president Vladimir Putin -the Kremlin said - with Reuters news agency reporting that Russia is also expected to send about 100 military specialists in virology and epidemics. Italy's foreign affairs minister Luigi Di Maio welcomed the Russian plane last night. Photo TGcom24. Italy's foreign minister Luigi Di Maio was present to welcome the first of the planes, each of which is reportedly marked with a logo saying From Russia with Love. "Italy is not alone, and cultivating certain friendships is paying off" - said Di Maio, who added: "We will always be grateful to the Russian Federation for the friendship and solidarity it has shown us." The Russian plane landed the same evening as a team of 37 doctors and 15 nurses from Cuba arrived to help Italy in its battle against Coronavirus , and ten days after China sent a team of specialist doctors and medical aid to Italy. Photos TGcom24 The Stop Hacks and Improve Electronic Data Security Act, otherwise known as the SHIELD Act, is a New York State bill signed into law last July. One key provision in the legislation that could significantly change security practices across the country is slated to go into effect March 21, possibly inducing companies big and small to change the way they secure and transmit not only New Yorkers' private data but all consumers' sensitive information. Technically an amendment to the state's data breach notification law, the SHIELD Act could have as much of an impact on internet and tech companies' privacy and security practices as the more famous California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) or even the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) experts say. Expanded scope The bill substantially broadens the scope of consumer privacy and data security protection by: Expanding the range of information subject to the current data breach notification law to include biometric information and email addresses and their corresponding passwords or security questions and answers Broadening the definition of a data breach to include unauthorized access to private information. Applying the notification requirement to any person or entity with private information of a New York resident, not just to those that conduct business in New York State. Updating the notification procedures companies and state entities must follow when there has been a breach of private information. Creating data security requirements tailored to the size of a business. The first four of these requirements took effect on October 23, 2019, while the last provision is slated to go into effect on March 21. SHIELD Act's reach beyond New York The potential widespread impact of the SHIELD Act for the country as a whole is contingent on the third requirement that extends the bill's provision to any business that collects or maintains private information on a New York resident. Given the size and importance of New York, it seems likely that all major tech and internet companies hold private information on a New York resident will therefore have to abide by the data security requirements. Just for expediency's sake, any changes that protect New York residents' data will likely extend to the data companies collect and hold for any consumers. "The SHIELD Act is the next in line with a variety of different state legislation that is geared towards breach notification as well as data privacy and protecting the citizens of States," Matthew Dunn, the former supervisory special agent overseeing the FBI Cyber Crimes/Counterintelligence Squad and now an associate managing director in the Cyber Risk practice at consultancy Kroll, tells CSO. "We had the GDPR; that was the first big one that was set up to protect European Union citizens' information that's being collected and stored and maintained and transmitted and giving people the right to know what their personally identifiable information is being used for. It also gives them the right to opt out of those types of activities as well if they want." "Then, in the U.S., the California Consumer Privacy Act took those types of measures in applying them to businesses operating in California," Dunn says. What are the SHIELD Act's data security requirements? In terms of the new data security requirements created by the SHIELD Act, the law mandates that: Any person or business that owns or licenses computerized data that includes private information of a resident of New York shall develop, implement and maintain reasonable safeguards to protect the security, confidentiality and integrity of the private information including, but not limited to, disposal of data. Any business other than a small business will be deemed to comply with the new law if it is a regulated entity already in compliance with a host of specific security and privacy safeguards such as HIPAA and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH), Cybersecurity Requirements for Financial Services established by New York's Department of Financial Services or other data security laws and regulations. Companies will also be considered in compliance if they implement several data security practices outlined in the bill. These include having reasonable administrative safeguards such as training employees in security program practices and procedures along with reasonable technical safeguards such as regular testing and monitoring of essential controls, systems and procedures. The SHIELD Act also spells out physical security safeguards that companies should implement to comply with the law, including erasure from electronic media private information that is no longer needed. "One of the other things that this particular state law does is it identifies that if you are to collect New York residents' information electronically, then you must enact some type of reasonable security measures to protect that data," Dunn says. "That's taking it more in line with other federal regulations that we have seen in the past, such as HIPAA or the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act." Small businesses, those with less than $3 million in annual revenue or less than $5 million in assets or fewer than 50 employees, will be considered in compliance if they have the same kind of administrative, technical or physical safeguards "appropriate for the size and complexity of the small business, the nature, and scope of the small business's activities, and the sensitivity of the personal information the small business collects from or about consumers." One of the landmark requirements in the SHIELD Act is that any entity that collects personal data on New York residents needs to have a designated employee to oversee cybersecurity operations. "That's something that we haven't seen in the past, where you need to designate that individual responsible for this information to protect it when it's collected electronically," Dunn says. Companies that fail to comply with these security requirements face civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation and no penalty caps, unlike the penalty cap of $250,000 per violation for failing to notify authorities when a breach occurs. To avoid these penalties, companies should be implementing good cyber hygiene practices, conduct thorough asset inventories, implement monitoring and reporting measures, and otherwise adopt practices that experts say make up good cybersecurity. Those steps are in addition to complying with the administrative, technical, and physical safeguards spelled out in the bill. "You have to start thinking proactively right now because it's not a matter of if, but when you have some type of cyber incident," Dunn says. The bill could have the added push to make companies, and even individuals that collect personal data, look hard at their current data security practices and make some changes. The real shift will occur once the New York attorney general begins fining entities for failing to comply with the security requirements. "Once people know that they are going to be held accountable for the type of information that they collect and maintain on their databases, that there will be repercussions, maybe you'll see some changes being made," Dunn says. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More The National Task Force for COVID-19 constituted by Indian Council of Medical Research on March 23 recommended the use of antimalarial drug hydroxychloriquine for treatment of high-risk COVID-19 patients. The high risk population who would be eligible for getting the drug include asymptomatic healthcare workers involved in the care of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases and asymptomatic household contacts of laboratory confirmed cases. ICMR said there is no shortage of hydroxychloroquine medication. The protocol recommended by the National Task Force has been approved by the Drug Controller General of India for restricted use in emergency situations. Track this blog for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak The task force however warned that placing of healthcare workers under chemoprophylaxis should not instill a sense of false security. "They should follow all prescribed public health measures such as frequent washing of hands, respiratory etiquettes, keeping a distance of minimum 1 metre and use of personal protective equipment wherever applicable," the advisory said. "They should self-monitor their health and report to health authorities immediately in the event of them becoming symptomatic," the advirosry added. The task force also recommended states that high risk contacts of a positive case placed under chemoprophylaxis, should remain in home quarantine while on prophylactic therapy. The task force strictly recommended that the drug shuold only be given on the prescription of a registered medical practitioner and the contraindications mentioned in the recommendations should strictly be followed. "Apart form the symptoms of COViD-19 such as fever, cough, breathing difficulty, if the person on chemoprophylaxis develops any other symptoms, he should immediately seek medical treatment of the medical practitioner who has prescribed the chemoprophylaxis," the advisory said. The National Task force constitutes Secretary, Department of Health Research, Director General (DG), ICMR and is Chaired by Prof VK Paul, Member, Niti Aayog. Chloroquine, the 70-year-old widely used anti-malarial medicine. It has been found to be a potential broad-spectrum antiviral drug. More than 10 companies sell Chloroquine in India including Ipca Bayer , Merck, Novartis FDC and Zydus Cadila Ryan Shorthouse is the Chief Executive of Bright Blue. The Government has made a hugely impressive and welcome intervention to support individuals and businesses in sectors where demand is collapsing as a result of the coronavirus crisis. It will cost billions and require in the years ahead another round of deficit reduction, just as the public and politicians were welcoming the end of the last age of austerity. By adapting the Statutory Maternity Pay system, which is a tried-and-tested model for keeping people on the payroll and subsidising both employers and employees when there is a temporary withdrawal of labour, the Chancellors Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will improve the lives and livelihoods of thousands of people. The alternative was to allow mass unemployment, causing deep distress to millions of people and ultimately more expensive for business who in the long-term would have to go through a costly redundancy and rehiring process. The Government is rightly trying to keep the economy on hold so it can bounce back immediately once the Great Isolation ends. Capitalism will be salvaged through a short and sharp dose of socialism. There are fears, however, that the generosity of the Treasury could be taken advantage of. Company bosses could furlough all or part of their workforce, even themselves, whilst actually working and achieving a healthy turnover. Well, in this national emergency, were going to have trust that bosses act in good faith. And, though the payment of VAT has been temporarily suspended, the quarterly reporting has not. HMRC could check VAT reporting to ensure companies with usual or strong sales are also not taking advantage of the compensation for furloughing. The Chancellors package, nonetheless, is much more generous to employees than self-employed in sectors where demand has collapsed. This mirrors what happens with Statutory Maternity Pay. In the first six weeks, employees are entitled to a minimum of 90 per cent of their gross pay, before receiving a base rate amount of around 150 a week. The self-employed on maternity leave, meanwhile, only ever have access to the base rate amount through a Maternity Allowance. Why does the Treasury give much less to the self-employed through both the Maternity Pay Scheme and the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme? There could be lots of reasons. The self-employed have more volatile incomes than employees, meaning it is difficult to ascertain accurately earnings to judge a proportionate compensation. Equally, as a result of annual self-assessment, HMRC can only validate earnings on an infrequent and dated cycle. Nonetheless, a government-commissioned review on self-employment by Julie Deane in 2016, concluded I have not been able to find a compelling explanation for this difference in treatment on maternity pay. In response to the coronavirus crisis, the very least the Government could do is increase the amount awarded to the self-employed who are furloughing. At the moment, if their work is lost, the Government is expecting them to claim Universal Credit and receive the full amount they are eligible to, equivalent to Statutory Sick Pay, which is 94.25 per week. Since the Government has now suspended the Minimum Income Floor, all self-employed will receive the full Universal Credit award they are entitled to, regardless of how long they have been self-employed. But this is still not enough. And, for many, it represents a substantial fall in income which employees will not face because of the Treasurys intervention. As an initial and urgent first step, the amount the self-employed who are furloughing receive should be equivalent to the Maternity Allowance, which is around 150 per week. There will, sadly, still be people who will lose their jobs. There will now be a spike in people naturally migrating on to the nascent and controversial benefits regime Universal Credit. The significant increase in the amount of Universal Credit claimants can receive is very welcome, especially as out-of-work benefits have been deeply and disproportionately cut over the past decade. However, politicians should not just be concerned with the amount of Universal Credit, but the speed in which it is first received. The Government is seeking to help the cash flow of businesses, but it also urgently needs to do so for individuals newly out of work, by reducing the initial five-week wait for Universal Credit. Admittedly, this problem precedes the current crisis: many on low incomes have no savings and have to turn to their friends and family to get through this period, while others rely on assistance through foodbanks or even on short-term loans. As Bright Blue has argued previously, all new claimants should be able to receive 25 per cent of their first Universal Credit award upfront as a helping hand payment. That will help new claimants a little with immediate cash flow problems. In addition, all new claimants should be aware they can take out a Universal Credit Advance Payment. With these, a payment up to the size of their first award is made at the start of the five-week wait, but it must be repaid through future Universal Credit awards. The maximum possible deduction is 25 per cent of each Universal Credit award and the maximum period of repayment is 24 months. A majority of claimants actually take these Advance Payments up, proving the five-week wait is a design fault, but they are not universal: some claimants not even aware of this option, while others are potentially concerned about having to repay their advance. Repayment of these Universal Credit advances should now be frozen until at least the current social isolating period ends. This would mirror the mortgage payment holiday announced for homeowners. Existing repayers of these Universal Credit Advance Payments should also benefit from this repayment freeze. The impressive Chancellor has made a bold start, but there is more to do. New Delhi: Indian Army on Monday (March 23, 2020) quashed the rumours that were circulating on social media that they have established around 1,000 bed quarantine facility in Barmer. Indian Army took to Twitter and said, "A Fake input is circulating on social media that Indian Army has established 1000 bed quarantine facility in Barmer. This is untrue." They added, "Quarantine facilities of Indian Army as on date are only functioning at Manesar and Jaisalmer." A Fake input is circulating on Social Media that #IndianArmy has established 1000 bed quarantine facility in Barmer. This is untrue. pic.twitter.com/ne78m7KCXW ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) March 23, 2020 Indian Amry also added some precautionary measures to fight against the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak, following are the steps taken: 1) Attendance further reduced in Headquarters. 2) Work from home enhanced. 3) Personnel engaged in essential services only including medical services to continue. 4) Restricted movement of personnel to be adhered by fmns/units located in 82 districts as notified by the Government. Additional districts as and when promulgated will be adhered to. 5) Station CSD (only) to be closed forthwith. 6) Army personnel already on move for posting to new unit to report to Transit Camp/ New location. 7) Contact log to be maintained for all personnel. The coronavirus positive cases in India have jumped to 467 by Monday evening and the pandemic has taken over 8 lives in the country. The NSW teachers' union will demand further school closures if strict staff safety measures are not met by Tuesday, while parents say they are confused and anxious about how to respond to "mixed messages" about whether to send students to school. It came as a leading public health expert called for students still at school to have their temperature checked three times a day, and for teachers to be given priority for COVID-19 testing. After flagging a school shutdown for all but the children of essential workers on Sunday, the NSW government softened its stance on Monday and said while parents would be encouraged to keep their children home, no student would be turned away from school. The decision differs from the federal government's advice, which continues to be that students should be sent to school. The Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) has called on the Chinese Government to lend its technical support to the fight against Coronavirus (COVID19), in the country, following 36 confirmed cases, two discharged and one death recorded. The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, made the plea when the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Zhou Pingjian, made a donation of medical supplies and equipment to the ministry, on Monday in Abuja. Ehanire commended the Chinese government for winning the fight against COVID19 as businesses and organisations have been allowed to reopen. He said that the measures implemented by the Chinese government during the outbreak would be instructive to the country in order to control the virus. The minister said that the experience in China reinforced the importance of listening to science and public health experts during pandemic events. He asked the Chinese government to support Nigeria with its public health experts that would aid the country to review its strategies. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates PR-Inside.com: 2020-03-23 08:05:03 March 23, 2020 Size of the program remains unchanged Remainder of the program will be executed through one or more individual forward transactions with expected settlement dates in the second half of 2021 Amsterdam, the Netherlands Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) today provides an update on its EUR 1.5 billion share buyback program for capital reduction purposes, that was announced on January 29, 2019. As of today, 50.3% of the program has been completed through repurchases by an intermediary to allow for purchases in the open market during both open and closed periods. The remainder of the program will be executed through one or more individual forward transactions, to be entered into in the course of 2020, with expected settlement dates in the second half of 2021. Philips balance sheet and liquidity position are robust, and the size of the share buyback program - up to an amount on EUR 1.5 billion - remains unchanged. By using forward transactions, Philips aims to optimize the number of shares to be repurchased under the program, while maintaining its current liquidity position in view of the possible further impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on financial markets in 2020. Philips will continue to provide updates on the progress of the program through press releases as appropriate, and further details will be available here . For further information, please contact: Ben Zwirs Philips Global Press Office Tel.: +31 6 1521 3446 E-mail: ben.zwirs@philips.com Leandro Mazzoni Philips Investor Relations Tel.: +31 20 59 77222 E-mail: leandro.mazzoni@philips.com About Royal Philips Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips' health technology portfolio generated 2019 sales of EUR 19.5 billion and employs approximately 80,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter . Forward-looking statements This release contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of Philips and certain of the plans and objectives of Philips with respect to these items. Examples of forward-looking statements include statements made about the strategy, estimates of sales growth, future EBITA, future developments in Philips organic business and the completion of acquisitions and divestments. By their nature, these statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances and there are many factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements. Police with bayonets stood between armed pro-British protesters and Russian refugees on the streets of South Brisbane in the Red Flag riots of 1919. Credit:State Library of Queensland. The trouble started yesterday by a procession of "red-flaggers" defying the authorities and marching through the city developed in a sensational manner this evening, when the returned soldiers took a hand. Their efforts were directed against the Russian Club, in South Brisbane, from which last night they wore menaced with firearms. A very large number of returned soldiers and others met at North Quay to-night, and although many speakers, including returned officers, tried to persuade the men from their intention to raid the Russian headquarters in South Brisbane, a small number gradually broke away from the meeting, and, headed by a soldier carrying a big Australian flag, began to march over Victoria Bridge, evidently bent on dealing with the Russian element which yesterday created the red flag sensation, and fired several shots at the returned soldiers. In a very short time, several thousand Joined in the march to Merivale-street, the majority singing "Australia Will Be There." On entering Merivale-street, they were held up by a very-large police guard, armed with rifles and fixed bayonets. A crowd of many thousands strong quarrelled with the police and tried to push their way through, but were unable to do so, but still remained in large numbers in the vicinity of the Russian Club. A large crowd eventually tried to take the police from the rear, but wore again met by fixed bayonets. After an encounter with the mounted police the crowd tried from another direction to reach the building, but once again failed to break through the police cordon. A large crowd eventually got close to the building and bombarded it with palings and stones. The house alongside the club also suffered severely. The mounted police charged the crowd repeatedly and sent many flying in all directions. The mounted troopers, however, had not things all their own way, for on several occasions they were attacked by the crowds from both sides, and were compelled to ride clear of the crowds. The fences in the vicinity of Merivale-street were soon stripped of palings, which, with stones, were used as weapons against the police. During the police charges, many shots rang out. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center students started Life-Support to assist essential health care providers with daily tasks. The effort was inspired by a group of students in Lubbock who put together a similar program a few days ago, said Rebecca Meiser, a third-year medical student at TTUHSC of the Permian Basin. The first- and second-year medical students have been taking online classes for about a week now, she said. Because clinical rotations have been suspended, the Permian Basin students started Life-Support because they have the time right now. At this point we have put together a list of people willing to help out The list includes what people are willing to do to help out providers who are working crazy hours or having to adjust their schedule or to adjust to the grocery store thats being closed earlier or things like that, Meiser said. Life-Support participants will be offering their time to TTUHSC employees for services such as babysitting, pet sitting, grocery shopping, dog walking, while the employees respond to coronavirus cases. Meiser said shes studying for her Step 2 exam -- the USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge -- but otherwise she has more free time. She said so far, 10 students have volunteered but she doesnt know many health care providers have signed up for help. She said she has been spending a lot of time studying. The deans office and the medical school have been keeping students updated and are invested in keeping students safe and healthy with emphasis on their mental health, she said. TTUHSC will transition from face-to-face instruction to online instruction on March 30. TTUHSC president Dr. Lori Rice-Spearman said the university has students who are in two different situations -- students who are on campus in Lubbock and students who are doing clinical learning experiences. This is an effort to really focus on the health and safety of our student body, Rice-Spearman said. She said students are in health care facilities and private facilities all across the United States, completing their clinical internships. She said most health-related academic programs have their own specific accrediting bodies. She said the facilities and accrediting bodies determine and drive how the university responds with the students and their clinical situations. ACGME (Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education) (last) week put out information that all third- and fourth-year medical students are no longer allowed to participate in clinical experiences, Rice-Spearman said. So, those are things that are not driven by the university, but by the accrediting body. She said the university is doing everything they can to work with students who are affected to find alternative experiences, but they also have to honor what the accrediting body is requiring. The university sent out an email to students with resources available to them and frequently asked questions they might have. In the email, students were informed that the TTUHSC Counseling Center, Our Legacy Now Student Foundation -- a student led organization that provides emergency financial assistance to students who are experiencing unanticipated hardship -- and the TTUHSC Nurse Hotline are available to students. The email also stated spring commencement ceremonies have been postponed. Students who have completed all degree requirements will receive diplomas at the end of the semester. There is an academic transition task force for the entire university that includes six campuses. The task force is looking at specific things the university can do so graduation is not delayed, while realizing that there are some things that are out of their control. However, there is a possibility that some of the academic programs will need to be extended into the summer until the hours are completed, she said Rice-Spearman said the Centers for Disease Control has some very specific guidelines about personnel who are allowed to interact with COVID-19-suspected or infected individuals. For the most part, our students are considered non-essential personnel, she said. Will they potentially be in that facility where there has been a positive case? Yes, but they will not be interacting directly with that patient. During this uncertain time Meiser said it is inspiring to see how the health care system is responding. It makes me feel privileged to be a part of a health care system that cares so deeply about the community, she said. It is really inspiring to see how people are stepping up, and how the health care system as a whole is responding to it. It makes me excited for the point in my career where -- hopefully this never happens again -- but it makes me excited for the point in my career where I could be a really active contributor and help people. Meiser said students are trying to support the health care system and model the behavior for the community. Were really trying to do what little we can to support the health care system and trying to model the behavior that we would love to see from the community for dealing with this crisis, such as social distancing and maintaining good hygiene, while checking in on your neighbors or friends that may be vulnerable and may need help or support during this time, Meiser said. A UNHCR staff member in the Islamic Republic of Iran receives an airlift of some 4.4 tonnes of much-needed medical aid, including supplies to support the COVID-19 response. UNHCR/Hamid Yazdanpanah UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, airlifted today (23 March) some 4.4 tonnes of much-needed medical aid items, including supplies to support the COVID-19 response in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Airbus A330-200 arrived at Imam Khomeini Airport in Tehran from Frankfurt at 17.40 (CET) delivering masks, gloves and essential medicines to help address critical shortages in Irans health care system. Further flights are scheduled in the coming weeks to transport additional aid-items, medicine and personal protective equipment (PPE) for health workers. There are close to one million refugees in Iran who have access to the same health services as the host community and are covered under the national health response. However, hospitals and health centres are struggling to cope with the sharply increasing number of individuals needing urgent help. These aid items are a vital lifeline for improving health care in Iran, benefiting refugees and their hosts, said Ivo Freijsen, UNHCR Representative in Iran. We stand in solidarity with the people of Iran and are fully mobilized to help contain the spread of COVID-19 and mitigate the impact on the most vulnerable, amongst them refugees, he added. The virus has now spread to all 31 provinces of Iran. Refugees, most of whom live side by side with host communities in villages, towns and cities, are at the same risk of catching the COVID-19 as Iranians. Already during the early stages of the epidemic, UNHCR, in coordination with the Government of Iran, distributed basic hygiene items such as soap and disposable paper towels to some 7,500 refugee families living in refugee settlements across the country. Aid items have also been made available to Government and NGO partners who are also engaged in the provision of assistance to refugees. UNHCR continues to work closely with Irans Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants Affairs, the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, UN agencies including the World Health Organization, and national and international NGO partners to raise awareness of key prevention measures amongst refugees and host communities. We are thankful to our donors, particularly the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), who have rapidly rallied around Iran and UN agencies in this crucial moment, said Freijsen. Globally, UNHCR is urgently seeking an initial US$33 million to boost preparedness, prevention and response activities to address the immediate public health needs of refugees and host communities prompted by the spread of COVID-19 around the world. In Iran, UNHCR is seeking US$9.5 million for its COVID-19 emergency measures and for its support to the national health care system to which refugees have access. For more information on this topic, please contact: Indian Embassy in Malaysia has reportedly thanked Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on March 21 for aiding the stranded Indian nationals at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) by providing them with medicine and food supplies. As per reports, this move was taken after the Indian government's decision to suspend all international flights until March 29 to prevent imported cases of COVID-19 in the country. READ: Kerala CM Seeks MEA's Help To Evacuate About 250 Indian Students Stranded In Malaysia High Commissioner thanks "corona warriors" Indian embassy tweeted on Sunday, "India Fights Coronavirus in applauding and expressing gratitude towards the Emergency staff working selflessly round the clock to fight #coronavirusinindia #Covid19India." Indian High Commissioner in Malaysia, Mridul Kumar, along with his family also thanked "corona warriors" in India and Malaysia, as per reports. The embassy said that, ''High Commissioner and family thanking Corona warriors in India and Malaysia". READ: Naidu Praises Jaishankar's Quick Response In Bringing Back Stranded Indians From Malaysia All Indian nationals in Malaysia urged to respect the movement restrictions. Pl stay safe, stay healthy.@MalaysiaMFA @MEAIndia https://t.co/FQJ9IYwhCa India in Malaysia (@hcikl) March 22, 2020 Hundreds of Indians stranded in Malaysia waiting at KLIA2 taken to different hostels,hotels etc. by @hcikl in close coordination with local NGOs and community organizations. @PMOIndia @DrSJaishankar @HarshShringla @MEAIndia @MalaysiaMFA pic.twitter.com/aXg1nVVk4r India in Malaysia (@hcikl) March 21, 2020 READ: Malaysia Announces First Two Fatalities From Coronavirus In The Country READ: COVID-19: India Bans Travellers From Afghanistan, Philippines And Malaysia (Pic Credit: @hcikl/Twitter) 1. Clinicians should consider screening for TSH-R-Abs before pregnancy in patients with history of autoimmune thyroid disorders Abstract: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/L19-0818 URL goes live when the embargo lifts Clinicians should consider screening for thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibodies (TSH-R-Abs) before pregnancy when the patient has a history of autoimmune thyroid disease or a history of radioactive iodine treatment or thyroidectomy. This is important because Graves' disease, an autoimmune disease caused by TSH-R-Abs, or its treatment, can lead to irreversible impairment in fetal neurodevelopment. A case report is published in Annals of Internal Medicine. The antibodies produced in case of Graves' disease can be stimulating (TSAb), neutral, or blocking (TBAb). The net antibody activity determines the clinical phenotype. Typically, TSAbs dominate, resulting in hyperthyroidism. Rarely, TBAbs prevail, resulting in hypothyroidism. While treatment of Graves' disease dominated by TBAbs with L-T4 is straightforward, pregnancy complicates its management, as fetal hypothyroidism is a risk. Clinicians cite the case of a 28-year-old woman with hypothyroidism caused by non-classical Graves' disease that was referred to a team at the University Hospitals Leuven in Belgium. Initially, she presented with hyperthyroidism due to a classical Graves' disease. After being treated for 36 months with high antithyroid drug doses along with L-T4 replacement to avoid hypothyroidism, she became overtly hypothyroid. TBAbs were shown to be prevailing. Two years later, she became pregnant, and the TBAbs persisted during pregnancy. Fetal development was normal with no evidence of hypothyroidism. In the postpartum period, the newborn developed transient subclinical hypothyroidism that spontaneously resolved during the next 3 months along with disappearance of maternal TSH-R-Abs. A second pregnancy followed 3 years later. The newborn developed a low normal free T4 and required treatment with L-T4 from post-natal day 18 until day 73. Both children have developed normally. The physicians caution that screening for TSH-R-Abs in such a patient is important because Graves' disease with TBAbs is rare and easy to overlook. In conclusion, this case presentation emphasizes the clinical relevance and clinical utility of measuring functional TSH-R-Ab prior, as well as during pregnancy in all patients with a history of autoimmune thyroid disease. Media contacts: For an embargoed PDF please contact Lauren Evans at laevans@acponline.org. To speak with the lead author, Brigitte Decallonne, MD, PhD, please contact sarah.cordie@uzleuven.be. 2. Interleukin-1 inhibition with canakinumab reduces incident anemia and improves hemoglobin levels among patients with prevalent anemia Abstract: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M19-2945 Editorial: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M20-0887 URL goes live when the embargo lifts Compared with placebo, interleukin-1 (IL-1) inhibition with canakinumab reduces incident anemia and improves hemoglobin levels among patients with prevalent anemia. A pronounced effect was seen in participants with the most anti-inflammatory response. A secondary analysis from a multinational, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial is published in Annals of Internal Medicine. Inflammation contributes to the development of anemia in patients with chronic disease or infection and may play a role in anemia onset in older adults. Several factors contribute to the anemia that accompanies chronic inflammation, and inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1 and IL-6 participate in its pathogenesis. It is not clear if anti-inflammatory therapy targeting IL-1 can reverse these effects. Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School analyzed data from the CANTOS (Canakinumab Anti-inflammatory Thrombosis Outcomes Study) randomized controlled trial to determine whether IL-1 inhibition with canakinumab reduces incident anemia and improves hemoglobin levels among those with prevalent anemia. They found that IL-1 inhibition reduced the incidence of anemia by 16 percent, with a pronounced effect in participants with the most robust anti-inflammatory response. According to the authors, these hypothesis-generating data highlight the role of IL-1 /IL-6 pathway signaling in anemia onset in a large population with chronic inflammation and motivates the design of prospective confirmatory studies to identify populations that might benefit from anti-inflammatory therapies for anemia. Media contacts: For an embargoed PDF please contact Lauren Evans at laevans@acponline.org. To speak with the lead author, Paul M Ridker, MD, please contact Haley Bridger at hbridger@bwh.harvard.edu. 3. Iron chelation therapy shows clinical benefit in patients with lower risk for myelodysplastic syndromes Abstract: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M19-0916 URL goes live when the embargo lifts Iron chelation therapy with deferasirox had clinical benefit in infusion-dependent patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Findings from a randomized, placebo-controlled trial are published in Annals of Internal Medicine. MDS comprise a group of disorders characterized by bone marrow failure, cytogenetic and molecular alterations, and potential for progression to acute myeloid leukemia. In patients with low risk for MDS, treatment goals primarily involve management of cytopenias, including anemia. Anemia is often treated with red blood cell transfusions that can lead to iron overload, which may have a negative impact on organs and progression to leukemia. ICT therapy for these patients has not been evaluated in randomized studies. Researchers, including those from IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, conducted a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (TELESTO) to evaluate event-free survival (EFS) and safety of ICT in iron-overloaded patients with lower risk for MDS. Participants were randomly assigned to either deferasirox dispersible tablets (n=149) or matching placebo (n=76) and followed to determine EFS, or death, whichever occurred first. Median time on treatment was 1.6 years in the deferasirox group and 1.0 year in the placebo group. The researchers found that median EFS was prolonged by approximately 1 year with deferasirox versus placebo and adverse events occurred in 97.3 percent of deferasirox recipients compared to 90.8 percent in placebo recipients. Deferasirox had a clinically manageable safety profile similar to placebo, except for a non-severe, manageable increase in serum creatinine with deferasirox. However, most adverse events were likely related to the underlying disease and/or the iron overloaded state of patients. The researchers note that TELESTO is the first prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study demonstrating clinical benefit of ICT. Media contacts: For an embargoed PDF please contact Lauren Evans at laevans@acponline.org. To speak with the lead author, Emanuele Angelucci, MD, please contact Emma Houghton at emma.houghton@mudskipper.biz. ### Also new in this issue: Improving How State Medical Boards Ask Physicians About Mental Health Diagnoses: A Case Study From New Mexico Eileen Barrett, MD, MPH; Elizabeth Lawrence, MD; Daniel Waldman, MD; and Heather Brislen, MD Ideas and Opinions Abstract: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M19-3681 Uses and Limitations of the Restricted Mean Survival Time: Illustrative Examples From Cardiovascular Outcomes and Mortality Trials in Type 2 Diabetes David E. Kloecker, MPhil; Melanie J. Davies, MD; Kamlesh Khunti, MD, PhD; and Francesco Zaccardi, MD, PhD Research and Reporting Methods Abstract: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M19-3286 Yves here. This look at Covid-19 data shows how one needs to be modest in reaching conclusions, since much of the information bandied about (most importantly, confirmed cases) is of dubious quality and not comparable across countries. Nevertheless, Id add one consideration to the list: the stringency of the various quarantines. Chinas was very tough, with people in cities not allowed to leave their apartment buildings if a temperature reading at the entrance showed a fever. It is an open question as to whether our halfway measures (closures of lots of businesses but no restriction on movement of people) will be good enough. By Ignacio Moreno Echanove, an epidemiologist I am analyzing the evolution of Covid-19 epidemics in three different regions of the world, identify the differences we can find, and speculate on how the disease spreads differently in these regions. The three regions are examples of full-blown epidemics managed with quarantines (mitigation). I have not included data from South Korea since that can be considered a case of clever management during the contention phase. The three regions are the province of Hubei (China Popular Republic, 58 million inhabitants) where all started, Italy (61 million) the country showing so far the highest toll, and Spain (47 million), following Italys path with a short lag in the development of the Covid-19 epidemics. I hope to provide some light in the development of the epidemics and provide a few hints on what to expect in other regions where the epidemics are developing now with some lag. First, as a tracker of the epidemics, I dont follow the number of confirmed cases as reported by every country. This number is in my opinion useless to track the disease for various reasons. I dont want to belabor this argument but to have an idea of how an epidemic developed, what is needed is the testing of random samples large enough to give a significant number of positives that are representative of the true geographic distribution of the epidemic. In the early days of the epidemics this would be difficult and requires what South Korea and South Korea alone has done. There is an instrument that is used to track the epidemics of influenza, which very useful to decide each season what vaccines to choose (FLUNET). It may be have been diverted by some governments to track Covid-19 epidemics. I would certainly do so if I were in a position of authority! If has happened, it has not been publicly acknowledged as far as I can tell. However, according to a report from the WHO, this was done at least in Guangdong province in China. Instead of confirmed cases I prefer to track the sad number of Covid-19 associated casualties. Mi hypothesis is that Covid-19 casualties are a much better reflection of the true extent of the epidemics. Probably very few are missed in reports and the cumulative number is an indirect indicator of the number of total contagions that had occurred in between 20-30 days before reflected the mortality data. Remember that symptoms appear at about 5 days and disease development takes 2 weeks for mild cases and three for the severe cases. Cumulative casualties is a lagging indicator of course but after all more representative than reportedly confirmed. The next graph shows the cumulative number of casualties in the three regions but synchronized starting the day when 6-8 cases had been reported in each region. The dates in the horizontal axis are valid for Hubei. Data for Hubei starting 21st Jan is from JHI web as reported by the WHO. Data for Italy (starting Feb 24th) and Spain (starting March 8th) are from Wikipedia. The initial lags are 35 days between Italy and Hubei and 13 days between Italy and Spain. The arrows indicate the starting day for general quarantines in each region. A blue ray (?) indicates the day when Hubei epidemics showed an inflection with daily casualties declining sharply: 31 days after quarantine start. The Hubei epidemic is the only that so far shows the shape of a logistic curve, though compared with those of Italy and Spain looks nearly linear. It can be seen that the number of casualties dropped sharply on Feb 24th, coincidentally the first epidemic day shown in the graph for Italy. This sustained drop started 31 days after the start of the general quarantine. According to Zhou et al., (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30566-3/fulltext) the median duration of Covid disease in severe cases is 20 days after symptom onset but on non-surviving patients median time to death is about 18.5 days. In these curves the shape of the logistic curve will depend on the date of general quarantine start resulting in sharp reduction of RO and the development that should show up at about 5 days incubation period plus 19 days to death for a total of 24 days. The drop in Hubei, 31 days after quarantine start, exceeded by 6 days that of the disease development and it can be speculated that it could be due to chaos in the beginning of the quarantine, a spike in home contagions and some statistical mess. I would expect that this time to sharp reduction of daily fatalities could be somehow shorter in Italy and Spain. My experience is that the effect of emergency measures was quite sharp in Spain and I think it was the same in Italy after the Chinese experience. So one could expect to see some relief in Italy by the 31st of March and in Spain by the 10th of April, regarding the numbers of reported fatalities. I will refrain to project current trends publicly until those target dates but looking at the graph it is possible to understand that it can be quite horrible. The starkest difference between these three curves is the slope of the regression, related with overall mortality rates. The slope is so far as twice as large for Spain (we have not seen the peak) and about four times larger for Italy. Why is this? One reason, given that the mortality rates are much higher for the elder, could be differences in the population pyramids of the three regions. Next graph shows a comparison of these pyramids that demonstrates the distribution of ages is less favourable for Italy or Spain. In particular there is a sharp difference in the proportion of 70 years old and elderly which is more than twice as large for Italy or Spain compared with China (assuming the distribution in China is representative of Hubei). If this is the main reason explaining differences in slope, I would expect the slope in Spain would be somehow lower than the Italian one. Another possible factor could be that quarantines were decreed in different moments on the evolution of the epidemics. The sooner, the lower slope. In this case Italy is again the worst case (11 days delay compared to Hubei) followed by Spain (4 day delay). These two reasons combined could explain the differences seen so far. A third difference is that the exponential growth of the epidemics starts somehow sooner in Spain compared with Italy or Hubei by about three days. A possible explanation for this is that while in Italy and Hubei only one cluster was detected in the beginning, in Spain two clusters were simultaneously seen, one in Madrid and the second in the Basque Country. So, Spain is a tale of two close epidemic outbreaks. In my opinion those clusters expanding so fast out of control may have a common element: the so-called superspreaders. These stories suggest a few things to be considered in other ongoing epidemics and for the future. 1) If superspreaders are involved in sudden outbursts, containment measures should account for this possibility and provide for intensive and extensive testing of the population around any given case. This could explain the South Korean success. In other examples where the epidemics still looks linear in the absence of such extensive testing, it may be the fortunate case that so far, no superspreaders have surfaced. Perhaps there was an undetected superspreader in Washington state. In France, UK or NY, the increasing numbers may be related with many individual contacts with Italy and now Spain (or Iran, SK) rather than a superspreader. The differences between NY and CA may reflect less direct contact with Europe in the latter case. 2) When containment has failed and uncontrolled spread is seen, the sooner quarantines are decreed, the better. 3) Other differences can be related with the intensity of social relations in large metropolitan areas like Wuhan in Hubei or Madrid in Spain (and presumably NYC?). Madrid accounts for about 60% of casualties in Spain. I think that NYC is now making a big effort to test everybody and this is good though a bit too late now. 4) Last but not least, the proportion of vulnerable people in a country will almost certainly affect overall mortality and contribute positively or negatively to the slope of the curve. New Delhi, March 23 : To maintain international commercial links, Centre has kept the freighter operations free from any restrictions. According to the aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), there are no restrictions imposed on domestic and foreign air operators for carrying out cargo operations. "Currently, there are no restrictions imposed on domestic or foreign air operators for carrying out cargo operations at any airport in India. All stakeholders kindly note," the DGCA tweeted on Monday. However, all international passenger flights have been prohibited to land in India from Sunday till a week's time to contain the spread of COVID-19. Meanwhile, national capital's IGI Airport remains functional despite massive lockdown measures being implemented by the authorities across the country. Accordingly, Domestic flights to and from the IGI, Delhi continued to operate. As spread of COVID-19 forces class closures, volunteers step in to ensure pupils dependent on US school meals get fed. Nearly 30 million children in the United States are provided with daily free or subsided lunches when they attend school. But the spread of the coronavirus has forced many schools to close, leaving many pupils short of a daily meal. But some volunteer groups such as Mobile Hope in Virginia have stepped in to ensure the children get fed. We follow founder Donna Fortier on her rounds. Minder is described as an app for awesome Muslims to meet each other basically, to find potential spouses. But there's a lot else going on on the 'halal' app. Recently, I was scrolling through Minder a Tinder-like app for Muslims when I came across an intriguing profile. The man in question (lets call him Z) stated in his bio that he was a Ghaziabad-based Hindu in his early 20s, employed as an officer with Indian Railways, and had a fetish for Muslim girls. Curious, I swiped right. *** Minder is described as an app for awesome Muslims to meet each other basically, to find potential spouses. Soon after I matched with Z, he texted me Z: Wow, you are really pretty. I: Thank you. So tell me more about this fetish. Z: It has always been my fantasy to have a Muslim woman as a slave in bed. I: That sounds a bit problematichaving a Muslim woman as a slave? At this point, Z hastened to clarify that he had done it with many women from different communities and was now looking for a Muslim woman on Minder. As I questioned him further, Z told me he was into BDSM and had an array of toys at home handcuffs, whips, a collar and leash. So far, the best BDSM chats Ive had have been with Muslim women. Thats why Im trying to find one to do this with, he said. I took another look at Zs profile: I am an adventurer and explorer looking for nice girls to hang out withand further, it stated. By this time Z had realised I wasnt going to be the submissive Muslim woman he had hoped to find, and unmatched me. *** It wasnt too long before I came across N another Hindu guy whose bio stated a Muslim girl fetish. His was far more defined than Zs though: N wanted to engage in a golden shower (excitement over the thoughts or acts involving the urine of a sexual partner) with a Muslim woman. Ns About Me section had read: I am just here to make good Muslim friends. A third man I encountered, M, told me in detail about his Princess Leia fantasy: an elaborate routine that involved wrapping her unbound hair in his hands and pulling her close and bringing her close to but not allowing her to experience orgasm. (Ms bio said he was looking for a halal meme partner.) A fourth told me about his fixation with pretty feet and Jatt girls, who he said were as strong and assertive in bed as out of it. His first girlfriend had been Jatt, Guy No. 4 told me, with a voice that turned [him] on although later, she also gave him the worst beating, when [I] told her [I] couldnt marry her. Guy No. 4 added a sad emoji at the end of this message, but I couldnt help laughing on reading it. *** Men Hindu or Muslim are taught this specific idea of a Muslim woman, a researcher I discussed my Minder experiences involving Z and N with told me. Hijabi, submissive, not very outgoing Men believe in this idea because it suits them. The researcher pointed to specific categories like Arab Muslims, Submissive Muslim Girls, Submissive Hijabi and Hijabi in pornography as promoting the idea that Muslim women are submissive in bed. *** Viqar Ul Aslam is a journalist who headed PR for a dating app back in 2017. As part of his work at the time, he researched the behaviour of people who join dating apps, Minder being among them. Minder is a replica of Tinder. They have used the same algorithm, but it isnt very refined. It claims to be exclusively for Muslims, but there is no system for verification and unlike Tinder, it is like a matrimonial site, and there are many sectarian questions on Minder, Aslam observed. [Indeed, when I was registering for the halal app, I was asked if I was Sunni or Shia, and instead of the usual hi/hello, there was a flood of salaams and jazakallah khair (thank you for adding me) once I became active on the platform.] In India, we do not talk openly about sex. People suppress their sexual urges. Dating apps provide users a space to discuss their fantasies, Aslam said. *** When I reached out to Noida-based psychiatrist Praveen Tripathi, he echoed part of Aslams conclusions, saying, Fantasies have always been part of the human mind. But earlier, there was no safe space for people to openly talk about their sexual fantasies, so they would repress these. Tripathi noted that as long as fantasies remained just that, they were healthy enough. But, he cautioned, if we start to express all of our desires and practise them in real life, they may play out in ways that we hadnt imagined. *** Not everyone on Minder is looking to indulge a fetish of course. I spoke with T, a consultant at an auditing firm, who used the app for a few days before finally deleting it out of frustration. T told me that he chatted with a Muslim girl; ultimately, she was sceptical about meeting him. When I heard that this app was the Tinder for Muslims, I was curious and thought it would be a good platform to meet women. But it was like a matrimonial app. It asked me how soon I planned to get married, T said. However, women on this app were quite open, T added. Unlike earlier, sex before marriage has now become common and people are willing to go out of their way to check their compatibility before they get married. So, this app is very much for dating among Muslims with the ultimate purpose of marriage. [March 23, 2020] Royal Credit Union Expands Partnership to Baker Hill NextGen CARMEL, Ind., March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Baker Hill , the leading financial technology provider in delivering solutions for commercial, small business and consumer loan origination, risk and relationship management, CECL, and analytics, today announces that Royal Credit Union will be migrating to Baker Hill NextGen, Baker Hill's unified solution that streamlines loan origination and portfolio risk management. Royal Credit Union is a federally insured credit union proudly serving over 220,000 members in Minnesota and Wisconsin, providing business loans and services for over 40 years. Royal Credit Union's long-time relationship has allowed for the implementation of many processing efficiencies. Reducing approval turn-around time from two weeks to one business day, the introduction of an online application increasing application volume by 34% in its first year, and refined financial requirements due to confidence in the underwriting pool are just a few of the advancements Royal Credit Union has achieved through its Baker Hill partnership. "We have the comfort and confidence in their products and the proven customer service experience to move forward with what we believe will be a very smooth transtion to Baker Hill NextGen," said Karlee Wallin, vice president-small business lending manager of Royal Credit Union. "To date, our members have already realized benefits from our partnership with Baker Hill in the quick and easy online application and fast loan approval process. We are looking forward to building on these efficiencies with the ability to electronically upload financial information and enhance our mobile capabilities for ease of use." The timing of this transition to Baker Hill NextGen aligns with Royal Credit Union's strategic plan to implement a Small Business Division. With the help of Baker Hill NextGen, Royal Credit Union will be creating the best possible member experience with a team of small business lenders devoted to serving this unique segment of membership. Enhanced reporting capabilities with Baker Hill NextGen are expected to impact progress and strategic planning, while maximizing the capabilities of the system to provide the best member and team member experience in order to continue to building efficiencies, all allowing Royal Credit Union to proactively respond to member needs. "An expanded relationship with Royal Credit Union is an exciting opportunity for Baker Hill NextGen," said John M. Deignan, president and chief executive officer of Baker Hill. "We are looking forward to supporting the growth of their Small Business Division and of their member business owners of all sizes." For more information on Baker Hill, visit www.bakerhill.com. About Baker Hill Baker Hill is the expert solution for loan origination, portfolio risk and relationship management, CECL and analytics for financial institutions in the United States. The company delivers a single unified platform with modern solutions to streamline loan origination and portfolio risk management for commercial, small business and consumer lending. The Baker Hill NextGen platform also delivers sophisticated analytics and marketing solutions that support sound business decisions to mitigate risk, generate growth and maximize profitability. About Royal Credit Union Royal Credit Union is a federally insured credit union proudly serving over 220,000 Members in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Royal is driven by a core ideology which is built on strong purpose and values. You can open an account or apply for a low-rate loan at Royal Credit Union if you live or work in 26 counties in western Wisconsin or 16 counties in Minnesota. Realtors in the state of Wisconsin or Minnesota are also eligible to join the credit union. Visit rcu.org or call Royal Credit Union at 800-341-9911 for more information. Media Contact: Haley Williams [email protected] 317.814.1254 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/royal-credit-union-expands-partnership-to-baker-hill-nextgen-301028249.html SOURCE Baker Hill [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Deepak Sathish By Express News Service COIMBATORE: Fear of being in isolation has pushed the people to an extent where a few passengers arriving at Coimbatore International Airport and railway station were allegedly taking paracetamol tablets to bypass thermal screening conducted by the health department officials. While the screening is mainly to diagnose symptoms of the virus to contain further spread, the passengers reportedly practice this method to show low body temperature. Health department officials claimed the passengers do not want to be isolated at the health department facility, instead, the latter say they would self-isolate themselves at homes. A senior medical practitioner at Coimbatore Medical College Hospital said a middle-aged man who recently arrived at Coimbatore from Malaysia seemed to have taken the tablet before boarding the flight. The official said the body temperature of the man was normal while checking since he had the tablet. There is no need to have tablets to bypass the screening since the department is doing it as a precautionary measure, the official added. Official sources in the Public Health and Preventive Medicine Department said the cases of passengers having paracetamol is practised everywhere. The passengers are so afraid while we insist them to undergo screening. Therefore, some of them have two paracetamol tablets (of 1,000mg) to reduce their body temperature. We might not know whether the person had a fever earlier since the infrared thermometer detects normal body temperature, said sources. Officials urged the passengers to undergo thermal screening without bypassing it as it would contain the spread of the dreadful virus in the community. Chief Anesthetist in Ganga Hospital J Balavenkat Subramanian called the practice as an injustice to the family of the person concerned who takes tablets to fake their body temperature. He said, It is fear which leads them to practice such methods. They think they would be quarantined if their body temperature is high. Such persons are rejecting the health department advisory and risking their lives and putting the health condition of others at stake. Deputy Director of Health Services G Ramesh Kumar claimed there is awareness among people to stop having tablets to showing decreased body temperature. Garment units to be closed till March 31 Tirupur: In the wake of coronavirus pandemic, over 9,000 garment and job working units in the district will remain closed till March 31, said Tirupur Exporters Association (TEA) president Raja M Shanmugam. With the State government announcing shutdown till March 31 the industry will incur a loss worth Rs 800 crore, he added. Kin of Spain returnee negative for COVID-19 Coimbatore: Two family members of the 25-year-old woman, who is admitted to the Coronavirus isolation ward at ESIC Hospital after returning from Spain, have tested negative for COVID-19. Deputy Director of Health Services G Ramesh Kumar said that very close contacts of the patient, were tested. Besides, the other contacts are monitored. Man from Srivilliputhur dies in Sweden Virudhunagar: A 40-year-old Srivilliputhur native died in Sweden after he contracted coronavirus there. Sources said, T Rajeshkumar had been living in Sweden along with his wife and son. He was one of those who contracted COVID-19 in Sweden. He was undergoing treatment but died on Monday. His wife son are still in Sweden. Virudhunagar MP Manickam Tagore requested MEA to intervene and ask Swedish government to lend medical help. File Photo Even though both the Congress and its latest high-profile defector Jyotiraditya Scindia have cried betrayal and triumph on behalf of the people of Madhya Pradesh, what happened in Madhya Pradesh was a clash between the politics of feudal patronage and power, and Scindia prevailed with the crucial support of political heft provided by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). If the winner has been such bare-knuckled power-politics, the losers have been the people who now stare at the return of the BJP whose government the people unseated 15 months ago, one which was alleged of corruption, lack of governance, etc. While there is internal squabbling in the BJP over the Chief Ministers post, it is likely to be resolved soon. For the Congress, demotivated and effectively leaderless, it is critical to contain the cascading effect of Scindias defection in neighbouring Rajasthan as well as in other state units. By-elections In Madhya Pradesh, the Congress and its remaining two tallest state leaders, Digvijaya Singh and Kamal Nath have their task cut out. They have to stem the plummeting morale among the remaining MLAs and cadre, as well as effectively lead the partys campaign in the impending by-elections. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show Though all life has been disrupted by the outbreak of Covid-19, its only a matter of time before the election commission announces the dates for the elections to the 24 seats belonging all but one to MLAs who rebelled under the Scindia banner. All the 23 rebels have joined the BJP in a simple ceremony wherein one MLA after another swore allegiance to the BJP in the presence of Scindia. Uncertainty looms Although assured of tickets as part of the deal to topple the Kamal Nath government, the rebel MLAs are in a heightened state of anxiety as now they have to go back to their constituents and explain the political U-turn. Despite the bravado and celebratory posturing at the moment, there is also widespread resentment among Congress workers who feel cheated by the Scindia camp of the 2018 mandate. Additionally, these turncoats would also have to contend with the dagger-like glares from local BJP leaders in their constituencies. In most cases the margin of victory over their former foes was not more than a few thousand votes, and in order to win again, they would need the support of a substantial number of BJP cadre. At the moment it is difficult to say if long-time BJP leaders and supporters would simply acquiesce to their leadership and throw their weight behind the latest entrants. After all, whats in the balance is the survival and political future of the local BJP leaders too. The state Congress is planning to target the rebels as greedy traitors who were led by a power-hungry maharaj (a reference to Scindia and his royal family lineage) to rob the mandate given to the party after 15 years of BJP rule. It hopes that such a campaign will strike a chord given that there are still large pockets in Madhya Pradesh where the Congress is in a position of strength. By highlighting Scindias opportunism, the Congress also plans to highlight the massive deprivation, including malnutrition, which plagues the Chambal-Bundelkhand region, parts of which are considered to be Scindias fiefdom. Digvijayas Dilemma For Singh, a minor dynast himself, the battle to retain his Rajya Sabha membership has become tougher after the defection of MLAs because there are no longer enough votes to ensure both Singh and the Dalit leader Phool Singh Baraiya are elected. Will the two-term former Chief Minister step aside for Baraiya? If he does that it will not only restore some of his own credibility, which has once again hit rock bottom, but it might also boost Congress chances in the upcoming bypolls ,as Baraiya induction is likely to send a positive message to the SC/ST sections. Moreover, it will also help the party in selling its narrative of a greedy Maharaja usurping peoples mandate by positing a polar opposite such as Baraiya. In his resignation speech Nath said that there was always a tomorrow and day after in politics the grand old party would do well to remember those words if it is serious about its survival. South Koreas coronavirus outbreak once looked grim with new cases skyrocketing on a daily basis and a massive cluster of infections, making it the worst-hit country outside China. The disease suddenly exploded in South Korea Feb. 18. The caseload multiplied 180-fold in two weeks, with daily growth topping 909 on Feb. 29. But the dire trend reversed course quickly. Since March 6, South Korea started reporting declining numbers of new cases with daily increases in the dozens. As of Sunday, South Korea recorded 8,897 infections, No. 8 in the world. Elsewhere, the Covid-19 pandemic only grows more dreadful over time. In the United States, where the first case was detected Jan. 20, the same day as South Koreas, total infections exceeded 32,000 by Sunday afternoon, with at least 389 deaths. In Spain, total caseload reached 28,603, adding more than 3,600 overnight. In Italy, the new hotspot of the outbreak, infections surpassed 59,000 with more than 5,400 fatalities. Globally, more than 320,000 people have contracted Covid-19, and 14,000 people have died, according to Johns Hopkins University. To stop the spread of the virus, an increasing number of governments are turning to draconian measures from city shutdowns to sealing borders. But South Korea showed there is another way to effectively bring the disease under control. Businesses across the country have largely carried on, and no city was locked down. With falling numbers of new cases, life in South Korea seems to be on track to returning to normality. More importantly, South Korea has one of the worlds lowest fatality rates from Covid-19 at just 1%, compared with the 3.4% global fatality rate estimated by the World Health Organization in early March. Korean officials attribute to the countrys effective control of the outbreak to a strategy called TRUST, for transparency, robust screening and quarantine, unique but universally-applicable testing, strict control and treatment. South Korea learned the importance of preparedness the hard way in the face of an epidemic after the 2015 outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). A single imported case of MERS set off a chain of transmission that infected 186 and killed 36. Nearly 17,000 people were quarantined, and the government was harshly criticized for its slow response. As Covid-19 cases emerged in China late last year, South Korea started mobilizing resources for an outbreak. The country tested people for the virus at the fastest pace in the world, enabling early detection of patients, effective isolation and timely treatment to reduce mortality. Its invention of drive-through test stations, which allow people to take swabs to test for the virus without leaving their cars, is now being copied by countries including Canada, Germany and the U.S. According to government data, South Korea has the ability to test an average of 12,000 people a day with peak capacity of as many as 20,000 a day. People usually receive test results within six to 24 hours. As of Friday, South Korea tested more than 300,000 of its 51 million people, or more than one of every 200. By contrast, the U.S., with a population more than six times that of South Korea, may have tested only about 170,000 people, according to Dr. Deborah Birx, a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force. The South Korean government responded quickly and took effective measures after the emergence of super-spreaders, said Huang Yanzhong, a public health researcher at the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations. Massive testing is an important factor for stopping the virus and played a decisive role in controlling the epidemic at an early stage, Huang said. Even though the country reported 152 new cases Thursday with the emergence of new clusters over the past week, South Korea's handling of the outbreak is a model of early action and swift containment, experts said. A look at the countrys path over the past two months may provide lessons for other countries. Early reaction News of an unknown pneumonia emerging in Wuhan in central China came to light around Dec. 31. Three days later, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) set up an emergency team to study the disease. On Jan. 8, South Korea reported its first suspected case a 36-year-old Chinese from Gyeonggi Province who visited Wuhan in mid-December. The patient, who showed pneumonia-like symptoms, later tested negative for coronavirus, but the incident sounded the first alarm to the country. Read more Caixins coverage of the new coronavirus South Korean authorities stepped up efforts starting Jan. 16 to screen people who had visited Wuhan as cases of infection were reported in Thailand and Japan. The first case was confirmed Jan. 20 and reported to the public, the same day Beijing and Guangzhou reported their first cases. The KCDC immediately raised its alert level. At the same time, authorities started tracking health conditions of about 3,000 people who had traveled to Wuhan over the previous 14 days, and lawmakers moved to revise laws to assist in disease control efforts. Following Wuhans lockdown Jan. 23, the KCDC dispatched an expert team to the city to study the outbreak. Meanwhile, construction of a massive virus-testing network started in South Korea in a joint effort of private and public institutions. It went into operation in early February. The Covid-19 outbreak is the first major test for South Koreas disease control system since an overhaul triggered by the 2015 MERS outbreak. The revamp gave the KCDC greater authority in handling epidemics and equipped hospitals with adequate quarantine and pathogen testing facilities. The system proved effective. In the month after South Koreas first confirmed case, the daily increase in infections remained fewer than four, and no cases were reported between Feb. 12 and 15. As of Feb. 16, the total reached 30 infections, including 14 inbound travelers and 16 of their close contacts. On Feb. 18, President Moon Jae-in predicted the outbreak would disappear before long. He spoke too soon. The next day, South Korea reported a record of 20 new cases, including 14 linked to a religious group known as the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in Daegu, the countrys third-largest city after Seoul and Busan. The previous day, South Korea diagnosed its 31st patient with Covid-19, a person who soon became known as the country's "super-spreader." The 61-year-old woman, who did not travel abroad since December, was part of the mass congregation of the Shincheonji Church and came in contact with more than 1,000 people. Medical workers transport a Covid-19 patient in Seoul March 8. On Feb. 20, South Korea added 53 new cases, more than the total count over the previous month. Of the new infections, 23were linked to Patient 31. Since then, new cases surged every day, and the total number more than doubled in the week between Feb. 29 and March 7. It is still unclear who was the first patient in the Shincheonji Church, but the organizations intensive network of 210,000 members nationwide allowed the virus to spread at lightning speed. On Feb. 25, the government started to screen all Shincheonji Church members. As of March 3, 13,241 members reported suspected symptoms. In Daegu, 4,328 members received tests, and 62% were positive. On March 3, President Moon declared war on the outbreak. Get tested Song Qiao, a Chinese woman in South Korea, received a notice from a community clinic asking her to stay in self-isolation after one of her friends at the Shincheonji Church was confirmed with the infection. During her quarantine, Song received daily calls from the clinic inquiring about her condition. Several days later, she was tested for the virus and had a negative result. The South Korea government acted quickly in tracing and testing suspected patients, Song said. When one case is confirmed, all people and places that had contact with the patient are traced. Since the outbreak, South Korea has established 118 labs and 633 testing sites, including drive-through clinics and pop-up facilities, forming an intensive network to provide fast and affordable public testing. In two weeks since the outbreak escalated in late February, 120,000 people in South Korea were tested. Jin Yong Kim, a Korean infectious disease physician, said the countrys decision to conduct massive testing effectively suppressed the highly infectious virus. With large-scale screening, early treatment and quarantine measures can be carried out in a timely way, he said. Compared with the MERS outbreak, when contagion mainly took place in hospitals, Covid-19 has greater risk for community transmission. South Koreas authorities quickly realized the difference and shifted the control strategy to mass testing, Kim said. South Korea was well prepared for the shift. When Chinese scientists first published the novel coronavirus's genetic sequence in January, South Korean companies started developing and stockpiling test kits, even before the country had its first case. The government approved its first test kit Feb. 4, made by Seoul-based Kogene Biotech Co., when the country had reported just 16 cases. According to Korean media reports, as of March 16, four Korean companies won approval to produce test kits and started mass production. Their total capacity has met domestic demands, and the manufacturers say they plan to seek exports. South Koreas experiences showed how a sound coordination between the state and private sector can benefit efforts to screen and contain the disease, said Huang at the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations. Massive testing is the key that helped South Korea control the outbreak and reduce fatalities, said Stanley Perlman, professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Iowa. But such measures could be carried out partly because of South Koreas relatively small territory and will be a challenge for large countries like China and the U.S., Perlman said. South Korea also adopted rigorous quarantine measures to prevent the viruss spread. Such measures grew out of the painful lessons of Daegu, which has nearly three-quarters of all cases in the country. As in the early days in Wuhan, hospitals in Daegu were overwhelmed, resulting in high mortality because of delayed treatment, local epidemiologists said. Meanwhile, many mild patients were told to stay in home quarantine, causing clusters of infections among family members. On March 1, Daegu had 2,569 confirmed patients. But only 898 of them were hospitalized and the rest were at home. The same day, the South Korean government issued new guidance for Covid-19 including setting up designated facilities to receive patients at different phases of the disease to reduce the burden on hospitals, similar to the idea of makeshift hospitals in Wuhan. Since then, hotels and company dormitories were reserved as makeshift wards and quarantine sites to put mild and suspected patients under centralized observation. Mass testing and strict quarantine measures allowed South Korea to slow the outbreak without shutting down cities and banning travel. Despite social and cultural differences, South Koreas epidemic control measures can be implemented in other parts of the world, said Jeremy Rossman, a virologist at the University of Kent. Unfinished war The battle against a global pandemic can hardly rely on one country by itself. On March 13, China and South Korea formed a joint task force to control Covid-19 with coordination of customs, disease control and treatment research. Four days later, Japan joined the partnership. While the outbreak in the earliest-hit Asian countries showed signs of waning, experts warned it is too early to relax as the risks of new infections linger. South Korea maintained its downward trend of new cases starting March 7 with daily increases of fewer than 100. That ended, however, with a rebound March 19, when 152 new infections were reported, including a cluster of infections at a nursing home in Daegu. The previous week, another cluster of cases appeared around a call center in Seoul. The emergence of new clusters and unknown infection sources indicates that there is undetected community transmission, said Chun Byung-Chul, an epidemiologist at Korea University in Seoul. As long as there are still uncertainties, we cant say the outbreak has peaked, Chun said. South Korea has stepped up measures to address the potential revival of the epidemic. Since March 16, the country started screening all people arriving at airports, Koreans included. The spread of Covid-19 has been slowed in South Korea and China largely because of the implementation of strict social distancing and public hygiene, said physician Jin. It won us a precious time to review our efforts to prepare for the new outbreak, Jin said. "The enemy we fear most is not the virus, but the next surge we must face without changing our current lifestyle." Contact reporter Han Wei (weihan@caixin.com) and editor Bob Simison (bobsimison@caixin.com) Amid the lockdown orders in various states, confusion, chaos and traffic jams prevailed at Ghazipur on Uttar Pradesh-Delhi border on Monday morning as police personnel were seen struggling to prevent those who were unnecessarily attempting to cross the border. The chaos also led to stopping of regular vehicles at the border and delaying the entry of essential vehicles and people who have been exempted from the lockdown orders by the government. While the police personnel were allowing professionals such as doctors, police personnel, medical and sanitary staff, people who were not able to convince them regarding their urgency were prohibited from entering Delhi, causing inconvenience to such motorists. On Sunday, after the governments lockdown orders, Delhi Police commissioner SN Shrivastava had said that the police will not stop people who are residents of Delhi but were stuck in other states before the lockdown orders from crossing the borders. Also Watch | Coronavirus: Delhi lockdown begins; massive traffic jam at Delhi-Noida border However, on ground the situation was different and police personnel were seen stopping many such people and asking them to return, not listening to their genuine concerns that where will they go now. My son was admitted in Yashoda hospital for stomach infection. He was discharged yesterday but the doctor had asked me to show his pathological reports. I came to the hospital in the morning before 6am and met the doctor. I am now trying to return home but the policemen are now letting me go, despite showing the medical reports, said Arun Mahata, a resident of Karol Bagh in central Delhi. Yogesh Kumar, a resident of Punjabi Bagh, was denied entry into the city even as he told the police personnel that he had gone to Aligarh with his family to attend the last rites of a relative. I know about the lockdown orders but I am helpless as I had to return home. My wife and son are also with me. I tried convincing the policemen but they were just not listening, said Kumar. While many of the motorists were seen obeying the instructions of the police personnel, some insisted on the entry and were seen stopping their cars behind the police barricades and arguing with them, creating inconvenience for other motorists and even halting essential vehicles such as ambulances, police vans, army trucks, among others. People are arguing with us despite knowing about the governments lockdown orders. We have been instructed by our seniors only to allow essentials vehicles and people who have been exempted from the lockdown orders. But those having no urgency are also quarrelling with us, as if we are stopping them for our own safety, said a Delhi Police head constable who has been on duty at the Ghazipur border with seven other personnel, including three traffic police staff. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON SPRINGFIELD The number of people confirmed to heve been infected with coronavirus at Baystate Health has reached 50. As of Monday, medical personnel there have tested 639 people for COVID-19 and have received positive results for 50. Another 332 people tested negative, Baystate officials said. The Springfield-based health provider in still awaiting test results for 257 others. Baystate Health is not providing additional details on patients, such age, gender or residence. As of Sunday, there were 646 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Massachusetts with five deaths, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. There are 23 cases in Berkshire County; 2 in Franklin; 12 in Hampden and 4 in Hampshire. The numbers are expected to increase with eight cases at a Greenfield nursing home reported over the weekend. The state DPH will release its latest numbers today at 4 p.m. Sign up for free text messages about important updates on coronavirus in Massachusetts Related content: Kolkata: The Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel deployed outside the deserted Sealdah Railway Station during complete lockdown in the country in a bid to curtail the spread of coronavirus, in Kolkata on March 23, 2020. (Photo: Kuntal Chakrabart Image Source: PK Kolkata, March 23 : With a 57-year-old man succumbing to coronavirus infection at a private hospital here on Monday, West Bengal reported its first Covid-19 death, an official said. The man, on ventilator support at the ICCU of the AAMRI Hospital, Salt Lake, died following a cardiac arrest on afternoon. Hospitalised with fever, cold and cough last week, his condition started deteriorating on Sunday night. The resident of Dum Dum in Kolkata's northern suburb was detected with the infection on Saturday evening after reports from two testing facilities -- SSKM and NICED -- turned positive. According to sources, the deceased's some family members are in hospital, and few others in home isolation. He didn't have any recent foreign travel history, but attended a marriage in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, last month. He returned by the Pune-Howrah Azad Hind Express, early this month. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee learnt of the death during an all-party meeting on coronavirus at the state secretariat Nabanna. She instructed the police to ensure that the disease didn't spread from the corpse and the last rights were performed as per the advice of doctors. Six more coronavirus patients are admitted at the special isolation ward of the ID Hospital Beliaghata, state's primary referral hospital for infectious diseases. They include three members of a family - an elderly couple and their 22-year-old son - and the housemaid. The youth had returned from the United Kingdom recently. A girl who came back from Scotland and a teenager who studies in the UK have also been afflicted with the disease. SYCAMORE, IL / ACCESSWIRE / March 23, 2020 / Sycamore, Illinois based Braden Counseling Center is pleased to announce that they are now offering DUI Evaluations to those who have been prevented from obtaining the new REAL ID driver's license in Illinois due to an out of state DUI charge. According to the counseling center, many people are having trouble upgrading their license to the new REAL ID licensing system because the system automatically flags those who were charged with a DUI. As noted on the company's website, Braden Counseling Center is an authorized center that offers DUI Evaluations to help drivers get their license reinstated. A representative for the center, Brenda Butz, says, "The state of Illinois takes DUI offenses very seriously. In fact, the DUI law in Illinois mandates that an offender undergo a clinical evaluation prior to sentencing." She explains that a DUI evaluation plays a crucial role in identifying whether someone poses a risk to public safety due to alcohol or drug use. The evaluation is also used by the court and the Secretary of State License Reinstatement to determine whether the offender's license will be reinstated or not. Butz explains that, during a DUI Evaluation, a counselor will examine the offender's history for alcohol and substance abuse. An interview will then be conducted to collect crucial information in order to determine their likelihood of reoffending. During the interview, counselors are required to collect the offender's demographic information, DUI charge details, prior drug and alcohol-related offenses, detailed alcohol and drug abuse history and other personal data that can help them assess the risk level of the individual in question. Risk levels are divided into four levels: minimal, moderate, significant and high. After their risk has been ascertained, they have to complete a treatment plan (recommended in the Alcohol and Drug Uniform Report) to satisfy the statutory requirement (11-501.01(a) to "undergo the imposition of treatment as appropriate.' For an offender assessed as a minimal risk, 10 hours of DUI Risk Education is required. Those tagged as a moderate risk also need to undergo 10 hours of DUI Risk Education, followed by 12 hours of early intervention (which is provided over a minimum of four weeks). As noted on the counseling center's website, there can only be one day of classes each week and no more than three hours in that day. In addition, if recommended by the evaluation, the defendant will be required to participate in an on-going continuing care plan to ensure full rehabilitation. Next, for offenders who have been determined to pose a significant risk, 10 hours DUI Risk Education is required, followed by 20 hours of substance abuse treatment. Mandatory participation in a continuing care plan is also mandated. Finally, those classified as a high risk need to undergo 75 hours of mandatory substance abuse treatment plus a strict participation in a continuing care plan. "Contact Braden Counseling Center today if you need to undergo a DUI evaluation that is honest, consistent and non-invasive. At Braden Counseling Center, we work hard to not only help you resolve your substance abuse problems but also help you get your driving privileges reinstated," says Butz. Furthermore, she emphasizes that it is important to choose a trusted counseling center. Should a judge reading an evaluation suspect that a defendant has been less than honest about his or her substance abuse, the consequences can be more severe and longer-lasting. Braden Counseling Center is a fully licensed provider of mental health services, which include counseling for DUIs, domestic violence and substance abuse treatment. They also offer individual counseling, couples counseling and more. Additionally, they provide clinical evaluation for DUI, anger management, alcohol and drug abuse, depression, ADHD/ADD and so on. Their patients are often pleased to learn that Braden Counseling Center offers a free initial consultation as well as a flexible scheduling that includes weekends. They also work with insurance providers and accept cash and credit card payment options. "Braden Counseling Center provides quality outpatient behavioral health programs and services. We have become a leading provider of behavioral health services by responding to the needs of our community through our comprehensive counseling programs for substance abuse, chemical dependency and mental health services. Our practice is committed to assisting others in strengthening relationships, promoting change and building foundations of hope," says Butz. Complete details can be found on the center's website. Alternatively, interested parties may connect with Braden Counseling Center via social media to stay up to date with their latest news and announcements. For more information about Braden Counseling Center, contact the company here: Braden Counseling Center Brenda Butz 815-787-9000 bbutz@bradencenter.com 2600 DeKalb Ave Suite J Sycamore, IL. 60178 SOURCE: Braden Counseling Center View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/582107/REAL-ID-License-DUI-Evaluations-Offered-by-Braden-Counseling-Center Queen, played by Jodie Turner-Smith, wears a pair of Brother Vellies Palms boots in "Queen & Slim." (Lelanie Foster / Universal Pictures) The desert-brown python Brother Vellies boots, which were featured in the film Queen & Slim, aren't just visually appealing. They have taken on a life of their own, outliving their time onscreen in the 2019 thriller-love story. I should know. I've seen the film three times since its release, and each time the boots have continued to linger in my mind. If you're at home because of the coronavirus crisis, "Queen & Slim" is a good film to see for the first time or revisit for a fashion fix. (It's available through various streaming platforms and on DVD.) Queen, played by Jodie Turner-Smith, wears Brother Vellies Palms boots. (Armina Mussa) Actress Jodie Turner-Smiths character, Queen, wears the midcalf gems during most of the film, which follows the character and her first-date-turned-lover (played by Daniel Kaluuya) as they run from the authorities after a self-defense shooting takes the life of a police officer. First-time costume designer Shiona Turini received a Costume Designers Guild Award nomination this year for her work in "Queen & Slim," which included an array of striking looks and shoes. (Sadly, Turini didn't get an Oscar nomination in costume design.) However, the snakeskin boots were undoubtedly the most memorable part of the movie's wardrobe. Don't believe me? A Twitter poll showed that students at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University voted the snakeskin boots, which Beyonce wore to the film's L.A. premiere, as one of their favorite characters in the film. (The boots tied with Queen in the poll.) For Black History Month this year, Turini re-created a version of the standout boots in a collaboration with Barbie Style . Since early February, the boots and costumes from "Queen & Slim" were on display in a costume exhibition at FIDM Museum in downtown Los Angeles. However, the museum is now closed because of the city's coronavirus lockdown. Story continues The Palms boot was designed by Aurora James, founder and creative director of Brother Vellies, a New York-based handbag and shoe label that emphasizes sustainability through traditional African design practices and techniques. (James was a winner of the 2015 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund along with womenswear designer Jonathan Simkhai and Rio Uribe of streetwear label Gypsy Sport.) Costume designer Shiona Turini created a version of the Palms boot featured in the film "Queen & Slim" for a Barbie Style collaboration. (Mattel) The boots, python print embossed on cow leather, were originally crafted by artisans in Ethiopia a nonnegotiable standard for James, who strives to sustain artisanal jobs in African countries. The boots sell for $750 and have never been discounted. Their value is based on materials and fair labor practices, according to the Brother Vellies website. James, who debuted the boots in 2018, said sales have spiked since the film release last year, and customers who visit her Brooklyn, N.Y.-based store often refer to the footwear as the Queen & Slim" boots or the boots they saw Queen Bey post on Instagram. Much like Dorothy's ruby red slippers in the 1930s classic "The Wizard of Oz," or the long trench coat featured in " Shaft ," Queen's boots become an extension of the film. But they are more than that. They tell the story of black women. I think the boots have taken on a life of their own because they are provocative of a certain emotion, said Shelby Ivey Christie, a New York-based fashion and costume historian, costume studies graduate student at New York University and former Vogue magazine digital marketer. The Palms boot by Brother Vellies. (Brother Vellies) Its a certain sass and certain type of femininity and kind of empowerment that comes along with it too," Christie said. "Its such a bold pattern. And its textured and its gritty. And its all of these intersections of what black women are too. Were not just one thing. [And] I feel like these boots capture that spirit. The boots make their first appearance in the film when Queen is in a frenzy. After an unexpected visit from a police officer at their stakeout location, she and Slim have to rush to get dressed and escape after suspicions arise of their whereabouts. Introduced in the film wearing a modest all-white ensemble, Queen opts for an Adam Selman mini-dress and those boots, setting up a pivotal turning point in the movie. It's a look the sophisticated attorney wouldnt have normally worn, but it, especially the boots, represents a shift in her personality. Shes coming out of her box and is quite literally stepping into someone else's skin. Snakeskin boots aren't new to the fashion scene, and they arguably haven't gone out of style. To Nick Verreos, a FIDM cochair and former "Project Runway" contestant, animal-print shoes are a common craze in the fashion industry, especially during colder seasons. Therefore, it's no surprise that the snakeskin styles have been added to several fashion forecasts for 2020. A recent FIDM exhibition featured costumes designed by Shiona Turini from the film "Queen & Slim." (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) According to Verreos, there are two markers of statement-making costume design. "If you don't notice the costumes in a movie, then the costume designer has done their job because it just seems natural," he said. "You don't question that the person is a housewife or a secretary or whatever [the character is]. But a lot of times, I think it is necessary where the costumes do need to shout and do need to become their characters." "Queen & Slim" falls into the latter category. "I think that when Beyonce put the stamp on it," Verreos said, "it put the exclamation point or the asterisk, like, 'Yeah, girl, go get some.' If Beyonce does that, it's official." As for the costumes, Queen's outfit appeared on a dancer during Janelle Monae's opening performance at this year's Oscars. It was a fitting nod to the film and other black-centric movies, such as "Us" and "Dolemite Is My Name," that didn't receive nominations. Those boots! (Universal Pictures) In the film, Queen wears the authentic heeled boots while driving hundreds of miles across the country on a nearly weeklong road trip, jumping from the window of a second-story home and running through different terrains. Although the boots may not appear to be the most practical, James said that they are the most comfortable heels on the planet. James, whose celebrity clients include Meghan Markle, Solange and Zendaya, also understands that her boots have a bigger cultural significance than just being beautiful footwear. The Palms boot by Brother Vellies are having a life of their own beyond the big screen. (Universal Pictures) I think its very interesting that she chose to wear a heel, said James, who started her brand in 2013, only making flats at the time. My mom always said to me growing up that heels were created as a tool to oppress women and keep them from being able to run away. And I think the fact that Queens character is wearing heels in this movie while shes running, to me, symbolizes the fact that even though people try to put constraints on us, were still taking them and running. And just because someone sets out to create something [to have a] negative intention, [it] doesnt mean that we cant change the narrative for that same object. Along with the Palms boots, other Brother Vellies shoes were featured in the film, including the glittery Holiday mules, the pink Palms pumps, which were worn by Pose star Indya Moore, and several cowboy boots. Goddess (played by Indya Moore) wears Brother Vellies' Palms pumps in the film "Queen & Slim." (Lelanie Foster / Universal Pictures) Elaine Welteroth, James' best friend, said she rejoiced when she saw the Brother Vellies footwear and pieces from other black designers on the big screen in "Queen & Slim." It felt like a reclamation, said the "Project Runway judge and former editor in chief of Teen Vogue magazine. I felt like we collectively as a culture are reclaiming and owning what makes our culture, our art and our beauty valuable. Were telling our own stories. Were putting our artists on. We dont have to explain who we are. Turini wasn't available for comment for this story. However, she told CR Fashion Book late last year that it was important for her to collaborate with black designers and creatives such as James, Harlem designer Dapper Dan, model Anais Mali and Diddy (founder of the Sean John label) for the film. It's just really about truly developing characters and understanding who modern women are too, James said. Would it really make sense for a certain type of woman to be wearing a shoe from a designer that doesnt care about her or doesnt care about her rights or doesnt care about her body or her personhood? That's not how black women are consuming things anymore, James said. Not when it comes to boots or blockbusters. DEAR ABBY: My husband, "Charlie," and I have been married for seven years. We are in our mid-60s. This is the second marriage for both of us. He was widowed some years before we met. We have a good marriage. He is sweet and caring, but one issue causes friction between us. It's about letters he and his late wife exchanged. They were high school sweethearts. She kept all the letters he sent her when he was away in college, and after she died, he wanted to keep them. It bothers me that he's still attached to them. Whenever we talk about the subject and I ask him to dispose of them, he gets defensive, says he doesn't understand why it bothers me and accuses me of being unreasonable. He says I don't even "let" him have a picture of his late wife among our family pictures around the house. My first marriage was very troubled, and I never wanted a picture of my late husband. But Charlie's was a happy one. Am I unreasonable, or is it time to let the past stay in the past, as painful as it might be to detach from objects that were an intimate part of his previous marriage? -- REASONING IN ILLINOIS DEAR REASONING: Why have you not accepted that Charlie had a life before fate intervened, took his wife and you entered the picture? People who had miserable first marriages -- as yours was -- often choose not to remarry. Charlie is who he is in part because of his happy marriage to his first wife. You are making a mistake by competing with her. Stop insisting that he get rid of the old letters, which hold great sentimental value for him. And if he would like to display a photo of his late wife, quit giving him heartburn. She's part of his history, and it's his house, too. ** ** ** DEAR ABBY: I am being married in a couple of months. I feel like I'm living a real-life fairy tale -- but not always in a good way. My fiance's stepfamily has made it clear that they do not approve of our union. They have gone as far as to ask me to leave him. He is appalled by their behavior and has told them they are no longer welcome in our lives or at our wedding. They were livid and blamed me. I don't want my wedding to be the cause of pain, so I have tried to be understanding, gracious and forgiving, but they are toxic people. My fiance is my very own real-life Prince Charming, and I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with him. Abby, I am terrified they are going to show up to our wedding anyway or try to somehow sabotage it. What should I do? If they show up, should I let them stay or have them removed? How do I prevent them from intruding in the future? -- CINDERELLA IN NEW ENGLAND DEAR CINDERELLA: Allow me to congratulate you and your fiance on your upcoming nuptials and offer my sympathy for your grief, which is undeserved. You may need to hire professional security to ensure the peace, or see if security is provided at the venue. The way to prevent unwanted intruders in the future would be to move as far away from his family as is feasible. ** ** ** Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069. ** ** ** What teens need to know about sex, drugs, AIDS and getting along with peers and parents is in "What Every Teen Should Know." Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby, Teen Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.) COPYRIGHT 2020 ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION 1130 Walnut, Kansas City, MO 64106; 816-581-7500 Read more advice: Dear Abby: Roommates presence complicates friends with benefits setup Dear Abby: Widowed mother begins an affair with her married brother-in-law Dear Abby: Husband checks out of marriage after wifes cancer diagnosis MAUNAKEA, Hawaii The sun pointed to a little before noon when a chorus of conch shells and bamboo flutes trumpeted into the sharp mountainside breezes. The noise marked the start of a religious ceremony and a demonstration against construction of a massive telescope on what some consider sacred land. The participants saluted east, toward the distant ocean; then south, toward the volcanic shell of a past eruption; then west; then north, toward the summit where a dozen telescopes loomed far out of sight. Many of the people taking part in that ceremony, halfway up the mountain of Maunakea at the heart of Hawaii's Big Island, were native Hawaiians who call themselves kia'i (pronounced kee AH ee), or protectors. By that, they mean protectors of the mountain itself, from the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) at its summit, where the facility would join venerable observatories like the twin Keck domes and NASA's Infrared Telescope Facility. I visited the kia'i encampment on the last day of 2019 and the 172nd day of the continuing vigil against construction. Nearby was an octagonal road sign edited to read "Kia'i STOP TMT." Less than two weeks before, with the mountain's harsh winter looming, law enforcement had left the spot. The retreat marked an acknowledgement of a stalemate that began nearly a decade ago and stretches from the ocean to the stars, but is expected to shift once again as spring returns. (Outside events have already prompted a shift in the situation. In response to the spread of the novel coronavirus that is causing the serious respiratory disease COVID-19, the kia'i have asked visitors to stay away from their previously welcoming encampment, according to a statement released on March 14 .) For the kia'i, the 160-foot-tall TMT (49 meters) would be one telescope too many at a site they see as stolen, sacred, delicate and consistently mismanaged. "It's too big, too massive, and it's in the wrong place," E. Kalani Flores, a professor of Hawaiian studies at Hawaii Community College and one of the lead plaintiffs in court cases surrounding the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope, told Space.com. "There's a certain tipping point and the TMT would exceed that tipping point." That's why a subset of native Hawaiians have said no to TMT , in words and actions, for years. Some are calling the current situation an existential crisis for astronomy and for Hawaii. It's certainly a crisis of communication for astronomers who support the project. And while some of the tension reflects Hawaii's history of colonization and oppression, some of the main sticking points display remarkable irony given the telescope's priorities. Related: Controversy over giant telescope roils astronomy conference in Hawaii More: Thirty Meter Telescope: Hawaii's giant space eye in pictures A giant telescope is born The saga of the TMT began in 2003 , when a nonprofit partnership formed between two universities in California and counterparts in Japan, China, India and Canada. Now called TMT International Observatory, the group set out to design a telescope with such a massive observing mirror that it would change science forever. Its findings could tackle some of astronomy's signature existential questions, Gordon Squires, TMT's vice president for external relations and an astronomer by profession, told Space.com: Are we alone? How did the universe wake up? What is dark matter? Squires said he believes that the process of answering those questions, and the answers themselves, could change humanity forever; that's why he became an astronomer in the first place. "If the world saw the universe the way I do, or the way we do, the world would be a fundamentally different place," he said. "I still believe that." In 2009, the TMT set its sights on the summit of Maunakea; since then, it has worked to negotiate access and construction with the state, which owns the land, and the University of Hawaii, which manages the astronomy precinct. It has not gone smoothly. Flores and other native Hawaiians have filed multiple court cases over the permits required for construction. When the TMT tried to break ground in 2014 , the kia'i interrupted the ceremony. Tensions came to a head in July 2019, when the TMT announced it was ready to try building again and the kia'i mobilized, blocking construction trucks from the road that climbs to the summit. They settled in with tents and Porta-Potties , a kitchen and a makeshift university offering lessons in native history and culture. (By then, the TMT had spent $500 million in 2014 dollars worldwide on the project; current estimates suggest it will total about $2.4 billion in today's dollars, although that number will change based on where and when construction finally begins, a TMT representative said.) Related: The biggest telescopes on Earth Each morning, the kia'i greet the sun; three times a day, they conduct a ceremony called the 'aha, or the protocol, a series of chants and dances representing their beliefs about the mountain and lasting an hour or longer. It's that protocol the kia'i began by greeting the cardinal directions, barefoot and clad in street clothes. Early in the ceremony, they called on their ancestors. "Grant us insight, grant us power," one chant reads in a translation posted to the kia'i's website. For centuries, kia'i told me, those ancestors have come to the mountain and, more frequently, worshipped it from afar. The tenuous atmosphere at the summit, 13,000 feet (4,000 meters) above sea level, leaves little oxygen to feed a human brain. For native Hawaiians, that shortage is a sign that the summit is the realm of deities and that humans should visit only for specific purposes. That's why Noelani Goodyear-Kaopua, a native Hawaiian and a political scientist at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, has only ever been to the summit once, 10 years ago. Ever since, she has remembered what breathing the thin atmosphere felt like, she told Space.com. "The line between living and dead, or here and the next realm or the realm of the ancestors or however you want to think about that, was much more porous because you are so much out of the realm of where humans are normally supposed to be." But devotion at a distance has complicated matters for the Hawaiians who wish to see the mountain protected: Because a key piece of their religious practice lies in leaving the summit alone, they've struggled to convince authorities that the land is important to them or that they should have a say in what happens to it. That said, the kia'i can point to a ring of hundreds of shrines about 1,000 feet below the summit, which they say mark the edge of the most sacred zone. These shrines are nothing dramatic, Flores said: standing stones a foot or two tall, reaching the height of a kneecap, some toppled by time. But TMT construction would run right through that ring, he said, and that shouldn't be acceptable. (Squires contends that TMT selected its location in consultation with native Hawaiians to avoid areas of concern. "It's on a site that has no historically significant or cultural practice areas on it," he said, citing the nearest cultural site as being a mile away.) Related: World's largest reflecting telescopes explained (infographic) An artist's depiction of the Thirty Meter Telescope. (Image credit: TMT International Observatory) Ways of knowing In a controversy that is often framed as a conflict between science and religion, despite native Hawaiians pointing to their long history of studying the stars , the shrines point to the first key irony underlying the TMT controversy. Many of the standing stones mark points on the horizon where particularly meaningful stars rose, set or reached their zenith, according to Flores. "There's hundreds of shrines around, and some of these shrines are interconnected together and then they build a star grid," Flores said. "What you see in the heavens is what you see on Earth." Hawaii's rich tradition of skywatching is hardly the extent of Maunakea's sacredness, however. Down the slope, as the noontime ceremony continues, the kia'i sing of the creation of what they call Mauna a Wakea, from the union of Wakea the Skyfather and Papa the Earthmother. Native Hawaiians tie their own origin story to that of the mountain. "We have always revered Maunakea as our sacred mauna," Noe Noe Wong-Wilson, a leader of the kia'i, told Space.com. "In fact, it is part of our cosmology, the very beginning of Earth from which man descends, so for us it's a very spiritual matter." That's the second irony of the controversy surrounding the TMT, which is tailored to elucidate astronomy's own vision of cosmology. "Astronomers oftentimes think that an interest in the universe and our origins in the universe is what unites all cultures," Sara Kahanamoku, a native Hawaiian and a doctoral student in marine ecology at the University of California, Berkeley, told Space.com. "But [they] maybe don't realize that some cultures don't necessarily need to explore the universe to know where we come from." Kahanamoku is the lead author of one of a collection of native-led white papers exploring the ways astronomy in Hawaii affects non-astronomers. The group submitted the papers as public comments to the government's decadal survey of astrophysics , which sets scientific priorities for the field. She and her co-authors offer a collection of recommendations for dealing with situations like the TMT, including establishing a system paralleling the institutional review boards that oversee research done on humans. "We really believe that good science also means that you also need to be good to the people that you're working among," Kahanamoku said. Related: Hawaii night sky revealed in stunning new video An artist's depiction of the primary mirror of the Thirty Meter Telescope. (Image credit: TMT International Observatory) Support and opposition Of course, some Hawaiian residents and native Hawaiians alike support the TMT, seeing the telescopes atop Maunakea as modern successors to the islanders' pre-contact expertise at navigating by the stars, as a vital segment of the local economy, and as a pathway to educational and employment opportunities for their children. (A TMT representative said that it's too early to estimate how much would be spent in Hawaii if the project goes through, but that once the facility is observing, the organization expects to spend about $50 million each year on operations and employ 140 people.) Tyler Trent, a doctoral student in astronomy at the University of Arizona, is one of those native Hawaiians, although he said he wrestled with the decision. "Whether I'm for it or against it, if that gets built, people are going to be hurt by it," he told Space.com. Trent concluded that TMT and its counterparts deserve a place on the sacred summit. "I don't see them as like another shopping center or another hotel," he said. "These are special things that are illuminating secrets of the universe." He worries that continuing opposition to the TMT is painting his culture as backward and anti-science, despite the loud objections of kia'i that they are no such thing, and he's disappointed that some astronomers unaffiliated with the project have started speaking out against construction on Maunakea. "Maybe astronomers taking too neutral of a stance or even supporting the kia'i because that's what they believe being respectful to native Hawaiian culture is I'm starting to think that maybe that's not the right way to go about it," he said. "I think at the end of the day, it's people from the outside picking which native Hawaiian culture they want to support or they want to agree with. I think that if outsiders want to pick one, I truly think that they should support the side that is trying to integrate the two, that is trying to build bridges between the two." Trent added that he thought he would feel the same way if the site were on his own island, Oahu, which holds Honolulu. But it can't be. For scientists hoping to build the TMT, the summit of Maunakea is simply the best possible site. They want a Northern Hemisphere location to better facilitate partnerships with telescopes in the south, including the equally massive Giant Magellan Telescope already under construction in Chile. Then, it's a matter of atmospheres. It's here that Maunakea really shines, although you wouldn't know that halfway to the summit, where the kia'i camp amid gusts of wind and transitory bursts of showers and sun. It's a different story at the summit itself, which picky astronomers consider among the best places on Earth for ground-based astronomy. That's in part because of, ironically, one of the same reasons native Hawaiians consider the peak sacred: the barely-there oxygen. Like so many telescopes around the world, TMT has gravitated to a mountaintop site that would carry its optical equipment through some of the lower layers of Earth's atmosphere, which can blur telescope images . Even the summit's view, however, leaves astronomers dissatisfied. That's why TMT would be armed with an adaptive optics system, which measures and automatically subtracts blurriness caused by the atmosphere. TMT's version would be equipped with lasers that create artificial stars for the system to judge, which lets astronomers observe fainter objects. An artist's depiction of the Thirty Meter Telescope using a laser to create a guide star, which allows the telescope to better understand how the atmosphere is interfering with measurements. (Image credit: TMT International Observatory) But such technology doesn't negate astronomers' desire to remain perched at high elevations, TMT project scientist Christophe Dumas told Space.com. For a project as ambitious as TMT, he said, siting is crucial to an instrument's output, despite opposition. The TMT has its eye on a site in the Canary Islands as a back-up location , which would slightly reduce the project's price tag, a representative said. But that site is still a clear second choice for astronomers and would require some adjustments to the facility, he said. For the kia'i, their opposition is not just about Maunakea, it's about the way astronomy and science in general operates, particularly given that mountaintops are nearly always sacred to someone. One leader of the kia'i emphasized that the solution was not merely for the TMT to move, as some astronomers have begun to call for, but to find a location where people truly welcome it. That could require a new way of approaching such projects, several native Hawaiians said. In particular, scientists looking to start a new project would be wise to incorporate local communities in discussions long before any opposition begins long before it's even a project, in fact. 'Imiloa Astronomy Center, which operates under the aegis of the University of Hawaii at Hilo and seeks to tell all the various stories of Maunakea , is working to foster these conversations at Maunakea and elsewhere. Such dialogues should begin earlier and without such tense motivation, Ka'iu Kimura, a native Hawaiian and 'Imiloa's director, told Space.com. "Not because there's conflict, but because it's just the right thing to do," she said. The astronomy precinct at Maunakea and the TMT specifically are far, far past that point. Construction on the first modern telescope at the site began in 1964, and over the intervening decades, plenty of hard feelings have built up. TMT isn't the first Maunakea project to meet opposition, but supporters and kia'i alike told me that things seem to be different this time. "I think a lot of people are saying, we have stood by long enough," Goodyear-Kaopua said. "The narrative that's been put forward is, well, why can't Hawaiians just share? We have been sharing for a long time, not always at our consent." She wants to see more native Hawaiians involved in making decisions about the summit. One of the most significant decisions about the summit was made in the fall of 2018, when a state Supreme Court ruling allowed the project to continue. Four justices agreed with the state land management board's argument that astronomy had already changed the summit so much that one more observatory couldn't really make a difference. One dissented , arguing that this so-called degradation principle set a dangerous precedent. For the kia'i, who see the mountain as a relative as much as a resource, "one more can't hurt" is not an acceptable philosophy. Many of the native Hawaiians I spoke with pointed to the degradation principle to voice their concerns about how decisions are made not just at Maunakea, but around the world. Some referenced climate change , others focused on land use, but many expressed concern about how humans have exploited and continue to exploit the planet. Related: European scientists are taking a mock moon mission in Hawaii right now The island of Hawaii, with the snowy peak of Maunakea toward the top of the image. (Image credit: Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC) "Water is a sacred thing" Toward the end of the protocol, the ceremony leader explained that the next dance was a new addition to the daily ceremony. It traced water on its journey throughout the island and the water cycle, they said: from ocean to clouds to rain to waterfalls to ponds to rivers to cultivated fields to estuaries to ocean , with plenty of stops in between. It's that same connected water that the kia'i mentioned again and again in their concerns about the TMT. It's another irony in the controversy: Among other discoveries, the TMT could help astronomers identify planets with water in their atmospheres , a first step toward finding a habitable world. But the kia'i already know of one very habitable planet with that precious liquid in its atmosphere, and they consider it their responsibility to protect that water and the mountain that anchors it to the Big Island. (It was while watching this dance that I was struck by how closely the protocol seemed to parallel the kia'i concerns about the telescope; I've structured this story to follow the protocol as a mark of gratitude for the ceremony leader's work to make that connection.) "Water is a sacred thing for all of humanity," Kealoha Pisciotta, a native Hawaiian who was a technician at two telescopes on Maunakea before deciding she couldn't condone the way the observatories treat the summit, told Space.com. "We use it ceremonially as well; the snow, ice and water from Maunakea is collected for ceremony." One of Pisciotta's concerns about astronomy at Maunakea has been the observatories' treatment of the water. She said that during her time working on the summit, she saw spills of hazardous substances from bug spray to mercury, and that she has seen evidence of only one existing observatory addressing those issues. It's one of the most common concerns I heard about TMT as well, that it could contaminate water across the island . The TMT's response is that those concerns are completely unfounded. There's no evidence the observatory could affect the water, the TMT says; the nearest wells are about 12 miles away; the observatory won't rely on mercury, the worst of the chemicals used to clean telescope mirrors; the facility has a system to transport wastewater from science operations and human staff support alike off the mountain. But still, the kia'i say, they worry about the water. The summit is a particularly sensitive place in the eyes of native Hawaiians because it's where water first touches land. "It's in its purest form, unaltered by humans, unaltered by any other aspects," Flores said of the rain, snow and fog at the summit, which makes interfering with it particularly dire. "You disrupt, disturb, desecrate the water in its highest forms, and [the elders] tell us the water is the basic form of life for all of us on this planet." And while the kia'i agree that the hydrology models of Hawaii to date show that TMT shouldn't contaminate anything, that isn't a satisfactory response for them. "I think regardless of that, because the models are not clear, there's still a possibility that there could be infiltration because it's very complex," Rosie Alegado, a native Hawaiian and an oceanographer at University of Hawaii at Manoa, told Space.com. "The models that we have are definitely incomplete." For Stephanie Malin, an environmental sociologist at Colorado State University, that situation is not surprising. Development projects typically rely on technocratic assessment of potential risks, she said, while indigenous groups tend to exercise a precautionary principle that delays development until there is certainty that there are no risks which isn't always possible. "I don't necessarily think that the two groups are talking the same language, even," Malin told Space.com. Related: How space exploration can teach us to preserve all life on Earth A demonstrator and a law-enforcement officer greet each other at Maunakea Access Road on July 22, 2019. (Image credit: Dan Dennison/AP/Shutterstock) What comes next Near the end of the noontime ceremony, the gathered kia'i completed a series of dances open to all, regardless of their knowledge of hula. The only requirement, the ceremony leader explained, was that participants dance with the intention of stopping TMT from being constructed on Maunakea. And so the kia'i hold space at the mountain and dance three times a day, to protect the mountain that tells them their place in the universe. Later, they progressed toward the summit, taking one step at a time, dodging the tents around the dance space. It's not clear what the TMT's steps forward might be. If the TMT decides the Maunakea site is no longer worth the pain, as the kia'i hope, they will take their plans to the Canary Islands . It's unclear how much longer they are willing to wait to begin construction which is scheduled to last 10 years in earnest. A sharper deadline is also looming over Maunakea: the master lease agreement between the state and the University of Hawaii, which governs every observatory's sublease, will expire in 2033. What negotiations might look like is still unclear, but chances are they won't resemble the process that led to the original agreement decades ago. The master lease worries all the observatories on the summit, but particularly TMT, which dreads reaching first light just in time for site access to fall apart entirely. Even the most strident opponents of TMT aren't calling for all the telescopes to be removed. They do, however, want the observatories to be better neighbors, more responsive to local concerns and more respectful of the land from which they study the stars . No one thinks that will be straightforward. For the astronomers affiliated with the TMT project, the conversations of the past decade have already challenged their perceptions of their own values. "We never thought we were the bad people, and some people think authentically that we are," Squires said. The kia'i I spoke with never phrased their feelings quite like that. Many insisted they aren't trying to stop science: Instead, they're trying to improve it. "Science that doesn't empower humanity for a better Earth is maybe not the science we need to be doing," Pisciotta, the former telescope technician who once dreamed of studying cosmology and who described her family as traditional star people, said. That's perhaps especially true of astronomy, she added, since astronomers cannot escape the way distance acts as a time machine across the universe . "Everything in astronomy is looking back in time," she said. "It has to find its modern relevancy. Yes, it's noble, but we can make it more noble together, though." Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.com or follow her @meghanbartels . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook . Researchers at John Hopkins University in Baltimore are experimenting with the blood of the recovered patients of the coronavirus because of the absence of vaccines or antiviral drugs, said that there might be a hidden cure in them. The convalescent serum is the process of obtaining blood from the recovered patients of the coronavirus, it said to have rich antibodies against it. Scientists tried the blood transfusions from the survivors of the Spanish flu epidemic in 1918 that led half-percentage drop of death tolls and later was also used to treat polio and measles outbreaks decades ago. Dr. Arturo Casdevall, chair of the molecular microbiology and immunology department at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said that blood transfusions are no longer in favor because of the modern vaccine science and antiviral drugs that are used today. After learning that a new virus was spreading rapidly across China, Casdevall told his fellow doctors that they should try blood transfusions once again. "I'm an infectious disease doctor who is interested in history, I knew the history of what was done in the early 20th century with epidemics. They didn't have vaccines then, they didn't have any drugs then - just like the situation we face now. But physicians then knew that, for certain conditions, you could take the blood of the immune and use it to prevent disease or treat those who became ill." Casedevall said. Read also: Coronavirus Cure: Studies Underway to End COVID-19 Outbreak Casadevall and his colleague, Dr. Liise-anne Pirofski, discussed in the Journal of Clinical Investigation on Friday, that collecting blood samples from recovered coronavirus patients is the best way of treating the coronavirus or at least finding a better treatment that can be developed. Severe acute respiratory syndrome or SARS, almost the same as the coronavirus, and was treated by the doctors in China in 2003, they used plasma from the recovered patients helping 80 people suffering from SARS. There are some guidelines in using donated plasma in treating patients with Ebola virus, made by The World Health Organization (WHO). A top Food and Drug Administration official said that convalescent plasma might help cure people who are infected with the coronavirus at the interview with Stat News last month. Casadavell said that the said treatment is not a cure, it might lessen the people who get infected by the coronavirus. Researchers around the globe are developing antiviral drugs for the coronavirus, it may take months or years to make, the federal officials said. Hospitals only have ventilators to treat patients who are suffering from respiratory failure due to coronavirus. Dr. Jeffrey Henderson, an assistant professor of medicine and molecular microbiology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis said: "The approach definitely has merit, and what's remarkable about it is it's not a new idea; it's been with us for a good hundred years or longer, I think we don't know until we have experience and case reports with this particular disease whether it will be effective, but just based on its track record with a number of other viruses, I think it has a very good chance of working." Johns Hopkins team is making their plan but needed the approval of the FDA, Casadavell said that they don't need to anticipate the problems since blood transfusions were used in the past, He hoped that the convalescent serum should begin within four to six weeks. China has begun treating the COVID-19 patients with harvested plasma from recovered the patients of the coronavirus. And reported positive results with the blood transfusion. Dr. Zhang Wenhong, the leader of a medical team said that the usage of harvested plasma will probably reduce the time needed to cure the coronavirus of ten to three days, in an interview with Al-Jazeera last week. Casadevall told them that the convalescent serum should also be given to the front-line health care workers to protect them from the coronavirus. To implement his plan, academic hospitals should work with blood banks to setup treatment guidelines and protocols. Johns Hopkins team began working weeks and started making guidelines that can be shared around the globe, Casadevall said. At first, the U.S. public health officials should begin widespread testing because it is difficult to gather blood samples from the recovered patients of the coronavirus if they don't know whos' still are infected, Casadevall said. He also told the government authorities that they need to distribute the interstate shipment of blood products. He envisioned a situation where blood donation centers in Seattle, which has been at the focal point of the U.S. outbreaks for quite a long time, might be in a situation of sending gathered extra blood serum to different urban areas where outbreaks are still increasing. And lastly, government authorities should help spread the news to people who've had the coronavirus and to the ones who recovered from it that they should donate plasma if they believe that it could support elder patients and health care workers. "This is by no means a panacea, but at a time when the message has been, 'There's nothing you can do but wash your hands,' this is an opportunity to do something proactive that can help fight this," Casadevall said. Related article: American Woman Recovers by Treating Her Coronavirus at Home @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Bhopal: Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the Madhya Pradesh BJPs legislature party meeting will be held on Monday evening to elect its leader who will head the new government in the state. The meeting will be held at the state party office here. Three-time chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is expected to be elected the BJPs legislature party leader, which will enable him to take up the coveted job for a record fourth time, party sources said. Two central BJP observers will attend the meet through video-conferencing from Delhi. Due to the coronavirus scare, the two central observers will take part in the meeting through video- conferencing. Even MLAs would be provided with masks and sanitisers at the meeting, state BJP president Vishnu Dutt Sharma told PTI. "In the BJP legislature party meeting, its leader will be elected. Almost all MLAs are taking part in it. Only those legislators who are stationed at far-off places like Rewa, Singrauli, Sidhi and Gwalior may not be able to take part in it. However, they have been informed about the meeting," Sharma said. BJP president JP Nadda has instructed to ensure no crowding takes place during the meeting, he said. "Therefore, only MLAs will be allowed to enter the premises without their assistants or security guards. Masks and hand sanitisers have been arranged for them, he said. Asked whether oath-taking ceremony will take place soon after the legislature party meeting, Sharma replied in the affirmative. After Assembly Speaker NP Prajapati accepted the resignation of 16 rebel Congress legislators on Thursday night, the government led by Chief Minister Kamal Nath was reduced to a minority with 92 MLAs in the 230-member house following which he resigned. With this, the strength of the house also got reduced to 222, trimming down the majority mark to 104. In this current situation, the BJP has a majority in the house with 107 MLAs. The BSP has two MLAs, the SP one while there are four independents. All these MLAs had extended support to the Congress during the formation of government in December 2018. In the changed scenario, the MLAs are likely to side with the BJP, sources in the saffron party said. Already, one of the independent MLAs, Pradeep Jaiswal, a minister in the Nath government, has announced his support to the BJP. Meanwhile, The oath-taking ceremony of the new BJP ministry in Madhya Pradesh will take place on Monday, official sources said. The ceremony will be held at the Raj Bhawan at 9 pm, the sources told PTI. The BJP legislature party meeting will be held around 7 pm to elect the legislature party leader. Congress veteran Kamal Nath resigned as chief minister recently, paving the way for formation of the BJP-led government. The number of people testing positive for the coronavirus in South Dakota increased from 14 to 21, state health officials said Sunday, but Gov. Krisiti Noem declined to order businesses to close as her counterparts have in some other areas of country. Noem and South Dakota Health Secretary Kim Malsam-Rysdon told reporters during a conference call that one of the new cases was in Brown County and the other six were in Beadle County. Noem said the victims apparently contracted the virus through travel or by interacting with another person who had it. However, Noem warned that Beadle County appears to be on the verge of community spread, a term that describes when the source is unknown. She urged local leaders in that county to impose social distancing measures, including limiting group sizes, but stopped short of issuing any executive orders. Noem, a Republican, has closed schools but she has yet to order any businesses to close as other governors in other parts of the country have. She said during the conference call Sunday that she lacks authority to enforce any such orders. I can stand up as governor and give a strong speech telling businesses to shut down, but I dont have the authority to enforce that. Those tools are at the local level. The actual enforcement of that is very difficult for a governor, she said. I am going to have a harsher message for the county of Beadle. Im going to ask you and your local leadership to be much more stringent. The Rapid City Journal reported that Pennington County commissioners complained during a special Saturday meeting that coronavirus shutdowns elsewhere are going too far. They said similar shutdowns in South Dakota could result in hundreds of layoffs and the loss of tens of millions of dollars in business and tax revenue. For most people, the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover within weeks. (Picture credit: AP) SEOUL South Korea said on Monday it would provide logistical and financial support to help its auto industry through the coronavirus crisis, warning of disruptions to supply chains from Europe and the United States. The government said it would speed up customs clearance, arrange freight transportation and provide liquidity support for the industry, which employs about 12% of South Koreas workforce, according to official figures. The coronavirus pandemic has led to shutdowns at auto factories and dealerships in the United States and Europe, which are expected to affect South Korean automakers such as Hyundai and Kia. Its time to prepare for the shock of a global demand contraction and European supply issues, Industry Minister Sung Yoon-mo said in a meeting with parts supplier executives and industry associations, according to a readout from the ministry. Survival is the most crucial thing in this unprecedented crisis when both demand and supply contract at the same time. The ministry gave no details on how much liquidity support the government would provide or what form it might take. The assistance is part of 50 trillion won ($39 billion) in emergency financing announced last week to boost the economy. South Korea has reported 8,961 coronavirus cases and 110 deaths from the disease. Hyundai Motor closed its Montgomery, Alabama, assembly plant on Wednesday after an employee there tested positive for COVID-19. It also suspended production at its plants in the Czech Republic and India due to the coronavirus outbreak. Europe and the United States account for about 70% of Korean automakers exports, and 54% of Korean parts exports, government data showed. A trade ministry official said South Korean exports would deteriorate in April and May, after rising 10% year-on-year in the first 20 days of March. Car exports rose 13.7% in the period, customs agency data showed on Monday. For the time being, a drop in exports of cars and auto-parts are inevitable as car factories and dealerships are closing, Sung said. Story continues South Korean automakers had stocked up on inventories which could last up to two months, Sung said. Related Video: Click here to See Video >> After decades of decline, Buffalo touts a 'Refugee Renaissance.' Can it last? Electric cars really are friendlier to the environment and produce less greenhouse gases than petrol vehicles over their lifetime, a study proves. A common rhetoric spewed out by petrol-heads is that electric cars are just as bad for the environment when accounting for how the electricity is produced. However, an international team of researchers has now published research dispelling this myth, revealing that electric cars are already greener in 95 per cent of the world. The only exceptions are places like Poland, where electricity generation is still mostly based on coal, and researchers predict these too will soon become more eco-friendly as they continue to embrace renewable energy. Scroll down for video A common rhetoric spewed out by petrol-heads is that electric cars are just as bad for the environment when accounting for how the electricity is produced,but this myth has now been dispelled (stock) Academics from Radboud University, along with the universities of Exeter and Cambridge, found electric vehicles produce 30 per cent less emissions in the UK over their lifetime. In countries such as Sweden and France, where a large portion of power comes from renewables, electric car emissions are 70 per cent lower than petrol cars. Dr Florian Knobloch, first author of the study from Radboud University, says that with countries embracing renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and wave, the 'last few debatable cases will soon disappear'. He added: 'Taking into account emissions from manufacturing and ongoing energy use, it's clear that we should encourage the switch to electric cars and household heat pumps without any regrets.' Researchers assessed how polluting both electric and petrol cars are in 59 regions around the world. They accounted for differences in power generation and assessed emissions from the manufacture of the cars, how their energy source is created and direct emissions during the vehicle's lifetime. Researchers also assessed domestic heat pumps and compared electric versions to the traditional fossil fuel version. The study, published in the journal Nature Sustainability, found that in 53 of 59 regions, including Europe, China and the US, electric versions produce less emissions. These 53 regions represent 95 per cent of global transport and heating demand, the researchers say. Study lead author Dr Florian Knobloch said: 'The answer is clear: to reduce carbon emissions, we should choose electric cars and household heat pumps over fossil-fuel alternatives. 'In other words, the idea that electric vehicles or electric heat pumps could increase emissions is essentially a myth. Electric cars really are friendlier to the environment and produce less greenhouse gases than petrol or diesel powered equivalents over their lifetime, a study proves UK PLAN TO ERADICATE PETROL AND DIESEL CARS At present, the Government's ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars is set to come into effect by 2040. Scotland has a different set of guidelines, indicating the switch-over and ban of petrol or diesel vehicles should happen by 2032. The Committee on Climate Change believes the date should be brought forward to 2030 or 2035 at the very latest. It predicts electric cars will be roughly the same price as their traditionally powered counterparts by around 2024 to 2025. Current targets in England mean internal combustion engines will still be n the road in 2050, producing large amounts of greenhouse gases. Advertisement 'We've seen a lot of discussion about this recently, with lots of disinformation going around. 'Here is a definitive study that can dispel those myths. We have run the numbers for all around the world, looking at a whole range of cars and heating systems. 'Even in our worst-case scenario, there would be a reduction in emissions in almost all cases. This insight should be very useful for policy-makers,' The team behind the study predicts that half of all cars on Britain's road will be electrically powered by 2050. If these prediction comes true the researchers say the impact on the environment will be huge, saving around 1.5 gigatons of carbon dioxide from being produced per year. This is equivalent to the total current CO2 emissions of Russia. Meanwhile, heat pumps could reduce global CO2 emissions in 2050 by up to 0.8 gigatons per year - roughly equal to Germany's current annual emissions. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., is defending himself after coming under fire for exposing other lawmakers to the coronavirus while he was awaiting his own test results -- which turned out to be positive. Paul, a physician and Kentucky Republican, was on Capitol Hill and went to the Senate gym Sunday before he learned that he was the first senator to be infected with Covid-19. That announcement prompted two other Republican senators -- Mitt Romney and Mike Lee of Utah -- to go into self-quarantine after spending time with Paul. Paul, who voted against two emergency coronavirus spending bills this month, said in a Monday statement that he didn't suspect he had the virus and was not showing symptoms when he was tested on March 16. He said he got tested as a precaution after traveling "extensively in the U.S." and because he had part of one lung removed last year in surgery after he was attacked by a neighbor. Paul also said he is a strong example of why more testing is needed. "For those who want to criticize me for lack of quarantine, realize that if the rules on testing had been followed to a T, I would never have been tested and would still be walking around the halls of the Capitol," he said. "The current guidelines would not have called for me to get tested nor quarantined. It was my extra precaution, out of concern for my damaged lung, that led me to get tested." The Kentucky senator disclosed his positive virus diagnosis in a statement on his Twitter feed Sunday afternoon that said he was "asymptomatic and was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his travel and events." Exposing more senators to the virus that has killed more than 400 people in the U.S. risks the health of lawmakers, many of whom are in the age group with the highest mortality rate. More Republican senators in quarantine changes Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's, R-Ky., vote-counting as he tries to pass a roughly $2 trillion economic rescue package as quickly as possible. Along with Paul, Romney and Lee, Sens. Cory Gardner of Colorado and Rick Scott of Florida were already in self-quarantine after exposure to other individuals who tested positive. One Democratic senator, Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, said Paul was "absolutely irresponsible" for being on Capitol Hill Sunday while awaiting his test results. A spokesman for Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, confirmed that Moran had seen Paul at the gym on Sunday and he "shared this information" with other lawmakers Sunday at a luncheon for Senate Republicans. The attending physician of the Capitol told Moran he didn't need to self-quarantine, according to a statement from Tom Brandt, the senator's press secretary. A tweet later Sunday from Paul's Twitter account defended him after the senator was widely criticized following a tweet from a Washington Post reporter saying that Moran saw Paul at the pool. The reporter also stated that Paul got his "results back this morning." Paul's office said Monday that he was at the gym before learning his test results. The senator in his Monday afternoon statement said he doesn't know how he may have contracted Covid-19, although he said he travels a lot and attends frequent events, just as other senators do. He said he had "zero contact" with two people who tested positive and were at a March 7 fundraiser he attended at a Louisville art museum. The Speed Art Museum says on its website that it is closed until March 31 "due to rising concerns for public health." Meanwhile, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., a former presidential candidate, said Monday that her husband tested positive for covid-19 and was checked in to a hospital. Klobuchar said she doesn't plan to get tested since there is a shortage of tests and she hasn't seen her husband in two weeks. Paul is the first U.S. senator and third member of Congress known to have become infected. Reps. Mario Diaz Balart, R-Fla., and Ben McAdams, D-Utah, tested positive as well. McAdams has been in the hospital since Friday, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. Several Senate staff members also have confirmed cases of Covid-19. Members of Congress must be present to vote, and current rules don't allow remote voting -- although pressure is mounting for that to change. A Critical Question To cancel or not to cancel? That is the Shakespearean question confronting churches today. It is not a question of mere expediency. The gathered worship service is central to the churchs identity, and therefore, cancellation seems to trample on more than tradition. It can feel like a threat to the churchs existence. Government officials, medical experts, and civic leaders have all asked citizens to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus by practicing physical distancing. According to leading experts, churches are one of the top places of community spread. Why? Christians shake hands, embrace one another, and kiss cheeks. Some are liturgically directed to drink from a common cup; others pass the peace with a warm touch. Our bodies do naturally what our souls do supernaturally. We connect. And we do so intergenerationally. What are churches to do? Our mandate as Christians to obey governing authorities (Rom. 13:17; 1 Pet. 2:1317) is a good reason for churches to cancel worship services. But there are other Biblical principles that help us embrace this difficult decision. Canceling in-person worship services is not the same as canceling worship. Christians should never stop worshiping, because God is worthy of all our praise. Those in the persecuted church have long worshiped God without buildings, because they know that church is not primarily a place but a people. And technology now gives us unprecedented options. This does not mean, of course, that place is unimportant. God himself authorized the building of a temple that would serve as a place where his name would dwell. Even with that decree, however, at the dedication of the temple, Solomon humbly acknowledged that God cannot be consigned to a place (1 Kings 8:27). The Book of Hebrews warns we should not forsak[e] our assembling together, as is the habit of some (Heb. 10:25, NASB). Does closing church doors lead to direct disobedience of Gods command? The habitual practice of missing church may reflect a disregard of faith or a dismissive view of corporate responsibilities. Such is not the case for churches that are suspending gathered worship services in a pandemic. This decision comes out of sacrificial love, not from habitual or casual disregard for worship. The amount of angst displayed proves this point. Nor does it arise from a dismissive view of corporate responsibilities. The very reason for canceling is predicated upon a deep sense of responsibility for others. The coronavirus has reminded us that we are so interconnected that our very lives are impacted by proximity. Sabbath and Service In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus challenged the contemporary understanding of the Sabbath. When his disciples had picked grain for food on the Sabbath, Jesus responded to the Pharisees criticism by saying, The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath (Mark 2:2728). Jesus later applied this statement about the Sabbath to a situation of service. Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, Stand up in front of everyone. Then Jesus asked them, Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill? But they remained silent. He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, Stretch out your hand. He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. (Mark 3:15) Jesus reminded the worshipers that a critical dimension of Sabbath involved care for the needy and vulnerable in society. He healed on the Sabbath, because healing is an appropriate thing to do on the Sabbath. Sabbath observance was never just about what worshipers gained personally, but also what they gave communally. Sabbath encompassed the well-being of others. In Deuteronomy 5:1215, the Israelites were instructed to observe the Sabbath by not working and also not allowing others to work. In the ancient world, it was astounding to be commanded to regularly release your household, servants, animals, and even the immigrant workers and refugees from work. Sabbath answered on a weekly basis the age-old question, Am I my brothers keeper? Yes! We are called to ensure the flourishing of those within our sphere of influence. With fresh power and unique authority, the Lord of the Sabbath applied the prophetic connection between worship and service. We hear echoes of Isaiahs declaration of true fasting in acts of justice for the hungry and poor (58:67), of Micahs concern for true sacrifice in expressing mercy (6:68), and of Amos lyrical entreaty for festivals of worship to be coupled with rivers of righteousness (5:2124). The teachings on Sabbath as an occasion of healing and service as an aspect of worship provide guidance for us on the question of whether or not to make religious services remote. It is lawful to do good and not to do harm, to save life and not to kill. Churches for thousands of years all around the world have had to find creative ways to worship. By physical distancing, the church practices preventative healing to mitigate the spread of a deadly virus. This would seem to be not only lawful but loving. We cancel physical gatherings not because we fear a virus but because we love the vulnerable and care for the world God loves. We remember that healingboth spiritual and physicalare aspects of worship. Love of God and Love of Neighbor Some of our brothers and sisters have argued that shuttering in-person services elevates the love of health over the love of God. We do not share this view. Of course, as Christians we believe there are worse fates than the loss of physical health or even this earthly life. We too admire the example of Christians throughout history who have risked their lives out of devotion to the gospel of Jesus Christ. However, we are being asked temporarily to convene remotely, not to deny our faith or to cease worshiping God. It is one thing to risk your own life in order to worship together in person; it is quite another to risk the lives of countless others, when so many churches are finding creative and compelling ways to carry on in worship and community from a distance. By offering their remote services and proclaiming the hope of the gospel in troubled times, many churches are reaching audiences they have never reached before. For those who feel called by their faith to demonstrate the love of God in the midst of the pandemic in ways that are self-sacrificial, we encourage you to do so in ways that do not endanger others. Offer to watch a neighbors children so she can continue to work. Distribute food to the poor and the vulnerable. Arrange remote visits with the elderly and the isolated. Give sacrificially to your church and to other ministries engaged in the fight. We need not fall short in either our love of God or in our love of neighbor; the church can be the church outside the walls of the sanctuary. Grace Even if our observance of worship is less than ideal, even if there are honest mistakes or misjudgments made in the cancellation of services, God sees the heart of faith. During the time of King Hezekiah, the people of God sought to celebrate Passover after years of neglect. But because they could not get their act together, they observed the Passover in the wrong month (2 Chron. 30:15). They compounded bad timing with bad practices: they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. (v. 18). Yet, even though the people were not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary (v. 19), the Lord accepted their worship because it was done in good faith, albeit not in good practice. Will the Lord show any less grace to us than he showed to his people in Hezekiahs day? In our moment of crisis, we suspect the Lord will see the deep faith and sincere intentions of his people, and will be pleased with worship that may not follow liturgical protocols but nonetheless seeks to honor him. We will not be passing the peace with hugs, but rather with texts and phone calls. Are these modes inferior? Yes. Will they be acceptable to the Lord? We also believe, yes. Conclusion: Next Steps As the nation closes down non-essential businesses, the church must rise up to its essential work of prayer. Nobody is exempted from this work: And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lords people (Eph. 6:18). Physical distancing in household worship or online services still reflects our profound spiritual solidarity. We can pray for Spirit-filled creativity to worship God, serve our communities, and love our neighbors. As our faithful brothers and sisters have done throughout history, we should be prepared to accept some personal risk as we look for innovative ways to serve that minimize danger to the broader community. Let us join together in this prayer of Clement of Rome: We ask you, Master, be our helper and defender. Rescue those of our number in distress; raise up the fallen; assist the needy; heal the sick; turn back those of your people who stray; feed the hungry; release our captives; revive the weak; encourage those who lose heart. Let all the nations realize that you are the only God, that Jesus Christ is your Son, and that we are your people and the sheep of your pasture. Amen. Dr. Walter Kim serves as pastor at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville. He is the president of the National Association of Evangelicals. Dr. Timothy Dalrymple is the president and CEO of Christianity Today. As the legislation is currently written, Mr. Mnuchin would not have to disclose the recipients until six months after the loans were disbursed. Some Democrats also said the legislation as written could allow Mr. Trumps real estate empire to take advantage of the federal aid, and after years of being stonewalled by the White House on oversight requests, they worried that the administration would refuse attempts by Congress to keep tabs on the program. At the White House on Monday evening, Mr. Trump only fueled Democrats concerns when he brushed aside questions about who would oversee the funds, saying: Look, Ill be the oversight. Ill be the oversight. It would be very foolish if they didnt make a deal, Mr. Trump said, accusing Democrats of asking for things that bear no relationship to what were talking about. Mr. Mnuchin has argued that bolstering the newly created fund would allow the Federal Reserve to effectively inject $4 trillion into the economy, and that he needs the authority to swiftly support companies and industries that are on the brink of collapse as large sections of the economy shut down. On Monday, he pushed back against the suggestion that the money would become a piggy bank for Mr. Trumps allies. Ive heard people refer to this as a slush fund, Mr. Mnuchin said on the Fox Business Network. Its not a slush fund. Hanging over the debate for senators in both parties were unpleasant memories of the stinging backlash from the 2008 and 2009 economic recovery programs that were later condemned on the right and left for helping Wall Street at the expense of working Americans. Democrats said they would not be bullied into supporting the stimulus package by Mr. McConnell, despite evident political risks as they face a battle for control of the Senate in November. The fact is, we need to learn from 10 years ago, said Senator Sherrod Brown, Democrat of Ohio. If were going to do relief package, the money needs to go in the pockets of workers. Photo: David Wilson/Flickr Missed the most recent top news in Philadelphia? Read on for everything you need to know. ShopRite employee in Philadelphia tests positive for COVID-19 On Sunday, officials said the infected employee worked at the ShopRite of Morrell Plaza. Read the full story on 6abc Action News. Police search to identify teenagers seen in violent robbery of man in viral video The location of the hold-up and beating is unclear. Read the full story on CBS Philly. Pennsylvania COVID-19 cases rise to 479; Philly reports 96 cases Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine said the state is seeing a spike in cases, because more people are getting infected, not because testing has expanded. Read the full story on FOX 29. Philadelphia officials issue stay-at-home order for residents The City of Philadelphia has issued a stay-at-home order for residents, effective today at 8 a.m. until further notice. Read the full story on (SPC) South Philly CommUNITY. As borders close around the world, Philadelphians are frantic to get home One Bucks County family remains stranded in Peru. Read the full story on Philadelphia Inquirer. This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. The Prosecutor Generals Office of Armenia has instituted a criminal case regarding the actions of the members of the guardians of the Revolution group. This is what Advisor to the Prosecutor General of Armenia Gor Abrahamyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am. The case has been instituted under the elements of part 1 of Article 137 of the Criminal Code of Armenia (threat of murder, causing grave harm to health or eliminating property in large amount, if there was a real danger of that threat), but there is still nobody with the status of accused-on-trial or suspect, Abrahamyan said. During the election campaign ahead of the constitutional referendum, Nikol Pashinyan had given a booklet entitled Passport of a Proud Citizen of the Republic of Armenia to a girl, who had torn it and thrown it at the Prime Minister. Later, there was a video on the Internet in which the girl was talking to a person and telling the latter about the incident, and the person, who had presented himself as head of a village, used swear words addressed to the Prime Minister. After a while, a group of young people who presented themselves as guardians of the Revolution met that head of village and made him apologize to the Prime Minister. A New York critical care nurse has been disciplined by her hospital after she and another staffer were interviewed on national television about the shortage of protective equipment for health care workers treating coronavirus patients. Nurse Amy Lee Pacholk and respiratory therapist James Lewis, both employees at Stony Brook University Hospital on Long Island, were interviewed on MSNBC on the dire shortage of protective medical equipment at hospitals and health care facilities on Wednesday, March 18. On Thursday Pacholk was hit with a personnel notification from her workplace that ordered her to document any unscheduled time off. 'Our institution and the government have not provided us with the appropriate equipment to properly protect ourselves to care for these patients,' Pacholk told host Brian Williams in the interview. 'The healthcare professionals are getting sick and we haven't even seen the height of this pandemic,' she added. NY critical care nurse Amy Lee Pacholk was disciplined by her employer Stony Brook University Hospital in Long Island a day after she did a TV interview reporting a lack of protective medical equipment for healthcare workers on March 18 She and respiratory therapist James Lewis were interviewed by MSNBC's Brian Williams on the shortage of medical supplies Lewis added: 'We haven't been tested and as far as I know there isn't any conversation about getting tested. We just monitor our own symptoms and taking temperatures daily.' The notice came after Pacholk for her use of sick time earlier this year and questioned her 'excessive amount of unscheduled absences. 'Please be advised that this letter is to inform you that your time and attendance record indicates an excessive amount of unscheduled absences,' the notice from the hospital said, according to the Times Union. 'Failure to improve your time and attendance will result in a Document Restriction renewal and be referred to Labor Relations for appropriate administrative actions.' On Sunday night the hospital released a statement claiming the notice had nothing to do with her appearance on television. 'It is ... important to pay attention to the timing since all of the actions were taken prior to the nurse going on media,' the statement said. The hospital claims she was not disciplined out of retribution, but due to issues with her prior sick leave 'Everyone at Stony Brook Medicine is focused on COVID-19. Our nurses are incredibly dedicated to our patients, the community and to one another. They are pulling together, working extra hours and doing everything possible to help everyone safely through this unprecedented health crisis.' Pacholks and Lewis' worries arent unwarranted. Doctors and nurses on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic have contracted the killer virus. Two emergency room doctors in New Jersey and Washington have been hospitalized in critical condition due to the outbreak. Dozens of other health care workers have also caught the virus and hundreds have been forced into quarantine, according to the New York Times. A source says that Pacholk may have missed time in January when she was sick and because her child was ill and relative had recently died. In late February, she reported to work late while suffering from a severe headache that increased pressure in her brain and mimicked the symptoms of a brain tumor. She was treated in Stony Brooks emergency room for about 36 hours before the condition was diagnosed. However, the action against Pacholk comes as health workers across the state were cautioned against speaking to the press regarding the coronavirus crisis in the workplace. As of Monday there are more than 35,000 cases of the virus in the US and 471 deaths. In New York specifically there are 16,000 cases This graph shows how the number of coronavirus cases has alarmingly soared over the past month Wayne Spence, the president of Pacholk's union, the Public Employees Federation, said of her notice: 'We are concerned and actively looking into this issue of retaliation given SUNY Stony Brook's past history of going after whistleblowers.' Doctors and nurses across the country are speaking out about the dire need for more medical supplies - some coming forward anonymously for fear of losing their jobs. 'We are at war with no ammo,' a surgeon in Fresno, California said to the Times, refusing to share their name for fear of retribution. 'Theres absolutely no way to protect myself,' Dr. Faezah A. Bux, an anesthesiologist in central Kentucky, said of the lack of respiratory masks and protective eye gear. 'Not only can I not protect myself, I cant protect my patients.' The nation is still grappling with a lack of medical supplies but some American companies are rising to the occasion. A plant in Aberdeen, South Dakota, owned by Minnesotas 3M, is producing millions of N95 medical masks around the clock to meet the demand. An inmate at the Auburn Correctional Facility has tested positive for the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Cayuga County officials said. The inmate was transferred to another location Tuesday. Kathleen Cuddy, Cayuga Countys public health director, said the county received word of the positive test Sunday. The announcement did not say where the inmate was transferred or when the test was taken. The health department is working with the prison to inform staff members who were within six feet of the confirmed case, the county said in a statement. Those staff members will be placed into a mandatory quarantine and monitored daily by the health department. Contact Chris Carlson anytime: E-mail | Twitter | 315-412-1639 MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources Coronavirus: Which workers get hurt most, least due to state-ordered business shutdowns? Syracuse hospitals go into wartime planning to brace for coronavirus NY coronavirus order for businesses to close: Whats considered essential, non-essential? Coronavirus way-of-life: Doctors, patients turn to telemedicine like never before Unemployed in NY? A survival kit for benefits, bills, evictions, mortgages, utilities, debts, help There have been 511 COVID-19 cases confirmed in Saudi Arabia, with an spurt of 199 new cases, said Dr Mohammed Al-Abd Al-Aali, spokesman of the Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia. The new cases covered many regions and governorates in the kingdom, including 72 in Makkah, 34 in Riyadh, 4 in Qatif, 3 in Khobar, 3 in Ahsa, and one case in each Qassim, Dhahran and Dammam. Seven persons coming from abroad have been confirmed with the disease and are isolated now. Some 72 people who returned from Turkey show no sign of symptoms and are healthy, but isolated at a hotel in Makkah. These cases were detected early during the epidemiological investigation of a previous case which was announced a week ago. 40 cases have been recorded of people who were in contact with previous cases during gatherings or family meetings, he said. He also announced the recovery of 18 patients with no deaths, disclosing that all cases are adult. There have also been 17 affected children. The number of confirmed cases with the new Coronavirus (COVID-19) around the world totalled 312,000 cases, of which 94,000 cases have recovered so far. The official disclosed that the number of deaths reached 13,400. Dr Al-Abd Al-Aali affirmed that the advanced laboratory examinations exceeded 23,000 cases which are all negative, pointing out that the Health Centre (937) received 280,000 calls about the new Coronavirus. Meanwhile, the committee tasked with following up the health situation arising out of the new Coronavirus (COVID-19) affirmed the importance of continuing and even enhancing all precautionary measures at all entry ports. The committee held today its 32nd meeting under chairmanship of Health Minister Dr Tawfiq bin Fawazan Al-Rabiah and in presence of the members of all governmental relevant entities. During the meeting, the committee reviewed all reports and developments of the virus as well as the epidemiological situation of the virus worldwide including the confirmed cases in the kingdom. It urged all to stay at home. The Spokesman of the Health Ministry urged all to abide by the health and hygiene instructions, staying away from gatherings and observing a 14-day health isolation for anyone coming from abroad. He called on everyone to take advantage of the self-assessment service about the symptoms of the new Coronavirus, which is available on MAWID electronic application. Dr Al-Abd Al-Aali urged anyone coming from the infected areas to communicate with the Health Centre (937). -- Tradearabia News Service Global coronavirus toll soars despite lockdowns as doctors overwhelmed WORLD: Coronavirus deaths soared across Europe and the United States yesterday (Mar 22) despite heightened restrictions, as Germany banned gatherings of more than two people and Chancellor Angela Merkel went into quarantine. CoronavirusCOVID-19deathhealth By AFP Monday 23 March 2020, 10:01AM President Trump ordered emergency medical stations for hotspots, hospitals scrambled to find ventilators, and a trillion-dollar proposal to rescue Americas reeling economy crashed to defeat. Photo: AFP In the US, President Donald Trump ordered emergency medical stations for hotspots, hospitals scrambled to find ventilators, and a trillion-dollar proposal to rescue Americas reeling economy crashed to defeat. Germany and Greece became the latest countries to tighten curtailments on movement as the virus kept nearly a billion people indoors and intensified fears of a global recession unlike any experienced for decades. I cant tell you, Trump said when asked when the US economy would be reopened. Earlier, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio warned that the US was heading towards its greatest crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s. The death toll from the virus, which has upended lives and closed businesses and schools across the planet, surged to more than 14,650 yesterday. The epicentre is firmly in Europe after shifting from China where the illness first emerged late last year. Im a little upset with China. Ill be honest with you..., Trump said referring to a lack of cooperation and information early on in the crisis. Italys world-topping toll from the pandemic approached 5,500 as the Mediterranean country reported another 651 deaths, a day after it overtook China for the highest number of fatalities. Greece imposed a national lockdown and in Germany Merkel began quarantining at home after being treated by a doctor who has since tested positive for the virus. But lockdown measures in Italy have done little to stem the outbreak and New Yorkers were finding it difficult on a spring weekend to put a stop to fun in the city that never sleeps. Self-destructive I dont know what theyre not understanding, said Governor Andrew Cuomo, complaining that parks were still full of people not respecting social-distancing orders. Its insensitive, its arrogant, its self-destructive, its disrespectful to other people and it has to stop. This is not a joke, he pleaded. Police patrolled the deserted streets of Rome, while checks were carried out on beaches after local officials complained people were defying orders to catch some time in the sun. In his weekly prayer, streamed online to avoid attracting crowds, the Pope urged all Italians to follow isolation measures for the good of us all. Spains prime minister said he would ask parliament to extend a 15-day state of emergency, which bars people from leaving home unless absolutely essential, until April 11. The country recorded close to 400 new fatalities yesterday, bringing the total to 1,772, suggesting the lockdown was failing to be effective. Opera star Placido Domingo said he had tested positive. Residents across France, where the death toll jumped to 674, remained shut in their homes. A curfew was imposed in some regions and the mayor of Paris called for even more drastic confinement measures in a city under lockdown. Britain inched toward similar measures as Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned the country was a couple of weeks behind registering similar numbers to Italy. Delhi deserted In the US, where Rand Paul became the first US senator to test positive, a Republican-proposed bill earmarking up to $2 trillion in funding for American families, businesses and hospitals, failed to pass after receiving zero support from Democrats who said it wasnt enough. Several European countries have already announced their own stimulus packages to stave off economic collapse. In America, where deaths soared past 400 and cases exceeded 33,000, more than a third of residents are under various phases of lockdown, including in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. Mayor de Blasio said New York was 10 days away from running out of ventilators. Trump announced he had ordered the deployment of emergency health centers with capacity of 4,000 beds to New York, California and Washington, Americas worst affected states. As the pandemic overwhelms hospitals, doctors across the world are having to quickly prioritize patients based on their chances of survival, inflicting a huge moral burden. We go into medicine to heal people. Not to make choices about who can live, said Philippe Devos, an anaesthesiologist in Liege, Belgium. While the number of cases in China, which reported its first local infection in four days yesterday, has slumped dramatically since the crisis began, there are fears in Asia of imported cases from other hotspots like Europe. Thailand reported its highest daily rise in cases, taking its total to nearly 600, while Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia have also reported a spike after numbers had plateaued earlier. Normally bustling streets in New Delhi and Mumbai were mostly deserted and many shops shuttered during Indias one-day nationwide self-imposed curfew. Australia has shut its borders to foreigners and non-residents and Pakistan has suspended international flights. Olympic postponement? Across Africa, where healthcare systems are limited and social distancing measures are difficult in crowded cities, the new coronavirus has infected more than 1,200. The Middle East also remains on high alert, where Iran, which suffered a major outbreak, reported 129 deaths yesterday. It has so far refused to restrict movements. Chile yesterday became the latest Latin American country to restrict movement, with a night-time curfew. Ecuador, which had already imposed such a lockdown, saw its deaths double to 14, the regions highest after Brazil. In sport, International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said postponing the 2020 Games was an option but that cancellation was not on the agenda. Accurate COVID-19 figures are difficult to obtain because many of the victims suffered from other illnesses, and infection rates are uncertain because of a lack of testing in many countries. While the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions are the hardest hit by the virus, the WHO has warned that young people are also vulnerable. A man wearing a protective mask walks past an image of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in Manila, Philippines on Friday March 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) By Martin Petty and Neil Jerome Morales MANILA, March 23 (Reuters) - The Philippine Congress held a special session over the internet on Monday to debate a push by the country's strongman leader to adopt sweeping emergency powers, in a bid to avert chaos from a rapid spread of coronavirus. With borders closed to foreigners and tens of millions of people on home quarantine, President Rodrigo Duterte wants the power to - where necessary - control supplies and public utilities, order businesses to help government, and pull funds from state enterprises and departmental budgets to redirect into emergency health needs. If approved, the granting of the powers would be one of the most aggressive steps to tackle coronavirus as governments worldwide roll out stricter measures, including across Southeast Asia, which saw a more than doubling of cases in the past week to nearly 3,700, from 166 a month ago. The Philippines has confirmed 396 cases and 33 deaths, but health officials acknowledge limited testing for the coronavirus means its already overstretched health system could be facing far more infections than the numbers indicate. "It is a step we were reluctant to take, but the circumstances and the experience of nations worldwide convinced us that we have no other choice," Duterte's Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea told a near-empty Congress, with most lawmakers streaming the session at home. The Philippines was the first Southeast Asian country to adopt lockdown measures, but more are following suit as cases soar, with Vietnam and Malaysia deploying soldiers to help with quarantines or to enforce curbs on travel and gatherings. Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, has joined Thailand and Cambodia in shutting bars, cinemas and public entertainment venues. A draft of Duterte's bill seen by Reuters seeks a "unified national policy" that would, if required, allow the government to temporarily take control of private utilities, telecoms and transport operators or businesses in the public interest, and force hotels, venues and rental properties to accommodate medical workers or quarantine facilities. Story continues It could also control roads, prices, supplies and distribution of power, fuel and goods like food, water, cleaning products, clothing and medical supplies, imported or made domestically. It would also grant the treasury the ability to take back departmental funds to spend on critical or essential services. Duterte's has a supermajority in both chambers, so the bill is expected to pass, although the opposition is concerned about the scope of the powers and potential for abuse. The government is playing down the extent of the powers that Duterte would have, wary of public unease over emergency decrees and draconian measures dating back to the 1970s, under the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Medialdea said the measures would be rescinded when the virus was managed and many would be "standby powers" for if a crisis erupted and "our most critical institutions are nearing a total shutdown". (Additional reporting by Karen Lema Editing by Robert Birsel) Representative Image Philip Mathew From the general narrative we hear from the mainstream media and the social media messages coming out of the officialdom, we feel that India is on its way to contain the Covid-19 outbreak. After a very successful Janata Curfew, many celebrated the supposedly gargantuan feat that we have achieved. The Centre and some states announced various kinds of lockdowns, with the hope of cementing our purported gains. It seems that we have held our fort, against an enemy which decimated the healthcare systems of many high-income countries with finest talent and facilities. It is indeed true that the central and state governments have played (and continue to play) a very proactive role and have taken the issue head on. From the early stages of the epidemic, the health ministry, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV) have brought out regular notifications and protocols for diagnosis. State governments, such as that of Kerala, led by efficient health departments, established helplines and isolation facilities. The healthcare providers were trained in infection prevention and large sections of the public was sensitised about the importance of hygiene practices. However, is it true that the number of cases in India is limited to less than 400 (which is the official estimate at the time of writing this article)? COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show The testing strategy adopted by India has been rather limited in its mandate. Initially, we restricted testing to people with symptoms who are coming from other countries which report local transmission and their primary contacts. However, we should understand that we were testing symptomatic patients only, for a disease in which majority of the patients are asymptomatic. There are studies showing that more than one in 10 cases of transmission is from patients who do not report any symptoms like cough, body pain or fever. When we read of all of these facts together, it is reasonable to assume that some patients would have escaped testing and that there may be community transmission of the disease. As of now, India is among countries that has run the least number of tests when we consider the overall population as the denominator. The ICMR has widened the mandate of the testing strategy in the last few days and now it includes hospitalised patients with severe respiratory illness and direct asymptomatic contacts of confirmed cases. However, experts consider this as too little, too late. Maybe the decision to limit testing in the initial phase of the outbreak was taken because of shortage of primers and positive controls for testing but as World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus put it, We have a simple message for all countries. Test, test, test. The current set of laboratories are testing a few random samples every week to look for community transmission, and thats grossly insufficient. Though a number of private labs have been roped in for running testing services, we still do not have enough testing facilities which can cover a population of more than 130 crore. We need a nationwide testing strategy for the general public with a much higher sample size to look at community transmission otherwise we will be groping in the dark. The example of South Korea, which used an extensive testing strategy to control the outbreak, can possibly guide our actions in this regard. Increasing the capacity for testing is difficult it needs money, technical expertise and laboratory infrastructure, not to mention the supply of test kits. The easy way out are measures such as social distancing, which has become the buzzword in the last few days. It essentially means to limit social contacts and gatherings till the time the transmission of infection is controlled. The March 22 Janata Curfew is a good example of this, a small albeit necessary step. These steps and drastic measures like lockdowns may indeed slow down the spread of the disease and make sure that the medical facilities are not overwhelmed. However, will it really succeed in India? Imagine a daily wage earner living in an urban slum in India. In most scenarios, the person may have to share a water source (like public tap or water tanker) with many other households. This is true for many other public amenities such as toilets and community recreation facilities. When the person comes back from work, a single room may be shared by a number of family members who may also be going out for work to different parts of the city. Social distancing may be difficult in a country where we are still struggling with the basic necessities like housing, access to piped drinking water in households and safe sanitation. The decrease in economic activity as a result of social distancing and lockouts is also going to be high; and, the impact can be massive in countries such as ours which has very poor social security nets. When bulk of our employable population works in the informal sector, it may be catastrophic to do anything which can reduce the overall demand in the economy. Unless we take care of the economic needs and food security of the most vulnerable groups, the social impact of this can eclipse the healthcare impact of the disease itself. This is never an argument against the efficacy of interventions such as social distancing and lockouts, but the question is about its feasibility in the Indian context. We also read about countries which has gone ahead with massive lockouts struggling for an exit strategy which means that they are afraid to release the pressure in fear of a resurgence in number of cases. Therefore, we are left with essentially three options increase the hygiene practices among general public and healthcare professionals, widen the testing to look out for community transmission and ramping up the capacity to deliver effective medical services if this becomes a large outbreak. Breaking the chain of infection requires clear understanding of where and how the transmission is happening; and a supportive public which is competent enough to look after its hygiene. The exemplary grit shown by the Indian health system in the face of adversity shows that it is possible for us to succeed in this fight. Then again, extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Association of Radio Operators for India (AROI), the industry body of private FM channels, is seeking a bailout package from the Government in view of the severe impact of the Coronavirus outbreak on the industry. All private FM radio players have written to the Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting, Prakash Javadekar, about industry going through a tough phase with advertising revenues shrinking over the past year, coupled with a steep fall in government ads, and hoped that the Government will consider its requests for certain concessions it had sought in December 2019. The impact had worsened with the sudden outbreak of pandemic COVID-19 globally, leading to services sectors and brands cutting back on advertising spends. Remarking on this move, Nisha Narayanan, Director & COO, RED FM and Magic FM, said, The industry has collectively asked for a three-pronged bailout package till the economy stabilses. This included a one-year moratorium on all licence fees and charges by the Government and Prasar Bharti, and restoration of government advertising on radio, besides clearing the long-pending payments from the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity. We hope that the Government helps restore normalcy in this sector in these desperate times. Also Read: NBA slams MIBs 48-hr ban on Asianet News & Media One News channels I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar asks top OTT players to frame Code of Conduct YEREVAN, MARCH 23, ARMENPRESS. Police are guarding the quarantine zones as well as monitoring the self-quarantine process, Deputy Chief of Police of Armenia Colonel Hayk Mhryan said at a news conference on the COVID19-related state of emergency measures. He said Police Chief Arman Sargsyan had signed an order on regulating the police functions in the epidemic situation on February 23. With the first phase we began escorting Iranian freight vehicles in Armenian territory, and the task was to not allow the drivers of the Iranian trucks to come into contact with Armenian citizens, he said. The colonel said police and healthcare authorities are working together in quarantining potential infected people. He said police guard the quarantine zones, as well as the Nork infectious disease hospital in Yerevan with checkpoints. In addition, police are monitoring self-quarantined citizens through phone communication by receiving information from the healthcare ministry, the colonel said, adding that the law enforcement agency is contacting one by one all self-quarantined people in the country several times a day and ensure these people. In the event of having complaints during the phone calls, we immediately contact the healthcare ministry and first responders are dispatched to the given address. There were cases when there were violators of the self-quarantine regime and the healthcare ministry has given us addresses that the residents are breaching the self-quarantine. We contact these citizens, we urge them, explain and request for them to comply with the rules, he said. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan Popular human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju has expressed that the Federal Governement is not ready to fight the Coronavirus pandemic. He made this statement on his Twitter handle while lamenting about the strategies being used by the government and lack of testing kits and laboratories. Also Read: COVID-19: Some Lawmakers Refusing Screening At Airports Presidency He went on to express that the refusal to observe precaution could spell doom for the country. While noting that only a national lockdown can stop the spread of this virus, he urged the government not to allow the countrys situation to turn to that of Italy. See his tweet below: Dublin Bus sacked a long serving bus driver after he declared 10 buses defective over a two day period because of collapsed cushions for his drivers seat. All of the buses were subsequently examined by Dublin Bus engineers and mechanics could find nothing wrong with the seats. In one of the buses defected by the driver on January 23rd 2019, it had had been fitted with a new seat just two days previously. When asked by an Inspector to point out the defect on the seat the driver allegedly pointed to a crease on the left side of the seat cloth. Some of the buses defected by the bus driver were in instances where the driver had taken over from colleagues who had driven them without complaint. The driver was sacked by Dublin Bus for gross misconduct after it found that the complaints about the seats were not genuine complaints but instead a deliberate disruption of Dublin Bus services by the driver. The driver worked for Dublin Bus from September 2001 until his dismissal on May 31st last. The driver sued for unfair dismissal at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) and WRC Adjudication Officer, Jim Dolan has concluded that the complaint of unfair dismissal is not well founded. Mr Dolan found that on the balance of probabilities that the seats in question were not defective and the decision to dismiss was proportionate. In an outline of the events, the driver commenced duty on January 21st 2019 at 15.48 and took over a bus that had been driven by a colleague. The bus was full of passengers but the driver called Central Control to say that the bus was defective because he claimed the drivers seat cushion had collapsed. A replacement bus arrived at 16.15. However, the driver contacted Central Control after a short period to advise that this bus was also defective for the same reason. Another replacement bus was brought to Parnell Square West and the driver reported this bus as also being defective as the drivers seat cushion had collapsed. The driver was brought back to the bus depot in the same bus driven by an inspector. An inspector allocated the driver a fourth bus - the driver tested the bus by driving it but came back to the Bus Depot to say that the seat cushion had collapsed. The driver was then assigned a fifth bus - AV424. He tested the bus and returned to say that it had a defective seat. Dublin Bus then assigned a six bus to the driver - GT52 - and the driver tested the bus, and returned the bus to report a collapsed cushion. The bus company then assigned a seventh bus to the driver and once again, after testing this bus, the driver returned to the depot stating that the seat cushion had collapsed, Two days later, the driver reported for duty at Parnell Square West and once again contacted Central Control to report that the bus was defective because of the drivers seat - the eight bus to be declared defective. The driver told Central Control that he defected the same bus on January 21st and in response, Central Control that they had changed the seat on the bus. The Chief Inspector at Dublin Bus approached the driver and the driver explained that he had disc problems in his back. The driver was driven as a passenger back to the bus depot and was allocated a ninth bus - AX635 and he again reported that the bus was defective because of the seat. The driver was then allocated a 10th bus - VG48 and it was tested by the driver who returned the bus stating that the seat cushion was collapsed and that a panel was loose. The driver was called into the inspectors office and was told that he would not be allocated anymore buses. Dublin Bus told the WRC hearing that it is conscious that bus seats have been a problem in the past and have spent a large amount of time and money on getting them right, this includes colleagues of the driver having input into the type of seats required. The driver told the WRC that he has a back-disc issue, which could be compounded if the bus driver seat is not correctly fitted. The driver argued in a bid to ensure his workstation was conducive to his personal needs he reported the defects. IT was argued on behalf of the driver at the WRC that Dublin Bus did not act in a reasonable manner and that the sanction of dismissal was disproportionate. The driver was seeking reinstatement to his position. It was submitted on behalf of the driver that he was acting for the good of all concerned in reporting defects as detected by him. It was further submitted on behalf of the driver that the driver did his duty and followed company policy. It was argued that the records will show he was a vigilant driver and took health and safety as important for him, his colleagues and most importantly the public. The WRC hearing was told that the mans experience as a union representative compelled him to speak up on behalf of his co-workers and himself. The driver had a had a similar issue before Christmas 2018 which resulted in his dismissal. However, he appealed internally and this was reduced to a Final Written Warning. The driver stated that he highlighted faults as he saw them and the complaints were genuine. The WRC was told that the driver was not refusing to do his duty on January 21st 2019 and January 23rd 2019 as it was his duty to report faults. Web Toolbar by Wibiya There are many people who automatically reject notions of "conspiracies" as the musings of crazy people which should best be ignored. However, a realist would appreciate that intrigue and verifiable conspiracies are a well-documented part of history. Do you remember, for example, when we were all told about "Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq"? Wikipedia documents is that of Operation Northwoods. This was a proposed One particularly notorious conspiracydocuments is that of Operation Northwoods. This was a proposed False Flag operation against the Cuban government that originated within the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) of the United States government in 1962. "The proposals called for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) or other U.S. government operatives to both stage and actually commit acts of terrorism against American military and civilian targets, blaming them on the Cuban government, and using it to justify a war against Cuba," Wikipedia elaborates. "The possibilities detailed in the document included the possible assassination of Cuban immigrants, sinking boats of Cuban refugees on the high seas, hijacking planes to be shot down or given the appearance of being shot down, blowing up a U.S. ship, and orchestrating violent terrorism in U.S. cities." The proposals were rejected by then President John F. Kennedy. Having studied history and politics at a top university, I therefore like to "stay on the look out" on whether alleged conspiracies eventually "show their head". One of the most disturbing allegations of conspiracies that I ever heard was about 10 years ago on Jesse Ventura's show Conspiracy Theory. Unfortunately, it now seems that his allegations of a horrific conspiracy may unfortunately now be showing their head. Jesse Ventura is the Ex-Governor of Minnesota. In my view, he has stood out as a true American patriot in a sea of self-serving current and former American politicians. In the above video Jesse Ventura is joined by now former radio host Alex Jones to look into the plans and procedures by a "Fifth Column" of elites in the United States to "round up and imprison innocent Americans into Concentration Camps called "Residential Centres"." According to Jesse Ventura's findings, martial law would be "triggered by an influenza pandemic". Under a plan of martial law, the United Sates Constitution would be suspended and America would be divided in 10 concentration camp precincts run by a fascistic "Council of Governors". In Season Two and Episode 5 of the ' Police State ', Jesse Ventura and Alex Jones visit a place where tens of thousands of coffins had been put there in preparation of an alleged orchestrated pandemic. You will see this place in the above video while it remains online. Jesse Ventura also visited one of the so-called "Residential Centres" where strange non-American military personnel guard which include the kind of bob wire fencing reminiscent of Japanese Internment Camps during World War II and the "holding facilities" of Nazi Germany. Could the "coronavirus" with its flu and respiratory problems be the very "influenza pandemic" which was to be orchestrated alongside an already built infrastructure of tens of witnessing in one area alone of thousands of mass coffins alongside "Concentration Camps"? Above you will see a screenshot of a still active report on Amazon.com entitled "Influenza Pandemic" that is published by U.S. Homeland Security which Jesse Ventura links to the 'FEMA camps' that he presents in his documentary. You may further wonder who would construct such an evil plot to destroy human life and democratic institutions in such a methodical and premeditated way? But before we can explore such a topic, if you were part of an "evil group" of humans roaming the universe and your group spotted an inhabited planet that you liked and wanted for "your own kind", what would you do? Would you seek to use your 'superior technology' to wage an open war against the inhabitants of the planet? Probably not if you sought to preserve planetary infrastructure. The "smart choice" for you would probably be to use your technology to completely destabilize the planet's population with the possible aid of a 'pandemic' that you and your species would be immune to in order to enable take-over and "colonization" by your species. In ABC's former science fiction hit show called ' The Visitors ', a group of human appearing reptillians were described as having infiltrated human institutions which include the military, the police, justice systems and other levels of society in order to put in place a plan of orchestrated destabilization through disease and other mechanisms to make way for eventual alien colonization In the video below the Directors of V through their character reveal that "[I]n order to walk among us they disguise their appearance by cloning human flesh over their own reptillian skin.. the Visitors didn't just get here, they have been here for years. They have been implementing a plan which will result in the extermination of every man, woman and child on the face of the planet... They established themselves in all facets of life [including] business; government; religion. It took years, and once embedded among us they set-out to cause worldwide instability -- unnecessary wars and economic meltdown, they twisted into extremism." The Directors of V through their character elaborate that the "The final stage of the Visitors plan began with them revealing themselves." This leads to an equally disturbing conspiracy that human elites through formalized Agreements are collaborating with manipulative and demonic aliens in an effort overthrow democratic institutions with the goal to replace humans as the dominant species on our planet Earth. Dr. Michael Salla has extensively documented the operation of such Agreements by a group outside of the formal structures of the U.S. and other elected governments which he refers to as "MIEC" or the " equally disturbing conspiracy that human elites through formalized Agreements are collaborating with manipulative and demonic aliens in an effort overthrow democratic institutions with the goal to replace humans as the dominant species on our planet Earth. Dr. Michael Salla has extensively documented the operation of such Agreements by a group outside of the formal structures of the U.S. and other elected governments which he refers to as "MIEC" or the " Military Industrial Extraterrestrial Complex ". John Lash specifically referred to this alien and human cabal as the "Archons". In V, the Directors also apparently sought to warn humanity that these reptillian aliens have sought to befriend human elites by providing them with technology in exchange for these aliens gaining the cooperation of these elites in the take-over of our planet where these reptillians would be presented as the "saviours" of the planet. According to Dr. Salla science fiction like "V" has sought to "hide truth in plain sight". Dr. Salla has extensively documented such a reptillian group as actually existing and as seeking to control various elites like puppetmasters in support of a regressive alien agenda. This representation has also been well-documented by David Icke Archons are further described by John Lash in his research on ancient Pagan Gnostic insights as the "humanized face of the aliens". Pagan Gnostic testimony sought to warn humanity of a demonic reptillian artificial intelligence which has sought to use willing human collaborators in an effort to enslave humanity through the orchestration of planned events encoded in the Bible that would lead to a reptillian take-over in the aftermath of an Apocalypse against humans which would include wars and the spread disease and death. Justin Trudeau, Judicial Corruption and the Supreme Court Of Canada: Aliens and Archons by Peter Tremblay, and review the extensively documented work of Dr. Michael Salla and his learned colleagues in Exopolitics, could the coronavirus be the formal launching mechanism of a systematically planned scenario to overthrow democratic institutions and oppress human rights? If we read the book entitled In the article titled " Coronavirus is a mass-deception of 5-G radiation warfare suggests scholar on aliens " which includes the research testimony of Dr Michael Salla's evidence is presented which suggests that coronavirus suggests that coronavirus is the execution of "biogenic" weapon with the use of 5G technology which is used to simulate a naturally occurring contagious virus. This could explain why the coronavirus seems to have its epicentres at 5G focal points. Furthermore, the current enforcement of "social distancing" appears to be an attempt to use the orchestrated pandemic to outlaw public assembly which include the eventually the political protests which the alien and elite collaborators foresee when the public eventually discovers that they have been subjected to real conspiracy. UPDATE: N.J. coronavirus outbreak surges to 2,844 cases with 27 deaths. Gov. Murphy announces 935 new positive tests. In just three days, coronavirus cases in New Jersey spiked more than 150%, putting the state in third place for total number of positive cases in the United States with 1,914. Only New York and Washington are ahead of New Jersey, with 15,168 and 1,996 cases, respectively. Nationally, the total number of cases are 35,225, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. As of Sunday afternoon, N.J. had seen a big jump in cases reported, up to 1,914 cases from the 742 reported Thursday. These numbers are expected to grow as testing becomes more available. Just across the Hudson River, New York City has become the epicenter of the COVID-19 virus, as cases have far outpaced Washington, which was the hub until just a few weeks ago. In early March, when testing was very limited, the United States only 70 cases. The first individual found to have the virus was identified in Washington on Jan. 20. The state didnt report any additional positive cases that week, but started reporting hundreds of cases soon after. Across the country from Washington, New York announced its first case on March 1. A healthcare worker who had just returned from Iran, a country where COVID-19 is widespread, began showing symptoms. Less than a month later, New York has 15,168 cases, 7.5 times the number of cases in Washington. In New Jersey, the first case of the novel coronavirus was reported on March 5, when a 32-year-old man from Fort Lee, Bergen County, tested positive. With increased testing, that number has increased exponentially, and state officials say will continue to grow. Gov. Phil Murphy announced announced 590 new cases Sunday and said that the numbers were no surprise. With the opening of a new testing center at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel on Monday, he said he expected confirmed cases to increase. This is not a surprise," Murphy said during a press conference on Sunday. "We knew, especially as we opened up testing, we could have bigger numbers. Some of this is community spread, no question. Murphy has also ordered the closure of all non-essential businesses and moved to ban all gatherings across the state, all in an effort to slow the spread of the virus, which has killed 20 people in N.J. as of Sunday. He has also urged people to practice social distancing, or maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet between individuals, if people are compelled to go out of their homes. But according to a NJ Advance Media analysis based on Rutgers University-Camden data, even with a very high level of social distancing, the state could still have 700,000 people infected with the coronavirus. Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter. Disha Raychaudhuri may be reached at disha@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @Disha_RC. ANN ARBOR, MI University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel announced Monday that spring and summer term courses at all three UM campuses will be conducted remotely in alternative formats due to concerns over the continued spread of the new coronavirus. This decision aligns with our ongoing efforts to respond to the pandemic by maintaining this critical part of our mission while encouraging social distancing," Schlissel said in a statement. Schlissel said schools and colleges at UM should prioritize offering programs and coursework that allow current students to keep working toward their degrees and not fall behind. He added that schools and colleges can cancel programs if they feel they cant be delivered with high quality. A release from the university says spring and summer terms begin May 5 and July 1, respectively, with some programs being offered across both semesters. Acting Provost Susan Collins said current information about the likely trajectory of COVID-19 makes it impossible to plan a return to in-person instruction this spring with any confidence. Many students need the credits that would be offered to graduate or to stay on track or to meet accreditation requirements, Collins said. Going remote will enable many students to avoid having to return for a semester or full year to complete degrees, which would be expensive and potentially disruptive to their future plans. UM moved all its winter classes online earlier this month and canceled spring commencement ceremonies at all three campuses. University of Michigan transitioning to remote classes through end of semester due to coronavirus University of Michigan cancels spring commencements amid fight against coronavirus spread In response to Gov. Gretchen Whitmers Monday, March 23 order that Michigan residents stay home, Schlissel said all campus employees should work remotely unless their unit needs them on campus to maintain work identified as critical to UMs mission. He said supervisors should continually evaluate their units operations and to communicate as quickly and thoroughly as possible. More information from UM can be found on its COVID-19 webpage. In his statement, Schlissel thanked the UM community for demonstrating strength and resilience during these virtually unprecedented times. While the COVID-19 pandemic has placed extraordinary demands on our university and its people, your response has exceeded the extraordinary, Schlissel said. Thank you for your dedication, your creativity and your support of one another and our mission as a public university. UM advised all of its students to move home if they are able to do so, offering a $1,200 refund for students who are able to move out by 5 p.m. Wednesday. The refund will be applied to the students account. University of Michigan offering $1,200 refund for students who move out of university housing PREVENTION TIPS In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores. Complete coverage of coronavirus in Michigan here. MORE CORONAVIRUS NEWS: Person with access to University of Michigan dining facility tests positive for COVID-19 University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Dearborn campuses offering alternate grading options amid coronavirus pandemic University of Michigan, Michigan State counseling services hope to help students navigate new reality University of Michigan ramping down research activities amid coronavirus outbreak Crushd Michigan gives University of Michigan students a shot at love in difficult times Eastern Michigan University extends online classes, plans financial adjustments for students who have moved out A major problem for hospitals treating coronavirus is a lack of N95 respirator masks. These are the only masks that reliably protect hospital workers who are on the front line for treating coronavirus patients. It turns out that the Obama administration created the shortage. Now, thanks to Trumps willingness to partner with, rather than destroy, businesses, 3M is coming to the rescue. In the past couple of months, as it became apparent that coronavirus was serious, people went on mask buying binges. In societies such as Japan or Hong Kong, in which people with colds or the flu always wear masks as a courtesy to keep others from getting sick, this habit may have slowed the viruss spread. While regular masks cannot protect people in a high-risk environment from inhaling the virus, they will diminish substantially the risk that a sick person will exhale the virus with sufficient force or viral load to make others ill. However, people did not just buy ordinary masks; many bought N95 masks of the type needed by healthcare professionals working with the sickest, and therefore most contagious. patients. Very soon, hospitals were begging for masks from those proactive shoppers who snapped up all the supplies. This is one shortage that should never have happened, and the blame for it rests with the Obama administration: Back in 2005, the Bush administration published the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza. The strategy called for plans to distribute medical supplies from the national stockpile and to assist state and local efforts to handle an outbreak, but last month, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told Congress that the national stockpile of N95 respirator masks was 12 milliona mere fraction of the 1.7 billion masks government scientists estimated back in 2015 would be needed in the event of a severe flu outbreak. How did we end up with such a low stockpile? It used to be much larger. What happened to it? Buried several paragraphs deep in the aforementioned Bloomberg story we find out that after the H1N1 influenza outbreak in 2009, which triggered a nationwide shortage of masks and caused a 2- to 3-year backlog orders for the N95 variety, the stockpile distributed about three-quarters of its inventory and didnt build back the supply. That's right, the shortage of N95 masks can be traced back to the H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic of 2009... when Barack Obama was president. According to the Los Angeles Times, [a]fter the swine flu epidemic in 2009, a safety-equipment industry association and a federally sponsored task force both recommended that depleted supplies of N95 respirator masks [...] be replenished by the stockpile. The Obama administration, however, did not use any of his subsequent six years in office to act on this recommendation and, sadly, the Trump administration seems to have been unaware of it. Fortunately, there is help on the horizon. 3M tweeted that it will be producing up to 35 million N95 respirator masks and already has 500,000 on the way to those areas hardest hit by the outbreak: In the statement accompanying the tweets, Mike Roman gives more information about 3Ms plans, which include substantial capital investments to meet the new demands. Significantly, he gives special thanks to the federal government for cutting through the bureaucratic red tape, something that makes its high production level possible: I would also like to commend the American federal government for their expansion earlier this week of the U.S. PREP Act. This helps ensure that all N95 disposable respirators can be used in healthcare settings, and has enabled us to increase distribution to those workers beginning this weekend. We call for additional legislation to ensure all critically needed reusable respirators are equally available, which will help conserve the supply of N95s. Trump recently said that he is, in effect, a wartime president, except that hes a president fighting an invisible enemy. Consistent with the war analogy, Trump is doing precisely what helped America win World War II, by bringing the full power of American capitalism to bear against the enemy. As we wrote last week about Trumps press conference declaring a National Emergency, Why it matters: T-Mobile on Monday said it would be launching its lowest priced smartphone plan ahead of schedule in response to the coronavirus outbreak. If you're looking to trim your budget, your wireless bill might be a good place to start. Just keep an eye on those taxes and fees. The Un-carrier first announced T-Mobile Connect late last year, roughly one month before lighting up its 5G network. The original plan was to wait until its merger with Sprint was complete before rolling out the new plan but given the current climate, T-Mobile has instead decided to make the service available starting this Wednesday, March 25. T-Mobile Connect is a prepaid plan that affords unlimited talk and text plus 2GB of high-speed data for $15 plus taxes and fees or 5GB of data for $25 plus taxes and fees. The plans also come with an Annual Data Upgrade which adds 500MB of monthly data, every year, for the next five years, free of charge. What happened to T-Mobiles firm stance against hidden taxes and fees? Also worth highlighting is this bit in the fine print: After allotted high-speed data is used, data unavailable until next bill cycle for Connect plans. Taken at face value, this means that once you eat through your data allotment, you are cut off completely, not just throttled to a much slower connection. T-Mobile also recently deployed additional 600 MHz spectrum on loan from multiple companies to increase network capacity over the next two months. More information about T-Mobiles new plan can be found on its prepaid website. Masthead credit: T-Mobile store by Tupungato. John Legere courtesy T-Mobile. Hyundai India, TVS Motors and Royal Enfield have suspended operations at their manufacturing facilities here and elsewhere in Tamil Nadu from Monday to prevent further outbreak of coronavirus. While Hyundai will suspend operations from Monday till further notice, Royal Enfield has decided to close down factories till March 31. TVS Motors will shut the doors of its manufacturing facilities for two days beginning Monday. The company will take a call on Tuesday about extending the lockdown. Follow live updates of coronavirus cases in India here Hyundai India, one of the largest carmakers in the country which has a sprawling facility at Irungattukottai near here, said it would await further notification from the Tamil Nadu government on resuming operations at the plant. The company, which manufactures vehicles for both the domestic and foreign market, also announced extending support for two months for those who cant avail free service or extended warranty for their vehicles. Royal Enfield said it will close all its manufacturing facilities in Tiruvottriyur, Oragadam and Vallam in Chennai and technical centres across the globe. It also announced closing down of its offices and dealerships across the country from Monday till March 31. Also Read: Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases This has been done keeping in mind the safety and wellbeing of all employees and casual and temporary workers. During this time, the company employees will continue to work from home and there will be no salary deduction for any permanent or temporary employees or workforce, and no reduction of workforce, the company said in a statement. The complete lockdown will put further strain on the companies in the sector which is already bleeding due to the economic slowdown. Over 100 Bank of Ireland (BOI) branches are scheduled to close from Tuesday, March 24, 2020. Two Offaly branches - Clara and Banagher - will be among those temporarily closing their doors. Branches in Edenderry, Tullamore and Birr will remain open. Due to a decrease in footfall at advice counters and self-service locations, BOI are implementing the following: 161 branches nationwide will be open as normal. 148 of these will provide a full service to customers, including counter services for cash, coin and cheque services. 13 locations are Advice and Self Service branches these provide cash and cheque lodgement and cash withdrawal facilities through self-service devices, but do not offer a counter service. While 101 locations will close temporarily during the pandemic, every Bank of Ireland branch will continue to provide an external ATM cash withdrawal service. Normal opening hours will continue in the branches that are open. These branches will also continue the provision of prioritised services for over 65s and carers between 10am and 11am, Monday to Friday. These changes will allow staff from closed branches to support larger branches and aid customer support centres manage the increased amount of inquiries about Mortgage and SME loan payment breaks. Gavin Kelly, CEO Retail Ireland stated that "these changes help us to respond to the most pressing needs of our customers right now thats support in managing the impact of coronavirus on their personal finances and on their businesses. Kelly continued to outline that these changes also refocus our branch network to our larger locations, which will help us support social distancing. This is extremely important for our customers and colleagues, whose safety and well being is our priority. This will complement the enhanced cleaning and hygiene measures we have in place in our branches. The sudden outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, followed by the uncontrollable and rapid spread of the deadly virus, has hit the entire world like a tsunami. This has had a disastrous ripple effect across all economies and all signs are showing that this crisis will not end very soon, and Vietnam best be better prepared for it in days to come. Catastrophic economic losses Immediately after the outbreak and spread of the Covid-19 pandemic in China, many forecast catastrophic economic losses for China, which is Vietnams main trading partner and has a harmonious business relation with our country. As predicted, many manufacturing, export and service sectors in Vietnam suffered severe losses soon after the outbreak began to spread, especially industries that depended on raw materials from China. This crisis is new to mankind, and we are seeing new developments every day, and new measures to tackle and cope with the spread of this deadly virus. The day to day impact is becoming more evident with serious economic losses across all fields. With the economy reeling under the strain, unprecedented anti-pandemic measures are being sort and applied. Vietnam has now taken the drastic action of stopping the issuing of visas to foreign travelers until the end of April and grounding all incoming international flights as well. This dire and stringent action has put all tourism on hold. According to a forecast by the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam, the current complicated and unpredictable situation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic will cost the airlines a revenue loss of about VND 30,000 bn in 2020, higher by VND 5,000 bn to a previous forecast. Road transport, including passenger and freight transport will see a 40-80% decline as compared to 2019 or the time before the pandemic broke out. As for damage to the tourism industry, in the next three months the financial losses will surely surpass USD 7 bn. The economy is expected to see more catastrophic falls in coming months, when companies will run out of raw material reserves and will be unable to procure new stocks from any other source. According to the Business Registration Management Department in the Ministry of Planning and Investment, in the first two months of the year, almost 16,151 enterprises saw temporary business suspension, up 19.5% over the same period last year. Along with that, 2,807 enterprises completed dissolution procedures. As per the latest survey by the Private Economic Development Research Board, if the Covid-19 pandemic lasts for six months, 74% of businesses will declare bankruptcy. Due to this pandemic outbreak, production is at a standstill, trade is limited, agriculture and retail businesses have slowed and international investment has been seriously affected. Specifically, in the first two months of the year, the capital to implement foreign direct investment projects estimated at USD 2.45 bn, came down by 5%, from the same period last year. The country's economy has entered the last month of the first quarter of 2020 with a red tornado sweeping over 55 points in the first week of March on the stock market. Commercial businesses like bars, cinemas, and discotheques have been shut to control the spread of the deadly virus in many cities. Ho Chi Minh City lost revenue of around VND 1,600 bn in the first two months of 2020, and investment capital plummeted by 42.1%. According to the Vietnam Association of Realtors (VARs), more than 300 to 1,000 real estate trading floors across the country have been closed and 500 floors are operating moderately due to fear of the Covid-19 pandemic. Drastic actions to save lives In such difficult, confusing and critical times every Vietnamese has understood the relevance of protecting the health and lives of the people, and the Government has been extremely sensitive to embrace all efforts to protect the people first. Natural disasters and pandemics are unexpected catastrophic occurrences that are not manmade, but can cause havoc to human life. To be able to cope with such situations, every country adopts its own policy, suitable to its own socio-economic circumstances and thereby shows its ability to manage and resolve all related crisis issues in real life. Peoples lives are irreplaceable, whereas economic difficulties have solutions. We cannot compromise on the safety of the people, but we can make sacrifices on economic interests for the short term. - Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. The government of Vietnam under the direction of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc took timely action in establishing the National Steering Committee for prevention and control of respiratory diseases caused by the new strain of coronavirus. The Governments message was clear - fight this pandemic like fighting an enemy at war. The Government is willing to sacrifice economic benefits for now, to focus totally on the protection of its citizens, giving utmost priority to the health and lives of the people. These sentiments were expressed very strongly by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the National Steering Committee Meeting for prevention and control of the Covid-19 pandemic that was held on 13 March. The urgent and humane actions of the Vietnamese Government have brought out a solidarity among the people and the nation as a whole is feeling the responsibility to protect the people, the community, businesses, organizations, individuals and their elderly, in this time of need and caution. On 17 March, the all-people campaign to support the efforts for prevention of the Covid-19 pandemic was organized on an online forum that connected 63 provinces and cities nationwide. To overcome the damage to the economy and minimize losses during this very unprecedented attack of an unknown virus, the government is working hard at containing and controlling the spread of Covid-19 so that people can get back to daily working lives soon. However, even though the economy is continuing to take a serious hit the government is giving top priority to resolutely fight this pandemic to save lives and provide all necessary support to the affected people, especially its citizens. Translated by Kristine Nguyen Hong Musicians earnt more than $4m (3.47m) via music platform Bandcamp in a single day, after the website pledged to donate 100 per cent of its revenue to artists. The initiative, which lasted all of Friday 20 March, followed reports of how the coronavirus has caused serious financial losses for thousands of people working in the music industry. The majority of gigs, tours and festivals that were scheduled to take place in the UK over the next three months have been cancelled or postponed. This includes Eurovision Song Contest, The Great Escape Festival, and the 50 anniversary of Glastonbury Festival. In a statement acknowledging Fridays success, Bandcamp said: We want to thank everyone who joined us last Friday in supporting artists and raising awareness about the impact of Covid-19 on the music community. The numbers tell a remarkable story: on a typical Friday, fans buy about 47,000 items on Bandcamp, but this past Friday, fans bought nearly 800,000, or $4.3 million worth of music and merch. Thats more than 15 times our normal Friday, and at the peak, fans were buying 11 items per second. We dont yet know the long-term impact of Covid-19, but we know that we all need musicto uplift and inspire us, to heal us, and to give us hope, the message concludes. Well continue working to make Bandcamp the best place for fans and artists to come together and sustain each other in the challenging times ahead. Thank you again, and we wish you all good health! Although the latest COVID-19 reports say there are 1,328 cases in the state as of Monday afternoon, the numbers could be higher, and healthcare providers are expecting that. Right now there still is not community-wide testing so the number of cases could be higher. Physicians and healthcare providers have screening questions and tests panels they need to do before they can actually submit a test," said Ann Hepfer, health officer for both Huron and Tuscola County health departments. "This is so we can ensure testing is available to those with symptoms that can quickly be identified and quarantined quickly. I completely understand peoples reaction to not being able to be tested." Right now the reality is there are just not enough test kits, but that does not change our medical approach to how we respond to this infection and put in as many protective measures as we can to reduce the level of community wide spread," Hepfer said. As the health officer for two counties, Hepfer urges everyone to follow the instructions of not going to work or out in public if sick, staying home unless some items are really needed, and practicing social distancing of keeping 6 feet apart. We will all be able to return to our normal lives quicker and see our families and loved ones sooner if you just heed this advice and do your part, she said. In the Thumb, Tuscola Countys first COVID-19 case was reported over the weekend when an 88-year-old man, who had no history of travel, tested positive for the virus. So far no cases of the virus have been reported in Huron County. With the first case on the books at 4 p.m. Friday, we flew into first gear and started on contact notification, media releases, said Hepfer noting all the required paper and data work was completed less than an hour. So now we have our ducks in a row and our first trial run. Now I know we've got this and are prepared for what is yet to come. Some alternative methods are being implemented to detect the virus. Since we do not have adequate testing in our community due to shortages, we have begun additional surveillance activities of our communities, she said. We have increased monitoring of pneumonia rates, daycare and longterm care absences due to illness and what types of symptoms are causing those illnesses. The governor has issues executive orders closing schools, and Monday issued a "stay-at-home" order for all residents. We will see spikes in our numbers right now because we only really started testing this past week," Hepfer said. "With steps like the one the governor took and the long term care agencies already reducing visitors, and no mass gatherings we might be able to reduce the community wide spread of this infection. Its a mitigation technique to reduce the community spread. Limiting personal contact and interaction is a way to try to minimize the spread of the virus. If we wait too long there is the likelihood that the infection would be widespread so quickly that the healthcare system could become overwhelmed with high spikes in infection, said Hepfer. I pray hard at night we have this right and instead of a storm flooding us with this illness that it is a slow rain so that the healthcare systems and continue to react, which will lead to less deaths." I want the residents to know that everyone is working literally 24/7 in one way or another to provide what they can including stores, healthcare, EMS, county emergency managers, she added. As of the last report, the COVID-19 has been reported in 33 counties with the heaviest concentration of cases in the southeast part of the state. I cannot stress this enough," Hepfer said. "Everyone of the local hospitals are working their tails off to keep ahead of this virus. They are absolutely amazing. No one can understand the stress these healthcare workers are under and we are just getting started. They are putting their jobs before their families and personal lives to fight this. I have never been so proud of the work of my healthcare community. Because of the demand, there is a shortage of necessary medical equipment especially the N95 mask. Because of that, there have been drives throughout the state and in the Thumb to make cloth masks to go over the N95 mask. The idea is that the homemade cloth masks go over the N95 and act as a barrier so the N95 masks can be used for more than one use. We are determining where these homemade masks would be utilized such as maybe a daycare center, or food distribution site, or lower level exposure areas where they are wearing a surgical mask and they maybe able to lengthen the life of the mask by covering it with the CDC approved homemade version, Hepfer noted. There are guidelines available for safely using these. I am asking that those masks be dropped off at the health department doors and we will redistribute to areas in need. We are working on a community plan for collection and distribution of homemade masks. Hepfer pointed out that daycares are essential to this pandemic. Essential workers need to feel assured that they have adequate and safe daycare. We have established a very knowledgeable group of dedicated schools, great start collaboratives, other community partners, and health department point persons to address the daycare issues and provide resources to them, she said. We have secured additional food sources, supplies, cots, pack-n-plays for safe sleep that can be used for daycares that extend their hours or extend their capacity. This pandemic is unprecedented and has impacted every stage of lives from birthing a baby safely to a funeral for a loved one's death. My heart goes out to all the residents who are out of work, working at stores with reduced hours, kids not receiving the social interaction or schooling that should be normal, Hepfer said. This generation of children had to endure bullying, fear of being shot or attacked at school, now fear of contagion and all the impacts that surround just this issue. She also said not to believe anything you read on Facebook about the virus. Visit www.michigan.gov/coronavirus for updates on Michigan case counts by county and additional information. By Olivia Rose CLASSROOMS will be empty across the Turks and Caicos Islands in the coming weeks as authorities take precautions to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. All public schools and nurseries will be shut for a period of four weeks starting Friday afternoon (March 20). The Ministry of Education stressed that the measure is preventive and could be prolonged based on the evolution of the coronavirus outbreak around the world. As part of the ministrys proactive approach to reducing the risk of COVID-19, a memo was disseminated to principals of public schools on Monday. Director of Education Edgar Howell issued the notice advising schools, parents and guardians of the closure, which will last until April 20. The nationwide shutdown is part of the ministrys risk reduction plan aimed at strengthening measures to minimise the risk of COVID-19 to students, educators and their families. At a meeting last week, education officials explored possible scenarios along with contingency plans to ensure that students learning is not significantly impacted. "Detailed school guidelines and protocols are being finalised and will be shared with all schools within the Turks and Caicos Islands, the statement said. "In light of this, the Education Department asks that plans be finalised by schools regarding how the delivery of curricula will be continued - using other media such as those made available by the digital media platforms. In addition, the ministry is also working on continuity plans to minimise disruption to learning, especially for students who are preparing for external examinations. The date for reopening of schools will remain under review during the four-week period and will be updated according to the ministry. An education official told the Weekly News that the four-week hiatus will be used to sanitise and disinfect schools across the Islands before students return. The sanitisation will be conducted by health officials who underwent intensive training to operate new electrostatic sprayer machines. Surfaces and objects that are touched often, such as desks, countertops, doorknobs, computer keyboards, hands-on learning items, faucet handles, phones, and toys, will be disinfected. Other areas such as bathrooms will be disinfected before and after schools reopen. The Ministry has also reached out and provided support to students studying overseas. Students were advised of precautionary measures they should exercise to ensure their well-being. The ministry said: "We encourage them to remain vigilant while adhering to the advisories issued by the health authorities in their respective jurisdictions. As of Thursday (March 19), there have been no confirmed cases of the coronavirus infection in the TCI, however the situation remains volatile. Adnan Khan recalled the hot and cold flashes, the relentless shivering, and the pain so excruciating that he struggled getting out of his bunk. He refused to tell the staff at San Quentin State Prison how sick he was. Instead of going to medical because of fear of being sent to solitary confinement and having my stuff taken away and no TV to be punished for being sick I chose to just be in my cell, he said. Khan, who was incarcerated for 16 years, is the executive director of Re:store Justice, the Oakland nonprofit he founded while in prison to advocate for criminal justice reform. Hes still haunted by memories of convulsing for three days in prison, with an ailment that was never diagnosed. Now that coronavirus is in the prison system, with three prison workers in the state testing positive as of Saturday, Khan fears that many inmates will hide symptoms for the same reason he did. That raises the possibility of a pandemic overwhelming an insular space, putting everyone guards, health staff and other inmates at risk. Coronavirus frightens many people, but it poses a particularly dire threat to incarcerated folks who cannot practice social distancing. As the mysterious disease spreads across the country, a growing chorus of civil rights advocates and health professionals is calling for the release of people held in local, state and federal lock-ups. Thats because people in prison share cells and dormitories. They use the same tables, chairs and bathrooms, and the same phones to call home. They do everything were being told not to do. Jail environments are ripe for transmission, Christopher Warren, an epidemiologist at the Stanford University School of Medicine, told me. Lawyers, deputies and other support staff enter facilities daily. And people are still committing crimes that warrant arrests. Even with the best possible sanitation, theres just no way to really truly lower the risk of transmission to a sufficient degree to protect public health, Warren said. Right now, we have no idea how many people have COVID-19 in the jails, because testing has not been widely implemented yet. For an idea of how the coronavirus might impact correctional facilities, look at how another contagious illness, the norovirus, has circulated in Californias jails and prisons for more than a decade. In October, about 70 people at the California Institution for Men in Chino (San Bernardino County) required treatment for stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhea symptoms associated with norovirus, which is commonly called the stomach flu. In May, a norovirus outbreak at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin sickened more than a dozen people. In 2008, as norovirus swept through the Correctional Training Facility, a prison in Soledad (Monterey County), Sam Lewis disinfected his cell and stopped going to the cafeteria. Still, he woke up one night with severe diarrhea. Your body is convulsing, said Lewis, the executive director of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition. I remember asking the night man if he could call someone. He told Lewis he had to wait until the morning. I asked Warren how norovirus compared with coronavirus. You would expect similar rates of spread, he said. But theres a conspicuous difference: People with norovirus dont end up in hospitals on respirators. Or dead. Public health is at risk everywhere but prisoners, like those living in homeless encampments, are shackled by their inability to create an isolated space for themselves. Theyre stuck. Let me be clear: Im not advocating for setting violent felons free. But older inmates people with serious health problems, people who committed nonviolent offenses and people with just a few months left on their sentences should be candidates for release. This is about clearing space so officials have room to maneuver if theres an outbreak. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. We have spent the last few decades finding ways to send people to jail, and especially prison, for longer periods of time and at younger ages, said Keith Wattley, an Oakland attorney and founder of UnCommon Law, a nonprofit that specializes in helping prisoners with a potential life sentence win parole. We have lacked any imagination or will to find safe pathways to bring them back home, and as a result we have thousands of people who are stuck in these very difficult circumstances. Last week my colleague Megan Cassidy reported that elected prosecutors in San Francisco, Contra Costa County and more than two dozen other jurisdictions across the United States called for jails and prisons to release people. Alameda County released 300 people. About 2,300 remain incarcerated in the county, and Alameda Public Defender Brendon Woods wants more released. There is a vulnerable population that will be in jail and prison, and they will die, Woods said. In Contra Costa County, only 20 people were released last week, according to the Sheriffs Office. A spokesman told me the office is searching to identify those who could potentially be released if the facilities become impacted by coronavirus. The speed isnt matching the urgency required to respond to this situation. Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton told me that her office is working to identify cases for early release. There were 994 people in county jails on Saturday. As of March 18, there were about 123,000 people held in state prisons. Of the three prison employees who have tested positive, one is at California State Prison, Sacramento, and two are at the California Institution for Men. Khan said the incarcerated people hes talked to sense the danger. The best I can do is empathize and listen, he said. That is such a helpless feeling. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Otis R. Taylor Jr. appears Mondays and Thursdays. Email: otaylor@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @otisrtaylorjr China's tech company Vivo is about to launch its latest smartphone V19 on 26 March. Prebooking of this phone has started even before launching. The company first introduced this phone in Indonesia, but the variant launched in India will be quite different from the global model. So let's know about the potential price and specification of Vivo V19. How to link Aadhaar with PAN card Vivo V19 Expected Price According to media reports, the company will keep the price of this phone below Rs 35,000. Apart from this, customers can get a cashback of 10 percent on purchasing this phone. The company has not given any information about the price of this phone. Vivo V19's potential specification According to the leaked report, users will get HD display on this smartphone. Also, for better performance, 8 GB RAM can be supported with Snapdragon 712 in this phone. This phone will work on the Android 10 operating system. Motorola Moto G8 information leaked, Know here Vivo V19 Camera The company can offer a quad camera setup in this phone, which will have a 48-megapixel primary camera, 8-megapixel super-wide-angle sensor, 2-megapixel macro lens, and 2-megapixel depth sensor. Apart from this, the consumer is expected to get 32 megapixels and 8-megapixel sensors in the front of this phone. Vivo V19 Battery The company can offer features such as 4G LTE, Dual SIM, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0 and USB Type-C port in terms of connectivity in this phone. Apart from this, users will get 4,500 mAh battery in it, which can be equipped with an 18-watt fast charging feature. Through these apps, you will be close to your loved ones BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 23 By Tamilla Mamedova - Trend: Citizens of Georgia in Azerbaijan will be able to return to the country only through the Red Bridge checkpoint, Trend reports citing Georgian media. The corresponding decision was made at a meeting of the interagency coordination council led by Georgian Prime Minister Georgi Gakharia. On March 21, Georgia declared a state of emergency until April 21 to prevent the spread of coronavirus. For the duration of the emergency, the air, land and sea borders of Georgia will be closed to passengers. It will still be possible to transport goods, as well as receive Georgian citizens who intend to return home. At this stage, it was decided that the goods will be transported unhindered, and Georgian citizens in Azerbaijan can enter country only through the Red Bridge checkpoint, the Georgian government administration said. As noted, the corresponding decision was made after an assessment of the epidemiological situation in the country and consultations with representatives of the healthcare sector. To date, 54 cases of coronavirus infection have been recorded in Georgia. The first case of the coronavirus was confirmed in Georgia on February 26. The outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fish market in late December 2019. The symptoms include cough, headache, fatigue, fever, aching and difficulty breathing. The aviation and special transport will be used for the transfer Open source Until the end of Monday, March 23, the National Guard of Ukraine will deliver the test systems for coronavirus infection Covid-19 to all regions of Ukraine as the Interior Minister Arsen Avakov stated. According to the minister, the National Guard will supply the test systems accompanied by the medical workers. The aviation and special transport will be used for the transfer. Until the end of Monday, the sufficient number of tests will be at all regions of the country, Avakov noted. Earlier, it was reported that the express tests for coronavirus will be conducted only by doctors of certain healthcare establishments. On March 23, Ukrainian cargo aircraft IL-76 landed in Boryspil international airport. The plane arrived from Guangzhou, China, carrying 250,000 tests for Covid-19, the coronavirus. Meanwhile, the number of people infected with coronavirus in Ukraine has reached 73 people. Wendy Jacobs, headteacher of Roose Primary School, was diagnosed with COVID-19 earlier in the week. Tributes have been paid to a primary school headteacher who has died days after testing positive for the coronavirus. Wendy Jacobs, headteacher of Roose Primary School in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, was diagnosed with COVID-19 last week after experiencing symptoms, and was being treated in intensive care at Furness General Hospital. The school said on Monday that its community was in shock following the news of her death, and it has now completely closed even for the children of key workers. A statement from the school's chair of governors Fred Chatfield said: "Dear parents and carers, It is with great sadness that I write to inform you that our headteacher Mrs Jacobs passed away today. Wendy Jacobs was being treated in intensive care at Furness General Hospital before she died on Monday. "This is devastating news for our school and nursery community and all our thoughts and sympathies are with her family. "We are all in shock, and given these exceptional circumstances we have taken the decision to close the school and nursery fully tomorrow to all pupils, including those of essential workers. Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice Live: Follow all the latest updates from the UK and around the world Fact-checker: The number of COVID-19 cases in your local area Explained: Symptoms, latest advice and how it compares to the flu "I am sure you will understand that opening the school and nursery is not an option. We would recommend that all children we kept at home tomorrow. "This is a huge loss to our school, nursery and our community and I will be in touch as soon as possible to explain how we will celebrate Mrs Jacobs' life and contribution." Later on Monday, flowers and cards were left outside the school gates in the headteachers memory. Roose Primary School in Barrow-in-Furne, Cumbria. (Google Maps) It is not known whether Mrs Jacobs had underlying health issues. On Sunday night, it emerged that a 36-year-old nurse is in intensive care after contracting coronavirus. Areema Nasreen, described as "normally fit and healthy", is now on a ventilator at Walsall Manor Hospital in the West Midlands, where she has worked for 16 years. Story continues The coronavirus death toll in the UK has now reached 290, with 5,903 cases of the infection reported. (PA Graphics) Boris Johnson has said the government is ready to impose tougher restrictions to curb the spread of the virus if people do not follow the guidance on social distancing. Last week the prime minister announced that schools in the UK will close to reduce the spread of coronavirus, with the exception of the children of "key workers" such as NHS, emergency or transport staff. Sir Richard Branson will plough 215million into his business empire to keep it afloat during the coronavirus pandemic. The billionaire mogul said his portfolio of businesses, which includes an airline, railway franchise and leisure centres, was locked in a 'massive battle to survive'. Virgin Atlantic in particular has been hurt by the health emergency as countries enforce flight freezes to stem the global spread of infection. The government has already begun crisis talks to rescue the country's flagging aviation industry, with big bailout packages understood to be on the table. But Sir Richard has already announced he will provide his businesses with an urgent cash injection. Virgin Atlantic planes are grounded on the runway at Glasgow Airport this week as the aviation sector is hurt by coronavirus Sir Richard Branson will plough 215million of his own money into his business empire to keep it afloat during the coronavirus pandemic In a blog post, the 69-year-old tycoon said: 'Our airlines have had to ground almost all their planes; our cruise line has had to postpone its launch; our health clubs and hotels have had to close their doors and all bookings to our holiday company have stopped. 'Our people have and, will always be, my number one priority. It is their future job security and their wellbeing that I am 100 per cent focusing on, in these frightening and unprecedented times.' Revealing his funding, he added: 'We are supporting our people and our businesses in their fight for survival in numerous ways. 'We are providing a quarter of billion dollars over the next weeks and months to protect them and save jobs - that is likely just the start.' Virgin companies employ more than 70,000 people across 35 countries and Sir Richard added that recovery would 'depend critically' on governments implementing and mobilising support programmes which they had announced. The businessman was criticised last week by Labour after Virgin Atlantic, founded by Sir Richard, announced it had told staff to take eight weeks of unpaid leave due to a sharp drop in demand caused by the outbreak of the virus. The airline said staff taking unpaid leave will 'drastically reduce costs without job losses' and the cost to staff would be spread over six months of salary. The aviation industry has been among the biggest casualties of the health emergency as demand for plane travel has nosedived. British Airways, RyanAir and Easyjet have all grounded the majority of their fleets, with BA reportedly burning through 200million a week. Crisis talks with ministers have begun, with taxpayer-funded loan packages and even part-nationalisation are being considered, according to Whitehall insiders. Today, Number 10 reassured that the government is 'working urgently' to draw up plans for airlines. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'The Transport Secretary and his department have been in regular contact with the aviation sector. 'A number of measures to support the sector are available, including 'time to pay', financial support for employees and loan schemes from the Bank of England and the government - as is the case for other sectors. 'The government is working urgently to develop further measures as necessary.' Daily crisis round-tables are expected to continue this week so a plan can be thrashed out. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 23:18:10|Editor: yan Video Player Close BERLIN, March 23 (Xinhua) -- German air taxi startup Lilium has completed a funding round worth over 240 million U.S. dollars, the Munich-based company announced on Monday. "The new funds will enable us to take big strides towards our shared goal of delivering regional air mobility as early as 2025," said Christopher Delbrueck, chief financial officer (CFO) of Lilium. According to Lilium, which is developing an all-electric, vertical take-off and landing aircraft for regional air mobility, the leading investor was Chinese technology company Tencent. The total capital raised so far exceeds 340 million dollars, according to Lilium. The funds would be used to support further development of the Lilium Jet as well as "underpinning preparations for serial production in Lilium's newly-completed manufacturing facilities." The German air taxi pioneer is planning to operate a regional air mobility service from 2025 onwards in several regions around the world. The first stage of flight testing has recently been completed, during which Lilium's five-seater jet exceeded a speed of 100 kilometers per hour. Lilium was founded in 2015 and has recently had to cope with a setback as one of the company's two air taxi prototypes was severely damaged in a fire during maintenance work at the end of February. Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Daniel Wiegand did not want to comment on the cause of the fire as the company was still waiting for the result of an independent investigation, the German newspaper Handelsblatt reported on Monday. The Punjab government on Monday imposed a curfew to combat coronavirus, making it the first state to take the drastic action after finding that many people were ignoring the lockdown ordered by it. The authorities are enforcing a state-wide lockdown which came into effect on Monday and will last till March 31. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh announced the curfew as people were defying the lockdown, officials said. After reviewing the situation with the Chief Secretary and the DGP, the CM has announced a full curfew with no relaxations, an official spokesperson said. Curfew was imposed as people were still coming out in large numbers. So the idea is to keep them inside, a senior official told PTI. Deputy commissioners have been asked to issue the necessary orders, the spokesperson said. Anybody seeking relaxations to the restrictions will get them for a given period and purpose, the spokesperson added. After the imposition of the curfew, police at many places in the state were asking shopkeepers, including chemists, to down shutters and telling people to go back to their homes. At some places, people had rushed to the shops to buy essential daily-use items. The Punjab government had on Sunday announced a lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus in the state. Punjab reported 21 coronavirus cases till Monday morning. Initial reports in the morning from several places, including Amritsar, Moga and Ludhiana, said people were assembling in markets despite the lockdown order. Police officials were making announcements in these shopping areas, asking people not to assemble and warning them of strict action. Amarinder Singh had on Sunday appealed to people to follow health safeguards and avoid leaving their homes unless there was an emergency. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) District administration established diagnostic unit for suspected coronavirus patients MULTAN , (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Mar, 2020 ) :District administration established diagnostic unit for suspected coronavirus patients. Rescue 1122, Edhi Foundation and Al-Khidmat Foundation offered vehicles for the newly established diagnostic unit. Citizens will contact Rescue 1122 and informed about persons who recently returned to country from foreign tour, said ADC Qamar Zaman Qaisrani, during a meeting with administration of Rescue1122 and representatives of Al Khidmat and Edhi Foundation . The staffers at diagnostic unit will visit field and bring suspected patients for screening at Nishtar hospital. In case of positive test, the persons will be shifted to treatment centre.However, persons with negative tests will be sent back to homes. The citizens can inform at phone number 0614500964 about suspected persons recently returned from foreign tour, he concluded. The great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos have always remained warm and sustained, while being increasingly strengthened across various fields and indeed continuing to bear fruits. In 2019, regardless of fluctuations in the world situation and facing numerous difficulties, especially the unprecedented floods and droughts, Laos still registered quite a high gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate. In recent years, Laos economic growth rate has been maintained at about 6.5% per annum, which comes as a result of its persistence in implementing the goals of facilitating goods production, ensuring food security, attracting foreign investment in clean and high-tech agriculture, re-planning large projects on land use rights transfer and hydropower production, and moving towards building e-government. The guidelines and policies of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the LPRP share many similarities concerning national construction and development goals. The Vietnam-Laos special relations, founded by Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Kaysone Phomvihane and nurtured by generations of leaders and the people of the two countries, are developing at the highest rate so far. Regarding economic cooperation, two-way trade turnover has surpassed US$1 billion, reaching US$1.2 billion in 2019, up 12.6% year-on-year. A number of key projects between the two countries continue to be implemented, particularly the Lao National Assembly Building, a gift from the Party, State and people of Vietnam to the Party, State and people of Laos. The building, which is expected to be inaugurated later this year, is one of the symbols of the special relationship between the two countries. Along with the economic, social and educational achievements, Vietnam-Laos cooperation in other fields has been increasingly tightened and deepened. The leaders of the two countries have also agreed to strengthen bilateral defence and security cooperation to safeguard political stability. The mutual visits made by the Party General Secretaries and Presidents of the two countries in 2019, and most recently the Lao Prime Ministers visit to Vietnam and co-chairing of the 42nd meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee in January 2020, as well as many cooperative activities and the mutual support of the two countries peoples, will be a solid foundation toward inspiring the two countries to new victories and glories. Vietnam-Laos special relations are a rare example of pure and faithful cohesion between two nations, just as affirmed by Pasaxon, the mouthpiece of the LPRP on the occasion of Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trongs visit to Laos in 2019. It is a relationship expressing the earnest wishes of the people of the two countries to unite, build equal, self-reliant and friendly relations, and cooperate for mutual benefit, the newspaper said, hailing the relationship as being comprehensive and sustainable throughout historical periods and stages, contributing to bringing about historic victories in the two countries past struggles for national independence and their current causes of national reform and construction jointly towards socialism. Mount Greylock Regional School Committee Chair Christina Conry leads a meeting on the Zoom video conferencing platform. Mount Greylock School Committee Holds First Remote Meeting WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. The commissioner of education has no plans to extend the closure of schools in the commonwealth beyond April 7, but Friday promised to give superintendents a four- to five-day heads up if an extension is warranted, the Mount Greylock Regional Schools superintendent reported. Kimberley Grady appeared Friday with Town Manager Jason Hoch for one of his regular Town Hall updates in a short video produced by the town's community access television station, WilliNet. Earlier in the day, she participated in conference calls with Commissioner of Education Jeffrey Riley and the superintendents of Berkshire County. "[Riley] has asked us to think long term in the event they have to extend [the closures]," Grady said. On Thursday evening, Grady talked with the School Committee about the district's activities since the closure that began on March 16. Although the commonwealth is not allowing schools to require online learning, area districts, including Mount Greylock, are providing digital learning resources on the district's website. And it is collaborating with WilliNet on a series of videos, including instruction on yoga for children, adults and seniors and story times. "We're going to have some guest readers," Grady told the committee. "We had a teacher in Lanesborough [tape] a story today. We'll have police officers, firefighters. We're seeking volunteer readers for different age groups. "Parents will be able to log on and have maybe 90 minutes of programming daily." The videos will be available, hopefully starting the week of March 23, both on WilliNet's cable television channel and via its website Mount Greylock Principal Mary MacDonald told the committee she also is working on a way to safely continue the middle-high school's Greylock Plays performing arts series for remote presentation. "We want to bring some of that talent to the greater community," MacDonald said. Remote communication is going to be the order of the day for a while, and the School Committee on Thursday held its first virtual public meeting via the Zoom conferencing platform. The meeting went relatively smoothly with just a few instances of committee members inadvertently talking over one another. One member was unable to log into the meeting directly but was able to follow along and participated in votes by listening through Grady's cell phone. And the panel did conduct some business. It held second readings for and approved two new district policies, one to address the needs of children of military families and the other to address children in foster care. In both instances, the policies were designed to make sure the district is meeting the educational needs of children in those circumstances. At the middle-high school level, the committee approved several curriculum changes for the 2020-21 academic year. MacDonald had previously presented information on the new course offerings and tweaks to the current curriculum that teachers were bringing forward. "We are looking to add two new semester-long computer classes that go with the sequence we have, Exploring Computer Science and AP Computer Science Principles," MacDonald said. "We're looking to add two lab classes -- Literacy Lab and Math Lab. They're similar to courses we've had in the past, but we're looking to reboot them for particular needs we have now." According to the course description provided to the committee, students in the lab classes will receive targeted instruction to meet their specific needs in reading, writing and mathematics. Students will be recommended by faculty for inclusion in the labs. "We're also looking to introduce a new math class, Introduction to Model Mathematics II," MacDonald said. "Essentially, it's for students who are ready to go to college but need to work on their math skills to better prepare." It replaces a class in the current curriculum titled Introduction to College Math and has an updated syllabus. Other changes in the year ahead include a continued shift in the school's Vietnam social studies elective to focus on the "political, civil and social events in the 1960s" in addition to the conflict itself. Mount Greylock also will be a quarter-long course titled "Personal Finance" to the wellness curriculum for ninth graders; the course will replace one quarter of physical education. In other business on Thursday, the district's director of buildings and grounds told the School Committee about efforts underway to address deficiencies in the fields at the middle-high school. Tim Sears told the committee the district has engaged PJC Organic to help create a plan for the fields. "They helped us come up with a daily calendar of what we need to do," Sears said. "The first thing we did was soil sampling to see where we're depleted. We will add certain products on certain days -- lime and calcium -- and do aeration. "They guarantee that if we follow the program they laid out, we'll end up with nice, thick turf. We should be able to increase water absorption by 25,000 gallons per acre, lessening the need to add irrigation." But the school still may need to add capacity to water its fields. "Part of the organics plan does call for, if we have a really long dry period, some watering," Sears said. Sears said the district is working with civil engineer Guntlow & Associates, which is familiar with the Route 7 campus, and said the school, "could probably go with some shallow wells and and store water in a tank with a little pump," to satisfy its irrigation needs. Bahrain's Cabinet has referred to the legislative authority an urgent request to amend Article 8 of Decree-Law No 78 for the year 2006 regarding insurance against unemployment, to enable the government to pay the wages of Bahrainis working in the private sector for a period of three months starting from April 2020. The Cabinet meeting today, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, welcomed the widespread public support to combat the Coronavirus (COVID-19), which remains a testament to the Bahraini spirit. The Cabinet added that these efforts include the demonstration of a high-level of awareness and social responsibility, as well as the high volume of volunteering applications received, said a Bahrain News Agency report. Following the meeting, the Cabinet Secretary-General, Dr Yasser bin Issa Al-Nasser, said the Cabinet commended HM King Hamads directive to unite Bahrains efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 to safeguard the well-being of citizens and residents, through measures taken by the government, led by HRH the Prime Minister, and HRH the Crown Prince, to introduce a BD4.3 billion economic stimulus package to support citizens and the private sector amidst the challenges presented by the global spread of COVID-19. The Cabinet also decided to take the necessary measures to enable the government to pay the electricity and water bills of all individuals and companies for a period of three months starting from April 2020. It further decided to exempt individuals and businesses from paying the municipality fees included in the electricity and water bills for the months of April, May and June; exempt industrial and commercial enterprises from government industrial land rent fees for the months (April-June) and exempt tourist facilities from tourist fees for the three months. In Iran, the number of prisoners infected with coronavirus is increasing. Given that prison is a closed space, lacking proper nutrition, lacking adequate health and medical facilities and with high population density, Coronavirus infection threatens the lives of many prisoners. Despite the issuance of 2 directives by the head of the judiciary granting leave to prisoners, political prisoners are denied these directives. According to the judiciary, the legal status of these detainees is defined as "detained," including those arrested during the November protests. While the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights also calls for the release of all prisoners, the release of political prisoners is blocked by the security and judicial systems. On Sunday, March 15, 2020, a prisoner was transferred from ward 14 of Urmia Prison to a hospital outside of prison after testing positive with Coronavirus. Also, according to the Human Rights Organization in Defense of Political Prisoners, two women wardens in Evin Prison have been barred from coming to work for the past seven days for suspected exposure to the Coronavirus. In recent days, the test results of one of them were confirmed positive. On March 16, 2020, 128 prisoners in wards No 1, 2, 2, and 4 of Evin Prison Quarantine went on a hunger strike in protest of their exposure to dangerous Coronavirus disease and the deplorable state of health and food. However, when the prisoners realized that after 2 months of the Coronavirus outbreak, they had no alternative, and as their deaths were inevitable, they decided to revolt and escape from prison. According to Khorramabad local Citizens on March 18, 2020, prisoners in Ward 3 of Parsylon Khorramabad Prison Mass rioted and escaped from prison. 250 prisoners rioted and tried to escape. Via Google Maps Some of them were brutally attacked by prison guards and killed by gunfire, but 130 of them managed to escape. During the riot at Parsylon, prisoners broke the prisons door. They confiscated the weapons of the guards, wounded two of them and then fled. The rebellion took place in a coordinated plan from outside and inside the prison. Some of the prisoners' friends from Koohdasht attacked the prison from outside in 2 cars, while simultaneously in a coordinated effort, prisoners from inside the prison rioted. The guards in this situation were very frightened and lost control. Witnesses at the scene said they heard continuous gunshots from near the prison. Following the uprising of Khorramabad prisoners and their successful escape, the security authorities and the Revolutionary Guards began to establish martial law in the city of Khorramabad and arrested people. The IRGC also raided nearby villages to arrest fugitive prisoners. The people of Khorramabad opened their homes to runaway prisoners, and many people drove them out of the city in their cars so that the IRGC could not catch them. One citizen who himself was imprisoned in this same prison said, The prisoners escaped because they treat the prisoners here like animals. You need tens of bail and tens of documents to go on leave, and on top of that a few prison guards must guarantee your bail. Last year Ramin Biranvand, a 20-year-old prisoner in ward 2 of this same prison, committed suicide because they demanded a huge bail bonds, plus the guarantee of 6 prison guards. Finally, lack of 1 last guarantor prevented him from taking leave, and he committed suicide out of anger. There was a countless number of hunger strikes. The prison social workers instead of tending to strikers' demands, put them in a cage and left them in the cold. Riot in Aligoodarz (east of Lorestan province) Prison According to Aligoodarz Citizens, Prisoners at the Aligoodarz Central Prison in the east of Lorestan province on March 20, 2020, rioted. This was also a coordinated effort from outside the prison. Prisoners, in order to save themselves from Coronavirus, planed smuggling 3 handguns into the prison by their friends out of prison and forced prison guards to surrender and then tried to escape. During their escape, they clashed with guards. About 13 prisoners manage to escape and 4 prisoners were killed by the authorities. The governor of Aligoodarz, Hamid Keshkoli, acknowledged this insurgency and said: "This evening the prisoners were trying to escape from Aligoodarz Prison and a riot broke out. The prison situation is now under control, and unfortunately, one prisoner was killed and another wounded in the leg." Eyewitnesses reported that agents shot the prisoners even from the rooftop. After the riot, many ambulances took carried injured from prison to hospital. The IRGC blocked all roads to prison in fear of propagation of insurgency to outside and people coming in aid of prisoners. Currently in other prisons in Iran, conditions are explosive. A cruise ship carrying more than 250 passengers who reportedly have respiratory illnesses has demanded it be allowed to dock in Perth. The MSC Magnifica is due to arrive in Fremantle Port on Monday evening but has been blocked from disembarking in Western Australia by the state's premier Mark McGowan. Mr McGowan said all of the reportedly ill passengers, who are among 1,700 passengers on-board, are from coronavirus-stricken Italy, Germany and France. MSC Cruises has rejected the premier's claim and demanded it be allowed to dock. The MSC Magnifica cruise ship pictured in Sydney Harbour on March 16. The vessel reportedly has more than 250 passengers with a respiratory illness and has been banned from docking in Western Australia The operator said not a single passenger or crew member was suffering from respiratory diseases or flu-like symptoms. 'There is no evidence to suggest that anyone on board may be infected with COVID-19,' MSC Cruises said in a statement. 'Along her scheduled itinerary, the ship plans to call Fremantle in Western Australia for a technical call only. 'The ship had done the same at other technical calls along her itinerary, including in Sydney where passengers and crew remained on board during the technical-only call there. 'It has demanded it be allowed to stop and refuel.' The cruise ship is pictured in Gdynia in Poland in 2017. MSC Cruises has denied anyone on-board is suffering from respiratory diseases or flu-like symptoms After re-fueling, the vessel is then scheduled to make its way to Dubai, WA Today reported. Mr McGowan said he has contacted the Home Affairs Minister, Peter Dutton, to explain his 'priority is to protect West Australians'. 'I will not allow what happened in Sydney to happen here. We will not allow passengers or crew to wander the streets. This is a non-negotiable position,' he said. Last Thursday, the NSW government allowed the Ruby Princess to dock in Sydney as it was considered a low risk. It was later discovered there were 48 passengers on board with the virus. NSW has the highest number of cases with 704 reported as of Monday, while the total infections nationally have passed 1,700. Australia saw a significant spike in the number of coronavirus cases on Monday with the amount of people infected jumping from 1,355 to 1,716 Mr McGowan said options were currently being developed by the Commonwealth, the Defence Forces and the state Government. 'We are working cooperatively with the Commonwealth and in particular Minister Dutton to resolve this matter and I'd like to thank the Commonwealth for their support. 'Options are currently being developed between the Commonwealth, the defence forces and the State Government. We will provide assistance to those with urgent needs. 'This is an emerging and an evolving issue. We will work with the Commonwealth throughout the day to come up with a plan that properly protects our state.' Premier Mark McGowan says more than 1,700 people are on board the MSC Magnifica cruise ship Last week the government banned all cruise ships from docking in Australia in a bid to prevent the spread of the virus. However, under international law and custom, a port must grant refuge to a ship in distress. The surge in national infections comes as the federal government introduced strict new rules shutting down pubs, restaurants and cafes after Australians failed to take social distancing orders seriously. The forced closure has already seen tens of thousands of people suddenly out of work. Unemployed Australian were lined outside Centrelink offices on Monday hoping to to lodge claims for unemployment benefits and emergency assistance. CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement On Monday, the prime minister vowed to continue to support the most vulnerable as he warned that many more would likely lose their jobs as a result of the pandemic. 'The tests, hardships and sacrifices that will be placed on all of us, on our national character, will undoubtedly break our hearts on many occasions in the months ahead,' he said as he addressed parliament. 'But we must resolve today, as Australians, to come together and to pledge to each other across our nation that this coronavirus will not break our Australian spirit. 'So, together, and with the rest of the world, we face this unprecedented challenge. A once in a hundred year event. 'A global health pandemic that has fast become an economic crisis, the likes of which we have not seen since the Great Depression.' In a bid to slow the spread of the deadly illness, pubs and licensed premises will be closed from midday Monday for about six months. The restrictions also cover places of worship, casinos, restaurants and cafes without takeaway services, nightclubs and registered clubs. As news broke of the looming closures, panicked shoppers headed in droves to liquor stores to stock up on alcohol, however, bottle shops will remain open. The stricter rules come after tens of thousands of people flocked beaches across the country on Friday and Saturday, ignoring the ban on mass gatherings and social distancing orders. 100 years ago March 23, 1920: A big murder trial is in progress. Its a Peoria case, being tried at Bloomington on a change of venue. A photo in todays paper shows all 12 jurors posing for the camera, along with the bailiffs and sheriff. Next day a juror came down with the mumps, forcing a delay. 75 years ago March 23, 1945: Pfc. Corwin Hibbens is home while he recovers from 11 wounds suffered at the hands of the Japanese in New Guinea. He is not superstitious, but has been treated at 13 hospitals during his recovery. His home is at 1313 S. Madison St. in Bloomington. 50 years ago March 23, 1970: Bloomington letter carriers ended their walkout after 41 hours. They returned to work at the request of their national union president. Normal carriers never did strike. Elsewhere the strike continues, and the Army is sorting mail in New York City. 25 years ago March 23, 1995: The Childrens Discovery Museum gave a preview of its new quarters at 716 E. Empire St. Corporate donors, volunteers and their families saw and did what the public will see, touch and handle starting next week. The museum offers hands-on experiences for kids. Compiled by Jack Keefe; jkeefe@coldwellhomes.com. A revolutionary new technology has been applied to reveal the inner workings of individual cancer cells -- potentially identifying more effective treatment combinations for people with cancer. A joint Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and Stanford University team used a technique called mass cytometry (also called CyTOF) to simultaneously analyse the levels of more than 20 different proteins in millions of individual blood cancer cells. This revealed how these cells responded to different anti-cancer medicines, even suggesting potential new treatment combinations. The research team hope that the new technique could be integrated into clinical trials both to understand why some patients are resistant to anti-cancer therapies, and to predict suitable 'biomarkers' for matching patients with the most effective therapies for their disease. The study was led by Walter and Eliza Hall Institute researchers Dr Charis Teh and Associate Professor Daniel Gray, in collaboration with Professor Garry Nolan and Dr Melissa Ko from Stanford University, US. At a glance - A new technique called mass cytometry, or CyTOF, is providing new insights into a range of key proteins in blood cancer cells. - By studying the blood cancer myeloma, researchers were able to understand why some cells were not killed by standard anti-cancer drugs, and to devise a more effective therapy. advertisement - The team hope to apply their mass cytometry protocol to current clinical trials to better understand why some cancers are resistant to anti-cancer therapies, and to match these patients to other, potentially more effective, treatments. Discovering vulnerabilities in myeloma Cancers are made up of millions of individual cells which are all similar, but not exactly the same. Until recently almost all studies of cancers looked at the cells grouped together, missing any potential differences between individual cells, said Dr Teh. "We wanted to better understand the molecular differences between individual cancer cells so we could discover how these differences impact the cancer's response to therapies -- for example, whether some cells are more resistant than others to an anti-cancer drug," Dr Teh said. "We decided that a new technology, called mass cytometry, would be an ideal approach to address this question." Mass cytometry can simultaneously measure the quantity of different proteins in a single cell. With funding support from the Australian-American Fulbright Commission, Dr Teh was able to visit Stanford University to learn the technology and develop a test that measures a range of proteins known to regulate cancer cell survival, division, signalling and growth. advertisement "The system we developed simultaneously and precisely measures 26 separate proteins in a blood cancer cell line derived from myeloma -- an incurable cancer of immune B cells," Dr Teh said. "We focussed on understanding why some cells are sensitive to anti-cancer agents, while others are resistant. "We used machine learning to analyse the mass cytometry results of thousands of cells, and were able to distinguish which cells survived treatment with standard medicines used to treat myeloma -- and see how they differed from cells that were sensitive to these medicines," she said. The team pinpointed the protein MCL-1 as a key factor determining whether cells lived or died when exposed to the myeloma medicines dexamethasone or bortezomib. MCL-1 is a type of protein that can prevent cell death when overproduced in cancer cells. "Excitingly, there are already drugs in clinical trials that inhibit MCL-1 -- and when we tested these against myeloma cells, we found the MCL-1 inhibitor made the cells more sensitive to dexamethasone. This was even the case in myeloma samples taken from a patient -- our system had identified a potential new therapeutic approach for myeloma," Dr Teh said. A new approach Mass cytometry may even have a role in providing real-time detailed analysis of patient samples from clinical trials, Associate Professor Gray said. "The panel of markers developed in this study gives researchers considerable scope to understand how cancer cells are responding to anti-cancer therapies -- and as we found, it can even help to identify better drug combinations," he said. "Adding mass cytometry to the analysis of clinical studies could reveal why some patients respond to therapies differently from others, and how resistance to anti-cancer medicines can develop in a small fraction of cancer cells. "Mass cytometry could also identify a small number of proteins that can be used as specific 'biomarkers' that can predict a patient's response to therapy, and be used to match that patient with the most effective treatments. We've already started collaborations with our clinical colleagues to investigate this possibility further," Associate Professor Gray said. The research was published in the journal Cell Death & Differentiation. The research was supported by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, a Fulbright Australia-America Postdoctoral Fellowship, Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Leukaemia Foundation of Australia, Cancer Council Victoria, US Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, US National Institutes of Health and the Victorian Government. The coronavirus crisis presents challenges to us as a nation and as individuals. There are principles we should keep in mind. Let's remember how our nation works. We have a Constitution that assigns limited, defined powers to the federal government and leaves the rest to the states and individuals. Some governors, like J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, don't seem to understand this. At a time when political leaders should be inspiring confidence, Pritzker is attacking President Donald Trump, accusing the federal government of being "completely unprepared." He wants to lay blame for crowds and delays at O'Hare Airport on the president. President Trump acted with deliberation, doing his job, shutting down flights from China and then Europe. As Americans massed back to their home country, airports were predictably backed up. The great Maj. Gen. George S. Patton observed, "A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week." This exactly captures President Trump's behavior as this crisis began to unfold. O'Hare Airport is owned and operated by the city of Chicago. Clearly, some functions there, such as customs, are federal functions. But overall operation of the airport is local, and rather than jumping on the president and playing blame games at a difficult time, governors such as Pritzker should step up to do their part. One thing we know is that this virus is most lethal in attacking the elderly. The rate of fatality among those ages 70-79 is 21 times that of people under age 60. The fatality rate among those 80 and above is 39 times that of people under 60. One reason Italy has been hit hard is it has the oldest population in Europe, with 23% over the age of 65. In the U.S., there are large age variations among the states. Among the youngest, Utah has a median age of 30.5, and 10% of its population is over 65. Texas has a median age of 34.5, and 13% of its population is over 65. Among the oldest, Maine has a median age of 44.3, and 21% of its population is over 65. Florida has a median age of 41.8, and 21% of its population is over 65. How can "one size fits all" work with such dramatically different local realities? The answer is that we should maximize local responsibility and decision-making. There are two other critically important things to keep in mind. One: Life is about surprise, the unpredictable. If there is anything predictable, it is that the unpredictable will always be with us. It's why socialism and illusions about national planning are so bogus and always result in failure. And why freedom is so critical and important. Only through freedom is responsibility focused where it needs to be: on individuals. And freedom delivers maximum flexibility and creativity to deal with life's inherent surprises. Two: Faith is critical. It is faith that keeps us human. It is faith that binds together free, unique individuals into one great whole cloth. This health crisis is precipitating an economic crisis. With all eyes turning toward Washington, our business leaders must step up and take responsibility. I've been writing for years about my belief in free economy and the importance of earning a profit. With almost 50% of our youth now expressing misguided enthusiasm for socialism, it is critical that business leaders behave thoughtfully and humanely in this crisis. The future of our free, capitalist system rides on it. Clearly, there is a place for government in keeping the economy moving and helping individuals in distress. But business leaders should not just look to government. In areas such as sick leave, business leaders should pick up the brunt. They should not forget that the same God that made employers made workers. Faith will play a key role in helping our nation through this crisis and emerge better for it. Star Parker is an author and president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education. Contact her at www.urbancure.org. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Bengaluru, March 23 : The Bengaluru French Consulate on Monday offered to arrange special flights for French tourists to ensure their safe return to their country, following the suspension of commercial flights. "Commercial flights are now suspended. We are trying to set up special flights to organize the return to France of tourists," said an official consulate social media post. The consulate invited all French tourists currently stationed in the three states of Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to contact. "In this perspective, if you are currently in Karnataka, Telangana or Andhra Pradesh, and have not yet reported to the Consulate General, please send your full contact details as soon as possible," said the consulate in French and English. French tourists have to send their name, first name, passport number, date of birth and telephone number to admin-francais.bangalore-fslt@diplomatie.gouv.fr "The French embassy is trying to arrange special flights from Delhi to organize your return to France. If you are in Karnataka, Telangana and AP, see you as soon as possible in New Delhi and report to the embassy," the consulate's post added. Earlier on March 12, the French consulate advised all French nationals and travellers from airports in France to avoid travelling to India as such arrivals have been restricted in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak. "Restrictions have been put by local authorities. Travellers of French nationality or from French airports are no longer admitted to India," said a consulate post. The consulate recommended postponing travel to India until further notice. (Sharon Thambala can be contacted at thambalasharon@gmail.com) A Morris County sheriffs officer working at the county jail has tested positive for coronavirus, Sheriff James Gannon said on Sunday. The officer reported a slight fever on Friday, and was ordered to go home, isolate, and contact a doctor, Gannon said. The officer was tested for coronavirus later that day, and received a positive result on Sunday. All jail employees have been required to take their own temperatures before clocking in to work since March 16, Gannon said. The Morris County Correctional Facility was cleaned with ultraviolet light following the positive test. The officer has been in self-isolation since Friday. It is increasingly clear that law enforcement, which must have some personal contact with the public, is at a greater risk of contracting the virus," Gannon said. The Morris County Sheriffs Office will continue to do everything within its power to mitigate the spread of the virus and do all that is possible to keep staff and inmates safe in these unprecedented times." There are currently 205 inmates in the jail, less than half of the jails 524 inmate capacity. Inmates have their temperatures checked during a pre-admission screening and whenever they are moved within the jail, and daily on all inmates in new admission housing units, Morris County Undersheriff Alan Robinson said. Inmate visits with family and friends have been suspended until March 30, and lawyers can only have contact with their clients through glass partitions, the jail says on its website. This is not the first New Jersey corrections officer to be sickened. A Bergen County corrections officer tested positive for the virus on Friday, officials in that county said. Advocates for inmates have argued that jails are the perfect breeding ground for the virus, because they are often cramped and unsanitary. On Monday, the state Supreme Court issued an emergency order releasing inmates serving jail time as a result of a probation sentence or municipal court conviction in an effort to reduce the spread of coronavirus. Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter. Sign up for text message alerts from NJ.com on coronavirus in New Jersey: Katie Kausch may be reached at kkausch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KatieKausch. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Bhubaneswar, March 23 : Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here on Monday urged people to donate generously to Covid-19 fund to provide humanitarian help to the affected people. Patnaik also donated his three-month salary to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund (Covid 19 fund). "Extraordinary circumstance demands extraordinary response. Covid-19 has created a great challenge for the entire world. It requires a lot of funds to carry out humanitarian activities," said Patnaik. Biju Janata Dal (BJD) General Secretary Sanjay Das Burma requested the party MPs and MLAs to donate their three-month salary to the CMRF by March 29 to empower the government to fight the Covid-19. IANS cd/pcj Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Engineers have created a tiny device that can rapidly detect harmful bacteria in blood, allowing health care professionals to pinpoint the cause of potentially deadly infections and fight them with drugs. The Rutgers coauthored study, led by researchers at Rochester Institute of Technology, is published in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. "The rapid identification of drug-resistant bacteria allows health care providers to prescribe the right drugs, boosting the chances of survival," said coauthor Ruo-Qian (Roger) Wang, an assistant professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in the School of Engineering at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. Drug-resistant bacteria, or super-bugs, are a major public health concern. Globally, at least 700,000 people die each year as a result of drug-resistant infections, including 230,000 deaths from multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. That number could soar to 10 million deaths a year by 2050 if no action is taken, according to a 2019 report. Based on a new approach, the tiny new device rapidly isolates, retrieves and concentrates target bacteria from bodily fluids. It efficiently filters particles and bacteria, capturing about 86 percent of them. The nano-device has magnetic beads of different sizes that are designed to trap, concentrate and retrieve Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. The small spaces between the beads are used to isolate bacteria in the device. The inexpensive, transparent device is easy to fabricate and operate, making it ideal for detecting disease-causing organisms in laboratory and health care settings, according to the study. The research team is working to perfect the device and plans to add multiple devices onto a small chip and explore scaling up testing in the field. ### Researchers at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa; Carollo Engineers, Inc.; Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute in China; and The State University of New York, Binghamton contributed to the study. With so much focus on federal data protection regulation, it would be easy to miss the tectonic shifts underway at state capitols. Last year alone, more than 90 different data protection, security and privacy proposals were introduced. The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which went into effect in January, has been the most far-reaching, but it is not alone. From Florida to Maine to Texas, states are taking the lead in innovating data protection regulation. By the end of 2019, more than half the states either proposed new privacy legislation or established a task force to do so. Absent any progress at the federal level, states will continue to push for greater data protection and regulation, augmenting security and privacy while also increasing complexity to an already dynamic landscape. Choose your own privacy adventure While there has been growing interest in data protection in the United States, there was a significant inflection point in 2018 as several forces combined to create the perfect privacy storm. First, the steady flow of data leaks continued as Marriott, British Airways, T-Mobile, MyHeritage, and countless other corporate breaches exposed sensitive personal data. Second, the European Unions General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) introduced sweeping data protection that impacted any company with European Union citizen data. Finally, and arguably the most impactful, the Cambridge Analytica data sharing scandal awoke public awareness about the vast implications of data monetization and sharing. This confluence of events dramatically shifted public opinion in the United States and helped drive momentum and the rapid passage of the CCPA. Numerous other states are now similarly approaching data privacy through overarching omnibus legislation: integrating numerous data protection requirements under a single regulatory umbrella. New Yorks proposal last summer built upon the CCPA momentum, but it differs in a few key areas. Instead of relying on the attorney general for enforcement, the New York proposal includes a private right of action and applies to any organization with New York resident data as opposed to the $25 million in annual revenue cutoff in the CCPA. The New York bill also includes data fiduciaries, which prohibit businesses from using data to the benefit of the business and the detriment of the individual. Other states similarly integrate aspects of the CCPA, while customizing as well. Nevadas law, for instance, does not have opt-in requirements, while opt out applies to a narrower scope of information. It also includes less time to respond to data requests and defines the sale of data differently. Nebraskas recent proposal, in contrast, maintains more similarities to the CCPA with its focus on personal information and the right to know what is collected, how it is used, who accesses it, as well as the right to deletion and opt out. They both also include fines up to $7,500 for each violation. Finally, Floridas proposed Consumer Data Privacy Act shares some common features with both the CCPA and Nevadas privacy legislation, including a focus on the right to opt out of sales of personal data and a notice of what data is collected. Proposals in Maryland and Massachusetts are similar to the CCPA, but opt out includes any data disclosures, not just sales. Maryland chose enforcement by its attorney general, while the Massachusetts law has a robust private right of action. These are a few examples of an omnibus approach to data privacy, and additional proposals are likely to emerge over the next few years absent a federal privacy law. At the same time, several states are opting for point solutions to data privacy instead of taking the omnibus approach. That is, they are focused on narrowly addressing a specific data privacy issue. For instance, last year Vermont passed the countrys first law targeting data brokers -- those entities that gather data from a wide range of sources. The new law requires data brokers to register, uphold baseline security practices and notify if a breach occurs. It also prohibits the use of the data for criminal purposes. Maine opted instead to focus on internet service providers. Coming into effect on July 1 of this year, the Maine law bars ISPs from, using, disclosing, selling or permitting access to customer personal information unless the customer expressly consents to that use, disclosure, sale or access. Instead of focusing on data aggregators and collectors, a half-dozen states have focused on the actual kind of data itself. For instance, the Illinois biometric law is a decade old, but has been making headlines lately for its use in class action lawsuits against Facebook and Google. Texas, Washington, California, New York, and Alaska are among those states that have passed or expanded existing laws to cover biometric identifiers. Whats next: Full speed ahead for states Despite both political parties expressing support for a federal data protection regulation, including dueling proposals at the end of 2019, security and privacy proposals failed to gain any traction in Congress. With little hope for Congressional action on data protection, and with mounting public demand in favor of it, states will continue to be the major drivers of data protection regulation in the United States. For each state capitol, there is a seemingly endless array of components that could comprise a data protection regulation. What data is covered? Which and what size of businesses are covered? Should reasonable security measures be required? Does it cover selling data or disclosing data to any third party? How will enforcement be handled? Will it include a data fiduciary? How will users opt in and opt out? These are just some of the questions that state legislators will have to debate. Based on what has been proposed so far, these laws look to duplicate the trajectory of data breach notification laws. There are now 54 different data breach notification laws -- one for each state, and one in Washington, D.C., Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands -- each of which has its own nuance and time frame. At the federal level: One law to rule them all? As the variety in state-level regulations demonstrates, Congress faces many decisions when it comes to federal data privacy regulation(s): An omnibus approach or point solution regulations? Which data will be covered and will there be a private right of action? These are just a few of the considerations. As the U.S. deliberates on a federal law, Congress must ensure that the solution is not worse than the problem. Of course, there will be many forces seeking to undermine any U.S. federal data protection regulation. As the details get debated, three overarching components should be reinforced throughout: harmonization, reasonable safeguards and a whole-of-society approach. First, ensuring a baseline consistency is essential to overcome todays complex data ecosystem. This will require fending off special interests seeking to dilute many of the recent state-level policies. Next, introducing reasonable security safeguards has proved to incentivize more robust security practices and provide positive business returns. Finally, data protection can benefit from a herd immunity approach, applying to both the private and public sectors while also empowering individuals with greater selective control over their data. The onus should not be entirely on any specific entity, but requires a unique combination of incentives, penalties, transparency and controls to help elevate data protection across society. For more than a decade, data theft and questionable data sharing practices have largely gone unregulated in the United States. This status quo is not sustainable. The CCPA is just the first of a state-level movement that aspires to implement modern data protection regulations appropriate for the digital revolution. Lacking any concrete signs of progress at the federal level, states will continue to be the driving force of data protection innovation, providing greater privacy and security protections while introducing ever greater complexity in an already dynamic compliance landscape. BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. Butte County Public Health has received lab confirmation of the second case of COVID-19 in a Butte County resident. Officials say this case is travel related. The individual is an adult and experiencing mild illness. They went for a COVID-19 test after being notified they were potentially exposed during recent travel out of the country. Butte County Public Health says with the second confirmed case, "it is apparent we do have COVID-19 in Butte County. Now that we know the virus is in the community, a press release will not be sent out for every confirmed case. We will update the public health website with the number of confirmed cases on a regular basis." To view Butte County Public Health COVID-19 results, Click Here The public is advised to continue to follow the shelter at home order issued by Governor Newsom and the California Public Health Officer. This includes canceling all non-essential activities and services and all social, professional or community-based gatherings. If you must leave your home to seek essential services such as gas, food, medical care or essential work, keep at least 6 feet of distance from others. In order to protect the health and wellbeing of all Butte County residents and to decrease impact on critical healthcare services, if you are sick with mild symptoms, please isolate at home urges Dr. Andy Miller, Butte County Health Officer. If you develop severe symptoms, call your medical provider immediately. RELATED: Health officials confirm first positive case of COVID-19 in Butte County Action News Now will share the latest updates as they become available. For continuing coronavirus coverage, Click Here For notifications on the latest local updates related to coronavirus, download our app, Click here GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- The Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids has canceled all Easter Masses. The move is in response to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday, March 23, ordering all residents to stay home and most businesses to close through April 13 to slow the spread of coronavirus. Grand Rapids Catholic Diocese officials said Monday that all Masses, including those on Easter Sunday, are canceled through April 13. Easter is April 12. Before Whitmers order, Masses were canceled through April 5, which is Palm Sunday. Grand Rapids Bishop David J. Walkowiak is granting all Catholics within the Diocese an exemption from their obligation to attend Mass during this time. The Diocese covers the counties of Ottawa, Kent, Ionia, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Montcalm, Mecosta, Lake, Mason, and Osceola. All weddings and baptisms scheduled through April 13 are postponed. Funerals will be held but without a Mass and only with immediate family members present. Gatherings are limited to 10 people. An outdoor ceremony cemetery service or a memorial Mass at a later date are some alternatives to the new funeral restrictions, Diocese officials said. Masses will continue to livestreamed from the cathedral. Those streams are available to view on FOX 17 and the Dioceses website and Facebook page. All Catholic schools and parish offices remain closed to the public. The Diocese offices are closed to the public until April 14. Further information for parishioners can be found here. PREVENTION TIPS Michigans State Emergency Operations Center is coordinating state-government resources and the response to the coronavirus spread. It has shared the following tips: What you can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases: RELATED STORIES: Complete coverage at mlive.com/coronavirus All Michigan residents, most businesses ordered to stay home to slow spread of coronavirus Whats open, whats closed under Gov. Whitmers coronavirus stay-at-home order YEREVAN, MARCH 23, ARMENPRESS. Telephone conversation was held between the Armenian and Israeli healthcare ministries at the initiative of Armenian President Armen Sarkissian following his phone talk with the President of Israel, Armenian healthcare minister Arsen Torosyan said on Facebook. During the phone conversation we shared the experience of the two countries and clarified our approaches on fighting coronavirus, as well as agreed to transfer these contacts to a more professional field between epidemiologists and infectionists. At the moment of our talk there were 1000 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Israel, 20 of which required intensive care, Minister Torosyan said. On March 22 Armenian President Armen Sarkissian had a telephone conversation with Israeli president Reuven Rivlin during which the two Presidents exchanged information about the coronavirus situation in the two countries, as well as the ongoing steps to prevent and overcome the virus. According to the latest reports, number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Armenia is 194. Two patients have recovered. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-24 00:20:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TEHRAN, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Hossein Baqeri on Monday praised China for providing Iran with medical assistance in the battle against COVID-19. The outbreak of COVID-19 has put humanity in a serious dilemma to test the commitment of the nations and governments to the moral principles, Baqeri was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency. "Under such circumstances, the humanitarian moves exhibited by China ... have drawn the admiration of everyone," he said. "On behalf of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I express gratitude to the Chinese people, government and the Armed Forces for their goodwill, benevolence and health and medical aids," the Iranian top commander was quoted as saying. Since Feb. 19 when Iran announced the first cases of infection with the novel coronavirus in the country, China has dispatched several consignments of medical supplies to Iran. Besides, a team comprising five experts from the Red Cross Society of China arrived in Tehran on Feb. 29. Several African countries have confirmed their first cases of the coronavirus, while Rwanda has become the first nation in Africa to be placed on lockdown. According to the World Health Organization, more than 1,000 cases had been reported across Africa as of Sunday. In Uganda, Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng announced the first case, saying that a man flew into the country from Dubai on Saturday and was in stable condition. In Angola, Health Minister Silvia Lutucuta said Saturday that two male residents who flew back from Portugal March 17-18 tested positive for COVID-19. Eritrea said its first case of the coronavirus was a 39-year-old Eritrean who had arrived from Norway. Zimbabwe reported its first case Friday, and a second Saturday, while the island of Mauritius, with 14 cases, reported its first death, a person who had traveled from Belgium via Dubai. Nigeria with the largest population in Africa reported Saturday that the number of infections in the country rose to 22. In South Africa, the country with the most cases in sub-Saharan Africa, the number of confirmed infections rose to 240 Saturday. Rwanda with 17 reported positive cases of COVID-19, became the first nation in Africa to be placed on lockdown for at least 14 days in an effort to fight the coronavirus outbreak. A statement issued by the office of the prime minister said that observing the global trend of the COVID-19 pandemic, and considering the experiences of other countries, there is a clear need to take additional steps to ensure that COVID-19 does not spread further in Rwanda. According to the statement, beginning Saturday at 11:59 p.m., unnecessary movement and visits outside the home were not permitted by the countrys 12 million citizens, except for essential services such as health care, food shopping, or banking, and for the personnel performing such services. The statement adds that all employees, public and private, are to work from home, except for those providing essential services. Additionally, travel between cities and districts of the country is not permitted, except for medical reasons or essential services. All bars are closed. Rwanda has also closed its borders, except for shipments of goods and cargo and returning Rwandan citizens and legal residents, who will be subject to mandatory 14-day quarantine at designated locations. Many other African countries have already closed their borders, schools and universities, and prohibited large public gatherings. The National Human Rights Commission in Libya has called on the Libyan authorities and the international community to take action to close migrant detention centers in Libya because of the coronavirus. All migrants who attempt to cross the Mediterranean without succeeding are intercepted by the Libyan coastguards and end up in these detention centers where living conditions are appalling. According to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), in January alone, 1,040 migrants and refugees were intercepted at sea and taken back to detention camps in Libya. For Walid Elhouderi, head of the Libyan Human Rights Commission, this situation is unacceptable, especially with the coronavirus crisis. Even if these camps represent less than 5% of the African migrant population in Libya, we know that these people have absolutely no chance of surviving. We expect an unprecedented human calamity. He said the National Human Rights Commission in Libya puts the main responsibility on the UN Refugee Agency as well as on the local governments. He said militias are doing everything to create and maintain this barbaric situation, which is fruitful for them, as they are trafficking for their own unscrupulous gain. Conflict-torn Libya has not recorded any coronavirus case so far. Global emergency efforts to slow the coronavirus pandemic ratcheted up Monday with more nations and cities imposing extraordinary lockdowns, as the death toll soared towards 15,000. From Germany banning gatherings of more than two people, New Zealand announcing a four-week lockdown and Hong Kong shutting its borders to all non-residents, the new round of containment efforts highlighted a deepening sense of panic around the world. The Tokyo Olympics slated for July also looked increasingly likely to be postponed, with Canada announcing it would not send athletes to Japan then and Australia saying it was preparing for a one-year delay. In the United States, President Donald Trump ordered thousands of emergency hospital beds to be set up at coronavirus hotspots as a trillion-dollar economic rescue package crashed in the Senate. The death toll from the virus surged to more than 14,400, according to an AFP tally on Sunday, with Europe the epicentre. Italy's world-worst toll from the pandemic approached 5,500 with another 651 deaths reported on Sunday, a day after it surpassed China with the highest number of fatalities. European nations continued to choke people movement, with Greece on Monday morning to follow Italy, Spain and France in imposing a nationwide lockdown. In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday announced the ban on gatherings of more than two people. She did so while in quarantine herself because she had met an infected doctor. Like in Europe and elsewhere around the globe, the lockdowns have decimated the tourism industry. "That was heartbreaking. We have made a huge investment preparing for a successful tourism season," hotel owner Tamriko Sikharulidze told AFP in Tbilisi after Georgia declared a state of emergency over the weekend. Police patrolled the deserted streets of Rome on the weekend, while checks were carried out on Italian beaches after local officials complained people were defying isolation orders by catching some time in the sun. In his weekly prayer, streamed online to avoid attracting crowds, the Pope urged all Italians to follow isolation measures "for the good of us all." Spain's prime minister said he would ask parliament to extend a 15-day state of emergency, which bars people from leaving home unless absolutely essential, until April 11. Spain recorded close to 400 new fatalities Sunday, bringing the total to 1,720, suggesting the lockdown was failing to be effective. Opera star Placido Domingo said he had tested positive. Residents across France, where the death toll jumped to 674, remained shut in their homes. A curfew was imposed in some regions and the mayor of Paris called for even more drastic confinement measures in a city under lockdown. Britain inched towards similar measures as Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned the country was a couple of weeks behind registering similar numbers to Italy. In the United States, more than a third of Americans were under various forms of lockdown, including in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, but the number of infections in the country has continued to climb. Highlighting the desperation inside the world's biggest economy, the mayor of New York said his city was just 10 days away from running out of ventilators. And a trillion-dollar Senate proposal to revive the US economy crashed Sunday after receiving zero support from Democrats, further traumatising investors who are watching stock markets implode worldwide. Asian markets were hammered on Monday, and European stocks followed with a drop of four percent at the open, as they absorbed the failed US stimulus effort and the barrage of other bad news from across the world. "This is the biggest economic shock our nation has faced in generations," Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said as he warned the pandemic could lead to a crisis akin to the 1930s Great Depression. As the pandemic overwhelms hospitals, doctors are having to quickly prioritise patients based on their chances of survival, inflicting a huge moral burden. "We go into medicine to heal people. Not to make choices about who can live," said Philippe Devos, an anaesthesiologist in Belgium. The virus emerged in China late last year, after first being detected at a market that sold wild animals for human consumption in the central city of Wuhan. China has since sought to sow doubts over whether the virus began in Wuhan, while portraying itself as a saviour in the global fight and a role model for quarantines. China on Monday reported no new local cases of the virus, but confirmed another 39 infections from overseas. However, Beijing's communist leaders have also been criticised at home and abroad for a perceived lack of transparency, particularly at the start of the outbreak. Trump has been among those critics and angered China by branding it the "Chinese virus". On Sunday he complained again about a lack of information and transparency from Beijing. "They should have told us about this," Trump said. "I'm a little upset with China. I'll be honest with you." There are fears across Asia of "imported" cases from Europe and other hotspots. New Zealand has yet to be hit hard but on Monday Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced a four-week lockdown to prevent a Europe-style crisis. "The worst-case scenario is simply intolerable," Ardern said. "It would represent the greatest loss of New Zealand lives in our history and I will not take that chance." Hong Kong, which had largely avoided the virus in the first wave despite being so close to the Chinese mainland, announced a ban on all non-residents from entering. Chief Executive Carrie Lam said restaurants and bars would also be banned from selling alcohol. "Sometimes when people drink more, there may be some intimate acts," she told reporters. (Pic Credit: AP) Amid crashing oil prices, oil firms are rushing to cut budgets and exposure to the most prolific shale basin in the United States, the Permian, yet industry bodies expect the shale patch to survive the oil price war and the oil price collapse despite the short-term pain. Apache Corporation said two weeks ago it was slashing its 2020 capital investment plan to $1.0 billion-$1.2 billion from a previous range of $1.6 billion-$1.9 billion. Apache will also stop pumping oil in the Permian in the coming weeks to limit exposure to short-cycle oil projects. We are significantly reducing our planned rig count and well completions for the remainder of the year, and our capital spending plan will remain flexible based on market conditions, John J. Christmann IV, Apaches chief executive officer and president, said in a statement. A few days later, Pioneer Natural Resources also announced it was taking decisive action in response to lower oil prices and global macroeconomic uncertainty. Pioneer is cutting its 2020 drilling, completion, and facilities capital budget by some 45 percent, expecting it to range between $1.6 billion to $1.8 billion. Faced with low oil prices, the company will reduce its operated rig count from 22 currently to 11 operated rigs within the next two months. Related: Rig Count Plummets As Oil Price War Rages On With the significant reduction in energy investment over the past five years, exacerbated by the expected decline in shale production, I expect oil prices to recover once the global economy stabilizes and Pioneer to emerge in a stronger, more enviable position through the actions we are taking today, Pioneers President and CEO Scott Sheffield said. Industry bodies in New Mexico, home to part of the Permian basin, are not all doom and gloom. Its going to be a challenging business environment, but New Mexico is well-positioned for when we come out of it, Robert McEntyre, spokesperson for the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association, told Carlsbad Current-Argus. U.S. oil producers will feel the short-term pain from the huge global oversupply and crashing demand in the Covid-19 pandemic, but they are in a position to prevail in the longer term, Kathleen Sgamma, president of the Western Energy Alliance, told Carlsbad Current-Argus. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: ADDIS ABABA, March 22 (Xinhua) -- High-level officials from the Ethiopian government and other African countries and organizations on Sunday commended China's support to Africa's ongoing fight against the COVID-19 global pandemic. China, which is also presently fighting against COVID-19 at home, is winning acclaim from across the African continent for its solidarity and support to African countries and regional organizations in the continent's fight against COVID-19 pandemic. As part of China's support to Africa's efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, Chinese experts and officials from health and customs departments had shared information and experience about COVID-19 in a video conference with officials and healthcare specialists from Africa CDC and 24 African countries, showing commitment to sharing experience and supporting Africa in the fight against the pandemic. Speaking to Xinhua on Sunday, Ethiopia's Minister of Health, Lia Tadesse, stressed that the China's support to the East African country and other fellow African countries in the fight against COVID-19 ranges from material support to experience and knowledge sharing endeavors. China has delivered testing reagents to African countries via Africa CDC and emergency supplies to countries affected, with Chinese medical teams also helping fight the epidemic on the continent. In addition to the Chinese government's solidarity with Africa on the face of COVID-19, Chinese companies and civil organizations are also providing urgently needed supplies to African countries. On Sunday, the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed commended the Chinese Huajian International shoe factory for its support to the East African country's efforts in containing the spread of the COVID-19 through material donation to the Ethiopia and other African countries. "Grateful to Huajian International for donating anti-epidemic supplies in support of Ethiopia's COVID-19 prevention efforts. Ethiopia looks to similar benevolent acts by partners as we work diligently in preventing the spread," Ahmed said. Also on Sunday, high-level officials from the Ethiopian government, Africa CDC, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the Ethiopian Airlines Group has witnessed the arrival of the first shipment of medical relief donated by the Jack Ma Foundation and the Alibaba Foundation to support Africa on the face of COVID-19. They include 5.4 million face masks, kits for 1.08 million detection tests, 40,000 sets of protective clothing and 60,000 sets of protective face shields, according to the Jack Ma Foundation. The supplies will first be distributed to countries throughout Africa which are particularly vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this week, the foundations had announced their commitment to donating 100,000 medical masks, 20,000 test kits and 1,000 protective suits and face shields to each of the 54 nations on the African continent. Tewolde Gebremariam, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group, told Xinhua on Sunday that the donation is an exemplary move, serving as a lesson to the rest of the world, showing collaboration and joint efforts in the battle against the epidemic. "The message is very important. It is a very good example for all over the world that feel panic and blame is not the answer. The answer is organizations, countries, institutions, and governments bringing their resources together to team up to provide this kinds of medical supplies medical equipment for the protection of the people. So, this is a very good example," Gebremariam said. Speaking to Xinhua, Deputy Director of Africa CDC, Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, stressed that the Chinese government has placed its experience on the table for African countries to be able to see and use in their fight against the COVID-19 epidemic. "Right now that China has already done a very big effort in controlling this outbreak," Ouma told Xinhua."We are very impressed by the reduction in the numbers." The Africa CDC Deputy Director also stressed that "the experience that China has undergone is very important for us, because ours is just starting, while in China it is ending. That experience is very important." Ouma further stressed that the Africa CDC, a specialized healthcare agency of the African Union (AU), "is working very closely with China CDC to ensure that Africa CDC is better prepared to support countries, and also to ensure that African countries are also learning from the experience of China." Today the CORE 4 partners of Jackson County, Missouri; Johnson County, Kansas; Kansas City, Missouri, and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas, based on the urgency of the COVID-19 public health emergency and the imminent rapid progression of the pandemic in our area, announce that beginning Tuesday, March 24, residents will be directed to stay at home except for essential needs. All jurisdictions will issue orders that will stay in effect for 30 days from the effective date of March 24, with consideration after 30 days of whether to prolong these orders beyond that date, based on public health and critical care metrics available at that time. Examples of essential businesses and services that will remain open during this time period include critical government services, infrastructure projects, childcare, healthcare, grocery stores, pharmacies, and delivery/carry-out/drive-through services from restaurants. Additional details are forthcoming. For more information, visit kcmo.gov/coronavirus or text COVIDKC to 888777 Kansas City COVID-19 Advice Coronavirus in Kansas City: The latest resources and how to keep your family safe Here you can get the latest information on the coronavirus, or COVID-19, in Kansas City and resources to be prepared and keep your family safe.CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASESKansas: 55, 2 deathsMissouri: 90, 3 deaths15 Days to Slow the Spread: CLICK HERE to read the CDC guidelines on coronavirusFULL LISTSList of local schools, universities closed or shifting to online classesList of large event cancellations, postponementsList of places of worship in Kansas City offering livestreamed servicesSHOULD YOU SEE A DOCTOR?Have you traveled outside the U.S. Newspaper Publishes Fearful Story Of Kansas City Metro Coronavirus Demise JoCo first COVID-19 death: An 'indescribably horrible week of immeasurable suffering' Dennis Wilson and his son, Luke Photo courtesy of Luke Wilson Johnson County's first coronavirus death was a retired biology teacher-turned school superintendent and part-time professional magician. Dennis Wilson, of Lenexa, who was in his 70s, died Saturday morning just five days after tests confirmed he had COVID-19, his wife wrote in a long and heartfelt post on her Facebook page. Brewing Public Health Help Anheuser-Busch to start making hand sanitizer to combat COVID-19 outbreak ST. LOUIS (KMOV.com) --- Anheuser-Busch is planning to make and distribute bottles of hand sanitizer as coronavirus concerns continue across the nation. The brewery announced Saturday that it will be distributing bottles across the United States. "We have a long history of supporting our communities and employees - this time is no different. Shelter In Place Update Stay at home order extended to Clay County, North KC (KCTV) -- After the CORE 4 partners in the Kansas City metro issued a stay at home order set to take place on Tuesday, North Kansas City and Clay County decided to extend that order to include them. The city of Belton has followed suit as well. Kangaroo Housing Confusion Students forced to move off-campus, set to receive 45% housing refund After a week of confusion, students in the dorms have been given their marching orders. Due to the quarantines and social distancing measures put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus, those living on-campus, with a few exceptions, will be required to move out as soon as possible. Prez Trump Saves Students Including Locals State Department charters flights to evacuate Americans stranded in Guatemala by coronavirus pandemic The U.S. State Department has chartered two flights Monday to begin evacuating hundreds of Americans who are stranded in Guatemala. Guatemala suspended all air travel except for cargo flights on March 16 in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus. "We do not know when civilian flights will resume in Guatemala after these U.S. Democratic Party Answer Outcry For Assistance Pelosi, returning from recess, announces House Dems will have their own coronavirus response bill House Speaker Nancy Pelosi returned from the House's weeklong recess Sunday to announce that Democrats would be "introducing our own bill" to address the ongoing economic collapse amid the coronavirus -- frustrating Senate Republicans who have worked through their planned recess this week to craft emergency legislation. Prez Trump Explains National Guard Called Up Trump outlines national guard activations for New York, California and Washington President Donald Trump said Sunday that the federal government has activated US National Guard units for three of the states hardest hit by the novel coronavirus -- New York, California and Washington state. Pundit Targets Speaker Pelosi Mark Levin on House Dems' coronavirus plan: 'People are sick and dying and Pelosi is playing games' "Life, Liberty & Levin" host Mark Levin accused House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., of "exploiting this crisis to advance her radical agenda," after she announced Sunday that Democrats would be introducing their own stimulus bill to address the ongoing economic collapse amid the coronavirus -- all while the Republican-controlled Senate considered its own legislation. Former Prez Fact Check Trump: I haven't consulted past presidents President Donald Trump said Sunday that as he tackles the current national crisis, he doesn't want to "bother" his predecessors and doesn't think he's "going to learn much" from them. In response to a reporter's question on whether he would reach out to any former presidents (George W. D.C. Suffers From Gridlock As Public Waits For Stimulus Coronavirus stimulus talks hit setback as crisis deepens Negotiations to craft a massive stimulus package slowed to a crawl Sunday amid sharp partisan disagreements over worker protections, corporate bailouts and how many hundreds of billions of dollars need to be pumped into the faltering U.S. economy. Senator Rand Paul Tests Positive For Coronavirus Rand Paul tests positive for coronavirus days after his father dismissed panic over the disease as a hoax Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul's father, former Texas Congressman Ron Paul, penned an article titled "The Coronavirus Hoax," just six days before his son became the first U.S. senator to test positive for COVID-19. "Senator Rand Paul has tested positive for COVID-19," Paul's office announced on Twitter Sunday. Italia Tragedy Worsens Italy bans internal travel as death toll rises a further 651 ROME (Reuters) - Italy banned travel within the country on Sunday in yet another attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus, with data showing a further 651 people had died from the disease, lifting the number of fatalities to 5,476. Prez Trump Sent "Rocket Man" Helpful Letter Amid Pandemic North Korea says it received a letter from Trump North Korea said President Donald Trump sent Kim Jong Un a personal letter in which he expressed his willingness to help with "anti-epidemic work," according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency early Sunday." Backstory On China Outbreak U.S. axed CDC expert job in China months before coronavirus outbreak WASHINGTON - Several months before the coronavirus pandemic began, the Trump administration eliminated a key American public health position in Beijing intended to help detect disease outbreaks in China, Reuters has learned. The American disease expert, a medical epidemiologist embedded in China's disease control agency, left her post in July, according to four sources with knowledge of the issue. STOCKS PLUNGE AS POLITICS STALLS COVID-19 STIMULUS!!! US stock futures plunge, trigger limit down trading halt, after Senate fails to agree on $1.6 trillion stimulus package | Markets Insider US equity futures fell sharply after trading commenced at 6 p.m. ET. S&P 500 futures slid more than 4% within five minutes, triggering a so-called limit down trading halt. The losses came as the Senate failed to agree on a $1.6 trillion stimulus packaged designed to boost the coronavirus-stricken economy. Golden Ghetto Shares Fact Check For Coronavirus Johnson County Health Department creates FAQ to answer common questions about stay at home order The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment in Kansas said it is continuing to get questions about the stay at home order that goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. Knasas Works To Keep Healthcare Infrastruture Going COVID-19 Prompts Kansas Governor To Ease Rules For Telemedicine And Medical Shipments Last week, Gov. Laura Kelly made her state's children the first in the country sent home for the rest of the school year. This weekend, she took unilateral action to clear the way for more telemedicine, to temporarily license more health care workers and to let heavier trucks move on Kansas highways. New JaxCo Courthouse Rules Jackson County Circuit Court Operations during COVID-19 Stay at Home Order March 22, 2020 Media Release By Valerie Hartman, PIO The Court has an obligation to stay open during this time of community concern over the spread of the COVID-19 virus as the judiciary provides an essential service to the public. Access to justice will continue in the community. Light Of Local Hope . . . New Alpha-Lit KC sign sends hope to Kansas City during COVID-19 outbreak Alpha-Lit KC shared a picture late Saturday night of a new sign that was set up in Overland Park. The marquee sign had a simple message with large letters saying, IN THIS TOGETHER. For our late night and/or early morning denizens of the discourse we're sharing resources, info and highlights of the Kansas City COVID-19 local news scene today.Where we stand right now in the Heartland:We'll start with the presser featuring elected leaders from throughout the metro . . .After the jump, from "many sides" of the issue: Our TKC Blog Community shares 20 news links to local, national and international stories on the impact and ongoing fight against coronavirus . . . Were living through an extraordinary time right now. Tasting rooms, bars, restaurants, and event venues are closed to in-person visits in many states. Enormous numbers of employees are either quarantined or working from home because of shelter-in-place ordinances. State and federal alcohol agency employees are working from home or coming in to operate limited mission-critical functions. At the same time, business must continue to operate to stay alive. Wineries with tasting rooms that are closed, for example, are refocusing efforts on ecommerce direct-to-consumer sales to try to offset the tasting room losses. Wine, beer, and distilled spirits production activities continue under trying circumstances. Governors are asking state agencies to do what they can to support businesses and consumers during this extremely challenging time. We came up with a list of ideas and best practices agencies can employ that might make it easier for agency employees to do their jobs remotely. These tips can also support licensees operating businesses with employees that are working from home. Stop using paper. Take inventory of all the different places where you require paper submissions. Do you have options to electronically submit license applications, product registrations, monthly reports, renewals, modifications, or tax payments? If not, perhaps theres a way to accept submissions without implementing a multimillion-dollar customized software solution. For example, on a temporary basis, could you allow submissions through a secure FTP server, Dropbox folder, or some other mechanism your IT department would authorize? Allow for electronic signatures. How necessary is it to have a wet signature on paper thats shuffled back and forth between multiple signatories before arriving in the mail at the agency office? Theres actually an easy solution to this one. Technologies such as DocuSign and Adobe Sign are widely used today, are considered legally binding, and can create significant efficiencies for government agencies. Consider extensions. The Kansas Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Division announced yesterday that theyre closing their office between March 23 and at least April 6, 2020. However, theyre automatically renewing licenses that expire before April 30 and have not already been renewed then emailing the license certificate to the licensee. Theyre also granting a 30-day extension on monthly reports that are due in April. Hold online meetings. Technologies like Zoom, Google Hangouts, and Skype make it really easy to hold virtual meetings both internally and externally. If you need to hold a hearing or a meeting, consider streaming it online using these widely adopted platforms. Provide additional guidance. There may be other ways you can support licensees and clarify policies during this challenging time. For example, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) announced special provisions to allow for the return of products purchased for events cancelled due to COVID-19 and also the production of hand sanitizer by distilled spirits permittees. The California ABC provided special guidance to licensees on limitations of on-sale privileges. Use your website, email list, and social media accounts to communicate any changes to rules or policies. Licensees and agencies both need support during this pandemic. Wed love to hear your thoughts and do what we can to facilitate or further support you. If you want to see what other agencies are doing, were updating a Coronavirus tax relief roundup on the Avalara blog. Our friends at Wine Institute are also maintaining a list of COVID-19 guidance from state ABCs. IOWA CITY (AP) Broadcast journalist Dean Borg, who kept Iowans informed for decades as the host of the public affairs television program Iowa Press, has died at age 81, Iowa PBS announced Monday. Borg died Sunday afternoon due to complications caused by pancreatic cancer, the network said in a statement. Borg appeared on Iowa Press, which airs on Friday evenings, from its debut in 1971 until his retirement as moderator in January 2017. He kept working for Iowa Public Radio, which he joined in 2000 as an Iowa City-based correspondent, until his death. Borg was known for questioning state politicians, presidential candidates and other newsmakers and hosting panel discussions about the issues of the day. He interviewed every president from John F. Kennedy to Barack Obama, and moderated some nationally televised debates during the Iowa caucuses. Colleagues and politicians remembered Borg on Monday as a giant in Iowa journalism who had tremendous integrity and was a true gentleman on and off the air. Iowa PBS general manager Molly Phillips says Borg was widely admired by his colleagues. His experience, intelligence, tenacity, and most of all, integrity was what made him such a unique and invaluable journalist and friend, she said in a statement. She said that no matter the subject, he always brought his best to each broadcast. Iowa Public Radio executive director Myrna Johnson called Borg one of the best reporters the state has ever seen. She said he covered everything from politics to natural disasters with a steady hand and complete integrity. Borg grew up in Forest City and studied journalism at Iowa State University and earned a graduate degree in public administration from the University of Iowa. He began his broadcasting career at radio station WMT in Cedar Rapids, where he eventually led a staff of dozens of journalists. Iowa PBS senior producer Andrew Batt said in a statement that Borg was a mentor who strived for truth and in-depth information in an era of partisan political coverage. Iowa PBS said Borg is survived by his wife and five children, who are planning a private funeral service due to coronavirus pandemic precautions. The family asked that donations can be made to the Mount Vernon Schools Foundation or the Iowa PBS Foundation. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Rabat (AFP) - Morocco Sunday deployed armoured vehicles to enforce a state of emergency that seeks to forestall the deadly new coronavirus, as people defied orders by going to prayers or protesting on streets. The national security force, the DSGN, said two people had been arrested in Tangiers for "inciting mass disobedience", in a post on its Twitter account on Sunday night. The DGSN earlier said an individual had been arrested in the port city of Casablanca for selling movement permits, and a policeman in Marrakesh was under investigation on similar accusations. Mosques in Morocco are closed and religious authorities have told the faithful to pray at home. A public health state of emergency went into effect in the Muslim-majority country on Friday evening and security forces and the army have been deployed on the streets. Images shared on social networks and broadcast by local media showed people chanting "God is greatest and only he can help us," in cities of Tangiers, Fez and Tetouan. Some spoke of the virus as a "divine test". The military deployed armoured vehicles in the capital Rabat, an AFP journalist said, as well as in other cities, according to local media. People have been ordered to stay at home, and restrictions on public transport and travel between cities are also in place, at least until April 20, in a bid to stem the spread of the COVID-19 disease. Punishments for breaking the restrictions were stiffened on Sunday to up to three months in prison with a possible fine of 1,300 dirhams (about $135), according to a statement by the official MAP news agency. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Morocco reached 115 on Sunday, including four fatalities, while three people have recovered, according to official figures. Images circulating on social media showed the sometimes heavy-handed arrest of those not abiding by orders. Around 20 people have been arrested in recent days for spreading false information or calling for civil disobedience, the DGSN added. Story continues Morocco last week suspended all commercial international flights "until further notice", although special trips were authorised to repatriate stranded foreigners. The French embassy in Morocco said on Twitter that some 140 special flights had been organised to take over 25,000 people to France. The UK, US and Canada also organised evacuation flights, local embassies said. The US embassy, in a tweet Friday, had warned its citizens that Moroccan airspace would close indefinitely on Sunday morning. A special provision allowing Moroccans to return from abroad ended on Sunday at 1100 GMT, a foreign ministry statement said. With 45 million borrowers owing $1.5 trillion, the student debt crisis in the United States has exploded in recent years. (ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images) Before the coronavirus pandemic brought the U.S. economy to a near halt, millions of student loan borrowers were already struggling to keep up with their monthly bills. Now, as more people find themselves with less or no income during the pandemic, consumer advocates and former government officials say the Trump administration's efforts to help student loan borrowers have been inadequate and they warn of a worsening crisis if there isn't more relief soon. Americans are more burdened today by the loans they take out for their education than credit card or auto debt, with the outstanding student loan balance in the country toppling $1.7 trillion. Nearly a third of borrowers are behind on their payments and 1.2 million people went into default in 2019, a 14% increase from the year prior. "As policymakers configure a response to the economic damage of the coronavirus, history should serve as a warning: Student loan borrowers were already defaulting every 26 seconds in 2019," said Seth Frotman, the former student loan ombudsman at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and executive director of the Student Borrower Protection Center, an advocacy group. "The next wave of the student debt crisis will be much worse if Washington doesn't support student borrowers," he said. Earlier this month, President Donald Trump announced that the government would be waiving interest on federal student loans through the pandemic. And U.S. Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos announced on Friday that borrowers could pause their bills for at least 60 days in a "coronavirus forbearance." "As President Trump has said, we are taking care of all Americans, and that includes our nation's students whose educations and careers have been disrupted, so that we all emerge from this challenge stronger and more prosperous," said White House spokesman Judd Deere. In the Senate, under the stimulus package that was still in negotiations as of Monday afternoon, student loan borrowers would get a six-month reprieve from their monthly bills without interest accruing. But Democrats, including presidential candidate Joe Biden, have said that doesn't go far enough and that the government should cover the payments for borrowers throughout the crisis, forgiving up to $10,000 in debt for each person. Tweet "Pausing payments simply kicks the can down the road," said Persis Yu, director of the Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project at the National Consumer Law Center. "We need to cancel student loan payments and ensure that balances go down so borrowers can make ends meet now and then recover along with the economy." Wayne Johnson, who was in charge of student loan debt at the U.S. Department of Education until he resigned last year to run for an open Senate seat in Georgia, called the Trump administration's relief efforts "complex and confusing to administer." He said he is concerned the companies that service federal student loans won't be able to handle the high volume of borrowers requesting the newly announced coronavirus forbearance. "I predict significant chaos at the servicer level," Johnson said. More from Personal Finance: Planning in the time of coronavirus Coronavirus scams mimic fraud from 2008 Coronavirus rescue checks may shortchange some There is confusion already. Borrowers tell CNBC their servicers are still charging them interest on their loans, despite the president's announcement earlier this month. A spokesman for the U.S. Department of Education said the companies "are working to operationalize the interest waiver," but that any interest that's accrued on people's federal loans after the president's announcement would be retroactively removed. Meanwhile, student loan servicers FedLoan and Granite State Management and Resources announced recently they were closing down call centers due to the pandemic, which will make it harder for people to get help or information with their loans. "If borrowers have nowhere to turn to get questions answered or to enroll in affordable repayment programs, lawmakers must provide relief and cancel student loan payments for all Americans with federal loans," Frotman said. The U.S. Department of Education doesn't appear to have slowed down its aggressive collection practices throughout the pandemic, either. It continues to seize past-due borrowers' tax refunds, wages and Social Security checks. Education Secretary DeVos has the power to suspend all of this involuntary collection, Frotman pointed out. Tweet Frotman has also identified many cases of student loan servicers suing borrowers over their past-due debt during the global health crisis. Tweet Lynnette Garth, 39, a single mother of three from Waycross, Georgia, is without income during the pandemic and the government seized her tax refund recently for an overdue student loan bill. "It was my intention to stay afloat with it," Garth said. She called the U.S. Department of Education to explain her situation, but said she was told that her only hope of seeing the return was to file an appeal, a process that can take weeks. "My rent is due on the first," Garth said. Confirmed infections of the rapidly spreading coronavirus surpassed 350,000 worldwide on Monday and global deaths rose past 15,000, as COVID-19 spreads across Europe and North America. COVID-19 has now infected more than 350,536 people, according to Johns Hopkins University, and killed at least 15,328 people. More than 100,000 people of that tally have recovered, according to Hopkins. Global cases have more than doubled in the past week, according to the World Health Organization, and worldwide deaths have nearly tripled. Earlier this month, the WHO declared Europe the new epicenter of the outbreak as new cases in China stalled. Outside of China, where the virus emerged in December, Italy has the most confirmed cases with nearly 60,000. With more than 35,000 confirmed cases, the U.S. has the third-most confirmed infections in the world. U.S. officials have said that number is likely to rise as the country rolls out broader testing across the country. Italy is among the hardest hit countries outside of China with more than 5,400 deaths, and that number continues to rise by the hundreds everyday. Last week, Italy's death toll surpassed that of China. On Friday, WHO officials warned against dismissing the coronavirus as just a bad outbreak of the flu, saying it has overwhelmed health systems around the world in just a few weeks. "Take one look at what's happening in some health systems around the world. Look at the intensive care units completely overwhelmed. Doctors and nurses utterly exhausted," Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO's emergencies program, said at a press briefing from the organization's Geneva headquarters. "This is not normal. This isn't just a bad flu season." As the virus continues to pick up steam in Europe and North America, new cases in China have practically halted, according to Chinese health authorities. Last week, China's National Health Commission said that new cases in the country had slowed to double digits, most of which were attributed to travelers returning from abroad. LOS ANGELES, March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The California Science Center's temporary closure and the closure of many school districts due to the Coronavirus has inspired another way to keep Tk-5 students engaged in science learning. "Stuck at Home Science," developed in a collaboration of Science Center's content experts and professional development team, is an ongoing online series of hands-on and age-appropriate science activities. Each activity features a video and an accompanying downloadable lesson that support the Next Generation Science Standards Science and Engineering Practices. Tune in daily at 10 am PST as each day will be new and different. Lessons are easy to understand and available at californiasciencecenter.org in both English and Spanish. "The Science Center's mission is to make science learning accessible for everyone and we are meeting it while we are closed to the public," said Jeffrey Rudolph, California Science Center President and CEO. "'Stuck at Home Science' activities provide a fun and educational way to help parents and students continue science learning even when they can't physically come to the Science Center." The California Science Center is excited to continue providing engaging experiences for students that directly supplement classroom learning and utilizes easy-to-find supplies that parents are sure to have at home. Each week supports a themed content goal such as rocketry, food science or engineering that will be delivered in a daily progression. Media Contact: Paula Wagner [email protected] SOURCE California Science Center Foundation Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday returned as chief minister of Madhya Pradesh for the fourth time, over 15 months after his government was voted out of power. The 61-year-old BJP leader was sworn in by Governor Lalji Tandon at Raj Bhawan here at 9 pm. Chouhan was earlier in the day elected leader of the state BJP legislature party at its meeting here. Due to the coronavirus situation, no BJP leader fron Delhi travelled to Bhopal for the legislature party meeting, though the party's central observers Arun Singh and Vinay Sahasrabuddhe participated through video conferencing. Popularly known among his followers as 'Mamaji', Chouhan was sworn in chief minister of Madhya Pradesh thrice earlier - in 2005, after Uma Bharti stepped down over a riots case, and for later two full terms in 2008 and 2013. He stepped down after the Congress won a narrow majority in the December 2018 Assembly elections, after which the Kamal Nath government came to power. Stumped by the rebellion of party colleague Jyodiraditya Scindia, who joined the BJP and resignations of 22 Congress MLAs, Nath resigned as chief minister last week, paving way for Chouhan's return. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein has tested positive for the coronavirus in prison, according to reports. The Niagara Gazette reports that the 68-year-old had been moved into isolation at Wende Correctional Facility, near Buffalo, New York. He was moved to the prison from Rikers Island in New York City on Wednesday. The Gazette reported that it was believed he had contracted Covid-19 at Rikers before being transferred. Staff at Wende declined to comment when contacted by The Independent. A call to the offices of Donna Rotunno, Weinstein's attorney, had not been returned at the time of writing. However, Juda Engelmayer, another of the former producer's lawyers, told the Daily Beast: "Our team ... has not heard anything like that yet." Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison for third-degree rape and sexual assault following a sensational trial in New York City. More follows The AAP government informed the Delhi High Court on Monday that it has decided to decongest prisons to check the spread of by providing convicts the options of special parole and furlough. The Delhi government told a bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Subramonium Prasad that it was going to amend its prison rules to provide these options. The submission was made by Delhi government's additional standing counsel Anuj Aggarwal who said a notification would be issued within a day to amend the prison rules to include the two new provisions. Taking note of the submission, the bench directed the Delhi government to take steps during the day to implement what it has proposed and disposed of a plea moved by four lawyers seeking decongesting of the prisons in view of the pandemic. The bench disposed of the matter on the submission made by the government and did not examine the matter further, saying a similar issue has been taken up by the Supreme Court on its own. According to the yet-to-be-notified decision of the Home Department of the Delhi government, one of the rules would provide for a 60-day parole in one spell in case of emergent situations like an epidemic or a natural disaster or any other situation which warrants easing of the inmate population. The other rule would provide for temporary facility of a special furlough "to such category of prisoners and for such number of days as may be specified in the order, in the event of emergent situations like an epidemic or a natural disaster or any other situation which warrants easing of the inmate population", Aggarwal told the bench. These provisions would be available for eligible the prisoners who have served minimum one year of the sentence awarded to them, he told the court. The government was also contemplating reducing the undertrial prisoners' population by expediting their bail process or by granting interim bail on personal bond to those booked for offences where punishment is seven years or less and the inmate has completed minimum three months in jail. Aggarwal said the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) and the District Judge concerned would be holding a meeting to work out the modalities. Taking note of the submission, the court asked that the meeting be held expeditiously. In India, according to the Health Ministry, there are 415 confirmed cases of infection with around 29 of them in Delhi. At least seven people have died in the country due to the virus. Another plea, by two other lawyers, seeking steps to prevent spread of COVID-19 in prisons was listed before a bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rajnish Bhatnagar. It, however, was adjourned to March 30 as one of the judges on the bench was on leave. The second petition has sought directions to the jail authorities to keep new undertrial prisoners in a separate ward, maintain adequate hygiene, carry out medical checkups and treatment, create isolation wards and make arrangements for detection and reporting of coronavirus infections, if any. Wrexham Council to only provide critical services also closing parks and play areas This article is old - Published: Monday, Mar 23rd, 2020 Wrexham Council have issued their now regular updates, noting that from tomorrow they will only be providing critical services. The Council say, These are things weve identified as absolutely crucial to our communities and the running of the council. You can keep an eye out for Wrexham Council info and updates on https://news.wrexham.gov.uk The headlines from their statement are: If youre not a key worker as defined by the Government, please dont put pressure on schools to take your children. Follow the Governments advice on social distancing. Were closing our parks and play areas. Were limiting services at the crematorium to 30 attendees. Ian Bancroft Chief Executive and Councillor Mark Pritchard Leader of the Council say that asking people to stay apart and stay at home is a big ask noting that the Government recognises that too. They say, However, there were parts of North Wales that seemed busier than ever at the weekend, as people headed to popular tourism spots and holiday parks. This kind of behaviour is putting lives at risk. Social distancing is crucial if we want to have any chance of managing the spread of this virus, and preventing the NHS from being overwhelmed. It basically means reducing the amount of contact we have with others staying away from busy places, groups of people and even friends and family so the virus has less chance to spread. By staying apart, we can all work together to try and keep Wrexham as safe as it can be. The Council note the latest changes to council services: Critical services only From tomorrow, Wrexham Council will only be providing critical services. These are things they have identified as absolutely crucial to our communities and the running of the council. They include social services, advice on housing benefits, sheltered accommodation, schools (currently open to children of key workers and vulnerable children only), emptying bins and other things that people depend on. More details will be released soon. School closures Schools in Wrexham have taken on a new role from today repurposed to providing places for the children of key workers so they can keep doing their jobs. The Council say, Schools are operating with reduced staff due to the impact of the virus, and this is a big challenge. However, some people are trying to take advantage of this, and putting head teachers under huge pressure to take their children, when they dont meet the criteria for key workers. If youre not a key worker as defined by the Government (e.g. health and care workers, emergency services officers, supermarket delivery drivers, prison officers), you cannot send your child to school at the moment. School transport Transport arrangements for children still accessing school (i.e. children of key workers and vulnerable children) will be available as normal this week. If the council need to make any changes, parents and carers will by notified by their school. Parks and play areas From today, Wrexham Council are shutting enclosed country parks and council-managed play areas. This includes Ty Mawr and Alyn Waters, and notices will be put up to help inform people of the closures. Below is one such sign tweeted by Cllr Williams. The Council say, Just like other councils across the UK, were doing this to support social distancing. People are still ignoring advice, families with children still on playgrounds today. Please be responsible and think of others and our NHS @wrexham pic.twitter.com/9J7eV9tChV Nigel Williams (@NigelSouthsea) March 23, 2020 Crematorium services The Council are also introducing measures at Pentrebychan Crematorium to encourage social distancing. For hereon, services will be limited to 30 attendees. Beware of Covid-19 scams Trading Standards teams across the UK are continuing to get reports of scams that take advantage of the current situation. So if you receive an offer of help, ask yourself if it feels genuine before you accept. Can you help as a volunteer? You can register as a potential volunteer to help staff delivering front-line services and to support community befriending. AVOW (Association of Voluntary Organisations in Wrexham) is encouraging people to sign-up more information on this link. The council end by saying: This is a rapidly changing situation, so we will issue further information as and when appropriate. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Sunday ordered the closures of salons, barber shops, tattoo parlors, swimming pools and more businesses, and she pleaded with Iowans to remain in their homes as much as possible, especially if they are feeling sick, to help limit the spread of the novel coronavirus. But Reynolds stopped short of issuing a shelter-in-place order for Iowa, as have at least a half-dozen states, including eastern neighbor Illinois. At this point were going to continue to re-evaluate every day, well sit down with the (Iowa) Department of Public Health, well look at the (federal) CDC guidelines, well look at whats happening in other states, and well evaluate what were seeing in the state of Iowa, where the hot spots are, and well make that decision going forward, Reynolds said Sunday during a news conference held in the State Emergency Operations Center at Camp Dodge in Johnston. But right now were not at the place where were ready to implement that (shelter-in-place) order. After a slow but steady increase in the number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Iowa since the first case was confirmed here, the number of cases has doubled over the past two days. From March 9 to March 20, a span of 12 days, there were 45 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Iowa, according to state data. Over the past two days, an additional 45 cases have been confirmed. In order to limit the coronavirus spread, Reynolds previously ordered the closure of restaurants and bars except for drive-through or carryout service, and per federal guidelines ordered Iowans to avoid gatherings of 10 or more people. Reynolds new action taken Sunday ordered the closures of salons, medical spas, barbershops, tattoo establishments, tanning facilities, massage therapy establishments, and swimming pools. A shelter-in-place order can vary from state to state. But generally it would mean individuals would be required to stay in their homes other than to conduct essential tasks like buying groceries or caring for family members, and only essential businesses -- like grocers, gas stations and health care facilities, for example -- would be allowed to remain open. Reynolds said Sunday the state is not yet ready to create such an order; she instead pleaded with Iowans to make the individual choice to practice caution. I just want to close out the press conference again (with) a heartfelt plea to Iowans to be responsible and help be a part of the solution. And that is, if youre not feeling well or youre sick, please stay home, Reynolds said. If we all do that, we will get through this ... and we will help (prevent the viruss impact) from shutting down our health care system. Thus far the Iowa public health department has been publishing the number of confirmed cases and the number of negative tests for the coronavirus. Starting next week, the state also will make public the number of coronavirus-related hospitalizations and the number of individuals who have recovered from the virus, a spokesman for the governors office said. A state public health department official said Sunday that the state has been tracking that data. Reynolds during Sundays news conference also detailed suggested guidelines for child care facilities in Iowa. The state human services department is recommending, among other preventative steps: ** parents who are working remotely should keep their children at home with them. ** child care facilities may stay open, but should conduct temperature screenings upon drop-off. Children with a temperature of 100.4 or higher should not be allowed to stay at a child care facility. ** child care facilities should take precautionary cleaning measures like disinfecting all surfaces and toys, removing all plush toys and barring families from bringing plush toys from home, and washing blankets daily. Our goal today is the same as it always is: providing safe care and meeting the needs of the families that we serve, said Kelly Garcia, director of the state human services department. Reynolds also asked schools, churches and other community organizations with building space to help address child care needs, especially for the children of workers in essential industries like health care. She said the state hopes to partner with local entities to help provide child care, and that programs are ready or being prepared in Waterloo, Council Bluffs and other communities. The biggest need we have now is space, Reynolds said. If you have the space, we have a plan to quickly put a program in place. As a result of the Coronavirus outbreak, the amount of people using Google search to get relevant information has greatly increased. In response, Google is rolling out multiple resources like websites and Search redesigns to help the public access correct and certified information quickly. Starting with Google Search, when searching for the term Coronavirus Google will show lots of authoritative information from health authorities alongside new data and visualizations. The results have been designed to make it easy to navigate information and resources, with new information being updated constantly. Google will also show a carousel of Twitter accounts of local civic organizations and health authorities to help connect them with the latest local guidance as its shared. Google has also launched a website that is focused on education, prevention and local resources. It contains state-based information, safety and prevention tips, search trends related to COVID-19, with the site being updated constantly as information arrives. Users in the US will also see CDCs recommendation that symptomatic individuals call ahead in order to avoid overwhelming health systems at the top of their search in mobile. These changes are rolling out to users in the US today and to check out the Google COVID-19 website. Google will roll out all these changes to more countries and languages in the coming days as more resources become available. Source This approach uses two complementary strategies. The first relies on tests to target social distancing more precisely. The second relies on protective equipment that prevents the transmission of the virus. Adopting these strategies will require a massive increase in our capacity for coronavirus testing and a surge in the production of personal protective equipment. Resources, not scientific breakthroughs, are needed to expand our capacity for virus tests. If we commit to this type of expansion, technological innovations will continue to lower the cost and increase the speed of the existing tests. In many locations it has taken days to process SARS-Cov-2 tests. On Saturday, the Food and Drug Administration said it would allow a Silicon Valley company, Cepheid, to start selling a test that provides results in 45 minutes. Other firms and research groups (among them Sherlock Biosciences and the German Center for Infection Research) are working on scalable alternatives. Many hospitals are developing their own tests. These newer tests could be so much less expensive and so much more convenient that it will be possible to test and retest everyone, not just those with symptoms. Frequent virus tests will let us identify and isolate someone who is infectious days before symptoms develop. We could start by screening the general public on a weekly basis. It might make sense to test health care and emergency response workers daily. We do not have the capacity to do this now, but all it would take to make this happen is for the federal government to make coronavirus testing an urgent goal and to fund it accordingly. Tests to detect antibodies to the novel coronavirus are also becoming available. If recovery confers immunity, as seems to be the case for SARS and MERS, these tests will identify individuals who would neither be harmed by exposure to the virus nor expose anyone else to the risk of infection. They would not need additional testing. Dublin's Moore Street could rival some of the most famous streets in the world such as Barcelona's La Rambla if it is developed with vision, Dublin historian Barry Kennerk has claimed. "During the 1950s and 1960s, there were about 70 stalls on Moore Street - today there are only 17," he said. "The area needs an integrated selling experience, not a fragmented one. "The whole footprint of the old market could be moved eastwards." Mr Kennerk said Dublin needs a Camden Market of its own, referring to the famous one in London that has evolved to become an important hub for trading in the city. "What's needed is a must- visit destination with a historical and cultural centre at its heart," he said. In the future, "when inbound air travellers are browsing through their inflight magazines, they need to read about Dublin's Moore Street in the same way that people read about La Rambla in Barcelona, the English Market in Cork or the Christmas Market in Vienna", said Mr Kennerk. The redevelopment of Moore Street could be done in tandem with the plans of UK property group Hammerson, he added. It announced last May that the "unique character and vib- rancy" of Moore Street will be restored under its proposals for a new urban quarter in the north inner city. It would try "to protect and enhance the Moore Street area's unique heritage, including its market and connections with 1916, while at the same time delivering clear economic benefits and employment opportunities". Mr Kennerk said: "The plan by Hammerson's has been broadly welcomed by the new Moore Street Advisory Group." He believes some semblance of the old Moore Street market could still be recreated by ped- estrianising Moore Lane and O'Rahilly Parade, renovating lock-ups and garages and turning them over to clothes sellers and dealers in small craft goods. Souk "Markets will always be about living people," said Mr Kennerk, who has studied the area in depth and previously published a book, Moore Street - The Story Of Dublin's Market District. He said it was "Dublin's own souk" or marketplace in previous times, occupying about 12 acres, with a warren of back streets and alleys with everything being sold from furniture to shoes and all sorts of second-hand goods. "Any time I visit a city in Europe, I am on Google looking for the 'old town'," Mr Kennerk said. "People want to get lost in a city where you don't know what you'll find around the corner. Just to recreate some of that, I think it would be super." * Canadian dollar rises 0.3% against the greenback * Price of U.S. oil increases 1.8% * Canadian wholesale trade rises 1.8% in January * Canadian bond yields fall across a flatter curve TORONTO, March 23 (Reuters) - The Canadian dollar strengthened against its U.S. counterpart on Monday as the Federal Reserve announced additional measures to ease the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak and domestic data showed a surprise increase in wholesale trade. The Fed took unprecedented steps to support U.S. households and companies more directly with credit, helping to boost U.S. stocks. The price of oil, one of Canada's major exports, turned higher, with U.S. crude prices up 1.8% at $23.03 a barrel. Oil has been pressured in recent weeks by the demand destruction caused by the coronavirus pandemic and a price war between producers Russia and Saudi Arabia.. Canadian wholesale trade increased by 1.8% in January from December on stronger sales in the motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts and accessories subsector, Statistics Canada said. Analysts had forecast a 0.2% decrease. At 9:14 a.m. (1314 GMT), the Canadian dollar was trading 0.3% higher at 1.4381 to the greenback, or 69.54 U.S. cents. The currency, which on Thursday hit a four-year low at 1.4669, traded in a range of 1.4337 to 1.4492. The Canadian death toll from the coronavirus outbreak jumped by more than 50% on Sunday, and impatient officials threatened to punish people refusing to take precautions to fight the spread of the highly contagious illness. Canada is set to ramp up borrowing as Ottawa's C$27 billion stimulus package, announced last week to stave off a potential recession due to the coronavirus outbreak, blows out the fiscal deficit, market strategists said. Canadian bond yields fell across a flatter yield curve in sympathy with U.S. Treasuries. The 10-year yield fell 6.9 basis points at 0.795%. (Reporting by Fergal Smith Editing by Nick Zieminski) Croatia: Zagreb assesses earthquake damage 27 wounded, 18 serious. Serious damage to at least 250 buildings (ANSAmed) - ZAGREB, MARCH 23 - The magnitude-5.5 earthquake that hit Zagreb at sunrise on Sunday caused 27 wounded, 18 in serious condition, with a 15-year-old girl in life-threatening condition, according to the most recent bulletin released Monday morning by the country's civil protection service. It said at least 250 buildings in the centre of Zagreb suffered serious damage, including the cathedral, other churches, the parliament building, the Museum of Arts and Crafts, and the headquarters of the rectorate of the University of Zagreb - all structures built between the 19th and 20th century. Many residences in the historic centre have been declared unsafe and hundreds of people are currently unable to return to their homes. About 30 people are sheltering in a student dormitory transformed to host them, while the majority are staying with friends and relatives. After the first two large shocks, between 6:30 and 7 a.m. on Sunday morning, about 30 aftershocks followed. The most intense of these took place Sunday morning, with the last one, a magnitude-3.0 aftershock, early Monday morning around 3 a.m.(ANSAmed). Help India! Naila Alavi March 20, 2020 Friday, 5:00 AM Today, justice has been done after seven years. Support TwoCircles These are the words of a mother longing for justice; these are the words of every woman of the country. Who are we? WOMEN!!! We are supposed to dress modestly while going out, we are supposed not to stay out late, we keep looking over our shoulders at all times, we drive with our doors locked and windows rolled up. When I call myself a woman from a different land, I dont mean it geographically. Just, at a tender age of 20, I already find myself full of discontentment, wrought with unanswered questions, unheard doubts. Im often told to shut up, lower my voice, ground my opinions and to take it easy. Not only men, but also women have told me multiple times to curb my urge to understand every social norm that a woman of this society is chained to. Enough ink has flowed over the quarrel about women yet it is still being talked about. This morning of March 20 brought a smile on my face when a notification popped on my phone screen. Ah, finally were the only words I uttered. In no less than a few seconds amidst my sigh, a voice began lingering in my futile brain Now what? The voice grew louder as questions started flooding: Is capital Punishment the remedy we need? Are women of this country now safer than they were on the biting winter evening of 16th December 2012? Will I be now allowed by my ever scared mother to roam around after sunset? As a woman, it is difficult to forget the horrors of 16th December 2012 when a group of men in South Delhis Munirka gang-raped and fatally assaulted a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern, Jyoti Singh. Jyoti was beaten, gang raped, and tortured in a moving bus that she had boarded with her friend, Awindra Pratap Pandey. There were six others in the bus, including the driver, all of whom raped her and injured her friend. Eleven days after the assault, she was transferred to a hospital in Singapore for emergency treatment, but succumbed to the injuries two days later. The incident produced boundless national and international uproar leading to the immediate arrest of the accused on charges of sexual assault and murder. While courts convicted the six men, one of them who was a juvenile at the time was released in 2015 after serving three years in a reform facility (I hate to break this to you that this boy is roaming free maybe looking to satisfy his greed again). Another committed suicide inside the jail. In the last few months, all four men filed petitions in the Supreme Court in a bid to reduce their sentences to life imprisonment. But the top court rejected their petitions, leaving the men with no other legal recourse. A last minute appeal to have the death penalties commuted in the Supreme Court was also rejected hours before the executions were carried out. What followed the early morning executions were festivities with loud chants of Death to Rapists. I, a woman, am still waiting for an answer though. Will the executions make women any more secure in India? A short response to that question would be: No. Also, thats on the grounds that in spite of the expanded investigation of wrongdoings against women since December 2012, comparable brutal episodes have kept on standing out as truly newsworthy in India. Some unluckily havent even made it to headlines due to deeper rooted lackadaisical approach of those in power to conveniently bury names associated with particular classes and castes, speaking on point. As indicated by government information, incidents of rapes have been ascending throughout the years. Recently-released figures from the National Crime Records Bureau show police registered 33,977 cases of rape in 2018 thats an average of 93 every day. In 2017, Indian courts disposed of only about 18,300 cases related to rape, leaving more than 127,800 cases pending at the end of 2017 (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-rape-factbox/statistics-on-rape-in-india-and-some-well-known-cases-idUSKBN1YA0UV). I for one, know women who have never announced being ambushed in light of the fact that they are embarrassed, or in view of the shame related with sexual wrongdoings, or on the grounds that they are anxious about the possibility that that they wont be accepted. Nevertheless, dailies are brimming with horrendous reports of infringement and it appears to me that nobody is safe the victim could be an eight-month-old or a septuagenarian, she could be rich or poor or white collar class, covered or not, an attack could happen in a town or an enormous city, in the classroom or her own home. Sexual predators are all over the place sneaking in homes, play areas, schools and the roads sitting tight for a chance to strike. In November last year, a 27-year-old vet was raped and killed in Hyderabad and her body was later recovered, suffering major burns. A few days later, in Unnao district in UP, a woman was set on fire while she was on her way to testify against her alleged rapists. Another woman, also in Unnao, was seriously injured in a car crash in July after she accused a ruling party lawmaker of rape. Two of her aunts were killed in the crash, and her lawyer was seriously injured. All these cases, other than revealing the brutality of the abuse also disclose the entitlement enjoyed by men in power. Women rights activists also allege that rape cases are not reported appropriately. Police, politicians, judges, and campus administrators in India tend to understand sexual violence as a loss of honour rather than as the violation of consent, said Kavita Krishnan to IndiaToday (https://www.indiatoday.in/diu/story/sexual-violence-pandemic-india-rape-cases-doubled-seventeen-years-1628143-2019-12-13). She added that this kind of attitude towards victims allows consensual inter-caste or inter-faith relationships to be conflated with rape, and as a result, honour crimes and patriarchal restrictions hide in plain sight, disguised as protecting women from rape. In addition, the victim has to face mortifying inquiries like What were you doing there at that late in the night? For what reason did you get there at such a time? (as though going out at a desolate spot in the night gives somebody the right to rape her)? Who was that individual who was going with you? It is safe to say that he is your boyfriend? Hiding behind such questions is the poisonous mentality of the social milieu we live in that can only think that a piece of cloth determines the character of a woman. Also hidden is the one sided vengeance against weaker sections that our tough laws serve. Worse, the police sometimes press for compromise in a rape case by suggesting that the accused is ready to marry the rape victimeven though the crime is non-compoundable as per law. Some say strict punishment, swiftly delivered, will instill a fear of the law in the public mind and deter rapes but in my opinion this will do no good. Death penalty is not effective at reducing crime (https://thewire.in/women/rape-death-penalty). The long-term solution lies in bringing an attitudinal change towards women through education and concerted efforts at gender sensitization. There are crimes that deserve death, and indeed there are crimes that deserve a death at least as painful as the victim of the crime suffered but if we must choose between life imprisonment and death penalty, then, I would suggest certain modifications of the latter, apart from the obligatory examination of whether it is applied fairly and accurately (which, by all evidence, it is not). (Naila Alavi is an undergraduate student of English Literature and History at Aligarh Muslim University) A Pittsburgh-based hospital system faces growing dissension from hundreds of its doctors over its controversial decision to continue routine clinic visits and certain elective surgeries in the face of COVID-19. More than 300 medical residents, fellows and attending physicians at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) signed an open letter to administrators of the $21 billion nonprofit hospital system and insurer, which owns 40 hospitals and hundreds of clinical locations and outpatient facilities principally in Pennsylvania, but with outposts in Ireland, Italy and China. The doctors urged administrators to reverse course and delay truly non-urgent outpatient appointments and elective surgeries in light of the continued uncertainty about the prevalence of the coronavirus in their community, the risks to hospital staff and other patients of contracting the virus from undiagnosed carriers, and the need to conserve personal protective equipment and ventilators that are already in short supply. While we understand the financial implications inherent in keeping patients at home, the doctors wrote, the benefits clearly outweigh these risks in the context of a global pandemic. The UPMC doctors letter was delivered to administrators on Wednesday, March 18, and continued to gain signatories through the weekend. As of Monday, more than 300 doctors had signed the letter. While the doctors stressed the immediate issues of arresting the spread of COVID-19 and preserving limited resources, UPMCs administrators appear more focused on putting the hospital on a long-term footing. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center headquarters in downtown Pittsburgh. (Gene J. Puskar/AP) Yahoo News also obtained an internal policy document issued by UPMC administrators that makes the case that the hospital system needs to learn to live with COVID-19 for months to come. The administrators wrote that they expect COVID-19 cases to persist for the foreseeable future, and therefore balancing the ongoing clinical needs of our patients with avoidance of unnecessary exposure requires a nuanced approach not an across-the-board cancelling of clinics and procedures. Story continues Dr. Amesh Adalja, a specialist in emergency medicine and a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security, agreed that hospitals need to take a nuanced approach to managing elective procedures, informed by the spread of the outbreak in the surrounding area and the resources the hospital has available. An elective procedure is one that can be scheduled in advance, though that doesnt necessarily mean its optional. People use the word elective, and the public thinks thats cosmetic, Adalja said, pointing out that elective procedures range from cosmetic procedures to operations for life-threatening conditions, like biopsies to detect cancer. As they cope with the COVID-19 outbreak, hospitals need to look at the needs of the patient population they serve, Adalja said. No experts consulted by Yahoo News disagreed that some elective procedures are so important to a patients health that they ought to go forward. However, they explained that acknowledging that need does little to resolve the difficult policy questions that health care providers face. Were facing a really unprecedented situation here, said Dr. Ashwin Vasan, a primary care physician and public health professor at Columbia University. Hospitals and health systems have never been faced with the impending level of potentially serious and critical cases that could result from the pandemic. Hospitals and health systems arent currently really set up for this level of acuity all at the same time. So anyone whos saying, Hey, business as usual has to keep going on is not really appreciating the dimensions and the scale and the severity of this pandemic. Writing to medical staff, UPMC administrators said that elective procedures should only be delayed when, in your expert opinion, it is clinically safe to do so. It is likely COVID-19 will be in our community for months, and safely rescheduling non-urgent visits/procedures may require at least 8-10 weeks. Put another way, if it is not safe to delay a visit or procedure that long, the patient should receive care sooner. UPMC emergency entrance on March 17. (Darrell Sapp/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP) In a separate email, Gregory Bump, UPMCs chair of graduate medical education, wrote to residents and fellows that elective surgeries should be continued to maintain the health of patients with time sensitive surgeries. Bump said such elective surgeries might include surgery to remove a cancerous growth. I am confident you can envision other elective procedures that are not emergent but clearly time-sensitive, he wrote. Vasan agreed that something like a cancer surgery should go forward, but he said, What you have to remember is that there are a number of less-urgent and elective procedures that people do at hospitals all the time, and you have to remember that these are massive, revenue-generating things. The UPMC policy document urges medical staff to accept the danger to themselves from the COVID-19 outbreak, unless their own age or other medical conditions compel them to stop practicing. We have a responsibility to the public to provide care even at risk of personal harm, the UPMC administrators wrote, adding, If you feel your personal health requires you to stop practicing while COVID-19 is uncontrolled for reasons of co-morbidity or age we are supportive. The administrators did not address whether health care workers concerns about inadequate testing or equipment shortages would receive the same support. UPMC has persisted in its policy despite an order from Pennsylvanias governor that prohibits elective procedures in hospitals and other medical facilities within the state, insisting it interpreted the governors order as not applying to necessary elective procedures. At a press conference on Friday, Dr. Donald Yealy, UPMCs chair of emergency medicine, and other UPMC administrators defended their decision to continue elective procedures. Elective commonly means scheduled cases, but scheduled does not mean unnecessary, Yealy said. The governor and CMS did not request that necessary care be canceled. The Pennsylvania governors office and the Pennsylvania Department of Health did not respond to messages seeking comment over the weekend, but the Allegheny Health Department reiterated the governors directive that UPMC wind down elective procedures as soon as possible in an interview with the Pittsburgh Business Times. Dr. Donald Yealy, UPMC's chair of emergency medicine, gives a tour of UPMC Mercy's South Side Outpatient Center, which will be used as a COVID-19 specimen collection site. (Steph Chambers/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP) To back up their decision, the UPMC administrators cited a recent survey that showed only five confirmed COVID-19 cases among 950 subjects in the Pittsburgh area. They also reported that across the UPMC system, 28 symptomatic patients have tested positive, with four of those people currently hospitalized. Many scheduled care opportunities, often called elective, whether that be cancer care, valve replacement in the heart, or hernia repair, address important health care needs that cant always be safely delayed, Yealy said. We are continually monitoring COVID cases, both test-proven and suspected, in our facilities and in the region. Fortunately, right now, both remain low. The UPMC doctors who signed the letter disagreed, arguing that broader cancellations of clinic visits and elective surgeries make sense in light of the crisis. The doctors wrote that COVID-19 testing is simply not robust enough to establish whether it is spreading in the Pittsburgh area, because of the lack of testing kits. The doctors argued that important cohorts of people are not being tested, including patients who are symptomatic and have recently traveled domestically, patients who have traveled internationally to a known hot zone but are not symptomatic and health care workers themselves. The doctors also wrote that its imperative that we limit the number of people moving through our healthcare system to preserve critical resources, and that certain operating room necessities, such as surgical gowns and towels, are now in limited supply. UPMC did not respond to a detailed list of questions from Yahoo News but offered a general statement: We appreciate, understand and embrace the concerns and the potential solutions offered by all at UPMC, wrote Courtney Caprara, a spokesperson for the hospital system. A pulmonologist practicing outside the UPMC system, who asked not to be named due to their employers policy, agreed with the overarching argument of the open letter. This is a critical time for intervening to prevent a surge, the pulmonologist said. Its not just about the care, its about protecting your institution by having less people around and therefore less chance that someone will bring infection in social distancing, but for health care workers. Basically, you want to keep your decks clear for the surge of sick people, but also want to keep your people healthy right now. Both sides in the debate appear to face the same problem: a lack of good data on the implications of any specific policy. This is a very tough call, said John Ioannidis, a professor of epidemiology and disease prevention at Stanford University. And the problem is that if we dont have data which we dont on the exact prevalence of the infection at the moment, any decision will be mostly guesswork. So its a bit in the blind that we need to decide. This story has augmented reality! Tap the video above to see how it looks and download the Yahoo News app to launch the full experience. Augmented reality is currently available to iPhone users (iPhone 8 and later) with the latest version of iOS. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: Dubai, March 23 : Six Indian nationals were stranded at the Dubai aiport for the past four days after they werent allowed to board their connecting flight to their home country over coronavirus fears, it was reported. The men flew into Dubai from various European countries on March 18. They were supposed to take an Emirates flight to New Delhi later that evening, reports Gulf news. However, they couldn't get onto the plane as the same day India imposed a ban on all passengers arriving from Europe. Since then, the men have been stranded at Terminal 3 of the Dubai Airport. "We don't know what to do. We have been sleeping on airport benches for three nights now. I don't know how long this stalemate will continue. Initially there were seven of us but one of the passengers flew back to France on Sunday as he was tired of waiting," said Deepak Gupta from Delhi who flew in from Bupadest on March 18. Another passenger, Ajmer Singh from Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, said he's on the edge of a nervous breakdown. "Our situation is really bad and it doesn't look like improving any time soon. Our families are worried about us. I am desperate to go home," he told Gulf news. The passengers said they have contacted the Indian Consultate in Dubai for help several times but haven't heard back from them. Neeraj Agrawal, head of chancery and consul (Press, Information and Culture) at the Indian Consulate in Dubai told Gulf News they were trying to resolve the issue. "We are aware of the case. Unfortunately, given the current scenario, there is only so much that we can do at this stage. The airport hotels are full so we can't accommodate them there. We can't fly them to India either. That said, we are in regular touch with the airlines and local authorities to relieve the plight of stranded men," said Agarwal. Three of the six passengers hail from Punjab and one each from Rajasthan, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Members of the public have been trying to sneak past security staff to use dedicated times set up to allow NHS workers to shop for food and basic supplies during the UKs coronavirus outbreak. Doctors, nurses and 111 callers who are unable to go to shops at normal times due to their working hours have been given dedicated times to buy groceries at major supermarkets. However, customers who were not entitled to an hour for NHS staff reportedly tried to sneak past security in a bid to get in early at a Tesco Extra in London on Sunday. One family is said to have argued with security staff and rammed their trollies into the barriers when their attempt to get into the supermarket failed. The Tesco store in Gallions Reach, east London, was one of a number of supermarkets, alongside stores for Sainsburys, Iceland, and Lidl, which have offered specialist times for workers with NHS identification and elderly people. Although NHS staff have largely welcomed the measure, some have expressed concern that hundreds of medical professionals, including those treating Covid-19 patients, have had to queue in close proximity with each other. Workers at the Gallions Reach Tesco on Sunday faced a queue up to 600m long with no social distancing measures. Francesca Hamilton, a 47-year-old sexual health nurse, said she had to leave the queue to help Tesco staff manage the crowds. I am surprised people have tried to jump the queue. Its unbelievable, Ms Hamilton said. Now is the time for people to look after us so that we can look after you but they are not listening. She added: Tesco staff are doing their best but there are too many people so I decided to come out of the queue and help. Linda Johnson, a 42-year-old NHS admin worker, raised concerns about some supermarkets introducing shopping hours for NHS workers and elderly customers at the same time. Some supermarkets are doing early opening hours for NHS staff and for the elderly at the same time. It is putting both the NHS workers and the vulnerable elderly people at risk, Ms Johnson said. You have a large percentage of NHS workers coming together, who have potentially all been at risk, and there is no social distancing. We are all from different hospitals, playing different roles and potentially all cross-contaminating. In Bristol, members of the public also reportedly stormed another Tesco store on Sunday during what was supposed to be a dedicated time for NHS staff, according to BristolLive. One nurse told the newspaper she was beyond appalled by how some people behaved, with some workers apparently being barged out of the way by members of the public. A Tesco spokesperson said the company recognised many stores were very busy and it would be learning from its first attempts at dedicated hours. We are trying hard to do the right thing and while feedback has been positive, we also recognise that many stores were still very busy, the spokesperson said. Were going to take learnings onboard and continue to offer these priority shopping times to NHS workers. They added: We really need customers to help us by giving NHS workers priority during this hour and so we ask all other customers to shop during the usual Sunday opening hours. Last week, Stephen Powis, the NHS England national medical director, said the British public should be ashamed of panic buyers who have left NHS workers unable to buy basic supplies. I would like to make a plea on behalf of all my colleagues in the NHS, nurses, doctors, paramedics and many, many others who are working incredibly hard at the moment to manage this outbreak of coronavirus, Mr Powis said. Its incredibly important that they too have access to food, to those essential supplies that they need. Additional reporting by agencies Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of Donald Trump, on Monday advised the president not to end his 'aggressive containment policies' too early in the battle against the coronavirus. Graham took to twitter to advise the president to listen to experts like Dr. Tony Fauci and 'err on the side of doing more.' His guidance came President Trump indicated he supports ending social distancing when the 15 day mark arrives. 'We are fighting a two-front war -- trying to destroy the virus while keeping the economy afloat. As Dr. Fauci has consistently said, we should always err on the side of doing more - not less - when it comes to containment,' Graham wrote on Twitter. 'President Trumps best decision was stopping travel from China early on. I hope we will not undercut that decision by suggesting we back off aggressive containment policies within the United States,' he added. President Trump has repeatedly touted his decision to stop travel with China as one of the ways his administration got the jump on battling the coronavirus. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of Donald Trump, advised him not to end his 'aggressive containment policies' too early in the battle against the coronavirus Trump on Monday morning retweeted demands from people to be allowed to go back to work when the 15 days his administration recommended are finished. The president's push for a return to normal comes as the economy is tanking and Fauci, a leading expert on infectious diseases who is part of the White House's coronavirus task force, warned that social distancing may last 'several weeks.' Trump, however, took to social media Monday morning, where he retweeted a variety of people with a different view, including a sex counselor who wrote: 'The fear of the virus cannot collapse our economy that President Trump has built up. We The People are smart enough to keep away from others if we know that we are sick or they are sick! After 15 days are over the world can begin to heal!' He also pushed another suggestion that only high-risk groups isolate after the 15 days in the guidelines he recommended have expired: '15 days. Then we isolate the high risk groups and the rest of us get back to work before it's all over for everyone!!' President Donald Trump indicated Monday morning he supports ending social distancing when the 15 day mark arrives The president's advocating a return to work comes as federal reserve board member warned unemployment could hit 30 per cent because of the virus and Federal Reserve announced new programs Monday morning to keep businesses afloat. Additionally, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams warned Monday it get worse. 'This week, it's going to get bad,' Adams told NBC's 'Today Show.' 'We really, really need everyone to stay at home.' He advised patience. 'We know it's going to be a while before life gets back to normal,' he told CBS 'This Morning.' It also reflects an increasing fear that the medical precautions have devastated the economy. Trump is basing his re-election effort on a strong U.S. economy. The president hinted at his changing thought pattern late Sunday night when he said the administration will make a decision at the end of a 15-day period on 'which way we want to go' to fight coronavirus, implying that the country could re-open. 'We cannot let the cure be worse than the problem itself,' he said on Twitter. That tweet reflects advice offered by conservative commentator Steve Hilton, the former communications director for ex-British Prime Minister David Cameron. Hilton wrote in an op-ed for Fox News that 'You know, that famous phrase? "The cure is worse than the disease." That is exactly the territory we are hurtling towards. You think it is just the coronavirus that kills people? This total economic shutdown will kill people.' He argued that 'a family thrown out of their home -- the mom gets sick, the kids are orphans -- her death won't be counted. The dad who has been out of work for 30 years and finally got a job last month, and now he is back on the scrap heap and turning back to drinking and drugs -- his death won't show up in a neat little box on cable news. Poverty kills. Despair kills. This shutdown is deadly.' 'Keep the ban on large gatherings, but stop the total shutdown for everyone and start the total protection of the elderly and those most likely to need hospitalization. Don't turn a public health crisis into America's worst catastrophe,' he concluded. 'Save small businesses. Flatten the curve, but not the economy, and do it before it's too late.' But Trump's position conflicts with that of Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who warned on Friday that the isolation may need to continue. 'If you look at the trajectory of the curves of outbreaks in other areas it's at least going to be several weeks,' he told NBC's 'Today Show.' 'I cannot see that all of a sudden next week or two weeks from now it's going to be over,' he said. 'I don't think there's a chance of that I think it's going to be several weeks.' U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams warned Monday the coronavirus situation is going to get worse and advised people to stay home Medical experts, including Dr. Tony Fauci, have warned that it may take 'several weeks' of social distancing to slow the spread of the coronavirus Louisiana and Ohio have joined nine other states in issuing statewide stay at home orders aimed at stemming the spread of the deadly coronavirus The White House, in guidelines released last week, discouraged gatherings of 10 or more people and urged bars and restaurants to close. Trump has said that recommendation would be revisited on 'Day 14' as to whether or not it needs to continue. Hard hit areas, such as New York, California, and Illinois, have even tougher restrictions where residents have been told to stay at home. There have been more than 33,000 cases across the U.S. and more than 400 deaths. The disconnect between the president and medical experts come as Fauci admitted that he has to tell President Trump facts four times to get his point across and that he will 'keep pushing' to correct any inaccuracies about the coronavirus that are relayed by the White House. The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said in an interview with Science that 'when you're dealing with the White House, sometimes you have to say things 1,2,3,4 times, and then it happens. So I'm going to keep pushing.' He said that he tries to correct Trump when the president makes errors but he 'can't jump in front of the microphone and push him down.' He also criticized the president for publicly shaking hands with people, saying: 'I say that to the task force. I say that to the staff. We should not be doing that.' 'Not only that - we should be physically separating a bit more on those press conferences.' His comments come just one day after he admitted he has been 'walking a fine line' by publicly contradicting Trump in an interview with the New York Times. Dr. Tony Fauci said he has to tell President Trump things as many as four times before it will sink in Dr Anthony Fauci was caught smirking at President Donald Trump during a coronavirus press conference on Friday, further fueling rumors of tension between the pair He was also forced to publicly row back on the president's claims that the anti-malarial drug cloroquine offered a potential cure for coronavirus in the latest of a series of public rebukes. He said that telling Trump 'things he doesn't want to hear' was a 'risky business.' Fauci said that he tried not to 'embarrass Trump' and said that he attempts to deal with the president by 'continually' talking about scientific facts. 'I don't want to act like a tough guy, like I stood up to the president,' he said. 'I just want to get the facts out. And instead of saying, 'You're wrong,' all you need to do is continually talk about what the data are and what the evidence is.' The health expert admitted that the tactic was 'risky' but maintained: 'I say it the way it is, and if he's gonna get pissed off, he's gonna get pissed off. 'Thankfully, he is not. Interestingly,' he said. And Fauci insisted that Trump was not offended by his advice. He told the Times: 'Hes a smart guy. Hes not a dummy. So he doesnt take it certainly up to now he doesnt take it in a way that Im confronting him in any way. He takes it in a good way.' Fauci said that he had been working round the clock as the coronavirus crisis unfolds. As of Sunday night, there were 35,214 confirmed cases in the U.S. of the infection, which was blamed for 471 known deaths. 'I'm exhausted,' he said. 'About a week ago, I was going about four or five days in a row on about three hours of sleep, which is completely crazy 'cause then I'll be going on fumes. 'The last couple of nights, I've gotten five hours' sleep, so I feel much better.' In response to speculation that he had been banished from the White House when he disappeared from press briefings for two days in the past week , he said: 'That's kind of funny but understandable that people said, 'What the hell's the matter with Fauci?' because I had been walking a fine line. Dr. Fauci said President Trump isn't offended by his advice as he's a 'smart guy' who takes it in the right way it is meant 'I've been telling the president things he doesn't want to hear. I have publicly had to say something different with what he states.' On Friday Fauci appeared to roll his eyes and suppress laughter as Trump lashed out at the State Department, describing them as the 'Deep State department'. Dr Fauci then placed his hand over his face, in what many described as a 'face palm' reaction to Trump's inflammatory remarks. Video of the incident was shared across Twitter, with many commenting on the doctor's body language. In recent weeks, Dr Fauci has garnered a reputation for repeatedly contradicting Trump's claims about coronavirus. On Thursday, the president said that there had been positive results after doctors trialed chloroquine on COVID-19 patients, and suggested the drug could be a 'game-changer'. 'It's shown very, very encouraging early results. We're going to be able to make that drug available almost immediately. It's been approved,' Trump said. However, a few hours later Fauci told CNN: 'There's no magic drug for coronavirus right now'. 'Let me put it into perspective for the viewers .. there has been anecdotal non-proven data that it [chloroquine] works... but when you have an uncontrolled trial you can never definitely say that it works'. With half of the world practicing self-isolation and social distancing due the coronavirus pandemic, Design SCENE Magazine team is trying to prove that staying in can be also fun and productive. This time we are focusing on fashion documentaries, a great way to expand your knowledge about fashion industry. RELATED: Things To Do During Your Coronavirus Self-Quarantine Fashion documentaries deliver insights on every aspect of the industry, portraying a variety of industry professionals, and explore controversial issues including diversity and cheap clothings environmental impact. Weve rounded up the list of 10 must see fashion documentaries to fill your days in self-quarantine. Continue below to discover Design SCENEs favourite fashion documentaries: 1. The September Issue (2009) R J Cutlers documentary from 2009 follows Vogues editor Anna Wintour, as she prepares the September 2007 issue. With its record 840 pages, it is the magazines most important issue, heralding the autumn fashions. 2. McQueen (2018) The biographical documentary explores the life of the iconic British fashion designer Alexander McQueen who took his life in 2010. Its a personal look at the designers extraordinary life, career and artistry, through exclusive interviews with his closest friends and family. 3. The First Monday in May (2016) Directed by Andrew Rossi, the film follows the creation of the Metropolitan Museum of Arts most attended fashion exhibit in history China: Through the Looking Glass, curated by Andrew Bolton and co-hosted by Anna Wintour. The documentary chronicles a year of preparations for the Chinese-inspired fashion exhibit and the gala which accompanies it. 4. Dries (2017) An intimate portrait of the Fashion Designer Dries Van Noten, exploring the intense passion and distinctive talent that make him one of the most unique fashion designers in the world. 5. Jeremy Scott: The Peoples Designer (2015) Documentary film directed by Vlad Yudin explores the journey of fashion designer Jeremy Scott from humble roots on a Missouri farm to creative director of Moschino. 6. Lagerfeld Confidential (2007) Rodolphe Marconis documentary profiles notoriously private fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld. In his own words, Lagerfeld recounts his turbulent upbringing in Germany, his work, fashion shows and photo shoots. 7. The True Cost (2015) Andrew Morgans documentary film exploring the negative impact of fashion on people and the planet. 8. Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel (2011) 2011 documentary follows the life and career of Diana Vreeland, a fashion editor famous for her time at Harpers Bazaar and Vogue. 9. Iris (2014) American documentary film directed by Albert Maysles about the life of fashion icon Iris Apfel 10. Franca: Chaos and Creation (2015) A chronicle of the life and times of Franca Sozzani, the editor of Italian Vogue and a fashion-world provocateur, directed by her son, Francesco Carrozzini. #GIVEAWAY: Download Design SCENE Magazine for free New Delhi, March 23 : The Congress on Monday banned the entry of foreign journalists into its headquarters. Congress leader Motilal Vora said: "The entry of foreign journalists has been banned in the Congress headquarters. The general public is allowed only if they are wearing masks and have sanitized their hands." "However, the general public will also not be allowed if they come in a mass. All these steps have been taken as a preventive measure to fight against novel coronavirus outbreak," he added. A 52-year-old babysitter has been jailed after he tried to rape a 10-year-old girl before her older brother intervened and rang their mother. The boy was downstairs at his home when babysitter James Boyesha lied and said he was going to the toilet before disappearing upstairs for half an hour. The boy became suspicious and went upstairs to investigate where he found Boyesha on top of his terrified sister - who had been stripped naked from the waist down. He immediately rang his mother for help and ignored Boyesha when he threatened him and tried to force him into playing along with a cover-up story. James Boyesha, a 52-year-old babysitter, has been jailed after he tried to rape a 10-year-old girl before her older brother intervened and rang their mother At Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester, the boy was praised for his courage by the judge. Boyesha, from Radcliffe, was jailed for 11 years. Judge Tania Griffiths QC said: 'Thank goodness for the actions of the brother. 'He was a courageous young man who did his best to save his sister from your clutches. 'He was a brave young man and he was the adult showing responsibility, the sort of responsibility and care to his sister you should have shown. This was a disgraceful incident and you should be ashamed.' The court heard the incident took place after Boyesha befriended the family, having been earlier acquitted of assaulting another child in 2014. He previously attacked the 10-year old girl on a prior occasion but had persuaded her to keep silent by threatening to hurt her mother. Police were alerted in 2019. Boyesha admitted rape and attempted rape on the day of his trial. At Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester (pictured), the boy was praised for his courage by the judge. Boyesha, from Radcliffe, was jailed for 11 years The judge told him: 'You invited yourself around to the children's home at night when you knew they were home alone. You made sure the girl's brother was otherwise engaged and under the pretext of going to the toilet entered her bedroom and proceeded to strip her from the waist down and lie on top of her attempting to rape her. 'Her brother came to see what was going on as you had been gone for 30 minutes, he saw you on top of her and phoned his mother to tell her what was happening. 'You tried to get him to make a cover story for you but he was having none of it. The mother arrived and remonstrated with you. 'Later on the girl revealed this has happened earlier in similar circumstances and you had threatened to hurt her mother if she told anyone. 'You were a trusted family friend you were entrusted with their care, taking them on shopping trips and to the park. 'You have no relevant previous convictions but in 2014 before beginning a relationship with this family you were acquitted by a jury of an offence of assault under similar circumstances against a six-year-old. 'I consider it appropriate to consider that in relation to your level of dangerousness - however I don't consider it necessary to categorise you as a dangerous offender. 'At the age of 52 this is your first custodial sentence. You pleaded guilty one week before your trial. The child had been expecting to come to court but didn't have to in the end - although this child was under significant stress. 'I have heard the mother's victim impact statement read to the court it speaks of the child being withdrawn and quiet and she having lost her beautiful girl. I do not underestimate the effect on this young girl or her family. 'There was some coercion of the 12-year-old brother. It can be described as a sustained incident if it went for for 30 minutes. The aggravating features are the location and timing of the incident - in the child's bedroom at night where she was entitled to feel safe and secure.' After the case Detective Constable Craig Bowring said: 'These were disgusting incidents - Bosheya satisfied his perverted sexual desires by targeting an innocent young girl. 'Bosheya is now a convicted paedophile who is going to serve a long custodial sentence. The family are relieved that this ordeal is over, however it may have a lifelong impact on the victim. 'I would like to commend the young girl for her bravery in speaking to police officers. Despite the tragic circumstances, she greatly assisted us with our enquiries and helped us to secure Bosheya's conviction and subsequently, this result. 'On behalf of the family, I would like to thank St Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in Manchester and Children's Social Services for their continued support. 'I would also like to use this opportunity to say that Greater Manchester Police takes all reports of this kind extremely seriously and officers are committed to launching thorough investigations which ultimately bring perpetrators to face justice.' We are confident that we can deliver business as usual to all our broker partners and their clients, asserted AEGIS London on LinkedIn. We will remain fully open for business and are ready to respond to the needs of all our partners. We are accessible via the usual phone numbers and emails. Allianz UK For the foreseeable future, Allianz Insurance offices in the UK are operating a working-from-home policy where possible, noted the insurer on its website. This is in line with government guidelines. We prepared for this situation by undertaking systems resilience testing and ensuring colleagues are equipped to operate remotely. Wherever possible, meetings are being held via phone calls and video conferencing. Allianz, however, acknowledged that there may be some delay in responding to customers during this unprecedented situation. At the same time it thanked policyholders for their patience while offering assurances that the company is doing all it can to maintain usual operations and service levels. Arch Insurance (UK) All of the firms 14 UK regional offices have been shut from March 18, with all efforts being made to help safeguard the health of employees and their families without affecting Archs ability to conduct business. Meanwhile contact details of Arch branch managers are available online. We will maintain normal working hours and all Arch staff are equipped to work remotely to ensure that the high standards of customer service that you currently receive are maintained, said the specialist underwriting agency on its website. Please continue to liaise with your usual representatives at Arch via all normal communication channels where possible, landline numbers will be rerouted to connect to the mobile number of the individual you are seeking to contact. Our staff can also be available for video conference calls, as required. Argo During this unprecedented time, Argo Group is working hard to limit disruption to customers, stated the international underwriter, which described itself as ready and able to continue business as usual. There is currently no impact to normal customer service operations. Argo is committed to providing the products and services our partners and clients are accustomed to, even as we take steps to ensure the safety of our employees. The Bermuda-headquartered insurance group has instructed its teams to work from home for the foreseeable future, restrict all international travel, and limit domestic travel until further notice. Lloyds of London has closed their underwriting room, Argo went on to say in its update, therefore, our Syndicate underwriters will be trading remotely and will either utilise PPL (Placing Platform Limited) as the main placement method or revert to the Lloyds emergency trading protocol, which has been distributed by Lloyds recently. Aviva UK Following the governments decision to close schools until further notice, and guidance on home working, were implementing a business plan to continue to serve our customers, announced the UK operations of British giant Aviva on its website without providing further details. However, you may experience longer waiting times when calling us. Were really sorry; were working hard to get to everyone, but this is a really busy time right now. You can manage your account online and through the MyAviva app or you can email us. AXA My thoughts go to all those affected by the virus, either directly or indirectly, said AXA Group chief executive Thomas Buberl in a statement posted on LinkedIn last week. Unfortunately, a few of our employees have been infected. We are doing everything we can to support them and their families and I wish them all a prompt recovery. According to the CEO, the French insurer has adapted its response to the pandemic by increasing travel restrictions, limitation of events and gatherings, prevention and awareness around basic protective measures, as well as accelerating remote working. Buberl who believes we will need patience, solidarity, and perseverance at this time added that AXA has reinforced its partnership with the Institut Pasteur to support the taskforce set up to accelerate the research on the diagnosis and treatment of the virus. Beazley We all share the responsibility to do what we can to reduce the spread of COVID-19 within our local communities, stated the London-headquartered enterprise on LinkedIn. For this reason, Beazley employees are now working from home. Our priority is to continue providing a strong and consistent service. As a business, we are very well set up to work remotely and have the technology in place to continue operating. Your usual Beazley contacts are on hand or visit our website. Brit Insurance The whole workforce of the UK-based firm, which has tested its systems for the eventuality, is operating remotely until April 06. At Brit, we are deeply committed and focussed on the health of all of our employees and their family members as well as our services to partners, brokers, and clients, said the insurance company in a LinkedIn post. Therefore, we have asked all our employees to work from home as a precautionary measure... Brit added: We can confirm all our staff at Brit have the ability to work from home via laptops, so continuity of service will continue. Underwriting can be managed through PPL, Whitespace, and reinsurance trading platforms, and both underwriters and claims staff can be contacted by email or phone (please refer to the Brit App should you require contact details). Canopius The global specialty (re)insurer has asked its entire UK roster to work from home for at least two weeks from March 16. In a release, it said: Canopius does not have any confirmed case of coronavirus within any of our offices. Rather, we have decided that we must act now to ensure we can continue working safely and seamlessly as a business, and our primary interest is in protecting our people and their families. Its a value judgement for everyone and we would rather be accused of acting too early than too late. While our offices and boxes are closed, Canopius is still open for business we recognise it is a different way of working, but we have the tools in place to continue to offer our clients the service levels they expect from us. Chubb UK During these unsettling times, we want to reinforce our commitment to clients and brokers, declared Chubbs UK leadership team online. Insurance companies and brokers are needed more than ever, and while some Chubb colleagues are now on a staggered work-from-home schedule, rest assured we remain available to provide the same level of service you have come to expect. Chubb is closely monitoring the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus and continually reviewing guidance issued by government health authorities, including the Centres for Disease Control, the World Health Organisation, and local health authorities. We seek to minimise any disruption to our clients, agents, and brokers, while ensuring the safety of our employees. Meanwhile clients and brokers of Chubb UK can continue to report claims in the usual manner. ERS The 650-strong line-up of the specialist motor insurer will now all be working from home. After ERS ran business continuity tests, it was the London head office that went ahead with the remote working arrangement first, followed by the Swansea operations centre. Enabling all our employees to be available remotely is a huge step, but were not out of the woods yet, said sales & marketing director Jonathan Watson in an update on the ERS website. Our operations performance will depend on coronavirus enforced absence in the coming weeks. However, as of today (March 20), our operations teams are performing well and in line with what we expect as business as usual, even though circumstances certainly arent usual! In short were open for business and operating as normal. In an earlier update, chief executive Ian Parker noted: Moving our Swansea operations to home-working is likely to impact our service levels, particularly call waiting times and quote turnaround times. If service levels are impacted, we will prioritise claims support over new business to ensure we maintain service levels for your existing policyholders. Finch Group Our priority is the safety and wellbeing of our staff, clients, and insurance partners, stated the commercial insurance broker on its website. At the current time we are limiting face-to-face visits to clients or insurers. Unfortunately this also means we must limit clients visiting our offices. However, our team is still available to speak to and its very much business as usual. To get in touch, call your regular account executive or alternatively you can find contact details for all our branches at finchgroup.net/contact. UPDATE: On LinkedIn this morning (March 23), the company said its whole team is now fully working remotely. Fiveways Insurance Group Owner and managing director Nigel West wrote in a LinkedIn post: Fiveways Insurance is committed to the safety of all of our customers as well as our staff members, and we have been following the advice from the government on a daily basis. Taking heed of the latest government advice, we will be taking measures to ensure that we act responsibly to reduce the risk to everybody. From Monday, March 23, we shall: 1) Close the office to all customers, clients, and visitors; 2) Our offices will be manned by half of our staff while the other half will work from home; 3) We will rotate the staff working from home with working from the office on a regular basis. West added that account handlers will still be reached via the same office telephone number. Contact details are provided on the companys website. H2i Insurance Brokers We want to reassure all of our clients that even though these are unsettling times, h2i insurance brokers have the capability of working remotely, so we can still continue to offer our services during this time, said managing director Clive Harrison on LinkedIn. We have been working extra hours to respond as quickly and efficiently as possible to all calls and emails, while continuing to do our routine work. Keep safe and stay healthy! Legal & General On its website, the British financial services group noted: In the weeks since the initial emergence of the coronavirus, Legal & General has worked hard to ensure we are resilient in the face of the pandemic, and that our service to customers will be as little affected as possible. Over half of our workforce is able to work away from our offices, and we have ensured that our systems are able to withstand a sustained period of home working. We have absolutely prioritised essential services, including payments to our customers, who remain our top priority at all times. Legal & General also offered assurances that the company remains financially strong and well-capitalised and that its approach to underwriting and paying insurance claims is unchanged. Liberty Specialty Markets (LSM) The health and wellbeing of our employees and their families is our primary concern as the situation regarding COVID-19 continues to evolve globally, asserted LSM on its website. We are monitoring the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak as part of our business continuity plans. To mitigate the risk of infection and to help contain the spread of the illness, our employees in the UK and continental Europe are currently working from home. Rest assured we remain committed to meeting your needs and we have remote access to systems to receive submissions, quote, bind remotely and to manage claims, so please continue to engage with your usual contacts. Markel International Our top priority is to ensure our employees and those we work with are as safe and healthy as possible and so, with that in mind, we have decided to close our office at 20 Fenchurch Street until further notice, with all employees equipped to work remotely, announced the firm. Markel has been around for 90 years and has never been stronger than we are today. Were open for business and confident in our ability to operate during this time. We are already managing customers claims and we are here to support you through this difficult time. According to the Markel Corporation division, trading will continue via existing contacts and through electronic means while ECF-submitted (Electronic Claim Files) claims will continue to be managed in the normal manner. Marsh In a message on the companys website, president and chief executive John Q. Doyle wrote: Our client relationship managers are reaching out to clients, but please do not hesitate to call us with any questions or issues. You can also visit our pandemic risk hub for access to additional insights and resources regarding COVID-19. With regard to Marshs operations, we are taking guidance from local health authorities and making determinations as to what is best for our colleagues and their families personal safety. As a result, a number of our teams across the globe are working remotely or in staggered shifts in the office. Doyle said they have the capabilities and plans in place to efficiently make the transition, and that Marsh expects to maintain its level of service and ability to deliver valued insurance placement and risk advice. MS Amlin Until further notice, the majority of MS Amlins global offices are closed, with staff working from home where appropriate based on relevant government guidance. All international travel has also been banned, and neither will the company attend or host large events. Our staff are able to work effectively from home, as well as other locations if they need to, noted MS Amlin Underwriting Ltd chief executive Tom Clementi, MS Amlin AG CEO Chris Beazley, and MS Amlin Insurance SE boss Rudy Benmeridja in a joint statement. Very recently we conducted extensive stress tests in our major hubs, to ensure the integrity of our technology, as well as our operational effectiveness is not compromised by having large numbers of staff working remotely. These tests have been successful and we are confident that we will be able to operate as close to business as usual as possible, even for an extended period of time. For those of you who trade with us through Lloyds of London, please be assured our underwriting teams will continue to trade while working from home, in line with Lloyds emergency trading protocol during this period. NFU Mutual As a mutual, our members are at the heart of everything we do, and we want to reassure you of the plans in place ensuring you continue to receive the personal and attentive service that you know us for, said NFU Mutual in an update. We are working closely with agents local to you, who are busy implementing a series of measures within their businesses aimed at maintaining service levels to customers while supporting the welfare of their staff. The welfare of our own employees is also a critical concern, so we too are implementing a series of measures enabling our staff to work from home, as far as possible, while limiting the impact on our customers. Yutree Insurance Ltd With the escalating concern around coronavirus/COVID-19, and in line with UK government guidance, we are writing to let you know that many of our staff will be working remotely until further notice, said managing director Kevin Hancock on Yutrees website. They will continue to be contactable on their normal landline and/or mobile numbers. Weve prepared for this situation and are confident we can continue working with you with minimal disruption. That said, were mindful that there may be unanticipated interruptions during this time and ask for your understanding. Meanwhile the commercial insurance brokerage and underwriting agency has recommended the postponement of face-to-face meetings in favour of virtual ones or calls. As ever, added Hancock, we look forward to working with you through these unprecedented times and hope for a speedy return to business and life as usual. Zurich UK The UK government has announced stringent measures to help curb the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) restricting travel, enforcing working from home and support for businesses financially, noted the Swiss insurer on its UK website. In response, Zurich has asked all colleagues to work from home until further notice and are using the latest technology to connect with one another and importantly to trade with our brokers and customers, ensuring we are open for business as usual. We are uniquely positioned as much of our business already operates to a fully flexible manner and fortunate to be a financially strong and resilient business, both globally and in the UK. Our business continuity plans are activated; we have also tested key essential services, including all our claims and underwriting systems and are confident that we have the right arrangements in place. Separately, employees of insurtechs Digital Risks and FloodFlash are working remotely as well, based on their LinkedIn posts. Meanwhile the business continuity plans of Aston Lark, BC Underwriting, Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance London, Bollington, Confused.com, Convex Group, Direct Insurance Group, Ecclesiastical, FOCUS Oxford Risk Management, Gallagher, IFM Insurance, the Lloyds Market Association, Lloyds of London, the Managing General Agents Association, Open GI, PIB Group, Pikl, QBE, SCOR, and Tasker Insurance Group are outlined in previous Insurance Business UK articles. Coronavirus literally shut down the Nigerian Government on Monday with the suspension of the weekly federal executive council meeting. The suspension will be until further notice. Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha said the council of state meeting earlier scheduled for Thursday has also been postponed. He made this known as he also announced the total closure of all the countrys land border- all measures meant to tackle the growing incident of Coronavirus pandemic. The borders will be closed for four weeks, said Mustapha, who is also Chairman of Nigerias Special Task Force on coronavirus. Mustaphas Statement: In furtherance of our ongoing engagement with the public and stakeholders through the Presidential Task Force (PTF) and the Honourable Minister of Health (HMoH), I have found it necessary to update you on recent developments regarding the management of matters arising from COVID-19 Pandemic. 2. Let me remind you that as at the time the Honourable Minister of Health (HMoH), briefed you earlier today, the numbers from the World Health Organisation (WHO), confirmed that the virus has covered 192 countries, reporting over 329,000 cases. In Africa, 42 out of 54 countries have reported cases while 48 deaths have been recorded. 3. In Nigeria 36 cases have been reported and one fatality has occurred. The first responders, particularly the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), continues to attend to reports received through telephone calls and other medium. 4. We commend Nigerians for stepping out to report and/or make enquires through the dedicated hotlines. Records show that on Sunday, 22nd March, 2020, over 4500 calls were received. This shows the high level of awareness amongst Nigerians. 5. The strategy of government is to focus on testing, detection and containment through contact tracking in order to minimize hugely, the possibility of community spread. We urge anyone experiencing the symptoms of the virus or has been in contact with anyone who has been suspected or tested positive to please report at the nearest medical facility or the designated center. 6. The Presidential Task Force (PTF) continues to monitor the global and domestic developments and has isolated Lagos and Abuja for particular attention in view of their population, mobility and number of cases already reported. 7. As you are all aware, a number of advisories have been issued and measures taken. Part of the measures being taken presently include the following: i. escalating the nations capacity for testing and detection through the acquisition of more testing kits and establishment of additional test centres; ii. acquisition of personnel protection equipment (PPE) for different categories of frontline personnel; iii. enhancing contact tracking; iv. deepening awareness creation; v. mobilization of experts and trained personnel whether in service or retired; vi. introduction of social distancing policies and banning mass gathering of over fifty (50) persons vii. closure of schools and tertiary institutions; viii. The total ban on international travels shall commence at 12.00 midnight tonight at all our airports; and ix. leaders of different faiths have been encouraged to restrict services and activities that involve mass gathering of more than fifty of their adherents. State governments are also enforcing this policy at different levels. 8. Ladies and gentlemen, after a further review, Mr. President on the recommendation of Presidential Task Force (PTF) has approved the following additional measures: i. Suspension of the weekly FEC meetings until further notice; ii. Postponement of the meeting of the Council of State scheduled for Thursday 26th March, 2020; iii. All land borders that have been hitherto under partial closure shall now be closed for human traffic for four weeks effective, 23rd March, 2020; iv. In order to protect Federal Civil and Public Servants, a circular to be issued by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF) shall direct on actions to be taken immediately; v. If and when the need arises, any national assets required for use in the response to COVID-19 shall be mobilized and deployed; vi. Federal Government, is at the highest level, engaging with State Governors in order to ensure a collaborative and effective response to COVID-19 Pandemic; and vii. All Abuja and Lagos residents are strongly advised to stay at home, avoid mass congregation of any kind as well as non- essential outings, until further advice is given. 9. Finally, the PTF assures all Nigerians of the concerns of Mr. President and his determination to mobilize all resources to backup this national response. However, this commitment should be reciprocated by all citizens by respecting the advisory and obeying measures put in place to curtail the spread of COVID-19. The Presidential Task Force (PTF) shall be updating Nigerians from time to time when the need arise. 10. I thank you very much. Monday was the deadliest day in the United States' fight against the Covid-19 disease caused by the coronavirus with more than 100 new deaths reported. And Monday saw more governors taking actions such as restricting group sizes, closing bars and restaurants, and in the case of Texas, restricting medical procedures including abortions. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Gov. Greg Abbott's order to postpone "all surgeries and procedures that are not immediately medically necessary" includes abortions that are not needed to preserve the life or health of the mother. "We must work together as Texans to stop the spread of Covid-19 and ensure that our health care professionals and facilities have all the resources they need to fight the virus at this time," Paxton said. "No one is exempt from the governor's executive order on medically unnecessary surgeries and procedures, including abortion providers." New measures were taken in more than a dozen states. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who said his state has seen an influx of people flying in from Connecticut, New Jersey and New York, said anyone coming from those states will be told to self-quarantine for 14 days. "Today there's over 190 direct flights from the New York City area to the state of Florida, and I would reckon, given the outbreak there, that every single flight has somebody on it who's positive for Covid-19," DeSantis said. More than 42,000 people in the United States have been infected with coronavirus, and at least 515 people have died. At least 15 states have issued stay-at-home orders that are either in effect or will take effect this week. More than 137 million Americans live in states that will have those new rules in place by Wednesday. And in other states, mayors in cities such as Denver and San Antonio are putting in place similar orders. Surgeon general's warning The country's top health official said the number of cases isn't subsiding. "I want America to understand -- this week, it's going to get bad," US Surgeon General Jerome Adams told NBC's "Today" show Monday. "We really, really need everyone to stay at home. I think that there are a lot of people who are doing the right things, but ... we're finding out a lot of people think this can't happen to them." President Trump acknowledged the effects of coronavirus are likely to worsen. "Certainly this is going to be bad," Trump said, agreeing with the surgeon general. "We're trying to make it much much less bad," Trump added. "Obviously the numbers are going to increase with time and then they're going to decrease." Stricter rules go into effect as people ignore social distancing orders Americans should stay at least 6 feet away from others and avoid crowds, health officials say. Yet people keep ignoring that guidance. Sun worshipers have been flocking to beaches. Young people have been gathering at parks as many schools are now closed. So more states are enacting strict stay-at-home orders. California, Illinois, New York and New Jersey were already practicing them over the weekend. Connecticut, Louisiana and Washington joined that list Monday as did seven counties in Pennsylvania. And similar orders are expected to go into effect soon in Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, New Mexico and West Virginia. Vermont Gov. Phil Scott directed businesses and not-for-profit entities -- to the maximum extent possible -- to put into place telecommuting or work-from-home procedures. He told Vermonters to be ready for an upcoming announcement on further restrictions and a stay-at-home directive. The orders say residents must stay home, with few exceptions such as grocery shopping, getting medicine and going to work at an essential job. People can still go outside and be active, as long as they stay at a healthy distance from others. Violating the orders could result in fines in states such as New York and Connecticut. "There will be a civil fine and mandatory closure for any business that is not in compliance," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan ordered the closure of all non-critical workplaces as of 5 p.m. Monday. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker also ordered all nonessential businesses to shut down their physical workplaces from noon Tuesday until April 7. Those employees can still work from home. As in many other states, restaurants and bars can still sell food, but only as takeout. Massachusetts is also banning gatherings over 10 people "a reduction from the 25-person limit established in an earlier order," Baker's office said. Indiana, Michigan and West Virginia joined a growing number of states ordering people to stay home, with a few exceptions. The President has activated the US National Guard in three of the hardest-hit states -- California, Washington and New York. Almost half of all US cases are in New York state. Trump said those National Guard units will remain in the command of the states' governors. In concert with the state measures, it's all in an effort to control the deadly virus and prevent a catastrophic overload of the US health care system. You asked, we're answering: Your top coronavirus questions 'A point where people can't be saved' Medical workers from coast to coast say they're facing a dire shortage of masks, ventilators and staff as more doctors and nurses also fall sick. New York City's 11 public hospitals will only be able to get through this week before they start reaching "a point where people can't be saved," Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday. "I literally want to see hundreds of ventilators. I want to see first hundreds of thousands and millions of masks," de Blasio said. "If we don't get ventilators this week, we are going to start losing lives we could have saved." Because hospitals are about to get overwhelmed, authorities are redoubling efforts to get the public to stay home -- especially since coronavirus is easily transmitted between people who don't even know they have it. More drive-thru testing becomes available While testing has become more available, there are still challenges -- and increased strain on the health care system. About 254,000 Americans have been tested, Vice President Mike Pence said Sunday. That total does not include local hospitals or local health care labs, he said. But increasing testing has put pressure on dwindling medical supplies and increased the possibility of exposure in medical facilities. In some places, authorities have decided to test only high-risk patients or those whose results would significantly change the course of treatment. While the United States plays catch-up with widespread testing shortages and delays, cities are getting creative in helping expedite testing. Los Angeles is implementing a new web portal that would direct those who might be at highest risk to a testing center. In Chicago, two Walmart Supercenter parking lots are being designated as drive-thru testing sites. And a new drive-up testing facility in Miami will give health care workers and first responders priority testing, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said. More outbreaks in nursing homes While more evidence shows young adults can become seriously ill from coronavirus, the elderly are especially vulnerable. That's why new outbreaks in nursing homes have families riddled with anxiety. Seven nursing homes across Arkansas have reported cases, state Department of Health Secretary Dr. Nate Smith said. At least 41 cases are linked to Briarwood Nursing Home in Little Rock, Smith said. Residents accounted for 35 of those cases, and staff members for six. West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice said four members of the National Guard are testing everybody at a nursing home after a woman there tested positive for coronavirus. Justice did not identify the facility nor say whether the woman is a resident or an employee. But West Virginia -- with its large populations of elderly residents and coal miners -- faces special challenges. "We are a very high risk, if not the highest risk state," Justice said Monday. In Broward County, Florida, at least three people from the Atria Willow Wood facility have died from coronavirus. Seven other people have tested positive, Senior Vice President of Care Mike Gentry said. DeSantis said the Florida facility did not take precautions against the virus, allowing staff who hadn't been screened for symptoms to freely enter the building. But Atria disputed the governor's claims. In New Orleans, at least seven deaths and 24 confirmed cases are linked to the Lambeth House retirement community, said Dr. Alexander Billioux, Louisiana assistant secretary of health. Seven other facilities in Lousiana have reported cases, he said. The first known nursing home outbreak was at the Life Care Center in Kirkland, Washington. The center is linked to 35 deaths from coronavirus. CORRECTION: This story has been updated to correct the number of people facing stay-at-home orders across the US. [March 23, 2020] FreeConferenceCall.com Supports Educators With Free Online Classroom Capabilities It offers video and collaboration tools to educators across the globe, enabling them to continue hosting classes, study groups, and lectures during school closures LONG BEACH, California, March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- FreeConferenceCall.com , one of the most recognized conferencing and collaboration brands in the world, is providing online classroom capabilities to teachers and students across the world as the coronavirus causes a growing number of school closures. Educators can benefit from a collection of free features that make virtual classes simple, effective and free. FreeConfereceCall.com enables educators to host and record lectures, schedule study sessions with screen sharing, and use drawing tools while teaching. Students can use the free service to collaborate on projects and stay connected with classmates throughout this challenging time. 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The service is already being used by staff and students at Michigan State University, New York University, University of Southern California, Pepperdine University and Yale University. 9,000 schools across the US are already using FreeConferenceCall.com to support learning. "Teachers, students and parents all around the world are worrying about the coronavirus and how badly it will affect education and everyday life," said Erickson. "Amongst this uncertainty, we're proud to be offering a free tool to help combat these issues and make online teaching simple and seamless. As more institutions embrace these tools, we hope that a growing number of students will benefit from continued education and routine during self-isolation." Get started today at www.freeconferencecall.com and learn more about the educational tools here. Contacts: Michael Singleton +44 124 385 0032 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The parking lot at Jacks Fruit and Meat Market on Bay Road in Saginaw Township was nearly filled to capacity within hours of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issuing a stay-at-home order. Asparagus 99 cents, said the sign out front. Jacks is exempt (from order). We remain open to serve. Fully stocked with meat. New hours, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Good luck in there, a woman wearing a face mask and Nike Just-do-it sweatpants said to entering shoppers as she rolled a mostly full cart toward her car. Jack's Fruit and Meat Market in Saginaw Township Around the state, grocery stores continue to face big crowds and high demand on basic necessities. In many stores, products like toilet paper, cleaning supplies, meat and pantry staples are running out quicker than they can be restocked. With a new round of restrictions requiring residents to stay home unless their work is deemed essential, that trend could continue. Starting 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, March 24, Michigan residents and businesses will be subject to a stay-at-home order through April 13, with violations subject to a misdemeanor charge. There are several exceptions to that rule, however, including operating or shopping at a grocery store. Since the first case of coronavirus was detected in Michigan Whitmer has placed an emphasis on allowing for consumer access to goods, including by taking away seasonal truck weight restrictions to get more products delivered to stores. Many Michigan stores are shifting hours to keep the shelves stocked and are taking extra cleaning precautions. Meegan Holland, Vice President of Communications and Marketing for the Michigan Retailers Association, said many grocers deemed essential under the governors latest executive order still have a lot of questions, like whether their employees need proof in the event theyre stopped on the way to or from work. What shoppers can expect at their local grocery stores largely depends on what stores are getting on any given day to replenish stocks, she said. Those stores are doing their best to stay clean and restock shelves, Holland said. Im sure theyre slammed. Sierra Cornett and Andrew Guriel stopped by a Meijer store in East Lansing shortly after the new executive order was announced Monday - it was their second grocery store trip of the day as they sought out the supplies they needed. Cornett said they understand the dangers of COVID-19 and why the governor is advising people to stay home, noting she recently had to come home early from a study abroad program in Spain as the pandemic worsened. She said shes hopeful panic buying doesnt interfere with the basic needs of residents as the disease continues to spread. For Macomb Township residents Dan and Heather Schnau, the uncertainty of being able to find what they need at the grocery store to feed themselves and their three young children - all of whom are now home due to school closures - has added to their challenges. Its been very chaotic...its hard keeping food on the table, Dan Schnau said. Flour, beef, things we need to feed our family - theyre all empty in the grocery stores. Jack's Fruit and Meat Market in Saginaw Township A flurry of close-proximity activity surrounded the meant counter at Jacks in Saginaw Township where fresh red meat filled bright display cases. Behind the white-apron-wearing meat workers were two flat-screen TVs warning: While waiting at the meat counter, please spread out and try to maintain a 6-foot distance from other shoppers. Most of the 20-plus people in line appeared to be disregarding the plea, standing closer to three feet apart or less on average. Multiple shoppers said they were prompted to stock up on their grocery needs, including fresh produce, eggs and meat, after hearing Whitmers stay-at-home order Monday. Were going to follow what she said and stay home, said 51-year-old Jim Houser of Carrollton who was shopping with his wife. As long as it doesnt go past a month, two months well be fine. I think it will probably blow over pretty quick if people just stay home.. Housers wife, who has an immunity deficiency said she stood away from the crowds inside the store and texted her husband the products she wanted to buy. Its busy, she said. The meat counter is just packed with people. Nobody is maintaining any distance at all even though the signs are up there saying to. Jodie Jones, 37, of Saginaw Township said she was picking up some last-minute items before preparing to comply with the governors three-week stay-at-home order. I just want to limit the amount that I need to go out, Jones said. Its hard to be six feet. How well people listen will determine if the state or federal government decide to take more action limiting public mobility and commerce, she said. Jennifer Sanders, 58, of Bridgeport, who changes out of her clothes each time she returns home after being in public, worries business closures in other states could impact grocery supplies in Michigan, specifically regarding fresh meat and produce. Shes concerned that the order isnt enough. Thats what I dont understand, Sanders said. How are they going to control it? They still have the stores open and gas stations open Even when you go into a grocery store to shop, youre still close to people. Thirteen-year-old Brazil Payton, who suffers from asthma, wore a face mask when she visited the Jacks Fruit and Meat Market with her mother, 53-year-old Nikki Payton, for last-minute meat. People arent taking it serious, said Nikki Payton, whos restricted another adult daughter and granddaughter from visiting their Bridgeport home If I go in the hospital, what are my kids going to do, she said. Shes one of the ones running around not taking it seriously. Nikki Payton said shes concerned for everybody, including employees of grocery stores that are allowed to remain open during the stay-at-home order. I feel bad, she said. Because you know how much stuff theyre dealing with? Forget about it Theyre touching all this merchandise Youve got to feel for them. I commend everybody thats out here. Stock worker Daniel Dunbar said management is willing to work with employees who feel uncomfortable working in this climate. The only thing that bothers me is people who come out when they are sick, he said. Ive heard other workers ask why we havent closed yet. I understand where they are coming from because there is a lot going on but you have to understand that were like a main source where people can get food, toilet paper tissue and water and all that stuff. PREVENTION TIPS In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores. Complete coverage of coronavirus in Michigan. More information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Related coverage: Monday, March 23: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan Coronavirus responsible for 15 deaths in Michigan Coronavirus has closed liquor stores in other states, but Michiganders will likely still have alcohol access Stores, apps that will deliver groceries to your home during coronavirus pandemic Michigan grocery stores run low on hand sanitizer, toilet paper as coronavirus concern rises Senior shopping hours created at Pollys Country Markets amid coronavirus outbreak Coronavirus concerns change Kroger store hours, Meijer deli service in Michigan Whats open, whats closed under Gov. Whitmers coronavirus stay-at-home order Stores, apps that will deliver groceries to your home during coronavirus pandemic So far, the coronavirus pandemic in New Jersey has kept Andres Combes busy. The 24-year-old Paterson resident drives full time for grocery delivery app Instacart and said he has made trip after trip to the Costco in Wayne and a nearby BJs Wholesale Club. The same has been true for Andrianna Perez, a mom from Jersey City who has been driving full time for about two years now. Shes even seen tips from customers as high as $75 as New Jerseyans stock up on pandemic essentials. As more and more residents are isolated or quarantined at home, workers in New Jerseys gig economy who deliver meals and groceries are emerging as a critical piece of infrastructure. With wide swaths of the state grinding to a halt, deliver drivers are keeping things moving. I think my job is important ... especially now, Combes said. There are a lot more people using our services. NJ Advance Media interviewed five drivers for companies like Instacart and DoorDash about how their jobs have fared since the pandemic hit New Jersey. All of them said they see themselves as providing an important service to New Jerseyans as the crisis worsens. Their work, though, comes with a serious risk: Continuing to drive means a higher chance they, their customers or their families could catch or transmit the virus. Gov. Phil Murphy this weekend announced hundreds of new cases of COVID-19 in the state. On Saturday, he ordered all nonessential businesses to close until further notice and said there should be no travel except for people who have jobs deemed essential, to purchase food or for medical purposes. Thats left many consumers with a choice: Risk exposure and pick up their own groceries and takeout or pay someone else to do it for them. There are a lot more people using (our services) who are older, there are people who are disabled asking us to take things to their apartment, women who are pregnant, Combes said. There are people who have a lot of money and just dont want to go to the supermarket, but theres other people who really need it. But Elyse Knight said shes no longer willing to take that risk. Formerly a stay-at-home mom, Knight started driving for Instacart about a year ago and stopped recently, just as coronavirus began spreading in New Jersey. Knight said her 70-year-old mother recently had surgery and, as her caretaker, she couldnt risk picking up the disease while shopping and possibly spreading it. Knight, 32, said her family is missing the income she used to bring in from her routes in the Pennsauken area. She said if her husband is laid off from his warehouse job, shell probably have to go back to work. Meanwhile, she said, those who are driving are doing more than their fair share to keep the state functioning. I do feel like we are critical part of society even though its only gig work. But I know that a lot of people depend on us to get the groceries to them," she said. The companies the delivery drivers work for, including Instacart and DoorDash, have offered their workers some protections in case they get sick. Both companies are offering workers 14 days of paid sick leave if they are diagnosed with COVID-19 or if they are quarantined by a public health agency. Drivers for DoorDash, a platform that allows users to order meals and other food from local restaurants, said their business has been steady. Will DeRoberts, a retiree who works for a temp agency and DoorDash to supplement his pension, said hes been delivering to more teenagers now that schools are closed. And, he said, DoorDash is now the only work he has with the other work dying off. Ari Palmer, a 21-year-old college student and DoorDash driver based in Monmouth County, said she only does no contact deliveries. Shell drop off a customers food at their door, text them a picture, and then leave. Those still driving said theyre taking precautions like wiping their steering wheels and door handles or spraying Lysol on their seats. When she was driving, Knight said, she went as far as disinfecting the entire grocery cart not just handle before she shopped. Shed also disinfect her car, she said. DeRoberts and Palmer, the DoorDash drivers, both said they regularly clean their hands during a shift. DeRoberts has established a practice of using latex gloves and hand sanitizer while Palmer said she washes her hands in each business she enters. Perez said she uses gloves, hand sanitizer and disinfectant spray to fend off germs. And Combes said hes using disinfectants in his car and wipes down the shopping cart handle before shopping. Hes also changed other practices. I would walk their groceries into their house not because I had to, because I like to. And now Im not," he said. On Instacart, orders for water, canned goods, rice, and cleaning supplies are common, Combes and Perez both said. Typically, Combes earns $700 to $800 in a week driving full time for Instacart, he said, but earlier this month he made $1,500 in a week. Knight said she saw a lot of orders for organic goods and would make up to $1,000 a month while driving during school hours. If you decide to use a delivery app, all the drivers NJ Advance Media spoke with said its essential that customers remember to tip. Their hourly pay through the apps can be very low, so their earnings often come from tips. Knight and Perez also said that customers need to understand that even though they can order an item on the app, they might not be able to get everything they want. Due to supply issues, many stores are now limiting the number of items an individual can buy, and some Instacart customers dont realize that, Knight said. If you can only get two packs of toilet paper and (a customer) orders four of them, I am not exempt from store policy, she said. A lot of customers dont understand that. Correction: Elyse Knights name was incorrect in an earlier version of this story. The story has been updated. Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. J. Dale Shoemaker is a reporter on the data & investigations team. He can be reached at jshoemaker@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JDale_Shoemaker. Sophie Nieto-Munoz may be reached at snietomunoz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her at @snietomunoz. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Harvey Weinstein has tested positive for coronavirus just weeks into his 23-year prison sentence for sexual assault, according to the Niagara Gazette. Officials told the paper that the disgraced producer was one of two individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 at Wende Correctional Facility, where Weinstein was transferred to on Wednesday from Rikers Island. Representatives for Weinstein said they were unable to confirm that he has contracted the virus and New York States Department of Corrections says it cannot confirm an individuals medical record. On February 24, Weinstein was found guilty of sexually assaulting former Project Runway production assistant Miriam Haleyi and raping former actress Jessica Mann, and was sentenced to 23 years in prison. Also Read: Opera Star Placido Domingo Tests Positive for the Coronavirus News of his infection comes as medical officials have voiced grave concerns that prisons could become hotbeds for rapid spread of the coronavirus due to close contact between inmates, urging for some prisoners to be released. The New York State Department of Corrections reported on Saturday that at least 38 have tested positive for COVID-19 in the states prisons. Over 11,000 positive cases have been reported in New York with 60 deaths, while over 320,000 positive cases and over 13,000 deaths have been reported so far worldwide. Read original story Harvey Weinstein Tests Positive in Prison for Coronavirus (Report) At TheWrap (Photo : Screenshot from: Pexels Official Website) After months of doctors treating patients with coronavirus or COVID-19, they have observed and noticed that they have patterns in their symptoms. Read Also: CURE FOUND? Australia To Roll Out Medication Used to Successfully Treat COVID-19 Patients in Secret Trials COVID-19 patients "feel better" at first before it all gets worse Doctors have begun to get a better hold and understanding of the effects od the novel coronavirus after the number of cases in the United States continues to skyrocket as they go beyond 30,000 as of Sunday. They have also advised the public that people that are diagnosed with COVID-19 will experience breaks in their symptoms before their condition completely deteriorates. The symptoms show only mild effects in the early stages as patients only complain of having a little cough, low-grade fevers and headaches. In New Orleans, after he treated about 15 to 20 coronavirus patients, pulmonary medicine and critical care physician at Tulane Medical Center, Dr. Josh Denson, described and told NBC News, that the first phase of the disease is as 'slow-burn.' Saying that the patients have mild symptoms for about a week before getting very sick. Doctors from around the world have a lot of similar findings According to DailyMail, in Denver, a pulmonologist in the critical care department at the National Jewish Health, Physician D. Ken Lyn-Kew has stated that he has seen a similar situation with patients of his own. "It seems like there's a period of time where the body is trying to sort out whether it can beat this or not. They're doing okay, and then all of a sudden they're really fatigued, a lot more shorter of breath and having chest pains." Lyn-Kew has also said that these patients who turn extremely ill have ofter claimed that they feel a bit better before their symptoms completely decline. Another Doctor, this time from Winston-Salem, North Carolina who is an infectious disease expert and also a professor of medicine at Wake Forest School, Christopher Ohl, has also experienced and observed the same cases regarding Lyn-Kew's findings. Ohl shares his story with NBC News as well, saying that patients often tell him they're feeling much better and after a few short moments, 20-24 hours, they would have severe fatigue, fevers, coughs that have gotten worse and bad shortness of breath. Then they get hospitalized after. According to the wife of a man from Washington state who has tested positive for the virus after his trip from Florida was one of the people who went through this kind of condition. Susan Kane said that her husband started to have a bad cough, expecting that it was nothing more than a cold and didn't have any kind of symptoms but aside from the cough. The cough then had gotten worse a few days later, up to a point where he started to choke while gasping for air. He tested positive after a week and was hospitalized at Everett's Providence Regional Medical Center. Though, he did manage to survive and pull through after being on an experimental treatment at the said hospital. Ohl has warned the public that they should be fully aware of what is going on. Doctors have also said that it is very important and crucial to keep track of how COVID-19 progresses as the days go by and that feeling better does not mean that the worst part is over. Read Also: Coronavirus Questions Answered: How Many Develop Severe Symptoms and What Happens to the Lungs When You Have COVID-19? 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Uttar Pradesh Police on Sunday handed over pamphlets to the people, who were found wandering unnecessarily on streets during the 'Janata Curfew' in Bareilly. The pamphlets handed over by police officials read: "I am an enemy of the society. I would not stay at home". Not just Bareilly, Madhya Pradesh police also made people get clicked with the pamphlets after they are found violating Section 144 in Mandsaur. "This is part of a social experiment to make people stay home," said Superintendent of Police Hitesh Chaudhary. A day after successful "Janata Curfew", Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked state governments to ensure rules of lockdown are followed properly and called on citizens to take the issue seriously. "Many people are still not taking the lockdown seriously. Please save yourself by doing this, save your family, follow the instructions seriously. I request the state governments to ensure the rules and laws are followed," Prime Minister Modi took to Twitter and wrote in Hindi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jaguar Land Rover said that they will be resuming the production of vehicles in England by April 20, one month after the announcement. The company has three main production lines in their home country, namely Castle Bromwich Assembly in Birmingham, Halewood Body and Assembly in Liverpool, and the Solihull plant in the West Midlands. It's becoming an all too familiar headline: Car manufacturer suspends production due to COVID-19 pandemic. You can add Jaguar Land Rover to the list of automakers who have temporarily halted production. The Indian-owned British marques made the joint announcement last March 20 that their UK operations will be paused in the meantime. Castle Bromwich builds most of the Jaguar models as the XE, XF, XJ, and F-Type are assemble there. Meanwhile, Halewood Body and Assembly does the Land Rover Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque. Solihull, on the other hand, rolls out the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Velar, and Jaguar F-Pace. You might have noticed that a few cars aren't on the list, particularly the Land Rover Discovery, Land Rover Defender, Jaguar E-Pace, and Jaguar I-Pace. The Discovery and Defender are made in Slovakia in a new facility. The E-Pace and I-Pace are assembled in Austria under contract with Magna Steyr. Jaguar Land Rover did not mention if production in Slovakia and Austria will be suspended. JLR also has plants in China (with Chery), India, and Brazil. Brazil and India plants will continue to operate. The China plant, meanwhile, has restarted as the country slowly gets back on its feet. The company said the month-long stoppage is in line with advice from the UK NHS (National Health Service) and Public Health England in order to minimize the spread of the coronavirus. Jaguar Land Rover said that while they have set April 20 as their date for restarting, they still said it will all still depend on the situation in the following weeks. If conditions are still not permitting, the company may extend the suspension. The MD & CEO of Axis Bank also said they are waiving off charges on various transactions to ensure seamless and convenient banking for customers. Axis Bank has announced a Rs 100 crore fund to support the community at large towards combating the spread of coronavirus. The money is meant to support customers, employees, vendors and government agencies, the bank said in a statement. Indias third-largest private lender has also decided to waive off charges for savings, current account holders and prepaid card customers towards online IMPS and ATM financial and non-financial transactions from 23 March to 31 March. Amitabh Chaudhry, MD and CEO, said, Axis Bank stands one with the nation, in its battle to ward off the biggest threat in recent times. At this point, its critical to join hands, support people and communities to stand together in our fight against the pandemic. Chaudhary appealed to all customers to use their digital solutions while keeping themselves in social isolation to stop the spread of the deadly virus. The MD & CEO of Axis Bank also said they are waiving off charges on various transactions to ensure seamless and convenient banking for customers. We will keep continuing with our efforts in supporting the nation and its people at this crucial juncture, he added. Many states in India have gone into the lockdown mode to stop the spread of coronavirus. On Sunday, the Centre advised states to only allow operations of essential services in around 80 districts following a spike in the number of cases in India. Follow live updates on the coronavirus outbreak here Metros such as Delhi, Gurugram, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Chennai have all gone into lockdown. Most of the cities will be shut till 31 March. The comes close at the heels of the global coronarius death count crossing 15,000 and over three lakh people being affected by COVID-19. Guinness maker Diageo has pledged to enable production of more than eight million bottles of hand sanitiser, by donating up to two million litres of alcohol to manufacturing partners. The global drinks giant is the latest to shift production of alcohol from the drinks industry to the fight against COVID-19. Diageo distils spirits including Johnnie Walker and Smirnoff and its plants are the worlds biggest. They will provide Grain Neutral Spirit (GNS) a 96pc strength ethyl alcohol used primarily in production of vodka and gin. It will be available at no cost to hand sanitiser producers in multiple countries, to help overcome shortages in healthcare systems. This donation will enable the production of more than eight million 250ml bottles of hand sanitiser. In the UK and Ireland the plan means 500,000 litres of GNS available for national healthcare systems and workers. Other countries to benefit are: Italy (100,000 litres of GNS), USA (500,000 litres), Brazil (50,000 litres), Kenya (135,000 litres of sanitiser), India (500,000 litres), Australia (100,000 litres). Thousands flee city for provinces in buses BANGKOK: The partial lockdown of Bangkok and the order by the Interior Ministry to close 18 border points taking effect on Monday triggered a massive exodus of Thais and foreign workers from Bangkok for their hometowns on Sunday. COVID-19Coronavirushealthtransport By Bangkok Post Monday 23 March 2020, 08:43AM Restaurants at The Mall Bang Kapi see a rise in home delivery orders after their dining zones were ordered closed for 22 days as part of the governments efforts to contain the spread of the new coronavirus outbreak. Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb / Bangkok Post Mor Chit Bus Terminal in Chatuchak district of Bangkok saw around 80,000 passengers leaving for their hometowns. Staff ramped up public health security by ensuring passengers wear face masks. However, few were able to observe social distancing among the large crowds packing into stations or buses. While the agency is increasing buses to cater to demand, it is in need of body temperature scanners and alcohol-based sanitising gel. While Hua Lamphong railway station in Bangkok reported no particular increase in passengers volumes, it said it observed strict public health guidelines. The exodus of workers from Bangkok came as Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul urged people in Bangkok and adjacent provinces to work from home for 14 days to slow the spread of Covid-19. However, many foreign labourers are leaving for the border ahead of moves to close border crossings from Monday, hoping to return to their hometowns in neighbouring countries. Others, meanwhile, want to escape the partial lockdown in Bangkok for the relative freedom of the provinces, where shops are still open and they still have chance of finding work. The Department of Disease Control issued letters ordering provincial governors to monitor people leaving Bangkok and its adjacent provinces, create a database of passengers and ensure vehicles are cleaned. Teacher Pawida Sae-Ho said she was in two minds whether to join the exodus. However, after public health authorities made their plea for the public to stay close to home, she decided not to leave for her hometown in Yalas Betong. Ms Pawida, teacher at a private school on Rama II Road, said she would work from home instead. At first, I wanted to take a flight back to Yala because I feared that all the shops here would close. However, the call by public health officials changed my mind because I could be a carrier and pose a danger to my family," she said. Read original story here. Nepal and Bhutan sealed their land borders with India on Monday as part of measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 even as Indian authorities continued to provide support to nationals stranded in various cities around the world. Tracking Coronavirus Outbreak: Live Updates Bhutans King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck said the country was resorting to the drastic measure of sealing its land borders because of the pandemic. As you have been made aware through various government bulletins, the virus is spreading, causing immense disruption worldwide, and drawing closer to us each day, he said in a televised address to the nation on Sunday. At such a time, the health and safety of the people of Bhutan is of the greatest priority, and as such, we are putting in place every measure necessary to safeguard the people of Bhutan, he said. Bhutan Prime Minister Lotay Tshering said that the borders were sealed from 6 am on Monday. The Bhutan government said only essential supplies such as food, medicines and fuel would be allowed into the country, and returning Bhutanese nationals would be quarantined. The Bhutan king told nationals studying or working abroad not to worry. Nepal too completely sealed its land borders with India at 10 am on Monday. The decision was made at a cabinet meeting held on Sunday. India and Nepal had earlier decide to keep four border checkpoints operational, but Nepalese authorities had expressed concern about the largely unrestricted movement of nationals of both countries through not only the four checkpoints but also through other crossings along the 1,800-km border that is largely unmanned, The Kathmandu Post reported. With India reporting a steady rise in Covid-19 cases, Nepalese nationals living and working in Indian cities had started to return, stoking concerns [about whether] they were properly screened before entering Nepal, the Post reported. With all flights to Nepal suspended, health experts had said that the only way the coronavirus could now enter Nepal, if it has not already, was via the open border with India, the report said. With the week-long suspension of all international flights to India, Indian missions began extending support to nationals stranded in various cities. Officials of the Indian mission in Kuala Lumpur are continuing to help Indians stranded while in transit at the Kuala Lumpur airport. The missions Twitter handle said they were being provided food and medicines day and night with the support of the Malaysian foreign ministry and Malaysian Airlines. Several members of a group of more than 50 Indian students who had sought shelter at the Indian high commission in London were moved to hotels and hostels, people familiar with developments said. Some of them were still in the mission, they added. India also sent a consignment of 40,000 masks and other medical equipment to Italy, the country that has recorded more Covid-19 deaths than China. Italy had earlier sought assistance from India, including medical supplies. Reinforcements are coming four our doctors, nurses, socio-health workers. For all women and men struggling in hospitals to save lives, Italian foreign minister Luigi di Maio said in a Facebook post, adding 40,000 masks had been received from India. The Italian foreign ministrys Twitter handle posted photos of the supplies sent by India and quoted di Maio as saying: We are grateful to you for your friendship and generosity in this moment of need. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON As the number of coronavirus patients rose to 32 with four fresh cases in Rajasthan, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot imposed a ban on the movement of private vehicles from Tuesday. IMAGE: A deserted view of Johri Bazaar after it was shut due to the outbreak of novel coronavirus, in Jaipur. Photograph: PTI Photo Only those vehicles which are used for essential services have been kept out of the order. State highway tolls will also be closed from Monday midnight. Earlier in day, Gehlot had told people to take the lockdown imposed by the state till March 31 seriously or else the government would have to impose a curfew from Wednesday. His warning came on a day when Maharashtra, Punjab, Chandigarh and Puducherry imposed a curfew to contain the spread of the deadly disease. Four fresh positive cases of COVID-19 were reported from the state on Monday, taking the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases to 32. "Two cases each in Pratapgarh and Jodhpur were tested positive, taking the total number to 32 positive cases in the state," Additional Chief Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh said, adding that reports of 89 suspects were pending. The chief minister asked people to consider the lockdown as a self-imposed curfew and stay at home. 'I am warning you to protect the lives of all of you, please act like there is curfew, stay in homes. Take lockdown seriously as a self-imposed curfew or else we will have to impose curfew in the state from Wednesday in compulsion,' he said in a statement. Gehlot on Monday chaired a high-level meeting to review the situation in the state. He said that a war room has been set up to resolve the difficulties of common people. People can call on 181 with their problem, which will be addressed round the clock. Guebert: Keep moving, nothing to see here Armenias parliament backed on Monday a government proposal to introduce jail sentences for people defying quarantine or self-isolation orders issued by health authorities dealing with the coronavirus outbreak. The Armenian government moved to impose these and other penalties last week following the declaration of a one-month state of emergency aimed at containing the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the country. The National Assembly tentatively approved a relevant government bill on Friday. The bill underwent a number of changes before being passed in the second and final reading three days later. It calls for prison sentences ranging from one to five years and fines of between 300,000 and 1 million drams ($600-$,2000) for various types of violation of the confinement orders. The harshest punishment, 3 to 5 years imprisonment, is envisaged for cases where a breach of quarantine or self-isolation leads to fatal infections of other individuals. The two opposition parties represented in the parliament backed these measures after the government and the parliament majority loyal to it incorporated some of their proposals into the bill. In particular, the authorities agreed to somewhat ease their controversial restrictions on the spread of coronavirus-related information. The bill initially stipulated that all media reports and social media posts regarding the COVID-19 virus must reflect information provided by government sources. Opposition politicians, civic activists and journalists were quick to decry this provision, saying that it legalizes censorship and puts unnecessary curbs on press freedom in the country. The fact that at least two Armenian publications were ordered to delete coronavirus-related stories from their websites in recent days only added to the criticism. Law-enforcement authorities also controversially forced several Facebook users to delete their posts critical of the governments handling of the coronavirus outbreak. The final version of the bill does not make private individuals violating the social media restrictions liable for fines. But it retains financial penalties for broadcasters as well as print and online media that will disseminate unauthorized information about the deadly virus. The Armenian authorities have so far reported 194 cases of coronavirus but no deaths resulting from them. According to them, some 600 Armenians are kept in quarantine and hundreds of others in self-isolation at present. By Alex Lawler LONDON (Reuters) - Top oil exporter Saudi Arabia has yet to boost crude shipments significantly, two industry sources who track the flows said, suggesting a lack of demand despite a deep slide in prices as major producers battle for market share. The kingdom plans to ship more than 10 million barrels per day (bpd) from May following the collapse of a supply-cut pact by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other producers led by Russia, known as OPEC+. So far, exports in March are running significantly below that rate, the sources said, showing little change from February. This could reflect lower demand from customers, such as China following the coronavirus outbreak. "Saudi March exports are so far in the 7.3 million bpd region, not more," one of the sources said on condition of anonymity. "Total supply is way below 10 million bpd." Another source who tracks the exports said Saudi shipments in February would be about 7.2 million bpd. Tanker data from Refintiv Eikon put the exports even lower, at just below 7 million bpd so far in March. (GRAPHIC: Saudi crude oil exports - https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/7/9183/9164/saudiexports.png) Saudi oil exports averaged 7.26 million bpd in February, according to Kpler, a supply tracking firm, which told Reuters that as of March 23, the 10-day moving average was 6.8 million bpd. One of the two industry sources put the February crude shipments at 7.4 million bpd, while the second estimated them at 7.3 million bpd. Three years of cooperation between OPEC, Russia and other producers ended in acrimony on March 6 after Moscow refused to support deeper cuts to cope with the outbreak of coronavirus. OPEC responded by removing all limits on its own production. Brent crude has dropped below $25 a barrel to the lowest since 2003 because of the demand collapse and the start of a fight for market share among major exporters. [O/R] Story continues Saudi Arabia made a steep cut in its official selling price for April-loading crude, and plans next month to reduce operations at local refineries to boost the potential for increased crude exports. Before the OPEC deal collapsed, Riyadh had been over-delivering on its share of the output curb, reporting production of 9.78 million bpd in February, below its OPEC target of about 10.14 million bpd. (Editing by Barbara Lewis) By Olivia Rose THE GOVERNMENT has completed a fiscal risk mitigation strategy to address the economic fall-out due to the global coronavirus pandemic. The fiscal risk matrix is intended to cushion the loss in government revenue and the territorys increased healthcare bill. Finance Minister Premier Sharlene Cartwright Robinson disclosed the Governments fiscal measures at a press conference on Monday (March 16) in Providenciales. The risk management strategy will see the Government using the Contingency Fund for urgent and unforeseen expenditure. The premier said the Government will also tap into other contingency measures including the National Wealth Fund, recurrent expenditure controls, reprioritisation of the capital expenditure, use of withdrawal warrant and liquid cash reserves. Cartwright Robinson underscored that the global health crisis will have a significant economic fallout, reflecting shocks to supply and demand across the world and in the territory. She emphasised that substantial targeted policies are needed to support the economy through the pandemic. "My Government remains committed to the diversification of the economy but until we are able to move other critical sectors like financial services, technology, agriculture and fishing to the desired pace, like most of our region, our economies remain firmly tourism based for the foreseeable future. Cartwright Robinson reminded that the TCI is largely reliant on tourism to keep the economy afloat. "The TCI is a tourism dependent economy like many of our neighbours and Caribbean territories and we are closely monitoring the effects that the virus can have on our cruise ship arrivals and air travel numbers. "This will impact our revenue receipts for fiscal year 2020-2021 and my team in the Ministry of Finance will continue to monitor and adjust these figures accordingly. "Our forecast fiscal position at the end of March 2020 is that we will have approximately $200 million in liquid cash, of which, greater than $150 million is unencumbered. This figure breaks down to $25.7 million in the National Wealth Fund, $6.5 million in the National Forfeiture Fund. The Premier explained that about $47 million is committed for capital expenditure and some $120 million will be free cash flow. "Average monthly expenditure is approximately $20 million. Therefore, we will have approximately 232 days or 7.5 months of cash available. "My people, we have contingencies in place, to reduce the impact on each one of you. "The community is also being reminded that the TCI is in an enviable position with a very low debt portfolio approximately $3 million and a sovereign credit rating of BBB+. "We are aware there will likely be a shock in government expenditure, as we will have to spend more on strengthening our primary healthcare facilities to protect the population through increased screening at our airports and ports. The TCIs leader further revealed that the Government has since approved $410,000 from the Contingency Fund to the Ministry of Health. These monies were allocated to procure personal protective equipment, drugs and pharmaceuticals to bolster the public health team as they monitor ports of entry and to increase surveillance activities within the Islands. "The estimates for 2020-2021, also include allocation to enhance and sustain our response to reduce the impact of the COVID-19, she said. Global impact The COVID-19 pandemic has plummeted economies around the world as it is affecting supply and demand chains globally. The premier stressed that even in the best-case scenarios a sharp slowdown in world growth is projected, which will undoubtedly have a knock-on effect on the region. She said the Turks and Caicos Islands economy has been experiencing tremendous growth over the last few years and was forecasted to continue this growth pattern in 2020. But this unprecedented threat will certainly setback that projection. "Just to put everything into context, the overall real GDP growth for 2018 was 5.6 percent and growth for 2019 and 2020 was projected at 5.4 percent, while growth for 2021 was forecasted at 6.2 percent. "As a result of COVID-19 the Turks and Caicos Islands Government Statistical Unit now estimates that we will have to reduce the previous GDP growth forecast for 2020 due to a decline in overall economic activity which is in the region of anywhere from two percent and higher, due to the anticipated impact of the coronavirus. The premier said the forecast of the impact on the economy is challenging since the spread of the disease is volatile. "The TCI like many other countries in the region and around the world does not know how bad a potential outbreak of the coronavirus in the TCI will be nor how long it will last for. "It is true that in the TCI during last week and perhaps continuing into this week, there were and will be some form of panic buying of certain items, which helped in lifting consumer spending. "However, this can be outweighed if there are cases in the TCI as persons would likely shop less and eat out less, etc. "Let us look at some possible scenarios. I must again remind us that no one knows how long this crisis will last. "Hence, any projection can only be made base on different scenarios which can change depending on different factors. "A 10 percent decline in the hotel and restaurant sector alone will lead to an almost one percent decline in overall real GDP. "A 20 percent decline in the hotel and restaurant sector will result in 4.9 percent decline in overall real GDP. "On the other hand, we know that the sectors are interlinked. "Hence, if there is a 10 percent decline in hotel and restaurants activity, 10 percent decline in wholesale and retail trade activity and a 10 percent decline in transport, storage and communication activity, this will lead to an overall decline of 2.5 percent in real GDP. "If in this same scenario there is a five percent decline in construction and a five percent decline in real estate, dwelling, renting, computer and business services and a 10 percent decline in electricity, real GDP will decline by 4.2 percent. "The possible reduction, and the possible recession that will follow, will affect private investment and our trade balances. She added that the Government through the Capital Programme will continue spending in an effort to stimulate the local economy. "My Government will continue to hold discussions with our stakeholders such as the shipping companies and ports to ensure that there will be food on the Islands. "If impacted, we recognise that there will also be a shock to consumption demand as preferences for certain activities will change. "My people, my Government is assuring you that our main priority is to keep you our people of these islands safe from the COVID-19 virus and if impacted containment will be the policy response of this Government. "The Ministry of Finance has been meeting and looking at how we can address this possible economic fall-out and what might we as a government do to support businesses and individuals at this time. Labour force impact Turning her attention to the territorys labour force, the premier acknowledged that COVID-19 will have a devastating impact on the labour market. Against this backdrop, she said the Government is working to keep intact the web of economic and financial relationships between workers and businesses, lenders and borrowers, and suppliers to recover once the outbreak fades. The goal is to prevent a temporary crisis from permanently harming people through job losses and bankruptcies. "The coronavirus has the potential of having a serious impact on the workforce and productivity level in the Turks and Caicos Islands. "Whether it is because of business closure or because of persons having to stay home because they are sick, or temporary lay-offs, days off from work may become a norm. "My Government is currently working on ways of mitigating against this and ensuring that our people do not suffer as a result of these circumstances that are beyond their control. "If the territory is impacted by the deadly virus we will see a decrease in labour productivity levels or days lost if impacted by the virus as persons will have absent from work. "The reduction in arrival numbers by air and sea will also affect many persons employed in the sector directly and indirectly. "My Government is assiduously working on plans to assist persons throughout the communities who will receive losses in income due to the reduction in tourism arrival numbers, as some hotels may opt to close temporarily at this time. "There is no doubt that our economy will be put under tremendous stress, as we seek to find ways of surviving the onslaught of this crisis. "We have a number of our capital projects that are in the works which will be continuing and we will be putting additional measures in place which will help our people directly and will also help in keeping the TCI economy afloat. The premier revealed that the new budget, which will be laid in the House of Assembly soon, will reflect the finance ministrys recommendations to Cabinet. "We have created and included in this years estimates and stimulus package and have set aside sums of money for support to those affected by the down turn. "The policies around these monies are being crafted. But I can say that the monies are placed in the Ministry of Finance and the amounts will be announced once approved by Cabinet and laid on the table of the House of Assembly. What is the coronavirus? A coronavirus is a type of virus which can cause illness in animals and people. Viruses break into cells inside their host and use them to reproduce itself and disrupt the body's normal functions. Coronaviruses are named after the Latin word 'corona', which means crown, because they are encased by a spiked shell which resembles a royal crown. The coronavirus from Wuhan is one which has never been seen before this outbreak. It has been named SARS-CoV-2 by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. The name stands for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2. Experts say the bug, which has killed around one in 50 patients since the outbreak began in December, is a 'sister' of the SARS illness which hit China in 2002, so has been named after it. The disease that the virus causes has been named COVID-19, which stands for coronavirus disease 2019. Dr Helena Maier, from the Pirbright Institute, said: 'Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that infect a wide range of different species including humans, cattle, pigs, chickens, dogs, cats and wild animals. 'Until this new coronavirus was identified, there were only six different coronaviruses known to infect humans. Four of these cause a mild common cold-type illness, but since 2002 there has been the emergence of two new coronaviruses that can infect humans and result in more severe disease (Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronaviruses). 'Coronaviruses are known to be able to occasionally jump from one species to another and that is what happened in the case of SARS, MERS and the new coronavirus. The animal origin of the new coronavirus is not yet known.' The first human cases were publicly reported from the Chinese city of Wuhan, where approximately 11million people live, after medics first started publicly reporting infections on December 31. By January 8, 59 suspected cases had been reported and seven people were in critical condition. Tests were developed for the new virus and recorded cases started to surge. The first person died that week and, by January 16, two were dead and 41 cases were confirmed. The next day, scientists predicted that 1,700 people had become infected, possibly up to 7,000. Where does the virus come from? According to scientists, the virus almost certainly came from bats. Coronaviruses in general tend to originate in animals the similar SARS and MERS viruses are believed to have originated in civet cats and camels, respectively. The first cases of COVID-19 came from people visiting or working in a live animal market in Wuhan, which has since been closed down for investigation. Although the market is officially a seafood market, other dead and living animals were being sold there, including wolf cubs, salamanders, snakes, peacocks, porcupines and camel meat. A study by the Wuhan Institute of Virology, published in February 2020 in the scientific journal Nature, found that the genetic make-up virus samples found in patients in China is 96 per cent identical to a coronavirus they found in bats. However, there were not many bats at the market so scientists say it was likely there was an animal which acted as a middle-man, contracting it from a bat before then transmitting it to a human. It has not yet been confirmed what type of animal this was. Dr Michael Skinner, a virologist at Imperial College London, was not involved with the research but said: 'The discovery definitely places the origin of nCoV in bats in China. 'We still do not know whether another species served as an intermediate host to amplify the virus, and possibly even to bring it to the market, nor what species that host might have been.' So far the fatalities are quite low. Why are health experts so worried about it? Experts say the international community is concerned about the virus because so little is known about it and it appears to be spreading quickly. It is similar to SARS, which infected 8,000 people and killed nearly 800 in an outbreak in Asia in 2003, in that it is a type of coronavirus which infects humans' lungs. It is less deadly than SARS, however, which killed around one in 10 people, compared to approximately one in 50 for COVID-19. Another reason for concern is that nobody has any immunity to the virus because they've never encountered it before. This means it may be able to cause more damage than viruses we come across often, like the flu or common cold. Speaking at a briefing in January, Oxford University professor, Dr Peter Horby, said: 'Novel viruses can spread much faster through the population than viruses which circulate all the time because we have no immunity to them. 'Most seasonal flu viruses have a case fatality rate of less than one in 1,000 people. Here we're talking about a virus where we don't understand fully the severity spectrum but it's possible the case fatality rate could be as high as two per cent.' If the death rate is truly two per cent, that means two out of every 100 patients who get it will die. 'My feeling is it's lower,' Dr Horby added. 'We're probably missing this iceberg of milder cases. But that's the current circumstance we're in. 'Two per cent case fatality rate is comparable to the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1918 so it is a significant concern globally.' How does the virus spread? The illness can spread between people just through coughs and sneezes, making it an extremely contagious infection. And it may also spread even before someone has symptoms. It is believed to travel in the saliva and even through water in the eyes, therefore close contact, kissing, and sharing cutlery or utensils are all risky. It can also live on surfaces, such as plastic and steel, for up to 72 hours, meaning people can catch it by touching contaminated surfaces. Originally, people were thought to be catching it from a live animal market in Wuhan city. But cases soon began to emerge in people who had never been there, which forced medics to realise it was spreading from person to person. What does the virus do to you? What are the symptoms? Once someone has caught the COVID-19 virus it may take between two and 14 days, or even longer, for them to show any symptoms but they may still be contagious during this time. If and when they do become ill, typical signs include a runny nose, a cough, sore throat and a fever (high temperature). The vast majority of patients will recover from these without any issues, and many will need no medical help at all. In a small group of patients, who seem mainly to be the elderly or those with long-term illnesses, it can lead to pneumonia. Pneumonia is an infection in which the insides of the lungs swell up and fill with fluid. It makes it increasingly difficult to breathe and, if left untreated, can be fatal and suffocate people. Figures are showing that young children do not seem to be particularly badly affected by the virus, which they say is peculiar considering their susceptibility to flu, but it is not clear why. What have genetic tests revealed about the virus? Scientists in China have recorded the genetic sequences of around 19 strains of the virus and released them to experts working around the world. This allows others to study them, develop tests and potentially look into treating the illness they cause. Examinations have revealed the coronavirus did not change much changing is known as mutating much during the early stages of its spread. However, the director-general of China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Gao Fu, said the virus was mutating and adapting as it spread through people. This means efforts to study the virus and to potentially control it may be made extra difficult because the virus might look different every time scientists analyse it. More study may be able to reveal whether the virus first infected a small number of people then change and spread from them, or whether there were various versions of the virus coming from animals which have developed separately. How dangerous is the virus? The virus has a death rate of around two per cent. This is a similar death rate to the Spanish Flu outbreak which, in 1918, went on to kill around 50million people. Experts have been conflicted since the beginning of the outbreak about whether the true number of people who are infected is significantly higher than the official numbers of recorded cases. Some people are expected to have such mild symptoms that they never even realise they are ill unless they're tested, so only the more serious cases get discovered, making the death toll seem higher than it really is. However, an investigation into government surveillance in China said it had found no reason to believe this was true. Dr Bruce Aylward, a World Health Organization official who went on a mission to China, said there was no evidence that figures were only showing the tip of the iceberg, and said recording appeared to be accurate, Stat News reported. Can the virus be cured? The COVID-19 virus cannot be cured and it is proving difficult to contain. Antibiotics do not work against viruses, so they are out of the question. Antiviral drugs can work, but the process of understanding a virus then developing and producing drugs to treat it would take years and huge amounts of money. No vaccine exists for the coronavirus yet and it's not likely one will be developed in time to be of any use in this outbreak, for similar reasons to the above. The National Institutes of Health in the US, and Baylor University in Waco, Texas, say they are working on a vaccine based on what they know about coronaviruses in general, using information from the SARS outbreak. But this may take a year or more to develop, according to Pharmaceutical Technology. Currently, governments and health authorities are working to contain the virus and to care for patients who are sick and stop them infecting other people. People who catch the illness are being quarantined in hospitals, where their symptoms can be treated and they will be away from the uninfected public. And airports around the world are putting in place screening measures such as having doctors on-site, taking people's temperatures to check for fevers and using thermal screening to spot those who might be ill (infection causes a raised temperature). However, it can take weeks for symptoms to appear, so there is only a small likelihood that patients will be spotted up in an airport. Is this outbreak an epidemic or a pandemic? The outbreak was declared a pandemic on March 11. A pandemic is defined by the World Health Organization as the 'worldwide spread of a new disease'. Previously, the UN agency said most cases outside of Hubei had been 'spillover' from the epicentre, so the disease wasn't actually spreading actively around the world. Closeup of a bucketwheel reclaimer at oilsands mines of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. As Canadas energy sector anxiously awaits a policy response from Ottawa to address falling crude prices, some observers predict little can be done to prevent a long-lasting downturn. Western Canadian Select, the main grade from Canadas energy patch, fell below US$10 per barrel again on Monday, continuing a slide driven by the one-two punch of COVID-19 constricting demand, and the threat of oversupply from a Saudi-Russian price war. North American benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI)(CL=F) dropped as low as US$20 per barrel last week. Thats lower than the price crashes in early-2016 and late-2018. Stephen Brown, senior Canada economist at London-based Capital Economics, believes policymakers need to do more to reduce the chance of a broader recession in the first half of the year becoming a prolonged slump. But he said little can be done at this point to stop a long-lasting hit to energy. There is little hope of energy investment rebounding if, as we expect, WTI remains below $50 per barrel for most of the next two years, he wrote in a research note on Monday. The federal government is expected to announce $15 billion in relief measures for the oil and gas sector this week, according to the Globe and Mail newspaper. Those could include more access to credit, and funding to put laid-off employees to work cleaning abandoned oil and gas wells, the report said. The province of Alberta has announced tax relief for the sector, and other measures such as waiving millions in fees collected by the Alberta Energy Regulator. Brown said falling oil prices reflect a potentially seismic shift in the global oil market that Ottawa will be ill-equipped to meaningfully address. After consistently losing market share to the U.S. shale industry, some OPEC+ members have found output cuts too hard to stomach, he wrote. If the group cannot agree to keep production limited, then oil prices will remain lower than they would otherwise be, even once the global economy recovers. Thats bad news for those producers with the highest production costs, such as [Canadas] oil sands industry. By Kim Hyun-bin SK Telecom, KT and LGU+ are bracing for structural and strategic changes when their new CEOs are officially nominated to lead their respective companies, but due to the spread of COVID-19 there are some adjustments on how the shareholder's meetings will take place compared to past events including the implementation of electronic voting systems and live streaming the event online. LGU+ was the first to kick off its general meeting, last week followed by SKT, March 26, and KT, March 30. SKT CEO Park Jung-ho is expected to be officially appointed to serve a second term and is scheduled to showcase his vision and growth strategy for the company. SKT CEO Park Jung-ho To strengthen responsibility in management, SKT plans to introduce stock options for executives. Stock options gives the owner of these the right to buy or sell them at an agreed-upon price and date. They are given as part of a salary package in the hope that more executive engagement in the company will boost the share price and increase profitability. SKT is taking a new approach for this year's shareholders meeting by live streaming in order to prevent crowds amid the outbreak of COVID-19. "We are the first to host an online shareholders meeting among listed firms," an SKT official said. SKT was also the first in the telecom industry to implement an electronic voting system in 2018. KT is set to hold its shareholders meeting last and it will be a stage for the official transition in leadership from former CEO Hwang Chang-gyu to CEO nominee Koo Hyun-mo, the first leadership change within the company since 2014. KT CEO Nominee Koo Hyun-mo During the meeting, new directors appointed by Koo will be introduced, in which all in-house and four out of eight outside directors are scheduled to be changed. KT will also fully implement an electronic voting system, whereas before shareholders had the choice of paper or electronic ballots to cast their votes. Koo is a longtime KT employee, having worked at the company for more than three decades. He has a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from Seoul National University and joined KT in 1987, upon graduation. Having served as the chief of KT's customer and media division, Koo is better known as a "hidden force" in strengthening the company's presence in the Internet-based TV market and successfully launching the company's Over The Top (OTT) platform. LG Shareholders voted to sell off its Payment Gateway (PG) business to Viva Republica a company that developed Toss, a wire transfer application. The two firms inked a sales and purchase agreement (SPA) in December. LGU+ CEO Ha Hyun-hwoi New Delhi All domestic flight operations in the country will continue as usual, the ministry of civil aviation said on Sunday evening, minutes after Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said in a press conference all international and domestic flights to and from Delhi would remain suspended as part of a lockdown in the National Capital to tackle the spread of Covid-19 . Delhis Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal was also there at the conference. Kejriwal listed the suspension of flights as one of the features of a lockdown that starts in the capital at 6am Monday. However, soon after his announcement, the ministry of civil aviation (MoCA) released a statement saying all domestic operations across airports in the country will continue as usual. Arun Kumar, chief of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation confirmed that all domestic flight operations from Delhi and all other airports will continue. Later, Delhi airport operator, Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) tweeted: Kind attention to all the flyers: All scheduled domestic flight operations will continue at the #DelhiAirport. Passengers are requested to get in touch with the airline concerned for updated flight information. @MoCA_GoI It wasnt clear what prompted the confusion. The Delhi government did not comment on DGCAs clarification. The current Parliament session is likely to end on Monday, and a closure of the airport would have also prevented parliamentarians from flying back home. To be sure, other restrictions, including a ban on autos and taxis till March 31, as detailed by the Delhi government will continue. With Metro services suspended, passengers will have to make their own arrangements. A civil aviation ministry official said the government has only suspended international flights to India. A DGCA circular, released on March 19, said that no flight that takes off after 5.30 am (IST) Sunday, will be allowed to land in India. However, some flights which took off for India from their originating countries, before 5.30 am on Sunday, were allowed entry, said the officer. Between 7 am and 7 pm on Sunday, at least 2,200 International passengers arrived at the Delhi airport on 26 flights from different airports across world, apart from those high-risk nations from where the flights have already been suspended. BS Yediyurappa By At the outset, I assure all of you that the state government has taken necessary steps to contain the spread of COVID-19 or the novel coronavirus. Health, medical education and information departments are working with exceptional co-ordination throughout the state to fight the menace. I appeal to you all to cooperate with the Centre and the State government. I am overwhelmed by your response to honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modijis call for Janata Curfew. The situation in Karnataka is under control. After a video-conference with the Prime Minister, I have directed officials to arrange 500 ventilators and 5,000 beds for the treatment of corona-affected people. Additionally, the Prime Minister has agreed to provide reagent kits in Kalaburagi and Ballari and laboratories in Hubballi and Mangaluru. Being anxious is not a solution to the problem. To address our doubts, Captain Manivannan has launched a unique initiative. In the largest Telegram group in India -- COVID-19 Karnataka: Sahaya Group -- a team of doctors from the ESI Directorate is working 24x7, responding to queries from citizens. You can get your doubts clarified in the group. Also, new COVID-19 helpline numbers 080-46848600 and 080-66692000 are now functional, apart from the existing 104. On both the helpline numbers, a senior doctor and two PG medical students are available throughout the day to assist volunteers in answering the queries of citizens. I acknowledge and appreciate the relentless service of health warriors who are attending the call of duty. So far, only one death and 26 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the state. If you think you are symptomatic or have returned from any of the COVID-affected countries, get yourself home-quarantined. Your family physician too can help you deal with the virus. Do not rush to hospitals. If symptoms aggravate, call the helpline. Best medical care and isolation facilities are just one call away. Only sick people requiring emergency care can visit hospitals for treatment. All others with mild illnesses which require outpatient care, followup care or elective cases, including dental patients, should not visit hospitals for the next two weeks or till further orders to prevent crowding and spreading of COVID-19. Private hospitals are also instructed to take similar steps. As you all know, the partial lockdown of the state will continue till March 31. We have constituted a special task force headed by Health Minister B Sriramulu to monitor the situation on a daily basis. The cabinet has decided to earmark Rs 200 crore for immediate expenses to contain the virus. I sincerely request you all: Please do not pay heed to fake news doing rounds on social media. Do not panic, but do take precautions. Do not venture out or move in groups unnecessarily. Humankind has withstood the onslaught of crises in every century. We have overcome such challenges with our concerted efforts. All we need at this juncture is the right information, patience, determination and cooperation. Eventually, COVID-19 too shall pass. Tube users were forced to cram into carriages after reduced services for key workers left London transport packed once again amid coronavirus chaos. Mayor Sadiq Khan previously said that the Underground, Overground and Docklands Light Railway Service could be 'scaled down' as thousands of commuters work from home. But passengers have been urging him to reconsider as they are now continually forced to travel in close proximity to one and another, breaking the two-metre distancing rule. Tube users were forced to cram into carriages after reduced services for key workers left London transport tightly packed once again. Pictured: Central Line on Sunday Mayor Sadiq Khan previously said that the Underground, Overground and Docklands Light Railway Service could be 'scaled down' as thousands of commuters work from home. Pictured: Tube on Friday Passengers have been urging Sadiq Khan to reconsider the 'scaled down' services as they are now continually forced to travel in close proximity to one and another. Pictured: Commuters in face masks on Friday Speaking on on the Andrew Marr Show this morning, Mr Khan said that public transport should only be used for critical workers and added that his office has now implemented an 'enhanced cleaning regime on all TfL estates'. 'The advice at the moment is not to give them masks, if the advice changes then of course we will change this. But the NHS still don't have what they need. 'Stay at home unless you have good reason to leave your home, it's important everyone works from home'. But photos similar to those seen earlier in the week showed dozens of commuters putting themselves at risk on board London's public transport on Sunday. Londoners were seen walking around parks this weekend after leisure centers and gyms closed As the UK death toll reached 233, with 5,018 people infected, pubs, clubs, restaurants and other social venues have shut their doors to customers in order to stave off the deadly infection. Despite this many Londoners continued to leave their homes this weekend with many taking to parks across the city to socialise with friends and family members. London is the worst hit city in the UK and Mr Khan today claimed he has been lobbying Boris Johnson's government in order for stricter measures to be implemented across the capital. There have been 51 deaths in the capital and 1,221 confirmed cases of the illness. Customers sit at tables inside a pub in London on March 20 before they were ordered to close During the same interview, Mr Khan also slammed the government for 'not letting him attend Cobra meetings' and declared Londoners need to stay in doors to 'protect the ones they love' amid the coronavirus outbreak. He was questioned on whether or not Londoners had understood how serious the situation in the capital currently is. 'I am clear, life has changed and we have to do things differently for a while now. 'Social interaction will spread the virus. Do shopping for elderly neighbours, only buy what you need.' He added that people needed to practice social distancing for their vulnerable loved ones and said if people didn't then they 'will die'. Marr said there had been a clear 'change in tone' after the government had initially allowed pubs and restaurants to continue to run before it ordered them to close on Friday night. Sadiq Khan this morning said he was frustrated by the government as it hadn't let him attend a cobra meeting 'My frustration with government is that only last Monday they allowed me to attend Cobra, things are worse in London, if we dont keep our social distance people will die. Im working from home and others should too.' Asked whether or not parks and other public places should be closed, Mr Khan said people need to recognise the severity of the situation. 'I have been lobbying the government. 'There are instructions and rules we need to obey to stop people dying. Making sure there is no confusion or mixed messages, people should not be leaving their homes unless they have to, they can walk dogs or exercise, but mixing socially leads to more people dying.' He added that emergency bills that will go through parliament next week will give additional powers to police in order to allow them to enforce stricter rules upon the public and social gatherings. 'Unless people stay at home and stop using public transport then more people will die. 'Please stop mixing and stay at home.' There has been much speculation on whether or not London, a 'city of super spreaders' would be locked down due to the rapid spread of the virus. Mr Khan added: 'We are a global city, we have connectivity around the country and density. All of us need to follow the advice, we are running a weekend service during the week. 'No one else apart from critical workers should be using public transport.' CIH Telecommunications Americas has signed a reseller agreement with BT Group covering assets and infrastructure in 16 Latin American countries. Under the deal, CIH will supply BT with local connectivity services, while distributing BTs offering on a wholesale basis in the region. BT notes that it will continue to have a strong presence in Latin America, providing cloud, networking and security solutions to 21 countries. BTs divested assets include two fibre networks covering a total of 650km, 2000km of leased fibre lines, four data centres, and five teleports. Across the fiscal year 2018/19, these accounted for GBP110 million (US$127 million) worth of revenue. The terms of the deal were finalised in March this year but have not been disclosed. The sale requires regulatory clearance and should be concluded by the end of 2020. BTs divested business has its headquarters in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and has an estimated value of around GBP1 billion. The British group is in the process of spinning off its BT Global Services operation in a bid to become a more agile and focused business. The American Federation of Teachers announced Sunday that it has endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden for president in the 2020 election. AFT President Randi Weingarten said in the announcement that the Democratic presidential candidate is with us on investing in public education and would bring all of the resources of the federal government to bear to help combat the spread of the coronavirus. Joe Biden is the experienced and empathic leader our country needs right now, Weingarten said. Biden has pledged to triple funding for the Title I program that serves disadvantaged students, in order to increase teacher pay and provide more supports for students. He also wants universal prekindergarten programs for 3- and 4-year olds, and a revival of Obama administration initiatives to encourage desegregation efforts in local school districts. The National Education Association endorsed Biden on March 14. Both unions have been navigating tricky political waters since the 2016 elections, when some members of both unions expressed dissatisfaction with how the labor groups went about their endorsement process. (Both unions backed Democratic candidate and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton). Last month, the AFT encouraged its state and local affiliaties to work on behalf of three Democratic presidential candidates : Biden, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. In her personal capacity, Weingarten endorsed Warren for president before the Massachusetts senator withdrew from the race. Photo: Former Vice President Joe Biden talks with supporters during a campaign rally for Pennsylvania Democratic candidates for Congress in 2018. (Butch Comegys/The Times-Tribune via AP) Follow us on Twitter @PoliticsK12 . And follow the Politics K-12 reporters @EvieBlad @Daarel and @AndrewUjifusa . The window to win this war is about seven to 14 days. If the United States intervenes immediately on the scale that China did, our death toll could be under 100,000. Within three to four months we might be able to begin a return to more normal lives. There are five top priority areas for action: Public Health Measures Many seriously affected states have led the way by closing schools, bars, restaurants and nonessential businesses and by issuing shelter-in-place orders. Unfortunately, because this is not uniform across the country, states that do so are experiencing economic distress while still facing threats from neighbors that are slower to put restrictions in place. States that have so far had relatively low levels of Covid-19 could pre-empt stress on their health systems by acting now. President Trump needs to immediately order the closing of all schools and nonessential businesses and impose a shelter-in-place policy for the entire country. The majority of the population is already experiencing some version of this protocol or feeling the effects economically; we need to standardize these protocols for the full public health impact. If these measures are complied with fully, then we may be able to lift them slowly in two to three months, when the percentage of people infected has plateaued and the number of new infections is near zero. The president needs to establish a system of social pressure for local governments to wield to enforce physical distancing strictly but compassionately. He must order mayors to close most streets to vehicular traffic to make them pedestrian spaces, open enough for Americans to be outside at a safe distance. Exceptions can be made for traffic with a clinical purpose (going to a doctors office or pharmacy). A driver who claimed to have smoked only one joint two days before reporting for work has been sacked after testing positive for cannabis. In the case, the driver for the building supplies company was the fifth worker to be dismissed by the company since January 2017 for failed drugs tests. The driver sued for unfair dismissal at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) and stated that he had only a single joint on the Saturday night before reporting from work on the Monday and that smoking the cannabis joint was a mistake. The driver argued that he was not under the influence of any substance on the day of the initial test and that no consideration was given to any alternative sanction other than dismissal. However, WRC Adjudication Officer, Roger McGrath found that the drivers claim for unfair dismissal is not well founded. Mr McGrath stated that there is no doubt that the driver smoked an illegal substance prior to undergoing the initial test. He found that considering the drivers safety critical role, the companys decision to dismiss falls within the range of reasonableness. The company pointed out that the driver had himself undergone at least one test previously and must have been aware that four colleagues had been dismissed for breaches of the policy in the previous two years. The company submits that on February 18th 2019, the driver along with several other employees were the subject of a random alcohol and drug testing process. The driver tested positive for cannabis. After a disciplinary process, the driver was dismissed on April 12th 2019. The dismissal letter stated that illegal substances had been detected in the driver's system which is a serious breach of company policy. In the letter, the company stated that the consumption of substances can impair the behaviour of a person in a safety critical role which is a serious failure in their duty and cannot be tolerated in any way. The manager who made the decision to dismiss the worker stated that the drivers role was a safety critical role and he could not trust that such an incident could not occur again in the future. The company told the hearing that it requires all staff to work to its values of respect, accountability, and integrity. The company stated that it is legally obliged to take all the necessary steps to safeguard the workplace and ensure the safety of staff and of the public in respect of its drivers. The company stated that there are significant potential consequences of the drivers actions in his capacity as a driver and therefore, the sanction of dismissal was a justifiable response in the circumstances of the case. The driver told the WRC that the decision to sack him was unwarranted or at least too severe. The driver stated that he was a very good employee, prudent, committed to his job and had an excellent work record. He pointed out that at the time of his dismissal he did not have any warnings on his file. The driver also suggested that the overall decision to dismiss him was coloured by his work history; that he had previously made allegations of bullying against his manager and that he had rejected the company offer of an exit package in December 2018. MasterChef Australia has confirmed its return date with 24 contestants and new judges Jock Zonfrillo, Melissa Leong and Andy Allen. It resumes (Easter) Monday, 13 April at 7.30pm with chef Gordon Ramsay (there are no dates yet for its expected competition Lego Masters and House Rules). On the weekend it was confirmed Ben Ungermann has been dropped from the series, but given he still appears in promos this will probably take effect during the broadcast season. MasterChef Australia, the highly anticipated cooking show is returning for an incredible 12th season with a tasty new recipe. Returning to the MasterChef kitchen are 24 much-loved and respected former contestants. Although these familiar faces from the past 11 seasons have forged incredible careers in the food industry, they all have some unfinished business they are back to win. The Rajya Sabha on Monday bid farewell to 57 members, including veteran NCP leader Sharad Pawar, who will retire between April and July. One-third of the members of the Upper House retire every two years. As many as 57 Rajya Sabha members from 20 states will be retiring in the next three months. Bidding farewell, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said some of the retiring members have been re-elected. However, the House will continue to miss those who will not be coming back, he said. Stating that change is inevitable and the only constant in life, Naidu noted, "Membership of the parliament in general and Rajya Sabha, in particular, is an honour which comes with its unique set of challenges that calls for significant accountability towards the citizens of our country." "To be able to represent masses and raise their issues and concerns, and address them is itself a privilege and a noble service which only a select few get," he added. Naidu also highlighted the "stellar contribution" made by eight retiring women members. Besides Pawar, Union minister Ramdas Athawale (RPI- Athawale), Congress veteran Motilal Vora, former Union minister Vijay Goel (BJP) are among the key members retiring from the Upper House. The other retiring members include Ramnarayan Dudi, Narayan Lal Panchariya Mahant Shambhuprasadji Tundiya, Satyanarayan Jatiya and Prabhat Jha from BJP, and Mohammad Ali Khan, B K Hariprasad from the Congress. In her farewell speech, AIADMK leader Vijila Sathyananth demanded Bharat Ratna for former late Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa, while Congress leader K V P Ramachandra Rao said he is retiring with a heavy heart as his party's demand of special category status to Andhra Pradesh is not yet fulfilled. The elections to 55 Rajya Sabha seats falling vacant in April will be held on March 26. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after the Bihar government imposed a lockdown in urban areas of the state to check the spread of Covid-19, people were seen thronging market places and medical stores to stock up on essentials. In state capital Patna, residents moved around freely in cars and bikes, some of them queuing up next to petrol pumps and ATMs. Tea shops and snack stalls were also open throughout the day, as people stood next to each other to relish their cuppa, without following the advised norms of social distancing. One or two private buses and auto-rickshaws were also seen plying the roads, in violation of the lockdown order. A vendor at a local market in the state capital said his customers were buying vegetables and milk for a week, as they are sceptical about the availability of essential items over the next few days. Asked what actions were being taken against those flouting rules, Patna Divisional Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Agarwal said 53 vehicles have been seized so far for violating the order. The administration will take appropriate action against those who fail to abide by the rules, he asserted. In Muzaffarpur and Siwan districts, too, a few private buses, with passengers in excess of their capacity, were plying the roads. At Bariya bus stand in Muzaffarpur, however, police personnel were seen vacating the vehicles, asking people to return to their homes. "With so many people out on the streets, it seems no one is taking this lockdown seriously. The administration should take necessary actions to strictly enforce the lockdown in the interest of common people, Sanjeev Kumar, a businessman and a resident of Muzaffarpur, said. The Bihar government had on Sunday enforced a lockdown in all district headquarters, sub-divisional headquarters, block headquarters and urban local bodies of the state with immediate effect till March 31. In a circular issued in this regard, it, however, clarified that all necessary and essential services -- groceries, medicines, dairy shops, petrol pump, CNG stations, banking, ATM, post office, print and electronic media -- have been kept out of the purview of the lockdown. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As colleges across the nation transition to online classes in response to the coronavirus pandemic, UC Berkeley is among a handful of schools moving to a pass-fail grading system. University officials informed the campus community in a letter Friday that the default grading basis for all undergraduate courses for the spring 2020 semester will be changed to Passed/Not Passed. However, instructors will continue to maintain records of letter grades, and students will be allowed to change their grading option to letter grade until at least May 6, school officials said. Maja Ahmann, a UC Berkeley junior majoring in legal studies with a minor in public policy, approved of the decision. I think it was definitely the right decision as someone who is back home in Nebraska and has other focuses in life besides school right now, she said in a phone interview Monday. This is a good way to get major requirements filled while not stressing about your GPA. Ahmann returned last week to Lincoln, Neb., where her parents live. They were in the process of closing on a home purchase when she unexpectedly moved back from school. Ahmann is taking classes online from a couch in an Airbnb where the family is currently staying. The change to pass-fail grading comes with challenges. Varsha Sarveshwar, a UC Berkeley senior majoring in political science and president of the system-wide University of California Student Association, said shes heard from students who are worried about the impact on their graduate-school applications. I think much of this will get clarified over time, she wrote in an e-mail to The Chronicle. Sarveshwar added, Students are broadly supportive of measures that make grading this spring more lenient. UC Berkeleys rigorous curriculum cannot be quickly shifted to online instruction and then graded normally. More than a dozen four-year universities in the U.S. are expanding pass-fail options because of the coronavirus crisis, according to Insidehighered.com. Duke University in Durham, N.C., is among those schools, the website said. UC Berkeley officials said the Academic Senate approved the shift in response to the unusual and challenging circumstances instructors and students are presently facing, and the additional challenges that might lay ahead due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Other UC campuses are still weighing whether to follow Berkeleys lead on grading policy for the spring semester or quarter. Given the flexibility delegated to campuses, we do not have a single systemwide directive on grading, said Kum-Kum Bhavnani, chair of the UC Academic Senate, told The Chronicle. We leave it to campuses to implement as best fit the needs of their particular campus. Michael Uhlenkamp, a spokesman for the California State University system, said none of the Cal State campuses have moved to pass-fail grading for the spring semester. San Francisco Chronicle reporter Nanette Asimov contributed to this report. Ron Kroichick is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rkroichick@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ronkroichick Camden County Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli on Monday described the effort to get supplies to open a coronavirus drive-thru testing site in South Jersey as the Wild West out there. Its truly the wild west out there when trying to procure these items, he said, adding that the county was going to be purchasing hand sanitizer from a local distillery that is making it. County officials had started to set up tents and materials for the test site last week in the main parking lot of Camden County College in the Blackwood section of Gloucester Township. Cappelli said all that was needed to open was test kits. They have still not arrived, Cappelli said during a streamed news conference Monday afternoon. But the countys three main hospital systems, Cooper, Jefferson and Virtua do have kits, he added. Cooper announced on Monday not only did it have the colletion kits, but it could also now conduct the tests in-house. We are pleased to announce that Cooper will be able to test more of our patients as well as our team of tremendous doctors and nurses more quickly to slow the spread of COVID-19, said George E. Norcross, III, Chairman of Coopers Board of Trustees. An 80-year-old woman from Barrington who died Sunday was the first coronavirus victim from the county, officials said Monday. Our hearts go out to the woman from Barrington, Cappelli said. There are likely to be more deaths in the coming weeks and months if we do not adhere to the governors orders, practice social distancing, and stay home as much as possible. Fifteen new cases of the virus were reported in Camden County Monday, bringing the county total to 39. New Jersey's opened its first government-run drive-thru coronavirus testing site Friday, March 20 at 8 a.m. at Bergen Community College in Paramus.Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Adva New Jersey now has at least 2,844 coronavirus cases with 27 deaths as officials announced Monday 935 new positive tests on the same day the second state-run testing site opened in Monmouth County and quickly hit capacity due to overwhelming demand. Theres clearly community spread going on," Gov. Phil Murphy said at a news briefing in Trenton on Monday. "Theres also a lot more testing going on. As the testing regime expands, were going to see these numbers go up in a big way. We are getting a clearer and better sense of how far the coronavirus has already spread. The seven new deaths reported Monday include five men and two women ranging in age from 57 to 91. Two of those who died were from Bergen County and there was one death each in Warren, Somerset, Union, Passaic and Essex counties. One of the deaths was associated with a long-term care facility and two cases have confirmed to have involved patients with underlying health conditions. Cappelli said he had spoken to Murphy on Sunday and the two agreed on the need for a testing site in the region. The Federal Emergency Management Administration may end up setting up a mass testing site in South Jersey, but those details have not been finalized. Staff writer Matt Arco contributed to this report. If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @bduhart. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. A man serves pizzas in an Italian restaurant, which delivers pizza for free for health care workers during the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Budapest By Krisztina Fenyo and Balazs Kaufmann BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Milan Varga saved for three years to be able to open his small pizzeria in Budapest last Monday. On Tuesday his customers all but disappeared as streets emptied due to the coronavirus epidemic. With lots of ingredients stocked up, Varga quickly changed his plans and joined a growing number of Hungarians who have responded to the crisis with acts of kindness. He is now delivering free pizzas to the elderly who have to self-isolate in their homes. "If I cannot sell pizzas at least I can help those in need by giving them free pizzas if they voluntarily put themselves into quarantine, and thus I am trying to look after them and make sure they stay at home," the 20-year-old said. Varga is now delivering half of his daily pizza output free. As the Central European country closed its borders to foreign citizens and shut down schools to contain the spread of the coronavirus, more and more Hungarians have decided to help the elderly and vulnerable, as well as healthcare workers who will bear the brunt of the crisis. Members of the Facebook group "Budapest Airbnb community for the health workers", which now has more than 1,200 members, are offering their flats to nurses and other healthcare workers who want to self-isolate to protect their families. Budapest had more than 10,000 Airbnb flats before the crisis hit, and the business collapsed overnight as tourists disappeared. "We think that those who can should help those who are doing the actual work with action, with money, with kind words - we have no idea from the four walls at home about the hardships that the health workers are going through now," said Viktoria Hojer-Szabo, who owns three Airbnb flats in Budapest. A nurse from Budapest's central hospital treating coronavirus patients lives in one of her flats now. So far 43 healthcare workers have moved into vacant Airbnb flats. On Lake Balaton, Hungary's main summer holiday destination, Gergely Toth, manager of the Sunshine hotel in the town of Siofok, offered hotel rooms to Hungarians who have returned from work abroad and have had to go into two-week quarantine. Story continues Many people employed on Lake Balaton in the summer work abroad during the winter season. There are 39 people in the hotel now, which is giving them free meals. "I ... assumed they would not have the means to self-isolate themselves from their family here," Toth said. (Reporting by Krisztina Fenyo, Writing by Krisztina Than; Editing by Giles Elgood) Never discount the importance of venality in international relations. While pandemics should provide the glue for a unified front in response we keep being told of fighting this horrendous invisible enemy its business as usual in other respects. The United States, with a disparate, confused medical system that risks being overwhelmed, remains committed against that other country floundering in efforts to combat COVID-19: Iran. Instead of binding the nations, the virus, as with everything else, has served as a political obstacle. This has led to a few glaring oddities. The first lies on the policy approach to US-led sanctions, which continues with usual viciousness. Last week, the US State Department added nine new entities and three individuals to the sanctions list against Iran. According to the press statement, The actions of these individuals and entities provide revenue to the regime that it may use to fund terror and other destabilizing activities, such as the recent rocket attacks on Iraqi and Coalition forces located at Camp Taji in Iraq. The aim here was to deprive the regime of critical income from its petrochemical industry and further Irans economic and diplomatic isolation. The Trump administration has insisted on pursuing the Iranian bogeyman with an enthusiasm verging on mania. Its attempts to scuttle Tehrans 2015 nuclear agreement with six world powers has, to a certain extent, been successful. This has merely added gusto to Tehrans defiance. The US has also sought to impress the Iranian armed forces that their influence in the Middle East remains on notice: the killing of Major General Qassem Soleimani of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Coprs was sharp, bloody and bankrupt in terms of strategy. The coronavirus outbreak may well be seen as offering other opportunities to bring Iran to its knees. The desiccated tacticians are out with their spread sheets and tables wondering what will be most effective approach. The sanctions, as they tend to, have targeted the vulnerable, though never touch the well-heeled. The health system has suffered; shortages in equipment and medicines are savagely biting. A team of researchers at Sharif University of Technology in Tehran have concluded, using simulations, that 3.5 million deaths might eventuate in Iran if the crisis persists at its current momentum till May. A truly horrendous toll that, should it eventuate, would not necessarily give Washington what it wants: submission and regime change. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has insisted on conditions to any state wishing to offer humanitarian assistance to Iran. The release of all dual and foreign nationals is a primary condition. A cumbersome, red-tape Swiss channel has also been established to facilitate trade with Iran, but US oversight makes the option ungainly. Amidst the tangle have come small offers of assistance from Washington; first the brutal slap, then the promise of miniscule relief. Scepticism was forthcoming. What was the Great Satan playing at? Several times Americans have offered to help us to fight the pandemic, assessed a sceptical Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a televised address over the weekend. That is strange because you face shortages in America. Irans supreme leader had an explanation. Using the conspiratorial language that President Donald Trump has made ritualistic and famous, he claimed, that the virus was specifically built for Iran using the genetic data of Iranians which they have obtained through different means. He also retorted with the Chinese thesis on the subject. Also, you are accused of creating this virus. To accept medicines from the US might assist in spreading the virus or cause it to remain permanently. The continued sanctions regime despite the crippling effect of COVID-19 has prompted calls for an easing, if not lifting altogether. China has taken the lead on the issue, and the international relations cognoscenti sense a pronounced step in the virus propaganda war. Its Foreign Ministry has urged the US to, in the words of spokesman Geng Shuang, immediately lift unilateral sanctions on Iran. Continued sanctions are against humanitarianism and hamper Irans epidemic response and delivery of humanitarian aid. Russia has also added its voice of support, with its Foreign Ministry arguing that, Illegal unilateral US sanctions, imposed since May 2018 as part of the maximum pressure campaign, are a powerful obstacle to the effective fight against the infection. One firm US ally might also be softening its stance. The case of the Iranian-British dual national Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has seen prospects for an easing of pressure. Her release from Iranian captivity, a period lasting five years, was a topic of discussion between UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and his counterpart Javad Zarif last week. Options pertaining to practical help for Iran were also discussed. Even within US political circles, the Trump administrations insistence on politicising aid is proving worrying. We should never be conditioning humanitarian aid, opined Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) to the National Interest. We need to be engaged in the world, providing the leadership, and solving the pandemic, and giving help to countries that need it. The good member of Congress might also consider that leadership also entails sorting out the domestic front before sending in the cavalry of rescue. A country short of respirators, masks and beds would be a poor contender for that role. Azadeh Moaveni of the International Crisis Group, and human rights advocate Sussan Tahmasebi, founder of Femena, argue that suspending the sanctions regime during the course of the COVID-19 outbreak should not be seen as a troubling or even monumental thing to do. To control the virus should not be deemed a favour to the Iranian regime but more for Iranians and indeed, to the rest of the world. That would entail, almost impossibly, abandoning the temptations of Realpolitik and the urgings of insensible patriotism. Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He lectures at RMIT University, Melbourne. Email: [email protected] Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday said he has demanded a Centre's relief package for the state's tourism and hospitality industry, MSMEs and the weaker sections of the society. In a statement, Gehlot said he has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demanded the relief package for those affected by the economic impact of the novel coronavirus. The chief minister further said there is an unemployment crisis for 29 lakh families, including daily wagers, construction labourers and street vendors and demanded food security and unemployment allowance for them. Gehlot said the Centre should announce a relief package so that people do not suffer. He said a GST payment waiver or postponement for tourism and hospitality industry and MSMEs has also been requested from the Centre. The banks should provide support to the industries by rescheduling the loan installments and the Centre should decide whether to waive the payment of income tax or postpone it, Gehlot said. The chief minister said he has also mentioned in the letter to PM Modi the Rajasthan government's announcement of SGST reimbursement for the state's tourism and hospitality industry. Gehlot said he has also written a letter to the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in this regard and urged her to address the crisis being faced by the state's tourism and hospitality industry. Also read: Coronavirus: How UP, Rajasthan, Gujarat are dealing with virus scare Also read: Coronavirus in India Live updates: PM Modi briefs top journalists on current situation A "Department of Justice" sign is seen on the wall of the US Department of Justice building in Washington on April 18, 2019. (Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images) DOJ Drops Case Against Russian Companies Charged in Mueller Investigation The Department of Justice (DOJ) on March 23 filed a motion in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to drop charges against two Russian companies charged as a result of special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation. Concord Management and Consulting LLC and Concord Catering were among three companies, including the Internet Research Agency (IRA), and 13 Russian individuals charged in 2018 in an indictment secured by Mueller as part of an investigation into election interference from Moscow. Prosecutors said they operated a sophisticated scheme which included the use of social media postings and campaigns aimed at spreading disinformation, dividing American public opinion and sowing discord in the electorate. Concord is controlled by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a wealthy businessman often referred to as Putins chef for his close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He has been hit with U.S. sanctions over Russian interference in the 2016 election and is charged alongside his company in the indictment brought by Mueller. However, in a nine-page filing on Monday, prosecutors said that the Concord companies were intent on reaping the benefits of the Courts jurisdiction while positioning itself to evade any real obligations or responsibility. Prosecutors said they concluded that further proceedings as to Concord, a Russian company with no presence in the United States and no exposure to meaningful punishment in the event of a conviction, promotes neither the interests of justice nor the nations security. The New York Times reports that the DOJs concerns over documents it might have to provide to Concord which may be published online also contributed to the case being dropped, with an official telling the outlet that the motion was filed to preserve national security interests and prevent Russia from weaponizing sensitive American law enforcement information. The Concord companies filed a series of motions over the last two years, including to dismiss charges and to exclude certain evidence from the case. Prigozhin has also previously filed a sworn statement with the court seeking to distance himself from the alleged wrongdoing of his company. Following the filing of the motion on March 23, Prigozhin thanked his lawyer Eric Dubelier for leading the case to a victorious end, and argued the prosecutions decision means claims that Russian interfered in the 2016 race are lies and fiction, according to The Washington Times. President Donald Trump also weighed in on the trial being dropped on Monday night, retweeting two tweets from other users, one of which read, How embarrassing for Team Mueller. Concord Management and Consulting LLC, was due to face a criminal trial in the case in April, however this may have been delayed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Maputo (AFP) - Suspected jihadists on Monday attacked military barracks and ringed a northern Mozambican town, hoisting their flag a few kilometres from a major gas exploration site, police said. The attack took place in Mocimboa da Praia, where a shadowy jihadist group first launched its offensive in October 2017. Locals call the group Al-Shabaab but it is not linked to a group by the same name operating in battle-scarred Somalia. "Evildoers burst into the main town of Mocimboa da Praia and began exchanging shots with the defence and security forces," national police commander Bernardino Rafael told reporters in the capital Maputo. He said fighting was still going on and called on inhabitants to be wary of insurgents who "may want to infiltrate". Police spokesman Orlando Mudumane said the attack was launched before sunrise and that the insurgents had "hoisted their flag" in the town. Another police officer in Mocimboa da Praia told AFP "the attackers surrounded virtually the entire small town and now control the air base, the port and the police stations". "They placed barricades on the road to prevent reinforcements from arriving," the officer said. The faceless group has killed more than 700 people, according to the medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) -- causing hundreds of thousands to flee the gas-rich region and raising concern among energy giants. While the insurgents have so far mainly targeted remote villages, Monday's attack was directed at Mocimboa's military headquarters in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique's northernmost province. Mocimboa da Praia has not been targeted by jihadists since October 5, 2017, when its members stormed a police station and a military post. French company Total owns a $25 million stake in a liquified natural gas project around 60 kilometres (40 miles) from Mocimboa da Praia. President Filipe Nyusi vowed to stem the Cabo Delgado attacks after he was sworn in for a second five-year term in January. But government troops have been struggling to restore order, despite pressure by oil giants to deploy more soldiers in the area. By Michael Erman NEW YORK (Reuters) - At least four state pharmacy boards have taken steps to limit prescriptions of potential coronavirus treatments touted by U.S. President Donald Trump that are in short supply as demand has surged with the rapid spread of the outbreak. State pharmacy boards in Texas, Ohio, Idaho and Nevada in recent days moved to restrict who can be prescribed the malaria treatments chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, and how much of the drugs can be prescribed, according to documents filed by the boards. Texas has also limited prescriptions of the antibiotic azithromycin as well as another anti-malarial drug, mefloquine. There are currently no approved treatments or preventive vaccines for COVID-19, the highly contagious, sometimes deadly respiratory illness caused by the new coronavirus. Researchers are studying existing treatments and working on experimental ones, but most current patients receive only supportive care such as breathing assistance. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), which maintains a list of drug shortages, said hydroxychloroquine was in shortage as of Thursday. It listed four out of eight manufacturers of the drug as being in shortage. The four pharmacy boards passed rules or guidance that would limit most prescriptions of the drugs to 14 days. The Nevada and Ohio rules dictate that the drugs can only be used for treatment not prevention of COVID-19. Texas and Idaho said that the prescription needs a diagnosis "consistent with the evidence for its use." The new coronavirus that emerged in December in China has spread to more than 170 countries and all 50 U.S. states. Trump has called on U.S. health regulators to expedite potential therapies aimed at treating COVID-19. On Saturday, he tweeted about the combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, saying it had "a real chance to be one of the biggest game changers in the history of medicine." The nation's top infectious disease expert, Anthony Fauci, played down that claim, saying the therapy must be tested to assure its safety and efficacy. Story continues Pharmacists on Saturday said many drug distributors were out of stock of azithromycin and others were limiting sales of the antibiotic. In addition to malaria, hydroxychloroquine is used to treat lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Doctors and pharmacists said hoarding it for coronavirus could hurt patients with those conditions. Pharmacists have already seen doctors prescribing the drugs for themselves or their families, according to Erin Fox, senior director of drug information at University of Utah Health, which has 12 retail pharmacies. "We saw this specifically at our organization and we worked quickly to not fill those prescriptions," Fox said. (Reporting by Michael Erman; Editing by Bill Berkrot) Little Free Libraries in the Bay Area, once a charming home for dog-eared Tom Clancy novels or an extra copy of Goodnight Moon, are turning into coronavirus supply stations filling with food, soap and rolls of that most sought-after item: toilet paper. The local libraries reflect a national trend, according to officials from the nonprofit that started the program, who noticed a shift beginning more than a week ago. Along with staples aimed toward survival, items for self-medicating have showed up as well, including Girl Scout cookies and at least one small bottle of Jack Daniels bourbon. Linda Cazares of Alameda converted her free library to a pantry a few days ago, after remembering a coffee shop in San Diego, near a large homeless population, which had two library boxes one for books and one for food. I feel so hopeless, and not able to do anything for people, Cazares said. If somebody is in need then they know its here, and I know this community will keep on keeping it full. After a photo of her pantry was shared by The Chronicle on social media, readers came forward reporting similar pantries in San Francisco, San Mateo, Hayward and Napa. The Little Free Library program began in Hudson, Wis., in 2009, when resident Todd Bol built a model of a one-room schoolhouse on a post in his front yard, and filled it with books as a tribute to his teacher mother. The nonprofit now reports more than 100,000 libraries in more than 100 countries. Sue Trowbridge Little Free Library executive director M. Greig Metzger said the move toward coronavirus crisis help has happened organically, with no announcement from the organization. Their DNA is about sharing and helping others in their community, Metzger said by phone on Sunday from his Wisconsin home. Its no surprise that this is happening at all in my mind. And its a credit to very caring individuals who want to help the best they can. In Napa, Kristin Ranuio was already considering shutting down her Little Free Library, fearing that the passing of books might be unwise with the coronavirus spreading. Instead, she added rice, protein bars and after receiving a large shipment early from Amazon rolls of toilet paper. Ranuio said after multiple tragedies in Napa including the Tubbs Fire in 2017, she was already stocked up for a disaster, and her community is battle-tested and ready to help each other out. Weve had fire, earthquake, drought, and now this all just in the last six years, Ranuio said. Were pretty damned resilient. Ranuio left written instructions on her library to leave only sealed products, after sanitizing and washing hands. Metzger said its up to individual library stewards to take the steps they feel comfortable to make their Little Free Libraries seem safe while the coronavirus spreads. Weve actually had a steward who has been sanitizing their books and wrapping them in brown paper and putting them in their Little Free Library, Metzger said. Metzger also wrote a blog post last week, illustrated with an Illinois library pantry filled with toilet paper, recommending that library stewards sharing food think about mounting a larger campaign for their food bank or another community organization. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Cazares, who manages a 200-unit housing cooperative in Alameda, said her Little Free Library is a microcosm of a larger program at the complex, where volunteers are checking in on older residents. She plans to begin distributing larger quantities of food and personal care products at her office entrance. We have a large elderly community there, and were trying to stay on top of it and make sure their needs are met, Cazares said. In Napa, Ranuio said the Little Free Library is a small part of something bigger happening in her community, where citizens have been sharing information, and using the Nextdoor app to organize shopping trips for elderly or infirm neighbors. We were raised this way to give back, and were raising our kids to give back, Ranuio said. We say if you live there its your town, and if you participate its your community. This feels like a very strong community right now. Peter Hartlaub is The San Francisco Chronicle pop culture critic. Email: phartlaub@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @PeterHartlaub New York: US President Donald Trump on Sunday said he would approve the construction of four emergency hospital sites in and around New York City, heeding calls for urgent federal help as the Empire State shut down all nonessential businesses in a bid to keep the number of coronavirus patients from spiralling out of control. US President Donald Trump has been put under pressure by the outbreak. Credit:AP The pledge came as discussions broke down in the Senate over a stimulus package for the economy, and Republican Senator Rand Paul said he had tested positive for coronavirus. Nervous New Yorkers braced for their strange lives during the pandemic to get even stranger, with little more than the basic necessities available. New York is one of several states to order a sweeping shutdown. Responding to a public demand from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, Trump said he would authorise federal action on four temporary hospital sites, with 250 beds each to start. Medical staff wait to take swab samples from people arriving at Noi Bai airport, Hanoi, March 18, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy. The Health Ministry has allowed 19 medical facilities to test for Covid-19 in addition to the three approved by the World Health Organization. Since the outbreak began in Vietnam in late January, only the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Hanoi, the Pasteur Institute in Saigon and the Pasteur Institute in Nha Trang, the three facilities approved by WHO, have been allowed to confirm positive samples. Others only carried out tests for preliminary confirmation, transferring positive samples to one of the three centers for a final test and announcement of the result. Since Saturday the 19 facilities across the country that have been newly designated have also been allowed to do the final tests and announce their diagnoses. They are the Centers for Disease Control in Hanoi, Yen Bai, Lao Cai, Quang Ninh, Can Tho, and Da Nang; the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases, Bach Mai Hospital, the Military Institute of Preventive Medicine, the Central Children's Hospitala nd the Military Hospital 108 in Hanoi; the Vietnam Russia Tropical Center, the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi, Cho Ray Hospital, and the Children's Hospital No.1 in HCMC; the Hue Central Hospital; the Central Highlands Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology; Thai Nguyen Central Hospital and Phu Thos General Hospital in northern Vietnam. Promptly, just a day later on Sunday, the ministry confirmed 19 new infection cases, the highest number in a day since the start of the epidemic in Vietnam. As of Monday Vietnam had 99 confirmed Covid-19 cases under treatment. 17 patients had been treated and discharged from hospital. Of the current cases, 10 have tested negative at least once and should be discharged soon. Many of the current patients are foreigners or Vietnamese returning from Europe and the U.S. Starting Sunday Vietnam suspended entry for all foreign nationals, including those of Vietnamese origin and family members with visa waivers. The Covid-19 pandemic has so far infected more than 330,000 people globally, claiming more than 14,600 lives. Library staff determined that shelving space in the Zimmerman Library was between 76% and 97% full. To get to "somewhere between 70% and 75% capacity, we would have to remove between 120,000 and 180,000 items," said Susanne. The library was preparing for a large weeding project, but the acquisition of University of New Mexico Press allowed library staff to convert the press's warehouse into the South Campus Repository (SCR). Susanne explained, "We are going to be able to install proper library off-site storage shelving," giving the SCR a capacity of about 1.5 million items of lesser-used monographs and of periodicals. But a shift of this scale introduces many challenges. The University of New Mexico's University Libraries have about 3.5 million items in four buildings, explained Susanne Clement, Associate Professor and Director of Collections. The main Zimmerman Library, designed by John Gaw Meem in the Spanish Pueblo style, opened in 1938. While beautiful, the historical significance of the building makes renovation difficult, explained Susanne. "Even the metal poles that hold up shelving [are] actually part of the structural design. You can't do any reconfiguration of floors in that particular tower, which means it can only be used for shelving." "Being as transparent as we have been, being able to give faculty the opportunity to look at the data if they wanted to the responses we've had so far have been very, very positive from our faculty." "We've certainly known about GreenGlass for quite a long time," Susanne said. "We also talked with a lot of libraries about their experiences, even had an opportunity to look at some of the raw data that GreenGlass provided and the web interface. We knew what it would look like before we even committed to go with GreenGlass," she said. Library staff talked to every department in the university about moving things to off-site storage. Using GreenGlass data, "We gave them an overview of how much is there, how much of it had not circulated," Susanne said. Similar to national data, library staff found that about 40% of their collection had never been checked out. Library staff proposed to the English department that anything published before 1960 that hadn't circulated in at least the last 15 years be moved to off-site storage. "And they said, You're being way too conservative. Go at least up to 1970.'" Because the library staff was able to support their recommendations with real, up-to-date data, faculty have been largely supportive of the effort to move books to the SCR. Susanne credits GreenGlass for providing her with the tools she needed for these conversations. "The real benefit for me is the collection analysis that I can do with it," she added. "I think that what we have found using GreenGlass is that we're going to make collections easier to use." I see where the universities are coming from, Whittle said. We do have a lot of professors and students who have health complications and cant afford to be exposed to anything. I see why they did it, but it definitely affects every part of our lives in every way, in more negative ways than positive ways. RICHMOND, Va., March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Capital Square Realty Advisors, LLC, a leading sponsor of tax-advantaged real estate investments, announced today that CSRA Opportunity Zone Fund I, LLC, a project-specific opportunity zone fund, has been fully subscribed by investors. The private placement offering raised $7 million to help develop Scott's Collection I, a mixed-use multifamily property in the Scott's Addition designated opportunity zone in Richmond, Virginia. "Capital Square is gratified by the strong interest from investors in the Richmond area and nationwide," said Louis Rogers, founder and chief executive officer of Capital Square. "Scott's Addition is truly a national story an industrial area that is being transformed into a highly desirable live, work and play neighborhood." Located at 3000 3008 West Clay St., Scott's Collection I is a single-structure, ground-up development that will include a five-story, Class A multifamily community with 80 units, private balconies and a lobby area. Situated on approximately 0.54 acres of land, Scott's Collection I will feature a 3,700-square-foot, elevated courtyard and 65-70 onsite parking spaces. The corner-lot property has unobstructed views of the Scott's Addition neighborhood and downtown Richmond. "This project is well-positioned to deliver attractive risk-adjusted results for our investors during a uniquely challenging period for the American economy," said Adam Stifel, executive vice president of development. "We are pleased to do our part by providing employment opportunities in our local community when we break ground early this summer." Established in 1901, Scott's Addition is a historic area that is now the City of Richmond's fastest growing neighborhood and the second-highest performing market with an approximately 98% occupancy, according to Yardi Matrix. Scott's Addition is a designated opportunity zone. According to Yardi Matrix, Scott's Addition's apartment rental rates are projected to increase 3% to 4% per year for five years between 2020 and 2024. Opportunity zones were created to stimulate long-term private investments in low-income urban and rural communities nationwide, along with certain contiguous areas. Conceived as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, opportunity zone funds are intended to help foster economic growth by providing tax benefits to incentivize private investments in designated opportunity zones. About Capital Square Capital Square is a national real estate firm specializing in tax-advantaged real estate investments, including Delaware statutory trusts for Section 1031 exchanges and qualified opportunity zone funds for tax deferral and exclusion. Capital Square has completed approximately $1.9 billion in transaction volume. Capital Square's executive team has decades of experience in real estate investments. Its founder, Louis Rogers, has structured hundreds of investment offerings totaling in excess of $5 billion. Capital Square's related entities provide a range of services, including due diligence, acquisition, loan sourcing, property/asset management, and disposition, for a growing number of high net worth investors, private equity firms, family offices and institutional investors. In 2017, 2018 and 2019, Capital Square was awarded by Inc. 5000 as one of the fastest growing companies. In 2017 and 2018, the company was also ranked on Richmond BizSense's list of fastest growing companies. In 2019, Capital Square was listed by Virginia Business on their "Best Places to Work in Virginia" and "Fantastic 50" reports. To learn more, visit www.CapitalSquare1031.com. Disclaimer: Securities offered through WealthForge Securities, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Capital Square and WealthForge are not affiliated. Opportunity Zone Fund Investments involve a high degree of risk. There are risks associated with acquiring, financing, owning, constructing, leasing and operating multi-family real estate located in Richmond, Virginia. Investor Units do not represent a diversified investment because each of the Opportunity Zone Funds' activities will be limited to the Property. Although Capital Square and its affiliates have extensive experience in acquiring, improving and operating commercial real estate, Opportunity Zone Funds and the Manager were recently organized and do not have an operating history or significant assets. Investors will rely solely on the Manager to manage a particular Fund and the Property; the Manager will have broad discretion to make decisions regarding the Property. There are substantial risks associated with developing the Property in an economically disadvantaged, qualified opportunity zone that permits investors in a Fund to qualify for available Opportunity Zone Tax Benefits. A Fund may not make capital distributions until the sale or refinancing of the Property, if at all. Real estate related investments involve substantial risks. Funds will pay substantial fees to the Manager and its affiliates (including CS Development). The Investor Units will be highly illiquid; transferability of the Investor Units is restricted and withdrawals of capital contributions are prohibited. Substantial actual and potential conflicts of interest exist among the Funds, the Manager, Capital Square, CS Development and their affiliates. An investor could lose all or a substantial portion of his investment in any of the Funds. There are tax risks associated with an investment in the Investor Units, including the possibility that government regulations regarding Opportunity Zone investments may change. Contact: Lauren Burgos Spotlight Marketing Communications 949.427.1399 [email protected] SOURCE Capital Square Related Links https://www.capitalsquare1031.com ATHENS The company proposing what would have been a major construction and demolition debris waste facility along the Hudson River has withdrawn its application to the state Department of Environmental Conservation. Athens Stevedoring and Environmental Development LLC had proposed a facility to store and process some 8,400 tons of construction and debris material per week. After crushing, it would have been hauled away by truck from the 6.1 acre waterfront site in Athens. Opponents hailed the withdrawal, pointing to a growing backlash against the concept, which may have been fueled by the ongoing controversy over the existing S. A. Dunn construction and debris landfill in Rensselaer, about 30 miles to the north. A number of groups, including Keep it Greene, Friends of Athens, Hudson Riverkeeper and the Athens Village Coard emerged in recent months to oppose the plan. I noticed a for sale sign and when I called, the owner of the property told me that he was selling to a barge and trucking company, Diana Abadie, of Keep it Greene said in an email. I am very proud of how our entire community came together to make their voices heard, Athens Mayor Stephan Bradicich said in a statement. I have no doubt that the large and unified opposition to this project played a large part in stopping the effort. Athens Stevedoring, which according to business documents is based in Great Neck, Long Island, couldnt be reached for comment on Monday. Opponents launched an online petition with more than 2,000 signatures and got support from local elected representatives Assemblyman Chris Tague, a Republican, and U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado, a Democrat. The controversy isnt over, however. Brewster-based Peckham Industries is looking to build a 600,000-ton capacity construction and debris landfill along the Hudson in Catskill, just south of Athens. Both communities are in Greene County. Peckhams application to the state Department of Environmental Conservation was recently returned as incomplete and Abadie said the community is awaiting further developments. Peckham couldnt be reached on Monday. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. The Hudson riverfront in the area has been cited by developers for landfills due to the unused rock quarries there, said David Walker, a geologist with the Keep It Greene organization. Its no coincidence that these two similar projects landed in the same vicinity. Athens and Catskill are just pieces of a larger puzzle. There are idle quarries along the Hudson River awaiting some new purpose, and New York City is the source of an enormous C&D waste stream, he said in an email. Such refuse is twice the tonnage of the citys municipal waste. And transporting it by barge along the river is less costly than by truck. The S.A. Dunn construction and debris landfill in Rensselaer has drawn opposition for more than a year from nearby residents complaining of dust, odor and truck traffic going to the facility, which is one of the largest in New York State. The landfill, which used to be a gravel pit, also is adjacent to the citys K-12 school complex. That landfill, though, is not along the river. rkarlin@timesunion.com 518-454-5758 @RickKarlinTU Last week, Midland's Center City Authority Board met for its regular afternoon meeting to an empty city chambers room. Selina Tisdale, community affairs director for the city and executive director of the board, gave the board an update on where the Center City Redevelopment plan is currently at. She said the next steps in the plan are to create a new overlay district zoning. The redevelopment plan, which began with a study and public input in 2018, has since been approved by Midland City Council and will change two key areas of Center City - the Saginaw Road corridor from Dartmouth to Patrick roads, and Ashman Circle. The new Saginaw Road streetscape is the priority, however, and the plan is to add 8-foot walkways on both sides of the road, add "statement" lighting, trees and foliage along the road, and consolidate the access points along the roadway for safety. So, the city has begun to email out notices to every property and business owner in the corridor about the overlay zoning changes, which are meant to "modernize infill development and enhance non-motorized opportunities in the corridor." "We've worked really hard to get a refined mailing list for this and we came up with about 320 addresses that were representing businesses and property owners alike, sent these out to the district," Tisdale said at the meeting. Selina said the mailed notices prompted property owners who were interested to know more to contact the city for further discussion, and she said she's only heard from one person so far. She said notifications would go out on the city's social media pages as well and the awareness campaign will last just until the end of March. "If things are kind of quiet and we don't get a whole lot of feedback from the district then we'll move forward with the process of formalizing these recommended changes that came out of the development plan and that formalization process starts at the planning commission level and then goes through to meetings of Midland City Council," Tisdale said. "So, by June or July, we could be in a position of having some new zoning ordinances in place that will support the direction of the redevelopment plan." Also, at the meeting, Tisdale updated the board on funding for the $4.6 million streetscape project. In 2017, Dow granted $1 million to assist with redevelopment, $500,000 of which will be used. That leaves $4.1 million left to raise. Tisdale said conversations have been had with the major foundations in the community, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar, State Sen. Jim Stamas, and State Rep. Annette Glenn, and grant opportunities are being explored. Business updates in Center City Board Member Joe Kozuch gave an update on business activity in Center City: Dive and Glide, a SCUBA shop and travel agency, moved from downtown Midland to a new, larger location in Center City, 600 Cambridge St. Belle's Bakery will be moving in April to the former location of U.S. Coney and Cone, 601 S. Saginaw Road. Mi Elements and Grains is moving forward with their new bakery, coffee shop and microbrewery and had its liquor license approved by city council last week. Save-A-Lot closed on March 15. Shelterhouse is opening a second resale shop location a few doors down from the current location. Tim Horton's is remodeling. Midland County Emergency Food Pantry, 503 S. Saginaw, was approved for a $3,250 facade improvement grant for siding replacement and exterior painting. "There (are) things happening, which is kind of neat for us to see except for now everybody's temporarily closed with restaurants," Kozuch said. Bank of Ireland has announced the temporary closure of more than 100 branches due to the Covid-19 outbreak. In a statement Bank of Ireland said they are working to serve customers impacted by the coronavirus, while also supporting its colleagues in all parts of the business. To achieve this, the Bank said it is making changes to its branch network in the Republic of Ireland from Tuesday, 24 March, to ensure resources are focused on banking services most in demand by customers right now. From Tuesday: 161 branches nationwide will be open as normal. 148 of these will provide a full service to customers, including counter services for cash, coin and cheque services. 13 locations are Advice and Self Service branches these provide cash and cheque lodgement and cash withdrawal facilities through self-service devices, but do not offer a counter service. While 101 locations will close temporarily during the pandemic, Bank of Ireland says every branch will continue to provide an external ATM cash withdrawal service. The company says that of the 101 locations to temporarily close the majority are Advice and Self Service branches which will continue to provide an external ATM cash withdrawal service. Bank of Ireland the figure includes college campus (universities and Institutes of Technology) and hospital branches which closed last week due to the increased public health restrictions in place at these locations. Also closed are airport branches at Cork and Dublin. Durrow and Rathdowney branches will close in Laois. Normal opening hours will continue in the branches that are open. These branches will also continue the provision of prioritised services for over 65s and carers between 10am and 11am, Monday to Friday. Over the past ten days, the Bank says it has seen a reduction in footfall in branches, predominantly at Advice and Self Service locations, while at the same time there has been an increase in customers needing a range of other supports. The company says the changes announced today, Monday, March 23, will allow colleagues from temporarily closed branches to support the Banks larger branches and help contact centres manage the increased volume of customers requiring Covid-19 support, especially for Mortgage and SME loan payment breaks. Gavin Kelly, is the CEO Retail Ireland. Were constantly reviewing our operations to ensure we are providing the right supports for customers through this challenging period. These changes help us to respond to the most pressing needs of our customers right now thats support in managing the impact of coronavirus on their personal finances and on their businesses. These changes also refocus our branch network to our larger locations, which will help us support social distancing. This is extremely important for our customers and colleagues, whose safety and wellbeing is our priority. This will complement the enhanced cleaning and hygiene measures we have in place in our branches, he said. Bank of Ireland has a range of Covid-19 supports for customers including mortgage and loan payment breaks and flexible arrangements, and emergency working capital and payment flexibility on loans for businesses. Visit www.bankofireland.com for further information on all Covid-19 related financial supports. The full list of branches open from Tuesday is available at https://www.bankofireland.com/ help-centre/branch-opening- during-covid-19/. Bhopal: Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who is touted to be BJPs choice for the hot seat again, is likely to take oath on Monday, sources told News18. The swearing-in ceremony of the new BJP ministry will be held at the Raj Bhawan at 9 pm. The BJP legislature party meeting will be held around 7 pm to elect the legislature party leader. The sources said that while names of Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Narottam Mishra, a former minister in the state, were initially doing the rounds, following the fall of the Congress government headed by Kamal Nath, who resigned on Friday, Chouhan has emerged as a frontrunner for the chief ministers post. BJP leaders on Monday said the party needs to choose a leader and stake claim quickly as the state urgently requires a functional government in view of the novel coronavirus outbreak. Chouhan had been in the frame during the entire Madhya Pradesh political crisis. Once the BJP managed to whisk out 22 Congress turncoats to Bengaluru, Chauhan was part of BJPs top-level strategising in Delhi. He is believed to have met Jyotiraditya Scindia several times before the latter crossed the laxman rekha on Holi by meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in full public gaze. The former chief minister also led the BJP petition in Supreme Court against Kamal Nath governments refusal to take a floor test. By constantly interacting with the media, supporters and MLAs, Chouhan kept the impression alive that when opportunity comes he would lead the government. But a setback came on Friday when the party high command indicated that the final decision on who will be Madhya Pradesh CM is yet to be taken. The Nath government fell after 22 Congress MLAs quit the Assembly and later joined the BJP. Irelands chief medical officer is continuing to monitor the situation concerning public flouting of Irelands social distancing measures, put in place in a bid to halt the spread of the coronavirus Covid-19. At a Government briefing this morning Elizabeth Canavan, senior official at the Department of the Taoiseach, said that her Department had received significant feedback and concern from the public relating to non-compliance with social distancing over the weekend. Its clear that the vast majority of citizens are complying with the guidelines, but compliance is not universal, as you have all seen, Ms Canavan said. A number of incidents of mass gathering were reported over the weekend, including at the Sally Gap in the Wicklow Mountains, and at a beach car park at Lahinch in Co Clare, with the gardai eventually closing same in order to discourage people from using the beach en masse. Previously, Health Minister Simon Harris had said that the social distancing measures first introduced 10 days ago were not being taken seriously enough. Its not the summer holidays, Mr Harris said last week. Whether or not Ireland would be convinced to put a full lockdown in place due to insufficient compliance with social distancing remains to be seen. We will continue to teleconference with relevant public authorities, including national parks, wildlife, Coillte, the Heritage Council, and local authorities in order to develop clear, simple public messaging so we can enjoy these public spaces safely at this time, she said. People follow social distancing guidelines as they go for a run in Dublin. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Ms Canavan also raised the issue of certain products currently being advertised regarding the Covid-19 crisis which are not fit for purpose, a situation being scrutinised by the consumer watchdog, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC). A brief update was given in terms of maintenance of the supply chain. The official said that there are currently no issues to report, with Business Minister Heather Humphreys due to meet representatives from the retail sector later in the morning. She said that a scam is currently being perpetrated against some of the 58,000 people who have to date applied for the emergency Covid-19 welfare payment from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. The ruse sees individuals receiving phone calls from people claiming to be from the Department and seeking to access the applicants bank details. She said that immigration applications are now set to move online, with the Department of Justice having already contacted 7,000 applicants in order to change their arrangements. The immigrations registration office at Burgh Quay has already been closed temporarily as of last Friday, Ms Canavan said. All of the 400 to 450 daily applications will now move online as a result. In terms of volunteering during the crisis, Ms Canavan said that 1,000 people have so far registered to do so. She encouraged people to visit volunteerireland/gov.ie in order to record their willingness to volunteer so that all such applications can be noted in the one place, with the Government actively encouraging more people to do so. Meanwhile, from Tuesday morning the Government will be making case data concerning the crisis available via an interactive dashboard on Gov.ie, she said. Govt approves extension of contract with Naftogaz chief Kobolev for four years The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved the proposal of the supervisory board of NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy to extend a contract with Naftogaz Executive Board Chairman Andriy Kobolev for four years. The decision to extend the contract until March 22, 2024 is outlined in government resolution No. 327-r dated March 20, 2020 posted on the government's website. As reported, Kobolev was appointed Executive Board Chairman of Naftogaz in March 2014. In March 2019, the Cabinet of Ministers led by Volodymyr Groysman, at the suggestion of the supervisory board of Naftogaz, extended the contract with Kobolev for one more year until March 22, 2020. Naftogaz Ukrainy unites the largest oil and gas producing enterprises of the country. The group is a monopolist in storing natural gas in underground storage facilities and transporting oil through pipelines throughout the country. Peshawar: When Saadat Khan, 50, returned to Pakistan on March 9 from a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, he was greeted in his village with a rousing welcome and a grand feast attended by more than 2,000 people, many of whom embraced him warmly. On March 18, less than 10 days later, Khan died at an isolation centre for coronavirus patients in the northwestern city of Mardan. He died from COVID-19, the day his test results came back positive. Khan was Pakistan's first fatality from a disease that is rapidly spreading through the country of 220 million people. The virus has already infected over 317,000 people worldwide and killed more than 13,000. The number of confirmed cases in Pakistan has soared to more than 750 from 22 last week, largely driven by a wave of pilgrims returning from Iran who Pakistani authorities said were inadequately tested and improperly isolated. At least four people have died from the disease in Pakistan in the past week. Thousands of people now need to undergo the slow process of retesting, and authorities fear the number of cases could surge in coming days. Health experts say there is a lack of public awareness in Pakistan about the virus and that the cash-strapped government is ill-prepared to tackle its spread. A shortage of quarantine facilities and testing labs have also hampered efforts to effectively deal with high-risk cases. In Sindh, Pakistan's hardest-hit province, the situation is already grim, said Dr. Naseem Salahuddin, the head of department for infectious diseases at Indus Hospital in Karachi. She said that the few hospitals equipped to handle COVID-19 cases in Karachi are either close to capacity or have shut their doors because they can't handle the influx of suspected cases. "We're likely to have a very big outbreak no matter what we do now," she said. "And we will not be equipped to handle the numbers. There will be breakdowns at many levels." Better border controls and quarantine measures should have been instituted a lot earlier, she said. "I think the cat's now out of the bag." Zafar Mirza, Pakistan's health minister, who said last week that some of Pakistan's quarantine facilities had not been "ideal", did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment. The provincial health minister in Khan's home province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also did not respond to a request for comment. Reuters interviewed three doctors involved in the case, as well as four people from Khan's village, and reviewed medical case notes detailing his travel history. Together, they provide a picture of Khan's last days, and illustrate why the South Asian nation is rapidly becoming the latest hotbed of the fast-spreading disease. Fateful Journey In late February, Khan flew to Saudi Arabia to visit the holy city of Mecca for Umrah, a religious pilgrimage performed by millions of Muslims from across the world each year. Khan entered the country just before it shut its borders to Umrah pilgrims, in a bid to stem the spread of COVID-19. Khan was in Saudi Arabia for two to three weeks, according to the doctors handling his case and an acquaintance from his village. Medical case notes, provided by one of Khan's doctors, show that he departed from the kingdom's Jeddah International Airport on March 8 via flight number PK736, which landed the following day at Peshawar International Airport, in northwest Pakistan. At least two people who knew Khan said he was already ill when he got on the plane and needed assistance on arrival in Pakistan. Despite Pakistan having identified its first confirmed cases of COVID-19 two weeks prior, the case notes state Khan was only asked to fill out a form and did not undergo a medical screening at the Peshawar airport. Khan did not mention any illness, and he would have escaped detection anyway if he had taken fever suppressors, said a Peshawar airport official who asked not to be named. Authorities are also scrambling to trace dozens of other passengers on flight PK736 that night, as well as airport staff who assisted Khan. Village Banquet Khan first visited a district hospital close to his village on March 16, complaining of cough, fever and breathing issues. The doctor diagnosed him as a potential COVID-19 patient and had him tested for the virus. The sample was sent to Islamabad for testing, according to the case notes reviewed by Reuters. While it is unclear if doctors could have forced Khan into quarantine, the case notes indicate he refused to be isolated. Instead, he went home, where he lived with his wife, three sons, two daughters-in-law, three daughters and four grandchildren. Hospital officials say Khan returned on March 17, when his symptoms intensified. On March 18, test results confirmed he was infected with COVID-19, and he was moved to an isolation centre, where he died the same day. It is the events before his death, though, that have worried medical officials and alarmed many residents of his village. On March 9, Khan was greeted with a mass gathering in his village, as is traditional in Pakistan when someone returns from Umrah. According to local authorities, some 2,000 people were in attendance at the lunch most of whom embraced Khan. Khan also ran a popular "medical clinic" in his village though he wasn't a qualified doctor, say local health officials. As is the case in many rural areas of Pakistan, people with just rudimentary medical knowledge often run such dispensaries to treat patients with ailments like fevers and colds, despite not having any qualifications. Khan had not resumed his practice on returning to Pakistan, but his sons ran it for him while he stayed at home in "self-quarantine," health officials from the village told Reuters. However, they added, the "self-quarantine" involved his sons staying in the same room as him. The sons in turn also tended to dozens of patients at their father's clinic during that period. Reuters was unable to speak with anyone in Khan's family. Mass Panic There is mass panic in the village, local residents told Reuters via phone, adding that no one had taken the coronavirus threat seriously prior to this. "There are hundreds of people believed to have been infected but they are hiding and reluctant to go to the hospital," said Liaqat Ali Shah, a local social worker, adding that villagers feared being ostracized by the community and shunned by healthcare workers. The village, Union Council Mangah, was locked down following Khan's death, according to an official directive from authorities. A complete lockdown was ordered "with immediate effect and there shall be no entry and no exit," the order is seen by Reuters read. The village of about 7,000 people, has been declared a mass quarantine zone, according to the provincial government, and testing has begun. But residents of Mangah say none of the officials surveying the area have testing kits with them. A medical worker on the ground said test kits were limited so they couldn't test everyone and were only testing patients displaying symptoms. "There's a virtual lockdown in the village and movement is restricted," a school teacher in the village, told Reuters via phone. Despite this, at least four people showing symptoms, including two members of Khan's family, are now missing and have gone underground, health officials told Reuters. All four had tested positive for COVID-19, the officials said. CLEVELAND, Ohio Many Ohioans still have unanswered questions about whats next for the state when it comes to its coronavirus pandemic response. Monday on cleveland.coms Facebook page we asked readers, If you could ask one question at Mondays news conference, what would it be? While there were plenty of earnest responses among more than 400 comments as of 4 p.m., several questions came up repeatedly. Here are the most frequently asked questions people would ask Gov. Mike DeWine or Ohio Department of Health director Dr. Amy Acton, as well as some unique lingering questions. Some have been condensed for clarity and brevity. Businesses Clarity needed: what is an essential business? And why is the list so broad? What will be done to businesses not complying with the orders to temporarily shutter? What should you do if your employer is not closing, even if they are not deemed essential? Essential businesses can stay open, but what about employees who work for a company but whose roles dont contribute to an essential aspect of the business? Should the non-essential employees be required to stay home? What help is there for those that get 1099s and are considered independent contractors or micro-businesses? Stay-at-Home order Because the social and economic damage would be catastrophic, the current decisions of shutting nearly everything down is not sustainable. What is your exit strategy? Whats the realistic timeline to return to business as usual as far as life? Will we be spending the summer on stay-at-home? What will be the determining factor to end the stay-at-home order/social distancing? Do we have to go a certain number of days without new positive tests? Is there an agreed-upon milestone? Will there be stricter security measures in place, like police patrols, to ensure people stay home? I keep reading that President Trump is going against medical advice and wants to end the social distancing/stay home advisory. Do you and other governors plan to ignore that directive? What is the next move, if Ohioans dont follow the order? Medical concerns/COVID-19 testing While I understand privacy concerns, I don't understand why the public has not been provided a city-by-city count (to the best they can determine) of where the confirmed cases are located? If you are symptomatic and undiagnosed at home, when will you no longer be contagious to others? What is the status of experimental drug testing? Treatments via transfusion of antibodies? When will Ohio receive more coronavirus tests? Viruses tend to mutate. Have researchers noticed that happen since COVID-19's origination? Logistical questions There are people applying for unemployment benefits and having their health insurance lapse. What, if anything, can Ohio do to help stop a lapse in health insurance? How can the unemployment phones and online access be improved? Ive tried for days and both are unavailable. Are kids allowed to travel back and forth between the custodial parents home and the non-custodial parents home for visitation? Is the Ohio tax deadline also pushed back to July 15? Are there plans for any factories in Ohio to start producing PPE (such as medical masks) in the near future? Why are non-essential planes still flying? Do you have a question for Gov. DeWine or Dr. Acton that still has not been addressed? Share it on Facebook. A plus-size burlesque dancer has criticised the way 'fat people' are made to feel they can't do certain activities because of their size. Wendy Sanders, 38, of Austin, Texas, is known to audiences by her stage name, Ginger Snaps. The US size 18 star (UK size 22) told how she dazzles fans with her routines, which have recently been updated to include an aerial act. Wendy Sanders, 38, of Austin, Texas, is known to audiences by her stage name, Ginger Snaps. Pictured, the burlesque performer shows off her stuff during one performance Wendy, pictured in costume, is hoping to inspire other plus size women to get involved in burlesque dancing Wendy does her make-up backstage ahead of a burlesque performance in Austin, Texas She said: 'Aerial was a big turning point for me, because I didn't really appreciate the full capability of what my body could do, until I started putting it in the air.' After overcoming prejudice against plus-size performers at the start of her career, Wendy now urges people of all body types to embrace their physiques by trying something new. She said: 'I think it's just really c****y and a really bizarre double standard when society tells them they can't do these things because they are fat, but then at the same time tells them to go out and get exercise. Wendy (pictured) who has been combining her burlesque performance with aerial skills, said aerial has helped her to appreciate the full capabilities of her body Wendy revealed society's expectations of plus size people makes her want to inspire them to do things they thought they couldn't. Pictured, Wendy shows off her moves on stage Wendy (pictured) wants to prove that people of size can perform just as well as their smaller counterparts if they choose She added: 'Don't listen to what society tells you, just go out, have fun, try new things and I think you'll be really amazed at all the things your body can do.' Wendy, who has won local awards for her stage show, told how she sews her own costumes at home in order to ensure their as attention-grabbing as possible after struggling to find attractive dancewear to flatter her figure. 'I don't want to just wear black leotards on stage, now I actually have something fun and cute that fits my body correctly', she said. Wendy said you'll be amazed to discover what the body is capable of when you try new things and have fun. Pictured: Wendy with a fellow performer Wendy argues that society has a double standard, encouraging people to exercise but also suggesting that fat people are too large for certain activities. Pictured: Wendy preparing for a burlesque performance One particularly unusual creation is a costume that's printed with actor Shia LaBeouf's face. She explained: 'I got various Shia LaBeouf faces and had them printed onto some fabric that makes up the skirt, the top, the jacket, even the underwear has a big sparkly Shia LaBeouf face.' Wendy also shares her talents at Sky Candy, a circus training center in Austin, where she works as a performance manager. A Cumberland Valley High School students family says the student has tested positive for novel coronavirus, District Superintendent David Christopher announced on Monday afternoon. Christophers statement to families was that the district has not received any notification or action steps from state or local officials regarding the possible case, but the district administration has spoken with the students family. The students last day of school was on March 9 and the student tested positive on March 13. Christopher said. The family has been working with the Pennsylvania Department of Health to notify people who may have come into close contact with the student, Christopher said. Christopher was told the student contracted coronavirus from another family member. We share this information not to cause panic, but to provide transparency with information we have received and to make you aware so that you can make informed decisions regarding your family, Christopher said. The district is not planning on elaborating on the specifics of the case any further because the information did not come from the Department of Health and to protect the students privacy. Christopher said the district will notify the community if it learns of other cases that were verified while schools were in session. Before schools closed for an extended period of time, the facilities team had increased daily disinfecting and sanitizing procedures and will thoroughly clean the buildings again before students and staff return. Anyone who believes they have been exposed or may be suffering from symptoms of COVID-19 are asked to go to the Department of Health website for more information on steps that should be taken, Christopher said. K-12 schools were first closed for two weeks starting last week after an order by Gov. Tom Wolf. The order was extended Monday to go through at least April 6. Read more on PennLive: Insurance Education Day Two hundred schoolboys from many metropolitan High schools yesterday attended this year's Insurance Education Day, organised annually by the Fire, Accident and Marine Underwriters' Association of New South Wales in conjunction with the Department of Education. Part of the day's programme was a visit to the Rocks Fire Brigade at the city end of the Harbour Bridge, where firemen demonstrated the latest methods of firefighting to the students. A.B.C. to broadcast in Mandarin Radio Australia will soon begin shortwave broadcasts to South-East Asia in Mandarin, one of the main Chinese dialects. The broadcasts, which will be for one hour a day, are designed to reach the large and influential Chinese population in South-East Asia and the Far East. At present Radio Australia broadcasts in Indonesian, French and Thai as well as English. The commission sees the broadcasts as an important and nationally valuable activity. Avocado is the green for spring The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) on Monday urged Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to extend till June 30 the date for filing income tax and GST returns in view of the coronavirus pandemic. Around 40,000 trade associations and seven crore traders across India are affiliated with CAIT, while 500 associations and over 1 lakh traders are connected with it in Delhi-NCR, the body said. CAIT's Delhi-NCR unit convenor Sushil Kumar Jain said lockdown has begun in multiple states from Monday and all the traders have to keep their shops closed and stay at their home in a preventive measure against COVID-19. Delhi, Ghaziabad, Noida, Faridabad and Gurgaon are among 75 districts across the country under a lockdown enforced by the government amid the coronavirus outbreak. "The current financial year is coming to an end on March 31 and many states are under complete lockdown while the rest of the states have partial lockdown. In view of this situation, CAIT has urged Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to extend last date of all types of return filings and tax liability under Income Tax and GST till June 30," Jain said in a statement. "Also, the period of loans and EMIs repayment should be extended till June 30 and instructions be given to banks to ensure that no account of any trader is declared a non-performing asset (NPA)," he said. The traders' body also urged that no interest should be charged and no penalty be levied on the period of various taxes and further extension of bank loan or EMI, among others. "In order to keep the supply chain running smoothly across the country, banks should give 'coronavirus' cash loans at a reduced rate to merchants. The current financial year should be extended to April 30 under special circumstances and the traders should be subsidised by the government for the salary paid to their employees during the period of lockdown," he said in the statement. COVID-19 cases in India rose to 415, the Union health ministry said as much of the country was locked down on Monday with the Centre warning legal action against those violating the restrictions enforced to curtail the pandemic, which has claimed more than 14,500 lives globally. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) [March 23, 2020] Lighter Capital Enters Canadian Market to Provide Non-Dilutive Growth Capital to Tech Startups Lighter Capital, the leader in providing growth capital to tech startups, today announced it is making its debt financing offerings, including term loans and lines of credit, available to the Canadian market. The expansion of Lighter Capital's debt-financing business will provide Canadian entrepreneurs with an alternative to traditional equity sources such as venture capital or bank financing. Lighter Capital is a fintech company that has created a new fundraising path for early-stage tech companies. Lighter Capital provides founders up to $3 million of non-dilutive growth capital in a fraction of the time it takes to raise from traditional sources. Rather than take equity, the company takes a percentage of monthly revenues over the life of the loan. Unlike traditional funding sources, Lighter Capital doesn't require board seats, warrants or personal guarantees from its borrowers. Since 2012, Lighter Capital has invested over $200 Million in more than 350 U.S.-based startups in over 650 rounds of financing. Twenty percent of these companies have had a successful exit, such as Jive Communications, MapAnything, and Steelbrick. "There's no question that debt is the most cost effective form of capital for early stage companies," stated Thor Culverhouse, CEO of Lighter Capital. "Equity is comparatively very expensive, especially for early-stage entrepreneurs. What we've done is create a fast, easy way for revenue-generating startups to access financing without having to give up any equity or control." Lighter Capital is already in active discussions with Canadian startups and will open an office in Vancouver in April with a dedicated team focused on growing its presence in Canada. Lighter Capital has also partnered with the Canadian outpost of the Founder Institute, the world's largest startup accelerator, in order to provide startups with the advice and support needed to grow their companies. "We have been fortunate to have mentored more than 200 tech CEOs and helped launch their companies," stated Sunil Sharma, Managing Director of Techstars Toronto and Chapter Director of the Founder Institute Toronto. "With the arrival of Lighter Capital, we see an immediate alignment with the kind of tech startups that Canada has been producing with such success and we are excited to be working with them." Tapping into a Growing Market Tech has been one of the fastest growing sectors in Canada in recent years, with cities across the country putting Canada's tech industry on the map. According to a study published by the CVCA, there was a 69% increase in VC investment in 2019 with $6.2 Billion invested in over 539 deals vs $3.7 Billion invested in 2018. Lighter Capital's debt-based financing represents an alternative to VC financing for early stage startups post-seed that are trying to fund growth initiatives without dilution. Additionally, Lighter Capital's funding is complimentary for those startups that have already taken VC funding and are between rounds. "With the Canadian tech industry's continued growth, we're seeing a correspondingly greater need among startups for access to venture capital as well as to various forms of debt financing," stated Meredith Powell, Vancouver-based venture partner at Voyager Capital, an investor in Lighter Capital. "Lighter Capital is a trailblazer in the area of debt-based financing and I have little doubt that, given the increasing demand for their services, they're positioned for success across the nation." About Lighter Capital Lighter Capital (https://www.lightercapital.com/) has revolutionized startup financing by making it easy for entrepreneurs to quickly access up to $3 million in growth capital and working capital with zero dilution and full control over how to use the funds. Lighter's fintech platform pulls in 6,500 data points, uses proprietary algorithms to determine a credit rating and data science to predict a startup's revenue growth with 97% accuracy, on average. Lighter Capital has provided over $200 Million in 350+ startups in over 650 rounds of financing, including MapAnything, Jive, Quip, and more. Lighter Capital offers a mix of entrepreneur-friendly product offerings-including term loans with pre-approval for a forward commitment and lines of credit-to empower early-stage tech startups with the flexibility they need to fund the business at different stages of growth. More at www.lightercapital.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200323005064/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources today announced that all facilities at Pennsylvanias 121 state parks and 20 state forests will be closed until April 30 to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn noted that while the closure includes campgrounds, cabins, other overnight accommodations, officers, visitor centers and restrooms, the public will continue to be able to access trails, lakes, forests, roads and parking areas for passive and dispersed recreation, such as hiking. During the past week weve seen many people hiking trails and heading to the outdoors as a way to get exercise and relieve stress, she said. We remind everyone that its OK to go outside, but we should still be practicing social distancing to do our part to slow the spread of COVID-19. This means we should spread out for outdoor activities. If you visit a public place and the parking lot or trailhead is crowded, try another spot, or head back to your neighborhood to take a walk if thats possible. Facebook over the weekend was packed with photos of Pennsylvanians recreating in outdoor parks and on outdoor trails, and in many instances failing miserably at everything that government and medical authorities have asked of the public in the fight against the coronavirus. Social distancing of at least 6 feet between each person was not evident in many of the photos. And, limiting the distance traveled to an outdoor destination didnt seem to be a concern for far too many hikers. The best advice to slow the spread of the coronavirus is to stay home. But, if you are looking to be outdoors, stay as close to home as possible including your backyard, neighborhood, or local park or trail unless they are crowded. And, check first to make sure they are open, as some local parks are closed. Dunn said visitors can help keep state parks and forest lands safe and clean by following these practices: Avoid crowded parking lots and trailheads. Use the bathroom before you visit. Bring a bag and carry out your trash. Clean up after pets. Avoid activities that put you at greater risk of injury, as there is limited staff to assist. To help avoid exposure to coronavirus and still enjoy the outdoors: Dont hike or recreate in groups. Go with those under the same roof and adhere to social distancing of 6 feet. Take hand sanitizer with you and use it regularly Avoid touching your face, eyes and nose Cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing with a tissue or flexed elbow, even while outdoors. If you are sick, stay home. On WITFs Smart Talk show on Friday Dunn advised, Take a walk on a trail thats not crowded. Look for a place where you can practice social distancing and a place where youre not going to need a restroom, where youre not going to need a special stop. Pack what you need. Think about bathrooms, which are all closed in state parks and state forests, and increasingly in other public spaces across the state Think about social distancing. And, if you take a walk in a park be the steward of that park and pack out everything you pack in. Full coronavirus coverage: https://www.pennlive.com/coronavirus/ Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. Contact Marcus Schneck at mschneck@pennlive.com. His epitaph reads To him and his associates have been credited a large share the success of the Army of the Revolution His epitaph reads To him and his associates have been credited a large share the success of the Army of the Revolution Condemning the Maoist attack on security forces in the Sukma forest area of Chhattisgarh that claimed 17 lives of the security personnel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, here on Sunday, paid tribute to the martyrs and said their valour would never be forgotten. "My tributes to the security personnel martyred in the attack. Their valour will never be forgotten. Condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for a quick recovery of those injured," Modi tweeted. Terming their martyrdom heart wrenching, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, "I bow to them for their sacrifices. I express by deepest condolence to their families." "The whole country is with you in this hour of grief. Indian's fight against Naxalism will continue," he tweeted. Condoling the death of security personnel, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, "I am upset over the killing of security personnel in Sukma. I pay my tributes to the personnel martyred." On Saturday around 19 security personnel went missing during an encounter with Maoists in insurgency-hit Sukma district. On Sunday, 17 bodies were recovered. Of the 17, 12 were the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and five the Special Task Force (STF) personnel. The bodies were recovered during a search operation conducted at noon by a joint team of DRG, STF and Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), an elite unit of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). The slain security personnel belonged to a group of nearly 600 personnel of a joint DRG, STF and CoBRA team, which had launched an anti-Maoist operation on Saturday. Wampsville, N.Y. A Madison County resident has become the first Central New Yorker to die of the coronavirus. The victim was an elderly person with underlying health issues who had tested positive for COVID-19, said county spokeswoman Samantha Field. No details, including when the person died, were available. This is a reminder to everyone that we must all practice social distancing and good hygiene to protect the most vulnerable in our community, Field said in an email. This was the fourth caronavirus case in Madison County. Earlier Sunday, Madison County had reported it was up to three COVID-19 cases. Eric Faisst, the countys director of public health, said those patients are recovering and under quarantine. The Canastota Central School District reported that it had an employee who had tested positive. That person is recovering and had not come in contact with children, the district superintendent said. Onondaga County has 45 confirmed coronavirus cases, 13 of those in the city of Syracuse. County Executive Ryan McMahon said four of those who tested positive are being hospitalized, one in critical condition. Six of the 45 were contracted from quarantine situations. Twenty-five are women, 20 are men, he said. People under 30 make up the largest segment of people whove tested positive in Onondaga County. Also Sunday, Oswego County reported its first two COVID-19 cases. The two are between 20 and 40 years old and had recently traveled. Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Sunday said the states confirmed case count surpassed 15,000, with more than 100 deaths. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Hemant Kumar Rout By Express News Service BHUBANESWAR: At least 104 foreign-returned persons have been flagged for alleged violation of COVID-19 quarantine protocol. Three cases have been registered against four people who returned from overseas. Despite strict instructions for home isolation of foreign-returned, the State control room has received allegations against at least 104 persons for allegedly violating quarantine protocol. All this despite repeated advice of the Government to adhere to safety norms. Though officials did not confirm whether these people returned from heavily coronavirus-affected countries like China, Italy, the UK, South Korea, France and the US, sources said they were seen shopping in the market and indulging in risky behaviour. Some foreign-returned, mostly relatives of affluent classes, are learnt to have slipped through gaps in the disease surveillance process, claiming that they were not given strict instructions or returned to the State before the rules were notified. As the number of allegations swell, the state administration went into overdrive to take violators to the task. On Sunday, three criminal cases were registered against four persons, including a couple, who had returned from the US. Other allegations are being verified. All four have been picked up and put in isolation in the Government quarantine facilities at Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Sambalpur. On the day when people across the country were observing the first-ever Janata Curfew, the health and BMC officials were busy searching for those who violated the quarantine protocol. Following the complaints, the State Government has put in place a robust mechanism to track the foreign-returned and continuously monitor their health status. Once they are registered, the executives deployed at the outbound call centre would ask them a set of questions and get their replies noted. "If the replies vary widely, they inform the health and BMC officials, who in turn visit their place of stay and inquire with the neighbours about their activities. They are picked up and placed in Government quarantine facilities after verification," said an official. So far, 3,474 foreign returnees have been registered through the COVID-19 portal and 104 Helpline. While so far two persons tested positive, their condition remains stable. Of the 56 contact persons of the second positive patients, the officials are yet to trace three persons. "Nine monitoring teams have been pressed into service to trace them. Samples of 76 persons were sent for test and reports of 74 were found negative and 28 suspects are in hospital isolation," chief spokesperson Subroto Bagchi said. The foreign returnees have been asked to follow a set of guidelines issued by the Health and Family Welfare department. They will stay in a well-ventilated single room with separate toilet, practice frequent hand-washing and use tissue/handkerchief while sneezing, take plenty of fluid, report to 104 helpline in case of fever, cough and breathing problem and monitor symptoms closely even after 14-day isolation. Earlier, a senior functionary of AIIMS-Bhubaneswar had allegedly breached the quarantine protocol and exposed several bureaucrats, doctors and residents of a housing complex where he resides. The coronavirus crisis keeps growing in New Jersey, with 2,844 known infections across the state on Monday. The new numbers mark a 48% jump from those announced Sunday. Gov. Phil Murphy announced 935 new cases and said that the numbers were no surprise. With the opening of a new testing center at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel on Monday, he said he expected confirmed cases to increase. "We knew, especially as we opened up testing, we could have bigger numbers. Some of this is community spread, no question, Murphy said. The overall count from the New Jersey Department of Health includes 27 deaths. Two of the four new deaths announced Sunday were people who had underlying conditions. The other two deaths remain under investigation, said Judy Persichilli, commissioner of the state Department of Health. The rate at which the infection has spread mirrors other parts of the country and world: a slow buildup followed by swift growth, which appears to be the phase weve entered now. Bergen County leads the state as it has from the beginning of the outbreak with 609 cases. Just across the Hudson River, New York City has become one of the national epicenters of the outbreak. The first positive case in Salem County was announced Sunday, meaning all 21 New Jersey counties have reported cases. Cumberland County saw its first one on Friday. Cape May, Sussex and Warren counties had their first cases announced by the state on Thursday. Ocean and Passaic counties each saw their number of positive tests more than double between Wednesday and Thursday. During a press conference on Saturday, Murphy announced new executive orders shutting down non-essential businesses and instructed people to quite simply stay at home." The business shutdowns went into effect 9 p.m. Saturday. He also banned public gatherings, including weddings, in-person services and parties. Essential businesses that are still allowed to remain open include grocery stores, food banks, pharmacies, medical marijuana dispensaries, gas stations, auto mechanics and repair services, convenience stores, banks, hardware and home improvement stores, laundromats, dry cleaners, printing and office supply shops, pet stores, stores that sell supplies for young children, and mail and delivering shops. Many around the state are ramping up measures to fight the spread of the virus. A new testing site opened in Warren County on Wednesday, which had 113 appointments scheduled for its first two days open. A hospital in Jersey City will be screening ER patients for COVID-19 on their way in the door. Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter. Disha Raychaudhuri may be reached at disha@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @Disha_RC. Nick Devlin is a reporter on the data & investigations team. He can be reached at ndevlin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @nickdevlin. business IT firms still struggling to allow its employees to work from home Considering 50 lakh employees are in the IT sector, enabling them to WFH becomes important. Married At First Sight's Stacey Hampton has offered proof she's a qualified lawyer by publishing her law degree and diploma on Instagram. After Hayley Vernon questioned her legal credentials on Sunday's episode, the 26-year-old single mother decided to upload photos of her qualifications. A certificate issued by the Supreme Court of South Australia features a surprising detail that proves she can legally practise law in the state - contrary to claims made by Hayley at the girls' night. Legally blonde: Married At First Sight's Stacey Hampton has offered proof she's a qualified lawyer by publishing her law degree and diploma on Instagram At the brides' reunion, Stacey was accused of not having satisfied the requirements of being a lawyer, but her post on Monday proves otherwise. Stacey was first awarded a Bachelor of Laws from the University of South Australia in August 2017, after five years of studying while raising two children. She went on to receive a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practise from The College of Law in April 2019. The truth: After Hayley Vernon (left) questioned her legal credentials on Sunday's episode, Stacey (right) decided to upload photos of her qualifications A month later, she was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court of South Australia. The certificate states in part: 'Stacey Lee Hampton is duly qualified to be admitted to practise as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Court by the Supreme Court of South Australia.' The document is dated May 21, 2019, three months before she began filming Married At First Sight in Sydney. Achievement: Stacey was awarded a Bachelor of Laws from the University of South Australia in August 2017 Diploma: She went on to receive a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practise from The College of Law in April 2019 See you in court! This certificate proves that, contrary to what Hayley said at the girls' night, Stacey is in fact able to legally practise law in South Australia. Pictured: a document dated May 21, 2019 stating that Stacey can 'practise as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Court' During the girls' night on Sunday, Hayley mocked Stacey for refusing to believe Michael Goonan had cheated on her without 'video evidence'. 'I'm a lawyer!' yelled Stacey, seemingly unaware of the fact Hayley's testimony would also be considered valid evidence in a court of law. Hayley laughed in response: 'Where did you get your law degree? Out of a cereal box? You're 25 and have had two kids. Have you practiced? Please.' Busy woman: Three months after being admitted to the bar, Stacey began pre-production of Married At First Sight in Sydney, which has consumed her free time ever since Stacey hit back: 'You think you're so high and mighty. You're such a liar. You're a bulldog. I just got admitted to the bar.' The two women continued to fight, with Hayley having the last word on the subject: 'You're not a lawyer, you've just studied. Would you like a tissue or a box?' Married At First Sight continues Monday at 7.30pm on Channel Nine - The Economic Freedom Fighters have exposed a loophole in travel restrictions - Japenese nationals who had been denied entry into SA managed to enter through Mozambique - The party helped track down the individuals and are calling for severe action PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed! Strict travel bans implemented in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic have left foreign nationals stranded at international airports as the government clamps down. The EFF has since revealed that a loophole in the restrictions has been taken advantage of by Japanese nationals who attempted to enter SA illegally. In a statement released on the concerning issue, the EFF explained how it had tracked the group down after they entered the country through Mozambique: "After a tip-off, the EFF activated the relevant forces to track these individuals who subsequently travelled to Mozambique, where they disembarked and made their way into South Africa. There are buses carrying these foreign nationals, these buses entered through Lebombo border gate in Mpumalanga. The EFF alerted the South African Police Services who responded with the immediacy the matter deserved." READ ALSO: Home Affairs force UK couple to sleep in van at airport for 48 hours The reason behind the group's trip to South Africa remains unclear, but the EFF called on the government to ensure that: There are measures in place to control access at the border There are measures taken to ensure that flights or other modes of transport that are turned back at out points of entry to return to their countries of origin should they carry non-South African citizens That there are screening measures in place at our borders and entry points. Put in place consequence management for nations that continue trade with South Africa in bad faith, by sending personnel or envoys while we have travel bans in place Create measures to ensure industry and trade is regulated to protect the health interests of South Africa In addition to this, the EFF called for action to be taken both against the foreigners and those who allowed them to enter the country in the first place: "It seems that those who are working at our border posts are not performing their due diligence when it comes to those who enter our country. The passports of these Japanese nationals were clearly stamped 'denied' to indicate denial of entry into the country yet they managed to enter South Africa. The EFF has warned of corruption in this difficult time and it seems there are elements of it rearing its ugly head at the risk of our national interests. We call for the immediate detainment of those who work at the Lembobo Border Post in Mpumalanga and for being complicit in jeopardizing national security." Briefly.co.za reported that the government had stood firm in travel restrictions in recent times, prompting German to deploy chartered aircraft to SA to retrieve stranded citizens. Enjoyed reading our story? Download BRIEFLY's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major South African news! Source: Briefly News Monday, March 23, 2020 Alerts and trailwide updates Backcountry conditions change constantly. It is your responsibility to be prepared for the unexpected. MITIGATING THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS) ON THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL We are closely monitoring the spread of COVID-19 to ensure we are taking the appropriate actions, not only for our staff, but also for the community of volunteers and hikers who actively use and work on the Trail. In order to minimize risks of hikers contracting or spreading COVID-19, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy recommends that all hikers postpone any section or thru-hikes Learn more guidelines for hikers and volunteers to reduce their risks and how we are working to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 on the Appalachian Trail. www.appalachiantrail.org/covid-19. ALERT: PENNSYLVANIA - SHELTERS ON PENNSYLVANIA DCNR LANDS CLOSED 3/20/2020) See Pennsylvania section below fore more info. ALERT: MARYLAND - CLOSED TO ALL CAMPING 3/20/20) See Maryland section below for more information. ALERT: NEW JERSEY - SHELTERS AND PRIVIES CLOSED 3/20/20) See New Jersey section below for more information. ALERT: WEST VIRGINIA - ATC VISITOR CENTER IN HARPERS FERRY CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE Due to public health concerns, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Visitor Center in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, will be closed until further notice as we assess the best methods to ensure all visitors, staff members and volunteers are kept as safe and healthy as possible. ALERT: WEST VIRGINIA - 2020 FLIP FLOP FESTIVAL IN HARPERS FERRY CANCELED Due to public health concerns, the 6th Annual Flip Flop Festival has been canceled. ATC'S STEPS TO HELP MINIMIZE THE RISK OF SPREADING COVID-19/CORONAVIRUS The ATC is actively monitoring the situation regarding COVID-19 virus. Based on a desire to be a responsible partner in public health, ATC staff decided earlier this week that all Spring Regional Partnership Committee Meetings will be held online instead of in-person over the next two weekends. We will continue to respond to the virus guided by the best available information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and The World Health Organization. As we continue to assess this risk, volunteers and visitors will find the most up-to-date information on this page. ALERT: WEST VIRGINIA - FOOTBRIDGE CLOSURE AT HARPERS FERRY 3/2/2019) The National Park Service released an update on the status of the Goodloe E. Byron Memorial Pedestrian Walkway (footbridge) across the Potomac River. Planning efforts are underway and NPS is currently considering options for a shuttle service that would transport hikers and visitors around the footbridge closure until repairs can be completed. Until this shuttle system is in place, A.T. visitors should still secure their own transportation across the Potomac River using the links found on appalachiantrail.org/transportation. (12/21/19) The footbridge crossing the Potomac River in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is closed until further notice due to a train that occurred on Dec. 21, 2019. For more information, see the West Virginia section below. VERMONT - NEW FOOD STORAGE REQUIREMENT 7/28/2019) A new forest order by the Green Mountain National Forest requires hikers to store food and refuse in a canister or hang it following prescribed specifications. See the Vermont section below for more information. BEAR WARNINGS Improper food storage can lead to human/bear conflicts on the A.T. Carry a bear-resistant personal food storage container to reduce negative human/bear interactions and keep you, your food, and bears safe when camping on the A.T. For more information, visit our black bear page. Please use the Bear Incident Report Form form to report any bear incidents. Your report will help reduce human/bear conflicts on the A.T. Current overnight site closures, warnings and cautions (See state-by-state sections below for more detail): Georgia (Multiple Campsite Caution) Southwest Virginia (Mt. Rogers High Country Warning) New York (Fingerboard Shelter Warning) Massachusetts (Sherman Brook Primitive Camping Caution) Vermont (Kid Gore, Story Spring, and Stratton Pond shelter Cautions) TO REPORT AN INCIDENT To report incidents or something suspicious, visit our Reporting Incidents page. Report any notable trail conditions to trailconditions@appalachiantrail.org. Photos are helpful. DAMAGED TREES FROM MULTIPLE RECENT STORMS MAY PRESENT CAMPING HAZARDS Recent storms and hurricanes that included ice, high winds, or heavy and prolonged rains have created hazards from damaged or unstable trees due to saturated soils. These will remain a concern in many areas for some time. Dead and diseased trees and limbs can be present under any conditions. Campers need to be extremely vigilant about inspecting overnight sites for trees and limbs around and above them that could fall, even in completely still conditions. Be vigilant about your surroundings and stay safe. TRAILHEAD VANDALISM REPORTS Although trailhead areas are generally safe, vandalism or car break-ins can potentially occur at any remote trailhead. Never leave valuables visible in your vehicle. Recent incidents and areas with ongoing problems are noted below. For more tips and a list of areas with known incidents for the last several years, visit the vandalism section of our Transportation & Parking page. HIKER SERVICES UPDATES This link provides listing of changed or new services for hikers along the Trail or in A.T. communities since the 2019 A.T. Thru-Hikers' Companion was published. See below for a state-by-state listing for more details and updates. As the coronavirus pandemic worsens in the U.S., hospitals across the country are reporting shortages of critical medical supplies such as masks, surgical gowns, and gloves. Some have resorted to asking for donations from anyone who has a stockpile that could help keep medical personnel and patients safe. Tattoo parlors, construction companies, and individuals have chipped in by donating surgical masks, N95 respirators, and other supplies. Hollywood is also doing its part, with some popular medical dramas handing over items that would normally be used as props. Chicago Med donates N95 respirators and other supplies S. Epatha Merkerson as Sharon Goodwin in Chicago Med | Liz SissonNBC/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images With film and television production shut down over coronavirus concerns, some shows are stepping in to help fight the virus. Chicago Med, along with the other One Chicago shows Chicago P.D. and Chicago Fire, has donated supplies that will eventually go to local hospitals. We are doing it big time, Carla Corwin, a Chicago Med producer on the NBC said in an email to the New York Times. Studio approved. We are donating all supplies to the Illinois Department of Public Health and they can distribute to the various hospitals as they see fit. The donation came after Dr. Andrew Dennis, a trauma surgeon at Chicagos Stroger Hospital who is also an associate producer on Chicago Med, received a call from one of his former residents. The doctor was working in Rockford, a city about 90 miles west of Chicago, and in desperate need of supplies. Dennis was able to get his former colleague some masks and disposable gowns, he told Patch.com. At that point, Dennis realized we had thousands of N95 masks, thousands of surgical masks, a thousand disposable gowns and hundreds of boxes of gloves. Together with other members of the Chicago Med team, he was able to get those supplies to people on the frontlines of the COVID-19 outbreak. Illinois has more than 1,000 positive coronavirus cases. Greys Anatomy, New Amsterdam, among other shows making donations Chicago Med isnt the only show working to get its medical supplies into the hands of real doctors and nurses. Greys Anatomy, Station 19, The Resident, and New Amsterdam have also made donations of N95 masks, gloves, and other items, Deadline reports. The Resident, which tapes in Atlanta, donated its supplies to Grady Memorial Hospital. Dr. Karen Law expressed her thanks for the support in an Instagram post. Yesterday, I had a serious discussion with the residents about how, though supplies are low, a magical shipment of masks is unlikely to arrive, she wrote. And yet, a magical shipment of masks DID arrive, in the form of this very generous gesture. Even series that dont primarily focus on medicine are getting in on the act. The Ryan Murphy drama Pose donated supplies to Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. The show had the items because season 3 features a character who works as an HIV/AIDS counselor, Murphy explained. Check out Showbiz Cheat Sheet on Facebook! Monday at 8 p.m. marks Gov. Ned Lamonts Stay Safe, Stay Home initiative where all non-essential businesses will close until at least April 22 to encourage social distancing to slow the spread of coronavirus. Meanwhile in Norwalk, Mayor Harry Rilling ordered Cranbury Park and school properties closed following complaints of group gatherings as the number of coronavirus cases in Norwalk rose to 17. Heres the latest news of what is happening around the city on Monday: Number of coronavirus cases in Norwalk now at 28 Norwalk saw its largest spike in number of coronavirus cases yet. On Monday, the city confirmed there are now 11 new positive cases in Norwalk, bringing the total reported cases in Norwalk to 28. The city said they will not release the age and sex of the individuals diagnosed. The total number of new positive cases in Fairfield County went from 208 to 270. As we are seeing, this virus is highly contagious and is spreading in the community. I fully expect the number of residents contracting coronavirus will continue to rise unless we all take proper precautions, Rilling said. My top priority is to protect the health and safety of our entire community. I hope no other closures of public property happen, however, without further cooperation, it seems likely other facilities will be shut down. These are difficult, yet necessary decisions I must make for our City. Members of the public are encouraged to sign-up for the Citys CodeRED Emergency Alert Notification System at norwalkct.org/codered. Updates on City services, hours, and community resources will be routinely published at norwalkct.org/citynews. The latest health updates can be found at norwalkct.org/coronavirus. Second Norwalk resident dies Rilling confirmed on Monday that a second Norwalk resident has died from coronavirus. According to a Tweet from Gov. Ned Lamont, a Norwalk man in his fifties died after being hospitalized at Norwalk Hospital. Learning we have a new death in Norwalk breaks my heart. Its not unexpected, but is very sad. As I said yesterday, I expect the number of residents contracting coronavirus to continue to rise. That unfortunately means more people in the state will also die, Rilling said. This is a very serious public health crisis. It is not a time for games. We all need to come together and do our part to stop this virus. Social distancing means staying home unless you absolutely have to go out for groceries or medicine. It does not mean continuing to live life as usual. Please take care of yourselves and each other. On Friday, a Norwalk woman in her eighties marked the first death of a city resident from coronavirus and the fourth COVID-19 death in the state. As of Monday, 10 people in Connecticut have now died from the virus. Cranbury Park, schools closed in Norwalk Over the weekend, Rilling announced Cranbury Park will be closed to the public, as will all school properties, after there were complaints of large groups gathering there. Cranbury Park, school fields/playgrounds and the Calf Pasture Beach and Veterans Park courts and playgrounds are now closed to the public. Areas closed to the public are sectioned off with caution tape and locked. Anyone found on these properties can be charged with criminal trespassing. Calf Pasture Beach and Veterans Park remain open (except for the courts and playgrounds), but this could change if people continue to gather in groups. I have issued advisories, guidance, and warnings. In spite of that, people are still not taking this situation seriously enough. Rilling said in a press release. Young people congregating in groups increases the risk of community transmission, putting each and every one of us at risk. South Norwalk, Bridgeport distilleries enlist in Americas hand-sanitizer brigade A year after its launch in South Norwalk distilling whiskey infused with hemp, SoNo 1420 American Craft Distillers has converted a portion of its operation to the production of emergency hand sanitizer it is distributing for free to the citys emergency responders, homeless shelters and others, following a formula recommended by the World Health Organization. SoNo 1420, which has a bottling operation at the ready, as well as a supply of ethanol that at concentrations of 80 percent or more of a solution can kill 99.99 percent of microbes. The distillery has produced more than 2,500 bottles of hand sanitizer, which it has distributed to Norwalk emergency responders and shelters, according to distillery founder Ted Dumbauld. After a run on hand sanitizer throughout Connecticut in the earliest days of of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak, Gov. Ned Lamont authorized pharmacies to produce their own blends. But lacking ample stocks of key ingredients at the ready, pharmacies have not been able to keep up with the demand. Spring waste collection postponed The citys spring yard waste collection schedule has been pushed back by at least two weeks. Instead of collection beginning on April 6, it is now scheduled to begin on April 20. These dates remain subject to change as the situation surrounding coronavirus continues to evolve. Medical equipment firms making much-needed ventilators to help coronavirus patients are ramping up their production. Supply companies such as OES in Witney are even altering their designs so they are easier to make and more user friendly. They hope the more efficient process will allow the company to meet any shortages in hospitals. Engineers at OES in Witney, a medical supplies firm, are working hard to produce ventilators for the NHS The company is altering its designs to ensure they can be used as soon as possible Health Secretary Matt Hancock has hailed the 'unbelievable' response from the industry desperately trying to help the overwhelmed NHS. He wants to avoid the situation in Italy where in some hospitals, only patients under 60 are being given ventilators due to a shortage. The Cabinet minister said there had been 'thousands of offers' for help constructing the machines, which are essential for preventing victims succumbing to the respiratory disease. He said he hoped approval could be rushed through for producing them 'at scale', and they would be in use within 'a matter of days'. The company hopes the new efficient process will allow the company to meet any shortages in hospitals Health Secretary Matt Hancock has hailed the 'unbelievable' response from the industry The NHS currently has access to 8,175 ventilators, including 691 from private hospitals Teams at the University of Oxford and King's College London are also working hard to get ventilators in hospitals as soon as possible. Researchers will need to demonstrate the design's reliability and safety in order to get regulatory approval for the opensource design. Researchers will need to demonstrate the design's reliability and safety in order to get regulatory approval for the opensource design. However, the team anticipate that manufacture could begin across the country within 23 months. The Government hopes to have 5,000 within a month and 30,000 in total for the peak of the crisis Companies including Dyson, JCB, Airbus and Nissan are working hard to produce the sought-after machines Many other companies are helping with the effort including engineering teams who do not usually work on medical supplies. The NHS currently has access to 8,175 ventilators, including 691 from private hospitals and a few more from the Ministry of Defence. The Government hopes to have 5,000 more within a month and 30,000 for the peak of the crisis. Companies including Dyson, JCB, Airbus and Nissan are joining the effort and working hard to produce the sought-after machines. Irans President Hassan Rouhani spoke at a Cabinet meeting on March 23 for the first time since the Iranian new year to address the countrys fight against the novel coronavirus and addressed the US offer to help. That the Americans say 'We are ready to help' under the difficult conditions of the coronavirus is one of the great lies of history, Rouhani said. Its as if someone has taken a well and does not permit you to have clear water and then brings you a glass of muddy water and offers it to you and says 'I know you are thirsty; I have come here to help,' he added. Rouhani continued, If you want to help, remove your boots from the path and step aside from the movement of a nation. You have come and closed the well. You have made problems for the sale of oil. You have made problems for banking transactions, for medicine, for food, raw material. We dont want your muddy water; just step to the side, remove the obstacles, Rouhani said, adding, "Leave alone the other nations and companies and buyers and exporters and importers. The offer of US help is in reference to comments made by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Feb. 28 when he told reporters, We have made offers to the Islamic Republic of Iran to help, and weve made it clear to others around the world and in the region that assistance, humanitarian assistance to push back against the coronavirus in Iran is something the United States of America fully supports. Immediately in response to Pompeos offer, Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi said Iran had not believed the offer was genuine and that Pompeo had notified the US media of the offer to help before the offer was made officially to the Swiss, who act as intermediaries between the two countries given they have no formal diplomatic relations. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the final decision-maker in the country, also spoke about the US offer of help Iran during his address March 22, rejecting any US assistance. In his Nowruz speech typically given in the city of Mashhad at the Imam Reza shrine but this time given via video due to the ban on public gatherings because of the coronavirus Khamenei said, The comments by the Americans are very strange because they have a shortage of medicine and equipment, so if they have the ability, they should help their own people. Khamenei said the Americans themselves are spreading the coronavirus but are not even aware of it; therefore, What reasonable person would accept the help of this country? He also said its possible the United States would send medicine that would help spread the coronavirus to make it last longer or send medical staff to gather information. Iran continues to struggle to combat the spread of the coronavirus. As of March 23, there have been a total of 23,049 cases and 1,812 deaths. In the last 24 hours, there have been 1,411 new cases and 127 deaths. While these are the official numbers, Iranian officials have previously said the actual numbers are higher. Ukraine's Foreign Affairs Ministry has expressed its strong protest in connection with the failure of the Russian side to provide the necessary medical examination and treatment to a citizen of Ukraine Server Mustafayev illegally detained in the Russian Federation and demands Russia conduct his medical examination immediately. "We insist on the immediate medical examination of a citizen of Mustafayev in a specialized medical institution in accordance with international standards, including with the aim of eliminating the possibility of infection with the coronavirus infection COVID-19, and providing qualified medical care in a place of confinement," the Foreign Ministry said on Monday. According to the agency, in recent days Mustafayev has a high temperature, a dry cough, a severe headache and weakness throughout the body. "Given the pandemic, these are alarming symptoms that are ignored by the Russian side," the ministry said. The commentary emphasizes that the Russian Federation deliberately neglects the grave state of health of an illegally detained citizen of Ukraine and tries to hide it. Also, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry expressed concern that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical safety in prisons of Russia and in Russia-occupied territories could be systemic, which would seriously jeopardize the health and lives of illegally detained citizens of Ukraine. "The challenge in the form of a pandemic of a new virus that does not take into account borders and nationality is a good opportunity for the Russian Federation to recall the universal values and norms of international law. We call on the international community to increase political, economic and sanctions pressure on the Russian Federation in order to stop Russia's gross violations of human rights and the release of all illegally detained citizens of Ukraine," the ministry said. . Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has also noted that Mustafayev's state of health was critical and called on Russia to provide Mustafayev and other Ukrainians with professional medical care. "Ukrainian political prisoners in Russia and in the Crimea are left without medical assistance. Many have poor health. They are vulnerable to diseases, for example, COVID-19. We urge Russia to immediately see doctors and ombudsmen for our citizens, providing health monitoring, medical care," he said on Twitter on Monday. Mustafayev's server, a Crimean Tatar activist and public figure, has been illegally held by Russia for almost two years for political reasons on trumped-up charges of terrorist activity, the Foreign Ministry said. Shelley Davies waits for her delivery at Plants and Friends./Douglas Zimmerman/SFGate LATEST, March 23, 8:00 p.m. Sonoma County has closed all parks and open spaces indefinitely to further enforce the county's shelter-in-place order. Closing parks is a difficult decision, but it is the right decision at this time, said Dr. Sundari Mase, the countys interim health officer. Allowing crowded conditions in parks is not in our best interest during this health crisis. The best action we can take is to stay close to home and limit our outdoor time to our yards and neighborhoods." There were reports of crowding at parks, trails and beaches across the Bay Area over the weekend. March 23, 5:50 p.m. Santa Clara County reported three more deaths due to coronavirus, bringing the county's total up to 13. No information was given on the victims. The county also reported 19 new confirmed cases of the virus, taking its total up to 321. San Mateo is the Bay Area county with the second-most cases at 142. March 23, 4:00 p.m., Governor Gavin Newsom gave an update to Californians Monday afternoon, noting that the state needs to secure 19,500 more beds to "meet midway projections" for those who may become hospitalized with coronavirus. The state currently has 78,000. In addition, Newsom announced that Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has already produced and delivered 1,000 ventilators to hospitals in need, and 25 firms are offering 3D-printed masks. "I told you a few days ago that [Musk] was likely to have 1,000 ventilators this week," Newsom said. "They've arrived in Los Angeles... It was a heroic effort." Like San Francisco Mayor London Breed, Newsom also addressed those California residents who may not be taking the shelter-in-place order seriously, and ordered the closing of parking lots at state parks and beaches. "Time to grow up, time to wake up," he said. "Time to recognize its not just about the old folks, its about your impact on their lives. You have a responsibility to meet this moment as well." However, Newsom stopped short of suggesting there would be an increased enforcement of social distancing violations. "If that becomes problematic, well start to enforce that but not with a hammer," he said, adding that "social pressure has moved remarkably quickly." March 23, 2:45 p.m., Two Laguna Honda Hospital employees working in the same unit tested positive for coronavirus, San Francisco General Hospital spokesman Brent Andrew confirmed to The Chronicle Monday. The hospital is home to a vulnerable population of 750 seniors, and workers there say there is a shortage of masks, gloves and other necessary medical supplies. March 23, 2:30 p.m., San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said the SFPD would not yet be taking the extreme step of enforcing social distancing guidelines issued by the city. Scott stated the department would try to convey the importance of taking such a precaution before turning to police enforcement, noting, we will try to exhaust every means necessary" before deploying officers. Scott also noted an overall decline in crime across the city during a shelter-in-place, stating that unlike in other municipalities, San Francisco has to date not had any reports of looters targeting closed businesses during the shutdown. March 23, 2:00 p.m., In a virtual press conference Monday, Mayor London Breed issued a stern warning to San Franciscans: Comply fully with the shelter-in-place order, or else the city would be forced to close its public parks. Breed cited widespread observations of residents in parks, at beaches and on the streets of the city engaging in non-essential activities. Such disregard for the order, she said, is "a matter of life or death." "The folks on the streets having drinking parties, out on the streets socializing and coming together, not having social distancing requirement seriously, you are putting lives at stake, putting public lives in jeopardy," she said. "This is serious. "Our goal is to make sure our hospitals have the capacity, have what they need to prepare for what we know is coming," she continued. "It's not a whether or not more people will get sick. They [will]. And what happens if its your grandmother? What happens if its your uncle and we don't have a bed for them to be in because they got sick? We don't want to get to that point." More on the press conference here. March 23, 1:00 p.m., Alameda County announced the first death of a resident from COVID-19 Monday. To date, Alameda County has counted 112 confirmed cases of coronavirus. Contra Costa County also announced 10 new cases of coronavirus Monday, bringing the county to a total of 71 cases, health officials said. March 23, 12:30 p.m., Police in Santa Clara and Contra Costa counties are further cracking down on non-essential businesses operating in violation of the shelter in place. Santa Clara County announced a new method of reporting such businesses, directing residents to report the businesses to the county via email or phone number. Contra Costa County announced a similar initiative, encouraging residents to report non-essential businesses violating the order via the city of Concord's Concord Connect app or through the city website. March 23, 12:00 p.m., The homeless population in San Francisco is grappling with the impact of the coronavirus, Mission Local reports. Mayor Breed has set aside $5 million to gear up for infections among homeless people, intending the money to pay for single-occupancy hotel rooms (so people can self-isolate) and cleaning homeless shelters and navigation centers. Hotels, too, weathering record low-occupancy rates, are attempting to recoup loses by renting rooms to the city for the homeless and for first responders. To date, 8,500 rooms have been offered, but city officials are seeking more. March 23, 11:30 p.m., Mayor London Breed has announced an arts relief program for local artists and businesses in San Francisco, funded with the initial amount of $2.5 million from the city. $1.5 million of the fund will be dedicated to "individual artists, teaching artists, and small- to mid- budget sized arts and cultural organizations," prioritizing cultural institutions that are most vulnerable. Under the program, individual artists can apply for grants of up to $2,000, and organizations may be awarded between $5,000 and $25,000, based on budget size. The additional $1 million will be earmarked for low-interest loans to arts and cultural institutions. More information here. March 23, 11 a.m., The Milpitas Fire Department said Monday that two members of the department and one of their spouses tested positive for COVID-19. March 23, 9:40 a.m., Marin Countys Public Health Officer was diagnosed with COVID-19, health officials said Monday morning. Dr. Matt Willis has been quarantined at home with his family since his symptoms first appeared late last week and on Sunday afternoon his test results were confirmed. My case is further proof that COVID-19 is with us, Dr. Willis said in a video posted online. While my symptoms are now mild, as most peoples will be, we also know that for many, especially our elders, this same illness can be life-threatening. Willis stressed the importance of sheltering-at-home, especially for the safety of older adults, vulnerable residents, and to ease the burden on health care workers. Willis doesn't know where he caught the virus and urged the community to follow the shelter-in-place order. Stay in place and limit anything outside the home to only essential trips," he said. Because were seeing signs of our responders being exposed and pulled away from duty, we need to double down on our efforts to limit countywide exposures. You can help us lessen the burden on our health care system by simply slowing the rate of spread. That we do have some control over. Marin County has at least 38 cases of COVID-19. March 23, 9:30 a.m., The number of patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 in San Francisco County increased to 131, according to the city's public health department Monday morning. The city didn't release information on the 23 newly identified patients. March 23, 9:09 a.m., The director of communications and public affairs for Santa Clara County has tested positive for coronavirus, health officials said Sunday night. Maria Leticia Gomez first displayed symptoms on March 14 and has been isolated at home since that date. Gomez is "doing well," officials said. Santa Clara County also reported two more deaths from COVID-19, bringing the county total of mortalities to 10. Both patients were women; one was in her 40s, the other in her 60s. They passed away Saturday. Health officials also said 59 new cases were identified, bringing the total of infected patients to 302. With ridership dramatically declining, Bart began new limited service hours Monday. Trains beginning running at the typical 5 a.m. time and will continue to run every 15 minutes, but service will stop at 9 p.m. each night. On weekends, trains won't start until 8 a.m. and will also stop at 9 p.m. BART is expected to lose $37M a month amid the coronavirus crisis, with ridership up to 85% down. Read the full story on SFGATE. UCSF will begin accepting donations of unopened packages of masks, gloves and hand sanitizers, beginning Monday, March 24 at 8 a.m. Read the full story for more details on items needed and pickup locations. Where cases have been confirmed in the greater Bay Area: ALAMEDA COUNTY: 112 confirmed cases, 1 death* Fore more information on Alameda County cases, visit the public health department website. *Number excludes infected patients in City of Berkeley, which has six cases CONTRA COSTA COUNTY: 71 confirmed cases, 1 death For more information on Contra Costa County cases, visit the public health department website. LAKE COUNTY: 0 confirmed cases For information on Lake County and coronavirus, visit the public health department website. MARIN COUNTY: 47 confirmed cases Fore more information on Marin County cases, visit the public health department website. MONTEREY COUNTY: 20 confirmed cases For more information on Monterey County cases, visit the public health department website. NAPA COUNTY: 2 case For more information on Napa County cases, visit the public health department website. SAN BENITO COUNTY: 6 confirmed cases, 1 death For more information on San Benito County cases, visit the public health department website. SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY: 131 confirmed cases For more information on San Francisco County cases, visit the public health department website. SAN MATEO COUNTY: 142 confirmed cases, 1 death For more information on San Mateo County cases, visit the public health department website. SANTA CLARA COUNTY: 321 confirmed cases, 13 deaths Fore more information on Santa Clara County cases, visit the public health department website. SANTA CRUZ COUNTY: 22 confirmed cases For more information on Santa Cruz County cases, visit the public health department website. SOLANO COUNTY: 21 confirmed cases For more information on Solano County cases, visit the public health department website. SONOMA COUNTY: 27 confirmed cases, 1 death For more information on Sonoma County cases, visit the public health department website. In California, 35 coronavirus-related deaths have been reported, according to Johns Hopkins University. MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE: Sign up for 'The Daily' newsletter for the latest on coronavirus here. Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com. As an infectious disease epidemiologist who's worked on pandemics for two decades, I've talked in recent days to journalists and health officials around the United States and from halfway around the world about how to stop the coronavirus. They all have the same questions: How many tests do we need? How should we use tests? For each case we know about, how many more cases are out there? What's the best way to find undiagnosed cases? Should we do "active case finding," which involves testing everyone who is mildly ill, then isolating known cases and quarantining and isolating their contacts? Instead - or in addition - should we implement intense social distancing, close schools and take other similar measures? Everyone asks the same important, interrelated questions. In one respect, the answer is the same for all of them: We must vastly expand our testing capacity. No country has controlled transmission effectively without massive testing capacity. The United States currently has a sliver of the capacity we need, which is only a tiny fraction of that available in other countries. South Korea has performed over 320,000 tests - almost one for every 150 people. That is 30 times the testing per capita that we have done in the United States. Exceptional teams are racing to solve testing bottlenecks at local and state levels (Massachusetts is just one example), filling the vacuum left by the complete absence of federal leadership. Regulatory and technical hurdles accounted for early delays. Now that we're past those, several shortages are getting in the way. We don't have enough protective equipment for testers, nor swabs for sampling or reagents to extract genetic material from the virus. We don't have enough physical test kits, or enough human power to run large-scale testing. The result is that we have no idea how many people are infected with the coronavirus, or how fast the virus is spreading. For most of the other questions about strategy, the best answer depends on local conditions. Different parts of the world, and maybe even different parts of the country, are in very different situations. The best strategy depends critically on which stage of the outbreak you are in, how much testing is available. This is a subject infectious disease epidemiologists have been thinking about for years. My colleagues and I have been adapting our earlier peer-reviewed work to the present pandemic. One size does not fit all. A few places - many of them islands, like Singapore and Taiwan - have so far kept the epidemic relatively under control. They found and tested most of the initial imported cases; they deployed a skilled public health workforce to isolate people with the virus and trace and quarantine their contacts; and they've managed to maintain a "containment" strategy to good effect. The same can be said of Hong Kong and New Zealand. Iceland has combined containment with massive testing of its population. So far, this strategy has worked, and in these places, it would be wise to keep to it unless evidence that it is failing starts to emerge. Containment can work when there are few enough cases that the public health system is able to deal with them and their contacts, so that the workload is manageable, and when a large fraction of cases are tested and identified, so that preventing them from infecting anyone else dramatically reduces the total amount of transmission. For jurisdictions like these, case-based interventions (isolation, contact tracing and quarantine) can be the centerpiece of the control strategy - because they are highly effective. It may be necessary to supplement these with broad social distancing measures, of the sort we have been emphasizing recently in the United States, to snuff out any unobserved chains of transmission that might get past public health authorities. Places like Singapore can afford to keep schools open - and more generally to impose less stringent social distancing measures - precisely because the case-based interventions are working. But the situation in the United States right now is very different. The feckless federal response created such delays in testing that most cases here are not being confirmed, even now. We don't know even approximately how many people are infected, but it's certainly more than the current count of more than 33,000 confirmed cases. Even though many places are reporting relatively small numbers of confirmed cases, this is not comforting. In many parts of the country, we are seeing rising numbers of flu-like illnesses that when tested, are not flu, and may well actually be covid-19 if only we could test them. Observations like this convince epidemiologists that the large majority of cases are undetected. Given the various shortages, testing capacity in the short term is limited. But at this point, it's not going to be possible to find and test all the cases that actually exist, even if we massively ramped up testing. Despite welcome improvements in testing across the country, finding and testing all the contacts of confirmed cases when the numbers are increasing this quickly wouldn't be feasible at the best of times - let alone now. To be clear, any person known to have covid-19 should, of course, be isolated to avoid onward transmission. But this strategy alone - and the tracing and quarantine of contacts that is central to Singapore or Taiwan's strategy - is inadequate to the problem we are already facing in the United States. It's just a matter of numbers. If we only know about 1 in 10 cases, then even perfectly effective interventions on known cases can block only 10 percent of transmission. More likely in the United States, we know about an even lower proportion. For this reason, states and localities around the country are starting to apply social distancing, a set of policies that can be effective without knowing who is infected or infectious. Implementation around the country has been widely variable, with shelter-in-place orders in multiple sites and minimal interventions to date in others. Intense social distancing must be the centerpiece of our strategy for now. There are reasonable concerns about how long this can continue, but these are no excuse for avoiding urgent action now to prevent an already bad situation becoming worse. For motivation to stay home, look at Italy, which reported 793 deaths on Saturday alone, and another 651 on Sunday, for a total of 5,476, and nearly 60,000 confirmed cases. Scant weeks ago, the country had identified only a handful of cases. New York and Washington state are scaling up testing and know they are not far behind; more worrisome still is a state like West Virginia that has done fewer than 400 tests and already found 12 cases. Such places have truly no way of knowing what they are facing. So how should we use testing? Unlike in Singapore, at this stage in the United States, there is little benefit in testing most asymptomatic or mildly ill individuals. The test results would not affect their treatment, because we still don't have any treatment for covid-19. Isolating these people will not do much to control the epidemic. But individuals who have been exposed to a known case, and individuals with a mild respiratory illness, should stay home and avoid social contacts, even more than the rest of us are doing. If we can scale up testing and reduce case numbers through effective social distancing, we should consider testing very widely and resuming isolation and tracing, which work best in synergy with social distancing. For now, testing priority should go to hospitalized patients and health-care workers (to protect them from infecting one another) and to surveillance to estimate the prevalence of mild infection in the community. China and South Korea demonstrate that intensive testing and contact tracing, combined with intense (in China's case) or moderate (South Korea) levels of social distancing can control the epidemic, even if it's only temporarily. Among a number of other overdue actions, the White House should coordinate a national effort to achieve a testing capacity like that available in those countries and to get case numbers down to levels where we can plausibly track them individually. Until we get there, public health officials have the unenviable task of explaining why the tests we do have must be reserved for the purposes that contribute most to controlling the epidemic and treating the sickest patients. - - - Lipsitch is a professor of epidemiology and the director of the Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. NEW YORKMore than 20,000 New Yorkers have been infected by the coronavirus, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday, meaning the Empire State now accounts for five per cent of all cases worldwide. In a news conference from Albany, the governor said 20,875 cases had been confirmed in New York as of the latest count an increase by 5,707 since Sunday. You can see that New York, far and away, has the bulk of the problem, Cuomo said. At least 12,305 of New Yorks cases are in the five boroughs, and 157 people have died so far, Cuomo said. With New York now officially under a stay-at-home decree, Cuomo also announced he was issuing an emergency order mandating hospitals statewide to increase their capacities by at least 50 per cent to accommodate the continuously growing number of coronavirus patients. Find more beds, use more rooms, Cuomo said. New York has emerged as the U.S. epicentre for the fast-spreading virus, and the city is dealing with the brunt of the problem. Washington and California, the states with the second- and third-worst outbreaks in the U.S., respectively, have about 2,500 confirmed cases combined. In addition to the hospital capacity boost, Cuomo said he was signing an executive order that would recommend all registered nurses to enlist in the escalating fight against the virus. Roughly 13 per cent of all infected New Yorkers are hospitalized, Cuomo said. Hospitals across the state are reporting theyre quickly running out of space and supplies, such as ventilators, masks, gloves and gowns. Cuomo said the state is sending millions of so-called N95 masks to New York City and Long Island over the next few days. However, he anticipated that those supplies wont last long and reiterated a call for President Donald Trump to activate the Defense Production Act. Trump invoked the 1950 law last week, allowing him to order medical companies to ramp up production of masks and other sorely needed supplies. However, in a confusing turn of events, Trump has refused to activate the Korean War-era law. On Sunday, he claimed he was holding off because the U.S., unlike Venezuela, is not a country based on nationalizing our business. Cuomo dismissed Trumps hesitation as red-baiting nonsense. Yes, it is an assertion of government power on private sector companies. Yes. But so what? This is a national emergency, the governor said. Cuomo was expected to later Monday tour Manhattans Javits Center, which the Federal Emergency Management Agency is expected to transform into a field hospital as part of a major disaster declaration order approved by Trump for New York. Read more about: Police in Madhya Pradeshs Mandsaur have come up with an idea to deal with people violating the orders for a lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus in the city. Six people in the state have tested positive for Sars-Cov-2 infection so farone from Bhopal and five from Jabalpur. The state government has declared lockdown in more than 35 districts, including Mandsaur, which varied from a period of 72 hours to April 3. In Mandsaur, people started trickling out of their homes during the Janta Curfew, a self-imposed quarantine call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Sunday even though the city is under lockdown until March 25. So, Mandsaur Police printed some pamphlets, made people carry them and clicked their photograph. I am an enemy of society. I wont stay home, the pamphlet in Hindi read. This is part of a social experiment to make people stay home, Hitesh Chaudhary, Mandsaurs superintendent of police, said. Also read: MP trader arrested for spreading rumours Madhya Pradesh reported its first few cases of coronavirus from Jabalpur last Friday. They include three members of one family, who had returned from Dubai recently. The fourth person who tested positive for the coronavirus had a travel history to Germany. The number of Covid-19 patients in India has risen to 415, the Indian Council of Medical Research said on Monday. There have been seven coronavirus disease-related deaths in the country so far. Yuanyuan Zhu was walking to her gym in San Francisco on March 9, thinking the workout could be her last for a while, when she noticed that a man was shouting at her. He was yelling an expletive about China. Then a bus passed, she recalled, and he screamed after it, Run them over. She tried to keep her distance, but when the light changed, she was stuck waiting with him at the crosswalk. She could feel him staring at her. And then, suddenly, she felt it: his saliva hitting her face and her favorite sweater. In shock, Zhu, who is 26 and moved to the United States from China five years ago, hurried the rest of the way to the gym. She found a corner where no one could see her, and she cried quietly. That person didnt look strange or angry or anything, you know? she said of her tormentor. He just looked like a normal person. As the coronavirus upends American life, Chinese Americans face a double threat. Not only are they grappling like everyone else with how to avoid the virus itself, they are also contending with growing racism in the form of verbal and physical attacks. Other Asian Americans with families from Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, Myanmar and other places are facing threats, too, lumped together with Chinese Americans by a bigotry that does not know the difference. In interviews over the past week, nearly two dozen Asian Americans across the country said they were afraid to go grocery shopping, to travel alone on subways or buses, to let their children go outside. Many described being yelled at in public a sudden spasm of hate that is reminiscent of the kind faced by Muslim Americans after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. But unlike 2001, when President George W. Bush urged tolerance of Muslim Americans, this time President Donald Trump is using language that Asian Americans say is inciting racist attacks. Trump and his Republican allies are intent on calling the coronavirus the Chinese virus, rejecting the World Health Organizations guidance against using geographic locations when naming illnesses, since past names have provoked a backlash. Trump told reporters Tuesday that he was calling the virus Chinese to combat a disinformation campaign by Beijing officials saying the U.S. military was the source of the outbreak. He dismissed concerns that his language would lead to any harm. If they keep using these terms, the kids are going to pick it up, said Tony Du, an epidemiologist in Howard County, Maryland, who fears for his son, Larry, 8. They are going to call my 8-year-old son a Chinese virus. Its serious. Du said he posted on Facebook that this is the darkest day in my 20-plus years of life in the United States, referring to Trumps doubling down on use of the term. While no firm numbers exist yet, Asian American advocacy groups and researchers say there has been a surge of verbal and physical assaults reported in newspapers and to tip lines. San Francisco State University found a 50% rise in the number of news articles related to the coronavirus and anti-Asian discrimination between Feb. 9 and March 7. The lead researcher, Russell Jeung, a professor of Asian American studies, said the figures represented just the tip of the iceberg because only the most egregious cases that would be likely to be reported by the media. Jeung has helped set up a website in six Asian languages, to gather firsthand accounts; some 150 cases have been reported on the site since it started last Thursday. Benny Luo, founder and chief executive of NextShark, a website focused on Asian American news, said the site used to get a few tips a day. Now it is dozens. Weve never received this many news tips about racism against Asians, he said. Its crazy. My staff is pulling double duty just to keep up. He said he was hiring two more people to help. No one is immune to being targeted. Dr. Edward Chew, head of the emergency department at a large Manhattan hospital, is on the front lines of fighting the coronavirus. He said that over the past few weeks, he has noticed people trying to cover their nose and mouth with their shirts when they are near him. Chew has been using his free time to buy protective gear, like goggles and face shields, for his staff, in case his hospital runs out. On Wednesday night at a Home Depot, with his cart filled with face shields, masks and Tyvek suits, he said he was harassed by three men in their 20s, who then followed him out into the parking lot. I heard of other Asians being assaulted over this, but when you are actually ridiculed yourself, you really feel it, he said the following day. A writer for The New Yorker, Jiayang Fan, said she was taking out her trash last week when a man walking by began cursing at her for being Chinese. Ive never felt like this in my 27 years in this country, she wrote on Twitter on Tuesday. Ive never felt afraid to leave my home to take out the trash because of my face. Attacks have also gotten physical. In the San Fernando Valley in California, a 16-year old Asian American boy was attacked in school by bullies who accused him of having the coronavirus. He was sent to the emergency room to see whether he had suffered a concussion. In New York City a woman wearing a mask was kicked and punched in a Manhattan subway station, and a man in Queens was followed to a bus stop, shouted at and then hit over the head in front of his 10-year-old son. People have rushed to protect themselves. One man started a buddy-system Facebook group for Asians in New York who are afraid to take the subway by themselves. Gun shop owners in the Washington, D.C., area said they were seeing a surge of first-time Chinese American buyers. At Engage Armament in Rockville, Maryland, most gun buyers in the first two weeks of March have been Chinese American or Chinese, according to the owner, Andy Raymond. More than a fifth of Rockvilles residents are of Asian ethnicity, and Raymond said buyers from Korean and Vietnamese backgrounds were not unusual. But Raymond said he was stunned by the flow of Chinese customers in particular green-card holders from mainland China that began earlier this month, a group that rarely patronized his shop before. It was just nonstop, something Ive never seen, he said. Raymond said that few of the Asian customers wanted to talk about why they were there, but when one of his employees asked a woman about it, she teared up. To protect my daughter, she replied. For recent immigrants like Du who are in close touch with friends and family in China, the virus has been a screaming danger for weeks that most Americans seemed oblivious to. Du is trying to remain hopeful. He spends his weekends training to become a volunteer with Marylands emergency medical workers. He is part of a group of Chinese American scientists who organized a GoFundMe account to raise money for protective gear for hospital workers in the area. In three days, they raised more than $55,000, nearly all in small donations. But he said he was afraid of the chaos that could be unleashed if the U.S. death toll rises significantly. Already a gun owner, Du, 48, said he was in the process of buying an AR-15 style rifle. Katrina is not far away, he said, alluding to the unrest in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. And when all these bad things come, I am a minority. People can see my face is Chinese clearly. My son, when he goes out, they will know his parents are Chinese. For American-born Asians, there is a sudden sense of being watched that is as unsettling as it is unfamiliar. Its a look of disdain, said Chil Kong, a Korean American theater director in Maryland. Its just: How dare you exist in my world? You are a reminder of this disease, and you dont belong in my world. He added: Its especially hard when you grow up here and expect this world to be yours equally. But we do not live in that world anymore. That world does not exist. One debate among Asian Americans has been over whether to wear a mask in public. Wearing one risks drawing unwanted attention; but not wearing one does, too. Zhu said her parents, who live in China, offered to ship her some. Im like, Oh please, dont, she said. She said she was afraid of getting physically attacked if she wore one. Lots of my friends, their social media posts are all about this: We dont wear masks. Its kind of more dangerous than the virus. A 30-year-old videographer in Syracuse said he was still shaken from a trip to the grocery store Monday, when the man ahead of him in the checkout line shouted at him, Its you people who brought the disease, and other customers just stared at him, without offering to help. That same day, he said, two different couples verbally abused him at Costco. I feel like Im being invaded by this hatred, said the man, Edward, who asked that his last name not be used because he feared attracting more attention. Its everywhere. Its silent. Its as deadly as this disease. He said he had tried to hide the details of what happened from his mother, who moved to the United States from China in the 1970s. But there was one thing he did tell her. I told her, whatever you do, you cant go shopping, he said. She needed to know theres a problem, and we cant act like its normal anymore. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Kathmandu, March 23 The government of Nepal has decided to impose complete lockdown in the country after it confirmed the second coronavirus case on Monday. Accordingly, it has barred citizens from leaving their houses from 6 am on Tuesday morning. It will be effective for one week. Likewise, all vehicles except those carrying foodstuffs and other essential goods will not operate. A meeting of the high-level committee on coronavirus control, led by Deputy Prime Minister Ishwar Pokharel, made the decision on Monday evening. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealing to him to stop all flights from landing in West Bengal with immediate effect. There are a total of seven confirmed cases of COVID-19 in West Bengal according to the data provided by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The total number of positive cases of COVID-19 in India stands at 415. Seven deaths have occurred due to the pandemic. According to official data provided by the Ministry of Health, as many as 24 people infected with the virus have been discharged after receiving treatment. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) [March 23, 2020] Texas Pacific Land Trust Approves Plan to Reorganize into a Delaware Corporation The Trustees of Texas Pacific Land Trust (NYSE: TPL) (the "Trust") announced today that the Trust has approved a plan to reorganize from its current structure to a corporation formed under Delaware law. The Trustees made their determination following careful consideration of the recommendation of the Conversion Exploration Committee of the Trust. "The Trust's present structure has suited the Trust's needs and those of its shareholders for more than a century, but a Delaware corporate structure is more aligned with the expectations of today's investors. A new corporate structure would better allow us to execute on business goals and capitalize on our enviable assets, resources and business potential," said David E. Barry, a Trustee of the Trust. "With an enhanced governance framework in step with practices of publicly traded peer corporations, we expect a new corporate structure would enable value creation over time and drive value for stockholders." John R. Norris III, Trustee of the Trust, added, "We are grateful to the members of the Committee for dedicating their time and attention to providing a thoughtful recommendation that informed this decision." Under the corporate reorganization plan, common stock of the new corporation would be distributed upon the consummation of the reorganization process to holders of sub-share certificates of proprietary interest of the Trust and traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). At or about such time, the sub-share certificates would be cancelled. The corporate reorganization is intended to be tax-free in the United States, and the corporation will be deemed a c-corporation for U.S. taxation purposes. The Trust is presently aiming for the corporate reorganization to be effective by the end of the third quarter of 2020, but the Trust recognizes that unforeseen impacts of COVID-19 could extend this timeframe despite the Trust's efforts. Barring any such unforeseen disruptions, further information regarding the corporate reorganization will be included in a registration statement on Form 10 to be filed by the corporation with the SEC (News - Alert) as well as in other communications and disclosures anticipated to be made by the Trust and the corporation. Advisors Credit Suisse is acting as financial advisor and Sidley Austin LLP as legal advisor tothe Trust. About Texas Pacific Land Trust Texas Pacific Land Trust is one of the largest landowners in the State of Texas with approximately 900,000 acres of land in West Texas. The Trust was organized under a Declaration of Trust to receive and hold title to extensive tracts of land in the State of Texas, previously the property of the Texas and Pacific Railway Company, and to issue transferable Certificates of Proprietary Interest pro rata to the holders of certain debt securities of the Texas and Pacific Railway Company. Texas Pacific Land Trust's trustees are empowered under the Declaration of Trust to manage the lands with all the powers of an absolute owner. Visit the Trust at www.tpltrust.com. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are based on the Trust's beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, the Trust, and therefore involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Generally, future or conditional verbs such as "will," "would," "should," "could," or "may" and the words "believe," "anticipate," "continue," "intend," "expect" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the proposed reorganization of the Trust into a corporation (the "proposed reorganization") and other references to strategies, plans, objectives, expectations, intentions, assumptions, future operations and prospects and other statements that are not historical facts. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Although the Trust believes that plans, intentions and expectations, including those regarding the proposed reorganization, reflected in or suggested by any forward-looking statements made herein are reasonable, the Trust may be unable to achieve such plans, intentions or expectations and actual results, performance or achievements may vary materially and adversely from those envisaged in this news release due a number of factors including, but not limited to: a determination of the Trustees not to provide final approval of all actions and transactions necessary to effect the proposed reorganization; a determination that the proposed reorganization will not be tax-free to the Trust and holders of the Trust's sub-share certificates; the SEC declining to declare effectiveness of filings necessary to effect the proposed reorganization; the NYSE declining to approve the listing of TPL common stock on the NYSE; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the abandonment of the proposed reorganization; changes in the expected timing and likelihood of completion of the proposed reorganization; uncertainties as to the timing of the proposed reorganization; potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the proposed reorganization; unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the proposed reorganization; risks related to disruption of management time from ongoing business operations due to the proposed reorganization; the initiation or outcome of potential litigation; any changes in general economic and/or industry specific conditions; and the potential impacts of COVID-19 on the global and U.S. economies as well as on the Trust's financial condition and business operations. Except as required by law, the Trust undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any such forward-looking statements. For more information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed or referred to herein, see the Trust's annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200323005276/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Ben Butler went for a four-day hike in Argentina's Patagonia region last week An Australian backpacker stranded in South America amid the coronavirus pandemic says consular officials told him to 'wash his hands' when his family reached out for help. Melbourne man Ben Butler headed for a hike in Argentina's Patagonia region last week. He emerged to 'complete madness' four days later. 'By the time I walked down the main street all the tourists had their packs on and I was thinking, "Oh, what have I missed here. Something has gone down",' he said on Saturday. The 24-year-old claimed he had no help from consular officials. Melbourne man Ben Butler (pictured) headed for a hike in Argentina's Patagonia region last week 'I've had my dad contacting them, and they're just saying: "Oh, there's not really anything we can do, make sure he's washing his hands",' he said. 'They're hopeless. There's no point even going to them. I feel totally abandoned.' Mr Butler was able to get to a bigger city in Argentina, Bariloche, but struggled to find a safe place to stay and fears he could become a target if civil unrest erupts. He said the perception that foreigners are responsible for the spread of the virus complicates things further, and has resulted in hostels shutting their doors. 'In my mind I was thinking 'I've got my tent, I'm just going to run to the bush', but obviously that's not really a solution either,' he said. Ali MacGregor (pictured) is trapped in South America with a friend and relative and said Australian officials have not offered much advice It was only through the kindness of a friend of a friend that Mr Butler didn't end up on the street. 'Six days ago, I was having a great time and now I'm in a crisis in a foreign country, when I don't even speak the language. It just seems surreal.' A group of Perth women on a similar trip through South America are in the same boat. The hostel that Ali and Tess MacGregor were staying in, with friend Ashlee Baker, also kicked them out. They have found other accommodation in Peru, but say they're 'haemorrhaging' money. Like Mr Butler, the trio said they are yet to get any real assistance from consular officials. The hostel that Ali and Tess MacGregor (pictured) were staying in, with friend Ashlee Baker, kicked them out The only response they've received from the embassy is an automated email reply. 'Basically they are saying there's no plans to repatriate Australians at this stage, which isn't really what you want to hear when you're stranded in a foreign country,' Ali, 25, said on Saturday. 'We're so stressed, but at least we're together.' Two planes will be sent to South America between Monday and Wednesday this week to rescue stranded Australian travellers. The flights have been organised by Australian tour company Chimu Adventures and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Passengers will be charged $5,160 each for an economy seat on the LATAM airline flights which will head to Sydney, The Guardian reported. The cost includes approvals and transport to navigate a country-wide lockdown in Peru, with Australian diplomats among the evacuees. The number of Australians who registered trying to get home from South America hit 240 on Friday. Most are in Lima - the capital city of Peru. The Peruvian government have put curfews in place between 8pm and 5am in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus. Domestic travel has been banned except in emergencies. Foreign affairs minister Marise Payne said 'literally hundreds and hundreds of thousands of Australians overseas' at any given time. She said consular officials have been working to repatriate travellers. Advertisement New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced that he was starting trials for the anti-malaria drug touted as a potential 'miracle' coronavirus treatment tomorrow as he told Americans to 'settle in' to quarantining and warned it would last 'several months'. It came as the number of cases of coronavirus in New York City alone rose to 12,000, an increase of more than 3,000 overnight. The governor predicted the current crisis would last 'several months' more, doing away with any notion that it might be over in two weeks, as a tweet from President Trump on Sunday night suggested. Cuomo, while telling people to try to find the 'silver lining' in the situation that they'd have more time to spend with family, said New York was working on preventative measures. Tomorrow, the state's doctors will start trialing hydroxychloroquine. The drug has not yet been proven as effective in battling the virus, but President Trump drummed up excitement over it when he called it a 'game changer' last week. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the White House coronavirus expert, said more work was needed before it could be heralded as a solution. Cuomo said on Monday that New York is also launching a trial later this week to inject seriously ill people with coronavirus anti-bodies in the hope that it will boost their immune systems. The governor is also taking under advisement the argument that only the most vulnerable must isolate and allow younger, healthier people, to return to work. Cuomo, like other governors and mayors, is growing increasingly frustrated with President Trump for not enacting the Defense Production Act which would allow the federal government to buy everything the individual states need at a fair price and then distribute them. Instead, there is currently a bidding war going between the federal government, the individual states and foreign governments for crucial supplies like medical masks. The N-95 surgical mask, for example, used to sell for 95 cents but is now being sold for $7. The price gouging and 'opportunism' by some companies was slammed as 'disgusting' by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. Fifteen states have now issued stay-at-home orders for their residents. They are; California, Nevada, Illinois, Louisiana, Ohio, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New York, Indiana, Michigan, Oregon and West Virginia. Scroll down for video NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Monday that people had to 'deal with the reality' they now face and 'settle in' to self-isolating for 'several months' 'The FDA gave the New York state department of health approval to use on a compassionate care bases a drug we think has real possibility. 'On the drug therapy, Tuesday we are going to start the hydroxychloroquine with the zithromax the drug combination that president Donald Trump has been talking about. 'The FDA approved the New York state department of health to proceed with an experiment of drug again on a compassionate care bases. 'What it does is takes the plasma from a person who has been infected with the virus, processes the plasma and injects the anti-bodies into a person who is sick. 'There have been tests that show when a person is injected with the antibodies that then stimulates and promotes their immune system against that disease. It is only a trial. It is a trial for people who are in serious condition. 'The New York state department of health has been working on this with some of the best healthcare agencies in New York. We think it shows promise and we will be starting that this week. 'There is also work on a drug where test the anti-bodies of a person and see if they have the virus,' he said. There are now more than 20,000 cases in the state of New York, including 12,000 in the city of New York. The US now has the third highest number of infections in the world, after Italy and China, with 39,000. Four hundred people have died. More tests are being done in New York than in any other state in the US and testing rates have now surpassed those of South Korea, Cuomo said. In one night, 16,000 tests were done. That is why the number of positive cases is sky-rocketing. Of the 20,000 plus cases identified in the state, 157 people have died. Cuomo said the figures were encouraging: 'Many will get infected but few will actually pass away from this disease. 'This is all evolving and this is all evolutionary - there has to be a balance or parallel tracks that we're going down,' he said. The governor has also issued a call to action for all retired, registered nurses to come back to work, and he is mandating that hospitals increase their capacity by at least 50 percent. He wants them to aim to double it. Army National Guard troops at the Javits Center on Monday setting up what will become one of several field hospitals National Guard troops at the Javits Center on Monday. More than 1,000 beds will be set up there The troops at the Jacob Javits Center on Monday. Gov. Cuomo has warned people to prepare for the worst National Guard troops are seen arriving at the Javits Center, which is going to be used as a field hospital The troops will be tasked with setting up field hospitals in the Javits Center and in college campuses The Javits Center in New York City is to become a field hospital with at least 1,000 beds The Javits Center will become an over-spill hospital once the city's existing hospitals become overrun 'DISGUSTING' BIDDING WAR BETWEEN STATES FOR VITAL MEDICAL SUPPLIES Gov. Cuomo is among a chorus of city and state leaders calling on President Trump to enact the Defense Production Act in order to stop a bidding war between states for vital medical supplies. Cuomo revealed on Monday that the state of New York was being forced to bid against Illinois, Texas and California for crucial equipment like N-95 masks and that the manufacturers were jacking up the prices. The federal government is also bidding, as are foreign governments. Cuomo said that the masks cost 85 cents before the pandemic but now cost $7 each. Mayor Bill de Blasio referred to the bidding war on Monday as 'disgusting'. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker told Today that he was growing frustrated with the same issue. Trump is facing mounting pressure to put the act into motion. Sources tell CNN that Trump was told by business leaders they were hesitant over it because it would harm their business. Cuomo fumed over it during his appearance at the Javits Center. 'We have been scrambling. We're buying from China, we're buying from all across the world. 'Can I say that we'll have enough equipment for next week? The week after? I can't say that, and that's out of our control. That's where we're going to need the federal government. 'To have states competing with other states, to find these equipment, bidding against other states, driving the price up, masks that we paid 85 cents for we are now paying $7. Why? 'Because California is bidding, Texas is bidding, Illinois is bidding, it makes no sense. 'The federal government much nationalize the equipment production and supply issue' Advertisement Thirteen percent of the 20,000 cases of cases in the state are people who have had to be hospitalized. Twenty-four percent of the hospitalizations - nearly a quarter - are in ICU. The state currently has 53,000 hospital beds, including 3,000. It needs 110,000 beds and between 18,000 and 37,000 ICU beds. The Army Corps of Engineers is building hospital beds to go up in existing hospitals and make-shift facilities, like one that is being built at the Javits Center. Cuomo toured it on Monday and said the city was still in the 'calm before the storm'. 'This is going to get much worse before it gets better. You're going to see more people coming into the health system than we can handle. 'Once we get through that, we'll focus like a laser on the economy,' he said, while touring the site. He said 'first order of business' was to stop the public health emergency, rather than fixing the economy. 'We can fix everything else, but we can't fix loss of health,' he said. Medical supplies are also being distributed throughout the state on Monday. Cuomo has sent out 440,000 masks, 176,000 pairs of gloves, 72,000 gowns, 92,000 face shields and 169,000 N-95 masks. Cuomo also echoed other state and local leaders slamming President Trump for now enacting the Defense Production Act which would order private businesses to produce certain items needed to combat the crisis. Instead, states are having to bid against each other and against the federal government - in addition to foreign governments - for the remaining supplies on the world's market. 'California offers $4, I offer $5, another state piles in and offers $6. 'It's not the way to do it. Why are we competing? Let the federal government put in place the federal defense act. All it does is say to a factory, you must produce this quantity. 'It cant just be, "hey who wants to help? 'Let me know." we need to know who is going to produce and when. That's a beautiful thing but you can't run this operation that way - it can't just be based on we're waiting for people to come forward on offers. 'Yes, it's the government telling private businesses what to do. So what? This is a national emergency. You're paying them. There are now several states in lockdown including New York which has the highest number of cases by far A man crosses an abandoned intersection in Sunnyside, Queens, on Sunday as New Yorkers followed the 'stay at home' guidance 'You cannot continue to do these supplies on an ad-hoc basis.' Cuomo said he knew isolation would be difficult for people but he urged them to stay 'socially distant' and 'spiritually connected'. 'Deal with this reality. Understand the negative effects of this. 'These are personally negative effects. Don't underestimate the emotional trauma and pain of isolation. It is real. 'This is not the human condition - not to be comforted, close to be afraid and you can't hug someone. Billy and Steve walked in today, I hadn't seen them in months, I can't shake their hands, I can't hug them. This is all unnatural.' He said one 'silver lining' for him was that he now got to spend time with his daughter, Cara, who had come to assist the state government in its handling of the crisis. Cuomo also used video messages from Danny DeVito and Robert DeNiro, pleading with people to stay indoors. His announcement came after Mayor Bill de Blasio warned that New York City hospitals were less than a week away from running out of supplies on Monday as the city continued to battle coronavirus and became the 'epicenter' of the pandemic in the US. The city needs ventilators and protective personal equipment for doctors and nurses to ensure they can treat people without becoming infected themselves. An outdoor testing facility at St Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx on March 20 On Monday morning, de Blasio pleaded with the federal government to send help fast, and warned people would begin dying who could otherwise be saved if reinforcements did not arrive soon. 'We can only get through this week if we don't get some relief quickly. We will get to a point where people can't be saved who could have been saved. SURGEON GENERAL WARNS: IT'S IS GOING TO GET BAD THIS WEEK Surgeon General Jerome Adams The Surgeon General has urged the nation to 'come together' to fight coronavirus and warned: 'This week, it's going to get bad' in a plea to the public to stay indoors and stop spreading the deadly disease. Dr. Jerome Adams appeared on Today on Monday morning to tell young Americans who are still going out and socializing despite being warned to stay indoors and distance themselves by 6ft. He fumed over the number of people still going out in large groups and referred to the shocking number of crowds he saw in Washington DC via a webcam set up for people to virtually enjoy the famous cherry blossom blooms. 'I want America to understand. This week, it's going to get bad. We really need to come together as a nation. You're seeing young people out in beaches - here in DC. 'The district set up a cam to watch the cherry blossoms. You look on the cam and you see more people than cherry blossoms. This is how the spread is occurring. 'We really, really need everyone to stay at home. I think there are a lot of people who are doing the right thing. But unfortunately we're finding out a lot of people think this can't happen to them. Dr. Adams said the US demography is younger than other countries. Nearly 30 percent of the cases were among people under the age of 45. 'The demography seems to be very different in the US versus in other countries. There are theories that it could be because we know we have a higher proportion of people in the US and also in Italy who vape - we don't know if that's the only cause. 'It's important for people to know: You can get this disease, you can be hospitalized from this disease, you can die from this disease. 'Most importantly, you can spread it to your loved ones.' Dr. Adams' warning came as Tom Bossert, former national security adviser, predicted that New York City's cases will continue to increase for the next six weeks. He believes the worst spike will come in the next two weeks. France, Spain, GB and US are now all on the same epidemic curve. 'Pretty soon he US will become the leader because of its size in terms of reported cases and that will be a terrifying day what Im trying to communicate to people is that while NY is bad, the rest of the country cant take a breath. 'Weve got a six week growth curve in NYC, the next 2 weeks will be the most aggressive multiples of 10 potentially.' Advertisement 'New York City will have more than it can handle within seven days. 'It's moving so fast. Even a few days ago I thought we could safely get into April... now I can't even say that. 'If we don't get ventilators this week, we are going to start losing lives we could have saved,' he warned. Trump said on Sunday that ventilators and vital supplies were on their way to New York City and that the national guard had been mobilized to help. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has already told of plans to turn the city's unused public venues into field hospitals. De Blasio, who has been more frantic in his pleas for help since the pandemic began, said on Monday that he would accept a ventilator from 'anyone' who has one. 'Anyone in the USA who has a ventilator that you can get to NYC, we need it now - I will take any help from anywhere,' he said. There has been uproar over President Trump's handling of the crisis, particularly in his delay of enacting the Defense Production Act. Trump says he's using it but governors and mayors say otherwise. They claim they are being forced to bid against the federal government and foreign countries to get their hands on the ventilators they need, and that there is a pattern of 'disgusting' price gouging which hinders them. De Blasio echoed the Surgeon General Jerome Adams' earlier comment that the situation was going to become worse before it gets better. 'This week is going to be worse than the following week. 'I mean we have to be honest about this. 'This is just the beginning and I dont mean that to be anything but blunt and honest with New Yorkers and all Americans. 'Its the beginning of something that will get worse throughout April and into May and weve got to brace ourselves and weve got to change our lives and we absolutely need help from Washington,' he said. De Blasio said the number of beds that will be erected in places like the Javits Center - a sprawling expo center - was 'encouraging'. 'I think it could be absolutely crucial because we're at a point literally this week where our public system, the largest in the country, is getting increasingly stressed and running out of equipment. 'So, that operation at the Javits Center could be a lifesaver for us. We expect to see a lot of that up and running this week.' Gov. Cuomo said he would also turn some CUNY and SUNY campuses into hospitals. The USNS Comfort, a Navy hospital ship with capacity for 1,000 people, is due to dock in the city in the coming weeks. It will not cater to coronavirus patients but will take in others requiring hospital care in order to free up beds in the hospitals. New York City closed its bars and restaurants last Monday night. The state has since issued a stay-at-home order which applies to all non-essential workers. It is a move that is crippling the economy but is vital to preventing the virus from spreading. Cases in New York have spiked more than anywhere else in the country De Blasio said on Monday that it was necessary because the 'human cost' of not trying to stop the virus was unfathomable. 'How many members of our family, especially our older relatives, who are the people, you know, really vulnerable here are we simply saying as a nation we're going to turn away and ignore the challenges facing them? I don't think that's right. 'I think we have to understand that if we act intensely, we can save thousands, tens of thousands of lives all over this country and stop this thing from becoming even more total and more intense. 'And we have to recognize, if coronavirus was not checked in some ways and slowed then you're talking about a health care system that can't function at all, including for all the people with other challenges, with all the other health care challenges we deal with all the time. 'So I understand people who say, you know, wow, this is an extraordinary sacrifice. It is. 'But if you don't slow this thing down, theyll sacrifice a lot more on the other end of the equation and we got to think about the human cost here,' he said. US now has the THIRD most coronavirus infections in the world behind China and Italy, New York State has 6% and NYC has 4% Fueled in large part by the virus's rapid spread in New York, the US is now the third-most infected country in the world, with more than 39,000 cases. Only China and Italy have seen more cases of COVID-19 than the US, with 81,093 and 59,138 cases in each. New York now has nearly six percent of worldwide coronavirus cases, according to Governor Andrew Cuomo's Monday announcement. With 20,875 New Yorkers diagnosed with the virus sweeping the globe, the state has far surpassed all other states and hotspots in the US for coronavirus cases. And New York City alone has 12,305 cases, accounting for 3.5 percent people with coronavirus worldwide. Cases in the New York and country have surged as a result of both the virus's rapid spread in and outside of high-density areas like New York City and as testing capacity has ramped up steeply in the state. With 16,000 COVID-19 tests being administered a day, New York is now testing more people per capita each day than South Korea, which has set the global pace for testing. Hundreds, if not thousands, of new cases have been confirmed there on a daily basis for the past two weeks in New York and the death toll has risen to 157. The state is bracing for its hospitals to become overwhelmed, with Governor Cuomo pushing to double beed capacity, telling the workforce to stay home and beginning trials of experimental drugs for coronavirus on Tuesday. Already, 13 percent of New York residents who have tested positive were hospitalized as of Monday, Cuomo said. The majority of cases - nearly 11,000 - in the state are in New York City, where the virus has spread like wildfire in the densely populated boroughs. Other hotspots include Nassau County with 1,900 cases and Westchester, where a lawyer lives there and who worked in Manhattan became a 'super-spreader.' Now, nearly 2,000 in the county are infected. In an effort to stem the virus's spread, Cuomo ordered all non-essential businesses to close, effective 8pm Sunday. He also hit out at New Yorkers for ignoring the government's warnings to stay home and keep their distance from one another. 'You would think there was nothing going on in parts of New York City,' the governor said of his Saturday tour of the city. 'I don't now what I'm saying that people don't get. This is not life as usual. None of this is life as usual.' A four-year-old girl who suffered third-degree burns all over her body after getting caught in a grass fire on her family farm has been hailed as a 'miracle' by her mother. In February 2020, salon owner and stylist, Megan Hunt, 28, from Kanab, Utah, was picking up her son Kwinn, six, from school whilst her daughters, Rawkee, four, and Martina, one, were helping their father, Shay, 28, on the farm. However, Rawkee got caught in the flames of a grass fire that was caused whilst they were burning the fence lines with their dad - leaving her in critical condition. Heartbreaking: Four-year-old Rawkee Hunt was left with third degree burns all over her body when she got caught in a grass fire on her family farm in Utah Agony: The little girl, pictured before the accident, was helping her father Shay, 28, burn fence lines when disaster struck and she got caught up in the flames Critical: Rawkee was rushed to a nearby hospital before being airlifted to Las Vegas University Medical Center, where she spent five days in intensive care Tragedy: Her mother, Megan, 28, was told by doctors that the fire caused 18.5 per cent of her body to be covered with second and third degree burns She was rushed to Kane County Hospital where she was intubated and then was taken by a helicopter to Las Vegas University Medical Center. She spent five days in the intensive care unit (ICU) where she underwent her first surgery of skin grafts to all areas of her body which didn't go to plan as her temperature dropped and cut short the operation. At the Utah Burn Trauma Centre, Rawkee underwent three more surgeries; skin grafts on her legs, a procedure called recell, where they test skin samples and a full-sheet graft on her forehead. Her parents were informed that the fire caused 18.5 per cent of her body to be burnt with second and third degree burns on her face, front of both of her hands, left elbow, left ribcage and at the front of both of her knees in the thigh and calf areas. Despite her ordeal at such a young age, Megan says that her daughter has shown great courage, independence and strength, as if she was 'born to experience this journey'. 'The day of the accident I was with my son doing our daily drop off/pick up from school whilst my girls where spending the morning out on the farm with their dad,' she said. Brave: Megan praised her daughter's strength and courage, noting that she has remained positive throughout the ordeal, which has seen her undergo four surgeries in a few weeks Bond: 'I've never left her side; she needs someone at all times that she can count on,' Megan said of her daughter Family life: Megan said that her kids love being out on the farm and helping their father Shay 'They love nothing more than spending the day doing farm chores with him; the farm/ranch lifestyle is more than just a passion for us it's who we are. 'Rawkee was caught in the flames of a small grass fire whilst burning fence lines with her dad on our farm. She was rushed to Kane County Hospital and intubated and then taken by helicopter to Las Vegas University Medical Centre. 'I was terrified and helpless, but also calm knowing that no good comes from losing control when things are suddenly out of your control. 'The staff at all the hospitals were professional and urgent in their care. Rawkee was in a critical condition and they wasted no time in getting her stabilized and secure. 'She had daily wound care to all affected areas by the fire and donor sights. New bandages each day, physical therapy, speech therapy that will all be ongoing. 'Until Rawkee is done growing (at about the age of eighteen) she will still be susceptible to more surgeries and therapy to help her as her body goes and stretches and as scars stretch and grow. 'I've never left her side; she needs someone at all times that she can count on. Trying to maintain daily routines as much as possible such as hairdos and fun clothing choices. We surround her with laughter, snuggles and lots and lots of creativity.' Support: The family is doing all they can to support Rawkee as she tries to get better, including plenty of visits from her brother Kwinn, six, and sister Martina, one Staying positive: Megan says that her daughter is staying upbeat and happy while in hospital, describing her as a miracle Megan says that her daughter is a walking miracle and that she couldn't be prouder of her. 'Rawkee has always been a child with the greatest courage, independence and strength. It was as if she was born to experience this journey. She has maintained a positive attitude and determination to get better and return home,' she said. 'I was surrounded by the prayers and support of both family and friends. Everyone was calm and eager to help in any way possible. 'Watching my daughter experience a level of pain I cannot relate to on any level was the hardest thing about the journey. 'We are currently on day 39 and still anticipating several more weeks. We will do her first take down on Saturday morning to determine if the graft applied to her forehead took. Looking ahead: Rawkee will likely face years of treatment and more surgeries as she continues to grow and her skin stretches Staying strong: ''She truly is a miracle and we couldn't be prouder of her and the progress she had made. She is a fighter and had given her recovery everything she has to give,' Megan said 'If it did, we will hopefully be headed home in the next 14 to 21 days. If it didn't take, we will undergo another surgery to again try and graft the forehead taking donor from her back if needed. 'Over the next year Rawkee will have compression clothing and regular physical therapy to aid in the healing process and maintain full mobility and range of motion. She will also start laser surgery late this summer for her face and legs. 'She truly is a miracle and we couldn't be prouder of her and the progress she had made. She is a fighter and had given her recovery everything she has to give. 'Stay positive and maintain a consistent atmosphere when you are near your child. It's okay to break down and let yourself have a big cry but don't do it in front of your child. 'Children are very attuned and will think it's their fault that something is wrong. I believe lots of smiles and laughter is the key.' AUSTIN, Texas The governor and attorney general of Texas are moving to ban most abortions in the state during the coronavirus outbreak, declaring they dont qualify as essential surgeries. Attorney General Ken Paxton said Monday that the order issued over the weekend by Gov. Greg Abbott barred any type of abortion that is not medically necessary to preserve the life or health of the mother. Failure to comply with the order can result in penalties of up to $1,000 or 180 days of jail time, Paxton said. No one is exempt from the governors executive order on medically unnecessary surgeries and procedures, including abortion providers, Paxton said. Those who violate the governors order will be met with the full force of the law. The issue also has flared in Ohio, where abortion clinics received letters Friday from Republican Attorney General Dave Yost ordering them to cease all non-essential surgical abortions. Yost wrote that the procedures violate a March 17 order issued by the state health director. However, representatives of Ohio clinics said that they were in compliance with the health directors order and planned to continue providing abortions. Amid the moves by Ohio and Texas, a coalition of anti-abortion groups urged its allies across the nation to ask governors to ban most abortions on the grounds they were not essential. If abortion is a choice then abortion is an elective procedure, said Mark Harrington, president of the anti-abortion group Created Equal. Abortion-rights leaders nationwide decried the tactic, saying it was an affront to women grappling with difficult decisions amid the disruptions of the pandemic. Abortion is time-sensitive, essential health care, said Katherine Hancock Ragsdale, president of the National Abortion Federation. Women deserve better than a craven exploitation of a health care crisis in furtherance of an anti-abortion agenda. In Ohio, abortion clinics planned to remain in operation. Jennifer Branch, an attorney for the Womens Med Center of Dayton, said the clinic had already taken steps to minimize the use of personal protective equipment one of the issues raised in the states order. The CEOs of two Planned Parenthood affiliates in Ohio are said their clinics also were in compliance, having cut back on the use of equipment that is in short supply. Cleveland-based Preterm, the busiest abortion clinic in Ohio, is not open on Mondays but said it was continuing to take appointments for later in the week. Bethany McCorkle, a spokesman for Yost, said the orders sent to three abortion clinic operators werent politically motivated, but rather, were due to complaints from the public. She said they were similar to orders sent to a urology practice. In Texas, Planned Parenthood did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the order from Abbott, but it was hailed by anti-abortion activists. The abortion industry has been consuming and hoarding medical supplies that are in desperate need around the state including masks, gloves, and other protective gear for medical professionals, said Texas Right to Life. Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life, called on abortion clinics nationwide to temporarily halt abortion services. Abortion clinics conducting business as usual in the presence of a life-threatening disease shows just how callous pro-abortion groups and abortionists are to protecting life at any stage, said Tobias. Bonyen Lee-Gilmore, director of state media campaigns for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said Planned Parenthood clinics were intend on remaning in operation. While public health providers work together in our communities to care for patients whose health care cant wait, some anti-abortion activists are exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic to push their ideological agenda, she said. This is not a time to play politics. There were no immediate reports of other states planning to target abortion clinics with restrictions related to COVID-19, even in Republican-governed states that have been active in passing anti-abortion legislation in recent years. In Idaho, the governors office said the state has not mandated providers stop procedures of any type. Health systems are determining what procedures are considered elective internally. The executive director of Georgia Right to Life, Zemmie Fleck, said she has not heard of any plans by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp to curtail abortions because of the coronavirus. But she suggested such a step would be warranted. Already we see people, even people that I know personally, whose elective surgeries have been postponed due to this pandemic, she said in a phone interview. I would say the same should apply to the abortion industry as well. Diane Derzis, owner of the only abortion clinic in Mississippi, told The Associated Press that the clinic had not been told by the state to stop providing the procedure. It is our contention that we are an essential service, Derzis said by phone from Alabama, where she lives. A spokeswoman for Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves did not immediately respond to a question from the AP on Monday about whether he will order a halt to abortions. Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan says Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmers order, issued Friday, to prohibit elective procedures does not extend to abortions. Whitmer supports abortion rights. Similarly, in North Carolina, health department spokeswoman Sarah Peel said abortion clinics would not be covered by a directive asking hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers to suspend all elective and non-urgent procedures and surgeries. These medical procedures are defined as those that would not cause harm to the patient if put off for at least four weeks, a letter to hospitals says. So surgical abortions are not something that would need to be postponed, said Peel. Her department is in the administration of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who supports abortion rights. ___ Crary reported from New York and Carr Smyth from Columbus, Ohio. Associated Press reporters Sudhin Thanawala in Atlanta, Emily Wagster Pettus in Jackson, Mississippi, Gary Robertson in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Keith Ridler in Boise, Idaho, contributed. 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Authorities announced that all beaches in Dubai will be closed until further notice to slow the spread of COVID-19. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates intensified its measures aimed at combating the coronavirus Monday, shutting down public spaces and urging residents to stay at home amid the threat of legal action if the directives are violated. The instructions to self-isolate, in line with national and international health authority guidelines, are among the country's latest efforts to stem the spread of the new coronavirus, or COVID-19, that has so far infected more than 300,000 people and killed more than 12,900 globally. The UAE has confirmed 153 cases, with 38 recoveries and two deaths. "The UAE government has called upon the public to stay at home unless it's absolutely necessary to get essential supplies, such as food and medicine, or perform essential jobs," UAE state news agency WAM said in a statement Monday morning. And the authorities want the public to know that they are serious. The Dubai Police on Sunday arrested a European national who posted on his Instagram videos of himself at a recently-closed beach flouting the ban on gathering in public spaces, ignoring a police patrol and mocking the new regulations. The man, reported to be a personal trainer, filmed groups of people in the water and praised them for continuing to go to the beach in the face of the ban. The man "ignored the instructions of a police patrol while mocking precautionary measures issued by health and official authorities," Dubai police said in a statement. "The General Command of the Dubai Police warns that residents must comply with the directives issued by security entities, be they local or federal," the statement said. "If safeguards for public health are violated, residents will be held accountable and face legal measures." All beaches were closed over the weekend after hundreds of visitors continued to populate beachfront areas despite authorities' social distancing pleas. Gyms, parks, cinemas, malls, bars, places of worship, numerous restaurants and other public venues have also been closed across the country of 9.4 million. Social distancing directives are also being applied to local transportation, with authorities saying that new instructions concerning public transport and taxi travel will be issued "later." "The public are also urged to use their own family cars with a maximum of three individuals per vehicle," the agency said, citing the Ministry of Interior and the National Emergency and Crisis and Disasters Management Authority. "They are also advised not to visit public places and maintain social distancing protocols during family gatherings as part of the precautionary measures taken to ensure public health and safety." The authorities are also urging people not to visit hospitals except for emergency cases and to use face masks. Travel in and out of the country will also be completely halted, with the Gulf country's aviation authority grounding all passenger flights inbound, outbound and transit flights for at least 2 weeks beginning on March 25. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 09:59:13|Editor: yhy Video Player Close KAMPALA, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Uganda's communication regulatory body on Sunday vowed to crack down on people spreading fake videos and misinformation concerning COVID-19 through social media. The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) said in a statement that it has noticed increasing cases of fake news about the coronavirus on social media platforms. The "UCC has observed an increase in cases of misinformation and publication of fake news, videos and advice through digital platforms by individuals misusing communications platforms to publish, distribute and forward false, unverified and misleading stories," the statement said. Such behavior is illegal because it could incite violence, cause financial turmoil and even put people's lives in danger, the statement said. Related wrongdoers "shall be apprehended and prosecuted for offending the Computer Misuse Act 2011, the Data Protection and Privacy Act and other Penal laws of Uganda," the statement added. On Sunday, Uganda registered its first confirmed COVID-19 case after a man returning from Dubai tested positive. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has since banned any travel to and from his country, closed schools, bars and night clubs, and banned public gatherings. Opposition members in the Rajya Sabha demanded an immediate release of political detainees, restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and compensation to people who had lost their livelihood there on Monday. Initiating the debate on the budget for Jammu and Kashmir, senior Congress member Ghulam Nabi Azad alleged that the Union Territory was on "ventilator" after the government put it under a "political quarantine" for the last seven months and a half, saying the situation there was worse than what it was even 30 years ago. The Leader of Opposition in the Upper House of Parliament hoped that the next budget for Jammu and Kashmir would be passed in the Assembly there and all political detainees would be released immediately to help revive political activity in the state. He also demanded an early grant of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, which has been divided into two Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, since October 31 last year. Azad alleged that there was no development in Jammu and Kashmir ever since it was bifurcated into Union territories and deprived of statehood, contrary to the claims made by the BJP-led Centre. He said it would have been better if the budget for Jammu and Kashmir was discussed in the Assembly there, adding that it was being deliberated upon at a time when the entire world was under the grip of the coronavirus and making efforts to get out of it. "A quarantine has been imposed, but Jammu and Kashmir is in a political quarantine for the last seven months and a half. We need to get it out of it. "The situation in Jammu and Kashmir now is even worse than what it was 30 years ago," the Congress leader said. Stating that there were natural calamities such as floods, earthquakes and outbreak of diseases, over which no one had any control, he said, "But the problem in Jammu and Kashmir for seven months and a half is not because of the nature or gods. It is because of the government of our own country. The calamity has not been brought by foreign invaders...the protector itself has become a disaster." "Jammu and Kashmir has been put on ventilator...you will have to remove Jammu and Kashmir from ventilator. "I urge the government to release political workers, leaders and allow political activity. I also urge the government that statehood will have to be restored at the earliest, without any delay. You will have to give land rights like in north-east and Himachal Pradesh," the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said. He urged the government not to make Jammu and Kashmir a "laboratory" anymore. Azad demanded compensation to the seven lakh families that had lost their livelihood due to the "shutdown" of Jammu and Kashmir and its tourism sector. He also called for creating jobs for the people of the Union Territory. The Congress leader alleged that people had suffered business losses amounting to Rs 18,000 crore and hotel owners had turned bank defaulters in the absence of business. "Will the government compensate them?" he asked. Lauding the government's efforts, nominated member Rakesh Sinha, affiliated to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said the people of Jammu and Kashmir got many benefits such as education, reservation in jobs and funds for infrastructure development after the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A of the Constitution. He claimed that these benefits were not available to the people of the Union Territory earlier. Sinha also told the House that around 3,000 refugees, who came from Pakistan, were given the right to vote after the abrogation of Article 370. Azad said the tourism, handicraft and horticulture sectors were finished ever since statehood was taken away from Jammu and Kashmir, claiming that there was a 62-per cent fall in the export of carpets and handicraft. He claimed that 60 per cent small and medium industries in Jammu and 90 per cent in Kashmir had shut shop as no development activity had taken place in the last over seven months. "Payments to contractors have been stopped for months," Azad said, while wondering that since there was no development work in the Union Territory in the last seven months and a half, how could there be any corruption, when no money was being spent. "The prime minister talked of a Rs 80-crore development plan when the BJP-PDP government was formed (in Jammu and Kashmir), but even six years later, only 48 per cent of that budget has been spent," the Congress leader alleged, wondering how many years would it take to spend the remaining 52 per cent. He claimed that only 35,000 boxes of apples were picked up by NAFED, which was only 0.0003 per cent of the total apple production, junking the government's claims of helping pick apples from orchards. Azad also claimed that the transport sector of both Jammu and Ladakh were shut "due to just one arrogant step of the government". Countering the government on rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu and Kashmir, he asked why the second phase of the plan in this regard, formulated by the Manmohan Singh government, was not implemented in the last six years. Azad challenged the ruling party to "show" a single BJP leader from Jammu who agreed to anyone from the country buying land in Jammu or applying for jobs. He said never a step like this (abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcating the state into Union territories) was taken in the past, even when killings were taking place and people were fleeing Jammu and Kashmir. The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister also countered the government's charge that the previous Congress governments did not initiate steps for the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits, saying militancy was at its peak at that time and people were fleeing the state. Azad pointed out that even the central government headed by BJP's "tallest leader" Atal Bihari Vajpaee did not take such an action. "A country is bigger than a promise made by a party. A party could be strengthened by any slogan, but one has to forget the party to earn the trust of the country. Article 370 has to be removed -- this is was the promise of a party and it had to be fulfilled, no matter what happened. Vajpayee had also made the promise, but he kept the country first," he said. Rising in support of the Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation Bills, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) member Manoj Kumar Jha said, "Kashmir has been locked down for months. The state industry chamber has pegged the loss at Rs 15,000 crore. "History will decide whether the government decision (to bifurcate the state into Union territories) was correct or not." Echoing similar views, AAP member Sushil Kumar Gupta wondered when would normalcy return to Jammu and Kashmir. He demanded that people should be allowed to do farming in the Union Territory. CPI(M) member K K Ragesh held the government responsible for the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir. "Silence at gunpoint cannot be said normalcy...former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru had said the paradise is here (in Kashmir) only," he said. Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) member K Keshava Rao urged the government to release all the people who were detained after the bifurcation of the state. He also demanded restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, saying the situation was not as good as "we" wished it to be. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 26-year-old Pakistani doctor has become the country's first medic to die after contracting the novel coronavirus while treating the COVID-19 patients in Gilgit region of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, officials said on Monday. Usma Riaz was treating the patients who recently returned from Iraq and Iran. Pakistan, which borders Iran and China, two of the most affected countries by the deadly coronavirus, has reported five deaths and nearly 800 persons have been infected. Riaz was part of a 10-member team of the doctors tasked with screening patients returning from downtowns, particularly those arriving there from Iran via Taftan. He later started providing services to the suspected patients in isolation centres established for them in Gilgit. Riaz belonged to Chilas in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). He came home on Friday night but could not get the next day. He was first rushed to a military hospital and then to district hospital. He was put on ventilator and died on Sunday, according to his family. GB government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq confirmed the death of the young physician who is the first doctor to die in the battle against the deadly virus. "It is with extreme sadness that the Gilgit-Baltistan health department confirms that Usama Riaz who played a key role in the war against coronavirus has passed away," the GB government tweeted on Monday. "Usama proved himself the real hero by sacrificing his life to save others, GB Information Minister Shams Mir said. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Medical Association of Gilgit-Baltistan (PMA G-B) in reaction to Riaz's death accused the government of negligence towards the safety of doctors. Riaz had contracted COVID-19 due to the negligence of government and its health department," President PMA G-B Zulfiqar Ali said. "We will again see what the issue is, and if they (quarantined pilgrims) need further treatment, they will be shifted to DHQ (District Headquarter Hospital) or city hospital, but if they can be treated here, we will provide treatment to them here. The region in north of Pakistan along border with China has so far reported 55 cases. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Even as it becomes ubiquitous in consumer tech, facial recognition has been increasingly verboten in the marketplace for police body cameras. Last June, Axon , the nations largest body-cam provider, took the advice of its ethics advisory board and agreed not to put facial recognition software in its cameras, nor produce face-matching technology for the foreseeable future. In October, the state of California passed a law forbidding its police departments from using body cameras with facial recognition software.This has not dissuaded Wolfcom , a police and security-tech vendor, from developing one.Wolfcom CEO Peter Onruang toldthis week that his company is still in the development phase with a body camera that will include facial recognition software. Axons ethics board distrusted the technology in part because of the potential for false identification racial disparities in accuracy and the potential for abuse by overbearing governments, but Onruang didnt find these concerns prohibitive. He said hes not blind to the technologys potential for misuse, but he views it with a sense of inevitability.I believe that facial recognition is evil, a terrible thing, until the day your daughter gets kidnapped and theres an Amber Alert. Then its the best thing in the world, he said. People are always afraid of something new, but theres no stopping technology. We can either ignore it and other people develop it, or we can understand its here to stay and try to steer its path toward the force of good.Onruang said Wolfcom started in 2001 as a security and surveillance company, producing hidden cameras, CCTV and spy cameras for private investigators. According to Medium publication OneZero , which first reported that Wolfcom was using facial recognition, Wolfcom launched under the name Asianwolf. The name still appears in the titles and descriptions of Wolfcoms YouTube videos.Onruang said he was studying to become a police officer before he started the company, but the events of Sept. 11, 2001, made him realize that what he really wanted to do was make products for police and the military. To accumulate experience in audiovisual technology, he started his own CCTV business. He said by 2008, his work in security and surveillance had led him to thinking about the potential for controversial police shootings and riots, which led him to unveiling a body camera at the International Association of Chiefs of Police annual conference on Oct. 13, 2011.Onruang said he remembers the date well, because it was, in his estimation, the birth of the body camera: competitors Axon (called Taser at the time) and VieVu brought theirs to the show as well. Onruang remembers his camera as being lightyears ahead of others at the time, having 32 gigabytes of storage, 1080p resolution, GPS, night vision, a voice recorder, a radio speaker mic and an LCD screen on the back of the camera for playback.Within months, Onruang said, he was doing presentations for police departments across the country, as were his competitors. He said Wolfcom has sold body cameras and other related technology to more than 1,500 agencies in the U.S., plus other clients in 35 countries, all of it developed in-house.Regarding the controversy of putting facial recognition in cameras that go everywhere officers do, Onruang is neither dismissive nor persuaded. He said he grew up reading George Orwells dystopian noveland shares peoples fears of Big Brother-like surveillance, but he thinks some of these concerns are overblown. His thoughts on the subject focused on the potential for live, real-time facial recognition to help officers catch suspects or find missing people.I know there are fears out there that people will get shot for facial recognition. Thats not what it will be designed for Its only meant to help an officer realize theres a possibility (theyre interacting with a wanted or missing person), he said. I propose it as a tool to give an officer a second look at a person he just passed by or is talking to, but not enough to draw a weapon.It's unclear what databases the camera would access to identify faces. Onruang said the cameras could either apply the facial recognition algorithms themselves or connect with another system that would run the algorithms. In an online demonstration video shared by the company, Wolfcoms Halo camera is paired with a computer with facial recognition that automatically identifies the faces of three volunteers, flagging them as a missing person and two wanted persons with specific warrants.OneZero reported that Wolfcom has already started beta testing Halo cameras with Los Lunas Police Department in New Mexico, and a police lieutenant told OneZero that the cameras connect to an app that does the face matching.Asked how he might go about developing this camera in a way that would mitigate peoples concerns, Onruang was vague. He talked about being careful, then said he intends to test the product and use resulting data to inform ways to make the software less invasive of peoples privacy.Onruang was not ready to say when the Halo camera would be announced, but he teased another product launch later this month: the Wolfcom Commander 4G LTE smart body camera, which will allow officers to livestream their GPS coordinates and video footage to dispatch and fellow officers.Earlier this month, Onruang said, Wolfcom also started work with the U.S. Department of Defense developing what will be the first American-made, military-grade body camera system for the entire DoD. CHARLESTON, W.Va. - West Virginia tourism officials are letting the public know the services that restaurants are offering during the coronavirus scare. More than 150 businesses statewide on listed on an online dining guide that gives updated hours of operation and available dining services, including carryout and delivery options, the state Division of Tourism said in a news release. The Tourism Office is asking all restaurant owners to share their updated hours of operation. Gov. Jim Justice last week ordered the closure of bars, restaurants, casinos, gyms, health clubs, recreation centres, barbershops, nail salons and hair salons. Bars and restaurants can still offer carry-out and food delivery services, as well as sell unopened beer and wine to people who buy food. As of Sunday, West Virginia has 16 confirmed cases of the virus, health officials said. That includes three individuals each from Jefferson and Kanawha counties, two each from Marshall, Mercer, Monongalia and Tucker, and one apiece in Jackson and Putnam. All cases are travel related. In times of crisis, it becomes readily apparent how interconnected we are and that sharing learning around what works and what doesnt is of utmost importance. We are seeing this with COVID-19, as learning from Singapore, from Italy, from South Korea and from China is informing the efforts of other countriesincluding the U.S. response. The same is true of climate change. A recent survey found that the proportion of Americans who are concerned about climate change tripled over the last five years and is now at an all-time high. Whether its raging wildfires; stronger, bigger hurricanes and tornadoes; more extreme heat events; or worsening air pollution, people in cities across the United States and around the world are seeing, living and having to manage the impact. Whats worse is that damage caused by global climate change magnifies inequities, placing the most vulnerable communities and individuals at greatest risk. Historic and social factors, such as access to health care; where you live or work; your age; and your income can all impact how and how much climate change harms your health. N HS staff fighting the coronavirus pandemic were applauded and handed bunches of flowers as they entered a Tesco store during special shopping hours reserved for healthcare workers. A video from a branch of the supermarket giant in Belfast, Northern Ireland, showed staff welcoming the key workers early yesterday morning. The gesture came as Tescos new measure allowing NHS staff to arrive one hour before the usual store opening times every Sunday came into effect. Tesco said staff at stores across the country independently decided to make the gesture as part of the retailers NHS hour initiative. Marcelle Tauber-Gilmore, a nurse at a London hospital, said she "welled up a little bit" when she was gifted a bouquet while shopping during the dedicated hour at a Tesco store in Pembury, Kent. "It came at the right moment," Mrs Tauber-Gilmore told the BBC. "I was feeling very anxious about going shopping. I was expecting it to be stressful and that it might be frenzied." She said it was "calm" and well-organised, with a manager checking NHS ID numbers. Fellow healthcare worker Olivia Stadden meanwhile thanked Tesco staff after she also received flowers at a branch in Wales, but said it was "very worrying" stores remained so busy and workers continued to be "so exposed with no protection". Supermarkets "should be limiting the amount of people they allow in the store at one time," she said in a post on Twitter. Tescos NHS hour initiative was first announced last week amid widespread concern over shelves emptied by shoppers' stockpiling. The panic buying forced several supermarkets to take drastic action and amend opening hours as well as ration products. Several other retailers have also introduced special shopping times reserved for healthcare workers and the elderly after footage of people sharing their frustration over the panic buying spread widely on social media. Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures 1 /81 Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures A deserted Westminster Bridge PA A man wearing a face mask or covering due to the COVID-19 pandemic, walks past customers sat outside a restaurant AFP via Getty Images Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons Runners pass cardboard cutouts of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William during the London Marathon in London AP An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station Jeremy Selwyn Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield PA A sign is displayed in the window of a student accommodation building following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Mancheste Reuters People take part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions, in Londo AP People sing and dance in Leicester Square on the eve on the 10PM curfew Reuters Hearts painted by a team of artists from Upfest are seen in the grass at Queen Square, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Bristol Reuters Graffiti reads 'good luck and stay safe', as the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases grow around the world, under a bridge in London Reuters A sign is pictured in Soho, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London Reuters Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures, during a coronavirus briefing in Downing Street, London AP A person runs past posters with a message of hope, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Manchester REUTERS Riot police face protesters who took part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions in London AP An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London's Piccadilly Circus PA Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images Durdle Door in Dorset Reuters Captain Tom Moore via Reuters Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak PA An NHS worker reacts at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS Reuters Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno @AndrewStuart via PA Tobias Weller PA Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed London Landscapes: Hyde Park and the Serpentine, central London. Matt Writtle A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus PA Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue Reuters A young man cuts another man's hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford Reuters General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London via Reuters Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace Getty Images A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home PA Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak. PA Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers PA A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of "panic buying" cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus. Getty Images People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour PA Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus PA Children are painting 'Chase the rainbows' artwork and springing up in windows across the country Reuters Social distancing in Primrose Hill Jeremy Selwyn A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended PA Homeless people in London AFP via Getty Images A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow's street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss PA The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic PA A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world Reuters Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA Britain's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street Reuters The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh's Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak. PA Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear PA A sign at a Sainsbury's supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world Reuters Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" Getty Images A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads "Diseases are in the City" in Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors PA A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh PA A quieter than usual British Museum Getty Images A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre Getty Images A deserted Trafalgar Square in London PA Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport Getty Images Last week, critical care nurse Dawn Bilbrough, from York, reached out to the nation after she posted a video of herself crying in her car after not being able to get food for herself following a 48-hour intensive shift. The 51-year-old told viewers she "had a little cry" in the supermarket after she found no fruit and vegetables on the shelves. "People are just stripping the shelves of basic foods," she said. As coronavirus cases across America continue to surge, tribal leaders are taking dramatic steps to ensure the safety of their people and those they serve. In northern California, the Robinson Rancheria Pomo Indians have shut down their casino and restricted customers from entering their gas station, as well as closing down all but the essential services of its government. The Cherokee Nation also has shut down its hotels and casinos in northeastern Oklahoma but has chosen to keep its government operating in order to ensure the delivery of much-needed services to its citizens. In Michigans Upper Peninsula, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians closed casino doors for at least two weeks and shut down all but the essential services of its government. Only a skeleton crew thats necessary to keep the operations in the government going will be in place, Aaron Payment, chairperson of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe, told Indianz.Com. Aaron Payment serves as chairperson of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and as vice president of the National Congress of American Indians. Photo by Kevin Abourezk As of late last week, more than 50 tribes had declared emergencies, more than 40 had imposed travel restrictions and dozens had attempted to close their borders to outsiders and non-residents in hopes of slowing the spread of the potentially dangerous disease. Meanwhile, the Indian Health Service announced Thursday that 14 people within its federally-run system had tested positive for COVID-19 , including three from the Navajo Nation , though the tribe later updated the number of Navajo citizens who had tested positive to 14. Then on Monday, the tribe updated those figures to 29 positive cases Amid the spread, Navajo leaders issued an unprecedented stay at home order for all residents and ordered the closure of all non-essential businesses. Three new positive COVID-19 cases reported among Navajo people WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. Navajo Nation President Jonathan... Posted by Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer on Monday, March 23, 2020 Tribal leaders and those who advocate for tribes have maintained constant communication with federal officials charged with overseeing federal services to tribes. Much of the talk last week focused on federal aid packages meant to bolster the economy and put money in the hands of taxpayers. Both rescue packages proposed by the U.S. Congress include funds for tribes, including "no less than" $40 million in one bill to be funneled through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and another $64 million in another bill to be administered by the IHS to cover the cost of COVID-19 testing. The second bill also provides $10 million for programs that provide nutrition assistance to elderly Native Americans. A relief package put forth by the Republican leaders in U.S. Senate , however, does not mention tribes, American Indians or Alaska Natives at this point. On Sunday, Democrats in the chamber blocked action on that bill, which they said failed to protect workers and impose tougher restrictions on businesses that were to benefit. In a March 7 letter to Alex Azar , Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services , the National Indian Health Board called on the federal government to distribute funding to tribes for COVID-19 through IHS, rather than the CDC. Stacy Bohlen, NIHB's chief executive officer, said the reason for that request was the tribes belief that the IHS would be better equipped to get those funds more quickly and directly to IHS facilities, as well as to healthcare facilities operated by tribes through self-governance compacts. But she said it doesnt seem likely that the federal government will change course and funnel those funds through IHS, with the Trump administration announcing on Friday that the CDC would be in charge of distributing $80 million. They want the money, directly, quickly, with as few hand ties as possible so they can serve their people the way they know to best under this crisis, she said. It is very frustrating for us. The money is stuck in a bureaucratic process that were not privy to. NIHB CEO Stacy A. Bohlen, "NIHB is committed to working with @IHSgov to ensure they are getting the funding & resources they need to provide relief to Tribes during this public health crisis. IHS needs access to the Strategic National Stockpile for protective medical equipment." NIHB (@NIHB1) March 20, 2020 Meanwhile, tribes and IHS hospitals will have to manage with the resources they have, she said. Bohlen said tribally-controlled healthcare faces especially difficult challenges of trying to monitor the diseases progress in its facilities because of outdated electronic medical records systems. She said NIHB has advocated for massive investment in electronic medical records technology. In terms of a national picture, that surveillance is not possible with the existing system within Indian Country, she said. And IHS hospitals also face challenges of conducting COVID-19 tests as they lack the equipment necessary to analyze those tests once they are administered. Tribes are being turned back to local, county and state health concerns to get those tests read, and theres a backlog thats quite troubling to getting the tests read, she said. Those hospitals also lack the personal protective equipment masks, gloves and scrubs needed to respond to an outbreak, Bohlen said. According to a survey conducted in early March of 197 tribal leaders, medical providers and partners, the NIHB found that 87 percent of respondents reported not having received any personal protective equipment from the federal government. Another 82 percent of those who answered the survey said they were not using the COVID-19 test. To try to address those deficiencies, the NIHB and other tribal advocates, such as the National Congress of American Indians , have been lobbying federal lawmakers to ensure tribes and IHS hospitals are provided the resources they need to combat the coronavirus pandemic, Bohlen said. Unfortunately, they arent getting the response they need from those lawmakers, she said. Were fighting as hard as we can for those dollars and educating madly on the hill, she said. This is a very robust effort that is not bearing the kind of fruit it needs to bear frankly. She said the coronavirus pandemic has served to further demonstrate the already deplorable social and health problems facing most tribes, including disproportionate rates of diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, lung disease and immunosuppressive disorders all conditions that health officials have said create greater vulnerability to COVID-19. We are operating in an environment of severe disadvantage, she said. Kevin Allis, NCAI's chief executive officer, said Native people face other challenges that exacerbate efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus, including crowded housing conditions and lack of access to fresh foods. Native people experience overcrowding housing at a rate of eight times the national average, and nearly 32 percent of rural tribal households live more than 10 miles from the nearest grocery store, he said. This is a serious situation that could have devastating impacts on Indian Country, he said. ICYMI: The so-called "Phase 3" #Coronavirus relief package leaves Indian Country behind. Here's what Kevin Allis, Chief Executive Officer of the National Congress of American Indians, said about the CARES Act. @NCAI1944 #COVID19 #CoronavirusIndianCountry pic.twitter.com/pVy0RCIOUe indianz.com (@indianz) March 21, 2020 The decision by many tribes to shut down their casinos, which often provide a significant portion of the revenue they need to fund essential government services, also has begun affecting tribes ability to prepare for potential outbreaks. Diana Cournoyer, executive director of the National Indian Education Association , said many Native children will experience hunger in the coming weeks and month as one their primary sources of nourishment the schools they attend have shut down. She said 183 schools that serve Native communities have closed and many tribal colleges have shifted to online learning. She said Native children wont be able to continue learning while their schools are shut down. Thirty-seven percent of Native students dont have access to internet, she said. She said federal funds will be needed to provide food to Native students during the current crisis and to ensure those students have the ability to access online education. As of March 17, 183 of BIE's 185 schools are closed. See full listing LINK: https://t.co/UCSNcCC1Ux pic.twitter.com/7WfM3WqF1x NIEA (@WereNIEA) March 19, 2020 Allis said its important to remember that federal programs, like IHS and the Bureau of Indian Education , that serve tribal communities were paid for through the sacrifices of tribes. This is the obligation that the United States of America has to Indian Country through the treaties we signed when we ceded millions of acres, he said. Thats the deal. Thats the agreement. Bohlen said the NIHB plans to launch a resource website this week for tribal communities. She said it will be important for those communities to also rely on their traditional healers as they face the threat of the coronavirus. We have traditional medicines and ceremonies that we should rely on to boost our immune systems now, she said. Last Friday morning, a group of Native healers gathered in Wind Cave National Park in the Black Hills of South Dakota to offer prayers of healing. David Swallow, a traditional healer from the Pine Ridge Reservation, joined them. The 69-year-old citizen of the Oglala Sioux Tribe said those gathered smoked their medicine pipes and sang prayer songs. We said in there, If this is a true sickness, take it away, Swallow said. Because we dont know if its true or not. It's hard to believe what white man tells us, really hard to believe. He said Native healers will be able to address the crisis if its a man-made crisis, but he said they likely wont be able to fight it if its a disease sent by the creator. If the virus stems from the natural, we cannot interfere because theyve sent it to us as a message that something is wrong in this world, he said. He said the Lakota have survived pandemics like this before, including smallpox epidemics that were intentionally spread to tribes by 18th century British colonists. He said they would survive this disease as well. This is a dark cloud that's over the whole nation, and the dark cloud will go away pretty soon, he said. I'll tell the people, my people, all indigenous people and those who believe in the spiritual ways of the creator, take courage and be strong. Effective immediately, Prairie Flower Casino will be closed until 11:59 p.m. on March 31, 2020, in an effort to prevent community spread of the coronavirus. Thank you for your loyalty and business. We look forward to serving you again soon. Prairie Flower Casino (@PFlowerCasino) March 17, 2020 In the meantime, tribes are taking a host of precautions to try to stop the spread of COVID-19 in their communities, closing casinos, shutting down tribal government offices and closing schools. In Nebraska and Iowa, the Ponca Tribe declared a state of emergency on March 13 and then closed its casino in Carter Lake, Iowa, just five minutes from downtown Omaha, Nebraska. While the tribe wasnt required to abide by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds decision to shut down casinos, Ponca leaders decided doing so was in the best interest of its own citizens and the customers who frequent its casino and also voted to pay employees of its casinos for at least the next four weeks. We felt that was in the best interest of our people, staff and the general public, Chairman Larry Wright Jr. said. The tribe closed its office to walk-in visitors and banned all public gatherings in its facilities. Wright said the tribes two clinics in Omaha and Norfolk, Nebraska, lack the ability to administer COVID-19 tests. He also said the tribe has continued to serve its elders, delivering supplies like cleaning products and food to them where possible. While the tribe will continue providing essential services, it also plans to allow employees with underlying health conditions that make them more vulnerable to the coronavirus to work from home, he said. Were trying to make the best use of telecommuting where possible, Wright told Indianz.Com. Reminder: The Pharmacy Department is now offering a drive-thru service so you do not need to enter the hospital to... Posted by Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska on Monday, March 23, 2020 In northeast Nebraska, the Winnebago Tribe also has worked to prepare its people for potential outbreaks by shutting down its casino and ending all but the most essential government services for its people, said Coly Brown, the tribes chairman. The tribe also shut down its pre-school program and its schools. Brown said he is concerned about the impact that an extended closure of its casino and government offices will have on tribal employees. The casino already was forced to lay off most its workforce, and the tribe can likely only continue to pay its employees for just another two pay periods, he said. Then well have to go into a layoff status with our tribal employees, Brown said in an interview. Winnebago Community - COVID-19 Weekly Update by Winnebago Public Health Department The Winnebago Public Health Department weekly update regarding the COVID-19 virus. Also hear updates and statements from (In order of apperance) Winnebago Public Health Administrator - Mona Zuffante Winnebago Public Health Nursing Director - Angela Keller Twelve Clans Unity Hospital, Chief Operating Officer Laura Gamble Winnebago Tribe, CEO Esther Mercer Winnebago Public School, Superintendent Dan Fehringer Winnavegas Casino, General Manager Mayan Beltran Winnebago Gaming Development Corporation, CEO Brian Chamberlin Ho-Chunk Inc., Communications Director Sam Burrish Winnebago Tribal Council, Vice-Chairman John Snowball Statement via text by Little Priest Tribal College Manoj Patil Twelve Clans Unity Hospital, Family Nurse Practitioner Sara McIntosh WCHS Communication Manager Emilee Longuski Posted by Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska on Thursday, March 19, 2020 In California, the Robinson Rancheria Pomo Indians closed their casino and shut down all but the essential services of the tribes government. The tribe also decided to stop visitors from entering its convenience station, though customers can still purchase gasoline at the pumps or by cash through a window. The tribe distributed all perishable foods inside its convenience store to elders. The tribes chairman, Eddie Crandell Sr., said the tribe took immediate action after learning of the threat of the coronavirus, declaring a state of emergency on March 12 and reducing its casinos hours two days later before closing the casino down completely on March 17. We dont have any cases in Lake County, but we dont to be the cause of it for sure at the tribal level, he said. The tribe has continued to operate its California Tribal TANF Partnership , which Robinson Rancheria administers on behalf of 20 tribes. The program provides temporary financial assistance, as well as education training, and career and employment opportunities. We want to keep our people safe, Crandell said. He said he worries about the impact of a pandemic on his countys medical system, which has just a handful of intensive care unit rooms. Thats why were taking it seriously as a tribe, he said. In Oklahoma, the Cherokee Nation has taken a somewhat different approach to fighting the pandemic, choosing to keep its government operations running in order to ensure delivery of services to tribal citizens. I cant in good conscience shut down programs that provide a safety net to elders and families, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. told Indianz.Com. But the tribe has shut down its casinos and hotels, leaving the future of nearly 4,000 employees in limbo, though the tribe plans to continue paying those employees for as long as possible. The tribe distributed all perishable foods from its casinos and restaurants to its citizens. The Cherokees also shut down their schools and banned all official travel. The tribe also sent home government employees over the age of 65 and those with underlying health conditions, Hoskin said. Scenes like these played out across @CherokeeNation today. Grass roots Cherokee community organizers gathered perishable food from our temporarily closed hotels and casinos to for safe & sanitary delivery to Cherokee elders in need. #COVID19 #Gadugi #CherokeeStrong pic.twitter.com/sJebvfx5qC Chuck Hoskin, Jr. (@ChuckHoskin_Jr) March 20, 2020 The Cherokee Nation also took the unusual step of establishing a Cherokee language hotline for its nearly 2,000 first language speakers who may be struggling to understand the potential impacts of the coronavirus. The tribe prioritized delivery of perishable food from its casinos to nearly 75 elderly first language speakers last week and even sent Cherokee language speakers to their homes to deliver the food. They got something more than that, Hoskin said. They got a Cherokee speaker who went out and visited with them from a safe distance, he added. With the largest tribally-operated healthcare system in the country, the Cherokee Nation has been working closely with federal health officials and other tribes to coordinate the delivery of funds and supplies to IHS facilities and those healthcare facilities operated by tribes. Hoskin said its hospitals are as prepared as any tribal healthcare system to fight the coronavirus outbreak but even those hospitals are lacking the number of test kits and personal protective equipment they need to fight the pandemic. Weve got a great system that is needing some resources, and were pushing that, he said. The tribes healthcare system has about 400 available tests but needs more to ensure adequate testing of potentially infected citizens, Hoskin said. On Thursday, Oklahoma announced its first COVID-19 death Cherokee Nation citizen Merle Dry Hoskin said he hopes the 55-year-old mans death will awaken all Cherokee Nation citizens to the dire threat posed by the coronavirus. His death makes me sad but it also emboldens me that we need to do more every single day so that the public understands the need to engage in social distancing, he said. In Michigans Upper Peninsula, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians also has shut down its casino for at least two weeks and all but the most essential of its government programs, said the tribes chairperson, Aaron Payment. They join nine of Michigans 12 tribes in closing their casinos. He said the tribe will continue to pay its casino staff for at least two more weeks. Some will continue to work, sanitizing the casino while it remains empty of customers. The tribe also has shifted to only essential services at its self-governed health center, Payment said. The Sault Ste. Marie Tribal Health Center will no longer offer regular medical or dental appointments but will offer only urgent care. He said the health center also is seeking to acquire virus test kits from state officials in Michigan. We have a good relationship with governor, he said. Well be able to get people tested as necessary. The tribe also has canceled all community events. Payment said hes concerned about the viruss impact on the tribes efforts to revive its culture and honor its deceased as funeral ceremonies wont be able to be held according to the tribes customs. He said the tribe can withstand only about two weeks of closure at its casino before it will have to start making difficult decision. It is painful because 100 percent of our net revenue from our casinos goes for services, he said. Kewadin Casinos has been closely monitoring the situation as it relates to COVID-19 and has made the decision to close... Posted by Kewadin Casinos Hotel & Convention Center on Saturday, March 21, 2020 Government funding accounts for just 40 percent of the tribes revenue. The rest mainly comes from casino revenue, Payment said. When we are shut down, that interrupts our revenue stream, he said. He said it will be vital for tribal casinos to receive a share of any employment relief that Congress approves, considering Indian casinos are some of the largest and best employers in their regions. Weve survived Andrew Jackson and weve survived smallpox, not without great casualties to our people, but we are resilient people, Payment said. Weve been here forever. Well be here forever. Join the Conversation Related Stories The Jharkhand Assembly on Monday passed a resolution against the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state. The resolution also said the National Population Register (NPR) exercise should be carried out using the 2010 format. Jharkhand joins the list of the assemblies of states including Puducherry, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Bihar, West Bengal, Telangana and Delhi in passing resolutions either against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) or the NRC or the NPR. The resolution was moved by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Alamgir Alam and passed by the House without discussion before it was adjourned sine die in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. In a statement, BJP state unit president Deepak Prakash termed the passing of the resolution in the House without a discussion as unfortunate. The country is dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and the state is under lockdown. Passing the resolution under such a circumstance without a discussion is unfortunate, Prakash said. Claiming that both the NPR and the NRC are matters pertaining to the central government, he alleged that the aim of the resolution was "political appeasement. The JMM-Congress-RJD alliance came to power in Jharkhand late last year, dethroning the BJP. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The state-backed Irish wind farm operator Greencoat Renewables has made its first acquisition outside of Ireland. The company has agreed to buy a project in France for 30.3m. Greencoat is buying three wind farms, with combined wind capacity of 51.9 megawatts, from John Laing Group. Completion of the deal requires French regulatory approval. Greencoat which is partly owned by the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund will pay for the wind farms from its existing 380m loan facility. The company had been restricted from buying wind farm assets outside of Ireland up until last July. However, it has previously said it has been mulling acquisition opportunities in mainland Europe and particularly in France, Belgium, Germany, Finland, and the Netherlands. Consistent with our long-term strategy, we are pleased to be making our first investment into the French wind market. "The assets benefit from Frances stable regulatory regime, with the fixed-price Feed-in-Tariff guaranteeing power prices for the next 12.3 years, said Greencoats investment manager Bertrand Gautier. Mr Gautier said Greencoat will continue to seek out opportunities in mainland Europe and has the means to carry out deals. The acquisition will bring gearing to 43%, which is towards the lower end of our target range and will provide flexibility to pursue further opportunities as they arise. "We are also pleased to have partnered with John Laing, again demonstrating our ability to transact with leading investors and developers across the sector, he said. The French portfolio of three wind farms comes with 16-year long-term fixed-rate project finance and have an overall net enterprise value of 95m. Following the acquisition, Greencoat Renewables total installed capacity base will increase to 528.1 megawatts. France is a 25 gigawatt renewables market, biased towards onshore wind and solar. It is expected to grow to 71 gigawatts by 2030. "Offshore wind is also expected to emerge strongly as a technology. It has been underpinned by a supportive tariff regime, typically 15 years in length, said Davy analyst Michael Mitchell. Gina Brown is doing what she can to protect herself from the coronavirus. The 54-year-old grandmother washes her hands religiously and wears a mask and gloves when she leaves home for groceries. Still, she's fearful not for herself, but for the more than 500,000 other people like her living with HIV in the South with immune systems that are vulnerable. In Louisiana alone, more than 20,000 people are living with HIV. Louisiana now ranks third in the nation behind New York and Washington state in per capita cases of people infected with the coronavirus, with confirmed cases reaching 1,172 Monday. But as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to surge, patients and health officials are worried how Louisiana, already at the center of the nation's HIV epidemic, will be able to protect this vulnerable population as it fights the spread of the new pandemic. "I'm really afraid for the community," said Brown, the community engagement manager at the Southern AIDS Coalition who lives in Chalmette. "My heart is breaking." In the decades since the first HIV cases were reported in New York City and Los Angeles, the epidemic has shifted from urban centers along the coasts to the 16 states and the District of Columbia that make up the South. The region accounts for more than half of new HIV cases annually even though it includes just 38% of the nation's population. Louisiana has the fourth highest rate of new HIV infections in the country. In 2018, Baton Rouge ranked fourth among the nation's cities for its rate of new HIV diagnoses, with 27.5 cases per 100,000 people, and New Orleans ranked sixth with 24.6 cases per 100,000 people. We have poorer health outcomes than the rest of the country, said Noel Twilbeck, chief executive of CrescentCare, a community health center in New Orleans. Thats what our fear is: that the coronavirus will exacerbate the problems that already exist. The coronavirus has moved so quickly that public health data remain sparse. HIV targets a person's immune system, making them particularly susceptible to getting a viral respiratory infection, especially if they aren't receiving treatment. In addition, nearly half of people living with HIV in the United States are over the age of 50, placing them at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Vaccine news in your inbox Once a week we'll update you on the progress of COVID-19 vaccinations. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up There are also higher rates of lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema among people living with HIV, regardless of whether they are on the cocktail of antiretroviral drug therapies to strengthen their immune system. Louisiana doctors, nurses grow desperate for protective gear, fear they're infecting patients Emergency room physician John Gavin cant identify the exact patient from whom he contracted the coronavirus, but hes confident he picked up And more than 80,000 people in the South are living with HIV and don't know it more than in any other region in the country. That means they're not receiving treatment and could face potentially devastating outcomes if they contract COVID-19, said Dr. David Welsh, a pulmonologist at LSU. The concentration of HIV cases in the region which stretches from Texas along the Gulf Coast and up to Washington, D.C. is driven by socioeconomic factors like poverty and unemployment and has largely impacted low-income communities of color. Nearly half of all Americans without health insurance live in the South. Medicaid is the largest source of coverage for people with HIV in the country, but only seven of the 16 states in the region have expanded eligibility for the program under the Affordable Care Act. Louisiana did so in 2016. States that didn't expand the government insurance program including Texas, Georgia and Alabama have had the most rural hospital closures, according to a study from the University of North Carolina. Dr. Yihong Zheng, the chief medical officer at Baton Rouge's Open Health Care Clinic, is worried the coronavirus crisis will upend the routines of her patients' already fragile living situations, especially as Louisiana enters a three-week stay-at-home order. "This situation is creating anxiety, uncertainty and disruption of already chaotic lives," Zheng said. Her clinic treats close to 1,000 people living with HIV, 200 of whom face difficulties remaining on treatment during normal times. That's because many people living with HIV are also battling poverty, mental health or substance abuse issues. Clinics are offering telemedicine appointments to allow patients to remain at home for checkups, and pharmacies are delivering medicines through the mail. CrescentCare in New Orleans is recording podcast episodes on the coronavirus to keep its clients informed. For Gina Brown, the silver lining of the crisis is knowing that Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute Allergy and Infectious Diseases who has advised six presidents on HIV policy, appears to be in charge. "Our community knows Dr. Fauci and trusts Dr. Fauci," Brown said. "We know that he is a champion for the community of people living with HIV." (Photo : ALY SONG on Reuters) Italy First Detected 'Strange Pneumonia' Months Before Outbreak of Coronavirus - Says Expert (Photo : Remo Casilli on Reuters ) Italy First Detected 'Strange Pneumonia' Months Before Outbreak of Coronavirus - Says Expert China might just be where the first case of Coronavirus was detected, but it is not the main place wherein the virus originated. This is what a leading doctor in Italy confessed in a report saying that there's a possibility that COVID-19 did not originate in Wuhan, China but somewhere else-- or maybe in Italy itself. Italy first detected Coronavirus-like disease months before China! Here's what it means According to a report in South China Morning Post, "strange pneumonia" cases were already reported back in Nov. in the northern part of Italy-- precisely in Lombardy. This was months before China had an outbreak with the virus starting on Dec. As mentioned by one of the country's leading doctors named Giuseppe Remuzzi, the director of the Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research in Milan, he said that there were already few cases in Italy of this unknown virus that has been severe for older people in Nov. up to Dec. Remuzzi said that there might be chances that the virus already circulated the world even before China declared an outbreak with the viral disease. "They [general practitioners] remember having seen very strange pneumonia, very severe, particularly in old people in December and even November," said him. "This means that the virus was circulating, at least in [the northern region of] Lombardy and before we were aware of this outbreak occurring in China." The doctor explained that only these past few weeks, wherein he discovered that there were cases similar to Coronavirus were being treated in the country by various Italian doctors. China possibly NOT the main source of Coronavirus Could this mean that the Coronavirus did not come from China at all? The answer is still uncertain. Italian doctors already explained that the first infection in Lombardy was the result of an Italian coming into contact with a Chinese person in late January. Until now, this case is still being investigated since no evidence was saying that the infection was positive Novel Coronavirus. If it is, the debate wherein COVID-19 originated could arise between countries. In China, the first case of Coronavirus was detected when a man from Wuhan had a "pneumonia with an unknown cause." However, there were reports leading to the assumption that the virus could be circulating months before the detection. Where did the Coronavirus originate? It is still unclear whether where in the world the Coronavirus originated. Most reports said that since China had the first case of the virus, it was thought to be the place origin. This became a controversial issue on most countries especially in the United States when US President Donald Trump repeatedly referred the virus as 'Chinese virus' or 'Wuhan virus'-- without certifying where the virus really originated. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A number of Cork county councillors have urged their officials to close down beaches, parks and amenity walks in an effort to stop the spread of Covid-19. It comes as Wicklow County Council closed all of its playgrounds, the Cliff Walk between Bray and Greystones and the public toilets at Bray seafront over social distancing concerns. Standing orders were suspended at the meeting in Cork's County Hall when Cllr Delcan Hurley asked that officials look at closing beaches and other amenities because people were gathering in large numbers at them and many were ignoring social distancing. We're certainly living in unprecedented times. The problem is people are suffering from cabin fever. The message coming loud and clear from Italy is they didn't heed the warnings in time. There has been a lack of social distancing. We have an invisible killer out there. "After what we saw over the weekend we have to take measures to minimise and close public amenities for the protection of our public, Mr Hurley said. Cllr Audrey Buckley, who lives in Crosshaven, said she could hardly get out of her drive over the weekend because of visitors. She said locals had asked her to get the car park in Fountainstown closed to stop the influx and also wanted the council to clamp down on casual traders who were making the situation worse. We should now have a total shutdown apart from supermarkets and pharmacies, Cllr Danny Collins said. 'They are playing with people's lives': Warning on social distancing issued after large crowds flock to Cork beaches https://t.co/6BxnrFkOae EchoLive.ie (@echolivecork) March 22, 2020 However, Cllr Michael Hegarty urged some caution. At the moment I think our beaches are reasonably okay. People do need some bit of an outlet. I would agreed though with closing off Ballycotton Cliff Walk, he said. Cllr Seamus McGrath said any move to close off amenities had to come from a national level. I would be more inclined to call for a clearer message and tougher stance from the government, he said. Cllr Anthony Barry said that Coillte would have to come on board and close off forestry walks as well. I'd be very slow to close down our beaches. I'd be very slow in closing the town park in Fermoy as well, Cllr Frank O'Flynn said. Cllr Paul Hayes said: I do believe that we have to make it difficult for people to congregate in large numbers for their own benefit. If we have the power to close down large car parks at amenity areas we should use it. Many medics are calling for a lockdown to curb the spread of #COVID19 after large gatherings on Cork beaches this weekend. @drnickgp spoke to @NeilRedFM &says calls to his practice have doubled yet people arent observing social distancing &more is needed.Full story @RedFMNews pic.twitter.com/ZVNFv1l8Zo Fiona O'Donovan (@Fiona_ODonovan) March 23, 2020 Cllr Marcia D'Alton pointed out the greenway between Passage West and Cork City was absolutely jammers with people over the weekend. However, she said if the council was to close amenities it will end up forcing people into less spaces and make the situation even worse. The responsibility is down to every individual. The reality is we're coming to a stage where there will be a total lockdown in the next few days. "The message to people is to stay at home, or if going out adhere to social distancing, Cllr Cathal Rasmussen said. Cllr Martin Coughlan said he personally intervened with a group of teenagers who were congregating. The message doesn't seem to be getting through to some people, he said. Council chief executive Tim Lucey said closing amenities was a decision government had to make because many were not in the control of the local authority and he provided a long list of them, including the very popular Doneraile Park. Forget the Italians & the horses... west Cork beaches today!! Same people probably tutting re the Rugby match not being canceled sooner. pic.twitter.com/yfXfHiJGCz Vincent (sometimes cranky but take no notice) (@vflorish) March 22, 2020 He said the council on its own would find it impossible to close beaches like Youghal, Garryvoe, Fountainstown, Inchydoney. I have spoken with gardai and they recognise there's a big challenge for them if there is a national shutdown. We should await to see what arises out of the National Emergency Team meeting tomorrow (Tuesday). It's impractical to shut down unless we have a multi-agency approach to it, Mr Lucey said. I understand how hard this is but there is no easy way around this. People have to take social distancing more seriously. The longer we put off a lockdown the longer the lockdown will last, Mr Hurley said. [snippet1]987600[/snippet1] Subscriber content preview By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER Associated Press BOSTON The hottest new bar's dress code? Your sweatpants. And you don't even have to leave your couch. With bars shuttered and stressed-out workers stuck at home, companies and friend groups across the U.S. are holding happy hours over video chat to commiserate and keep spirits high amid the new coronavirus pandemic. In one community, neighbors are toasting to one another every night from the ends of their driveways to unwind while keeping a safe distance, of course. . . . BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - OCTOBER 18: German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) talks with the French President Emmanuel Macron (C) and the Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel (R) ahead of round table talks at a EU leaders summit on October 18, 2019, in Brussels, Belgium. European countries are under growing pressure to take an unprecedented move and issue a new kind of debt to tackle the economic impact of the coronavirus. Central bankers, heads of state and economists have called on the euro zone to develop so-called corona bonds, a new instrument that would combine securities from different European countries. The issue is highly controversial, but the main idea is to come up with new funding to mitigate the economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak. The latter has decimated thousands of lives across Europe and brought all its economies to a standstill. "The political hurdles for joint debt issuance in the euro zone remain high. But in 'whatever it takes' times, taboos can be broken," Florian Hense, economist at Berenberg bank, told CNBC on Monday via email. Conservative policymakers in countries such as Germany, the Netherlands and Austria are often wary of the idea of issuing debt together with highly indebted nations, such as Italy, Greece and Portugal. They had initial discussions on this issue at the height of the sovereign debt crisis of 2011, but certain nations believed it was too risky to join their debt with other countries, which were deemed at a higher risk of default. However, the coronavirus is reviving the debate given the widespread financial shock caused by the virus. GENEVA, March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Australian Tamil Congress (ATC), the British Tamils Forum (BTF), the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC), the Irish Tamils Forum and the United States Tamil Action Group (USTAG) express our concern on the global #COVID19 pandemic, and offer our unstinted support to worldwide measures to contain the spread, cure the afflicted, and provide relief for socioeconomic deprivations. Concerning the 43rd UN Human Rights Council which ended so precipitously on March 13 where Sri Lanka was on the agenda, the international community is experiencing what the Tamil community is far too familiar with - Sri Lanka's callous disregard for negotiated agreements. On February 26, Sri Lanka made the ignominious announcement that it does not feel bound by the commitments made in 2015's UN Human Rights Council Resolution 30/1 and its two successor resolutions, 34/1 and 40/1, intended to encourage reform and transitional justice. The announcement did not, however, come as a surprise to the Tamil community which has attempted repeatedly to forewarn the world of Sri Lanka's deception and its delaying tactics. Since independence from the British in 1948 the indigenous Tamils in the North and East of Sri Lanka have suffered grievously from broken pacts and agreements between the Tamil leadership and successive Sinhala Buddhist-dominated governments - agreements intended to assure basic human rights for Tamils and to protect the community in our traditional homelands. The member states of the UNHRC cannot allow such an ignominy to sully the institution's credibility. States should also remember the "comprehensive review of action by the United Nations system during the war in Sri Lanka and the aftermath, regarding the implementation of its humanitarian and protection mandates" - Charles Petrie Report's detailing of the failure in 2009 of the Responsibility to Protect the Tamil community, who were victims of gross human rights violations (as confirmed by the OISL report of 2015) by the Sri Lankan state's security forces which acted with impunity. As regards to the mass atrocity crimes committed by Sri Lanka during and after the war, our organizations urge action to be taken up by appropriate international jurisdictions such as an ad hoc international criminal tribunal on Sri Lanka. Pointing out "the failure of past domestic reconciliation and accountability mechanisms," eight international human rights groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights watch issued a joint statement in the 43rd Council meeting (February 20. 2020) calling on the Council "to establish an International Accountability Mechanism on Sri Lanka." The International Commission of Jurists also issued a statement at the Human Right Council on February 28, 2020 stating, "purely international processes, whether before the ICC or through creation of another international accountability mechanism by the Council, and the exercise of universal jurisdiction by other States, are the only remaining options for securing the justice required by international law and indispensable to any credible reconciliation process for Sri Lanka. In recent times we have seen similar initiatives on Myanmar for its genocide against the Rohingya. Considering the track record of the Rajapaksas and their post-presidential election actions such as the rapid militarization of the state administration as a prelude to drive Sri Lanka towards an authoritarian police state, we request the international community to set up specific international mechanisms for the preservation of evidence as an urgent initial step. The international community has delayed such action long enough in giving Sri Lanka more than ten years to fulfil its obligations, all to no avail. Sri Lanka's government and its courts have shown their lack of will to accept the seriousness of these crimes, and not only allow the continuing of impunity for perpetrators but also reward them with high profile positions within the current Government and civil administration, while Tamil victims, survivors and their loved ones suffer in agony. The world cannot let them down again. For more information, contact: Mr. S. Seetharam President United States Tamil Action Group (USTAG) (formerly USTPAC) www.ustpac.org @UstpacAdvocacy (202) 595 3123 K. Sutharsan Irish Tamils Forum (ITF) T: 00353 899592707 [email protected] Sivan Ilangko, President, The Canadian Tamil Congress T: +1-416-240-0078 www.canadiantamilcongress.ca @ctconline V. Ravi Kumar General Secretary, British Tamils Forum T: +44 (0) 7814 486087 www.britishtamilsforum.org @tamilsforum M. Manokaran Chairman, Australian Tamil Congress +61 300 660 629 www.australiantamilcongress.com @austamilcongres SOURCE USTAG People continued to flock to public parks and recreation grounds across the UK today despite the government urging them to stay at home to help slow the spread of coronavirus. Members of the public were pictured taking part in outdoor fitness classes and walking closely together on packed paths at numerous locations across London and other cities. The images are likely to accelerate calls for the government to impose tougher social distancing measures amid fears some people are not taking the official advice seriously enough. Boris Johnson has advised against all non-essential travel and social contact while anyone exercising has been urged to stay at least two metres away from other people. London has already started to shut its parks after thousands of people flaunted the rules at the weekend and met in groups. Hammersmith and Fulham Council was the first local authority to close all of its parks while The Royal Parks which runs numerous public spaces in the capital including Hyde Park and Richmond Park has threatened to shut all of its gates unless people follow social distancing guidelines. The start of the parks shutdown came as the government updated domestic travel advice to tell people not to visit second homes, holiday homes, campsites or caravan parks. Ministers said people should not visit those places either for self-isolation or for a holiday because doing so would place unnecessary strain on rural communities. The continued failure of some people to adhere to the government's social distancing and travel guidance means Mr Johnson is now weighing up whether or not to impose more draconian measures which could see rules being legally enforced. Such moves have already been taken in France, Italy and Spain. The Prime Minister will address the nation tonight amid signs he will finally put the UK into full coronavirus lockdown after the nation's death toll spiked by 54 to 335. Boris Johnson said yesterday the government could toughen social distancing rules if people refuse to comply as ministers urged people not to visit second homes, holiday homes or campsites Members of the public continued to flock to public spaces in London like Clapham Common today despite the government urging people to stay at home The images of packed paths in public spaces like Clapham Common are likely to accelerate calls for ministers to impose more draconian social distancing measures The Royal Parks has warned that unless people respect social distancing guidelines its parks will have to shut. Today the roads were shut around Richmond Park in a bid to reduce the number of people visiting There were still many people using Richmond Park today after a busy weekend but signs have been put up telling them to stick to social distancing advice The signs in Richmond Park urged people not to engage in group gatherings and to stay at least two metres away from other people The Royal Parks organisation which runs parks like the one in Richmond, pictured today, said it wanted to keep public spaces open but the decision to do so will be kept under review Hyde Park in central London also remained busy today despite the government's coronavirus warnings Boris Johnson to address the nation tonight amid growing calls for full coronavirus lockdown Boris Johnson will this evening address the nation amid signs he will finally put the UK into full coronavirus lockdown after Britain's death toll spiked by 54 to 335. The PM will make a televised speech amid fury that many people are still flouting government guidance, with parks and Tube trains in London - regarded as the engine of the UK outbreak - still busy. The government's Cobra emergency committee is due to meet at 5pm, and Mr Johnson is expected to make a significant announcement later. The move comes after the number of fatalities went up by 54 in a single day - the second biggest rise yet - with the total number of positive cases now standing at 5,857. Health Secretary Matt Hancock has underlined that a decision on toughening measures is expected 'very soon', hitting out at 'selfish' behaviour and saying 'nothing is off the table'. Advertisement The weekend saw numerous examples of crowds of people visiting tourist hot spots, parks and markets across the country. Hammersmith and Fulham Council said it was acting to close all of its parks in the west of London in order to observe the government's social distancing guidance but insisted the decision will be kept under review. Councillor Stephen Cowan, leader of Hammersmith and Fulham Council, said: 'Our parks have been full of people this weekend with a significant proportion ignoring government guidelines on social distancing. 'This raises the serious likelihood of cross-infection. By closing our parks, we are putting the safety of all our residents first.' The Royal Parks said in a statement that its public spaces will remain open because they are 'vitally important at this time' because of the physical and mental health benefits they can provide. But it made clear that if people fail to follow the rules on staying away from each other the the parks will shut. It told users social distancing is 'absolutely crucial' as it also announced all cafes and kiosks would close in a bid to prevent people congregating in one area while roads would also be shut in some parks. UK coronavirus plan 'could still mean 70,000 deaths' Britain's coronavirus response does not go far enough and could still mean 70,000 deaths, experts warned today. The analysis by scientists from University College London, the University of Cambridge and Health Data Research UK will heap pressure on Boris Johnson to enforce 'social distancing' rules. Using NHS health records from 3.8m adults in England, the team estimated the number of victims of the epidemic - taking into account those who would have died anyway and the government's existing measures. They found between 35,000 and 70,000 are likely to lose their lives. The paper - reported in the Financial Times but not yet published in a peer-reviewed journal - warns ministers should 'do more in the pursuit of suppressing the epidemic whether through enforced lockdowns or enforced social distancing rather than voluntary measures'. Dr Amitava Banerjee of UCL, the lead author, said: 'The UK government is currently following a partial suppression policy of population-wide social distancing, combined with home isolation of cases, as well as school and university closures, but this is currently not [mandatory]. 'Our study indicates that the government should implement more stringent suppression at population level to avoid not just immediate deaths but also long-term excess deaths.' The government's chief scientist, Patrick Vallance, suggested last week that a UK death toll of around 20,000 would be a 'good outcome', albeit still 'horrible'. The PM dramatically stepped up the government's response last week after modelling showed that there could be hundreds of thousands of deaths. Advertisement 'We have also made the decision, based on police advice, to start closing our roads to traffic in the outer parks (Richmond, Bushy and Greenwich Parks),' the organisation said. 'Roads will remain open in the inner parks (Hyde, Regents, St Jamess Parks), but all designated car parks are now only open for key workers with a permit. 'All parks remain open to cyclists. 'We will keep this situation under constant review. 'If people do not follow social distancing guidelines, we will have no choice but to consider closing the parks.' It came as updated cross-government UK travel advice issued last night told people not to visit holiday homes or campsites and urged everyone not to travel 'unless it is essential' in order to help stem the spread of coronavirus. The advice warns of the potential impact second home owners or holiday home owners could have on vital rural services if they leave their primary residence and head for the countryside. It states: 'This guidance is for people planning to visit second homes or holiday premises during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. 'Essential travel does not include visits to second homes, camp sites, caravan parks or similar, whether for isolation purposes or holidays. 'People should remain in their primary residence. 'Not taking these steps puts additional pressure on communities and services that are already at risk.' The government has already advised against 'all but essential international travel' as countries around the world respond to the crisis. Mr Johnson yesterday delivered a warning to the UK that unless everybody takes the government's social distancing guidance seriously ministers will be forced to go further. Primrose Hill, just north of Regent's Park in central London, had a large number of visitors today The government is advising against all non-essential travel and social contact. Pictured is the view from Primrose Hill today It was not only in London where people have been freely using outdoor spaces. Pictured is a keep fit class on Bristol Downs today The government is urging everyone to stay at home as much as they can during the pandemic to stop the spread of the disease Speaking at his daily coronavirus press conference in 10 Downing Street, Mr Johnson said: 'You've got to observe social distancing. 'If people can't do that, won't do that, don't do that, we will of course have to bring in tougher measures.' He added: 'I don't think you need to use your imagination very much to see where we might have to go, and we will think about this very, very actively in the next 24 hours.' The potential toughening of the measures could involve the UK following the lead of France, Spain and Italy where people are only allowed to leave their homes for essential reasons. Those who refuse to comply are hit with fines. The government could also decide to unilaterally close all of the UK's parks. Scientists have made a breakthrough in the development of a new generation of electronics that will require less power and generate less heat. It involves exploiting the complex quantum properties of electrons - in this case, the spin state of electrons. In a world first, the researchers - led by a team of physicists from the University of Leeds - have announced in the journal Science Advances that they have created a 'spin capacitor' that is able to generate and hold the spin state of electrons for a number of hours. Previous attempts have only ever held the spin state for a fraction of a second. In electronics, a capacitor holds energy in the form of electric charge. A spin capacitor is a variation on that idea: instead of holding just charge, it also stores the spin state of a group of electrons - in effect it 'freezes' the spin position of each of the electrons. That ability to capture the spin state opens up the possibility that new devices could be developed that store information so efficiently that storage devices could get very small. A spin capacitor measuring just one square inch could store 100 Terabytes of data. Dr Oscar Cespedes, Associate Professor in the School of Physics and Astronomy who supervised the research, said: "This is a small but significant breakthrough in what could become a revolution in electronics driven by exploitation of the principles of quantum technology. "At the moment, up to 70 per cent of the energy used in an electronic device such as a computer or mobile phone is lost as heat, and that is the energy that comes from electrons moving through the device's circuitry. It results in huge inefficiencies and limits the capabilities and sustainability of current technologies. The carbon footprint of the internet is already similar to that of air travel and increases year on year. "With quantum effects that use light and eco-friendly elements, there could be no heat loss. It means the performance of current technologies can continue to develop in a more efficient and sustainable way that requires much less power." Dr Matthew Rogers, one of the lead authors, also from Leeds, commented: "Our research shows that the devices of the future may not have to rely on magnetic hard disks. Instead. They will have spin capacitors that are operated by light, which would make them very fast, or by an electrical field, which would make they extremely energy efficient. "This is an exciting breakthrough. The application of quantum physics to electronics will result in new and novel devices." The paper, Reversible spin storage in metal oxide--fullerene heterojunctions, can be accessed here. How a spin capacitor works In conventional computing, information is coded and stored as a series of bits: e.g. zeroes and ones on a hard disk. Those zeroes and ones can be represented or stored on the hard disc by changes in the polarity of tiny magnetized regions on the disc. With quantum technology, spin capacitors could write and read information coded into the spin state of electrons by using light or electric fields. The research team were able to develop the spin capacitor by using an advanced materials interface made of a form of carbon called buckminsterfullerene (buckyballs), manganese oxide and a cobalt magnetic electrode. The interface between the nanocarbon and the oxide is able to trap the spin state of electrons. The time it takes for the spin state to decay has been extended by using the interaction between the carbon atoms in the buckyballs and the metal oxide in the presence of a magnetic electrode. Some of the world's most advanced experimental facilities were used as part of the investigation. The researchers used the ALBA Synchrotron in Barcelona which uses electron accelerators to produce synchrotron light that allows scientists to visualise the atomic structure of matter and to investigate its properties. Low energy muon spin spectroscopy at the Paul Scherrer Insitute in Switzerland was used to monitor local spin changes under light and electrical irradiation within billionths of a meter inside the sample. A muon is a sub-atomic particle. The results of the experimental analysis were interpreted with the assistance of computer scientists at the UK's Science and Technical Facilities Council, home to one of the UK's most powerful supercomputers. The scientists believe the advances they have made can be built on, most notably towards devices that are able to hold spin state for longer periods of time. ### The research collaboration involved the University of Leeds, the ALBA synchrotron in Barcelona, Spain, the Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland; and the Science and Technologies Facilities Council and the University of St Andrews, both in the UK. Drs. Tim Moorsom and Matthew Rogers, from Leeds, were the lead authors. Note to Editors For further information, please contact David Lewis in the University press office on: d.lewis@leeds.ac.uk Images are downloadable from the University's Google drive: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1pbkq075i48WqHWU5bsXpJjYpep-hlmN8?usp=sharing University of Leeds The University of Leeds is one of the largest higher education institutions in the UK, with more than 38,000 students from more than 150 different countries, and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. The University plays a significant role in the Turing, Rosalind Franklin and Royce Institutes. We are a top ten university for research and impact power in the UK, according to the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, and are in the top 100 of the QS World University Rankings 2020. Additionally, the University was awarded a Gold rating by the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework in 2017, recognising its 'consistently outstanding' teaching and learning provision. Twenty-six of our academics have been awarded National Teaching Fellowships - more than any other institution in England, Northern Ireland and Wales - reflecting the excellence of our teaching. Over a third of our academics are involved in applied research or as consultants to industry, and over the last ten years, the University of Leeds has produced more than 100 'spin-out' companies. http://www.leeds.ac.uk Follow University of Leeds or tag us in to coverage Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Instagram With images downloadable from: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1pbkq075i48WqHWU5bsXpJjYpep-hlmN8?usp=sharing Spencer Zaugg is an inventor, and he wants to get back to work. Thats a good combo. The Billings dentist last week shut down his practice to help stall the progress of the coronavirus. He and other dentists could possibly continue seeing patients if they had the kind of thicker masks that are more reliable in filtering the novel virus causing the global COVID-19 pandemic. But its those same face masks, currently in huge demand, that front-line healthcare workers need as they work around the clock to diagnose and treat patients who may already have the potentially deadly virus. And, of course, its right that if there are masks made available, those front-line workers get them first, Zaugg said. Fortunately, Zaugg knows one of those front-line workers, a friend and fellow tinkerer, Billings Clinic neurosurgeon Dr. Dusty Richardson. The two met on an airplane about a year ago, discovered their shared passion for innovation, and have been meeting regularly since then to work on ideas, often in Zauggs huge and cluttered West End garage. On Thursday, they were commiserating over the shortage of proper heavy-duty masks for health workers. Equally fortunately, Zauggs 25-year-old son, Colton Zaugg, shares his fathers tinkerer gene and an idea occurred to the three of them almost at once. Lets build a mask, said Colton, a trained microbiologist who also helps healthcare professionals with marketing. Richardson sketched a rough draft of a mask with a snap-in section for replaceable filtration material and texted it to Colton. As it happens, Colton is also handy with a 3D printer and in writing code for 3D designs. They were able to modify an a free file they found online with coding for a mask in order to make and modify their version for local healthcare workers. The idea for the mask is simple: a reusable general-use surgical style mask made of plastic, designed to allow a snap-in medical-grade filter. Instead of a mask made of primarily filter material, the Richardson-Zaugg effort requires a fraction of the filtration material. In his dental office, Spencer Zaugg has a 3D scanner that he uses to get images of a patients mouth and teeth. On Friday, he scanned Coltons face and then Colton used that data to design a form-fitting prototype mask that would hold a heavy, replaceable, conronavirus-resistant filter. Colton stayed up all night Friday pounding out code for the design and then fired up the 3D printer. It took three hours to print the first mask. For a filter, they cut a piece from a shop-vac filter they bought at a hardware store. On Saturday, Dr. Richardson took the prototype mask to Billings Clinic and showed it around to officials, including the hospitals incident-command team. Everyone seemed to realize its potential. It wasnt perfect. It needed a little something here and a little something there, Colton said. So, Colton stayed up all Saturday night writing the changes into his code and printing out new versions of the mask. The on-the-fly research and development was maddening because it takes so long to print a new version, he said. Sometimes a fix would occur to him or the others mid-print and Colton would have to rewrite the code and start a new mask on a second printer. By Sunday morning, they had a version of the mask with a filter system everyone seemed pleased with. It has the mask portion thats letting you breathe, but its also providing that droplet protection that youd get from a standard surgical mask, Richardson said. It takes your existing mask supply and multiplies it by a factor of six or 10. Now, to mass-produce the mask at three hours each. And mass production was actually two problems. They needed one process for the masks, and another for the reusable filters. And, it would take hundreds of masks and many thousands of filters to get local hospitals stocked up. The inventors contacted Shane Rekdal with Flowmark/Hitech Filters Co., an 8-person shop in Billings that makes filters for many uses including medical. Rekdal quickly made 200 filters that Richardson and his hospital colleagues could test in the prototype masks. Rekdal said he could produce as many as 20,000 more filters in just a few days. Colton Zaugg loaded the code for the masks as open-source software on his fathers dental practice website, www.longliveyoursmile.com, for other medical professionals to use. Within three hours, the software had 1,000 downloads, and Rekdal was getting emails from people in places like Texas wanting to order filters. Yeah, the whole thing has been pretty crazy, said Rekdal. But, still, the printing of masks takes an agonizing three hours each. The trio put the call out for 3D printers, making telephone calls and posting pleas on social media. So, far Billings Public Schools, Rocky Mountain College and Montana State University Billings have offered their 3D printers. They figure the mask can be produced for between $1 and $2 apiece. Richardson said he thinks the Clinic has handled the COVID-19 pandemic preparations well and that the developing situation has also provided some time for reflection. He said Billings has been relatively spared in that it has had more time to prepare than some other areas. "It's a good time for us to step back and reflect on what's important and how we can help each other and really use our medical resources for what they're intended for, which is to help the community," Richardson said. "This is clearly not anything that we've seen before but it's also making us face a lack of resources that in the first world we don't really ever face a lack of resources," he said. "We kind of have whatever we want whenever we want it at our fingertips." Overall, he said he believes the social distancing and precautions the public is being encouraged to undertake are necessary. "Everyone's scared, everyone's unsure and I think that's appropriate. I think the fear that's causing us to do some social distancing is very much appropriate," Richardson said. The Management of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) as part of its efforts to build a social security-conscious generation, has commenced the training of students as brand ambassadors in some selected university campuses. The maiden program took place at the Navrongo campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS). The SSNIT Brand Ambassador training is meant to equip selected students on various university campuses with adequate knowledge about the basic social security scheme so they can act as peer educators on their various campuses of study and within their communities. This aimed at consolidating the gains made at the SSNIT Infoshop through continuous engagement at the peer level. The SSNIT Infoshop is being organized by the Trust in collaboration with the University Students Association of Ghana (USAG) and has so far been held at eight university campuses across the country. It is an information-sharing platform to educate students on their rights to and the importance of social security and the need to start contributing early. The forum, which was held on the UDS, Navrongo Campus on April 6, 2019, on the theme SSNIT! Your security for tomorrow, was attended by over 1,000 students. This was addressed by the principal of the campus, Professor Albert Luguterah and the Director-General of SSNIT, Dr. John Ofori-Tenkorang among others Speaking at the SSNIT Brand Ambassador training program, Professor Luguterah lauded the Trust for their conscious effort to educate the students beyond the Infoshop campaign and implored students to be mindful of their short-term youthfulness and prepare adequately for their working life which he added would begin sooner than they thought. He expressed his delight for the event being held at the UDS, Narongo campus. I am happy this programme is taking place here because I want graduates from this campus to be holistically trained for national development. He said. The head of External Communications at the Public Affairs Department of SSNIT, Mr. Charles Akwei Garshong trained the students on how to register to be a member of the Scheme, some investments the Trust has made, the various types of benefits and the conditions under which a contributor qualifies to receive any of the benefits. The participants were later taken through practical sessions on how to calculate pensions under the National Pensions Act, Act 766. He explained to the ambassadors that contrary to what people thought, the amount paid as pensions entirely depends on the workers. The salaries on which you contribute and number of months or years you contribute determine what you receive as pension. The formula is predetermined so the higher your salary and the longer the period of contribution, the better your pension. The participants were taken through their ambassadorial roles and how they should conduct themselves whilst they remain ambassadors of the Trust. Earlier, Dr. Ohene Boansi, the vice dean of students, in welcoming the team from SSNIT to the campus, expressed his gratitude for SSNIT choosing the campus for its ambassadorial program. Fifteen selected students, led by the SRC president, Mr. Raymond Korbla Otivi took part in the two-day intensive training program which began on Tuesday, 3rd March 2020. Mr. Raymond Korbla Otivi later expressed confidence in his team and promised that they would take up the challenge and represent the brand to the best of their ability. The ambassadors later spoke on their role and the benefits of the scheme with the university community on Radio FAS, a campus based radio station. The next SSNIT Brand Ambassador training program takes place at the University of Energy and Natural Resources Campus in Sunyani. Samaritan's Purse opens field hospital in northern Italy to help coronavirus patients Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The evangelical humanitarian charity run by Franklin Graham, Samaritans Purse, opened a 68-bed emergency field hospital in northern Italy to help the medical system as it struggles to deal with the coronavirus. On Friday, the field hospital opened just outside the city of Milan. According to Samaritans Purse, the coronavirus outbreak has overwhelmed the medical infrastructure in the area where there are over 40,000 confirmed cases of the virus in the European country. The situation in Italy is desperate, Samaritans Purse CEO Franklin Graham, the son of the late evangelist Billy Graham, said in a statement. The hospitals are overrun and people are dying. We are called to respond in hard places. Thats why our team of disaster response specialists are on the front lines providing life-saving medical care and sharing Gods love to people who are hurting. Over 3,400 people have died in Italy as a result of the coronavirus, according to the World Health Organization. As families have been left without access to necessary care, Samaritans Purse airlifted its emergency field hospital, medical team and critical aid to northern Italy on Monday by way of the charitys DC-8 cargo plane. In total, 20 tons of medical equipment was shipped along with respiratory therapists, doctors, and nurses. According to Samaritans Purse, the hospital began receiving patients as soon as it opened. The field hospital features a respiratory care unit and is located adjacent to Cremona Hospital, which suspended all medical care except for maternity and pediatrics because of the influx of people who have coronavirus. According to Samaritans Purse, none of the patients at Cremona Hospitals intensive care unit have survived the virus. Additionally, the hospital has run out of beds. Every time Samaritans Purse responds to a disaster, we respond in Jesus name, Graham, who also heads the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, said. So were going to the people in Italy who are suffering and dying to care for them, to love them and to tell them about Gods Son Jesus Christ. Kelly Suter, the medical director for the Samaritans Purse Respiratory Care Unit in Italy, said that medical professionals in the community are grateful that weve been willing to come and fight beside them. Almost every person that I talk to almost breaks into tears, Suter said. Theyve felt abandoned. Theyve felt helpless. Theyve been looking for a miracle and they are absolutely grateful that were here and ready to fight alongside them. Samaritans Purse plans to airlift the second round of medical supplies and responders on Saturday. The North Carolina-based charitys disease experts have worked in coordination with the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ensure all necessary precautions are being taken. Samaritans Purses field hospital exits to provide emergency medical relief in disaster-stricken areas where medical infrastructure is damaged, overwhelmed or nonexistent. The field hospital has been used to treat thousands of patients over the years. The hospital was deployed in the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian in September 2019 and Mozambique after Cyclone Idai in April 2019. It was also deployed in Ecuador in April 2016 after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake and in Iraq in December 2016 during the battle against the Islamic State terrorist group. Weinstein was sent to Rikers Island right after his sentencing, then went to Bellevue Hospital with chest pains. After returning to Rikers, he was transferred from the jails North Infirmary Command to Wende on Wednesday. The Archers will be reduced to five episodes a week instead of the usual six, due to the coronavirus pandemic. BBC Radio 4 announced that Friday's episode will be replaced, with a shorter than usual omnibus on Sundays. It comes after the editor of the long-running serial, Jeremy Howe, said enough episodes had been recorded to ensure broadcasts 'for the weeks ahead'. BBC Radio 4 announced The Archers will be reduced to five episodes a week instead of the usual six, due to the coronavirus pandemic BBC Radio 4 made the announcement as part of a wider shift in programming to deal with the Covid-19 outbreak. The Archers new schedule will run until the end of April. Due to the closure of theatres, cinemas and galleries, Saturday Review will not air 'for the time being'. BBC Radio 4 controller Mohit Bakaya said: 'Like the rest of the BBC, we know we have a special role to play at a time of national need. 'For our many loyal listeners, Radio 4 is vital to their daily lives providing information, analysis and escape. It's the latest scheduling change following on the heels of ITV's announcement to halt production on Coronation Street due to the growing pandemic Up in the air: In images taken from a birds-eye view, the fictional Weatherfield neighbourhood has been left vacant as the future of British soaps hangs in the balance 'That privilege and responsibility could not be more important to us than it is now. 'The schedule is changing as we respond to the significant challenge we all face, but we will do everything we can to make sure we're giving listeners information, intellectual stimulation, and even joy, in the way I believe only Radio 4 with the richness of our archive and schedule can.' BBC Radio 4 will also begin airing its archive of shows, including A History Of The World In 100 Objects, In Our Time and The Reunion, as well as comedy and drama. It's the latest scheduling change following on the heels of ITV's announcement to halt production on Coronation Street due to the growing pandemic. Abandoned: Based on inner-city Salford, the streets of Weatherfield are usually filled with the nation's much-loved characters, but the set has now been converted into a ghost-town amid the coronavirus outbreak In images taken from a birds-eye view, the fictional Weatherfield neighbourhood has been left vacant as the show's famous stars - including the likes of Andy Whyment and Jennie McAlpine - self-isolate during the global crisis. ITV is expected to air scenes for Corrie - which has entertained the nation since December 1960 - until 'at least early summer' as filming for the series comes to a halt in order for the broadcaster to 'adhere to the government's latest health guidelines'. Car parks appeared near-empty while scaffolding occupied the exterior of the show's properties as activity on the cobbles was paused. Based on inner-city Salford, the streets of Weatherfield are usually filled with the nation's much-loved characters, but the set has now been converted into a ghost-town amid the coronavirus outbreak. Bill Roache, who has played Ken Barlow since the soap's very-first episode, insisted the cast are looking forward to returning to the show to celebrate its 60th anniversary. Over the weekend, ITV announced the production of Coronation Street and Emmerdale will stop due to coronavirus concerns. A statement from the broadcaster said its staff had been working hard to ensure filming continued 'whilst adhering to the Government's latest health guidelines'. ITV also reassured fans that enough episodes have been recorded to see both soaps through until the early summer. Over the weekend, ITV announced the production of Coronation Street and Emmerdale stop due to coronavirus concerns Eerily: Car parks appeared near-empty while scaffolding occupied the exterior of the show's properties as activity on the cobbles was paused The statement said: 'ITV has sadly taken the decision to suspend production of the soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale with effect from Monday March 23. 'We've been doing our best to carry on filming, whilst adhering to the Government's latest health guidelines, to ensure we've episodes of both soaps airing on ITV until at least the early summer. 'However, the health and well-being of the production teams, actors, crew and their families is of paramount importance to us and we now feel that the time has come to stop filming. 'We'd like to thank our viewers for their support and hope they continue to enjoy both soaps in the coming months.' 'We've got to be back for that!' Bill Roache, who has played Ken Barlow since the soap's very-first episode, insisted the cast are looking forward to returning to the show to celebrate its 60th anniversary (pictured centre with Sue Nicholls and Rula Lenska) Coronation Street tweeted to fans last week: 'Well still be on air next week as normal, apart from Friday. From 30th onwards well be on three times a week.' Coronation Street currently has six full time members of cast over the age of 70: Bill, Sue Nicholls (Audrey), Maureen Lipman (Evelyn), Rula Lenska (Claudia), Barbara Knox (Rita) and Malcolm Hebden (Norris). Meanwhile demands are growing for the PM to ramp up controls after extraordinary images emerged this morning of still-packed Tube trains in London - regarded as the engine of the UK outbreak. After a weekend in which crowds flocked to parks and landmarks to take advantage of sunshine, Mr Johnson effectively put the nation on its final warning last night, saying there should be 'no doubt' he would take draconian action. Health Secretary Matt Hancock underlined this morning that a decision is expected 'very soon', hitting out at 'selfish' behaviour and saying 'nothing is off the table'. He pointed to measures in Italy and France - where all municipal spaces have been closed, forms have to be filled out to leave the house, and police are on patrol handing out fines. Nearly the entire AFL and club workforce were stood down without pay as the league imposed savage austerity measures in a desperate effort to ensure the competition survives the coronavirus shutdown. Up to 80 per cent of employees across the industry - assistant coaches, support staff, recruiters, list managers, executives, administration staff, membership, marketing and media staff - are without work after the AFL effectively took over the clubs and mandated that up to 80 per cent of employees be put on unpaid leave. The league confirmed 80 per cent of its own staff would be stood down from next Monday until at least the end of May, following the suspension and possible abandonment of the season. They can take annual and long service leave during the stand-down period if they wish. The AFL said it will also pay the stood-down staff nine additional special leave days at full pay as compensation. Executives remaining in their jobs will take a minimum 20 per cent pay cut. I had a birthday party on the internet. As I turned 32, friends from around the country stared up at me from the black mirror of my laptop while I drank a dangerous combination of rum, wine and beer and I shouldve learned better in college. Parties may look different in the time of coronavirus, but hangovers still hit the same. I guess Im part of the first generation that grew up entirely on the internet. I remember choosing my first AOL account name Lakerz3000 because I was always cool and typing keyword Nick so that my familys beige box Packard Bell would transport me to Nickelodeons home page. My friends in middle school invited us to their Bar Mitvahs and birthday parties by burning mix-CDs filled with songs they pirated from Napster, Limewire and Kazaa. I flirted, poorly, with my first girlfriend over Instant Messenger. And, years later, deepened my relationship with my wife by texting and FaceTiming when we briefly lived hundreds of miles apart. In high school, I joined Facebook back when people were just poking around and you still had to update your status like a game of Madlibs: John is nostalgic. In college, I begrudgingly joined Twitter so I could follow Arab Spring in real time. I have an annoying habit of pulling out my phone in the middle of conversations to Google the answers to stupid trivia questions that well each forget 30 minutes later. Since October, Ive been spent several hours a day looking at my phone playing a movie trivia game with three friends, spanning three time zones. And I hate when I lose. I consume most of the books I read now via Audible. I have 30 unread tabs and 4,000 unread emails in my Gmail. Amazon, Facebook and Google constantly send me frighteningly specific ads. They must think Im really into latex suits these days... Ive tried various measures to break what feels like a tech addiction in the last few years. Downloading new apps to block me from opening other apps grow this digital tree and well plant a real one somewhere! And yet, I never expected that Id celebrate a birthday over Microsoft Zoom. Somehow that felt a little too much like a techno dystopia. But last Monday, I set up a Facebook event and asked people to spend their Friday nights huddled around their computers telling stories. I hoped it would offer a welcome reprieve in a chaotic time though I didnt know at the time Id be spending seven hours each day in video meetings. And so Friday night, we dialed in, one by one, until there were a little over 30 of us at one point. We told stories and embraced our new surreality. It was strangely wonderful. John Archibald offered a story about the time he and his wife, Alecia, were stuck at home during the Blizzard of 93 with tiny children and no electricity, and only John's wits to sustain them. Alecia offered a rebuttal about how John was less heroic than he remembered. Imagine that. A friend living in DC pointed out that under normal circumstances, she wouldnt have been able to attend my party because it wouldve been in Alabama. And later I introduced her to other friends I had living in DC. A friend in St. Louis teamed up with others in Denver and Columbus and Birmingham to mock me for trying to be cool. And, all told, we spent about four hours together getting drunk and laughing about random stuff. It felt like a birthday party. And while we lost the in-person contact and the inevitable arms thrown around shoulders, belting out impromptu karaoke we found connection around the country. This lockdown is changing us. When this is all over, few of us will take for granted the opportunity to hug, or shake hands, or worship together, watch a new movie in a crowded theater, dance at a concert, or goof off in the office. And I know I look forward to logging off of my screens for a while. But societies adapt to maintain a sense of community. Even when in isolation, we can watch movies together, stream weddings and church services together, play games together, and even celebrate together. I dont remember most of my birthday parties at this point, but I know Ill treasure this one. Even if I spent it on the internet, I still felt the connections irl. Shalena Broaster (left); Odell Johnson; and Johnson's mother, Regina Johnson, on March 19 at Highway Temple of Love in North Philadelphia, where Broaster and Johnson were married. Read more On the day Kobe Bryant died earlier this year in a helicopter crash, Shalena Diva Broaster decided not to keep putting things off about her relationship. The Oxford Circle resident decided to go ahead and marry Odell Johnson, the 37-year-old computer technician she had dated for six years, instead of waiting for everything to be perfect. I was in the car with my boyfriend, and I said, You know what? God forbid if something happened to you and Im in the obituary listed as your special friend, she told him. Ive spent all of this time with you, dating you and never married you, and what if something happened to you? Or what if something happened to me and you never married me? I dont want that. Johnson readily agreed, and told her to select a date. Broaster, chief executive of the digital consulting firm Best Selling Year, chose March 19, the first day of spring, to symbolize their new beginning. The fact that the nation was in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic didnt change things for the couple. Instead, it added to the poignancy and solemnity of their nuptials. As the rest of Philadelphia raced around stocking up on toilet paper, food, and liquor in preparation to self-isolate, Broaster and Johnson faced each other in the midst of all of that chaos and vowed to love each other through everything. There were just seven guests in attendance, three fewer than mandated for public gatherings by the White House. It would have been nine, but Broasters parents decided not to go, because her mother cares for an infirm elderly relative, and didnt want to risk picking up COVID-19 and unwittingly transmitting it. It took place at the Highway Temple of Love in North Philly. The bride wore a burnt orange jumpsuit. She hesitated when the minister asked the guests to join hands for a final prayer, remembering all the calls for people to maintain social distance. The moment passed quickly. A friend took cell phone pictures afterward. READ MORE: Its spring. We want to go outside. How do we safely social distance? | Elizabeth Wellington We got our licenses on March 9. Had we waited a week later, we wouldnt have been able to get it, because City Hall shut down, she told me. Corona really did affect everything, but we were just so happy." Since Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf had ordered restaurants to close to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus, the couples first meal was takeout chicken cheesesteaks, buffalo wings, salad, and a mint chocolate milkshake from Philly Style at Broad and Diamond Streets. There were no tables, no chairs, you couldnt even sit down. We literally had to get our food and go, said Broaster, author of the 2013 book Fire All of Your Friends: A Womans Guide to Becoming Her Own Best Friend. Im so glad that I didnt have grand plans," she said. "If we did have honeymoon plans, it probably would have been canceled. In hindsight, they were right not to postpone things. In this period when were been told to isolate within our homes and practice social distancing from our friends and neighbors, we become more acutely aware of what really matters, and thats family, love, home, and good health. I know Ill never forget this time. Ive had time to sit and reflect, and to do things around the house that I never would have bothered with had things continued on normally. The coronavirus is stripping away a lot of the fabric of our culture, and its making us rethink whats really necessary and whats not," Broaster reflected. Its making us strip all of that superficial stuff away and get to whats really real. For her and Johnson, its love. Vietnamese flock home to avoid worst of outbreak Along with many Vietnamese, a lot of European people tried their luck at the check-in counter at Frankfurt Airport. They had booked tickets with Vietnam Airlines but were ultimately denied because these flights were only meant for those who held Vietnamese passports. Among thousands of people at the airport, many disappointed eyes could be spotted. A young couple said that they wanted to go anywhere as long as it is not Europe. I have never thought that there would be a day like this, said Nguyen Duy, one of people present on the last flight. In addition to coming from Germany, passengers came from the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. They were all afraid of the measures that have been promoted in Europe as well as differing views on the use of face masks. On March 16, Vietnam Airlines four flights containing 180 Vietnamese people from Europe landed back in their home country. One day later, the EU officially closed the borders and halted all flights to and within Europe. One traveller shared that arriving back in Vietnam was the most important thing right now. When the flight landed, everybody sighed with relief. For us, returning to Vietnam is more vital than being infected or not, Duy said. Vo Thanh Nhu Anh, a student in the UK who returned to Vietnam last week was isolating in Ho Chi Minh City said, I came back to Vietnam to avoid the virus. I dont know when I will return to the United Kingdom but I will not go before the epidemic is controlled. While South Korea and Japan seem to have slowly gotten things under control, European countries were seen to be a little too optimistic. In France, the situation did not stop people from trying to achieve a Guinness World Record on March 7. Some 3,500 people dressed up as smurfs and gathered in the town of Landerneau. Their goal was to set a record for the largest-ever gathering of the blue Belgian comic characters. Since then, France has seen over 12,000 infected cases and around 450 deaths, with the city now being forced into a lockdown situation. Europe has become the new epicentre with increasing numbers of infected people, and Italy surpassing China in the number of deaths. More cases are now being reported every day, with the numbers even higher than in China at the peak of the outbreak, World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a recent conference in Geneva. Right after China, Italy has recorded the most cases with more than 47,000 infections, followed by Iran, Spain, Germany, and the US. In recent days, most of the overseas Vietnamese in Europe have been on edge as it is becoming harder to protect oneself from the COVID-19 epidemic. Wendy Nam Phuong, an overseas student in the UK told VIR, Its tough right now. I have to juggle between anxious calls from home about my health and going to university where everything goes on as usual. Whatever I try to do to protect myself, it doesnt seem to be enough for my family at home, yet it looks overdramatic for me as a student in the UK. She explained that for her as a Vietnamese, it is perfectly normal to wear a face mask in public, especially now during the outbreak. Furthermore, large gatherings or schools are cancelled in Vietnam and many other parts of Asia. If people in her home country catch the virus, they will be quarantined immediately and treated at specialised hospitals. As a student living in the UK, Ive been advised against wearing masks and to continue with social meetups and school as long as I wash my hands regularly. If I catch the virus, Ill need to call the hotline and self-isolate at home. Its unlikely for me to get into hospitals because priority is given to more vulnerable residents. Ngoc Anh Lukas, a Vietnamese student who chose to stay in France, told VIR that most of the Vietnamese students in France returned to their homeland to avoid the health crisis. Meanwhile, according to Lukas, Vietnamese with jobs and families in France are not going back to Vietnam because they are afraid of crowded places such as airlines. Instead of going back to their country as they wish, staying in France seems to be the only option for them to continue their career and protect their families. Lukas added. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Kerala Gov shoots off letter to CM Vijayan: 'You personally assume the position of Chancellor' Kerala CM asks Centre to give clearances for manufacturing masks, sanitisers India oi-PTI Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 23: Amid a spurt in coronavirus cases, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has asked the Centre to give the states authority to give clearances for manufacturing masks, gloves and sanitisers. In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vijayan said during the crisis, masks and sanitisers are needed in large numbers. "As an interim, states must be given authority to give clearances of manufacturing of items related to medical devices, sanitisers, chemicals, etc. which are needed for fighting Covid-19," Vijayan said in the letter. Kerala man who tested positive for coronavirus under Customs radar He also sought permission for the state home department to use drones for the relevant applications related to Covid-19. "In China and elsewhere in the world, drones have been used extensively in minimising human contact, disinfection, etc. Unfortunately, with the current laws pertaining to the use of drones, none of these is possible in India," the chief minister said. He also sought permission to access and use facilities available with all central institutions and research labs operating in the state. Coronavirus: Full list of 82 districts under lockdown The chief minister shared the letter on his Twitter handle. With 15 new positive cases of COVID-19, the total number of infected persons in Kerala had gone up to 67, including the three who were discharged after recovery last month. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, March 23, 2020, 9:44 [IST] Graduate workers at Columbia University, an Ivy League university in New York City, voted by 96 percent to authorize a possible strike after their no-strike agreement expires on April 6. The vote, organized by the Graduate Workers of Columbia-United Auto Workers (GWC-UAW), was held March 2-13 and the results were announced March 19. Of those who voted, 1,833 graduate workers supported authorizing a strike and 77 opposed. Due to the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic, the vote was held partially online. The university has moved to all-online classes, with instruction resuming March 26 after spring break was extended to give faculty and students additional time to adjust. GWC members include teaching assistants (TAs) and research assistants (RAs). As Columbia has paused all research not associated with combating the pandemic, TAs are the main contingent that could strike upon expiration of the no-strike clause. Columbia University While graduate workers cannot physically assemble, they could still refuse to teach courses online and grade work. However, the transition to online instruction, along with the mandatory pass/fail grading scheme, may make it easier for the university to force professors to scab on their TAs. The GWC is currently negotiating with Columbia University administration on the first union-negotiated contract that would cover graduate workers. In November 2018, the union agreed to a no-strike clause until April 6, 2020, under a secret deal negotiated by the UAW Region 9A Director Beverly Brakeman and Provost John Coatsworth without the knowledge of the members or leaders of the GWC. The deal also applies to postdoctoral researchers and assistant research scientists who are members of the Columbia Postdoctoral Workers (CPW), which is also affiliated with the UAW and which was also kept in the dark about the rotten deal. The CPW has not held a strike authorization vote. The fall 2018 deal followed a strike during the spring 2018 semester. While the UAW announced ahead of time the strike would only last a weekand therefore end before final examsthe walkout showed the strength of graduate workers and came amid a still-ongoing wave of strike action by education workers internationally, beginning with the West Virginia teachers strike. While tentative agreements have been reached on some issues, many remain ostensibly up for discussion, including wages, benefits and grievances. For example, the UAW is proposing a miserly $43,500 annual floor for doctoral student workers, whereas Columbia proposes that wage decisions be left up to academic departments. The GWC is also asking for an outside arbitrator to examine alleged cases of sexual harassment and discrimination. The administration had originally agreed to this, but has since reneged, claiming that it would not be legal under Title IX. For many of the outstanding issues, Columbia is claiming that they are academic issues rather than employment issues, and thus not subject to collective bargaining. Tellingly, according to the GWC website, Columbia has proposed a no-strike clause, to which the union has not replied or made a counter-offer. No doubt publicly accepting this is being kept for the end of negotiations. Anger is seething among educators internationally. Of particular note is the wildcat strike of graduate workers at the University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC), which spread across the University of California system. In New York City itself, Mayor Bill de Blasio agreed to close the citys public school systema necessary measure to slow down the coronavirus pandemicbelatedly only after teachers threatened job action. The role of the unions, and the UAW in particular, must be understood by graduate workers at Columbia. The powerful UC strike was only possible because graduate workers began breaking out of the straitjacket imposed by the UAW, of which they are also members. The UC grad students are striking to demand a significant cost-of-living wage increase because the contract signed by the UAW includes poverty wages that make it impossible to afford the skyrocketing rents in Santa Cruz and other California cities. The UAW is now attempting to wind down the strike in favor of an unfair labor practices strike in April, with the UAW accusing the UC administration of negotiating with the students directly, rather than with the union! At the same time, UC President Janet Napolitano, the former Secretary of Homeland Security under President Obama, has fired 82 striking grad students for the crime of breaking free for the slaves charter the UAW signed with the UC administration, which includes poverty wages and a no-strike pledge. The GWC, which often promotes other graduate unions on its Facebook and Twitter pages, was silent on the UC wildcat strike until recently, when it shared a union-sponsored petition asking the UC administration to bargain with the UAW there. Nothing exposes the role of the UAW more than its attempt to force autoworkers to remain in infected factories after several workers tested positive for COVID-19. Despite repeated demands from workers to close production, the UAW sided with management and insisted that workers keep pumping out profits for the corporations. Workers revolted, refusing to be killed on the line, and downed their tools in factories across Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and other states. At the Toledo, Ohio, Jeep plant workers angrily confronted UAW officials. The anti-worker nature of the union is also expressed in the UAW corruption scandal. Over a dozen leading UAW officials have been indicted or pleaded guilty in an expanding corruption scandal, where officials have been charged with or admitted to taking company bribes and misusing workers dues money for personal expenses. Two former UAW presidents, Gary Jones and Dennis Williams, are among those implicated. Columbia graduate workers can place no faith in this rotten organization, which is corrupt to the bone, whether or not a strike is ultimately called. The UAW has turned to organizing academic workers as its industrial membership collapsed through decades of plant closures aided and abetted at each turn by the UAW, with membership now below a third of its 1979 peak of 1.5 million workers. It is not just the UAW that no longer represents even minimally the interests of workers, however, but the trade unions as a whole, which are nationally limited, pro-capitalist and allied with the corporate-controlled Democratic Party. Another union which claims to represent graduate workers, the American Federation of Teachers, has also sold out other grad studentsincluding at the University of Illinois. The AFT and its counterpart, the National Education Association (NEA) have been instrumental in betraying the wave of teacher strikes over the last two years against social inequality and the austerity measures imposed by both the Democrats and Republicans. Grad students like all sections of workers need organizations to fight. That is why they must build rank-and-file committees to organize university workers and unite with all sections of the working class. The corporate and political establishment in the US has done nothing to seriously protect the population from the pandemic and instead hopes to use this crisis to funnel even more money into the stock markets and the bank accounts of the super-rich. That is why the fight to defend the most elementar conditions of grad students is bound up with a fight to unify all workers in the US and around the world to demand a program of action to fight the pandemic and its social and economic consequences. The author also recommends: How to fight the COVID-19 pandemic: A program of action for the working class [17 March 2020] The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has captured an amazing new photo of an unusual spiral galaxy called NGC 4618. NGC 4618 is a barred spiral galaxy located approximately 21 million light-years away in the constellation of Canes Venatici. Otherwise known as LEDA 42575 or UGC 7853, the galaxy has a diameter of about one third that of the Milky Way. NGC 4618 has the special distinction amongst other spiral galaxies of only having one arm rotating around the center of the galaxy. It was included in the Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies as one of three examples of nearby galaxies with single spiral arms. Together with its neighbor, NGC 4625, NGC 4618 forms an interacting galaxy pair, which means that the two galaxies are close enough to influence each other gravitationally. These interactions may result in the two (or more) galaxies merging together to form a new formation, such as a ring galaxy, Hubble astronomers said. NGC 4618 was discovered by the German-born British astronomer Wilhelm Herschel on April 9, 1787. Only a year before discovering NGC 4618, Herschel theorized that the foggy objects astronomers were seeing in the night sky were likely to be large star clusters located much further away then the individual stars he could easily discern, the researchers said. Since Herschel proposed his theory, astronomers have come to understand that what he was seeing was a galaxy. When he took office on Jan. 8, 2019, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, declared: I will only appoint judges who understand the proper role of the courts is to apply the law and Constitution as written, not to legislate from the bench. Does DeSantis believe hes also bound by the law? The answer appears to be no. On Monday, the governor will violate the state constitution. And its not a close question. In November, Justices Barbara Lagoa and Robert Luck, whom DeSantis appointed to the Florida Supreme Court, resigned to take seats on a federal appellate court. The governors office issued a letter to convene the courts judicial nominating commission, which vets applicants and sends a list of nominees to the governor, on Nov. 25. The JNC had 60 days from that date to send the governor a certified list of nominees. It did so on Jan. 23. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Florida Constitution tells us in Article V, Subsection 11(c), what comes next: The governor shall make the appointment within sixty days after the nominations have been certified to the governor. (Emphasis added.) We all know what shall means: The governor must appoint new justices by or on March 23. Yet DeSantis does not share that understanding of the simple word. As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, DeSantis declared a state of emergency on March 9. Last Thursday, the governor announced at a press conference that he was extending the deadline: I will most likely delay, under the state of emergency, that deadline, probably push it back to May 1. DeSantis claims that his time is better spent on the emergency, and that he hasnt had time to read the nominees writingsbut he has interviewed all of them. Advertisement Advertisement (This is not the only problem that has arisen in the appointment process. One of the nominees will not have satisfied the constitutional requirements for eligibility by March 23. A nominee cannot join the high court unless she has been a member of the Florida Bar for 10 years; this nominee will not satisfy that rule until September.) Advertisement Theres no denying that Florida is in a state of emergencyalthough the governor has come under criticism for his reluctance to invoke his emergency powers in ways that might more adequately address the current crisis. But lets be clear: DeSantis has absolutely no authority to postpone the appointments. In January, quoting Justice Antonin Scalias and Bryan Garners influential treatise, Reading Law, the Florida Supreme Court said it adhere[s] to the supremacy-of-text principle: The words of a governing text are of paramount concern, and what they convey, in their context, is what the text means. The citizens of Florida used the word shall in telling the governor by when he needs to make appointments. We meant what we said and said what we meant. We could have said something different. We didnt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have given the government more leeway in other provisions of the constitution dealing with emergencies. In Article VI, Subsection 5(a), we said: A general election may be suspended or delayed due to a state of emergency or impending emergency pursuant to general law. Next, in Article II, Section 2, we established that Tallahassee is the seat of government provided that, in time of invasion or grave emergency, the governor by proclamation may for the period of the emergency transfer the seat of government to another place. And in Article II, Section 6, we gave the Legislature the authority to ensure continuity of government operations [i]n periods of emergency resulting from enemy attack. In such a circumstance, the Legislature may adopt such other measures as may be necessary and appropriate and that, [i]n exercising these powers, the legislature may depart from other requirements of this constitution, but only to the extent necessary to meet the emergency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Luckily, Floridians who want the governor to comply with our constitution have the power to take action. The citizens of Florida know how to give the government flexibility in the event of an emergency. We did not give the governor any in the timing of judicial appointments. The plain language of the constitution proves the governors decision is unconstitutional. As the Supreme Court said in 1888: When a constitution directs how a thing shall be done, that is in effect a prohibition to its being done in any other way. In fact, there is a controlling Florida Supreme Court decision that explains why DeSantis must appoint new justices immediately. In 2009, the court decided Pleus v. Crist. A judge retired from one of our appellate courts, creating a vacancy there. The JNC for that court certified a list of nominees to the governor. ThenGov. Charlie Crist rejected the list, citing the need for greater diversity; he requested the JNC send him a new one, which it refused to do; and the governor failed to make the appointment by the deadline. In a unanimous opinion, the Supreme Court held the constitution required the governor to make the appointment within 60 days of certification. Advertisement Advertisement We conclude, the court wrote, that the Governor is bound by the Florida Constitution to appoint a nominee from the JNCs certified list, within sixty days of that certification. There is no exception to that mandate. Under a controlling state Supreme Court decision, then, DeSantis has no authority to postpone the two appointments to the court. Advertisement It doesnt matter that the governor has cited an emergency. In In re Advisory Opinion to the Governor, decided in 1942 during World War II, the governor asked the court whether the constitution allowed him to suspend certain public officials from office merely because they were absent as a result of national war service. The court said no. It wrote: Emergencies do not create power or authority; but emergencies may afford occasions for the exercise of powers already existing. This principle of law is peculiarly applicable to Executive powers and authority to meet great public emergencies and to conserve governmental efficiency and the welfare of the State. Implied power when not forbidden is as potent as power expressly conferred. Advertisement Luckily, Floridians who want the governor to comply with our constitution have the power to take action. Any Florida citizen and taxpayer can file a petition in the state Supreme Court to obtain an order forcing DeSantis to perform his indisputable legal duty to make the appointments by the deadline. Thats what happened in Pleus. Yes, Florida is in a state of emergency. The Florida Constitution still applies. It still matters. And it requires DeSantis to appoint two new justices to the Supreme Court of Florida on March 23. The clear and unambiguous language of the constitution contains no exceptions. So the question, governor, is this: Will you follow the Constitution as written? For more on the impact of the coronavirus, listen to Tuesdays episode of What Next. The Venice Commission, together with the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), published an opinion on draft amendments pertaining to political party regulation in Armenia. OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission welcome many of the proposals in the draft amendments which, if implemented adequately, can help to further political pluralism in line with international standards on political party regulation. At the same time, the draft amendments would benefit from certain revisions and improvements to ensure political party registration is not too burdensome, internal party processes are not overregulated and loopholes in political party funding are closed. In order to further improve the compliance of the draft amendments with international human rights standards and OSCE commitments, OSCE/ODIHR and Venice Commission make the following main recommendations: - To remove other overly burdensome requirements for founding and registering a political party and refrain from too detailed regulation of a political partys governing bodies and decision-making processes [paras 14ff]; - To ensure that all in-kind donations, including volunteer work for services which normally carry a reasonable expectation of payment, are counted as donations; [para 30] - To abolish the requirement of the workplace of a donor to be disclosed or published when making a donation [para 29]; - To separate promoting the political participation of certain groups from awareness raising about the goals and ideology of political parties [para 38]; - To develop a clear mechanism of oversight by the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption with a clear delineation of mandates and a detailed procedure and to ensure that sufficient staff and budget is allocated to the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption within its mandate of oversight of political party finance [paras 41ff]; - To amend the Law so that the term gross nature of the violation of the law reflects the gravity of the violation [para 49]. Throughout the mid-20th century, the S.H. Kress building in Downtown Albuquerque operated as one of many S.H. Kress & Co. department stores scattered across the country. But by the 1980s, the once-pristine building at 416 Central SW had begun to fall into disrepair. As of today, the building has been empty for many years, its trademark curved windows long since covered. Soon, the historic building will be getting a new chance at life, according to Victoria Van Dame, who has been acting as the propertys de facto manager since the buildings owner, Anna Muller, moved to California for health reasons. Van Dame, who prefers to call herself the buildings legacy caretaker, said she hopes to restore the building and create a gallery that draws in creatives across all fields visual, music, performance arts and the culinary arts. I really wanted to do a Dress the Kress campaign where we have local artists put different murals and different multimedia arts in there and turn it into an art gallery, she said. Working remotely with Mullers sister, Van Dame has started the process of renovating and cleaning out the properties owned by Muller. We need to revitalize and help her bring her lifes legacy back to fruition, she said. An occupational therapist by trade, Van Dame has been involved in the Downtown neighborhood since 2013 when she opened her nonprofit art gallery, OT Circus, using a model she hopes can be used at the Kress building. Van Dame describes OT Circus as an art gallery with an occupational therapy approach, which is to say it is an art gallery that takes great care to make accommodations for people of all abilities. For example, the gal that we just had a show for had narcolepsy and different modifications were made to her show so she would be able to participate in the actual show, Van Dame said. We try to get everybody the ability to have a show and support the arts. The accommodations made by OT Circus allow artists who may not be able to show their work in a more traditional art gallery the space to incorporate with the community. Thats along the same idea for what were going to do across the street by revitalizing Annas building, she said. Van Dame said she hopes the Kress building will follow the OT Circus model by making special accommodations for people of all abilities and being a space that can bring people together in the community. There is no set date for the Kress building to open to the public, but Van Dame hopes that the remodel will be finished by late summer. Renovations start at Monterey Motel Several years after the El Vado reopened following a complete renovation, its next-door neighbor, the Monterey Motel at 2402 Central SW, is preparing for a similar redesign. While the motel is currently in the demolition phase, developer Chad Rennaker said once it is completed, the motel will have more rooms and an additional building with hostel-like rooms that sleep multiple people. Like the El Vado, which Rennaker also revitalized, the Monterey Motel will be restored to resemble what it looked like when it was built in the 1930s. The rooms are going to be restored, and theyre going to be very nice and upgraded with everything, he said. Rennaker expects the project to be completed by June, and guests will be able to start renting rooms in July. The Monterey will have a pool and a bar once it opens. Were actually planning to convert the existing lobby at the motel into a cocktail lounge with outdoor seating, Rennaker said. Like El Vado, there will be another apartment building named after the motel. Its kind of a continuation of what we started at El Vado, he said. Rennaker said the overall plan is to continue improving that section of Central. Were optimistic about the future for that end of Central. Ultra Health exporting to Israel New Mexican cannabis company Ultra Health is the first American company to begin exporting cannabis-based medicine to Israel, according to a spokeswoman. The company began exports earlier this month through a partnership with Israeli pharmaceutical group Panaxai, Marissa Novel said. The medicine was created using hemp grown in Bernalillo County. We are grateful to the New Mexico Environment Department and the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, who had a key role in making all of this happen, Duke Rodriguez, CEO and president of Ultra Health, said in a statement. As schools across the country shut their doors to all but a select few pupils, parents across the UK are today facing the prospect of taking care of their children's educational needs themselves. Schools have been preparing homework packs or setting up ways of working online for their pupils, but the bulk of responsibility will fall on parents to home-school their children until educational establishments reopen at a later date. But how can parents best take care of their children's educational needs, especially for those who have not follows the school curriculum for decades? FEMAIL has spoken to educational experts to find out how best to continue your child's education from home. Education experts are giving their best tips on how to best help children with their home-work while schools are shut (stock image) OLDER CHILDREN - AGED 15-19 Tutor House founder Alex Dyer said parents will have to adapt to their children's curriculum depending on their age groups, and that it might be easier to help an older child than a young. Alex explained that parents of older children only had to worry about a few topics, due to the demands of their children's A-level exams. Exams have been cancelled, and students will be given a grade based on what their teachers estimate they would have achieved. However, anyone who disagrees with the grades they're given will have the option to sit exams later in the year, meaning it's still important to keep revising and preparing for exams. Three Easy Tips Elise Verges, an English teacher currently on lockdown in Paris, said to utilise the exercises that have already been done in class and redo them at home to strengthen your child's understanding and knowledge of one subject. She gave three recommendations: - to write down the exercise instead of using a computer to limit screentime - not to stick to one type of exercise but alternate between video to reading to working on memorising, - to keep track of your progress with a diary to give the parent and the child a sense of achievement. Advertisement 'I think if kids are older, it's going to be easier for parents because although materials are harder, they are only going to be doing two or three subjects by the time they get to A-level. For older kids there are hundreds of past paper examples questions and answers that parents can get online pretty easily. The good things is they're accompanied with answers so you can work through those and parents can understand the logic to them. 'If they're about 15 to 19 for GCSE and A-levels, past papers and mark schemes would definitely be the best option, because even if the parent is not 100 percent sure on the subject, they can be a step ahead by having the answers,' he explained. 'The answers are explained in detail in the mark scheme so you can get your head around those,' he added. He also explained that there existed some tutoring programmes for parents in order to teach them what they and they're kids need to know while preparing for an exam, and how the exam is structured. He said this was more efficient than going through the teen's textbook, which could be 'a long, painful process,' for both parents and child. 'We do guidance for that, we have a group session where we tell the parent: "this is how you would actually go about explaining this topic to your child",' he went on. Working through notes taken in class is also important, Alex said, although perhaps not the most favourable for busy parents working from home. What is happening to exams? The government has announced that grades for GCSEs and AS and A-level exams would be dispensed in July depending on data, prior grades and personal assessment. 'The exam regulator, Ofqual, and exam boards will work with teachers to provide grades to students whose exams have been cancelled this summer, following our actions to slow the spread of coronavirus,' read a statement on the government's website. 'This years summer exam series, including A levels, GCSEs and other qualifications, and all primary assessments, have been cancelled as we fight to stop the spread of coronavirus. However, due to the fact some students will be looking to continue on with their studies without having to retake a year, measures will me taken to grade the students who are currently unable to sit their exams. 'There will also be an option to sit an exam early in the next academic year for students who wish to. Ofqual will develop and set out a process that will provide a calculated grade to each student which reflects their performance as fairly as possible, and will work with the exam boards to ensure this is consistently applied for all students. 'The exam boards will be asking teachers, who know their students well, to submit their judgement about the grade that they believe the student would have received if exams had gone ahead.' 'The aim is to provide these calculated grades to students before the end of July. In terms of a permanent record, the grades will be indistinguishable from those provided in other years,' the statement read. Advertisement 'You hope that older kids have got enough material from school to work through,' he said. 'Always try to avoid that, because even the textbook is not always clear cut, so it can be confusing for parents,' he explained. Younger Kids - Age seven - 15 When it comes to younger children, the tasks is made easy by the fact that everyone is working off the same curriculum, which is available online, and that plenty of resources are available. 'Everyone's on the same playing field with the national curriculum,' he said, However, the main challenge for parents would be to know a little bit about every subject. For that reason, Alex advised to focus on the three core subjects: English, Maths, Science. 'They're the common topics from age seven to 15 or 16, and they are the compulsory exams that they will have to sit during GCSEs and those are the ones that count towards university down the line,' he said. 'And they're easiest ones to teach because there is so much material on those three. It could be interesting as well for the parents, who might want to pick something that is going to be easy for them: science would be a good one, because you can apply it to daily life.' 'One of the key things for parents with younger kids is to give them lots of breaks - every 40 minutes.' 'Keeping a time table together would be one of the most beneficial things,' he added. Online classes for all ages There are plenty of online tutoring platforms that can help parents juggling child-minding and their own workload. 'There quite a few sites that are designed for teachers to download and understand their content, and they are made in a very simplistic, superficial way, which is quite nice for parents,' Alex said. Alex said that for parents that have to work from home and help their children with homework, services like Tutor House offer online classes of ten students per teacher. UK country manager of interactive learning platform and app, Quizlet, Rahim Hirji agreed that there are plenty of digital facilities for children to follow, such as online classes. 'You are not alone, through connected technology, a lot of teachers will be sharing lessons out through Google Classroom, Remind or another connected platform,' he said. 'We also recommend setting up a class on Quizlet, which is free and helps you keep both content and students organised in one spot.' How to teach your child without training When it comes to acting as a teacher to your own child, Alex advised to detach yourself and pretend you're teaching a child you don't know. 'Let them work through a lot of things. Once you give them a bit of power over it and let them almost teach you, that's when you know they know a topic,' he said. Because there are only a few months left in the rest of the school year, Alex advised to treat this time as a revision course. 'They've already been through a huge amount this year, parents can treat this period as a revision course,' he said. He added that if parents do get stumped, a quick google search could help them to catch up about vert specific area. The three crop rule has been relaxed following extreme weather and flooding across England, the government has announced today. Defra has announcing new measures on Friday (20 March) to help farmers recover from recent flooding. Defra Secretary George Eustice has confirmed today that the government intends to relax the crop diversification requirements known as the three crop rule for farmers for 2020. It comes as farmers in flooded areas have suggested they will have difficulty complying with the rule this year. The three crop rule was brought over from EU law when the UK left the EU on 31 January, and requires farmers managing more than 30 hectares of arable land required to grow at least three different crops on that land. Farmers with smaller land-holdings are also subject to crop diversification requirements. NFU President Minette Batters welcomed the measures. She said: This derogation will make a huge difference to the thousands of farmers in England who have faced months of relentless heavy rain, waterlogging and flooding of fields leaving them unable to plant and establish crops for 2020. The unprecedented situation has meant farmers up and down the country have found it virtually impossible to have one crop in the ground, let alone three. "Without a derogation they would have been forced down the bureaucratic force majeure route that would require case by case assessments and needless paperwork." The government has also announced a 6 million pot of funding to help farmers recover from flooding in February. It will provided through a further extension to the Farming Recovery Fund. Support will be available for farmers affected by recent flooding in parts of East and North Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire and Herefordshire. Mr Eustice said: The Three Crop Rule is not practical in extreme weather events when farmers need to plan their spring cropping. "Applying a blanket derogation for this year is the best way to reduce bureaucracy and leave farmers free to get on with farming." He added: Im also aware that the spread of the coronavirus is causing other difficulties for the farming community. "The Rural Payments Agency is working to ensure farmers have access to all the guidance they need and we are exploring all options to ensure the right support is available in the coming weeks and months, Mr Eustice said. Under the Farming Recovery Fund, affected farmers in eligible areas can claim for grants between 500 and 25,000 to cover a number of uninsurable repair costs. These could include the re-cultivation of farmland, including re-seeding, replanting cover crops and alleviating soil compaction. The fund was opened to support the recovery from the June and July 2019 floods in North Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. It was then extended to cover the further flooding in parts of South Yorkshire, Gloucestershire and the Midlands in November 2019. Todays announcement brings the total funding up to 10 million. HALIFAXA day after Nova Scotias premier declared a state of emergency to ramp up efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19, health officials announced that another 13 confirmed cases had been identified. That means Nova Scotia now has 41 confirmed cases, all of them either travel-related or among family members connected to earlier cases and one person remains in hospital. Provincial health officials say there has been no spread of the novel coronavirus beyond this group. On the weekend, Premier Stephen McNeil said his government would impose new restrictions on the provinces population in response to reports that thousands of people were continuing to gather in public places, blatantly ignoring requirements for social distancing. Images shared on social media showed hundreds of vehicles parked near popular beaches and parks, where people were spotted strolling in the sunshine, many of them standing closer together than the recommended two-metre limit. We are dealing with a deadly virus and this behaviour is unacceptable, McNeil said Sunday. We cannot allow a small percentage who choose to do as they wish in our province to put at risk the health of the rest of us. Under Nova Scotias Health Protection Act, people are now prohibited from gathering in groups larger than five. Individuals caught violating the limit face a $1,000 fine, and businesses face a $7,500 fine. All of Nova Scotias provincial parks are now closed, as are all municipal parks, beaches, trails, playgrounds and sports facilities. Businesses like gas stations, grocery stores, pharmacies, construction sites and health-care services are exempt. As well, anyone entering Nova Scotia as of Monday will have to self-isolate for 14 days, though there are exceptions for people who provide essential services. The new measures include vehicle checks at the New Brunswick border. McNeil said its OK to go outside, but walks should be to exercise not to socialize. Nova Scotia is the latest province to impose a state of emergency. Provincial health officials reported seven new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday. Newfoundland and Labrador reported 15 new presumptive positive cases on Monday, bringing the provincial total to four confirmed cases and 20 presumptive. As is the case in Nova Scotia, anyone entering Newfoundland and Labrador must self-isolate for 14 days. Premier Dwight Ball said the province is at a critical point, while urging Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to stay home unless it was absolutely necessary to go out. Meanwhile, Newfoundland and Labradors Liberal party has suspended its leadership race until at least May 1, when it will decide how to proceed with online or phone voting. Ball announced his plan to step down last month and the party was set to choose a new leader at a convention in May. In Prince Edward Island, chief medical officer Dr. Heather Morrison confirmed the number of cases on the Island remained unchanged at three, all of whom were in good condition. The third case was reported Sunday a woman in her 20s who had travelled to Spain and returned to the Island last week. Despite the small number of infected Islanders, Morrison said it was clear that some people remain confused about the rules surrounding social distancing and self-isolation. They are terms that are new to all of us, she told a news conference in Charlottetown. Though there hasnt been any evidence of community transmission, Morrison asked parents of teens to take a direct approach to informing them about the rules, which include staying at home and keeping others at least two metres away during social interactions. Teenagers may not be taking social distancing guidelines seriously, she said. Going over to a friends house for coffee is not social distancing. Morrison said her mother did not attend her grandsons recent birthday because we wanted to try to protect her. It was hard for her and it was hard for my son, she said. There were no new COVID-19 cases reported in New Brunswick on Sunday. The province has 17 cases eight confirmed and nine presumptive. As of Monday, the New Brunswick government has opened a new phone line to allow people to report those who are not complying with state of emergency orders. Read more about: A Vietnamese woman returning from Thailand is Vietnam's latest Covid-19 patient, taking the national tally to 122 infections. "Patient 122" is a 24-year-old woman from the central province of Ha Tinh. Her swab samples were confirmed positive at the Da Nang Center for Disease Control, the Health Ministry announced Monday evening. The woman worked as a bartender in Bangkok and had come into contact with many people without a face mask on. On March 17, she went to another bar in Bangkok to meet a friend. Three days later, she boarded Thai Airways flight TG947 from the Suvarnabhumi International Airport and landed March 20 in Da Nang City. She was quarantined on arrival by the Da Nang Center for Disease Control at the city's Center for National Defense Education. A friend of "Patient 122" is currently quarantined in Ha Tinh Provinces Huong Son District. Da Nang has recorded five Covid-19 cases so far, two of them Vietnamese, including "Patient 122", and the other three foreigners. On Monday alone, Vietnam has confirmed nine coronavirus infections, including "patient 122". The country has recorded 105 new cases since March 6, with 104 still under treatment and one recovered last week. Of the active cases, 12 have tested negative either once or twice. Many of the active cases are Vietnamese nationals returning from Europe and the U.S. and foreigners visiting from the same regions. Starting Sunday, in an unprecedented move, Vietnam suspended entry for all foreign nationals, including those of Vietnamese origin and family members with visa waivers. The Covid-19 pandemic has killed over 14,700 people globally, spreading to 192 countries and territories thus far. So-called humanitarian flights are bringing back overseas Vietnamese from Europe as the continent has become the new epicentre of the global health crisis. Vietnamese flock home to avoid worst of outbreak Along with many Vietnamese, a lot of European people tried their luck at the check-in counter at Frankfurt Airport. They had booked tickets with Vietnam Airlines but were ultimately denied because these flights were only meant for those who held Vietnamese passports. Among thousands of people at the airport, many disappointed eyes could be spotted. A young couple said that they wanted to go anywhere as long as it is not Europe. I have never thought that there would be a day like this, said Nguyen Duy, one of people present on the last flight. In addition to coming from Germany, passengers came from the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. They were all afraid of the measures that have been promoted in Europe as well as differing views on the use of face masks. On March 16, Vietnam Airlines four flights containing 180 Vietnamese people from Europe landed back in their home country. One day later, the EU officially closed the borders and halted all flights to and within Europe. One traveller shared that arriving back in Vietnam was the most important thing right now. When the flight landed, everybody sighed with relief. For us, returning to Vietnam is more vital than being infected or not, Duy said. Vo Thanh Nhu Anh, a student in the UK who returned to Vietnam last week was isolating in Ho Chi Minh City said, I came back to Vietnam to avoid the virus. I dont know when I will return to the United Kingdom but I will not go before the epidemic is controlled. While South Korea and Japan seem to have slowly gotten things under control, European countries were seen to be a little too optimistic. In France, the situation did not stop people from trying to achieve a Guinness World Record on March 7. Some 3,500 people dressed up as smurfs and gathered in the town of Landerneau. Their goal was to set a record for the largest-ever gathering of the blue Belgian comic characters. Since then, France has seen over 12,000 infected cases and around 450 deaths, with the city now being forced into a lockdown situation. Europe has become the new epicentre with increasing numbers of infected people, and Italy surpassing China in the number of deaths. More cases are now being reported every day, with the numbers even higher than in China at the peak of the outbreak, World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a recent conference in Geneva. Right after China, Italy has recorded the most cases with more than 47,000 infections, followed by Iran, Spain, Germany, and the US. In recent days, most of the overseas Vietnamese in Europe have been on edge as it is becoming harder to protect oneself from the COVID-19 epidemic. Wendy Nam Phuong, an overseas student in the UK told VIR, Its tough right now. I have to juggle between anxious calls from home about my health and going to university where everything goes on as usual. Whatever I try to do to protect myself, it doesnt seem to be enough for my family at home, yet it looks overdramatic for me as a student in the UK. She explained that for her as a Vietnamese, it is perfectly normal to wear a face mask in public, especially now during the outbreak. Furthermore, large gatherings or schools are cancelled in Vietnam and many other parts of Asia. If people in her home country catch the virus, they will be quarantined immediately and treated at specialised hospitals. As a student living in the UK, Ive been advised against wearing masks and to continue with social meetups and school as long as I wash my hands regularly. If I catch the virus, Ill need to call the hotline and self-isolate at home. Its unlikely for me to get into hospitals because priority is given to more vulnerable residents. Ngoc Anh Lukas, a Vietnamese student who chose to stay in France, told VIR that most of the Vietnamese students in France returned to their homeland to avoid the health crisis. Meanwhile, according to Lukas, Vietnamese with jobs and families in France are not going back to Vietnam because they are afraid of crowded places such as airlines. Instead of going back to their country as they wish, staying in France seems to be the only option for them to continue their career and protect their families. Lukas added. VIR Hara Anh Expat students should carefully consider before returning home: ministry The Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) has recommended Vietnamese students abroad consider carefully before returning to Vietnam due to the risks of spreading COVID-19 and travel restrictions imposed by many countries. The management of the great plague of 1896-1921, during which over ten million Indians died, helps understand the gargantuan challenge ahead. Early in March, 1898, plague inspectors moved into the Muslim weavers quarter in Mumbais Byculla, lining up suspected patients for examinationat gunpoint. Like had occurred so often, the father of a young girl refused to allow the male doctors to search his child for signs of infection. Faced with a growing, angry mob, the police opened fire; many local residents were killed. Europeans across the area came under attack, and soldiers, armed with cannon, had to be called out to seal the streets. Even as Indias police leadership sifts through the lessons of Sundays Janata Curfew, there are disturbing signs securing public compliance coronavirus lockdowns wont be easy. Large crowds gathered in cities from Indore to Ahmedabad and Chennai, some even dancing in the streets, evidently confusing the coronavirus shutdown with an unscheduled festival holiday. Police forces across India have aregrettablyrich body of experience in enforcing curfews, but theres simply no template for an orderly nationwide lockdown. The management of the great plague of 1896-1921, during which over ten million Indians died, helps understand the gargantuan challenge ahead. Acacio Gabriel Viegas first house call on the morning of 18 September, 1896, had been to a middle-aged woman in Mumbais Vor Gaddi, running a fever. The woman, the Goa-born, Mumbai-educated doctor recorded, was delirious; a lymph node in her groin was enlarged. Later that day, visiting a boy with similar symptoms, Viegas then learned that more than 50 South Mumbai residents had been claimed by the strange illness over the past month. In the godowns of Mandovi, rats were crawling outand dying. That evening, under the microscope in his laboratory, Viegas saw evidence that left no doubt about the killer: the bipolar stain identifying the bacillus as yersinia pestis. A long, grim battle with the plague had begun. Policing also faced its first test. Tens of thousands of Mumbai workers claimed their back-pay and headed home. Large numbers of merchants left, too, travelling by sea or rail. Inside three months, the plague had hit Karachi and Punecarried by the refugees. Indeed, historian Aditya Sarkar has recorded, half the city emptied in the wake of the plague. Early in 1897, the whole of the Konkan, Kathiwar and Kutch in Gujarat and urban centres in Sindh were recording fatalities. The disease soon spread north, ravaging Punjab. Click here for Coronavirus Outbreak LIVE Updates To make things worse, a drought-hit southern Maharashtra in late 1896, leading to a flood of agricultural workers back into Mumbai. Health authorities estimated that between 250,000-300,000 immigrants came to the city in April, May and June, 1897, alone. Authorities responded by screening travellerscausing, historian Natasha Sarkars magisterial work shows, sharp tensions with the community. In 1898, inspections of train passengers for plague became a fraught racial issue. Indian women were forced to lift their sarees off their upper bodies on railway platforms, to check for plague buboes; Europeans were not. Indians wearing dhotis, in particular, were singled out for inspections. Plague germs can penetrate the celestial dress, one Indian writer sardonically observed in 1899, but the plague measures cannot. When you travel, do not fail to put on pantaloons, a short coat, and a hat or a night cap; have a cheroot in your mouth and a copy of the Bombay Times or the Lahore Gazette in your hand. Even Indian elites, though, suffered: coming home from a vacation in Matheran, justice Badruddin Tyabji was held at Mumbai for examination, but his European subordinate was allowed to go home. Tyabji even complained about the treatment of his daughters by plague on a Baroda-Mumbai train. Like in 1896, containing large-scale population flows will prove a real challenge: Even though the government has moved to restrict trains, millions of rural workers now trapped in cities will seek alternate routes home, especially in the case incomes are severely hit by prolonged lockdowns. Immiserated peasants, in turn, are likely to throng cities, hoping for livelihoods and access to basic medical services. Today, as then, law-enforcement needs plans to deal with this crisisand this is just a small part of the problem. Largescale isolation of the ill, and the sealing off of badly-affected areas, precipitated some of the sharpest conflicts of 1896 onwards. In August 1897, the Plague Committee began removing entire neighbourhoods from their homes. Their homes were then disinfected, in military-style operations: We treated houses practically as if they were on fire, one official recorded, discharging into them from steam engines and flushing pumps quantities of water charged with disinfectants. Plague-infested villages were also cordoned off or evacuated, and the entire site disinfected. Local residents were given just 48 hours to evacuate their homes and allowed to carry food for two months. Inside the segregation camps, inmates were provided rations; one member of each family was allowed to go out and work, on condition they returned by nightfall. The camps sought to respect existing caste and religious distinctions: in Punjabs Khattar Kalan, Brahmins, Jats and Darzis occupied one camp; Dalits a second; Muslims a third. The segregation camps solved one plan administrators will face should the pandemic drag out: securing incomes for affected communities. But segregation only succeeded because of the largescale use of coercive power and engendered hatred of the State. From the outset, the segregation of patients into hospitals was also contested by communities. Part of the reason was caste: hospitals, historian David Hardiman has noted, were to many Indians, places of pollution, contaminated by blood and faeces, inimical to caste, religion and purdah. Even though caste-specific hospitals soon sprang up, complaints were rife: the Kesari of 6 April, 1897, told the story of a Brahmin patient who lived on milk in the hospital because his food had been polluted by a Shudras touch. There were other problems, too, however: families were unused to long periods of separation from their loved ones in isolation wards, and high rates of death in hospitals sparked off rumours patients were being deliberately killed. In February, 1987, the Poona Vaibhar reported rumours that the Sarkar, finding its subjects unmanageable, is devising ways to reduce their number. Local residents, it claimed, think hospitals are under the management of new doctors who put poison in medicine. In one 1987 episode, medical staff at Mumbais Arthur Road Hospital were attacked to free patients held in plague wardsthough, oddly, the violence terminated when factory sirens sounded to signal the end of the lunch hour, and workers went back to their jobs at the mills. Through the plague years, though, such violence became commonplace. In 1896, Mumbai mill-workers rioted after Plague Committee staff sought to move local women to the hospital. Five years later, in April, 1901, riots broke out in Sialkots Shahzada village, forcing authorities to use force. In Shahjahanpur, near Lucknow, a local official shot a doctor, his assistant, police officials and then himselfkilling 12 to protest the shame of purdah being violated. Like in other times of catastrophic upheaval, the endemic social conflict eventually emerged as a threat to political order itself. In Gujarats Khera district, wandering religious preachers even proclaimed that the British Empire had collapsed south of the Mahi riverthe plague line. Locals rose up in revolt, to chose a new ruler, leading to bloodshed when police intervened. Plague riots broke out in the Punjab, Mysore and Calcutta; the colonial officials WC Rand and CE Ayerst were assassinated in Mumbai by early Hindu nationalists. For anyone familiar with the state of the Indian police, theres little reason to be sanguine about the prospects of Indias law enforcement containing largescale tensions, of the kind engendered in 1896. India should have 192 police officers per 100,000 populationwell below the United Nations-mandated norm of 250:100,000. But Bureau of Police Research and Development statistics India actually has 150.80 police officers per 100,000 population, below the sanctioned level even for 2007. The implosion of the Haryana Police along caste lines in 2016, searingly documented in former Director-General of Police Prakash Singhs official investigation; the failure of intelligence services and police to contain violence after the arrest of Ram Rahim Singh; the near-collapse of the State across southern Kashmir in 2018: together, they show the law-enforcement system on which the Indian Republic rests is at breaking point. Even though the central police forces and Indian Army can provide backup to police forces, experience in communal and caste riots has taught administrators that they lack the granular local knowledge needed to contain complex social tensions. To do this effectively, police, leaders need to begin granular planning for the worst case: to anticipate exactly how neighbourhoods and entire cities will be locked down; population movements restricted; hospitals and medical staff protected; provision of supplies and food conducted in an orderly manner. For most citizens, the frontlines of the war against the coronavirus are manned by medical personnel, public health workers and sanitation services are on the front. That frontline could crumble, though, unless it has a robust backbone. [March 23, 2020] Edelweiss General Insurance Health Policy Covers Treatment For COVID-19 MUMBAI, March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Coronavirus infection has impacted thousands of people worldwide. For those impacted, the stress goes beyond health and involves high medical costs, loss of pay (in some case) and associated financial stress. It is important for people to be aware that if they have a regular health insurance plan from any insurer paying for medical costs either through a cashless facility or reimbursement, all illnesses including Covid-19 are covered. Further in view of serious challenges by this pandemic for customers, Edelweiss General Insurance has taken the following steps for its customers: As mentioned above, the Edelweiss Health Insurance policy covers COVID-19. However, they have decided to cover hospitalization for not only those who have a confirmed diagnosis but also those who have been quarantined in specific facilities identified by the government. The coverage amount is up to the sum insured under the policy Further for quarantined patients, the health policy ensures coverage for the entire period of quarantine with upto 100% of the claim amount being paid against quarantine and detection charges In case any patient is in a remote location and is unable to reach the hospital during the quarantine period, Edelweiss Health Insurance will support domiciliary hospitalisation for the patient. Patients can visit any nearby hospital for immediate treatment and expenses will be reimbursed. In case of cashless benefits, patients are requested to visit EGI's Network hospital with their TPA card for any medical assistance To be able to support customers in this extraordinary situation, EGI has sought and received approval from IRDAI, allowing waiver of the initial waiting period of 30 days post policy inception, for the first time, for COVID-19 virus coverage. This approval will be applicable, both for Edelweiss Health Insurance and Edelweiss Group Health Insurance policies, till such time that the virus is declared as abated by the Government and/ or WHO. Edelweiss General Insurance also has an innovative and modular product structure with their Group Total Protect, under which they can customize solutions to provide cover against a wide range of illnesses including pandemics and vector borne diseases, at affordable costs. Any employer or other existing groups can customize this for their employees, customers or members using the following features: Seection of Sum Insured Reimbursement of costs (upto the sum insured) incurred in India or worldwide (depending on the cover selected) towards diagnostic testing, pharmacy and consultation for the illnesses including expenses incurred towards Corona virus treatments Fixed amount of Hospital Daily Cash which could be used to cover their expenses from day one up to a maximum of 30 days. A benefit package providing Rs. 25,000/- of Accident cover, Rs. 2000 per day of hospitalization up to a maximum of 15 days and out-patient expenses of Rs. 10,000/- can be purchased anywhere between Rs.50/- and Rs.100/- per person per year. The benefits and amounts can be customized to the specific needs of the group. Speaking on the development, Shanai Ghosh, CEO, Edelweiss General Insurance, said, "I urge people to be aware of risks and stay safe in this current environment. Hygiene and social distancing are first lines of defence for everybody to safeguard themselves from COVID-19. In an unfortunate situation of being detected and testing positive, or suspected and quarantined in a facility specified by the government, we have ensured that at least the cost burden is eased for our customers. And with our Group Total Protect policy, we can provide basic accident and health cover for a variety of infectious diseases including Coronavirus at an affordable cost." Edelweiss General Insurance has one of the most innovative products in the health segment, offering unique services like zero deposit admissions, zero-minute discharges and emergency assistance services. This is in line with the Company's emphasis on being accessible and relevant to customers aligned to their evolving needs. About Edelweiss General Insurance Edelweiss General Insurance (EGI) is the first cloud native insurer, which started its operations in February 2018, with a digital operating platform and a clear intent and focus to transform customer experience in its category of play. It is also the first insurer to implement the entire SAP insurance suite in India, creating an integrated, robust, scalable and microservices-based, API driven architecture. The company aims to create simple, yet compelling products accompanied with meaningful services that offer contextual value to the customer. Consumer insight driven strategy coupled with technology-powered execution engine allows them to differentiate themselves in a competitive market. The company is exploring new-age paradigms like design thinking and gamification and exponential technologies like AI/ML, Big data analytics to create new products and experiences making the customer journey simpler, faster and more transparent. The company was recently awarded 'Insurtech Company of the Year' at the India Insurance awards 2020. For further information, please contact: Aruna Balkrishna Singh VP Group Corporate Communications +91-(0)9819654138 [email protected] Renuka Bhide AVP Group Corporate Communications +91-(0)9819553192 [email protected] Edelweiss General Insurance - Social Media Handles: Twitter: @EdelweissGI Facebook: EdelweissGeneralInsurance LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/company/edelweiss-general-insurance/ Edelweiss Financial Services - Social Media Handles: Twitter: @EdelweissFin Facebook: edelweissfinancialservicesltd LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/company/edelweissfin [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The family blooper video of two little kids prancing into the room where their father, a defense analyst, was giving a video interview to the BBC that was telecast across the world, just as his wife rushed in behind them and dragged them out, became quite a laugh riot on social media. The intrusions were quickly forgiven, even gushed at. Indian mutual fund managers find themselves in a similar spot these days, as they settle down in their homes to manage your mutual fund schemes, amid their kids also adjusting to lives without schools and colleges. The global Coronavirus outbreak that has led to more than 3 lakh people being infected around the world and caused the deaths of over 10,000 people has wreaked havoc with peoples lives, livelihoods, global economies and financial markets. The BSE Sensex saw three of the biggest falls in its history in the month of March itself. The BSE Sensex finished at 28,288 on March 19, down from a high of 41,945 on January 17 earlier this year. Looking for bargains Sitting on the fence for a while now due to rich valuations, fund managers are slowly going shopping. Some Indian firms have been quick to cash in on the loss of business in China. Nimesh Chandan, Head of investments-Equity at Canara Robeco Asset Management Co (AMC) says that companies that manufacture electronics, specialty chemicals and mobile phones locally would benefit. With factories shut in China at the moment, production is likely to shift to India, says Nimesh. Hotels and travel & tourism are the worst affected and Nimesh say that some of these companies might end up with operational losses, made worse by loans to repay. Nimesh also went shopping for companies that benefitted from the recent sharp fall in crude oil prices such as paint manufacturers. Mrinal Singh, Deputy Chief Investment Officer (CIO)-Equity of ICICI Prudential AMC has taken a somewhat different approach. Mrinal says that his fund house bought state-owned companies in utility and commodities sectors, along with domestic businesses with attractive valuations, including select pharmaceutical firms. Mrinal believes that after the deadly virus outbreak, some Indian pharmaceutical companies are better-placed for franchising should a Coronavirus vaccine get tested internationally and be brought to India; also their capability for mass producing high-quality generics will put keep in good stead with global healthcare requirements. He is already looking at a recovery in China the birthplace of Coronavirus and has bought a few metal stocks. Already, China is showing signs of getting the outbreak under control. When the virus globally comes under control, China has a good chance to be among the first economies to recover. Metal stocks may do well, says Mrinal. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show Some such as Akash Singhania of Motilal Oswal AMC do not feel that there is a need to shuffle the holdings in the portfolio that much these days, as its better to wait till the volatility reduces. He adds, Markets are very fluid and its impossible to give a near-term outlook. Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley have declared that Coronavirus has triggered a global recession. A March 19 BofA Global Research note mentions that there is a possibility of COVID-19 causing a global recession in 2020 of similar magnitude of the recessions of 1982 and 2009. It forecasts annual GDP growth to be just 0.3 per cent. Among the big-three economies, the US and the Euro area will see negative growth, while Chinese growth is expected to come in at a paltry 1.5 per cent, the report says. Back home, CRISIL has cut Indias annual GDP growth rate for the fiscal year 2021 to 5.2 percent, from 5.7 percent projected earlier. CRISIL says that this number might even go down further. Fund managers grounded As India heads for a potentially longer breakdown similar to the one witnessed on Sunday fund managers are increasingly forced to work from their homes. A large fund house, whose officials werent willing to be quoted for this story, said that it has split its teams into two. Half the team worked at home for a week, while the other half went to office last week. Teams are split in such a way that there is enough physical gap between any two working people. While most fund managers and analysts have shifted to working from home entirely, some dealers went to offices last week. While fund managers and analysts can work from remote locations, dealers (fund officials who are in charge of placing buy and sell order of stocks) have to communicate with their panel of brokers (external brokerages who connect with stock exchanges to execute the trades) for their daily transactions. Many dealers of fund houses use Bloomberg terminals to connect with their brokers online and place their orders. A fund manager who did not want to be quoted said that his fund house has Bloomberg applications installed on a dealers laptop to be able to transact even from their own homes, if the need arises. Another CIO of a small-sized fund house says that while his fund house uses a Bloomberg terminal in office to place orders, it sends emails to their brokers these days when working from home. Zoom and Skype are my best friends these days, says Lakshmi Iyer, CIO-Debt and head of the products team at Kotak Mahindra AMC. Lakshmi says that for the past two days, even her fund houses fixed income dealers have been working from home. Armed with a specialised phone with a recording device, the dealers take requests from their fund managers over a messenger service (also recorded and archived) and then call up their brokers over these phones. Conversations, obviously, are recorded, especially when it comes to buying and selling debt securities since such securities are bought and sold over telephones. Global fears cast a dark cloud Perhaps a glimmer of hope behind the Indian equity markets crash is the fact that foreigners (FIIs-foreign institutional investors)) are selling due to worries back home, more than India-related concerns. In March so far, foreigners have sold equities worth around Rs 36,539 crore and fixed income securities of around Rs 37,888 crore. In the whole of 2018, foreign institutional investors had sold equities (net sales) worth Rs 34,575 crore. Gopal Agarwal, Head of Macro Strategy and Senior Fund Manager at DSP mutual fund says that because of corporations in the US facing stress on account of closures or slowdowns due to the spread of Coronavirus, FIIs have been selling in emerging markets such as India and taking the money back. There is relentless pressure in the bond market as well; this is a liquidity crisis. Its got nothing to do with the fundamentals of corporates here in India, he says. Meanwhile, as investors, dont panic. Continue your SIPs, dont withdraw in panic and make sure you invest proportionately in equity, fixed income and a little bit in gold to ensure your asset allocation is in place. Indian telecom service providers have seen a 10 per cent surge in overall traffic, driven largely by the near lock down that has forced people to as the country in battles Covid-19, and strives to contain the spread of the The demand for data dongles has also doubled during the past few days and many retailers are asking for a week's time to replenish their stocks. on Monday asked Vodafone Idea, Infocomm, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd join hands and pave the way for intra-circle roaming (ICR) pacts to ensure uninterrupted mobile and wireless internet services amid the surge in data consumption. In a letter to all the companies, said the world was witnessing an unprecedented situation and all efforts were being made on the ground by the government to contain the spread of Covid-19. Broadcasting and OTT (over-the-top) companies are enjoying a bonanza with both, the number of viewers and new subscribers surging on their platforms. There has been a clear spike in viewership across several over-the-top (OTT) platforms in the past few days. Most platforms have had a 20 per cent rise in viewership, especially in metros like Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. Now, people have more time to spend watching video content online. The usual watch time in the mornings used to be while travelling, and therefore on phones. Now, we are witnessing a surge in content being watched on television, said a senior official of an Indian OTT platform. Zee5, for example, has seen a significant jump in the consumption on connected devices, its spokesperson said. But the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has asked the Centre to instruct the over-the-top (OTT) players such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Zee5 to ease the pressure that has arisen on network infrastructure from the increased demand for online video streaming. Why has demand surged? It is because of the lock down, more people working from home, more digital payments, more healthcare and education services moving online, and quarantine measures. The has urged companies to take urgent steps. One is temporarily switching from high definition to standard definition streaming. Another is removing advertisements and pop ups that consume high bandwidth and replacing them with public announcements on awareness about the Rajan S Mathews, director general of the Cellular Operators Association of India, said feedback from its telecom members indicated a 10 per cent increase in traffic, but rejected fears of choked networks. Well, Telcos currently use 65-70 per cent of the network capacity. In other words, they have enough additional capacity to handle the new pressure without clogging the system, Mathews said. Demand has fallen sharply in the central business districts because offices are closed. So there is no sudden surge in demand during peak times, which can consume 90-95 per cent of the network capacity. As a result, demand is much more uniform across the city with no sudden pressure on the network. Now, how telecoms are responding to the demand and encouraging more people to has just introduced a new tariff package for top-ups, offering double the amount of capacity at the same price. So those going for a Rs 21 top-up will now get 2GB, instead of 1GB, with 200 minutes of off-net calls. State-run telecom firm BSNL on Friday announced free broadband service for its landline and new customers for a month to support 'work from home' allowed by most organisations amid the coronavirus outbreak. ACT Fibernet too came up with a plan that offers unlimited data at a speed of 300Mbps until March 31, 2020. Following the trend, also introduced a work from the home plan at Rs 251 for all its users who are working from home.The Reliance Jio plan at Rs 251 offers 2GB data every day and it is valid for 51 days. However, the plan solely provides internet benefits and doesnt include any calling or SMS benefits. Jios rival has seen a spike in its home broadband customers. Airtel home broadband customers are now upgrading to faster speeds and larger quota plans to support working from home and studying from home, said a company spokesman. Cyber criminals are taking advantage of the Coronavirus scare. There has been a rise in scams and phishing attempts. Users need to be alert about the apps and email links they click. The COVID-19 outbreak has led to a number of people scared, shaken and hunting for the right kind of information to keep themselves safe. There are a number of service providers including Google and Microsoft working to ensure the right information is spread among the masses. However, with the rate at which information spreads today, it doesn't take long for you to receive an email that reads, the vaccine for Coronavirus is finally here. Click here to know more. In a state of panic to know whether the cure is real, you click on the link and without realizing it, you are subject to a phishing, malware or ransomware attack. Rahul Tyagi, Co-founder, Lucideus says, COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the geo-political, healthcare ecosystem and economic state across the world and as businesses grapple to stay afloat during this pandemic, we have witnessed a significant rise in cyber-attacks. Starting from phishing emails, to ransomware, to social engineering, hackers are targeting sectors like BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance), healthcare and consumers to take advantage of a growing global healthcare concern. Additionally, Mr. Trishneet Arora, Founder & CEO, TAC Security said, "The most common mistake that consumers make is opening unverified and random emails that generate curiosity in their minds. Hackers are sending false information on the CoVId-19 outbreak, which often forces consumers to follow several steps of clicking on unsafe links, leading to a breach of their systems security." For those that don't know, phishing is defined as the fraudulent practice of sending emails purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers. Put simply, if you click on an unknown link, or download an unofficial app, you could be handing a hacker the keys to your life. According to Mr Himanshu Dubey, Director, Quick Heal Security Labs, "Researchers at Quick Heal have registered a surge in cyber-attacks by threat actors attempting to seize on the panic created by COVID-19 pandemic. Cyber hackers are always keeping an eye out for local as well as global trends to find opportunities that they can leverage to execute hacks, frauds, network breach, etc. The current state of Coronavirus fears is no exception. Based on the data that we have seen, several thousand new websites and spam emails are coming up every day along the Coronavirus theme, built around keywords including Coronavirus, pandemic, Covid-19, vaccines, cure, or a combination of these. Such phishing tactics intend to spread malware, extort money from unsuspecting users who fall for the fraud and, even worse, to pedal fake news and cause mass panic even through emails." According to Forbes, Cybercriminals and nation state-sponsored spies didn't take long to catch onto the coronavirus panic. Research released Thursday shows crooks and snoops have been rapidly registering vast numbers of potentially-malicious websites and sending out masses of scam emails as they try to make money from the pandemic. A report from cybersecurity company Recorded Future noted a significant rise in website registrations related to the COVID-19 virus, some of which it believes are being used to either pilfer information from recipients or infect them with malware. Forbes also has a list of domains that are potentially dangerous and you should check them out. Rahul Tyagi, Co-founder, Lucideus tells us, For example, a popular Johns Hopkins University website used to track the spread of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 could be used by cybercriminals to spread malware, according to noted cybersecurity blogger Brian Krebs on Thursday. In a blog post, Krebs said the popular site "https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html" has been targeted by malware dealers. He goes on to say, Similarly, our SAFE threat intel team has found a number of phishing emails claiming to be from the World Health Organization and other government agencies promising to provide healthcare support to cure Coronavirus. According to a cybersecurity firm, a wave of 2,500 infections of just two strains of malware were all delivered in COVID-19-themed emails recently. So, if you see an email that claims to have the Coronavirus cure and you don't recognize the sender, we suggest you delete the email immediately. Rahul Tyagi has shared steps one can take to protect themselves from such phishing emails and malware spreading. To begin with, be cautious when you see a suspicious sender address. Emails with generic greetings & signatures like "Dear valued Customer " or "Sir/Ma'am" can be avoided. Also, be on the lookout for poor grammar and misspellings. Completely avoid suspicious attachments from unknown senders. To stay safe, Trishneet Arora says, "There are a number of ways, in which individuals can secure themselves from cyber threats. They include - Ignore random/unverified pop-ups; always use two steps verifications; shop online only on secure websites and dont store your card details on websites." He goes on to tell digit, " If you (users) receive any random email that makes you curious, never open it. Dont download anything from such emails. Dont share your personal information while replying to such emails." Sharing some safety tips for those working on sensitive corporate information from home, Mr Himanshu Dubey, Director, Quick Heal Security Labs says that users should be, "Securing corporate-owned devices through cloud-based Endpoint Security. Leveraging encryption and data loss prevention technologies to protect data against leakage and loss. Implementing separation of personal and official data on BYOD devices by storing official data in an encrypted container." Additionally, use two-factor authentication, VPN services and avoid sharing any sensitive information over email. Consumers should also be wary of an array of frauds happening on social media platforms and cautiously share and consume information. Even if the sender looks to be an authentic source, you may want to double-check it before clicking on the link in the email. According to a Kaspersky blog post, The letters appear to come from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is a real organization in the United States, and they do recommend some actions regarding the coronavirus. The e-mails also come from a convincing domain, cdc-gov.org, whereas the CDCs real domain is cdc.gov. A user not paying careful attention isnt likely to notice the difference. The letters claim that the CDC has established a management system to coordinate a domestic and international public health response and urge recipients to open a page that allegedly contains information about new cases of infection around their city. The link appears to point to the legitimate CDC website: cdc.gov. From this example, one must learn that when a phishing or malware mail is sent to you and the domain looks convincing, you should still check the source before clicking on the link. There have been a lot of cybersecurity officials talking about hackers and cybercriminals looking to take advantage of the situation and India is no exception. Users need to be careful about the apps they download, links they click on and emails they open. Jeff Bezos and the entire Amazon team is experiencing a lot of struggles with the current situation of the world, primarily due to the threats of the COVID-19 pandemic, says an article. On Saturday, Bezos released an open letter to his employees at Amazon through an Instagram post. He gave a picture of how the company will operate and the changes they had to undergo due to the current worldwide pandemic. Lessons to Business Leaders Every business leader should consider reading what Bezos had to say to his employees. It is a narrative on how a business leader can help provide reassurance and motivation to its staff. Telling the Brutal Truth He starts off his message with the brutal truth. He expressed empathy and the intense need for urgency. Also Check these out: He said that the situation is not the normal one that everyone is used to. He describes that it is true that this is a time for the business for intense stress and uncertainty. Also, he reminded his team that this is the time where their work is at its critical point. Expressing his gratitude and setting the stakes for the company Delivery and logistics personnel are part of the heroes of this time. Bezos did not forget to share with his people how people are being grateful for their services. He said that Amazon and its people are providing significant service to many people. This is especially true to the elderly. The elderly are part of the group who are at high risk with the COVID-19. He expressed how people depend on the delivery and logistics personnel and the entire Amazon team. He shared that there are numerous emails from their customers expressing their gratitude. He said that they are also expressing their thanks through social media. Managing Situations Bezos's message is notably filled with truths about the harsh reality of the world right now due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bezos predicts that the situations right now will get worse before it gets better. Despite the increasing risks of the COVID-19, Amazon is not only doing their best to retain their workers but also trying to hire an additional 100,000. One silver lining of the worsening economic condition in the United States is that a lot of people were laid off by their companies and are now looking for new jobs. He requested these people to come work for Amazon for the meantime until they get to go back to their regular jobs again. Addressing a Big Problem in the Company One of the major problems of the company is that people are being asked to stay inside their homes or work in the confines of their home and Amazon's work requires employees to work on-site. To protect its employees, the facilities of Amazon are increasing cleaning activities and enforcing social distancing. Some employees may be needing personal protective equipment such as gloves and masks. Currently, the nation is experiencing a shortage of these materials. This is also seen as another challenge for Amazon despite already placing millions of purchase orders for masks to distribute to their contractors and staff who are cannot bring home their work. Bezos expressed his understanding that medical workers are the priorities for PPE. He assures that when excess stocks are available, he will order its distribution to all of Amazon's employees. He said that he will put the focus on the COVID-19 conditions and how the company can best play its role to the community and provide its best efforts to protect its entire staff. UP to poll in 7 phases, counting on Mar 10 UP assembly polls will be about '80 per cent vs 20 per cent'; BJP will win: Yogi Adityanath UP: Elections not won on exit polls basis, results will be surprising: Kamal Nath 16 districts in UP locked down India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Lucknow, Mar 23: Sixteen districts in Uttar Pradesh, including Lucknow, will be locked down till Wednesday amid a spurt in coronavirus cases in the state. The districts where the lockdown has been enforced in the first phase are Lucknow, Agra, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Ghaziabad, Varanasi, Allahabad, Kanpur, Aligarh, Moradabad, Lakhimpur Kheiri, Bareilly, Azamgarh, Meerut, Gorakhpur, Saharanpur and Pilibhit. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday told reporters in Gorakhpur that 15 districts in the state will be under lockdown in the first phase. The lockdown will continue till Wednesday, he said, appealing to people to stay in their homes. Delhi locked down: What you should know In a late night order, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi said Pilibhit has also been added to the list of districts that will be shutdown in the first phase. Barring essential services, all government offices, educational institutes, autonomous bodies, business establishments, private offices, malls, shops, factories, godowns and public transport will remain closed in these districts, the state government said. The government will time to time evaluate the situation and redefine the essential services, Principal Secretary Medical, Health and Family Welfare Amit Mohan Prasad said. The services that have been declared as essential are medical, health and family welfare, medical education, home, intelligence/prison administration, police/armed force and para-military forces, personnel department and district administration, energy, urban development, food and civil supplies, disaster relief, fire services, civil defence, information, emergency services, telephone, internet, network services and IT-enabled services. Postal services, banks, ATMs, insurance companies, e-commerce, print, electronic and social media, petrol pumps, LPG gas, oil agencies, medicines shops, medical equipment shops and medicine producing units, units related to agriculture production and animal fodder too have been classified as essential services. The chief minister asked people to avoid unnecessary gathering at public places. "We are standing at a juncture where even a slight laxity can prove to be harmful," he said. Coronavirus LIVE: India locked down Adityanath said officials of the police and district administration would patrol these districts. "We will review the situation tomorrow. If any family needs anything in emergency, 112 service of the state police will be available," he said. He said the districts where the lockdown has been enforced are those where coronavirus cases have been reported. "These districts will be thoroughly sanitised. Cleanliness drives are already going on for the last three days," the chief minister said. "People from Mumbai, Surat and other places arrived in large numbers at Jaunpur, Mirzapur, Mau, Kushinagar, Jhansi, Ghazipur, Ayodhya, Basti, Barabanki, Deoria, Ballia, Santkabirnagar and Gonda district yesterday and today. My appeal to them is to stay at home. The administration is making the list of such persons and making provisions to keep them separately," he said. On the slightest suspicion, they would be immediately sent to isolation wards and given free treatment, he said. He asked residents of Nepal bordering districts like Maharajganj, Siddharthanagar, Shrawasti, Balrampur, Bahraich and Pilibhit to remain alert. "If there are any health issues, people can call on 102 and 108 helpline numbers," the chief minister said. The Uttar Pradesh State Roadways Transport Corporation will remain completely closed from Monday to Wednesday. "No bus from Uttar Pradesh will go to Nepal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan or any other state," he said. The chief minister said to spread awareness, the state government has put huge hoardings, posters etc. outside every gram panchayat, school, hospitals and religious places. "We have already made arrangements for labourers, daily wagers, street vendors and others," he said. Late Sunday night, Adityanath held a meeting with officials and directed them to ensure a successful lockdown. He said passengers arriving at railway stations and bus stands should be screened for the coronavirus infection and sufficient equipment required in isolation wards must be ensured. The state has reported 27 coronavirus cases so far, the Union Health Ministry said on Sunday. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, March 23, 2020, 8:02 [IST] An American public health position that was embedded in China and which could have provided real-time updates about the coronavirus outbreak and warned about the growing threat was cut by the Trump administration in the months leading up to the global pandemic, sources said. Dr. Linda Quick, an American medical epidemiologist who had been the last person to hold the job in China's disease control agency in Beijing, left her post in July, four sources with knowledge of the issue told Reuters. The first cases of the new coronavirus later emerged, some as early as November. Had the position been filled, sources say, updates about the outbreak could have been provided to US officials as the Chinese government tamped down on the release of information and provided erroneous assessments. Dr. Linda Quick, an American medical epidemiologist, was the last person to hold a CDC health position that was embedded in China and which could have provided real-time updates about the coronavirus outbreak and warned about the growing threat The position was cut by the Trump administration in the months leading up to the global pandemic, sources said. President Donald Trump speaks at a news briefing on the latest development of the coronavirus outbreak in the the White House Had the position been filled, sources say, updates about the outbreak could have been provided as the Chinese government tamped down on the release of information and provided erroneous assessments. Medical staff in protective gear work at a 'drive-thru' testing center As cases exploded, the Trump administration in February chastised China for censoring information about the outbreak and keeping US experts from entering the country to help. The CDC first told Americans to prepare for an outbreak at home on February 25. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the time charged that China mishandled the epidemic through its 'censorship' of medical professionals and media. Relations between the two countries have deteriorated ever since, as President Trump has gone as far as labeling the coronavirus the 'Chinese virus,' since its origins are traced to Wuhan. Chinese officials have have condemned the term as stigmatizing and last week responded by kicking out journalists from the New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal out of the country. The CDC first told Americans to prepare for an outbreak at home on February 25. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the time charged that China mishandled the epidemic through its 'censorship' of medical professionals and media. 'It was heartbreaking to watch,' said Bao-Ping Zhu, a Chinese American who served in the same role as Quick, in response to the fallout after the position not being filled. 'If someone had been there, public health officials and governments across the world could have moved much faster.' Zhu and the other sources said Quick was a trainer of Chinese field epidemiologists who were deployed to the epicenter of outbreaks to help track, investigate and contain diseases. Bao-Ping Zhu, a Chinese American who served in the same role as Quick, called it 'heartbreaking,' watching events unfold after the position went unfilled As an American CDC employee, they said, Quick was in an ideal position to be the eyes and ears on the ground for the US and other countries on the coronavirus outbreak, and might have alerted them to the growing threat weeks earlier. No other foreign disease experts were embedded to lead the program after Quick left in July, according to the sources. Zhu said an embedded expert can often get word of outbreaks early, after forming close relationships with Chinese counterparts. There have been more than 35,214 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the US as of Sunday night. The virus also has been blamed for at least 471 known deaths How the number of new infections of the coronavirus have escalated since the first case was confirmed in January Zhu and the other sources said Quick could have provided real-time information to U.S. and other officials around the world during the first weeks of the outbreak, when they said the Chinese government tamped down on the release of information and provided erroneous assessments. Quick left amid a bitter US trade dispute with China when she learned her federally funded post, officially known as resident adviser to the US Field Epidemiology Training Program in China, would be discontinued as of September, the sources said. The US CDC said it first learned of a 'cluster of 27 cases of pneumonia' of unexplained origin in Wuhan, China, on Dec. 31. Since then, the outbreak of the disease known as COVID-19 has spread rapidly worldwide, killing more than 13,600 people, infecting more than 317,000. There have been more than 35,000 confirmed cases in the US, and 471 deaths blamed on the infection. The epidemic has overwhelmed healthcare systems in some countries, including Italy, and threatens to do so in the US and elsewhere. In a statement to Reuters, the CDC said the elimination of the adviser position did not hinder Washington's ability to get information and 'had absolutely nothing to do with CDC not learning of cases in China earlier.' The agency said its decision not to have a resident adviser 'started well before last summer and was due to China's excellent technical capability and maturity of the program.' The CDC said it has assigned two of its Chinese employees as 'mentors' to help with the training program. The agency did not respond to questions about the mentors' specific role or expertise. 'CDC has had a 30-year partnership with China CDC and close collaboration,' the statement said. 'We had the right staff to engage China and ability to provide technical assistance were it requested.' The CDC would not make Quick, who still works for the agency, available for comment. Asked for comment on Chinese transparency and responsiveness to the outbreak, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs referred Reuters to remarks by spokesman Geng Shuang on Friday. Geng said the country 'has adopted the strictest, most comprehensive, and most thorough prevention and control measures in an open, transparent, and responsible manner, and informed the (World Health Organization) and relevant countries and regions of the latest situation in a timely manner.' One disease expert told Reuters he was skeptical that the US resident adviser would have been able to get earlier or better information to the Trump administration, given the Chinese government's suppression of information. 'In the end, based on circumstances in China, it probably wouldn't have had made a big difference,' said Scott McNabb, who was a CDC epidemiologist for 20 years and is now a research professor at Emory University. 'The problem was how the Chinese handled it. What should have changed was the Chinese should have acknowledged it earlier and didn't.' New Delhi: The first coronavirus death report is coming in from Kolkata. The 55-year-old resident from Dum Dum who was earlier tested positive and was on a ventilator passed away at AMRI hospital on Monday (March 23) at 3:35 pm. According to reports, when the 55-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest, doctors strived hard to revive him till 3:45 pm but failed. Eventually, the hospital authorities informed the Bengal health department about death. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, however, wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding a ban on all flights coming to the state. Mamata reportedly said that her government has placed West Bengal under partial lockdown to fight against coronavirus, but the Centre is not helping the cause much by allowing the operation of domestic flights. Calling the operation of flights a huge breach of shut down and quarantine protocol, Mamata said that domestic flights have no arrangements for social distancing. Her letter reads as, I, would, therefore, request you to kindly arrange to issue necessary instructions to stop all flights coming to West Bengal with immediate effect so that the source of spreading infection is effectively contained and lockdown in the state is implemented in true letter and spirit. Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri later today stated that the Centre would soon take a call on suspending domestic flights to curb the spread of coronavirus in the country. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier expressed disappointment over the fact that people across India are not taking lockdown 'seriously' urging people to follow instructions by the authorities in order to curb the spread of coronavirus in the country. He also directed the state governments to follow the preventive measures and guidelines issued by the Centre to check the spread of the deadly virus. Senator Rand Paul confirmed Sunday that he has tested positive for COVID-19 the first U.S. Senator to do so. Senator Rand Paul has tested positive for COVID-19. He is feeling fine and is in quarantine, a tweet from the Kentucky Republicans account read. The Senator said that he was asymptomatic and had not been in contact with any known carriers of the novel coronavirus but was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive travel and events. The Senators office began operating remotely ten days ago, so it affirmed that virtually no staff had been in contact with him. As many Americans across the United States struggle to get tested for COVID-19, many critics have taken to social media questioning how and why the senator was able to be tested if he was asymptomatic and had no known contact with a carrier. RealMenFuck, the gay men's website created by noted porn auteurs Koloff (Alternadudes) and Andy Fair (DirtyBoyVideo) with backing from Zbuckz, is a new, hot, unscripted male site that seeks to answer the question, Are you ready for something raw and real, an alternative to awkward dialogue, contrived stories and monotonous studio porn? The bareback site specializes in duos, orgies and uncomplicated scenes that get straight to the action, and is live now at RealMenFuck.com . The men of RealMenFuck dont waste time undressing, meeting and greeting. This back-to-basics all-sex site attempts to deliver the action members want, starting right out on a bed, the floor or a couch with real, diverse, un-prettied-up guys doing what guys do in real life. 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Colleges Offer Vacant Dorms for COVID-19 Patients, Health Workers As college students leave on-campus housing after the COVID-19 outbreak forced schools to close, some universities are planning to use the freed-up space to help local hospitals and health care systems at risk of being overwhelmed. The quickly expanding COVID-19 outbreak in the United States is soon expected to outstrip the capacity of our hospitals, as in Italy, where they have resorted to makeshift tents, hallways, and parking lots, Anthony Monaco, president of Tufts University in Massachusetts, wrote in a Boston Globe op-ed. Tufts ordered its students to vacate shortly after a student tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP virus. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan and causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement of the outbreak fueled its spread throughout China and across the world. When this happens, colleges and universities must take a leadership role in relieving this unprecedented stress on our health care system, Monaco wrote, adding that Tuftss campuses are prepared to help local hospitals meet their needs if they reach peak capacity due to a surge of patients. Those vacant dorms, according to Monaco, are ready to be used for patients in quarantine, health workers who have been exposed to the virus and want to stay away from family members, as well as patients requiring non-essential medical care so that hospitals can save beds for COVID-19 patients. Monaco also proposed that the universitys parking lots and gyms be converted into drive-thru virus testing centers and field hospitals. Meanwhile, the University of Maine (UMaine) system is working with state and local health agencies to determine how its resources, including its now-vacant residential facilities, can be deployed to help Maine better respond to the pandemic. The UMaine system has seven schools across the state, hosting some 30,000 students. All students left their dorms by Sunday. We have taken immediate steps to protect the health of our students and employees, continue to provide instruction at a distance, and to help reduce the spread of coronavirus, said Chancellor Dannel Malloy in a press release. But with lives hanging in the balance Maines universities must do even more. We are considering all appropriate steps to deploy our resources to assist Maines public health and emergency management leaders. Last week, New York University also told its students to vacate dorms so they could be re-purposed to house COVID-19 patients. The move came shortly after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo urged President Donald Trump to order U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to convert dorms at the State University of New York into temporary medical centers. Lets retrofit buildings, lets purchase the equipment, lets use that massive logistical machine of the military to actually save lives, said Cuomo. Its the best option. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, left, meets with Abdullah Abdullah the main political rival of President Ashraf Ghani at the Sepidar Palace, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Read more KABUL, Afghanistan - With a crisis in the Afghan government threatening to derail a peace deal signed last month between Taliban and U.S. officials, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made an unannounced visit here Monday in hopes of resolving a clash between President Ashraf Ghani and his main rival, Abdullah Abdullah, who is attempting to form a parallel government. Pompeo spent the day meeting privately with both leaders, first separately and then together, before leaving the country less than nine hours after he landed. There was no immediate indication from U.S. or Afghan officials as to how much progress his efforts had made. But the secretary's sudden trip from Washington, even with the novel coronavirus upending life in the United States and consuming its government, was a dramatic indicator of U.S. officials' growing alarm at the lengthening political stalemate here - both for its potential to erupt into a violent civil conflict and to undermine the peace process. The agreement signed Feb. 29 between U.S. and Taliban officials was expected to allow thousands of U.S. troops to begin leaving Afghanistan soon and to pave the way for negotiations between Taliban and Afghan leaders on a shared government in the future. Instead, both plans have bogged down, and no date has been set for the talks. "Unless this crisis gets resolved and resolved soon, it could affect the peace process, which was an opportunity to end . . . 40 years of war. And our agreement with the Talibs could be put at risk," a senior State Department official told journalists traveling with Pompeo, speaking on the condition of anonymity to be candid. The official said Pompeo's "authority" as the top U.S. diplomat and a close adviser to President Trump gives him more potential influence than other intermediaries on Ghani and Abdullah, who are bitterly estranged after co-governing for five years. In recent weeks, both Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. diplomat spearheading the peace talks, and senior Afghan political and religious leaders have tried to find a compromise - to no avail. Even with "a lot going on," including the coronavirus pandemic, the official said, Pompeo had "come all the way here" to "push" both Afghan leaders to form an inclusive government and to stress the dangers that could result "if they don't do the right thing." The official said there was particular concern that the Afghan defense forces could split between "two presidents and two commanders in chief, or worse." What the Trump administration wants is for Ghani and Abdullah to agree on an "inclusive government that is acceptable to both," the official said. "We are encouraging them to rise to the occasion" and "put the country first." After back-to-back meetings, with Pompeo shuttling between Ghani's and Abdullah's palaces - one block apart - and then meeting them together, no official statements were made. Pompeo then flew to Qatar, where he met with the Taliban's chief negotiator, Mullah Baradar. The two men spoke for about an hour at Al Udeid Air Base in Doha, where Pompeo pressed the Taliban "to continue to comply with the agreement signed last month," said State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus. The department did not immediately release details of the substance of the meeting. The political crisis arose after the presidential election in September. Ghani, the incumbent, was declared the winner last month, but Abdullah alleged massive fraud and refused to concede. The two have been locked in a tense stalemate for two weeks, while Abdullah, backed by an array of former ethnic minority militia leaders, has begun naming his own governors and cabinet members. Meanwhile, no progress has been made on forming a government delegation to meet with the Taliban, even though those talks were scheduled to begin March 10. In a separate dispute, Ghani has refused to immediately release 5,000 Taliban prisoners as the U.S.-Taliban agreement stipulated, throwing that deal into doubt as well, and leaving unclear if and when American troops can begin pulling out in large numbers. Pompeo's mission is eerily reminiscent of what transpired after the last Afghan presidential election, in 2014, when then-Secretary of State John F. Kerry successfully mediated an identical spat between Ghani and Abdullah. Both claimed to have won the presidency in a fraud-marred election, but Kerry persuaded them to accept a power-sharing arrangement. It has proved tense and fractious. Pompeo also raised the prisoner-release issue with Ghani, which Khalilzad has been trying to work on over the past week. Over the weekend, he facilitated a video conference between Taliban and Afghan prison officials on the "technical" aspects of a proposed release, but no plan was finalized. Pompeo, who attended the signing of the peace agreement in Qatar, said at the time that the path forward would be rocky and that talks between Taliban and Afghan leaders would be difficult. But he also said that while Taliban leaders have an enormous amount of blood on their hands, they have now made a break with their past and promised not to allow anti-U.S. terrorist activities on Afghan soil. Democrats and Republicans continue to negotiate terms on a massive stimulus package, two Senate aides told CNBC. The measure again failed a key procedural vote in the Senate on Monday afternoon, as there were major differences between the two parties over what to include in the final legislation. The delay could make it difficult for Trump to sign a bill this week. Senate rules mandate that a cloture vote has to "ripen" for one full day before it the Senate can vote, unless the currently quarreling Senate unanimously decides to hold a vote sooner. Three-fifths of the Senate must vote for cloture in order to end debate and move the bill along. The measure has a price tag of well over $1 trillion and is intended to limit the economic pain from the coronavirus outbreak. The effort has taken on urgency as hospitals, workers, people, and companies have all pleaded they need cash quickly to cope with the crushing economic impact of the coronavirus. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told CNBC that Monday "we need to get this deal done today." But the talks have been marred by partisan disagreement. The bill previously failed to clear a procedural hurdle in the Senate on Sunday and again Monday afternoon. Senate Democrats have criticized the $500 billion fund that the Republican proposal sets aside for distressed businesses, calling it a bailout fund "with no strings attached." Democrats are also seeking enhanced unemployment measures and protections for workers. GOP lawmakers slammed Democrats for seeking climate provisions within the measure, as well. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi floated her own proposal for a stimulus bill Monday. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer nonetheless was optimistic earlier Monday, seeing he believed the two parties could come to an agreement by the end of the day. "We're very close to reaching a deal. Very close. And our goal is to reach a deal today," he said. "And we're hopeful, even confident that we will meet that goal." He said two parties had come to certain agreements about revisions to the Republicans' bill, including adding more unemployment protections and adding more money to hospitals. He said the Democrats are "fighting hard and making progress" on more funding for state and local governments. Stocks cut their losses on Schumer's optimistic words. But the Dow Jones industrial average ultimately closed 3% lower, at one point giving away all of its gains since President Donald Trump's election. After the second procedural vote failed, McConnell threw aside his usually placid appearance as he tore into Senate Democrats for the second straight day on Monday, accusing them of filibustering a deal the country needs immediately. He accused Democrats of adding to their wish list, rather than focusing on getting out a deal quickly. To the Editor: Re Is Our Fight Against Coronavirus Worse Than the Disease? (Op-Ed, nytimes.com, March 20): We take issue with Dr. David L. Katzs suggestion that the global community is overreacting to Covid-19. He favors letting the pandemic run its course, but somehow walling off the most vulnerable. He argues that his strategy would preserve the global economy, while stemming deaths from Covid-19. We disagree. First, it is not yet known who all of the most vulnerable people are. We believe that it is easier, quicker and more efficient to reduce transmission over all than to permit high levels of transmission in the community but somehow keep it from afflicting susceptible people in our highly networked world. Second, it is likely that more intense transmission among younger people, who Dr. Katz suggests should be freed of most social-distancing restrictions, would result in many more of their deaths, especially as hospitals become overwhelmed. Third, allowing the virus to spread uninhibited across a wide swath of our country might eliminate any hope we might have of snuffing out viral transmission into a new respiratory virus season next winter. A produce worker handles food with gloves while wearing a face mask last week in New York City. Read more NEW YORK A loss of smell or taste might be an early sign of infection with the pandemic virus, say medical experts who cite reports from several countries. It might even serve as a useful screening tool, they say. The idea of a virus infection reducing sense of smell is not new. Respiratory viral infection is a common cause of loss of smell, because inflammation can interfere with airflow and the ability to detect odors. The sense of smell usually returns when the infection resolves, but in a small percentage of cases, smell loss can persist after other symptoms disappear. In some cases, it is permanent. Now, there's good evidence from South Korea, China and Italy for loss or impairment of smell in infected people, says a joint statement from the presidents of the British Rhinological Society and of ENT UK, a British group that represents ear, nose and throat doctors. In South Korea, some 30% of people who tested positive for the virus have cited loss of smell as their major complaint in otherwise mild cases, they wrote. So that might be useful as a way to spot infected people without other symptoms fever, coughing and shortness of breath of the new coronavirus, they wrote. A similar proposal was published Sunday by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. It noted rapidly accumulating anecdotal evidence from around the world that the pandemic virus can cause not only loss of smell but also a diminished sense of taste. So the appearance of those symptoms in people without another explanation should alert doctors to the possibility of a COVID-19 infection, the group said. Maria Van Kerkhove, an outbreak expert at the World Health Organization, told reporters Monday that the U.N. health agency is looking into the question of whether the loss of smell or taste are a defining feature of the disease. Dr. Eric Holbrook, an expert on nasal and sinus disease at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear hospital in Boston, said the reports have been a hot topic among researchers and doctors. But we don't have hard evidence right now about how often smell loss occurs in people infected with the pandemic virus, he said in an interview Monday. Holbrook said the reports he has seen suggest the sense of smell returns within a couple weeks, but how long it lasts has yet to be firmly established. He also said it's difficult to assess reports of a loss of taste because people with an impaired sense of smell often report a loss of flavor, which is technically different from an impairment in taste. Holbrook said he is trying to set up a study of smell in people being tested for the coronavirus at Boston-area hospitals. Can we accept this order and export under LUT? Yes. Regulation 3(1)(A)(ii) of the Foreign Exchange Management (Manner of Receipt and Payment) Regulations, 2016 allows you to receive payment for exports to Bhutan in Indian rupees. CBEC Circular no. 88/07/2-019-GST dated February 1, 2019, clarifies that the acceptance of LUT for supplies of goods or services to countries outside India will be permissible irrespective of whether the payments are made in Indian currency or convertible foreign exchange, as ... 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More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Warangal: Police arrested two persons in different cases of spreading fake news on WhatsApp about outbreak of coronavirus in Warangal district. In the first case, a message was floated on a WhatsApp account that coronavirus has surfaced in Kamalapur area of Warangal Urban district. Seeing this, Dr. Samyuktha, who is working with the Primary Health Centre at Kamalapur, lodged a complaint with police that it was fake news being circulated only to spread fear among locals. Police, who took up investigation, identified Vadukari Rajesh of Pangidipally as the person who circulated the news. He was booked under sections 270, 504, 505(2) of the IPC and section 54 of the National Disaster Management Act. The other case was booked against V. Rajendra Prasad, a resident of Oorugonda village, for spreading news that a pastor, who had returned from Kerala, had tested positive for Covid-19 and section 144 had been imposed in the village. Pittala Srikanth, a health supervisor of Hanamkonda, lodged a complaint saying this was fake news that had been spread through mobile number 99497 83663 belonging to WhatsApp group named 'Oorugonda TRS Grama Kamiti'. The message went viral creating fear within the village. Following this, Rajendra Prasad, who owned the number, was booked under sections 188 and 505 of the IPC and section 54 of NDMA. World Bank Group President David Malpass on Monday said that the development lender could deploy as much as $150 billion in resources over the next 15 months to help developing countries fight and recover from the coronavirus pandemic. Malpass, in a statement to G20 finance ministers and central bank governors released by the World Bank, also called on G20 creditor nations to allow the poorest countries to suspend all payments on bilateral debt while they battle the virus. Malpass said the poorest countries should be allowed to concentrate their resources on their health responses to the crisis. "Im calling on the G20 leaders to allow the poorest countries to suspend all repayments of official bilateral credit, until the World Bank and the IMF (International Monetary Fund) have made a full assessment of their reconstruction and financing needs," he said in a statement. The World Bank is now preparing projects in 49 countries to help fight the virus under a new fast-track credit facility, and decisions were expected this week on as many as 16 of these projects, Malpass said. He said the institution was consulting with China and other key countries to obtain help with the rapid manufacture and delivery of many of medical supplies to countries in need. Search Keywords: Short link: A few hours ago, Atiku Abubakar took to social media to announce that his son has tested positive for coronavirus. The former Vice President tweeted; My son has tested positive to coronavirus.@NCDCGov has been duly informed, and he has been moved to Gwagwalada Specialist Teaching Hospital in Abuja for treatment and management. I will appreciate it if you have him in your prayers. Stay safe, coronavirus is real. Read Also: BREAKING: Atikus Son Tests Positive For Coronavirus Daddy Freeze has now reacted to the news, saying Atiku did the right thing by letting everyone know, adding that he is the kind of leader the country needs. The kind of transparency Nigeria needs. He has done the right thing by announcing to the public and proceeding to follow government protocol. May the LORD heal him IYN amen! 'Our liquidity is strong for the next 15-20 days.' 'But if the situation worsens drastically, then we will have to think about laying off people.' Lokendra Ranawat, CEO, WoodenStreet, a furniture and home decor company that has online and offline presence, presents a grim picture of how start-ups like his are holding their chin over the water as they fight a tough economic environment that the coronavirus pandemic has wrought in its wake and brought the global economic engine almost to a standstill. "The government needs to take some strong measures not only for start-ups, but for all economic agents who are under stress due to the coronavirus pandemic," Ranawat tells Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com. Could you tell us about your start-up venture and what are the challenges you are facing right now as an entrepreneur as well as a startup company? The coronavirus epidemic is affecting, in some way or other, all the companies in India. The impact is different on different companies depending on the nature of businesses they carry, and how they are directly connected with this epidemic. Talking about our venture WoodenStreet, we are an online company that sells furniture and home decor online. So, being an e-commerce company we also have experience stores across 25 cities. Furniture is something from which customers like to get a touch and feel experience before making a decision; they sit on the furniture, feel the comfort and then they decide whether they will buy it or not. Talking about the impact of covid-19 on our business, the online traffic has not gone down; in fact it has increased because most of the people are working from home. While the browsing has increased, footfalls at our experience stores have drastically gone down because people are not venturing out to maintain social distancing. Consequently, decision making is getting delayed because customers feel that now that they have seen it online, let's postpone our purchases for the next ten days. As of today, we have seen at least 10 to 15 per cent downfall in our order book and it might shrink further if this pandemic spreads. Buying furniture and lifestyle is not people's priority right now; people are more focused on buying hygiene products, medicines and food; they are browsing the net for getting updates on coronavirus. Apart from sales, the other critical factor for our business is the supply chain. Most residential societies, out of health concerns, are not allowing outside vehicles carrying furniture into their premises. We have faced this challenge in some societies in Bengaluru and Mumbai. Even customers are asking for deliveries that were currently due to be postponed to next week or after 15 days. They are also trying to avoid carpenters, delivery people and installations teams that visit their homes. How are you trying to overcome these challenges? If people are not trying to come to experience our furniture, we can't do anything. We are trying to convince more customers on the phone; we are trying to share more online videos which can help them decide. So, obviously that convincing part on phone we have increased. Regarding he supply chain and delivery, we have provided masks and sanitisers to all our delivery people. Our customers should feel confident that our people are maintaining hygiene when they go for delivery and installation. We are also talking to office bearers at residential societies to build their confidence in our delivery people's hygiene. But honestly we are not 100 per cent prepared for this kind of situation in such short span of time. Whatever we can do we are doing; only our sales and operations team is working and we are also allowing our employees to work from home. We have started working in batches; we tried with our marketing team and our sales team. We are not having a laptop culture and our organisation is or more or less just desktops; whatever laptops we have in spare, we have given it to our employees. We have also installed VPN software on the private laptops. So, in that way we are trying to control the situation. While we are managing the situation right now, I am not sure how we would respond if things go worse after 15 days and these problems persist for a month or two. Are you planning to cut down on employee costs by laying off people? It completely depends on what happens after 15 days. Thankfully, we are we are not a big loss-making company like other start-ups. We have liquidity and we can sustain for at least next 15 days without cutting short on our resources. And anyways, we have not over-hired people; we don't have people on the bench. So, we are not worried about that. The only thing is that we have definitely stopped hiring new people; all our expansion plans have been put on hold; those who we have already hired and were planning to join us immediately have been asked to join us after 15, 20 days or so. We recently hired 15 people and they have been asked to join us two weeks later. Their joining date has been extended. Our training module has been stopped right now. And as we are promoting work from home culture this training will be given at home. As of today, our total annual turnover is Rs 50 crore and our employee strength is 300 people. What measures do you feel can the government take to ease the pain of entrepreneurs like you? The government needs to take some strong measures not only for start-ups, but for all economic agents who are under stress due to the coronavirus pandemic. For businesses like us, the GST rates are really high at 18 per cent. So, if the GST rate is slashed to 12 per cent it will be a breather for businesses like us. It will help us tide over some of the losses that we are likely to suffer in the days ahead because of this pandemic. Like the UK government, the Indian government cam also offer loans at reasonable rates to the MSME sector to tide over their liquidity and working capital requirements. These steps can help build lot of confidence in the system. Our liquidity condition is strong enough to take care of our expenses for the next 15, 20 days. But if the situation worsens drastically from there, then definitely we will have to think about laying off people because we have to pay salaries and other bare necessary expenditure to keep the business going. And being a start-up, we don't have cash that can sustain us for next four or five months. At that time, we will have to think about our non-core activities; we may have to ask some of our people to leave. What's the median average salary at WoodenStreet? Our median average salary is between Rs 30,000 to Rs 35,000 per month, and we have 300 people to take care of. In the worst case scenario as per our emergency plan, we will have to layoff at least 40 to 50 employees from non-core areas. So, suppose we have around 10 content writers, we might reduce them to six; if our sales team has 36 people now, we might reduce it to 20. This is something which might happen in the worst case scenario. But if things become normal and we witness a spike in our business, all our expansion plans will be rolled out equally quickly. Right now, our sales are affected by 10 per cent. As a CEO of a start-up, what is your advice to employees who are still working but face a layoff from their jobs? This is a tough situation. Employees should understand their employers are definitely going through a harrowing time. Employees should understand that work from home is not something like a holiday package. You must work as hard from home as you do while at work. We just had an open session with all our employees and we explained to them the precarious situation that most businesses are right now and how much discipline and hard work is required from all of us to tide over the looming crisis. If employees are not able to support us at this time, then at the end of the day they are the people who are going to suffer. So, if in a disciplined way, if everybody is going to put efforts I think we can come out of this situation pretty good. Oppo Find X2 Pro and its junior sibling, the Find X2, were launched earlier this month. The Chinese company has packed one too many features on the Find X2 series to counter the Galaxy S series from the Samsung, and possibly the iPhone. The Find X2 Pro already has different variants, including the vegan leather version but it has been available only in the orange colour. A new grey vegan leather variant will soon be released for the Find X2 Pro. The Find X2 Pro has featured in a video by Oppo, shared by Sparrows News on YouTube, along with a new grey colour. The grey vegan leather variant had already been listed on the China online store along with the pricing. But it seems the variant will be released soon in both China and European website. The Find X2 Pro costs EUR 1,199 (roughly Rs 98,000) in the European markets and CNY 6,999 (approximately Rs 75,000) in China. The Find X2 Pro is already selling in China and Europe but it will also be available in global markets soon. For specifications, the Find X2 Pro comes with ColorOS 7 based on Android 10. The Find X2 Pro has a 6.7-inch 3K display with a resolution of 1080x3168 pixels and an aspect ratio of 21:9. The display has a fingerprint sensor embedded under it. It also supports HDR10+ and has a refresh rate of 120Hz. The display is protected by a Corning Gorilla Glass 6 on top. Oppo Find X2 Pro is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 SoC paired with 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 512GB of UFS 3.0 storage. For optics, the Oppo Find X2 Pro comes with a 48-megapixel Sony IMX689 sensor with OIS, Omni-directional PDAF, and Ultra Video Steady Pro technology. There is also a 48-megapixel Sony IMX586 ultra-wide sensor with capability to shoot macros. The third one is a periscope sensor that supports OIS and can offer a digital zoom of 60z, hybrid zoom of 10x, and optical zoom of 5x. The cameras are also capable of recording 4K videos and 10-bit live HDR videos. For selfies, there is a 32-megapixel Sony IMX616 sensor on the front. Dubai, March 23 : A Dubai-based Indian couple, convicted of physically assaulting his mother and unintentionally causing her death, have lost their appeal against a 10-year jail term, it was reported. The Dubai Court of Appeals on Sunday upheld the ruling of the Court of First Instance, reports Khaleej Times. The court had found the 29-year-old Indian resident and his wife, 28, guilty of torturing his mother repeatedly, causing her bone and rib fractures, internal bleeding and severe burns. They even cut her right eye iris out and a part of her other eye. A forensic doctor told the prosecutor that the mother weighed just 29 kg at the time of her death. The couple denied the charges during the trial. The torture is believed to have lasted from July to October 2018. The case was exposed by the couple's neighbour, also an Indian, who is a hospital employee. A hospital certificate showed the mother died on October 31, 2018. The Saronic Gulf opposite Athens is one of the most beautiful and interesting areas of Greece, full of beautiful landscapes, small towns, islands, archeological remains and one of Europe's least known active volcanic areas. Join us on a relaxing tour to discover this fascinating area! Shaheer Sheikh: As the problem has reached a crunch point in India, the Government of India has completely lockdown 75 cities till March 31. Even trains, metros and inter-state buses have been suspended. So, in the time of the Coronavirus crisis, self-isolation is the only way to help the society and yourself, amid Yeh Rishtey Hai Pyaar Ke actor Shaheer Sheikhs self-quarantine routine will definitely be going to inspire you. In the recent post, Shaheer shared an inspirational post, where he can be seen admiring the beauty of nature. Alongside the photo, he wrote a thoughtful note for all those masses who are also on house arrest, the caption reads, got the chance to embrace little things in life which was earlier neglected by all. Currently, he is honing his skills like cooking, house cleaning, yoga, meditation and taking care of plants. Stay safe. Indeed its the best time to go for self-love and care by self-isolation ourself, we all have to do it collectively, to get back to normalcy. Check the post: Meanwhile, Sanjivani actor Surbhi Chandna entertains her fans through her singing and cooking skills. Her recent post says it all, that how she is utilizing her self isolation time by spending quality time with her family. She also revealed that she is focusing more on reading books and watching movies. Talking about the current scenario of India, infected cases rose to 415 with the death toll rise to 8. The state government of Punjab and Maharastra has imposed a curfew on Monday. For all the latest Entertainment News, download NewsX App Night curfew, schools shut: New SOPs in UP amidst rise in COVID-19 cases Weekend curfew in Karnataka begins tonight: All you should know Karnataka curfew: If you have not stocked up booze, then read this No night curfew in Goa, but gatherings with over 100 people in open spaces banned Night curfew in Andhra Pradesh: Know timings, guidelines, rules; What is allowed, what is not allowed Weekend, night curfew to continue in Karnataka until month end 'Full curfew' imposed in Punjab to combat coronavirus spread India oi-Deepika S Chandigarh, Mar 23: To contain the spread of coronavirus, the Punjab government today imposed a curfew, making it the first state to take such measures. "After reviewing the situation chief minister has announced a full curfew with no relaxations," an official spokesperson said. "Curfew was imposed as people were still coming out in large numbers. So the idea is to keep them inside," a senior official told PTI. Singh took the decision after reviewing the situation with the State chief secretary and DGP. Coronavirus positive cases in India rise to 415 The deputy commissioners have been asked to issue the necessary orders, the spokesperson said. Any individual who requires exemption will be allowed only for a given period and purpose. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, March 23, 2020, 14:39 [IST] The president of Italy's automobile club is hopeful the race at Monza can go ahead in September. The country is currently the worst hit by the coronavirus pandemic, but Automobile Club d'Italia chief Angelo Sticchi Damiani has an upbeat outlook for racing fans. "I think and hope that the Monza race is in a fairly safe period," he told Corriere dello Sport. "We plan to start again with Azerbaijan in June, then there should be other races in the same month, then by July and August some of the five postponed races should be rescheduled. "At the end of the month there will be Belgium and then us. In this situation, a race already with a date is less at risk than the postponed ones, because in those cases they need a date, the ability of the teams to travel, all the logistics. "But for us there is a lot of optimism. We think Monza can take place normally and that indeed there can be a greater involvement by the public," Sticchi Damiani added. "After the withdrawal crisis, there are people who will want to be there to feel the roar of the engines. I think Monza is a fairly achievable goal." (GMM) Africa needs an immediate emergency economic stimulus of $100 billion (U.S.) to combat the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and almost half of that could come from waiving interest payments for countries on the continent, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. The waiver of interest payments, estimated at $44 billion for 2020, and the possible extension of the waiver to the medium term, would provide immediate fiscal space and liquidity to the governments, in their efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ECA said Monday in a statement after the continents finance ministers had a virtual meeting on March 19. The waiver should include not only interest payments on public debt, but also on sovereign bonds, it said. Government debt as a percentage of gross domestic product in sub-Saharan Africa has doubled in the past decade but countries in the region will have to shelve plans for further Eurobond issuance as yields surge and the spread of the coronavirus limits travel. External debt payments consumed an average 13 per cent of African governments revenue before the outbreak, data compiled by the U.K.-based Jubilee Debt Campaign showed. For fragile states, the ministers agreed on the need to consider waiving principal and interest and encourage the use of existing facilities in the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, African Development Bank and other regional institutions. Given the limited health infrastructure and the fact that most of the pharmaceuticals and medical supplies consumed in Africa are imported, they called on the international community to support the upgrade of the health infrastructure and to provide direct support to the existing facilities. Without co-ordinated efforts, the COVID-19 pandemic will have major and adverse implications on African economies and the society at large, the ECA said. Read more about: Children with aggressive blood cancers have differences -- not just in the DNA code of their blood cells -- but also in the heavily twisted protein superstructure that controls access to genes. Led by researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, a new study showed that whether T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia takes off or worsens depends on structural changes in the layout of protein bundles called chromosomes. Upon receiving the right signal, this arrangement changes to expose the gene-reading machinery to only those bits of DNA code needed for the job at hand in each cell. The new work builds on the discovery that DNA chains exist, not in vast tangles of chromosomes, but in organized "neighborhoods" called topographically associated domains, or TADs. Specifically, DNA snippets, called enhancers, are known to turn up or down the action of genes, but normally only those housed only in their own TADs. Within TAD boundaries, DNA is free to fold back on itsself in 3D loops, bringing together enhancers and other elements (e.g., promoter DNA) that must interact for a given stretch of code to be read. The new study showed that key TAD boundaries are lost in this form of leukemia, enabling parts of DNA to interact with enhancers from the wrong neighborhoods, turning up the action of the wrong genes and encouraging cancer growth and spread. Researchers say their findings suggest that these 3D changes in chromosome structure are as important as changes in the order of molecular letters making up the DNA code itself (mutations), with both mechanisms encouraging cancer onset and progress. "Our study is the first to show that the naturally 'looped' structure of genetic material in blood cells is changing in T cell leukemia," says study co-lead investigator Palaniraja Thandapani, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at NYU Langone Health and its Perlmutter Cancer Center. "With this in mind, the most effective treatment for this type of leukemia may be a combination of a drug that targets the disease's cancer-causing, genetic mutations and another that counters any changes to chromosomal 3D structure." In childhood leukemia, the most common code changes or mutations or changes in activity occur in two genes, NOTCH1 and MYC, says study co-senior investigator Iannis Aifantis, PhD, the Hermann M. Biggs Professor and chair of the Department of Pathology at NYU Langone and Perlmutter. Existing drug therapies designed to block NOTCH1 and MYC, he says, work well but are not foolproof. When testing them in blood cell samples from people undergoing therapy, the research team found that part of the explanation may reside in the failure of single-drug therapies to correct the epigenetic changes that come with the disease. Experiments with one drug that successfully blocked NOTCH1 activity showed that it did not effectively block access to the exposed MYC neighborhood, which could explain, Aifantis says, why NOTCH1 inhibitors do not work for most patients. However, a second experimental drug (targeting molecular, or epigenetic, changes in these DNA neighborhoods) effectively corrected DNA looping in the MYC neighborhood, restoring normal chromosomal structure and gene regulation, and dramatically decreasing MYC action and cancer spread. The findings, publishing in the journal Nature Genetics online March 23, were made possible by advanced genetic and imaging techniques developed in recent years. These include such experimental methods as RNA sequencing and Hi-C that lets researchers track step-by-step genetic activity in cancer cells and reveal the 3D architecture of chromosomes by comparing small fragments of genetic material to each other. For the new study, researchers compared the genetic material in blood samples from eight children between the ages of 1 and 16, including some with advanced-stage disease, to blood samples of healthy children. Co-senior investigator Aristotelis Tsirigos, PhD, says the changes in DNA looping observed in these blood cells were "quite unique" to this severe form of leukemia and its related mutations. This suggests that looping alterations may be different in other cancers that are closely tied to different mutations. Moving forward, Tsirigos says, the team has plans to describe the changes in chromosomal looping involved in other blood cancers, such as lymphoma, as well as for other subtypes of leukemia. "Once these 3D genetic changes are fully described, we should be able to test existing and new drugs based on their ability to correct any malformations and better predict the chances for patient survival from cancer," says Tsirigos, an associate professor at NYU Langone and Perlmutter. Tsirigos also serves as director of NYU Langone's applied bioinformatics laboratories, where the computer analysis is performed The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 1,500 Americans, mostly children, die each year from T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This type of cancer accounts for roughly one-quarter of all leukemias. ### Funding support for the study was provided by National Institutes of Health grants P01 CA229086, R01 CA228135, R01 CA216421, R01 CA202025, R01 CA133379, R01 CA149655, R01 CA194923, and R01 CA188293; Alex's Lemonade Stand Cancer Research Foundation; the Chemotherapy Foundation; the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society; New York State Department of Health's NYSTEM program; American Cancer Society grant RSG-15-189-01-RMC; and the St. Baldrick's Foundation. Besides Thandapani, Aifantis, and Tsirigos, other NYU Langone researchers involved in the study are Yohana Ghebrechristos; Sofia Nomikou; Charalampos Lazris; Xufeng Chen; Hai Hu; Sofia Bakogianni; Jingjing Wang; Yi Fu; Francesco Boccalatte; Hua Zhong; Thomas Trimarchi; and Timotee Lionnet. Other study co-lead investigators are Andreas Kloetgen, at the University of Dusseldort in Germany; and Panagiotis Ntziachristos, at Northwestern University in Chicago. Additional research support was provided by Elisabeth Paietta, at Montefiore Medical Center in New York; Yixing Zhu, at Northwestern University; Pieter van Vlierberghe, at Ghent University in Belgium; and Giorgio Inghirami, at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York. Media Inquiries: David March 212-404-3528 david.march@nyulangone.org A federal judge has refused to exempt freelance journalists and photographers from a new California law that would reclassify many of them as employees rather than contractors, a status that would increase their workplace benefits but could make it harder for them to find work. The law, AB5, defines workers as employees unless they operate free of outside control in work that is different from the business that hired them. It exempts some freelancers, but only if they submit no more than 35 articles or photos to a particular news outlet or business in a year. Employees are entitled to benefits that are generally denied to independent contractors, including the right to a minimum wage, overtime pay, workers compensation and reimbursement for work expenses. But the organizations that challenged the laws application to freelancers said the law damaged their job prospects by making it cheaper for out-of-state publications to seek submissions from non-Californians unaffected by AB5. But their arguments that the law was arbitrary and irrational, and violated freedom of the press, failed to persuade U.S. District Judge Philip Gutierrez of Los Angeles. There is a legitimate state interest here, Gutierrez said Friday in denying a preliminary injunction against enforcement of the freelance provisions of the law. He said the Legislature had acted out of concern that misclassification of workers as contractors was contributing to erosion of the middle class and the rise in economic inequality. The laws threshold of 35 submissions was not arbitrary, Gutierrez said, because it was reasonable to conclude that freelancers would more readily resemble employees if their submission to a certain employer was high. And he said the reclassification of some writers and photographers as employees has nothing to do with content of their submissions and does not violate freedom of the press. Unlike a Minnesota law that the Supreme Court struck down in 1983, a state tax on ink and paper used in publications, AB5 does not uniquely burden the press, Gutierrez said. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The case is one of several challenges to the scope of AB5. A federal judge in San Diego has exempted trucking companies from the law, citing a federal prohibition in state regulation of interstate truckers, prices, routes or services. Ride-hailing companies Uber and Lyft are also claiming exemptions, and are financing a proposed November ballot initiative that would exclude their drivers from the state law. The law was challenged by two freelance groups, the American Society of Journalists and Authors, and the National Press Photographers Association. Their lawyer, James Manley of the Pacific Legal Foundation, criticized the ruling and said they were considering an appeal. This is a clear example of the government putting limits on the free press, Manley said in a statement Monday. He said the judges ruling condoning discrimination against the free flow of objective information should be reversed. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko By PTI BEIJING: China on Monday "applauded" the aid sent by India during the height of Beijing's battle against the deadly coronavirus and said it would like to share its experience in handling the COVID-19 with New Delhi and provide necessary assistance in preventing its spread. India sent about 15 tonnes of medical assistance comprising masks, gloves and other emergency medical equipment to the coronavirus-hit Wuhan city on February 26 by a military plane, which also evacuated 112 Indians and several foreign nationals. In his media briefing here, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China is extending assistance and aid to local governments in 19 countries which have extended assistance to it when the coronavirus outbreak struck the country. Asked about the conspicuous absence of India in the 19 countries listed by him, Geng said India and China have an "unimpeded channel of exchanges and the exchange is close." After the outbreak of COVID-19, China and India have been in communication and there is cooperation between the two. Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a letter of sympathies with the Chinese side and the Indian foreign minister also spoke with the Chinese side over phone," he said. ALSO READ: Global death toll crosses 15,000, more than 1 billion people worldwide told to stay home "We have received assistance from the Indian side and we applaud that. We have a mechanism of exchanges and China has been notifying the information to India in a timely manner," he said. "We have also been providing assistance and necessary convenience to the Indians in China. We have been protecting their health and safety," he said. "As the pandemic spreads, we have also noted the situation in India. China and India are the only two countries with a population of over one billion. The virus is a challenge to all and we would like to share our experience with the Indian side and further provide necessary assistance to the Indian side," he said. Geng also pointed out India was part of a video conference conducted by the Chinese officials to share their COVID-19 experience with Eurasia and South Asian countries recently. South Asian countries including India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Maldives, Bangladesh participated in it, he said. Officials included those from health authorities, diplomatic services, national defence, customs civil aviation etc. The World Health Organisation delegates in the relevant countries also participated in the video conference, he said. The conference was a platform to share China's experience in epidemic prevention, diagnosis and control, treatment, supply guarantee, Geng said, adding that Chinese officials answered around 80 questions. Geng said the conference lasted for four hours and around 2,000 representatives participated in it. The participants think it is timely and necessary to learn from China's experience, he said. China, which is battling the coronavirus since January 23, has reported no new domestic cases of the COVID-19 on Sunday but reported nine deaths taking the death toll to 3,270 as it ramped up measures to strictly quarantine people coming from abroad. The overall confirmed cases on the Chinese mainland has reached 81,093 by the end of Sunday. It included 3,270 people who died of the disease, 5,120 patients still undergoing treatment, 72,703 patients discharged after recovery, according to China's National Health Commission. As the coronavirus infects more people around the world, conservationists are warning of the risk to another vulnerable species: Africa's endangered mountain gorilla. Congo's Virunga National Park, home to about a third of the world's mountain gorillas, is barring visitors until June 1, citing "advice from scientific experts indicating that primates, including mountain gorillas, are likely susceptible to complications arising from the COVID-19 virus." Neighboring Rwanda also is temporarily shutting down tourism and research activities in three national parks that are home to primates such as gorillas and chimpanzees. Mountain gorillas are prone to some respiratory illnesses that afflict humans. A common cold can kill a gorilla, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature, one reason why tourists tracking gorillas are not normally permitted to get too close. Around 1,000 mountain gorillas live in protected areas in Congo, Uganda and Rwanda, for whom tourism is an important source of revenue. But COVID-19 has led to restrictive measures. Virunga National Park's decision has been welcomed by conservationists in the region. Paula Kahumbu, chief executive of the Kenya-based conservation group WildlifeDirect, told The Associated Press that "every possible effort must be made" to protect mountain gorillas because so few are left in the wild. "We know that gorillas are very sensitive to human diseases," she said. "If anyone has a cold or a flu they are not allowed to go and see the gorillas. With coronavirus having such a long time of no symptoms in some cases, it means that we could actually put those gorillas at risk." Even existing measures may not be enough to protect them. According to Ugandan conservationist Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka with Conservation Through Public Health, a study published this year by her group and Ohio University showed that measures in place to protect gorillas from humans are not effective in practice. The rule on keeping a safe distance from the gorillas was broken almost every time a group of tourists visited, she said. "What the research found is that the 7-meter rule was broken almost all the time like 98% of the time," she said. "But what was interesting is that 60% of the time it was tourists that broke it and 40% of the time it was the gorillas who broke it." If close interaction cannot be prevented, she said, one measure that could potentially improve safety is requiring tourists to wear masks at all times. Uganda has not announced a shutdown of gorilla tourism, although tourist traffic from Europe and elsewhere has dwindled. A spokesman for the Uganda Wildlife Authority, Bashir Hangi, said the decision on whether to shut down gorilla tourism is now academic as there is almost no business amid the outbreak. Still, he said, the few tourists who come are screened for fever and other symptoms and must obey rules such as not standing within 7 meters (21 feet) of a gorilla family. Visitors from virus-affected countries who have gone through quarantine in Uganda need to produce what he called a certificate of isolation before they are permitted to track the gorillas. Amos Wekesa, whose Great Lakes Safaris organizes gorilla tours in Rwanda and Uganda, spoke mournfully of "hardly any business" as tourists postpone visits or seek refunds. The region's mountain gorilla population dropped sharply in the past century because of poaching, illness and human encroachment. Mountain gorillas have been listed as critically endangered or endangered since 1996, although their numbers are now said to be growing as a result of conservation efforts. But there have been painful losses. Some gorillas die of natural causes, falling from trees or being killed in fights between males for territory or dominance. A lightning strike killed four mountain gorillas in February. In Rwanda, where tourism is the top foreign exchange earner, the government has prioritized the protection of gorillas, even launching a naming ceremony for baby primates. Tourism revenue is key in protecting mountain gorillas as authorities can use some of the money to help local communities or invest in anti-poaching activities. A gorilla tracking permit costs up to $600 in Uganda, and thousands of tourists pay each year. A similar permit costs upward of $1,000 in Rwanda. Some worry the loss of tourist revenue during the coronavirus pandemic could further expose the primates to poachers. Virunga, established in 1925 as Africa's first national park and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has long been vulnerable in a volatile part of eastern Congo. "I think this is going to have a huge impact on their sustainability," Kahumbu, the Kenyan conservationist, said of Virunga. "I call on all donors and governments that support these national parks in Africa to make it easy for the parks that need to shut down to do so and survive." Poachers could do even more damage to gorillas if they think the anti-poaching efforts have been reduced, she said. The Pune city police have passed an order restricting assembly of five or more people in the city to avoid the spread of coronavirus. The order passed under Section 144 of CrPC restricts people to assemble at one place or organise any such event/programme where five or more people's gathering can be expected. The order also states that all establishments excluding emergency services and essentials should be completely closed in the city. Since curfew is already imposed in the city till 5 am Sunday, this fresh order shall come into effect post 5 am Sunday till March 31. Any citizen defying this order shall be punished under section 188 of IPC. Similar orders are passed by Pimpri-Chinchwad police Commissioner for the Pimpri-Chinchwad area and Collector has also passed similar order for the rural area of Pune. Hence section 144 is imposed in complete Pune district and assembly of people will not be allowed till 31 March applicable from Sunday morning at 5 a.m. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) People wearing protective masks on the streets after the start of quarantine in response to the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Caracas, Venezuela March 17, 2020. {Manaure Quintero/Reuters) Doctors Warn Loss of Smell Could Be a Coronavirus Symptom Symptoms should be part of 'list of screening tools,' group says A UK doctor group, the British Rhinological Society, has warned that a loss of smell or taste could be a symptom of the CCP virus, with a U.S. doctors group calling for the symptom to be added to a list of screening tools for the virus. Post-viral anosmia is one of the leading causes of loss of sense of smell in adults, accounting for up to 40 percent cases of anosmia, Professor Claire Hopkins wrote on Sunday in a report. Viruses that give rise to the common cold are well known to cause post-infectious loss, and over 200 different viruses are known to cause upper respiratory tract infections. Previously described coronaviruses are thought to account for 10-15% cases. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. It is therefore perhaps no surprise that the novel COVID-19 virus would also cause anosmia in infected patients, she said, adding that patients from Italy, China, and South Korea have been known to have the symptom. She said more than two-thirds of confirmed German patients have experienced it. In South Korea, where testing has been more widespread, 30 percent of patients testing positive have had anosmia as their major presenting symptom in otherwise mild cases, Hopkins wrote. A Chinese family wearing a protective facemask at a park in Beijing, China, on March 19, 2020. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images) The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery also wrote that symptoms of a lack of sense of smell or lack of taste should be used when attempting to identify patients. Anosmia, in particular, has been seen in patients ultimately testing positive for the coronavirus with no other symptoms, said the academy in a statement on Monday, adding that it would warrant serious consideration for self-isolation and testing of these individuals. Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert, who contracted the virus earlier in March, wrote on Twitter that he cant smell anything and believes its a symptom. Just to give you guys an update, loss of smell and taste is definitely one of the symptoms, havent been able to smell anything for the last 4 days. Anyone experiencing the same thing? he said. Meanwhile, a professor for ear, throat, and nose surgery in Australia echoed statements that loss of taste and smell should be tracked as a possible sign. It is these silent carriers who may remain undetected by current screening procedures, which may explain why the disease has progressed so rapidly in so many countries, Simon Carney, a professor at the Flinders University in Adelaide, told Bloomberg News. Health experts say that CCP virus symptoms include a dry cough, shortness of breath, and a fever, and that it can lead to pneumonia. The chief executive of Cork County Council has urged ratepayers and those renting local authority houses to immediately contact the council if they are experiencing hardship due to the Covid-19 outbreak. Tim Lucey told a council meeting that while there is no current legal basis to allow a rate concession or waiver, his officials will do their best to help ease the burden on businesses who have either had to close or scale back their activities. Any commercial ratepayers that have had to temporarily close or significantly curtail operations during the Covid-19 response period should contact Cork County Council immediately in relation to any rates payments falling due in the period to the end of May. Ratepayers experiencing difficulties are strongly encouraged to contact their area collector (contact details are on the 2020 rate bill) or the collection office (021-4285252) to discuss options and arrangements, Mr Lucey said. Ratepayers that can continue to pay their outstanding local authority rates should continue to do so in the normal way. I trust you will appreciate that Cork County Council has a long-established, solid relationship with our ratepayers, and this is a matter that we will be working to preserve at this difficult time. The key message to any concerned businesses or individuals is to engage early with the relevant section and Cork County Council will continue our history of engagement on a case by case basis to provide assistance and guidance to all our tenants, borrowers and ratepayers, Mr Lucey said. He added that all council tenants seeking a rent reduction due to loss of earnings or employment because of the pandemic should scan/post confirmation of reduced income from either their employer or the Dept of Employment Affairs and Social Protection to the following: HAP/RAS tenants can email same to hap@corkcoco.ie while Cork County Council tenants can email same to rentassessment@corkcoco.ie The postal address is: HAP/RAS - Housing Section, Floor 4, Cork County Council, Carrigrohane Road, Cork, Ireland Eircode: T12 R2N Cork County Council tenants - Rent Assessment Unit, Cork County Council Offices, Kent St., Clonakilty, Co. Cork. P85 X375. Mr Lucey said the council is in regular contact with the Department of Housing with regard to borrowers seeking a reduction/freeze on mortgage repayments due to loss of income and had been advised that a directive from the Department is imminent. Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi state, has gone into self-isolation after the son of the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, Mohammed tested positive to coronavirus. The governor is said to have shook hands with Mohammed Atiku, who is currently undergoing treatment for coronavirus. Read Also: COVID-19: Some Lawmakers Refusing Screening At Airports Presidency The governor had attended the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) meeting in Abuja last week Wednesday. The meeting, it was gathered, was presided over by the chairman, Kayode Fayemi, governor of Ekiti state. The NGF meeting was attended by several governors and deputy governors. The following day, the Bauchi governor was also at the breakfast meeting the governors had with the World Bank at Fraser Suites, located at the central business district Abuja. He was also present at the National Economic Council (NEC) presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo. On Monday, Osinbajo called off the commissioning of National Traffic Radio. No reasons were given, although this might be a precaution. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 18:04:53|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Due to China's new regulation of redirecting international flights scheduled to arrive in Beijing, travelers were advised Monday to "think twice" about choosing Beijing Capital International Airport for transferring to flights to other countries. Starting from Monday, all international flights scheduled to arrive in Beijing will be redirected to airports in 12 other Chinese cities, including Tianjin and Hohhot, said Liu Haitao, an official with China's National Immigration Administration. Passengers would go through entry procedures and quarantine measures at the designated cities' airports before they continue their flights to Beijing, Liu said, urging travelers to reserve enough time for their next flights to make sure that they do not miss their outbound flights. Will the coronavirus pandemic shut down grocery stores? The answer from state officials is a resounding no. To those stockpiling and leaving empty shelves for fellow shoppers, let that sink in for a minute. Gov. Charlie Bakers latest executive order reiterates the exemptions for grocery stores, pharmacies and convenience stores, labeling their employees as essential workers. We will always allow all grocery stores, pharmacies and other types of businesses that provide essential goods and services to Massachusetts residents to continue to operate, the Republican governor said on Monday. The order not only insists that grocery stores can stay open, it directs retailers to set aside specific hours where only people at higher risk can shop in hopes of keeping them safe from the spread of disease. People at higher risk include older adults, pregnant people, anyone with a weakened immune system and anyone with diabetes, lung disease or underlying heart conditions. Several grocery stores have already set aside special hours for at-risk shoppers, including Shaws, Whole Foods and BJs Wholesale Club. Grocery stores are also exempt from the executive orders on public gatherings. The latest restrictions from the state limit public gatherings to 10 people. Still, some grocery stores have been limiting how many customers they let into a store at one time. Good line spacing at Trader Joes, which is only letting 25 people in at a time... pic.twitter.com/jrp3Il4GQa John Schwartz (@jswatz) March 21, 2020 The latest restrictions closing non-essential businesses and requiring special hours for vulnerable populations at grocery stores take effect at noon Tuesday. Sign up for free text messages about important updates on coronavirus in Massachusetts Related Content: It looks bleak. But its looked bleak before, and were still here. This wont go on forever, says Sid Brown, chief executive of NFI, the $2 billion-a-year, Camden-based nationwide trucking and warehouse company that his grandfather Israel Brown started in the Depression year of 1932. Brown says he and other business owners have had to push national and state leaders to take practical steps to contain the coronavirus without shutting down vital services. We went ballistic when Pennsylvania shut flush toilets and other facilities at Turnpike and Interstate restrooms last Monday, Brown said. New Jersey was thinking about doing it, too. We told some of the politicians, You will kill us if you do this. You gotta make sure guys [supplying hospitals, grocers, and employers] can get to the bathroom and take a break. The national American Truckers Association asked President Trump to intervene. The state backed down: PennDot agreed Wednesday to open portable toilets at 17 of 46 shuttered highway rest stops, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike said it would reopen flush toilets and some food service at its service areas by this weekend. Were state and local leaders unprepared? We need to forget what wasnt prepared, and focus on what we need to do. Move forward. Solve the problem, Brown said. Is government moving slower than in past crises? Its no better. But information is instantaneous today, so its easier to see what hasnt been done. The group run by Brown and his brothers employs 12,600 warehouse workers, truck drivers and office staff, plus more than 1,000 contractors, at sites across the U.S. enclosing 50 million square feet of warehouse and other space, as big as all the offices in Center City Philadelphia. No layoffs, so far, though the Browns have had to shift drivers off routes that stopped supplying stores and factories shut by coronavirus fears. Two-thirds of the business is the basic staples food and groceries, water, beverages, paper. Stuff that people have to use every day, says Brown, 62. Its not glamorous. It grows with the population. But its steady-Eddie and it will be resilient in downturns." Indeed, right now our trucking operations are really busy moving all the things people are rushing out to buy. People are starting to understand we are not going to run out of toilet paper. But rubbing alcohol and some other basic cleaning agents are still in short supply. We are beginning to see some customers shutting their stores down TJ Maxx, Kohls," he said. "Their fleet deliveries are being scaled down. We are deploying those trucks into food, groceries, water. Its not just retail that is cutting back. Last fall NFI bought G&P Trucking, based in South Carolina, the latest of a string of purchases in the South, West, and Canada. They do a lot of automotive business. Thats starting to scale down, as auto plants send workers home. If it continues, we may have to have some of those guys work four days a week. NFI didnt have to do that in the Great Recession in the late 2000s. Its worse for the smaller, specialized truckers. A friend of mine hauled flowers, Colombian imports through the Port of Miami to florists. But now hes out of business. No ones doing shows or weddings or catering. If hes heavily leveraged [in debt] and wont make the payments, hell park the trucks. If hes got enough stability and enough pockets [of cash], hell survive. Or hell go bankrupt, and creditors will probably buy whats left of the business at a discount. A lot of the smaller truckers live on a very short string. They dont have reserves, they have nowhere to go when orders and credit dry up. Been here before? Its crazy, man. This is the fourth crisis in my lifetime, said Brown. During the savings-bank blowup of the late 1980s, we were one step away from bankruptcy" when lenders suddenly began calling in loan repayments. "That was a scary time. It was a shocking end to the easy-credit years of the Reagan administration. My first warehouses, in Florida and New Jersey, I got almost 100 percent (borrowed) financing, from lenders who didnt require the usual stiff down payments, he marveled. The banks were getting lots of money and they werent paying enough attention. He had borrowed a lot to buy trucks. The downturn hit with a double whammy too much leverage, not enough business. NFI rebuilt. A dozen years later, Brown bought into the internet bubble, I started a logistics company. I raised a lot of money on the outside. We were ahead of our time, setting up warehousing and fulfillment services to for companies online sales. We got Lowes as a customer. But there werent enough sales. Then there was the slowdown following the mortgage-banking crisis of 2008-09. A couple of big, New Jersey-based trucking companies heavily leveraged to private-equity investors failed, throwing thousands of non-union drivers out of work. Brown said NFI had avoided over-borrowing and didnt have to lay its people off. This time, Brown marveled how Amazon, the nations top retailer, has unilaterally announced it was going to stop carrying nonessential goods so it can haul more bottled water and medical supplies. Amazons decision will have ripple effects on the economy, 'If youre in the toy business or in the fan business or a lot of other nonconsumer-essential businesses, you just lost a major customer," Brown warned. Unlike Amazon, Walmart and Target have vast store networks where they can continue to hold and sell other items. Will suppliers hold Amazons failure against the company and seek rival places to sell? Amazon is so busy, they dont have to worry about that business," Brown said. "And I dont know that [suppliers] can quickly find another outlet. And thats the big question, for policymakers trying to keep Americans employed. With warehouses and truckers, "how do you keep them going, how do you keep your people safe? If you get somebody infected in your facility, you have to close the facility, you have to do a thorough cleaning. If you get a large outbreak, youll need a massive cleaning. You could be closed some time. So our No. 1 priority is to protect our people so we can keep operating. Traffic jams were witnessed at all the Delhi borders on Monday amid a lockdown imposed in the national capital to restrict the movement of people to contain the spread of COVID-19. Police barricaded roads and checked thoroughly those entering and leaving the national capital. All borders neighbouring the satellite cities -- Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad and Gurgoan -- witnessed traffic jams. Harshjeet Singh, an IT employee and a resident of Gurgoan, said he had gone to pick up his wife from the Delhi airport and it took him more than one-and-a-half hours to cross the border. "I had to pick up my wife from the airport who was coming from Pune as flights are being suspended from tomorrow. It took me over one-and-a-half hours to cross the border as there was intense checking," Singh said. Another Gurgaon resident Somvir Singh who wanted to go to a hospital in Vasant Kunj said he was told by police to visit a medical facility in the millennium city. "They were only allowing people who are Delhi residents to cross the Gurgaon border. It took me over an hour to actually reach the checking point on the border," he said. A 26-year-old mechanical engineer, who was on his way to office in Palwal, had to drive back home after police personnel did not allow him to cross the border. "As we deal in mechanical engineering, it is not possible for us to work from home. Today, we had a conference call with our senior and planned for the work post lockdown. But I had to drive back home as police did not allow me to cross the border," Rubal Sedhra said. The lockdown in Delhi will continue till midnight on March 31. No public transport will operate and Delhi's borders will remain sealed during the lockdown, but the essential services related to health, food, water and power supply will continue. The essential services excluded from restrictions include law and order, and magisterial duty, police, health, fire, prisons, fair price shops, electricity, water, municipal services, print and electronic media, teller operations including ATMs, food items, groceries, general provision stores, take-away delivery in restaurants, petrol pumps, LPG cylinder agencies, e-commerce of all essential goods. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin wants the Senate to act on his proposal to allow remote voting after Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul announced he has tested positive for the coronavirus and was revealed to have mingled with colleagues before getting the results. 'We should not be physically present on this floor at this moment,' said Durbin, the Number Two Democrat in the Senate. He invoked Paul, although not by name, hours after he revealed his diagnosis to the public as well as those who lunched and interacted with him. Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois is pushing a resolution to change Senate rules to allow for remote voting. He said staff is 'subjected to whatever we bring on the floor in terms of viral load. 'Five of our members did not vote yesterday on your side of the aisle. One has been diagnosed as having COVID-19. And the other four have self-quarantined because of concern about their own health,' said Durbin. 'It is naive for us to believe that that is the end of this challenge to our membership,' he added. Durbin and Republican Sen. Rob Portman have introduced a resolution that would change Senate rules to allow for remote voting. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has been cool to the idea. 'We'll not be doing that. There are a number of different ways to avoid getting too many people together,' he said days ago, before his home-state colleague got his positive test result. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) arrives at the U.S. Capitol for a vote on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. On Sunday his office announced he tested positive for the coronavirus Durbin pleaded with his colleagues, standing in a chamber steeped in tradition. 'I implore you to consider the bipartisan measure that senator Portman and I have offered for remote voting,' he said, 'We know better, and our staff is subjected to whatever we bring on the floor in terms of viral load. Let's think about this in human terms. Too many of our colleagues and their families are falling prey to this disease. We should change the rules of the senate to reflect humanity and reality,' he said. Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota announced Monday that her husband, John Bessler, had tested positive for the virus. Lawmakers were preparing for further spread, in a chamber with many members of advanced age. 'My husband has coronavirus. I love him & not being able to be by his side is one of the hardest things about this disease,' Klobuchar tweeted. 'So many are going through this & much worse. I pray for him & you & meanwhile I will do all I can to get help to the American people,' she added. Paul pushed back at critics Monday in a statement that confirmed he asked to get tested despite not meeting the normal protocol. 'For those who want to criticize me for lack of quarantine, realize that if the rules on testing had been followed to a tee, I would never have been tested and would still be walking around the halls of the Capitol,' he said. 'The current guidelines would not have called for me to get tested nor quarantined. It was my extra precaution, out of concern for my damaged lung, that led me to get tested,' he said. Paul's office announced he had tested positive Sunday afternoon. 'He is feeling fine and is in quarantine,' a tweet from his official Twitter account revealed. 'He is asymptomatic and was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive travel and events. He was not aware of any direct contact with any infected person. MEET THE PRESS -- Pictured: (l-r) Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) left, and and Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) right, appear on 'Meet the Press' in Washington, D.C., Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013. They are proposing to change Senate rules to allow for remote voting Senator Rand Paul has tested positive for coronavirus. He is pictured above Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol for a vote on a second COVID-19 funding bill already passed by the House 'He expects to be back in the Senate after his quarantine period ends and will continue to work for the people of Kentucky at this difficult time,' it continued. It soon became clear that Paul had lunched with a colleague, GOP Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, who went into self-quarantine, as did Sen. Mitt Romney, leaving the state without Senate representation. Romney's office said he 'sat next to Senator Paul for extended periods in recent days' and went into quarantine following Centers for Disease Control guidelines. Paul reportedly used the Senate gym, including its pool, Sunday morning before his office announced his test results. The string of tweets from Paul's suggested it was unlikely that anyone else in the office had contracted coronavirus from Paul considering 'Ten days ago, our D.C. office began operating remotely.' 'Virtually no staff has had contact with Senator Rand Paul,' his office said. Here Paul is seen sitting close with Florida Republican Marco Rubio during a GOP Senate luncheon on Friday Here Paul is pictured entering opening the door to the room where the luncheon is held The 57-year-old licensed physician is the first U.S. senator to test positive for coronavirus, but the third member of Congress to reveal he tested positive for the respiratory disease. Paul had held up and voted against a House bill providing $18 billion in funds to respond to the coronavirus. The libertarian was the only senator to cast a 'no' vote last week on it. Now that he is sidelined, he is unable to vote on a much larger bailout and response package being negotiated Monday. Two House members, Representatives Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida and Ben McAdams of Utah, revealed this week that they have also tested positive. He was also one of the just eight senators who voted against the phase two bill, which allocated $100 billion for economic stimulus as a result from fallout due to the coronavirus outbreak. 'Rand Paul has been diagnosed with COVID-19. Wish him the very best. He's compromised given health conditions he's had in the past. And so we'll be praying for him and thinking about it,' Romney told reporters at the Capitol Sunday, referencing Rand's previous medical issues following getting jumped by a neighbor in 2017. The assailant broke five of Paul's ribs and in August 2019, the senator had to have part of his lung removed as a result of the injuries he sustained during the attack. I took a picture inside the Senate GOP lunch when the door was open Friday and saw Rand Paul seated next to other senators. He is visible in this photo. pic.twitter.com/4qwZo5YdBs Manu Raju (@mkraju) March 22, 2020 'And, of course, all the senators are going to seek medical advice as to what action we should take to make sure that we don't, in any way, spread this virus, ourselves,' he continued. When asked about the GOP lunch, Romney confirmed Paul attended and suggested he came in close contact with many of the senators 'Yes, yes, we were in lunch together with Rand,' Romney said. 'Hope he's doing very well, but we have to determine whether any of us should self-quarantine as a result of being in the same room.' A CNN reporter also confirmed Paul was seen during the GOP luncheon Friday, seated directly next to other lawmakers. 'I took a picture inside the Senate GOP lunch when the door was open Friday and saw Rand Paul seated next to other senators,' CNN's Senior Congressional Correspondent Manu Raju tweeted along with a photo. Paul is the third member of Congress who announced they were diagnosed with the virus. Two House members, Representatives Mario Diaz Balart (left) of Florida and Ben McAdams (right)of Utah, revealed this week that they have also tested positive Paul's announcement comes as senators are on the Hill in the midst of negotiating the coronavirus economic stimulus bill. By Glen Ford March 22, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - The epidemic reveals the stark truth, that the US dismantled and privatized its public health system, to fatten the pockets of the oligarchy and render working people more helpless and dependent. Citizens have become aware that the oligarchs their rulers -- are the vectors of mass insecurity, sickness and death. The nation that considers itself to be the apex of capitalist achievement on planet Earth turns out to have no health care system worthy of the name a testament to the sucking moral vacuum at Americas imperial, white settler colony core. A lowly virus a form of being that exists at the very border between life and not-life has revealed the worlds superpower as butt-naked and very much afraid. The systemis failing. Lets admit it, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, on March 14 at a White House briefing. Faucis outfit is one of 27 institutes and centers that make up the National Institutes of Health under the umbrella of the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and its Epidemic Intelligence Service. But this vast alphabet soup of agencies could not find enough coronavirus testing kits to cope with an outbreak in the tiniest Pacific island micro-state -- much less a nation of 330 million. As of March 11, the U.S. had tested only 7,000 people in the most ad hoc and scientifically unproductive manner imaginable. By March 17, the total national count stood at 54,087 tests given, with 5,723 positive and 90 recorded deaths. But the pattern of testing is everywhere inadequate and in some states all but non-existent, ranging from 12,486 tested persons in Washington, the second-hardest hit state, to only 146 tested persons in Georgia. All 146 tested Georgians are also listed as infected, which indicates that Georgia only tests people that show up very sick at its hospitals. New York, with the highest number of infected, had only tested 7,206 people as of early this week, with a relatively high percentage of them infected. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter This vast alphabet soup of agencies could not find enough coronavirus testing kits to cope with an outbreak in the tiniest Pacific island micro-state -- much less a nation of 330 million. These are not statistics of a failing health care system, but of a country that has no system the conclusion reached by former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich. The dirty little secret, which will soon become apparent to all, is that there is no real public health system in the United States, wrote Reich in his Newsweek column. America is waking up to the fact that it has almost no public capacity to deal with it. Instead of a public health system, we have a private for-profit system for individuals lucky enough to afford it and a rickety social insurance system for people fortunate enough to have a full-time job. There are no buttons for the Centers for Disease Control to push in response to the epidemic, because decades of corporate duopoly privatization has hollowed out the U.S. public health sector, so that it barely functions on good days. Even the Veterans Administration hospital system, the closest thing the U.S. has to socialized medicine on the British model, has been forced by corporate members of Congress to outsource much of its services to for-profit companies and cut in-house treatment capacity to the bone. This is the creative destruction that the oligarchs who own the U.S. brag about -- their great contribution to civilization. Thus, local, state and federal officials must resort to calling on the Army Corps of Engineers to build the needed hospital beds from the ground up, while the epidemic rages, citing the U.S. military experience with ebola in West Africa. If that is the rationale, then the U.S. should also call on Cuba for rescue from the coronavirus, since Havana sent 256 doctors, nurses and other health professionals to provide direct care to ebola victims while the U.S. military refused to touch even one sick African. Officials must resort to calling on the Army Corps of Engineers to build the needed hospital beds from the ground up, while the epidemic rages. Poor Bernie Sanders. Had the epidemic struck a month earlier, it would have provided a ghastly mass education on the non-existent state of the U.S. public health system, presumably resulting in landslide support for the Medicare-for-All advocate. But then, maybe not. When U.S. realities are filtered through a monopoly corporate media lens, truth becomes as scarce as the hospital beds, ventilators and protective gear that is missing from the public health sphere. The Black political (misleadership) class, which is wholly answerable to one of the corporate parties responsible for systematically destroying public health care, would still have endorsed the oligarchs' champion, Joe Biden, as instructed and then blamed the epidemic on Trump. However, as Robert Reich noted, the system would be failing even under a halfway competent president. Competence cant provide beds, kits, gear, equipment, medicines and doctors and nurses that dont exist. Not soon enough, but very shortly, much of the nation will learn more than they ever wanted to about the pathology of late stage, Race to the Bottom capitalism, under the most stressful circumstances of curfew, economic panic, and mass sickness and death. Just as there is no public health system because the Lords of Capital grew fatter through the wholesale privatizing of health services, so have these same oligarchs prospered from the unrelenting assault on the rest of the social safety net, and from the imposition of the shit job, gig economy. The goal of the austerity regime and gig employment is to make working people so insecure, so desperate, that they will accept any job, at any wage, under any conditions and schedule. To achieve this capitalists nirvana, the state must be stripped of the tools that previous generations created to provide working people with healthier and more economically secure lives. These are the same tools that are missing, thanks to privatizing capitalist stooges like Joe Biden, now that the epidemic has hit. Much of the nation will learn more than they ever wanted to about the pathology of late stage, Race to the Bottom capitalism. There are now no easy buttons to push to force employers to pay workers that obey civil authorities instructions to stay home, or to compel private medical corporations to forego anticipated profits by turning over their inventories and facilities to the State, for the sake of the common good. Therefore, corporate politicians, from Trump down, are proposing one-time payouts of cash for the commoners, in addition to the usual trillions in bailouts and gifts to corporations and banks. In the absence of a real system of labor regulation enforcement, or an unemployment compensation structure that could actually reach most of the working population, helicopter money is the quickest and best that the corporate-owned state can do. More importantly, the one-off payouts leave no trace of a safety net behind, once the epidemic is over. The Race to the Bottom can resume under calmer circumstances (the Lords of Capital dearly hope). Of course, that assumes the stock market was reacting to the global spread of coronavirus when it lost the most points in history this month, rather than unraveling of its own contradictions. It appears to many observers that late stage capitalism -- and its protective armor, U.S. imperialism are suffering from multiple crises, and deeply sick. The price of Texas crude has dropped to about $25, a symptom of a profound slowdown in the world economy. The capitalist crisis of legitimacy may have passed the point of no-return, as the Corporate State proves daily that it cannot perform the basic function of protecting the lives of its citizens. And those citizens have become aware that the oligarchs their rulers -- are the vectors of mass insecurity, sickness and death. President Trump, through his Department of Housing and Urban Development, has suspended all evictions and foreclosures until the end of April -- a move that candidate and president Barack Obama refused to make, at the height of the 2007-08 crisis. If even the worst president in history takes such a step, the Democratic opposition will find it difficult to resist much more comprehensive demands from its base with or without an active Sanders movement. The austerity Race to the Bottom regime may become a casualty of the coronavirus. Meanwhile China, the society that presents the largest threat to U.S. world domination, appears to have pulled itself out of health crisis through the exertions of its amazing command economy. The Chinese have delivered 10,000 coronavirus kits to Poland and are airlifting masks, respirators and other critical supplies to Italy to make up for Germany and Frances refusal to provide these vital medical goods to their European Union partner. Just as China pulled the planet out of the Great Recession, it may also emerge even stronger from the Coronaviris crisis. Aunty Maxine (Waters) and Uncle Jim (Clyburn) can rally frightened Black voters around Biden and other corporate servants, but they cannot save the system from its internal contradictions. The Black Misleaders days are also numbered, along with their masters. BAR executive editor Glen Ford can be contacted at Glen.Ford@BlackAgendaReport.com. " Source " The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has declared the emergency situation regime in Donetsk, Ternopil and Cherkasy regions to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced this on Telegram following an extraordinary government meeting on March 23. "The Cabinets extraordinary meeting was held today. The Government decided to introduce an emergency situation regime in Donetsk, Ternopil and Cherkasy regions in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The relevant decisions were previously taken by the regional commissions on technogenic and environmental safety and on emergency situations in connection with the confirmation of coronavirus cases," Shmyhal wrote. Thus, the emergency regime has already been declared in nine regions. As previously reported, the emergency regime was introduced in the city of Kyiv, Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi and Zhytomyr regions. As of the morning of March 23, Ukraine had 73 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19, three of which were lethal. One patient recovered. ish The Narendra Modi government has to move fast to approve the Finance Bill 2020 as it also looks to adjourn the budget session in the wake a virtual lockdown by various states and health advisories against large gatherings following the Covid-19 outbreak. The finance bill, which allows the government to raise new taxes and change the tax structures, is required to be passed by the Lok Sabha. Failure to pass the finance billor any money billmeans that the government must resign as it cant raise taxes or spend money from the federal exchequer. While the government enjoys absolute majority in the Lok Sabha, the problem with this years finance bill lies elsewhere. According to Article 109(2) of the Indian Constitution, After a Money Bill has been passed by the House of the People (Lok Sabha) it shall be transmitted to the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) for its recommendations and the Council of States shall within a period of fourteen days from the date of its receipt of the Bill return the Bill to the House of the People with its recommendations and the House of the People may thereupon either accept or reject all or any of the recommendations of the Council of States. The Constitution also says in Article 109 (5) that if a Money Bill is not returned to the House of the People within the said period of fourteen days, it shall be deemed to have been passed by both Houses. So, to clear the Finance Bill 2020, the government not only needs approval of the Lok Sabha but also has to get it returned from the Rajya Sabha. But time is running out for the government as the bill has to be passed by Parliament by March 31 to allow the government tweak its existing tax structure. And so, it doesnt have the luxury to wait for another 14 days to see the bill automatically getting the Rajya Sabhas approval. The government not only has to pass the bill in the Lok Sabha but also needs it back from the Rajya Sabha in a breakneck speed, as it looks to close the session as early as possible. Parliament insiders say that it is possible only if the government works in a lightning speed and take the Opposition into confidence. It also has to convince the President of India as any movement of the bill from one House to another cant happen without the Presidents approval. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Arya Dipa (The Jakarta Post) Bandung Mon, March 23, 2020 22:14 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206cf3393 1 National coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-Indonesian-patients,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,West-Java Free Yana Mulyana, the deputy mayor of Bandung in West Java, confirmed on Monday that he had tested positive for coronavirus disease COVID-19. "My test result shows that I am positive for COVID-19," Yana announced his test result on his Instagram account. Yana said he took the test a few days ago while suffering from a fever -- one of the common symptoms of the disease. The deputy mayor claimed that he had been in self-quarantine for 11 days and would continue staying in isolation for the next few days. Prior to showing the symptoms, Yana attended an event held by the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association in Karawang regency, also in West Java, on March 9-10. With the confirmation, the Bandung deputy mayor has become the latest local leader to test positive for COVID-19. Bima Arya, the mayor of Bogor city in West Java, recently tested positive for coronavirus. Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi has also tested positive for COVID-19. West Java information center for COVID-19 recorded 59 positive cases in the province as of Monday afternoon. There have been nine fatalities, while five patients have recovered from the disease. More than 2,500 residents in the province are currently under surveillance for the disease. At least 385 people have been admitted to isolation wards at a number of hospitals across the province, with 93 patients having finished their quarantine sessions while 292 others are still in hospital. M. Kamaruzzaman, a director of Hasan Sadikin Hospital in Bandung, said separately that the hospital had so far accommodated 27 patients under surveillance for COVID-19. "Ten new cases have just arrived [on Monday]," he said, adding that seven of the patients were COVID-19 positive. Five of the patients under surveillance died during their isolation at the hospital. Only two of them had been confirmed positive for the virus. (vny) While police officers stereotypically reach for doughnuts as their go-to food, the Memorial Village Police Department is about to get a lesson in upgrading the foodie scene. A local woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, is reportedly showing her appreciation for the extra lengths the Memorial Village Police Department has been going to help citizens under its watch during the pandemic, decided to do something nice back, according to a news release. In the effort to show her appreciation, the woman also wanted to help her favorite west Houston restaurant. So, she contacted Bistro Provence and ordered nearly two dozen full meals from the restaurant to be delivered to the police station. On Tuesday, coq au vin is scheduled to be delivered to the men and women at the police station. The French dish and sides is scheduled to be delivered at noon for the day shift and again at 7 p.m. for the night shift. Coq au vin is a French dish of chicken braised with wine, lardons, mushrooms and garlic. I love this police department and am happy to tell them thank you this way, especially because it helps Bistro Provence during a really hard time, the anonymous donor said. Even more important, though, I hope this gets other people to show their appreciation to first responders and healthcare workers by buying food for them from their own favorite restaurants. What a way to appreciate one group by helping another. Bistro Provence is owned by Genevieve Guy and is located at 13616 Memorial Drive near Wilcrest. The restaurant closed its dining room as required on March 17. Since then, it has been selling its dishes for curbside pick up and for delivery in the immediate area. For more information, call 713-827-8008 or go to www.bistroprovence.us. rkent@hcnonline.com By Jun Ji-hye Police have booked a staff member of Korea University for accessing personal data of dozens of international students at the college in order to sexually harass them, according to police and school officials Monday. Seoul Seongbuk Police Station said its officials are investigating the Personal Information Protection Act violation by the staff member, identified by only by his last name Park, who has worked at the global service center of the university since March 16. Park allegedly sent text messages on Kakao Talk to about 40 Chinese students at the university, saying things such as "I fell in love with you at first sight," "I want to learn more about you," and "I am a good guy." He began sending such messages from his first day on the job. When several students asked about how he got their contact details, he responded, "I was lucky," or "I saw it on the school website." Students who received the messages made a report to the school with the assistance of a student organization. The university reported the incidents to the police, March 20, and is initiating procedures to cancel the employment contract with Park. "We gave the employee written notice of cancellation of the employment contract," a Korea University official said. The university is working to survey the entire international student body to determine if there have been other victims. A police official said, "We are investigating how the students' personal information was leaked and the scale of the leakage." Burma Myanmars Military Braced for Coronavirus Outbreak: Spokesman Military personnel spray disinfectant at a hospital on March 20 as a preventive measure against COVID-19. / Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Services Office Naypyitaw Myanmars military is ready to address a possible coronavirus outbreak, armed forces spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun has told reporters, as Myanmar stepped up preventive measures. We have systematically designed response plans regarding COVID-19 and will take all the practical measures, he said on Sunday. Led by the Directorate of Medical Services, which commands the Myanmar Army Medical Corps, a coronavirus control committee is educating the public, networking with civil agencies and training military medics to treat COVID-19 patients. The regional commands have also been instructed to cooperate in monitoring and controlling COVID-19 and providing treatment for patients, he said. The Tatmadaw (military) has also prepared military hospitals to be used as quarantine centers and had put medical teams on alert, he added. The military had distributed 58 medicines to treat COVID-19 to hospitals with 300 beds and more across Myanmar and also distributed four kinds of protective equipment to 68 hospitals. Armed Forces Day on Friday is being postponed despite plans to make the 75th anniversary of the victory over the Japanese larger than normal. We had made a lot of preparations for this event because silver, gold and diamond jubilees are rare, said Brig-Gen Zaw Min Tun. The coronavirus outbreak has spread to 177 out of 194 members of the World Health Organization, according to the Ministry of Health and Sports. The death toll from the virus topped 14,000 on Sunday. Around 200 people, most of whom have returned from countries experiencing an outbreak, are in quarantine in Myanmar. No confirmed cases have been reported in the country. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko You may also like these stories: How a Mass Pilgrimage at a Malaysian Mosque Became a Coronavirus Hotspot Mandalay to Screen Chinese Visitors Amid Coronavirus Scare First Group of Japanese Evacuees From Wuhan Completes Quarantine Tougher restrictions to clamp down on flagrant breaches of social distancing rules in outdoor areas are expected, as Covid-19 claimed the life of a fourth person and the number of patients in intensive care rose to 17. The National Public Health Emergency Team is likely to recommend restrictions on gathering in parks, playgrounds and public spaces. Read More Hospitals are geared up for the worst week yet in the crisis, with a big daily surge in the number of new cases. It emerged a man suffering from the virus in the east of the country, who had underlying health problems, had died and a further 121 tested positive, pushing the total so far to 906. The good weather yesterday drew large groups to popular outdoor sites including Sandymount beach in Dublin. Local residents in popular tourist destinations were seriously concerned at the influx of day-trippers. Health Minister Simon Harris warned that some public areas may be shut to visitors, and said Wicklow County Council was right to restrict car parking and food outlets in Glendalough. "I am very pleased that the council stepped in there and said we can't properly social distance here so we're shutting down the car park, we're shutting down the premises and that's the sort of decisive action that needs to be taken." "Perhaps greater guidance in relation to playgrounds and public spaces could be useful as well, and perhaps greater guidance and support for businesses too," Mr Harris told RTE Morning Ireland. Mr Harris added: "Tony Holohan, the chief medical officer, will analyse all of these things, he will look at the current restrictions and how well does he think they're working and he will give us a view on that. "He'll also look at any further measures that we should take. What we're trying to do here, though, is make sure we can look after the wellbeing of all our people, their mental health and their ability to get out and have a walk, but that's very different to people going to a crowded park together - that's just not on." Meanwhile, Wicklow County Council has announced its decision to shut the Bray and Greystones cliff walk from today until further notice. Playgrounds and public toilets at Bray seafront have also been closed. Gardai, who assisted ambulance staff with five cases involving young people yesterday, urged parents to "step up to the mark" in ensuring their children comply with social distancing rules. Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said there were encouraging signs that more contacts of people who tested positive were from the same household - which indicates that social distancing is having some impact already. The Department of Health said 211 patients had now been hospitalised with the virus - a significant jump in recent days as it has now spread to all 26 counties. More than one in five of those who have tested positive are healthcare workers. An analysis of the 712 positive cases on Friday night showed a third of those hospitalised were over 65. As several medics called for more extreme measures to slow the spread, Dr Holohan insisted that if the current restrictions were not having an impact, the expert group would not hesitate to recommend they be escalated. The HSE said 41 of a planned 50 test centres would be available by tomorrow to take swab tests and a big effort would be made to clear a backlog of 40,000 people, who are waiting an average of five days. Questioned on the level of intensive care beds in hospitals, which could be swamped by very ill patients, HSE chief Paul Reid said critical care capacity had been increased. There were about 500 intensive care and higher dependency unit beds between public and private hospitals, he said. Due to cancellation of a high volume of procedures and the movement of patients, there were 2,233 beds free in hospitals to cope with the increase in numbers having to be admitted this week, said HSE official Dr Ann O'Connor. Read More Questioned on the supply of protective equipment for health staff who risk getting infected, Mr Reid said the HSE had spent 60m on it since January and some 240m would be invested this year. He said he had been in contact with suppliers in China and a 28m supply is due. Tadhg Daly of Nursing Homes Ireland said the sector had contingency plans in place to cope with Covid-19. The sector "would have very well established infection control procedures" and deals with infections such as winter vomiting and flu outbreaks every winter, he pointed out. However, he said that the current situation was "completely unprecedented". "We took a decision on March 6 to restrict visitors and I think we were ahead of the curve in that respect." Meanwhile, McDonald's will close all its restaurants across the country by 7pm today in response to the crisis. We care about the health of the people in the businesses we serve, and were driven to support the health of their businesses as well. Headquartered in La Jolla, California, The Leadership Edge, a life sciences organizational development company, just announced its plan to immediately transition one of its signature programs, From the Laboratory to Leadership, to online delivery in response to the Coronavirus. The program will be offered exclusively online as long as social distancing and working remotely is in place. During this time, the team is moving the popular program from a brick and mortar, group learning environment to a live webinar-based program while maintaining its relevant content, dynamic exercises and relationship building components. From the Laboratory to Leadership is well known for its highly engaging and interactive style threaded with exercises that anchor the learning and enable graduates to apply skills assimilated well into the future. The new technology platform supports a dynamic and interactive experience and will feature a live presenter much like current face-to-face workshops. Participants can interact as a group and use virtual break out rooms for smaller group discussions. While the Strategic Plan we finalized in the fall includes expansion to include online learning and development as one modality in 2020, we immediately accelerated the plan to extend our programs to an online platform so we could help address concerns over the spread of COVID-19 said Gaylene Xanthopoulos, founder and president of The Leadership Edge. At a time when physical separation is necessary and people are working from home, it can feel very isolating. Virtual learning can help maintain connections with colleagues, bridge the gap of isolation and support a healthy company culture. At the same time, our online programs support organizational needs for professional development and maximizing time away from the office. We care about the health of the people in the businesses we serve, and were driven to support the health of their businesses as well. The first online From the Laboratory to Leadership is scheduled to take place on March 23, 2020, in San Diego, followed by another program in San Francisco on March 26, 2020, and the team is rapidly working to transition all of their other programs to include an online format. The team moved quickly to speed implementation in a two week period with a focus on doing what they teach. Stay calm, develop a plan and get ahead of the challenge. Live programs will resume, alongside online options, once Coronavirus concerns are quelled. To date the change in format has been met with appreciation and a 100% adoption rate from those enrolled, with no participants opting out of the program. About The Leadership Edge Launched in 1989, The Leadership Edge profoundly impacts the pace, performance and culture of the most innovative life science companies in the world. Working from the boardroom to the bench, they are the partner of choice to over 6,500 leaders in more than 600 companies. The groups proven Assess, Guide, Develop, formula empowers an industry that is driving life changing therapies, diagnostics and devices to reach their goals faster, more cost effectively and safely. The Leadership Edge is driven by the possibility of a future where cures replace treatments, and the health of humanity thrives. On the occasion of Martyrs' Day (Shaheed Diwas), Kangana Ranaut paid tributes to freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev and remembered their sacrifice. She recited Kaifi Azmi's song 'Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Sathiyo' to pay respects. Kangana's sister Rangoli Chandel shared a video on Twitter in which the actor is seen clad in a pink saree with a gold necklace and earrings. In the video, Kangana, who is celebrating her 33rd birthday today, thanked her fans for the immense love and wishes. The 'Queen' actor then remembered the sacrifice of the freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, who gave away their life for the freedom of India from the British. She recited 'Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan' and remembered the ones who lost their lives. Rangoli captioned the video post on Twitter as, "Dear friends Kangana thanking you all for wishing her on her Birthday also she sang few lines for our Martyrs, Jai Hind ." Fans were quick to respond to the noteworthy post and lauded her move to remember the brave hearts. Annually, March 23 is observed as Shaheed Diwas to pay tribute to Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar, the Indian revolutionaries who were hanged by the British Government in 1931. The trio in 1928 was found guilty of the murder of deputy police superintendent J.P. Saunders, whom they held responsible for the death of Lala Lajpat Rai. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Beloved ORU grounds manager, Pentecostal minister is first coronavirus death in Oklahoma Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Rev. Merle Dry, a beloved grounds manager at Oral Roberts University and Pentecostal minister, became the first casualty of the deadly coronavirus in Oklahoma last Wednesday. He was 55. Drys death was announced Wednesday night by Metro Pentecostal Church, led by Don Martin, in Tulsa where he served. It is with great sadness that I have to announce our dear Bro Merle Dry made his journey from earth to glory at 8:01pm. Sis Dry and family are under quarantine and cannot receive guests. Please text her instead of calling. Thanks to everyone for your prayers. We need the hand of God to guide us. He was so loved by the Metro Pentecostal Church. Details of his funeral will be forthcoming, a statement on the churchs Facebook page said. The statement also sought to clarify what it termed misinformation regarding Drys health explaining that as far as the church knew, Dry had no underlying illness prior to his death from the coronavirus. Merle Dry was in good health as far as we all knew. He was fighting a cold and then he contracted the coronavirus. He was diagnosed on Tuesday and passed away on Wednesday. He was unable to breathe, the church continued, noting that the pastor was a member of the Cherokee Nation. Because of his cold, Dry had not been attending church and leaders are taking all precautions to allow the virus to die out in the area he would have been in, the church added. Dry was described as an authentic person who loved people. In announcing his death, Tulsa Health Department Executive Director Dr. Bruce Dart called it a tragedy. This is a tragedy for our community. In these unprecedented times, everyone feels the weight of this loss. COVID-19 has impacted our community on a monumental level, but today I ask you to take a moment to pause and recognize that a family has lost their loved one. Our thoughts and prayers are with them, Dart said in a statement cited by NewsOn6. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt also offered prayers for Drys family. I am deeply saddened to learn of Oklahomas first death from COVID-19. Sarah and I send our sincere condolences and ask Oklahomans to join us in praying for his family and loved ones, Stitt said. My highest priority is the safety and well-being of every Oklahoman and I will deploy every resource available to protect the health of all of our families, friends, and neighbors. Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. of the Cherokee Nation also urged citizens to be safe as he offered prayers for Drys family. For months, we watched this virus from afar, and now with the passing of a Cherokee Nation citizen in Tulsa County, we hope people understand this has now hit home and is a very real pandemic that can affect anyone of us. We ask that everyone take real safety precautions and on behalf of the Cherokee Nation, our thoughts and prayers are with the Dry family at this time and we are so very sorry for this tragic loss, he said. Dry leaves behind his wife Carrie; son, Jesse, 22; and daughter, Pamela, 17. Hero MotoCorp has decided to halt operations at all its global manufacturing facilities - including in India, Colombia and Bangladesh and the Global Parts Centre (GPC) at Neemrana with immediate effect until 31 March 2020. This is considering the safety and wellbeing of its employees as top priority in view of the escalating COVID19 situation. Mahindra & Mahindra said in light of heightened concern on spread of CoronaVirus in the State of Maharashtra, the company decided to suspend the manufacturing operations at Nagpur Plant with immediate effect and Chakan (Pune) and Kandivali (Mumbai) from Monday, 23 March 2020 night onwards. Tata Motors said in light of the ongoing coronavirus situation, Jaguar Land Rover has confirmed that it will temporarily suspend production at its UK manufacturing facilities over the course of next week. The company's intention is to resume in the week of 20 April 2020, subject to review of the rapidly-changing circumstances. Escorts informed that Kubota Corporation (Kubota), will acquire 10% equity stake at Rs 850 per share. Kubota's investment will constitute 9. 1% of the equity stake on a pre capital reduction or 10% on a post capital reduction basis for a total investment of Rs 10, 419, 034, 800. Lupin announced the launch of Betamethasone Dipropionate Ointment USP (Augmented), 0.05%, having received an approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) earlier. The product would be manufactured at Lupin's Pithampur (Unit Ill) facility, India. Welspun Corp informed that one of the orders planned from the USA facility has been deferred. The customer communicated that owing to the unprecedented energy environment, execution of this order of 159 KMT slated for FY20-21 will be deferred for a period of 9 months. Despite this deferment, order book stands at approximately 1 million MT. GML Infrastructure said that MIHAN India, the concessioning authority for development of Nagpur Airport has annulled the bidding process for the upgradation, modernization, operation and maintenance of Nagpur Airport, previously awarded to the GMR Airports (GAL), a subsidiary of the company. GAL and its associates have initiated for appropriate legal remedies in this regard. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, and Josh Gottheimer, R-N.J., on Saturday led a bipartisan group of 14 members of Congress to take a stand to support small businesses, gig workers, independent contractors, and freelance workers in direct response to the impact that the novel coronavirus is having on the American economy, local communities, and families. The members are calling on Senate leadership to consider extending Unemployment Insurance for gig and freelance workers, raising the U.S. Small Business Administrations (SBA) maximum loan amount, allowing the SBA to provide direct loans, and extending the payroll tax credit to businesses beyond the 500-employee limit. We request immediate action to provide further support for small businesses, their employees, and workers who may not be traditionally covered by unemployment insurance. This request is in direct response to the impact that the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is having on our local communities and the small businesses, workers and families who have been adversely impacted by loss of businesses, closures and illness, wrote the members in a letter to Senate leadership. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that millions of Americans work as freelance employees, independent contractors, or participate in the gig economy. Many of these workers are not covered by traditional unemployment insurance and work in industries negatively impacted by the coronavirus. The members are calling for: Protecting gig workers negatively impacted by these adverse economic conditions by expanding supplemental unemployment assistance to freelance, contract, gig, or other workers who are otherwise ineligible for unemployment benefits under current Federal or state law. Boosting SBA loans for small businesses to remain operational and to pay their employees by bolstering the Small Business Administration (SBA) 7(a) loan guaranty program, either by raising the maximum loan guaranty percentage to a minimum of 90%, from the current 75% for loans greater than $150,000, and to raise the maximum loan amount to $7.5 million, from the current $5 million. This would immediately allow small businesses to have access to funds and provide greater certainty for lenders that participate in the program. Improving flow of funds to small businesses in need by supporting solutions that provide direct and immediate access to loans through the SBA, to relieve the burden on private-sector financial institutions in the face of higher demand, as well as considering additional allocation of resources to allow the SBA to safely, quickly and effectively process these loans to the businesses that need them most. Improving access to paid leave tax credits for mid-sized businesses by extending the credit to businesses with more than 500 employees. This will increase certainty surrounding paid leave and allow more individuals and businesses to utilize the House-passed paid leave tax credits, regardless of their size or organizational structure. Watching cable news these days, it is difficult to know which is greater: the rise in Chinese Coronavirus cases worldwide or the panic and sense of doom for those unable to work, travel, or freely associate with others. The media are in overdrive, under the journalistic principle of "if it bleeds, it leads." Predictions of an exponential rise in illnesses and hospitalizations are a cable news staple this week, with many reports suggesting that America is just a few weeks behind Italy. Rather than offering calm, USA Today warned, "Too many coronavirus patients, too few ventilators: Outlook in US could get bad, quickly." Referring to Italy, the publication reports, "Italy's hospitals are choosing who gets lifesaving breathing machines and who does not." In other words, death panels and rationing. This is what's ahead for the U.S., the media claim, even without Bernie Sanders's "Medicare-For-All" scheme. "US hospitals are on the cusp of too many severely ill patients without enough intensive care unit beds and ventilators to keep those patients breathing," warns USA Today. What is left out of the story is why Italy has so many cases of a Chinese virus. If calling the virus "Chinese Coronavirus" or the "Wuhan virus" is deemed racist, despite a long tradition of naming infectious diseases based on their origin, we can call it the "Belt and Road virus." YouTube screen grab. A Chinese newspaper headline from last year makes the connection: "Italy aims to develop closer trade ties with China through Belt and Road." Business ties between Italy and China provided not just a road, but a superhighway for the coronavirus to travel from Wuhan to Milan. How's that globalism working out? The world has luxury handbags and clothes with labels from Gucci and Prada, but Italy has Chinese workers manufacturing those items, and now a deadly virus. Italy has a tight Chinese connection, and not the Bruce Lee movie variety of the same name. From the South China Morning Post, "[t]he Chinese began migrating to Italy about 30 years ago but numbers have swelled in the past decade, bringing the total population to about 300,000." A travel website shows nine inexpensive flight options between China and Italy. A Chinese couple from Wuhan took advantage of these travel opportunities in mid-January, visiting Verona, Parma, and Rome before becoming febrile and quarantined in hospital, testing positive for the virus. How many Italians did this couple encounter in restaurants and shops? The Wuhan virus was well known at the time, yet Italy was unconcerned, with travel and commerce proceeding as usual with China. An Italian virologist observed, "The Italian government lagged at first. It was lazy in the beginning...too much politics in Italy." A few weeks later, rather than social distancing, Italian officials recommended social intimacy. The woke Florence mayor encouraged Italians to "hug a Chinese." How did that work out? How many Italians died of the coronavirus due to political correctness? Mid-January brought the annual Wuhan Lunar New Year banquet. How many Chinese nationals living in Italy traveled home to Wuhan to visit friends and family, bringing the virus back to Italy when they returned? Italy is also an old country, at least in terms of percentage of the population older than age 65. Italy ranks number two in the world behind Japan, with 22.4 percent of their citizens age 65 or older, the high-risk population for coronavirus deaths. While Italy now leads the world in coronavirus deaths, passing the country of origin China a few days ago, "99% of those who died from virus had other illnesses," according to Bloomberg. In other words, if it hadn't been Wuhan coronavirus this month, it might have been pneumonia or heart failure next month. Smoking is another Italian problem. Twenty-eight percent of Italians smoke, lower than China at 48 percent, but higher than the U.S. at 20 percent. Smoking is one more risk factor contributing to the high death rate in Italy. Instead, the media blame the lack of ICU beds, not political correctness, woke Italian politicians, Italian demographics, or China's Belt and Road running roughshod through Italy. Italy has a great health care system, we are told. International living encourages would-be ex-pats, "Italy ranks among the World Health Organization's top 10 countries for quality health services (by contrast, the U.S. only holds 37th place, despite being the highest spender)." So why is Italy in such a medical crisis, leading the world in coronavirus deaths? Perhaps the U.S. health care system isn't that bad, and we have more ventilators than the hair-on-fire media claim. Health care policy wonks know all about the "Triple Aim" and "bending the cost curve" but are probably are not versed in how many intensive care unit beds we have compared to other countries. These critical care beds include ventilators, which approximate the number of beds. A 2012 paper in Intensive Care Medicine looked at critical care beds per capita in Europe. Germany led the way with 29 ICU beds per 100,000 population. Italy had less than half that number at 13 beds. Interestingly, farther down was Denmark, Bernie Sanders's ideal country, with only 7 beds per capita. With our health care system barely keeping up with Cuba, according to health care policy expert Michael Moore, the U.S. should be pulling up the rear in this metric compared to the rest of Europe. How does the U.S. compare? Another paper from 2015 answers that question. In the U.S., ICU beds per 100,000 population was significantly higher than for Italy. For adults age 20 years and older, ICU beds range from 32 to 39 beds per 100,000, depending on location. For the elderly, those 65 years and older, most vulnerable to the coronavirus, there are 171 to 210 ICU beds per 100,000, 15 to 20 times the number in Italy. While the numbers are clearly insufficient for Italy, they may be adequate for the U.S., depending on the course of the virus over the next few weeks. With President Trump instituting a travel ban from China in late January, criticized severely at the time, the number of infected Chinese bringing the virus to the U.S., compared to Italy, was blunted, and hopefully fewer Americans will require critical care. Italy and much of the E.U., with no such travel restrictions until recently and much too late, are swamped with cases, overloading their lauded health care systems. Despite fear-mongering predictions from cable news, I would wager that most 80-year-olds infected with Chinese Coronavirus would rather be in the United States than in Italy, despite the World Health Organization's opinion on the two health care systems. While things could change, it is not likely that U.S. doctors will have to rely on death panels to decide which patients receive an ICU bed and which are told to take two aspirin and call the undertaker in the morning. America may be better equipped to withstand this viral pandemic than the mainstream media want to acknowledge. For example, be wary of media-reported data. Increasing the number of people tested in the U.S. will artificially raise the confirmed cases. ABC News ran this headline: "NIH director: Up to 70K coronavirus cases could be confirmed in US by end of next week." Yes, due to more people being tested, including many asymptomatic or recovered individuals testing positive. But they conveniently bury an important caveat to their headline. That doesn't mean necessarily that the outbreak has exploded at an even more rapid rate. It just means we're now able to find out who's out there, who is infected, because testing is now going to be much more available across the country. In the meantime, follow current hygiene precautions, and turn off cable news. Be thankful that a fixer is in the White House rather than some political hack. The storm will pass, and the country will recover and eventually be greater after going through all of this. Hungarys parliament is considering legislation granting prime minister Viktor Orban sweeping new powers to rule by decree indefinitely, as the country tries to halt the spread of the coronavirus. Human rights groups have warned against giving the far-right leader cart blanche to extend draconian restrictions without any sunset clause that would see the crackdown lifted after the crisis is over. The emergency powers bill would bring in prison sentences for anyone thought to be spreading false information, and would allow Mr Orban to keep issuing decrees for as long as he deems necessary. A carte blanche mandate for the Hungarian government with no sunset clause is not the panacea to the emergency caused by the Covid-19 virus in Hungary, warned four human rights groups, including the Hungarian Helsinki Committee and Amnesty International, in a joint statement. We need strong rule of law safeguards and proportional and necessary emergency measures, not unlimited government rule by decree that can last beyond the actual epidemic crisis. Mr Orban, who has been in power since 2010, has already closed schools, borders to foreign citizens, and limited the opening hours of shops and restaurants in the country of 10 million people. The government declared a state of emergency on March 11 which was valid for 15 days and now aims to extend the measures. Opposition parties said on Saturday that they want an all-party discussion about the bill on Monday before parliament holds a session. The aim of the proposal is ... to allow Hungarys government to create and keep in effect its special decrees even if parliament does not hold a session due to coronavirus in 2020, the bill said. No one knows how long we have to maintain this state of crisis, Mate Kocsis, head of the Mr Orbans ruling Fidesz partys parliamentary group, told private television HirTv. Kocsis said the government wants to pass the bill in an accelerated procedure, which needs support from 80 per cent of lawmakers. He asked opposition parties to back the legislation. The proposal raised concerns as it would give the government practically unlimited powers without a clear timeframe, said think tank Political Capital. There is no rational explanation in the current situation for the extension of the state of emergency indefinitely, the liberal think tank said in a statement. Mr Orbans spokesman Zoltan Kovacs rejected criticisms of the bill on Twitter, claiming it was quite reasonable. He tweeted: Its a state of emergency, btw. Lives are at stake. Hungary has experienced 107 confirmed cases of coronavirus and seven people have died from the disease, according to Johns Hopkins University. In 2015, during the peak of the migration crisis, Hungary declared a state of emergency due to mass migration which has been in effect ever since, even though the number of migrants reaching Hungarys southern border fence has fallen. Mr Orbans Fidesz party was suspended from the mainstream centre-right European Peoples Party (EPP) group in the European Parliament in March over its record on respect for the rule of law, freedom of the press and minorities rights. Additional reporting by Reuters Having already airlifted 170 Indian and other nationality passengers from China and Iran, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has issued instructions to its air-crew that people with symptoms of COVID-19 would not be allowed to board their aircraft. In an advisory issued by the IAF, the service has issued detailed instructions to its air-crew as per which the pilots have been told to remain in their cockpits in case of evacuations from outside the country. As per the standard operating procedures (SOP) for air travel by Air Force aircraft, " During embarkation, thermal scanning will be done and any symptomatic person will not be allowed to board the flight." "All passengers will be asked to disinfect their hands thoroughly with sanitisers before entering the aircraft," it said. The Air Force has so far airlifted 170 passengers from Wuhan in China and Teheran in Iran. For in-flight travel, the Air Force has said that Passengers will be briefed to avoid any unnecessary touch to other persons or aircraft surfaces. " Pilots are advised not to come out of cockpit. All passengers to be briefed about cough etiquettes, social distancing and personal hygiene," the Air Force has clarified. The Indian Air Force has also held a special Video conference on COVID-19 at Air Force Station Hindon, for awareness of aircrew of transport & helicopter fleet during the conduct of evacuation from outside the country. For the post-flight measures, the Air Force advisory says that "No crew member and support staff should come in close contact with passengers. Persons on the ground should refrain from any close interaction with the incoming team." " All waste items left over by passengers should be tightly sealed in yellow bags carried on board and disposed of by biohazard vehicle," the instructions said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi, March 23 : Somewhere close to the year 2000, as an informal consultant, renowned art historian B.N. Goswami was going over the San Diego Museum of Arts' holdings of Indian paintings, nearly all of which came from the collection of American billionaire Edwin Binney III. Among the things he saw was the manuscript of the Mysore Bhagvata, the 10th book of the Bhagavata Purana and was "charmed". Nothing happened for years despite famous corporate strategy guru C.K. Prahlad donating a fairly large sum of money to the museum and proposing that the manuscript - that had been commissioned by Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar III (1794-1868) - be published in its entirety, and that Goswamy be the one to oversee the project. Jas Grewal, who head the support group for Indian art at the museum and was also a close friend of CK, took up the matter with vigour and got the museum to see the publication of the manuscript through. The outcome: "The Great Mysore Bhagavata", jointly published by the San Diego Museum of Arts and Niyogi Books, a fascinating tour de force that impresses with the depth of Goswamy's scholarship - and dazzles with its images. It focuses on the second half of the 10th book of the Bhagvata Purana and includes over 200 images of the exquisite paintings in the manuscript. It stands out and shines, not only because of the splendour of its illustrations, but also because it engages with an enduring theme - the great and sacred text, the Bhagavata Purana - in a manner that is completely different from almost anything else that one has come across. "I was by no means the first person to take note of this wonderful manuscript," a modest Goswamy told IANS in an interview. Others, including the art dealer and connoisseur Terry MacInerney, had brought it to attention by briefly writing about it a long time ago. Robert del Bonta, an independent scholar, had also used the material in the manuscript in different essays well before Goswamy came into the picture. "But the idea of publishing the manuscript, virtually in extenso, and giving it the shape that it now has, came from me and in part, from (curator) Caron Smith. Working on the manuscript from a distance was not easy, but it needed to be done. "The text - which is from the uttara ardha, that is from the latter half, is written in the old Kannada script, which I do not read. But the problem did not appear insuperable, for I ascertained that the language used in the manuscript was the same as in the original Purana - that is Sanskrit - and it was only the script which was Kannada. That made it simpler," Goswamy explained. In planning the publication, however, he insisted on the involvement of three experts - Robert del Bonta, "naturally", Caleb Simmons from the University of Arizona :who has done extensive work on the history and culture of Mysore" and Girish Naphade, "to help with the Kannada that he knows well". The manuscript of the Mysore Bhagavata Purana is quite different from many other illustrated latter Bhagavata Puranas produced in India in that the text is laid out in codex format. How has the format impacted the layout and structure of the manuscript? "The Mysore Bhagavata is not the only manuscript belonging to this period - we speak here of the second part of the 19th century - which was scripted in the codes format. There were many others, most of them from the same court; the Ramayana for instance; the Devi Mahatmya; celebrated local romances. "Clearly, European books were known, and the East India Company was everywhere, including of course in Mysore. Somewhere in the background lay also an awareness of Mughal manuscripts in the standard codex format. True, that the Bhagavata, the sacred text that it is, was generally scripted and painted in the pothi or landscape format. But things change. These volumes that we speak of were stacked upright in the library shelves of the court," Goswamy elaborated. The book is remarkable for the quantity and intricacy of its illustrations. What are some of the features of the illustrations that make them unique? "Two or three things stand out. One, that the book deals only with the latter half of the career of Krishna when he had become the King of Dwarka and got involved in the politics, and the warring, of the times. The earlier half - the passionately celebrated and sung childhood of Krishna, growing up in the sylvan surroundings of Gokul and Vrindavana, beloved of the gopis, playing upon his flute, wearing peacock feathers in his crown, dressed in a yellow dhoti, cynosure of all eyes - is missing here," Goswamy said. It might have been the subject of another, and earlier volume in the series but this volume does not even remember the earlier Krishna. "As a result, there are episodes here that are seldom treated by other painters, or in other series. Two, there is great innovation in the work that we see, the painters having been thrown upon their own resources to invent and visualise. Finally, every now and then, one comes upon vignettes, or motifs, that veer upon pure abstraction. All that makes for delight of another kind, another level," the author said. Although this manuscript of the Bhagavata Purana is unfinished, it was bound. Why was the manuscript not completed and was yet put together as a volume? "Puzzles remain; some of them have a habit or remaining. It is not easy to fathom the reasons not only for this but for the fact that a number of leaves in the bound volume are left completely blank; at other places spaces are left for paintings to be 'filled in', as if there was a model that was being followed that was no longer available. Robert del Bonta has addressed some of these questions in his essay (in the book), which is a codicological study of the manuscript as a whole," Goswamy explained. What of the future? "Who can tell? One hopes that one can entertain, however, is that some day all, or nearly all of the manuscripts that were produced at the Mysore court will be published in extenso - as has been done in this volume - so that a fuller, or richer, view can be taken of the period and the court. At this time, our knowledge, and our understanding, is fragmentary," Goswamy concluded. (Vishnu Makhijani can be reached at vishnu.makhijani@ians.in) The stalemate that followed last weeks Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting may have been settled, with the announcement of the sharing of about N581.566 billion to the Federal, States and Local Governments for February 2020. The decision was announced at the end of the rescheduled meeting of the FAAC held in Abuja on Monday. A communique issued by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation on the behalf of the FAAC said the N581.566 billion comprised Statutory Revenue, Value Added Tax (VAT), Exchange Gain, and revenue from Forex Equalization Account. The communique said the balance in the Excess Crude revenue Account (ECA) stood at about $72.221 million. Details of the allocations showed gross statutory revenue for the month of February 2020 was about N466.058 billion. This was lower by N59.195 billion than the N525.253 billion received in January 2020. Also, for the month, the gross revenue available from the VAT was about N99.552 billion as against N104.758 billion in the previous month, a decrease of N5.206 billion. Exchange Gain yielded a total revenue of about N757 million, and revenue from Foreign exchange Equalization Account was about N15.199 billion. The Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, said from the total revenue of N581.566 billion, the Federal Government received N236.118 billion, the State Governments N159.010 billion, and the Local Government Councils N119.305 billion. The Oil Producing States received N45.310 billion as 13 per cent derivation revenue and the Revenue Generating Agencies N21.822 billion as cost of revenue collection. A breakdown of the distribution showed that from the gross statutory revenue of N466.058 billion, the Federal Government received N214.915 billion, the State Governments N109.008 billion and the Local Government Councils N84.040 billion. The Oil Producing States received N43.242 billion as 13 per cent derivation revenue and the Revenue Generating Agencies received N14.853 billion as the cost of collection. From the VAT revenue of N99.552 billion, the Federal Government received N13.888 billion, the State Governments N46.292 billion, the Local Government Councils N32.404 billion and the Revenue Generating Agencies received N6.969 billion as cost of revenue collection. The Exchange Gain revenue was N757million and the Federal Government received N350 million, the State Governments N178 million, the Local Government Councils N137 million and the Oil Producing States received N92 million. The foreign exchange equalization account revenue was N15.199 billion, with the Federal Government receiving N6.966 billion, the State Governments N3.533 billion, the Local Government Councils N2.724 billion and the Oil Producing States received N1.976 billion The communique confirmed that in the month of February 2020, Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), Companies Income Tax (CIT), Import and Excise Duties, Oil and Gas Royalties and Value Added Tax (VAT) all recorded a substantial decline. Last weeks stalemate Last Tuesday, the meeting of the Committee failed to reach a consensus on the amount to be shared for the month. On Wednesday, the FAAC met in Abuja for the sharing of the statutory allocation of revenues between the three tiers of government for the month of February. The meeting, attended by the Finance Commissioners and Accountants General of the 36 States of the Federation, their Federal Government counterparts and the Federal Capital Territory rejected the amount presented for sharing by the revenue-generating agencies. Consequently, the meeting ended abruptly without a resolution. The Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, who presided over the meeting was however mandated to take the matter before the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting for further deliberation and resolution. No Decision at NEC Although the NEC meeting ended without any information about a decision on the matter, it was learned that the Minister was authorized to reconvene the FAAC for a second look at the revenue proposal in view of the poor revenue accrual from oil export, as a result of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. It was learned that during the meeting, representatives of the states had no option than to accept what was presented, despite that it was far below the benchmark revenue approved last year. READ ALSO: A special FAAC Committee had recommended in its report on the guidelines on transfers into and withdrawals from the accounts the minimum amount to be shared every month and the transfer to the excess crude oil account. Advertisements In the report, the committee recommended that any month where the net distributable revenues available for sharing by the federal, states and local governments from the Federation Account falls below N680 billion, funds should be withdrawn from the ECA to augment the shortfall to at least N680 billion. On the other hand, where the net distributable revenue is between N680 billion and N730 billion, up to about N50 billion should be transferred into the ECA as saving. Besides, if the net distributable revenue for the month is between N730 billion and N830 billion, the committee recommended that up to about N100 billion should be transferred to the ECA, or a minimum of N150 billion, if the figure is above N830 billion. With oil revenues shrinking to the barest minimum following the impact of the coronavirus on oil exports, it was learned that what was presented for sharing by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other revenue agencies for sharing was far below their usual benchmark amount. On Monday, crude oil price crashed to about $25 per barrels, the lowest level in 16 years, as global markets continued to grapple with the negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the global economy. NEW HAVEN The U.S. Supreme Court announced Monday morning that it wont hear the states request to review a federal appeals courts ruling in favor of Tweed New Haven Regional Airport in the airports effort to extend its runway by paving portions of grassy runway safety areas at either end. The decision clears the way for Tweed to lengthen its 5,600-foot main runway, something Tweed officials and New Haven leaders have said is essential to the airports future and its efforts to attract additional air service. The airport is owned by the city. At least one airline, Allegiant, has said it is ready to begin flights to and from Tweed if and when its able to extend the runway. A state statute passed in 2009, based on a settlement between former New Haven Mayor John DeSteftano Jr. and former East Haven Mayor April Capone, bars Tweed from lengthening the runway even if it remains within existing airport boundaries. The airport is located in both New Haven and East Haven. Tweed, which straddles the New Haven-East Haven border and is located in both municipalities, currently is served year-round by one airline, American Eagle, which flies regional jets between Tweed and two destinations: Philadelphia and Charlotte, N.C. Very excited to let you know that just moments ago the U.S. Supreme Court denied review of our case, which means the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals ruling from last year in our favor stands and the 2009 law limiting our runway has been invalidated, Tweed New Haven Airport Authority Executive Director Sean Scanlon said in an email to authority members. Todays decision by the United States Supreme Court to deny review of the court of appeals decision means that after ten years of limitations, Tweed-New Haven Airport is finally free to pursue expanding our runway within our existing property lines and to meet the growing demand for more frequent air service in southern Connecticut, Scanlon said in a subsequent news release. We are very excited about what this will mean in terms of new air service in New Haven and to our local economy and we look forward to working with all local stakeholders including our neighbors to determine how best to move forward now that this case is finally over, Scanlon said. We vigorously pursued our case to the U.S. Supreme Court, said state Attorney General William Tong in response to the decision. While we strongly believe the Court should have granted cert in this case, we respect the Courts decision. mark.zaretsky@hearstmediact.com The Pound Sterling Australian Dollar (GBP/AUD) exchange rate rallied this morning, rising over 0.8%. This left the pairing trading at around AU$2.0149. The Australian Dollar remained under pressure today, as mounting coronavirus concerns weighed on the riskier assets. The country announced it would be shutting down all non-essential services in order to help slow the spread of Covid-19. Added to this, Australia and Canada announced they would not send athletes to the Summer Tokyo Olympic Games if it is not delayed. As coronavirus remained in focus, the Aussie suffered losses after the US Senate failed to approve a $1 trillion-plus bill on Sunday. The political deadlock damped risk sentiment further and commenting on this, global chief markets strategist at AxiCorp, Stephen Innes noted: While other governments around the world pour money into fiscal spending, the US cant get over its political squabbling. Democrats claim the money will just go to corporates, and hence they cant support it. While the news weakened the US Dollar, allowing Sterling to edge higher against the Aussie, some analysts have warned this could be short-lived and investors could return to USD as they seek to hold on to Dollars in cash. Commenting on this, FX strategist at Daiwa Securities in Tokyo, Yukio Ishizuki said: Weve moved from risk off to a phase where major players are competing with each other for the safety of holding Dollars in cash. There are still a lot of investors who need to sell riskier assets, and they want to hold their money in Dollars. Meanwhile, Sterling was able to make gains despite Prime Minister Boris Johnson warnings that the government would need to take stricter measures in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19. This came despite the PM closing down pubs, clubs and gyms over the weekend. Added to this, home secretary Matt Hancock said the government is prepared to do what it takes to help tackle the spread of coronavirus. Added to this, under new proposals discussed by MPs, stricter measures could include airports being closed and the police forcing anyone with symptoms of the virus to self-isolate. The health secretary said: We've seen with this virus it spreads so easily. In other countries in Europe where they didn't take these crackdowns quite so early, it's got very serious. So of course we're prepared to do what it takes. Pound Australian Dollar Outlook: Coronavirus Pandemic in Focus This Week Looking ahead, the Australian Dollar (AUD) could slump further against the Pound (GBP) overnight following the release of PMI data. If CommBanks PMI composite for March plummets further than expected, the Aussie will slide. Added to this, increased concerns over the spread of coronavirus will send AUD lower over the course of the week, as investors continue to move away from riskier assets. However, weak UK flash PMI data could limit Sterlings gains against the Aussie. If data shows that both the UKs manufacturing and service sectors have contracted more than expected, the Pound Australian Dollar (GBP/AUD) may be left flat. As the new week begins, the number of people infected by the COVID-19 virus is rising exponentially in the United States. New York City, which is now the epicenter of the pandemic, is threatened with a breakdown of its healthcare system and a tragic rise in the number of deaths. Given the absence of mass testing to determine the locations of infected people, it is all but certain that the social disaster now unfolding in New York, California and Washington state will spread rapidly in the coming days and weeks throughout the country. As the pandemic spreads, the economic impact is acquiring dimensions that are without precedent in the history of the United States. As people are being instructed to shelter in place and practice social distancing, the economy is shutting down. Small- and medium-size businesses, especially in the retail and service industries, are without customers and being forced to close their doors. The need to halt all nonessential production means that the number of unemployed will rapidly reach levels that will equal and possibly exceed those of the Great Depression of the 1930s. People wait for an H-E-B grocery store to open Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Spring, Texas (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Large sections of the working class and middle class are threatened with the loss of their income and the ability to put food on their tables and cover their weekly and monthly expenses. In a country where tens of millions have little or no savings and live from paycheck to paycheck, the pandemic is a social catastrophe even for those who are not infected by the virus. Emergency funding to fully cover the lost wages and salaries of all working class and middle class families must be the urgent and unconditional priority of the economic response to the pandemic. Mortgage and rent payments, car loans, medical expenses, insurance premiums, and tuition and student debt must be suspended for the duration of the health crisis. At the same time, small- and medium-size businesses must receive financial support so that they can avoid bankruptcy and reopen their enterprises as soon as medical conditions permit. Money must also be made available to guarantee the survival of educational, cultural and other socially essential institutions. This program, which prioritizes the needs and interests of the working class, is diametrically opposed to the multitrillion-dollar fiscal stimulus that is being worked out in closed-door negotiations between the Trump administration, congressional leaders and corporate executives. While deceitful and cynical lip service is being paid to protecting workers, the only purpose of the negotiations in Washington is to protect the wealth and profits of the superrich corporate-financial oligarchs. On a scale even greater than the bailout of 2008-09, the titans of Wall Street and the corporate boardrooms are demanding that the government place limitless sums at their disposal. Up to this point, the federal government has spent less than $10 billion on emergency disaster relief related to the pandemic. And yet the US Treasury has purchased some $600 billion in securities in recent weeks, meaning it has spent 60 times more money propping up the banks than on addressing the healthcare crisis. On top of the more than $2 trillion that has already been pledged to backstop the values of financial assets held by major banks, Congress is debating an additional $2 trillion bailout package. The vast majority of that proposal consists in various handouts to business in the form of a payroll tax holiday and loans, including measures specifically targeting the airline and other industries. Less than $50 billion of the bill funds emergency measures to combat the pandemic. Just one company, Boeing, is demanding a bailout larger than every public health measure contained in the bill. While the Republicans and Democrats haggle over details of the bailout, they agree that 1) massive sums of money must be funneled to the major corporations; 2) that no measures be taken that limit or threaten the wealth of the executives and large investors; and 3) that the interests of the capitalist profit system and private property will remain unmolested and unchallenged. The banks and large corporations will not only continue to rule. These institutions and their executives and large shareholders are to emerge from the crisis richer and more powerful than ever. The New York Times declared in an editorial published yesterday, The only practical way to limit mass unemployment, and to preserve previously viable companies, is for the government to pump money into the private sector. The last time this was done, in the response to the 2008 crash, the outcome was a bonanza for the superrich and affluent holders of financial assets. The wealth of the 400 richest people in America soared from $1.27 trillion in 2009 to $2.96 trillion in 2019. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos had a net worth of $6.8 billion in 2009, and by 2018 it was $160 billion. Warren Buffett had a net worth of $37 billion in 2009, which grew to $90 billion last year. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was worth just $2 billion in 2009, but he saw his wealth grow 40-fold, hitting $85 billion in 2019. And Tesla CEO Elon Musk has had his wealth rise even faster, doubling from $20 billion in May of 2019 to $45 billion earlier this year. In 2019, US companies spent $798 billion buying back their own stock, a figure exceeding even what was spent before the 2008 financial crisis. Share buybacks were one of the principal means employed by corporate executives to enrich themselves. As the Harvard Business Review explained: The 465 companies in the S&P 500 Index in January 2019 that were publicly listed between 2009 and 2018 spent, over that decade, $4.3 trillion on buybacks, equal to 52% of net income, and another $3.3 trillion on dividends, an additional 39% of net income. In 2018 alone, even with after-tax profits at record levels because of the Republican tax cuts, buybacks by S&P 500 companies reached an astounding 68% of net income, with dividends absorbing another 41%. Why have U.S. companies done these massive buybacks? With the majority of their compensation coming from stock options and stock awards, senior corporate executives have used open-market repurchases to manipulate their companies stock prices to their own benefit and that of others who are in the business of timing the buying and selling of publicly listed shares. Buybacks enrich these opportunistic share sellersinvestment bankers and hedge-fund managers as well as senior corporate executivesat the expense of employees, as well as continuing shareholders. The ugly reality of capitalist financial practices and the grotesque plundering of corporate assets refute the lying phrase that is intoned whenever reference is made to the needs of the working class: There is no money! The problem is not an absence of money, but the control of societys productive forces by the capitalist class. The Socialist Equality Party emphatically rejects the bailout of the corporations. We demand that the banks and monopolistic corporations, controlling assets valued in the tens and hundreds of billions of dollars, be transformed into publicly owned and democratically controlled organizations. The investments of small- and medium-sized shareholders, many of whom have invested their savings for retirement, will be fully protected. The executives who during the past decade plundered these corporations in the interests of personal enrichment should be legally compelled to pay restitution. This crisis, like the 2008 crash, has exposed the myth of capitalist individualism. It has made clear that the banks and corporations cannot survive without massive state support. In raising these demands, the Socialist Equality Party does not for a moment believe that the Trump administration, or, for that matter, one led by the Democrats, will take any measures that undermine the interests of the corporate-financial oligarchy. That is why the program advanced by the Socialist Equality Party can be realized only through the industrial and political mobilization of the working class on the basis of a socialist program. All workers who recognize the need for this program should join the SEP. The global pandemic has triggered a wave of socialist sentiment and militancy in significant sections of the working class. Last week, wildcat strikes forced the shutdown of the auto industry, and workers throughout the country have refused to work in unsafe conditions. These struggles, together with others around the world, are the objective foundation for a resolution to the crisis on a socialist basis, which would mean the investment of trillions of dollars to fight the pandemic and preserve human life through the expansion of the public health infrastructure. If the capitalist class is unopposed in its efforts to make the working class bear the weight of the crisis, it will be at the cost of millions of lives. Mankind has reached a point where the most basic function of societythe preservation of human lifeis incompatible with capitalism. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- When my local supermarket opened for business at 6 a.m. the other day, I had my plan of action in place. The instant the door was unlocked, I hurried to the pharmacy aisle, where I found, to my surprise and delight, three bottles of rubbing alcohol. But now I faced a puzzle. Should I play homo economicus and buy them all? Should I follow the Lockean proviso and leave as much and as good in common for others? Torn by competing priorities, I bought two of the three bottles, leaving the third for the next customer. Did I do wrong? Im not sure. Shopping is tricky these days. The question of how much to take and how much to leave is only one obvious ethical challenge we face as we navigate shopping during the present crisis. There are plenty of others. For example, many consumers who are sheltering in place have come to start depending on deliveries for food and other household items. Experts are of the view that having food delivered is safer than risking a trip to the store safer, that is, for the person placing the order. But the buyers safety is earned by transferring the risk to the person making the delivery. Earlier this month, an article in Wired asked why its right for us to protect ourselves while allowing poorly paid delivery people to risk illness or worse. Intriguing online arguments ensued. I understand the concern, but I also believe that in an emergency its okay to prioritize your safety and your familys. Its true that people who bring to our doors the food or cleaning products we want are taking risks we ourselves are trying to avoid. Theyre also trying to keep their paying jobs. If you think theyre being insufficiently compensated, tip as lavishly as you can. If cant afford to tip lavishly, at least communicate your appreciation. On a related point, a number of U.S. business have committed to paying their vendors immediately rather than waiting the usual 30 to 45 days, in order to help smaller businesses stay afloat and pay their employees. If you employ household labor, even a guy who trims your hedges or plows your driveway and if your household balance sheet permits consider doing the same. Story continues Now lets get back to my recent shopping trip. In addition to the two bottles of alcohol, I was able to buy three containers of disinfectant wipes (the limit per customer), along with several other useful items the store had restocked during the night. Apparently, this makes me a hoarder, although I was already the sort who believed that anything worth buying is worth buying four of. Now our cupboards and closets and countertops overflow with the fruits of my many hours spend roaming from store to store. Am I overdoing it? Maybe. Or maybe Im just responding rationally to the increasingly hysterical news about the coronavirus. Television talking heads keep telling us that the emergency could continue for months. Its hard to then fault people for responding to such dire predictions by buying everything in sight. If, on the other hand, you think I should be forbidden to buy as much as I can find of the goods my family needs, youre not alone. President Trump recently yielded to bipartisan urging and invoked the Defense Production Act. As Ive pointed out recently in this space, that statute can be used to limit the amount of a needed product people are allowed to keep in their homes. Yes, that could literally mean federal agents bursting into peoples homes to count bottles of hand sanitizer. I dont think it will come to that, but the point is that the law allows the government to impose limits. Finally, lets remember why shelves are so empty. Its not because people are buying too much. Its because the goods that are in demand are too cheap. If youre upset that your local store is sold out of all the things you want, dont blame your fellow consumers. Blame our aversion to letting prices rise to meet demand. The attorney general of Connecticut, the state where I live and work, is furious that bad actors are selling hand sanitizer and toilet paper at prices he thinks are too high. But as Ive been arguing since the crisis was young, at higher prices wed see fuller shelves. People would buy smaller quantities; and new sellers would be enticed into the market. If youre worried that disinfectant wipes will be too expensive for the poor, Im all for subsidizing their purchases. But lets by all means let the prices rise to help keep more goods on the shelves. Even if you think the main problem is not production but distribution, higher prices would mean an incentive to clean up those channels fast. Even in an emergency, incentives matter. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners. Stephen L. Carter is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is a professor of law at Yale University and was a clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. His novels include The Emperor of Ocean Park, and his latest nonfiction book is Invisible: The Forgotten Story of the Black Woman Lawyer Who Took Down America's Most Powerful Mobster. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- Apple Inc.s request for its popular watches to be excluded from tariffs on Chinese imports was approved by the U.S. Trade Representative, according to a letter dated Friday from USTR to the company. President Donald Trump imposed a 15% tariff on a list of goods in September that included the Apple watch. He cut in half those tariffs as part of an initial trade deal with Beijing that went into effect Feb. 15. Apple argued in its request last year that its product, as a consumer electronic device, should be exempted because it is not strategically important or related to Made in China 2025 or other Chinese industrial programs. The company also said it had not identified a source outside of China that is able to meet U.S. demand for this product in the coming year. An Apple spokesman said the company had nothing to add to the filing. (Adds detail on exclusion request in third paragraph) For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. EU will need a lot of months to overcome the crisis caused by Covid-19 The borders of the EU states might be closed for a year or two due to the spread of coronavirus as Prima reported citing Chair of crisis committee on counteraction coronavirus spread Roman Prymula. The development of the situation in the countries of Europe acquires unpleasant trends. A lot of months will be spent for the improvement of the situation. The closure of the border and restrictions of the travels to Europe tied with it may be extended for a year or two, Prymula noted. Meanwhile, according to the official, all possible measures on the counteraction coronavirus spread are introduced in the Czech Republic. However, despite the assumed measures, the Czech Republic should prevent the mass entrance of people from countries, where the infection with coronavirus has reached an alarming rate: Italy, France, Germany, Spain and others. As we reported, German Chancellor Angela Merkel decided to isolate herself. According to the journalists, the politician made this decision after visiting her doctor, who, as it turned out, was infected with a coronavirus. Besides, Italian authorities decided to take the next step in tightening measures to combat coronavirus, suspending production in a number of industries. Police have imposed prohibitory orders in Mumbai, Pune and Thane cities of the state from early Monday to March 31. Police have invoked section 144 of the CrPC, which gives them wide-ranging preventive and remedial enforcement powers. As per the orders, the restrictions have been imposed in Mumbai, Pune and Thane cities from Monday 5 am to March 31. The Mumbai police had earlier issued a separate order for section 144 for period between 9 pm on Sunday, the time the Janata curfew ended, till 5 am on Monday. As per the orders, religious events, cultural ceremonies, festivals, fairs, sporting activities in private or public places where five or more people come together, will be prohibited. The order will restrict presence or movement of one or more persons in public places and also any vehicles carrying such persons. The ban is also applicable to restaurants, eateries, permit rooms, pubs, malls, theatres, swimming pools, schools, colleges and gyms. However, the order does not apply to establishments that come under essential services such as hospitals, pathology labs, post offices, banks, water supply, power companies, groceries, clinics, petrol pumps railway stations, ST stands, airports and last rites. Violators would be punished under section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code, the order said. Also read: Coronavirus Live updates: PM Modi to interact with industry bodies on economic impact of COVID-19 Also read: Coronavirus update: What's shut, what's open in Delhi? Each day brings reams of reminders why the coronavirus pandemic must be taken seriously. The numbers keep building, the preventative lockdowns keep expanding in the U.S. and Europe and the examples of prominent people becoming infected keep growing. On Sunday, the virus reached the U.S. Senate, where Kentuckys Rand Paul announced on Twitter that he had tested positive. The Republican senator had been working from the Capitol in recent days and reported that he had no symptoms, was feeling fine and got tested out of an abundance of caution because of his extensive travel and events. Pauls revelation drew intense reaction on social media from Americans questioning why a senator with no symptoms was able to get a test when so many people with illnesses still could not. Some critics pointedly noted that Paul was among eight senators who voted Wednesday against a $100 billion stimulus package which included free testing because he wanted it offset by cuts to other government programs. Also unsettling was the fact that the 57-year-old Paul had been in the Senate gym Sunday morning, swam in the pool and had lunch with colleagues. Average folks in California and elsewhere who are living in shut-in mode, with gyms and dine-in restaurants gone dark, are left to wonder: What are these leaders thinking? Are they under the illusion they are immune? The average age of a senator is nearly 63, within the age range of serious risk if one contracts COVID-19. Some of Pauls colleagues have chosen to self-quarantine as a precaution, as more than two dozen members of the House of Representatives have done. Two House members have contracted the disease. The ever-moving pandemic also raises the question: Is it really essential for elected officials to gather in the Capitol during the crisis? Most of their staffers are working remotely and public tours have been canceled. There is something gallant, even noble, about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, declaring that House members would remain on the job on Capitol Hill even as their staffs were teleworking. We are the last to leave, she said. But that was a week ago. Its now established that the coronavirus is present in the Capitol. The moment has come for the House and Senate to take up HR890 by Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Dublin, along with co-sponsor Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., to establish a remote voting system. In an interview last week, Swalwell said he envisioned that its usage would be limited to routine procedural votes that require members to rush back to Washington on Monday nights and for emergency situations such as the crisis were in. Swalwell and Rep. Katie Porter, D-Irvine, last week sent a letter asking for the House to allow a remote-voting capability during the cornavirus emergency. Pelosi assigned the Rules Committee to review the proposal. Our leaders in Washington need to fast-track this idea and, for goodness sake, close their gyms and dining rooms. They need to lead by example. This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters. [March 23, 2020] AMERICAN NORTEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC. ANNOUNCES OVER 100,000 MAPS SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., March 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American Nortel Communications, Inc. (ARTM) announces that Newborhood.com, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Nortel Communications, Inc. now has over 100,000 interactive maps to assist prospective movers. These maps give detailed locations of necessary stores in over 12,000 cities in the United States, as well as specific neighborhood information that is helpful to the prospective mover. The proprietary software delivering these maps makes newborhood.com one of the largest online moving guides in America. We are excited about being able to expand the maps and information providedon our Newborhood.com site for people relocating in the United States. We will be providing large national retailers, banks, and food chains the opportunity to make use of our maps. Our focus continues to be a moving guide for the thirty million people who move each year in the U.S., said Bill Williams, CEO of American Nortel Communications, Inc. About Newborhood.com: Newborhood is the first end-to-end moving solution that personally guides an individual through the difficult moving process. The proprietary software delivers a personalized and interactive moving guide that is uniquely tailored to an individuals specific moving needs. Safe Harbor Clause This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based upon our current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof. Our actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations in such statements to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. CONTACT: AMERICAN NORTEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC. Bill Williams 214.534.2615 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] New Jersey will release as many as 1,000 people from its jails in what is believed to be the nations broadest effort to address the risks of the highly contagious coronavirus spreading among the incarcerated. New Jerseys chief justice, Stuart Rabner, signed an order late Sunday authorizing the release of inmates serving certain types of sentences in county jails as the number of coronavirus cases in detention centers nationwide continues to mount. The order applies to inmates jailed for probation violations as well as to those convicted in municipal courts or sentenced for low-level crimes in Superior Court. The release of inmates will begin Tuesday morning. No other state is thought to have taken such sweeping action to reduce its jail population in response to the coronavirus, but other cities, including New York, Cleveland and Tulsa, Okla., have moved to release sick or vulnerable detainees. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Indiana 211 is adding resources amid the coronavirus pandemic to the free service people can call for local assistance. People with COVID-19, the disease the virus causes, can now call Indiana 211 to be connected with health and human services agencies. Indiana 211 is adding 20 to 30 new navigators to handle the increased call volume. Those Community Navigators" help people who contact 211 to identify their goals, prioritize their need and connect them to community resources. Indiana 211 has also created a new website to serve as a clearinghouse of information on resources for COVID-19. Indiana 211 is a confidential free service that connects Hoosiers with help and answers from thousands of health and human services agencies. That includes needs such as food, utility, health care and childcare assistance. Individuals seeking services within Indiana can dial 2-1-1 or 1-866-211-9966. The service is available 24/7, but it's only for those seeking services within Indiana. Officials in San Antonio and Bexar County took their most drastic steps to date Monday to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus after the disease claimed its first local victim over the weekend. Effective at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, residents in San Antonio and the countys suburban cities must stay home except to make essential trips, such as picking up groceries and medicine, getting gas or seeking health care. Here's what stay-at-home means Most residents can leave homes only to exercise, get gas or groceries, pick up food at restaurants or get health care for family and pets No gatherings except for household members Non-essential businesses must close - owners and employees can work from home Essential businesses keep operating: health, safety, education, transportation, construction, internet See More Collapse Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff handed down the stay-at-home order dubbed the Stay Home, Work Safe Order after the county had its first death caused by COVID-19. It also comes the day after Gov. Greg Abbott declined to declare a statewide mandatory stay-at-home order similar to those enacted in California and New York. Instead, Abbott left that decision to cities and counties. The aim of the order is to prevent a surge of COVID-19 cases from overwhelming area hospitals, officials said. These are painful steps, we know, Nirenberg said at a news conference Monday evening. But they are necessary to protect life and safety. READ: The declaration of public health emergency by the mayor's office Nirenberg and Wolff issued their parallel orders hours after Metro Health officials announced that the number of confirmed local COVID-19 cases grew to 57, including 16 that were the result of community transmission, meaning infection contracted locally from an unknown source. Nirenberg and Wolff met for several hours Sunday and Monday to discuss enacting the stay-at-home order, the two men said. Attorneys for San Antonio and Bexar County banged out the specifics Monday afternoon. READ: The excutive order by County Judge Nelson Wolff Residents can go outside to walk, run or otherwise exercise but only if they keep their distance from others. And they cant gather in any group; the exception is family and household members at home. Houses of worship including churches, synagogues and mosques had been exempt from previous orders issued by Nirenberg and Wolff. Now they have been directed to provide religious and worship services only by video, teleconference or other remote measures. Under the order, most businesses must close to the public. But there are a number of exceptions. Businesses providing essential services such as grocery stores, gas stations and pharmacies will remain open. So will information technology firms that provide internet and telecommunications services. Also allowed to continue is infrastructure building, including housing construction and road work; public and private transportation such as buses, ride share drivers and taxis; and businesses that support airport operations. Restaurants and other food and beverage providers can provide takeout, delivery or drive-through service. Bars remain closed. On ExpressNews.com: Get the latest update on coronavirus and a tracking map of U.S. cases Activities to protect health and safety are allowed, including businesses and government agencies that provide these services. Essential government functions including solid waste collection and utility operations will continue. Businesses that provide food, shelter and social services for the economically disadvantaged or other vulnerable populations can stay open. The order also exempts child care providers, along with educators and other school support staff for the purposes of facilitating distance learning. School districts will need to keep their campuses closed as long as the order is in effect but teachers and students will continue working from their respective homes. The order carves out news media, financial institutions such as banks, and funerals. Those who violate the order could face fines of up to $1,000 and six months of jail time. But Wolff said he hopes they dont have to resort to those measures. We dont want to have to do any of that, Wolff said. Nirenberg concurred. I dont think we have to interrogate somebody whos out on the streets as long as theyre going home, Nirenberg said. On ExpressNews.com: Were at war: What to expect as coronavirus continues to spread in San Antonio More cases coming The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District updated the number of confirmed cases in the later afternoon, adding 12 more cases to Sundays count to total 57. Twenty-eight cases stem from travel outside Bexar County. Six are still under investigation by the health district. The count also includes the citys first death, a woman in her 80s who died Saturday in hospice care after receiving treatment at Brooke Army Medical Center. Mike Fisher With hopes of containing the virus all but gone, local officials expect the number of cases to continue to rise for some time before leveling off. The health department has already shifted its priorities to slowing the local rate of infection, so that hospitals do not become overburdened with patients. Much of that will be accomplished by keeping members of the public apart to reduce transmission, hence the city and county leaders decision to issue the shelter-at-home orders. This is not complicated, people: stay home, save lives, Nirenberg said. Thats all we want. Now that the virus is spreading locally, Metro Health is also no longer recommending self-quarantine for residents who have been exposed to the coronavirus if they are not exhibiting symptoms. People who become mildly ill should stay home for at least a week after they become sick, and until they have been symptom- and fever-free for three days. Because testing remains limited, Metro Health will not test the close contacts of people who have been confirmed to have the virus. Instead, it will reserve testing for those at a high-risk of developing complications and those who are hospitalized. As of Monday afternoon, Metro Healths lab had processed 400 coronavirus tests, 42 of which came back positive. Testing is also being conducted through commercial laboratories and some hospitals. Reports of exposure In the past few days, there has been an uptick in potential exposures to the virus in the San Antonio area. A health care worker at Haven for Hopes clinic was exposed to it by an infected family member. CentroMed, which operates the shelters Sarah E. Davidson Clinic, learned of it Friday and ordered the person to undergo a two-week self-quarantine at home. The clinic was shut down, along with another location with which it shares staff, La Paloma de Paz Shelter Clinic. Both clinics are being sanitized, and staff from both locations have been sent home, CentroMed said. Metro Health is reaching out to patients who had contact with the worker. Residents of Guadalupe County were alerted Sunday of another coronavirus exposure that occurred earlier this month, at an H-E-B Plus in Schertz, near the corner of Interstate 35 and F.M. 3009. It was related to the second confirmed case of COVID-19 in Guadalupe County, officials there said. The exposure occurred on March 16 between the hours of 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. While officials there said the risk to shoppers was low, they advised residents who had visited the store during that time frame to monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, coughing and shortness of breath. If they see those signs and dont require urgent medical attention, they should contact their health care provider for medical advice, officials said. Additional cases have been reported in surrounding counties. On Monday, Comal County announced its fourth case, in a person who had recently traveled. The person is hospitalized outside the county, officials there said. Cases have also been confirmed in Kendall, Hays and Wilson counties. Local authority In opting not to issue a statewide shelter-at-home order, Abbott left local officials to fend for themselves and bear the brunt of any political blowback resulting from restrictive measures taken to slow the spread of the disease. Hours after Abbott bowed out, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins handed down a shelter-in place order for its 2.6 million residents. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said Monday county officials there are looking at implementing their own for the Houston area. Rather than allow a patchwork of differing regulations to crop up across Texas, San Antonio and Bexar County officials said theyve been coordinating with officials in those major cities and counties as well as Fort Worth and Austin to come up with something relatively uniform. Abbott, often flanked by Republican leaders, has clashed with elected officials in Texas cities and counties over the years often looking to nullify local leaders power to enact policies seen as more progressive than those passed by conservative lawmakers at the state level. Its an irony not lost on Wolff. Its interesting to see the governor say, Well, its up to you guys locally, Wolff said. Personally, I like it. Id rather take responsibility along with the mayor to do whats right here than to turn it over to the governor of the state of Texas. Joshua Fechter is a staff writer covering San Antonio city government and politics. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | jfechter@express-news.net | Twitter: @JFreports WASHINGTON, March 23, 2020 Making your own ceramics can be a way to express your creativity, but some techniques and materials used in the process could spell bad news for your health and the environment. If not prepared properly, some glazed ceramics can leach potentially harmful heavy metals. Scientists now report progress toward a new type of glaze that includes gold and silver nanoparticles, which are less toxic and more environmentally friendly than currently used formulations, while still providing vibrant colors. The researchers are presenting their results through the American Chemical Society (ACS) SciMeetings online platform. Glazes make ceramics shiny and waterproof, and they also add color, which is revealed by firing the clay object in a kiln. These materials have been known to contain potentially harmful ingredients, though many manufacturers have now removed them. But even today, you can still find ceramic glazes on the market that contain harmful heavy metals, says Ryan Coppage, Ph.D., the projects principal investigator. Achieving the brightest colors has traditionally required using higher amounts of heavy metals, such as barium and cadmium, which can leach from the surface and are toxic at such levels. To develop a safer glaze of the desired color, the researchers turned to tiny nanoparticles of gold and silver. Although these metals are technically deemed heavy, they are considered benign in small quantities. In fact, they are often used in medical applications, such as in injections for rheumatoid arthritis and as ingredients in antimicrobial preparations. Gold and silver have a highly recognizable yellow or white metallic sheen when seen on the macroscale, but when whittled down to the nanoscale level that is, between 1 and 100 nanometers per particle they can take on totally different hues. Their color changes, depending on the size of the particle; nanoscale gold particles can produce deep reds and blues, and tiny silver ones can appear red or even bright green. As it turns out, gold and silver nanoparticles have been used in works of art for centuries, without artisans even knowing it. Nanoparticles used in historic works were incidental rather than intentional, says Nathan Dinh, who worked on the team. He and Coppage are at the University of Richmond. In medieval times, artisans would grind down gold and silver into a very fine powder or use gold or silver salts in their crafts, such as vibrantly colored stained glass windows and chalices. In modern times, nobody has really put the gold and silver nanoparticles into glazes from scratch, so they can be fired in the same kilns artists use today, Dinh says. Thats what were trying to do with our work. Our goal is to implement historical techniques using modern technology and know-how. To achieve the optimal ceramic glaze, the researchers started with a simple glaze base and mixed it with different combinations and sizes of gold and silver salts and nanoparticles. From there, they applied these test glazes to clay objects and fired them in a traditional ceramic kiln used by local artists. By microscopic examination, the researchers found that the firing process changes the shape and size of the nanoparticles, which in turn influences the final color. The resulting hues depended on the source of the metals, as well as the concentrations used. And by combining both metals into the same glaze, Dinh and Coppage could produce a wide range of colors with the same equipment as hobby ceramicists. As only a tiny fraction of precious metal is required for this new glaze, it is both cost-effective and environmentally friendly. In fact, the researchers estimate that glazing a single cup would only cost between 30 and 40 cents. And because these nanoparticles are much more efficient at producing colors than other metals, the researchers only needed to add a very small amount of gold or silver, approximately 0.01% by weight. Thats in contrast to conventional glazes that contain heavy metals; these glazes often contain 5-15% heavy metals by weight with manganese glazes containing up to 50% for metallic sheen. Next, Coppage and team plan to further explore exactly how the firing process changes gold and silver nanoparticles, which will help them fine-tune the resulting colors. Then, they plan to incorporate other metal nanoparticles into glazes, potentially leading to a broader array of colors for the art community to take advantage of. This research was generously supported by funding from The Camille & Henry Dreyfus FoundationHenry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award and the University of Richmond. The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS mission is to advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and its people. The Society is a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple research solutions, peer-reviewed journals, scientific conferences, eBooks and weekly news periodical Chemical & Engineering News. ACS journals are among the most cited, most trusted and most read within the scientific literature; however, ACS itself does not conduct chemical research. As a specialist in scientific information solutions (including SciFinder and STN), its CAS division powers global research, discovery and innovation. ACS main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio. To automatically receive press releases from the American Chemical Society, contact newsroom@acs.org. Title Nanoparticles as ceramic glaze colorant alternatives Abstract Many ceramic coatings contain high levels of heavy metal elements as colorants that are environmentally unfriendly and toxic to users. Metallic nanoparticles, including gold and silver, have been proposed as an alternative to these metal colorants due to their versatile color profiles, benign nature, and more efficient color mechanism via surface plasmon resonance. This research explores the effects of common ceramic sintering processes on nanoparticles within glazes in common studio reductive and oxidative kilns. This work also employs direct application of gold and silver salts in glazes to probe and better understand the mechanistic processes for nanoparticle-laced glazes that are viable in the art community. These processes avoid the need for complicated reductants, glassware, or preliminary heating elements, thus allowing for environmentally friendlier yet economically viable applications of nanoparticle colorants. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday slashed aid to Afghanistan's government after a mission to Kabul failed to bridge a divide between feuding leaders as he moved forward with the Taliban on a deal to pull troops. Pompeo made the surprise trip in hopes of reviving a landmark US accord with the Taliban to end America's longest war and, stopping in Qatar on his way back, became the highest-ranking US official ever to meet the Islamist insurgents. In stark criticism of a government backed for nearly two decades by the United States, Pompeo voiced disappointment that President Ashraf Ghani and his rival Abdullah Abdullah could not bridge their differences when he met them in Kabul. "Their failure has harmed US-Afghan relations and, sadly, dishonors those Afghan, Americans and Coalition partners who have sacrificed their lives and treasure in the struggle to build a new future for this country," Pompeo said in a statement. Pompeo said that the United States was immediately reducing $1 billion in aid and would pull another $1 billion in 2021. He said the United States would consider further cuts, including withdrawing support at any future donor conference. Pompeo also assured that the United States would go ahead with its pullout of troops from Afghanistan, with a goal of removing all 13,000 by next year. Officials said Pompeo later met for an hour in Qatar's al-Udeid Air Base, which is also home to US forces, with three Taliban leaders including Mullah Baradar, a formerly imprisoned insurgent who has become their chief negotiator. Pompeo had flown to Doha for the February 29 signing of the accord with the Taliban but had not met then with the militant group, which has not given up its campaign of violence against the Afghan government or gone ahead with promised talks with Kabul. But Pompeo said that the Taliban had abided by its promise not to attack US forces -- and that the United States would keep up its commitment. "They committed to reducing violence and they've largely done that," Pompeo told reporters on his plane. On a US withdrawal, "we're moving down that path as long as these violence levels remain beneath the threshold." - Chaos in Kabul - Kabul has been enmeshed in a political crisis since elections last year left the country in disarray due to numerous fraud claims that ultimately saw two men claiming the presidency and holding separate inaugurations. Pompeo held separate and joint meetings with Ghani -- officially elected to a new term -- and his archrival Abdullah, who also claims the presidency. US officials have long criticized Kabul authorities of corruption but Pompeo's mission is sure to send a loud message at a time that President Donald Trump has praised the Taliban's efforts. Speaking to reporters, Pompeo said he remained optimistic about Ghani and Abdullah reaching a deal. "I think we are closer to it than ever before," Pompeo said. "We will continue to cajole, to coach, and to incentivize them to have negotiations where all of the Afghans are sitting at the table." The last Afghan election in 2014 also ended in an impasse between Ghani and Abdullah, which ended when the then US secretary of state, John Kerry, flew to Kabul to broker a power-sharing agreement. - Slow progress on Afghan talks - Pompeo also faulted the Afghan leaders for not establishing a national team to meet with the Taliban. The US-Taliban declaration had called for talks to begin on March 10, likely in Norway. But the two sides had appeared to be making at least some progress on one key step toward talks -- a prisoner exchange. Zalmay Khalilzad, the US negotiator who brokered the deal with the Taliban, said the government and insurgents on Sunday spoke via Skype video-conferencing to discuss logistics of a swap. The deal envisioned the release of up to 5,000 Taliban fighters held by Kabul, and up to 1,000 members of the Afghan government forces in insurgent hands. After initially refusing to release the Taliban prisoners, Ghani announced that the authorities would free 1,500 insurgents as a "gesture of goodwill" with plans to free another 3,500 prisoners after the talks are underway. The Taliban rejected the offer. In the deal, the Taliban also committed to fight jihadist groups like Al-Qaeda -- the initial reason for the 2001 US invasion. Khalilzad said that the prisoner issue was increasingly urgent due to the coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic has slowed the first phase of the US withdrawal and Afghanistan is bracing for more cases as tens of thousands return from Iran, one of the hardest-hit countries. bur-ds-wat-sct/bgs US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (L) traveled to Kabul to meet with Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani amid an ongoing political crisis US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attends the signing of a US-Taliban agreement in the Qatari capital Doha on February 29, 2020 The Doha accord, reached between Washington and the Taliban, calls for the gradual withdrawal of US and other foreign troops from Afghanistan over a 14-month period File image Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on March 23 announced a state-wide curfew in the wake of coronavirus outbreak in the country. "People were not listening and we are compelled (to take this decision)," Thackeray said. All district borders will be sealed and no inter-district transportation will be allowed. Thackeray said that all essential services will function and their transportation will also be allowed but with restrictions. Track this blog for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak Only the driver plus two people will be allowed in taxis and private vehicles if the vehicle is being used in an emergency situation, Thackeray announced, adding that "we are at a decisive turning point of this infection spread" and that the days ahead are "crucial". Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards says his state has the fastest growing cases of coronavirus in the world. Edwards, who has announced a stay at home order for the 4.6 million residents in his state, said on Sunday that Louisiana had seen the highest initial growth rate of confirmed cases globally. Citing statistics from a University of Louisiana at Lafayette study, Edwards said the growth rate in the state was headed for a steep upward trajectory similar to what Spain and Italy have experienced. He said Louisiana had the third highest number of cases per capita in the US behind New York and Washington respectively. Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards said on Sunday that his state has the fastest growing cases of coronavirus in the world As of Monday, the state had 1,172 confirmed cases and 35 deaths as a result of the virus. He said the figure of confirmed cases had increased from 100 to more than 800 in a week. 'We have the fastest growth rate of confirmed cases in the world over the first 13 days right here in Louisiana,' Edwards said. 'In the last two weeks our growth rate has been faster than any state or country in the world. This is why it matters. 'If we want to flatten the curve we have to take more aggressive mitigation measures now and limit social contact now... We've got to take action now.' He said that if the disease continues to spread at its current rate, the state could run out of healthcare capacity with seven to 10 days. Edwards announced a stay at home ban for his state that will come into effect on Monday at 5pm. As of Sunday, Edwards said the state had 837 confirmed cases and 20 deaths as a result of the virus Edwards, who has announced a stay at home order for the 4.6 million residents in his state, said on Sunday that Louisiana had seen the highest initial growth rate of confirmed cases globally Citing statistics from a University of Louisiana at Lafayette study, Edwards said the growth rate in the state was headed for a steep upward trajectory similar to what Spain and Italy have experienced Residents have been asked to stay home unless they are performing an essential task like getting food or medicine. First-responders and workers in grocery stores, pharmacies, doctors' offices and other critical infrastructure are exempt from his directive, which will remain in effect until April 12, and could be extended beyond that. 'I've said this before, but there is no reason to believe that we won't be the next Italy,' he said. 'What happened in Italy is they started too late. People didn't socially distance. They thought they could just focus on that part of the country where the outbreak was heaviest.' There are at least seven nursing homes in Louisiana alone with coronavirus cases, according to Sunday's report from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Seven of the state's 20 reported deaths have been linked to one retirement home. Street performer Eddie Webb looks around the nearly deserted French Quarter looking to make money in New Orleans on Sunday National Guard troops federalized by President Donald Trump in the three states hit hardest by the coronavirus -- New York, California and Washington state -- will take no part in enforcing quarantines or shelter-in-place orders, the chief of the National Guard Bureau said Sunday. Air Force Gen. Joseph Lengyel said the troops could be used for a range of missions, including guarding shipments and offloading of food and supplies, or possibly responding to disturbances under the supervision of local law enforcement. But they would remain under the control of the states governors, he said. He said there was no truth to rumors spreading on the internet that National Guard troops would be used to keep residents in their homes. In contacts with all of the governors, none of them have talked about quarantine operations, Lengyel said. Related: US Defense Department Announces 1st Coronavirus Death He stressed that the troops wont be given mission sets where they dont have protective equipment, but he also echoed the concerns of the governors that masks and other gear were in short supply. In a late Sunday telephone conference with defense reporters, Lengyel said he did not expect that any of the troops would come into direct contact with patients infected by coronavirus, but that remains to be seen as the virus continues to spread exponentially. Earlier, at a White House news conference, Trump said that he was activating the National Guard for New York, California and Washington state, and similar action was being considered for other states. Troops activated under Title 32 would normally be funded 75% by the federal government and 25% by the states, Lengyel said, but under authorities approved by Trump, the 25% cost for the states was being picked up by the federal government. He did not have any immediate projections for how many National Guard troops would be federalized, but described the activations as no different from when they are called up for hurricanes or other natural disasters. As of Sunday morning, at least 7,300 National Guard members had been deployed to fight the virus in all 50 states. Lengyel said another 30,000 National Guard troops currently are deployed to the U.S. Central Command and Indo-Pacific Command regions, but none of those troops would be diverted to states to combat coronavirus. -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. Read More: Bringing Back the Draft: 5 Possibilities for the Future of Military Conscription RED WING -- Goodhue residents Chad and Andrea Hanson wanted to invest in Red Wing, the city that Andrea Hanson had worked in and graduated from while she was a teenager. So, they created a plan to buy and renew the building that houses Josephsons in downtown Red Wing and build four apartments above the store. The space has not been lived in for over 100 years, so it needs some work. "I cant even rewind back and think of the very first moment that the idea came into our heads," Andrea Hanson said. "But, the more we dug into it, it was just this exciting adventure that we wanted to dive into." While the couple plan to close on the purchase of the building in the coming weeks, the city of Red Wing and the Housing and Redevelopment Authority will help to fund the renovation project. On Monday, March 9, the Red Wing City Council voted to approve a $50,000 10-year deferred loan to CMA Properties -- owned and run by Andrea and Chad Hanson. According to Dan Rogness, the community development director, the loan will fund: The construction of a new internal stairway to the second floor apartments, as the only way to access the second floor currently is via an exterior staircase. ADVERTISEMENT The demolition of a building behind Josephsons for tenant parking. The connection and new sewer and water lines within Bush Street. According to Rogness. the funds will be taken from the Downtown Investment Partnership account. Rogness explained that this fund "supports downtown redevelopment projects, especially those that fill vacant spaces." Rogness added, "The council also approved an allocation up to $100,000 from this fund to pay for additional sewer manhole and piping costs in Bush Street that will also provide opportunities for other sewer connection upgrades in that area. This is the first project to use this new city funding source since it was approved by the council in January of 2018." Red Wings Housing and Redevelopment Authority will provide a $100,000 forgivable loan for the project. "The HRA and city created an incentive program for developers to utilize under-developed spaces, blighted property and unused lots in the aforementioned areas for the creation of new housing units," Director Randal Hemmerlin said. "When Andrea and Chad applied for the funding, their proposal was doing exactly what we wanted in our RFP, that is, creating new units in an under-utilized second story space. The funding requires two of the four developed units to be made affordable to households at 60% of the area median Income for 15 years. This rental rate will be about $100 per unit less than the remaining two units at the market rate level. So, our AHTF deferred and forgivable loan provides $100,000 in development money to bring new four units to the Downtown with two of the units designated as affordable," Hemmerlin said. ADVERTISEMENT As Andrea and Chad Hanson worked through the process of creating the plan for the Josephsons building Downtown Main Street offered assistance. Megan Tsui, the executive director of the organization, told the Republican Eagle: "Downtown Main Street has been working with the Hansons to help shepherd them through the process of obtaining funding and to offer support, guidance, and encouragement. Our hope is that this amazing project leads to more second and third story development in our downtown." While the idea for the building has evolved into an intricate, fully thought-out plan, the genesis of this project was simply a want to invest in Red Wing. "I just felt called to that building," said Andrea Hanson. "It wasnt even for sale. We approached the owners just had many conversations with them and figured out a purchase price and then we started the process of getting bids and what it would actually cost to make this happen." The Hansons said they hope that the renovation of the commercial building and the construction of the apartments will be completed by the end of 2020. CMA Properties has created a Facebook and Instagram account so people can follow along with the building's construction. Shah Rukh Khan has shared a creative video message, appealing people to follow government's call of action around coronavirus In a creative, witty appeal to the public amid rising coronavirus concerns, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan on Sunday shared a video to spread some cheer and awareness. On a day when the country observed Janata Curfew, the 54-year-old actor said the initiative called on by PM Narendra Modi "will help against the spread of virus". (Follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak here) Shah Rukh posted an over 5 minute-long video in which he used his old movies and songs to drive the message of taking necessary precautions and most importantly, hope, during the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. Check out the post here InshaAllah #JantaCurfew will help against the spread of virus, though we may have to do this again. The clapping brought so much cheer. So a reminder of safeguards, with some cheer... Pls take it in the right spirit. To all relentlessly working today - Extremely Grateful. Thx! pic.twitter.com/2wfaXPlFVF Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) March 22, 2020 "I feel there are a lot of good things to do when you are at home. It gives you the opportunity to be close to your loved ones. But not this close, but you have to be a few metres apart. You could pick up one of those hobbies that you always wanted to do but you never found time, like me and the guitar or maybe not," he quipped as he almost dropped the guitar. The actor then shifted into a more serious demeanour, claiming how in such troubled times there is a need to go back to simpler things. "The thing is - coronavirus is taking over our minds hearts and bodies, of course, and slowly creeping into our souls. Things are becoming overwhelming with information and misinformation. We are scared and rightly so, and everywhere things are happening. "My mother used to say whenever you are confused go back to the basics," he added. What follows next in the video is Shah Rukh explaining the symptoms of the virus and the precautions one can take against it in full filmy style. "Here are the symptoms of coronavirus: coughing and fever," he said, which next cuts to the popular song 'Loveria Hua' from his 1992 film Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman. We are then shown a scene from Kal Ho Na Ho, in which his character Rahul is in the hospital on his deathbed, followed by the another snippet from the same film where he comes running on a New York bridge and panting to highlight the symptom of fatigue. For the next symptom of sore throat, the video shows the funny train scene from the 2013 film Chennai Express where his character loses his voice from fear when surrounded by the goons. "If you have these symptoms or if you have symptoms that make you feel uneasy, please consult and rely on your doctors for the right information," he added. To show how to self-quarantine at home, Shah Rukh took the help of his last release 2018's Zero, where his character is seen sitting alone in the corner of a big room. To avoid touching each other, he invoked 1997's song 'Chand Tare Tod Laaoon' from Yes Boss film, which shows a woman touching his face. He used snippets and songs from his films such as Fan, Chalte Chalte, Dil Se, Happy New Year, Badshah and Baazigar. "If you have to, sneeze in the the pit of your elbow, make sure nobody sneezes on your face or coughs. If they do then you know what to do," and what follows is the famous spitting scene from 2004 Main Hoon Na where Satish Shah's character spits on Shah Rukh and the latter ducks like Keanu Reeves' Neo from The Matrix. "Be safe, be healthy. I pray for your loved ones and your family. And you please do the same for me and my family. "Please rely on the correct information from the state governments, from the central government or your local authorities and Inshallah we shall overcome this," the actor said as he starts playing Deep Purple's 'Smoke on the Water' on the guitar. Coronavirus deaths soared across Europe and the United States on Sunday despite heightened restrictions, as Germany banned gatherings of more than two people and Chancellor Angela Merkel went into quarantine. In the US, President Donald Trump ordered emergency medical stations for hotspots, hospitals scrambled to find ventilators, and a trillion-dollar proposal to rescue America's reeling economy crashed to defeat. Germany and Greece became the latest countries to tighten curtailments on movement as the virus kept nearly a billion people indoors and intensified fears of a global recession unlike any experienced for decades. "I can't tell you," Trump said when asked when the US economy would be reopened. Earlier, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio warned that the US was heading towards its greatest crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Countries and territories with confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths, of March 22 at 1900 GMT. By (AFP) The death toll from the virus -- which has upended lives and closed businesses and schools across the planet -- surged to more than 14,300 Sunday, according to an AFP tally. The epicentre is firmly in Europe after shifting from China where the illness first emerged late last year. "I'm a little upset with China. I'll be honest with you...," Trump said referring to a lack of cooperation and information early on in the crisis. Italy's world-topping toll from the pandemic approached 5,500 as the Mediterranean country reported another 651 deaths, a day after it overtook China for the highest number of fatalities. German Chancellor Angela Merkel began quarantining at home after being treated by a doctor who has since tested positive for the virus. By Michael Kappeler (AFP) Greece imposed a national lockdown and in Germany Merkel began quarantining at home after being treated by a doctor who has since tested positive for the virus. But lockdown measures in Italy have done little to stem the outbreak and New Yorkers were finding it difficult on a spring weekend to put a stop to fun in the city that never sleeps. 'Self-destructive' "I don't know what they're not understanding," said Governor Andrew Cuomo, complaining that parks were still full of people not respecting social-distancing orders. "It's insensitive, it's arrogant, it's self-destructive, it's disrespectful to other people and it has to stop. This is not a joke," he pleaded. Police and other security forces gather outside the Bellvitge hospital near Barcelona to applaud and cheer healthcare workers. By Pau Barrena (AFP) Police patrolled the deserted streets of Rome, while checks were carried out on beaches after local officials complained people were defying orders to catch some time in the sun. In his weekly prayer, streamed online to avoid attracting crowds, the Pope urged all Italians to follow isolation measures "for the good of us all." Spain's prime minister said he would ask parliament to extend a 15-day state of emergency, which bars people from leaving home unless absolutely essential, until April 11. The country recorded close to 400 new fatalities Sunday, bringing the total to 1,720, suggesting the lockdown was failing to be effective. Opera star Placido Domingo said he had tested positive. A curfew was imposed in some areas of France with police patrolling the streets. By FRANCK FIFE (AFP) Residents across France, where the death toll jumped to 562, remained shut in their homes. A curfew was imposed in some regions and the mayor of Paris called for even more drastic confinement measures in a city under lockdown. Britain inched toward similar measures as Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned the country was a couple of weeks behind registering similar numbers to Italy. Delhi deserted In the US, where Rand Paul became the first US senator to test positive, a Republican-proposed bill earmarking up to $2 trillion in funding for American families, businesses and hospitals, failed to pass after receiving zero support from Democrats who said it wasn't enough. Several European countries have already announced their own stimulus packages to stave off economic collapse. Normally bustling streets in New Delhi and Mumbai were mostly deserted and many shops shuttered during India's one-day nationwide "self-imposed curfew". By NARINDER NANU (AFP) In America, where deaths soared past 400 and cases exceeded 33,000, more than a third of residents are under various phases of lockdown, including in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. Mayor de Blasio said New York was 10 days away from running out of ventilators. Trump announced he had ordered the deployment of emergency health centers with capacity of 4,000 beds to New York, California and Washington -- America's worst affected states. As the pandemic overwhelms hospitals, doctors across the world are having to quickly prioritize patients based on their chances of survival, inflicting a huge moral burden. "We go into medicine to heal people. Not to make choices about who can live," said Philippe Devos, an anaesthesiologist in Liege, Belgium. A staff member of the Mar Vista Farmer's Market makes sure people stay six feet apart from each other using a bullhorn and a 6-foot pole in Mar Vista, California. By Chris DELMAS (AFP) While the number of cases in China -- which reported its first local infection in four days on Sunday -- has slumped dramatically since the crisis began, there are fears in Asia of "imported" cases from other hotspots like Europe. Thailand reported its highest daily rise in cases, taking its total to nearly 600, while Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia have also reported a spike after numbers had plateaued earlier. Normally bustling streets in New Delhi and Mumbai were mostly deserted and many shops shuttered during India's one-day nationwide "self-imposed curfew." Australia has shut its borders to foreigners and non-residents and Pakistan has suspended international flights. Olympic postponement? Across Africa, where healthcare systems are limited and social distancing measures are difficult in crowded cities, the new coronavirus has infected more than 1,200. International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said postponing the 2020 Games was an option but that cancellation was "not on the agenda". By Philip FONG (AFP) The Middle East also remains on high alert, where Iran -- which suffered a major outbreak -- reported 129 deaths on Sunday. It has so far refused to restrict movements. Chile on Sunday became the latest Latin American country to restrict movement, with a night-time curfew. Ecuador, which had already imposed such a lockdown, saw its deaths double to 14, the region's highest after Brazil. In sport, International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said postponing the 2020 Games was an option but that cancellation was "not on the agenda." Accurate COVID-19 figures are difficult to obtain because many of the victims suffered from other illnesses, and infection rates are uncertain because of a lack of testing in many countries. While the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions are the hardest hit by the virus, the WHO has warned that young people are also vulnerable. burs-pdh/it Minister of Justice Catalin Predoiu, on Monday, demanded from prosecutors "zero tolerance" against criminals, stressing that the people who break the law "will feel it". "I understand, respecting the independence of the prosecutors, to send a firm message to the entire Public Ministry regarding the drastic fight against all crimes that endanger the health and safety of citizens. At the same time, I send an equally firm message to all those who neglect or intentionally violate the provisions of the decree regarding the state of emergency, the military ordinances and the decisions of the National Committee for Special Emergency Situations: either you observe the law or you will feel it. I demand from all prosecutors zero tolerance towards the criminals," Predoiu said in a message on Facebook.He added that he told the Public Ministry to focus its activity on offenses that harm the health and safety of citizens, deeds that affect the provisions of the presidential decree regarding the establishment of the state of emergency, of the military ordinances, of the National Committee for Special Emergency Situations. FLINT, MI -- Flint couple Paxton MacDermaid and Ashlee Garcia spent eight months planning a nice vacation together in Peru, and they were excited to explore the country. But now the couple doesnt know when theyll be able to return home, as Peru has shut down its international borders in an attempt to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The couple is among the hundreds of Americans who were left stranded in the country after the Peruvian government declared a state of emergency on March 15, and said its international borders would be closed within 24 hours. It also issued a 15-day quarantine. As of Monday, March 23, there were 357 active cases of COVID-19 coronavirus in Peru and 5 deaths, according to John Hopkins University. MacDermaid and Garcia, whove been in Peru since March 12, were on a nighttime flight from Lima to Cusco to see Machu Picchu when the announcement was made. When they arrived at their hotel, their tour guide told them they needed to get to the airport immediately to get a flight home. There was no warning whatsoever, MacDermaid said. It was at night, there was nothing going on. Hundreds of people were crowding the nearest airport trying to leave the country that night, MacDermaid said, making it difficult to even get to the ticket counter. The prices for tickets they could find has skyrocketed, costing $3,000-$5,000 for a one-way flight. Unable to leave Peru before the 24 hours ended, MacDermaid and Garcia were able to find a hotel that provides three meals a day to stay until their flight, scheduled for April 4, which was the earliest they could find. However, MacDermaid said hes not confident theyll actually be able to leave by then, as theres been a lot of talk in the area that Peru will extend the quarantine, and they havent been able to directly get answers from anyone in the U.S. government. All of their calls to the U.S. embassy in Cusco went unanswered and went to a voicemail box that was full, MacDermaid said. When they went to the consulate, there was a sign that said, Closed until March 30." Calls to the U.S. Embassy in Lima also went to voicemail. We feel more and more like were stuck here, MacDermaid said. Were stuck in this spot and it feels almost like anybody can do anything they want to us right nowWe feel like weve been let down, or just felt like, This is your problem, get home by yourself, figure it out, you shouldnt have left the country.' And theyre not alone. Its not clear how many Americans are stranded in Peru. However, MacDermaid and Garcia said they are a part of a WhatsApp group message with nearly 1,000 other Americans who are also stuck in Peru. Theres also a group of 13 Americans staying at their hotel, and theyve experienced the same lack of help from the U.S. government. MacDermaid said if he and Garcia received some sort of reassurance that their flight on April 4 is guaranteed to take off, theyd feel better, but theyve gotten absolutely nothing in terms of information. Not only are they not stepping up, theyre not doing anything, thats really how I feel like weve just had the government turn their backs on us," MacDermaid said. Their families have been doing anything they can to bring them back into the U.S. Paxtons daughter Ashley MacDermaid said when it became apparent nothing would be done to help them, she began reaching out to elected officials. Other countries have implemented their own evacuations from Peru, such as Israel, which sent El Al flights to pick up roughly 550 stranded Israelis. Although the U.S. State Department on Thursday issued a Level-4 travel advisory - its strictest warning, advising Americans not to travel internationally at all - Ashley and others with loved ones abroad have said they received little governmental response about how to help their family members stuck in other countries. Ashley even created an online petition to raise awareness about the people stuck in Peru. As of Monday, March 23 it had 14,870 signatures. But so far, Ashley said the family still hasnt received any updates, and shes anxious to have her dad home. This (pandemic) is just enough already, wild and unprecedented as it is, to not have him here and the uncertainty there is really nerve wracking," Ashley said. Ashley said shes just praying that her dad and Garcia stay healthy and wont have to use the healthcare system while theyre there. Shes also worried about their finances, as they didnt plan to have to stay in a hotel for weeks. I just cant believe the time frame was so small we had no idea it was an imminent thing and with so little time to come back, they gave him no chance, Ashley said. In the meantime, Paxton and Garcia have been doing their best to stay distracted. Theyve been group-chatting and video-chatting with their families and Paxton, a referee for the Flint Roller Derby, was able to video-chat with the team. Theyve also been able to wander freely around their hotel so they work out around the building and take walks to avoid going stir crazy. Theyve also been playing a lot of board games and watching more movies than they have in months, Paxton said. Were trying to do anything other than to worry about our situation," Paxton said. "I would like to get out of here, but I worry about everybody stuck in worse situations, too. More related news: Coronavirus strands West Michigan man in Peru Community task force formed in Genesee County to help residents during pandemic Complete coverage at mlive.com/coronavirus Where students can get free meals in Genesee County during coronavirus closures Photo: Dimitri Karastelev on UnSplash The world has changed significantly during the past few weeks as we deal with the health and financial implications of the COVID-19 outbreak. Businesses of all sizes are struggling to cope and many (most?) employees and business owners are understandably concerned about their ability to make it through these challenging times. While you may not be able to control your income earning potential right now, there are many things that are still under your control. For this weeks column, I wanted to provide tips to help get through this crisis as best you can: Stop consumer spending As much as possible, you should cut down on any discretionary spending at this time. While bored at home in isolation, it may be tempting to cruise the web for online shopping deals, but this is the absolute last thing you should be doing right now. Any discretionary income should be directed toward debt reduction and building up an emergency fund. Review your debt from all sources Now, is a great time to consolidate higher interest debts to a lower rate and make sure youre paying as little interest as possible. Much like debt, do a thorough review of all recurring monthly payments that you make Are there any that can be suspended or cancelled? Are you still paying for that monthly gym membership that you havent used in over a year? Do you really need to pay for Netflix, Amazon and Disney+ at the same time? Anything you can do to cut down your monthly carrying costs should be done right away. If you are or are expecting to have trouble making ends meet, reach out to all of your creditors and request temporary relief Most if not all mortgage providers in Canada are offering payment deferral and other such relief measures to those that need them. Make this call now instead of waiting until things are really bad. Consider setting up a line of credit type product if you dont have enough set aside in your emergency funds This would likely be far better than leaving a balance on your credit card or withdrawing (taxable) money from your RRSP account. Having said that, each persons situation is different and a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) professional should be consulted to determine what source of funds makes the most sense for you. Be extra vigilant for fraud or phishing schemes Its sad to say but there are many scammers out there working to take advantage of this situation. Watch your credit card and bank statements extra close over these next few months and report anything unusual right away. If additional funds are available, consider investing more into the markets while they are down While not an option for everyone, catching the inevitable rebound of the market is important. For those that are already invested and thinking of cashing out, remember that your losses are only realized if you decide to sell while the markets are down. When possible, help out your neighbours Check in to see if they need help picking up groceries or with any other daily living activities. We are all in this together and it is times like this when the goodness of humanity can shine. Finally, try not to panic Blaming doesnt help and dwelling on poor past decisions wont either. Focus on what you can control and try to stay positive. Do what you can to help flatten the curve and keep your family safe and healthy. Oh, yeah, wash your hands. State and county public health officials on Monday said they have identified 31 new cases of COVID-19, bringing to 192 the total number of cases statewide. The Oregon Health Authority so far has reported a total of five deaths from the illness. Those deaths were reported in the following counties: Lane, Linn, Multnomah, Marion and Washington. There are now known coronavirus cases linked to 19 of Oregons 36 counties: 69 in Washington County; 30 in Marion County; 21 in Multnomah County; 20 in Linn County; 14 in Clackamas County; 10 in Deschutes County; six in Yamhill County; four each in Lane and Benton counties; three in Polk County; two each in Jackson and Umatilla counties; one each in Clatsop, Hood, Douglas, Grant, Josephine, Klamath and Union counties. People older than 55 account for 103 of the confirmed cases in Oregon, 65 are between 35 and 54, 15 are between 25 and 34, five are between 18 and 24 and four others are under 17, state figures show. At least 56 of the states coronavirus patients, or 29%, have been hospitalized at some point during their illness, according to the Oregon Health Authority. While nearly 4,000 people in the state have now received tests, according to figures published by the health authority, countless more remain unable to obtain one due limited availability. The state reports that of the 3,840 tests administered so far, 3,649 were negative. The state did not report the number of test results that are pending. Testing shortages are a huge problem across the nation, not only in Oregon, creating a dramatic undercount of how many people actually are infected with the virus. -- Noelle Crombie; ncrombie@oregonian.com; 503-276-7184; @noellecrombie Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Since the governor revealed that he has gone into self-isolation having shaken hands with Atiku Abubakars son, also named Mohammed, who has now tested positive for the coronavirus, there is palpable fear at Nigerias seat of power. A mental health crisis is inevitable during the coronavirus pandemic, a charity has warned, as it urged psychiatric services to be on red alert for a wave of patients struggling to deal with self-isolation. Mental health charity SANE said that while it was important to focus on the physical health of the country, officials must do more to raise awareness of those living with existing conditions such as depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive order (OCD). In a statement addressing the risks the Covid-19 outbreak poses to people living with mental health issues, SANE CEO Marjorie Wallace said increased loneliness could lead to poorer health outcomes and ultimately premature deaths. She added: Loneliness can be a killer. A study of 300,000 people found that it is associated with a 29 per cent increase in mortality. In other words, it is a significant factor in poorer health outcomes and premature death and we need to balance these risks. Ms Wallace said the prospect of self-isolation can be particularly daunting for the elderly and those living in substandard housing with little light and no access to green spaces. SANEline, our telephone helpline, is receiving more calls from people suffering from depression, anxiety, panic and OCD, who are becoming acutely distressed Ms Wallace added. Psychiatric services need to be on red alert for patients who are deteriorating. SANE seeks to support and donations to ensure its lines stay open to help allay the fears and anxieties of the most vulnerable and meet the inevitable mental health crisis. It comes as the government faces increasing pressure to order a widespread lock down after thousands of people ignored calls for "social distancing" to slow the spread of the virus. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he will be thinking "very, very actively" about what steps to take if people continue to gather in large numbers in defiance of calls to stay apart. There was anger among MPs at scenes over the weekend of crowds flocking to parks, markets, beaches and beauty spots across the UK. Former Conservative Cabinet minister Julian Smith said he would support "any measure" the government brought forward to force people to comply with the guidance. For Labour, shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said ministers should be making "immediate preparations" for the "next stage" while learning from other European nations. The calls came as the total number of coronavirus-related deaths in the UK rose to 281. On Monday morning, Health Secretary Matt Hancock that nothing is off the table when it comes to fighting coronavirus suggesting that a curfew enforced by police was possible, in line with measures taken in other countries. There are growing fears that Britain is on a similar trajectory to Italy - now the epicentre of the pandemic - where the death toll passed 5,000 over the weekend. The Italian government was one of a number of European countries to announce new or extended restrictions, with Germany banning public gatherings of more than two people not from the same household. Later today, MPs will debate the emergency Coronavirus Bill - totalling 329 pages - which aims to enable action on increasing the number of available health and social care workers in a bid to lessen the burden on NHS frontline staff. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nicholas Reynolds (Bloomberg) Singapore Mon, March 23, 2020 22:35 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206cf4d30 2 SE Asia COVID-19,Singapore Free Singapore reported its biggest one-day jump in coronavirus infections with 54 new cases, of which 48 were imported, the government said in a statement. The 48 imported cases had travel histories to Europe, North America and ASEAN, with all except one being returning residents or long-term pass holders, according to the statement. An additional eight cases have been discharged from hospital, increasing the total to 152 who have fully recovered from the virus. Singapore has so far reported two deaths from the pandemic, both of which were announced on Saturday. All Singapore citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders returning to the city state are being issued a 14-day stay-at-home notice, meaning they have to stay in their place of residence at all times for that period. The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority earlier on Monday said all travelers must submit an online health declaration before proceeding with immigration clearance. Nine out of 10 imported Covid-19 cases in Singapore between March 18-20 last week didnt show symptoms, like fever, when they passed through border checkpoints, the Straits Times reported. All doctors in public and private hospitals, as well as private specialist clinics, have been advised by the countrys health ministry to immediately halt or defer accepting new foreign patients who dont live in Singapore, the newspaper said. Seven new COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Karnataka on Monday, taking the tally in the state to 33, as the government announced stricter measures in nine districts, including Bengaluru, where lockdown has been declared till March 31 to contain the spread of virus. The government on Sunday announced shutdown of all commercial activities barring essential services in Bengaluru city, Bengaluru Rural, Mangaluru, Mysuru, Kalaburagi, Dharwad, Chikkaballapura, Kodagu and Belagavi till month end, while closing state borders and postponing board exams. Orders were issued on Monday prohibiting gathering of more than five people in public places in these districts, stopping public and private transport services, and closing of government offices there. "All gatherings of more than 5 persons shall be prohibited in public places except for purposes of containment of COVID-19 and statutory and regulatory functions," the state government said in an order signed by Chief Secretary T M Vijay Bhaskar. It said all shops, commercial establishments, offices, workshops, godowns dealing shall close their operations subject to exceptions, while all industries and factories except those dealing with essential goods and services, food, medical equipment, drugs, fuel, agricultural inputs etc, shall remain closed. "They (industries) are advised not to remove any worker on this account and advised to sanction paid leave on these days (till March 31) to the remaining workers," it added. The government said all foreign returnees shall remain in strict home quarantine, and violation of home quarantine will entail penal action and shift to government quarantine. The ongoing budget session of the Karnataka legislative assembly will be cut short, asSpeaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri announced that it will be adjourned sine die on Tuesday, amid growing demand for it to be curtailed in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak. "ill date 33 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state which includes one death," the state health department said in a bulletin. It said 31 positive patients are in isolation at designated hospitals and are stable. The seven new positive cases confirmed on Monday include two from neighbouring Kerala, and five from Bengaluru. The government in its order has said all passenger transport services including inter-state, inter-district and within the district operations of Road Transport Corporations and private operations shall be stopped in the nine districts. "Plying of private vehicles shall be permitted only for procuring essential commodities and exceptions permitted," it said, adding that all Ola, Uber, taxis, autorickshaws and other hired services shall not be permitted for passenger transport except for procuring essential commodities and medical emergencies. All government offices dealing with non-essential services as notified by government shall remain closed, the order said, as it also called for stopping of all prayer and festival gatherings in the nine districts. Warning against violating the regulations, the order said those in violation will have to face the law under Epidemic Diseases Act, the Disaster Management Act, sections of IPC, among others. The Health Department said a mammoth exercise of identifying overseas passenger who had landed in Kempegowda International Airport at Bengaluru before March 17, was taken by city civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike and have applied home quarantine stamps on 5,000 people on Sunday. Following the shutdown, the government said food will be provided free of cost through state run 'Indira Canteen' for the poor who depend on their daily wages for livelihood. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Media mogul Oprah Winfrey has launched a new series Oprah Talks COVID-19 for Apple TV Plus. The 66-year-old former TV host announced the show on social media and for its first episode, she sat down with actor Idris Elba via Facetime to talk about his coronavirus diagnosis. "Like millions of people all over the world, I've been staying safer at home for over a week now. I know a lot of people are feeling stressed, overwhelmed, & uncertain. Because of that, I want to offer some hope & gather thought leaders & people going through it to add some perspective "Which is why I FaceTimed @idriselba and his wife Sabrina who are safely quarantined together after he tested positive for COVID-19. Idris fills me in on his journey and Sabrina reveals the result of her test after they decided to quarantine together," Winfrey posted. In the episode, Elba, 47, said he has been dodging interviews with the press but wanted to talk to Winfrey as a "friend" because "journalistic approach to doing things like this is probably one of the best". About his decision to go public with his diagnosis, Elba said, "COVID-19 has come to a sort of pressure point right now but for the last two weeks, it's been a talking point and I really felt that a lot of people didn't know what was gonna come ... It didn't really feel relatable. There were a bunch of theories going around: it's a conspiracy! Is it even real? Which is why I FaceTimed @idriselba & his wife Sabrina who are safely quarantined together after he tested positive for COVID-19. Idris fills me in on his journey and Sabrina reveals the result of her test after they decided to quarantine together. pic.twitter.com/HETVZeqCPE Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) March 22, 2020 "And when I got tested and it came back positive, it became very real. It was always real for me but it became very real. And I just felt compelled to tell people this is very real. Someone like myself, in the public eye, can press a button and 30 million people will get a message the next day, I think is a really important component in the messaging around COVID-19 right now," the actor said. Sabrina, who sat besides Elba, said she has also been tested positive for COVID-19. Throughout the series, Winfrey will continue to have remote conversations with experts and people facing challenges caused by the pandemic, which first originated in China and has so far claimed the lives of over 13,000 people. "Oprah Talks COVID-19" is now streaming and can be viewed on Apple TV Plus by its subscribers. People who don't have a subscription can also watch the show on the streaming service's application. The show is part of Winfrey's multi-million dollars deal with Apple for creating content for the company's newly-launched streaming service. Oprah Winfrey Salms Fake Report That She Was Arrested For Sex Trafficking Coronavirus: Did Disney Foresee The Quarantine In 2010 Movie Tangled? The two-member judicial commission inquiring into the 2018 Bhima Koregaon violence case on Monday sought a six-month extension from the state government as it has postponed its hearing in view of Covid-19 (coronavirus) outbreak and subsequent lockdown in the state. In a letter to the state chief secretary seeking extension,VV Palnitkar,commission secretary, stated, In view of Covid-19 epidemic and complete lockdown, the commission has postponed its proceedings until further notice. As such the commission is unable to submit any report. If extension is given by the state government, the commission intends to examine 40-50 more witnesses, including police, state officials and politicians. For that purpose, the commission will require not less than six months, the letter stated. Violence erupted in Bhima Koregaon and nearby areas in Pune on January 1, 2018, during the 200th anniversary celebrations of the battle of Bhima Koregaon. One person was killed and several others injured during the incident. The Pune police had said provocative speeches made at the Elgar Parishad conclave held on December 31, 2017, triggered the violence and claimed that Maoists had funded the conclave. Maharashtra government had set up a two-member commission in February 2018 to conduct an inquiry into the violence. The commission is headed by former high court judge J Patel and former chief secretary Sumit Mullick is its member. The commission has since then received four extensions so far. Last month, the commission was given a final extension till April 8 this year by the government to submit its report. On March 18, the commission had issued summons to NCP chief Sharad Pawar to appear as a witness before it on April 4. Apart from Pawar, the commission had also summoned a few senior police officials of Pune Rural area. Pawar was summoned as witness by the commission in view of certain statements made by him about the violence. She spent the last 18 months in Wales, but was forced to head back home to her parents by the coronavirus pandemic. Princess Elisabeth, 18, the daughter of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, has left UWC Atlantic College in Llantwit Major, Wales, where she's been taking part in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. She is reported to have returned home to her parents at the Laeken palace, where she is in confinement with her siblings Prince Gabriel, 16, Prince Emmanuel, 14 and Princes Eleonore, 11. According to the radio station RTL.info, she will be able to continue her studies from home. King Philippe has vowed to keep his subjects' spirits up after coronavirus cases reached 3,743 in Belgium, with 88 deaths since the outbreak. Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, 18, had left her school in Wales to travel back home, where she is in confinement with her other siblings (pictured giving a speech on the occasion of her 18th birthday on October 25 2019) Elisabeth, who is heir apparent to the Belgian throne, has been studying in Wales for the past 18 months and was due to take her final exam in May. UWC Atlantic College has reportedly put in place a distance learning platform so that student can complete their year, after the school had to close due to the coronavirus pandemic. In the UK, there have been 5,683 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 281 deaths. The Prime Minister asked that all schools be closed last week, effective from Friday, leaving parents working from home to look after their children as well, except for children of key-workers, such as NHS staff. Princess Elisabeth has been studying in the UK for the past 18 months, but was asked to go home as schools around the country shut down on Friday (pictured left to right: Prince Gabriel, 16, Princess Elisabeth, 18, Queen Mathilde, 47, King Philippe, 59, Prince Emmanuel, 14 and Princess Eleonore, 11, on Belgium's National Day on 21 July 2019) Foreign students such as Princess Elisabeth have been asked to go home while authorities work to limit the spread of the virus worldwide. Belgium has been on lock-down since 18th March. King Philippe, who addressed his people on 16th March 16, said that COVID-19 would make Belgium 'stronger' as the country braced to face the 'unprecedented health crisis on a global scale.' Since then, the Belgian king has been doing his best to keep spiritS high, using the internet to show his support to the most vulnerable. King Philippe (pictured) have assured his subjects that the coronavirus pandemic would make them 'stronger' in a televised address on March 16 (pictured) Today, the European sovereign Skyped with residents at a retirement home in Liege, inviting others to use technology to keep in touch. 'Skype exchange with the resident of Notre-Dame de Lourdes in Liege to support the elderly,' read a tweet on the official Twitter account of Belgium's royal palace. In the UK, Boris Johnson faces massive pressure to impose a European-style lockdown to avert coronavirus disaster today as people continue to flout government guidance. Demands are growing for the PM to ramp up controls after extraordinary images emerged this morning of still-packed Tube trains in London - regarded as the engine of the UK outbreak. After a weekend in which crowds flocked to parks and landmarks to take advantage of sunshine, Mr Johnson effectively put the nation on its final warning last night, saying there should be 'no doubt' he would take draconian action. In the UK, Boris Johnson faces massive pressure to impose a European-style lockdown to avert coronavirus disaster today as people continue to flout government guidance. (pictured during a daily COVID 19 press address on March 22) Health Secretary Matt Hancock underlined this morning that a decision is expected 'very soon', hitting out at 'selfish' behaviour and saying 'nothing is off the table'. He pointed to measures in Italy and France - where all municipal spaces have been closed, forms have to be filled out to leave the house, and police are on patrol handing out fines. But Mr Hancock was embroiled in a furious spat with Piers Morgan after accusing the ITV Good Morning Britain host of spreading 'tittle tattle' over infighting within the government. Morgan retorted: 'How dare you!' The backlash was mounting against Mr Johnson's 'relaxed' style today, with warnings of a 'full-scale mutiny' among Cabinet if the lockdown is not extended, and Labour claiming his 'mixed messages will cost lives'. Trump Approves New York, Washington Requests to Declare Major Disaster, Activates National Guard Sputnik News 22:08 GMT 22.03.2020(updated 00:21 GMT 23.03.2020) So far, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States has reached 32,644, according to the Johns Hopkins University, which puts the US in third place in terms of its COVID-19 toll, surpassed only by China and Italy. President Donald Trump said on Sunday he had approved New York and Washington's requests to declare a major disaster in the two states amid the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that he will approve California's request soon, "maybe tonight". According to President Trump, the US federal government will fully cover the costs of deploying national guard units in the states of New York, California, and Washington to help fight the coronavirus. "Today I'm announcing action to help New York, California, and Washington ensure that the national guard can effectively respond to this crisis", Trump said on Sunday. Other states most affected by COVID-19 will receive help too, the president said. "Through FEMA [federal emergency management] the federal government will be funding 100 percent of the cost of deploying national guard units to carry out approved missions to stop the virus, while governors remain in command", Trump said. The president also said the US is mobilising all resources available to combat the spread of the virus and said it was important that the US citizens followed the federal guidance on social distancing. Trump referred to the coronavirus outbreak in the country as a "great national trial". According to Trump, the emergency medical stations will be deployed to help treat coronavirus patients in three US states and that a US naval hospital ship will be sent to Los Angeles. "In addition to large quantities of supplies I have also directed FEMA [federal emergency management agency] to supply the following: four large federal medical stations with 1,000 beds for New York, eight large federal medical stations with 2,000 beds for California and three large federal medical stations and four small federal medical stations with 1,000 beds for the state of Washington", he said. The president added that US naval hospital ship USNS Mercy will be deployed to Los Angeles. Trump said the ship has "tremendous capacity". Trump also said he was considering to release elderly non-violent prisoners. US Vice President Mike Pence says that 254,000 US citizens have been tested for coronavirus under the federal programme, and over 30,000 have tested positive. These figures do not include local tests, he added. As of today, the United States has reported a total of 32,644 cases of the new coronavirus and at least 409 deaths from the disease, the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center count shows. New York remains the hotbed of coronavirus in the US, with the highest number of cases registered - a total of 15,168, according to Governor Andrew Cuomo, and at least 114 people have died so far. Washington is leading in terms of fatalities, with at least 94 deaths reported so far. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran Doubts US Aid Amid Pandemic, Suspects Their Involvement in Virus Spread - Supreme Leader Sputnik News 07:48 GMT 22.03.2020(updated 08:31 GMT 22.03.2020) According to the head of state, Washington has offered to help Tehran fight the coronavirus outbreak. At the same time, the United States stated this week that there will be no sanctions relief for Iran, despite calls to ease the pressure amid the coronavirus pandemic. Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has questioned Washington's offer to provide medicine to Iran amid the COVID-19 outbreak citing suspicions that "the US created the virus". In a televised speech, Khamenei described the US proposal as "strange", noting that Iran has the capability to battle "any kind of crisis" on its own. "Several times Americans have offered to help Iran to contain the virus. Aside from the fact that there are suspicions about this virus being created by America ... their offer is strange since they face shortages in their fight against the virus", said Khamenei. The United States has warned Tehran that its "maximum pressure" policy against Iran will not stop despite the coronavirus epidemic in the country. Russia and China called on the United States to abandon its unilateral sanctions against Iran amid the coronavirus pandemic. Iran is among one of the countries worst-affected by COVID-19, with 20,610 confirmed cases and 1,556 fatalities. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Mexico ready to file extradition order for ex-director of Pemex Mexico City, Mexico Marcelo Ebrard, head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday, Mexico will present its extradition order for the ex-director of Pemex, Emilio Lozoya. The announcement was made during a press conference from the National Palace. Ebrard says the former director, who remains in a Spain prison, is accused of operations with illegal resources, bribery and organized crime. He said that the Attorney General of the Republic (FGR) already has the necessary documentation to carry out the process adding that In the Lozoya case, the extradition request must be presented before Thursday. Ebrard Emilio Lozoya was arrested on February 12 in Malaga, Spain after an Interpol red flag for two arrest warrants. He was taken into custody after being removed from a taxi and found carrying a fake drivers license in the name of Jonathan Solis Fuentes. Lozoya is wanted in Mexico on allegations for crimes of operations with resources of illicit origin, receiving bribes in excess of $10 million USD and criminal association. Lozoya served as the director of Pemex under the presidency of Enrique Pena Nieto. AmTrust Financial Services said it will transfer to Liberty Mutuals Safeco Insurance unit the renewal rights for the personal lines business in six states of Dallas-based Republic Group, an AmTrust company. The deal will allow Republic General Agency personal lines agents to transition their business to Safeco starting in the 2020 third quarter. AmTrust said that Republic personal lines policyholders in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi and New Mexico should experience a smooth transition with the change. AmTrust said its decision to exit its Republic personal lines business lets it focus on core areas such as workers compensation and providing extended warranties. Safeco Insurance is a top three personal lines writer in the independent agency channel and was named the carrier champion of the independent agent in the 2019 Channel Harvest Study, AmTrust noted. We have an unwavering dedication to our independent agency partners and look forward to bringing our best-in-class products, people, programs and service capabilities to Republic agents and policyholders, Gary Fischer, senior vice president of IA Channel Growth and Engagement at Safeco Insurance, said in prepared remarks. This isnt the first time that Liberty Mutual has picked up business that AmTrust chose to exit. Last April, Liberty Mutual agreed to acquire AmTrusts global surety and credit reinsurance operations at an undisclosed price. AmTrust also earlier this year agreed to transition its farm and ranch business in Texas and Oklahoma to South & Western General Agency Inc., which has offices in Addison, Texas, and Memphis, Tenn. South & Western will begin underwriting and servicing AmTrusts farm and ranch business in the two states on May 1. AmTrust is a multinational insurance holding company based in New York, with a focus on specialty property/casualty insurance products including workers compensation, business owners policy, general liability and extended service/warranty coverage. A version of this article first appeared in Insurance Journals sister publication, Carrier Management. Topics Mergers Texas Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) said on Monday that it has decided to temporarily shut down its factories in India, South Africa, Thailand, and Vietnam in response to the fast-growing coronavirus pandemic. Ford said that it suspended production at its factories in the four countries as of Saturday, March 21. The shutdowns will last for "several weeks" depending on the local situations and government requirements, Ford said. "The health and safety of our employees, dealers, customers, partners and communities is our highest priority," said Mark Ovenden, president of Ford's International Markets Group. "We are continuing to act in real time and taking added safety measures" by shutting down these factories, he said. Eight Ford plants are affected, including four in India, two in South Africa, and one each in Vietnam and Thailand. Last week, Ford shut down its plants in continental Europe, the U.K., and North America in response to the pandemic. The company also moved to hoard cash, suspending its dividend and drawing down $15.4 billion from its credit lines as it hunkers down for an extended production halt. Ford said that it will use the cash to continue its future-product development efforts to the extent possible during the extended shutdowns. It has ordered all of its employees outside of China to work from home if they can for the time being. Ford is not seeking any immediate government assistance in the United States. Myca Milligan's life-changing surgery has been put on hold indefinitely as Queensland's hospitals scale back non-emergency operations to make room for an influx of COVID-19 patients. The 16-month-old girl has had four burst eardrums in the past six weeks and is up most nights screaming in pain. Sixteen-month-old Myca Milligan, whose ear surgery has been postponed. Mother Jackie Wilson said her daughter was scheduled to have grommets put in at Brisbane's St Andrew's Hospital next week, but was told by her surgeon on Monday she would have to wait. "As a parent, its soul destroying to see your child screaming in agony and not be able to do anything to help them," she said. A young Co Down pastor was fighting for his life on Saturday night after being diagnosed with coronavirus just days ago. Elim church members were last night urged to pray for 40-year-old Pastor Mark McClurg who is being treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) at the Ulster Hospital. Bangor Elim issued details of the condition of father-of-three Mr McClurg, a pastor at its sister church in Newtownards. A second pastor, in his 30s from a church in north Belfast, is also seriously ill in hospital after being diagnosed with Covid-19. Sam McClurg - himself a pastor at Elim Church, Rathfriland - issued a statement on behalf of his brother Mark and his wife, and urged people not to try to contact Mark directly. He said: "On behalf of Mark and Claire and his family we want to thank everyone who has been praying for him. A lot of people are texting messages of support directly to Mark, and whilst this is encouraging, Mark needs to focus his strength on beating this virus. "His condition in ICU hasn't improved since Tuesday, so continue to pray for his lungs and breathing and for time for his body to beat this virus. God is in control." Calling for prayers for Pastor Mark, Bangor Elim posted: "As you may be aware Mark was hospitalised early this week and on Thursday he tested positive for coronavirus. "I am writing to ask for urgent prayer. Mark has had an uncomfortable night and the hospital have decided that ventilation may be the best course of action in order to give Mark's body and heart some rest from the stress he is currently experiencing. "Please pray for God's intervention and healing power at this time. Please pray for Claire and the children who are also self-isolating at this time, also his brother Sam and all the family. "Obviously, visiting by anyone including family is not permitted and this in itself is incredibly distressing for everyone closest to Mark." It is understood there are growing concerns for the young pastor. It is not known if he had any underlying condition. Health authorities are set to investigate who the busy preacher, who has a large congregation, had been in contact with in recent weeks. Pastor McClurg, who only turned 40 last month, is also a director of the Campaigners Youth and Children Ministry (NI) Trust with an address at Ballymena Elim. He's a Liverpool FC fan who regularly shares his passion for the Merseyside club on social media. News that two young churchmen have been struck down with Covid-19 came after it emerged that an elderly Christian couple are also in intensive care in hospital here after being diagnosed with the deadly coronavirus. The husband and wife are being treated in the ICU of a Belfast hospital. They have close links to the Salvation Army which has urged the public to pray for them. Both pensioners, who are highly regarded in the community, were previously involved in the charity's branch in Dundonald on the outskirts of east Belfast. Their daughter and her family, who have also displayed symptoms of being infected, are self-isolating. The first person in Northern Ireland to die of Covid-19 last Thursday is understood to be from east Belfast. He has been identified as an elderly male ex-postal worker who had been suffering from cancer. on Saturday the number of confirmed cases of Northern Ireland rose by 22, bringing the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Northern Ireland to 108. The total number of tests completed here is 2,186. On Saturday night it was reported two cases had been confirmed at a Belfast nursing home. The number of people to test positive for coronavirus in the UK stood at 5,018 on Saturday - up from 3,983 on Friday. Deaths in the UK linked to the virus rose on Saturday by 53 to 233. The patients were aged between 41 and 94 years old and all had underlying health conditions. In the Republic of Ireland, the death toll stood at three out of 785 confirmed cases on Saturday. It was announced that an Irish naval vessel is being transformed into a Covid-19 testing centre. The LE Samuel Beckett is berthed at Sir John Rogerson's Quay on the River Liffey in Dublin city centre. Details of the latest Covid-19 hospital admissions came as a doctor at the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald, where Pastor McClurg is being treated, urged the public to self-isolate and socially distance to limit its spread. In a sombre video posted on Twitter, Dr Julia Courtney (below) said: "As a respiratory consultant in the Ulster Hospital, this is a personal plea. "It is hard to actually convey the enormity of the crisis that is looming for the NHS, and so for everyone in the next few weeks. "Huge numbers of people will die and the only thing that will have any impact on this impending catastrophe is slowing the spread of this virus. "This is the week that the most people who are infected without knowing it will cause the virus to spread. "What you do today will affect the ICU beds in the hospitals in the next two to three weeks. So, please, please, please stay at home if you can." Dr Courtney's social media plea came after health professionals revealed all emergency departments at hospitals in Northern Ireland are being divided into two parts - one for Covid-19 victims and the other for regular cases. At present there are 139 ventilators in Northern Ireland with another 40 ordered. ICU beds total 88, with attempts being made to expand this to 126. Last night, the Royal College of Nursing's director in Northern Ireland, Pat Cullen, said nurses need ramped-up testing for Covid-19 so they can return to patients' bedsides. Those with symptoms are having to self-isolate for days. "The reason that nurses are asking for testing is that they don't want to be away from work for seven or 14 days," she said. The Queen is set to give a speech to the public from Windsor Castle as the threat of the coronavirus pandemic continues to escalate. Other than her annual Christmas Day message it is extremely rare for the Queen to address the public on television. The last time she did so was in 2002, following the death of the Queen Mother. The Queen has given the public a message during the coronavirus pandemic / PA She also spoke to the public in 1997 ahead of Princess Diana's funeral and in 1991 during the Gulf War, when she praised British troops for their "courage" and prayed for "lasting peace." Last week the Queen moved from Buckingham Palace to Windsor Castle where she is expected to remain until the isolation period is lifted. A short journey from London, Windsor Castle is where the Queen usually spends her Easter break. Getty Images She has been joined there by the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, who arrived via helicopter from Sandringham in Norfolk. A date for a live broadcast is yet to be confirmed but is expected to happen in the next few weeks. Prince Philip photographed last year / Reuters Her Majesty released a statement last week on how "we are all being advised to change our normal routines and regular patterns of life for the greater good." Amid the warnings and concerns brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, parents may be asking themselves whether playgrounds are a good place to take the kids for some outdoor fun. With social distancing being encouraged now more than ever and gatherings of more than 10 people being discouraged, experts say a playground may not be the best place to take your children for a playdate. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Disaster expert: Houston area needs shelter-in-place now. And a coronavirus command team. Dr. Sean O'Leary, a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases, shared the following statement with ABC News, "We've been trying to discourage the in-person get togethers as much as possible. The more we can prevent this virus from spreading, the more lives we can save." He does not recommend going to playgrounds. "There are a lot of other options for parks, going for hikes, family bike rides. All of those things are perfectly acceptable for social distancing," O'Leary said. Experts also recommend scheduling virtual playdates for kids so they can still interact with their friends at a safe distance. Experts agree its important to try and keep kids connected with their friends during this time. HOUSTON AREA ATTRACTIONS EMPTY: Photos: Houston's most popular places become stark, empty scenes during outbreak For these questions regarding children intermingling during the COVID-19 outbreak, some creative parenting is in order, says Yale School of Public Health Dean Sten H. Vermund, the Anna M.R. Lauder Professor of Public Health and a Professor of Pediatrics. Perhaps parents can help their child plan for an amazing ONLINE birthday celebration? For those who are invited to the virtual party, gift cards can be purchased online or cards can be shared and emailed to the child-of-the-hour," shared Vermund. Lighting a cake and cutting via Zoom or Skype or other social media apps was another way Vermund encouraged celebrations during this time. In order to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, many Houston-area cities like Sugar Land have closed park playgrounds and restrooms until further notice. STAY INFORMED: Sign up to receive breaking news alerts delivered to your email here. Bursary recipients learn about how the Clicks bursary works By Poelo Keta , third-year BJourn student Twenty-four Rhodes University BPharm (Bachelor of Pharmacy) students were visited by a Click Group Quality Assurance Manager, Unati Xulubana, recently. The reason behind the visit was to discuss the bursary agreement and for the students to sign in order to receive their funding. The students will start receiving the funding amount capped at R55 000 to be paid directly to the institution as of April 2020 and again in July 2020. The 24 BPharm students are comprised of 21 second-year students, one third-year student, and two fourth-year students. The bursary does not fund first years. Although we are sponsoring BPharm students in all the institutions that are offering this course, Rhodes University has the biggest number of our bursary recipients this year, Xulubana explained. Besides Rhodes University, the bursary is also being offered to Wits, North West University, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Nelson Mandela University, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, and the University of the Western Cape. Furthermore, Xulubana told students that the requirement to be eligible for this bursary is a 70% average per academic year. In addition to the funding amount that covers registration fees, tuition fees and prescribed textbooks, the Clicks Foundation will also be sponsoring the students clinical coats. Students are encouraged to apply for additional funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to cover their residence fees. Xulubana explained that students are no longer required to strictly complete their practical hours at a Clicks pharmacy, and that they now have the freedom to complete their internships at any pharmacy of their choosing. This came as a relief to the bursary recipients, since Makhanda currently has just one Clicks store and many students come from areas that do not have a Clicks store nearby. Lethukuthula Shamase, a third-year BPharm student from Nongoma, a small town in KwaZulu-Natal reflected on how much this bursary means to him and his family. This bursary will help me a lot with my finances because NSFAS usually doesnt cover what this bursary covers and I also have the advantage of doing my practical hours at Clicks and therefore experience a different dimension of retail pharmacy, he expressed. In Nongoma, Shamase said, access to information is difficult and many are not even aware they qualify for bursaries. We see our parents struggling every day to pay our fees. Getting this bursary, and working hard for it, gives our parents peace of mind. The Clicks Foundation Bursary Scheme was founded in 2011 and it has been funding students ever since. Applications for pharmacy internships will be advertised in October 2020 and students are encouraged to apply and register their CV on the Clicks website by September. We are thrilled that Rhodes University has the highest number of recipients this year with an almost 50% increase from last year. The primary objective of Isivivane is to increase the number of students on both internal and external bursaries and we are happy to see that students are responding positively to the calls to make applications, explained Rhodes Universitys Development Fundraiser for Campaigns, Luyanda Bheyile. Source: Communications Please help us to raise funds so that we can give all our students a chance to access online teaching and learning. Covid-19 has disrupted our students' education. Don't let the digital divide put their future at risk. Visit www.ru.ac.za/rucoronavirusgateway to donate President Trump assails NBC News reporter Peter Alexander for asking what message he would send Americans worried about the COVID-19 pandemic. (Alex Wong / Getty Images) The presidential campaign may be on hold, but not the politics surrounding the coronavirus. Even as lawmakers work to pass bipartisan relief legislation in Congress, the two major parties have used the pandemic as a partisan cudgel. President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden, his presumptive November opponent, trade rhetorical shots. Critics of the president have unleashed a string of advertisements assailing his response to the medical and economic emergency, with more in the works. "Trump cannot be trusted. With our economy, our health and our future," says a digital ad featuring a montage of Trump statements downplaying the contagion, which American Bridge, a liberal political action committee, is running in three states Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin central to the election. The two sides are quick to point fingers, saying, in effect, they started it. "In the midst of an unprecedented crisis, the president repeatedly spouts self-serving lies and sows confusion instead of preparing and protecting our country," Bradley Beychok, the co-founder of American Bridge, said in an email. "That makes it all the more important to hold him accountable." Tim Murtaugh, a spokesman for Trump's reelection campaign, responded: "At a time when the nation should be coming together to fight the unseen enemy of coronavirus, Democrats and the media have only increased their venom and attacks against President Trump, looking for political gain rather than national unity." The attacks began, Murtaugh said via email, "before Inauguration Day, continued through their bogus impeachment fiasco, and [go] on today." It's not all-out warfare all the time. In between jibes, Trump has traded compliments with Govs. Gavin Newsom of California and Andrew Cuomo of New York over the government's response to the pandemic. One of the president's harshest critics, Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, praised Trump for, among other steps, suspending mortgage foreclosures and invoking the Defense Production Act to force private firms to address a looming shortage of medical supplies. (The president has since equivocated on his use of the act.) Story continues "We should never let politics get in the way of good policy," Omar said in a tweet that Trump allies circulated widely. "This is a great start and hope others will be part of a united front to push for good policies that will help us work through the economic anxiety the country is feeling right now." But those brief instances of amity have been the exception, in contrast to the political good will that flourished for a time after Sept. 11 a cessation of hostilities that seems unimaginable in today's hyperpartisan environment. Attack mailers were shelved. Negative ads were scrubbed. Party leaders issued solemn statements saying it was time to forgo the usual partisan squabbling. Even when campaigning resumed a month or so later, Democrats were careful to avoid directly criticizing George W. Bush as the country prepared, under its Republican president, to strike back at perpetrators of the murderous assault. Several differences help explain the divergent responses. No one apart from some conspiracy-mongers questioned whether the 9/11 terrorist attacks took place; the carnage was plain for all to see. No one in a serious position of authority minimized the damage, or acted as though the response to the catastrophe was overblown. Though not even a generation has passed, it was also a different time. The country was not as politically polarized and the two major parties weren't as homogenized or their followers as rigid as today, when seemingly every facet of life is filtered through a red or blue lens. Perhaps the greatest difference, though, has been the tone set from the top. Bush, seeing renewed purpose in his presidency, sought to unify the nation and undertook gestures such as visiting a Washington mosque, to show America was preparing for war with backers of the 9/11 terrorists, not all members of the Islamic faith. Trump, by contrast, has played largely to his political followers. He was slow to respond to the pandemic, scoffing at those who urged him to take it more seriously and suggesting their concerns were intended to undermine his presidency. As he became more engaged, Trump used the crisis to lash out against Europe, China, the media, congressional Democrats and other long-standing targets. His critics say they are simply responding in kind. "We're operating in the environment he created," said Mike Madrid, a Sacramento-based Republican consultant and co-founder of the Lincoln Project, a group of GOP dissenters who produced an advertisement criticizing Trump's response to the pandemic. "It would be inappropriate for us not to." If anything, the acrimony is likely to increase once the urgency of the pandemic passes. On Sunday, the Biden campaign released a digital ad using footage from the last Democratic presidential debate to contrast his sober response with Trump's tirade against a reporter who asked what message he would send Americans worried about the virus. (The Biden and Trump campaigns have held off on more widely viewed television advertising, as has Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who continues to compete for the Democratic nomination.) "This is a race against time right now," said Douglas Brinkley, a Rice University historian, who predicted by summer assuming the contagion is under control the airwaves will be filled with Democratic spots "painting [Trump] as the Herbert Hoover of the coronavirus, who did wishful thinking and played ostrich with his head in the sand" while Trump airs advertisements "blaming it all on [former President Barack] Obama." In many ways, that will be more typical than the peaceable lull that followed Sept. 11. Throughout its history, even in the most trying of circumstances the Civil War, the Great Depression, World War II the country has waged heated and often acrimonious political campaigns. That, Stanford historian David Kennedy said, has been one of its great strengths. "It's not something we should regret, but something we should celebrate," said Kennedy, who has written magisterial works on some of America's hardest times. "We continue to argue within the parameters of our political culture even in times of crisis. We don't go inert and come what may ... And that's healthy." Cargo industry and supply chain veteran Andrew Shiles has joined Boomerang Carnets as Chief Operating Officer (COO). From our centralized ATA Carnet issuing facility in Illinois, we serve exporters in all 50 U.S. states. ATA Carnets are internationally accepted customs documents used for temporary exports which allow for import-duty and -tax free customs clearance into carnet countries for up to one year. In 2014 boomerang carnets opened operations in the U.K. Shiles will be responsible for all U.S. and U.K. operations. Shiles comes into the role of COO after Leslie August, who served the company for many years. Leslie was a vital part of Boomerang Carnets and we wish her the best, said Curt Wilson, President and CEO. We are excited about Andy joining our team. He has substantial experience with international trade, government and industry affairs, operations management, regulatory compliance and marketing. This, along with his extensive connections in the governmental and private sectors, will be a great addition to our leadership team. Shiles comes to Boomerang Carnets after serving as the Sr. Director of Trade Compliance of North America at CEVA Logistics. Shiles also served as the Sr. Vice President of Trade Services at the United States Council for International Business (USCIB). In addition, Shiles had a distinguished career of 30+ years at Federal Express Corporation (FedEx). Shiles has extensive experience in assisting companies in expanding their markets and stimulating international trade. He works to affect positive change in the import & export communities by collaborating with the governmental and private sectors to develop programs, pilots and regulations to streamline processes and promote secure supply chains. Shiles tells us that he was city born, and country raised. Born in New York City, he was raised in the Southwest and Tennessee. Shiles received his bachelors degree from the University of Memphis and he currently resides in the Memphis, Tennessee area with his wife Amy of 30 years. For more information about Boomerang Carnets and the services that are offered, go to: http://www.atacarnet.com. About Boomerang Carnets: Boomerang Carnets, Corporation for International Business branded ATA Carnet service Corporation for International Business a.k.a. Boomerang Carnets is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kernow Capital Corporation (KCC) specializing in ATA Carnets and ATA Carnet Guarantees in the US & UK. We are an appointed Service Provider to the United States Council for International Business and issued 11,050 ATA Carnets in 2019. An IL-76 aircraft of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has delivered a batch of tests for COVID-19 coronavirus to Boryspil International Airport (Kyiv) from Chinese Guangzhou, the press service of the President's Office has reported. "The military aircraft has delivered two types of tests to Ukraine: for PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and 250,000 tests for rapid diagnostics. The delivered cargo also included medical masks of various degrees of protection, disinfectants, ventilators and other means necessary to combat the spread of COVID-19," the presidential press service said in the early hours of Monday. Once the disinfection measures are completed, the aircraft will be unloaded by the health service, it said. "Medical equipment, including PCR tests, will be transferred to laboratories in every region of Ukraine already on Monday. Rapid tests and medical masks will be provided for the primary needs of doctors, servicemen, police officers, the State Border Service and others," the press service said. The press service says that rapid tests will be used by emergency teams to test people with fever and suspected coronavirus disease. In case of a positive test result, doctors must take an additional sample to confirm it in the laboratory using a PCR test. The purchase of medicines in China was carried out pursuant to the agreements of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and representatives of big businesses. The delivery process was coordinated by MPs from the Servant of the People party and government officials. "This is only the first shipment of medical supplies from China. A few more flights are scheduled this week," the presidential press service said. The Creative Industries Federation has pulled together 40 trade bodies and unions from across the creative industries to call on the chancellor for financial help for freelancers during the coronavirus outbreak. The government has already announced measures to help companies and employees to stay afloat during the crisis but little help has been offered so far for the UKs five million self employed. A third of the UKs creative industry workers are freelance compared to a national average of around 15%. Bectu, Directors UK and UK Screen Alliance have joined forces with others across the creative industries to endorse an open letter to the chancellor from Creative Industries Federation and Creative England chief exec, Caroline Norbury. Heres the letter The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Chancellor of the Exchequer HM Treasury 1 Horse Guards Road London SW1A 2HQ Dear Chancellor, We are writing as a collective group of organisations to ask that you stand by our highly valuable self-employed workforce, and urgently consider our proposal to help make this a reality. Your package of support for employers and employees was unprecedented and welcome. However, it creates a worrying inequity between those who now have their income secured and the UKs five million self-employed workers who are left despondent. A third of the UKs creative workforce are self-employed higher than the national average of 15%. Our recent survey revealed that 60% of creative freelancers predict their income will more than halve in 2020, and over 50% of freelancers who responded to our snap poll have already had 100% of their work cancelled. We have been working with IPSE the representative body for the UKs self-employed community and over 40 trade and membership bodies and unions from across the creative industries to develop a solution, and would welcome the opportunity to constructively discuss this proposal, and other practical ideas, with you and your team as soon as possible. We propose that the government creates a Temporary Income Protection Fund of 15bn to provide all self-employed workers with a monthly income matching their average existing earnings over the past three years, capped at average UK earnings after the basic rate of income tax and with a minimum monthly income of the Real Living Wage. There is now precedent for this across Europe. Our self-employed workforce are a source of incredible creativity, agility, and innovation. It is vital that they receive support equal to employees and collectively explore, given this difficult time, how such talent could be employed and redeployed to help the national effort. Yours sincerely, Caroline Norbury Chief Executive Creative Industries Federation and Creative England Association of British Orchestras Association of Independent Music Association of Photographers Audio UK BECTU British Arts Festivals Association British Association of Picture Libraries & Agencies British Beauty Council British Fashion Council Bristol Media Crafts Council Creative United Culture Counts Design Council Directors UK Equity Featured Artists Coalition Federation of Scottish Theatres Guild HE Guild of Media Arts Incorporated Society of Musicians Independent Cinema Office Music Education Council Musicians Union One Dance UK Professional Publishers Association ScreenSkills Society of British Theatre Designers SOLT/UK Theatre Tech London Advocates & Global Tech Advocates UK Music UK Screen Alliance Ukie York UNESCO Creative City of Media Arts Share this story On Monday, Governor Ned Lamont announced that all Connecticut schools would remain closed until at least April 20. Originally, Lamont had ordered that schools be closed through March 27, but it has been widely accepted that the closures would extend beyond that point. The April 20 date is not definitive and Lamont could decide to extend the closures again, depending on how well mitigation protocols work to stop the spread of COVID-19, the coronavirus. Cheshire schools have been closed since last Monday, and all classes have gone to online learning. Early this month, Lamont announced that the state was waving the usual requirement that students be in class 180 days of the year. The school year cannot extend beyond June. GRAND RAPIDS, MI For the past week, Carly Weiler has been listening to public health experts and practicing social distancing. The 29-year-old Grand Rapids resident, who works as developmental kindergarten teacher at Rockford Public Schools, has limited her contact with the outside world, avoided crowds, and minimized her trips to the post office and other businesses. So when Weiler heard that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, in an effort to further slow the spread of coronavirus, had on Monday issued a temporary stay-at-home order, she wasnt overly concerned. This shelter-in-place order, to me, is what weve already been doing, she said. Its not affecting me, because Im already in it. Across Grand Rapids, residents were absorbing the latest piece of news in an ongoing public health emergency that has upended public life across the globe. Some, like Weiler, were supportive of the governors order, saying everyone has a part to play in limiting the spread of the infectious respiratory disease. Others were less charitable. I think its way overboard, said Debbie Roper, 61, of East Grand Rapids. We just cant shut down everything. The stay-at-home order goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, March 24 and will last for three weeks, ending April 13. Violation of the order is punishable by a misdemeanor. Michigan residents must stay home unless they are doing something essential, like getting food or medicine, according to the order. All gatherings between people who dont live in a single household are banned. While it requires the closure of many businesses, it does include an exemption for business operations deemed necessary to sustain or protect life. Some residents were left wondering if theyre out of a job. "I'm gonna fall behind on all my bills, said Tyler Phillips, a 26-year-old Jenison resident who works for a siding company but now fears he will have to file for unemployment. "I have family it's going to effect. It's going to trickle down to everyone I love and know." As of today, 1,328 people in Michigan have been diagnosed with coronavirus COVID-19, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Twenty-eight of those cases are in Kent County. One person has died of the virus in Kent County. The number of Michigan residents who have filed for unemployment skyrocketed last week after Whitmer, in an effort to protect public health, limited bars and restaurants to take-out or delivery service. She also ordered the closure of fitness centers, theaters, casinos and other businesses. The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity says 108,710 unemployment claims were filed last week. Thats up from an average of 5,000 claims. James Bleeker, the owner of Argos Book Shop in Grand Rapids Eastown neighborhood, said hes expects he will close his store now that Whitmer has ordered most businesses to temporarily shut down. He said he understands the the governors decision, but added that the move will affect his bottom line. Its obviously going to hurt the business, and how are you going to pay the rent, he said, when describing the impact of the closure. But, he added: People have to stay home and isolate. This is spreading too fast. Weve gotta stop it. Its terrible. Shortly after Whitmer announced her order, a significant number of customers pulled into the Family Fare supermarket at 1415 Fulton St. E. Among them was Cole Sarkon, a 21-year-old nursing student at Aquinas College. Even though Whitmers order doesnt affect grocery stores, Sarkon anticipated that the governors announcement would send many people to the grocery store to stock up on essentials. He came to make sure he could get a carton of eggs. Nobody really wants to do it," he said of Whitmers stay-at-home order. "But now you gotta stay at home, and you can chill with your friends at least. PREVENTION TIPS Read more: Michigans coronavirus stay-at-home order torture, but good for some and way overboard for others Why didnt I get my haircut 2 weeks earlier? Jackson resident reacts to stay-at-home order Elementary school teachers and staff drive through neighborhoods to see students Franchisor postpones 380+ small business owners' weekly royalty payments in response to COVID-19 QDOBA Mexican Eats, the fast casual restaurant with more than 730 locations in the U.S. and Canada, is committed to helping its franchise owners navigate the COVID-19 pandemic by offering a royalty deferral program for eight weeks, effective today. The move will enable QDOBA franchisees to protect cash flow during these unprecedented times where restaurants are adhering to the CDC guidelines for social distancing and the U.S. government's mandate for dining room closures. Above all, QDOBA is looking out for its franchise owners across North America and is taking the necessary precautions to keep both the community and its people safe, while also moving business forward. "QDOBA understands the plight of our franchisees during these unprecedented times, and we are committed to supporting our local business owners in any way we can," said Keith Guilbault, CEO of QDOBA Mexican Eats. "Our focus with every decision is to be in the best position possible to address this downturn and continue to be a dependable choice for our guests." Responding rapidly to the market conditions, QDOBA has begun hosting daily webinars with its franchisees to keep lines of communication open. The company has also moved to limited-contact ordering, including digital ordering through QDOBA.com or the QDOBA app, in-restaurant to-go ordering, and delivery via its third-party providers in response to the current environment. "We pride ourselves on being a franchisor of choice, and this means open lines of communication and being responsive to what our franchisees need," Guilbault added. "We don't take this situation lightly and feel that all of the small business owners within our network are counting on us to have their back and do what's right." Daily News Delivery Join your colleagues and stay up to date on the latest Restaurant industry news and trends. Subscribe 2022 Restaurant News Resource MANILA, Philippines A bill seeking to declare the existence of a national emergency and to authorize President Rodrigo Duterte to exercise powers necessary to address the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis has been filed at the Senate on Monday. Senate Bill No. 1413 titled We Heal as One Act, seeks to authorize Duterte to realign funds, and investments including unused or unreleased subsidies and transfers, held by any government-owned and controlled corporation or any national government agency. The bill also proposes to grant Duterte the authority for a limited period and subject to restrictions to issue rules, regulations, and directives to address the coronavirus situation in the country. The measure likewise proposes to grant the president the power to adopt and implement measures to prevent or minimize the spread of COVID-19, expedite medical testing and observation of persons under monitoring, and the immediate treatment of confirmed virus-infected patients. He may likewise direct the operations of privately-owned hospitals and other establishments to house health workers or serve as quarantine or distribution areas, as well as order public transportation to mobilize medical workers and other frontliners. The management and operation of the foregoing enterprises shall be retained by the owners of the enterprise, who shall render a full accounting to the President or his duly authorized representative, the bill read. The proposed measure also states that the president may also take over the operations of the said businesses subject to limits and safeguards under the 1987 Constitution if these enterprises unjustifiably refused or signified that they are no longer capable of operating their enterprises for anti-COVID-19 efforts. The president may likewise undertake fast procurement or supplies as the need arises including testing kits, personal protective equipment, and other medical devices. Story continues The proposed measure also seeks to authorize Duterte to cancel projects and programs to utilize its funds, realign budget and allocate funds held by any government agency to fund measures against the COVID-19 crisis. The measure also seeks to ensure that local governments are acting in line with the directives of the national government. The president will also submit a weekly report to the Congress while a Joint Oversight Committee will be established to determine whether such acts and orders of the President are within the specified restrictions. The bill, introduced by Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senator Pia Cayetano, has been referred to the Senate Committee on Finance. The Senate held a special session to tackle the bill on Monday. Twelve senators, including Sotto, Cayetano, and Acting Senate Majority Leader Sherwin Gatchalian, Senators Christopher Lawrence Bong Go, Panfilo Lacson, Lito Lapid, Manny Pacquiao, Ralph Recto, Ramon Bong Revilla, Grace Poe and Francis Tolentino were present during the session. The session, however, was temporarily suspended as they await the attendance of two more senators to reach a quorum. Cayetano, who will sponsor the bill on the floor, said she is in the process of consulting the Cabinet officials, and consolidating all the proposed amendments introduced by her fellow senators. RRD (with details from Correspondent Harlene Delgado) The post Bill seeking additional powers for Duterte vs COVID-19 filed at Senate appeared first on UNTV News. Westworld viewers were treated to a Game of Thrones cameo last night. *Warning spoilers for episode two below* GoT creators David Benioff and DB Weiss appeared in the second episode of season three, titled The Winter Line, as park technicians looking after none other than Drogon, Daeneryss dragon in the fantasy drama. The two techs can be heard discussing potential plans to sell the beast to a park in Costa Rica an apparent reference to Jurassic Park. The franchise is based on the novel of the same name by Michael Crichton, who also wrote the book that forms the basis for Westworld. Westworld showrunners Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan told Variety that George RR Martin, the author behind Game of Thrones, has long supported the idea of a crossover between the two shows. Were also friendly with George RR Martin, and George had consistently since the first season said, Weve got to do a tie-in with Game of Thrones, Nolan told the publication. People forget that George was originally a TV writer and he came up in the TV world in which youd occasionally have these crossover shows, which the fans would f***ing freak out over. So George had always been pitching the crossover show. Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and DB Weiss, as well as Drogon the CGI dragon, made a cameo on Westworld. (Hulu / HBO) Westworld season three is now streaming on HBO and is broadcast in the UK on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV. On Monday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo delivered his daily coronavirus press conference and issued what has now become a standard entreaty: pleading for the federal government to help supply the states with necessary medical equipment by utilizing the Defense Production Act to order businesses to start ramping up production of critical supplies. Democratic leaders and officials from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, to former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have all pleaded with the Trump administration to begin using the act to supply states and cities with badly needed masks, ventilators, and other critical equipment as inventory is being used up by an influx of COVID-19 patients that is only growing by the day. Advertisement Cuomos request on Monday offered a clear and cogent explanation for why it is necessary for President Donald Trump to invoke the Korean Warera act, which allows him to order production of vital goods during national emergencies. In the absence of federal command and coordination, states have been pitted against one another in bidding wars for the medical products of a limited number of suppliers. As Cuomo said: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is ad hoc. Im competing with other states. Im bidding up other states on the prices. Because you have manufacturers who sit there and California offers them four dollars, and they say well California offered four dollars. I offer five dollars, another state calls in and offers six dollars. Its not the way to do it. I was speaking to Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker yesterday about this. Why are we competing? Let the federal government put in place the federal Defense Production Act. It does not nationalize any industry. All it does is say to a factory, you must produce this quantity. Thats all it does. The federal Defense Production Act just says you can tell a company, Manufacture this many by this date. Yes, it is an assertion of government power on private sector companies. Yes. But: so what. This is a national emergency. And youre paying the private sector company. Theyre going to produce a good and theyre going to get paid. And by the way theyre going to get paid handsomely. You cannot continue to do these supplies on an ad hoc basis. Advertisement Advertisement Trump, who would have to personally order the DPA to go into effect, sent his own message to Pritzker and other desperate governors on Sunday in response to those DPA requests. .@JBPritzker, Governor of Illinois, and a very small group of certain other Governors, together with Fake News @CNN & Concast (MSDNC), shouldnt be blaming the Federal Government for their own shortcomings. We are there to back you up should you fail, and always will be! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 22, 2020 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps refusal to take on the obligation to solve the medical-supply crisis is in line with his personal history and entire response to the current pandemic, including his statement earlier this month that I dont take responsibility at all for the administrations early testing failures that helped the disease spread unchecked around the country. Yet Trumpthrough his DPA powersis currently the only person who can take on the responsibility for bolstering an about-to-collapse health care system, to protect untold numbers of lives of people in this country. Advertisement Advertisement What is he waiting for, exactly? The response to Pritzker suggests hes waiting for states to failthat is for widespread shortages of ventilators to lead to rationing that leads to mass death, as has already happened in Italybefore swooping in to play the hero and back you up. Advertisement Advertisement But that was only the latest in a series of evasion, lies, and changing positions Trump has offered around the question of using his DPA powers. On Wednesday, he said he was invoking the DPA but did not do anything to put it into action. Afterward, he said he would only actually utilize it in a worst case scenario. By Friday, after facing a series of questions during the daily coronavirus task force press conference about why he hadnt issued DPA orders, as the conditions in New York have headed toward a worst case scenario, Trump suggested that he was already taking DPA action: When we need something because of the Act, when we need something, we order something, he told reporters. Advertisement A reporter then asked the president if had actually directed any companies to start making ventilators or masks. I have, Trump said. I have. Yes. The reporter then asked the obvious follow-up questiongiven there had been no announcement about any DPA orders whatsoeverHow many? Advertisement Advertisement A lot, Trump said. A lot. And theyre making a lot of ventilators and theyre making a lot of masks. By his press conference on Sunday, Trump all but admitted that this was a lie, conceding that he hadnt used the act to direct companies to make emergency products, and saying that some production had begun on a purely voluntary basis. Trump explained that he was ideologically opposed to using the DPA, because it was socialism, which doesnt work. Advertisement Were a country not based on nationalizing our business, Trump said. Call a person over in Venezuela, ask them how did nationalization of their businesses work out. Not too well. The concept of nationalizing our businesses is not a good concept. On Monday, the New York Times reported another apparent reason Trump has refused to utilize the DPA: corporate lobbying. As the Times reported, The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the heads of major corporations have lobbied the administration against using the act. They say the move could prove counterproductive, imposing red tape on companies precisely when they need flexibility to deal with closed borders and shuttered factories. CNNs John Harwood reported on Monday that the Chamber opposed the used of the DPA because no one can tell us what problem they are solving by invoking the DPA and companies might be forced to turn their attention to dealing with the legal questions and following the DPA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the Times reported, the direct issue that would be handled by using the DPA would be the prevention of widespread shortages, as industry executives have refused or are unable to act on their own in sufficient numbers and coordination: Industry executives say companies are reluctant to crank up production lines without purchasing guarantees from the government. With the economy in free-fall and factories shuttering around the country, few manufacturers are eager to invest in new machinery or venture into new products. Advertisement Advertisement The failure of leadership, the Times noted, is causing mass confusion among the industries that, again, could be helping to lessen an even greater looming crisis: In interviews with participants in the process, from business executives to government officials, there is still widespread confusion about how much and what exactly each firm is supposed to produce. Corporate executives say they face a bewildering number of requests from dozens of nations around the world, along with governors and mayors around the country, for scarce supplies. The White House has not said who will set the priority list for deliveries. And it is not clear that any of it will arrive in time for the cities and the states that are hit the hardest, including New York. Advertisement Advertisement Carla Bailo, the president of the Center for Automotive Research, told the Times that auto companies such as General Motors and Fordthat have shuttered their own car manufacturing operations as part of efforts to protect workers from the spread of the diseasecould actually ramp up ventilator production in as little as three to six weeks if asked. The deadly shortages will likely hit sooner than that, which is why every day Trump does not utilize the act will likely be another day of health care rationing that will lead directly to large numbers of deaths. The number of confirmed cases in New York alone has exploded to more than 20,000 with 125 having already died, and Cuomo warned that his hospitals will likely need an additional 15,000 to 34,000 ventilator-equipped intensive care unit beds in the days ahead. Advertisement Again, in his press conference on Sunday, Trump rejected the premise when he was confronted with the reality of shortages and rationing, laying the responsibilityand blamefor the situation with others who dont actually have the power to do anything about it. Advertisement Were really backing up the governors. The governors have to go out and do their things. And you have a lot of governors, theyve done a fantastic job. You have some that havent, Trump said. Usually, its the ones that complain that have the problems. But weve had a great relationship as an example with Gov. Cuomo. As Cuomo emphasized on Monday, he was on the list of governors that were expecting widespread shortages as soon as next week unless Trump acts. Today we can get masks to anyone who needs them and gowns, he told reporters about his states current stock of supplies. I cant promise you next week or the week thereafter and thats why I want to see the federal government do this federal Defense Production Act and stop this ad hoc volunteerism. Photo: (Photo : Photo by shutterstock.com) Students of all ages are living in a world that will continue to advance with technology. Future careers will be even more high-tech, and students need to be computer literate. Today's technology changes increase productivity for both teachers and students. 21st-century digital learning tools offer more variety, enhance student experiences, and speed learning. Teachers can personalize their instructions for each student. Organizers can help them use time better and tweak the curriculum. Virtual Learning Classroom instruction is online or supplemented with other resources. Programs in every subject imaginable, even android game development software, make learning inviting. Students can take advantage of e-learning no matter what level of learning they are at. Some schools are completely online without a brick and mortar building to attend. All instruction at virtual schools is online, and credits earned recorded and stored. Student support services, face to face communication, counseling, and assessments are available. Blended Learning Education today often combines classroom and online lessons in the curriculum. Diverse learning styles are usually met in ways not available before. Blended teaching provides students with different learning capabilities in new ways to understand concepts. Students can control some elements, such as time and pace. Teachers can combine face-to-face work in a classroom with computer activities. It's particularly useful where students are in remote areas. Open Educational Resources Resources for teachers and students are available in the public domain online. Textbooks, libraries, games, and podcasts strengthen education, whether it's conventional or digital. Make sure that resources are accurate and accessible to students with disabilities. Open Educational Resources provides high quality to help teachers and students embrace technology. Anyone can use and share the resources to enrich learning. Access to free instruction websites gives students a wide variety of materials to learn almost anything. Digital Resources Digital resources support teachers and learners in a variety of ways. Teachers and students use digital tools to organize and keep track of achievements. Educational games, videos, and other tools encourage focus and involvement in lessons. Collaboration tools are used by teachers to work with other teachers to create new resources. Drawbacks Cyber-education can have unexpected impacts on students. Supporters feel self-paced learning is an advantage, but self-discipline is difficult. Some find it hard to take part in learning this way, and assignments can work their way to the bottom of a priority list. Face-to-face participation helps form social skills, and online class limits personal connections with others. In some cases, contact and cooperation skills are not developed and can put students at a disadvantage. Often online classes can translate into longer hours. Primary to university schools offer nutrition program supports integrated into their school day. Breakfast programs, nutritional counseling, and campus food banks support the health of students. When students cannot access proper nutrition, their ability to learn can compromise health. Today's Environment At least 49 countries have closed schools in an attempt to slow the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak. Governments, health officials, and educators are working together to prevent the spread of illness. UNESCO has pledged support to lessen disruption and promote continuing education. Students and educators can access online resources and groups during this time. Implementing technology during this time can shape education models to come. Embracing and building upon it can become important for future students. Conclusion While mass e-learning is likely a temporary solution, one can only wonder how technology will change the future. Skill foundations and training will likely shift as the world changes. Educational systems, parents, and students need to embrace technology and change with it. In an unprecedented move prompted by the coronavirus pandemic, New Jersey will begin this week releasing certain inmates from county jails under a consent order issued late Sunday night. Citing the profound risk posed to people in correctional facilities arising from the spread of COVID-19, the state Supreme Court issued the emergency order directing the release of inmates serving jail time as a result of a probation sentence or municipal court conviction. The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey estimates the emergency measure would affect up to 1,000 people currently locked up in New Jersey jails. The move does not affect inmates being held while awaiting trial, who make up the majority of the states jail population. Were in the middle of a public health emergency, and we recognize that for some lower-level, non-violent offenders, it may be safer to temporarily release these individuals to their homes than to keep them detained in a county jail, Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said last week when the court began considering the move. The pending release comes amid alarming reports of conditions in jails and prisons unable to practice the type of social distancing and hygiene guidance medical professionals recommend. Corrections officers in Bergen and Morris counties have already tested positive for the illness. Probation sentences include people who were ordered jailed for violating probation, or were given less than a year in jail for their offense rather than a prison sentence. Some common municipal court violations that result in jail time include drunken driving, simple assault or shoplifting. The Supreme Courts order says that no-contact orders to keep offenders away from their victims and license suspensions will remain in effect during the release. A judge will decide after the end of the states public health emergency declaration whether to send people back to jail or sentence them to time served. Prosecutors have until the end of Monday to file objections to the release of any specific individual who qualifies for release, which will then be heard by a judge. Prosecutors have also been directed to notify any crime victims of the early release. Joseph Krakora, the state public defender, said in a phone interview Monday that he hoped prosecutors would not object to the release of many of the detainees who qualify. Theyre all doing less than a year for relatively minor offenses, said Krakora, whose office first petitioned the court for the release of inmates. The restrictions on the citizens access to public places really makes the risk even less of a concern. All released inmates will get literature explaining the social distancing practices and stay-at-home guidelines established in Gov. Phil Murphys executive order, as well as sanitary and hygiene practices that limit the spread of COVID-19. The consent order was agreed to by the state public defender and the attorney general, as well as the County Prosecutors Association of New Jersey and the ACLU. Read the order here: Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter. S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter. Find NJ.com on Facebook. The CEO of members-only women's club The Wing has said that her six-month-old baby tested positive for the coronavirus. Audrey Gelman posted a photo on Instagram on Sunday in which she appears to be in hospital wearing a mask and surgical gloves with her son, the New York Post reported. In the post, which appears to have since been removed from social media, The Wing co-founder wrote: 'This morning we learned that sid tested positive for covid-19. he is doing ok and we are monitoring him closely. reach out to everyone in your life and tell them you love them.' The diagnosis would make the baby among the youngest in the US to have been diagnosed with the virus. Gelman and her husband Genius co-founder Ilan Zechory welcomed baby Sidney in September last year. Audrey Gelman was reported to have written on Instagram: 'This morning we learned that sid tested positive for covid-19.' She urged people to 'reach out to everyone in your life and tell them you love them' The Wing CEO and co-founder said that her baby Sidney 'is doing ok and we are monitoring him closely' Gelman posted a photo on Instagram on Sunday in which she appears to be be in hospital wearing a mask and surgical gloves with her son Sidney Gelman and her husband Genius co-founder Ilan Zechory welcomed baby Sidney in September last year The news comes after increased reports of young children contracting coronavirus. A 12-year-old girl with no pre-existing conditions is on a ventilator and 'fighting for her life' in an Atlanta hospital after she tested positive for the coronavirus. The girl from Georgia, who was only identified as Emma, was diagnosed with pneumonia on March 15. The entrepreneur is a childhood friend of actress and writer Lena Dunham, who has described her as the inspiration for the character Marnie in the HBO show 'Girls' The news comes after increased reports of young children contracting coronavirus A 7-month-old baby in South Carolina tested positive for the coronavirus this week. Emmett Doster tested positive on Tuesday. 'He woke up from a nap running a fever so we were going to play it out and see, but my mom tested positive for the virus as well,' Courtney Doster, the baby's mother, said. Gelman launched The Wing with Lauren Kassan in October 2016 and has described it as a 'safe, affirming professional network'where professional women can relax. The entrepreneur is a childhood friend of actress and writer Lena Dunham, who has described her as the inspiration for the character Marnie in the HBO show 'Girls.' Members of the exclusive women's club hit out in December after the company said that men are allowed inside following a discrimination lawsuit. Female members of The Wing - which has properties across the US and in London - described male guests at the club as 'losers'. One said male visitors display a 'classic patriarchal entitlement complex' by wanting to be inside the clubhouses, which are billed as a space for female empowerment. The Wing was founded in 2016 and initially promoted itself as a women-only space, but in January 2019 it clarified that stance following a $12 million discrimination lawsuit brought by 53-year-old James Pietrangelo in 2018. Coronavirus lockdown or not, Amaya Howard plans to unwind after a hard day's work by sharing a few glasses of wine with her friends. But with bars closing across the United States, they have started meeting online via Houseparty -- one of several group video apps doing a roaring trade during the pandemic. "The idea came about of doing a happy hour -- we just get on the app and just drink wine and talk," she said. "Mostly it's about a lot of randomness, but occasionally someone will say, 'I just can't believe how crazy what's going on is.'" She is not alone. Downloads of similar apps -- where each person who logs in to a group chat appears in their own "window" on the screen of a phone, tablet or computer -- have gone through the roof. Just this month downloads of Houseparty, which was highly popular with teens a couple of years ago, have surged tenfold to 210,000 per day, according to Apptopia. Others such as Zoom, used mainly for remote working, and Google Hangouts, Skype and Rave have also seen upticks. For Esmee Lavalette, a Dutch film student in Los Angeles, the lockdown has presented a chance to hang out with friends back in the Netherlands -- although the time difference has necessitated some "daytime drinking." "They always have a weekly drinks nights, but now since everything's canceled, they decided to do it on Houseparty," she said. "And now for the first time in like a year-and-a-half, I could join them. So I was drunk at like 2:00 pm." The call ended when the night grew too late in Europe -- and Lavalette returned to her homework. Even drinks for her graduation, which was set to take place this week, are now being shifted to cyberspace. "I still have a lot of beer leftover so that's what I'm gonna drink," Lavalette said. "And some vodka." - 'Girl's night' - As well as a chance to catch up and blow off some steam, users say the apps are good for their mental health in these anxious times. Rachel Chadwick, a local government worker in Leeds, England, has struggled with anxiety and depression. "I'm quite extroverted... so obviously this self-isolating is really difficult for me," she said. Chadwick and her friends usually meet for a "girls night" once a month, which is now being played out on the app. "Tomorrow night we're doing a little pub quiz where each of us has a category, but we all have drinks and snacks," she said. "We can keep it lighthearted so you don't feel like you're losing the plot." One of the friends has "borrowed" a whiteboard from work to keep scores on. The Houseparty app also features built-in games such as trivia, drawing and wordplay. This is a draw for Fiama Liaudat, a Spanish teacher from Argentina living in North Carolina. She and fellow teachers dotted across the state would typically explore bars together, or meet at someone's home to play board games before the virus. "For us, the app means we can continue, but on our phones," she said. - Up until four - "The weather is perfect here and the night is warm, so I can imagine being on the balcony with a beer playing with them," she said. "But I have to make a new online shop now!" The surge in video group chats has even presented the opportunity to make new friends. Howard, now back home in Dallas, used to chat with strangers through travel meet-up apps while living in Philadelphia, where she worked with non-profits. They recently logged into Houseparty where they all met for the first time face-to-face. "We were probably on it until four in the morning, five in the morning... everybody had their own drinks," she said. "They definitely don't feel like strangers to me now." Ameya Dalvi We recently covered the best phones you can buy under Rs 35,000 and also under Rs 30,000. You may want to check those out in case you are on a tighter budget. If you have up to Rs 40,000 to spare, then read on to know the best you can get for that kind of money in India this month. Best phones under Rs 40,000 in India OnePlus 7T The top variant of the OnePlus 7T (Review) with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB storage can be yours in this budget. This phone needs no introduction but let me tell you about some of its key features anyway. You get a 6.55-inch Full HD+ Fluid AMOLED display with a 90-Hz refresh rate for a smooth, flicker-free visual experience. Theres a tiny drop notch at the top that hosts a 16 MP camera for selfies. The design is stylish with a metal frame and a glass body protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5 at the front and back. You get a triple camera setup comprising a 48 MP primary camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS) and pixel binning. Giving it company is a 16 MP ultra-wide camera and a 12 MP telephoto camera that provides 2x optical zoom. The cameras manage to shoot some impressive images in different modes and lighting conditions. The OnePlus 7T is powered by Qualcomms latest flagship Snapdragon 855+ SoC, and a 3,800 mAh battery keeps it running throughout the day under moderate usage. Oxygen OS is still arguably the best Android UI around. OnePlus 7T price in India: Rs 37,999 for 8 GB RAM / 256 GB storage Asus ROG Phone II Asus launched the ROG Phone II (Review) , its gaming powerhouse, in India soon after the OnePlus 7T. This is a great phone for gamers and power users alike. It competes with the OnePlus 7T on almost every front, given their similarities. For starters, this phone too is powered by a Snapdragon 855+ chip. If you thought a 90-Hz display on the OnePlus was impressive, the ROG Phone II goes a step further with a 120 Hz refresh rate on its Full HD+ AMOLED screen. It also supports true 10-bit colour gamut with improved HDR performance. This phone boasts of a mammoth 6,000 mAh battery for those long gaming sessions. The phone also has a pair of stereo speakers with dedicated amplifiers along with a second Type- C USB 3.1 port on the side for high-speed connectivity. If you are looking for an out and out gaming phone, the Asus ROG Phone II is still one of the best around currently. The only catch being its availability. If you see one in stock for the below price or better, just go for it. Asus ROG Phone II price in India: Rs 37,999 for 8 GB RAM / 128 GB storage Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite Samsung has decided to get serious about this segment and is looking to compete hard by introducing a new member of its flagship S series in this budget, the Galaxy S10 Lite (Review). The phone has a huge 6.7-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED Plus Infinity-O display (quite a mouthful and handful that) that supports HDR10+. Samsung has opted for a Qualcomm chip instead of an Exynos here with a Snapdragon 855 at its heart. It is accompanied by 8 GB RAM and 128 GB internal (expandable) storage. The camera department comprises a 48 MP primary shooter with OIS, a 12 MP ultra-wide camera, and a 5MP dedicated macro camera. Theres a 32 MP camera at the front for selfies.Another key aspect of this phone is its 4,500 mAh battery that lasts well over a day of moderate usage, and the bundled fast charger does a good job of juicing it up in quick time. The Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite runs Android 10 with One UI on top. Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite price in India: Rs 39,999 for 8 GB RAM / 128 GB storage iQOO 3 The Vivo sub-brand debuts with quite a powerful device iQOO 3 (Review). It flaunts a very impressive spec-sheet, starting with the latest Qualcomm flagship, Snapdragon 865 SoC. You can get the 8 GB RAM / 256 GB storage variant in this budget, and if you choose to pick one by 22 March on Flipkart, you can get an additional Rs 5,000 off on all prepaid transactions. That is a solid deal. The iQOO 3 packs a 6.44-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED screen with Corning Gorilla Glass 6 on top and HDR10+ support. Theres a quad camera setup at the back with a combination of 48 MP primary camera, 13 MP ultra-wide camera, 13 MP telephoto camera for 2x optical zoom, and a 2 MP depth sensor. Its 4,400 mAh battery does a good job of supplying it with enough juice for over a day and the company also bundles a 55 W fast charger to charge it quickly. The phone runs Android 10 with their custom UI on top. iQOO 3 price in India: Rs 39,990 for 8 GB RAM / 256 GB storage Apple iPhone 8 Those who wish to dip their toes in the iOS ecosystem, you can now get the 64 GB variant of the Apple iPhone 8 (Review) for a Rupee under 37K. Though the design is quite dated now, it still looks quite elegant, especially if you were fond of the classic iPhone exterior. It is powered by the A11 Bionic chip and has a 4.7-inch display. You get a 12 MP camera at the back and a 7 MP camera up front. Though the specifications look a bit too modest for the price as compared to todays phones, the performance is still more than acceptable on almost every front. And you didnt expect the bite of the Apple to come cheap, did you? Apple iPhone 8 price in India: Rs 36,999 for the 64 GB storage variant Bhopal, March 23 : Chloroquine, an anti-malarial drug, has now become the most sought after medicine after reports emerged that it is proving effective in the fight against coronavirus. It is being claimed that chloroquine has disappeared from the drug stores in Indore and some even claim that the drug is being supplied to the United States. As per the initial study, chloroquine treatment of COVID-19 patients had clinical and virologic benefit versus a comparison group. Chloroquine was added as a recommended antiviral for treatment of COVID-19, though clinical trials is still going on. Sources said that pharmaceutical company Ipca Laboratories share price surged over 12 percent on Monday after the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) partially lifted the import ban on chloroquine supply. Ipca Laboratories manufactures chloroquine. It has also informed the BSE and the NSE about the demand for the drug in the US. It has said in the filing to the exchanges that due to the shortage implications or medical necessity of certain drugs and finished products, the FDA has made an exception to the import of the company's Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and finished products including Hydroxychloroquine Sulphate and Chloroquine Phosphate produced at the Company's manufacturing units. The president of Indore Drug Association told IANS, "it is true that this drug is not available over the counter in Indore." However, Ipca lab refused to answer queries on the US demand for the drug saying it is a corporate matter. 3,600 schools connected in next 12 months, with roll out planned for thousands more Leveraging Konnect Africa's unparalleled satellite coverage and technical expertise Regulatory News: Konnect Africa, a subsidiary of Eutelsat Communications (Paris:ETL) (NYSE Euronext Paris: ETL), Schoolap and Flash Services today announced a Memorandum of Understanding to connect several thousand schools across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to the Internet as part of the Schoolap project. It aims to provide schools with high speed internet connectivity, giving them access to a digital platform of officially recognized educational content and high quality teaching materials. The first stage of the project aims to connect 3,600 private schools over the next 12 months, leveraging Konnect Africa's satellite capacity and technical expertise, notably in terms of installation. Each school will subscribe to a "Home Unlimited or plus" package, giving it access to a high speed internet service. At a later stage, it is planned to roll the project out to several tens of thousands more schools, thereby responding to the requirement for digital inclusion which is part of government policy. Konnect Africa has been operating for over a year in the DRC, bringing broadband connectivity to unserved or poorly served areas, by delivering a solution that is affordable, flexible and available everywhere. Currently operating with limited capacity, Konnect Africa will see its in-orbit resources increase tenfold with the entry into service of the EUTELSAT KONNECT satellite in the autumn of 2020. With a total capacity of 75 Gbps, EUTELSAT KONNECT will be able to provide speeds of up to 100 Mbps with total or partial coverage of 40 African countries. Konnect Africa CEO Jean-Claude Tshipama said: "This project highlights the major benefits of satellite internet in bridging the digital divide, as well as the efficiency of the solutions deployed by the Konnect Africa teams. The entry into service of EUTELSAT KONNECT in the coming months will be a milestone in our ability to better address the strong demand for connectivity from our customers, ranging from individuals to businesses and government agencies." About Eutelsat Communications Founded in 1977, Eutelsat Communications is one of the world's leading satellite operators. With a global fleet of satellites and associated ground infrastructure, Eutelsat enables clients across Video, Data, Government, Fixed and Mobile Broadband markets to communicate effectively to their customers, irrespective of their location. Over 7,000 television channels operated by leading media groups are broadcast by Eutelsat to one billion viewers equipped for DTH reception or connected to terrestrial networks. Headquartered in Paris, with offices and teleports around the globe, Eutelsat assembles 1,000 men and women from 46 countries who are dedicated to delivering the highest quality of service. For more about Eutelsat go to www.eutelsat.com www.eutelsat.com Follow us on Twitter @Eutelsat_SA View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200323005406/en/ Contacts: Media Joanna Darlington Tel.: +33 1 53 98 35 30 jdarlington@eutelsat.com Investors Joanna Darlington Tel.: +33 1 53 98 35 30 jdarlington@eutelsat.com Cedric Pugni Tel.: +33 1 53 98 35 30 cpugni@eutelsat.com Alexandre Enjalbert Tel.: +33 1 53 98 35 30 aenjalbert@eutelsat.com A PREGNANT doctor was forced to move from her apartment even as she battles the coronavirus on the front lines, a former TD claims. Ruth Coppinger, who represented Dublin West but lost her seat in the general election, said the doctor contacted her to raise the case, which highlights the lack of rights for licensee tenants those who live with their landlords. The charity Threshold has pointed out that if you share accommodation with your landlord, normal landlord and tenant laws do not apply and a licensee is not able to avail of the dispute mechanisms available for tenants. The woman was living with her landlord. The landlord had been away with her boyfriend and she noticed when they came back they had been coughing a lot. She sent a message advising them that they should self-isolate and all that and said if they needed anything she would help out, Ms Coppinger told Independent.ie. However, the doctor later received a message from the landlord that her boyfriend was moving in and so she wanted her out of the apartment. Originally the tenant had been due to leave the apartment in July, but the termination was moved to April 29. Ms Coppinger said the doctor has now moved out and is already living with a friend. The former TD shared the messages from the doctor and landlord, none of whom were named, on social media to highlight the case and how vulnerable such tenants can be. These licensee tenants are not entitled to a proper notice period, she said. Speaking ahead of Government legislation on banning evictions during the Covid 19 crisis, Ms Coppinger said any legislation being brought by government this week to stop evictions must include licensee tenants. Many essential workers in the health service are in licensee rental arrangements and it is obscene that they can be evicted during the pandemic when they are so badly needed by us, she said. A spokesperson for Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy did not respond when asked if licensee tenants would be protect in plans to prevent evictions during the coronavirus pandemic. By Olivia Rose RETAILERS are being urged not to "exploit peoples concerns on the coronavirus by increasing the price of products such as hand sanitisers, face masks and wipes. As the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic there have been reports of price gouging in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Premier Sharlene Cartwright Robinson condemned the actions of some unscrupulous merchants who have been increasing prices during the global health crisis. Speaking at a press conference on Monday (March 16) at the Hilly Ewing Building in Providenciales, the premier said the Government is conscious of the problem. "The Government is aware that there are ongoing incidents of price gouging whereby a number of merchants have been increasing the price of certain products following the global outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease, she said. "For example, there has been a marked increase on the price of alcohol-based hand sanitisers which have been identified as a personal use item that is critical in the fight against the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease. She continued: "The Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease has been declared by the World Health Organisation as a global pandemic. "In response, my Government firmly believes that every citizen and resident of the Turks and Caicos Islands should be given every opportunity to give effect to the steps required to protect themselves against this disease. She said the Ministry of Finance, Trade and Investment and its Department of Trade, Industry and Consumer Affairs have begun making arrangements to see how best this can be addressed without influencing supply and demand. The Government will look at implementing price ceilings and concessions on any essential items that the Ministry of Health deems necessary during this period, she added. "I wish to advise that there are powers afforded me under the recently enacted Consumer Protection Ordinance and I intend to use them where I am able. Retailers were urged to adhere to the consumer protection laws or face the consequences. "I will encourage merchants to read the ordinance and to do the right thing by those who keep you in business. Cartwright Robinson encouraged residents and citizens in the TCI to be wise in their spending. Shelves normally stocked with hand wipes, hand sanitisers and toilet paper sit empty at some stores as people stockpile supplies due to the global outbreak of the virus. The Ministry of Health has since recommended that an individual or family shop for a two-week supply of food and other essentials. It said that when someone chooses to stockpile items it ultimately means other consumers, including the most vulnerable, may not have what they need in the immediate term. Sahil Khan, best known for his 2001 film Style, recently found himself in a tight spot after he falsely claimed that two of his neighbours tested positive for the Novel Coronavirus. The actor stays in a posh residential complex in Goregaon which is home to many celebrities from television. In a bizarre post on Instagram, Sahil stated that two residents of the building - a 72-year-old and an 18-year-old - had been inflicted with COVID-19, without verifying the information. As soon as word spread, the residents in his complex called for an urgent meeting and reprimanded the actor for raising false alarm and creating 'panic in the complex'. Later, Sahil deleted the video and posted another video where he clarified that he has been misinformed. Actor-astrologer Raman Handa, who resides in the same complex told Mid-day, "We were taken by utter shock [by his video]. We don't know what prompted him to spread wrong information." The residents took a stand against Sahil and told him that his action would be reported to the local civic officials. Speaking about the incident, Ghajini actor Pradeep Rawat told the tabloid, "It was only then that he tendered a written apology to the society and the local municipal ward office. Perhaps, he did it to gain mileage. He apologised, so we did not pursue the matter." When Mid-day reached out to Khan to comment on the matter, the actor told them, "I was worried as my ailing dad was recently discharged from the hospital. I had put up a post about taking precautions." He further added, "It was a case of Chinese whispers; it was unverified. As soon as other residents asked me, I apologised and deleted the post." Karma Is A Bi*ch: Style Actor Sahil Khan SLAMS Tiger Shroff's Mom Ayesha Shroff Over CDR Case Rohit Shetty Urges Fans Not To Abandon Pets As They Don't Spread Coronavirus The New York Board of Correction (BoC) announced Saturday that 38 people tested positive for COVID-19 last week in New York Citys prison system. As of Sunday the state has topped 15,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus. The announcement in New York was followed by other confirmations of outbreaks across the US prison system, including in California, Arizona and Georgia. Due to lack of testing, and the cramped unsanitary conditions of US prisons, it is likely the number of positive cases is much higher. It was reported Sunday evening that Harvey Weinstein, the recently convicted ex-media mogul, had tested positive for the virus shortly after leaving New Yorks infamous Rikers Island Prison Complex, where all of the cases in the state system have been confirmed. (Stock image Envato) Weinstein, 68, was put into isolation at Wende Correctional Facility in Western New York on Sunday after testing positive for COVID-19. Weinstein was incarcerated on Rikers Island until March 18 and given the scale of the outbreak at the prison it is most likely that is where he contracted the disease. Given his age and poor health it is likely that Weinsteins 23-year conviction, the product of an unconstitutional show trial built on the anti-democratic hysteria of the right-wing #MeToo, will turn into a death sentence. The overcrowding of prisons and lack of sanitation internationally means that prison populations are especially vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19. This has led to widespread anger among prisoners and their families, which has been expressed through a spate of prison riots, including in Italy, Brazil and most recently on Sunday in Colombia, where 23 people died. Concerns have also been raised over the threat posed to WikiLeaks founder and journalist Julian Assange, who is being held in the high-security Belmarsh prison as he awaits a decision on extradition to the United States, and suffers from a variety of health conditions due to 10 years of confinement. New York state has the second largest prison system in the US. According to the BoCs announcement, the Rikers Island Jail Complex, the states largest prison, is the center of the outbreak, with 21 inmates and 17 prison staff testing positive. The first confirmed case of COVID-19 at Rikers came on March 19. On Thursday, Ross Macdonald, the chief physician at Rikers, tweeted, we cannot change the fundamental nature of jail. We cannot socially distance dozens of elderly men living in a dorm, sharing a bathroom. a storm is coming. He went on to call on state authorities to let out as many as you possibly can. Homer Venters, former chief medical officer at Rikers, described the lack of basic sanitation at the complex: There are lots of people using a small number of bathrooms. Many of the sinks are broken or not in use. You may have access to water, but nothing to wipe your hands off with, or no access to soap. Such conditions are typical of the American prison system. New York state has 52 prisons hosting 19,920 prisoners. The majority of the 10,000 inmates at the Rikers facility are non-convicted pre-trial detainees, i.e., legally innocent. On March 9, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo unveiled New Yorks own hand sanitizer which is being produced at Rikers, where inmate laborers typically make less than $1 an hour. When production started, hand sanitizer was still considered contraband in New York correction facilities, therefore the prisoners were unable to use it to protect themselves as they worked. The American incarceration system is notorious for its extent and brutality. The US has 4.4 percent of the worlds population but houses 22 percent of the worlds prisoners. In 1972, there were 300,000 people incarcerated in the US, by 2016 this number had risen to 2.3 million. According to California Prison Focus, no other society in human history has imprisoned so many of its own citizens. The vast majority of those imprisoned are working class and disproportionately from minority groups within the United States. This is a product of what is often called the Prison-Industrial Complex where federal, state and private prisons contract out prison labor to corporations. Corporations such as Boeing, IBM, Microsoft and AT&T all use prison labor to maximize profits. Wages in federal prisons are typically $1 per hour, but in private prisons inmates often make as little as $0.16 per hour. The political influence of the prison industry was exposed in January of this year as the passage of a very limited bail reform bill, which would have led to the release of non-violent pre-trial detainees, came under bipartisan attack in the New York Senate. Despite declining rates of crime, the increasing use of prison labor correlates to an increasing rate of incarceration in the past 40 years. The enactment of minimum sentencing laws, bail bonds and draconian three strikes laws were attacks on the working class that have led to a higher proportion of cases ending with imprisonment and longer periods of incarceration. The bipartisan politics of law and order have been a crucial part of the 40 years of social counterrevolution against the social and legal rights of the working class. In a conference on Sunday night, President Trump said that he would consider releasing all medically vulnerable non-violent federal prisoners in response to the outbreak. Some states have begun to release limited numbers of prisoners. On March 20, New York released 40 inmates following the first positive test at Rikers the day before. These limited measures are cynical efforts to appease popular anger at the treatment of prisoners during the pandemic. Conditions in the US prison system and the infectiousness of the virus mean it is most likely already too late for the majority of the prison population, guards and staff to avoid infection. On Sunday, New York Mayor Bill De Blasio announced that the city will have critical medical shortages within 10 days. New Yorks inhumane treatment of prison and jail inmates means that a disproportionately high percentage of this vulnerable population will die from the virus. Many of these individuals will pay the ultimate price for minor drug offences, petty crimes and the inability to reach bail. Ferratum Oyj postpones its Annual General Meeting Helsinki, 23 March 2020 The Finnish Government has on Monday 16 March, 2020 announced a general limit of ten persons to all public gatherings. The Board of Ferratum Oyj (ISIN: FI4000106299, WKN: A1W9NS) (Ferratum or the Group) has therefore decided to postpone the date of the Annual General Meeting to 16 June, 2020. All other dates in the Groups financial calendar will remain unchanged: Date Publication 26.3.2020 Ferratum Group: full year 2019 results 28.4.2020 Ferratum Bank p.l.c.: full year 2019 results 28.4.2020 Ferratum Capital Germany: full year 2019 results 20.5.2020 Ferratum Group: Q1 results 16.6.2020 Ferratum Group: Annual General Meeting 20.8.2020 Ferratum Group: H1 results 28.8.2020 Ferratum Bank p.l.c.: H1 report 28.8.2020 Ferratum Capital Germany: H1 report 19.11.2020 Ferratum Group: 9M results About Ferratum Group: Ferratum Group is an international provider of mobile banking and digital consumer and small business loans, distributed and managed by mobile devices. Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, Ferratum has expanded rapidly to operate in 23 countries across Europe, Africa, South and North America, Australia and Asia. As a pioneer in digital and mobile financial services technology, Ferratum is at the forefront of the digital banking revolution. Ferratum has approximately 740,000 active customers that have an open Mobile Bank account or an active loan balance in the last 12 months (as at 31 December 2019). Ferratum Group is listed on the Prime Standard of Frankfurt Stock Exchange under symbol 'FRU.' For more information, visit www.ferratumgroup.com. Contacts: IR@ferratum.com https://www.ferratumgroup.com/investors/ir-contact Pakistan's Director-General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG-ISPR) on Sunday held a special review meeting in the wake of the Coronavirus. Taking to Twitter, the Spokesperson of the Pakistan Armed Forces, Major General Babar Iftikhar stated that the high-level meeting was done via video link. According to him, the COAS planned and reviewed the Army's readiness to assist the people of the country amid the Pandemic. Further, he stated that the Pakistani Army and the medical resources have been trained to assist the people. Special CCC chaired by COAS at GHQ on single point agenda COVID-19. Corps Comds participated through video link from respective Corps HQ. Forum reviewed countrywide spread of COVID-19 and deliberated Armys readiness to assist civil administration to contain the pandemic. (1/3) DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) March 22, 2020 All available troops of Pakistan Army and its medical resources across the country have been tasked to be ready to assist activities in concert with civil administration on short notice. (2/3) DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) March 22, 2020 Nothing can defeat a responsible and determined nation. Pakistan Army being part of national effort shall serve and protect the nation as a sacred duty InshaAllah COAS. (3/3) DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) March 22, 2020 Coronavirus in Pakistan As of date, Pakistan has reported over 700 cases of the deadly Coronavirus, while three patients have died so far. Meanwhile, five patients have been reportedly recovered. In the wake of the outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus, Pakistan has suspended all international flights for two weeks and has also curtailed their train services. However, Pakistan PM Imran Khan has thus far refused to invoke a lockdown, citing that the country's 25% below-poverty-line population wouldn't be able to cope. Read: 3,938 people under observation in JK, 4 positive coronavirus cases: Govt Read: Maharashtra: Infosys employee tests positive for COVID-19 in Pune The Coronavirus Crisis Presently, there are around 336,075 confirmed cases of COVID-19 which has led to the death of around 14,613 people. Meanwhile, around 97,636 have reportedly recovered. The hardest-hit region is now Europe, while China, where the outbreak originated, is said to be on its way to recovery, though the US has also witnessed a large number of positive cases on account of large-scale testing. Read: Coronavirus In India LIVE Tracker: Total cases, deaths, statistics and state-wise breakup Read: Coronavirus LIVE Updates: US to deploy national guard in New York, California & Washington By IANS NEW DELHI/SRINAGAR: A major module of the newly formed terror group The Resistance Front (TRF), also known as JK Fighters, under the patronage of the banned terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, was busted in Kashmir by the Jammu and Kashmir police on Sunday. Six terrorists were arrested and a huge cache of arms and ammunition were recovered from them. Top sources said after receiving credible inputs regarding smuggling and delivery of arms and ammunition at district hospital Sopore, the police swung into action. Four different teams were constituted each headed by police officers of Rafiabad and Sopore. All the teams reached the hospital covertly and arrested the four Sopore smugglers -- Ahtisham Farooq Malik of Mumkak Mohala Batpora, Shafqat Ali Tagoo of Jalalabad, Musaib Hassan Bhat of Mohalla Mumkak Batpora and Nisar Ahmad Ganai of Pujipora Krankshivan. During interrogation, they revealed that they were working under a Pakistan-based person known by the name 'Andrew Jones' on Telegram messenger, whose WhatsApp ID is 'Khan Bilal'. The militants revealed that Jones is operating a newly formed terrorist organisation, The Resistance Front (TRF) or JK Fighters). 'Jones' had deputed the four militants as the main handlers for recruiting local youth for the terror group and instigating them to participate in terror activities in Kashmir valley, particularly in north. The investigators also found that the militants received a consignment of illegal arms from Kabeer Ahmad Lone of Keran Bala, Kupwara. The arms were transported by Shafqat and Nisar from Kupwara and handed them to Ahtisham at Kupwara Crossing Sopore. After receiving two pistols, 18 hand grenades and four pistol magazines, Ahtisham further handed over the consignment to Musaib for safe custody at his home. After two days Ahtisham took six hand grenades and one pistol with ammunition from Musaib. Along with Shafqat, Ahtisham delivered four hand grenades and one pistol to some unknown person at Markaz Sopore, who actively joined TRF in Andergam Pattan, and two hand grenades to another unknown person near Guru Petrol Pump Sopore, who utilized them in Srinagar. All these directions for distribution of arms and ammunition had come from the Pakistan-based 'Jones'. The group told police that they were also going to receive a consignment of six AK-47 Rifles with ammunition from Sharafat Ahmad Khan of Keran Payeen Kupwara. Their main purpose, the militants told interrogators, was to accumulate arms and ammunition and go for target killings of politicians and police personnel. During the course of investigation, Kabeer Ahmad Lone was identified and arrested. During his sustained interrogation, he revealed that the weapons which he delivered to Shafqat at Kupwara were provided by Sharafat Khan of Keran Bala Kupwara, a class IV employee at government hospital Keran. The information led to the arrest of four people from Kupwara. Sharafat revealed that he along with Naseer Mir and Tanveer Bhat, both residents of Keran Kupwara, received a consignment of arms and ammunition from across and dumped it near Cobra Post, Keran, Kupwara. Sources said further investigation is on. To any self respecting Rock/Metal lover, the emergence of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal movement will always be regarded as one of the greatest feats in the history of mankind. Words: Brian Boyle The birth of heavyweights like Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, Saxon and Motorhead sent a warning to the music listening public that a new kid was in town, and wasnt intending on leaving. But away from the high end pacesetters lay some midtable gold such as Raven, Venom, and Angel Witch whose respective bodies of work layed the foundations for a plethora of Metal acts, particularly Metallica whose cover of Diamond Heads classic Am I Evil has virtually become their own. And Londons Desolation Angels are another act whose contribution to the genre hasnt gone unnoticed. But bear in mind this mob dont trade on the yesteryear. Hot on the heels of 2018s Chris Tsangarides produced Kings sees the imminent release of new album Burning Black. But the re-issue of 1991s While The Flame Still Burns is a return to a time when Rock and Metal was vastly becoming a pariah in the music world. That was largely due to the big grey cloud of the Grunge movement which at the time was at its most devastating and to a degree reduced regular arena acts to mere theatre/club fodder. So if you swapped denim and leather for a smelly teen spirit you missed out on a little gem here. Opener Only Time Will Tell is just good old fashioned pure British Metal that slams you against the wall and tells you, were gonna play and your gonna bloody listen. And its that no bullshit approach that endeared bands of this ilk to the rest of the headbanging world. With the album having been recorded in Burbank, California, Soul Of The City has an unmistakable LA feel, but theres still plenty of Blighty steel to leave its mark. With the musical landscape changing rapidly there was certainly no doing a Leppard/Slang job and succumbing to a drastic change of direction. The flavoursome title track will tell you that in spades, and its also a tune that would have slotted in perfectly with the headbanging MTV viewers. As wouldve the superb and very Scorpions meets Skid Row Wings On My Heels, a tune originally demoed in 1988 with Dave Wall manning the vocals, but Lee Addisons forthright delivery is an all round better fit. A few sprigs of Prog Rock along with a measured amount of Melodic Metal give closer Feels Like Thunder some extra zing, and brilliantly caps off eight tracks of nostalgic majesty. If you missed out on Desolation Angels the first time round, its time to get on board, and this album is the perfect place to start. A fire broke out at Punes Timber Market on Sunday evening. In the blaze, eight-10 houses, one godown storing timber and one storing fans were gutted, according to fire officials. At least 12 fire brigade vehicles, five rescue vans and three water tankers rushed to the spot said, Prashant Ranpise, chief fire officer of Pune. We got a call around 7:50pm. Once we reached, it took around half an hour to douse the fire and the cooling process is still on, said Ranpise at 9:15pm. The locals helped the fire officials rescue three women who were initially trapped in the houses. These are small houses built in pairs on top of each other. There were no casualties. The locals helped us a lot, said Ranpise. Popular Nigerian media personality, Toke Makinwa, has suggested that China should be fined when we are free of coronavirus. Toke suggested this because coronavirus broke out from Wuhan in China months ago and has spread to more than 100 other countries. The media personality said she is low key mad at China and added that they should stop eating certain animals. READ ALSO Stock Up Toke Makinwa Advises Lagosians (Video) She wrote: Not to even lie I am low key mad at china, the whole world should fine them when all of this is over, the whole world is paying dearly for it. Stop eating certain animals #Sigh. See Her Post Here: For most people, the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover. An Elizabethtown College student, who traveled abroad for spring break, has tested positive for coronavirus, the school announced Sunday. President Cecilia M. McCormick, J.D. issued a letter stating the student began self-quarantining on March 12 after the country they visited was designated a level 3 country by the Centers for Disease Control meaning it has widespread or ongoing community spread of coronavirus. The schools spring break ran from Feb. 28 until March 8. The student had not experienced any symptoms before self-isolating, McCormick said. The student is receiving treatment and is recovering. The student will remain in isolation for as long as recommended by the CDC. McCormick said as soon as the school received news of the positive test, it began contacting people who may have had direct contact with the student. As weve been sharing, the health and wellbeing of our community is our top priority, and this reinforces why it is critical for our campus community to social distance at this time, McCormick said. I continue to be lifted by the positive messages of our community members as we get through this together. Other Pennsylvania colleges and universities have seen students test positive after their trips, but the students had not returned to campus. At Shippensburg University, two students were screened and tested positive before they returned to the state. The students have not been back to Pennsylvania since, and are still being quarantined. Penn State University had two students test positive, but those students have not returned to campus, statecollege.com reported. Similarly, three University of Pennsylvania students tested positive after returning with a group from spring break, CBS3 Philly reported. One returned to campus, while the other two are home. Read more on PennLive: In the last week, cases of coronavirus have spiked around the country causing New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to announce a 100% workforce reduction for all non-essential businesses statewide, while California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a stay-at-home order for all of the states 40 million people. ABC's Cheri Preston checks in to areas around the United States for ABC News Radios "Perspective" podcast, asking how different states are handling a new normal -- social distancing and the novel coronavirus. Listen to the full interview with Cheri Preston and the rest of this past week's highlights here: First, is Joe Kelley from ABC News Radio affiliate WDBO in Orlando, Florida. Just a week ago, I mean, we were saying there's no way, there's no way that they're going to close our theme parks, and then they closed our theme parks. And then you say there's no way they're gonna close the hotels, and then they closed the hotels Kelley said. The economy in Orlando has turned upside-down basically overnight. Theme parks, hotels and restaurants all closing or limiting services due to a virus that is spreading faster than anyone could have predicted. MORE: National Guard to deploy against coronavirus in NY, California, Washington Restaurants, bars and nightclubs were restricted to serve alcohol for at least a month right before St. Patricks Day festivities began and spring break vacationers commenced their celebrations. Employees who have depended on an income from these jobs are now out of work while other companies recommend working from home, like Joe Kelley. I am in the radio station at this moment, but only because we are still assembling my home studio, Kelley shared. A new normal for many, setting up make-shift work spaces, cleaning and being watchful of the people and belongings surrounding them. Joe Kelley falls into the category of the immunocompromised. From having cancer as a teenager, another cancer diagnosis about nine years ago, to infusion therapy once a month to help his immune system, Kelley is taking no chances. Story continues PHOTO: A skateboarder passes a 'Beach Closed' sign on the boardwalk on March 22, 2020 in Miami Beach, Florida. The city of Miami Beach has closed all parks and beaches due to COVID-19, however the boardwalk is open for people to exercise. (Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images) I'm keeping away from everybody. I've ordered takeout food delivered to my house and I tell the driver, just leave it out front. I mean, I have really isolated myself and I'm not a fan of that, I don't like that but it is what it is, Kelley said. Heading to the other side of the country -- Los Angeles -- where Jennifer Jones Lee, host of Wake Up Call on KFI radio, shares what has been happening in California with their new directive to stay-at-home. It really means unless you've got to go to the grocery store, the gas station, the bank or the pharmacy, you are supposed to stay home. The governor says if you need to walk your dog, you can do that. But even that is in a social distancing aspect, Jones Lee explains. MORE: Coronavirus live updates: Japan to begin quarantining all visitors from the US The economy in California is also suffering, studio lots -- a popular way of making a living in the state -- have come to a halt. Restaurants and bars have limited services, turning to take-out only. Though some restaurants continue to push forward, by converting once dine-in restaurants into pop-up convenience stores. Customers that once came in for a cooked meal, can now find produce and meats set up in cold stations for purchase, while other necessities hard to come by nowadays -- like toilet paper -- are also available. It may seem difficult to tell 40 million people across the state of California to stay-at-home but like Jennifer Jones Lee explains, I think it's when it hits locally also that it's making such an impact. When you hear more and more people are coming down with the virus, more and more people are dying of the virus, that's when people start to get nervous. That's when they're taking the social distancing more seriously. If there is anything that people around the nation are learning its that were all in this together, and we all have to do our best to prevent the virus to the best of our ability. How novel coronavirus is impacting people around the US originally appeared on abcnews.go.com By Trend The leadership of the Ministry of Defense has transferred a 50 percent of monetary allowance to the Fund to Support Fight Against Coronavirus, established by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated March 19, 2020 On measures regarding the protection of the health of the population and strengthening the fight against coronavirus infection in the Republic of Azerbaijan implemented to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection and the implementation of health measures aimed at combating it. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz ERLC urges Congress to incentivize charitable giving amid COVID-19 scare Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The policy arm of the Southern Baptist Convention is calling upon the federal government to boost incentives for charitable giving amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has shaken the globe. In a Thursday letter to Congressional leaders of both chambers, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission President Russell Moore noted the harmful impact the virus was having on the economy and how that, in turn, proves damaging for the nonprofit sector, particularly charities that serve the most vulnerable people in society. "The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 doubled the standard deduction, which means that most Americans no longer itemize their deductions. Under the federal tax code, people can only claim a deduction for charitable contributions if they itemize their deductions," Moore explained in the letter. "Since the amount of people who itemize deductions has shrunk, many nonprofits are concerned there would be a drop in donations, because of the lack of incentive to give. The Charitable Deduction is the only deduction for which the taxpayer receives no other material benefit (compared with the mortgage interest deduction or tuition deduction)." Thus, he said, Southern Baptists object to any tax policy that could chill the ability of citizens to contribute to charity, emphasizing that the federal legislature should extend the Charitable deduction to everyone for two years, not just those who itemize their deductions. Such a two-year universal charitable deduction, he argued, will mitigate the harm done to the economy. "Our government should welcome the generosity of all citizens at all levels of income who desire to help their neighbors through religious associations, educational institutions, and any organization that relieves poverty," he said. The letter comes as many churches have closed their doors and moved their services strictly online, leaving pews and offering plates empty. Other Southern Baptist entities have taken steps to ensure their stability in light of the pandemic. The North American Mission Board has implemented cutbacks and budgetary freezes so that its missionaries can remain serving on the field. These are not business as usual times and we will not be conducting business as usual, NAMB President Kevin Ezell said in a Thursday staff conference call. We are all praying that things will bounce back quickly, but we are not taking anything for granted. The stock market has plummeted dramatically as the pandemic has unfolded and Congress is presently considering various economic relief packages. Current proposals have hit partisan roadblocks amid disagreement over how relief should be distributed. Five senators, all Republican, are self-isolating due to exposure to the virus, one of whom, Rand Paul of Kentucky, has tested positive for it. "The scale of the package which has grown by over a trillion dollars over the course of several days and by more than $500 billion just during Saturday's negotiations alone," CNN reported Monday, noting that it "underscores the recognition of the urgency brought on by the accelerating spread of the coronavirus pandemic that has all but shuttered the American economy over the last week." Around the world, countries afflicted by the virus are practicing what is known as "social distancing," avoiding large gatherings of people and some places have effectively been locked down in order to prevent further spread of the disease. By Jung Min-ho A 93-year-old woman has recovered from COVID-19 the oldest person to do so in Korea. According to the Gyeongsan city government Sunday, the woman was released from a Seoul medical facility Saturday after fully recovering from the coronavirus. The woman tested positive for COVID-19 on March 7 and was sent to the facility, where she received intensive care for 13 days. She is now home in Gyeongsan. Except for minor dementia symptoms, she was healthy before contracting the virus, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As of Monday morning, the virus has infected more than 8,900 people in Korea and killed 111. The spread of COVID-19 has shed some light on the weaknesses of health systems across the world and how crucial it is to act quickly. There has been a lot of emphasis on prevention, and the sanitary measures everyone can and must take to stop the infection. One of these is frequent hand washing. But how can the more than three million people in Peru who dont have clean water wash their hands? And the 50 million people in Latin America? Washing your hands with water and soap, many times a day, is one of the main ways to avoid infection, since viruses are covered in a lipid layer which can be destroyed with soap, in the same way that soap washes grease from dirty plates. Frequent hand washing has helped stop the spread of many other epidemics, such as cholera and Ebola. In 1991, at the beginning of Perus cholera epidemic that affected 322,562 people and caused 2,909 deaths, only 51 percent of Peruvians had clean water and 41 percent had sanitation. In 2000, once the epidemic was controlled, almost 70 percent of Peruvians had clean water, which was key to stopping the spread. Water is fundamental to life Continuous and safe clean water is fundamental for life, to ensure adequate hygiene and to stop epidemics. Recently, the Centre for Disease Control in the Peoples Republic of China has found evidence that infection with COVID-19 can also happen through fecal-oral-transmission. This enhances the need for adequate sanitation to stop the spread of the disease. According to Perus National Statistics and Information Institute, 90.7 percent of Perus urban population has access to public water, either directly reaching their homes or through communal water sources. If we do not include the communal sources, this number is reduced to 85 percent. In rural areas, this number decreases even further, to 74.4 percent and there are some municipalities where access is lower than 50 percent. That is three million people in Peru without water. Continuous access is vital Another concern is that having water doesnt necessarily mean its available 24 hours a day. According to a 2018 report by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, out of 16 cities in Peru, only 19 percent had water for more than 22 hours a day on average and only 56 percent had access for over twelve hours. According to a UNICEF-WHOs joint monitoring programme, 82 percent of Latin Americans has safe drinking water, whilst only 37 percent have safe sanitation. These numbers put the regions vulnerability into perspective regarding not only COVID-19 transmission, but also infection through waterborne diseases. As can be seen, if a person has reduced or no access to water, they are already in a vulnerable situation, which is further exacerbated when there is a pandemic. A lack of water not only limits their possibilities for development and full basic services, but it also increases their risk of contracting and transmitting the virus. Not only because they are unable to wash their hands, but because they have to go out to get water and therefore run the risk of getting sick from drinking untreated water. Containing the spread of the pandemic Water is fundamental for containing the spread of this pandemic. Drinking water allows us to wash our hands frequently, wash the clothes and surfaces where the virus could live and allows people to stay inside their homes and not put themselves at risk because they have to go outside to find water. It also decreases the risk of getting other diseases that are easily spread by water, like dengue, which could increase vulnerability to COVID-19. If someone does get infected, continuous access to quality clean water allows health services to function adequately, including hospitals, clinics or people at home in quarantine. To face the challenge lack of water poses, the Water and Sanitation Services for Lima (SEDAPAL), has been giving out free safe drinking water to families who dont have it in their homes. UNDP is helping SEDAPAL by providing population density maps and by suggesting the most efficient routes for optimizing this water delivery at all 52 water truck loading points in San Juan de Lurigancho, a district in Lima where more than one million people live. Reducing water gaps This measure should be replicated in all of Peru and Latin America, especially in the most vulnerable areas. We recommend that all service providers and municipalities in the region replicate this initiative, with the sole criteria being a lack of water and the need to look for alternative ways to get it to the hardest-to-reach communities. This could either be through direct water delivery or through emergency water sanitation kits. Without drinking water and sanitation for everyone, we cannot contain the spread of the virus or ensure that people will be able to recover from it when the crisis has passed. Once all of this has passed, we must work together to reduce this gap and ensure that no one has to live without clean water again. By Kelsey Johnson OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada is asking recently retired meat inspectors to come back to work as it tries to ease staffing shortages and ensure the food system remains intact during the coronavirus outbreak, officials said on Monday. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) told meat processing plants on Friday it would be reducing the agency's staffed hours at domestic meat processing plants because of capacity constraints, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the matter. It was not immediately clear when the reduced staffing, including no overtime and no Saturday shifts, would take effect. Industry officials fear the CFIA move could cut the output of meat across Canada by 10% or more, said one of the sources. "There's a challenge around human resources ... mainly for our inspectors," Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau told reporters on Monday when asked about the availability of meat inspectors, saying Ottawa was investigating whether provincial officials could help share the burden. "We are also in the process of hiring new inspectors, training new inspectors, bringing back inspectors who just retired a year or two ago," she said, but did not give details. CFIA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Bibeau has said the agriculture sector is an essential industry as Canada grapples with an outbreak of the coronavirus that has seen consumers strip grocery store shelves bare. Industry officials have said the food supply chain is functioning well despite the increased demand for food. Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Ottawa was immediately making C$5 billion ($3.45 billion) in credit available to cash-crunched farmers and producers. Those in need of assistance can apply for the funding through Farm Credit Canada (FCC), the country's biggest agricultural lender, Trudeau said. Last week, Canada said temporary foreign workers with valid visas, on which the country's labor-strapped farms rely heavily, would be exempted from tightened border measures. Nearly 60,000 temporary foreign workers are employed on Canadian farms, many from Mexico and the Caribbean. Foreign workers also make up about 3% of the meat and seafood processors' labor force. Story continues Bibeau told reporters that Ottawa was negotiating with Guatemala to secure permission for an industry group to operate a designated charter flight to bring farmworkers to Canada. ($1=1.4513 Canadian dollars) (Reporting by Kelsey Johnson in Ottawa; Editing by David Ljunggren and Peter Cooney) Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 18:48:06|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close An epidemic prevention chart is displayed on a door at Zhande Middle School in Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 23, 2020. Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region reopened all primary and high schools on Monday, the first provincial-level region in the country to do so amid the coronavirus outbreak. The reopening came after the region had reported no new cases of coronavirus infection for 34 days as of Sunday and downgraded its emergency response to the lowest level. (Xinhua/Sadat) URUMQI, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region reopened all primary and high schools on Monday, the first provincial-level region in the country to do so amid the coronavirus outbreak. The reopening came after the region had reported no new cases of coronavirus infection for 34 days as of Sunday and downgraded its emergency response to the lowest level. On Monday, over 4 million students went to classrooms in 5,004 primary, high and vocational schools across the region in an orderly manner, as authorities implemented anti-virus measures to ensure safety of the students. A week ago, school reopened for graduating students in junior and senior high schools in Xinjiang. A WELCOME MOVE Many students have longed for the resumption of offline classes after weeks of attending virtual classes on online platforms. "Being back at school has eased my anxiety and lifted my motivation for study," said Ylibinur Nabi, a senior high school student at Lop County, south Xinjiang's Hotan Prefecture. She will sit gaokao, the annual college entrance exam, later this year. It's also the expectation of many parents, whose returning to work was dragged partly due to the postponement of school reopening. "Many of my friends are happy to see their kids resume classes. We can be more devoted to work thanks to the move," said Wang Lingfeng, one of the parents taking children to school on Monday morning. China has urged local governments to speed up the establishment of an economic and social order compatible with epidemic prevention and control and underscored efforts to restore people's normal work and life in full in low-risk provinces. SAFETY FIRST Since the start of the outbreak, Xinjiang's regional government responded swiftly with a string of stringent emergency management steps and leveraged local communities' grassroots service network to prevent and contain the epidemic. Despite the epidemic's waning across the region, health risks management is still high on schools' agenda. No "one-size-fits-all" management is required, and flexible measures are encouraged based on each school's specific conditions as long as the contagion risks can be minimized. It's required that the first class for these students' renewed school life should be mainly about tips on epidemic prevention, healthy lifestyles, as well as easing stress and anxiety. Classes and activities with contagion risks are suspended or adjusted. At the Urumqi No.1 Senior High School, outdoor activities like long-distance ball-passing and aerobics have replaced traditional activities that require gathering and close contact. ALL-AROUND MANAGEMENT On Sunday, Shiyan Primary School in Urumqi rehearsed the reopening, covering from the students' entering the campus to taking classes. "We must avoid any loophole in the school's management," said Long Li, the school's deputy principal. Most schools in Xinjiang have split previous classes into smaller ones. Temperatures are taken at the campus entrance and three times a day. All the classrooms, canteens, dormitories and public facilities are disinfected regularly, while closed-off campus management has been adopted to reduce imported infection risks. Students are encouraged to attend and leave school on staggered schedules. Free masks are provided, and some schools offer students set meals or arrange staggered dining hours at canteens. In some boarding schools, the number of students in one dormitory room is cut to reduce risks. Emergency plans are made beforehand, while quarantine rooms are prepared in case any student reports fever or other symptoms. Targeted teaching plans are also developed. Survey tests are made to take the pulse of students' knowledge level, and specific lessons are offered to beef up weak areas. Hotlines are set up to gather advice from parents, students and teachers. After taking offline classes for one week, Lu Zijun, a graduating student in Urumqi No.1 Senior High School, said he feels safe, and nearly everything about his studies has returned to normal. "It's just a little stuffy wearing a mask all day," he said. "I hope soon we can have classes without them." Weve always had good conversations, and nows the time to coalesce around his candidacy, Saunders said. I really believe that its very, very important for unions and other organizations that play in the political arena to come together and to unite behind the one candidate. A correspondent in China sent the following notes on the rising political and class tensions in that country produced by the worsening global COVID-19 pandemic and the repressive response of the Beijing regime. 1. Chinas authoritarian government has blocked every city and even every street by brutal means. Every aspect of peoples lives has been affected. Not only are there travel restrictions. Daily supplies have suffered shortages, and the economy has been greatly affected. While emergency measures were needed to combat the pandemic, they were applied repressively, to defend the interests of the capitalists. Dissatisfaction is growing among the masses. To curb this dissatisfaction, the Chinese bureaucrats strengthened social controls and waged war on public opinion. The newly-issued Internet Information Governance Regulations came into effect in March. They strengthened the governments control over the media and the internet, and further suppressed the revolution of public opinion. They clearly stipulate that network information content producers must not produce, copy or publish content containing illegal information, including opposing basic principles of the Constitution, endangering national security, leaking state secrets, subverting state power and harming national interests. 2. At the same time, Wuhan bureaucrats demanded that people express their gratitude for the governments response to the epidemic and even forced various institutions and schools to implement grateful education. This was met with popular opposition and dissatisfaction. An article circulated on the internet: If you have a conscience, you will not ask the frightened Wuhan people to be grateful at this time.(). In this article, the author wrote: You are the public servant of the people, and your job is to serve the people. Now the peoples family you serve is ruined, the dead have just passed away and the tears of the living have not been wiped out. Sick people are unhealed and some of their dissatisfaction is completely reasonable. You should reflect and be ashamed because you and your team are not working properly, rather than accuse the people you serve in Wuhan of not being grateful. This article has now been restricted from spreading on the internet. 3. A nursery rhyme has been criticized and resisted by people. The song, Mobile cabin hospitals are so amazing(), is considered a tribute to the government, ignoring the suffering caused by the plague and government failure. Some people described this as dancing at a funeral and some netizens commented: I cant agree with such publicity, the epidemic is not over, the responsibility has not been identified and there is nothing to praise. Mobile cabin hospitals are medical isolation units set up by requisitioning existing facilities due to the coronavirus outbreaks and insufficient medical resources. 4. During the closure of the cities the government arrested those with different opinions. Three citizen journalists lost contact. The Chinese government did not announce their whereabouts, but a video uploaded by one of the citizen journalists showed him being arrested by police. These bloggers expose the real situation of the epidemic and the real living conditions of the people by uploading videos they have taken. This is not the first time they have said they have been threatened by the government and police: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np8ZOQATLGY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWrMZH9Xu6k 5. Due to the impact of the epidemic and the governments city closure policy, economic activities have been greatly impacted and small businesses and shops are under great pressure. Because of Chinas economic failure in recent years and the sudden outbreak of the epidemic, protests by shop owners asking for rent reductions have been held in many cities: https://twitter.com/i/status/1240918014234513408 https://twitter.com/i/status/1240427844955668481 https://twitter.com/i/status/1236852059397210112 6. The Chinese government regarded the two hospitals built in the short term during the outbreak as government achievements, but the workers who built the two hospitals encountered difficulties. There are news reports that during the outbreak, workers were overloaded, but wage arrears and wage deductions often occurred. At the same time, after the completion of the construction, due to the closure of the city, the workers were not allowed to return home. The high cost of living and lost source of income put the workers in trouble, but companies and the Wuhan government were unwilling to assist with the workers living problems. 7. Residents have protested across Hubei province that the cost of living and food prices have become unacceptable. A reporter exposed that the food donated to Hubei from various places was put in a warehouse and rotted and was not sent to the residents homes. There are also news reports that the local government uses garbage trucks to deliver food to residents: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8S1ZS-Dpnns 8. On March 17, about a thousand Foxconn workers who had returned to work started protesting and striking because they could not get the promised subsidy. These workers are reportedly dispatch workers at Foxconn. The labour dispatching system is a common method of undermining labour rights in Chinese companies. Many workers dub it the slavery dispatch system: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CqhUrWlk3Q This is just a typical example of recent strikes by Chinese workers to defend their rights. Similar incidents have occurred in many cities. Although the Chinese government claims that they have basically controlled the corona virus outbreak, conflicts have gradually erupted as workers return to work. The economic failure caused during the epidemic will prompt the bourgeoisie to intensify its exploitation of the working class. The working class has made huge sacrifices in the fight against the epidemic. The epidemic has increased the pressure on their lives, and made workers want a more resolute voice for labour rights. Therefore, when workers return to work, the backlog of dissatisfaction will push workers to fight the bourgeoisie and inequality. Already we can see that when the city lockdown policy was gradually cancelled, the workers movement began to reappear in various cities. https://maps.clb.org.hk/?i18n_language=en_US&map=1&startDate=2020-03&endDate=2020-03&eventId=2020032016151780093 To the Editor: Re Trump Shifts Image: Leader for Wartime (news analysis, front page, March 23): Memo to President Trump: If you think youre a wartime president, youre losing the war. The country needs leadership, not lies. The troops (physicians, nurses, first responders, many others) desperately need personal protective equipment. Patients need ventilators. The economy needs help for those at the bottom not companies, their executives and their shareholders. Why did you wait so long to acknowledge that there was a problem? What will you do to help us? We need more than meaningless words. Daniel Fink Beverly Hills, Calif. The writer is an internist. To the Editor: Re A Race to Deliver Critical Supplies to Medical Teams (front page, March 22): You reported that President Trump resists use of the Defense Production Act because of his inclination not to interfere with market forces. You also reported that Gov. Andrew Cuomo said New York State was paying $4 for masks that normally sell for 80 cents. Were the president to use the act, prices could not be bid up, and production increases could be mandated. It is clear that for Mr. Trump and his allies, this pandemic is a business opportunity. The rest of us will pay high prices, some of us will get sick and perhaps some will die because of a lack of supplies. Auserd (refugee camp), March, 12 2020 (SPS)- The delegations to the First Youth Solidarity Forum with Western Sahara, have unanimously voiced their full support for the right of the Sahrawi people to independence and freedom. Mohamed Bujruf has expressed on behalf of The Algerian Committee for Solidarity with the Saharawi People his countries with the Sahrawi issue unwavering support with the people of Western Sahara Mrs. Evrique, AUPSC representative has also emphasized that peace in Africa will not be achieved and there are occupied parts of the Sahrawi Republic," adding that African youth are committed to accompany the Sahrawi people, a founding member of the African Union. We reiterate once again our firm and unwavering support to the Sahrawi people in their noble struggle to freedom and independence, The Venezuelan Ambassador to the Sahrawi Republic, Mr. Jesus Sojo Reyes, during his official address on the sidelines of the morning session of the Youth International Forum For her part, The Southern African international human rights activist in, Mrs. Catherine Constantinides, affirmed that the international community is required more than ever to redouble its efforts in order for the Sahrawi people to obtain their legitimate rights to freedom and independence. A representative of The World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) said that his organization will not be dissuaded by the maneuvers practiced by the Moroccan regime on supporting the Sahrawi people from freedom and liberation. The First International Youth Forum of Solidarity with Western Sahara, kicked off Wednesday, organized by the UJSARIO in the Saharawi refugee camps from the 11th to 13th March 2020, under the theme: Sustainable future for Saharawi youth, the fair political resolution of the conflict, human rights, natural resources and the Wall of Shame in Western Sahara, with the presence of delegates from numerous international youth organisations. SPS 125/090/TRA Featured stories Ohio issues stay-at-home order for all residents to combat spread of coronavirus (cleveland.com) Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine officially orders nonessential businesses closed in response to coronavirus (cleveland.com) Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine orders special coronavirus restrictions on daycares starting Thursday (cleveland.com) Whats open, closed under Ohios stay-at-home order? (cleveland.com) Read Ohio Gov. Mike DeWines stay-at-home order (cleveland.com) Mapping Ohios 351 coronavirus cases (cleveland.com) Coronavirus in Ohio Liam Smith gets his temperature checked before being admitted to Sweet Kiddles in University Circle on Friday morning. Starting Thursday, Ohios daycares will not be allowed to operate unless they get a special pandemic license.Gus Chan, The Plain Dealer President Trump promises help for American workers as stimulus package gets held up in Senate (Associated Press) Federal aid critical to stabilizing Ohio economy amid coronavirus crisis, economists say (cleveland.com) I know it feels like life is shutting down:' Dr. Amy Acton on Ohio stay-at-home order (cleveland.com) Common sense exceptions to Ohios stay-at-home order: What you can (and should) still leave the house to do (cleveland.com) Ohios stay-at-home order does not mean rush to grocery stores for food, toilet paper (cleveland.com) Ohio Pharmacy Board moves to prevent stockpiling of anti-malarial drugs being tested as COVID-19 treatment (cleveland.com) Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine closes all public playgrounds to limit spread of coronavirus (cleveland.com) Marijuana dispensaries remain essential under Ohio stay-at-home order (cleveland.com) Ohio has 351 coronavirus cases, compared to 1,035 in Michigan: Compare timeline of restrictions (cleveland.com) Facing severe blood shortage, American Red Cross asks healthy people to give blood (cleveland.com) Fifth Third Bank to give special payments up to $1,000 for employees doing essential duties during coronavirus pandemic (cleveland.com) Simple, viral postcard to give your neighbors who may need help during Ohios stay-at-home coronavirus order (cleveland.com) Coping with coronavirus: Guide aims to ease fear of pandemic disease (cleveland.com) What does Ohios stay-at-home order mean for pet owners? (cleveland.com) Crime Two arrested, accused of stealing North Canton pizza shop tip jar, running over employees leg during escape (cleveland.com) Ohio police officer dies in crash during chase of suspect (cleveland.com) Man found dead in port-a-potty near Ohio Walmart (cleveland.com) Cleveland / Cuyahoga County Number of Cleveland coronavirus cases climbs to 27, city says (cleveland.com) Northeast Ohio childcare centers prepare to serve parents on the front lines of coronavirus pandemic (cleveland.com) Visiting from afar: Families get creative to combat isolation from coronavirus among loved ones in nursing homes, assisted-living centers (cleveland.com) Northeast Ohio answers call to make masks during coronavirus: Heres how to help (cleveland.com) Cuyahoga County disease detectives,' CWRU medical students track coronavirus in one of Ohios hotspots (cleveland.com) Know a business not taking proper precautions to prevent coronavirus spread? Let us know (cleveland.com) How businesses can keep customers safe in line: Use the 6-foot rule (cleveland.com) Coronavirus creating anxiety for those recovering from alcohol or drug addiction, help in Cuyahoga County is still available (cleveland.com) Social distancing and teens: How to help kids deal with coronavirus precautions, and what adults can learn from this connected generation (cleveland.com) Cleveland RTA to suspend Park-N-Ride, trolley services (cleveland.com) Local news West Fairview Park firefighter tests positive for coronavirus; city says no other staff exposed (cleveland.com) Strongsville friends organize national Unite the Night luminary display to bring togetherness to coronavirus crisis (cleveland.com) Akron / Canton area Summit County confirms coronavirus case at Akron long-term care facility (cleveland.com) State The sentence of life without parole spikes in Ohio as death-penalty cases drop (cleveland.com) Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose proposes pre-paid, statewide mail vote for delayed primary (cleveland.com) Ohio lawmakers seek to stop sentences of life without parole for youth offenders (cleveland.com) Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine orders flags lowered to honor state representative, police officer who died in past week (cleveland.com) by Adam Koffler | Mon, Mar 23rd 3:49pm EDT Per his agent Drew Rosenhaus, veteran CB Kayvon Webster is being released by the Washington Redskins. (Adam Schefter on Twitter) Fantasy Impact: Webster hasnt played more than two games in each of the past two seasons and hes been on three teams since 2017 after starting his career in Denver in 2013. Webster is set to become a free agent after his release today. YEREVAN, MARCH 23, ARMENPRESS. President Armen Sarkissian received today Chinese Ambassador to Armenia Tian Erlong, the Presidential Office told Armenpress. The Armenian President and the Chinese Ambassador mainly discussed the situation in the two countries caused by the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), as well as the actions taken and to be taken to prevent and overcome the disease. The Ambassador introduced anti-epidemic measures taken in China, as well as talked about the support provided to other countries, including also the professional assistance provided by Chinese doctors. President Sarkissian highlighted the cooperation with international partners and stated that the exchange of experience and information with different countries on the matter can play a very vital role in raising the efficiency of the fight against the disease. Mr. Sarkissian said Chinas support both in the form of consulting and devices and medical items is very important for Armenia. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan Nicola Sturgeon today ordered all shops in Scotland selling non-essential items to close immediately to halt the spread of coronavirus, as the country's death toll rose. The First Minister also threatened to use upcoming emergency powers to shut down any pubs, cinemas and gyms that were continuing to flout ordered to go into lockdown. In a televised address today the SNP leader lashed out at those of her countrymen and women still refusing to take the pandemic seriously, telling them: 'Life should not be normal for you right now. If it is you are not doing the right things'. After revealing that the Scottish death toll from conronavirus had hit 14, she added: 'My message today to shops still open is this and it is clear ... if you are not providing essential items like food and medicines then please also close now.' In a televised address today the SNP leader lashed out at those of her countrymen and women still refusing to take the pandemic seriously, telling them: 'Life should not be normal for you right now. If it is you are not doing the right things' The First Minister said that social distancing measures were 'not optional' as her countrymen and women joined other Brits in widespread civil disobedience amid demands they stay at home. At the weekend Scotland's picturesque islands became a no-go zone for tourists, as ferry companies were instructed not to carry non-essential travellers amid reports city dwellers were seeking to flee built-up areas. Many people also continued to visit the Highlands at the weekend, often in large groups. In the press conference today Ms Sturgeon again highlighted official guidance to stay at home. 'I have used the word ''advice'' but I want to repeat ... this is not to be seen as optional,' she said. 'What I am about to set out should be considered rules we are expecting people to comply with. This is important because if we all comply with these measures we will help to protect ourselves, we will help to protect our families and loved ones, we will help to protect our NHS and the country as a whole. 'And we will reduce the number of people who die from this virus.' Her warning came as the UK deaths from coronavirus last night soared to 281. Motorcyclists enjoy a Sunday ride in Inverrary, despite the Scottish government asked the public to stop traveling to the Highlands Camper vans are parked up at Glen Coe, near Fort William The First Minister said guidance on social distancing will help to stop the spread of the virus, while decreasing pressure on the NHS The First Minister had earlier lashed out at those flouting the social distancing measures, with reports suggesting high numbers of people in parks and beaches across Scotland over the weekend, that an overwhelmed NHS will lead to people dying 'needlessly and avoidably'. She added: 'That is what we're trying to prevent.' Tourists stop for a photograph in Glen Coe as visitors continued to stream to the Highlands of Scotland Lots of people took to the seafront in Aberdeen, on the east coast of Scotland, for a Mothers' Day stroll Ms Sturgeon also reiterated warnings to younger people during the pandemic, claiming there could be a 'sense of invincibility', adding: 'You can't guarantee that you won't get this virus, you can't guarantee you won't get seriously ill if you get it.' She continued: 'Even if that was true, you will be at risk of passing it on to others, particularly the most vulnerable.' Meanwhile, the First Minister urged the UK Government and EU to set aside Brexit talks for an indefinite period to focus on tackling the outbreak. She said: 'The negotiations around the new relationship haven't yet really got off the ground and certainly haven't got anywhere near concluding. 'I think all of that should be suspended and put to one side - I can't say for how long, for as long as necessary.' She added: 'I'm a politician, I've argued for independence all my life, but right now I'm a First Minister for every person in Scotland, trying to steer us through the biggest crisis of our lifetimes. 'That's the only thing that matters to me right now. It's all I'm focused on and I think that should be the case of every leader.' Maps of San Francisco have changed a lot over the years: The city used to be smaller when North Beach was an actual beach on the edge of the city before abandoned Gold Rush ships were used as landfill to complete the current famous seven-by-seven mile limits; Treasure Island, the artificial land mass, was built in the middle of the bay for the 1939 World's Fair; waterways that used to flow through the city, such as Mission Creek, now run underground. But the most significant changes to the mapping of our city over the years may have come from neighborhoods changing their names, a trend that is happening more and more in recent years. These changes can come from the influence of real estate marketing, such as recent controversial San Francisco addition around the Salesforce Tower, the "East Cut." Sometimes they stick, and sometimes they don't. In one instance all it took for a 100-year-old neighborhood to get a new name was the opening of a hip new restaurant. Here's a run down of the biggest changes in how we refer to the various corners of San Francisco. Andy Andersen Andy Andersen Butcher Town --> Dogpatch The small neighborhood between Potrero Hill and the bay was originally named "Butcher Town" due to the many butcher shops on the strip. The name changed in the 1960s, and is thought to have been inspired by the packs of dogs that would beg for meat outside the butcheries. Andy Andersen South of the Slot --> SoMa A century ago the two neighborhoods either side of Market Street used to be very different on the north were the theaters, hotels and upscale shops of Downtown San Francisco, and to the south were the impoverished slums and factories of the city's working class. The iron track or "slot" that ran the cable cars up and down Market was the divider, and everything south of them was referred to as "South of the Slot." When the area was redeveloped after the 1906 earthquake residents started to refer to the area as "South of Market," or "SoMa," as they do today. Andy Andersen Western Addition --> NoPa In 2006 the popular restaurant "Nopa" opened at 560 Divisadero Street in the Western Addition, leading the way with a push from real estate agents looking to rebrand the neighborhood to the smaller area bound by Divisadero, Fell, Turk and Masonic taking on the name. The name change has been controversial with some residents seeing it as a cynical way to attract moneyed white home buyers into a historically African American part of the city. Interestingly the name "North of the Pandhandle" can be dated back to 1916, with the existence of the "North of Panhandle Improvement Club" listed in the city municipal records of the time. Potrero Nuevo --> Potrero Hill The formerly working class neighborhood with wide views of downtown in the southeastern part of San Francisco was previously part of Rancho Potrero de San Francisco, a 1,000-acre Mexican land grant. The steep pasture was long-referred to as "Potrero Nuevo" meaning "new pasture." As the land was developed at the end of the 19th century the name "Potrero Hill" was adopted and remains today. Eureka Valley --> The Castro The name "Eureka Valley," the area bordered by Sanchez St., 22nd St., Duboce Avenue and Twin Peaks, is still commonly used today. But a subsection of this neighborhood, centered around 18th and Castro Street, took on its own identity as "The Castro" becoming an iconic name and mecca for many after its development in the 1970s as a burgeoning LGBT community. Andy Andersen Spring Valley --> Cow Hollow With sand dunes to the north and the hills of the Presidio to the west, the fertile area of land in the northern edge of San Francisco became a destination for dairy farmers in the mid-19th century. The land, formerly known as Spring Valley, soon took on the name Cow Hollow, a name that lasts today unlike the cows. Andy Andersen Yerba Buena Cove --> The Financial District Before the Gold Rush of 1849, the beach at Yerba Buena Cove lapped onto the shore where Montgomery Street sits today. The trading settlement of Yerba Buena, with its Spanish-style plaza at what is now Portsmouth Square, would soon be resigned to history as droves of speculators landed ships on the cove, many of which still lie under the city today. The name of our city soon changed to "San Francisco," named after Saint Francis. Later development turned the area into what is now the Financial District. Barbary Coast --> Jackson Square Between the Gold Rush and the development of the Financial District, for a few decades the area around Pacific Street at what is now Jackson Square was a hive of prostitution, dance halls and revelry known as the Barbary Coast. It was named after the northern coast of Morocco and Algeria, where pirates would raid towns and ships in the 17th and 18th centuries. The area was prone to shanghaiing, looting and vigilante justice. San Francisco's Barbary Coast was finally cleaned up in 1917 when Mayor James Rudolph shuttered every brothel in the city. Andy Andersen Park-Presidio District --> The Richmond The area of San Francisco that everyone knows as The Richmond was actually officially named Park-Presidio from 1917 to 2009. The title was given to the area by the city in an attempt to avoid confusion with Richmond, the East Bay city, but it never caught on despite it being the neighborhood's official name for nearly a century. Loma Alta --> Telegraph Hill The dramatic hill in the north east corner of San Francisco, home of the city's famous parrots and helmed with the iconic Coit Tower, was originally known as Loma Alta, meaning "high hill." The name Telegraph Hill comes from a structure erected on the hill in 1849 used to communicate to the rest of the city the types of ships that were sailing into the bay. Mount Parnassus --> Forest Hill German-American engineer and politician Adolph Sutro gifted Mount Parnassus, now Mount Sutro, to the city in 1879. Part of the area, in the southeastern corner of the Sunset District became Forest Hill in 1912. The neighborhood enjoys unusually wide, curved streets as it was originally developed for horse and carriage. Rancho San Miguel --> Noe Valley The once working class, now gentrified to oblivion neighborhood of Noe Valley next to the Mission was originally part of Rancho San Miguel, a Mexican land grant gifted to the city in the 1850s. The neighborhood is named after Jose de Jesus Noe, the last Mexican mayor of Yerba Buena. Outside Lands --> The Sunset San Francisco's vast Sunset District, on it western shore, was originally a desert of sand, sometimes marked on maps as "The Great Sand Waste," but more commonly known as Outside Lands. The current grid system was mapped out in 1868, and after years of development the desert officially became The Sunset in 1889. Consider whether you are ready to ride out an undetermined period of time where you are now, or do you want to go to the United States to wait out events, a senior State Department official said of the advice he is telling diplomats to advise Americans. If its the latter, do so now, and that last bit is all caps. Boeing Co. will temporarily close its commercial aircraft factories in Washington state to help slow the coronavirus pandemic, but its operations in South Carolina, where one worker has tested positive, will continue. The planemaker has started to scale back production activity at its Puget Sound plants, and a two-week shutdown will begin Wednesday. During the closure, the North Charleston campus will for the first time be the company's only site that will be manufacturing commercial jets. In a prepared statement, CEO David Calhoun described the plant shutdowns as a "necessary step" to protect employees and their communities. Boeing is in contact with customers, suppliers and others who will be impacted by the shutdown, he said. "We regret the difficulty this will cause them, as well as our employees, but it's vital to maintain health and safety for all those who support our products and services, and to assist in the national effort to combat the spread of COVID-19," Calhoun said. More than 30 Boeing employees have tested positive for the novel strain of the coronavirus. The planemaker's South Carolina campus announced its first confirmed case on Monday. The company said it does not know where any of the infected workers contracted the virus. The majority of employees who have tested positive for COVID-19 work at facilities in the Puget Sound region, which has also sustained one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in the U.S. One worker at Boeing's Everett, Wash., manufacturing site who came down with the illness has died, according to a statement from a chapter of the International Association of Machinists, a union that represents many of the company's workers in the Pacific Northwest. Several news outlets, including The Seattle Times and The New York Times, have reported that workers in Everett were growing increasingly concerned about the conditions on factory floors, which put some employees in close quarters with one another. An online petition asking that the factories be closed to protect employees' health had amassed more than 9,000 signatures by Monday afternoon. In addition to South Carolina, Boeing facilities in Missouri, Arizona and other states are expected to remain open. "In the next few days we will also continue to monitor the situation at our production facilities in South Carolina, with the working environment and safety first and foremost," Stan Deal, CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said in an internal message to employees. "We will also assess the impact on deliveries of necessary parts. We will take further action if needed." The aerospace giant employs its largest share of employees in Washington nearly 72,000, according to counts released at the beginning of this year and operates two major factories in the Evergreen State: in Renton and in Everett. The still-grounded 737 Max is built at the Renton facility. Production of that jet has been halted since January while the company works to get permission from regulators to return it to service following two fatal crashes. At the Everett campus, Boeing builds its wide-body jets, including the 787 Dreamliner that's also made in North Charleston. During the two-week shutdown, the South Carolina plant off International Blvd. will handle all 787 final assembly work. Employees affected by the temporary closure will continue to be paid, the company said. Those who can work from home will telecommute. Boeing has asked employees company-wide, including in South Carolina, to work remotely if they're able as of early last week. Boeing has not specified what share of its about 7,000 South Carolina employees have been able to telecommute and how many continue to report to the North Charleston campus. About two weeks ago, the company announced cost-cutting measures brought on by the health crisis, including a freeze on all hiring and restrictions to travel and overtime. Calhoun detailed the cutbacks in an internal memo to employees. Its critical for any company to preserve cash in challenging periods," Calhoun wrote in the memo. Thats why were implementing steps similar to what many companies are doing right now. In a letter sent to workers on Monday, Calhoun's comments reflected how the upheaval has escalated. "The fight to save lives by halting the spread of COVID-19 around the world is demanding actions that few of us could have imagined even a few weeks ago," he wrote. For the rest of 2020, Calhoun will be working without pay, the company said on Friday. Board chairman Larry Kellner will also not receive pay, and the company's quarterly cash dividend has been suspended until further notice. The move came several days after Boeing said it was supporting a $60 billion government bailout for the aerospace industry. Airlines, which felt the brunt of steep declines in travel first, have requested another $50 billion. Executives at major airlines like Southwest, Delta, United and JetBlue had committed earlier this month to taking pay cuts or working without a salary during the downturn. Boeing was the last of the "big three" aircraft manufacturers to pause production, Leeham News and Analysis, which is overseen by aviation industry analyst Scott Hamilton, noted in a blog post about the announcement. European competitor Airbus suspended production in France and Germany last week, and Brazilian planemaker Embraer put employees on temporary leave through the end of the month. What is an average day like for you right now? I usually have been getting up between 6 and 6:30 and getting up to speed on whats happening on the East Coast and whats been happening in other parts of the world. Then Ive spent a lot of time in the morning getting in touch with various state, local and federal officials to see what theyre hearing and what new developments might be coming. It seems like theres something new every day. Who do you contact to track down that information? The state health agencies, the governors offices, the mayors offices, county leaders, and different hospitals and hospital groups that represent doctors and nurses. Theres so much happening and so much changing in how we live our lives. Im trying to keep track of all those changes and the ones we need to spend the most time writing about. What does it feel like in Seattle right now? There has been a really steady decline in activities in the city. Now, just going for a walk around the neighborhood, you can tell people try to avoid each other on the sidewalks and keep a distance. It is pretty remarkable to see the change happening. What questions are you trying to answer? Right now were entering this phase where most of the containment strategies are largely in place and were waiting for what kind of wave of cases hit the health care system. It feels like that struggle is just beginning, and were going to be monitoring that a lot in the next few days and weeks. As seen on TheCable BY RAZAQ FATAI AND ADEDAYO BAKARE The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is arguably the biggest challenge facing humanity today. More than 300,000 cases have been confirmed in 188 countries and territories, and over 13,000 people have died. Beyond its health impact, the spread of the virus is hurting the global economy. The impact is already visible in the countries most affected such as China and European countries, where travel restrictions and distancing measures have disrupted global supply chains and resulted in reduced economic activity. But the good news is that world leaders are working hard to contain the virus. Infection rates have dropped drastically in China, while many other countries are responding smartly to put an end to COVID-19. Nigeria confirmed the first case of COVID-19 on February 28. It has since increased to 27 cases as of Sunday, March 22. While the country is not a COVID-19 hotbed yet, its economy could be one of the hardest hit, should it persist for longer, due to a fragile healthcare system and high dependence on the rest of the world. COVID-19 could affect Nigeria in 4 major ways: Trade and investment disruptions: Nigerias investment and trade are mostly with China, Europe, and the US, which are territories currently vulnerable to COVID-19. The slowdown of economic activities in these locations means that trade and investment will decline sharply, raising the risk of an economic recession. Manufacturers relying on imported inputs will face production challenges while reduced importation of food and pharmaceutical products would put a heavy burden on households and the healthcare system. Lower government financial capacity: Nigeria could lose up to US$20 billion from crude oil sales-which represent 85% of its export- as fuel prices continue to fall. As oil revenue accounts for one-third of expected public revenue in 2020, governments will have limited capacity to support the economy. Revenue shortfall will worsen Nigerias debt burden as around 60% of the federal governments (FG) revenue already funds debt obligations. Sub-national governments will struggle to pay employee salaries and related costs similar to what happened during the 2014-16 oil price crisis. Lower social spending: Typically, Nigeria underfunds social sectors (health, education, and social safety net). Around 4% and 6% FG budget for 2020 went to Health and Education respectively, far below the recommended thresholds of 15% for Health and 20% for Education. Lower revenue means less money would be available to spend on health, education and critical infrastructure, as overhead and debt payments are usually prioritized during crises. The outcome could be very bad for a country that already has one of the worst health outcomes worldwide, and with 4 out of 5 persons aged 15-24 unable to read a full sentence. Elevated poverty: Nigeria currently has the largest number of extremely poor people in the world today at 95 million and an average of 4 people join them every minute. Unemployment and poverty will worsen as workers in trade-sensitive businesses, particularly tourism, transport, hospitality, and non-essential manufactured goods are disengaged due to restricted movement of goods, services, and people. Remittances from abroad, which support households, may also fall and worsen economic hardship. Around US$25 billion of remittances equivalent to the Federal Government of Nigeria budget came into the country in 2019. How should the Nigerian government respond to minimize the impact of COVID-19? The governments response should come in two approaches: focusing on immediate priorities and implementing reforms to boost resilience beyond the crisis. Beyond international travel restrictions and stimulus for businesses, more must be done to protect vulnerable households. Adequately support the healthcare system: Prior to COVID-19, healthcare institutions were already overburdened with many ailments given poor medical supplies, shortage of medical workers and poor infrastructure. To have a fighting chance against COVID-19 and in treating those requiring intensive care, the healthcare sector must be supported through adequate funding, incentives for health workers, and health care subsidies for the most vulnerable people. Provide incentives and safety nets to the most affected: Through targeted tax incentives, social transfers, and regulatory support, the Nigerian government could help minimize the impact of COVID-19 on the most vulnerable businesses and citizens. With the adoption of social distancing measures to limit the spread of the virus, the government should partner with informal groups such as trade associations, who have a wider reach, to deliver support to people in vulnerable employment. Enable vulnerable sub-national (state) governments: Sub-national governments have improved their resilience to oil-related crises by improving Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) but many would struggle to pay salaries given the crisis. Therefore, the FG and the CBN can expand loans to states to enable them to pay workers and support the healthcare sector. Reduce cost and improve transparency: The government should reduce the cost of governance by changing its ways in the incurring of administrative costs and prioritizing the most effective development programs. This will free up more money for social and infrastructural spending and improve its resilience. Similarly, reducing the misuse of public finances through commitment to transparency, opening up budgets, and strengthening anti-corruption institutions should be a priority during and post COVID-19. Now more than ever, policymakers must be responsive to lessen the effects of the impending social and economic crises and better prepare Nigeria for the future. Razaq Fatai is a research assistant for global policy on agriculture and inclusive growth at ONE Campaign. Adedayo Bakare is an investment research associate with Afrinvest. Share this post with your Friends on A Sydney couple have pleaded guilty to defrauding the National Disability Insurance Scheme of $1.5 million through a criminal syndicate that earned some members upwards of $50,000 a day. Alaedine Rifai, 41, and his partner Amal Hilmi, 36, were arrested in May last year for their role in the group, which netted the money by hiding behind registered NDIS service providers for people supported by government-subsidised disability plans. Alaedine Rifai, who, together with his partner Amal Hilmi, pleaded guilty to defrauding the National Disability Insurance Scheme of $1.5 million. Credit:Facebook Under the conspiracy, the group claimed payments from people on disability plans, or those managing them. Last Wednesday, Mr Rifai and Ms Hilmi, who have a child together, each pleaded guilty in Sydney's Central Local Court to conspiracy to defraud the Commonwealth. (Bloomberg) -- Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. said it plans to donate more than 10 million tablets of hydroxychloroquine sulfate, a malaria drug touted by President Donald Trump as a potential treatment for the coronavirus, to help U.S. hospitals meet a potential surge in demand. The Israeli company is one of the worlds largest makers of hydroxychloroquine, a less-toxic version of chloroquine, which is used in malaria, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Though the treatment hasnt yet been approved for use in patients with Covid-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, Trump said Thursday he has urged health authorities to expand its use. Teva will donate 6 million tablets to U.S. hospitals through wholesalers by March 31, and more than 10 million within a month, the company said Thursday. All subsequent product manufactured and shipped to wholesalers will also be donated. U.S.-traded shares of the Israeli drugmaker roses 7.7% to $7.72 at 9:39 a.m. in New York on Friday. Officials from the U.S. Health and Human Services Department and Food and Drug Administration approached the generic-drug giant this week asking if it could increase shipments of hydroxychloroquine, Teva spokeswoman Kelley Dougherty said in an interview. The health officials and U.S.-based Teva executives held multiple phone calls throughout the week. We are committed to helping to supply as many tablets as possible as demand for this treatment accelerates at no cost, said Brendan OGrady, the executive vice president of Tevas North America commercial unit. Immediately upon learning of the potential benefit of hyroxychloroquine, Teva began to assess supply and to urgently acquire additional ingredients to make more product while arranging for all of what we had to be distributed immediately. Were directly responding to a need that was brought to us by the U.S. government, Dougherty added. This is a unique situation. We acknowledge that this is not currently for on-label use. But we are responding to the government and the promise that is being seen in the use of this product for Covid-19. Representatives for HHS and FDA didnt respond to requests for comment. Mylan NV said separately Thursday it would immediately restart manufacturing hydroxychloroquine pills at its West Virgina facility to meet expected high demand if the medication is shown to be effective against the disease. Germanys Bayer AG said that it had donated 3 million tablets of Resochin, a chloroquine treatment, to the U.S. Still in Question More than a dozen generic drugmakers, including Teva, Mylan and Novartis AGs Sandoz unit, manufacture hydroxychloroquine, which comes with few major known side effects, is relatively inexpensive and is widely used around the world. Its also been been touted by Tesla Inc. Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk as a potential treatment, and China has been testing it as well. Still, its not clear whether the malaria drug will work against illness caused by novel coronavirus. A March 10 review of existing research found theres little solid proof one way or the other. FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said Thursday the drug would be tested through a large, pragmatic clinical trial. Amid increasing demand for the experimental Covid-19 treatment for off-label use, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists found that hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets were in short supply in March, according to a Thursday report. The FDA, however, hasnt identified the drug as in shortage. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. Shaffick Brimer outside Isleworth Crown Court last Monday A Grenfell fraudster who claimed 31,776.59 from the disaster fund has been jailed for five years - after suspicions arose when he spelt the name of the tower 'Glenfell' on official forms. Sheffick Brimer, 50, told authorities he lived with Majorie Vital, 68, and her son Ernie - who both died on the 19th floor on June 14, 2017 - before claiming the cost of two hotel rooms in the months following the tragedy. Brimer, from Acton, London, was found guilty of fraud by false representation after a jury at Isleworth Crown Court heard he took advantage of the 'help first, ask questions later' culture that followed the deaths of 72 people. Giving evidence, Ms Vital's brother Macloud Vital, told the court his sister would never have had a lodger and didn't even answer her door unless she was expecting someone. Brimer stood in the dock wearing a crucifix earring and a black puffer jacket, mumbling unintelligibly to the judge as he passed sentence. Judge Giles Curtis-Raleigh told Brimer: 'You pretended to be a resident in the tower and decided to cash in on the resources made available for genuine victims. 'You often quite aggressively made your demands and your perceived need was met. 'Then you were accommodated at the expense of the public funds, put aside to assist the genuine victims of the disaster in their hour of need. Brimer, 50, told authorities he lived with Majorie Vital, 68, and her son Ernie - who both died on the 19th floor on June 14, 2017 - before claiming the cost of two hotel rooms in the months following the tragedy. Pictured, the tower 'Over the months you ran up bills and services of 31,776.59, earmarked for genuine victims, you made a number of implausible claims at the hearing. 'One of which was the plainly false claim that you had anything to do with Ms Vital, who had the tragic loss of life in the fire. 'You have shown no remorse and even now seem to want to talk to me rather than listen.' Isleworth Crown Court heard Brimer claimed he was subletting a room from a mother and son who were found 'fused together' after the inferno (pictured) Brimer was first moved to four-star Park Plaza County Hall Hotel on 8 August, 2017, but then had to be moved to Park Grand Paddington Hotel when he complained about the condition of his first room. Detective Constable Lucy Hall led the investigation. She said: 'Brimer was never a resident of Grenfell Tower and using this tragedy as a way to receive free accommodation and food at the cost of the council is completely despicable and appalling. 'He even had the audacity to complain about his initial accommodation and was moved to a second hotel. Witnesses also said he was rude and aggressive to hotel staff. Brimer outside Isleworth Crown Court on Monday. Brimer stood in the dock wearing a crucifix earring and a black puffer jacket, mumbling unintelligibly to the judge as he passed sentence 'Brimer's behaviour compounds the upset of individuals who have been traumatised by the Grenfell fire and is disrespectful to the victims who he claimed he was living with.' Brimer waited a month before making a claim for emergency accommodation following the tragedy. The court heard Brimer first approached the council on 18 July and was given accommodation at the Park Plaza County Hall that day until August 7 totalling 5,384. It was said he later moved to the Park Grand hotel, where he stayed until December 11, totalling 24,000. A taxi fare he is alleged to have taken from volunteer Hagir Ahmed was 20. Prosecutor Szilia Brooker revealed Brimer pretended he had been in hospital at the time of the blaze, but none of his GP or hospital records showed he had been there on the dates after the fire. He later admitted to being in prison at the time. 'On 11 December he was invited to speak to council officials, he gave a very detailed account to those people, it's as a result of that account that a number of enquiries followed,' said Ms Booker. 'Primarily he said the reason why it took him a month to make contact and apply for emergency accommodation was because at the time of the blaze he was in hospital.' On one of the emergency support forms he completed he wrote 'Glenfell Tower' as his address. Ms Booker described it as 'a mistake anyone who lived there may never make'. Elizabeth Robert-Mills, centre manager for the Westway Centre said he was very abusive in asking for cash despite the fact she didn't usually give money that way. She added that after the fire she had to think of the safety of all the people in the centre. 'He was asking for cash. He said it was his first day and that he needed a haircut, said he was subletting when it happened. I gave him clothing, an oyster card and cash,' she said. Brimer (pictured) waited a month before making a claim for emergency accommodation following the tragedy 'I didn't believe it was genuine but it was humanitarian aid and I had to give him the benefit of doubt.' DC Paul Harris told the court the building's CCTV quality was excellent and Brimer couldn't be seen entering the building at all dating back to April that year. Phillip McKee, defending, revealed Brimer had a drug habit from around 2008 until 2018 which led to other convictions. He added: 'For the last five years or more he has been of no fixed address and has spent time in addresses of various different types, nothing of long fixture or certainly. 'He says the reason why was that some years ago his partner died when still very young, suddenly and unexpectedly. The effect was to increase his consumption with drink. Brimer was convicted after three hours deliberation and was sentenced to five years imprisonment (file image) 'It also meant that as his life spiralled out of control, perhaps unsurprisingly with that spiral came the loss of social ties, leading to a precarious and homeless existence. 'There was an element of calculation and one cannot escape that, but the person guilty of that was himself. 'Perhaps to a significant extent when he did it he was ground down by those circumstances of his life, not all of which were necessarily attributed to his own conduct, though some of it was.' Brimer was convicted after three hours deliberation and was sentenced to five years imprisonment. Four of the eleven jurors stayed in court to see Brimer sentenced. MOHALI: An 80-year-old woman of Phase 5, Mohali, tested positive for coronavirus disease (Covid-19) on Monday, taking the count to five in the district. The woman, who is admitted at the civil hospital in Kharar, is the landlady of the 27-year-old friend of Chandigarhs first coronavirus patient who returned from the United Kingdom recently. The tenant had tested positive on Saturday and had picked up the 23-year-old resident of Sector 21, Chandigarh, from Amritsar airport on her return from London on March 15. Mohali civil surgeon Dr Manjit Singh said the condition of the 80-year-old is stable and she is responding to treatment. The two other residents of her house have tested negative. He said all five patients from Mohali are stable. So far, 257 people are under home quarantine in the district. Enforcement teams are checking on them regularly. Those violating home quarantine will be dealt with strictly. In public interest, the list of those in home quarantine is being updated on www.sasnagar.gov.in. Apex industry body Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) on Monday said it has set up CII COVID-19 CODE and CII COVID - 19 rehabilitation and relief pool fund to help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) and society from the impact of disruptions caused by coronavirus. CII has developed and advocated a COVID-19 CODE to its members to help its workers and society at large from the impact of disruptions caused by COVID-19, said Vikram Kirloskar, President, CII. CII announced its initiatives at the interactive meeting with Prime Minister Modi earlier today, Kirloskar said. "Our initiatives to help the economically deprived people particularly our commitment to not retrench any worker including blue collar and contract workers resonated well with PM Modi who appreciated industry's efforts," he said. CII members will dedicate their plant facilities to help scale up manufacture and availability of essential goods and equipment needed to deal with the medical emergency like ventilators, sanitisers, essential drugs, medical services, etc., on a no-profit basis, and build a cadre of volunteers for public service the CII CODE advocates. Uday Kotak, the President-Designate of CII, said the COVID Rehabilitation Fund is important for the micro and small industry, who will need special hand holding and help to rehabilitate their business. "The CII COVID Rehabilitation and Relief Fund (CRR) will be an industry led initiative to work with the MSME sector," Kotak said. Elaborating on some of the major interventions required from RBI, Kotak said that it is important that a rate cut of 50 to 100 basis points is announced immediately. He also called for dollar liquidity swap as India was in a comfortable position as far as its dollar reserves are concerned. Given the need to help people at the bottom of the pyramid, CII has called for cash into the bank accounts of all whose earnings are below Rs 5 lakhs. All Indian citizens should be given cash in their accounts through the direct benefit transfer; While those below 25 years can be given a one-time payment of Rs 5000, senior citizens above 65 age can be given Rs 10,000, CII has said. According to CII, there is a need to ensure that all migrant workers continue to stay in the cities where they work and so providing for enablers is crucial. All borrowers should be given a three-month moratorium on all loans and all repayment obligations should be suspended for this period, it said. CII also emphasised that there is an immediate need to facilitate and enable advances for ways and means for industry across sectors and the government could perhaps explore options of a moratorium on interest and principle for the next three months. It also pitched for suspension of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) proceedings while redefining norms for NPAs as several companies will be unable to meet their payment obligations. The CII also recommended for close coordination between regulators like RBI, MCA and SEBI to get effective results and implementation. By Chitranjan Kumar Also Read: Now, Indian Inc can spend CSR funds to combat coronavirus Also Read: Coronavirus: PM urges industry representatives not to cut down workforce Firefighters battle a fire following an explosion at Geary Boulevard and Parker Avenue as PG&E officials dig up the ground to reach the pipe in San Francisco, Calif., on Feb. 6, 2019. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle/Pool via Reuters) PG&E to Plead Guilty to 84 Involuntary Manslaughter Counts Over 2018 Wildfire Pacific Gas & Electric has agreed to plead guilty to 84 involuntary manslaughter counts in connection with the 2018 Camp Fire, the most destructive wildfire in Californias history. The plea by Californias largest utility was announced on Monday by its parent PG&E Corp, three days after the utility accepted tighter oversight and pledged billions of dollars to improve safety and help wildfire victims, under an agreement California Governor Gavin Newsom. That agreement ended a major roadblock to PG&Es planned emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, as Newsom devotes his attention to the coronavirus outbreak in his state. Pacific Gas & Electric said it entered its plea through a March 17 agreement with the Butte County District Attorneys office, which would end all state criminal proceedings against the San Francisco-based company related to the Camp Fire. The fire began on Nov. 8, 2018, and destroyed much of the town of Paradise, which had about 26,000 people, and nearby Concow. More than 18,000 buildings were destroyed. PG&E also pleaded guilty to one count of unlawfully starting a fire. We cannot replace all that the fire destroyed, but our hope is that this plea agreement, along with our rebuilding efforts, will help the community move forward from this tragic incident, PG&E Chief Executive Bill Johnson said in a statement. Under the agreement, PG&E would pay a maximum of $3.5 million fine plus $500,000 in costs, and up to $15 million to provide water to residents after the fire destroyed the utilitys Miocene Canal. Some fire victims would receive payouts under PG&Es proposed bankruptcy reorganization plan, which was submitted on March 16, PG&E said. The settlement requires approval by the Butte County Superior Court, and by the federal bankruptcy court overseeing PG&Es Chapter 11 case. PG&E and its utility unit filed for bankruptcy in January 2019, citing more than $30 billion in potential liabilities from California wildfires in 2017 and 2018 linked to its equipment. The company previously reached $25.5 billion of settlements related to wildfires in 2015, 2017 and 2018, including $13.5 billion for victims and $12 billion for insurers, cities, counties and other public entities. Under the settlement with Newsom, PG&E agreed to pay no shareholder dividends for three years, saving about $4 billion, and pursue a rate-neutral $7.5 billion financing package that would benefit ratepayers. PG&E also agreed to put itself up for sale if it cannot emerge from Chapter 11 by a state-imposed June 30 deadline, before the next wildfire season begins. By Jonathan Stempel Regional Express Airlines says it will ground all regular passenger services outside of Queensland in a fortnight unless state and federal governments cover the company's losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The move would sever air transport links to some regional communities, with Regional Express (Rex) the only airline operating on most of its routes. The airline - which went into a trading halt on Monday morning - connects Sydney to Orange, Griffith, Broken Hill, Lismore, Parkes and Cooma and Melbourne to King Island and Mount Gambier, for instance. Rex deputy chairman John Sharp said the airline supported government measures restricting travel to contain the pandemic but those steps would cause passenger numbers to fall by about 80 per cent. Yes. On March 23, the 11th anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), President Joe Biden announced a second extension of a special open enrollment period for the HealthCare.gov federal marketplace until August 15. People who need to sign up for the first time or want to upgrade their coverage can do so during this period. In a recent report, the Kaiser Family Foundation estimated that about 15 million Americans may need to shop for coverage on the ACA marketplaces. AARP research estimates that 5.5 million adults between 50 and 64 do not have access to coverage through their job or a public program. AARP had sent a letter to Congress last spring asking for a nationwide special open enrollment period: Access to affordable health care coverage is more important now than ever, said Nancy LeaMond, AARPs executive vice president and chief advocacy and engagement officer. Its also important to note that those who have lost their jobs and their incomes may qualify for Medicaid a free or low-cost health program that enrolls applicants year-round. What if I live in a state that has its own health insurance marketplace? You can still probably enroll in an ACA plan. After the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the first extension of the special enrollment period until May 15 for the federal marketplace, the states with their own ACA exchanges did the same thing. Check with your state marketplace to find out the time period for your special enrollment period. Will my ACA plan cover coronavirus care? The symptoms of COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus, include: Fever or chills Cough Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Fatigue Muscle or body aches Headache New loss of taste or smell Sore throat Congestion or runny nose Nausea or vomiting Diarrhea The majority of people who get sick with COVID-19 have mild symptoms and are able to recover at home. Some cases, however, are more severe and may require medical attention. In those instances, all ACA plans are required to cover emergency services and hospitalization. Policyholders, however, may have out-of-pocket costs from coronavirus-related care, depending on their individual plans and any copayment and cost-sharing responsibilities. I have already tested positive for the coronavirus. Can a health plan deny me coverage? No. All ACA plans must cover treatment for preexisting medical conditions. And plans can't terminate coverage due to a change in health status, including diagnosis or treatment of COVID-19, according to HealthCare.gov. What will an ACA plan cost me? There are four types of plans in the ACA marketplace, and your monthly premium and out-of-pocket costs depend on your plan: Bronze : Lowest monthly premium; highest out-of-pocket costs. Deductibles can be thousands of dollars a year. : Lowest monthly premium; highest out-of-pocket costs. Deductibles can be thousands of dollars a year. Silver : Moderate monthly premiums; moderate out-of-pocket costs. : Moderate monthly premiums; moderate out-of-pocket costs. Gold : High monthly premiums; lower out-of-pocket costs; low deductibles. : High monthly premiums; lower out-of-pocket costs; low deductibles. Platinum: Highest monthly premiums; lowest out-of-pocket costs; lowest deductibles. Depending on your household income, you may also be eligible for a subsidy to lower your monthly premium, as well as assistance to help cover out-of-pocket costs A two-year increase in ACA subsidies is included in the American Rescue Plan Act signed into law on March 11. Under this law, for two years, people with incomes above 400 percent of the federal poverty level ($51,520 for an individual) will qualify for subsidies so they will not have to pay more than 8.5 percent of their annual income for their health care premiums. Editor's Note: This story is updated periodically with new developments. Check back regularly. As the coronavirus spreads rapidly throughout the United States, retail and service industry employees, primarily low-wage workers, have vociferously denounced corporations for continuing to stay open and not providing proper safety measures. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned against large gatherings, but many retail workers across the US are put at risk by employers still requiring employees to work. Retail workers, particularly in grocery stores, are at high risk of contracting COVID-19 as they interact with hundreds of customers on a daily basis. Many have stated they do not have paid sick leave, meaning workers are forced to choose between their paychecks and their safety. The predicament is compounded by employers failure to supply cleaning and sanitation supplies. Baristas at Starbucks voiced their frustration last week with the companys decision to only implement limited closures and safety measures in response to the pandemic. Starbucks has justified the decision to stay open by describing itself as an essential business. A sign informs customers that the Starbucks is open for takeout. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) Aniya Johnson, a Starbucks barista in Philadelphia, told the World Socialist Web Site her experience has been terrifying and stated her coworkers were fearful of catching and spreading the virus. We know that most young people can be asymptomatic, leaving the elderly and babies at risk. Even with all the precautionary measures, there are still ways that it can be spread. Management hasnt really been too helpful. Store managers sympathize with you because they have to come to work, too. However, they have the advantage of not always being on the floor. Upper management gets to work from home and still go on about their day, as if store level concerns dont exist. Its frustrating. Johnson started a petition demanding that Starbucks suspend business at all locations and pay its workers during the duration of the coronavirus outbreak, and called for workers to stay at home today in protest. The petition has gathered over 37,000 signatures and compelled Starbucks to announce Friday the closure of its cafe stores and the limiting of its services to mobile ordering and drive-thru. Even with limited service, some Starbucks workers are still encountering hundreds of customers throughout their workday. The company has also offered 30 days of paid leave to workers who feel unsafe. After that one month is up it is not clear what options will be available to workers. If a Starbucks worker comes into contact with someone who later tests positive for COVID-19 or contracts it themselves, they could qualify for catastrophe pay. Dave, another Starbucks worker, did not feel that the companys recent decision went far enough to protect workers and their communities. Dave responded to what he felt was an inadequate response by calling for a customer boycott and starting a social media group called The Baristas Collective for Starbucks workers to organize and make demands. The situation surrounding COVID-19 is stressful. Were being told constantly that we need to stay home and practice social distancing. We hear that from every government and health authority, but Starbucks is saying otherwise. They gave us 30 days off as a publicity stunt. Last year the global coffee chain spent $12 billion on stock buybacks and dividends, rewarding its investors and pumping up its stock valuation. This same amount would be enough to cut every single employee around the world a $41,000 check, making clear that what the company is now offering is a mere pittance. Dave spoke with multiple baristas across the US who say they are being actively discouraged from taking the 30 days paid leave and feel pressured to keep working at Starbucks. Baristas are in danger, their families are in danger, and their loved ones are in danger. Yet Starbucks doesnt care. This corporation is putting thousands of lives at risk for a quick buck, and thats why were organizing. Its time to stand up, he said. Workers at the Whole Foods grocery chain, owned by Amazon CEO and worlds richest man Jeff Bezos, also conveyed their dissatisfaction with the way the company is handling the outbreak. A longtime employee who wanted to remain anonymous described upper management at Whole Foods lagging behind other grocers in their reaction. The worker said that the most immediate responses came from workers in the stores. I feel like we took on sanitation at my store before directions were handed down from above. As soon as our cooler emptied, we started scrubbing walls, floors, prep areas, everything. We sanitized all tables and shelves as they emptied. Our store leader hired a third-party company to sanitize as well, the worker said. Regional and global leadership are disastrously inept. Full of yes men who have failed upward. No minds of their own for the most part. Most of them in my opinion are too young to have perspective on this real-life crisisdue to a cycle of continuous firing and rehiring. We are held together by the glue of a very few extremely competent folks, but most of the regional and global management is a disaster. Workers at retail giants Walmart and Target have also spoken out about the two companies not doing enough to protect staff during the outbreak. In several interviews with other news publications, workers said they were anxious about working in crowded conditions. Their frustration was aggravated by increased workloads, understaffing and inadequate sanitation practices. Several Target workers spoke to the Guardian about management dismissing workers fears of contracting or transmitting the coronavirus to family members. A Target employee in New Mexico told the publication he had been wearing a N95 protective mask out of concern for his niece, who is going through chemotherapy. Management told him he needed to obtain a doctors note in order to be permitted to continue wearing it. They said I would not be allowed to work with it until I had brought back this paper form. I told them it was not worth it to me to risk the life of a little girl. I told them, while trying to hold back tears, that this wasnt right, he said. In a few cases, some workers have forced companies to shut down stores. Video game store chain GameStop recently announced that it would close all of its US locations after workers threatened to walk out because of unsanitary conditions. However, many retail workers remain in a vulnerable position on the front lines of the pandemic. MalwareHunterTeam experts have identified a new Coronavirus phishing campaign that aims at delivering the Netwalker Ransomware. The number of coronavirus -themed cyberattacks continues to increase, MalwareHunterTeam researchers uncovered a new campaign that is delivering the Netwalker Ransomware, aka Mailto. The researchers have analyzed an attachment, named CORONAVIRUS_COVID-19.vbs, used in a new Coronavirus phishing campaign that was designed to deliver the Netwalker Ransomware. The new Netwalker phishing campaign is using an attachment named CORONAVIRUS_COVID-19 . vbs that contains an embedded Netwalker Ransomware executable and obfuscated code to extract and launch it on the computer. reported Bleeping Computer. Netwalker was recently employed is several attacks against businesses and government agencies, including Toll Group and the Champaign Urbana Public Health District (CHUPD) (Illinois) attacks. Upon the execution of the script, the executable is saved to %Temp%\qeSw.exe and launched to start the encryption of the files. The popular malware researcher Vitali Kremez who analyzed the ransomware revealed that this version of the ransomware was designed to avoid terminating the Fortinet endpoint protection client, likely to avoid detection. The Netwalker ransom w are drops a ransom note named [extension ] -Readme.txt that provides the victims the instructions on how to pay the ransom via a Tor payment site. Additional details are reported in the post published by BleepingComputer. If you are interested in the recently discovered attacks, give a look at the timeline I have prepared: Coronavirus -themed attacks March 15 March 21, 2020 Pierluigi Paganini Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have had a difficult relationship with the public ever since they started dating back in 2016. Meghan, who is American, was never well-received by much of Britain, and it led to a lot of negative press and plenty of bullying. For various reasons, the two announced their royal departure back in January 2020, hoping it would bring them a reprieve from the intense scrutiny. However, the couples Instagram account makes it clear that some people have less respect for them now than ever. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Michael Bradley/Pool/Getty Images Meghan had a hard time developing a relationship with the public When Meghan and Harry first started dating, the press almost immediately began digging into her life. They created negative story after negative story, which made it difficult for Meghan to win over the public. The public started buying into the idea that the duchess had a bad attitude, and it made it very hard for her to get on top of the negativity. Rumors have swirled ever since Meghan met Harry, with outlets reporting that she is a social climber and that she didnt treat Kate Middleton well. All of the bad press led Meghan and Harry to exit the royal family. The two were hoping their royal exit would bring them peace When Harry and Meghan announced their royal departure, they were hoping it would bring them some sought-after peace. The two had dealt with a lot since marrying, and starting a new life in North America seemed like the only way they could escape it. The two have seemingly enjoyed their time in Canada, which is where theyve been since January (they did return to the U.K. for a while at the beginning of March, though). Meghan has been spotted walking the dogs with Archie, and the two are reportedly getting in touch with nature. However, the public is still able to express their distaste for the two via social media. The public leaves brutal comments on the couples Instagram posts Meghan and Harry have continued to post on Instagram under the name Sussex Royal, despite that the queen would not let the two trademark the name. And though they try their best to invoke positivity through their Instagram account, the comments are anything but positive. The two posted a Happy Mothers Day tribute on March 22, which was Mothers Day in the United Kingdom. And almost all of the most-liked comments completely bashed the duchess. You are irrelevant, one comment read. Please remove this Instagram and go underground and remain in your privy world, another person wrote. Please stop using this name. Its shameful, one user added. The couples previous post about mental health was also very poorly received. They saw massive backlash for suggesting that people could digitally train to become counselors rather than going to school for the profession. This post is misleading and irresponsible, someone wrote. All those thousands I spent to train as a counsellor for 3 years, and now I learn that you can simply digitally train. Get real! someone else commented. Could Harry and Meghan potentially delete their Instagram? The duke and duchess have relied on Instagram to communicate with their fans and with the public. But now, almost all of the top comments on every post are negative. Though there has been no talk of the two deleting their account, it might be the only way they can escape the scathing remarks of the public. Perhaps they will launch a new account for their charity down the road and leave Sussex Royal behind. Unfortunately, having the account doesnt seem to be doing them any favors. A Texas teacher has checked in on all 25 of her pupils at their homes and handed out lesson ideas to parents amid the coronavirus outbreak. Governor Greg Abbott closed schools last Thursday, joining other states across the country in more stringent methods to stop the spread of COVID-19 in Texas where there have been three deaths, with 143 infected. Leslie Gonzalez, a fifth-grade teacher in Borderland, El Paso, was concerned she might not get to see her pupils before they headed to middle school next year, so she drove out to greet them on Sunday. Joined by her friend Bonnie Soria Najera, who is a schools board member, she went around with a sign during the Spring Break which read: 'Hi!! I miss you so much! (can't wait to see you! (online).' Leslie Gonzalez, a fifth-grade teacher in Borderland, El Paso, was concerned she might not get to see her pupils before they headed to middle school next year, so she drove out to greet them on Sunday Last week Gonzalez posted a picture of her empty classroom on Facebook, writing: 'I miss my second home. I miss my kids. I keep wondering if I'll be able to finish the year with them or not. Keep wondering if we'll get to have their 5th grade awards, the end to their elementary years was cut short so abruptly' Gonzalez called parents before arriving and asked them to send their children out onto the porch to say hello, KTSM reported. During the chats, Gonzalez also gave the parents a list of useful websites, online games and other activities they could give to their kids to keep them focused on their studies. One parent told her: 'Thank you so much for what you did yesterday! I havent seen Abby that happy in a long time.' As it stands schools are to reconvene on April 6 but Gonzalez wanted to ensure in any eventuality that she got to see the kids and to keep them on track with their school work. Last week Gonzalez posted a picture of her empty classroom on Facebook, writing: 'I miss my second home. I miss my kids. I keep wondering if I'll be able to finish the year with them or not. During the chats, Gonzalez also gave the parents a list of useful websites, online games and other activities they could give to their kids to keep them focused on their studies One parent told her: 'Thank you so much for what you did yesterday! I havent seen Abby that happy in a long time' 'Keep wondering if we'll get to have their 5th grade awards, the end to their elementary years was cut short so abruptly. 'What I miss the most is reading to them and watching them get so into a book that they beg me to keep reading. 'I know we can do digital learning but it wont be the same. Some call us lucky but this isn't a vacation for us, it sucks.' MIDDLETOWN The mayor soon could increase up the number of coronavirus updates he delivers in an effort to keep residents abreast of developments as the highly contagious illness spreads throughout Connecticut. Gov. Ned Lamont Monday announced two more fatalities as a result of COVID-19, bringing the state total to 10. In all, 415 cases have been confirmed. Mayor Ben Florsheim posted about Middletowns first reported case of COVID-19 Saturday night on his social media page: a man in his 50s who has gone into self-isolation. Florsheim was saddened but not surprised at the news, he wrote on his Facebook page. This is the first confirmed case, but will certainly not be the last. Please take seriously the guidance we have been sharing from Centers For Disease Control and Prevention and Connecticut Department of Public Health. Well get through this but it will take time, and will take all of us (to help curb the spread), he added. When an individual tests positive, the procedure involves health district officials calling the person or a family member to find out details about possible exposures. That no longer includes contact tracing, where partner notification is conducted to determine where the infected individual may have visited or been in the past two weeks. Its not going to be feasible to do that for everybody, Florsheim explained. Hes still working on an approach to announcing subsequent Middletown cases, but that will not likely happen as each result comes in. Meantime, as a way to communicate new information directly to residents, Florsheim has been conducting Facebook Live sessions a few evenings a week on his page. Lamont said Monday all schools in Connecticut are to remain closed until at least April 20. Middletown students were sent home March 13 with Chromebooks and other materials to work from home. The district will move to online learning March 30, according to Superintendent of Schools Michael T. Conner, who is helping set up the MPS Engagement and Enhancement Digital Learning Pathway. Middletowns task force began meeting Monday to work out the logistics with central office employees, teachers and administrators, as well as start professional development activities, he said. Part of those discussions will include what a typical virtual day of school will look like. When we say distance learning and creating an e- or virtual learning environment, the readiness level for teachers varies on a continuum, Conner explained. Youre going to have teachers who are high-flyers with the Google Suite and Classroom, and youll have teachers at that foundational level. Much needs to be accomplished before the March 30 launch. We have to be able to clear what content is going to be, what the structure of the academic year is going to be all those technical logistics. Students are going to have to get used to interacting with their teachers in a new environment, as well as vice versa, Conner said. Hes dubbing next week the first day of school. Getting up to speed will be much like when students and teachers reconvene in late summer. This is going to be a soft launch, and the depth and breadth is going to scale every single week. Its kind of like getting to know classroom norms, different tasks on the first day of school in a traditional setting, he said. School administrators are being very deliberate and thoughtful during this process. Were taking this very slow, and we want to be very intentional with the launch. Teachers will be establishing methods of synchronized and asynchronized learning, such as office hours when theyll be available by phone, chat or other methods and working virtually with small groups of students who need extra help. Professional learning for leaders and teachers to support the soft launch of the new educational system will be ongoing. After speaking with state Board of Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona, we are anticipating that digital learning will be in place for an extended period of time, Conner said. The board approved an amended calendar March 18 that guarantees the last day of school will be June 16. April recess (April 13 to 17) is canceled to ensure public schools come as close as possible to the original 180-day policy mandate, Conner said in an email to parents. Connecticut primary day, April 28, will be a regular academic day for students, after Lamont rescheduled it to June 2. If classes are back in session by then, Conner will work with police to make sure voting is accompanied by maximum security to ensure social distancing and other safety measures. Over the last five days, the district distributed more than 6,800 to-go meals to families through its schools. This past weekend, more than 20 local restaurants each delivered approximately 100 meals to Bielefield, Macdonough, Snow and Spencer elementary schools as part of the states emergency meal program for children. In Regional School District 17, Haddam-Killingworth High School Principal Donna Hayward alerted parents Sunday night that online distance learning would begin Monday morning via Google Classroom. Students should complete [assignments] just as they would if they were in class each day. Students can and should ask questions of their teachers, and earn grades for their assessments, just as they would normally, she said by email. Students are expected to be doing classwork from about 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays, she said. The district also is encouraging parents to make sure their children take breaks and get fresh air every day to mitigate long periods of screen time. If a student is ill, a parent must contact district nurse Tanner Pederson at tpedersen@rsd17.org so the absence will be excused. For seniors, Middletown has set up an online packet of information for residents, which lists important phone numbers, email addresses and Facebook pages, information available on Public Access Channel 19, food pantry/soup kitchen hours, grocery stores with special senior shopping hours, and more. The citys recreation division is offering ideas for activities and exercise to keep children busy while they are at home. A second virtual Middletown coronavirus information meeting, conducted by the Community Health Center, will take place Tuesday at 6 p.m. Florsheim and representatives from local school districts, senior centers, the health department and others will take part. View the Facebook invite at https://bit.ly/3dorHgW. The Westfield Fire Department is asking 911 callers to alert them if someone in the home has symptoms of COVID-19. This will allow our personnel to be better prepared to manage the situation when they arrive. We are experiencing unprecedented times. Also, Middletown police are taking extra precautions to keep the public and officers as safe as possible. They urge those with hearing or other issues that prohibit using a phone subscribe to the text-to-911 service. If a call is not an emergency, people may be asked to speak to an officer over the phone to file a complaint. A phone has been placed in the lobby of headquarters at 222 Main St. that allows visitors to communicate with staff. For non-emergencies, people are asked to call dispatch at 860-347-2541, the records bureau at 860-638-4010 (weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.), and the front desk at 860-638-4000. If officers come to a home or other location for a complaint or emergency, people may be asked about their health or recent travel to screen for possible exposure to the coronavirus. Police are practicing social distancing, and ask that others do the same, the post said. Your request for police assistance may have nothing to do with your health, but we ask that you have patience with our dispatchers and officers, and cooperate to the best of your ability. We need to do what we can to help prevent the spread, according to the post. For information, visit the citys website at cityofmiddletown.com, Florsheims Facebook page at BenForMiddletown, and the state of Connecticut coronavirus site at portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus. DENVER, March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hotel Engine, a hotel booking management platform for business travel, announced today a partnership with several national hotel chains to provide further discounted hotel rates at 22,500 hotel properties for healthcare professionals and support personnel assisting with combating the COVID-19 pandemic. While most individuals are encouraged to quarantine and stay within their homes, there are brave and selfless individuals, groups, and organizations who must travel. These doctors, researchers, health care professionals, patient care specialists, and more are in need of lodging as they help battle the coronavirus outbreak. Hotel Engine Hotel Engine already delivers an average of 26% off room rates. Graciously, Wyndham, Best Western, Red Lion, Drury, Oyo, Red Roof, Motel 6, Studio 6, Extended Stay America, and others have agreed to partner with providing further discounts off currently offered rates. Most of these hotels are offering an additional 15% off stays under 30 days and 20% for stays over 30 days on the Hotel Engine platform. More hotels have expressed interest and are expected to join the partnership in the future. "In these unprecedented times, we're fortunate to be able to partner with some incredible hotel brands to help those who are putting themselves in harm's way to assist those in need," said Elia Wallen, founder and CEO of Hotel Engine. "This is brand new to all of us, and we're all learning more about the pandemic each day. We're proud to help in whatever way we can." Statements From Some of Our Partners: OYO Hotels "All of us at OYO are grateful for the bravery and sacrifices these medical personnel are making to save lives and stop the spread of the coronavirus," said Ritesh Agarwal, founder and Group CEO, OYO Hotels and Homes. "Our hearts go out to all those impacted by this terrible disease." Drury Hotels "Since 1973, Drury Hotels has consistently delivered on our promise of clean, well-maintained rooms," Eric Strand, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Drury Hotels, said. "Our teams are taking extra precautions and heightened measures in cleaning our guestrooms and public areas. In order to continue to provide the Drury value to our guests, we are currently offering our free breakfast and 5:30 Kickback in a grab-and-go format, and all of our guest rooms include a small refrigerator and microwave. We are here to serve you, and our team is ready to do everything we can during these challenging times to help." For anyone who is currently traveling or will be traveling for a COVID-19 related project or support initiative and needs access to further discounted hotel rates, please contact [email protected] or call us at 720-999-9349. For anyone in need of alternative accommodations like short-term fully furnished apartments, please contact our partner Travelers Haven at [email protected] or call 720-833-5333. For hotel partners who would like to join Hotel Engine with their support efforts, please contact [email protected]. About Hotel Engine Launched in 2015, Hotel Engine is a high-growth, Denver-based tech company that is innovating the business travel industry with a free, private hotel booking and management platform. With over 300,000 properties globally, Hotel Engine offers an average of 26% off publicly available hotel rates for business and government travelers. For more information, visit hotelengine.com or contact Brad Brochocki at (720) 664-3715 or [email protected]. Related Images hotel-engine.png Hotel Engine SOURCE Hotel Engine Related Links http://hotelengine.com Thanks to a kind-hearted, quick-witted nurse in New York-Presbyterians cardio-thoracic ICU, I was able to see and speak to Mrs. T via Skype on Sunday night. That sentence really ought by all rights to end with an exclamation point, for it was the first time Id laid eyes on her, virtually or in the flesh, since last weekend. The experience of seeing her face on the screen of my MacBook Air was overwhelming, so much so that I had to bite a good-sized hole in my tongue to keep from bursting out in tears (something of which she would have disapproved, Mrs. T being a bred-in-the-bone New England girl). She didnt talk back to me, of course: Mrs. T has two ventilator tubes in her nose and a tracheostomy in her neck. She did, however, blink appropriately (thats nurse-speak) when I asked if she could see and hear me. The nurse warned me that she becomes really tired at the end of the day, so I kept our conversation short and to the point. I tried to tell her a bit about the coronavirus pandemicshe was in a medically induced coma from March 1 until last Fridayand explained that because of it, the hospital is now closed to all visitors, spouses included. I assured her that I was checking twice each day by phone on her condition and keeping her family and friends up to date on the latest developments, adding that thousands of people all over the world were pulling for her. I promised that wed go back to Sanibel Island as soon as she was ready and told her that I loved her more than anything in the world, then hung up, drained and stunned and very, very happy. Not only is Mrs. T well on her way toward full consciousness, but shes making solid progress on all other fronts. All her vital signs are favorable. The nurses turned her ventilator down to the lowest possible setting this afternoon to give her a chance to exercise her new lungs, and she breathed more or less on her own for a half-hour. She looks pale, puffy, and wanso would youbut to my eyes she was as beautiful as she was on the night when, fifteen years ago, I fell in love with her at first sight. I wish I could have played some music for her. Had I been able to do so, I would have playedthe anthem for chorus and orchestra that Paul Moravec and Ito celebrate our good friend John Sinclairs twenty-fifth anniversary as the artistic director of theof Winter Park, Florida. By that time, Mrs. Ts doctors had grounded her, and she was unable to fly down to Winter Park for the premierethe first of my premieres, though not the last, that she had to miss because of her illness. (It never did get any easier for either of us.) Inspired by the climactic transformation scene of Shakespeares Winters Tale, a play that Paul and I both love, Music, Awake! is an ode to the magical, life-changing power of music, though I also had Mrs. Ts own indomitable courage in mind when I wrote this stanza: Teach us songs whose melodies Inspire us to be brave, Require us to be bold, Command our souls. Let every note ascend, Let every phrase ring out With certitude and power In the darkest hour. Mere days ago I feared that my brave companion might never awaken from her drugged sleep. But seeing and speaking to her has inspired me to try to be as brave, as all of us will need to be in the weeks and months that lie ahead of us. So long as she is awake and aware, I know Ill be able to cope with whatever is to come. * * * For previous reports on Mrs. Ts surgery and subsequent recovery, go here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. To learn more about her rare illness, go here. To find out how to become an organ donor, go here. * * * Music, Awake!, composed by Paul Moravec and performed by John Sinclair and the Bach Festival Society Chorus and Orchestra, with Amanda Pabyan, Margaret Lattimore, Robert Breault, and Kevin Deas. The text is by me: Italy to shut all non-strategic business activities until April 3 - PM Conte Saudi Press Agency Sunday 1441/7/27 - 2020/03/22 Rome, Mar 21, 2020, SPA -- Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said that all Italian businesses must close until April 3, with the exception of those essential to maintaining the country's supply chain, in the latest desperate effort to halt the coronavirus epidemic. Italy recorded a jump in deaths from the virus of almost 800 today, taking the toll in the world's hardest-hit country to almost 5,000. "It is the most difficult crisis in our post-war period," Conte said in a video posted on Facebook, adding that "only production activities deemed vital for national production will be allowed". Supermarkets, pharmacies, postal and banking services will remain open, Conte said, and essential public services including transport will be ensured. "We are slowing down the country's production engine but we are not stopping it," he said. The government is expected to publish an emergency decree on Sunday to make the latest crackdown immediately effective. --SPA 02:15 LOCAL TIME 23:15 GMT 0021 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A 9-year-old boy is OK after a racing-related wreck in southeast Houston late Sunday night. The boy was riding in a Cadillac along South Beltway 8 feeder road near Beamer Road around 10 p.m. as the driver raced the driver of a Corvette, according to Houston Police Department Sgt. Thomas Fendia. The relationship between the boy and the drivers was not clear. MORE FROM JAY R. JORDAN: Man dead, another injured after ambush shooting in southeast Houston The two drivers were travelling at high speeds when the Cadillacs driver lost control and crashed into a massive steel utility pole. The collision bent the pole so much that crews with CenterPoint Energy were still working to fix it well into Monday morning. The driver of the Corvette stopped and pulled the young boy from the wreckage and drove him home, Fendia said, leaving the crashed cars driver trapped inside the mangled wreckage. Firefighters spent nearly a half hour prying the car open to free the driver, who was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition. HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: PCP driving up concerns on Houston highways Paramedics found the boy at his home and took him to the hospital. He was listed as stable, Fendia said. As for the drivers, both could face charges. It was not clear if the Corvettes driver was immediately identified. Jay R. Jordan covers breaking news in the Houston area. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan | Email him at jay.jordan@chron.com A foreign language station needs a guy who understands the culture and goings-on, which one minute would be Greek language, and then Serbian the next, and then Italian the next. It was like the United Nations in our lobby, Lee said. The way he went about things was so special. He was the No. 1 guy and everybody knew who he was but he never showed it. He was always the guy to go to. Jammu and Kashmir police on Monday (March 23) busted the module of a new terrorist organisation named The Resistance Front, which is linked to Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, in Sopore. The police has arrested four people in connection with this caseand recovered huge amount of arms and ammunition from them. Sources told Zee Media that LeT has formed the new group with help of Pakistani intelligence agency ISI. The newly-formed terror group is also called JK Fighters. The Jammu and Kashmir police swung into action after receiving credible information regarding illegal delivery of arms and ammunition by some anti-national elements at District Hospital Sopore. Four teams were formed to carry out the operation and the teams reached the spot covertly and arrested four persons identified as Ahtisham Farooq Malik, Shafqat Ali Tagoo, Musaib Hassan Bhat and Nisar Ahmad Ganai. Upon questioning of these four individuals it was revealed that they were working under one Pakistan-based person known by the name Andrew Jones on Telegram Messenger and the Whats App ID of this man is Khan Bilal, who is operating a newly formed terrorist organisation known by the name TRF/JK Fighters-The Resistance Front. All four apprehended men are the main handlers deputed by the above named Telegram User for recruiting local youths for terrorist activities in Kashmir Valley particularly in North Kashmir and for the same they are instigating local youths to join terrorist ranks. They have also received a consignment of illegal Arms from one Kabeer Ahmad Lone, which were transported by Shafqat Ali Tagoo and Nisar Ahmad Ganai from Kupwara and handed it over to Ahtisham Farooq Malik at Kupwara. The four individuals were also going to receive a consignment of six AK-47 Rifles with ammunition from Sharafat. The main purpose of the group was to accumulate the Arms and Ammunition and to go for target killings of politicians and police personnel. Ahtisham Farooq Malik also revealed to Tagoo that the person who received four hand grenades and a pistol along with ammunition at Markaz Sopore is the first person who has actively joined the terrorist organisation TRF-The Resistance Front from Andergam Pattan. He also said that two hand grenades which were delivered to another person near Guru Hospital were utilised at Srinagar. During the course of investigation, Kabeer Ahmad Lone was identified and arrested. During his sustained interrogation he revealed that the weapon which he delivered to Tagoo were provided by Sharafat Khan. Upon his revelation four persons were arrested from Kupwara. However, Sharafat revealed that he along with one Naseer Mir has received a consignment of arms and ammunition from across the border and the duo has dumped the weapons near Cobra Post Keran Kupwara. British Space broadband startup OneWeb has launched 32 mini-satellites into orbit, bringing its constellation up to 72 - spacex Starlink has launched 300 satellites. OneWeb launched its latest traunch of communication satellites into orbit from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazahkstan on Saturday March 21 at 17:06 GMT. The company is the main competitor to Elon Musk's SpaceX Starlink constellation and has the same aim - to bring broadband to rural communities. OneWeb plans to have an initial network of 650 satellites in their mega-constellation of orbiting communication devices in a bid to provide global internet access. CEO Adrian Steckel says the coronavirus outbreak has shown the need to have a robust internet offering available to even the most remote locations. Scroll down for more The 34 satellites were launched from Baikonur on a Soyuz rocket. It's the third launch of OneWeb satellites - they plan to have 650 in orbit The newly launched satellites were lifted to 280 miles above the Earth from a Russian-built Soyuz rocket - operated by French company Arianespace. The 34 satellites will now cruise slowly up to their operational orbit which is more than twice as far as their original orbit - 745 miles above the planet. Adrian Steckel, CEO of OneWeb, said the need for secure satellite internet services was more import now than ever due to coronavirus. 'In these unprecedented times following the global outbreak of COVID-19, people around the world find themselves trying to continue their lives and work online. 'High-quality connectivity is the lifeline to enabling people to work, continue their education, stay up to date on important healthcare information and stay meaningfully connected to one another. 'The crisis has demonstrated the imperative need for connectivity everywhere and has exposed urgent shortcomings in many organizations connectivity capabilities. 'Our satellite network is poised to fill in many of these critical gaps in the global communications infrastructure.' He said he hoped to be able to have the first commercial demonstrations of their remote broadband operation in early 2021. Achieving that goal could be difficult, rumours are floating about that the firm are considering seeking bankruptcy protection. According to Bloomberg the company are looking at various options due to difficulties of a cash crunch. OneWeb hopes to offer broadband internet from its satellite constellation to rural areas, maritime customers and aviation providers by the end of 2021 OneWeb now has 74 satellites in its constellation which will eventually orbit 745 miles above the Earth The company isn't just targeting rural broadband, it hopes to bring its broadband service to aviation and maritime industries who often operate from remote areas. OneWeb is one of the main competitors for Elon Musk's SpaceX which already has 300 satellites in orbit and will operate in a similar market once it is fully activated. SpaceX launched 60 more of its internet satellites into orbit on March 18 despite an engine failure shortly after liftoff on a recycled rocket flying a record five times. This is the sixth batch of Starlinks that SpaceX has launched in under a year. Each compact, flat-panel satellite weighs just 575 pounds (260 kilograms). Musk envisions thousands of Starlinks providing affordable, broadband internet service to virtually every corner of the globe - a concern for astronomers. Astronomers fear the night will be ruined by constellations of these relatively low-orbiting satellites. SpaceX is experimenting with dark paint and, sometime soon, satellite sunshades, sort of like patio umbrellas. Musk hopes to start selling Starlink broadband later this year. So far OneWeb has raised 2.6 billion to fund its network rollout which is being done as part of a contract with Arianespace operating out of Baikonur. They hope to have the whole 650 satellite constellation in place by the end of 2021. [March 23, 2020] Pearson Uses Global Reach to Provide Learning Tools, Expertise for those Affected by Pandemic LONDON, March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Pearson, the world's learning company, announced it is continuing to make an array of digital learning tools, services and resources available to students, educators and parents affected by COVID-19 school, college and university closures. The sudden upheaval of COVID-19 disruptions is pushing many into full time online teaching and learning for the first time. This urgent learning need is leading to increased usage of digital learning materials and online teacher training, with demand continuing to grow. To assist learners worldwide during this difficult time, Pearson is taking the following actions: For US K-12 Parents, Teachers and Schools Providing free online courseware, teaching platform and training for 100,000 students, for state-level partners of Connections Academy Sharing online learning expertise from Connections Academy through live webinars and digital learning to help K-12 parents and teachers make the most of online learning at home. This includes an email "hotline" staffed by expert Connections educators who can offer fast advice for teachers in need of instructional support. Due to an increased enrollment demand, Connections Academy, the full time online schools supported by Pearson, has reopened enrollment in many schools for the '19-'20 academic year. All schools are accepting students for the '20-'21 school year. For US, UK and Canada Higher Education Students and Educators Accelerating the launch of the new Pearson Advance program, which offers a catalog of short, online courses from leading experts and universities. Students needing to upskill and reskill quickly can earn credentials and "micro" Masters degrees, from many of the world's most renowned institutions in a fraction of the time and at a fraction of the cost. Providing access to Pearson's e-book library for the rest of the term at no additional cost for higher ed students in the US, UK and Canada who are already using Pearson courseware. who are already using Pearson courseware. Providing free access to the Aida Calculus app until June. Providing free on-demand webinars, office hours with Pearson digital learning experts and tip sheets for higher education faculty who need help transitioning to online courses. Providing course discounts for Pearson's Unbound, which offers pathways to high quality degree programs at lower costs. Unbound offers advice and academic guidance to help students match their existing learning to credits that enable transfer to their target school and provides online courses with transfer credit at affordable prices. For UK Schools and College Students For primary schools providing free subscriptions to ActiveLearn containing literacy and numeracy resources and also free access for parents, to Carol Vorderman's The Mahs Factor which is proven to improve numeracy. The Mahs Factor which is proven to improve numeracy. For secondary schools, providing free subscriptions to ActiveLearn including ebooks and courseware supporting key stage three and GCSE, A level and BTEC qualifications For focused career education programs, access to the Learning Hub which contains a range of short online courses For UK GCSE, A level and BTEC Qualifications Following the UK Government's announcement that examinations will be cancelled, Pearson will be working with Ofqual and the Department for Education to ensure that teachers are supported in meeting any requirements for teacher assessment, and will supporting teaching with high quality resources so that students keep learning for the rest of this academic year. For Adult Professionals: Even with the required closing of many Pearson VUE testing centers, we are evaluating local regulations around re-opening sites to address testing services for critical workers, such as health care personnel. These steps are in addition to resources that Pearson has been offering in affected areas since January at no-cost, including: Online courses and learning resources across multiple platforms, including websites, apps and WeChat to support China's 'no suspension of study' policy. These include Longman English, Pearson English , K12 online blended learning from International Connections Academy, Pearson STEM, and Pearson Edexcel. Across all of these offerings, more 700,000 students have taken advantage of this help. 'no suspension of study' policy. These include Longman English, , K12 online blended learning from International Connections Academy, Pearson STEM, and Pearson Edexcel. Across all of these offerings, more 700,000 students have taken advantage of this help. Online English language and test preparation courses in Australia for those wanting to take the Pearson Test of English Academic as part of their student visa requirements. for those wanting to take the Pearson Test of English Academic as part of their student visa requirements. Training for more than 24,000 Italian teachers in distance teaching and learning, along with a repository of teacher training materials on distance learning and teaching. In addition, Italian teachers and students can access Pearson's online platforms containing thousands of videos and interactive lessons. More than 500,000 online users have accessed this material. Courseware and guidance to support online learning in Brazil and Latin America and South Africa . and and . Courseware for primary, secondary and university students in key markets such as Turkey and the UAE, with plans to expand these offerings to Qatar . In addition, teachers have been taking advantage of training webinars and tools that offer best practices in digital learning. and the UAE, with plans to expand these offerings to . In addition, teachers have been taking advantage of training webinars and tools that offer best practices in digital learning. Digital version of some of Canada's most widely used primary and secondary textbooks for students and teachers in that country. "Hundreds of millions of students around the world are facing the most significant disruption to education in modern history. It's more important than ever that learning continues, even if it can't happen in person," said John Fallon, CEO of Pearson. "Learners, teachers and families are at the heart of everything Pearson does. If we band together, we can all do our part to keep learning going and ease the burden of this unprecedented time." Ensuring the world's education systems continue to operate online is an important step in helping learners cope with the toll of this pandemic. A recent Pearson poll conducted of adults in the US and UK shows that nearly 80% of learners and parents in the US and 74% in the UK support the closure of schools and universities to slow the virus. But 60% of people in both countries also say that having children learning at home is going to be a significant difficulty for their family and two-thirds are concerned about their children falling behind. More information about these resources can be found at www.Pearson.com. Additional learning tools to support educators, students and parents are being added daily. About Pearson We are the world's learning company with more than 22,500 employees operating in 70 countries. We provide content, assessment and digital services to learners, educational institutions, employers, governments and other partners globally. We are committed to helping equip learners with the skills they need to enhance their employability prospects and to succeed in the changing world of work. We believe that wherever learning flourishes so do people. For more information, visit www.pearson.com . Pearson's Connections Academy courseware and platform offer is made possible with the help of partners who have stepped up to help schools at a time of need. Contact: Scott Overland, (202) 909-4520 [email protected] View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pearson-uses-global-reach-to-provide-learning-tools-expertise-for-those-affected-by-pandemic-301027941.html SOURCE Pearson [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] DMK president M K Stalin in a letter to Speaker P Dhanapal said the session was being held contravening the government's campaign of social distancing to combat the spread of coronavirus. (PTI) Chennai: Tamil Nadu's main opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and its allies including the Congress on Monday said they will boycott the ongoing Assembly session considering people's safety. They also announced to facilitate the stay of MLAs in their respective constituencies in view of the coronavirus scare in the state. Leader of Opposition and DMK president M K Stalin in a letter to Speaker P Dhanapal said the session was being held contravening the government's campaign of social distancing to combat the spread of coronavirus. The decision to boycott was taken considering people's safety and considering public good to facilitate MLAs to be in their respective constituencies who are in fear of the virus, the top Dravidian party leader said. "I believe the DMK's boycott move will help in attracting the attention of the government towards preventive steps," he said. DMK whip R Sakkarapani, Congress legislature party leader K R Ramasamy and IUML MLA K A M Muhammed Abbubacker told reporters at the Secretariat that their parties will boycott the session scheduled till March 31. They said the decision was taken after their repeated pleas to the government to defer the proceedings went unheeded. Sakkarapani said the move was amid the scare of spread of coronavirus in Tamil Nadu when more people were approaching hospitals in several towns. Tamil Nadu Health Minister C Vijayabaskar on Monday said that three new positive cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the state, taking the total number of cases in Tamil Nadu to 12. "Three new COVID-19 positive cases in Tamil Nadu - 25-year-old who had returned from London, 48-year-old had returned from London and 54-year-old resident of Anna Nagar," Vijayabaskar said. "All three are in isolation and treatment," added Vijayabaskar. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami on Monday said that restrictions under Section 144 of the CrPC will be imposed in the state till March 31 in the wake of surging cases of COVID-19 in the country. The order will come into effect from March 24 at 6 pm. However, the shops of essential products such as milk, vegetable and grocery will remain open and exempt from the order. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New DNA evidence has led to the arrest of a 57-year-old man 35 years after the murder of a young mother in Florida. Cold-case investigators detained Daniel Wells in connection with the killing of 23-year-old Tonya McKinley in Pensacola. Mr Wells was arrested after DNA was found on a cigarette thrown from a car which matched a sample obtained from the crime scene. Ms McKinley was found in the early morning of New Year's Day 1985, strangled and sexually assaulted. Police said Ms McKinley's body was discovered "discarded on the side of a road". Her 18-month-old baby was left without a mother as a result of the murder. Police had made no arrests in relation to the crime before Mr Wells was detained. "Despite having a good bit of physical evidence and dozens of interviews, over time the trail went cold," Pensacola police said. "It seems that every couple of years a new lead would pop up and we would drop everything to run it down. "We did this time and time again. In the meantime, a baby boy grew up without a mother, parents buried their daughter without knowing justice and a killer was walking around free." New advances in technology allowed the police to compare DNA from a cigarette the police surreptitiously acquired from Mr Wells. The DNA matched a sample from the crime scene and the police made the arrest. Police used open-source genealogy databases to compare the DNA from the scene. It led to a family tree of people who were investigated and police then identified Mr Wells as the leading suspect. They tailed him and picked up a cigarette he discarded while driving, leading to a DNA match. Mr Wells is facing charges of first-degree murder and first-degree sexual battery. Mr McKinley's son, Timothy Davidson Jr, who was just a baby at the time of his mother's murder, spoke about the sadness of growing up without her. "My mom, she never got to raise me, never got to be a part of my life," Mr Davidson said. Ms McKinley's sister, Renee McCall (62), said: "I didn't really know if this [arrest] would ever happen. "I didn't really think this would happen in my lifetime, not after 35 years." Taiwan adds 16 new COVID-19 cases, bringing total to 169 (update) ROC Central News Agency 03/22/2020 05:06 PM Taipei, March 22 (CNA) A total of 16 new coronavirus cases, 13 of which originated overseas, were confirmed in Taiwan on Sunday, bringing the total number to 169 since the outbreak began, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said. Among the new patients, three are believed to have contracted the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) locally, said Health Minister Chen Shih-chung (), who heads the CECC. One of the three, a woman in her 20s, is a nurse at a nursing home. So far, 81 doctors, nurses and residents at the nursing home have been tested for COVID-19, and all have tested negative, according to Chen. Health authorities are now moving five of the 53 patients to a nearby hospital while the rest of the 48 will be sent to two quarantine locations to prevent a further spread of the disease, said Deputy Health Minister Hsueh Jui-yuan (). According to the CECC, the nurse (case 156) has no recent overseas travel history and developed a fever, dizziness and general weakness on March 12. She visited a nearby clinic on March 16 but the medication she received did not alleviate her symptoms and she sought further care at a hospital on March 20. Authorities have identified another 14 people who had contact with her before her diagnosis and is closely monitoring their conditions, according to the CECC. Chen said the CECC has not yet been able to pinpoint the origin of the woman's infection, but he believed the nursing home infection was "manageable" as its doctors, nurses and residents have all tested negative for COVID-19 and the home has been closed and disinfected. The two other cases in which the disease was contracted locally (cases 168 and 169) are a German in his 30s and an Austrian in her 30s who are believed to have been infected with the coronavirus from a previous confirmed case (case 124). Both of them were quarantined at home before they tested positive for COVID-19. Meanwhile, of the 13 new imported cases, two of them (cases 161 and 162) were members of a tour group that visited Egypt from March 3 to 12. They two developed symptoms during home quarantines on March 20. These latest additions mean eight members of the tour group and a family member of one of the eight, have so far tested positive for COVID-19. Health authorities are monitoring the health of people they came in contact with on the airplane and after returning to Taiwan, the CECC said. The remaining imported cases showed symptoms of infection between March 7 and March 20 during and after traveling to the U.S., Egypt, Germany, France, Italy, the U.K., Denmark, New Zealand and the Philippines. As of Sunday, 133 of the 169 confirmed cases in Taiwan have been classified as imported, the CECC said. Globally, over 297,207 COVID-19 cases and at least 12,790 deaths had been reported in 165 countries/territories worldwide, according to the CECC. Currently, 28 of the 169 coronavirus patients in Taiwan have been released from quarantine, while two patients have died. The others are still in negative pressure rooms in hospitals but are all in a relatively stable condition, according to the CECC. (By Chen Wei-ting and Joseph Yeh) Enditem/ls NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PICKERING, ON / ACCESSWIRE / March 23, 2020 / Renforth Resources Inc. (CSE:RFR)(OTC Pink:RFHRF)(WKN:A2H9TN) ("Renforth" or the "Company") is pleased to offer shareholders the following update on our activities, which are "business as usual" in this COVID-19 environment. New Alger Our Winter 2020 drill program at New Alger concluded with 2052m drilled in 4 holes as follows; REN-20-38 - previously press released on Feb. 25th, drilled to 561m at -45. Results include 2.87 g/t Au over 4.6m in the #3 vein, within this interval results include 4.56 g/t Au over 2.4m and within that interval 8.75 g/t Au over 0.75m REN-20-39 - drilled to 492m at -45 REN-20-40a - drilled to 30m before the hole shallowed unacceptably due to blocky ground REN-20-40 - drilled to 501m at -60 REN-20-41 - drilled to 468m at -55 Each of these drill holes intersected the mine area, and other veins within Piche volcanics on the south side of the Cadillac Break at New Alger. These holes intersected the individual veins, generally speaking, deeper than most of the prior drilling at New Alger. Samples have been submitted for assays, Renforth will be releasing results as soon as available. In addition to this, our focus has turned to Spring at New Alger. Typically, we can expect to be in the field without snow by the end of April. At this time our planning includes blasting for a mini bulk sample from the Discovery Veins, in areas which gives us an average grade of 1 g/t Au on surface. In addition to planning this operation it is expected we will be doing additional prospecting in the area of the Discovery veins, which we have stripped for ~275m of ~500m of known strike, in order to see if we can further extend the strike and/or obtain additional samples within the known extent. Additionally, our recent resampling and metallic screen work have both highlighted that we need to do additional sampling at New Alger in general due to the presence of coarse gold, and specifically the Discovery veins, as we identify the alteration, which can be subtle, associated with the presence of gold. Renforth is funded to do this work and anticipates the timeframe of the field work portion is perhaps late April, then May into June. Parbec Renforth is currently planning Metallic Screen work at Parbec, details of that program will be announced upon the completion of planning. This program is imminent. Nixon-Bartleman Renforth is planning a field program for Nixon-Bartleman, expect to take place in June of the year. Renforth has not worked this wholly owned surface gold asset, located west of Timmins, ON, in several years. This property has been extensively explored by previous owners, with no consolidation of information. In addition, Renforth's sole exploration program on this property resulted in successful sampling for gold on surface and the extension of the known mineralized strike from 200m to ~450m with results which included a cut channel returning 13 g/t Au over 0.6m, within which 0.3m returned 22.1 g/t Au in sample #1409321 (press release Sept. 10, 2014). Upon completion of the planning for this program details will be announced, Renforth expects this will be June/July work and is funded to carry out this work. Malartic West Renforth intends to use the summer exploration season in order to carry out further work on our discovery of a copper/silver mineralized system at Malartic West, located and sampled over 175m within the Pontiac Sediments south of the Cadillac Break. Additional details of planning will be released as available. Generally speaking we are using our time while waiting for assay results in order to plan spring/summer field work. Our team is respecting COVID-19 guidelines with each team member practicing social distancing and working remotely. When it is time to get out in the field Renforth is confident that we can maintain best practices in terms of both our technical work and our commitment to everyone's health and safety. Technical information in this press release was reviewed and approved by Francis R. Newton P.Geo (OGQ # 2129), a "Qualified Person" pursuant to NI 43-101. For further information please contact: Renforth Resources Inc. Nicole Brewster President and Chief Executive Officer T:416-818-1393 E: nicole@renforthresources.com #269 - 1099 Kingston Road, Pickering ON L1V 1B5 ABOUT RENFORTH Renforth Resources Inc. is a Toronto-based gold exploration company with five wholly owned surface gold bearing properties located in the Provinces of Quebec and Ontario, Canada. In Quebec Renforth holds the New Alger and Parbec properties, in the Cadillac and Malartic gold camps respectively, with gold present at surface and to some depth, located on the Cadillac Break. In both instances' additional gold bearing structures, other than the Cadillac Break, have been found on each property and require additional exploration. Renforth also holds Malartic West, contiguous to the western boundary of the Canadian Malartic Mine property, located in the Pontiac Sediments, this property is gold bearing and was the recent site of a copper discovery. In addition to this Renforth has optioned the wholly owned Denain-Pershing gold bearing property, located near Louvicourt, Quebec, to O3 Mining Inc. In Ontario Renforth holds the Nixon-Bartleman surface gold occurrence west of Timmins Ontario, drilled, channeled and sampled over 500m - this historic property also requires additional exploration to define the extent of the mineralization. No securities regulatory authority has approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. Forward Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements and information under applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward looking. Forward-looking statements are frequently identified by such words as "may', "will', "plan', "expect', "believe', "anticipate', "estimate', "intend' and similar words referring to future events and results. Such statements and information are based on the current opinions and expectations of management. All forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and subject to a variety of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, fluctuating commodity prices, the risks of obtaining necessary approvals, licenses and permits and the availability of financing, as described in more detail in the Company's securities filings available at www.sedar.com. Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and the reader is cautioned against placing undue reliance thereon. Forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is provided and the Company assumes no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements except as required by applicable law. SOURCE: Renforth Resources Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/582131/Renforth-Completes-New-Alger-Drill-Program-Assays-Pending Republican Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska. Jim Bourg-Pool/Getty Images Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Rep. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin in a letter to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey urged that the Chinese government should be banned from the platform. The two Republicans stressed that the Chinese government was using the social media platform to "disseminate propaganda" amid the coronavirus pandemic. "While the coronavirus pandemic is afflicting families, governments, and markets around the world, the Chinese Communist Party is waging a massive propaganda campaign to rewrite the history of COVID-19 and whitewash the Party's lies to the Chinese people and the world," the GOP senators said. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. A pair of GOP lawmakers urged Twitter to ban scores of Chinese government accounts that attempt to "spread propaganda and whitewash" evidence suggesting China downplayed and covered-up early indications of the coronavirus's impact. Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Rep. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin in a letter to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey stressed that the Chinese government was using the platform to "disseminate propaganda" amid the coronavirus pandemic. Both pointed to the Communist Party of China's (CCP) obfuscation over the origins of the coronavirus in recent weeks, when Chinese senior officials alleged without evidence that the US Army "brought" the virus to their country. "We believe this behavior more than warrants their removal from the platform," the Sasse and Gallagher said in the letter. "Additionally, given the humanitarian importance of free and open access to the internet, we believe that access to social media platforms should be denied to government officials from countries that prohibit their own populations from accessing this very content." Similar to other authoritarian countries like Iran, Twitter is officially blocked in China. In 2019, Twitter removed nearly 4,800 accounts, over 1,600 of which sent out 2 million tweets that frequently shared news content "with an angle that benefited the diplomatic and geostrategic views of the Iranian state." Story continues Chinese President Xi Jingping and President Donald Trump. Getty Images / Thomas Peter-Pool Despite the official ban, state-influenced media organizations like Xinhua, as well as Chinese government officials, have accounts on the social media platform. "When did patient zero begin in US? How many people are infected? What are the names of the hospitals? It might be US Army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian tweeted on March 12. "Be transparent! Make public your data! US owe us an explanation." The novel coronavirus is widely believed to have originated from wild animals, with early cases in December indicating it may have spread from a wildlife market in Wuhan, China. "While the coronavirus pandemic is afflicting families, governments, and markets around the world, the Chinese Communist Party is waging a massive propaganda campaign to rewrite the history of COVID-19 and whitewash the Party's lies to the Chinese people and the world," the Republicans said. The Republican letter comes days after a party colleague, Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana, was blocked on Twitter by Zhao. Neither Banks nor Zhao previously tweeted to each other; however, the Republican has been critical of the CCP for targeting "politicians that are generally critical of China," the lawmaker previously said to Insider. Some Republican lawmakers and personalities have also suggested that the Chinese government could have manufactured the disease. Republicans like longtime China-hawk Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas pointed to the proximity of the Wuhan wildlife markets to a Chinese "superlaboratory" and questioned whether the coronavirus may have been developed there. Cotton has yet to provide evidence of the suggestion, but referenced the Chinese government's indisputable sequence of suppressing information and downplaying the outbreak in its early stages, and alleged it was "lying about it from the very beginning." Chinese officials have been accused of lowering the number of positive cases and tamping down on reports since December, prior to when the virus's spread was formally acknowledged by the government. The lack of transparency and action has been scrutinized in the US, where lawmakers claim that the information may have allowed the country to better prepare for the pandemic. The hawkish sentiment towards the CCP comes as the White House is pushing talking points that accuse Beijing of a "cover-up," according to a US State Department cable and two officials cited in a Daily Beast report. "The [CCP] is waging a propaganda campaign to desperately try to shift responsibility for the global pandemic to the United States. This effort is futile," the cable said, according to The Daily Beast. "Thanks to the cover-up, Chinese and international experts missed a critical window to contain the outbreak within China and stop its global spread. Saving lives is more important than saving face." Business Insider The Federal Government says it is hoping for the best in its efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic. The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, said this at a press conference in Abuja today. The minister said the government was prepared for the worst. According to him: The truth is that things may yet get worse than it is now, hence the need for all hands to be on deck. He said tougher decisions might yet be on the way to contain the disease, but whatever decision is taken will be in the best interest of Nigerians. We want to appeal to Nigerians to continue to support the efforts of the government at all levels to defeat this coronavirus. The minister said; those who will not cooperate by submitting to the authorities, as required, the government will use all lawful means at its disposal to trace and bring them in. Having now shut our gateway airports, the biggest assignment for us is contact tracing to find all those who may have come into contact with those who have the disease. Post Views: 4 We acknowledge the Sovereignty of the First Nations Peoples. CPA Central Committee Statement The COVID-19 Pandemic Covid-19 is spreading throughout much of the world, largely as a consequence of the failure of capitalism to solve any crisis. The Communist Party of Australia recognises the significant contribution made by health workers at the frontline of this developing pandemic and stands in solidarity with them, along with working class victims, denied their basic human rights, and all people fighting for universal access to lifes needs. Whilst the structural contradictions of capitalism require revolutionary transformation of society into one of ensuring the health and safety of the global population, it is necessary to combat this current crisis in ways immediately available to us. Governments across Australia have been too slow to act, relying on market forces, including manipulating the stock market to stop the haemorrhaging of the economy, instead of investing to stop the health impacts of the latest pandemic. Reforming those aspects of the health care sector driven by the profit motive. Immediate steps can be made to eliminate the waste, speculation and commodification of private health care through the nationalisation of the entire sector. Health care is a right and the Communist Party calls upon parliament to legislate universal access to all our medical requirements. Meanwhile, the economic impact of the virus is already hitting Australian workers and communities. We can benefit from the experience of China in dealing with the Coronavirus involving drastic social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus. This has shown to be an effective approach with the number of new cases reducing daily. It would be wise to look to their model and consult them for advice. The duty of the government in this scenario is three-fold: protection of the people from the COVID-19 virus; responsibility for providing the necessary treatment for those who are hit by the virus; and protection of the people from the economic impact of the virus. We strongly believe that a two-week shut-down must be implemented now alongside the following: Governments, state and federal must implement a sound containment policy. The health and safety of the people must be the top priority in implementing such a policy, especially those most vulnerable. Ensuring hoarding of essential items, price gouging and other deliberate profiteering must be minimised to the extent possible through legislative change. Continuously rewarding greed must be abolished now. The government must ensure a public educational outreach about the disease using electronic and print media to subdue the current confusion that has come with the panic and media overload. Unions must be at the forefront of working-class responses to this latest failure and crisis. It is essential that workers at the frontline such as health care workers be involved in the decision-making processes through their unions. Legislating for workers ability to strike against unfair employer practices during this period is essential to minimising abuses, exploitation and further employment insecurity and attacks on wages and conditions. Workers must not pay for capitalisms crises. Many people are already feeling the brunt of the pandemic losing jobs or having their hours reduced resulting in lost income. We demand the government abolish waiting periods for unemployment benefits. We support the demand for an increase of $95 to Newstart as an immediate measure to reduce the pain experienced by working class people. We demand that no worker is disadvantaged as a consequence of this crisis made worse by government inaction. The CPA endorses the ACTU demand for special paid leave for all workers in case of quarantine or lock down, including casual and labour hire workers. The governments stimulus package with a one-off payment to welfare recipients falls short of the assistance required, and does nothing but provide a band-aid instead of meaningful distribution of wealth protecting the vulnerable and minimising community spread. Governments must also ensure people are not forced into homelessness through an inability to pay mortgages or rent. Banks must be forced to suspend mortgage/rent payments. Emergency housing must become a top government priority, programs such as these will not only ensure a persons right to housing, but also significantly increase employment and affordable housing. Testing and treatment of the virus must be universally accessible and free. Governments need to redirect funds towards health care centres and hospitals as a top priority. Bulk-billing by doctors and pathologists should be compulsory and the government must temporarily convert private hospitals for public use as long as the crisis lasts. Employers and in this instance the government are required to provide a heathy and safe workplace. Workers and workplace health and safety is a crucial issue that workers need to be consulted about and new protections put in place to protect workers and the public. This is a key industrial issue across all industries. This requires the immediate development of new safety practices, supply of resources and workers compensation recognition. The Australian government also has a global role. Currently there are countries under sanctions limiting access to medical supplies, including Cuba, Syria, Iran, Venezuela, and the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK). In light of the global pandemic Australia must play its role to end these criminal blockades and allow these countries to import the much-needed supplies. We salute the efforts and solidarity of Cuban, Chinese and Venezuelan doctors and other health professionals who despite the US economic sanctions are working in Italy helping the people with care and medicines such as Cubas Interferon 2b to overcome the current pandemic. The government appears to have no logistical planning in place to develop the capacity required to deal with the crisis confronting the health system in Australia. Without the critical planning for emergency beds, staffing, face masks and respirators in place to treat the potentially thousands of critically ill patients we risk having to make choices like in Italy as to who will live or die. Who will confront the panic and guarantee supplies and support to people in the community stranded and isolated when sent home without an income? The Communist Party of Australia will work with all organisations seeking to ensure that the working class does not pay for the crises being inflicted upon us all as a result of capitalist exploitation of the people and nature to secure riches for the ruling class. We will work with all organisations nationally and internationally who will defend universal access to lifes needs including best available health care to protect us against these escalating global crises. WORKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE! Communist Party of Australia, CPA Central Committee 16th March 2020 Tweet Next article Gentrification by stealth Back to index page The spread of the COVID-19 virus has dominated Western relations with China in recent weeks. The epidemic appears to be ebbing in the Peoples Republic of China, though the costly social and economic impacts will linger. A more serious source of conflict between the U.S. and the PRC is about to move to the fore: Taiwan. After the devastating defeat of the traditional ruling Kuomintang in the recent presidential election, the party chose a new chairman, Johnny Chiang, who dropped the KMTs support for the 1992 consensus that both Beijing and Taipei belonged to one country. He called on China to accept the islands separate political identity. Beijing is more likely to increase its pressure on Taiwan. At the same time, the U.S. risks becoming ever more entangled in the controversy, with congressional passage of the Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI) Act. The legislation urges the president to support Taipei with arms transfers and official visits and to consult with Congress on strengthening bilateral economic ties. The bill also directs the administration to back Taiwans participation in international organizations and to encourage other countries to enhance their ties with what only 14 countries (plus the Vatican) now recognize as the Republic of China (ROC). Relations between the America and China, the worlds two most important countries, are going badly. One of the greatest challenges, almost certainly more dangerous than the issue of trade, that has dominated President Trumps approach to the PRC is the status of Taiwan. Washington should be wary of adding new political or military commitments to Taiwan. Instead, the U.S. should simultaneously advance economic and political objectives by negotiating a free-trade agreement (FTA) with Taipei. Taiwan was taken as a spoil of war by Japan in 1895. It was returned to China only after Tokyos defeat in 1945. The island, then known as Formosa, became the last redoubt for ROC president Chiang Kai-shek when he retreated from the mainland after the triumph of Mao Zedong and the Chinese Communist Party in 1949. Story continues Throughout the Cold War, the PRC and the ROC each claimed to be the only legitimate government of China. Maos cadres had the better practical case, since they controlled the mainland behemoth. Chiang had the stronger international backing, since the U.S. was in his corner, along with many of Americas allies. The ROC also held the United Nations membership and the Security Council seat. As the Cold War proceeded, however, Taipei found that it was disposable. In 1972, President Nixon famously flew to Beijing and met Mao. Relations warmed as Washington allowed the PRC to supplant Taiwan at the U.N. President Carter completed the process, officially recognizing Communist China as the one legitimate Chinese government, on January 1, 1979. Congress then approved the Taiwan Relations Act, which mandated a form of unofficial official relations, though Washington agreed to the PRCs demand that the U.S. acknowledge that there was only one China, meaning the government in Beijing. Americas defection carried with it many other nations. Since then the mainlands explosive economic growth has enabled the PRC to offer aid and trade to help peel away other governments that recognized the ROC. However, in addition to the 15 countries (counting the Vatican) that currently recognize the ROC, 57 others, including the United States, maintain various forms of semi-official representation offices. For years Beijing appeared to accept this relational ambiguity while pressing for some form of reunification under the guise of one country, two systems. However, the CCP leadership has grown less patient and more insistent while the Taiwanese population has become more hostile and less quiescent. The PRC presumed that increasing economic ties would ultimately lead to unity; the example of Hong Kong was supposed to satisfy the concerns of the Taiwanese to maintain their political autonomy. However, that increased investment and trade have become more controversial in Taiwan precisely because they increase entanglement with the PRC, while the increasing CCP encroachments on Hong Kongs special status have destroyed any popular faith in the one country, two systems formula. Indeed, the crackdown in Hong Kong rescued the reelection campaign of Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen. She seemed doomed by an economic slowdown, but opposition Kuomintang Party candidate Han Guo-yu was friendly to China. Given the dangerous tensions between Taiwan and the PRC, Hans stance originally was seen as an advantage. Once Beijing demonstrated that autonomy depended on the CCPs largely absent goodwill, Tsai became the defender of Taiwanese democracy and left Han far behind, especially among the young, who have an ever-diminishing identification with the mainland. Although a direct Chinese attack on the island seems unlikely the PRCs military is improving, but such an operation probably remains beyond its ability it could employ other coercive measures. The U.S. could not easily justify intervening in a conflict. If it did intervene, it would almost certainly do so alone, without any of its allies, which would be unlikely to risk making Beijing a permanent enemy. However, Chinese aggression would likely trigger severe economic penalties from Asian and European states, which could not simply acquiesce to Chinese aggression. The best policy today is to minimize public conflict by empowering Taiwan. A U.S.Taiwan FTA would increase would be good for both parties, increasing commerce between them. Taiwan already is one of the worlds freest economies; a free-trade agreement would encourage further liberalization in both countries. Taiwan long has been an important trading partner for Americans. These days it ranks in the top dozen. Total trade for the first eight months of last year was almost $55.8 billion. That was an increase of about 16 percent over the previous year. In 2018 (full year), the total of goods and services was almost $94.5 billion ($40.3 billion exports, $54.2 billion imports). Merchandise trade totaled $76.3 billion ($30.6 exports and $45.8 imports). That was a substantial increase over preceding years $68.2 billion in 2017, $65.2 billion in 2016, and $66.7 billion in 2015. Americas top export goods are oil, gasoline and other fuels, machinery, civilian aircraft and parts, computer chips, autos, scrap iron and steel, machine parts, soybeans, and medical technology. Top export services are intellectual property, transportation, and travel. Top import goods are computers, computer parts, computer chips, cell phones and equipment, screws and other fasteners, unrecorded audio media, auto parts, valued added to returned imports, exercise equipment, and windshield wipers and electric-light parts. Top import services are transportation, travel, and research and development. Foreign direct investment also runs both ways. In 2017, the flow from the U.S. to Taiwan was $17.0 billion. Taiwan invested $8.1 billion in America. Although that figure is modest in absolute terms, Taiwan is the 15th-largest investor in the U.S. Given the extensive trade and relatively low existing tariffs, non-tariff barriers deserve special attention. Intellectual-property protection is one important concern. Although the economic benefits of an FTA likely would be modest, the gains essentially are free money waiting to be picked up. Unsurprisingly, the American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei (AmCham) supports such an agreement. More important, Taiwanese concern over Chinese pressure makes Taipei likely to strike a deal. President Tsai said, If we can have a breakthrough in trade with the U.S., this will be very helpful in terms of encouraging many other trading partners to do the same. Last June, Taiwans chief trade negotiator and minister without portfolio Deng Chen-chung said that Taipei will always be ready to forge an FTA. He urged talks without preconditions, to maximize flexibility and space. One stumbling block in the past has been Taiwans ban on American beef and pork, treated with ractopamine, a drug that results in leaner meat. AmCham has advocated that Taipei make an all-out effort to demonstrate to the U.S. that Taiwan would be a highly appropriate candidate for a bilateral trade agreement. That means eliminating any existing irritants and demonstrating Taiwans deep commitment to international standards, respect for sound scientific evidence, and dedication to a fair and open international trading system. In early February the Heritage Foundations Riley Walters noted that an effort by the new Taiwanese government and Legislative Yuan to address [this issue] would go a long way to promoting the opening of FTA talks. A new trade agreement would have other economic benefits. The PRCs campaign against Taiwan includes efforts to make the island more dependent on Beijing. Walters has pointed to new Chinese incentives for Taiwanese investment in Chinas fifth-generation (5G) telecommunications development, high-tech research and development, and other sectors, such as tourism, finance, and agriculture. An FTA would expand Taiwans alternatives and options as their nations economic embrace of China continues to tighten naturally as a result of language, culture, and geography. Taiwan could reduce its reliance on the Chinese as they increase their political influence in Taiwan, primarily using economic actors, President Tsai said. Moreover, PRC obstruction made it difficult for Taipei to negotiate greater economic integration with its neighbors. More than a decade ago Nicholas R. Lardy and Daniel H. Rosen of the Institute of International Relations contended that a U.S.Taiwan FTA might help overcome this reluctance. Even if it did not, the benefits of a bilateral FTA would help Taipei keep pace as its neighbors reached agreements among themselves. Such a pact would offer political as well as economic benefits, solidifying Taiwans international presence and tightening its international integration. Washington has used NAFTA and agreements with South Korea, Australia, and several Latin American nations to draw its partners closer. Taiwan s prosperity has helped it preserve its separate identity even as the PRC has grown dramatically; a free-trade agreement would offer Taipei a small boost. National security and foreign policy considerations should argue in favor of arrangements that further sustain Taiwans economic welfare, Lardy and Rosen have noted. An FTA would solidify Taipeis international presence, tighten its international integration, and improve its economic prospects. Increased prosperity as a result of an FTA with the United States would aid Taiwans efforts to retain its current recognitions. Beijing has been pressing hard to flip more of the few countries that still recognize Taipei both Kiribati and the Solomon Islands flipped last fall. The Trump administration wants to punish such countries, which have only done what America did four decades ago. A new trade agreement would be a better alternative. An FTA would improve Taiwans possibility of entering international economic organizations on an ad hoc basis. It will be harder for Beijing to demand Taiwans exclusion from international agencies if Taipei remains a significant economic power, prosperous and profitable. This helps Taiwan preserve space in the international system. A trade agreement would also improve Taipeis ability to deter the PRC militarily through increased defense investment, buttressed by continued U.S. weapons sales, despite Beijings very loud displeasure. A Taiwan made more prosperous through a trade deal would be better able to protect itself. Taipei doesnt have to defeat the PRC. It only needs to make the price of a Beijing victory unacceptably high. Would a president who dislikes trade move forward? Proponents should stress the political and security benefits. After all, he has flunked the trade issue. He focuses on the trade deficit, which is an irrelevant accounting fiction. He denounced good arrangements, NAFTA and the Korean Free Trade Agreement, made marginal (and largely negative) changes to them, and then sold them as historic triumphs. Worse, he killed the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which was economically beneficial and designed to achieve the political goal of diminishing Chinas economic reach in Asia Pacific. Trump might fear that moving forward with Taiwan could interfere with completion of his trade-war negotiations with Beijing round two is planned but not certain of success. On the other hand, he might see dual negotiations as an opportunity to press the PRC at a time of relative weakness, as it emerges from the coronavirus crisis. Moreover, the president has shown an interest in Taiwan, despite sometimes retreating when pushed by Beijing. He recently approved a new tranche of arms sales to Taipei. He should see how a trade agreement would expand American ties with Taipei. And so long as even the PRC acknowledges that Taiwan is a separate system even if not, in Beijings view, a separate country, then the Taiwanese have a right to make their own economic arrangements with the U.S., as has Hong Kong. Getting the president on board for Taiwan might help spur his or a future administration to propose additional bilateral FTAs in Asia. That could help make up for the loss of the TPP. Indeed, one or more FTAs might help revive the TPP, which would have improved access for U.S. products throughout Asia while strengthening the regions economic ties with America. Perhaps that pact, already implemented by its other adherents, could be rebranded and the president convinced that the new iteration was his idea. Despite the virulent partisanship on Capitol Hill, a Taiwan free-trade agreement probably would pass. Although Republicans traditionally have backed Taiwan more strongly and Democrats less so, China has few friends in Congress these days. Congress has approved resolutions reaffirming the Taiwan Relations Act, on its 40th anniversary; the Taiwan Travel Act, which allows high-level official visits both ways; and the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act, which reaffirms the relationship with Taiwan. Last year the House also approved the Taiwan Assurance Act, which reinforces U.S. commitment to Taiwan, affirms Taiwans strategic importance, and urges continued military sales to it. Both chambers also approved the TAIPEI Act, though they have yet to resolve their differences. The TAIPEI Act provides for administration consultation with Congress over economic ties between the two governments. Moreover, trade with Taiwan is on individual members minds. Last year Senator Cory Gardner (R., Col.) and Representative Ted Yoho (R., Fla.) cited trade when welcoming President Tsai to Hawaii. In December, 161 members of Congress sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, urging him to open negotiations with Taiwan. They argued: As the trade and investment relationship with Taiwan already supports an estimated 373,000 U.S. jobs, working toward the negotiation of a high-standard and comprehensive U.S.Taiwan bilateral trade agreement would further enhance our shared goal of enhancing the global competitiveness of U.S. industries while spurring American job creation. Perhaps anticipating objections from the usual bipartisan protectionists, the members emphasized the potential for expanding markets for U.S. exports, including food, an emphasis that should appeal to President Trump, since he is concerned to win back support from farmers who suffered from his trade war with China. To the Left, which most worries about low-wage foreign competition, the writers noted that Taiwan already affords its workers a high standard of labor protection, consistent with International Labor Organization conventions, and is a leader in environmental protection in the region. All told, a free-trade agreement with Taiwan would be a winwin. Now is the time to move forward, with President Tsai coming off a resounding election victory and President Trump looking for policy successes as the November election approaches. The U.S. should be prepared for what turns out to be a powerful economic rebound once the COVID-19 virus subsides. More from National Review The Ministry of Information has spoken about the possibility of moving some newspapers to online only, and warned about the spread of false information regarding the coronavirus writes Al-Watan. Information Minister Imad Sarah has said that if the number of returns of official newspapers increases, the ministry will have to stop some print newspapers and just publish news online, or keep one newspaper in the market while publishing the rest electronically. He said that the subject is under study and that there would be a meeting about it held today. The Ministry of Information issued a decision to suspend work in affiliated entities where suspending work does not constitute an obstacle due to the risk of spreading the coronavirus. Sarah told Al-Watan that the aim of the decision was to, as much as possible, reduce the number of employees at the institutions affiliated with the ministry in a way that does not affect their work, as with other state institutions, in order to deal with the coronavirus. For example, there are directorates where if the number of employees is reduced it would not affect the ministrys work, including the Directorates of Research or Studies, in addition to the Directorates of Planning and Administrative Development and other directorates of an administrative nature. Sarah added that as for media personnel, they are like ambulance drivers or firefighterswe cannot give them up. He said that the media was currently providing awareness and thus they needed to be kept present, whether in newspapers or on TV, given that the media work is now supporting all ministries and educating all citizens. Sarah said that the awareness campaign was continuing without over-dramatization, and was transmitting the facts objectively. He added that they would work to bring a large amount of knowledge and awareness, putting the public interest above all considerations, given that a media that is unable to address its audience is sterileand they will not be like that, but rather would be at the forefront of keeping the public informed in the interest of the country. Sarah added that we now need a unified media discourse in order to keep it comprehensive, and not a separate discourse, pointing to the easing of public programs as much as possible, given that these programs cannot currently be broadcast because the trend is now to warn against gatherings. Sarah pointed out that some international channels broadcast repeat programs rather than live broadcasts, while Syrian TV has so far stayed up to date, new and publishing news. Sarah said that a meeting was held with private media several days ago in order to unify the media discourse, adding that in this meeting, we said that the aim was to serve the homeland. When the homeland is exposed to danger, everyone must gather around it, and there is no longer a space for journalistic exclusivethe concern is the safety and protection of citizens. With regards to social media, Sarah asked for it to join hands with the media, whether public or private, adding that the subject of the coronavirus was not a joke and that social media pages were affiliated with electronic crime and therefore fell under the Ministry of Interior. What was under the Ministry of Information was the media, and therefore not everyone who writes on these pages is a media figure accountable to the Cyber Crime Law. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. People across the US have come forward to call the anti-malaria drug a 'miracle' coronavirus treatment as New York state officials announce they will start trials with the medication on Tuesday. On Monday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the state will doctors will start trialing hydroxychloroquine this week after the number of coronavirus cases in New York City alone rose to 12,000, an increase of more than 3,000 overnight. The drug has not yet been proven as effective in battling the virus, but President Donald Trump drummed up excitement over it when he called it a 'game changer' last week. Dr Anthony Fauci, the White House coronavirus expert, said more work was needed before it could be heralded as a solution. But people like Rio Giardinieri, Margaret Novins and Lost star Daniel Dae Kim are praising the drug for saving their lives. Here are some of the infected patients who have credited the medication for the improvement in their condition. Rio Giardinieri: Florida People across the US, like Rio Giardinieri (left in the hospital and right, with his wife before falling ill) have come forward to call the anti-malaria drug a 'miracle' coronavirus treatment as New York state officials announce they will start trials with the medication on Tuesday Giardinieri, who is the vice-president of a company that manufactures cooking equipment for high-end restaurants in Los Angeles, said his doctors administered the drug as a last hope for his recovery. The 52-year-old believes he contracted the virus during a conference in New York and immediately fell ill with a fever for five days, back pain, headaches, a cough and fatigue. 'I was at the point where I was barely able to speak, and breathing was very challenging,' he told Fox 6. He went to Joe DiMaggio Hospital in South Florida, where doctors diagnosed him with pneumonia and coronavirus. Giardinieri explained that he was placed on oxygen but he was still unable to breath. After a week, doctors told him there was nothing else they could do and on Friday evening he said goodbye to his wife and three children. 'I really thought my end was there. I had been through nine days of solid pain and for me, the end was there, so I made some calls to say, in my own way, goodbye to my friends and family,' he told the news site. Giardinieri said a friend then told him about the anti-malaria drug. He immediately asked a doctor to administer the medication. He then explained what came next, including the moment when he felt like his heart was beating out of his chest. 'They had to come in, and get me calmed down, and take care of me,' Giardinieri said. But then the next morning he says he 'woke up like nothing ever happened' and feeling much better. The doctors said they don't believe Giardinieri's episode was a reaction to the anti-malaria drug but instead was likely the virus progressing in his body. 'To me, the drug saved my life,' Giardinieri said. Margaret Novins: New Jersey Meanwhile, in New Jersey, where there are more than 2,800 confirmed coronavirus cases and 27 deaths, Novins had a very similar experience. She told Forbes that she began feeling ill on March 8 and by March 15 she 'couldn't breathe'. Meanwhile, in New Jersey, Margaret Novins (left, in the hospital and right, before being hospitalized) had a very similar experience. She said she began feeling better just a day after her doctor gave her an anti-malaria drug Novins said she was initially diagnosed with pneumonia before getting more test results back on March 19 that showed she was positive for coronavirus. The 53-year-old said her doctors categorized her as 'critical' and she was given the hydroxychloroquine drug. When she woke up on Saturday her fever was gone, which is 'fantastic', she said. Novins told the news site that her doctor 'insisted the pharmacy get it to me the minute we got the positive'. 'It seemed like their go-to right away.' Jeff Hensley: North Carolina In North Carolina, Jeff Hensley, 57, was hospitalized over the weekend with labored breathing after he tested positive for COVID-19 The Harnett County man started feeling sick on March 4 while working in Hawaii. In North Carolina, Jeff Hensley (left and right, with his wife before hospitalization), 57, was hospitalized over the weekend with labored breathing after he tested positive for COVID-19, according to his wife. She says he's now being treated with an anti-malaria drug According to The News & Observer, Hensley had asked to be tested for the virus three times after returning to North Carolina on March 7. His wife told the news site that her husband was finally admitted and 'is on oxygen'. She said doctors are currently treating him with the anti-malaria drug. Though the drug is not FDA approved his wife says she's glad he's being treated with it. Lost star Daniel Dae Kim: Hawaii Taking to Instagram on Saturday evening the 51-year-old said he felt 'back to normal' and had not needed hospital treatment. Kim, who will remain in self-isolation until Monday, claimed to 'have no symptoms' other than congestion and believes that the antimalarial drug Hydroxychloroquine was the 'secret weapon' to his recovery. 'I am happy to report that my progress has continued and I practically feel back to normal. I am lucky enough to be in the 80 per cent of diagnosed cases that have not required hospitalization,' revealed the Hawaii-based actor in the nearly seven-minute video. Daniel Dae Kim took to Instagram on Saturday evening to give followers an update on his COVID-19 diagnosis, after coming forward with his diagnosis on Thursday Kim's personal physician prescribed him a 'drug cocktail' that consisted of the antiviral medicine TamiFlu, the antibiotic Azithromycin, a Glycopyrrolate inhaler, and the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine. Though all of the medicines worked in conjunction to aid in Kim's healing process, the actor stated that hydroxychloroquine was the 'secret weapon.' According to Kim, the drug 'has been used with great success in Korea in their fight against the coronavirus'. There are currently no approved treatments or preventive vaccines for COVID-19. Researchers are studying existing treatments and working on experimental ones, but most current patients receive only supportive care such as breathing assistance. Potential treatments like malaria drugs chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are in short supply as demand has surged with the rapid spread of the outbreak. Some states have already taken steps to limit prescriptions of the drugs to those who need them most. A French study, carried out on 20 patients earlier this month, is highly preliminary and was non-randomized. However, it did find that six patients who received a combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin had their viral load reduced faster than those on either hydroxychloroquine alone or neither of the drugs. On Monday, New York Gov Andrew Cuomo said the state will doctors will start trialing hydroxychloroquine this week after the number of coronavirus cases in New York City alone rose to 12,000, an increase of more than 3,000 overnight The drug has not yet been proven as effective in battling the virus, but President Donald Trump (pictured on Sunday) drummed up excitement over it when he called it a 'game changer' last week There are more than 41,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in the US with 576 deaths Hydroxychloroquine is a high-power drug used to treat malaria, which is a parasitic infection, as well as some non-infectious inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Azithromycin is a fairly common antibiotic that is used to treat a number of bacterial infections, such a strep throat. Neither drug has been previously indicated to treat a viral infection such as coronavirus, although there were anecdotal reports of hydroxychloroquine being used successfully to treat SARS, a close relative of coronavirus. Last week, the University of Minnesota put out a call for 1,500 people to sign up to a clinical trial to determine if hydroxychloroquine, a malaria medication, is effective in treating coronavirus. The trial is being led by Dr David Boulware. He has asked for 1,500 people who have been recently exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19 to come forward to take part. Last week, the University of Minnesota put out a call for 1,500 people to sign up to a clinical trial to determine if hydroxychloroquine, a malaria medication, is effective in treating coronavirus The trial is being led by Dr David Boulware. He has asked for 1,500 people who have been recently exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19 to come forward to take part. Researchers are seen in a lab at the University of Minnesota on Thursday Ideally, they want to treat healthcare workers to hopefully provide a prevention from them catching the virus. The test would involve drugs being sent overnight to 1,500 people who want to participate. Half would receive the malaria medication and half would receive a vitamin. On Friday, Boulware said the president had become 'very excited' about the trial but that more needs to be done before it can be rolled out. However if it works, it could stop people from becoming infected within three days of being exposed. The drug costs just $12 and has already been approved by the FDA for treating malaria and arthritis. They want to sign up people with high risk exposure to see if they can stop them from catching it. But there have already been reports of people in the US and in Nigeria either dying or overdosing from the drug. According experts Banner Health, a man died and his wife is in critical condition after taking chloroquine 'Health workers who have been exposed, or household contacts... high risk exposures and seeing if we can treat people in the first three days after their exposure to prevent them going on to develop the disease,' he said. But there have already been reports of people in the US and in Nigeria either dying or overdosing from the drug. In Phoenix, Arizona, Banner Health experts are emphasizing that chloroquine, a malaria medication, should not be ingested to treat or prevent this virus. 'Given the uncertainty around COVID-19, we understand that people are trying to find new ways to prevent or treat this virus, but self-medicating is not the way to do so,' said Dr Daniel Brooks, Banner Poison and Drug Information Center medical director. It was also reported on Monday that three people in Nigeria have been taken to local hospitals with chloroquine poisoning after taking the drug (file image) 'The last thing that we want right now is to inundate our emergency departments with patients who believe they found a vague and risky solution that could potentially jeopardize their health.' According to Banner Health experts, a man has already died and his wife is under critical care after the couple, both in their 60s, ingested chloroquine phosphate, an additive commonly used at aquariums to clean fish tanks. Within thirty minutes of ingestion, the couple experienced immediate effects requiring admittance to a nearby Banner Health hospital. It was also reported on Monday that three people in Nigeria have been taken to local hospitals with chloroquine poisoning after taking the drug. Health officials in Nigeria warned against using the anti-malaria medication to alleviate coronavirus symptoms after seeing a spike in its use, following its endorsement by Trump. There has reportedly been as much as a 400 per cent rise in price of the drug since the president's comments during a press conference on Saturday. According to officials in the Nigerian capital of Lagos three people were hospitalized in the city after taking the drug and accidentally overdosing. Huami's 2019 Chinese Sleep Whitepaper is based on the 10 million-level sleep health big data[3] and 100,000+ online survey questionnaires. It analyzed and studied the sleep characteristics of Chinese people in 2019 through multiple dimensions. It also calls on the public to pay attention to personal sleep health and develop good sleep habits. According to the report, the sleep habits of Chinese women are significantly better than Chinese men. Data shows that, on average, women sleep 21 minutes longer than men every night, fall asleep at 23:40, 23 minutes earlier than men, and wake up 2 minutes earlier than men. The average sleep score of women is 83.5 points, compared with 81 points for men. In terms of sleeping position, men prefer to lie flat, while women prefer to lie on the right side. Born for better Sleep, Amazfit ZenBuds Won Red Dot Award After its launch at CES2020, ZenBuds has got noticed by the industry. Amazfit ZenBuds help users relieve daily stress and the pressure or struggle to get a good sleep. Amazfit ZenBuds are smart, noise-blocking earbuds that are specially designed to help users relax and sleep. By reducing distracting noises and playing relaxing sounds, the earbuds let users block out the outside world and fall asleep more easily. The smart sleep monitoring function analyses the sleep quality each night, helping users form healthy sleeping habits. NOISE-BLOCKING IN-EAR DESIGN ZenBuds fit snugly into users ears with an ergonomic, sleep-assisting design that insulates users from outside noises, giving users a peaceful night's rest, or helping users to relax and concentrate during the day time. LIGHT & COMFORTABLE Secure Fit for the Whole Night, only 1.78g[4] per side and a comfortable and secure-fit design, so users can sleep and switch sides in comfort. SOOTHING SOUNDS Knowles Balanced Armature generates relaxing and sleep-inducing sounds, imitating different scenarios and natural environments, to help users release tension and get a better nights sleep. SMART INTERFERENCE AND REAL-TIME SLEEP MONITORING ZenBuds gather data on users heart rate, body position and movement, then compile it into a sleep quality report[5] which helps users better to know their sleep status, makes suggestions for a better sleep, helping users form healthy habits. AUTO-STOP VIA SLEEP DETECTION ZenBuds supports tap control, soothing Auto-off via Sleep Recognition. After users fall asleep, the earbuds automatically pause playing, so users can sleep soundly throughout the night. SOFT AND SKIN FRIENDLY Soft and skin-friendly silicone tips, ultra-comfortable to wear while sleeping. 8 to 12-HOUR BATTERY LIFE[6] The earbuds provide up to 12-hour[7] battery life on a single charge when sleep monitoring is running 3 hours after the sleep music ended, and supports 8 nights[8] of use when paired with the charging case. IN-EAR ALARM Wake up gently to an alarm tone that increases gradually and goes off in users ear, so it doesn't disturb anyone else. Specifications Amazfit ZenBuds Time to market 2020, TBC Price USD 149.90 Bluetooth version BT5.0 BLE Waterproof N/A Mic No Battery Life 8 to 12h (>68 hours with the charging box) Headphone weight 1.78g Sensors G sensor Sleeve material Silicone Speaker Knowles Technology Features Sound-blocking Design, Heart Rate Monitoring, Sleep Monitoring, Soothing Sounds, Alarm Clock Package 1 pair of earbuds, one charging case, 3 pairs of silicone earplugs (large, medium and small), 1 USB-A to Type C charging cable, 1 APP manual [1] https://weibo.com/ttarticle/p/show?id=2309404484526402306487 [2] RedDot Award is based in Germany, one of the global industrial design awards such as IDEA Award, and IF Design Award. [3] Based on MI Fit App [4] Each earpiece only weighs 1.78g when fitted with the Medium bud. [5] In the Amazt App [6] 8 hours: Sounds continuously playing sleep monitoring and heart rate Off. 12 hours: Heart rate and sleep monitoring On. Sounds stop playing after 3 hours and the sleep monitoring keeps working all night long. [7] Data by Amazfit Lab, could varied due to test conditions [8] 64 hours provided by charging box and earbuds itself. Data by Amazfit Lab, could varied due to test conditions SOURCE Huami Related Links www.huami.com Welcome to Morningstar.co.uk! You have been redirected here from Hemscott.com as we are merging our websites to provide you with a one-stop shop for all your investment research needs.To search for a security, type the name or ticker in the search box at the top of the page and select from the dropdown results.Registered Hemscott users can log in to Morningstar using the same login details. Similarly, if you are a Hemscott Premium user, you now have a Morningstar Premium account which you can access using the same login details. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 12:12:20|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close The store owner Kevin Chan sits at his Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory in San Francisco's Chinatown, California, the United States, March 20, 2020. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) by Xinhua writer Wu Xiaoling SAN FRANCISCO, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Three customers patronized the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory in San Francisco's Chinatown and two purchases were made on Friday, the first business day after California implemented a stay-at-home order to contain the novel coronavirus spread. A young customer paid three U.S. dollars for a pack of fortune cookies priced 2.5 dollars. In return, Kevin Chan, the store owner, took another pack from the shelf and gave it away for free. "This is not the time to make money. Thanks for supporting me in such a difficult time." Fortune cookie is a crisp and sugary cookie with a blessing message note or lucky numbers inside. It is often served as a dessert in Chinese restaurants in the United States. Since the spread of COVID-19 in the United States, the leisure industry of San Francisco, which used to attract about 26 million visitors with 10 billion dollars of spending each year, has declined dramatically. The largest and oldest Chinatown in the country has been hit by a steep drop in tourism, but the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory has insisted on producing and selling products. "Business has never been this hard. I have sold only two boxes of fortune cookies in about two months from Jan. 26 to the present. There should be 10 boxes of sales on a regular day," Chan said, adding that customers used to line up on the street corners before the virus outbreak, but now they are all gone. "We stopped all three cookie-making machines in the store. This has never happened before. We have gone through many difficult times such as the big earthquakes in the Bay Area, aftershocks of 9/11 and the economic crisis in 2008. We never turned them all off." Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown wrote in an article with emotion, "I ran San Francisco after 9/11. I've dealt with earthquakes. I've dealt with the fallout from terrorist attacks ... This is worse." Retired policeman Roland Wing, a friend of Chan, came to the store out of concern as Chan didn't answer his phone Friday morning. "You are my second customer today," Chan joked. "So what do I have to buy? You tell me, I will buy it," Wing tossed a joke back. "No, I don't make money from friends," said Chan. When saying goodbye, they bumped shoulders and kicked feet instead of shaking hands. According to San Francisco's stay-at-home order, only essential businesses such as supermarkets, pharmacies, gas stations, laundries and banks would be allowed to stay open, and people should maintain social distance of at least six feet (1.8 meters) when going out. "Mom passed the 58-year-old business to me. She hasn't stopped working for a day and I don't want the store to close in my hands for a day," Chan said. "I am constantly fighting, not the same kind of fighting when I was busy with business. I just don't want the new coronavirus to knock me down, to knock the store down," he added. The Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory was named as San Francisco Legendary Business in 2016, and the city declared June 8, 2018, as "Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Company Day." "It is not only a livelihood for me but a commitment to my mom and to the community," Chan watched a wall of photos of celebrities who visited his store. "Fortune cookie is a way to express blessings, to connect people and make them happy. It is even more essential for us to carry a positive attitude amid coronavirus pandemic. I can't give up first if I want to bless people not to give up no matter how serious the epidemic is and to live a healthy and happy life. I feel that my store is like a lamp, I won't let it go out for a day," Chan said. A customer called Jerry stopped at Chan's store and took a pack of fortune cookies which cost him 5.25 dollars. He talked about the COVID-19 pandemic with Chan, and they were both angry about U.S. President Donald Trump's "Chinese virus" remarks. "This is very, very, very wrong, very, very, very crazy. The (novel coronavirus) outbreak can happen anywhere in the world, in Arizona or British Columbia," said Jerry, who disagreed with the idea of linking the virus to any country or ethnicity. "The new coronavirus is a common challenge the whole world is facing with its origin still uncertain and inconclusive," Chan said. He believed that xenophobia and racism are neither fair nor clever. "This is an opportunity for China and U.S. to cooperate to eliminate viruses and benefit the world." "China has made great progress for the last 40 years since reform and opening up. It has managed to contain the spread of COVID-19 epidemic ... Now China is assisting other countries' anti-epidemic combats," Chan said, adding that the slandering cannot cover the light of "Chinese virtues" that are presented. "Today's turnover is 8.25 dollars," Chan smiled by the end of the day. "But there are priceless and essential things we have to hold onto." His Channel Nine contract is set to end in December. And according to Monday's Woman's Day magazine, Today host Karl Stefanovic is 'plotting his escape to Hollywood' with wife Jasmine Stefanovic, 36. Sources close to the publication have claimed that the 45-year-old 'knows he's a big star and what he's worth'. 'He knows he's a big star': Today host Karl Stefanovic (pictured in July, 2019) 'is planning his escape to Hollywood with wife Jasmine' as Nine contract nears completion, according to Monday's Woman's Day magazine 'He thinks he's being undervalued here and believes he can crack the big time over in Hollywood,' they went on to say. With the father-of-three setting his sights on becoming an 'A-list Hollywood reporter', it's further claimed that Karl and Jasmine are looking to purchase a '$2.9million mansion in Beverly Hills'. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Karl's representatives for comment. It comes after The Daily Telegraph suggested Karl will drop long-standing manager Sharon Finnigan of SF Celebrity Management, as he has inked a deal with Chris Hemsworth's Melbourne-based agent, Mark Morrissey. Claims: The father-of-three is reportedly planning on becoming an 'A-list Hollywood reporter', and that Karl and wife Jasmine Stefanovic (pictured in May, 2019), are looking to purchase a '$2.9million mansion in Beverly Hills' 'It's a different play for me': Meanwhile, earlier this month it was reported Karl had 'signed with Chris Hemsworth's manager' as his Nine contract nears completion this year. Pictured with Jasmine 'It's a different play for me being asked to do something with international focus,' Karl told the publication last week, before adding: 'It's early days.' It's believed the journalist intends to 'collaborate' with Mark on TV projects, and international productions. An inside source told the publication: 'Karl has long seen himself spending more time in the US, so this is the first real steps towards that plan. He is very focused on that.' Moving on up! Karl has reportedly signed with Melbourne-based manager Mark Morrissey - who also manages Hollywood actor Chris Hemsworth (pictured) Time for a change? Karl was rumoured to have split with his agent-of-17-years Sharon Finnigan (right) - but the talent manager said Karl was 'still with me' last weekend. Pictured at Karl's wedding in 2018 to wife Jasmine in Mexico An inside source told the publication: 'Karl has long seen himself spending more time in the US, so this is the first real steps towards that plan. He is very focused on that.' Sharon however told The Daily Telegraph last weekend that Karl is 'still with me'. The two are known to have a close working relationship, with Sharon even attending his wedding to Jasmine in December, 2018. Working relationship: Karl has been with the Sydney talent agent Sharon (second left) for the past 17 years That same year, Sharon dealt with the shock departure of Karl from Today. She was also reportedly present when Nine chief executive Hugh Marks delivered the news of the axing to Karl over the phone. Sharon has a number of stars on the books including Phoebe Burgess and Michael Usher. Hard work: Despite Today initially getting a healthy jump in the ratings, the embattled Nine breakfast show continues to struggle to find an audience. Pictured with co-host Allison Langdon Karl made his Today comeback in January alongside new co-host Allison Langdon. Despite initially getting a healthy jump in the ratings, the embattled breakfast show continues to struggle to find an audience. Last month, the Today show recorded its lowest ratings of 2020, with a paltry 171,000 metro viewers tuning in. Vietnams seafood industry has received bad news: it can no longer enjoy the preferences offered by the US to developing countries. The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) reported that Vietnam exported $556 million worth of seafood products in January, a sharp fall of 25 percent in comparison with the same period last year. Catfish exports brought turnover of $75 million, decreasing by 64 percent, while the export turnover of other products decreased by 22 percent. The exports to key markets such as Japan and the US have decreased by 20 percent and 36 percent, respectively. The Chinese market, including Hong Kong, saw a sharp fall of 45 percent to $51.5 million. The only good news is that export turnover to the EU increased by 13 percent, reaching $127 million. The significant decrease in export turnover is attributed not only to coronavirus, but also to the stiff competition in prices and stricter standards set by choosy markets. Vietnam exported $556 million worth of seafood products in January, a sharp fall of 25 percent in comparison with the same period last year. Vo Hung Dung, chair of the Vietnam Pangasius Association, said the tightening of the seafood import monitoring program and the imposition of relatively high anti-dumping duties have reduced opportunities for Vietnams enterprises to export products to the market. On February 10, 2019, the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced the updated list of developing countries. Vietnam no longer finds its name in the list of developing countries, which means that it will not receive preferences. As of the end of November 2019, Vietnam had been among the 10 partners with the highest trade deficit with the US. The Vietnam-US import/export turnover was $68.6 billion and Vietnam had excess of exports over imports of $32 billion. This is not good news and Vietnam has had a surplus in trade with the US for many years. However, the growth of exports to the US by nine other countries has decreased compared with 2018, but Vietnams exports still are growing. This is not positive, according to Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, the director of WTO Center. Unable to enjoy major preferences in key export markets, Vietnam has no other choice than to restructure the industries and re-organize production activities by utilizing high technologies and forming production links to create higher-quality products. However, analysts still predict a bright future for the seafood industry thanks to CPTPP and EVFTA. The seafood sector is expected to enjoy big benefits as Vietnam has obtained commitments on the sharpest tariff cuts so far. According to the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), in CPTPP Canada accepted to eliminate tariffs on Vietnams seafood soon after the CPTPP took effect, while Mexico committed to remove tax on Vietnams catfish after two years. Kim Chi Electronics, seafood and garment industries to benefit the most from EVFTA Vietnam is the second country in Southeast Asia, following Singapore, that has signed an FTA with the EU. The 3M Global Headquarters in Maplewood, Minnesota, on March 4. The company was contracted by the US government to produce extra masks in response to the country's novel coronavirus outbreak. Nicholas Pfosi/Reuters A nonprofit worker in Portland, Oregon, recovered and donated thousands of N95 masks that had been stolen from her organization. Kelly Stevens, 33, conducted a sting operation in coordination with the local police to find the stolen N95 masks, which have been identified as the most effective for preventing the spread of the new coronavirus among healthcare workers. Stevens found someone selling what she believed to be the stolen masks on Craigslist and set up a meeting with the seller, where the police found cases of N95 masks in the person's home and vehicle. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. A woman who reported that thousands of N95 respiratory masks were stolen from a nonprofit she worked for in Portland, Oregon, later recovered the medical gear in coordination with the local police to save the masks for medical personnel who need them to stem the novel coronavirus outbreak. Kelly Stevens told Insider she tracked down the stolen gear in a suspicious Craigslist ad before alerting the police. "I remember thinking, 'Well, it's Saturday and I have no plans might as well do a sting operation,'" Stevens said. On March 6, ReBuilding Center, a nonprofit that provides tools and education to those hoping to rebuild or repair their home, reported that thousands of N95 masks were missing from its warehouse in Portland. ReBuilding Center was storing nearly 30,000 N95 masks a critical piece of personal protective gear for healthcare workers that are in short supply. The surge in buying protective gear by the public amid the coronavirus pandemic has created global shortages, leaving doctors and nurses who most need the masks without the critical protective equipment. The organization had partnered with Mercy Corps, a nonprofit that helps with disaster response around the world, to store critical supplies for use in an emergency. "They were getting ready to come pick them up and they were gone," Stevens, 33, told Insider. "Whole pallets were gone from the warehouse." Story continues Stevens, the deputy director of ReBuilding Center, reported to the police that 20 to 25 cases with 400 masks in each case were stolen. Soon after, Stevens began looking on Craigslist to see whether anyone was selling the respirator masks when she came across a suspicious seller. "I searched N95 respirators in Portland, but there was only one that matched the appearance of our boxes, and they were being sold by case," Stevens told Insider. "I sent an email from another email address asking if they were available for purchases and filed a police report." Stevens arranged to meet up with the seller in Beaverton, Oregon. After she notified the authorities, the local police offered to provide support in a sting operation to catch the suspect. On the evening of March 7, Stevens, her husband, and the Beaverton Police Department met up with a man identified as Vladislav V. Drozdek, 22. After finding six of the stolen cases in the back of his vehicle, the Beaverton police arrested Drozdek, according to the Portland Police Bureau, and booked him into the Washington County Jail on a charge of first-degree theft. The Beaverton Police Department and the Portland Police Department later located at least seven more boxes at an Oregon residential home, according to a police press release. "This was a good example of interagency teamwork and cooperation, along with some helpful detective work by the victim," the Portland Police Bureau's assistant chief of operations, Mike Frome, said in the release. "This is even more significant during a time when these medical supplies are in such short supply." The Beaverton Police Department found the stolen cases in the back of the suspect's vehicle. Courtesy of Portland Police Bureau Upon recovering some of the cases that were stolen, the ReBuilding Center donated the masks to medical personnel at local hospitals on the heels of news that supplies in centers across the state were running low. "We're responding to a national call, but also the governor's call who said that we're two days away from exhausting our supplies like these for front-line medical personnel," Stevens told Insider. "Having this PEP equipment in addition to following quarantine precautions is critical to flattening the curve and keeping as many people healthy as possible." After having to furlough 90% of its ReBuilding Center workers amid widespread coronavirus closings, Stevens said being able to donate the medical supplies was a positive moment for the organization during difficult times. "Our drivers loaded 30,000 masks before we had to furlough our staff," Stevens said, adding that 23 of 29 staff members were furloughed at least through the next month. "This was a bright spot for us to get the materials to where they were meant to be, which is the disaster response for COVID-19." Read the original article on Insider As the novel coronavirus continues its deadly march from Wuhan across the globe, Chinese Communists are attempting to turn the pandemic, which was largely caused by their own complacency and incompetence, into a propaganda victory by highlighting stories of China delivering supplies and expertise to the countries it infected. The American chatterati is starting to worry about China seizing global leadership, but it should calm down. The United States and its democratic allies are still providing for other countries in a way that China will not. China has learned a great deal in the past few years. After Typhoon Haiyan devastated the Philippines in 2013, countries around the world sprang into action, sending food, money, and supplies to help. China joined in, initially offering . . . $200,000, a little more than half the $350,000 donation from the rock band Journey. After facing torrents of richly deserved scorn for its stinginess, the second-largest economy in world upped its ante to about $2 million, nearly matching the $2.7 million donation from geopolitical powerhouse Ikea. The main lesson the Chinese Communists seem to have drawn from the debacle is that the appearance of doing good is more important than actually doing it, and so far, media reactions are proving them right. In the past few weeks, the Chinese propaganda machine has gone into overdrive, praising China for buying time for the world to respond to the pandemic and for leading the global response to the coronavirus. Both claims are false, despite being widely bandied about in the media. China did not delay the diseases spread, New York Times op-eds to the contrary. Wuhans officials destroyed evidence and harassed medical professionals who warned about the new virus. After president Xi Jinping took charge of Chinas response, he lied to World Health Organization officials and waited until after infected people reached Thailand, South Korea, and the United States before initiating lockdowns. For months, China obstructed not the disease, but rather the people trying to stop it. Story continues Chinese propagandists also claim that China is leading the way in responding to the crisis internationally, which is patently false. Chinas much-publicized gift of 1 million masks to Japan is a grand and magnificent gesture, albeit only one-third as grand as prior Japanese donations of nearly 3 million masks to China. The most remarkable case, however, is in Italy, where Chinas ostentatious delivery of supplies and doctors has caused much consternation among Americans who worry that the United States is losing its global leadership role. Media accounts often omitted that the supplies were bought and paid for by the Italians, when the most newsworthy element to the story is that China actually kept its commitment to deliver what it sold. Overall, China has returned to Europe about as much medical equipment as it received, taking credit for in effect receiving supplies from northern and central Europe and delivering them later to southern Europe but unlike the European donors, the Chinese arent doing it for free. Chinese Communists are boasting about their magnanimity and are letting Germany and the European Union take the blame for shortages across Europe that are largely due to Chinese hoarding. This is not philanthropy; this is mercantilism. Despite headlines to the contrary, the United States is helping other countries even as it battles the infection at home. The administrations response may have been clumsy at times, but the U.S. is doing a lot of good: Congress has already passed, and President Trump has already signed, $1.3 billion in foreign aid to help other countries fight COVID-19, and the Asian Development Bank, whose biggest stakeholder is the United States, is helping developing countries with another $6.5 billion. This is but a part of the over $90 billion that the United States has spent on global health since 2009. Americans already lead the world in responding to global health crises because of some of their most foundational beliefs. Nearly 200 years ago, Alexis de Tocqueville marveled at how universally Americans believed in the principle of interest rightly understood, explaining how an enlightened regard for themselves constantly prompts them to assist each other. This principle makes Americans the most generous people in the world, giving $428 billion to charity in 2018, and it shapes how the American government responds to heath crises around the world, from the AIDS and Ebola epidemics to COVID-19 today. And they are not alone. Most of their democratic allies favor humanitarian aid over defense spending often to a fault but this preference makes them uniquely able and willing to help other countries respond to pandemics. The Chinese Communists will win some headlines during this crisis, but ultimately they will not overcome their power-hungry, mercantilist nature and advance their claim to global leadership. Americans give because of who they are, while Chinese Communists give to take more back later. The world will see and remember. More from National Review PHILIPSBURG:--- The Special Unit Robbery is investigating an armed robbery that took place at the Chinese supermarket on the W.J.A Nesbit road, at approximately 06:30 pm on Saturday, March 21st, 2020 On the scene, the police patrol learned that two men, all dressed in black, stormed into the restaurant wearing face masks. One of the suspects was armed with a firearm. One of the robbers went to behind the bar and removed the cash register, while the other suspect threatening the cashier inside with a firearm. After robbing the supermarket the two suspects fled on a scooter in an unknown direction. The detectives investigating this armed robbery case is asking anyone who has information to please contact the Sint Maarten Police Force at +1 721- 542 22 22 ext. 204 or 205 or the anonymous tip line on 9300. You can also visit the police website at www.policesxm.sx or leave a message via our Facebook page (Police Force of Sint Maarten - Korps Politie Sint Maarten. KPSM Press Release. (Bloomberg) -- Europeans faced increasingly draconian restrictions on public life, as governments tightened border controls to check the spread of the coronavirus and moved to limit damage to the continents fragile economies. With Europe now the epicenter of the outbreak, countries in the Schengen free-travel zone were considering restricting access to foreigners and asking residents to refrain from leaving, effectively sealing external frontiers, three officials familiar with the matter said. France may intensify its national lockdown, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said in a television interview. Italy was weighing new measures for Europes hardest-hit nation, including increased spending for its stricken health-care sector, aid to airlines and postponing some tax deadlines. France is considering additional spending of as much as 40 billion euros ($44 billion) to counter the economic impact, Les Echos reported. Germany will partially close its borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, Luxemburg and Denmark on Monday, though goods and commuter traffic will still be allowed to flow, Interior Minister Horst Seehofer told reporters. While one focus is checking the spread of the disease and limiting the strain placed on medical facilities, another is addressing the impact on economies. The European Central Bank unveiled a series of monetary measures Thursday that failed to pacify investors concerned that the euro area is heading for recession. Markets recovered Friday as Germany pledged to spend whatever it takes to protect its economy and the European Commission said its ready to green light widespread fiscal stimulus. Still, HSBC Holdings Plc economists are among those declaring that a euro-area recession looks unavoidable. Italy and France were already contracting before the health emergency, while Germany had stalled. For the broader European Union, the European Commission last week said there could be a 1% contraction this year, which would be more severe than the downturn experienced during the sovereign debt crisis a decade ago. Story continues Earlier on Sunday, Austria banned gatherings of more than five people and said it will close restaurants from Tuesday. France announced cuts in domestic air, rail and bus links, a day after closing restaurants, cafes and non-essential stores. Thats after Italy and Spain went into lockdown. Many other governments have followed suit or are poised to. The next weeks will be challenging, difficult and painful, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told an emergency session of parliament. Were hoping that we, our society and our economy will be resurrected after Easter, and our life can go on as we love and cherish it. Irish Bars Irelands government asked pubs to close for at least two weeks after footage of bars filled with drinkers in defiance of guidelines appeared on social media. Industry groups say it proved impossible to police social distancing guidelines. The government also pleaded with citizens not to replace pub visits with house parties. The Dutch government, falling in line with restrictions in much of the rest of Europe, ordered schools, gyms, restaurants and bars closed for three weeks. At Amsterdams coffee shops, known more for selling joints than java, lines stretched around the block when it was announced theyd have to close. In other developments: - Deaths in Italy from the new coronavirus rose to 1,809, an increase of 368 from Saturday, officials said in Rome. Authorities are attempting to halt an exodus of people from lockdown in the north to second residences or toward their families in the south, La Repubblica reported. - A 75-year-old man became Hungarys first fatality from the virus. - Spains confirmed cases jumped by 2,000 to 7,753 on Sunday and the death toll more than doubled to 288 from 136. - Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis pledged to announce a financial aid package of no less than 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) on Monday. - Estonia will bar everyone except for residents and their family members from entering the country from Tuesday. - Latvia will close borders, airports and ports to non-residents on Tuesday and ban all official events, with unofficial events capped at 50 people. - The Swiss government may provide additional economic support on top of its $10 billion Covid-19 aid package if the crisis worsens. - Slovenia suspended public transport from Sunday and the government is expected to close all bars and restaurants. - Poland has implemented full border controls and international flights are suspended. Cafes, bars, restaurants and shopping malls are closed. - The Czech government may place the entire nation into quarantine, Prime Minister Andrej Babis said. - Bulgaria will use its state-owned development bank to provide liquidity to businesses, Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov said in Sofia. - Greece closed its land borders with Albania and North Macedonia and stopped flights and sea arrivals from the two nations. - Cyprus announced measures worth 700 million euros, or 3% of its gross domestic product, to support companies and workers. (Updates with measures by Germany, France, Ireland and the Netherlands. A previous version corrected day of Estonia border closing.) --With assistance from Zoe Schneeweiss, Boris Groendahl, Simon Kennedy, Milda Seputyte, Joao Lima, Jan Bratanic, Marek Strzelecki, Peter Laca, Jerrold Colten, Macarena Munoz, Stephan Kahl, Aaron Eglitis, Zoltan Simon, Ott Ummelas, Slav Okov, Georgios Georgiou, Bryce Baschuk, Sotiris Nikas, Dara Doyle, David Rocks, Joost Akkermans, Geraldine Amiel and Hailey Waller. To contact the reporters on this story: Nikos Chrysoloras in Brussels at nchrysoloras@bloomberg.net;Viktoria Dendrinou in Brussels at vdendrinou@bloomberg.net;Alberto Brambilla in Milan at abrambilla5@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Chad Thomas at cthomas16@bloomberg.net, Iain Rogers, Andrew Davis For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) on Monday released a public message informing that the state lockdown due to COVID-19 is up to March 31. The decision to impose a lockdown up to March 31 comes as there is a sudden surge in the number of COVID-19 cases across the country. The number of coronavirus positive patients in India rose to 467 on Monday including eight deaths. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) UP: Elections not won on exit polls basis, results will be surprising: Kamal Nath Explained: After Kamal Nath's govt collapsed in MP, here's what Congress, BJP should know India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P New Delhi, Mar 23: Days after former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath resigned from his post, it is seen that the Congress has drawn curtains on the 15-month rule of the Congress in the state. This move by the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh came after it was clear that Kamal Nath's party had lost the support of close to two dozen members of the Legislative Assembly. The Legislative Assembly members refused to support Kamal Nath's government after senior leader Jyotiraditya Scindia decided to shift to the BJP. Kamal Nath resigns: What happens in Madhya Pradesh next But, there is alot more one needs to understand, especially the Congress and BJP. Firstly, the Congress is not only facing credibility crisis with the electorate, but it is also facing an internal crisis, where the leadership in the central is weak. Also, it can be seen that the Congress is losing several states despite the party having the highest number of legislators in an assembly. Earlier, the Congress was unable to form the government in Goa, Manipur, and Meghalaya. In Karnataka, its legislators paved the way for a BJP government. Speaking to OneIndia, sources close to Karnataka Congress said that its party leaders were unhappy as they not given the ministerial berths of their wish and as a result, the leaders decided to jump ships. Taking Madhya Pradesh into consideration, it is time for the Congress to do a serious review of its defects. Secondly, as BJP is concerned in Madhya Pradesh, the saffron party had lost by a narrow margin and was waiting for a window time to return to power. Madhya Pradesh crisis: Kamal Nath resigns; Jyotiraditya Scindia says victory of truth But, it should not be neglected that this will, in turn, cause resentment among old-timers. Also, with coronavirus outbreak in the nation, the BJP will have to immediately handle the deadly virus. With the outbreak of coronavirus, Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur district is under lockdown till March 31. Now, the time has to decide if the BJP would cope up and handle the situation or will it knock the Centre's door for help. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, March 23, 2020, 9:25 [IST] Foreign citizen Whelan charged with espionage to stay in Russian detention till fall Sergey Vedyashkin, Moskva news agency 18:13 23/03/2020 MOSCOW, March 23 (RAPSI) The Moscow City Court on Monday extended detention of a foreign citizen Paul Whelan charged with espionage against Russia until September 13, RAPSI was told in the courts press office. The court has held a preliminary hearing; however, the date of the case consideration has not been set yet. The trial is to be heard behind closed doors. Earlier, according to his defense, Whelan was found sane. Whelan is a citizen of the U.S., Canada, Ireland and Great Britain. He is the chief safety officer of BorgWarner, an American worldwide automotive industry components and parts supplier. The foreigner was arrested in late 2018 during a spying mission, according to the Federal Security Service. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison. The Foreign Ministry of Russia reported earlier that papers classified as state secret were seized from Whelan during his arrest on December 28. His lawyer Vladimir Zherebenkov confirmed this information. According to Zherebenkov, his client came to Russia in December 2018 to attend the wedding of his acquaintance. He received a flash drive containing culturological information he was interested in, including photos and videos. However, there was no secret data on it, the attorney said. Whelan was not able to use the USB-drive as he was arrested on December 2018, the lawyer added. Hrithik Roshan is happy to spend quality time with his sons: Hrehaan and Hridaan as the actors is limited to his house in the times of coronavirus lockdown. He has now shared an adorable picture of the two kids playing with their pet dog on Instagram. Hrithik captiond the picture, Couldnt ask for a better view. Or a more suited book . .#Coexist #doglovers. The two boys are seen playing with the white bundle of fur as they sit in their living room overlooking the sea. A book titled The 4-hour work week is placed on the table which the actor has been reading. His ex-wife and the mother of his two sons Sussanne Khan dropped several heart emojis in her reaction to the picture. Their actor friend Sonali Bendre also showered the post with heart emojis. A day before, Hrithik had joined Akshay Kumar and film producer Sajid Nadiadwala on the seaside at 5pm to thank coronavirus warriors. The two actors were seen standing on the walls and banging the plates with a ladle to salute the spirit of the relentless workers who are on the frontline f war against coronavirus. He shared it on Instagram and wrote in caption, When we realise, we are the strongest together. A big salute to all the essential workers of the nation selflessly putting their lives at risk to service and safeguard our society . #jantacurfew @akshaykumar #sajidnadiadwala. Also read: Richa Chadha shares video chat with Ali Fazal after wedding postponed: Feels like I havent seen you in forever. Watch video Hrithik is basking in the success of his two films, Super 30 and War. While Super 30 crossed Rs 100 crore, War went on to become the years biggest blockbuster with collections of over Rs 300 crore. The actor later told Hindustan Times in an interview that all the success in the world cant measure up to the joy he gets from being with Hrehaan and Hridaan. I am certain I dont want this to become my life. I dont want so much success at the cost of being even 20 per cent less happy, he said. Hinting that he will be more selective in his work, he had said, I have a suspicion that I am a very lazy person. I only do films that I cant say no to! The script needs to have that kind of an impact on me. I wont do it just for money. Id rather travel and be with my kids. Follow @htshowbiz for more The havoc of Corona growing on one side has increased so much that there is only a view of terror everywhere. As of now, the number of people who have died from this virus has exceeded 13000. The fear of this virus is spread among people. Doctors are still searching for treatment to fight this disease. 'Corona' orgy continues in America, 419 people died so far According to the information, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has quarantined at her home. Merkel has taken this decision after the doctor treating her was found to be infected with the coronavirus (COVID-19). According to the news agency Reuters, on Friday, the doctor gave Merkel a vaccine to protect her from pneumococcal infection. He was later found infected with the Coronavirus. A German government spokesperson has given the information. It is also said that Stefan Seibert said in a statement that German Chancellor Merkel has decided to stay quarantined after the doctor who gave her the vaccine was infected with Corona. They will be constantly investigated in the coming days. During this time, she will do the entire work from home. China turns down Trump's proposal, says no help needed Merkel decided to go to the home quarantine, according to Sputnik, in the statement, Seibert also said that Merkel was told after the press address that the doctor who gave them the vaccine on Friday, Corona was found to be positive for the virus. Soon after, Merkel decided to go to the home quarantine. He will be tested regularly for Coronavirus. 92 deaths due to coronavirus in Germany: According to Johns Hopkins University, the number of people infected with coronavirus in Germany has reached 23,974 and the death toll has reached 92 so far. In view of this, on Sunday, the German government announced to take strong measures for the movement of people in the country. Pope calls for worldwide prayer to beat Corona Under one idea under consideration, members would meet in a closed hearing room, with television monitors broadcasting their deliberations to other meeting rooms in the Capitol, where observers can sit with at least 6 feet of space between them in order to stave off transmission of the virus. We recognize we may have to get creative to get this done, and thats exactly what were committed to if necessary, Rowden said. Republicans are expected to try and hold the line on amending the legislation because any changes would result in the proposal going back to the House, where concerns about the spread of the disease have officials working to clean the suite of offices Runions shared with eight other Democrats and their staffers. The reluctance to alter the emergency aid legislation comes as Democrats have complained it isnt enough to address the health and economic effects of the pandemic. Any Democratic attempt to add in dollars carries a risk that members would be forcing senators to stay on the Senate floor for an extended debate and risk spreading the disease while also forcing the House to return to its chambers to approve those additions at some point down the road. Soft Tech, a subsidiary of Moroccan SoftGroup, said on Monday it has produced 10 million facemasks, which will be donated to the Ministry of the Interior and other institutions. A press release issued by the company said that all human and technical resources have been mobilized to achieve this goal and produce locally these masks, which have become hot commodities in the world as the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread around the globe. The move comes after textile firm Yara Confeccion based in Tangier, Northern Morocco, has pledged lately to produce and donate facemasks to all persons assigned to work during public health emergency declared in the country from March 20 to April 20. In Morocco, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases increased to 134, according to latest tally published on Monday by the health department. The North African kingdom has three factories producing medical facemasks, the FFP2 which filter at least 95 pc all particles. Although there is no zero risks, masks are effective at capturing droplets, which is a main transmission route of coronavirus. Wearing a facemask cuts the chance of the disease being passed on. If someone shows symptoms of coronavirus, or has been diagnosed, masks can also protect others. They are crucial for health and social care workers looking after patients and are also recommended for family members who need to care for someone who is ill. The Montana Supreme Court has asked judges in municipal and county justice courts to release jail inmates if possible and conduct hearings virtually as the judiciary ratchets up its part in slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus. The courts have largely continued without flinching at the coronavirus pandemic, although every part of the criminal justice system is taking precautions as Montanas COVID-19 case count climbs, particularly in large urban judicial districts. County clerks are taking measures to protect their staff by limiting face time with the public. Law enforcement is scaling back who gets taken to jail and who can be turned loose after a citation. The Missoula public defenders office last week filed about 55 motions to release clients in custody due to COVID-19, according to regional deputy Jennifer Streano. Twenty-two were granted, Streano said, while a few others are yet to see a ruling. Over the last week, the population at Missoula County Detention Center fell by roughly one-fifth, from 186 on March 17 to 146 around midday on Monday, according to a spokesperson with the sheriffs office. These numbers account only for the county inmates, as the Missoula County Detention Center also houses defendants in state criminal cases, spokesperson Brenda Bassett said. Fridays memo, issued by Montana Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike McGrath, asks city and county court judges to review jail rosters and release, without bond, as many prisoners as you are able, especially those being held for non-violent offenses. Due to the confines of these facilities, it will be virtually impossible to contain the spread of the virus, McGrath wrote. The Friday memo came on the same day a Yellowstone County detention officer tested positive for the coronavirus, the Billings Gazette reported. McGrath last week meted out guidance to the lower courts and state district courts, first declaring the courts will stay open as a matter of maintaining societal structure rather than allowing communities to slip into disorder and chaos. His memos have urged attorneys and judges to push trials back and make accommodations for potential jurors, especially those in high-risk populations. A day before the Friday memo, Missoula County justices of the peace issued their own standing order enacting temporary rules to limit in-person appearances at the courthouse. The justices of the peace ordered criminal defendants not to come to court unless told otherwise; those already incarcerated will appear by video while those out of custody will participate in scheduled hearings by phone or some other remote method. Defendants are still getting their initial appearances after arrest. Victims of domestic violence who may be forced into close quarters with their assailants because their workplaces have been ordered to close are still able to obtain orders of protection, Missoula County Justice of the Peace Landee Holloway said Monday. The court is open, Holloway said. Call us, find out what your options are. Were still here to help with orders of protection and other matters that are pending before the court. Holloway said Monday it was important to begin making these adjustments last week so the court system can continue without any hiccups. Its a foundation of our society to keep order, Holloway said. If the courts arent operating, then I think you have people who will ignore the law. We can delay a certain amount of hearings but we still have to hold people accountable. Streano, chief of the Missoula public defenders office, said many of the motions to release defendants have been unopposed, but are heard by judges on a case-by-case basis, rather than a single release order across many cases. In some cases, however, Streano said some judges have been reluctant to release inmates, even when the defense and prosecutors agree on the defendant's release. Streano said about only a quarter of people represented by public defenders are older than 60, one of the indicators of someone at a high risk for severe illness from the coronavirus. Certain pre-existing medical conditions are also a red flag. "Thats probably where were going to get more people because a lot of our clients are just not in good health," Streano said. Holloway added that changes to the court structure may continue, and that whatever may come could have some impact as to how cases carry forward after the pandemic. As we go forward it will be interesting to see what appeals might look like and what recommendations come down from the (state) Supreme Court or the U.S. Supreme Court moving forward since we are in such unprecedented times, Holloway said. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. At least 10 people were killed in clashes Sunday between police and protesters, opposition activists said, as Guinea held a bitterly disputed referendum that critics say is a ploy by the president to stay in power. Anti-government forces came under fire by security forces who "carried out massive arrests, fired blindly, cruelly molested (and) killed at least 10 people," the FNDC, an umbrella opposition group, said in a statement. The FNDC, grouping opposition parties and civil society organisations, called for fresh protests Monday and Tuesday. The authorities could not immediately be reached to confirm the casualty toll. Alpha Conde, who became the West African country's first democratically elected president in 2010, is proposing a change to the constitution to codify gender equality and introduce other social reforms. But his opponents fear the real motive is to reset presidential term limits, allowing Conde, 82, to run for a third spell in office later this year -- a scenario that his government has not discounted. Guinea. By Gillian HANDYSIDE (AFP) Early Sunday young people attacked police deployed outside a polling station in a suburb of the capital Conakry, according to an AFP reporter and other witnesses. In another school nearby, voting equipment was vandalised. A 28-year-old man was shot dead and several others wounded in another Conakry suburb, Hamdallaye, the victim's brother confirmed to AFP. Officials did not respond to AFP's requests to confirm the death. Clashes also broke out in other Conakry suburbs and elsewhere in the country, a former French colony. Since October, Guineans have protested en masse against the possibility of Conde extending his grip on power. 'Taking things lightly' Critics questioned the fairness of Sunday's vote, which took place amid mounting concern about the spread of the novel coronavirus in Africa, including two cases officially reported in Guinea. "I have the impression our country is taking things lightly," said Amadou Oury Bah, a banker and politician who suspected the authorities were more interested in their electoral campaign than keeping the country safe from the pandemic. Alpha Conde became Guinea's first democratically elected president in 2010. By Michael TEWELDE (AFP/File) Conde postponed the referendum, originally scheduled for March 1, late last month over doubts concerning the country's electoral roll. Some 7.7 million people were on the register, out of a total population about 13 million people. The government says it has scrubbed the problematic names on the urging of an expert team from the West African bloc ECOWAS. But Guinea's embattled opposition still doubts the vote's credibility. Cellou Diallo, a former premier and the head of the leading UFDG opposition party, said the process of cleaning up the electoral roll had been opaque. The UFDG and other opposition parties are boycotting both the referendum and a parliamentary election taking place at the same time. 'Authoritarian' Conde Conde, a former opposition figure who was jailed under previous hardline regimes, was Guinea's first democratically elected president. Since voters returned him to office in 2015 for his second and final five-year term under the current constitution, critics say he has become increasingly authoritarian. The draft constitution would limit presidential terms to two but extend the length of the term to six years, potentially enabling Conde to govern for another 12 years. The government argues that the new constitution would usher in sorely needed changes in this conservative country, especially for women. These would include banning female genital mutilation and under-age marriage, and giving spouses equal rights in a divorce. Conde has not denied that he might use the new constitution to seek another term when his second runs out this year. He told French media last month that there was "nothing more democratic" than holding a referendum and it was up to his party to determine whether he would run again. burs/jh/gd/jj And call me old-fashioned, but this virus just might be a boon for our love lives. Why? Because not being allowed to meet immediately forces people to actually get to know each other, to connect emotionally and not physically. Such social distancing also prevents us from making potentially regrettable decisions based on lust, loneliness and/or liquor. So take this time and learn as much as you can about your potential date, whether youre indeed a good match, and ask those bigger life questions that are usually too taboo to ask on a first date. STURTEVANT The former home of J.Q. Foxes Bar & Restaurant is getting a new occupant. Junction Pub and Grill, 2835 Wisconsin St., is expected to open by the end of May, but owner Chuck Beth said that is dependent on if bars and restaurants are allowed to be open at that time, in light of mandatory closings related to the COVID-19 pandemic. A bar-flipping hobby When the owner of J.Q. Foxes, Danny Christensen, died in September 2009, his wife, Mari, took over. Mari died in February 2019. Beth, also owner of Racine Amusement and Fountain Banquet Hall, purchased the building in November from Maris son, Warren Dahlke. Beth has purchased four or five closed bars in the area that he has renovated and sold or rented to other people, giving them a chance to be in the bar business. These include Coasters Bar & Grill, On The Level OTL Lounge, GRC Sport Lounge and C & Cs Mosquito Inn. This one I just thought I would keep for myself, Beth said. It wound up being a bigger project than I originally anticipated. Beth did not disclose how much the purchase of the building or the renovations cost. In the 19th century, the piece of land was right by what was known as the Western Union Junction Railroad. Now, the only entity by that name is the Western Union Junction Railroad Museum, Inc., across the street. Junction is a place to meet, Beth said. So thats our logo. Junction Pub: A Place to Meet. He said he wants to cater to everybody, including children and families, and hopes they all come to the restaurant. Those under 21 wouldnt be allowed at the bar, however. Remodeling plans There have been challenges with remodeling the building, he said: A lot of the support beams have rotted away, and after a fire 15 years ago in the building, the structure wasnt properly repaired. Plumbing and electricity for the building also needed repairs. A lot of stuff that was here was just old, Beth said. Were updating it, were doing it the right way and were going to make it nice. The Pub and Grill will take up the first floor, complete with a kitchen, bar and dining room. The bar will have a similar shape to the old J.Q. Foxes bar, but the kitchen will be different and the dining room will be larger; its expected to be twice the size. The total room capacity will be between 87 and 99. Beth said he also is considering railroad-themed decor. Beth said the menu will start off having burgers, chicken, wings, pizza and sandwiches, but will be expanded over time. Upstairs, there will be a pair of two-bedroom apartments that Beth plans to manage and rent out. One of the apartments will house a manager of the bar. The building was the Hotel Nelson in the early 1900s and having apartments salutes the history, Beth said. A half-basement downstairs will house a walk-in cooler, for employee use only. Love 7 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The COVID-19 pandemic has had effects both big and small in Laredo, but the most noticeable effect has to have been in downtown Laredo. What is usually a bustling hub of commerce, with shoppers both from Mexico and the U.S., has become deserted in light of the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting restrictions that have been instituted to curb the spread of the disease. The armed forces are being drafted in to help manage and distribute supplies of protective equipment to frontline NHS staff battling the coronavirus pandemic. Matt Hancock, the health secretary, has admitted there have been challenges with the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) but insisted he was taking the issue very seriously. The health secretary spoke on Monday following a letter in The Sunday Times from almost 4,000 NHS workers who called on Boris Johnson, the prime minister, to resolve an unacceptable shortage of equipment. The group warned many medical workers were putting their lives on the line every day by treating coronavirus patients without appropriate protection and called for an adequate supply of masks, safety glasses, gloves, aprons and protective suits. NHS England said millions more items of PPE had been delivered over the last few days to frontline staff. It added that the army would offer personnel to help manage and offload supplies in busy NHS settings and distribute PPE supplies to the frontline from this week. The Doctors' Association, a lobbying group for healthcare workers, warned last week that not having the correct protective equipment would put patients at risk. "I am determined to ensure that the right kit gets to the right hospital, the right ambulance service, the right doctors' surgery, right across the country," Mr Hancock told the BBC. "There have been challenges and I can see that. We're on it and trying to solve all the problems." On Monday morning, the health secretary added that people who were not following government advice to stay at home and avoid nonessential social contact were being selfish. When asked why some people were ignoring the advice, Mr Hancock said: Well I dont know, because its very selfish. If people go within two metres of others who they dont live with then they are helping to spread the virus and the consequence of that costs lives. There has been increased pressure on the supply chain for PPE in recent weeks, in part due to the manufacturing slowdown in China due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the NHS said. Emily Lawson, chief commercial officer for the NHS, said health workers needed a "massively increased, urgent volume of these supplies" to frontline staff. As of 9am on Sunday, 281 people had died in the UK after testing positive for Covid-19, while 5,683 people had tested positive for the coronavirus. 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Before entering the inner sanctuary of the facilities, they meticulously layer on masks, gloves and special socks. A single speck of dust or a hair can have devastating effects on production. The result of all this painstaking process is an environment that is 10,000 times more purified than outside. And as the coronavirus grips the world, it might just be the safest place to work right now. The teams belong to ASML Holding NV, which holds a de-facto monopoly on the industry of extreme ultraviolet lithography machines needed to make next-generation chips. Each cost about 150 million euros ($160 million) apiece and ship mainly to the U.S., Korea and Taiwan, where the likes of Intel Corp., Samsung Electronics Co. or Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., known as TSMC, rely on them to make faster, cheaper and more energy efficient semiconductors. ASML manufacturing staff operate in an environment that is literally shielded from the coronavirus pandemic that has forced millions of workers around the world to isolate themselves from colleagues to slow the spread of the disease. As the rest of the Netherlands and much of the continent locks down, work in ASMLs Veldhoven clean-rooms has continued largely unhindered, potentially giving the company an edge for when corporate life returns to normal. So far we have been able to keep our production going, said Frits van Hout, ASMLs chief strategy officer, ASML. The situation is of course dynamic. We encounter challenges as with every lockdown our suppliers will be affected, directly or indirectly. Keeping Distance Like other companies, ASML has also implemented a raft of contingency measures from segmenting staff to drawing up plans if disaster strikes at a key supplier -- so it can keep manufacturing equipment for chip-makers around the world. Workers are split into two teams and are screened for virus symptoms via infrared thermal cameras at the entrance of the clean room in Veldhoven. Story continues Social distancing protocols are in effect, and the company has spaced out the morning and night shift to ensure the groups dont meet, ASML said. Clean rooms are highly specialized infrastructure thats costly to set up and maintain, making that kind of environment difficult to replicate in other industries. The biggest risk for the company lies not so much in its own operations seizing up but in a potential breakdown of its 5,000 suppliers, 790 of which provide materials and equipment that are used directly to produce the ASML systems. Besides its ultra-sanitized work environment, ASML has the benefit of making machines that are considered almost recession-proof, given its commanding lead in an industry on the cusp of another technological leap: high-speed 5G networks. On Track Most customers want EUV and if ASML cannot deliver due to such a factor, then they know they have to wait until the next quarter because you cannot get it anywhere else, said Marcel Achterberg, executive director of equity research at KBC Bank.The prized EUV machines are the size of a bus. Customers can order older equipment, but EUV delivers better resolution, smaller components and improved performance in the chips it produces. Theyre a crucial source of revenue for ASMLs customers, too. By the end of next year, as much as half of TSMCs revenue will depend at least partly on some EUV processes, according to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Masahiro Wakasugi. Volume production of TSMCs most cutting-edge 5-nanometer chips, which use EUV, is still on track for the first half of 2020 as previously stated by management, TSMC spokeswoman Nina Kao said For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. Haitian authorities say they are considering providing economic support to people affected by coronavirus restrictions that have shut down schools and factories in the impoverished Caribbean country where three new COVID-19 cases have been reported. "My government is in the process of considering partial leave at half workers' pay," Prime Minister Joseph Jouthe said Sunday on Twitter, calling on workers to "stay home." The Haitian health ministry on Sunday reported three new cases of the novel coronavirus, but provided no details on where they were detected. On Thursday, President Jovenel Moise responded to the first two confirmed cases in Haiti by ordering the immediate closure of all factories, schools, training centers and universities. The decision, which put the textile industry's nearly 60,000 workers out of a job, was taken without consultation with the country's private sector or labor organizations. "We learned of this measure on TV, just like that. There was no warning," Georges Sassine, the president of the association of Haitian industries, said. Some factories continued operating normally on Friday, ignoring the government measures. On Sunday, several members of the clergy were arrested in Port-au-Prince for not respecting a ban on gatherings of 10 people or more. Lockdowns like those imposed in Italy and France would be difficult to carry out in Haiti because most inhabitants survive day to day in the informal economy. The high density of the population of Port-au-Prince, which with three million inhabitants is the most populous capital in the Caribbean, hugely complicates efforts at social distancing, particularly in the crowded public transportation system. (Newser) Gertrud Steinl, the last surviving German honored for saving Jews during the Holocaust, has died, the AP reports. German news agency dpa quoted the head of Nuremberg's Jewish community, Andre Freud, as saying Steinl died Monday, on the eve of her 98th birthday. Steinl, a Sudeten German, was recognized in 1979 as Righteous Among the Nations, Israel's highest honor to those non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. story continues below According to an entry on the Yad Vashem website, Steinl was an overseer in the Polish town of Stryj during World War II when a worker confided in her that she was Jewish. Steinl sent the woman, Sarah Shlomi (nee Froehlich), to live with her parentslikely ensuring she wasn't deported to a Nazi concentration camp. (Read more Holocaust stories.) Change in distance traveled, compared with normal, on March 27 in U.S. counties -60% or less +30% or more no data New York, the state hit hardest by the virus, has experienced some of the largest declines in travel Movement fell sharply in California, where a shelter-in-place order is set to last until April 7 Some of the smallest declines are in northern Florida, Georgia and Alabama, where the number of infections is just beginning to climb Change in distance traveled, compared with normal, on March 27 in U.S. counties -60% or less +30% or more no data New York, the state hit hardest by the virus, has experienced some of the largest declines in travel Movement fell sharply in California, where a shelter-in-place order is set to last until April 7 Some of the smallest declines are in northern Florida, Georgia and Alabama, where the number of infections is just beginning to climb Change in distance traveled, compared with normal, on March 27 in U.S. counties -60% or less +30% or more no data Change in distance traveled, March 27 -60% or less no data +30% or more Note: Uses a three-day average. The coronavirus pandemic has ground America to a halt from coast to coast. But states in the South and Midwest have not reacted the same way or to the same degree, despite warnings from health experts that drastic measures are needed to slow the spread of the virus. The impact of social distancing and work-from-home measures has been captured in a new way using data on smartphone movements, an analysis of which was provided to the Times Opinion section by Descartes Labs, a geospatial analysis company. The data shows how travel has plummeted in states hit hard by the virus, like New York, California and Washington. But other states with fewer confirmed infections have seen smaller declines, presenting challenges for controlling the spread of the virus. Health experts argue that states without many known infections should react as though the virus is already widespread because it probably is. The cases we see today reflect transmission that has happened in the past, said Ashleigh Tuite, an epidemiologist at the University of Toronto. We have to be able to anticipate what is to come. Travel declined in all states as the number of confirmed cases grew Note: Uses a three-day moving average. States are color-colored using the Cook Partisan Voter Index , which shows how strongly states lean toward Democrats or Republicans compared to the country as a whole. Confirmed cases reflect those identified by The New York Times To measure how social distancing has changed our behavior, analysts looked at how far people travel each day using smartphone G.P.S. signals. Then they calculated an average distance for each county and state, comparing travel today against whats considered normal. Data collected from smartphones can be imprecise, especially in smaller counties where fewer users share their location. Even still, the analysis offers one of few ways to measure how the country is reacting to the crisis in near-real time. The South and Midwest lag behind Change in distance traveled on March 26 -60% or less +30% or more Wash. Me. Mont. N.D. Vt. Minn. Ore. N.H. Idaho Wis. S.D. Mass. N.Y. R.I. Wyo. Mich. Conn. Iowa Pa. Neb. N.J. Nev. Ohio Ind. Del. Ill. Utah Md. Colo. W.Va. Kan. Calif. Va. Mo. Ky. N.C. Tenn. Ariz. Okla. ARK. N.M. S.C. MISS. ALA. Ga. TEXAS LA. Alaska FLA. HAWAII Change in distance traveled on March 26 -60% or less +30% or more Note: Uses a three-day average. The smartphone movements reveal one major turning point: the weekend of March 14 and 15, by which point New York, Massachusetts, Illinois and other states had ordered restaurants and schools to close. By March 16, as the number of confirmed cases surpassed 4,500 nationwide, many parts of the country finally saw significant declines in daily travel. Southern states like Texas, Florida and Louisiana saw drops in mobility around 40 percent at the beginning of last week, but those numbers have leveled off even as the number of confirmed cases continued to climb. (The total number of infections is likely much higher than whats been confirmed due to a lack of testing.) Its also unclear what role statements from some Republican lawmakers and conservative media outlets played in influencing the reaction in many right-leaning states. Early on, some conservatives portrayed the pandemic as a media-fueled hysteria, encouraging constituents to continue eating at busy restaurants despite the warnings. President Trump also played down the risks at first, labeling concern over the virus a mere hoax. Republicans have been less concerned about the coronavirus overall, according to a poll by Civiqs. But those numbers are starting to change as infections spread and stock markets tumble. Even still, some Republican leaders have acted contrary to recommendations by health experts. Mississippi may be one of the most striking examples. Its governor, Tate Reeves, issued an executive order last week that defined nearly every type of business as essential, allowing restaurants and religious institutions to reopen. This caused wide confusion and left mayors across the state scrambling to walk back restrictions already in place. The governor later clarified the order was not meant to supersede local government decisions. But the damage was done. Jason Shelton, the mayor of Tupelo, had reversed an order closing restaurant dining rooms the weekend prior. We dont have a choice but to go by what the governor says, Mr. Shelton, a Democrat, told city council members, according to The Daily Journal newspaper. Mississippi, which had 485 cases on Wednesday, borders hard-hit Louisiana, whose governor issued a statewide stay at home order last Sunday. But Mississippi hasnt budged. Were not going to make rash decisions simply because some other states decide to do things, Governor Reeves said. He later told viewers in a Facebook Q&A: Mississippis never going to be China. Mississippis never going to be North Korea. The lesson of the outbreak so far is that control measures often appear drastic before infections rise, but they are necessary to prevent the situation from worsening. States in the South and Midwest, like Mississippi, need to act now, before they start looking like New York, Washington or, yes, China. People sometimes think that youre overreacting, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, in an interview with CNN. I like it when people are thinking Im overreacting because that means were doing it just right. Severe storms, including at least one possible tornado, struck parts of Arkansas on the evening of March 19, damaging homes and causing widespread damage to trees and power lines. Additionally, the National Weather Service has confirmed tornadoes are to blame for damage in parts of rural North Texas on the previous night. In Arkansas, Boone County 911 Director Daniel Bolen told Springfield, Missouri, television station KYTV that the storm damaged several homes. It knocked down power lines, leading to outages in the area. At least one home was destroyed and another lost its roof to a storm that struck a remote Ozark Mountains area near Pyatt in northern Arkansas, near the Missouri border, said Brice Smith, Marion Countys emergency management coordinator. At least one person was sent to a hospital in nearby Harrison, Arkansas, with minor injuries, he said. In Texas, weather service survey team examined damage caused by the storm late Wednesday night south of Graham, about 80 miles northwest of Fort Worth. Team members concluded the damage caused was consistent with a tornado with winds of 105 to 110 mph. The EF-1 tornado moved northeastward toward Lake Bridgeport and on to the town of Alvord. The storm tore metal siding from industrial buildings, downed utility lines and caused widespread tree damage. To the west, in the Abilene area, the weather service confirmed at least two tornadoes, both rated at least EF2 with winds of 111 to 135 mph. The first was south of Merkel, 16 miles west of Abilene. where there was extensive tree damage and damage to several wind turbines. It moved on to Tye, where a small home was destroyed. A second tornado was confirmed near Hamby, nine miles northeast of Abilene, where cars and trucks were tossed around the parking lot at the Robertson Unit and Middleton Unit state prisons. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Texas Windstorm Despite ending her presidential candidacy, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has offered the most prominent, thoughtful and urgent response to the coronavirus crisis of any politician in America. (Los Angeles Times) Remember the good ol days six months ago when a Democratic presidential candidate with the adorable catchphrase I have a plan for that, was surging in the polls? The most endearing part was that her catchphrase wasnt just empty sloganeering. She did have plans. Big ones. Plans underpinned by a righteous moral center. Intellectually, she was heads above the rest of the field. In less than two minutes, she obliterated half a billion dollars worth of political advertising and took down Michael Bloomberg. Imagine what she could do with four years? And then Democratic voters decided to play pundit. Perceived electability won out over ideas, ambition and intellectual acumen. Her campaign ended in ignominious defeat, shortly after she came in third in her home state of Massachusetts. Yes, Im obviously talking about Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass). Cut to the present, with a coronavirus pandemic ravaging the globe and economic collapse imminent. The existential threat of climate change clearly wasnt enough to hammer this point home, but the coronavirus has made it succinctly: Politics isnt a reality show. Its life or death. We dont need to grab beers with our presidents, we need them to make sure our public health and emergency medical systems can keep millions of people alive and that the rest of us have the resources to survive and thrive during quarantine. Despite ending her candidacy, Warren has offered the most prominent, thoughtful and urgent response to the coronavirus crisis of any politician in America. While Republicans, including the president, were still denying the threat of the coronavirus, Warren was already preparing plans for an inevitable economic catastrophe. And while most of her Democratic colleagues were occupied tossing political barbs, Warren was shaping policy that would eventually form the basis for the Democratic response to the virus. Throw all other political considerations into the garbage: The world needs Warren in the executive branch, a heartbeat away from the presidency. She should be the vice presidential pick on the Democratic side. Story continues Consider Joe Bidens response to the virus. As news of its spread grew more dire, Biden has been largely quiet since his overwhelming win in last Tuesdays primaries. Weve heard little from him on policy. Weve heard little from him in the way of offering public guidance. Weve heard little from him in general, other than a few political attacks on Trumps coronavirus response. This, perhaps, shouldnt be a surprise. Biden isnt necesarily running as a man of action. His appeal is almost exclusively political. His pitch is that he can beat Trump. And, once he does, he intends to return dignity to the office of the presidency, along with experience. Thats all well and good, but the coronavirus doesnt respond to civility. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) too, it should be mentioned, carries an almost exclusively political appeal. Yes, he has grand plans. But those plans are so sweeping as to feel less actionable and more like blunt instruments to pull the political center of the country to the left. This is a role hes perfectly capable of continuing as a senator. We need leaders at the highest levels of government who have the intellectual capacity and moral backbone to protect lives during national crises and to get us through those hard times with a plan for coming out the other side better, stronger and more prepared than we were before. Here is where I state the obvious: Our current president doesnt just lack the capacity to rise to this challenge, he lacks the interest even to try. His goals are exclusively political and/or self-serving. Vice President Mike Pence, meanwhile, either through incompetence or an inability to exert the slightest influence on the president, is useless. Tasked with heading up the executive branchs coronavirus response, Pence has acted like a feckless sycophant whose primary job is to massage the presidents ego, instead of protecting the nation from the most dangerous outbreak the world has faced in a century. He is executive cheerleader of the United States. Theres a time and place for mat talk, and it is not in the middle of a global pandemic. Yes, vice presidential picks aren't supposed to outshine the top of the ticket. They are selected almost exclusively for their ability to provide some kind of political advantage either by making up for the perceived shortcomings of the presidential candidate, or offering an edge in the electoral college. This is how we wound up with a human bowl of unseasoned mashed potatoes, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), as Hillary Clintons 2016 running mate. There may be candidates out there who can provide Biden with bigger political boosts. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) could help shore up undecided voters in the Midwest. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) might reassure young voters of color that Biden won't ignore their interests the moment it becomes politically convenient. But there is only one candidate with the surgical competence to address the issues facing our country and the planet. The coronavirus pandemic has made it abundantly clear that Elizabeth Warren is the person who should be leading the nation. Since thats no longer an option, we need her as close to the presidency as possible. China has deployed a fleet of 12 underwater drones in the Indian Ocean. According to sources, these drones known as 'Sea Wing Gliders' were launched in December 2019 and these drones had made around 3,500 observations till February 2020. These Sea Wing Gliders are a Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (UUV) which are capable of operating for months without any human crew. Reports claimed that these underwater drones were launched in Indian Ocean by the specialist survey ship Xiangyanghong 06. Security experts claimed that these drones are being used by China to monitor the activities of Naval forces of other countries but Chinese government has repeatedly maintained that these drones are being used to collect data related to oceanography. The Sea Wing Gliders underwater drones of China are quite similar to the Littoral Battlespace Sensing-Glider (LBS-G) used by the U.S. Navy. It may be recalled that a U.S. Navy LBS-G was captured by China in international waters in the South China Sea on December 15, 2016. According to China, the American underwater drone was in the process of being recovered by USNS Bowditch when it was captured from the water by Chinese Navy. The incident had sparked a diplomatic spat between the two countries and Beijing had ultimately returned the captured glider to Washington. These gliders employ variable-buoyancy propulsion which allows them to sink and then rise to the surface again. These gliders have a balloon-like device filled with pressurized oil and this device is inflated and deflated to control the movement of the gliders. The large wings of these underwater drones help them glide forward as they go and also help them to run for long periods of time. As the coronavirus crisis unfolds, we are being warned that our jails will constitute one of the epicenters of the pandemic, given their crowded, unsanitary conditions, and the lack of measures to protect the health of inmates. Weve seen this before though a humanitarian crisis unleashed on our incarcerated population, triggered by a catastrophe. Back in 2005, as the residents of New Orleans fled the fury of Katrina, those incarcerated in the Orleans Parish Prison (OPP), one of the countrys largest jails at the time, were left to languish behind bars. The stories of OPP inmates trying to bust through their cell doors as the water rose to their necks, staring down armed guards stationed to keep them in place, rioting in panic, and going hungry and thirsty for days after the hurricane, constitute some of the most disturbing narratives to emerge post-Katrina. And here we are again 15 years later, on the precipice of another crisis, about to repeat the mistakes of New Orleans. Philadelphia continues to be one of the most incarcerated metropolises in the world. Of the 4,700 people in jail as of January, 70% are black and 18% Latinx. This is a massive group of people of color at extremely high risk of being infected. In comparison, the Grand Princess cruise ship that was prevented from docking in San Francisco because of an outbreak had 3,500 people on board. Containing the rapid spread of the epidemic in this population is nearly impossible. While the courts in Philadelphia pruned back operations on March 16, with administrative directives being issued to postpone trials, the city might have left it too late. It will take considerable time for the decreasing number of people entering jails to significantly affect the absolute number incarcerated at this point. In fact, even the pace of seeking the release of those already in jail through the usual petitioning channels might be slowed to a trickle, given the fact that the courts are now virtually shutdown. There is only one humanitarian and public health solution to what is now shaping up to become an impending disaster: release, en masse, all those incarcerated on nonviolent offenses. This will protect them, as well as the much smaller population of people who will remain incarcerated. It is not an unprecedented move: In an emergency response to the virus ravaging its population, Iran released 85,000 prisoners this month. The Los Angeles County sheriff released 600 inmates in response to the virus, and other major metropolises are following suit. Certainly, the speed and scope of this move will necessitate an all-hands-on-deck approach. The city would do well to fast-track the initiatives being implemented in San Francisco, for instance, where the District Attorneys and Public Defenders Offices are working in concert, and devoting considerable resources to releasing those charged with nonviolent offenses. A panel of judges needs to be conscripted into these efforts, and the academic community, with its technological ability and training to hold online sessions, can extend its help to immediately begin reviews. As someone who runs a center serving the needs of people being released from incarceration, I can personally attest to the fact that most Philadelphia residents have family members (or know people) who are currently incarcerated. In the reentry community, we are all intimately familiar with the truism that in Philadelphia, what goes on behind bars, never stays behind bars. This is going to be especially true of the epidemic. We do not want to become the case study for how we as a city forgot about the incarcerated as the virus raged. We do not want to become another New Orleans. Toorjo Ghose is an associate professor and Calvin Bland Faculty fellow in the School of Social Policy & Practice at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the founding director of the Center for Carceral Communities at Penn, an agency that serves people coming out of incarceration. See Full Image Gallery >> According to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, as of Sunday, March 22, nearly 2,000 New Yorkers have been hospitalized, and 114 have died. More than 15,000 have tested positive statewide. Some 9,000 of those are in New York City. In response, Cuomo announced a new state order Sunday at 8 p.m. requiring all nonessential employees to stay at home. Nonessential gatherings of individuals of any size or for any reason have also been canceled or postponed. The impact on the usually bustling city were visible throughout New York City. Efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus have completely altered the usual New Yorker way of life, effectively putting the city that never sleeps to sleep in the last week after it became one of the nation's epicenters for the fast-spreading virus. Take a look at the image gallery up above. You'll see a New York City that you simply don't recognize. A desolate Times Square still lit up with no one to see its billboards. The usually bustling Grand Central Terminal empty, except for a lone traveler. Only a few people snapping selfies on the Brooklyn Bridge, instead of the horde of commuters and tourists that usually venture across the iconic span. The Charging Bull, a popular tourist attraction near the Stock Exchange normally surrounded by tourists, stood alone with no one in sight, with the occasional selfie-seeking person taking advantage of what may be a once-in-a-lifetime picture. Once-packed subway cars had only a few passengers, almost all wearing face masks. And a row of Broadway theaters were still illuminated even though they are shuttered until mid-April, a sign that the show will go on. It's not yet clear when the city will reopen, but until it does, expect to see deserted scenes like the ones you see above. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Related Video: Click here to See Video >> Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, March 23, 2020 07:58 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206ca7202 1 Editorial #Editorial,COVID-19,COVID-19-lockdown,social-assistance-funds,pandemic,state-budget Free As Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has declared a two-week state of emergency, until April 4, to help the city fight the COVID-19 pandemic, our biggest concern is not about the availability of money for helping the people hardest hit by stringent containment efforts, such as social distancing and travel restrictions, but the governments institutional capacity to actually deliver social assistance to those people. Although the government has been building up experience managing social safety net programs since the 1998 economic crisis and the geographical and social group mapping of the target beneficiaries has been fairly adequate, the coronavirus shutdowns have extensively stopped commercial and manufacturing operations, leading to prolonged worker furloughs and numerous outright layoffs, wiping out the livelihoods of millions of daily laborers. The 2020 state budget allocates about Rp 372 trillion (US$23.28 billion), more than 22 percent of the central governments budget, for social safety net programs through various forms of aid for health, education, poverty-alleviation, cash transfers, fuel, fertilizer, electricity, small-credit subsidies and, recently, preemployment cards. Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati announced that realigning spending within the 2020 budget has enabled the government to appropriate another Rp 62.3 trillion for concerted programs to cope with the health crisis and its damaging impact on the economy, especially to extend social assistance to those adversely affected. Governor Anies said the Jakarta provincial budget would be able to provide cash aid for 1.1 million newly vulnerable people. The biggest challenge is to reach out to the newly vulnerable groups: those street vendors, daily workers and employees who cannot afford to work from home because of a lack of digital equipment, families that cannot afford to help their children study at home during school closures and restaurants, bars, mom-and-pop retail stores and other small businesses that lack customers because of physical distancing measures. Reliable data on these groups of people made vulnerable by the health crisis and its economic ramifications will determine the effectiveness of well-targeted social assistance programs. Unfortunately, we have yet to build a truly integrated social protection system, one that is based on a single, uniform database and co-owned by all relevant ministries and agencies. Certainly, we cannot wait for surveys or studies to provide more comprehensive data on the new targets of social aid since the delivery of social assistance should have started last week. Therefore, it is imperative that the central government and local administrations team up with credible nongovernment or civil-society organizations to reach out to the target beneficiaries and to deliver social aid in a more transparent way. It is most imperative in this kind of crisis that decision making and aid delivery is fast. This does not mean that we can simply ignore high standards of accountability. However, past experiences with government social safety net efforts show that state machinery tends to be so overwhelmingly preoccupied with oversight to prevent the misuse of funds that aid delivery is often delayed or even stopped altogether by excessive bureaucratic rigidities and inertia. The Kerala government has reinstated suspended IAS officer Sriram Venkitaraman, who was accused of driving a car in an inebriated condition and fatally knocking down a journalist here on August 3 last year. Venkitaraman has been appointed Joint secretary in the health department. Asked about the reinstatement of the controversial officer, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, told reporters on Monday that the state government will not back anyone who had done any wrong even if he was government officer. The case is before a court now, he said, adding there was no question of protecting wrongdoers. The official's suspension had been extended twice. Venkitaraman has been appointed as the "joint secretary" with the health department, sources from the chief minister's office told PTI. The journalist community in the state has expressed their protest in reinstating the officer who was booked under sections 304 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and section 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of an offence) of the Indian Penal Code. He has also been charged under sections 184 (dangerous driving), 185 and 188 of the Motor Vehicles act. Siraj daily bureau chief K M Basheer died when the motorbike he was riding was hit by the car allegedly driven by Venkitaraman. A committee headed by Chief Secretary Tom Jose had earlier recommended revoking his suspension after pointing out that the police had not filed the charge sheet even after six months since the accident. The police, later on February 1, filed the charge sheet before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court. The Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) has sought withdrawal of the decision. "The whole society knows how Venkitaraman tried to wriggle out of the case soon after the accident. Basheer's death was due to drunken driving of a responsible officer of the state government," KUWJ said. Basheer's family also expressed anguish over the decision. "The officer claimed that he had retrograde amnesia (following the accident), but now he has been appointed to the health ministry itself. This is to derail the investigation," K Abdu Rahuman, Basheer's brother, told media. Retrograde amnesia is a type of memory loss caused by damage to the memory-storage areas of the brain following a serious injury, stroke, trauma, thiamine deficiency, brain disease or some other serious illness. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Scarborough courthouse will be closed Monday after a person who works there began displaying symptoms consistent with COVID-19. The Ministry of the Attorney General employee has not been to work since March 11, according to a memo from deputy Attorney General Irwin Glasberg obtained by the Star. A memo from the provinces employee relations branch said the ministry became aware the employee was displaying symptoms on Saturday, March 21. The Scarborough courthouse at 1911 Eglinton Street East has recently undergone enhanced cleaning. We are closing the Scarborough Courthouse as a precaution to allow for a thorough cleaning and help reduce any potential risk of exposure to COVID-19, the memo from the deputy Attorney General said. No date was provided for when the courthouse would re-open. The Ontario Court of Justice announced Friday that all family trials, criminal trials and preliminary inquiries between March 20 and May 29, 2020, are suspended unless a judge has ordered otherwise. Bail hearings, in-custody pleas and urgent matters will continue but efforts are being made to do as much as possible remotely, according to a spokesperson for the court. The London, Ont., courthouse remains closed for cleaning after being closed March 17, after two people, who are partners and who both work at the courthouse, tested positive for COVID-19. One person was last at the courthouse on March 10. The other was there until March 13. A memo from Glasberg on Saturday said thorough cleaning is expected to be completed this week. Meanwhile, advocates continue to call for the release of non-violent offenders, citing the devastating impact an outbreak in jails and prisons would have. Defence lawyers are collecting old cellphones (with chargers) to be delivered to jails to allow prisoners to make phone calls more safely and cheaply than using the shared phones which only allow collect calls to landlines. According to lawyer Reid Rusonik, the ministry will permit the use of these donated cellphones for free with the assistance of cellphone providers. The phones will be for phone calls only, no data. Sim cards need to be removed and the phones should be wiped of any information, sanitized and wrapped to avoid breaking. Phones can be donated at the mailbox of the offices of Rusonik, OConnor, Robbins, Ross & Angelini, 36 Lombard Street, suite 100 in Toronto (ground level) on weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Photo: BCNU There's less traffic noise, no fireworks shows, no roaring crowds at sporting events in Vancouver these days, thanks to the COVID-19 crisis. But, every night there's a new tradition that's making sound waves through the city. Vancouver residents are stepping outside at 7 p.m. on their own balconies, patios, roofs, or sidewalks to erupt in cheers and applause to salute the city's health-care workers on the front lines. Word has been spreading on social media that the applause is for doctors, nurses, and other first responders and hospital personnel in the unprecedented health care crisis. The hastage #clapfordoctors on Twitter and Instagram shows that this is happening around the world at designated times. In Vancouver, the nightly ritual has been happening in the West End, though there have been rallying calls on community Facebook groups for a similar action to happen in communities across the Lower Mainland. To some, it's a cheer of "mutual support" for neighbours in isolation. So, if you hear some cheers, shouts, and pots and pans being banged, step out and join in. It's a great way to say thank you, to say we're in this together, without leaving our homes. Medical professionals have tested more than 1,250 people for COVID-19 at two drive-thru sites in Houston, according to health reports. United Memorial Medical Center, a private hospital in Acres Homes, tested over 750 people on Thursday and Friday, chief of staff Joseph Varon said. And 518 people got tested at Butler Stadium, the first city-operated location, from Friday to Sunday, according to the Houston Health Department. James Durbin / The Oilfield Photographer Inc. / The Oilfield Photographer, Inc. Six pipeline operators have cut a combined $1.9 billion from their 2020 budgets as record low oil prices and weakened demand from the coronavirus dampens plans for new projects, a new research note from Houston energy investment banking firm Simmons Energy reported. Noble Midstream Partners, Rattler Midstream, Targa Resources, EnLink Midstream, Oneok and Pembina Pipeline made the budget cuts over the past two weeks representing an overall 30 percent cut in planned capital expenditures for new pipeline and storage projects in 2020, researchers reported. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 18:20:58|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BERLIN, March 23 (Xinhua) -- After losing around 35 percent in the last four weeks, German stocks opening at 8,536.33 points continued a downward spiral on Monday, with benchmark DAX index losing 392.62 points, or 4.4 percent. The least decreasing company among Germany's 30 largest listed companies at the start of trading was German telecommunications giant Deutsche Telekom, with shares falling by 2.45 percent, followed by mail and logistics company Deutsche Post, which lost 3.31 percent, and pharmaceutical company Bayer 3.35 percent. Shares in MTU Aero Engines fell by 6.69 percent. The German aircraft engine manufacturer was the biggest loser at the start of trading on Monday, after announcing suspended operations at several facilities in Europe due to the coronavirus crisis. According to MTU Aero Engines, activities will be reduced by the end of the week in a "coordinated approach" and suspension will last three weeks. The ifo Institute, or Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich based in Munich, said the coronavirus crisis could cause economic losses of more than half a trillion euros (535 billion U.S. dollars) and lead to more than a million job losses in Germany. "The costs will probably exceed anything known from economic crises or natural disasters in Germany in recent decades," ifo President Clemens Fuest said on Monday. On Monday, the yield on German ten-year bonds went down by 0.028 percentage points to minus 0.367 percent, while the euro traded unchanged at 1.0662 U.S. dollars. For some relationships, weeks at home under self-isolation might prove the final straw. But Ana de Armas' is said to be 'very happy' as she Shelters At Home with her Deep Water co-star Ben Affleck. The couple is self-quarantining together after they were spotted on a romantic getaway. Ana de Armas is 'very happy' with new flame Ben Affleck as the two self-isolate together; the two are seen on a morning walk on Saturday in Los Angeles And a source close to the pair says that the Knives Out star 'loves spending time' with her new boyfriend. They told Us Weekly: 'Ana is very happy with Ben. She loves spending time with him and they have great chemistry and a lot of fun together.' It comes after Affleck, 47, and de Armas, 31, were spotted getting friendly on the beaches of Costa Rica during a romantic getaway. Before that, they visited her hometown of Havana, Cuba, where they posed together with fans, who later posted to Instagram. Their relationship has since been confirmed by Us Weekly, and Affleck's ex-wife Jennifer Garner, 47, reportedly approves. Co star: Ana, seen in November 2017,stars with Ben on Deep Water An insider said: 'Jen has completely moved on from Ben in a romantic sense. She considers him a friend, thinks he is a good dad to their children and respects him. The source added: 'She is happy in her own life and supportive of him and happy for him and his relationship.' Affleck and Garner were married from 2005 to 2018, and they share daughters Violet, 14, Seraphina, 11, and son Samuel, eight. He recently finished production on Deep Water, in which he plays a man who allows his wife (de Armas) to have affairs in order to avoid a divorce. But when her lovers start to go missing, he soon becomes the prime suspect in their disappearances. [March 22, 2020] Government of Goa Partners With Innovaccer to Launch the First-Ever Self Assessment App - TEST YOURSELF GOA, for COVID-19 SAN FRANCISCO, March 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Goa becomes the first State in India to adopt an automated technological solution for the citizens to carry out a self-assessment test for COVID-19. The App provides information on Self Quarantine, Helpline numbers to reach out to, and other such information. The Government of Goa has partnered with Innovaccer, Inc. , headquartered in San Francisco, a leading healthcare technology company focused on delivering more efficient and effective healthcare through the use of pioneering analytics and transparent, clean, and accurate data. Innovaccer will assist the citizens to conduct a self-assessment test, where the person fills a survey based on the symptoms and the solution will assist them to take the next step accordingly without having to physically visit a healthcare facility. Pleased to launch the App in Goa, Shri Vishwajit Rane, Hon'ble Minister for Health, Government of Goa said, "The partnership with Innovaccer is one of the critical elements in our strategy to address the COVID-19 pandemic in the state of Goa and the nation. We are proud to become the first state in India to adopt technology solutions to tackle Coronavirus. I appeal to all our citizens to make use of the Application to the fullest and take necessary safety measures." Speaking at the launch, Dr. Bandekar, Dean f GMC said, "It is a very critical time for everyone in the nation. I offer my deepest condolences to the families which have lost loved ones to the coronavirus disease. It is crucial that we explore every possible way to prevent it from spreading more and affecting Goa. The partnership with Innovaccer will allow us to spread awareness among the citizens and help them conduct self-assessment of their health condition in an automated fashion and be one step ahead in beating the Coronavirus." "The application automatically sends the educational materials on prevention guidelines, steps to take in quarantine, and other relevant information from the Directorate of Health. The solution automates the identification processes by sending self-evaluation assessments as patients book appointments," says Dr. Jose D' Sa, Director, Directorate of Health Services, Government of Goa. "During such a crucial period, we are holding our flag 'caring as one' high and it is our honor to add value towards the work of the Government of Goa to fight this pandemic," says Kanav Hasija, Chief Customer Success Officer at Innovaccer. "We felt the need to develop a solution that will enable patients to be one step ahead in fighting against Coronavirus." "Innovaccer has been on a mission to connect healthcare and bring all of the stakeholders together to care as one. That mission holds true now more than ever," says Abhinav Shashank, CEO at Innovaccer. "It's an honour to work with the government of Goa and launch India's first automated self-evaluation assessment to tackle the COVID-19 virus. We are optimistic that this partnership will play a key role in curbing this pandemic and keeping citizens safe." About Innovaccer Innovaccer is a leading San Francisco-based healthcare technology company committed to making a powerful and enduring difference in the way care is delivered. The company leverages artificial intelligence and analytics to automate routine workflows and reduce manual overhead to facilitate more patient-centered care. Its KLAS-recognized products have been deployed all over the U.S. across more than 1,000 locations, enabling more than 25,000 providers to transform care delivery and work collaboratively. Innovaccer's Data Activation Platform has been successfully implemented in healthcare institutions, government organizations, and corporate enterprises including Catholic Health Initiatives, MercyOne, Orlando Health, Hartford Healthcare, and Stratifi Health. By using the connected care framework, Innovaccer has unified 3.8 million patient records and generated more than $400M (?3,000 crores) in savings. Press Contact Sachin Saxena Innovaccer Inc. +1 415-504-3851 Related Images image1.png Related Links TestYourselfGoa App View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/government-of-goa-partners-with-innovaccer-to-launch-the-first-ever-self-assessment-app---test-yourself-goa-for-covid-19-301027922.html SOURCE Innovaccer Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Mortality is the next phase. Ukrainian Health Minister Yemets says Ukraine is entering the second phase of the war on the novel coronavirus, which includes not only prevention measures but also treatment. "Unfortunately, Ukraine was unable to take tough measures to prevent the virus from entering," the Health Ministry said on Facebook by quoting him as saying in an interview to TV Channel 112 Ukraine on March 22. "Therefore, now, at the moment, we already have cases that did not originate from China or Europe, they are locally spread ones. That is, the second stage is at its beginning, and we must prevent the country from becoming part of the pandemic." Read alsoUkraine's Health Minister on worst-case scenario for coronavirus: By analogy with Italy According to the minister, the ministry's team and the Ukrainian authorities are currently working hard to combat the spread of the coronavirus. The vertical system of the health control service will be restored in Ukraine as a key element of the war against COVID-19, he said. "Now it is very important to contain the spread of the virus, although it is very hard to do. Because the third stage of this invisible enemy (coronavirus) is mortality. If China has managed to keep the death rate as low as 3-4%, Italy has failed to do that, and it is 8-9% there now. Today I've gathered experts who will work on the medical reform in keeping with Western standards ... Those specialists are able to keep our death rate even lower than in China," he said. David Shaywitz, a physician-scientist and founder of Astounding HealthTech, recently wrote an article about the critical private partnership between the government and the biopharmaceutical industry in the current COVID-19 pandemic. Shaywitz gave credit to his wife, who is also a physician-scientist working with Gilead. According to the article, she has been working relentlessly to evaluate whether remdesivir, an anti-viral therapy the company originally developed for Ebola. Shaywitz noted that while anecdotal data, as widely reported, may be encouraging, robust clinical trials are required, and his wife and her colleagues are working literally day and night to deliver a clear answer. Gileads trials will evaluate two dosing durations of the intravenous drug and will involve randomized, open-label, multicenter studies with an estimated 1,000 patients (mostly in Asia and other countries with high numbers of diagnosed cases). The trials are expected to start in March. These Gilead trials are in addition to two clinical trials in the Hubei province of China led by the China-Japan Friendship Hospital and a recently launched trial in the United States. According to Rear Admiral Richard Childs, an assistant surgeon general and lung specialist at the National Institutes of Health, fourteen Americans who contracted COVID-19 on the Diamond Princess cruise ship and of those fourteen, four received the drug from Gilead. Childs noted that he saw favorable changes in those who received the drug, but that it is going to take us awhile to figure out what the impact of the drug has been. Even though Gilead and its team are performing trials on an ongoing basis, there are other companies working to develop and evaluate potential treatments, including potential vaccines. Vaccines Moderna has been working to develop a vaccine to combat COVID-19, reportedly using a proprietary artificial intelligence-based approach to select the part of the virus that will most effectively goose our immune system. The trial is being conducted at the Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute in Seattle and the first subject received the vaccine on Monday, March 16th. The trial will include forty-five young and healthy volunteers who will receive differing doses of the vaccines. One unusual aspect of this vaccine is that it has not been tested first in laboratory animals. I dont think proving this in an animal model is on the critical path to getting this to a clinical trial, Tal Zaks, chief medical officer at Moderna, told STAT. He pointed out that National Institute of Health (NIH) scientists are working on nonclinical research in parallel. Inovio Pharmaceuticals expects to begin its trial at the University of Pennsylvania and a testing center in Kansas City, Missouri in April 2020. Other Developments Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi have started a clinical trial of Kevzara (sarilumab) in United States COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized for severe illness. It will test 400 patients in about 16 sites in the U.S. Sarilumab is a human monoclonal antibody that inhibits interleukin-6 (IL-6), a proinflammatory cytokine. This is not a vaccine. In times like this, public-private partnerships are critical. This is a historic opportunity for the industry and can offer ideas on how to handle this, and future, outbreaks. There are multiple ideas in the pipeline now, and the ideas continue to be put forth by biopharmaceutical companies and researchers daily. Delhis lockdown to fight coronavirus tightened Monday evening with the police announcing that those involved in essential goods and services will need to get a curfew pass to move about. For the movement of persons involved in the essential goods and services, the concerned Delhi-based organisations have to get the curfew passes from their respective district Police headquarters, the Delhi Police said. Media personnel will not require a curfew pass, but they will need to carry their identity cards. The decision of the Delhi Police comes in the wake of reports of widespread violation of lockdown restrictions in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. Follow coronavirus live updates here. Earlier Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the people of the country to take lockdown across the country seriously. He also urged the state governments to ensure rules and laws are implemented. On Sunday, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had invoked prohibitory orders and announced unprecedented curbs to check the spread of the virus that has infected 30 people in the national capital so far. The 30 cases in Delhi are among over 450 people across the country who have tested positive. The lockdown has insulated Delhi by sealing the borders. Dairies, grocery shops, chemists and petrol pumps have been exempted from the lockdown. Medical services will also function. The state government also ordered all private offices to remain closed but employees - both permanent and contractual - will be considered on duty. Kejriwal also said that companies will have to provide the employees their salary. Bigg Boss 13 contestant Mahira Sharma met her close friend and the shows finalist Paras Chhabra and his mother, even as the nation is going into self-isolation. Just a day before the complete lockdown ordered by the government amid the coronavirus outbreak, Mahira met Parass mother. A picture from their meeting has surfaced online. In the picture, Mahira is wearing a yellow top while Paras dons a black sweatshirt. His mom is wearing a brown and white dress. Apparently, Mahira spent Sunday - the day of the janta curfew - in Parass house. More pictures from her visit have also surfaced but those only had Paras posing with her. Mahira and Paras had developed a close bond during their stint on the reality show hosted by Salman Khan. Paras even had an ugly breakup with Akanksha Puri, and confessed to having romantic feelings for Mahira. Mahira, however, has maintained that Paras is nothing more than a friend for her. Also read:Kangana Ranauts birthday message has her singing in honour of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru on Shahid Diwas. Watch Earlier, claiming that it was very wrong to accuse her of driving a wedge between Paras and Akanksha, Mahira had said in an interview, I wanted to make one thing very clear that had I been the reason behind Paras and Akankshas breakup I would have been his girlfriend today. I am a very straightforward person when it comes to relationships whether it is with friends or a partner. I was very clear that he was already involved with someone and being a girl I can respect another girls feelings. While Mahira was voted out of Bigg Boss 13 right before the finale, Paras chose to walk out with the money offered to him. After Bigg Boss 13, he also took part in Mujhse Shaadi Karoge. The new show came to an end recently amid the coronavirus lockdown. Follow @htshowbiz for more Peter John Dario never got the chance to say goodbye to his dad, who died Friday while hooked up to a ventilator and awaiting coronavirus test results at Hackensack Meridian JFK Medical Center. He arrived at the 59-year-olds hospital room in Edison at 11:12 p.m. after going through a thorough screening and was given the news by staff that his dad passed away only 14 minutes earlier. By the time I got up, he had already gone. I wasnt even allowed to go in the room because it was too high risk, Peter John Dario said of his father, Peter Dario, an Edison resident. The symptoms came on suddenly for Dario, said his son. A diabetic and dialysis patient, Dario first complained of being extremely fatigued something Peter John Dario said is normal for people with his dads medical condition and was not immediately alarming. But later, he developed a severe cough. The day before he sought medical help, Peter John Dario said his father couldnt breath anymore. On March 14, Peter John Dario checked his dad into the hospital, where he was hooked up to a ventilator and told he had pneumonia. As a family, thats one of the things we regret. That we should have taken him to the hospital sooner. But it was too late, Peter John Dario said. The liquid in his lungs was too thick. It got to the point where his lungs just couldnt work anymore. His condition worsened, and he hit a 106 fever. His lungs slowly relied on the machines, Peter John Dario said. The next day, and the next day, he just got worse and worse. Peter Dario died before getting coronavirus test results back.Peter John Dario Another member of the family, who Peter John Dario asked not to be named, tested positive for the coronavirus after showing symptoms and visiting an urgent care facility, Peter John Dario said. The family is still waiting for the results of Darios March 14 test from the Centers for Disease Control, Peter John Dario said. M. Todd Way, regional president of Hackensack Meridian, said the hospital was limited in what it could say about patients but turnaround time on results has been slow. "We can tell you, we sent specimens out to many labs and the turnaround time, across New Jersey and in many other states, has taken much longer than providers would like. We are constantly communicating with labs in an effort to improve turnaround time. Dario immigrated from the Philippines to New Jersey in the early 1980s when he was around 20-years-old, his son said. He eventually found a job as a senior claims adjudicator. Peter John Dario said hell remember his dad as a lover of the spotlight and caring person. Some weeks, Dario would give homemade empanadas to the neighborhood garbage collector as a show of gratitude. My mom was like Why are you giving (the garbage collector) empanadas?' And he was like He deserves it. Everybody deserves some type of recognition, Peter John Dario said. From the unexpected death, Peter John Dario has a message for others: Make time for your family. Im always busy, he said. A lot of people, especially where we live in New Jersey and New York, its always hustle and bustle. I think the best message I could give to anybody is to make time. In New Jersey, 27 people have died from the virus and there are more than 2,800 cases, state health officials said. Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter. Avalon Zoppo may be reached at azoppo2@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AvalonZoppo. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. LANSING, MI -- Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer expressed frustration with the federal governments response to the coronavirus pandemic, saying poor planning caused shortages of critical medical resources that threatens to overwhelm hospitals. Whitmer, a Democrat, did not refer to President Donald Trump by name during a Monday press conference announcing her executive order requiring all residents to stay in their homes for the next three weeks. Whitmer said the president left governors on our own" to obtain ventilators, respirators and personal protection equipment and a shipment of supplies from the Strategic National Stockpile covers a fraction of what is needed to address the growing number of COVID-19 patients. Its a source of frustration that Ive been clear about and that my colleagues from across the country have as well," Whitmer said. "We should be able to rely on a national strategy and planning. This is that something that wasnt known at the federal government level many months ago. The governor unveiled an executive order Monday requiring residents to stay home and most businesses to close non-essential operations for three weeks, from March 24 to April 13. Access to critical services like health care, food, medicine, gas and banking remains available, and people are allowed to leave their homes to check on family members, exercise and perform other necessary tasks. Whitmer said the order aims to keep Michigans hospitals from being overwhelmed. The number of confirmed cases jumped from zero to 1,328 since March 10, and 15 people have died. The national stockpile is designed to help states fill gaps in their supplies. Distribution of goods is handled by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Whitmer said a recent shipment of masks, gowns, gloves and face shields to protect health workers falls short of whats needed. We just received our allotment from the federal governments National Strategic Stockpile, Whitmer said. The allotment of personal protection equipment for one of our hospitals was 74,795 masks, 204 gowns, 4,467 gloves and 64 face shields. Now, with the exception of the gloves, that allotment is barely enough to cover one shift at that hospital. Not even a full days worth of shifts - one shift." Whitmer said the state worked with local businesses and donors to secure 4 million gloves, 4 million masks and thousands of gallons of hand sanitizer. Michigans testing capacity increased during the last two weeks, but Whitmer said there is still a need for more tests to be made available by the federal government. We can litigate what contributed to us all being behind the eight ball in the United States of America right now after we get past the initial crisis, Whitmer said. I will just say this: Our national stockpile allotment covers one shift at a hospital. So, where you would ordinarily in a crisis like this expect a national strategy that covers all of the states and all Americans and makes available the necessary equipment to treat people who are sick, we got enough for one shift. The president signed the Defense Production Act, which allows him to compel the private sector to ramp up the manufacturing of personal protection equipment. Trump said Michigans automakers, specifically General Motors and Ford are exploring options to begin manufacturing ventilators. Bipartisan members of Congress have asked Trump to use the act immediately. Trump faced criticism from Whitmer and other Democrats for initially downplaying the threat of COVID-19. Whitmer said the president didnt take the coronavirus seriously enough during several appearances on national cable news networks last week. Trump responded by calling Whitmer the failing Michigan governor on Twitter, saying she must be more proactive. He provided no details about how Michigans response is lacking. Whitmer and Trumps relationship has gained significant political weight in the last few months. She was tapped to deliver the Democratic response to Trumps State of the Union address and later joined former Vice President Joe Bidens 2020 presidential campaign as a national co-chair. Whitmer referenced a recent comment made by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who also issued a stay home order." Pritzker said states are competing with each other to obtain much-needed medical supplies. It shouldnt have to be that way, Whitmer said. "If the federal government had done some planning in the front end, we would be in a lot better shape. PREVENTION TIPS In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores. Complete coverage of coronavirus in Michigan. Read more on MLive: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer expected to issue coronavirus Stay at home order President Trump promises help for American workers as stimulus package gets held up in Senate Trumps claims that GM, Ford making ventilators right now not true Almost 109,000 in Michigan filed for unemployment last week compared to 5,000 in typical week Tokyo Olympics 2020: Canada pulls out of Games amid coronavirus pandemic Mid-Michigan groups seek face masks, hand gel donations to fight coronavirus Pakistans efforts to build a 750 km range ground-launched cruise missile Babur II have suffered a set-back with the delivery platform crashing to the ground after two minutes or 14 kilometres in flight from the launch point at Sonmiani test range in Balochistan on March 19. According to national security planners and Pakistan watchers, this was the second consecutive test failure of the Babur II sub-sonic missile after the previous test failed on April 10, 2018. The second test launch failed while being witnessed by Lt Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Chief of General Staff, Pakistan General Headquarters, Rawalpindi, and top officials of Army Strategic Forces Command (ASFC) and Strategic Plans Division. Senior officials told Hindustan Times that Pakistan with the help of China is trying to build missile named after first Mughal Emperor Babur to match the 1,000 kilometre range Nirbhay cruise missile being developed by the DRDO. Both the missiles are said to have terrain hugging and sea skimming capabilities with nuclear as well as conventional warhead. The Nirbhay missile has already undergone six test trials with the last one achieving full mission objectives. It is understood that before testing Babur II missile, a team of Pakistan missile scientists had visited China. Islamabad has already developed a 700 kilometre range Babur I cruise missile that can be fired both from land as well as sea with terrain contour matching and GPS satellite guidance. It is also trying to develop air launched cruise missile by the name RAAD. The Pakistani cruise missiles are derivatives of Chinese C-602 and C-802 missiles with both the countries not members of missile technology control regime. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Shishir Gupta Author of Indian Mujahideen: The Enemy Within (2011, Hachette) and Himalayan Face-off: Chinese Assertion and Indian Riposte (2014, Hachette). Awarded K Subrahmanyam Prize for Strategic Studies in 2015 by Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) and the 2011 Ben Gurion Prize by Israel. ...view detail The other car was driven by a 29-year-old man, who told police he was heading south on Wolcott Avenue when he saw a gray Jeep speeding toward him, going the wrong way down the one-way street, police said. The vehicles then collided. Lime's distinctive green-and-white electric scooters are disappearing from Brisbane's streets in a temporary halt to operations amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The popular e-scooters were being pulled from Brisbane on Sunday night and returned to base in order to protect riders and contractors, Lime's head of government relations Mitchell Price said. Lime's head of government relations Mitchell Price (left) and operations manager Ian Brouckaert with the Generation 3 scooter in Brisbane. Credit:Toby Crockford The US-based start-up that rolled out the scooters in 2018 is pulling its scooters from cities around the world in a bid to reduce the risk of transmission. Mr Price said he told lord mayor Adrian Schrinner on Sunday night the company's 400 scooters would be temporarily taken offline until the situation had eased, but said it was only a short-term pause to operations. A man who voluntarily deported himself to Mexico eight times became the 10th undocumented immigrant to die in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during the last five months. The federal immigration agency announced Monday that Ramiro Hernandez died Saturday at a South Texas medical facility, where he has been hospitalized since Thursday. The 42-year-old was taken from Port Isabel Detention Center in Los Frenos, Texas, where he was awaiting a deportation proceeding, to Valley Baptist Medical Center, in Harlingen, Texas, where doctors declared him dead at 5:46am. ICE said Hernandez's preliminary cause of death was complications related to septic shock but did not provide further details. ICE reported Monday the death of the 10th undocumented immigrant in its custody since October. Ramiro Hernandez, who was held at the Port Isabel Detention Center (pictured) in Los Frenos, Texas, was taken to a local hospital, where he passed away Saturday. ICE said Hernandez's preliminary cause of death was complications related to septic shock ICE said Ramiro Hernandez's preliminary cause of death was complications related to septic shock Hernandez is the 10th person to die in ICE custody since October, the start of the governmental fiscal year. Eight people died in the previous fiscal year. It is unknown if the Mexican immigrant's death was related to the coronavirus pandemic, which has caused 501 deaths in the United States, and produced more than 41,200 positive cases. Advocates for immigrants have criticized the medical care ICE provides to people it detains and called on the immigration enforcement agency to release some of its more than 37,000 detainees. About 47% of those people are being held on non-criminal violations of immigration law, according to the agency's most recent statistics. As of last week, ICE had not confirmed any cases of COVID-19 in its facilities. The agency has placed sick detainees under observation and others in quarantine at several of its jails, including about 60 people confined to a dorm in the Pine Prairie facility in rural Louisiana, according to a lawyer who has spoken to detainees there. According to ICE, Hernandez had repeatedly crossed the U.S.-Mexico border since 1999 and voluntarily returned to Mexico eight times. He was most recently taken into ICE's custody December 21 after he was arrested and jailed for domestic violence at the Hidalgo County Jail. 'ICE is firmly committed to the health and welfare of all those in its custody and is undertaking a comprehensive agency-wide review of this incident, as it does in all such cases,' the agency said in a statement. 'Fatalities in ICE custody, statistically, are exceedingly rare and occur at a fraction of the national average for the U.S. detained population.' Healthcare students at Sheffield Hallam University are calling for their hospital placements to be suspended to minimise the spread of the coronavirus, which is already overwhelming the National Health Service (NHS). Their petition to university bosses highlights the strength of opposition to the disastrous course of the Johnson government, which has already seen teachers, pupils and others force a shift in its reckless policy of allowing the spread of COVID-19 with the aim of developing herd immunity. It illustrates how 10 years of austerity have led to much of the UKs social infrastructureespecially health careleft dangerously neglected, understaffed and under-resourced. The petition was launched on March 17 and students have yet to hear a response even as their placements in hospitals are due to commence. Speaking to the WSWS, one of those involved in the petition explained how it had emerged out of widespread concern among health care students at the situation and had already attracted hundreds of shares. All of those involved went into health care to provide a vital service for the sick and vulnerable and the petition should not be taken as a sign that they are in anyway retreating from that commitment. Rather the students are concerned that they would be placing others at risk and, given that many are only in their second year of training, are not qualified to provide the type of assistance needed. The petition states that, if the placements continue, We fear that we may unknowingly spread the virus to those more vulnerable (elderly, immune-compromised or those with underlying health conditions) and our families have increasing concerns as the situation develops, they too support us in launching this petition. A portion of students who fall under the high risk bracket are concerned that they may become infected and, as their symptoms may be more detrimental to their health, they will have to take more time off placement, resulting in more time to make up. Face-to-face teaching has been suspended in universities to limit the spread of the coronavirus. The petition points out, The university have released a statement that [the students] health and wellbeing is [their] top priority; if this was the case, they would understand our concerns about attending placement, and would allow us to self-isolate, as recommended by the UK Government, with no repercussions with regards to making up hours that we miss. Students are already displaying feelings of anxiety surrounding the nature of attending placement, even staying in hospital accommodation, and we feel that our mental health isnt being considered. We understand this is a challenging time for everyone as we are in unchartered waters, we would just like to have our voices heard. Placements have been suspended by universities in Liverpool, Birmingham and elsewhere. At Sheffield Hallam it is only suspended for first year students. Third year studentslike those across the countryare being fast-tracked to qualify to work in the NHS as an emergency response to the coronavirus. Second year students at Hallam have only been told they do not have to attend placements if they personally have health problems. This takes no account of the family situation, with several students reporting households with members that are asthmatic, or immune-suppressed. Such is the gravity of the crisis, and the disregard of the government, that 65,000 retired doctors and nurses are being called on to return to the NHS to boost frontline services. Many of these in the older cohort are more likely to become seriously ill and die from the pandemic. The NHS has been deliberately gutted over more than two decades, through cuts in funding, rationalisation and privatisation. The current staff shortage is the outcome of such policies. Bursaries for all health care students were abolished in 2017 and all health care students must currently pay at least 9,000 annually in tuition fees. The move exacerbated an already chronic shortage of NHS staff. The situation facing the students involved in the Hallam petition is typical. While paying exorbitant fees, many work unpaid on placements in hospitals for between 20 to 30 hours a week, sometimes involving nightshifts and 1012 hour shifts. To fund their living costs, many take on part-time additional work, while trying to complete course work and exams. The petitioner explained to the WSWS that placements are as much as a one-hour commute away from their homes. A large number are dependent on public transport to get to their placements. Some must stay in overnight accommodation. Under conditions in which the government is now speaking of the need for social distancing, this raises the danger that students could unknowingly be transferring the coronavirus from hospitals into the general population and back. NHS staff are currently not tested for COVID-19. The students petition comes amid reports that guidelines are now being drawn up to determine which patients live or die as severe shortages of staff and vital medical equipmentincluding ventilators and acute care bedsoverwhelm the NHS. The Independent reported that the guidance, to be issued shortly, had been drafted in little more than a week and means it is possible that patients with a greater chance of survival could be prioritised over those already on a ventilator in the event that none are available. The criteria cover patients with existing conditions such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and respiratory disease. It is not known whether an age limit will be established above which treatment could be withdrawn. Glenmark Pharmaceuticals announced that it has entered into an agreement with Hindustan Unilever (HUL) for divestment of its VWash brand and other extensions. Under this agreement, the brand and other trademarks, copyrights, know-how associated with Glenmark's VWash business will be transferred to HUL. Glenmark will receive an upfront payment and royalty on sales for 3 years. No employees will be transferred as a part of this agreement. The transaction is expected to be completed in the next few months subject to customary approvals. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) CHIPPEWA COUNTY, MI The first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in the Upper Peninsula on Sunday, March 22. The U.P.s first case was reported on March 22. The case involves an adult man with a medical history from Chippewa County, according to a news release from that countys Health Department. The man is no longer in Chippewa County and is currently hospitalized in isolation, according to the release. Health department officials said they believe the risk to the general public is minimal at this time and an investigation is underway to see if anyone came into close contact with the individual. The test will be sent on to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for confirmation, the release said. Statewide, over 1,000 cases and nine deaths have been reported as of Sunday, March 22. People must strictly practice social distancing at this time, Chippewa County Health Officer Karen Senkus said in the release. "If you are sick, isolate yourself at home whether you have been tested or not. Act as though you have it if you have symptoms that resemble COVID-19. PREVENTION TIPS In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores. Complete coverage of coronavirus in Michigan. Read all of MLives up-to-date coverage on the coronavirus at mlive.com/coronavirus. Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus. Also on MLive: Sunday, March 22: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan Michigan governor calls on federal government for more coronavirus tests and supplies Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer closes hair and nail salons, tattoo shops due to coronavirus SANTA BARBARA, Calif., March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has American consumers focused on purchasing necessities like toilet paper, hand soap and food. What they're not purchasing is flowers on their way to check out, and that's a problem. In a conference call on Friday, March 20, over 50 California flower farmers discussed the devastation their farming industry is experiencing due to lack of demand from consumers, canceled orders from industry outlets and transportation line shutdowns. The bottom line, according to American flower farmers: If the general public doesn't start buying American Grown Flowers immediately, the American flower industry, its farmers, wholesale distributors, retail designers and all the people who work in those businesses cannot survive. In fact, several flower farmers on the call said they're less than a week away from complete ruin. "America's flower farmers, the floral industry and all of their employees are teetering on economic devastation" said Dave Pruitt, CEO for The California Cut Flower Commission and administrator of Certified American Grown Flowers. "These people literally cannot hold on without support from consumers. We urge our fellow Americans to please consider purchasing fresh American Grown Flowers and Greens the next time you're in the store, and ask for our flowers to be added back into the distribution pipeline as a valued agricultural commodity." While a handful of retailers nationwide continue to carry flowers, many grocery brands and distributors are canceling orders or turning deliveries away. Farmers also express difficulty with getting their blooms and greens transported due to confusion around agricultural products and their exemption from the restrictions. "Our Certified American Grown farmers are out in their local communities now assisting the overworked people in the best ways we know delivering flowers and greens to help alleviate stress and bring moments of joy. We encourage you all to BUY FLOWERS where you can, SHARE THEM and let's make sure that all farmers are still in business when this crisis is over. Once gone, a farm may be gone forever," said Rita Jo Shoultz, owner of Alaska Perfect Peony and chair of the Certified American Grown Council. "A Rutger's University Study indicated that flowers bring happiness. In the home, they support self care, provide joy, hope and healing," Shoultz added. "Flowers help counteract negative messages and darkness prevalent at this very moment. Flowers will assuage troubled minds and bring peace to hearts and souls in this time of anxiety and fear." Today, flower farmers are asking consumers to purchase a bunch of flowers next time they're in stores to buy essentials. That purchase could make the difference in an entire industry one we count on to add beauty to life's celebrations, express love and decorate our homes. About Certified American Grown Launched on July 1, 2014, Certified American Grown Flowers represents a unified and diverse coalition of U.S. flower farms, including small and large entities in multiple states across the country. Certified American grown flower farms participate in an independent, third-party supply-chain audit to verify both origin and assembly of the flowers they grow. When it appears on bouquets, bunches and other packaging or store signage, the Certified American Grown Flowers logo gives consumers confidence in the source of their flowers and assures them that the flowers they purchase come from a domestic American flower farm. For more information about Certified American Grown Flowers, visit americangrownflowers.com . About the California Cut Flower Commission The California Cut Flower Commission (CCFC) unites the state's approximately 225 flower farmers to advance California's $320 million flower industry. In addition to providing cooperative marketing opportunities and administering advocacy efforts, the commission has positioned the California Grown brand as a highly recognizable, consumer-facing brand to drive sales of the state's fresh flowers and foliage. Learn more at ccfc.org. SOURCE Certified American Grown Related Links https://www.americangrownflowers.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 23:38:42|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- China Unicom said Monday that its net profits rose 11 percent year on year in 2019, despite slightly lower revenues amid fierce competition in the industry. Net profits hit 11.3 billion yuan (about 1.61 billion U.S. dollars), the telecom operator said in its annual report. Revenues went down 0.1 percent to reach 290.5 billion yuan. The biggest bright spot was its cloud-computing business, whose revenues soared 147 percent year on year. The company plans to invest 35 billion yuan on 5G this year, compared with 7.9 billion yuan in 2019. In a bid to control costs, China Unicom has partnered with China Telecom, another leading telecom operator, to build a 5G network of base stations. The partnership has already saved them a total of 10 billion yuan. The two companies will strive to finish construction on 250,000 5G base stations across the country by the end of the third quarter, one quarter ahead of schedule, and will share more infrastructure with each other in the future, according to the report. A bill co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley would bring student loan relief for up to 45 million borrowers in the United States. Pressley, along with U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Democrat from Minnesota, introduced the bill on Monday as the country responds to the coronavirus pandemic. The Student Debt Emergency Relief Act would provide immediate relief canceling at least $30,000 in outstanding student loan debt per borrower. During this public health emergency, no person should have to choose between paying their student loan payment, putting food on the table or keeping themselves and their families safe and healthy, Pressley said in a statement. The bill would also ensure that all canceled debt is exempt from taxation. It also requires the Department of Education to immediately assume responsibility for the monthly payments of federal student loan borrowers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The third aspect to the bill would shield borrowers from any collections or garnishments during the COVID-19 public health crisis. It would also protect borrowers from any federal offsets that would prevent them from receiving benefits. Canceling student debt will help jumpstart the economy by boosting consumer spending and reducing the financial pressure on workers during this pandemic, Pressley said in a statement. Pressley said that 45 million people account for $1.6 trillion in student loan debt in the United States. Massachusetts, she said, ranks in the top 10 among states in the country with the highest student loan debt with more than 855,000 owing $33 billion. Related Content: We heeded to people's plights during the pandemic: Stalin on 100 years of governance DMK, allies Cong, IUML announce boycott of TN Assembly session India oi-PTI Chennai, Mar 23: Tamil Nadu's main opposition DMK and its allies Congress and Indian Union Muslim League on Monday said that they will boycott the ongoing Assembly session considering people's safety and to facilitate the stay of MLAs in their respective constituencies. Leader of Opposition and DMK president M K Stalin in a letter to Speaker P Dhanapal said the session was being held contravening the government's campaign of social distancing to combat the spread of coronavirus. The decision to boycott was taken considering people's safety and considering public good to facilitate MLAs to be in their respective constituencies who are in fear of the virus, the top Dravidian party leader said. Coronavirus: Full list of 82 districts under lockdown "I believe the DMK's boycott move will help in attracting the attention of the government towards preventive steps," he said. DMK whip R Sakkarapani, Congress legislature party leader K R Ramasamy and IUML MLA K A M Muhammed Abbubacker told reporters at the Secretariat that their parties will boycott the session scheduled till March 31. They said the decision was taken after their repeated pleas to the government to defer the proceedings went unheeded. Sakkarapani said the move was amid the scare of spread of coronavirus in Tamil Nadu when more people were approaching hospitals in several towns. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, March 23, 2020, 11:25 [IST] NEW YORK -- Nearly one in three Americans was under orders on Sunday to stay home to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic as Ohio, Louisiana and Delaware became the latest states to enact broad restrictions, along with the city of Philadelphia. The three states join New York, California, Illinois, Connecticut and New Jersey, home to 101 million Americans combined, as cases nationwide topped 32,000, with more than 415 dead, according to a Reuters tally. Every piece of evidence that I can lay my hands on indicates that were at an absolutely crucial time in this war and what we do now will make all the difference in the world, said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. What we do now will slow this invader. It will slow this invader so our healthcare system ... will have time to treat casualties. In the U.S. Senate, partisan disagreement blocked a massive coronavirus response bill from advancing, with Democrats saying the Republican measure focused too heavily on helping corporations. But Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer said he believed differences could be overcome in the next 24 hours. Ohio has 351 cases and three deaths, while Louisiana has 837 cases and 20 deaths, several in a senior-care facility. Louisiana has the third highest number of cases per capita and saw a 10-fold increase in cases in the past week, Governor John Bel Edwards said. Ohios order will go into effect at midnight EDT on Monday and stay in effect until April 6. Louisianas order goes into effect at 5 p.m. CDT on Monday and lasts through April 12. Delawares order starts at 8 a.m. EDT on Tuesday. Dallas County in Texas, home to over 2.5 million people, and Philadelphia, with 1.6 million residents, told non-essential businesses on Sunday to close and residents to stay home. In Kentucky, non-essential businesses must close by 8 p.m. EDT on Monday but authorities stopped short of ordering residents to stay home. Republican U.S. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky on Sunday became the first member of the Senate to announce he had tested positive for the coronavirus. At least two members of the House of Representatives previously said they tested positive. Around the globe, billions are adapting to a new reality, with countries such as Italy, Spain and France on lockdown and several South American nations taking similar measures to try to stay ahead of the contagion, as global cases exceeded 325,000 and deaths topped 14,000. The mayor of New York City, the epicenter of the nations coronavirus epidemic, on Sunday described the outbreak as the biggest domestic crisis since the Great Depression and called for the U.S. military to mobilize to help keep the healthcare system from becoming overwhelmed. If we dont get more ventilators in the next 10 days, people will die who dont have to die, said Mayor Bill de Blasio, as the nations most populous city saw COVID-19 cases top 9,600 and deaths climb to 63. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo urged the federal government to take over acquisition of medical supplies so states do not have to compete with each other for desperately needed resources. Help is not coming quickly enough, Cuomo said. Time matters, minutes count, and this is literally a matter of life and death, he said. At the same time, there is not going to be chaos, there is not going to be anarchy. Life is going to go on. Different. But life is going to go on. Cuomo gave New York City officials 24 hours to come up with a plan to deal with residents still congregating in parks and other places and not practicing social distancing. Medical crisis De Blasio said New York City was not getting needed medical supplies from the federal government to contend with the rapid spread of the sometimes deadly illness. Hospitals are scrambling for protective equipment for healthcare workers and for ventilators as they brace for a wave of patients who will need help breathing as severe cases often lead to pneumonia and decreased lung function. Over the past week, U.S. President Donald Trumps administration has been pushing for aggressive steps to stem the economic hit, after Trump spent several weeks downplaying the virus risks. Trump said on Sunday the National Guard would help New York, California and Washington state respond to the coronavirus crisis. He said the U.S. hospital ship Mercy would be in Los Angeles within a week and provided detailed numbers for the first time on the types and quantities of medical supplies sent to outbreak centers. Vice President Mike Pence said 254,000 Americans had been tested for the coronavirus and 10% were positive. Greatest crisis since Great Depression The number of cases of the highly contagious respiratory illness in the United States and Spain are exceeded only by China and Italy. Italy reported record numbers of daily coronavirus deaths last week. This is going to be the greatest crisis domestically since the Great Depression, de Blasio told CNN, referring to the economic crisis of the 1930s. This is why we need a full-scale mobilization of the American military. Texas Governor Greg Abbott lamented the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) available for health workers. He said they were seeing delivery dates in July. Thats not going to work. We need delivery dates tomorrow, Abbott said at a briefing. We have ready money today for anybody who can sell us PPE. Well cut you a check on the spot. ITV bosses have postponed Britain's Got Talent's live shows following new government guidelines amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. An official statement from ITV read: 'We have been working with the brilliant production teams at Thames and Syco to find a way of making the live finals work, which were due to be broadcast at the end of May... 'However, in light of the latest government health guidelines and in line with our priority of safeguarding the wellbeing of everyone involved in our programmes, production of the live shows cannot go ahead as planned... Postponed: ITV bosses have postponed Britain's Got Talent 's live shows following new government guidelines amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic 'The live finals will therefore be broadcast later in the year.' Earlier reports claimed show bosses are hoping for a September air date, but 'have no idea when the live shows will take place' but will still air the audition rounds, which were filmed across the country in January and February. The spread of Covid-19 has forced the television industry to take drastic measures as the deadly virus continues to wreak havoc around the world. Hopeful: An official statement from ITV read: 'We have been working with the brilliant production teams at Thames and Syco to find a way of making the live finals work, which were due to be broadcast at the end of May' Auditions are in the can! ITV will still air the audition rounds, which were filmed across the country in January and February The first trailer for the new season of Britain's Got Talent was released on Saturday, revealing that the show will return in April. Which UK shows have stopped filming? EastEnders Line Of Duty Peaky Blinders Doctors Casualty Holby City River City Pobol y Cwm Hollyoaks Vera Call The Midwife The Only Way Is Essex Lorraine Loose Women Emmerdale Coronation Street Advertisement Judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams are back for the 14th season, as they made a brief appearance in the trailer alongside co-hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly. Amid the coronavirus crisis, in a statement last week, ITV revealed that they intend to 'try and make the live shows work' for BGT, after postponing The Voice's live semi-final and final. In a statement, the channel explained: 'The Voice UK knockouts, which are pre-recorded, will continue to be broadcast this weekend and the Britain's Got Talent audition shows are due to be broadcast in the next few weeks as planned.' 'We have, however, taken the difficult decision to postpone until later this year The Voice UK's live semi final and final, which were due on air on the 28th March and 4th April, and are working to replace them in the schedule with some bespoke Voice specials. 'We are also working with our production colleagues to see how we can make the BGT live shows work in an ever changing situation and we will update on this in due course.' A food delivery man crosses the street in Times Square in Manhattan on March 17, 2020 in New York City. (Johannes Eisele/ AFP via Getty Images) CCP Virus Brings Worry, Waiting at NYCs Most Famous Eateries Theyre some of New Yorks most iconic eateries, feeding New Yorkers and on visitors must-see lists for decadessome for more than a century. Theyve been through a lot in those yearswars, financial crises, blackouts, a terrorist attack. But this pandemic and the steps New York and other places are taking to fight it, like shutdowns and social distancing, is like nothing theyve ever seen. The shutdown in response to the viral outbreak seemed like an avalanche, the speed at which things changed, said David Berson, general manager at Peter Luger, the Brooklyn steakhouse that opened in 1887 and has been operated by his family since 1950. The state order for restaurants to halt dine-in service and allow for only delivery and takeout has been a huge challenge at Luger, a special-occasion kind of place with high-end prices that dry-ages its own steaks and orders its supply well in advance. It has meant severely cutting back on restaurant staff, down to a skeleton crew of about half a dozen from a normal contingent of about 100, Berson said. Everyones being paid their usual salaries for the time being. It also means figuring out some inventory concerns, because right now, we have a lot of dry-aged meat, he said. Literal tons. Theyve found ways to use some of it for a good cause, like bringing lunch for hospital workers. Its such a contrast from how Berson remembers the atmosphere after the Sept. 11 attacks, when people were asked to go out and support businesses. Now the best thing to do is the opposite, stay home, he said. The states order for restaurants to limit their operations is a central part of efforts to curtail the transmission of the CCP virus. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. For most people, the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. The vast majority of people recover. But for some, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death. At Juniors, another Brooklyn mainstay, famous for its cheesecake, the doors are closed. Owner Alan Rosen, the latest generation of his family to own the 70-year institution, figured the best way to survive the shutdown was to focus on its commercial bakery in New Jersey, which supplies still-open grocery stores, and to shutter the original location and three other outposts in Manhattan and Connecticut. Staying open for delivery just wouldnt have been sustainable, Rosen said. That meant laying off 650 of 850 employees, some of whom came to the Brooklyn spot on March 19 to pick up their final paychecks. It was emotional, Rosen said, but our employees are the most resilient people. Their attitudes were amazing and uplifting to me. He was committed to getting through this and getting back up and running, and hopefully being able to bring back many of the employees he had to let go. Were going to get this done, he said of efforts to deal with the virus. Im not going anywhere, he said. I am committed to my company and my family of employees and my family of customers. Mike Zoulis, the owner of Toms Restaurant in the upper part of Manhattan, wasnt so confident. The restaurantwhose exterior is known to many as the restaurant on Seinfeld and as the setting of Suzanne Vegas hit song Toms Dinerhas been run by his family since it opened in the 1940s. Its open for delivery and pickup, but if it continues like this, what am I going to do? he said. Right now, its just him and his two partners in the restaurant, with most of the staff of 25 to 30 people laid off. Toms has seen a number of disasters, and it survived and it survived and it survived, he said. Right now, it is the first time where I actually think that we might close down. At Katzs Delicatessen on Manhattans Lower East Side, theyre still making soups and deli meats, including the famous pastrami, as they have been since it opened in 1888. All of the 200 or so workers are still getting paid, even though only a fraction are actually working, in the store and in the warehouse in New Jersey where the deli takes care of its shipping business, said Jake Dell, the fifth generation of his family to run Katzs, where Meg Ryan famously had an outburst in When Harry Met Sally. We recognize we have to look out for the neighborhood, he said, adding, We stay open because we have to give others that sense of comfort and familiarity. Employees are seeing that in the orders that are coming in for shipment, with messages from the senders saying things like, Heres a little comfort of home, Dell said. Theyll get through this latest thing, he said. Whatever it is, you figure out a way because you have to. You take it one day at a time, you do what you need to do to protect everyone, Dell said. Weve weathered every storm that comes, from everyone looking out for each other. By Deepti Hajela Pope Francis called on all Christians around the world to stop at noon Italian time on Wednesday to pray the Our Father together. We want to respond to the pandemic of the virus with the universality of prayer, of compassion, of tenderness, he said from the papal library. Lets remain united. Pope Francis also said he will this week deliver an extraordinary Urbi et Orbi (to the city and the world) blessing - normally given only at Christmas and Easter - and called for worldwide prayer to respond to the coronavirus crisis. His decision to make an exception and give a special Urbi et Orbi blessing underscored the gravity of the situation worldwide but particularly in Italy, which has overtaken China as the country hardest hit by the virus outbreak, Reuters reported. On Saturday Italy recorded a jump in deaths from coronavirus of almost 800, taking the death toll in the country to nearly 5,000. (Bloomberg) -- The U.K. will go into lockdown after Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered sweeping measures to keep people from leaving their homes for at least three weeks. Governors of Michigan, Massachusetts, West Virginia and Wisconsin implemented stay-at-home policies. The Federal Reserve announced a second wave of initiatives to support the U.S. economy after Democrats blocked the Senate from advancing a rescue plan. Deaths in Italy, the epicenter of the outbreak in Europe, slowed for a second day. Germany was ready to approve aid to Italy, and Chancellor Angela Merkels first coronavirus test came back negative. Key Developments: Cases top 372,000 and 16,000 dead: Johns Hopkins tallyCrisis in aviation industry deepensIOC member says Olympics will be postponedCVS to hire 50,000 workers to meet demandCases in New Jersey rise almost 1,000 overnight to 2,844Feds Bullard says U.S. unemployment may hit 30% in 2QRhode Island postpones its presidential primary from April 28 to June 2 Subscribe to a daily update on the virus from Bloombergs Prognosis team here. Click VRUS on the terminal for news and data on the coronavirus and here for maps and charts. For analysis of the impact from Bloomberg Economics, click here. To see the impact on oil and commodities demand, click here. Florida Orders Self-Isolation for Travelers From N.Y., N.J. (5:34 p.m. NY) Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said he will issue an executive order making it mandatory for all arrivals from New York and New Jersey to self-isolate for two weeks upon entering the state. Trump Administration May Reopen Obamacare Exchange (5:20 p.m. NY) The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is considering reopening enrollment for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act in response to the outbreak. Americans who dont currently have coverage may see if they qualify for special enrollment periods if theyve lost their job or have been subject to other life-changing circumstances, a CMS spokesperson said. Story continues CMS is working closely with the states and health plans to assess other necessary actions to ensure Americans have coverage and access to services during the pandemic, the spokesperson said. Boris Johnson Puts U.K. on Three-Week Lockdown (4:38 p.m. NY) U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson approved radical measures to ban all unnecessary movement of people for at least three weeks. Police will break up gatherings and have the power to fine individuals who break the tough new laws. Shops selling non-essential items, playgrounds, libraries and places of worship will be closed. Read the full story here Work to Begin on Hospital at Javits Center (3:33 p.m. NY) Construction will begin this week to turn the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan into a 1,000-bed hospital, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said. The main showroom of the center will be broken up into four 250-bed hospitals each about 40,000 square feet in size, Cuomo said at the center. The state is hoping to add an additional 1,000 beds at the center for less-intensive medical care, for a total of 2,000 new beds, Cuomo said. New Jersey, too, expects to increase patient capacity and is asking the Federal Emergency Management Agency to operate four pop-up hospitals, a step that has support from President Donald Trump, Governor Phil Murphy said. Read the full story here France Advises Against Test Drug (3:03 p.m. NY) As deaths climbed almost 30% in France, Health Minister Olivier Veran said the government recommends against prescribing the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine or using it for anything other than severe cases. France is participating in a multi-country study looking at the efficacy of four experimental treatments, including hydroxychloroquine. New Deaths Fall in Italy for Second Day (2:27 p.m. NY) Italy reported 601 new deaths from the coronavirus on Monday, posting a decline for a second day, as the country enters its third week of lockdown measures designed to keep the spread of the disease in check. Total cases in the country rose to 63,927, civil protection officials said, while the hard-hit Lombardy region around Milan, which accounts for about half of the nations infections, registered a decrease in the number of hospitalized virus patients, top health official Giulio Gallera said Monday. Read the full story here IMF Predicts Recession (1:30 p.m. NY) The International Monetary Fund said it expects a global recession this year that will be at least as bad as the downturn during the financial crisis more than a decade ago, followed by a recovery in 2021. Nearly 80 countries have asked the Washington-based IMF for emergency finance, Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said in a statement Monday following a conference call of Group of 20 finance ministers and central bankers. Georgieva said the fund strongly supports extraordinary fiscal actions already taken by many countries and welcomes the moves of major central banks to ease monetary policy. Even more will be needed, especially on the fiscal front, she said. Read the full story here Boeing Closes Washington Plants (1:15 p.m. NY) Boeing Co. is temporarily shuttering its Seattle-area factories, compounding hurdles for a company already reeling from the grounding of its top-selling plane. The shutdown will begin March 25 and last 14 days. The company will conduct deep cleaning at affected sites and establish rigorous criteria for return to work. The closing leaves Boeing with just one fully functioning jetliner factory. Read the full story here Germans Offer to Help Stricken Italy (1:10 p.m. NY) German officials are ready to help Italy get through the coronavirus pandemic and are prepared to support an emergency loan from the euro areas bailout fund. The preferred option in Berlin would see Italy granted an enhanced credit line by the European Stability Mechanism with minimal conditionality, according to a German official with knowledge of the governments thinking. While Chancellor Angela Merkel has said shes happy to discuss Italys request for jointly issued coronavirus bonds to shore up euro members finances, the official said Germany isnt ready to move forward with that idea. Read the full story here Dow Loses Gains Under Trump (12:02 p.m. NY) The Dow Jones Industrial Average has lost more than 30% of its value in just over a month, wiping out all of its gains since Donald Trump was elected on Nov. 8, 2016. The S&P 500 Index isnt too far behind, while the Nasdaq Composite Indexs return remains in the green -- albeit on a downward trajectory with the rest. New Cases May Be Slowing in Germany (10:25 a.m. NY) Germanys public health authority has seen a trend toward the exponential growth in new cases flattening out and expects to see by Wednesday whether this is the case, Lothar Wieler, president of the authority, said at a press conference earlier on Monday. I am optimistic. RKI repeated that many local health agencies dont report over the weekend and that those numbers will trickle in during the course of the week. NYC May Lose $6 Billion in Tax Revenue (10:21 a.m. NY) New York City is staring down a fiscal emergency and may lose as much as $6 billion in tax revenue over the next 15 months, as the the Covid-19 epidemic shuts down a broad swath of the citys economy, comptroller Scott Stringer said. Modernas Vaccine May Reach Some This Fall (10:10 a.m. NY) Moderna Inc.s experimental vaccine for the new coronavirus could be available to a select few as soon as this fall. Thats ahead of expectations for a commercial launch in another year. Stephane Bancel, the biotechs chief executive, told Goldman Sachs representatives on Friday that the vaccine could be made available to a few, potentially health-care workers under emergency-use authorization. Moderna has been working with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases on the vaccine and just started testing in humans earlier this month. A potential vaccine isnt expected to be commercially available for at least a year. Moderna is also scaling up manufacturing so that the company can produce millions of doses each month, according to a company statement. GE Aviation to Cut About 10% of U.S. Workforce (9:27 a.m. NY) GE Aviation plans to cut about 10% of its total U.S. workforce, its chairman said in a message to employees. There will be a temporary lack of work impacting approximately half of its U.S. maintenance, repair and overhaul employees for 90 days. Merkel Is Tested, Awaiting Results (9:16 a.m. NY) German Chancellor Angela Merkel was tested today for the coronavirus and is awaiting the results, her spokesman said at a news conference. He said the chancellor is in good health and continuing with her work. The German leader quarantined herself at home on Sunday following earlier contact with a doctor who later tested positive. The government has signed off on taking on billions in new debt as part of an unprecedented package totaling 750 billion euros ($800 billion). Trump Weighs Easing Curbs (8:50 a.m. NY) President Trump began talking privately late last week about reopening the nation, despite the swiftly rising number of coronavirus cases and against the advice of health professionals, because hes worried about the economic damage from an extended shutdown, according to people familiar with his thinking. He earlier retweeted several posts calling for healthy people to return to work after 15 days of precautions. The fear of the virus cannot collapse our economy that President Trump has built up, says a post retweeted by Trump. Flatten the curve NOT the Economy, another says. Russia Expects 10% Slump This Year in Worst-Case Scenario (8:45 a.m. NY) Russias economy could shrink by as much as 10% this year if the spread of coronavirus requires a full lockdown, according to a worst-case scenario being discussed by the government. Forecasts show the contraction could be around 5%-10%, according to people familiar with the estimates, who asked to remain unidentified since discussions are ongoing. That would be as deep as the 7.8% contraction Russia suffered in 2009. Singapore Sees Largest Daily Increase (8:35 a.m. NY) Singapore reported its biggest one-day jump in coronavirus infections with 54 new cases, of which 48 were imported. Earlier, Malaysia confirmed 212 new cases, the biggest daily jump, bringing the total to 1,518 despite imposing a lockdown that began on March 18. U.K. Wont Hesitate to Take Further Measures (8:22 a.m. NY) U.K. will take further measures quickly to restrict movement of people if theres evidence current steps arent working, Prime Minister Boris Johnsons spokesman, James Slack tells reporters on a conference call on Monday. The U.K. economy will contract at least 10% in the first half of the year as the fallout form the coronavirus hammers output, according to Bloomberg Economics estimates. In a report released Monday, senior U.K. economist Dan Hanson said support provided by the Bank of England and the Treasury should prompt a turnaround in the second half of the year if the outbreak is contained by the summer. H&M Warns It May Need to Cut Thousands of Jobs (8:22 a.m. NY) H&M has already temporarily closed all stores in several of its biggest markets including Germany and the U.S. and during the last few days also closed all its stores in the U.K. That means 3,441 of the groups 5,062 stores are now shuttered. The Swedish fashion retailer said its response to the crisis is likely to affect tens of thousands of employees in all parts of the business across the globe. U.K. in Talks to Increase Delivery of Virus Tests (8:05 a.m. NY) The U.K. is in talks with firms to boost delivery of coronavirus tests to front line health and social care staff, the FT reports, citing two people familiar. Sending test kits to people at home is also being explored, the paper said. Fed Signals Unlimited QE (8 a.m. NY) The Federal Reserve on Monday announced a second wave of initiatives, including buying an unlimited amount of bonds to keep borrowing costs low and setting up programs to ensure credit flows to corporations and state and local governments. The Fed will buy Treasuries and agency mortgage-backed securities in the amounts needed to support smooth market functioning and effective transmission of monetary policy to broader financial conditions and the economy, and will also buy agency commercial mortgage-backed securities, according to a statement. CVS Health to Hire 50,000 (8 a.m. NY) CVS Health Corp. said it plans to hire 50,000 people in full-time, part-time and temporary jobs to tackle surging demand for drugstore services and health goods. The drugstore chain said it plans to hire store workers, delivery drivers, distribution center workers and customer service employees. Rival drugstore chain Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. on Sunday said it plans to hire more than 9,500 people, while Amazon.com Inc. plans to hire 100,000, and Walmart Inc. 150,000. New Jersey Unemployment Has Gone up Dramatically (7:41 a.m. NY) New Jersey unemployment has gone up dramatically as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, Governor Phil Murphy said. The state will report labor statistics today, according to an interview on CNN. States need a huge amount of direct cash assistance, and theyre also looking for equipment and other help from the federal government, Murphy said. (A previous version of this story corrected new number of cases in New Jersey.) For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. Politicians and Celebs come out in their balconies to applaud the country's heroes GREENWICH Greenwich Hospital is preparing for more patients as the number of town residents testing positive for the coronavirus increased to 31, according to figures released Monday by the town Department of Health. The number of positive tests at Greenwich Hospital totals 120, although many are from residents of towns across the region and most are not town residents. According to Greenwich Hospital, 28 people were currently hospitalized with coronavirus concerns, although four patients in that group that were being ruled out for the virus, Greenwich Hospital COO Diane Kelly said Monday. Not everybody we admit (with symptoms) actually has a confirmed case, Kelly said. As the number of cases continues to grow in the town and across the region, Greenwich Hospital is ready to expand its intensive care unit from 10 beds to 30 beds, said Kelly, who took part in a conference call Monday with First Selectman Fred Camillo. Our efforts are being done in conjunction with the Yale New Haven Health System incident command center, Kelly said. Each hospital, including Greenwich Hospital, is looking at its full capacity of what beds we have available to us and what would be our changing of services. We look at how we can increase our capacity by redoing the beds we currently have. Not all the coronavirus patients are in the ICU, she said. Most patients are either on a regular medical floor or perhaps a telemetry monitored floor, Kelly said. That is part of our plan of making sure we have additional resources on those units. The ICU will be expanded if more patients become more critical in nature, she said. Those are the services you need to have readily available, quite honestly, with no time notice. You need to have them set up now. Greenwich Hospital has canceled all elective procedures, both to prevent the spread of the virus and to free up nurses, physicians and other personnel for coronavirus cases and other urgent care. Areas heavily hit by the coronavirus, particularly New York City, are looking at possible satellite locations for medical services. In Greenwich, Kelly said the hospital could use its other facilities including its offices on Holly Hill Avenue and its medical practice offices in Stamford. We are looking at that, but its a farther out plan, Kelly said. We would first look at what we have, and I am only looking at medical facilities, whether they are physician offices, medical practices or ambulatory surgery. Were not looking at non-medical (locations) at this point in time. Because of the rapid spread of the virus, Camillo urged residents to continue practicing social distancing. All schools will remain closed through at least April 20 by order of Gov. Ned Lamont, who also ordered all nonessential businesses to close by Monday night. Camillo, who declared a state of emergency in town, has closed the towns parks and beaches, civic centers, playgrounds and Senior Center to encourage people to stay home. As more and more residents get tested, were going to see this number (of cases) grow exponentially, Camillo said. Its imperative we follow all established health protocols for safety. Being proactive is the only way that we can collectively flatten the curve and the spread of this virus. Residents can go outside for exercise but they have to do it at a distance, he said. Camillo closed the parks and beaches on Sunday after more than 4,000 people went to Greenwich Point on Saturday. Those who violate the ban could be subject to trespassing charges. Greenwich Police Department Public Information Officer Mark Zuccerella said officers have been instructed to first inform anyone they see violating the order that the parks and beaches are closed. In essence, they are being given a warning, Zuccerella said. However, if there is blatant disregard for the order by the office of the first selectman, then the laws will be enforced. Camillo said he made the closures in the best interest of the town. Its my hope that this temporary inconvenience will mitigate the spread of the national health crisis, he said. I have had many back and forths with people today, both supportive and against, but ... I am responsible for the health and safety of 63,000 people. ... There are lots of opinions among those 63,000 people, but we make decisions here based on the information we have and I can tell you, leaving large open spaces available to the public is a recipe for disaster. Kelly said she agreed with Camillo about the importance of practicing social distancing. Anyone with symptoms of the coronavirus should reach out to their doctor or healthcare facility first, Kelly said. A doctors order is required for testing. The towns health department has dedicated phone lines for resident questions and concerns at 203-622 -7865, 203-622-7703, 203-622-7614, 203-622-7842 and 203-622-7836. Yale New Haven Health has a hotline at 833-275-9644 and a website at www.ynhhs.org/patient-care/covid-19.aspx. kborsuk@greenwichtime.com Nearly 500 Indians, who were evacuated from Iran in batches and quarantined at three Army facilities in Jaisalmer, are presently asymptomatic, a defence spokesperson said on Monday. The staff at the Army wellness facilities is working over time to ensure that the centres remain clean, he said. In addition to sanitisation of the entire premises, daily motivational lectures are conducted by the Army medical authorities to make people understand the importance of the mandatory quarantine to combat the spread of COVID-19, the spokesperson said. He said the people are enjoying their time by playing games, watching television, praying and utilising the available resources in the wellness facilities. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) COAI has written to OTT services asking to reduce streaming quality to reduce burden on network. The industry body of Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has written to the telecom department and OTT streaming services including Netflix, Hotstar, Amazon Prime Video and others to lower streaming quality in order to reduce the burden on the networks, which is at an all-time high due to people staying and working from home amidst the Covid-19 outbreak. We believe that during this critical time, it is absolutely essential for the streaming platforms to cooperate with telecom providers so as to manage the traffic distribution patterns which are likely to strain the network infrastructure at a time when it is needed for various critical requirements, COAI said in a letter to video streaming companies. In order to manage the strain on cellular networks, COAI has requested OTT platforms to reduce streaming quality from High Definition (HD) to Standard Definition (SD). According to ET Telecom, COAI has reached out to Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Hotstar and Netflix. Advisories have been issued in India asking people to stay at home and not come to work or gather in public places. Theres a surge in work from home, online education, digital payments, online healthcare and other areas which are relying heavily on the internet. In regard to this, Reliance Jio already announcing doubling data limits on its prepaid packs. This sudden surge in digital use is already putting pressure on the network infrastructure of the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs). The TSPs are taking requisite steps to manage this load and facilitate the smooth functioning of the networks during this critical time, COAI told ET Telecom. Furthermore, COAI has asked for a period of no advertisements and pop-ups in websites claiming these also add to high bandwidth consumption, and if required these may be replaced with public announcements or awareness regarding the virus. COAI has also reached out to the Department of Telecom (DoT) to enforce the directive on streaming apps. Notably, similar measures have been taken by streaming services like Netflix in the US and Europe as more countries go into lockdown to prevent contagion from the coronavirus. A shopper looks for toilet paper at a Stop & Shop supermarket during hours open daily only for seniors in North Providence, R.I. Read more WASHINGTON Scam artists are preying on older peoples fears by peddling fake tests for the coronavirus to Medicare recipients, a federal law enforcement agency warned on Monday. The Health and Human Services inspector general's office said it's seeing marketing schemes rapidly pivot to offering tests for COVID-19 and Senior Care Packages with hand sanitizer or even tout a vaccine, which doesn't exist. Some marketers falsely claim that President Donald Trump has ordered that seniors get tested. It's all a trick to get personal information that can be used to bill federal and state health programs, said Christian Schrank, assistant inspector general for investigations. It's a straight-up ruse to get your Medicare number or your Social Security number under the guise of having a test kit or a sanitary kit sent to you, Schrank said. Often the caller will hang up as soon as that number is provided. Low-income Medicaid recipients also are being targeted. The sales pitches are coming via telemarketing calls, robocalls, social media posts, emails and door-to-door visits, Schrank explained. As legitimate businesses close their doors and send workers home to comply with social distancing measures, fraud operators have ramped up recruiting for their call centers, Schrank said. For seniors, the consequences can be long term. Health care fraud is one of the most prevalent forms of identity theft. READ MORE: Anxiety over spread of disease ignites a rush of virus-related scams Once a person's Medicare information is in the hands of fraudsters, it can be used repeatedly to bill for unwanted goods and services. That can create problems if a Medicare enrollee ever does need them. Among the schemes reported to authorities: In Florida, seniors have been contacted by fraudsters claiming that Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have mandated they get tested and that their Medicare number is required. A scheme in the Midwest offers a Senior Care Package that includes hand sanitizer. As we know, it's very difficult for beneficiaries to get out to the store, Schrank said. At this time when seniors are searching for answers, these individuals are preying on their desire to speak with somebody. Several online operations are offering coronavirus vaccines, when none has been developed and approved. The first time you hear about a vaccine, it's not going to be through an email or a telemarketing call, Schrank said. Federal and state law enforcement officials have set up a working group to share information on the quickly evolving scams and route leads to the agencies best equipped to investigate. The phone number for the HHS inspector general's hotline is 800-HHS-TIPS, and the National Center for Disaster Fraud hotline is at 866-720-5721. For most people, the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. Worldwide, about 350,000 cases have been reported, and while most people recover in weeks, more than 15,000 have died. Fraud against government health care programs is a pervasive problem that costs taxpayers tens of billions of dollars a year. The true extent is unknown. Government-backed anti-fraud organizations known as the Senior Medicare Patrol started seeing COVID-19 scams pop up in early March, said Jennifer Trussell, a retired federal investigator and consultant to the groups. Reports of widespread problems with access to testing for the virus were like a red cape to the fraudsters, providing a pretext for pitches. Trussell recommends hanging up on any unsolicited calls. These schemes are like the coronavirus itself, she said. They are spreading quickly. A body was found on a Sonoma Coast beach in Bodega Bay Saturday, but the death is not considered suspicious, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office said Monday. A member of the public found the body, believed to be a man, at Duncans Landing, and the sheriff's office was dispatched at 7:15 p.m. Woodrow Wilson was more focused on the end of World War I than a flu virus that was making its way around the globe, ultimately sickening hundreds of thousands of Americans, including the president himself. George W. Bush stood with a bullhorn on a pile of rubble after the 9/11 attacks on lower Manhattan and promised that the people who were responsible "will hear all of us soon." Barack Obama was in office for just a few months when the first reports came in about the H1N1 virus, which would eventually be declared a pandemic like today's new coronavirus. Most American presidents will confront a crisis or crises before they leave office, whether it is a natural disaster, war, economic downturn, public health threat or terrorism. What matters is how they respond, historians say. "The number one thing a president can do in a moment like this is try to calm the nation," said Julian Zelizer, a presidential historian at Princeton University. It's what Franklin D. Roosevelt did during an extraordinary 12 years in office, guiding the nation through a bleak period of Depression-era unemployment, a severe Midwest drought known as the Dust Bowl and battle against the Nazis and Japanese in World War II. During the influenza of Wilson's time, which killed an estimated 50 million people worldwide, including about 675,000 in America, presidents were not involved in public health issues in the same way that President Donald Trump has become engrossed in the US effort against the new coronavirus. Such issues were left for public health professionals at the state and local level. "Wilson never issued any public statement whatsoever," said John M. Barry, author of "The Great Influenza," a book about the 1918 flu. "He was entirely focused on the war. Period." In fact, Wilson was so focused on the post-war peace talks that he was a party to in Paris that he, too, ended up stricken with the flu. He recovered. Trump, on the other hand, seems intent on being the public face of the effort against what has become his most serious challenge in a reelection year. Trump, who has no scientific or medical training, now leads a daily White House briefing on coronavirus efforts by a task force he tapped the vice president to lead. Trump styles himself as a "wartime president" fighting an "invisible enemy" responsible for hundreds of deaths and thousands of infections in the US - numbers that will continue to rise as the virus spreads and a dramatic upheaval of everyday life. Millions of people have been ordered or urged to stay home for the foreseeable future, cut off from simple pleasures like going to restaurants, shopping malls or movies in a bid to slow the virus. But Trump's crisis management has earned mixed reviews, with praise from many supporters and criticism from detractors, including mayors and governors who are desperate for Trump to more robustly use his authority to help them get much-needed protective gear and supplies for doctors and nurses. The president's early attempts to minimize the severity of the situation, and to suggest that it was under control, have been panned, though he recently adopted a more urgent tone. But the damage has been done, said Scott Morrison, of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, citing lack of public trust due to Trump's early handling of the situation. "Not having trust and confidence is a huge liability heading into something this catastrophic," said Morrison, senior vice president and director of the Global Health Policy Center at CSIS. Obama was a few months into his first term in 2009 term when reports started coming in that April about the H1N1 flu. He addressed the situation that month, assembled a team and ultimately declared both a public health emergency and a national emergency to deal with the threat. "This is obviously a very serious situation, and every American should know that their entire government is taking the utmost precautions and preparations," Obama said as he opened a White House conference that month. He said public health officials had recommended that schools with confirmed cases consider temporarily closing, and that he had asked Congress for USD 1.5 billion in emergency funding to help monitor and track the virus, and to build a supply of antiviral drugs and other equipment. "Everyone should rest assured that this government is prepared to do whatever it takes to control the impact of this virus," Obama said. Dr. Howard Markel, director of the University of Michigan's Center for the History of Medicine, said Obama was "very hands on" during H1N1 but not as visibly as Trump. Obama's director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention conducted daily briefings from Atlanta. "He took a step back because he allowed his experts to run the show," Markel said of Obama. "He didn't have to be in front of the podium, but you knew he was there." Nearly 12,500 deaths due to the H1N1 flu were reported in the US between April 2009 and April 2010, when the World Health Organization declared an end to the pandemic. Obama spent nearly USD 1 billion and sent US military personnel to West Africa to help with the response to an outbreak of Ebola in 2014. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tech companies are known to listen in on private conversation via its smart speakers in order to 'improve voice-recognition features.' Now that millions of people are currently working home due to the coronavirus outbreak, employers are urging their stuff to power down the technology in order to keep it from listening to confidential phone calls. Mishcon de Reya LLP, the UK law firm that advised Princess Diana on her divorce, advised staff to mute or shut off listening devices like Amazon's Alexa or Google's voice assistant when they talk about client matters at home, according to a partner at the firm. Video products such as Ring and baby monitors are also on the list of devices to be away of while working from home, as first reported on by Bloomberg. Scroll down for video Mishcon de Reya LLP, the UK law firm that advised Princess Diana on her divorce, advised staff to mute or shut off listening devices like Amazon's Alexa or Google's voice assistant when they talk about client matters at home Mishcon de Reya partner Joe Hancock, who also heads the firm's cybersecurity efforts, told Bloombger: 'Perhaps we're being slightly paranoid but we need to have a lot of trust in these organizations and these devices.' 'We'd rather not take those risks.' The coronavirus is forcing many businesses to close their offices, forcing employees to work from home, which is leaving many employers concerned about privacy and safety. Mishcon de Reya are not only advising their attorneys to power down the smart speakers, but are also asking that the technology is nowhere near their work space. The firm is not only advising their attorneys to power down the smart speakers, but are also asking that the technology is nowhere near their work space The firm worries about the devices being compromised, less so with name-brand products like Alexa, but more so for a cheap knock-off devices, Hancock explained. Although Alexa and Google Home only wake when a specific command is said by a user, a study has found that the devices turn on up to 19 times per day for an average of 43 seconds each time by words misunderstood from people speaking in the same room or heard from televisions. Lockdowns are not enough to defeat coronavirus, WHO experts says Countries cannot simply lock down their societies to defeat coronavirus, the World Health Organization's top emergency expert said today. Mike Ryan, chief executive director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, said even if countries stop citizens mingling, there still needs to be public health measures to avoid a resurgence of the virus later on. He said in an interview on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: 'What we really need to focus on is finding those who are sick, those who have the virus, and isolate them, find their contacts and isolate them. 'The danger right now with the lockdowns...if we don't put in place the strong public health measures now, when those movement restrictions and lockdowns are lifted, the danger is the disease will jump back up.' Advertisement That means the speakers using popular virtual assistants like Apple's Siri, Amazon's Alexa, Microsoft's Cortana and the unnamed digital helper on Google Home and Nest devices are listening to unknowing users. The Northeastern University study discovered that smart speakers were triggered by words they often misheard and that they often delivered bizarre responses anywhere from about 2 to 19 times per day. The most confused, according to the February 2020 study, was Siri, which responds from Apple's Home Pod. While designed to respond to 'Hey Siri,' the report says that 'Apple Homepod, activations occurred with words that rhymed or sounded similar to the term. Examples include, 'He clearly', 'They very', 'Hey sorry', 'Okay, Yeah', 'And seriously', 'Hi Mrs', 'Faith's funeral', 'Historians', 'I see', 'I'm sorry', 'They say'. A more alarming discovery in the report found that the speakers turned on randomly and stayed on for 20 to 43 seconds. The study highlights how Google admitted in 2017 that its Google Home Mini speaker, newly unveiled at the time, was guilty of eavesdropping on users. Recordings found by Dutch broadcaster VRT revealed two years later that the same speakers were again set off after misunderstanding certain words. Although Alexa and Google Home only wake when a specific command is said by a user, a study has found that the devices turn on up to 19 times per day for an average of 43 seconds each time by words misunderstood from people speaking in the same room or heard from televisions To make matters even worse, the devices were discovered listening in on private, sometimes intimate conversations. Recordings of pillow talk, couples fighting, confidential business calls and even discussions with children were being transcribed by Google contractors in what the tech giant said was an effort to understand different languages spoke 'Unbearable tragedy': Christian family loses fourth member to coronavirus Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A close-knit Italian-American Christian family that lost three members to the coronavirus after a family dinner just over a week ago lost a fourth member Thursday. Vincent Fusco, the fourth fatality, passed Thursday at CentraState Medical Center in Freehold, New Jersey, Roseann Paradiso Fodera, a cousin and the lawyer representing the Fusco family told NJ.com. "This is an unbearable tragedy for the family," Paradiso Fodera told CNN. Vincent Fuscos mother, Grace Fusco, 73, who had 11 children and 27 grandchildren, died from the new coronavirus Wednesday just hours after it killed another of her sons, Carmine Fusco, of Bath, Pennsylvania. Her eldest child, Rita Fusco-Jackson, 55, also of Freehold, died from the virus on Friday. New Jersey health officials noted earlier that the deaths in the Fusco family are connected to the death of John Brennan, a horse trainer who lived in Little Ferry. Brennan was the first New Jersey resident to die after testing positive for the coronavirus. The Fusco family has strong ties to the horse-racing industry near Freehold Raceway. Officials say a person who had contact with Brennan, who died in New Jersey on March 10, attended a recent Fusco family gathering described by family as a routine Tuesday dinner. The dinner is the suspected source of the virus. Vincent Fusco was one of six members of the Fusco family hospitalized for the coronavirus after attending the dinner, NJ.com reported. "The second we start to grieve about one the phone rings and there's another person gone."@ChrisCuomo speaks with members of a New Jersey family who lost four relatives and have nearly 20 other relatives in quarantine because of the coronavirus. "We're just begging for help." pic.twitter.com/Va8TpbvBMH Cuomo Prime Time (@CuomoPrimeTime) March 20, 2020 Elizabeth Fusco, the youngest of Grace Fuscos 11 children described in an interview with CNN the heartbreaking moments that followed after the dinner. It is absolutely surreal. I woke up Tuesday morning (March 10) the baby of 11. My mom called me and said Lizzie, I dont feel good, Rita dont feel good, Tony dont feel good. Can you come help us? I said absolutely, ma, Elizabeth explained. All three of her siblings were in their 50s and it still isnt clear if any of them had any underlying conditions. "They were the core of our family since my dads been gone, she said of her brothers. Having the deaths happen in such quick succession, she noted, has also been particularly difficult. Its like the second we start to grieve about one the phone rings and theres another person gone, taken from us forever, Elizabeth said. By the time it settled in our brains about my first sister we got the next call [and] I listened to those doctors and those machines code my mother on the phone when she passed ... Ill never get over that but I never wanna hear that again. Thats why we are just begging for help. We never wanna get that call anytime soon ever again because of this. Were lost, she said. A GoFundMe campaign is currently seeking to raise $50,000 to assist the Fusco family with medical, funeral and living expenses. This is a family that always cared and was there for others and now they need us to be there for them. All money raised will be donated to the family for medical expenses, funeral expenses, and future hardship. The Fusco family needs your thoughts and prayers during these hard times and any amount of donation would be greatly appreciated. We will all get through this together, the fundraiser said. Some 19 other family members, including spouses and children, have also been tested, according to Elizabeth Fusco, a sibling who is not hospitalized said Tuesday. They all remain under quarantine. "The family's biggest concern is that we have four members of one family who have passed, two on life support and one stable," Paradiso Fodera said. The 19 awaiting their test results "are anxious that their relatives have passed and they don't know if they are infected or not." Testing for the family members was performed Saturday, and no results had come back as of Thursday. "Why don't the family members who are not hospitalized have the test results? This is a public health crisis," Paradiso Fodera said. "Why should athletes and celebrities without symptoms be given priority over a family that has been decimated by this virus?" The 19 include "children, parents and grandchildren in this family," she said. They are in quarantine. The Punjab government on Monday imposed a curfew to stop the spread of coronavirus, making it the first state to take the drastic measure. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh announced the curfew as people were defying the lockdown imposed in the state, officials said. After reviewing the situation with the Chief Secretary and the DGP, the CM has announced a full curfew with no relaxations, an official spokesperson said. Curfew was imposed as people were still coming out in large numbers. So the idea is to keep them inside, a senior official told PTI. The deputy commissioners have been asked to issue the necessary orders, the spokesperson said. Anybody seeking relaxations to the restrictions will get them for a given period and purpose, the spokesperson added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Even though bans on gatherings and social distancing have become the norm during the coronavirus pandemic, a New York City couple still found a way to celebrate their love with a surprise wedding. Reilly Jennings, 28, and Amanda Wheeler, 38, got married Friday as their friend Matt Wilson officiated from his fourth-floor apartment window in the Manhattan neighborhood of Washington Heights. Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak The couple had originally planned to get married in October, but fearing their venue would be closed and with travel restrictions becoming more severe, they decided to move up their nuptials. Jennings told NBC News that the couple were worried about the cost of a wedding, as the gym where Wheeler works had to close because of the pandemic. Matt Wilson, left, officiates Reilly Jenning's and Amanda Wheeler's wedding from his fourth floor apartment window in New York. (stephsine via Instagram) Jennings and Wheeler rushed to the Marriage Bureau Thursday to get a copy of their marriage license, which they received without issue. But as they were about to leave their apartment to return for Friday's ceremony, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the Marriage Bureau would be closing indefinitely. "I definitely panicked," Jennings said. "I was freaking out a little bit. I just wanted to get it done." Hoping they would still be able to get married, Jennings and Wheeler messaged their friends, trying desperately to find someone who was certified to officiate a wedding in New York City. Luckily, they discovered that Wilson was certified by the city clerk to perform such a ceremony. He enthusiastically agreed. After finishing up a work call, Jennings and Wheeler put on their wedding attire and headed out to the street to get married. In a video that has since gone viral, Wilson officiated the ceremony, reading an excerpt from the novel "Love in the Time of Cholera" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. The couple then exchanged "I do's" with neighbors and friends, all from safe distances, cheering happily. "It was perfect, classic New York," Jennings said. "Everything I love about this city was encompassed in that moment." As for their honeymoon? In true self-quarantine style, the couple pulled their mattress into their living room and watched Netflix together Brent crude oil was down at the start the week on Monday as the global oil market awaits U.S. President Donald Trump's call for intervention in the Saudi-Russian price war. The international benchmark was trading at $26.34 per barrel at 0605 GMT for a 2.4% decline after ending Friday at $26.98 a barrel with a 5.2% loss, Anadolu Agency reported. U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was at $22.91 a barrel at the same time for a 2.1% gain after closing Friday at $22.43 per barrel with an 11% dive. China Petroleum Engineering and Construction Corporation (CPECC) has been awarded a major contract worth $203.5 million to build a sour gas treatment facility at Majnoon oilfield in Iraq. The project, which is likely to be completed within 29 months, will have the capacity to treat 4.39 million cu m of sour gas per day, reported Reuters, citing a company statement. Iraq's Majnoon oilfield, operated by state-run Basra Oil Company, is now producing around 240,000 barrels per day (bpd) and plans to boost output to 450,000 bpd in 2021. A group of independent UN rights experts said on Monday they were "gravely concerned" about the welfare of three human rights lawyers "forcibly disappeared" by Chinese authorities shortly after their arrests last December. Ding Jiaxi, a prominent Beijing-based disbarred lawyer, previously jailed for protesting against official corruption, and lawyers Zhang Zhongshun and Dai Zhenya have been held since late last year in so-called "residential surveillance in a designated location" (RSDL). That is a form of extrajudicial detention lasting up to six months where detainees are denied access to lawyers and relatives, and are vulnerable to torture and coercion, according to activists. The three were among more than a dozen lawyers and activists who were detained or went missing in the final days of 2019 in what rights groups have said was a crackdown on participants of a private democracy gathering. Five UN experts in areas including freedom of opinion and expression, and torture, as well as the UN Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances, warned there were "parallels between this recent crackdown and previous attempts to silence dissenting voices in China". Nine other lawyers and activists who attended the informal weekend gathering in the city of Xiamen "have also been summoned for questioning or detained in what has been a cross-provincial operation led by a special taskforce of Yantai City police," the experts pointed out. The experts, who are appointed by the UN but who do not speak on behalf of the body, expressed alarm at the use of RSDL in China, insisting it constituted a form of enforced disappearance. "It has also unfortunately become common practice for Chinese authorities to provide limited or conflicting information on the victims and the charges they face," they said in a statement. "The families are often kept in the dark about the well-being of their loved ones." The experts acknowledged that there are provisions in international law that allow exceptional measures to be taken to protect public order and national security. But they insisted that "enforced disappearance is a grave and flagrant violation of human rights and is unacceptable in all circumstances". "We are dismayed that national security provisions are used to target human rights defenders who meet peacefully and exercise their right to free speech, even if such speech is critical of the state," they said. The experts also cautioned that the arrest and detention of the three lawyers could have a "chilling effect" on the defence of human rights in China. "When the authorities in any country systemically charge human rights defenders with 'subversion of state power' or other terror-related charges without clearly communicating the factual basis for such accusations, we worry that these defenders are just being persecuted for the exercise of their most basic human rights," they said. Earlier this month, activists revealed that Xu Zhiyong, an outspoken Chinese rights activist who called for President Xi Jinping to step down over the coronavirus outbreak, had been charged with "inciting state subversion" and had been placed in RSDL since mid-February. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former President John Dramani Mahama has said the Imposition of Restrictions Bill has the tendency of endangering the growing democracy of this country. Parliament on Friday, March 20 passed the Imposition of Restrictions Bill to give legal backing to powers that can be exercised by the President to impose restrictions on citizens in times of public emergencies like the Coronavirus pandemic for purposes of public safety and protection. The House considered the bill throughout the day after it determined that it was of urgent nature. Speaking at a Service to end the three days fasting and prayers declared by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the former president and flagbearer of the NDC commended the Minority in Parliament for resisting the passage of the Bill. In this respect, I commend the Minority in Parliament for standing on principle in opposing the passage of the Imposition of Restrictions Bill which does not address the needs of the moment and portends danger for our democracy, he said. Considerable amendments were made to the Bill to take care of a sanctions regime, the duration of restrictions and the introduction of the word, Coronavirus before being passed. The Attorney General, Gloria Akufo who moved the motion for the third and final reading of the Bill explained that the emphasis of the Bill was to help create a piece of legislation that will deal not only with the risk that our country has been exposed to, presently but also in the future. The NDC flagbearer also called for government to be forthright and firm in the implementation of its directives aimed at protecting the citizenry from the novel coronavirus pandemic. My beloved countrymen, it is also a call to those who rule to be forthright and principled. The principle and forthrightness that would not require a court injunction to stop the National Identification Authority (NIA) from acting in breach of guidelines we have all accepted to comply with. The principles that will let Churches have the moral courage to refuse the use of their premises for purposes that are in breach of the government's own rules. Two Ghanaian nationals, Mark Oliver Kevor and Emmanuel Akumatey Okrah on Thursday, March 19, 2020, sued the NIA for not halting the Ghana Card registration exercise despite the government's directive to stop public gatherings and as part of the novel coronavirus preventive measures. This forced the NIA to suspend the ongoing Ghana Card registration exercise in the Eastern Region on Saturday, March 21. ---citinewsroom A royal aide at Buckingham Palace has reportedly tested positive for the coronavirus while Queen Elizabeth II was still at her London residence. The 93-year-old monarch shifted out of the palace to Windsor Castle indefinitely on Thursday as a "precaution" after all her engagements were cancelled and reports are that she is healthy. According to UK media reports, it is not known how close the royal aide in question would have got to the Queen but every member of Royal Household staff the person came into contact with has since been placed self-isolation. "The worker tested positive before the Queen left for Windsor. But the Palace has 500 members of staff so, like any workplace, it's not inconceivable it would be affected in some stage," 'The Sun' quoted a royal source as saying. The aide, who has not been named, is believed to have taken ill and tested positive for the deadly virus earlier last week. Buckingham Palace has declined to comment on the reports but said that it was taking all necessary steps in light of the advisory in place for the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been rapidly spreading in the UK as the death toll rose to 233 on Saturday. "We wouldn't comment on individual members of staff. In line with the appropriate guidance and our own processes, we have taken the necessary actions to protect all employees and people involved," a palace spokesperson said. There are some reports that the monarch is preparing to deliver a live television broadcast in the coming days as a morale boost for the public during the ongoing crisis, which has put Britain into a near shutdown with all social venues closed indefinitely and people advised to stay indoors and follow strict social distancing rules. Earlier this week, the Queen had issued a statement of support and called on people to find new ways of staying in touch to get through the lockdown. "Many of us will need to find new ways of staying in touch with each other and making sure that loved ones are safe. I am certain we are up to that challenge," read the Queen's statement, which said that she and the royal family "stand ready" to play their part. "We are enormously thankful for the expertise and commitment of our scientists, medical practitioners and emergency and public services; but now more than any time in our recent past, we all have a vitally important part to play as individuals - today and in the coming days, weeks and months," she said. The Queen, who turns 94 on April 21, is set to be based at Windsor Castle in south-east England with her 98-year-old husband Prince Philip for an extended period following consultation with her medical experts and the UK government. Her regular "audiences" with Prime Minister Boris Johnson are set to continue for now but Buckingham Palace said that as a "sensible precaution and for practical reasons", a number of other changes are being made to the rest of her diary. Also read: Coronavirus impact: British FM Rishi Sunak outlines 'unprecedented' wage cover for UK businesses Also read: White House staffer tests positive for coronavirus Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-24 05:47:48|Editor: yan Video Player Close SAN FRANCISCO, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Boeing announced on Monday a temporary suspension of production operations at its Puget Sound area facilities in light of the state of emergency in Washington state and the accelerating spread of the coronavirus in the region. Boeing plans to begin reducing production activity Monday and projects the suspension of such operations to begin on Wednesday at sites across the Puget Sound area. The suspension of production operations will last 14 days, according to the announcement. "This is an unprecedented time for organizations and communities across the globe," said Boeing President and CEO Dave Calhoun, "we continue to work closely with public health officials, and we're in contact with our customers, suppliers and other stakeholders who are affected by this temporary suspension ... it's vital to maintain health and safety for all those who support our products and services, and to assist in the national effort to combat the spread of COVID-19." Boeing confirmed it will work to ensure customers are supported throughout this period. Critical distribution operations in support of airline, government, and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) customers will continue. Boeing said it will conduct "additional deep cleaning activities at impacted sites and establishing rigorous criteria for return to work" during the suspension of operations. When the suspension is lifted, Boeing will take an orderly approach to restarting production with a focus on safety, quality and meeting customer commitments, the company said. According to Deputy Healthcare Minister Viktor Lyashko, the Healthcare Ministry will follow all cases of pneumonia not to miss the coronavirus infection Viktor Lyashko Open source All people who died with diagnosis pneumonia in Ukraine will be tested for Covid-19 coronavirus infection as 112 Ukraine reported citing Deputy Healthcare Minister Viktor Lyashko. Personally I am ordered to prepare the order of the Healthcare Ministry that at all cases, which were lethal or which were with diagnosis pneumonia, the samples of the section material should be selected to analyze them for the presence of coronavirus disease, Lyashko said. According to him, the Healthcare Ministry will follow all cases of pneumonia not to miss the coronavirus infection and to have a real picture of healthcare system. Earlier, Viktor Lyashko stated that the ambulance units will do express tests for coronavirus infection for the urgent patients. On March 23, Ukrainian cargo aircraft IL-76 landed in Boryspil international airport. The plane arrived from Guangzhou, China, carrying 250,000 tests for Covid-19, the coronavirus. Meanwhile, the number of people infected with coronavirus in Ukraine has reached 73 people. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Market Research Future Published a Half-Cooked Research Report on Global Auto Catalyst Market Research Report- Forecast to 2023 Synopsis of Auto Catalyst Market: Auto Catalysts are devices that are extensively used to control emissions from the automobiles. These Catalysts convert pollutants and toxic gases from an internal combustion engine to less toxic gases through a redox reaction. Auto Catalysts are used in all types of diesel and petrol engines including lead burn engines and can also be used in kerosene heaters and stoves. Auto catalysts are mostly applied to the exhaust systems of automobiles but are also used on the electrical generators, mining equipment, forklifts, and wood stoves among others. The growing number of vehicles throughout the globe is the major factor driving the Auto Catalyst Market. Moreover, the growing per capita disposable income in the developing regions are expected to substantially contribute to the growth of the Auto Catalyst Market. In addition to this, stringent government regulations to check the emissions from vehicles throughout the globe is further augmenting the demand for Auto Catalysts. However, the growing demand for electric vehicles is a major down side to the growth of the market. Get Free Sample @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5362 Among the various application segments in Auto Catalyst Market, the light-duty vehicles diesel is the leading segment and is anticipated to continue its dominance over the forecast period. The advantages such as high fuel efficiency have augmented the use of diesel cars which in turn is expected to have a positive impact on the Auto Catalyst Market. Moreover, the high price of diesel Auto Catalyst is expected to add to the revenue of Auto Catalyst Market during the forecast years. Key Players: Some of the prominent players operating in the Global Auto Catalyst Market are BASF SE (Germany), Johnson Matthey (England), Solvay (Belgium), Umicore (Belgium), Corning Incorporated (U.S.), Cataler Corporation (Japan), DCL International (Canada), Heraeus Holding GmbH (Germany), Tenneco Inc (U.S.), Faurecia S.A (France), Klarius Products Limited (U.K), and Taizhou Three-Way Vehicle Catalytic Converter Co., Ltd (China). among others. Segmental Analysis: Global Auto Catalyst Industry is segmented into Application and Region. On the basis of the Application, the market is segregated into light-duty vehicle diesel, light-duty vehicle gasoline, and heavy-duty vehicle. The market by Region is segmented into Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. Regional Analysis: The Auto Catalyst Market is segmented into five regions: Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. Among these, Asia Pacific region holds a major share of the market and is expected to be the fastest growing region with an encouraging CAGR. Growing population and the increasing per capita disposable income in the developing nations are primarily driving the growth of the Auto Catalyst Market. Moreover, the developing automobile industry in the region mainly in China, India, and Japan is expected to have a positive impact on the growth of the Auto Catalyst Market. Furthermore, the growing number of vehicles coupled with the adoption of stringent vehicle emission standards is also expected to add to the market growth. Browse Key Industry Insights spread across 139 pages with 24 market data tables & 8 figures & charts from the report, Auto Catalyst Market Information: By Application (Light-Duty Vehicle- Diesel, Light-Duty Vehicle- Gasoline, Heavy-Duty Vehicle) and Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa) Growth Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast 2023 in detail along with the table of contents: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/auto-catalyst-market-5362 North America is a dominant region in the global market, exhibiting a moderate CAGR. The presence of three big automobile companies namely General Motors, Ford, and Fiat Chrysler have further augmented the overall demand for Auto Catalyst from the automobile industry. Moreover, the regulations from the Environmental protection agency is adding to the market growth of Auto Catalyst mainly in the U.S. and Canada. However, the growing efficiency and shelf life of Auto Catalyst are likely to slow the growth of the market during the forecast years. The European region is a lucrative market and is mainly driven by a well-developed automobile industry. Moreover, the implementation of emission standards such as Euro 5 and Euro 6 is expected to substantially add to the growth of the Auto Catalyst Market in the region. According to the European Union, a new regulation was passed in 2017, wherein more reliable emission tests have been implemented such as Real driving Emissions (RDE) and World Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) for the light motor vehicle. This, in turn, is anticipated to be a contributing factor to the growth of the auto catalyst market in the European region. Read our Blogs @ http://mrfrblog.com Related Chemicals and Materials Market Research Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/categories/chemicals-market-report About Market Research Future: At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions. Contact: Market Research Future +1 646 845 9312 Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Labour chairman Ian Lavery described the coronavirus outbreak as a 'great opportunity' for the party to show how it can bring people together. Audio of Mr Lavery making the remarks in a Zoom conference call with party activists on Friday evening was today published by the Guido Fawkes website. Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said he was 'disgusted' by the comment and called on Labour to 'denounce' Mr Lavery's words. But Mr Lavery said he was simply talking about the 'opportunity for people to get out there and help their local communities and those in need '. Ian Lavery told Labour activists that the coronavirus outbreak was a 'great opportunity' for the party Following criticism, Mr Lavery said he had been talking about the 'opportunity for people to get out there and help their local communities and those in need' The Labour Party chairman told activists on the call: 'By the way, when something like this happens, we're going to see lots of our own people dying as a consequence. 'But, you know apart from that, it's going to give the fantastic battalion of Labour Party members, community champions out there, a great opportunity of showing how Labour, and why Labour, is best when it gets on the front foot and best when it brings people together. 'We need to make sure that we do that and community organising - what a great opportunity it's going to give us. 'Every one of us, every one of our families... relations, friends, organising the communities, because there is going to be lots of people out there that really need our help.' Mr Bridgen responded with fury to the comments. The Conservative MP tweeted: 'Ian Lavery literally salivating at the thought of possibly tens of thousands of our vulnerable citizens perishing because he hopes it might breath life into the dead corpse which is the current Labour Party, I am disgusted, Labour must denounce his remarks immediately.' Tory MP Andrew Bridgen called for the Labour Party to 'denounce' Mr Lavery's remarks 'immediately' But Mr Lavery dismissed the criticism as he suggested his words were being misinterpreted. He tweeted: 'Intentionally misleading reporting is really disappointing at a time like this. 'I've spoken about the opportunity for people to get out there and help their local communities and those in need. Nonsense to suggest otherwise. 'We all need to do our bit to get through this crisis.' Its hard to believe, but in just a week, normal life in the United States has largely ground to a halt. Businesses deemed nonessential by the government are closed or closing. Classrooms sit empty. Streets are eerily quiet and freeways unimaginably clear. Residents of several states are now under orders to remain in their home for the coming weeks at least in an extraordinary attempt to slow the relentless march of the COVID-19 pandemic. These are hard and scary times, and they may get harder and scarier before the closures and stay-at-home orders issued by various officials are lifted. And not surprisingly, some are wondering if this is all worth it. Does it really make sense to shut down the economy almost entirely over COVID-19? Are we unnecessarily upending our lives and our livelihoods for an outbreak that is at this point mostly theoretical and largely someone elses problem? Must we really hide in our homes, or is the danger being hyped? (Natural News) As America continues to wage war against the coronavirus pandemic, which has since infected over 26,000 people and caused around 340 deaths as of this writing, healthcare workers are saying theyre running low on protective gear putting themselves (and the people they treat) in peril. Reports by ProPublica and the New York Times provide a harrowing glimpse of the dangers that doctors and nurses face. In Massachusets, which has over 500 COVID-19 cases, health workers in Bostons Brigham and Womens Hospital are washing and reusing single-use face shields to extend their limited supplies. In California, which is home to over 1,400 cases, emergency room (ER) doctors have resorted to storing dirty masks in plastic containers for later use, and intensive-care nurses in Illinois have been told to make single-use masks last for five days. A pediatrician in Washington state has been spraying her mask with alcohol after using it to make her small stock last. The situation is terrible, really terrible, said Dr. Niran Al-Agba, the pediatrician, speaking to the New York Times. I dont know if weve ever had to go to work and fear for our lives in the same way. Shes also been conducting car visits to patients who have a cough or a fever. The patient pulls up to the side of the office, and Dr. Al-Agba approaches the vehicle, wearing goggles, a mask, gloves and a hazmat suit. Last week, doctors at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan were informed that they only had a weeks worth of respirator masks. In a survey by NBC News, doctors report trying to buy from online platforms such as eBay to visiting hardware stores just to obtain masks for use. To address the national shortage, editors at JAMA are asking best practice guidelines on reusing PPE, as well as novel materials for use. We seek creative immediate solutions for how to maximize the use of PPE, to conserve the supply of PPE, and to identify new sources of PPE, the editors wrote. We are interested in suggestions, recommendations, and potential actions from individuals who have relevant experience, especially from physicians, other health care professionals, and administrators in hospitals and other clinical settings. Masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) protect healthcare workers from infections, reducing the chances of touching, being exposed to and spreading germs. For fighting the coronavirus, however, front line workers need a huge supply of masks, especially since they have direct contact with the patients and should change them regularly. The World Health Organizations guidelines call for surgical masks to cover their mouths and noses, but some hospitals require N95 masks, which can block out much smaller particles than surgical masks do. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in response, loosened its guidelines for protective gear, reports ProPublica. When no masks are available, the agency suggests using homemade masks as a last resort. Healthcare workers beg #GetMePPE Amid dwindling supplies, doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers are taking to social media to plead for additional PPE. The hashtag #GetMePPE was first tweeted by Dr. Esther Choo, an ER doctor at Oregon Health & Science University, blew up this week as healthcare workers across the country responding, each showing pictures of the supplies they have left, sharing their stories on how theyre forced to be creative in reusing their supplies, and asking the public to donate masks and other medical equipment. FRONTLINE HEALTHCARE WORKERS Share a pic of the PPE you're in that you need to stay safe Tag your congresspeople and @VP Use the hashtag #GetMePPE Esther Choo (@choo_ek) March 17, 2020 I mean, some people were showing how theyre on day five of using equipment that we normally would use once and then discard. People were showing how they were kind of MacGyvering equipment together or purchasing their own equipment, Choo tells Fox12 Oregon. People were messaging me and also posting about how they stopped at Home Depot on their way to the hospital. I mean, I dont think I ever would have imagined a time where we would stop by a hardware store on the way to the hospital in order to be properly equipped. I found two boxes on my doorstep this morning. Thank you whoever you are. This independent doctor is forever grateful. #GetMePPE #ppeisnotoptional pic.twitter.com/sJybfAeEJC Niran Al-Agba MD (@silverdalepeds) March 17, 2020 To cope with the shortage, many doctors like Dr. Al-Agba rely on community donations. She recently tweeted how an anonymous donor left two boxes of masks at her doorstep. I will make them last, she says. Were really improvising here. Other doctors, however, arent as lucky: in California, an ER doctor reports that her hospital has already started treating COVID-19 cases, even as their supplies are running out. Dr. Vidya Ramanathan, a pediatrician working in a Michigan hospital, says that the need is dire the hospital she works for reports that there arent enough sanitizer wipes to clean face shields and their masks are running dangerously low. Currently, the hospital has set up tents outside the building to triage patients, a process that allows the hospital to extend its diminishing supply of PPE. Lack of PPEs imperils front-liners As healthcare workers grapple with treating patients without proper protective gear, they also risk becoming victims themselves, or worse, infect their patients. This is precisely what happened to Dr. John Gavin, an ER doctor in Amite, Louisiana, who tested positive for COVID-19 after working without proper protective equipment for nine days. Speaking to ProPublica, he says that at the time, Hood Memorial Hospital, where he was working, only provided paper masks during his shift and that no gowns or N95 respirator masks were given to protect from particles and liquids. No, no, we didnt have any of that, he said. They offered us paper face masks, thats it. To make matters worse, there was a period of time before Gavin exhibited symptoms that water in Amite was shut off, forcing him and his colleagues to wash using hand sanitizers. Unfortunately, Dr. Gavins story is becoming all too common these days, as ERs across America strain to keep the virus from spreading no small task, as researchers say that the novel coronavirus has an R0 value of up to 7.5, that is, a person infected with COVID-19 can potentially infect seven people. According to the American College of Emergency Physicians, at least two ER doctors who have tested positive for COVID-19 are in critical condition. In Indiana, an ER doctor also tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday. According to Methodist Hospitals, where he last worked between March 14 and March 16, the physician is now in isolation. Its very anxiety-provoking for an emergency physician, explains Dr. C. Ryan Keay, an ER doctor in Everett, where the first COVID-19 case was confirmed. In the back of everyones mind is, Could I be taking this home to my family? What if I get sick? Learn more about the coronavirus pandemic at Pandemic.news. Sources include: LiveScience.com StatNews.com ProPublica.org NBCNews.com NYTimes.com 1 NYTimes.com 2 NWITimes.com WSJ.com MedlinePlus.gov CDC.gov President Donald Trump speaks during the daily briefing on the CCP virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, at the White House in Washington, on March 22, 2020. (Eric Baradat/AFP via Getty Images) Trump: Major Disaster Declaration Approved for NY, Washington State California is next, president announces President Donald Trump on Sunday approved a major disaster declaration for Washington state and New York, while California is expected to be approved shortly to combat the viral pandemic. The governors of the three states made requests to the federal government for the order as CCP virus cases multiply across the United States. New York, Washington, and California have the most confirmed patients. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. Were enduring a great national trial Trump remarked. adding that were at war with an invisible enemy. I want you to know as one people, eternally linked by our shared national spirit, Trump said. No American is alone. A disaster declaration provides a wide range of federal assistance programs and funds for public infrastructure and individual assistance. Trump, in a news conference, said that large quantities of medical equipment and supplies are heading to the hardest-hit states. The National Guard will also be activated for the three states at no cost, the president remarked. They will build hospitals in the three states with thousands of beds A man in a mask boards a bus on campus at Western University in London, Ontario on March 13, 2020. (Geoff Robins/AFP via Getty Images) Ive directed FEMA to activate four large medical stations for California and four large medical stations with 1,000 beds for Washington, Trump said, referring to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Weve requested a disaster declaration for the state of New York, doing this at no cost. California Gov. Gavin Newsom sent the White House an application for a disaster declaration that will be approved very quickly and maybe on Sunday night, Trump said. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo had urged the federal government to take over the acquisition of medical supplies so states do not have to compete with each other for resources. He also requested temporary hospitals. It comes as one in three Americans was ordered to stay home on Sunday to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic as Ohio, Louisiana, and Delaware became the latest states to enact broad lockdowns. Every piece of evidence that I can lay my hands on indicates that were at an absolutely crucial time in this war and what we do now will make all the difference in the world, said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. What we do now will slow this invader. It will slow this invader so our health care system will have time to treat casualties. Reuters contributed to this report. Ever since the coronavirus outbreak began, the Trump administration has complained that China was not as forthcoming as it could have been with information in the initial weeks. But the United States could have had someone from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the ground who may very well have been able to detect hints of the coronavirus outbreak earlier. If the White House hadnt eliminated the position that is. The Trump administration nixed the position of the medical epidemiologist who was embedded in Chinas disease control agency months before COVID-19 began spreading, reports Reuters. It was heartbreaking to watch, said Bao-Ping Zhu, who served in the role between 2007 and 2011. If someone had been there, public health officials and governments across the world could have moved much faster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of course there are no guarantees the American expert would have been able to get any information from the notoriously tight-lipped Chinese authorities. But considering the person who held the role, Dr. Linda Quick, was a trainer of the very epidemiologists sent to the center of outbreaks to investigate and track diseases she was in an ideal position to be the eyes and ears on the ground for the United States and other countries on the coronavirus outbreak, and might have alerted them to the growing threat weeks earlier, notes Reuters. She left in July after she learned her position was going to be discontinued in September. The CDC insists that eliminating the position did not hurt its ability to get information and had absolutely nothing to do with CDC not learning of cases in China earlier. Quick, who still works at the CDC, was not made available to comment for the article. President Donald Trump was asked about the issue in the Sunday news briefing, and he characterized it as another attack by the media. This is just like all the other stuff that the press was asking, Trump said. Every one of those things that were said were 100 percent wrong and this sounds like another one of them. He then handed it over to Dr. Robert Redfield, the director of the CDC, who did not dispute the story but insisted the China office is actually being augmented as we speak. She adopted her adorable Maltipoo puppy last November and has delighted fans with sweet photos of the pup ever since. And Camila Mendes shared a photo on Monday whilst out on a hike with pet pooch Truffle, urging others to consider fostering from shelters during the ongoing self-isolation period. The gorgeous snap showed the Riverdale actress, 25, holding onto her puppy with the caption: 'My cuddly lil quarantine companion. Don't know what i'd do without her. Sweet: Camila Mendes, 25, shared a photo on Monday whilst out on a hike with her pet pooch Truffle, urging others to consider fostering pets from shelters during self-isolation 'Pls consider fostering a furry friend with all this time you're spending at home! I adopted truffle from @thelabellefoundation in LA but you can just reach out to your local animal shelters and see how you can help.' (sic) It seems Camila is not the only celebrity using this time to help out shelters who otherwise are seeing a decline in adoptions. Queer Eye star Antoni Porowski has also fostered a pit-beagle mix named Neon from Austin Pets Alive! in Texas and urged others to follow his lead. Cute: The gorgeous snap showed the Riverdale actress holding onto her puppy with the caption: ' My cuddly lil quarantine companion. Don't know what i'd do without her' She said: 'Pls consider fostering a furry friend with all this time you're spending at home! I adopted truffle from @thelabellefoundation in LA' He said in a video shared by the shelter: 'It's very important for us to support local shelters because they're getting a lot less foot traffic during this crazy pandemic. 'If you are ready to adopt, I would encourage you to do that... and If you can't commit to adopting, I would encourage fostering as well. 'You can commit for a week or two or longer or shorter, and just give them the nice quality of life that they deserve, because they're pups and they love unconditionally.' Last week, Leonardo Di Caprio's girlfriend Camila Morrone fostered a cute husky pub and branded the move her 'single best decision' while self-quarantining. Pawsome: Queer Eye star Antoni Porowski has also fostered a pit-beagle mix named Neon from Austin Pets Alive! in Texas and urged others to follow his lead New friend: He said in a video shared by the shelter: 'It's very important for us to support local shelters because they're getting a lot less foot traffic during this crazy pandemic' She shared on her Instagram: 'Fostering a puppy during this quarantine time has been the single best decision. 'For all my friends showing interest in doing this, DO IT. You won't regret it. These sweet creatures need you so badly.' Two days later, the actress revealed she had also fostered her dog's sister. She wrote: 'And then it happened. I'm officially obsessed with fostering. 'I couldn't stand the thought of Jack not being with his sister, so I asked if I could take in Jill (on the right) as well. These two beauties are looking for a permanent [home] hopefully together?' Alive: Firefighters carry an injured victim on a stretcher after an earthquake in Zagreb. Photo: Darko Bandic/AP A large earthquake struck near the Croatian capital Zagreb, critically injuring a teenager caught in a collapsed building in the city centre. Sixteen other people were injured, including another minor who was badly hurt, and the 5.3 magnitude quake caused fires and power blackouts in parts of the capital. People ran from their apartment buildings to their cars as pieces of the facades started falling off. Dozens of cars were also damaged by debris which fell off buildings. TV footage showed mothers dressed in nightgowns hugging their newborn babies in a car park as they evacuated a damaged maternity hospital amid freezing temperatures. The women, newborn babies and incubators were being moved to a new location with the help of the army. Zagreb's iconic cathedral was also damaged, with the top of one of its two spires collapsing. The cathedral was rebuilt after it toppled in an 1880 earthquake. Expand Close On the move: People carry incubators for newborn babies as a Zagreb hospital is evacuated. Photo: Darko Bandic/AP / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp On the move: People carry incubators for newborn babies as a Zagreb hospital is evacuated. Photo: Darko Bandic/AP Authorities said around 70 buildings were damaged. Power was cut as people ran out of their homes. Several fires were also reported. Residents shared photos of belongings falling off shelves, broken bottles and glass inside homes. Croatian soldiers wearing masks and carrying shovels could be seen helping efforts to clear the damage on the streets of Zagreb. Officials toured the damaged areas as some citizens criticised city authorities over the poor states of buildings in the old part of the city, some of which date back to the 19th century. Expand Close This car was destroyed by falling rubble / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp This car was destroyed by falling rubble Government ministers warned people not to walk close to buildings and beware of falling debris due to a strong wind. They also urged them to stay apart from one another as the country struggles to contain the spread of coronavirus. "Earthquakes are dangerous, but coronavirus is even more so," Health Minister Vili Beros said, as people rushed out of their homes to congregate in city parks. Some of Zagreb's residents disagreed. "Earthquakes are more important than the coronavirus. If the earthquake hits, and you are under a door, you worry about yourself first and then the mask later," said one man who lives in the city. "We are fighting two enemies at the moment, one is invisible and the other is unpredictable," Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic said. So far, Croatia has reported 254 cases of the virus and one death. Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said the government would provide accommodation in the students' dormitory in Zagreb for up to 1,800 people whose homes were damaged. He said the quake was the biggest to hit Zagreb in 140 years. It struck 6km north of the city and was felt across the western Balkans. Zarko Rasic, head of the Zagreb Emergency Medicine Institute, a children's hospital, said a 15-year-old was in a critical condition after being found by an emergency services team under a collapsed building and another minor had been admitted with head injuries from a falling roof. The Zagreb fire department said firefighting and rescue operations were ongoing at several locations. Mr Plenkovic said the army had been called in to help clean up debris in Zagreb and urged citizens to "stay outside and keep your distance". "We are facing two crises now," Mr Plenkovic said. "Let us not forget the coronavirus epidemic. Individual discipline and responsibility is of utmost importance." Local media reported that many people had headed out of Zagreb, prompting police to organise checkpoints on the highway to check if they were violating self-isolation. The German Research Centre for Geosciences downgraded the magnitude of the quake to 5.3 from an initial reading of 6.0. Croatia's state seismology service said there had been 30 aftershocks. The government said it would estimate the damage in the coming weeks and ask the European Commission for aid. The US Geological Survey said the quake measured 5.4, while the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre also reported 5.3 magnitude, followed by another 5.1 magnitude earthquake. As the interstate bus services remained suspended due to the lockdown in Delhi to contain the spread of coronavirus, several people, especially labourers, who wanted return to their hometowns due to lack of work were stranded at the ISBTs in the national capital on Monday. A transport official said there was no movement of buses from any state at Kashmiri Gate, Sarai Kale Khan and Anand Vihar inter-state bus terminals. With train services also suspended until March 31, road transport seems to be the only resort for many. A large number of people wanted to go back to their hometowns as there is no work here due to the lockdown. Suraj Kumar (23), a labourer from Gorakhpur, said he wants to return to his village in Gorakhpur as there is no work here due to coronavirus. Kumar, who was at the Anand Vihar Inter State Bus Terminal (ISBT) in the hope to get a bus, said his family members are concerned about him and have been asking him to return. Prakash Singh (29), a painter, said it is not possible to sustain in the national capital without work. "I have been here (Anand Vihar ISBT) since last four hours ago but I am yet to get any bus for Buxar in Bihar. It is not possible for us to live here without work. My relatives lives in Gorakhpur and if I get any transport till there, then we can manage from there easily," Singh said. Anil Kumar (40), who deals in bread business, said he was planning to go to his hometown in Baghpath district. He said his brother Babu Ram went to Sarurpur near Baraut along with his children for medicine and is stuck there due to restrictions. "They are living in our relatives residence in Sarurpur and can't come out of the area. They called me today and asked me to take them home," he said. Anil Srivastav (43), a peon in a private organisation, was heading home as his family feared for his safety due to the COVID-19 outbreak. "My wife and three children who live in Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh were crying when they called on Sunday night. For the past 17 years, I have been working as a peon in a private organisation in Delhi. Coronavirus is very serious, but not getting any bus from Anand Vihar to my house is also worrying," he said. The Delhi government on Sunday said the city will be in lockdown from March 23 to 31, under which no public transport, including private buses, taxis and autorickshaws will be allowed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) UPDATE: The governor has issued her order. Amid mounting pressure, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown is preparing to issue a statewide stay-at-home order Monday, according to a news report. A draft reviewed by Willamette Week orders residents to stay in their homes whenever possible and bans nonessential gatherings, according to the newspaper. The draft order allows people to go outside to run or hike, as long as they can stay six feet away from others. It would close many businesses including hair salons, gyms, senior centers and theaters, the newspaper reports. It wouldnt shutter offices, but it would require employers to let their workers telecommute as much as possible. The order is expected to be effective right away, according to the newspaper. It wasnt immediately clear how long the order would last. Stay tuned to OregonLive.com for the latest on the governors plans. CORONAVIRUS IN OREGON: THE LATEST NEWS Here are six key things to know as your workweek begins: ECONOMIC CATASTROPHE: The economic calamity wrought by the new coronavirus will almost certainly grow worse before it gets better. FRONT LINES: Portland area nurses and health care workers say the giant health systems and hospitals they work for lack sufficient beds, their infectious disease controls were casual, and perhaps worst, they are already running low on personal protective gear. LATEST NUMBERS: One more person has died from the coronavirus in Oregon, bring the states death toll to five. Oregon also reported 24 new cases of the virus on Sunday, bringing the states total to at least 161. NO RESIDENTIAL EVICTIONS: Brown issued an executive order Sunday temporarily halting residential evictions for nonpayment during the ongoing public health crisis. The order will remain in place for 90 days. PARKS TO CLOSE: All Oregon State Parks are set to close Monday in response to the growing coronavirus outbreak. Local park systems have also announced closures, limiting options as Oregonians try to get outside while maintaining safe distance. OREGON COAST: Thousands of Oregonians streamed to the coast under sunny skies for the start of spring break, but locals angrily told visitors the welcome mat was not out. -- The Oregonian/OregonLive Subscribe to our Oregon coronavirus newsletter: Income-tax department officials have asked the government to extend the statutory March 31 deadline to complete important tax-related work including FRSR, DP and court matters in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. The officials who have sent written requests include principal chief commissioner of Mumbai, chief commissioner administration and taxpayers service of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Chandigarh, UP west, Uttrakhand and Kanpur. Moneycontrol has reviewed copies of these letters. In his letter to the chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), Mumbai Principal Chief Commissioner Satish Gupta stated: "In the city of Mumbai, suburban local trains have been stopped. More than 90 percent of the officers commute to office by local trains and a stoppage of this service has meant there is no staff or officer is able to come to office". "It is requested that steps may be initiated to extend the time-barring date of March 31 including the processing of return in under section 143 (1), time barring penalties, revised and late filing under section 139, reopening of assessment under 148 and time barring set-aside assessments and any other time barring actions which may get barred by limitations on March 31st," Gupta wrote. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show He further requested for similar action for Vivaad se Vishwas Act and Black Money Act. In Vivaad se Vishwas Act, one has to pay 10 percent extra if it is filed after March 31. The letter from the officials noted that Mumbai's TDS (tax deducted at source) building has been taken over by Municipal Corporation to set up a healthcare facility as the number of COVID-19 infections has risen sharply. Mumbai circle is crucial for the department as the highest collection of tax, approximately 33 percent, is from there. The tax officials supported the letter and requested other circles also to write similar letters. A source told Moneycontrol: "We are working in fear due to this COVID-19. We come into contact with so many people during the assessment process. The government should think about extending the deadline especially since we don't come under the definition of essential services." A similar letter has been written by Peeyush Sonkar, Commissioner of Income Tax, Administration and Tax Payers Services, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Sonkar mentioned in his letter: "Only essential services are allowed in the state and so it is difficult for officers to reach offices. So, I am directed to suggest that the time barring dates may be extended as it will not be possible to comply in view of the complete lockdown". CP Pathak, commissioner of Income Tax, Administration and TPS, UP (West) and Uttrakhand Region, Kanpur, said in the letter: "State government has suspended all the services barring those involved in essential services and they have not included income tax department in essential services." The Commissioner of Income tax (Administration and TPS) Chandigarh, in the letter, stated that "As the official work is done on Income Tax Business Application (ITBA) system which can only be accessed from the internal network at office, it may be difficult for officers and staff to discharge their responsibilities". This circle includes state of Punjab, Haryana and Union Territory Chandigarh. A source in the ministry told Moneycontrol: "The Finance Ministry is considering an extension of the deadline for income tax return. But it is a crucial decision which impacts the countrys financial health as we are going through a tough phase." The government is expected to announce an extension of the deadline on March 24. A woman in London has been pictured wearing a homemade face mask created from a cereal box amid warnings over social distancing. Photos show the woman carrying shopping bags while pulling a trolley on wheels that is full to the brim with food and kitchen roll or toilet paper. The box had eye holes cut out and the woman had also donned a plastic black sheet and a single plastic glove. The UK's coronavirus death toll spiked to 335 today up from 281 on Sunday as Boris Johnson faced overwhelming pressure to put Britain into full lockdown. Woman wearing a cereal box face mask during the Coronavirus outbreak in London The woman's use of the bizarre face mask comes as the government has advised against all non-essential travel and social contact with those who do go outside for exercise told to stay at least two metres away from other people. Ministers have put in place the guidance in a desperate bid to slow the spread of the deadly disease. Photos from around the UK show an increasing number of commuters and shoppers wearing face masks which are not scientifically proven to stop the spread of the virus. London has begun to shut its public parks after thousands of people flaunted coronavirus social distancing rules at the weekend. Hammersmith and Fulham Council has become the first local authority in the UK to close all of its parks after they were 'full of people' on Saturday and Sunday. Meanwhile, The Royal Parks which runs numerous public spaces in the capital including Hyde Park, Regent's Park and Richmond Park has threatened to shut all of its gates unless people follow social distancing guidelines. But there are growing fears some people are failing to take the outbreak seriously enough as they continue to meet up in groups and stand too close to each other. The woman's use of the bizarre face mask comes as the government has advised against all non-essential travel and social contact The start of the parks shutdown came as the government updated domestic travel advice to tell people not to visit second homes, holiday homes, campsites or caravan parks. Ministers said people should not visit those places either for self-isolation or for a holiday because doing so would place unnecessary strain on rural communities. The continued failure of some people to adhere to the government's social distancing and travel guidance means Boris Johnson is now considering whether or not to impose more draconian measures which could see rules being legally enforced. The weekend saw numerous examples of crowds of people visiting tourist hot spots, parks and markets across the country. Hammersmith and Fulham Council said it was acting to close all of its parks in the west of London in order to observe the government's social distancing guidance but insisted the decision will be kept under review. Councillor Stephen Cowan, leader of Hammersmith and Fulham Council, said: 'Our parks have been full of people this weekend with a significant proportion ignoring government guidelines on social distancing. 'This raises the serious likelihood of cross-infection. By closing our parks, we are putting the safety of all our residents first.' The Royal Parks said in a statement that its public spaces will remain open because they are 'vitally important at this time' because of the physical and mental health benefits they can provide. But it made clear that if people fail to follow the rules on staying away from each other the the parks will shut. It told users social distancing is 'absolutely crucial' as it also announced all cafes and kiosks would close in a bid to prevent people congregating in one area while roads would also be shut in some parks. 'We have also made the decision, based on police advice, to start closing our roads to traffic in the outer parks (Richmond, Bushy and Greenwich Parks),' the organisation said. 'Roads will remain open in the inner parks (Hyde, Regents, St Jamess Parks), but all designated car parks are now only open for key workers with a permit. All parks remain open to cyclists. 'We will keep this situation under constant review. If people do not follow social distancing guidelines, we will have no choice but to consider closing the parks.' The UK's coronavirus death toll spiked to 335 today as Boris Johnson faced overwhelming pressure to put Britain into full lockdown It came as updated cross-government UK travel advice issued last night told people not to visit holiday homes or campsites and urged everyone not to travel 'unless it is essential' in order to help stem the spread of coronavirus. The advice warns of the potential impact second home owners or holiday home owners could have on vital rural services if they leave their primary residence and head for the countryside. It states: 'This guidance is for people planning to visit second homes or holiday premises during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. 'Essential travel does not include visits to second homes, camp sites, caravan parks or similar, whether for isolation purposes or holidays. 'People should remain in their primary residence. Not taking these steps puts additional pressure on communities and services that are already at risk.' The government has already advised against 'all but essential international travel' as countries around the world respond to the crisis. Mr Johnson yesterday delivered a warning to the UK that unless everybody takes the government's social distancing guidance seriously ministers will be forced to go further. Speaking at his daily coronavirus press conference in 10 Downing Street, Mr Johnson said: 'You've got to observe social distancing. The box had eye holes cut out and the woman had also donned a plastic black sheet and a single plastic glove 'If people can't do that, won't do that, don't do that, we will of course have to bring in tougher measures.' He added: 'I don't think you need to use your imagination very much to see where we might have to go, and we will think about this very, very actively in the next 24 hours.' The potential toughening of the measures could involve the UK following the lead of France, Spain and Italy where people are only allowed to leave their homes for essential reasons. Those who refuse to comply are hit with fines. The government could also decide to unilaterally close all of the UK's parks. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) A West Lafayette man is facing child molesting charges after prosecutors said he had inappropriate contact with children under 14-years-old several times. On March 18, prosecutors said a woman witnessed Kenton Hall, 34, molest a girl inside his home. The girl also told police Hall molested her. When the woman saw the act happening, prosecutors said she tried to call police. Hall saw her and then pushed and held her down, according to court documents. Prosecutors said Hall threatened to kill her before the woman could leave with the children. Another girl who was in the home at the time told police Hall inappropriately touched her in Oct. 2016. She told police Hall drove her to a Tippecanoe County grocery store and molested her in the parking lot. She also was under 14, according to court documents. Hall is facing three counts of child molesting, one count of intimidation and one count of interference with the reporting of a crime. Mumbai: Fitch Ratings on Monday said the outlook of Tata Chemical's (TCL) long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating (IDR) was stable at 'BB+' following reduced energy costs, which will support a healthy margin. The rating reflects TCL's globally leading and cost-competitive position in soda ash, geographic diversification, the soda-ash sector's adequate exposure to non-discretionary end-markets, and improving financial profile, Fitch said. TCL is the world's third-largest soda ash producer, with a geographic footprint across India, the US, the UK and Kenya. It is, however, constrained by TCL's small scale relative to global peers and lack of product diversification. We maintain a stable outlook notwithstanding lower sales, which are likely to persist for six months, stemming from the coronavirus pandemic," as per the rating agency's report. Around two-thirds of TCL's 4.3 million tonne of soda ash capacity is based in Wyoming in the US and Lake Magadi in Kenya, two key global regions, along with Turkey, which has natural trona deposits that require low conversion costs. This underpins the company's cost competitiveness relative to producers in other locations, it said. Further, TCL's operation benefits from superior geographical diversification and Fitch expects around half of Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) to come from India in the financial year ending FY20, 45 per cent from developed markets in the US and Europe and the remaining 5 per cent from Africa. Fitch expects TCL's soda ash revenue to decline by 5 per cent in FY20, driven by a slowdown in the auto and real-estate sectors, and for FY21 sales to fall by around 10 per cent on a like-for-like basis as the demand slowdown is exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic in the near term. TCL's financial flexibility remains strong, the rating agency said, adding that we expect capex to be funded through internal accruals and positive free cash generation over FY21-FY23. TCL has Rs 1,600 crore (USD 225 million) of debt maturing in August 2020 at its North American subsidiary, which we expect it to refinance comfortably, Fitch said. Popular hiking trails on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge will close Monday, adding to the list of outdoor recreation areas closing to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The U.S. Forest Service made the announcement Monday, shutting down several trails that received huge crowds over the weekend. The closed trails are in an area known as the waterfall corridor, between Bridal Veil Falls and Ainsworth State Park. It includes several state park sites that the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department already closed Sunday, but also areas managed by the U.S. Forest Service, including Angels Rest, Wahkeena Falls and Horsetail Falls. The Historic Columbia River Highway, which connects many of the trailheads and waterfalls, will also be closed to the public. Viewing areas at Multnomah Falls already closed Monday morning. Rachel Pawlitz, spokeswoman for the U.S. Forest Service in the Columbia Gorge, said the decision was made following the Oregon state park closures and Oregon Gov. Kate Browns executive order mandating that Oregonians stay home. The order issued Monday morning allows parks to remain open, as long as signs are posted mandating six feet of social distance. The trails that remain open in the Columbia Gorge will have those signs posted, Pawlitz said. I feel like its making a clearer and stronger message that people maintain social distances outside, Pawlitz said. Im starting to think that some people lack the basic understanding that you can stand too close to somebody outside and still catch the virus. Meanwhile, the U.S. Forest Service will continue to determine whether additional closures are necessary. Much of the Columbia Gorge remains open, including Washington State Parks and forest service land outside the waterfall corridor. Gov. Browns order also mandates that park restrooms be equipped with hand sanitizer or soap. If small restrooms at trailheads cant keep those in supply, the restrooms will need to close. And if restrooms close, trailheads will likely close as well, to prevent people from using the surrounding woods instead. It represents a stark shift of tone for land management agencies, which as recently as last week were encouraging Oregonians to continue hiking. But when hikers began crowding popular trailheads, it became clear that stronger action was needed. If you pull up to an area and you cant stay six feet away from people, dont even get out of your car, Pawlitz said. If you cant find a less crowded spot, we encourage people just to go home and walk in their neighborhood. --Jamie Hale; jhale@oregonian.com; 503-294-4077; @HaleJamesB Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. We Are the World, a charity record designed to help starving people in Africa, remains one of the most inspiring songs of the 1980s. It wasnt an ordinary song. It was an attempt by artists from many genres to come together and help those in need. The music-buying public brought We Are the World to the top of the charts, showing they wanted to help too. Now is a time where the world is facing another major crisis the coronavirus (COVID-19). Lionel Richie, one of the many artists who worked on We Are the World, thinks the song can help us in these trying times. He sees value not only in its fundraising potential, but also in its message. Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie with the Grammy Award they won for We Are the World. | Bettmann The first two versions of We Are the World We are the world/We are the children/We are the ones who make a brighter day, so lets start giving. These lyrics inspired people across the globe. The sight of so many artists singing it together artists from different genres, races, and generations- made the lyrics so much more powerful. The initial version of We Are the World was a charity record designed to raise money for victims of a famine in Ethiopia. The record sold 20 million copies and raised over $63 million. It was definitely an experiment worth repeating. Later, the song was re-recorded as We Are the World 25, a charity single designed to help victims of the tragic 2010 Haitian earthquake. Whereas the original features many of the brightest stars of the 1980s, like Richie, Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, and Bruce Springsteen, the remake featured huge stars from the early 2010s, like Kanye West, Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus. The video for We Are the World What Lionel Richie said about a possible new version In these horrible times, Richie is thinking about remaking the song a second time. He feels it can raises desperately needed funds. He also hopes a remake of the song can spread the originals timeless message of unity. Describing how what happens in one part of the world affects all of us, Richie said What happened in China, in Europe, it came here. So if we dont save our brothers there, its going to come home. Its all of us. All of us are in this together. The video for We Are the World 25 For Haiti Weeks ago, Richie noted 2020 marked the original songs 35th anniversary. He initially wasnt interested in making a big deal about that anniversary. However, the outbreak of the coronavirus has made him reconsider his plans. Initially, he wanted to write a new song for the pandemic. However, he realized We Are the World already expresses everything he wants to say. That stands as a testament to how well the original songs lyrics can apply to numerous situations. The original We Are the World was a star-studded affair. What stars will appear on a new recording? We will wait and see. Also see: Thriller Wasnt One of Michael Jacksons Biggest Hits An American woman who contracted Covid-19 in Italy says the virus made her go deaf in addition to losing her sense of taste and smell. Julia Buscaglia, 20, told in terrifying detail how she experienced differing, additional symptoms to a fever and a dry cough. In fact, Buscaglia, a student at the University of Buffalo in upstate New York who moved to Florence in January, said she had a 'wet cough' and 'no symptoms were present that the CDC warned us about'. Posting to Twitter she explained how she returned home from hard hit Italy, where more than 6,000 people have died from coronavirus, at the beginning of March. Julia said she was able to travel back into the United States where 'not a single person asked where I had been'. After testing positive she said: 'My jaw DROPPED. How was I positive? I didnt have the symptoms on the news.' Julia Buscaglia, 20, told in terrifying detail how she experienced differing, additional symptoms to a fever and a dry cough. In fact, Buscaglia, a student at the University of Buffalo in upstate New York who moved to Florence in January, said she had a 'wet cough' and 'no symptoms were present that the CDC warned us about' Posting to Twitter she explained how she returned home from hard hit Italy, where more than 6,000 people have died from coronavirus, at the beginning of March She wrote: 'I flew home, and not a single person asked where I had been. Not even at customs. They didnt blink an eye at me. I had layovers in LARGE cities. Again, there was no doubt in my mind that I didnt have the virus.' Her post has gone on to be liked more than 175,000 times and retweeted 74,000 times. Julia told followers she 'woke up in agony' on February 29, adding: 'My head was pounding, my ears throbbing, and it felt as if my throat was on fire. My body ached, I had chills, and I had a fever of 100.2. I took over the counter anti-inflammatories and stayed in bed the entire day.' She explained how saw a doctor the following day who told her she had a cold. She said: 'At this point, I had begun to lose hearing in my left ear, I figured it was congestion. Still I had NO cough.' In her harrowing personal account Julia told how her hearing became 'significantly less', adding: 'As Italy was starting to become a place of concern our program urged us to return home.' By March 3, her last day in Italy, Julia said she 'still couldnt hear', adding: 'At this point I lost all ability to taste and smell, yet I did not have a runny nose or cough. 'I had a headache constantly during the day which I just treated with Tylenol. I left the next morning to return to America.' By March 5 she was back in the US and in self quarantine. On March 14 Julia said she was tested for the virus, adding: 'I was not planning on being tested. However, members of my family work in health care & wanted to be sure before returning to work. We had to ask to be tested, they refused until we asked repeatedly.' Still with 'no symptoms, a slight remaining cough' Julia was told she had tested positive for COVID-19. She said: 'My jaw DROPPED. How was I positive? I didnt have the symptoms on the news, I got cleared by a doctor, and no one cared at customs I had come from a high risk country. 'I guess why Im telling you all of this is because what they are telling you are symptoms are not ALL symptoms. And you do NOT have to have the symptoms to be positive. The only symptom I had that was similar was a fever. Julia urged her followers: 'But this is not a joke anymore. Please cancel your trips. 'I am completely healthy right now, but that doesnt mean Im cleared. And the same could be true of you. So please stay indoors. Be safe and smart. Limit your contact with individuals, because this is going to get worse before it gets better. 'To those of you in the same situation as me, I wish you all a speedy recovery and to stay healthy. Drink fluids and wash your hands. Please remember, just because you are not showing symptoms does NOT mean you do not have it.' Merkel, 65, was informed about the doctors test shortly after holding a news conference Sunday announcing new measures to curb the spread of the virus Berlin: German Chancellor has gone into quarantine after being informed that a doctor who administered a vaccine to her has tested positive for the new coronavirus. Merkel, 65, was informed about the doctors test shortly after holding a news conference Sunday announcing new measures to curb the spread of the virus, her spokesman Steffen Seibert said. He said that Merkel had received a precautionary vaccine on Friday against pneumococcal infection. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever or coughing. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. About 93,800 people have recovered, mostly in China. Seibert said in a statement that Merkel would undergo regular tests in the coming days and continue with her work from home for the time being. Merkel had earlier expressed her gratitude to Germans who were following the rules on social distancing, saying it was important to remain at least 1.5 meters (about five feet) apart to reduce the likelihood of infection. Merkel on Sunday thanked the overwhelming majority of Germans who were following rules on social distancing to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. I know that it means sacrifice, she said, citing the economic and social costs that the lockdown is having. Im moved by the fact that so many are abiding by these rules. This way we show care for older and sick people, because the virus is most dangerous to them. In short: we are saving lives with this. Merkel said the lockdown had already affected her profoudly, too. My life has also fundamentally changed and now consists largely of phone calls and video conferences, she said. Click here to follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak The development illustrated how even world leaders arent free from the risk of infection. With a certain distance the risk of infections is reduced almost to zero, Merkel told reporters. Whether you are half a meter apart or 1.5 meters apart makes a huge difference. Seconds later, she was informed that her doctor had tested positive for COVID-19. FORTY YEARS SINCE THE FIRST WORKERS WEEKLY A GREAT RECORD TO BUILD ON! This newspaper you are reading is the product of forty years of battling BY people like yourself, FOR people like yourself. That makes 1963 an important year for the working people of Australia, for on June 22, 1923, there was founded in Sydney by the young Communist Party the Workers Weekly, the first mass-circulation weekly Communist newspaper. Today the Tribune (circulating nationally from Sydney), Guardian (Melbourne) and Queensland Guardian are the descendants of Workers Weekly. Every week they provide for tens of thousands of Australians the only extensive coverage of the activities of the working class and other people for peace, economic gains, liberty and socialism both in Australia and overseas. They present the policies and ideas of the Communists, and others who may serve the interests of the working people, concerning the present situation and the future. They fight for the working people, and against those who harm their interests monopoly capital and its various agents. WORKERS PRESS TRADITION The workers of Australia have produced, distributed and supported journals and newspapers that in some way defended them against their exploiters, over many generations. As far back as 1883, William Lane was publishing a paper in Brisbane (the Boomerang) that was based on socialist ideals. Later (in 1890), Lane edited the old Worker, organ of the Labor Party, but with the motto Socialism in Our Time. LABOUR DAILIES Trade unions developed journals for their own members. Some of these have a long and glorious history. The Labor Party in its early years developed various publications, even some daily newspapers, which for a time reflected the militancy of the rising working class. These passed out of existence after they, coming under right-wing or even direct capitalist control ceased to inspire the support of the workers. The Communist Party of Australia, formed in October, 1920, experienced an initial period of disunity, during which there were two journals the International Communist (previously International Socialist) and the Communist (previously the Australian Communist). Following the unification of the Party, the Workers Weekly appeared as the central organ on 22nd June 1923 and was developed as a real newspaper of the workers. During the period to 1939 and thereafter under the name Tribune it developed as a truly national newspaper a feat which no millionaire capitalist newspaper concern of today can equal, since their newspapers circulate only within separate states. The Communist Press has been written, printed, circulated, sold and financed solely on the basis of the efforts of the working people, and especially the Communists themselves, who have seen it as a priceless weapon of their cause, in the class struggle and the broad movements for peace and democracy. Tribune has appeared both weekly and bi-weekly, and for a period in illegal form, under the early wartime ban of the Menzies Government. A number of its press workers and sellers have been gaoled. But it has never failed to tell the story of the struggles of the working people over those forty years, and so its files are the main documentary of the modern Australian working class and peoples movements. A FEAT TO BE PROUD OF! Life in Australia has shown that in the conditions of our society and country, only the Communist Party, leading the advanced working class and people, has proved capable of sustaining and developing a truly independent newspaper, embracing all sections of the working people, which serves the true national interests in the struggle for peace, national independence, higher living standards, democracy and socialism. This is a great feat, of which all working people can be proud. In a country where capitalist monopolisation of press and other propaganda organs is very highly developed, the Communist Press of the working people can prosper and grow as a fighting weapon, despite all difficulties. That is something that should be constantly explained to those who may be intimidated by the apparent power of big daily newspapers or disillusioned by the disappearance of one-time Labor daily and weekly newspapers. BIG FUTURE This 40th anniversary is an occasion for great celebration because it demonstrates that the working class and other progressive people, in Australia as elsewhere, can overcome all obstacles. They will continue to build and develop their own newspapers and other publications, increase their circulation, quality and size, and will undoubtedly produce also daily newspapers that will live and grow with the working people, serving their interests still more effectively. The time to begin is now, this anniversary year, this month, even while planning functions to celebrate the forty years achievement. Selling more copies each week that is the essence of the way forward for every reader! How to do it? that is the question that must be answered. Tribune will, in the coming weeks, publish as many suggestions as possible, put forward by some of the most experienced sellers and supporters. At this moment, many Communist Party branches and committees have begun special discussions to find the answers, in the workplace or locality that concerns them. Recently, members of one Sydney waterfront Communist Party branch threw out a challenge that all of them could lift their weekly sales, better than all comers. What do YOU say to that challenge? By the time the June 22 anniversary comes around, and given the will to do it, friends of Tribune can give a real lift to circulation figures, and lay the basis for a big drive upward in the second half of the year. That is the way to begin the SECOND forty years of the Communist press a period that will certainly take Australia a long way towards the socialist transformation and a developed Socialist Society. Article originally appeared in Tribune March, 1963. Chief minister Yediyurappa and his family applauding the work of medical personnel in containing the coronavirus in Karnataka. (PTI) Bengaluru: The Karnataka government decided late this evening to extend its coronavirus lockout to the entire state till March 31. Earlier, it had imposed prohibitory orders in nine districts where COVID-19 positive cases have been reported. The decision to extend the shutdown to the whole state came after the health task force expressed fears that the virus has entered many more districts. In places like Bengaluru, it might have entered stage three, that is, spreading within the community rather than remaining within the foreign-returned population. Chief minister B S Yeddyurappa tweeted the governments decision at 9.30 pm Monday. The tougher measures include total suspension of all but the most essential services. Groceries will be open, as will online food delivery services like Swiggy and Zomato. But all forms of transport have been shut down, and Section 144 has been imposed against assembly of more than five people. The Bengaluru police have said they will intervene if anyone is found violating prohibitory orders, and have set up a special team to track down foreign-returned people to see if they are violating isolation norms. Earlier in the day, chief minister Yediyurappa held a meeting with various experts and appealed to people living in cities not to leave for their home towns lest they spread the virus there. He also requested experts, doctors and owners of private hospitals to pitch in with the effort to contain the infection. Yediyurappa added that experts, doctors and owners of private hospitals have advised him to order a "complete shutdown," besides setting up fever clinics where preliminary check-ups can be done. "Thirty fever clinics will be started," he said in response to a question. Answering another question, Yediyurappa added that in the wake of the shutdown food would be provided to dailywagers free of cost through Indira Canteens. "The state-sponsored subsidised 'Indira Canteens' as of now serves breakfast at Rs 5 and lunch and dinner at a cost of Rs 10. In the interest of the poor, it has been decided to serve free food for poor. Through Indira Canteens, free food will be served for the entire day to the poor," he said. With seven new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Karnataka, the total number of coronavirus infections has risen to 33. This was the highest increase in a single day in the state. With the coronavirus scare growing more intense, the Karnatka High Court ordered closure of all district, trial, family and labour courts and in the state from March 24 to April 6 (both days included). According to a communique released by the Karnataka High Court, there will be maximum one or two designated in-charge courts in all district headquarters which will function between 11 am to 12:30 pm on March 24, 27, and 31 and April 2. The note further added that cases listed till April 4 will automatically be adjourned for next hearing date and these in-charge courts will take only very urgent matters like bail petitions. Besides this, the court has also restricted the entry of its own bar members, advocate-clerks and litigants. The entry of advocates, staff members and litigants should enter the court premises only unless it is absolutely mandatory. A Chinese father has created a 'coronavirus safety pod' to protect his baby from catching the deadly virus while being outside. The sleeping pod is equipped with a purifier that delivers filtered air into the cabin and a sterile glove that allows parents to comfort their child without directly touching them. The father from Shanghai, 30, known by his nickname Bai Ying or the 'white shadow', designed the protective case for his son to use when they go outside. A Chinese father, known by his nickname Bai Ying, has created a 'coronavirus safety pod' to protect his baby from catching the deadly virus while being outside 'It's very inconvenient when you need to take your child to places that don't have fresh air, for example, the hospital,' Bai Ying said in a video he uploaded to Chinese short-video platform Douyin. A monitor that detects and shows the air quality of the cabin is also attached to the safety pod. It displays the density of carbon dioxide and the temperature inside the pod. 'Because babies have a weaker respiratory system, wearing a mask could likely cause a lack of oxygen for them,' the Shanghai-based interior designer told the local press. Bai Ying said his design was partially inspired by popular video game 'Death Stranding'. 'I feel very proud that people approve my design, like I've turned something from the virtual world into real life,' he added. Bai Ying said his design was partially inspired by the popular video game 'Death Stranding' 'It's very inconvenient when you need to take your child to places that don't have fresh air, for example, the hospital,' Bai Ying said in a video he uploaded on Chinese TikTok-like Douyin The designer father has contacted a manufacturer to produce more 'coronavirus safety pods' after dozens of people offered to buy his device. 'I don't want to be a social media influencer, but I want my design and products to help more people,' Bai Ying said. The novel coronavirus has infected over 81,000 people in China and claimed at least 3,259 lives. Though the country has recently seen a sharp decline in its new cases, fears are sparked after more imported patients travelling from abroad are reported. Statistics show infected travellers to China have spread to ever more provinces, adding pressure on authorities to toughen entry rules and health protocols. A passenger is being checked by medical workers after arriving in Beijing Medical workers from Yunnan province bid farewell to locals at the airport in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province China reported no new domestic cases of coronavirus for a second day in a row last Friday, but the number of imported infections has risen to 228. Statistics show infected travellers to China have spread to ever more provinces, adding pressure on authorities to toughen entry rules and health protocols. Globally, there are nearly 350,000 confirmed cases and the death toll has surpassed 13,200. 4,145 people have been infected in the UK and 223 have died. In a tough message to the public from Downing Street this afternoon, Mr Johnson said: 'Even if you think you are personally invulnerable, there are plenty of people you can infect Boris Johnson faces massive pressure to impose a European-style lockdown to avert coronavirus disaster today as people continue to flout government guidance. Demands are growing for the PM to ramp up controls after extraordinary images emerged this morning of still-packed Tube trains in London - regarded as the engine of the UK outbreak. After a weekend in which crowds flocked to parks and landmarks to take advantage of sunshine, Mr Johnson effectively put the nation on its final warning, saying there should be 'no doubt' he would take draconian action. Access Bank Plc has temporarily closed its Ligali Ayorinde branch in Victoria Island, Lagos. The bank said it took the decision after a visitor tested positive for coronavirus. A statement from the bank Monday said persons who had contact with the concerned individual are currently in isolation. We have confirmed that an individual who visited our Ligali Ayorinde branch on Monday 16th March 2020, has tested positive for coronavirus, the statement said on Monday. He was symptom-free as at the time of visit and he is currently being monitored at an Isolation Centre in Yaba. The bank advised that anyone who visited the branch in the past week should self-quarantine for 14 days beginning immediately. Covid -19 COVID-19 has killed people as well as attacking the real economy at its core, trades, supply chain, businesses, jobs, entire countries and cities are on lock-down while borders are closing. Reacting to the epidemic, the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, said the world is at war with the virus. Mr Guterres, in a video on the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak on the world on Thursday, called for more commitment from governments to combat the effect the outbreak will have on economies. He said the world is at war with a virus and warned that a global recession perhaps of record dimensions is a near certainty. We are facing a global health crisis unlike any in the 75-year history of the UN one that is spreading human suffering, infecting the global economy and upending peoples lives, he said. Mr Guterres said the international labour organisation across the world could lose as much as 3.4 trillion dollars in income by the end of the year. He added that above the crisis, the effect on humans, especially the vulnerable, would be disastrous if governments do not intervene by doing things differently. The human crisis he said, calls for solidarity, as the human family is stressed and the social fabric is being torn. The mayor of Italy's worst-hit coronavirus town has said he is bringing his daughters home from the UK because he believes his country is safer. Giorgio Gori, mayor of Bergamo in Italy's north, said he made the decision to bring his daughters home from school in Taunton and Canterbury after concluding that the UK government is not taking the threat of coronavirus seriously enough. In a damning indictment of Boris Johnson's coronavirus action plan, Gori said Britain has already missed the opportunity to stave off the worst of the crisis. With 335 deaths from coronavirus, the UK is in almost the exact same position that Italy was two weeks ago when it enacted a country-wide lockdown and banned people from the streets without a valid reason. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has so-far ignored calls to copy the measures taken by Italy, but is now facing a revolt from within his own party unless they are brought in. Italy now has the highest number of coronavirus deaths anywhere in the world at almost 5,500 with 1,444 people dying this weekend alone - equivalent to one every two minutes. However, there are signs that the infection is starting to ease off - giving a glimmer of hope that lockdown measures have been effective. Giorgio Gori (right, with his partner) is bringing his two daughters (left) home to the worst-hit town in Italy from the UK because he believes they will be safer there after the British government failed to act quickly enough over coronavirus Gori said the UK has failed to learn the lessons of Italy, which enacted a stringent coronavirus lockdown two weeks ago when it had the same number of deaths Coronavirus deaths in the UK have been following an 'exponential curve' meaning they have been doubling roughly every three days, putting the UK on track to be in Italy's position in two weeks' time Italy's death toll from coronavirus has surpassed China, but there is evidence that the steep rise is starting to taper off two weeks after draconian lockdown measures were put in place (data correct as of midday March 23, GMT) Italy's coroanvirus deaths have been increasing rapidly over the past two weeks, but have started to taper off in the first sign that isolation measures could be working Speaking to Sky News, Gori said: 'I have two daughters, they are studying in England, one in Taunton in college and the other in Canterbury, she's doing a Masters. 'And when I saw what the English government was thinking about this problem, I decided to bring them back. 'I think that even if we are at the centre of the epidemic probably they are more secure here than in England. 'I don't understand why the government didn't decide in time to protect their citizens.' While the total number of UK cases lags far behind Italy at the moment, there are fears this country has started to trace the same graph and will soon be in the same position UK coronavirus cases also appear to be tracing the same graph as Italy though two weeks behind, leading to calls for a nationwide lockdown A convoy of Italian Army trucks is unloaded upon arrival from Bergamo carrying bodies of coronavirus victims to the cemetery of Ferrara, Italy, where they will be cremated Military trucks carrying the coffins of COVID-19 Coronavirus victims are seen outside the Bergamo's cemetery Meanwhile, other Italian mayors and regional leaders issued furious commands for people to stay in their homes amid the lockdown - even threatening to bring in police armed with flamethrowers. Vincenzo De Luca, president of the Campania region, issued a televised message saying: 'I'm getting news that some would like to throw graduation parties. 'We will send the police over,' he added. 'With flamethrowers.' Meanwhile Cateno De Luca, mayor of Messina, was equally incredulous. In an impassioned Facebook tirade, he said: 'You will not 'stroll' in my town. A convoy of Italian Army trucks is unloaded upon arrival from Bergamo carrying bodies of coronavirus victims to the cemetery in Ferrara after Bergamo's morgue reached maximum capacity The coffins of the coronavirus dead are piled up in a tent set up at the church of Every Saints in the cemetery in Bergamo 'I can't formally ban you from leaving your house? 'I will ban you from setting foot on public soil unless for proven necessities.' Antonio Decaro, the mayor of Bari, took to the streets himself in order to send people back to their houses. 'Go home,' he could be seen telling one person playing ping-pong on the beach, 'play some videogames. 'I'm the mayor of this city. I will make you follow this decree. I don't want excuses. You must go home. You. All. Have. To. Stay. Home.' Vincenzo de Luca, mayor of Campania, warned people trying to throw graduation parties at home during the coronavirus lockdown that 'we will send the police with flamethrowers' Another Italian mayor warned : 'You are not Will Smith in I Am Legend. You need to go home' Another added: 'This isn't a movie. You are not Will Smith in I Am Legend. You have to go home.' Italy is in the midst of the world's worst coronavirus outbreak, with the death toll increasing by 1,444 at the weekend - or two people every minute. Since the outbreak began some two months ago, there have been 60,000 confirmed cases in Italy with almost 5,500 people dying from the illness. The country announced a draconian nationwide lockdown starting on March 10, that heavily restricted travel between cities and urged people to stay at home. Since then it has been expanded to confine people to their homes with people only allowed out to go to work, a medical appointment, or other emergencies. Italy banned travel and shut down a range of industries Monday in a last-ditch push to stem the spread of a coronavirus that has killed nearly 5,500 people in a month. The latest wave of restrictions is designed to get the Mediterranean country through a vital 10-day stretch in which the rate of deaths and infections is supposed to finally drop. Italy's health officials sounded notes of guarded hope after reporting another 651 fatalities on Sunday. Coffins of people who have died from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are seen in the church of the Serravalle Scrivia in Alessandria, Italy Italian Army soldiers and police jointly patrol the streets in Naples checking people's reasons for being out of their homes amid a coronavirus lockdown The figure was the second-highest recorded during the crisis and above that officially registered anywhere else in the world in a day. But it was still lower than the record 793 deaths health officials announced on Saturday. The number of new infections also rose Sunday by a relatively modest 10.4 percent. The chief health officer of northern Italy's devastated Lombardy region sounded uncharacteristically upbeat Sunday. 'These figures are always a matter of either seeing the glass as half full or half empty,' Giulio Gallera wrote on Facebook. 'Today, the glass is half full.' Italy has sacrificed its economy and liberties by shutting down and banning almost everything to halt the spread of a virus the government views as an existential threat. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte took the extra step late Saturday of announcing plans to close 'non-essential' factories and trades until April 3. Italians spent much of Sunday trying to figure out what exactly Conte meant. The government released a long list of industries and professions that would still be allowed. These included translation services and chemical processing plants. Auto part makers were allowed to stay open, but steel mills were not. Health service personnel in the new intensive care unit built by the San Raffaele hospital in Milan thanks to private donations Lawyers were told to work from home, but reporters were allowed to meet in newsrooms. The decrees published Monday added to the air of confusion in the face of a disease Conte on Saturday called Italy's biggest threat since World War II. They include a separate instruction forbidding Italians 'from moving by public or private means of transport outside the municipality in which they are currently located'. This theoretically means that Italians cannot travel to their second homes at the weekend or visit out-of-town relatives. There is an exception for people who can prove they must travel 'for work needs of absolute urgency or for health reasons'. The long list of 'essential' industries is accompanied by reports of companies urgently lobbying the government to be allowed to open their doors for the coming week. The reality is that Conte's team is slowly running out of things to close or ban - other than imposing a Chinese-style quarantine of cities and entire regions. Ministers and health experts are all looking at the daily death toll and infection rates to see if their approach has worked. Health service personnel transport a patient into the new intensive care unit built by the San Raffaele hospital in Milan A person walks through an almost empty Termini main train station in Rome Other nations are watching also, as they calibrate their response to a virus whose spread is currently being fought by measures that are restricting people's freedoms and devastating economies. Both local and national officials pleaded with Italians while announcing their restrictions to sacrifice their liberties for the common good for two weeks. The two-week deadline in Lombardy expired on Sunday. The restrictions Conte imposed nationally are set to end of Wednesday, while the closure of schools and public buildings is due to expire on April 3. Conte had indicated last week that he might have to extend the restrictions indefinitely. His decision on what Italy intends to do next is expected this week. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have seriously hit restaurants and hotels in the famous northern tourist town of Sa Pa Town. Chao Duan Vay's farm has nearly two tonnes of salmonbut he cannot find customers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo baolaocai.vn The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have seriously hit restaurants and hotels in the famous northern tourist town of Sa Pa Town, Lao Cai online newspaper reported. As a knock-on effect, Ngu Chi Son Commune, which is the biggest salmon farming area in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai, is suffering. Hang A Sang, chairman of Ngu Chi Son Commune People's Committee, said there were currently no statistics on the untold tonnes of unsold salmon in the area, but farmers were sure to meet with difficulties. Those most seriously hit would be farms that had no links to the consumption market and depended on traders. There are about 70 salmon farms in the area owned by enterprises, cooperatives and locals. The farms are mainly found in the villages of Can Ho B, Phin Ho and Kim Ngan. According to experienced salmon farm owners, salmon farming requires a big initial investment but if the consumption market is favourable and price is stable, it yielded good profits. Chao Duan Ta, the owner of a salmon farm in Can Ho B Village, said that 15 days ago, prices dropped from VN250,000/kg to VN180,000/kg. Prices are continuing to fall and we've had no traders coming up here to buy our fish. I've got more than a tonne of fish in stock," he said. Another local salmon farmer, Hang A Phinh, was worried about paying back his VN300 million bank loan. He intended to pay off the debt after selling his salmon and then re-invest in the farm, but like many other salmon farmers, although his fish are ready for sale, there's been no interest for the last two weeks. At the current price of VN170,000/kg, it is not enough to recover my investment, but the more I keep the more I suffer, he estimated. Some salmon farms in Kim Ngan Village are sitting on up to five tonnes of fish. Chao Duan Vay from Kim Ngan Village said he borrowed VN200 million to invest in salmon farming tanks three years ago, but just as the salmon were ready to be sold, the price started plummeting. Kim Ngan Village is located far from the communes centre which makes transporting the fish difficult, so traders are offering a lower price of VN150,000/kg. Vay said his farm had nearly two tonnes of unsold salmon but he still had to spend about VN1 million per day on fish food. To limit the impacts of the pandemic, I am feeding the fish less and hoping the traders will come. Salmon farms in Sa Pa mostly serve to tourist needs, so the selling price is usually relatively high. However, at present, the price is low, so local farmers should find other consumption channels other than tourists to help ease the difficulties, according to Sang, chairman of Ngu Chi Son Commune's People's Committee. VNS Tourist numbers to Sapa sharply falls due to Covid-19 Tourist numbers to Sapa Town in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai have considerably decreased, causing many local areas to become deserted. Michael Ciaglo, Staff / Houston Chronicle Midland exploration and production company Diamondback Energy is cutting its 2020 drilling budget for a second time this month as crude oil continue to fall to nearly 20-year lows. In a statement issued late last week, Diamondback has cut $1.2 billion from hits capital budget, meaning that the company now plans to spend between $1.5 billion and $1.9 billion on drilling and completing new wells this and plans to cut more, if oil prices continue to fall. There is a growing view that keeping the current Government in office for a fixed anti-coronavirus period may be the best option for the nation. But that requires political action as this Government faces total paralysis inside the next two weeks, as Seanad elections conclude and the Taoiseach does not have the constitutional power to nominate his 11 senators. So, the parliament will be incomplete and not have power to make new emergency anti-virus laws. Up to now, such laws have been passed by the new Dail and the old Seanad. But the upper house is now being replaced via long-winded election procedures that will elect 49 of the 60 Seanad members. The electorate for 43 of these, spread across the various panels, are the 941 city and county councillors, the 160 TDs and the outgoing 60 senators. The electorate for the other six seats are the graduates of the National University of Ireland and Trinity College Dublin, which each return three senators. Elections in both cases will conclude early next week and the counting will be done over the ensuing days. The final 11 Seanad members are nominated by the Taoiseach in a device put in place by Eamon de Valera's 1937 Constitution to ensure a government majority in the upper house. The problem here is that Article 18.3 of that Constitution stipulates that these 11 are named "by the Taoiseach who is appointed next after the reassembly of Dail Eireann". And that is not the case with Leo Varadkar, who was elected Taoiseach by the previous Dail. Of course, it can be speculated, that lawyerly devices can be found to get around this crux. But things are bad enough already in the political credibility stakes. A move to have a Taoiseach properly elected would really be preferable. We are now entering the seventh week without a new government since the election on February 8. Talks between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail are, at kindest estimate, ticking along very slowly. Since the Green Party's 12 TDs have opted not to join the 'big two', we are left looking at various Independent TDs to make up the necessary majority of 80-plus. It looks like a hard slog which cannot be achieved before this Seanad crux hits. The Green Party has advocated a government of "national unity" as a temporary device to broach the current crisis. Precisely three weeks ago today, this writer mooted the same idea - while also noting that it was unlikely to happen. There are three problems with the well-intentioned idea of a cross-party unity government. First is that it is almost impossible to put together. Second is that, even if you could put it together, its many disparate elements would make it very unlikely to give swift decisions to deal with coronavirus. Third is that now is not a good time to be conducting political experiments. Since the coronavirus crisis utterly rules out another election, a more realistic approach would be to renew the mandate of the current 'care-taker government' by political agreement of the major parties. That would take a deal of courage from Fianna Fail especially, as they would see leaving Mr Varadkar in situ as inimical to their goal of leading the next government. It would have disadvantages for many of the other parties also. Yet it just might gain more political currency as the only real option over the coming days. Over the weekend an intriguing political blog circulated - written under the pseudonym "Ms N Formed" - which outlined these ideas. It is well worth a look and it is headlined: "Press the pause button on government formation, wait, and then change government." The article argues that the assumptions which surrounded the pre-February 8 general election have been blown away by the coronavirus. It rejects the idea of a national unity government as impracticable and notes the very slow pace of Fine Gael-Fianna Fail coalition talks. "Meanwhile, the current government gets on with the job. It is proving to be the friend you like having around when things get rough," the writer argues. Thus "Ms N Formed" argues for letting the current Fine Gael and Independents line-up continue. The ministers already know the ropes, know the civil service, and can make swift decisions as required. The writer notes the Seanad crux as outlined above. The proposed solution is for as many TDs as possible from Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein, the Green Party, Labour, Social Democrats, Solidarity-PBP, and Independents to agree to renew the Government's mandate for a number of months. In return, the process of cross-party consultation, currently being practised, could be enhanced and expanded to help keep everyone in the loop. There is no reference to what might happen to three ministers still in Government who lost their Dail seats in the general election. But perhaps it might be possible to agree their appointment to the Seanad on a temporary basis to qualify them to continue in Cabinet. The writer further suggests that the interim government's mandate could be for a number of months to be agreed by the parties underpinning it. As an end to the crisis looms into sight, government-making talks between interested parties could begin in earnest and should be able to conclude successfully in a relatively short time. After the coronavirus, the economy and people's confidence will have taken a hell of a battering. But the same problems of health, housing, Brexit and climate change will still confront us and we will have fewer resources. Are our political parties ready to park their differences and doubts and put the country first? We shall see over the coming 10 days. Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield adhered to social distancing rules on Monday's episode of This Morning. The ITV duo sat further apart as they opened the show, with Holly admitting she couldn't wait to hug her close friend again. Earlier, Phil and Holly appeared on Good Morning Britain for a debate on how to discuss the coronavirus pandemic with children, as ITV launched its new daytime schedule after axing popular shows Lorraine and Loose Women. Keeping their distance: Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield adhered to social distancing rules on Monday's episodes of Good Morning Britain and This Morning During the GMB chat with Piers Morgan and Lorraine Kelly, Holly, standing apart from her ITV colleagues, admitted she is struggling with what to tell her two eldest children about the global crisis. Holly and her husband Dan Baldwin are parents to Harry, ten, Belle, eight and Chester, five. The ITV star told Piers, Phil and Lorraine: 'I have Harry, who's ten and Belle, who's 8. It's about talking to them in an appropriate way'. 'No one knows your kids better than you do, you know the right approach,' Phil, a father of two, reassured his colleague Social distancing: Phil and Holly appeared on Good Morning Britain for a debate on how to discuss the coronavirus pandemic with children but kept apart from their ITV colleagues Mother: During the GMB chat with Piers Morgan and Lorraine Kelly, Holly admitted she is struggling with what to tell her two eldest children about the global crisis Whole gang is here! Good Morning Britain star Susanna Reid joined in the chat from home, where she's been self isolating for the past week after one of her sons developed symptoms Piers pointed out that 'what we're being asked to do in terms of sacrifice, going home to watch the telly, is not that bad'. Good Morning Britain star Susanna Reid joined in the chat from home, where she's been self isolating for the past week after one of her teenage sons developed symptoms. 'One thing with children, I think it's good to focus on the good. There are people delivering meals to front line staff and nurses in critical care are getting those fresh meals. That's an example of the goodness,' she said. Still on air: Later Holly and Phil were back in their This Morning studio to present the show, but were noticeably standing further apart Later Holly and Phil were back in their This Morning studio to present the show, but were noticeably sitting further apart. 'Yup, still here. You might notice something a bit different, were sitting further apart to comply with social distancing guidelines, it feels weird,' Phil told viewers. Holly admitted that she couldn't wait to hug her close friend again: 'It does feel weird, I cant wait for that day when I get to give you a big hug because thats what we need now,' she told Phil. There was room for jokes though as Phil quipped: 'We just came from Good Morning Britain. I didnt want to hug Piers.' 'Thats true, we have to be thankful for those sorts of moments!' Holly agreed. It was announced on Sunday that Good Morning Britain will be extended by an hour from Monday after Lorraine and Loose Women were suspended amid the coronavirus pandemic. Spread out: The TV duo also sat apart on the famous sofa, with their guests ITV daytime confirmed in a statement that neither show would continue as of Monday 23rd March, with Lorraine Kelly joining an EXTENDED version of GMB, and This Morning continuing 'as usual'. Bosses confirmed that they have been reducing crew numbers over the last week with the next steps allowing them to strip team backs further, with 'the aim of Daytime content continuing to air for as long as possible'. The statement read: 'ITV Daytime has taken the decision to stop broadcasting Lorraine and Loose Women live from Monday 23rd March. 'This decision has been made to minimise the number of staff travelling in and out of our studios and working together on shift at any one time. New rules: This Morning is going live with minimal crew and the social distancing rules 'We're focusing our efforts on providing to viewers the latest news on the rapidly changing situation which aims to offer some stability and continuity in all our lives whilst so many of us are at home right now. 'Thats why we have taken this tough decision to protect our GMB News programme in the morning and keep This Morning on air for as long as possible. 'From Monday we will be running an extended version of Good Morning Britain from 0600 until 10am. Off air: It was announced on Sunday that Good Morning Britain will be extended by an hour from Monday after Lorraine and Loose Women were suspended amid the coronavirus crisis 'At 9am Lorraine Kelly will join Piers in the GMB studio for the last hour and then hand straight over to the This Morning studio with Phillip and Holly as usual running from 10am until 1230pm. 'We will then run some of our most favourite repeat episodes of Loose Women from 12.30pm to 1.30pm to give viewers something to smile about each day at lunchtime. 'We have been reducing our crew numbers over the last week and these changes will enable us to reduce them further and help us build further resilience with the aim of Daytime content continuing to air for as long as possible. 'Safeguarding the well-being of everyone involved with our programmes is our priority and in this dynamically developing situation we will obviously continue to review these new arrangements on a day by day basis and follow at all times the latest PHE and WHO guidelines.' Suspended: Loose Women had been filming last week with no studio audience but has now been taken off air completely with repeats of favourite episodes airing in its place A nationwide initiative #TimetoToast to thank first responders and medical professionals LET's collectively say a big thank you. Freemasons nationwide are calling for the whole community to join in a toast at 9pm tonight to remember absent friends and those working on the frontline in the NHS and to ensure no one feels alone. Chief executive of the United Grand Lodge of England David Staples has called for the Freemasons' regular toast - traditionally held for absent friends after dinners - to be a 'virtual' toast - using #TimetoToast online - and extended to all those we cannot meet with, yet remain close in our thoughts. He said: "We want everyone to join in at 9pm tonight and raise a glass to those we cannot be with in person due to the huge challenges facing the country. Stay safe, self-isolate, but know that you are not alone." Head of Freemasonry for Women Christine Chapman said: "We must combat loneliness by ensuring that, even if we are all in our own homes, we are still connecting across the country." #TimetoToast The court handed down a ban and fine. (Liam McBurney/PA) A drink driver involved in a road accident where a child sustained whiplash has no memory of the incident, a Belfast court was told. Construction foreman Mark McSherry was handed a 15-month motoring ban for getting behind the wheel following a drinking session with work colleagues in Belfast last Christmas. The 31-year-old, of Mill Street in Comber, Co Down, was also fined a total of 600. Belfast Magistrates' Court heard he was driving home on December 20 when the accident occurred at the junction of Templemore Avenue and Castlereagh Street. One of the cars involved spun several times before coming to rest up to 50 metres away. Prosecution counsel Stephanie Boyd said two children were taken to hospital in shock, while a third sustained whiplash. It was claimed that McSherry refused to provide details at the scene, instead walking away and leaving his own damaged vehicle behind. District Judge Fiona Bagnall was told he had been drinking in the city centre for a number of hours prior to the incident. When identified and arrested he expressed remorse for his actions. A defence solicitor said McSherry had gone out drinking with workmates on the Friday before Christmas. "Unfortunately he has no memory of the incident," the lawyer added. "He said during interview this is the wake-up call he needed. He fully accepts this could have been a lot worse." McSherry admitted driving with excess alcohol, careless driving and failing to report an accident. Imposing the disqualification and fines, Mrs Bagnall said: "There are aggravating features." Downing Street has emphatically denied claims that Boris Johnsons chief adviser Dominic Cummings initially argued against strict measures that would have protected vulnerable people from the coronavirus outbreak. A report in The Sunday Times claimed that Mr Cummings set out the governments strategy in a private meeting in February, which those present characterised as herd immunity, protect the economy and if that means some pensioners die, too bad. However, Mr Cummings drastically changed tack after a meeting with the governments scientific experts weeks later, becoming an outspoken advocate for shutdown measures. One senior Tory told the newspaper: Dominic himself had a conversion. Hes gone from herd immunity and let the old people die, to lets shut down the country and the economy. In an unusual public intervention, a Downing Street spokesperson said the comments were a highly defamatory fabrication and included quotes from meetings that were invented. The allegation drew widespread condemnation on social media and comes amid concern about so-called herd immunity, a scientific concept which relies on large numbers of people getting the disease and becoming immune as a result. If enough people become resistant, the virus can no longer spread through the population. However, the idea is controversial as it could put the most vulnerable at risk. Matt Hancock, the health secretary, recently insisted that herd immunity was not government strategy after the chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance raised the idea. Mr Hancock said the governments overriding goal was to protect life and herd immunity was a scientific concept, not a goal or a strategy. According to the newspaper, Mr Cummings initially backed the idea of herd immunity as the best way to resist a second wave of coronavirus in the winter. But the PMs top aide was said to have had a penny-drop moment at a meeting of the governments scientific experts in March and shifted dramatically towards shutdown measures. A minister said: Seeing what was happening in Italy was the galvanising force across government. Critics seized on the report, with Labour demanding greater clarity on the governments strategy to combat the outbreak. Recommended How Dominic Cummings turned the PM from puppet master to puppet Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, said: Attitudes like this will not be forgiven and people will be sickened by such comments. Boris Johnson needs to show the leadership that this crisis demands. We need clarity from government messages and ministers must channel all their energies into protecting peoples health, wellbeing and livelihoods. A Downing Street spokesperson said: This is a highly defamatory fabrication which was not put to No10 by the Sunday Times before publication. The article also includes a series of apparent quotes from meetings which are invented. Sri Lanka's first confirmed coronavirus patient completely recovered and was discharged from the hospital on Monday, authorities said. A 52-year-old tour guide, who provided services to a group of Italian tourists, was the first COVID-19 case in the island nation. He was admitted to the IDH in Angoda on March 11. The patient completely recovered, health officials said. "He was discharged from the IDH this morning," they added. Sri Lanka currently has 86 coronavirus patients with 227 people under observation, authorities said. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's office on Friday imposed a nationwide curfew from Friday until Monday to combat the fast-spreading coronavirus pandemic. The curfew which was to be lifted on Monday has been extended. President Rajapaksa has convened an all party meeting on Tuesday to discuss the COVID-19 prevention operation. He and former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe exchanged accusations over the government's response to the crisis. While Rajapaksa accused Wickremesinghe of trying to make political capital out of the situation, Wickremesinghe found holes in the government's COVID prevention work. The COVID prevention work was entrusted to a special body under Army Chief Gen Shavendra Silva. Countries around the world are sealing their borders and banning travel to stop the fast-spreading COVID-19 pandemic that has claimed over 15,000 lives with more than 307,277 cases reported in over 165 countries and territories, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. In view of the rising number of the novel coronavirus cases globally, Sri Lanka on Tuesday suspended all international flights arriving in the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 21:37:44|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LUSAKA, March 23 (Xinhua) -- China's Huajian Group has donated medical supplies to help Zambia in the fight against COVID-19, a government official said on Monday. The medical supplies worth 38,000 U.S. dollars are expected to be delivered to Zambia on April 4, 2020 and the consignment includes medical masks, protective gear, thermometer guns and gloves. Daniel Chisenga, Consulate-General at the Consulate of the Zambian government in Guangzhou who received the equipment during a ceremony thanked the Chinese firm for the donation. He said the donated medical supplies will go a long way in helping Zambian healthcare workers in the fight against the pandemic. The Zambian government official thanked the Chinese firm for its generosity and added that Zambia was looking forward to further cooperation in investment and people-to-people exchange, according to a release. As the number of COVID-19 cases is witnessing a spike in India, religious places across the country remain closed to encourage social distancing, a key component in preventing the spread of the deadly coronavirus. Here's a glimpse of places of worship that are shut due to this unprecedented pandemic outbreak. IMAGE: Police personnel deployed as the famous Siddhivinayak Ganesh temple closed due to the rising cases of coronavirus, in Mumbai. Photograph: ANI Photo IMAGE: Devotees offer prayers outside Saibaba temple in Shirdi after it was closed due to the pandemic. Photograph: PTI Photo IMAGE: Security personnel stand outside a closed temple in Mathura. Photograph: PTI Photo IMAGE: A deserted view of Kanaka Durga temple in Vijayawada. Photograph: ANI Photo IMAGE: Sadhus walk inside the empty premises of Kamakhya temple in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, in Guwahati. Photograph: PTI Photo IMAGE: Deserted street outside Jama Masjid during Janta curfew in New Delhi, on Sunday. Photograph: Kamal Kishore/PTI Photo IMAGE: A deserted view of Sri Krishna temple as the temple authorities have curbed the entry of pilgrims in the wake of deadly coronavirus, in Thrissur. Photograph: PTI Photo Photograph: Hitesh Harisinghani/ Rediff.com IMAGE: Mahim Church in Mumbai closed due to the pandemic. Maharashtra has recorded the highest number of COVID-19 positive cases in the country. IMAGE: Devotees offer prayers outside a closed gate of a Hanuman Mandir at Yamuna Bazaar in New Delhi after it was shut for visitors. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo IMAGE: Deserted Golden Temple during Janata curfew in Amritsar. Photograph: PTI Photo IMAGE: A notice put for the closure of Church of St Augustine in Old Goa. Photograph: ANI Photo IMAGE: A view of deserted Jamia Masjid in Srinagar. Authorities imposed restrictions as a precautionary measures soon after the first case of coronavirus was detected in the Valley. Photograph: S Irfan/PTI Photo IMAGE: SMVD Shrine board official disinfect the office as the Vaishno Devi Pilgrimage has been suspended, in view of the advisories issued by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the J&K government considering the spread of coronavirus at Katra in Jammu. Photograph: ANI Photo IMAGE: A devotee walks on a deserted road in wake of coronavirus pandemic near Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya. Photograph: PTI Photo The Feds rescue plan is undermined by a drum beat of bad news. The Federal Reserve unveiled a vast expansion of its efforts to shore up businesses and keep markets functioning. But the brief boost for Wall Street was soon wiped away as Washington lawmakers failed again to come together on a nearly $2 trillion rescue package. Across the landscape of American business, grim news abounded Monday as the coronavirus pandemic paralyzed the country. Boeing said it was temporarily idling 70,000 factory workers in Washington State after about 30 employees tested positive for Covid-19. Twitter said its revenue would take a hit as advertising has declined. Nordstrom, its cash diminished, drew down $800 million in credit. And General Electric said it would cut 10 percent of workers in its aviation unit. ST. PAUL When a St. Paul police sergeant found a puppy missing from the Animal Humane Society on Thursday, March 19, the man suspected of taking the dog told him hed seen the police departments Facebook post asking for tips in the case. He said he intended to return the dog. Sgt. Bob Bisson told the man the shelter didnt intend to press charges they just wanted Beezie back safe and sound. The man handed the terrier-pit bull mix over, and Bisson brought the pup back to the Humane Society next to Como Regional Park. A man and woman took Beezie for a walk from the adoption facility on Feb. 29 and drove away with her. The Humane Society takes down the names of people who are taking a dog out for a walk, but the couple left without providing their information. After the police department posted surveillance photos of the pair and the sport-utility vehicle they left in, they received tips that led Bisson to several car dealerships that had some connection to the SUV. Bisson went to several addresses where he thought the suspects may have been. "No luck. But he didnt stop trying," the police department said Thursday in announcing that Beezie was found. On Thursday, Bisson arrived at a home in the area of Snelling and Stanford avenues. ADVERTISEMENT The SUV seen in the surveillance video was parked outside and Bisson knocked on the door, talked to the man who answered and got Beezie back. The dog appeared uninjured, according to a police spokesman. The Animal Humane Society is closing its four Twin Cities locations to the public through May 2 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the St. Paul location closing on Friday night. The magisterial enquiry into the police firing during the anti-CAA protest on December 19 in Mangaluru, has been postponed following the lockdown of Dakshina Kannada district, Udupi DC G Jagadeesh announced on Monday. The inquiry by Udupi DC G Jagadeesh was scheduled on Monday. Already, City Police Commissioner Dr P S Harsha and others have deposed before the magistrate. The Deputy Commissioner and the Assistant Commissioner were supposed to appear before the magistrate. Following the December 19 violence and the death of Nausheen and Jaleel due to alleged police firing, the state government had commissioned two probes-- one magisterial and the other, a CID inquiry. As per the government order, a report on the inquiry was to be submitted before March 23. On the request by the magistrate for more time since the documents and videos had to be examined, the government had asked him to submit the report by April 23. While coronavirus has affected more than 190 countries and territories around the globe, North Korea still not publicly confirmed a single case. As per international media reports, North Korea has doubled down on its missile development and military exercises in recent weeks, while other countries are battling to contain the spread of the deadly virus. Many international experts are now skeptical of North Koreas assertion that it has not had a single case of coronavirus. According to international media reports, North Korea rebased almost all the foreigners it quarantined as a precaution. Amid the unprecedented outbreak, the country also announced that it would hold a big gathering of its Supreme Peoples Assembly (SPA) in early April. While speaking to an international media outlet, Duyeon Kim, who is a senior advisor to the International Crisis Group think-tank, said that Kim Jong Un is trying to show his confidence and strength to his people. READ: North Korea Says Trump Sent Letter To Kim, Offers Cooperation READ: North Korea Fires Missiles During Military Exercise North Korea could have dire consequences Duyeon further added that Kim is also trying to show that the regime is functioning normally by pursuing its strategic objectives despite the national crisis over a virus they have no control over. Duyeon said that Kim is trying to show that North Korea is invincible in a bid to keep his constituents in Pyongyang happy. Meanwhile, a report from a ruling party newspaper in North Korea said that a local party official had been punished for undermining nationwide coronavirus prevention measures by organising drinking parties. Even though some foreigners have reportedly said the North Koreas government is actually well placed as it has been successful in slowing the spread of the virus, aid organisations, on the other hand, warned that the countys health system is chronically under-resourced, often fails to meet the daily needs of citizens. The aid organisation reportedly said that North Korea could have dire consequences due to a poor health system and shortage of medical supplies. The organisation further added that it would be hard-pressed for North Korea to handle any major outbreak of coronavirus, which has infected more than 351,000 people and claimed nearly 15,332 lives around the globe. READ: North Korea Launches Test Missiles, Seoul Calls Timing 'inappropriate' Amid COVID-19 Scare READ: South Korea: North Korea Fires 2 Presumed Missiles Into Sea The spread of the highly contagious COVID-19 respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus has drawn comparisons with painful periods such as World War 2, the 2008 financial crisis, and the 1918 Spanish flu. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called for a global ceasefire so the world can focus on fighting the coronavirus pandemic. "It is time to put armed conflict on lockdown and focus together on the true fight of our lives," Guterres told a virtual news conference, according to Reuters. So far more than 351,000 people have been infected and over 15,330 have died, according to a Reuters tally. The spread of the highly contagious COVID-19 respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus has drawn comparisons with painful periods such as World War 2, the 2008 financial crisis, and the 1918 Spanish flu. "The virus does not care about nationality or ethnicity, faction or faith. It attacks all, relentlessly. Meanwhile, armed conflict rages on around the world," Guterres said. Read alsoAmid coronavirus spread, Ukraine seeking from IMF double the amount it asked for earlier "The most vulnerable women and children, people with disabilities, the marginalized and the displaced pay the highest price, he said. "They are also at the highest risk of suffering devastating losses from COVID-19." Guterres warned that in war-torn countries health systems have collapsed and the small number of health professionals left were often targeted in the fighting. "End the sickness of war and fight the disease that is ravaging our world," he said. "It starts by stopping the fighting everywhere. Now. That is what our human family needs, now more than ever." A group of retired Massachusetts troopers implicated in the widespread court overtime scandal but who were never charged can keep their pensions, according to the state Retirement Board. In a March 6 letter, the Retirement Board said 14 troopers implicated in the overtime scandal could still receive their pensions because none of them were criminally charged. In a January announcement, Mass. State Police Colonel Christopher Mason said he planned to fire 22 troopers identified as having participated in the overtime scandal. State police referred 46 troopers, all members of the former Troop E, for criminal prosecution. Ten troopers were charged in either state or federal court. Eight of those troopers have been convicted and sentenced. Within the remaining 36, a total of 14 troopers retired. Mason and Gov. Charlie Baker asked the Retirement Board to strip the pensions of the 14 troopers. All of the 14 troopers either retired voluntarily or due to a disability through the Merit Rating Board at various dates between October 2017 and September 2019. The Retirement Board, in the March 6 letter to Mason, said the board would not initiate proceedings against the 14 troopers. State police have not released the names of the 36 troopers and did not disclose the amount of restitution being sought from 22 of the troopers because the disciplinary process is ongoing. The Board is not regularly presented with similar requests by other participating agencies of the retirement system that seek to recover funds, the Nicola Favorito, the boards executive director wrote in the letter. Typically, those agencies pursue remedies individually. The board further stated that even if the cases advanced through the boards administrative hearing process, the cases would most likely go through extensive appeals through the courts and cost resources to fight. Moreover, there is a low likelihood through a hearing with the Board that the individuals in question would have any incentive to genuinely participate, or even consider resolving their cases and make restitution, given they could still be criminally prosecuted, the board added. As such, the Board would be expending retirement system assets and exercising authority to potentially recover albeit non-pension monies. The Boston Globe reports the 14 troopers are collected pensions ranging from $69,000 to $106,000 annually for a total of $1.17 million a year. Taking away or permanently forfeiting pensions was never a possibility the Retirement Board could pursue under the part of the statute available given the status of the cases presented by the State Police and due to the absence of a criminal conviction, Favorito wrote in a statement. That part of the statute only considers restitution. If the MA State Police pursues criminal charges, then there is a defined role for the Board. The board notes it is reviewing the pensions for the 10 troopers charged in the overtime scandal. Some of those troopers were not eligible for retirement benefits. However, based on the decision by the board, it could mean the remaining 22 troopers who were never criminally charged could conceivably keep their pensions. Bakers office, in a statement, insisted that any member of the department who broke the law and stole from taxpayers should be held accountable and is disappointed in the Retirement Board for failing to take action against these retired members. The administration and the State Police have provided the Retirement Board with extensive evidence of these members wrongdoing and urge the Board to recover these funds as the law permits, said Baker spokeswoman Sarah Finlaw said in the statement. Massachusetts State Police spokesman David Procopio said legal staff is now reviewing options. Colonel Masons previously-stated goal of recovering state funds fraudulently obtained by these members and former members -- against whom the Department has sustained charges -- has not changed, Procopio wrote. The Colonel and MSP legal staff are reviewing the Departments options for further action in light of the state retirement boards memo. The board noted the overtime money earned by troopers implicated in the scandal is not part of the earnings used to determine retirement benefits. Overtime is excluded, the board wrote. Nearly 50 troopers were flagged by a state police audit as being involved in the overtime scandal. Troopers were accused of skipping specialized overtime shifts or showing up for partial shifts while conducting traffic enforcement on the Massachusetts Turnpike and Metropolitan Tunnel System. The troopers involved in the scandal were from Troop E, which was disbanded after authorities said they uncovered the misdeeds. An audit of 2017, 2016 and 2015, discovered overtime abuse however federal authorities said records turned over by the state police may have shown issues with other shifts dating back earlier for at least one trooper. State police are not looking at pay records prior to 2015. The 10 troopers charged in the case were also accused of writing phony traffic or ghost citations and destroying records. Related Content: New Delhi: Since several people are coming out from home violating coronavirus lockdown, Zeenews makes an appeal to such people to restrain them from coming out of their homes. Issuing an appeal to people, it said, "Do not come out of your home during the lockdown. Follow all the government guidelines, and do not take any kind of carelessness. Lockdown is the only option to avoid coronavirus. Keep away from rumours and save others too. You should be dutybound to become a responsible citizen. This is nationalism (rashtradharma), national service (rashtraseva) and national duty (rashtriya kartavya)." Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also appealed to the countrymen to take the lockdown seriously and protect their families along with them. The Prime Minister tweeted: "Many people are still not taking the lockdown seriously. Please save yourself, save your family, follow the instructions seriously. I request the state governments to follow the rules and Get the laws done". PM Modi also requested the state governments to strictly follow the rules and regulations. Meanwhile, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has also appealed to people to follow the government guidelines and remain at their homes to check the spread of coronavirus. An intensive care doctor in Toronto is pleading with political leaders to take bold steps now to impose a lockdown, warning that Ontario's health system could face "total collapse" if the spread of COVID-19 is not slowed. Dr. Michael Warner is medical director of the intensive care unit (ICU) at Michael Garron Hospital and chairs the critical care section of the Ontario Medical Association. "It's World War Three," Warner said in an interview with CBC News. "This could be an unmitigated disaster. This is the time to overreact. If I'm wrong, that's great, but at least we're prepared. But if I'm not wrong, then we're in major trouble." The number of new coronavirus cases in Ontario has grown by an average of 21 per cent daily over the past week. That means the total number of cases is doubling every four days, and if that rate of growth were to continue, Ontario's 2,053 ICU beds stand to run out by mid-to-late April. "We should expect a massive influx of COVID-19 patients into our hospitals, both ill and critically ill," said Warner. "We have to be prepared for the worst case scenario," he added. "This is the time to overreact to what potentially could happen, not to hope for the best." Warner is calling for "social distancing without exception" and urging political leaders and public health officials to impose stricter measures to slow the spread of the virus. "If we don't, the impact on the health care system could be total collapse," he said, urging mandatory lockdowns to be put in place immediately. "If we do it sooner the long term pain will be less," said Warner. "I don't think it's too late to institute those rules, but time is running out." In Italy, COVID-19 has overwhelmed the health system and has killed 5,000 people. New reports coming from New York, San Francisco and Seattle suggest hospitals have begun to see surges in patients. Story continues "We've learned from the experience in Italy that once it gets out of control the whole health care system is going to be under siege," said Warner. "The patients who get sick with COVID-19 have very, very severe illness, not kind of a flu-light, but very, heavy severe ICU illness that requires sophisticated [medical] techniques." Cancelling scheduled surgeries, as many Ontario hospitals are now doing, can help free some beds on regular wards but does little to relieve the pressure in the critical care wards, says Warner. Heart attacks, strokes, car crashes, overdoses and major infectious diseases that are not COVID-19 will continue to happen. CBC Warner takes little solace from the announcements from Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott that the province has obtained 300 more ventilators and from Premier Doug Ford that auto parts manufacturers are retooling to build more. "It's nice to hear that 300 new ventilators have been purchased," said Warner "It's like saying, 'We need 10,000 people to have heart surgery, we're going to make a bunch of operating rooms equipped with the heart-lung machines, but we're not going to have any more heart surgeons.'" There are about 400 ICU doctors in Ontario and Warner points out that each one cannot work 24 hours a day, seven day a week. Equipment such as masks, gowns and gloves to protect hospital workers from the COVID-19 virus is in short supply. Warner says some Toronto-area hospitals "will definitely run out of" that material within weeks, based on the current inventory and the rate it's being used. "What happens if half the ICU doctors get sick or in quarantine?" he asked. "Who's going to take care of the patients? Let alone the nurses who actually do all the heavy lifting." Evan Mitsui/CBC Warner is calling on Critical Care Services Ontario, a Ministry of Health organization, to create rapid education programs what he describes as "a crash course in how to be an ICU doctor" for other specialist physicians, such as cardiologists, surgeons, anesthesiologists. "We need to get ahead of this. We need to think about the next steps, field hospitals, using airports, stadiums as potential places to take care of patients." Warner says he's infuriated by unclear and inconsistent messaging about social distancing, leading to instances such as in Toronto on Friday where people formed lengthy lines buy a new video game. He believes the spread of the virus will not be slowed unless the average person heeds the right message. "The safest number to congregate in is one. Not 50, not 10, it's one," said Warner. "Until the government, public health officials and policymakers are consistent with that message then the public will remain confused." Foresees 'deluge of patients' unless things change If the rate of growth of new infections is not slowed, Warner predicts "a deluge of patients coming to hospitals in Canada all at the same time. There's no system on earth that can handle that." He said he is trying to get his message out through as many media interviews as possible this weekend. "No amount of time or preparation could make us ready for what could be coming in the days or weeks ahead," said Warner. "I'm trying to scream as loud as I can about this before I go to work on Monday, because once I go to work on Monday, I may not come out for four months." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, March 23, 2020 13:24 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206cc3780 1 National athletes-village,Kemayoran,Wisma-Atlet-Kemayoran,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,emergency-hospital,rumah-sakit-darurat Free President Joko Jokowi Widodo inspected on Monday a new emergency hospital that the government has converted from the four apartment towers of the Kemayoran Athletes Village in Central Jakarta to handle COVID-19 patients. Workers rushed the conversion in the past week as the number of people infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus continued to grow daily, particularly in Jakarta. The venue was used as the athletes village for the 2018 Asian Games. The hospital, staffed mostly by doctors and nurses from the Indonesian Military and the National Police, was to be fully operational late Monday and is intended to treat as many as 24,000 patients. Touring the facility, Jokowi stressed that the hospital would only start taking patients when all existing government facilities are already filled to capacity. I hope this COVID-19 emergency hospital will not be used, Jokowi said in a media conference, adding that for now existing hospitals can handle the coronavirus treatments. Most hospitals, however, say they are already stretched to the limit. Some are even closing their doors to new patients. The new emergency hospital would be ready to handle about 3,000 patients at a time, Jokowi said. Everything is ready: the isolation rooms, the ventilators and the personal protective gear, he said. By Sunday, Indonesia had 514 cases of COVID-19 with 48 fatalities and 29 recoveries. But the numbers could skyrocket in the coming days as the government begins extensive testing now that the test kits, flown in from China, have become more available. The 10-tower athletes village was built for the 2018 Asian Games, which Jakarta cohosted with Palembang, South Sumatra. The conversion involved seven state construction firms including PT Adhi Karya, PT Nindya Karya, PT Waskita Karya, PT Brantas Abipraya, PT Wijaya Karta and PT Pembangunan Perumahan. PT Bina Karya was the planning and supervision consultant. The government spokesperson for COVID-19-related matters, Achmad Yurianto, had earlier said the emergency hospital could be used for rapid testing. Besides the emergency hospital, Jokowi has also ordered to prepare two islands in the Riau archipelago as possible places to send COVID-19 patients into isolation. One of the islands, Galang, was used in the 1970s to take on Indochinese refugees fleeing the aftermath of the Vietnam War. (mfp) Not everyone can afford flying to the nearest hub - Dubai, Doha or Istanbul, as the Embassy recommended Nearly two thousand Ukrainian tourists are unable to fly home from Thailand after an airline shutdown was introduced in Ukraine due to the coronavirus epidemic. It was reported by RBC. There is a much higher fare for the nearest hub - Dubai, Doha or Istanbul. This is the only opportunity to return to Ukraine, according to the instructions on the embassys website. "Most of them cannot or will not afford this cost (given that all tickets have already been purchased). A ticket from Bangkok to Dubai costs 500-700 dollars per one, from Dubai to Kyiv - another 260. Not every family of 3-4 people can afford such a flight. In Doha, it is even more expensive, or so, the Ukrainian citizen stated in a comment to the news agency. On Monday, March 23, Ukrainians will gather under the office of the migration service in Phuket in order to record a video address to their country's president, Volodymyr Zelensky. As we reported earlier, on the night of March 23, 264 Ukrainians were evacuated from Estonia via SkyUp aircrarts. Michigan governor exempts worship services from state ban on gatherings of 50 or more Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer stated that worship services are exempted from her recent executive order prohibiting gatherings of 50 or more people due to coronavirus concerns. In an interview with Fox News Sunday anchor John Roberts, Whitmer explained that while she greatly discourages such gatherings in light of the pandemic, she believed the government did not have the right to order churches to close. Well, you know, the separation of church and state and the Republican legislature asked me to clarify that, explained Whitmer, a Democrat. That's an area that we don't have the ability to directly enforce and control. We are encouraging people, though, do not congregate. The governor warned those considering attending church at this time that you yourself can be carrying it and you might not even know it. That'd be the worst thing in the world is to go to church to worship and to sit next to someone and infect them and have them suffer life-threatening consequences because of this decision, she continued. Whitmer also explained that one of the big challenges to fighting the virus in her state was that we need more test kits. It is hard to really make an educated decision and to know what you're really confronting without data and that all is reliant on test kits. We have too few test kits, she said. We've, right now, got to prioritize those who are perhaps the most medically vulnerable for testing and that doesn't really give you enough data to feel like you're making decisions that are based on fact and science. Last week, Whitmer issued an executive order prohibiting "all assemblages of more than 50 people in a single indoor shared space and all events of more than 50 people," but later in the week added an exemption for "a place of religious worship." Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield, a Republican, took to his official Facebook page to thank the governor for clarifying that religious services were exempted. "People have a God-given right to assemble and worship, and that right is secured by both the United States and Michigan Constitution. While I do not think that that right can be taken away by an Executive Order, I believe that as Christians we also have a duty to love our fellow man and play our role within society," stated Chatfield. "At times, we cancel services because the meteorologist predicts inclement weather. Why do we do this? Because we want people to stay safe." In response to the COVID-19 virus, large numbers of churches have canceled worship services and other gatherings to help curb the spread of the disease. Instead, many churches have offered online and livestream alternatives to in-person, with some congregations reporting a record number of views on their online services. For example, Joel Osteens Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, broadcasted his sermons on Facebook, YouTube, Roku, AppleTV, and JoelOsteen.com. We saw 4.51 million people tune in throughout the weekend across platforms, said the church in a statement shared with The Christian Post last week. This broke our previous record of 4.17 million in November of last year when we broadcast Kanye Wests Sunday service from Lakewood. This number could increase throughout the week. Others, including Pastor Greg Locke of Global Vision Bible Church in Tennessee, have refused for various reasons to close their churches in response to government orders and requests. Here at Global Vision, we do not believe that it is going to fit the context of who we are to close our services. We will continue to livestream but we are going, not in defiance, not in rebellion, we are going to remain open, stated Locke. We will never shame any pastor or any congregation that feels the need to stop their services for now. But we dont want to be shamed for staying open. The coronavirus outbreak took a new turn which could impact how Americans get information about the crisis, after a White House reported came down with a suspected case. Word of the possible infection brought an immediate change in the set-up of the White House briefing room, which had already been implementing 'social distancing' by kicking out more than half the press in hopes of averting any spread among those who cover the president. President Trump has provided near daily press briefings on the crisis declaring himself a 'wartime president' and clashing with reporters in the absence of campaign rallies amid the outbreak. He called NBC's Peter Alexander a 'terrible reporter' during one contentious briefing last week. 'We have been informed that one of our colleagues has a suspected case of COVID-19,' wrote Jon Karl of ABC News, president of the White House Correspondents Association, in a message to fellow White House reporters Monday.' President Donald Trump speaks during a coronavirus task force briefing at the White House, Sunday, March 22, 2020, in Washington. A colleague has a suspected case of the coronavirus, the White House Correspondents Association said Karl provided the dates when the individual was at work in the cramped White House work space, so that other members of the press could practice 'social distancing.' 'We encourage all journalists who were at the White House during this time period to review public health guidance, consult their medical professionals and take the appropriate next steps. 'As we have said since this crisis began, our priority is to ensure that we can maintain a healthy pool to provide coverage of the president,' he wrote. The WHCA issued a new set-up for the room, where reporters have begun sitting every other seat to practice a modicum of social distancing amid the outbreak. DailyMail.com was one of those who had a seat. Now, print reporters will share three seats, while networks and a pool will occupy others. 'Please DO NOT come into the White House if you are feeling at all ill,' the WHCA advised. Trump has used daily briefings to contend with the coronavirus crisis Members of the media are screened for fever prior to US President Donald J. Trump delivering remarks on the pandemic in the press briefing room of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 22 March 2020 The temperature checks are meant to prevent spread of the coronavirus inside the White House complex White House press members are already sitting every other seat to engage in a level of social distancing Trump has clashed with the media at recent press conferences The daily briefings take place in a cramped work space that used to be the White House pool The WHCA took the 'emergency step' of cutting down access last month, anticipating possible spread in an environment where reporters and photographers jostle for position. The issue of who is in the White House briefing room is about much more than a pecking order and glamor shots for TV correspondents who want to be seen sparring with the president. Like predecessors before him, Trump has determined that using the briefing room, with its famous decor and familiar presidential seal, conveys the authority of the White House and the seriousness of the issues he is enumerating. The Trump administration has asked Americans to make major sacrifices, including avoiding social gatherings of more than 10 people, while Trump has used the briefings to tell the country that recovery is right around the corner even as the stock market tanks and unemployment rises. He has faced tough questioning on the failure to build temporary hospitals or arrange for adequate testing, while also getting a fawning question from a conservative network accusing fellow reporters of colluding with the Chinese government. At one briefing last week, Trump called on Sean Spicer, his former White House press secretary, who now hosts a show on Newsmax. 'Yeah please, in the back?' Trump said while calling on him. Among other precautions, the White House has set up hand sanitizing stations inside press areas of the White House. Trump has flaunted some social distancing guidelines, appearing at the White House with a large number officials, although the number has been scaled back in the most recent briefings. He also shook hands repeatedly with CEOs at a Rose Garden even on the coronavirus, eschewing guidelines to avoid the practice to prevent transmission. Some skeptics have begun urging a quick end to social distancing to avoid a shutdown of the U.S. economy an idea that appears to have gotten to Trump. He tweeted Sunday: 'WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF. AT THE END OF THE 15 DAY PERIOD, WE WILL MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHICH WAY WE WANT TO GO!' The Senate is negotiating a massive bailout bill, although its efforts have been hampered by five GOP senators being under quarantine, including Sen. Rand Paul, who announced he tested positive Sunday after using the Senate gym and attending a Friday luncheon with colleagues. The COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic has caused massive, worldwide disruption of normal life, with a vast majority of individuals, including government employees, being asked to work from home. As a result, it is likely that you will be self-quarantined at home, at least until the coronavirus pandemic is brought under control in India and abroad. During this time, it is likely that you would find it difficult to maintain your productivity by virtue of being stuck at home, and once the boredom and monotony sets in, you may want to start looking around for more options to keep yourself engaged. Here, we look at some of the best free online courses that can help you add more skills to your resume, to make the most of your time spent at home due to the COVID-19 lockdown. Coding and IT essentials Built by Indian startup Guvi that was incubated in IIT Madras, here you find a vast array of online coding courses that can serve as key resources for evolving your career in information technology. If you work in Indias massive IT sector, this is a great repository of courses that can teach you to code and work on Python, Java, HTML, CSS and more. You also get courses that take you through the essentials of product management, giving you just the database that can help you add key skills to your CV while stuck at home in quarantine. The courses are all premium, but until March 31, can be availed for free by anyone from here. Writing If you have always fancied yourself as a writer, but circumstances led you to pursue a different path in your career, now may be the time to pick up the pen and hone your skills. If what you are looking for is just a slight nudge in the right direction, weve got your back. The Open University has an excellent, two-week course that is designed to help you start writing your own fiction novel. The course will help you learn key basic points about how you can design characters and weave storylines. It even offers a free statement of participation at the end of the course. Learn all about it here. Photography This is truly a one of a kind opportunity. The Professional Photographers of America has opened up their widely acclaimed and vast collection of online photography courses to the world, and for the next two weeks, all of their 1,100+ courses on photography, ranging from the very basics to intricate and detailed, are available for you to access for free. The art of photography, as we all know, is much vaunted and works as an incredibly satisfying passion. Access their courses by simply creating a free account on their website. As a thankful gesture, you can do your bit by spreading their word among similarly interested folks. Smart cities Been intrigued about all the discourse around smart cities, their key advantages and everything else that makes such cities the obvious way forward for mankind? This great two-week course with the Open University has you covered. In their own words, You'll explore what it's like to live in a smart city, the role of systems thinking, living labs, open data, crowdsourcing and roadmaps. You'll debate challenges of privacy, ethics and security, and weigh up the value of leadership, standards and metrics. You'll learn how to co-create a smart city project where you live. In many ways, such a course can help you be prepared to participate in future e-governance projects, and spark off a way to open up an all new career avenue in the near future. Join it here. Blockchain and cryptocurrencies Like the PPAs free library of photography courses, this here is also an incredible deal to avail in times of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Taught by Don Tapscott, executive director of the Blockchain Research Institute, the Blockchain Revolution Specialisation course hosted on popular online courses platform Coursera is right now available for free. The course focuses on giving its students a thorough understanding of blockchain, and learning how it can find practical application in real world situations. Rated as one of the best online courses on blockchain, and perhaps one of the best online courses overall, it does not require you to have prior coding knowledge, and only requires you to invest about 12 hours a week, which boils down to less than two hours a day. Avail it here. Learn Mandarin Chinese It is always a great skill to learn a new foreign language, and given the significant impact that China has on todays global economy, knowing the basics of conversing in Mandarin Chinese is a very important skill to have. The Open University has just the right course for beginners in Mandarin Chinese, and teaches it through conversational techniques that will actually help you get a grasp on basic conversations in Mandarin Chinese. The course is also quite comprehensive, which should help you follow up with advanced courses in Chinese should you wish to, at a later stage. Learn all about it here. Artificial intelligence The beauty of this course is that it can suit practically anyone from an IT or management professional, to directorial executives, students, school and college teachers, journalists, technical writers, and more. Promoted by the University of Helsinki in Finland, the Elements of AI course is free for all to access, can be completed in your own time (but the University suggests following a six-week curriculum), and offers a great beginner course into understanding and learning the very key concepts of AI. It can help you get rid of misinformation around the subject, and is a great place to learn even more details of AI about. Sign up for it here. The selfish tourist who defied Spain's Covid-19 lockdown to swim in a hotel pool in Tenerife can be revealed as a hard-left union rabble rouser who stood as a Labour Party candidate at the last election. Joanne Rust, 53, from King's Lynn, Norfolk, provoked outrage when she jumped into the waters at the Paradise Park Hotel on the holiday island last week after complaining staff had refused to upgrade her room. The Unison Campaign Organiser, who was the Labour's candidate for Norfolk North-West in December, was arrested for violating the strict quarantine rules imposed on all hotels across Spain. Joanne Rust pictured here next to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn at a conference A video of her antics posted on Facebook has been viewed more than 300,000 times. It shows Rust swimming backstroke in the pool as hotel staff and police urge her to get out. When she refuses one officer strips down to his boxer shorts, jumps into the water and drags her out while another officer puts her in hand cuffs. Other British holidaymakers cheer as she is arrested. Rust, who has been photographed with Labour leader Jeremy Corbin at various events and is a Labour Councillor at King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council, was dragged away wearing only a bikini and spent the night in police custody. Her husband Marcus Rust was forced to bring dry clothes to the police station in the popular resort of Los Cristianos for her where all hotels had been put on lockdown. The video of Jo Rust being arrested has been viewed on Facebook more than 300,000 times One of Jo Rust's campaign leaflets. She stood as a candidate in the last general election She appeared in court the next day and was charged with the public order offence of resistance and disobedience towards the Spanish authorities and released on bail. The charge carries a maximum sentence of one year in jail and a heavy fine. British tourists in Spain had been asked to stay in their rooms and avoid public areas after Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced a two-week lock-down restricting people's movements last Saturday. Managers of the Paradise Park Hotel kicked Rust out because of her behaviour and she was not allowed to return. The couple returned to Britain at the weekend. Jo Rust seen here with other Labour supporters campaigning for the Labour party last year Rust refused to confirm or deny she was the woman in the video when questioned by MailOnline at her detached house in King's Lynn, Norfolk. She said simply: 'I find the whole thing really quite upsetting and so I don't want to engage in a discussion about it. 'What I know is I went on holiday to a place for which a tour operator gave me no information and as a result of that I had a lost holiday.' However she has refused to apologise for her selfish behaviour and continued to blame her British tour operators for her 'failed holiday in the Canary Islands'. Jo Rust seen here with her husband Marcus Rust, who is also a Labour party member, who had to bring her dry clothes to the police station the day she was arrested 'What I know is I went on holiday to a place for which a tour operator gave me no information and as a result of that I had a lost holiday.' However she has refused to apologise for her selfish behaviour and continued to blame her British tour operators for her 'failed holiday in the Canary Islands'. And she accused Spanish police of 'pushing people' and 'shouting' as they 'rigidly enforced' social distancing, in a message she posted on social media just hours after landing. She wrote: 'So, we're back in the UK after a failed holiday in the Canary Islands. 'Our tour operator and Ryanair flew us out knowing the whole of Spain was in a National State of Emergency. 'I tried to research whether it applied to the islands but could find no news. Wasn't entirely sure what 'lockdown' would mean either. 'I foolishly assumed if our tour operators were still sending us, it might be ok. Also, it was hard to contemplate losing all the money we'd spent on it. 'So, we went and had to spend literally all the time in our hotel room. 'The social distancing was rigidly enforced and the police were out in force to deal with it. 'Pushing people up hotel stairs and shouting get in your rooms. 'It was scary when Ryanair cancelled our flights home. 'We had to spend more money to get an alternative that came home a day early.' Rust did not mention that she had been arrested for breaking Spain's quarantine rules. This is contrast by a commitment to telling the truth she made during the 2019 election campaign. In her campaign literature Rust wrote: 'Jo stands for truth: Truth is a very important principle to Jo (both in life and in politics). So many of our politicians hide behind lies and deceit which is why Jo firmly believes that a good MP should be transparent, truthful and honest.' A UNISON spokesperson said: 'There is no excuse for reckless behaviour. We're extremely disappointed to learn that the widely shared video features a member of UNISON staff. 'Now the UK has also gone into lockdown, we must all abide by the rules. Irresponsible behaviour will spread the virus and place an intolerable burden on the NHS. 'Health workers are on the front line trying to save lives. By staying home we can all do our bit and help keep them safe too.' The Labour Party did not reply to a request for a comment on Rust's arrest and lack of judgement. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the Senate would vote again Monday morning to take up a stalled economic stimulus bill that Democrats blocked earlier Sunday evening, which critics said was too generous to big corporations and too stingy for working families. The next Senate vote, a procedural roll call to take up the bill, will take place at 9:45 Monday morning, unless theres a breakthrough before then, McConnell said. His remarks came as Democrats negotiated late into the night with top Trump administration officials over the details of a possible deal. There are numerous sticking points, including restrictions on corporate bailouts and the scope of assistance to state and local governments. McConnell, R-Ky., blasted Democrats for opposing a GOP-crafted coronavirus rescue package and said he hoped they would have a change of heart after the U.S. financial markets opened Monday morning. McConnell noted there were already signs of another bad day on Wall Street as Congress remained gridlocked over how to help laid-off workers and shuttered businesses. The futures market tanked in anticipation of an ugly tomorrow based upon an absence of bipartisan agreement, McConnell said in remarks at 10:20 Sunday evening. Even if Democrats reverse course tomorrow, the vote the cast today will almost certain cause more Americans to lose their jobs. Democrats say McConnell is trying to jam through a bill that would give big corporations a bailout with too few strings attached. They fear that CEOs would take taxpayer funds and then enrich themselves with stock buybacks and executive pay hikes once the panic has passed. The legislation had many, many problems. At the top of the list, it included a large corporate bailout provision, with no protections for workers and virtually no oversight, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer said earlier Sunday. It also significantly cut back on the money our hospitals, our cities, our states, our medical workers and so many others needed during this crisis." Story continues -Deidre Shesgreen Congressman diagnosed with coronavirus hospitalized Rep. Ben McAdams, D-Utah, one of two members of the House of Representatives to be diagnosed with the coronavirus, said in a statement late Sunday evening he had been admitted to the hospital after experiencing "severe shortness of breath." McAdams said he received oxygen "as I struggled to maintain my blood oxygen at appropriate levels" but now was feeling "relatively better" and was off oxygen. The Utah Democrat said he expected to be released "as soon as the doctors determine it is appropriate." Two other members of Utah's delegation of Congress, Sens. Mitt Romney and Mike Lee, said they would self-quarantine after coming into contact with Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who announced a positive coronavirus diagnosis Sunday. -Nicholas Wu Coronavirus live updates: Medical aid for 3 states as US death tolls hits 417; stimulus, checks hit snag; Sen. Rand Paul tests positive Schumer, Mnuchin meeting to worth through stimulus sticking points Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin met for a fourth time on Sunday and planned to continue working late into the night, said Justin Goodman, Schumers spokesman. He did not say if they had made any progress on resolving the disagreements on a stimulus measure. Lawmakers are racing to get an agreement in place before the New York Stock Exchange opens Monday. On Friday, U.S. stocks sank despite promises of congressional action on an economic stabilization package. The Dow Jones industrial average tumbled 913.21 points to close at 19,173.98, capping its worst week since the height of the financial crisis in 2008. More: How the current stock market collapse compares with others in history Coronavirus stimulus package fails to pass an initial procedural hurdle A massive stimulus package to blunt the economic effects of the coronavirus failed to pass an initial procedural hurdle Sunday evening by a 47-47 vote. The motion needed the votes of at least 3/5 of the full Senate. Speaking on the Senate floor before the vote, McConnell suggested the final bill was not yet ready, saying discussions continue on the package. As of Sunday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., called for a bill that would address the needs of individuals and families, deliver relief to small businesses, stabilize the economy and prevent layoffs, and send resources to health care workers and providers. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., had asked for a bill that would boost resources for health care professionals and give more direct payments to workers than Republicans had wanted. Schumer told reporters in the Capitol the Republican plan would assist large companies with no protections for workers and virtually no oversight. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had objected to the first version pitched by McConnell, claiming it didn't do enough to protect workers and gave too much to corporations. McConnell had asked the Senate to pass the bill by Monday, but the chances of a Monday approval are not likely after Sundays vote. The Majority Leader voted "no," which allows filing a motion that allows him to bring up the bill again this week. -Nicholas Wu Trump vows to test undocumented immigrants for coronavirus President Donald Trump told reporters that undocumented immigrants will have access to testing without fear of arrest or deportation. "If that's not the policy I'll make it the policy," Trump said when asked whether undocumented immigrants could be tested. "Yes we will test that person." More: Undocumented immigrants, fearful of Trump administration, could be hit hard by coronavirus Vice President Mike Pence also pointed out that Customs and Border Protection said in its latest guidance it would not target emergency rooms or health clinics as the nation grapples with the unfolding coronavirus crisis. The Trump administration announced a "public charge" rule last month as part of its hardline immigration policy, rendering immigrants ineligible for citizenship or residency if they rely on government benefits or are considered likely to use them in the future. Immigration advocates are concerned that rule could leave undocumented immigrants who are trying to legalize their status hesitant to seek out medical assistance amid the deadly outbreak. Trump told reporters Sunday it was important to test undocumented immigrants because "we don't want to send that person back into wherever we're sending that person." - Courtney Subramanian Donald Trump states the obvious: 'I'm a little bit upset with China' US President Donald Trump listens during the daily briefing on the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, at the White House on March 22, 2020, in Washington, DC. President Donald Trump spoke a little more sympathetically about China on Sunday, but made clear he still blames it for the global outbreak of the coronavirus. "I'm a little bit upset with China," Trump said at a White House briefing on coronavirus. "They should have told us about this." China, which says it did what it could to contain coronavirus after it broke out in the city of Wuhan, is also angry at Trump for using the phrase "China virus." Some Chinese officials have promoted conspiracy theories that the virus really started in the United States. All that said, Trump said he has spoken with China President Xi Jinping about the coronavirus and sympathizes with Xi's plight. "Look, he doesn't want this," Trump said. - David Jackson Schumer slams McConnell's stimulus plan as 'highly partisan' Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, speaking on the Senate floor, slammed the Republicans' plan as "highly partisan." The plan as written included a "large corporate bailout with no protections for workers" and did not provide enough funding for healthcare workers and medical funding, Schumer said. Schumer said negotiations would continue and provisions could change, noting that Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had been in his office just half-hour before. The bill just failed to pass a key procedural hurdle by a 47-47 vote. It required the votes of three-fifths of senators to pass. Following the vote, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he would bring the bill up again. The next time they voted, McConnell said, "hopefully some adults will show up on the other side of the room and understand the gravity of the situation and the need to act before the markets go down further." Stock futures tumbled Sunday evening as investors watched the negotiations over the stimulus package hit a roadblock. -Nicholas Wu Trump says he won't 'learn' anything by calling predecessors for advice When asked whether he's considered calling one of his predecessors for advice on how to handle a natural disaster, President Donald Trump said that he didn't think he needed to because he has an "incredible team" in place. "I respect everybody but I feel I have an incredible team and I think we're doing an incredible job. When you look at the job we're doing, and all you have to do is look at the approval numbers on the job," Trump told reporters. Trump added that if he felt he would save one life by calling he would pick up the phone, but he didn't think he would "learn much." "So I don't want to disturb them," he continued. "I don't think I'm going to learn much and you know I guess you could say that there's probably a natural inclination not to call. Now if I felt that if I called I'd learned something and that would save one life, it would save one life. Okay, I would make the call in two minutes but I don't see that happening." - Courtney Subramanian Trump open to releasing certain prisoners President Donald Trump speaks during a coronavirus task force briefing at the White House, Saturday, March 21, 2020, in Washington. WASHINGTONThe Trump administration is considering the release of some federal prisoners in an attempt to reduce the risk of a larger outbreak of the coronavirus in the nation's largest prison system. President Donald Trump Sunday acknowledged the potential vulnerability of elderly inmates, saying that the administration is weighing the move to include "totally non-violent prisoners" after the nation's largest detention system reported its first known case of the coronavirus involving an inmate. The prisoner has been quarantined at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Federal officials said the inmate, who was not identified, complained of chest pains March 16, shortly after arriving at the New York facility. He was taken to an outside hospital three days later where he was tested for the virus. Following his March 20 discharge from the hospital, authorities said he returned to the Brooklyn detention center and was "immediately placed in isolation." Prison officials were notified of the positive test results Saturday. "BOP staff will continue to monitor this inmate," the agency said in a statement, adding that the prisoner remains in isolation. "All (Centers for Disease Control) guidelines are being followed, including the conduct of a contact investigation and additional sanitation of affected areas." - Kevin Johnson Donald Trump takes swipe at Mitt Romney over self-isolation President Donald Trump couldn't resist taking a dig at a political rival Sunday after he was informed that Sen. Mitt Romney was going into self-isolation amid coronavirus concerns. "Romney is in isolation? Gee, that's too bad," Trump told reporters. Just last month, Romney was the only Republican lawmaker to vote for the impeachment of Trump. Asked if he exercising "sarcasm" at the Utah senator, Trump said: "None whatsoever." - David Jackson Trump misidentifies Congressman who tested positive for coronavirus President Donald Trump offered best wishes Sunday to members of Congress who tested positive for coronavirus, but he misidentified one of them. Trump paid tribute to Jose Diaz-Balart, but he is a former congressman and now a Telemundo television anchor and he has not tested positive for coronavirus. It's his brother, Mario Diaz-Balart, who is in Congress and was one of the first lawmakers to announce he had tested positive. "To clarify, I do not have coronavirus," Jose Diaz-Balert tweeted after the president's mistake. "The President has been in contact with my brother, Congressman @mariodb who has coronavirus, not me. I am healthy." To clarify: I do not have Coronavirus. The President has been in contact with my brother, Congressman @mariodb who has coronavirus, not me. I am healthy. Para aclarar, no tengo coronavirus. El presidente Trump por https://t.co/8VfUlxVlUq jose diaz-balart (@jdbalart) March 22, 2020 -- David Jackson Republicans could lose Senate majority during coronavirus aid debate Republicans could lose their Senate majority as the novel coronavirus courses through the U.S. Capitol with five GOP members in self-quarantine as of Sunday afternoon as lawmakers negotiated a massive economic rescue package to help laid-off workers and shuttered businesses. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., left the Capitol on Sunday morning after learning he had tested positive for COVID-19. Within hours, two other GOP senators Mike Lee and Mitt Romney, both of Utah said they would self-quarantine because of their contacts with Paul. Republicans hold 53 Senate seats, while Democrats hold 45. The Senate has two Independents, both of whom caucus with the Democrats. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the virus "has arrived" in the Senate and notes that at least 5 senators are in quarantine. No other senator has tested positive for the virus besides Paul. But before the Kentucky Republicans disclosure on Sunday, several other GOP senators had gone into isolation because of possible exposure to the virus, including Sens. Rick Scott of Florida and Cory Gardner of Colorado. The lawmaker quarantines come as lawmakers debate a sweeping economic stimulus package ahead of Wall Streets Monday opening. Republicans and Democrats spent the day negotiating and sparring over key details of the measure, which would provide direct assistance to individuals and billions of dollars in loans to businesses. - Deirdre Shesgreen Senators seek medical advice after Paul tests positive Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., said Sunday that lawmakers are speaking with a doctor to determine what steps they should take after Sen. Rand Paul, who was at the Capitol in recent days, tested positive for the coronavirus. "We just learned our colleague, Rand Paul, has tested positive for the coronavirus. Our thoughts and prayers are with him for a speedy recovery," Thune said on Senate floor. "We will consult with the attending physician here at the Capitol about appropriate measures for those of us who have been in contact with the senator." Speaking ahead of a procedural vote on a massive stimulus bill that aims to mitigate the economic impact of the outbreak, Thune said Paul's infection "is the kind of situation that Americans across the country are dealing with right now. And it underscores the importance of acting immediately to deliver more relief for the American people." Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah., confirmed he and other lawmakers attended a lunch with Paul on Friday and that they were consulting with doctors to see if they need to self-quarantine. "Very, very unhappy to hear that Rand Paul has been diagnosed with COVID-19," Romney told reporters Sunday, adding that he wishes "him the very best." "He's compromised given health conditions he's had in the past, and so we'll be praying for him and thinking about him," Romney said."Of course all the senators are going to seek medical advice as to what action we should take to make sure that we don't in any way spread this virus ourselves," he continued. "We were at a lunch together with Rand and hope he's doing very well. But we have to determine if any of us should self-quarantine as a result of being in the same room." Soon after Pauls disclosure, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, went into self-quarantine on the advice of Congresss attending physician. Lee reportedly had lunch with Paul on Friday. Lee said he has no symptoms and the physician said he did not need to be tested. However, given the timing, proximity, and duration of my exposure to Sen. Paul, he directed me to self-quarantine for 14 days, Lee said in a statement Sunday. That means no traveling or voting. - William Cummings McConnell: 'This virus is not going to wait for politics as usual' Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urged Democrats Sunday to support a massive stimulus package to help address the economic costs of the coronavirus outbreak ahead of a procedural vote on the bill, which, if successful could lead to a final vote Monday. Earlier Sunday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she would not support the bill as written and indicated she plans to introduce a separate version of the legislation in the House. McConnell said he had a "productive meeting" with Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, as well as Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, that led to the bill which he said was "as bold and as big as the American people deserve" and "as thoroughly bipartisan as our process demands." "Now what we need to do is to move forward," he said. "This national crisis is not going to wait around if Congress slips back into conventional politics or haggles endlessly over the finer points." Referring to a reported comment from Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., that the stimulus bill presented a "tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision," McConnell said, "This is not a political opportunity. It's a national emergency." "The American people need an outcome and they need it tomorrow," he said. "What we have is a compromise product which contains ideas, contributions, and priorities on both sides, and which could become law as soon as tomorrow," McConnell said. "In other words, it's just about time to take 'yes' for an answer." - William Cummings Sen. Rand Paul tests positive for COVID-19 Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus and is being quarantined, his office announced Sunday. Senator Rand Paul has tested positive for COVID-19, reads a statement on his official Twitter feed. He is feeling fine and is in quarantine. He is asymptomatic and was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive travel and events. He was not aware of any direct contact with any infected person. He expects to be back in the Senate after his quarantine period ends and will continue to work for the people of Kentucky at this difficult time. Ten days ago, our D.C. office began operating remotely, hence virtually no staff has had contact with Senator Rand Paul. Sergio Gor, Paul's deputy chief of staff, said the senator "decided to get tested after attending an event where two individuals subsequently tested positive for COVID-19, even though he wasn't aware of any direct contact with either one of them." Gor said Paul is in a higher risk category after having part of his lung removed last year after it was damaged in a 2017 assault by his neighbor. Last week, Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., and Ben McAdams, D-Utah, announced they had tested positive for the virus and dozens of other lawmakers who fear they may have been exposed have undergone self-quarantines. Paul was on Capitol Hill several days last week. The statement did not say when Paul tested positive, nor when he might have contracted the illness, but his infection could mean several more lawmakers were exposed. - William Cummings McConnell to move forward with Senate stimulus bill Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he plans to move forward on a massive stimulus package Sunday, after failing to reach an agreement with Minority Leader Charles Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who plans to introduce her own version of the bill. The Kentucky Republican said the Senate still hold a cloture vote on the bill, scheduled for 3 p.m. EDT, which will limit debate to less than 30 hours before a final vote that he plans to hold on Monday. McConnell said it would be best for the country if Pelosi and House Democrats pass the Senate measure. I believe thats the way it will end, and thats the way were going to go forward, he said. He added that negotiations will continue during the 30 hours before the Senate votes. Were still talking about those issues where theres still some disagreement, McConnell said. But make no mistake about it well be voting tomorrow. I mean the wheel has to stop at some point. - William Cummings Pelosi: 'No deal' on stimulus package House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Sunday theres no deal yet on a massive stimulus package, as she and other congressional leaders tangled over the details of a $1 trillion-plus package aimed at stabilizing an economy reeling amid the coronavirus pandemic. Well be introducing our own bill, Pelosi, D-Calif., told reporters on the Capitol Hill. Her remarks dimmed the prospect of speedy congressional action on legislation aimed at helping individuals who have been laid off and businesses that have shuttered amid severe travel restrictions quarantines and lockdowns. Pelosi spoke to reporters after meeting behind closed doors with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnel, R-Ky., and other congressional leaders. McConnell is pushing a bill that would send $1,200 checks for most U.S. adults and hundreds of billions for businesses that have been hit by the pandemic. Pelosi's spokesman did not immediately respond to questions about what the sticking points are, but she and other Democrats are reportedly concerned that McConnell's proposal does not offer enough protections for workers and needs tougher measures to prevent bailed-out corporations from engaging in stock buybacks that enrich executives. - Deirdre Shesgreen AOC tells young Americans to stay home Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the youngest woman ever elected to Congress, has a message for her generational cohorts amid the coronavirus outbreak: stop going out. "If you are a young person in America today, you need to stay home," the New York Democrat said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union." "There was so much messaging about how coronavirus is only impacting older people and that younger people don't have to worry about it for their personal health," she said. "Well, let me tell you something. In the state of New York, about 55% of our cases are with folks 18 to 49." Ocasio-Cortez, 30, warned young Americans they risk not only exposing themselves, but their parents and grandparents "if you continue to go out and live life as usual." She also repeated Democratic lawmakers' call for President Donald Trump to use the Defense Production Act to ramp up the production of medical supplies. "There are not enough face masks, gloves, ventilators, hospital beds to get us through this. Many hospitals are already at capacity or approaching capacity," she said. "Companies are donating what they can. That is great. It is not enough," she said, adding that a failure to use the Defense Production Act "is going to cost lives." - William Cummings Illinois governor says states are competing against each other for coronavirus supplies WASHINGTON Governors are saying their states are competing with each other to buy medical supplies needed to fight the coronavirus, driving up prices and creating a "Wild West" atmosphere and drawing a rebuke from President Donald Trump. "We're all competing against each other" and "this should have been a coordinated effort by the federal government," Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker told CNN's State of the Union. Trump responded by tweeting that Pritzker and other governors "shouldnt be blaming the Federal Government for their own shortcomings. We are there to back you up should you fail, and always will be!" Illinois Gov. Pritzker says despite FEMA streamlining critical supply requests, the state is still only getting a fraction of what it needs and is competing against other states on the open market for supplies. Its a wild west... indeed we are overpaying" for PPE. #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/3MLLFir83V State of the Union (@CNNSotu) March 22, 2020 Pritzker is not alone. Gov. Andrew Cuomo, D-N.Y., made the same complaint and, like Pritzker and other governors, called on Trump to invoke the Defense Production Act and "order companies to make gowns, masks and gloves." Cuomo tweeted: "Currently, states are competing against other states for supplies." Im calling on the Federal Government to nationalize the medical supply chain. The Federal Government should immediately use the Defense Production Act to order companies to make gowns, masks and gloves. Currently, states are competing against other states for supplies. Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) March 22, 2020 In his CNN interview, Pritzker said that while the Federal Emergency Management Agency has become a "central repository," the federal government should do more to make sure that scarce resources get to places than need them. States like Illinois are also competing against other countries for personal protective equipment like masks and gloves. "It's a wide Wild West, I would say, out there," Pritzker said. "And, indeed, we're overpaying, I would say, for PPE because of that competition. - David Jackson Mnuchin expects deal on $2 trillion stimulus package Sunday Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said he believes Senate Republicans and Democrats will reach a deal later Sunday on a massive stimulus package, which could approach $2 trillion, aimed at alleviating the devastating economic effects of the coronavirus outbreak. "I do think it will get done. We've been working around the clock in the Senate with Republicans and the Democrats," Mnuchin said on "Fox News Sunday." He said he spoke with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. "And I think we have a fundamental understanding and we look forward to wrapping it up today." Mnuchin said the package would include small business loans, direct payments to Americans amounting to "approximately $3,000" for a family of four, "enhanced unemployment insurance," and "approximately" $110 billion for hospitals and medical professionals. Mnuchin said - working with the Federal Reserve - it would free up "$4 trillion of liquidity that we can use to support the economy" through "broad-based" lending programs. McConnell is scheduled to speak at 2 p.m. EDT before a procedural vote on the package at 3 p.m. If a deal is reached, a final vote could come as soon as Monday. - William Cummings North Korea: Trump offered Kim Jong Un help in fighting coronavirus President Donald Trump has written another letter to Kim Jong Un, this one offering to help his country fight the potential spread of coronavirus, North Korean officials said Sunday. Trump expressed his intent to render cooperation in the anti-epidemic work, saying that he was impressed by the efforts made by the Chairman to defend his people from the serious threat of the epidemic, said Kim Yo Jong, the North Korean leaders sister and senior ruling party official, according to the Korean Central News Agency. North Korea has said it has no cases of coronavirus, but some foreign policy analysts are skeptical of those claims. Trump and Kim have often exchanged letters during their on-again, off-again negotiations over U.S. demands that North Korea end its nuclear weapons programs. Those talks remained deadlocked. The latest letter came after North Korea again tested short-range ballistic missiles over the weekend, drawing protests from South Korea. A White House statement said Trump sent the letter "consistent with his efforts to engage global leaders during the ongoing pandemic. The President looks forward to continued communications with Chairman Kim." - David Jackson First federal inmate tests positive WASHINGTONThe Federal Bureau of Prisons, the nation's largest detention system, reported its first known case of the coronavirus involving an inmate, confirming that the prisoner has been quarantined at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Federal officials said the inmate, who was not identified, complained of chest pains March 16, shortly after arriving at the New York facility. He was taken to an outside hospital three days later where he was tested for the virus. Following his March 20 discharge from the hospital, authorities said he returned to the Brooklyn detention center and was "immediately placed in isolation." Prison officials were notified of the positive test results Saturday. "BOP staff will continue to monitor this inmate," the agency said in a statement, adding that the prisoner remains in isolation. "All (Centers for Disease Control) guidelines are being followed, including the conduct of a contact investigation and additional sanitation of affected areas." - Kevin Johnson Pence tests negative, White House says WASHINGTON Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen Pence have both tested negative for the coronavirus, his office announced Saturday. "Pleased to report that the COVID-19 test results came back negative for both Vice President @Mike_Pence and Second Lady @KarenPence," his spokeswoman, Katie Miller, tweeted. The vice president is 60 and his wife is 63. Both were tested Saturday, the day after the White House announced that an aide to Mike Pence had tested positive. The vice president said that while the White House physician had no reason to believe that the Pences had been exposed, they were tested anyway "given the unique position I have." Pence is leading the administrations coronavirus task force and has been a regular presence at President Donald Trump's side in recent weeks. Trump was tested for the virus a week ago and it came back negative. - Maureen Groppe This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: COVID-19 updates: Senate at odds over makeup of coronavirus stimulus By now its plain the coronavirus pandemic will be a global disrupter. It will affect economies and nations worldwide, alter relative power equations and cut prosperity everywhere. In this turmoil, some nations and societies will fare better than others. How is India likely to do? Will the changes prove advantageous or could they push the nation further into an economic and geopolitical back alley? The answer depends on how we ride out the crisis. For now, India has been relatively unscathed, but the pointers arent encouraging. The resilience our population has so far shown is entirely gratuitous and not the result of any great effort by the people or the government. Some experts suspect the low number of coronavirus cases reported in India are due to low levels of testing and hence low detection. It has been noted that most countries showing high levels of infection have done more intensive testing of their populations: 1,000 and more per million, whereas in India the testing rate is an abysmal five per million so far. Most quarantine facilities, including those for incoming travellers into New Delhis showcase airport, are reportedly so bad -- dirty, cramped and entirely lacking in facilities -- that people including those infected are fleeing them. Dipanjan Roy, an Indian epidemiologist, was quoted by The New York Times as saying the challenge of a large country like India with overcrowding is that some people will always slip the net, wherever you put it. Should the virus go out of control and become a mass outbreak, India is looking at a catastrophe. Indias public health system -- overcrowded, short-staffed and lacking facilities, may be easily overwhelmed. Private hospitals and clinics arent vastly better and cannot compensate for any breakdown in government-run health services. It's disheartening to read about the tepid pace of transformation of our health system. While individual doctors, researchers and a handful of medical entrepreneurs have done a remarkable job in creating world-class medical facilities, their efforts cover only a miniscule portion of the population, and mostly the affluent. The vast majority of Indians have to rely on medieval conditions and healthcare systems. During 1918-19, the Spanish flu, in its devastating sweep across the globe killed an estimated 50 million people. India was the worst-hit, losing an estimated 20 million citizens. The countrys healthcare system, then run by a colonial government, proved completely incompetent. A century later, independent India has done a much better job of building up its medical infrastructure, but grave doubts persist over its ability to cope with a coronavirus-like pandemic could unleash. Indians thus cant be faulted on relying on divine or natural providence for hope. If faith does indeed triumph over the virus, then India could see some welcome changes. The benefits that India could hope to derive would be fortuitous, arising not out of any proactivity but out of relative shifts in the Asian and global order. The main factor of change will arise out of Chinas relative decline. While China has done a magnificent job in controlling the spread of the pandemic within its borders, it has done so at a huge cost. The severe restrictions imposed by its government have sent production processes and supply chains completely haywire. The rest of the world, for the first time, realises the folly of overdependence on any one source for industrial and service supplies. A process of diversification is inevitable and will impact China negatively in the long term, diminishing its centrality and hegemony in the global order. This cannot but benefit India, though to what extent and how significant it will be remains to be seen. At the same time, the hope that India will be able to take up some of the slack arising out of Chinas problems is likely to be belied. The Indian economy continues to struggle with infrastructural issues, a broken financial system, large-scale corruption and a judiciary that cannot cope with rising litigation. Added to this are problems of order and security. The case of bulk drug manufacturing paints a dismal picture of the countrys systemic inadequacies. The Central government had in 2017 promised to offer several incentives for local manufacture of bulk drugs (key inputs for medicines) which are now sourced mainly from China. However, when the coronavirus crisis choked bulk drug flows from China, it was found that nothing had changed domestically. Lack of clarity in Central policies, delayed permissions and a cumbersome system of clearances had held up the entire process for more than two years. When the pandemic hit, India still did not have a bulk drugs industry in place despite a much-touted Draft Pharmaceutical Policy and pious statements of intent. Issues like these cannot be rectified overnight and the political will or the ability to address them continues to be low. Thus, the opportunity arising from diversification of supply chains away from China are likely to largely bypass India and benefit other more agile nations. On the other hand, Indias relative economic isolation, its low participation in the global supply chains and world trade in general will insulate it from short and medium-term shocks. Other better-performing Asian economies like Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and so on will be hit much harder given their dependence on external demand factors, including tourism, and the export of goods and services which contribute significantly to their GDP (Gross Domestic Product). Thus, Indias relative positioning could well improve in Asia, but this is unlikely to translate into any real benefit in absolute terms. Indias net gains are most likely to be in geopolitical terms -- it could well emerge relatively stronger in a weakened global order. This prognosis is, however, predicated on the assumption that there is no catastrophic spread of the coronavirus epidemic within India, unlike what happened in 1918-19. The added uncertainty arises out of the possible effects of a sharp contraction in global economic growth, supply chain disruptions, plunging stock markets and a possible global recession on the Indian economy. India is already in a hard place where the economy is concerned. Even higher rates of unemployment engendered by a pandemic could stoke political instability. On the other hand, Indians are an incredibly resilient people who have weathered centuries of recurring catastrophes, including natural disasters, famines and epidemics. No matter how deep the crater, Indians always crawl back. The question is whether they emerge into a better world or a more dismal one. Gov. Tom Wolf has imposed a general hiring freeze as part of a sweeping effort to rein in state government spending as it seeks to deal with the coronavirus and the impact it is having on the commonwealth. In a memo issued from top officials in the Wolf Administration, it provides limited exceptions to the hiring freeze that applies only to those who work under the governors jurisdiction that took effect on Thursday. The memo from Wolfs Chief of Staff Mike Brunelle, Budget Secretary Jen Swails, and Administration Secretary Michael Newsome states the only exceptions to the freeze are positions that provide direct care to patients, residents, and clients; engage in law enforcement, public safety, and corrections work; and are involved in revenue generating positions and collections. It goes on further to rescind any employment offer extended as of Thursday and postpones any scheduled employees transfer to another state agencies as well as hiring for upcoming summer and seasonal programs. Annuitants, who are retired state employees who agree to come back to work for a limited time period, also are affected by this order. It states that the only annuitants that can be hired must be employed to fill a position that is exempted from the hiring freeze. All other annuitants and temporary employees not absolutely essential to an agencys operation had their employment discontinued. Under no circumstances are agencies permitted to enter into or expand service purchase or staff augmentation contracts to circumvent the hiring freeze, the memo goes on to say. Along with the hiring freeze, the administration officials directed state agencies to limit purchases of goods or services to only those absolutely critical to their operation. Dave Fillman, executive director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 13, which represents the bulk of state government employees, said to date, there has been no discussions about employee furloughs but said that could change depending on how long this COVID-19 response drags on. The last time this type of hiring restriction was imposed in state government was during Gov. Tom Wolfs first year in office when he vetoed the state budget. Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy. Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. Realtor Marina Yue opened the door of a fourth floor condo to a Star reporter in Torontos Regent Park where she was holding an open house on Saturday. A bottle of hand sanitizer sat on a shelf near the door. Only moments before Yue received an email from the Ontario Real Estate Association with an urgent message to stop holding open houses for the duration of the emergency declared by the province on March 17. We cant hold any more open houses, said Yue, showing the reporter the email. Every day the situation is different. Its hard to tell, Yue said, adding she would cancel the open house she had scheduled for Sunday. The association sent the email to realtors across the province on Saturday asking them to stop the practice and instead use technology that facilitates remote interactions, even showings. While the association represents agents and brokers, it doesnt have the power to stop the practice. Only the Ontario Government or the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) has the ability to mandate an end to open houses, said Jean-Adrien Delicano, a spokesperson for the provincial real estate association, in an email. A notice about COVID-19 posted on RECOs web site for agents and brokers says you decide which services you are prepared to offer. If you decide to offer services involving open houses and showings, it is your duty to support your clients in making an informed choice about hosting or attending open houses and showings. It goes on to say that clients should know the risks and benefits, as well as the health advice of the area they live in and that everyone should practice social distancing. The council also pointed out alternative online and virtual marketing opportunities for sellers. Yue was one of about 60 agents who posted open houses in Toronto this weekend, according to a search of the Realtor.ca site on Saturday morning. By the afternoon, the function to list open houses had been removed by the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board. The board also issued a strong recommendation to its 56,000 realtors members to stop conducting in-person open houses and said that while the current government health advisories are in effect, it will not suspend listings if a property is not available for showings or inspections. While we appreciate that this is the brokerages decision in consultation with your clients, we are recommending that this practice (of open houses) stop until further notice, said TRREB president Michael Collins in an email. The Oakville, Milton and District Real Estate Board was the first board to announce that is was suspending open houses on Friday night by eliminating the open house feature on listings. This has been an unprecedented time, and no one has ever had to suspend open houses before, said board communication officer John Rich in an email.There was no real protocol in place. Somebody just had to pull the trigger eventually and so thats what we decided to do. As of right now the function is still available but has not been used by any members, which shows they are complying with our suspension of open houses, said Rich. We expect it to be temporarily turned off soon by our service provider. The board isnt in a position to police realtors however, said Rich. If realtors do hold open houses in the future they are more likely to receive repercussions from their brokerage. They could also face public disdain. Real estate agent Kendra Connelly posted a question to a Toronto community Facebook group on March 20 asking people how they felt about an agent hosting an open house during the pandemic and if it would change their mind about using agents in the future. There were more than 250 comments and nearly all of them were opposed to open houses and had negative things to say about any agent who held one. I rarely post, said Connelly. I really wanted the publics opinion because we are in such unchartered territory. We are being pulled in so many directions buyers needs, sellers needs, TRREB, she says. She was surprised to see new listings come on the market last week, with agents scheduling open houses and holding back offers until a certain date, a strategy used to elicit multiple offers. I want to know what the public thinks and think about agents, said Connelly. And I thought to myself, personally, we shouldnt be doing open houses. Connelly has put them on hold and says most realtors she is in contact with feel the same way. At the small studio condo shown by Yue on Saturday, three people came through before she got the email. She said they wore protection, although she didnt say what, and she provided hand sanitizer and cleaned the surfaces after people left. At another open house on Carlaw St., the agent who opened the door to a Star reporter said that no one had come through and they would be closing early. She says her company called her that afternoon to say future open houses would be cancelled. Tenants who are renting homes on the market are concerns about showings. Rob Colquhoun said a realtor came to the house he rents in the Cliffcrest neighbourhood, in the area of Kingston Rd. on Friday. His two kids were sick and he and his wife, Liz, didnt let the realtor in. Were not letting people in our house at this time, as per WHO, says Colquhoun, referring to the World Health Organization. Colquhoun searched online for information about what his rights are as a tenant but couldnt find any information that addressed the current situation. I assume Im obligated to help facilitate the sale, or not get in the way in normal circumstances and normally, Im quite happy to do that, said Colquhoun. But I also think I have the right to keep my family safe. Id be blown away if that wasnt a thing. ELSAH Principia College has worked to get students back home amid the coronavirus pandemic. On the colleges website, Principia Chief Executive Marshall Ingwerson described the spirit on campus as strong calm, caring, industrious, undaunted, highly focused, and spiritually grounded. As circumstances evolve, we will keep student learning on track and on time, he said. And we will work to sustain a sense of connection and community among students, faculty, and staff but especially students as we make our way together through this new territory. Ingwerson said Principia groups in Nepal, Egypt and Florida are safely home, with work underway for a service project group in South Africa. Principia has extended its spring breaks by one week, through March 27, so most students are at home. Between 60 to 70 students remain at the college, he said; most are visa-holding international students not able to return home. This week Principia College faculty and staff are preparing to complete training, technology testing and practice for teaching remotely. Remote, e-learning at the college is set to start Monday, March 30. The main video platform will be Google Meet and the main data platform will be Canvas. As much as possible, classes will be held in real time yes, meaning super-early for West Coast time-zoners, Ingwerson said. We will also be recording classes to allow for students with poor bandwidth connectivity to download and watch offline. This generation of students is digitally social, he said. Even so, we are focusing on keeping a lively sense of community as well as teaching content. He said Principia College will assess its plans for return to in-person classes in mid-April and is prepared to stay in remote mode as long as necessary. Commencement and graduation exercises remain planned in May. He also said Principia is moving forward with all summer session and reunion planning for June. Should either event be canceled or postponed, guests will receive a full refund for registration fees. All Principia Club events around the country have been canceled for April. The Principia Response Fund also has been created to help meet the extraordinary challenges presented to Principia and the community. Remember when Joe Bidens presidential campaign was widely seen as all but dead and buried? Sen. Bernie Sanders, of Vermont, was ascendant, having effectively finished in a tie for first place in the Iowa caucuses, narrowly winning the New Hampshire primary, and cleaning up in the Nevada caucuses. Biden was yesterdays news. That was a month ago. Yes, a month. Since the Nevada contest, on Feb. 22, Biden has been all but unstoppable. He roared through South Carolina, winning the Palmetto States primary in a landslide. He won 10 of the 14 contests staged on Super Tuesday, including in Massachusetts, and hasnt stopped since. With nearly 60% of the delegates to the Democratic National Convention having been awarded, Biden now leads Sanders by roughly 300 delegates. That means that Sanders would have to win about 63% of the delegates up for grabs in the remaining contests. That probably wont happen. With an increasing number of states and territories having decided to postpone their primaries because of the novel coronavirus that's been sweeping the nation, the contest could drag on for some time yet. Unless Sanders decides to pack it in. Reports that officials in the rival camps have been talking about the best path forward are encouraging -- to a point. Sanders, of course, needs to feel that his issues arent being forgotten. So too do his supporters, many of them young and ideologically far removed from Bidens brand of pragmatism. This is fine. And understandable. Sanders had built a movement that had seemed unstoppable. Until it was stopped in its tracks. It won't be easy for either the candidate or his backers to pivot quickly and seamlessly. But at the end of the day, Biden can realistically give only so much and remain true to the course that has led him to the brink of becoming the party's standard-bearer in November. He cannot embrace Medicare for all. Or free college across the board. Not if he hopes to continue to win the votes of moderate Democrats and independents and even some Republicans who are tired of the craziness that has been President Donald Trump's administration. Biden, its important to remember, is a liberal, in the traditional definition of that word. And voters in Democratic primaries have been making it perfectly clear that his brand of liberalism is plenty liberal enough for them. Prison inmates in Washington state and Texas are being tasked with making hospital gowns and protective face masks amid a national shortage triggered by the coronavirus crisis. As hospital administrators from Florida to Iowa warn of a desperate shortage of basic equipment and people organise volunteers to sew masks at home, officials in Texas and Washington are turning to a pool of labour that is already used to producing textiles. The Washington Department of Corrections said over the weekend it had developed an approved prototype of gown and production would start imminently. Once fully operational, 160 inmates and a dozen staff located at facilities across the state will make 5,000-6,000 gowns per day. The department is liaising with officials at the state emergency operations centre for the distribution of the gowns. The individuals involved tell us they are very excited to do this sort of work, Janelle Guthrie, a spokesperson for the department, told The Independent. Its a way to give back to the community. CNN reported that in Texas, inmates at the Gatesville Correctional Facility, a womens prison located 120 miles south of Dallas, are to produce cotton masks for emergency responders. Goat farm posts videos everyday to help people through the coronavirus State senator John Whitmire said the masks would be made of local cotton, rather than synthetic material, so were unlikely to be of the highest standard. Theyre not the one you would want in an emergency room, but it sure beats nothing, said Mr Whitmire. The moves in Washington and Texas underscore the national shortage of many basic medical items, as hospitals prepare for an expected deluge of cases of infected people in coming weeks In a letter sent to Donald Trump, the American Hospital Association, which represents 5,000 facilities nationwide, urged the president to order the immediate production of such items. We have concerns that increasingly there are dwindling supplies of N95 respirators, isolation gowns, isolation masks, surgical masks, eye protection, intensive care unit equipment and diagnostic testing supplies in areas that had the first community outbreaks and in many other areas of the country, it said. Even with an infusion of supplies from the strategic stockpile and other federal resources, there will not be enough medical supplies, including ventilators, to respond to the projected Covid-19 outbreak. We have heard of health care providers reusing masks or resorting to makeshift alternatives for masks. Across the country, people have been organising volunteers to sew masks. In Washington state, the Providence St Joseph Health Foundation in Renton, started the so-called 100m mask challenge, in which people volunteered to make the masks. Helped by donations and offers from local industries to manufacture them, the home-sewing drive has now been suspended. In a message posted on its website, the foundation wrote: We are truly grateful for your willingness to help and will share information soon regarding other ways you can help. In Washington state, inmates taking part in the work scheme that is part of a broader educational educational programme, will make between $0.65-$1.70 an hour. Im proud our team can contribute to the Covid-19 response in such a meaningful way, said corrections secretary Stephen Sinclair. When we learned of the national shortage of protective gowns, we sprang into action. On Thursday, San Antonio officials confirmed community spread of coronavirus in the city. With case numbers expected to rise, public health officials are shifting their priorities from containing the virus to slowing the rate of infection. Officials want to avoid coronavirus patients overwhelming the health care system. Stay up to date on the latest coronavirus news with mySA.com: Express-News health reporter Lauren Caruba interviewed a number of local public health experts about what residents can expect as the virus spreads in San Antonio. READ MORE: Were at war: What to expect as coronavirus continues to spread in San Antonio Here's what we learned: COVID-19 is not going away in 15 days "We need to figure out how we can mitigate it in the time that we have. The problem isnt going to be resolved in two weeks, or even a month. Its going to take lot longer." - Cherise Rohr-Allegrini, an epidemiologist and San Antonio program director for the nonprofit Immunization Partnership While President Donald Trump said the White House will reevaluate the social distancing measures after a 15-day period, one San Antonio expert expects the crisis too last well beyond that. "We're probably in this for the long haul," said Dr. Anthony Hartzler, an infectious disease specialist with UT Health San Antonio. Residents will need to prepare for remaining vigilant for long periods of time, Hartzler said, practicing social distancing and other preventative measures as the pandemic ebbs and flows. How severe each wave will be could depend on peoples behavior at different points in time. Colleen Bridger, an assistant city manager who previously served as director of Metro Health, said local officials will consider the outbreak under control when San Antonio can go for two weeks without identifying a new case. The total number of cases matters less than the cases that require hospitalization In a way, were at war. Were at war with this pathogen." - Dr. Jan Patterson, infection control specialist with UT Health San Antonio Officials expect cases in San Antonio to increase, rising sharply before tapering off. The growing number of cases, while concerning, will matter less than the number of people who become severely ill and require hospitalization all at once, Rohr-Allegrini said. So far, Metro Health has been tracing each person who came into close contact with a coronavirus case and directing them to self-quarantine. There likely will soon be too many cases for all of the work to be conducted by the health department. "Were going to be relying on the individuals to do the contract tracing themselves," said Rohr-Allegrini. Hospitals are prepared but beds are limited "We dont want to get to that tipping point. We need to take Italys lessons to heart." - Rohr-Allegrini In areas where authorities failed to implement drastic measures in time, health systems have been overrun with patients. In Italy, whose death toll has surpassed China, the virus has caused a shortage of hospital beds, ventilators, and medical supplies. Mortality rates can increase as health care workers and facilities are stretched thin. Experts hope it wont come to that in San Antonio, home to the respected Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council. The network of hospitals that comprise STRAC trained for a patient surge from pandemic flu in early November. But many hospitals already operate near capacity and there are a limited number of beds: more than 7,000 in San Antonio, including 1,000 intensive care unit beds, according to STRAC. Some hospital systems have contracted with tent companies, in the event they need overflow space to treat patients. Click here to read the complete Express-News deep-dive into the future of coronavirus in San Antonio. MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE: This Week in Review A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more. Nearly 70 drugs and experimental compounds may be effective in treating the coronavirus, a team of researchers reported on Sunday night. Some of the medications are already used to treat other diseases, and repurposing them to treat Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, may be faster than trying to invent a new antiviral from scratch, the scientists said. The list of drug candidates appeared in a study published on the web site bioRxiv. The researchers have submitted the paper to a journal for publication. To come up with the list, hundreds of researchers embarked on an unusual study of the genes of the coronavirus, also called SARS-CoV-2. The UAE's Emirates airline on Sunday announced that it would suspend all passenger flights starting from March 25 amid the coronavirus pandemic. "Today we made the decision to temporarily suspend all passenger flights by 25 March 2020. SkyCargo operations will continue. This painful but pragmatic move will help Emirates Group preserve business viability and secure jobs worldwide, avoiding cuts," the company wrote on Twitter. The virus has so far infected over 150 people in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Group said: "The has literally gone into quarantine due to the COVID-19 outbreak. This is an unprecedented crisis situation in terms of breadth and scale: geographically, as well as from a health, social, and economic standpoint. Until January 2020, the Emirates Group was doing well against our current financial year targets. But COVID-19 has brought all that to a sudden and painful halt over the past 6 weeks." "As a global network airline, we find ourselves in a situation where we cannot viably operate passenger services until countries re-open their borders, and travel confidence returns. By Wednesday 25 March, although we will still operate cargo flights which remain busy, Emirates will have temporarily suspended most of its passenger operations," he added. Emirates also said that it will continue to monitor the CVOID-19 situation worldwide and will reinstate the suspended flights as soon as possible. "We will continue to watch the situation closely and will reinstate our temporarily suspended passenger services, as soon as feasible. These are unprecedented times for the airline and travel industry, but we will get through it with your support," he added. So far, the worldwide tally of the lethal coronavirus has reached 3,18,000 and over 13,700 people have died, according to the WHO. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Passengers arriving at Incheon International Airport on a flight from London wait in long lines to board a bus that will take them to a COVID-19 testing center, Monday, after the government began conducting coronavirus tests on all arrivals from Europe the previous day. / Yonhap By Jun Ji-hye The central government and municipal administrations are struggling to prevent coronavirus infections coming from outside Korea, as the number of foreign-origin cases has been rising sharply in recent weeks, officials said Monday. Korea has reported 8,961 COVID-19 patients so far since the first case was confirmed Jan 20, and of those, 144 were infected abroad, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Notably, the number of infections of foreign origin has increased more than 18 times from the first week to the third week of this month when the World Health Organization officially declared the COVID-19 outbreak, which began in the Chinese city of Wuhan, a global pandemic, March 11. In the first week of March, the health authorities reported four patients who were infected abroad, with the figure increasing to 18 in the second week and 74 in the third week. In the early stages of the virus outbreak here, most infections of foreign origin were brought in from China, but in the third week, 54 out of 74 patients were infected in Europe and 12 were from the Americas. The KCDC confirmed 64 additional cases, Sunday, and among those, 14 were of foreign origin. In a bid to prevent an influx of COVID-19 cases from other countries, the government implemented special quarantine procedures for people coming from all nations, March 19. The government also began conducting coronavirus tests on all arrivals from Europe, Sunday, and requiring those who will stay for a long time in Korea to undergo a 14-day self-quarantine even if they test negative. Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon said during a briefing, "It is necessary to extend coronavirus tests to people coming from all countries, not only Europe." He noted the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) will ask the government for a list of entrants from the United States and the Philippines and require them to undergo self-quarantine. "The SMG needs to keep a close watch on all entrants as most of them live in Seoul and its surrounding areas," Park said. Yoon Tae-ho, a senior health ministry official in charge of containment measures, is also hinting that the government will extend the coronavirus tests to all entrants soon. "We are monitoring the situation in the United States and other countries," he said during a briefing. "The government is mulling ways of enhancing quarantine measures on arrivals not only from Europe but also from other nations, and will announce those soon." Just like many other Bollywood celebrities, superstar Rajinikanth too applauded PM Narendra Modi's Janata Curfew that was held yesterday all over India from 7 am to 9 pm. He put up a series of tweets hailing the move. Everyone is doing their bit to spread awareness and tell people that social distancing is one of the best ways to check COVID-19 from spreading. However, yesterday, Twitter took down a couple of Rajinikanth's tweets due to complaints of misinformation. Rajinikanth on his social media, wrote that the Coronavirus was in its stage 2 in India and appealed to people to stay indoors. This would prevent community transmission, which has caused havoc in Italy. He said that the chain of transmission could be broken by 14-hour social distancing. What's more, in a video message, Rajinikanth said, "To prevent community transmission, the virus needs to be curbed totally for 12 to 14 hours." His whole message was basically that PM's call for Janata Curfew on March 22 was to avoid the transmission of coronavirus. He said that Italy tried to implement a nationwide curfew but lack of support from its citizens flopped the initiative. It is one of the main reasons for the tragedy the country is experiencing there. He further went on to say, "We don't want such a crisis in India and I urge everyone to rise to the occasion and participate in the Janata Curfew by strictly staying indoors and practising social-distancing. In these crucial times, let us also remember and thank the selfless service of all the doctors, nurses and medical workers by participating in the nationwide appreciation and prayers at 5 pm tomorrow." He was reportedly criticised by the people for saying that staying at home for 14 hours could prevent coronavirus pandemic from entering in Stage 3 in India. Some even even suggested that he hire a new social media team. Later the megastar clarified himself on social media saying, "I had said that if we respect the curfew and stay at home for 14 hours, we can prevent India from entering the Stage 3 (of this pandemic). It was understood as if I said that it was enough if we stayed at home for 14 hours on Sunday alone and was shared widely. Twitter had removed my post for the same reason." Well, we do understand that in such times of panic and vulnerability across the nation, the smallest of errors can trigger people's sentiments. Midland Public Schools, Bullock Creek Schools and Meridian Public Schools are among the districts that will continue to provide breakfasts and lunches for their students in the wake of Gov. Whitmers stay-at-home executive order that goes into effect from 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, March 24, through 11:59 p.m. Monday, April 13. Michigans mandated school closure due to the coronavirus has been extended through at least April 13, in keeping with the stay-at-home order. Whitmers original directive to schools on March 12 said that they could possibly reopen on April 6. Midland Public Schools Superintendent Michael Sharrow, Bullock Creek Schools Superintendent Shawn Hale and Meridian Public Schools Superintendent Craig Carmoney confirmed on Monday afternoon that their districts will still be providing meals for pick-up and delivery. Hale noted that this service meets the criteria for critical infrastructure workers as detailed in the executive order. We have been given the OK to continue to do that, said Sharrow, who also announced in an email to the MPS community that food service pick-up and drop-off points would continue to operate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during the school closure. Its considered an essential function, so we will continue to deliver and have our (pick-up) locations open. And with the pick-ups, were certainly trying to get them to do good practices with the social distancing, Sharrow added. Likewise, Hale said hes glad that Bullock Creek families will continue to receive food from the school district, which delivers meals every day by school bus for those who cant pick them up. We see that as a benefit for our kids, especially those who are without (another meal) option on a non-school day, Hale said. As of now, we feel this is something we can continue to do. Hale added hes ready to adapt the program as needed to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. Were just trying to stay in touch with the Michigan Department of Education to make sure we adhere to what they expect us to do, he said. We want to be safe and protect people, and we also want to continue to feed people if we can. Meridians Carmoney also confirmed that his school district will continue distributing over 6,000 meals per week to about 450 students via pick-up or delivery. Carmoney himself spent three hours on a bus on Monday helping deliver breakfasts and lunches to students. Were thankful as school employees that love our kids so much that we can continue to find a way to provide something for them, Carmoney said. The two pick-up locations for meals for Meridian students are Meridian Junior High School and the Early Childhood Center (formerly Sanford Elementary) on River Road. The extension of the mandated school closures through April 13, which Sharrow believes wont be the final extension, leaves school districts also working to answer questions about curriculum, marking periods, testing and graduation, among other things. We have two scenarios (for the adjusting of marking periods) one if we could return in April, or a different plan if we cant, Sharrow said. But theres no sense in deciding that until we have a full picture of how long were going to be (closed). I dont think the 13th (of April) is probably the end of (the mandated school closure), he added. In terms of the MDE possibly extending the MPS school year past the scheduled final day of June 11, Sharrow predicts that will also depend on how long the closure lasts. Thats a tough one, he said. I speculate if were out a long time, making up two or three weeks in June probably isnt going to do a lot (to make up for the time missed during the closure). (But) if were coming back (to school) in April, then, yeah, I think they might extend the year in June. But thats pure speculation on my part. The 2020-21 school calendar, which was approved by the MPS Board of Education last week, has the first day of instruction scheduled for Monday, Aug. 31, a week before Labor Day. Commencement ceremonies for graduating high school seniors, currently scheduled for late May at Dow Diamond, present another challenge. Certainly, if social distancing is (still in effect) in late May, is there a different way of doing it? Sharrow wondered out loud. But we certainly also know if we could do it in the middle of the summer, it still wouldnt be too late. Until we have a little more clarity, (we wont make a decision on the timing of commencement). Sharrow said MPS had distributed all 50 of its Internet hot spot devices to families who had requested them for use during the school closure. For the additional families who had requested help with Internet access, Sharrow said MPS has helped them obtain access through special offers from Spectrum and other internet providers. CVS Health has said it plans to immediately hire 50,000 full- and part-time employees, as well as offer bonuses to existing employees, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Bonuses for employees will range from $150 to $500 and will go to pharmacists and other health care professionals on the frontlines, store associates and managers, and other site-based hourly employees, the company said in a news release. Our colleagues have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to providing essential goods and services at a time when theyre needed most, said Larry J. Merlo, the president and CEO of CVS Health. As they continue to be there for the individuals and families we serve, were taking extra steps to provide some peace of mind and help them navigate these uncertain times. The plan to hire 50,000 is the most ambitious hiring drive in CVSs history, the company said. Roles CVS plans to fill include store associates, home delivery drivers, distribution center employees and member/customer service professionals. CVS will utilize a technology-enabled hiring process that includes virtual job fairs, virtual interviews and virtual job tryouts. Many roles will be filled by existing CVS Health clients who have had to furlough workers, including Hilton and Marriott, according to the news release. The company is also addressing childcare and adult dependent care needs of its employees. CVS Health said it is working with the Bright Horizons network of national in-home and center-based daycare providers. Employees will be able to take advantage of up to 25 fully covered days of backup care, a benefit that will begin in early April for both full- and part-time employees, the company said. Starting March 22, CVS Health is making 24 hours of paid sick leave available to part-time employees for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. That paid sick leave is in addition to the 14-day paid leave the company is providing for any employee who tests positive for COVID-19 or needs to be quarantined as a result of potential exposure. Full-time CVS Health employees have always had access to paid sick leave, the company said. The health and wellbeing of our colleagues has always come first. Weve been working around the clock to increase availability of supplies and update protocols to ensure our stores are safe for colleagues and customers alike, Merlo said. As the pandemic continues, CVS is prioritizing the distribution of protective gear to the hardest-hit areas, according to the news release. CVS Health employees can also access an Employee Relief Fund, which provides short-term, immediate financial relief in the form of tax-exempt grants. In Massachusetts, five people have died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. At least 646 people in the state have tested positive for the respiratory illness. Related Content: The steel ministry on Monday held a meeting with management of PSUs under its control to take stock of the situation amid the coronavirus outbreak, and asked them not to reduce production. Steel Secretary Binoy Kumar chaired the meeting, via video-conferencing, in which senior officials of SAIL, RINL, NMDC, MOIL and KIOCL, among others, participated, sources said. "They were asked about their preparedness at their plants and units in the wake of outbreak of coronavirus. They (PSUs) have been asked to produce as usual and not reduce production," one of the sources said. SAIL has implemented various preventive measures across its plants, units and offices to contain spread of the virus. Quarantine facilities and isolation wards have been prepared at SAIL hospitals. The company has restricted travel of its employees and the majority of the meetings are being conducted through video-conferencing. At RINL, biometric attendance has been suspended. An isolation ward has been arranged with a quarantine facility at the Vizag plant. NMDC has asked its staff to work from home and the company's offices and buildings across the country are being sanitised. Besides special arrangements are also being made at its healthcare centres to deal with the virus. Large gatherings have been prohibited, entry of non-company staff is being scanned using thermal scanners. Employees have also been asked to inform the company if they or any member of their family have a travel history to coronavirus-impacted country. Further, the public sector undertakings (PSUs) apprised the ministry of the issues faced by their officials during the current lockdown. According to the sources, the PSUs told the ministry that its officials who were on duty at important functional locations faced issues, as they were stopped by local authorities. Another concern raised in the meeting was transportation of raw materials. The movement of goods was crucial for the production to continue, the PSUs said while requesting the ministry to be in touch with the local authorities to resolve the issue. Another source said that in Odisha, a truck carrying raw material to SAIL's Rourkela Steel Plant was stopped by the authorities. Due to this, the plant officials had to face difficulties in carrying the raw material to the plant. "There is no clarity among state officials related to essential services and commodities. Steel is an important sector. Blast furnaces cannot be stopped. It takes several days to restart if it is stopped once," the source said. NMDC is also setting up a steel plant with a capacity of three million tonne per annum (MTPA) in Nagarnar, Chhattisgarh, and the supply of raw material to the site is really crucial for it as the the company expects to commission its first steel plant by mid of 2020. There are seven PSUs under the Ministry of Steel. While Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) and Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (RINL) produce steel, NMDC and MOIL are miners and KIOCL is a pellet maker. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Uttar Pradesh government has postponed the final bidding for the procurement of about 160,000 tablet computers to be given to the state basic school principals owing to the coronavirus outbreak. While, the state has tentatively fixed the next bidding date on March 25, it is likely to be further extended given the recent lockdown of public transports, offices and other business establishments due to curb the spread of the disease. The UP basic education department proposed to provide tablets to the principals of all the basic schools for keeping tab on the attendance of ... India: Hindu leader threatens Christians with new wave of persecution Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The chief of a Hindu nationalist group has launched a nationwide campaign against forcible conversions to Christianity. In a media interview, Milind Parande, the General Secretary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, or World Hindu Council, claimed that Hindus were being forced to convert to Christianity and Islam. They (Christian missionaries) are destroying the ancient culture and indigenous religion of the tribals (aborigines), Parande told the Times of India. They are resorting to trafficking of their children. The VHP will not allow this heinous conspiracy to succeed. Issues like love jihad, where Hindu girls are lured to marry Muslims, are also being brought back. Every year, we bring back at least 2,000 people who have got converted. Several Indian states have had draconian anti-conversion laws, termed as Freedom of Religion Acts, for decades but no Christian has been convicted of forcibly converting anyone to Christianity. Most attacks on Christians are launched under the pretext of the alleged forcible conversion of Hindus. According to Indias own population data, the conspiracy of mass conversions to Christianity does not hold up, says the U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern. "In 1951, the first census after independence, Christians made up only 2.3% of Indias overall population. According to the 2011 census, the most recent census data available, Christians still only make up 2.3% of the population." Attacks on Christians have been on the rise since Narendra Modi of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party took office as prime minister in 2014. Since the current ruling party took power in 2014, incidents against Christians have increased, and Hindu radicals often attack Christians with little to no consequences, noted Open Doors' World Watch List, which ranked India as the 10th worst country for Christians. The view of the Hindu nationalists is that to be Indian is to be Hindu, so any other faith including Christianity is viewed as non-Indian. Also, converts to Christianity from Hindu backgrounds or tribal religions are often extremely persecuted by their family members and communities, Open Doors added. At least one Christian was attacked every day last year, according to Open Doors. Earlier this month, authorities in a southern Indian state of Karnataka removed a statue of Jesus and 14 crosses from a Christian property after radical Hindu groups alleged a Christian center was being used for religious conversions. The 12-foot statue and crosses were taken down from Mahima Betta, a Catholic cemetery and center, in Doddasagarahalli, about 30 miles north of Bangalore in Karnataka state, according to Catholic News Agency. Officials had recently called all communities and said there had been complaints about conversion, J.A. Kanthraj, a spokesperson of the Archdiocese of Bangalore, told the Indian news channel NDTV. People, however, said there was no problem and no conversion was happening. But two days ago, the tahsildar (official) brought police and a JCB loader, and without any notice, oral or written, they removed the statue and the stations of the cross. During his first official visit to India, U.S. President Donald Trump praised Modi's record in governance and his willingness to discuss religious freedom. While Trump was in the country, the city of Delhi, the nations capital, was witnessing religion-based violence. Less than 10 miles from Hyderabad House, where Trump and Modi met in Delhi, a targeted spate of violence killed at least 53 people, mostly from the Muslim minority. Trump told reporters during a news conference that he and Modi did talk about religious freedom for a long time, and stressed that he really believes religious freedom is what Modi wants. Coronavirus: tension in Sousse and 89 infected in Tunisia Protestors against quarantine tear gassed (ANSAmed) - TUNIS, MARCH 23 - Another 14 cases of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, have been found in Tunisia, bringing the total to 89 in the country. The announcement was made by Tunis's National Observatory for Rare and Emerging Diseases, Nissaf Ben Allaya, who note that 60 of the cases had been ''imported'' while 29 had been infected locally. Three deaths from COVID-19 have been reported in the country thus far and one cured. Some 4 clusters have been found in the country and will be isolated: zones of the Les Berges du Lac, La Marsa, La Soukra, and part of the Djerba island, Health Minister Abdellatif Mekki said. On Sunday evening, tension was sparked on the outskirts of Sousse between security forces and a group of protestors that were against mandatory quarantine in a local hotel for a group of Tunisians that had returned to the country from Turkey. The police used tear gas to restore calm. (ANSAmed). Toronto: He has been stuck inside his house in Ottawa since March 12 with his three young children. He has been juggling work meetings on his phone with parenting and household duties normally executed by his staff or his wife, who is sick. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to the media outside his residence at Rideau Cottage in Ottawa, Ontario. Credit:Bloomberg Like millions of people around the world, Justin Trudeau has been improvising a new housebound routine in the time of the new coronavirus. The difference is, he's running a G7 country. Trudeau, Canada's Prime Minister, was the first leader of a major industrialised country to go into self-isolation, when his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, came down with flu-like symptoms and later tested positive for the virus. On Sunday, Germany's Chancellor, Angela Merkel, became the second, after learning that her doctor, who had given her a pneumonia shot a few days earlier, had tested positive for the virus. Pilibhit : , March 23 (IANS) A controversy has erupted over a video clip that shows the Pilibhit District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police leading a crowd, ringing bells and blowing conch shells. The incident is of Sunday evening and is being seen in clear violation of the Janata Curfew call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the clip, SP Abhishek Dikshit is seen blowing a conch shell and DM Vaibhav Srivastava is seen clanging a steel plate as people around them clap and march forward. Some kids are also a part of the crowd. Later, in a tweet, the Pilibhit police clarified that the march was carried out to tell locals to avoid stepping out of their homes. "District magistrate and superintendent of police were not trying to defy curfew. Some people were stepping out of their homes (in the streets) so they had to be told to go back. It was not reasonable to use force. One-sided reports in this regard are doing rounds," the tweet in Hindi said. The district magistrate is heard saying in the video, shared in the post, "People responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal of clanging utensils, clapping and expressing solidarity in these times. However, I appeal to all the people to stay inside their homes as public gatherings can increase the possibility of transmission." On Sunday, people across India -- observing the self-imposed curfew -- came out of their balconies in the evening to respond to Modi's appeal asking citizens to stand at their doors, windows and balconies at 5 p.m. and clap, clang utensils or ring bells in a show of solidarity to those providing essential services, including doctors. Late on Sunday, Pilibhit was added to the list of cities in Uttar Pradesh that are under a three-day lockdown. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Forbes Names CEIPAL One of America's Best Startup Employers As leaders in digital transformation, we are constantly pushing ourselves to bring bold ideas to life, enabling business to have the best possible solution for growth and success - all while ensuring our employees have a smile on their face. CEIPAL, a SaaS platform for the front and back-office business operations of staffing companies, today announced that they ranked 81st on the list of Americas Best Startup Employers 2020. This list and placement was conducted by Forbes, who partnered with the market research company Statista to help identify the up-and-coming companies that were most liked by their employees. Overall criteria required that only American companies founded between 2010 and 2017 with at least 50 employees qualified for consideration. The top 500 businesses to qualify were then ranked in the following categories: employer reputation, employee satisfaction, and growth. As a company dedicated to ensuring employers are able to find the best and most qualified employees, the honor of CEIPAL being named one of Americas Best Startup Employers is especially sweet, said Sameer Penakalapati, Founder of CEIPAL. As leaders in digital transformation, we are constantly pushing ourselves to bring bold ideas to life, enabling business to have the best possible solution for growth and success - all while ensuring our employees have a smile on their face. In the employee satisfaction category, CEIPAL ranked exceptionally high on the list due to the high number of positive employee reviews across multiple sites, including Glassdoor, where the company currently has an overall star rating of 4.8 out of 5. In order to determine a companys reputation, Statista evaluated each organizations articles, blogs and social media posts. CEIPALs blog includes a constant stream of new publications, which highlight industry best practices, thought leadership and various timely and relevant topics within the recruitment world. Additionally, the companys social presence has grown exponentially over the past year with new content being shared on CEIPALs social channels every day. The final category, growth, was another area where CEIPAL excelled. In order to determine overall growth for each company, Statista analyzed each organizations website traffic and employee headcount over a two-year period. CEIPALs constant innovation of new, popular features on a monthly basis for their flagship product, and the companys growing influence and participation in industry-wide events, CEIPAL TalentHire has become an industry standard when it comes to ATS options for recruiters. Over 7 million data points were collected and analyzed across more than 2,500 businesses, and CEIPAL was able to climb to the top of the list. The company credits its employees and their dedicated mission to constant innovative practices, which raise the bar in the HR software industry. CEIPAL is committed to remaining on the list by taking care of its employees and providing the best-possible solution to their customers.. To learn more about CEIPAL, their overall mission, and future opportunities to join the team, please visit http://www.ceipal.com/careers/. About CEIPAL CEIPAL provides a SaaS platform that automates both the front- and back-office business operations of staffing companies. CEIPAL offers a complete workforce management platform, including a fully integrated applicant tracking system (ATS) and human resource information system (HRIS). Founded in 2015, CEIPAL now serves over 1,200 customers and 16,000 recruiters globally. For more information visit http://www.ceipal.com. ### Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has ordered the states K-12 schools to close for the next two weeks starting Tuesday as the number of coronavirus cases continue to rise and spread to more counties across the state. Wolf made the announcement Monday afternoon with additional stay-at-home orders in Philadelphia and its suburbs, Allegheny County and Monroe County. But schools across all of Pennsylvania will be closed until at least April 6, Wolf said. The closure order could be extended beyond April 6 if necessary to save lives and stop the spread of COVID-19, according to a news release from the state Department of Education. When its determined students can return to school, administrators, teachers and other staff will be given two days to prepare classrooms, set up cafeterias, schedule transportation and arrange other business operations. Students would return on the third day. Secretary of Education Pedro A. Rivera said, Protecting the health and safety of students, families, teachers and all employees who work in our schools is paramount during this national health crisis and we must continue our efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus. The number of positive cases increases daily and were seeing it spread to more counties. We must adhere to the social distancing guidelines. Extending the closure will help every community in its efforts to mitigate the spread. On March 13, Wolf ordered all K-12 schools to close for two weeks over COVID-19 concerns. At the time, he indicated that decision would be re-evaluated to decide whether continued closure would be needed near the end of the two-week closure. He also announced at the time that districts would not face penalties for failing to meet the states 180 instructional day mandate. To assist schools during the extended closure, Rivera said the states 29 intermediate units are ready to provide technical assistance to help develop continuity of education plans for all students. We know students are eager to engage with their teachers and return to learning, Rivera said. Beginning tomorrow, all schools will be able to work with their local intermediate unit to develop instructional plans for all students, including those with disabilities and English language learners. Further, Rivera announced on Thursday that the state exams would be cancelled for the 2019-20 school year. PSSA testing administered in grades three through eight was scheduled to begin April 20. Keystone testing for high school students was scheduled to begin May 11. He said the department was submitting a waiver request to the U.S. Department of Education to gain its blessing from this federal school accountability mandate that also would apply to the Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment. The federal education department approved the waiver request on Friday. Other states have taken similar action to try to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly was the first in the nation to order the closure of K-12 schools in her state for the remainder of the school year. A majority of states thus far have closed schools until the end of March or early April. In Washington, Gov. Jay Inslee ordered schools to close for six weeks, while New Jerseys Gov. Phil Murphy put no end date for lifting his school closing order. The closure of public schools has provided an enormous challenge for public school systems. Schools are scrambling to provide meals for those students from low-income families who depend on them. In addition, school leaders have also been working to figure out how to deliver an appropriate education remotely. School systems are also grappling with how to serve kids that may not have their own computers or access to internet service at home. * This post has been updated to clarify when the length of the governors school closure order. Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy. Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio speaks at a news briefing about COVID-19 at City Hall in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, on March 14, 2020. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters) NYC Mayor Says Schools Likely to Remain Closed the Whole Year New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio predicted on Monday that public schools in New York will remain closed for the whole year to cope with the CCP virus outbreak. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. The citys administration closed its 1,700 public schools that serve 1.1 million students on March 16 with a notice that they would reopen on April 20, but de Blasio said that will likely not happen. Right now, even though April 20th is our goal to reopen, I cant see it. Were going to make that judgment as we get closer, said de Blasio while he was live on PIX11. The statement comes as New York City becomes the epicenter of the outbreak in the country, with nearly 10,000 cases of infection and 63 deaths, representing 1/3 of the total cases in the country and 2/3 of all cases in the New York state, according to a message on Twitter by De Blasio on Sunday. But at the trajectory were on now, I cant see it. I do, unfortunately, believe the likelihood right now is that we lose the whole school year, which is really, really deeply unfortunate, de Blasio said. The Mayor also expressed concerns about a lack of laptops, tablets, and Wi-Fi connections for children of low-income families, since the classes have moved online. According to New York City Chancellor Richard A. Carranza, the administration recently gave 25,000 laptops and tablets to children from low-income families but there are still 275,000 in need. This is part of why I was so hesitant to close our schools because weve got hundreds of thousands of kids we cant even reach with distance learning, said de Blasio. The Mayor said his administration is trying to reach more students every day and is getting a lot of help from the private sector. Were going to keep getting more kids laptops and the technology they need and the Wi-Fi connections. Its just going to have to be an ongoing thing, said de Blasio. Free Meals for Students The New York City Department of Education said beginning Monday itll start providing free breakfast, lunch, and dinner to New York City students through 400 sites. The New York City Department of Education is committed to making three free meals available daily for all NYC children, the city administration said on its website. The department said theres no dining space available and that parents can pick up three meals for their children at the same time. No registration, ID, or documentation is required. This website provides a tool that can be used to find out the location nearest to you. The Maharashtra government and traders under the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees (APMC) which run the wholesale vegetables and fruits markets at various locations in the state have been unable to resolve their differences on keeping the markets open as an essential service for the public. The APMCs on Monday decided to observe a closure from March 25 to March 31 as a precautionary step against Covid-19 in view of the crowds that gather at the markets. The state government, however, has appealed to APMC traders to keep the markets and their establishments running and has promised police protection from the crowds. Pune APMC traders union president Vilas Bhujbal said the traders held joint meeting on Monday and decided to keep the wholesale market open only till Tuesday, March 24. Traders will not work from Wednesday, March 25 till March 31, he said. Pune divisional commissioner Deepak Mhaisekar said, We are engaged in talks with the traders. As their main worry is about large crowds at the wholesale market, we are thinking of providing protection and ensuring that safe distances are kept. Sunil Pawar, managing director, Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board, the apex body of APMCs, said, We have appealed to the traders to take all the necessary precautions and keep their essential services running. Even traders and retailers should avoid crowding at markets. We will keep APMCs open across the state to sell commodities that have arrived. Pune APMC administrator BJ Deshmukh also appealed to traders to keep their shops open as vegetables fall under essential commodities. The administration is working out a solution to ensure supply of vegetables to major cities. An action plan is being worked out, he said. Jaydutta Holkar, director, Lasalgaon APMC, a major trading centre for onions, said, We have already decided to close the trade from Tuesday itself. Not only at Lasalgaon, but traders at many APMCs in Maharashtra want to close trade. On Monday, an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 people visited the Pune Market Yard and did panic buying. Bhujbal said vegetable traders and vendors were now worried that they would contract the infection from the crowds visiting the markets. He said a large of the workers and support staff had stopped coming for work out of fear. Without these helpers it is not possible for us to run the business, he said. Cronkite News PHOENIX Last weeks Democratic presidential preference election in Arizona was no contest, as voters clearly favored Joe Biden over Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Biden also won Illinois and Florida last Tuesday night, prompting Sanders to announce hes assessing his candidacy. As of 11:00 a.m. Monday, the most recent totals from the Arizona Secretary of States Office showed Biden with 43% of the vote, compared with Sanders 32%. More than 591,000 ballots were cast, including 257,450 for Biden and 189,903 for Sanders, the office said. Moe Vela, a former senior adviser to Biden during his eight years as Barack Obamas vice president, said he wasnt particularly surprised. The results, he said, are a continuation of patterns and trends across the nation that I think reflect an electorate thats looking for somebody they can trust, thats looking for somebody that has steady leadership in these times of challenge and crisis. Theyre looking for somebody (who) can bring them that sense of comfort, that predictability, that security and I think Joe Biden reflects those characteristics at this time. I'm about to deliver remarks on the Coronavirus pandemic. Tune in to watch live: https://t.co/HpaqlEb7D1 Joe Biden (Text Join to 30330) (@JoeBiden) March 23, 2020 Vela, whos now the CEO of a global business development consulting firm, said he also believes Sanders core ideology is not what voters are seeking in November. It is fair to say that this concept of socialism that Bernie Sanders has been peddling for a long long time has excited a young base of his, but theyre not coming out in droves the way he said they were going to, he said. You cannot win in November, especially against this particular incumbent, you cannot beat him without a strong and broad coalition. Faiz Shakir, campaign manager for Bernie 2020, noted that the campaign has three weeks to regroup before the next primaries and caucuses in Alaska, Wyoming and Hawaii. Sanders is going to be having conversations with supporters to assess his campaign, he said. In the immediate term, however, he is focused on the government response to the coronavirus outbreak and ensuring that we take care of working people and the most vulnerable. To win the Democratic primary, a candidate must achieve 1,991 delegates. Biden now has 1,181 delegates and Sanders has 885, according to NPR Although the Democratic primary isnt over, the field is less crowded now. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, dropped out Thursday and gave her support to Biden. It has been a remarkable March for Biden, who had slumped in the polls after being considered an early favorite. Before the Feb. 29 South Carolina primary, Biden had not won a presidential primary in three campaigns for the White House. Hes now 810 delegates away from the nomination. Note: This story originally appeared on Cronkite News and is published via a Creative Commons license . Cronkite News is produced by the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University Join the Conversation Photo: The Canadian Press Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addresses Canadians on the COVID-19 situation from Rideau Cottage in Ottawa on Monday, March 23, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is pointing to an impending bailout package as a way to help renters affected by COVID-19, though new research suggests hundreds of thousands of households may be in dire financial straits before the federal money arrives. The Liberals are asking the opposition parties and Senate to rapidly approve a $27-billion spending package, with a further $55 billion in tax breaks and available credit. The House will take up the measure on Tuesday and the Senate is scheduled to deal with the legislation on Wednesday. Speaking outside his Ottawa residence, Trudeau said the legislative package would allow the government to quickly get money into the pockets of Canadians who need the help paying their bills, such as rent. "We know that there are significant pressures on Canadians right across the country who are facing bills coming in, who are facing pressures on caring for their families," Trudeau said. "That is why we are working extremely quickly to get money out the door and into the pockets of Canadians during this extraordinary time." However, some of the benefits won't flow for a few weeks and a new report out Monday suggests many renters may not be able to wait until the first aid flows next month. Research from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives says just under half of renters in this country, or 1.6 million households, might have only enough money saved in the bank to pay their bills for a month or less. A further quarter, roughly 830,000 households, don't have enough income to get through a single week without pay, the analysis says. "As the crisis worsens, the need to support low-income renters becomes even more urgent," said Ricardo Tranjan, a political economist with the centre and the report's author, in a statement. "Both the federal and provincial governments must work to keep renters safe and solvent." COVID-19 has produced a rapid downshift in the economy as businesses are forced to close and Canadians asked to stay home, which has led to a sharp drop in consumer spending and a sharp jump in claims for employment insurance benefits. Last week alone, the government received 500,000 new EI claims. Many people who file for employment insurance are able to find new jobs before very long, in normal times. But the Conference Board of Canada estimated in a report of its own Monday that the economy could shed more than 330,000 jobs between April and October, which would raise the unemployment rate to 7.7 per cent. If the projections hold true, the organization estimates Canada's economy would contract by 1.1 per cent this year. Many of the hardest-hit sectors employ many of the nation's renters. To help them, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, which oversees the federal government's national housing strategy, has done a massive shift of its resources to deal with the crisis. It has also told any organization it funds to suspend evictions until the situation improves. "We are shifting teams, extending deadlines and easing requirements to ensure accelerated approvals. All of us at (CMHC) want to get as much money into the housing sector as we can," chief executive Evan Siddall tweeted over the weekend. "Everyone needs a safe home." Even though actor Priyanka Chopra couldnt be in India to observe the 14-hour Janta Curfew suggested by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Sunday, she participated all the way from Los Angeles. Priyanka posted a video of herself, clapping in support of the medical workers and essential service providers amid the coronavirus lockdown. She wrote, People around the world have shown their appreciation for the doctors, nurses and all the first responders battling Covid-19 by clapping on their balconies. Although I could not be India to join, I am there in spirit. On Sunday, Indians participated in a voluntary lockdown to tackle the spread of the coronavirus. Several states and union territories are also in a state of quarantine, in an effort to contain the highly contagious virus spread. Over 340000 people worldwide have been infected, including close to 400 in India. Other Bollywood celebrities who participated in the janta curfew on Sunday include Varun Dhawan, who applauded the services of essential service providers with his family, and comedian Kapil Sharma, who played the drums in their honour. Also read: Varun Dhawan joins 5pm applause with family, Kapil Sharma holds concert in his balcony with Mika Singh. Watch Actor couple Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh shared a live video from their balcony, applauding along with others. Karan Johar shared a video of himself banging metal plates on the terrace of his home, joined by his twin children Yash and Roohi, and mother Hiroo. Priyanka is currently in the US with husband Nick Jonas. On Saturday, the couple marked 10 days of self-quarantine with video and pictures on Instagram. In his video, Nick said, Hi everyone, I know its an unsure time for all of us. Hope youre doing okay. Sending you positive vibes. Priyanka later added, Lets just take care of each other. I hope every is safe out there. Lots of love. Follow @htshowbiz for more Pressure is mounting for stronger legislation to enforce social distancing as a second person died in Northern Ireland after contracting Covid-19. The patient was elderly, had an underlying medical condition and was being treated in hospital. On Sunday night, the Department of Health said it would be writing to 40,000 people in Northern Ireland with underlying conditions. In a statement, it said: "Those with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of severe illness if they contract coronavirus must stay at home to protect themselves. "GPs will be writing to those in Northern Ireland most at risk (approx. 40,000) to provide them with more detailed advice." Read More Latest figures show 128 confirmed cases to date here, with 20 new cases announced on Sunday. However, concern is growing that lives are being put at risk because people are continuing to ignore the most basic advice. Nutts Corner Market opened on Sunday, drawing widespread criticism, while young people continued to socialise at the weekend. Health Minister Robin Swann has said that unless everyone follows the guidelines up to 15,000 people could die as a result of Covid-19. It led to calls for the authorities to get tough on "selfish and reckless" behaviour. Emergency legislation is set to be passed at Westminster on Monday which will grant the Government enhanced powers to enforce social distancing. First Minister Arlene Foster said she "doesn't want to have to go down that road", but powers would be needed in some cases to prevent the spread of coronavirus. "We're looking at where the risks are and how we managed those risks," she said. "This is an emergency situation in Northern Ireland. Most people realise that is the case and we're taking the emergency steps that we need to take. "Emergency legislation finishes its passage through the House of Parliament on Monday. There will be legislation which will allow us to enforce social distancing and all these matters. "Of course, one doesn't want to have to go down that road but it appears that in some cases we are going to have to enforce it." The plea came as the Department of Health announced a second elderly Covid-19 patient had died here. Mr Swann said: "This heartbreaking news should bring it home to every one of us that coronavirus is a real and present danger across our community." He said a minority of people continue to flout advice designed to minimise the coronavirus spread. Mr Swann added: "These behaviours are putting the people themselves, their families and their friends and neighbours at risk." Read More SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone, a member of the Stormont Justice Committee, called for drastic measures. "There are too many people out there who are simply not thinking. They are being reckless and selfish," he said. "That's why I would have no hesitation in giving powers to police to crack down on those who are choosing to ignore the advice that is there to protect them. "We may soon have no choice. It's approaching a time for drastic measures if people continue to ignore the warning we're seeing from countries like Italy." Committee chairman Paul Givan MLA said every measure necessary is being considered. "I will work closely with Justice Minister Naomi Long to ensure every law needed is in place to enforce the instructions being given to protect our community," he added. Meanwhile, deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said all non-essential services should be shut down to prevent the spread of the virus. She called on employers of all non-essential workers to allow staff to stay home and not to have them travelling and working. "Anybody who's not on the front line providing food, providing pharmacy services, anybody who's not in that category, I believe you should be shut down," she said. Primark became the latest big-name retailer to close its doors at the end of business on Sunday. Read More But across Northern Ireland many remain open and events have gone ahead, with many saying there is still confusion over what to do. Appeals were made for people to stay away from Portrush and Portstewart, with images showing the beaches busy on Sunday. Nutts Corner Market, which opened on Sunday morning, attracted strong criticism from politicians. Reacting on social media, a spokesperson said: "According to government and council guidelines it was okay to open the outdoor market. If the market had been told to shut, we would have." "Because it sells fruit and veg, meat, fish and poultry, food stuff that are in shortage in most shops, we trade no differently to a supermarket and we are probably a lot safer as we are in the open air." Nutts Corner Market announced at 1.30pm on Sunday that it would be closing until further notice. In what he described as "the hardest decision I have had to make in my political career so far", Gibraltars chief minister announced on Sunday afternoon that a "total social lockdown" will come into force at zero hours on Tuesday (24 March), for an initial period of 30 days. Fabian Picardo explained that the measure was not being implemented immediately, to give businesses time to organise. He also said it will be reviewed every 48 hours, to assess whether it was still necessary. The terms of the lockdown in Gibraltar are not as severe as in Spain, as people will still be able to go for a run or a walk, or exercise children, as long as they maintain social distancing. However, all retail shops which do not sell food will close and although offices can continue to operate everyone is asked to work from home if they can possibly do so. Construction sites will have to close unless granted a permit. Cases double The move came after a 100 per cent increase in the number of coronavirus cases in Gibraltar in 24 hours, from five active cases to ten. It is important to note that the border between Gibraltar and Spain is not affected by this lockdown. The Gibraltar government and Spanish authorities are cooperating with regard to measures to cope with the coronavirus outbreak and have agreed that it is important to keep the border open. New Britain has its first confirmed patient with coronavirus, the citys mayor confirmed Sunday morning. Mayor Erin Stewart said the city knew we wouldnt be spared announcing the news on Twitter around 8 a.m. She said the patient, whose age and gender were not included in her Twitter thread, was treated at UConn Medical Center and has since been released to self-isolate at home with their family for the next 14 days. Good news is they are on the mend and doing well, Stewart said. The citys health department is in contact with the family and they are complying with the quarantine, the mayor said. She said New Britain residents should remain vigilant about the disease. As of Sunday morning, public officials have confirmed five people have died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. As much as wed like to think there is a big bubble over (New Britain), there isnt, Stewart said in a Tweet. Stay home, stop the spread & think beyond yourself. Although one justice said hes troubled by the uncertainty of Gov. Tom Wolfs order closing non-life-sustaining businesses to contain the coronavirus, the state Supreme Court has turned aside two legal challenges to that edict. First, it has denied as moot challenges that were filed Friday to the part of Wolfs March 19 order closing attorneys offices. A modification Wolf issued allowing lawyers to work in their own offices addresses that issue, the justices wrote. Secondly, in a spit decision, the court refused to approve a plea by gun shop owners to be allowed to continue conducting their businesses. Justices David N. Wecht, Christine Donohue and Kevin M. Dougherty lodged a dissenting opinion on that issue, arguing that the closure order infringes on the publics constitutional right to bear arms. The Supreme Courts ruling came just before state law enforcement officers were to begin enforcing the governors wide-ranging closure order Monday. State officials estimate nearly 10,000 businesses are seeking exemptions from that edict. The challenges filed Friday came from West Shore attorney William Costopoulos, who focused on the closure demand for lawyers, and from civil rights attorney Joshua Prince, who took on that issue and represented gun shop owners in their fight against the demand to shut down the face-to-face transactions needed to ply their trade. The governors shutdown demand has drawn considerable criticism, including from Republican politicians and business groups, and was modified in several respects over the weekend. It is still rather comprehensive, however. Wolf said it is needed to try to curb the creeping spread of the virus. In his dissenting opinion on the gun shop closure issue, Wecht cited the constitutional right of Americans to be armed if they choose. Wolfs shutdown order prevents firearms dealers from conducting their trade, which must occur face-to-face, the justice noted. Unlike the vast majority of other items, the sale and transfer of firearms sold at retail cannot be completed merely by way of telecommunication and mailing under existing law, Wecht wrote. Under federal firearm laws, a licensed firearm dealer may transfer a firearm to a purchaser who does not appear in person at the licensed premises only when a background check is not required to transfer the firearm, and both the dealer and the purchaser reside in the same state. Quite simply, if firearm dealers are not able to conduct any business in-person at their licensed premises, then no transfers of firearms can be completed, he continued. This amounts to an absolute and indefinite prohibition upon the acquisition of firearms by the citizens of this commonwealtha result in clear tension with the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and the Pennsylvania constitution. Wecht recommended Wolf alter his order to allow our citizens to continue to exercise this constitutional right. Just as the Governor has permitted restaurants to offer take-out service but restricted dine-in options, the Governor may limit the patronage of firearm retailers to the completion of the portions of a transfer that must be conducted in-person, Wecht suggested. Such an accommodation may be effectuated while preserving sensible restrictions designed to slow the spread of COVID-19, but nonetheless provide a legal avenue for the purchase and sale of firearms, thus avoiding an impermissible intrusion upon a fundamental constitutional right. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) London Mon, March 23, 2020 19:09 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206cebe6c 2 Art & Culture music,freelance,coronavirus,COVID-19 Free UK freelance musicians, among the vulnerable self-employed groups during the coronavirus crisis, fear they have been "thrown under a bus" by the government after being excluded from a state wage guarantee. They are among the many freelancers who are not covered by the UK government's coronavirus economic proposals, announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak on Friday. To add to their concerns, many of them will be renters not helped by a potential three-month mortgage holiday for homeowners either, also announced by the government. "We're bitterly disappointed to be honest with you," Horace Trubridge, Secretary General of the Musicians' Union, told AFP. "I think the government's thrown self-employed workers under a bus. "I don't understand how they could offer on the one hand such a generous settlement for salaried workers and yet expect self-employed people to live on about a tenth of that. "It's crazy, doesn't make any sense at all." Under the government's plans, salaried employees can claim up to 80 percent of wages, up to a limit of 2,500 ($2,900) during the current pandemic. However, the scheme has not been applied, so far, to the self-employed. The move has caused alarm, not only among freelancers, but also some MPs. Former Conservative Minister Steve Barclay said it was "absolutely necessary" to give support to the self-employed. "Without it, the entire British economy will suffer a crisis -- almost a fatal crisis in economic terms," he told the BBC. The general secretary of the TUC union, Frances O'Grady, assured that her organization would "exert a lot of pressure" on this issue. "We have members from both the construction and creative industries and this will be a real test for them," she told the BBC. Quizzed at Saturday's Downing Street briefing, Environment Secretary George Eustice, said it was for The Treasury to keep the matter "under review". Read also: Freelancing in IT? Here's what you need to know Concerts and lessons cancelled Oboe player Clare Hoskins said she has had several cancellations in recent days. "And then we learned that the Anglican Church would no longer organise public ceremonies, which means that I also lost my job as a professional chorister," she said. "It's hard enough to live on, so if we can't give lessons or concerts, we'll quickly be short of money." While waiting to know when she can resume concerts, Hoskins rehearses a piece by Benjamin Britten. What she misses the most is "not to be with other people, to sing in the choir". The future remains uncertain but "I imagine there will be plenty of top musicians when we come back because we will all have had plenty of time to practice," she laughs. As of Sunday evening, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Russia has climbed to 367, up from 253 on March 20. Starting today, Russia is closing its borders for all international travel. The ban is set to stay in effect until May 1. According to official statistics, Russia has performed well over 100,000 tests with over 50,000 people having been under medical supervision over the past month. Numerous reports and individuals, often affiliated with the liberal opposition of the right-wing politician Alexei Navalny, suggest that these numbers are a significant understatement of the real number of cases. In particular, a reported 37 percent spike in pneumonia cases in Moscow in January sparked rumors that the real number of coronavirus infections is being covered up. There has also been conflicting information about what was initially reported as the first person to have died from COVID-19. The 79-year-old woman had been a lecturer at the Gubkin Oil and Gas University and reportedly continued her job, including interaction with students and faculty, until the day before she was hospitalized. The fact that she had preexisting conditions was used by the state-controlled press to downplay the incident, and although she had contracted COVID-19, the officially reported cause of death was a blood clot. All of Russias 85 regions have by now declared high-alert status. All large gatherings are banned, schools and universities are moving to remote-learning, and individuals are encouraged to work from home. Russians returning from abroad are mandated to self-quarantine for two weeks. All cultural establishments with seats for more than 50 people have been closed. A national referendum initially scheduled for April 22 on far-reaching constitutional measures proposed by President Vladimir Putin is likely set to be postponed. Like bourgeois governments internationally, the Kremlin seeks to exploit the crisis for a further crackdown on democratic rights. The proposed constitutional changes already entail a significant strengthening of the propagation of right-wing Russian nationalism and a consolidation of the role of the Orthodox Church, a hotbed of far-right and fascist tendencies. Since the crisis began, the Russian parliament has extended the potential terms for Vladimir Putin, who has been president or prime minister since 2000, indefinitely. Last week, Putin urged an intensified struggle against cybercrimes to fight extremism and terrorism, a barely veiled announcement of already extensive internet surveillance. Putin stressed, It is essential to continue to foil any actions aimed at destabilizing the situation in society, at violating traditional spiritual and moral values, provoking interethnic and interreligious discord. The government has also sought to whip up xenophobia over the coronavirus. One of the first responses by the local government in the major industrial city of Yekaterinburg, for instance, was to deploy a Cossack patrol in neighborhoods with many Chinese immigrants. Last week, reports also emerged that at least 79 Chinese nationals had been detained and deported for allegedly violating quarantine. About half of them were university students. The usual penalty for such violation is just a fine of less than $10. The Russian oligarchy is promoting nationalism and xenophobia and pushing for greater surveillance and dictatorial measures, as social tensions are set to escalate over both the medical and socioeconomic impact of the pandemic. The dissolution of the Soviet Union and restoration of capitalism were the beginning of what has now been three decades of unending cuts to social spending in education and healthcare, in particular. The destruction of social services and staggering poverty levels have left the population in overall poor health. The average life expectancy is 71.6 years, five years less than in the US or EU. For men, it is only a little above 65 years. The largest HIV epidemic outside of sub-Saharan Africa has been raging in the country for years, with an estimated two million people or more affected out of a population of 140 million. Russia still has more hospital beds and ventilators per capita than countries such as the US or Italy. Thus, there are some 40,000 ventilators in Russia, or 27.3 per 100,000 residents, compared to 18.8 per 100,000 residents in the US, 12.9 in the UK and 8.3 in Italy. However, leaving aside the fact that even these numbers would be insufficient, in the likely scenario of a further dramatic exponential rise in the number of cases, much of the equipment is old. Comparing the Italian and Russian healthcare systems, the anesthesiologist Vladimir Budyansky told the liberal newspaper Meduza, Lets say we take your average ICU: 20 beds, and each one has one person on artificial ventilation. We have the same equipment they do [in Italy], there are doctors, there are nurses. I think that in a lot of situations, well have it worse for a variety of reasons. For example, when they say they dont have enough nurses for them, that means there used to be one nurse per patient, and now, theres one for every two. Well, weve got one nurse serving three or four or five already. So whats twice as bad as usual for them is two times better than what we have normally. Budyansky also pointed out that while some ventilators are modern devices, others are old-fashioned and unfit for use for lung ventilation procedures. All else held equal, well have a relatively spotty situation with treating critically ill patients in some regions of the country. Like virtually all countries affected by the pandemic, Russia is also facing serious shortages in masks. According to a report by Gazeta.Ru, the lack of masks may last all the way through the pandemic. Currently there are neither masks in pharmacies nor in the hands of manufacturers, and it is unclear when they will be produced and delivered again. Before the crisis began, about 80 percent of masks on the world market were produced by China. Russian newspapers report that the government is now drawing in military personnel, prisoners and students to sew new medical masks. As a result of a combination of Western sanctions and failed import-substitution policies, there has also been a severe shortage of medicines in Russia. In early March the ruble experienced its most significant devaluation in years after Russia and Saudi Arabia failed to reach an agreement on world oil prices. About 60 percent of exports and 30 percent of GDP depend upon oil and gas, making the Russian economy highly vulnerable to the world economic crisis and oil price collapses. Russia already experienced a recession in 2014-2016, largely as a result of the economic warfare by the US and EU over the Ukraine crisis. Since 2014, real wages have continuously declined, and those counted as extremely poor have grown to over 20 million now, out of a population of 140 million. Now, the economic and social conditions for tens of millions of workers are set to further worsen dramatically through both the economic repercussions of the recession and the measures taken by the government to curtail the coronavirus pandemic at the expense of the working class population. A reader of the World Socialist Web Site in Moscow noted, Universities and schools have now all moved to remote instruction. But not all teachers and students can work remotely. Moreover, not all institutions provide the teachers with the [necessary] technological equipment and access to video communication services. Many people have to buy the technological equipment and subscribe to the software with their own money. There were reports that there are no notebooks left in some stores. Companies and organizations which cannot guarantee remote work for their workers are reportedly sending them on vacation without pay. . There are reports indicating that three million businesses could go bankrupt. Because of these developments social tensions may rise. The prices for products of mass consumption were already constantly rising before the pandemic. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., updates reporters as lawmakers continue work on a coronavirus aid package, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, March 12, 2020. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite Airlines will be prohibited from buying back stock or issuing dividends under the bailout package the House plans to propose. The draft of the bill provides $58 billion for the aviation industry, including $37 billion in worker payroll grants effectively protecting jobs and $21 billion in loans. Past stock buybacks have become a contentious tactic as the airline industry, ravaged by the coronavirus outbreak, seeks federal assistance. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Airlines receiving financial aid from the federal government will be prohibited from buying back stock or issuing dividends to shareholders under a draft of the new bailout package to be in the House of Representatives, Business Insider has learned. The draft of the bill, which the House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi will introduce to counter the GOP-driven Senate bill, will provide significant relief for airlines, as well as industry employees. Video: What It's Like to Travel During the Coronavirus Outbreak The Senate failed to advance the bill on Sunday night, falling short of the required votes with Democrats opposed, arguing it did not do enough to protect workers, or to regulate companies receiving bailouts. US airlines, through lobbying organization Airlines For America, have asked for $58 billion in aid: $29 billion in payroll grants, and $29 billion in loans. The draft of the House bill which was dated Sunday night, would offer airlines the same amount, but in a different distribution. $37 billion would be allocated for payroll grants across the industry, and unsecured loans of up to $21 billion. Airline employee unions have argued that providing aid to the airlines in the form of payroll grants is the fastest way to provide assistance to workers, since there is already a disbursement mechanism in place. Another $3 billion in payroll grants would be provided for airline contractors, which have been similarly pressured as travel has plummeted. Story continues The bill was not final, and reports indicated that numbers could change in the final version presented to the House. The bill specifically prohibits share repurchases using the money provided by the bailout package. It also forbids "any distribution of funds to shareholders or bondholders, including stock dividends." Additionally, airlines receiving aid would be required to accept limits on CEO salaries for 10 years. Compensation cannot be more than "50 times the median compensation earned by all employees of such air carrier in calendar year 2019," and severance or separation benefits can not exceed "the maximum total compensation received from the air carrier in calendar year 2019." Airlines have seen revenue evaporate since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis, as travel demand has plummeted to near zero. Travel bans and border closures, coupled with directives to self-isolate or quarantine, have forced airlines to suspend routes, ground planes, and cut costs wherever possible. The US airlines have so far avoided layoffs or furloughs, and offered unpaid leave options to employees. On Saturday, airline CEOs, through a letter from industry lobbying organization Airlines For America, warned that without payroll grants, staff reductions would be inevitable. In the letter, the airlines said with payroll grants, they would be able to avoid layoffs until at least September 2020, should the crisis continue until then. They also committed to suspend buybacks and dividends for as long as they were receiving or using aid. United Airlines individually warned employees on Friday that it would begin staff reductions if an aid package was not settled by the end of March. Linette Lopez contributed reporting. Business Insider The central Chinese city of Wuhan, where the coronavirus outbreak emerged late last year, has begun easing severe lockdown measures after it saw no new infections for the fifth day. Authorities said people can enter the city if they are certified healthy and have no fever, while residents can apply to leave but have to be tested for Covid-19. There has been no indication Wuhan residents can leave the city for non-essential reasons. While downtown Wuhan remains the only high-risk area in Hubei province, other cities and counties have been classified as low-risk. Wuhan was placed under lockdown on 23 January to contain the spread of the virus to the rest of China. A total of 81,093 people had tested positive for coronavirus in mainland China as of Sunday, when the death toll rose to 3,270, up nine from the previous day. Meanwhile, the capital, Beijing, increased measures to contain the number of new infections arriving from abroad. Authorities stepped up measures to contain imported infections after all 39 new cases confirmed on Sunday involved travellers arriving from abroad many of them Chinese students returning home. Beijing diverted all international flights arriving from Monday to other cities, where passengers will be screened for the virus. Foreigners who miss international connections as a result of the measure would have to leave China, an immigration official said at the health commissions daily briefing, adding that foreign visitors should think carefully before choosing Beijing as a transit point. It comes after Boris Johnson ordered all pubs, restaurants, gyms and other social venues across the country to close for the foreseeable future on Friday evening. On Sunday, Germany banned gatherings of more than two people to combat the spread of Covid-19. Meanwhile Indias prime minister, Narendra Modi, asked his nation of 1.3 billion people to stay at home to mixed results. In Australia, a ban on bars, gyms, cinemas, nightclubs, restaurants and other places where large people gather began on Monday. As the entire clinical and research community across the world scrambles to find specific treatment options for COVID-19, several new pieces of information are becoming available. Although high quality research trials are still limited, preliminary data is summarized below: a. Medications that show promise (may work to improve outcomes) Remdesivir It is an investigational intravenous antiviral drug that works by preventing the replication (multiplication) of the virus. It has shown activity in the laboratory against SARS CoV-2 (the virus causing COVID-19) as well as activity against many related coronaviruses. Several research trials are underway in hospitalized, more severe cases of COVID-19 infection. In addition to enrolling their patients in clinical trials, physicians can also request the drug on a compassionate use basis through the manufacturer in selected patients. In other words, the drug is currently available from the company (Gilead) to clinicians only when requested in this manner. The treatment duration thus far has been about 10 days. However, due to short supply access to the drug may be limited. Chloroquine/ Hydroxychloroquine Chloroquine has been used for malaria prevention and treatment for a long time and Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) is a related drug used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus. Both drugs are known to have potency against coronaviruses, including both SARS CoV as well as SARS CoV-2. Hydroxychloroquine has higher potency specifically against SARS-CoV-2. After a Chinese study reported clinical and virologic benefit, chloroquine was added as a treatment regimen for COVID-19 patients in China, Chinese experts recommend patients diagnosed with mild to moderate disease as well as severe disease with pneumonia be treated with chloroquine. Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are now recommended for treatment in several countries. Due to its more potent activity in the lab and wider availability (particularly in the United States) compared to chloroquine, hydroxychloriquine has been administered to hospitalized COVID-19 patients in many countries including the United States. A recent French study of 42 patients with COVID-19 reported very encouraging results with hydroxychloroquine administered orally 200 mg. by mouth three times a day for 10 days. At the end of six days, almost 70 percent of patients in the hydroxychloroquine group were considered virologically cured compared to only 12.5 percent in the control group (not receiving the drug). In a smaller sub-group of patients in this study who received an additional antibiotic, azithromycin (commonly available as Zithromax in the United States) together with hydroxychloroquine, 100 percent of patients had no virus detected at day six. President Trump recently communicated appropriate optimism regarding these medications. More information is needed from larger trials, but at a time when no reasonable alternatives exist, this is certainly cause for optimism. Several countries, including some clinicians in the United States, are beginning to use hydroxychloroquine for this purpose. Tocilizumab This is a medication that has been approved by the FDA for many years for treatment of moderate to severe Rheumatoid Arthritis. Interest in its use in critically ill patients with COVID-19 stems from the fact that such patients may have a severe response to the infection called a Cytokine Storm: release of numerous chemicals that are designed to protect the body but end up severely hurting the lungs. One such chemical is Interleukin-6 (IL-6); tocilizumab inhibits this chemical, theoretically minimizing lung injury. Several studies in China, Italy, United States and other countries are now under way. As we await the results, this is a drug that some centers are using as an off-label use, since it is already available. It is used in patients who are critically sick with severe pneumonia along with other antiviral agents. b. Medications that may not work (initial data showing no, or very limited, improvement in outcomes) Lopinavir-Ritovanir In a recent Chinese study involving nearly 200 patients, this antiviral drug combination, known for activity against SARS and MERS-related coronaviruses, did not show any benefit for COVID-19. Specific, selected patients may still benefit, but this is not known at the current time. c. Data on concomitant use of commonly used medications (such as Ibuprofen and some blood pressure medications) There were initial theoretical concerns that maybe medications such as Ibuprofen may dampen the bodys immune response to COVID-19 and therefore worsen outcomes. However, no specific data has emerged related to this concern and the WHO states that it does not recommend against the use of Ibuprofen. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is certainly considered safe and is often used in such settings as a fever reducer. Based on the mechanism of SARS Cov-2 entry into the cells, a theoretical possibility was raised that some commonly used blood pressure medications in the class of ACE-inhibitors and ARBs (such as lisinopril and losartan), may worsen outcomes in COVID-19 infection. This hypothesis has also not borne out, and a clear statement from U.S. Heart groups, including the American Heart Association, recommends that patients with COVID-19 infection who are on these medications should indeed continue to use them. The recent seemingly differing points of view expressed by President Trump (one of optimism) and by Dr. Anthony Fauci (cautious optimism) from the same national stage, represent the honest struggle between the immediate need to use drugs that may help treat a rapidly spreading potentially fatal disease, and the need for scientific rigor in evaluating such drugs before widespread use. Dr. Nirmal Joshi is chief medical officer at Mount Nittany Health and is a frequent participant in PennLives Facebook Live broadcasts on the coronavirus with Opinion Editor Joyce M. Davis. Just because a business does not make any money, does not mean that the stock will go down. For example, although software-as-a-service business Salesforce.com lost money for years while it grew recurring revenue, if you held shares since 2005, you'd have done very well indeed. Nonetheless, only a fool would ignore the risk that a loss making company burns through its cash too quickly. Given this risk, we thought we'd take a look at whether Drone Delivery Canada (CVE:FLT) shareholders should be worried about its cash burn. In this report, we will consider the company's annual negative free cash flow, henceforth referring to it as the 'cash burn'. The first step is to compare its cash burn with its cash reserves, to give us its 'cash runway'. View our latest analysis for Drone Delivery Canada How Long Is Drone Delivery Canada's Cash Runway? A cash runway is defined as the length of time it would take a company to run out of money if it kept spending at its current rate of cash burn. In September 2019, Drone Delivery Canada had CA$14m in cash, and was debt-free. Looking at the last year, the company burnt through CA$16m. Therefore, from September 2019 it had roughly 10 months of cash runway. Notably, analysts forecast that Drone Delivery Canada will break even (at a free cash flow level) in about 2 years. Essentially, that means the company will either reduce its cash burn, or else require more cash. You can see how its cash balance has changed over time in the image below. TSXV:FLT Historical Debt, March 23rd 2020 How Is Drone Delivery Canada's Cash Burn Changing Over Time? Because Drone Delivery Canada isn't currently generating revenue, we consider it an early-stage business. Nonetheless, we can still examine its cash burn trajectory as part of our assessment of its cash burn situation. Over the last year its cash burn actually increased by 39%, which suggests that management are increasing investment in future growth, but not too quickly. However, the company's true cash runway will therefore be shorter than suggested above, if spending continues to increase. Clearly, however, the crucial factor is whether the company will grow its business going forward. So you might want to take a peek at how much the company is expected to grow in the next few years. Story continues How Easily Can Drone Delivery Canada Raise Cash? Since its cash burn is moving in the wrong direction, Drone Delivery Canada shareholders may wish to think ahead to when the company may need to raise more cash. Issuing new shares, or taking on debt, are the most common ways for a listed company to raise more money for its business. Commonly, a business will sell new shares in itself to raise cash to drive growth. By looking at a company's cash burn relative to its market capitalisation, we gain insight on how much shareholders would be diluted if the company needed to raise enough cash to cover another year's cash burn. Drone Delivery Canada's cash burn of CA$16m is about 16% of its CA$101m market capitalisation. Given that situation, it's fair to say the company wouldn't have much trouble raising more cash for growth, but shareholders would be somewhat diluted. How Risky Is Drone Delivery Canada's Cash Burn Situation? On this analysis of Drone Delivery Canada's cash burn, we think its cash burn relative to its market cap was reassuring, while its increasing cash burn has us a bit worried. Shareholders can take heart from the fact that analysts are forecasting it will reach breakeven. We don't think its cash burn is particularly problematic, but after considering the range of factors in this article, we do think shareholders should be monitoring how it changes over time. On another note, we conducted an in-depth investigation of the company, and identified 6 warning signs for Drone Delivery Canada (1 is a bit unpleasant!) that you should be aware of before investing here. Of course Drone Delivery Canada may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of companies boasting high return on equity, or this list of stocks that insiders are buying. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. During a press conference in which our problem-solver extraordinaire president sought to calm and reassure Americans suffering media induced corona-madness, a fake news media minion could not resist exploiting the national crisis to attack Trump, bombarding him with absurd gotcha questions. Rather than behaving like a typical Republican, fearfully scrambling for an answer, Trump's response was, I think you're a terrible reporter. This is why we love Donald J. Trump. Trump went on to call out the reporter's anti-American evil low-life intention. Bravo, Mr. President! The terrible reporter was a surrogate for fake news media, Democrat presidential candidate Joe Biden, and the Democratic party, who are selfishly attempting to use corona-madness to stop Trump's reelection. They say screw the economy and emotional-well-being of the American people. Trump is advised to abandon his instinct of immediately pushing back against media lies and bias. What part of fake news media demonizing everything out of Trump's mouth do advisors not understand? Trump is damned-if-he-does and damned-if-he-doesn't. I believe Trump's God-given gift is his instincts which have produced a remarkably swift long list of winning achievements for America. Trump ain't broke. There is no need to fix him. After three and a half years of enduring unprecedented illegal dark forces launched against him, Trump remains laser-focused on making and keeping America great. Amazing! Political professionals always advise Republicans to take the high ground. Do not push back too hard against Democrats' horrible policies and lies. Be extremely careful not to use words media can spin against you. Meanwhile, fake news media gives Democrats free reign to flood the airwaves with outrageous lies such as Republicans want you to die. Democrats claim Republicans want to starve children and see blacks hanging on a tree. Republicans' passivity and fear provides cover for Democrats to negatively brand Republicans and infect every area of American life and culture with anti-Christian and anti-American progressive poison. Trump is the first Republican president to courageously take a stand, boldly proclaiming that they will not get away with that crap on his watch. Folks, there is a blessing in the Democrat and fake news medias' all-consuming hatred for Trump. For decades, they have hidden their anti-American and anti-Christian agendas behind a mask of faux compassion for minorities, women, and the poor. Deranged hatred has caused them to rip off their mask, exposing them as the cruel, cold and calculating traitors they truly are. By Trump calling out media lies and Democrats' stupid failed policies, Americans are finally realizing how harmful Democrats are to America. Could this explain why 25% of attendees at Trump rallies are Democrats? Here are a few Democrat assaults Americans are suffering because Republicans did not push back: Rev. Jesse Duplantis said mainstream media is using the coronavirus to force Americans into worshiping their false god of fear. Rachel Maddow called for Trump to be banned from the airwaves for not embracing fake news media's be-afraid, be-very-afraid corona-madness narrative. My wife Mary and I shopped for groceries. In Walmart and other stores, shelves were strikingly empty. I realize this is anecdotal, but I could not help noticing a calmness in the air, shoppers were extra polite. Have we progressed beyond the initial panic which caused shoppers to fight over toilet paper? Are president Trump's swift actions, informative press conferences and strong calm leadership working? Blessed are you when others (fake news media) revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Matthew 5-11 Trump is truly enduring false accusations and unfair persecution for protecting religious liberty, innocent unborn life, everyday Americans and wisely dealing with a national crisis. I am grateful that Trump continues to trust his God-given instincts. Roll on Mr. President. We the People are with you. Lloyd Marcus, The Unhyphenated American Help Lloyd Spread the Truth https://www.trumptrainusa2020.com/ http://LloydMarcus.com Magic challenges our sense of whats real; Houdini wanted to challenge the ultimate reality of death, by risking it over and over. That risk, he later wrote, is what attracts us to the man who paints the flagstaff on the tall building, or to the human fly, who scales the walls of the same building. If we knew that there was no possibility of either one of them falling or, if they did fall, that they wouldnt injure themselves in any way, we wouldnt pay any more attention to them than we do a nursemaid wheeling a baby carriage. The New Yorker With the Nagaland government announcing a lockdown in the state as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of novel coronavirus, people resorted to panic-buying of essential items on Monday. Nagaland Chief Secretary Temjen Toy had assured on Sunday that there would be no shortage of essential commodities in the state, despite the lockdown order. In state capital Kohima, residents were seen queuing up outside grocery stores, ATMs and medical shops, many of them without following the advised norms of social distancing. Several cars had also lined up next to petrol pumps, even as private and public buses largely stayed off the roads. In the districts, too, people thronged market places, stocking up on milk and vegetables. Vehicles carrying passengers from outside will be allowed to enter the state till Monday midnight. The Nagaland government, in its order on Sunday, said all shops and business establishments, barring pharmacies, petrol pumps, grocery shops, dairy shops and media offices, shall remain closed March 22 midnight. It had also stated that commercial passenger vehicles, both public and private, like buses, taxis, autos shall not ply till further orders. All inter-state entry points in the state have also been sealed with police personnel manning the 14 inter-state border check gates with Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. The chief secretary had appealed to people to maintain hygiene, follow social distancing norms and remain indoors unless absolutely necessary. Nagaland has reported any Covid-19 positive case so far. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Introverts take heart: When cells, like some people, get too squished, they can go into defense mode, even shutting down photosynthesis. In a study published today, a team at the University of Colorado Boulder took advantage of a new microscopic technique to follow the lives of individual bacteria as they grew and divided in complex colonies. The researchers discovered something unexpected in the process: Whenever these single-celled organisms, a type of cyanobacteria or blue-green algae, got too smushed, they began to switch off the machinery that was essential for them to turn sunlight into sugar. The tiny organisms, in other words, slowed down their growth in a big way, said Jeffrey Cameron, an assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry and coauthor of the new research. "If a cell is between a rock and a hard place, internally everything says, 'Yes, I have nutrients. I want to grow,'" said Cameron, also of the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI) at CU Boulder. "But there also has to be a feedback that says, 'I need to turn off photosynthesis so I don't expand and rupture.'" The findings, which appear in Nature Microbiology, provide a new window on this process that sustains most life on Earth--and, in particular, how organisms regulate photosynthesis when the going gets tough. Cameron hopes that his team's results will also help scientists to develop custom-made microbes that could one day turn light into electricity or even construct living buildings. Bacterial pancakes As Cameron explains, it all began almost by accident. He launched this research several years ago with a deceptively simple goal in mind: He and his colleagues wanted to track the behavior of individual cells within a bacterial colony throughout their entire lifecycle. That was a difficult feat--for simple-looking organisms, cyanobacteria can form pretty complex structures. "The cells on the outside of a colony are exposed to a lot of light, while those on the inside have low light exposure," Cameron said. "Over time as they grow and accumulate more cells, they shade themselves." To be able to see every single cell in a growing colony, Cameron developed a method of culturing cyanobacteria so that they spread out like flat pancakes. When he started peering at these two-dimensional growths under a microscope, he noticed something odd: The more the colonies grew, and the more the bacteria inside began to squeeze together, the more they began to glow, or "fluoresce," under a certain type of light. The microbes, he explained, were emanating heat out to their environment, almost like a person perspiring on a packed city bus. "I dropped everything and spent the next four years figuring out what was happening," Cameron said. The key, he and his colleagues discovered, was that the cells in a colony weren't all glowing the same. The cyanobacteria on the inside of a colony, for example, fluoresced a lot more than those on the fringes. They also grew a lot slower, dividing in two at about half the rate as their exterior cousins. Put differently, when cells get squished, they shine. "When the cells become confined, and they can't expand, they become highly fluorescent," Cameron said. Tiny antennae So why were those interior cells perspiring so much? To answer that question, you have to get to know the phycobilisome. This teeny, protein-based structure is the antenna of the cell. Many of these phycobilisomes sit inside cyanobacteria where they collect sunlight, then transport it to the reaction sites where that energy can be converted into glucose, or sugar. Or that's what usually happens. Cameron and his colleagues found that when their cyanobacteria became too confined, they started to shed their phycobilisomes. "If the cyanobacteria got more light than they could use for photosynthesis, these antennae would literally pop off," Cameron said. The microbes couldn't use all that energy, so to keep from getting glutted, they turned off photosynthesis. The group's results, he said, show just how dynamic single-celled organisms can be: They have a lot of tools for staying healthy in a dynamic social environment. Understanding that social environment could also one day help scientists put photosynthesis to work--tapping sunlight to design more sustainable buildings or make other biology-based tools. "We might be able to develop small-scale machines that are using light to perform computations or work," Cameron said. It's a whole new way to think about catching some rays. ### Other coauthors on the new study include CU Boulder researchers Kristin Moore, a former graduate student in RASEI; Sabina Altus, a graduate student in the Department of Applied Mathematics; Jian Wei Tay, an image analysis specialist in RASEI; Janet Meehl, a professional research assistant in RASEI; Evan Johnson, lab manager; and David Bortz, an associate professor in applied mathematics. There is fast-becoming a worldwide shortage of toilet paper in supermarkets as panic buyers scurry to purchase what they can amid the coronavirus pandemic - despite being repeatedly warned that there is enough for all being produced. Australian founder of Business Chicks, Emma Isaacs, has not been part of the masses of shoppers stocking up on loo roll - because she's busy enough juggling a global company and five children, all while preparing for her sixth. But now that her youngest is toilet training Ms Isaacs, who is based in Los Angeles, California, was beginning to worry about being in short supply, until a kindly stranger stepped in to help her. Australian founder of Business Chicks, Emma Isaacs, has not been part of the masses of shoppers stocking up on loo roll - because she's busy enough juggling a global company 'Here's a story of kindness amidst the madness for you,' Ms Isaacs, 40, wrote on her Instagram four days ago 'Here's a story of kindness amidst the madness for you,' Ms Isaacs, 40, wrote on her Instagram four days ago. 'So I'm standing in line at our local store this morning and ask the lady at the counter when she expects the next delivery of toilet paper (as you do). 'Another customer overhears and says "Do you need some?" And I said "Well, yeah." And then she says "You live on Irving right? Your husband took me through the house when it was being built. I was just walking by and he said "come on in!"' The Isaacs are currently renovating their house, which is why the woman was likely interested at what they were doing on the property Her husband had told the woman that Ms Isaacs was expecting their sixth child, so she 'saw the belly, heard an Australian accent and put two and two together' The Isaacs are currently renovating their house, which is why the woman was likely interested at what they were doing on the property. Her husband had told the woman that Ms Isaacs was expecting their sixth child, so she 'saw the belly, heard an Australian accent and put two and two together'. 'Less than an hour later she was standing on our doorstep with some toilet paper, flushable wipes, gifts for the kids and for the new baby! I mean, come on! How beautiful is that?' Ms Isaacs said. The mother-of-five said she had, up until the lovely surprise, been washing her toilet training daughter in the sink or bath to avoid unnecessary use of paper. The mother-of-five said she had, up until the lovely surprise, been washing her toilet training daughter in the sink or bath to avoid unnecessary use of paper 'Every time an accident happens I have resorted to the skipping of the wiping and going straight to the sink or bath,' she explained. Her followers were pleased to hear about Ms Isaacs' experience and said after all of the good work she does helping others in business, this was 'her karma'. 'We need to hear lots of beautiful stories like yours to bring faith and hope back! There are many amazing generous souls in this world,' one woman said. 'We need to hear lots of beautiful stories like yours to bring faith and hope back! There are many amazing generous souls in this world,' one woman said 'It shows you the power of what's important right now... community,' said another. A third added: 'We need more people like her in this world'. Ms Isaacs is currently 30 weeks along and announced the exciting news to her children - and social media - in November 2019. The Western allies today ordered potentially devastating air strikes against Serb military targets after final talks in Belgrade failed to persuade Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic to accept a peace agreement that would give autonomy to the disputed ethnic Albanian province of Kosovo. Flames from an explosion light up the Belgrade skyline near a power station after NATO cruise missiles and warplanes attacked Yugoslavia. Credit:AAP NATO orders attacks after Belgrade rebuffs peace and winds up its war machine. Within hours, eight US B-52 bombers, each armed with 20 cruise missiles, took off from RAF Fairford in western England. British defence officials refused to say why or where they were going. In Italy, NATO's permanent Mediterranean force, comprising eight warships, left Trieste and moved down into the Adriatic. "(The force) is ready to carry out any mission the alliance gives to it," its commander, Rear Admiral David Stone, said. US defence officials earlier said NATO attacks could begin at any time with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles from US warships, including two submarines, in the Mediterranean and Adriatic, and air-launched cruise missiles fired by the eight B-52 bombers based in Britain. A former NASA engineer has demonstrated how easily and quickly germs are spread by sprinkling a powder that can only be seen under a blacklight on the hands of a third-grade teacher and one of her students. Mark Rober, 40, created a video to show how social distancing and good germ hygiene will help stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) and save lives after noticing that many people weren't listening to scientists. The YouTuber explained on Twitter that it usually takes him six months to a year to plan a video, but he made this one in just two weeks with the help of a teacher and her students because of the need to slow the rate of the virus. Scroll down for video Lesson for the day: Former NASA engineer Mark Rober, 40, demonstrated how easily and quickly germs can spread in his new YouTube video Like the real thing: Rober used Glo Germ, a powder that can only be seen under a blacklight, for the experiment Patient zero: Rober sprinkled the glow powder on a third-grade teacher's hand and had her shake hands with three unsuspecting students at the start of the day 'I've always thought if we could somehow just see the germs around us, everyone would be a lot more careful and we'd get sick way less,' he said at the start of the 10-minute clip. Rober settled for the next best thing and used a powder called Glo Germ that can't be seen on the skin until you turn a blacklight on it. Like real germs, it transfers to things you touch, so it helps people visualize exactly how germs are spread. Before the third graders arrived in their classroom, he went around the room and noted any pre-existing spots that fluoresced under the blacklight as a control. The teacher, who was secretly infected with the glow powder, shook hands with three of her students when they arrived at school and then went about the rest of their day without the children knowing about the experiment. Another infection: At their break, Rober also chose one random student and put Glo Germ on his hands as well No difference: The students who didn't know about the experiment went about their day as they normally would At their break, Rober chose one random student and put Glo Germ on his hands as well. Two hours later, they checked the results at lunchtime and learned the room was covered with glow powder that started with just the teacher and one student. 'Because my flashlight can only illuminate one sport at a time, I used Photoshop to better visualize our observations of where germs were left behind, including on the other kids,' Rober explained. The photos showed that there was powder on the sink, telephone, storage bins, paper towel holder, and wall, among other places in the classroom. It was also on the students' faces and hands, even though they were 'actually pretty diligent about washing their hands.' Yikes: Two hours later, they checked the results at lunchtime and learned the room was covered with glow powder Scary: Rober showed that the 'infected' student's desk was covered with the powder, and he noted that 'germs can live on a hard surface like this for up to nine days' Lots of touching: The powder glowed on one of the door handles in the classroom Rober showed that the 'infected' student's desk was covered with the powder, and he noted that 'germs can live on a hard surface like this for up to nine days.' 'You can see how important it is to disinfect the things a sick person regularly touches,' he said, citing the teacher's powder-covered cellphone as an example. 'Even if you wash your hands really often, if you immediately pull out your phone, a lot of those germs just go right back on your hands.' Rober noted that his friend Joanna Stern at the Wall Street Journal recently demonstrated that you can clean your phone with an antibacterial wipe every day for at least a year and it doesn't damage the oleophobic coating. Painting a picture: Rober used Photoshop to better visualize all the places germs were left behind during the experiment Scary: The photos showed that there was powder on the sink, telephone, storage bins, paper towel holder, and wall, among other places in the classroom Infected: The powder was on many of the students' hands and faces Whoops: Footage of the children shows them touching their faces throughout the day, and Rober said that adults are just as bad 'Cleaning commonly touched surfaces is important because even if a virus is spread through airborne transmission, those tiny droplets don't stay in the air for long. Then they land on surfaces, waiting to be touched by our hands,' he stressed. 'The ultimate defense against catching a virus is just don't touch your face,' he added. 'Your eyes, nose, and mouth are like the single weak spot on the Death Star when it comes to viruses. That's the only way they can get it to infect you.' Footage of the children shows them touching their faces throughout the day, and Rober said that adults are just as bad. The teacher's face was also covered with glow powder at the end of the day, even though she made it a point to not touch her face. Germ collector: The teacher's cellphone was covered with glow powder, and Rober recommends cleaning your phone daily Cant be helped: The teacher also had glow powder on her face even though she tried not to touch it throughout the day The YouTuber star thought this was fascinating and did his own experiment where he put Glo Germ on his own hands and did his best not to touch his face. He was convinced his face would be clean, but his was also covered with powder spots. He admitted he didn't have any idea how he got the powder on his face until he reviewed the footage and saw all the times he absentmindedly scratched his chin or nose throughout the experiment. 'On average, we touch our face 16 times an hour, which is why washing hands is so important,' he said. 'It's impossible to catch a virus directly through your hands.' Rober also ran another experiment with the third graders to see how well they were washing their hands. He put lotion that also glows under a blacklight on their hands before telling him he had made a mistake and having them wash it off. Mindless touching: The YouTuber star thought this was fascinating and did his own experiment where he put Glo Germ on his own hands and did his best not to touch his face Another lesson: Rober also demonstrated 'how dumb handshaking is' by infecting the first in a line of children with the powder before doing a handshake chain. Covered: The fifth person in line had significant traces of powder on his hand, and he was moved to the front of a line of four more kids Say what? Three out of the four kids' hands glowed at the end of the experiment, meaning the powder on the original person's hand lasted eight handshakes When they returned, he admitted that he had tricked them and flashed the blacklight over their hands, which still had the lotion on certain areas even though they had washed them. The engineer once again tried the experiment for himself, showing that there was a lot more lotion left on his hand when he did a quick eight-second wash compared to when he spent 20-seconds focused on lathering up. For his final experiment, he demonstrated 'how dumb handshaking is' by infecting the first in a line of children with the powder before doing a handshake chain. The fifth person in line had significant traces of powder on his hand, and he was moved to the front of a line of four more kids. Three out of the four kids' hands glowed at the end of the experiment, meaning the powder on the original person's hand lasted eight handshakes. Rober explained that this information relates to coronavirus because Americans are at a crucial point where we need to 'flatten the curve so that reported cases stay just under the capacity of the healthcare system.' Not okay: To stress the importance of washing your hands properly, he showed how much glow lotion was left on his hand after a quick eight-second wash Much better: His hands were much cleaner after focusing on washing for 20 seconds He stressed that social distancing is the best way to do that, and the video demonstrates exactly why it works. 'I am a practical optimist,' he said. 'The upside is while this virus is bad, it could be way worse, and this gives us a chance as a global community to get some systems and methods in place to handle something potentially even more drastic in the future.' Rober said this pandemic may even change social norms; people may start fist-bumping instead of shaking hands, or they will stop thinking it's okay to go out or go to work when they're sick. 'Globally, the normal flu kills anywhere from a quarter to a half-million people a year due in large part to people not practicing good germ hygiene,' he said. 'So, if this experience makes people more socially aware of the right precautions to take when they get sick, that will save countless lives for years to come long after this coronavirus is old news.' As of Monday, there have been more than 35,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S. and 471 deaths. The Delhi government on Sunday reiterated strict action against those who jump quarantine under the Epidemic Diseases Act. According to the order, approximately 35,000 people have returned to the city from foreign countries since March 1. The district magistrates, through their surveillance teams, have been asked to conduct a thorough verification exercise of these people and ensure that they complete their 14-day mandatory home quarantine. The order specifies that even those who have come in contact with such a person should remain in 14-day home quarantine. A separate order has been issued for people who are not following the quarantine. This is just to reiterate what was said in the notification of the Epidemic Diseases Act. It empowers the DMs to take action and ever register an FIR and get people who skip quarantine back to the hospitals or their homes, said an official from health department. For not following the order, one can be jailed for a month and/ or be fined Rs 200 and if their action endangers human life, the punishment can be up to six months and/or Rs 1,000 fine. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anonna Dutt Anonna Dutt is a health reporter at Hindustan Times. She reports on Delhi governments health policies, hospitals in Delhi, and health-related feature stories. ...view detail Prague (AFP) - The Czech government said Monday it had extended measures taken to combat the spread of the coronavirus, including restricted freedom of movement and closed shops and pubs, until April. The EU member of 10.7 million people has 1,236 declared cases of the virus including six cured patients and one death. "All steps taken with the state of emergency are extended until April 1," Interior Minister Jan Hamacek told reporters. The government also raised this year's state budget deficit projection from 40 billion crowns to 200 billion (7.2 billion euros, $7.7 billion). It reckons with a 5.1-percent drop in gross domestic product for 2020 if the epidemic is brought under control in the second quarter, following six years of steady growth. The government also changed the rules for Czechs crossing the border every day thanks to an exception for those working in neighbouring countries. Now, if they want to work abroad, they have to find accommodation there for the next three weeks. "This is the last channel through which the epidemic can get to the Czech Republic," said Hamacek. The Central European country closed its borders as well as most shops, all pubs, cinemas, theatres and other facilities as the virus began to spread across Europe earlier this month. Last week, it ordered everyone to cover their mouths and noses when leaving the house. It is not clear whether the administration will establish a special enrollment period for the 32 states with markets it manages. (There are also six state-run exchanges that use the federal platform, and those states cant proceed without federal sign-off.) The administration continues to argue in court for the laws invalidation. In a press briefing on Sunday, President Trump reiterated that he would like to eliminate Obamacare altogether and replace it with an unspecified program he prefers. What we want to do is get rid of the bad health care and put in a great health care, he said, in response to a question about the lawsuit. There are also an estimated 17 million people already uninsured but eligible for marketplace coverage, according to a recent study from the Kaiser Family Foundation. That study found that more than a quarter of those people were eligible for a bronze plan that would cost them nothing in premiums after federal subsidies were applied (they would still have a high deductible). A broad special enrollment period could protect that group from big bills, too, if they contract the disease known as Covid-19. If open enrollment were more broad, and there were fewer barriers, that could make it easier for people to sign up, said Cynthia Cox, a vice president at Kaiser and a co-author of the study. People in so-called short-term, limited-duration health plans those offering skimpier coverage that doesnt meet all the requirements of an A.C.A. plan could also sign up. Although the administration has encouraged the availability of alternatives, many may now want more comprehensive coverage. Washington State, which has been enrolling people since March 10, has had 2,973 residents indicate they plan to sign up as of last Thursday. About 500 have actually done so. In New York, during the first four days of the enrollment period, 150 people signed up, according to state officials. In Rhode Island, which has had open enrollment since March 14, weve had a really strong response, Ms. Lang said. As of Friday, 233 people had enrolled, with a further 150 or so in the process of doing so. And finally: Remember independent book shops The Timess Rebecca Liebson writes: For many, social distancing offers a chance to catch up on reading. And now, independent booksellers across New York City are urging customers to place orders for delivery as a way to support small businesses and to flatten the curve. Here are just a few: Books Are Magic in Brooklyn is accepting online orders, and some in-store events will be replaced with virtual conversations. The store is also selling a Stay Safe Read Books T-shirt and donating half of the proceeds to the Book Industry Charitable Foundation. The other half will go toward supporting Books Are Magic employees. Astoria Bookshop in Queens is also accepting online orders. The owner, Lexi Beach, said she planned to hold the stores weekly Thursday morning storytime on Instagram Live. We have felt so much love from the community this week, she said, and we are grateful to our loyal customers for that. The founder of Word Up Community Bookshop in Manhattan, Veronica Santiago Liu, said the shop was planning a fund-raiser to support local postal workers who are helping to deliver its online orders. We have contingency plans, we worked hard over many years to build up a cash reserve, and so now is the time to use them for the good of the public, she said. Greenlight Bookstore, which has two locations in Brooklyn, is accepting online orders and plans to host book clubs through videoconferencing. President Trump winning admirers in strange places By Dr. Robert Owens A global pandemic ricochets around the world. Suddenly we find ourselves someplace we never thought wed be. The world shuts down, millions isolated, separated, and alone. Basic commodities cleaned off shelves by consumers who just yesterday were laughing at preppers who now sit back calmly ready for a world turned upside down for possibly months. Our president spent his life as a real estate developer who has changed the skylines of cities around the world. One skill that any successful Real Estate developer, like any producer of major films, must acquire is crisis management. Even a short course on crisis management will show that President Trump is a master at it. Hes assembled a team of widely accepted experts, hes taking decisive actions aimed directly at the root and branches of the current Corona virus crisis, and hes holding regular briefings to keep all major stake-holders up-to-date on what is happening and what is being done. Even though as soon as hes done with his daily briefing the Democrats who identify as journalists for the Corporations Once Known as the Mainstream Media follow close on his heels often saying he said the exact opposite of what he said the President is winning admirers in strange places. CNNs chief political correspondent Dana Bash commented on the presidents Oval Office address and Corona press briefing saying, "If you look at the big picture, this was remarkable from the president of the United States. This is a non-partisan this is an important thing to note, and to applaud from an American standpoint from a human standpoint. He is being the kind of leader that people need, at least in tone, today, and yesterday, in tone that people need and want and yearn for in times of crisis and uncertainty." New York Governor Andrew Cuomo praised the Trump administrations efforts to handle the Corona virus outbreak on Tuesday, His team is on it. Theyve been responsive, Cuomo said at a press conference. I want to say thank you. Going further, t he Democrat governor said that he spoke to Trump on Tuesday and that the president is 100 percent sincere in his desire to work with the state to control the virus outbreak, which has mushroomed in the U.S. over the past week. He added, The administration is ready and willing to help, especially on the hospital capacity issue. O n Sunday (3-7-20) Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, a Democrat and one of Mr. Trumps most vocal critics, at a news conference praised Mr. Trump, saying of the president "He said everything I could have hoped for. We had a very long conversation and every single thing he said, they followed through on ." The governor added, We are very grateful for this partnership. Newsom also said he has received "consistent" support from Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, who is leading the administration's response to the Corona virus outbreak. From a slightly less surprising source, the experts hes assembled President Trump is also receiving high marks. Seema Verma, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services was asked by FOX News whether she was concerned that there could be patients who don't get a ventilator -- or if actual physical equipment that is needed to serve the people who get sick is out there? She answered, And that's why the President has taken such bold and decisive action. We're not waiting for this to get worse. We're not waiting for this to be a crisis in our health care systems. Dr. Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, accompanied the president to the CDC's headquarters in Atlanta last Friday . When he was asked to address the press h e took the opportunity to lavish praise on the man standing next to him. "First, I want to thank you for your decisive leadership in helping us, you know, put public health first," Redfield said. "I also want to thank you for coming here today and sort of encouraging and bringing energy to the men and women that you see that work every day to try to keep America safe. So, I think that's the most important thing I want to say, sir," Redfield added. On Wednesday 3-17 at his daily presser President Trump called the Corona virus fight a war against an invisible enemy. As ever sounding the encouraging note he went on to say, "One day we'll be standing up here and say, 'Well, we won.' And we're going to say that, as sure as you're sitting there, we're going to win. And I think we're going to win faster than people think, I hope." He added, "If we do this right, our country, and the world, frankly, but our country can be rolling again pretty quickly. Pretty quickly." All I can add is Amen. Dr. Robert Owens teaches History, Political Science, Global Studies, and Religion. He is the Historian of the Future @ http://drrobertowens.com 2020 Contact Dr. Owens drrobertowens@hotmail.com Follow Dr. Robert Owens on Facebook or Twitter @ Drrobertowens or visit Dr. Owens Amazon Page / Edited by Dr. Rosalie Owens As one of 7,300 Peace Corps volunteers forced to evacuate their posts around the world with a snap of the fingers last week as the new coronavirus pandemic spreads, Houstonian JaKyah Beatty said she feels in a limbo while quarantining at a hotel in Houston paid out of her pocket. We were all just uprooted from our two-year service and received 36 hours to pack up our lives and move back home, the 23-year-old said. We are required to self-quarantine, and some of us are currently living in hotels with limited resources. The Peace Corps, an agency of the U.S. Department of State, announced on March 15 the decision to evacuate all volunteers amid the spread of COVID-19, which has infected more than 300,000 worldwide and killed more than 14,300. As COVID-19 continues to spread and international travel becomes more and more challenging by the day, we are acting now to safeguard your well-being and prevent a situation where Volunteers are unable to leave their host countries, Peace Corps Director Jody Olsen wrote in a letter to the evacuees. Beatty said she knows the Peace Corps probably acted in good faith to keep volunteers safe and secure. However, she said they feel helpless back home after serving their country abroad. The National Peace Corps Association, a nonprofit organization representing current and former volunteers, is urging people to support them in an online campaign in their website called Urgent Action: Peace Corps and its Evacuees Need your Help. The campaign asks people to write to their legislators requesting Congress to provide initial funds to help Peace Corps manage its program suspension and extra support for the volunteers who have been evacuated. The thousands of U.S. volunteers abroad were fulfilling the agencys stated mission of developing sustainable solutions to address challenges in education, health, community economic development, agriculture, the environment and youth development. I took an oath to serve our country and am currently not able to seek any help, said Beatty, who has a degree in fashion merchandising and marketing. She was working in a primary school in a village in Fiji, teaching healthy living curriculum for almost seven months, when she received evacuation orders. Among the problems that they are facing is their inability to apply for unemployment benefits or noncompetitive eligibility, because they dont meet staff criteria or finished their services since it was suspended due to the COVID-19 crisis. The noncompetitive eligibility is a special hiring status assigned to federal employees, including PC volunteers, that prioritize their applications to other federal jobs for which they are qualified. We are kind of just in a weird limbo; because of the coronavirus, no one is really hiring, said Beatty, echoing concerns among the evacuees. Additionally, she is draining her family finances by paying for a hotel for quarantine, as the government recommended. Beatty said that she is among many others who couldnt do so at their homes in the U.S., and some dont even have a home to come back in such short notice. In her case, she said she could not quarantine at her family home in Katy, because she has a grandfather over the age of 60, a group at higher risk of complications if they get infected. Beatty said the Peace Corps said volunteers could send requests for expense reimbursements to be considered on a case-by-cases bases, no guarantee. The Peace Corps didnt respond to requests for comment. Not being able to be near her family has been tough, as has leaving her work abroad unfinished. When I got the news that I would be evacuating, I was so sad, because I knew that meant a potentially permanent pause to all of the work myself and my community had spent the last few months working on, she said. I just left feeling incomplete and knowing that the work we all started together would also be incomplete until further notice. olivia.tallet@chron.com twitter.com/oliviaptallet Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 10:15:38|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese scientists have revealed that the ancient population who lived on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau 5,200 years ago contributed genetic inheritance to modern Tibetans. In the study recently published online in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the scientists successfully sequenced 67 complete mitochondrial DNA genomes of humans who lived on the plateau 5,200 to 300 years ago. Previous studies have shown that the introduction of barley agriculture dating back to 3,600 years ago was crucial to human's permanent settlement on the plateau. But it was still unknown what genetic contribution the ancient Tibetans made to the present-day Tibetans. The researchers divided the genomes into two groups according to living region and altitude, with one group in high altitude areas and the other in low altitude on the northeast edge of the plateau. The results showed genetic connection between the two groups and that both of the two groups have a certain degree of genetic connection with modern Tibetans. Other human groups who lived on the plateau earlier may have also contributed genetic inheritance to present-day Tibetans, said the study. A 64-year-old Carbon County woman died Sunday afternoon after the car she was driving crashed into a tree in Washington Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania State Police report. Ginger L. Rodgers, of Palmerton, was pronounced dead at the scene of the 3:39 p.m. crash of a 2006 Kia Sedona on Mountain Road about a quarter-mile west of Spruce Lane, police said. Passenger Erlene Sell, 63, of Palmerton, was critically injured but was stable at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Salisbury Township, police said. PSP Bethlehem is investigating a serious motor vehicle crash on Mountain Road, Washington Township, Lehigh Co. Route 873 to Rextown Road is currently closed.@lvtraffic @wfmztraffic Trooper Branosky (@PSPTroopMPIO) March 22, 2020 Rodgers was not wearing a seat belt, but Sell was, police said. Rodgers died from multiple blunt force trauma received in the crash and the incident was ruled an accident, the Lehigh County Coroners Office said. The road was closed until 7:05 p.m., police said. The investigation is being handled by the Bethlehem barracks and the coroners office, authorities said. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email him. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. The United States won't be able to test broadly for the coronavirus for "weeks, if not months," Severin Schwan, CEO of Swiss diagnostics maker Roche, told CNBC on Monday. "No doubt, ideally we would have broader testing, but at the moment, capacities are limited," Schwan said on CNBC's "Squawk Box." "I think this is still a couple of weeks, if not months, out, and the reason is very simple." Testing in the U.S. has been hampered by delays and a restrictive diagnostic criteria that limits who can get tested. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still says that only those most at risk of the virus should get tested. However, World Health Organization officials have criticized nations for not testing enough people proactively. Federal officials say they are trying to ramp up testing. Since the emergence of the outbreak, the U.S. government has granted approval for a broader set of labs to start testing, and White House officials said they are expediting the development of commercial tests. Earlier this month, the Food and Drug Administration issued emergency authorization for a coronavirus test made by Roche. Schwan said Monday that the company has distributed about 400,000 test kits throughout the country in the past week. The tests, he said, can deliver results to patients in less than 24 hours. Companies, though, can't produce test kits quickly enough to keep up with the spread of the virus, he said. "The industry is increasing capacities, but at the same time infection rates are even increasing faster," Schwan said. "At the moment, capacities are limited. That is why we have to prioritize testing to higher risk patients." The virus is now spreading rapidly in some parts of the U.S. as hospitals ramp up for an influx of patients that local and state officials say will put the country's health-care system to the test. The virus has infected more than 41,500 people in the U.S., according to Johns Hopkins University, and killed at least 499 people. However, officials say the true number is likely much higher due to limited testing capacity. WHO officials have said that preemptively testing broadly throughout the population is key to containing the outbreak. South Korea, for example, has tested more than 338,000 people in the country for COVID-19 since Jan. 3 and has contained the outbreak there to fewer than 9,000 infections. The virus has killed at least 111 people there so far. "We have a simple message for all countries: Test, test, test. Test every suspected case. If they test positive, isolate them and find out who they have been in contact with two days before they developed symptoms and test those people, too," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said earlier this month. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 00:29:41|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WUHAN, March 22 (Xinhua) -- The public need to go through real-name registration for taking public transportation or taxis in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, authorities said Sunday. The requirement is part of a work plan issued by the bureau of transportation. It applies to buses, ferries, trams, subways and taxis that have resumed operations, the bureau said. The public can use Alipay or WeChat for online identification before taking public transportation or taxis. Those who fail to authenticate themselves will be barred from taking these vehicles. Middle and primary school students, senior citizens and disabled people must show their IDs when they take taxis. They must use their student cards, senior cards or cards for the disabled to board public transportation. IDs are needed if they fail to bring these cards. Passengers can scan barcodes on these vehicles to track their transportation records. The work plan aims to guarantee the safety of the public, the bureau said. Carnival cruise ships seen docked in ports around the US used their cabin lights to deliver a defiant message in response to the deadly coronavirus outbreak: We will be back. The messages appeared on ships docked in Long Beach, California, Gavelston, Texas, and Port Canaveral, Florida. All of the messages end with a heart image made from several cabin windows. Carnival was making it known that it plans a comeback after the company and other cruise lines had to temporarily halt all of their trips for thirty days in response to the deadly flu-like virus, also known as COVID-19. An idle Carnival cruise ship is docked in Long Beach, California, with the message, 'We will be back,' in response to the coronavirus outbreak A Carnival cruise ship docked in Gavelston, Texas, delivers the defiant message: 'We will be back,' in response to the coronavirus outbreak Another Carnival cruise ship docked in Cape Canaveral, Florida, delivered a similar message Cruise operators, in the meantime, have offered their ships as emergency accommodations for hospital patients As of Sunday more than 35,000 people in the US have tested positive for coronavirus and 470 have died since the nationwide outbreak began less than two months ago. Cruise operators stand ready to provide assistance in containing the outbreak. Last week, President Donald Trump said Carnival chairman Micky Arison offered use of his companys idle ships to assist in the battle against COVID-19, Forbes reports. President Donald Trump speaks during a coronavirus task force briefing at the White House, Sunday. Trump said Carnival chairman Micky Arison offered use of his companys idled ships to assist in the battle against COVID-19 The president wasnt specific on how the ships might be used, but said he would be talking to the governors of California and New York to see if the vessels could be of help for treating the infected. The company operates Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Seabourn and has 102 ships. When they are under normal operations, the ships host more than 225,000 a day. The coronavirus outbreak, however, disrupted cruises around the globe for thousands of passengers. The infection highlighted the dangers of traveling on cruise ships packed with elderly passengers after hundreds of people were infected on the Diamond Princess and several other voyages were wrecked by virus fears. The Diamond Princess became one of the world's largest clusters of virus cases when more than 700 people tested positive during a two-week quarantine in Japan. The Diamond Princess became one of the world's largest clusters of virus cases when more than 700 people tested positive during a two-week quarantine in Japan A passenger from the Diamond Princess is whisked away from the vessel and placed into quarantine after the vessel was hit with the deadly outbreak Another Princess Cruises ship the Grand Princess had a confirmed coronavirus outbreak on board after 21 people tested positive. Learning the lessons of the Diamond Princess, countries were quick to evacuate their citizens back to their home countries. The cruise liner was barred from returning to its home port of San Francisco after a former passenger died from the virus. The 71-year-old from Sacramento, who had underlying health problems, is feared to have contracted the illness during a cruise to Mexico. Stay at home - don't send me back to intensive care. That is the stark message of a north Belfast boy battling cancer. Reece Magill is used to social isolation, as he and his family have had to adhere to it to keep him alive because he is much more vulnerable to infection. And now that it is being enforced across the world in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the 11-year-old has recorded a video asking people to simply stay at home. He said: "My name is Reece and I'm currently going through treatment for leukaemia and I'm in my last year. "I've already been to ICU (intensive care unit) due to pancreatitis and pneumonia and me and my family do not want to go back there. "Please listen to the government and what the people are saying, wash your hands for 20 seconds with hot soapy water and self isolate yourself, this will help contain the coronavirus and help keep me safe and people like me. Mum Joleen (38) said the video had reached thousands of people and she will do anything to keep her son safe. She said: "Reece was diagnosed on April 25, 2017, and his symptoms developed with a sore leg. "His journey was absolutely horrendous. He took a very rare reaction to one of the chemo drugs. "It put him into intensive care, it gave him pancreatitis and he went into ICU and was in there for just under four weeks. "He took pneumonia, his lungs collapsed - any complication he could have had while there he had, but the staff were incredible." The youngster hopes to ring the bell on September 11 this year to mark the end of his treatment and proclaim he is cancer free. But he cannot do that if he suffers a setback due to coronavirus and that is why he is urging everyone to stay at home to help "flatten the curve". Joleen said: "It has been a really, really rough journey. Anything going, Reece will catch it." Expand Close Reece during treatment / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Reece during treatment The family are acutely aware of the reality of Reece going back to the ICU, and they don't want to return to that. Reece told his mum he wanted to do a video to tell people in his own words the dangers of not adhering to social distancing. "We are taking it seriously. And he doesn't want to go back to ICU," added Joleen. Meanwhile, Donna Royal's daughter Eva also knows too well what it is like to self-isolate, and she was further devastated this week when she had to come out of school early due to the risk of the coronavirus. The 13-year-old from east Belfast has been battling leukaemia since February last year. During her treatment course she was constantly back in hospital with infections, something that terrifies her mum during the coronavirus pandemic. Donna (49) said: "That's the big thing obviously, a flu can floor them or any type of wee infection. "Any time they have a temperature it's very dangerous for them to have any type of infection in their body, they go straight back into hospital." Eva went back to school in November, is doing well, and her treatment is due to end in May next year. The Children's Cancer Unit Charity Robot, which uses a live video-link, became a lifeline for her when she was at home last year, and recently, as it let her interact with her class from home. Donna says in terms of social distancing, she believes people are not thinking about the end game. "It's the thought of being back to tests, the hospital, drips, it scares the life out of me. I just wish people could see that." Dr Anthony McCarthy, a consultant paediatric oncologist in the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, urged everybody to follow the guidance out there. He said: "You have to regard that any of these children and young people who are undergoing cancer treatment, their immune system has been weakened and in some respects it will make it harder for their bodies to fight the infections such as Covid-19." Felix Mooney, chair of the Children's Cancer Unit Charity, added: "These families have engaged in these practices for many months, if not years, and they're particularly anxious that all of us take special precautions at this time." General view of the closed H&M store, at Avenue des Champs Elysees, in the 8th quarter of Paris, as the city imposes emergency measures to combat the Coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak, on March 16, 2020 in Paris, France. Fast-fashion retailer H&M said Monday it is weighing laying off tens of thousands of workers worldwide temporarily, as it works through interruptions to its business from the coronavirus pandemic. The Swedish-based company also announced it has canceled its plans for dividends. H&M, one of the world's largest apparel retailers, has shut all of its stores in its several of its biggest markets, including Germany and the U.S. All stores in the U.K. closed as of last weekend. As of Monday morning, the company said 3,441 of its 5,062 stores worldwide are closed, "which together with subdued demand in the markets that are still open, has had significant negative impact on sales so far in March." Faced with slumping sales, H&M said it is reviewing its business and looking for ways to cut costs. It said it has started talks about temporary layoffs "in a number of markets." It said it cannot yet quantify how many people this will impact. H&M also said it is considering terminating some employees "due to the negative impact of the corona situation on the business." The company said last weekend that it is repurposing its supply chain to help make personal protective equipment, such as masks, to be used in hospitals that are in dire need. Read the full release from H&M. Chennai, March 23 : Tamil superstar Suriya has taken to social media to explain to fans the importance and necessity of social distancing. In a brief video that the actor has posted on Twitter, Suriya says the coronavirus is spreading faster than we thought, and we can spread awareness about it. Referencing to the Jallikattu and Marina protests, he asked people to stay indoors and take part in this war against Corona. He also said that the death toll in Italy is higher than in China because of the ignorance of people living outside. The actor insisted that we should follow the precautions such as keeping safe distance from one another and washing hands, so that India doesn't become another Italy. He also explained that when a person, who carries the virus, travels by train or goes to a public event instead of isolating himself, he passes the virus to everyone around, and they suffer. He added that doctors, government officials have been risking their lives, so we have to be at home to stay healthy. Suriya then quoted a few words from Valluvar's classic Tamil Language text, "The Thirukkural", which says: "Anjuvathu anjamai pethamai (It is foolish to say no to fear)." Meanwhile, Suriya will team up with director Hari for the sixth time. Titled "Aruvaa", the film was slated to release in Diwali 2020. The actor recently completed the shoot of his film ''Soorarai Pottru''. -- Syndicated from IANS The U.S. military is preparing to deploy field hospitals to New York and Seattle, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Monday, as he acknowledged for the first time that the coronavirus pandemic could impact military readiness. The Pentagon has already announced a string of deployments to bolster the domestic response to coronavirus outbreaks, including sending hospital ships to Los Angeles and New York City. The Army Corps of Engineers is preparing to convert hotels and dormitories into treatment facilities for sick patients. U.S. officials have noted that field hospitals, which are essentially tent facilities that can be rapidly deployed, can only handle a limited number of patients and are less suited to treating highly infectious people who need to be isolated. But they can relieve pressure on hospitals by treating patients with illnesses other than the coronavirus. "Right now I anticipate sending a hospital to Seattle and a hospital to New York City," Esper told a news conference, adding that he had put five expeditionary units on prepare to deploy orders. "Once that's confirmed, we will look to sending to other places." Esper said he saw the field hospitals filling a gap until the Army Corps of Engineers can get "gyms converted, hotels converted, college dorms converted" into treatment facilities. Esper also announced more security restrictions at the Pentagon, just a day after the military reported the first death from the coronavirus at a Defense Department agency. Esper said he has not been tested for the coronavirus but was having his temperature regularly checked. He said if U.S. troops show symptoms of infection by the coronavirus, they will be tested. But as the number of coronavirus cases climbs and military exercises are canceled, Esper said military readiness might be impacted. Esper said 133 military personnel had been confirmed with the virus so far. "As this virus ramps up and spreads, we'll obviously see more and more impact (on) persons in our ranks," he said. "I'm confident that while it may have some impact on readiness, it will not affect our ability to conduct our national security missions, both at home and abroad." Search Keywords: Short link: The UAE which is home to the world's busiest international airport has suspended all passenger and transit flights in the battle against coronavirus. Dubai's airport is a vital hub connecting Western nations with Asian countries and Australia, and suspending transit flights there will impact travellers around the world. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, announced that an evening curfew would go into effect starting today from 7pm to 6am for three weeks. The UAE's emergency and crisis management body and its Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement that the decision to stop all commercial flights, including even transit flights, would take effect in 48 hours. A tourist wearing a surgical mask bends down to take a picture in front of the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab luxury hotel in Dubai. The UAE has suspended all passenger flights The aviation authority said cargo and emergency evacuation flights would be exempt from the ban. The UAE's Ministry of Interior announced overnight that people should only leave their homes in their personal cars for work or necessities. It said further announcements would be made regarding rules for taxis and public transport, on which many foreign labourers and workers across the country rely. It warned that violators could face fines or imprisonment. The UAE also announced that malls, shopping centres and restaurants will be closed for at least two weeks, though restaurants can still offer delivery service. The UAE also announced that malls, shopping centers and restaurants will be closed for at least two weeks, though restaurants can still offer delivery service The decision affects some of world's biggest malls and indoor mall attractions in the emirates of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Grocery stores, pharmacies and wholesale food suppliers are exempt from the ban. The closures will take effect in 48 hours and will last for two weeks, subject to review and evaluation. The tourism and hospitality sector in Dubai, the region's most diversified economy, has been hit hard by the disruption to global travel. Emirates, based out of Dubai and one of the world's biggest airlines, said on Sunday it would suspend passenger operations - with the exception of repatriation flights to 13 countries - by Wednesday. The announcement came a day after the first cases were reported in the Gaza Strip and Syria, where years of conflict have severely degraded the local health care infrastructure. The new cases also raised fears about other vulnerable areas, like war-torn Libya and Yemen. Countries across the Middle East have ramped up restrictions on daily life in an effort to contain the global pandemic. The UAE's Ministry of Interior announced overnight that people should only leave their homes in their personal cars for work or necessities On Sunday, Saudi Arabia recorded 119 new cases of the virus for a total of 511, highest in the Gulf Arab region, the Health Ministry said. Saudi Arabia's King Salman announced a nationwide dusk-to-dawn curfew from Monday in a bid to limit the spread of the new coronavirus. Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have taken some of the most drastic steps including halting international flights, suspending work at most institutions and closing public venues. More than 331,000 people have been infected worldwide, and more than 14,400 have died. Nearly 100,000 people have recovered. There are around 26,800 cases of the virus confirmed in the Middle East, but more than 21,000 of those cases are in Iran and many others are linked to travellers from Iran, which has reported nearly 1,700 fatalities. Several Mideast countries, including Iraq and Kuwait, have imposed evening curfews. Two labourers play tag near a sign warning people to maintain a distance from each other over the outbreak of the new coronavirus in front of the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab luxury hotel in Dubai Countries across the Gulf have already closed schools, gyms, parks, beaches and mosques to the public, including Islam's holiest sites in Mecca and Medina. The cases in Gaza and Syria have raised particular concern, as both would be ill-equipped to detect or contain an outbreak. Authorities in Gaza say two people tested positive and were isolated after returning from Pakistan. Syria said a 20-year-old woman tested positive after entering from another country, without providing further details Gaza has been under an Israeli and Egyptian blockade since the Islamic Hamas movement seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. The tourism and hospitality sector in Dubai, the region's most diversified economy, has been hit hard by the disruption to global travel The coastal territory is home to more than 2 million people but it only has around 60 ventilators, and all but 15 are already in use, according to Abdelnasser Soboh, director of the World Health Organization's Gaza office. The nine-year civil war in Syria has left millions of people internally displaced. Poverty is rampant and many medical facilities are barely functioning. There are similar concerns about a catastrophe if the virus turns up in Libya or Yemen, which are both divided by civil wars that have ruined their healthcare systems. Afghanistan reported its first death on Sunday, a man in his 40s. The war-ravaged country has reported 34 confirmed cases. In Pakistan, which has reported more than 800 infections and four deaths, authorities have asked people to self-quarantine for two weeks. The government has said it hopes it won't have to order a mandatory lockdown. Many people seem to be ignoring the advice, and instead going about daily life wearing face masks that provide little if any protection. Others have resorted to panic buying, fearing a curfew could soon be imposed. Nearly all the cases in Pakistan have been linked to travel to Iran. Authorities have quarantined more than 2,500 people who have returned from Iran, mainly pilgrims, and are testing them for the virus. The United Kingdom has sent in its army to deliver protective equipment to hospitals and told people to stay at home and heed warnings over social distancing or the government will bring in more extreme measures to stop the coronavirus spread. With some doctors saying they felt like cannon fodder, the government on Monday said the military would help ship millions of items of personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, to healthcare workers who have complained of shortages. So far, 281 Britons have died from coronavirus and, in the past few days, British authorities have rapidly stepped up action to try to limit the spread of the disease and prevent a repeat of the death toll seen in other countries where thousands have died. However, there have been complaints from frontline medical staff about shortages of kit, saying they did not feel safe at work. In a letter pleading with Prime Minister Boris Johnson to increase PPE supplies, more than 6,000 doctors said they were being asked to put their lives at risk with out-of-date masks, and low stocks of equipment. Health Secretary Matt Hancock admitted there had been issues but promised action was being taken. He said the army would drive trucks throughout the day and night to get supplies to medical staff. Its like a war effort, it is a war against this virus and so the army have been incredibly helpful in getting those logistics so we can get the supplies to protect people on the frontline, he told the BBC, saying the health service now had 12,000 ventilators, 7,000 more than at the start of the crisis. Doctors look to Italy It seems very clear that theres a correlation between where Italy was a couple of weeks ago and where the UK is right now, in terms of numbers of cases and numbers of deaths, said Al Jazeeras Nadim Baba, reporting from central London. And on social media there is no shortage of National Health Service staff saying we are urging you to stay indoors, precisely because were seeing whats happened in ICUs in Italy, where beds are running out, where they are having to decide who can have a ventilator to save their life and who cant and they are really, really worried. They are also saying they dont have enough protective equipment. Some doctors and nurses are having to turn up to work in things they have had to buy themselves in hardware stores even bin liners in some cases. The health secretary says hes getting on top of that problem, but the health service is really begging people to take this seriously. They are saying that this tsunami, a wave of thousands of cases, is just around the corner, and even if we moderate our behaviour now, its going to get worse and worse. The UK has brought in a series of measures to try to curb the spread of the virus. On Monday, much-reduced rail services were introduced and jury trials were suspended, days after Johnson advised Britons to work from home if possible and ordered the closure of pubs, gyms and leisure centres. We have experienced the busiest visitor day in living memory. The area has been overwhelmed with visitors Emyr Williams, Snowdonia National Park Advice ignored But advice to stay at home and avoid social gatherings went unheeded by millions at the weekend who took advantage of sunny weather and flocked to parks and beauty spots, ignoring instructions to stay two metres (six feet) apart. Emyr Williams, chief executive of the Snowdonia National Park Authority in Wales, said the past 24 hours had been unprecedented. We have experienced the busiest visitor day in living memory. The area has been overwhelmed with visitors, he said. The government warned the UK would face a shutdown with curfews and travel restrictions if people continued to flout the advice. Some firms have already acted because of slowing demand, with clothing retailer Primark and department store John Lewis saying on Monday they would temporarily close all of their shops. Shoemender and key-cutters Timpsons said it would shutter more than 2,000 outlets, but would continue to pay staff their full wages during the shutdown. It comes as the UK opened the first part of a 330 billion pound ($384bn) loan guarantee scheme for businesses, which will help small and medium-sized firms borrow up to five million pounds ($5.8m) to deal with coronavirus stoppages. Protests erupted in Mirpur city of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) against the setting up of quarantine centres for the coronavirus positive patients from other parts of Pakistan. The demonstrators shouted slogans against the Chief Secretary of PoK, saying that the move was a deliberate attempt to bring coronavirus patients from Pakistan to the occupied region. Javed, a local political leader and protester said, "We have told them that quarantine centres will not be allowed in the city. We are talking to the officials and will not let this happen." Chaudhry Sadiqque, another protester said, "We have conveyed it to Chief Secretary that patients from other areas, especially Pakistan, will not be allowed here." There is a surge in the coronavirus patients in Pakistan and occupied areas like PoK and Gilgit Baltistan. The situation is turning grim in Gilgit Baltistan where a large number of Chinese are engaged in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects. Pakistan is trying to set up quarantine centres for Coronavirus patients by occupying private hospitals and plazas in PoK and Gilgit Baltistan. These centres will not only facilitate the patients from local areas but other provinces of Pakistan like Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Earlier, in a statement, the United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP) had asked Islamabad to stop deliberately spreading coronavirus in PoK to get the international aid. It said, "Pakistani establishment deliberately spreading the coronavirus to get international aid and also, trying to use the territory of Kashmir to house their sick is a diabolical move". UKPNP Chairman, Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri said, "It's heartening to note that the people of Mirpur are aware and resisting. Pakistani security personnel's forced locals to evacuate their properties (Plazas) and Mohi-Ud-Din teaching Hospital to convert into quarantine centres. Pakistani secret agencies approaching and forcing locals to stop opposing and cooperate otherwise ready to face consequences". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ethiopia started distributing Chinas donations of medical supplies to other African states today. To fight the coronavirus pandemic, tens of thousands of test kits and protective suits will be delivered across Africa in the coming weeks. The African Union already received 2,000 test kits from the Chinese government and is expecting another 10,000 of them along with other crucial medical supplies needed to fight the spread of Covid-19 across the continent. The distribution of the medical equipment donated is centralised by the African Unions Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in Ethiopia. Jack Ma, Chinese tech billionaire and co-founder of the Alibaba online shopping platform, promised to donate, via his foundations, 20,000 test kits, 100,000 masks and 1,000 protective suits to each of the 54 African states. We cannot assume this continent of 1.3 billion people will blissfully escape the crisis. The world cannot afford the unthinkable consequences of a COVID-19 pandemic in Africa," he said in a statement. Ma pledged a total of 1.1 million coronavirus test kits, 6 million masks and 60,000 medical protective suits and face shields the African continent. On Sunday 22 March, Ethiopia received 1.5 million test kits, 5.4 million face masks and tens of thousands of medical supplies. The African Union said that Ethiopian Airlines will help distribute the equipment to each of its member states. Mas donations of medical supplies to fight coronavirus extended to the United States, and a number of countries in Europe (Italy, France for example), Asia (Pakistan, Laos among others), Latin America (Brazil, Cuba and 22 more). Coronavirus creeping on Africa Although there are still fewer coronavirus infections in Africa than in other parts of the world, WHO figures show that the continent now has more than 1,300 cases of Covid-19 in 43 countries and 40 deaths across the continent (Italy registered 5,476 deaths). Egypt is the worst-hit with more than 294 cases and six deaths, followed by South Africa with 274 cases and Algerias 201 confirmed cases. Story continues World Health Organisation (WHO) director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, warned that official figures likely did not reflect the full picture. The rapid evolution of Covid-19 in Africa is deeply worrisome and a clear signal for action, said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHOs regional director for Africa. But we can still change the course of this pandemic. Governments must draw on all of their resources and capabilities and strengthen their response. More worrying is that 12 African countries have recorded local transmissions. The WHO said governments must prevent local transmission from evolving into a worst-case scenario of widespread sustained community transmission. Such a scenario will present a major challenge to countries with weak health systems as they do not have sufficient resources to cope with a large influx of patients needing isolation and intensive care. Across the region, nearly 26 million people are living with HIV. Over 58 million children have stunted growth due to malnutrition. So, it is possible that younger people will be more at risk in Africa than in other parts of the world, WHOs Moeti added. US Federal Reserve agreed to historic measures to expand its asset holding by as much as needed to stave off depression. The United States Federal Reserve on Monday rolled out an extraordinary new array of programmes aimed at blunting the severe disruptions to the economy caused by the coronavirus outbreak, backstopping an unprecedented range of credit for households, small businesses and major employers. In a series of actions, the Fed agreed to historic measures that would see it, for the first time, back the purchases of corporate bonds and direct loans to companies, expand its asset holding by as much as needed to stabilise financial markets, and soon, roll out a programme to get credit to small and medium-sized business. It marks both a massive intervention into the US economy by the central bank, and a quickly conceived move to adapt to the fact that the US economy is grinding to a halt to keep people safe. Its their bazooka moment, said Russell Price, chief economist at Ameriprise Financial Services in Troy, Michigan. Its their well do whatever it takes moment which should be a sign to financial markets and investors that the Fed will provide any and all liquidity necessary to support the economy through this period. Under the new programmes, the Fed will lend against student loans, credit card loans, and US government backed-loans to small businesses, and buy bonds of larger employers and make loans to them in what amounts to four years of bridge financing. Nearly a third of the US population is subject to new rules that close non-essential businesses and discourage people from leaving their homes in order to slow the spread of the virus. Hundreds of thousands of people have already filed for unemployment insurance in California alone, the states governor said at the weekend, and many analysts are projecting declines in economic output next quarter that are far worse than the steepest drop during the Great Recession. A Reuters News Agency poll of economists estimated initial jobless claims rose an astounding one million last week, and some believe the number could be much higher. Stocks initially rose, then fell after the Fed announcement. US Treasury yields ticked higher. The move helped lower risk premiums in key corporate credit markets that have been disrupted in the outbreak, analysts said. In a statement, the Fed said the effort, approved unanimously by members of the Federal Open Market Committee, was taken because it has become clear that our economy will face severe disruptions as a result of the health crisis. This is the Feds all-out effort to ensure that the business sector and households can continue on, said Sam Bullard, senior economist for Wells Fargo Securities. The Fed is doing everything they can to keep markets functioning smoothly after economic activity was disrupted, he said, We take this as a huge easing. Republicans and Democrats failed over the weekend to reach a deal on a one-trillion-plus-dollar coronavirus stimulus package. Weve known that the magnitude of help needed has been massive and growing for days now, said Mark Hamrick, senior economic analyst of Bankrate. The Federal Reserve continues to do all it can to keep markets operating. Now, the spotlight is on elected leaders to do their jobs, as well. The good news is that Australias major banks have been given the opportunity to prove their worth as good corporate citizens to become the essential conduit used by the government to bail out Australias vital small business sector. The bad news is that stepping up to the plate will cost banks' balance sheets, revenues and profits. And investors that had been hoping dividends would be maintained or even just trimmed are set for a reality check. The big banks are stepping up to save the economy, but it's going to be painful for their shareholders. Credit:Paul Rovere Just how much damage taking one for the team will cost the big banks is unknown but if their share price response is any guide it will be significant. By early afternoon ANZ shares had lost 8.5 per cent, the National Australia Bank plunged 9.5 per cent, Westpac was down 8.7 per cent and the Commonwealth Bank fared best of all losing 7.3 per cent of its value. Putting that into perspective it's a nine-year low for CBA, an 11-year low for ANZ, Westpac shares have not been at this level since 2003 and 1996 was the last time NAB shares traded at the current level. By close, all of the banks bar CBA were down 10 per cent. Michael Cohen does not deserve early release from prison due to coronavirus, prosecutors wrote Monday, rejecting the latest bid for a break from President Donald Trumps former lawyer and fixer. Cohen wrote a letter filed in Manhattan federal court last week arguing he and other inmates were at enhanced risk of catching coronavirus because of the outbreak risks posed by incarceration. Trumps former attorney is serving a three-year sentence for evading taxes, lying to Congress, bank fraud and campaign finance violations. Hes scheduled to be released on Nov. 22, 2021. Assistant U.S. Attorney William McKay wrote there was no basis for Cohens request. Cohen has not even attempted to argue that he is uniquely at risk as compared to other inmates. Nor could he: He is 53 years old and in good health, McKay wrote. As such, Cohens claim applies equally to every inmate in the (Bureau of Prisons) care (or at least every non-violent inmate). Cohen is pursuing a separate effort to have his sentence reduced to a year and a day because he attempted to co-operate with prosecutors. The feds never credited Cohen with co-operation because he did not admit to all the crimes he committed and prosecutors doubted his honesty. The Bureau of Prisons has taken a number of steps to prevent an outbreak behind bars, including suspension of all inmate and family visits. There are no confirmed cases of coronavirus at Otisville Federal Correctional Institution, where Cohen is serving his sentence. Once a devoted follower who bullied Trumps many enemies, Cohen flipped on the president in 2018 during special counsel Robert Muellers probe into Russian interference and an inquiry into Trumps hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election. Judge William Pauley has yet to rule on Cohens requests. STOCKHOLM Fashion giant H&M says it will ask its supply chain to produce personal protective equipment (PPE) to help medical staff tackle the COVID-19 outbreak and use its global networks to deliver them to hospitals as soon as possible.. The Coronavirus is dramatically affecting each and every one of us and were, like many other organisations, trying our best to help in this extraordinary situation, said Anna Gedda, Head of Sustainability, H&M Group. We see this as a first step in our efforts to support in any way we can. Were all in this together and have to approach this as collectively as possible. H&M does business directly with 750 independent suppliers which manufacture textiles and fashion items for its brands in around 1,400 factories in Europe, Asia and Africa. The company said that earlier, after new CEO Helena Helmersson contacted the European Union to offer the companys help in the fight against COVID-19, the fashion giant immediately started to prepare for the production of personal protective equipment for healthcare providers. H&M will also use its huge purchasing and logistics operations to start delivery of the newly manufactured medical textiles as soon as possible. The companys supply chain teams around the world are now collectively supporting in these initial efforts to support countries and communities worldwide, it said in a statement today. (Newser) A hiker descending Mount Washington who fell about 200 feet and got hurt was rescued with the help of the Cog Railway train that takes visitors up and down the summit during tourism season. New Hampshire Fish and Game conservation officers said the hiker, Ashley Furness, 35, of Bartlett, was with a companion on Sunday afternoon when she slipped and fell, striking several rocks. She was descending along the railway tracks and was about 2 miles up from the railway station, reports the AP. "It was these rocks that ultimately saved her from plunging into the ravine, a fall that would have likely proved fatal," Lt. Mark Ober, Jr. said in a news release. "Her companion was able to descend to her position, place a call for help, and keep her warm with a space blanket until rescuers arrived." story continues below Rescuers could only get so far using an ATV and snowmobiles. Crews hiked the rest of the way and reached Furness after several hours, but her injuries were severe and she couldn't walk, Ober said. Due to the steep, icy terrain and remote location, the Cog Railway prepared a train to retrieve Furness. In the meantime, a rescue belay was set up with ropes and other gear to hoist Furness up to the tracks. The train reached her and returned to a waiting ambulance at the base around 11pm Sunday. "Without the use of the train, we were looking at a potentially all-night rescue scenario which would have included calling in several dozen additional rescuers and technical rope teams just to get the injured hiker down the mountain safely," Ober said. (Read more Mount Washington stories.) Every time the Rose of Tralee festival comes around, the same debate breaks out: isn't it humiliating and outdated for women to be lined up in any kind of a beauty pageant? Even if the 'Rose' is also judged on her personality, accomplishments and connections with Ireland? Isn't it time it was brought to an end? The same principle is at the heart of Keira Knightley's new movie about the Miss World contest in 1970, when Women's Liberation stormed the event, threw flour-bombs at the celebrity presenter Bob Hope and got worldwide headlines for an imaginative stunt. From that moment on, Miss World was described as a cattle-market, objectifying women, judging females on their appearance, and defining them by their 'vital statistics' (measurement of boobs, waist and hips). The new film of the 1970 event, Misbehaviour, sure brings home just how humiliating and demeaning parts of this ritual could be. There's a ghastly moment when the TV interviewer (in real life it was the cordial and harmless Michael Aspel who did MC for 11 years) asks the contestants to show their front assets - and then to turn around and display their derrieres for the audience's gaze. That really is a shocking, cattle-market camera shot. But the story also looks at another aspect of the debate, which arises with the annual Tralee Rose as well. For some women, an international beauty contest could be an opportunity, or even a liberation. For the black South African candidate, it was a chance to escape from lifelong servitude in a shoe factory - and maybe the very fact that she had to be included contributed to changing attitudes towards Apartheid. There's a telling exchange between Sally Alexander - Keira Knightley's character - and Miss Grenada, Jennifer Hosten (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), when a conflict between the contestant and the feminist emerges. "It's not you we're angry with," protests Sally, 'Women's Libber' and university student. "I look forward to having your choices in life," replies the Caribbean beauty queen with icy logic. Expand Close Gugu Mbatha-Raw in Misbehaviour / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Gugu Mbatha-Raw in Misbehaviour And since feminism underlines freedom of choice, then if some women freely choose to enter beauty contests, what of it? If some women have no problem with being objectified sexually, why should other women forbid them? It's very easy to be patronising about the past - how stupid and unenlightened people used be! - without being entirely honest about the present. There is more awareness now that it's demeaning to judge women on their appearance. But appearance and even the beauty cult are very much part of our highly visual modern culture. Young teenage girls doll themselves up - false eyelashes, contrived eyebrows, skimpy T-shirts - and take pouting, sexy selfies, sometimes daily, posting these pictures online. The world's most famous clan, the Kardashians, have made fortunes by promoting their appearance, rather than by quoting the collected works of Simone de Beauvoir. Knightley has taken her role as Sally Alexander (who later became a history professor) seriously and projected the anti-Miss World message vigorously. Knightley is an accomplished actress - female actor, if she prefers - but would she be such a star of the big screen if she wasn't also an exceptionally beautiful woman? Would she have been chosen as an icon for Chanel if she didn't have a stunning face and flawless body? L'Oreal has taken up the feminist message with a current advertising campaign about women supporting one another in business, led by Helen Mirren. That's fine, and being "worth it" is a positive message; but the product is still about how you look. It's hypocritical to pretend that the world doesn't judge women on their appearance - because that judgment is made every hour of every day. It always has, and probably always will. And it will probably never be applied to men to the same extent. It's not that nothing has changed. The Women's Libbers who attacked Miss World in 1970 altered the ground-rules - they showed that the way it was organised was dated and absurd. (They also showed how old-fashioned host Hope had become.) The event itself gradually changed - abolishing the swimsuit section of the catwalk section, and stressing what the candidates do as well as displaying their pulchritude. And it's become much more multi-racial, with young women from Africa, Asia and the Caribbean now dominating the proceedings - Jamaica has won the contest four times in recent years and currently holds the crown. To mark this shift in focus, Julia Morley has announced that this year's contest, it's 70th, will be held in Thailand. Misbehaviour is spot-on about one key motivation among those 1970 Women's Libbers, a generation of which I was a part - they were often in conflict with their own mothers. This emerges starkly in the memoirs of Australian feminist Germaine Greer - who loathed her mother for wearing so much make-up - and De Beauvoir herself, who wanted her father's choices, not her mother's restrictions. I get the impression the current generation of young women are much more in harmony with their mothers and that's surely something to celebrate. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 19:32:01|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NAIROBI, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Kenya Airways said Monday it has suspended all international flights effective midnight on Wednesday until further notice as part of efforts to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus. Kenya Airways CEO Allan Kilavuka said cargo flights will remain operational to offer emergency services and supplies. "We will continue to operate cargo flights particularly so that we are available to offer emergency services or much-needed supplies. In the meantime, our domestic flights to Mombasa and Kisumu remain operational," Kilavuka said in a statement issued in Nairobi. The drastic move comes a day after the government resolved to suspend all international flights effective Wednesday as one of the measures of suppressing the spread of the deadly pandemic. Mutahi Kagwe, health cabinet secretary, said all those coming into the country between Sunday and Wednesday will undergo mandatory quarantine at a government-designated facility at their own expense. "Countries wishing to evacuate their nationals must make their arrangements to do so within this period. Kenyans who are currently in foreign countries, and will not have come back within the said period, are advised to observe the guidelines issued in the respective countries wherever they are," Kagawe told journalists in Nairobi. Kilavuka said customers affected by the suspension of flights have been advised that they will be able to change their bookings for later travel or exchange their booking for vouchers for future travel within 12 months. WASHINGTON - Democrats are pushing hard to include a huge expansion of voting by mail in a mammothcoronavirus stimulus bill being crafted on Capitol Hill, arguing the nation is ill prepared to ensure the November contest is conducted safely and securely. If the virus is still active on Election Day, they worry that could devastate turnout, leading to widespread doubt the outcome reflects the will of the people and damaging faith in the electoral process even more than potential Russian hacking and disinformation. Concerns are rising as seven states have already delayed their presidential primaries because of worries about the health of voters and elderly poll workers. But, as with the fight against Russian election interference, the move to allow states to hold elections by mail is sparking an ideological battle between Democrats who want to require that states dramatically increase such capabilities and Republicans who consider such top-down mandates government overreach. The battle over election funding is just one of many sticking points holding up the unprecedented $1.8 trillion rescue package as lawmakers scramble to respond to the pandemic. Senate Democrats blocked a vote on the bill Sunday night out of concern it tilted too far in favor of businesses and lawmakers will be negotiating again this morning. The price tag for a nationwide vote-by-mail system would likely land between $982 million and $1.4 billion, according to a Brennan Center for Justiceanalysis. The center estimated it would cost about $2 billion to also make other election improvements such as expanding early voting, maintaining safe in-person voting and making online voter registration easier. House Democratic leaders are developing a measure including "billions of dollars to expand early voting, increase access to vote by mail, provide for emergency vote by mail and increase access to voter registration," a Democratic aide said. The current Senate bill, meanwhile, includes just $140 million in grants for state and local election officials to "prevent, prepare for and respond to" the virus - but it doesn't specify how that money should be spent. "There are a lot of things that one side or another might not be comfortable with under normal circumstances that become politically possible in this crisis. I hope this will be one of them because no one has an interest in the November election being less than 100 percent credible," Rep. Tom Malinowski, D-N.J., a leader of the House effort, told me. Advocates fear if states can't start preparing for a massive nationwide vote-by-mail-operation now, there won't be another chance before November. "Very little is going to get done in the next couple of months that isn't directly related to fighting this epidemic, so it's important to get it into this must-pass bill," Malinowski said. "There are a lot of things we can postpone as we hunker down to address this crisis, but the one thing that we absolutely cannot postpone is the November elections." State and local election officials are already clamoring for more money. In a letter sent Sunday night to House and Senate leaders, 19 election officials including Democratic secretaries of state from Colorado and Arizona call the $140 million in the Senate bill far too little to manage the necessary changes to run the 2020 election during the coronavirus outbreak. The local election officials who signed the letter include both Democrats and Republicans from Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, Pennsylvania, California and Ohio, among other states. "We urge you to include substantial funding in the coronavirus stimulus package so that we have the ability and resources to ensure that our voters can participate safely and with confidence in our elections," the letter, which was organized by New York University's Brennan Center, states. Every state offers some voters an option to mail in ballots, and over half of them allow anyone to mail in a ballot without providing an excuse, such as being in the hospital or out of town on Election Day. Only three states offer mail-in voting as a default, however, and it will require a major bureaucratic lift to establish broad mail-in voting across the nation by November, as my colleagues Amy Gardner and Isaac Stanley-Becker report. The to-do list includes machinery to print huge numbers of paper ballots, high-speed scanners to count filled-out ballots and a totally revamped security system to ensure no one tampers with the ballots between people's homes and election offices. In some cases, states that don't offer no-excuse mail in voting would also have to change their constitutions to do so, Amy and Isaac report. And unlike securing elections against Russian hacking with new paper trails for votes and post-election audits, which has taken place over three years, the shift to mail-in voting would have to happen over just seven months. Senate Democrats are also pushing to expand voting by mail. Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Chris Coons, D-Del., sent a letter to leaders in both chambers pushing for their vote-by-mail bill, the Natural Disaster and Emergency Ballot Act to be included in the stimulus package. That bill would require states to offer a mail-in voting option to all their citizens and provide $325 million to help handle the added workload. "Protecting the right to vote is critical - and we can't let this crisis stop Americans from being heard at the ballot box," the senators wrote. "This pandemic has already strained state election systems to the breaking point. Expanding vote by mail and early voting will cost a tiny fraction of any relief package, but could very well be the difference between orderly elections and total chaos," Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., another sponsor of the bill, told me in an email. Leaders of the Democratic National Committee and Democrats' House and Senate campaign committees endorsed the bill in a USA Today op ed this weekend along with leaders of Democratic associations of mayors, attorneys general and secretaries of state. The advocacy group Stand Up America is also rallying public support for the bill and organized roughly 40,000 calls to members of Congress on the issue last week, the group said. - The government has started a mandatory quarantine for air passengers - This applied to those who arrived in Ghana between Saturday, March 21, and Sunday, March 22, 2020 - This is to help the governments effort in stopping the spread of the outbreak and curbing it Our manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Ghana Air travellers who arrived in Ghana between Saturday and Sunday were mandatorily quarantined as the country takes stringent measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus which seems to be spreading rapidly. Passengers from Liberia and other parts of the world who came with various airlines were picked up at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) and taken to a hotel for quarantine. Some of these passengers were reported to have said that they were not informed about the likelihood of being quarantined upon arrival in Ghana. READ ALSO: Coronavirus: "You owe us a plan, not just prayers" - Mahama tells Akufo-Addo This is contained in a report sighted by YEN.com.gh on Dailyguidenetwork.com. Ghana has recorded a total of 21 confirmed cases of coronavirus and one death involving a 61-year-old Lebanese man in Kumasi. The country is, therefore, putting in place tough measures to contain the virus and protect its citizens and other nationals living within its borders. President Nana Akufo-Addo on Saturday night, March 21, 2020, announced to the nation all Ghanas borders including land, air and sea, would be closed to passengers from around the world for two weeks as part of containment and preventive measures. READ ALSO: Pastor Adeboye tells prophecy about coronavirus; discloses when it will be gone Meanwhile, an earlier report indicated that 8 of the persons who suffered the coronavirus have recovered. In a related development, former president John Mahama has cautioned President Akufo-Addo to give Ghanaians plans on how his government intends to fight the outbreak and not just prayers. He added that the NDC is on standby to help the government fight the outbreak if invited. READ ALSO: 3 new cases of COVID-19 hit Ghana; total active cases now 23 with 575 contacts tracing Faces of Ghana: A Mysterious Voice Speaks to Me When I'm Working - Engineer Explains | #Yencomgh Have national and human interest issues to discuss? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page. Source: YEN.com.gh Wouldnt it be interesting if there was panic buying in bookshops? Because one thing that may help us all to get through the next few weeks and months is reading. In the past few years weve seen the rise of bibliotherapy, a therapeutic approach that involves reading literature to improve your mental health. Its also applicable to the worried well (which means most of us these days). The Australia Reads campaign to promote the book industry in 2020 has come up with a timely reminder of the benefits of reading. Research shows that reading a gripping novel causes positive biological changes in the brain that can last for days, it says. Climate activist Daisy Jeffrey's book about hope could be just the ticket for these troubling times. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer The School of Life, based in Melbourne, offers a personal service where a bibliotherapist will guide you through books that have the power to enchant, enrich and inspire. The therapists choose from fiction, philosophy, poetry and creative works of non-fiction. Montgomery County health officials have confirmed a female teen as one of the countys most recent coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of local cases to 19. According to the Montgomery County Public Health District, the girl lives in southeast Montgomery County and is between 13-19 years old. She is in isolation at her home. She recently traveled to New Orleans. Three more new cases include a woman in her 20s, who lives in northwest Montgomery County. She is in isolation at her home. Her case is believed to be from community spread because she was in close contact with a suspected case; a man in his 50s, who lives in southwest Montgomery County. He also is in isolation at his home. He has recently traveled to Chicago; and a man in his 50s, who lives in southwest Montgomery County. He is in isolation at his home. He has recently traveled to California. As of Monday, MCPHD has been notified of 117 negative and 19 positive test results of county residents with results pending for another 147 residents. While Harris County health officials continue drive through test for the coronavirus, County Judge Mark Keough said a similar plan was in place for Montgomery County but due a shortage on tests and supplies, he said that effort was placed on hold. There is a shortage of everything for everybody, he added. Tests, Keough explained, are only being given to those who are exhibiting specific symptoms of the virus. More Information Keep clean Wash hands often for 20 seconds and encourage others to do the same. If no soap and water are available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then throw the tissue away. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Disinfect surfaces, buttons, handles, knobs, and other places touched often. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. For more information, please see www.dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus. See More Collapse Its never been intended to give people blanket tests, he said. Here are updates on Montgomery Countys current cases: Case 1: A man in his 40s, who lives in northwest Montgomery County, is still hospitalized. He remains in critical condition, but is stable and showing some improvement. He was believed to have become infected with the virus as a result of community spread. Case 2: A woman in her 40s who lives in southeast Montgomery County. She remains in a hospital in Harris County in critical condition. Her only travel was to New Orleans. Case 3: A man in his 40s who lives in northwest Montgomery County. He is at home, recovering well. His only travel was to Florida. Case 4: A woman in her 40s who lives in northwest Montgomery County. She remains at home, doing well. Her case is connected to Case 3. Case 5: A man in his 50s who lives in southwest Montgomery County. He is in isolation at home. The man had recently traveled to California. Case 6: A man in his 40s who lives in southwest Montgomery County. He is in isolation at home. The man had recently traveled to California. Case 7: A woman in her 60s who lives in northwest Montgomery County. She is in isolation at home. She has no recent travel history and no known contact with other patients. Case 8: A woman in her 40s who lives in southeast Montgomery County. She is in isolation at home. She had recently traveled to Germany. Case 9: A man in his 50s who lives in southwest Montgomery County. He is hospitalized in critical but stable condition. His travel history is under investigation. Case 10: A woman in her 50s who lives in southeast Montgomery County. She is in isolation at home. She attended the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo March 8. Case 11: A man in his 90s who lives in southwest Montgomery County. He is currently hospitalized and has no recent travel history. Case 12: A man in his 50s who lives in southwest Montgomery County. He is in isolation at home and recently traveled to Brazil. Case 13: A woman in her 30s who lives in northwest Montgomery County. She is in isolation at home. She has no recent travel history. Case 14: A woman in her 40s who resides in southwest Montgomery County. Her case is connected to a Smith County where she recently traveled. She at currently at home in isolation. Case 15: A man in his 40s who has been in northeast Montgomery County for a work-related purpose. He is currently in isolation at his residence. His only recent travel is to Houston. Case 16: A female teenager, 13-19 years old, who lives in southeast Montgomery County. She is in isolation at her home. She has recently traveled to New Orleans. Case 17: A woman in her 20s, who lives in northwest Montgomery County. She is in isolation at her home. This is believed to be a case of community spread because she was in close contact with a suspected case. Case 18: A man in his 50s, who lives in southwest Montgomery County. He is in isolation at his home. He has recently traveled to Chicago. Case 19: A man in his 50s, who lives in southwest Montgomery County. He is in isolation at his home. He has recently traveled to California. cdominguez@hcnonline.com WILTON The Wilton Town Engineers office is asking all residents to avoid flushing toilet paper alternatives such as wet wipes or paper towels down the toilet whether they are on town sewer or a private septic system. These items should be disposed of in the trash, the town advised in a press release. Its spring break, but Oregon students have already been out of the classroom for one week after an order from Gov. Kate Brown shuttered the states public schools until April 28. What can students expect when their traditional vacation ends? Are districts still providing meals for low-income families? And will students be expected to take standardized tests if and when they return to class? Some of these questions remain up in the air. But heres the latest on the state of public education in Oregon as of Monday morning: Are districts serving meals during spring break? Some, but not all. Portland Public Schools, which served more than 30,000 to-go meals at 15 buildings during the first week of coronavirus closures, has redirected families to local food pantries as their go-to food option during spring break. But other districts across the state will continue to serve meals during the weeklong vacation, according to the Oregon Department of Education. And here is the rest of the districts/schools offering meals this week. 2/2 pic.twitter.com/87Q8kQeUVV OR Dept of Education (@ORDeptEd) March 23, 2020 Other districts will resume serving to-go meals on March 30. Browns March 17 order to keep schools closed until April 28 requires districts to feed students, pay teachers and offer childcare to essential health care professionals, among other things, lest they risk losing state funding. How will the state and local districts keep kids learning when theyre not in the classroom? The Oregon Department of Education, along with some local districts, has said it doesnt have the infrastructure to replace traditional in-person instruction with online classes while schools are shuttered. Private schools and some smaller districts in the metro area, including Corbett and Estacada, say their students will begin online courses as early as April 1. Portland Public Schools launched a form last week to lend out its stock of about 45,000 devices to families who dont have a computer or tablet at home. District officials said then that its online resources are supplemental and not intended to move kids along the educational tracks they would typically follow in the classroom. Will Oregon students have to take standardized tests this year? Its highly unlikely. The Oregon Department of Education on Friday said it applied for a waiver from federal testing and reporting requirements. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said earlier that day that any state seeking those waivers would get them. A spokesman for the U.S. Department of Education said Monday Oregon had been granted an initial approval. That means Oregon students, much like their peers across the country, will probably not be taking standardized tests. Oregon, along with neighboring California and Washington, traditionally administers the Smarter Balanced series of exams. What about Advanced Placement tests? The College Board, which administers the AP test, on Friday said it is cancelling in-person exams. Students will instead take the test online. It also launched a YouTube channel that contains test prep and other resources. It has also announced the tests will be shorter than normal and will focus on material taught earlier in the year. How will high school seniors graduate? This remains a lingering question. Oregon schools chief Colt Gill told the state Board of Education Friday that getting high school seniors past the finish line is the agencys top priority, closely followed by ensuring other students on track to graduate dont fall behind. The state Department of Education has not released specifics as of Monday morning. Also unclear is whether the states public school districts will stage their graduation ceremonies as planned. The University of Oregon and Pacific University have announced they will not hold their traditional commencement ceremonies this year. What does this mean for prom? Browns original executive order calling for the cancelation of gatherings of more than 25 people until April 28 in effect canceled proms scheduled up until then. In Portland, schools such as Roosevelt and Grant high schools traditionally held their proms in early or mid-April. Are state governments putting their best foot forward in the face of the coronavirus outbreak? What do weve to learn from the Kerala model? Dr Aiswarya Rao takes a closer look at that and how different states are faring All public health messages dwell on individual responsibility with stress placed on the importance of hand washing, physical distancing, and staying at home even though asymptomatic. But the pillars on which the outbreak can be contained remains good public health practices of surveillance, screening, testing, isolation and contact tracing. Are state governments putting their best foot forward in the face of the coronavirus outbreak? What do weve to learn from the Kerala model? Dr Aiswarya Rao takes a closer look at that and how different states are faring in this episode of Dr Aiswarya Explains. *** I am Dr Aiswarya Rao, a paediatrician and public health Consultant, here with yet another podcast on the unfolding coronavirus outbreak in India. Today I want to discuss the response of different states, and the challenges that they face, as well as some of the best practices employed by them. According to the World Health Organisation, COVID-19 cases have been reported from 182 countries around the world, with seven countries having more than 10,000 cases. Typically in these countries it took 2 to 3 weeks to go from 100 positive cases to 10,000 cases thats exponential growth. Nearly 1 billion people all over the world are confined to their homes with more than 600 million due to government lockdown orders. In India, positive coronavirus cases have doubled in the past three days and the tally now exceeds 315. We are now showing the same rate of growth in infection that other countries showed in their early days, followed by exponential rise in infections within a matter of weeks. India is among the last countries to experience the outbreak, so we have a head start in preparing to meet the challenge. The next couple of weeks will be the most crucial in breaking this cycle of transmission. So far cases have been reported from 22 states and union territories, and as expected every state has a different response to the COVID 19 outbreak in keeping with the enormous diversity that is the very description of India. Some strategies have been admirable, while others have left a lot to be desired. This is no time to point fingers and start a blame game, but to only understand the challenges, so that we can push our policy makers to effect changes while we have the time. There is still time to act. Look at a state like Kerala that was the first to report the infection as early as 30 January. They immediately took measures on a war foot, quite extensively and pro-actively. At the same time the chief minister of Telangana called the coronavirus outbreak as bad propaganda, and he even went as far as to call it bakwas. Other states too were not any better, and were in denial during the initial weeks, and sat up to take stock only when the positive cases started trickling in. The good news is that all states now have realised the gravity of the situation and have begun to rise to the occasion. All public health messages and campaigns so far have dwelt on individual responsibility with stress placed on the importance of hand washing, physical distancing, and staying at home even though asymptomatic. These measures are no doubt crucial to break the chain of transmission. But the pillars on which the outbreak can be contained remains the good public health practices of surveillance, screening, testing, isolation and contact tracing. We have to detect all the index cases and the cluster of cases that were infected by the index case. Once someone is tested positive, depending on the symptoms they must be hospitalised and treated. Detection and treatment is also part of containment. Kerala has some admirable best practices that must be a template for other states to follow. It started early testing of suspected cases, isolating the infected, carefully tracing contacts, shutting down mass gatherings/closing schools, shutting down the borders and restricting traffic both internationally as well as with the neighbouring states. Kerala went full throttle and left no stone unturned in its efforts, when other states were beginning to notice the new infections. One of the reasons is because of its previous experience with the 2018 outbreak of the Nipah virus. This was an infection that spread from fruit bats into humans. Between 5 May and 10 June 2018 a matter of a mere five weeks they went from the first index case to halting and containing the outbreak successfully with only 19 cases reported totally. Not only that, the Institute of Advanced Virology was set up within weeks as a response to the outbreak in order to help with future similar outbreaks. So Kerala brings this experience, level of response and preparedness to the current COVID-19 outbreak. The advantage that Kerala had was that it already has a strong health system, with very good public health networks, and dedicated health professionals. This augmented by a tested and tried emergency preparedness plan and decentralised governance, helped the administration to swiftly swing into action by coordinating multiple and interdepartmental efforts. They set up 24-hr control rooms at the state and the district levels with single window communication. They started six phone lines at the state call centre and four fully operational state testing centres. They put into service well-coordinated HR management teams at the state and district levels with enough staff for airport surveillance, manning call centres, and for transportation, isolation and contact tracing. They created massive outreach campaigns and public awareness in multiple languages to get the message out. Who has not seen that video of the policeman dancing and scrubbing their hands to demonstrate how it is done? They did geo-mapping for contact tracing with time, place and date mapping. People at risk or possible contacts responded with self-reporting. They had well-equipped and secure treatment facilities and dedicated and trained staff to administer care, support and treatment. The state began manufacturing hand sanitisers, and their jail inmates began making masks to meet the growing needs. Anganwadi children who were sequestered at their homes were home delivered their mid-day meals. Kerala thought of every possible activity to disrupt the infection and made it happen. All this massive and concerted effort boils down to one thing: leadership. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the Health Minister KK Shalaja led from the front. Here is a text book case study of leadership, coordination involving all stakeholders, civil society responsibility aided by effective communication. Here is a combination of political goodwill, bureaucracy, technocracy, civil society and media, who came together as if on cue to tackle an emergency situation together. The crisis is not yet over, but they know what they are doing. Contrast that with states like Uttar Pradesh which has high vacancy rates for doctors in the public health system, where the primary health care system is not functional and there is high dependence on medical colleges and district hospitals for dealing with a situation like this. Somewhere in between the Kerala model and the Uttar Pradesh scenario are the other states such as Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu. They have functional PHCs the basis for good health care, but the response on a war footing that is proactive and transparent has been missing so far. Though Tamil Nadu is sandwiched between two states all having more than 15 positive cases, they have only reported six cases so far sparking concerns of inadequate screening, surveillance and testing. It will augur well for every state in India to take a leaf out of Keralas book to tackle the pandemic. We still have at-least another two to three weeks before the exponential rise in cases is expected. We have to learn to use available resources holistically and methodically. Now that new testing guidelines have been issued allowing testing of asymptomatic high risk contacts, all hospitalised persons with severe acute respiratory infection, and with the directive to rope in NABL-accredited private labs for the Coronavirus testing, we should be detecting more index cases and their contacts. Almost all states have done the right thing by restricting mass gathering, closing schools and colleges, and public places, restricting travel both international as well as between state boundaries. The only thing we are not hearing preparations for, from all states is their preparedness in treating persons sick with COVID-19. Nearly 20 percent of all infected will need hospitalisation and 10 percent will need ICU care. Is our health infrastructure ready? The onus is clearly on government doctors and health care professionals to step up to the challenge of caring and treating in the tough days ahead. The private doctors and paramedics will also need to be pressed into service when the system is overwhelmed. As the government at the Centre and states gear up for this huge crisis, we can pressurise and urge them to work on increasing testing capacity and beds and ICU facilities for the sick. At the same time we can all listen to the clarion call of physical distancing and stay at home, and reduce their burden by taking precautions to avoid getting infected. Finally in the words of Dr Tedros Gebresus, director general, WHO, when humanity is confronted with a common enemy like this, it also gives us a chance to bring the best of us. A unique opportunity for trity in everything. A solidarity that is more infectious than the virus itself, so we will be able to stop this virus. This is Dr Aiswarya Rao signing off and I'll see you with the next episode of this podcast. Ask kids what a hero is and after you get past the comic book superheroes made large by Hollywood, you generally get some staples. Firefighters, police officers, soldiers, doctors and, hopefully, moms and dads. Whats certain is that warehouse worker, delivery driver, cashier and cleaner wouldnt be high on that list. But now, in the midst of a pandemic, were starting to see things a little differently. Everyone is suddenly talking about the importance of supply chains to make sure grocery store and drugstore shelves are stocked with vital goods and supplies. And weve rarely shown such interest in how and how often our surroundings and touch points in offices, on public transit and in stores are cleaned. Ontario Premier Doug Ford, whos in the habit of praising our heroic police whenever possible, is now talking the same way about workers that he (and the rest of us) dont often appreciate. I want to take a moment to recognize and thank the incredible employees throughout the supply chains that were counting on right now, Ford said last week. From the farmer producing food to the trucker delivering supplies to your local store to people stocking the shelves and especially those working at the cash registers. These people are working hard and doing their part for Ontario. Please thank them every chance you get. Hes right. We should thank them every chance we get. None of this diminishes the incredible work our doctors and nurses and staff in hospitals and long-term care homes are doing. They, too, deserve our unending gratitude. But winning the war against COVID-19 will take more than just the incredible efforts of those in high-profile jobs on the frontlines of health care. It takes the people who keep our hospitals clean. The men and women who operate buses, subway trains and streetcars so those workers, and others who cant do their vital jobs from home, can get to work. The IT folks who are working flat out to solve the many problems that suddenly come up with so many people working remotely. The countless warehouse workers across the country who are working harder and faster to fullfil the flurry of orders coming in from all the people staying home, as public health officials have asked them to do. It takes truckers. It takes cashiers. And many others whose work doesnt usually get the recognition it deserves. We should thank them all. Every chance we get. We should also be understanding. Some of these people are not particularly happy to be working right now. And who can blame them? Many are concerned about the dangers they face being in contact with so many people, and the risk that they may inadvertently bring illness home to their families. Theyre not necessarily accustomed to thinking of their jobs behind the wheel, a mop or a cash register as vital to the economy or necessary to maintain ordered communities. Theyve never been afforded the high pay or prestige that comes along with society deeming a particular occupation to be an important or desirable one. Indeed, many of these people cleaners, cashiers and warehouse workers in particular are often paid little more than minimum wage and stuck in a never-ending cycle of part-time or contract work. But theyve stepped up. And the public is recognizing how essential is the work they do. Our hospitals cant get overwhelmed. Thats why were staying home to flatten the curve of COVID-19 cases or plank it, as Canadas chief public health officer Theresa Tam says. But neither can our supply chains fall apart. The fact that hasnt happened is thanks to our new breed of heroes. BEIJING (Reuters) - China's top pickup truck maker Great Wall Motor <601633.SS> is not willing to enter a price war as sales slow down because of the coronavirus epidemic, but will keep trying to develop overseas markets, its chairman said. "Great Wall does not want to enter a price war in the market slowdown because price represents brand value," Wei Jianjun, chairman of Great Wall, which is also one of the biggest sports-utility vehicle makers in China, told a conference. "Blindly occupying the market with price cuts will hurt the brand, especially when automakers' cash flow cannot be fully guaranteed," Wei said, according to a transcription provided by Great Wall. "We are now adjusting the production cycle and slowing it down. If production causes a large backlog of products, it will not be good for the entire operation." Great Wall was among the first major automakers to cut car prices in late 2018, when China's car market, the world's biggest, started to drop. However, since 2019, Great Wall started to dial back the aggressive price strategy to regain profit. The Baoding-based automaker, which is also building a car plant with BMW in Chinas eastern province of Jiangsu, has cut its sales target by 8% to 1.02 million units and profit target by 13.8% to 4.05 billion yuan for this year. Rival state-owned automaker GAC <601238.SS>, which has joint ventures with Toyota <7203.T> and Honda <7267.T>, also lowered it sales target from a 8% growth to 3%. Great Wall sold 1.06 million cars last year. In February, in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, it sold 10,023 units, down 85.5% from a year earlier, while the overall market dropped 79%. An official at China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) told Reuters that if the outbreak in China is effectively contained before April, the decline could shrink to around 5% for the whole year. Story continues Great Wall agreed to buy two plants in India and Thailand from General Motors earlier this year as the Detroit automaker retreats from unprofitable markets. Wei said Great Wall considered entering Indian and Thai markets around seven years ago but did not progress as the firm was not ready. Great Wall now expects transactions of both plants to be completed in the second half of 2020 and will revamp their production line to make its own models. (Reporting by Yilei Sun and Brenda Goh; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan) Hyderabad: The state governments lockdown of the state till March 31 is essentially a serious exercise in ensuring that everyone stays at home. The idea is to reduce movement of people thereby reducing the chance of coronavirus from spreading from one person to other. The lockdown will allow only stores selling essential commodities. People will need to make quick purchases and return home. To this end, the government said no more than five people can gather at any given public place, street or road, anywhere. Only one person from a family will be allowed to leave the house for making essential purchases. People violating this norm are liable to be penalised. The government said that people working in private companies that will be under the lockdown must be paid their monthly salaries on time. The same goes for government employees though 80 per cent of them are expected to stay home with only 20 per cent working. A rotation system for government employees is being worked out. All educational institutions will remain shut, evaluation of exam papers has put off, as have any scheduled exams. All Anganwadis to be shut, but meals will be delivered to kids. DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) Syria's president hosted Russia's defense minister on Monday to discuss a recent cease-fire in rebel-held northwestern Syria, which ended rare direct fighting between Syrian and Turkish troops. The cease-fire deal was brokered between Russia and Turkey, which back opposing sides in the Syrian conflict. The deal halted a three-month Syrian government offensive into the country's last rebel stronghold. That Russia-backed offensive killed hundreds of civilians and displaced nearly a million people in Idlib province. Turkey backs some of the opposition groups in Idlib. President Bashar Assad met with Sergey Shoygu in the Syrian capital of Damascus. Syria's state news agency SANA said the talks focused on implementing the Russia-Turkey agreement signed earlier this month. In addition to stopping the fighting, the agreement called for pushing militants out of a buffer zone on either side of a vital highway that runs through rebel territory . Under the deal, militants were to stay back 6 kilometers (4 miles) from the east-west M4 highway, intended to allow the road to open for the first time in nearly eight years. Turkish and Russian troops were supposed to begin joint patrols on the M4 highway last week as part of the deal. But both the Russian government and Syrian opposition activists said the first attempt at a patrol was blocked because of protests, and the patrols have since been stopped. The Russian Defense Ministry said Monday's talks between Assad and Shoygu focused on enforcing the cessation of hostilities in the Idlib deescalation zone, the stabilization of the situation in other regions of Syria and various aspects of military-technical cooperation. Russia is a strong ally of the Syrian government, and Russia's entry into Syria's nine-year civil war in 2015 tipped the balance of power in Assad's favor. Syrian government forces now control most of the country. Russia has been pressing Turkey, which sent thousands of troops in Idlib recently, to work on reopening the M4. The motorway which runs through northern Syria from the Mediterranean to the Iraqi border has been partially closed since 2012, when rebels captured parts of Idlib. Some sections of the M4 remain under rebel control, unlike the north-south M5 highway, which Syrian forces completely recaptured in the latest offensive. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 16:08:52|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BANJUL, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The Gambia has confirmed its first death related to COVID-19, the country's health minister Amadou Samateh said Sunday. Speaking on national TV, Samateh said the patient, a 70-year-old Bangladeshi national, tested positive for COVID-19 after he passed away in an ambulance on the way to hospital for treatment on Friday. Having recently visited at least six other countries, the patient traveled to The Gambia from Senegal on March 13 as a preacher, interacting with a number of people, Samateh said. The minister added that the Gambian foreign ministry would inform the other countries about the case so they can begin tracing the patient's contacts. It is the first death and second confirmed case of COVID-19 in the West African country, with the first case being reported on March 17. A Delaware man was killed March 18 when his tractor trailer crashed on Route 55 in Gloucester County. James A. Minatee, 59, of Newark, Delaware, was driving northbound in Harrison Township around 12:30 a.m. when his truck ran off the left side of the roadway, according to a New Jersey State Police spokesman. The vehicle struck a guardrail, then entered the southbound lanes before coming to rest on the southbound entry ramp from Route 322. Minatee was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. No other vehicles were involved. The cause of the wreck remains under investigation. No additional details were available. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. SAN DIEGO One by one, asylum-seekers from El Salvador and Honduras who are waiting in Mexico for court hearings in the United States appeared before Judge Lee OConnor to explain why, after months of effort, they couldnt find an attorney. One man said he repeatedly tried names on a list of free or low-cost attorneys that U.S. Customs and Border Protection provides. No one answered, and he began looking for attorneys in Tijuana, who struck him as dishonest. The judge warned that Mexican attorneys may not be licensed to practice in the U.S. Through sobs, a Salvadoran woman with three children said phone calls rang and rang and rang and nothing happened. She said no one responded to a voicemail and she once heard nothing but music. Our law is very complicated, OConnor told her in November before offering her a third extension to try to track down an attorney. Immigration law is considered one of the most complicated areas of the law there is. Even lawyers struggle. Such courtroom exchanges are common under the Trump administrations Remain in Mexico policy, which forces asylum-seekers to wait across the southern border in often dangerous cities as their cases wind through backlogged immigration courts. The policy, which has been applied to about 60,000 people, has become a key plank of U.S. border enforcement. The Supreme Court ruled this month that it could stay in effect during a legal challenge. Only 5.3% of asylum-seekers subject to the Migrant Protection Protocols, as the policy is officially known, had lawyers through the end of January, compared with 85% for asylum-seekers nationwide, according to Syracuse Universitys Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse. The scarcity of attorneys helps explain why only 4% of Remain in Mexico decisions resulted in asylum, while the nationwide grant rate was 29% during the 2019 fiscal year. The coronavirus presents more hurdles as lawyers contend with potential exposure in small courtrooms and a ban on nonessential travel to Mexico for least 30 days. The Justice Departments Executive Office for Immigration Review has closed many courts but continued with Remain in Mexico hearings. Hearings in San Diego were canceled without explanation Friday, hours after California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered 40 million residents to stay home indefinitely, but the court remained open. The San Diego judges postponed hearings through next Friday due to the coronavirus, said Ashley Tabaddor, president of the National Association of Immigration Judges, which has called for a complete shutdown. She didnt know if judges in other border courts canceled hearings. The courts, asked about the cancellations, said in a statement that it doesnt comment on whether judges violate law or policy or deny rights to those seeking to have their day in court. Before the virus struck, The Associated Press contacted all 21 attorneys offices on U.S. government lists of free and low-cost providers in courts that handle Remain in Mexico cases and found only two have taken on a large load. Jewish Family Service of San Diego has represented 68 people and Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center in El Paso, Texas, has taken 76 cases. Some legal aid groups on the lists have taken a small number of cases, and a few offer free know your rights talks. Jewish Family Service suspended those talks held inside San Diego courtrooms due to the pandemic and prohibited staff from going to Mexico. To make the list, an office must commit to 50 hours of free service a year. The Justice Department, which vets applicants, lists seven in San Antonio, six in El Paso, five in San Diego and three in Harlingen, Texas. Asylum-seekers who are sent back to Mexico and given hearing dates at a tent court in Laredo, Texas, get the list for San Antonio, more than two hours drive away. None of the seven legal organizations there take Remain in Mexico cases, but they stay on the list to avoid being cut off from other clients. Phones ring regularly with pleas from asylum-seekers. Employees sift through hundreds of calls and messages. Their families in the U.S. spend hours calling and following up. Its a waste of everyones time, said Erica Schommer of the St. Marys University School of Law Immigration and Human Rights Clinic, one of the San Antonio providers. I feel worse for the people who are calling here to have their case placed. Asylum-seekers are entitled to hire attorneys but, unlike criminal court, the government wont pay for anyone who cant afford it. A private attorney typically charges around $7,000. For attorneys, meeting clients in Mexico is a huge commitment. OConnor, the San Diego judge, quizzed an attorney on how long she waited in her car to cross back to the U.S. after a client visit, marveling that it took two hours. El Paso attorney Taylor Levy, who takes limited cases referred by Mexican migrant shelters, said she rushed to Ciudad Juarez to help a client who just escaped kidnappers. U.S. authorities allowed the client to remain in the U.S. but they spent more than three hours in line on the Mexican side of a border bridge while the womans kidnappers sent her text messages, threatening to pursue her. There are a host of other obstacles, from lack of malpractice insurance in Mexico to safety concerns. Some asylum-seekers dont have phones and move often. Jewish Family Service of San Diego, which fields 20 to 30 calls a week from Remain in Mexico asylum-seekers, requires employees to go to Tijuana in pairs for safety. Finding a safe place to meet can be challenging. Kate Clark, the groups senior director of immigration services, once went to a Tijuana shelter to meet four families who were clients and found many more demanding to know why she couldnt represent them. Its difficult because youre most likely going to have to say no, she said. Fatigue is also a factor. A U.N. survey taken last fall of around 650 asylum-seekers waiting in Mexico found 6% reported being kidnapped. Reports of migrants being raped or assaulted are common. Ive had a lot of lawyers tell me they will not take these cases anymore because theyre gut-wrenching, Levy said. A group of Homeland Security officials last November made improved access to attorneys one of its recommendations to address the policys shortcomings. Asked last month for an update, acting Secretary Chad Wolf told lawmakers that authorities began showing a know your rights video on immigration law. Rep. Nita Lowey, a New York Democrat, told him she watched the video on a small television at a Laredo, Texas, holding facility over fans so loud that it was very difficult to hear or understand. Wolf promised to look into it. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is yet to stake a claim to form the new government in Madhya Pradesh after Kamal Nath resigned as the chief minister last Friday hours before the Supreme Court-mandated trust vote. Highlights Gopal Bhargava, the Leader of Opposition, is one of the aspirants for the chief ministers post Former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan appeared as the front runner for the post till Friday Names of other leaders are also doing the rounds The reason, BJP leaders say, is a lack of consensus on the name of the candidate who will become the next chief minister. They say this disagreement is the main reason why the legislature party meeting has not been held so far. It was expected to meet soon after the fall of the Congress government on Friday afternoon when Kamal Nath resigned barely two hours before the floor test he was supposed to face in the state assembly as per the Supreme Court verdict. Gopal Bhargava is the Leader of Opposition and also one of the aspirants for the chief ministers post. Once the party decides who will replace outgoing chief minister Kamal Nath, the BJP legislature party will meet to elect him as its new leader. Bhargava had written a letter on Saturday to all BJP legislators appreciating their roles in the legislature partys fight against the government and how their hard work and dedication strengthened the party and the legislature party. Also read: From MP, lessons for the two national parties Bhargavas letter is being seen as his proactive approach to reach out to MLAs to seek their support in case the party leadership seeks their opinion over the candidate for the chief ministers post. Till Friday, former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan appeared as the front runner for the post. During the political crisis the Congress faced in the state, Chouhan took the lead and continued to attack the government. It was he who filed the petition in the Supreme Court last Monday along with nine other MLAs seeking directions to issue an order to the speaker of the state assembly to conduct a floor test. Initially, it appeared as if the party had given Chouhan a free hand to lead the legislature party despite the fact Gopal Bhargava is holding the position and the party outside the assembly. It also appeared that announcement of his name as the new leader of the legislature party was merely a formality, a BJP leader, who didnt want to be named, said. Also read: Failure to take everyone along cost Cong govt The leader said the situation, however, seemed to have changed in the past 48 hours due to the lack of consensus in the party on his name. Thats why, now the names of Narendra Singh Tomar, Thaverchand Gehlot, both Union ministers, Narottam Mishra, the chief whip of the legislature party, and Kailash Vijayvargiya, the BJP national vice-president, have also been doing the rounds, the leader added. He said, The issue is not only selection for the CM post but also as to who will ensure the partys victory in the by-polls to be held for as many as 25 assembly constituencies and also lead the party to another victory in the next assembly elections. Hence, there may be surprises too as happened in Haryana and Maharashtra earlier. Another leader, who didnt want to be named, said the names of Narendra Singh Tomar and Narottam Mishra are in the reckoning because by-polls to most of the seats will be held in the states Gwalior-Chambal region. Out of the 22 Congress MLAs who rebelled against the government and brought it down, 15 belong to Gwalior-Chambal region. Tomar and Mishra both come from the region, this leader said. He said another reason why a number of party leaders are opposed to Chouhan is that the senior BJP leader had held the chief ministers post for 13 years and they have conveyed their feelings to the party high command as well. If he is again given the chance to become the CM, other party leaders and workers who want to see a change this time on the CM post and also in the culture of the government may be disillusioned with the party. And it may have its repercussions, the leader said. The BJPs state unit media in-charge Lokendra Parashar said the names doing the rounds are all speculations. Whenever the BJP legislature party meets the situation will be clear. Shivraj Singh Chouhan ji himself made it clear in response to questions from journalists that as of now Gopal Bhargava ji is the leader of the legislature party, Parashar said. State Congress president media coordinator Narendra Saluja said, When former MLAs joined the BJP in Delhi on Saturday several leaders of the BJP from Madhya Pradesh were present except Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The mike was also in the hand of Narendra Singh Tomar. This suggests that Chouhans dream is going to be shattered. Meanwhile, governor, Madhya Pradesh Governor Lalji Tandon has written to the Speaker of the state assembly NP Prajapati not to take any policy and major decision till the assembly takes up its proceedings on a no-confidence motion against him submitted by the opposition. He has been advised to let the state assemblys principal secretary discharge his duties as per his instructions. The governors letter was written after the BJPs complaint to him that the speaker is taking politically motivated decisions. The government has also apprised Prajapati of the view of an expert on the Constitution that when a government has been dislodged the speaker and deputy speaker resign from their posts. Prajapati couldnt be reached for his comments despite several efforts. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON It has never been easier to register to vote or to vote in America. But youd never know it if you listened to all the cries about voter suppression. You could search long and hard in the law books containing the U.S. Code and nowhere will you find one single law that mentions voter suppression. Thats because voter suppression is a myth. It is a term made up to smear perfectly legal activities like voter ID laws by suggesting they are illegal. This election year when you hear someone use the term voter suppression, pay attention. The user almost always has an agenda. Sometimes they want to scare minority voters into believing Jim Crow is returning. Other times they want to criticize perfectly legal practices that have protected the integrity of our elections like registering to vote, in-precinct voting or citizenship verification. Sore losers will use the term voter suppression to suggest election losses are caused by conspiracies. The latest example comes from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. In an interview with Brett Baier on Fox News, she blamed presidential candidate Bernie Sanders loss in Michigan on voter suppression. Long lines in Michigan, the congresswoman said, were an attempt to harm Sanders. The congresswomans charge is most curious considering that Michigan has one of the most left-wing secretaries of state in the country. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is considered a rock star by the crowd that complains about voter suppression. If there was any state where the phenomena should not occur, it is in Bensons Michigan. Not to mention that Michigan Democrats set a turnout record in the states primary: 1.6 million votes, nearly 380,000 more than four years ago. If there was voter suppression as Ocasio-Cortez claims, it failed. Miserably. The truth is that sometimes elections dont run as smoothly as they should. That doesnt mean there is a suppression plot or a deliberate effort to deny the right to vote. All of this brings us to a teaching moment about language and the law of elections. The correct terms for suppression are voter intimidation or vote denial. Both are illegal. Vote denial on the basis of race is illegal under the Voting Rights Act. It is what Mississippi election officials did back in the 1950s and, believe it or not, as recently as 2005. In the case of United States vs. Ike Brown, a case I litigated when I was an attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice, election officials refused to count absentee ballots of some voters on the basis of race. In this case, the victims were white and the election officials were African-American, showing that vote deniers can come in many forms. Voter intimidation is also illegal under the Voting Rights Act. That means you cant for example stand in front of a polling place wearing the uniform of a hate group, carry a weapon or shout racial slurs at people entering the polls. Voter suppression, however, isnt illegal. It is a term that seeks to blur the line between the legal and illegal in order to taint and smear constitutionally protected activity, or perfectly legal state laws. Polls show the real concern most Americans have about our elections is voter fraud. A Hill-HarrisX poll shows voter fraud was the top fear of Republicans, Democrats and independents alike. So-called voter suppression didnt even come in second or third in the poll. If laws exist that deny someone the right to vote such as a poll tax thats vote denial. If laws exist that make it impossible for minorities to elect a candidate of choice, thats vote dilution. If someone objectively threatens or intimidates a voter, thats voter intimidation. Ironically, some forms of alleged voter suppression are actually the fix for other forms. Take long lines. Voter ID and electronic poll books are the fix. Voter ID speeds lines because election officials can swiftly check in voters. States without voter ID have a slower, more cumbersome check-in process. Voter suppression is the goblin of the 2020 election. It sounds really scary, but it doesnt really exist. J. Christian Adams is the president and general counsel for the Public Interest Legal Foundation and a former Justice Department lawyer. He also served on the Presidential Advisory Commission for Election Integrity. He wrote this for InsideSources.com. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- China urged the United States to stop politicizing COVID-19 and stigmatizing China, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang said Monday. Geng made the remarks at a press briefing in response to a question regarding recent allegations from the U.S. side. U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on March 21 that he wished "China would have told us more about what was going on in China." Meanwhile, the White House is reportedly launching a communications plan across multiple federal agencies that focus on accusing China of orchestrating a cover-up and creating a global pandemic. Geng said the Chinese side has noticed relevant reports and added that on March 20, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused China, Russia and Iran of "carrying out disinformation campaigns related to the coronavirus pandemic." Calling the U.S. accusations clumsy slander, Geng stressed China has kept the World Health Organization (WHO) and relevant countries and regions, including the United States, updated with its domestic epidemic situation in an open, transparent and responsible manner. China's efforts have been appreciated by the international community, Geng said, adding that Chinese people have gone all out to fight against COVID-19 in the past two months and won precious time for other countries. "With routine exchanges of information with the WHO and other countries including the United States since Jan. 3, China announced the closure of Wuhan's outbound channels on Jan. 23," the spokesperson said. On Feb. 2, the U.S. government announced its decision to completely ban foreigners who had visited China in the past 14 days from entering the country when only around 10 confirmed cases were found. Within 50 days, the number soared to around 30,000, said Geng. What effective measures have the United States taken in the 50 days?" Saying the United States has completely wasted precious time won by China in COVID-19 fight, Geng reiterated that defaming, scapegoating and shifting blame to others is immoral and irresponsible. "It will do nothing to help the U.S. COVID-19 prevention work and global cooperation in pandemic control," Geng stressed. China called on the United States to manage its own business well and play a constructive role in international cooperation on fighting the pandemic and safeguarding global public health security, Geng said. WASHINGTON It started off as a great trip. Katherine and Berdj Feredjian of Kinnelon decided to vacation in Morocco for their 40th anniversary there. They went online and discovered there had been only two cases of the coronavirus, so they booked a tour and headed oversees. We figured we might be going to a safer place, Berdj said. We were with a great tour, Katherine added. It didnt work out that way. While they were overseas, they heard that Morocco was going to ground all international commercial flights, leaving the Feredjians to scramble and finally get on board a rescue flight to London, and from there back to New Jersey on Saturday. U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez said his office has heard from another 100 New Jerseyans who are in Morocco, Peru, Guatemala and other countries and are trying to get home. They included a handful of people in their 20s at an air B&B and guests trying to return from a wedding from Honduras. Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has received pleas from help from not only constituents like the Feredjians but his fellow senators trying to help residents of their states. H es had so many requests for assistance that he has set up a separate email address for New Jerseyans, COVIDTravel@menendez.senate.gov. He also asked President Donald Trump to use military transport planes, chartered flights and near-empty commercial airliners to fly Americans home. The U.S. State Department said Sunday it is aware of Americans being stuck overseas, and urged them to leave immediately on any available commercial flight. The department has organized a task force to help those from areas where there are no commercial flights return home. It also recommended that U.S. citizens overseas enroll in STEP.state.gov for safety and security information, including news about scheduled flights, and to monitor the website of the American embassy of the country they are visiting. After learning that Morocco was going to stop international travel, the Feredjians cut short their trip and tried to find a way home, working with both their tour guide and the U.S. consulate. They tried to rebook, only to discover the flights were cancelled. On Thursday, they hunkered down in Casablanca to await further instructions. We could be leaving any time, any place, Feredjian said. The notice came a day later: Theres a bus with other trapped American tourists leaving for the Marrakhesh Airport. Be on it. They were. We kept praying something was going to come through," Feredjian said. "Even when we were on the bus going to the airport, we still didnt know what would happen. We wanted to make sure the wheels were up in the air. When the plane landed in London on Friday, the Feredjians said they still didnt know how they would get to the U.S. Every two hours Im waking up, checking my email, nothing, nothing, nothing, said Berdj Feredjian. His and his wifes names werent added to the passenger list for their flight until they were waiting on line at the airport. Another New Jerseyan, law student Kaitlin Fusco of Clifton, had visited Morocco several times, including for an overseas study program. She, too, was stuck after the country banned international flights, and joined a Facebook group of stranded Americans to commiserate and share information. She said she initially stayed away from the airport as the Facebook page featured videos of crowds trying to go home. I felt like going to the extremely crowded airport was more risky, said Fusco, who is not related to the Freehold family of the same name where four people have died of the coronavirus. I didnt want to go into this mass of people. Finally, she too headed to the Marrakesh airport for a rescue flights to London, and then to the U.S. Upon their return to the U.S.. both the Feredjians and Fusco said they would self-quarantine for two weeks in case they were infected. Im not going anywhere for 14 days, Fusco said. Thats where the story ends. Sign up for text message alerts from NJ.com on coronavirus in New Jersey: If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter. Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. The chief executive of Fox News, Suzanne Scott, reacted swiftly to the threat of the coronavirus in late February: She ordered the bright, open new offices disinfected, installed hand sanitizer stations around the office and boldly canceled the companys major ad sales event. But her influence doesnt extend to the most important part of Fox News: its programming in prime time. There, for two crucial weeks in late February and early March, powerful Fox hosts talked about the real story of the coronavirus: It was a Democratic- and media-led plot against President Donald J. Trump. Hosts and guests, speaking to Foxs predominantly elderly audience, repeatedly played down the threat of what would soon become a deadly pandemic. The person who could have stopped the flow of misinformation was Scotts boss, Lachlan Murdoch, the chief executive of the Fox Corp. But he wasnt paying much attention. The 48-year-old heir to his familys media fortune was focused instead on buying a streaming company called Tubi for $440 million, a person who has spoken to him said. The acquisition would drive long-term growth, he proudly announced in a news release on March 17. That same day, the number of coronavirus cases in the United States surpassed 5,600. Critics sometimes compare Fox, in its loyalty to Trump, to state TV, but that description is off. State TV implies command and control. The most-watched news channel in America has become, since the fall of its powerful founder, Roger Ailes, much more like the Trump White House: a family business where its not entirely clear who is in charge. Coronavirus has tested leaders across governments, communities and businesses. Some have risen to the challenge, others have disappointed. Fox failed its viewers and the broader public in ways both revealing and potentially lethal. In particular, Lachlan Murdoch failed to pry its most important voices away from their embrace of the presidents early line: that the virus was not a big threat in the United States. Murdoch is likable and handsome. But even his allies told me they no longer think he has the political savvy or the operational skills his job demands. His father has urged him to develop a politically astute kitchen cabinet that he can rely on, and remains concerned that he hasnt, according to two people who have spoken to the elder Murdoch. Lachlan has delegated much of the running of the company to Viet Dinh, a high-powered Republican lawyer without much experience in the media business, people who work with them said. Dinh earned more than $24 million in salary and stock last year as the companys chief legal officer. People close to Lachlan Murdoch describe him as a laid-back executive who doesnt spend his days watching Fox and is sometimes surprised to learn of a controversy it has generated. People act like Fox is a virus beyond our control, said Bill Kristol, who worked for the Murdochs for 15 years and appeared on Fox until 2012. There are people who run it, who have responsibility for it, and they could be held accountable. Through a spokesman, Steven Rubenstein, Lachlan Murdoch declined to comment on any aspect of his performance. The Murdochs have always been hands-off leaders, and the peculiar challenge for generations of their public relations employees has been deciding whether to portray them as culpable or out-of-touch for various on-air debacles. But since the powerful Ailes was ousted amid a sexual harassment scandal in 2016, the network seems more and more like an asylum in the firm control of its inmates. Soon after Lachlan Murdoch won an internal family struggle to take charge in 2018, he appointed Scott, whod risen through the ranks, as chief executive of Fox News. It was good public relations: She was the first woman to run the company, which was reeling from the Ailes scandal. And she was a safe insider whom the Murdochs liked, even if she lacked a powerful profile inside and outside Fox. The job, at that point, didnt matter all that much. Trump had given the networks prime-time hosts, Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson, and others, unusual access and political relevance not to mention huge ratings. The hosts, in turn, were far more responsive to him than to their nominal bosses, providing a platform for the president and his supporters to air their grievances about the rest of the media. Scott, in turn, could focus on cleaning up a toxic workplace, managing the less-watched daytime programming and take credit for the ratings. The arrangement seemed a happy one. But then, the coronavirus happened. By January, Lachlan Murdoch knew the virus was coming. Hed been getting regular updates from the familys political allies and journalists in his native Australia, an Australian News Corp. staff member told me. The Fox host hes closest to, Carlson, had been a rare voice on the network urging Trump to act more urgently. Even Hannity had hosted Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, early on his show and warned of the risks. But as the crisis took hold, there were more than two weeks of statements like Laura Ingrahams assertion on Feb. 27 that Democratic criticism was more unsettling than the virus and Hannitys allegation on March 9 that political opponents were trying to bludgeon Trump with this new hoax. Finally, after an obscure Fox Business host, Trish Regan, ranted that the coronavirus issue was another attempt to impeach the president, the network pivoted. The damage Fox did appears likely to extend beyond the typical media hits and misses. I asked Ashish Jha, the director of the Harvard Global Public Health Institute, who appeared on Fox News recently, whether he believes people will die because of Foxs coverage. Yes, he said. Some commentators in the right-wing media spread a very specific type of misinformation that I think has been very harmful. The communications chief at Fox News, Irena Briganti, said, The cherry picking of clips from our opinion programs is the definition of politicizing this serious threat, as is irresponsibly attacking Fox News in the middle of a pandemic that has evolved considerably over the last few weeks. She added, Suzanne Scotts exceptional leadership of Fox News Media throughout this crisis is unprecedented, and she is committed to both protecting our employees while keeping the audience informed 24/7 on all our platforms and providing an important public service. There are a lot of theories about what went wrong at Fox: that the networks dug-in hostility toward climate science spilled over to medicine, or that its executives cared about ratings above all else. But interviews with 20 current and former Fox staff members and Murdoch family associates in recent days paint a different picture: The network is in thrall to the president and largely beyond the control of the family that owns it. When Lachlan Murdoch started to hear complaints about the coronavirus coverage on Fox, a person who has spoken to him said, he mistook it for the usual partisan noise. Everyone saw it as part of the normal rough and tumble for all things Trump everyone but Fox goes after him, Fox defends him, this person said. Now, Fox is consumed by internal finger-pointing. Network executives are blaming Trump, their own powerful hosts or Meade Cooper, the executive vice president who theoretically runs prime time programming, people familiar with their conversations said. Scotts internal critics say its telling that only the little-known Regan lost her show while the stars remain untouchable. And Scott has been furiously, belatedly, trying to get hold of the programming, insisting that Fox & Friends the show on which Jerry Falwell Jr. suggested that the North Koreans were to blame for the virus now always have a doctor involved in the show. The finger-pointing extends to the very top. Lachlan Murdoch never called Hannity, whom he had just signed to a new contract, about his coverage. The closest Fox executives have come to taking decisive action appears to be boasting, off the record of course, that they have taken decisive action. Their explanations collide almost comically. A person who spoke to Rupert Murdoch says that the 89-year-old chairman reached out to Hannity to tell him to take the virus seriously. But other executives said they had no knowledge of the call, and Hannity said in a statement that this is absolutely false and never happened. One level down, Briganti has complained that Carlson is casting himself to reporters as a heroic truth-teller in contrast with other hosts, according to two people who heard directly of the conversations. But little seems to have changed in the Fox ethos. Foxs shift to more serious coverage of coronavirus followed Trumps own, and the hosts are now embracing his new strategy for rallying their shared base. Along with trying to persuade their audience to be safe (particularly in the less-watched daytime programming), theyre sharing unproven positive health news. And theyre recapturing partisan momentum by picking a fight about race and political correctness, emphasizing the Chinese origins of the virus, with no apparent concern for inciting bias against Asians. On Saturday night, Scott sent another memo to the companys rattled staff: The fourth case of coronavirus had been reported in Fox News headquarters on Sixth Avenue in Manhattan. We are continuing to take every necessary precaution and to follow every protocol which includes deep cleaning all surfaces these employees were in contact with, in addition to the daily sanitizing and disinfecting that has been performed multiple times a day throughout all areas of the building. Employees on Sunday were exchanging panicked texts about whether they should go to work on Monday. But one person who surely wasnt exposed inside Sixth Avenue was Lachlan Murdoch. He hasnt been seen in the companys New York headquarters for weeks. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Protesters targeted the Indonesian magazine company, Tempo following the paper's publication on a politician allegedly involved with money laundering. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Indonesia urge the protesters to resolve the complaint through the Press Council. People from Kushin Ryu Karate Do Indonesia (KKI), a local martial arts school in Jakarta, protested outside the Tempo Jakarta office on March 12. The demonstration claimed the paper published a biased report in December 2019 alleging Oesman Sapta Odang, the former Regional Representatives Council speaker and head of KKI was part of a casino money laundering scheme between 2011 and 2018. KKI deputy chairperson Edy Guswar Pasaribu met with the chief editor of Tempo Setri Yasra to hear the protesters demands while the demonstration took place, In the meeting, Tempo requested a further meeting with Sapta Odang to clarify information on the alleged bias reporting. AJI condemns the protest. The Press Law clearly explains the mechanism to solve the complaint. Those who are not satisfied with the coverage of the media can submit their reports to the Press Council. It is the responsibility of the Press Council to adjudicate and analyse whether the media disobeyed the code of ethics or not, AJI added. The IFJ said: Complaints must be actioned through the Press Council mechanisms to uphold press freedoms. The IFJ urges the protesters to seek a peaceful resolution without violence or intimidation." By child number five, I admit I had a certain smugness about my life as a parent; I felt like I'd been there, bought the t-shirt and later removed the stains from said t-shirt. Little, I thought, could surprise me. Then one day my five-year-old asked me if she could be a girl. Contrary to what some might think, my first thoughts weren't 'Oh, my child is trans'. I just thought that my kid, (who I then thought was a boy) wanted to try being a girl for a while. My child was almost incandescent with joy when I told her she could be a girl if she wanted to be. She asked if she could wear a dress and she announced to her siblings that she was a girl. Her older brother helped her pick a new name for herself and that was that. I couldn't have foreseen that, after that night, our lives would never be the same again. Expand Close Taryn De Vere lives in Donegal with her five children. She has found her daughters school community - children and parents alike - supportive / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Taryn De Vere lives in Donegal with her five children. She has found her daughters school community - children and parents alike - supportive When I look back over the last few years, a series of specific events stand out for me. Like the first time I called TENI (the Transgender Equality Network of Ireland). I remember how cautious they were, and keen to make sure that no one was encouraging my daughter - rather that we should look for a "insistent, persistent and consistent" message from my child that she was a girl. They told us that children of her age are referred to not as trans, but as 'gender non-conforming'. For a year or so I went with gender non-conforming, despite my own dislike of the term. Who wants to be conforming to a gender anyway, I wondered, "non conforming" sounded like something you'd expect to get into trouble for. It was my daughter who said she was trans. By this time, I had bought and borrowed a heap of books about trans children so despite knowing no other trans kids, my daughter identified with the characters in the books. She claimed the identity of trans for herself. She has been persistent, insistent and consistent in her identity for several years now. I heard her recently tell her friend that she knew when she was three that she was a girl, but didn't tell anyone, "Because I thought there was something wrong with me and no one would love me". It would break the toughest heart to hear their child say that. I know it broke mine. I wondered what messages I'd given to make her think that her gender presentation or identity was more important to me than her happiness. How can a three-year-old have absorbed so much about gender and about what is expected of them? I feel guilt about my role in my daughter's stifling her true self. When she was seven, she wanted to socially transition at school. In reality all this meant was wearing "girls" clothes at school, growing her hair and being called by her new name. She had, up to this point, been living somewhat of a double life, presenting as male at school and being a girl while in my house or when out with me. I tried to figure out how to approach it. The truth is there is no handbook for trans children and little advice. My daughter and I are part of something new to the world. These are the first generation of children, all over the world to be transitioning while still children. There have been a few that came before but not on this scale. It's all so new that we don't even have statistics of how many children under 12 are trans/gender fluid/gender non-conforming. As a parent, there are few places I can go for advice, so while I was reading every study on trans children and I'd joined support groups for parents in four different countries - I was (and still am) largely making it up as I go along. My daughter asked me to write a letter to the parents of her classmates to explain what trans means and to ask them to speak to their children about it. We live in Donegal, so I was apprehensive about how this would go down, but it seemed like a good way to let everyone know what my daughter needed - which was largely just respecting her pronouns and calling her by the name she wanted to be called. I added my contact details so if any parents wanted to ask questions they could. That night I received a flurry of texts from parents. One read, "I've spoken to my daughter and she says she's excited to have another girl in the class." All the texts were supportive. I sat down and wept as I read through them. Some of the children arrived at school the next day with gifts and cards for my daughter. By and large, I've found children are not only able to understand the idea of trans people - but they don't seem to regard it as an issue. They simply don't care. Another stand-out memory is the first time I decided to write about having a trans child. I write for a living and often about parenting, but I wrestled with writing about my trans child. It's a difficult thing to try and maintain a child's privacy while also wanting to communicate things that no one else is saying. I know the information I'm communicating is important, because other parents of trans children have told me. I balance it by not naming my child, not making her photograph public and by checking in with her about what I can and can't say. The reality is she doesn't hide that she's a trans girl, and everyone in our large school community knows that she is trans. She is proud of being a trans girl and doesn't feel that it's something that should be hidden. I take my lead from her. I was not prepared for people attacking me online for supporting my child. The first time it happened, I was stunned. It was a Tweet in response to an article about parenting a trans child that I'd written. I was accused of encouraging my child to be trans instead of letting her be a boy who wears feminine clothing. There are people who think parents like me are somehow forcing our children into being trans. Little do they realise how poor my sphere of influence is with my kids. If I could force my children to do things, I'd be getting them to stop talking with their mouths full, not insisting that they change gender. The assumption is that I have something to gain by making my child "be" trans. The truth is, being a parent of a trans child in a largely transphobic world is terrifying. Trans people are more likely to die by taking their own lives, more likely to experience workplace discrimination and more likely to be sexually assaulted. I know of no parent who would choose that for their child. So don't "indulge" it, I've been told. This attitude asks me to force my child to suppress her gender identity. However, research on trans children says this approach is harmful to trans kids. Researcher Kristina Olson has been studying trans children since 2013 and through her work we know that trans children who are supported by their families have no worse mental health outcomes than cis children of the same age (Cisgender or cis: someone whose identity and gender corresponds with their birth sex). Who could have predicted that affirming and loving your child for who they are seems to result in happier, healthier kids? (certainly not some folks on Twitter, anyway!) Having a child who is trans has shattered a lot of my own ideas about gender. I would've placed myself firmly in the 'gender is a social construct' camp prior to my experience with my child. I tried not to enforce gender stereotypes on my children, there was never any chat of "That's a boy colour/toy" in my house. All colours and all toys were for all children. She could have been a boy who wore dresses, she was told many times that she would be loved and accepted as a boy who dressed in feminine clothing - but she was insistent that she wasn't a boy, she was - and is - a girl. What makes her so sure of that? I don't know, anymore than I don't know what makes me so sure I'm not a boy. You just know, don't you? Helpline The Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI) is a non-profit organisation supporting the trans community. Call (0) 1 873 3575, email office@teni.ie or see teni.ie for more. Follow Taryn's journey as a parent to a transgender child in Health&Living and on independent.ie. We catch up with Taryn on April 6 when she explores gender and sex with the experts. Family man: Lester Cassidy with his wife Rachel, twins Samuel and Anna Rose (11) and Isabelle (5). Photo: Mark Condren It was 22 years ago that Lester Cassidy was involved in a horrific work accident which left him paralysed from the waist down. Now the father of three is preparing to climb Croagh Patrick. With the support of his family, friends and community in Kilcock, Co Kildare, Mr Cassidy (42) is taking on the mammoth task in aid of the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) and Spinal Injuries Ireland. His message is simple - life is precious, and even an immeasurable tragedy can be overcome. "You owe it to yourself to keep going and make the best of your life," he said. In July 1998, Mr Cassidy, then a 19-year-old apprentice carpenter, was working on the roof of a house in Leixlip. "The scaffolding gave way under my feet and I fell about 24ft. "I'll never forget the sound of my back breaking. I knew I was in serious trouble," he said. The next day, surrounded by his devastated family and his then girlfriend Rachel, now his wife, a doctor told Mr Cassidy he had suffered irreparable damage to his spinal cord. After a few weeks in hospital, he was transferred to the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) in Dun Laoghaire. "Being put into a wheelchair for the first time, that was very traumatic. We cried all day. It was one of the toughest days of my life, but I never looked back. I was ready to move forward. "The staff do the most amazing job to get the patient back to being as independent and healthy as possible. They are inspirational. "Shortly after my release Rachel and I went travelling the world. Then we settled down, built a house, and got married." In 2008, the Cassidys welcomed twins Samuel and Anna Rose (11), and then, five years ago, Isabelle came along. "I am a stay-at-home dad, and I love it. It's the most rewarding job in the world. My kids are everything to me," said Mr Cassidy. "I never got power or feeling back in my legs, but I did recover to go on and have a powerful life. "I always felt I owed something to the amazing people at NRH. They are building a new hospital, and I am determined to help." To scale Croagh Patrick, a special buggy has been designed that will be pushed by teams of supporters working in shifts. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, Mr Cassidy is hopeful they will be able to begin training next month and be ready for the climb on July 18. "If we have to wait until next year then we will. "But I'm determined to do it," he said. If you wish to donate to Mr Cassidy's appeal, details can be found at idonate.ie/LesterCassidy. Japan will ask travelers arriving from the United States to self-quarantine for 14 days to contain the spread of the new coronavirus, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Monday. During the two-weeks, travelers will be required to themselves isolate in places such as their homes or hotels and avoid using public transportation. The measure will be effective from Thursday through the end of April, Abe said. Japan has taken similar steps for travelers from China, South Korea, Iran, Egypt and most of Europe after the outbreak of the pneumonia-causing virus, which started in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, began progressively spreading to many other nations. Japan's Foreign Ministry urged the public to avoid nonessential travel to the whole of the United States, raising its warning level by one notch in response to the spread of infections there. The U.S. State Department on Thursday advised Americans to avoid all international travel, raising its global health warning to the highest level of 4. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also set its warning for COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus, in Japan to its highest level, citing "widespread, ongoing transmission." It recommends nonessential travel should be avoided. Japan has so far escaped a surge in domestic infections, but the number of cases has topped 1,800, including about 700 from the formerly quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship. But the total number of cases has risen steadily, with some "clusters," or groups of infections, found in parts of Japan. Urban areas have seen cases of infection grow. Coronavirus: Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has ordered section 144 in Maharashtra as people are not taking the isolation seriously and not staying at home. CM added that essential and emergency services would continue to run. Maharashtra chief minister, Uddhav Thackeray, ordered to impose curfew in the state as number of positive coronavirus cases are increasing rapidly. A statement from the Maharashtra Chief Ministers office, CM Thackeray said stringent steps have been taken as preventive measures. Shiv Sena leader also urged citizens to help, support government by staying at home as public health is a major concern and for their own safety from the coronavirus. Unhappy because of people not following governments guidelines, CM Thackeray said People should take this war against COVID-19 seriously. CM said that his government has decided to impose section 144 of CrPC till March 31 and strict actions will be taken against the violators. However, the essential and emergency services will be available during the curfew. Maharashtra has already sealed boarders in the wake of the rapid spread of novel coronavirus, added Thackeray. So far, 89 positive coronavirus cases have been detected in Maharashtra, confirmed the state health department today after 14 fresh cases were reported in Mumbai in last 24 hours. Earlier today, CM Amarinder Singh-led Punjab government announced curfew in the state to control the transmission of virus. CM Amarinder Singh said the section 144 has been imposed as people were defying the lockdown imposed in the state. In India, 415 confirmed cases have been detected till now, while 7 people lost their lives due to coronavirus. Globally, the COVID-19 has infected more than 3,00,000 people and toll has shoot up to 11,800. The positive news is that 15 people have recovered so far and isolation is the only way to tackle the virus. For all the latest National News, download NewsX App Designer Brandon Maxwell and his team are making medical gowns for hospital workers to combat the reported supply shortages amid the coronavirus pandemic. The 35-year-old Project Runway judge took to Twitter and Instagram on Friday to announce that they are helping to fight the spread of the virus by producing much-needed medical supplies. 'In response to this global crisis, we are now focusing our creative efforts on manufacturing PPE (personal protective equipment), starting with gowns,' Maxwell wrote. Doing his part: Designer Brandon Maxwell 35, took to Twitter and Instagram on Friday to announce he and his team will be making supplies for healthcare workers, starting with gowns Another surpise: Maxwell also shared that he plans on giving away three gowns to brides whose wedding plans have been impacted by financial hardship due to the coronavirus 'We have spent the last week researching the appropriate medical textiles to create these gowns and are proud to provide these much-needed items to the doctors and nurses on the front lines of this crisis.' The designer, who has collaborated with Lady Gaga, added that they will eventually be making masks and gloves. 'As more information becomes available on how to manufacture medical grade masks and gloves, we will transition in to doing so,' he explained. 'Any information you can share for donation locations or organizations would be greatly appreciated.' Maxwell also shared that he plans on giving away three gowns to brides whose wedding plans have been impacted by financial hardship due to the coronavirus Designer Christian Siriano also announced on Friday that he and his team are sewing face masks and gowns for healthcare workers in New York. Heart of gold: Designer Christian Siriano and his team are sewing face masks for New York healthcare workers fighting the coronavirus Getting it done: The 34-year-old designer took to his Instagram Stories on Friday to share videos of his staffers hard at work making masks The 34-year-old Project Runway winner reached out to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo via Twitter on Friday to offer his services as the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state soared to more than 7,000. As of Monday, there are now more than 20,000 confirmed cases in the state. 'If @NYGovCuomo says we need masks my team will help make some. I have a full sewing team still on staff working from home that can help,' Siriano tweeted. 'Thank you. Please follow back and we will DM you,' Cuomo responded. In a subsequent tweet, the governor shared that he is in contact with Siriano. 'Appreciate his help so much,' he added. 'Who's next? Let's do this together, NY!' Siriano wasted no time with production after speaking with Cuomo, and he took to his Instagram Stories to say: 'We are working on this and will have masks and gowns ready to go ASAP.' Purpose: 'Guys these will be very simple it is not for fashion it is to help people,' he wrote while sharing footage of his staffers sewing the supplies 'Guys these will be very simple it is not for fashion it is to help people,' he added while sharing footage of his staffers sewing the supplies. 'Hopefully we can make hundreds of these quickly.' The designer also shared a black and white clip of one of his team members modeling a prototype of a mask they made. 'We will be making a few versions of this in order to help as many people as we can,' he wrote. 'Here is the process so we can get a perfect fit. More to come thank you everyone we hope to get these to the right people ASAP.' Siriano's call to action on social media was praised by Twitter users and inspired other people and companies to offer up their services. 'I second that @csiriano! @hedleyandbennett can help make face masks, gowns, etc in our 16,000 sq ft factory in LA @NYGovCuomo!' tweeted apron company Hedley & Bennett. Teamwork: Siriano reached out to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo via Twitter to offer his services as the total number of confirmed cases in the state soared to more than 7,000 Working together: In a subsequent tweet, the governor shared that he is in contact with Siriano 'We have a full sewing team ready to help and are in this together! Please tag anyone who can get us in touch with their team and spread this message!' 'I was thinking the same thing. Ive got a small factory that can pump out masks, too. Were in the east village, small. But could probably make 500 a day,' Pamela Barsky responded. Federal officials have told health workers the nation's stockpile doesn't have enough basic medical equipment like masks and gowns to meet the expected crush of coronavirus cases. Doctors and nurses across the country have already reported shortages in the supplies that they need to keep safe while on the front lines fighting the illness. Many have resorted to reusing asks or making their own out of office supplies. In just one day, 2,950 new coronavirus cases were confirmed in New York on Friday, and Cuomo ordered all non-essential workers to stay home starting on Sunday. He also made an impassioned plea for hospital equipment and announced that he would fund any business that could mass manufacture surgical masks. Chipping in: Siriano's call to action on social media was praised by Twitter users and inspired other people and companies to offer up their service As of Friday, there were more than 18,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the U.S. and 230 deaths. By Monday, that number had jumped to over 35,000 cases and 471 deaths. Deaconess Health System in Evansville, Indiana, has gone as far as asking the public to sew CDC-compliant face masks for medical workers fighting the virus. Meanwhile, the sneaker brand Allbirds has announced that it is donating shoes to anyone who works in healthcare in the U.S. and is on the front lines. The offer for the $95 Tuke Matcha Wool Runners is valid while supplies last. Actress Kristen Bell was happy to use her platform to promote the initiative on her Instagram Stories on Friday, writing: 'Thank u @allbirds.' Fashion designers and brands around the world are chipping in as well. The French conglomerate LVMH announced at the start of the week that it will use perfume production lines at three factories to manufacture large quantities of hydroalcoholic gel, or hand sanitizer, amid a 'lack of product in France.' Announcement: Siriano shared on his Instagram Stories that they will have masks and gowns ready as soon as possible and one of his friends called him a hero Generous: The sneaker brand Allbirds has announced that it is donating shoes to anyone who works in healthcare in the U.S., and Kristen Bell promoted in the initiative on Instagram The Louis Vuitton owner started production last Monday in a bid to enable 'a greater number of people' to 'take the right action' during the global health pandemic. Inditex, the owner of the fast-fashion fashion retailer Zara, announced earlier this week that it would be making masks to donate to the Spanish government. The Spain-based company said that it would make its factories and its logistics teams available to help with the donations for healthcare workers and patients, with a company spokesperson saying that it will 'make a delivery at least once a week of materials we purchase directly'. 'Inditex has already donated 10,000 protective face masks and by the end of this week expects to be in a position to ship another 300,000 surgical masks,' the statement continued. And last Thursday, the British Fashion Council took to Instagram to ask designers with production capacity to 'help in the manufacture of essential products including masks.' 'In times of need, the fashion industry can be of service,' the nonprofit wrote. The Council of Fashion Designers of America has yet to make a similar call to action, and it's unclear if it has plans to do so. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-24 00:53:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close GENEVA, March 23 (Xinhua) -- A United Nations (UN) expert on Monday stressed here that it is dismaying to witness state officials adopting coronavirus-related expressions of xenophobia, describing such rhetoric with geographic references as irresponsible and discriminatory. E. Tendayi Achiume, UN special rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, said in a media statement that governments must ensure that their response to the COVID-19 pandemic does not contribute to xenophobia and racial discrimination, and that they must eradicate xenophobia throughout all state policies and messaging. "This sort of calculated use of a geographic-based name for this virus is rooted in and fosters racism and xenophobia. In this case, it serves to isolate and stigmatize individuals who are or are perceived to be of Chinese or other East Asian descent," the expert said. She cited the World Health Organization (WHO) as saying that disease names do matter to the people who are directly affected. Certain disease names provoke a backlash against members of particular religious or ethnic communities and can have serious consequences for peoples'lives and livelihoods. "These consequences have already become a reality. Over the past two months, people who are perceived or known to be of Chinese or other East Asian descent have been subject to racist and xenophobic attacks related to the virus," she said. According to the expert, these attacks have ranged from hateful slurs to denial of services or even brutal acts of violence. "Crises like the coronavirus pandemic remind us that we are all connected and that our wellbeing is interdependent," the expert stressed. "Furthermore, political rhetoric and policy that stokes fear and diminishes the equality of all people is counterproductive. To treat and combat the spread of COVID-19 effectively, individuals must have access to accurate health advice and sufficient healthcare without fear of discrimination," she argued. Appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in 2017, Achiume is an assistant professor of law at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. A draft decision by the 27 members of the European Union says the bloc should start membership negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia, according to Reuters. Reuters said on March 23 that it has seen a draft unanimous decision on the move, which is expected to be finalized this week. Diplomatic sources have been saying that objections by France and the Netherlands to starting talks over democratic reforms and corruption in the two Balkan nations have eased, thus opening the door to starting talks. EU officials may announce the decision as early as a General Affairs Council scheduled for March 24. Based on reporting by Reuters By IANS NEW DELHI: The lockdown declared by the Delhi government following the coronavirus scare has no meaning for people in Outer Delhi as they are violating the norms in areas such as Nangloi, Paschim Vihar, Vikaspuri, Mundka, Peeragadhi, Janakpuri and Tilaknagar without any fear. In the lockdown situation only the shops that sell essential goods are allowed to open, but here in Outer Delhi, salons, vehicle mechanics and paan shops have been opened since morning. Moreover, e-rickshaws and gramin sewa tempos were seen plying on road without any hesitation, while Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the press conference on Sunday had clearly stated that these things will be completely banned. ALSO READ| Janata curfew: Delhi police give flowers to people on streets, urge them to stay at home The most surprising thing is that whether it is e-rickshaw or gramin sewa, they were packed with passengers. Shockingly, only a quarter of the riders were seen wearing masks. Some gramin sewa drivers were also seen opting for internal routes to escape lockdown and earn money. The police, however, are monitoring the situation on main routes but they can't even stop these vehicles inside the colonies. A Reliance Fresh's store in Syed village of Nangloi was full of customers and they were seen pushing each others to purchase the goods. When IANS contacted the manager of this store, he said that he has instructed the guard to allow only one person from a family to come in and stop those who have not wearing a mask, but people are not following the instructions. The people apparently came to buy essentials goods for the whole month, hence, almost everyone had a companion but almost a half of these had no masks on their faces. CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW LIVE COVERAGE Moreover, the Section 144 is in forces that prohibits gathering of four and more people at one place at one time. But in areas such as Nihal Vihar, Vikaspuri and Janakpuri, people were moving freely. Customers were also purchasing plants from nursery. A salon was also opened in Nihal Vihar. Despite the Section 144 is in force, people were seen in groups at many places in these areas. This threatens to spread more of this epidemic. People either lack awareness or are deliberately flouting the rules. In areas like Tilaknagar and Nihal Vihar, many gurdwaras were seen open against the government's orders. Kejriwal had said in the press conference that no one will be stopped but people should come out only when its extremely urgent but in such a large areas, no policeman was seen questioning anyone. - Senate President Tito Sotto confirmed that he underwent coronavirus disease (COVID-19) test twice - However, it received a backlash from the netizens as the COVID-19 test kits are still limited in the country - Sotto explained that he used a test kit that has not been approved by the Department of Health (DOH) nor the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yet - He also mentioned that he did not ask to be prioritized for the testing - The Senate President shared that he manifested dry cough and sore throat for a few days PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed Senate President Tito Sotto explained his side after receiving backlash for undergoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) test twice amid a scarcity of test kits in the Philippines. KAMI learned that Sotto said he underwent went the COVID-19 test twice. In a Facebook post by ABS-CBN News, Sotto explained that the first test he used was not approved by the Department of Health (DOH) nor the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Its accuracy has not been certified yet and it is a very simple testing strip with instant results. This testing kit is different from what the DOH is using right now, Sotto said. I know that a number of PUIs need the DOH-approved test kits more. In fact, I am hoping and monitoring that this instant testing kits be accredited to be of use as soon as possible by the DOH, he added. According to a report by the Inquirer (authored by Christia Marie Ramos), Sotto explained that his first test showed that he is negative for COVID-19. However, he underwent a confirmatory test as he was manifesting dry cough and sore throat for days. "My test turned out negative but since I'm manifesting dry cough and sore throat for days and due to my age & exposure, I took a confirmatory test," he said. According to a report by CNN Philippines, Sotto said that he did not ask to be prioritized. Its been a week now and to clarify this, I havent received the results as I never asked to be prioritized, Sotto said. PAY ATTENTION: Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! As previously reported by KAMI, No VIP testing was trending on Twitter after several posts claimed that some big personalities were being tested for COVID-19 while test kits are still limited in the country. The DOH earlier announced that it is accelerating its capacity to provide more COVID-19 tests in the country. Please like and share our amazing Facebook posts to support the KAMI team! Dont hesitate to comment and share your opinions about our stories either. We love reading about your thoughts and views on different matters! KAMI reviewed the 2020 Oscar Best Picture movie "Parasite" to let you know if it is worth checking out! Check out all of the exciting videos and celebrity interviews on our KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel! Source: KAMI.com.gh The adjustment to virtual learning has not been without a few bumps, but most classes seem to be going smoothly, said McCallie officials. Many students have even figured out how to use the many bells and whistles in Zoom, including the virtual backgrounds, which allow them to attend class from anywhere in the world. Here are just a few of the ways students and teachers are staying connected and making the most of their virtual learning environment: Geometry teacher reviewed homework using a whiteboard and then had guys practice with an on-line quiz format to see how that worked Economics teacher used an on-line game format called Kahoot to review main terms in economics. Middle School math teacher: "My guys were great! They have been bored at home and were excited to have some kind of a schedule and something to do. Graphic Design teacher framed the lesson with a challenge as if National Geographic had commissioned students to present an image that encapsulates the current challenge in our country. Guys could begin to formulate approaches and share ideas virtually. Biology teacher used zoom to gather and lay some foundation class processes. Then pulled a survey on animal adaptations from google classroom which students worked through. Teacher then used a shared screen and annotated definitional terms Middle School teacher wrote: Several of the guys were on iPads. One of my students was able to explain to all the other guys on iPads how to use the Google Doc I had attached. It was awesome to see Another Middle School teacher said: My 6th period guys were all on time and ready to go. I gave them a chance to talk and/or play with backgrounds at the beginning as I took roll. However, they did not really take advantage of it. They seemed more anxious to get going, so we did. I went the entire class period without having to use the "mute all" feature. We graded a grammar homework to begin with. I shared the blank document that everyone could see. I then asked for volunteers to give the answer to each sentence. They took turns. Some raised their hands in front of their camera for me to call on. Some used the "raise hand" button to volunteer. They took turns, asked questions for clarification, and a couple just posted their questions on the chat. It took a few minutes for me to get used to looking at all the different places - the homework, the participants, and the chat box, but I got used to it. They emailed me their scores after class (still waiting on a couple). We also went over requirements for their author research papers and talked about using NoodleTools. Again, they were attentive and took turns asking questions when necessary. Philosophy teacher said the class started with an initial discussion based on a previous reading, then introduced the new unit on political philosophy with students taking 10 minutes to look up information on linked website before reconvening on zoom to share emerging themes. English department zoomed at the end of the day to share ideas of what worked and what cool ideas emerged. One of the many upsides about the online learning platform is that students (and teachers) can bring their pets to school. Science Teacher Karah Nazor encouraged her classes to show and tell with their pets, and it was a "wonderful, community-building moment." The Upper School boys even attended their first virtual chapel this morning, and in keeping with tradition, they continued their pleas for Duck Day by "quacking" in the chat box. Queensland has taken moves to limit interstate travel, as the number of cases of coronavirus recorded locally surges again. Sixty new cases were announced on Monday morning by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, taking the states total to 319. Annastacia Palaszczuk says Queensland workers will find out on Tuesday what extra support will be available to them during the coronavirus pandemic. Credit:AAP/Dan Peled The premier flagged tougher measures to control the spread of the virus in Queensland, but didn't say what they would be. Instead, her official Twitter account later announced that Queenslands borders would be locked down. : Territorial Chief Minister V Narayanasamy on Monday said a separate fund was being created to buy basic equipment to take on COVID-19. He told reporters here that he and his ministerial colleagues would contribute a month's salary each to the proposed fund and appealed to all legislators and Members of Parliament from Puducherry to also contribute their one-month salaries to the fund. The Chief Minister also appealed to the government employees to contribute their one-day wages to the fund. He said already the government had set apart Rs 17.5 crore to meet the expenditure, yet more was needed to equip the hospitals with adequate devices to tackle coronavirus. The proposed fund would also be used to provide support to the weaker sections who would be devoid of sources of livelihood because of the curfew being imposed from 9 pm on Monday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two Vietnamese returning to the southern province of Tay Ninh from Cambodia have raised the total coronavirus infections in the country to 118. "Patient 117" is a 30-year-old man who resides in Long An Province, a Ho Chi Minh Citys neighbor. He went on tour to Phnom Penh, Cambodia on March 9 and started to cough and have shortness of breath, two typical symptoms of Covid-19, on March 16. He returned to Vietnam at Moc Bai International Border Gate in Tay Ninh, also a HCMC's neighbor, on March 19 and was quarantined at Tay Ninh General Hospital where he was tested positive. The chest X-ray shows his lung has been partly damaged. "Patient 118" is a woman, 23, who has chronic bronchitis. She is a resident in the Mekong Deltas province of An Giang who works at a casino called Galaxy in Cambodia. She also entered Vietnam at Moc Bai gate on March 19. She was sent to Tay Ninh General Hospital for quarantine after she was found running a fever, coughing and feeling hard to breath. X-ray images also show damages in a part of her lungs. These two mark the first source of transmission of the virus from Cambodia in Vietnam. Cambodia shut borders with Vietnam from 11:59 p.m. March 20 to alleviate the burden on both Vietnamese and Cambodians in quarantine. On Monday morning, Vietnam has recorded three new cases of Covid-19, including a doctor. By far, the nation has had 118 infections, including 101 active cases, recorded since March 6. The earlier 17 having been discharged after treatment. Of the current active cases, 12 have tested negative either once or twice. Many of active cases are Vietnamese nationals retuning from Europe and the U.S. and foreigners visiting from the same regions. Starting Sunday, in an unprecedented move, Vietnam has suspended entry for all foreign nationals, including those of Vietnamese origin and family members with visa waivers. The Covid-19 pandemic has killed over 14,700 people globally as it spread to 192 countries and territories. Appeal against illegal Moscow rally activist sentence adjourned due to coronavirus RAPSI, Eugeny Varlamov 10:54 23/03/2020 MOSCOW, March 23 (RAPSI) The Moscow City Court on Monday postoponed an appeal against sentence given to activist Nikita Chirtsov for using force against a police officer during an unauthorized rally held in Moscow on July 27 because of the coronavirus infection, RAPSI was told in the courts press service. The appeal hearing is expected to be held on April 13. In December, Chirtsov was convicted and sentenced to 1 year in jail. Investigators claimed that the man gave the policeman pokes in the chest and shoulder. The defendant pleaded not guilty. After the protest action the defendant was fined 12,000 rubles ($185) for violating the order of a rally. Later, he fled to Minsk, Belarus, but was put on the wanted list. He was arrested in Moscow in early September after he voluntary returned to Russia. In November, Moscows Tverskoy District Court extended detention of Chirtsov until April 30. Unauthorized rallies in support of candidates seeking to become lawmakers of the Moscow State Duma but refused registration by the Election Commission were held on July 27 and August 3 in central Moscow. Over 1,000 people were arrested for various violations as a result. Following the 27 July rally, the Investigative Committee criminal cases were opened. Investigators believe that the protest action was held with the use of force against representatives of authority. Courts operating limitations On March 18, the Supreme Courts Presidium ordered limitation of the courts work and prohibition of visitors attendance from March 19 to April 10 because of the coronavirus spread. According to the document, courts are to consider only urgent cases. Moreover, if technically possible, hearings are to be held through videoconference. JOHANNESBURG, March 23 (Reuters) - African finance ministers have called for a $100 billion stimulus package, including a suspension of debt service payments, to help the continent combat coronavirus. Some $44 billion would come from not servicing debt and they would also tap existing facilities in the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), African Development Bank (AfDB) and other regional institutions. The ministers held a virtual conference on Thursday to discuss how to deal with the social and economic impacts of the pandemic on African nations, a statement by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa said on Monday. It did not specify which countries participated in the meeting. Africa is facing the combined shock of coronavirus, which threatens to strain under-funded health systems, as well as a sharp drop in revenues due to plunging oil and commodities prices. "Africa needs an immediate emergency economic stimulus to the tune of $100 billion," the statement said. The proposed interest payment waiver would include not only interest payments on public debt but also on sovereign bonds. It would save governments an estimated $44 billion this year, and would possibly need to be extended to the medium term, it added. "(A waiver) would provide immediate fiscal space and liquidity to the governments in their efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic," the statement said. For fragile states, the ministers agreed that waiving repayment of both principal and interest should be considered. Though African nations currently count only a fraction of global coronavirus cases, experts worry that their cash-strapped and under-equipped healthcare systems make them ill prepared to tackled large-scale outbreaks. Meanwhile, sub-Saharan Africa's debt has ballooned to nearly 60% of GDP over the past decade, meaning many government must devote significant resources to debt service. Still, seven countries - Eritrea, Gambia, Mozambique, Congo Republic, Sao Tome and Principe, South Sudan and Zimbabwe - were already in debt distress before the pandemic, according to the International Monetary Fund. Nine others including Ethiopia, Ghana and Cameroon are at high risk of debt distress. (Reporting by Joe Bavier; Editing by Angus MacSwan) Hydroxychloroquine is an oral prescription drug that is primarily used to treat some kinds of malaria. However, some recent studies have indicated that it may also be useful to treat COVID-19. The National Task Force for the novel coronavirus constituted by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has recommended the use of hydroxychloroquine for high-risk cases. However, ICMR Director-General Balram Bhargava said on Monday in a press conference, "Hydroxychloroquine is recommended only for a healthcare worker who is treating a COVID-19 patient. Secondly, it's recommended only for persons staying with and caring for a household patient who has been tested positive. They can take that only for prophylaxis only for prevention." Also, as per an advisory on the health ministry's website, this only applies to healthcare workers and caregivers who are asymptomatic. The advisory, however, cautions that the usage of the medicine should not instill a "false sense of security", and that people using it should still public health measures such as using protective equipment (such as masks), frequent washing of hands and keeping a distance of at least one metre from the patient. The ICMR has not recommended the drug for children below 15 years of age. What is hydroxychloroquine? Hydroxychloroquine has been recommended for prophylaxis (prevention of specific diseases) against the novel coronavirus. According to the health ministry's advisory, it has been proven effective against the novel coronavirus in laboratory tests and in-vivo studies (tests conducted on living organisms). Follow LIVE updates on the coronavirus outbreak here Hydroxychloroquine is an oral prescription drug that is primarily used to treat some kinds of malaria. However, some recent studies have indicated that it may also be useful to treat COVID-19. On 9 March, a study in the Clinical Infectious Diseases journal in the United States found that it was effective against the novel coronavirus. On Sunday, Jordan authorised physicians to use hydroxychloroquine along with an antiviral medicine as a treatment for COVID-19 in patients in an advanced stage of the disease, Al-Jazeera reported. US president Donald Trump has also said that the medicine (along with another medicine named chloroquine) is a game-changer and has shown "very, very encouraging results". However, the head of the US' National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci has said that evidence of hydroxychloroquine's efficacy against COVID-19 is "anecdotal." It (testing) was not done in a controlled clinical trial, so you really cant make any definitive statement about it,'' Fauci was quoted as saying in the Washington Post. With inputs from agencies New Delhi: Global icon Priyanka Chopra may not be in India, but she very well supported the 14-hour long Janata Curfew on Sunday, suggested by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Priyanka shared a video of herself taking part in the clapping initiative to thank all health professionals, police, defence forces and guards who are working day and night in the wake of coronavirus pandemic. She clapped from her balcony in Los Angeles and wrote, People around the world have shown their appreciation for the doctors, nurses and all the first responders battling Covid-19 by clapping on their balconies. Although I could not be India to join, I am there in spirit. Take a look: People across India came out in large numbers to support the initiative to thank the coronavirus fighters by clapping, drumming utensils and ringing bells to boost their morale. Bollywood celebs too joined in. Priyanka and her husband Nick Jonas are under self-quarantine. They have shared a couple of videos to urge everyone to stay home and take care of themselves and their families during the pandemic. They are taking all the recommended precautions to combat the spread of the virus. This is such an insane time and all of our lives have been completely turned upside down. It feels like something out of a movie but it is not, she said in a video posted earlier. The 37-year-old actress also stressed on the importance of only relying on authentic information about the coronavirus. Coronavirus, which first emerged in China's Wuhan city, has now spread across the globe. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic, prompting the governments worldwide to take extraordinary measures to contain the spread of the deadly virus. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 23 By Nargiz Sadikhova Trend: Kazakhstan will allocate $10 billion to take anticrisis measures in the country, Kazakhstans President Kassym Jomart Tokayev said, Trend reports with reference to the presidents press office. Tokayev made the statement during a meeting of a State Commission on Emergency State, held in Nur-Sultan on March 23, 2020. Tokayev said that in addition to operative measures, systemic approached should be taken in the country considering the time when current situation stabilizes. Basically, we are on the verge of a completely new global world in which Kazakhstan has to find its own corresponding place. I want to emphasize that, despite the complexity of the situation, it is far from catastrophic. We have all necessary opportunities and reserves. The main thing is that we started to prepare in time for the most unfavorable scenario and understand what needs to be done, Tokayev said. He added that the total anticrisis measures portfolio will be 4.4 trillion tenge or $10 billion, excluding tax benefits and local support. On March 17, 2020, Kazakhstans government approved a list of anticrisis measures developed in accordance to Tokayevs order. By a decision of State Commission on Provision of Emergency State under the president of Kazakhstan quarantine regime has been introduced in Kazakhstans Nur-Sultan and Almaty cities at 00:00 (GMT +6) on March 19, 2020, due to coronavirus outbreak. On March 15, 2020, Kazakhstans President Kassym Jomart Tokayev signed a decree introducing an emergency state in Kazakhstan due to coronavirus outbreak, which came in force from 08:00 (GMT +6) on March 16 and will last till 08:00 on April 15, 2020. First two cases of coronavirus infection were detected in Kazakhstan among those who arrived in Almaty city from Germany on March 13, 2020. The latest data said that the overall number of coronavirus cases in Kazakhstan is 62 people. The outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fish market in late December 2019. As of today, over 339,200 people have been confirmed as infected. The number of people killed by the disease has surpassed 14,700. Meanwhile, over 98,800 people have reportedly recovered. Several countries are working on a vaccine against the new virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11. Aldi Australia will prioritise essential grocery items during the coronavirus crisis after shoppers noticed the Special Buys products were not available in stores. The Special Buys catalogue has long been a crowd favourite among shoppers for releasing limited edition sell-out items in stores twice a week. But the budget retailer has confirmed the worldwide pandemic will impact its weekly sales every Wednesday and Saturday - as supermarkets around the country introduce tough restrictions to cope with a surge in demand. Aldi Australia will prioritise essential grocery items during the coronavirus crisis after shoppers noticed the Special Buys products were not available in stores 'We are currently prioritising the transport and distribution of our core grocery items and this may result in some advertised Special Buys not being available on the advertised on-sale date,' Aldi said in a statement. 'We will try our best to limit this impact. We ask for your understanding and apologise if you are inconvenienced.' Hundreds of loyal shoppers quickly praised staff members for working around the clock to keep their shelves stocked with essential items. 'I love special buys but thank you Aldi staff working so hard,' one said. 'Aldi, we are just grateful that you are open and trying to keep up with demand,' a second said. A third said: 'I went to Aldi and all the staff were so happy even though they were running off their feet. It was great to see the shelves were very well stocked.' And another said: 'I went to Aldi and the fresh produce, meat and toilet paper were all stocked so well enough for everyone, thank you so much.' Aldi has confirmed it will prioritise essential grocery items after shoppers noticed Special Buys products were not available in stores - as supermarkets around the country introduce tough restrictions to cope with a surge in demand (picture of empty toilet paper shelves at Aldi) Aldi's restrictions Aldi Australia has restricted purchases on the following products in a bid to curb 'panic buying' amid coronavirus: Toilet paper: 1 unit Dry pasta: 2 units Flour: 2 units Dry rice (excludes microwave rice): 2 units Paper towels: 2 units Tissues: 2 units Hand sanitisers: 2 units Advertisement It comes as an Aldi employee - who works in the warehouse on the Gold Coast - desperately urged shoppers to 'stop panic buying'. 'Advice to everyone panic buying please stop. We're doing 12-hour days because people think they need to stock up, you do not need to stock up, supermarkets will still be open even if a lockdown occurs,' he said. 'If everyone just shopped how they have been before the coronavirus, then you will find it easier to go about your day without the panic. Kind regards, the team at Aldi.' Aldi has since imposed strict rationing measures on grocery items such as toilet paper, dry pasta, flour, rice, paper towels, tissues and hand sanitisers. As millions of panic buyers strip supermarket shelves bare by stockpiling and hoarding essential items, many have walked away with empty shopping trolleys One shopper shared a confronting picture of her Aldi store, south west of Sydney, showing the empty freezers after most of the frozen items were sold out 'As we face the changing circumstances related to COVID-19, we'd like to update you on the steps we are taking as a business to ensure that you have access to fresh food, hygiene products and essential items,' it said. 'We are working around the clock with our Australian partners to distribute products to our stores. Due to the extraordinary demand for groceries, we have introduced some new conditions. 'To be able to provide Australians access to the essential products they need, we have decided to temporarily restrict purchases on essential products.' Last week, Prime Minister Scott Morrison begged Australians to 'stop hoarding' in fear of a lockdown as supermarket stores will remain open. 'I can't be more blunt about it. Stop it. It's ridiculous. It's un-Australian, and it must stop. It is not sensible and it is not helpful,' Mr Morrison said. 'It has been one of the most disappointing things I have seen in Australian behaviour in response to this crisis. That is not who we are as a people. It is not necessary. 'There is no reason for people to be hoarding supplies in fear of a lockdown or anything like this. It is not something that people should be doing.' Soon after she was diagnosed with late-stage pancreatic cancer in January, Janet Glass began going every other week to Englewood Health in New Jersey for a three-day chemotherapy treatment in hopes of defeating the disease. But because of concerns that the coronavirus outbreak could kill a cancer patient whose immune system is severely compromised, Glasss most recent appointment was canceled. I was very surprised by the call, said Glass, 72, a North Bergen resident. I knew they were canceling elective surgeries. I get that you cant get a nose job these days. That makes sense. But chemo is something else. Glass is not alone. Doctors have already started making critical decisions about treatment for patients who have cancer, and who may be more likely to die if they contract a coronavirus infection because their immune systems are compromised from chemotherapy. For weeks, oncologists who treat cancer patients have been considering the possibility of postponing some treatments over concerns about risks, said Len Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society in Atlanta. Within the past week, he said, calls began coming in from areas hit hard by the coronavirus, indicating that those concerns had become a reality. Volunteers test New Jersey residents who have a fever or a shortness of breath at the Bergen County Community College for Covid-19 in Paramus, N.J. on Friday March 20, 2020. Lichtenfeld said some radiation and chemotherapy treatments have been postponed, along with some surgeries. He said people undergoing chemo already have suppressed immune systems, so stopping treatment wouldnt necessarily boost their ability to combat the virus. But physicians are trying to avoid patients coming to the hospital if we can because of concerns about increasing potential exposure, Lichtenfeld said. We may have a delay for several weeks for elective surgeries, he said. Hopefully things will calm down and surgeries and other treatments can be completed. Man stole thousands of N95 masks, police say: They were recovered and are now being donated 'A terrible decision to make' Story continues Ruth Egan, 69, of Bergenfield, New Jersey, said she was given a stark and terrifying choice to make last week at Holy Name Medical Center. Her doctor told her to stop chemotherapy and come back in a month, she said, because she would likely die if she contracted the coronavirus. This is a terrible decision to make, said Egan, who said she has myelodysplastic syndromes, or MDS, a type of cancer that can occur after a person is cured of leukemia. Dont take chemo "because you might get the virus," she said. "Then the cancer kills you. Holy Name said in a statement that it has not canceled any appointments, but has offered patients "the option of postponing based on each individual case." The hospital "continues to provide chemotherapy treatment appointments based on National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines," and evaluates each case "to determine if the risk outweighs the benefit." The National Comprehensive Cancer Network said it has made recommendations to change chemotherapy drugs when possible to something less toxic and to spread out treatments in some cases. But it said it has not recommended halting or delaying treatments. Once someone is on treatment, its almost always a bad decision to stop in the middle, said Dr. Wui-Jin Koh, the chief medical officer for the network. He said doctors and patients should discuss treatment options, adding that "the patient has the final say." Eric Whitman, medical director of cancer care for the Atlantic Health System, said doctors would pause treatment for cancer patients who test positive for the coronavirus. That hasnt happened yet, he said. Other patients are being evaluated on a case-by-case basis, he said, and in some cases it may be possible to put off some treatments while determining which ones need to be done right now. We all acknowledge we cant stop treating them, Whitman said of cancer patients. Our goal is to continue treatment. Lichtenfeld, of the cancer society, said delays in treatment could have future consequences for outcomes and that researchers years from now may measure the impact of the virus on cancer care. Dialysis patients The coronavirus outbreak has had implications for other patients. People whose kidneys have failed and need dialysis, which is done at outpatient centers, are now segregated into groups that are kept apart from one another regular patients, those who tested positive for the virus and those who have symptoms like a cough or fever. "These dialysis sessions cannot be stopped," said Thomas Salazer, the chief of nephrology at Hackensack University Medical Center, adding that patients would die without the treatments. He said that "several" hospitalized coronavirus patients have had their kidneys fail after going into shock. They are now on dialysis. It's not known whether they will need to continue the sessions after recovering from the virus, he said. Egan, the Bergenfield woman, said she could have continued with her chemotherapy treatments at Holy Name but was scared off by her oncologist. She said her white blood cell count typically goes down a couple of weeks after she gets a five-day course of chemotherapy and that her doctor was concerned about her exposure if she came in for blood tests after the treatments. She said she stays away from people and always wears a mask in public. I put two masks on since Ive been on chemo, she said. People are slobs. They cough on you. 'I have no choice' A longtime Spanish teacher before her retirement in 2013, Glass was diagnosed with late-stage pancreatic cancer on Jan. 4. It came as a shock, considering she was otherwise in excellent health, had no family history of cancer and is a non-smoking vegetarian. Glass began chemotherapy on Feb. 13. Every other Wednesday she goes to Englewood Health's Infusion Center, where staff members attach a pump of chemotherapy drugs into a valve in her chest. She spends Thursday at home with the pump attached, as it slowly feeds her the drugs. On Fridays, she returns to Englewood and the pump is removed. Last week, she was told her appointment for March 25 was canceled. The news left her with mixed emotions. She realizes her medical team is acting in her best interests, because the hospital is a place where she could easily catch the disease. Its worrisome, Glass said. There is some scientific basis for giving me chemo every other week. I suppose this could be a setback. But honestly, part of me is thrilled because I get a break from it, she added. The side effects are severe. Glass's chemotherapy causes her chills, low-grade fevers and heightened sensitivity to cold, causing her to wear gloves when she gets something out of the refrigerator. It also dehydrates her to the point of dizziness. She fainted a few weeks ago, and her medical team attributed that to dehydration. On her off weeks from chemotherapy, she goes to Englewood each Wednesday to get an IV of saline solution to hydrate her. Englewood Health is continuing to treat patients at its Infusion Center and Cancer Center and throughout the hospital. The patient's physician makes the call whether to postpone treatment, hospital executives said. This is an unprecedented time for everyone, and there will be difficult decisions that have to be made about whether to delay treatments such as surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy," said Dr. Steven Brower, medical director of Englewood's cancer treatment center. "We are following national recommendations to provide appropriate care with our main intent of protecting our most vulnerable immunocompromised patients." Even before the coronavirus outbreak, doctors told Glass to avoid public places such as trains, buses and shopping centers because her immune system was suppressed by chemotherapy drugs, she said. Now it's even more important. And Glass realizes that the hospital is a place where she could easily catch coronavirus. Youre there with patients, visitors, staff so there is exposure, she said. But I'll have to be there eventually. I feel Im in a position that I have no choice. Lindy Washburn of NorthJersey.com contributed to this article. Email: fallon@northjersey.com Twitter: @newsfallon Email: koloff@northjersey.com Twitter @AbbottKoloff The US had a chance to learn from anthrax, SARS, H1N1 and Ebola: So why is the federal coronavirus response so messy? 'I can't jump in front of the microphone and push him down': Fauci addresses Trump coronavirus claims This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Coronavirus: Cancer patients face canceled chemotherapy treatments Coronavirus: Only multilateralism can save us By Anne O. Krueger, exclusive to the Sunday Times in Sri Lanka View(s): View(s): WASHINGTON, DC The global economy was ripe for a recession even before the coronavirus pandemic struck. Many commentators have been warning that stock markets were overheated, that advanced economies were heading for a slowdown, and that US President Donald Trumps protectionist policies had disrupted supply chains and ushered in an era of heightened uncertainty. Now, the stock market has finally crashed, and a recession has become almost inevitable. In the past, the international community has successfully mustered a coordinated response to similar crises. The threats posed by SARS in 2003, H1N1 (swine flu) in 2009, MERS in 2012, Ebola in 2014-2016, and the 2008 global financial crisis were all contained through rapid multilateral action. But Trump has shown nothing but contempt for multilateralism, which helps to explain why a global response to the COVID-19 crisis has yet to materialize. Trumps flailing response to the outbreak is a sharp departure from that of his predecessor. According to former Vice President Joe Biden, now the leading contender for the Democratic presidential nomination, Barack Obamas administration helped to contain multiple previous outbreaks by convening health officials from around the world in the White House Situation Room, where they mapped out a coordinated response. Earlier economic downturns were likewise addressed through multilateral channels. At the height of the global financial crisis, the G20 repudiated trade protectionism and committed to pursuing simultaneous fiscal and monetary expansion. We now know that this coordinated response played a major role in preventing the downturn from getting significantly worse. The current crisis is even more deserving of a multilateral response, because it presents challenges above and beyond those previous threats. In what amounts to an economic perfect storm, the pandemic has combined with preexisting recessionary pressures, the broader disruption to global trade, and a new and somewhat unexpected complication: a sharp drop in oil prices. Major oil-exporting countries failure to agree on either price or production limits has driven the price of oil to $20 per barrel. That may be good for US consumers and oil-importing countries, but it also means that many US fracking companies will struggle to service their debts. Falling investment and an increase in nonperforming loans will become another major source of downward pressure on economic activity. The current disarray in global trade also hurts. From the beginning, the Trump administration has rejected Americas long tradition of global leadership and support for the open multilateral trading system. Opting instead for bilateral deals with trading partners, the US has bullied its allies along with everyone else. Almost all of Americas trading partners, including the European Union and Japan, have been subjected to increased US import tariffs on steel and aluminum. And Mexico, Canada, South Korea, Turkey, India, Brazil, and Argentina have all been pummeled with non-negotiable demands for US-friendly revisions to previously negotiated trade agreements, on the threat that previously granted favors will be revoked. The trade war with China, moreover, is still ongoing. In the current climate of uncertainty, exporters do not know whether they will suddenly face new tariffs, and importers are reluctant to expand domestic productive capacity because they do not know if or when existing tariffs will be rescinded. Protectionist policies thus continue to disrupt supply chains and discourage investment around the world. These factors will not only make the next recession more severe; they also are making it much harder to organize a global response. There is already near-unanimous support for fiscal and monetary stimulus to soften the blow from the pandemic. But in the absence of multilateral coordination, these policy responses will issue haphazardly from individual countries. A 2008-style concerted push would provide far more stimulus and improve business and consumer sentiment; but the window for that option is quickly closing. Still, there is a chance for a coordinated push under the auspices of the G20 or the International Monetary Fund. Jointly orchestrated monetary and fiscal policies would provide not just immediate stimulus but also a boost in confidence, as would an agreement to reverse the protectionist policies of the past few years. A mutual ceasefire in the trade war and a return to multilateral trade negotiations would directly boost economic activity by restoring confidence and spurring investment. It would show that the international community is still capable of coming together in meaningful ways to fight a global crisis. Taken together, joint action to tackle the pandemic, manage multiple economic shocks, and end the trade war would both limit the severity of the downturn and accelerate the pace of the subsequent recovery. The US can and should assume a leading role in the fight against COVID-19, given the risks to the US and global economy. Until recently, restoring multilateral cooperation and rebuilding confidence in the institutions that Trump has torn down was a noble objective. Now, it is an urgent and near-existential one. Anne O. Krueger, a former World Bank chief economist and former first deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund, is Senior Research Professor of International Economics at the School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, and Senior Fellow at the Center for International Development, Stanford University. Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2020. www.project-syndicate.org Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-24 02:28:52|Editor: yan Video Player Close COPENHAGEN, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Danish Prime Minister Mette Fredriksen on Monday announced the extension of the coronavirus lockdown for a further two weeks. "We will now extend everything we have set in motion until April 13," Frederiksen said at a press conference. The lockdown currently entails the furloughing of public sector employees, the closure of bars, restaurants and other related businesses, as well as a ban on public gatherings of over 10 persons. "We can expect the epidemic to peak in four weeks. That is why it is important to stick to the restrictions," said Soren Brostrom, director of the Danish Health Board. The announcement followed Monday's report from the State Serum Institute that the number of Danes killed by the coronavirus had risen dramatically to 24 from 13 within 24 hours, while the confirmed cases hit 1,460. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health admitted at the press conference that there had been local shortages of protective equipment and test reagents. Magnus Heunicke, minister for health and elderly affairs, announced the launch of coronasmitte.dk, a new website for businesses that can help produce personal protective equipment. "Businesses can sign up and have their offers accepted," Heunicke said. [March 23, 2020] Brown-Forman Corporation Today Announced a Donation of $1 Million to COVID-19 Response Funds Brown-Forman Corporation today announced a donation of $1 million to COVID-19 response funds. The donation announced today supports multiple locations and agencies as Brown-Forman assesses community and industry needs and identifies the best ways to support those impacted by COVID-19. "As COVID-19 has spread throughout the world, we want to provide assistance to our communities in this time of great need," said Lawson Whiting, Chief Executive Officer, Brown-Forman Corporation. "We are announcing today donations totaling $1 million that will enable us to give back to the people and communities that mean so much to our company." Initial contributions included in the $1 million dollar gift: We have partnered with the Restaurant Workers' Community Foundation to support their COVID-19 Crisis Relief Fund. As part of this partnership, we are encouraging people to make a donation to the foundation and we will match dollar-for-dollar donations (up to $100,000). Please visit https://bit.ly/RWCFReliefFund to make a donation to help our colleagues and friends. Hospitality Industry : Our friends in the hospitality and service industry are facing difficult times as they wrestle with the financial challenges of being out of work for an unknown period of time. Tese individuals, including bartenders and restaurant workers, are the face and voice of our brands to so many consumers around the world. We are joining our colleagues in the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States and making a donation to the United States Bartenders' Guild (USBG) Foundation Emergency Assistance Program to help them during this time of need. : Our friends in the hospitality and service industry are facing difficult times as they wrestle with the financial challenges of being out of work for an unknown period of time. Tese individuals, including bartenders and restaurant workers, are the face and voice of our brands to so many consumers around the world. We are joining our colleagues in the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States and making a donation to the United States Bartenders' Guild (USBG) Foundation Emergency Assistance Program to help them during this time of need. One Louisville: Brown-Forman made a donation to the One Louisville: COVID-19 Response Fund. The fund will rapidly deploy resources and financial assistance to households, businesses, and community-based organizations working at the frontlines of the outbreak in the city we call home and where we were founded 150 years ago. Expanding Our Reach: Brown-Forman is actively exploring additional ways to expand our reach and our donations internationally. As a global company, we have employees in more than 170 countries. These donations will be made by the country team and directed by our site-based leaders. About Brown-Forman For 150 years, Brown-Forman Corporation has enriched the experience of life by responsibly building fine quality beverage alcohol brands, including Jack Daniel's Family of Brands, Finlandia, Korbel, el Jimador, Woodford Reserve, Old Forester, Coopers' Craft, Canadian Mist, Herradura, New Mix, Sonoma-Cutrer, Early Times, Chambord, BenRiach, GlenDronach, Slane, and Fords Gin. Brown-Forman's brands are supported by approximately 4,700 employees and sold in more than 170 countries worldwide. For more information about the company, please visit http://www.brown-forman.com/. About Restaurant Workers' Community Foundation Restaurant Workers' Community Foundation (RWCF) is an advocacy and action nonprofit created by and for restaurant workers. It was founded in 2018 to advocate for gender equality, racial justice, fair wages, and healthy work environments in the restaurant industry. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, RWCF's full focus is supporting workers, small business owners, and an industry in crisis, through its Emergency Relief Fund. www.RestaurantWorkersCF.org About the USBG Our Mission: Uniting the hospitality community to advance professional bartending. We believe tending & owning bars is an honorable career choice. Our goal is to empower bartenders to take charge of their careers. We accomplish this through working with our committed partners to enrich the career advancement of our members through peer-to-peer learning, expert instruction, service projects, and competition. https://www.usbg.org/home About One Louisville COVID-19 Response Fund The Fund will rapidly deploy resources to individuals disproportionately impacted by this outbreak and community-based organizations working at the frontlines across the Louisville-region. Funds will be managed by the Community Foundation of Louisville, with distribution to households managed by Louisville Metro Government's Office of Resilience & Community Services. Funding to community groups will be directed by the Community Foundation of Louisville, in partnership with the One Louisville Advisory Committee consisting of funding partners, and representatives of local government and community organizations. https://www.cflouisville.org/one-louisville/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200323005339/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Increasingly desperate pleas from health care workers and public authorities for donations of face masks and other protective gear are an unsettling sign of just how unprepared American hospitals are for the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Alison Cooke, assistant chief of hospital medicine for Kaiser Permanente-San Francisco, warned recently that her institution had less than a week's supply of medical masks for doctors and nurses. "If you have any masks or safety goggles at home, please consider giving them to your nurse and doctor neighbors," she wrote on the neighborhood social networking site Nextdoor. On Friday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo urged nonessential medical offices and other businesses to donate their protective gear to hospitals. And former federal health official Andy Slavitt tweeted a request to dentists, painters, contractors and plastic surgeons, to give "all you have" in the way of masks, gloves or thermometers to local hospitals. As supplies of critical protective gear dwindle, nurses and doctors are wiping down and reusing supplies they'd normally toss after one use. On social media, health workers beg for supplies under the hashtag #GetMePPE, using the medical profession's abbreviation for "personal protective equipment." Officials are releasing personal protective equipment from the Strategic National Stockpile, and manufacturers like Honeywell and 3M have boosted production of critical medical supplies. But for now, that's not enough. So charities, corporations and ordinary Americans are stepping up, donating everything from N95 masks to hospital gowns, disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer. If you want to help, here are some answers to questions you might have. Q: Why is there such a shortage of face masks and other protective gear? Fear of COVID-19 is generating demand that far outstrips supply. Because no one has immunity to the novel coronavirus, doctors and nurses are exercising caution by wearing protective gear when they see almost any patient with respiratory symptoms or a fever - most of whom don't have COVID-19. At the same time, panic-buying of N95 face masks and other gear has reduced available supplies. Some people have even stolen surgical masks and hand sanitizer from clinics. Now, with more than 35,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S. as of Monday morning and the number rising sharply, public health officials fear hospitals will soon be overwhelmed with patients, further boosting demand for protective gear. The supply chain for medical equipment relies heavily on factories overseas mostly in China and Taiwan - increasingly commandeered by governments for domestic use. And shortages of the fabric and other raw materials used to make masks are beginning to be a problem. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued bleak guidance for hospitals facing shortages, including using homemade masks. The Deaconess Health System in Indiana recently asked the public to sew and donate masks that meet CDC protocols, as did Providence hospitals in Washington state. Q: What can I do to help? Whether you want to donate supplies you have at home or at your company, check a recently launched website, getusppe.org, which lists numerous hospitals in need of protective gear in at least 41 states and gives specific instructions, including drop-off points, for donating to each one. Valley Medical Center Foundations flier seeking donations of protective gear for health care workers, including masks, goggles and thermometers. If you don't find your local hospital on that website, try contacting the hospital's supply manager to see what they need most. In times like these, however, it may be difficult to reach overworked hospital staff. If your local hospital is a nonprofit or county-run, check to see if it has a foundation or charity arm that may be organizing donations. In Santa Clara County, California, the charitable foundation for the county's vast public safety-net hospital system composed of three hospitals and 11 clinics - launched a campaign via social media and on its website that has garnered tens of thousands of masks, gloves and gowns, as well as thousands of bottles of hand sanitizer, said Chris Wilder, the Valley Medical Center Foundation's CEO. "It's been very heartening. The generosity has been very strong," said Wilder, who is now soliciting electro-mechanical equipment such as oxygen concentrators and ventilators. If you can't reach a hospital official or foundation, ask health care workers you know what they need. Cyrus Farivar, an Oakland, California-based reporter for NBC News, gathered donations from his neighbors to deliver to a Kaiser Permanente nurse. Also try contacting your local government's emergency operations office, which may be the center for donations in your area, suggested Cathy Chidester, who directs Los Angeles County's emergency medical services agency. Q: What do hospitals need most? Chidester said many hospitals and first responders are looking for medical-grade masks, gloves and face shields. And, she said, don't forget blood donations, which are down as shelter-in-place orders proliferate. Check the American Red Cross website for donation sites in your area. What hospitals don't need are: extremely small quantities, unpackaged, used or expired supplies. If all you've got are two loose N95 masks, age unknown, that you found in your basement workshop, don't bother. Q: What help has arrived so far? The Santa Barbara, California-based humanitarian aid organization Direct Relief has distributed tens of thousands of face masks and other personal protective equipment to more than 1,000 safety-net health providers, aided by $5.5 million in donations from the Clorox Co. Foundation and Verizon. During wildfires that ravaged Australia in late 2019 and earlier this year, the charity worked with a factory in China to manufacture the masks and amassed 1.5 million of them. Now, it is trying to get more. "We thought that was a lot," said Tony Morain, a Direct Relief spokesperson. "Little did we know." Direct Relief is now accepting donations of protective gear. In California, political consultant Kate Catherall set up a Google Doc to gather supplies for bulk donations to hospitals. Among other donations, IBM contributed 15,000 masks to Santa Clara County's public hospitals, Wilder said. Over the weekend, Apple pledged to donate millions of masks to hospitals, and Pacific Gas & Electric said it would donate 950,000 masks. Nationally, some dentists who are closing their offices have dropped boxes of masks and gloves at local hospitals. Q: Should I donate cash to crowdsourced or other donor campaigns I'm seeing online? Be cautious. While there are some legitimate campaigns organized by well-meaning people on crowdfunding sites like GoFundMe, potential scams await as well. This KHN story first published on California Healthline, a service of the California Health Care Foundation. MOUNT MORRIS TOWNSHIP A dog from Florida, missing for more than two months, has been found 1,400 miles (2,253 kilometers) away in Michigan. Kris Gibson discovered Simba last week standing at her fence in Mount Morris Township, north of Flint. She lured him with a snack and took him to an animal clinic, which confirmed the dog's identity through his microchip. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday took to Twitter to congratulate BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who was sworn in as the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh this evening, barely days after the collapse of the Congress government in the state. Congratulations to Shri @ChouhanShivraj Ji on taking oath as CM of Madhya Pradesh. He is an able and experienced administrator who is extremely passionate about MPs development. Best wishes to him for taking the state to new heights of progress, the prime minister said in a tweet. Shivraj Singh Chouhan, 61, formally took oath as chief minister on Monday, ending the 15 months of Congress government led by outgoing CM Kamal Nath. This is the veteran BJP leaders fourth term as chief minister of Madhya Pradesh. He is the 19th chief minister of the state. Madhya Pradesh Governor Lalji Tandon administered the oath of office to Chouhan at a simple ceremony at Raj Bhawan, two hours after he was elected unopposed as leader of the BJP legislative party. The ministers are expected to take oath later after consultation with central BJP leaders, party leaders said. Former CM Kamal Nath resigned on Thursday just hours before the Supreme Courts deadline to take a floor test to prove his majority ended. The elected Congress government of Madhya Pradesh collapsed after 22 MLAs along with Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the party and joined the BJP. Magaly Chocano believes in the power of agility and adaptability. She shared that message recently via Facebook Live, relating it to surviving the coronavirus crisis and passing on life lessons she has learned as a way to thank the San Antonio community that rallied behind her when she suffered a major professional blow. Were trying to bring some clarity from our experience, she said. The year got off to a great start for Chocano and her 11-year-old company, Sweb Development, but unforeseen challenges lay ahead. On Feb. 28, she awoke at 5:30 a.m. for her daily exercises. Her day proceeded routinely until 10 a.m., when her world was upended. She was at a board meeting at the Witte Museum when she received an emergency phone call. The building is on fire! her group account director, Luis Sandoval, shouted. What do you mean? she asked, startled, then immediately followed that with, Are you all out? After ensuring her team was safe, Chocano ran to her car and headed to Southtown. She was still several miles away when she saw a black plume of smoke rising in the air. As she got closer, she saw it was billowing from her historic building in the 1500 block of South Flores Street. San Antonio firefighters were battling the blaze. She remembers crying as flames destroyed the structure that was once San Antonios first Texaco gas station. On ExpressNews.com: Retired airmans storied resume shines through at new job with San Antonio Zoo About the author A 22-year veteran of the Air Force, Vincent T. Davis embarked on a second career as a journalist and found his calling. Observing and listening across San Antonio, he finds intriguing tales to tell about everyday people. He shares his stories with Express-News subscribers every Monday morning. See More Collapse Gone was treasured artwork. So was the entire inventory of her Good Guilt line of sportswear and swimwear, co-owned and co-designed by her cousin Andrea Penny. The companys computers and furnishings were incinerated. She hugged each one of her team members, all of whom escaped without injuries. Still numb, she led them to a nearby bar, grabbed a notebook and pen and began leading them in a brainstorming session for the future. One thought flashed through her mind, What am I supposed to learn from this? In the days and weeks that followed, friends and colleagues offered a groundswell of support. The president of Weston Urban, Randy Smith, provided a place for her company to use rent-free. They were so kind, Chocano, 46, said, so thoughtful. The Monday morning after the fire, her team forged on without skipping a beat. There wasnt any other alternative, she told people who asked how she was able to keep going. They didnt have another choice, she emphasized. Thats the message she shared on the Facebook presentation called Giving Back. During the 39-minute video, she offers ways for small-business owners and residents to cope during times of crisis, including the novel coronavirus pandemic that has changed life around the world. Throughout the video, she encourages viewers to stay calm and keep team members and family as safe as possible. In moments of chaos, there is always growth that comes out of it, she said. How we choose to show up in these moments is where most of our growth happens. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonios Meals on Wheels changes delivery policies in response to coronavirus Originally from Madrid, Chocano, the youngest of three children, has a history of starting from scratch. She arrived in San Antonio in 1995 with $250 to her name. After a hot, sweltering summer going door to door selling double-pane windows across the city, she needed a change. Chocano formed a band with her friend Maya Guirao as Maya & Magaly. With Guirao on guitar and Chocano singing, the duo toured Texas and Europe and released three albums. During this period, she met Tirso Sigg, a longtime artist and sculptor. Five weeks after the duos last concert in June 19, 1999, she and Sigg were married. They moved to Savannah, Ga., where Sigg attended the Savannah College of Art & Design. She worked at the college as a campus tour manager to recruit international students for two years. Then, that experience plus speaking three languages led to a job as director of the colleges International Alliance and Student Services in Lacoste, France. Returning to San Antonio, she worked as a producer with Bromley Communications. In 2008, she founded Sweb Development, a digital agency that created a build-your-own iPhone app platform for small businesses. Swebs clients have included Al Jazeera, the City of San Antonio, Ford Motors, Tupperware, USAA and the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio pastor ministers to those in need at East Side church She shared those experiences with her audience during her Facebook Live session. When Liliana Cuevas Mackenzie asked about dealing with uncertainty, Chocano said whats certain is that its going to be uncertain for awhile. We do know that were massively resilient, and humans are totally resilient, and they always bounce back, she said. Take steps day by day to make sure that you are taking the right decision for today. It doesnt matter if the first effort is a wrong one. Everything you do is a step forward. Everything youre going to be doing is going to move it along. As is the norm for many now, Chocano and her team are working from their homes because of the pandemic. She still maintains her sense of humor. A dividend of working from home, she noted, is shes never late. As a sign of solidarity, she bought Rising Strong T-shirts for her team the weekend of the fire. Shes extended that sentiment by selling In This Together T-shirts and stickers, donating all proceeds to buy gift cards in bulk from local businesses to help them. And the gift cards will be donated to those in financial need. For more information, go to https://inthistogethersa.com/. This summer she plans to relaunch Good Guilt sportswear, developed to empower women. The new venture is partly a result of Chocano losing 82 pounds this past year. The tagline for the apparel is fearlessly you. Its her ever-present mindset. In fact, its tattooed on her left bicep in one word: Fearless. Vincent T. Davis is a reporter in the Greater San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | vtdavis@express-news.net | Twitter: @vincentdavis If I had to tell just one story about Joyce Milgaard, what would it be? Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/3/2020 (660 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion If I had to tell just one story about Joyce Milgaard, what would it be? Joyce, who died Saturday night after a lengthy illness, was certainly the author of many stories. She was truly a force of nature. She was a bulldozer in a cardigan sweater. A mild, grandmotherly figure with the heart of a street fighter. KEVIN FRAYER / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES David Milgaard (right) gives his mother Joyce a kiss after the film, Milgaard, won six awards at the 14th Annual Gemini Awards in Toronto, Nov. 7, 1999. She was truly a force of nature and a bulldozer in a cardigan sweater, writes columnist Dan Lett. It was spring 1989 when I was first invited into Joyce's universe, although it was some months before I would meet her in person. I had been contacted by a young Winnipeg lawyer, David Asper, who said that he had a client who was wrongfully convicted 20 years earlier of murdering a Saskatoon nursing assistant, Gail Miller. David Milgaard was languishing in Stony Mountain penitentiary, forgotten by most of the world. Asper made no mention of Joyce when he turned over two boxes of case files. He told me how a prominent national television journalist had worked on David's story for months and then, without warning, walked away from the story. I was a very young and inexperienced reporter but even I could see the improbability of the case against David. No physical evidence, no eyewitnesses, no confession. I was intoxicated with the story, but my editors were skeptical to the point of discouragement. I was losing faith and on the morning of the day when I planned to send the case files back to Asper, I got a call. It was Joyce. She asked me how the story was going. When I started to equivocate, she asked to see me in person. She was staying at a friend's house, and had turned the basement into the command centre for campaign to free her son. Boxes of case files lined the walls. Heaps of papers newspaper clippings, court transcripts, correspondence seemed to cover every horizontal surface, even the floor. We sat for about an hour and discussed the case. She didn't twist my arm. She didn't cry or make any kind of a fuss. She just told me exactly how long and hard she had fought to clear her son's name. Former prime minister Brian Mulroney, who met Joyce outside a Winnipeg hotel in 1991, put it best when he recalled in an interview with the Free Press years later, "even the most devoted and loving of mothers would not continue their crusade for 22 years if there was any doubt in her mind." Many people who were drawn into Joyce's orbit can describe a moment similar to the one I experienced right then and there. My doubts still existed but I was shamed by her lack of doubt. Which brings me back to that opening question: if I had to tell a single Joyce Milgaard story, what would it be? Over the years, I experienced moments of pure wonder watching Joyce in action. She was with me when I visited Gail Miller's grave in a tiny cemetery outside of Saskatoon, walking directly from my rental car directly to Miller's headstone as if she was drawn there by some unseen force. I was at the West End Cultural Centre with Joyce in May 1990 when she recorded "Please, madam minister," a song urging then-justice minister Kim Campbell to re-open her son's case. If I had to tell just one story, it would be the morning of May 10, 1990, the only time I believe that Joyce got to meet Kim Campbell face to face. In town for a conference, Campbell dashed off an elevator on the second floor of a downtown hotel only to find Joyce, her daughter Maureen and a throng of media. When Campbell saw Joyce, she took a hard left to avoid the trap. Campbell kept walking briskly away from Joyce, protesting that they were not allowed to talk because David's case was still under consideration by her department. And then she made another right hand turn and found herself in a corridor with no exit. In a panic, she pivoted and was forced to walk back past Joyce and the cameras like a movie star trying to escape a pack of paparazzi. She never did stop and talk to Joyce, and it was never clear this publicity stunt did anything to help David; nine months after Canadians watched a flustered Campbell fleeing Joyce, she turned down David's first application for a new trial. It's my favourite Joyce story not so much because of what happened that morning, but because it did not shake Joyce from her mission. Most people would have been crushed by Campbell's brush off. It only hardered Joyce's resolve. Dan Lett | Not for Attribution A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world that is sent every Tuesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Consider that it would take another two years after that incident before David was released from prison on the advice of the Supreme Court of Canada, which quashed David's conviction and ordered a new trial. It would take five more years before Saskatchewan agreed to do DNA testing on semen found on Gail Miller's dress, which confirmed that serial rapist Larry Fisher, and not David, was responsible for the killing. It would take seven more years after that fateful morning at the hotel before Saskatchewan apologized for David's miscarriage of justice. And nine years before David was paid $10 million in compensation. It's my favourite story because both on that morning at the hotel, and in all the years I knew Joyce, I have never before witnessed anyone with such unshakable devotion to a cause, and such indefatigable faith that she would eventually triumph. Those of us who were lucky enough to witness Joyce's faith and devotion first hand are truly blessed. And we are changed forever. dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca The son of the first garda killed in the Troubles has called for an all-island truth and reconciliation process. Garda Richard Fallon was shot in April 1970 on Arran Quay in Dublin in the course of a bank robbery by members of Saor Eire, a republican terrorist group. The 43-year-old's murder sparked outrage, and O'Connell Street was lined with mourners on the day of his funeral. A ceremony and unveiling of a plaque had been planned for the 50th anniversary of his murder, but it has been postponed due to coronavirus. Gda Fallon's son, Finian, said it sparked such a reaction as it was the first death of an Irish policeman on duty since 1942. "People compared it to John F Kennedy's funeral in terms of the size, people were lining O'Connell Street to support him," Mr Fallon said. "I was four - I remember bits of it, I remember walking up to the graveyard, coats all around me, and I threw a daffodil in after the coffin," he said. Mr Fallon said he does not expect justice, but simply wants to know the truth and has called for an all-Ireland truth and reconciliation process. "I do think the Government and others should acknowledge what went on. The State hasn't acknowledged its part yet, and I think it's somewhat cowardly, to be honest," he said. "There's a peace, but it's not necessarily peace for the victims. The victims are still living with their suffering." Mr Fallon said there was controversy over where the guns that killed his father had come from. The same year saw the Arms Crisis, during which Charles Haughey and Neil Blaney were dismissed as cabinet ministers for alleged involvement in a conspiracy to smuggle arms to the IRA in the North. Neither man was convicted, with charges against Mr Blaney dropped while Mr Haughey and others were found not guilty. "There were allegations made in the Dail that the guns that killed him came from government sources," Mr Fallon said. PIECEMEAL "I think there should be an all-island or across-the-islands truth and reconciliation process, not just this kind of piecemeal, delayed reaction. "There's an Irish government file on his death which has not been fully released yet. The Government released some of it to an author a few years ago." Mr Fallon, the youngest of five siblings, said his father's death destroyed his family. "I can remember standing on his feet as he was walking backwards. My mother never really recovered from his death, she was destroyed by it," he said. What distinguishes the United States from other countries is not the nature of the bailouts. Its the underlying structure, said Carol Graham, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who studies safety nets. People are more vulnerable from the get-go, even in normal times. You throw a shock like this at the system? Its about as bad as it could get. American workers face extra anxiety over medical costs. The United States, unlike most of the developed world, does not guarantee health care. While countries like Denmark have famously robust safety nets, even the Conservative government in Britain has, after years of austerity, adopted a similar approach. For the first time in our history, the government is going to step in and pay peoples wages, the British chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, said last week. The plan, which is still being developed, will pay up to about $2,900 a month to workers who have lost hours but are not laid off. [Update: Boris Johnson, U.K. Prime Minister, has the coronavirus.] The center-right government in Germany will spend more than $40 billion to help small businesses cover basic needs to stay afloat during the crisis. That is in addition to a program aimed at larger companies, called kurzarbeit, or short-time working, that covers lost wages for employees who are sent home, to avoid laying them off. Economists expect about two million workers to receive aid under the program, more than during the financial crisis a decade ago. Amid coronavirus pandemic, Union health ministry on Monday told the civil aviation ministry that airlines have to take the responsibility of monitoring the health of crew members, who flew abroad on duty, during their stay in India. In a letter to Civil aviation ministry, the health ministry noted: "If a laboratory positive case of COVID-19 is found in a flight, the entire crew has to be de-rostered for minimum 14 days. The crew needs to follow home-isolation during the time at their own country." The letter enumerated the steps that need to be taken for crew members of international flights landing at Indian airports. "The crew has to fill the self-declaration forms, similar to the passengers. The crew needs to present the self-declaration forms to the health authorities and clear the health screening at the respective airports," stated the letter. Coronavirus cases rose to 415 in the country on Monday. Seven people had died till Saturday evening due to the virus. The health ministry's letter stated that if a crew arrives in India with COVID-19 symptoms, then they have to declare the same to the APHO (Airport Health Organisation) and follow the isolation protocols as directed by them. "During the stay in India, if the crew develops any signs/symptoms of COVID-19, they should immediately inform APHO for isolation and testing. The airlines should take the responsibility of monitoring the health of the crew members during their stay at India," the letter noted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The jury at the High Court in Edinburgh found Scotlands former first minister not guilty on 12 charges. Glasgow, Scotland Alex Salmond, who took Scotland to the brink of independence in 2014, has been cleared of all charges following attempted rape and sexual assault allegations. The jury at the High Court in Edinburgh on Monday found Scotlands former first minister not guilty on 12 charges, with one charge of sexual assault with intent to rape not proven a verdict unique to Scots law. Speaking outside court after his acquittal, Salmond told reporters: As many of you will know, there is certain evidence I would have liked to have seen led in this trial but for a variety of reasons we were not able to do so. At some point, that information, that facts and that evidence will see the light of day. The two-week trial in the Scottish capital had been one of the most hotly anticipated court cases, but was obscured by the coronavirus pandemic. At any other time, the trial of a man who was once leader of the pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP) and head of Scotlands government, would have made headline news. 200305133850107 Scottish political commentator Gerry Hassan told Al Jazeera: Apart from the sensational first and second day of the Salmond trial, it was relegated to also-ran comments in the mainstream media. Because of the coronavirus and because there are huge issues of humanity, of life and death at stake, it does mean that the political dimension of this and the deep divisions of the SNP are going to take a bit more time to come to full fruition. But they will. After the verdict was announced, SNP Member of Parliament Kenny MacAskill tweeted: Delighted for Alex Salmond. Some resignations now required. SNP Member of Parliament Joanna Cherry also welcomed the jurys decision but said serious questions now arise about the background to these cases. Such remarks appear to relate to how the Scottish government, currently under the guidance of SNP leader and Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon, a one-time protege and friend of Salmond, handled complaints against the ex-first minister. Salmond successfully sued his former administration in Edinburgh last year, following its flawed inquiry into sexual harassment claims against him, and he was awarded costs of more than 500,000 pounds ($576,480). This has created a bit of a split in the party, and the Salmond supporters will feel vindicated, said Simon Pia, a former Scottish Labour Party press adviser, speaking to Al Jazeera. Who would not say that Salmond might once again aspire to leadership? But outside the political arena, reactions to Salmonds acquittal were also notable. Rape Crisis Scotland chief executive Sandy Brindley told Al Jazeera that she worries about the message the verdict sends. This will be a very difficult day for many, many survivors of sexual violence and its really important that anyone affected by this knows that we believe them and that support is there, she said. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky had a phone conversation with Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva regarding Ukraine's cooperation with the IMF, the presidents press service has reported. "The parties discussed the financial and economic situation in Ukraine given the spread of coronavirus. Volodymyr Zelensky informed Kristalina Georgieva about the state of affairs in Ukraine and the measures taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19," the report says. The interlocutors discussed the expansion of the program of cooperation between Ukraine and the IMF to support further reforms in our country and overcome the challenges facing the Ukrainian economy due to the spread of coronavirus, as well as the steps to implement this program. We discussed an increase in the amount of support from the Fund to Ukraine in times of major economic challenges caused by the global pandemic. Ukraine is aware that today it is necessary to act proactively and quickly in order to minimize the negative impact of the pandemic and restrictions associated with it on the economy and welfare of citizens, Zelensky emphasized. I had a very constructive conversation with President Volodymyr Zelensky today, and expressed our support for Ukraine as the country confronts the tremendous challenges caused by COVID-19, Georgieva wrote on Twitter. The parties also agreed to coordinate joint actions to expand the support programs for Ukraine with international partners. ish A Nepalese man covers his face with handkerchief at Tribhuvan International airpot in Kathmandu, Nepal, Monday, Kathmandu: Nepal on Monday confirmed its second coronavirus case, a 19-year-old female student who returned from France via Qatar. The student has been kept under isolation at the Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital in Kathmandu, Minister for Health and Population Bhanubhakta Dhala told a press conference here. The teenager had returned from France via Qatar on March 17, he said, adding that her family members will also be quarantined. On January 24, a Nepali national who returned from China's Wuhan city, the epicentre of the virus, was tested positive for COVID-19. The man was later released from hospital after he was cured. Facebook's founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaks at the Viva Tech start-up and technology summit in Paris (Reuters) - Facebook Inc Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said on Sunday that the social media company has donated its emergency reserve of 720,000 masks to provide health workers with more protective gear. "To help, Facebook donated our emergency reserve of 720,000 masks that we had bought in case the wildfires continued," Zuckerberg said in a post, adding that the company is also working on "sourcing a lot more to donate." The United States has seen a surge in demand for respirator masks caused by the coronavirus outbreak as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, over the next 18 months, aims to buy 500 million masks for the Strategic National Stockpile, the nation's supply of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru; editing by Diane Craft) Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways told staff on Monday it would temporarily cut salaries by up to 50% for a month due to the impact on its business from the coronavirus outbreak, according to an internal email seen by Reuters. The state-owned carrier, which will suspend its entire passenger network for two weeks from Wednesday, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Executives, pilots and engineers will be paid half their basic salaries and cabin crew would be paid 25% less in April, the email said. Other employees would also have their salaries cut and staff would not be paid their usual transport and other job-related allowances, it said. "We will need to take some drastic measures to weather the storm over the next few weeks and avoid job losses as much as possible," Etihad Chief Executive Tony Douglas said in another staff email. The United Arab Emirates announced earlier that it was suspending all passenger flights for two weeks to contain the spread of the virus that has been linked to two deaths and infected 153 in the Gulf Arab state. Etihad, which has so far suspended flights to dozens of destinations because of the virus, would survive the epidemic, Douglas said last week. The airline this month reported an $870 million loss for 2019, its fourth consecutive annual loss. It has lost $5.6 billion since 2016. Dubai's Emirates, the UAE's biggest airline, on Sunday said it will enforce a temporary 25% to 50% reduction in basic salary for the majority of employees. Search Keywords: Short link: With immense stardom, comes great responsibility. Simple because of the kind of influence you have. Superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan both took their social responsibility seriously and shared a strong message with their millions of followers on how to fight Coronavirus. Actor Shah Rukh Khan has found a witty and certainly entertaining way to let Indians know the hygiene habits that will enable us to fight this horrible coronavirus. How? By using scenes from his own movies. Without further delay, watch the video below. SRK begins his video by encouraging his fans to pick up hobbies they always wanted to do but never had the time for it. Case in point? SRK is learning how to play the guitar! The actor then goes onto inform the symptoms of coronavirus by using scenes from films like Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Chennai Express and others. He even illustrated the kind of masks people should not buy, the kind he wore in Baazigar or Badshah. On the other hand, actor Salman Khan uploaded a video demanding Indians to collectively fight the novel coronavirus. In the video, Salman Khan sends his appreciation for those who are out there fighting for us. He then asks all his fans to obey the directives set out by the government. Salman makes an important point and says, We always feel that this will not affect us but the coronavirus can happen to anyone." Watch below. Salman Khan also tells his fans to not treat this quarantine as a public holiday and certainly not venture out. He says, " This is a serious matter, wear a mask, protect yourself, wash your hands, stay clean, keep away from people. Whats the difficulty in doing all this? Isn't that amazing how both superstars are contributing in their own way to curb the spread of coronavirus? We sure love it! OTTAWAThe federal government will table emergency legislation Tuesday to give cabinet ministers broad powers to hike taxes and spend money without Parliaments approval for more than a year. The extraordinary measures which will stretch until Dec. 21, 2021 are contained in legislation to be debated during a short sitting of the House of Commons with just a small number of MPs. The Commons had been recalled to pass legislation needed to enact some of the economic measures contained in the Liberal governments initial response to the economic fallout from COVID-19. But the proposed legislation goes far beyond what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau or Finance Minister Bill Morneau have publicly discussed as they laid out the federal governments response to the health and economic crisis. Yet the draft legislation, viewed by the Star, could allow cabinet to unilaterally make decisions that are now subject to the debate and approval of MPs. On taxes for example, cabinet ministers would have the power to make decisions on their own until before 2022. For greater certainty, a regulation made under this section may contain provisions that have the effect of repealing or imposing a tax, decreasing or increasing a rate or an amount of tax or otherwise changing the incidence of tax, the legislation states. If any changes remain in force until after 2021, the finance minister would have until July 2022 to report to Parliament on the amendments that still exist. The legislation also gives the finance minister broad powers until the end of 2021 to borrow money for the payment of any amount in extraordinary circumstances, including in the event of a natural disaster or to promote the stability or maintain the efficiency of the financial system in Canada. The minister will have to report on the borrowing but only if the Commons is sitting. The legislation also allows the minister to wield financial power to shore up outside entities, with the ability to purchase securities, make loans and extend lines of credit and guarantee any debt, obligation or financial asset. It also permits the government to make payments to an entity for the purposes of stimulating economic activity or employment in situations of significant and systemic economic and financial distress. It creates the Public Health Events of National Concern Payments Act, which authorizes all money required to do anything, including making payments to provinces and territories, in relation to that public health event. Other parts of the bill amend existing legislation to enact the measures announced last week, such as an enhanced GST credit, a temporary boost to the Canada Child Benefit and the provision of a wage subsidy for small businesses, as well as the promised income support payments to workers who lose income because of the COVID-19 crisis. Morneau spokesperson Maeva Proteau said she was unable to comment on details of the bill before it was formally tabled in the Commons. Opposition MPs have voiced support for the governments economic moves to help Canadians and businesses but the Liberals demand for such sweeping spending powers is sure to give them pause. In a statement Monday night, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said his party is ready to support measures that help Canadians but wont give the minority Liberal government a blank cheque. We will not give the government unlimited power to raise taxes without a parliamentary vote. We will authorize whatever spending measures are justified to respond to the situation, but we will not sign a blank cheque, Scheer said. Conservatives and New Democrats are pressing Trudeaus government to dramatically boost the financial assistance it has promised Canadians left out of work or stuck at home now facing the prospect of weeks without income. Families right now are in dire need. There are many people who are not going to be able to pay the bills or afford to put food on the table unless they get help right away, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh told reporters Monday. The NDP wants the federal government to send $2,000 to every Canadian $2,000 and $250 to each child to provide a financial lifeline as the economic toll of the virus deepens. As well, the New Democrats want the government to sweeten its proposed wage subsidy meant as an incentive to small businesses to keep employees on the payroll. Yet, business owners have complained that the proposed subsidy covering just 10 per cent of a wage is too low to be effective. The NDP wants Canada to follow the lead of more generous nations and provide wage subsidies topping 75 per cent in exchange for a companys guarantee that it will not lay off workers. The party did not cost their proposals which were released Monday. We know that there are some families that are going to be without any income for over a month and that is simply not tenable, he said. The emergency economic package unveiled by the Liberals last week promised $27 billion in direct financial assistance to individuals and businesses, plus another $55 billion in tax deferrals. Scheer says his party also wants to see enhancements. We do believe that there needs to be more done. We have been calling on the government to do more for workers who are affected by retail stores and restaurants being ordered to close, he told CBC News in a Sunday interview. The Conservatives say the government should refund GST remittances to the small businesses that collected them over the last six months as one measure to help owners with cash flow to cover expenses. They want the government to backstop banks that provide loans to small businesses. The federal government has already promised $10 billion in credit to be administered by the Export Development Bank and Business Development Bank. But the Conservatives call that wholly inadequate. And like the NDP, the Conservatives also want to see the wage subsidy proposal drastically increased. On the health front, the federal government said Monday that it will invest more than $200 million to speed development of a vaccine against COVID-19. The funding announced by Trudeau on Monday will support efforts by companies in Vancouver and Quebec City as well as the University of Saskatchewan to develop a vaccine for COVID-19. Trudeau stressed though that a vaccine remains months away and should only be seen as a long-term solution to the virus. Vaccines wont be ready overnight, he said. Still, he said the investments will build Canadian capacity to produce vaccinations. Canada needs that in order to provide mass treatment as soon as possible, he said. But Trudeau warned that in the short-term, staying away from others is the best way to curb the spread of the virus. Enough is enough, Trudeau said, speaking about the weekend images of people gathered in groups at beaches, parks and playing sports in defiance of public health advice to remain physically apart. Go home and stay home. This is what we all need, he said. Read more about: On Friday (March 20), in Hanoi, many relevant agencies, businesses, and overseas Vietnamese made donations to the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee in the presence of VFF President Tran Thanh Man. Receiving VND10 billion (US$428,000) to support the COVID-19 fight and VND10 billion to support local people in dealing with the damage caused by drought and saltwater intrusion from entrepreneurs Le Van Kiem and Tran Cam Nhung (President and Vice President of the Board of Directors of Long Thanh Investment and Trading JSC), Man thanked the company's noble gesture for accompanying the VFF in its activities to support the poor and those suffering from natural disasters and floods. In 2019, the company donated VND 10 billion to the Fund for the Poor. So far, Labour Hero Le Van Kiem and businessperson Tran Cam Nhung have participated in supporting domestic and foreign charity programmes in Vietnam with donations totalling over VND1.2 trillion. Sympathising with the difficulties that Long Thanh JSC and other companies across the country face amidst the complicated developments of COVID-19, Man expressed his hope that enterprises would try to overcome difficulties and continue to accompany the Party, the Government and the VFF in epidemic prevention and control. Also on March 20, Hau A Lenh, VFF Vice President cum General Secretary, received over VND7.5 billion donated by relevant units, agencies and businesses to support the anti-epidemic fight. On the same day, the Ho Chi Minh City Fatherland Front Committee launched a programme to call for support of the prevention and control efforts against COVID-19 and to assist local people suffering from the drought and saltwater intrusion in the South Central, Central Highlands and Mekong Delta regions. At the launch ceremony, the organisers received over VND70.1 billion from 98 organisations and individuals. On Friday, the Hanoi Fatherland Front Committee received donations in support of the COVID-19 fight worth VND4 billion from 13 units, religious organisations, agencies, businesses, artists and philanthropists. By March 20, the Hanoi agency has received more than VND5.5 billion in support of the prevention and control of the epidemic. In the afternoon of the same day, Da Nang International Terminal Investment and Operation Joint Stock Company donated VND1 billion to the citys health sector in support of COVID-19 prevention and control in Da Nang. The company will also offer 100 protective clothing sets for the isolation camp in Hoa Vang District and will send volunteers to participate in the epidemic prevention work. On March 21, Ho Chi Minh City Communist Youth Union in Da Nang presented 100 sets of isolation protective suits, 20,000 chicken eggs, 200 bars of soap and 1,000 watermelons to two local concentrated isolation camps. The unit also sent 100 sets of medical protective clothing, 100 face masks, and 20,000 chicken eggs for local people in an isolated area in Son Tra district. On March 20, the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam - Thanh Hoa province branch and Lam Son branch presented VND250 million to the Thanh Hoa province Fatherland Front. To date, the agency has received over VND1.7 billion in support of epidemic prevention. Up until now, businesses, units and benefactors in Thai Nguyen province have donated VND15.5 billion to support efforts against the epidemic. The donation is used to buy respirators, dialysis machines, negative pressure rooms and other necessary medical equipment. Local enterprises have surveyed the disease prevention and control at Thai Nguyen Central Hospital in order to continue providing timely support. On March 21, Deputy General Director of the Airports Corporation of Vietnam - JSC Nguyen Duc Hung and representatives of Noi Bai International Airport presented VND3 billion to the VFF to support the prevention and control of COVID-19. Vietnam Dairy Products JSC (Vinamilk) has donated nutritional products worth VND1 billion to support nearly 1,000 health workers in Ho Chi Minh City to fight against COVID-19. Vinamilk will continue extend its support programme in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Church removes pews from sanctuary to give drunken revelers a place to sleep off hangover Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A 17th century church in London replaces its pews with camp beds and invites drunkards from nearby streets to sleep in its premises with the hope that they will sober up. Volunteers of St. Annes, which is part of the Church of England and situated in Londons Soho area, go to the streets every Friday and Saturday between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. in search of those who are vulnerable and bring them back to the church, where they are offered water and beds, just as Jesus reached out to all people, The Sunday Times reported. Sometimes the church seeks the help of paramedics from St. John Ambulance for people with more serious health conditions, the newspaper added. Jesus reached out to all people no matter who they were or what theyd done; He acted for the vulnerable, the churchs resident priest, the Rev. Simon Buckley, was quoted as saying. I dont sit here in judgment on people whove decided to get bladdered on a Friday night. I dont know what theyve been through that week, added Buckley, who earlier worked as a puppeteer for the satirical television show "Spitting Image." The initiative is part of a scheme run by Westminster city council. Drinking culture has changed, Buckley said. When I go out into Soho on a weekend and even on a Thursday Im shocked by the number of people still drinking right into the early hours of the morning. There is no consensus within Christianity on whether a believer should drink alcohol. While some enjoy the practice, others abstain. Patrick Nelson, president of Dordt Theological Seminary, earlier told The Christian Post that while the Bible does not expressly forbid the drinking of alcohol, nevertheless it does forbid us from getting drunk from the drinking of alcohol. Both the Old and New Testament speak of the practice, giving it mixed reviews. You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the tent of meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, says Leviticus 10:9. Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise, reads Proverbs 20:1. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, says Ephesians 5:18. Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses, reads 1 Timothy 5:23. In November 2018, a LifeWay Research poll found that among Protestant Christians in the United States, Lutherans are most likely to say that they consume alcohol while Pentecostals are least likely. In the poll, over 75 percent of Lutherans answered yes when asked if they drink alcohol. Meanwhile, 62 percent of Methodist respondents responded with the same answer. By comparison, just 43 percent of nondenominational Christians, 33 percent of Baptists and 23 percent of Assemblies of God/Pentecostal Christians said that they consume alcohol. If you couldnt join us on Friday for our special conference call about the business and policy implications of the coronavirus pandemic, the recording is here. The response was enormous more than 4,000 of you signed up to participate so we couldnt get to all of the questions. What should we cover in future calls? Let us know. (Want this in your inbox each morning? Sign up here.) Its happening again Senate Democrats blocked a $1.8 trillion stimulus plan on Sunday, preventing the largest such bill in American history from advancing in the chamber. It was an eerie echo of 2008, the NYT reports, when House Republicans initially blocked a Wall Street bailout bill. Negotiations continue, as the market falls (again). Democrats are pushing for more protections of unemployed workers and stricter conditions attached to corporate rescue funds. Senator Elizabeth Warren called a $500 billion fund to bail out airlines and other unspecified sectors a slush fund. Despite the rancor, senators from both sides suggested that an agreement was close, with another vote likely later today. Then it will take time to reconcile a Senate agreement with a House bill. Amid all the stress the world is going through with the novel pandemic coronavirus, this might be a sliver hope for everyone working hard to find a cure for the virus. A recent French study has determined that hydroxychloroquine might be the answer to treat the virus. According to the study, if paired up with an antibiotic, the anti-malarial drug will prove to be very beneficial for those fighting the deadly virus. However, scientists have advised everyone to move ahead with caution as there is limited research available clinical trials on a large basis are yet to be carried out. Once those are confirmed, only then the complete effectiveness of the drug can be determined. Pinterest In India, the use of hydroxychloroquine has been majorly recommended for high-risk patients as well as asymptomatic health care workers who are treating infected people and exposing themselves to the virus. Family members of COVID-19 confirmed cases are also recommended to use the drug to prevent catching the infection. President of the Indian Council of Medical Research, Dr Balram Bhargava, has issued a note which warns people to not let the drug provide them with a false sense of security. Prescribed health measures like washing hands, respiratory etiquette, and minimum 1 m distance should still be vigorously followed by everyone. The note further explains how the medicine works and why it is being recommended. It reads, 'Its use in prophylaxis is derived from available evidence of benefit as treatment and supported by pre-clinical data. The recommendation is based on risk-benefit consideration under exceptional circumstances that call for protection of high-risk individuals'. AFP The recommended dosage of the drug is 400mg twice a day which should be followed by a weekly dose of 400mg for next 7 weeks. Children under 15 years are recommended to not use the drug. The drug can only be prescribed by a qualified registered medical practitioner. Major hotels will be turned into quarantine zones and even hospital wards in an emergency plan that is also mobilising industry to fill looming shortages for medical equipment to fight the coronavirus. Hotels are demanding they be treated as essential services when governments order community shutdowns within days, arguing they can make rooms available for healthcare or self-isolation. The head of Australia's largest private health insurer also predicts private hospitals will be required to treat COVID-19 patients amid concerns intensive care units and other health services will be overwhelmed. Hotels could be used as quarantine zones for people who cannot self-isolate at home. With experts warning hospitals will be overloaded within weeks, the Morrison government is working with manufacturers to make thousands more ventilators, masks, sanitisers and other essential products. Australian Hotels Association chief executive Steve Ferguson said a number of hotels and motels had advised the NSW and Victorian governments they were prepared to help with individual self-isolation. Mr Ferguson said the industry needed to be added to the essential services list for many accommodation venues to continue to trade and was working with governments for that to happen. At the time when the world is reeling from China-origiated pandemic, Covid-19, its President Xi Jinping is more concerned about political self-preservation than saving lives globally. Xi-led Communist Party, which is infamous for controlling information, has waged a media war against the United States. China last week announced that it will expel American journalists working in the country for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. Aaron Rhodes, human rights editor of Dissident Magazine, and Jianli Yang, president of Citizen Power Initiatives for China, wrote in the Wall Street Journal that even in the time of crisis, Communist Party cares more about controlling information regarding the pandemic than about controlling the virus itself. Coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan city of China, has so far contracted 335,000 people around the world. At least 14,641 have died in just three months, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. Countries like the US accused China of letting the virus spread around the world. US president recently said that the "Chinese Virus" could have stopped at its origin itself. It is clear that for Xi, political self-preservation is more important than lives that can be saved, in China and around the world, by accurate media coverage, stated Rhodes and Yang. Xi Jinping, surrounded by unprecedented anger, criticism and ridicule, is being confronted with resistance from within and without the party, which has been present, in latent form, since he removed term limits from China's constitution, clearly revealing his ambition to become president for life. China has resorted to game-playing at such a time, risking a crisis in international relations. A tit-for-tat battle between the US and China began on February 17 China revoked the press passes of three reporters of Wall Street Journal after they wrote an article with the "China Is the Real Sick Man of Asia." referencing the ongoing coronavirus outbreak that originated in the country. Next day, the United States government had designated five Chinese media agencies as "foreign missions". In response, on March 2, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo imposed a cap on the number of individuals permitted to work for Chinese government-controlled media organizations in the United States. The move cut the number of employees to 100, down from 160. The writers said that the Chinese government's disproportionate retaliation is particularly despicable because it comes in the midst of an unprecedented made-in-China global crisis. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump has said he is "upset" with China over its late sharing of information on coronavirus. "They should have told us about this," Trump told reporters at a press conference in the White House on Sunday. "I'm a little upset with China. I'll be honest with you, because as much as I like (Chinese) President Xi (Jinping) and as much as I respect and admire the country," he said. Trump said soon after he received information about the spread of the deadly viral infection in China, he wanted to send US medical team there. However, China did not allow. Without specifying any timeline, Trump said he had spoken to President Xi "specifically" about sending US team to China, however, "he doesn't want this... this is not something that he wants". The US president said it is "out of pride" that China didn't "want us to send people" and "they didn't really respond". Reiterating that America's relationship with China is "very good", Trump said, "I wish they (had) told us three months sooner that this was a problem. We didn't know about it. They knew about it and they should (have) told us. We could have saved a lot of lives throughout the world." Meanwhile, the US and Chinese officials continued with their war of words over coronavirus on Twitter. "Since early January, the CCP has retaliated against its citizens and journalists in China for making information public, launched disinformation campaigns around the world, and limited the international community's access to valuable public health information," the National Security Council of the White House tweeted. On March 20, Morgan Ortagus, spokesperson of the US State Department, tweeted, "By Jan. 3, Chinese authorities had already ordered #COVID19 virus samples destroyed, silenced Wuhan doctors, and censored public concerns online. @SpokespersonCHN is right: This is a timeline the world must absolutely scrutinize." Responding to the tweet, Hua Chunying, spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said China has been updating the US on coronavirus and its response since January 3. On January 15, the US State Department notified Americans in China about the US Centre for Disease Control's warning against the coronavirus. "And now blame China for Delay? Seriously," she said. China, Hua tweeted, has treated COVID 19 as highly pathogenic virus according to the law on prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. "As WHO stated, China identified the pathogen in a record short time and shared genetic sequence with the world, which helped others with epidemic response," she said. However, Ortagus denied her remarks. "Nonsense. You call it 'highly pathogenic' now, but last month your officials blocked a WHO report from calling COVID19 a 'dangerous pathogen'," she said, tagging a link of a 'Financial Times' article on the topic to buttress her argument. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Editorial Capitalism V. Socialism: CORONAVIRUS Some health experts warn that Australia has yet to see the worse of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), now dubbed a pandemic. However, since the beginning of March, China is reporting the lowest number of new cases since they started to release figures in January. On the other hand, across Western Europe, the Americas, and Australasia, the pandemic has worsened. Here, the inevitable question arises: Are socialist countries better equipped at handling crises? If so, why? To start: the pandemic is thought to worsen here because we have yet to enter winter, unlike the northern hemisphere, where the Coronavirus spreads a lot more effectively. Thus, with the foresight of how dangerous COVID-19 could be, what has Australia done? For the most part, it has done little. It was only last week when the gravity of the situation hit the Morrison government that measures were drawn up a typical response from a government that has been reactive, rather than proactive. The first measure is a stimulus package worth $22.9 billion, is virtually worthless. Of the $22.9 billion, only $4.8 billion is directed to our most needy, who will receive a one-off $750 payment. Those entitled include Newstart recipients, disability support pensioners, those on carers allowance, youth allowance, veterans support payments, family tax benefits, those with Commonwealth senior health card-holders, aged pensioners, and casual workers. However, as many have noted, the one-off payment hardly helps. A spokesperson for the Disabled and Neurodiverse Workers Alliance (DNWA) stated: $750 doesnt cover the expenses of the healthcare that people with chronic illnesses or disabilities need. Instead, we need a raise in Newstart, to scrap the plans to abolish sickness allowance, and make the Disability Support Pension (DSP) more accessible. Additionally, to highlight how inadequate the stimulus package is, the Australian Unemployed Workers Union (AUWU) started the hashtag #My750 with many people tweeting that the payment would immediately go to existing debt rather than stimulate the economy. Last Monday, the Morrison government stated that state leaders need to start to implement bans on mass-gatherings over 500 people, except for schools, universities, and airports. Conveniently, this ban occurred after a Hillsong conference that happened over the previous weekend exposing where the PMs interests and concerns lay. However, is this measure enough, given that we see several Western countries, like the Netherlands, completely shut down outside of a few essential stores like pharmacies? Let us Juxtapose our governments response to Chinas. Almost as soon as COVID-19 became identified, Chinas response was rapid. It built whole hospitals within weeks and Wuhan, where COVID-19 was first reported, was wholly locked down. Many were sceptical of the reporting coming from China, including those in at the World Health Organisation (WHO) and surprised to find the reports were accurate. WHO stated: Chinas bold approach to contain the rapid spread of this new respiratory pathogen has changed the course of a rapidly escalating and deadly epidemic, adding, This decline in COVID-19 cases across China is real. What is perhaps even more revealing of socialism in action is Chinas international humanitarian aid to COVID-19. With Italy being the worst effected European nation, China has stepped up to help where other European countries wont. China has sent medical experts and doctors, as well as medical supplies to help the COVID-19-stricken country through this rough period. Much like the bushfire crisis that plagued Australia earlier this year, the Morrison governments response is lacking. The Communist Party of Australia sees the sluggish response by our government as largely as a consequence of the failure of capitalism to solve any crisis. We must make sure to stand in solidarity with all health professionals and the rest of the working-class. We must maintain the pressure on our government to act! The situation in the hospitals of the French department Grand Est is dire. Cross-border solidarity is now on display. According to information obtained by RTL, three infected patients have arrived in Luxembourg in order to be hospitalised on Monday. Another two arrived on Tuesday. French sources state that four people were transported by Air Rescue helicopters from Mulhouse to Luxembourg. In order to help the saturated French hospital sector, other neighbouring regions are also showing solidarity. Other French patients are currently being evacuated to Germany and Switzerland. About 500 infected patients remain in reanimation units in the Grand Est department. An approximate total of 280 patients have died of coronavirus. As of Monday evening, over 16,900 patients tested positive in France. Among the hardest-hit regions is the department of Grand Est with about 3,400 confirmed cases. Karma is real, tweets one person after Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein reportedly tests positive for coronavirus while in prison. Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in a New York state prison on charges of sexual assault and third-degree rape. He has tested positive for COVID-19, in prison according to local media. Variety reported that Weinstein is one of two inmates at Wende Correctional Facility who have tested positive for coronavirus and been put in isolation in New York state prison, according to the Niagara Gazette. Twitter/Harvey FC The local newspaper based in Niagara Falls cites "officials connected to the state prison system," as their sources who revealed that Weinstein has tested positive for the virus but spoke to the paper anonymously since they were not authorized to speak on condition of the Oscar-winning movie producer. zvw.de The sources told the newspaper it is believed Weinstein had already contracted the virus by the time he entered the state prison system last Wednesday. Here's how social media reacted to disgraced movie mogul's news of catching the deadly virus: This video is my exact reaction to hearing Harvey Weinstein has been diagnosed with covid-19 https://t.co/74U78yLUjW Lemonmeg (@meggiejay_) March 23, 2020 Harvey Weinstein has tested positive for Covid-19. Oh, Karma. You sweet, little nasty bitch. I love you. Ida Skibenes (@ida_skibenes) March 22, 2020 #HarveyDidntFluicideHimself Let me just say if Harvey Weinstein supposedly die from the Coronavirus I will not believe it!! This will be another Jeffery Epstein situation!!! REPEAT AFTER ME! #HarveyDidntFluicideHimself#HarveyDidntFluicideHimself pic.twitter.com/eezE10jodz Terrence K. Williams (@w_terrence) March 23, 2020 Are we actually surprised Harvey Weinstein got the virus you get from touching people? Joanna Hausmann Jatar (@Joannahausmann) March 23, 2020 The news today reported that Harvey Weinstein tested positive for coronavirus, but my question is this: why did they waste a test on him? Turnip (@Turnip2020) March 23, 2020 Im less interested in the fact that Harvey Weinstein tested positive for #COVID19, as much as the fact that he got a test before actually decent humans. Frederick Joseph (@FredTJoseph) March 22, 2020 Harvey Weinstein finally learning a lesson about personal space Rachel Sennott (@Rachel_Sennott) March 22, 2020 Harvey Weinstein tests positive for #COVID19 but ordinary people still can't get a #coronavirus test. David Leavitt (@David_Leavitt) March 22, 2020 Harvey Weinstein didn't coronavirus himself. Catturd (@catturd2) March 22, 2020 Harvey Weinstein has Corona virus. This is the first time a virus has contracted another virus #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/4UHE3vM8yf swami fekuananda (@fekuananda) March 22, 2020 Prior to being transferred, Harvey was at Bellevue Hospital in New York City where he was being monitored for a heart condition and high blood pressure. When Variety asked, the spokesperson for Weinstein said he had no positive details about Weinstein testing for COVID-10. Weinstein's attorney and his jail consultant both also said they could not confirm the report. When asked if Weinstein has tested positive for COVID-19, Weinstein's jail consultant said, publicbroadcasting.net "No one on the legal defense team has been told this. Period. We cannot confirm that, nor care to comment on speculation." Well, as someone tweeted, 'for the first time ever, a virus has contracted another virus' and we would like to leave it right there! According to to Swiss firm IQAir, around half of the world's 50 most polluted cities are in India, with much of the blame going to the sheer number of vehicles cramming overcrowded streets. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on Indians to observe voluntary confinement on Sunday, roads that are usually crammed with cars, rickshaws, motorbikes and buses were clear. At least 75 Indian districts are under lockdown to help control the spread of the coronavirus, and that's had an immediate positive effect on air quality in New Delhi, which is the world's most polluted capital city. On Monday, New Delhi's Air Quality Index was recorded at around 93, which is considered moderate. Air quality is deemed to be good when the number drops below 50. New Delhi's air is regularly considered unhealthy, and AQI averaged around 161 in March of last year, according to IQAir. In financial capital Mumbai, levels were at 90, versus an average of around 153 in March 2019. India's toxic air claimed 1.24 million lives in 2017, according to a study published in Lancet Planetary Health. "(The drop) is mainly because of a huge reduction in vehicular traffic," said Dr. Gufran Beig, project director at the government environment monitoring agency SAFAR. As a result, skyscrapers usually shrouded in smog were visible and some residents reported spotting more stars than usual. "We went for a walk and my wife found that breathing was easier," said retired sea captain Francis Braganza, 74, whose wife suffers from chronic breathing problems he attributed to pollution. Some research also links air pollution to an increased risk of respiratory virus infections which include COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. "Once we get over this crisis, it will be as bad as before," Braganza said while walking on a quiet Mumbai road. Reuters contributed to this report. Related Video: Click here to See Video >> As the travel industry implodes because of the coronavirus crisis, rules on refunds for cancelled holidays are to be suspended. At present package holidaymakers whose trips are cancelled are entitled to all their money back within two weeks of the trip being called off. But the Package Travel Regulations 2018 were never designed for a total shutdown of international tourism. An estimated two million overseas package holidays were due to depart in the first 30 days of the governments warning against non-essential travel, running from 17 March to 16 April 2020. They have all been cancelled representing around 1bn that the law insists should be paid back to consumers. Many hard-pressed holidaymakers, facing uncertainty about their own incomes, are understandably anxious to get the cash that is due to them. But The Independent understands that the transport secretary, Grant Shapps, will agree to protect Britains beleaguered travel industry. For travel firms earning no revenue, having to hand back payments for cancelled holidays immediately could force them out of business. On Friday, the European Commission updated its guidance about refunds for cancelled holidays encouraging customers to accept vouchers or credit notes, as long as the customer is allowed to ask for their money back eventually. But that guarantee must be backed by insolvency protection, turning the vouchers into IOUs that are backed by the state. Mr Shapps is expected to agree to companies issuing credit notes enabling the holidaymaker to book a new trip within two years. Any customer who does not redeem the voucher can then claim the sum in cash. If the travel firm goes bust in the interim, financial protection will be provided by the government-backed Atol scheme. The fund that provides Atol refunds is almost empty after the collapse of Thomas Cook exactly six months ago. But the Department for Transport is the financial backer of last resort. The travel trade association, Abta, applauded the the European Commission recommendation. This new guidance will give customers the essential assurance that they will either get a holiday or their money back, as well as providing a much needed helping hand to travel companies through these difficult and unprecedented times. While the government has stepped in to support airlines, it has not yet announced any specific measures to help the wider travel industry including agents and tour operators. Mark Tanzer, chief executive of Abta, said: Were running out of time, people are losing their jobs right now and some companies will be facing bankruptcy if nothing is done. If that happens on a significant scale then the financial protection schemes for holidays will be placed under immense pressure and there will be considerable delays in customers recovering their money. The government has said they will do whatever it takes but we need much quicker and more decisive action. The move will anger many travellers who entered into contracts that guaranteed a full refund if the operator called off the holiday. They will instead become unwilling creditors of the company. Some holiday companies are already claiming, incorrectly, that the rules have been changed. The Independent has seen dozens of examples of travel firms rejecting requests for refunds. Until the rules change, a strict entitlement to a cash refund remains. The National RestaurantAssociation of India (NRAI) on Monday said it has requested the governmentfor a financial bailout package for the food service sector as over 70 lakh direct employees of therestaurant industry are facing a precarious situation due to the coronavirus outbreak. Earlier on March 18, NRAI had issued an advisory to all its members to shut down their dine-in operations till March 31, 2020 in view of theserious health risk to millions of employees and patronsin the foodservice sector due to COVID-19 outbreak in India, the association said in a statement. The restaurant industrywith an annual turnover of approximately Rs4 lakh crore,providing direct employment to over 7 million Indiansis in a very precarious situation currently, fighting a grim battle for its basic survival, NRAIPresident & CEO and ED of deGustibus HospitalityAnurag Katriar said. "Hence, we have written to our Finance Minister requesting for financial relief at such a crucial time. While preventing loss of direct jobs is our prime concern, we are also concerned about the dreams of many young entrepreneurs in the sector getting shattered due to this calamity," he added. The restaurant industry operates with a very high proportion of fixed operating expenses which makes its business very high-risk even in case of moderate revenue fluctuations. Now it is staring at almost zero revenue in the immediate term and at least 50 per cent drop for months thereafter, Katriar said. "We are therefore seeking support from everyone in the ecosystem in mitigating these fixed operating costs so that our losses are contained to manageable levels. The Union and the State Governments are two of the most important stakeholders and we are pinning lots of hope on them to bail us out of this unprecedented crisis," headded. Some of the salient demands of NRAIare unempoyment, pay cover for the employees especiallythe marginal employees in the sector, deferment of all statutory dues at the central and state level, moratorium on bank loans, restoration of input tax credit on GST for the sector and a general invocation of force majeure clause in view of this global pandemic, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Cabinet of Ministers decided on measures aimed at non-proliferation of coronavirus, before receiving letter from NSDC Former Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Honcharuk denied accusations of official negligence by the Cabinet of Ministers regarding the adoption of measures to counter the spread of coronavirus in Ukraine. The Cabinet of Ministers of Honcharuk developed an algorithm of actions and established a state of high preparedness even before receiving a letter from the NSDC. He wrote about this on his Facebook page. Honcharuks government decided to impose a temporary ban on exports. It was planned to introduce an export ban after diagnosing the first case of coronavirus disease. As of the beginning of February, three scenarios of the development of the situation were being considered - a scenario without infections in Ukraine, a scenario with a small number of infections and a pandemic ... At that time, there were no cases of infection in the country. Therefore, an export ban was planned subject to a diagnosis of the first case - Oleksiy Honcharuk wrote. The first case of coronavirus was registered on March 3, and the next day, the Rada voted to change the government. The new officials introduced a ban in a week, as we considered in one of the scenarios. Now is definitely not the best time to look for the extremes. It is better to concentrate on solving the serious challenges that Ukraine faces, Ex-PM stated. As we reported before, Ukraine's government made a decision to impose emergency situation in Donetsk, Ternopil and Cherkasy regions to prevent Covid-19 spread IndieWireFallTV Click here to read the full article. While the VFX industry has shifted rapidly to remote access during the global pandemic to keep content pipelines churning, thousands of practitioners have been forced to remain in their offices, putting themselves at risk. Thats because of pre-existing non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) designed to protect intellectual property. As of Monday, though, nearly 10,000 VFX artists have banded together in support of working remotely, signing an online petition to the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), launched by Mario Rokicki, a color supervisor at Double Negative in Vancouver. The NDAs that are forced on VFX Studios put artists and [staff] at [their] peril, wrote Rokicki. What was [a] minor inconvenience before is the major life risk situation with Coronavirus outbreak. VFX houses have or can quickly deploy secure technology solutions to allow work from home on the projects that with the magnitude of the pandemic will probably be delayed. All I ask is to put aside often legal misguided IP protection measures and harsh NDAs and allow tens of thousands of dedicated artists to work from home and prevent total VFX studios shutdown and layoffs. More from IndieWire In response, the Visual Effects Society (VES) lent its support through the following statement on Monday: The Visual Effects Society wants to encourage all employers large or small to grant permission for their employees to work remotely during this unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. We understand the concerns around security to protect proprietary work product, but right now is the time for the utmost flexibility towards VFX artists and all practitioners as we try to figure our way through this crisis. Many companies are trying to take action, and we are optimistic that studios and vendors can find and enact workable solutions. Story continues Additionally, the VES Technology Committee issued a series of best practices guidelines for working from home, culled from studios, vendors, and facilities. These cover secure remote desktop solutions, bandwidth comparisons, cloud solutions, and, most important, secure file transfer solutions. Indeed, security file transfer solutions remain the biggest concern for allowing employees to work at home, while the high cost of remote software makes it difficult for contract artists to do the same. However, some staffing is required at studios and smaller companies to keep the IT going and to move files. Most of the studios have been amenable to it, in concept, but some companies have not been able to sort out how to let artists work from home because of the security aspects of it, said Mike Chambers, visual effects producer (Christopher Nolans Tenet, still set to open July 17) and chair of the VES. In my case [with Tenet], were trying to move forward, but were doing a film finish and, visual effects wise, we only have one [vendor], which is Double Negative. Obviously, were dealing with the labs, FotoKem and IMAX, and other sundry vendors film-based stuff which absolutely affects our workflow. Meanwhile, IndieWire reached out to several VFX studios to get status updates, including Double Negative, which issued the following statement but did not specifically address Rokickis petition: Our industry, like most other industries globally, is facing considerable challenges in responding to the new realities ahead. Our priority is always to provide a safe and sustainable workplace for our artists and employees across the world, and we are responding by deploying remote working for all those who can work from home, and following local government advice to ensure that we are always responsive to fast-changing priorities. Our Los Angeles team is fully remote working. All of our teams in North America, the UK, and India are already partly remote working, and those that can in our Vancouver, Montreal, and London teams will be fully-enabled for remote working in the next couple of days, allowing thousands of people to be safely at home with their families. The challenges are many, but we are making great strides forward, with the full backing of our clients. These uncertain times call for community, creativity and collaboration. Throughout our industry, remote technologies are being developed and tested on an unprecedented scale.We remain committed to responding with urgency to the challenges ahead, and we will continue to prioritize the security and health of our talented teams, keeping them protected and enabled at all times. Framestore (The Kings Man, Tom & Jerry, Wonder Woman 1984), located in London, LA, New York, Chicago, Montreal, and Mumbai, is fully operational and working remotely. Given the size of the workforce and the global dispersal of our offices, scale has been our biggest challenge, said Fiona Walkinshaw, Framestores global managing director, Film. Those who use laptops were able to work from home almost instantaneously, while a phased, strategic approach was required for teams who require specialist equipment. Systems and support handled roll-out, calibration and acquiring new hardware. Everyone is now out of the offices and we continue to work remotely on de-bugging and ensuring the teams are able to work, she added. Industrial Light & Magic is up and running at all five studios (San Francisco, London, Vancouver, Singapore, and Sydney), secure and delivering work as remotely as much as possible on 10 projects (including The Mandalorian Season 2, A Quiet Place: Part II, No Time to Die, Jungle Cruise, Black Widow, and Space Jam 2). Sony Pictures Imageworks (Connected, The Boondocks, Vivo), headquartered in Vancouver, with an additional office in Culver City, is ensuring that everyone has the flexibility for remote work, social distancing, and family scheduling. The studio is now 90 percent transitioned and, last week, rolled out an updated remote solution on top of employees standard workstation setup at their desks. Imageworks also implemented strict social distancing efforts in office, and enacted enhanced facility cleaning regimens, including door handles, bathrooms, kitchen, and desks. The Third Floor (Black Widow, Artemis Fowl, Jungle Cruise), the industrys busiest visualization studio (previs, postvis, VR), headquartered in LA, already had an advantage working remotely with filmmakers on location with real-time tools and virtual workflows. When this crisis began, we initially faced the challenge of protecting our staff in Beijing, who were in the midst of launching our first permanent office in China, said CEO/co-founder Chris Edwards. When the virus started spreading beyond Wuhan, the first thing we did was send everyone home and connect them virtually. As a company, we learned a lot about the procedures for mitigating the risk of spreading the virus that we began to apply to our other offices in London, Atlanta, and LA. At our [LA] hub, we didnt want to take the risk of being unprepared, so we authorized our IT team to increase our internet bandwidth tenfold, and build an advanced remote login system that could enable our artists to work fluidly and securely from home, added Edwards, who worked with IT chiefs at major studios for advising and approving their comprehensive work-from-home solution. And the transition to a completely virtual studio became possible with the help of industry colleagues and suppliers when California Governor Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Eric Garcetti issued the stay-at-home order. Best of IndieWire Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. SAN FRANCISCO Pacific Gas & Electric will plead guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter for a swath of death and destruction left behind after its fraying electrical grid ignited a 2018 wildfire that destroyed three Northern California towns and drove the nations largest utility into bankruptcy. The plea agreement announced Monday resolves the charges facing PG&E as part of a previously sealed indictment in Butte County. It marks the second time this decade that the companys neglect has culminated in it being deemed a criminal. PG&E already is serving a five-year criminal probation imposed after it was convicted of six felony counts for falsifying records and other safety violations underlying a natural gas explosion that blew up a neighborhood in 2010 and killed eight people in San Bruno, California. As with its prior criminal conviction, no one from PG&E will go to prison for the companys felony crimes. Instead, its plea agreement with the Butte County District Attorneys office calls for PG&E to pay a $4 million fine, the maximum allowed. It will also help pay for efforts to restore access to water for residents affected by the loss of a canal destroyed by what became known as the Camp Fire. We cannot replace all that the fire destroyed, but our hope is that this plea agreement, along with our rebuilding efforts, will help the community move forward from this tragic incident, PG&E Corp. CEO Bill Johnson said. In a statement, Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said he hopes the plea agreement will bring a bit of a sense of justice done for the fire. Camp Fire survivor Lisa Williams was outraged with the outcome. Its a crime against society, she said. A fine doesnt change their behavior. They pay it and repeat bad behavior. One of those who died was Jay Downers wheelchair-using brother, with his dog by his side. Jay Downer also said he was dismayed by the price PG&E will pay for its lethal negligence. If I fell asleep at the wheel of a car and killed one person, I would be charged with manslaughter and I would be spending time in jail, Downer said. PG&E is scheduled to enter its plea and face sentencing at a court hearing scheduled for April 24. Investors seemed pleased with the PG&Es plea as the companys shares surged more than 12% to close at $8.12 while the overall stock market tanked. The Nov. 8, 2018, Camp Fire was fanned by strong winds, forcing thousands of people to quickly flee in their cars as flames ripped through the narrow canyon communities. Survivors described caravans of vehicles engulfed by the fire. Butte County officials have pegged the 2018 wildfires death toll at 85, but Ramsey disclosed Monday that further evidence cast doubt about whether one of the deaths was directly caused by the blaze. The Camp Fire followed a series of 2017 blazes that tore through Northern California and killed 44 people. Although state investigators didnt find PG&E culpable for those fires, the company is accepting responsibility for them in its bankruptcy case as part of a $13.5 billion settlement that will pay the victims of the 2017 and 2018 fires. Less than three months after the Butte County fires, PG&E filed for bankruptcy in early 2019 to help shield the utility from more than $50 billion in claimed losses stemming from a badly outdated electrical grid. PG&E has settled those claims for $25.5 billion, including the fund set up for the wildfire victims. Since the bankruptcy filing, PG&E hired Johnson as its new leader to shape up its culture as the company steps up its efforts to improve the safety and reliability of its power lines. Johnson hailed the plea agreement as a sign that PG&E is working to create a better future for all concerned. We want wildfire victims, our customers, our regulators and leaders to know that the lessons we learned from the Camp Fire remain a driving force for us to transform this company. Johnson has previously acknowledged that it will take many years to pull that off while PG&E pours an estimated $40 billion into badly needed upgrades. In the meantime, PG&E plans to periodically turn off the power during extremely windy and dry conditions to minimize fire risks in parts of a sprawling service territory that provides electricity to 16 million people. By its own admission, PG&E bungled the deliberate blackouts it imposed last autumn to the exasperation of customers and community leaders who complained about not being told about the outages. California Gov. Gavin Newsom had previously expressed doubts about whether the company has made enough changes to reform its ways, and he had been threatening to block PG&Es plan to get out of bankruptcy this summer. PG&Es chief regulator, the California Public Utilities Commission, still must approve the companys bankruptcy plan, a decision thats expected within the next few weeks. Last week Newsom dropped his objections amid the coronavirus outbreak that prompted him to order everyone in the state to remain in their homes as much as possible to reduce the spread of COVID-19. California holds unusual leverage over PG&Es fate in bankruptcy because the company needs state approval of its plan to qualify for coverage from a wildfire insurance fund that the state created last summer. Newsom backpedaled in a Friday bankruptcy court filing, saying he now believes PG&Es plan qualifies it for the coverage. As part of his deal with PG&E, the Democratic governor is still reserving the right to pursue a government-financed takeover of the company if it doesnt emerge from bankruptcy by a June 30 deadline. ___ This story has been corrected to reflect that California Gov. Gavin Newsom has dropped all his objections to PG&Es bankruptcy plan. An earlier version said he had only dropped some objections Help India! TCN News Diaspora groups decry the Indian governments continued attacks on minorities, civil rights activists and the caste oppressed at a time when the country is facing an existential crisis Support TwoCircles The Alliance for Justice and Accountability, an umbrella organization of progressive South Asian groups across the United States, is asking the Indian Government to put aside sectarian violence in the name of preservation of life as the Coronavirus pandemic unfolds. This crisis will unleash havoc in our communities at a time when Indian unity is at an all time low. During a pandemic, the basic trust of communities is an important requirement for public health interventions as so much of it depends on public compliance. The Indian government must restore faith that it will protect all citizens not just its communal and genocidal agenda. The Alliance for Justice and Accountability (AJA), is dedicated to promoting the common values of pluralism, tolerance, and respect for human rights that form the basis of the worlds two largest secular democracies the United States and India. We are extremely disturbed that the Indian government has not stopped its attacks on Indian Muslim and civil rights activists even during this critical window of time when it should be focused on combating the COVID-19 pandemic. That is why we are asking on the basis of a shared humanity to demand the BJP stop its genocidal project and focus on the fight ahead to preserve as many lives as possible. India should be investing all its resources in fighting the pandemic and providing economic relief to the informal sector instead of creating panic and harassment amongst minorities and civil rights activists. To that end we have the following demands: Stop any plans to implement CAA, NRC and NPR immediately. Implementation of these laws in the face of such massive protests at a time when citizens cannot exercise safely their right to assemble and dissent creates a dangerous environment at a time when national unity is the need of hour. The populace cannot be expected to rally around a genocidal administration. Discussions on issues that are even remotely divisive must be tabled until this pandemic has been overcome. These ill-conceived projects also drain valuable resources that need to be invested to stop the virus, build public health infrastructure, protect and save as many lives as possible, and strengthen the Indian economy. Cease immediately the witch-hunt and targeting of Muslims and other human rights activists who have been resisting the Citizenship Amendment Act. These are leaders who have been desperately exercising their constitutional right to protest and have been resisting the hate and bigotry of the Modi-Shah and regime. The cruelty of arresting or detaining these leaders deserves international condemnation, given the public health risks of the Coronavirus pandemic. Humanitarian release of all prisoners especially those arrested for protesting the CAA. Prisons are deathly incubators for this virus, and many other nations have started to release some prisoners on humanitarian measures. Among the thousands who have been arrested on CAA-related charges, some have faced custodial torture. There are also thousands of Muslim youths who were illegally arrested by the Delhi police in the aftermath of Delhi pogrom 2020. If the courts shut down during the pandemic detaining these individuals will amount to a death sentence and this needs to be addressed urgently. If there is no political will in Delhi for this we call upon the Supreme court to intervene on behalf of these illegal detainees as well as critical leaders like Ishrat Jehan.and others who were targeted along with United Against Hate (UAH) leader Khalid Saifi. Rapid humanitarian Support for victims of the pogrom. With thousands displaced in makeshift relief camps, the coalition calls on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to make a concerted effort to both accelerate the rehabilitation of these families into locations where they can safely shelter in place and buy the needed supplies to prevent infection. Given the desperate and late hour that India is beginning its battle against Coronavirus we demand that those in power should do everything possible to bring the nation together instead of engaging in repressive measures. Pacific Gas & Electric, Californias largest utility, said Monday that it had pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in connection with the Camp Fire, the states deadliest wildfire. California regulators determined last year that PG&Es equipment caused the fire, which in 2018 engulfed the town of Paradise and led to the deaths of 85 people. Facing tens of billions of dollars in wildfire claims, PG&E has been in bankruptcy reorganization since early last year. The company is racing to emerge from bankruptcy by June so that it can qualify for inclusion in a new state wildfire fund that could cover the costs of future fires. The plea agreement, struck with the district attorney in the county where the Camp Fire occurred, followed the announcement Friday that Gov. Gavin Newsom was willing to approve PG&Es plan to emerge from bankruptcy. Under the plan, victims of the wildfires have agreed to a payment of $13.5 billion. The plea agreement, announced in a securities filing, said PG&E had accepted a maximum penalty of $3.5 million and no other or additional sentence will be imposed on the utility in the criminal action in connection with the 2018 Camp Fire. PG&E sought bankruptcy protection early last year its second Chapter 11 filing in two decades with $30 billion in liabilities related to wildfires ignited by the utilitys poorly maintained electrical system. Under the agreement with Newsom announced Friday, the utility pledged billions of dollars to help wildfire victims, improve safety and make other changes. As part of the deal, PG&E will not pay dividends to shareholders for three years. The agreement should allow the utility to exit bankruptcy by June 30, a state-mandated deadline for it to take part in a fund that will help utilities pay claims from future wildfires. A federal judges approval is still needed for the companys bankruptcy plan. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. All playgrounds, campgrounds and other outdoor recreational facilities in Oregon will close to the public, in an ongoing effort to combat the spread of the coronavirus outbreak. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown issued the order Monday, at the same time closing all non-essential businesses and prohibiting group gatherings of any size, effective immediately. The order doesnt close all parks completely, leaving some room for parks to remain open as long as people maintain six feet of social distance. However, many parks systems around the state have already decided to close to the public. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department announced Sunday that it was closing all state park sites to the public through at least May 8. Public parks that are permitted to stay open must post signs requiring social distancing at all entrances, exits and prominent areas, according to the order. All restrooms must be stocked with soap or hand sanitizer. Park visitors are ordered to adhere to strict social distancing guidelines. None of us have ever been through this before, and that means there is no way to know exactly what lies ahead," Brown said in the announcement. "We dont know yet when this outbreak will end, or what changes this will bring for our state and for our country. But I want to make sure that weve done all we can to end it as quickly as possible. --Jamie Hale; jhale@oregonian.com; 503-294-4077; @HaleJamesB Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 20:23:36|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- China's transport ministry said Monday it will adopt stricter management over sailors on international ships amid the country's battle of preventing imported novel coronavirus disease cases. Yang Xinzhai, an official with the Ministry of Transport, said that containing imported infections by sailors has been a focus of their anti-virus works, as China has suspended all international cruise lines originating from ports on the Chinese mainland since late January. By the end of May, the country will see around 10,000 Chinese crews disembarking from ships, Yang said, therefore, precise measures should be adopted to strengthen epidemic control and prevention during their shift changes. Ship crew members who have sailed for more than 14 days and show no symptoms before arrival will be allowed to go ashore, while those with interval time less than 14 days will be required to quarantine for further observation. Foreign sailors who sailed through countries or regions with a serious epidemic situation within the past 14 days will not be granted entry at sea ports in accordance with related policies, Yang said. Sompo International Holdings Ltd. (SIH), a Bermuda-based specialty provider of property and casualty insurance and reinsurance, announced that, subject to regulatory approval, Christopher Donelan, currently the deputy CEO of Sompo International (SI) Reinsurance will assume the position of chief executive officer of SI Reinsurance. Donelan succeeds Stephen Young who has resigned from the company after 17 years to pursue other interests. Donelan will report to Christopher Gallagher CEO of SIs Commercial P&C business. In addition to his role as CEO, Donelan will be joining the SI Commercial P&C Executive Team. Prior to joining Sompo International in 2013, Donelan held senior reinsurance leadership roles at leading property and casualty carriers and has over 30 years of industry experience. Donelan holds an MBA in Insurance and Risk Management from St. Johns University and holds both the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter and Associate in Reinsurance designations. Donelan holds an MBA from St. Johns University and holds both the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter and Associate in Reinsurance designations The reinsurance business of SI represents approximately $2.4 billion of annual gross written premiums with locations in the United States, Bermuda, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Singapore. I am extremely pleased that Chris has assumed the role of CEO of SIs Reinsurance business. His extensive industry experience, strong relationships with our major clients, distribution partners and employees, historical knowledge of our company combined with a proven track record of building profitable and meaningful reinsurance portfolios qualifies him as the ideal executive to lead our Reinsurance business, said Gallagher in a statement. Gallagher thanked Stephen Young for his contributions to SI over his 17-year tenure with the company and wished him the very best in his future endeavors. Im honored to accept the role of CEO of SIs Reinsurance business having been a part of this team for over six years, commented Donelan. Emerging from all the current market turmoil, I am convinced we have the opportunity to substantially increase the profile of our reinsurance platform to become an even more relevant and strategic, global partner for our cedents and broker partners. Source: Sompo International Topics Reinsurance Property Casualty TROY The Madison County Health Department on Saturday announced that a second coronavirus case had been confirmed in the county. A few hours later, members of the Bethel Baptist Church in Troy learned that new patient was their senior pastor, Tim Lewis. As you know, since being on mission to Ukraine I have been isolated at home, Lewis shared on the churchs Facebook page. During my self-quarantine, I began to feel some symptoms of COVID-19. I contacted my family physician and he referred me to the Madison County Health Department. Lewis said he initially was denied testing but pursued a second opinion. Once it was proven that I met certain criteria for testing, I was administered a test from St. Johns Mercy Hospital (in St. Louis), Lewis said. This morning (Saturday) I was called with the news that I tested positive for this virus. In his Facebook post Lewis, who has been pastor at the church since 1986, said he had not been to the church or office, nor had he met with any of the churchs staff. I have been home alone, noting his wife was visiting their son in Cincinnati. I am recovering. The medical staff at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis is monitoring my progress. I will continue to be quarantined here until I am cleared to go out into the public, he said in his post. The Lord is with us. He provides and protects us. The first COVID-19 case in Madison County was announced Tuesday night. That patient, a man in his 30s who also had recently traveled abroad, also was self-quarantined in his home. His name has not been released. President Trump has used the term Chinese virus because the virus originated in China. Instead, we should use the term Trump virus because our president is responsible for the virus extensive spread in our country. There are valid reasons to attribute to Trump the rapid coronavirus spread in the U.S. For starters, the Trump administration in 2018 dismantled the National Security Councils unit focused on preparing for the type of pandemic we face now. The councils directorate for global health and security and biodefense initially survived after the transition from President Barack Obama to Trump in 2017. However, this unit was eliminated by the Trump administration in 2018. This was despite the biodefense preparedness adviser warning that a flu pandemic was the countrys No. 1 health security threat and the U.S. was not prepared. This NSCs pandemic preparedness unit was specifically charged with preparing for and reacting to the type of crisis we face now. Because of the Trump administrations actions, our governments response to the coronavirus has been flat-footed and delayed. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Heath, told Congress last week: It would be nice if the office was still there. At the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, Trump declared the outbreak the Democrats new hoax to destabilize his presidency. This type of language and his general dismissal of the coronavirus problem as a fake issue caused many in our government to delay their response to the outbreak. That allowed the coronavirus to spread much more widely than it would have if more aggressive actions had been taken initially. Trump also claimed on many occasions that the coronavirus outbreak was under control. This was blatantly false and misleading. In deceiving the public and other government officials about the risk posed to the American population, the president created an air of complacency, the vestiges of which still linger. Another issue is the availability of testing in the U.S. The administrations fumbling of the coronavirus testing program has left health care providers dangerously unaware of who is infected and who is not. Without the ability to identify infected patients, the coronavirus infection has been widely spread by individuals who were minimally symptomatic or, in some cases, even asymptomatic. In the early phases of the outbreak, United States was only able to test on a population basis one patient for every 100 patients tested in many other countries. This was a disgraceful example of poor planning and poor decision-making regarding U.S. testing policies. Trump can also be faulted for generally decimating during the course of his presidency the ranks of key public servants in the federal government. Thousands of indispensable experts have left their long-held positions because of pressure from the administration or the outright elimination of their positions. This has left our country much less capable at dealing with major threats such as the coronavirus pandemic we face today. This virus might have started in China, but China seems to have it well under control. If not for the Trump administration, it might be under good control within the United States, as well. Thus, for assigning responsibility in allowing the coronavirus to spread so successfully in the U.S., it is only appropriate to call it the Trump coronavirus. Dr. Michael J. Martin is an internal medicine specialist and an associate clinical professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the UCSF. He serves on the board of directors and is treasurer for Physicians for Social Responsibility, a Washington, D.C., nonprofit working on issues related to nuclear proliferation and climate change. Thousands of residents in Bangkok converged on bus and train stations last night (March 22) as they fled the city amid a coronavirus lockdown. Locals were panicked after the country's government closed all restaurants, shopping malls and dozens of other types of businesses on Saturday (March 21), following an earlier ban on bars. Crowds flocked to the Mochit bus station in the capital to travel back to their families in rural provinces while the pandemic continues to spread, with 122 new cases in the country today. However, ministers warned that the mass exodus of people from the capital could cause the virus to spread into surrounding towns and cities. The Interior Ministry alerted provincial governors to monitor people from Bangkok heading for their provinces amid fears they would further spread the disease. They asked transport agencies to implement social distancing measures as people are expected to travel home, disinfect vehicles and screen passengers. Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said on Saturday the government had considered several measures to tackle the spread of the novel coronavirus. He said whether these measures would be implemented depended on an evolving situation but noted that people told first about impending changes. "Still, the government will have to consider people's safety as well as their convenience,'' he said. Thailand on Sunday implemented a de facto travel ban preventing anyone from entering the country without Covid-19 travel insurance or a medical certificate showing they carry no risk of infecting others with the disease. The environmental effects of agriculture and food are hotly debated. But the most widely used method of analysis often tends to overlook vital factors, such as biodiversity, soil quality, pesticide impacts and societal shifts, and these oversights can lead to wrong conclusions on the merits of intensive and organic agriculture. This is according to a trio of researchers writing in the journal Nature Sustainability. The most common method for assessing the environmental impacts of agriculture and food is Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Studies using this method sometimes claim that organic agriculture is actually worse for the climate, because it has lower yields, and therefore uses more land to make up for this. For example, a recent study in Nature Communications that made this claim was widely reported by many publications, including the BBC and others. But according to three researchers from France, Denmark and Sweden, presenting an analysis of many LCA studies in the journal Nature Sustainability, this implementation of LCA is too simplistic, and misses the benefits of organic farming. "We are worried that LCA gives too narrow a picture, and we risk making bad decisions politically and socially. When comparing organic and intensive farming, there are wider effects that the current approach does not adequately consider," says Hayo van der Werf of the French National Institute of Agricultural Research. Biodiversity, for example, is of vital importance to the health and resilience of ecosystems. But globally, it is declining, Intensive agriculture has been shown to be one of the main drivers of negative trends such as insect and bird decline. Agriculture occupies more than one-third of global land area, so any links between biodiversity losses and agriculture are hugely important. "But our analysis shows that current LCA studies rarely factor in biodiversity, and consequently, they usually miss that wider benefit of organic agriculture," says Marie Trydeman Knudsen from Aarhus University, Denmark. "Earlier studies have already shown that organic fields support biodiversity levels approximately 30% higher than conventional fields." Usage of pesticides is another factor to consider. Between 1990 and 2015, pesticide use worldwide has increased 73%. Pesticide residues in the ground and in water and food can be harmful to human health, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and cause biodiversity losses. Organic farming, meanwhile, precludes the use of synthetic pesticides. But few LCA studies account for these effects. advertisement Land degradation and lower soil quality resulting from unsustainable land management is also an issue -- again, something rarely measured in LCA studies. The benefits of organic farming practices such as varied crop rotation and the use of organic fertilisers are often overlooked in LCA studies. Crucially, LCA generally assesses environmental impacts per kilogram of product. This favours intensive systems that may have lower impacts per kilogram, while having higher impacts per hectare of land. "LCA simply looks at the overall yields. Of course, from that perspective, it's true that intensive farming methods are indeed more effective. But this is not the whole story of the larger agroecosystem. A diverse landscape with smaller fields, hedgerows and a variety of crops gives other benefits -- greater biodiversity, for example," says Christel Cederberg of Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden. LCA's product-focused approach also fails to capture the subtleties of smaller, diverse systems which are more reliant on ecological processes, and adapted to local soil, climate and ecosystem characteristics. LCA needs a more fine-grained approach. "We often look at the effects at the global food chain level, but we need to be much better at considering the environmental effects at the local level," says Marie Trydeman Knudsen. The researchers note in their study that efforts are being made in this area, but much more progress is needed. A further key weakness is when hypothetical "indirect effects" are included, such as assuming that the lower yields of organic agriculture lead to increased carbon dioxide emissions, because more land is needed. For example, another prominent study -- from a researcher also based at Chalmers University of Technology -- suggested that organic agriculture was worse for the climate, because the requirement for more land leads indirectly to less forest area. But accounting for these indirect effects is problematic. "For example, consider the growing demand for organic meat. Traditional LCA studies might simply assume that overall consumption of meat will remain the same, and therefore more land will be required. But consumers who are motivated to buy organic meat for environmental and ethical reasons will probably also buy fewer animal-based products in the first place. But hardly any studies into this sort of consumer behaviour exist, so it is very difficult to account for these types of social shifts now," says Hayo van der Werf. "Current LCA methodology and practice is simply not good enough to assess agroecological systems such as organic agriculture. It therefore needs to be improved and integrated with other environmental assessment tools to get a more balanced picture" says Christel Cederberg. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- In February, four major Japanese automakers all suffered nosedive in their China sales due to the COVID-19 epidemic. Notably, both Nissan and Honda, which have joint ventures with the Wuhan-headquartered Dongfeng Motor Corporation, even posted year-on-year decline of over 80%. Toyota Toyota said its new vehicle sales (including the sales of premium Lexus cars) in China plunged 70.2% year on year to 23,800 units in February. Due to the coronavirus epidemic and the Spring Festival holiday, the Japanese automaker saw its YTD China sales slide 25.5% to 169,100 units. Photo source: FAW-Toyota) After a month-long shutdown, the company has already resumed work at all of its China-based plants. Reuter reported on Mar. 13 that Toyotas vehicle plant in Guangzhou would restart its second shift on Mar. 16, returning the outputs to a normal level before the outbreak. The plant in southeast China, which produces the Camry sedan and the Yaris compact hatchback models, had resumed its first shift in middle Feb. Productions at Changchun and Chengdu plants have already returned to normal as well, while the Tianjin plant was only operating a single shift, Reuter said then. In spite of the sales slump, Toyota still unveiled a significant investment in China last month. Pony.ai, a Chinese autonomous driving startup, announced on Feb. 26 it had raised $400 million from Toyota to deepen and expand the two companies' collaboration in mobility services. Building upon the foundation established last year, both companies would further advance their joint efforts in autonomous driving technology development and mobility service deployment. Honda Honda said its China deliveries in Feb. reached only 11,288 units, slumping 85.1% from the previous year. Photo source: GAC Honda) To be specific, GAC Honda saw Feb. retail sales tumble 81.5% year on year to 7,485 units. Dongfeng Honda, the joint venture headquartered in the epicenter Wuhan, suffered a severer slump of 89.3% with only 3,803 new vehicles handed over to consumers. As for the YTD performance, a total of 161,151 consumers in China took delivery of Honda-branded vehicles, a decrease of 24.1% over the year-ago period. Of those, GAC Honda contributed 83,751 units, posting a 28% decline, while Dongfeng Hondas volume represented a double-digit drop of 19.5%. According to the paper number, the decrease in cumulative sales was much lower than that of Feb. sales. It owes much to the rising performance the automaker delivered in January. Although the overall industry was saddled with both the Spring Festival holiday and the epidemic outbreak, Honda's China retail sales grew 9.8% from the prior-year period. Nissan Last month, Nissan's new vehicle retail sales in China tumbled 80.3% to 15,111 units, as demand for its Sylphy sedans and X-Trail and Qashqai SUV crossovers continued to plummet. Photo source: Dongfeng Nissan) Hit by the coronavirus and Lunar New Year holiday, the company's YTD sales in the country sharply declined 36.8% from the year-ago period to 133,254 units. The commuting bans and road closures across China during the anti-coronavirus fight has resulted in production slowdown since the outbreak, especially its only joint venture in China, Dongfeng Motor Company Limited (DFL), is located in the epicenter Wuhan. However, with the coronavirus epidemic being effectively controlled, DFL is steadily forging ahead with its work resumption. According to DFL, Dongfeng Nissan reopened its plants in Guangzhou Huadu District and Liaoning Dalian, and of Zhengzhou Nissan in Feb. Then the plants in Hubei Xiangyang and Henan Zhengzhou also resumed production on March 12 and 14 respectively with employees' safety, governmental request and suppliers' inventories taken into account. Mazda Retailing only 2,430 new vehicles, Mazda saw its China sales slump 79% from a year ago in Feb. The sharp slide also the fate both joint ventures inevitably faced. According to Mazda Motor (China) Co., Ltd, FAW Mazda delivered 1,253 vehicles with a 75.1% collapse, and Changan Mazda saw its retail sales nosedived 81.9% to 1,177 units. Photo source: Changan Mazda) Regarding the year-to-date performance, Mazda posted a doubly-digit drop of 32% in the world's largest auto market with 23,393 vehicles delivered in total. The volumes of FAW Mazda and Changan Mazda reached 8,792 units (-27.1%) and 14,601 units (-34.6%) respectively. Regardless of the flagging overall sales, Mazda still honestly announced the concrete sales data of several main models. The Mazda3 Axela was the hottest-seller in Feb., while its deliveries failed to exceed 1,000 units. Besides, the retail sales of the Mazda6 Atenza, the Mazda CX-4 and the Mazda CX-5 reached 660 units, 593 units and 212 units respectively. Chinese tourists wear hazmat suits, goggles and gloves while waiting for a flight from a Thai airport today (March 21st). The four female holidaymakers took the extreme measures to protect against the Covid-19 coronavirus while flying from the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok to Phnom Penh Airport in Cambodia. They even wore the suits on the Airbus A320 plane for the one hour flight the and when they landed, sweltering outside in the 34C temperatures in Phnom Penh. A fellow flyer who saw them said he was surprised by the extreme measures. He said: ''Some people were wearing face masks but these four girls took it to the next level. ''They were clearly feeling very hot under all those clothes. Whether or not it protects them, only scientists will know. ''Even on the flight and when they landed, they were still wearing them.'' (Newser) Pacific Gas & Electric will plead guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter for a swath of death and destruction left behind after its fraying electrical grid ignited a 2018 wildfire that decimated three Northern California towns. The fire and its aftermath also drove the nation's largest utility into bankruptcy. The plea agreement announced Monday resolves the charges facing PG&E as part of a previously sealed indictment in Butte County, the AP reports. PG&E is serving a five-year criminal probation after its conviction on six felony counts involving a natural gas explosion that killed eight people in San Bruno, California. As with that conviction, no one from PG&E will go to prison for the felony crimes. Instead, the agreement with the Butte County District Attorney's office calls for PG&E to pay a $4 million fine, the maximum. It will also help pay to restore access to water for residents affected by the loss of a canal destroyed by what became known as the Camp Fire. story continues below "We cannot replace all that the fire destroyed, but our hope is that this plea agreement, along with our rebuilding efforts, will help the community move forward from this tragic incident," PG&E CEO Bill Johnson said. District Attorney Mike Ramsey said he hopes the plea agreement will bring "a bit of a sense of justice done." Butte County officials have pegged the wildfire's death toll at 85, but Ramsey disclosed Monday that further evidence cast doubt about whether one of the deaths was directly caused by the blaze. PG&E is scheduled to enter its plea and face sentencing on April 24. The Nov. 8, 2018, fire was fanned by strong winds, forcing thousands of people to flee in their cars as flames ripped through the canyon communities. The dead were found in burned-out cars and in the smoldering ruins of their homes. (Read more Camp Fire stories.) As the focus shifts to online learning, leading EdTech company Crimson Education supports aspiring university students by offering free access to online content including webinars, e-books and ground-breaking tools to help them land a spot at their dream university. As schools and universities across the region temporarily close amid the COVID-19 outbreak, Crimson Education tackles the issue head on, releasing a special webinar discussing the impact of coronavirus on education, plus revealing a series of high-tech online tools and e-books which can be accessed for free at the click of a button. Being an institution that is dedicated to university admissions, consulting and leadership advising, Crimson Education has generated a new online tool which guides students in assessing and picking a university that is best suited for them. Their complex US and UK College Admissions Calculators comprise one of the largest algorithms of its kind in the world and uses machine learning technology to provide accurate reflections on an applicants candidacy. The calculators use intricate details and data including SAT scores, extracurricular activities and personal preferences, enabling them to be highly personalised in comparison to generic SAT score calculators. Additionally, students needing help understanding how they stack up to their peers can access Crimson Educations Grade Calculators free of charge. To keep students occupied at home, the elite organisation is offering free online e-books covering everything from Medical School, Ivy Leagues, Oxbridge, STEM education, tips to plan your summer, extra-curricular and leadership mentoring and more. The e-books and guides, which are accessible resources designed to help students and families plan their pathways to higher education, can be accessed via a quick Google search or on Crimsons website. Addressing the current situation, Crimson Educations CEO, Jamie Beaton recently held a live webinar tackling questions about COVID-19 and helping parents understand the impact it may have on their childs future in education from school classes and extra-curriculars to standardised testing, college applications and opportunities for growth. Students can access the webinar, which has been posted along with a three-part blog series on Crimsons website, by entering their details at the bottom of this page. On March 28, Crimson Education will be hosting a special webinar, providing students, parents and educational professionals expert tips on how to secure the brightest academic future amidst the COVID-19 panic. The webinar will be led by Andrew Wooten, senior vice president at Crimson Education, who will be sharing exclusive insights into how the world of edu-tech can keep candidacy strong for elite institutions. Prices for the webinar start from Dh43 ($11.7). Originally founded in 2013 in New Zealand, Crimson Education has arrived in the Mena region fairly recently though with already impressive results. Crimson students in the Mena region have received offers to Ivy League Universities as well as other Top UK and US universities, including Stanford, Harvard, UChicago, Columbia, Kings College, UPenn, St Andrews, and more. In the last few years, Crimson Education has helped its students secure 220+ offers to the Ivy League, 95 to Oxbridge, 1,100 to the Top 50 US Universities and 400+ to the UK Top 10 universities, as well as $65 million in financial aid and scholarships. - TradeArabia News Service Women achieve real equality under socialism As soon as the Russian workers took power in 1917, their government, the Soviet Government, brought about a complete revolution in the laws affecting women. Of the laws which placed women in a subordinate position, not a trace has been left in the Soviet Republic said Lenin to a conference of women workers in 1919. Since then, in all other countries where the people have taken power (now comprising one-third of the worlds population) their governments have assured women complete legal, social and economic equality with men. In the Soviet Union, and those countries of Peoples Democracy which have already adopted new Constitutions, such equality is written into the Constitutions. Article 122 of the Constitution of the USSR states: Women in the USSR are accorded equal rights with men in all spheres of economic, government, cultural, political and other public activity [] It is one thing to have formal equal rights, and another to enjoy them in everyday life. Equality of women under Socialism has been assured by their own struggles and the full assistance of the State. That is why Article 122 continues: The possibility of exercising these rights is ensured by women being accorded an equal right with men to work, payment for work, rest and leisure, social insurance and education, and by State protection of the interests of mother and child, State aid to mothers of large families and unmarried mothers, and the provision of a wide network of maternity homes, nurseries and kindergartens. Because of such special provisions, and assistance, the women pictured on this page are not unique in their own countries. They are representative. In 1949 Soviet statistics showed: 277 women Deputies of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR; more than 1700 of Supreme Soviets of Union and Autonomous Republics; half a million Deputies of local Soviets. Not a single great movement of the oppressed in the history of mankind has been able to do without the participation of working women. There can be no true emancipation of women without the victory of the working class and socialism. V. I. Lenin. Millions of women workers, masters of highly skilled trades, 280,000 engineers, technicians, skilled factory workers. Hundreds of thousands awarded Orders and medals. Many thousands in charge of collective farms, leading field teams, managing stock-raising farms. Tens of thousands driving tractors, harvester combines and other complex agricultural machines. Widely exercising their right to education, women have grown into a great cultural force of Soviet society. Forty-four per cent of total graduates from higher educational establishments were women; 237 had won Stalin prizes for outstanding work in the sphere of science, inventions, literature and art. Motherhood and the rearing of children in the USSR are honoured and respected. The Soviet State assigns enormous funds to aid mothers with large families and unmarried mothers. Freed from thousands of years of feudal oppression and slavery, in the three years since Liberation Chinas women have responded to the new life open to them with an enthusiasm and initiative that has astonished the world. The Peoples Government immediately swept away the old marriage laws which kept Chinese women in complete bondage. Women shall enjoy equal rights with men in political, economic, cultural, educational and social life. Freedom of marriage for men and women shall be put into effect, says Article 6, Common Program (basic law). Chinas women are now working with enthusiasm and success in every branch of the national economy, in fields where they were unknown before. Many have achieved nation-wide fame and honour for their new working methods. In Northeast and East China alone, over 6400 women have been promoted to workshop and factory managers. In the countryside, the 40 million women who joined the peasant associations were an important force in carrying out the now completed land reform. As a result millions upon millions are working whole-heartedly to create record harvests. To help their work, seasonal nurseries and creches are organised on a wide scale; new methods of midwifery and childcare have been introduced. Women are learning use of agricultural implements and scientific farming methods. As eagerly the women have joined in the great construction projects. To take but two examples. Over 300,000 women took part in the Huai River and Chinkiang flood control projects. Last year women already numbered fifteen per cent in primary government units throughout China and more in the cities. Many women occupy important posts in the government at all levels. The majority of women, still illiterate, are taking the keenest part in the general campaign to end illiteracy. Women workers and workers wives are entitled to maternity benefits. A network of child-welfare centres, creches and nurseries is gradually spreading over vast China. And in the towns and cities, for the first time in their history, Chinas workers are beginning to leave their primitive huts and move into modern flats and homes. When the Australian people take control of this country into their own hands, Australian women will also have legal equality and play their part in building a Socialist Australia which alone will assure them full status as human beings. Article originally appeared in the Tribune, March 1953. Artist's rendering of Ikaria wariootia, the ancestor of most animals today. (SWNS) Coronavirus The earliest common ancestor of almost all living animals (and humans) has been found in Australia a wriggling worm which lived 555 million years ago, the size of a grain of rice. Scientists used a hi-tech 3D laser scanner to find remains of the creature near fossilised burrows in Australia, according to the study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences The worm-like creature, Ikaria wariootia, is the first ancestor with bilateral symmetry, meaning it had a front, back and sides, plus two openings at either end (with a gut in the middle). Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice Live: Follow all the latest updates from the UK and around the world Fact-checker: The number of Covid-19 cases in your local area Explained: Symptoms, latest advice and how it compares to the flu Everything from insects to dinosaurs to humans is now organised around this sample simple body plan but previous creatures were not. For 15 years, scientists agreed that fossilised burrows found in 555 million-year-old Ediacaran Period deposits in Nilpena, South Australia, were made by bilaterians, but there was no sign of the creatures which created them. Read more; Ancient remains could rewrite history of human intelligence Dr Scott Evans of the University of California, Riverside, and Professor Mary Droser noticed miniscule, oval impressions near some of the burrows. With funding from NASA, they used a 3D laser scanner to reveal the regular, consistent shape of a cylindrical body with a distinct head and tail and faintly grooved musculature. A 3D laser scan that showing the regular, consistent shape of a cylindrical body with a distinct head and tail and faintly grooved musculature. (SWNS) Dr Evans said: "We thought these animals should have existed during this interval, but always understood they would be difficult to recognise. "Once we had the 3D scans, we knew that we had made an important discovery." Read more: Ancient skull found in China could rewrite history of the human race Prof Droser said: "It's the oldest fossil we get with this type of complexity. Dickinsonia and other big things were probably evolutionary dead ends. Story continues "We knew that we also had lots of little things and thought these might have been the early bilaterians that we were looking for." In spite of its relatively simple shape, Prof Droser explained that Ikaria was complex compared to other fossils from this period. These are Ikaria wariootia impressions in stone. (SWNS) She said it burrowed in thin layers of well-oxygenated sand on the ocean floor in search of organic matter, indicating rudimentary sensory abilities. The depth and curvature of Ikaria represent clearly distinct front and rear ends, supporting the directed movement found in the burrows. Professor Droser said the burrows also preserve crosswise, "V"-shaped ridges, suggesting Ikaria moved by contracting muscles across its body like a worm, known as peristaltic locomotion. She explained that evidence of sediment displacement in the burrows and signs the organism fed on buried organic matter reveal Ikaria probably had a mouth, anus, and gut. Professor Droser added: "This is what evolutionary biologists predicted. "It's really exciting that what we have found lines up so neatly with their prediction." To be so close to being licensed professionals and being able to help, but instead now were at home, that can be really disappointing, said Lindsay Fitzpatrick, who is studying to be a physician assistant at Northwestern Universitys Feinberg School of Medicine. We go into it for stuff like this. By AFP PARIS: The coronavirus has killed another 186 people in France, the health minister said on Monday, bringing the total death toll in the country to 860. Health Minister Olivier Veran said that 19,856 people had been registered as testing positive for the virus in France, with a total of 8,675 hospitalised of whom 2,082 people are in intensive care. GBP/ZAR Exchange Rate Rises as South Africas Economic Outlook Darkens The Pound to South African Rand (GBP/ZAR) exchange rate edged higher today, with the pairing currently trading around R20.50. The risk-sensitive ZAR continues to be shunned by traders seek out safe-haven currencies like the Swiss Franc and US Dollar. South African Rand (ZAR) investors are awaiting South Africas President Cyril Ramaphosa to address the nation on its coronavirus measures today. After Mr Ramaphosa declared that South Africa had entered a National State of Disaster, it is now expected that the SA President will call upon the public to undergo a national lockdown to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Bianca Botes, treasury partner at Peregrine Treasury Solutions, outlined the threat to the South African economy, saying: Airlines continue to cancel flights and countries intensify lockdowns in an effort to halt the rapid spread of the Covid-19 virus. The virus now has a global death toll of more than 14,600 people, and the number of active cases has topped 224,000 worldwide. Meanwhile, the race for cash saw global markets come under pressure yet again in overnight trade, with the [South African Rand] trading at fresh lows. With the South African economy already having entered a recession, the outlook for the South African Rand (ZAR) looks increasingly dark. GBP/ZAR Exchange Rate Rises Despite UK Lockdown Fears The Pound (GBP) rose against the weakened South African Rand (ZAR) despite growing pressure on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to initiate an Italy-style UK lockdown. Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth comments: Other countries have taken further far-reaching social distancing measures. We now call on the government to move to enforced social distancing and greater social protection as a matter of urgency. Sterling has suffered from growing concern that Downing Streets increasingly more draconian measures could severely limit the British economy and put more businesses at risk. Yael Selfin, KPMG UKs chief economist, commented: [I]t is now almost certain that the UK is slipping into its first significant downturn in over a decade. Pound investors are awaiting todays announcement from Chancellor Rishi Sunak. Any signs of further stimulus measures to help aid the struggling British economy would prove GBP-positive. GBP/ZAR Outlook: UK Lockdown Could Weaken Sterling Pound (GBP) investors will be awaiting tomorrows release of the UK Services and Manufacturing PMIs. However, both reports are forecast to drop deeper into contraction territory, which would weaken the GBP/ZAR exchange rate. If the UK enters a lockdown to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, we could see Sterling begin to fall against many of its peers. The South African Rand (ZAR) is expected to remain subdued as investors continue to seek out safe-haven currencies. Also, if South Africa enters a lockdown this would further compromise the nations already fragile economy. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 20:09:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- As COVID-19 cases soared worldwide, China, despite its own severe situation, has been actively offering medical aid and sharing prevention and treatment experience to help curb the novel coronavirus spread. Experts say that China's efforts to contain the spread of the virus worldwide show how the country works together with the international society to build a community of a shared future for humanity in the face of this global public health challenge. DONATING SUPPLIES, DISPATCHING EXPERTS On Monday, a team of Chinese medical experts arrived in Cambodia to help the country fight the COVID-19 pandemic. China has been joining hands with the world to fight COVID-19 by donating medical supplies and sending professional medical teams to epidemic-stricken countries. Ten days after Iran reported its first confirmed case on Feb. 19, a medical team sent by the Red Cross Society of China arrived in Tehran. At that time, China was in the thick of battle against the disease. Upon their arrival, the experts immediately engaged in exchanging experience on combating COVID-19 with their Iranian counterparts and promoting bilateral cooperation on medicine and health. The Chinese medical team in Iran has set "an excellent example of 'peer-to-peer' experience sharing," said Maria van Kerkhove, technical lead for the WHO's Health Emergencies Program. On March 7, a Chinese team of seven health experts arrived in Baghdad to provide guidance and medical assistance to contain the COVID-19 outbreak in Iraq. "I do believe the experience of China in terms of clinical management is a wealth for this country to benefit from," said Adham Abdel-Moneim, WHO representative in Iraq. In addition, a charter flight carrying a 9-member Chinese aid team arrived at Rome's Fiumicino Airport on March 12, as part of China's efforts to help Italy contain the outbreak. The Chinese medical team also brought tonnes of medical supplies, including ventilators, monitors, defibrillators and 30 sets of ICU equipment. Also, approximately eight tonnes of medical supplies provided by the Chinese government to Greece after Athens' urgent request arrived Saturday morning at Athens international airport on an Air China flight. "We are deeply honored and grateful, and we hope that you will continue to show these sentiments of help and support to the Greek people," Greek Health Minister Vasilis Kikilias said. On Saturday evening, a team of Chinese medical staff with experience in fighting COVID-19 arrived in the Serbian capital to help with the Balkan state's battle against the virus. The Chinese medical team came over with ventilators, medical masks, test kits, and other medical supplies in the first batch of 16 tonnes of donations. "We give them our immense gratitude, especially for sending their experts. They have proven as friends in the most difficult times when we fight for lives of Serbian people," said Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. Tiding over difficulties together during testing times has become a true portrayal of China and Serbia in building a community with a shared future, foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang told a press briefing. "China would like to work with the international community, including Serbia, to overcome this epidemic and protect regional and global public health security," Geng said. The Chinese government has announced assistance to 82 countries, the World Health Organization and the African Union, including test kits, masks and protective suits. Many batches of supplies have reached the recipients, China's foreign ministry said Friday. SHARING DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT EXPERIENCE Chinese authorities and medical experts have been sharing the country's anti-epidemic experience with peers in affected countries via various methods such as publishing prevention and treatment guidelines and holding video conferences. China has published seven guidelines on COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment and six guidelines on prevention and control, all of which have been translated into multiple foreign languages. According to the National Health Commission, China has so far shared such guidelines with more than 100 countries and over 10 international and regional organizations. Meanwhile, Chinese experts and officials have shared their experience in fighting the disease with the international community through video conferences, including the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and 24 African countries. Ethiopian Minister of Health Lia Tadesse spoke highly of the video conference organized by the Chinese government, saying China has shared "amazing experience in curbing this outbreak" with African countries. On Thursday, an experience-sharing meeting on China's COVID-19 control and prevention was broadcast live to the world. Leading frontline experts such as Zhong Nanshan and Li Lanjuan talked about the control measures and treatment methods China has taken and answered questions from foreign experts and netizens. On Friday night, Chinese experts in traditional Chinese and western medicines also shared their experience via video call in treating COVID-19 patients with peers from Italy, the United States, Belgium, Japan, and the WHO. "The best experience of China is to admit all patients to hospitals..." "Doing so can also prevent patients with mild symptoms from progressing into severe cases, which therefore decreases the fatality rate..." Chinese experts gave an extensive amount of practical information based on their experiences in fighting the virus. "We are very thankful for the great work that's been done in China and other Asian countries because it's demonstrating it is possible to stop this outbreak," Margaret Harris, a WHO spokesperson said in the video conference. China is also gearing up to offer online help for overseas individuals. Two internet platforms Baidu Health and JD Health launched medical and psychological consultation services for people, including overseas Chinese in epidemic-stricken regions. "With openness, transparency and a high sense of responsibility for global public health security and people's well-being, we will continue information-sharing with the international community," foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said earlier at a news briefing. In a recent paper in the open-access journal Neotropical Biology and Conservation, a group of Brazilian scientists from the Federal University of Vicosa (Brazil) published ten different defensive behaviours for the False Coral Snake (Oxyrhopus rhombifer), seven of which are registered for the first time for the species. One of these is reported for the first time for Brazilian snakes. Evolution shaped anti-predator mechanisms in preys, which can be displayed either with avoidance or defensive behaviours. The current knowledge about such mechanisms are still scarce for many snake species, but it is constantly increasing over the last years. These data are helpful for better understanding of the species ecology, biology and evolution. The False Coral Snake (O. rhombifer) is a terrestrial snake species with a colouration like the true coral snake. The species has a wide geographic distribution, occurring in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia and all Brazilian biomes. Among its previously known anti-predator mechanisms, this species has already shown cloacal discharge, body flattening, struggling, erratic movements and hiding the head. However, these behaviours were only a small part of what this species is capable of doing to defend itself! In November 2017, a juvenile male captured in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil was observed under laboratory settings, where the scientists would simulate a predation attempt with an increasing threat level. "We released the snake on to the laboratory bench and let it notice our presence. The animal remained motionless at first, then performed a pronounced dorsoventral flattening of the anterior part of the body, raised its tail, adopted an S-shaped posture, raised the first third of the body and performed brief body vibrations. Then we approached the snake, which remained with the same posture and body vibrations. When we touched the animal (not handling), it remained with the S-shaped posture, keeping the first third of the body elevated and the dorsoventral flattening (however, less accentuated) and started to display erratic movements, false strikes and locomotor escape. When handled, the snake only struggled," shares the lead scientist Mr. Clodoaldo Lopes de Assis. Amongst ten recorded behaviour types only three were among those already registered for this species. Since defensive responses in snakes decrease as body size increases, juveniles exhibit a broader set of defensive behaviour than adults. Because of that, some types of behaviour described in this study might be explained either by physical constraints or stage of development of the individual. Some types of behaviour resemble the ones of true coral snakes of the genus Micrurus, a group of extremely venomous snakes. Thus, this similarity may be linked with the mimicry hypothesis between these two groups, where harmless false coral snakes take advantage of their similar appearance to the true coral snakes to defend themselves. Another type of anti-predation mechanism shown -- body vibrations -- is yet an unknown behaviour for Brazilian snakes and has been recorded for the first time. This type of behaviour is difficult to interpret, but could represent a defensive signal against non-visually orientated predators. Finally, defensive strategies of the specimen differed according to the threat level imposed: starting from discouraging behaviour up to false bites, erratic movements and locomotor escape."O. rhombifer may be capable of recognising different threat levels imposed by predators and adjusting its defensive behaviour accordingly," highlights Mr. Clodoaldo Lopes de Assis. "Through such simple laboratory observations we can get a sense of how Brazilian snakes are yet poorly known regarding their natural history, where even common species like the false coral snake O. rhombifer can surprise us!" Mr. Clodoaldo Lopes de Assis adds in conclusion. ### Original source: Lopes de Assis C, Jose Magalhaes Guedes J, Miriam Gomes de Jesus L, Neves Feio R (2020) New defensive behaviour of the false coral snake Oxyrhopus rhombifer Dumeril, Bibron & Dumeril, 1854 (Serpentes, Dipsadidae) in south-eastern Brazil. Neotropical Biology and Conservation 15(1): 71-76. https://doi.org/10.3897/neotropical.15.e48564 Days after revealing he was diagnosed with coronavirus, Colton Underwood gave an update on his health. The 28-year-old former star of The Bachelor posted a snap of himself eating in bed on Instagram Monday alongside a lengthy caption in which he described his battle with COVID-19. He even revealed that it has actually been more of a challenge than he anticipated as he wrote: 'Hi, just wanted to give you a health update. 'Hi, just wanted to give you a health update': posted a snap of himself eating in bed on Instagram Monday alongside a lengthy caption in which he described his battle with COVID-19 'The last few days were rougher than I expected. The most prominent symptoms are my cough, night sweats and shortness of breathe. 'Breathing is challenging, the best way to describe it is feeling like I only have access to 20% of my lungs.' He goes on to say that he has been documenting the battle and will share the information with his followers sometime soon before listing out the medications he is currently on. Underwood said: 'Im currently on hydroxychloroquine, Z-Pak and last night the doctor prescribed an inhaler, also. Im hopeful that they are starting to work! 'The last few days were rougher than I expected': The 28-year-old reality star (seen in November) even revealed that it has actually been more of a challenge than he anticipated 'This morning was the first time that Ive felt any real type of improvement since the beginning of this. 'Im hopeful that Ive turned the corner and will be back to 100% soon. We are very lucky that all of this was manageable at home after getting the proper medicine.' The reality show star has been staying at Cassie Randolph's family home in Huntington Beach, California and insists to his fans that his girlfriend and her family are in minimal danger of contracting it. He explained: 'Im on the third story of the Randolphs home, isolated from the rest of the family (The Health Department called and spoke to both Cassies mom and me to make sure we understood timing and what to do). 'They have been amazing!' The reality show star has been staying at Cassie Randolph's - pictured together in Nobember - family home in Huntington Beach, California and insists to his fans that his girlfriend and her family are in minimal danger of contracting it 'When they make food they make an extra plate and drop it off and have been checking on me regularly to make sure I am comfortable and breathing! 'They have been amazing and have been taking great care of me. Stay positive people...We got this!' This came just a few days after he was seen stepping outside for a brief breath of fresh air on the balcony of the Orange County property. The star's quick outing came after he told fans 'Im good, Ill be fine' when speaking to Chris Harrison and Lauren Zima via Instagram on Saturday. 'Im lucky enough to have it under control for the most part,' he added. Colton revealed on Friday that he had tested positive to the deadly and highly infectious virus. The Randolph family have remained monitoring their symptoms after exposure to Colton - however, they were also seen speaking with their neighbors and therefore potentially exposing them too. Group date! Colton said: 'Im good, Ill be fine,' when speaking to Chris Harrison and Lauren Zima via Instagram on Saturday Cassie explained on Saturday via Instagram that while Colton remained 'on the third story' of their residence 'Everyone else is quarantined in the rest of the house and yard.' 'He is currently on the third story and I'm taking care of him by bringing him anything he needs (food, medicine, water, blankets, games), and then I disinfect myself every time I leave him. But I'm not "hanging out" up there per se - unfortunately,' she wrote. The whole family are worried as 'he wasn't isolated from us until we got his results back. We quarantined the entire family together as soon as he showed symptoms, because we assumed that we were already exposed.' As a result 'now we are like..."is it too late to not catch it? Do we already have it?"...we just don't know. So we are now implementing CDC recommended precautions and going to continue to reevaluate as days go on.' She assured fans: 'No one else is showing symptoms. Yet, at least. I feel like it's been hard to tell if any of us are symptomatic or if we are just being paranoid and imagining symptoms?' Staying in: Cassie, 24, and Colton, 28, have spent the past week hunkering down with her family at her parents' home in Huntington Beach, California Precautions: She explained that while Colton remained 'on the third story' of their residence 'Everyone else is quarantined in the rest of the house & yard.' Cassie and her younger brother Landon 'have a little bit of chest pain, but maybe it's just anxiety? Hard to tell just yet. Will keep you all updated!' The family currently have 'No idea where he got it from. At this point, it could have been anywhere that he was the past 2 weeks. Whether it be from a stranger that he touched the same door handle as, or from a friend, someone in my family...' Cassie related his symptoms as well, sharing that it 'started out with a headache' followed by 'body aches + mild fever' and then 'night sweats for the next 2 nights with the fever.' The reality TV heartthrob 'started feeling some shortness of breath' and later 'started coughing, but only very mildly.' Colton 'has been pretty weak and tired the whole time.' Watchful: Cassie and her younger brother Landon 'have a little bit of chest pain, but maybe ti's just anxiety? Hard to tell just yet' Mystery: The family currently have 'No idea where he got it from' and feel that 'At this point, it could have been anywhere that he was the past 2 weeks' Beginnings: Cassie related his symptoms as well, sharing that it 'started out with a headache' followed by 'body aches + mild fever' In a video she dished: 'Were here with my family. Weve been quarantining ourselves for the past week now Were all making sure to take very good care of ourselves and staying healthy. We're trying to one, stay positive, two, take a lot of vitamins, and get a lot of sleep. 'The doctor said that he was one of three people who tested positive that day out of 20 tests that he gave, and that number is probably only gonna keep increasing.' Colton revealed Friday that he had tested positive for COVID-19 after showing symptoms earlier this week. The 28-year-old Bachelor star made the news public in a video posted to his social media on Friday and revealed he caught the virus despite being 'pretty healthy' and following the recommended social distancing guidelines. Colton described the physical toll the virus has inflicted on him saying it is 'kicking my a**' and revealed he is exhausted just by walking up the stairs. Alongside the video he wrote: 'I tested positive and I have been following all of the social distancing rules since last week. My symptoms started a few days ago, I was tested and just received my results today. 'For anyone out there that is hesitant to self quarantine... please do yourself and your loved ones a favor and stay home. We will all beat this and come out stronger on the other side. I'll keep you posted, Love y'all.' In his Instagram video Colton said: 'I want to let you guys know: I'm 28, I consider myself pretty healthy, I work out regularly, I eat healthy, and I became symptomatic a few days ago, got my test results back today, and they are positive, 'It's been kicking my a**, just to put it pretty bluntly,' he said. 'The main thing is I can't even walk up a flight of stairs without being out of breath or go to the bathroom without having to sit down because I'm exhausted.' Listen up: The reality star made sure to issue a warning to his followers that everyone, even young adults, need to take the risk of the disease seriously The reality star then made sure to issue a warning to his followers that everyone, even young adults, need to take the risk of the disease seriously. 'So, I guess the reason Im sharing this is not to cause fear or panic, but to hopefully encourage you guys to stay home, do your part, take care of yourselves, take care of one another,' he said. ' I just want to encourage everybody to stay at home. Stay in your house and do your part and take care of one another.' Colton said that while isolating himself at Cassie's family's house they are 'all in it together'. Colton said he's isolating himself at the home of his girlfriend Cassie Randolph's parents in Huntington Beach, California, and that they're 'all in it together'. The couple are pictured on March 11 Seemingly taking the risks seriously, earlier this week Colton modeled one of Scot Disick's 'Please Wash Your Hands' sweaters and posted a photo of it on Instagram with the caption: 'PSA'. On Monday Colton and Cassie braved the outdoors and went for a swim in the ocean. But they ended up in the emergency room after Cassie got stung by a jellyfish and had an allergic reaction to the venom. Colton joked at the time: 'Mother Nature sent us a warning shot to get back inside,' The five-day lockdown in vast swathes of West Bengal began on Monday evening, a day when the state recorded its first COVID 19 death, officials said. The lockdown will last till March 27 midnight. A 57-year-old man, who had tested positive for the coronavirus last week, was on ventilation. He was among the seven COVID 19 patients in the state. A resident of Dumdum in the North 24 Parganas district, he died at a private hospital. Meanwhile, a controversy has erupted over the mans travel history, with his family members claiming he had not gone abroad recently. They said he had only visited Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh this February. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, however, told an all party meeting that the man and his family, currently in the isolation ward of a state-run hospital, had travelled to Italy, which has now emerged as an epicentre of the disease in Europe. Following his death, Banerjee ordered the authorities to conduct his last rites immediately in order to stop the virus from spreading. According to health officials, the body of the man will not be handed over to his fanmily and his last rites will be conducted Monday night in accordance with the protocol for deaths from pandemic diseases. Meanwhile, as the lockdown began in Koklkata and other urban agglomerations, police personnel were seen asking people through public address systems to return to their homes and shopkeepers to shut down. Motorists on roads were being directed to reach their destinations fast. The state government has invoked provisions of the Epidemic Disease Act, 1897, to lock down areas under the jurisdiction of Kolkata Municipal Corporation, all municipal towns in North 24 Parganas district besides Malda, Murshidabad, Nadia, West Burdwan, North Dinajpur and Howrah districts. Tourist destinations of Darjeeling and Kurseong are also under lockdown. All shops, commercial establishments, offices, factories and workshops shall also shut their operations, a government notification said. "People are required to stay at home and come out only for basic services. Any congregation of more than seven persons shall be prohibited in public places...violation of the notification will be deemed as a punishable offence," the it said. Foodgrains, groceries, vegetables, fruits, meat, fish, bread, milk, medical services, home delivery, petrol pumps, pharmacies, the IT sector and banks and ATMs, among others, have been exempted from the purview of the lockdown. Despite repeated warning by the state government, long queues were seen at markets with people resorting to panic buying. Supplies of essential commodities were affected because of fewer cargo trains, officials said. Shoppers claimed a 30-50 per cent jump in the prices of fish and vegetables in the markets in and around the city despite the authorities threatening confiscation of commodities being sold at exorbitant prices. "Most fish and vegetables come to Kolkata from neighbouring districts. With the Railways stopping services from Sunday, the supply line has been affected," Rabindranath Koley, a member of the state government's task force on essential commodities, said. Earlier in the day, Banerjee wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to issue necessary instructions to stop all flights coming to the state as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of novel coronavirus. Later in the evening, the Union Civil Aviation Ministry said no domestic passenger flight would be allowed to operate in the country from March 25. Banerjee chaired an all-party meeting at the state secretariat to take stock of the situation. She asked political parties to keep aside their differences and create awareness among the masses about the pandemic. She also requested the Centre to make available adequate number of kits for random testing of people suspected stricken by the disease. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) While all Manitobans are being asked to self-isolate after travel, directives have been more lenient for those working on the front lines of the COVID-19 response depending on a risk assessment and operational need. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/3/2020 (660 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. While all Manitobans are being asked to self-isolate after travel, directives have been more lenient for those working on the front lines of the COVID-19 response depending on a risk assessment and operational need. Both the Manitoba Nurses Union and the Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals who, combined, represent 18,500 workers told the Free Press that some "essential" employees who have returned from international travel and are asymptomatic are being directed to forgo the 14-day self-isolation period. Instead, the unions say employees are returning to work with instruction to monitor their symptoms. "Our members know that its not safe. We could be shedding viruses with no clue we even carry it," said Bob Moroz, president of the Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals, which represents respiratory therapists, rural paramedics and lab technologists, among others. "We understand the issue of priority testing and all those sorts of things, but being told to report to work when everyone else in the province and in the world, for that matter is being told stay at home, lock the door, have someone bring you groceries The equation isnt balancing." There are a total of 20 probable and confirmed COVID-19 cases in the province. All but one have been linked to travel. The overwhelming majority have been connected to travel to Europe, Asia and the United States. One has been connected to a trip to B.C. while another is still under investigation. The province did not specify what kind of travel was involved in the latest probable case announced Sunday, which involves a Winnipeg man in his 40s. So far, there have been no reports of cases being transmitted between health care workers and patients in Manitoba. 'Our members know that it's not safe' Bob Moroz, president of the Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals In a statement to the Free Press, Lanette Siragusa the provinces chief nursing officer said all returning health-care workers are required to self-identify to occupational health before undergoing a staff health risks assessment that is "a more extensive process" than the public screening, she said. "For staff deemed operationally required, a manager will consult with occupational health services to perform a risk assessment, taking into account the type of work, exposure to high risk clients, and the relevant travel exposure to determine if an exception can be made," Siragusa wrote. "Should employees be deemed operationally required and approved to work following the staff health risk assessment and theyre asymptomatic, staff may return to work avoiding high risk patients. They will be required to wear a mask at all times and self-monitor for the 14 day period." Out of precaution, Manitoba Nurses Union president Darlene Jackson said nurses must be treated the same as everyone else when it comes to following self-isolation and social distancing directives. Jackson also raised concerns about both a nearly "critical" shortage of nurses and N95 masks in the province. During an earlier press conference Sunday, Siragusa said the province has recruited senior practicum nursing students and Shared Health retirees, in addition to introducing an online self-assessment page and adding phone lines, to account for an increase in demand. As politicians and public health professionals continue to promote basic hygiene and limiting trips outside the house as the best ways to slow the spread of the virus, the World Health Organization has called for more stringent tactics to test and isolate to ensure there will not be a resurgence of COVID-19 in the future. Sitting about two metres away from Siragusa at a press conference, Dr. Brent Roussin stuck to the provinces repeated messaging Sunday, when asked about testing. He said the province continues to look to increase lab capacity while focusing on testing people with symptoms. "You have to focus on the most at-risk and we know that almost all our cases are from international travel and we know that almost all spread comes from symptomatic people, but were also dealing with that through our social distancing strategies. "Theres a lot of built-in things in our strategy that protects against that asymptomatic spread, should it be occurring." Anyone who receives a negative result is also still asked to follow-through with their quarantine, Roussin said. With students now out of school for a three-week period due to the virus, he also asked parents refrain from making playdates. As for walks around the block, Roussin said Manitobans should continue to get fresh air as long as they are following the two-metre rule at all times. "Everyones got to fit this in into their daily lives," he said. "Social distancing has to be part of our lives for the foreseeable future." From a general moral and ethical standpoint, we have to do what we can to protect the most vulnerable in society and those around us. Dr. Jason Kindrachuk, Canada Research Chair in emerging viruses at the University of Manitoba Both Roussin and Siragusa said they dont believe any community transmission is occuring at any sustained rate because Manitoba hospitals continue to see low intensive care unit bed occupancy rates and emergency room visits for respiratory-related issues in Manitoba hospitals, compared to the usual this time of year. Dr. Jason Kindrachuk, Canada Research Chair in emerging viruses at the University of Manitoba, applauded the provinces moves so far, as well as the citizens taking social distancing seriously. "From a general moral and ethical standpoint, we have to do what we can to protect the most vulnerable in society and those around us," Kindrachuk said, noting that there has been a presentation of serious cases in younger adults who dont meet the aging, immuno-compromised criteria. A new report from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention suggests severe illness leading to hospitalization, including ICU admission and death, can occur in adults of any age. Jen Zoratti | Next A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The authors analyzed the severity of COVID-19 cases in the United States that occurred between February 12 and March 16 by age group. Among the known cases that required hospitalization, nine per cent of patients were 85 and older, 36 per cent were between 65-84, 17 per cent were aged 55-64, 18 per cent were in the 45-54 category and 20 per cent were aged 20-44. Less than one per cent were among people 19 or younger. Kindrachuk said that while it would be ideal for every single person to get tested as per the World Health Organizations recommendation, thats simply not possible given the supply of reagent and other testing supplies. "The biggest limitation right now is we have to be cognizant that this is going to continue on not for a couple weeks, but probably for a few months to quite a few months," he said. "For those that are mildly symptomatic or asymptomatic, basically, we can curb transmission by self-isolating." maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @macintoshmaggie Outlander star Sam Heughan got into hot water when he revealed he is currently vacationing in Hawaii, amidst the global coronavirus pandemic. The Scottish star, who answered questions on Twitter for fans in a live Q&A over the weekend, revealed he had taken the opportunity to book his vacation after his appearance at PaleyFest was cancelled due to coronavirus and had gone before the travel ban. Heughan has since attracted backlash on social media for going through with the holiday, with some fans calling him irresponsible and another claiming that he was putting potential added strain to Hawaiis medical system. PA He has since responded to users criticising him, calling one "rude or completely disillusional [sic]" and added that he was self-isolating/taking care on his vacation. The star was scheduled to appear at PaleyFest over March 13-21 to promote his new project Bloodshot, but the festival organisers announced on March 11 that it had been postponed. Over the course of his live Q&A on Friday, a fan asked where he was spending his self-isolation. Heughan said, Thanks for asking, Im in Hawaii. Came here before travel ban. Rather concerned to return to UK. Certainly safer here for now. Hope youre safe and your family too! The US announced it would be banning all visitors from numerous European countries, including the UK on March 14. Heughan did not reveal when he flew to the United States. Hawaii Governor David Ige urged visitors to postpone their vacations for at least the next thirty days on March 17 in the hopes of containing the spread of coronavirus, three days before Heughan revealed he was in Hawaii on Twitter. While many fans expressed their jealousy over his ability to isolate in one of the most beautiful places, his response caused some users to criticise the star. One user wrote, The Hawaiian healthcare system cannot handle someone on vacation during a pandemic... Repatriate and visit at a better time. In response to a tweet made by Bloodshots official account, a user wrote, Step right up ladies 'n' gents and give this man more of your hard-earned cash! [Sam Heughan] flits around in airplanes while ignoring the pandemic health order to stay home, putting you and yours at risk, cuz hes special. Help Sam build his brand motto - F**k you, just gimme your cash. Although Heughan wasnt tagged, he responded directly, Excuse me? Not that I have to explain but let me. I was brought to America for MANY work commitments. I had booked a holiday this week, after over a year of commitments. Im self-isolating /taking care whilst looking to return home, if safe. I hope youre safe but please unfollow. He also responded to another fan urging him to ignore the critics, to which he responded that the original poster was "completely disillusional [sic]." Another fan asked directly, Waitso you had the vacation youre currently on booked knowing you were committed to Paley? Or did you book it even though you knew there was a rising global pandemic? It doesnt add up. People are dying, being quarantined, and many have lost their jobs. This is serious, dude. Thank you for your concern Pooks. Yes people ARE dying. Its terrifying. For your information, I booked once I knew Paley was cancelled. Is that okay with you? he responded. Yesterday, a fan also jumped on the AskSamHeughan hashtag and shared an article regarding a newly introduced mandatory two-week quarantine for all visitors to the state - with those not complying fined $5,000 or imprisonment of up to a year. The user asked, Are you glad you made it to Hawaii before the mandatory 14 day quarantine? On Saturday, Heughan also launched a 30-Day Social-Distancing Challenge workout challenge through his fitness company My Peak Challenge, adding that it would be FREE and available for EVERYONE to access. Announced on Instagram with a picture of himself, besides plugging the free workout plan he also said, Id like to thank EVERY healthcare worker, everyone helping to keep us safe. The announcement was met with a lot of excitement, though some brought up his Hawaiian vacation again. He also revealed that his film Bloodshot would also be released on digital in a tweet last night, and could be pre-ordered now. John Hopkins University reported this morning that at least 341,000 have been infected with coronavirus while 14,700 have died of it globally. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to issue necessary instructions to stop all flights coming to the state as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of novel coronavirus. In a letter to the prime minister, Banerjee noted that her government had suspended all inter-state public transport and reduced the number of intra-state buses due to Coronavirus threat. "I would request you to kindly make arrangements to issue necessary instructions to stop all flights coming to West Bengal with immediate effect so that the source of spreading infection is effectively contained and the lockdown in the state is implemented in true letter and spirit," Banerjee wrote. West Bengal on Sunday announced a partial lockdown from 5 pm on Monday till March 27 midnight, in an attempt to arrest the spread of the viral disease. "The government of West Bengal has taken multiple proactive measures to prevent the spread of infection and for upgrading the health infrastructure in the state to address the crisis. We have announced massive critical safety regulation measures from 5 pm today," the chief minister wrote. West Bengal has reported seven Covid-19 positive cases so far. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Police block vehicles and motorcycles at a checkpoint to control the spread of COVID-19 in the northern Philippine province of Pangasinan, March 19, 2002. Philippine lawmakers began debates Monday on proposed legislation that would give President Rodrigo Duterte emergency powers to deal with the coronavirus crisis, as rights advocacy groups called on governments to respect human rights during the pandemic. During a special session congressmen filed a bill that seeks to widen Dutertes powers to include the ability to take over public utilities, hospitals and businesses. The bill also proposes to realign an estimated 275 billion pesos ($5.4 billion) in funds allocated for state enterprises so as to support the nations coronavirus response. It is a power which [we] do not consider necessary to be exercised at all times, Dutertes executive secretary, Salvador Medialdea, told legislators in a speech pushing for the bills adoption. We only desire such a power to be legislated because the virus we are up against is so unpredictable and can spread rapidly in a community. Meanwhile the Philippine death toll from the coronavirus (COVID-19) rose to 33 on Monday, with eight new fatalities recorded during the past 24 hours, according to the Department of Health. It also confirmed 82 new cases, which brought the nationwide number of infections to 462. Three doctors who had treated COVID patients were among those who died after being infected with the virus, officials said. As of Monday, more than 370,000 COVID-19 cases were confirmed worldwide with over 16,300 deaths recorded, according to the latest data compiled by disease experts at Johns Hopkins University in the United States. Duterte was the first Southeast Asian leader to impose a lockdown and use security forces to implement his order. Malaysia and Vietnam have also deployed troops to enforce quarantines and curbs on public gatherings. The bill before congress, if approved, would allow Dutertes government to temporarily take control of privately-owned hospitals and hotels as quarantine areas or as facilities to house health workers. House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said the bill would only give special powers to Duterte as a last resort. Thats what special power means, for example: the power to direct businesses if they dont want to obey the government, Cayetano told reporters. Analysts expect the bill to pass, since Dutertes supporters control both chambers of the Philippine congress. Rights groups: Emergency powers can be abused Local rights groups, however, expressed opposition to giving Duterte special powers in handling the COVID-19 crisis. Among their concerns, they cited how the president could access millions in public funds without accountability. With Dutertes propensity to use and abuse his power as chief executive to violate peoples rights, this move, using the pandemic excuse, is one step closer to, if not already an embodiment of, martial rule, Cristina Palabay, secretary general of the Philippine rights group Karapatan, said in a statement. Duterte seems to be more than eager to use his emergency powers to give himself full, absolute and sole authority and tighten his grip on power, she said. Also on Monday, regional lawmakers urged authorities in Southeast Asia to place human rights at the forefront of their responses to the spread of the coronavirus. Now is a particularly challenging time for governments around the world to combat the virus, but it is more important than ever to ensure that peoples rights are protected, not hindered, Charles Santiago, a Malaysian MP and chairman of the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR), said in a statement. Emergency responses must not be used as a tool to crush dissent, excessively restrict freedom of expression or target particular groups or minorities, Santiago added. Numbers expected to rise further In Manila, Health Secretary Francisco Duque attributed the sharp rise in Philippine cases to improved capacity for COVID-19 testing at local labs. While our testing capacity increases, we will find out the trend of transmission, Duque said. Maria Rosario Vergeire, the health departments spokeswoman, said the number of confirmed infections was expected to increase as the government moved to address a backlog in test results. The public might be shocked once we have the results per day because now we are reducing the backlog, Vergeire told reporters. As the main Philippine island of Luzon remained under lockdown, restraining the movement of 60 million people, more than 500 health workers and staff members of a hospital in Manila were quarantined over fears that they could have been exposed to patients who had tested positive for COVID-19. Meanwhile, the Philippine Medical Association mourned the deaths of three doctors who have died while serving on the front line in the fight against COVID-19. You are a great loss to the medical profession and to our country. We thank you, dear doctors, for finishing the race with a great fight, the group said. On Monday, authorities in neighboring Indonesia confirmed that five doctors and at least one nurse who had treated COVID-19 patients had also died after being infected with the disease,while another physician died of a heart attack due to exhaustion. A restaurant in Quezon City, near Manila, is converted into an emergency shelter at night to cater to Philippines capitals homeless after the government imposed a sweeping quarantine to control the spread of COVID-19, March 21, 2020. [Basilio Sepe/BenarNews] Homeless in greater danger With travel restrictions in place during the past week on Luzon island, concerns have been mounting over Manilas teeming street dwellers. Many among the capitals homeless population have been left out in the open during the pandemic, and temporary shelters run by NGOs have been shut down. The Red Cross said that blood donors, while still willing to donate, could not move amid the forced quarantine. In northern Pangasinan province alone, Red Cross volunteers predicated that blood reserves would only last until the second week of April. We have regular patients securing blood, like for dialysis patients, pregnant women about to deliver their babies (and for) emergency cases like accidents, Raymund Lim, a blood donor recruitment officer at the Philippine Red Cross, told BenarNews. Once we run out of blood supplies, they will all be required to bring donors to the blood center. If the enhanced community quarantine does not end soon, many who will be needing this blood will be out at risk, he said. Arie Firdaus in Jakarta contributed to this report. Keep scrolling for the latest updates in our work to free animals from the horror of live export, in Romania and beyond. Animals Australia has documented decades worth of cruelty inflicted on animals by the global live export trade. The evidence painstakingly gathered by our team of international investigators reveals how cows, sheep, goats, camels and more, are forced to endure harrowing transport and fully-conscious slaughter at the end of it. But our work doesnt stop there. We use that evidence to rally caring people the world over; in hard-hitting public-awareness campaigns; and to expose the truth about this cruellest of trades in the halls of government and the highest courts of law. We go to these lengths because of one simple truth: Every victim of the live export industry is a unique individual, and these living, breathing, thinking animals deserve so much better. Shipwreck in Romania A gruelling sea journey and brutal slaughter at the end of it was the gruesome fate that awaited some 14,000 Romanian sheep who were crammed onboard the export ship, the Queen Hind. When the ship capsized, within distance of the port, thankfully the crew were rescued almost immediately without injury except for one person who fell into the water but was promptly treated for hypothermia. The sheep were not so lucky. A handful of animals who escaped the ship swam for safety through the cold, dark water and were picked up and brought to the docks. But tragically thousands of sheep drowned, trapped in pens beneath the surface, while hundreds more were crushed or suffocated beneath their fallen companions. This was a disaster of such magnitude that the live export industry couldnt possibly keep it under wraps. And, due in large part to the tireless efforts of animal protection groups, the terrible suffering of the sheep on board the Queen Hind made global headlines and the rescue efforts became supercharged. Countless people the world over were glued to their computer screens and phones, awaiting news of another sheep rescued and another until some 254 animals were safe on shore. While every life saved must be and is celebrated, this was a heartbreakingly small number of animals to make it through this horrific ordeal. Adding to the tragedy, some of the rescued sheep were suffering so badly from exhaustion and injuries that it was kinder to end their suffering. Through the tragedy, however, there is a ray of hope for the sheep who lived and who will now be free to enjoy their lives in peace. Ordinarily, being sold into the live export industry is a flat-out death sentence, so to have even a handful survive truly feels like a miracle. These animals will never again be considered nothing more than cargo or meat. Instead, these truly remarkable individuals each with their own unique personality will be given the respect and protection we all deserve. A global trade in suffering Romania is not the only country where we work to spare animals from the horror of live export as, sadly, the demand for meat has resulted in this cruel global trade in live animals. and how were working together to stop it. While the live export industry may be present all over the world so are we. We deploy our investigators wherever they need to go in order to gather the evidence required to bring an end to this cruel trade. And its working: Australia One million Australian sheep will be spared from live export every year thanks to a government decision to ban the shipping of sheep into the deadly heat and humidity of the Middle East summer. The three and a half month ban comes after grueling images of sheep cooking alive" at sea sparked a global outcry, multiple government reviews and calls from thousands of Animals Australia supporters to stop these death ships. Since our first investigation in 2003, millions fewer animals are forced to endure the horrors of this trade each year. Europe Our investigations into the treatment of European animals exported to the Middle East have resulted in more than one dozen major media exposes in countries throughout Europe, and over 200 members of the European parliament calling for an Inquiry into the trade. Consistent evidence provided by Animals International led the European parliament to recommending ending live export and the outgoing commissioner questioning the future of the trade. Romania Our efforts to stop deadly summer shipments to the Middle East from Romania Europes biggest exporter of live sheep passed critical stages in the parliament and now await a formal vote. This comes as 180 survivors of the live export shipwreck off the coast of Romania are given sanctuary for life their rescue made possible thanks to tens of thousands of people around the world calling on the Romania government to act. Austria and Germany Our international investigators joined forces with Germanys Animal Welfare Foundation and the Austrian organisation, Verein gegen Tierfabriken, to track Austrian and German dairy calves sold and trucked across Europe and helped expose their brutal slaughter in Lebanon. This footage aired on a major German television program, sparking a public outcry and calls for the trade to end. South Africa Animals Australia worked with our colleagues at the NSPCA on a Carte Blanche prime-time television expose, revealing to South African politicians and farmers the fate that would await sheep if subjected to live export by the same Kuwaiti company responsible for Aussie sheep cooking alive at sea. While the ship set sail after a lengthy and costly delay for the exporter, all involved are now facing criminal charges which have been filed by the NSPCA. France Based on evidence from Animals International Animals Australias global arm two key media outlets in France, Le Monde and Konbini news, exposed the immense suffering of French cattle exported to North Africa and the Middle East. Joining forces with French animal protection group, Welfarm, were now in the midst of a major public and political campaign to stop the trade. Czech Republic Our evidence of the suffering experienced by a Czech bull exported to Lebanon made TV news headlines in the Czech Republic. Political parties responded with shock and the countrys vet authority instigated negotiations to find alternatives to the live trade. We worked with our colleagues at Compassion in World Farming to bring this cruelty to light. Italy A major TV expose in Italy based on Animals Internationals evidence of Italian cattle facing a horrific death in the Middle East led to an unprecedent public outcry and political pressure to end live export. Were working closely with our colleagues at Compassion in World Farming and LAV to spare Italian animals from the horrors of this industry. Croatia Prompted by damning media exposes and numerous official complaints from animal protection groups including our global arm, Animals International the European Commission carried out an audit on a live export shipping port in Croatia. The investigation into the port of RaOa, which is one of Europes main live export shipping points, confirmed that animal welfare standards are severely lacking. With ongoing pressure, this audit may prove to be the first step in ending live export journeys from RaOa, and a significant blow to Europes cruel trade in live animals. Ukraine Working with our friends at Open Cages, in the Ukraine, Animals International has brought the reality of live export for Ukrainian animals to public and political attention for the very first time. In significant progress in the country, a major media story underpinned by our evidence has opened doors to decision-makers to discuss the ethics and the future of the entire industry. Brazil The cruel treatment of Brazilian cattle in Egypt and the Middle East was documented by Animals International investigators and revealed in the media in Brazil, causing shock and outrage. Two of the countrys biggest exporters were revealed to have abandoned the animals to this terrible fate. We worked with our friends at Mercy for Animals to expose this cruelty. You can help animals today Please spare just one minute today to send a message directly to the Australian Government urging them to act with compassion and end live export: Take action now Press Release March 23, 2020 SENATOR LEILA M. DE LIMA'S STATEMENT ON THE COVID-19 EMERGENCY POWERS BILL I read last night the draft bill, or the proposed Bayanihan Act of 2020, entitled "AN ACT TO DECLARE THE EXISTENCE OF A NATIONAL EMERGENCY ARISING FROM THE CORONAVIRUS 2019 (COVID-19) SITUATION, A UNIFIED NATIONAL POLICY IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, AND TO AUTHORIZE THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES FOR A LIMITED PERIOD AND SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS TO EXERCISE POWERS NECESSARY AND PROPER TO CARRY OUT THE DECLARED NATIONAL POLICY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES" as proposed by the Executive Department for enactment by Congress. As of the release of this Statement, both the House of Representatives and Senate are holding separate special sessions. On the assumption that what is being tackled is the aforesaid bill, here are my comments: ______________________________________________________________________________________ The proposed bill granting extraordinary powers to the President to deal with the COVID-19 crisis is unconstitutional, unnecessary, and ultimately, dangerous. Unconstitutional The Constitution, Art. VI, Sec. 25 (5) states that "No law shall be passed authorizing any transfer of appropriations; however, the President, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and the heads of Constitutional Commissions may, by law, be authorized to augment any item in the general appropriations law for their respective offices from savings in other items of their respective appropriations." This provision of the Constitution has been greatly elaborated upon in the two decisions of Araullo v. Aquino (GR 209287; July 1, 2014 and Feb. 3, 2015). Any re-alignment of the budget in the GAA once enacted can only be accomplished in accordance with Araullo. Emergency powers cannot include unconstitutional powers. The fact that powers are emergency in nature does not mean that they can be crafted in violation of the Constitution. Quite the contrary, emergency powers are and will always be limited by the Constitution. Congress cannot grant the President powers that it is not allowed to grant under the Constitution. In this case, the Constitution prohibits Congress from passing a law authorizing the transfer of appropriations. As such, Congress cannot enact Sec. 4 (16) of the proposed Bayanihan Act because it authorizes blanket transfer of appropriations by the President outside of that allowed under the Constitution and by the Supreme Court in Araullo. The solution therefore is to enact a special appropriation law (SAL) or supplemental budget to the GAA of 2020. This SAL will have to itemize new appropriations for the COVID-19 emergency while repealing appropriations in the 2020 GAA. Although this has the effect of re-alignment, this is not re-alignment because these are new itemized appropriations provided for in a new law, funded by revenue taken from repealed appropriations in the 2020 GAA. What the Constitution prohibits is the re-alignment of funds already provided for in an appropriation law. In order to modify the old appropriations law to add new appropriations, or to re-align appropriations, there always has to be a law, a specific law, not a blanket authority, regardless of the existence or non-existence of a state of national emergency. Congress cannot simply surrender this power of the legislature to enact appropriation laws and to re-align appropriations to the President without destroying the Republican system of separation of powers and checks and balances. Unnecessary Several supposed grants of power in the proposed measure are already available to the President under the present laws. For example, GPPB Circular No. 04-2016 issued by then DBM Sec. Ben Diokno already allows government agencies to do Negotiated Procurement during Emergency Cases. Section 3.2 of the same states that Negotiated Procurement under Emergency Cases modality may be resorted to in the following instances: a. in case of imminent danger to life or property during a state of calamity; b. when time is of the essence arising from natural or man-made calamities; or c. other causes where immediate action is necessary to prevent damage to or loss of life or property, or to restore vital public services, infrastructure facilities and other public utilities. The President already has broad powers to implement community quarantine, regulate traffic of goods, enforce laws against hoarding and profiteering, and conduct mass-testing and other public health programs. The President also is given sufficient supervisory power under the Constitution to ensure that the LGU officials perform their duties in accordance with law. Finally, even without a supplemental budget, the President already has access to emergency funds under the present GAA. By way of examples, there is still 12 billion remaining balance in the Presidential Contingency Fund, 2.16 billion NDDRM Fund (former Calamity Fund), 600 million DOH Quick Response Fund, 9.5 billion DOLE fund for vulnerable workers, and 1.250 billion DSWD Quick Response fund. It can be argued that even without any new legislation, the President can already take concrete steps in our fight against COVID-19 if he chooses to. To date, the President and his team have yet to express any statutory obstacle that requires immediate Congressional action. Dangerous The proposed Bayanihan Act grants the President power to temporarily take over or direct the operation of any privately-owned public utility or business affected with public interest to be used in addressing the needs of the public during the COVID-19 emergency as determined by the President, including but not limited to, hospitals and medical and health facilities, hotels and other similar establishments to house health workers, serve as quarantine areas, quarantine centers, medical relief and aid distribution locations or other temporary medical facilities; public transportation to ferry health, emergency, and frontline personnel and other persons; and telecommunications entities to facilitate uninterrupted communication channels between the government and the public; What we need to emphasize here is that the private sector has been nothing but cooperative in our ongoing crisis. In fact, it can be argued that they have accomplished more towards fighting COVID-19 than our government. They should be the one taking over government operations and not the other way around. The leaders of the industry, many of whom has endured countless badgering from our President, have stepped up and introduced concrete plans of action to minimize the effect of COVID-19 on our people. There is no reason to doubt their commitment and cooperation during these times of crisis. I have serious doubts as to the capacity of our present government to take-over and operate private establishments. In taking over their operations, we will not only lose allies against COVID-19, we will also incur serious losses in our economy, now and in the future. To grant the President the power to take over these institutions sends the wrong message. It tells them that they are not our partners in our fight against COVID-19 and that they are merely tools to be used by the government whenever it feels like it. And this power, in spite of any assurance from Malacanang, will hang over them like the Sword of Damocles and disincentivize any effort on the part of the private sector. Social Safety Nets There is also a clear absence of mention of any social safety nets in the proposed Bayanihan bill. It has always been about our people. Everything we do redounds to our people's welfare. To simply ignore the fact that our people needs assurance that our government will take care of them during the COVID-19 crisis is to invite widespread social anxiety. We are already in the brink of social unrest. The more our government appears indifferent to the plight of our people, the more our people will become vulnerable to desperate and possibly criminal thoughts. We do not have enough police to fight off criminality borne of hopelessness caused by our government's failure to show our people that we care for, and are ultimately working towards, their welfare. Conclusion The LGUs, the private sector, and our people, are our partners. We need but ask and they will come running to our side. Our people, especially the poor, just needs some assurance that they will be taken care of at a time when they do not have any means to support themselves. Our partners should not be made to appear as uncooperative in the eyes of our policymakers. To threaten them with sanctions and heavy-handed government action in the face of this crisis will not operate to inspire them to do their part. If we enact this emergency power bill, we are, in effect, telling our people that they are all burdens, if not criminals, that require government subjugation. I am against this measure. NEW YORK With masks, ventilators and political goodwill in desperately short supply, more than one-fifth of the worlds population was ordered or urged to stay in their homes Monday at the start of what could be a pivotal week in the battle to contain the coronavirus in the U.S. and Europe. Partisan divisions stalled efforts to pass a colossal aid package in Congress, and stocks fell again on Wall Street even after the Federal Reserve said it will lend to small and large businesses and local governments to help them through the crisis. Britain became the latest European country to order a near lockdown, imposing its most draconian peacetime restrictions in one of the worlds largest economies. It came the same day the head of the World Health Organization warned that the outbreak was accelerating and called on countries to take strong, coordinated action. We are not helpless bystanders, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, noting that it took 67 days to reach 100,000 cases worldwide but just four days to go from 200,000 to 300,000. We can change the trajectory of this pandemic. The scramble to marshal public health and political resources intensified in New York, where a statewide lockdown took effect amid worries the city of 8.4 million is becoming one of the worlds biggest hot spots. More than 12,000 people have tested positive in the city and more than 100 have died. The governor announced plans to convert a mammoth New York City convention center into a hospital with 1,000 beds. The mayor warned that the citys hospitals are just 10 days away from shortages in basic supplies. This is going to get much worse before it gets better. We are still in the relative calm before the storm, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. In Italy, the hardest-hit country, declines in both new cases and deaths for a second consecutive day provided a faint glimmer of hope, though it is too soon to say whether the crisis is leveling off. Italian officials said Monday that the virus had claimed just over 600 more lives, down from 793 two days earlier. All told, the outbreak has killed more than 6,000 Italians, the highest death toll of any country, and pushed the health system to the breaking point there and in Spain. The risk to doctors, nurses and others on the front lines has become plain: Italy has seen at least 18 doctors with coronavirus die. Spain reported that more than 3,900 health care workers have become infected, accounting for roughly 12% of the countrys total cases. British health workers pleaded for more gear, saying they felt like cannon fodder. In France, doctors scrounged masks from construction workers, factory floors, an architect. Theres a wild race to get surgical masks, Francois Blanchecott, a biologist on the front lines of testing, told France Inter radio. Were asking mayors offices, industries, any enterprises that might have a store of masks. The way U.S. officials respond to the severe pressure on hospitals and peoples willingness to keep their distance from others will prove critical in coming days, public health experts said. Actions taken right now will have a huge impact on the course of this epidemic in the U.S., said Josh Michaud, associate director of global health policy with the Kaiser Family Foundation in Washington. Its an important moment. In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the virus the biggest threat this country has faced for decades as he ordered people to stay home and directed shops that dont sell essential goods to shut down. He warned that police would be authorized to break up public gatherings of more than two people. Johnson faced pressure to roll out tougher measures because many have ignored advice on social distancing. In the U.S., President Donald Trump told reporters he believes the American economy, which has been virtually shut down, could be reopened in weeks, not months. Trump wouldnt say when businesses would be up and running but that he wasnt looking at months, I can tell you right now. Were going to be opening up the country. Amid complaints of hospitals running low on masks, gloves and other critical gear, Trump signed an executive order making it a crime to stockpile supplies needed by medical workers. Attorney General William Barr said investigators will go after those hoarding goods on an industrial scale and price gouging. If you are sitting on a warehouse with surgical masks, you will be hearing a knock on your door, Barr told reporters. China is now sending planeloads of protective gear and doctors to Europe as the crisis kept easing in the country where the virus first emerged late last year. For more than a week, the vast majority of Chinas cases have been in people coming into the country rather than from community spread, according to the National Health Commission. The U.S. is completely wasting the precious time that China has won for the world, said Geng Shuang, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. governments top infectious-disease expert, promised that medical supplies are about to start pouring in and will be clearly directed to those hot spots that need it most. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden criticized Trump for not using the full force of federal authority to combat the virus. Trump keeps saying hes a wartime president, Biden said in an online address. Well, start acting like one. On Capitol Hill, a nearly $2 trillion plan that would prop up businesses and send checks to American households has stalled. Democrats argued it was tilted toward corporations rather than workers and health care providers. Meanwhile, industries big and small kept shutting down. Boeing announced it was suspending production in the Seattle area, where it has two mammoth aircraft plants employing about 42,000 people. More than 380,000 people worldwide have been infected and over 16,500 have died from the virus, according to a running tally kept by Johns Hopkins University. More than 1.5 billion people around the globe have been instructed to stay in their homes. After just a few weeks, the U.S. has more than 46,000 cases and over 500 deaths. Indiana, Michigan, Washington state and West Virginia joined states including California, Illinois and New York in asking or ordering residents to stay home and keep businesses closed directives that cover more than one-third of the U.S. population in a patchwork of rules imposed by governors or cities. Louisianas governor urged residents to comply with his stay-at-home order, with New Orleans officials even removing basketball hoops from playgrounds and parks because people were still playing. The virus is here, and everybody needs to act as if they already have it, Gov. John Bel Edwards said. For most people, the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever or coughing. But for some older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. Over 100,000 people have recovered, mostly in China. Former Hollywood studio boss Harvey Weinstein tested positive at the prison in New York where he is serving a 23-year sentence for rape and sexual assault, the head of the guards union said. Authorities kept up their push to get people to stay home, but some were not listening. Social media showed snapshots of packed London Underground trains. In New York, Cuomo fumed over gatherings of young people, saying, Its reckless and its violative of your civic spirit and duty as a citizen, as far as Im concerned. In a city where many people live in buildings with small elevators, a 21-story high-rise in the Chelsea neighborhood posted a notice in the lobby warning that there should be just one person per elevator, and those going to the laundry room shouldnt use a washing machine next to another one in use. People are really only going to get food and going back. Thats what we need, said Matt Comet, making a brief dash into the nearly empty streets of his Manhattan neighborhood to pick up a carryout meal. Im OK to have a book and watch TV for a bit, but if it continues for another month, another two months, itll be pretty crazy, he said. Closures upended life worldwide. India took the extraordinary step of shutting down the nations vast rail system, the lifeblood of the country of 1.3 billion people. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe acknowledged that postponing this years Summer Olympics in Tokyo could be unavoidable. The International Olympic Committee said it will examine the situation over the next few weeks. Nepal has ordered a weeklong lockdown, while Myanmar reported its first two cases of the virus. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an immediate cease-fire in conflicts around the world to tackle the pandemic. It is time to put armed conflict on lockdown and focus together on the true fight of our lives, he said. ___ Associated Press reporters around the world contributed to this report. ___ The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. ___ Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-24 03:48:31|Editor: yan Video Player Close BEIRUT, March 23 (Xinhua) -- French Ambassador to Lebanon Bruno Foucher said Monday that France is among the first countries to stand by Lebanon in its fight against COVID-19, local media reported. "We have supported Lebanon by sending medical equipment on March 9 and we will continue helping the country given the deep ties between France and Lebanon," Foucher was quoted as saying by Elnashra, an online independent newspaper. Foucher addressed French expatriates in Lebanon by urging them to commit to measures imposed by the Lebanese government to restrict the spread of the virus. He said that the French expatriates in Lebanon should be a role model followed by others in the way they commit to proper measures and healthy precautions. A former police officer whose career was blighted by sex scandals has been jailed for a minimum of 15 years for the murder of his wife. Keith Farquharson, 60, strangled his wife Alice in their bedroom, on August 29 last year before performing CPR and dialling 999. The dad-of-three pretended Alice, 56, had fallen out of bed when he was not in the room at their home in Aberdeen. Farquharson, who had a string of affairs with junior colleagues and reportedly thought he was 'God's gift to women', was married to Alice for more than 30 years. He claimed they planned to retire together. Alice had worked as a pupil support assistant at Hazlehead Primary School for 17 years, and was adored by staff and pupils. Former police officer Keith Farquharson has been jailed for his wife's murder after pretending she fell out of bed last year He strangled Alice Farquharson in the bedroom after she asked her husband 'do you love me?' Farquharson lied to his family about Alice's death, which a post-mortem examination showed was caused by compression of the neck. And he continued to lie through a trial at the High Court in Glasgow, forcing his children to give evidence - but a jury took just two hours to convict him last month following a five-day trial. On the morning of the murder, Alice had laid in bed asked asked him: 'Do you love me?' Farquharson admitted he had 'groaned' at the question, and claimed his wife slapped him. The former traffic officer then insisted they had struggled and he put his hand over her mouth to stop her screaming. He said: 'It was as if she started to choke. I knew something was wrong. When I let go she just rolled off the bed.' Police had initially believed that her death to be 'non- suspicious', but a post-mortem found that Mrs Farquharson had suffered 'mechanical asphyxia', with a pathologist concluding that her neck had been compressed and that bruises on her face were consistent with gripping. Sentencing Farquharson, judge Lady Stacey said it was 'distressing' that a man in his position of responsibility had committed such a serious crime. 'You murdered your wife, to whom you had been married for over 30 years and with whom you lived,' she said. The former officer was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow, pictured, where he was told he had 'destroyed' his family 'You took the life of a woman in her fifties. In doing so you deprived her of what would probably have been many more years of life. 'It is distressing that a man who has been in such a position should behave as you did and commit a very serious crime. 'Your late wife was in her own home where she should have been safe when you attacked her and took her life.' Judge Stacey added that his actions and deception had 'destroyed' his family and 'taken away the trust' that his children had in him. 'You pretended that she had fallen out of bed when you were not in the bedroom. You knew that was not true. You did not tell the truth to your family either. 'You left your family not knowing the truth. What you have done has destroyed your family and taken away the trust that children should be able to have in their father.' In a statement, Alice's children said they would miss her 'an incredible amount' and that their family would 'never be the same again'. 'To describe the loss of our mum, Alice, as a shock would be an understatement,' they said. 'She was an incredibly kind and caring person, with a great love for life and the people in it. Farquharson thought he was 'God's gift to women', according to a woman he had an affair with 'She was so fond of all the pupils in her care and also the staff whom she worked alongside, calling herself their "work mum" and looking out for them all too. We miss her an incredible amount, as we know many others will. 'At times since our mum's death and as we spoke about what lay ahead of us, we would catch ourselves and ask '"can you believe that this has happened?" 'Our family will never be the same again and we cannot begin to describe the devastating impact this tragedy has had on us.' One of Farquharson's colleagues who he had an affair with claimed he was 'a show-off who sussed his targets'. 'If he was chocolate, he'd have eaten himself. He was a show-off who sussed his targets,' they told the Daily Record. 'Policewomen I knew weren't attracted to him but he thought he was God's gift. No matter what rank he was, he just thought policewomen were there to be used.' Your tax-deductible gift today powers our reporters and keeps us independent. We rely on you, our reader, not paywalls to stay funded because we believe important news and information should be freely accessible to all. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe Overnight, coronavirus has forced restaurants and bars to shut down and revamp their business models. While some have shifted to takeout and delivery, not all establishments can do this. That's where the Dining Bond Initiative comes in. Launched on March 12, it was inspired by war bonds, which the United States government sold during both World Wars. During WWII, you could buy war bonds at 75% of their face value and they would mature over ten years. Say you bought a war bond for $75, a decade later you could cash it in for $100. These bonds helped the U.S. government fund the conflict and offered citizens an investment with a relatively safe return. January 19, 1944: In a huge War Bond rally held at Los Angeles City Hall, councilman Robert Burns speaks to the crowd. Seated, left to right: H. O. Patrick, yeoman, first class; Marine Dick Leesman; Kenneth Potter, fireman, first class; Sergeant Joe Wilson of the Marines, all South Pacific veterans; Robert B. Moulton, head of the Treasury Department's War Finance Committee for Southern California; Actress Joan Bennett, and Federal Judge Pierson M. Hall, principal speaker at the rally. (Herald Examiner Collection/Los Angeles Public Library Collection) Dining bonds work in a similar way although perhaps with less security. You put money in the hands of local restaurants right now and receive a gift card that you can use for food and drink once the COVID-19 pandemic has passed. New York-based publicists Steven Hall and Helen Patrikis, who have many clients in the hospitality industry, including restaurants Carmine's and Aquavit, founded the Dining Bond Initiative. "We were dealing with the early stages of this crisis and recognizing that many of our clients were going to be in dire circumstances," Patrikis says. At the time, businesses hadn't faced mass closures. As Hall and Patrikis brainstormed fundraising ideas, the World Health Organization declared coronavirus a pandemic and they were inspired by the way restaurant patrons responded. Patrons wait for their take out orders as tables are placed on top of tables in a close food court Los Angeles, California on March 17, 2020. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) "We saw people asking if they could buy gift cards somewhere. There were a lot of questions about it, so we really got into the spirit of a war bond or savings bond where people could provide support now," Patrikis says. The Dining Bond Initiative is more of a loose collective branding than a formal program but the core idea is the same among participating restaurants. These establishments offer a value-added gift certificate, aka a dining bond, that can be redeemed at a later date. "In this unprecedented 'medical wartime,' the idea with dining bonds is similar to a wartime savings bond. If restaurants sell a bond at a discounted rate today, say $75, it would be redeemable for $100 in the future," says Connie Wang, managing director of the Hotel Figueroa, where the restaurants Veranda and Breva are participating. The Breva dining room in the Hotel Figueroa. (Courtesy of the Hotel Figueroa) In Southern California, at least two dozen bars and restaurants have joined the program. Dining bonds differ from restaurant to restaurant. Each has its own price, redeemable value and design. Dining bonds are meant to be purchased from individual restaurants and are not universal. Hall and Patrikis stress that they aren't selling dining bonds or administering the program it's up to each participating restaurant to handle that on their own they're just trying to bring more attention to the campaign and, hopefully, help restaurants weather the coronavirus storm. "If more people know about it, more people will be able to go and buy," Hall says. As for the restaurants themselves, participation is simple. All they need to do is fill out a form on the Dining Bond Initiative site and add a page or link on their own website where consumers can buy dining bonds. Hall and Patrikis will send restaurants a branding package. Participation is already growing. What started among a small group of New York restaurants has grown to include 200 restaurants across the United States. "We even have a restaurant from Jackson Hole, Wyoming on there. That was one of the first restaurants to reach out when we launched the site," Hall says. Restaurants in COVID-19 hotspots such as Italy and Spain have expressed interest. The backroom of the revamped Formosa Cafe in West Hollywood. (Maxim Shapovalov) (Maxim Shapovalov) In Los Angeles, participants include Coni' Seafood in Inglewood, E.P. & L.P. in West Hollywood and the 10 bars of the 1933 Group. "We're all about historical Los Angeles and they're like war time bonds," saysv 1933 Group co-owner Dimitri Komarov. His company is known for detail-oriented revivals of historic venues including the Formosa Cafe and the Idle Hour in North Hollywood. Since most of their establishments are bars, the food component of the 1933 Group's business is small so takeout isn't much of an option for them. This is a way for them to keep revenue trickling in. But Dining Bonds aren't without risk. "Some of these restaurants may not come back, but I feel people are going into this with the knowledge that they are contributing toward what's needed now," Patrikis says. "The impetus of the idea was that even if it's a small amount of money, that may help pay a staff member or a small bill," Hall adds. Restaurants are often called to help with fundraisers and charity events, or to aid in relief efforts after tragedies. "Now, we're asking people to return the favor," Hall says. Early Sunday evening, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell scheduled a procedural vote for the roughly $2 trillion stimulus package that Senate Republicans and Democrats had been negotiating over the weekend. Democrats hadnt signed off on the deal, though, and were still pushing for increased benefits for the unemployed, hospitals, and states, as well as stronger guardrails and oversight of the roughly $500 billion fund for large corporations, disbursement of much of which would otherwise be largely left to the treasury secretarys discretion. Advertisement So Senate Democrats successfully filibustered. An unusually mad McConnell blamed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who flew back to D.C. from San Francisco on Saturday, for blowing up the negotiations by bringing with her a new wish list of demands. Later in the night, when McConnell tried to schedule a do-over on the same procedural vote for 9:45 Monday morning15 minutes after the stock markets opened, in an effort to terrify DemocratsDemocratic leader Chuck Schumer objected. The Senate opened at noon on Monday instead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And when it came into session, it picked up where the previous night left off: with pure, unbridled anger from a cohort of cranky geriatrics who are trapped in the Capitol Hill coronavirus nest until they can reach a deal to prop up the countrys collapsing economy and health systems. Advertisement Advertisement After McConnells opening remarks, in which he once again accused Pelosi of turning the Senates serious bipartisan process into this left-wing episode of Supermarket Sweep, Schumer spoke about how his negotiations with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and the White Houses congressional liaison, Eric Ueland, had been going well. Our goal is to reach a deal today, Schumer said. And we are hopeful, even confident that we will meet that goal. When Schumer concluded, Maine Sen. Susan Collins tried to speak. Schumer, however, objected. This is unbelievable, Collins said. Schumer was just trying to set a voting schedule with McConnell. After they did, Collins spoke. She was mad. I will tell you, Mr. President, she said, addressing the chair, Ive had the honor to serve in this body for many years. Never, never have I seen Republicans and Democrats fail to come together when confronted with a crisis. We did so after 9/11, we did so with the financial meltdown in 2008. Here we are facing an enemy that is invisible but equally devastating to the health of our people and the health of our economy. And yet, unbelievably, the Democratic leader objected to my even being able to speak this morning? Advertisement Advertisement West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, the conservative Democrat whos friendly with Collins, tried to calm things down by explaining Democrats tactics. Were in a situation now where if you vote yes on the procedural vote, Manchin said, and then youre not in agreement with the bill, then it only takes 51 [votes]. That seems to be the reason that everyones saying, wait a minute, lets get an agreement so we can move through. In other words, Democrats would lose their leverage if they agreed to move forward. Advertisement Advertisement McConnell was still in the chamber, and nothing gets Mitch McConnell more irate than someone being wrong in their application of Senate Rule XXII. Practically shouting at Manchin, McConnell observed that Democrats would still have another 60-vote point of leverage later in the process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Senate Democratic aide, when asked why Democrats dont just start debate and use the next procedural vote as their leverage, said: The negotiations are still happening, why should there be arbitrary deadlines for votes? If we get a deal things can be sped up. Why try to amend the bill with the 30-hour clock for formal debate running, in other words, when they can still get it changed in the preliminary negotiations? Advertisement There was an hour devoted to floor debate before the next vote, and it was used for that rarest of purposes: debate. Typically a Senate debate involves lone floor speeches, with senators pretending for the cameras that theyre owning the other side into speechlessness when, in reality, few if any members of the other side are even in the chamber. It made for a weird scene, then, when senators actually got into arguments. After a mad Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown said that McConnell had taken days to call up the previous coronavirus response bill a week earlier, a mad Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton took objection to his timeline, noting that the House hadnt transmitted the final version until the day before the Senate voted on it. Advertisement Advertisement I know you always want to do Trump, the presidents bidding, Brown said. I have the floor and will keep the floor. Advertisement Other mad senators during this time period included Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander, who is not often mad, and Idaho Sen. Jim Risch, who is frequently mad. Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, who is occasionally mad, was not mad, and urged other senators to not be mad as well. They didnt listen. When the Senate next voted, around 1:45 p.m., on the procedural vote to move ahead, it failed 49 to 46, with Alabama Sen. Doug Jones joining Republicans. And so Mitch McConnell was, again, mad. For more on the impact of the coronavirus, listen to Mondays episode of What Next. Donald Trump criticised the media and governors leading their states coronavirus efforts after the governor of Illinois said the lapsed federal government response has forced states to compete for badly needed medical supplies and other resources. Governor JB Pritzker told CNN on Sunday that there should have been a coordinated effort by the federal government to help cash-strapped states obtain personal protective equipment like respirators and other health workers supplies. The president has also been criticised for wavering on an emergency mandate that would force companies to begin manufacturing those supplies. The president said the governor and fake news shouldnt blame the federal government for their own shortcomings. He said: We are there to back you up should you fail, and always will be! Governor Pritzker fired back at the president: You wasted precious months when you couldve taken action to protect Americans [and] Illinoisans. You should be leading a national response instead of throwing tantrums from the back seat. Where were the tests when we needed them? Wheres the [personal protective equipment]? Get off Twitter [and] do your job. The president has lashed out at other Democratic governors who have demanded a stronger federal response. He called Michigans governor Gretchen Whitmer the failing Michigan governor last week. Illinois has reported 753 confirmed coronavirus cases, including at least six deaths, as of Sunday. The state is now one of six to have issued a statewide stay-at-home order to help contain the spread. Governor Pritzker told CNN: These should have been done nationally ... Ive got to protect the 1.7m who live in my state. He said that unless more Americans are told to stay at home and to stop interacting in the way that they were, were going to see thousands or tens of thousands more deaths than we otherwise would. The state which includes the Chicago metropolitan area, containing 2.7m people did not postpone its Democratic primary election on 17 March, as thousands of people congregated at the polls. Recommended AOC rebukes Trump for failure to implement emergency measures Chicagos mayor, Lori Lightfoot, also responded to the presidents comments, saying: Dear Lord please step up and be a leader. While you have been yammering about hoaxes and fake news, the Covid-19 pandemic has hit all over America. [Governor Pritzker] and others have filled this countrys leadership gap. Lead or get out of their way. On Sunday, Louisiana and Ohio also issued stay-at-home orders WOODS HOLE, Mass. - Revealing yet another super-power in the skillful squid, scientists have discovered that squid massively edit their own genetic instructions not only within the nucleus of their neurons, but also within the axon -- the long, slender neural projections that transmit electrical impulses to other neurons. This is the first time that edits to genetic information have been observed outside of the nucleus of an animal cell. The study, led by Isabel C. Vallecillo-Viejo and Joshua Rosenthal at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL), Woods Hole, is published this week in Nucleic Acids Research. The discovery provides another jolt to the "central dogma" of molecular biology, which states that genetic information is passed faithfully from DNA to messenger RNA to the synthesis of proteins. In 2015, Rosenthal and colleagues discovered that squid "edit" their messenger RNA instructions to an extraordinary degree - orders of magnitude more than humans do -- allowing them to fine-tune the type of proteins that will be produced in the nervous system. "But we thought all the RNA editing happened in in the nucleus, and then the modified messenger RNAs are exported out to the cell," says Rosenthal, senior author on the present study. "Now we are showing that squid can modify the RNAs out in the periphery of the cell. That means, theoretically, they can modify protein function to meet the localized demands of the cell. That gives them a lot of latitude to tailor the genetic information, as needed." The team also showed that messenger RNAs are edited in the nerve cell's axon at much higher rates than in the nucleus. In humans, axon dysfunction is associated with many neurological disorders. Insights from the present study could accelerate the efforts of biotech companies that seek to harness this natural RNA editing process in humans for therapeutic benefit. Scientists from Tel Aviv University and The University of Colorado at Denver collaborated with MBL scientists on the study. Previously, Rosenthal and colleagues showed that octopus and cuttlefish also rely heavily on mRNA editing to diversify the proteins they can produce in the nervous system. Together with squid, these animals are known for strikingly sophisticated behaviors, relative to other invertebrates. ### Citation: Isabel C. Vallecillo-Viejo, et al. (2020) Spatially regulated editing of genetic information with a neuron. Nucleic Acids Research, doi: 10.1093/nar/gkaa172 The Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) is dedicated to scientific discovery - exploring fundamental biology, understanding marine biodiversity and the environment, and informing the human condition through research and education. Founded in Woods Hole, Massachusetts in 1888, the MBL is a private, nonprofit institution and an affiliate of the University of Chicago. Jammu: The deadly coronavirus originated from China is wreaking havoc all around the globe. As of now, the number of people who have died from this virus has exceeded 13000. The fear of this virus is spread among people. Doctors are still searching for treatment to fight this disease. District Deputy Commissioner Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary tweeted that instead of being scared, everyone should cooperate to control the situation. This is like the third world war. After it passes, everyone will get a life. The District Deputy Commissioner has inspired many people to tell the travel history by tweeting. He said that, with its help, it will help to a great extent in getting control of this disease. Tweeted that a student coming from the US told himself to come from Bangladesh and Babu allotted room to him without seeing passport. Terrorist infiltration in Jammu, helper arrested According to the information, US is the third most affected country in the world by Coronavirus. In another tweet, four passengers coming from Mauritius, Dubai, and Kazakhstan refused to tell the travel history. The IT team immediately found it. Tweeted that one of the two brothers studying in the same medical college in Bangladesh went into exile as soon as they got off the flight, while the other brother reached home via road. He has been kept in confinement at the notice of alert neighbors. Ban on work of cement transportation in Himachal In the last three days, 1196 passengers from Bangladesh, Ladakh, Bangkok, Dubai, Cambodia, UK have been shifted to 24 confinement centers. In another tweet, a businessman named Suhail Bukhari has handed over the key to use any type of luxurious hotel in his 48 beds. Challan filed and lawsuit filed if rules are not followed during lockdown MBABANE If push comes to shove with regard to the coronavirus outbreak in the country, boarding schools will be used as quarantine centres. This was revealed by Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi, who stated that the country should not shy away from a possibility of seeking extra quarantine centres as the figures kept surging in the new coronavirus confirmed cases. Eswatini currently has four confirmed cases and samples of suspected cases amassed on a daily basis are still transferred to South Africa for testing. explore Nkosi said for now, it was less likely that the country would utilise the boarding schools as quarantine centres but when it came to that, they would explore that option. It is less likely that we would get to that point but it remains an option if the situation worsens, she said. Quarantine is the separation of a person or group of people reasonably believed to have been exposed to a communicable disease but not yet symptomatic, from others who have not been so exposed, to prevent the possible spread of the communicable disease. It is different from isolation, which is the separation of a person or group of people known or reasonably believed to be infected with a communicable disease and potentially infectious from those who are not infected to prevent the spread of the communicable disease. decontaminated Nkosi said to ensure safety of pupils when they returned to school if their facility had been used as a quarantine centre, the facility would be decontaminated properly. However, teachers are not for the idea that boarding schools should be used as quarantine centres but said instead government hotels should be used for the same purpose. This was a submission made by Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Secretary General Sikelela Dlamini. We would suggest that they use government hotels for that. Piggs Peak Hotel can be ideal. Other countries are using hotels. Boarding schools are not properly capacitated to handle such, he said. Boarding schools in the country include St Michaels, St Marks and Evelyn Baring among others. Assurance Cynthia Hlatjwako, whose child is enrolled at one of the boarding schools in the country, said as a parent, there was no level of assurance they could get from government that their children would be safe even if the facilities were decontaminated. Meanwhile, Nkosi was quizzed on why the ministry was not specific on the location of the persons who have tested positive for the coronavirus. Her response was that they were still mapping the concentration of the virus and when they had done that, they would then inform the nation on the locations of the infected people. The same is done in South Africa as the Health Ministry states, at least, the province of every person who has tested positive for the coronavirus. As Americans are being urged to keep their distance from one another, travelers returning on flights from Europe say they are being made to wait for hours in close quarters at US airports to get screened for coronavirus. When they arrived in Dallas, Chicago and New York, they faced long lines and confusion, several travelers told CNN. At one New York airport, two travelers said they were alarmed when officials suggested they should share pens to fill out customs and medical forms. President Donald Trump has announced foreign nationals in 26 European countries will face restrictions entering the US, while Ireland and the United Kingdom will be added to the list at midnight Monday. Trump tweeted Sunday, asking those stuck at airports to be patient: "We are doing very precise Medical Screenings at our airports. Pardon the interruptions and delays, we are moving as quickly as possible, but it is very important that we be vigilant and careful. We must get it right. Safety first!" The travel ban went into effect at midnight Friday, but only after the original announcement sparked chaos at European airports as Americans sought ways to return home before it went into place. American citizens and permanent residents are allowed to fly into the US but must to go through one of 13 transit airports for screening, which caused backups at some of the airports. Karen Rogers, a passenger returning from Paris by way of London, had been waiting in line for at least five hours to be screened at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport and was told she would have at least another hour to go, she said Saturday night. CNN has reached out to O'Hare International Airport but did not receive an immediate response. US Customs and Border Protection is aware of the long lines and is already seeing success addressing the delays at some airports, acting Commissioner Mark Morgan said in a statement emphasizing that passengers' safety and health is the top priority. In a later statement Sunday, he said, "Wait times experienced yesterday at some locations were unacceptable." The agency's partners' resources are "stretched thin," he said, and CBP still must fulfill its national security, counter-narcotics and outbound enforcement missions. "With this national emergency, there will unfortunately be times of disruption and increased processing times for travelers. CBP is working around the clock to minimize these inconveniences," he said. 'Very close quarters' The process in place at O'Hare has passengers "essentially go(ing) through customs twice," said Ann Lewis Schmidt, a passenger returning from Iceland. Passengers first wait in line to have their passports checked and to turn in a declaration form and medical forms for those returning from Europe, South Korea, Iran and China, Schmidt said. Then they are taken to a separate line to undergo a screening and temperature check. Passengers are grouped together for hours during the process, Schmidt said. "Seems backwards, as if someone had a fever they should have been never allowed in these lines for four hours," Schmidt told CNN. She described folks being in "very close quarters ... so if we didn't have the virus before, we have a great chance of getting it now!" Travelers who pass the screening are instructed to immediately self-quarantine at home and monitor their health as outlined in the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's best practices, the Department of Homeland Security said. Illinois governor calls on federal government to take action Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker reacted to the long lines by tweeting to Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, "The federal government needs to get its s@#t together. NOW." Speaking to NBC, Pritzker said he is working with Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Illinois lawmakers to push the federal government to take action to alleviate issues at O'Hare, he said. The government, in announcing travel restrictions for Europe, should have increased the number of customs and CDC officials on the ground at airports, but "they did neither of those," he told NBC. "So last night, as people were flooding into O'Hare airport, they were stuck in a small area -- hundreds and hundreds of people -- and that's exactly what you don't want in this pandemic," he told the news outlet Sunday. "Then today, it's going to be even worse. There are a larger number of flights with more people coming, and they seem completely unprepared." Lightfoot blasted the US government's "lack of preparedness" regarding the airport screening procedures, telling reporters it "seriously compromised" travelers, some 3,000 of whom were in concourses at O'Hare awaiting processing Sunday afternoon. "You must listen to mayors and governors and other local officials first," Lightfoot said before citing federal immigration efforts in her city. "Rather than sending (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement) into the streets, send screeners to our airports." In a tweet, acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf acknowledged the long lines and the stress passengers were experiencing. "DHS is aware of the long lines for passengers who are undergoing increased medical screening requirements. Right now we are working to add additional screening capacity and working with the airlines to expedite the process," he said. "I understand this is very stressful. In these unprecedented times, we ask for your patience. It currently takes ~60 seconds for medical professionals to screen each passenger. We will be increasing capacity but the health and safety of the American public is first & foremost." Passengers told to share pens At John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, passengers are also facing long wait times. Katelyn Deibler landed at JFK from Kiev, Ukraine, on Saturday afternoon and it took more than two hours to complete customs, she said. She was given two forms to fill out when she arrived, she said. "One was just name, passport number, flight number, seat, address, emergency contact, and details about your trip," Deibler said. The second form asked specific questions about symptoms and travel to coronavirus hot zones, she said. The form instructs passengers to circle countries they visited in the last 14 days and asks if they've had any symptoms such as fever, coughing or difficulty breathing, Deibler said. There were not enough copies for all the passengers on the flight, and many had to wait for more forms to be handed out. "They didn't have pens and told us to share," she said. "Which sounds like a great thing in the middle of the pandemic." Three taken to the hospital after screenings at JFK Another traveler, Nick Carlin, expressed concern passengers were told to share pens, and there was no hand sanitizer at JFK, he said. "It definitely was a little scattered and disorganized," said Chris Nadolne, a passenger who arrived to JFK. "I can see how people would start to get frustrated as the line got longer. ... No bathrooms nearby and no antibacterial around for people to use -- unlike in the UK and Paris where it is everywhere." At least three passengers who underwent screenings at JFK were sent to hospitals because of their symptoms, a source with knowledge of the JFK screenings said. The average wait time for a health screening has been two hours, said Frank Russo, the JFK port director for US Customs and Border Control. There are more than 50 emergency medical technicians on duty supplementing CDC staff, he said. Asked about passengers' complaints of the airport lacking hand sanitizer, he said the terminals have hand sanitizer and officers are instructing people how to find it. He has asked the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey -- which operates the airport -- to install more dispensers in the areas where passengers are waiting, he said. Passengers were intermingling while waiting in lines Upon landing at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Kimberly Harris witnessed passengers who were in line for CDC screening skip the queue and join international passengers who did not need to be screened, she said. Harris returned from Johannesburg, South Africa, via London. She watched the customs line grow and wrap around the entire floor, she said. "It was difficult to tell where the line began and ended," Harris said. "It almost (was) immediately evident that people who had to stay behind on the plane due to visiting a listed country were integrated into the line of the people who did not require additional screening." It took her three hours to make it through passport control and customs, she said. Another passenger who arrived at DFW on Sunday from Thailand by way of Doha, Qatar, described a similar scene. The coronavirus screening line was not separated from the other international arrivals, Matthew Thomas said. "(They were) right next to us," he says. "We were crowded and there for hours." Neither Thomas nor Harris required screenings. "These federally mandated enhanced procedures are part of the effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus," DFW said in a statement. "The necessary additional procedures may cause delays in processing through Customs but are of the utmost importance for the health and safety of everyone." The number of Vietnamese returning to Vietnam from Covid-19 hit areas fell dramatically after the government halted entry for foreigners and inbound flights. Only around 884 Vietnamese landed at Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport and northern Quang Ninh Province's Van Don Airport on Monday. Noi Bai expects to receive 276 of these, arriving from Hong Kong, Japan and Thailand, local media reported. The other 608 Vietnam Airlines passengers who landed at Van Don flew from the U.K. and Germany. Just one day prior, Noi Bai alone received around 1,712 passengers, all Vietnamese. As a response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, multiple Vietnamese airlines have suspended most international flights in order to curb the spread of the disease. Vietnam Airlines for example would suspend all international flights until April 30, the national carrier announced last week. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc meanwhile stated Vietnam would suspend entry for all foreign nationals, including those of Vietnamese origin and family members with visa waivers starting Sunday. The decision would not apply to those entering the country for diplomatic purposes or other special matters. Phuc also ordered the suspension of all flights coming to Vietnam on Friday. Vietnam has confirmed 121 Covid-19 cases so far, of whom 17 have been cured and discharged from hospital. Most active cases, now hospitalized in 12 cities and provinces, are returnees from Europe and the U.S. and those whod come into close contact with them. The Covid-19 pandemic has killed over 14,900 people globally, spreading to 192 countries and territories thus far. By Hoda Emam Bay City News Foundation The crisis surrounding the COVID-19 coronavirus has already forced some small businesses to close their doors, and firms that remain open are expressing growing anxiety about what lies ahead. An informal survey of small retailers in San Mateo County reveals fear many have over a range of uncertainties, from shaky supply lines to the loss of customers. Mohamesh Singh, at Islander Halal Meat and Grocers in San Mateo, said the current crisis could force the business to close for good. "If we don't have business, we won't be able to cope with the rent," said Singh, who along with his wife opened Islander Halal 10 years ago. In neighboring San Carlos, Papachay Peruvian Coffee remains open, but the business has been hard hit by business customers who have closed their doors. "Most of our sales are wholesale for restaurants, coffee shops and corporate offices," said Papachay co-owner Juliana Gambriazano, "so a big part of our sales has decreased since most people are working at home." Cheryl Angeles, president of the San Mateo Area Chamber of Commerce, said that her members, not surprisingly, are stressed and anxious, with the greatest impact being felt among businesses that provide personal services. "Dentists, massage, hair salons -- anything that has to do with close contact will be affected most," said Angeles, whose organization represents 555 small-to-medium-sized members. She said she hopes to see tax breaks, business loans and delayed rent payments to give small businesses a chance to survive the crisis. The growing crisis has not been without a short-term upside for some. On a recent morning at Adel International Food Market in San Carlos, manager Emerita Topete was busy restocking shelves. Not unlike large grocery chains, the ethnic specialty shop has seen higher sales than usual recently, reflecting both heavy crisis-inspired buying, and demand for goods for last week's Persian New Year dinners. "Last week, we noticed customers buying three to four bags of rice when they usually only buy one," said Topete. Similarly, at Islander, whose customers are primarily Indian, Samoan and Fijian, Singh saw an initial spike in sales of flour, rice and canned goods as fears about coronavirus grew. But neither grocer thinks the surge will last. "After the New Year, we expect sales to go down," Topete said. None of these businesses, to be sure, is throwing in the towel. Instead, they are trying to adapt to their new circumstances. Gambriazio said Papachay coffee, for example, is working to offset the loss of business deliveries by increasing online orders and home delivery service. But Gambriazio, who started Papachay with her husband four years ago to source coffee beans from their farms in Peru, said she never expected business to tank as dramatically as it has. And she added that she finds herself wondering, "How will we manage to pay the fixed bills, the ones that keep coming no matter what you do, no matter if you are working or not?" Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. As schools, restaurants and office buildings close in an attempt to stall the spread of Covid-19, victims of domestic violence are stuck in a seemingly more dangerous place; their home. Allison Dearing, executive direction of Birminghams One Place Family Justice Center, which provides services to victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, said being self-isolated or quarantined can be dangerous for people in abusive homes. At a time of social isolation when we're all seemingly hunkered down in our homes because of this virus, if you are in a relationship or in a home that isn't safe, then that gives danger a whole new meaning. One Place remains open and active for survivors who seek help fleeing, prosecuting, or seeking help from a violent partner or home. When people are already in a vulnerable situation, and then a crisis occurs, we do expect that violence to increase, Dearing said. Click the link below for more information on crisis resources centers across the state. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention one in four women and one in 10 men have experienced severe physical violence from an intimate partner. Of the 26,892 violent offenses reported in Alabama 2017 the year for which the most recent data in available, 16 percent were domestic violence incidents, 80 percent of those against women. Dearing said calls for help to One Place have decreased in the past couple of weeks, since the coronavirus crisis first affected Alabamians, which she said could be due in part to survivors not being able to safely call from inside their homes. One Place is available via email at oneplacebham1@outlook.com and by phone at 205-453-7261. Centers such as One Place can also assist people who need to file a protection from abuse order, a civil order in Alabama that protects people from abuse by a current or former intimate partner or certain household members. One Place Family Justice Center in Montgomery is able to process protection from abuse orders online. One Place in Montgomery can be reached by phone at 334-262-7378 and by email at info@oneplacefjc.org. Avoiding public spaces and working remotely can help to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but for many survivors, staying... Posted by National Domestic Violence Hotline on Friday, March 13, 2020 Survivors who are not yet in mandated quarantine status should seek help now, the CEO of the National Domestic Violence Hotline said in this TIME story. Otherwise, until individuals can more safely move about in public, Dearing said survivors in violent households can protect themselves by locking firearms away and hiding knives or other possible household weapons. She said community members should also take responsibility to keep others safe by checking in daily on people who they think could be in abusive situations. Dearing suggested sharing a code word with a trusted friend or neighbor to know when to call 911. Crisis Centers in Alabama North Alabama Crisis Services of North Alabama Crisis Line: 256-716-1000, Office: 256-716-4052 Family Services of North Alabama Crisis Line: 256-878-9159, Office: 256-878-9159 Shoals Crisis Center/ Rape Response, Inc. Crisis Line: 256-767-1100, Office: 256-765-0025 Victim Services of Cullman, Inc. Crisis Line: 256-734-6100, Office: 256-775-2600 South Alabama The Lighthouse Crisis Line: 251-947-4393, Office: 251-947-6197 The House of Ruth, Inc. Crisis Line: 334-793-2232, Office: 334-793-5214 Penelope House Crisis Line: 251-459-6665 East Alabama 2nd Chance, Inc. Crisis Line: 256-236-7233, Office: 256-236-7381 Crisis Center of Russell County Crisis Line: 334-297-4401, Office: 334-297-4435 Rape Counselors of East Alabama, Inc. Crisis Line: 334-705-0510, Office: 334-741-0707 West Alabama Turning Point Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Services Crisis Line: 205-758-0808, Office: 205-758-0808 Central Alabama Crisis Center, Inc. Rape Response: 205-323-7273, Office: 205-323-7782 Family Sunshine Center Crisis Line: 334-263-0218, Office: 334-206-2100 Lighthouse Counseling Center, Inc./Standing Together Against Rape STAR Crisis Line: 334-213-1227, Office: 334-286-5980 SafeHouse of Shelby County, Inc. Crisis Line: 205-669-7233, Office: 205-669-1877 One Place Family Justice Center Montgomery Crisis Line: 1-800-650-6522, Office: 334-262-7378 One Place Family Justice Center Birmingham Office: 205-453-7261 SABRA Sanctuary Selma Crisis Line: 1-800-650-6522 The United States is repositioning forces in Iraq, citing success in its Inherent Resolve campaign against ISIS and the CCP virus concerns as the main reasons. NTD refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. In a March 20 press release, the combined joint task force gives two reasons for the tactical retreat: long-planned adjustments to the force to reflect success in the campaign against Daesh; and, short-term moves to protect the force during the Coronavirus pandemic, it said. ICYMI: @CJTFOIR Statement on repositioning of forces. The Coalition is adjusting its positioning in Iraq for two reasons: long-planned adjustments based on ISF success in the anti-ISIS campaign; and, short-term moves during the Coronavirus pandemic. https://t.co/cRaACI0Ydg OIR Spokesman Col. Myles B. Caggins III (@OIRSpox) March 21, 2020 The statement further read that the Coalitions military movements are coordinated with the Iraqi forces. However, the Coalition will retain key military personnel on some Iraqi bases, to ensure the Government of Iraq and our interests are appropriately supported. The statement continued by saying the Coalition will keep lending support to the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) but from fewer bases and personnel. Due to safety concerns for troops and civilians amid the COVID-19 outbreak, all training is suspended and some troops will return to their home countries. Meanwhile, Iraq is taking measures to contain the spread of the CCP virus by prohibiting large public gatherings, implementing a curfew in the capital, and suspending airline flights. According to Johns Hopkins University statistics, Iraq has 266 confirmed cases, and 23 people have died from it. The Iraqis have ceased training activity as you might expect in the current circumstances because they arent gathering people together, a senior coalition military official said at a briefing. Training stopped because of the health risks associated with it, the official said. The decision to reduce the Coalitions footprint in Iraq was conceived in December, the coalition official said, before U.S.-Iraq tensions soared following the Jan. 3 Washington-directed strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassim Soleimani outside Baghdad airport and prompted lawmakers to approve a nonbinding resolution that U.S. troops should leave the country. Fraught political relations led to a pause in joint operations between the Coalition and Iraqi security forces. At that time, the senior coalition official said Iraq showed it was capable of preventing an IS resurgence by conducting operations alone and delivering training. That affirmed plans from December to reduce the coalition presence across Iraq and limit assistance to high-level capabilities that Iraqi security forces lack, such as surveillance and air support, the coalition official said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Carthage College has announced that all classes for the remainder of the spring semester will be taught remotely, due to the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak. The college had announced a temporary move to remote instruction earlier this month. Classes resumed online Monday after an extended two-week spring break. President John Swallow shared the news Sunday afternoon in an email to students, families, faculty and staff. I know this is not how we intended to spend our spring semester together. So much has changed, and so quickly, Swallow said. Yet despite the uncertainty, our mission remains the same. All of us at Carthage are as committed as ever to giving our students the very best education possible. Together we will persevere. Based on the latest directives from public health authorities, Carthage has also halted plans for an in-person commencement in May, originally scheduled for May 23. For those of you in the Carthage Class of 2020 who have worked diligently toward that deeply symbolic stage walk, I know this is particularly disheartening news. I cannot fully express how much I hoped to avoid this choice, Swallow said. We are already considering creative ways to mark commencement in May, and hope that our seniors will send us ideas as well. We look forward to scheduling an in-person celebration later this year for our May 2020 graduates. For more information about these changes and other details about Carthages COVID-19 response, please visit, www.carthage.edu/covid-19. Kenosha buses suspend fare collection Kenosha Area Transit has suspended streetcar service until further notice, and is making a few changes to bus service to promote the health and safety of riders and employees. The efforts will help operators practice social distancing, while maintaining service for Kenosha residents who rely on public transportation, according to KAT. KAT is temporarily suspending fare collection until further notice. Riders are asked to enter and exit buses through the rear door. Anyone needing to board the front of the bus should alert their driver. KAT said riders should practice social distancing by staying at least six feet away from other people in public places. Tests limited to highest priority patients Due to a national shortage of COVID-19 laboratory testing materials, the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene and the Milwaukee Health Department Laboratory are limiting testing to the highest-priority patients and health care workers. This guideline, announced by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, comes as the Kenosha County Division of Health continues to urge all residents to take precautions to stay healthy and stop the spread of the virus. Dr. Jen Freiheit, director of the Kenosha County Division of Health, said the state testing guidelines help to give some context to the many individuals who have contacted her office and local health care providers asking if they could be tested. Unfortunately, demand for test kits is still far higher than the supply thats available, Freiheit said. People who have questions about COVID-19 are encouraged to call 211 for more information, Freiheit said. With the increased number of COVID-19 cases reported nationally and identified community spread in Wisconsin, health care providers are urged to prioritize testing for hospitalized patients for whom timely diagnosis of COVID-19 is critical. Testing should be prioritized based on clinical criteria. Asymptomatic patients will not be tested, nor will people with mild upper respiratory symptoms who are not health care workers. Testing is not recommended for those with mild illnesses for which they would not normally seek medical care. It is recommended that these individuals self-isolate at home until their symptoms improve. Information for health care providers on testing guidance and an updated, required triage form are available on the state Department of Health Services COVID-19 website at https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/index.htm. Cunningham website shows community resources Angela Cunningham, a Democrat running for Congress in Wisconsins First District, is using her campaign platform to disseminate information about individuals and organizations that are mobilizing to meet the communitys needs. Her campaign team has contacted agencies to ask for information about available resources. It is important that we do not forget about those who are less fortunate, she said. Many individuals and families in the district cannot afford to stock their pantries with groceries and cannot afford to take off work. Thank you to every person, program and organization dedicated to feeding and helping those in need in our communities. I cannot, with good conscience, continue to ask for campaign resources without first using my platform to equip our families with resources to help meet their basic needs. Her website shows a list of resources in each county of District 1. Anyone with information about available community resources or who wants to volunteer can email Angela Cunningham for Congress at info@voteforcunningham.com. Visit www.voteforcunningham.com for a list of community resources in the First Congressional District. Harry and Meghan Markle have completed all their royal engagements and will no longer function their royal duties starting March 31. There are many speculations about the reason behind the decision of Harry and Meghan Markle to move in Canada and leave their royal lives and duties in the United Kingdom. It was in January when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced that they will step down from their senior royal duties. In the previous report of Latin Post, it was found out that William was not happy for the decision of his younger brother, Prince Harry, because it is a big insult to the queen and the monarchy. However, a reliable source also said that Prince Harry and Prince William are filled with anger and resentment. The Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex are second and third in line to the throne. They are supposed to function their royal duties and replace them in the meantime the obligations of Queen Elizabeth because of the threat of COVID-19. The Queen is very susceptible to this virus because of her age. However, the world was stunned when Harry and Meghan Markle announced in January that they are planning to step down from their senior royal duties. They plan to live in Canada where their son, Archie, is living right now. In fact, they immediately went back to Canada after their last official engagement with the Queen on March 9 to be reunited with their 10-month-old son. According to a reliable source, Harry snapped because it became clear to him that Meghan is not going to get a fair shake. He also felt that his son, Archie, was abandoned by the royals. The reliable source said: "He's adamant that it was his call to move to Canada." In a recently published article, another reliable source said that Harry wants to shield his son from the negativity and tension that he would have been exposed to in England. Harry knew how it felt to grow up as a royal and be in the spotlight, he wants to give the most normal upbringing to his son. Moreover, Harry and Meghan are set the stay in Canada together with their son not only to be reunited but also so quarantine to protect themselves against COVID-19. The couple is following the rules put forth by the World Health Organization about observing proper quarantine protocol since they traveled from the U.K. to Canada. In fact, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle addressed the global COVID-19 pandemic through their Instagram account. They wrote: "These are uncertain times. And now, more than ever, we need each other. We need each other for truth, for support, and to feel less alone during a time that can honestly feel quite scary." The couple continued in their post: "Our willingness, as a people, to step up in the face of what we are all experiencing with COVID-19 is awe-inspiring. This moment is as true a testament there is to the human spirit ... All of our lives are in some way affected by this, uniting each of us globally. How we approach each other and our communities with empathy and kindness is indisputably important right now." Read related articles: Delhi to ease restrictions, if Covid cases come down in next 2-3 days: Health Minister Lata Mangeshkar health update: Doctor says,'She in ICU with Covid-19 and pneumonia, will be under observation' Coronavirus death toll in India rises to 9; confirmed cases jump to 471 India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Mar 23: The death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in India rose to 9 on Monday after West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh reported a casualty each, while the number of confirmed cases soared to 468, the Union health ministry said. The number of active COVID-19 cases are 424 now and 35 people have been cured/discharged/migrated, while nine have died, taking total number of confirmed cases to 468, including 40 foreign nationals, according to the ministry data. West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh reported its first death due to COVID-19, while seven deaths were earlier reported from Maharashtra (2), Bihar, Karnataka, Delhi, Gujarat, and Punjab. Maharashtra has reported the highest number of COVID-19 cases at 74, including three foreigners, followed by Kerala at 67, including seven foreign nationals, according to the ministry data. Karnataka has 33 cases of coronavirus patients after seven more persons tested positive for the deadly virus. The number of cases in Telangana have risen to 32, including 10 foreigners. Uttar Pradesh now has 31 positive cases, including a foreign national. Delhi and Gujarat have reported 29 cases each, while Rajasthan has 28 positive cases, including two foreign nationals. In Haryana, there are 26 cases, including 14 foreigners, while Punjab has 21 cases. Ladakh has 13 cases, while Tamil Nadu has nine cases, including two foreigners. West Bengal reported seven cases, while Madhya Pradesh has six cases so far. Chandigarh has six cases, while Andhra Pradesh reported seven cases. Jammu and Kashmir has four cases. Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh have reported three cases each, while there are two case each in Bihar and Odisha. Puducherry and Chhattisgarh have reported a case each. Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Ministry announced that operations of domestic schedule commercial airlines shall cease operations from 24 March midnight till March 31st. Airlines have to plan operations so as to land at their destination before 23.59 hours on 24 March. The restrictions shall not apply to solely cargo carrying flights. Coronavirus positive cases in India rise to 415 The Government of India has asked states to strictly enforce lockdown, saying that legal action will be taken against violators, according to ANI. The total number of coronavirus cases across the globe stands at at least 3,00,097 according to AFP. Xiaomi introduced MIUI 11 back in September 2019 in China followed by MIUI 11 Global launch in October in India. MIUI 11 brought new features such as New Minimalistic Design, Blur App Previews, Quick Replies, New Dynamic Sound Effects, Mi Share, Floating Calculator, Update Mi File Manager, Steps Trackers and more to eligible devices. Xiaomi has MIUI Beta program for the tech enthusiasts who want to be amongst the first ones to experience new features, the company suspended MIUI Global Beta program completely last year in July but tech enthusiasts in China still have the privilege to use MIUI China Beta ROM. Now, the company on its China forum has announced that MIUI 20.3.23 will mark the end of MIUI 11 China Beta ROM updates. Earlier this year, Xiaomi officially shared MIUI 12 teaser, which hinted towards even more visual changes compared to MIUI 11. Suspension of MIUI 11 China Beta ROM suggests that Xiaomi is finally going to begin MIUI 12 development. This year coincides with the 10th anniversary of the MIUI, so we expect Xiaomi to surprise users somehow with MIUI 12. So, when can you expect to get MIUI 12 on your device? Xiaomi has probably just begun the MIUI 12 development, even if Xiaomi manages to release MIUI 12 China Beta by next quarter, MIUI Global Stable ROM users should not expect MIUI 12 update on their smartphones before Q4 2020. Will MIUI 12 be based on Android 10 or upcoming Android 11? No, MIUI versions usually have no dependence on Android versions. For example, Redmi Note 4 and Redmi K20 Pro both got MIUI 11 update but Redmi Note 4 runs on Android 7.0 while Redmi K20 Pro runs on Android 10 as of now. What all devices will receive MIUI 12? Xiaomi has not officially announced any list of smartphones eligible for MIUI 12 update but the company has a good history of providing MIUI version updates to even low-end devices, although, we suspect that the devices launched in 2017 may not receive MIUI 12 update. Source | Via The Tihar Prison authorities on Monday said they are planning to release around 3,000 prisoners to ease congestion in jails over the coronavirus threat. "We will try to release around 1,500 convicts on parole or furlough, and around the same number (1,500) of undertrial prisoners (on interim-bail) in the coming three to four days to ease congestion in jails in the wake of coronavirus threat," Sandeep Goel, DG (Prisons), said. However, it will not include hardened or dangerous criminals, he said. According to the order, prisoners convicted or charged with offenses having jail term of up to seven years can be given parole. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A trade union is taking legal action against the government for failure to protect the wages and jobs of gig workers and the self-employed during the coronavirus pandemic. The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) issued a legal letter accusing the government of discriminating against black and ethnic minority workers, women and those in insecure employment in its response to Covid-19. The government last week announced it would guarantee 80 per cent of payroll workers wages, but unlike in similar schemes abroad, Britains five million self-employed people will not be covered. Additionally, many self-employed people are not eligible for others benefits like statutory sick pay, which is in any case only 94.25 a week well below a living wage. The action came as Boris Johnson faced escalating pressure to offer support to the self-employed, who will not benefit from the support for wages announced by chancellor Rishi Sunak last week. The PMs official spokesman said that the government understands the difficult position self-employed people are in, adding: We are actively considering further steps. We appreciate the urgency of the situation, and officials are working around the clock to find a well-targeted support package. But IWGB general secretary Jason Moyer-Lee said: Many low-paid and precarious workers are on the frontlines of this crisis, distributing food, delivering medical samples, cleaning buildings and looking after children in need, yet they have the least protection. Many who become sick or need to self-isolate will receive little or no sick pay. Others who are laid off will not receive wage subsidies from the government because they are not employees. No one wants to be litigating right now, but we also cannot stand by while our members are exposed to unnecessary risk or driven into destitution. Chancellor Rishi Sunaks new salary protections did not include gig economy workers (EPA) IWGB, which was founded in 2012 to represent precarious workers in the modern gig economy, has launched a crowdfunding appeal for 20,000 to help fund legal costs in the battle. Self-employed workers can currently access a much less generous 94 a week in universal credit benefits and have been given the ability to defer self-assessed tax payments until next year. In some other countries, workers are being given an average of their previous years pay. Linda Arteaga, a cleaner and member of the IWGBs Cleaners and Facilities branch said: I work as a cleaner and I am a widowed single mother. As important as it may be to self-isolate, having to live for half a month on 94.25 per week would make my life impossible. I would have to choose between buying food for my family and following the governments health advice to protect the public. Greg Howard, a Deliveroo rider and Secretary of the IWGBs Couriers and Logistics branch said: While other workers are being offered some assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic, as a gig economy worker I am being refused even the most basic protections. While the government expects workers such as myself to provide essential services during this crisis, if I am sick or if the company I work for has to downsize, Ill be driven into deeper hardship. The law has to change so that it protects all workers. Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Show all 20 1 /20 Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Top: Nabi Younes market, Mosul Bottom: Charles Bridge, Prague Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Grand Mosque, Mecca Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Sagrada Familia, Barcelona Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Nabi Younes market, Mosul Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Basra Grand Mosque, Iraq Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Charles Bridge, Prague Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Taj Mahal hotel, India Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Dubai Mall, UAE Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Beirut March, Lebanon Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Gateway of India, Mumbai Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Cairo University, Egypt Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Amman Citadel, Jordan Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Beirut March, Lebanon Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Cairo, Egypt Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Cairo University, Egypt Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Victoria Memorial, India Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Amman Citadel, Jordan Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Amman Citadel, Jordan Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Sidon, Lebanon Reuters In 2018 the European Committee on Social Rights, an enforcement body of the Council of Europe, warned the government that the UKs low rates of statutory sick pay were manifestly inadequate and in breach of the legally-binding European Social Charter. The IWGB was joined in its call for action on the self-employed on Monday by former governor of the Bank of England, Mervyn King. He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that the government needed to offer further help regardless of the cost to the public finances. This company article has been removed. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Reuters) Amman, Jordan Mon, March 23, 2020 09:55 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206caedbd 2 World Syria,COVID-19,terrorism,IS Free Syria on Sunday confirmed its first case of coronavirus, in a person who had come from abroad. Health Minister Nizar al-Yaziji told state media "necessary measures" had been taken regarding the 20 year-old woman, who he said would be quarantined for 14 days and given medical checks. There have been unconfirmed reports in recent weeks of coronavirus cases in Syria, whose health system, housing and infrastructure have been ravaged by nine years of civil war, but the authorities have denied any outbreak. Damascus announced a ban on public transport on Sunday as it stepped up a lockdown introduced in recent days, including the closure of schools, parks, restaurants and various public institutions, as well as calling off army conscription. Medics say the country is also vulnerable with thousands of Iranian-backed militias fighting alongside the forces of President Bashar al Assad, who maintain a strong presence in main cities and have their headquarters in the Damascus Shi'ite suburb of Sayeda Zainab. Iranian-backed militias still cross into Syria from the AlBukamal border crossing with Iraq. Iran, one of the countries most affected by the pandemic outside China, is Syria's main regional ally. Iran's Mahan Air still has regular flights from Tehran to Damascus, according to Western diplomats tracking Syria, even though other Syrian flights have been suspended. Medics in the opposition-held northwest also fear the virus could spread quickly in crowded camps for tens of thousands of displaced Syrians. A meeting of the BJP Legislature Party in Madhya Pradesh will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday. The BJP has issued special instructions to the legislators regarding this meeting to be held in the state party office amid the lockdown due to coronavirus. The MLAs who want to attend the meeting can reach the venue without supporters or they can join from home through videoconferencing. Sources say that the new Chief Minister can also take oath at Raj Bhavan at 7 p.m. Party sources said there is a possibility of Shivraj Singh Chouhan being elected the leader of the legislative party. If this happens, then Chouhan will become the Chief Minister of the state for the fourth time. Why is Chouhan the strongest contender? There are many reasons for this. He has the image of being a people's leader while the other contenders, Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and senior party leader Narottam Mishra, do not have a presence among the people. In the 2018 Assembly election, the BJP had selected the candidates going by the suggestions of Chouhan. Hence, there are many Chouhan loyalists in the party. Sources say that since the by-elections for 24 seats are yet to take place, the BJP leadership will not overlook Chouhan. The party also believes that it will be risky to introduce a new face as Chief Minister at this juncture. Sources say that Jyotiraditya Scindia is also in favour of making Chouhan the Chief Minister. Aya Khatib, a resident of the Israeli town of Arara and an activist in the Northern Branch of the Islamic Movement, was recently charged with spying for Hamas and transferring hundreds of thousands of shekels to the group to finance terrorist activities, including the digging of tunnels along Gazas border with Israel. According to Shin Bet, Khatib used her volunteer work on behalf of Palestinians receiving treatment in Israeli hospitals and her humanitarian aid efforts on behalf of Gaza residents to collect intelligence about Israel Defense Forces troop movements. She also transferred equipment to Hamas' military wing and collected considerable amounts of money for the organization. Furthermore, Khatib is alleged to have taken advantage of her position to coerce ailing Palestinians receiving treatment in Israel and in hospitals in the West Bank to transfer materials to Hamas in Gaza. She reportedly provided detailed confessions during her interrogation, and her cell phone contained detailed notes that revealed a close relationship to Hamas activists Mohammed Filfel and Mahmoud Halawa. The March 18 letter of indictment against Khatib cites relaying information to the enemy with the intent of harming state security, contact with a foreign agent and various other crimes listed in the Fight against Terrorism Law. This is not the first attempt by Hamas to recruit Israeli Arabs. Col. (res.) Michael Milstein, head of the Forum for Palestinian Studies at the Moshe Dayan Center, told Al-Monitor that since Operation Protective Edge (2014), Hamas has successfully recruited 20 to 30 young Israeli Arabs. Khatib was a member of a cell with many other members, said Milstein. What makes this so unusual and so daunting are its scope and the length of time during which she operated. Since Khatib's arrested on Feb. 17, Israel's Arab community has been conflicted over whether to support Khatib, with divisions being aired in public. On March 6, senior members of the Islamic Movement demonstrated in support of Khatib in Acre. Various Arab mayors as well as Joint List Knesset members Yousef Jabareen (Hadash) and Iman Khatib (Raam) also participated. In addition, Iman Khatib attended a court proceeding to show her support for the accused. In a statement outside the courthouse, she referred to Aya Khatib as a wife and mother of small children, adding, All she did was to be there with needy and poor people, in order to give them a little respect. So, if they call that terrorism, I wish them all the best. On the other hand, Joint List Knesset member Aida Touma-Suleiman (Hadash) has not demonstrated or expressed support for Aya Khatib. This led Kamal Khatib, deputy chairman of the Northern Branch of the Islamic Movement, to attack Suleiman on Twitter, wondering why a Knesset member who had headed the parliamentary Committee to Advance the Status of Women would not show support for an Arab woman under arrest. He tweeted sarcastically, Who will inform the chairwoman of the Committee to Advance the Status of Women, Knesset member Aida Touma-Suleiman, about something she apparently hasnt heard that a Palestinian woman from the village of Arara, the mother of two children, has been under arrest for over a month and held in the Israeli intelligence services prison. Suleiman was not, however, alone. Under attack by Kamal Khatib, she received the support of womens and LGBTQ rights groups, including a petition calling on the High Follow-up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel to remove Kamal Khatib from his position as chairman of that groups rights committee. Thus far, Hadash has not released a statement, but a former Knesset member for the party told Al-Monitor that it will soon issue a public response to Khatibs attacks on Suleiman. Jabareen has also withheld from commenting on the matter. Because news about the COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmed the media, the story of an Israeli Arab woman being a member of a terror cell that spied on Israel and transferred money to Hamas has not received much attention in Israel. Nevertheless, many on the right, which constantly accuses Joint List parliamentarians of supporting terrorism, have been using the episode to attack Blue and White Chairman Benny Gantz on social networks. Some tweeted about the statement by Iman Khatib, elected in March to the Knesset and the first woman in the legislature to wear a hijab. A Twitter user named Maor Tzemach tweeted on March 15, It is time to wake up! While the Joint List recommended Gantz to be tasked with forming a government, an elected member of Knesset, Iman Khatib-Yasin, demonstrated in front of the Acre court this morning against the arrest of Aya Khatib, who is accused of transferring money to the terrorist organization Hamas. Others have used the incident to offer scathing criticism of groups on the left that they claim helped raise money for ailing Palestinians together with the Northern Branch of the Islamic Movement. If there are any new developments in this regard, which would represent a serious security breach, criticism of Blue and White will likely increase not only on the right but even among party supporters. The incident also has implications on attitudes in Israel toward the Northern Branch of the Islamic Movement, which was outlawed in 2015. At one time, the conventional wisdom held that the decision to ban the organization had resulted in the movement somewhat moderating its positions. Now, however, the involvement of Northern Branch members in the Aya Khatib affair suggests that the movement has not changed. The Aya Khatib story is also further evidence that an arrangement with Hamas being promoted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government in regard to Gaza is doing nothing to persuade the Islamist organization to refrain from terror-related activities in the West Bank and Israel. As far as Hamas is concerned, there is no contradiction, Milstein told Al-Monitor. They are negotiating with Israel over calm in Gaza, but they still carry on as usual in the West Bank and Israel. What about the Israeli government? Does it also see no contradiction between negotiating a long-term truce with Hamas while the organization continues to run cells collecting money for its operations in the West Bank and Gaza? Blue and White has frequently been critical of what they view as Netanyahus conciliatory attitude toward Hamas and his efforts to reach an arrangement with the group. Given the support that several Joint List Knesset members have expressed for an Israeli citizen who helped Hamas engage in terrorism, it will be harder for Blue and White to defend continuing its political partnership with the Joint List. This is especially true given the criticism of this support from right-wing Blue and White members Yoaz Hendel and Zvi Hauser. Furthermore, what the story of Aya Khatib shows is that support for security prisoners, Palestinian and Israeli alike, is not limited to Knesset members from the Balad faction. This episode will continue to haunt the Blue and White and other groups in Israeli politics that advocate for political cooperation with the Joint List. Singapore reports 23 new COVID-19 cases, 18 of which were imported As of 12pm on March 22, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed 23 ne cases of COVID-19 infection in Singapore. Of these, 18 were imported and had travel history to Europe, North America, South America and ASEAN. All except one were returning residents and Long Term Pass holders. Photo courtesy: Twitter/SporeMOH The remaining five cases were local. One is linked to the cluster at boulder+ Gym, two are linked to previous cases, and two are currently unlinked. Meanwhile, four more cases of COVID-19 infection have been discharged from hospital. In all, 144 have fully recovered from the infection. Of the 309 confirmed cases who are still in hospital, most are stable or improving. 14 are in critical condition in the intensive care unit. Two have passed away from complications due to COVID-19 infection. SARAH POSEY is the director of Henleys River & Rowing Museum. She was born and brought up in Hampstead before reading for a degree in anthropology at Cambridge University. Her career has been in the museums and heritage sector, having worked at the British Museum for more than 17 years before completing 12 years as head of collections, interpretation and learning at the Royal Pavilion and museums in Brighton and Hove. She moved to Henley in 2018 when she took her current role and lives in the town with her husband and son, who is studying at Oxford Brookes University. Sarah regularly practises yoga and recently joined Henley Choral Society. She loves to explore the local countryside. Describe your organisation We are an independent museum attracting more than 118,000 visitors a year, engaging local residents and the surrounding community as well as many visitors who travel quite long distances to enjoy the unique galleries in the award-winning building. We also offer formal and informal learning programmes, especially to children, with 20,000 participating last year. The museum is a charity. How many people does it employ? We have 21 full-time equivalent permanent employees and several casual workers. What did you do previously? After graduating I went to China and taught English and then lived in Japan, where I was a proof reader at Baring Securities. On my return to the UK, I worked in the bookshop at the British Museum and progressed to become a specialist curator at the then Museum of Mankind. I carried out fieldwork for the museum, gaining my PhD, which was a thesis on masquerade in north-east Romania. In 2005 I moved to head up the world art department at the Royal Pavilion and museums in Brighton and Hove. Who or what influenced you? As a child I was taken to the Museum of Mankind and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Thats what inspired me and sparked my fascination with anthropology. Do you have a mentor or role model? Maggie Appleton, president of the Museums Association and chief executive of the RAF Museum, is a great role model. I really like her style of leadership. What would you do differently if you could start again? I wouldnt do anything differently but it was tough to complete my Phd while working and being a mother. How is the museum doing? Last year was a record year for visitors. We have no ongoing public funding and have to generate all the money we need ourselves, not just for the galleries and caring for the building and the collections, but also for our temporary exhibitions and to put towards our schools and families programme and events for adults. Our revenues come from admissions and our commercial activities as well as fundraising and sponsorship. We hold lots of events and weddings here in our beautiful Thames Room. How do you market the museum? We are only a short walk along the towpath from the town centre, so we try to showcase ourselves through several routes, increasingly using digital and social media as well as our whats on brochure and the press. The Henley Standard has been great in promoting us. Whats the best thing about what you do? Working in a smaller organisation where Im closer to all aspects of the museums work. I love seeing people in the galleries enjoying their visit. Whats the most challenging aspect? Having to be always concerned about the bottom line as well as thinking about future plans and strategy. Where is the museum headed? Wed love to refresh some of the galleries. We want to do more community outreach, particularly with special needs schools, disadvantaged groups and the Duke of Edinburghs Award scheme. We want to have greater focus on the environment and wellbeing by encouraging learning, volunteering and being active. How important is online? People can book events on our website, subscribe to our Friends scheme and also buy some items from our shop online. We are working towards selling admission tickets online also. Whats the most valuable thing youve learned? Ive learned so much but recently had confirmed something Ive always believed but had no evidence for a study reported in the British Medical Journal found that trips to the theatre, museums and art galleries are good for you and are a key to a longer life. Whats the biggest mistake youve made? We made a small error in the phrasing of our Christmas offering last year which caused a little confusion and led to a few disappointed customers. We responded personally to everyone who contacted us about it and fortunately most were very forgiving. Whats the secret of your success? Listening to visitors and staff, learning from experience and, above all, the passion I have for what I do. How organised are you? Pretty good but my filing is terrible. How do you dress for work each day? Smart casual. What cant you be without every day? My mid-morning mug of coffee and my walk to work ending with five minutes along the Thames Path. Lunch at your desk or going out? Either at my desk or in our lovely cafe. Do you continue to study? I believe in continual professional development. What do you read? Im trying to read more books that are about or set around the Thames. Currently Im reading Once Upon A River by Diane Setterfield. How are you planning for retirement? That seems a long way off still. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday on the occasion of Martyrs' Day (Shaheed Diwas) paid tribute to Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru stating that the nation will always remember their sacrifices for the country. "On Shaheed Diwas I bow down to the great sons of mother India, Veer Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru. The country will always be grateful for their sacrifice for the country. Jai Hind!" the Prime Minister wrote on Twitter in Hindi. Annually, March 23 is observed as Shaheed Diwas to pay tribute to Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar the Indian Revolutionaries who were hanged by the British Government in 1931. The trio were found guilty of the murder of deputy police superintendent J.P. Saunders in 1928, to avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai. The Prime Minister also paid tribute to the prominent social thinker and politician, Ram Manohar Lohia, on his 110th birth anniversary and appreciated his thoughts and services related to social empowerment. "A big tribute to Dr Ram Manohar Lohia ji, a prominent socialist thinker and popular politician, on his birth anniversary. His thoughts related to social empowerment and service will always inspire the countrymen," Modi tweeted. Born in a small town of Akbarpur in Uttar Pradesh, Lohia, during the last phase of British rule in India, worked with the Congress Radio which was broadcast secretly from various places in Bombay until 1942. Lohia lost to Nehru in 1962 general election, but entered Lok Sabha in 1963 by winning a by-poll. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Measures announced by the market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) on Friday to curb volatility will impact volumes in the cash and the derivatives (futures & options) segments, say analysts. The measures, they estimate, will impact around 10-12 per cent of the stocks in the F&O segment. For most other counters, even if Market Wide Position Limit (MWPL) is restricted, they believe the open interest is far lower to have any meaningful impact. MWPL is the maximum position that can be taken in both futures and options contracts. At present, MWPL is the lower of: 1) ... Cath Kidston is looking for a buyer to save the business and up to 800 jobs just days after Laura Ashley went under. The fashion and homeware chain, known for its floral designs, has appointed restructuring experts to work on a strategic review. Insolvency is believed to be an option as shoppers desert the High Street ahead of tighter restrictions on the movement of people in the UK. Jobs threat: Cath Kidston, known for its floral designs, has appointed restructuring experts to work on a strategic review The first Cath Kidston store was opened by a British designer of the same name in Holland Park, west London, in 1993, selling car boot finds and vintage fabric. She made a multi-million pound fortune after selling a stake to American private equity firm TA Associates. The American firm sold its stake to another investment firm, Baring Private Equity Asia, which hoped to expand in Asia. The company now has 200 stores in 16 different countries, but still makes two-thirds of its sales in the UK. In 2018, the most recent accounts, the company made a 19.6million loss on 130.7million of sales. The Rajya Sabha adjourned sine die Monday, nearly two weeks ahead of the schedule in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, after approving and returning the Finance Bill to Lok Sabha. The Upper House passed 12 government bills during the session including six bills on Monday, while 17 Private Members' Bills were introduced. Before adjourning the proceedings of the Upper House sine die, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu emphasised the need for social distancing by the MPs while they go to their constituencies to be available to the needs of the people in this hour of pandemic. "All of you would appreciate the reasons for which this Budget session of Parliament is being adjourned sine die ahead of the schedule which is up to the third of next month. As against the total 31 sittings scheduled between January 31st to April 3rd, we are constrained to conclude after 23 sittings," Naidu said. This Budget session is primarily meant for charting the right course of action for economic growth and development for the financial year 2020-21 through the Budget proposals made by the government and approved by the parliament, he said. "Ironically, the global outbreak of coronavirus with its origins in China is set to play havoc with the global economic outlook with our country being no exception. The challenge before the world is to minimize the damage caused by the Corona outbreak both to the health and wealth of the people across the globe. Our country is a spirited partner in the collective global efforts to contain the spread of this deadly virus. I fondly hope that collectively this battle would be won," the Rajya Sabha Chairman said. He stressed: "With the adjournment of the House ahead of the schedule, I expect all the members to work with the people in respective states in our fight against the coronavirus." He said the House so far functioned for a total of 90 hours and 30 minutes against the total scheduled time of 118 hours 52 minutes during these 23 sittings. "This, in effect, means that the productivity of the House including both the parts of this Budget session has been at 76.13 per cent," he said, and stressed that members have "certain right to discuss and debate any issue in the House but not the right to disrupt the proceedings as claimed by some. Full and proper exercise of the right to discuss and debate would have resulted in 100 per cent productivity... I hope that we move forward in the right direction hereafter." While the productivity of the first part of this session between January 31 and February 11 has been 97 per cent, the productivity of the second part that began on March 2 comes to above 64 per cent, he said. The House clocked a high productivity of 106 per cent during the third week of the second part of this session as against a low of 9.50 per cent during the first week," he said. Naidu said a total functional time of 38 hours 23 minutes of the House has been lost on account of disruptions during this session which included 32 hours 51 minutes lost during the second part of the session. As against this loss, the House sat beyond the scheduled time on 9 days for a total of 9 hours 59 minutes. "Passionate and quality debates on the Motion of Thanks to the President Address and the General Budget and the over four hour Short Duration Discussion on the violence in East Delhi have been the highlights of this session," he said and informed members that 14 hours and 56 minutes were spent on the discussion on the Government Bills and 22 per cent of the total functional time of the House has been spent on legislative business. Functioning of Ministries of Railways, Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises and Law & Justice had been discussed for 11 hours and 24 minutes which came to 13.20 per cent of the total functional time of the House. "Members raised a total of 249 issues of urgent public importance through 170 Zero Hour and 79 Special Mentions. A total of 79 Starred Questions have been orally answered on 11 days. Nine Hours and three minutes have been spent seeking answers from the Government through these Starred Questions which comes to 10.50 per cent of the total time. About 48 per cent of the total 165 Starred Questions listed have been orally answered," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 04:01:30|Editor: yhy Video Player Close A woman wearing a face mask looks at her mobile phone in front of the Brandenburger Gate in Berlin, capital of Germany, March 22, 2020. Germany bans public outside stay of more than two people, according to the country's latest measures announced on Sunday to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. (Xinhua/Ren Ke) BERLIN, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Germany bans public outside stay of more than two people, according to the country's latest measures announced on Sunday to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. Germany's federal government and states have agreed on Sunday to further restrict public life and social contacts to contain the virus. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has made the announcement this afternoon after her teleconferencing with heads of federal states. German citizens are advised to reduce contacts with other people outside their own household to the least, and a minimum distance of 1.5 metres must be kept, preferably two meters. Celebration gatherings in public place, at home and in private institutions are unacceptable, considering the current serious situation, Merkel said, adding that violations of the contact restriction will be sanctioned. Restaurants will be closed, but food delivery are to be kept. Body care services including hairdressing, massage, tattoo will be closed, according to the announcement. The restriction measures will be in effect for at least two weeks, showing "care for the elderly and ill people, " "in brief, save lives, " Merkel said. (Bloomberg) -- Amazon.com Inc.s delivery delays of non-essential goods will extend for at least another month for many customers in the U.S. and Europe, stirring panic among online merchants who rely on the web retailer for business. The lengthening delivery times come on top of confusion over how the company identifies essential products, a task that appears to be performed by algorithms with little human oversight. Online merchants became alarmed Sunday when they saw delivery dates pushed into late April, meaning many of them will lose more than a month of sales in the fallout from the coronavirus outbreak. Amazon is struggling to cope as the Covid-19 pandemic escalates in the U.S., forcing factory shutdowns and snarling logistics nationwide. The shipment holdups apply to a broad range of products in various categories, including bird feeders, kitchen towels and chalk. Some Amazon merchants derive 90% or more of their sales on the platform because it dominates online shopping in the U.S. Amazon is letting me sell aquarium filters but not vacuum bags and air filters, said Chad Rubin, who sells various products online and also makes software for online merchants through his company Skubana. Sure, the fish are important, too, but this is just wacky. People need air filters. Read more: Amazons Bezos Tells Workers Coronavirus Will Get Worse Tens of millions of products on Amazon sold by approximately 250,000 merchants wont be available to many Amazon shoppers until late April at the earliest, said Juozas Kaziukenas, founder of the New York research firm Marketplace Pulse that monitors the site. This is the biggest disruption Amazon has ever seen, and it will see sales decrease as customers turn to shop elsewhere, looking for faster delivery, he said. The impact on sellers is going to be heartbreaking. Many merchants -- who provide about half the inventory sold on the web store -- rely on in-house delivery service Fulfillment by Amazon to reach customers quickly and efficiently. Expected delivery appears to be slowest for Amazon shoppers who dont pay monthly or annual fees for Prime, which includes shipment discounts and other perks. Story continues Amazon is struggling to keep up with a surge in orders from customers buying groceries and other household necessities online in order to avoid crowded stores. The company on Tuesday announced it would stop accepting shipments of non-essential goods to its network of warehouses where inventory belonging to independent merchants is stowed, packed and shipped to Amazon customers. The aim is to keep warehouses stocked with the items people are buying now -- toilet paper, bleach and sanitizing wipes. That means the e-commerce giant is temporarily not accepting shipments of non-essentials like flat-screen televisions and toys. Amazon is also under pressure to keep its warehouse workers and delivery drivers safe since they continue working while others remain home. It announced plans to hire 100,000 workers and give temporary pay increases in order to meet demand. To serve our customers in need while also helping to ensure the safety of our associates, weve changed our logistics, transportation, supply chain, purchasing, and third-party seller processes to prioritize stocking and delivering items that are a higher priority for our customers, Amazon said in an emailed statement. This has resulted in some of our delivery promises being longer than usual. NYC Businesses Shut; New Zealand Sets Lockdown: Virus Update Desert Cactus, a Chicago-area company that sells collegiate bumper stickers and license plate holders on Amazon, had to lay off several workers since sales dried up as a result of the outbreak, president Joe Stefani said. Workers laid off include those who prepare products to be shipped to Amazon warehouses since those shipments are no longer being accepted, he said.These new restrictions hurt our business, he said.Some Amazon merchants are actually seeing sales spike. Molson Hart, whose company Viahart sells games and toys on Amazon, said his sales are up from parents looking to keep children occupied while they are home from school. All of our indoor toys are up, but we arent selling many kickboards though, he said. The demand uptick has spread beyond obvious items like toilet paper and hand sanitizer to pet food and other products, said Guru Hariharan, a former Amazon executive and founder of CommerceIQ, which makes software to help businesses sell products on the site. People are buying batteries for their flashlights and theyre working from home so theyre buying webcams, he said. Theres a surge in a lot of categories. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. Jordana Brewster exercised caution Sunday morning as she wore a surgical face mask during a coffee run in Los Angeles amid the coronavirus pandemic. The 39-year-old actress covered her mouth and nose with the face mask while picking up coffee and breakfast for her family in the Brentwood area. Jordana wore a thick black quilted jacket adorned with colorful squares along with red jeans and sneakers for the coffee run. Coffee run: Jordana Brewster wore a surgical mask Sunday during a coffee run in Los Angeles amid the novel coronavirus pandemic The actress had her dark hair straight down around her shoulders and also carried a black purse. Jordana starred in soap operas before shooting to fame as a cast member of the Fast And The Furious franchise. She posted a sweet photo on Instagram last week showing herself and eldest son Julian, six, enjoying some ice cream while staying home amid the COVID-19 outbreak. 'Online shopping isnt really doing it for us so were just going to eat our feelings,' wrote the Panama-born actress in the caption. Safety first: The 39-year-old actress covered her mouth and nose with a white mask Jordana has been married since 2007 to movie producer Andrew Form and they also have a three-year-old son Rowan. She met Andrew on the set of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning. They got married during a private ceremony in the Bahamas. At home: Jordana last week shared a photo on Instagram of herself enjoying some ice cream with her eldest son Julian as they stayed at home amid the pandemic She and Andrew live with their two sons in Los Angeles. Jordana will reprise her role as Mia Toretto in the upcoming installment F9. The action film was scheduled to be released in theaters on May 22, but its release was postponed until April 2, 2021 due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. The Delhi High Court on Monday suspended breath analyser tests (BAT) through tube process for air traffic controllers in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, saying in this medical emergency ATCs cannot be put to further risk. The high court, while passing interim measures, directed authorities to hold an urgent meeting on Tuesday to explore alternative methods for the test, which is not invasive in nature and does not increase chances of spread of COVID-19. Justice Prathiba M Singh directed the Directorate General of Medical Services (Air), Delhi to immediately convene a meeting of the DGCA, AAI, Ministry of Civil Aviation, including doctors or medical specialists on Tuesday or at the earliest possible convenience to draw up an alternative protocol for conducting breath analyser tests on air traffic controllers (ATCs). The court said the proposed protocol to be implemented till COVID-19 abates be placed on record by the Directorate General of Medical Services (DGMS) on the next date on March 27 with an affidavit. "The breath analyser test (BAT) currently being conducted shall remain suspended with immediate effect at all airports till further orders," the court, in its nine-page order, said and added that the directions shall operate till further orders. The court was hearing a plea by the Air Traffic Controllers' Guild (India) seeking direction to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Airport Authority of India (AAI) to temporarily suspend the BAT through the current tube process to prevent further spread of the virus. The petitioner said that on a random basis 10 per cent of the ATCs are subjected to the BAT, which uses equipment that could result in the spread of COVID-19. Advocates Piyush Sanghi and Khushbu Sahu, appearing for the Air Traffic Controllers' Guild (India), said authorities can adopt other alternative mode for testing, including urine or blood samples. During the hearing, advocate Anjana Gosain, representing the DGCA, said BAT would be conducted in a random manner and instead of conducting it on 10 per cent of the ATCs, the same would be reduced to two per cent. The court said it was clear that the apprehension expressed by the petitioner's members is genuine in nature. "While there is no doubt that breath analysing tests are essential to ensure that ATCs who come to perform their functions are not under the influence of alcohol, even if there is a remote chance in the use of BAT equipment resulting in further spread of COVID-19, the same ought to be prevented," it said. The court said the equipment used for testing could become a source of further spread of COVID-19 and there was an emergent need for authorities to decide on an alternate, less invasive and less risky equipment for conducting BAT. However, from the submissions made on Monday, clearly, no alternative method has been finalised at this point. After the Kerala High Court had expressed initial apprehensions, authorities ought to have looked into the matter, it said. Justice Singh said presently there is a medical emergency not only in India but across the world and under such circumstances permitting the use of same BAT equipment, which could pose a risk to the ATCs, would be "non-pragmatic and unwise". "The same could also have a deleterious impact if any of the ATCs contract COVID-19 after undergoing BAT. Considering that BAT equipment are stored in airports where the incidents of the virus is extremely high, use of the said equipment which would require ATCs to breathe into or out of the said equipment is likely to expose them to the virus," the court said. It noted that the petition raises issues of safety of the ATCs and added that while there can be no doubt that the condition of the ATCs at the time of coming to duty has to be screened, at the same time, they cannot be subjected to further risk due to undergoing BATs. The court, which noted that BAT is a well-settled protocol which can be conducted with various other alternative mechanisms rather than the method of using tubes currently used by the DGCA, was informed by advocate Gosain that this is the only recognised mode currently available for the DGCA. The court took judicial notice of the fact that even less invasive testing or other equipment such as use of biometric equipment has been suspended by most organisations. It noted that the AAI, in its letters of February 20, March 6 and 18, have asked the DGCA to suspend the BAT. The court, which took on record the assurance and undertaking given by the ATCs that they will never come on duty under the influence of alcohol, said it was expected that the ATCs are responsible officers and are conscious of the extenuating circumstances currently prevalent. It also said an undertaking and a self-declaration shall be obtained under the signature of each ATC who reports to work and any violation by them will entail severe consequences, including suspension of their licence. "The DGCA is, however, permitted to conduct any other way of testing which is not invasive in nature and which does not increase the chance of spread of COVID-19. Urine/blood testing, if opted for as the method of testing, shall be done by using disposable syringes and/or sterilised equipment, in a two per cent randomised sample, until the new protocol is framed so that any violation of the self-declaration or undertaking can be detected," it said. The court asked the AAI to provide any facilities that may be needed for the DGCA to implement these directions. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The United States, Russia, France, Germany, and China top the ranking. Ukraine ranks 12th among the world's 68 largest arms exporters, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). China, Russia and Thailand have become Ukraine's main clients in the past four years, according to the SIPRI fact sheet issued in March 2020. Read alsoUkrainian army needs arms upgrade Ukraine's defense minister Although Ukraine ranked 12th among the world exporters, its imports remained low in the four years of the war unleashed by Russia in Donbas. "Its largest arms imports included 50 second-hand armoured vehicles from Czechia and 210 anti-tank missiles from the USA," the report said. Arms shipments worldwide in 2015-2019 increased by 5.5% from 2010-2014 and by 20% from 2005-2009. The United States, Russia, France, Germany, and China top the ranking of the largest arms exporters. "Between 2010-14 and 2015-19, there were increases in arms transfers to the Middle East (by 61%) and to Europe (3.2%), while there were decreases in the transfers to Africa (16%), the Americas (40%) and Asia and Oceania (7.9%)," it said. Russian arms exports decreased by 18% between 2010-2014 and 2015-2019, the report said. Although the Kremlin has been supporting Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria since 2015, deliveries of Russian weapons to the county shrank by 87% between 2010-2014 and 2015-2019. Syria accounted for only 3.9% of Russian arms exports to the Middle East and 0.7% of total Russian arms exports in 2015-2019. The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has admonished parents to pay particular attention to their children by ensuring that the children stayed at home and not allowed to roam during the school break necessitated by the COVID-19. He said actions by many people showed that the country was yet to grasp the seriousness of the pandemic, as they did not attach much seriousness to the measures outlined by the government to help curb the spread of the disease. The Asantehene was particularly surprised to see a number of schoolchildren who have been asked to stay at home to protect them from contracting the virus rather roaming the streets. He made the appeal in a message read on his behalf by the Omanhene of the Bompata Traditional Area, Nana Effah Apenteng, in Kumasi last Friday when the Minister of Information, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, visited Manhyia to brief the Asantehene on the precautionary measures put in place to avert the spread of the disease in the country. Collective efforts Otumfuo Osei Tutu said the world was not in normal times, and that there was the need for collective efforts by all to combat the pandemic. He said Africa should not allow the situation to reach the levels it reached in Europe and Asia because no African country can contain the consequences. In fact, the loads of traffic in Kumasi suggest to me that we have not grasped the full gravity of the crisis and are assuming we can continue to go about our business as usual. Our health service will be overrun, hundreds of our loved ones will die and our entire economy will collapse, and with other nations already on their knees, there will be no one to turn to to bail us out, he said. He further reminded the people to take the warnings seriously because It is a matter of life and death. He tasked traditional rulers within Asanteman to let their relevance be felt during these trying moments by placing themselves and the authority of their office at the behest of the sovereign state. The Asantehene said Nananom must stand shoulder to shoulder with all the agencies of state in the defence of the country and the protection of the health of the people in the war against the COVID-19. Information Minister Mr Oppong Nkrumah expressed satisfaction with the measures put in place at the palace to curb the spread of the disease, saying it was heartwarming that Manhyia was showing leadership in not only preaching preventive etiquettes but also actually practising it. For his part, the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Osei Assibey Antwi, urged residents to remain calm as the city recorded the first Covid-19 fatality in the country. Health officials confirmed last Saturday that the 54-year-old Lebanese who had tested positive for the disease at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research for Infectious Diseases had died. Two other confirmed cases were recorded in the city. The announcement of the death of the Lebanese appeared to have created anxiety within the metropolis. Source: Daily Graphic Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video More than 1.5 billion people around the world have been asked or ordered to stay home to slow the spread of coronavirus, but Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is refusing to do the same -- and pointing to New York as a reason why. The Tampa Bay Times reports DeSantis said Monday that New Yorkers are fleeing the state and flocking to Florida to avoid NY Gov. Andrew Cuomos stay-at-home order, a near lockdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic. If you look at what happened in New York, when they did the stay at home order, what did people do? DeSantis said. Well, a lot of people fled the city. ... Were getting huge amounts of people flying in. Cuomo ordered all New York state residents to stay home starting Sunday night, with few exceptions, to slow the spread of coronavirus. Most businesses have to send 100 percent of their workers home. Those that stay open, such as grocery stores and pharmacies, must ensure customers stay at least six feet apart; restaurants can still offer drive-thru and takeout food. Gatherings are banned, including house gatherings. Vulnerable people need to stay indoors. Other states that have similarly banned non-essential businesses or ordered residents to shelter in place include California, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Ohio, Oregon, Nevada and Pennsylvania. DeSantis said at a press conference Monday that he spoke to President Donald Trump on Sunday about Florida seeing an increase in travelers from New York. For every action, theres a reaction, DeSantis said. Were going to consider what makes sense for Florida. Trump has largely left states to decide how to respond to coronavirus, but said Sunday he may make a decision at the end of a 15-day period next week. According to the Tampa Bay Times, only two counties in Florida -- Miami-Dade and Broward -- have ordered non-essential businesses to close. The Sunshine State has faced increased criticism after allowing spring breakers to party on beaches this past week; at least four University of Tampa students tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday after traveling together. More than 40,000 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the U.S., including 20,875 in New York and 1,171 in Florida. At least 479 have died in the U.S., according to Johns Hopkins University. For those who want to criticize me for lack of quarantine, realize that if the rules on testing had been followed to a tee, I would never have been tested and would still be walking around the halls of the Capitol,'' Paul added. Current federal guidelines would not have called for him to get tested or quarantined, Paul said. Six days after the Foreign Office first warned against non-essential travel anywhere abroad, the government has urged British travellers to come home. When the foreign secretary announced the no-go advice on 17 March, it stopped short of recommending that UK citizens abroad should return. But as an array of flight bans has taken effect around the world, the official advice has changed. UK citizens are now being told: All British travellers abroad who are usually based in the UK advised to return now. International travel is becoming highly limited with the further closure of air routes, land borders and domestic restrictions introduced daily. Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Show all 20 1 /20 Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Top: Nabi Younes market, Mosul Bottom: Charles Bridge, Prague Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Grand Mosque, Mecca Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Sagrada Familia, Barcelona Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Nabi Younes market, Mosul Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Basra Grand Mosque, Iraq Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Charles Bridge, Prague Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Taj Mahal hotel, India Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Dubai Mall, UAE Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Beirut March, Lebanon Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Gateway of India, Mumbai Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Cairo University, Egypt Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Amman Citadel, Jordan Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Beirut March, Lebanon Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Cairo, Egypt Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Cairo University, Egypt Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Victoria Memorial, India Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Amman Citadel, Jordan Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Amman Citadel, Jordan Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Sidon, Lebanon Reuters It covers only British tourists and short-stay travellers currently abroad rather than UK citizens living and working overseas. The government has been seeking international action to keep air routes open for a sufficient period of time to enable international travellers to return on commercial flights, but that game appears to be up. Foreign secretary Dominic Raab said: Around the world, more airlines are suspending flights and more airports are closing, some without any notice. Where commercial routes dont exist, our staff are working round the clock to give advice and support to UK nationals. If you are on holiday abroad, the time to come home is now while you still can. While British travellers are being told to contact their tour operator or airline to arrange a commercial flight if they want to leave, for many travellers in long-haul destinations, the call has come too late. Earlier today, the UAE announced a flight ban will take effect on Wednesday 25 March. That will have the effect of closing the worlds leading aviation hub Dubai, on which many travellers were relying for homeward flights. Instead, Emirates will ground all passenger flights along with its Abu Dhabi-based rival, Etihad. Singapore has also closed its airport to transit passengers. Repatriation flights are continuing from various points in Europe, with the Foreign Office working to return travellers from popular tourist locations. In addition, a significant number of scheduled flights are still operating to and from the Continent. Britons who are permanent resident overseas are urged to follow the advice of the local authorities in their host country. Patients in their 40s and 50s are among those seriously ill in Sydney's COVID-19 intensive care units, increasing fears from health professionals that younger Australians are not heeding the health warnings that could protect them and the most vulnerable. To individuals ignoring public health directives, the plight of these patients and their families is a sobering reminder that the coronavirus does not spare the relatively young, as the NSW government shuts down "non-essential" services and asks parents to keep children at home. On Tuesday morning Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant reported 149 new confirmed coronavirus cases within the previous 24 hours, the biggest jump to date, that took the state's total to 818. On Monday, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian endorsed the national cabinet's decision to close what it deemed were non-essential services - such as pubs, clubs, gyms, cinemas and entertainment venues - after it became clear too many people were ignoring social distancing advice and continuing to gather in large groups. New York City: Former movie producer Harvey Weinstein, who is serving a prison sentence for sexual assault and rape, has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the head of the state corrections officers union. Weinstein, 68, has been placed in isolation at Wende Correctional Facility, said Michael Powers, president of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association. Harvey Weinstein has been sentenced to 23 years' jail. Credit:AP Powers said he learned that the test came back positive on Sunday morning and is concerned about the corrections officers, who he said lack proper protective equipment. Several staff have been quarantined, Powers said. Weinstein arrived at Wende Correctional Facility, a maximum security prison east of Buffalo, New York, on Wednesday after being housed at New York City's Rikers Island jail. New Delhi: Facebook Inc Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg on Sunday (March 22) donated its emergency reserve of 7,20,000 masks to help health workers with more protective gear. Zuckerberg in a post on his official Facebook account wrote, "Health workers urgently need more protective gear. To help, Facebook donated our emergency reserve of 720,000 masks that we had bought in case the wildfires continued." Facebook CEO added, We're also working on sourcing millions of more to donate. I hope you're all staying healthy anhd safe." The United States has seen a surge in demand for respirator masks caused by the COVID-19 outbreak as the US Department of Health and Human Services, over the next year and half, aims to buy 500 million masks for the Strategic National Stockpile, the nation`s supply of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies. As of March 23 afternoon, the total number of coronavirus positive cases in US has touched 35,418 with 473 deaths. Police personnel were on Monday deployed in strength to enforce lockdown in seven districts of Haryana, including Gurugram after the state government put in place emergency measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Police put up barricades at many places and were seen stopping vehicles and sending back many people to their homes after ascertaining that they were out for non-essential work. However, people having medical or any other emergency and those connected with maintaining essential and emergency services were being allowed. People were also allowed to come out from their homes a for short period to buy essentials like bread, milk and medicines. The Haryana Government has ordered a lockdown in seven of its 22 districts--Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Panipat, Jhajjar, Rohtak and Panchkula from 9 pm on Sunday to March 31. The state has so far reported 12 positive cases that include eight from Gurugram, one each from Panchkula, Faridabad, Panipat and Sonipat, health department said. A police personnel on duty in Gurugram along the Delhi-Gurugram border said any vehicle passing through the highway was being stopped. "We are allowing only those to travel who have been given exemption by the government or anyone having any medical emergency. "Those who are being allowed include patients having emergency, doctors, bank, airport or government officials going on duty. Anyone who is found to be out without any justifiable reason is being sent back to their home, he told the media. Police in Faridabad had also put up barricades at multiple places to enforce the lockdown. "People who are exempted from lockdown that includes those connected with maintaining essential services are being allowed. On finding that people who do not have any urgency and are coming out of their homes without valid reason are being sent back," said a police official in Faridabad. "We are trying to persuade people not to come out of their homes unless there is some emergency," he added. In Sonipat, police had put up barricades on the national highway and elsewhere to enforce the lockdown. In Panchkula too, police could be seen persuading people to go back to their homes. Any person found violating the containment measures shall be deemed to have committed an offence punishable under Section 188 of the IPC (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), an order issued by state's Home Department had said earlier. All essential and emergency services will remain functional during the lockdown period, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had said while appealing people not to panic or worry. The lockdown period in seven districts started immediately after 14-hour-long 'Janata curfew' ended at 9 pm on Sunday. Haryana government has deployed six IAS officers in the seven districts for planning, coordination and monitoring the implementation of all activities for the prevention and control of COVID-19, in addition to their present duties. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Haryana government has also deputed 3 IAS officers and 2 HCS officers in the control rooms set-up in Haryana Civil Secretariat and New Haryana Civil Secretariat here. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) From left; Alysia Vickis, Casey Atamniuk and Courtney Olson, go for their daily morning run at Venice Beach on Monday, after a rain storm blew through the area. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) Heavy rain that pounded the Southland overnight shattered rainfall records across Los Angeles County and triggered a mudslide in Sherman Oaks that damaged at least one home. A low-pressure system that originated in the Gulf of Alaska dumped half an inch to nearly 3 inches of rain across Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning, said Kristen Stewart, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. Heavy rain was falling across Sherman Oaks shortly after 10 p.m. Sunday when Los Angeles Fire Department crews responded to reports of flooding at a home in the 15500 block of Hamner Drive. When crews arrived, they discovered a debris flow that had damaged the property, said Nicholas Prange, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department. The extent of the damage to the home was not immediately clear. No one was injured in the debris flow. The persistent rain also brought enough moisture to rewrite the record books in some areas of Los Angeles County, Stewart said. Los Angeles International Airport received 1.73 inches of rain Sunday, shattering the record for the day of 0.82 inches set in 2005. A record of 1.51 inches of rain fell in downtown Los Angeles, breaking the prior record of 1.11 inches set in 1975. Just over half an inch of rain fell in Lancaster on Sunday, breaking the prior record for the day of 0.41 inches set in 1958. Palmdale Airport, which received 0.45 inches, also nudged past its record of 0.43 inches for the day, set in 2018. The rain is expected to taper off by Monday afternoon, making way for partly sunny skies on Tuesday and Wednesday. But don't put away those umbrellas just yet. Another system is expected to move into Southern California by Wednesday night, dampening the area through Thursday. However, rainfall totals with that storm are expected to be much lighter, with most areas in Los Angeles receiving less than a quarter-inch, Stewart said. Story continues "We're getting to the end of March, so we're nearing the end of the rainy season," she said. The series of March storms has proved helpful in dampening Los Angeles and keeping swaths of Southern California from sinking deeper into drought conditions following a bone-dry start to 2020. About 11.64 inches of rain has fallen on downtown Los Angeles this water year, just slightly behind the normal 12.88 inches the area typically receives. The area was much further behind before the March rains, Stewart said. As of last week, roughly 75% of the state was considered to be abnormally dry, down from 78% a week earlier. The portion of the state considered to be in moderate drought conditions dropped slightly as well, down to about 47%, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Flash Massive medical supplies donated by China's Jack Ma Foundation to 54 African countries arrived on Sunday morning in Addis Ababa, capital of the East African nation of Ethiopia, through an Ethiopian Airlines cargo flight. They include 5.4 million face masks, kits for 1.08 million detection tests, 40,000 sets of protective clothing and 60,000 sets of protective face shields, according to the Jack Ma Foundation. The supplies will first be distributed to countries throughout Africa which are particularly vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic. The remaining 600,000 masks are expected to reach Addis Ababa and be distributed to more African nations over the next few weeks, it said. The relief initiative forms part of Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation's ongoing efforts to contain the spread of the COVID-19 and provide aid to afflicted communities across the globe. Earlier this week, the foundations had announced their commitment to donating 100,000 medical masks, 20,000 test kits and 1,000 protective suits and face shields to each of the 54 nations on the African continent. The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across Africa has climbed to 1,114 as 40 African countries reported confirmed cases as of Saturday afternoon, the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention disclosed on Saturday. Collaboration and partnership with the Alibaba-led Electronic World Trade Platform (eWTP) hubs in Ethiopia and Rwanda is expected to prompt the distribution across Africa. The flight with the shipment landed at the eWTP hub in Ethiopia, which will help facilitate transport and distribution of donations throughout the continent. "Getting these donations to all 54 African countries, with diverse geographic conditions and different levels of infrastructure, is a great logistical and transportation challenge. We are working around the clock to make the delivery as fast as possible. " according to a Jack Ma Foundation statement. "With our technology and eWTP Hubs, we are doing our utmost to quickly deliver these donations, so the supplies can reach those who need them most," added Song Juntao, Secretary-General of eWTP. This donation is part of global efforts that the Jack Ma and Alibaba Foundations have promoted to support the areas of the world most affected by the COVID-19 crisis, sourcing and delivering various types of medical supplies to countries such as China, Japan, South Korea, United States, Italy, Belgium, France, Spain, the Netherlands and Slovenia. Established by Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba Group, the Jack Ma Foundation was founded in 2014 and has been focusing on education, entrepreneurship, women's leadership, and the environment. As the government of Ontario declared a state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 crisis, many small businesses across the province are weighing their options. We have no idea how long this will last, said Kathy Mitchell, owner-operator of Kathys Brew Haha in Elliot Lake. We have to see whether it costs us more to stay open or closed. If we dont have a lot of clientele, will we be able to pay for everything? Kathys Brew Haha is a bright little cafe located on 126 Ontario Ave. The cafe is owned and operated by Mitchell, and her two business partners Ann and Russ Foy. They have been in business for about three years. From Monday to Friday, the cafe features live local music and it has a specialty espresso bar and a selection of loose leaf teas, in addition to lunch menus options and frozen yogurt. Local artists display their work on the walls of the cafe, and they also sell craft and gift items. Kathys Brew Hahas clientele usually comes for the ambiance, said Mitchell. They receive local guests and visitors from out of town who like to come and sit down and enjoy the atmosphere. Weve been very successful in our small town. People here are wonderful, very supportive. Everyone likes to come to a place where everyone knows your name, as the song goes. But on the morning of Mar. 17, this became more difficult, as the dining room was forced to close. Yesterday was a quiet day, quieter than normal, she said. But today has been really, really quiet. Because Kathys has always offered takeout options, it has been able to remain open for the time being. Customers can call ahead or come into the cafe to pick up their orders. Were hoping that the word gets out about our takeout option and that enough people respond. Hopefully, this can keep us going a little bit as we go through this, said Mitchell, who has taken to social media to promote this service. We are going to take it on a day by day basis, but were hoping to stay open maybe for the rest of the week and then see how it goes. One day doesnt really tell you much. But it will be tough. When theres no income, thats obviously bad for us. All our events, and my paycheque, have been cancelled. In the provinces Declaration of Emergency, which was enacted Tuesday, a number of businesses and municipal services were legally required to close immediately. These included facilities providing indoor recreational programs, public libraries, private schools, daycares, theatres (including those offering live performances), concert venues, restaurants and bars. The only way a restaurant can remain open to the public is if it offers takeout food or delivery. Big chains, like Tim Hortons and The Keg, announced individually that their dining rooms were now closed. The Keg, in particular, promised financial support to any employee who could not work during this time. But it is smaller businesses, especially those without a safety net, which will be hit the hardest. Anticipating a recession as a result of the spread of COVID-19, federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau announced that the government would help small- to medium-sized businesses stay running by giving them access to $10 billion of emergency credit on March 13. Small businesses can access loans of up to $100,000, in addition to working capital loans and purchase order financing. Financial services are available through the Business Development Bank of Canada, a financial institution devoted exclusively to entrepreneurs. This will be a valuable service for owner-operated businesses that cannot access EI benefits. To help small, local businesses, Mitchell said that the most valuable thing a customer can do is call and find out what they are offering during this time. If they are offering something you can use, like our takeout option, then try to support your local businesses, she said. There are also gift certificates that you can buy for yourself or someone else. People can either use them immediately, or in the event of a closure, they can use them at a later date. The declaration of emergency will remain in place until March 31, at which point it will be reassessed and considered for an extension, unless it is terminated earlier. TRAIN services on the Henley to Twyford branch line have been reduced from today (Monday) in response to the Governments advice against non-essential travel. Great Western Railway has introduced a new timetable which it says prioritises key routes essential for people who are continuing to deliver vital services as the UK responds to the coronavirus outbreak. A reduced service with amended timings is also running between Slough and Windsor, Maidenhead and Marlow/Bourne End and West Ealing and Greenford. The new timetable will be in operation seven days a week until further notice. Vernon Everitt, managing director, customers, communication and technology at GWR wrote to members of the Henley Trains group, urging them not to travel unless its absolutely essential. He said: The number of people using our services has fallen dramatically but we need even more of you to stop travelling. This is critical to fighting the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus), protecting the NHS and maintaining safe and reliable transport for health, logistics and other critical workers. Making non-essential journeys risks lives. Please only travel if your journey is absolutely essential. If you do travel, follow the expert advice on hand washing and other health measures. We are operating reduced services and closing a number of stations so that we can keep things running for critical workers. He added: Please continue to help our hardworking staff and maintain this action in the weeks and months ahead. Individual journeys can be checked on www.gwr.com/travel-updates/check-your-journey Bus companies are also running amended services. Reading Buses, which runs the Henley bus services (151, 152 and 153), is running a reduced Saturday service during the week. Thames Travel buses (X38, X39 and X40) River Rapids will be running a reduced Saturday service during the week. Arriva buses timetables remain unchanged. By Trend Turkish Airlines will ground all its international flights as of March 27, except those to Hong Kong, Moscow, Ethiopia, New York and Washington, D.C., amid changing dynamics in the sector due to the impact of the new coronavirus outbreak, the chairman of the carrier, Ilker Ayci, said Sunday, Trend reports citing Daily Sabah. Ayci said the airline is maintaining flights between those five destinations to further enable transfer flights worldwide. The carrier is unable to use 85% of its capacity, he said, since Turkey has already halted flights to and from various countries in a bid to stem the spread of the virus, while other nations have also closed their airspace to avoid risk. Due to those precautions, the airline cannot conduct flights to 107 countries, he noted. Turkey has suspended flights with more than 60 countries. The number of people infected with COVID-19 in Turkey has risen to 947 with the death toll rising to 21, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said late Saturday. Elderly citizens, namely those older than 65, will not be allowed to fly on Turkish Airlines because seniors are more vulnerable to COVID-19, Ayci previously announced. The free travel of those citizens is also prohibited countrywide. Ayci further noted that to carry out their business, or at least to minimize the damage, the airline has started to transition passenger flights into cargo flights. Those who bought tickets before March 20, will able to change the tickets until the end of the year, Ayci also noted, adding that no additional fees will be charged for ticket changes. He added that the company will give a 15% bonus to those who postpone their tickets instead of returning, and 1,000 bonus miles will be given for every 10 euros ($10.76) of the ticket price, he said. Speaking on the companys overall policy regarding employees, Ayci said Turkish Airlines has no intention of laying anyone off. An arrangement can be made regarding wages, he said, further noting that in case of such an arrangement, we will make the biggest cut from the top levels. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The hypothesis that the Solar System was born from a gigantic cloud of gas and dust was first floated in the second half of the eighteenth century. It was proposed by German philosopher Immanuel Kant and developed by French mathematician Pierre-Simon de Laplace. It is now a consensus among astronomers. Thanks to the enormous amount of observational data, theoretical input and computational resources now available, it has been continually refined, but this is not a linear process. Nor is it without controversies. Until recently the Solar System was thought to have acquired its present features as a result of a period of turbulence that occurred some 700 million years after its formation. However, some of the latest research suggests it took shape in the more remote past, at some stage during the first 100 million years and very probably between 10 million and 60 million years ago. A study conducted by three Brazilian researchers offers robust evidence of this earlier structuring. Reported in an article published in the journal Icarus, the study was supported by Sao Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP. The authors are all affiliated with Sao Paulo State University's Engineering School (FEG-UNESP) in Guaratingueta (Brazil). The lead author is Rafael Ribeiro de Sousa. The other two authors are Andre Izidoro Ferreira da Costa and Ernesto Vieira Neto, principal investigator for the study. "The large amount of data acquired from detailed observation of the Solar System enables us to define with precision the trajectories of the many bodies that orbit the Sun," Ribeiro told. "This orbital structure enables us to write the history of the formation of the Solar System. Emerging from the gas and dust cloud that surrounded our star some 4.6 billion years ago, the giant planets formed in orbits closer to each other and also closer to the Sun. The orbits were also more co-planar and more circular than they are now, and more interconnected in resonant dynamic systems. These stable systems are the most likely outcome of the gravitational dynamics of planet formation from gaseous protoplanetary disks." Izidoro offered more details. "The four giant planets - Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune - emerged from the gas and dust cloud in more compact orbits," he said. "Their motions were strongly synchronous owing to resonant chains, with Jupiter completing three revolutions around the Sun while Saturn completed two. All the planets were involved in this synchronicity produced by the dynamics of the primordial gas disk and the gravitational dynamics of the planets." However, throughout the formation region of the outer Solar System, which includes the zone located beyond the current orbits of Uranus and Neptune, the Solar System had a large population of planetesimals, small bodies of rock and ice considered the building blocks of planets and forerunners of asteroids, comets and satellites. The outer planetesimal disk began disturbing the system's gravitational balance. The resonances were disrupted after the gas phase, and the system entered a period of chaos in which the giant planets interacted violently and ejected matter into space. "Pluto and its icy neighbors were pushed into the Kuiper Belt, where they're located now, and the entire group of planets migrated to orbits more distant from the Sun," Ribeiro said. The Kuiper Belt, whose existence was proposed in 1951 by Dutch astronomer Gerard Kuiper and later confirmed by astronomical observations, is a toroidal (doughnut-shaped) structure made up of thousands of small bodies orbiting the Sun. The diversity of their orbits is not seen in any other part of the Solar System. The Kuiper Belt's inner edge begins at the orbit of Neptune about 30 astronomical units (AUs) from the Sun. The outer edge is about 50 AUs from the Sun. One AU is approximately equal to the average distance from Earth to the Sun. Returning to the disruption of synchronicity and the onset of the chaotic stage, the question is when this happened - very early in the life of the Solar System, when it was 100 million years old or less, or much later, probably about 700 million years after the planets formed? "Until recently the late instability hypothesis predominated," Ribeiro said. "Dating of the Moon rocks brought back by the Apollo astronauts suggested they were created by asteroids and comets crashing into the lunar surface at the same time. This cataclysm is known as the 'late heavy bombardment' of the Moon. If it happened on the Moon, it presumably also happened on Earth and the Solar System's other terrestrial planets. Because a great deal of matter in the form of asteroids and comets was projected in all directions in the Solar System during the period of planetary instability, it was deduced from the Moon rocks that this chaotic period occurred late, but in recent years the idea of a 'late bombardment' of the Moon has fallen out of favor." According to Ribeiro, if the late chaotic catastrophe had occurred it would have destroyed Earth and the other terrestrial planets, or at least caused disturbances that would have placed them in totally different orbits from those we observe now. Furthermore, the Moon rocks brought back by the Apollo astronauts were found to have been produced by a single impact. If they had originated in late giant planet instability, there would be evidence of several different impacts, given the scattering of the planetesimals by the giant planets. "The starting-point for our study was the idea that the instability should be dated dynamically. The instability can only have happened later if there was a relatively large distance between the inner edge of the disk of planetesimals and Neptune's orbit when the gas was exhausted. This relatively large distance proved unsustainable in our simulation," Ribeiro said. The argument is based on a simple premise: the shorter the distance between Neptune and the planetesimal disk, the greater the gravitational influence, and hence the earlier the period of instability. Conversely, later instability requires a larger distance. "What we did was sculpt the primordial planetesimal disk for the first time. To do so we had to go back to the formation of the ice giants Uranus and Neptune. Computer simulations based on a model constructed by Professor Izidoro [Ferreira da Costa] in 2015 showed that the formation of Uranus and Neptune may have originated in planetary embryos with several Earth masses. Massive collisions of these super-Earths would explain, for example, why Uranus spins on its side," Ribeiro said, referring to Uranus's "tilt", with north and south poles located on its sides rather than top and bottom. Previous studies had pointed to the importance of the distance between Neptune's orbit and the inner boundary of the planetesimal disk, but they used a model in which the four giant planets were already formed. "The novelty of this latest study is that the model doesn't begin with completely formed planets. Instead, Uranus and Neptune are still in the growth stage, and the growth driver is two or three collisions involving objects with up to five Earth masses," Izidoro said. "Imagine a situation in which Jupiter and Saturn are formed but we have five to ten super-Earths instead of Uranus and Neptune. The super-Earths are forced by the gas to synchronize with Jupiter and Saturn, but being numerous their synchronicity fluctuates and they end up colliding. The collisions reduce their number, making synchronicity possible. Eventually Uranus and Neptune are left. "While the two ice giants were forming in the gas, the planetesimal disk was being consumed. Part of the matter was accreted to Uranus and Neptune, and part was propelled to the outskirts of the Solar System. The growth of Uranus and Neptune therefore defined the position of the inner boundary of the planetesimal disk. What was left of the disk is now the Kuiper Belt. The Kuiper Belt is basically a relic of the primordial planetesimal disk, which was once far more massive." The proposed model is consistent with the giant planets' current orbits and with the structure observed in the Kuiper Belt. It is also consistent with the motion of the Trojans, a large group of asteroids that share Jupiter's orbit and were presumably captured during the disruption of synchronicity. According to a paper published by Izidoro in 2017 (read more at agencia.fapesp.br/26583), Jupiter and Saturn were still in formation, with their growth contributing to displacement of the asteroid belt. The latest paper is a kind of continuation, starting from a stage in which Jupiter and Saturn were fully formed but still synchronized, and describing the evolution of the Solar System from there on. "Gravitational interaction between the giant planets and the planetesimal disk produced disturbances in the gas disk that spread in the form of waves. The waves produced compact and synchronous planetary systems. When the gas ran out, interaction between the planets and planetesimal disk disrupted the synchronicity and gave rise to the chaotic phase. Taking all this into account, we discovered that the conditions simply didn't exist for the distance between Neptune's orbit and the inner boundary of the planetesimal disk to become large enough to sustain the late instability hypothesis. This is the main contribution of our study, which shows that the instability occurred in the first hundred million years and may have occurred, for example, before the formation of Earth and the Moon," Ribeiro said. ### FAPESP supported the study via a PhD scholarship and a scholarship for a research internship abroad awarded to Ribeiro; a Young Investigator Fellowship and a Young Investigator Grant awarded to Izidoro; and the Thematic Project "On the relevance of small bodies in orbital dynamics" for which the principal investigator is Othon Cabo Winter. About Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) The Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) is a public institution with the mission of supporting scientific research in all fields of knowledge by awarding scholarships, fellowships and grants to investigators linked with higher education and research institutions in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. FAPESP is aware that the very best research can only be done by working with the best researchers internationally. Therefore, it has established partnerships with funding agencies, higher education, private companies, and research organizations in other countries known for the quality of their research and has been encouraging scientists funded by its grants to further develop their international collaboration. You can learn more about FAPESP at http://www.fapesp.br/en and visit FAPESP news agency at http://www.agencia.fapesp.br/en to keep updated with the latest scientific breakthroughs FAPESP helps achieve through its many programs, awards and research centers. You may also subscribe to FAPESP news agency at http://agencia.fapesp.br/subscribe. Delhi to ease restrictions, if Covid cases come down in next 2-3 days: Health Minister Lata Mangeshkar health update: Doctor says,'She in ICU with Covid-19 and pneumonia, will be under observation' Explained: Has Covid-19s Stage 3 arrived in India? India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Mar 23: The rapidly growing coronavirus cases took another huge jump on Sunday, touching 396 in India. The day's spike was 81 - a shade above Saturday's 79. As the numbers mounted, the union government tightened safety measures, shutting down buses, passenger train service, including suburban trains. Metro services shut too. The government has announced that only essential services will be operation in 75 districts in India where COVID-19 cases are reported. This has created anxiety among the people and many opine that India the battle against coronavirus has taken to next level that is stage 3. Explained: Did Chinese police brutally thrashed coronavirus victims in a metro station? What is third stage of COVID 19? The third stage in any pandemic is called community transmission. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), community transmission "is evidenced by the inability to relate confirmed cases through chains of transmission for a large number of cases, or by increasing positive tests through sentinel samples (routine systematic testing of respiratory samples from established laboratories)". In simple words, it can infect people with no history either of travel to affected areas or of contact with an infected person. If this happens, it is practically impossible to track every person, regardless of where they are from and who they have been in contact with, to spread the disease. Community-based transmission of the virus is on a larger scale in countries like Italy, Iran, South Korea and Japan. Health experts claim that the virus has not begun spreading at a community level in the country yet. However, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) maintains that India hasn't yet officially reached that stage. New concern Some recent cases of persons who tested positive for Covid-19 without no travel history has raised concerns. In West Bengal, a 57-year old resident of Dum Dum in 24 North Parganas district with no travel history to any overseas country, tested positive for Covid-19 while in Pune, Maharashtra, a woman in her early 40s with no history of travel abroad also tested positive for SARS-Cov-2, the virus that causes Covid-19. Explained: Is it time to use military force to fight COVID-19? Doctors have expressed apprehensions that the state might be staring at a Stage 3 escalation of the global pandemic. Time to prepare for stage 3 Despite ICMR's assertions, it is now time to prepare for stage 3 of the global pandemic. The government acted swiftly and shut all inter-state buses, passenger trains and metro services across the country till March 31. A total of 80 districts in 17 states and five Union Territories including Delhi where coronavirus cases were reported will be under complete lockdown during this perios. In line with the centre, the state governments have issued orders allowing only essential services to operate in these 80 districts with confirmed COVID-19 cases or casualties. Millions of people across the country stayed indoors and streets wore a deserted look on Sunday following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal for a 'Janta curfew' to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic, which has claimed over 13,000 lives worldwide. However, stage 3 of coronavirus calls for citizens to exercise a greater degree of responsibility. Social distancing will have to be accompanied by social solidarity. Employers will need to closely monitor any concerns and be sensitive towards their staff. Empathy for pateinets is the need of the hour and not stigmatisation. Man sought after robbery this morning at Kuttawa business Last week, I wrote that the appropriate economic response to the coronavirus crisis was to bail out everyone, including crippled industries like airlines and hotels. The government needs to prevent short- and long-term harm wherever possible during this ordeal, which means preventing needless layoffs and bankruptcies at massive employers. Its fine to attach strings, like requiring companies to maintain payrolls (which Democrats are pushing for and Republicans have resisted). But in general, we shouldnt be overly picky about who gets a hand. Advertisement There is one notable exception to this rule, however: We should not bail out the cruise industry. The White House has repeatedly suggested that the sector would receive some sort of help, with President Donald Trump himself saying that along with hotels and airlines, cruise companies would be prime candidates for government aid. But they really arent. It would be fine to let Carnival and Royal Caribbean go under. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reason why boils down to moral hazard, the concern that by saving a company, you might encourage it to repeat bad, destructive behavior down the line. With most of the industries that are now in peril thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, this isnt much of a worry. Some might be facing more trouble than others because they took on a bit too much debt in the past decade, but for the most part, corporations arent falling prey to their own bad management decisions. Rather, theyre mostly faultless casualties of a disease. Nobody wanted United and Delta to halt all international travel, after all. Advertisement Advertisement The luxury cruise industry is different. Cruise ships are notorious Petri dishes for pathogens, prone to outbreaks of everything from measles to norovirus, and it was clear that they would be a vector for coronavirus transmission by February, when a terrifying outbreak stranded the Diamond Princess in Japans Port of Yokohama. In early March, the Grand Princess sat marooned off the California coast with infected passengers as authorities debated where it should dock (eventually, it landed in Oakland). And yet the boats kept setting sail, often with minimal precautions. As the Washington Post explained in a great piece late last week: Advertisement After it was clear the coronavirus was spreading around the world, passenger screening was limited. Even on cruises where officials knew of positive tests, such as the Grand Princess, strict quarantines confining passengers to their rooms were not imposed immediately. Inconsistent deboarding procedures also meant thousands of passengers who traveled on a ship that had carried a passenger who tested positive for the coronavirus went home with little or no medical screeningpossibly taking the virus back to their communities. Advertisement Worse yet, at least one company may have misled customers about the virus to drum up sales, even after the industry acknowledged it needed to limit some passengers. As Politico explained: Advertisement Advertisement After initially insisting that no restrictions were needed, in recent days the cruise industry has presented a plan to the White House to bar the elderly from cruising over coronavirus risks. But that hasnt stopped some sales managers from using dubious sales tacticsincluding Norwegian Cruise Lines, which reportedly encouraged sales reps to lie to potential customers with fantastical pitch lines. The Coronavirus can only survive in cold temperatures, so the Caribbean is a fantastic choice for your next cruise, according to a list of talking points put together by sales managers in the Miami office, according to the Miami New Times. Norwegian did not respond to a request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The State Department and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officially told Americans to avoid cruises on March 8. The industry didnt officially shut down until five days later, after a request from Trump. Bailing out the cruise industry now would only reward its decision to keep operating after it became clear its vessels were a significant public health hazard, and possibly set the stage for it to repeat the same mistakes the next time the world is facing an incipient pandemic. It would be one thing if we were talking about imposing stricter codes of conduct on the industry in return for loan guarantees (which is the form these bailouts will likely be taking). But that doesnt seem to be the case. Advertisement Despite the obvious moral hazard involved, there might be some argument for bailing out the cruise biz if it were truly an essential piece of the American economy, like the major banks were in 2008. But its not. While the worlds three top cruise linesCarnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegianare all based in Miami, they flag their ships in foreign tax havens like Panama, Bermuda, and Liberia, which allows them to avoid U.S. corporate taxes and do an end-run around domestic labor laws. Relatively few Americans actually work on the ships (in fact, theres only one cruise ship in the world with an all-American crew). Instead, they tend to be staffed with crews from poorer countries such as the Philippines, who are willing to work long, grueling hours. One investigation by Univision and Columbia Universitys journalism school referred to them as sweatshops on the high seas. If one or more of these companies ended up in bankruptcy court and most of their assets got scooped up by a private equity firm, it wouldnt exactly be a catastrophe for the domestic economy. So, if there are few good reasons to bail out the cruise business, and some very good reasons not to, why does Trump think theyre a prime candidate for help? Well, he happens to be friends with Micky Arison, chairman of Carnival, which also sponsored The Apprentice. And this president always puts his friends first. For more on the impact of the coronavirus, listen to Mondays episode of What Next. Punjab Cabinet ministers on Monday announced to contribute their one month's salary to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund in a fight against coronavirus. A government release quoting Parliamentary Affairs Minister Brahm Mohindra said the ministers decided to make the contribution on the suggestion of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh. "This is a goodwill gesture of the Punjab ministers to express their solidarity with the people of the state in their fight against coronavirus (COVID-19)," said Mohindra. Meanwhile, the Shiromani Akali Dal said its MPs and MLAs will also contribute their one month's salary to the relief fund. "A decision to this effect was taken after SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal held discussions with MPs as well members of the legislative wing," a SAD release said. "Following a suggestion by the SAD president to lead the relief efforts, all party MPs and legislators unanimously agreed to donate their one month's salary for this noble cause," the release said. SAD legislative party leader Sharanjit Singh Dhillon has also urged Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Rana KP Singh to take the consent of all legislators for the deduction of their one month's salary to assist the state government. The state's higher administrative and police officers also decided to contribute their one day's salary. The IAS officers of the Punjab cadre announced that they decided to contribute their one day's salary to the CM's Relief Fund for helping those whose livelihood was affected as a result of the curfew imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19. DGP Dinkar Gupta said all IPS and PPS officers have volunteered to contribute their one day's salary to the Police Welfare Fund A sum of nearly Rs 33.2 lakh is likely to be contributed by 121 IPS and 809 PPS officers, said Gupta, adding that their contribution will be utilised in initiating welfare measures for the police personnel, who are supplementing efforts of the state for the containment of the virus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As Americans are being urged to keep their distance from one another, travelers returning on flights from Europe say they are being made to wait for hours in close quarters at US airports to get screened for coronavirus. When they arrived at airports in Dallas, Chicago and New York, they faced long lines and confusion, several travelers told CNN. At one New York airport, two travelers said they were alarmed when officials suggested they should share pens to fill out customs and medical forms. President Donald Trump has announced foreign nationals in 26 European countries will face restrictions entering the US, while Ireland and the United Kingdom will be added to the list at midnight Monday. The ban went into effect at midnight Friday, but only after the original announcement sparked chaos at European airports as Americans sought ways to return home before it went into place. American citizens and permanent residents are allowed to fly into the US but must to go through one of 13 transit airports for screening, which caused backups at some of the airports. Karen Rogers, a passenger returning from Paris by way of London, had been waiting in line for at least five hours to be screened at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport and was told she would have at least another hour to go, she said Saturday night. CNN has reached out to O'Hare International Airport but did not receive an immediate response. US Customs and Border Protection is aware of the long lines and is already seeing success addressing the delays at some airports, acting Commissioner Mark Morgan said in a statement emphasizing that passengers' safety and health is the top priority. In a later statement Sunday, he said, "Wait times experienced yesterday at some locations were unacceptable." The agency's partners' resources are "stretched thin," he said, and CBP still must fulfill its national security, counter-narcotics and outbound enforcement missions. "With this national emergency, there will unfortunately be times of disruption and increased processing times for travelers. CBP is working around the clock to minimize these inconveniences," he said. 'Very close quarters' The process in place at O'Hare has passengers "essentially go(ing) through customs twice," said Ann Lewis Schmidt, a passenger returning from Iceland. Passengers first wait in line to have their passports checked and to turn in a declaration form and medical forms for those returning from Europe, South Korea, Iran and China, Schmidt said. Then they are taken to a separate line to undergo a screening and temperature check. Passengers are grouped together for hours during the process, Schmidt said. "Seems backwards, as if someone had a fever they should have been never allowed in these lines for four hours," Schmidt told CNN. She described folks being in "very close quarters ... so if we didn't have the virus before, we have a great chance of getting it now!" Travelers who pass the screening are instructed to immediately self-quarantine at home and monitor their health as outlined in the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's best practices, the Department of Homeland Security said. Illinois governor calls on federal government to take action Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker reacted to the long lines by tweeting to Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, "The federal government needs to get its s@#t together. NOW." Speaking to NBC, Pritzker said he is working with the Chicago mayor and Illinois lawmakers to push the federal government to take action to alleviate issues at O'Hare, he said. The government, in announcing travel restrictions for Europe, should have increased the number of customs and CDC officials on the ground at airports, but "they did neither of those," he told NBC. "So last night, as people were flooding into O'Hare airport, they were stuck in a small area -- hundreds and hundreds of people -- and that's exactly what you don't want in this pandemic," he told the news outlet Sunday. "Then today, it's going to be even worse. There are a larger number of flights with more people coming, and they seem completely unprepared." In a tweet, acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf acknowledged the long lines and the stress passengers were experiencing. "DHS is aware of the long lines for passengers who are undergoing increased medical screening requirements. Right now we are working to add additional screening capacity and working with the airlines to expedite the process," he said. "I understand this is very stressful. In these unprecedented times, we ask for your patience. It currently takes ~60 seconds for medical professionals to screen each passenger. We will be increasing capacity but the health and safety of the American public is first & foremost." Passengers told to share pens At John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, passengers are also facing long wait times. Katelyn Deibler landed at JFK from Kiev, Ukraine, on Saturday afternoon and it took more than two hours to complete customs, she said. She was given two forms to fill out when she arrived, she said. "One was just name, passport number, flight number, seat, address, emergency contact, and details about your trip," Deibler said. The second form asked specific questions about symptoms and travel to coronavirus hot zones, she said. The form instructs passengers to circle countries they visited in the last 14 days and asks if they've had any symptoms such as fever, coughing or difficulty breathing, Deibler said. There were not enough copies for all the passengers on the flight, and many had to wait for more forms to be handed out. "They didn't have pens and told us to share," she said. "Which sounds like a great thing in the middle of the pandemic." Three taken to the hospital after screenings at JFK Another traveler, Nick Carlin, also expressed concern passengers were told to share pens, and there was no hand sanitizer at JFK, he said. "It definitely was a little scattered and disorganized," said Chris Nadolne, a passenger who arrived to JFK. "I can see how people would start to get frustrated as the line got longer. ... No bathrooms nearby and no antibacterial around for people to use -- unlike in the UK and Paris where it is everywhere." At least three passengers who underwent screenings at JFK were sent to hospitals because of their symptoms, a source with knowledge of the JFK screenings said. The average wait time for a health screening has been two hours, said Frank Russo, the JFK port director for US Customs and Border Control. There are more than 50 emergency medical technicians on duty supplementing CDC staff, he said. Asked about passengers' complaints of the airport lacking hand sanitizer, he said the terminals have hand sanitizer and officers are instructing people how to find it. He has asked the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey -- which operates the airport -- to install more dispensers in the areas where passengers are waiting, he said. Passengers were intermingling while waiting in lines Upon landing at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Kimberly Harris witnessed passengers who were in line for CDC screening skip the queue and join international passengers who did not need to be screened, she said. Harris returned from Johannesburg, South Africa, via London. She watched the customs line grow and wrap around the entire floor, she said. "It was difficult to tell where the line began and ended," Harris said. "It almost (was) immediately evident that people who had to stay behind on the plane due to visiting a listed country were integrated into the line of the people who did not require additional screening." It took her three hours to make it through passport control and customs, she said. Another passenger who arrived at DFW on Sunday from Thailand by way of Doha, Qatar, described a similar scene. The coronavirus screening line was not separated from the other international arrivals, Matthew Thomas said. "(They were) right next to us," he says. "We were crowded and there for hours." Neither Thomas nor Harris required screenings. "These federally mandated enhanced procedures are part of the effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus," DFW said in a statement. "The necessary additional procedures may cause delays in processing through Customs but are of the utmost importance for the health and safety of everyone." China will redirect all arriving international flights from its capital Beijing to 12 other cities from Monday to control the surge of imported coronavirus cases as the country reported its first domestically transmitted COVID-19 case after a gap of three days, officials said on Sunday. The country's National Health Commission (NHC) said that 46 new confirmed cases were reported on the mainland on Saturday, including one domestic infection transmitted by imported cases in Guangzhou. The NHC said Sunday six deaths were reported from China on Saturday, including five from Hubei province, taking the country's death toll to 3,261. Coronavirus epicentre Wuhan, however, has not reported any new case for the fourth consecutive day, the health officials said. The overall confirmed cases on the mainland reached 81,054 by the end of Saturday, including 3,261 people who died of the disease, 5,549 patients still being treated and 72,244 patients discharged after recovery. As the country saw a surge in imported infections with 45 new cases, China initiated stricter measures to prevent COVID-19 from resurfacing and creating a second wave of infections, the health officials said. On Sunday, the government announced that all international flights scheduled to arrive in its capital Beijing will be redirected to airports in 12 other Chinese cities from Monday. International passengers flying to Beijing will instead land in airports in 12 cities including Shanghai, Tianjin, Nanjing and Shenyang as their first points of entry, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said in a statement. Passengers will go through customs clearance and quarantine at these airports, and those having passed quarantine inspection can fly to Beijing in their original flights, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Beijing reported 13 new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) imported from other countries on Saturday, bringing the total number of imported cases in the capital to 97. For the Chinese mainland, the total number of imported cases has reached 314. The entry arrangements for the Beijing-bound international flights will be adjusted in a timely manner in accordance with the COVID-19 outbreak situation, the statement said. By the end of Saturday, 273 confirmed cases, including four deaths, were reported in Hong Kong, 18 confirmed cases in Macao and 153 in Taiwan, including two deaths, the NHC added. Also read: Coronavirus in India Live updates: Take legal action against violators, Centre tells state govts Also read: Coronavirus: Prohibitory orders imposed in Mumbai, Pune, Thane till March 31 Also read: Coronavirus update: 15 UP districts locked down till Wednesday Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 23, 2020) - Intercontinental Gold (TSXV: ICAU) ("Intercontinental Gold" or the "Company") reports that on Saturday, March 21, the Government of Bolivia announced it has closed its borders and all international flights are suspended for 14 days to combat the spread of COVID-19. The quarantine measures also include: curfews, restricted in-country travel between government departments and an order for all persons to remain in their homes 24 hours a day with an exception made for emergencies. As a result, we have temporarily closed our Bolivian operations to comply with this order. We are closely monitoring the situation and will provide regular corporate updates during this unprecedented time. Gorden Glenn, Intercontinental Gold's President & CEO remarked, "The health and safety of our employees, small gold miner clients and all parties we are in daily contact with is of utmost importance to our Company. In advance of this announcement we had already initiated social distancing and increased office sanitation procedures for our office & refinery staff and visitors. We have taken the additional, necessary steps to comply with the Bolivian Government order and all gold buying, refining and export operations have been suspended. Our offices and assets have been fully secured and will continue to be monitored during this temporary closure. While the temporary suspension of business operations is likely to have a short-term impact, our business is highly elastic and gold export volumes are merely deferred until after that travel restrictions are lifted. In the medium and longer-term we fully expect to maintain and even accelerate the demonstrated high growth of our unique gold refining, commodity trading business plan." About Intercontinental Gold and Metals Ltd. Intercontinental Gold and Metals Ltd. is a Next Generation Metals and Mining Company. We believe our gold refining, physical commodities marketing and trading operations can provide insights in global primary supply and demand trends that create a strategic and competitive advantage for further investment and expansion opportunities on a global basis. The Company generates revenues from the purchases and sales of gold (accounted for as revenue). Cost of sales is measured at the fair value of the precious metals purchased and inventory sold, which is purchased at a competitive discount from licensed artisanal and small gold miners (ASGM) in Latin America (LATAM). Global ASGM supply is significant and supports a sustainable revenue generation model. We are unique being the only publicly listed gold refining company servicing the LATAM ASGM market. Story continues Intercontinental Gold has 18,040,000 common shares issued and outstanding that are listed on Canada's TSX Venture Exchange (ICAU.V). ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS INTERCONTINENTAL GOLD AND METALS LTD. Gorden Glenn President & Chief Executive Officer (647) 985-2785 info@intercontinentalgold.com Forward Looking Statements This news release contains forwardlooking information. The statements are based on reasonable assumptions and expectations of management and Intercontinental Gold provides no assurance that actual events will meet management's expectations. In certain cases, forwardlooking information may be identified by such terms as "anticipates", "believes", "could", "estimates", "expects", "may", "shall", "will", or "would". Although Intercontinental Gold believes the expectations expressed in such forwardlooking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected. Commodity trading has inherent risks. In addition, factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from the forward-looking information stated herein include any factors, which may include changes in market conditions, changes in metal prices, general economic and political conditions, environmental risks, and community and non-governmental actions. Such factors will also affect whether Intercontinental Gold will ultimately receive the benefits anticipated pursuant to relevant agreements. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the forwardlooking statements. These and other factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Intercontinental Gold does not undertake to update any forward-looking information contained herein except in accordance with securities regulation. Actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, save and except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53686 If you want to see the future of fatherhood, look to the past. Thats the advice of Rob Sturrock, author of Man Raises Boy. But Sturrocks not talking about the stereotypical dad of the 1950s and 60s. You know the one: the rigid, emotionally-distant authoritarian whose idea of involved parenting is putting his whisk down just long enough for a Sunday drive. Instead, hes looking to the Middle Ages. Rob Sturrock, author of Man Raises Boy. Credit:Lia Marx There is a forgotten history that fathers were at home a lot, says Sturrock. And it wasn't just dads teaching kids how to sow seeds and plough a field, it was actually the emotional part of parenting, they were really caring for their kids. Sturrock points to letters, private records and private accounts from men in the Middle Ages up to the Industrial Revolution that he says showed men in these earlier eras were far more involved in the care and nurture of their children than the breadwinner dad. (Natural News) Essential oils are loaded with potent bioactive compounds that combat inflammation and infection, according to a recent review published in the Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research. Researchers Tanu Bansal and Kaur Harpeet from the Lovely Professional University in India examined the medicinal uses of essential oils for the prevention and treatment of various ailments including chronic pain, diabetes, epilepsy and cancer. What are essential oils? Essential oils are the concentrated oil extracts of naturally aromatic plants, such as lavender, rosemary, peppermint and sage, that are obtained through distillation or cold-pressing. Essential oils are primarily used in aromatherapy to induce relaxation, regulate mood and ease fatigue. Currently, there are more than 90 essential oils available. Some of the most common oils include chamomile, jasmine, lavender and eucalyptus. But essential oils can also be used for medicinal purposes. Bansal and Harpeet outlined the use of essential oils as natural antiviral, antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic agents. For instance, tree wormwood oil extract is known to possess antiviral properties that can fight off herpes type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes type 2 (HSV-2). Meanwhile, oregano oil extract is a potent antibacterial agent against pathogenic strains, such as Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica. The essential oils of plants like basil, nutmeg and oregano also possess antioxidants that can reduce inflammation and prevent cellular damage caused by free radicals. Bansal and Harpeet also found evidence to suggest that the oral administration of essential oils like cumin, fennel and cinnamon can lower blood sugar levels and regulate insulin production in diabetic individuals. Moreover, essential oils that contain the citrus compound D-limonene have also been found to possess anti-carcinogenic properties that can inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Medicinal uses of essential oils The following are some essential oils with known medicinal benefits. Tea tree oil A 2006 review published in the Clinical Microbiology Reviews showed that numerous components of tea tree oil have antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties. Experiments conducted to explore the potency of tea tree oil against infections revealed that it inhibited the growth of Gram-positive bacteria including Micrococcus and Enterococcus faecalis. Tea tree oil also altered the permeability of Candida albicans, a type of pathogenic yeast. Eucalyptus Eucalyptus essential oil is a popular ingredient in lip balms, massage oils and personal hygiene products due to its ability to provide a cooling sensation. As a cooling agent, eucalyptus essential oil is also known to relieve coughs and clogged sinuses. Moreover, eucalyptus has anti-inflammatory effects against muscle strains thanks to the plant compounds called tannins. A recent study published in the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine also demonstrated that the essential oil of eucalyptus leaves has antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli. Thyme Thyme oil extract is commonly used to enhance the flavor of foods, beverages and confectionery products. Like many essential oils, it is also used to create fragrances, soaps and body lotions. According to a 2006 study published in the Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, the antimicrobial and antiviral potentials of thyme are due to its numerous plant compounds, such as flavonoids, thymol, eugenol, aliphatic phenol, saponin, luteolin and tetramethoxylated flavones. The study revealed that thyme oil extract was able to stop the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a Gram-negative pathogen that causes urinary tract infection. Similarly, thyme oil extract also inhibited the growth of C. albicans. (Related: Beyond the spice rack: Experts explore the anti-microbial properties of conehead thyme essential oil.) Many herbs possess antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-viral properties that neutralize disease-causing pathogens. Extracting essential oils of medicinal herbs can yield potent remedies for infections. However, some commercially available essential oils may be diluted with alcohol and chemical components that affect their efficacy, so be sure to look for 100 percent natural essential oils. Sources include: ResearchGate.net NaturalHealth365.com NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov 1 NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov 2 NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov 3 A Missouri man has been filmed licking bottles on a grocery store shelf amid the coronavirus crisis gripping the country. The revolting clip, believed to have been filmed in Missouri, saw the man saying, 'who's scared of coronavirus?', before running his tongue along the shelf. In the short clip posted online, he can be seen bending down to lick the toiletry items on the shelf while looking at the camera. Alongside the footage, the caption states: 'I'm a nasty motherf****r'. The unnamed man is now facing calls for his arrest after the footage was repeatedly shared on Twitter. The revolting clip shows a man (pictured above) licking bottles on a shelf in grocery store. It is believed to have been filmed in Missouri Piers Morgan said that the individual should be locked up and denied medical treatment if they catch coronavirus UK morning TV presenter, Piers Morgan, called for him to be locked up and denied healthcare if he contracts coronavirus. The Good Morning Britain host slammed the 'moron' this morning and said a jail sentence might help 'concentrate his mind'. Speaking on ITV today, Morgan said: 'You know what I'd like to happen to him? I'd like him found, and I'm sure they'll get him, put in prison immediately and then I'd like him deprived of any health care should be then get the virus having deliberately tried to give it, potentially, to lots of other people. 'That might concentrate the minds of these morons. And it might concentrate the minds of these morons here too.' In the US spring breakers have been criticized for still flocking to South Beach and other Miami hotspots despite warnings to avoid mass gatherings. Beachgoers enjoy a sunny day in Destin, Florida, on Wednesday despite new social policing asking the public to avoid crowded areas During the show, Morgan also directed anger at the public's 'idiocy' for treating yesterday like a public holiday, where thousands were seen flocking to beaches or enjoying National Trust parks. He shared a picture entitled 'memo to all morons' yesterday as he called on people to obey social distancing measures. The image reads: 'Confused about how far to distance yourself? Imagine the outline of a dead relative between you.' Piers Morgan shared this picture on Instagram to encourage people to do social distancing Boris Johnson warned yesterday that if people don't desist from 'non-essential travel' and continue to disobey government guidance to stand at least 6.5ft (two metres) apart, he will be forced to impose a country-wide lockdown. Several parks have closed since yesterday, following fears the virus could be transferred in crowds forming at the venues. The National Trust has also closed all its gated parks in response to the crowds seen yesterday. The United Kingdom has reported more than 5,000 cases due to the virus, and 281 deaths. The United States has recorded more than 35,000 cases of coronavirus and 458 deaths. Shahid Kapoor used his time in self-quarantine to hold an Ask Me Anything session on Instagram on Sunday night. The actor answered several questions about his upcoming film Jersey, how to grow a beard and his way of remaining motivated amid coronavirus lockdown. On being asked about three habits which changed his life, Shahid said, Being a vegetarian. Seeking spirituality. Always listen to my wife. Talking about what makes a soulmate, he said, to be there when it matters. Shahid was also asked about the release date of his upcoming film, Jersey. The actor replied, Brother, bigger things at play in life. Your guess is as good as mine. Talking about South star Nani who featured in the original, he said, He was fantastic. Made me cry so many times in the movie. On being asked to say something about speak about Shah Rukh Khan, Shahid said, Hope to see him back on screen soon. He also claimed to be a big fan of Hrithik Roshan and that everyone loves bhai Salman Khan. A fan asked the actor about how he manages to be productive while spending days in quarantine. The actor advised the fan, Divide your time. Be productive. Make a routine. Learn something new. Prep for work whenever it starts. But most importantly...be with family. Sharing health tips with his fans, he wrote, At a time like this. Eat healthy food. Train alternate days. Dont overtrain that also reduces immunity. Stay positive and spread love. Also read: Richa Chadha, Gauahar Khan shame people who broke Janta Curfew, Vir Das says thats our virus On being asked if he was already bored, the actor replied, Why should I be bored. When we are getting to be with those we love. Chin up. Stay strong. Fam time. Every moment is a blessing. Isi bahane pollution bhi kam ho raha hai. I never get bored of a challenge. When an eager fan said that he wanted more movies like Kabir Singh, the actor said, Me too. Where to find? Shahids last film Kabir Singh turned out to be his biggest solo blockbuster. While the film was labelled misogynistic, his performance in the film was appreciated. Follow @htshowbiz for more Friends have a drink as a projection is shown of a live press conference held by Chief Executive Carrie Lam, wearing a face mask as a precautionary measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Hong Kong, March 23, 2020. Authorities in Hong Kong said on Monday they would close the city's airport arrivals to non-residents amid a surge in coronavirus cases in the city, where new infections had previously been slowed by containment measures. "From Wednesday onwards we will disallow non-Hong Kong residents coming from overseas countries arriving at the Hong Kong International Airport," chief executive Carrie Lam said in a public announcement. "After more than two months of epidemic prevention work, during which time the situation has been constantly changing, based on expert opinion, we are bringing in these measures based on their effectiveness," Lam said, adding that the ban is currently indefinite. "We are basing our decisions on science, on facts and figures, on evidence," she said. "The politics of pressure are not something that come into the formula." "It would be very risky to base public health positions just because certain people have demanded ... it." By Monday, Hong Kong had 356 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and four deaths, more than doubling the number of cases since the beginning of March. Lam's administration has faced growing calls for the city close its borders, especially in the early weeks of the COVID-19 epidemic, when people were bringing the virus from mainland China. A two-week ban on transit passengers will also come into effect on Wednesday. Non-residents arriving from mainland China, Macau or Taiwan will still be allowed in, as long as they haven't traveled anywhere else in the world in the past 14 days. Recent sudden upsurge A 14-day quarantine rule that had previously applied to arrivals from mainland China and the rest of the world will now also be applied to people arriving from Macau and Taiwan. Anyone showing symptoms of COVID-19 after flying into the city has been taken immediately to coronavirus testing centers, in measures which took effect on March 20. Those who test positive for the virus are being taken to hospital, while others are being allowed to go home to quarantine themselves, state broadcaster RTHK reported. Senior microbiologist Ho Pak-leung of the University of Hong Kong said the city has seen a sudden upsurge in coronavirus cases in recent days. He called for an immediate, and enforceable, lockdown and the closure of public venues. "Can't they suspend licenses temporarily for some high-risk venues such as wedding venues and bars?" Ho said. "They could also run reduced timetables on public transportation." "If it becomes inconvenient to take public transportation, then people won't go out as often," he said. "We definitely need to implement social distancing." Lam's announcement came amid ongoing social tensions, as a population exhausted by police violence over months of anti-extradition and pro-democracy protests has repeatedly tried to put pressure on its government to act decisively to stem the epidemic in the city of seven million people, who live in some of the most densely populated areas on the planet. Police once more fired tear gas at a gathering of around 100 protesters in the New Territories town of Yuen Long, eight months after a brutal attack on passengers in the Yuen Long MTR station by gang-linked thugs wielding bats and rods. Triad gang links Protesters chanted "Free Hong Kong! Revolution now!" and repeated calls for Lam to begin an independent inquiry into police violence, stop calling protesters "rioters," release arrested protesters and allow fully democratic elections. The white-clad attackers -- some of whom were later confirmed to have links to Hong Kong's criminal gangs, the triads -- laid into passers-by and passengers on a train in the station on July 21, 2019, beating them up with rods and sticks and leaving 45 people in hospital. Hong Kong police failed to respond to more than 24,000 emergency calls from the area as the white-shirted mob ran amok, bludgeoning passengers for 39 minutes before police arrived on the scene, leaving 45 people in hospital. Video footage at the time showed police officers chatting to men who closely resembled the attackers. Police have said the protesters had "provoked" the attackers, but there is scant evidence on video footage to support this view. Thirty-seven people, some of whom have links to triad organizations, were arrested in the wake of the attack, and seven of them face charges of "rioting." Under the "one country, two systems" framework agreed before the 1997 handover to Chinese rule, Hong Kong was promised the maintenance of its freedoms of speech, assembly and political participation. The protests that erupted in June 2019 in response to plans to allow extradition to mainland China were largely triggered by the erosion of those freedoms, particularly following a series of high-profile interventions by the ruling Chinese Communist Party in the city's political life, including the debarring of pro-democracy lawmakers and would-be election candidates for their political views. Frontline protesters, eyewitnesses, journalists and human rights groups have repeatedly said that the majority of violence during the protests has originated with the Hong Kong police, who have been widely criticized for the excessive use of tear gas, water cannon, pepper spray, as well as both non-lethal and live ammunition weapons on unarmed protesters. Reported by Man Hoi-tsan and Lu Xi for RFA's Cantonese and Mandarin Services. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. [March 23, 2020] Digital Air Strike Joins Forces with General Motors and Automotive News to Offer COVID-19 Best Practice Webinars SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Air Strike, the leading automotive consumer engagement technology company, today announced two free webinars to help automotive dealers during the COVID-19 pandemic. General Motors and Automotive News, two of the biggest names in the automotive industry, have invited the company to share new social distancing solutions, technology, and best practices for dealerships to offer "no contact" contracting, at-home test drives, concierge delivery for service, and more. The webinars will focus on how today's climate calls for a shift in strategy as well as new tactics to employ immediately. The industry has an opportunity to make a dramatic leap forward in many areas while nurturing leads to help maximize future pent-up demand. "As people are being directed to practice social distancing, and even if physical retail locations need to close, dealerships still have essential services such as vehicle repairs, they can offer," said Alexi Venneri, co-founder and CEO of Digital Air Strike. "They are also presented with a great opportunity to do things differently and embrace technology. Technology is readily available for consumers to research, shop, buy, and service from home. Our goal has always been to help our automotive industry adopt new strategies. We have developed a Virtual Retailing Program that combines step-by-step instructions on how to continue to operate in all scenarios, marketing assistance with social network strategies, content, and videos that dealers can use immediately, paired with training to and new technology to help automate many of the steps, especially if dealers have less staff available or some working from home." Digital Air Strike has a proven track record of helping the automotive industry during times of crisis as the company was founded during the depth of the recession 10 yeas ago and has consistently demonstrated creative, low-cost ways for dealers and OEMs to engage with consumers leveraging social networks, digital strategies, and innovative technologies. Each webinar will be led by Venneri: March 24 at 2 p.m. EDT : "Help Your Dealership Thrive During Covid-19 " in partnership with Automotive News, co - moderated by Dave Versical , chief of Editorial Operations for Automotive News Group. Reserve your spot today here. at : "Help Your Dealership Thrive During Covid-19 in partnership with co moderated by , chief of Editorial Operations for Automotive News Group. Reserve your spot today here. March 26 and April 7 at 1 p.m. EDT : "Top Tips for GM Dealers to Thrive During Covid-19" in partnership with General Motors and exclusively for GM Dealers who may reserve a spot today here. and at : "Top Tips for GM Dealers to Thrive During Covid-19" in partnership with General Motors and exclusively for GM Dealers who may reserve a spot today here. Daily: Digital Air Strike is providing helpful tips on how to use video, AI and social media to communicate with customers online and sell more in an easy-to-consume webinar format. View the schedule and reserve your spot here. Digital Air Strike is also offering its Video Retailing technology free for 30 days and is sponsoring a "Video of the Week" contest. Dealers can submit their best videos showing how they can assist consumers virtually for a chance to win $500. Videos can be emailed to [email protected]. Digital Air Strike has a proud history of partnering with General Motors and Automotive News. The company was the first Reputation Management vendor approved by GM in 2011 to work with its dealerships and just marked its eighth year of providing award-winning reputation management and social media marketing solutions to GM dealers through the manufacturer's Standards for Excellence program. Digital Air Strike was also just recognized by General Motors as an approved Chat Partner in the Dealer Digital Solution Program. Automotive News named Venneri as one of its 100 Leading Women in Automotive. About Digital Air Strike Digital Air Strike is the leading social media, intelligent lead response technology and consumer engagement company helping businesses increase consumer response and conversions in digital and social media environments while generating measurable ROI. A pioneer in digital response, social media marketing and online reputation management solutions, Digital Air Strike deploys industry-specific mobile apps, software, intelligent messaging and managed service platforms to monitor, engage, improve and manage consumer interactions for thousands of businesses in the United States, Canada and 11 additional countries, including working with seven of the largest automotive manufacturers. More information is available at www.digitalairstrike.com and www.facebook.com/digitalairstrike. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/digital-air-strike-joins-forces-with-general-motors-and-automotive-news-to-offer-covid-19-best-practice-webinars-301028308.html SOURCE Digital Air Strike [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Evening Standard Boris Johnson has confirmed ministers are considering reducing the self-isolation period for fully vaccinated people who test positive for Covid. Asked about cutting the isolation period from seven days to five days, the Prime Minister said: Were looking at that. Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove earlier said it would be for the Prime Minister and Health Secretary to decide whether to cut the period of Covid isolation to five days from seven. NEW DELHI As India expanded its virus-containment measures and halted its train network, the countrys lifeblood, the federal government warned Monday of strict legal action for those who flout the rules. Please save yourself, save your family, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted in Hindi, calling for states to follow the preventive measures issued by the federal government to contain the spread of the virus. The strict legal action vowed wasnt immediately clear. Other authorities have simply sent violators home, since alternatives like detention would create crowded conditions where the virus could spread. To contain the outbreak, officials in India have gradually started to lock down many of the country of 1.3 billion people, sending stock markets to record lows. Parliament adjourned its session, and Indias civil aviation authority banned all commercial flights within India starting Wednesday. International flights were kept from landing from Sunday until at least March 31. At least 80 districts where cases of infection have been detected are under stringent lockdown. Police and health care were operating, but commercial establishments have closed except for essential services. Banks have asked their customers to switch to online transactions and reduced their office staff. The government has fervently appealed for people to practice social distancing and wash their hands often. But Modis call for a 14-hour voluntary curfew on Sunday was the first nationwide effort at social isolation practices the World Health Organization believes are critical to slowing the outbreak to a level that doesnt overwhelm health care systems. Lockdowns in other places have lasted at least two weeks, which is believed to be the maximum incubation period of the virus. Late Sunday, train services were suspended until March 31. The suspension included major long-distance trains and public transit in Indias big cities, exempting only freight. The New Delhi Railway Station, usually teeming with activity, was empty on Monday. Indias national railway system totals 42,000 miles and carries more than 8 billion passengers a year. India has at least 415 active cases of infection with the new coronavirus and seven deaths from COVID-19, the illness it causes. Experts have said the number of confirmed cases seemed low for the worlds second-most populous country, amid concerns that India is not testing enough people. The National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) has requested central and state governments to bail out the food and beverage industry, saying the sector is reeling under huge losses because of the lockdown to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The restaurant body has written to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for a bailout package, so that the industry and its employees survive the virus onslaught. We, as an industry operate with a very high proportion of fixed operating expenses, which makes our business very high-risk even in case of moderate revenue fluctuations, NRAI president Anurag Katriar said. Coronavirus LIVE updates The industry, with an annual turnover of Rs 4 lakh crore and employer of close to 7.3 million Indians, was staring at a complete loss of revenue in the short term and a 50% reduction in the long term, he said. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show The association said that it was hoping for a deferment of all dues to the various departments, moratorium on bank loans and restoration of input tax credit on GST (Goods and Services tax). It has also sought funds to cover the cost of the marginal employees in this sector. The NRAI had on March 18 appealed to restaurants to shut down dine-in services to protect customers and employees from the virus, which is known to have infected at least 415 people in Indian and killed seven. With the government ordering lockdown of 75 districts in the country, the restaurant business has been crippled. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer at 11 a.m. is expected to announce a stay at home order affecting Michigan residents and businesses. Posted by Michigan State Police on Monday, March 23, 2020 Governor Whitmer provides update on state's response to COVID-19 https://t.co/L6a5XSfNmt Michigan State Police (@MichStatePolice) March 23, 2020 You can also find it on the Michigan State Police Facebook page. It will also livestream with MLive media partner WLNS. The governors office held a call with business leaders this morning about the impending executive order. Its expected to garner support from the business community. Over the weekend, Michigan hit more than 1,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus, a highly contagious virus that has caused deaths in Michigan and across the globe. The governor in recent weeks has banned gatherings of over 50 people, closed K-12 school buildings and ordered bars, restaurants and gyms closed to in-person customers. Over the weekend she also further restricted some business, shutting down tattoo parlors, salons and barbershops. Other states, including Ohio, Illinois and California have ordered residents to stay at home with exceptions for essential trips. PREVENTION TIPS In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores. Complete coverage of coronavirus in Michigan. Kangana Ranaut turns 33 this year and is celebrating her birthday in the company of her loved ones in Manali. The actor is known for her fierce outlook for life, spearheading films in her own name and her blatant attitude in media. From calling filmmaker Karan Johar the flagbearer of nepotism and Hrithik Roshan a silly ex, Kanganas statements continue to make headlines every time she speaks her heart out in media. Here are some of the most explosive statements made by the actor: 1. Speaking at an event in Delhi, Kangana had said, My anger is a very constructive anger. Every time Ive gotten angry in life, it has been for a reason to construct, to do better or to excel or for my team to excel. 2. The actor also said, What I do in anger has always worked for me. There is a child inside me that is beyond any logic. 3. Talking about loving people, she had said at an event, I am also an obsessive lover not just sexually but platonically too. The ones I love, I spoil them silly. I love my parents. 4. On being asked if she would help her own child, Kangana said on Koffee With Karan, If I want him to be an extraordinary person, I must throw him into the sea. He will either drown or make it. 5. Kangana likened JNU violence to gang war and said, Police should take perpetrators into custody and give them four slaps each. Such people are found everywhere in every street, college and they should not be made national issue because such issues dont deserve it. 6. Talking about her sister Rangoli Chandels acid-attack incident, Kangana had said, I did tacky films, took on roles I did not deserve, accepted guest appearances, so my sister could be treated by the best surgeon in India. 7. Kangana claimed that she would never help her brother and said, to see a great human being rise out of that struggle, every day - through rejection, despair, hopelessness - is what I would really love to see my brother as. The siblings have just launched their own filmmaking company. 8. She once said, freedom of being alone is intoxicating. 9. Talking about dating actor Aditya Pancholi, Kangana had said, He had an extra key of my rented house and as soon as he inserted the key I jumped off the window. I knowingly took the house on the first floor. I ran barefoot and my knees even got bruised. 10. The actor had also said, I am extremely proud of my rags-to-riches story. Its fun to be a misfit or an underdog if you acknowledge your gifts and befriend your obstacles. 11. Kangana once said, Relationships can be very traumatic. But being in a healthy relationship can be very empowering. 12. Kangana issued a statement in reply to the Maharashtra Karni Senas warning to the makers of her film Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi. Four historians have certified Manikarnika, we have got censor certificate as well, Karni Sena has been conveyed this but they are continuing to harass me. If they dont stop then they should know I am also a Rajput and I will destroy each one of them. Also read: Happy birthday Kangana Ranaut: Check out her 10 best pics with sister Rangoli Chandel and the whole family 13. When Kangana said there should be a film on her life as well. Talking about her various controversies in 2018, she had told DNA in an interview, There were only cases; about six to seven of them. People were trying to put me behind bars, can you believe that? They should make a film on my life also. 14. When Kangana accused Karan Johar of making girls look like Barbie dolls. Criticising Karan Johars Koffee With Karan in a chat with India Today, Kangana had said, Again those same frivolous talks are going on. This one sleeping with this one, that one with that one. Making girls look like Barbie dolls, that is not done. And why men who change women like clothes being glorified? Has there been a woman who has been glorified like that. 15. Kangana had once said, In the beginning, I wanted to have a conventional, very easy route where I can work with big heroes and be a big heroine. Now I get a lot of offers to work with the Khans. When I wanted work, nobody was ready to work with me. Now that Im my own hero on the sets, why should I work with other heroes? 16. On Karan Johars allegations of using the woman card, Kangana had told Mumbai Mirror, I use every card possible. At the workplace, its the badass card to fight cutthroat competition. With my family and loved ones, its the love card. When fighting the world, its the dignity card, and for a seat in a bus, its the woman card. What is important to understand is that we are not fighting people, we are fighting a mentality. I am not fighting Karan Johar, I am fighting male chauvinism. 17. Kangana once said, Why should Bollywood accept me, I should accept Bollywood. I dont care if Bollywood has accepted me. I dont seek acceptance. I dont need to live up to anybodys expectations. 18. Talking about Alia Bhatts performance in Gully Boy, Kangana had said, I am embarrassed...What is there to beat in Gully Boy performance ....same snappy muh phat girl... Bollywoods idea of a fiery girl, woman empowerment and good acting, spare me this embarrassment, please. Media have taken filmy kids love too far. Stop pampering mediocre work or else bar will never be raised. 19. Kangana had reportedly made a phonecall to Alia, asking the latter about not reacting to her film, Manikarnika. Talking about what she said to Alia, Kangana had told Pinkvilla, I suggested that she grows some spine and support an important film about woman empowerment and nationalism....if she doesnt have a voice of her own and her existence is all about being KJo (Karan Johar) puppet then I dont consider her successful... I told her if she is only focusing on earning bucks and not raise a voice, then her success has no value.... hope she understands the true meaning of success and her responsibilities, Napo gang life is simply restricted to give and take favours hope she rises above that. 20. On being asked if she would like to join politics one day, Kangana had said, I dont have any intention to join politics or an election campaign of a political party. Many people feel that I want to enter politics but thats not true. There are few actors in our industry like Ranbir Kapoor where he has been seen talking in an interview that We have regular supply of water and electricity at my home so, why should I comment about politics? But I feel because of this countrys people you are living in your luxurious home and you are travelling in your Mercedes so, how can you talk like that? This is irresponsible behaviour and I am not that kind of person. Follow @htshowbiz for more I dont know how long the trip across the Pacific was I was 9 years old, and time has a different sensation at that age, wrote Joye, of Hyattsville, Md. I do remember many people getting sick on board, although it wasnt until we were approaching Oakland that I found out it was the flu. My parents worried that we would be quarantined on board because so many people were ill. But for whatever reason, we docked and disembarked on schedule. We then took the train across the U.S. to Mississippi where my grandparents lived. By the time we arrived, so had the flu. The immediate past Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita, on Monday, pleaded not guilty to 18-count charge of N3 billion graft. Mrs Oyo-Ita was arraigned by the anti-graft agency, EFCC, alongside her special assistant, Ubong Effiok; Frontline Ace Global Services Limited; Asanaya Projects Ltd; Garba Umar and his companies, Slopes International Ltd and Gooddeal Investments Ltd. Other defendants include U & U Global Services Ltd, belonging to Mr Effiok, and Prince Mega Logistics Ltd. They were all arraigned for alleged fraud in relation to DTA, estacodes, conference fees and receiving kickbacks on contracts, before Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja. Mrs Oyo-Ita was arrested last August and released on administrative bail after spending four days in the custody of the commission. She was subsequently sacked in September after about N600 million was allegedly found in the bank account of her aide. Court Session At the commencement of trial on Monday, the prosecution lawyer, Mohammed Abubakar, informed the court of the 18-count charge dated and filed on February 28 against Mrs Oyo-Ita and the other defendants. Mr Abubakar urged that the charges be read to the defendants. Count one of the charge reads; That you Winifred Oyo-Ita (whilst serving as a Deputy Director in the Federal Ministry of Power) and Frontline Ace Global Services Limited (a company incorporated in Nigeria and of which Winifred Oyo-Ita is the sole signatory of its bank accounts at Zenith Bank) sometime in April, 2010 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court collaborated in disguising the genuine Ownership of an aggregate sum of N20,000,000.00 (Twenty Million Naira only) paid by the Federal Ministry of Power into the Zenith Bank account of Frontline Ace Global Services Limited No: 1011518656 which sum was derived directly from an illegal act, to wit: corruption and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 14(1)(6) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004. The nine defendants all pleaded not guilty to the 18-count charge. Samsung is forced to temporarily close a second factory due to the COVID-19 outbreak - this time the plant in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. It was opened in the summer of 2018 and currently is the biggest smartphone factory of Samsung and that can produce up to 120 million units per year. Starting today, the factory will be closed until March 25, following the governments request. Previously the factory in Gumi, South Korea, was also closed twice for brief periods, leaving the Vietnam plan as the only one not to be affected by the outbreak (for now). Mr Partha Ghosh, Head of Corporate Communications at Samsung India, clarified that the manufacturer has decided "to currently suspend our manufacturing operations and have asked employees at our sales, marketing and R&D offices across India to work from home." He also added: Some key critical services, such as customer service, will work with limited staff. Fellow South Korean company LG will also comply with the governments advice and will shut down its two factories - the one for appliances in Noida and another in Pune, but they will remain closed until the end of the month. Concurs repetat pentru selectarea unei companii sociologice, care sa efectueze un studiu tematic "Barometrul opiniei publice in domeniul schimbarilor climatice" As the number of coronavirus-related deaths in the U.S. soared past 400 on Sunday, President Donald Trump reassured Americans that everything would be OK and that it would all be over soon. Even as he acknowledged the novel coronavirus as an invisible enemy thats attacking more than 140 countries, the self-proclaimed wartime president predicted a great victory in America. Its gonna be a victory that, in my opinion, will happen much sooner than originally expected, Trump said. In a 90-minute news conference with members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, Trump rattled off the number of supplies the federal government had sent to New York, California and Washington, where a combined 242 people have died from the virus. The list of materials included respirators, surgical masks, gowns, coveralls and gloves. The high volume of items being sent to some of the nations hot spots highlights the severity of the threat that the nation and the world face. Hospitals are warning of shortages of materials, including a lack of hospital beds and protective equipment. Meanwhile, governors across the country have closed schools, restaurants, bars and other venues in an effort to slow the spread of the virus, which has surged to beyond 33,000 cases in the U.S. Some leaders have gone so far as to order residents to shelter in place or meet a curfew. The threat has even infiltrated Congress, where three members have contracted the virus and several others are self-quarantining at home. Two congressmen and Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky have tested positive in recent days. The disclosure of Pauls diagnosis on Sunday quickly led to at least two Senate Republicans, Mitt Romney and Mike Lee of Utah, choosing to self-quarantine, leaving the GOP with a slim 48-47 majority. Trump said he believed the infected members would all be fine and mocked Romney, who crossed party lines earlier this year and supported his impeachment. Romneys in isolation? Trump said. Gee, thats too bad. Story continues The president told reporters he didnt see any threats to a $1.6 trillion emergency rescue package, even if several Republican members were unable to vote on the legislation while they isolate themselves at home. Itll all work out, he insisted, moments after a procedural vote on the bill failed. In a broad mix of remarks, Trump also argued that the country is very united, warned that the virus wouldve been catastrophic if not for the massive tax cuts he signed into law in 2017, claimed the presidency had personally cost him billions of dollars, complained that no one thanked him for refusing a presidential salary, predicted the economy would skyrocket once this is over, touted his Department of Veterans Affairs for having the highest poll numbers in the history of the VA and suggested that none of his predecessors could tell him anything life-saving if he sought their advice. I have the best people in the world, Trump said. Look at the approval numbers on the job were doing. I think were doing an incredible job, so I dont want to disturb them, bother them. I dont think Im gonna learn much. And, you know, I guess you could say theres probably a natural inclination not to call. Now, if I felt that if I called, Id learn something, and that would save one life it would save one life, OK? I would make the call in 10 minutes, but I dont see that happening. Trump said he has a great relationship with Govs. Andrew Cuomo of New York and Gavin Newsom of California, who are both Democrats. But he was critical of the news media, telling one reporter, you asked a nasty question and another that her question sounded like it was 100 percent wrong. He also expressed optimism that a drug used to treat malaria could be a cure for the coronavirus, remarking that there were tremendous signs it could work. Why should we be testing it in a test tube for a year and a half when we have thousands of people that are very sick? Trump asked. Theyre very, very sick, and we can use it on those people and maybe make them better and in some cases maybe save their lives. We think it might work on this, based on evidence, based on very strong evidence. Were gonna see. Were gonna know sometime after Tuesday, he added. I dont wanna get anybody overexcited, but Im very excited by that, by the prospect of it. Trumps rhetoric on the drug is at odds with Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. In an interview on Sunday morning on CBS Face the Nation, Fauci said Trump had been trying to bring hope to the people by promoting the drug. But my job is to prove definitively from a scientific standpoint that they do work, he said, explaining their differing views. I was taking a purely medical, scientific standpoint. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 21:35:42|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HANGZHOU, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation have announced plans to donate medical supplies to 24 Latin American countries to help their battle against the spread of COVID-19. A total of two million masks, 400,000 test kits and 104 ventilators will be donated to 24 Latin American countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Ecuador, Dominican Republic and Peru. "We will ship long-distance, and we will hurry! WE ARE ONE!" said Jack Ma, who announced the pledges through his Twitter account. Switch the Market flag Open the menu and switch the Market flag for targeted data from your country of choice. for targeted data from your country of choice. Audm, a startup that turns longform journalism into audio content, has been acquired by The New York Times Company, it announced this morning. While there are other services that turn news articles into audio, including read-it-later apps like Instapaper and Pocket, Audm differentiates itself by using professional voice actors to narrate the content, not automated voice technology. That makes the content more enjoyable to listen to -- more like listening to a podcast, for example. The startup was founded by Ryan Wegner and Christian Brink, both 2007 Columbia grads with backgrounds in psychology and software development, respectively. The two didn't know each other during college, but eventually met up in 2014 when their idea for an audio news app began to come together. Initially, the founders experimented with crowdsourced narration, but later landed on using professional voice talent to make their app stand out from others. The company participated in Y Combinator's startup accelerator in 2017 to further develop Audm's business. At the time, Audm was working with a range of publishing partners, including Wired, The Atlantic, Esquire, Harper's Bazaar, The New York Review of Books, ProPublica, London Review of Books and several others. According to its website today, it also works with The Atlantic, Outside, BuzzFeed News, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, New York, Rolling Stone and Texas Monthly. Of course, The New York Times had also worked with Audm, but on a more limited basis. Currently, Audm only has a couple of NYT stories available, and both are from 2019. That will soon change, given the new acquisition. The company says it had already begun plans for read-aloud Times articles every Sunday on "The Daily," to help provide escape and relief from the COVID-19 pandemic. This began with Taffy Akners profile of Tom Hanks and Sue Dominuss story of the Colombian twin brothers. Other audio stories from The New York Times Magazine are also being produced, which will run in the Audm app. These include features on The Wing, black theater, Bernie Sanders, and others. In addition, The NYT is also experimenting with other forms of distribution, including on mobile pages, it says, and will expand from the Magazine to other desks in time. Story continues The Audm app today allows users to subscribe to its service for $8.99 per month or $59.99 per year, after a 3-day free trial. The Times Company hasn't yet offered any detail as to if or how its business model will evolve or if Audm's service will be further integrated with its own NYT app. On the App Store, Audm was well-ranked as No. 20 in the Magazines & Newspapers category, according to its App Store profile. The app is also available on Android but is not well-ranked there. According to The New York Times' announcement, Audm will continue to introduce hours of new stories every week, including from The New York Times and other publishers. Wegner, the director of spoken-word audio production, and Brink, director of product for Audm, as well as the rest of the team, are joining the Times Company as a result of the deal. Audm had raised early-stage funding from Y Combinator, Hack VC, Precursor Ventures and Switch Ventures, per Pitchbook's data. 59 Shares Share Past experiences should inform, but not determine, future action. This has been much on my mind as we bolstered outpatient psychiatric services in response to the COVID-19 crisis. The effort has felt deeply personal, as well as professionally imperative. Waiting now for my own COVID-19 test results, keeping physical distance from my family, I suddenly lost focus and momentum. For a fortnight, it seemed to take more energy to pause than to move forward in disaster response and planning. In the quiet moments, thoughts drifted back to a series of experiences that brought me to this moment, and the sense of urgency that has driven (and continues to drive) these efforts. In 1997, I had the privilege of spending a few weeks in Bosnia doing site visits at Doctors Without Borders mental health programs following the genocidal war. One was in Pale, where a team was helping to rebuild a psychiatric hospital that had been abandoned during the war, its patients left to fend for themselves. In the quiet and unexpectedly beautiful remains of the place, two wards were rebuilt, staff rehired, and occupational therapy programs put in place. The vulnerability of this population was one I had never considered before, and it has stayed with me always as has the evidence that focused attention on a psychosocial problem can change the lens through which both the situation and solution can be assessed. In Gorazde, there was a committed psychologist providing individual and family therapy home visit after home visit: he saw directly the way these engagements could help shift the frame or dynamics to something a bit more adaptive. In Sarajevo, many different types of programs were underway: from community-based efforts and radio shows to trauma-focused therapies. Each component was necessary and complementary. And there was genuine heroism in work done by individuals who stayed grounded in direct patient care. I ended up in medical school at 31 years old, with the 9/11 disaster occurring on the heels of my white coat ceremony in NY. There was deep frustration in not being able to really help then; it obliged me to watch attentively from the sidelines until a decade later, I was immersed in addressing the complex downstream mental health effects of the 9/11 survivors. The medical sequelae of this environmental disaster compounded the intense experiences of lost control that can be central to trauma exposure, including a terrorist attack. And while navigating this program that straddled a public hospital system and the federal government, Hurricane Sandy hit, and we had to evacuate, managing through telephone outreach and a borrowed office or two within our network. A year in Rwanda suggested that approaching a population with complex, varied, but almost ubiquitous trauma exposure was best done through a resilience lens: recognizing how the brain, mind, and body adapted to survive adversity; and exploring what helped and hindered adapting yet again when the external threat abated. Now in Boston, a new context presents: a pandemic that requires social distancing without social disintegration. Among the many lessons learned from these experiences, three have driven my approach to the response: 1. Prophylaxis may be less sexy but it can make a huge impact. The hardest part of responding to disruption is finding ways to offer our patients the message that they are not forgotten (or, better, proactively engaged in problem-solving). It takes great fortitude for clinicians and administrators to call hundreds of active and high-risk patients to let them know they could still expect a call (and eventually even a video session) with their psychiatrist, social worker, or psychologist at their appointment time. The relief at the outreach was as palpable as the anxiety about the many different ways in which shut-downs and shut-ins would impact everything from medication availability to wages. What does shelter at home mean for families struggling with domestic violence or food insecurity? For an individual living alone, whose contacts are primarily those around the neighborhood? Tackling that head-on is part of being in the trenches. Along with Friday afternoon urgent prior authorizations for medications that patients have been on for months. Seriously. 2. Psychological first aid and trauma-informed care remain salient frameworks for building a mental health support structure. Experience will inform our threat salience, capacity for contextual processing, balance of executive functioning, and emotional (dys)regulation. The goal is to foster a sense of intersecting communities while being clear-eyed about the dangers of COVID-19 exposure, infection, and the social disruption the public health response requires. Rapid triage and evaluations can help connect people with the right care earlier, avoiding an unraveling of their sense of self-efficacy and empowerment before getting appropriate treatment. PTSD is not an inevitability, and post-traumatic growth is always a possibility. There are trauma-related symptoms shock, disbelief, anger, hypervigilance that may be a normal response to an abnormal situation: the impact on functioning is key. Few will come through this pandemic unimpacted by the disruptions it has wrought: many will need or benefit from mental health supports ranging from psychiatry to the therapeutic arts. Others may find a new or renewed sense of meaning and purpose in their relationships and work. For many of us, it will be both. 3. Our primary and secondary prevention efforts addressing mental health need to acknowledge that social determinants of health (financial, educational, social) ones that are driven by policy and programming. These will be crucial in determining the long-term mental health impacts of this situation. We cannot conflate socioeconomic crisis with mental health distress, though they are bidirectional in their impact. We will need a surge in our psychiatric services alongside crucial political leadership and economic reconstruction. We already ignored warnings about the physical dangers of COVID, to our peril. We have an opportunity to get ahead of the curve in containing the mental health impacts in its midst (and in its wake). But first, I need my COVID test results. Nomi C. Levy-Carrick is a psychiatrist. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Two more coronavirus testing centers are set to open Monday, a day after Gov. Phil Murphy announced that the number of cases in New Jersey has climbed to 1,914 including 20 deaths. A second state-run coronavirus testing center backed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency is set to open Monday morning at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel. The first state-run testing center at Bergen County Community College in Paramus has reached capacity within hours of opening on its first three days running. Both are open to New Jersey residents, though people who show up and are asymptomatic will be turned away. The first county-run drive-through coronavirus testing site will launch at Kean University in Union County beginning on Monday. Testing will be by appointment only and patients must be Union County residents, first responders or essential county personnel. Patients will have to be registered through their doctor or healthcare provider to make an appointment. Heres the latest coronavirus news from around New Jersey: Coronavirus cases jump 158% in 3 days with another spike likely ahead: In just three days, New Jerseys number of confirmed coronavirus cases has increased by more than 150%, going from 742 cases on Thursday to 1,914 cases on Sunday. This is the early days of a spike that health officials have been warning residents about for days. With 1,914 confirmed cases, New Jersey has more coronavirus cases as of Sunday than every state in the country other than New York and Washington, which have around 16,000 and 2,000 confirmed cases, respectively, Key N.J. hospital has no gowns, is running out of masks: A Bergen County hospital that has been at the center of treatment of the coronavirus pandemic in New Jersey is seeking donations to help purchase protective equipment and other supplies for its staff. Holy Name in Teaneck said it is down to only a four-day supply of respirator masks, and has no disposable gowns left. Funeral attendees in Paterson possibly exposed to coronavirus: Paterson officials on Sunday said people who attended a funeral in the city may have been exposed to the coronavirus. Anyone who attended the March 12 funeral at Ulu Cami Mosque on Knickerbocker Avenue in the city should contact their local health department, according to a statement from the Paterson Division of Health. GW Bridge, Lincoln and Holland tunnels stop accepting cash for tolls due to coronavirus: Drivers are no longer able to use cash for tolls at the three Hudson River crossings starting at 9 p.m. Sunday in response to coronavirus concerns, the Port Authority said. Toll collectors were already temporarily removed from the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Lockdown rules: What New Jersey residents need to know about stay-at-home order: Gov. Phil Murphy on Saturday ordered New Jerseys 9 million residents to stay at home with some exceptions and required all non-essential retail businesses in the state to close until further notice. Read up on what exactly is and isnt allowed under the governors executive order. N.J. issues call to arms for nurses to help combat coronavirus crisis: School nurses, retired nurses, nursing students whove yet to graduate are being called on by the New Jersey State Nurses Association and Gov. Phil Murphys office to aid in the cause. Stock futures take another hit: U.S. futures slipped more than 3% on Monday and share benchmarks in many world markets logged sharp losses as governments tightened restrictions to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Stocks fell in Paris, Frankfurt and London after a brutal session in Asia on Monday. Japans Nikkei 225 index was the outlier, gaining 2.0% after the International Olympic Committee and Japanese officials indicated they are considering postponing the Tokyo Games, due to begin in July. Stimulus package in Congress stalls: Top-level negotiations between Congress and the White House churned late into the night over a now nearly $2 trillion economic rescue package that the Senate ended up voting against advancing. Inside the otherwise emptied out Capitol, the draft aid bill was declared insufficient by Democrats, who argued it was tilted toward corporations and did too little to help workers and health care providers. U.S. coronavirus cases: At least 35,224 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the U.S. as of just before 7 a.m. Monday, according to Johns Hopkins University. There have been 471 deaths, including 99 in New York City. Worldwide cases: The global case total is more than 353,000 as of around 7 a.m. Monday, Johns Hopkins University reports. At least 14,790 people have died of coronavirus. There are cases in 167 countries. NJ Advance Media staff writer Noah Cohen contributed to this report. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Prime Minister Nguyen XuanPhuc (second from left) visits a mobile SARS-CoV-2 test station of a medical institute of the army (Photo: VNA) While attending a teleconference of the army on COVID-19 prevention and control on March 22nd, PM Phuc affirmed that the Vietnam Peoples Army (VPA) is always a pillar of the nation and its role is further promoted when the country is in danger. The VPA has been in the front line of the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic, he said, adding that thousands of officers and soldiers have been mobilised to directly participate in the combat. PM Phuc also praised the armys science and technology units for their successful development and production of SARS-CoV-2 new coronavirus test kit which has greatly contributed to COVID-19 check-up and treatment. In the time to come, the government leader asked all VPA officers and soldiers to protect themselves from COVID-19 and prevent the spread of the disease in military units. The whole army needs to make greater endeavours to well manage concentrated quarantine areas, he added. A report delivered by the Ministry of National Defences Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control showed that, a total of 34,734 people have been quarantined at barracks across the country. Of them, 17,910 people have completed their quarantine periods and 16,538 others have been undergoing quarantine. The Ministry of National Defence has 140 establishments which are capable of receiving more than 44,700 people for quarantine. As of late March 22nd, Vietnam had reported 113 COVID-19 infection cases, of whom 17 patients have recovered./. Hong Kong (PHOTO: May James/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) By Manuel Baigorri, Vinicy Chan and Alfred Liu (Bloomberg) -- Simon Kavanagh never thought hed be so happy to go to work. The investment banker rode the elevator to the 20th floor of his office on Queens Road Central in Hong Kong recently after spending a couple of weeks cooped up in his apartment as the coronavirus raged across Asia. Working from home is nice for a few days, but for week-long periods when you live in very small Hong Kong apartments it quickly loses its novelty, said Kavanagh, a managing director at BDA Partners. Returning to the office indicated a return to normalcy. Kavanagh is among a growing cadre of bankers and other office workers slowly returning to work in Hong Kong and across greater China following a stretch when new virus cases slowed. While most offices arent 100% staffed -- some are still rotating at home -- the gradual return to normal offers some comfort for workers in Europe and North America who are just starting to see their lives turned upside down by the virus. Signs of the return are everywhere. Kavanaghs BDA team in Shanghai was back at work last week. Traffic jams are becoming the norm again in Chinas financial capital. In Hong Kong, hot lunch spots in the financial center like Simply Life are sporting line-ups. Most bank branches in Beijing have reopened. Singapore, the Southeast Asian financial hub, has barely missed a beat. We are about 3 to 4 weeks ahead of where the U.S. is in terms of dealing with the outbreak, Chris Brankin, chief executive officer of TD Ameritrade Asia, told Bloomberg Television on March 12. People are coming back to the office, they are out and about in public, whereas the U.S. and Europe are in scramble mode. Back at work doesnt mean back to normal for most bankers, and a recent uptick in cases in Hong Kong and Singapore has authorities cautioning against complacency. While some deals and equity sales are starting to get done, travel restrictions and the surge in cases throughout Europe and the U.S. are putting major transactions on hold. Announced deals involving Chinese and Hong Kong companies plunged by almost a third in the first quarter to $65 billion. Initial public offerings in Hong Kong however have picked up in March after a plunge in February, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Story continues Business has slowed down, but were still closing deals, including one in China just now, and we have a few more to close in the coming weeks, said Kavanagh, whose firm has offices across Asia. Heres a look at how the recovery in financial services is shaping up in some Asian hubs: Hong Kong: While New York and Los Angeles have shut down most bars and limited restaurants to take-out, Hong Kong eateries are filling up again. On a recent evening, four different restaurants including Birdie and Casa Lisboa in the Lan Kwai Fong area of the finance district had no tables available. Lan Kwai Fong is thriving again, said an investment banker named Larry who works for a European firm and didnt want his last name used. He said the Dragon-I nightclub, not far from the offices of UBS Group AG and JPMorgan Chase & Co., was packed on the weekend. His whole team is back at work though business has been slow, leaving more time to hit the gym, and Lan Kwai Fong. Most bank branches are operating. HSBC Holdings Plc opened nine outlets last Monday after they were closed as a precautionary measure. BOC Hong Kong Holdings Ltd., which has the biggest branch network in Hong Kong, has more than 140 branches open, though it closed an additional 16 on Monday given the recent spike in cases. In all, about 80% of the citys bank branches were open, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority said on March 13. While bankers are slowly getting back to the office, many are now subject to new marching orders from their global parents. JPMorgan recently ordered all staff to split their time between home and office. Macquarie Group Ltd., the Australian bank, asked all global staff to work from home. One JPMorgan banker in Hong Kong said he joined five conference calls the other day: not one was about a deal, they were all about internal protocol and coping in the coronavirus era. In an example of how the virus fallout has turned on its head, one senior investment banker at a European firm who sent his kids to Madrid when the Hong Kong schools closed in January, is now bringing them back to Hong Kong. Shanghai: The lines are forming again at the Tim Hortons coffee shop and the Shake Shack burger joint in Shanghais Lujiazui financial district, where global banks including Citigroup Inc. and HSBC have offices. Traffic jams have returned to Chinas financial hub of 24 million people and 1,700 finance firms. Line 2 of the metro, one of the busiest in Shanghai, was packed last week, with commuters lining up to transfer to Lujiazui station. Overall, China Inc. is ramping up, with industry running at about 70% to 80% of capacity, according to an analysis by Bloomberg. Business is more or less back to normal in Hong Kong and Shanghai as most people are in the office, said a money manager named Liu who works for a Chinese firm and recently returned to Hong Kong from Shanghai. Lanny Li, a debt banker at one of the largest brokerages in China, said a travel ban at his firm was lifted in early March, allowing him to visit clients that are in need of financing. His firm is now issuing about 30 bonds a week. In a small sign of the acceleration, Li noticed that after he left a recent meeting with a finance executive in Chengdu, Sichuan province, there were 10 other people outside the office waiting for meetings. Beijing: The capital city is also showing signs of life, albeit at a slower pace than Shanghai. The Forbidden City remains forbidden the former Imperial Palace has been closed since January. The Great Wall is also off limits and restaurants cap seating at two per table. Yet, deal makers at UBS and elsewhere who are preparing for Chinas further opening of its capital markets on April 1 are increasingly back in the office. Chinese banks are generally more fully staffed in offices than foreign firms. As of mid-March, more than 92% of the citys office buildings had reopened, with about 38% of people back to work, according to the official Beijing Daily. For Kavanagh, the Hong Kong investment banker who lived through the SARS outbreak in 2003, the gradual return to normal offers some solace for younger colleagues or those in London and New York wondering if this crisis will ever end. Some of us still remember SARS, so the coronavirus is a bit of a flashback, whereas for the more junior people it is something new, he said. We just tell them to stay calm, be cautious and hang in there as this too shall pass. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. The Chinese Government Sends A Team of Medical Experts on COVID-19 to Cambodia 2020/03/23 Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang announces: To help Cambodia fight the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chinese government has decided to send a team of medical experts to Cambodia. The team, organized by the National Health Commission, consists of experts selected by the Health Commission of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. The team left for Cambodia on March 23. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 23, 2020) -DelphX Capital Markets Inc. (TSXV: DELX) ("DelphX") announced today that it has amended the price of its previously announced unit financing (the "Offering"). The Offering has been repriced at $0.06 per unit ("Unit"), together with changes to warrant expiry and exercise price. The amended pricing results in an Offering of up to 8,333,333 Units, for up to gross proceeds of up to C$500,000. Each Unit will consist of one common share ("Common Share") of DelphX and one share purchase warrant ("Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.08, for a period of 5 years from the date of issue. In connection with the Offering, DelphX may pay to eligible finders cash finders' fees of up to 7% of the gross proceeds received and may issue up to 583,333 finders' warrants (the "Finders' Warrants"). Each Finders' Warrant will be exercisable to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.06, for a period of five years after closing of the Offering. Completion of the Offering is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The securities issued pursuant to the Offering will be subject to a hold period of four months plus one day from the date of issue. The Common Shares of DelphX have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities herein described, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of that jurisdiction. DelphX intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for working capital and general corporate purposes. About DelphX: DelphX is a technology and financial services company focused on optimizing credit markets. Its Cloud-based technology, actuarial science and reinsurance protocols enable fixed income dealers to offer new Rule 144A securities that optimally transfer and diffuse credit risk. The new DelphX platform will be regulated by the SEC and enable dealers to competitively structure, sell and make markets in: Covered Put Options (CPOs) that provide secured default protection for underlying corporate, municipal and sovereign securities, with each CPO strike-price equaling the par value of its underlying security Covered Reference Notes (CRNs) that enable credit investors to take on the default exposure of a single underlying security or optionally participate in a pool of diversified risks that broadly diffuses the impact of credit events. All CPOs and CRNs will be collateralized by investment grade assets held in custody by an independent custodian. For more information about DelphX, please visit www.delphx.com. Contact: Patricia Ziegler, President & CEO DelphX Capital Markets Inc. E: info@delphx.com Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" including, without limitation, statements regarding the launch of the DelphX platform. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown. The results or events depicted in these forward-looking statements may differ materially from actual results or events. In addition to other factors and assumptions which may be identified herein, assumptions have been made regarding and are implicit in, among other things: the state of the capital markets, tax issues associated with doing business internationally, the ability of DelphX to successfully manage the risks inherent in pursuing business opportunities in the financial services industry, and the ability of DelphX to obtain qualified staff, equipment and services in a timely and cost-efficient manner to develop its business. Any forward-looking statement reflects information available to DelphX as of the date of this news release and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, DelphX disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53701 The record half-a-million Canadians who filed for employment insurance last week is likely just the first in a series of blows to the labour market by COVID-19, with analysts predicting many more layoffs to come. The longer this goes on, the more danger it does to the labour market, said David Macdonald, senior economist at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. The layoffs announced last week by the federal government already represent 2.5 per cent of Canadas entire labour force. Based on those numbers alone, the unemployment rate which was at 5.6 per cent will, at a minimum, increase by more than half, to 8.6 per cent. There are no definitive statistics on the total number of layoffs at this point, with the number of EI claims currently the only measure. Hospitality, restaurant and food services, tourism, retail and airlines have been hardest hit. Air Canada announced layoffs of more than 5,100 flight attendants, while Air Transat laid off more than 2,000. Hotel occupancy across the country has reportedly dropped to 10 per cent. Bars and restaurants are running on skeleton crews to fulfil takeout orders, if they havent closed entirely. According to Statistics Canadas most recent labour force survey, 5,992,500 people are employed in the following four sectors, which have been the hardest hit by COVID-19: wholesale and retail trade; information, culture and recreation; accommodation and food services; and transportation and warehousing. Together they employ nearly one-third of Canadas labour force. Not all aspects of these sectors have been affected, but some segments have been forced to close entirely. Its possible the 500,000 jobless claims filed last week could just be a fraction of the total claims by the end of the month, according to Rafael Gomez, a University of Toronto professor and director of the Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources. Gomez said that 50-per-cent job losses in the four hardest-hit sectors or 2,961,250 unemployed people seems like a conservative estimate if the current physical distancing protocols continue. The 500,000 EI applications in just one week of the crisis speaks to the reality and urgency of the situation, he said. Gomez said that although the number of layoffs are massive, in most cases they arent likely to be permanent. The assumption is that once this gets under control and we stabilize the public health system, that demand will pick up again, he said. So these people, what they need is some injection of income right now so the wheels of the economy dont grind to a halt. One exception, Gomez said, is the oil industry in Alberta, which was already dealing with tanking oil prices, reduced demand and questions about the industrys long-term viability. Thats where this could have a more permanent, harmful legacy, Gomez said. Those arent just (temporary) layoffs. They might be permanent. For other industries, Gomez said the demand might not be the same as before. Will people be as willing to go on cruise ships? I doubt it, right? There will be some changes in behaviour, which will reallocate where people are spending money currently to other sources. So once the dust settles, jobs might move, Gomez said. But people are going to buy stuff after this is over, so what we need are stabilizers, what are called income stabilizers, in very quick order. The federal government tried to do just that last week when it announced its $82-billion economic stimulus package, which included aid delivered through EI and for those workers who arent eligible for EI. Gomez suggested that rather than using EI the government should have provided direct deposits to people through the Canada Revenue Agency by setting an income cut-off and paying anyone who fell below it. Get the money into their hands, he said. EI was meant to deal with problems in certain industries, not the whole system crashing at once, Gomez said. Its not the right program for this kind of crisis. Half a million in just a week? Whats going to happen in a month as more provinces have shut down operations and more of these sectors start laying off people? Macdonald said whether or not laid-off workers will be able to return to their jobs once the crisis is over depends on how long it lasts. The longer this goes on, the less likely that becomes. A lot of those employees might not come back because maybe they found other work, he said, adding that we wont know the real scope of job losses until early May. Its really only then that well get a full picture of whats happened in the past seven days. We've lost count of how many times insiders have accumulated shares in a company that goes on to improve markedly. The flip side of that is that there are more than a few examples of insiders dumping stock prior to a period of weak performance. So shareholders might well want to know whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in Battery Minerals Limited (ASX:BAT). What Is Insider Buying? It's quite normal to see company insiders, such as board members, trading in company stock, from time to time. However, most countries require that the company discloses such transactions to the market. We don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions. But equally, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether. As Peter Lynch said, 'insiders might sell their shares for any number of reasons, but they buy them for only one: they think the price will rise. Check out our latest analysis for Battery Minerals The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Battery Minerals Non-Executive Director Jeremy Sinclair made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for AU$100k worth of shares at a price of AU$0.025 each. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, even at a higher price than the current share price (being AU$0.006). While their view may have changed since the purchase was made, this does at least suggest they have had confidence in the company's future. To us, it's very important to consider the price insiders pay for shares. As a general rule, we feel more positive about a stock if insiders have bought shares at above current prices, because that suggests they viewed the stock as good value, even at a higher price. In the last twelve months Battery Minerals insiders were buying shares, but not selling. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date! Story continues ASX:BAT Recent Insider Trading, March 22nd 2020 Battery Minerals is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying. Insider Ownership of Battery Minerals I like to look at how many shares insiders own in a company, to help inform my view of how aligned they are with insiders. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. Our data indicates that Battery Minerals insiders own about AU$462k worth of shares (which is 5.8% of the company). But they may have an indirect interest through a corporate structure that we haven't picked up on. Overall, this level of ownership isn't that impressive, but it's certainly better than nothing! What Might The Insider Transactions At Battery Minerals Tell Us? The fact that there have been no Battery Minerals insider transactions recently certainly doesn't bother us. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. We'd like to see bigger individual holdings. However, we don't see anything to make us think Battery Minerals insiders are doubting the company. In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing Battery Minerals. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 7 warning signs for Battery Minerals (of which 3 shouldn't be ignored!) you should know about. If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. Over the past week, New York City has rapidly become the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States with a more than twenty-fold increase of confirmed cases. As of Sunday morning, there were 9,654 confirmed cases and 63 deaths in the city, while statewide there were 15,168 cases and 114 deaths. New York state thus accounts for over half of the cases in the US and roughly 5 percent of the cases worldwide. About half of the confirmed cases in New York state are patients under the age of 50, and roughly 13 percent have been hospitalized. A statewide lockdown went into effect on Sunday, at 8 p.m. State and city hospitals have been rapidly overwhelmed, even though the pandemic has only started, with the peak expected to be at the end of April or beginning of May. Officials have said the state would need to at least double its available hospital beds from 50,000 to 100,000 and could have a shortfall of as many as 25,000 ventilators. Jacobi Medical Center, The Bronx, NY. (Image credit: Wiki commons/ Zoirusha) Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered hospitals to increase their capacity by at least 50 percent and he has ordered the cancellation of elective surgeries in an attempt to free up beds and increase capacity. Most hospitals in New York City, including Presbyterian Hospital and NYU Langone have already canceled elective procedures. The state has also issued an urgent call for retired nurses and volunteers with medical training to join the hospital staff. In a press conference Sunday morning, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio predicted that the city is ten days away from seeing widespread shortages of medical supplies and that the worst is yet to come. In his own press conference the same morning, Governor Cuomo warned that the crisis could last up to nine months and declared that between 40 and 80 percent of the population of New York state (roughly 19.5 million people) would get infected. Both Cuomo and de Blasio have insisted for over a week that the Trump administration deploy the military to the city. Cuomo has already met with representatives from the Army Corps of Engineers and discussed setting up temporary hospitals. Most hospitals in New York already report shortages and dangerous conditions for their medical staff. In interviews with the New York Times, doctors at Lincoln Medical Center in the Bronx say they are down to a few remaining ventilators. In Brooklyn, doctors at Kings County Hospital Center are now reusing masks for up to a week, slathering them with hand sanitizer between shifts and placing the masks in brown paper bags labeled with their names. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that N95 masks should be discarded after each patient interaction and become ineffective after eight hours. In an internal report, NYU Langone, a leading private hospital, informed its employees last Wednesday that it would be out of surgical masks with attached face shields by the end of the week. A New York doctor told Vice, This is our Chernobyl, referring to the 1986 nuclear disaster. On March 17, the city health department published a guideline explicitly stating that medical workers who have had known high-risk exposure to a patient(s) with confirmed COVID-19 should take extra care to monitor your health but can keep working. There was no requirement for 14-day quarantine of health care workers, the guideline said. This policy is part of a national move toward dramatically loosening even the most basic safety protocols for health care workers in the face of serious shortages. Decline in CDC funding This policy will endanger the health of medical workers as well as that of their families and their patients, further contributing to the spread of the disease. It also risks contributing to a high rate of infection among health care workers, threatening accelerated staff shortages as the pandemic spreads. Already, hospital staff are being tested positive at an alarming rate. On Friday, Politico quoted Dr. Conrad Fischer from the Brookdale University Medical Center, Its a disaster. We just had a half dozen staff just test positive. We have 17 ventilators left in the institution. Some staff can't come because theyre getting wiped out. On Facebook, hospital workers angrily report that they are not being adequately equipped. One New York hospital worker noted, My hospital has unsafe staffing conditions and refuse[s] to give masks to the workers. Another wrote, I work in ICU and we are only allowed 1 N95 mask per shift. Believe it or not we are asked to place the used mask in our pockets and use it throughout our shift for patients on airborne precautions. Other nurses reported having to work with both COVID-19 patients and other patients, risking exposure of the latter to the virus. New York state temporarily ramped up testing last week, performing over 30,000 tests, which contributed to the dramatic rise in confirmed cases. Long lines formed in front of hospitals like Elmhurst hospital in Queens, New York City, on Friday with hundreds waiting to get tested. However, on Friday, the city authorities demanded hospitals immediately stop testing non-hospitalized patients for the virus, absent specific circumstances that it made medically necessary. Hospitals are explicitly told not to test asymptomatic medical workers. These policies directly contradict the recommendations of the World Health Organization, which has insisted that, along with social distancing, mass testing and the tracing and isolation of confirmed cases are critical to combatting the pandemic. Nothing about the unfolding disaster, which threatens the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in New York alone, was unpredictable. Health care workers have warned for weeks of immediately impending shortages. A poll conducted among New York hospitals in early March found that 47 percent of all facility plans for protecting employees were inadequate; that 49 percent of all facilities did not have enough N95 masks, and that 36 percent had inadequate screening protocols for patients who may have COVID-19. According to the New York State Association of Nurses, at least several billion N95 disposable respirators, billions of surgical masks, reusable respirators, protective gowns, face shields, goggles, and other equipment to protect hospital employees will be needed in the US to confront the rapidly spreading pandemic. While Cuomo and de Blasio, both Democratic Party politicians, seek to shift all the blame for the unfolding catastrophe on the Trump administration, the truth is that savage cuts to social spending and especially health care have been a decade-long, bipartisan policy that is directly contributing to both the spread of the disease and a much higher than necessary mortality. Spending for the CDC Public Health Emergency Preparedness Funding, which covers the preparation to fight outbreaks of infectious diseases like Ebola or COVID-19, has declined dramatically under both Republican and Democratic administrations since 2003. Even as the number of coronavirus patients in New York has skyrocketed, a special panel appointed by Governor Cuomo called for another $400 million in Medicaid spending cuts for New York hospitals in this fiscal year, starting April 1. Spending for the NYC Health + Hospitals, the public hospital system of the city, would be slashed by $186 million. The proposed cuts will include a 0.8 percent cut in Medicaid payments to all health care providers, including hospitals; the elimination of indigent-care pool funding, a program which makes it easier for hospitals to cover losses they make by treating uninsured and low-income patients; and lower reimbursement rates for hospital visits that are deemed avoidable. While officials have indicated that they may delay the cuts due to the coronavirus outbreak, the timing of the vote makes clear their determination to push ahead with the austerity measures. In February, it was also announced that the federal government will cut $8 billion of funds to New York health care providers. These cuts will affect almost all of the major hospitals of the state, including New York-Presbyterian, Mount Sinai, NYC Health and Hospitals, and the Nassau University Medical Center. These cuts will come on top of decades of austerity. Sixteen hospitals were closed in New York City alone since 2003. The number of hospital beds has declined by more than 20,000, or 26 percent between 2000 and 2020, from 73,931 to 53,000 hospital beds. The number of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds has declined from 3,043 to 3,000. Join us for 1-hour webinar to learn how to design robust, powerful, effective NFC readers in industrial, automotive, consumer and payment applications This webinar was broadcasted Tuesday, March 31st 2020 Watch now During this one-hour webinar, you will learn how the advanced features of the latest generation of NFC reader ICs will ease your NFC design. We will highlight the challenges and performance requirements in industrial, automotive, consumer and payment applications and explain how to use the new ST25R3916 NFC reader IC to address them. This industry-leading device offers a unique set of features including dynamic power output, automatic antenna tuning, a noise suppression receiver, and low power wake up, making it an ideal solution for robust and efficient designs over a wide range of consumer and industrial NFC applications. Why attend This session will provide useful tips and technical information which will help product designers move forward with their development and understand the benefits of using the new ST25R3916 NFC reader IC. There will be a live Q&A session at the end of the webinar where STs experienced engineers will be available to answer your questions. Watch now Speakers Dan Merino Dan Merino is a Staff Application Engineer at STMicroelectronics specialized in STs RFID product portfolio and has held this position since June 2016. Dan began his career in 1984 as a Test Technician at Navcom Defense electronics working on Radar Altimeters, Military Communications and Threat simulators. From there he moved to Sierra Nevada Corporation as a Design Engineer where he worked on Drone Landing systems and High-Power Pulse Modulators. In 1996, he moved to the consumer market designing televisions and top boxes at Panasonic as an R&D design engineer. He began his career as Field Application Engineer in 2005 at Arrow Electronics, before working at Future Electronics. In 2011, He joined STs AMS Group as a Field Application Engineer supporting the entire portfolio, specializing in the RF products, including RFID. Dan graduated from California State University, Fullerton, with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. Martin Vacek Martin Vacek is a Technical Marketing Engineer at STMicroelectronics responsible for RFID / NFC solutions in Central and Eastern Europe and has specialized in RFID / NFC technology since 2003. He previously worked as RFID Product Engineer and Application Support Engineer for the companys wide wireless product and solution portfolio (Sub-GHz transceivers, Bluetooth Classic and Bluetooth Low Energy ICs, and Wi-Fi modules). Martin was appointed Technical Marketing Engineer in 2012 with a focus on creating and promoting new business and markets. He regularly prepares and delivers trainings, workshops, and seminars for both ST Sales, Distributors, and end customers on RFID and NFC-related topics. Martin Vacek holds a masters degree in Measurement systems and instrumentation from the Czech Technical University in Prague. Baris Yilmaz Baris Yilmaz is in charge of Technical Marketing at STMicroelectronics for RFID / NFC solutions in Central and South Europe and has worked in the area of RFID / NFC since 2010. He previously worked as Design & Process Development Engineer for RFID Tags at Identiv. After his first position as Field Application Engineer at ST, Baris Yilmaz was appointed as a Technical Marketing Engineer in 2016 with a focus on creating and promoting new business and markets. He regularly prepares and delivers trainings, workshops, and seminars for both ST Sales, Distributors, and end customers on RFID and NFC-related topics. Baris Yilmaz holds a Diploma degree in Mechatronics from the University of Applied Sciences in Munich. Product details The ST25R3916 is a high-performance NFC universal device supporting NFC initiator, NFC target, NFC reader and NFC card emulation modes. Fully compliant with EMVCo 3.0 specifications for analog and digital, this NFC IC is optimized for POS terminal applications, and enables fast EMVCo 3.0 certification cycles, even under harsh conditions (noisy LCD displays for example). It includes an advanced Analog Front End (AFE) and a highly integrated data framing system for ISO 18092 passive and active initiator, ISO 18092 passive and active target, NFC-A/B (ISO 14443A/B) reader including higher bit rates, NFC-F (FeliCa) reader, NFC-V (ISO 15693) reader up to 53 kbps, and NFC-A / NFC-F card emulation. Special stream and transparent modes are possible too. The ST25R3916/7 features high RF output power to directly drive antennas at high efficiency. It includes additional features, making it a perfect fit for power-savy applications. It contains a low power capacitive sensor to detect the presence of a card without switching on the reader field as well as a low power RC oscillator and wake-up timer to automatically wake the ST25R3916 up after a selected time period. It operates from a wide power supply range (from 2.4 to 5.5 V), and a wide peripheral IO voltage range (from 1.65 to 5.5 V). A federal judge has sided with Houston pipeline operator Kinder Morgan in a fight over building a $2 billion natural gas pipeline through the scenic and environmentally sensitive Texas Hill Country. In a 29-page decision handed down late last week, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Pitman in Austin struck down a request to issue an injunction against the company's Permian Highay Pipeline. As part of a federal lawsuit, the cities of Austin and San Marcos, Hays and Travis counties, the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District and four landowners sought a preliminary injunction against the pipeline project which is being built through Texas Hill Country and over the Edwards Aquifer, an underground reservoir home to several threatened and endangered species of salamander, fish and insects. Midstream: Kinder Morgan obtains final pieces of right of way for controversial pipeline Kinder Morgan is not out of the woods yet. Although opponents lost their request for the preliminary injunction, the lawsuit they filed remains in court. Meanwhile, the company, its subcontractors and the project face a separate federal lawsuit filed by five Hill Country landowners. In a previous statement, Kinder Morgan said the company and the Permian Highway Pipeline project comply with the Endangered Species Act. The 430-mile pipeline was designed to move 2 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day from the Permian Basin of West Texas to a facility owned by Kinder Morgan at the Katy natural gas hub near Houston. At a time where we as a country are facing uncertain outcomes, its reassuring to see critical infrastructure projects like the Permian Highway Pipeline avoid falling victim to litigious activists seeking to undermine the energy industry," Texans For Natural Gas spokeswoman Elizabeth Caldwell said. "Now more than ever, Texans need the comfort of knowing that the industry that helps fund our schools, pay our teachers and fill the coffers of Texas Rainy Day Fund maintains its license to operate, and this ruling does just that. Fuel Fix: Get daily energy news headlines in your inbox The city is doing what it can to help local restaurants and bars, which were the first to "take it on the chin" by being forced to close to in-house business because of the pandemic, he said. Special parking has been designated for carryout service at those businesses and Murphy encouraged chamber members and the public to help these businesses survive by purchasing meals. "The community is stepping up," he said of the response. The city is also looking at its zoning laws to see what can be done to help businesses further and prepare to expedite projects for contractors once the pandemic eases, Murphy said. The city has also attempted to ease the impact of the pandemic on local residents by waiving late fees and shutoffs for city utilities, he said. Local bus services have been curtailed. Area businesses that have supplies of N95 masks can do their part by donating them to area healthcare providers, Murphy said. "If businesses have those N95 masks, they are welcome at Porter (Regional) Hospital," he said. The market extended slump and hit fresh intraday low in early afternoon trade as the coronavirus outbreak took its toll on the international financial markets. At 12:31 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, crashed 3553.67 points or 11.88% at 26,362.29. The Nifty 50 index slumped 1023.2 points or 11.7% at 7,722.25. In the broader market, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index tanked 11.13% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index declined 10.62%. Sellers outpaced buyers. On the BSE, 220 shares rose and 1782 shares fell. A total of 103 shares were unchanged. In Nifty 50 index, all 50 stocks were in red. The Sensex and the Nifty hit lower circuit limit of 10% in morning trade. The market resumed trading at 10:43 IST for pre-opening session. Normal trading started from 10:58 IST. India Lockdown: After an overwhelming response to the Janata Curfew, 22 states in the country have announced a lockdown in 80 districts where Coronavirus cases have been reported so far. The lockdown will be in effect till 31 March 2020. During the lockdown, only essential services will be allowed to operate in all the districts which have reported cases or casualties due to Coronavirus. The lockdown is aimed at preventing a Coronavirus breakout in India. COVID-19 Crisis: Coronavirus has infected more than 339,710 people and killed more than 14,704 across the world. More than 99,014 people have recovered. India has reported 8 deaths and over 425 cases so far. Derivatives: The NSE's India VIX, a gauge of market's expectation of volatility over the near term, jumped 5.69% to 70.92. The Nifty February 2020 futures were trading at 7,679, a discount of 28.2 points compared with the spot at 7,707.20.- On the options front, the Nifty option chain for 26 March 2020 expiry showed maximum call open interest (OI) of 20.89 lakh contracts at the 10,000 strike price. Maximum put OI of 15.38 lakh contracts was seen at 9,000 strike price. Stocks in Spotlight: Eicher Motors tumbled 8.14% to Rs 14,387.20 after the automobile major declared that Royal Enfield has decided to suspend all operations globally from Monday, 23 March 2020 till Tuesday, 31 March 2020, on account of COVID-19 pandemic. The company said operations in manufacturing facilities across Tiruvottiyur, Oragadam and Vallam Vadagal in Chennai, technical centres across Chennai in Tamil Nadu have been closed. Overseas, offices and company owned dealerships in Bruntingthorpe, Leicestershire are closed. The company has further issued advisories to all dealerships in India to shut down for the same time period, or follow local administrative orders, as may apply. Lupin announced the launch of Betamethasone Dipropionate Ointment USP (Augmented), 0.05%, having received an approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) earlier. The product would be manufactured at Lupin's Pithampur (Unit Ill) facility, India. The stock was down 4.65% to Rs 611.75. Ashok Leyland slumped 15.72% to Rs 37, extending losses for third day. The commercial vehicles maker said its board has decided to acquire a 6.99% stake in Hinduja Leyland Finance (HLFL) as against its original plan to acquire 19%. In the past three sessions, the stock has tumbled 42.5% from its recent closing high of Rs 64.35 recorded on 18 March 2020. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a rhetorical, discursive letter addressed to the people of the United States, the Islamic Republic President Hassan Rouhani has lamented that the victims of the sanctions Washington imposed on Tehran are not the country's political camps, but the ordinary people. Commemorating the new Persian year (Nowruz, beginning March 20), the mid-ranking cleric has called on American people to urge the U.S. Congress and the White House to repeal the sanctions. "In the name of justice and humanity, I address your conscience and Godly souls and call upon you to make your Administration and Congress see that the path of sanctions and pressure has never been successful and will never be so in the future. It is human discourse and action that produce results," Rouhani has noted, implicitly accusing Washington of warmongering. "The Iranian peoplewill repel this virus as well as the sanctions born of the callous policy of maximum pressure and will endure once again with resilience and pride." Rouhani has claimed that U.S. sanctions have targeted the people. "Following its illegal withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the U.S. Government has implemented more than one hundred collective punishment measures against the Iranian people, specifically targeting Iran's principal economic and financial sectors, and inflicting damages amounting to hundreds of billions of dollars to Iran's economy and the Iranian people.," Rouhani said. Some Iranians criticized Rouhanis rambling letter, arguing that it is mostly sermonizing and ineffective in terms of getting the attention of ordinary Americans. President Donald Trump opposed the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal on the grounds that on the long-run it will not stop from acquiring nuclear weapons and it does not address Tehrans behavior of supporting militant groups throughout the Middle East. He also argued that Irans missile program is a danger to all its neighbors. Ultimately, Washington saw no benefit in the JCPOA and withdrew the agreement, instituting a campaign of pressure to force Iran to negotiate a new and a broader agreement. Since, the Trump administration has offered talks without pre-conditions and has promised assistance to Iran if agreement can be reached. The offer has been categorically rejected by the Islamic Republic Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. "Talking to the U.S.A is a lethal poison (for Iran), talking to the Trump administration is twice more deadly," Khamenei has stressed. In the meantime, in his letter to the people of America, Rouhani has once again accused Washington of restricting Tehran's efforts to contain the novel coronavirus and its related disease, Covid-19, that has killed more than 1,500 and infected 20,000 across Iran. However, the U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, said on Friday, March 20, "The whole world should know that humanitarian assistance to Iran is wide open, it's not sanctioned." Earlier, Washington had offered help to contain the deadly virus in Iran, but the Islamic Republic authorities rejected it. VANCOUVER, March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Taseko Mines Limited (TSX: TKO; NYSE American: TGB; LSE: TKO) ("Taseko" or the "Company") wishes to provide an update on the current status of its Gibraltar Mine and other corporate initiatives, in light of the global impact from COVID-19. To-date, there have been no known cases of COVID-19 at any of Taseko's operations or offices in Canada and the US. The Gibraltar Mine has operated at planned rates in the first quarter and copper production is expected to be approximately 32 million pounds (100% basis). At this time there have been no interruptions to our logistics and supply chains, and sales are expected to be in line with production for the quarter. Russell Hallbauer, CEO and Director of Taseko, stated, "The health and safety of our employees is the most important aspect of our business. We believe it's important to protect the safety of our employees as well as their continued employment, both important factors at this time. To this end, the mine implemented many procedures in advance of the health authorities' directives to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 impacting our employees and our mining operations. Our entire workforce has been fully engaged in this process. In the event illness does occur among some of our employees, these procedures are designed to curb wide-spread infection among other employees. As during the devastating forest fires of 2017, the resolve of our entire workforce is impressive in this time of crisis, which is why we have been extremely diligent and taking extra precautions at all our work sites. While we have not had any known occurrences of COVID-19 anywhere in the organization, we will remain focused on protecting our employees until the risk subsides." "During unprecedented events like we are currently facing, we rely on our operational experience more than ever. With copper put options securing a minimum price of US$2.60 per pound until the end of April, we have the benefit of some additional time to adjust to a lower copper price environment. Operating costs are dropping with over 30 percent lower diesel price as an example. In fact, we took advantage of the much lower diesel price and locked in a price that will reduce costs by more than $6 million in 2020. We expect decreases in other areas such as explosives, grinding media and other inputs. The BC Hydro power cost deferral program initiated in 2016, which allows Taseko to defer up to 75% of Gibraltar's power costs, is still in place and expected to come into effect this month. The weakened Canadian dollar against the US dollar has partially offset the US dollar copper price decline, and this too is benefitting our operating margin as roughly 80% of Gibraltar's costs are Canadian dollar denominated," added Mr. Hallbauer. "Beyond the input costs which naturally fall when oil and copper drop, we have studied a number of mine plan options and chosen one which will allow the mine to operate with reduced site operating costs and maintain budgeted copper production for the year. We believe this will provide Taseko with sufficient operating margin going forward," continued Mr. Hallbauer. Stuart McDonald, President of Taseko, added, "From a liquidity perspective, we started the year with a healthy cash balance. We have eliminated capital spending and are deferring major equipment rebuilds. All non-essential project spending has been cut. At Florence we continue to operate the test facility but have reduced overall site spending. At this time, we feel we are positioned with adequate financial flexibility while we manage through this unprecedented crisis." Note: Gibraltar is a Joint Venture owned by Taseko (75%) and Cariboo Copper Corp. (25%). All production and sales figures in this release are reported on a 100% basis, unless otherwise noted. Russell Hallbauer Chief Executive Officer and Director No regulatory authority has approved or disapproved of the information contained in this news release. CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This document contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, "forward looking statements") that were based on Taseko's expectations, estimates and projections as of the dates as of which those statements were made. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, believes, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "outlook", "anticipate", "project", "target", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "should" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These included but are not limited to: uncertainties and costs related to the Company's exploration and development activities, such as those associated with continuity of mineralization or determining whether mineral resources or reserves exist on a property; uncertainties related to the accuracy of our estimates of mineral reserves, mineral resources, production rates and timing of production, future production and future cash and total costs of production and milling; uncertainties related to feasibility studies that provide estimates of expected or anticipated costs, expenditures and economic returns from a mining project; uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary title, licenses and permits for development projects and project delays due to third party opposition; our ability to comply with the extensive governmental regulation to which our business is subject; uncertainties related to unexpected judicial or regulatory proceedings; changes in, and the effects of, the laws, regulations and government policies affecting our exploration and development activities and mining operations, particularly laws, regulations and policies; changes in general economic conditions, the financial markets and in the demand and market price for copper, gold and other minerals and commodities, such as diesel fuel, steel, concrete, electricity and other forms of energy, mining equipment, and fluctuations in exchange rates, particularly with respect to the value of the U.S. dollar and Canadian dollar, and the continued availability of capital and financing; the effects of forward selling instruments to protect against fluctuations in copper prices and exchange rate movements and the risks of counterparty defaults, and mark to market risk; the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to cover mining risks; the risk of loss of key employees; the risk of changes in accounting policies and methods we use to report our financial condition, including uncertainties associated with critical accounting assumptions and estimates; environmental issues and liabilities associated with mining including processing and stock piling ore; labour strikes, work stoppages, or other interruptions to, or difficulties in, the employment of labour in markets in which we operate mines, or environmental hazards, industrial accidents, equipment failure or other events or occurrences, including third party interference that interrupt the production of minerals in our mines; the availability of, and uncertainties relating to the development of, infrastructure necessary for the development of our projects; our reliance upon key personnel; and uncertainties relating to increased competition and conditions in the mining capital markets. For further information on Taseko, investors should review the Company's annual Form 40-F filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission www.sec.gov and home jurisdiction filings that are available at www.sedar.com, including the "Risk Factors" included in our Annual Information Form. SOURCE Taseko Mines Limited Related Links www.tasekomines.com New Delhi, March 24 : In a major relief for outsourced professionals and contractual workers in central government offices, ministries and departments, the Finance Ministry's Department of Expenditure on Monday announced that all contractual worker in such departments would receive their full pay during the lockdown period in several states amid the coronavirus crisis. The instruction shall be in force till April 30, said an official memorandum by the Department of Expenditure. In a tweet, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that as due to isolation measures to contain the spread of novel coronavirus, several contractual workers may be unable to attend work, and the Finance Ministry has issued orders to declare this period as "on duty" and wages will be paid accordingly. "Due to social distancing and isolation measures to contain the spread of COVID19, there is a likelihood of number of contractual labour & outsourced staff working for Govt of India being unable to attend work, resulting in deduction in wages, thus causing hardship to them," she said. "The @FinMinIndia has issued orders to declare this period as 'on duty' and wages paid accordingly. (2/2) #IndiaFightsCorona," the minister said in a second tweet. The office memorandum issued by the Department of Expenditure said that the instruction shall also apply to subordinate offices and statutory bodies of the Central government. Earlier in the day, the Ministry of Labour and Employment advised private companies and entities to desist from job cuts or pay cuts during these troubled times. "If any worker takes leave, he should be deemed to be on duty without any consequential deduction in wages for this period," the ministry said in a statement. Video produced by Kate Murphy Even though hes not permitted to take a stroll down the hallway of his own apartment building, Patrick, an American journalist in Beijing, is trying to keep a positive outlook on life and look forward to the end of his quarantine. When Patrick, an American citizen who asked to be identified only by his first name, returned to Beijing on March 15 from the U.S., he was ordered to stay in his apartment for 14 days. Right now, [Im] keeping my spirits up and enjoying it. I hope to be roaming outside freely and without a face mask very soon. Patrick told Yahoo News that he isnt even allowed to open the door to his apartment. In an interview conducted virtually, he pointed at the door and said wryly, If youre wondering about this door, the answer is no. Im not allowed to open it or go outside into the hallway or outside the building for a full two weeks. Asked if the isolation is difficult, Patrick said it could be worse. I do have the luxury of spending this time in an apartment rather than a government-designated hotel, he said. His arrival on March 15 was fortunate, he said, because the day after we arrived, the government began requiring all inbound travelers to quarantine at designated hotels not at home. As of last week, inbound passengers to China have been confined to hotels near the airport at which they arrive. Despite the worldwide drop in air travel, people are still arriving in droves. Last week over the course of just a little over six days, more than 30,000 people flew into Beijing Capital International Airport. Patrick is relying on grocery and restaurant deliveries for food. Being unable to leave even for exercise is hard, but he agrees with the strict measures since they seem to be working. I feel like the reaction by the Beijing government has been very good. Its been very rapid and thorough, and without it we wouldnt see the diminished number of cases that weve been seeing locally. Story continues Last Thursday marked the first day in China since the outbreak of the pandemic with no new domestic COVID-19 cases, only import cases from travelers coming from abroad. The government is now doubling down on quarantine regulations to avoid a second round of infections. This week, the government is requiring that all international arrivals into the country enter into mass quarantine at designated facilities. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: UPDATE: Jeffrey Markby has been recaptured MONTMORENCY COUNTY, MI Authorities in Northern Michigan are looking for a barefoot and injured inmate who escaped a local jail. Jeffrey A. Markby, 34, escaped from the Montmorency County Jail at approximately 7:27 p.m. on Sunday, the sheriffs department said. Markby was last seen by a motorist on M-32 who saw him running from the jail property, northbound into the Briley Township Cemetery. He apparently used an item to cover the razor wire during the escape, however evidence at the scene suggests that he is cut and bleeding from injuries sustained while escaping. Michigan State Police along with a K-9 unit, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Montmorency County Sheriffs Office searched the area until the early morning hours before the K-9 tracked Markby north and lost the scent. An orange jail issue sweatshirt was located inside the cemetery. It is unknown if Markby has been able to locate new clothing. Markby is described as being five-foot-seven-inches with blonde hair, blue eyes and tattoos on most areas of his body. Investigators said he has no shoes. Markby has numerous friends and family in the area, authorities said, and has been familiar with the wooded areas near Atlanta since childhood. It is unknown if Markby has access to weapons, but he should be treated as armed and dangerous. The public should not approach him if he is seen. Instead call 911 or 989-785-4238 and choose option 1. There are two ways Scott Morrison can play this coronacession: he can spread the pain as fairly as possible, or he can yield to all his political instincts and play favourites. You know: lifters get looked after, leaners take their chances. Those my tribe judge to be not "having a go" wont be given a go. Fortunately, Sundays second, $66-billion assistance package suggests Morrisons trying hard to overcome his instincts, be more statesman-like and not exclude unpopular groups from assistance. Hes got further to go, however. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announcing new measures to stem damage from the coronavirus crisis at Parliament House in Canberra on Sunday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The poor are the biggest losers in every recession and that will be just as true in the coronacession. Those who are able to keep working will be the least affected; those who lose their jobs will be the most affected. The strongest reason for Morrison to take steps to spread the pain more fairly is that its the right you could almost say the Christian thing to do. But he has extra, more pragmatic reasons for doing so. One is that it's easier to get everyone to cop their share of the burden and to pull their weight if they believe the burdens being shared fairly. If they know that "were all in this together" is more than an empty slogan. ANN ARBOR, MI The University of Michigan Board of Regents will conduct its Thursday, March 26 over the phone, consistent with Gov. Gretchen Whitmers executive order banning gatherings of more than 50 people amid the coronavirus outbreak. The meeting will still take place at 4 p.m. Thursday, with regents participating through call-in options, according to a release from the university, The release said the meeting will also provide for public participation while maintaining appropriate social distancing. There will be no video footage of the meeting because participants will not be gathered together in order to abide by recommendations to avoid gatherings of more than 10 people. The public can listen to the meeting here. Those who have signed up for public comment will get further instructions from the university on how to call in at the appropriate time and share their comments, the university announced. The agenda for the March 26 meeting can be viewed here. Whitmer last week issued an order allowing public bodies to meet virtually to help limit the spread of COVID-19. UM moved all of its classes online March 16 for the rest of the semester. It also canceled its spring commencement ceremonies at all three campuses. University of Michigan transitioning to remote classes through end of semester due to coronavirus University of Michigan cancels spring commencements amid fight against coronavirus spread UM has also advised all of its students who are able to do so to go home. The university is offering a $1,200 refund for students who are able to move out by 5 p.m. Wednesday, and the refund will be applied to the students account. Whitmer on Monday advised all Michigan residents, with few exceptions, to stay in their homes to slow the spread of COVID-19. University of Michigan offering $1,200 refund for students who move out of university housing PREVENTION TIPS In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores. Complete coverage of coronavirus in Michigan here. Read more on MLive: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer expected to issue coronavirus Stay at home order President Trump promises help for American workers as stimulus package gets held up in Senate Trumps claims that GM, Ford making ventilators right now not true Almost 109,000 in Michigan filed for unemployment last week compared to 5,000 in typical week Tokyo Olympics 2020: Canada pulls out of Games amid coronavirus pandemic Mid-Michigan groups seek face masks, hand gel donations to fight coronavirus The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit alleging a North Dakota company failed to design and construct multifamily residential properties to be accessible for people with disabilities. The lawsuit states that significant physical accessibility barriers exist at 116 units constructed over a 15-year period, including excessive slopes to entrances and inadequate interior space to maneuver a wheelchair and inaccessible parking. Read on for details from the DOJs lawsuit. Medical supplies Today, as Harris County prepares to respond to the worst public health crisis since the 1918 flu pandemic, we are leaving our health care workers unprepared and unprotected. Doctors, nurses and other hospital workers do not have the personal protective equipment (PPE) necessary to safely triage and treat the mounting cases of COVID-19 in our community. Hospitals, including the county hospitals that serve the most vulnerable in our community, need N95 masks, filtered air respirators (PAPRs), surgical masks and cleaning supplies like alcohol-based handwashing solution and alcohol-based wipes for surfaces. These items are available from local stores, but individuals are buying and hoarding or reselling them, preventing health care workers from getting access to them. Lina Hidalgo and the county should require local businesses who receive shipments of masks and respirators to offer them first to health care workers and other first responders. Better yet, have the county buy up and distribute all available supplies to county and community hospitals. Encourage local businesses with stockpiles of these items to sell or donate them to the county for use by doctors, nurses and pharmacists who are risking their own lives to care for ours. Rebekah Reed, Houston Vote by mail The COVID-19 pandemic has already fundamentally changed every aspect of American society. We cant often control the impact; however, we can control our democratic elections. We must ensure that no one is disenfranchised this year by guaranteeing every Texan has access to a ballot by mail. No one should have to choose between their life and their vote. We have municipal and runoff elections still scheduled for May. Elections decided by whichever people feel comfortable going to the polling booth are not truly free and fair. Currently, in Texas, the only people eligible for ballot by mail are those who will be out of the county for the election, are disabled or over 65 years old or are incarcerated but still eligible. Gov. Greg Abbott must pass legislation now to ensure every Texan can practice their democratic rights in May and later on in November. Postponing elections may seem like a reasonable alternative, except that in such an uncertain time, with no idea when the quarantine will end, there is no guarantee that an election wouldnt have to be postponed more than once. Without knowing what the situation will be later in the year, the only reasonable and logical course is to move now to ensure all voters rights will be secured. We have no idea how long this pandemic will last, but we do know that our democracy has lasted for 244 years and we must ensure that even in times of crisis, that continues. Sri Preston Kulkarni, Stafford Tehran/New Delhi, March 23 : Almost 900 Indian fishermen stranded in Iran, the third most coronavirus-hit nation, appealed to the Indian government to save their lives as they are on the verge of starvation. However, no step has been taken by the government in this direction so far. Of the fishermen stranded in Iran, 700 are from Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu. 200 of these fishermen are safe from coronavirus but are not getting minimum food to survive which is adding to their problems. Janish, a fisherman stranded in Iran, told IANS over phone: "If we are not evacuated from Iran as soon as possible, then we might survive coronavirus but we will die of hunger." Fishermen's organisation Neithal Eluchi Parawai has sent a complete list of names of 800 fishermen stranded in Iran, including passport numbers and telephone numbers, which include 200 people from Kerala and other states of the country. The list is available with IANS. The organisation has written to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on March 2, requesting him to immediately take steps to bring back 900 Indian fishermen stranded in Iran. In the letter, Neithal Eluchi Paravai Chairman John Leonard and Secretary Sagar Vincent have appealed to Jaishankar to immediately evacuate the fishermen in Iran. A copy of the letter is also available with IANS. Citing the increasing COVID-19 infection in Iran, the organisation in the letter said: "Fishermen have very limited food supplies and since flights to all Gulf countries have been postponed and currently there is no direct flight to India from Iran, therefore, the lives of all of them is in danger. The fishermen and their families living in India are worried." "We humbly request the External Affairs Minister to intervene immediately to bring back the stranded Indian fishermen from a chartered flight or a ship can also be used to evacuate them," the letter read. The per capita income of Delhi was Rs 3,89,143 in 2019-20, about three times higher than the national average, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said presenting the annual budget at the state assembly on Monday. Invoking Kejriwal's model of governance in his budget speech, Sisosdia said that at 8.18 per cent in last five years, the gross state domestic product (GSDP) marked the sound economic health of Delhi. At constant prices, Delhi's economy is expected to grow at the rate of 7.42 per cent in 2019-20, "much higher" than the all-India growth rate of 5 per cent, he said. Sisodia presented the first annual budget of the Kejriwal government's second term, worth Rs 65,000 crore for the financial year 2020-21. The per capita income of Delhi at Rs 3,89,143 in 2019-20, registered an increase of 8.57 per cent over the per capita income of Rs 3,58,430 in 2018-19, he said. "The per capita income of Delhi has gone up by 44 per cent since 2015-16 when it was Rs 2,70,261. The per capita income of Delhi is about three times higher than the national average, which is estimated to be Rs 134,432 in 2019-20," he said. The contribution of Delhi to the national gross domestic product (GDP) also increased from 3.97 per cent in 2014-15 to 4.20 per cent in 2019-20 though the city's population accounted for only 1.49 per cent of the total population of the country, the deputy chief minister said. The per capita expenditure of the Delhi government through budgetary transactions also increased from Rs 19,004 in 2015-16 to Rs 31,841 in 2020-21. Delhi's GSDP is expected to grow at a rate of more than10.48 per cent during the year 2019-20, which will increase to Rs 8,56,112 crore from Rs 7,74,870 crore in the previous year, he said. The Delhi government's budget estimates of Rs 65,000 crore in 2020-21 is 8.33 per cent higher than the budget estimates of Rs 60,000 crore in 2019-20 and 18.61 percent over revised estimates of Rs 54,800 crore in 2019-20. The government in the budget proposed a financial support of Rs 6,828 crore to the local bodies in 2020-21 as against Rs 6,380 crore in the 2019-20 budget said the deputy chief minister who is also incharge of Finance Department of the Delhi government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After the session of the Civil Contract Party, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Alen Simonyan told reporters that the session was devoted to the coronavirus and the restrictions on news released by mass media outlets. Alen Simonyan informed that the Commandants Office is working on preventing the coronavirus and is considering various possible scenarios. Touching upon the complaints of mass media outlets about the restrictions on news releases, Simonyan informed that this issue was also considered during the session. Today, the authorities are so open that there is no doubt about it, and its inappropriate to talk about restrictions. The censure only concerns the coronavirus. I think the mass media are a little too concerned. I can say that Armenia is currently among the countries that are the most open in terms of information, he said. Humble joins Houston, Harris County in closing to public The City of Humble has closed all facilities until further notice, City Manager Jason Stuebe said March 20. In an effort to be proactive in combating the prevalence and spread of COVID-19, effective Monday, March 23, the City of Humble facilities will be closed to the public until further notice. The city itself will still be open for business and we will continue to provide services and assistance to residents, he said. Earlier, on March 17, Stuebe released the following: In accordance with the order issued by the office of the governor suspending portions of the Open Meetings Act, city council meetings will be conducted with limited public access. Members of the public wishing to listen and participate in the meeting will be provided with a call-in number. This will be published with meeting notices. Any public or private events at city facilities with an attendance of 10 or more are cancelled through April 5; the city is practicing polite enforcement of the county judges order closing bars, clubs, arcades and restricting restaurants to take-out/drive-thru service only; the city is waiving tent permits for food establishments only; we have placed travel restrictions for all business-related travel and training through May 3 (employees only); personal travel out of the area through May 3 must be reported and approved; some restrictions for out-of-state travel apply (employees only); city employee picnic has been canceled; municipal court has cleared its docket through April 24; employees are asked to practice social distancing guidelines; all non-public, safety-related capital purchases or projects not currently underway are suspended until further notice or unless authorized by the city manager; all non-public safety open positions are frozen until further notice or unless authorized by the city manager. Also, in compliance with the county-wide precautions, the Humble Civic Center published an announcement that read, In the interest of public health, the City of Humble has decided to cancel the Good Oil Days Festival 2020 and all other large events through April 4. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner joined Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and local health officials Monday, March 16, to announce the new measures being taken across the county to prevent spreading coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Turner and Hidalgo ordered bars and nightclubs to close and food-service establishments to stop in-service dining for 15 days, effective at 8 a.m. March 17. This is not a lockdown, Turner said. Our goal is to flatten the curve and slow the progression of COVID-19 so that it does not overwhelm our health-care system. A special meeting was held Tuesday where Turner and Houston City Council members voted to indefinitely extend the proclamation of a local state of disaster due to a public health disaster for the City of Houston. Turner had previously signed a bill that declared the emergency for seven days. The order allows Turner to make decisions to work with the county, state and federal officials to contain and mitigate COVID-19 spread and protect members of the public. According to the press release from Turners office, Turner said, As a city, we must work together. This is a crisis that is going to be with us for several weeks, if not several months. It is gravely important for us to take definitive steps to slow the COVID-19 spread. The measures we have put in place will help save lives. Humble ISD and Huffman ISD announced that campuses will be closed through April 10 as a precautionary measure to prevent spreading COVID-19. In addition to schools, other public buildings, programs and organizations have shut their doors for a period of time. On Tuesday, officials with the City of Houston released that All Houston Public Library locations will be closed through the end of the month in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The closures come in response to directives from Mayor Sylvester Turner as well as Harris County and federal guidelines. Though patrons will not be able to physically check out a book at the public library, the online digital services will still be available. The statement also announced that due dates will be extended, library cards will automatically be renewed, and there will be no new late fees during this time period. For more details, visit houstonlibrary.org. Courts within the City of Houston will be closed due to precautions for COVID-19 as well. According to a statement released by Jose E. Soto, assistant public information officer, The City of Houston Municipal Courts Department has suspended all jury trials and jury duty during the period of Monday, March 16 through Tuesday, March 31. The statement warns, If anyone has recently traveled internationally, has come into contact with someone who has traveled internationally, or if you are, or think you are, experiencing symptoms similar to COVID-19, please DO NOT COME TO COURT. You are urged to contact your health-care provider. Once you have been cleared by a physician, you can come into any of our City of Houston court locations to speak with an annex judge to reset your case. Please visit the municipal courts website at houstontx.gov/courts for continued updates on all court locations and hours of operation. The cancelation only covers trial by jury court dates. Arraignments, trials by judge, parking adjudication hearings and all other proceedings are still scheduled according to the statement. Individuals who are scheduled for any other court settings are expected to appear in court for their scheduled setting, the statement said. The Houston Health Department will close its Bureau of Vital Statistics (birth and death records) Office to the public until further notice. Places of worship have also followed suit in canceling services. Father T.J. of St. Martha Catholic Church of Kingwood announced that he would like to livestream masses via YouTube, requesting that supporters subscribe to his channel. First Presbyterian Church of Kingwood announced a suspension of local worship services for the duration of March, and instead opting to provide online worship services for the congregation. Some churches, such as The Luke Church and Grace Church of Humble, held live services last weekend, but have since canceled their midweek and future services to align with the recommendation from officials of reducing exposure by not having gatherings. Second Baptist Church-North had Worship online at Second.org on their large digital screen facing Hwy. 59. In the release from Turners office, he announced, All city-produced, sponsored and permitted events are canceled through the end of April. Starting Tuesday, March 24, no proclamation presentations will be made during the city council public session. The City of Houston remains open for business. However, employees are encouraged to limit exposure to members of the public and handle business online, if possible. City of Houston department directors have the discretion to allow employees to work from home/telecommute. Hidalgo shared a video on social media Tuesday evening soliciting the help of Harris County residents in the efforts to limit the spreading of COVID-19. Hidalgo said, We need your help. There are three steps we need you to take. Hidalgo requested that residents help by complying with the orders she issued for precautionary measures. First, Hidalgo continued, Yesterday I ordered all bars and clubs closed in Harris County and any city in an unincorporated area within the county. So, help us comply with that. I also ordered all restaurants closed unless they are engaging in take-out, delivery, or drive-through, and we need to support our restaurants. Order from the restaurants, just dont dine in. More broadly, and the third point is we should not be going out, certainly should not be congregating in groups. This is not the time to be at a party, to be at the gym, to be at the theater. We need to make sure that we are staying away from crowds. Were counting on you. We can get through this together, but we need everybody to help us in taking these three steps. Ukraine strongly condemns the so-called presidential elections in the occupied Abkhazia region of Georgia. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine strongly condemns the so-called presidential elections in the occupied Abkhazia region of Georgia (March 22), reads the statement of the Ukrainian Ministry. As noted, Ukraine does not recognize any so-called elections in the occupied regions of Georgia as they are held under the full control of the aggressor-state, contrary to the international law and have no legal consequences. These actions are also aimed at further aggravating the security situation in the Black Sea region. Illegal elections in the occupied territories is a common practice of the Russian Federation aimed at legitimizing the gains of its aggression against sovereign states. The clear position of the international community in response to these attempts demonstrates the futility of the aggressor states efforts, the statement reads. Ukraine consistently supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders and calls on the Russian Federation to comply with all the provisions of the Ceasefire Agreement of August 12, 2008. ol Covid-19 is the largest public health crisis in a gene ratio we know this. But it is also the largest security issue since the Second World War and potentially a humanitarian crisis that has no parallel. The UN is preparing for the aftermath of this pandemic and our global resources are severely lacking. Understandably, the economic impact of Covid-19 will be immense. As the funding formula of the UN is based on a percentage of each countrys GDP, the ensuing impending global recession will have a direct budgetary impact on our organization. But this is something to worry about when it happens. New York has declared a state of emergency, there is a lack of respirators, and a hospital ship from the US Navy will be sailing to the state, not to assist with Covid-19, but to ensure those with secondary conditions can still be treated. The fact that the US has had to call on the military so soon reinforces the fragile nature of the USs healthcare system. But they are not alone in doing so: Italy now has its army patrolling famous landmarks and UK reservists are on standby. Developing countries do not have the same capacity to respond and are already feeling the strain. The regime of Iran has felt the full brunt of Covid-19. First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri recently tested positive, joining several other ministers in the Iranian cabinet who have the virus. Releasing over 85,000 prisoners was a commendable (and rare) show of humanitarian compassion by the regime, but it has also shown how underprepared they were to tackle a crisis. Meanwhile, President Hassan Rouhani has started blaming counter-revolutionaries for the hit Irans economy has taken. This shift in language signals a shared common fear within authoritative regimes: Maintaining their position is paramount, and that creates a need for someone else to blame. The Covid-19 situation has the potential to stress this in the extreme and defray further the strained ties that keep revolution down. Chinas response is key to this. Understandably, they were very quick to lock everything down. Li Wenliang, the doctor who blew the whistle and subsequently tragically died, went from ophthalmologist, whistleblower, reprimanded pariah, and exonerated hero in a matter of weeks. From a public health standpoint, Chinas decision to close cities made sense. Their confused response to Li Wenliang, however, risked fatally damaging trust in the government when it was needed most. Hopefully they have learnt some lessons for the future. But the greatest challenge with Covid-19 is yet to hit. South America and Africa have some of the largest informal developments and slums in the world. So far, countries in these regions have not been affected on the same scale as Europe, North America and Asia. However, Covid-19 is clearly in these countries too. Uganda saw its first confirmed case over the weekend; Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Gambia have all already confirmed coronavirus-related deaths, and South Africa's are at over 400. These countries do not have the same capacity to respond. There are no hospital ships that will come. Those who would traditionally support peacekeeping operations and humanitarian assistance will turn to focus on their own internal issues. There are not enough respirators for developed countries, and the situation in a developing one is far worse. For example, in Kiberia, one of the largest slums in Africa, there are upwards of 200,000 people, most of whom live in one or two-room apartments. Many live with HIV or Aids; conditions such as TB, cholera and typhoid are still circulating in their communities. How will these families self-isolate, how will they support themselves and how will their governments respond? From past crises of a lesser magnitude, we know these countries cannot adequately respond. Now a real test is coming. The issue is not so much coronavirus itself. It's the secondary illnesses and the secondary social issues mass infection will bring. Collectively, we must not turn inwards. Countries that have needed our help most previously need it more than ever now. The mortality rate of Covid-19 among people with pre-existing conditions is much higher than in those without. African and Latin American countries have populations at the highest potential risk point and they also have the least capacity to respond. It is not a case of if, but when. While the UN is mobilising to support peacekeeping missions, it will not be enough; what is coming for these developing countries is far worse than what weve seen in Italy or Iran. This is something that we should collectively consider, and if we can donate to UNICEF, Oxfam and other charities and NGOs operating in the developing world, then we should now. Yes, charity begins at home. However, for those living in countries where this is yet to strike, the instability that it could bring could present itself on our doorsteps through further waves of refugees or potentially something even worse. Emin Pasha is the pseudonym of a United Nations diplomat based in New York T he Excel Centre in Londons Docklands could be turned into a giant field hospital, The Standard reveals today. Military planners and NHS officials held a meeting at the huge venue yesterday to discuss how it could be used in Britains battle against coronavirus. One option is understood to turn it into a field hospital which could treat hundreds, if not thousands of patients. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: To assist NHS England to prepare for a number of scenarios as the coronavirus outbreak unfolds, a team of military planners visited the ExCeL centre in London to determine how the centre might benefit the NHS response to the outbreak. Ministers have not yet made any final decision on how the centre could be used. There are signs that the virus could be spreading particularly fast in highly populated areas of London, with the three boroughs with the most confirmed cases being Southwark with 139, Brent with 128 and Lambeth with 127. Loading.... South Korean foreign ministry announced March 22 that Seoul is exploring ways to provide humanitarian assistance to Iran to fight the coronavirus epidemic. President Hassan Rouhani reportedly sent a letter to his South Korean counterpart earlier this month and Iran made requests thorough other channels, prompting Seoul to focus on the issue. Apparently, Rouhani requested 3.2 million COVID-19 test kits and other supplies, The Korea Herald reported on March 23. "Through various channels, the Iranian side has informed our government of the serious health care crisis caused by the spread of COVID-19 inside its country, and our government is carrying out multi-faceted considerations of ways for humanitarian support," the Korean foreign ministry said in a statement. The ministry also said Seoul is holding consultations with Washington and other concerned countries to possibly resume humanitarian trade with Iran. The United States has imposed tough sanctions on Iran since 2018, but American officials insist these do not hamper humanitarian trade. Iran complains that the banking restrictions, as a part of the U.S. sanctions, make it hard to import medicines and medical supplies. This year, the United States reached agreement with Switzerland to open a humanitarian trade channel with Iran to allow Swiss companies to sell food and medicine, with the first transaction already completed. Now, South Korea is planning to launch a similar mechanism, The Korea Herald quoted a foreign ministry official who said, "The US basically recognizes the need for humanitarian support for Iran in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, and added, that Seoul is consulting with both the U.S. and Iran. KABUL -- Afghan President Ashraf Ghani says a cut in aid from the United States will not affect "key" areas of daily life in the war-torn country even as it battles to stem the coronavirus outbreak. The U.S. State Department announced late on March 23 that it was slashing $1 billion in aid to Afghanistan after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo failed to convince Ghani and former Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah to end a feud that has jeopardized a peace deal signed last month. Ghani said in a televised address on March 24 that he will look to make up the shortfall in a budget that relies on other nations for three-quarters of its funding. I can assure you that a reduction in the U.S. aid will not have a direct impact on our key sectors and areas, and we will strive to fill the gap with both austerity measures and alternative sources, he said. It is important for us to preserve the lives of the nation, to maintain prices, to provide services, and to maintain the apparatus of government and republicanism. There will be no impact on people's lives in these areas, he added. Pompeo announced the slashing of aid in a harshly worded statement after making a surprise visit to Kabul to pressure Ghani and Abdullah to come to an agreement. Pompeo went to Kabul with an urgent message and "spoke directly to the nations leaders to impress upon them the need to compromise for the sake of the Afghan people," a State Department statement said. 'Missed Opportunity' Ghani and Abdullah blamed each other for failing to resolve the feuding -- both claim to be the country's legitimate president -- which Pompeo said may lead to further cuts in U.S. funding. Ghani said during his televised address that Abdullah's power-sharing demands were unconstitutional, while Abdullah lamented Pompeo's visit as a missed opportunity for the impoverished nation. Pompeo said the United States was disappointed in them, adding that their failure has harmed U.S.-Afghan relations and dishonors the Afghan, Americans, and coalition partners who died in the struggle to build a new future for the country, which is already girding itself for the potential impact of the coronavirus outbreak. Afghanistan has confirmed only 42 cases of the virus, but many fear the number could be considerably higher given the thousands of Afghans who have returned to the country from Iran, the epicenter of the outbreak in the Middle East. After departing Kabul, Pompeo made a stop in Doha, for a meeting with three top Taliban leaders. State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said she met with the Taliban's chief negotiator, Mullah Baradar, and two other Taliban leaders. The meeting in the Qatari capital -- the highest-level ever held between U.S. and Taliban representatives -- was meant to press the Taliban to continue to comply with a peace deal that the militant group signed with Washington on February 29, Ortagus said. Pompeo was hoping to advance progress on the peace deal, which could lead to the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Afghanistan and an end to the country's 18-year conflict. Since the signing of the deal with the Taliban, political turmoil has complicated the peace process, which has ground to a halt, with both Ghani and Abdullah arguing they had won the presidency through a contested election in September. After his talks with the Taliban leaders, Pompeo told reporters that the United States and all countries in the coalition were moving forward with a planned withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. "We have a commitment that has a timeline," he said. "We are moving down that timeline." The Taliban has not given up its campaign of violence against the Afghan government or gone ahead with promised talks with Kabul. But Pompeo said that the reduction in violence had been "real" and the Taliban had abided by its promise not to attack U.S. forces. "They committed to reducing violence; they have largely done that," Pompeo said. With reporting by AFP and Reuters Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 23) Former power industry executive and foreign relations expert Alan Ortiz passed away in France due to the novel coronavirus, his daughter confirmed on Monday. In a Facebook post, his daughter Monica said Ortiz, 66, passed away early Monday morning in Paris "due to complications from COVID-19." Ortiz, current president of the Philippine Council for Foreign Relations, had been invited by the French government to attend a security conference there. He was former president and chief operating officer of SMC Global Power Holdings Corporation, a subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation. He also held key positions in the government-run National Transmission Corporation and the Energy Development Corporation. Ortiz is the first Filipino to die of COVID-19 abroad. Latest data from the Department of Foreign Affairs showed 153 confirmed cases involving Filipinos in 23 areas abroad. Of them, 86 have recovered while 66 are still being treated. Bulk of the cases came from the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship in Japan, with only three remaining under treatment. There are more than 340,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases globally, with over 14,700 deaths. Close to 100,000 patients have recovered, according to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center. A man who died after being infected with the coronavirus in Kolkata on Monday, the first COVID-19 death reported by West Bengal, was a railway employee, officials said here. He worked in the accounts department at the general manager's office in the Eastern Railway, they added. The senior section officer and his wife had gone to Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh by train between February 26 and February 28 and he attended office from March 2 to March 6, the officials said. "He got himself admitted to AMRI Kolkata, a private hospital, on his own on March 16 and was declared a COVID-19 case on March 21. His wife and mother-in-law are quarantined since Sunday at a government hospital," an official said. The deceased, whose son is based is the US, had not been in physical contact with the latter for a year, officials said. Railway Minister Piyush Goyal condoled his death. "Received the sad of a railway employee's death after being infected with coronavirus. My condolences to his family. To save yourself from this epidemic, I request everyone to be aware and take all precautions. It is very important for you and your loved ones," he said in a tweet. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Fourteen new cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in New Mexico and two highschool students and staff in Albuquerque are under self-quarantine. The confirmed cases include the aforementioned, an infant, and eight other people from Bernalillo County, and one each in Santa Fe, Lea, Sandoval, Dona Ana, and Taos counties. Schools affected with COVID-19 The Department of Health notified Albuquerque Public Schools of their ongoing investigation on a Del Norte High School student who they suspect to have coronavirus. Students and staff of the said school are recommended to self-isolate and immediately seek medical attention if any symptoms surfaced. Earlier this month, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham mandated the closure of New Mexico schools to reduce the risk of spreading the virus. The school system immediately acted on it and encouraged every individual to be responsible enough to take necessary measures. Principal Ed Bortot informed the families of Del Norte's students that the exposure may have happened between March 4 to 6 or March 9 and 10. The Department of Health commits to conduct screening and testing for students exposed to the virus. New Mexico Counties with COVID-19 case As of today, counties with reported COVID-19 cases include Socorro, Mckinley, San Miguel, Bernalillo, Santa Fe, Lea, Sandoval, Dona Ana, and Taos counties. Officials from Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center in Santa Fe said they still have ample medical supplies though they are continuously seeking donations for protective suits, gloves and cleaning supplies. The hospital has received a generous amount of supplies which they say will be used once their current supplies runoff. Other medical facilities reported lack of supplies but Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center insists they are far from it. The New Mexico Department of Health announced that they have detected community spread and confirms that more residents will likely be infected but are still waiting to be tested. The state has enacted additional restrictions to reduce person-to-person contact thus controlling the spread of the virus. Some business establishments were requested to close in the meantime as the state tries to control the virus. New Mexicans are urged to limit travel during this crisis. David Morgan, the spokesperson for the New Mexico Department of Health, shared that they are testing 350 individuals, however, those who are asymptomatic requires no testing. They further instructed the public to either reach out to their physicians or call the NMDOH Covid-19 hotline at 1-855-600-3453 if they show symptoms of being infected by the coronavirus. Count of COVID-19 cases per county is as follows: Bernalillo - 34 Santa Fe- 10 Sandoval - 7 Dona Ana - 4 Taos - 3 McKinley - 2 Socorro - 2 San Miguel - 1 Lea - 1 San Juan - 1 As of today, there are 345,289 cases of coronavirus across the world. China, where the virus originated, has a total recorded case of 81,903 followed by Italy at 59,138. The virus is affecting a total of 192 countries and 1 international conveyance. Though the pandemic has a low mortality rate, experts still want the public to take precautionary measures to prevent the pandemic from growing bigger. Related Articles: Highlights The Redmi K30 Pro will come with a Super Bluetooth feature. Redmi says it has managed to double the range of Bluetooth coverage to 500 meters. The Redmi K30 Pro will also support Bluetooth 5.1 with lower latency. There's only a couple of hours left before Redmi makes the K30 Pro official for the Chinese market. Based on the official teasers, there's a lot that we know about this Redmi flagship phone so far. Similar to the K20 Pro, this year's model will also get the Snapdragon 865 chipset and it will retain the unique pop-up camera system. However, a recent teaser suggests something that hasn't been seen in any other premium smartphone yet. The new teaser talks about the Bluetooth connectivity on the new phone and Redmi says it has built a Super Bluetooth' feature into the Redmi K30 Pro. While Redmi hasn't explained the technology and how it works on this teaser, it promises an enhanced range of Bluetooth coverage for the K30 Pro. Instead of the regular range that Bluetooth 5.1 offers, K30 Pro will cover nearly double the range. With Bluetooth 5.1, phones have a range of up to 243 meters but with Redmi's Super Bluetooth feature, the phone will be able to reach out to a wider range of 500 meters. This is almost double the range of what the standard Bluetooth module can do. Redmi hasn't explained how it has managed to double the range of Bluetooth on the phone but the use cases could make life easier. 500 meters of range means that there won't be any connection issues with devices within the house from any corner. Hence, you can now control your music systems or smart TV systems easily from another room. Redmi is yet to clarify the connection speeds, latency, and whether the range will be impacted indoors if there's an obstruction between the phone and the receiving device. This is surprising to see on a phone that aims to become the cheapest smartphone this year with the Snapdragon 865 chipset. The K30 Pro is shaping up to be slightly unusual this year when compared to its rivals. The phone will stick to a pop-up module for the front camera, thereby eliminating the need for a display cut out. For those concerned, the notification LED light still stays on. Xiaomi will launch the Redmi K30 Pro officially in China tomorrow but unlike last year's launch, there will be a new Zoom edition that promises up to 30X hybrid zoom similar to many of the current generation flagships. Diane Abbott's son has today admitted to spitting at a police officer and biting his colleague outside the Foreign Office after being refused entry. James Abbott-Thompson, 28, was working as a diplomat for the government department after graduating from Cambridge University. He went to the building on 29 November to ask to see a member of staff he knew and became angry when he was told they were not there. James Abbott-Thompson studied at Cambridge before getting a job at the Foreign Office Police were called to the Foreign and Commonwealth Offices in King Charles Street, Westminster, where he attacked them when they asked him to leave. The son of the shadow Home Secretary also admitted wrecking a glass plaque and assaulting a third man in the incident. Misba Majid, prosecuting, earlier said: 'It is an assault on two police officers after an incident taking place at the Commonwealth Offices. The Commonwealth Offices called the police. 'He was there because he wanted to speak to a member of staff who was not present. When the police arrived, they politely asked him to leave. He refused to do so. Diane Abbott's son has today admitted to spitting at a police officer and biting his colleague outside the Foreign Office after being refused entry 'He has gone on to whisper and the officer could not hear him so has come closer to him and he has gone on to spit in their face. 'He has spat in the face of the officer PC Stefan Aqua. He has then managed to break one arm free and punch PC Aqua in the face. 'He then tried to punch PC May and then grabbed PC May's left thumb and bit him.' The MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington was not in court to support her son who appeared via video-link wearing an orange vest with a grey jumper and glasses. He spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth and admit the charges before thanking the judge at Westminster Magistrates' Court. At the age of just 27 Abbott-Thompson was working alongside the British Ambassador in Italy advising the British Consul and the British community in Italy about their rights after leaving the European Union. After two and a half years in London, Abbott-Thompson was stationed in the British Embassy in Rome and was appointed as the First Secretary for Exiting the EU. Abbott-Thompson, of Tottenham, north London, admitted threatening behaviour, criminal damage, assault by beating and two counts of assaulting a police officer. He will return for sentence on 8 April. Governments at all levels in the country should declare emergency in the water sector giving the significance of water in checking public health emergencies like the ravaging Covid-19, the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria has said. In a statement Monday to mark the World Water Day, the group said the urgency of checking the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic has pushed the importance of hand-washing to the fore, and places availability of clean and portable water at the center of the campaign to check the virus spread. We are being told to wash our hands with water and soap when the taps in our communities are all dry, said Akinbode Oluwafemi, deputy executive director, ERA/FoEN. Most of our communities lack water for consumption and for basic hygiene and this makes checking public health emergencies much more difficult. The theme of the 2020 United Nations World Water Day is Water and Climate Change. ERA/FoEN noted that it is shocking how the federal and state governments are re-echoing the hand-washing message when in actual fact, they have failed to make that same public good available for citizens. As Nigerias Covid-19 confirmed cases continue to grow, this years World Water day is a wakeup call to government at all levels paying lip-service to the water sector to work the talk, Mr Oluwafemi said. It is unfortunate that a city like Lagos which has a population of nearly 21 million people, rather than making substantial investment in the water sector, is eyeing the failed Public Private Partnership (PPP) model promoted by the World Bank. PPP model will further worsen the water crisis in Lagos as that infamous path can only lead us to situations like the Flint and Pittsburgh water crisis in US and water shortages that will make local communities vulnerable to the COVID-19 and other illnesses Nigeria recorded its first death from coronavirus as total confirmed cases of the disease rose to 35 as at Monday morning. Mr Oluwafemi expressed concern that nearly one year into his administration, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is yet to accede to the demands of the Our Water Our Right movement and concerned Lagos citizens to unveil a blueprint on how to ensure adequate and democratically controlled water for Lagos citizens. As the state with the most cases of the COVID-19 we expect the Lagos government to be proactive and lead the way by ensuring adequate public investment in the water sector and innovative recommendations such as a Water Trust and others within the realm of human rights. Governor Sanwolu and indeed other state governments across the country should act speedily on access to public water to stave off the kind of pandemic we are battling currently, Mr Oluwafemi said. Phuket Immigration jammed with foreigners, expats on non-immigrant visas forced to leave the country PHUKET: Expats living and working in Phuket for years, even more than a decade, are being forced to leave the country because of the Immigration Bureaus requirement for non-tourist foreigners staying in Thailand to obtain a letter from their embassies requesting the foreigners permit-to-stay be extended. COVID-19Coronavirusimmigrationtourismhealth By The Phuket News Monday 23 March 2020, 01:03PM A marquee was set up in front of Phuket Immigration so foreigners could sit outside while waiting for officials to even receive their request to stay in Thailand longer instead of risking contracting the disease by having to leave the country. Photo: Supplied Hundreds of foreigners arrived at the Phuket Immigration Office in Phuket Town this morning (Mar 23) in the hope of extending their stay in the country instead risking contracting the COVID-19 coronavirus by having to travel home or anywhere else to comply with the Thai immigration regulation issued late last week. On Friday, Phuket Immigration confirmed to The Phuket News that by order from Bangkok all tourists can extend their stay by simply presenting themselves at the Immigration office, filing an application and paying B1,900. However, all foreigners staying on any other kind of visa, which includes Non-Immigrant O visas issued to foreigners married to a Thai and supporting a Thai family as well as Business visas, must obtain a letter from their respective embassy in order to be granted an extension to stay. (See story here.) Expats in Phuket have since reported to The Phuket News that their respective embassies, including the British, American and Australian* embassies, are not issuing such letters. The Phuket News understands that the reluctance to issue such letters arises from the current situation that many people can still get flights to their home countries, though not necessarily to the city the foreigner might want to arrive at. However, for many foreigners no direct flights home are available under the current travel lockdown. The consular officials The Phuket News spoke to stressed for tourists to just get the extension available. They also stressed such tourists to consider seriously where they would prefer to be if the situation continues in the long term while they face possible infection with the virus. Regarding the letters for long-term expats on non-immigrant visas, The Phuket News has been told that the embassies are working urgently on the problem. Of serious concern is that there has been no confirmation by immigration officials whether or not foreigners are being charged the maximum B500 a day fine for overstay for circumstances beyond their control. All calls by The Phuket News to Phuket Immigration this morning went unanswered. Meanwhile, one foreigner who has been living and working in Thailand for more than a decade told The Phuket News this morning that he has been told that he has until April 3 to leave the country to comply with Thai Immigrations requirement for him to leave the country every 90 days. As I am on a Non-immigrant, multiple-entry business visa. I am able to travel to and work in Thailand for a maximum of 90 days at a time. This is not usually a problem as I return home regularly every six to eight weeks. However as my home is under siege of the coronavirus, I have stayed here for the full 90 days. Now I must leave as there are no extensions available for business visas. When I go home I will have to go into 14-day quarantine then I must get a COVID-19 medical clearance before trying to get back into Thailand to continue the business. There is great risk Thailand will close its borders and not let me return. The sensible choice is for me to send the Thai staff home. Stop paying rent, tax and wages in Thailand and move all my assets out of Thailand. That is not good for me and not good for Thailand. Now I am waiting outside, sitting under a tree. It would be better for everyone if they could extend the same as tourists, he said. The Barro negro or the black clay from Oaxaca is known for its color, unique designs and shapes. It is crafted in a small village called San Bartolo Coyotepec. The ancient Zapotecs had used this clay-making technique. However, this method was made famous by Rosa Real, says an article. Check these out: What is the Official Language of Mexico? Hint: It's Not Spanish Amazing Facts about the Aztec Empire Mexican President Hugs and Kisses Supporters Amid the Presence of COVID-19 Cases in Mexico San Bartolo Coyotepec San Bartolo Coyotepec is a Zapotec community. It has a pottery-making tradition that dates back to 2000 years in the past. The settlement was called Zaapeche which means the 'place of many jaguars' by the Zapotecs. After the Spanish rule, it was named San Bartolome Coyotepec by Bartolome Sanchez. Sanchez is a conqueror who was given a local Encomienda award. He was the one who constructed the first church in the town in 1532. The Invention of Rosa Real The soil in the area is made with gray-colored clay. It was used to make jars and dishes by potters in the area. For hundreds of years, there was no relevant change in the process of pottery making. The changes started to occur in the earlier parts of the 1950s. This was during Rosa Real, a potter had tried polishing pieces of clay before completely drying them. Also, she used the technique of lowering the temperature of the fire in making the clay. This method had allowed it to change to a shiny black color. The spin created by Dona Rosa had transformed the Barro negro of Oaxaca into a global hit. Then, tourists from different parts of the world had started traveling to San Bartolo Coyotepec to visit the workshop of Dona Rosa. The technique of making black clay had spread in the different parts of the town. Also, different workshops had started to make it. Pottery of Dona Rosa Dona Rosa and her husband Juvenito Nieto were potters their whole life. They lived through selling jars and mescal holders. After the invention of the black clay method, they had started using it to create new vases, candle holders, and pots. They had also placed designs such as flowers, leaves, and geometric figures. Don Juventino died in 1978. In 1980, Dona Rosa passed away. Their son Valente Nieto inherited the workshop of his parents. He died in 2010. Currently, the shop of Dona Rosa is being operated by the sons of Valente. Pottery Making The color of the Barro negro is the natural color of the clay situated in the place. It is shaped similarly to how the Zapotecs do it. They call it the Zapotec wheel. It is disc-shaped and placed above another inverted plate. The pottery is created by shaping it into a coil or mold. Then, it is finished by turning the disc. The disc with the product is hand-turned. This means that making pottery requires good balance and skills. After finishing the pieces, they are let out to dry. They are placed in a room to dry for approximately 3 weeks. When the products are almost dry, its surface is slightly moistened and polished with a quartz stone. WASHINGTON In another workplace, in another town, the news that a colleague who, days and even hours before testing positive for the novel coronavirus, had been dining and meeting and working out alongside his co-workers might have spurred some drastic measures. Not so in Congress. Senator Rand Pauls announcement on Sunday that he had tested positive for the virus did little to alter the course of business on Monday in the Senate, where lawmakers continued to meet, spar and vote as leaders and top administration officials worked frantically to negotiate the largest economic stimulus measure in modern history. As states, cities and employers around the country direct Americans to stay at home and shelter in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, the Senate nearly half of whose members are 65 and older continues to defy the recommendations of public health experts. Mr. Pauls diagnosis, which prompted two other Republican senators to quarantine themselves, only underscored the danger of the situation. It is naive for us to believe that this is the end of the challenge to our membership, said Senator Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, the second-ranking Democrat, imploring his colleagues to shutter the Senate and institute remote voting, an idea that has been resisted by congressional leaders in both parties. We should not be physically present on this floor at this moment we know better. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump on Sunday partially granted Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's wish list for more federal intervention in the state's response to the coronavirus pandemic. At a White House news conference, Trump said federal officials are sending New York a stockpile of health supplies: roughly 186,000 N95 respirator masks, 444,000 surgical masks, 85,000 face shields, 69,000 surgical gowns and 245,000 gloves. The federal government will also deploy the federal National Guard to New York and help the state set up four makeshift medical facilities in downstate New York, providing for 1,000 additional beds. "New York is a hotspot like no other hotspot," Trump said. Cuomo has urged Trump to invoke the Defense Production Act to order manufacturing companies to begin producing hospital gowns, masks and other protective equipment that is in short supply. But the president has stopped short of doing that. Trump on Friday had also approved a major disaster declaration for New York, making it easier for the state to receive supplies from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). On Sunday, the president said he will also waive the 25 percent share that New York would typically have to pay in such a declaration a decision Cuomo had urged the president to make just hours before his Sunday evening media availability. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. "We are doing everything we possibly can as a state, but we can't do it alone we need the help of the federal government," Cuomo said earlier Sunday. He has also asked the president to take over the acquisition of medical supplies and prioritize sending "stimulus money" to Americans impacted by the crisis. Sudha Kongara is right now on a scripting spree. Earlier, we had reported that she might join hands with Vijay for Thalapathy 65, but she was rejected as Vijay wasn't impressed with the script. Well, the Thala of Kollywood, Ajith has reportedly approached the Irudhi Suttru director to narrate a script, and if everything goes well and good, the duo will make Thala 61 soon. As per the buzz, she is currently working on the script and Ajith would sign in only after Valimai, if only he is ok with the narration. On a related note, Sudha Kongara is gearing up for the release of Soorarai Pottru post Coronavirus pandemic. It is also said that the action drama, starring Suriya, in lead might have a face to face with Vijay's Master at the theatres. The makers of the film have temporarily suspended post-production works owing to the COVID-19 outbreak. On the other hand, Ajith's shoot for H Vinoth's Valimai has also been suspended for now. The movie, bankrolled by Boney Kapoor is expected to be a Diwali release. Ajith had a minor bike accident during the shoot and had later recovered. The actor was in the headlines recently for his legal notice that reiterated that he will not join social media or support fan pages and groups on such platforms. Confirmed: Ajith Is Not Intending To Join Social Media Platforms Anytime Soon! Magellan Midstream Partners (NYSE:MMP) has a huge 13% distribution yield. It doesn't take much effort to figure out why: Oil prices have cratered from the $50 range all the way down to the $20s. That's a devastating decline for the oil drillers that use Magellan's assets. The thing is, this midstream-focused energy company was already pulling back investor expectations before the price of oil fell off a cliff. What should investors be thinking about here? A big-picture view of things Magellan owns the pipelines and storage facilities that help get oil from where it is drilled to where it eventually gets used. Its assets are generally backed by long-term contracts that are based on the use of the asset, not the price of what's flowing through the system. In fact, roughly 85% of this limited partnership's operating margin is tied to fees. In general it is a fairly stable business -- demand for oil and natural gas is more important than the price of the fuels, and demand is likely to remain robust over the longer term. That said, COVID-19 is curtailing demand over the near term as global economic activity grinds to a halt. That situation has been exacerbated by OPEC and Russia, which are currently engaged in a bruising price war. Having failed to reach an agreement to curtail production, production has instead been increased. These two factors help explain why oil prices are so low today. This isn't a problem that's going to go away anytime soon, either, since oil can be stored for later use. Essentially, it will take time to work off the excess oil in the system that's being built up today. What's notable here, however, is that neither OPEC nor Russia really wants oil to be this cheap. What they want is for U.S. shale production to get pushed out of the market. They hope the low prices will speed the process along, sending marginal U.S. oil drillers into bankruptcy court. That's been happening, but not at a fast enough pace -- but this might change things. With oil below $30 a barrel, it will be very hard for smaller U.S. shale companies to keep their doors open -- and onshore U.S. oil producers are Magellan's main target market. It was already tough So far, the big issue for Magellan has been finding new investment opportunities. For example, in 2019 it spent roughly $1 billion on capital projects, but only has around $400 million lined up for 2020. That's a steep drop, and it was largely driven by the fact that oil was hovering in the $50 range. It's hard for energy companies to justify increased drilling at that price, limiting the need for additional midstream assets like the pipelines and storage facilities that Magellan owns. Management claims to have a pipeline of future projects that could be worth up to $500 million, but there are no definite plans laid out. The problem for Magellan is that in order to grow its top and bottom lines it has to build or buy new assets. If it can't do that, then growth stalls. That's why the partnership is guiding for a modest 3% distribution growth rate in 2020. That's less than half of the 10-year annualized distribution growth rate. More troubling, management has declined to provide any guidance for distribution growth beyond 2020, saying only that it is targeting a coverage ratio of 1.2 times. That's historically been considered strong coverage in the midstream space, providing some support for the payment during times of adversity. With oil prices now even lower than they were when the partnership made these decisions, however, the future looks even less clear. That shouldn't send investors running, however, because there are some positives to consider. For example, Magellan has long been fiscally conservative, with one of the strongest balance sheets in the industry. That hasn't changed, and likely won't anytime soon. Add in the solid distribution coverage and it's unlikely that a short-to-medium-length oil downturn will end up eviscerating Magellan's distribution. Also, the assets that this midstream player owns are serving existing customers. If one of those customers goes out of business, its business is likely to end up in the hands of another energy company. In that case, Magellan's pipes will still be needed. It might have to rework some contracts and future growth projects may be hard to come by, but low energy prices aren't the end of the world -- they are just an unfortunate headwind. Moreover, with regard to customers that muddle through this downturn, many of Magellan's contracts provide for regular, albeit modest, price increases. Thus, there's some potential for top- and bottom-line growth to continue, just slower than in the past. Lastly, financially strong Magellan could shift gears and buy pipelines and storage assets instead of building them. It prefers ground-up construction, which tends to provide higher returns. But it has made acquisitions before, so there's no reason to think it won't do so again if the oil downturn presents it with some midstream bargains. Can you stomach some volatility? It's hard to invest in an energy company when oil prices look like they could fall to zero, and Magellan's admission that growth is tough to come by today is not a comforting sign. However, Magellan is a financially strong partnership that has managed through energy industry downturns before. And even if it can't build pipelines, it can still buy them from financially weak peers. So it's way too soon to write Magellan off for dead. Conservative income investors looking for a way to take advantage of the devastation in the energy patch should take a closer look at Magellan and its double-digit yield. President Donald Trump said Sunday that he had activated National Guard units in New York, California, and Washington state to help fight against the rapidly spreading coronavirus. The deployment is not equal to martial law and Trump emphasized that governors remain in command even though the federal government will be funding 100 percent of the cost of deploying the units. Were dealing also with other states. These states have been hit the hardest, Trump said at a briefing in the White House. Advertisement Trump made the announcement amid criticism from governors and mayors that the federal government was not doing enough to help them face the growing crisis. Some described a feeling of being alone in the battle without guidance from the federal government. Were all building the airplane as we fly it right now, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said on ABCs This Week. It would be nice to have a national strategy. The president has also been criticized for not using the Defense Production Act, which would compel companies to produce much-needed products, including ventilators and protective masks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on COVID-19: I cant afford to have a fight with the White House, but the fact of the matter is at some point were going to have to analyze where all the failures were lives will be lost because we werent prepared. https://t.co/AH0Ahyp5uW pic.twitter.com/rqeBBxWIXc This Week (@ThisWeekABC) March 22, 2020 Advertisement Advertisement Trump defended the decision not to implement the Defense Production Act on Sunday. Call a person over in Venezuela, Trump said. Ask them, how did nationalization of their businesses work out? Not too well. The concept of nationalizing our businesses is not a good concept. Trump says he's not eager to use the Defense Production Act because he doesn't want the USA to [checks notes] end up like Venezuela pic.twitter.com/sQn4CuGfaO Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 22, 2020 Advertisement Earlier in the day, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo had called on Trump to nationalize the effort to obtain protective medical equipment. I think the federal government should order factories to manufacture masks, gowns, ventilators, Cuomo said. The essential medical equipment, thats going to make a difference between life and death. Gov. J.B. Pritzker of Illinois said on CNN that states were competing against each other in trying to get protective gear. This should have been a coordinated effort by the federal government, he said. Its a wild Wild West, I would say, out there. Advertisement Advertisement Illinois Gov. Pritzker says despite FEMA streamlining critical supply requests, the state is still only getting a fraction of what it needs and is competing against other states on the open market for supplies. Its a wild west... indeed we are overpaying" for PPE. #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/3MLLFir83V State of the Union (@CNNSotu) March 22, 2020 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United States now has the third-highest number of COVID-19 cases in the world, after China and Italy, according to the Johns Hopkins tracker. The number of confirmed cases in the United States passed the 33,000-mark Sunday while the number of infections globally increased to more than 300,000. In the United States, almost one-in-three Americans were under orders to stay home in an effort to stop the stem of the virus. The latest states to order their residents to stay inside included Ohio, Louisiana, and Delaware. Every piece of evidence that I can lay my hands on indicates that were at an absolutely crucial time in this war and what we do now will make all the difference in the world, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said. What we do now will slow this invader. Is autocracy the cure for the coronavirus? Thats becoming an increasingly common message as China, where the outbreak began, has gone without any locally transmitted cases over the past several days, while European countries and the United States are on the verge of being overwhelmed by the virus. Its not surprising to hear the Global Times, a Communist Partyrun English language tabloid, crow that because leaders are accountable to voters and authority is less centralized, Western political systems lack such an ability to mobilize and organize on such a massive scale. Its a little more striking to see the New York Times wonder if Europes death count, now higher than Chinas, is the price of an open society. Advertisement Its true that the kind of draconian lockdowns that have become the preferred method of stalling this virus are harder to carry out effectively in democratic societies that confer robust civil liberties on its citizens. But what happens after the immediate threat abates? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The virus may be devastating autocracies and democracies alike, but its also hastening the continued spread of authoritarianism, as leaders use the crisis as a pretext to amass and consolidate power. There are few things more enticing to an autocratic government than a pretext to surveil and detain citizens. Chinese authorities are reportedly abusing their quarantine powers with little accountability, while ramping up government monitoring of what was already one of the most electronically surveilled societies on Earth. There are also disturbing reports of ethnic Uighurs being forced to work in factories that had been closed due to contagion, despite the risks. Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile in Russia, President Vladimir Putin is using the instability provoked by the virus as part of the justification for constitutional changes that would allow him to run for a fifth term, and to ban mass protests against the vote. The need to enforce quarantine orders has also provided a convenient test case for the Russian authorities to roll out their expanded facial recognition and surveillance capabilities. The virus is a threat to the survival of fragile democracies as well. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, having lost the last election and facing criminal charges, has seized extraordinary powers in the name of mitigating the spread of the virus. Netanyahu shut down Israeli courtsconveniently postponing his own corruption trialand has prevented the newly elected members of the Knesset from convening, thereby keeping rival Benny Gantz, who is currently tasked with forming a government as a result of the most recent election, from assembling key committees. He also authorized the Shin Bet security agency to use its phone tracking technology, never before used on Israeli civilians, to monitor coronavirus patients. Advertisement Advertisement American democracy, already weakened, is also under threat. The virus has already resulted in several states delaying their primary elections. There are already concerns about what it will mean for November if the crisis drags on into the fall. The U.S. census has also delayed its field operations, imperiling efforts to make the all-important count as comprehensive and representative as possible. The Justice Department has asked Congress to allow courts to suspend habeas corpus during the crisis. More broadly, the crisis will concentrate more executive power in a president who has already shown himself uniquely inclined to abuse it. Advertisement Advertisement Globally, the crisis has resulted in the shutdown of international borders, accomplishing in one fell swoop the dream the right-wing populists in the West have been trying to accomplish for years. The European Union, which for all its flaws has been one of the most effective democratization projects in world history, may never fully recover from this moment. The virus has also resulted in an increase in xenophobia that will only benefit ethnic nationalists. Advertisement Advertisement Even the staunchest civil libertarian has to admit that some trade-offs are inevitable at a time like this. Enforcing quarantine orders on innocent civilians and locking down cities is and should be a painful step for any democracy. For now, theres little alternative. But ceding these rights now could have long-lasting consequences. As shown by the counterterrorism measures entrenched in the U.S. and elsewhere over the past two decades, when governments acquire new surveillance and detention powers to confront an overwhelming threat, theyre unlikely to give them up when that threat abates. Advertisement Advertisement More concerning than how governments will respond to the crisis is the impact it will have on society. With the inability to launch street protests, or even hold small gatherings, civil society has lost a powerful check on government abuses. Hong Kongs anti-Beijing protests have been on pause since the citys outbreak. Russian opposition groups have been forced to scale back their protests against Putins power grab. Advertisement Online dissent can be a powerful tool for opposition groups, but mostly to the extent that it can be used to get bodies in the streets. If all political activity moves online, its more subject to censorship, monitoring, and misdirection by the authorities. What governments really fear are massive gatherings that can shut down a city. Right now, governments are the ones shutting down cities. Advertisement Global democracy was already under threat, and this moment will not help. Authoritarian leaders will almost certainly come out of this crisis with more entrenched power, and authoritarian forces within democratic countries will have a new set of arguments and methods at their disposal. But this need not be a foregone conclusion. Last year saw a stunning wave of global protests, mainly in opposition to governments seen as corrupt and unaccountable. And some American political leaders are increasingly drawing connections between corruption at home and authoritarianism abroad. Advertisement Advertisement Rather than simply cede authority to all-powerful states, small-d democrats around the world could use this moment to argue for a government that is more accountable and transparent. China will do its best to make this virus a case study for the superiority of its political system. But Chinas failure to take the early actions that could have prevented this disease from spreading in the first place can also be attributed to tendencies of that same system. Official media downplayed the severity of the crisis for weeks in order to preserve social stability, and local authorities in Wuhan detained and publicly reprimanded the medical workers and bloggers who tried to raise the alarm. One could just as easily say that Chinas political system is the reason the world is in this mess. This is a case that can and should be made without resorting to the sort of xenophobia and racism on widespread display now. Advertisement In democratic countries, this crisis ought to demonstrate the value of leaders guided by data, science, and an inclusive view of the public interest. This style of leadership can be a powerful argument against the narrow emotional appeals of populists and demagogues. Of course, its hard to campaign or protest based on such arguments when no one is allowed to leave their house. Some activists, now that they cannot congregate in person, are getting creative. Brazilians are expressing their anger at Jair Bolsonaros handling of the virus by banging pots and pans from their balconies. Israelis are protesting against Netanyahus soft coup from their cars. Citizens will need to make much more noise before this is over. Canada urges Tokyo Games delay, won't send team in July Canadian Olympic officials on Sunday urged postponement of the Tokyo Games, saying that in view of the coronavirus pandemic they won't send a team in the summer of 2020. "The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC), backed by their Athletes' Commissions, National Sports Organizations and the Government of Canada, have made the difficult decision to not send Canadian teams to the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the summer of 2020," the COC said in a statement that ratchets up the pressure on the International Olympic Committee to postpone the Games scheduled to start on July 24. The IOC has come under increasing pressure to push back the games from sporting federations and athletes worried about the health risks as the COVID-19 global death tally went past 13,000 on Sunday. IOC president Thomas Bach said a decision on when the Games would take place would be made "within the next four weeks." Canadian Olympic and Paralympic authorities, however, said they wouldn't wait that long, urging the IOC to postpone the Games for one year while offering "our full support in helping navigate all the complexities that rescheduling the Games will bring. "While we recognize the inherent complexities around a postponement, nothing is more important than the health and safety of our athletes and the world community," the COC and CPC said. "This is not solely about athlete health -- it is about public health," their statement added. "With COVID-19 and the associated risks, it is not safe for our athletes, and the health and safety of their families and the broader Canadian community for athletes to continue training towards these Games. "In fact, it runs counter to the public health advice which we urge all Canadians to follow." That argument has become increasingly heard from athletes in countries where training facilities are shuttered and gatherings of people are banned in a bid to halt the spread of the disease. The IOC has countered that by July, the global crisis could have passed and that postponing now would be premature and could cost some athletes a long-awaited chance at Olympic glory that might not come again. Bach said the IOC was considering "different scenarios," adding that complete cancellation of the games was not among them. "We are thankful to the IOC for its assurance that it will not be cancelling the Tokyo 2020 Games and appreciative that it understands the importance of accelerating its decision-making regarding a possible postponement," the Canadian statement said. "We also applaud the IOC for acknowledging that safeguarding the health and wellness of nations and containing the virus must be our paramount concern. We are in the midst of a global health crisis that is far more significant than sport. "We remain hopeful that the IOC and IPC will agree with the decision to postpone the Games as a part of our collective responsibility to protect our communities and work to contain the spread of the virus." From Caracas to Tehran, officials are calling on the Donald Trump administration to ease crippling economic sanctions they contend are contributing to the growing death toll caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The idea has gained support from prominent leftists in the US, including Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, who say throwing a financial lifeline to some of the United States' fiercest critics is worth it if lives can be saved. "It's absolutely unconscionable to keep sanctions on at this moment, Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Centre for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, said in an interview. "The only moral, sane and legal thing to do is stop the madness that is crippling other countries' health systems." But almost in the same breath, the same officials in Iran have rejected U.S. offers of aid a sign to critics that scapegoating and pride, not US policies, are causing immense harm. American companies have been blocked from doing business with Iran and Venezuela for almost two years, after the Trump administration unilaterally pulled out of Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers and launched a campaign seeking to oust Venezuela's socialist president, Nicols Maduro, for allegedly committing fraud in his 2018 re-election. The escalating restrictions have drastically reduced oil revenue in both countries and led to tensions that, in the case of Iran, culminated in a January drone strike that killed a top Iranian general. US officials have brushed aside the criticism, saying that the sanctions allow the delivery of food and medicine. But most experts say shipments don't materialize as Western companies are leery of doing business with either of the two governments. "In most cases, compliance by banks makes it virtually impossible to do business," said Jason Poblete, a sanctions lawyer in Washington who has represented American citizens held in Cuba, Venezuela and Iran. Iran has reported more than 1,810 coronavirus deaths as of Monday, the fourth-highest national total in the world, and its government argues US sanctions have exacerbated the outbreak. It has been supported by China and Russia in calling for sanctions to be lifted. The European Union's top foreign policy chief on Monday called on the US to make clear its sanctions don't target humanitarian aid. "Even amid this pandemic, the US government has vengefully refused to lift its unlawful and collective punishment, making it virtually impossible for us to even buy medicine," Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a video statement. He also published on Twitter a list of the supplies that Iran urgently needs, including 172 million masks and 1,000 ventilators. "Viruses don't discriminate. Nor should humankind," he wrote. US officials say providing sanctions relief to Iran would only fund corruption and terrorist activities, not reach people in need. They point out that Venezuela's medical system has been in a free fall for years and shortages predate the sanctions. Far from pulling back, the Trump administration has been expanding its "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran, finding time in the middle of the virus frenzy to blacklist five companies based in China, Hong Kong and South Africa that it says are facilitating trade with Iran's petrochemical industry. "This is a sort of tired regime talking point, saying that the sanctions are impacting their ability to deliver assistance for their people," said Brian Hook, the State Department's representative for Iran. "If the regime is sincere about looking for resources to help the Iranian people, they could start by giving back some of the tens of billions of dollars they have stolen from the Iranian people." Kenneth Roth, the head of New York-based Human Rights Watch, which has issued scathing reports on abuses in Iran and Venezuela, said the international community should come together to help every country, even those under sanctions, gain access to needed medical supplies. "The US government should clearly state that no one will be penalized for financing or supplying humanitarian aid in this time of a public-health crisis," he told The Associated Press. The virus' spread in Iran was exacerbated by days of denial from the government about its severity amid the 41st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution and attempts to boost turnout for February parliamentary elections. Hard-liners in its Shiite theocracy, meanwhile, have stormed shrines closed due to the virus as the public largely ignores guidance from health officials to stay home. In Venezuela, the impact has been less severe only 77 confirmed cases and no deaths. But its healthcare system was already in shambles like the rest of the economy, with as many 70 per cent of hospitals reporting electricity and water shortages, so even a small disease outbreak can trigger major havoc. Together the two countries control around 30 per cent of the world's petroleum reserves, so they are expected to be among the hardest hit from a halving of crude prices this month that reflects forecasts for a global recession. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mnuchin Says Congress Is Very Close To Reaching Stimulus Deal Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Monday that a deal between Democrats and Republicans was very close to being hammered out on the COVID-19 economic stimulus package. I think were very close. We need to get this deal done today, Mnuchin told CNBCs Jim Cramer on Monday, March 23, adding that while existing funds had already been deployed to soften the blow of the CCP virus, we need Congress to approve additional funds today. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan, China and causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) coverup and mismanagement of the outbreak fueled its spread throughout China and across the world. Speaking to CNBC, Mnuchin said small businesses were already getting help in the form of loan support. We are providing immediate loans to small businesses. Were working with the [Small Business Administration]. Were going to make sure that banks can immediately lend money as long as those companies hire back their workers or keep their workers, Mnuchin told CNBC Monday. At the end of that period, we will forgive those loans entirely, he said. We want to make sure that small businesses, which represent about 50% of the private economy, keep workers employed. So when the president is ready to open up this economy again and weve killed this virus, workers are in place. Its no fault of theirs: Theyre getting paid. Top Trump administration officials and congressional leaders struggled Monday to finalize a nearly $2 trillion economic rescue package as the CCP crisis deepened. I didnt expect to be starting off my week with such a dire message for America, Surgeon General Jerome Adams said on CBS This Morning, as he warned the numbers will grow worse this week. Things are going to get worse before they get better. We really need everyone to understand this and lean into what they can do to flatten the curve. According to data collected by Johns Hopkins University, as of Monday morning, there were over 35,000 confirmed COVID-19 infections in the United States and 473 deaths. Administration officials and congressional leaders were to resume talks at 9 a.m. ET after working through the night on the economic rescue plan. Democrats had derailed the plan Sunday night, arguing it was tilted toward corporations and did too little to help workers and health care providers. Mnuchin exited the Capitol just before midnight, striking an optimistic note, adding negotiators would work through the night. Our nation cannot afford a game of chicken, warned Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky). His goal is to vote Monday. The Senate will re-convene at noon. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) sounded an optimistic note on the prospect the sides would reach a deal soon, but said there were shortcomings in the proposal that needed fixing. This bill is going to affect this country and the lives of Americans, not just for the next few days, but in the next few months and yearsso we have to make sure it is good, he said. Schumer said there were some some serious problems with the bill leader McConnell laid down, including what he said were huge amounts of corporate bailout funds without restrictions or without oversightyou wouldnt even know who is getting the money. He said insufficient funds had been proposed for hospitals and nurses, including personal protective equipment like masks. No money for state and local government, many of whom would go broke. Many other things, Schumer said. But Schumer also said they were making progress in dealing with those issues. Were getting closer and closer. And Im very hopeful, is how Id put it, that we can get a bill in the morning. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 23) Eight more patients with coronavirus disease have died as the number of cases in the Philippines nears 400, the Department of Health said Monday. Health spokesperson Ma. Rosario Vergeire told CNN Philippines 16 new cases were confirmed, bringing the total number of COVID-19 patients in the Philippines to 396. With the new eight deaths recorded, the total of fatalities is now 33. Eighteen patients have recovered from the highly-contagious viral disease. She said the numbers are expected to go up as the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and several other subnational laboratories are addressing backlogs of test results. "Baka magulat ang ating mga kababayan kapag lumabas ang numbers per day kasi biglang tataas because now that we are reducing the backlog," she said in an interview. Globally, over 339,000 have been infected and 14,705 have died because of the viral disease. Over 98,000 have recovered. The disease is spread through small droplets from the nose or mouth when people infected with the virus cough or sneeze. To prevent infection, authorities are urging people to practice regular hand washing, cover their mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, and avoid close contact with those who show respiratory symptoms. Commonly reported COVID-19 symptoms are fever, dry cough and shortness of breath. Those with severe and critical symptoms should call the Health Department at (02) 8-651-7800 local 1149-1150. Oregon lawmakers are considering delaying the states new business tax for education and are searching for ways to provide financial assistance to independent contractors and those ineligible for unemployment payments. Those were among the topics discussed Monday at an hours-long hearing of the Legislatures Joint Special Committee On Coronavirus Response. The committee will prioritize potential actions and make recommendations for lawmakers to act on during a special session that has yet to be scheduled. Gov. Kate Brown said she might call such a session within a week. The committees discussion was wide-ranging and touched on such topics as homelessness, regulatory relief for businesses, preventing commercial and residential foreclosures, forbearing mortgage payments, eliminating hospital bed taxes, and repurposing existing funds within Business Oregon to provide immediate help to small businesses. The chairs of the committee, Rep. Paul Holvey, D-Eugene, and Sen. Arnie Roblan, D-Coos Bay, emphasized that members were going to have to quickly prioritize feasible actions and determine which the state could afford and which would only require a policy change. They also noted that many of the 50 or more proposals on the committees list are under the purview of Congress, not the state, and Brown is addressing others by executive orders. The Legislatures response will also be constrained by available revenues, which could be heavily impacted by the pandemics impact on employment and state income tax receipts. What are the five most important things we can do as a Legislature to respond, Holvey asked. What can we do quickly that we think we can actually achieve? Then well need to come back to talk about some of the continuing impacts were seeing. All of these issues will have to be balanced by whether we have the money. The states new corporate activities tax a 0.57% assessment on commercial activity above $1 million in the state kicked in Jan. 1, and estimated payments are due in coming weeks. Delaying its implementation is a priority for businesses dealing with the fallout of the pandemic. Meanwhile, schools and early childhood programs are banking on having its roughly $1 billion in proceeds for their operating budgets in 2020-21. Sen. Tim Knopp, R-Bend, said he thinks the impact of the pandemic on businesses is ultimately going to be worse than 9/11 and the 2008 financial crisis combined. Many businesses simply wont come back, and he said implementing a new tax at this juncture would exacerbate their difficulties. Our priority is maintaining businesses and their employment, he said, adding a lot of schools and early childhood programs wont be operating fully or at all. I think we can bring some certainty to business on this. We just need to set a date. Roblan, the committee co-chair, said he would be amenable to some delay, but said those businesses that are healthy and not being disrupted by the virus should still pay. Sen. Elizabeth Steiner Hayward, D-Portland, agreed with Roblan, noting that businesses like WalMart and Amazon are still hiring. We have to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater. I dont mind delaying, but Im very reluctant to letting every business subject to this tax (off) from paying it, especially when some are doing well because of the virus. Other members raised issues about a potential partial implementation. Its unclear if the Department of Revenue has the technical capability to delay the imposition of the tax for a subset of businesses, whether the state could quickly or accurately identify sectors that are healthy, and whether changing conditions will also change which businesses are thriving versus suffering over time. Rep. Duane Stark, R-Grants Pass, said the emphasis needs to be doing something quickly and responding to business uncertainty. It makes sense to do this across the board and reevaluate when we get through this. Holvey ultimately shelved the discussion, saying the committee would need more information to make a definitive recommendation. The committee discussed a number of steps regarding unemployment. One priority is to protect businesses already devastated by the pandemic, such as restaurants, from a spike in unemployment insurance rates because of the widespread layoffs during the pandemic, members said. The solution may be to spread the resulting rate increases, which are based on actual experience by individual businesses, across the entire system, they suggested. Another hot topic was providing some safety net for independent contractors, farmworkers and other workers in the gig economy who dont pay unemployment insurance and arent eligible for benefits. Its unlikely that the state can distribute money from its very healthy unemployment trust fund to those who havent contributed for legal reasons, lawmakers said. Other issues include identifying who would qualify for any fund, how big that universe is, what its likely to cost and what pools of money are available. This is one where were going to have to figure out how federal small business monies are going to come out, Holvey said. Its a big issue, he said of the prospective need, and probably a larger pot of money than we think. Among other things, lawmakers went on to discuss potential actions related to homelessness, utilities, high-risk households, high school and university course credits, training requirements, and maximizing the workforce. Roblan emphasized that nothing was off the list, but not everything can be a priority in the first wave. Holvey said that anyone interested in submitting ideas the Legislature should do so by 5 pm today via email at jscvr.exhibits@oregonlegislature.gov. -- Ted Sickinger; tsickinger@oregonian.com; 503-221-8505; @tedsickinger Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. On the day after Sara Nizzero submitted her doctoral dissertation, she and fellow Rice University graduate student Ryan Ning raced to the Fort Bend County courthouse and got married. Nizzero wore a little white dress with matching jacket. Ning beamed in his best navy suit. A handful of friends looked on as the couple clasped hands and said, I do. Their anniversary is April 8, and though its been nearly a year since the newlyweds tied the knot, Nizzero still considers herself a bride. She has always imagined that a traditional ceremony in her native Italy planned for June 7 in Sardinia would be their official big day. CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: Stay informed with accurate reporting you can trust I really wanted my dad to walk me down the aisle, hes very old and not in the best health, Nizzero says. So I wanted to have something small, just so we could have that moment. She and Ning looked into Italian wedding venues the day after exchanging legal vows. The groom, who is from Shenyang, China, has been converting to Catholicism, the brides faith, in the months leading up to their religious ceremony in the Church of Our Lady of Grace. In early February, when news of the coronavirus was first reported from China, the couple remained optimistic. But by the end of the month, Nizzeros hometown, Vicenza, was affected by the virus. Thats when the couple sent an email to their 150 wedding guests, asking them to delay booking any new flights and hotel accommodations. Things only got worse. Travels bans went into effect. The grooms family couldnt leave China, and the brides parents were on lockdown in Italy. Then Nizzeros sister, a working physician who was treating coronavirus patients at the time, started to show symptoms. Nizzero and Ning had to make the heartbreaking call. Their wedding was off. Last week, after Harris County officials banned residents from gathering in groups larger than 10, local engaged couples found themselves in a similar position: Should they cancel, postpone or reschedule saying I do? For some, like Sarah McQuillan and Grant Pinkerton, the decision was easy. My fiance owns Pinkterons Barbecue. We cant leave the restaurant in this state right now, McQuillan says, as restaurants are restricted to delivery and takeout orders. Their initial position on tying the knot in Fredericksburg was Come hell or high water, well get it done. Scheduled for March 28, their Hill Country wedding itinerary included a Friday night rehearsal dinner in Luckenbach, followed by a Saturday ceremony and reception at Country Inn Cottages. Many of their guests were traveling from Florida and Massachusetts, and the couple looked forward to entertaining outside of Houston. Were so rooted in the restaurant that we were excited for them to see another part of Texas, McQuillan says. Now theyve changed their wedding date to July 1. Most of their friends and family have been supportive, even though some were prepared to grit their teeth and try to make the trip, McQuillan says. We really wanted to do spring in the Hill Country, so now were going to do summer in the Hill Country, she says. Hopefully it all works out. David Cordua and Sara Padua had a similar reaction after rescheduling their destination wedding in Mexico City from the end of March to next fall. Whats been incredible is how gung-ho everyone was until the last minute, Cordua says. Even my sisters in California, which has been the most Draconian state, were all on board. Everyone was 100 percent in, including my groomsmen with the exception of the ones who were coming in from Europe. He and Padua agonized over the decision. Cordua, whose family owned Americas, Churrascos, Artista and Amazon Grill, compares the 10-day process to a slow leaky faucet drip. When they postponed, it was a relief to most of our guests and a relief to us, Cordua says. If anything, its brought us closer together and put things in perspective. After we decided, Sara and I put on some music and danced the whole night, he says. It was kind of awesome. Then he added, Im more worried about people in food, beverage and hospitality. Though most of his vendors were understanding, hes accepted that some costs cant be recuperated. Locally, members of Houstons event industry feel caught between a rock and a hard place. They want to be accommodating, but the overhead costs to produce a wedding are high. Given the volume of events forced to cancel due to the pandemic, some florists, caterers and event planners worry they wont survive. CORONAVIRUS IN HOUSTON: All of the latest news, numbers and analysis to keep you up-to-date, only on HoustonChronicle.com Taylor DeMartino had to temporarily lay off all 18 team members of his DeMartino Design Group. Between expensive storage rentals, transportation vehicles and no new business coming in, he just didnt see another way. Im hoping this moves quickly because, in the event industry, we work September through May knowing that all the other months are dead, he said. Right now, the way were looking at this, heading into three months of summer means six months that people are out of work. By his estimation, approximately 30,000 weddings take place in Houston annually. Thats a lot of weddings that have to be rescheduled with a very limited number of venues, vendors and planners available in town. Luvi Wheelock, owner of Casa de Novia Bridal Couture, shares DeMartinos concern. Her luxury salon carries high-end wedding gowns by designers, including Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Monique Lhuillier and Vera Wang. Right now is a really heavy time with brides who were supposed to be getting married from March to May putting their weddings on hold until June or July, she says. But, we also have brides already getting married in June or July. So its going to be a cluster, but Im going to do whatever it takes to get it done. Period. Wheelock is in the process of relocating her boutique from River Oaks Shopping Center to Hollywood Square in Upper Kirby. She has to vacate the former space by March 31 and occupy the new one by April 1. Im pretty relaxed about it, because what else can I do? says Wheelock, who wants to be a calming presence for her brides. Are they panicked? 100 percent. Are they sad? 1 million percent. But its important to remember that at the end of the day, youre getting married to the person you love. Nizzero and Ning have yet to set a new date for their wedding in Italy. For now, the couple is just grateful to know that their loved ones are well. Theres not one solution, but I felt very privileged that we were postponing, Nizzero says. I thought of the families without health care or who were very sick. It felt like an honor to protect everyone. amber.elliott@chron.com Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Sunnova, the Houston-based residential seller of solar-power systems, called on Congress to include the solar industry in plans to help the energy industry during the coronavirus pandemic. The company criticized the Senate's proposed spending package that would provide billions of dollars in loans for the oil and gas industry but ignores the solar energy industry, which has become one of the fastest growing sources of power in the United States. Solar accounted for 40 percent of new electric generation capacity last year, according to industry trade group Solar Energy Industries Association. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 21:33:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ROME, March 23 (Xinhua) -- A university hospital in Rome has started to use a new diagnostic tool that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help quickly diagnose patients with coronavirus. The so-called "Infer-read" system is based on technology developed by a Chinese company called InferVision and adapted for use in Italy. Rome's Polyclinic Bio-Medical University purchased the license for the system and InferVision engineers based in Germany traveled to Rome to train staff on its use. The system uses around 600 images of a patient's lungs taken through the use of standard computerized tomography scans to quickly determine which patients may have been infected by the coronavirus and which are uninfected. Once the images are loaded into the system, it produces a result in around 20 seconds. Traditional diagnosis for coronavirus takes several hours if it is processed on-site, and up to three days if it must be sent away for processing. "This new kind of system doesn't do the job on its own, but it can serve as a very important tool to help a skilled radiologist," said Bruno Beomonte Zobel, coordinator of the Imaging Center at the Polyclinic Bio-Medical University, where the system is housed. Beomonte Zobel, who is also a professor at the university's diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy department, told Xinhua that the process relies on artificial intelligence to "learn" the characteristics of infected lungs. It is only applicable in areas where there are thousands of cases of viral infections for the system to understand how to recognize them. It is not necessary that individual hospitals have the system on hand since they can upload the images from the computerized tomography scans -- a widely available technology, and send them to be analyzed. Beomonte Zobel said the system in Rome is capable of processing "a few hundred" cases a day, though it has yet to be used to full capacity. Though the system reportedly boasts a 98.5-percent accuracy rate, Beomonte Zobel said its main use is to help radiologists decide which examinations to focus on. "If we get the images for, let's say, 500 suspected cases of coronavirus, the system will be very good at determining that only 200 of them merit close inspection by a radiologist," he said. "That is a big time saver." According to Luca Bianchi, chief technology officer for Neosperience, a technological innovation firm promoting the use of artificial intelligence to help curb the spread of coronavirus, the promising new technology has great potential to play an important role in the fight against the virus. But he said some challenges to its use remain. "The system can interpret results quickly, but the computerized tomography scans still take time and after each one, the machine has to be thoroughly sanitized to assure that if the first patient is infected by the coronavirus, it will not be passed onto the next patient using the machine," Bianchi said in an interview. A 26-year-old Pakistani doctor has become the country's first medic to die after contracting the novel coronavirus while treating the COVID-19 patients in Gilgit region of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, officials said on Monday. Usma Riaz was treating the patients who recently returned from Iraq and Iran. Pakistan, which borders Iran and China, two of the most affected countries by the deadly coronavirus, has reported five deaths and nearly 800 persons have been infected. Riaz was part of a 10-member team of the doctors tasked with screening patients returning from downtowns, particularly those arriving there from Iran via Taftan. He later started providing services to the suspected patients in isolation centres established for them in Gilgit. Riaz belonged to Chilas in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). He came home on Friday night but could not get the next day. He was first rushed to a military hospital and then to district hospital. He was put on ventilator and died on Sunday, according to his family. GB government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq confirmed the death of the young physician who is the first doctor to die in the battle against the deadly virus. "It is with extreme sadness that the Gilgit-Baltistan health department confirms that Usama Riaz who played a key role in the war against coronavirus has passed away," the GB government tweeted on Monday. "Usama proved himself the real hero by sacrificing his life to save others, GB Information Minister Shams Mir said. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Medical Association of Gilgit-Baltistan (PMA G-B) in reaction to Riaz's death accused the government of negligence towards the safety of doctors. Riaz had contracted COVID-19 due to the negligence of government and its health department," President PMA G-B Zulfiqar Ali said. "We will again see what the issue is, and if they (quarantined pilgrims) need further treatment, they will be shifted to DHQ (District Headquarter Hospital) or city hospital, but if they can be treated here, we will provide treatment to them here. The region in north of Pakistan along border with China has so far reported 55 cases. Click here to read the full article. Streaming online via video presentations from March 25, Series Manias experimental Digital Forum will make or break on the quality of its centerpiece, its Co-Pro Pitching Sessions. This years lineup, at least on paper, looks particularly strong. Following, a break-down on the 16 originally selected projects: More from Variety The Abduction of Yossele Shuchmacher (Israel) Co-created and to be directed by celebrated Israeli cineaste Eran Riklis (Lemon Tree, The Syrian Bride, Dancing Arabs), based on a notorious true case in 1961 and co-created by Fauda writer Moshe Zonder.-Backed by veteran producer Michael Sharfshtein, the title blends an intimate, painful drama within a powerful social-political set up, wrapped as a psychological thriller, says Riklis. The Black Lady (Belgium, France, Germany) An English-language six-part bio-series led by Brussels-based AT-Prod about Madga Goebbels which author Helene Duchateau describes as a depressingly modern miniseries: Beyond Madga Goebbels unique experience, it echoes the growing populist trends in Europe and the processes of radicalization in our time. Casa Girls (France) A comedic, pop-palette toned take on Morocco freed of any cliches, as four young Moroccan girls battle for a blooming sex life in Casablanca and a quest for femininity beyond maternity, says creator Laila Marrakchi, one of Moroccos highest-profile female and feminist movie filmmakers, who also directed episodes of The Eddy. Doppelganger (Spain, Argentina) A dark crime thriller where the viewer is encouraged to empathize with a serial murderer, who kills and steals the identity of wealthy businessman. Created and co-written by Jesica Aran, and part of a burgeoning Argentina-Spain TV axis. Story continues Frozen Land (Russia) Russian Noir, set in the remote republic of Khakassia, with a serial killer on the loose, but set apart by its POV: That of a woman in love with the murderer. Produced by Alexander Rodnyansky at Non-Stop Production, which backed Andrey Zvyagintsevs Cannes Festival-prized Elena and Leviathan. Good People (Belgium, France) Founding fathers of Belgian Noir with The Break (La Treve), Stephane Bergmans, Benjamin dAoust and Matthieu Donck return with Good People, a crime series where tragedy flirts with farce, and where the characters are magnificent losers who are as funny as they are terrifying, they say. Helicotronc, producer of The Break and idiosyncratic Netflix drama-comedy Mytho, which won 2019s Series Manias Audience Award and best actress plaudit for Marina Hands, once more produces. The Island (Germany, U.K.) Produced by Germanys At Work (Where Are We Now) and co-produced by U.K.-based production and distribution company All3Media, The Island unspools in 1978 when a British citizen is found stabbed to death in a West German gay club. Described by creators Anders August (A Fortunate Man) and Alexander Rumelin (Transporter: The Series) as a modern noir, told with the sharp contrast of the different cities within the city. Life and Fate (U.K., Poland) Set up at the U.Ks Cosmopolitan Pictures and Clerkenwell Films and Polands Apple Film, with three-time Academy Award nominee Agnieszka Holland (Europa Europa) attached to direct, Life and Fate is a small-screen adaptation of Russian Vasily Grossmans massive novel. It deals with a subject close to Hollands movies: A Russian family at the Siege of Stalingrad, battling a totalitarian enemy and suffering totalitarian government. A Marriage (Italy) Italys Oscar-winning production house Indigo Film (The Great Beauty) presents creator Giacomo Bendottis story of Anna and Enrico, a couple falling and eventually fallen out of love. Spread across 12 years, from first date to a bitter custody battle, the series looks at what influences can morph a couples unconditional love into abject hate after the arrival of their first child. My First Family (France, Israel) First fruit of a first-look development deal struck by Frances Haut et Court TV producer of The Returned, Last Panthers and The New Pope and Israels Quiddity whose Eilon Ratzkovsky has producers credits on Ananda, Yellow Peppers, Milk & Honey and Sirens, all sold for U.S. remake. Set in an alternate reality where people need a license to have children. Play of Mirrors (Velazquez In Rome) (Spain) The celebrated painter travels to Rome on Spanish state business, faces off with Olympia Pamphili, the most powerful woman in Rome, head of the mysterious Black Order. A contemporary thriller spy story set in 18th century, vindicating not Velazquez but Pamphili, founder of the first counterespionage agency in history, series creator Pedro Barbero explains. Submarine (Brazil-Spain) Marking Globo Studioss second venture into English-language series co-production, here with Spains The New Pope and The Head producer The Mediapro Studio, Submarine is created by TMSs Ran Tellem (Homeland) and Mariano Baselga (The Boarding School) and Brazils Marcos Bernstein (Central Station) and described by them as a complex political criminal thriller, sparked when organized crime sequesters Brazils first nuclear sub. Tahrir, (Israel) Set against the backdrop Egypts 2011 Arab spring uprising, Island clocks the 48 hours of a violent takeover of the Israeli embassy in Tahrir Square, Cairo. Six staff members become trapped while the world outside devolves into violent chaos and crossfire. Artza Productions and Yes Studios produce the political thriller from creators Ariel Benbaji, Anat Gafni and Sahar Shavit. Transitniki, (Germany) From Germanys Rohfilm Factory, Transitniki is a drama set behind the Iron Curtain in 1985. The series tracks groups of young East Germans, feeling trapped in their own country, who find a way to enter the Soviet Union illegally using transit visas and satiate their desires for travel and adventure. The series is written by an experienced trio of TV screenwriters in Heide Schwochow, Constantin Lieb and Christian Mackrodt. MDM is attached to co-produce. Turbo (Serbia) A buzzed-up series from Belgrade-based Sense Production, producers of Cristi Puius Malmkrog, which opened New Berlinale section Encounters and billed as Serbias first real international co-production. Set in 1991, an aging mobster drama-thriller, framed by war, and succession them as gangster Dragan tries to do right by his wayward son, who secretly plots to take over his empire. Underground (Norway) Billed as smart sci-fi, and an attractive proposition for a post-COVID-19 world, a post-dystopian utopia series where humanity, with life uninhabitable on earth, has retreated underground and successfully built a new Eden. But, say its creators, there is of course a snake in this paradise. An initially feel-good drama that, rather like ITV Studios-distributed Kieler Street, also from Ole Marius Araldsen and Anne Kolbjrnsens ambitious and co-pro avid Anagram Norway, questions basic human nature. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. [The stream is slated to start at 11:30 a.m. ET. Please refresh the page if you do not see a player above at that time.] World Health Organization officials are holding a press conference to update the public on the coronavirus outbreak, which has now infected more than 350,000 people worldwide. WHO officials warned Friday that the coronavirus outbreak shouldn't be dismissed as a bad flu season, saying the virus has overwhelmed hospital systems across the globe in just a few weeks. Mike Ryan, executive director of the World Health Organization's emergencies program, said that 26 million health-care workers may end up treating COVID-19 patients, and there's a shortage of protective equipment for them. WHO is also working with scientists across the globe on at least 20 different coronavirus vaccines with some already in clinical trials in record time just 60 days after sequencing the gene, officials said. However, the vaccines are still a long way away from being available for public use, WHO officials cautioned. Once a vaccine is discovered, there will be logistical, financial and ethical hurdles world leaders will face. "Even if we get a vaccine that's effective, we have to have that vaccine that's available for everybody. There has to be fair and equitable access to that vaccine for everybody," Ryan said, adding the world won't be protected from the coronavirus unless everybody is vaccinated. The coronavirus has infected more than 350,000 people worldwide and has killed at least 14,790, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. CNBC's Emma Newburger and William Feuer contributed to this report. Read CNBC's live updates to see the latest news on the COVID-19 outbreak. Miley Cyrus invited Ellen DeGeneres on to her new webcast Bright Minded: Live with Miley Cyrus on Monday to get some helpful tips on hosting from the longtime pro. After some technical difficulties where Ellen and wife Portia de Rossi had trouble using Instagram Live, the comedian joined Miley via FaceTime where the songstress got to ask how to be a good talk show host. The casual interview came just hours after a number of Twitter users spoke out about Ellen's diva behaviour and mean-spirited attitude towards her fans and employees. Longtime host: Miley Cyrus asked Ellen DeGeneres for some tips on being a talk show host on Monday as she invited her to appear on her web cast Bright Minded The 62-year-old comedian is yet to respond to the accusations. And chatting to Miley, 27, was no doubt a welcome break from the Internet critics. Once she had the legendary talk show host's attention, Miley introduced DJ Emu, her cute dog who will be providing some tunes - but only playing 'mommies music' - for the show. The Party In The USA hitmaker said she had tried to think of everything for her stage set-up and felt nearly ready for real live guests to join her on her couch. 'I got a mug, I got my really fancy 8" x 10"s and I got my sign,' Miley revealed, showing all the items she had prepared for the Ellen segment. Setting up: The Party In The USA hitmaker said she had tried to think of everything for her stage set-up and felt nearly ready for real live guests to join her on her couch Making it work: After some technical difficulties where Ellen and wife Portia de Rossi had trouble using Instagram Live, the comedian joined Miley via FaceTime where the songstress got to ask how to be a good talk show host Once she had the legendary talk show host's attention, Miley introduced DJ Emu, her cute dog who will be providing some tunes - but only playing 'mommies music' - for the show Ellen chimed in: 'Now you have your DJ I think you're all set. It would be nice to have a band there but you are a band, so you could just play to break.' With that note of encouragement Miley revealed she had already come up with a theme tune for Bright Minded and sung the catchy tune for Ellen at home. Asked for her thoughts on the jingle, Ellen said: 'I like it, it's very catchy, everyone's gonna know the words and sing along, it's good I like it.' 'So Ellen, I'm officially a talk show host.' Miley said as they wrapped up their chat. 'You are officially a very good talk show host' the TV star agreed, as Miley added, 'I just got the torch passed from the master- you taught me everything I know'. 'I got a mug, I got my really fancy 8" x 10"s and I got my sign,' Miley revealed, showing all the items she had prepared for the Ellen segment 'So Ellen, I'm officially a talk show host.' Miley said as they wrapped up their chat. 'You are officially a very good talk show host' the TV star agreed 'I just got the torch passed from the master- you taught me everything I know' Miley gushed about Ellen Over the weekend former employees and fans of Ellen took to Twitter to blast the renowned talk show host for her alleged 'mean' behavior. Comedian Kevin T. Porter kicked the entire social media movement off on Friday, when he sent out a tweet urging people to message him 'the most insane stories [they've] heard' about DeGeneres in an effort to raise money for the Los Angeles Food Bank. Shortly after posting, Porter was flooded with written accounts by various Twitter users who claimed to have had less than savory interactions with Ellen - who he labeled as 'notoriously one of the meanest people alive' - over the years. Yikes: Over the weekend former employees and fans of Ellen DeGeneres took to Twitter to blast the renowned talk show host for her alleged 'mean' behavior On a roll: Comedian Kevin T. Porter kicked the entire social media movement off, when he sent out a tweet urging people to message him 'the most insane stories [they've] heard' about DeGeneres in an effort to raise money for the Los Angeles Food Bank 'Right now we all need a little kindness. You know, like Ellen Degeneres always talks about!,' wrote Porter. '[And] I'll match every [story] w/ $2 to @LAFoodBank.' Before scanning his Twitter thread for the best responses, Porter reminded his audience that the stories they submit 'have to be real! Cause we need some REAL kindness right now.' According to one user, former head writer for The Ellen DeGeneres show Karen Kilgariff was 'fired' because she 'wouldn't cross the picket line' during a writer's strike. 'When Karen wouldn't cross the picket line she was fired and Ellen never spoke to her again,' they wrote. Alleged hostility and mistreatment of writers proved to be a reigning theme in the thread, with one user claiming that her 'friend' who had written for Ellen 'for two years' was never acknowledged by her. Loyalty tested: According to one user, former head writer for The Ellen DeGeneres show Karen Kilgariff was 'fired' because she 'wouldn't cross the picket line' during a writer's strike Talk to the hand: Alleged hostility and mistreatment of writers proved to be a reigning theme in the thread, with one user claiming that her 'friend' who had written for Ellen 'for two years' was never acknowledged by her Served: Another user, who had waited on the 62-year-old comedian at the Los Angeles vegan eatery Real Food Daily, claimed that Ellen 'wrote a letter to the owner & complained about [the waitress'] chipped nail polish '[She] told me Ellen didn't greet her once. In fact, upon employment, staff were told they weren't allowed to talk to her' TV writer Benjamin Siemon decided to provide the thread with some stories of his own, that included DeGeneres having an irrationally 'sensitive nose' and often picking 'someone different to really hate' each day on set. 'Everyone must chew gum from a bowl outside her office before talking to her and if she thinks you smell that day you have to go home and shower,' he alleged. 'A new staff member was told 'every day she picks someone different to really hate. It's not your fault, just suck it up for the day and she'll be mean to someone else the next day. They didn't believe it but it ended up being entirely true.' Another user, who had waited on the 62-year-old comedian at the Los Angeles vegan eatery Real Food Daily, claimed that Ellen 'wrote a letter to the owner & complained about [the waitress'] chipped nail polish (not that it was on her plate but just that it was on my hand).' She continued: 'I had worked till closing the night before & this was next morning, almost got me fired.' Another terrible restaurant experience included a story which she 'threw a place of salmon' in a waiter's face 'bc it wasn't what she ordered.' Ellen, a staunch vegetarian, appeared to have multiple negative run-ins with waitstaff, with one Twitter user claiming that the talk show host 'threw a plate of salmon' at her friend because it 'wasn't what she ordered.' Comedian Josh Levesque wrote to Porter explaining that a friend of his had worked as a production assistant for The Ellen Show during a time when actor Russell Brand was set to appear as a guest. Brand allegedly 'came into the employee break area to chat with the crew and hangout,' but then 'Ellen came in and got mad at him.' Apparently, Ellen told the Get Him To The Greek star that he 'didn't have to interact with these people' and 'that's why guests have their own area backstage.' Writer Alison Freer recounted a time when she had been working for a production on the Warner Brothers lot - where The Ellen Show is filmed. '[It] was our showrunner's 50th Bday. Caterer grilling steaks outside for special fancy lunch. Ellen sent someone over to demand they stop, as she doesn't eat meat.' Freer added: 'She's the worst.' One user, not speaking from experience, recalled hearing that Ellen had 'insisted' a newly employed assistant take her 'fancy-a** car on a run,' even though the assistant was 'not comfortable' driving the vehicle. 'The assistant accidentally backed it into a pole and was immediately fired for it,' they wrote. Lots of stories: People had more than a few anecdotes to share Though mostly negative experiences with DeGeneres were documented in Porter's thread, some Twitter users did voice positive exchanges they had had with the chatty gal. Actor Jordan James Smith recounted a time he had worked alongside Ellen on a shoot, where he described her as 'really nice.' 'I once worked on an American Express commercial with her and Beyonce. We talked and I made a joke that made them both laugh. She was actually really nice.' 'Oh nice, I'm glad you had a good experience with her!,' replied Porter to the optimistic commenter. Porter's initial tweet has since garnered more than 5,000 retweets and nearly 1,000 replies, since posting. Daily Mail has reached out to DeGeneres' reps for comment. Words like "draconian" and "Mao-style social controls" have been used to describe Chinese officials' restrictions on society in central China in their battle against the deadly coronavirus. Few would disagree that once Chinese officials fully acknowledged the danger posed by the coronavirus and accompanying COVID-19 illness -- many accuse them of initially covering up a key insight into the outbreak in Wuhan in January -- they ruthlessly quarantined, isolated, and surveilled hundreds of millions of citizens. On March 20, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that "Wuhan provides hope for the rest of the world, that even the most severe situation can be turned around." It was, in the words of a joint UN-Chinese mission of epidemiologists, "perhaps the most ambitious, agile, and aggressive disease containment effort in history." And, some argue, something that could likely only be done in an authoritarian country like China. But evidence made available this week suggests that the harsh measures worked -- at least for now. A major breakthrough was marked in China's three-month epidemiological battle with the previously unknown virus on March 18, when official figures showed no new local transmissions of the coronavirus and only a few dozen new cases, all of them infections that came from abroad. One day later, with governments elsewhere still rushing to tighten societal controls as the global pandemic raged, the COVID-19 death toll in Italy alone eclipsed the 3,245 killed by the disease so far in China. Chinese scientists even asserted on March 19 that a new study in Wuhan showed an average symptomatic patient's chance of dying was 1.4 percent, "substantially lower" than some indicators had previously suggested. Six other countries -- Italy, Spain, Germany, the United States, Iran, and France -- now have a higher number of active COVID-19 cases than China -- where 71,150 people had recovered by March 20 and 6,569 were still fighting the disease. Collectively, the news appears to buttress the confidence expressed in a "final report" by the joint mission of World Health Organization (WHO) and Chinese infectious-disease experts on coronavirus and COVID-19 that raised eyebrows for its seemingly effusive conclusions. "China's bold approach to contain the rapid spread of this new respiratory pathogen has changed the course of a rapidly escalating and deadly epidemic," the mission reported in late February, with the rate of new infections in China cresting and cases in Italy -- which was destined to become a new European epicenter -- just starting to creep out of the single digits. Second Wave? But even amid such praise and signs that 1.4 billion Chinese have cleared a major infectious hurdle, experts caution that intermittent returns to mass lockdowns there are nearly inevitable for at least the next year. A second wave of infections is likely, they say, in China and anywhere else that manages to stifle the initial outbreak, which by March 20 had afflicted more than 250,000 people worldwide and killed more than 10,500. "Of course, we must exercise caution -- the situation can reverse," the WHO's Ghebreyesus added. The recent good news also threatens to overshadow harsh criticism of Chinese officials' alleged refusal to share potentially lifesaving information with outside scientists and the country's public as the outbreak ballooned from the first confirmed case on December 1. It was also admonished for its censorship of citizen warnings and punishment of those who spoke out when time was of the essence to blunt the outbreak. Such warnings and criticisms have not prevented Beijing from turning outward to offer expertise and deliver planeloads of masks, ventilators, and other medical equipment. Within a month of its peak infection rate, China and some prominent Chinese citizens have mostly pivoted from infighting and finger-pointing over perceived failures at containing the budding pandemic to pledging or providing assistance to the United States, Europe -- which WHO calls the outbreak's current "epicenter" -- and other populations around the world. It is part of what has been described as a "coronavirus propaganda war" fed by what Politico says is "a not-so-subtle PR campaign" from Beijing. That has been countered in the United States by reminders that include fostering a semantic spat amid some officials' insistence, particularly within U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, on referring to it as "the Chinese Virus." "Look, the disinformation campaign that [Chinese officials] are waging is designed to shift responsibility," U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who has repeatedly called the coronavirus the "Wuhan virus," told reporters on March 17. He went on: "We know this much: We know that the first government to be aware of the Wuhan virus was the Chinese government. That imposes a special responsibility to raise the flag, to say, 'We have a problem, this is different and unique and presents risk.' And it took an awful long time for the world to become aware of this risk that was sitting there, residing inside of China." New And Unfamiliar Foe The coronavirus is thought to have first jumped from animals to humans around the third week of November 2019, according to genetic analysis, with the first cases spotted in heavily populated Wuhan, in Hubei Province. There are no approved vaccines for the easily transmissible coronavirus, and treatment of the pneumonia-like COVID-19 illness that it causes is so far limited to supportive care and experimental stabs with existing agents. Any widespread introduction of a proven, safe vaccine is still at least a year to 18 months away, most experts say. In late January, much of the focus was on China's secrecy as outsiders tried to assess the global threat. China's ruling Communist Party acknowledged on February 3 -- when the death toll was around 400 and new infections were mounting rapidly -- that the outbreak would be "a major test of Chinas system and capacity for governance." The Communist Party this week publicly condemned officials' treatment of a doctor who recognized the significance of the coronavirus outbreak soon after its outset. Opthamologist Li Wenliang was himself infected in early January and died of COVID-19 a month later, after protesting at the apparent unwillingness of officials to acknowledge the rapidly spreading problem. But his online protests helped raise a public hue and cry against official secrecy and silence, and appeared to help shake Chinese officials into action. In early February, with coronavirus infections spiking in China and spreading to more than a dozen other countries, tens of millions of Chinese were tuning in to a state-owned CCTV live stream of the whirlwind, 10-day construction of hospital facilities to house around 2,600 COVID-19 patients. More around the world watched the Wuhan Huoshenshan Hospital and Leishenshan Hospital projects via news agency feeds. Chinese viewers gave construction equipment relatable nicknames like "Little Yellow" and "Little Blue," according to Nikkei Asian Review, but it was a clear official signal of the urgency of the situation and the perilous days and weeks ahead. "While it is probably fair to say that China's initial denial of the seriousness of the coronavirus outbreak centered in Wuhan allowed that city to be widely infected, they eventually put very stringent public health measures into place, including an almost complete 'lockdown' of that city and others in China," Dean Winslow, infectious-disease physician at Stanford Health Care in California, told RFE/RL. Caught In The Middle The big Chinese clampdown combined aggressive quarantines, ruthlessly enforced lockdowns, and invasive surveilling through cutting-edge "big data" tools and artificial intelligence. Even the WHO's Ghebreyesus, in the "congratulating" Chinese response he gave in January, stressed the antivirus measures' "severe social and economic impact...on the Chinese people." The New York Times calculated that at least 760 million Chinese were subjected at some point to a degree of household isolation. Facial-recognition, artificial intelligence (AI), and other "big data" efforts were also a focus to achieve what WHO described as "contact tracing and the management of priority populations." Human Rights Watch (HRW) complained loudly about the heavy-handedness of the Chinese lockdown, arbitrary detentions and other brutality, and the unfolding measures' list of unintended victims, including a disabled boy who died from neglect after his relatives were forced into quarantine. HRW urged restraint by Beijing in a January 30 report, China: Respect Rights in Coronavirus Response. Haunting tales emerged of the tight thermal imaging, facial recognition and AI software, and other surveillance efforts being used by China. One Hubei restaurant owner was visited late night by police when he returned from the coronavirus hot spot to his home in Sichuan so they could order him to quarantine himself for two weeks, Al-Jazeera reported. When he went out to pick vegetables, he was quickly chased down by police who'd clearly employed neighborhood cameras and facial-recognition tools to spot his transgression. 'That's Not Strict' From France to the Czech Republic and even Italy, officials outside China have grappled more publicly with the trade-offs between the need for monitoring and for the public to observe "social distancing" and other public protections, on the one hand, and a reluctance to seem heavy-handed in their enforcement on the other. During an information-sharing visit to northern Italy on March 19, visiting Chinese Red Cross official Sun Shuopeng boasted of Wuhan's "decreasing trend" of infections "after one month since the adoption of the lockdown policy" there. "Here in Milan, the hardest-hit area by COVID-19," he said, "there isn't a very strict lockdown." One of the leading criticisms of the Chinese response and its feasibility for the West has been that pulling off the same degree of invasiveness and control would be difficult in societies where personal liberties and professional ambitions are more robustly protected. "There has to be a balance between protecting people's lives and their livelihoods," Time magazine quoted an infectious disease expert at the University of Hong Kong, Ben Cowling, as saying. Other critics draw a parallel between Chinese officials' uncompromising approach to public lockdowns and evidence that they initially covered up evidence of the animal-to-human infection that started the outbreak, whitewashed increasingly disturbing figures on its spread, and failed to adequately inform the public of the risks. Word that authorities shuttered the Shanghai laboratory that made one of the most significant scientific breakthroughs as the coronavirus outbreak was mounting into a pandemic for "rectification," has already fed accusations of a continuing cover-up. Officials did not explain the closure, which came the day after the lab published the coronavirus's gene sequence on an open platform. "I thought there was no way those numbers could be real," Science magazine quoted Tim Eckmanns, epidemiologist at the Robert Koch Institute in Germany and a member of the WHO-China mission, as saying in connection with their fact-finding. Just One Battle The mission concluded in that instance that indeed the "decline in COVID-19 cases across China is real," and this week's statistics seem to bear that out. But whether it will stay that way remains a major question for China and the rest of the world as efforts to stamp out the pandemic continue. In Wuhan on March 19, officials reported no locally transmitted new cases for a second straight day. WATCH: Five Things To Know About Coronavirus Myths Some of Hubei Province's lockdowns were lifted or eased this week, checkpoints dismantled, and travel bans within the region rescinded. The WHO urged Chinese officials to "carefully monitor the phased lifting of the current restrictions on movement and public gatherings" for any sign of new or remaining chains of COVID-19 transmission. Officials, it stressed, should show "a clear recognition and readiness of the need to immediately react to any new COVID-19 cases or clusters as key elements of the containment strategy are lifted." "Obviously time will tell," Stanford's Winslow said. "My understanding is that they are not abandoning all public health measures [such as social distancing, discouraging large gatherings, etc.] so their response may, indeed, be adequate to prevent a 'second wave' as was seen in the 1918-1919 Spanish Flu pandemic." Britain's Imperial College COVID-19 Response Team, whose March 16 report has been credited with inciting the British and U.S. governments to stronger action to reduce social contacts to fight the pandemic, also warned of the vulnerability of "suppression" efforts through so-called NPIs, or nonpharmaceutical interventions, like self-isolation and the closing of social-gathering points. "The main challenge of this approach is that NPIs [and drugs, if available,] need to be maintained -- at least intermittently -- for as long as the virus is circulating in the human population, or until a vaccine becomes available," it said. Michael Osterholm, who warned in his 2017 book, Deadliest Enemy: Our War Against Killer Germs, that earlier coronaviruses like SARS and MERS were "harbingers of things to come," last week called it "like trying to stop the wind." He added: "What we saw in China, what I'm convinced [of], as are many of my colleagues, [is] as soon as they release all these social distancees, these mandated stay-at-homes -- they haven't left their homes in weeks and weeks kind of thing -- when they get back to work [and] they're on planes, trains, subways, buses, crowded spaces, manufacturing plants, even [in] China [the coronavirus] is going to come back again." WELCOME TO THE 2020 PINKBIKE FIELD TRIP 8 value-oriented bikes put to the test on Sedona's unforgiving trails. Words by Mike Kazimer, photography by Anthony Smith 4 Trail Bikes Under $3,000* USD YT Jeffsy Base 29 150 (R) / 150mm (F) travel 29" wheels 66 head-tube angle Weight: 34.4 lb / 15.6 kg $2,299 USD Norco Torrent HT S1 150mm fork 29" wheels 64 head-tube angle Weight: 33.7 lb / 15.3 kg $3,149* USD (price changed after testing was completed) Santa Cruz Hightower Alloy D 140mm (R) / 150mm (F) travel 29" wheels 65.5 head-tube angle Weight: 35.2 lb / 16 kg $2,899 USD Commencal Meta TR Ride 130mm (R) / 150mm (F) travel 29" wheels 66.5 head-tube angle Weight: 33.5 lb / 15.2 kg $2,599 USD 4 Trail Bikes Under $2,000 USD Vitus Mythique 29 VRX 140 (R) / 140mm (F) travel 29" wheels 66 head tube-angle Weight: 32.8 lb / 14.9 kg $2,000 USD Kona Honzo 120mm fork 29" wheels 68 head-tube angle Weight: 32.3 lb / 14.7 kg $1,499 USD Giant Stance 1 120 (R) / 130mm (F) travel 29" wheels 67.5 head-tube angle Weight: 31.6 lb / 14.7 kg $1,800 USD Calibre Bossnut 130mm (R) / 130mm (F) travel 27.5" wheels 66 head-tube angle Weight: 33.4 lb / 15.1 kg $1,300 USD The Riders Mike Kazimer Height: 5'11" / 180cm Weight: 160 lbs / 72.6 kg Notes: Managing tech editor, horchata addict 5'11" / 180cm160 lbs / 72.6 kgManaging tech editor, horchata addict Mike Levy Height: 5'10" / 178 cm Weight: 155 lb / 70.3 kg Notes: Tech editor, gas station snack connoisseur 5'10" / 178 cm155 lb / 70.3 kgTech editor, gas station snack connoisseur How We Tested The 2020 Pinkbike Field Test was made possible by support from: Smith, 7mesh, and Thunder Mountain Bikes. If you've followed along with the Pinkbike Field Test in the past, then the idea behind the first annual Field Trip will be familiar. Take a whole bunch of bikes, ride them as much as possible for a couple weeks, and then report back on the pros and cons of each one. What worked, what didn't, what's worth upgrading - you'll be able to watch and read about all our findings in the coming days. Sedona, Arizona, served as our test location, where the dry desert conditions were a welcome reprieve from the seemingly endless rain back home.We added a twist for the Field Trip the focus was on value priced trail bikes, in this case four bikes that sell for under $3,000 and four bikes under $2,000. All of the bikes had less than 140mm of rear travel, and we even included two hardtails in the mix. Don't worry, they were all still subjected to the infamous Huck to Flat, as well as the Impossible Climb, which took place on a course that just-so-happened to be lined with a whole bunch of cactus. There's also a roundtable discussion for both groupings of bikes, along with a video that goes over the do's and don'ts of buying a used bike.For our test loop, we selected a short, easily repeatable combination of trails that had a little bit of everything a modern trail bike should be able to handle. It began with section of climbing on the Peccary trail, with a few punchy, moderately technical climbs to get things going. Next came a traversing portion on Hog Wash, where the trail repeatedly dipped into small gullies and made its way up the other side, terrain that served as a good way to gauge how well a bike carried speed. The 1.6 mile loop concluding with a quick rip down Pig Tail, which begins with a short rocky S-turn that leads into series of trail bike-appropriate jumps and drops. The entire loop takes around 12-minutes, which meant that we were able to take multiple timed laps on each bike without completely exhausting ourselves.There's a brief discussion of the timing results in each video, but as you'll see, that wasn't the main focus of these reviews. More than anything, the test lap served as a way to get accustomed to each bike's handling before heading out for longer, more difficult rides in the Sedona area.One difference between the Field Trip and last year's Field Test is that this time we didn't use control tires. Why not? It's because the focus of this trip was on value-priced bikes, and if you're on a budget, the last thing you want to do after purchasing a bike is spend even more money to swap out the tires. For that reason, we made sure to mention if the tires were up to the task, or if they'll need to be replaced sooner than later.We'll be kicking things off tomorrow with the first review, and we'll be releasing the rest of the Field Trip coverage over the next two weeks. Stay tuned! Some New Jersey healthcare providers are calling on volunteers to make masks for their workers in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic despite federal guidelines saying homemade masks should be only used as a last resort because they may not be effective. Atlantic Health Systems of Morris Plains operates five medical centers in Central Jersey and made a plea on its website for help. Calling all those who can sew. If you can sew, you can make a mask," a statement on its website said. "These masks will be used for those in healthcare spaces who are not directly at risk for coronavirus exposure but still may want additional protection. This will allow the professional protective gear to be used exclusively for healthcare workers who are at higher risk of exposure. The medical system also requested new masks and personal protective equipment. Among the supplies St. Lukes University Health Network in Hunterdon is asking for, are materials to make their own masks cotton, denim, duck cloth, canvas, twill, silk or other tight woven fabric, as well as elastic and rubber bands. There is a nationwide shortage in the supply chain and you can help, the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce and Hunterdon County Economic Development stated in an email. But the federal Center for Disease Control has guidelines for homemade equipment and said it should be used only as a last resort. In settings where facemasks are not available, [health care provider] might use homemade masks (e.g., bandana, scarf) for care of patients with COVID-19 as a last resort, the CDC said. However, homemade masks are not considered [personal protective equipment], since their capability to protect HCP is unknown. Caution should be exercised when considering this option. Homemade masks should ideally be used in combination with a face shield that covers the entire front (that extends to the chin or below) and sides of the face. When asked about other community drives being organized by hospitals due to a shortage of supplies and rumors of nurses being told to remove their homemade masks, Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli advised caution. I keep urging people to follow the CDC guidance in the use of masks," she said. We do know the N95 masks, which are in short supply, are really the most effective in protecting healthcare workers. The other paper masks, etc., are probably really are not as protective as people would love to believe. Gov. Phil Murphy announced Sunday he was centralizing the states effort to manage the inventory of supplies. The Office of Emergency Management will lead it and will coordinate with the New Jersey Hospital Association to make sure all the needs of hospitals, long-term care facilities and first responders are met. Murphy and Persichilli, however, said they recognized the community wants to help in any way possible, which is appreciated and they expect to see more of it, particularly among private businesses. People want to help and some of the ways they feel theyre helping is to be able to, if they cant donate their time, donate their goods," state Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said Sunday. And I know that many volunteers who cannot come into the hospital are making masks that they feel will be protective. They feel like they have to do something. If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @bduhart. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. The convener of the Bring Back Our Girls movement, Aisha Yesufu, has condemned President Muhammadu Buhari over his nationwide broadcast on Sunday. The President, after pressure from Nigerians and the legislature since the outbreak of coronavirus, addressed the nation. Also Read: Nigeria Confirms Five Fresh Cases Of Coronavirus However, Yesufu, a popular critic of President Buhari-led government was not pleased with the message passed by the president in his advice. She questioned the ability of President Buhari to govern the nation, as she also queried the reason the President didnt change service chiefs despite the calls for their sacking. See her tweets below: First of all a disaster is at the villa who doesn't know he is President nor what Presidency is all about. That is like having two different epidemic at the same time. Nigeria is at it's vulnerable state and needs responsible and responsive leadership! Aisha Yesufu (@AishaYesufu) March 23, 2020 A man who doesn't seem to know that he is President and thinks he is working with the Ministry of health is a disaster and can Nigeria afford such disaster at this very critical time of pandemic and possible global recession? Aisha Yesufu (@AishaYesufu) March 23, 2020 From the bewildered way Buhari read what was given to him does he look like he knows we are even in the year 2020? Does he loo like someone that has his wits around him and on top of the affairs of the Nation? Aisha Yesufu (@AishaYesufu) March 23, 2020 So if Buhari @MBuhari is working with the Ministry of health, is he also working with the Service Chiefs? Is that why he did not know that he can sack them? Is that why he doesn't know that they are due for retirement? All you demands for their sack fell on deaf ears literally! Aisha Yesufu (@AishaYesufu) March 23, 2020 The Hungarian bill granting special powers to the government for the fight against the new coronavirus epidemic aims to stop fake news from undermining the efforts, Zoltan Kovacs, the state secretary for international communications and relations, said in a blog post on abouthungary.hu. Kovacs reacted to reports on the bill submitted on Friday that would extend the duration of the extraordinary measures (those put in place to fight the coronavirus) until the end of the state of emergency. The bill includes provisions to cover the possibility of a forced parliamentary break, which some media said was prompting concerns, he said. The state secretary said that the measure was necessary because if Parliament has no quorum (because more than half of the MPs are missing), it will not be able to extend the state of emergency. The bill would also prohibit elections or referendums until the end of the state of emergency. Mind you, Hungary doesnt have any elections scheduled in the near future, he noted. The bill would make it a criminal offense to spread false information to confuse large groups of people or hamper the virus containment efforts, Kovacs said. What was the response from the liberal, mainstream press? Orban is going to jail journalists! he said. In reaction, Kovacs said Hungarian law is creating sanction for reckless speech that could impair or thwart efforts to protect people from the spread of the virus. Were in a state of emergency, by the way. Lives are at stake. This gross distortion of the facts is biased and irresponsible. A relative of Nigerias first coronavirus fatality, who was identified as Suleiman Achimugu, has said the deceased showed strange symptoms before he died. Mr Achimugu who recently returned home following a medical treatment in the UK died of coronavirus on Sunday. According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control(NCDC), the victim had underlying medical conditions multiple myeloma and diabetes and was undergoing chemotherapy before returning to Nigeria. According to the World Health Organisation, patients with diabetes may be at extra risk for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) mortality. In a phone interview with Channels TV, Abubakar Achimugu said the deceased was in self-isolation for two weeks, following the advisory by the WHO. When he got back on March 10, his temperature was okay that he could still take extra precaution by self-isolation for 14 days. That was exactly what he did, he said But after a week in isolation, he started experiencing unusual symptoms similar to those publicised on COVID-19, he added. The late Achimugu was said to have informed the (NCDC) personally of his conditions after which he was immediately taken to the COVID-19 centre in Abuja where he tested positive. He was experiencing symptoms that were alien to him. After the tests, a day after, the results were made available which came out positive, which was on Saturday. Then they arranged that he be evacuated to the COVID-19 centre in Abuja, he said. Commending the NCDCs prompt response in handling the situation, Mr Achimugu said everything happened according to Gods will. Mr Achimugu was buried on Sunday, according to Islamic rites. He was a former Managing Director of the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC). PPMC is the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) subsidiary in charge of petroleum products marketing and distribution. Global death toll According to Worldometer, there are 353,766 cases of Coronavirus with 15,419 deaths globally. Nigeria currently has 36 cases of Coronavirus with one death. Chennai, March 23 : With Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami announcing that prohibitory orders would be declared in the state and inter or intra state travel prohibited from Tuesday 6 a.m. till March 31, the Koyembedu bus stand was crowded with people eager to reach their native places. Palaniswami also declared closure of all organisations other than those involved in providing essential services. "The Chief Minister has announced that prohibitory orders would be imposed and closure of all organisations other than essential ones. I decided to go to my native place. But there is a huge crowd," a traveller told a television channel. The central government has stopped passenger train services across the country resulting in a surge in demand for bus seats. Similarly grocery outlets had a higher number of customers shopping in panic. Some retail outlets saw long queues where the demand was high for vegetables and fruits. Severity The complete clinical picture with regard to COVID-19 is not fully known. Reported illnesses have ranged from very mild (including some with no reported symptoms) to severe, including illness resulting in death. While information so far suggests that most COVID-19 illness is mild, a reportexternal icon out of China suggests serious illness occurs in 16% of cases. Older people and people of all ages with severe chronic medical conditions like heart disease, lung disease and diabetes, for example seem to be at higher risk of developing serious COVID-19 illness. A CDC Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report that looked at severity of disease among COVID-19 cases in the United States by age group found that 80% of deaths were among adults 65 years and older with the highest percentage of severe outcomes occurring in people 85 years and older. Learn more about the symptoms associated with COVID-19. COVID-19 Pandemic A pandemic is a global outbreak of disease. Pandemics happen when a new virus emerges to infect people and can spread between people sustainably. Because there is little to no pre-existing immunity against the new virus, it spreads worldwide. The virus that causes COVID-19 is infecting people and spreading easily from person-to-person. Cases have been detected in most countries worldwide and community spread is being detected in a growing number of countries. On March 11, the COVID-19 outbreak was characterized as a pandemic by the WHOexternal icon. This is the first pandemic known to be caused by the emergence of a new coronavirus. In the past century, there have been four pandemics caused by the emergence of novel influenza viruses. As a result, most research and guidance around pandemics is specific to influenza, but the same premises can be applied to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Pandemics of respiratory disease follow a certain progression outlined in a Pandemic Intervals Framework. Pandemics begin with an investigation phase, followed by recognition, initiation, and acceleration phases. The peak of illnesses occurs at the end of the acceleration phase, which is followed by a deceleration phase, during which there is a decrease in illnesses. Different countries can be in different phases of the pandemic at any point in time and different parts of the same country can also be in different phases of a pandemic. There are ongoing investigations to learn more. This is a rapidly evolving situation and information will be updated as it becomes available. Risk Assessment Risk depends on characteristics of the virus, including how well it spreads between people; the severity of resulting illness; and the medical or other measures available to control the impact of the virus (for example, vaccines or medications that can treat the illness) and the relative success of these. In the absence of vaccine or treatment medications, nonpharmaceutical interventions become the most important response strategy. These are community interventions that can reduce the impact of disease. The risk from COVID-19 to Americans can be broken down into risk of exposure versus risk of serious illness and death. Risk of exposure: The immediate risk of being exposed to this virus is still low for most Americans, but as the outbreak expands, that risk will increase. Cases of COVID-19 and instances of community spread are being reported in a growing number of states. People in places where ongoing community spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 has been reported are at elevated risk of exposure, with the level of risk dependent on the location. Healthcare workers caring for patients with COVID-19 are at elevated risk of exposure. Close contacts of persons with COVID-19 also are at elevated risk of exposure. Travelers returning from affected international locations where community spread is occurring also are at elevated risk of exposure, with level of risk dependent on where they traveled. Risk of Severe Illness: Early information out of China, where COVID-19 first started, shows that some people are at higher risk of getting very sick from this illness. This includes: Older adults, with risk increasing by age. People who have serious chronic medical conditions like: Heart disease Diabetes Lung disease CDC has developed guidance to help in the risk assessment and management of people with potential exposures to COVID-19. What May Happen More cases of COVID-19 are likely to be identified in the United States in the coming days, including more instances of community spread. CDC expects that widespread transmission of COVID-19 in the United States will occur. In the coming months, most of the U.S. population will be exposed to this virus. Widespread transmission of COVID-19 could translate into large numbers of people needing medical care at the same time. Schools, childcare centers, and workplaces, may experience more absenteeism. Mass gatherings may be sparsely attended or postponed. Public health and healthcare systems may become overloaded, with elevated rates of hospitalizations and deaths. Other critical infrastructure, such as law enforcement, emergency medical services, and sectors of the transportation industry may also be affected. Healthcare providers and hospitals may be overwhelmed. At this time, there is no vaccine to protect against COVID-19 and no medications approved to treat it. Nonpharmaceutical interventions will be the most important response strategy to try to delay the spread of the virus and reduce the impact of disease. CDC Response Global efforts at this time are focused concurrently on lessening the spread and impact of this virus. The federal government is working closely with state, local, tribal, and territorial partners, as well as public health partners, to respond to this public health threat. Highlights of CDCs Response CDC established a COVID-19 Incident Management System on January 7, 2020. On January 21, CDC activated its Emergency Operations Center to better provide ongoing support to the COVID-19 response. The U.S. government has taken unprecedented steps with respect to travel in response to the growing public health threat posed by this new coronavirus: Foreign nationals who have been in China, Iran, the United Kingdom, Ireland and any one of the 26 European countries in the Schengen Area within the past 14 days cannot enter the United States. U.S. citizens, residents, and their immediate family members who have been any one of those countries within in the past 14 days can enter the United States, but they are subject to health monitoring and possible quarantine for up to 14 days. People at higher risk of serious COVID-19 illness avoid cruise travel and non-essential air travel. CDC has issued additional specific travel guidance related to COVID-19. in response to the growing public health threat posed by this new coronavirus: CDC has issued clinical guidance, including: Clinical Guidance for Management of Patients with Confirmed Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients, including guidance on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) during a shortage. CDC has deployed multidisciplinary teams to support state health departments in case identification, contact tracing, clinical management, and public communications. CDC has worked with federal partners to support the safe return of Americans overseas who have been affected by COVID-19. This is a picture of CDCs laboratory test kit for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). CDC tests are provided to U.S. state and local public health laboratories, Department of Defense (DOD) laboratories and select international laboratories. resize icon View Larger An important part of CDCs role during a public health emergency is to develop a test for the pathogen and equip state and local public health labs with testing capacity. CDC developed an rRT-PCR test to diagnose COVID-19. As of the evening of March 17, 89 state and local public health labs in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico have successfully verified and are currently using CDC COVID-19 diagnostic tests. Commercial manufacturers are now producing their own tests. CDC has grown the COVID-19 virus in cell culture, which is necessary for further studies, including for additional genetic characterization. The cell-grown virus was sent to NIHs BEI Resources Repository external icon for use by the broad scientific community. for use by the broad scientific community. CDC also is developing a serology test for COVID-19. Other Available Resources The following resources are available with information on COVID-19 The University of Edinburgh has received nearly 5 million to tackle the coronavirus pandemic from the government's rapid response call. The 4.9 million investment will kickstart a new project that seeks to increase our understanding of Covid-19 and its impact on the body. Dr Kenneth Baillie has secured funding from the Medical Research Council to work in partnership with Professor Peter Openshaw from Imperial College London and Professor Calum Semple from the University of Liverpool. They will collect samples and data from 1,300 Covid-19 patients in the UK. The results will provide real-time information about the virus and could help to control the outbreak and improve treatment for patients. Specifically, researchers will use the data to discover who in the population is at higher risk of severe illness, what is the best way to diagnose the disease and what happens in patients' immune systems to help or harm them when they contract Covid-19. They will also monitor the effects of drugs used in patients, calculate how long people are infectious, investigate if people are infected with other viruses - such as flu - at the same time. The MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research (CVR) will also play a role in this project, undertaking whole genome sequence of the virus from samples. Dr Antonia Ho from CVR will coordinate recruitment of Scottish patients. The team has been part of the International Severe Acute Respiratory Infection Consortium (ISARIC) for eight years and includes co-investigators from six UK universities and Public Health England. Dr Kenneth Baillie, Academic Consultant in Critical Care Medicine, University of Edinburgh, said: "Covid-19 is completely new disease and presents so many unanswered questions. Through analysis of samples from 1,300 people, we can increase our understanding of how Covid-19 makes some people desperately sick. This in turn will help inform how we can best treat the disease." ### Woody Allen has opened up about his controversial relationship with Soon-Yi Previn in his new memoir, admitting in a queasy passage that in the early days of their relationship 'lust reigned supreme and we couldn't keep our hands off each other'. Allen's new memoir Apropos of Nothing, published on Monday by Arcade, is dedicated to his 49-year-old wife, with the filmmaker writing: 'For Soon-Yi, the best. I had her eating out of my hand and then I noticed my arm was missing. The 84-year-old began a relationship with girlfriend Mia Farrow's adopted daughter when Soon-Yi was 22, writing that despite the 35-year age gap between them, she was 'ready to ripen superbly if only someone would show her some love'. Their relationship was uncovered by Farrow, who found erotic photos of the two together. Allen explains they took the nude pictures in the 'very early stages of the relationship, when lust reigns supreme and we couldn't keep our hands off each other'. The release of Allen's book comes weeks after his previous publisher Hachette dropped plans to publish his memoir following public backlash sparked by another one of its authors, Allen's estranged son Ronan Farrow. Woody Allen has opened up about his controversial relationship with Soon-Yi Previn (pictured in 1994) in his new memoir, admitting in a queasy passage that in the early days of their relationship 'lust reigned supreme and we couldn't keep our hands off each other' The 84-year-old began a relationship with girlfriend Mia Farrow's adopted daughter when Soon-Yi was 22, writing that despite the 35-year age gap between them, she was 'ready to ripen superbly if only someone would show her some love'. Pictured: Allen and Farrow, holding her daughter Dylan, along with her children Soon Yi (left) Fletcher (right) , and Misha (center) Allen, now 84, was effectively the stepfather to Soon-Yi, who was 22 at the time and is now 49. They have been married for more than two decades The initial announcement of Apropos of Nothing came earlier this month, when Hachette-owned Grand Central Publishing confirmed to The Associated Press that it would release his book on April 7. But the news was met with quick and growing outrage, centered on allegations that Allen abused his estranged daughter, Dylan Farrow. Allen's new memoir Apropos of Nothing is dedicated to his 49-year-old wife, with the filmmaker writing: 'For Soon-Yi, the best. I had her eating out of my hand and then I noticed my arm was missing Ronan Farrow, who shared the Pulitzer Prize with the New York Times for his New Yorker investigation into Harvey Weinstein, was enraged to learn that Allen's book was being published by the same parent company, Hachette Book Group, that released his Catch and Kill. Dozens of Hachette employees staged a walkout over the Allen book and Farrow said he would stop working with the publisher. Hachette canceled the release less than a week later and now the 400-page book has been released by Arcade, an imprint of Skyhorse publishing, with hardly any advance notice. Allen was effectively the stepfather to Soon-Yi, who was 22 at the time and is now 49. They have been married for more than two decades. Allen describes how he and Soon-Yi went from 'two people who never particularly liked one another to a couple now married over twenty years and still passionately in love'. Things changed after Allen invited Soon-Yi to join him watching the New York Knicks basketball team where he learned about Mia's alleged mistreatment of her. Allen claims that Mia would punish Soon-Yi's inability to speak English properly by holding her upside down and 'threatening to put her in an insane asylum' if she didn't learn faster. The release of Allen's book comes weeks after his previous publisher Hachette dropped plans to publish his memoir following public backlash sparked by another one of its authors, Allen's estranged son Ronan Farrow The outrage was centered on allegations that Allen abused his estranged daughter, Dylan Farrow (pictured with Mia Farrow in 2016) Mia thought that Soon-Yi was 'hopelessly stupid' and once allegedly refused to take her to the doctor when she had a broken ankle from playing soccer. The actress allegedly hit Soon-Yi with a hairbrush, a phone and reportedly once threw a ceramic rabbit at her, barely missing her head. Allen writes: 'I offer this background because when Soon-Yi went off with me, it was not simply a case of some ungrateful orphan betraying a kind and loving benefactress who had changed her life from rags to riches '...it was the start of a friendship that would slowly grow over time and climax with the preposterous realization that we cared a great deal about each other. It took a long, long time to move from square one to this mutual caring, but it would happen and surprise us both'. Allen calls Soon-Yi a 'sharp, classy, fabulous young woman; highly intelligent, full of latent potential, and ready to ripen superbly if only someone would show her a little interest, a little support, and, most important, some love.' He writes: 'We spent a few afternoons walking and talking, delighting in each other's company and, of course, going to bed'. Allen admits that when Mia found his and Soon-Yi's naked photos, he 'understand her shock, her dismay, her rage, everything. It was the correct reaction' Allen makes no mention of the three decade plus age difference between them. But admits that when Mia found his and Soon-Yi's naked photos, he 'understand her shock, her dismay, her rage, everything. It was the correct reaction'. But he tries to justify the affair by saying they 'thought we could have our little fling, keep it a secret' as Soon-Yi wasn't living with Mia and he lived in another apartment. Allen writes: 'I thought it would have been a nice experience, and probably Soon-Yi would eventually meet some guy at college and enter a more conventional relationship. I didn't realize how attached to one another we'd already grown'. According to the book when Mia found out, she called all her children together and told them that Allen had raped Soon-Yi which led Ronan to tell people: 'My father's f**ked my sister'. Allen claims Mia locked Soon-Yi in her room, beat her and then cut off her college tuition. On a scheduled visit to Mia in Connecticut, Allen claims that she pinned a note on the door of the room he would be staying in which read: 'Child molester at the barbecue. Molested one daughter, now after another'. He writes: 'I knew Mia was fond of telling people I had molested her underage daughter when in fact Soon-Yi was twenty-two, and of course our love, which has resulted in a marriage of over twenty years, was hardly molestation'. Soon-Yi broke her decades long silence in an article in New York magazine to brand Mia a 'nasty, mean person' who abused her when she was a child. Soon-Yi claimed that Farrow used to slap her across the face, spank her with a hairbrush and threatened to send her to an asylum for the insane. But Soon-Yi also admitted that marrying Allen in 1997 was a 'huge betrayal and there was 'no justification' for it. The Holy Mass and the other liturgical services will be officiated in churches, in all parishes, by the parishioner priests of that church, without the participation of the public, the ceremonies to be broadcast online and in the local or national media, the Chancellery of the Holy Synod said, in a release of the Press Bureau of the Romanian Patriarchy, sent on Sunday to AGERPRES. The new measures regarding services and churchly social activities sent by the Chancellery of Holy Synod were taken on the basis of Military Order no. 1 of March 17 and Military Order no. 2 of March 21, which established successive measures regarding the limiting the freedom of movement and meeting of citizens, which also affect the public religious life of worshipers, following consultations on Sunday with the Ministry of Internal Affairs.The services can be broadcast online and in the local and national media.All Romanian Orthodox worshippers in the country and abroad can follow the Holy Mass and the other liturgical services officiated in the Patriarchal Cathedral on TV station Trinitas TV, radio station Trinitas of the Romanian Patriarchy or through the stations that will rebroadcast the transmission.Although the Holy Mass and the other liturgical services are performed in the church without the participation of the public (laymen), the churches will however be open for special situations, such as the Rite of Baptism and the Rite of Marriage, which can be performed in the churches and which will have a maximum of eight persons in attendance.AGERPRES Two nurses walk in front of the Emergency Room of the local hospital in Cremona, near Milan, Italy, on March 20, 2020. (Emanuele Cremaschi/Getty Images) Italy Reports 601 CCP Virus Deaths in 24 Hours It's the Second Day a Smaller Increase in COVID-19 Deaths Have Been Recorded Italian health authorities reported 601 new CCP virus deaths in a 24 hour period, a decline from the previous days death total of 651, as some officials expressed cautious optimism that the trending is starting to slow. Italys Civil Protection reported there were 4,789 new cases for a total of more than 63,000. More than 6,000 deaths have also been recorded to date. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. On Sunday, Italian officials reported more than 650 deaths in a 24-hour period. The day before that, the country announced its daily highest death toll, 793, after reporting 627 deaths on Friday. Today the downward trend [in deaths] has been confirmed, Giulio Gallera, a local official in the Lombardy region, said in a press conference, according to ANSA. We can say its the first positive day although it is not the time to sing victory, he said. Today we can see light at the end of the tunnel, he added of the latest trend. Hospital employees wearing masks and gear tend to patients lying in bed at a temporary emergency structure set up outside the accident and emergency department, where any new arrivals presenting suspect new coronavirus symptoms will be tested, at the Brescia hospital, Lombardy, Italy, on March 13, 2020. (Photo by Miguel MEDINA / AFP) Health authorities have said in reports that it will take a few more days before they will know if Italy is starting a new, positive trend in its fight against the CCP virus. Local police also announced they will use drones to monitor the operations of citizens movements in an attempt to prevent Italians from breaking quarantine, ANSA reported. Earlier this month, Italys leadership announced the strictest lockdown in all of Europe. Franco Locatelli, president of Italys Higher Health Council, told reporters on Sunday that with the new stringent measures announced this weekend, Italy had exhausted all the possible ways it could to limit personal and professional contact. That came as Italy announced that the increase in both infections and deaths had showed the first sign of narrowing in the previous 24 hours. Lets continue to keep social distance, Locatelli said. Lets adopt these measures, lets manage our behavior and certainly we will get the results we are hoping for. On March 9, the government extended the lockdown to the entire country. But enforcement was still a matter of interpretation. Two days later, on March 11, all commercial activities except for those providing necessities were closed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. PR-Inside.com: 2020-03-23 18:02:01 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 782 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SYCAMORE, IL / ACCESSWIRE / March 23, 2020 / Sycamore, Illinois based Braden Counseling Center is pleased to announce that they are now offering DUI Evaluations to those who have been prevented from obtaining the new REAL ID driver's license in Illinois due to an out of state DUI charge. According to the counseling center, many people are having trouble upgrading their license to the new REAL ID licensing system because the system automatically flags those who were charged with a DUI.As noted on the company's website, Braden Counseling Center is an authorized center that offers DUI Evaluations to help drivers get their license reinstated. A representative for the center, Brenda Butz, says, "The state of Illinois takes DUI offenses very seriously. In fact, the DUI law in Illinois mandates that an offender undergo a clinical evaluation prior to sentencing." She explains that a DUI evaluation plays a crucial role in identifying whether someone poses a risk to public safety due to alcohol or drug use. The evaluation is also used by the court and the Secretary of State License Reinstatement to determine whether the offender's license will be reinstated or not.Butz explains that, during a DUI Evaluation, a counselor will examine the offender's history for alcohol and substance abuse. An interview will then be conducted to collect crucial information in order to determine their likelihood of reoffending. During the interview, counselors are required to collect the offender's demographic information, DUI charge details, prior drug and alcohol-related offenses, detailed alcohol and drug abuse history and other personal data that can help them assess the risk level of the individual in question.Risk levels are divided into four levels: minimal, moderate, significant and high. After their risk has been ascertained, they have to complete a treatment plan (recommended in the Alcohol and Drug Uniform Report) to satisfy the statutory requirement (11-501.01(a) to undergo the imposition of treatment as appropriate.' For an offender assessed as a minimal risk, 10 hours of DUI Risk Education is required. Those tagged as a moderate risk also need to undergo 10 hours of DUI Risk Education, followed by 12 hours of early intervention (which is provided over a minimum of four weeks).As noted on the counseling center's website, there can only be one day of classes each week and no more than three hours in that day. In addition, if recommended by the evaluation, the defendant will be required to participate in an on-going continuing care plan to ensure full rehabilitation. Next, for offenders who have been determined to pose a significant risk, 10 hours DUI Risk Education is required, followed by 20 hours of substance abuse treatment. Mandatory participation in a continuing care plan is also mandated. Finally, those classified as a high risk need to undergo 75 hours of mandatory substance abuse treatment plus a strict participation in a continuing care plan."Contact Braden Counseling Center today if you need to undergo a DUI evaluation that is honest, consistent and non-invasive. At Braden Counseling Center, we work hard to not only help you resolve your substance abuse problems but also help you get your driving privileges reinstated," says Butz. Furthermore, she emphasizes that it is important to choose a trusted counseling center. Should a judge reading an evaluation suspect that a defendant has been less than honest about his or her substance abuse, the consequences can be more severe and longer-lasting.Braden Counseling Center is a fully licensed provider of mental health services, which include counseling for DUIs, domestic violence and substance abuse treatment. They also offer individual counseling, couples counseling and more. Additionally, they provide clinical evaluation for DUI, anger management, alcohol and drug abuse, depression, ADHD/ADD and so on. Their patients are often pleased to learn that Braden Counseling Center offers a free initial consultation as well as a flexible scheduling that includes weekends. They also work with insurance providers and accept cash and credit card payment options."Braden Counseling Center provides quality outpatient behavioral health programs and services. We have become a leading provider of behavioral health services by responding to the needs of our community through our comprehensive counseling programs for substance abuse, chemical dependency and mental health services. Our practice is committed to assisting others in strengthening relationships, promoting change and building foundations of hope," says Butz.Complete details can be found on the center's website. Alternatively, interested parties may connect with Braden Counseling Center via social media to stay up to date with their latest news and announcements.For more information about Braden Counseling Center, contact the company here:Braden Counseling CenterBrenda Butz815-787-9000bbutz@ bradencenter.com 2600 DeKalb AveSuite JSycamore, IL. 60178SOURCE: Braden Counseling Center Fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi, fighting extradition to India on charges over the nearly USD 2 billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud and money laundering case, has been remanded in custody by a UK court until April 15. The 49-year-old, who has been lodged at Wandsworth Prison in south-west London since his arrest last year, was due to appear via videolink from prison for his regular 28-day call-over hearing on Tuesday but Westminster Magistrates' Court in London said that the formality was completed last Thursday. "This case is next listed for a call-over videolink hearing for April 15," a court official said on Monday. Modi's legal team and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), representing the Indian government in the extradition proceedings, are scheduled to hold a lawyers-only case management hearing in the case on April 15, with a five-day trial scheduled between May 11 and 15. Most of the legal cases in the UK are switching to videolink and telephonic options where possible, with all new jury trials suspended amid the social distancing rules in place to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. All UK prisons have also been issued with health guidance related to the coronavirus outbreak, with strict rules around hand-washing for inmates, staff and visitors. "The government's absolute priority is to protect life, and we have robust and flexible plans in place to keep prisoners, staff and the wider public safe based on the latest advice from Public Health England," said a UK Ministry of Justice spokesperson. Modi had made a fifth attempt at bail in the High Court earlier this month, which was rejected as the judge ruled that he continued to pose a flight risk. Justice Ian Dove presided over the bail hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice on March 5, during which Modi appeared via videolink from Wandsworth Prison as his legal team offered a package of "stringent" bail measures, including bail security of 4 million pounds, house arrest at his central London luxury apartment with a 24-hour electronic tag as well as a private security guard service and a strictly monitored access to gadgets and telephones. "My central concern of a risk of absconding are not obviated by the measures presented," Justice Dove had concluded. Modi was arrested on March 19, 2019, on an extradition warrant executed by Scotland Yard on charges brought by the Indian government. During subsequent hearings, Westminster Magistrates' Court was told that Modi was the "principal beneficiary" of the fraudulent issuance of letters of undertaking (LoUs) as part of a conspiracy to defraud PNB and then laundering the proceeds of crime. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) And, I do want to take you up on your offer to donate your compensation, Lightfoot said in the email. Just let us know when we can stop paying your salary so we can donate it to first responders. Through April 30th, right, or for the foreseeable future? Standing by for your sign off. I have included our budget director for ease of stopping payments to you. "Stranger Things" star Finn Wolfhard says his upcoming movie "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" will honour the legacy of the popular supernatural comedy franchise. The 17-year-old actor, who plays Trevor in the Jason Reitman-directed movie, said he grew up watching the original "Ghostbusters" films thanks to his parents. "Afterlife" is the direct sequel to "Ghostbusters" (1984) and "Ghostbusters II" (1989). Jason Reitman's father, Ivan Reitman, had directed the original "Ghostbusters" films which featured Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis as parapsychology professors who hunts ghosts. "When I was really young, my parents were really big fans of the original movies, so I grew up watching them. "Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Rick Moranis all of those were big, big people in our house. So getting to be a part of that legacy now is very flattering," Wolfhard told NME. The actor said the film is "faithful" to the series and at the same time, funny. "Older 'Ghostbusters' fans will find it's a really, really faithful approach to the series. While young people, if not everyone, will find that, first and foremost, 'Ghostbusters' is about family and the relationships that these people have made. "It's also really funny, so I'm really excited for people to see it," Wolfhard added. Murray and Aykroyd, along with Sigourney Weaver, will reprise their roles for the new film. Returning members also include Annie Potts and Ernie Hudson. Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon and McKenna Grace are the new entrants. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US-led global coalition to defeat the Islamic State announced today that the coronavirus pandemic has forced temporary adjustments in the mission against the terrorist group. The unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic to the Iraqi and Syrian people, and to our mission, led to temporary adjustments to protect the force during this period, in full coordination with the Iraqi authorities, the coalition said in a joint statement today released by the US State Department. Why it matters: While the State Department did not delve into specifics, the temporary adjustments indicate that the coronavirus in Iraq and Syria has tossed an uncertain new variable into the fight against the lingering threat posed by the Islamic State. Still, the US-led coalition maintains that progress in our campaign allows for the restructuring of our footprint, without prejudice to our ability to carry out our mission. The United States repositioned its roughly 5,000 troops in Iraq to larger bases throughout the country following rocket attacks from an Iran-backed militia that killed two American and one British soldiers. The Pentagon also announced Friday that the Iraqi Security Forces have suspended all training with US forces to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As a result, the coalition will temporarily return some of its training-focused forces to their own countries in the coming days and weeks, the Pentagon said in a statement, vowing to eventually resume the training as the situation permits. Additionally, President Donald Trump has kept some 800 US troops stationed around oil fields in northeast Syria. By the numbers: Iraq has reported 266 coronavirus infections, including 23 deaths. Syria maintains that it has had only one confirmed coronavirus case so far, but Pakistani officials have linked at least eight of their countrys 800 cases to citizens returning from the Syrian civil war. Iran, which has deployed troops to back Damascus in its offensive on Syrias Idlib province, has reported nearly 22,000 coronavirus cases, including some 1,700 deaths. As of Monday, the Defense Department reported almost 250 cases in the US military community worldwide. Whats next: The World Health Organization announced that it will start testing for coronavirus in Idlib, home to nearly 1 million displaced Syrians, within the coming days. In the meantime, the US-led coalition has promised to continue its comprehensive efforts in Iraq and Syria, and globally, to deny [the Islamic States] ambitions and the activities of its branches and networks, until the job is done. Know more: Al-Monitor correspondent Elizabeth Hagedorn has the in-depth story detailing how doctors in northwest Syria are preparing for the inevitable spread of the virus despite limited resources. And Lujain Elbaldawi examines whether Iraq is adequately prepared to deal with the COVID-19 crisis. SAN JOSE (BCN) A Santa Clara County Main Jail inmate tested positive for the novel coronavirus and a San Jose police officer may have been exposed, according to the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office. The 31-year-old man, whose name wasn't released, reported feeling sick during his booking into the jail and let prison staff know a family member of his had returned from Europe a few days earlier. He was reportedly masked and taken to an isolation cell. He was taken to the prison's infirmary, isolated, tested for the COVID-19 coronavirus infection and confirmed infected on Sunday, according to the sheriff's office. The prisoner remains in quarantine under medical monitoring. A San Jose police officer was also possibly exposed, sheriff's officials said. Also, arrestees are being screened for COVID-19 symptoms like a dry cough, fever or shortness of breath outside of the jail now, according to the sheriff's office. Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. As Connecticut braces for a wave of layoffs and furloughs as non-essential businesses ready to close Monday night, some employers are looking to hire workers in mass for tasks ranging from restocking store shelves to providing critical health services. The state Department of Labor is not planning any coronavirus-specific jobs board to help publicize those openings to reduce unemployment. DOL received an additional 27,000 initial claims for unemployment benefits between Saturday and Monday, in addition to 72,000 over the preceding week. A live online chat function is now disabled that DOL had been using previously to field questions. Instead, the department is providing assistance online at www.filectui.com, via email at dol.webhelp@ct.gov or by calling 203-455-2653 or 860-263-6975. In some locales nationally, including New Jersey and Los Angeles, government agencies have created flash job boards for companies needing help with a spike in business as a result of an economic landscaped turned upside-down by the novel coronavirus pandemic. Those advertising on the New Jersey website include Amazon, FedEx and UPS, ShopRite and Price Rite, Nabisco parent company Mondelez International, and several organizations providing home health services. In Connecticut and elsewhere, the need extends well beyond the storefronts defined as essential by the state Department of Economic and Community Development, to the entire chain of suppliers for key products and services that operate behind the scenes. An executive order issued Sunday night by Gov. Ned Lamont exempts all manufacturers and corresponding supply chains from his Stay Home, Stay Safe directive. In Fairfield County, some supermarkets have signs at their main entrances advertising openings, with Stew Leonards among those looking to add staff. The Norwalk-based grocery chain has reached out to an experienced cadre that helps it during the holidays, while also getting queries from past employees who went on to jobs at other retailers or other careers. I have been in contact with about 10 applicants in the past week who are looking for work because their work or school has shut down ... (not) to mention returning college kids, a Stew Leonards manager said. One is a hairdresser, so that job is completely shut down. Another works for a restaurant and hours have been cut since they are only doing the delivery. Something I found interesting almost every applicant I call answers the phone. Stop & Shop has immediate needs for clerks, porters and baggers for night shifts across its Northeast footprint. The Ahold Delhaize subsidiary is looking to fill other openings in departments like bakery, deli, produce, seafood and meat. Stop & Shop is also hiring for its Peapod service that competes with Instacart and others regionally that deliver groceries to homes. According to spokesperson Maura OBrien, the company is currently seeing applications come in from across Connecticut at volumes higher than normal. Employers are putting out the call with the attendant problem of having to reformulate their standard onboarding practices for mass hiring, whether for in-person interviews or any training they typically conduct in a classroom setting. Currently we are interviewing applicants remotely, OBrien said Monday via email. Once applicants are selected and hired, we are working to ensure that our training programs for newly hired associates are robust and thorough, while ensuring that they allow for social distancing. Walmart aims to bring on 150,000 people nationally; Amazon looks to add 100,000 people for its distribution centers which include locations in North Haven and Wallingford; and CVS looks to add 50,000. A LinkedIn post on other employers hiring en mass was drawing thousands of hits hourly to total more than 115,000 views as of mid-afternoon. Job search engine Indeed, which has a major office in Stamford, continued to post new job openings on Monday in Connecticut, as did rival job boards Glassdoor, which had generated close to 1,000 new postings in the state as of mid-afternoon on Monday. Shelf Tech and Crossmark were among those seeking help on the two job boards, with the latter restocking shelves for companies like Walmart, CVS and Wilton-based Blue Buffalo and parent General Mills; and Shelf Tech counting Stop & Shop, ShopRite and the Cheshire-based distributor Bozzutos among its customers. Bozzutos seeks commercial drivers and warehouse workers. Shelf Tech CEO Butch Silver indicated that the company plans to add 20 people in Connecticut and 30 in Massachusetts. Jordan Fenster contributed to this report. Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman MAYOR Michael Sheahan has urged Limerick people to ensure the elderly and vulnerable are not alone over the coronavirus crisis. With An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar last Tuesday warning the measures around the flu-like outbreak could last months into the summer, Limericks first citizens mind has been drawn to the older population who might not get as many visitors due to the populace self-isolating. He asked people to pick up the phone, or wave at people albeit from a safe distance. We must help people around us. Give them a bit of assurance by a phone call. There are people suffering at the moment, worrying. Young people are unlikely to be seriously affected by it. But if you are older, or affected by it, you probably feel like a bit of a pariah, very nervous and worried, he told the Limerick Leader. Cllr Sheahan added: Please, people who are friendly with people like these, pick up the phone, give them a call. If they are living near, go and wave to them. Let them know you are there to be of help. We dont have to hug them, but we should appear. Let them see us. Let them know we are there to be of help. The health authorities have issued a plea for retired doctors and nurses to return to the work force, as well as student nurses to step up. Mayor Sheahan believes non-medical workers, who may have experience in other fields, could offer their services at this time People must take the pronouncements seriously, and the spread of Covid-19. They need to continue to discipline themselves and continue to observe the rules and the guidance laid down by all the health bodies in the country. From what I've seen around Limerick, people have been good around this. The most important thing is for people to wash their hands regularly with soap and hot water and keep their distancing. If we are to follow those two basic requirements, we won't go wrong, the mayor added. Due to the closure of pubs and restaurants across the country, tens of thousands of people have sadly been made redundant virtually overnight. It has led to the Government putting in place emergency measures to ensure people without an income get a flat rate of 203 per week. Fianna Fail TD Niall Collins took to social media on Monday morning and posted copies of the form for workers to download, fill in, print and send back to the Department of Social Protection. Thus far, he says, almost 36,000 people have read his post on Twitter. He said: I am working full-time as a public representative to help people with their queries. My office is very busy with various types of queries that the Covid-19 pandemic has thrown up. We have a dedicated line of communication to the social protection offices in Kilmallock, Newcastle West and Limerick City. I want to urge people to follow the public health advice and look out for the vulnerable people within their community and keep in touch with them. And just so also assure the public that I am working full-time. While Mr Collins says staff at his office are working, it is not open to face-to-face queries. Hes urged people to instead telephone. Earlier this week, in an unprecedented televised address to the nation, Mr Varadkar has warned Ireland is only experiencing the calm before the storm right now. He said while the country will emerge from this pandemic, the damage to Ireland's economy will be significant and lasting. The St Patrick's Festival is one of many events which has been cancelled or postponed in the wake of the global outbreak. Further to this, the Taoiseach urged people to cancel or curtail social gatherings like parties, weddings and other celebrations. I know these choices won't be easy, but they are necessary. More will be required in the coming weeks to reduce the spread of the virus, he said. At all times we will be guided by our public health emergency teams led by the chief medical officer. We will always put your life and your health ahead of any other concern. Schools and pubs are closed until March 29 at least. Mr Varadkar added, Many of you will want to know when this is over. The truth is, we just don't know yet. This emergency is likely to go on well beyond March 29. It could go on for months into the summer. So we need to be sensible in the approaches we take. We will deploy our full resources to ensure that essential shops, workplaces and transport can continue to operate. People still need to buy goods and avail of personal services in the weeks and months ahead. However, he called on businesses and the general public to afford their co-operation, including staggered opening hours, breaks, video-conferencing rather than face-to-face briefings, and ultimately working from home. He also said people should shop online at local businesses, rather than going into shops. A large number of people were seen on Monday at Muzaffarpur's bus stand. This happened despite a lockdown in the state imposed earlier by the state government as a precautionary measure against the spread of coronavirus. "People are coming from different states such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata from trains and the airport. Since all transportation has been shut down, people are facing problems and so for two hours buses will be running in the state. We've ordered all buses to leave within one-two hours," said Kumar Ravi, DM, Patna. "For safety purposes, everyone who is entering the state is being screened and a detailed register of all those entering the state has been made. In two hours lockdown will be strictly imposed in the state," said Ravi. The lockdown will continue till March 31 in Bihar and all inter-state passenger transport will also be suspended. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on March 23, a total of 415 individuals in the country have been confirmed positive for coronavirus among suspected cases and contacts of known positive cases. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Syracuse, N.Y. Last August, Michele Pedicone left her job as a respiratory care therapist in Seattle to start a new role as a teacher at Upstate Medical University. But shell be at patients bedsides again soon, helping Central New York hospitals that could be inundated with patients sickened by the novel coronavirus. Its a deep calling right now to go out and help where I can best be used, said Pedicone, 54, director of clinical education in Upstates respiratory therapy education department. Its in my heart. Pedicone is among many former and retired doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists and other medical professionals who have told local hospitals theyre willing to return to the front lines to meet the demand if the number of coronavirus patients spikes. Hospitals are contacting former staff members, taking down the numbers of health professionals who are calling in, and even putting requests on social media asking professionals to enlist in what Gov. Andrew Cuomo has called a war on the virus. These are unprecedented times, and were not really sure what to expect, said registered nurse Suzanne Talarico, manager of talent acquisition at St. Josephs Health in Syracuse. Were being as prepared as we can. Cuomo has been warning for a week about increasing the number of hospital beds to treat COVID-19 patients about 15 to 20% of whom require hospitalization and the specialized ventilators to keep alive the sickest patients. Central New York could need an additional 1,000 beds, based on projections; about half of those would be critical care beds for the sickest patients. Beds and ventilators are useless without the round-the-clock staff needed to care for sick patients, though, so respiratory care therapists like Pedicone are especially in demand. The state Department of Health has created a website seeking health professionals to treat seriously ill coronavirus patients, including those that may need to be intubated. The health department promises to help professionals re-obtain certification in their specialty if those certifications have lapsed. The department did not respond to Syracuse.coms request for information, including how many people have signed up and from what specialties. Cuomo said at his briefing today that 30,000 professionals had responded statewide. Local hospitals have doctors and nurses on stand-by in case of emergencies, and others who work on a per-diem basis who could be called to work more often. Some professionals who return to the workforce temporarily might not deal directly with the coronavirus patients, but would backfill on patients with lesser disorders. If somebody has a sore throat, they could pitch in and take a throat culture, or they could sew up a laceration," said Dr. Art Fougner, a Long Island physician who is president of the New York State Medical Society. "They wouldnt do any heavy lifting, but they could free up the doctors for the most serious stuff. St. Josephs would deploy returning professionals where they would do the most good, Talarico said. Whatever theyre willing to do, whatever their skill set is, well be flexible and agile as the needs present, she said. If someone has acute care or ICU experience, and theyre certified and competent to do that, that would be great. As the potential for local hospitals to be overwhelmed by the coronavirus pandemic became clearer recently, retired doctor Pamela Horst called up her old employer, St. Josephs Health, to make herself available. I said Id be willing to volunteer in any capacity that they saw a need, said Horst, 69, who spent much of her medical career in family medicine and palliative care, and was a professor of family medicine at Upstate Medical University. If the skill I have is needed, I would like to support the community. I think thats part of being a part of a civil society and taking care of our neighbors. On Sunday, St. Josephs called Horst to see when she could start and what role she might play. Returning professionals say they know the risk that they could be infected with the virus, especially if there are shortages of masks and other protective equipment, as there has been in other areas. In Italy, about 8% of all those infected have been health care workers. Pedicone, who has a 17-year-old son, says shes aware of the risk, but worked in the field long enough to know how to protect herself. And she just had a physical, when her doctor told her she was surprisingly healthy. Im a single mom who just moved to the area without a whole lot of resources, but my son knows its important, she said. We had big talk about it, and he said, You can do it as long as you dont get sick." Talarico said its not clear how many, if any, additional health professionals would be needed, or when. How many sick are we going to take in? Are any of our staff going to get ill? she asked. Were trying to plan for a lot of different contingencies. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources Thousands of coronavirus patients threaten to overwhelm CNY hospitals; what needs to be done now Syracuse hospitals go into wartime planning to brace for coronavirus Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources Coronavirus way-of-life: Doctors, patients turn to telemedicine like never before Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and PennLive/Patriot-News. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter. HARRISBURG Just hours after saying Gov. Tom Wolf had tested negative for the coronavirus out of concern he had been exposed, the governors office inexplicably backtracked Monday and said he had in fact not received a test. The information we provided to you was an error, Mike Brunelle, Wolfs chief of staff, said in an apology to Spotlight PA. Brunelle did not explain how the error happened. In its initial response, Wolfs office explained that the governors office was contacted by a person who had feared exposure and said they had been near Wolf. As a result, the office said, Wolf was tested and was confirmed to be negative. But in its reversal, Brunelle said enough time had elapsed between when Wolf may have been exposed to the person; and because the governor was showing no symptoms, he decided to forgo a test. The governor is working remotely but is not in quarantine. The same applies to his cabinet secretaries and executive and management staff. Wolf has in the past week been conducting briefings separately from Health Secretary Rachel Levine, who has been providing updates from the states emergency management headquarters outside Harrisburg. His public schedule, which is posted on his government website, has not been updated since March 5, the day before Wolf declared a disaster emergency as the first cases of COVID-19 were reported in Pennsylvania. That week, his schedule shows, the governor was in Philadelphia, Montgomery, and Monroe Counties areas that reported some of the earliest cases of the virus. Most of the states six legislative leaders, some of whom are scheduled to be in the Capitol this week, said they are not exhibiting any symptoms and had not been tested. One House Majority Leader Bryan Cutler (R., Lancaster) said he did not want to share any medical information about himself. Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R., Jefferson) did not respond to questions. Though testing for COVID-19 has increased in the past week with hospitals, health systems, and private labs either taking samples, administering tests, or both mass testing is not widely available. Levine has urged people who are asymptomatic or who have mild symptoms to stay home and reach out to a doctor if needed. She said testing is being prioritized for people who are exhibiting severe symptoms, have an underlying health condition, are elderly, or are health care workers. 100% ESSENTIAL: Spotlight PA provides its journalism at no cost to newsrooms across the state as a public good to keep our communities informed and thriving. If you value this service, please give a gift today at spotlightpa.org/donate. While people are starting to adjust to life amid the coronavirus shutdown, entire businesses are also retooling their operations. Democrats and many governors have called on President Donald Trump to use a wartime law to push American industries to provide badly needed equipment to help combat the pandemic. Some companies have already shifted entirely to pandemic operationswhether that means redirecting facilities to produce hand sanitizer in leftover fancy soap bottles or working to transform assembly plants into ventilator factories. These are the enterprises that are undergoing a pandemic overhaul. Hand Sanitizer LVMH, the French luxury goods conglomerate, has bid adieu to floral scents and glass bottles at its Christian Dior, Givenchy, and Guerlain perfume factories. Just 72 hours after the French government issued a call to industry to address a shortage of hand sanitizer on March 13, LVMHs perfume facilities started churning out the essential product for health care worksin Dior-branded plastic bottles, naturally. LVMH is donating the hand sanitizer to Frances health authorities and hospitals and will continue production for as long as necessary, the company said in a statement. The LOreal Group and Coty have since announced similar plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement #LVMHjoinsforces and says a special THANK YOU to all those involved in the manufacturing of #HydroalcoholicGel, in particular to its exceptional production teams from @Guerlain, #DiorParfums and @ParfumsGivenchy showing great solidarity and engagement for the common good. pic.twitter.com/i5pPkh1H5s LVMH (@LVMH) March 19, 2020 New York state has also started manufacturing its own hand sanitizer. Its being producedin what critics have called slave laborby incarcerated people, who usually earn 65 cents per hour, at the Great Meadow Correctional Facility in Washington County. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the state will produce 100,000 gallons of the sanitizerwhich he described as having hints of lilac, hydrangea, tulipsper week. Advertisement Advertisement Were hearing from local governments that acquiring hand sanitizer has been a real problem. NYS will immediately begin producing hand sanitizer ourselves 100,000 gallons per week. We'll provide it to government agencies, schools, the MTA, prisons, & others. #COVID19 Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) March 9, 2020 Craft distilleries around the U.S. have also started to manufacture the crucial but scarce liquid, with a recipe from the World Health Organization that calls for the same alcohol used to produce traditional spirits. Many are giving hand sanitizer away for free to customers and health care workers. The tricky part, the New York Times reported, is finding enough plastic containersmany distilleries have started asking people to bring their own bottles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They're not pretty but they work. We're bottling up some 65% alcohol for disinfecting. Any essential service individual or organization who needs some, reach out, we'll have 1,000+ bottles for tomorrow, on us. More hand sanitizer is here for anyone in need. Reach out via DM pic.twitter.com/AYF0lsO24L Dillon's Distillery (@dillonsdistills) March 17, 2020 Face Masks and Gowns Inditex, the parent company of fast-fashion giant Zara, has turned over its supply chains to produce medical equipment free of charge for the Spanish government, despite taking a 287 million euro hit to inventories. The company, which has already donated 10,000 surgical masks, expected to ship 300,000 more by the end of last week. Once its sourced the right materials, Inditex also intends to produce medical gowns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other fashion companies have followed suit, though their masks arent yet medical grade. Los Angeles Apparel is crafting masks from a sweatshirt-like fabric at its 150,000-square-foot factory, according to the New York Times, and plans to start sewing hospital gowns on Monday. The brands founder hopes to produce 300,000 masks and 50,000 gowns per week. Some masks are being donated to hospitals, while others are being sold on the companys website. Luxury fashion designers are also joining the mask production forces. Christian Siriano has asked his 10 seamstresses in New York to make masks for the city, which hell initially provide free of charge. High-end swimwear brand Karla Colletto is reopening its factory in Virginia to produce masks and gowns after it receives medical-grade materials from 3M this week. These will be sold through a hospital supply distributor. Advertisement Advertisement Thanks everyone for all the support. We are making waves and working on getting approvals before we start anything. Its very important before anyone does anything to help, please make sure what you are making is safe and hopefully FDA approved. We must be smart. Christian Siriano (@CSiriano) March 21, 2020 Ventilators Though its still unclear what exactly Tesla and/or SpaceX plans to do, founder Elon Musk tweeted on Wednesday that his companies would start producing ventilators if there is a shortage, but argued on Thursday that they cant be produced instantly while he also questioned hospital shortages. (Musk has been extremely vocal about COVID-19 on Twitter.) So are ventilators in the works? Apparently, yes. Advertisement Tesla makes cars with sophisticated hvac systems. SpaceX makes spacecraft with life support systems. Ventilators are not difficult, but cannot be produced instantly. Which hospitals have these shortages you speak of right now? Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 19, 2020 Other automakers in the U.S. are considering whether they will be able to use their plants to manufacture critical medical equipment, including ventilators. Ford and General Motors have been in discussions with the White House, which has the authority to require them to produce supplies under the Defense Production Act. Trump has now encouraged Ford, General Motors, and Tesla to produce ventilators and other metal products, but hes yet to order them to do so. General Motors said on Friday that its collaborating with a small ventilator manufacturer to explore how it can help it increase production. The British government has also reached out to automakers, including Rolls-Royce and Jaguar, for manufacturing help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ford, General Motors and Tesla are being given the go ahead to make ventilators and other metal products, FAST! @fema Go for it auto execs, lets see how good you are? @RepMarkMeadows @GOPLeader @senatemajldr Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 22, 2020 On a smaller scale, Bloom Energy, a San Josebased company that manufactures fuel cells, has started refurbishing Californias supply of older ventilators. And the Italian army has made 25 technicians available to a Bologna-based ventilator maker. Advertisement The Tar Heel Circle consists of companies and organizations from North Carolina that donated to Burrs reelection campaigns in 2015 and 2016, NPR reported. Why make such remarks only to a select group of donors? Why didnt he say so, more openly and forcefully, to the public as well as to COVID-19 skeptics in his own party? A spokeswoman for Burr said he has worked to educate the public about the tools and resources our government has to confront the spread of coronavirus. He could have educated us more. He predicted the need for tightened travel rules and the militarys help. He predicted school closings. Burrs comments likely were so prescient because he was one of the authors of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act, which lays out a plan for federal responses to outbreaks. He has made some public statements based on his expertise, opposing what he considered to be shortcomings in the nations pandemic surveillance efforts. So why wouldnt he share his warnings with a broader audience? He isnt running for reelection, so he has little to lose politically. Ryan Thomas has revealed he's been forced to keep his daughter Scarlett, 11, away from his newborn son Roman as he self-isolates with fiancee Lucy Mecklenburgh amid the coronavirus pandemic. In a candid Instagram snap shared on Monday, the former Coronation Street star, 35, and his one-week-old FaceTimed his eldest child - who he shares with ex Tina O'Brien - as he documented their first meeting 'over technology'. The actor admitted it's been 'tough' being away from his family, but stressed that 'we all need to take social isolation and social distancing seriously' during the global crisis. 'It's killing me': Ryan Thomas has been forced to keep his daughter Scarlett, 11, away from his newborn son Roman as the half-siblings met via FaceTime on Monday Despite enduring a difficult time, the soap star appeared in great spirits as he cradled his little boy from his changing mat, while engaging in a cosy video call with Scarlett. In an emotional caption, the CBB winner confessed 'it's killing him' to be separated from his daughter, who is believed to be staying with her mother, Sarah Platt actress Tina, 36 - Ryan's former partner of six years. He penned: 'Thank God for technology! Im finding it really tough being away from my family and sad this is how my daughter met her baby brother. 'To any other broken families I feel your pain and its killing me being apart from my daughter and family for so long, especially at this special time.' Better safe than sorry: The former Corrie star, 35, is currently self-isolating with fiancee Lucy Mecklenburgh, 28, amid the coronavirus pandemic (pictured with their one-week-old) Challenge: In the Instagram post, the actor admitted it's been 'tough' being away from his family, but stressed that 'we all need to take social isolation and social distancing seriously' Highlighting the importance of following the government's healthcare guidelines, the TV star ended his message: 'BUT we all need to take social isolation and social distancing seriously and its a sacrifice we have to make to save lives.' Coronavirus was classed a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) last week, leading countries such as Italy, Spain and the UK to implement nationwide lockdowns. Social distancing, advised by the World Health Organisation (WHO), involves maintaining at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who coughs or sneezes, as the small liquid droplets sprayed could contain the virus. Struggle: The CBB winner confessed 'it's killing him' to be separated from his daughter, who is believed to be staying with her mother, Sarah Platt actress Tina, 36 Doting big sister: Scarlett has been excited about her brother's arrival since last August, when she was left in tears of joy over discovering Lucy and her father were expecting a boy The measure also includes staying at home if you have a cough or fever even if you have not travelled and 'cocooning' elderly people suspected of being more vulnerable to the infection. Doctors say children infected by the virus are far more likely to have no symptoms than they are to develop a severe case of COVID-19. Professor Russell Viner of the UCL Institute of Child Health and president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health told MailOnline: 'What we know about the novel coronaviruses, including COVID-19, is children are at very little risk of infection. 'Children probably catch it as much as adults but most children either have no symptoms or incredibly mild symptoms. If children do catch catch the virus, most do not get any symptoms. The Ex Files: Ryan was in a relationship with the fellow thespian from 2003 until 2009 (Tina pictured pregnant with Scarlett in 2008) 'Most of those that do develop symptoms only experience mild effects, such as a slight fever, some aches and pains and a bit of a cough. 'What we are not seeing from all the available data is children going onto ventilators or expressing other severe symptoms.' Ryan and his long-term partner welcomed baby boy Roman Ravello earlier this month. The fitness guru, 28, announced her pregnancy last August, after the hunk proposed during a trip to Italy's Amalfi Coast in June. The couple met on Celebrity Island With Bear Grylls in early 2017. Baby joy: Ryan and his long-term partner welcomed baby boy Roman Ravello earlier this month Over the weekend, the former TOWIE star celebrated her first Mother's Day on Sunday, enthusing she felt 'lucky to be spending every moment with my little family.' Ryan recorded the family day on Instagram as Lucy revealed he had treated her to the ultimate gift - 10 hours of sleep. 'Theres know denying this isn't exactly how I saw my first Mother's Day... BUT we are trying to stay positive and I feel very lucky to be spending every moment with my new little family,' Lucy wrote on Sunday, pointing out she'd get: 'Unlimited cuddles and kisses for my little man and we have him all to ourselves.' As well as a 'Mum' mug and card, the new parent enjoyed a refreshing walk in the sunshine. Ultimate gift: Over the weekend, the former TOWIE star celebrated her first Mother's Day on Sunday, when the family-of-three embarked on a refreshing stroll in the sunshine The couple's choice of Mother's Day activity attracted some criticism as Lucy later shared she was getting messages saying the trio shouldn't have gone out on a stroll after previously posting about the government advice to 'stay at home.' 'For DM's about me going for a walk being hypocritical.. I walk with Ryan and Roman for an hour a day. We don't come into contact with anyone or touch anything,' she wrote. Lucy added that during her walk she could see others not adhering to the social distancing rules. 'From a distance I could see big groups of people having coffees together on bench's, shops full, groups of people chatting, coffee shops packed!! I don't understand!! Social distancing'. WASHINGTON Sen. Pat Toomey (R., Pa.) has been one of the leading proponents of the more than $1 trillion economic rescue package pending in the Senate in response to the coronavirus, and has helped craft a major piece of the plan. Meanwhile, his Democratic counterpart from the state, Sen. Bob Casey, is calling for sweeping government intervention, with unusual (especially for him) flourishes. If you have COVID-19, you shouldnt pay a goddamn dime for treatment," he told reporters last week. New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez is one of the top Democrats working on the package, and his home-state colleague, Sen. Cory Booker, has pushed for provisions aimed at aiding individuals, people in prison, and low-income and minority communities. The Senate bill was stalled Monday as Democrats and Republicans sharply clashed amid an escalating crisis. Democrats blocked a key procedural step Sunday night and again Monday as they called for more limits on how businesses can use the vast sums of aid, pushing to restrict stock buybacks or using the money to increase executive pay, and to include more aid for individual Americans. Republicans accused them of holding up vital emergency aid while seeking a liberal wish list. Here is what senators from Pennsylvania and New Jersey have said about the package, and what they have pushed to include. Aides to all four said they have practiced social distancing and have not been tested or required testing for the virus, despite the positive test by fellow senator Rand Paul (R., Ky.). Pat Toomey (R., Pa.): War Footing It might be surprising to see Toomey at the forefront of an economic relief package that will cost more than $1 trillion, including aid to businesses and direct payments to individuals. The fiscally conservative senator has long criticized government intervention in markets, and blasted the rescue packages that followed the 2008 financial crash. As a key member of the Senate Banking Committee, however, Toomey has been part of a small team of senators that has drafted several key provisions, including $425 billion in loans to help larger businesses weather an economy that has ground to a halt. He has been a vocal figure pushing the bill. He started Sunday on Meet the Press and ended it on the Senate floor expressing dismay and anger that Democrats had blocked the package. He was back on CNBC Monday morning. Toomey said this situation is very different from the 2008 financial collapse. This crisis that were facing is not the fault of a business that didnt plan well or didnt run its business well. I dont think of this as bailouts in the sense that someone is getting rewarded for their bad behavior, Toomey told reporters on a conference call last week. This is more akin to an invasion and our society going on a war footing to fight off this pathogen. The loan program Toomey has helped write would direct aid to businesses with more than 500 employees to help pay their expenses. The loans would have to be paid back and would be overseen by the Treasury Department and Federal Reserve, he said. Unlike more controversial pieces of the bill, this fund would be open to nearly all businesses and aid would be publicly disclosed, Toomey said. He has also worked on provisions to aid small businesses and expand unemployment benefits, his office said. He has aggressively pushed the overall package and blasted Democrats Sunday night for stalling it. Men and women are beside themselves. Theyre terrified because they know they still have to put food on the table. They still have to pay the rent or a mortgage, Toomey said on the Senate floor. "I mean, literally, the bottom has fallen out. It is going away, and that is enormously devastating to the people we represent. Toomey, the regions only Republican senator, was asked on Meet the Press Sunday about President Donald Trumps role in communicating to the public, and veered toward praising Vice President Mike Pence and other top officials at the forefront of the federal response. As for Trump, he said, His message has changed as our understanding of this has changed and sometimes its been better than other times. I think more recently its generally been better. Bob Casey (D., Pa.): Cover 'every penny for health Democrats have had less direct influence over the package in the Senate, where Republicans hold the majority, but lawmakers like Casey have made clear what they think should be included. In this crisis, nobody should go broke or suffer financially because of the cost of treating COVID-19, Casey said, calling to expand Medicaid to cover every penny for people who lack health insurance or have insufficient insurance. Casey said the aim is to ensure that everyone who needs treatment gets it to stop the spread of the virus. We should just make it free, no questions asked, no red tape, no politician telling us we cant afford it, Casey said. He had a far more pointed view of Trumps leadership. Hes proven himself to be an unreliable communicator. I just want to be blunt about that," Casey told reporters on a conference call. "I dont know why we cant hear from the experts. Bob Menendez (D., N.J.): Not just big corporations Menendez, like Toomey, has had a key seat in the Senate as a member of the bipartisan group negotiating the package. He responded to the GOP criticism on the Senate floor Sunday night. This is about making sure that not just big corporations get the monies that they need, but that average working families and individuals get the robust assistance that they need to get through this period of time, Menendez said. He has pressed for aid to small businesses, student loan forgiveness of at least $10,000, and protections from evictions and foreclosures, among other steps. Cory Booker (D., N.J.): Aid for individuals Booker, the former mayor of Newark and former presidential candidate, has argued for provisions that would aid low-income and minority communities. He has joined a number of Democrats in pressing to increase direct payments to individuals to $2,000 for every adult, child, and non-child dependent. Among his other proposals are a temporary ban on bank overdraft fees, increased aid to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and a call for the federal Bureau of Prisons to allow free phone calls and videoconferencing for inmates, since in-person visits have been canceled. Millions of hardworking Americans have been thrown into financial insecurity because of this unprecedented global pandemic, Booker said in a statement about the bank fees. For these individuals, and those vulnerable before the outbreak, one $35 overdraft charge can lead to financial free fall. ... Worse, such fees fall on those least likely to be able to afford them. This article has been updated. Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky failed to do his job this weekend. As the economy spiraled downward, Mr. McConnell, the Senate majority leader, said he would produce a bipartisan bailout bill authorizing an infusion of desperately needed aid. Instead, Mr. McConnell emerged on Sunday evening with a bill that would provide a lot of help for corporate executives and shareholders, and not nearly enough for American workers. It would let the Treasury Department hand out hundreds of billions of dollars to corporations potentially including businesses owned by President Trump without requiring a binding commitment to preserve jobs and wages. And the bailouts could remain secret for six months. Senate Democrats, refusing to play along, blocked the bill in a procedural vote on Sunday night and again on Monday afternoon. But responsibility for the deadlock rests squarely on Mr. McConnells shoulders. The Federal Reserve unveiled a new set of needed programs to support the economy on Monday morning, expanding its whatever it takes crisis response. The operational independence of the central bank is once again proving its value, but Congress must resist the inclination to treat the Feds actions as an alternative to fiscal policy. Instead, senators must emulate the Feds urgency and authorize a set of supersize economic rescue programs. Navy Cmdr. Garth Storz, a native of Clifton Park, has assumed command of the Virginia-class fast-attack nuclear submarine USS Colorado (SSN 788) during a ceremony at the Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut. Storz replaced Capt. Jason Geddes, who has been reassigned to the Undersea Warfighting Development Center. As commanding officer of the submarine, Storz leads a crew of 140 enlisted sailors and officers. The USS Colorado has just returned from a deployment from the U.S. European Command area of responsibility, where it supported national security interests and maritime security operations. In his first act as commanding officer, Storz gave his crew a message: "When I walked on board a little over a month ago, I was greeted by 140 steely-eyed killers of the deep at the end of an incredible maiden deployment. I look forward to many years of sailing together and the continued success of Colorado." Storz enlisted in the Navy in 1997 and was selected for the Nuclear Enlisted Commissioning Program shortly after. He earned a bachelor's degree in nuclear engineering from Penn State University. He was commissioned upon graduation from Officer Candidate School in 2002. He previously served as an executive officer on USS Dallas (SSN700) out of Groton. Colorado was commissioned in March 2018 as the 15th Virginia-class fast-attack submarine to join the fleet. Fast-attack submarines are multi-mission platforms enabling five of the six Navy maritime strategy core capabilities: sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security, and deterrence, according to Kayla Turnbow, a Navy spokeswoman. The subs are designed to excel in anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship warfare, strike warfare, special operations, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, irregular warfare and mine warfare. Fast-attack submarines project power ashore with special operations forces and Tomahawk cruise missiles in the prevention of or preparation for regional crises. Halfmoon sailor Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Charles Chen of Halfmoon has a role in supporting the Navy's research, testing and evaluation of cutting-edge weapons systems for today's sailors at China Lake, California. Chen is a hospital corpsman serving at Naval Air Weapons Station, known as "Secret City." "A vast weapons testing and training range operated by the Navy in California's Mojave Desert, this location is where military and civilian personnel developed or tested nearly every significant airborne weapon system since 1943," said the NAWS China Lake public affairs officer, Margo Allen. As a Navy hospital corpsman, Chen is responsible for screening patients for the flight surgeon, as well as for the administrative work needed for flight crews to ensure they are mission-ready, both physically and mentally. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Chen is a 2014 Shenendehowa High School graduate. NAWS China Lake is located in the Western Mojave Desert region of California, approximately 150 miles north of Los Angeles. The installation is the Navy's largest single piece of real estate, representing 85 percent of the Navy's land for research, development, acquisition, test and evaluation use and 38 percent of the Navy's land holdings worldwide, according to Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Bradley Gee, a Navy spokesman. In total, its two ranges and main site cover more than 1.1 million acres, an area larger than the state of Rhode Island. Operating a facility as large as China Lake is a monumental task, considering its 19,600 square miles of restricted and controlled airspace make up 12 percent of California's total airspace, he adds. Compounding the challenge is the diverse nature of its operations, which include weapons testing and evaluation in air and ground ranges, research and development in highly sophisticated laboratories, and numerous science and technology projects ranging from sensors to chemical and material systems. The workforce at China Lake is a combination of military, civilians and contractors employed across many different commands focused on researching and evaluating cutting-edge technological systems, as well as training Navy personnel preparing for combat in areas around the world. "I am confident that we will maximize the Navy we have today while delivering the Navy that our nation will rely upon tomorrow," said Adm. Mike Gilday, chief of Naval Operations. "We will do so with urgency. Our fleet will be a potent, formidable force that competes around the world every day, deterring those who would challenge us while reassuring our allies and partners." Chen said he is the first in his family to serve in the military and hopes to begin a family tradition. "I hope to start a legacy for my future family." Chen said. News of your troops and units can be sent to Duty Calls, Terry Brown, Times Union, Box 15000, Albany, NY 12212 or brownt@timesunion.com. Joe Biden on Monday urged President Donald Trump to make workers a priority in the efforts to limit the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. The former vice president's address was livestreamed over YouTube, part of his campaign's attempt to restructure its strategy away from in-person events as the disease spreads. Biden, in an attempt to draw a contrast with Trump's more combative style, spoke about the impact the pandemic is having on people across the country. He called on Trump to focus on helping workers get a paycheck while businesses start to close. "For workers and small businesses, we should be focused on them," said Biden, who often touts his blue-collar roots. He also offered warnings about the hazards of bailing out corporations without commensurate worker protections. "If corporations take money from taxpayers they have to make an enforceable commitment that they will keep workers on the payroll," Biden said. Biden's remarks, which came as lawmakers were trying to strike a deal on a massive stimulus bill, were not without some hiccups. As the camera turned on, someone behind the scenes told Biden "mics are hot," with the former vice president then asking if he was cleared to start talking. About seven minutes into his discussion, there was a shuffling of papers, and as Biden tried to describe what he hoped to see from the administration's response, he made a signal to the cameraman. The Democratic front-runner's YouTube live feed had over 5,000 views as of 11:45 a.m. ET on Monday. Biden has been prodded by his allies to start speaking directly to voters as Trump continues to dominate the national platform. Polls have shown that voters are approving of how the president is handling the federal government's response to the coronavirus. "What I'm concerned about is that we see Donald Trump every day with this crisis giving his press report. And I would just love to see you more," a donor told Biden a virtual fundraising call on Sunday. "They put in a new high speed line into my home, they've converted a recreation room, basically, into a television studio," Biden said in response. Although Biden suggested on Monday that this was not the time for politics, he recently released a plan contrasting how he would handle the coronavirus if he were president. His campaign has also started to publish digital ads, focusing on Trump's response. Biden posted on the ads on both his Facebook and Twitter pages, showing a split screen of how Trump has publicly discussed the virus versus the former vice president's approach. "This moment calls for a president. In November you can elect one," the ad concludes. Tweet: By PTI ISLAMABAD: A 26-year-old Pakistani doctor has become the country's first medic to die after contracting the novel coronavirus while treating the COVID-19 patients in Gilgit region of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, officials said on Monday. Usma Riaz was treating the patients who recently returned from Iraq and Iran. Pakistan, which borders Iran and China, two of the most affected countries by the deadly coronavirus, has reported five deaths and nearly 800 persons have been infected. Riaz was part of a 10-member team of the doctors tasked with screening patients returning from downtowns, particularly those arriving there from Iran via Taftan. ALSO READ: Total number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan rises to 799 He later started providing services to the suspected patients in isolation centres established for them in Gilgit. Riaz belonged to Chilas in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). He came home on Friday night but could not get the next day. He was first rushed to a military hospital and then to district hospital. He was put on ventilator and died on Sunday, according to his family. GB government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq confirmed the death of the young physician who is the first doctor to die in the battle against the deadly virus. ALSO READ: Pakistan PM Imran Khan rules out complete lockdown, says it will create chaos "It is with extreme sadness that the Gilgit-Baltistan health department confirms that Usama Riaz who played a key role in the war against coronavirus has passed away," the GB government tweeted on Monday. "Usama proved himself the real hero by sacrificing his life to save others, GB Information Minister Shams Mir said. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Medical Association of Gilgit-Baltistan (PMA G-B) in reaction to Riaz's death accused the government of negligence towards the safety of doctors. Riaz had contracted COVID-19 due to the negligence of government and its health department," President PMA G-B Zulfiqar Ali said. "We will again see what the issue is, and if they (quarantined pilgrims) need further treatment, they will be shifted to DHQ (District Headquarter Hospital) or city hospital, but if they can be treated here, we will provide treatment to them here. The region in north of Pakistan along border with China has so far reported 55 cases. Iran remains the most affected country with more than 21,000 cases and more than 1,600 deaths. Its surpeme leader rejects offers of US help. Iraq imposes a curfew and closes borders. Saudi Arabia goes on 21-day lockdown. Exceptional containment measures are taken in the West Bank. Jerusalem (AsiaNews/Agencies) The coronavirus emergency is spreading in the Middle East, with the first cases reported over the weekend in Syria and the Gaza Strip. More and more countries are imposing a total curfew, closing borders and suspending international flights. The most critical situation remains that of Iran, where the number of victims and infections keeps rising. Despite this, Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has rejected offers of help and medicines from the United States. Yesterday in Syria, the authorities confirmed the first COVID-19 case, and announced new preventive measures to stem the spread of the epidemic in a country still at war. Health Minister Nizar Yaziji explained that the infected person comes from abroad, without specifying where the infection occurred. The Interior minister suspended public transit and the postponed local elections, from 13 April to May 20. The Gaza Strip reported its first two cases of coronavirus. Some 33 cases were reported yesterday in neighbouring Egypt, bringing the total to 327, with four more deaths for a total of 14. In Iran, the number of infections topped 21,000 with 1,685 deaths, 129 in the past 24 hours. There were 1,028 new confirmed infected cases in the past 24 hours... and 7,913 people have recovered, a Health Ministry's spokesman said As of yesterday until 28 March, Iraq is under a curfew with its borders sealed. So far, 233 cases have been reported, with 20 death. About 2,000 people have been tested. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh issued strict containment measures. Starting yesterday people cannot leave their homes, except for those who work in hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, in food stores and supermarkets. People will be able to shop. The West Bank has 59 COVID-19 cases, with 17 people already healed. The authorities also placed under quarantine all those returning from abroad. In Israel, 1,234 people have been infected, with a sharp rise due to greater coronavirus testing. Of the 1,234 people diagnosed with coronavirus, 1,142 had mild cases, 24 moderate cases and 24 serious ones - an increase of four people in serious condition. One person, an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor, died over the weekend. So far 37 people have recovered. A 21-day curfew starts tonight in Saudi Arabia. Local authorities have confirmed 511 cases, no deaths, and 17 recovered. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the authorities suspended international flights. Overall, 153 cases have been reported with two deaths and 38 recovered. The logic of this endeavor is as unassailable as its prospects are rickety. Sentient beings anywhere in the galaxy, having reached a certain level of technological sophistication, would realize that the distances between stars are physically unbridgeable and would likely choose to communicate with radio waves. But joining the cosmic conversation, if there is such a thing, would require us humans on the listening end to know which of 100 billion stars to point our receivers at, and which frequency to tune in to. Thats an optimistic scenario. And, of course, we would have to be able to figure out what they are saying once we heard it. We now know that there are billions of other planets in the Milky Way galaxy alone. Thanks to efforts like NASAs TESS satellite, we are beginning to discern some details of the closest ones. We know that they can look at us just as we are looking at them. These days, one of the most extensive searches is being made by Breakthrough Listen, a program underwritten by the billionaire Yuri Milner and his friends. Seti@home has been piggybacking on its telescopes, looking at whatever they are looking at. Once upon a time, almost 2 million computers were subscribed to the program, but it has since declined twentyfold. As the seti@home team explained in a recent conference call, they have been able to gauge the average lifetime of personal computers by how long they remain registered on the website about three years. All this has not happened without a few ruffled feathers. Legend has it that some I.T. administrators have found their networks bogged down by too many people running the screen saver at once. Dan Werthimer, who holds the Watson and Marilyn Alberts SETI Chair at the University of California, Berkeley, said this was overblown. Once, he said, a school administrator got in trouble after downloading seti@home to all the computers in the school. But after 21 years, the team doesnt yet know whether their screen saver recorded any alien signals. YEREVAN, MARCH 23, ARMENPRESS. Aurora Humanitarian Initiative Co-Founders and Chairmen issued a statement on COVID-19 outbreak. Armenpress presents the full text of the statement: On behalf of the partners and supporters of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, we would like to confirm that during the outbreak of COVID-19 we fully intend to continue our global efforts to help the most vulnerable while supporting local health professionals on the front lines. At the core of Auroras mission is the drive to offer life and hope to those in urgent need of basic humanitarian aid anywhere in the world. It couldnt be more relevant after COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. Today, we are more committed than ever to lending a helping hand to those who might otherwise be overlooked or forsaken entirely. This global outbreak has shifted the global agenda. While the world is focusing on manufacturing the vaccine and minimizing the damage, refugees and other vulnerable communities inalterably supported by Aurora continue to suffer and face additional pressures in light of COVID-19. It is important for us not to lose sight of their hardship. Aurora will continue giving a second chance to those who have already been through so much. At the same time, the Initiative will contribute to fighting the pandemic and supporting the medical staff by providing ten lung ventilation devices for Armenian Hospitals using the funds raised via #AraratChallenge campaign. As a universal movement, we take the safety and health of our global community extremely seriously. In these trying and uncertain times, one thing is very clear: every day, more and more people in the world will need assistance, and it is our duty and responsibility to provide it. This challenge is faced by all of humanity, and we urge all of you to join Aurora in rising to it. Tom Catena, Chair, Aurora Humanitarian Initiative Lord Ara Darzi, Chair, Aurora Prize Selection Committee Noubar Afeyan, Vartan Gregorian, Ruben Vardanyan, Co-Founders, Aurora Humanitarian Initiative * * * About the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative Founded on behalf of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide and in gratitude to their saviors, the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative seeks to empower modern-day saviors to offer life and hope to those in urgent need of basic humanitarian aid anywhere in the world and thus continue the cycle of giving internationally. The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative is Gratitude in Action. It is an eight-year commitment (2015 to 2023, in remembrance of the eight years of the Armenian Genocide 1915-1923) to support people and promote global projects that tackle the needs of the most helpless and destitute and do so at great risk. This is achieved through the Initiatives various programs: The Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity, the Aurora Dialogues, the Aurora Humanitarian Index, the Gratitude Projects and the 100 LIVES Initiative. The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative is the vision of philanthropists Vartan Gregorian, Noubar Afeyan and Ruben Vardanyan who have been joined by more than 440 new supporters and partners. Our Chair, Dr. Tom Catena, draws on his experience is a surgeon, veteran, humanitarian and the 2017 Aurora Prize laureate to spread the message of Gratitude in Action to a global audience. The Initiative welcomes all who embrace a commitment to our shared humanity. The 360 shows you diverse perspectives on the days top stories and debates. Whats happening Two U.S. senators sold off stock potentially worth millions of dollars in the weeks leading up to the national economic crisis caused by the coronavirus, sparking accusations they used inside information they gained in classified briefings to cash out their holdings before the market crashed. Sen. Richard Burr, a Republican from North Carolina, sold between $628,000 and $1.72 million in stock on Feb. 13. A few days later, the stock market began a sharp decline amid uncertainty over the viruss effects on the economy. As chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Burr was reportedly receiving daily briefings on the coronavirus threat. Sen. Kelly Loeffler a Republican who was appointed to Georgias empty Senate seat in early January began selling stock worth between $1.28 and $3.1 million on Jan. 24, the same day she attended a briefing on the virus as part of the Senate Health Committee. Both Burr and Loeffler made public statements touting the Trump administrations preparedness for a potential outbreak around the time they were selling stock. In 2012, Congress passed a law making it illegal for lawmakers to make financial transactions based on nonpublic information. Burr said he relied on public news reports in deciding to sell his stock. Loeffler called accusations of insider trading ridiculous and baseless and said all her investment decisions are made by third-party advisers. Transactions by three other senators have also raised questions. Sen. Dianne Feinstein sold up to $6 million worth of shares in a biotech company starting in January. The California Democrat said she keeps her holdings in a blind trust, and the stock has increased in value since the shares were sold. Oklahoma Republican Jim Inhofe said sales of stock worth up to $750,000 are part of an ongoing effort to move his investments out of holdings that may present a conflict of interest. Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, a Republican, sold his stake in a plastics manufacturing company, but said the transaction was part of a deal that had been in the works for years. Story continues Why theres debate The senators, especially Burr and Loeffler, have received significant criticism for their stock sell-offs. Some experts believe the transactions may be illegal and have called for investigations that could lead to criminal charges, though they concede that intent in insider trading cases is difficult to prove. Even if the sales werent illegal, some argue that they represent a major ethical violation. Critics say Burr and Loeffler had information showing the virus posed a much more severe risk than the presidents statements at the time suggested, and instead of sharing that potentially lifesaving information with the public, they used it to protect their own financial interests. Many have called for both senators to resign. Even if all the senators involved avoid criminal charges and stay in office, there could still be repercussions at the ballot box. Even if shes proved to be totally innocent, the appearance of financial malfeasance could hurt Loefflers bid to retain her seat in whats expected to be a tight race in November. Burr is expected to retire at the end of his term in 2022. But North Carolinas other GOP senator, Thom Tillis, is up for reelection this year. Tilllis has faced criticism, including from within his own party, for what some see as a soft response to accusations against Burr. The situation has also brought renewed calls from progressives for legislation that would bar members of Congress from owning any individual stocks during their time in office. Whats next Burr has volunteered to have the Senate Ethics Committee review his transactions. With Congress currently putting all of its attention into bills to combat the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak, its unclear when or if an investigation will be completed. Perspectives Burr should resign Maybe there is an honest explanation for what he did. If there is, he should share it with the rest of us immediately. Otherwise, he must resign from the Senate and face prosecution for insider trading. There is no greater moral crime than betraying your country in a time of crisis, and that appears to be what happened. Tucker Carlson, Fox News The sales should be investigated as potential criminal acts If the evidence says the legislator-investors moved money to stem personal losses in advance of the bath they knew the rest of us were bound to take, throw the book at them. Editorial, New York Daily News The scandal goes beyond a few financial transactions The stock sales are only one piece of this story. The other thing that makes this story scandalous is that officials knew things were far worse than Trump was saying publicly. Greg Sargent, Washington Post Law should be changed to prevent lawmakers from owning individual stocks Voters should never have to wonder about their lawmakers integrity. Its not enough that members of Congress report their trades a month after the fact. People with intensively managed investments simply shouldnt be in public life. If they want to serve, they should buy and hold simple investments that follow the market as a whole. Editorial, Washington Examiner It may be hard to prove criminal wrongdoing in this situation I do wonder how difficult it is to really prove any insider knowledge at this point given the timing of all of this and the fact that this was already a full-blown outbreak over in China at the time. Akiko Fujita, Yahoo Finance Criminal prosecution would be going to far I am happy to assume that senators insider trade more brazenly than everyone else, but if youre going to assume that you need to restrict it to cases when they seem to have insider traded brazenly. This is clearly not that. Matt Levine, Bloomberg An ethics investigation is not enough Senate Ethics Committee investigations are conducted in secret and can be concluded at any time if the target of the investigation steps down. They are also notoriously slow, taking months or even years to meander to completion. Russ Choma, Mother Jones The accusations could cost Loeffler her Senate seat The accusations of self-dealing while the U.S. copes with the unprecedented coronavirus crisis represent a major early test for Loeffler, a first-time political candidate on whom Republicans are counting to keep a contested Senate seat in GOP hands as Democrats mount a charge to retake the chamber in this year's elections. James Arkin, Politico The senators deserve the chance to challenge the accusations before any action is taken There may, of course, be perfectly reasonable explanations for what, initially, appears to be illegal and morally reprehensible behavior. Mr. Burr and Ms. Loeffler deserve the opportunity to provide those explanations. The Senate should initiate an ethics investigation of all accusations, and, if warranted, refer relevant findings for criminal prosecution. Editorial, New York Times Is there a topic youd like to see covered in The 360? Send your suggestions to the360@yahoonews.com. Read more 360s Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: AP (2), Getty Images Good morning. (If you dont already get California Today delivered free to your inbox, heres the sign-up.) Over the weekend, roughly 40 million Californians adjusted to life under a sweeping new order to stay at home, even as questions lingered about what, exactly, that means. For small businesses, there was plenty of confusion over how it was determined whether they were essential. [What does it mean to shelter in place?] My colleagues Conor Dougherty and Thomas Fuller reported that even in the Bay Area, already several days into its massive containment experiment, there was plenty of room for interpretation. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- If youre worried Fido might run out of food, dont be. Pet stores and their employees are considered essential under the stay-at-home order issued Sunday by the Ohio Department of Health. Its common sense. Its the things you think you can do, Gov. Mike DeWine said at a press briefing. My dog is hungry, can I go get dog food? Yeah, these are basic things. But, he added, Every time you go out there is a risk. What were saying is just be mindful of what youre doing. Outdoor activity, according to the order, is also considered essential. That means walking your dog is permitted, as long as you comply with the recommended social distancing guidelines of staying at least six feet away from others. Going outside: You can go out in your yard, visit the @OhioStateParks -- just keep your #SocialDistancing. Get out and walk --- this is important for mental health. Walk your dog, go hiking. Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) March 22, 2020 Leaving home to take care of a pet is OK, too. So, the major pet store chains like PetSmart, Petco, and Pet Supplies Plus remain open, though with reduced hours and services. For the safety of in-store shoppers, the retailers have increased the frequency of cleanings and adopted measures that promote social distancing. PetSmart, for example, has shut down all of its grooming salons, while Petco has left that decision up to individual stores. Petco, however, has closed its dog washing stations and suspended all adoption events. To make shopping easier on customers, the three chains offer in-store pickup on online orders, with curbside service available at Petco and Pet Supplies Plus. In fact, if your pet has an immediate need, that might be the best option. Chewy.com, one of the most popular online pet stores, says delivery times are running considerably longer than usual due to high demand. Meanwhile, Camp Bow Wow, the national doggy day care chain with five area locations, is also staying open, at least for now. We want to continue to take care of our clients who entrust their pups to us while they are on the front lines of battling COVID-19 and those helping to keep everything running smoothly, Camp Bow Wow Strongsville explained on its Facebook page. We want to be able to support them so they dont worry about their pets while they are working. We are taking all the necessary steps to be safe. The CDC, incidentally, says theres no evidence pets can spread the coronavirus. Still, it recommends washing your hands after handling animals as a precaution. The CDC also advises people who are sick with COVID-19 limit their contact with pets until more is known about the virus. Read related stories: Read Ohio Gov. Mike DeWines stay-at-home order Q&A: How will Ohios stay-at-home order to combat coronavirus affect your life? Whats open, closed under Ohios stay-at-home order? I know it feels like life is shutting down:' Dr. Amy Acton on Ohio stay-at-home order Ohios stay-at-home order does not mean rush to grocery stores for food, toilet paper Common sense exceptions to Ohios stay-at-home order: What you can (and should) still leave the house to do Department of Homeland Security official Chad Wolf speaks in Washington on Oct. 29, 2019. (Alex Brandon/AP Photo) DHS Chief: National Lockdown Reports are False and Possibly Stemmed from Russia Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said on March 22 that disinformation suggesting there could be a national shutdown could have stemmed from Russia or other cyber actors. Wolf said on Sunday that the reports were false and that circulating text messages that say were going to have a national lockdown or a national quarantine are part of a disinformation campaign. I would just say, thats absolutely false. Its not true, he told Fox Business. And it is part of a disinformation campaign. What we know, whether its Russia, or whether its other cyber actors [is] they like to sow discord on any controversial issue, he added. So, it doesnt just have to be elections. It can be any issue. And were seeing that now with the coronavirus. Get your information from trusted sources, such as your state officials and your federal officials, Wolf said. Wolfs message came after the White Houses National Security Council (NSC) on March 20 said that text messages and emails about national quarantines are absolutely false adding that the disinformation was started by those wanting to cause fear and confusion in our country. PSA: Text messages and emails about national quarantines are absolutely false and started by those wanting to cause fear and confusion in our country. Continue to listen to CDC, https://t.co/I9sVvyqGmm and your state/local officials for latest updates and definitive guidance. NSC (@WHNSC) March 20, 2020 Continue to listen to CDC, coronavirus.gov and your state/local officials for latest updates and definitive guidance, NSC wrote on Twitter. Wolf urged Americans not to believe the false reports, or share the messages. He also said Sunday that there are no immediate plans to halt travel within the United States amid the CCP virus outbreak, adding that the administration could implement targeted restrictions if needed. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. President Donald Trump last week suggested that the Chinese communist regime is to blame for the CCP virus, which has spread to more than 160 countries and territories around the world, killing thousands. On Sunday, the president approved a major disaster declaration for Washington state and New York, while California is expected to be approved shortly to combat the viral pandemic. The governors of the three states made requests to the federal government for the order as CCP virus cases multiply across the United States. New York, Washington, and California have the most confirmed patients. Were enduring a great national trial, Trump remarked, adding that were at war with an invisible enemy. I want you to know as one people, eternally linked by our shared national spirit, Trump said. No American is alone. A disaster declaration provides a wide range of federal assistance programs and funds for public infrastructure and individual assistance. One in three Americans was also ordered to stay home on Sunday to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic that has killed at least 400 people in the United States and sickened more than 33,000. Jack Phillips and Reuters contributed to this report. Patrick Nicholls: Fishing. My part in the movement to take control of it back from the EU. Patrick Nicholls was MP for Teignbridge, and is a former Government Minister. Even as EU negotiators repeat their demands for a trade deal in ever more bellicose terms, a right deal would surely be preferable to no deal. So right on cue, Michel Barnier suggests a compromise; its fish for finance. After all, Britains fishing industry is miniscule, whereas our finance industry is vast. But the Brexit project is not fundamentally about money; its about restoring to the British people the right to govern themselves by electing and dismissing the politicians who govern their lives. How was it that in 1975, we seemingly surrendered that right? The answer is that the British people were systematically deceived both as to the nature of the Union and what had been surrendered in the matter of fishing policy. In short, the British people were betrayed by the Conservative leadership of the day. Thats why Boris Johnson must get this right, and to his credit hes never sought to suggest that stiffing whats left of the British fishing industry is just a cruel necessity, an unfortunate but unavoidable exercise in realpolitik. Johnson was only eight years old in 1972; no guilt attaches to him, unless by betraying the fishing industry a second time, he chooses to endorse and embrace that earlier guilt. After 1975, it became clear that Europe was becoming more than a mere trading block, as it looked towards a Common Foreign Policy and even a single European currency. When I entered government in 1987, what had started off as the Common Market was already morphing into the European Union of 1993. My belief that it was Europe, not Great Britain, that had arbitrarily changed the rules was shattered when I found myself on a plane to Paris to deliver a speech at a European event. My officials had put a copy of the Treaty of Rome in my Red Box, which I read for the first time and there it was; the Common Market was not the last step in the march to a free trade block, but the first step towards a United States of Europe. Some two years, or so, later, under the 30 years rule, the Government revealed correspondence between Edward Heath, then President of the Board of Trade and the minister in charge of Britains unsuccessful 1961 bid to join the Common Market, and the Lord Chancellor, Lord Kilmuir, in which Kilmuir had specifically warned Heath that he had mislead the country when he had said that accession to the Treaty of Rome had no constitutional implications. Lord Kilmuir advised Heath that the surrenders of sovereignty should be brought out into the open now because if we attempt to gloss them over at this stage, those who are opposed to the whole idea of joining the community will certainly seize on them with more damaging effect later on. Kilmuirs advice was ignored. On Sunday, December 12th 1971, Geoffrey Rippon, as Heaths Chief Negotiator on the Common Market, concluded the fisheries negotiations. The following day, Rippon told the House of Commons that the deal he had struck made it clear that we retain full jurisdiction over the whole of our coastal waters up to 12 miles. What Rippon did not tell ,the House was that this derogation was, merely an exception limited to 10 years. Thus the betrayal was complete, but a later generation of Conservative MPs, were determined to seek redress. In 1998, I was moved to the Shadow Agriculture team. By then, the Conservative Parliamentary Party was becoming increasingly concerned at the inadequacy of the Partys approach on the CFP. At the annual set piece debate on fisheries each December, the Conservative Opposition, compromised by its record in government had nothing to offer, other than critical platitudes. By 1998, the party had had enough of it. . I was therefore given the fisheries brief and told to work up something more imaginative before the next debate in December 1998. I concluded that repudiating the CFP, i.e repatriating fisheries policy in UK waters to the UK Parliament, was the only way forward. We had joined the Common Market by passing the European Communities Act 1972. Therefore what Parliament had done, Parliament could undo, either in whole or in part, by amending the Act. A magic circle firm of solicitors advised me pro bono, that legally I was right, but that in political reality the 1972 Act should be regarded as both irrevocable and irreversible. On the morning of the Fisheries debate on December 15th 1998, I briefed the shadow ministerial team in general terms as to what I had in mind, with fisheries policy being included in a broader programme of repatriation of powers. What was usually a fairly boring debate, proved to be anything but. As I responded to the Minsters opening remarks and it became obvious that what I was proposing was the unilateral amendment of the 1972 Act, the atmosphere became increasingly bad-tempered and fractious, as the Opposition realised that for the first time since Britains accession to the CFP, the Conservative Party had not just criticised the Government, but had actually proposed a solution. The noise level went through the roof and for the first and only time in my parliamentary career, the chair had to come to my assistance, with Speaker Martin shouting above the din, Order Order, Theres far too much background noise in the Chamber which is unfair to the Honourable Gentleman who is addressing the House. Such was the reaction of Old Guard Conservative europhiles immediately after the debate that it looked as if I might be dismissed before the evening was out for exceeding my brief, and my speech repudiated in its entirety. In fact, it was a close-run thing, but ultimately the support of eurosceptic MPs, many of whom had been in the Chamber, was enough to save me. Subsequently, the Opposition Leader, William Hague, proved most enthusiastic. It was not to last. In 2000, I resigned from the Shadow team, as I had told William Hague I would when he first appointed me, to concentrate on saving my seat. It didnt work, and in 2001 I was back in civvy street and the policy change was nuanced into oblivion. The debate of December 15th 1998 was the first time, the Conservative Party had offered an honest diagnosis of the EU problem, All that was required was a Prime Minister with the determination to fix it. Righting this historic wrong to our fishing industry may prove the first real test of Boris Johnsons resolution. I dont think for one moment that hell prove unequal to the task. Patrick Nicholls new paper on fisheries (of which this is an abridgement) is in a compilation out shortly on the Red Cell website. 2.3k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard It is a week too late, but after Rand Paul exposed them all to coronavirus, Senate Republicans have canceled their weekly lunch. NBCs Garrett Haake tweeted: GOP senators no longer holding their conference lunch aides tell @kasie & me which would have been a good thing to cancel at least a week ago when everyone else started social distancing. Garrett Haake (@GarrettHaake) March 23, 2020 Haake is correct. The Republican Senators were so entitled and privileged that while the rest of the country was being urged to practice social distancing, Republican Senators were going on with business as usual. Until, Rand Paul rolled into the Senate, had lunch with GOP colleagues, and used the Senate gym and pool. None of this has stopped Republicans from trying to use the coronavirus to give more money to the wealthy and corporations instead of hospitals, and the American people who are losing their jobs and being impacted by the epidemic. Mitch McConnell and his crew are finally taking the coronavirus seriously, but only after Typhoid Rand exposed them all. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Fiachra Gibbons and Zoe Leroy (Agence France-Presse) Paris/Lille, France Mon, March 23, 2020 11:28 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206cb9f1a 2 World France,doctor,coronavirus,death-toll,Wuhan-coronavirus,COVID-19,pandemic,health,SARS-CoV-2,novel-coronavirus Free The first French doctor battling the coronavirus has died as the death toll in the country spiraled to 674 Sunday. With the outbreak spreading to eight regions -- and 112 more dying in a single day -- authorities admitted their count does not include those who died at home and in old people's homes. "We are looking at an epidemic that is widening and escalating," the head of the health service Jerome Salomon said. With hospitals flooded with 7,240 victims, the military are having to transfer some from the worst-hit areas. "The virus kills and it is continuing to kill," Salomon added. The 67-year-old emergency room medic who died worked at Compiegne hospital, north of Paris, the town's mayor told AFP. He was hailed as a hero by his family for coming back from holiday to treat the first major outbreak in the country. Mayor Philippe Marini said that Madagascar-born Jean-Jacques Razafindranazy "came back to work voluntarily to treat people and knew he was taking a risk". Calls for curfew His wife, a family doctor, is now also sick with the virus and has been quarantined at home. Dr Razafindranazy's death came as controversy raged over a shortage of protective gear for medical staff in some parts of France. Despite Health Minister Olivier Veran saying more than 250 million masks had been ordered, some doctors and nurses have complained that they have had to do without. The French government is also under pressure from doctors' unions to impose a total nationwide curfew. The northeast city of Mulhouse, where French soldiers have already set up a military field hospital to help hospital staff overwhelmed by the number of cases, declared its own curfew from Sunday night from 9:00 pm to 6:00 am. Some other cities, including Nice and Perpignan, have already imposed their own curfews. With authorities expected to extend the lockdown beyond the end of March, doctors want it tightened to "at a minimum" stopping people going out to jog or exercise. Parliament toughened fines for people who break the current confinement measures late Saturday. Repeat offenders now face six months in prison and a fine of 3,700 euros (US$3,950). And on Sunday it declared a health emergency in the country, granting greater powers to the government to fight the pandemic. Shortage of masks Dr Razafindranazy died on Saturday in a hospital in the northern city of Lille, with his son paying an emotional tribute to him on Facebook. "He was passionate about his work and chose not to retire. He has left a family behind him who will never forget him," he added. The family also warned that "this illness is extremely serious and must not be taken lightly". Marini said Dr Razafindranazy "would soon have been 68" and had treated some of the first cases in the Oise department, the first area in France to be badly hit by COVID-19. He was infected in early March, the mayor added. A quarter of the more than 7,200 people now in hospital with the virus are in intensive care. Veran said many medical staff who contract the virus could in fact be getting infected outside of their work, while adding that protection for frontline staff was "absolutely indispensable". But doctors and nurses were losing patience, with the Frederic Adnet, the head of an emergency department at Seine-Saint-Denis in the northern suburbs of Paris, saying supplies of protective clothing were clearly under strain. "We know we are exposed," he told French television. "We know a number of us are going to contract it and there will be a price to pay... with protective gear cruelly lacking." COVID cases in India rose to 415, Union health ministry said as much of the country locked down on Monday with the Centre warning of legal action against those violating the restrictions enforced to curtail the pandemic, which has claimed more than 14,500 lives globally. Punjab on Monday became the first in the country to impose curfew in the entire state with no relaxations and only exempted essential services to prevent the infection, which has killed seven people in the country so far. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also asked state governments to ensure that rules and regulations of the coronavirus lockdown are enforced as he noted that many people are not taking the measure seriously. "Many people are still not taking the lockdown seriously. Please save yourself, save your family, follow the instructions seriously. I request state governments to ensure rules and laws are followed," he said in a tweet in Hindi. Faced with unprecedented situation arising out of the coronavirus breakout, the Centre and state governments have decided to take extraordinary measures and impose restrictions. Delhi, Jharkhand, and Nagaland declared a statewide lockdown while similar curbs were announced in a number of districts in Bihar, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Several states, including Maharashtra, Kerala, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, had earlier imposed a partial or complete lockdown. Those living in 80 districts across the country, including in the national capital Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai have been placed under travel and movement restrictions with authorities suspending all passenger train and inter-state bus services till March 31. The Centre has issued directions to state governments, asking them to take legal action against those who are found violating the lockdown orders. "States have been asked to strictly enforce the lockdown in the areas where it has been announced. Legal action will be taken against violators," tweeted the Press Information Bureau, government's communication wing. The country registered 55 fresh cases from different parts, taking the tally to 415 which includes 41 foreign nationals and seven deaths. Gujarat, Bihar and Maharashtra reported a death each on Sunday. Four fatalities were reported earlier from Karnataka, Delhi, Maharashtra and Punjab, the ministry said, adding the total numbers also includes 24 people who have been cured, discharged or migrated. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said 18,383 samples have been tested till 10 am on Monday. The total number of positive novel coronavirus cases includes 67 in Maharashtra, including three foreigners, and Kerala also at 67, with seven foreign nationals, data issued by the ministry showed. Till Monday morning, Delhi had reported 29 positive cases, including a foreigner, while Uttar Pradesh recorded 28, also including a foreigner, it added. Rajasthan reported 27 cases, of which two are foreigners. Telangana reported 26 cases, including 11 foreigners. Karnataka has 26 coronavirus patients, the ministry said. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court directed all states and UTs to set up high-level committees to determine class of prisoners who could be released on parole, in a bid to decongest prisons to prevent the spread of coronavirus. It also said prisoners convicted of or charged with offences having jail term up to 7 years can be given parole. The court also ordered that a high-level committee should work in consultation with State Legal Service Authority for release of prisoners. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Were doing that because Donald Trump promised to deliver for all the states weeks ago and so far has done very little," Pritzker said. "So apparently, the only way to get the president of the United States to pay attention is to go on national television and make noise about it. Which I wont stop doing until we get what we need. D emocratic presidential front-runner Joe Biden revealed he has discussed possible running mates with Barack Obama and will start vetting potential picks in a matter of weeks. Mr Bidens vice-presidential options will include at least six or seven women who will be subjected to background checks to ensure there will not be any snafu [controversy], he told donors at a fundraising event held by telephone. I have to start that process relatively soon, meaning in a matter of weeks, he said. I think there will be a group that is in excess of six or seven people who Ill look at. Mr Biden, 77, reiterated his pledge first made at last weeks televised Democratic debate with rival Bernie Sanders that he would pick a woman for the job. Presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders / AFP via Getty Images He also emphasised that they would have to agree with his fundamental view on policies, including healthcare, education and the need for expansive US influence in the world. He said he shared that kind of common ground with former President Obama, whom he served as vice-president, although they sometimes differed on tactics. Ive actually talked to Barack about this the most important thing is that it has to be someone who, the day after theyre picked, is prepared to be President of the United States of America if something happened, said Mr Biden. Former Vice President Joe Biden / AP He holds a strong lead over Left-winger Mr Sanders, 78, his lone remaining rival for the partys nomination to face Republican President Donald Trump in Novembers election. Mr Biden has appealed to Sanders backers to anoint him as the Democrat nominee. Stopped from campaigning in public because of the coronavirus crisis, Mr Biden said he would start broadcasting today from his Delaware home. By Nupur Anand and Aftab Ahmed MUMBAI/NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The Indian government has asked all state-owned lenders to extend emergency credit lines to corporate borrowers, three government and banking sources said, as it rushes to tackle the fallout from the coronavirus outbreak that has grounded business across the globe. Banks have been asked to make available an additional 10% in funds over and above sanctioned working capital loans, but not exceeding 2 billion rupees ($26.33 million) per loan account as part of the emergency measures, a senior government official, who did not want to be named, said. India's largest lender, State Bank of India (SBI) , has already rolled out this emergency credit line and the other state-owned lenders are also expected to follow suit shortly, industry officials said. None of the sources wanted to be named as the plan is not yet public. The Finance Ministry and SBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The coronavirus pandemic has sparked concerns about the health of the small and medium-sized enterprises that have already been hammered by a slowing economy. India's economy expanded at its slowest pace in more than six years in the last three months of 2019 and analysts have predicted a further deceleration caused by the global COVID-19 outbreak. Small businesses have been approaching banks to provide additional liquidity support, also warning that loan repayments may be delayed. Bankers say that they have received such requests from small and medium-sized businesses in the auto, transportation, trading, hospitality and the aviation sector. Lenders have also asked the banking regulator to ease bad loan classification rules and also to extend loan repayments by six months across categories spanning industry, agriculture and retail customers. Similar requests have also been made to the government and the Reserve Bank of India by the shadow banks that have already begun to see an impact on repayment caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, said sources. Story continues The RBI has also allowed banks to classify loans to NBFCs for key areas such as agriculture, housing and small and medium businesses - up to certain limits - as priority sector lending for the next financial year as well, in a bid to keep credit flowing to the parts of the economy where most Indians work. The measure, introduced in August, was originally planned to last until March this year. India has more than 400 confirmed cases of coronavirus. Maharashtra, the financial capital of India has recorded the highest number of cases in the country and authorities have banned gatherings of more than five people in the state. (Reporting by Nupur Anand and Aftab Ahmed; Editing by Euan Rocha and Louise Heavens) Ch v m Krishna Rao By Is Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao a trusted friend of Narendra Modi or an unadulterated foe? While some sections and political parties oppose whatever the BJP does regardless of merits, KCR is different. He unexpectedly extended full support to some of the most controversial decisions taken by the Centre like demonetisation, GST and the reading down of Article 370, but is now opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR). He has gone to the extent of adopting an Assembly resolution opposing the new format for capturing NPR data, asserting its updation will be allowed only if it is done using the old format. KCR even threatened to launch a nationwide stir with all like-minded chief ministers on the matter. The NPR exercise is scheduled to begin anytime between April 1 and September 30 across the country if the Coronavirus outbreak does not put it off. If you are not making the bread, why are you kneading the dough? he asked, delivering an iron-fisted punch on the BJP while speaking in the Assembly on the resolution. In fact, moving the resolution in the Assembly was a long time coming. He maintained stoic silence even in the face of the BJPs taunts over whether the TRS opposition to the CAA in Parliament was just an eyewash. The BJPs game plan was to force KCR to commit himself to his anti-CAA stand, which it hoped would polarise Hindus in its favour in the municipal polls held a few months ago. The BJP argued that KCR wanted to keep the issue simmering as he was not sure how Hindus would react if he took to the streets with his anti-CAA stand. Though Muslims would rally behind him, it could ruffle the sentiments of the Hindus, which he was wary of ahead of the municipal elections, particularly at a time when the anti-incumbency luggage was slowly piling up.For, one unguarded comment by him ahead of the Lok Sabha elections had cost the TRS four seats in the state, including that of daughter K Kavitha in Nizamabad, who went down to the BJP as if pole-axed. Criticising the BJPs Hindutva agenda, he had used the phrase Hinduvulu Bonduvulu (nincompoops), which riled the Hindus though it was a dart aimed at the BJP. KCR later tried to make amends by saying there could be no greater Hindu than himself and recounted the many yagnas he had performed, but the damage was done. After KCR changed tack with his anti-CAA resolution, the BJP initially ran for cover to unscramble his googly. It then claimed that KCR is positioning himself as a messiah of the Muslims because elections to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation are due and the city has over 40 per cent Muslim population. Till the municipal elections were over, the TRS had stayed silent on the CAA so as to mobilise Hindus, while ally AIMIM tore into the BJP, thus consolidating the Muslim votes. Wherever the MIM was in the fray, the TRS worked for it, and vice versa, with the common intention of arresting the BJPs rise. KCR, as any other politician, would naturally look for electoral benefit in every decision that he takes. Since Muslim population is about 12 per cent in the entire state and over 40 per cent in Hyderabad, he chose to strategically time his anti-CAA stand. Politics apart, when the Muslim community is agitated, as a leader of the state, he probably thought he should defend their rights. While TRS calls him a champion of secularism, the astute politician knows when to play up an issue and when to lie low. He knows how to get the best of both the worlds while protecting the interests of the largest segment of the electorate. Interestingly, a senior BJP leader has filed a PIL in the Hyderabad High Court challenging the Assembly resolution against the NPR. It remains to be seen how the NPR politics eventually plays out. Also, the fallout of the state government stalling a Central programme would be anybodys guess. Ch V M Krishna Rao Resident Editor, Telangana krishnarao@newindianexpress.com Your tax-deductible gift today powers our reporters and keeps us independent. We rely on you, our reader, not paywalls to stay funded because we believe important news and information should be freely accessible to all. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe For days, Jesse Kulken had no idea that the world as he knew it was shutting down. He was hiking through the snow and the sugar pines, alone and without cellphone service, high in the San Bernardino Mountains on the Pacific Crest Trail, a footpath that runs 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada. On Tuesday, March 17, it started to snow, so he walked off the trail and into the town of Big Bear Lake. He checked into a hostel to wait out the storm, turned on his phone, and saw the news: Coronavirus was now a global pandemic. Schools were closing. Movie theaters were shutting down. Restaurants were empty. He checked the Facebook page for Pacific Crest Trail hikers. It was a war zone. On one side: hikers who'd already decided to cancel their upcoming trips. On the other side: hikers adamant about continuing. Each side was loudly, angrily, shaming the other. Kulken felt caught in the middle. As the snow fell softly outside, and the wind rattled the windows of the empty hostel, the 33-year-old Australian wondered: Should I quit, or should I press on? A DREAM DEFERRED His decision is a higher-stakes version of the choices we all face every day in this dystopian new world. Should I go on a walk in the park, or stay at home? Should I visit my parents, or use FaceTime? Should I go to Starbucks, or make my own coffee? In other words: Should I continue on with life, or radically alter my plans? The difference, for many PCT hikers, is that to alter their plans is to give up on a dream they've obsessed about for years. "It's analogous to the Olympics. It's as challenging and gruelling and high-level as you can possibly get in the outdoors," Scott Wilkinson, the director of communications at the Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA), which issues PCT hiker permits, told me. "These people have practiced and prepared and studied and trained in some cases for years to do this. And now they're seeing those hopes dashed." "IT WOULD BLOW OVER" Kulken began planning his through-hike of the PCT two years ago. He rented out his house. He sold his Hyundai. He quit his job as a carpenter. He flew to Sydney to get a visa from the U.S. Embassy. On February 25, he flew again to Los Angeles and made his way to Campo, the town on the California-Mexico border where the trail begins. Back then, in the innocent days of late February, the coronavirus didn't concern him. "It was still a small thing. It wasn't as crazy as it is now," Kulken told me. "I was assured it would blow over, and it would be gone in a couple weeks." So he began hiking north into the desert on March 1, the first day that the PCTA issues long-distance through-hiking permits. TERRIBLE TIMING There is a very narrow window in which you can begin a northbound hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. Start too early, and you'll arrive at the Sierra Nevada when the snow is still deep and the creeks are dangerously high. Start too late, and you risk getting heat exhaustion in the desert, and maybe even caught in an early-fall blizzard in the Cascades in Washington. Most people begin from March through May. So by March 11, when President Trump issued his ban on travel from the European Union and society began to grind to a halt, there were as many as 550 people already on the PCT. Two days later, the PCTA urged all hikers to practice social distancing. But they stopped short of cancelling permits. And so, in the absence of any official recommendation, the Facebook war began. HIKERS VERSUS QUITTERS The hikers who wanted to continue their trip thought the quitters were overreacting. Wasn't a remote hiking trail the best place to practice social distancing? How would they catch the virus in the wilderness, anyway? The quitters thought the hikers who wanted to continue were selfish and irresponsible. While the trail is largely in the wilderness, hikers must stop in small towns every few days to pick up supplies. Didn't they realize they could unknowingly carry coronavirus from town to town, infecting elderly residents and overwhelming small, rural hospitals? The PCT Class of 2020 Facebook page became so toxic, someone started a new group called Still Hiking PCT Class of 2020. But as the virus -- and the fear of the virus -- spread throughout California, it was becoming clear to the PCT-or-bust crowd that they'd have a very different experience than in years past. NOT IN SOME BACKYARDS Many hikers have come to depend on the kindness of trail angels, friendly locals who give hikers rides into town, show up on the trail with coolers of beer and sandwiches, and turn their backyards into makeshift campgrounds. By mid-March, many trail angels were telling hikers they could no longer assist them. A few days later, the towns of Big Bear Lake and Mammoth Lakes, popular resupply points for PCT hikers, asked all non-residents to keep out, for fear of overwhelming the local healthcare system. For weeks, the PCTA had been following the comments on the various PCT Facebook pages. Wilkinson, the communications director, was increasingly worried at how defiant some hikers were becoming about continuing their trip. "Ultimately, social distancing doesn't mean traveling all over the place while making sure you're six feet away from people." "Ultimately, social distancing doesn't mean traveling all over the place while making sure you're six feet away from people," Wilkinson told me. "I can't imagine any better vehicle for a virus seeking new hosts than a wave of hikers moving up a trail, dropping in and out of towns along the way. That just struck us as a nightmare scenario." So late on Thursday, March 19, the PCTA put out a statement: it was over. Hikers should get off the trail. But because the PCT crosses through state parks, national parks and national forests, it's technically still open until those agencies decide to shut it down. Undeterred, some hikers declared they would keep walking north until the police dragged them off the trail. (Note: On March 23, LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said, "It's safe to say that all trails are shut down." LAist is trying to confirm whether this applies to portion of the PCT that passes through the Angeles National Forest.) TO HIKE ON, OR HEAD HOME? When I talked to Jesse Kulken on Friday, March 20, he was standing on the shore of Big Bear Lake, looking up at the cold grey sky. It was no longer snowing, and he should have been back on the trail that morning. But instead, he was paralyzed by indecision. I asked him to walk me through his list of reasons to quit, or to keep going. He immediately rattled off half a dozen reasons to continue on: Legally, the trail was still open. And he'd been planning this trip for two years. He really didn't want to go back home to the normal grind. He probably wouldn't get another chance to do this hike. There were also mixed messages: Although Bear Bear Lake officials had warned visitors away, locals were welcoming. That morning, he'd walked to get coffee at a restaurant, and the guy behind the counter told him he was happy to serve hikers. But then, Kulken worried about the government continuing to crack down on people's movement. He didn't want to get stuck in California if airports closed and international flights were cancelled. And he worried, as the outbreak worsened, that locals could turn on him. "I don't want to be chased out with a pitch-fork," he said. All day he went back and forth. He decided to stay through Saturday, nervous about continuing on. Finally, on Sunday morning, he checked the price of flights back to Australia. If he left that day, it would be $1800. If he waited a week, it was $16,000. He booked a flight immediately. And immediately, he regretted it. When I talked to Kulken again, on Sunday night, he was at LAX, waiting to board his flight. He'd been jealously looking at Instagram photos from hikers who, for now, were still on the trail. They were mostly Americans, he noticed, who could return home more easily if they suddenly had to bail. When Kulken gets home, he'll spend two weeks in self-quarantine. He's thinking of doing it in a camper van in the bush somewhere, trying to, "keep the adventure alive for two more weeks, I guess." UPDATES: March 24, 2 p.m. Screenshots of Facebook posts were updated to block identifying information of the posters. This article was originally published at March 23 at 4:22 p.m. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS: SOME STRAIGHT TALK ABOUT COVID-19 We're all living through this extraordinary and frightening pandemic. The vast majority of our newsroom has been working from home (here's some advice on that) since March 11 to bring you calm, helpful reporting. We are answering your questions and taking more. We're here to help. And if you can help support that effort financially, we'd be grateful. icon DON'T MISS ANY L.A. CORONAVIRUS NEWS Get our daily newsletter for the latest on COVID-19 and other top local headlines. SUBSCRIBE Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Support our free, independent journalism today. Donate now. (Newser) The National Guard has been activated in the three states with the biggest coronavirus outbreaks, President Trump said Sunday, promising that more help will follow. The Guard will help build medical facilities in New York, California and Washington, the Hill reports. Eight medical stations with 2,000 hospital beds will be added in California, four stations with 1,000 beds in New York and several stations with 1,000 beds in Washington. Medical supplies and equipmentincluding masks, respirators and gownsare on their way to the three states, Trump said, and should be there within days, per NBC. "We're dealing also with other states," Trump said at a White House briefing. "These states have been hit the hardest." story continues below The federal government will pay all the costs of deploying the Guard, the president said. The three states are approved for major disaster declarations, which Trump said makes supplying the states smoother. The president has told states to acquire supplies on their own, saying the federal government would help fill the gapsas "sort of a backup for the states," he said Sunday. But governors have complained that the federal government has outbid them at times for equipment. They've asked the administration for more help, including taking the lead in obtaining supplies and equipment. (Read more coronavirus stories.) Dog owners passionately defend their dog breed of choice, but is your precious poodle really smarter than a Labrador retriever? It's time to put those weekly dog park arguments to rest. If youre looking for a definitive answer to the question of whether or not your pup is smarter than the average dog, then author and professor of canine psychology Stanley Corens 2006 book, "The Intelligence of Dogs," is an excellent reference point. Its widely accepted among the community of canine devotees as an accurate representation of the trainability and overall intelligence of breeds recognized by the American and Canadian Kennel Clubs. As any Bachelor Nation fan can tell you by now, Peter Weber is close with his parents, Peter Sr. and Barbara. When Pilot Pete was outed at the man who slept with The Bachelorettes Hannah Brown four times in a windmill, the Webers cheered their son on. And even before The Bachelor Season 24 began, viewers learned Weber still lived with his parents. But the 28-year-old hinted he would leave the nest soon. Then when answering questions on his Instagram Stories, Weber shared his plans to move out of his parents house. Peter Weber reveals he will move out of his parents house via Instagram Stories Peter Weber on The Bachelor | John Fleenor via Getty Images When The Bachelor Season 24 premiered in January 2020, Weber opened up about living with his parents during an interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live. I think what a lot of people have to realize is I come from a Cuban family, Weber said. Cuban culture is a little bit different than the American culture. And its not unusual for a family to live together for a long time. Weber also revealed he only planned to stay with his parents for a couple more months. Now Weber seems to be making moves. On March 20, Weber asked his 2.1 million followers on Instagram to send him questions. Later, the former bachelor answered a few select queries via Instagram Stories, including one about moving out of his parents Westlake Village home. Any plans to not live at home, a fan asked Weber. Then Pilot Pete recorded a clip of himself singing to Jon Denvers Leaving on a Jet Plane with Barbara and Peter Sr. in the background. But as soon as Weber got past the first two lines, he changed things up. Peter Webers Instagram Story with his parents, Peter Sr. and Barbara | Peter Weber via Instagram Story Weber sang: All my bags are packed / Im ready to go / Theyre cutting the cord / Its time to say goodbye. Meanwhile, the former bachelor started walking out of his parents home. Dont let the door hit you on your way out, Peter Sr. said. And Barb added, Were empty nesters. In response, Weber frowned. So mean, he joked. Then the Delta pilot seriously answered the fans question in text, hinting he has plans to move out of his parents home. But real talk yes, either NYC for about a year or LA, Weber wrote. How is Peter Webers relationship with his parents now? Peter Weber Sr. and Barbara Weber on The Bachelor | John Fleenor via Getty Images In case you dont remember, things got heated between Weber and his parents during The Bachelor Season 24 finale. The Webers did not approve of the pilots final pick, Madison Prewett. And ultimately, they namely Barbara would not let it go, despite being on national television and Webers claims he was in love. Regardless, two days after the live finale, Prewett and Weber broke up in separate statements on Instagram. But even so, it appears Webers relationship with his parents is good now. Were good. Theres a Cuban family dynamic to it. Theres a lot of passion, Weber told TMZ. Could my moms delivery been a little different? Sure. But her message was on point. She wants the best for me and just loves me. Very grateful to have a mom like that. He also doesnt blame his family for what happened with Prewett. This is stuff between Madi and I, solely, 100 percent, Weber said when asked whether his mom influenced his decision to break up with Prewett. And people have their opinions, but this is just between the two of us, and its just mutual respect and love. Thats all. From Webers remarks to his Instagram Story post with his parents, the family unit is still going strong. So whether the former bachelor decides to move to New York City or somewhere else in Los Angeles, the Webers will be just fine. Read more: The Bachelor: Peter Weber Reveals What He Learned From His Turbulent Season President Donald Trump calls himself a "wartime president" and former vice president Joe Biden says the nation must "put politics aside," but both leaders have allowed their campaigns to launch deeply personal offensives against the other in recent days as they confront a likely general election clash before a nation grappling with a viral pandemic. The faceoff comes as much of the presidential campaign has been either put on hold or shifted online as the contenders retool for an new era of economic crisis and social distancing. Fundraisers have been postponed, rallies have been cancelled, and new technologies are under consideration. General election strategists have put new polls in the field and shuffled plans for spring advertising campaigns, even as Biden's sole challenger for the Democratic nomination, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., remains in the race. Few are willing to predict with any certainty how the events of the last few weeks will affect what is still expected to be a close election in November. But Democrats are hopeful that the crisis will put into sharp relief the arguments they have been making for months. Anita Dunn, a senior adviser to Biden, said that the American people were seeing in the pandemic response the consequences of "the chaos around this president." "There is a price that this nation pays for that behaviour," Dunn said. "As we move forward that is going to be a case we prosecute." Republicans, by contrast, are hopeful that Trump's role as head of the federal response to the novel coronavirus will insulate him against the coming Democratic critiques about his leadership. Trump has told advisers that his daily news conferences are helping him because they show him involved, and advisers are hoping to utilise the video footage of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo praising the president in ads. "Anybody who attempts to politicize and weaponize a public health crisis is revealed to be petty and peevish," said White House counsellor Kellyanne Conway. "To criticise Trump now is to criticise public health officials, FEMA, first responders, private sector businesses that are all coming forward to help." Neither side has pulled its punches in near-daily diatribes. Trump's campaign communications director accused Biden of pushing critiques of Trump that "dangerously undermine the federal public health effort by purposely sowing confusion and fear merely for the sake of politics." Biden, who has refrained from criticising Trump while he is abroad out of respect for the office, told reporters Friday that Trump "is falsely telling us he's taking action he has not taken, promising results he's not delivering and announcing actions that he has not even ordered." Biden's campaign also released a digital video accusing Trump of adopting a "don't test, don't tell mind-set" that failed to prepare the nation for the coronavirus As it adjusts to the pandemic, the Biden campaign has been scrambling to build out a new television studio in the recreation room of his Delaware home so he can communicate with voters - his first presentation is scheduled for Monday at 11:30 a.m. - and his staff is exploring technological solutions that would allow him brief interactions over video conference with individual voters that would imitate a rope-line encounter. The campaign's immediate focus is on the policy response to the virus, but the political message focuses heavily on the Democratic case that Trump has mishandled the crises. Biden released a statement Sunday night calling on Democrats in the Senate to reject the stimulus bill that is being promoted by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). Recommended Joe Biden consults Obama over choice of running mate "President Trump and Mitch McConnell are trying to put corporate bailouts ahead of families," Biden said, after the Senate rejected a procedural motion for the bill. "And it's simply wrong." The attack builds upon a broader argument that the pandemic confirms concerns many potential swing voters have about Trump. "What the coronavirus response has done in very short order is demonstrated an immediate, tangible, significant impact of the president's impulsiveness and the chaos he has sowed," said Guy Cecil, the chairman of Priorities USA, a SuperPAC that plans to spend $150 million to defeat Trump this year. Democrats have also noted with relief that the viral emergency has forced a break in the Trump campaign's effort to disqualify Biden with personal attacks as he tries to unify the Democratic Party and refill his own campaign's considerably inferior coffers. "Biden is always going to do best when we look at this election as a referendum on who would be the best commander in chief," said Robby Mook, who managed Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign. "And this is a commander in chief moment." Trump campaign advisers do see some liability in how the president handled the opening days of the virus - particularly in the lack of testing and the continuing slow response despite vocal pleas from overwhelmed hospitals. Some close to the president fear that if the stock market continues to drop - and unemployment goes into the double digits - it would be difficult to reelect the president who has cast his central argument as a booming economy Trump has sought to rewrite history in some ways, insisting that he was focused on the pandemic early even as he downplayed it publicly and ignored warnings about its potential on American soil. He also is working to negotiate a large stimulus package that aides hope will have political benefits. Trump advisers have been cheered by recent public polling that finds more than half of the country approves of Trump's response to the crisis, a number far better than his typical approval numbers in polls. Some advisers say they believe the country will rally around the president during a crisis. "Americans want to see their president out front and leading in a time of national crisis and that's exactly what President Trump is doing," Tim Murtaugh, the Trump campaign communications director, said in a statement. "At the same time, Joe Biden and the Democrats offer nothing but ineffective partisan sniping from the sidelines." Biden himself has been pushing a different story line about Trump's performance. "The president has been behind the curve throughout this whole response," Biden told reporters Friday. "Stop saying false things that make you sound like a hero . . . Stop, stop, stop swerving between overpromising, buck-passing, and start delivering protection to our people." Biden has been talking at length with his advisers to formulate an economic plan. Although staying largely in the background, he has been in frequent contact with House and Senate Democratic leaders to keep tabs on legislation that they are crafting and to offer his own feedback. While Trump has been holding calls with governors, Biden has, too. He has been in contact with Cuomo, Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee, D, and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, D, among others. But he has been frustrated that he's confined to his home in Wilmington, Del. - the virus has a higher mortality rate among older Americans like Biden, who is 77 years old - and the constraints that limitation has placed on his campaign. His advisers feel he is at a distinct disadvantage in an all-digital campaign because Biden's strength lies in the way he builds an emotional rapport with voters face-to-face, a type of campaigning that will be hindered now that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging Americans to avoid crowds larger than 10 people. Now, he has said, when campaign aides enter his home, they are first putting on masks and wearing gloves. The biggest shift in Biden's digital strategy is in fundraising. Over the weekend he held two high-dollar virtual fundraisers - appearing via video. But at the same time he was hoping to escalate his online fundraising appeals among those willing to give smaller amounts, aides said, the economic crisis has made them wary of hammering supporters over the head asking for money. Instead, they are trying softer approaches, sending emails that try to draw people into the campaign in other ways. An aide said Biden's vast army of high-profile endorsers, many of them former presidential candidates, will likely be featured in digital events soon, too, perhaps even holding their own events. Former Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan, who has campaigned for Biden in several states, has volunteered to host yoga online during the time of quarantine. Trump begins what is effectively the start of the general election with a vast advantage in money, but replenishing his accounts is suddenly more problematic. One Republican strategist involved in the Trump campaign's efforts said it was a difficult time to ask for money because the markets are down and people are worried. The president has no fundraisers or rallies planned at the moment, though Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, RNC finance chairman Todd Ricketts and others continue to make fundraising calls behind the scenes. Volunteers from Trump Victory, an account that benefits Trump, the RNC and state parties, are still calling supporters; a Republican official with knowledge of the matter said they made 1.4 million calls on Saturday. Officials working in battleground states across the country are holding webinars with field organisers and volunteers to strategise on reaching voters. (Trump's headquarters staff, as well as Biden's, are working from home to lower their risk of catching the virus.) The Trump campaign plans to lean on its significant data operation in the coming months to communicate digitally with supporters. Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Show all 20 1 /20 Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Top: Nabi Younes market, Mosul Bottom: Charles Bridge, Prague Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Grand Mosque, Mecca Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Sagrada Familia, Barcelona Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Nabi Younes market, Mosul Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Basra Grand Mosque, Iraq Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Charles Bridge, Prague Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Taj Mahal hotel, India Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Dubai Mall, UAE Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Beirut March, Lebanon Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Gateway of India, Mumbai Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Cairo University, Egypt Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Amman Citadel, Jordan Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Beirut March, Lebanon Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Cairo, Egypt Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Cairo University, Egypt Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Victoria Memorial, India Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Amman Citadel, Jordan Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Amman Citadel, Jordan Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Sidon, Lebanon Reuters "The campaign and RNC have built up a massive, unparalleled database containing the contact information of tens of millions of voters and we are putting that information to work to maintain contact with voters and spread the President's message," Murtaugh said. "We continue to consider new, creative ways to interact with voters, provide them with information, and let them know how they can help." American Bridge, another Democratic group spending money to defeat Trump, recently released a new digital ad that cuts together quotes from Trump downplaying the severity of the coronavirus with reports of the horrific potential consequences of the pandemic. Bradley Beychok, president of American Bridge, said the group was going to conduct research over the coming weeks about how to best push a message in television ads to hurt Trump among white working class voters in Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Like other Democrats, he was hopeful that the president's support would take a hit. "Trump's superpower sometimes is deflection," Beychok said. "It is a very hard thing for Trump to distract people from what is going on right now." Washington Post NEW YORK - President Donald Trump will have to go to the U.S. Supreme Court if he wants to block critics from his personal Twitter account. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday rejected by a 7-2 vote his lawyers request for all of the courts active judges to conduct a rare hearing to reconsider a 2nd Circuit panels finding that Trump cannot block critics. The three-judge panel had concluded in July that the presidents daily pronouncements and observations were overwhelmingly official in nature. It said Trump violated the First Amendment whenever he blocked a critic to silence a viewpoint. Justice Department lawyers had insisted that the presidents @realDonaldTrump account is a personal account he created in 2009, long before he became president. They said it should be treated like any personal property belonging to Trump. Two 2nd Circuit judges recently appointed to the Manhattan court by Trump dissented from the 2nd Circuits decision to reject what is called an en banc hearing, a proceeding that generally occurs less than once a year. Circuit Judges Michael H. Park and Richard J. Sullivan said in the dissent that the First Amendment does not include a right to post on other peoples personal social-media accounts, even if those people happen to be public officials. They also concluded that public officials who express views on social-media accounts do not engage in state action when they do so. And they warned that the 2nd Circuit ruling will make public officials less able to defend themselves from hate and harassment. Writing for the majority who rejected the en-banc request, Judge Barrington D. Parker cited tweets in which Trump threatened Iran and Turkey to show social media had been used as a tool of governance and as an official channel of communication on an interactive public platform. Excluding people from an otherwise public forum such as this by blocking those who express views critical of a public official is, we concluded, unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination, he said. Parker also disputed the suggestion that a ban on banning critics would stifle Twitter use by Trump and others, saying Trump in recent months has been posting tweets at over three times the rate he was tweeting in 2017. Twitter is not just an official channel of communication for the President; it is his most important channel of communication, Parker wrote. A spokeswoman for the Justice Department said it is reviewing the opinion. The legal case was brought by the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University. It had sued on behalf of seven individuals blocked by Trump after criticizing his policies. Jameel Jaffer, the Knight Institutes executive director, said in a statement that the ruling is an important affirmation of core First Amendment principles as applied to new communications technology. Be honest with yourself and other people about who you really are Some people hold part of themselves back from the people they are closest to. They may tell themselves that they are better off not asking for what they truly want from others. Indeed, it does feel scary and vulnerable to share things that others could reject or ridicule. But this hiding takes a toll. Being honest with themselves and with others provides them an opportunity to show their true, authentic self and have deeper relationships. What Is Stopping You? Fear can stop you from speaking your truth. Take an honest look at yourself and ask yourself: Why have I kept part of myself hidden from those I love? Is it because you are afraid of their reaction? When I ask people this question, usually I hear some variation of I dont want them to be disappointed in me, or I dont want them to be angry with me. Usually, fear of rejection, confrontation, or disappointing other people is the wall that stops us from being our real selves. My response is: Are you content to hide your real self forever? Are you going to allow your fear to dictate your life and diminish your relationships? Are you willing to go to the grave, or have one of your loved ones go to the grave without giving yourself a chance to be authentic? Be Honest With Yourself Ask yourself these questions: If people treated me the way I really want to be treated, what would be different? Am I being treated unfairly or cruelly by someone Im close to? If I felt free to be my true and best self, what would I do differently? How do I really feel about the people Im close to? Write down your answers while being very honest with yourself. Process your answers. Read what you wrote and share it with people you trust. Is this your truth? Is it missing anything? Dont forget to include the positive things you feel about the people you need to share your truth with. This is part of the truth too. Look at the situation from their side. Are you being unfair or leaving out anything that is relevant to them? Be Kind and Direct Boil down the message you want to share to its basic elements. Be kind when you are stating your truth. Assume that your loved ones have positive intentions and are doing the best they can. Communicate kindly and lovingly. There is no reason to imbue your truth with negative energy. If you are protesting cruel or unfair treatment, you may need to state limits, boundaries, and consequences if the other persons behavior does not change. You can still communicate clearly, directly, and kindly. You need to state your truth, clearly, and directly. Dont beat around the bush. You dont need to write an essay to prove everything you are feeling. Your experience matters even if there are other relevant ways of seeing the situation. Some people feel they need to have a face-to-face conversation when they are communicating something so important to someone they care about. The problem is that they may not be willing to listen long enough for you to speak your truth, and it can be easier to distort what you are saying. In many cases, I recommend giving the person a written version. You can still tell her face-to-face, but she also has a written copy that she cannot distort it to dispute what you are saying. State the Positive Dont forget to tell them about the positive feelings you have towards them. This is not about contriving a positive sandwich to embed criticism. This is the full truth from your heart! The fact that you see the positive in them is relevant, lest they get the impression that you only see the negative. In fact, you are opening up to them precisely because they are so important to you and you want the best relationship possible with them. My experience is that when people speak out loud about the things they are holding in their hearts, they experience a sense of liberation. Depending on the message they are communicating, the people in their lives can have a variety of reactions at first. However, this is usually followed by a new acceptance when the person speaking his truth maintains his message. The result is a greater sense of personal freedom and deeper, more authentic relationships. Case Study: Sydney Sydney came into my office seeking help to cope with her anxiety. She explained how her anxiety spiked every time her husband Dave came home from work. She complained about how loudly he put on television news, watching TV throughout dinner and the evenings and mostly ignoring her. She said she has talked to him about it, but that he would either get defensive or change the subject. When I asked her to demonstrate how she talked to him, it became clear that she would either hint indirectly or get upset and burst into tears, while berating him for not caring enough about her. What she really wanted was for him to turn the television off and pay attention to her when he got home, and to ask about her day and share about his. She wanted him to really see her and verbally acknowledge her efforts to love him and care for him. She also wished that they could do outdoor activities together a few times per month, just as they used to before they got married. Within a few sessions Sidney and I boiled down the main messages she needed to share with Dave. She wanted to tell him that she loved him deeply and she wanted more attention and closeness with him, including the specific things that made her feel loved and appreciated. It took a few more sessions to convince her to actually tell him. Once she delivered the message in a kind and heartfelt way, she was shocked at how receptive he was. Instead of feeling anxious, she started looking forward to Dave coming home so they could share their evenings together. Michael Courter is a therapist and counselor who believes in the power of personal growth, repairing relationships, and following your dreams. His website is CourterCounsel.com Do you have questions about relationships or personal growth that you would like Michael to address? Send them to mc@CourterCounsel.com Delhi to ease restrictions, if Covid cases come down in next 2-3 days: Health Minister Lata Mangeshkar health update: Doctor says,'She in ICU with Covid-19 and pneumonia, will be under observation' Coronavirus: Difference between curfew and lockdown, explained India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Mar 23: As many as 30 states and Union Territories have ordered complete lockdown under their jurisdiction and six other states have put in place similar restrictions in some areas in the wake of coronavirus outbreak, officials said on Monday. The central government has also asked states to enforce additional restrictions, if necessary, leading to imposition of curfew in Punjab and Maharashtra. As we are seeing that due to COVID-19, curfew or lockdown has also imposed in several states. While it appear similar but it is not the same. What is curfew? A curfew is essentially an administrative order which once enforced prohibits people from venturing outdoors for a specific time or period. When a group of people gather together with an intention to disturb the public tranquillity, such type of gathering or assembly is known as an unlawful group. It restricts any outdoor activity without the prior approval of the police. Any violations will be met with a fine or arrest. However, the authorities can also extend the curfew if needed. What is a lockdown? Lockdown is the most popular version of a quarantine measure implemented by the authorities which stops the movement of people and cuts down on an emergy situation like Covid-19 spread. This doesn't happen by the choice of the people. It is usually a government enforcement to slow down the constant flow of people. People violating the lockdown order may need to give a compelling explanation for the same or could be punished with simple imprisonment for a term that may extend up to one month or with a fine. However, essential supplies, grocery stores, pharmacies and banks will continue to serve the people. All non-essential activities will remain shut for the entire period. Currently, severe travel restrictions have been imposed on some states, and public places have been shut. Rail, intercity bus services, flights and public transport have also been suspended throughout the country. So, now let us follow the health protocols and do our bit to ensure the Covid-19 pandemic slows its spread. Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, who was sentenced to 23 years in a New York state prison on charges of sexual assault and third-degree rape has tested positive for COVID-19, in prison according to local media. Variety reported that Weinstein is one of two inmates at Wende Correctional Facility who have tested positive for coronavirus and been put in isolation in New York state prison, according to the Niagara Gazette. The local newspaper based in Niagara Falls cites "officials connected to the state prison system," as their sources who revealed that Weinstein has tested positive for the virus but spoke to the paper anonymously since they were not authorized to speak on condition of the Oscar-winning movie producer. The sources told the newspaper it is believed Weinstein had already contracted the virus by the time he entered the state prison system last Wednesday. Prior to being transferred, Harvey was at Bellevue Hospital in New York City where he was being monitored for a heart condition and high blood pressure. When Variety asked, the spokesperson for Weinstein said he had no positive details about Weinstein testing for COVID-10. Weinstein's attorney and his jail consultant both also said they could not confirm the report When asked if Weinstein has tested positive for COVID-19, Weinstein's jail consultant said: "No one on the legal defense team has been told this. Period. We cannot confirm that, nor care to comment on speculation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) RTE has confirmed that Laois native and Claire Byrne has been diagnosed with Covid-19. In an email today, Monday, the Mountrath native said: "I am well now and through the peak of the condition and I want to thank everyone who has been in touch with me to express support and in particular, those in RTE who spent their weekend dealing with issues that arose as a result of my diagnosis." She co-presented Claire Byrne Live on RTE on Monday night while in recovery. 'I felt guilty, I felt shocked and I felt worried' - Claire Byrne Claire describes how she reacted to being diagnosed with Covid-19 #CBLive pic.twitter.com/jl9acNWhkA Claire Byrne Live (@ClaireByrneLive) March 23, 2020 Ms Byrne co-presented her last show while in isolation at home on Monday, March 16. She confirmed during that show that she was awaiting the results of a test. Her previous show in-studio was presented on Monday, March 9 when the Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney was a guest. He has tested negative. Covid-19 has an incubation period of up to 14 days. During the show, she interviewed Ireland's first resident who was confirmed as having Covid-19. "I didn't have any severe symptoms, I actually feel great, I had a fever for a couple of days" - Coronavirus patient For the first time in Ireland a Covid-19 patient speaks out on #CBLive about his experience. pic.twitter.com/TiGMQmzIEo Claire Byrne Live (@ClaireByrneLive) March 9, 2020 Dr Carmen Regan also spoke out about the need for more action from the Government. "We will be Italy if we do what the government is doing which is nothing." Dr Carmen Regan, Maternal Medicine Specialist discusses the #Coronavirus on #CBLive pic.twitter.com/IYSX6RFGbX Claire Byrne Live (@ClaireByrneLive) March 9, 2020 Staff were informed by management on Saturday that a case had been confirmed at the station. The Centre issued a statement on Thursday stating no international flights would be allowed to land in India from March 22 onward for a period of one week. However, Air India, country's national air carrier is constantly flying to various countries to bring back Indian nationals stuck due to Coronavirus Pandemic. The coronavirus death toll has gone up to 11,397 with more than 275,427 cases reported in over 160 countries and territories. Italy has overtaken China as the worst-hit with over over 4,000 deaths reported so far. On Sunday, an Air India's Boeing 777 ER aircraft landed at Delhi airport carrying 263 students evacuated from Rome. The flight took off on Saturday afternoon to evacuate Indians stranded there amid the coronavirus crisis. When the going gets tough, the tough get going.The crew of @airindiain Boeing 777 led by Capt Swati Raval & Capt Raja Chauhan responded to the call of duty & displayed exemplary determination by airlifting 263 Indians, mostly students, stranded in Rome. pic.twitter.com/JfqC7kwmGG Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) March 22, 2020 While countries across the world are closing their borders and airlines are also shutting operations, Air India has proved its worth by evacuating thousands of stranded Indians, mostly from China, Iran and Italy, all of which are worst hit by COVID-19. Last week too, Air India flew a special flight to Milan and ferried 230 stranded Indians. Interestingly, Air India, despite its heroic efforts, has been at the centre of controversies for years now. While Air India is always hounded for its loss-making business, many don't like the service of the national carrier. Over the years, people have mocked Air India for their food, flight delays, aged flight crew and now, over the government's effort to privatize the national carrier. Despite this, Air India, for years, has been a face for India's global rescue missions, whenever needed. Back in 1990, Air India evacuated 1.7 Lakh people from Kuwait during the Persian Gulf War, in what's called the 'largest rescue mission by a civil airliner'. Surely India has Indian Air Force that has time to time helped in evacuating citizens from disaster hit areas, and has also contributed to rescue ops during the COVID-19 crisis by sending missions to China, but IAF has its own limitations, both operational and political. That is where Air India has proved its mettle. Ever since the whole coronavirus outbreak started, Air India has sent multiple flights to foreign land for evacuating not only Indians, but also foreign nationals on demand from friendly foreign governments. On Feb 1, an Air India 747 flew to Wuhan, the then epicentre of Coronavirus to rescue 324 stranded Indians, one of the earliest rescue ops by any government globally. A day later, the same aircraft rescued 323 more Indians along with 7 Maldivian nationals. No other airline in India has such vast fleet and experience to fly international routes as Air India and we can only hope that the privatization will bring the best out of Air India. With Inputs from PTI An Oklahoma man who tried to blow up a bank in what authorities described as an anti-government plot was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison Monday. In a statement, the U.S. attorney for western Oklahoma, Timothy Downing, said the prosecution of Jerry Drake Varnell, 26, held him accountable for an effort to copy the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in American history. Image: Jerry Drake Varnell (Oklahoma Department of Corrections / via Reuters) Prosecutors had accused Varnell of trying to detonate a 1,000-pound ammonium nitrate bomb in an alley beside BancFirst in downtown Oklahoma City in 2017. The 1995 bombing of the city's Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building killed 168 people and injured hundreds more. Varnell's arrest was the result of a monthslong domestic terrorism investigation led by the FBI. He was convicted in February 2019 of trying to use a weapon of mass destruction and other crimes. Varnell had described the bombings as retaliation for "freedoms" that have been taken away from Americans, court documents say. The documents said he subscribed to the ideology of the Three Percenter group, part of the extremist militia movement. The national group which the Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit hate-group monitoring organization, has described as anti-government condemned Varnell. Download the NBC News app for breaking news and politics Defense attorneys claimed that Varnell was entrapped, and his parents testified that he is a paranoid schizophrenic, even though he was found mentally competent to stand trial, The Associated Press reported. A defense lawyer, Vicki Behenna, filed a notice of appeal Monday. She did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Guideto Japan Nagayama Honke Shuzojo, a small sake brewery in Yamaguchi Prefecture, is turning its back on the mainstream of Japanese sake-making with its focus on French winemaking concepts like terroir. A strict emphasis on locally sourcing all ingredients results in a unique drink with a different philosophy from others on the market. Nagayama Honke Shuzojo sits on the outskirts of the city of Ube, Yamaguchi Prefecture. A small river, the Kotogawa, flows past the front door of its main office, housed in a beautiful Western-style building dating back to 1919 (and a nationally registered important cultural asset). The surrounding scenery is the archetypical Japanese countryside dominated by rice fields and forested hills. It is this pastoral scenery that centers Nagayamas toji, or brewmaster, as he makes his sake. Sake with a Different Focus Nagayama Honke has been making sake in this spot since 1888. Until the current toji, Nagayama Takahiro, took over, the main label was Otokoyamaa name likely familiar to many sake drinkers, because there are over a dozen makers using this name on the market, the most famous being from Hokkaido. After he took over in 2001, Takahiro realized that any chance he had at success outside Yamaguchi would require a unique new name. This would also give him a chance to focus on making sake his way, without the pressure of maintaining the history of that older name. And thus, in 2002, the new label Taka was born. My first thought was to make junmai sakeusing no additives beyond rice, water, yeast, and koji moldbut my father was against it, Nagayama explains. Toji of his generation mostly looked down on junmai, because they thought it resulted in more acidic sake. Honestly, though, that is more about the limits of the makers. They didnt know how to make proper junmai, but techniques have come a long way. Since then, this label has focused on making premium sake, most of it junmai. Taka has won awards both domestically and internationally, but most of all it has earned a reputation among sake drinkers for the meticulous craft behind it. Drinks bearing the Taka label are monuments to balance, including a variety of full-flavored sakes that evoke the inherent qualities of the main ingredient: rice. Behind the Drink, a Philosophy Takahiro references French winemaking a lot when talking about sake. He visited France with a wine-selling friend in 2007, and again in 2009, where he toured wineries following the vin naturel philosophy. He credits this with causing a deep shift in his thinking about his own production. When I saw how deeply these small, but still successful, wineries valued nature, and drew a hard line on what can and cant be done in winemaking, it really affected me. I realized we could do something similar when making sake. One thing he picked up from them is the word terroir, an idea that is sweeping the sake world right nowbut not without controversy. This French word is often used in discussing wine, but few really agree on what it specifically means. Clearly, its from the Latin root terra, so it evokes images of the land and the earth. In usage, it broadly encompasses the specific climate and topography that influence a wines character, and thus is often used synonymously with regionality to designate similarities in style and flavor of wines from a given area. But in the sake world this term has yet to be accepted, simply because the connection between the natural world and the finished product is blurred. Rice used in sake making often comes from all over Japan. It is rarely sourced locally, and the rice for a single batch of sake often comes from a mix of regions. Water is usually sourced on-site, but it is often filtered or adjusted to make it better suited to the tojis desired sake. Then, there is the process. Sake is very much a crafted product, rather than a natural one. The process is what gives sake its aroma, its flavor, and its style. The influence of rice and water is real, but so is the influence of temperature control, timing, yeast choice, and myriad other points that are all decided by the toji, not left up to the natural environment. And Nagayama readily admits this. He grins when I bring up the active role of a toji in sake making. Of course, sake is a product of skill. I dont like to talk about it, as a toji myself, because it should be a given that the maker be skilled. So, its the other parts that I focus on. For me, terroir is about everything around us that we dont usually think about. Its like water to a fishwe dont recognize it until were separated from it. Its the air, the water, the community, the light and temperature. We have to show gratitude for all of these things that allow us to make sake, when we are making it. He adds that this is something he worries about with the current fad of more and more polishing (the seimai buai, or the ratio of sake rice that is ground away to leave what is considered to be a more refined grain core). If you just keep polishing away the rice, then most of it goes to waste. Theres no gratitude there. Its almost spiritual. If you want a Japanese term for terroir, it might be yao-yorozu no kami, all the spirits of the land, water, and air. The rice has a spirit, and so does the water, and the soil. So why does he use the French term, instead of the Japanese? Its the idea of an outside perspective. Like I said, we dont recognize these things when were in the middle of them. Its only when we step outside that they become clear, and so this French word creates that outside perspective. This does lead to an idiosyncratic use of the term, of course, that eschews the regionality of style for a focus on locality of production. Im trying to work out my own philosophy with this word. And there are differences, of course, from wine. In French vin naturel they put very strict limits on all kinds of things like fertilizer and other artificial farming techniques, but Im not so strict. Europeans seem to feel like human action isnt natural, but in Japan we see that when you leave the wild landscape untouched, it can go out of balance. When humans work in the wilds, doing things like chopping wood and making charcoal with care and consciousness, that helps maintain balance. This idea seems rooted in the satoyama landscape of Japan, I notethe patchwork of cultivated fields and tended wilds that also provide the necessities of life. He agrees. I see human activity as part of nature, so theres no need to cut it out of the terroir of sake. At the same time, Nagayama is very concerned about the environment. As I get older, my attitude toward sake making has changed. When I was in my thirties, I wanted to make the very best sake I could. Now, in my forties, I want to think more about reducing our food mileage, and being more sustainable while we make it. Controlling Crops from Start to Finish This is where Nagayamas other major winemaking influence comes in: the Domaine system. I started Domaine Taka as a subsidiary to grow all our rice locally. He takes me outside, and as we cross the Kotogawa flowing in front of the sakagura building he sweeps his arm across the fields around us. These are ours. We still cant grow all the rice we use, but were getting closer. He says that in addition to supplying the brewerys own rice, he wants to support local farmers growing Yamada Nishiki, a highly prized sake rice. This brand sells for a lot, but theres not a big demand for Yamaguchi-grown Yamada Nishiki. Local farmers are struggling to find successors, and by creating a new market we hope to make it more attractive for future farmers. And, if they eventually cant work the fields themselves, we buy them and work them ourselves. He takes me to a brand-new white steel building. We just finished this in April 2019. Its our rice processing facility. It wouldnt make sense to grow locally if the farmers would have to ship it to another place for processing. He takes me inside, where there is a combine harvester parked next to rice cleaning, drying, and grading equipment. We might be the only sakagura in Japan that has one of these! he jokes as he points at the rice grader. This may not be true, but it is a rare thing for a sake producer to own, since sakagura owners were not legally allowed to grow and process their own rice until relatively recently, and most kura are still focused solely on brewing. The brewmaster poses in front of a rice weighing/packing machine, another rarity for a sake producer to own. Boasting facilities that can process rice from start to finish, Nagayama Honke can track everything about it: when and where it was planted and harvested, the conditions of its growth, and so on. This fully tracked rice is used in particular batches of sake, which can then be labeled with the rice vintage. By tracking when and where the rice is grown, Takahiro can see how growing conditions impact the rice, as well as how the sake of one season stacks up against others. The Domaine system thus allows not only reduced food mileage, and better connection to the local community and agriculture, but also better understanding of how rice conditions impact the final sake flavor. The Goal: Terroir Taka All of these come together to make the Taka label something special. Takahiro approaches terroir as part of the making of sake, and not the sake itself. It is the brewers philosophy, and as such whatever influence it has on the final product is as much mental and emotional as anything. The rice is local, and is lightly milled, because rice is the heart of sake and represents the work of valued members of the community. The sake resulting from this is quintessentially localnot because of a particular Yamaguchi style or flavor, but because the toji values those local connections and products. The resulting sake is still the result of his process, but the foundation is built on local soil, with local hands. Nagayama Honke Shuzojo Established 1888 Toji: Takahiro Nagayama Production: 1,200 koku (216,000 liters) per year Main labels: Taka, Otokoyama (Yamaguchi only) Website: https://www.domainetaka.com (in Japanese only) (Originally written in English. Banner photo: Nagayama Honke toji Nagayama Takahiro displays some of his creations. All photos Jim Rion.) Health bosses in Northern Ireland have appealed to private hospitals to help them in the fight to save lives during the coronavirus crisis. They have contacted the largest independent providers in Northern Ireland with the aim of increasing the number of hospital beds, operating theatres and ventilators available to treat patients. The move will see an additional 400 staff, 11 operating theatres, 100 hospital beds, three MRI scanners, two CT scanners and around 15 anaesthetic machines available for the health service in the coming months. The anaesthetic machines can also be used as ventilators if required, although they are not designed for long-term use. It is feared that a lack of ventilators in Northern Ireland could force doctors to ration intensive care beds. The life-saving equipment has proven to play a vital role in helping patients critically ill with coronavirus recover. However, it is thought that in the first instance, the private clinics and their staff will treat patients who do not have Covid-19 and who require urgent treatment and diagnostic tests. No final agreement has been put in place as the Department of Health has said contracts must be put in place first. However, the CEO of Kingsbridge Private Hospital in south Belfast, Mark Regan, has said time is of the essence. He said: "We are no longer living in normal times and won't be for the coming months. "The matter of fees should not be a distraction to any of this. "We are offering full access to the hospital on a cost recovery basis, therefore on a non-profit basis. "This is the right thing to do and Kingsbridge will work with the utmost integrity and tenacity to support the health service as we have done for the last 15 years." Hospitals, GP surgeries and pharmacists across Northern Ireland have come under increasing pressure in the last couple of weeks as demand for services has increased. Family doctors have been the first point of contact for most people displaying coronavirus symptoms. They have also played an important role in offering reassurance and advice to some of the most at-risk and vulnerable members of society. Meanwhile, GPs have also been swamped by repeat prescription requests by patients keen to stockpile medication. The demand on community pharmacies has also soared and people can now expect to wait up to three hours outside their high street chemist to collect vital medication. Specialist community centres are due to open this week where patients thought to be suffering from coronavirus can go for treatment. The idea behind the community hubs, which will be staffed by GPs and hospital doctors, is that they will reduce the pressure on GP surgeries and emergency departments. They will also enable the health service to concentrate resources, such as personal protective equipment, on fewer sites. At the moment, GPs are having to allocate at least half an hour to any patient with a cough or fever and they must be seen in special rooms that have to be deep cleaned after the consultation. It is now the dry season, but landslides and subsidence are occurring in most localities in Mekong Delta. Le Anh Tuan, deputy director of the Institute for Climate Change Studies, an arm of the Can Tho University, said the effects of climate change are increasing in Mekong Delta, with extreme conditions such as high temperature, drought, saline intrusion, high tides and riverbank erosion. Mekong Delta is under pressure amid climate change In Can Tho City, the high tides have inundated many areas in recent years. Ninh Kieu and Binh Thuy districts are the hardest hit areas. In February 2020, drought and saline intrusion penetrated into Cai Rang district, with the salinity measured at 3.1%, the highest level so far. Can Tho is also facing many challenges, from landslides to thunderstorms, causing big damages in lives and properties. A report of the municipal authorities showed that in 2011-2019, natural calamities caused 59 deaths and injured 21. Meanwhile, nearly 2,000 houses were damaged and 6.7 kilometers of roads were eroded. Since Ca Mau province has three sides facing the sea, it is most affected by climate change. In the 2015-2016 dry season, the drought and saline intrusion in the locality damaged 64,000 hectares of rice and 9,800 heads of poultry and cattle. About 10,000 households lacked clean water for daily life. The total loss was estimated at VND1.5 trillion. Though the 2020 dry season has just begun, the drought and saline intrusion have caused damage to more than 18,000 hectares of rice, 3.6 hectares of crops and caused the lack of water to 20,000 households. As many as 912 landslide spots have been found with total length of 22 kilometers. Though the 2020 dry season has just begun, the drought and saline intrusion have caused damage to more than 18,000 hectares of rice, 3.6 hectares of crops and caused the lack of water to 20,000 households. As many as 912 landslide spots have been found with total length of 22 kilometers. In Hau Giang province, according to the provincial Steering Committee on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, in 2019, thunderstorms collapsed or blew the roof off 220 houses, and caused riverbank landslides at 46 spots, an increase of 26 spots compared with 2018. Since late 2019, landslides have been occurring often, especially in Chau Thanh district, though it is now the dry season. The Hau Giang provincial Department of Natural Resources and the Environment reported that the analyses of water samples from Xang Xa No canal, Lai Hieu and Cai Con Rivers found organic pollutants from waste and waste water. Underground water in Mekong Delta is seriously polluted, partially because of the uncontrolled well drilling. In recent years, people and enterprises in the provinces of Hau Giang, Soc Trang and Ca Mau have drilled 291,000 wells to exploit underground water for daily life, crop watering and aquaculture. Tuan believes that it would be better to build local water storage works instead of large works, which are a big waste and harm the environment and biodiversity. Thanh Lich Mekong Delta forests face increasing risk of fires All forests south of the Hau River in the Mekong Delta have been facing the threat of fire since the middle of this month, and any fire would spread very quickly because of the heat and low humidity, local authorities have warned. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Vlad Savov (Bloomberg) Mon, March 23, 2020 17:07 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206ce268e 2 Science & Tech Mark-Zuckerberg,Facebook,Elon-Musk,face-mask,coronavirus,COVID-19 Free Mark Zuckerberg said Facebook Inc. has donated its emergency reserve of 720,000 face masks, joining other tech corporations declaring aid in fighting the coronavirus pandemic. At the same time, Tesla Inc. chief Elon Musk said a shipment of face masks was stuck in transit. Facebook built up a stockpile of masks in case wildfires in its home state of California persisted. Its now donated that supply, the Facebook chief executive officer said on his feed without specifying recipients. Facebooks Journalism Project is also distributing $1 million in grants to support news reporting around the virus outbreak. Musk has already delivered some personal protective equipment to Seattle, one of the US regions most affected. He didnt say what was holding up his latest batch of masks, but Los Angeles International Airport is one of several in the US struggling with logistical issues. Yeah. We have a mask shipment stuck at LAX. Hopefully freed up soon. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 23, 2020 Tech leaders and companies have in recent weeks publicized assistance in battling Covid-19. Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. co-founder Jack Ma announced his philanthropic foundations are sending emergency supplies of face masks, test kits, ventilators and protective equipment around the world. Microsoft Corp. has also donated supplies to its local state of Washington to be used in pushing back against the outbreak in the Seattle area. UTICA, N.Y. --- Attorney General James is calling for all eligible voters in the State of New York to automatically be sent an absentee ballot for the upcoming election, instead of just giving them an option to vote by absentee ballot. Automatically sending out absentee ballots would not require the state to alter the statewide application by adding a public health emergency option, and would avoid the possibility of leaving polls open for voters to vote in person on Election Day potentially further spreading the virus and risking public health. The change has bipartisan support here locally. Senator Joe Griffo said he supports the change given current health crisis. "I have always been a proponent of no-excuse absentee balloting. But that would require a constitutional change and the public would have to approve of it next year. So I think all options are available for consideration. We are working in the legislative realm as well as our constitutional abilities. But this is a special circumstance and a public emergency," said Griffo. The elections this change would impact are the April Presidential Primary, as well as special elections to fill seats in the 27th congressional district, the 50th senate district, the 12th assembly district, the 31st assembly district, and the 136th assembly district. Under current law, voters need to give a reason to apply for an absentee ballot. COVID 19 is not one of the reasons available to choose. Assemblywoman Buttenschon said that the new process would automatically send eligible voters an absentee ballot. A process she says would make voting easier. "I think we are talking about making this easier for voters. So hopefully we will see the significance of those who would like to vote who possibly couldn't in the past and didn't have the opportunity to complete the application in a timely manner," said Buttenschon. An Assemblyman has announced that he will be introducing the bill to the legislature early next week. Across the nation, there are currently 33 states that already offer absentee voting with no reason necessary making New York an outlier for only allowing vote-by-mail or absentee voting under a narrow set of circumstances. New Zealand will enter an almost full lockdown by Wednesday with draconian measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus. All non-essential businesses and services will be shut for at least four weeks and anyone not working in them told to stay home other than solitary exercise. Schools will shut except for parents working in essential services, along with public transport across the country - and the military used to enforced the rules. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday that New Zealand would enter 'level 4' restrictions within 48 hours, with level 3 enacted immediately. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced New Zealand would enter 'level 4' restrictions - a near-total lockdown - within 48 hours Everyday Australians on social media urged Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison to show 'real leadership' and follow Ms Ardern's lead. 'Why can't we get clear messaging like this in Australia,' wrote marketing expert Paula Rodgers alongside a clear graph of the four alert levels in New Zealand. 'Arden announced a wage guarantee a full week before a shut down. That's responsible and smart. Australia is making it up as we go along,' added journalist Osman Faruqi. 'Props to Jacinda Ardern for making the tough decisions early. New Zealand will escape this pandemic in much better shape than Australia... This is what real leadership looks like,' tweeted another. UNSW Professor Bill Bowtell said Australia should immediately implement identical measures if it was to have a chance at containing the virus. 'New Zealand isn't doing it for the fun of it, they are doing to for very well-considered reasons,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'We need to stop the threat of the virus and this is the way to do it. The virus move a lot faster than how slow our response has been.' Professor Bowtell, who led Australia's response to the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, said Australia adopted Britain's strategy instead of 'obvious' better-planned ones in Asia that have had success. 'There's been conflicting, contradictory advice that barely lasts form day to do. What has to happen now is a very considered shut down,' he said. However, Mr Morrison has resisted calls to beef up restrictions in an attempt to minimise the impact a lockdown would have on the economy. New Zealand confirmed 36 new cases overnight, bringing its total to 102 with two of them considered community transmissions. New Zealand has four coronavirus alert levels. It has just moved in to level 3 and will be at the highest level by Wednesday New Zealand capital Wellington is a ghost town as the country begins shutting down to combat the coronavirus pandemic The alert level gives Ms Ardern's government sweeping powers to restrict movement, lock people at home, and requisition resources to fight the deadly virus. The military will even be used to enforce the measures along with police, but armed soldiers would not be patrolling the streets. Supermarkets and pharmacies will stay open but supplies rationed, and private facilities pressed into public service. A 'major reprioritisation of healthcare services' would also be involved to combat coronavirus as the biggest public health threat. Going for a walk or run outside would be permitted, but people had to stay 2m from anyone who they didn't live with. 'I have a very keen sense of the magnitude of this moment in New Zealand's history and we did not take this decision lightly,' Ms Ardern said. 'But we all absolutely believe, this is the right thing to do. We will save lives by taking these measures now.' Level 3 was immediately put in place, which restricts travel in badly-affected areas and bans all mass gatherings of any kind. Public venues like libraries, museums, cinemas, food courts, gyms, pools, amusement parks are closed along with some businesses. Empty kayaks sit on the banks of the Avon River in central Christchurch, New Zealand, with everything shut down amid the pandemic Face-to-face health consultations, like GP visits, are banned and all elective surgeries postponed. Ms Ardern said the lockdown would be phased in through level 3 so people had two days to 'get their things in order'. Mr Morrison shut down many businesses including gyms, pubs, cafes and restaurants across the country from 12pm on Monday. He had on Sunday morning insisted such measures were not yet necessary as he tried to prevent, or at least delay, massive economic damage. He was forced to change his tune and impose a national ban after the two states and Canberra broke ranks just an hour after he finished speaking. On COVID-19, Modi govt wants data sharing with countries and not a blame game India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Mar 23: Although there is a blame game on with regard to who spread the coronavirus, the Indian government has decided to take a different approach to the problem. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to ensure that there is data sharing with countries affected by the virus and this includes China as well. India is now waiting for a response from Saudi Arabia on convening a video conferencing of G-20 nations. Modi has pitched for the same to ensure that there is global transparency in future epidemics. Coronavirus: Take lockdown 'seriously', says PM Modi It may be recalled that Modi had last week called up Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman to request that his father, King Salma, the convenor of the G-20 calls for a virtual meeting on the pandemic. Sources tell OneIndia that the government is not interested in a blame game. It wants data sharing on the problem, so that it would help fight the issue more effectively. Moreover the initiative suggested by the Prime Minister will also ensure that there is global transparency and also accountability in future during such situations, the source explained. India is also closely watching the developments in Pakistan, where the situation has gone from bad to worse. Cases have been rapidly rising in Balochistan, Gilgit Baltistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir. It may be recalled that the large number of cases were reported after around 5,000 pilgrims returned to Pakistan from Iran. It was observed that the lack of proper screening at the borders led to most pilgrims infected with the virus getting away and gaining entry into Pakistan. The source cited above said that the main priority is to limit the spread of the virus. International travel has been closed, but flights to bring back the sick and needy Indians abroad are being planned. We are putting in our best efforts to bring these people down and also ensure that there is minimum inconvenience caused to them. Do lockdowns help fight coronavirus? Not really says WHO expert On the other hand, India is boosting its manufacturing in medical equipment such as ventilators. The Visakhapatnam based Andhra Medical Tech Zone has been tasked with this job. Further as part of its SAARC obligation, India has also been supplying essentials to both Maldives and Nepal. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, March 23, 2020, 11:40 [IST] We take the corpse to the cemetery and there is supervised burial from our environmental health practitioners and at the cemetery we do not have designated places for that. We will bury the bodies at cemeteries where we bury all other people. What we do is we disinfect the grave using chloride and then we make sure the burial is supervised all out. Jacob Javits Center on Manhattan's West Side, which is slated to be converted to a field hospital, after the number of CCP virus cases in New York rose by over 5,000 on March 23, 2020. (Bryan R. Smith/AFP via Getty Images) New York Governor Orders Hospitals to Increase Capacity by at Least 50 Percent New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order on March 23 requiring all hospitals in the state to increase their capacity by 50 percent, as the state reported more than 5,000 new cases. Cuomo said hospitals should try to increase capacity by 100 percent but that some hospitals wouldnt be able to. I dont think its unreasonable to say, try to reach a 100 percent increase, but you must reach a 50 percent increase, Cuomo said at a press conference in Albany. Hospitals can accomplish the mandatory increase by finding more beds and using more rooms, he said. The order comes ahead of the expected continuation of an increase in patients who have contracted the CCP virus. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mishandling allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. A sign is displayed showing information about store times at a store in Times Square in New York City on March 22, 2020. (Keta Betancur/AFP via Getty Images) New York currently has 53,000 hospital beds. Projections of cases show the state will need 110,000 beds, Cuomo said. New York has 3,000 beds in intensive care units, while projections show the state will need between 18,000 and 37,000 ICU beds. Once hospitals increase capacity, theyll face staffing shortages. Officials have reached out to retired health care professionals across the state, as well as medical and nursing schools. Theyve received 30,000 responses to date. Cuomo also planned to issue an executive order mandating that all nurses enlist in the virus response while the states Department of Family Services reached out to health insurers and asked doctors and nurses on staff to start working in hospitals. This is about saving lives, he said. People have a picnic in New York Citys Central Park on March 22, 2020. (Keta Betancur/AFP via Getty Images) New Cases Early on March 23, the state reported an increase of 5,707 cases overnight, including 3,260 new cases in New York City, bringing the state total to 20,875. Westchester County reported an increase of 1,201 cases, and Nassau County reported 542 new cases. More than 25 percent of the 78,289 people who have been tested in the state have tested positive. New York City, the epicenter of the virus in the United States, has 12,305 cases. Of the cases in the state, 13 percent of patients, or 2,635, are hospitalized, and 24 percent of those patients, or 621, are in ICUs. Officials are working on gathering data on how to essentially restart the economy, Cuomo said. Strategies could include isolating the vulnerable and allowing healthy, younger people to go back to work. The survival rate for people who have been infected worldwide is around 98 percent, the governor noted. Heartless thieves have broken into a hotel and gutted the fridges of food set aside for locals in coronavirus self-isolation. After closing its doors as part of the government's nationwide shutdown of restaurants and bars, the Old Vicarage in Worfield, Shropshire, offered a cut-price delivery service for those forced to hunker down at home. But just days before the first batch was poised to be sent out, a gang of thugs emptied 1,200 of chicken, beef, lamb and fish from the hotel on Friday night. Owner David Blakstad has been left with no choice but to cancel all deliveries, which he said not only hurts his business in volatile times but deprives the community of vital supplies. After closing its doors as part of the government's nationwide shutdown of restaurants and bars, the Old Vicarage in Worfield, Shropshire, (file photo) offered a cut-price delivery service for those forced into self-isolation He said: 'The people who have done this have not only stolen from us, but they have taken away the chance for the community to receive this help from us. 'We just can't believe this has happened. Times are really tough for us as a business and we have closed our doors to customers in line with government advice. 'We were planning to start up a community food service on Monday where we would offer residents nearby to order their meals and we would deliver it to their doors, but sadly we are not going to be able to do this.' The service had been due to start for Worfield and nearby areas from Monday, with customers only paying for the ingredients in their meal. Head chef Gavin Allan said: 'It's heartbreaking, we were trying to pay something back to our community, and now it looks like that is not going to be possible,' said Gavin. Mr Blakstad said: 'We would never have believed that people could do this, but this serves as a warning to other business owners - with people stripping food, and now the alcohol sections of supermarkets and shops, our bars and kitchens are a target. Pubs, restaurants and bars were all ordered to shut last week as the government ratcheted up its response to stem the spread of coronavirus on UK soil. Yet they are still allowed to offer takeaway services, and many have offered cut-price deals in a show of support for those worst affected by the pandemic. But while swathes of society are pulling together in dark times, crises often see an uptick in crime. The public was today warned to stay vigilant of heightened gang violence on the streets. Richard Walton, former head of counter-terrorism at Scotland Yard, said: 'The risk with an increase in gang violence over the coming months is that stabbings in particular so often require intensive care treatment. 'Hospitals must be spared this extra strain on their resources as they cope with the peak of the coronavirus pandemic.' Hospitals in the south of the Netherlands are working around the clock, caring for patients struck down with the new coronavirus. The main hospital in the city of Tilburg has cut down the number of standard procedures to focus almost exclusively on virus patients. The first confirmed case of the virus was diagnosed close to Tilburg, and Noord-Brabant province has become the country's virus hotspot. The chairman of the board of the Elisabeth-TweeSteden hospital says the number of intensive care beds has been doubled to 100 to help cope with the crisis. It's the same story at hospitals across the region and military logistical planners have been sent in to help them move patients to hospitals elsewhere in the Netherlands. For most people, the virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. More than eight million people living in Kashmir are unable to access reliable health information about COVID- 19 as the seven month long internet shutdown continues. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate the Indian Journalists Union (IJU) urge the Indian government to remove all communication restrictions on Kashmir. Soldiers stand guard at a roadblock following restrictions imposed as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 in Kashmir. Credit: Tauseef MUSTAFA / AFP The Kashmir population has been denied the free and unrestricted flow of information since August 5, 2019 when Article 370 of the Indian Constitution was revoked, removing the autonomy of Kashmir, imposing a communications shutdown. Recently, the implications of a communications shutdown have worsened with civilians panicking due to a lack of information on the COVID-19 pandemic and increased restrictions imposed on movement. Moazum Bhat, the vice-president of Kashmir Press Club questioned how will people access reliable information when doctors, journalists and health service providers cannot access information about the pandemic. Despite the Supreme Courts ruling on January 10 calling the ban impermissible, the Indian government continues to restrict high speed 3G and 4G internet services. The 2G internet services restored in the region on January 14 limits communication to a simple text message. Since Kashmir reported its first case of COVID-19 on March 18, further communication restrictions have been put in place, banning people from visiting specific areas of Kashmir. As of 19 March, the Indian Government has reported 166 confirmed cases of coronavirus of which, four cases are from Kashmir. The communication restriction continue to prevent people from exercising the right to health. The right to health has been clearly reflected in international agreements which include the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The Kashmir diaspora penned an open letter to the World Health Organisation, Dr Tedros Adhanom on March 20, requesting the office facilitate the restoration of high-speed internet in Kashmir. The IJU reiterates its demand that Kashmir people should have access to internet with 4G speed to cope with COVID-19 pandemic. The IFJ said: The Unnecessary restriction on the dissemination of information will only increase panic during the pandemic. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure people receive accurate and timely information about COVID-19. The IFJ urges the Indian government to provide unrestricted and free flow of information about COVID-19 in Kashmir by lifting the communications ban. NEW YORKNearly one in three Americans was under orders on Sunday to stay home to slow the spread of the CCP virus pandemic as Ohio, Louisiana, and Delaware became the latest states to enact broad restrictions, along with the city of Philadelphia. The three states join New York, California, Illinois, Connecticut, and New Jersey, home to 101 million Americans combined, as cases nationwide topped 32,000, with more than 415 dead, according to a Reuters tally. Every piece of evidence that I can lay my hands on indicates that were at an absolutely crucial time in this war and what we do now will make all the difference in the world, said Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. What we do now will slow this invader. It will slow this invader so our healthcare system will have time to treat casualties. In the U.S. Senate, partisan disagreement blocked a massive CCP virus response bill from advancing, with Democrats saying the Republican measure focused too heavily on helping corporations. But Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer said he believed differences could be overcome in the next 24 hours. Ohio has 351 cases and three deaths, while Louisiana has 837 cases and 20 deaths, several in a senior-care facility. Louisiana has the third highest number of cases per capita and saw a 10-fold increase in cases in the past week, Gov. John Bel Edwards said. Ohios order will go into effect at midnight EDT on Monday and stay in effect until April 6. Louisianas order goes into effect at 5 p.m. CDT on Monday and lasts through April 12. Delawares order starts at 8 a.m. EDT on Tuesday. Dallas County in Texas, home to over 2.5 million people, and Philadelphia, with 1.6 million residents, told non-essential businesses on Sunday to close and residents to stay home. In Kentucky, non-essential businesses must close by 8 p.m. EDT on Monday but authorities stopped short of ordering residents to stay home. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Sunday became the first member of the Senate to announce he had tested positive for the virus. At least two members of the House of Representatives previously said they tested positive. Around the globe, billions are adapting to a new reality, with countries such as Italy, Spain, and France on lockdown and several South American nations taking similar measures to try to stay ahead of the contagion. The mayor of New York City, the epicenter of the nations CCP virus epidemic, on Sunday described the outbreak as the biggest domestic crisis since the Great Depression and called for the U.S. military to mobilize to help keep the healthcare system from becoming overwhelmed. If we dont get more ventilators in the next 10 days, people will die who dont have to die, said Mayor Bill de Blasio, as the nations most populous city saw COVID-19 cases top 9,600 and deaths climb to 63. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo urged the federal government to take over acquisition of medical supplies so states do not have to compete with each other for desperately needed resources. Help is not coming quickly enough, Cuomo said. Time matters, minutes count, and this is literally a matter of life and death, he said. At the same time, there is not going to be chaos, there is not going to be anarchy. Life is going to go on. Different. But life is going to go on. Cuomo gave New York City officials 24 hours to come up with a plan to deal with residents still congregating in parks and other places and not practicing social distancing. Medical Crisis De Blasio said New York City was not getting needed medical supplies from the federal government to contend with the rapid spread of the sometimes deadly illness. Hospitals are scrambling for protective equipment for healthcare workers and for ventilators as they brace for a wave of patients who will need help breathing as severe cases often lead to pneumonia and decreased lung function. Over the past week, President Donald Trumps administration has been pushing for aggressive steps to stem the economic hit. Trump said on Sunday the National Guard would help New York, California, and Washington state respond to the crisis. He said the U.S. hospital ship Mercy would be in Los Angeles within a week and provided detailed numbers for the first time on the types and quantities of medical supplies sent to outbreak centers. Vice President Mike Pence said 254,000 Americans had been tested for the virus and 10 percent were positive. Greatest Crisis Since Great Depression The number of cases of the highly contagious respiratory illness in the United States and Spain are exceeded only by China and Italy. Italy reported record numbers of daily CCP virus deaths last week. This is going to be the greatest crisis domestically since the Great Depression, de Blasio told CNN, referring to the economic crisis of the 1930s. This is why we need a full-scale mobilization of the American military. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott lamented the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) available for health workers. He said they were seeing delivery dates in July. Thats not going to work. We need delivery dates tomorrow, Abbott said at a briefing. We have ready money today for anybody who can sell us PPE. Well cut you a check on the spot. By Jonnelle Marte and Barbara Goldberg By Soumitra S. Bhuyan Since December, COVID-19 has exploded around the world from its epicenter in Wuhan, China. At this writing, more than 372,000 people around the world are infected. More than 16,000 have died. In the United States, more than 33,000 are infected and more than 400 have died. Were just behind China and Italy. The mainstay of COVID-19 prevention in the United States has been social distancing to flatten-the-curve. However, casual contact is unavoidable, especially among those who live or work in multi-unit buildings. And even in communities that have enacted shelter-in-place orders, travel for essential services, such as trips to a grocery store or doctors office, is permitted. Similarly, the current guideline for confirmed COVID-19 patients without severe respiratory symptoms is to stay at home and isolate themselves from others. While social distancing and self-isolation strategies may be effective in slowing the rate of spread, we are seeing a steady increase in the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the United States and many other western countries. In contrast, China -- where more than 81,000 were infected and more than 3,150 died -- contained the local transmission, and, as of March 18, there were zero new patients in Wuhan, the epicenter of the disease. In Italy, more than 5,476 people died from COVID-19, passing China in total numbers of deaths. The United States seems to be following Italys trajectory. And despite the geographic proximity to China, other Asian countries -- including Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan appear to have controlled the community spread of the coronavirus. This begs the question: What have these Asian countries done differently to control the outbreak? Isolate the sick: China has isolated all suspected and confirmed cases for treatment and built 16 makeshift hospitals in Wuhan, to absorb the number of cases. Medical support teams were dispatched to assist containment efforts. Singapore also medically isolates and monitors all cases, deeming it too dangerous for any COVID-19 positive individual to go back into the community. What we really need to focus on is finding those who are sick, those who have the virus, and isolate them, find their contacts and isolate them, said Mike Ryan, the executive director of the World Health Organization. Contain mild cases: We must prevent hospitals from becoming the new breeding ground for the outbreak. U.S. hospitals need to create dedicated wards for COVID-19 patients to ensure those with mild cases can be isolated, tracked and monitored. It also makes it easier for healthcare providers, both for legal and ethical reasons, to decide who to admit or not. Protect health care workers: In a single Massachusetts Hospital, In a single Massachusetts Hospital, 160 healthcare providers have been quarantined after being exposed to a COVID-19 patient. In Italy, at least 3,559 health workers have been infected with the virus, with 14 deaths, or roughly 8.3% of the total cases. Several U.S. cities have reported a significant shortage of personal protective equipment like facemasks. Without strong community surveillance and infection control, through testing and contract tracing, healthcare providers will be at higher risk of exposure to the virus from other non-COVID-19 patients. Track the virus: In the initial stage of the epidemic, China rolled out the coronavirus close contact detector mobile application to assist with real-time contact tracing. This mobile app notified individuals who had close contact with a patient, or someone suspected for COVID-19. Those notified were required to self-quarantine immediately, thus reducing spread potential. The United Kingdom is also developing a similar contact detector application to notify people if they have exposed themselves to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Such technologies can also be used for providing the risk information to the public and to help them avoid high risk hot-spots. Use technology: Taiwan has integrated big data and technology to identify individuals at high risk by monitoring their cellphones. Using artificial intelligence, Taiwans Digital Ministry created real-time digital updates to alert citizens about risky areas to avoid and a live map of local supplies of face masks. Through contact tracing, China did a tedious task to track down individuals who had left Wuhan for the spring festival holiday before a lockdown was enacted. All were screened and monitored daily for their health status, including their daily temperature and cough. With the rapid community spread of COVID-19 in the United States, travel bans and stay-at-home policies alone may not be enough to contain the outbreak. We must leverage big data and mobile health to enhance communication. We must take stronger actions, like those taken by Asian countries. While this may conflict with one of the most cherished American values -- our individual freedom -- as the CDC outlines, Identification of clear overall goals for pandemic planning is essential to making difficult choices. We have one goal: To stop the spread of the virus. In doing so, we protect our vulnerable populations, mainly elderly and high-risk individuals with co-morbidity, our healthcare providers, and ourselves. This pandemic will pass, but it will not go away by itself. It is our shared responsibility, as an individual and a society, to beat this novel coronavirus pandemic. Soumitra S. Bhuyan, PhD, MPH, is an Assistant Professor of Health Administration at Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy and a faculty associate at Rutgers Urban & Civics Informatics Lab at Rutgers University. Dr. Bhuyan is also an Associate Editor at BMJ Global Health. The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Australia on Sunday announced a $38 billion spending plan to limit the economic damage from the coronavirus pandemic, as citizens were told to cancel domestic travel plans to slow the virus spread. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the latest Aus$66 billion announced Sunday brought government and central bank measures to support the economy to Aus$189 billion -- or nearly 10 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). "These extraordinary times require extraordinary measures and we face a global challenge like we have never faced before," he told reporters in Canberra. "Today's announcement will provide hope and support for millions of Australians at a time when they need it most." Small businesses and non-profits will receive cash subsidies of up to Aus$100,000, unemployment payments will be temporarily doubled and pensioners will receive Aus$750 cash. Workers whose income has fallen by at least 20 percent due to the coronavirus outbreak will be able to access their retirement funds early, with those facing hardship allowed to withdraw up to Aus$20,000 over two years. Frydenberg said the economic shock was now expected to be "deeper, wider and longer" than was believed just 10 days ago and additional measures would be required. The country appears poised to slip into recession as a result of the coronavirus outbreak after a record 29-year run of economic growth. Australia has recorded more than 1,300 cases and seven deaths from COVID-19. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the government was also "moving immediately" to recommend against non-essential travel, warning further measures were imminent to deal with localised outbreaks. He said work-related trips, the transport of essential supplies and travel on compassionate grounds could continue but people should cancel any other travel plans ahead of the upcoming Easter school holidays. "More stronger measures will be coming and they will be coming in more localised areas to deal with outbreaks," Morrison said. "What that means is, what may be necessary in a part of Sydney may not be necessary at all in... other parts of the country." Australia has already sealed off its borders, putting in place an unprecedented ban on entry for non-residents in the hope of stemming the rise of COVID-19 infections. Four Australian regions -- the island state of Tasmania, South Australia state, Western Australia state and the Northern Territory -- have also implemented a 14-day self-isolation period for all visitors. Announcing the state's border closure Sunday, Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan said he was considering using Rottnest Island -- a popular tourist destination and former Aboriginal prison site -- as a quarantine zone for people who refuse to self-isolate or are unable to do so. New South Wales and Victoria states on Sunday announced a shutdown of non-essential services, with supermarkets, pharmacies and petrol stations among those businesses that are exempt. Morrison said political leaders would meet Sunday evening to consider stricter isolation rules. MISSOULA - An international team of researchers, including two from the University of Montana, are working to help identify priority forest areas for protection on Borneo. The government of the state of Sabah in Malaysian Borneo has set an ambitious target of securing 30% of Sabah's land area under protection by 2025. The study identified important forest areas across the state that are critical for protection. These areas are rich in threatened rainforest animals and plants. The forests also store large amounts of carbon, helping to slow global warming. In total, the priority forests identified are about the size of Glacier National Park, almost twice the size of the Yorkshire Dales National Park in the United Kingdom. Lead author, Dr. Sara Williams from UM said, "What makes our study different is that the research is being used to inform conservation planning decisions about to be taken by government agencies. "The priority forest areas account for 5% of the land area of the state of Sabah. The approach that we came up with, selecting areas for protection strategically rather than randomly, protects around 12% of most of the statewide conservation features that we were interested in, which includes species ranges, forest carbon and landscape connectivity." Creating land corridors that link protected areas together will mean animals can move from the large parks across the Indonesian border into the flagship conservation areas in the center of Sabah. "Allowing species to move from the hottest lowland areas to the cooler mountains will be especially important for conserving rainforest species in the long term, as they will need to keep up with a warming climate," said Dr. Sarah Scriven from the University of York. UM's Dr. Jedediah Brodie said, "Protected areas are generally situated based on scenic beauty or political expediency. But putting new protected areas in the best places for biodiversity, as we've done here, more than doubles their conservation benefits." ### The paper, "Incorporating connectivity into conservation planning for optimal representation of multiple species and ecosystem services," is in press at the journal Conservation Biology. For more information, email Brodie jedediah.brodie@umontana.edu. Other partners in the study are: Eyen Khoo, Alexander Hastie, John Sugau, Dr Reuben Nilus and Dr Joan Pereira (Forest Research Centre, Sabah Forestry Department) Frederick Kugan (Sabah Forestry Department) Dr. Agnes Agama and Dr Glen Reynolds (South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership) Professor Gregory Asner and Dr Luke Evans (Arizona State University) Professor David Burslem (University of Aberdeen) Dr. Jenny Hodgson and Dr Lydia Cole (University of Liverpool) Dr. Colin Maycock, Sandy Tsen, Leung Lee and Suzika Juiling (Universiti Malaysia Sabah) Professor Jane Hill (University of York) She has been spending time at home in Newcastle with her nearest and dearest amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. And Charlotte Crosby appeared to eschew government advice on social distancing as she wrapped an arm around her mother Letitia on an outing in Sunderland on Saturday. The former Geordie Shore star, 29, stepped out to walk her pet dogs Baby and Banana and stayed close to her mother despite people being advised to keep their distance due to the COVID-19 crisis. Out and about: Charlotte Crosby, 29, looked in good spirits as she walked her pet dogs alongside her mother Letitia in Sunderland on Monday Charlotte showed off her gym-honed physique for the outing, donning a grey crop top and matching leggings. The MTV star let her brunette locks fall loose down her shoulders for the day while she also wore a pair of white trainers. Letitia sported a printed hoodie and black leggings as she strolled alongside Charlotte and their pet pooches. The outing comes after it was recently revealed Charlotte is reportedly dating videographer Liam Beaumont. Outfit: The former Geordie Shore star showed off her gym-honed physique for the outing, donning a grey crop top and matching leggings Casual: Charlotte let her brunette locks fall loose down her shoulders for the day while she also wore a pair of white trainers Pals: The reality star wrapped an arm around her mother as the pair enjoyed some quality family time on their outing Charlotte is said to have struck up a romance with the tattooed content creator after they met in Dubai earlier this year. According to The Sun, the pair met through DJ Christ Wright who is a mutual friend and have been dating since February, however the coronavirus pandemic is now keeping them apart. A source told the publication: 'Theyve been dating since meeting in Dubai when Charlotte was on a group holiday with the Geordie Shore girls. They instantly clicked when they met and havent stopped talking by text ever since. 'He's got all the qualities her last relationship didn't but they're taking things really slow and just enjoying it. It's early days. Pets: Letitia sported a printed hoodie and black leggings as she strolled alongside Charlotte and their pet pooches Fun: Charlotte and Letitia laughed and joked with each other on the outing Stunning: Charlotte displayed her array of inkings in her crop top on the stroll 'They're both now stuck in different parts of the world and finding it hard not knowing when they'll see each other again.' Liam travels the world for his job creating promotional videos for clubs, hotels and bars. Charlotte split from Celebs Go Dating star Joshua in November of last year after she had moved from Newcastle to Bolton to be with him. Homeward bound: Charlotte has been spending time at home in Newcastle with her nearest and dearest amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic Good mood: Charlotte looked in good spirits as she chatted on the phone and wrapped up in a cream padded coat Romance: After her split from Joshua Ritchie, Charlotte is now said to be off the market once again The reality star opened up about their split while she was taking part in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! Australia. Speaking to fellow campmates Myf Warhurst and Tanya Hennessy, Charlotte admitted the relationship ended up being 'all wrong'. She said: 'He wouldn't even hold me hand. There was no, like, affection, [he] would never kiss with tongues. It would be lucky if we kissed once a day. You know in bed, we've never spooned. 'There was a lot of pressure on us. There was a lot of arguments,' Charlotte said. Dating: Charlotte is said to have struck up a romance with videographer Liam Beaumont after they met in Dubai earlier this year The former Celebrity Big Brother winner revealed she doesn't miss Joshua, because he showed his 'true colours'. She said: 'I'm not sad about the breakup, I'm really not. I feel in such a better place and I'm actually like, kind of glad it happened.' While she originally 'begged' Joshua to come back after their November breakup, Charlotte's mother offered her the best advice. 'That's when me mam said, "You need a few months on your own. Just learn to love yourself. Not rely on someone else".' DECATUR State and local health officials continued pleas for people to stay home whenever possible as Illinois saw its largest single-day jump in confirmed COVID-19 cases on Sunday. Officials announced 296 new confirmed cases, bringing the total statewide to 1,049. A McLean County woman in her 70s was among three additional deaths, of which there have been nine. An infant was among the cases announced Sunday. The new numbers came as Gov. J.B. Pritzker criticized the federal government's response to the coronavirus pandemic prompting an angry response from President Donald Trump. Pritzker said Illinois hasn't received enough medical supplies. We're all competing against each other, the governor told CNN's State of the Union. "This should have been a coordinated effort by the federal government." In Macon County, no cases have been confirmed. Nine tests have been completed, according to the countys Crisis Communication Team. Seven results were negative and two were pending as of noon Sunday. County officials have said they will alert the public and media when a case is confirmed. Daily updates on the situation have been released each afternoon by the team, which is made up of health officials and government leaders. Pritzker has closed schools and issued a statewide stay-at-home order until April 7. People are still able to go to grocery stores, gas stations, pharmacies and jobs that are considered essential, among other destinations. The order is meant to discourage people from leaving their homes and coming into contact with others unless it is absolutely necessary, thus slowing the spread of the virus and giving hospitals a better chance to prepare for a surge of patients. A total of 8,374 people have been tested so far statewide. Experts have urged that Illinoisans should act like the virus is already in their communities as lack of testing means it has probably spread far beyond the reported cases. Clash with Trump Pritzker said during his CNN appearance that Illinois is buying supplies on the open market, as are other states. He said the White House is not doing enough to protect health care workers and first responders. This shouldve been a coordinated effort by the federal government," Pritzker said. So, yes, were competing against each other, were competing against other countries. Its a ... wild west out there and, indeed, were overpaying, I would say, for PPE (personal protective equipment) because of that competition. He and other Democrats, including New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, were on various TV news shows Sunday questioning why Trump hasnt yet made military resources available despite triggering the Defense Production Act. Trump, who has said repeatedly that his administration is not to blame for the growing pandemic, fired back on Twitter. The president dismissed criticism of his efforts as "Fake News." Governor of Illinois, and a very small group of certain other Governors, together with Fake News @CNN & Concast (MSDNC), shouldnt be blaming the Federal Government for their own shortcomings, he tweeted. We are there to back you up should you fail, and always will be! Pritzker tweeted back, "You wasted precious months when you could've taken action to protect Americans & Illinoisans. You should be leading a national response instead of throwing tantrums from the back seat. Where were the tests when we needed them? Where's the PPE? Get off Twitter & do your job." Pritzker's stay-at-home order joins similar efforts in California and New York to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Pritzker said there should be such an order in place nationwide. Volunteers, blood needed Pritzker also called on healthy Illinoisans to volunteer and donate blood if they can. He directed potential volunteers to serve.illinois.gov, where those looking to help will be matched with service organizations that are in need of volunteers. This is an opportunity for healthy college students looking for something to do, or individuals who aren't able to work from home, an opportunity for people who are healthy and looking to help, Pritzker said. He said the Serve Illinois Commission is providing guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to service organizations across the state. This includes daily health surveys and temperature checks for volunteers and staff, disinfecting surfaces at shift changes, and limiting volunteer groups to no more than 10 people at a time, all with proper social distancing parameters. He also called for blood donations as blood drives across the state are canceled, and noted there is no evidence that respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19 can be spread through the bloodstream. He also emphasized that donating blood does not weaken ones immune system. A blood shortage would only worsen the health care crisis that we're facing right now. So we need your help, he said. He also called for donations of personal protective equipment, or PPE. His administration can be contacted on the matter via email at PPE.donations@illinois.gov. Macon County needs Volunteers are also being sought to help several organizations in Macon County, and both Decatur hospitals on Sunday issued guidance as to whether they would accept masks sewn by volunteers as the critical equipment becomes scarce. HSHS St. Marys Hospital said in a statement that it would accept homemade face masks but was working out donation logistics and would share information about how to donate in the coming days. Anyone who wants to donate personal protective equipment should call hospital staff ahead of time at (217) 464-2966. Decatur Memorial Hospital said it is finalizing its process related to donations. We have to pay close attention to specifications and infection prevention, it said, adding that more information would be made available soon. Anyone who wants to help can fill out a donation form at bit.ly/MemorialCOVID. For a developing list of Macon County volunteer opportunities and needs, visit bit.ly/MaconCovolunteer. The Chicago Tribune, Associated Press and Herald & Review contributed reporting. Indian Embassy in Malaysia on Saturday thanked Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for aiding the stranded Indian nationals at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) by providing them with medicines and food supplies. This comes at the backdrop of the Indian government's decision to suspend all international flights till 29th March to prevent imported cases of COVID-19 in the country. "@hcikl officials continue to help stranded Indians in transit at KLIA. Medicines and food supplied day & night. Tnx @MalaysiaMFA @MAS for support. @MEAIndia @HarshShringla @DrSJaishankar," Indian Embassy in Malaysia wrote on Twitter. Earlier on Sunday, the Indian embassy tweeted: "India Fights Coronavirus in applauding and expressing gratitude towards the Emergency staff working selflessly round the clock to fight #coronavirusinindia #Covid19India." Mridul Kumar, Indian High Commissioner in Malaysia, along with his family also thanked "corona warriors" in India and Malaysia. "High Commissioner and family thanking Corona warriors in India and Malaysia," the embassy said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After two weeks of complaints from tribal leaders and protests from key lawmakers, the Trump administration finally announced plans to distribute much-needed funding to Indian Country as the number of coronavirus cases continues to grow in communities that have long been underserved by the federal government. The Department of Health and Human Services on Friday said it would provide a total of $80 million to tribes, urban Indians and Alaska Natives . That's double the amount that was set aside by Congress through the H.R.6074 , the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act But the Trump administration rejected calls to have the Indian Health Service distribute the money. Instead, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , which does not have the same experience and expertise in dealing with tribes and their communities, is in charge of the first influx of coronavirus funding to tribes and their communities. CDC's plans, reviewed by Indianz.Com over the weekend, reflect the disconnect. Of $30 million being directed to three Indian nations, plus nine organizations, no funding has been set aside for the Great Plains , even though one of the first confirmed COVID-19 cases originated in the region and most of the tribes there rely on the IHS for direct services. Similarly, none of the $30 million is going to the Phoenix Area or the Tucson Area of the IHS amid a growing number of cases in the state of Arizona. The area was overlooked despite restricting immigration, building a wall through tribal homelands and limiting the flow of people across the U.S. border with Mexico being pet causes of the president The vast majority of American Indians and Alaska Natives live in urban areas. CDC's plans, though, call for just an additional $8 million to be shared among the 41 health centers that serve such large segment of the population, where some of the first COVID-19 cases had an impact early on in the crisis. Sara Anderson and Vernon Black Eyes -- an urban Indian couple -- prepare to walk up to an Omaha elder's apartment in Lincoln, Nebraska, on March 22, 2020. Photo by Kevin Abourezk While the cities across the country are shutting down, our Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs) are doing all they can to stay open for the patients and communities," said Francys Crevier, the executive director of the National Council of Urban Indian Health , which pointed out that it took "14 days" for the announcement to come from official Washington "As UIOs have risen to the challenge without any additional federal funding to date, helping not only their patients but their counties, the timing of this is critical and will be essential to protecting the personnel who are risking their lives without proper protective equipment," added Crevier. Tribal and Indian leaders are welcoming the arrival of the initial funding, and they remain hopeful that the CDC can rise to respect the policies of sovereignty, self-determination and self-governance that are already enshrined at the IHS. But they are not banking on any promising changes, and there are already internal talks to find a way to share some money -- albeit it small amount -- with Great Plans and Tucson. Otherwise, tribes in the two regions will have to wait for the CDC to announce how it is going to distribute additional coronavirus resources. According to the plans reviewed by Indianz.Com, the agency will be awarding $40 million in "non-competitive grants" once a notice goes up on grants.gov With at least 40 COVID-19 cases in the IHS system, plus untold numbers in urban communities and at facilities run directly by tribes, the slow roll-out has been a major concern. Key members of Congress from both parties, Democrat and Republican alike, have been pushing the Trump administration to act quicker in light of the unique legal obligations owed to Indian nations and their citizens. Every department of our federal government has a legal trust responsibility to American Indian and Alaska Native tribes established by hundreds of treaties between the U.S. and sovereign tribes, 23 members of the U.S. House of Representatives -- including the four tribal citizens who serve in the chamber -- wrote in a letter on Friday to Secretary Alex Azar , the Trump administration's leader of the Department of Health and Human Services. In light of the current pandemic, it is more important than ever that we uphold this responsibility by making sure tribes can access adequate, sorely needed resources in a timely manner, the lawmakers said ICYMI: The so-called "Phase 3" #Coronavirus relief package leaves Indian Country behind. Here's what Kevin Allis, Chief Executive Officer of the National Congress of American Indians, said about the CARES Act. @NCAI1944 #COVID19 #CoronavirusIndianCountry pic.twitter.com/pVy0RCIOUe indianz.com (@indianz) March 21, 2020 Fortunately, the $80 million from the CDC is not the final word. H.R.6201 , the Families First Coronavirus Response Act , authorizes $64 million to be provided to the IHS to help address the impacts of COVID-19 in tribal communities. Yet it's not just the executive branch where troubling signs have emerged. S.3548 , the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act , was announced to much fanfare last Thursday but the 247-page bill leaves out the first Americans. "It has completely ignored and does not include Indian Country," National Congress of American Indians Chief Executive Officer Kevin Allis, a citizen of the Forest County Potawatomi Community, told reporters of the so-called "phase 3" coronavirus package on Friday. He said the omission could lead to a "disaster" in tribal nations. Three new positive COVID-19 cases reported among Navajo people WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. Navajo Nation President Jonathan... Posted by Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer on Monday, March 23, 2020 Health care for American Indians and Alaska Natives is premised on numerous treaties and federal laws. But the IHS remains woefully underfunded -- it barely meets about half of the need in tribal and urban Indian communities, according to the U.S. government's own reports and data. "Together these reports provide the very harsh reality that for decades, and even centuries, tribal nations have been severely and chronically underfunded in every public sector imaginable, whether it's health care, law enforcement, education or infrastructure," NCAI President Fawn Sharp said on Friday. Sharp leads the Quinault Nation in Washington state, one of the hardest hit regions in terms of COVID-19 cases and deaths. According to the CDC plans that were seen by Indianz.Com, $30 million is being awarded to supplement a federal-tribal partnership known as the Tribal Public Health Capacity Building and Quality Improvement Cooperative Agreement . The agreement includes tribes and organizations in nearly every part of Indian Country -- except the Great Plains, a region that includes South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska, and the tribes along the border near Tucson, Arizona. Within this select group, three tribes are to be selected for awards drawn from the $30 million pot. They include the Navajo Nation , which as of Monday afternoon reported 29 COVID-19 cases President Jonathan Nez on Friday imposed an unprecedented "stay at home order" in hopes of slowing the spread of a disease that has already taken a hold on the largest reservation in the United States. To prevent a massive public health crisis, every person must remain home," Nez said on Monday. "The fact is that the number of positive tests is growing. We know some may need food, medicine, or other essential items, but beyond that we shouldnt have anyone traveling or going out into the public. This includes public gatherings and meetings. This just in: Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer confirmed 3 new #COVID19 cases on the reservation, the largest in the United States. The announcement brings the number of #Coronavirus cases among Navajo citizens to 29. https://t.co/pH4Hv6c70f indianz.com (@indianz) March 23, 2020 In addition to the Navajo Nation, the Choctaw Nation and the Chickasaw Nation are set to receive funds out of the $30 million. Both tribes are based in Oklahoma, home to the second-largest population of American Indians and Alaska Natives in the country, and both have curtailed operations -- including their lucrative gaming establishments -- in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus. "The health and safety of Chickasaws, our employees, patrons and communities continues to be our main priority," the tribe said in a statement on Friday The nine organizations set to receive coronavirus funds as a result of the cooperative agreement represent most area of Indian Country, except for the Great Plains and the parts of Arizona that do not fall within the Navajo Nation. The list follows: Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (Alaska) Albuquerque Area Indian Health Board, Inc. (New Mexico) Albuquerque Area Indian Health Board, Inc. (New Mexico) Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation (Alaska) Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation (Alaska) California Rural Indian Health Board California Rural Indian Health Board Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Inc. (Wisconsin) Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Inc. (Wisconsin) Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (Oregon, Washington) Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (Oregon, Washington) Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council (Montana, Wyoming) Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council (Montana, Wyoming) Southern Plains Tribal Health Board (Oklahoma, Kansas, part of Texas) Southern Plains Tribal Health Board (Oklahoma, Kansas, part of Texas) United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc. (New England, Northeast, Southeast, part of Texas) United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc. (New England, Northeast, Southeast, part of Texas) Due to the threat of COVID-19 & the increased danger it poses on our patients, beginning Monday, March 23, all patients will check in for an appointment & then return to their vehicle. #OKCIC new hours are 8am -5pm. M-F. All groups and Wellness Center are canceled #NativeHealth pic.twitter.com/dYgKFjgH8G OKC Indian Clinic (@OKCIndianClinic) March 21, 2020 According to the CDC's plans, another $8 million is to be directed to urban Indian centers, plus another $2 million for the National Indian Health Board , which has been leading coronavirus education efforts across the country. That leaves $40 million to be distributed to tribes through a "new non-competitive" grant program, according to the CDC's plans. Grants will be available to "eligible" tribes, the agency says. Join the Conversation Related Stories The Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) on Monday banned all visits to camps for internally displaced persons (IDP) in the state. The ban, which is part of the state governments efforts at preventing the spread of Covid-19 in the state, is expected to last four weeks. Nigeria currently has 36 confirmed cases of the outbreak with one death recorded. The chairperson of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Yabawa Kolo, announced the ban during a meeting with 51 IDP camp managers on Monday in Maiduguri. Mrs Kolo said the ban was part of the strategies to stave off the importation of the virus into the usually overcrowded camps into the state. She said the measure became essential as some of the neighbouring countries like the Chad Republic and Cameroon have recorded cases of coronavirus. She explained further that despite the closure of the borders by the neighbouring countries, there was still an influx of IDPs into the state. READ ALSO: Camp managers of Gamboru-Ngala, Damasak, Kalabalge, Banki, Bama, and Monguno, which are located near border areas were also warned not to accept IDPs from any neighbouring country into their camps. We know we have a lot of threat around us following the sighting of suspected cases of the virus in Cameroon and Chad and we have some border towns very close to those countries, she said. We do not want to go to the issue of response because even in developed countries, it was difficult for them to contain this pandemic. So at our own level, we are positioning ourselves to see how best we can stop the virus from transmitting in the state. The governor of the state, Babagana Zulum, had last week appointed his deputy, Umar Kadafur, to head a response team to help address the coronavirus outbreak as it concerns the state. The Indian Army on Monday cautioned against "fake, malicious" messages being spread on social media with an intent to spread panic and fear among the people. "Army has observed certain fake and malicious messages on social media. The purpose of these messages and rumours is to spread panic and fear among the general public. We are monitoring such messages and we'll follow up," said Army spokesperson Colonel Aman Anand. He highlighted that one such message that has been monitored claims that the Indian Army is training for mass cremations. "This is false, malicious. Please do not believe it and do not spread it," he said. The number of coronavirus cases in the country has risen to 467 including eight deaths. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Over the weekend, Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, posted on Twitter that the company would be donating two million masks for use in both the U.S., and Europe, as healthcare workers fight to stem the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. That comes in addition to $15 million that Apple has already said it set aside to help efforts. Our teams at Apple have been working to help source supplies for healthcare providers fighting COVID-19. We're donating millions of masks for health professionals in the US and Europe. To every one of the heroes on the front lines, we thank you. -- Tim Cook (@tim_cook) March 21, 2020 The move was first announced by Vice President Mike Pence during a press briefing Saturday, and Cook confirmed the company will provide N95 masks, the type that filters out 95 percent of airborne particulates and protects against respiratory diseases like Covid-19. Apple hasn't commented on where it obtained that many masks. I reached out to the company for more information but did not immediately receive a response. Face masks are important in preventing the spread of Covid-19, which spreads in respiratory droplets, most commonly through person-to-person contact. That's why the CDC has recommended individuals practice social distancing, keeping six feet of distance from others in order to prevent the transmission of the coronavirus. Right now, hospitals and medical workers are experiencing a severe shortages of basic personal protective gear (PPE) like masks. In Michigan, where I live, nurses at some hospitals were told that they would be provided with one mask per week, which they were to wear at all times. In response, hundreds of people have started to sew handmade masks and are donating them to hospitals and other health care providers. Apple isn't the only company that is stepping up. General Motors has announced it will partner with Ventec Life Systems to produce ventilators and make sure they get to where they are needed. The partnership is expected to produce as many as 1,000 ventilators a month in the short term, with a goal of building 2,000 a month after 90 days. On Sunday, Tesla delivered 50,000 donated N95 masks to a researcher in Seattle to be used by healthcare workers. The company's CEO, Elon Musk, has also said it will produce ventilators and promised to deliver 1,000 by next week. You're most welcome. We're working on getting other types of PPE too. Ventilators should arrive within a few days. -- Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 22, 2020 Last week, President Trump signed an executive order to invoke the Defense Production Act, which allows the federal government to order companies to start manufacturing what is needed during the current pandemic. So far, however, he hasn't yet ordered anyone to build anything, depending instead on private companies to take it on their own initiative to provide critical supplies. While these are extraordinary efforts, it's worth remembering that the greatest impact is likely to come from ordinary individuals and smaller companies looking for creative ways to serve their communities. Your company probably won't start making masks, but that doesn't mean you can't help. In fact, good ideas are at a premium right now. Since the EVTFA was approved, experts have been analysing the opportunities for Vietnam to penetrate deeper into the high-value foreign markets. browser not support iframe. However, the implementation of the deal also poses many challenges to Vietnamese agricultural products. Besides strict standards from the European Union market, competitive pressure in the domestic market is also a big issue. Tien Giang province is home to the second largest orchard area in the Mekong Delta region with about 80,000 ha. The province has exported many of its products, such as dragon fruit, mango, and durians, achieving fame for the locality. Notably, most of the exports go to China while exports to markets like the EU remain modest. Soc Trang also has more than 30,000 ha of orchards. The province has exported more than 100 tons of purple star apples to the US market. The EU market has started buying localitys pomelo. The province is confident that it can meet the demand of the EU market through the free trade agreement. Exporters said that farmers have also increased their awareness of the EUs requirements. For example, their products must meet international standards like GlobalGap. However, some businesses still do not fully understand the importance of these standards. Besides, competitive pressure will be fiercer in domestic market when agricultural products from EU countries pour into Vietnam. Like many other free trade agreements, the implementation of the EVFTA will lift tariff barriers but for many countries it will create more difficult technical barriers. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has said the deal will change the entire production and structural processes to create a closed chain for enterprises to participate in the global value chain./.VNA The Uzbek film director, screenwriter and artist Nazim Abbasov died yesterday at the age of 61. He outlived his father, director Shukhrat Abbasov, by only two years. Nazim Abbasov started out as an actor: he starred as a young hostage of the lord Kabus in 'Abu Rayhan Beruni' in 1974, and also starred as the mullah's son in 'Fire Roads' in 1978. He graduated from the VGIK Art Faculty and since 1984 worked at the Uzbekfilm film studio as the production designer of the films 'Wolves', 'Kaja', 'Mysara's Tricks', 'Lame Dervish', as well as the director of 'Date in Samarra', 'Love, thief and thief.' Nazim Abbasovs films have repeatedly represented Uzbekistan at prestigious international film festivals, winning various prizes, in particular 'Eternal Circle' was awarded the audiences prize at the 20th International Film Festival in Innsbruck, which, according to the director, was created in the naive primitive style without any allegories or other things. " In 2011, the Uzbek media wrote that the film was shot in Khiva, in its historical part - Ichan-Kale. Detailed compositional images, open dialogue, music by composer Vladimir Baramykov represent the traditional national Uzbek cinema, which, according to the author, attracted a European audience which wanted simple human stories. The 'Eternal Circle' was presented not only in Austria, but also in Germany, Switzerland and Italy, where it was warmly received, despite the fact that it was created for the Uzbek audience. But Nazim Abbasov's picture 'Fellini', which is not about the great Italian filmmaker, was the most recognized his work. The plot of the picture is very simple. The old film theatre in the Karakalpak town is living out its last days. Once upon a time there was the shore of the Aral Sea, life was in full swing, and the film industry flourished. Now the Aral Sea has dried up, the country has changed. But the projection engineer, nicknamed Fellini, is devotedly devoted to the film industry. His wife does not understand him and does not support his hobby, which was unprofitable. Once a film crew arrives in the village, and Fellini helps them, starring in the episode. Somehow the film hero invites guests to a dinner and shows his own film, mounted from fragments of old films that once struck his imagination. Nazim Abbasov received the prize for best directing at the National Film Festival in Bukhara in 2000; the film won a prize at the Warsaw International Festival and the Grand Prix at the Innsbruck Film Festival in 2002. Then Nazim Abbasov was elected a member of the Fellini Foundation. In 2008, Nazim Abbasov shot the film 'Oydinoy' - a parable about a six-year-old girl who lives in an Uzbek alpine village in southern Uzbekistan. Every morning, Oydinoy goes to the village school, announcing to everyone that today she will definitely be at lessons. But Oydinoy has not yet reached school age, and each time the teacher takes her out of the classroom. At the same time, Oydinoy make dolls, plays the violin, dances, sings, and she's the only one who sees inexplicable fantastic visions in the night sky over the village. Only grandfather Ehson-buva knows that these are his granddaughter's dreams that are reflected in the sky. In 2009 in Innsbruck, Abbasov received the prize "For valuable contribution to the history of the festival" for 'Oydinoy', and the leading actor - eight-year-old Marjona Shavkatova was awarded the special prize as "Best Actress". As a director, Nazim Abbasov also shot two documentaries, the 'Last Sorry' in 2008, and 'This Beautiful and Mysterious World' in 2007. Amid misinformation and scores of fake news floating around on social media in times of the Coronavirus, it has become imperative that media, agencies and corporates join in the fight against spreading panic in uncertain times. Along with responsible behaviour, responsible communication has also become a weapon in this fight. Keeping this in mind, Adgullys latest Twitter Chat chapter delved into Responsible Communication During Covid-19. The Twitter Chat was held on March 20, 2020. Over the past few months, Adgullys Twitter Chat initiative has caught the industrys attention, with several top notch names taking part in these chats. The latest Twitter Chat topic was the brainchild of industry veteran Llyod Mathias, who suggested the topic to Adgully. Joining the conversation were: Lloyd Mathias , Business Strategist (@LloydMathias) , Business Strategist (@LloydMathias) Naresh Gupta , Managing Partner & Chief Strategy Officer, Bang In The Middle (@googlegupta) , Managing Partner & Chief Strategy Officer, Bang In The Middle (@googlegupta) Chetan Asher , Co-founder & CEO, Tonic Worldwide (@chetanasher) , Co-founder & CEO, Tonic Worldwide (@chetanasher) Ashok Lalla , Digital Business Advisor (@ashoklalla) , Digital Business Advisor (@ashoklalla) Nikhil Dey , Vice Chairman, Weber Shandwick India (@deydreaming) , Vice Chairman, Weber Shandwick India (@deydreaming) Shubho Sengupta, Digital Marketer (@shubhos) Moderating this chapter of the Twitter Chat was Chetan Asher, who commenced the discussion by remarking on the changes in the communication strategy of brands in challenging times like these. What kind of communication would reflect being socially responsible? Asher asked the other participants. Naresh Gupta began the round of answers by saying, "Its a tough time, and time like this needs a compassionate tone of voice. The communication needs to be more informative and less preachy." Ashok Lalla further adds to this and says, "Responsible communication is that which is based on facts, authentic, bias and opinion-free, does not feed or fan rumours and ideally with a face attached to it." Lloyd Mathias highlights the importance of communicating effectively and marks the key ingredients as "Talking about steps taken by your organisation, what the brand is doing to keep customers and employees safe. Also anything the company is doing in the larger public interest." Nikhil Dey ended the round of and answers and summed up by saying, "Focus on feelings. What do your stakeholders want to know or hear from you. Not what you want to tell them. Think from their point of view and then craft your communication." Talking about communication done by brands, there are several global campaigns that come to mind that can be a great example of great communication done effectively. However, in India we still have some campaigns spreading fake news and also leveraging their products for profits. Asher asked the panelist to point some examples of good communication done by brands in India or globally. Naresh Gupta began the round of answers and said that he hasn't come across any stand out work. However Ashok Lalla pointed work done by brands like Ola, Swiggy and GoAir as examples of responsible communication done in India. He says, "In India, several service brands have put out responsible communication around steps they are taking for customer/ employee safety. Ola and Swiggy are a couple. GoAir and Vistara among airlines. Others I guess have adopted a wait-and-watch attitude." Nikhil Dey gave an example of brand communication done during these times. He tweeted, "Cooped up in the house with nothing to do? Let us help out. We're giving everyone Free access to both our Tinkle and Amar Chitra Katha comic apps for an entire month! Get a FREE one month subscription to our entire catalogue till March 31st, 2020! In times of crisis, especially the COVID-19 scenario, brands have to play a role of responsibility towards consumers and society. Here capitalising by leveraging their products isn't the route brands should take. Asher asked the panelists about Responsibility vs Profitability for brands. Ashok Lalla said, "This is not a time for doing business as usual. So all businesses must demonstrate and communicate their sensitivity to the situation and act responsibly keeping associates and customers first, followed by the business itself. I think moment marketing to act cute, clever or be opportunistic in the time of a crisis such as coronavirus is a terrible thing and most irresponsible. This is a time to help and collaborate, not exploit." Nikhil Dey agreed to this and added,"Definitely not business as usual. There is an info overload & misinformation. Speak when you hv something to say. Dont feel pressured to communicate just because everyone else is. Adding to the clutter wont help. Staying connected, checking in, active listening are equally important. It is easy to go wrong in the early stages of an issue like this, if you try and sell. Intent matters. If your brand can be of service and help and does so in a genuine way, it will be welcomed. Anything less will be seen as opportunistic" Talking about Moment Marketing done during these times, Naresh Gupta added, "Personally I fell when the brands did content as moment marketing, they didn't realise that the issue will be as massive as it has become now." While profits should not be the intent of brands, communication is still key. Asher asked the panelists, "How can brands engage audiences without being too preachy?" Talking about brands in the current scenario Ashok Lalla said "On another note, this social distancing and sudden work from home has put clients and agencies into unfamiliar territory. So hopefully, there will be less impulsive stuff, and better thought through ideas once they grapple with their new working norms." Naresh Gupta further added, "This is something that one has done ever, but I do suspect we are about to watch a lot of 'social experiments'" Nikhil Dey summed it up by saying, "Denial, fear, anger are natural emotions in times like these. Recognise that. Help others get through these phases fast. Only when we are in acceptance mode will we be able to move forward effectively. Individually and collectively." The conversation then went onto the role of social media platforms. Platforms like Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp do have a role of controlling fake news and making sure people get the right information regarding the crisis. Asher asked the panelists about the role of social media platforms. Naresh Gupta pointed out that, "The platforms have a big task to weedout all the misinformation that is being posted. The platforms have to aggressive in marking the content as fake or misleading." Ashok Lalla further added, "The answer is YES, they can and must do more. Sadly, platforms are not doing enough to prevent and weed out misinformation and rumours from spreading via their platforms. This is a great time for them to rise above the humdrum and make a difference." Lloyd Mathias agreed to this and said, "They have to do a lot more. For one sites like WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter needs to carefully filter out all fake news with regard to." Nikhil Dey summed it up by saying, "Fact checking is the biggest role for platforms - to slow down fake news. Our role - Remember to act only on verified information. Rumours and fears fly fast and furious in times like these. A communicator role is crucial in times like these." Obviously, the government plays a crucial role in times like these. As the final question, Asher asked the panelists about the current role played by the government and the communication done. Ashok Lalla said, "I think there's too much floating around." He further pointed and suggestions for the government and said, "1. Have named, designated spokespersons Regular updates e.g. 7 pm every day Focus on facts and progress Demonstrate actions taken, reassure people Less cute alliterations, more concrete stuff" Lloyd Mathias further pointed out saying, "Yet to see a fully coordinated effort. The Government only recently put out a comprehensive dashboard. This should have happened much earlier. Also many state governments who play a bigger role seem totally unresponsive." Naresh Gupta on the other hand said, "Government as come a long way these days in communicating, the caller ringback tone innovation is super clever. They are doing a lot. I would want the government to make this subject open to all, let the agencies submit ads, let the government choose and run what they think is best." Giving his closing thoughts, Nikhil Dey said, "Own the problem. Dont externalise. Dont try and allocate blame. It wont help. Its in our hands as well. Literally - remember to wash them regularly. Be the safe hands that your team and stakeholders need at a time like this. Also Read: #COVID19: Brand communications supporting #JantaCurfew MY FM's RJs will entertain listeners from home during Janta Curfew Ramallah, March 23 : Israel has decided to transfer around $33 million to the Palestinian Authority in an effort to stem the cornavirus outbreak, Palestinian sources said. The decision on Sunday came following a meeting between Palestinian and Israeli Finance Ministers last week over the means to fight the COVID-19, Xinhua news agency quoted the sources as saying. Palestinian government spokesperson Ibrahim Milhem confirmed to reporters earlier that the two sides were in contact with regards to the Palestinian tax revenues withheld by Israel. Meanwhile, the Israeli public radio reported that Israeli Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon agreed to send the Palestinian Authority's tax revenues, as urgent financial aid in light of the coronavirus pandemic. The Israeli radio reported that the move was recommended by the Israeli army. Palestinian Minister of Finance Shukri Bishara met with his Israeli counterpart Kahlon last week over the issue of Palestinian tax revenues withheld by Israel and the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak. Israel has been withholding the money it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority over its payment to the families of jailed and slain Palestinians, the last sum of the withheld money, $43 million was approved by the Israeli cabinet in January. Palestine has stepped up its measures to fight the coronavirus after the total number of confirmed cases reached 59. On March 5, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared a state of emergency for one month after the first COVID-19 case was discovered in the city of Bethlehem. Immigrant workers detained at the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark, New Jersey, are conducting a hunger strike to protest squalid conditions that greatly increase the chances that they will contract the coronavirus and to demand that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) release them. Detainees began their strike on Tuesday, and an entire unit at the jail was participating by the next day. The Essex County Correctional Facility can house as many as 928 male detainees and has had a service agreement with ICE since 2010. We are asking our fellow brothers in ICE to join us, the workers said in a statement announcing the hunger strike. We are also asking the kitchen workers that work in the main kitchen downstairs to not go to work. The point of this is to ask for release. Releasing meaning on bond, bracelet, or the people with final deportation orders that actually want to be deported get them on their plane ASAP. This coronavirus is getting out of control and if we were to be infected, I am sure everyone would rather die on the outside with our families than in here. We are here on a civil matternot criminal. We shouldnt have to stay locked up during processing [a] deadly pandemic. I hope you will join us because there is power in numbers and this is a fight not only for our freedom but also for our health and safety. ICE guidelines indicate that detainees who refuse food for a long period are to be restrained and force fed through nasal tubes. On the day after the hunger strike began, the agency announced that it would limit arrests around the US, but not end them. On Friday, seven ICE detainees in the Bergen, Hudson and Essex county jails in New Jersey filed a suit in the southern district of New York against several prominent federal officials including Thomas Decker, field office director of ICEs New York City office, and Chad Wolf, acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The plaintiffs, the suit says, suffer from a variety of ailments that put them at a higher risk for COVID-19 infection, including kidney, lung and liver conditions as well as diabetes. They are demanding to be released. Attorney Suchita Mathur of the Bronx Defenders immigration team told the media: The simplest and only humane way that ICE can help prevent the impending coronavirus disaster from harming people in their custody is by releasing everyone in their jails back to their families while they await their hearings. What we are asking is that the courts act now to force ICE to begin with the bare minimum, and most urgent act, which is to put the most vulnerable people out of harms way before its too late. Conditions at the Essex County Correctional Facility have been atrocious for years, and they have been a matter of public record as well. During an unannounced inspection in 2018, the DHSs Office of Inspector General observed staff serving detainees spoiled, foul-smelling meat. Unused bread was stored in trash bags so that it could be made, much later, into bread pudding. Inspectors reported that every building that housed detainees had a leak and that mold stretched from the showers into the hallways. The jail did not provide detainees with opportunities for outdoor recreation or even with a pillow. ICE conducts weekly inspections of the facility and tacitly endorses conditions that, according to the United Nations, constitute torture. Benny Munoz, one of the detainees, was sent to the jail after he had completed a sentence for possessing a weapon and hindering apprehension. A lot of guystheyre done with their time, theyre finished paying off whatever their debt was to society, and were here being held against our will by the government and Immigration, its crazy, he told Gothamist. They could let us go home on bail, and we could fight our case from the streets. ... No one wants to die in jail. The Essex County facility is not the only jail where immigrant workers are detained in New Jersey and New York under unconscionably bad conditions that can facilitate the spread of the pandemic. Detainees at Hudson County Correctional Facility in Kearny, New Jersey, have reported being denied soap and hand sanitizer. One detainee was abruptly transferred to an obviously dirty cell and instructed to limit the number of times he flushes the toilet. Another detainee told his wife that the staff would not let him take regular showers. Furthermore, the jail does not provide a way for detainees to call for medical attention. Staff ask detainees whether they have complaints, jot down their answers, then lay the paper aside without following up. An ICE detainee at Bergen County Jail, in Hackensack, New Jersey, said that although jail staff have access to Lysol and bleach, detainees are given only watered-down hand soap. The wife of another detainee said that the detainees in an entire unit (i.e., 30 people) were put into solitary confinement until the coronavirus is under control. An outbreak has already begun at the jail, where an official tested positive for coronavirus and has entered isolation. Seven other officers were asked to quarantine themselves. Conditions are similar in the Orange County Jail in Goshen, New York, where ICE detainees are held. Officials at the jail consider hand sanitizer to be contraband and forbid detainees to have it. Jail staff have hand sanitizer, however, and one officer reportedly taunted inmates about it. One detainee and his wife reported that new prisoners are brought to cells and told that they are not allowed to leave them for a week. These outrageous conditions show a pattern of neglect and abuse that has endured for years with official approval. The jails are now exposing immigrant detainees, staff and the broader community to the risk of infection and death during the worst infectious disease crisis since the AIDS pandemic began in the 1980s. These are the same policies inflicted on immigrants and asylum seekers who have been held in overcrowded and dirty concentration camps at the border between the United States and Mexico. The capitalist state is unwilling to expend the most basic efforts to protect the health of its prisoners. In the context of the coronavirus pandemic, this unwillingness is likely to turn a public health emergency into a catastrophe. The operations of domestic schedule commercial airlines shall cease operations with effective from the midnight on 24 March 2020. Airlines have to plan operations so as to land at their destination before 23:59 hours on 24 March 2020. The restrictions shall not apply to solely cargo carrying flights, Ministry of Civil Aviation said in a statement. The measures taken are on the back of rising cases of Coronavirus. Twenty-two states in the country have announced a lockdown in 80 districts where Coronavirus cases have been reported so far. The lockdown will be in effect till 31 March 2020. During the lockdown, only essential services will be allowed to operate. The lockdown is aimed at preventing more cases of Coronavirus in India. Aviation stocks have taken a hit in last one month after Coronavirus outbreak. The outbreak of COVID-19 has made travelers reconsider going on vacatiom, putting pressure on travel and tourism industry. Shares of Spice Jet slumped 4.93% to Rs 33.75 on NSE, today. The stock has crashed 63.69% in last one month and 78.49% from its record high of Rs 156.09 posted on 3 June 2019. Interglobe Aviation fell 0.37% to close at Rs 868.50 on NSE. Shares of IndiGo have fallen 40.71% in last one month and 54.26% from its record high level of Rs 1898.85 registered on 30 September 2019. Although Coronavirus started in central China, it is spreading faster in the rest of the world. The epidemic has grown to infect over 350,514 people with over 15,317 fatalities. India has reported 8 deaths and over 425 cases so far. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) slammed Democrats on Monday for continuing to hold up a trillion-dollar coronavirus economic relief package in order to secure a number of environmental and other concessions. Speaking on the Senate floor, McConnell urged for bipartisanship to get the deal done, and pointed to the passing of the Houses phase-two bill, which Republicans would have done very differently, as a model for emulation. Republicans understand that a national crisis calls for urgency, and it calls for bipartisanship. Its time for that good faith to be reciprocated. Its time for Democrats to stop playing politics and step up to the plate, he added. McConnell accused Democrats of filibustering programs to keep people on the payroll, in favor of tax credits for solar energy and wind energy, provisions to force employers to give special new treatment to big labor, and listen to this new emissions standards for the airlines Democrats wont let us fund hospitals or save small businesses unless they get to dust off the green New Deal, McConnell said. Are you kidding me? This is the moment to debate new regulations that have nothing, whatsoever to do with this crisis, he barked. That is what they are up to over there. The American people need to know it! The majority leader also directed the blame at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.), who flew into D.C. over the weekend to join negotiations and begin work on the Houses own bill. We were this close. We were this close. Then yesterday, the speaker of the House flew back from San Francisco, McConnell quipped. Senate Democrats blocked McConnells phase-three package from moving forward on Sunday evening, claiming that it favored corporations over working Americans. But Republicans point to Pelosis entering the negotiations, after Majority Whip James Clyburn (D., S.C.) told House Democrats last week that the Republican bill was a tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision, as a partisan move aimed at including policy unrelated to coronavirus funding. More from National Review Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis banned all onsite dining at restaurants statewide Friday and the Seminole Tribe closed its casinos, the latest virus -related closures affecting a state that is heavily dependent on tourism to pay its bills. The governors order allows restaurants to still provide take-out and delivery, including alcoholic beverages. He had already closed the states bars to onsite sales. He also banned all non-emergency medical and dental procedures to preserve face masks and other disposable protective gear. Those supplies are used by doctors and nurses but are in short supply. Some cities and counties statewide had already banned beach-going and set restrictions on bars and restaurants, including Miami-Dade County, the states most populous. Three other large states have gone even further than DeSantis: California, New York and Illinois have ordered nearly all residents to stay home. DeSantis said Friday that he has that power, but he prefers a more collaborative approach, where government and residents work together rather than issuing blanket orders. I want to do things that will be followed and will be effective, DeSantis said. If you go too hard and then people lose confidence and rebel. Florida now had more than 560 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus, as of Friday, 70% of them in neighboring Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, the states three most populous. That was about a 30% jump since Thursday. By Monday, the number of cases had risen to more than 1,100. There have been 14 deaths statewide, including two residents at a Fort Lauderdale assisted living facility. Five others were sick at Atria Willow Wood and six more have tests pending, as of Friday. DeSantis said the facility let staff and outside workers inside near the residents without screening, and brought the disease to them. That is exactly what you are not supposed to do, he said. He said law enforcement and health officials will be embedded at the facility to monitor the situation. Atria said in a statement Friday evening that the facility began screening visitors before receiving guidance from the state. As soon as the Broward County Department of Health notified us of the first confirmed case, we immediately escalated our protocols, it said. The Department of Health was quickly on-site and approved. The Seminoles six casinos generate billions annually and employ 14,000 people. As a sovereign tribal nation, the Seminoles do not have to heed the governors orders, but they said in a statement they no longer felt operating the casinos was safe. At the tribes Hard Rock Casino near Fort Lauderdale on Friday afternoon, vacationers, diehard gamblers and bored locals enjoyed the last few hours of play but the noisy clangs from the machines were muted. Nearly half the machines were disabled to force players, some wearing gloves, to use machines at least 6 feet (2 meters) apart. Victor and Alyssia Fletcher sat at the Hard Rock playing the Betti the Yetti slot machine after 90 minutes of black jack. They had driven from Norfolk, Virginia, to celebrate their first anniversary in Miami only to be greeted by closed doors everywhere. The bars are closed. We cant go to the clubs and do any partying, said Victor Fletcher, a 28-year-old chef. Even the aquarium closed, so they had come to the casino. Now it too was closing. The state, which has no income tax, receives a large portion of its revenue from sales, hotel and other taxes paid not just by residents, but by the approximately 120 million annual visits drawn by Floridas theme parks, cruises and beaches. That number will surely plummet this year because of the closures. The Legislature just passed a $92 billion budget Thursday. Meanwhile, Florida opened its first state-run drive-thru testing facility Friday at a Broward park, where it will test health care workers and seniors with symptoms, along with those who recently were on a cruise or traveled internationally. About 400 people got tested Friday. Dozens of National Guardsman in fatigues guided cars past empty playground equipment to a tent where healthcare workers in white, protective suits took nose swabs. Officials hope they will soon have enough supplies to test different demographics, especially young healthy adults, to get a better sense of how many have the virus but arent experiencing symptoms. We just need to have a lot more people tested, DeSantis said. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover. ___ The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. ___ Spencer reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Associated Press writers Curt Anderson and Freida Frisaro in Fort Lauderdale and Brendan Farrington in Tallahassee contributed to this report. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Florida A zoo that came under fire after a lynx escaped saw a fifth of their animals die over a period of 12 months, it has been revealed. Vets were called in to investigate Borth Wild Animal Kingdom in Aberystwyth, west Wales, after the big cat broke free in 2017 before it was eventually shot dead in a caravan park. Monkeys, crocodiles and a leopard were among the animals to have died from the zoo's stock during 2018, it was found. Borth Wild Animal Kingdom in west Wales was investigated after a lynx escaped in 2017 The big cat had to be shot dead on the orders of the council after she strayed over to a populated area of the Aberystwyth community A stock list compiled by the Ceredigion council revealed that 57 of its 305 animals died - including wallabies, an emu and ibises. But the zoo say that the death rate should not raise concerns because many of the animals it took in were ageing, vulnerable or suffering from health difficulties. Owner Tracy Tweedy, who bought the zoo with her husband Dean, said: 'The numbers are not a true reflection of what it was like. Many of the animals were old and not in good health when we got them. 'That's why we got these animals in the first place. We wanted to help them.' She said a wallaby, squirrel monkey and a leopard all died because of old age and that a Burmese python died from a chronic respiratory problem. The list of dead animals also included five marginated tortoises, seven primates, five parakeets, two meerkats, one caiman crocodiles, seven African giant snails and five stick insects. The zoo had to close earlier this year because it lacked a trained gunman to prevent an escape Tracy also said a rogue keeper was to blame for many of the couple's issues, claiming he set out to sabotage their management of the zoo with the view of stealing their animals. Borth was ordered to close in January of this year because it did not have trained gunmen in case of an animal escape. It was allowed to reopen in February but has now closed again due to the coronavirus outbreak. Borth, which is owned by Dean Tweedy, pictured, and his wife, claim that death figures at the zoo are not a true reflection because many animals it took in were old and vulnerable Tracy added: 'It's going to be a hard time for us but we can't risk our staff getting ill because then we would have no one to care for the animals.' Campaigners have called for the zoo's closure after charity Freedom for Animals obtained the death figures from a Freedom of Information request. A charity spokesman said: 'Borth Wild Animal Kingdom has repeatedly failed to meet its legal requirements to keep wild animals and has put the welfare of animals and the public at risk. It's time Borth zoo was shut down permanently.' (CNN) The UK is banning people from leaving their homes apart from for a few "very limited" reasons, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Monday, as he imposed the most stringent restrictions seen in Britain in modern times. Police will break up public gatherings and fine people flouting rules, Johnson said in a remarkable televised statement on Monday evening, dramatically ramping up the country's response to the growing coronavirus pandemic. Shops, gyms, and places of worship will all close, and social events including weddings -- but not funerals -- will be postponed. "From this evening I must give the British people a very simple instruction -- you must stay at home," Johnson said. "Because the critical thing we must do is stop the disease spreading between households." "People will only be allowed to leave their home for the following very limited purposes," he added, listing four reasons for which citizens can go outside; shopping for basic necessities, doing one form of exercise a day, providing medical services, or going to work if it is absolutely vital. "That's all -- these are the only reasons you should leave your home. You should not be meeting friends. If your friends ask you to meet, you should say 'No.' You should not be meeting family members who do not live in your home." "If you don't follow the rules, the police will have the power to enforce them" by breaking up public gatherings and issuing fines, he added. The restrictions essentially send the UK into lockdown, though they do not go as far some European countries -- notably Italy and Spain -- in terms of enforcement. Johnson said the measures will be reviewed after three weeks, and people will not require paperwork to go outside. "No Prime Minister wants to enact measures like this. I know the damage that this disruption is doing and will do to people's lives, to their businesses and to their jobs." The rules come with deaths from the virus accelerating in the country. A further 54 deaths were announced in the past 24 hours, bringing the nation's total to 335. Earlier in an unprecedented day in the UK, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab urged all Britons who are on holiday abroad to change their plans and come home while it is still possible. "If you are on holiday abroad the time to come home is now while you still can," Raab said. "Around the world, more airlines are suspending flights and more airports are closing, some without any notice." Johnson said the measures were necessary to keep the UK's health care system, the NHS, from collapsing under pressure. "Without a huge national effort to halt the growth of this virus, there will come a moment when no health service in the world could possibly cope; because there won't be enough ventilators, enough intensive care beds, enough doctors and nurses," he said. "To put it simply, if too many people become seriously unwell at one time, the NHS will be unable to handle it -- meaning more people are likely to die, not just from coronavirus but from other illnesses as well." CRUMB (1995) Stream on the Criterion Channel. Before directing films like Ghost World (2001) and Bad Santa (2003), Terry Zwigoff made two documentaries. The first, Louie Bluie (1985), was about Howard (Louie Bluie) Armstrong, a country blues musician, visual artist and gifted storyteller. Zwigoff continued his investigation of eccentric American creators with this portrait of the underground cartoonist Robert Crumb. The documentary surveys Crumbs career and highlights his most notable creations, including the comic Keep on Truckin and the character Fritz the Cat. But it also includes material about his wife, Aline Kominsky-Crumb, herself an important cartoonist, and his troubled brothers Maxon and Charles. All three, plus Crumbs two children, contributed to the life and work of one of the countrys greatest and most debated pop artists. MISS FISHER AND THE CRYPT OF TEARS Stream on Acorn TV. This feature film is an offshoot of the Australian TV series based on Kerry Greenwoods novels about a female private detective working after World War I. Essie Davis (The Babadook, Game of Thrones) returns as Phryne Fisher in the first new installment since 2015, when the third and final season aired in Australia. Fisher travels to British-controlled territory in the Middle East to solve a mystery that revolves around priceless emeralds and ancient curses. Along the way she saves a young Bedouin girl (Izabella Yena), whose tribes history might be connected with the hexed gems. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 23) The central bank has opened a 300-billion bond buying program with the Treasury to boost funds in combatting the novel coronavirus outbreak. The Monetary Board announced on Monday that it has approved a bond repurchase deal between the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and Bureau of the Treasury. Through the agreement, BSP will buy debt papers from the Treasury, which the latter must repay within six months. "The fund generated from the said agreement shall be used to support the national governments programs to counter the impact of COVID-19," the body said in a statement. With the deal, the BSP is effectively lending cash to the national government, which it can use for immediate purchases and fund releases to soften the impact of the pandemic. READ: BSP launches 'assertive' rate cut to boost economy amid COVID-19 pandemic On Sunday, Albay Representative Joey Salceda said Congress will likely give President Rodrigo Duterte the power to realign about 275 billion of funds under the 2020 national budget through a bill granting emergency powers, which is being tackled under a special session this week. "This arrangement is the most cost-effective way for us to provide an extra lifeline to the national government to support the programs to fight this pandemic," National Treasurer Rosalia De Leon said. BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said the additional funds will provide support for people most affected by the enhanced community quarantine "for the next 60 to 90 days." Duterte's economic team has set aside a 27.1 billion fund as its initial response to the outbreak, which has so far infected 396 people and killed 33 patients. More than half of this amount was earmarked to help the tourism sector, while about 3 billion has been set aside for the purchase of more test kits as well as protective gear for health workers. The entire Luzon has been placed under a month-long shutdown, as authorities scramble to contain the disease. Other provinces and cities have followed suit as COVID-19 cases continue to climb. Hindi News Career Google Launches Website To Give Information And Updates About COVID 19, Will Also Keep Away From Rumors -19 , 2 . , , https://www.google.com/covid19/ , -19 - , , - 192 14,616 , 428 , 7 22 The ongoing coronavirus crisis leaves many who face job cuts and layoffs wondering how they're going to pay the bills. Day by day, we're hearing about more strategies that can help over time. President Donald Trump announced Friday that those who have federal student loans can suspend payments for at least the next 60 days. Interest would not keep building during this time, so it would be better than requesting a forbearance where interest will build. Borrowers should contact their lenders for more details. Federal lenders will automatically reduce all borrowers' interest rates to 0% "until further notice." And it's possible more relief could be in sight, as we go through the economic upheaval associated with fighting COVID-19. Retirement planning: Why you shouldn't check your 401(k) during the coronavirus pandemic Plan to save that stimulus check?: You might want to invest What's going to happen with my student loan? Mark Kantrowitz, publisher and vice president of research for Savingforcollege.com, said student borrowers with federal student loans could see a suspension of loan payments with no interest accruing for up to six months, under the Republican stimulus bill introduced Friday. The suspension of payments would last three months at first and then an additional three months could be added at the discretion of the Department of Education. The goal here is to avoid delinquency or default by staying in touch with your servicer. Failing to repay a student loan can have serious financial consequences for borrowers, including collection fees, wage garnishment and money being withheld from income tax refunds, Social Security, and other federal payments. Sarah Sattelmeyer, project director of The Pew Charitable Trusts project on student borrower success, noted that challenges that borrowers face when trying to contact services will only be exacerbated during the crisis. Consumer watchdogs are raising concern that servicers may be strapped, as well, as they attempt to manage a large volume of calls during the crisis. Story continues What if I can't pay my mortgage or home equity line? Homeowners who face financial stress during the crisis need to reach out for relief too. If you're under financial stress, contact your mortgage lender to see if you can qualify to make reduced payments or be granted a complete pause in payments. Mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are providing homeowners flexibility as a result of the crisis. About half of all home loans in the United States are guaranteed by Fannie and Freddie. In some cases, mortgage payments can be suspended or reduced for up to 12 months for borrowers who were affected by the coronavirus crisis. Homeowners in such forbearance plans will not incur late fees. And afterward, a servicer would be required to work with the homeowner on a permanent payment plan to help maintain or reduce monthly payment amounts as necessary, including a loan modification, according to Fannie Mae's outline of the assistance options. Keith Gumbinger, a mortgage expert and vice president at HSH.com, a mortgage information website, noted that some lenders including Bank of America are already putting such programs in place. "If you are or think that you will be experiencing difficulty in making mortgage payments due to the coronavirus, you should be proactive in contacting your mortgage servicer to get any relief process started as soon as possible," Gumbinger said. "Don't wait until you start missing payments. Lenders are likely to become very busy in the weeks and months ahead with requests for help." Bank of America said it will work on a case-by-case basis with borrowers hit by economic disruptions associated with the coronavirus crisis. If you've got a car loan, a mortgage, a credit card or a home equity loan through Bank of America, the bank is willing to talk with borrowers who request a way to defer payments. Customers who defer payments on mortgages, for example, will end up with payments added to the end of the loan. "In all of these instances, there will be no negative credit bureau reporting for up-to-date clients," the Bank of America notes. The bank isn't forgiving the loan but it is extending it out to help you stretch a limited amount of cash. Bank of America said it has paused foreclosure sales, evictions and repossessions. Consumers also can request refunds involving overdraft fees, non-sufficient funds fees, and monthly maintenance fees. And credit card customers can seek refunds on late fees. Bank of America customers who face financial hardships related to coronavirus are encouraged to visit the companys Client Resources website and contact the client services team for assistance. Greektown normally a popular hang out in Detroit stands empty due to the coronavirus pandemic Thursday, March 19, 2020. The key to the bulk of these programs is you're going to have to reach out to your lender if you're facing a layoff or reduction in pay as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. And if we know anything about any of previous emergency programs, don't expect this to be a stress-free process all the time. Follow Detroit Free Press personal finance columnist Susan Tompor on Twitter @tompor. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Mortgage relief, student loan moratorium ease COVID-19 finances We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Washington, United States Mon, March 23, 2020 05:05 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206ca3955 2 Sports US,athletes,Olympic-Games,Tokyo-2020,Tokyo-Olympics,coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus,COVID-19,pandemic,health,infection,infectious-diseases Free Almost three-quarters of the 300 US athletes who took part in a virtual town hall with US Olympic officials support delaying the 2020 Tokyo Games, USA Today reported Sunday. The poll followed calls to postpone the Olympics due to the global coronavirus pandemic by USA Swimming and USA Track & Field -- the federations set to send the most American athletes to Japan in an expected delegation of more than 600 competitors. In all, 70 percent of the athletes supported a postponement with another 23 percent saying it would depend on the consequences of such a move, according to details of the weekend poll given to the newspaper by a member of the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) Athletes Advisory Council who participated in the meeting. When asked if they supported the Tokyo Olympics going ahead as scheduled from July 24-August 9, 41 percent replied they did not back that idea with 34% percent saying the matter was complicated and more information was needed. The two-hour meeting also included athletes being asked when a decision should be made on what to do with the Tokyo Olympics, with a third saying the choice needed to come as soon as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has enough information. Almost a quarter wanted a decision no later than April 15, while 18 percent wanted an immediate decision. USOPC board chair Susanne Lyons said Friday her group will defer to the IOC as it gathers information from around the world. "At this point in time, we do not feel that it's necessary for us to insist that they make a decision," Lyons said. Nathan Adrian, a five-time US Olympic relay swim champion, says he doesn't want to compete under current conditions. "I would have real moral objections, if the situation was the same as it was today, to competing," Adrian told USA Today. US hammer thrower Gwen Berry told the newspaper she worries over the IOC's decision. "I feel the IOC is being really, really selfish in trying to push it," she said. "And there's no need to push it." Some US athletes told the newspaper about the disruption to training that safety measures to avoid spreading coronavirus have caused, including six-time US all-around men's gymnastics champion Sam Mikulak, who has struggled to find access to equipment to train upon. "I've had a plan for four years to do Olympic-level routines, and right now I'd have to drop back to my basic routines," Mikulak said. "It's really throwing a four-year preparation out the window if they keep doing this." Interjet announces temporary halt to international flights Mexico City, Mexico Faced with the global COVID-19 health crisis, Mexican airline Interjet announced that as of Tuesday, March 24, the airline will temporarily halt international flights. Interjet says they will discontinue international flights until the regulatory restrictions that have been imposed in various countries are lifted. Our company has been in close communication with airport and health authorities in Mexico and those countries where we fly, always putting health and safety first, said William Shaw, CEO of Interjet. Acting responsibly and in a timely manner, we are suspending the operation of our international routes. This measure will be subject to the regulatory restrictions that each country imposes and the demand for each flight. We will continue to fly home, connecting Mexico during this contingency, uniting families and bringing support and hope, Shaw said on behalf of the company. The airline appreciates the understanding of the passengers and informs them that as soon as conditions allow, it will resume normal operations, he added. Shaw highlighter that Interjet will continue to operate domestic flights. Internationally, Interjet services the United States, Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Cuba, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. As hospitals nationwide try to find enough masks for doctors and nurses in the battle against COVID-19, churches are helping fill in the gap. Rock Church in Virginia Beach, Va., donated a total of 4,000 N95 masks to four area hospitals last week, according to WAVY-TV: Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, Sentara Leigh Hospital, Sentara Princess Anne Hospital and Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital. The masks had been in storage to use for mission trips. We at Rock Church would like to take the opportunity to thank you for your dedication and work in providing much-needed care for our community and loved ones, the church said in a letter to the hospitals. ... We hope that this will help in some small measure, the battle that you are in against the coronavirus. Sentara Norfolk General Hospital said in a statement, This generous donation will help our teams on the front line immensely. Thank you! Meanwhile, volunteers at Macedonia Baptist Church in Holland, Mich., are using sewing machines to make homemade masks for local medical professionals, WOOD-TV reported. We want to reach out to the community in whichever way we can help them spiritually, with materials like the masks, anything, church assistant Elda Haak told the television station. The homemade masks technically dont meet N95 regulations but can be used for care of patients with COVID-19 as a last resort, the CDC says. Daniela Egelmeer, a pediatrician at Holland Pediatric Associates, said N95 masks are very scarce right now. So, were trying to keep those and give them to the people who are going to be right in contact with the sickest patients, she said. The CDC guidelines on masks have been eased due to the pandemic. There are a lot more rigid guidelines normally that are in place for protective equipment for physicians, Egelmeer said. But right now, some of those are being left aside a little bit because were in a state of emergency and were not able to make everything exactly the way it needs to be but as protective as possible. The fight against the coronavirus, she said, really starts to burden on you at a certain point. So seeing that the community is doing things for us that way and thinking of us is really helpful, she said. The CDC says homemade masks can be used in situations where facemasks are not available. Homemade masks should ideally be used in combination with a face shield that covers the entire front (that extends to the chin or below) and sides of the face, the CDC says. N95 masks filter out at least 95 percent of airborne particles. Photo courtesy: Sentara Norfolk General Hospital Facebook Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel. A female bank worker who was sacked for not behaving 'professionally' while suffering a miscarriage at work has won almost 20,000 in compensation. Santander dismissed Chi Agbaje from her job at High Street branch in in Bexleyheath, London, after she became distressed at the prospect of losing her baby and collapsed. The bank accused her of acting in a 'wholly unacceptable' and unprofessional manner during the incident and fired her for gross misconduct. Now an employment tribunal has found she was unfairly dismissed and ordered the Spanish financial giant to pay her damages. Santander dismissed Chi Agbaje from her job at its High Street branch in Bexleyheath, London, after she became distressed at the prospect of losing her baby and collapsed (stock image) Mrs Agbaje was working at the till at the Santander branch when she began experiencing severe abdominal pain, a hearing was told. The then mother of one had been undergoing IVF after experiencing fertility problems and had not told colleagues that she might be pregnant, the tribunal heard. The bank worker told her manager she was unable to carry on with her work and moved to the staff canteen area where the panel heard she was uncommunicative and in considerable distress. Mrs Agbaje had to rush to the toilet - knocking a chair as she ran - as she felt increased bleeding and pain. Her screams and cries of distress were heard in the corridors - including the banking hall where customers are served, the tribunal heard. She then collapsed on the floor after leaving the toilet during the incident on March 7 2014, the Central London Employment Tribunal was told. The then mother of one had been undergoing IVF after experiencing fertility problems and had not told colleagues that she might be pregnant The hearing was told that her manager, Jackelyn Daley, photographed and recorded a short video of Mrs Agbaje lying immobile on the floor and waited for twenty minutes before calling the emergency services. Mrs Agbaje, who works as a Customer Support Adviser, was taken to nearby Davent Valley Hospital with her husband by paramedics. She lost the baby - who was less than 12 weeks old - and did not return to work until the following October, when the bank suspended her. She was then informed she was being investigated for gross misconduct. Meanwhile Mrs Agbaje become pregnant again and took maternity leave from her job in November 2014. She was ready to return to work in March 2016 but found herself being interviewed as part of the disciplinary process. Ms Daley claimed that during the inclident Mrs Agbaje had come out of the toilets and proceeded to 'scream, shout and thrash against the wall and the Fax machine, throwing herself on the floor kicking out her legs, wailing and flailing her arms'. But the bank worker told investigators this was because she was distressed. 'I screamed and I was crying. I did not want to lose my baby. My behaviour was due to me thinking I was miscarrying'. A disciplinary hearing, chaired by Managing Director Andrew Briggs, was held in 2017 - three years after the incident - and Mrs Agbaje was dismissed for gross misconduct. He said: 'In simple terms, you had a serious outburst in branch. '[You] seemed to lose control of your emotional state and acted aggressively in front of staff and customers. [Your behaviour] was both verbally abusive and aggressive and wholly unacceptable and constitutes gross misconduct.' Mr Briggs claimed there was 'insufficient evidence' of Mrs Agbaje's actions were as a result of a miscarriage. This was despite the disciplinary officer having a London Ambulance report which confirmed bleeding and threatened miscarriage. Santander senior executive Christopher Fallis, who chaired her subsequent appeal, agreed with Mr Briggs's conclusions. He said: '[Your actions were] wholly unacceptable and regardless of whether you considered you needed medical attention, this could have been handled in a professional manner which would have avoided this incident.' The appeal was refused. But the tribunal concluded that both the investigation into the incident and the disciplinary process were botched. Judge Michael Ord criticised branch staff for being more concerned with 'balancing the tills' than ensuring their colleague was being cared for. He said: 'The Tribunal have found it difficult to understand how a woman in those circumstances can be criticised for not behaving 'professionally' when suffering a miscarriage.' The Tribunal found that Mrs Agbaje had been unfairly dismissed and ordered Santander to pay her 19,702 in compensation. A Santander spokesperson said: 'Santander accepted the Tribunal's findings of unfair dismissal in this case. We take the flaws highlighted by the Tribunal with regards our processes involved here extremely seriously. They were immediately passed on and reviewed to avoid such failings happening again.' Sanz presided over Madrid from 1995 until 2000, leading the club to two European titles, a Spanish league title and a Spanish Super Cup title. Former Real Madrid president Lorenzo Sanz passed away on Saturday from the new coronavirus, his family said. He was 76. Sanz had been in intensive care since the beginning of the week while being treated for the virus. Sanz presided over Madrid from 1995 until 2000, leading the club to two European titles, a Spanish league title and a Spanish Super Cup title. Under Sanz, Madrid ended a 32-year drought in Europe by winning its seventh European trophy in 1998. His son Lorenzo Sanz Duran wrote on twitter that his father did not deserve this end. He wrote, "He did not deserve this end in this manner. One of the best, most courageous and hard working people I have seen in my life. His family and Real Madrid were his passion." Real Madrid, in its official release, conveyed condolences to the family. "The club wishes to convey its condolences to his wife Mari Luz, his children, Lorenzo, Francisco, Fernando, Maria Luz (Malula) and Diana, as well as his family and friends. Our condolences are shared by all madridistas," read the statement. With inputs from The Associated Press Click here to follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak STAMFORD Seven of the 28 locations offering grab-and-go meals to students in Stamford have been eliminated this week. The changes were due to lack of participation, as well as an effort to consolidate certain locations, said Sharon Beadle, spokesperson for Stamford Public Schools. Were trying to reduce the number of buildings we have open, Beadle said. The locations no longer offering meals are Westhill High School, the Academy of Information Technology & Engineering, Scofield Magnet Middle School, Turn of River Middle School, and Toquam Magnet Elementary School. The Star Center, at 1170 Shippan Ave., and Building One Community, at 75 Selleck St., which both offered meals last week, have also been eliminated from the list. Currently, all of the remaining locations are open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., but starting next week, the grab-and-go program will only be provided on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Families will be able to take two breakfast meals and two lunches on Monday and Wednesday and three of each on Friday. Some of the aforementioned closures, Beadle said, are because many school locations offer nearby alternatives. For example, anyone who still wants to pick up a meal near Westhill can go to Roxbury Elementary School across the street. The AITE meals location was shut down because of the close proximity to Rippowam Middle School, which will continue to provide breakfast and lunch. The schools grab-and-go program is being provided in response to schools closing due to the rapid spread of the new coronavirus, which causes the respiratory illness COVID-19. Because of the highly contagious virus, the school system has incorporated a grab-and-go strategy for food pickup to make sure people do not congregate for long periods of time or come too close to one another. Last week, which was the first full week the meals were offered, the number of brown bags picked up increased every day, and Dawn McGinn, the food service director of Chartwells Dining Services in Stamford. She said she expected the numbers to keep rising. More Information Updated list of locations Stamford Public Schools are providing free grab-and-go meals from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the following school and community sites. Starting the week of March 30, they will only be provided on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays: Elementary Schools Davenport Ridge, 1300 Newfield Ave. Hart Magnet, 61 Adams Ave. Julia A. Stark, 398 Glenbrook Rd. K.T. Murphy, 19 Horton St. Newfield, 345 Pepper Ridge Rd Northeast, 82 Scofieldtown Rd. Rogers International School, 202 Blachley Rd. Roxbury, 751 West Hill Rd. Springdale, 1127 Hope St. Stillmeadow, 800 Stillwater Rd. Strawberry Hill, an extension of Rogers International School, 200 Strawberry Hill Ave. Westover Magnet @ 1 Elmcroft Road Middle Schools Cloonan, 11 West North St. Dolan, 51 Toms Rd. Rippowam, 381High Ridge Rd. High Schools Stamford, 55 Strawberry Hill Ave Community-Based Organizations and Programs SPS Anchor at Harbor Landing @ 68 Southfield Avenue Yerwood Center, 90 Fairfield Ave. Trailblazer (Domus), 83 Lockwood Ave. Faith Tabernacle Church, 29 Grove Street See More Collapse ignacio.laguarda@stamfordadvocate.com DECATUR Seventeen non-violent, petty offenders have been released over the last few days from the Macon County Jail as corrections staff attempt to limit the risk of contagion from the coronavirus. No cases of the virus have shown up in prisoners so far and Sheriff Tony Brown said he was being careful to strike a balance between public health concerns and public safety. Were trying not to incarcerate more people than we have to without good reason, said the sheriff. But public safety remains my No. 1 concern and were not releasing anyone judged to pose a threat to the general public. The jail population as of Sunday night stood at 262 and there has been widespread concern of the risks of coronavirus spread among large groups housed in close proximity. All over the country, sheriffs are taking a look at their jail populations and assessing risks. Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell hasnt gone as far as any prisoner releases yet but, quoted in the State Journal-Register on Sunday, he said 20 non-violent offenders had already been identified as candidates for potential early release. Sangamons inmate population was the same as Macon Countys 262 but trending down from a recent high of 330. Brown said his jail had to be as prepared as possible to face the disease and there had also been an upgrade of medical facilities. We've been doing some work and we now have three negative pressure rooms, added the sheriff. Negative pressure is a ventilation system used to control cross-contamination from one room to another. Brown also said his staff was working closely with Crossing Healthcare, the jail medical care provider, to safeguard inmates and see they are looked after when they leave. Crossing is doing a phenomenal job in making sure there is a continuum of care, Brown said. Both the sheriff and Decatur Police Chief Jim Getz emphasized that taking steps to safeguard the jails medical needs did not mean offenses and offenders meriting incarceration were going to receive a get-out-of-jail-free card. Were going to support the sheriffs department any way we can, said Getz. But if you commit crimes that rise to the level of causing dangers to society and problems for us, youre going to be arrested and held accountable. Were going to lock you up. Contact Tony Reid at (217) 421-7977. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyJReid Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Clubs/branches to cease meetings The COVID-19 situation continues to deteriorate across the globe with an undoubted upshift in cases across the Middle East, Europe and the Americas. This is a particularly fluid time with NZ Government moving into top gear to delay the onset in New Zealand and prepare for the worst-case scenario should that occur. We do not want to have the situation in Italy and other countries where the health system is overwhelmed, and the mortality rate is very high. There is little doubt what we are seeing unfold before us is a once in a generation crisis on a global scale to which we in New Zealand are, for now, at a relative distance this is highly likely to change. This virus is different to anything we would have encountered in our lifetime it is more contagious than the flu, has asymptomatic transmission and there is no human immunity to it at this time. A vaccine will be a minimum of 12 months away (likely longer of general distribution) according to health experts and we are heading into the winter period. Once the initial upswing in infections tails off, be in no doubt that a second round of infections will occur, and this will be more severe than the first and more dramatic (based on the 1917/1918 Spanish Flu pandemic). While there is no community transmission in NZ at this stage, it is inevitable that this will occur at some point which means we, as members, need to maintain a close watch on the developments and look for the trigger points which will dictate the way you conduct your club business. A large portion of our clubs are in the at risk category and as such you have a duty of care to your membership. It would be easy to overreact so we need to take our advice from Government agencies and respond in a evidence based manner. Therefore, NZART Council is recommending that all clubs and branches cease all face-to-face meetings immediately, including committee meetings. Those approaching their AGMs need to cancel or postpone those as well (aka NZART AGM). Meetings could be held on your local VHF/UHF Repeater for example. Please keep informed by visiting the Government web site https://covid19.govt.nz NZART Council It is a difficult time for everyone in Ireland but in this humorous essay, Ruth Manning, hopes to lighten the load somewhat with a personal reflection on her journey from Cork to London and back again. I cannot recall the exact moment when London stopped working for me, I just know that it did. When I left Ireland six years previous with my freshly minted degree, I did so without much thought. Scrawled on the wall above toilet dispensers across UCCs campus was the phrase Arts degrees, plz take one. When our lecturers assured us that Jobs do exist!, we werent so certain. I had two older sisters who made the journey, so it seemed natural that I would do the same, though what I would do once I arrived was less clear. After arriving in London I soon took pleasure in the artisan delights on offer at my local market: 1 Chow Mein & a free scoop of prawn crackers. I threw myself into internships, work and study and I soon came to understand how useful it was to be Irish. When viewing house shares the word banter and craic was bandied about by my future housemate, his eyes filling with anticipation of what could be. The room was big, the rent cheap. Responding casually, I asked, Any decent pubs?. While working in a fancy pub in Mayfair, whose former owner was formerly known as Madonnas husband, I came across a very special type of American tourist. They were the type of tourist whose knowledge of Ireland was largely based on the movie Brooklyn. One night a very blonde family came to eat and drink, after one too many London Ales, the blonde father asked me if my name, was, by chance, Brigid? I hesitated before pulling my shirt down to cover the pocket of my jeans where my iPhone was nesting, before responding, yes, yes it was. During a test-call, while working as a temp in an office, the editor sitting across from me clasped her hands together to resemble Holy Mary herself before announcing that she just looooved the accent; it made me sound so trustworthy and kind. What was to be a two-week stint turned into a year-long assignment. Perceptions, I thought, they really do matter. During particularly tense conversations with customers, of which there were many in that job, the phrases thats grand and thats no bother littered the conversation. On one occasion, I dropped in a God Bless to someone I now assume was an atheist - he responded with no thanks before slamming down the phone. Knowing your audience, I thought, that also matters. On another call, I spoke to an elderly Irish lady called Mary, who lived in East London and loved Big Tom. At the time there were rumours that a statue would be erected in his honour. Mary could hardly contain herself as she regaled me on the time she sneaked out of her house and hid behind a bush at a concert to try and catch a glimpse of the man himself. Some way through our chat Mary asked me about my reasons for coming to London, I explained about the study program, the internships and work. Youre curious, she said, in my day curiosity was a luxury for the few, our generation didnt have many choices. I was sympathetic and said I understood, though we both knew that wasnt true. As I said, Im not certain when London stopped working for me, though I do remember being in Oxford Circus early one morning and things didnt seem right. I was temping, again, for an investment firm. The days were long, the office quiet, but it paid well. One morning, like any other, I came out of the station and walked towards Regent Street. The sidewalks were quiet except for an unremarkable young executive, who was suited and booted and holding a small coffee. He held a look on his face, one I still struggle to describe but if I could use a word, I might say he seemed detached. Though I cant be sure, I think this was the point that my affair with London began to unravel. I wanted to create more purpose. Community I thought, that was the answer. Some months later I moved to Cork and at first, took delight in making eye contact with strangers and saying thank you and have a nice day to the often bemused bus drivers. After some months feelings of restlessness began to set in. If I had a car, a cat, or even a waffle maker then life would be better. If there were more museums, more markets, less conformity, then Id be happier. I started recalling my conversation with Mary and her love of Big Tom and thought ... too many choices. That was my problem. Ruth is an essayist and is producing a new podcast called Ireland Unedited due for release later this year. Ruth's submission is part of a digital initiative on irishexaminer.com called Personal Insights.As part of the Personal Insights initiative we are asking readers, creative writing groups and writing enthusiasts in general to share personal essays chronicling an experience which has impacted their lives and any learnings from that life experience they would like to share with a wider audience.The essays should be sent directly to the executive editor for news and digital, Dolan OHagan, at dolan.ohagan@examiner.ie for consideration.Please note all submissions should be given the subject line Personal Insights submission to ensure they are picked up and should include any related imagery and a contact telephone number.Only submissions which meet the Irish Examiners own strict journalistic, ethical and legal guidelines will be considered for publication.The Irish Examiner reserves the right to edit submissions in line with those guidelines and before publication direct contact will be made with the person who has submitted the content.No payment will be made for submissions and our decision as regards publication is final.Our goal is to publish one submission per week and use all our powers to make sure it is seen by as wide an audience as possible.We look forward to reading your stories. GO Topeka announced the creation of the HOST Relief Program to provide up to $2 million in economic stimulus for businesses and workers affected by COVID-19. We hope that this fund will serve dual purposes of injecting needed cash into our small business community, while at the same time providing economic support to dislocated workers impacted by COVID-19, says Molly Howey, president of GO Topeka. GO Topeka announced the creation of the HOST Relief Program to provide up to $2 million in economic stimulus for businesses and workers affected by COVID-19. HOST, which stands for Helping Others Support Topeka, is a small business emergency resource fund developed by private sector leaders designed to provide immediate aid. With the HOST Relief Program, were trying to inject some needed capital back into local companies to get them through this difficult time. We hope this program also provides some aid to workers displaced by COVID-19, says Scott Hunsicker, owner and president, Kansas Financial Resources. In a lot of other communities, there are people calling up local agencies, like the Chamber of Commerce, asking, What can you do for me? In Topeka, were asking, How can we help? This is what sets Topeka apart from so many other communities its altruistic spirit. Over $300,000 in donations has been raised since March 21 from the private sector, with the intent of purchasing products or services from Shawnee County businesses. These resources, which can take the form of gift cards, vouchers or direct product purchases, will be quickly distributed to those workers displaced, temporarily or permanently, as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. Additional corporations and individuals are encouraged to support the HOST Relief Program and can sign up online. On Saturday morning, I received a call from a local business owner. He had an idea to pledge private-sector support to augment our public efforts to help small businesses and displaced workers. The outcome of this philanthropic pursuit was more than I could imagine, said Matt Pivarnik, CEO of GO Topeka. Scott Hunsicker and his colleagues are heroes in my eyes and their heart for community is inspiring. GO Topeka will complement this effort with a pledge to match up to $1 million dollars donated for this initiative, pending approval by the Joint Economic Development Organization (JEDO) on Wednesday, April 1. The public dollars will be distributed in the form of new small business grants to provide more sustainable support to businesses. GO Topeka stands by its local businesses during this trying time, says Molly Howey, president of GO Topeka. We hope that this fund will serve dual purposes of injecting needed cash into our small business community, while at the same time providing economic support to dislocated workers impacted by COVID-19. HOST was created to show the small businesses in Topeka and Shawnee County that they hold a special place in the heart of the community, says Glenda Washington, senior vice president of Women & Minority Owned Small Business Development, a program of GO Topeka. When your back is up against the wall, well be there to help you fight the good fight. Because, we are one. The HOST Relief Program will take two forms: private sector dollars which will provide immediate relief to small businesses through purchases, and public sector dollars which will be designated for direct support to Shawnee County businesses through additional grants. An emergency session of JEDO has been scheduled for Wednesday, April 1, to formally approve the release of funds. More details on the HOST Relief Program, including how donors, small businesses and individuals can participate, can be found at http://SupportTopeka.com/HOST. Participation requests will be evaluated by the private sector committee. About Greater Topeka The Greater Topeka area in Shawnee County represents a community of 178,915 people, located in the Greater Kansas City region. As the state capital of Kansas, Topeka is home to a dynamic employer base with headquartered companies including Hills Pet Nutrition, Advisors Excel, Security Benefit, Capitol Federal and Evergy. Topeka is proud to be a part of the #KCHeartland. About GO Topeka GO Topeka creates opportunities for economic growth that provide a thriving business climate and fulfilling lifestyle for Topeka and Shawnee County. GO Topeka operates under the Greater Topeka Partnership, the leading economic development agency in the region. https://www.gotopeka.com/ Russia has communicated an offer of selling three old Kilo-class hulls for the Indian Navy to tide over its shortfall of conventional submarines. The $1.8 billion three plus three arrangement bundles refits of three of Indias Kilo-class submarines with an additional three old Russian navy Kilo-class hulls. The offer was to have been raised at the annual meeting of the Indo-Russian Inter-Governmental Technical Commission (IRIGTC) to be held in Goa this month but is postponed due to Covid-19 travel restrictions. Russia's proposal seems to have found favour with the Indian Navys submarine arm. (File photo of Navys Scorpene submarine INS Kalvari: Reuters) Both countries are in talks to buy 21 mothballed MiG-29 fighter aircraft to plug the IAFs declining force levels. The Russian submarine offer follows a similar outline. The Indian Navy has 14 submarines against a projected requirement of 24 units. 12 of those submarines are at least 30 years old approaching the end of their lives. Four have been given second refits life extensions that have slapped a decade onto their hulls. Three Kilos are slated to go in for medium refits either in a Russian or an Indian shipyard. If accepted, the proposal could see the Navy get six refurbished Kilo-class submarines in one year intervals from the third year onwards. The proposal seems to have found favour in the Indian navys submarine arm which doesnt see any large force accretions after four French-designed Scorpene-class submarines are delivered by Mazagon Docks Ltd by 2023. The Project 75 India proposal to build 6 advanced conventional submarines wont deliver units until the 2030s. The Kilo class is the most numerous submarine class operated by the Navy. Its fleet of ten units is now eightone was lost in an accident in 2013 and another gifted to Myanmar last year. The Russian Navy has three Kilo-class hulls lying in Murmansk and in the Black Sea Fleet which, at 30 years, are roughly the same vintage as the Indian Navy Kilos. Additional units of the type will not necessitate changes in the training, spares and other infrastructure. (Courtesy of Mail Today) Also read: DailyO's Good Books: 'Operation X: The Untold Story of India's Covert Naval War in East Pakistan 1971' An International Red Cross member gives hand sanitiser to a resident as they provide health-care prevention advice to try contain the COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak, in the Protea informal settlement in Soweto, on March 23, 2020. (Luca Sola/AFP via Getty Images) South Africa Sees CCP Virus Cases Jump to Highest in Africa South Africas confirmed CCP virus cases jumped to 402 on Monday, an increase of 128 from the day before. South Africa, which had reported an increase of 34 on Sunday, has the highest number of cases in Africa. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mishandling allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. Department of Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said, in confirming the new cases, it is notable that the Northern Cape confirmed its first cases. South African Health Minister Dr. Zweli Mkhize confirms the first case of Coronavirus in South Africa at Parliament in Cape Town, South Africa on March 5, 2020. (Sumaya Hisham/Reuters) Most of the cases are in Gauteng Province, while Western Cape has reported 100 cases and KwaZulu-Natal has recorded 60 cases. Of the patients whose ages are known, 69 are between 31 and 40, 63 are between 51 and 60, and 52 are between 21 and 30. The government hasnt released the hospitalization rate, or the percentage of patients who require hospital care. The rate differs from country to country but has typically been between 15 and 20 percent. South African President MC Ramaphosa was slated to address his nation later Monday on measures to be undertaken to mitigate the impact of COVID-19, Mkhize said. A woman wears a mask and gloves as a measure to combat the spread of the CCP virus at a restaurant in Cape Town, South Africa, on March 20, 2020. (Sumaya Hisham/Reuters) The new illness mostly affects the elderly and people with other health conditions, but can also cause severe symptoms, even death, in other groups. Wuhan, China saw the first cases in the world last year before the virus spread to other countries. The worldwide death toll is 15,374 as of Monday, though the Chinese Communist Partys case and death count are manipulated, and a number of experts believe the same of figures from Iran. Most African countries have reported cases but none have confirmed as many as South Africa. Egypt has 14 deaths out of 327 confirmed cases, though 56 patients have recovered, according to statistics compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Algeria has 17 deaths out of 201 confirmed cases, with 65 having recovered. Out of 134 cases in Morocco, four have died and three have recovered. No other African country has over 67 confirmed cases. Two patients have recovered in South Africa. The African National Congress (ANC) government received early warnings that the loss of tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of South African lives to the coronavirus pandemic was inevitable, if it did not act quickly and decisively. According to a report by News24, President Cyril Ramaphosa and his cabinet were presented with these projections by the South African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis (Sacema) at Stellenbosch University, working with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) sometime before he declared a state of national disaster on March 15. The projections, which took into account a slow or nonexistent response by the government, only considered an infection rate of between 10 to 40 percent of the population and not the 60 percent to 70 percent Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced as likely to be experienced. According to the report, at a 10 percent infection rate at least 87,900 people would die, at 20 percent this rises to 176,000. At 40 percent, a staggering 1 million people would be infected, with 361,000 losing their lives to COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus which is now infecting people on six continents. Although it remains unclear exactly when the ANC government received these projections, it is likely that they were presented to Ramaphosa and his cabinet during the very early stages of the spread of the virusas most of the projections were based on the rudimentary and inadequate data coming out of Wuhan at the onset of the outbreak. Asked to make a statement on the projections made by her institution the head of Sacema, Professor Juliet Pulliam, declined to comment, but did say, I find the increase in case numbers [in South Africa] worrying but it is not unexpected based on what has been seen elsewhere. The ANC governments response to the pandemic has been exactly what the study warned againstslow and virtually nonexistent. Healthcare and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) workers in three different provinces are already reporting being told to reuse protective masks, as supplies dwindle. Nurses, doctors and first responders in the Western Cape, Mpumalanga and the North West warn that if they are forced to reuse masks they will be at a heightened risk of contracting the virus. Many more health care workers, who chose to remain anonymous, had similar concerns. In Mpumalanga EMS workers voiced their concerns to the South African Emergency Personnels Union, reporting that not only did they have to reuse masks but in many cases, they simply did not have any protective gear at all. The union has so far done nothing and is instead focusing all its energy on talks with the ANC government, exploiting the crisis to ram through a deal which would no doubt be a sell-out of health care and EMS workers. The fear and anxiety felt by many health care workers is captured by emails exchanged between medical students at Tygerberg hospital, a specialist hospital that is likely to see the most critical patients once there is a surge in cases in the country. We are in crisis, read one email according to News24. The hospital staff exposed to COVID-19 patients will soon run out of N95 masks. The email continued saying, Can I please ask all 2nd [year] students to bring their unused masks. Anthony Reed, senior lecturer at the University of Cape Towns department of anesthesia and perioperative medicine, added, It is not just about masks Everything has to be disposable in this situationso its the hat, its the masks, you need to have some kind of visor because [the virus] can pass through any of the [tissue lining the eyes, nose and mouth]. Reed explained that all such protective gear must be disposed of each time a health care worker meets a new patient, estimating that each worker goes through at least 14 to 28 sets a day. We just dont have those kinds of numbers around, Reed concludes. Nobody, no country has them, its an international problem now that were going to need much more of them than weve ever had. Figures like this expose not only the bankruptcy of the South Africa bourgeoisie but the entire world capitalist system. Having spent decades making severe cuts to social spending this process accelerated after the 2008 financial crash. Essential services have seen their budgets slashed to the bone, while billions have been handed to the banks and corporations. Add to this neglecting to prepare for the outbreak of new pandemic, predicted many years in advance and what could have been a contained outbreak has now encompassed the entire globe, threatening to take the lives of millions. The criminal negligence and indifference of the South African ruling elite to the unfolding disaster is summed up in comments Ramaphosa made on Human Rights Day, stating, If this coronavirus is to leave any positive legacy, let it be that it brought all of us closer together not just for survival in this moment but for our future together as a nation that is destined to overcome this challenge. What the real legacy of this crisis will be is to expose South Africa as a country beset by social inequality, with a ruling elite sitting on top of insurmountable and explosive class tensions. Of a population of 60 million, 10 billionaires collectively control more than US$30 billion. The top 1 percent of the population owns 70 percent of the wealth, while the bottom 60 percent own only 7 percent. Most households make no more than US$90 per month. A coronavirus test costs US$80. These staggering levels of inequality means that the measures to stop the spread of the virus which are taken in more advanced countries cannot be implemented in South Africa. Health Minister Zweli Mkhize told Sky News that because of the conditions in many townships across the country it would be impossible to replicate strategies to contain the virus seen in other countries, like mass lock downs. Mandisa Madikane, a young woman who resides in a township called Kliptown and who is living with HIV, spoke to Sky News from a home she shares with seven members of her family. Capturing the anxiety that many in the townships and those living with HIV feel, she said, This is a major virus, it has taken over the world, taking peoples lives. Am I safe or not? It is like a virus on top of another virus. I love myself ... I need to take care of myself. Commenting on the impossibility of social distancing in these conditions she continued, [M]e and my son, we share the same bed, in the same room. You know I am afraid of the outcome. The same holds true throughout the African continent. In the west African state of Burkina Faso, Boureima Baguian, a bicycle seller, told France24, Its worrying what is happening with this virus, but we cannot barricade ourselves like developed countries. We lack everything herewe live day to day. He continued saying, We cannot, for example, close the big market. If that happens, its not the coronavirus that will kill us but misery and hunger. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More The Indian government has asked all state-owned lenders to extend emergency credit lines to corporate borrowers, three government and banking sources said, as it rushes to tackle the fallout from the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak that has grounded business across the globe. Banks have been asked to make available an additional 10 percent in funds over and above sanctioned working capital loans, but not exceeding 2 billion rupees ($26.33 million) per loan account as part of the emergency measures, a senior government official, who did not want to be named, said. India's largest lender, State Bank of India (SBI), has already rolled out this emergency credit line and the other state-owned lenders are also expected to follow suit shortly, industry officials said. None of the sources wanted to be named as the plan is not yet public. The Finance Ministry and SBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ghina Ghaliya and Arya Dipa (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta and Bandung Mon, March 23, 2020 18:28 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206cea68b 1 Politics 2020-regional-elections,KPU,West-Java,South-Sulawesi,Central-Java Free Several regions have postponed the preliminary stages of the 2020 regional elections because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The General Elections Commission (KPU) issued a decree on the postponement on Sunday but has not changed the date on which the elections will take place, which is Sept. 23. According to the letter, four stages of this years regional elections can be postponed to May, namely the inauguration of voting committee (PPS) members, the verification process for independent candidates, as well as updates on voter data and the voter list. The KPU will continue to monitor the developments of COVID-19 in Indonesia and make any changes to the election schedule accordingly. Five out of eight regions in West Java have decided to postpone the preliminary stages: Depok city, Sukabumi regency, Bandung regency, Karawang regency and Indramayu regency. Meanwhile, Cianjur, Tasikmalaya and Pangandaran regencies will go ahead with the inauguration of voting committee members as they do not have any confirmed COVID-19 case so far. They will also start verifying independent candidates on Wednesday as scheduled. However, they are required to postpone the remaining stages. "They have been pushed back to May 29. We will continue after the central KPU decides on a new schedule in around June," said West Java KPU chairman Rifqi Alimubarok. KPU Surakarta in Central Java has also decided to postpone the early stages of the 2020 regional elections to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. KPU Surakarta chair Nurul Sutarti said the decision was made after several meetings with the Central Java KPU and Surakarta Mayor FX Hadi Rudy Rudyatmo. Nurul said the new dates would be decided by the provincial and central KPU. We have 162 voting committee members that are supposed to be inaugurated on March 22, but we have to postpone that at least for the next 14 days," Nurul said on Monday as quoted by Antara. In the meantime, KPU Gowa regency in South Sulawesi has also decided to postpone the stages prior to the elections, tribunnews.com reported on Sunday. KPU Gowa chair Muhtar Muis said the delay would be carried out until further notice. West Java has confirmed 59 positive cases of COVID-19, while the death toll has reached nine as of Sunday. Meanwhile, Central Java has 15 cases with three deaths and South Sulawesi has two cases with no fatalities. A quantum internet could be used to send unhackable messages, improve the accuracy of GPS, and enable cloud-based quantum computing. For more than twenty years, dreams of creating such a quantum network have remained out of reach in large part because of the difficulty to send quantum signals across large distances without loss. Now, Harvard and MIT researchers have found a way to correct for signal loss with a prototype quantum node that can catch, store and entangle bits of quantum information. The research is the missing link towards a practical quantum internet and a major step forward in the development of long-distance quantum networks. "This demonstration is a conceptual breakthrough that could extend the longest possible range of quantum networks and potentially enable many new applications in a manner that is impossible with any existing technologies," said Mikhail Lukin, the George Vasmer Leverett Professor of Physics and a co-Director of Harvard Quantum Initiative. "This is the realization of a goal that has been pursued by our quantum science and engineering community for more than two decades." The research is published in Nature. Every form of communication technology-- from the first telegraph to today's fiber optic internet -- has had to address the fact that signals degrade and are lost when transmitted over distances. The first repeaters, which receive and amplify signals to correct for this loss, were developed to amplify fading wire telegraph signals in the mid-1800s. Two hundred years later, repeaters are an integral part of our long-distance communications infrastructure. In a classical network, if Alice in New York wants to send Bob in California a message, the message travels from coast to coast in more or less a straight line. Along the way, the signal passes through repeaters, where it is read, amplified and corrected for errors. The whole process is at any point vulnerable to attacks. If Alice wants to send a quantum message, however, the process is different. Quantum networks use quantum particles of light - individual photons - to communicate quantum states of light over long distances. These networks have a trick that classical systems don't: entanglement. Entanglement -- what Einstein called "spooky action at a distance" -- allows bits of information to be perfectly correlated across any distance. Because quantum systems can't be observed without changing, Alice could use entanglement to message Bob without any fear of eavesdroppers. This notion is the foundation for applications such quantum cryptography -- security that is guaranteed by the laws of quantum physics. Quantum communication over long distances, however, is also affected by conventional photon losses, which is one of the major obstacles for realizing large-scale quantum internet. But, the same physical principle that makes quantum communication ultra-secure also makes it impossible to use existing, classical repeaters to fix information loss. How can you amplify and correct a signal if you can't read it? The solution to this seemingly impossible task involves a so-called quantum repeater. Unlike classical repeaters, which amplify a signal through an existing network, quantum repeaters create a network of entangled particles through which a message can be transmitted. In essence, a quantum repeater is a small, special-purpose quantum computer. At each stage of such a network, quantum repeaters must be able to catch and process quantum bits of quantum information to correct errors and store them long enough for the rest of the network to be ready. Until now, that has been impossible for two reasons: First, single photons are very difficult to catch. Second, quantum information is notoriously fragile, making it very challenging to process and store for long periods of time. Lukin's lab, in collaboration with Marko Loncar, the Tiantsai Lin Professor of Electrical Engineering at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), Hongkun Park, Mark Hyman Jr. Professor of Chemistry at the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS), and Dirk Englund, Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has been working to harness a system that can perform both of these tasks well -- silicon-vacancy color centers in diamonds. These centers are tiny defects in a diamond's atomic structure that can absorb and radiate light, giving rise to a diamond's brilliant colors. "Over the past several years, our labs have been working to understand and control individual silicon-vacancy color centers, particularly around how to use them as quantum memory devices for single photons," said Mihir Bhaskar, a graduate student in the Lukin group. The researchers integrated an individual color-center into a nanofabricated diamond cavity, which confines the information-bearing photons and forces them to interact with the single color-center. They then placed the device in a dilution refrigerator, which reaches temperatures close to absolute zero, and sent individual photons through fiber optic cables into the refrigerator, where they were efficiently caught and trapped by the color-center. The device can store the quantum information for milliseconds -- long enough for information to be transported over thousands of kilometers. Electrodes embedded around the cavity were used to deliver control signals to process and preserve the information stored in the memory. "This device combines the three most important elements of a quantum repeater -- a long memory, the ability to efficiently catch information off photons, and a way to process it locally," said Bart Machielse, a graduate student in the Laboratory for Nanoscale Optics. "Each of those challenges have been addressed separately but no one device has combined all three." "Currently, we are working to extend this research by deploying our quantum memories in real, urban fiber-optic links," said Ralf Riedinger, a postdoctoral candidate in the Lukin group. "We plan to create large networks of entangled quantum memories and explore the first applications of the quantum internet." "This is the first system-level demonstration, combining major advances in nanofabrication, photonics and quantum control, that shows clear quantum advantage to communicating information using quantum repeater nodes. We look forward to starting to explore new, unique applications using these techniques," said Lukin. ### The research was co-authored by Bhaskar, Riedinger, Machielse, David Levonian, Christian Nguyen, Erik Knall, Park, Englund, Loncar, Denis Sukachev, and Lukin. It was supported in part by the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research and Office of Naval Research. Subway riders wear protective masks and gloves on a sparsely populated car during morning hours due to COVID-19 concerns that are driving down ridership in New York. AP Photo Washington: The US has seen a significant spike in coronavirus cases with the total confirmed infections jumping to nearly 34,000 while over 400 fatalities were recorded, even as one in every three Americans has been told to stay home. According to Worldometer, a website which compiles new cases of COVID-19, till Sunday evening at least 33,546 Americans, including Republican Senator from Kentucky Rand Paul, were confirmed infected with coronavirus while the death toll increased to 419. Paul was the first Senator to have tested positive for coronavirus and he has gone into quarantine. Meanwhile, at a news conference in the White House, President Donald Trump identified New York, California and Washington as the three major coronavirus hot spots. New York tops the list with more than 15,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, with 5,418 new cases added in the 24 hours alone. As many as 114 people in New York have died of which 58 were reported in a day. Painting a grim picture, Mayor Bill de Blasio said New York is headed towards a major shortage of essential medical supply in next 10 days. TRENTON, N.J., March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- With the COVID-19 crisis continuing to escalate across the state and nation, thousands of New Jersey's social workers are continuing to support our communities through this global epidemic. The state's leading organization for social workers is providing free online resources for its members and the community at large. "Social workers provide over 3/4ths of the mental health services in our community," said Jennifer Thompson, executive director of the National Association of Social Workers - New Jersey Chapter (NASW-NJ). "Social distancing does not mean social isolation, and as a community of social workers, we are committed to providing resources, tools and support to our neighbors, friends, colleagues and communities during this crisis." NASW-NJ represents over 23,000 licensed social workers in New Jersey. The organization has created free community resources that include a growing database of "fireside chats" with Licensed Clinical Social Workers on topics that include "Parents, Kids and Mental Health During COVID-19" and "The Practice of Mattering In the Time of Social Distancing." "We are uniquely poised to support our community, virtually," Thompson added. "Technology in our field has been a focus for several years and now we are able to respond to the need quickly, efficiently and really help others through this time, in the way only social workers can." Community members can go to www.naswnj.org and click on "community resources" to find information, videos and a growing database of resources as well as information on how to connect to a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. "The impetus of the community resources is to give everyone who has been thrust into this new reality a safe space to land, to ask questions," Thompson said. "I received questions this week as I embarked on now managing an organization remotely and homeschooling my child, while also having a spouse work from home. I am not alone. For many people, work, going out is their only interactionthat's their circle. They need support and resources too." About NASW-NJ: The National Association of Social Workers - New Jersey Chapter represents over 23,000 licensed social workers across the state and has nearly 7,000 members making it the second largest state chapter in the nation. The association works to strengthen the social work profession and communities they serve through professional development, advocacy and social justice initiatives. SOURCE National Association of Social Workers - New Jersey Chapter Related Links https://naswnj.socialworkers.org If a 25-year-old takes full advantage of the federal government's offer of early access to their super funds, they could lose between $58,000 and $84,800 in retirement savings by the time they reach retirement age, according to modelling by the sector. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Sunday that some people who lose their job or more than 20 per cent of their income as a result of the coronavirus pandemic would be allowed to pull money from their superannuation savings, with withdrawals capped at $10,000 this financial year and a further $10,000 from July. However, industry bodies and fund managers unanimously said that drawing down on superannuation should only be considered as a last resort. "We're not making a $10,000 decision here. We're making a decision that impacts on our retirement to thousands of dollars," Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees chief executive Eva Scheerlinck said, adding that young people and women were most at risk of locking in losses. Coronavirus: Italian government overwhelmed by response to its appeal for doctors. The Italian government has been left astounded by the response to its "extraordinary appeal" to create a task force of 300 doctors to help its embattled hospitals cope with the Coronavirus in the north of the country, reports Italian newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano. A staggering 7,923 doctors answered the call, a response hailed as "an act of love and pride for our country" by Italy's minister for regional affairs Francesco Boccia, with Italian premier Giuseppe Conte describing the doctors as "heroes in white coats." The government's appeal was a response to the "cry of alarm" launched by the hospitals in Italy's regions and provinces most affected by the Coronavirus pandemic, "where doctors, nurses and volunteers are working tirelessly in difficult conditions to assist the sick", said Conte. The prime minister described the surge of interest by doctors as "a strong sign of solidarity and a spirit of service which once again testifies to the extraordinary courage of the national community." "In such a difficult moment, this is yet another generous response that all of us Italians can be proud of." A total of 19 doctors have died in the Coronavirus emergency, reports Italian news agency ANSA. The president of the Council on Foreign Relations, Richard Haas, has been busy writing elegies to the Western world order every time Trump sneezes. Now he sees what will follow that order. This week he tweeted, US standing taking a hit b/c of how badly we are handling #coronavirus at home & how little were doing for others. China, despite its being where the virus began & its dropping the ball at first, gaining influence b/c it is meeting the challenge at home & offering help to others. A number of suddenly soft-headed analysts are saying the same that China is increasing its soft power in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. This is dangerous nonsense. Much of it is motivated by a hatred of Donald Trump that extends beyond the legitimate criticisms of how he handled the virus. It rests on grading China on a curve, on admiring the bully and harasser for his occasional moments of charm or remorse. China has been praised for sending planeloads of ventilators to assist Italy when the European Union was blocking medical supplies and ignoring pleas from that country. It is true that ventilators came, but Italys hospitals paid for them. China has pretended that fulfilling purchase orders is an act of unprecedented national solidarity. The United States, meanwhile, does real acts of charity without fanfare. As early as the first week of February, the U.S. committed to giving money to countries affected by COVID-19, including China, and sending 17.8 tons of medical supplies to China. We should see Chinas international efforts not as enhancing its credibility and prestige but as a desperate bid to salvage an international reputation from utter ruin. China has been a persistently bad actor in the public-health arena, before and during the initial outbreak. They are also transparent opportunists. China made its first mistake more than a decade ago. After the outbreak of SARS in 2003, China initially promised to close down its wet markets, where exotic animals are slaughtered for human consumption. Chinese consumers eat bats and pangolins for superstitious fad-health reasons. But these markets are a vector for transmitting diseases from bats and other animals to humans. Just one year after a SARS outbreak that panicked East Asia, China reopened these markets despite many warnings from scientists and health authorities that they were a public-health menace to the entire world. Story continues Speaking of those authorities, this crisis has revealed how China has suborned and corrupted the World Health Organization, which, for political reasons, ignored credible warnings about the new coronavirus from doctors in Taiwan and instead credulously repeated statistics from authorities in Beijing, the ones downplaying the extent of the crisis. The World Health Organization delayed calling the virus a health emergency and then criticized U.S. travel restrictions placed on China, without reference to public-health reasoning, only to vague ideology. The WHO was trying to save China its embarrassment. And still, China wouldnt cooperate transparently with the WHO. China silenced whistleblowers who tried to warn the world of the emerging disease. It censored news reports until it finally relented and threw tremendous resources at fighting the disease in Wuhan. But experienced and skeptical observers of China are throwing a great deal of cold water on Chinas announcements that it has defeated the virus and that work is about to commence again, suggesting that the reported numbers about Wuhans infection and death toll could be seriously understated. Now, during the crisis, China is acting like a bully. The state has threatened to withhold key pharmaceuticals to increase the pain on Americans, saying that without them America will be plunged into the mighty sea of coronavirus. Further, China is currently setting restrictions on such American companies as 3M that manufacture medical-grade masks and other safety equipment in China, barring them from exporting these goods from China for use in America and other nations where there is a current shortage. Worst of all, China is actively spreading propaganda that COVID-19 is a bioweapon invented by the U.S. Army. Finally, China has expelled from its territory all American national reporters working for the prestige newspapers of the United States. Say what you will about the New York Times, it has had the best coverage of the coronavirus in the world. It is true that the Trump administrations 30-day travel ban on Europe gave an unwelcome surprise to European leaders. And it is true that Trump, certain Republicans, and some conservative outlets spread misinformation in the early days to minimize this crisis. Thats to their eternal discredit. But a measure of real soft power isnt made by totaling up the credulous statements of foreign-policy mandarins and China-flattering stories in the media. Look at the worldwide lurch for and interest in U.S. dollars. If the Chinese state had used its massive state capacity to run a minimally functional equivalent to the Food and Drug Administration, there would be no COVID-19 and the world economy would still be humming. If the Chinese state had been minimally honest, the world would have had several weeks longer to prepare. If it had not corrupted the international institutions responsible for world health, we would have been more prepared. And they have the gall to blame the United States military. COVID-19 is the greatest act of geopolitical arson in six decades. Every journalist and expert praising the pyromaniac for attempting to save himself, blame others, and cover his tracks has made himself contemptible. More from National Review Love Island bosses are refusing to cancel the summer series and hope to launch the show a month later in July despite coronavirus fears. Producers are still making all the usual preparations for Love Island to go ahead, including approaching potential islanders such as Scottish model Adam Rhazali, 19. A TV source exclusively told MailOnline: 'The team are still committed to the series airing this summer. The show will go on.' 'The show must go on': Love Island bosses are refusing to cancel the summer series and hope to launch the show a month later in July despite coronavirus fears 'Production on Love Island have been told the upcoming series is still scheduled to take place but the show will launch a month later in July. 'All the usual preparations are going ahead,' an insider added. It was claimed this weekend that Love Island's summer series had been 'flung into jeopardy by the coronavirus outbreak' and 'plans for the ITV2 show had been delayed until after Easter.' But Adam confirmed to MailOnline he was approached by one of the show's casting crew via his modelling agency Wilson Model Management as recently as last Tuesday. The 19-year-old, who already boasts 33K Instagram followers, is uncertain being a Love Island contestant is the right career move for him so may not pursue the opportunity. Lined up: Scottish model Adam Rhazali, 19, confirmed to MailOnline he was approached by the show last Tuesday as sources reveal bosses are working for the show to go ahead A source continued: 'Potential islanders are still being approached as it can take weeks to recruit the right cast. 'Bosses are desperate for the show to remain in the hearts of viewers after the winter series was tainted with sadness following Caroline Flack's tragic passing. 'Final decisions will be made closer to the time but for now, it's all systems go.' A spokesperson for ITV declined to comment. Last Thursday, the Prime Minister told the daily Downing Street press conference on the pandemic that the next 12 weeks could 'turn the tide of this disease.' Boris Johnson claimed it was possible to 'send coronavirus packing in this country, but only if we all take the steps we have outlined,' which gave producers further hope for the upcoming series. 'All the usual preparations are going ahead': Producers are still planning for the reality show to go ahead a month later in July amid advice from the government But strict restrictions in Majorca where the summer series of Love Island is held have been in place since last week, which include the shutdown of all hotels and tourist accommodation. All non-essential establishments such as cafes, bars, cinemas and concert halls have also been ordered to close as the Spanish island works to stop the spread of the virus. According to the Health Department there have been a reported six deaths from coronavirus in Majorca. A total number of 246 people in the Balearics have been diagnosed with Covid-19. The summer series usually starts the first week of June and is on air for a total of eight weeks. Close friends: Laura Whitmore took over presenting duties from Caroline Flack (pictured together in January 2019) weeks before the TV star tragically took her own life aged 40 It has been confirmed that Love Island will now run for a shortened six weeks after the first winter edition of the show was held for the same duration in South Africa. Winter Love Island host Laura Whitmore, 34, took over presenting duties from Caroline Flack weeks before the TV star tragically took her own life aged 40. Laura and Love Island narrator Iain Sterling, 32, were left heartbroken following Caroline's passing, with the show paying tribute to the late presenter during the final last month. Paige Turley, 22, and Finley Tapp, 20, won the winter series of the show in February while Amber Gill, 21, and Greg O'Shea, 24, earned the title last summer. MailOnline revealed this month that Maura Higgins, 29, and Curtis Pritchard, 24, split, making Molly-Mae Hague, 20, and Tommy Fury, 20, the last standing couple from the 2019 show. Green Party TD Malcolm Noonan is calling for the immediate cessation of all activities at Kilkenny Dog Track, regardless of them being held behind closed doors. Deputy Noonan said that activities at the track had nothing to do with sport and were encouraging the social interaction of dog trainers and breeders during the coronavirus pandemic. "I do not accept the contention of the organisers that these meetings are entirely behind closed doors as invariably, trainers and people associated with the race meetings are showing up for what is essentially a gambling event," said Deputy Noonan. "This is an industry that receives significant state support and is being promoted as a social activity. How can it be so if its taking place behind closed doors? "There is much focus on animal welfare in kilkenny and yet the racing of dogs purely to facilitate gambling is being allowed to continue. Activities should cease here due to the pandemic; all potential for community infection must be shut down immediately. We must flatten the curve," said Deputy Noonan. Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd (ABFRL) on Monday said it will shut all its retail stores across India till March 31, in order to ensure safety of its employees across all its establishments from the coronavirus pandemic. The company has also stopped its factory operations in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Odisha till March 31, 2020, in line with the local guidelines, Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail said in a regulatory filing. "In order to safeguard the risks to the health of our store employees & customers, as well as in line with the advisories from local, state and central government, the company has decided to shut all its retail stores until March 31, 2020," it said. The company had already moved to "work from home" policy for all its office employees. "The business of the company has been significantly affected over the last few weeks and will continue to be materially impacted due to the current crisis. The uncertainty around the situation makes it difficult to ascertain the exact impact at this point of time," the company said. The company further noted that "it will continue to assess the situation and will consider resumption of its business operations at an appropriate time". ABFRL, with revenue of Rs 8,118 crore and with a retail space of 7.5 million sq ft (as on March 31, 2019), is India's first billion-dollar pure-play fashion powerhouse. It has a network of 2,714 brand stores across 750 cities in the country. Shares of Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd were trading at Rs176.35,on BSE in the afternoon trade, down 5.62 per cent over its previous close. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Small businesses and retailers in Greater Cleveland are accustomed to challenges, from competing with big-box stores to the ups and downs of supply and demand. But local shopkeepers and business owners say Gov. Mike DeWines order closing non-essential businesses starting at midnight tonight is something different altogether, and will pose a threat to their future if it stays in effect for more than a few weeks. Cassandra Fear, owner of Fears Confections, a small chocolatier based in Lakewood, is confident that her business can survive a few weeks of temporary closure. But she has seen news reports in which scientists recommend much longer periods of isolation, and that has her worried. Everyone has conflicting reports," she says. "If its 18 months, were dead in the water. I dont have rent for 18 months; if that happens, I cant pay my bills. DeWines order is in effect until at least April 6, when it will be re-assessed. It exempts essential businesses, including grocery stores, hardware stores, takeout restaurants and pet stores. But that still leaves hundreds of small businesses being forced to shut down, including book stores, specialty boutiques, plant stores and record shops. Fears business falls into a gray area of DeWines order. She could stay open as a food business and continue with takeout or delivery services. But she closed her space on Sunday anyway. She and a small staff will work until Monday night to fulfill 60 existing online orders, then close. Were kind of a restaurant, kind of a retail establishment, but were not essential, said Fear. Its a weird area. Chocolate is not essential food, and Id rather people wait until we open back up, rather than endanger themselves adding us as another spot that they need to be outside the house for. Other business owners want to do their part, too. But with rents coming due April 1 and other bills piling up, worry about surviving with no income is a common theme. Everyone is worried about whats going on. I dont know if I can pay my rent and I sure cant afford to pay myself right now, said Candra Squire, the owner of Salty Not Sweet, a boutique located in Ohio City. Squire recently launched a line of sticker sales on Facebook that shes been shipping out for $6, to help make ends meet. She said that everything on Salty Not Sweets Instagram page is also for sale, with delivery options. Other local boutiques, like Room Service, shut down its shops a week ago in advance of DeWines announcement. Room Service co-owner Jennie Doran said she decided to close the store, which has two locations in Clevelands Ohio City neighborhood and Shaker Heights Van Aken District, for the safety of her staff and the community. Room Service has highlighted a selection of bath and beauty products on its social media and website for shipment. But the store gets most of its customers through foot traffic, and has seen a steep decrease in business. Foot traffic is not happening right now -- and it should not be happening. For safetys sake, our traffic is down. We rely on people coming to see us and theyre not coming to see us because thats whats right for the community, Doran said. Were small enough to pivot. Were passionate enough to do it well. Other retailers, including local record stores, are focusing on updating their online shops with new inventory. Blue Arrow Records, in Clevelands Waterloo neighborhood, offers items for sale on Discogs, Etsy and its own website. Sales have been slower than usual, Blue Arrow co-owner Pete Gulyas said. Browsing through the bins of a record store is not a priority at this time, Gulyas said. Music is an integral part of many peoples mental health. It helps to soothe many peoples anxieties on a never-ending basis. Hopefully, Blue Arrow Records will continue to provide that kind of service when all of this subsides. Online stores provide at least one option for businesses that are capable of operating under DeWines statement. DeWines order states that some nonessential businesses can continue, as long as employees work at their own homes. The order also clarified that nonessential businesses can continue to conduct minimum necessary activities -- things like preserving a businesss physical space, ensuring security, processing payroll and employee benefits, facilitating remote work and maintaining inventory. For Urban Planting Cleveland, maintaining inventory translates to keeping inventory alive. Elio Calabrese, the owner of the shop, will continue to care for the stores wide selection of tropical plants while the stay-at-home order is in effect. He closed the store on March 16, well ahead of DeWines order, deciding it was the best move for his customers health. Before closing, Calabrese said his shop had been receiving tons of community support. At least with what we sell, I think a lot of it has to do with plants calming people. That was a bummer -- to not be able to provide that, Calabrese said. The plant shop doesnt currently offer shipping, but will consider the option as temperatures warm up and the shipping process becomes less threatening for Urban Planting Clevelands plants. Calabrese is hopeful that small shops will experience a boom in business once the coronavirus crisis eases. The people that can find a way to weather it out, I think will come out and have a super good year, Calabrese said. Its just a matter of how long it takes to get back to that. Thats the concerning part. The waiting game applies to small bookstores in Northeast Ohio, which are forced to close due to the order. Macs Backs, a book shop in Clevelands Coventry neighborhood, will continue to offer book orders online, provided through the shops supplier. When it comes to new reads, though, many popular books set to be released this spring have had their release dates pushed back into the summer or fall, due to coronavirus. Some of those big revenue-producing books for the publishers, theyre not getting attention right now. They cant do tours or anything, said Suzanne DeGaetano, the owner of Macs Backs. People are turning to reading at home, for sure, but that wont make up for some of the publishers having to put off their big books. DeGaetano said that Macs Backs had a steady stream of customers in the past week, especially after local libraries closed. The shop had so many browsers that DeGaetano decided to close and lock the doors, only offering pickup and curbside delivery of books. Now, the business is going almost entirely online -- which will decrease Macs Backs revenue, but hopefully keep its staff paid with regular wages, DeGaetano said. Small business loans, grants and landlord negotiations are options that DeGaetano said she, and other local book shops, can pursue in the future if needed. The encouraging thing has been the communitys response to ordering online. Its a lifeline, DeGaetano said. The best thing is for the whole world to get through this. Right now were trying everything we can to hang on. While all businesses currently feel the strain of a worldwide pandemic, some small shop owners with limited staffing are grateful they dont have to lay off employees. Troy Schwartz, the owner of Waterloo-based toy store Star Pop Vintage + Modern, is also the stores sole employee. He temporarily closed the shop on March 13. I have people who are very close to me, who are immunocompromised. I hope that people take this seriously, Schwartz said. I appreciate that the governor has been attempting to move us in the right direction, but obviously we need the public and other businesses to do their best, also. Schwartz is confident that he can weather a few weeks of closure at Star Pop, but after that, he may look at listing his collectible items in an online store. Other local businesses have larger teams to look after. Cleveland Candle Company will shut down its three locations -- two in Cleveland (Ohio City and Coventry) and one in Mentor -- on Monday night. Though the company will offer online sales to boost its business through the coronavirus crisis, it depends on large gatherings in its candle-making classes for much of its revenue. A lot of our business is making candles and making memories. When people cant gather, its a little tough, said David Gin, a co-owner of the business. We saw a 65% drop off in business last week, compared to a normal week in March. Its really significant. Much of that drop off, Gin said, was due to party cancelations. Cleveland Candle Co. was even set to open a new party space in its Ohio City location, which can accommodate around 50 people. The party spaces rental schedule has been put on hold. In the meantime, Cleveland Candle Co. plans to offer specialty scents and candle pairings for order on its website. Gin is also on the lookout for small business stimulus packages, set to be released soon. As the crisis continues to escalate, many business owners -- including Fear -- plan to consider online orders and shipping opportunities if theyre able, and allowed to do so, in a safe way. For now, Fear is worried that the coronavirus crisis could change the fabric of her Lakewood community -- and she encourages consumers to purchase local goods whenever they are able. You dont see a whole lot of chains in my area. Theres been such a push over the past couple of years for small businesses, Fear said. I watch businesses come and go constantly on my street, and thats without a pandemic. I think it is going to really, really hurt the community. She continued: Be safe, and support us when you can, and if you can. When we all open back up, throw the money back into your community again, because well all need it pretty badly when this is all over. A San Antonio man was shot and killed by men in masks overnight, according to the San Antonio Police Department. Police said the man was sleeping in his truck under the overpass in the 1100 block of N. Alamo St. when two men in masks approached. The masked men pulled a gun and shot the man shortly before 3 a.m. Monday, police said. Stay up to date on the latest coronavirus news with mySA.com. EMS found the victim unresponsive, attempted to revive him, and took him to a local hospital. The victim was pronounced dead at the hospital, police said. Police responded to the scene for a reported shooting in progress. When they arrived, they found the victim with a gunshot wound. The man was unresponsive and could not tell officers what happened. Police talked to two witnesses on scene, one of whom told them he was woken up by a loud commotion and saw two men trying to open the door to the victim's truck. The witness said he yelled at the men while approaching the truck. One of the suspects pulled out a handgun and attempted to fire at the witnesses, but the gun jammed. The suspects fled the scene on foot, according to police. The witnesses said they tried to follow the men, but one fired shots and forced them to retreat. Police searched the surrounding areas but did not locate the men. The suspects are still at-large. Query: WE live in a three-bedroom semi-D, which we really like. We were planning to do some remodelling work in the future. However, after the last week at home with three primary school children because of Covid-19, I have fallen out of love with it. The place feels small and too busy. Is there anything we can do to get us through the next few months? Answer: Your position is one that many people will find themselves in right now around the country. First, I would caution that with the ever-evolving situation, no work is undertaken that would pose any kind of health or safety risk or cause you to ignore the advice given in relation to social distancing. Deep clean While cleaning surfaces and doorknobs is really important during the crisis, a deeper clean of other surfaces such as your windows, both inside and out, can give your house an instant facelift. Think about buying an 'arm extension' for your window-cleaning tools, as it will allow you to reach most surburban windows - they are available from most hardware shops or online retailers so you may not even need to leave the house to get it. Declutter We are all guilty of only tackling the big declutter when there is an important event coming up. While there is merit in Marie Kondo's 'does it bring you joy?' approach, few of us can actually persevere with it. But try to cull your clutter to some degree. I'd recommend short, sharp attacks, perhaps only during mornings only while the schools are off. By giving yourself a set time period (for example, to clear one shelf at a time in a play room or bedroom), you boost your chances of persevering. And get the children involved, allow them to make decisions about what gos and stays. Every hour does count when carrying out this exercise. Next, consider some of the following easy-to-follow steps: Step 1 - Assess your Home Try a distancing trick that architects like to use to gain a bit of objectivity about a space. Few people can be properly 'critical' of their own spaces. Take a video on a room by room basis. It might be fun for the children to do this for you. Upload it to your laptop or desktop. Set aside a day or two to think about just one room at a time, with the rest to follow in order of importance. Start with the most lived-in area - anywhere except your kitchen's cooking area. Now look very carefully at the room on the screen, preferably not while you're in it. Ask yourself, for example, is there unnecessary furniture in the room? Could it be used somewhere else? Are there any small repairs that you can carry out? If so, allocate a time slot to doing them. Step 2 - Rearrange Your Furniture Test moving your furniture into a different arrangement. Many people place items in a room and never rearrange them, no matter how many additional pieces are added over the years. In many houses, for example, there are doors that are completely unused, yet they dictate the layout of the furniture. Re-evaluate each room; just because something is there doesn't mean it's in the best place. Look at your furniture, photos, mirrors, seats, etc. and decide if they are suited to this room or would be better elsewhere or dumped. I frequently move paintings and furniture around in my own house and it's almost always worth the effort . Step 3 - Get Creative with Colour Consider painting the room, or at least an accent wall, with a complementary colour, or wallpapering it, there are many lovely botanical prints available at the moment. Some paint manufacturers such as Colourtrend (colourtrend.ie) allow you to upload your photos to test colours as well as supplying sample rooms that you can colour. This is something that you can share with the children. A word of warning: stay away from lifestyle websites at this stage as they may just overwhelm you with choice. Once you have made a selection (or narrowed it down), google the shade to find a few lifestyle images of rooms in that colour. And of course, always use a good quality paint. Be adventurous, especially if you are painting or wallpapering a small room. Don't be tempted to buy lots of sample pots and paint up swatches on your walls. It won't necessarily give you a true idea of the colour as the existing shade will, in most cases, show through. Instead, if you are dithering between one or two shades, buy a few sample sheets with the colour from the paint shop or make them yourself by painting two or three layers of the shade on to a white A4 sheet. Place them at opposite ends of the room and look at them over the course of a day. As the natural light changes during the day, so will the colour. Artificial light will make a shade look very different. If you're picking out an accent wall, try to highlight the dominant colour with cushions or accessories that you already have, can make or repurpose, or that you can buy online (or at a local outlet or shop you are permitted to access). Beware of going OTT - taking a look at the room through the camera lens will help. Remember too, this is about reawakening your love for your house, even if only for the short term. It's not about perfection. Get the family involved - it might be a fun game. If you can't paint or wallpaper a room or accent, use the time to set up a virtual library of ideas and tackle when circumstances permit. Step 4 - look at your lighting Now is a good time to assess the level and number of sources of artificial light in a room. You can change the character and mood of a room just by adjusting lighting. For living areas, two to three sources and types of light - pendants, lamps, task and recessed lights, say - are the minimum and can transform how you use the space. A few more 'task' lights of different shapes and wattage will go a long way towards making you fall for your home again. Step 5 - Rethink your art You can transform a room just by framing and hanging pictures, paintings and prints. These have most impact when grouped together in similar type frames. You can buy various sized and shaped frames online from Ikea or in hardware stores for a relatively low spend. There are many great/quirky prints for sale in Ireland such as Hapenny Design (hapennydesign.com) which when framed and grouped give you a relatively inexpensive art wall - your children will get a kick out of it. Give the group of artworks structure by aligning all of the frames at their top, or bottom, edge. Now is a perfect time to create artwork too. Get drawing yourself, print out those photos you have meant to frame for so long. Download pieces of craft from the internet. Even sheets of unusual wrapping paper can work if used large and framed nicely. Set the children a theme or limit colour palettes for more impact. As of writing, craft shops and stationary outlets are still open, even if only online. Step 6 - Let go of Perfect Just doing something rather than waiting for perfection is the thing. Now is the time to tackle the snag list of things that has been annoying you for years. Make a list of anything that needs addressing by others, group them according to the trade -electrician, plumber, etc. If it's not suitable to have it done during the isolation period, then at least it is ready to go for the months that will follow. Plan and budget for it, having a timeframe laid out often helps to lift your spirits. These are all low-budget fixes, so if you don't like the results, it's easy to change. Your house will be in better order for any future work you may undertake with the bonus of helping you to clarify what you might do. Traditional Chinese medicine is being promoted as a treatment for Covid-19 with more than 90 per cent of patients receiving traditional treatments, according to official figures. While many scientists are sceptical about its benefits, traditional medicine has official support and has been endorsed by President Xi Jinping. It has been credited with curing tens of thousands of patients during the outbreak and is also being promoted beyond Chinas borders, as an alternative medical solution and a source of national pride. One of the treatments being used is ephedra, which has been used to treat respiratory complaints since the 13th century, and a special soup in which it is mixed with poria, blackberry lily, apricot kernel and gypsum can help alleviate symptoms, according to official guidelines from the Chinese National Health Commission. The use of Chinese medicine has been supported by the national medical authorities during most recent pandemics, including the H1N1 flu outbreak in 2009 and H7N9 in 2013. Traditional Chinese medicine has proved effective in shortening the recovery time of patients with mild symptoms, and a mixture of tai chi, acupuncture and massage can help with their mental health, according to Zhang Boli, a Chinese medicine expert with the Chinese Academy of Engineering. He added that Chinese medicine mostly worked on the human immune system and could not replace invasive forms of treatment such as life support. Its pointless to argue if its better than Western medicines and such debates are driven either by ignorance or people with vested interests, he told state broadcaster CCTV last month. But Du Bin, director of the intensive care unit of the Peking Union Medical College Hospital, said it was difficult to establish the efficacy of Chinese medicine with standard experiments. Asked on Monday about the use of traditional treatments for Covid-19, Du said that standard drug tests required parallel tests with fixed doses for fixed duration was different with Chinese medicine. Story continues Even for patients who may look entirely the same in appearance at least as far as I can tell they may require different medications and different dosages every day, and that has rendered a fair comparison impossible or meaningless, he said. Chinese health authorities have published a series of figures trying to prove the efficacy of Chinese medicine. Official figures showed that more than 50,000 recovered Covid-19 patients have been prescribed Chinese medicine in their treatment. According to Hubeis provincial health commission, Chinese medicine has been used on 91.91 per cent of the patients as of mid-March. In the makeshift hospitals built temporarily to treat patients with mild symptoms, between 94 and 99 per cent of people were given Chinese medicine. Lao Lixing, former director of the school of Chinese medicine at the University of Hong Kong, acknowledged that these figures could not be taken at face value. We do not have statistics as evidence to show which of those should be credited to Chinese medicine, said Lao, now president of the Virginia University of Integrative Medicine in the US. But he added that there was no evidence that there was a downside to using it. Given the lack of statistics of such, at the very least, we have not heard of cases that have got worse after being treated with Chinese medicine, or evidence showing its conflicting with Western medical treatment. So why stop using it especially at a time when any kind of effective treatment is much needed? Lao said. Scientists are racing to develop a vaccine for Covid-19 and work out the most effective treatments, and some attempts to promote traditional medicine have backfired. Late in January, state media reported that two laboratories in Shanghai and Wuhan discovered that Shuanghuanglian liquid a popular herbal remedy used for fever and coughs that contains Japanese honeysuckle, Chinese skullcap and the shrub forsythia suspensa had the apparent effect of restraining the coronavirus that causes Covid-19. But some leading Chinese medicine experts urged caution and reminded the public that the drug had not yet been proved effective, and could carry mild side effects. A push by the government in Lancang county in Yunnan province earlier this month to force students and teachers to take a traditional remedy known as big pot soup prompted a public backlash. They were told they could not return to school unless they took the remedy, which includesindigowoad root and loquat leaves, but the ensuing public outcry forced the authorities to drop the plan and apologise. Earlier this month the World Health Organisation removed a warning not to use herbal remedies from a what not to do list on its website earlier this month a move critics highlighted as an example of the organisation bowing to pressure from the Chinese government. In a statement explaining the decision, it admitted that it had removed the advice from the Chinese-language version before doing the same in other languages. But it said it had removed the advice against taking traditional medicine after it realised that many people turn to traditional medicines to alleviate some of the milder symptoms of Covid-19. But some scientists have called for caution in using Chinese medicine. Care should be taken to not give patients drugs of unknown efficacy, which might be detrimental to critically ill patients with Covid-19, Xiao Yonghong, an epidemiologist with Zhejiang Universitys medical school, wrote in a commentary published in The Lancet early this month. Clinical trials are urgently required in this context. He listed Chinese medicine along with oseltamivir, lopinavir/ritonavir, prednisone and antibiotics as treatments that have not been proved to be effective in treating the disease. Traditional Chinese medicine supplies on sale in Guangzhou. Photo: EPA-EFE But the official support for Chinese medicine goes beyond science, with Xi last year describing it as a treasure of Chinese civilisation that will help in the rejuvenation of the great Chinese nation. Last month the president called for Covid-19 patients to be given both Chinese and Western medicine and has previously said lots of people like to have Chinese medicine because it has little side effects, its effective and relatively cheap. He also said I myself like Chinese medicine a lot, but it is not known what treatments he uses. Vice-Premier Sun Chunlan echoed these comments last year, saying it was part of Chinas cultural self confidence, a phase used by Beijing to promote national pride and the superiority of the countrys system. Beijing has also been keen to present Chinese traditional medicine as an effective treatment as Covid-19 spreads around the world. Yu Yanhong, Communist Party secretary of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, said on Monday that practitioners had been sharing their experience with other countries, including Japan, South Korea, Italy, the US, Iran and Singapore. She also said Beijing had donated traditional Chinese medicines and acupuncture equipment to a dozen countries and regions including Italy and France. We are very happy to share the Chinese experience with the international community, and are willing to let Chinese medicine play a more important role in the pandemic for people of other countries, said Li Yu, an official with the same body, said last week. But Gu Su, political scientist at Nanjing University, warned that promoting the medicine on ideological grounds could backfire, and such trends have grown more obvious in the past few years. He added: Science alone should be left to decide what treatments are better for the patients. A doctor in Zhejiang province, who was trained in Chinese medicine before specialising in Western medicine, said he was sceptical about the effectiveness of traditional treatments in treating coronavirus patients as there was little evidence to show they had more than a placebo effect. Giving every coronavirus-infected patient Chinese medicine was a national policy passed down to hospitals. The top level has made it clear that as long as the patient can orally ingest the medicine, we have to give them TCM prescriptions, the doctor, who asked for anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject, said. Even if Western medicine doctors do not agree with some judgments that the Chinese medicine doctors make, no one will speak out against the Chinese medicine doctors treatment plans and will only discuss it privately. Who would dare to oppose national policy? Purchase the China AI Report 2020 brought to you by SCMP Research and enjoy a 20% discount (original price US$400). This 60-page all new intelligence report gives you first-hand insights and analysis into the latest industry developments and intelligence about China AI. Get exclusive access to our webinars for continuous learning, and interact with China AI executives in live Q&A. Offer valid until 31 March 2020. More from South China Morning Post: This article Beijing pushes traditional Chinese medicine as coronavirus treatment despite questions over benefits first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020. A pregnant woman shopping at a Walmart in Missouri, realized she was going into labor and delivered a baby girl in the store's toilet paper aisle to cheering customers in less than an hour. The woman had been shopping last a Walmart store in Springfield when the baby came. A nurse happened to be in the store at the time and provided assistance, along with members of the Springfield Fire Department who dressed in scrubs as they tended to the mother during the delivery. The child's safe entry into the world was a welcome relief to many in the story, weary from stocking up on supplies amid concerns over the coronavirus which have gripped the nation. Jessica Hinkle, the manager of a Walmart in Springfield, Missouri, discusses how a pregnant woman realized she was going into labor and delivered a baby girl in the store's toilet paper aisle to cheering customers in less than an hour The child's safe entry into the world was a welcome relief to many in the store who were weary of the coronavirus. 'You know a feel good moment,' says the store's manager Jessica Hinkel. 'Everybody's going through so much and with a baby it's like everything comes full circle' A nurse happened to be in the store at the time and provided assistance, along with members (pictured) of the Springfield Fire Department who dressed in scrubs as they tended to the mother during the delivery 'You know a feel good moment, the store's manager, Jessica Hinkle told KY3. 'Everybody's going through so much and with a baby it's like everything comes full circle.' The mom, when she realized she was going into labor on Wednesday, warned employees at the store that her last baby came in 30 minutes. The woman's water then broke and she began to deliver her child in the toilet paper aisle. 'We were like what do we do now?' Hinkle said. 'Another lady comes around the corner and she says 'I'm a labor nurse, can I help?' and we said 'Yes, yes please.' She had gloves in her pocket. She was ready.' Hinkle said she grabbed a sheet and blocked the aisle to give the woman as much privacy as possible. 'Crowd control, [I'm] not like the best with blood so that was my job, holding the sheet and crowd control making sure that nobody invaded what privacy the poor lady still had,' Hinkle said. Springfield firefighters were called to the scene and wore scrubs as they helped deliver the child. 'They're the typical fire department that shops in our store, so they were pretty proud of themselves,' Hinkle said. Hinkle says the Springfield firefighters who responded to help deliver the baby, 'They're the typical fire department that shops in our store, so they were pretty proud of themselves.' Shoppers are pictured at the store's checkout The woman's baby girl was delvered in about 45 minutes. 'They took her out on the gurney, there were customers of course gathered [and] she kind of raised her hand, everyone clapped for her,' Hinkle said. A tweet from Springfield's Fire Chief David Pennington confirmed the mother and baby were doing well. 'During a time of panic and fear it is incredible to run a call that produces joy and brings new life into the world'. Amen, Lieutenant,' acknowledging Lieutenant Michael Kuss for leading the delivery. A tweet from Springfield's Fire Chief David Pennington confirmed the mother and baby were doing well To carry out basic essential transactions, the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) has asked banks to open only selective branches in areas that have been placed under lockdown across the country in view of the coronavirus pandemic. In a late night communique to the heads of banks, the IBA requested the state level SLBC convenor banks and lead district managers to proactively consult the state administration to chalk out a feasible Business Continuity Plan (BCP). India reported three more coronavirus deaths on Sunday, including the first casualties from Bihar and Gujarat, taking the toll to seven and the number of COVID-19 cases rose to 360, as authorities suspended all passenger trains and inter-state bus services till March 31 and more states imposed unprecedented restrictions to contain the spread of the infection. "Keeping this in view, after due deliberation, it is suggested that member banks may selectively keep their branches open at such locations after due consultation with the local state government/authorities to carry out the basic essential transactions," the IBA said. The association asked the CEO of banks to empower their regional or zonal or circle heads to take appropriate decision in the matter. "State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC) convenors should also take concurrence of the regional director of RBI for implementation of BCP prepared by them. The MD & CEOs of the SLBC convenor banks may take the lead in providing guidance to the SLBC convenor and member banks in the state for effective implementation of the contingency plan," it said. The IBA asked all banks to prepare BCP for uninterrupted availability of banking services through alternate delivery channels for the convenience of the public and expressed hope that all the member banks will rise to the occasion to collectively sail through the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier in the day, the association had asked customers to use online and mobile banking channels for making their transactions and avoid visiting bank branches as it could pose a risk to banks' front desk staff. Also read: Coronavirus in India Live updates: Take legal action against violators, Centre tells state govts Also read: Coronavirus update: What's shut, what's open in Delhi? Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar has revealed her husband has tested positive for the coronavirus and that he is currently in hospital with pneumonia after coughing up blood. The former Democratic presidential candidate said her husband John Bessler received his positive results on Monday. She said he began feeling sick when she was in Minnesota and he was in Washington, D.C and that he immediately quarantined himself. Klobuchar said her husband sought a test and chest x-ray after he began coughing up blood. Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar has revealed her husband John Bessler has tested positive for the coronavirus and that he is currently in hospital with pneumonia. They are pictured in February in New Hampshire He was checked into a Virginia hospital with 'very low oxygen levels, which really haven't improved', Klobuchar said. She said he now has pneumonia and is on oxygen but not a ventilator. Klobuchar said her doctor had advised her not to get a test. 'One of the hardest things about this disease is he's in the hospital today, he's been in there for a few days, and I can't even be by his side,' Klobuchar said. For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. Klobuchar said it took five days for Bessler to be tested, noting that such delays are a problem facing many. 'While my husband is sick and in the hospital because of his oxygen level and his pneumonia, there are so many other people who are in worse shape,' Klobuchar said. 'This is going to happen to everyone and this is why we have to take incredibly fast and immediate action on hospitals.' Klobuchar - above with Bessler and their daughter Abigail - said he began feeling sick when she was in Minnesota and he was in Washington, D.C and that he immediately quarantined himself Kentucky Senator Rand Paul announced Sunday that he had tested positive for the virus. It has since been revealed that he was tested a week ago but continued working at the Capitol because he 'felt that it was highly unlikely' he was sick It comes after it was revealed that Kentucky Senator Rand Paul was tested a week ago for coronavirus but continued working at the Capitol because he 'felt that it was highly unlikely' he was sick since had no symptoms of the illness. Paul announced Sunday that he had tested positive for the virus - becoming the first case of COVID-19 in the Senate and raising fears about further transmission of the virus among senators, including some who are in their 70's and 80's. 'Since nearly every member of the U.S. Senate travels by plane across the country multiple times per week and attends lots of large gatherings, I believed my risk factor for exposure to the virus to be similar to that of my colleagues, especially since multiple congressional staffers on the Hill had already tested positive weeks ago,' Paul said on Monday. 'For those who want to criticize me for lack of quarantine, realize that if the rules on testing had been followed to a tee, I would never have been tested and would still be walking around the halls of the Capitol.' He said current federal guidelines would not have called for him to get tested or quarantined. 'It was my extra precaution, out of concern for my damaged lung, that led me to get tested,' he said. Paul had surgery last year to remove part of a lung damaged in a 2017 assault by a neighbor who attacked him over a long-standing landscaping dispute. More than 1,300 passengers were confined to their cruise ship in the Portuguese capital Lisbon on Sunday after authorities said no one would be allowed off without stringent checks to ensure they weren't infected with coronavirus. The MSC Fantasia arrived in Lisbon from Brazil. Most of the passengers are from the EU, the UK, Brazil and Australia. Following government restrictions announced last week, only Portuguese citizens or those with residency permits will be able to disembark, following a COVID-19 test. They will then be placed in quarantine. The remaining passengers will be escorted to Lisbon airport for humanitarian repatriation flights that are expected to begin on Tuesday, Portuguese authorities said. No passengers on board have reported any symptoms. But relatives on shore were anxious to see their loved ones. Brazilian-Portuguese resident of Lisbon, Daisy Quinta, whose mother and daughter are on board, said she felt calmer after seeing them on deck. They were waiting to undergo the test before being allowed to disembark. Portugal had, as of Sunday, 1600 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus and 14 dead. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. Hyderabad: Despite the nation-wide and global alarm over the coronavirus pandemic, not everyone who has been asked by health officials to remain in home isolation and under quarantine after returning from an international trip are following the instructions. One woman, who returned from Singapore on March 13, has been missing, while a man who came from Doha, left for Andhra Pradesh without any notice, while a third has shifted his residence and is not traceable. A young woman, who arrived in Hyderabad from Dubai on March 14, violated all home quarantine guidelines prescribed by the K Chandrasekhar Rao-led government. After landing at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad, she did not go to her home in Chandanagar, and instead went to a residence in DD Colony. She did not follow self-quarantine procedures, a fact confirmed by the staff of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). Her location was finally traced by civic authorities through a phone call. Another woman, who landed in the city from Singapore on March 13, provided fake details to authorities, who now have absolutely no clue of her whereabouts. They are convinced that she had broken quarantine protocol. Meanwhile, a man who came to Hyderabad from Doha on March 15, violating all coronavirus preventive measures, fled to Tanuku in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh without intimating authorities. Even as the state government has decided to shut down entire Telangana and close borders, several of those who returned home to the state after a trip abroad appear to not only have been trying to escape quarantine but have actually managed to give authorities a slip. In Chandanagar circle of GHMC alone, out of a total of 52 international passengers, three shifted their residence without intimating authorities. The GHMC staff is yet to track about 3,000 international passengers who arrived since March 1 into the city limits. Investing in stocks comes with the risk that the share price will fall. Anyone who held Nanjing Sample Technology Company Limited (HKG:1708) over the last year knows what a loser feels like. The share price is down a hefty 70% in that time. Even if you look out three years, the returns are still disappointing, with the share price down57% in that time. The falls have accelerated recently, with the share price down 60% in the last three months. See our latest analysis for Nanjing Sample Technology To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time. Unfortunately Nanjing Sample Technology reported an EPS drop of 17% for the last year. The share price decline of 70% is actually more than the EPS drop. Unsurprisingly, given the lack of EPS growth, the market seems to be more cautious about the stock. The less favorable sentiment is reflected in its current P/E ratio of 9.04. You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image). SEHK:1708 Past and Future Earnings, March 23rd 2020 This free interactive report on Nanjing Sample Technology's earnings, revenue and cash flow is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further. What about the Total Shareholder Return (TSR)? We'd be remiss not to mention the difference between Nanjing Sample Technology's total shareholder return (TSR) and its share price return. Arguably the TSR is a more complete return calculation because it accounts for the value of dividends (as if they were reinvested), along with the hypothetical value of any discounted capital that have been offered to shareholders. Nanjing Sample Technology's TSR of was a loss of 69% for the year. That wasn't as bad as its share price return, because it has paid dividends. Story continues A Different Perspective We regret to report that Nanjing Sample Technology shareholders are down 69% for the year (even including dividends) . Unfortunately, that's worse than the broader market decline of 21%. However, it could simply be that the share price has been impacted by broader market jitters. It might be worth keeping an eye on the fundamentals, in case there's a good opportunity. Longer term investors wouldn't be so upset, since they would have made 1.2%, each year, over five years. If the fundamental data continues to indicate long term sustainable growth, the current sell-off could be an opportunity worth considering. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 4 warning signs with Nanjing Sample Technology (at least 1 which doesn't sit too well with us) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of companies that have proven they can grow earnings. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on HK exchanges. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-22 20:37:01|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close At his home in the capital Sanaa, Yemeni artist Yassin Ghaleb is turning rubbish on the streets into beautiful paintings and sculptures against the background of an ongoing civil war in his country. Ghaleb said his art aims at encouraging creativity in society and creating a beautiful environment for the world. "We would find good ideas for our children who are the creators of the future, and this means creativity from normal circumstances," Ghaleb noted. Inspired by the environment, Ghaleb draws the traditional architecture in the Old City of Sanaa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as clothes and Jambiya, a Yemeni curved dagger. By Jung Min-ho SolGent, a subsidiary of Korean genome sequencing company EDGC, will export its COVID-19 detection kits (DiaPlexQ) to Europe after signing a deal with Synlab, an international medical diagnostics provider based in Germany. SolGent told The Korea Times Monday that it has signed a purchase contract with Synlab for 30,000 tests this week after attaining CE marking, a certification that demonstrates conformity with health and safety standards for products sold in Europe. "The amount of purchase by Synlab is expected to increase next week, given the situation in Europe," a company official said. "We have been in talks with potential buyers in more than 20 countries." Since emerging in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December, the new coronavirus has spread around the world and it is getting worse. In Italy, one of the worst-hit countries, the virus has infected nearly 60,000 people and killed more than 5,400 in the past few weeks. Korea initially struggled with a surge in new cases but has appeared to keep the outbreak under control. The government has been praised for its rapid virus testing program 10,000 daily tests and keeping the information transparent. SolGent is one of four COVID-19 detection kit makers that have received approval from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for domestic emergency use. But the company says it is the only one that produces the kits with self-developed material. The popular Bray to Greystones cliff walk has been closed as concerns about recreational crowds and the spread of Covid-19 grow. Wicklow County Council this afternoon advised that the cliff walk, along with all of its council-operated playgrounds and the public toilets at Bray seafront, were now closed until further notice. "Wicklow County Council regrets taking this decision and urges the public to follow social distancing guidelines," it said. It follows the closure of car parks and facilities at Glendalough, as well as both sides of the Sally Gap this weekend, due to what Gardai called "the sheer volume of traffic in the area". Local communities have expressed fears that crowds flocking to popular parks, beaches and walking trails are making it impossible to maintain 'social distancing' - a key concept in the public health guidelines issued as Ireland battles the spread of the coronavirus, Covid-19. The HSE's tips for social distancing include recommendations to "avoid crowded places", "reduce interactions" and "keep a space of 2 metres (6.5 feet) between you and other people". Traffic Alert Laois / Offaly - The car parks at Glenbarrow, Slieve Bloom Mountains are now closed until further notice due to #SocialDistancing concerns. Gardai are currently on approach roads diverting traffic. #SocialDistancing #WashYourHands pic.twitter.com/uWIjwCgyUf An Garda Siochana (@GardaTraffic) March 22, 2020 With shuttered sports, schools and leisure options however, a pent-up demand for activity has seen peak season-style crowds congregate around popular parks and trails, making such distancing more difficult. In the midlands, car parks at Glenbarrow and the Slieve Bloom Mountains were closed this weekend with Gardai on approach roads to divert traffic, while images of crowds and concerns about high volumes of daytrippers have been shared from Ardmore, Co Waterford to Achill Island in Co Mayo. A meeting of the National Public Health Emergency Team will tomorrow decide whether to recommend restrictions on gathering in parks, playgrounds and public spaces in Ireland. Health Minister Simon Harris has warned that some public areas may be shut to visitors, and said Wicklow County Council was right to restrict car parking and food outlets in Glendalough. However, the minister has also noted the importance of exercise and the outdoors to mental health and wellbeing as Irish people come to terms with life without schools and sports. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar today said that people visiting crowded parks and public spaces at the weekend probably turned up not realising how bad they were going to be so I dont think we should be berating people about this. If [the National Public Health Emergency Team] recommends further restrictions, we will implement those further restrictions," he added. "But you know, I should say that any decision was made on further restrictions isn't going to be made because of what's trending on Twitter, or because of populism or political pressure. It will be made on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer, and his team of expert public health doctors and biologists, immunologists and that's as it should be. The United States is mulling over importing medical supplies and equipment from Vietnam for use in the prevention of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in their country, according to the Vietnamese ambassador to the North American country. Ambassador Ha Kim Ngoc made the statement on Friday as he responded to questions about the United States policy on Vietnams exports during the epidemic and bilateral cooperation in COVID-19 fighting. The response was made public by the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday. Currently, the U.S. is considering the feasibility of importing some medical supplies and equipment from Vietnam to serve the prevention of COVID-19 in the U.S., Ambassador Ngoc said in the response. The ambassador affirmed Vietnam has sufficient capacity to produce these products for both domestic use and export, contributing to the joint efforts of the international community in epidemic prevention and control. I hope this will create more opportunities for Vietnamese businesses to access and boost exports to the U.S. market, he added. In Fridays response, the diplomat also asserted that the cooperation between Vietnam and the U.S. in general and in coping with the COVID-19 pandemic specifically is currently gaining positive results. He said that the agencies and health experts of the two countries have been exchanging information and data in many forms to deal with the disease together since the end of January. The [Vietnamese] Embassy [in the U.S.] has also established a regular channel of communication with the U.S. Department of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Ngoc said. Ambassador of Vietnam to the United States Ha Kim Ngoc (left). Photo: Yen Ba / Tuoi Tre According to the Vietnames Ambassador, the United States has made positive assessments of the Vietnamese government's drastic, transparent, and effective disease prevention efforts. Recently, the U.S. government has announced a commitment of US$37 million in financing from the Emergency Reserve Fund for Contagious Infectious Diseases at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for 25 countries affected by COVID-19 or at high risk of its spread, including Vietnam, the ambassador said. The novel coronavirus, which first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019, has infected nearly 337,000 and killed more than 14,600 people globally as of Monday morning, according to Ministry of Health statistics. Over 97,500 cases have recovered worldwide. Vietnam has recorded 121 COVID-19 patients so far, with 17 having fully recovered and been discharged from the hospital by Friday. No death attributed to the disease has been reported in the Southeast Asian country to date. Meanwhile, the United States has reported 419 deaths from 33,546 COVID-19 cases. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The four members of a family in Maharashtra's Sangli district, who tested positive for the new coronavirus on Monday, had recently travelled to Saudi Arabia, an official said. Pune Divisional Commissioner Deepak Mhaisekar said the four hail from Islampur in Sangli district and belong to one family. The four people, two of them women, had recently travelled to Saudi Arabia, he said. They are among the eight new Covid-19 cases reported in Maharashtra on Monday. With this, the number of Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra has shot up to 97 by Monday evening, health officials said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Advertisement Forget concrete and brick - it's stone that's the star of the show here. These incredible images show how stone is a building material of endless opportunity, that it can be formal, elegant, playful and energising. The photographs feature in a new book, simply called Stone, by architect William Hall, which showcases a spectacular selection of structures from the past 5,000 years and highlights the beauty of this seemingly humble substance. Among the featured buildings are an incredible Roman aqueduct in France, a 12th-century church built inside a carved pit in Ethiopia and a quirky museum - and former house - surrounded by boulders in Portugal. The book also charts projects by the world's best contemporary architects, from Snhetta's angular Norwegian National Opera and Ballet building in Oslo to a stunning Indian temple designed by Delhi-based firm Spacematters. Scroll down to see a selection of images from the tome and prepare to have your world rocked... Casa do Penedo - or Boulder House - is an 'architectural monument' surrounded by four colossal boulders in the Fafe mountains in northern Portugal. It was built in 1974 initially as a holiday home, but today is a museum charting the quirky building's history The amazing ancient Spassky Cave Church in Kostomarovo in the Voronezh region of Russia. Carved into the hillside are two churches, one with enough room for a congregation of 2,000 Uchimura Kanzo Memorial Stone Church in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. It was built in 1988 by American architect Kendrick Kellog and is, according to stonechurch.jp, the perfect place for a 'mysterious, enchanting wedding ceremony' The Temple in Stone and Light is in Barmer, India, and was built in 2016 on the grounds of a power plant for its employees and the local community. It was constructed using locally sourced Jaisalmer yellow stone and designed by Delhi-based firm Spacematters The Church of Saint George in Lalibela, Ethiopia, is a 12th-century sunken, rock-hewn church that sits in a pit carved out of volcanic rock. First the main block for the building was excavated from the bed-rock, then the masons chiseled the detail in. It is still a place of pilgrimage for those in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and is a Unesco world heritage site The Bibliotheca Alexandrina is a vast library and cultural centre located in the Egyptian city of Alexandria on the Mediterranean coast. The 11-storey building opened in 2001 and harbours over 6,000 square metres of hand-carved stone The King Abdullah Financial District Grand Mosque opened in the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh, in 2017. It has been designed to resemble a desert rose and can accommodate 1,500 worshippers The Nevsehir Bus Terminal in Nevsehir, Turkey, opened in 2010 and has a huge stone wall facade, with a glass and steel structure behind it. The inspiration for the wall is said to be the towering boulders of Cappadocia Pont du Gard is a 35-arch Roman aqueduct that straddles the Gard river, around 14 miles from the city of Nimes, that dates back to the first century. It delivered around two million litres of freshwater to Nimes every day. After the fall of the Roman Empire it was used as a toll bridge. The bombastic structure, which is 165 feet high and 900 feet wide, is now one of the top five tourist attractions in France The Church of San Giovanni Battista is located in Mogno, Switzerland. It was constructed in 1996 to replace a 17th-century church that was destroyed in an avalanche in 1986. The main feature of the church is the alternating layers of white marble and dark gneiss The Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, which opened in 2008 in Oslo, was designed by architecture firm Snhetta. The angled exterior of the building is made with Italian marble and white granite, so it appears to be rising from the water Muzeum Susch in Susch, Switzerland, is an art museum inside a restored 12th-century monastery that was excavated into the side of a mountain. Inside there are exhibition spaces that are linked by grotto-like tunnels The Lanyang Museum is located in Yilan County, Taiwan, and was built using a mixture of locally sourced granite and aluminium. Author William Hall writes: 'Its jagged pyramidal form emerges from the wetland and shore, aping the cuesta rocks of Taiwans northern coast' The Sancaklar Mosque is a semi-submerged building in Buyukcekmece, Turkey. Completed in 2015, it was built using a mixture of light grey stone and reinforced concrete The lobby inside the Obiz Tower, an office building in Anyang, South Korea. To create a geometric effect, designers used both green-oriental marble and grey granite Congress is, at this writing, debating a bill that would direct nearly $2 trillion to individuals and businesses to provide emergency health care and mitigate the effects of the coronavirus-induced shutdown of much of the economy. While Congress and President Trump are still bickering over the details, official Washington is more or less unanimous on the need for the bill. A lot of wishful-thinking progressives, fresh from their own partys decisive rejection of its openly socialist wing, are telling us this means everyones a socialist now. But the truth is the opposite: America does not want a permanent do-everything, be-everywhere government; it wants firefighters. And firefighters are not socialism. The right model for understanding the proper role of government is the fire department. Why are firefighters typically among the most popular government officials? Because they show up when they are needed, they finish the job, and then they leave. There is all the difference in the world between firefighters running through my house when it is on fire and firefighters setting up permanent shop in my living room when there is no fire. There is no contradiction in Americans welcoming the firefighters when they arrive at the blaze but preferring that they leave when it is over. The essence of the progressive/socialist vision of government is that the firefighters never leave. The size and powers of your local fire department can be flexible. Fire departments started as private associations: You agreed to pay for and/or participate in fighting fires, and in return, you got on the list of houses the fire company would protect. Because fires can spread from one house to the next, that arrangement eventually gave way to a more official mission to protect every home. But even today, smaller towns tend to mostly have volunteer fire departments organized like colonial militias: Though the town pays for the trucks and equipment, there are few if any permanent employees. The volunteers show up when the siren wails. Larger cities need full-time professional firefighters, given their population density. Most people, however, still deal directly with the fire department only when their place is in flames. Story continues This is why rapidly expanding the governments role in health care in a pandemic is not the same thing as embracing Medicare for All on a permanent basis. The government does have a role in stopping the blaze from engulfing an entire neighborhood. That role requires a more permanent infrastructure in the most densely populated areas, but it still draws significantly on the volunteer capacity of our vast and creative private sector of doctors, nurses, medical-device manufacturers, and pharmaceutical companies. Mobilizing them on a national basis in time of crisis is not the same as turning them into a standing army of civil servants. The resources they can draw on now would not exist if we attained the progressive dream of draining most or all of the profit motive and local diversity out of our health-care sector. Thinking in terms of firefighting is also a useful model for understanding how the government should approach economic crises. Ordinarily, it is not the governments job to keep businesses from failing, but in some cases it can step in briefly to keep the flames from spreading. The first of the bank bailouts in 2008 went to Bear Stearns but in that case, all the government did was keep the lights on over a weekend to arrange for a solvent bank to buy Bear. Thats an eminently defensible use of government power that doesnt require a long-term imposition. Today, we are dealing with something unlike the purely economic crisis of 2008. Then, we had to deal with the concerns about government intervention that normally trouble conservatives: The more you pay people for not finding work, the less incentive they will have to get back to work, and if you bail out imprudent, risk-taking businesses, you increase the likelihood that more such risks will be taken in the future. Neither of those concerns should be front and center when we are dealing with government-ordered business shutdowns resulting from a pandemic that originated outside our borders. President Trump, whom nobody would ordinarily confuse with a political philosopher, cut neatly to the core of the question in Saturdays daily briefing: This is the first time theres ever been a case where you want people not to work. Its always you know, you want to create incentive to work. Were creating not an incentive not to work, but the fact is were asking people not to work because of we have they have to stay away from each other. Properly understood, the massive measures being discussed in Congress are not a stimulus, because they arent designed to create more economic activity. Theyre not a bailout, because theyre not designed to help businesses out of their own messes. And theyre not socialism, because theyre not designed to remove either power or profit motive from businesses once the crisis passes, or to redistribute income or wealth. They are a relief package to keep people and businesses afloat in a natural disaster until they can resume doing what they were doing before. That framework ought to govern how the relief package is shaped and our reactions to it. The goal should be to get as much money into the pockets of individuals and businesses as possible, as fast as possible, so people dont lose their homes, and businesses are able to reopen. Means testing can wait. As Oren Cass has suggested, it would be better to simply give everyone cash and then impose a tax on that cash based on 2020 income, so that it functions only as a loan for the people who come out of this doing well at the end of the year. There are likewise fair debates to be had over how best to ensure that money given to businesses is used to avoid layoffs and/or rehire workers, rather than just passed through to shareholders on the way to downsizing or shutting down entirely. Thinking in terms of firefighting is also an appropriate way to address concerns about civil liberties. America may not be the tiny-government utopia of libertarian dreams, and even in the 19th century, it was not always consistently so. But more than any other nation, we have an ingrained skepticism of institutionalized big government, a skepticism yet to be smothered by the age of entitlement programs, standing armies, and the welfare and surveillance states. And that skepticism is reflected in our national impatience. Americans have a long record of eagerly supporting wars, but also of growing frustrated and weary when they drag on for years without a decisive resolution. The same goes for internal restrictions on liberty. Even now, many Americans who are accepting of citywide and statewide lockdowns are starting to get antsy. Popular resistance to widespread quarantines is likely to grow rapidly in the coming weeks. Trumps impatience and short attention span are not assets in a leader, but they may put him in tune with the popular mood in ways that a more sober-minded chief executive wouldnt be. Americans are willing to temporarily surrender a lot of our liberty in a crisis, so long as we know we can get it back at a foreseeable time in the near future. But anyone who confuses that with a willingness to hand over our liberty permanently is in for a rude awakening. More from National Review FISHERS, Ind., March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- TelaCare, a national telehealth technology, and services company, announced today several actions aimed at combating the spread of the Novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). Specifically, TelaCare is providing a Coronavirus (COVID-19) assessment tool with direct access to infectious disease doctors through their platform. Based on a series of questions and answers consumers that are experiencing signs and symptoms of COVID-19 will be immediately directed to initiate a consultation with one of our network physicians for further evaluation via phone or video. Improving access to medical care while containing costs continues to be a crucial driver in the transformation of the healthcare industry. While controversy remains about the most effective ways to do so, one solution on which all parties agree is the importance of incorporating virtual care into any comprehensive healthcare program. "Today's actions, taken together with preventative steps, represent a call to action across the Nation," said TelaCare CEO, Larry Jones. "All Americans must immediately review the CDC's procedures to ensure we gain control of this virus. TelaCare and telemedicine companies Nationwide are experiencing a large spike in virtual care during this epidemic. We must continue working together to keep Americans safe and healthy and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our goal is everyone's safety and more members we can assist during these times, the better we all are." "Durning the recent outbreak of COVID-19, TelaCare has been responding by doing what we do best. Technology! said TelaCare CTO, Dennis Peacock. " Our development team has been working diligently over the past week and are pleased to deliver the COVID-19 Update Center and Self-assessment tool with virtual doctors integrated. " Based on a series of questions and answers consumers that are experiencing signs and symptoms of COVID-19 will be immediately directed to initiate a consultation with one of our network physicians for further evaluation via phone or video. Members are provided with key CDC resources to assist them with the next steps. Those members that do not show signs or symptoms of COVID-19 will have the most up to date information as it is available to assist them and keep them updated. Improving access to medical care while containing costs continues to be a crucial driver in the transformation of the healthcare industry. While controversy remains about the most effective ways to do so, one solution on which all parties agree is the importance of incorporating virtual care into any comprehensive healthcare program. About TelaCare TelaCare Health Solutions, LLC a Digital Healthcare Technology company has developed a proprietary, HIPAA-compliant telemedicine platform built in the AWS Cloud that allows healthcare providers to consult with patients remotely. Our advanced API technology allows third parties to integrate and offer a customized telemedicine experience to support their brand identity. Physicians can perform on-demand consultations with members anywhere via telephone and video technology. Patients get advice, recommendations and a diagnosis, which may include a prescription for common illnesses. TelaCare Health Solutions, LLC and TelaCare have registered trademarks in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks used herein are the property of their respective owners. For more information on our services, visit www.TelaCare.com. To join TelaCare and have a doctor visit now, visit www.telacare.com/signup. Media Contact: Faith Jones 800-317-0280 [email protected] SOURCE TelaCare Related Links https://www.telacare.com The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Monday created a dedicated fund to combat coronavirus pandemic and provide relief to those affected by the disease. In a full court meeting, the high court decided that the Chief Justice and all the judges of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court shall make a contribution of Rs 25,000 each, while all the district judges of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh would contribute Rs 15,000 each. It was further decided that all Sub-Judges and Civil Judges (Senior Division) and Munsiffs/Civil Judges (Junior Division) would contribute Rs 10,000 and Rs 7,500 each, respectively, an official release said. The meeting also decided that all the gazetted officers of the high court staff and subordinate courts may contribute Rs 5,000, whereas all the non-gazetted staff of the high court and subordinate courts may contribute one day's salary. "The contributions shall go a long way in tackling the rapidly-spreading contagious disease," the release said. Meanwhile, in order to prevent spread of coronavirus, the high court directed that the next date of hearing of cases listed up to March 31 would be published in the Advance Cause List, which shall be uploaded on the high court's website. "With regard to hearing of urgent matters, parties/counsel shall, after informing the opposite parties/counsel, send urgency memo through email to the concerned Registrar Judicial by 3.00 pm of the previous day of the date on which the matter is listed and upon satisfaction about the urgency, the court may hear such matter(s)," a circular issued by the court read. On the date and time fixed, the case would be heard through video conferencing. "In the event, video conferencing is not available, incase of exceptional urgency, remote hearing of the cases may be conducted using video call facility." It said the filing counter of both wings of the high court would remain closed for all ordinary matters. "The Registrar Judicial of both wings of the high court shall not accept any ordinary filing of suits, appeals, petitions, applications, till further orders," the circular said. In order to decongest the sections/rooms of the registry and on account of suspension of public transport by the government coupled with the imposition of certain other restrictions, the officials working in the registry, would be permitted to function in batches of minimal staff on rotation basis till March 31. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) This job expired on 22 May 2020. New Zealand said on Monday it will move to its highest alert level imposing self-isolation, with all-non-essential services, schools, and offices to be shut over the next 48 hours as the number of CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus cases more than double. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the decisions will place the most significant restriction on New Zealanders movements in modern history, but it was needed to save lives and slow the spread of the virus. We are all now preparing to go into self-isolation as a nation, Ardern said at a news conference, adding that tens of thousands of New Zealanders could die without these measures. People lined up outside supermarkets shortly after the announcement to stack up essentials, despite assurances from the government that there were sufficient supplies and stores will remain open. Crowds were also expected at domestic airports as New Zealanders return home before complete lockdown takes effect for the next four weeks. Police Chief Mike Bush said more officers will be seen across the country to make sure instructions are followed and order is maintained. We dont want to get to a place where we need to enforce these instructions, but we will if required, Bush told reporters. The number of CCP virus cases in New Zealand shot up to 102, more than double since Friday, as the country reported 36 new infections. New Zealand has had no deaths. Ardern said the cabinet agreed that effective immediately, the country of 5 million people would move into alert level 3 nationwide, and after 48 hours it will be at the highest level 4. New Zealand has already closed its borders to foreigners. Ardern said all bars, restaurants, cafes, gyms, cinemas, pools, museums, libraries, playgrounds and any other place where the public congregate must close their face-to-face function. She said supermarkets, doctors, pharmacies, service stations, access to essential banking services will all be available throughout New Zealand at every alert level. The move comes after neighboring Australia, which has thousands of COVID-19 cases, started lockdown measures on Monday, but has stopped short of self-isolation. Schools will be closed from Tuesday, except for children of essential workers such as our doctors, nurses, ambulance drivers, and police. Schools will close entirely from midnight Wednesday. Workplaces were asked to implement alternative ways of working. More Stimulus New Zealands stock market reacted immediately to the announcement plunging 10 percent to biggest intraday percentage drop ever. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) announced quantitative easing earlier on Monday as it decided to buy up NZ$30 billion ($17 billion) worth of government bonds to offset the impact of the CCP virus. Last week, the RBNZ slashed rates by 75 basis points and the government rolled out a NZ$12.1 billion ($12.1 billion) fiscal stimulus package to support businesses and citizens. Finance Minister Grant Robertson said further support will come soon, including removing the cap on the wage subsidy scheme, which will inject a further NZ$4 billion ($2.28 billion) into the economy over the next eleven weeks. He announced temporary support for mortgage holders, a business finance guarantee scheme and a freeze on all rent increases. We cannot guarantee to stop all job losses, but we are doing our best to cushion the blow, Robertson said. New Zealands opposition National Party said it had put on hold its campaign for a general election on Sept 19. Ardern said there was no impact on the election for now. NTD refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. By Praveen Menon Epoch Times staff contributed to this report. Tom Black, West Point, Neb. The forgotten poor I watching the presidents TV address to the nation what an example of the disconnect of Washington with the American public. It was quite apparent to me that those folks have no idea that there are many Americans who do not have computers, access to Wi-Fi, ability to Skype or have a way to feed their families without open school lunches, etc. I am hopeful that the forgotten poor remember this treatment when the elections come around. Victoria Cork, Papillion Unfair to president When I saw ABC journalist Cecilia Vega yesterday criticizing and trying to shame President Trump, I thought to myself, Lord sakes, in a major crisis like this and she still has to be a partisan hack. President Trump called it a China virus, which it is. It has been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that the virus started in Wuhan, China. So, when he states a fact as to where it started, that is not being racist or whatever else the left-wing hacks like to create in their minds. Economic havoc from the coronavirus pandemic is just getting started. As layoffs surge, millions of Americans face losing their health insurance along with their livelihoods. Under normal circumstances, you might tolerate the risk of being temporarily uninsured in between jobs. This is not the time to go without health insurance if you can avoid it. COVID-19 amplifies both your risk of needing health care and of having challenges paying for that care. You cant control whether you lose your job and your benefits because of COVID-19. You can, however, take steps to protect yourself in case you wind up without health insurance during the global pandemic. In the best of times, even highly educated consumers often have no idea where to start when it comes to navigating health insurance. There is no shame in being confused or overwhelmed. Dont panic. Take a breath. Collect yourself. And then make a plan. 1. If you have a spouse with insurance, try to get on their plan If you have a spouse or partner with employer-sponsored insurance, you may be able to join if you lose your job or your benefits due to a furlough or other cuts. For those worried they could soon lose their jobs, have your spouse or partner contact their human resources department to see if you can join their plan. You probably wont be able to get on that plan without a change in your benefit status, but get the details on how to make that change now so that youll be prepared. 2. Explore COBRA If you lose your job at any time, you may be legally entitled to buy into your employers health insurance plan for a period of time. The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, commonly known as COBRA, gives you the right to buy this coverage for as long as 18 months (longer if youre approaching Medicare eligibility), provided youre willing to pay for it. Because employees pay the full cost of health insurance premiums without any employer contribution, COBRA tends to be very expensive prohibitively so for most people. On an annual basis, the average employer-sponsored insurance premium for family coverage was more than $20,000 in 2019 and more than $7,000 for an individual. Under COBRA, the employee pays the full premium and may be charged a small administrative fee. These costs may be especially hard to bear without income. However, if you have a chronic condition or already know you will need expensive care, it may be worth it. If your company has at least 20 employees, it is likely subject to COBRA rules. In that case, they are obligated to notify you about this option if they terminate your employment. In the meantime, you can proactively check with your human resources representatives to see if it is an option for you, and if so, what it would cost. If you are furloughed, you may eligible for COBRA if you lose eligibility for the group health insurance plan. Your company will have to issue you COBRA documents in that case; make sure to get those so you can qualify. 2. Check out the health insurance marketplace The Affordable Care Act (ACA) created health insurance marketplaces operated either by the states, the federal government, or as a state-federal partnership. Everyone has access to one of these marketplaces where individuals can compare an assortment of plans with varying costs and coverage levels. Even the most basic marketplace plans offer comprehensive benefits and consumer protections. Though buyer beware: The lower the monthly premium, the higher the deductible and other cost-sharing components are likely to be. Typically, these marketplaces are only open during specific open enrollment periods, but a few states have opened up enrollment now to help uninsured residents get covered during this crisis. Other states may follow. Even if your state does not offer a special enrollment period, you may still be able to sign up. Life events like a marriage, a move, or a job loss or change are typically deemed qualifying events, during which you can enroll outside of the open enrollment window. Losing your job or your benefits, including from a furlough that results in losing eligibility for the group insurance plan, is just the sort of life event for which these exceptions are designed. But dont delay. Marketplace insurance usually takes effect on the first day of the following month or the one after that, depending on when you apply. Depending on your financial situation, you may qualify for free or subsidized insurance. Even if its just for a transitional period, these programs provide comprehensive coverage, often at reduced cost. Visit healthcare.gov or your states health insurance marketplace to learn more about your specific situation. 3. Consider applying for Medicaid Medicaid is the publicly funded health insurance program designed to cover the most vulnerable and low-income people. It operates as a federal-state partnership, with certain rules set at the federal level and specific administration handled at the state level. As result, eligibility rules vary depending on where you live, how many people live in your household, what your income is, and whether you have any special conditions. Under the ACA, 37 states and the District of Columbia expanded their Medicaid programs to allow for greater flexibility in expanding coverage to more residents. Medicaid is highly regulated, with substantial consumer protections. It offers robust benefits at free or very low cost to enrollees. Depending on the state, eligibility may start retroactively as of the day you apply. Even if it takes time to determine if youre eligible, if you ultimately are, you may be fully protected from health costs you are forced to incur in the meantime. Though some people hate the idea of getting help to pay for anything or of getting help from the government, this is not a moment to worry about stigma. If you need coverage, and you qualify for this program, take the opportunity to protect yourself financially. 4. Ask for help Health insurance has its own jargon, convoluted rules and bureaucratic hurdles. Trying to sort it out on your own at any time can be completely overwhelming. In a crisis when the world seems to be holding its breath waiting for catastrophe to strike, youre probably not in the best position to navigate all on your own. The good news is, you may not have to. Start with your companys human resources; they may be able to help you transition off of their plan. You can also call the state or federal health insurance marketplace. Even if you have to wait on hold or encounter bureaucratic-style customer service, dont give up. If you dont get a clear answer or the help you need, call back another time or ask for a supervisor. There is always someone who can get to the bottom of your situation. It just may take some patience. Though federal funding was slashed for insurance navigators, nonprofit organizations still exist in many places to help consumers find health insurance options. Often operating locally or at the state level, helpers are out there. Start at the federal website and Google your way to help in your area. Look for nonprofit agencies whose mission is to help, rather than for-profit companies that may be trying to sell you less-than-robust insurance coverage. Hospitals and health centers often employ financial counselors whose jobs are to help patients find health insurance. These staff are often extremely well versed in the intricacies of insurance rules and options. Call the clinic or the hospital you would most likely go to for care if you get sick, and ask them for help finding and applying for coverage. More than 150 million Americans get their health benefits through an employer. COVID-19 may push that number way down. It is no time to be without health insurance. If you find yourself in that situation, remember that there are options. While you might be waiting for the worst to happen, get yourself prepared. Figure out where to turn if you need to get covered in a hurry. Then, stay home. And wash your hands. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday spoke to his Sri Lankan counterpart Dinesh Gunwardane over the decisions taken at the recent SAARC meeting on COVID-19. In a video conference on forming a joint strategy to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in the SAARC region on March 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed an emergency fund with an initial offer of USD 10 million from India. "Just spoke to FM @DCRGunawardena of #SriLanka. Reviewed follow-up to the #SAARC-COVID Summit decisions. As good neighbours, we work closely to address the #COVID disruptions. Look forward to keeping in touch," Jaishankar tweeted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A reputed bookshop and publishing house in Srinagar has donated 1,000 books to various quarantine centres that have been setup in Kashmir due to coronavirus outbreak. Gulshan Books Kashmir said the books will help the people housed at the isolation centres make good use of their time. "We are utterly happy to have donated 1,000 books to all those who have been kept at different quarantine centres in the valley. We are trying our best to help them open the doors of knowledge to enlighten their minds in this strenuous time," its owner Sheikh Aijaz Ahmad said. The publishing house, which also runs a bookshop-cum-cafe on Nehru Park in the middle of Dal Lake housing over 80,000 books, was featured in the Limca Book of Records in 2018. Meanwhile, Srinagar Mayor Junaid Azim Mattu has arranged free sanitary napkins for the women at the quarantine facilities after receiving messages about their requirement. "A total of 700 boxes of sanitary pads are being delivered to all quarantine facilities housing female students free of cost - as promised. Thank You to Mr. Aqib from Seha for prompt volunteer action," the Mayor posted on Twitter. Mattu said he received distress messages about the requirement of sanitary supplies at quarantine facilities and would ensure that all such centres get adequate hygiene products free of cost. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) When it comes to acting, it is not real but when it comes to politics and one becomes a politician, you are now on the real side of things. There is need to balance acting and being real. PR-Inside.com: 2020-03-23 22:00:24 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 671 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 MALIBU, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 23, 2020 / Green Stream Holdings, Inc., (OTC PINK:GSFI) a company that through its wholly-owned subsidiary Green Stream Finance, focuses on currently unmet markets in the solar energy space through its innovative proprietary solar product offerings, financed for customers via its public and private partnerships, has been the subject of unfounded attacks by The Now Corporation (NWPN) and its undisclosed principal Paul Khan.Green Stream (the "Company") has consistently stated that it does not believe that certain promissory as disclosed in its Regulation A Offering Circular are valid debts of the Company. The Company and certain former control persons of the Company including those that are now making the unfounded allegations even entered into an agreement allowing the Company to disclaim the validity of what the Company calls the "Purported Notes." Those same parties have even had their shares offered in the Regulation A Offering Circular that has been qualified by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).The attacks by NWPN, its officers and undisclosed principals include false and misleading press releases, tweets, and emails directed at the Company, its officers, directors and consultants. The Company will not sit idly by and let these attacks go unanswered. The Company has instructed its legal counsel to explore all legal remedies available to the Company, has discussed the status of the notes with the SEC and has notified the NWPN parties to cease and desist from making the false statements.The Company does not expect to make any further statements on this matter except to announce any material development as it believes that the allegations don't deserve any additional comment.About Green Stream Finance, Inc.Green Stream Finance, Inc., a Wyoming-based corporation with satellite offices in Malibu, CA and New York, NY, is focused on exploiting currently unmet markets in the solar energy space, and is currently licensed in California, Nevada, Arizona, Washington, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Colorado, Hawaii, and Canada. The Company's next-generation solar greenhouses, constructed and managed by Green Rain Solar, LLC, a Nevada-based division, utilize proprietary greenhouse technology and trademarked design developed by world-renowned architect Mr. Antony Morali. The Company is currently targeting high-growth solar market segments for its advanced solar greenhouse and advanced solar battery products. The Company has a growing footprint in the significantly underserved solar market in New York City where it is targeting 50,000 to 100,000 square feet of rooftop space for the installation of its solar panels. Green Stream is looking to forge key partnership with major investment groups in order to capitalize on a variety of unique investment opportunities in the commercial solar energy markets. The Company is dedicated to becoming a major player in this critical space. Through its innovative solar product offerings and industry partnerships, the Company is well-positioned to become a significant player in the solar space.Forward-Looking Statements:This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is subject to the safe harbor created by those sections. This material contains statements about expected future events and/or financial results that are forward-looking in nature and subject to risks and uncertainties. That includes the possibility that the business outlined in this press release cannot be concluded for some reason. That could be as a result of technical, installation, permitting or other problems that were not anticipated. Such forward-looking statements by definition involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Green Stream Finance, Inc. to be materially different from the statements made herein. Except for any obligation under the U.S. federal securities laws, Green Stream Finance, Inc. undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.Company Contact/AddressGreen Stream Finance Inc. & Green Rain Solar, LLC16620 Marquez AvenuePacific Palisades, CA 90272Phone: 310-230-0240For All Inquiries Contact:info@ greenstreamfinance.com SOURCE: Green Stream Holdings, Inc. Over the past few weeks, multiple quarters have urged financial institutions to freeze payments, amid the mobility restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the most prominent voices was Ken Neumann of United Steelworkers, who warned that measures announced so far by governments are not enough. Time away from work to stop the spread of the virus should not mean loss of income, regardless of job or workplace. Unpaid job-protected leave doesnt pay the bills, Neumann stated. As federal and provincial governments in Canada take actions to limit the spread of the virus, we must ensure workers are supported and protected. Mark Keast, who has lived at the Lofts since 2008, was among those who welcomed Gaglianos policy change. He and his wife are normally charged $507 in maintenance monthly. We jumped on it right away. Its just going to be an enormous help to help us get through the next six, seven weeks, Keast said. What the board here has decided to do it helps take the pressure off. Were all in the same great unknown here. For them to be proactive like that, we just really appreciate it. India reported two COVID-19 deaths on Monday, taking the death toll to nine, and the number of cases climbed to 468 after 95 people tested positive for coronavirus, the highest jump in one day, as Maharashtra and Punjab were put under statewide curfews, the rest of the country in lockdown and all domestic flights set to be grounded. The Union health ministry said West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh reported a casualty each on Monday, taking the total number of deaths to nine in the country due to COVID-19. Seven deaths were earlier reported from Gujarat, Bihar and Maharashtra (2), Karnataka, Delhi, and Punjab. The ministry also said the total number of cases rose to 468, including 424 active cases. There were 329 active cases on Sunday evening. The extreme measures by the central and state governments were taken in light of the continued upward trajectory of the virus, amid warning of legal action against those violating the restrictions imposed during the lockdown. Punjab on Monday became the first in the country to impose curfew in the entire state with no relaxations, and only exempted essential services to prevent the infection, while Maharshtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said curfew will be imposed in the entire state from Monday midnight as the fight against coronavirus has reached a "turning point". Prime Minister Narendra Modi also asked state governments to ensure that rules and regulations of the coronavirus lockdown are enforced as he noted that many people are not taking the measure seriously. "Many people are still not taking the lockdown seriously. Please save yourself, save your family, follow the instructions seriously. I request state governments to ensure rules and laws are followed," he said in a tweet in Hindi. Stepping up its efforts to tackle the unprecedented situation arising out of the coronavirus breakout, the aviation ministry announced that no domestic commercial passenger flight would be allowed to operate in the country from March 25 onward. India has already banned international flights for a week from Sunday. Delhi, Jharkhand, and Nagaland declared a state-wide lockdown while similar curbs were announced in a number of districts in Bihar, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Several states, including Kerala, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, had earlier imposed a partial or complete lockdown. The UT administration in Chandigarh also announced imposition of curfew from the midnight. Those living in 80 districts across the country, including in the national capital Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai have been placed under travel and movement restrictions with authorities suspending all passenger train and inter-state bus services till March 31. The Centre has issued directions to state governments, asking them to take legal action against those who are found violating the lockdown orders. "States have been asked to strictly enforce the lockdown in the areas where it has been announced. Legal action will be taken against violators," tweeted the Press Information Bureau, government's communication wing. Country's premier medical institute in the national capital, AIIMS, decided to shut down its OPD, including speciality services, all new and follow up patients' registration, from March 24 till further order as it redirects its resources to control the Covid-19 outbreak. Last week, the AIIMS had issued a circular postponing all nonessential elective procedures and surgeries and directed for only emergency life-saving surgeries with effect from March 21. The virus, which originated from China's Wuhan nearly three months ago, has claimed over 15,000 lives globally and infected nearly 3.5 lakh people so far. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said 18,383 samples have been tested till 10 am on Monday. Apart from nine deaths, the totally tally of 468 also included 35 people who have been cured/discharged/migrated, and 40 foreign nationals, according to the ministry data. Maharashtra has reported the highest number of COVID-19 cases at 74, including three foreigners, followed by Kerala at 67, including seven foreign nationals, according to the ministry data. Karnataka has 33 cases of coronavirus patients after seven more persons tested positive for the deadly virus. The number of cases in Telangana have risen to 32, including 10 foreigners. Uttar Pradesh now has 31 positive cases, including a foreign national. Delhi and Gujarat have reported 29 cases each, while Rajasthan has registered 28 positive cases, including two foreign nationals. In Haryana, there are 26 cases, including 14 foreigners, while Punjab has 21 cases. Ladakh has 13 cases, while Tamil Nadu has nine cases, including two foreigners. West Bengal reported seven cases, while Madhya Pradesh has six cases so far. Chandigarh has six cases, while Andhra Pradesh reported seven cases. Jammu and Kashmir has four cases. Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh have reported three cases each, while there are two case each in Bihar and Odisha. Puducherry and Chhattisgarh have reported a case each. Amid rising cases, the national task force for COVID-19 constituted by Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) has recommended hydroxy-chloroquine as a preventive medication for high-risk population. According to the ICMR advisory, it should be given to high risk population -- asymptomatic healthcare workers involved in the care of suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 and asymptomatic household contacts of laboratory confirmed cases. The protocol recommended by the National Task Force has been approved by the Drug Controller General of India (DGCI) for restricted use in emergency situations. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court directed all states and UTs to set up high-level committees to determine class of prisoners who could be released on parole, in a bid to decongest prisons to prevent the spread of coronavirus. It also said prisoners convicted of or charged with offences having jail term up to 7 years can be given parole. The court also ordered that a high-level committee should work in consultation with State Legal Service Authority for release of prisoners. Dubbing coronavirus as a "lifetime challenge", the prime minister while speaking to representatives of television channels through a video-conference said it needed to be tackled through new and innovative solutions. "The tireless efforts of the reporters, camerapersons and technicians are a great service to the nation. The media should counter pessimism and panic through positive communication. COVID-19 is a lifetime challenge and it needs to be tackled through new and innovative solutions," Modi said. According to an official release, he also thanked the media for understanding the gravity of the pandemic threat and appreciated the role played by the channels in spreading awareness. "A long battle lies ahead of us, whereby awareness on social distancing has to be spread and information about latest developments and key decisions needs to be communicated swiftly and professionally by the channels through an easy-to-grasp language," the prime minister said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-24 03:03:28|Editor: yan Video Player Close WASHINGTON, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Some medicine and immunology experts have expressed concern for the results and safety of an antimalarial drug, after U.S. President Donald Trump said it will soon be made available with a prescription to treat the novel coronavirus. Trump said the drug, which he called "chloroquine" or "hydroxychloroquine," has shown "very, very encouraging" early results. "The drugs of this class can have side effects and it is also still quite possible that it is not effective," Robert Schooley, a professor of medicine at the Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health at the University of California San Diego, said in an interview with Xinhua. According to Schooley, there is some evidence that antimalarial drugs reduce growth of the virus in the laboratories at concentrations that are about what can be achieved in the blood in patients who take them at doses used to treat other diseases. "The drugs change the acidity of compartments in the cell (endosomes) from which the virus is released. The change in the acidity level in these endosomes reduces the rate of release of the virus into the cell -- and thus, the growth rate of the virus," Schooley said while explaining the drug mechanism. The evidence that the drugs reduce the severity of illness or the death rate in patients is still quite modest, he said. "There is little evidence that these drugs work as well as President Trump implied." Stanley Perlman, a professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Iowa, shared the same view. He told Xinhua the idea is that hydroxychloroquine could block virus entry by changing the acidity of endosome. "However, the entry pathway that is blocked is the secondary pathway, not the primary pathway, so hydroxychloroquine is not likely to be useful," he said. Trump said he had pushed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to eliminate barriers to getting therapeutics for coronavirus patients. Addressing potential safety concerns, Trump noted that it had been used previously in treating malaria, "so we know if things don't go as planned, it's not going to kill anybody." FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said that he did not want to give "false hope" but he was hopeful about the treatments. "We may have the right drug, but it might not be in the appropriate dosage form right now, and it might do more harm than good." Studies are underway to determine the efficacy in using chloroquine to treat COVID-19, according to a release of the FDA. 3 1 of 3 Facebook Live screenshot Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Hearst Connecticut Media file photo Show More Show Less 3 of 3 MIDDLETOWN City health officials confirmed the first case of COVID-19 Saturday, after a 50-year-old tested positive for the illness. The patient is in self-isolation following the diagnosis, Health Director Joseph Havlicek said, and the department is working with him to ensure CDC guidelines are followed so others are not exposed. Gag the spreaders of disinformation, not the scientists In times of a health crisis, such as the corona virus pandemic, health scientists should be encouraged to speak out. As our lives are increasingly impacted by the global COVID-19 pandemic, a wide variety of information and disinformation is being spread. There is no shortage of news, advice and rumours being spread about the virus. And this is all natural. Every single person in the world has by now probably been affected in some way by the pandemic. In some ways, we are acting in the extreme, as can be seen by the panic shopping that hit retailers on Monday, after President Cyril Ramaphosa declared the pandemic was a National Disaster. In response to the deluge of information, News24 reported on Wednesday that government had effectively gagged epidemiologists, virologists, infectious disease specialists and other experts on Covid-19 with an instruction that all requests for comment about the state of the pandemic, the virus itself and its spread should be directed to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD). The article quotes Ministry of Health spokesperson Lwazi Manzi, as saying: the government had decided that all communication should be centralised to just a few voices: ministers, deputy ministers, MECs and, sometimes, the presidency. What this means, is that in this time of crisis, with a few exceptions, only governments version what is happening with the spread of the virus is reaching the public. According to Manzi, government wants to unify the message about the pandemic, and try to combat fake news. You cant have people from Lancet, Ampath, Wits, all speaking to the media. There is a need to differentiate between authority and noise," she is quoted as saying. Scientists, she said, should be left alone to do their work, and not be pestered by journalists. Since my first contact with the NICD as a journalist many years ago, I have always had the utmost respect for this institution. You could always rely on them to give you quick, relevant and expert opinion, often assisting in dispelling untruths about perceived threats and health risks. This is still true today. However, they dont have the resources or capacity to deal with a constant stream of media queries. Relying on them as a single source of information might prove to be counterproductive. If the governments intention is indeed to try and prevent the spread of panic or fake news about the outbreak, this is exactly why scientists and experts should be allowed to speak freely and openly to the media and the general public. The best way for disinformation to spread, is to leave a void open for pseudo-experts and disinformation peddlers to fill the gap. In todays world of social media, an information gap will inevitably be filled. It is especially true in a crisis situation, such as the one we have. There is an increasing need for information. This provides the opportunity for someone to take advantage of this by spreading false information for their own gain. The only way to combat this is to put as much truthful, reliable, scientifically correct information as possible out there, and to provide constant commentary and expert opinions from scientists to the media and the public in general. South Africa has some of the best experts on virology, epidemiology, infectious diseases and public health in the world. During this crisis, it is crucial that their voices be heard. It is they and not some government minister or spokesperson who can speak with true authority on their subjects. They should be encouraged to speak out, not gagged. Scientists not only have a constitutional right to share their knowledge to the public, they also have an obligation to do so. Like most ministers, deputy ministers and their spokespeople, most scientists salaries are paid not by the government but by the taxpayers. The taxpayers have a right to get clear, correct information from the right people in this time of crisis. My colleagues in the Wits universitys communication team have been overwhelmed in the by media queries looking for expert opinion, while experts and academics want to offer advice on how to best communicate their important messages on the pandemic. We actively encourage all our experts to speak out as much as possible, and provide all the necessary, relevant information that they can provide, on all available channels, including via the media. We have collated and shared as much information as possible on our dedicated COVID-19 mini-site on our website, and in the coming months will be frequently sharing information from our experts. As communications professionals, we are acutely aware of the dangers of misinformation and fake news in times such as these. There are a lot of opportunists trying to spread fake news messages. It is these people who should be muzzled, not the countrys responsible, knowledgeable experts. To muzzle scientists is to encroach on their constitutional rights of freedom of speech and academic freedom. It also contravenes the rights of the general public of access to information and a healthy environment. When you start gagging scientists in a time of a disaster, you are going down a slippery slope. Who will be the next to get gagged, under which circumstances? And, more importantly, who will be the decisionmakers, on who to muzzle, and who should be allowed to speak? Schalk Mouton is a science communications professional working in the Wits communications team. He is a former journalist and news editor. 22.03.2020 LISTEN ASERD-GHANA and Partners organized the SCHOOL AND PEACE DURBAR to sensitize the youth about the dangers associated with Conflict and Non-Peaceful Existence living towards societal development. This was one of the activities outlined for the implementation of the Second Edition of the ASERD-GHANA EMPOWERING THE SCHOOL CHILD PROJECT in the Bunkpurugu-Nakpanduri and the Yunyoo-Nansuan Districts of the North East Region of Ghana. The goal of the durbar was to educate the youth on the various manners and strategies to serve as peace advocates in their families and communities for a peaceful living before and after the 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary General Election. The Durbar was also a stakeholder engagement meeting to deliberate about the issues of conflict and various ways communities can adopt to promote peace and development in Ghana. The Executive Director of ASERD-GHANA, Mr. Dimongso Kafari Benjamin in his speech explained the need for a peaceful living in the rural communities for their own development. the development of any giving society is linked to the peaceful nature of its people. Because the lack of peace in any community or country will scare away investors and other development partners or individuals from coming to such communities with their investment or developmental activities. According to him, many communities have lost several opportunities of that kind in the past and it has negatively affected their socioeconomic and societal development. He sensitize the youth not to allow themselves to be used as vessels to cause crimes in their communities, which may endanger their future and that of the generations to come. Mr. Dimongso therefore used the occasion and called on the Government, the Private Sector, CSOs/NGOs and other Philanthropist to come down the Bunkpurugu and Yunyoo areas with various development and economic activities since the communities are now enjoying an everlasting peace. The North East Regional Minister, Hon. Solomon N. Boar, who doubles as the Member of Parliament for the Bunkpurugu-Nakpanduri Constituency appealed to the youth to stay away from bad behaviors that could promote Non-Peaceful living and take their Academic seriously in other to achieve their goals in the future. He appealed to the traditional Leaders to continue preaching peace among people in their communities for their Development. The Chief of Najong No.1, a suburb of the Bunkpurugu-Nakpanduri District, Naaba Paul Adambil-Laar, a retired Educationist, Chaired the ASERD-GHANA SCHOOL AND PEACE DURBAR. He used the occasion to admonish the youth to serve as peace advocates in their communities for their Development and Peaceful living. The Paramount Chief of the Gbankoni Traditional Council, Gbankoni Naaba Chamba Nasinmong Haruna Laar II delivered a speech on the role of the youth in promoting peace and Development in the Ghanaian communities towards a peaceful existence before and after the 2020 General Elections. He advised the youth to embrace peace for societal Development and the Development of the Bunkpurugu-Nakpanduri District. The occasion saw the Bimoba Musicians Union Performing some peace songs on the stage to advocate for peace. They included Evangelist Jacob Laar (a.k.a Damibe), Musician Adams Sukumah and Musician Biiyiab Lawrence (a.k.a Nanlele). They used their songs to Preach and appeal to the general public to embrace peace for the Economic development of their communities. After a week or two spent shaving with the help of a plastic ice cream pail, it was obvious that the clogged bathroom sink would not cure itself. The drain had stopped working and was fixed for a few months before it balked again. The plunger failed, and so did desperate appeals to Italian friar Vincent Ferrer, the patron saint of plumbers. An appeal to Jude, the patron saint of lost causes, produced no better result. "Why dont you just call Brian, Kathy said perhaps forgetting that no one likes to admit failure. Brian may or may not be a saint, but he is a skilled plumber equipped with tools and a nasty granular substance so strong that it could conceivably remove the bathrooms flowered wallpaper. He also fixes furnaces, which came in handy recently when he responded to an emergency Sunday call to repair a misbehaving thingamajig. I rummaged through the garage/junk pile and emerged with a stepladder and two sludge-catching pails. ADVERTISEMENT "This shouldnt be too hard," Kathy said, which is a statement that all but ensured there would be unexpected complications of demonic proportions. Brian easily removed the horizontal pipe in the basement, which was plugged with gunk that had the consistency of wet cement. Its aroma was much worse than a repeatedly runover roadkill skunk. To be fair to skunks their musk is a key ingredient in fine perfumes. Its molecular makeup helps hold perfumes fragrance much longer than distilled water or oil. But let us move on to another kind of olfactory offense. For no readily apparent reason and to defy common sense, the first nearly full gunk pail was put for safekeeping on the stepladders handy platform while the pipe was cleaned and reconnected. As a journeyman plumbers helper, I was sent to fetch paper towels to finish the project. Haste does indeed make great waste, which in this circumstance involved the inky sludge. My right side came in contact with the wobbly stepladder. Before it exploded on the concrete floor like a water balloon, the pail dumped part of its contents on me. The sludge fallout also struck the washing machine, dryer and water heater. The smell soon reached Kathys nose. "Whats going on down there," she shouted from upstairs. To maintain a semblance of domestic tranquility, Brian was told that it would be necessary to stretch the truth just a bit. "Brian hit the ladder and knocked over the pail," I said. ADVERTISEMENT He may not have understood the depths I would approach to protect my self-interest. In any case, he insisted that it was my responsibility to clean up the mess. The job was less or more done before Kathy commented. "You stink, Kathy said. I was left to hope the observation was limited to the sludge smell. One bath and then another failed. Finally, lilac-scented soap proved nearly as effective as 10 pine-scented car air fresheners. Mother would be proud that her son was squeaky clean. Before indoor plumbing, bath-taking was limited to Christmas, Easter and weddings. In normal times, the big tin tub that was hauled from the basement where along with a severe scrub brush and washboard it was used to remove the worst clothing stains before entry into the wringer-washer. The bathwater was laboriously heated on the wood-fired kitchen stove and our ritual commenced. Girls jumped in first followed by the boys based on a chronological order. The water by the time I, as the seventh child, took the plunge was cold and only a little less black than gunk. It would have been 30 seconds in and out had not Mother stood guard. Somehow, her children managed to look their Sunday best when they filed into the pews. ADVERTISEMENT A week on, the sink is in good working order. However, my working relationship with Brian is, at the very least, somewhat tenuous. Turkeys flag carrier Turkish Airlines suspended nearly all international flights as of Monday until April 17. The only exceptions are New York, Washington, Hong Kong, Moscow and Addis Ababa, the airline said in a statement. The airline will continue its domestic flights with cutbacks and cargo operations as planned. SOURCE: AGENCIES In this strange time, when truth is too often dismissed as fake news, we as publishers prefer to give voice to a respected artist, rather than bow to those determined to silence him, she said in a statement. We firmly believe in upholding the right to freedom of speech in the world of publishing and, as a result, were pleased to support not only this terrific book but also and even more importantly this democratic principle. Arcade is an imprint of the independent publisher Skyhorse, a company that has been willing to court controversy in the past, with provocative authors like the attorney and commentator Alan Dershowitz, a frequent defender of Donald J. Trump, and the conspiracy theorist Jim Garrison. At a moment when publishers are increasingly wary of sparking controversy and driving a social media backlash, Arcades decision to publish Mr. Allen caught some in the industry by surprise, particularly after Hachettes rapid about face. Grand Central had acquired the rights to Mr. Allens autobiography in March 2019, but had only announced that fact earlier this month. The journalist Ronan Farrow, whose best-selling book Catch and Kill had been released by Little, Brown, another Hachette imprint, last year, quickly lashed out at the company, saying it had secretly planned to publish Mr. Allens book behind his back, and that he would no longer work with the publisher. Mr. Farrow, whose reporting on accusations of sexual assault against Harvey Weinstein and other powerful men helped touch off the #MeToo movement, is Mr. Allens son with the actress Mia Farrow. Mr. Farrow and his adopted sister, Dylan Farrow, have long accused Mr. Allen of molesting her when she was a child, allegations he has denied. Mr. Allen was not charged after two investigations. Your policy of editorial independence among your imprints does not relieve you of your moral and professional obligations as the publisher of Catch and Kill, and as the leader of a company being asked to assist in efforts by abusive men to whitewash their crimes, Mr. Farrow wrote to Michael Pietsch, the chief executive of Hachette. Mr. Pietsch had defended the decision to publish Mr. Allens book, but a staged walkout of more than 100 employees was part of the pressure that led to the reversal of the plan. Published on 2020/03/23 | Source Actor Song Joong-ki's ongoing film project has been halted in Colombia due to the spreading coronavirus epidemic, and all of its cast and crew will return to Korea. Advertisement "The Colombian government has banned foreign travelers from entering the country to contain the spread of the virus, and has also banned its own nationals from leaving the country", said one of the film's crew members. "We have decided to stop shooting the film and will monitor the situation to decide later when it is appropriate to resume filming". With the virus having reached Latin America, which had looked largely unscathed, countries there are bracing for coronavirus while implementing travel restrictions. Currently, there are over 200 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Colombia. As its title suggests, the film "Bogota: City of the Lost", which depicts the lives of immigrants to Colombia in the 1990s, was due to be entirely filmed in Colombia. Shooting began there in January and was due to wrap up in May. Meanwhile, filming of director Kim Seong-hun's new film "Kidnapped" has also been postponed. Based on a real story of a Korean diplomat who was kidnapped in Beirut, Lebanon in the 1980s, the film starring Ha Jung-woo and Ju Ji-hoon was supposed to start filming later this month in Morocco. At least three associations of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) have sought the Centres intervention in providing mandatory equipment and training to health workers deputed to deal with the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. States across the country have directed ASHA and Anganwadi or rural child care workers to speak to families in their areas, check for symptoms, and advice them about precautions in dealing with the Covid-19. There have been complaints regarding a lack of personal protective gear or training being provided to these health workers. All India Coordination Committee of ASHA Workers Ranjana Nirula said most of them have been asked to purchase hand sanitisers and masks. Anganwadi and ASHA workers earn around 2,000 per month, and most of them have no knowledge of safety standards. This is highly condemnable, said Nirula. There are over 9 lakh ASHA workers, who are trained to work as an interface between the community and the public health system, and over 3.5 million Anganwadi workers in India. Nirula said her organisation, which represents over 5 lakh workers, has written to the Centre. It is essential that all these workers be provided with protective gears such as masks, gloves, full cover suits, hand sanitisers and soaps when they report for duty. ASHA workers must be given proper training before they are sent to conduct surveys. And, since their wages are so low, the government must compensate them by paying them extra.. Gorakhpur-based Chanda Yadav, who heads the All India ASHA Workers Union, said in her area a man returned from Dubai without informing the authorities. As news in the area spread that the man had cold, Yadav got in touch with the authorities and now he and his family are under isolation. She said 25,000-odd ASHA workers her Union represents have been directed to conduct village-wise surveys. Yadav said the only advice she got to keep herself safe was to maintain a distance of 1 metre from the people she checks. B V Vijayalakshmi, general secretary of the National Federation of ASHA Workers, said her organisation that represents one lakh, wrote to the Centre last week echoing similar demands. We have asked for basic equipment, medicines and most importantly training. India is facing a shortage of personal protective gear for medical workers. Officials of the textiles ministry told HT the Centre needs 8 lakh bodysuits and coveralls, and 60 lakh N95 masks, and faced with the shortage, production of such material has begun domestically. Rafikul Nishad, a 35-year-old ASHA worker from Uttar Pradeshs Pratapgarh, said she has no idea how to protect herself. We were directed to meet families and advice them to keep their surroundings clean and their food habits healthy, and check for symptoms of any family members, Nishad said over the phone. I have bought a mask, and I use it when I go to work. A Union health ministry official, who did not wish to be named, said the Centres priority has been the medical workers engaged in hospitals as they are running against time to ensure that India is fully prepared. That does not mean we have no policy for care workers. We will announce it soon. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON CITSYS Limited, a Ghanaian owned IT innovations and solutions company has donated 10 special purpose desktop computers and accessories valued at GHC 30,000 to the Presbyterian Senior High School Osu. This is part of the commitment of CITSYS Limited to support education in the community where it operates. CITSYS Limited believes education is the biggest enabler for society and has thus for the past 13 years been supporting education at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels. The Chief Executive Officer of CITSYS Limited Henry Nyako in his remarks expressed his profound gratitude to the community for its continued support to the company over the years which has enabled the company to operate in a peaceful conducive environment Receiving the items, Headmaster of the Presbyterian Senior High School Osu, Mr. Vincent Esoah, thanked CITSYS for the donation and stated that the donation has come at the right time to enhance ICT studies at the school. He mentioned that the school offers an elective ICT course, for which they have had to rent computers during the WASSCE examination period. It takes a true member of the community to know its needs and that is what CITSYS has proved to be. Thank you CITSYS he said Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video New Delhi, March 23 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday lauded the role of national carrier Air India's crew for flying the citizens from foreign soils amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic saying they showed utmost "courage" and rose to call of humanity. "Extremely proud of this team of Air India, which has shown utmost courage and risen to the call of humanity. Their outstanding efforts are admired by several people across India," Modi tweeted with #India Fights Corona. Modi was responding to a tweet of Union Civil Aviation Minister Harderp Singh Puri hailing the crew of Air India for transporting g 263 Indians from Italy's Rome. Lately, the national carrier has been called upon to rescue Indians stranded around the globe, be it from the COVID-19 outbreak epicentre Wuhan in China or Rome and Milan in Italy. India has announced complete ban on landing of international flights since Sunday. Even over 13,600 passenger and mail express trains have been suspended till March 31 across the country. According to latest figures 385 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in India on Monday. At least seven people have died so far. There is a clear analogy between the coronavirus and climate change. While the coronavirus is a rapidly spreading pandemic, climate change is a slow version of a similar mechanism. That is, we only see the dramatic and catastrophic changes after it is too late to take decisive action to stop them. In both cases, denial of what we face does not stop the consequences from happening. Inaction allows the hidden consequences to multiply while we hide our heads in the sand. Strong responses, which may initially seem like an overreaction, are needed in both cases. Medical scientists clearly understood and predicted the trajectory of this type of virus outbreak last year. Climate scientists have been warning of the consequences of inaction on climate change for decades. We are the proverbial frogs in a slowly heating pot of water, not realizing that we are being cooked until its too late. Ken Woolfe, Oakland Virus stressful impact Understanding the importance of containing the COVID-19 pandemic, Im concerned that the current wave of shutdown orders are, in some cases, taking things too far. My particular concern in this letter is with the closing of restaurants, or forcing them to be take-out only. Restaurant shutdowns unfairly penalize a particularly vulnerable category of citizens, those unable to work from home, our service workers. And are the shutdowns even in the best interests of containing the virus? I know that I would feel much safer going to a restaurant that follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, including allowing seating at only every other table, than buying food at supermarkets, where I am often in close quarters with dozens of others, who may or may not be following the CDC recommendations to stay home when sick and cover their mouths when coughing. With these shutdown and shelter-in-place orders, I fear that more of our most vulnerable and hardworking citizens will become seriously ill or even die because of stress financial and otherwise than from the coronavirus itself. David Ripp, San Rafael Calm before the storm It is a strange time to be working in health care in the time of coronavirus. While the rest of San Francisco is working from home, my colleagues and I are driving through empty streets to get to work. At every entrance, there is a security guard checking badges to ensure only essential personnel are allowed inside. I walk past a blue-tented coronavirus testing drive-through each morning. Heeding the public health departments recommendations, patients are not allowed outside their rooms and no visitors are allowed, so the hallways are unusually empty. Surgical masks and protective gowns are being rationed and conserved in anticipation of a shortage of protective gear that is already happening in Washington state. Elective surgeries and unnecessary clinic appointments are being postponed. The hospital is eerily quiet, but we all know that this is the calm before the storm. There are already several confirmed cases in our hospital, but we are all waiting for the inflection point. There is a baseline anxiety. But never have I been more grateful and proud of my colleagues who show up to work each day, prepared to take care of our patients. Ruby Lin, San Francisco Keep your distance Together we can get through this. As a grocery clerk, I ask you to practice social distancing. We are on the front lines and dont have the same protection that doctors and nurses have. He also said that all MPs should undergo rapid testing for coronavirus Ilya Yemets, Ukraine's Health Minister https://moz.gov.ua/ The Minister of Health, Illya Yemets, is asking the Verkhovna Rada to introduce a state of emergency due the coronavirus in Ukraine. The message of the Ministry of Health on Facebook stated this. Yemets called on MPs "to show willpower, not to be afraid, but for the sake of saving Ukrainians" to get together and vote for the imposition of a state of emergency. "Previously, all lawmakers must undergo rapid testing for coronavirus," - said in a statement. Currently, 73 cases of coronavirus infection have been confirmed in Ukraine. Over the past 24 hours, 26 people have been infected with coronavirus in Ukraine, of which 20 - in Kyiv, 1 - in Kyiv region and 3 - in the Ivano-Frankivsk region As we reported earlier, Ukraine's Healthcare Ministry stated that the express tests for COVID-2019 would be conducted only by doctors of certain healthcare establishments. "If you have symptoms of ARVI, go see your family doctor. ER doctors only depart for urgent cases. Medical workers of urgent medical aid teams will not be conducting tests for Covid-19," the message reads. Californians statewide are huddled at home under a shelter-in-place order handed down March 20 by Gov. Gavin Newsom to stem the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Unfortunately, nature does not take a break for pandemics. California also remains under wildfire threat from the Santa Ana wind season that last from October through April. After a brief one-month hiatus, the summer wildfire season will kick off in June and last until September. With $565 billion in wildfire damages statewide over the past three years, coming up with an appropriate response had been at the top of the California Legislatures agenda in 2020 before the coronavirus outbreak necessitated suspending the session until April 13, at the earliest. But the issue isnt going away, and lawmakers cannot allow the current crisis to force them to lose focus entirely on those that are just around the corner. Understandably, much of that focus has been on the availability and affordability of insurance coverage for the roughly one-third of Californias 13.6 million homes located in the wildland-urban interface (WUI), the low-density zone beyond the suburbs that faces the highest risk of wildfire. Exercising emergency authority granted by 2018s SB 824, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara in December ordered a one-year moratorium on nonrenewing any of rough 1 million homes in ZIP codes adjacent to recent wildfire disasters. With that order set to expire at the end of 2020, lawmakers have understandably been seeking a longer-term solution to a growing problem of nonrenewals. The most notable effort thus far has been AB 2367, sponsored by Assemblywomen Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) and Monique Limon (D-Santa Barbara) and dubbed the Renew California plan. The bill, which also has support from Lara, would create a state Wildfire Resilience Task Forcecomprising the insurance commissioner, state fire marshal and the governors Office of Emergency Servicesthat would set community wildfire mitigation standards. Homes within these communities that met the specified standards would be entitled to guaranteed offers of homeowners insurance and could not be involuntarily nonrenewed. To its credit, AB 2367 places the focus where it belongs: on the need to reduce wildfire risk. Alas, as currently written, it represents more of a plan to make a plan. Rather than offering any substantive description of what kinds of standards would constitute a fire-hardened home or fire-hardened community, it leaves these details entirely to this executive branch task force that doesnt currently exist. It should be clear why it would require an awful lot of trust on the part of the states insurance community to get on board with such a broad delegation of authority. Already constrained in their ability to price risk by the onerous prior approval ratemaking system created by the states Proposition 103, Californias homeowners insurers were hammered by the $12.5 billion in wildfire claims in 2017 and 2018, paying out $2.01 and $1.76 cents, respectively, for every $1 in premium they collected. It obviously isnt that insurers wouldnt welcome major public and private investments in wildfire mitigation. Theres precedent in Boulder County, Colorado, for a public wildfire mitigation program that operates in many respects like AB 2367. Property owners certified by the Boulder County Wildfire Partners Mitigation Program are entitled to premium discounts and guaranteed renewals under a voluntary program that has the support of several major national homeowners insurers. The Renew California plan, by contrast, would not be voluntary. Which raises the question: if the goal of the task force is to encourage wildfire mitigation that would make properties in the WUI insurable, then why would they need to force insurers to write the business? The industry fears, not without reason, that the real goal is to force them to write coverage at unsustainable rates, and to lock in those contracts in perpetuity. The threat of climate change is going to require significant changes both in where and how we live and in how we protect ourselves and our livelihood from risks that may be unavoidable. Perhaps the break in legislative action thats been forced on us by COVID-19 will give all parties a bit more time to reflect on a more workable wildfire strategy for the future. Topics California Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu has called a meeting of various party leaders later on Monday for stock-taking of the situation in various states across India amid a coronavirus lockdown as well as duration of the House session. The Centre as well as the state governments has decided to completely shutdown 75 districts across the country where coronavirus cases have been reported. It has also been decided to suspend the interstate bus services till March 31, government officials said on Sunday. The districts where lockdown was announced are from states that include Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The development comes in the view that there is an urgent need to extend restrictions, including the movement of non-essential passenger transport, in a bid to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus bug which has already infected nearly 400 people in the country. The government has also announced to suspend interstate bus services in almost every state across India till further notice. There have been reports of shortening the Parliament's ongoing Budget Session which is likely to end before April 3, informed sources said on Sunday. Several MPs have raised the issue of social distancing, which is necessary to combat coronavirus. However, this is not possible when Parliament is in session as MPs have to sit together, they said. After lockdown in several states, the demand to adjourn Parliament before the stipulated time, April 3, has gathered momentum, sources said. Lawmakers are also worried that several members of both the Houses of Parliament have put themselves into self-quarantine. The government, however, has repeatedly tried to assure that the situation is under control. Sources said the government is concerned that if the session is ended before the schedule, it will adversely impact the situation in the country. TMC lawmakers have already written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Naidu, seeking the curtailment of the current session. They have already announced that they won't be able to take part in the ongoing session of Parliament after Monday. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has instructed party MPs to be in their respective constituency and create awareness among the people regarding the pandemic. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut has also announced that MPs in both houses will not be attending Parliament from Monday amidst the threat of the global pandemic. According to the data compiled by ICMR, the total number of coronavirus positive cases surged to 396 in India on Sunday, marking the highest increase of 81 over 24 hours so far, with seven deaths. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi government on Monday directed medical superintendents of its hospitals and heads of health institutions to hire private vehicles to ensure that their staffers don't face problems in reaching workplaces due to lockdown. According to an order issued by the health department, it has come to notice that officers and officials working in hospitals and heath institutions are unable to reach their workplaces due to the shutdown in the city in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. "Medical superintendents and HoDs are directed to hire private vehicles as per their requirements for providing transportation to officers, officials working under their jurisdiction on emergent basis till March 31," the order stated. It also said a banner should be put on the hired vehicle stating "Emergency Duty for COVID-19 health and family welfare department, Govt of NCT of Delhi". Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asked people to observe the lockdown in place in the national capital to contain the spread of coronavirus or face strict action. He also announced that 50 per cent of DTC buses will be operational from Tuesday to ensure those involved in essential services do not face problems. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Editor's note: Kuan-lin F. Liu is a Spanish-born Taiwanese writer with experience reporting on Asia Pacific for media outlets in Taiwan. He holds a BA in Government and Women's and Gender Studies modified with Geography from Dartmouth College and an MSc in Real Estate from the University of Hong Kong. The views expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinions at CNN. (CNN) President Donald Trump has recently insisted on repeatedly calling the Covid-19 either a "foreign virus" or a "Chinese virus" in his speeches and tweets, an insistence that appears to say "this is all China's fault." Fox News personality Jesse Watters asked China for a formal apology earlier this month during "The Five," a Fox News panel talk show he co-hosts. According to Watters, the virus originated from Chinese people eating raw bats and snakes because "the Chinese communist government cannot feed the people, and they are desperate." Watters also said scientists believe this to be the origin of the virus, despite no credible disease expert having made any statement of the sort. Scientists do believe the virus likely originated in an animal before transmission to a human host, but the exact sequence of events or even the animal in question remains unknown. Watters has not responded to the global backlash against his comments, though he did say recently on his show, as infections in the US continue to spiral, that he has started to take social distancing more seriously. In a seemingly retaliatory move, a Chinese government spokesman took to Twitter to suggest an unfounded claim that it may have been the "US army [that] brought the epidemic to Wuhan" instead. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman, Zhao Lijian, republished a one-minute clip of Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at a US congressional hearing on the virus. In the clip, Redfield can be heard admitting to cases of deaths in the US from the coronavirus that were previously misattributed to influenza. Despite this having nothing to do with the US army and their visit to Wuhan for the Military World Games in October 2019, Zhao is seemingly using the evidence of misdiagnosis and a lack of transparency as ammunition to fire back at the US. As the whole world now scrambles to deal with an escalating threat that just a month ago seemed to be a "Chinese problem," it is time to acknowledge that blame is hardly the point and most definitely not the solution. In fact, the deep-seated Sinophobia, or anti-Chinese bias, underlying the initial urge to judge China for the problem is what has allowed Covid-19 to catch the US off guard with its widely criticized response to the pandemic. As China has grown economically and politically to a position of global influence since the late 1990s, it has received backlash and criticism, particularly from its neighbors in Asia Pacific and in Western Europe and the United States. Many questions that have been raised regarding human rights violations are valid, but some, including Watters' comments that intend to paint China as an underdeveloped, backwards country, are more self-serving than anything else. By vilifying China, critics like Watters perpetuate a narrative of Western supremacy. This narrative is so pervasive that despite reports that China is now home to more of the world's wealthiest people than the US, some people still believe that everyone in China lives in extreme poverty. The misconception of what it means to be Chinese or live in China has cultivated a widespread negative sentiment towards the Chinese people, leading to a rise in hate crimes against people of Chinese or Asian descent. Such negative sentiment informs not only how we treat Chinese or Asians in general whom we encounter but also how quickly we are to accept any criticism of the Chinese government or Chinese officials without much substantiation. Without dwelling too much on substantiating what should be a well-known fact, it is easy to point to universities like Tsinghua, the wide adoption of mobile payment and apps, and the massive footprint of luxury brands in China to debunk all the aforementioned depictions of the Asian country and its people. While Wuhan, the city where the first case of the virus was diagnosed, is not a first-tier city (China puts cities in tiers based on their population), it has been regarded as "the political, economic, financial, cultural, educational, and transportation centre of central China" by foreigners. The virus was thus not born in a setting of extreme poverty and filth but rather somewhere much more like home. Hence, Covid-19 is now trending worldwide. Trump's choice of words is intended to "other" the virus, a strategy that he has used in the past to characterize other threats to America and the American way of life. The President claims that his choice of words is "not racist at all." With so many cases in the US, Trump's central focus on the origin of the virus cannot be more irrelevant now. Similarly, many foreigners, even some of the expats I work with in Hong Kong who have visited China, cling to the misconception that Chinese people must be the source of the spread of the virus anywhere. For instance, in Italy, which is now on lockdown as it struggles to contain, at the time of writing, nearly 55,000 cases of the coronavirus, the Tuscan city of Prato is home to the highest concentration of Chinese migrants in the country. On more than one occasion, people I have engaged in casual conversations with about the coronavirus have tried to point to the town as the source of the virus in Italy. However, by early March, two weeks into Italy's initial lockdown of the original "red zones" so named for their high level of infections there were no reported cases of the coronavirus in Prato, the city or the larger province of which it is the capital. In Hong Kong, there have been widespread calls for Chief Executive Carrie Lam to shut all border crossings with China since January. Lam has refused. Proponents of a full shutdown point to Macau, China's other SAR or special administrative region, which has been very successful at combating the virus. Many of these people, as a faculty member of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Yun-wing Sung, explains in a Chinese submission to the Hong Kong Economic Journal, assume that Macau was able to quickly contain the spread of the virus because it imposed much stricter travel restrictions than Hong Kong on travel to and from mainland China from the onset of the virus breakout. However, as the workplace of some 35,000 foreign workers from the Chinese city of Zhuhai, Macau has maintained an open border to the mainland and its residents. It should be clear that many of those who blame China at this late stage for the spread of Covid-19 are likely seeking to shift blame from their own inadequate responses. Regardless of where the virus originated, cases have been reported on every continent except for Antarctica. Due to its incubation period, which may be as long as 14 days, everyone we see, including healthy-looking, non-Chinese people, could be a carrier. The current situation demands better access to testing for everyone and more affordable provision of health care and medical resources if a case is confirmed. Drive-through testing stations like the ones we first saw in South Korea in February, work-from-home policies rolled out by the Hong Kong government for civil servants in late January, and even China's building of emergency coronavirus hospitals in a matter of days early in the outbreak are examples of governments adapting efficiently to the crisis. As the global fight against an unprecedented virus drags on, we should be open-minded and accept that good disease-combating measures can come from anywhere, including China. It truly would be a shame if more people had to die because of some age-old prejudice. THis story was first published on CNN.com, "Will Sinophobia be our downfall in the fight against coronavirus?" Spanish hotels across the country slowly began to empty after the government ordered all of them to close by the 24 March in response to the coronavirus outbreak. The closures come as Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Sunday announced plans to extend the nationwide state of emergency for a further 15 days. It means the lockdown will last for at least one month. Following the announcement of the closures Canadian tourist Claude Lavoie told the Associated Press he was still struggling to get home. Spain is the second hardest-hit country in Europe by the virus. As of Sunday health officials said there had been more than 28,500 confirmed cases of the virus in the country and 1,750 deaths. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia but the vast majority of people recover from the virus. The coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 335,900 people and killed more than 14,600. More than 98,300 people have recovered so far, mostly in China. The owners of a farm who recently won their battle over 'bullies and abusers' to keep their privately-owned beauty spot have described the neighbours who threatened them as a 'vipers nest'. Ruth Ramsden, 56, and her husband James, a barrister, initially turned down an application to turn the creekside copse at their home on Shillingham Farm in Forder, near Plymouth, into a 'village green'. But their refusal to co-operate with those who wanted to control access to the 0.7-acre strip of land soon turned nasty, with vicious letters being send through their door and obscene graffiti painted on their walls, The Times reported. The abuse escalated to the point where police had to be called. Ruth Ramsden, 56, and her husband James, a barrister, initially turned down an application to turn the creekside copse (pictured) at their home on Shillingham Farm in Forder, near Plymouth, into a 'village green' They have since won their case, with Cornwall Council admitting the copse could not be granted village green status because it was not in regular use for 'sports or pastimes'. Mr Ramsden described his neighbours as a 'vipers nest' and said the 'meanspirited nimbys' wanted to stop others' enjoying land that was already open to the public. His wife Ruth, who was diagnosed with depression in 2016 after facing months of abuse, said they would 'take on the bullies and abusers'. The couple argued they already allowed public access for people to enjoy walks and picnics on the land. Mr Ramsden (pictured) described his neighbours as a 'vipers nest' Colin Brown, 81, applied to make the land a green in 2008, but it was refused by the previous owners. When Mr and Mrs Ramsden bought their 850-acre farm in the village they also denied the application. Cornwall council set up a three-day public enquiry in December. Mrs Ramsden revealed her children were threatened during the dispute and it eventually led to a diagnosis of depression in May 2016. In 2015 she says she was sent a Christmas card that read: 'Get f***ed you big s**t.' Another handwritten note addressed to a friend said: 'You c***s. Helping Ramsons [sic] over village green. Get f***ed.' Mrs Ramsden told The Times: 'It's hard to understand why people, mainly men, have been allowed to get away so far with bullying and abusive behaviour of this kind.' She claimed little was done by Devon and Cornwall police to investigate the abuse against her. Mrs Ramsden revealed her children were threatened during the dispute and it eventually led to a diagnosis of depression in May 2016. Pictured, one threatening letter Colin Brown (pictured outside the Saltash Guildhall in Cornwall, 81, applied to make the land a green in 2008, but it was refused by the previous owners Her husband blasted what he called 'a pointless and wasteful' public inquiry that cost the local authority 250,000. 'A small group of similarly meanspirited nimbys wanted to dictate access on their terms. 'This would have excluded visitors camping or youngsters having barbecues or swimming in the creek, none of which we have ever had a problem with ... all those responsible should be ashamed,' he added. The couple's refusal to co-operate with those who wanted to control access to the 0.7-acre strip of land soon turned nasty, with vicious letters being send through their door and obscene graffiti painted on walls (pictured) Mr Ramsden said the couple would try to recover their legal costs and donate them to the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution and a local Saltash charity. Mr Brown, who publicly condemned the abusive behaviour when asked about it in December, declined to comment on the application being rejected. MailOnline has contacted Mr Ramsden and Cornwall Council for comment. U.S. President Donald Trump has written to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un offering support in fighting the coronavirus epidemic, Kim's sister Yo-jong said Sunday. The letter came just a day after the Kims watched yet another short-range ballistic missile test. In a statement carried by the official [North] Korean Central News Agency, Kim Yo-jong said Trump "expressed his intent to render cooperation in the anti-epidemic work" and praised Kim Jong-un's "efforts" to fight coronavirus. Live artillery rounds are being fired at an unidentified location near the North Korean west coast on Friday, in this grab from the [North] Korean Central Television. /Yonhap Last week, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also offered humanitarian support to North Korea and Iran. The letter is "a good example showing the special and firm personal relations" between the North Korean and U.S. leaders, she claimed, but added, "In my personal opinion, I think that the bilateral relations and dialogue for them would be thinkable only when the equilibrium is kept dynamically and morally and justice ensured between the two countries." "Even at this moment we are working hard to develop and defend ourselves on our own under the cruel environment which the U.S. is keen to 'provide.'" North Korea has carried out three missile tests this month alone. On Friday and Saturday, Kim Jong-un watched military drills on the west coast including the test-firing of two short-range missiles into the East Sea. A short-range ballistic missile blasts off in Sunchon, South Pyongan Province on Saturday, in this grab from the [North] Korean Central Television. /Yonhap In pictures published in the state media, the mobile launch vehicles and projectiles look similar to a North Korean version of ATACMS tactical surface-to-surface missiles that was test-fired twice last August. "We've found out that the North's ATACMS missiles are capable of a pull-up maneuver," a military source here said. He added the missiles could launch precision strikes against the U.S. Forces Korea's military bases in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province and Cheongju in North Chungcheong Province, where F-35 stealth fighter jets are deployed, dodging the radar of the combined South Korea-U.S. forces. Cheong Wa Dae did not comment on the latest missile launch, but the ruling Minjoo Party said in a statement, "North Korea should immediately stop military actions that run counter to the peace on the Korean Peninsula and instead join hands in fighting COVID-19." The international coffee community mourns together the passing of Piero Bambi, a giant of the espresso manufacturing industry and lifelong leader at La Marzocco. His passing, on Sunday, March 22nd 2020, comes after a lengthy battle with cancer, while holding the title of Honorary President. Piero Bambi was an engineer, designer, author and master craftsman who personally oversaw the development of La Marzoccofounded in 1927 by his father, Giuseppe Bambi, and uncle, Bruno Bambiinto an international manufacturer and distributor of handbuilt espresso machines. Piero worked first as a technician, then as a designer, helping to create and manage La Marzoccos iconic factory hub in the hills of Florence, established in 1960. As a designer, his masterwork is the La Marzocco Linea espresso machine, introduced in 1990 with technology patented by Piero Bambi. In 1994 he authored the book Coffee Machines for Use in Bars, a pocket history of La Marzocco accompanied by technical advice for espresso machine used around the world. In the late 20th century Piero helped oversee La Marzoccos expansion into an international brand with machines in over a hundred countries, including the establishment of a La Marzocco hub in Seattle, Washington. This story is told in part at the Accademia del Caffe Espresso, La Marzoccos international espresso technology and coffee culture museum, housed in the very same factory above Florence. Piero Bambi attended opening day at the Accademia, profiled here on Sprudge. Today Piero Bambis legacy is remembered by the international coffee community, and by his colleagues at La Marzocco. I would like to say farewell to our eternal friend Piero, our mentor and the ultimate example of a keen commitment and passion for life, with a quote by a poet from my native land: Even the great deeds of great men come to an end, an end inscribed within their own vital spirit, and long prepared, even when it seems sudden. (Piero Chiara) Thank you, Piero, we will miss you. Guido Bernardinelli, La Marzocco CEO For more than 40 years Piero Bambi has been my friend, my inspiration, my mentor, my partner and my teacher. Not only about espresso coffee machines and caffe espresso but also life and culture. His contributions to the world of espresso coffee and to the lives of so many people will be remembered and appreciated. He will be missed but not forgotten. Thank you, Piero, for the gift of your spirit and the legacy that you have left for all of us to enjoy. Kent Bakke, founder of La Marzocco USA. While a funeral will not take place in light of the restrictions in Italy for Covid-19, writes La Marzocco Global Communications Manager Giada Bondi, the company has announced that once the pandemic crisis is over, a commemoration event will be organized to ensure that Giovanna and the extended family have an opportunity to honor Piero. On behalf of all of us at Sprudgegrazie mille, Piero. Disclosure: La Marzocco is an advertising partner on Sprudge Media Network. Mr Morrison said the states and territories had decided to escalate their response together on Tuesday. "Not all states, I want to stress, are in the same position. Some states, particularly in NSW and Victoria, are far more advanced on the progression of this virus than other states and territories. But tonight, despite the variations that do exist, there is a strong will for states and territories to seek to move together whenever they can to ensure a consistency of the rules and applications we are putting in place across the country." This is despite Victoria moving to call the school holidays early, and NSW asking parents to take their children out of school where possible. Mr Morrison said essential workers cover a lot of ground - they aren't just in our hospitals during the health crisis and schools need to stay open in some capacity for their children. "Now if you ask me who is an essential worker? Someone who has a job. Everyone who has a job in this economy is an essential worker. Every single job that is being done in our economy with these severe restrictions that are taking place is essential. "It can be essential in a service whether it's a nurse or a doctor or a school teacher, or a public servant who is working tonight to ensure that we can get even greater capacity in our Centrelink offices. "People stacking shelves, that is essential. People earning money in their family when another member of their family may have lost their job and can no longer earn, that's an essential job. Jobs are essential. "And everyone who has one needs to be able to keep doing their job and that means they will need to continue to be able to send their children to school for an education." AKRON, Ohio -- Myths about at-home remedies to prevent or cure the COVID-19 coronavirus have some people taking large doses of vitamin C, and pointing hot hairdryers at their face as a way to heat up their sinuses. But they are just that - myths. Dr. Michael Tan, an infectious disease specialist at Summa Health in Akron, said no scientific evidence exists to back up those mythical claims. And he warned that taking extreme measures in search of cures could have dangerous consequences. At this point, Tan said, there is no cure for COVID-19. There are clinical trials underway for a vaccine and an anti-viral compound that may have the potential treat coronaviruses, but unfortunately, its not something that is readily available to the general public, or even to the medical community, he said. The rumor about taking mega-doses of vitamin C has been circulating on social media, including by some wellness YouTubers and influencers who say that a doctor in China has used the vitamin to cure COVID-19 patients. I dont think there would be any data to actually back that up, Tan said. We know that there are some benefits of doing vitamin C and zinc when were talking about cold viruses, but specifically for coronaviruses and COVID-19, theres really nothing to support that claim. The doctor has also heard myths about killing the virus by drinking hot beverages and superheating your sinuses by pointing a hot hairdryer up your nose. Those also are not shown to be helpful for coronavirus, especially if youre trying to superheat your sinuses with things like a hairdryer or other heating elements, Tan said. That can certainly be a lot more dangerous and a lot less productive than just practicing good hand hygiene and social distancing. Tan said the best prevention is to follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including recommendations to wash your hands, avoid touching your face and practice good social distancing. The best places to get trustworthy information are from the CDC, the Ohio Department of Health and local health departments, he said. See previous: No, you cant test for coronavirus by holding your breath or stop it by drinking water: Debunking COVID-19 myths T eachers are preparing for a "challenging" situation as more pupils than expected could turn up despite UK schools officially closing due to coronavirus. The Government announced last week that only children of so-called key workers - including medics, police and food distribution staff - are still able to attend school so they can be looked after while their parents help in the fight against Covid-19. Parents have now been warned they could be in for difficult conversations if they take their children to school when they have an alternative means of ensuring they are looked after. The Department for Education has urged parents to keep their children at home unless their work is deemed "critical" to the country's response to Covid-19 and they have no other childcare option. Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures 1 /81 Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures A deserted Westminster Bridge PA A man wearing a face mask or covering due to the COVID-19 pandemic, walks past customers sat outside a restaurant AFP via Getty Images Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons Runners pass cardboard cutouts of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William during the London Marathon in London AP An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station Jeremy Selwyn Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield PA A sign is displayed in the window of a student accommodation building following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Mancheste Reuters People take part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions, in Londo AP People sing and dance in Leicester Square on the eve on the 10PM curfew Reuters Hearts painted by a team of artists from Upfest are seen in the grass at Queen Square, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Bristol Reuters Graffiti reads 'good luck and stay safe', as the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases grow around the world, under a bridge in London Reuters A sign is pictured in Soho, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London Reuters Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures, during a coronavirus briefing in Downing Street, London AP A person runs past posters with a message of hope, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Manchester REUTERS Riot police face protesters who took part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions in London AP An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London's Piccadilly Circus PA Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images Durdle Door in Dorset Reuters Captain Tom Moore via Reuters Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak PA An NHS worker reacts at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS Reuters Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno @AndrewStuart via PA Tobias Weller PA Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed London Landscapes: Hyde Park and the Serpentine, central London. Matt Writtle A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus PA Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue Reuters A young man cuts another man's hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford Reuters General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London via Reuters Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace Getty Images A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home PA Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak. PA Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers PA A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of "panic buying" cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus. Getty Images People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour PA Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus PA Children are painting 'Chase the rainbows' artwork and springing up in windows across the country Reuters Social distancing in Primrose Hill Jeremy Selwyn A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended PA Homeless people in London AFP via Getty Images A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow's street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss PA The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic PA A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world Reuters Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA Britain's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street Reuters The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh's Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak. PA Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear PA A sign at a Sainsbury's supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world Reuters Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" Getty Images A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads "Diseases are in the City" in Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors PA A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh PA A quieter than usual British Museum Getty Images A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre Getty Images A deserted Trafalgar Square in London PA Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport Getty Images It said that, if required, schools can ask for "simple evidence that the parent in question is a critical worker, such as their work ID badge or pay slip". Guidance, issued on Friday, listed the relevant occupations and said children with "at least one parent or carer" who is considered critical "can attend school if required". Schools will close from today in Northern Ireland / PA Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said sending a child to school is an emergency measure which should be seen "as a last resort". He said: "It is likely that more children than expected will turn up at school and that there may be less availability of staff if more have had to self-isolate or have become ill over the weekend. "So, the situation will be challenging today, and it will take some time to establish a more settled pattern." He said parents need to be prepared that schools will have to prioritise and that not every child will get a place, a sentiment echoed by the National Education Union (NEU). Dr Mary Bousted, NEU joint general secretary, said the schools can only operate to help during this outbreak "if everyone plays fair". She said: "If schools are to limit their intake during the crisis, school leaders and teachers must exercise their professional judgment. "There may have to be some difficult conversations with parents, which could include saying that the school cannot accommodate your child and remain safe." Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), urged parents not to mistake the spirit of battling on for behaviour that is instead reckless. He said: "As many children as possible should stay away from school. To do otherwise will risk the health of your family and the successful response to Covid-19. "Please do not confuse 'Dunkirk Spirit' with recklessness." He also urged employers not to take advantage of the lengthy list of key workers in order to keep their staff in work. He said: "My appeal to companies and other employers: Please do not interpret the key workers lists liberally for your own ends. A pupil is seen as a South-East London school closes due to the coronavirus outbreak on March 18, 2020 in London / Getty Images "Do not put profit over people. School places are there for the most vulnerable and to keep truly crucial operations running." Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: "If your work is not critical in the response to coronavirus then please keep your child at home. This will help to halt the spread of the virus, protect the NHS and save lives. "We will be closely monitoring what is happening in schools and will ensure they get the support they need in the weeks and months ahead." Schools will not be expected to take a normal attendance register, but will be asked to submit a daily report stating whether they are open and how many children and staff are in school so capacity can be tracked, the department said. The department has also published guidance on vulnerable children, with schools being asked to have a process in place to check on the welfare of any children in need who do not continue to come to school, to ensure they do not fall through the gaps. NSPCC chief executive Peter Wanless said it is "imperative" that different agencies understand who is responsible for children at home and added that social workers "will need continued support and resources to support those in isolation". A day after Gov. Phil Murphy blasted New Jersey residents not abiding by his coronavirus outbreak stay-at-home order by saying hes really damned unhappy" about violators, the states top law enforcement officer declared the time for warning is over. Consider this as your final warning, state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said Monday at a coronavirus briefing in Trenton. There will be serious legal consequences. Grewals warning went out to all non-essential retail businesses that have not closed as well as places like bars and restaurants that defy orders to ban in-person dining. The warning also goes for people who may want to throw a house party, Grewal said. Stop, he said bluntly. Let me be clear that violating these orders is a criminal offense." People who violate the orders could be charged from a disorderly person offense or second, third or fourth-degree crime, he said. Grewal added that state officials continue to monitor that stores are not price gouging during the outbreak. There is a special place in hell for people who take advantage of this health crisis, Murphy said. There sure is heck no time for it in the war that were under. "There is a special place in hell for people who take advantage of this health crisis," @GovMurphy says about anybody price gouging during #coronavirus outbreak. Matt Arco (@MatthewArco) March 23, 2020 The warning was made as Murphy announced New Jersey now has at least 2,844 known coronavirus cases with 27 deaths as officials announced Monday 935 new positive tests on the same day the second state-run testing site opened in Monmouth County and quickly hit capacity due to overwhelming demand. The governor also said people should expect New Jersey schools to be closed for an extended period of time as the state continues to respond to the pandemic. On Saturday, Murphy announced hes putting New Jersey into near-lockdown mode to combat the spread of the coronavirus, ordering nearly all of the states 9 million residents to stay at home and mandating that non-essential retail businesses be closed until further notice. Last week, Murphy strongly suggested that people refrain from non-essential travel between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. Now, he said, thats a 24-hour order to keep off the roads. A few people are excepted: health-care workers, law enforcement, emergency responders, members of the media, some federal officials, people who assist low-income residents (such as food bank workers), and those who need to get to work at businesses allowed to remain open. Otherwise, people can leave the house only for essential needs (such groceries, food, or medicine), to visit family and close friends, or to seek medical attention. You can also go outside for walks or exercise. But Grewal stressed people should not be having parties or gatherings even though people are allowed to visit friends. The caveat is meant to help provide family and friends with assistance. People who host parties or large gatherings face criminal charges, Grewal said. Murphy warned residents Sunday they should expect a law enforcement crackdown for those ignoring the near lockdown on the state. Theres too many people not paying attention to this. Weve about had it. Were not happy," Murphy said during a conference call Sunday to update the state on the latest cases. Under Murphys order, social gatherings of any size are banned in the state. People are not allowed to gather in groups and should practice social distancing. Those exempted from the stay-at-home order include health-care workers, law enforcement, emergency responders, members of the media, some federal officials, people who assist low-income residents (such as food bank workers), and those who need to get to work at businesses allowed to remain open. Otherwise, people can leave the house only for essential needs (such as groceries, food, or medicine), to visit family and close friends, or to seek medical attention. You can also go outside for walks or exercise. But in all circumstances, Murphy said people should practice social distancing. Murphy took the dramatic step Saturday of signing executive orders shutting down non-essential retail businesses, canceling social gatherings, and instructing people to quite simply stay at home." The non-essential retail business shutdown took effect Saturday night. The list of essential businesses that are allowed to keep operating is, according to the state website: Manufacturing, industrial, logistics, ports, heavy construction, shipping, food production, food delivery, and other commercial operations; and medical facilities where a sick or injured person is given care or treatment, such as doctors offices, hospitals, dentist offices, long-term care facilities and other medical offices. Sign up for text message alerts from NJ.com on coronavirus in New Jersey: NJ Advance Media staff writer Brent Johnson contributed to this report. Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. 18-year-old becomes youngest UK citizen to die from coronavirus British PM Johnson has warned that people not following social distancing guidelines amid the coronavirus outbreak are 'putting other people's lives at risk'. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned on Sunday that if British citizens did not more strictly adhere to social distancing, then further government measures could be introduced. His remarks followed a sunny weekend in the UK, with social media filled with pictures of packed parks and public spaces. "WE ARE GOING TO BRING FORWARD FURTHER MEASURES" The UK Department of Health announced on Sunday that the death toll from coronavirus is 281, an increase of 48 in 24 hours. The total number of positive cases now stands at 5,683 in the country. "I want, of course I do, people to go to the parks and open spaces and enjoy themselves, Johnson said. "Please follow the advice and don't think fresh air ... automatically provides immunity," he told a press conference. Johnson warned those who thought they were invulnerable that they could nevertheless spread the disease to others. He said that as things stand the health benefits of keeping parks open outweigh epidemiological value of closing them. If people dont exercise responsibly in the parks and green spaces, there is going to be no doubt we are going to bring forward further measures and we are keeping that under constant review, he warned. Johnson referred to the situation in Italy in order to underscore the point: The Italian death toll is already in the thousands and climbing. Unless we act together, unless we make the heroic and collective national effort to slow the spread, then it is all too likely that our own National Health Service will be similarly overwhelmed. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Esther Samboh (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, March 23, 2020 16:00 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206cdabba 1 Business COVID-19,coronavirus,economic-impact,poverty,SME,Vivi-Alatas Free Food sellers operating around empty schools and offices have fewer customers than ever. Workers are not getting their daily income as factories and workplaces run understaffed. The low-income segment of the population has suffered the most from the economic slowdown driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. Vivi Alatas, a renowned development economist in Indonesia and advisor for education platform IYKRA, has advice on how everyone in society can help soften the economic shocks suffered by the poor and those at risk of slipping into poverty. The government has prepared for a worst-case scenario of zero percent economic growth, as the global supply chain has been disrupted. Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said the baseline scenario was for the Indonesian economy to grow at above 4 percent this year, which would be its lowest growth rate in 15 years. Businesses across Indonesia have complained of weak demand, with supply disruptions hurting the production process, resulting in the potential for layoffs. Yang paling kasihan orang miskin, penjual keliling yang kehilangan pembeli, warung samping sekolah yang sepi, toko kelontong . Pada saat yang sama mereka yang paling rentan terkena dampak karena tidak punya pilihan social distancing dan berkurangnya penghasilan dengan drastis . vivi alatas (@vvalatas) March 20, 2020 Communities: What we can do Donate to the poor. Dont wait for Ramadhan, dont wait for Christmas, Vivi wrote on her Twitter account @vvalatas. Use or create WhatsApp groups among neighbors to lift each others spirits [and] to help out others. Gather the contact numbers for vegetable, fruit, bread and food sellers around our community. Empower staple food shops around us to conduct delivery services and pay more. She also advised giving generous tips to ojek (online motorcycle taxi) drivers that serve us, and to be more charitable in general. Make sure theres no one who is hungry around you. Give away rice, give away soap to wash hands, wrote Vivi, a former World Bank economist. Help supply the needs of healthcare and medical workers who fight on the front line. Only one out of five Indonesians is economically secure, according to the World Bank report Aspiring Indonesia. Around 24.8 million Indonesians live on under US$1 a day 9.22 percent of the population and over 60 million are vulnerable to falling into poverty. Private sector: What companies can do Vivi, the writer of Indonesia Jobs Report, also shared six tips on how companies can help contain the spread of COVID-19. First, make sure sanitation needs and personal protective equipment are sold at fair prices. This is not the time to maximize on profits. Sell with a fair price, to deter those who price gouge, she wrote. Second, give workers the opportunity to engage in social distancing. This can be done by avoiding close contact at the workplace or by conducting work from home. Transfer [] salaries now. Dont wait for Idul Fitri, dont wait for Christmas, Vivi said. Fifth, companies can identify their workers skills gaps. Its time to push employees to learn and improve their skills through online learning. Lastly, it is time for a massive corporate social responsibility initiative on helping the poor and vulnerable, while also helping the government to ensure it is prepared on the supply side, Vivi said. Robi Anto, a junior high school student in Bengkulu, mans a humble stall selling live shrimp for bait, on November 15. (JP/Dedek Hendry) Public sector: What the government can do The government can help by giving out aid in the form of cash and food and encouraging those who are not registered to sign up for health care by offering lower premiums. Indonesia has had the experience of providing [direct cash aid], so this can be done rapidly, Vivi said. By incentivizing [the public to sign up for health care], this could boost the number of those registered and the fees that could be collected from the health care system once this storm has calmed. Electricity mostly consumed by the middle to lower class could be free; non-taxable income could be increased and micro, small and medium enterprises could be given tax exemptions, she added. In Italy where the coronavirus death toll recently surpassed China critical shortages of protective gear have left undertakers in the countrys worst affected region unable to get new face masks, leaving them at acute risk of contagion with some funeral directors too afraid to pick up the deceased. Undertakers are now rationing their own dwindling reserves of masks and sanitisers to enter the homes of families under quarantine, as the total coronavirus cases in Italy reached 59,138 on Sunday, including 5,476 deceased and 7,024 recoveries. By Monday, the total number of deaths jumped to 6,078 after more than 600 people died in just 24 hours. The spread of the contagion coupled with the lack of protective gear has already shut the doors of a number of funerary services in Lombardy, the hardest-hit region with 17,885 active cases, and risks further disrupting this essential service. With Covid-19 claiming thousands of lives, undertaker Mario Giannella says his job has become hasty and perilous but the repercussions to public health would be too dire for him to give in to fear. What will happen when there arent enough of us? the 48-year-old told The Independent. Who will want to improvise as undertakers? The Italian National Federation of Funerary Parlours (FENIOF) sent an appeal to the Civil Protection the emergency department and Lombardys regional authority, demanding to receive access to protective equipment including filtered face masks and hand sanitiser. The importation of face masks has been centralised by the government and they are being redistributed by regional authorities to guarantee supplies to hospitals. Over 3,700 healthcare workers have been infected amid surging numbers of intensive care patients requiring long-term hospitalisation. A spokesperson for Lombardys regional authority told The Independent that 300,000 face masks were being distributed every day but only to hospitals. In a written response to FENIOFs appeal, the regional authority stated that at the present time, we can only resupply public workers in the health sector. It will be up to the single companies to cater to their needs. However, the centralisation makes it impossible for private companies to acquire filtered face masks and hand sanitiser autonomously. Romes cry for help has fallen on deaf ears as countries around the globe scramble to bulk up their mask supplies, with some banning all exports. China has been one of the few countries to respond to Italys appeal, sending doctors and medical equipment. FENIOF was not able to estimate a tally of contagions for undertakers or how many businesses might have been affected so far, but at least four funerary operators have shut their doors in the city of Milan alone, while others worked overtime. Undertaker Giannella says the situation has left colleagues overburdened and afraid. In Limbiate, a town of 35,000 in the hard-hit Lombardy region, he knows every client by name. As he enters their homes amid a nationwide lockdown, he is greeted by spouses, siblings and offspring who might have Covid-19. The gut-wrenching feeling of having become the remover of plagued corpses is as difficult to bear as the fear of falling ill, he said. Some relatives take him by the arm and lean in closer in a bid to stir compassion, imploring him to hold a funeral, despite all religious ceremonies having been banned on 9 March in a bid to halt the spread of the virus. The risk of contagion appeared to be underplayed by the regional authority, which advised FENIOF in a written response to apply standard precautions as the deceased does not breathe and therefore does not disperse the virus in the air through respiration. Alessandro Bosi, FENIOFs secretary general, argued that this is short-sighted. A body could still exhale liquids and gases that could be infectious, but that is not the biggest concern. Bosi told The Independent: The risk is posed by the relatives. Coronavirus: Harrowing footage from Italy hospital showing A+E overrun with coronavirus patients He estimated one in four deaths occur at home, but numbers may rise as hospitals run out of beds. Those who exhibit symptoms compatible with coronavirus that are not considered life-threatening are often required to self-isolate and wait to be tested at home. But the coronavirus-led steep and rapid downturn means many do not make it to the hospital. Others may be positive to coronavirus but asymptomatic, leaving undertakers in need for protective gear at all times. To stay operational, some undertakers say they are having to reuse the same face masks beyond the maximum recommended time limit of four hours. The gravity of the situation became apparent earlier this month, when an angered man shared a video lamenting not being able to get funerary operators to collect his sisters body while he was quarantined at home with her. Luca Franzese, whose sister tested positive to Covid-19, filmed his appeal which became viral and sparked strong reactions on social media as the corpse was still visible on the background. They refused to come because they were not equipped, he said, demanding an apology from the authorities, as the 118 health emergency number was not able to provide guidance. According to FENIOF, funerary operators are also dependent on doctors or medical guards who ascertain the death of their patient and fill in the legal documents and cannot intervene if they are not available, or refuse to enter a home without the necessary protective gear. Italys death toll surpassed Chinas on Friday, when it reached more than 3,400. Residents of the northern city of Bergamo ware left aghast on Wednesday as 30 army vehicles were brought in to remove the coffins piling up in the churches and morgues. Prior to the outbreak of the virus, funerary services in Italys worst hit town were handling 1,300 to 1,400 deaths per year. At present, they are managing over 300 per week 14 times more compared with last year. This has left morgues and churches full as crematory chambers struggled to respond to the demand. Army vehicles intervened to move the coffins out of Lombardy towards regions in central Italy where morgues were not operating at full capacity. Following the ministerial decree banning all religious celebrations, bodies are being cremated hastily and without funerals. If the death toll keeps rising and funerary operators fall ill, there will be nationwide implications on public health, Bosi said. LOS ANGELES (dpa-AFX) - Occidental Petroleum Corp. is nearing a truce with activist investor Carl Icahn that will see three new directors appointed to the oil company's board, according to the Wall Street Journal reported citing people familiar with the matter. A deal could be announced as soon as Monday. Icahn associates, Andrew Langham and Nicholas Graziano, would receive seats on Occidental's board. A third, mutually-agreed upon director would later be added, the report said. Herbalife Nutrition board member Margarita Palau-Hernandez is someone who is being discussed for the third director. As part of the deal, Icahn reportedly support the return of Occidental's former Chief Executive Officer Stephen Chazen as chairman. Vicki Hollub likely would remain CEO of the company. Icahn, who owns about 10% of Occidental's shares, has criticized Hollub for the Anadarko Petroleum acquisition. Earlier this month, Occidental Petroleum adopted a limited duration stockholder rights plan and declared a dividend of one 'Right' for each outstanding share of Occidental common stock. A stockholder rights plan, colloquially known as a 'poison pill', is a type of defensive tactic used by a corporation's board of directors against a takeover. Occidental said it would reduce quarterly dividend and 2020 capital spending, due to the sharp decline in global commodity prices. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. CHICAGO, March 23 (Reuters) - U.S. chicken company Sanderson Farms Inc said on Monday that a slaughterhouse worker was infected with the new coronavirus, the first publicly confirmed positive test of a worker in a U.S. meat plant, though the plant is not closing. Farmers and traders have been worried that slaughterhouses could shut if workers or government inspectors fall ill. Closures would remove markets for farmers to sell their livestock and threaten to tighten meat supplies as consumers are stocking up due to concerns about the pandemic. Sanderson said the infected worker was an employee at its McComb, Mississippi, processing plant and that the person's work area was contained to one small processing table. The plant processes 1.3 million birds a week, about 9.5% of the company's total capacity, according to Sanderson's website. The company sent home the infected employee, along with six others, with pay to isolate themselves, according to a statement. It said the company also thoroughly cleaned the affected work area and other facilities. "Recognizing that very few of Sanderson Farms' employees can do their jobs remotely, the company's processing and production sites are continuously evaluating staffing needs, as well as on-site health and safety measures to manage through this pandemic," the statement said. Sanderson has increased its production of chicken for grocery stores to refill refrigerated meat cases emptied by shoppers unnerved by the virus. Meat companies like Tyson Foods Inc have also been shifting supplies of chicken, beef and pork to supermarkets from restaurants and checking the temperatures of slaughterhouse workers to make sure they are not sick. (Reporting by Tom Polansek in Chicago Additional reporting by Chris Walljasper; Editing by Tom Brown) Police officers and security guards stand outside the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan on Jan. 24, 2020. (HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP via Getty Images) Chinese Regime Directly Targets Trump in Latest Disinformation Push In a notable shift in messaging, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is now turning to directly target President Donald Trump as part of its global disinformation campaignaggressively pushing terms such as Trump Pandemic. Chinese officials and state-run media have already attempted to shift the blame over the regimes botched handling of the CCP virus by pushing conspiracy theories targeting the United States. Multiple major CCP outlets, most whom have English versions of their websites, are now attacking Trump head-on. Social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, which are blocked from use by Chinese citizens in the communist state, are being used by Chinese officials and media companies to push the Partys propaganda. Over the past few days, state-run Xinhua News has promoted the hashtags #Trumpandemic and #TrumpVirus on its news posts on both platforms. Chinas hawkish Global Times newspaper in a March 22 article, titled Trump Pandemic rages, attacked the U.S. presidents response to the CCP virus and promoted the anti-Trump hashtagsclaiming Trump has now run into a brick wall. A Beijing-based commentator told the Global Times that the term Trump pandemic is not only vivid but also very accurate. The goal of Chinas disinformation campaign is to distract from their own actions and own failures, according to Brendan Carr, a commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). China is engaged in a worldwide propaganda campaign to cover their tracks, Carr told The Epoch Times. There is a direct relationship between the brutal and oppressive nature of the communist regime and the global spread of COVID-19. The chief propagandists for the communist regime are now twisting and turning the words of anyone and everyone around to try to take the finger off of themand to point it at anybody else. A March 13 study found that if China had intervened earlier with non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), the spread of the CCP virus could have been reduced by as much as 95 percent. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mishandling of the epidemic, which started in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. A March 23 op-ed posted in the state-run China Daily claimed that the pandemic is worse in the United States than in China, and that entirely wrong judgments made by President Trump led to the situation of the intensity of coronavirus cases being much worse in the U.S. than in China. The CCP has been claiming that there have been no new cases of the virus in recent weeks. A series of internal government documents obtained by The Epoch Times, however, shows the situation in the city of Wuhan is much worse than what has been officially reported. Chinese citizens also describe a different reality on the ground. Another op-ed in the China Daily didnt identify Trump directly but stated that certain US politicians are totally brainless and unscrupulous. They dont care about facts, and what they do is just repeating the ridiculous prejudices that have long taken roots in their mind. Carr said a clear distinction needs to be drawn between the people of China and the communist regime, saying he sometimes uses the phrase Communist Party virus to be clear that the people of China are most often the direct victims of the communist regime. Carr, who said he responds to the conspiracies pushed by CCP officials on his Twitter account, said it is always appropriate to push back on communist propaganda. I think taking a few seconds out of our day to do that while we focus on the fight that we have at hand, in terms of getting the pandemic under control in the United StatesI think that that is the right move, he said. The White House didnt respond to a request for comment by The Epoch Times about Chinas new propaganda offensive. Meanwhile, Trump administration officials and U.S. politicians have recently spoken out against the Beijing regimes propaganda. At a March 17 briefing, Trump said: China was putting out information which was false, that our military gave this [virus] to them. That was false, and rather than having an argument, I have to call it where it came from. It did come from China. Internal government documents obtained by The Epoch Times have highlighted how the regime purposefully underreported cases of the CCP virus and censored discussions of the outbreak, helping to fuel the spread of the disease, which is now confirmed to have infected more than 374,000 people internationally. At the same time, McConnell said it was time for Democrats to "take 'yes' for an answer" and accept a bill that he said incorporated many of their ideas. Democrats, though, said McConnell's bill was tilted too far in favour of corporations and did not include much oversight for $US500 billion in loans and guarantees that could go to firms selected by the Treasury Department. Democrats said that despite some concessions on the part of Republicans, the bill still had too many flaws and did not do enough to shore up the health care system and help average Americans. "Now, let me be clear: the majority leader was well aware of how this vote would go before it happened, but he chose to move forward with it anyway - even though negotiations are continuing, so who's playing games?" Schumer asked, before adding a hopeful note: "Can we overcome the remaining disagreements in the next 24 hours? Yes. We can and we should. The nation demands it." "We are at the point where both sides have come a long way towards each other," McConnell said Sunday on the Senate floor. "And each side has to decide whether to continue elbowing and arguing over the last several inches, and risk the whole thing . . . or whether to shake hands and get it done." A major sticking point is a $US500 billion pool of money for loans and loan guarantees that Republicans want to create, which some Democrats are labelling a "slush fund" because the Treasury Department would have broad discretion over who receives the money. There is little precedent for a program with a similar size and scope. Loading The implications for the standoff became more dire as concerns about the economy intensify. Several senators feared the on the markets if they do not reach an agreement by Monday morning. Underscoring the spreading dangers, Senator Rand Paul, on Sunday became the first senator to announce that he had tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. He had worked out with fellow lawmakers in the Senate gym that morning. Not long afterward, Republican senators Mike Lee and Mitt Romney announced that they'd be going into self-quarantine because of being in contact with Paul; three other senators had self-quarantined earlier after possible brushes with infected individuals. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, meanwhile, suggested that House Democrats might chart their own course and release their own bill, which could put the Democratic-led House and the Republican-led Senate on different tracks and delay final agreement on any deal. The White House had expressed hope that a bill could be signed into law by Monday. The sharemarket has lost 10,000 points in six weeks, and some analysts believe more than 3 million people filed for unemployment benefits last week. Much of the US economy is frozen as Americans stay home and cut back on spending, fearful about the coronavirus outbreak. The number of confirmed cases in the US has grown sharply in the past few days, a rise that does not appear to be slowing. Loading The economic conditions appear to be dramatically worse than first predicted. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard told Bloomberg News in an interview Sunday that the unemployment rate could hit 30 per cent between April and June because of mass layoffs, which would be worse than what occurred during the Great Depression. In addition to $US500 giving billion in loans and loan guarantees to businesses, states, and cities, the Senate GOP legislation would appropriate $US350 billion for small businesses that is meant to help prevent more layoffs. It would also send $US1200 cheques to many Americans, bolster the unemployment insurance system, and disburse a broad range of emergency funds to help reinforce hospitals and other areas. The Senate bill would be by far the largest financial rescue ever attempted by Congress, dwarfing legislation passed during the financial crisis of 2008. The bill includes massive funding streams for households and businesses, and prioritising one over the other could cause significant issues in the economy. For example, the direct payments to households would appropriate $US1200 per qualifying adult and $US500 per child at a cost of about $US250 billion. The cash disbursements in the new agreement would phase out for people with incomes of $US75,000 and above. The legislation also includes about $US100 billion for hospitals and about $US250 billion to beef up state unemployment insurance programs - both major priorities for Democrats. But many other parts of the bill are meant to address problems flagged by companies, many of whom have said they will be forced to scale back much of their operations if they don't receive aid soon. Democrats have argued that without protections for workers, companies receiving bailout money could fire their employees and pocket the taxpayer assistance, which would undermine the purpose of the federal aid. Republicans have said, though, that the program needs to be up and running immediately to help the economy before it is too late. The dynamic on Capitol Hill partly results from lingering resentments among Senate Republicans over the last coronavirus relief bill, a $US100-billion-plus package enacted last week; it was negotiated between Pelosi and Mnuchin. Many Senate Republicans were unhappy with paid-sick-leave provisions in that bill but voted for it anyway. The enormous package being negotiated is Congress' third coronavirus relief bill. The first one, enacted this month, appropriated $US8.3 billion for the public health system, vaccine development and other needs. If you are like many in Tucson, you have found yourself working at home instead of in an office with coworkers. Unfortunately, some are home because they are not needed at their jobs during the COVID-19 crisis. To make matters more complicated, children are home from school. While they are doing some home schooling, online education and the like, once school time is over, they still cannot spend time with their friends. If you have to get work done, you need activities to keep the children busy. You may need some diversion for yourself as well. Thats where the Pima County Public Library can help. You may think the library is closed to you if you are isolating yourself to prevent exposure to the virus. But there are many digital services you can access if you have a valid library card. The Tucson Festival of Books was canceled because of the coronavirus. However, had it gone on, visitors would have been able to visit the Digital Bookmobile. An Irish certification and training firm backed by the Bank of Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and two Irish universities has been sold for 6m to a UK company. Certification Europe - a firm based in Park West Business Park in Dublin with satellite offices in the UK, Japan and Italy - is becoming part of the Amtivo Group. Amtivo's portfolio of firms includes the British Assessment Bureau, myActiv and Equas Consulting. It is based in West Malling, Kent. While terms of the sale were not publicly disclosed, Amtivo is understood to have paid about 6m to acquire Certification Europe. The Bank of Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, the University of Limerick Foundation and the Galway University Foundation shared in the proceeds in what Kernel Capital called "a significant multiple return". Founded in 1999, Certification Europe had been a portfolio company of the Bank of Ireland Kernel Capital Fund since 2014. "Kernel Capital has supported us in building a market-leading ISO (international organisation of standardisation) certification, training and inspection business," said Michael Brophy, chief executive of Certification Europe. "From our base in Dublin we will bring to Amtivo access to several core markets, plus genuine leadership, skill set and knowledge in the key area of IT and data security," he said. "We look forward to combining this with Amtivo's unique go-to-market approach and technology, which will help us provide an even better and wider variety of services to our customers and provide us with an innovative and market-leading approach to swiftly scaling our international operations." Amtivo Group was founded in 2017 with the financial backing of London investment firm August Equity, which takes stakes in small and medium-sized businesses providing professional services. Like Certification Europe, Amtivo provides a wide range of services, chiefly to SMEs. These include standards certification, engaging and developing employees, monitoring legal requirements, data protection, improving financial performance, managing risk, and optimising resources. MP tells visitors to stay away from North Wales This article is old - Published: Monday, Mar 23rd, 2020 Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes is encouraging visitors and tourists not to visit the beauty spots, scenic towns and villages in Clwyd South and elsewhere in North Wales in order to contain Coronavirus. Over the weekend there were unprecedented scenes across parts of North Wales as visitors flocked to the area despite the ongoing deadly pandemic. Mr Baynes says Welsh Conservative MPs are in touch with the Home Secretary and No.10 Downing Street and were pleased to hear that the UK government is considering tougher measures to prevent people coming to visitor and tourist attractions in order to avoid COVID-19. Simon Baynes MP said: Tourism is normally a vital industry for Clwyd South but now we must ensure that visitors stay away from the beauty spots of Clwyd South as residents are very worried about the spread of Coronavirus from these visits. The government is rightly advising people to stay at home and avoiding unnecessary travel. It has closed pubs, restaurants, cafes and visitor attractions so people must stay away from Clwyd South and not put pressure on our shops, supermarkets and health services. This is the greatest national crisis since World War 2 and we must all pull together to protect each other, particularly the vulnerable in society and our brave health workers, and this way we will beat Coronavirus together. Indian missions lend helping hand to ensure compatriots reach home safely amidst COVID-19 outbreak Indian missions are helping fellow citizens world over, affected by travel restrictions due to COVID-19, through consular services and by arranging flights under the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs, India. Stranded travellers in many countries have reached out to the India's Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar, to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), to Indian consulates and to Indian High Commissioners (IHC). The MEA and the IHCs have been active on social media and have shared updates through their twitter handles. Here's a round up of some reassuring posts. Indian pilgrims in Iran being treated in Iran where coronavirus spread like wildfire. India in New Zealand sends a message to stranded travellers. India in UK shares the High Commissioners message. High Commissioner's message to all Indian citizens in the UK. Please share with as many fellow countrymen as you can. @RuchiGhanashyam @CGI_Bghm @IndiaInScotland @MEAIndia pic.twitter.com/MibZwstY1S India in the UK (@HCI_London) March 22, 2020 Indian embassy officials & Air India worked together as a team to ensure smooth check in and departure of Indian students & compassionate cases from Rome. Great team effort @FCO Rome. Embassy officials & Air India worked together in full strength to ensure smooth check in and departure of Indian students & compassionate cases from Rome.@DrSJaishankar @harshvshringla @MEAIndia pic.twitter.com/WoFx4mcwcW India in Italy (@IndiainItaly) March 21, 2020 India in Italy updated with relief that all Indian students have reached India. Happy & relieved to be back! All Indian students who were confirmed COVID19 negative on basis of tests performed by Indian medical team that visited Rome, have reached India and will undergo the mandatory quarantine@DrSJaishankar @harshvshringla @MEAIndia pic.twitter.com/ojf7SVlSGJ India in Italy (@IndiainItaly) March 22, 2020 India in Malaysia reaffirmed that officials will help stranded Indians at Kuala Lumpur International Airport and provide 24/7 medicines and food supplies. India in Maldives appreciates the help of Indian medical relief teams Giving credit where its due! Indias High Commissioner to the Maldives @sunjaysudhir appreciates work done by the Indian medical relief team in as part of PM @narendramodis initiative for a collaborative regional approach to fight #COVID19 @MEAIndia @MoFAmv @HarshShringla pic.twitter.com/9wfFpOIrQV India in Maldives (@HCIMaldives) March 22, 2020 India in Chile published updates for Indian national in Chile If you have news of Indian nationals who are infected with COVID 19 or stranded in Chile, please ask them to contact the Embassy in Santiago or send us their contact details. Call 24x7 helpline number +56932154035 or WhatsApp to +56981393820 or email to cons.santiago@mea.gov.in India in Chile (@Indiainchile) March 21, 2020 So did India in Thailand Emergency helplines at Embassy of India, Bangkok pic.twitter.com/9TkZstpQI8 India in Thailand (@IndiainThailand) March 22, 2020 India in Netherlands provided updated travel advisories EMBASSY OF INDIA TRAVEL ADVISORY All international flights to India have been stopped since March 22. All Indian nationals are requested to stay in their places of residence & follow the instructions issued by local health authorities. IndiainNetherlands (@IndinNederlands) March 22, 2020 India in Mauritius advised all to be calm and work together. We are all in this together Help prevent spread of #Covid19 pandemic by staying where you are Follow advisories Restrictions may be inconvenient but are temporary and absolutely essential to break the chain of spread Panic does not help the situation Be a part of the solution India in Mauritius (@HCI_PortLouis) March 22, 2020 Indians in Myanmar were urged to register themselves at the embassy #COVID19 Updated Advisory for Indian Nationals in Myanmar Please Register here : https://t.co/2uOZjzZh2F pic.twitter.com/a5uroSrFah India in Myanmar (@IndiainMyanmar) March 20, 2020 Indian nationals who return to the homeland will go through medical checkups and will be quarantined for 14 days upon landing. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo continued his push to increase the states hospital capacity on Monday, mandating that all New York hospitals up their number of beds by 50% as the system prepares to deal with the worst of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. With a current capacity of about 53,000 beds and needs estimates as high as 110,000, he said that doubling the number of beds in each hospital would be ideal, but that might not be feasible. If they increased the capacity 100%, that solves the mathematical projection, he said at his Monday morning press briefing. "I think its unreasonable to say to every hospital, basically double your capacity. I dont think its unreasonable to say try to reach 50% increase.' A spokesperson for Staten Island University Hospital said theyve been working to identify parts of the hospital that can be converted to treat critical care patients, discharging patients to free up capacity, and cancelling elective surgery to reduce the hospitals volume of patients. He did not say whether they will be able to meet the capacity. Dr. Philip Otterbeck, the chairman of medicine at Richmond University Medical Center, said the West Brighton hospital has also been working to meet the governors mandate. We certainly will be meeting this standard and are actually assessing how we can exceed these expectations so we can better assist the people of Staten Island during this time, he said. As of Monday morning, there were 20,875 cases statewide with 12,305 in city, and 157 deaths in the state. The two Staten Island hospitals told the Advance/SILive.com Monday that they were aware of 12 deaths on the borough caused by the virus. In addition to increasing hospital capacity, both Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio have sounded the alarm on supplies and called for market intervention from the federal government for things like masks, gloves, and, particularly, ventilators. In a pair of morning TV interviews, de Blasio said that the citys public hospital system could be overwhelmed by the end of the week if it doesnt get more supplies. I want to see 100s of ventilators. I want to see first 100s of thousands then millions of masks, he said on CNNs New Day. If that doesnt come in starting this week, we will we get to a point where people cant be saved who couldve been saved. "It's going to be bad this week, it's going to be worse the following week. We have to be honest about this," says @NYCMayor Bill de Blasio on the current state of the coronavirus in New York City. "This is just the beginning."https://t.co/IJxGGxkvNe pic.twitter.com/4VrtrkQX7w New Day (@NewDay) March 23, 2020 The mayor said he has made appeals to the president, Vice President Mike Pence, and members of the private sector for ventilators needed in the city. A cacophony of Democrats, including Cuomo and the partys congressional delegation, have called on the president to use the powers granted by the federal Defense Production Act to mandate private industry to shift its production focus to what the nation needs to fight the virus. Trump announced Wednesday that he would invoke the act, but has yet to make any use of it. The fact that I signed it, its in effect, he said at his Sunday press briefing. But you know, were a country not based on nationalizing our business. In 2017, the president sent a letter to Congress to notify that he would be using certain powers granted by the act to rectify a shortfall in the space industrial base. Both Cuomo and de Blasio said Monday that leaving the allocation of resources to the free market and private industry has led to bidding wars among different localities. Cuomo shared statistics that the state has secured over a million pieces of equipment with hundreds of thousands being allocated to New York City. We have made certain strides, but this is not the way to do it. This is AD HOC. Im competing with other states. Im bidding up other states on the prices, Cuomo said. I understand the voluntary private-public sector partnership, and there are a lot of good companies who are coming forward and saying let us help, he continued. "But it cant just be hey who wants to help, let me know. We need to know what the numbers of what we need produced and who is going to produce that and when. With New York having the highest number of cases and deaths in the nation -- spurred, in part, by conducting a quarter of the nations tests -- Cuomo said the most obvious need for resources is in the Empire State. Cuomo also continued his calls for more retired healthcare workers to voluntarily rejoin the workforce as the state prepares to deal with the toll the virus will have on the healthcare system. *** Be the first to know: Sign up for our newsletters; and get breaking news and top stories pushed to your phone with the SILive.com mobile app. RELATED COVERAGE: Online learning starts Monday for NYC schools: What you need to know Coronavirus: AP exams will be online, shortened to 45 minutes Schools closed: Heres where NYC students can get free meals Coronavirus: Several Staten Island schools announce confirmed cases Schools closed: Heres where NYC students can get free meals Wagner College postpones commencement due to coronavirus 10 tips for families as NYC schools move to online learning By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government has reinstated Sriram Venkitaraman, prime accused in the case of Siraj journalist K M Basheers death in an accident, as Covid-19 special officer in the Health Department, seven months after the incident that rattled the state. Sriram Venkitaraman The government took the decision based on Chief Secretary Tom Joses report which recommended Srirams reinstatement. A source said the 33-year-old was appointed the Covid special officer, in the rank of a joint secretary, considering his educational background as a medical doctor. Though the government did not elaborate on the duties being assigned to Sriram, a senior health official said he would be coordinating activities against the pandemic. Basheer was killed in the early hours of August 3 after being hit by a car reportedly driven by the IAS officer, who was accompanied by Wafa Firoze, who claimed to be his friend. Sriram was allegedly at the wheel in an inebriated state when the accident happened. But the police could not substantiate the charge as his blood test was delayed. ALSO READ: IAS officer Srirams posting in health department as COVID-19 special officer raises eyebrows Sriram had told the police and the chief secretary that it was Wafa who drove the car. Following this, the chief secretary recommended the chief minister to reinstate the officer stating that there was no evidence to suggest that he was under the influence of alcohol when the accident occurred. The government had extended his suspension for another three months, but decided to reinstate him as it would not be legally tenable to keep him out till the trial of the case is over. [March 23, 2020] FPT Donates 2,000 Quarantine Rooms and Cash to Fight COVID-19 HANOI, Vietnam, March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Vietnam's largest tech firm, FPT, on Sunday announced it had dedicated its 2,000-room university dormitory as a quarantine site and US$850,000 in medical supplies to support the Government's fight against coronavirus (COVID-19). The dormitory is part of FPT University campus, located in a 300,000-square meter hi-tech park that is 40 minutes drive from the center of Hanoi. It is a four-building complex with lush greenery and many facilities available to accommodate thousands of students on campus. Over the weekend, hundreds of FPT employees and students have gathered to vacate the rooms and help set up the quarantine facility. Besides accommodations, the company also donated to the local Government US$850,000 worth of medical supplies such as ventilators, disinfection chambers, and medical protective equipment. he dorm-turned-quarantine site is expected to be active from 23 March until the pandemic is over. "People is our most valuable assets, and we are doing our best to help the Government fight against COVID-19. FPT wishes to contribute to the protection of front-line doctors, healthcare staff and the community, preventing the spread of the pandemic as well as easing pressures on the Government and local authorities. We hope to see more hands join the battle so we could get through this challenging time together," said FPT Chairman, Truong Gia Binh. Earlier in February, FPT helped Vietnam's Ministry of Health to launch a 24/7 virtual chatbot that could handle 5,000 inquiries on COVID-19 every day. The company has also granted free access to its AI-powered online learning platform VioEdu, where local students of all levels could educate themselves during the school closures. As of Monday noon, Vietnam confirmed 118 positive cases of COVID-19, with no deaths. The country is gearing up to expand centralized quarantine sites nationwide to welcome citizens returning home from virus-hit countries. The Vietnamese Government has won praises from the World Health Organization for an effective operating response system and ability to address urgent public health issues. About FPT Corporation FPT Corporation is a technology and IT services provider headquartered in Vietnam with nearly US$2 billion in revenue and 36,000 employees. Being a pioneer in digital transformation, the company delivers world-class services in Smart factory, Digital platforms, RPA, AI, IoT, Mobility, Cloud, Managed Services, Testing, more. The company has served over 700 customers worldwide, 100 of which are Fortune 500 companies in the industries of Aerospace & Aviation, Automotive, Banking and Finance, Communications, Media and Services, Logistics & Transportation, Utilities, Consumer Packaged Goods, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Public sector, Technology and more. For more information, please visit www.fpt-software.com. Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200323/2758190-1 SOURCE FPT Corporation [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] If were going to see anything like what weve been seeing in Italy and Spain and China, theres no doubt that were going to be running low on masks, said the obstetrician, who asked that his name be withheld because he doesnt want to offend administrators at his hospital. Asked to review racism, discrimination, hiring practices and management of Ontarios second-largest school board, the three-member panel concludes that the Peel District School Board (PDSB) is an unholy mess. Those were the only two words left for Ena Chadha, Suzanne Herbert and Shawn Richard to use in describing the astonishing litany of abuses, failures, incompetence and education malpractice inflicted on the 257 schools and 155,000 students in Peel Region. Education Minister Stephen Lecce ordered the review, following years of parent complaints and a persistent rising tumult at each successive school board meeting. He could not have anticipated the breadth, depth and malignancy of the rot. His task now is to reverse this multi-generational malady. The trenchant exposition, over 42 pages, leaves the reader numb, distressed, devastated. How is it possible that in the COVID-19 year of 2020, such rank unprofessionalism and outright racism is practised in our midst, countenanced by teachers, principals, superintendents and trustees, and allowed to fester and infect and spread to such deadly result. For we are talking about life and death. Real victims. Every Black child denied the right to an education is earmarked for residency in the industrial prison complex barring expensive backdoor intervention. Which educator doesnt understand that? In 2020? After hissing and spitting and groaning through the first few pages, it is page 12 that did me in. It reads: We met with parents of a biracial student who told us that when they attended a curriculum night at their childs school, they were each, upon entry, given a pamphlet on school programs: the Black parent was handed a pamphlet on applied programs; the white parent received the pamphlet on academic programs. This situation is cogently illustrative of the institutionalized racism that manifests in the PDSB guidance system. This is our reality. This is just how crazy it is. Its unfathomable, says Danielle Dowdy, a Brampton parent rep on the We Rise Together community advisory group. Everybody focus their attention on Toronto, and everyone else across the GTA slide under the radar. Whether its healthcare, education or justice, all these systems work together and collectively they are stepping on Black peoples necks right across the board. Here is the indictment: Indigenous, Black and gay students are all over-represented in non-university courses and under-represented in academic courses and special enriched programs. Too many educators and administrators do not have high expectations for Black students and they are by no means encouraged to realize their potential, the review says. It is untenable that the PDSB is unaware of this devaluing and mis-tracking of Black students, the review reports. Information gleaned from the Boards own data base discloses a prima facie case of race based, and more particularly, anti-Black, discrimination and it must be remedied. One Black, A student reported waiting weeks for an appointment with a guidance counsellor, only to be given five minutes and told to take non-academic courses. The PDSB guidance system must be rebuilt from the ground up to empower, as opposed to disenfranchise, Black students and parents, says the review. Black students are grossly over-represented in suspensions as too many teachers and principals abandon progressive discipline and opt to remove Blacks from classes and involve police for minor issues leading to arrests and stigmatization of Black children at a very young age. Black stigmatization starts early. The reviewers heard of how a cop, at an elementary school for another matter, intervened in a situation and handcuffed a young Black elementary student. It need not be said that the result was nothing short of traumatizing for the young student and their family. Unfortunately, this incident is not isolated. The Ontario Human Rights Commission ruled last month that police discriminated against a Grade 1 PDSB student and race was a factor in treatment by police when she was placed on her stomach and her wrists handcuffed behind her. Some teachers use any excuse to exclude Black students from classes. Principals have suspended Black students for wearing hoodies, hoop earrings, and do rags. Worse, some principals remove Black kids from class, without suspension or expulsions, leaving them, as one vice-principal explained, to spend days staring at a white wall not learning and parents never know about this de facto form of suspension. Repeatedly we heard about Black students being suspended from school, some as early as junior kindergarten, or as young as four years old, the reviewers wrote. So they asked for suspension data. PDSB suspension data list 18 reasons for a suspension, including violence, drugs, vandalism, swearing, bullying, assault and uttering threats. The 18th reason is Other. Strangely, in 78 per cent of secondary school suspensions, the reason listed was Other a worrisome trend of discretionary suspensions that need explanation, the review concludes. Between 2013 and 2019, the PDSB recorded 52 incidents of suspensions at the junior kindergarten level and 103 at the senior kindergarten level. Black secondary school students are suspended at a rate twice what their numbers would warrant. Black students told the reviewers they were often goaded into negative responses; and they experience harsher penalties and less restraint from their teachers, white and brown. Studies show Blacks, especially Black boys, are perceived to be trouble and are surveilled more closely, even when no problem behaviour is present. The stigmatization and hurts spring from everywhere even from the school trustees entrusted with their growth. The report says staff, students and families of McCrimmon Middle School and the Black communities of the PDSB deserve and are expecting an apology to address the hurt and harm caused when Trustee Will Davies referred to the school as McCriminal and insisted he was only joking. Others in Peel relish other derogatory nicknames: Ghetto Jail and Meadow Jail for Meadowvale. Central Africa for Central Peel Secondary. One principal wanted to rename February Fro-bruary but was stopped by a Black colleague. And Black History Month is not universally embraced. Reviewers heard anecdotes of racist and degrading behaviour by teachers and principals. One teacher suggested to another that a young Black elementary student will be a drug dealer just like his dad. One principal told a student to stop hanging around with his monkey friends, referencing his Black peers. The n-word is tossed around like a ball in the hearing of teachers and even painted on a wall at a school. Not enough is done to stop it. Parents complain, feel unheard, and have no confidence in the Boards ability to address their concerns and educate their children. Those who can, move their kids. Meanwhile, some staff dismiss them as whiners who are unfairly slandering the PDSB. There is strenuous resistance, even at the trustee level, to anti-Black racism training though it is obviously needed. School trustees are dysfunctional, constantly at each others throats, have little or no training, are clearly ill-equipped to provide oversight and are enmeshed in conflicting positions, such as pushing to get jobs and influence for favourites nepotism gone wild. The reviewers state grave concerns about its ability to fulfill its legal obligations. Interactions with parents at public meetings are farcical. Senior staff seem paralyzed by the dysfunction unable to make simple decisions, the reviewers found. The director of education does not have a steady hand on the ship. Senior staff have little grasp of their human rights responsibilities. PDSB hiring practices are compromised, promotions manipulated to the point of lost credibility. In fact, the boards system, designed to achieve employment equity may, in fact, be screening out targeted staff. In a school board where 83 per cent of students are racialized, staff is 67 per cent white. PDSB is indifferent to factional violence amongst youths in the North Brampton Punjabi community, seeming to think it was characteristic of that ethnic group; and is unresponsive to escalating problem of alcohol and drug abuse within the South Asian communities, in the face of grave concerns from parents. PDSB secondary school student body is 24 per cent Muslim, the largest religious group. Yet reviewers heard chilling tales of blatant hostility to the Muslim community, ignorance of basic tenets of Islam and the presence of White Supremacists at a meeting of the Board of Trustees. A good number of staff in classrooms, schools, and at the board office have substantial expertise, credentials and lived experience to promote diversity and drive equity. Historical data and studies show anti-Black racism is pervasive, stubborn and deadly for its victims. For many Black people, these destructive claws are first exposed at school, the very place where the childs bright future is enshrined to begin. Short of strenuous parental intervention and watchfulness, community activism and vigilance, too many Black children find themselves shoved into the school to prison pipeline. That is whats at stake in Peel Region. And York. And Durham. Its what Torontos school board faced and wrestled for decades, while its neighbours seemed to have learned little. The PDSB has good teachers and principals, maybe in the majority. They must stand up and relentlessly challenge anti-Black racism and other human rights violations. Exasperated, the reviewers wrote: There appeared to be a consistent failure to recognize that Black children are their children too. Astonishingly, there has been a historical, collective absence of a call to action to stop the harmful effects of anti-Black racism and to take responsibility for the poor outcomes of too many of our Black children. Minister Lecce, your move. The rapid spread of coronavirus is threatening to overwhelm health services around the world, exposing the gutting of social provisions by the financial oligarchy. A major component of this crisis is the catastrophic and criminal shortage of medical ventilators in quantities sufficient to confront a long predicted and inevitable pandemic. Medical ventilators are relatively complex devices, normally costing up to $50,000. Under normal circumstances, the entire annual global production is estimated at between 40,000 and 50,000. A small number of companies, based in a handful of countries, build the complex devices, which require pressure generators, flow regulators, filters, valves, alarms, numerous sensors and software to allow control and display of the devices activity and reports of the patients breathing. Production is generally licensed and subject to scrutiny and regulation. Specialist clinical engineers and qualified medical staff are required to install and operate the devices, which need careful calibration and skilled supervision, without which the patient has little chance of survival. But under conditions of crisis, when every country is suddenly trying to acquire thousands of the devices, suppliers and global supply chains are being stretched far beyond their capacities. British hospitals, for example, have only 5,000 ventilators attached to intensive care beds. But British Health Secretary Matt Hancock conceded that many times more than current levels of supply were likely to be needed in the period immediately ahead. German hospitals have around 25,000, with another 10,000 on order. The US has 62,000 and an additional 99,000 obsolete machines in storage. France is still conducting a nationwide survey of its capacity. While peak demand might be is impossible to predict, it will be many times current production capacity. Swiss-based Hamilton Medicalone of the worlds main producers, usually making 15,000 ventilators a yearhas increased production by up to 40 percent. CEO Anthony Wieland warned Reuters of a huge discrepancy between available ventilators and the need. Charles Bellm, managing director of ventilator component supplier Intersurgical, explained that one respiratory product sold by his company has attracted more orders since the start of 2020 than in the previous 15 years. A 2015 survey in New York State, population 19.5 million, concluded that, based on an epidemic similar to the 1918 flu pandemic, 18,600 ventilators would be needed in that state alone. While in total the state could muster some 9,000 ventilators, most of these would already be in use. Therefore, at the peak of the disease, there would be a shortfall of nearly 15,600 machinesin a single US state. Capacity in most countries is catastrophically inadequate, is likely to remain so, and medical staff will be forced, as has already occurred in Italy, to repeatedly choose which patients are left to die. Only the patients deemed most likely to survive with the use of ventilators will have access to treatment. Making things worse is the fact that the common response to the escalating crisis is for each country to assert its own national interest. In Italy, where over 1,300 people are already reliant on intensive care, the government has ordered 500 ventilators a month from the countrys only manufacturer, Siare Engineering in Bologna. The company anticipates being able to deliver 2,000 devices by July, twice its annual production, but has cancelled all international orders. German manufacturer Dragerwerk AG said that its order from the German government would take up its entire annual production. The Financial Times noted that were even one country to impose an export ban on ventilators, prices would immediately ratchet up and global supplies collapse. Yet, last Sunday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced an export authorisation scheme to prevent vital medical equipment leaving the European Union (EU). This move was made in the context of the revolting flag-waving stunts mounted by US President Donald Trump, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and others to attempt to enrol sections of industry in patriotic drives for ventilator production. In Britain, the result has been the blackest farce. The Conservative government hosted a conference call with around 60 leading figures from vehicle makers JCB, Land Rover, Honda, Ford and domestic gadget maker Dyson. During the conference call, Johnson failed even his own abysmal standards of behaviour by jokingly referring to the scheme as Operation Last Gasp. His words perfectly captured his governments sociopathic indifference to working peoples lives. A two-page specification document for a rapidly manufactured ventilation system was circulated, along with the Brexit-inspired requirement that the devices should be made from materials and parts readily available in the UK supply chain. The document helpfully included links to a YouTube video about ventilator design! The government also put up a web contact form for prospective ventilator makers, encouraging them to list their experience in medical matters. Even among the assembled captains of industry, there was open incredulity. One executive warned that his company would need a certified design and we cant make one up. Another car industry leader was blunter: What makes them think we carmakers know how to make ventilators and that a car factory assembly line is even vaguely appropriate? Robert Harrison, professor of Automation Systems at WMG, University of Warwick, was quoted on The Manufacturer magazine website: JCB, Rolls Royce or others could potentially manufacture ventilators. They have relevant skills and capabilities, but given that all the design and manufacturing related information could be supplied to them, getting the parts and the tooling to manufacture such a thing will be a significant task, perhaps taking many months. Craig Thompson, of Oxfordshire-based ventilator manufacturer Penlon, told the BBC, The idea that an engineering company can quickly manufacture medical devices, and comply with the rules, is unrealistic because of the heavy burden of standards and regulations that need to be complied with. Penlon has said it could eventually double production. By Thursday, it was reported that three companies, Meggit, an aerospace consortium including GKN, Airbus and Thales, along with car makers Nissan and McLaren, had taken up the offer and intend to start work on a basic design. Five thousand of the rudimentary devices are intended to be available by the end of the month, far below requirements if they even work. In the US, President Donald Trump last week invoked the Defense Production Act, pretending to compel manufacturers to make ventilators. Leading US corporations went along with the charade. But after a meeting at the White House, GM spokeswoman Jeannine Ginivan was distinctly non-committal. Ginivan said the automaker are already studying how we can potentially support production of medical equipment like ventilators. Trumps director of the National Economic Council, Larry Kudlow, took the opportunity to advance the proposal for unpaid labour, suggesting on Fox News that car workers might be mobilised to make equipment on a voluntary basis for civic and patriotic reasons. Even should viable equipment be produced, there are equally pressing shortages of staff to install and safely operate the machines. Nicki Credland, chair of the British Association of Critical Care Nurses, told Nursing Times that there were not enough qualified intensive care staff to look after patients on the new machines, even if they get built. Current guidelines are for a nurse to patient ration of 1:1 or 1:2 depending on the condition. Dr. Rinesh Parmar, chair of the Doctors Association UK, warned that systematic under-resourcing of the National Health Service and the exodus of staff has ultimately left the country with a severe lack of intensive care nurses and doctors. The same issues are posed in every country. Facebook is opening up its Messenger app to health organizations in order to keep people abreast of vital information about the coronavirus pandemic. In a blog post on Monday, Facebook said it's extending its developer resources to governments so that they can develop apps and bots that are capable of notifying people when there's a relevant update. 'Were partnering with our developer community to provide free services to government health organizations and UN health agencies to help them use Messenger to scale their response to the COVID-19 crisis,' said the company in a statement. Facebook is opening up its Messenger app to health authorities to help disseminate important information on novel coronavirus COVID-19 Among the governments to already begin taking advantage of the program is Argentina's Ministry of Health, which is using Botmaker.com to build an app that can 'answer questions from the public about coronavirus and ... provide fast, reliable and official advice 24 hours a day.' Both UNICEF and Pakistan's Ministry of Health are also using Messenger to share information according to Facebook. 'The Messenger experience allows [us to] support and serve citizens seeking up to date information on the coronavirus, while keeping our helpline open for more critical cases,' a spokesperson for Pakistan's minister of health said in a statement. To help increase the amount of solutions available, Facebook is also creating a 'hackathon' where developers invent solutions that disseminate educational information or even help connect people during social-distancing. Similarly, Facebook has used its popular messaging app WhatsApp to help spread vital information during an ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Specifically, the 'WhatsApp Coronavirus Information Hub' marries the Facebook-owned company partner with the WHO and UNICEF to provide reliable information to users. It claims the service provides 'simple, actionable guidance' for various people most affected by the ongoing crisis. This includes health workers, educators, community leaders, nonprofits, local governments and businesses. Bajaj Auto is preparing itself for an eight-week halt, its MD and CEO Rajiv Bajaj told CNBC-TV18. The auto majors plants at Akurdi, Chakan, Aurangabad and Pantnagar will shut from March 23 as safety of our employees is paramount, Bajaj said. Cautioning investors, he said the situation is changing rapidly not just in India but even in our export markets. The Bajaj Auto stock is trading at Rs 1,956.35, down 12.75 percent or Rs 285.95 on the NSE at 11:42 am. He assured employees that there will be no job losses or salary cuts till March 31. On March 22, various automakers like Maruti Suzuki India, Honda Cars, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) and Fiat temporary halted manufacturing operations at their respective facilities. Two-wheeler makers Hero MotoCorp, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India and Suzuki Motorcycle India (SMIPL) have also suspended production. Automobile companies are suspending production as a precautionary measure in light of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, outbreak and in line with the state governments' directives. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show India reported three more coronavirus deaths on March 23, including the first casualties from Bihar and Gujarat, taking the death toll to seven and the number those infected to 360. Generational Group Expands with New Office in Kansas City, MO Generational Group, a leading mergers and acquisitions advisor for privately held, middle market businesses, is pleased to announce the continued expansion of the firm with the opening of a new office in Kansas City, Missouri. Headquartered in Dallas, TX, the firm now has 13 offices in North America. The new office is led by Andrew Byrd. Mr. Byrd serves as Senior Vice President, Mergers & Acquisitions in the Central region at Generational, and works directly with privately held, middle market businesses in developing and executing successful exit strategies. Byrd's focus is connecting Generational clients with the right buyers at an optimal price and deal structure. Prior to working with Generational, Andrew worked independently at a local M&A firm that specialized in the marketing and sale of main-street and lower middle market businesses throughout the Kansas City area. During that time he was instrumental in the preparation, marketing, negotiations, and due diligence process of numerous successful deal closings for a variety of businesses. Andrew also previously owned his own firm specializing in business formation as well as advising hundreds of clients on ideal corporate structures. He is licensed as a commercial real estate broker in Missouri and as a commercial agent in Kansas. Mr. Byrd is passionate about his work and enjoys partnering with clients to achieve their personal goals and objectives. In addition, he is active in his community volunteering at local Kansas City charities and organizations that help the homeless. Andrew Byrd earned his JD/MBA with a concentration in Finance from Oklahoma City University and his BSBA in Finance from University of Central Missouri. "This new office is part of our strategy to enhance our deal making capabilities for companies in the Midwest, including the significant base of infrastructure, logistics and engineering firms in the region," said Brenen Hofstadter, Chief M&A Officer of Generational. "This location, along with the other offices we hav added the past two years, bolsters our presence and improves our ability to service our clients in the Midwest." Generational Group is one of the leading M&A advisory firms in North America, having won multiple industry awards including Investment Banking Firm of the Year in 2016, 2017 and 2018, and Valuation Firm of the Year in 2015 and 2014. According to the 2019 Refinitiv/Thomson M&A rankings, the firm was #1 in transactions valued up to $25 million, #2 up to $100 million, and #9 up to $500 million. No M&A advisor has closed more deals in the lower middle market than Generational over the past decade. The Kansas City office is located at: Two Pershing Square 2300 Main Street, 9th Floor Kansas City, Missouri, 64108 About Generational Group Generational Equity, Generational Capital Markets (member FINRA/SIPC), Generational Wealth Advisors, and DealForce are part of the Generational Group, which is headquartered in Dallas and is one of the leading middle market investment banks in North America. With over 250 professionals located throughout North America, the companies help business owners increase and release the wealth of their business by providing merger, acquisition, and wealth management services. Their five-step approach features exit planning education, business valuation, value enhancement strategies, M&A transactional services, and wealth management. For more information, visit https://www.generational.com or the Generational Group press room. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200323005020/en/ A nurse waits for the city's coronavirus testing site to open next to Citizens Bank Park in South Philadelphia on Friday, March 20, 2020. The site, which opened Friday afternoon, is the first city-run location where people can be swabbed to determine if they have the coronavirus. Read more When Evan Piermont returned to Philadelphia last week after spending the semester teaching in the United Kingdom, he and his partner did not hug. Though both felt fine, each could have unknowingly been carrying the coronavirus. Piermonts partner, a physician who treats cancer patients at a Philadelphia hospital, cant risk transmitting the virus to her immunocompromised patients. And if she is exposed at work, she doesnt want to infect Piermont. So their only in-person interactions have been from a few feet away, as they are committed to practicing social distancing. Hes holed up alone in a Center City Airbnb. These are the painful choices that health-care workers and their families are making as the coronavirus outbreak bears down on the region. Those decisions have only become more urgent in recent days, as its become clear health-care workers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and around the world are facing a severe shortage of equipment to protect themselves. The crisis has set off a sense of wartime in America the virus is described as an invisible enemy, and health-care workers are spoken of in terms often reserved for soldiers. The families who are avoiding their loved ones or setting up quarantine rooms in their homes are seen as part of the sacrifice. Some feel indescribable anxiety seeing their a spouse or mother or sibling go off to work; others feel a gnawing sense of impotence while at home. When theres this storm raging outside, theres a sense you should try to do something, Piermont, 30, said. The whole world is locked up, and they have to keep going. READ MORE: Distancing while due: The coronavirus is rapidly changing pregnancy Families are wrestling with whether or how their loved ones should separate themselves. When Kaitlyn Dhanaliwalas husband, a physician in radiology at a Philadelphia hospital, comes home each night, he takes off his clothes in the entryway and places them in a bag. Their 6-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter know not to run up to their dad for hugs and kisses until after he has showered. We say our hellos from a distance, said Dhanaliwala, a digital marketing strategist. Dhanaliwala knows its likely her husband will be exposed to the virus at some point. The couple have set up a quarantine room away from the rest of the house should he get sick. Surfaces in the home are regularly disinfected, and Dhanaliwala has had conversations with the kids about their dads responsibilities during this time. Sometimes it feels like theres no room for anything but anxiety in my day-to-day life," Dhanaliwala said. If youre sitting at the table every night for dinner with a doctor, you know that the possibility of you becoming a carrier is high. Jessica Williams, whose husband is an anesthesiologist in Philadelphia, said hes already staying away from her mother, whos in her 80s and lives across the street, because seniors are at higher risk of complications from the virus. Williams wonders if they need to do more: Should he take off all his clothes at the door? Should he sleep in the basement? Will the whole family contract the coronavirus anyway? Williams said shes been fighting a sense of jealousy, wondering if those without friends or family in the health-care industry understand whats at stake for nurses, doctors and others or the constant state of anxiety shes in being married to one. People are saying, Day Two of confinement and Ive already watched all of Netflix," Williams said. "Its like, oof, youre so lucky. But Williams, 50, who lives in Center City, said the constant sinking feeling in her stomach has been calmed by the mass social distancing being practiced to slow the spread of the coronavirus and help to lessen the burden on health-care systems. When she sees empty sidewalks or strangers standing six feet apart, she chokes up. Its incredibly moving to see other people flattening the curve for people like my husband, she said, who is walking into a tsunami. Williams and Dhanaliwala said theyre also leaning on friends, neighbors, and other families of health-care workers for support. Among the challenges for some of these families is how much to tell the children. When coronavirus cases in the Philadelphia area began increasing, Deborah Ledleys 14-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son started asking about their dad, a cardiologist at Phoenixville Hospital in Chester County. He has assured them that hes taking all the precautions that his hospital is telling him to take, said Ledley, a psychologist in private practice. READ MORE: Parenting during a pandemic: The nightmare Ive been dreading | Perspective Ledley, who counts the families of health-care workers among her clients, said parents can manage kids anxiety levels by limiting how much information theyre consuming online. Its better if they sit down with their parents in a constrained way and go through information together for short periods of time," she said. She said people married to health-care workers are used to sharing their significant others. Her husband was on call when she went into labor with one of their children. Hes missed a couple Thanksgiving dinners. If we can think of it that way," she said, "that people chose this career because they want to help others and be on the front line, we might feel a little better. Thats been heartening, too, for Melissa, a lawyer whose sister is a nurse in Philadelphia. Melissa did not want to be identified by her last name because her sister is not authorized to speak on behalf of the hospital where she works. Melissa said her sister has been keeping her distance from their parents. Hearing others speak of health-care workers in war-time terms has been a little strange. But it also makes you feel proud," she said, "because weve always known shes capable and wonderful, and now everyone else realizes it, too. New Delhi, March 23 : Huge traffic jams were reported on the Delhi-Gurugram expressway and the Noida-Delhi border on Monday morning in spite of the lockdown in several cities across three states - Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi. Traffic police personnel present on the spot, however, allowed doctors, paramedical staff and those carrying supplies of essential commodities to cross over. "Vehicles coming to Delhi from Gurugram were stopped at the border. It seems people are not honouring the lockdown and are not taking it seriously. You can imagine this by the sheer size of the crowd," said Dr Pradeep Singla, who was going to a hospital in Karol Bagh from Gurugram. "This is dangerous in view of the coronavirus epidemic," said Singla. The Delhi and Uttar Pradesh governments have appealed to the people not to violate the lockdown and remain indoors to help prevent the spread of the virus. However, in spite of the appeals, vehicles in large numbers gathered in the border areas since Monday morning despite the huge police deployment. The motorists returned only after the police warned them of strict action. "An ambulance got stuck in the traffic for more than half an hour due to the traffic jam," said Devendra Sangwan, a government official. The Haryana police also closed an export company in Sector-38 of Gurugram which was open despite the lockdown order. ST. LOUIS Dr. Mimi Vo spoke sternly to the woman who said her boss wanted her to come into work despite having upper respiratory symptoms. You tell your boss you are not allowed to go to work, she said to her patient. You could be killing another person. But Vo decided against using one of her four remaining COVID-19 tests on this patient, who was young and otherwise healthy. She is saving them for patients who have other risk factors that make them more vulnerable to complications from exposure to the new coronavirus. This patient works as a tech in a nail salon. Vo was finally able to get herself tested after the Post-Dispatch reported Thursday about her nearly two-week struggle to find a test despite exhibiting many of the symptoms. On Saturday, she heard from a Mercy doctor, whom she had studied with in medical school, that her test was negative. As Bollywood's 'Queen' Kangana Ranaut turned 33 on Monday, she celebrated her birthday in a traditional style by performing pooja at her home in Himachal Pradesh. The star on her birthday also performed Kanya Pooja at her house with her family. Her sister and manager Rangoli Chandel took to Twitter to share pictures from her birthday celebration in which Ranaut could be seen dressed in a pink-coloured Banarasi saree. In the pictures, the 'Tanu Weds Manu' actor is seen worshipping goddess Durga in the form of young girls and is also seen posing with her parents. "Kangana performing Janamdin pooja and Kanya pooja, our parents organised, this is how they always celebrated our birthdays, Nava Graha pooja followed by worshiping Maa Durga in the form of little girls," Rangoli wrote as she shared the pictures. In a later series of tweets, her sister also gave her Twitter fam a glimpse of the Himachali food that their mother cooked on the occasion of Kangana's birthday. The actor is known the most for her roles in films like 'Queen', 'Gangster' and 'Tanu Weds Manu'. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) I talians have been stopped by police from fleeing Milan by train as doctors warned that increasing numbers of young people in the country are falling victim to coronavirus. Around 120 people seeking to board southbound trains to Naples and Salerno to join their families were prevented from getting on as officers enforced stricter curbs introduced overnight. They bar residents from travelling from one part of the country to another in private or public transport except in an emergency or for work or health reasons. Italys coronavirus death toll stands at 5,476, including 651 deaths yesterday and 793 on Saturday. We have patients who are 20 years old or 30 years old, quite a few, and those are severe like the old ones, said Dr Antonio Pesenti, head of the intensive care crisis unit in Lombardy, the northern region of Italy with the highest number of infections. Fifty per cent of our patients in the intensive care unit, which are the most severe patients, are over 65 years old. But that means that the other 50 per cent are younger. Loading.... The blockade of trains in Milan followed a call from Vincenzo De Luca, governor of the Campania region around Naples, to the prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, calling for drastic measures to stop people travelling south. The coming week will be absolutely crucial and we are expecting to see a reversal of the trend, said Franco Locatelli, head of Italys top health council, which advises the government. All business and factories in Italy deemed to be non-essential for national production have been halted. Supermarkets, pharmacies, post offices and banks are among the few places open. Public transport will still operate but public gatherings have been banned and restaurants, bars and most shops were closed more than a week ago. A video posted on Twitter showed angry mayors in some Italian towns raging at those flouting the lockdown. Meanwhile in Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel is self-isolating, and gatherings of more than two people in public have been banned. Cases have risen to 22,672 and 86 have died. The Czech Republic has reported its first death. Spain has closed its borders at air and sea ports for 30 days. Discovered by William Herschel in 1835, NGC 1965 is one of the many objects we can image independently within the Large Magellanic Cloud. The nebulosity present a circular bubbled shape formed by massive amount of gas and dust. A regular imager from the southern hemisphere can spend the whole season imaging fantastic objects from our outstanding neighbour galaxy.Taken from Buenos Aires Argentina, suburban skies.More information and image with labels can be found in below linkhttp://www.baskies.com.ar/PHOTOS/NGC%201965%20LRGB.htm (Newser) Natasha Ott was planning to watch Netflix with her boyfriend Friday night. Instead, he found her dead on the floor. The 39-year-old was suffering from possible COVID-19 symptoms at the time and still awaiting her coronavirus test results, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports. "For those of you not fortunate enough to have known her, know this: its an immeasurable loss," her boyfriend, Josh Anderson, writes on Facebook. "And seeing a woman I knew to be so full of life lying on the floor lifeless was devastating. I was afraid to touch her. I held her anyway." Ott's harrowing tale began March 10 when she came down with seeming cold symptoms and rejected a coronavirus test at the medical clinic where she worked in New Orleans. story continues below "She could have gotten a test last Friday, but they only had five tests, and she didnt want to use one of them," says Anderson. Ott finally took the test Monday when her symptoms (low appetite, fever, respiratory cold) persisted, but she felt strong enough to go for a walk three days later. A relative says she was in overall "decent health" excepting a bout of giardia, an intestinal infection, she picked up in Togo while working for the Peace Corps. Ott's results are still pending, but her death highlights the lack of available coronavirus testsand the pain of loved ones who lose someone during the pandemic, per KNOE. "The time for joking about Covid-19 is over," says Anderson. "Now is the time to keep yourself, your loved ones, and everyone else safe." (Read more coronavirus stories.) Harvey Weinstein (Image: Reuters) Disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has reportedly tested positive for coronavirus in a jail where he is serving his 23-year long term for sexual assault and rape. Weinstein, who has been accused of violating scores of women, was convicted last month of raping a once-aspiring actress in a New York City hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performing oral sex on former TV and film production assistant Mimi Haleyi at his apartment in 2006. The disgraced Hollywood mogul was recently shifted to high-security Wende Correctional Facility from Rikers Island prison to spend his jail term. Weinstein is one of the two inmates who have been diagnosed with COVID-19, a prison official told local newspaper the Niagara Gazette. Michael Powers, the president of the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association, said the inmate who tested positive for coronavirus has been kept in "isolation". COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show However, he did not confirm whether he was referring to Weinstein. The producer's prison consultant also declined to confirm his COVID-19 diagnosis. "No one on the legal defence team has been told this. Period. We cannot confirm that, nor care to comment on speculation," Craig Rothfeld told The Hollywood Reporter. Before he was transferred from Rikers Island in New York City, Weinstein was at Bellevue Hospital where he was being monitored for a heart condition and high blood pressure. At the hospital, the producer had gone under an angioplasty procedure. The producer behind Oscar-winning films as "Shakespeare in Love" and "Pulp Fiction" was the first prominent Hollywood name to be ousted for his predatory behaviour in the bombshell expose by The New York Times reporters Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey on October 5, 2017, followed by Ronan Farrow's piece in The New Yorker on October 10. The reports sparked off the #MeToo movement, which empowered survivors of sexual assault, abuse and rape to raise their voice and hold the perpetrators accountable. Show us the money. Its not just a slight adaptation of a famous line from the 1996 film Jerry Maguire. Its a chant that dozens of participants repeated Tuesday in a virtual rally as they called for action to address fair funding for education in Pennsylvania. Nearly 100 education officials, advocates, parents, and students across the state participated in the... A Long Island-based rapper whose repertoire is peppered with drug trafficking references has been charged with shipping cocaine and fentanyl across the country. Jamel Brown, 25, who performs under the stage name Broke Boy Lord, has been criminally indicted along with his brother and a friend for allegedly running a large-scale drug supply and distributing ring, in which large quantities of cocaine, heroin and fentanyl were trafficked from California to Queens, New York, where they were then sold on the street by local dealers. The arrests of Jamel, his brother Randolph Brown and a friend, Troy Williams, came in January following a two-year wiretap investigation, which was launched in response to multiple drug overdoses. Jamel Brown (left and right), who performs under the stage name Broke Boy Lord, 25, his brother Randolph and a friend Troy Williams have been charged with running a drug ring In January, a UPS employee in New York intercepted Brown's package shipped from California, which contained these two steel cans each stuffed with one kilo of cocaine, 40 grams of fentanyl in a sealed bag and a GPS tracker, authorities said Cops said they seized drugs and guns from Randolph and Jamel's homes in Long Island last month According to the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor, the suspected drug traffickers have been indicted on counts of operating as a major trafficker; conspiracy; criminal possession of a weapon; criminal possession and sale of a controlled substance; criminally using drug paraphernalia; unlawfully dealing with a child; endangering the welfare of a child and unlawful possession of ammunition. The sting operation that resulted in the arrests of the trio, along with five street-level drug dealers in Queens who were allegedly part of the distribution network, involved undercover agents making controlled buys between November 2018 and December 2019. During the investigation, two packages containing drugs worth $120,000 were intercepted by shipping services. According to officials, Williams, who lives in Queens and works as a janitor for the New York City Department of Education, set up meetings with drug suppliers in California, and Jamel then traveled there to purchase and ship cocaine and fentanyl for distribution in New York. Jamel, who rapped about laundering drug money, allegedly traveled to California last year to purchase drugs and ship them across the country for distribution in Queens The three alleged drug kingpins were caught on wiretaps talking about the drugs, which they referred to as 'the regulars' and 'the ugly,' according to officials. On December 7, 2019, a UPS package addressed to Jamel Brown was shipped from New York to a UPS store in North Hollywood, California, with a return address associated with his home in Valley Stream. The parcel was believed to have contained approximately $36,000. Jamel then traveled to California and picked up the package before attending a meeting with drug suppliers at a hotel two days later, according to officials. The Long Island rapper later allegedly shipped two kilograms of cocaine to Rockville Centre in Nassau County via the US Postal Service, which intercepted it. A court-ordered search was executed and uncovered two kilograms of cocaine and a black GPS tracking device. According to investigators,in text messages on December 13, Randolph informed his friend Williams that they 'took a hit' and the shipment 'never came.' In January, the trio again allegedly discussed plans for Jamel to travel to California to purchase drugs, which he did on January 22. After procuring another two kilos of cocaine and some fentanyl, the rapper allegedly arranged for the drugs to be shipped to a UPS location in Valley Stream. Once again, the package was intercepted and searched, revealing two steel cans each containing one kilo of cocaine, 40 grams of fentanyl in a sealed bag and a GPS tracker. Police arrested the Brown brothers on January 29 and executed a search warrant at Jamel's home, which reportedly yielded cocaine, a handgun, drug packaging materials and approximately $10,000 cash. A search of Randolph's residence in Valley Stream and his grey BMW allegedly turned up more than a pound of cocaine, two handguns, drug packaging paraphernalia and more than $54,000 cash. Three children ages 16, 12 and 10 were present in the home. The brothers' alleged accomplice, Williams, was busted as he left Middle School I.S. 59, where he works as a custodian, and entered his car. A search of the black Mercedes yielded a kilogram of fentanyl wrapped in plastic with a street value of more than $200,000. Two phones identified during the wiretap investigation were found inside the pocket of a jacket belonging to Williams, which was hanging in an employee common area of the school. The Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor has released this chart laying out all the charges against the alleged drug kingpins and their street sellers All three alleged drug traffickers were released on bail last month. Their five street-level distributors in Queens were arrested on Thursday and charged with drug possession with intent to sell. 'The crimes charged expose the inner workings of an organization set up to distribute deadly drugs in New York City and Long Island, and how a school custodian with a side job as a high level distributor brazenly went to work with a kilogram of fentanyl concealed in his Mercedes,' stated Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan. 'These arrests demonstrate our steadfast commitment to protect our city.' Jamel, who has just over 3,400 followers on Instagram, released his first single '86 Scrims' in July 2019, which talks about laundering drug money. His social media account shows the young rapper bedecked in thick gold chains posing with stacks of $100 bills. (Natural News) If youre one of those American citizens who never thought youd see the day when government at any level would be ordering us to restrict our movements or face penalties, youve been proven wrong. Its happening now, as you read this, on a wider and wider scale, thanks to the outbreak of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). Democratic governors in Illinois and New Jersey over the weekend decreed that all non-essential residents will have to remain at home. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphys order covers all 9 million residents, and follows similar mandates that have been handed down in California, Illinois, New York, and Pennsylvania, Zero Hedge reported. Murphy also mandated that everyone in his state engage in social distancing when they do leave their homes for groceries, to see a doctor, buy medicines, or go to perform non-essential jobs. We must flatten the curve and ensure residents are practicing social distancing, he said Saturday. He added: Even with this order in effect life in New Jersey does not have to come to a complete standstill. No. Just a partial standstill. And though he asked residents not to panic, Murphy followed that up by saying we are at war. No hyperbole there. The real hit, however, will be to non-essential businesses. As is the case with the orders issued by other governors, Murphys order includes a mandate that businesses not deemed vital to the function of life will have to close indefinitely. That means, of course, that there wont be many non-essential employees leaving their homes to go to their non-essential jobs at non-essential businesses. If they cant work from home, they simplywont be working. Indefinitely. That cant happen in America! Only, it is. The problem with these lockdown orders is that they seem to be based on the mere presence of coronavirus In fact, following New Jerseys order, roughly 86 million Americans are now under China-like or Italian-like lockdowns. Over about 500 infections, most of which are mild, according to World Meter, which tracks the virus spread in real-time. Yes, the infection rates are rising dramatically, but according to the site, the vast majority like nearly 100 percent of cases are considered mild. Just 64, at this writing, are in serious or critical condition. Still, that could change, obviously. Were dealing with a virus here, and one thing that viruses are good at is figuring out a way to survive by adapting to their environment. UV light (from the sun and artificial sources) seem to be a natural defender against viruses, but they are resilient and its likely that COVID-19 is, as well. As for New Jerseys action, Zero Hedge speculates that more states Connecticut next, perhaps are bound to follow suit with lockdowns. Governors talk all the time, especially governors of neighboring states, so they are probably staggering emergency declarations so as not to cause greater panic. But more are coming. And then what? (Related: Now 24,000+ confirmed cases in the USA, with 288 deaths, increasing by the hour.) One thing that Americans are not being told so far, anyway is how long these lockdowns, travel restrictions and mandatory business closures are going to last. The closest we are getting to an explanation is indefinitely. We dont know. Were not sure. Thats not good enough; Americans who are going to be smarting in just a few weeks without paychecks are going to want to know what conditions their leaders will have to see before the rescind their lockdown orders. Peak infections? Declining infection rates? No more infections whatsoever? Is there a magic number of infections that will trigger governors to rescind their orders, and if so, what is it? The problem with these lockdown orders is that they seem to be based on the presence of coronavirus. But were being told the virus isnt going away and the infection rate may not peak for 2-3 months. Americans who were living on tight paychecks before coronavirus cant survive for 2-3 months without an income. This all just seems like a recipe for upheaval, given that desperate people will begin to do desperate things. Sources include: ZeroHedge.com NaturalNews.com LANSING (AP) - Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday issued a statewide stay-at-home order to curb the spread of the coronavirus, with exemptions for certain workers, outdoor exercise and trips to the grocery store or hospital. COVID-19 deaths in the state have climbed to at least 15 and the number of people infected with the cornonavirus has topped 1,200. Midland County has five confirmed positive cases as of Monday noon. Gladwin County has one. This disease cant spread person to person if were not out there," Whitmer said. "Too many people are still out and about unnecessarily so we must do more. Whitmer's order, which takes effect at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, will prohibit employers from requiring workers to leave their homes unless necessary to protect life or conduct minimum basic operations. It also bars all public and private gatherings of any number of people occurring outside a single household. The order goes through to 11:59 p.m. April 13. A quick look at Whitmer's executive order allows necessary governmental activities including trash pickup and disposal, allows people to still order takeout and delivery from restaurants as well as to care for family members as well as their pets. Volunteers or workers who provide food, shelter and other necessities to sustain life also are exempt. Realted: Read the text of Gov. Whitmer's Stay at Home executive Order FAQ: What does Michigan's stay-at-home order mean? Midland County Public Health Director/Health Officer Fred Yanoski said his office is getting a lot of telephone calls from people wanting information on what it all means. He said his office is reviewing the executive order and will be meeting soon with other state officials. He expects the food industry will remain as it is now but encourages people and businesses to be creative and maintain space distancing. "For example, a facility that prepares meals to be taken places," he said. "Instead of six people huddled in the kitchen, find a different space to go to and be mindful of social distancing." "We still need social distancing in essential services," he said. According to the local post office in Midland, U.S. mail still will be delivered, and residents are asked to keep six feet away from mail carriers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with the World Health Organization, have reported the coronavirus cannot travel through the mail. Whitmer warned of dire results akin to those seen in Italy if people don't follow her order. More than 1 million Michigan residents, she said, could need a hospital bed if the virus isn't controlled. "We have about 25,000 acute beds in Michigan. Think about that, the governor said. For most people, the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. Whitmer a week ago tried to reduce the spread by limiting crowds at popular gathering spots and closing schools. Bars, fitness clubs and theaters are closed, and restaurants can only prepare food for carry-out. Many church services have been canceled. If you think you've been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your health care provider for medical advice. If he/she isn't available call Mid Michigan Urgent Care in Midland at 989- 633-1350 or Mid Michigan Medical Center's Emergency Department in Midland at 989-839-3100. If you are feeling anxious, stressed, depressed and feel you need to talk to someone, reach out to Community Mental Health for Central Michigan by calling 800-317-0708. The Sri Lankan government has said it will soon announce its contribution to the SAARC Coronavirus Emergency Fund proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with an initial offer of USD 10 million from India to help combat the fast-spreading COVID-19 pandemic in the region, according to a media report on Monday. The government, however, did not specify the amount it will contribute to the fund. "We will announce our amount soon. The Cabinet has to do decide it," Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardane was quoted as saying by the Daily Mirror. Sri Lanka's willingness to contribute to the fund has been communicated to New Delhi, he said. In a video conference on forming a joint strategy to fight COVID-19 in the SAARC region, Prime Minister Modi on March 15 proposed the emergency fund with an initial offer of USD 10 million from India and asserted that the best way to deal with the coronavirus pandemic was by coming together, and not growing apart. Subsequently, Nepal and Afghanistan pledged USD 1 million each, Maldives committed USD 200,000, Bhutan USD 100,000 and Bangladesh pledged USD 1.5 million to the fund. Pakistan is now the only country left to declare its contribution to the fund. Founded in 1985, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation and geopolitical union of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Apart from Modi, Bhutanese Prime Minister Lotay Tshering, Bangladesh premier Sheikh Hasina, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Nepalese Prime Minister Oli, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani and Special Assistant to Pakistani Prime Minister on Health Zafar Mirza, had participated in the video conference. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Fish behavior and stock assessments may be influenced by this sensitivity to light all over the world The Arctic polar night is a time when the sun remains below the horizon for a full 24-hour cycle. It is dark, but not completely. Nevertheless, the lack of light has long led researchers to assume that the organisms that live through this dark period are mostly dormant. For a decade, an international team of researchers has been exploring the polar night to see exactly how organisms survive in the dark. Over the course of their surveys, they've learned the only way they can really understand what's going on is to turn out the lights on their research vessels and rely on autonomous underwater vehicles that need no light to do their work. And when they've done that, they've found birds that dive into the nearly pitch-black ocean to feast on bioluminescent plankton and krill, and deepwater fishes that normally live at great depths foraging in kelp beds just 2 metres deep, to name just a few. "As the sun becomes less and less visible on the sky, the relative importance of the moon, the stars and even the aurora borealis becomes more and more important," says Jrgen Berge, a biologist at UiT - The Arctic University of Norway and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) who headed the international research team. Now, Berge and his team, which also includes scientists from the UK, Canada and the US, has been able to quantify just how much light can affect the behaviour of all these creatures. Their results have been published in Communications Biology. It turns out it doesn't take much light to affect organisms at all, the researchers found. Some reacted to light levels as low as one millionth that of daylight, including algal cells that entered a photoactive state a full six weeks before the return of sunlight. So much so that all previous biological surveys of everything from plankton to fish stocks may be fundamentally wrong, the researchers say. "We have been able to document light-regulated biological processes that are still ongoing throughout the polar night," Berge said. "Many species of fish and zooplankton remain active and migrate vertically in the water column over a 24-hour period. These migrations are fully regulated by small changes in either sunlight or moonlight." Geir Johnsen, a biologist at NTNU who was one of the authors of the paper, says this sensitivity was surprisingly extreme -- and has important consequences. "Even the light from a research vessel, or a vessel estimating the stock size of zooplankton and fish, can influence organisms down to 200 metres below the ocean surface. They can either be attracted to the light or flee from it," Johnsen said. "All of this makes it very difficult to say anything accurate about behaviour or populations, and stock assessments of fish may be influenced by this at nighttime all over the world." Johnsen is a key scientist at NTNU's "Autonomous Marine Operations and Systems (AMOS) Centre of Excellence, where he describes his role as "trying to merge enabling technology with the natural sciences. In this situation, he says, where light is so critically important, the researchers need to use autonomous robots that don't need any artificial light and that can give them information that is not affected by artificial light. This ability to study the dark without disturbing it is how the team was able to determine how profoundly light could upset behaviours that were normally tuned to the polar darkness. This picture is complicated by global warming, the researchers say. Arctic sea ice is melting faster than at any time in recorded history, and growing human activity in the Arctic, with respect to fisheries, oil and gas, mineral extraction, new transport routes and tourism, is rapidly increasing as areas become free of ice. Consequently, light pollution is pouring into the Arctic, and is now thought to be among the fastest growing sources of pollution in the region. Johnsen says it's critical for researchers to learn as much as they can about how this ecosystem works before it is irreparably changed. "About 50 percent of the oxygen that we breathe is from these microscopic algae in the world's oceans. Without those key groups there would be no life. Simple as that," he says. Over this past year, the research team has also worked on the movie project "Into the Dark", which attempts to unravel the mystery of the polar night. The movie mostly follows Berge, who is head of the Polar Night project and includes David McKee from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, and Johnsen. It premiered in Troms, Norway; in mid-January and will be shown at a number of film festivals throughout the year. ### Berge, Johnsen and their colleague Jonathan Cohen from the University of Delaware are also editors of a book that will be published in mid-March on their research. The book is entitled Polar Night: Marine Ecology, Life and Light in the Dead of Night. Reference: Berge, J., Geoffroy, M., Daase, M. et al. Artificial light during the polar night disrupts Arctic fish and zooplankton behaviour down to 200m depth. Commun Biol 3, 102 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-020-0807-6 Minnesota Governor to Self-Quarantine After Staffer Tests Positive for COVID-19 Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will self-quarantine after learning he came into contact with a person who later tested positive for the new CCP virus. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 disease, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mishandling allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. Walz said on Twitter on Monday that he learned he came into contact with someone who has the new illness. Despite showing no symptoms, he will remain at home for two weeks. The most important thing Minnesotans can do to stop the spread of COVID-19 is to stay home, Walz said in a statement. Im using this as an opportunity to lead by example. Though Im feeling healthy and not showing any symptoms, Im going to work from home and model the protocol we are asking all Minnesotans to follow. The person who tested positive was described as a member of the governors security detail. The person tested positive late Sunday. Walz was in close proximity to the person late last week, his office said. No governors in the nation have tested positive for the new disease and Walz appeared to be the first to enter quarantine after possible exposure. Some states have ordered people to stay at home, with exceptions for essential trips, but Minnesota has not. The state did order on March 15 the closure of all schools for at least eight days. The state Department of Health, meanwhile, has advised people to work remotely when possible. Because our state must maintain essential services, not every Minnesotan is able to stay home, Walz said in a statement. Those of us who are able to work from home must do so out of respect to our health care professionals, first responders, pharmacists, grocers, child care providers, and all Minnesotans who are working to keep us safe during this crisis. Walzs announcement came after Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) said her husband tested positive for COVID-19. John is in quarantine, she said. Klobuchar said she will not be tested and will not go into quarantine. Minnesota has 169 confirmed COVID-19 cases among the over 4,600 residents who have been tested. Walz had a press conference scheduled later Monday to give updates on the states situation. The "Axios on HBO" interview with China's ambassador to the U.S. Cui Tiankai had tense moments. What they're saying: At one point, during an exchange about allegations of torture from former Muslim detainees in Xinjiang camps, Cui said it would not be productive to keep discussing such matters. At another point, he accused Axios of insulting the Chinese Communist Party and equated the Party with the Chinese people. Amid extended questioning over the timeline of Chinese authorities suppressing doctors and censoring crucial public health information that could have saved lives, Cui said, "What happened to Dr. Li and his colleagues now is under investigation by the central government." Li Wenliang, the Chinese doctor, who was reprimanded for sounding the alarm on the potential of a deadly coronavirus outbreak, has been exonerated, per Politico. On the expulsion of American journalists from China: "Axios on HBO": "I read that column in the Wall Street Journal and it didn't seem to me that there was anything that would violate a law in it. It was really criticizing... "I read that column in the Wall Street Journal and it didn't seem to me that there was anything that would violate a law in it. It was really criticizing... Cui: "That article was very insulting on the entire Chinese nation. "That article was very insulting on the entire Chinese nation. "Axios on HBO": "I'm sure people will disagree, Mr. Ambassador. ... The question is whether it's a good idea to expel reporters because of something you disagree with." "I'm sure people will disagree, Mr. Ambassador. ... The question is whether it's a good idea to expel reporters because of something you disagree with." Cui: "Maybe the first question you have to ask, whether it's a good idea to write such an article at all." On the disappearances of Chinese citizen journalists who were reporting on the coronavirus from inside Wuhan: "Axios on HBO": "Where is the citizen journalist Chen Qiushi? He was doing some of the early videos from inside Wuhan that were showing the response to the virus and the chaos that was happening inside Wuhan." "Where is the citizen journalist Chen Qiushi? He was doing some of the early videos from inside Wuhan that were showing the response to the virus and the chaos that was happening inside Wuhan." Cui: "I have not heard of this person." "I have not heard of this person." "Axios on HBO": "Really? Chen Qiushi?" "Really? Chen Qiushi?" Cui: "Why not?" "Why not?" "Axios on HBO": "Well you were asked about him on "Face the Nation" on February 9." "Well you were asked about him on "Face the Nation" on February 9." Cui: "No, I was not asked about any particular journalist." "No, I was not asked about any particular journalist." "Axios on HBO": "You were. ... I watched the clip. Margaret Brennan named Chen Qiushi." "You were. ... I watched the clip. Margaret Brennan named Chen Qiushi." Cui: "But I did not know him then. I don't know him now." "But I did not know him then. I don't know him now." "Axios on HBO": "Well, it's a month later. Weren't you curious to find out who he was?" "Well, it's a month later. Weren't you curious to find out who he was?" Cui: "We have 1.4 billion people back in China. How can I learn everything about everybody?" Go deeper: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday appealed to citizens to stay at home for their own safety in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Despite CrPC Section 144 being invoked in the state, a number of people were seen out on streets on Monday while several main roads were packed with vehicles. In view of this, Thackeray said, "People should take this war against COVID-19 seriously. Section 144 of CrPC is invoked so that essential services continue to operate while rest of the services are suspended till March 31. People should not violate rules by crowding the streets." The chief minister on Sunday announced enforcement of prohibitory orders in the state to discourage people from gathering at public places and minimise chances of social transmission of coronavirus. The total number of coronavirus positive patients in Maharashtra rose to 74 on Sunday with addition of 10 more such cases. At 24, the highest number of these cases were reported from Mumbai, followed by 15 from Pune, 12 from Pimpri Chinchwada and four each from Navi Mumbai, Nagpur, Kalyan and Yavatmal, an official statement said. Two persons have tested positive in Ahmednagar, while one each in Panvel, Thane, Ulhasnagar, Aurangabad and Ratnagiri, it added. A woman admitted in a Pune-based hospital has tested positive, but she does not have a travel history. Her four relatives also tested positive on Sunday, the statement said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The coronavirus has hit Montanas petroleum industry hard, with the slowing of the Chinese economy depressing global demand even as a price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia floods the market with oil thats cheaper than Montana can produce. With the U.S. economys slide into recession set to further reduce demand for oil, Montana Petroleum Association Executive Director Alan Olson says Montanas oil industry is facing some of the lowest prices its seen in a long time. Its kind of almost a perfect storm between whats happening in the economy because of the coronavirus and how production numbers have climbed, he said. On March 8, Saudi Arabia launched a price war against the Russian oil industry after Russia refused to participate in a deal with the Saudi-dominated Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. The OPEC deal would have raised global oil prices driven down by Chinas coronavirus-crippled economy via oil production cuts by participant countries. Russia refused to cut production, having lost market share to the growing U.S. shale oil industry during previous production cuts negotiated with the Saudis. In response, Saudi Arabia boosted production, hoping to drown the Russian oil industry with rock-bottom prices, and tanking the debt-ridden U.S. shale oil industry in the process. In the past month, the global benchmark Brent crude price fell from nearly $60 a barrel to just above $30, and West Texas intermediate, a significant American benchmark oil, fell from $54 to $25 dollars a barrel. According to oil-consultancy firm Rystad Energy, only shale operations in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico and the DJ Basin of Colorado are efficient enough to turn a profit at $31 a barrel. Montanas oil industry, particularly the Bakken Formation of eastern Montanas Williston Basin, is not competitive. Williston Sweet and Williston Sour were selling at around $16 and $8 a barrel respectively as of Thursday, March 19. Dan Fradenburgh leads an oil roustabout crew in Baker that does the manual labor necessary to keep oil flowing in the Williston Basin. While normally hed be changing check valves on pumping units or replacing flow lines, he said, the oil price drop means a lot of crews have slowed down and are doing only minimal maintenance. If a well produces less than 50 barrels of oil a day, they are shutting in the well. So now they only repair if its a big producer of oil, or an emergency like a broken valve thats leaking oil, he said. Without as much work in the oilfields, Fradenburgh said, his bosses at Choice Construction are doing everything in their power to make sure workers get 40 hours a week by paying them to clean trucks and equipment and do other odd jobs. In February, before the price war, North Dakota regulators warned that the more expensive of the Bakken wells would be shut down as the coronavirus constrained the Chinese economy. The director of the North Dakota Pipeline Authority compared the contraction to the damage the SARS virus caused to the Chinese economy (and demand for oil) 17 years ago. Olson said the effect of the Chinese economic downturn on oil prices feels similar to 2014, when Chinas economic growth hit a 24-year low. The U.S. economy is also in apparent trouble, with the stock market gains of the Trump era wiped out over the last few weeks, and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin warning Tuesday that the unemployment rate could skyrocket to 20% without federal bailouts of the private sector. The Trump administration is reportedly considering a bailout to shale oil companies. Also hit hard by low demand and the price war is Alberta, Canada, as oil sands have the highest break-even price of any oil type due to high production costs, according to Rystad. One method of cutting overhead costs is building oil pipelines, such as the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, to avoid the crude-by-rail bottlenecks that keep transportation expenses high. Keystone XL would pass through eastern Montana, and has wide support from Montanas political establishment, due in part to the addition of an oil onramp in Baker that would feed petroleum products from the Williston Basin into Keystone XL through a local Bakken Marketlink pipeline network. In the past, then-Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer threatened to hold up construction of Keystone XL in Montana if Baker didnt get its onramp. Keystone XL was killed by the Obama administration, but resurrected by Trump, who effectively overruled the federal courts last year to lift a construction ban that had been granted to environmental and tribal groups who say the pipeline threatens Montanas water resources. Additional lawsuits to stop Keystone XL are ongoing, but for now the oil industrys biggest enemy is the coronavirus. According to Olson, the price war can go on only so long until one side throws in the towel and cuts production, boosting prices. At the same time, nothing boosts oil consumption like record low prices. The cure for low oil prices is low oil prices, Olson said. Cellink AB (publ) (STO:CLNK B), which is in the life sciences business, and is based in Sweden, saw significant share price movement during recent months on the OM, rising to highs of kr115 and falling to the lows of kr81.50. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether Cellink's current trading price of kr87.40 reflective of the actual value of the small-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Lets take a look at Cellinks outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change. View our latest analysis for Cellink Is Cellink still cheap? The stock seems fairly valued at the moment according to my valuation model. Its trading around 2.7% below my intrinsic value, which means if you buy Cellink today, youd be paying a fair price for it. And if you believe that the stock is really worth SEK89.84, then there isnt much room for the share price grow beyond what its currently trading. Although, there may be an opportunity to buy in the future. This is because Cellinks beta (a measure of share price volatility) is high, meaning its price movements will be exaggerated relative to the rest of the market. If the market is bearish, the companys shares will likely fall by more than the rest of the market, providing a prime buying opportunity. What does the future of Cellink look like? OM:CLNK B Past and Future Earnings, March 23rd 2020 Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Buying a great company with a robust outlook at a cheap price is always a good investment, so lets also take a look at the company's future expectations. In the upcoming year, Cellinks earnings are expected to increase by 93%, indicating a highly optimistic future ahead. This should lead to more robust cash flows, feeding into a higher share value. Story continues What this means for you: Are you a shareholder? It seems like the market has already priced in CLNK Bs positive outlook, with shares trading around its fair value. However, there are also other important factors which we havent considered today, such as the financial strength of the company. Have these factors changed since the last time you looked at the stock? Will you have enough confidence to invest in the company should the price drop below its fair value? Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping tabs on CLNK B, now may not be the most advantageous time to buy, given it is trading around its fair value. However, the optimistic prospect is encouraging for the company, which means its worth diving deeper into other factors such as the strength of its balance sheet, in order to take advantage of the next price drop. Price is just the tip of the iceberg. Dig deeper into what truly matters the fundamentals before you make a decision on Cellink. You can find everything you need to know about Cellink in the latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in Cellink, you can use our free platform to see my list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. By Trend The leadership of the Azerbaijani parliament, the committees of the parliament and the staff of the Office and the Department of Affairs of the parliament have decided to transfer a certain part of the monthly salary to the national Fund to Support Fight against Coronavirus, Trend reports on March 23 referring to the Azerbaijani parliament. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Actor Sylvester Stallone visits the Rocky statue outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art in April 2018. Read more As COVID-19 keeps us all indoors, we invited readers to watch the same movie this weekend, Rocky, and talk about why they loved it or in some cases didnt, as it turns out. Most folks reported happy memories of Sylvester Stallones Academy Award-winning 1976 film, including online commenter montani semper liberi, whose fond recollection got the most up-votes of any post: Summer 77. Late afternoon, riding my 10-speed from Wildwood to the Villas after another grueling busboy shift at the Diner, my last summer job before college. The Rio Mall is showing that movie sensation, Rocky. Id been humming the theme for months, figuring to cool down and finally see a matinee with my tip money. 3 bucks for the ticket. Empty theater. READ MORE: Lets all watch Rocky this weekend. One movie, one Philadelphia. For the first 30 minutes or so, bored and a little disappointed, the only novelty being all the familiar city references. Then Philadelphia morning.... the lonely jog through the city. Pure magic. I went back four or five afternoons in a row just to relive that moment. Theres no question now what made this film......the soundtrack is among the greatest of all time. Lois Rubin Gross saw the movie as an ex-pat while living out of town, and screamed every time they showed a place I loved, she told us on The Inquirer Facebook page. Folks who didnt live in Philly liked what they saw, and came to check it out. Reader Jor Dan said he visited the city because of the Rocky saga, including more than 40 filming locations. He knows the spirit of the movie as well as a native, he said: This film is the symbol of determination. Philadelphians marveled at the impact the film has had on so many people. On my commute to work, turning that corner from Kelly to the Museum and seeing all of these people taking photos of and with the Rocky statue. All Smiles, arms up, laughing. Good times. wrote Toni Ann Flanigan. Irv Levy noted the parallels between Rockys long-shot bid in the ring and Stallones own struggles as a B-list actor and screenwriter, determined to hold out, turning down offers, until it was agreed that he would play the title role. Go Stallone, added online commenter djgreenberg. "He was unhappy with the way his career was going, the roles he was offered, so he took control, went out, created a part that would be good for him and made his own movie. We asked: Whats your favorite movie in the Rocky franchise? All of them, said Sean Farrell on Twitter. Favorite opponent? Mr. T got some love from Christopher Turner, who ranks the movies 1, 3, 2, 4, 5, and hasnt seen 6. David Moore liked the Michael B. Jordan/Tessa Thompson Creed spinoffs. He ranks the franchise in this order: Creed 2, Rocky 2, Rocky 3, Rocky 5, Creed 1, Rocky 4, Rocky 1. Not everyone is a fan, of course. A dissenter opined that the movie is written for a 12-year-old mentality. And readers had plenty of suggestions for other locally shot movies to watch. Stealing Home, Mannequin, and even Mannequin 2. If youve got ideas for a movie we can watch together next weekend, drop me a line. . People Steve Menzies, founder and chairman of Applied Underwriters, has used his bold, optimistic and entrepreneurial outlook to unite the professional and charitable worlds A deadly riot broke out in a prison in Colombia's capital leaving 23 inmates dead, authorities said on Sunday, as tensions rise over the spread of the coronavirus. Justice Minister Margarita Cabello described the events at the La Modelo prison in Bogota as an attempted prison escape. But advocates for inmates said officials had cracked down on inmates staging a peaceful protest over conditions they feared would exacerbate infections with the virus. 'Today is a sad and painful day for the country,' Cabello said. The conflict at La Modelo, which houses both suspects and convicts of crimes ranging from burglary to drug trafficking, began late Saturday evening. The relative of an inmate cries as she speaks on the phone outside La Modelo jail in Bogota in Colombia yesterday Relatives of inmates gather outside La Modelo jail in Bogota, Colombia. Violence broke out in the prison out of inmates' fears that authorities are not doing enough to prevent coronavirus inside prisons Inmates shared videos online showing people outside their cells, yelling as shots rang out in the distance. 'They have us abandoned here!' one inmate exclaimed. 'They have us like dogs.' On Sunday, evidence of the violence was still visible. The body of one man lay face-up on a roof, dressed in bright blue shorts, white sneakers and a bloody grey sweatshirt. Family members, many wearing protective masks, gathered outside, trying to get any information they could. 'We're desperate because we don't know anything,' one woman cried. Authorities did not provide a detailed account of how the inmates died, saying only that seven jail workers had also been injured, two critically. Cabello said no inmates had escaped and that to date, none had been diagnosed with coronavirus either. 'This was a criminal attempt to escape that was thwarted,' she said in a video statement. The relative of an inmate cries outside La Modelo jail in Bogota, Colombia after the riot which killed 23 people Jhon Leon, director of Judicial Solidarity, an organization that works to improve inmate conditions, said prisoners had planned a nationwide protest Saturday evening after complaining about the dire state of jails for two weeks without getting a reply. The National Prison Movement, a group of inmates and their relatives, released a statement earlier in the week, saying Colombia's prisons don't have enough doctors and nurses on staff, nor sufficient medicines to treat basic illnesses. 'Those deprived of liberty raise our voices in rejection of the policies and ineffective actions that have been taken,' the group said. Leon said about 5,000 people housed in the jail, some of whom are kept six to a cell while others sleep in hallways. Prisoners want elderly inmates and those with preexisting conditions to be moved to other locations and be put in isolation, he said. They also want more information on whether any inmates have been tested for the coronavirus. Inmates point from inside of La Modelo jail in Bogota. Colombia had confirmed 231 coronavirus cases and two deaths as of Sunday 'This was a peaceful protest,' Leon said. 'The response of authorities was overhanded.' Colombia had confirmed 231 coronavirus cases and two deaths as of Sunday. But with notoriously overcrowded and often violent prisons, many are concerned that the virus could spread quickly there. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever or coughing. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The government has taken a handful of initial measures, including barring relatives from visiting inmates. The relative of an inmate cries outside La Modelo jail in Bogota. Family members are searching for more information about what happened The penitentiary service also said it is reducing the number of workers in certain areas to create more distance between people, allowing older workers and those with preexisting conditions to stay home and organizing disinfection cleaning crews. One group of 10 inmates has been employed to create masks. But human rights advocates want the government to go further, taking measures like freeing those about to finish their sentences or who are jailed as a preventative measure for non-violent crimes. On Sunday, evidence of the violence was still visible. The body of one man lay face-up on a roof, dressed in bright blue shorts, white sneakers and a bloody grey sweatshirt As of early 2019, there were 120,000 inmates in Colombia's jails, far beyond the official capacity to hold about 80,000 prisoners. The attorney general's office, among other institutions, has found that inmates have trouble accessing basic services like clean water. 'Colombia should take urgent action to mitigate the risks in the jails,' said Jose Miguel Vivanco, Americas director for Human Rights Watch. Inmates display a sign reading in Spanish 'More than 30 dead' at La Modelo jail in Bogota yesterday It's an issue for many nations in the region and around the world: With nearly 1.5 million prisoners behind bars, Latin America's packed jails are an ideal breeding ground for disease. In Brazil, hundreds of prisoners from several facilities in Sao Paulo state have escaped in recent days while family members of opposition activists jailed in Venezuela say they fear for their loved ones amid unconfirmed reports that four police officers at the country's most notorious jail for political prisoners have come down sick with the illness. In the US, authorities across the country have been ordering the release of non-violent offenders and restricting the number of new detainees to prevent spread of the disease. But such solutions have been slower to materialize in Latin America, where jails are frequently overcrowded and run by violent gangs. A North Carolina biopharmaceutical company is developing a test for the novel coronavirus that can deliver results in just 30 minutes. Heat Biologics, based in Durham, has partnered with the University of Miami to design a test that can diagnose patients in just a fraction of the time compared to most other tests. The test doesn't require any technical equipment or instruments so it can be done just about anywhere, not just in a laboratory. With sufficient resources and quick approval from the US Food and Drug Administration, Heat Biologics hopes to have its test available in the next few months. After the delay in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention getting tests out - and concerns that even an asymptomatic person can spread the disease - the company says its kits will help diagnose more cases. It comes as cases in the US inch closer to 40,000 and deaths reach 477. Heat Biologics, a biopharmaceutical company based in Durham, North Carolina, is partnering with the University of Miami to make a 30-minute coronavirus test. Pictured: Nurse Susan Cologar takes a swab sample from someone at a coroanvirus testing location in Jacksonville, Florida, March 19 The test involves taking a throat swab and placing it in a tube to see if any genetic material of the virus can be extracted. Pictured: Hospital personnel assist people at a coronavirus screening tent outside the Brooklyn Hospital Center in New York, March 19 A paper strip is then placed in the tube and, if it's negative, there is one line on the strip, and there are two line if it's positive. Pictured: 'It's a very unique diagnostic, easy-to-use, and designed with patients in mind to generate results quickly and efficiently in a very convenient matter,' Heat Biologics CEO Jeff Wolf told DailyMail.com. The test involves first taking a swab of the back of a patient's throat, similar to one done for strep throat. Then, the swab is placed in a tube to see if the genetic material for the virus can be detected Lastly, a paper strip is dipped into the tube. From start to finish, the process takes about 30 minutes. 'The little paper strip looks like a pregnancy test would look,' Dr Sylvia Daunert, chair of biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, told DailyMail.com 'If it's negative, it has one line. If it's positive, it has two lines.' Heat Biologics' test does not require the use of any laboratory instruments and can provide results on site during a single visit rather than waiting five to six days. 'When we roll [the test] out, you can use it at a pharmacy, in a doctors office, even at drive-thru [testing sites],' Dr Daunert said. 'This test can be used in counties where they dont have access to laboratories.' She said it could even be used at airports where people who are returning from foreign countries are being screened. 'You can screen people for a fever and, if they have one, pull them aside and perform the test,' she said. Because no laboratory instruments are required, it can be performed anywhere. Pictured: A patient wears a protective face mask while loaded into an ambulance at The Brooklyn Hospital Center emergency room in New York, March 18 Heat Biologics said there is no estimate yet for how much its test will costs, but say it should be less expensive than several available on the market. However, the company expects insurance carriers to cover the cost. There has been a severe shortage of testing kits across the US, slowing down crucial diagnoses and leaving many wondering if they have the virus or not. Several other countries - including South Korea and Germany - have been very aggressive regarding testing in comparison with the US. 'You need to control the transmission so if you know who is infected, you can monitor them for symptoms,' Dr Daunert said. 'South Korea and Germany has done great job with that. Those are the models we should aspire to.' National Conference MP Hasnain Masoodi on Monday asked the Centre to release detainees, hailing from Jammu and Kashmir, who are lodged in prisons within and outside the union territory. Masoodi said the overcrowding in jails was in conflict with social distancing - a key response to the coronavirus outbreak. "This is to draw your kind attention to the plight of hundreds of detainees under the Public Safety Act (PSA) in Ambedkar Nagar, Agra, Tihar and other jails outside Jammu and Kashmir. "The detainees, it needs to be realised, are detained without charge and trial on a mere suspicion, later found to be misplaced," the Lok Sabha member from South Kashmir said in a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. . Masoodi, a retired High Court judge,said there are numerous judicial pronouncements commanding the government to lodge the detenue in a jail nearest to home so that the relatives and friends visit the detenue and the detenue, due to lack of social interaction, is not exposed to mental trauma. "In case of the detainees lodged in jails outside J-K, the direction is being observed in breach. It needs no emphasis that a detenue is not denuded of all his rights at the 'prison gate' but continues to have available a number of rights including the right to have interview with friends and relatives after reasonable intervals," the letter stated. Masoodi said the lockdown and restrictions imposed on travel and traffic, to combat the COVID-19 crisis would make it impossible for the relatives to visit the detenue lodged a few hundred miles from his home. "Resultantly, the detenue would be exposed to immense psychological distress and his valuable constitutional right defeated. This apart, the detention as universally accepted, because of overcrowding is in conflict with social distancing - a key response to COVID-19 crises. "The detainees, otherwise held without charge or trial, against the said backdrop, deserve to be released and the detention orders revoked," he said. The MP sought the release of the detainees, saying till the time their detention orders are revoked, they be shifted to the jails within Jammu and Kashmir. "I would therefore request you to direct revocation of detention orders against all the detainees lodged within and outside J-K and pending such revocation, request you to direct immediate shifting of all the detainees lodged outside J-K back to J-K forthwith," the National Conference leader said in the letter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Italy suffers another day of heartbreak and horror as coronavirus claims 651 lives in 24 hours bringing devastating total death toll to 5,476 in the country. KanyiDaily recalls that on Friday, Italy recorded 627 deaths in a single day, becoming the biggest 24-hour rise recorded anywhere in the world. The death toll from the disease in Italy has now risen by 651 to 5,476 on Sunday, an increase of 13.5%, but down on Saturdays figure when some 793 people died. The total number of cases in Italy rose to 59,138 from a previous 53,578, an increase of 10.4%, the Civil Protection Agency said the lowest rise in percentage terms since the contagion came to light on February 21, 2020. Italy has banned travel within the country on Sunday in yet another attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus. A month after the first death from the highly infectious virus was registered in Italy, the government also issued an order freezing all business activity deemed non-essential in an effort to keep ever more people at home and off the streets. Amongst the sectors targeted were the car, clothing and furniture industries. They have until Wednesday to wind down operations and will have to remain shuttered until April 3. The interior and health ministries issued a separate statement, telling people they had to stay where they were, unless urgent business or health reasons forced them to move to another town or region. Meanwhile, KanyiDaily had reported that Nigeria currently have 30 confirmed positive cases of the dreaded coronavirus. Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Jean Asselborn met with European counterparts during this morning's Foreign Affairs Council - via video conference. "In my 15-year career in foreign politics I've never experienced a major meeting held via video conference. It's so distant, I hope we can go back to meeting in person soon," Asselborn said on Monday afternoon. Ministers discussed the implications of COVID-19 for foreign affairs with a focus on repatriation of EU citizens stranded abroad, as well as the geopolitical implications of the pandemic. The council also discussed the state of affairs in Syria and the refugee situation on the Greek island of Lesbos, among other things. Open internal border vital for European coronavirus coordination Asselborn is disappointed in the decision taken by numerous EU Member States to close their internal borders. On 18 March, all states agreed to close the union's outside borders under the condition that internal borders would remain open. This is no longer the case. On the subject of the union's external borders, states questioned whether containment of the virus would be possible with open borders, concluding that free movement of people into and out of the union would pose a problem. "We should be celebrating 35 years of the Schengen agreement, but at this time 15 Member States have closed their borders. This is not what Europe stands for," Asselborn said. As many of Asselborn's colleagues have stated before, Luxembourg cannot function without its cross-border workers: "Closed borders have nothing to do with the European community. They must remain open." The foreign minister also had a clear message to the ADR party who questioned his decision not to test French cross-border workers working in Luxembourg's hospitals for the coronavirus. "In what world do we live?" asked Asselborn. "We're not discriminating against anyone. Everyone who feels unwell or has symptoms will be tested. If not, then they won't be. We need to stop pointing fingers at others. If you're a vulnerable person, then you will be tested. C'est tout." The EU's role in fighting the pandemic The EU is not only looking inwards, but also supporting countries and continents around the world with humanitarian and financial aid. The US has said that countries such as Iran and Venezuela should not be receiving humanitarian support due to their political climate. "This is unacceptable," Asselborn stated. The EU has warned the US that no country should be deprived of humanitarian aid. China is providing the EU and Luxembourg with vital supplies in the next few days. A logistical unit set up by the Ministry of Health is coordinating supplies in the country. It would be unhealthy for countries to start competing with who can provide medical supplies to crisis zones, ministers agreed in the council today. 300 Luxembourgish nationals still abroad The government and Luxair are organising repatriation flights. Asked where the 300 nationals abroad are located, Asselborn said that a large group of students is currently in Cuba, some were on holiday in Spain, and several remain in Costa Rica. Governments are supporting each other with bringing citizens home. Luxair has stationed an aircraft on Cape Verde for this purpose. Asselborn: "We know what solidarity means." Situation on refugee children coming to Luxembourg The government announced Thursday refugee children could not be brought to Luxembourg from Greek migrant camps as Luxembourg could not offer suitable conditions for them at the moment. Asselborn says that he is constant contact with the Greek government and the refugee organisations involved in handling the transition. The situation has been assessed, and even though Luxembourg is well-prepared and ready to take in the children, a safe environment can't be guaranteed at the moment due to the virus. Asselborn is frustrated, but he says this decision was agreed upon by numerous organisations and governments involved. He hopes to bring over the children as soon as possible within one or two months. Hungary's bill "does not fit in a European democracy." Asselborn criticised Hungary's bill that would allow their PM Orban to rule by decree without a clear cut-off date. "It's a wink to authoritarianism," the foreign minister said angrily. Furthermore, the EU has moved to start membership talks with Albania and North Macedonia. Progress is being made, but we are still "at the beginning", meaning it can take at least 10 years before they will be members, said Asselborn. The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) in collaboration with its Ghanaian education representative, Best Education Services has taken measures to continue engaging prospective Ghanaian students who intends to study in Australia in the wake of the CODVID-19 pandemic. Speaking to Ismail Muslim, General Manager at Best Education Services, he explained that with the travel restrictions and bans it is important that Ghanaians who intend to study abroad remain aware of the opportunities and the best options available to them as the world deals with this epidemic. The University of Technology Sydney employability is rated at 69th in the world according to QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2020. Best Education Services in collaborations with UTS is organising the online webinar on Friday 27th March 2020 for Ghanaians who are open to study opportunities elsewhere, once the epidemic is contained. This online webinar will provide a common platform for prospective Ghanaian students to meet and interact directly with representatives from the University of Technology Sydney. Topics to be discussed includes; Student experience at UTS, What study areas and courses are offered at UTS, Scholarship and internship opportunities available, Living and working in Sydney, Australia. The Webinar will begin in the early hours of the morning and attendees RSVP and get more information via shorturl.at/gjCSX Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Amid the coronavirus outbreak, college students in the city have resorted to several measures to prevent the spread of the disease and clear misconceptions pertaining to it. Students from several colleges affiliated with the University of Mumbai (MU) have come to the rescue of citizens to combat fake news on social media. In one such instance, the volunteers of the National Service Scheme (NSS) from different colleges have been conducting awareness drives in societies. In the past few days, NSS students from a Bandra college have made phone calls and appealed to at least 3,000 families around their college to follow safety measures and hygienic, and remain indoors over the next few days. The situation is getting scarier, especially for the elderly, who are unsure about whom to believe. So we are providing them with data and information from government-officiated websites to prevent them from believing in fake news and information, said Vijender Shekhawat, one of the NSS coordinators. He added that NSS volunteers from more than 139 MU-affiliated colleges have agreed to be a part of this project. In another case, students of a college have created alcohol-based hand sanitisers for the non-faculty staff of their college. These sanitisers have been distributed for free among the staff. The students have also explained the staff the importance of maintaining hygiene to prevent attracting the virus. Meanwhile, hundreds of medical students from across the country have come together to help bust the myths around coronavirus, especially on social media. As we are not doctors yet, we are using our knowledge to spread awareness among the public about the virus. We are compiling data from the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF [United Nations Childrens Fund], ICMR [Indian Council of Medical Research], AIIMS [All India Institute of Medical Sciences] and the central government to create a strong database of evidence-based information that is being provided to the public, said Jaspreet Kapoor, president of Indian Medical Associations Medical Students Network (IMA-MSN). These medical students have also been volunteering with local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to reach out to the society and answer queries related to Covid-19, added Kapoor. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams is warning Americans that this week is going to be bad as the coronavirus spreads across the country. Those who arent heeding the governments precautions to help slow the spread of the virus are a big reason why, as some are continuing to hold and attend large, intimate gatherings as opposed to practicing social distancing and staying home as often as possible. I want America to understand this week, its going to get bad, Adams said in an interview on the TODAY show that was transcribed by NBC News. Everyone needs to act as if they have the virus right now. So, test or no test. We need you to understand you could be spreading it to someone else. Or you could be getting it from someone else, stay at home." Thousands of positive cases have been reported nationwide and the death toll is well over 200 as of Monday morning. Four deaths have now been reported in Pennsylvania, and experts believe the best way to minimize the number of future cases is to limit person-to-person contact. The other important point is that were not going to ventilator our way out of this problem. Were not going to treat our way out of this problem, Adams said in the NBC interview. The way you stop the spread of an infectious disease like this is with mitigation measures and preventing people from getting it in the first place. More coronavirus coverage: Enforcement of Gov. Tom Wolfs business-closure order over coronavirus has begun Central Pa.s distilleries make hand sanitizer during shortage to help fight coronavirus I get it. It feels like the end of the world as we know it. And like a weird time to be writing about restaurants. But as restaurants have now been forced to close their doors except for take away, it's also the perfect time to talk about Stokehouse. This grand dame of St Kilda's dining scene, with its unbeatable views across the beach and very burnt backpackers, was launched by the Van Haandels in 1989. And it has weathered many storms. When will we eat the likes of this Australian seafood platter at Stokehouse again? Credit:Daniel Pockett Its fortitude is etched into the very bones of the building those charred timbers, salvaged when the original restaurant burnt to the ground in 2014. Before that fateful blow, it had also survived the GFC and the very best worst behaviour that Melbourne's dining elite could throw at it. Stokehouse is a true institution. A place to be seen. To preen and posture over big wines and bigger bits of beef, even if its pride and joy is serving seafood. It has been steered by many chefs, but it will never surrender its famous fish and chips lest there be a revolt mounted in terrifyingly sharp Louboutins. What is needed first is to rescue companies in trouble The specter of mass layoffs is haunting the world as the coronavirus crisis throws the global economy into turmoil. The International Labor Organization (ILO) forecasts the new coronavirus will "increase global unemployment by almost 25 million," compared with 22 million in the 2008 global financial crisis. After a recent survey of 34 economists, the Wall Street Journal predicted the coronavirus-triggered downturn would cost 5 million U.S. jobs. South Korea is no exception to the economic and labor crises created by the pandemic. A growing number of companies have been introducing unpaid or paid leaves of absence, or both, for their employees, and the chances are high that many of them will lose their jobs eventually. Some large companies have also put off indefinitely or canceled their plans to hire new employees. More worrisome is that the unemployment shock could lead to a vicious circle of the economic slowdown weakening both consumption and production. Businesses may feel it difficult to head off the looming crisis with just short-term measures such as temporary leaves of absence. While almost all industries have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, industries such as automobile production, aviation, tourism and retail will seemingly bear the brunt of the downturn much more than others. What is needed first is to rescue companies in trouble. Keeping small- and medium-sized businesses afloat is essential, given that they employ more than 80 percent of workers here. The government should put top priority on offering fresh loans to them and renewing their existing loans so that they can survive to repay debts later. No less important is to defend flagship industries. That's be-cause small business owners as well as smaller firms will collapse once our key industries go under. Without flourishing industries, who will pay the taxes needed for welfare? It will be impossible to return our economy to health without globally competitive industries. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 23 Trend: Seven more people have tested positive for coronavirus in Azerbaijan, the Operational Headquarters under the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers told Trend on March 23. Currently, 61 people with active phase of coronavirus are in special hospitals under the supervision of doctors in the country. The condition of three of them is assessed as moderate, the rest feel normal, their health condition is stable. The necessary measures are underway for the medical treatment of the patients. The cases of coronavirus in Azerbaijan are detected among people who arrived from abroad and as a result of infection of each other within the country. Everyone must thoroughly observe the rules of hygiene, strictly adhere to the requirements and recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers to prevent the spread of coronavirus, said the headquarters. Citizens must adhere to the self-isolation measures. People must not leave houses unless absolutely necessary. It is also imperative to contact less with other people and not to visit crowded places. More than 500 infections have been confirmed in India and nine people have died of the COVID-19 disease. At least nine people have died in India after contracting COVID-19, which has infected more than 500 people across the South Asian country, and health experts warn that a big jump in cases could be imminent. The worlds second-most populous nation has so far seen low infections, but at the weekend it saw a big jump, prompting authorities to announce a lockdown in dozens of cities and districts until March 31. The shut down came after millions of people observed a 14-hour public curfew on Sunday called by the government amid concerns Indias underfunded and crumbling public health infrastructure might be overwhelmed. The capital New Delhi, which has 31 cases, on Monday sealed the citys borders and imposed a lockdown on its nearly 20 million residents. Authorities have banned gatherings of more than five people in several of Indias states, including Maharashtra, the worst affected with 101 cases. The southern state of Kerala, which has been praised for its proactive approach to the pandemic early on, has 97 cases. A large section of the states residents work abroad, mainly in the Middle East. In the financial hub of Mumbai, Maharashtras capital, suburban trains, which usually carry 8 million people a day, were suspended until the end of the month. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that many Indians were not taking the lockdown seriously. Please save yourself, save your family, follow the instructions seriously, he said on Twitter. Global coronavirus infection have exceeded 325,000 with more than 14,500 deaths, the largest number of them in Italy. Editors note: This article and its map will be updated periodically throughout the day, but always check with local government officials for the most up-to-date numbers. A 29-year-old Chinese doctor has died of a stroke after fighting the coronavirus for 35 days non-stop. Dr Dong Tian, an anaesthetist, was declared dead at a hospital in Hubei on Saturday morning, a week before his 30th birthday. The medic worked non-stop on the front line for over a month before collapsing and being rushed to the hospital on March 3. He was treated at the Intensive Care Unit for 19 days before passing away, according to reports. He left behind his wife and sick father. A 29-year-old Chinese doctor has died of a stroke after fighting the coronavirus for 35 days A video shows a funeral service taking place in the medic's hometown, Dangyang of Hubei Province. People are seen holding a banner that reads 'welcome home to the anti-coronavirus hero, Dong Tian.' Dr Dong, who was looking after his sick father back home, volunteered to return to work in late January as the outbreak rapidly swept Hubei Province, the former epicentre of the coronavirus. On February 29, the doctor was given a break after working for 35 days in a row. He was put under isolation due to quarantine requirements. The anaesthetist was rushed to the hospital when he had a sudden headache and started losing the ability to speak during his quarantine. A video shows a funeral service taking place in the medic's hometown, Dangyang of Hubei People are seen holding a banner that reads 'welcome home to the anti-coronavirus hero, Dong Tian'. The medic was declared dead at a hospital in Hubei on Saturday morning The Zhijiang People's Hospital, where Dr Dong worked, announced his passing on March 21. 'Comrade Dong Tian was efficient and proactive in his work,' said the hospital. 'He respected the leaders and was kind to his colleagues.' 'Dong Tian is an outstanding representative of the 'millennial doctors',' his medical college wrote in a separate statement. 'He used his life to express his benevolence and love as a doctor. He sacrificed his youth and passion for his medical career.' The news comes as 3,675 medical workers from all over the country have returned to their hometowns as China reported zero domestic cases for a second time in a row on Friday. Patients wait in line outside the fever clinic of Wuhan Union Medical College Hospital for nucleic acid detection in Wuhan, Hubei Province China has reported ZERO domestic cases of coronavirus for a second day in a row, but the number of imported infections has risen to 228. Medical staff from other parts of China are pictured leaving Wuhan on Wednesday as the country sees a sharp decline in its new cases Statistics show infected travellers to China have spread to ever more provinces, adding pressure on authorities to toughen entry rules and health protocols. Meanwhile, nearly 350,000 cases have been detected globally and the death toll has risen to 15,286. 5,702 people have been infected in the UK and 282 have died. Britain's coronavirus response does not go far enough and could still mean 70,000 deaths, experts warned today. Demands are growing Boris Johnson to bring forward a European-style lockdown after extraordinary images emerged this morning of still-packed Tube trains in London The analysis by scientists from University College London, the University of Cambridge and Health Data Research UK will heap pressure on Boris Johnson to enforce 'social distancing' rules. Using NHS health records from 3.8m adults in England, the team estimated the number of victims of the epidemic - taking into account those who would have died anyway and the government's existing measures. They found between 35,000 and 70,000 are likely to lose their lives. Kia Motors India indefinitely suspended all its operations with immediate effect and the company's manufacturing facility in Andhra Pradesh and company office premises will stop functioning until further notice in view of the coronavirus concerns, the Korean automaker said in a statement on Monday Hyderabad: Kia Motors India indefinitely suspended all its operations with immediate effect and the company's manufacturing facility in Andhra Pradesh and company office premises will stop functioning until further notice in view of the coronavirus concerns, the Korean automaker said in a statement on Monday. "In view of the unprecedented situation arising out of the spread of COVID-19 and keeping in mind the safety and well-being of all our consumers, employees, workers, partners, and associates pan India, Kia Motors India has decided to suspend all its operations with immediate effect. With this, the company's manufacturing facility in Anantapur (Andhra Pradesh) and company office premises will stop functioning until further notice," it said. Kia said all its dealerships remain on call and are available to customers for all their requirements via all digital channels and it is also ensuring deliveries are not delayed for eager customers as well as service requirements are also being attended to, without compromising on strong safety precautions. Kia Motors India will continue to closely monitor the situation and ensure the best interests of everyone associated with its operations in the country, it said. Company will also remain connected with all authorities concerned and administration and will extend all possible cooperation and assistance, as and when required, it added. When contacted, Anantapur Collector Ganbdham Chandrudu said the district administration has communicated about the AP government's lockdown orders till March 31. "They (Kia management) have been intimated about the lockdown and they are complying with it," the official said. According to him, eight Korean nationals working for the company who have come to the plant during February were also put under home quarantine as a safety measure, though not required. The facility currently employs 10,000 people. Kia Motors India's wholesales in February stood at 15,644 units. The company dispatched 14,024 units of Seltos and 1,620 units of Carnival to dealers last month, Kia Motors India had earlier said in a statement. A Kilcullen professional is at the forefront of development of a vaccine against COVID-19. Teresa Lambe is an associate professor at the Jenner Institute in Oxford, and a former student at Cross and Passion College. According to the Pharma Letter she is part of a team in Oxford University researching a vaccine. They began work designing a vaccine on Saturday January 10, 2020. The current status is that they have identified a vaccine candidate and are working towards the first clinical testing phase. Trials of a coronavirus vaccine could begin within the next month, the British governments health agency Public Health England (PHE) has said, as it prepares to start evaluating the product developed by Oxford University. A chimpanzee adenovirus vaccine vector (ChAdOx1), developed at Oxfords Jenner Institute, was chosen as the most suitable vaccine technology for a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine as it can generate a strong immune response from one dose and it is not a replicating virus, so it cannot cause an ongoing infection in the vaccinated individual. This also makes it safer to give to children, the elderly and anyone with a pre-existing condition such as diabetes. Chimpanzee adenoviral vectors are a very well-studied vaccine type, having been used safely in thousands of subjects, from 1 week to 90 years of age, in vaccines targeting over 10 different diseases. We are conscious that a vaccine is needed as soon as possible and certainly by June-July when we expect a big peak in mortality, said Prof Adrian Hill, head of the Jenner Institute at Oxford. This is not a normal situation. We will follow all standard trial safety requirements, but as soon as we have a vaccine thats working we anticipate there will be an accelerated pathway to get it deployed to save lives. She also specialises in vaccine development and has worked on Ebola, Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever, Lassa fever, Nipah virus and MERS. The parent company of Levin Furniture is disputing what the former owner says stopped the sale of the business. On Friday, Robert Levin, the former owner and president of Levin Furniture, said in a news release, Two weeks ago, Robert Levin and the parent company of Levin Furniture executed a Letter of Intent which would have allowed Robert Levin, the former President and Owner of Pittsburgh-based Levin Furniture, to buy the business as an ongoing concern through a Bankruptcy Court restructuring of the parent company Art Van Furniture, LLC. Yesterday, Robert Levin learned that Art Van Furniture, LLC has decided to close all of the Levin Furniture and Wolf Furniture Stores immediately, to terminate the employees, and to not proceed with the terms of their agreement. Diane Charles, a spokesperson for Art Van, said that Levin is the one who stopped the sale. She released this statement, Art Van was notified by Robert Levins advisors on Thursday, March 19th that he was no longer willing to proceed with a purchase of the Levin business. While we recognize COVID-19 is having a profound and unanticipated impact on all retail businesses, the assertion that Art Van is no longer willing to sell the business on the previously negotiated terms is false. Art Van stands willing to complete the transaction. Earlier this month, Robert Levin had announced his intention to buy back Levin Furniture along with the Wolf Furniture stores in Pennsylvania, from parent company Art Van Furniture, LLC. Art Van Furniture had announced plans to liquidate all of its stores beginning on March 6. It was reported that the deal for Levin to buy the stores was signed on March 4 and that it included all nine Wolf Furniture stores in Pennsylvania, as well as 18 Levin Furniture and 17 Levin Mattress stores between Pittsburgh and Cleveland. When asked about customers who have made purchases and paid for them, Charles said, the coronavirus outbreak has disrupted its services. "With the continued concerns related to COVID-19 and the loss of personnel, we are unable to keep the Smithton, Pa., and Bellwood, Pa., warehouses or the stores open for customer pick up (CPU) at this time. We will provided further updates to LevinFurniture.com and WolfFurniture.com websites once we have them. We know customers will have questions regarding customer service policies and many other important topics. Our operational teams are working diligently to finalize and document those details, and we will communicate them to you as soon as possible. We ask for your patience. ... Unfortunately, a confluence of factors has left us with no alternative at this time but to take this action and notify you in as orderly way as we possibly can." MORE: PennLive has all of its information about the coronavirus outbreak in one place. Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. The Haryana government on Monday announced it will put the entire state under lockdown till March 31 as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of coronavirus. Seven districts of the state were put under lockdown on Monday while the order in the remaining 15 districts will be effective from Tuesday midnight. The state government has also announced special financial assistance for people in Below Poverty Line category and low income groups like daily wagers, labourers, street vendors and construction workers. This will cost the state government nearly Rs 1,200 crore per month, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said. The humanitarian measures were taken to ensure that these people do not face any difficulty in meeting their daily needs during the lockdown, he told reporters in a digital conference. "We had ordered lockdown in seven districts as part of the containment measures. We have now decided that in addition, this lockdown will be enforced in the remaining 15 districts of the state also from March 24," Khattar said. He said inter-state borders will remain sealed and the inter-state bus services too will remain suspended, though all essential and emergency services will be operational. He said section 144 of the CrPC has been imposed in the state prohibiting the assembly of five or more persons at any place. Those violating the lockdown will invite punishment under law, he warned. The Khattar government had on Sunday announced lockdown for the state's seven districts -- Gurgaon, Faridabad, Sonipat, Panipat, Jhajjar, Rohtak and Panchkula. The lockdown in the seven districts came into effect at 9 pm on Sunday. Now, the entire state will be locked down till the March 31, Khattar said, adding that the situation will be reviewed at the end of the month. Need for imposing curfew was not felt at the moment, he said in response to neighbouring Punjab imposing it as part of strict containment measures to fight COVID-19. Later in the day, he presided over a meeting with senior party leaders and those from the opposition and called for unity to fight the pandemic. As part of relief measures, the chief minister also announced setting up of a Haryana Corona Relief Fund (HCRF) and appealed to people to make voluntary donations, as he himself contributed Rs 5 lakh from his personal account. The money will be used to mitigate hardship of those affected by the Covid-19 spread. Enlisting measures for the poor, he said all BPL families will be provided their monthly rations for the month of April free of cost while all government school children and those enrolled with anganwadis will be given dry rations for the period the schools and anganwadis stay closed. Those registered with has he Haryana Board of Construction Workers but have not registered under Mukhya Mantri Parivar Samriddhi scheme will be provided a sum of Rs 4,500 per month on weekly basis starting March 30. The sum will be credited directly to their bank accounts, he said. All BPL families who have not registered under MMPSY will be provided a sum of Rs 4,500 per month on weekly basis starting March 30. Daily wagers, including labourers and street vendors, may register with the deputy commissioner of the district on a portal that will be established by March 27, Khattar said, adding all such persons, found eligible and having a bank account, will be directly provided an assistance of Rs 1,000 per week. All coronavirus patients, if requiring hospitalisation, will be admitted free of cost. So far, 14 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in the state, he said. All health and frontline workers, engaged in curbing the coronavirus spread, will be provided accident insurance of Rs 10 lakh, he said. A special package for agriculture and farmers will be announced by the government by March 28, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) To the annoyance of some shareholders, Zhengzhou Coal Mining Machinery Group (HKG:564) shares are down a considerable 30% in the last month. The recent drop has obliterated the annual return, with the share price now down 23% over that longer period. All else being equal, a share price drop should make a stock more attractive to potential investors. While the market sentiment towards a stock is very changeable, in the long run, the share price will tend to move in the same direction as earnings per share. The implication here is that long term investors have an opportunity when expectations of a company are too low. One way to gauge market expectations of a stock is to look at its Price to Earnings Ratio (PE Ratio). Investors have optimistic expectations of companies with higher P/E ratios, compared to companies with lower P/E ratios. Check out our latest analysis for Zhengzhou Coal Mining Machinery Group Does Zhengzhou Coal Mining Machinery Group Have A Relatively High Or Low P/E For Its Industry? Zhengzhou Coal Mining Machinery Group's P/E of 3.81 indicates relatively low sentiment towards the stock. The image below shows that Zhengzhou Coal Mining Machinery Group has a lower P/E than the average (8.7) P/E for companies in the machinery industry. SEHK:564 Price Estimation Relative to Market, March 23rd 2020 This suggests that market participants think Zhengzhou Coal Mining Machinery Group will underperform other companies in its industry. While current expectations are low, the stock could be undervalued if the situation is better than the market assumes. If you consider the stock interesting, further research is recommended. For example, I often monitor director buying and selling. How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios Probably the most important factor in determining what P/E a company trades on is the earnings growth. That's because companies that grow earnings per share quickly will rapidly increase the 'E' in the equation. That means unless the share price increases, the P/E will reduce in a few years. Then, a lower P/E should attract more buyers, pushing the share price up. Story continues Zhengzhou Coal Mining Machinery Group's earnings made like a rocket, taking off 83% last year. The cherry on top is that the five year growth rate was an impressive 21% per year. With that kind of growth rate we would generally expect a high P/E ratio. Don't Forget: The P/E Does Not Account For Debt or Bank Deposits Don't forget that the P/E ratio considers market capitalization. So it won't reflect the advantage of cash, or disadvantage of debt. Theoretically, a business can improve its earnings (and produce a lower P/E in the future) by investing in growth. That means taking on debt (or spending its cash). Spending on growth might be good or bad a few years later, but the point is that the P/E ratio does not account for the option (or lack thereof). Zhengzhou Coal Mining Machinery Group's Balance Sheet The extra options and safety that comes with Zhengzhou Coal Mining Machinery Group's CN526m net cash position means that it deserves a higher P/E than it would if it had a lot of net debt. The Bottom Line On Zhengzhou Coal Mining Machinery Group's P/E Ratio Zhengzhou Coal Mining Machinery Group has a P/E of 3.8. That's below the average in the HK market, which is 8.6. Not only should the net cash position reduce risk, but the recent growth has been impressive. The below average P/E ratio suggests that market participants don't believe the strong growth will continue. Given Zhengzhou Coal Mining Machinery Group's P/E ratio has declined from 5.5 to 3.8 in the last month, we know for sure that the market is more worried about the business today, than it was back then. For those who prefer to invest with the flow of momentum, that might be a bad sign, but for deep value investors this stock might justify some research. When the market is wrong about a stock, it gives savvy investors an opportunity. As value investor Benjamin Graham famously said, 'In the short run, the market is a voting machine but in the long run, it is a weighing machine. So this free visual report on analyst forecasts could hold the key to an excellent investment decision. You might be able to find a better buy than Zhengzhou Coal Mining Machinery Group. If you want a selection of possible winners, check out this free list of interesting companies that trade on a P/E below 20 (but have proven they can grow earnings). If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. By Takahiko Wada TOKYO (Reuters) - The Group of 20 finance leaders will not issue a statement after Monday's teleconference, a G20 source told Reuters, underscoring the challenge they face in garnering a consensus on how to deal with the rising economic risk from the coronavirus outbreak. The talks, which are scheduled for 1100 GMT, comes as the G20 faces pressure to take coordinated action against a pandemic that has jolted markets and stoked fears of a global recession. At the teleconference, the G20 finance leaders are expected to prepare for a summit complicated by an oil price war between two members, Saudi Arabia and Russia, and a war of words between two others, the United States and China. Saudi Arabia, which chairs this year's G20, has announced a plan to hold an extraordinary virtual leaders' summit this week "to put forward a coordinated set of policies to protect people and safeguard the global economy." Compared with the smaller, tight-knit G7 group of advanced economies, the G20 consists of big emerging nations like China that makes it harder to reach a consensus on quick-moving crisis, analysts say. "The conference call will probably have a feature unique to the G20," a Japanese finance ministry official told reporters on Monday. (Reporting by Takahiko Wada, additional reporting by Hiroko Hamada and Leika Kihara; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore) The massive gathering in Ayodhya on Ram Navami planned for the first week of April may have been called off because of the spread of COVID-19, but the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Monday continued with its preparations for constructing a Ram temple in Ayodhya. The Sangh Parivar outfit made public a silver throne, which, it said, had been ordered by the erstwhile princely family of Ayodhya, where the idol of Ramlala will be kept until the new temple is constructed. The VHP said the chief of the erstwhile princely family, Vimalendra Mohan Misra, had paid for it and craftsmen from Jaipur ... What do toilet paper, bread, hot dogs and wine have in common? Theyre all flying off the shelves in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak. Ok, maybe thats a bit of an exaggeration. Theres still plenty of wine to be found in stores in Western Massachusetts and throughout the country. But wine sales have been strong ever since people began stocking up on items while they stay at home and bars, restaurants and other businesses are closed during the outbreak. Sales have been good, stronger than normal for this season, Jim Nejaime, owner of Spirited Wines in Lenox, said last week. Of course due to folks stocking in, since many more are spending much more time at home, not able to go out to dine, etc. But Nejaime noted that the Coronavirus has resulted in "lost social opportunities for folks getting together however, means less consumption than if they could gather. So reduced sales there. Other wine store employees at other area wine stores had similar stories. One wine clerk who declined to be identified told me that sales had skyrocketed ever since the Coronavirus started forcing people to remain at home in order to avoid contracting or spreading the virus. Its been like Christmas week, a wine store employee told me, referring to one of the busiest weeks each year at wine stores nationwide. The Coronavirus has also affected wine stores in other ways. Some stores are taking drastic measures to protect the health and well-being of the public. At Provisions in Northampton, the wine store on Crafts Avenue announced on March 17 that it was foregoing in-store shopping completely for the time being and will now offer curbside pick-up and home delivery ONLY, according to an email sent to customers on March 17. Provisions was also encouraging customers to call in orders and pay over the phone rather than enter the store. In addition, Provisions is now offering home delivery for the first time on orders over $30. In addition to curbside pick-up, we encourage customers to take advantage of our new home delivery option, available for any products we have in stock, according to Provisions March 17th email to customers. At Spirited, the store was also offering the option of allowing customers to pick up their wine outside the store or have their wine delivered to their house. To serve our clients and in order to minimize social contact, we are offering a new curbside service option, although all are welcome to come in to our sanitized shop," according to an email Spirited sent to customers on March 16. Many more are stocking in larger quantities, and requesting drop on their porch deliveries and our offer of curbside service, Nejaime said, adding that many customers are ordering on-line or by phone, calling when they pull up, and we load into their open trunk. A wave replacing former handshakes & hugs. Other stores have made other changes due to the Coronavirus outbreak. Table & Vine in West Springfield adjusted its hours to 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. And like many stores, all wine tastings have been postponed at Table & Vine for the safety of our customers, vendors and staff, according to Table & Vines website. So what wines are people stocking up on during the Coronavirus epidemic? Reds? Whites? Wines from certain regions? Less expensive ones? More expensive? Larger bottles? People buying mostly in the $ 12 - $ 25 bottle range, both reds & whites, Nejaime said. Not much bubblyfolks not celebrating much. Expensive offerings are being passed on by some buyers, due to the obvious concerns of the market and life in general. Other buyers however have a Carpe Diem attitude; theyre buying expensive products, and feeling like they should enjoy the best they can afford, while they can. Nejaime added, We are thankful for the opportunity to still provide those housebound and otherwise, with fine wines, brews, spirits & foods, in as antiseptic a delivery method as possible. We hope they continue to allow us the opportunity to provide them with these special, life enhancing products. Cheers! Wine Press by Ken Ross appears on Masslive.com every Monday and in The Republicans weekend section every Thursday. Follow Ken Ross on Twitter and Instagram and Facebook. Tom Brady isnt the only veteran staple that wont be returning to Foxborough this fall. According to the Boston Globes Jim McBride, the Patriots are releasing Stephen Gostkowski. Coming off major hip surgery at 36, Gostkowskis cap hit was the third highest in the league among kickers. New England will save almost $3.5 million but cutting him. Drafted in 2006, Gostkowski spent 14 seasons kicking for the Patriots, and owns the franchises all-time scoring record. Bill Belichick ran through backups in his absence last season, as Kai Forbath, Mike Nugent, and Nick Folk all got a chance to kick. He also brought trick-shot kicker Josh Gables in for a cup of coffee with the practice squad. With Gostkowskis departure, special teams captain Matthew Slater is now the longest-tenured player on the Patriots roster. Related content: Northern Ireland's chief medical officer has warned against people trivialising the coronavirus outbreak and urged them to take the matter seriously. Dr Michael McBride made the warning as he confirmed 40,000 people are to receive letters urging them to shield themselves from the virus and stay at home. They include people that have had organ transplants, suffered specific cancers, coping with respiratory conditions, have had rare diseases, on immunosuppression medicines or are pregnant. They will need to shield themselves from the virus for 12 weeks. "There is no point looking back in the next two weeks and saying 'I wish we had done more'," he told the BBC. "So we need to take steps to protect our health service so our brothers, sisters and grandparents get the help they need. "This is a time to look after and look out for each other. Now is the time to protect ourselves, to protect each other and to protect our health service and support each other." He said those shielding themselves were isolating themselves from the virus not society and stressed the importance of people maintaining communication. He added: "People need to follow the simple advice that's out there about staying at home, avoiding all unnecessary travel, work from home if you can, and follow the advice on social distancing. "The steps we take over the next two weeks will make the difference as to whether or not our health service is able to provide the very best care to those who need it and will also protect our hardworking and dedicated frontline health and social care staff." This is a time to look after and look out for each other Dr Michael McBride He also said testing for the virus had increased including for healthcare workers. He said the priority was to test those that were severely ill and then those in potential cluster outbreaks. Meanwhile, Justice Minister Noami Long said she was appalled to see so many disregard government advice, saying people appeared to be treating the situation like an "extended holiday". She said Northern Ireland will get tougher measures from Westminster to enforce critical health advice to slow the spread of coronavirus. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to rush through sweeping new laws in a bid to tackle the outbreak, with the prospect the UK could be put on lockdown within days. Some have argued any measures should be strictly time limited and not impose on civil liberties after the outbreak. "It is a critical issue we all work together," Ms Long told BBC Good Morning Ulster. She said that while additional powers may be required, they would likely put further strain on the police force which was itself already impacted by the outbreak. "What we need is cooperation from the public," she continued. "We need people to take this seriously. "I recognise there are people who are confused about what decisions need to be made with respect to their work and employment and other things and we are working hard to put that in place. "But we need people in the interim to apply common sense and maintain social distancing." Ms Long said enforcing common sense to the public was "asking a lot" of the police and the health service. "If people are not going to use what opportunity there is responsibly then clearly we are going to have to take more extreme measures for what is required. "But we also need to be realistic, we will not be doing this for a week or two weeks, this could be the new normal and we can't rely on the police. The public have to help." Maharashtra is the worst coronavirus-hit state in this country and Pune is one of the worst hit cities. It has reported 16 cases so far and the district combined with Pimpri - Chinchwad has reported 28 cases. The state reported 15 new cases today taking the tally to 89. Of those, one was from Pune. Yesterday too, the state reported 10 new cases in a single day, out of which four were from Pune. The other six were from Mumbai. The four new cases on Sunday were relatives of a 41-year-old woman in Pune who had tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The woman had no history of foreign travel but attended a wedding in Navi Mumbai on March 3. She was the first domestic case of the virus in the city. All other cases in Pune prior to her have been reported in people who had a travel history to US, Dubai and Europe. The first coronavirus case in Maharashtra was from Pune, where a couple, returning from Dubai tested positive for the virus. The very next day three more people who were in contact with the couple tested positive for COVID-19. The Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad Police had extended the Janata Curfew from 9 PM last night to 5 AM to day morning. The Janata Curfew was an imitative by the central government to help inculcate the practice of social distancing among citizens. The Chief Minister of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray has imposed Section 144 across the state effective today to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Pune has yet to report a coronavirus death, while Mumbai has reported two out of the total seven in the country. The total tally of confirmed positive cases of coronavirus in India is at 415 according to the Health Ministry website. Also Read: Coronavirus: Lockdown in 75 districts; trains, metros, interstate-state bus services shut till March 31 Also Read: Coronavirus impact: Railways cancels all passenger trains till March 31 New figures released Monday put Michigan among the top five states with the largest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases. The first case of COVID-19 was found in Michigan on March 10, quickly growing to 1,328 as of Monday, March 23. That puts Michigan behind only four states -- according to state-level figures compiled Sunday -- New York, New Jersey, Washington and California. Michigans population of 9.9 million is larger than Washington and New Jersey but is far smaller than the other states. While theres a roughly 30 million gap between the populations of Michigan and California, there are only 465 more confirmed cases of the coronavirus. The number of confirmed cases do not account for each person who is carrying the coronavirus. Public health officials estimate there are vastly more people infected, and Michigans confirmed cases continue to rise as testing becomes more available. Michigan Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun said the state is capable of testing 1,000 people per day. However, we know there are many people who are still unable to get a test," Khaldun said Monday. As a country, we did not make tests available quickly enough to be able to fully understand the scope of the problem. Emily Martin, an epidemiologist at the University of Michigan, said its natural for confirmed cases to spike as more tests are conducted. Its because were filling in the gaps of the data, she said. "Infectious disease people always like to talk about the iceberg and you only see the tip of the iceberg. Now were filling in other gaps of the iceberg. So it looks like its skyrocketing, and that results in a lot of panic and worry and hysteria because people feel like the virus is moving faster and faster and faster, when really its that were just seeing more of the picture than before. Sorry, but your browser does not support frames. Whitmer said predictive models suggest as many as 70% of the states population could be infected -- roughly 7 million people. Whitmer said the federal government has not provided enough tests to grasp the full scope of the problem. The number of cases will go up yet today, tomorrow and in the days ahead, Whitmer said Monday. It is going to take greater testing. Weve made strides, but we must do more so we can understand what the challenge is that we are confronting. Thirty-six of Michigans 83 counties are home to a resident who contracted coronavirus. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported 293 new cases during its daily update on Monday, March 23. Most cases are among residents of Michigans three most populated counties. About 86% of the COVID-19 cases -- 1,142 of 1,328 -- are in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. Whitmer declared a state of emergency on March 10 after the first cases were identified. She has since closed schools, bars, restaurants and other establishments to prevent COVID-19 from spreading further. On Monday, March 23, she issued a stay-at-home order, requiring Michigan residents to stay at home except for essential business. There have been nearly 33,404 cases of the coronavirus and 400 deaths in the United States, according to the Center for Disease Control. MLive reporter Julie Mack contributed to this story. PREVENTION TIPS In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores. Complete coverage of coronavirus in Michigan. Read more on MLive: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer expected to issue coronavirus Stay at home order President Trump promises help for American workers as stimulus package gets held up in Senate Trumps claims that GM, Ford making ventilators right now not true Almost 109,000 in Michigan filed for unemployment last week compared to 5,000 in typical week Tokyo Olympics 2020: Canada pulls out of Games amid coronavirus pandemic Mid-Michigan groups seek face masks, hand gel donations to fight coronavirus The government of Indian, along with the Ministry of health and welfare have been updating the public with information regarding the pandemic. With the novel coronavirus spreading throughout India, there is also a sense of panic and uncertainty in the air. Indians are not sure what measures to take to safeguard themselves and their family. The government of India, along with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), has been constantly updating the public with all relevant information during this pandemic. They have also put out travel advisories that said people should hold off against travelling unless necessary. A recent announcement said that all foreign nationals and even Indians entering the country will be quarantined for the 14 days. This is to ensure that the individuals are not unwitting carriers of the virus. The government has also enforced restrictions on visas and has banned travellers from all other countries from entering the country. This move effectively bans all tourism to India until 15 April and it will come into action from Friday, 13 February onwards. However, there are a few exceptions that the health ministry will make like those with diplomatic and long-term employment visas for India will still be allowed into the country, and foreigners already inside the country will mostly be unaffected. The guidelines issued by the MOHFW range from how to quarantine oneself at home and the usage of masks in public to dealing with cruise ships that have passengers on board who might be infected as seen in the two cases in Japan and California. Helplines The MOHFW has released a list of helpline numbers for all states and union territories. Toll-free helpline number: 1075 Central Helpline Number for corona-virus - 11-23978043/11-23978046 Helpline rmail ID : ncov2019@gov.in OR ncov2019@gmail.com States Andhra Pradesh - 0866-2410978 Arunachal Pradesh - 9536055743 Assam - 6913347770 Bihar - 104 Chhattisgarh - 077122-35091 Goa - 104 Gujarat - 104 Haryana - 8558893911 Himachal Pradesh - 104 Jharkhand - 104 Karnataka - 104 Kerala - 0471-2552056 Madhya Pradesh - 0755-2527177 Maharashtra - 020-26127394 Manipur - 3852411668 Meghalaya - 9366090748 Mizoram - 102 Nagaland - 7005539653 Odisha - 9439994859 Punjab - 104 Rajasthan - 0141-2225624 Sikkim - 104 Tamil Nadu - 044-29510500 Telangana - 104 Tripura - 0381-2315879 Uttarakhand - 104 Uttar Pradesh - 18001805145 West Bengal - 3323412600 Union territories Andaman and Nicobar Islands - 03192-232102 Chandigarh - 9779558282 Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu - 104 Delhi - 011-22307145 Jammu & Kashmir - 1912520982 / 0194-2440283 Ladakh - 1982256462 Lakshadweep - 4896263742 Puducherry - 104 Whatsapp's contribution Haptik's myth-busting chatbot Other than these helplines, there is also an AI helpline - Coronavirus Helpdesk - that is operated by a startup called Haptik. It has been integrated on Whatsapp and can be used by first adding the number to your contact and then messaging it. It helps shatter myths about the virus and suggests basic hygiene practices, sourcing them from WHO, to help prevent it. Chatbot- 93213 9877 (India). Chatbot- 808-369-9528 (USA) Centre's coronavirus Chatbot With myths and misinformation spreading as fast as COVID-19 itself, the Centre has launched an official chatbot on WhatsApp to resolve any queries related to COVID-19. The chatbot has been named MyGov Corona Helpdesk and is a bid to make citizens aware of the pandemic. To use the MyGov Corona Helpdesk, save the number 9013151515 in your phones contact list and send a query related to COVID-19 to get an answer. The helpdesk is free for all. WHO launches health alert WHO has also created a health alert on WhatsApp to keep people updated about the coronavirus pandemic and combat misinformation. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg announced the move on his social media platform and said that they have worked together with the WHO to get authoritative information about coronavirus sent directly to one's WhatsApp account. To get all information from WHO on WhatsApp, one has to save the number +41 79 893 1892 on their phone contacts and simply text 'Hi' to get started. The WhatsApp Coronavirus Information Hub was launched in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme, the World Health Organization and UNICEF. Tracking the virus on a global scale If you want to track the number of coronavirus cases all around the world, here are some credible tools that can help you out. One of the most accurate maps that is updated very frequently is the interactive world map by John Hopkins University. It gives you the total number of cases confirmed, the number of deaths and those who have recovered as well. Another resource to look at is the Worldometer that, like John Hopkins provides you with the number of confirmed cases worldwide while distinguishing them into categories like - people with mild conditions and those who are more serious. The site also gives you information on the number of people that recovered and the total number of the deaths caused by COVD-19. Also Read: Coronavirus-related or otherwise, here's why working from home is highly overrated Coronavirus outbreak: What's the difference between pandemic, epidemic and outbreak? Coronavirus can live in the air for three hours, upto two to three days on plastic and stainless steel Malawis electoral commission says it will re-run the countrys presidential election on 2 July following the annulment of last years vote over irregularities. Malawis constitutional court had overturned the outcome of the 2019 polls handing incumbent President Peter Mutharika a second term in office. Electoral commission chief Jane Ansah told journalists on Monday that fresh elections would be held on 2 July, the AFP news agency reported. Malawis constitutional court had said last years elections on 21 May were marred by numerous irregularities including the use of correction fluid on voter tally sheets. Mutharika is appealing the courts ruling and the case is expected to be heard by the supreme court on 15 April, according to AFP. The constitutional court had last month ruled that fresh polls would be held within 150 days. The impeachment furor that consumed Washington for nearly a year has dissipated amid a far more urgent political storm: the coronavirus outbreak. Any trace of President Donald Trumps impeachment has vanished from Capitol Hill, cable news and the campaign trail. And long gone is the pervasive sense of anxiety that once gripped vulnerable Democrats after their votes to impeach Trump, which they feared could cost them their seats and possibly control of the House. Instead, the battle for Congress is more likely to be redefined by a highly infectious and mysterious virus that has spread into every state, pulverized the economy and thrust lawmakers into a crisis-governing mode unseen since the Great Depression. Its always about, What meeting are you going to on the virus? or, What are you going to do on the virus bill? said Arizona Rep. Tom OHalleran, one of the many Democrats in Trump-won districts who had been initially reluctant to pursue the presidents impeachment. Ive been through a few decades, and I havent seen anything like this, OHalleran said of the outbreak, adding that the flood of phone calls he once got on impeachment have subsided. Democratic campaign officials say the dual threats to public health and the economy have upended an election they worried and Republicans hoped would focus on Trumps impeachment. Campaigning has all but ceased in the traditional sense: Fundraising is down, and campaign officials on both sides say theyre being more careful about when and how to attack their opponents. In a recent memo sent to House Republicans, Tom Emmer, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, accused Democrats of politicizing the novel coronavirus and warned his caucus not to do the same. You should not fundraise off coronavirus directly as the Democrats have done, the Minnesota representative wrote. Be sensitive that your donors may have suffered financial losses during this pandemic. Story continues Illinois Rep. Cheri Bustos, who leads the House Democratic campaign arm, said shes working with the caucus most vulnerable members and urging them to follow federal health guidelines to stay safe which, recently, has meant no public gatherings of any kind. Nobody knows how long this is going to last, Bustos told reporters in the Capitol just before the House departed for recess. And heres the thing, its not like coronavirus hits Dems and not Republicans. The economic disaster fueled by the spread of the virus has also become a dominant concern for voters, according to a national poll conducted by the House Democratic campaign arm in mid-March, just as schools and businesses began shutting their doors. Nearly 50 percent of the 2,005 registered voters surveyed said they believed the economy was getting worse, up from 22 percent who felt that way in February, according to the poll obtained by POLITICO. Meanwhile, 28 percent think their own personal economic outlook had worsened. It also showed that 49 percent of people approved of how Democrats in Congress were handling the response, slightly above the 45 percent approval rate for Trump and the 42 approval rate for Republicans in Congress. Some Democrats privately believe the coronavirus outbreak could create an opening for a more robust debate on health care, perhaps providing for a repeat of the 2018 elections that flipped the House in their favor after Democrats campaigned heavily on that topic. The national focus on the cost of testing, vaccines and other health issues could dovetail with the message that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee was already pushing. The DCCCs first major TV ad campaign of the 2020 cycle focused on a prescription drug bill. FILE - In this Jan. 4, 2019 file photo, Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., walks to a group photo with the women of the 116th Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington. A mass departure of top aides is shaking House Democrats campaign arm after Hispanic and black members of Congress complained that the staff lacked diversity. Illinois Rep. Cheri Bustos is chairwoman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Shes issued a statement saying shed fallen short and would work to make the staff truly inclusive. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) But others say the political reality on the ground may be more complicated the election cycle has been frozen at a point when it would normally be gearing up. This is just going to dominate American life through Election Day, said one Democratic strategist who closely tracks House campaigns. Some have compared it to the 2008 campaign, when the Democratic presidential primary was largely defined by the Iraq War until Lehman Brothers bankruptcy in September helped set off a financial collapse that quickly became the dominant issue in that Novembers election. The coronavirus outbreak has halted the lives of millions of Americans, wreaking havoc as layoffs pile up and the death toll mounts. The virus has also had a direct effect on some of the caucus most endangered members: Freshman Rep. Ben McAdams has tested positive for the virus and is recovering at his home in Utah. A half-dozen other frontline Democrats announced they are self-quarantining after contact with McAdams, including Reps. Anthony Brindisi of New York, Joe Cunningham of South Carolina, and Kendra Horn of Oklahoma. Still, politics goes on. The GOPs campaign arm accused New Jersey Rep. Andy Kim of raising money off the coronavirus when the freshman Democrat included a link to his fundraising page announcing the cancellation of his campaign kickoff events. Congressional candidates are relying more heavily on reaching donors via phone. Theres some concern among fundraising teams that their wealthiest supporters might pause donations as financial markets continue to plummet. And some campaigns are questioning how long they can continue to send email solicitations or run online advertisements without seeming tone deaf. In conference calls over the past week between Democratic House campaigns and allied consultants and outside groups, strategists have been brainstorming ideas for how to fundraise tactfully, according to people familiar with those calls. One Republican, Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, said he would pause fundraising for his reelection. He was one of 40 GOP lawmakers who voted against the Houses coronavirus relief package. And a Democratic super PAC this week announced it would spend $5 million on digital ads skewering Trumps response to the coronavirus marking the partys first major ad buy related to the outbreak. The onset of the pandemic has also left some campaigns struggling to find the right tone. House Republicans campaign arm has so far embraced an aggressive posture NRCC taunts to House Democrats have left even some GOP lawmakers wincing but Emmer in his memo urged caution in campaign communications. At times like this you need to ask yourself if your press release or snarky comment are in poor taste, he wrote. For the most part, however, the GOPs lines of attack couldnt look more different than two months ago, when the nation was affixed to the Senates six-day-a-week impeachment trial and the vote to acquit Trump on Feb. 5. Impeachment had consumed Capitol Hill practically since Democrats took back the House majority after the 2018 midterms. First there was the question of whether to pursue it after Robert Muellers Russia investigation. Then after a whistleblower complaint surfaced in September about Trumps bid to push Ukraine to investigate his political rivals, it became a matter of when, not if. For the dozens of freshmen representing swing districts, it was a political nightmare. All of a sudden, they were staring down millions of dollars worth of attack ads which skewered Democrats as attempting to undo the 2016 election instead of delivering for their constituents when their reelection campaigns had barely begun. The American Action Network, a nonprofit aligned with GOP leadership, dropped $11 million worth of ads knocking Democrats throughout the fall and early winter, but those have been off the air since early February. Some Democrats said they never expected impeachment to stretch into the 2020 campaign and insist the national frenzy had quieted down shortly after the Senate acquitted Trump. I havent heard about impeachment since the Senate failed to do its job. People have moved on before coronavirus, said Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford, who holds a battleground district in the Las Vegas-area. I heard a lot about it when it was the issue, he said of constituents eager to discuss impeachment. Now theyve shifted and theres a lot of concern about what people need to be doing to stay healthy and to make sure that our economy doesnt decline. Welcome to a 24-hour cable news, added Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa.). And in two months, well be talking about something else hopefully other than coronavirus. Its a whiplash that political operatives say is already familiar, with Congress constantly sputtering to avoid disaster. In 2019 alone, the House saw the longest-ever government shutdown, followed by the Mueller probe and a vote to impeach a president for only the third time in history. Were living in an age when crisis is followed by crisis, said Rep. Tom Malinowski, who flipped a GOP-held seat in New Jersey in 2018 and faces a stiff reelection challenge from the son of a former governor. But, the New Jersey Democrat said, Trumps behavior amid the coronavirus outbreak only strengthened his belief that he made the right choice in voting for the articles of impeachment and that Trump abused his power. Some of his reaction and what he says I didnt want the people off that boat because I like the numbers where we are that reminds me of the president we impeached. Because, again, its about thinking of the self-interest ahead of the nation. Conservative groups and taxpayer advocates joined together last week in a call to halt this years federal oil and gas lease sales in lieu of depressed market conditions and poor financial returns for the public. Conservatives for Responsible Stewardship and Taxpayers for Common Sense have asked the Bureau of Land Management to put the brakes on the next four online auctions, which will likely make available millions of acres of federal land for energy development. Wyomings first quarterly lease sale of the year is scheduled to occur on Tuesday. The bureau will offer 105 parcels covering about 118,292 acres of public land. But to critics of the upcoming sales, now is not the time for the government to be leasing public land. Volatile energy markets have continued to hit Wyoming operators, with oil prices cratering and investors shedding energy shares as the coronavirus continues to spread worldwide. Operators have trouble breaking even on production when oil prices drop too low. Leasing vast swaths of public land in the midst of an oil glut and collapsing market is nothing short of fiscal lunacy, said David Jenkins, the president of Conservatives for Responsible Stewardship. It also represents a gross mismanagement of valuable natural resources that turns our nations longstanding principle of multiple-use on its head. Giving up land to oil companies with little ability to drill denies the public access to the land for recreational use, the groups explained in a news release last week. It also gives up minerals owned by American taxpayers well below market value, they added. Often, oil and gas companies can claim a significant portion of available parcels at the minimum bid amount $2 per acre. A geospatial analysis released this year by the Center for Western Priorities, a conservation group, found 1.3 million acres of active leases on Wyoming land sold for $2 or less an acre, often in noncompetitive sales. Taxpayers are already losing on this administrations oil and gas lease sale binge, Taxpayers for Common Sense President Steve Ellis said. But in the current financial market, the rush to offer up millions of acres of public land for oil and gas lease is even more fiscally reckless. Its time to cap this blowout of waste. The BLM did not return a request for comment by press time. Statewide lease sales have also garnered opposition from conservation groups and some landowners who think the Trump administrations energy dominance strategy has sparked a race to claim thousands of public acres in sensitive habitats at the expense of the environment and the public. Alan Rogers, communications director at the Wyoming Outdoor Council, is also concerned with the potential exclusion of key public input throughout the leasing process due to the recent spread of the novel coronavirus. There have been numerous recent attempts at the federal level to cut out local voices from land management decisions, and this pandemic creates another obstacle to public participation, Rogers said in an email to the Star-Tribune. Our hope is that the BLM proceeds cautiously with any decision that requires public input. Rogers added he is also keeping a close eye on the imminent release of the Rock Springs Resource Management Plan draft. Resource management plans provide a long-term look at how public land and minerals should be managed. Each field office considers whether public land should be open to activity or if the land needs protection. The public comment window will be very limited and easily overshadowed by the coronavirus response, he said. Wyoming produces more energy on public land than almost any other state in the country. The state receives about half of the funds made through federal lease sales. Last year, the sales brought $117 million back into the Equality States coffers. A portion of royalties paid by companies for extracted minerals also flows back to the state. Follow the latest on Wyomings energy industry @camillereports Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. As the coronavirus outbreak gripped the U.S., consumers rushed to stock up on hand sanitizer, among many other items. In the first week of March, sales of hand sanitizer ballooned more than 470 percent, according to the data measurement firm Nielsen, spurring egregious examples of price gouging (a single bottle of Purell listed on Amazon for more than $100) and hoarding (a third-party seller bought thousands of bottles with the aim of reselling them all for a significant profit). Against this backdrop, earlier this month a trial quietly wrapped up in federal court between the Food and Drug Administration, the federal agency governing over-the-counter products like hand sanitizer, and a small California hand sanitizer manufacturer, Innovative BioDefense, which makes a product called Zylast. If the FDA prevails, Innovative BioDefense claims it will go out of businessat a time when millions of people are searching for hand sanitizer to protect themselves from coronavirus and many are finding that stores are sold out. Indeed, to minimize shortages, the FDA on Thursday issued new, more flexible guidance on the manufacture of hand sanitizer that permits more companies to start making the product. Its the most remarkable coincidence I've seen in my life, says Kirby Behre, an attorney representing Innovative BioDefense, of the trials timing with the coronavirus outbreak. A final ruling is pending. The case, filed in June 2018 and which also involves Innovative BioDefenses direct-to-consumer partner Zylast Direct, boils down to a legal question over labeling. The FDA alleges Innovative BioDefense made statements in marketing materials, including descriptions on the companys website and in ads, that Zylast was effective against pathogens like Ebola, norovirus, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (or MRSA). Under FDA regulations, the company cannot make pathogen-specific claims about Zylast products without having gone through the agency's formal drug-approval process. After sending the company a formal warning letter about making such claims back in 2015, Innovative BioDefense nevertheless continued to make the violative statements, the FDA alleges. Story continues U.S. District Judge David Carter, who is overseeing the case, found in an earlier ruling that Zylasts marketing claims indeed violated federal law. But he has yet to issue a decision on the FDAs request for an injunction, a court order that could, in part, require Innovative BioDefense to stop production until changes are made, potentially conduct a full recall of products, and hire a compliance manager to ensure the company abides by the governments labeling standards. But whether Innovative BioDefense should be required to undergo additional compliance measures isnt the only thing the judge has to consider. The case also raises questions about fairness regarding how the FDA oversees hand sanitizer labeling claims industrywide. Over the course of the trial, which began in December and stretched into early March, Innovative BioDefense claimed it did, in fact, quickly respond to the FDAs concerns by removing pathogen-specific statements. The company also claims the FDA enforcement action came in response to an aggressive, years-long lobbying campaign from industry leader GOJO, maker of Purell. Innovative BioDefense alleges the FDA unfairly singled out the company, when other hand sanitizer manufacturers make similar pathogen-specific claims. Indeed, Innovative BioDefenses attorney forced an FDA official who testified in December to concede that GOJO made the same kind of claims about Purell in marketing materials that Innovative BioDefense is accused ofand Innovative BioDefense alleges in court papers that GOJO has been doing so for the past 15 years without any action taken by the FDA. The admission forced the FDA, in January, to issue a formal warning to GOJO about its product claims, some of which CR found in marketing materials for Purell as recently as last week. When CR asked about these marketing materials, GOJO did not respond to the question, and reiterated the companys statement issued in response to the FDAs action at the time. Given the prevalence of pathogen-specific statements in the hand sanitizer industry, and the confusion within the FDA regarding what statements are permissible, the FDA must clarify its regulations for the industry, Innovative BioDefense wrote in a March 10 court filing. (A GOJO spokesperson says the company wont comment on litigation its not involved in. In response to a list of questions sent by CR, an FDA spokesperson says the agency does not comment on ongoing litigation.) This account is based on hundreds of pages of court records and FDA documents obtained and reviewed by Consumer Reports. Health authorities say that though washing your hands vigorously for 20 seconds with soap and water is a key defense against coronavirus, hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol is an effective backup. Though Innovative BioDefense says its sales represent a fraction of the total hand sanitizer market, Zylast, which is 76 percent alcohol, seems to be the kind of product being recommended to consumers right now. People must be able to get affordable hand sanitizer that could help kill the coronavirus. The court, prosecutors, and manufacturers should make sure that this case leads to consumers having more access to effective hand sanitizernot less, says Chuck Bell, programs director for Consumer Reports' advocacy division. Were in the middle of a pandemic, so now more than ever, people must be able to trust companies marketing," Bell says. "Those making health claims always have a duty to be honest with the public, but that responsibility becomes even more serious during a crisis. Its critically important for the Justice Department and the FDA to take strong enforcement action against any company when its claims arent backed up by the science. Labeling Lingo The complicated backstory between Innovative BioDefense and the FDA first became public in 2015. That year, the agency issued the company a warning letter for making claims that Zylast can prevent disease without having gone through the FDAs formal drug-approval process. The FDA has labeling regulations for countless products, and the one specific to healthcare antiseptic products, like hand sanitizer, dates to 1994. It allows hand sanitizer product labels or marketing materials to make claims about reducing germs on skin. But the rule does not permit a hand sanitizer available to consumers to make additional claims that it can prevent an infection or is effective at killing any specific pathogen, the FDA said in a March court filing. Its rare for the agency to file a lawsuit against a company, says Laura MacCleery, policy director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer advocacy group based in Washington, D.C. (and a former CR advocate). Mostly, FDA issues warning letters, she says. The amount of litigation that it pursues is quite modest. Labeling regulations are meant to protect consumers and ensure that products are what they claim to be, she adds. In the moment that were in, claims that provide a false sense of security to people ... if there isnt any science behind that, thats affirmatively dangerous. The FDA took a similar line when it initiated its suit against Innovative BioDefense in 2018. At the time, then-Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., said in a press release, Were concerned that people potentially exposed to pathogens may use these products with a false sense of safety. Banned From Amazon But the FDAs lawsuit, when it came in June 2018, took Innovative BioDefense by surprise, the company said in court. It claimed it removed pathogen-specific statements, including every violative point cited in the FDAs warning letter, and then tried to contact the agency more than a dozen times to discuss the situation further. But the FDA never responded, the company claimed. "The clients were shocked, because they thought they had resolved everything because they had removed the statements that the FDA complained about, says attorney Behre. Innovative BioDefense also argued the three-year lag between the warning letter and when the FDA filed its suit had harmed its ability to mount a defense. It pointed out in a filing after the trial that FDA compliance officer Raymond Brullo had testified he couldnt recall particulars about the case because so much time had passed, even though he was the agencys point person for Innovative BioDefense. The FDA, in turn, accused Innovative BioDefense of having been non-responsive as well. The FDA said it sent a letter in August 2015 explaining that the companys responses to the warning were insufficient but never heard back from it. The FDA referred the case to the U.S. Department of Justice in June 2016 for the permanent injunction, the agency said in a filing. And, contrary to what the company alleges, the FDA said there were communications between both sides for a resolution outside of court from June 2017 into early 2018. In that timespan, the agency said it found that the company continued to make pathogen-specific claims about its products, so it filed the lawsuit in June 2018. Things immediately took a bad turn for Innovative BioDefense. About a month later, court records say, Amazon sent a representative of Zylast Direct a letter stating that it believed Zylast carried prohibited claims and banned the products from being sold on the site. Sales dropped drastically as a result, court records show: Approximately half of Innovative BioDefenses total sales are made by Zylast Direct, which sold 70 percent of its product through Amazon. Singled Out? The FDAs effort unfairly targeted Innovative BioDefense, the company said, adding that it believes the agency was unduly influenced by [Purell manufacturer] GOJO Industries to unfairly target Defendants for enforcement. Court records claim that GOJO contacted the FDA about Innovative BioDefenses Zylast products in November 2013, arguing the pathogen-specific claims being made were illegal. The agency initially decided against taking enforcement action at that time. But GOJO continued to repeatedly push the FDA to target Zylast for enforcement action, Innovative BioDefense claims. But at trial, an FDA employee admitted the agency was aware that hand sanitizer manufacturers, in the marketing of products, routinely make pathogen-specific claims, according to a filing from Innovative BioDefense. That includes GOJO. In fact, Innovative BioDefense alleges, the FDA was aware that GOJO made pathogen-specific statements as far back as 2005. At a Dec. 18 hearing, attorney Behre pulled up a recent blog post from the GOJO website about Purell that mentions it can combat MRSA, according to a court transcript. Behre asked the FDA employee whether the language was violative, because it appeared on a webpage that has a link to direct readers to buy a GOJO product. The employee said it was. The admission prompted Judge Carter to pepper the FDA employee with questions. Why can GOJO do it, and IBD cant? Carter asked. The employee said she wasnt saying GOJO could make statements to that effect. Carter continued: Whens the warning letter going out? The employee testified as soon as they draft it and the FDA clears it. Sure enough, a month later, the FDA issued a formal warning letter to GOJO, saying it made numerous health claims. The claims cited by the FDA were strikingly similar to those made by Innovative BioDefense: that Purell products can prevent the spread of the flu bug, Ebola, MRSA, norovirus, and even reduce absenteeism among students. Your PURELL Healthcare Advanced Hand Sanitizer products do not comply with the relevant [regulation], the agency wrote, citing in part, that GOJO made even general statements to suggest the products are effective in preventing the spread of infection. CR found that as of last week GOJO still had some material online that appears to mirror that language. In one posting, for example, the company said Purell is the brand that hospitals trust most to prevent infection. (When CR rechecked the language after sending questions to GOJO, the language had changed.) GOJOs spokesperson declined to comment on the posting found by CR. But the spokesperson says in a statement that the company took immediate action in response to the FDA warning letter. Updates to relevant websites and online content are underway and GOJO is taking steps to prevent a recurrence, the statement adds. The FDA told the court earlier this month that GOJO said it would conduct a comprehensive review of its websites and social media within 90 days and remove similar statements. The FDA alleged that the conduct by GOJO and Innovative BioDefense is not comparable, and it says the agency has discretion in deciding how to enforce the law. Innovative BioDefense, though, countered that competitors, including GOJO, continue to make violative statements, and therefore feels its being singled out for enforcement. The targeting of Defendants was arbitrary, the company claims, and the Government had no rational basis for treating Defendants differently than its competitors. What's Next? A ruling on the governments request for an injunction may be delayed because California courts, along with many other businesses, are closed as the state battles the coronavirus. In February, the FDA spelled out to the judge what it believes Innovative BioDefense should do before it can sell any of its products again, including that it: stop production until corrections are made; hire an expert who would review the defendants labeling and affirm that it's in compliance; remove any remaining pathogen-specific claims; hire an independent compliance officer to verify label compliance once production resumes; and pay all costs of the FDAs future supervision, inspections, investigations, reviews, and more. The evidence has made clear that IBD now teeters on the edge of insolvency; imposing expensive and unnecessary steps such as these will push the company over the edge, Innovative BioDefense alleges. Its unclear how much revenue the company generates today. Court testimony suggests it had about $500,000 in sales annually around the time the warning letter was issued. The company says the proposed response isnt commensurate because it has consistently demonstrated efforts to comply with the Governments wishes by amending and removing statements from their websites. Putting the labeling issues aside, experts say the product might be useful during the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. Zylasts formulation is consistent with the preferred hand sanitizer formulations for use in healthcare settings as specified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, says Michael Hochman, M.D., director of the Gehr Family Center for Health Systems Science and Innovation at the Keck School of Medicine of USC in Los Angeles, who spoke with CR specifically about hand sanitizers and not the ongoing case. In any event, the best option to fight coronavirus if youre concerned you touched something that might be contaminated is to wash your hands. "Hand sanitizers are good in a pinch, says Paul Roepe, professor of chemistry and co-director of the Center for Infectious Disease at Georgetown University. But theyre no panacea." See CRs Guide to the Coronavirus for more on how to prevent the spread of the virus and protect yourself during the ongoing pandemic. More from Consumer Reports: Top pick tires for 2016 Best used cars for $25,000 and less 7 best mattresses for couples Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright 2020, Consumer Reports, Inc. The coronavirus pandemic has already prompted state after state to delay their primary elections, including a chaotic last-minute scramble in Ohio last week and depressed turnout in states that went ahead. The disruptions are prompting widespread calls for expansion of absentee ballot and vote-by-mail options before the November election. But there are no magic fixes in a country where the rules governing elections make up a confusing patchwork from state to state. Expanding universal vote-by-mail options for Novembers election will require either the passage of federal legislation or a series of changes to state laws, especially in the states that now require an excuse for absentee ballots. On March 18, U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, both Democrats, introduced legislation requiring, among other things, 20 days of early in-person voting, as well as no-excuse vote-by-mail options in every state. The federal government would reimburse states for the costs of putting the measures in place, though the bill doesnt specify an amount and the tab could be high. Money and momentum matters, though states would still quickly have to make a series of decisions governing how such ballots would make their way into voters hands and be returned, handled and counted securely; the deadline to return ballots to be counted; as well as how to verify them and give voters the chance to address problems questions different states answer in different ways. And while few oppose expanding vote-by-mail options, advocates are clear that voting in person isnt going away by November: Robust in-person voting options are needed to avoid disenfranchising communities of color, low-income and disabled voters, and those who need language assistance. Just like there is not one way to suppress the vote, there is not one intervention that is going to magically make all the limitations in the system go away, said Myrna Perez, director of the voting rights and elections program at New York Universitys Brennan Center for Justice. You need many options because many members of our community have different needs and require different protocols and systems to be able to serve them. Story continues In Arizona, for example, tribes are concerned about how any state legislative movement toward a vote-by-mail bill will impact vulnerable populations and tribal populations, said Patricia Ferguson-Bohnee, director of the Indian Law Clinic at Arizona State Universitys Sandra Day OConnor College of Law, on a call organized by voting rights advocates about last weeks primaries. Wyden introduced a previous iteration of vote-by-mail legislation earlier this month that would have authorized $500 million. That bill prompted concerned voting advocates to contact his office and provide what he described in an emailed statement was thoughtful feedbackabout how to ensure this bill works for as many Americans as possible. The legislation he and Klobuchar introduced last week includes provisions for in-person early voting to help areas with unreliable mail service, he said, and funding for accommodating voters with disabilities and making sure people whose ballots are incorrectly rejected have an opportunity to notify election officials and resolve the problem. The hope is the legislation would be incorporated into a larger legislative package dealing with the coronavirus crisis. Our bill now protects every Americans right to vote in the face of the current emergency, Wyden said. DRASTIC CHANGES? There are reasons why election officials try to avoid making drastic changes to the way people vote in presidential election years. So how likely is it for election officials around the country to drastically overhaul the way people vote between now and November? In extraordinary circumstances and with enough money and resources, anything is possible, said Audrey Kline, national policy director of the National Vote at Home Institute, a nonpartisan nonprofit that advocates for vote-by-mail options. Based off what we are seeing right now, with a very popular election, a very in-tune electorate and a pandemic, we think that states are going to see a pretty massive shift toward mail balloting no matter what, and they need to get ready, Kline said. There are signs shes right. Maryland, for example, declared that a special election for a House seat would be conducted entirely by mail. In West Virginia, the secretary of state issued emergency rules that will provide virtually every voter access to an absentee ballot for its May 12 primary. Phil Keisling, who was secretary of state in Oregon from 1991 to 1999 when the state was transitioning to voting primarily by mail said technology is better now than it was then. A vote-by-mail advocate who chairs the board of the National Vote At Home Institute, Keisling said making changes for November will take some ingenuity and some planning, but a lot of that is called for anyway in this crisis. In 2018, 31 states saw fewer than 15 percent of voters cast ballots by mail, the Bipartisan Policy Centers Matthew Weil wrote recently. Some states still require voters to have an excuse to cast an absentee ballot. The five states that now vote nearly entirely by mail phased in the change over multiple elections, not all at once, investing in equipment and tweaking processes along the way. States need specialized equipment and a lot of preparation to process mail ballots. Nothing is impossible, Kline said, given money and extraordinary circumstances, but she cautioned: I do not have a situation in my mind that would get everyone a mail ballot in this country for the November election. Rick Hasen, a professor of law and political science at the University of California at Irvine and the author of a new book, Election Meltdown: Dirty Tricks, Distrust, and the Threat to American Democracy, said its important to distinguish between all-mail elections and an expansion of mail ballots. I think it would be extremely difficult to move to all-mail elections for November, he said. But every state has at least an excuse-based absentee balloting system that could be expanded. Secretary of State Kim Wyman of Washington state, which votes primarily by mail, also cautioned that election processes dont turn on a dime, noting that her office started planning for the 2020 presidential election two years ago. Even in a state like California, where many counties vote entirely by mail, millions of voters still go to the polls, she said. Do they even physically have the printing capacity in the state or in neighboring states to be able to turn out all the materials between now and November? she asked. Right now, are there even enough envelope-sorting machines nationwide that counties could buy, and could they have them in time and integrate them into their systems in time for the November election? Im not sure they could, Wyman said. And absentee ballots typically require some form of signature verification that, she said, could be overwhelming if states dont have on-file signatures digitized. Celina Stewart, senior director of advocacy and litigation for the nonpartisan League of Women Voters, which has called for the expansion of vote-by-mail options, noted that communities of color have been shown to have their absentee and vote-by-mail ballots rejected at a higher rate, and said states have to consider rules for validating them.The point, she said, is to increase ballot access while keeping elections secure. We cant have more people involved, and the rate of rejection for people of color triples. That would be bad, she said. In Utah, counties have been adopting vote by mail since 2012, and the state is set to have every county use it as the primary voting method for the first time this year, said Justin Lee, the states director of elections. Lee said the transition has been good for voters and election officials overall, but both have had a learning curve. For example, every time a county switches over, he said, there would be long lines at vote centers on Election Day because some voters werent ready to make the switch and wanted to vote in person. Fine-tuning messaging to voters is important, he said. Even though we warn them every county pretty much makes the same mistakes and I think some of it just comes from the fact that they want to be helpful to the voters, Lee said. Even if you only have a small population that doesnt like vote by mail, they become very vocal and county election officials hear that, so they just naturally try to explain to people, Its not a big deal, you can still vote in person if you want to. This story is from the Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative media organization in Washington, D.C. There has been calls for tax reductions and the spread of tax payments for businesses across Ireland due to the rapid increase of Covid-19 in Ireland. As thousands of people lost their jobs last week, and many businesses had to close their doors, the Irish economy is facing major financial implications due to Covid-19. Many sectors in Ireland have crumbled, businesses both big and small have either reduced their staff numbers or shut their doors completely. This is most notable in the hospitality and tourism sectors. For these industries, tax returns for 2019/2020 are due in September 2020. Working capital is needed for the operation of these businesses and the current economic climate in Ireland may force some companies to use the funds they would pay their tax returns with, to pay staff. Peter Finnegan, Seanad NUI panel candidate said that "Revenue should now take a decision to allow for a spreading of the tax liability due from 2019/20 over the two year period 2020/21 and 2021/22, allowing small businesses to use the funds set aside for tax liability to fuel their recovery. Such a tax-spreading approach would also enable those businesses to retain staff even on a part-time basis over the coming eight weeks. Finnegan continued to outline the anxieties of many business owners in Ireland as "the provision of an online national Reconstruction and Change Ideas Bank will facilitate the crowd sourcing of the knowledge and wisdom of our people. Dealing with the present emergency has given many people ideas about what could change in our economic model, in our education system and in society. We should harvest now those ideas , create an online form of the Citizens Assembly that has served us well, and be ready to embark not just on a reconstruction of what existed before , but on the building of a new order with changes that are long overdue in how our economy and society operates. The urge to flatten the Covid-19 curve, and think ahead is prominent within Irish society. Social distancing is still regarded as our primary weapon in the fight against Covid-19. Several Democratic senators have teamed up to propose giving Social Security beneficiaries an extra $200 per month in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and the economic devastation it is causing. The plan was put forward last week by Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.; Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.; and Ron Wyden, D-Ore. The extra income would apply to all Social Security, Veterans and Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, beneficiaries. The bonus money would continue through the end of 2021, adding up to an extra $4,000 over the next two years. "Increasing Social Security benefits is the quickest way to get money out the door during an economic crisis," Warren wrote in an op-ed for CNBC.com. The idea of boosting Social Security benefits by $200 per month was also included in Warren's presidential campaign platform. In that plan, Warren called for raising payroll taxes on high earners in order to pay for the increases. The senators did not stipulate how they would offset the costs of the increased benefits in their plan. The proposal is part of Senate Democrats' Phase 3 proposal that calls for at least $750 billion to help fight COVID-19 and the effects it is having on the U.S. economy. Mark Wahlberg has reflected on his iconic 1992 photoshoot for Calvin Klein with Kate Moss, describing his behaviour on set as not very worldly. Moss has previously spoken about how the iconic shoot led to a nervous breakdown, telling Vanity Fair: I had a nervous breakdown when I was 17 or 18, when I had to go and work with Marky Mark and Herb Ritts. It didnt feel like me at all. I felt really bad about straddling this buff guy. I didnt like it. I couldnt get out of bed for two weeks. Moss also said Wahlberg was such a d***head at the time and wasnt very nice. In a new interview with The Guardian, Wahlberg said: I think I was probably a little rough around the edges. Kind of doing my thing. I wasnt very worldly, lets say that. But Ive seen her and said hello. I think we saw each other at a concert here and there, we said hi and exchanged pleasantries. Discussing Moss and Wahlbergs working relationship in 2013, Calvin Klein said: Oh, my god. Mark and Kate couldnt stand each other. Elsewhere in his Guardian interview, Wahlberg spoke about his criminal past, including serving time for assaulting a Vietnamese shopkeeper in 1988 while high on the drug PCP and using racial slurs against him. He said: I made a lot of terrible mistakes and I paid for those mistakes dearly. Speaking about leaving the gang he was part of and turning his life around, he said: I took it upon myself to own up to my mistakes and go against the grain and not be a part of the gang any more to say that I was going to go and do my own thing. Which made it 10 times more difficult to walk from my home to the train station, to go to school, to go to work. Wahlberg can currently be seen in Spenser Confidential, out on Netflix now. A woman from Manipur has alleged that an unidentified man spat on her and called her "corona" in northwest Delhi's Vijay Nagar area, police said on Monday. A case has been filed and police are trying to identify the man, they said. The incident took place on Sunday around 10 pm, the police said. The woman, who is in her early 20s, alleged that she was on her way to buy groceries when the man came on a two-wheeler and spat on her. He called her "corona" before fleeing the spot, they said. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest) Vijayanta Arya said a case has been registered under section 509 (word, gesture or act intending to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code and the matter is being probed. Police are scanning CCTV footage to identify the man and establish the sequence of events, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi government on Monday announced a Rs 100-crore scheme to introduce the national capital as a tourism brand to domestic and foreign tourists and create jobs in the sector. Presenting the Budget in the Delhi Assembly, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said Delhi has the resources to become the country's tourism capital. "But due to lack of branding and information, most tourists take Delhi as a transit point, because of which tourists coming to Delhi spend (only) a day on an average here. Whereas, in cities like London, Singapore and Tokyo, a tourist spends three days on an average," he said. A tourist visiting Delhi should spend at least two days on an average. Only a difference of a day will create millions of new jobs and opportunities for economic growth, Sisodia said. Under the new scheme "Branding Delhi", Delhi tourism will be re-branded and the city will be introduced as a tourism brand in the country and abroad to domestic and foreign tourists, he said. The AAP government also proposed ''Campaign for Communal Harmony'' in the wake of the recent violence in northeast Delhi that left 53 dead and over 200 injured. "The government is working towards making the national capital's dynamic structure an important part of Delhi's tourism. Last year, we celebrated Diwali in an environment-friendly manner without bursting firecrackers and organised a laser show with cultural activities. It was widely appreciated," he said. ''Delhi Ki Diwali'' will be celebrated this year too. Also, a new festival called "Purvanchal Utsav" is proposed to be celebrated, the deputy chief minister said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Coronavirus cure intervention in Australia has now kicked up a notch in a secret trial to purge the virus. Two existing drugs were used on a group of patients and were found to be successfully treated. Drugs used for these secret trials were the HIV meds Kaletra and the malaria treatment hydroxychloroquine. These two drugs were used on coronavirus samples in test tubes and were found effective. All the patients who took part in the trial are completely well and researchers are analyzing the results. The group of scientists are from the University of Queensland Centre, Clinical Research Director Professor David Paterson, also a Consultant Infectious Diseases Physician at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, made the discovery responsible. According to Professor Paterson, "These medications have the potential to be a real cure for all, unlike the random anecdotal experiences of some people." He added that about 50 hospitals will decide how to utilize the drugs and all the logistics in the deployment. These drug trials with HIV meds Kaletra and the malaria treatment hydroxychloroquine will be definite in how each works as a combo or just using one on each patient. Professor Paterson said that all is a go-to enroll patients in the vaccine trials by the end of the month. It will be the first wave of Australia patients to get a real-world experience. Also read: 10 Coronavirus Drugs and Vaccines in Development Both Kaletra and hydroxychloroquine are orally administered as tablets, and they are already available for real testing. The federal government is giving $13 million to allow researchers to speed up effective drug therapies as cases increase. Approval of ten treatments can be expedited for release if the drugs prove very successful in the drug trials. Chloroquine phosphate has received a lot of press, which is an anti-malarial medication. This drug is sold as the name Arla', that is used by doctors for the coronavirus outbreak. A trial conducted in France using the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, had results of 25% of the subjects showed symptoms of the coronavirus. An improvement over the 90% who did not get administered with the drug. Other interesting result is that Lopinavir and ritonavir, the active drugs in Kaletra in tests of 199 patients afflicted with COVID-19, did not have notable improvement. The New England Journal of Medicine, published a study last March 18 mentioned that 99 patients had the drug, but did not improve over the standard care in four weeks. Researchers concluded that all adult positive infectees did not improve with lopinavir-ritonavir treatment. Not a good result based on the data gained. During the study both groups had 16 days before getting any clinical improvements. It is notable that those taking Lopinavir and ritonavir had no pronounced improvement given the same time frame. But those treated with a Kaletra was not spending as much time in intensive care, just 6 days when the control group with either Lopinavir and ritonavir was 11 days. Related article: Clinical Trial Results of Chloroquine Phosphate in COVID-19 Infected Patients @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. An Afghanistan war hero is suing the Ministry of Defence for 1.5million over a firing range accident which ended her career. Catherine Braddick-Hughes, 50, served in the Army for 22 years until her medical discharge in 2018. She was wounded in combat in Bosnia and Afghanistan. The high-achieving officer, who ended up a lieutenant-colonel in the Army Legal Corps, suffered acute back injuries and leg damage after fighting in Afghanistan. She was left with PTSD due to the horrors she suffered and witnessed. Years earlier, she had been badly concussed after an incident while serving in Bosnia. Afghanistan war hero, Catherine Braddick-Hughes, 50, is suing the Ministry of Defence for 1.5million over a firing range accident which ended her career But Braddick-Hughes says it was a shoulder injury she sustained in a firing-range incident in July 2013, when a sniper rifle recoiled into her shoulder, that brought her career to a premature end. Her legal team claim those in charge should have done more to ensure she was properly prepared for the firing exercise, but the MoD is disputing what it says is a 'complex claim.' Army lawyers do not accept that the firing range incident ended her career and are disputing liability for her injuries. They accept she suffers from a number of health conditions, but say that 'it's unclear the extent to which they all played a part in the eventual discharge decision.' At Central London County Court, the ex-soldier's lawyers sketched out her massive 1.5million damages case, presenting evidence about her highly successful military career, suggesting she would have made general officer rank, but for the firing range injury. There are currently 13 female general officers in the British Army, ranked brigadier or higher, the first ever having been appointed in 2015. But the MoD claims her army career would probably have stalled anyway due to the effects of her mental trauma. Charlotte Ventham, for the MoD, highlighted medical evidence suggesting Ms Braddock-Hughes had been suffering from PTSD for some time and added: 'At the moment we have our doctor saying that her PTSD made her unfit for military service.' Braddick-Hughes, from Bath, has in the past spoken about her battle to come to terms with the legacy of PTSD. She turned to art, moulding clay figures evoking war and bloodshed to help deal with her memories, and commented: 'I came back broken, not able to carry on as the same person. I grieved for that loss. 'Finding a new enjoyment and expression in clay has helped me start my journey to decide who I can be or who I want to be.' Supported by Help for Heroes, she said that working with clay enabled her to get back on track. 'When I came back home and tried to get back to normality it didn't happen. I'd be walking the dog and then I'd feel I was in Afghanistan, responding to threats we faced there. It's scary. 'I was given some clay and I started moulding it - it was amazing how quickly I found that it would quiet my thoughts. 'I feel that part of me is still out there reliving - every hour of every day - and my body responds as though it is real. 'I consciously have to think about the here and now, but when I started moulding clay I felt silence.' She went on to become one of the 'faces' of the charity WARpaint - an art project raising funds for serving veterans - and an ambassador for Help for Heroes. Her full-length portrait was painted by the charity's founder, the artist Caroline de Peyrecave. At the end of the court hearing, Judge Alan Saggerson adjourned the case for lawyers to gather more medical evidence. No date has yet been fixed for the full trial of her damages claim. The German government has barred public gatherings of more than two people, except for families, to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus outbreak. Speaking after meeting the leaders of Germanys regions on Sunday afternoon, Chancellor Angela Merkel made it clear that the new restrictions are not desirable but necessary. None of us wished that we would ever have to face the people with such rules, she said. Merkel who also revealed that she was going into isolation because her doctor had tested positive for the coronavirus warned of consequences if people violate the new measures, but did not specify what that would entail. These are not recommendations, but rules, she said. The new regulation says: Spending time in public space is only permitted on your own, with another person who does not live in the household or with members of your own household. When in public, people should stand at least 1.5 meters apart, Merkel said. READ ALSO Timi Dakolo Reacts As Pastor Says Coronavirus Is A Fallacy (Video) The rule will be in place for at least two weeks. In Germany, the number of confirmed cases had risen to more than 23,900 by Sunday, with more than 90 deaths. Californians visited beaches, parks and hiking trails over the weekend in significant numbers, defying a state-wide order to stay at home. Images of Huntington Beach, southeast of Los Angeles, appeared on social media showing beach-goers gathered along the popular stretch of surfing beach. Other visitors on Saturday 21 March posted videos online showing busy bicycle paths, and reported that the pier remained open. There were similar scenes on Saturday at Santa Monica, 38 miles north of Huntington Beach, before city officials there ordered closure of the beach parking lot to deter visitors. In a statement, City Manager Rick Cole said: Today is not the day to go to the beach. We know that its difficult to stay at home when the weather is so nice and being close to the beach is one of the primary reasons why we love to call Santa Monica home. Yet this is a time when we must take the guidelines from our health officials to heart. We urge our residents to avoid any public spaces where social distancing is a challenge. On 20 March, California Governor, Gavin Newsom ordered all 40 million residents to remain at home to reduce the spread of coronavirus. The measures restrict all Califronians from leaving their homes except for essential activities, and when outside a distance of six feet should be kept between people. But crowds seen at the weekend led many other city leaders to close parks, beaches and recreation spaces by Sunday night, including Long Beach, Malibu and San Clemente. Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia warned residents to socially distance themselves when outside. To be clear, the Governor and Citys order does allow people to go for a walk or visit a park or beach," he tweeted. "However, you must still use social distancing. You cant play team sports, and you must stay 6 feet apart from anyone else. Whilst in San Clemente, Mayor Dan Bane warned that there would be a statewide ban on beaches if people continued to ignore restrictions by congregating in public spaces. In a Facebook post, he said: If people do not self-quarantine and continue to congregate in public areas, particularly at beaches, my expectation is that the state (or County health official) will completely close the beaches at some point for everyone. Record numbers seen at hiking trails around Los Angeles also lead to the closure of all Los Angeles Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority parks and trails on Sunday. There are now 1,802 confirmed coronavirus cases in California, with 35 deaths. A 45-year-old woman who had returned from Saudi Arabia on March 20 has been tested positive for coronavirus in this district of Uttar Pradesh, officials said. The woman, a resident of Har Raipur village, had gone to the Arab nation in a group of 37 people for performing 'Umrah' (pilgrimage), a senior government official said. She was admitted to the isolation ward of the district hospital after she showed signs of the virus. Her sample was sent to the King George's Medical University (KGMU) in Lucknow and the reports arrived on Sunday night. Chief Medical Officer Seema Agarwal confirmed that the woman has been tested positive. District Magistrate Vaibhav Agarwal said the woman is being treated at the district hospital and utmost vigil is being maintained after the detection of the first case in the district. Other members of the group are being quarantined, he said. The state government has declared a lockout in the district till March 25 and officials are making all-out efforts to ensure its strict implementation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Australia is hunkering down as the deadly coronavirus sweeps the nation. But Chris Hemsworth didn't let the COVID-19 pandemic get in the way of him enjoying an outing to the beach with friends in Byron Bay on Monday. During the outing, the Hollywood actor, 36, was spotted chatting with his pals on the shore as he removed his wetsuit top. Welcome to muscle beach! Chris Hemsworth, 36, (pictured) didn't let the COVID-29 pandemic get in the way of him enjoying an outing to the beach with friends in Byron Bay on Monday As he removed the neoprene garment, onlookers were given a view of his muscle-bound physique. At one stage he struggled to pull the top over his head, and began laughing hysterically at his predicament. After the garment was finally removed, Chris took a moment to flex and admire his tricep muscles, before wrapping a colourful towel around his wait. Absolutely ripped! During the outing, the Hollywood actor was spotted chatting with his pals on the shore as he removed his wetsuit top Stripping down: As he removed the neoprene garment, onlookers were given a view of his muscle-bound physique Whoops! At one stage he struggled to pull the top over his head, and began laughing hysterically his predicament The Thor star chose not to remove his black board shorts, which clung to him gym-honed thighs. Earlier, the father-of-three was spotted heading into the ocean to catch some waves. Chris showed off his surfing prowess as he rode the waves effortlessly. Yep, still there! After the garment was finally removed, Chris took a moment to flex and admire his tricep muscles Pretty in pink: Chris tied a floral pink-and-purple towel around his waist Soaked: The Thor star chose not to remove his black board shorts, which clung to him gym-honed thighs The Hemsworths are known for their love of surfing, and Chris is often spotted teaching his children how to catch waves in Byron Bay. The father-of-three revealed he was planning on taking a break from the spotlight last August, amid the runaway success of his Avengers films. He told the Men's Health Strength Session Podcast that he's going to be focusing on his family instead of his career for a while. Surf's up! Earlier, the father-of-three was spotted heading into the ocean to catch some waves 'I'm just at home now, taking the next six months off and spending time with the kids and the wife,' said Chris of life back in Australia. The Thor star explained that his decision to take time off at the peak of his career had not been made lightly. He said: 'After The Avengers press tour [in April] I had a real moment of like, "Oh, what now? I'm unemployed, what next?'" Back to reality: The father-of-three revealed he was planning on taking a break from the spotlight last August, amid the runaway success of his Avengers films Relaxing: 'I'm just at home now, taking the next six months off and spending time with the kids and the wife,' said Chris of life back in Australia The US has shutdown the website coronavirusmedicalkit.com and lawsuits have been filed it Here is a snapshot of the website's home page which uses what appears to be a screengrab of television coverage on the pandemic and carrying a fraud message to fool gullible people. Washington: The US Department of Justice announced Sunday it had shut down a website claiming to sell a coronavirus vaccine, in its first act of federal enforcement against fraud in connection with the pandemic. Lawsuits had been filed against the site coronavirusmedicalkit.com, which claimed to sell vaccines for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, when in fact there is no such vaccine, the Justice Department said in a statement. However, the website is still accessible in India. According to the US Justice Department, a Texas federal judge on Saturday ordered the site to shut down. Its homepage, however, was still accessible as of Sunday evening. "Due to the recent outbreak for the Coronavirus (COVID-19) the World Health Organization is giving away vaccine kits. Just pay $4.95 for shipping," read a statement on the homepage. The website claims, You just need to add water, and the drugs and vaccines are ready to be administered. There are two parts to the kit: one holds pellets containing the chemical machinery that synthesises the end product, and the other holds pellets containing instructions that tell the drug which compound to create. Mix two parts together in a chosen combination, add water, and the treatment is ready, the website claims about a non-existent vaccine. It also carries photographs of the supposed medical kit, and ostensible testimonials of users with incongruent text that seems to have been copied from some report about how the coronavirus spreads. When you click on order now, the website takes you to Fedex form to fill in your contact details, including email address, phone number and your home address for delivery, promising to ship the test kit anywhere in the world. It also asks for your credit card information and directs you to make the payment. It is imperative that the Indian government take immediate steps to remove or block the site. The US Justice Department did not specify how many people fell victim to the scam, but the investigation is ongoing to identify who is behind the fraud and how much money was stolen. The intervention by the federal judiciary system is part of ongoing efforts by US authorities to combat the spread of misinformation that has blossomed since the start of the pandemic. Attorney General Bill Barr last week urged federal prosecutors to make stopping misinformation a priority and called US civilians to report all such abuses to the National Center for Disaster Fraud. He also warned citizens against a variety of scams including selling fake treatments online, imitating emails from the WHO or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) intended to collect personal data, and asking for donations for imaginary organisations. More than 33,000 people have been infected by the coronavirus in the US, and 416 have died, according to a tracker managed by Johns Hopkins University. MICHIGAN Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has issued a stay-at-home order in order to slow down the spread of COVID-19. The order will take effect on 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, allowing essential employees necessary to sustain and protect life to continue going to work. It will be in effect for the next three weeks. Similar orders are in place in California, New York, Illinois, Louisiana, Ohio and Delaware. Michigan has 1,232 reported cases of the coronavirus, with 15 deaths reported and cases spread out all over the state, including the Upper Peninsula. Whitmer said during a press conference that if we do nothing, about 7 million of Michigans 10 million residents will be affected by the virus, and 1 million of those will be hospitalized. The order would help make sure that hospitals across the state are not overwhelmed, as they do not have the proper amount of supplies or bed capacity to deal with the virus. During this time, grocery stores, take out services, pharmacies, banks, credit unions, and gas stations will remain open. Schools will remain closed through April 13, and Whitmer said she would address the issue of schools in a future update. Whitmer acknowledged that this executive order will be disruptive and hard on the economy, but it is clear to her that this is what the government must do and that everyone must do their part. This action will save lives and will shorten the time the economy will suffer, Whitmer said. Whitmer said that lifting the order would depend on data about the rate of spreading and infections, if there are sufficient personnel and beds available and if the states capacity to test the spread is sufficient. State Representative Phil Green, a Republican from Millington, said he understands the need to stop the spread of the virus and that public health experts need to give their opinion. But he is also concerned about the cure being worse than the disease in regard to Michigans economy. My fear is that the measures implemented in the long run may have a devastating impact and take a long time to recover from, Green said. There has to be a balance. Green also feels that more voices, like those in the business community, are necessary in order to come up with the right solution, not just from public health officials. The Thumb region currently has only one reported case of the coronavirus, in Tuscola County, with no reported cases in Huron, Sanilac, or Lapeer counties. Whitmer previously said that she would not consider such an executive order, but changed her mind due to the growing number of positive cases, not being capable of testing everyone, and when it became clear that the system would be overwhelmed. Whitmer has also recently issued executive orders temporarily closing non-essential personal care services, like hair, nail, and tanning salons, restricting price gouging, and for non-essential medical and dental procedures. By Associated Press KABUL: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has arrived in Kabul on an urgent visit to try to move forward a peace deal signed last month with the Taliban. The trip comes despite the coronavirus pandemic, at a time when world leaders and statesmen are curtailing official travel. Since the signing of the deal, the peace process has become stalled amid political turmoil in Afghanistan, with the country's leaders squabbling over who was elected president. President Ashraf Ghani and his main rival in last September's presidential polls, Abdullah Abdullah, have both declared themselves the country's president in duelling inauguration ceremonies earlier this month. During his visit Monday, Pompeo is expected to try to help end the impasse, which has put on hold the start of intra-Afghan peace talks that would include the Taliban. Those talks are seen as a critical next step in the peace deal, negotiated to allow the United States to bring home its troops and give Afghans the best chance at peace. A municipal corporation health worker sprays disinfectant to contain the spread of coronavirus in Jammu. Photo: PTI A total of 30 states and Union Territories have imposed complete lockdown, covering a total of 548 districts in the country, to check the spread of coronavirus, the government said on Monday. Six other states have put in place similar restrictions in some areas in the wake of the outbreak. There are 28 states, eight UTs and in the country. 30 states/UTs announce complete lockdown in the entire state/union territory covering 548 dist to prevent the spread of #CoronavirusPandemic. 3 states (Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha) announce closure of certain areas. Lakshadweep announces lockdown on certain activities pic.twitter.com/vBSQ7ujS9r ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2020 On Sunday, 80 districts were under lockdown. The central government has also asked states to enforce additional restrictions, if necessary, leading to imposition of curfew in Punjab and As many people continued to venture out despite the lockdown order, Puducherry, besides Punjab and Maharashtra, also ordered curfew so that no one goes out of home. In compliance with the govt advisory to limit movement for reducing the spread of #COVID19, Uber services across India have been affected. This means that some or all of Uber services might not be available in your city: Pradeep Parameswaran, Head of Rides Uber, India SA pic.twitter.com/RSnBfc4p9n ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2020 A tweet by the said the states which have imposed lockdown in all districts include Chandigarh, Delhi, Goa, Jammu and Kashmir and Nagaland. The other states are: Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Ladakh, Tripura, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya, Jharkhand, Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Haryana, Daman Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Karnataka and Assam. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to state governments to ensure that rules and regulations of the lockdown are enforced strictly as he noted that many people were not following the measures seriously. "Many people are still not taking the lockdown seriously. Please save yourself, save your family, follow the instructions seriously. I request state governments to ensure rules and laws are followed," Modi said in a tweet in Hindi. The death toll due to the novel pandemic rose to nine on Monday after West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh reported a casualty each, while the number of confirmed cases soared to 468, the Union Health Ministry said. The central and state governments had on Sunday announced lockdown in about 80 districts where at least one confirmed case of Covid-19 was reported. Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba wrote a letter to State Chief Secretaries urging them to monitor the situation round the clock. Gauba said additional restrictions if necessary may be imposed and all current restrictions must be enforced strongly. All violations should be met with legal action, the Cabinet Secretary told the states and UTs. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The father of the Manchester Arena terrorists, who was arrested in Libya following the bombing which killed 22 people, is receiving medical aid in Istanbul. Ramadan Abedi, who was captured by police in 2017 just hours after insisting his son Salman Abedi was not behind the suicide bombing in the UK, has been regularly visiting the Turkish capital for treatment, The Daily Telegraph has revealed. While it is yet unknown what the father is being treated for, sources told the paper that it is being paid for by the Libyan government who he previously worked for as a civil servant. Ramadan Abedi (pictured), who vanished after he was released by Libyas Special Deterrence Force, has been tracked down in Turkey Following the Manchester Arena blast in 2017, which saw Abedi's son Salman detonate a shrapnel-loaded bomb at a Ariana Grande concert, the father, who fled Tripoli in 1993 before claiming asylum in the UK, and his youngest son Hashem, 22, were arrested in Libya. Hashem, who was born a dual British and Libyan nationalist like his brother, was arrested by Libyan militia within 24 hours of the blast and eventually extradited back to the UK following a lengthy battle with the British authorities and convicted of plotting with his brother in carrying out the terrorist attack. Following the unprecedented move and after a seven-week trial at the Old Bailey this month, Hashem was found guilty of 22 counts of murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to cause explosions. Meanwhile the terrorist's father, who returned to Libya from the UK after Gaddafi was overthrown in the countrys 2011 civil war, was quietly released without charge by Libyas Special Deterrence Force, a militia group, and disappeared. However, the father, has now been tracked down by a local Libyan source who told the The Telegraph that he is often seen in Tripoli and has been visiting a hospital in Istanbul for unknown reasons. Salman Abedi (left) detonated a shrapnel-loaded bomb at the Ariana Grande concert in 2017 and his brother Hashem, 22, who helped his brother, was this month found guilty of 22 counts of murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to cause explosions Pictured: Salman's younger brother Hasham Abedi is seen on camera ahead of the Manchester Arena attack Abedis sighting comes after his son Hashem was convicted alongside his brother of orchestrating the terrorist atrocity on May 22 which killed 22 men, women and children aged between eight and 51. During the trial, the court heard how Abedi, who refused to give evidence, helped Salman plan, prepare and source two of the three chemicals for TATP explosives. He now faces mandatory life imprisonment when he is sentenced by Mr Justice Jeremy Baker on a future date. During the trial, the court were told how Salman Abedi waited an hour in the City Room, the foyer outside the venue, before detonating his large Karrimor rucksack which contained the explosive at 10.31pm. HIs body, which was recovered in four parts, was identified by his DNA and finger prints which were on the police database after he was arrested for shop lifting in 2012. It was previously revealed that the Arena bomber who had been studying for a degree in business and management at Salford University, had used his student loan to fund the terrorist attack with the help of his brother. Burnett added that the temporary freeze concept should also be applied to installment loans and payday lending. All these things need to be taken into consideration because its mostly upper-income people that have a mortgage, lower-income people have installment loans to pay, she said. Calls for a national freeze on both mortgage and rental payments to assist Canadians struggling during the ongoing pandemic were recently made by the British Columbia Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) and United Steelworkers, while an independent petition on Change.org seeking these freezes has collected approximately 540,000 signatures as of Friday evening. To date, the federal and provincial governments have not acknowledged calls for any type of freeze on housing expenses. Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus $27 billion proposal for direct financial support to Canadians could be used by renters to pay their landlords, but the proposal did not include a moratorium on evictions. British Columbia announced a freeze on evictions on March 19, but that only covered tenants in subsidized and affordable housing, while Ontario had its own freeze announced the same day covering both residential and commercial properties. "We dont want you to worry about your job. We also dont want you to worry about how youre going to make rent this month," said Ontario Premier Doug Ford. "Thats why Ive directed that all eviction orders be suspended until further notice. We want to make sure you and your family can stay in your home during this difficult time. So, you can put your health and the health of others first." Amid the lockdown in Delhi that has been implemented till March 31, major ride-hailing services such as Ola and Uber have suspended their operations in the city. However, as domestic flights continue to operate around the country, Ola has resumed its airport operations After making a booking, the cab will come to the pick-up point and not the parking like before. Sources have suggested that Kaali peeli taxis, meru cabs, pre-paid taxis are also available although with lesser frequency. The Delhi government on Sunday said the city will be in lockdown from March 23 to 31, under which no public transport, including private buses, taxis and autorickshaws will be allowed. "Uber is complying with all Central and State Government directives related to its services for containing the spread of Coronavirus," an Uber spokesperson said in response to a query. An Ola spokesperson said the company "will enable a minimal network of vehicles to support essential services in cities, wherever applicable, as part of this national effort to reduce the contagion of COVID-19". The two companies, which account for a major share of the taxis running in the national capital, had already suspended temporarily their shared rides on their respective platforms. The Centre and state governments have decided to completely lock down 80 districts across the country where coronavirus cases have been reported. In view of the need to contain the spread of the deadly COVID-19, it was agreed that there was an urgent need to extend the restrictions on the movement of non-essential passenger transport. The districts where lockdown was announced include Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Delhi will be locked down from 6 am on March 23 and continue till midnight on March 31. The city's borders will remain sealed during the lockdown, but essential services related to health, food, water and power supply will continue, and 25 per cent of the DTC buses will run to transport people associated with essential services. Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Photos AP/Getty Several prominent pastors tied to Donald Trump have claimed to have the power to cure the coronavirus through prayer, hyping up religious miracle cures amid the pandemic. While many Americans have turned to prayer as the coronavirus death toll mounts, these religious leaders have gone much further, promising that they can physically cure the disease. As the public scrambles for information on the illness, these religious leaders have claimed they can solve it themselveswith one even claiming hell cure the entire state of Florida. Texas minister Kenneth Copeland, who visited the White House in 2018 for a dinner for evangelical leaders, claims to have a novel delivery method for a coronavirus cure: television screens. Appearing on the Victory Channel, which his church operates, Copeland claimed on March 12 to heal coronavirus-infected viewers who touched their TVs. Put your hand on that television set, Copeland told his viewers. Hallelujah. Thank you, Lord Jesus. He received your healing. A few days later, he said God had told him the pandemic would soon be over, as Christians praying all over the country had overwhelmed it. While Christians would save the country, he said, it was the presidents critics who opened the door to the pandemic with their displays of hate that had interfered with divine protection. Copeland isnt the only Trump-supporting pastor promoting the idea that the coronavirus can be healed through religion. The coronavirus poses a conundrum for many evangelical pastors because healing is a key part of their appeal, according to Peter Montgomery, a senior fellow at Right Wing Watch. After decades of promoting themselves as healers, they now face a global pandemic. For those people and those leaders, being able to miraculously heal people is sort of central to their religious identity, Montgomery said. That group includes Pastor Frank Amedia, founder of Touch Heaven Ministries and the POTUS Shield Ministry, and a former liaison for Christian policy to President Donald Trumps 2016 campaign. Story continues On Feb. 17, Amedia told stories of supernatural healings in virus-wracked Chinaand repeated conspiracy theories about the virus originduring an appearance on the podcast of Stephen Strang, an evangelical publisher who has written multiple books in support of the president, including God and Donald Trump. We have reports of Christians being healed of this virus by the power of God and the healing of God, Amedia said. Apostle Guillermo Maldonado has both visited the White House and hosted Trump at his massive El Rey Jesus church, where the president kicked off his Evangelicals for Trump campaign in January. In a recording posted to his YouTube channel on March 17, Maldonado declared that he had ordered the virus to dissolve, disintegrate, die in Jesus mighty name and told those infected to be healed in Jesus mighty name. I curse that virus from the root and from the seed, in Jesus mighty name, right now, Maldonado said. Disintegrate, dissolve like the dust, in Jesus mighty name. Another Trump ally, Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne, vowed to cure the entire state of Florida of coronavirus. Howard-Browne, who was among the evangelical leaders who laid hands on the president in an Oval Office ceremony in 2017, claimed in February he would cure the state. More recently, he encouraged his congregation to shake hands at March 15 services, claiming this has to be the safest place. He vowed in the same sermon that this church will never close. Like Howard-Browne, other pastors resisted calls to shutter their churches. Maldonado initially refused calls to close his church, claiming that the idea of shutting down to avoid spreading the disease was a demonic spirit. But on Wednesday, Maldonado relented and announced that his church would be closed for in-person events. On Sunday, he was literally mocking from the pulpit people who stayed home, Montgomery said. I dont know how you walk that back. Why Evangelicals Are Born Again for Donald Trump Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. Russia exported arms worth more than $15.2 billion in 2019, to around 50 different countries, Russian Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin said. "As of the end of last year, Russia maintains a leading position in the international arms market among the countries that are the main exporters of military products ... The volume of exports of military products amounted to over 15.2 billion US dollars", Fomin said in an interview with the Russian Izvestia newspaper. According to him, Russia exported arms to around 50 different countries in 2019. The deputy defence minister added that Russia signed agreements on military cooperation with Burkina Faso, Mali, Sudan, Suriname and the Republic of the Congo last year, which brings the total number of agreements to more than 100. Warning: This story contains graphic details. Tess got her justice, said Tess Richeys mother Christine Hermeston shortly after a jury found Kalen Schlatter guilty of the first-degree murder. We can try to heal from here and do things in Tesss name, she said, flashing a smile rarely seen over the past seven weeks of the harrowing trial she attended every day. The jurys verdict on Monday, after three days of deliberations, ends what is likely the final jury trial in the province until June amid a near-total court shutdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. Richey, 22, was reported missing on Nov. 25, 2017 by her sister when Richey didnt respond to texts after a night out dancing with a friend at a club in the Gay Village. The familys frantic search and the discovery of Richeys body four days later at the bottom of a stairwell in a Church Street laneway, not by police but by her mother, prompted outrage over how police conduct missing persons investigations. Richeys case was one of several missing persons cases linked to the Church-Wellesley area that led to the police board ordering an independent review and the creation of a Toronto Police new missing persons unit. Two Toronto police officers face disciplinary charges for failing to properly investigate Richeys disappearance. Crown prosecutors argued that Schlatter strangled and sexually assaulted the 22-year-old woman, leaving her dead at the bottom of a stairwell after she refused to have sex with him. Schlatters semen was found on Richeys upper left pant leg. The defence argued another man killed Richey in the early hours of Nov. 25, 2017. It is possible, the defence argues, that the man climbed over a tall gate at the back of the laneway seconds or minutes after Schlatter left and killed Richey when she rejected his sexual advances. Security video played at the trial showed Richey and Schlatter walking into the laneway hand-in-hand at 4:14 a.m. and Schlatter leaving alone at 5 a.m. Richey is never seen leaving the alley and no one is seen walking in. The jurys verdict of first-degree murder means the jury found Schlatter murdered Richey during a sexual assault. Schlatter will be sentenced Wednesday to an automatic life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years. As the verdict was read, Richeys family broke into sobs and relieved laughs. Some jurors wiped away tears. Schlatter was perfectly still and ashen-faced before he was handcuffed and taken out of the courtroom. At the end of his usual remarks thanking the jury, Superior Court Justice Michael Dambrot specifically commended them for continuing the trial as the courts and the country have moved to keep only essential services going. You not only endured a trial that took longer than predicted but you agreed to carry on and serve in very difficult circumstances, he said. Outside court, Det.-Sgt. Ted Lioumanis also thanked the jury for continuing the trial to its conclusion. Schlatter is a predator and a murderer and I want the jury to know they made the right decision and justice was served, he said. We cant bring Tess back but I hope this verdict brings (her family) some type of closure. Before the jury heard Schlatter himself deny killing Richey, they heard he allegedly told undercover officers he was pissed off when Richey didnt want to have sex with him. The jury also heard a cellmate testify that Schlatter confessed to him he had strangled Richey with a scarf and ejaculated on her. Schlatter denied saying he was upset when Richey said she didnt want to have sex. He said he consensually kissed and grinded with Richey in the stairwell, during which he ejaculated in his pants, and said she was alive when he left. He also said he never confessed to his cellmate a self-described liar and career criminal who had acted as a jailhouse informant once before. The testimony of the jailhouse informant has raised questions about transparency in the review process that occurs before the notoriously unreliable witnesses are permitted to testify at a trial. In his instructions to the jury, Dambrot warned that the informants evidence must be used with the greatest caution and care because of the dangers associated with jailhouse informant testimony. The jury heard that the man, whose identity is under a publication ban, had testified once before at a preliminary hearing where he said a man confessed to murder while they were cellmates in the fall of 2015. However, the jury did not hear that the man was not permitted to testify at trial in that case by the In-Custody Informer Committee a group of three to five Crown prosecutors that reviews the evidence and meets with the trial prosecutor before deciding whether or not it is in the public interest for the informant to testify at trial. The deliberations of the committee are privileged and will not be disclosed, according to the Crown Prosecution Manual. The reasons for their decision are not provided to defence counsel, according to defence lawyers familiar with the process. After the jailhouse informants testimony at the previous cases preliminary hearing, the accuseds lawyer Chris Murphy took the unusual step of making detailed written submissions to the committee in which he argued the man is completely unreliable and that him being allowed to testify poses a serious risk that the reputation of the justice system will be severely tarnished. In an interview, Murphy questioned how the man could have been permitted to testify at Schlatters trial by the committee when he was not allowed to testify at another trial in 2017. He said it shows the need for transparency in the decision-making process, including knowing what evidence the committee looked at to form its decision and the reasons for allowing or disallowing testimony. The citizens of Ontario are entitled to an explanation, he said. Several public inquiries into wrongful convictions in Canada have found that jailhouse informants are extremely risky witnesses, even more so in high-profile cases and where they have received benefits for giving information in a previous case. They also found that these witnesses can be convincing and persuasive liars, using information from an accused, news reports and outside sources to fabricate a confession. In Ontario last year, a jailhouse informant was found guilty of perjury for lying in a first-degree murder case about having testified previously in other serious cases, including a homicide. They show great ingenuity, all you gotta do is take the details of what your cellmate is telling you about the case and just add in the words, yeah I did it, Murphy said. The Crown Prosecution Manual notes that even if an informant does not seek or obtain consideration from the Crown, there is no guarantee they will not receive some benefit from other justice system players in ways that may not be apparent or even documented. The informant who testified at Schlatters trial obtained a reduction in sentence for his testimony in the other case, and may have obtained a lower sentence on other convictions. He did seek consideration for his testimony in Schlatters trial and was formally denied. However, as the trial heard, he is not precluded from mentioning his co-operation to police and judges in future cases. A jury does not give reasons for its decision so it is unclear how much of a role the mans testimony played in the deliberations. "It is stressful, you go from thinking everything is OK and having a job and being able to have a livelihood, to not being able to leave your house and having no money at all," she said. Loading "I went from having a good job and saving for a house and now I'm unemployed." The federal government announced greater relief measures for workers including raising the Jobseeker fortnightly payment and paying more pensioners, veterans and other people on support payment bonuses in the months ahead. Further down the line, Linky Wano, a concrete worker for Boral, was also seeking more work to support his family. He said work had dried up since January. "It has been for the last few weeks, I got a notification yesterday to say there won't be any work for the next month or so on or off, maybe," he said. Linky Wano, a concrete labourer at Boral, has three children and has lost work. Credit:Lucy Stone "I've got a family, three kids, all that sort of stuff. Just like everybody else in Australia, trying to do the right thing." Mr Wano said it was the "million-dollar question" if he was eligible for any of the support payments available from Centrelink, waiting half an hour or more by 10am in the queue to find out. Roberta Gandolfo and Ivan la Mattina were in particular strife after just moving from Victoria to find jobs in the restaurant industry in Brisbane. "We actually just moved from Victoria in the worst time ever," Ms Gandolfo said. "If we only had known that ..." Roberta Gandolfo and Ivan la Mattina just moved to Brisbane from Victoria to work in the hospitality industry. They're staying positive as they search for work. Credit:Lucy Stone Mr la Mattina said no jobs were available thanks to the shut-down. The couple said their families in Italy were also in lockdown. "Our family are OK, but the situation is really bad," Mr la Mattina said. "Got to do nothing more than think positive." Lines at the Mount Gravatt Centrelink office were shorter than many across the country, but the people in them were no less frustrated by the situation. People in the line at midday reported waits of about half an hour, although the wait was reportedly over an hour-and-a-half earlier in the day. Alex Bowyer came first thing in the morning on behalf of his father, who is confined to his home by a non-virus related medical condition. "I waited an hour-and-a-half in line, got seen and then they called me and told me I ticked a box wrong, so here I am again," he said. David, who did not want to give his last name, was told on Monday morning his position as a caterer at Brisbane Airport was not required. The line outside Centrelink at Mount Gravatt. Credit:Stuart Layt "They said I needed to come here to maybe get some money but I don't know what I'm going to do," he said. Many others waiting were in similar situations, from 19-year-old Jacob, who had been put on unpaid leave by Goodlife fitness centres, to Ash, in his 40s, who received a letter on Monday from his finance firm telling him he had been made redundant. For Sandra Taylor, the influx of people had made life more difficult in other ways. Loading Ms Taylor works and receives some benefits, and has to report her income. She usually does that through the Centrelink app, but it was completely unusable on Monday because of high traffic. "So instead I have to come down and stand in line - so much for social distancing - and tell them what I earned," she said. Dominic Raab will run the country if Boris Johnson is struck down by coronavirus as designated survivor plans are drawn up, Downing Street says. No 10 stressed the prime minister is well, but when asked who would take charge if he became incapacitated, replied: The foreign secretary is the first secretary of state. The clarification comes after reports that some ministers have been pushing for Michael Gove, the cabinet office minister and key Johnson ally, to take over if necessary rather than Mr Raab. The prime minister unlike Donald Trump is not believed to have been tested for coronavirus, but is thought to be at higher risk because of regular, intense meetings to combat the crisis. Westminster has been identified as a virus hotspot, with several dozen MPs now in isolation and expectations that parliament will soon be shut down. Recommended No 10 relents to pressure and gives MPs power to review virus measures Mr Raab, Mr Gove, the chancellor Rishi Sunak, and Matt Hancock, the health secretary, each chair a committee coordinating different parts of the governments response. Successive prime ministers have resisted pressure to set out a formal procedure for what happens if someone else is required to take over. Peter Bone, a Conservative backbencher, has tried to pass a law without success and said, on Sunday: Nobody seems to be able to tell me what happens if the prime minister is incapacitated. In a national emergency, you dont want to be scrabbling around worrying about whos in charge. And you dont want the foreign secretary and the cabinet office minister arguing about whos in charge. As the crisis escalates, Downing Street has been forced to play down reported tensions between Mr Gove and Mr Hancock, who is leading the NHS response. Mr Raab has, so far, been the face of efforts to help up to a million Britons stranded abroad, facing criticism for insisting it is impossible for the government to lay on repatriation flights. He also came under fire for claiming the pandemic strengthened the case for completing Brexit at the end of the year even as an extended transition period appears increasingly inevitable. The prime ministers spokesperson declined to set out any further detail of the designated survivor plans, but stressed the flexibility available to him. The prime minister has the power to delegate responsibility to any of his ministers but, for now, its the prime minister and then the foreign secretary, he said. Fresh curbs on air travel meant yet more grounded airliners Monday (March 23). New restrictions came into force in countries including India, Australia, New Zealand, the UAE, Singapore and Taiwan. Globally the number of scheduled flights last week was down 12% on a year ago according to industry data provider OAG. Few would bet against this week's drop being even bigger. Among the latest measures... India's airlines must cease all domestic passenger flights from midnight Tuesday. Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan are taking steps to ban foreign transit passengers. The UAE - home to global airline Emirates - is suspending all passenger services for two weeks. Singapore Airlines called the situation the greatest challenge in its history. It's reached agreement with unions on cost cutting measures. That includes unpaid leave affecting about 10,000 staff. Meanwhile the pain deepens for planemakers too. Airbus on Monday dropped its financial guidance for the year. It also said it had arranged a new 15 billion euro backup credit facility. As more states issue shelter-in-place orders, Gov. Charlie Baker said Massachusetts would also shut down non-essential operations to prevent the coronavirus outbreak from growing, and gatherings are now limited to 10 people. Baker announced the order would take effect at noon Tuesday and last until noon on April 7. The order closes all non-essential businesses to workers and the public, except for essential workers. Those include employees at grocery stores, pharmacies, mortuaries and transportation workers, as well as first responders, health care workers and others on the front lines of the coronavirus response. Every single act of distancing has purpose, Baker said. There is purpose in these drastic changes to the way we live. There are other exemptions for businesses. The state is not shutting down construction sites, although some municipalities have issued bans of their own. Food services offering takeout are not affected, and medical marijuana shops can keep their doors open. Liquor stores can also stay open. Recreational marijuana shops, however, must close their doors. Baker said leaving recreational marijuana open would likely draw patrons from other states, something state officials are trying to avoid. Churches, temples, mosques and other places of worship would also be exempt from the order, but faith-based gatherings would have to comply with the restrictions set forth by the state, including limiting gatherings to 10 people. For the rest of the state, Baker issued a stay at home advisory but stopped short of ordering it. I dont believe I can or should order U.S. citizens to be confined to their homes for days on end, Baker said. The advisory shouldnt stop people from being out of their homes or taking a walk in the park," but said citizens should use common sense to avoid congregating in groups. Those who violate the executive order and guidance could face a $300 fine and, if multiple offenses are alleged, a $500 fine or prison time, according to the state Department of Public Healths guidance on the executive order. More than 300 people in the United States have died from the virus, including five in Massachusetts. At least 646 people in the Bay State have tested positive, according to figures from the state Department of Health. Of those, 357 are under the age of 50. At least 99 cases have been tied to a Biogen employee conference that was held late February in Boston. The announcement comes after Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Ohio announced shelter-in-place orders or advisories of their own, instructing residents to remain at home except for certain exempted workers. Baker said hed reviewed closely what was happening in other states, as well as the guidance issued by the federal government, and decided this was the right time to make this move. The spread of the virus in every county of Massachusetts also prompted Baker to issue the new restrictions. Baker has called on the National Guard last week to help with pre-screening certain essential workers. Some towns also asked for guardsmen to replace or supplement their first responders. When asked if the National Guard would enforce the order, Baker said the order to close all non-essential businesses would be enforced on the local level. Governors from New York and New Jersey have both publicly voiced frustrations with residents in those states not taking orders seriously and continuing to congregate. The World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic on March 11 after more than 4,250 people died worldwide. The death toll has more than tripled since: More than 15,000 people have died worldwide, according to the tracker by Johns Hopkins University researchers. More than 100,000 people who were infected have recovered. Massachusetts officials started restricting public life last week as the number of coronavirus cases climbed nationwide. On March 16, House Speaker Robert DeLeo said the State House would be closed, and Gov. Baker ordered executive branch workers who arent assigned to the coronavirus response to work remotely or expect new assignments related to the response. Baker signed a bill last week to waive the one-week waiting period of unemployment benefits to those who lost work as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. This week, the Legislature is reviewing bills that would give municipalities leeway on forming their budgets, among other proposals drafted in response to the pandemic. This is a breaking news story and is being updated with more information as the governor talks. Related Content: Rotimi Akeredolu and his wife, Betty Many people do not know that the First Lady of Ondo State, Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu is from the eastern part of Nigeria. She speaks and understands Yoruba language perfectly. The only thing that may give an indication is her full name, but she is often addressed as Mrs. Akeredolu. The story of the love between the governor and his wife, started many years ago. Betty, who is cancer survivor, married Governor Rotimi Akeredolu 40 years ago and the union is blessed with four children, according to information obtained by TheNation. The couple met during their compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme at a friends house in Enugu. The insider explained, The governor accompanied his friend who visited his girlfriend and the rest is history. I think, for them, it was love at first sight because everything was so smooth. Even though the wife is three years older than her husband, she has always respected him. When they met, she was 25-year-old while he was 22-year-old But they respect and love each other a lot. When we spoke, Lee Bains juggled a phone and a paintbrush as he hung on a ladder while working on the exterior of someones home in Atlanta. I guess I am social distancing, he said, reflecting on COVID-19s immediate economic impact on musicians like him. We had a sunny day. The homeowner can stay inside and not interact with me, so I was fortunate to get a little work since our tour is canceled. So I figured Id make hay while the sun is shining. While off tour, the Alabama-born musician looks for construction or handyman work. Some of the bigger jobs he had lined up werent meant to begin until after he returned home from this latest tour, which he meant to run through the end of March. I think people are a little anxious right now with the economic repercussions of the virus. His band The Glory Fires booked gigs through March, including shows at the since-canceled South by Southwest Festival in Austin. Bass player Adam Williamson and drummer Blake Williamson (brothers) have a family member who is immunocompromised, so they made the call to end their tour early. Bains said he didnt realize how serious the outbreak had become, so he did the first few shows himself, making stops in Oxford and Memphis. When he noticed those normally packed-out bars and the streets outside them were dead, he got a sense that this felt different. That Friday, he drove about halfway to his next gig in Tulsa before pulling over to have a bit of a freak-out and call the tour off for good. Since then, hes been hunkered down at his home in Atlanta. Its a little tenuous right now for us and all bands and people who work in bars and venues in stuff like that. he said. [Coronavirus impacts Alabama musicians, concert pros] The Glory Fires were in the middle of making a record, usually a time when they spend more money than they make. Were in the middle of making a record, and thats a time when were spending money and not making money. Those shows were important to funding the record. That is pretty stressful," Bains said. "The thing about our band, were semi-pro. We all have jobs when we get off the road. When the band isnt touring, the band isnt spending very much money. Were trying to make a record, so thats some money, but we can also decide when we go into the studio and when we dont. For the most part, the band doesnt have a lot of overhead. Thankfully, theyve all found some work to get them by for now, unlike many of their friends in the industry who have struggled. Were not in as tight a spot as our friends who run sound and tend bar at venues for their weekly paycheck that are having to close right now. Thats where my primary concern is, is for the people who work in venues, live music production, bars, restaurants. Bains noted that a lot of people in his line of work dont have health insurance or sick days, and canceled gigs dont give them an avenue to collect unemployment. Its a scary time, and I think it just hit us a little bit earlier than it did workers and other sectors of the economy," he said. "Its fixing to hit everybody to some extent or another. Independent bands like his typically make money off of the door at gigs, meaning what people pay to get into the show. They also depend on the sale of any merchandise like records, shirts, stickers and suck. Sometimes they even get a piece of the bar, depending on the agreement. The thing is, when people arent coming to bars, were not getting paid, he said. But the same goes for bartenders and servers, which has struck me and others in the service industry as very unfair. And minimum wage is something like $2.50 an hour, so if people arent in there tipping, youre not even making gas money to get to work. So this has highlighted how vulnerable a lot of people in the economy are. The outbreak reinforces Bains frustration with the U.S. economy on the whole, especially for those who cant afford to get sick and stay home. It puts people in this really difficult situation of deciding whether theyre going to get evicted or potentially get sick and spread a disease. This highlights the need for universal health care, a higher minimum wage, mandated sick pay and unemployment because its not just for the individual. It affects all of us. To tour at all, Bains has to write music. His creativity is his business. So is there any creative itch he wants or needs to scratch right now, or is it not the time and place? He said its complicated as he tries to put money in his pocket doing something else. Ive kinda been split trying to scramble to find work and also work on songs for a new record, he said. I am trying to spend a little time everyday working on music. Its one of those things where I send out the bids for jobs, and I hope they come back, but then again, the silver lining for me is if they dont, thats another day I get to spend working on music. Thankfully, Bains genial disposition and knack for staying busy in solitude give him an advantage, despite the lingering uncertainty and uneasiness. I have a buddy who was 12 hours into the quarantine, he sent me a text saying Im so bored right now. I have a fortunate temperament to be in this situation because I can sit in my room and work on music all day and appreciate the opportunity. But its difficult because this is a really scary time for a lot of people, especially elderly folks and folks without health care. Its hard not to get kinda consumed with worry. But Im trying to spend time each day working on music and unplugging my phone. As for whats keeping him encouraged during the pandemic, Bains sad he gets misty-eyed watching videos from Italy of people singing and playing music together on their balconies during lockdown, engaging each other socially in a time of hardship. He also said a growing universal support for people who work in grocery stores (I think we would all agree is a pretty heroic thing to be doing right now.) like his friend in Beaumont, Texas, who is seeking hazard pay. Hearing the popular supporting showing out for him and his co-workers was pretty inspiring, and it showed me a lot of hope, he said. Getting back to that idea that were all in this together and this is about looking out for each other and not just for ourselves. I thought that was pretty great. To keep those good vibes going, Bains will perform his first online solo set Monday at 5 p.m. as part of their label Don Giovanni Records Going the Distance live-streamed music festival. Learn more. If you spend any time talking with doctors, nurses and other front-line workers, you will hear how badly they need these supplies. You will also hear them explain, sometimes in tears, that the lack of supplies will have deadly consequences. Patients will die needlessly, and so will doctors and nurses. Esther Choo, an emergency-room doctor in Oregon, started an online campaign called #GetMePPE (which refers to personal protective equipment), and its led to an outpouring of anguished stories. Vidya Kumar Ramanathan, a Michigan doctor, has had to reuse the same mask all day, which makes it impossible to cleanse herself of the virus while working. Jessica Varga, a New York-area anesthesiologist, had to buy her own eye protection on Amazon. Amy Silverman, a Colorado nurse, says some of her colleagues have used the same mask for weeks. The federal government has lamely suggested that doctors and nurses use bandanas or scarves to shield their faces as a last resort even though those items may not offer protection. Its a far cry from the can-do spirit of 1940. Some private companies, to their credit, are increasing production of medical equipment. But its not happening quickly enough. Its also not happening in any organized way: Caregivers have had to create Google spreadsheets to do their best to match supplies and need. The only way for a national mobilization to happen quickly and efficiently is with presidential leadership. Instead, Trump has taken to the White House lectern to boast that he has invoked the 1950 Defense Production Act, which is technically true. He has then made vague and often incorrect claims about all the good its doing. On Sunday, he tweeted that Ford, G.M. and Tesla had the go ahead to make ventilators, a statement that appears to have little meaning. His advisers, in anonymous interviews, have admitted the truth: He doesnt want to direct companies to produce medical supplies because doing so would violate the administrations free-market economic views. I want to emphasize that blaming Trump for the appearance of coronavirus would be deeply unfair. No matter who was president, the virus would likely have created a crisis, as it has in Europe. But its also important to be clear about the responsibility that does fall on Trump. His months of denial and his acceptance of the testing fiasco meant that the United States failed to isolate people with the virus, as South Korea and Singapore did. His refusal to fix the medical-supply crisis means that the virus is unnecessarily spreading in hospitals and that Americans will unnecessarily die. Police officers in Penns Grove broke up a house party Saturday night, with more than 30 people in attendance, just after Gov. Phil Murphys coronavirus lockdown order went into effect. The tenant, Jacquon Jones, 37, was charged with a disorderly persons offense, the New Jersey Attorney Generals Office said. The nature of the party was not clear, but Penns Grove Police Chief Patrick Riley Sr. said it appeared the revelers were making videos of each other, with the plan of uploading them to YouTube. Murphys executive order prohibiting parties, celebrations and other social events went into effect at 9 p.m. Saturday. He followed that order on Sunday by saying he was really damned unhappy with people ignoring the directive. Then, on Monday, Attorney General Gurbir Grewal promised "serious legal consequences to those who didnt comply. Riley told NJ Advance Media that three police officers were dispatched to the two-story house on Lanning Avenue in response to a noise complaint, sometime between 10 p.m. Saturday and midnight. It was a very busy night, as our call volume has increased, Riley said, explaining that domestic violence complaints are up in Penns Grove amid the coronavirus scare. Only the tenant, whose name was not provided, was charged because the others in attendance agreed to disperse, Riley said. The house consists of four apartment units, and some were inside and others were outside. Officers were not wearing masks but did their best to safeguard themselves, using hand sanitizer afterward. Riley, though, said there is no way for officers to fully eliminate the risk to themselves, when venturing into a crowd. Were very limited in what we can do. We try to keep our distance, Riley said. As of Monday afternoon, New Jersey had 2,844 known coronavirus cases with 27 deaths. In a post to the police departments Facebook page, Riley implored residents to take seriously concerns about the coronavirus. I ask the citizens to please adhere to the Governors executive orders as this is the only way we will be able to stop the spread of the very dangerous virus. Again thank you for your cooperation and patience during these very uncertain times, Riley said. Penns Grove is 5,100 and covers just under one square mile. It is located across the Delaware River, with Wilmington on the other side. Editors Note: This story has been updated with the suspects name. Sign up for text message alerts from NJ.com on coronavirus in New Jersey: Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter. Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@RobJenningsNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. With everything going on in the world, acts of kindness go a long way. Companies like UrbanStems, Skims, Tanya Taylor and MCM are giving back to those in need and supporting customers during the COVID-19 crisis. FEMAIL rounds up lifestyle brands that are spreading joy and positivity and doing whatever necessary to fight against this global pandemic. Send love: UrbanStems is providing customers the chance to send a free bouquet to someone who needs a little joy right now in New York City UrbanStems is providing customers the chance to send a free bouquet to someone who needs a little joy right now in New York City. Did your neighbor sign for your package? Is your favorite co-worker having isolation anxiety? Is your friend a health care provider on the front lines? Send them some flowers! To enter, fill out a short form providing the recipient's name, address and why you're thinking of them. Live outside of NYC? UrbanStems is still shipping flowers and plants nationwide. Yesterday, they launched a lower priced Just Because arrangement at a more affordable rate to customers for $38 (normally $65). Donation: In response to the COVID-19 global health crisis, leather luxury goods brand MCM has made a donation of approximately $143,000 USD to the Soong Ching Ling Foundation In response to the COVID-19 global health crisis, leather luxury goods brand MCM has made a donation of approximately $143,000 USD to the Soong Ching Ling Foundation. They have also sent basic medical necessities such as facial masks through MCM's group donation channel, the Sungjoo Foundation, in an effort to fight back and help those infected. The Soong Ching Ling Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to improving the lives of those in need throughout China by implementing projects and activities in key fields such as health, medicine and education. Charitable: MCM has sent basic medical necessities such as facial masks through their group donation channel, the Sungjoo Foundation Wedding bliss: Luxury bridalwear, Pronovias Group (based in Catalonia, Spain), is donating wedding dresses to hospital-employed brides-to-be working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic Luxury bridalwear, Pronovias Group (based in Catalonia, Spain), is donating wedding dresses to hospital-employed brides-to-be working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pronovias Group Artistic Director Alessandra Rinaudo curated 'The Heroes Collection,' a variety of beautiful wedding dresses (ranging in price from $1,000 - $5,000) especially for all hospital employees, from doctors and nurses to janitors and cafeteria staff. All hospital-employed brides-to-be who assisted in this crisis are eligible for a free gown from until August 31st, 2020. Big day: All hospital-employed brides-to-be who assisted in this crisis are eligible for a free gown from until August 31st, 2020 Tanya Taylor believes in the positive psychological impact of color. The New York-based designer is committed to not only bringing color to the lives of women through her designs, but also to the lives of those in need, beyond the scope of clothing. 10% of net sales of Tanya's creations are being donated to 'Kids in Need', an organization dedicated to supplying children with the materials needed to continue their education. Color love: 10% of net sales of Tanya Taylor' fashions are being donated to ' Kids in Need ', an organization dedicated to supplying children with the materials needed to continue their education Last week, Peace Out, allocated 10% of proceeds to the hospitals in Milan to those most impacted by the pandemic. The next generation beauty brand (based in San Francisco) is also offering shoppers 20% off sitewide with the code 'Love20.' Peace Out prides itself on bringing innovative one-step skincare products that deliver both fast and real results. Bene: Last week, Peace Out , allocated 10% of proceeds to the hospitals in Milan to those most impacted by the pandemic Thinking of others: Cult Gaia is offering 20% off site wide and giving 10% of all proceeds to No Kid Hungry Cult Gaia is offering 20% off site wide (including the new spring collection) and giving 10% of all proceeds to No Kid Hungry, an organization dedicated to providing nutritious meals to vulnerable children. The celeb-adored fashion label is sending random gifts to those rising in service all month long. Vital Proteins is donating products to organizations like churches, hospitals, Ronald McDonald Houses, Meals on Wheels, nursing homes, Chicago Food Depository and more. Over 18,000+ Collagen Waters were committed to these types of organizations yesterday alone. Health first: Vital Proteins is donating products to organizations like churches, hospitals and more. Over 18,000+ Collagen Waters were committed to these types of organizations yesterday alone The future: As part of this release, SKIMS will be donating 20% of profits to Baby2Baby s COVID-19 Emergency Response Program SKIMS will be re-stocking its best-selling Cotton Collection on Monday, March 23rd at 9AM PST/12PM EST. As part of this release, SKIMS will be donating 20% of profits to Baby2Babys COVID-19 Emergency Response Program to support their mission to provide basic essentials to children in need. Over the last five days, Baby2Baby has distributed over 1.3 million items including diapers, formula, hygiene, clothing, blankets and more. STORY LINK GBP to AUD Exchange Rate Slips Again as Federal Reserves Coronavirus Action Boosts Sentiment GBP Exchange Rates Struggle as Britains Coronavirus Crisis Deepens People seem rightfully concerned whether or not they will be able to pay their bills in the coming months, The decline in footfall week on week was on par with the drop normally only ever seen in the week post-Christmas. The annual change represented an unprecedented decline in retail footfall that was three times greater than the worst result we have ever previously recorded. AUD Exchange Rates Boosted by Stimulus Hopes GBP/AUD Exchange Rate Forecast: PMIs Ahead but Focus Remains on Pandemic Like this piece? Please share with your friends and colleagues: Markets opened this week to fresh coronavirus panic, but the British Pound to Australian Dollar (GBP/AUD) exchange rate is currently tumbling. The latest stimulus action from govermments and central banks is keeping markets a little more optimistic, which is helping risk-correlated currencies like the Australian Dollar to avoid deeper losses. As for the Pound, it remains highly volatile as Britains coronavirus situation worsens.Despite the Pounds own broad weakness last week, GBP/AUD ultimately advanced slightly amid the Australian Dollars even deeper weakness. GBP/AUD edged higher from 1.9844 to 2.0115 throughout the week.However, GBP/AUD has struggled to hold above the key level of 2.00 and was once again sliding below those levels today. At the time of writing, GBP/AUD is trending lower in the region of 1.9909 again.A slightly better mood in markets is boosting AUD slightly today. However, GBP/AUD remains within ten cents of last weeks high of 2.07 - which was the best level for the pair since the 2016 Brexit vote.The Pound has been increasingly hit by the coronavirus pandemic in recent weeks, seeing such significant losses that some analysts believe it is behaving more like a risk-correlated currency.Britains coronavirus situation has seen a sudden turn over the past week. The number of confirmed cases is rising considerably and many businesses are closing while the UK government ramps up attempts to protect the economy.Last weeks aggressive stimulus measures from the Bank of England (BoE) , as well as the UK Treasurys stimulus package to defend businesses and workers, briefly led to a rebound in Pound demand.However, overall the rising number of UK cases and its increasingly concerning potential impact on Britains economy are keeping the Pound broadly unappealing.The evidence of the coronavirus damaging Britains economic activity is already coming, and more major businesses are putting a stop to activity today.According to Joe Hayes, Economist at IHS Markit:Diane Wehrle, Insights Director at Springboard, said:The risk and trade-correlated Australian Dollar has been one of the currencies hit hardest by the global coronavirus pandemic. This is why even the broadly weak Pound was able to sustain gains against the Aussie last week.The Australian Dollar is highly unappealing amid worsening market fears that Australias economy will fall into a deep recession for much of this year.However, as the Aussie is strongly correlated to market sentiment over the coronavirus situation, this also helps it benefit when markets are in a slightly better mood.Markets were slightly cheered this morning by a significant stimulus measure, suddenly announced by the Federal Reserve . The Fed launched a massive plan to buy government-backed debt, in a move that led to brief optimism in markets.This, as well as rising optimism over Australias own stimulus plans, helped the Australian Dollar to climb slightly against the Pound today.Investors are hesitant to buy the Pound for now and are buying the Aussie in a small boost in market sentiment.However, these movements are unlikely to last. The US stock markets benefit from the Federal Reserves latest stimulus was short-lived, indicating it was not enough to help markets to turn a corner.Whats more, Aussie investors remain highly anxious about both global and Australian economic outlooks. Australia is still expected to see a deep recession this year.GBP/AUD investors are likely to overlook tomorrows PMI projections, unless they show economies weathering the impact of the pandemic better than expected.Instead, investors are closely watching for further stimulus plans. If the UK Treasury ramps up support for self-employed workers the Pound could hold its ground better.On the other hand, the Aussie could strengthen if investors become more optimistic about Australias stimulus attempts. Overall though, the Pound to Australian Dollar exchange rate is in for more volatility with the coronavirus pandemic ongoing. International Money Transfer? Ask our resident FX expert a money transfer question or try John's new, free, no-obligation personal service! ,where he helps every step of the way, ensuring you get the best exchange rates on your currency requirements. TAGS: Pound Australian Dollar Forecasts (CNN) -- The World Health Organization's SOLIDARITY Trial which will examine potential treatment options for Covid-19 plans to enroll its first patients this week, WHO chief scientist Dr. Soumya Swaminathan said during a call with reporters today. WHO announced last week that it had organized the trial to test coronavirus treatment approaches across several countries and compare data to find which treatments may be most effective. When the announcement was made, WHO noted that many countries agreed to join the trial, including Argentina, Bahrain, Canada, France, Iran, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland and Thailand. Randomized clinical trials normally take a lot of time to set up and get running, but you can see that the team has been able to put together this trial," Swaminathan said. "Hopefully well start enrolling in the first few countries this week," Swaminathan added. "We should be able to enroll thousands of patients in a matter of weeks or months we cant exactly predict right now." The number of patients enrolled will depend on the course of the coronavirus pandemic, said Dr. Ana Maria Henao-Restrepo, a medical officer at WHO's Department of Immunization Vaccines and Biologicals. Nobody knows how many cases we are going to have and whether or not they are going to occur at the hospital where we are setting the trial," Henao-Restrepo said during the call. In a separate media briefing on Monday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that "small, observational and non-randomized studies will not give us the answers we need" when it comes to identifying effective coronavirus treatments. Maharashtra has reported 15 new patients of Covid-19 taking the number of infected people in the state to 89, news agency ANI said on Monday citing the health department. The countrys hardest-hit state by Sars-Cov-2 had said on Sunday a 63-year-old man had died in Mumbai and the number of coronavirus cases had gone up to 74. Maharashtra has announced a near-total shutdown of the state till March 31, in line with the Centres extraordinary new measures to arrest the spread of the coronavirus. The government imposed section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in urban areas of the state, which means no more than four people will be allowed to assemble at one place. Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray declared a shutdown of bus services Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST), state transport and private buses. They will now be used only to carry government employees working for essential services. The railways ministry ordered a shutdown of suburban train services effectively stopping the movement of millions of people till March 31 in the state. Mumbai Metro and Monorail, too, announced the closure of their services till the end of the month. Thackeray also announced that only 5% of staff will be allowed in government offices each day, which means the rest of the staff will be called in on a rotation basis. Thackeray said they may extend the lockdown orders after March 31, if required. No matter how you look at the numbers, one country stands out from the rest: South Korea. In late February and early March, the number of new coronavirus infections in the country exploded from a few dozen, to a few hundred, to several thousand. At the peak, medical workers identified 909 new cases in a single day, Feb. 29, and the country of 50 million people appeared on the verge of being overwhelmed. But less than a week later, the number of new cases halved. Within four days, it halved again and again the next day. On Sunday, South Korea reported only 64 new cases, the fewest in nearly a month, even as infections in other countries continue to soar by the thousands daily, devastating health care systems and economies. Italy records several hundred deaths daily; South Korea has not had more than eight in a day. South Korea is one of only two countries with large outbreaks, alongside China, to flatten the curve of new infections. And it has done so without Chinas draconian restrictions on speech and movement, or economically damaging lockdowns like those in Europe and the U.S. As global deaths from the virus surge past 15,000, officials and experts worldwide are scrutinizing South Korea for lessons. And those lessons, while hardly easy, appear relatively straightforward and affordable: swift action, widespread testing and contact tracing, and critical support from citizens. Yet other hard-hit nations did not follow South Koreas lead. Some have began to show interest in emulating its methods but only after the epidemic had accelerated to the point that they may not be able to control it any time soon. President Emmanuel Macron of France and Prime Minister Stefan Lofven of Sweden have both called South Koreas president, Moon Jae-in, to request details on the countrys measures, according to Moons office. The head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has hailed South Korea as demonstrating that containing the virus, while difficult, can be done. He urged countries to apply the lessons learned in Korea and elsewhere. South Korean officials caution that their successes are tentative. A risk of resurgence remains, particularly as epidemics continue raging beyond the countrys borders. Still, Scott Gottlieb, a former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, has repeatedly raised South Korea as a model, writing on Twitter, South Korea is showing COVID-19 can be beat with smart, aggressive public health. Lesson 1: Intervene Fast, Before Its a Crisis Just one week after the countrys first case was diagnosed in late January, government officials met with representatives from several medical companies. They urged the companies to begin immediately developing coronavirus test kits for mass production, promising emergency approval. Within two weeks, though South Koreas confirmed cases remained in the double digits, thousands of test kits were shipping daily. The country now produces 100,000 kits per day, and officials say they are in talks with 17 foreign governments about exporting them. Officials also swiftly imposed emergency measures in Daegu, a city of 2.5 million where contagion spread fast through a local church. South Korea could deal with this without limiting the movement of people because we knew the main source of infection, the church congregation, pretty early on, said Ki Mo-ran, an epidemiologist advising the governments coronavirus response. If we learned about it later than we did, things could have been far worse. South Koreans, unlike Europeans and Americans, were also primed to treat the coronavirus as a national emergency, after a 2015 outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome in the country killed 38. The coronavirus is thought to have a five-day incubation period, often followed by a period of mild symptoms that could be mistaken for a cold, when the virus is highly communicable. This pattern creates a lag of a week or two before an outbreak becomes apparent. What looks like a handful of cases can be hundreds; what looks like hundreds can be thousands. Such characteristics of the virus render the traditional response, which emphasizes lockdown and isolation, ineffective, said Kim Gang-lip, South Koreas vice health minister. Once it arrives, the old way is not effective in stopping the disease from spreading. Lesson 2: Test Early, Often and Safely South Korea has tested far more people for the coronavirus than any other country, enabling it to isolate and treat many people soon after they are infected. The country has conducted over 300,000 tests, for a per capita rate more than 40 times that of the U.S. Testing is central because that leads to early detection, it minimizes further spread and it quickly treats those found with the virus, Kang Kyung-wha, South Koreas foreign minister, told the BBC, calling the tests the key behind our very low fatality rate as well. Though South Korea is sometimes portrayed as having averted an epidemic, thousands of people were infected and the government was initially accused of complacency. Its approach to testing was designed to turn back an outbreak already underway. To spare hospitals and clinics from being overwhelmed, officials opened 600 testing centers designed to screen as many people as possible, as quickly as possible and keep health workers safe by minimizing contact. At 50 drive-thru stations, patients are tested without leaving their cars. They are given a questionnaire, a remote temperature scan and a throat swab. The process takes about 10 minutes. Test results are usually back within hours. At some walk-in centers, patients enter a chamber resembling a transparent phone booth. Health workers administer throat swabs using thick rubber gloves built into the chambers walls. Relentless public messaging urges South Koreans to seek testing if they or someone they know develop symptoms. Visitors from abroad are required to download a smartphone app that guides them through self-checks for symptoms. Offices, hotels and other large buildings often use thermal image cameras to identify people with fevers. Many restaurants check customers temperatures before accepting them. Lesson 3: Contact Tracing, Isolation and Surveillance When someone tests positive, health workers retrace the patients recent movements to find, test and, if necessary, isolate anyone the person may have had contact with, a process known as contact tracing. This allows health workers to identify networks of possible transmission early, carving the virus out of society like a surgeon removing a cancer. South Korea developed tools and practices for aggressive contact tracing during the MERS outbreak. Health officials would retrace patients movements using security camera footage, credit card records, even GPS data from their cars and cellphones. We did our epidemiological investigations like police detectives, Ki said. Later, we had laws revised to prioritize social security over individual privacy at times of infectious disease crises. As the coronavirus outbreak grew too big to track patients so intensively, officials relied more on mass messaging. South Koreans cellphones vibrate with emergency alerts whenever new cases are discovered in their districts. Websites and smartphone apps detail hour-by-hour, sometimes minute-by-minute, timelines of infected peoples travel which buses they took, when and where they got on and off, even whether they were wearing masks. People who believe they may have crossed paths with a patient are urged to report to testing centers. South Koreans have broadly accepted the loss of privacy as a necessary trade-off. People ordered into self-quarantine must download another app, which alerts officials if a patient ventures out of isolation. Fines for violations can reach $2,500. By identifying and treating infections early, and segregating mild cases to special centers, South Korea has kept hospitals clear for the most serious patients. Its case fatality rate is just over 1%, among the lowest in the world. Lesson 4: Enlist The Publics Help There arent enough health workers or body-temperature scanners to track everybody, so everyday people must pitch in. Leaders concluded that subduing the outbreak required keeping citizens fully informed and asking for their cooperation, said Kim, the vice health minister. Television broadcasts, subway station announcements and smartphone alerts provide endless reminders to wear face masks, pointers on social distancing and the days transmission data. The messaging instills a near-wartime sense of common purpose. Polls show majority approval for the governments efforts, with confidence high, panic low and scant hoarding. This public trust has resulted in a very high level of civic awareness and voluntary cooperation that strengthens our collective effort, Lee Tae-ho, the vice minister of foreign affairs, told reporters earlier this month. Officials also credit the countrys nationalized health care system, which guarantees most care, and special rules covering coronavirus-related costs, as giving even people with no symptoms greater incentive to get tested. Is The Korean Model Transferable? For all the attention to South Koreas successes, its methods and containment tools are not prohibitively complex or expensive. Some of the technology the country has used is as simple as specialized rubber gloves and cotton swabs. Of the seven countries with worse outbreaks than South Koreas, five are richer. Experts cite three major hurdles to following South Koreas lead, none related to cost or technology. One is political will. Many governments have hesitated to impose onerous measures in the absence of a crisis-level outbreak. Another is public will. Social trust is higher in South Korea than in many other countries, particularly Western democracies beset by polarization and populist backlash. But time poses the greatest challenge. It may be too late, Ki said, for countries deep into epidemics to control outbreaks as quickly or efficiently as South Korea has. China turned back the catastrophic first outbreak in Hubei, a province larger than most European countries, though at the cost of shutting down its economy. South Koreas methods could help the U.S., though we probably lost the chance to have an outcome like South Korea, Gottlieb, the former FDA commissioner, wrote on Twitter. We must do everything to avert the tragic suffering being borne by Italy. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Homeowners arrested in New Jersey after neighbors report wedding gatherings Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Two homeowners were arrested in Lakewood, New Jersey, for hosting large wedding parties amid the coronavirus outbreak last week after concerned neighbors reported them to authorities. Neighbors quickly alerted police after a large crowd was noticed at one home along Oliver Court, owned by Shaul Kuperwasser, 43, local media reported. Authorities quickly broke up the event and charged Kuperwasser with maintaining a public nuisance. The location was also deemed unsafe by the Lakewood Township Inspections Department. At another home on Spruce Street home, Eliyohu Zaks, 49, was slapped with a similar charge by officers for hosting a wedding with more than 50 people, Patch.com reported. The arrests come as New Jersey officials ramp up efforts to enforce social distancing orders in the state to slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus. "The Lakewood Police Department takes the precautions set by Governor Murphy very seriously and will certainly do our part to protect those we serve by strictly enforcing his mitigation strategies over the next few weeks," Capt. Gregory Staffordsmith warned earlier last week after police broke up other weddings. "We stress that the public do their part in reducing the spread of COVID-19 by obeying the guidelines set forth by the State of New Jersey," he said. New Jersey Governor Philip Murphy urged residents in his daily briefing on Sunday to stop ignoring warnings to avoid large gatherings and remain in their homes as the number of coronavirus cases in the state neared 2,000. We are not happy with people out there ignoring what is a clear, unmistakable order to stay at home, Murphy said. He explained that while previous restrictions on gatherings had a 50-person limit, an executive order on Saturday actually dropped it to zero. The ramping up of restrictions on large gatherings in New Jersey comes in the wake of a close-knit Italian-American Christian family losing at least four members in a matter of days with several others becoming ill from the coronavirus after gathering for a family dinner in Freehold. Grace Fusco, 73, who usually sat in the same pew for worship at church on Sundays, died along with her eldest son, Carmine Fusco, of Bath, Pennsylvania, and her eldest child, Rita Fusco-Jackson, 55. Another of Grace Fuscos children, Vincent Fusco, also died in the tragedy. "This is an unbearable tragedy for the family," Roseann Paradiso Fodera, a cousin and the lawyer representing the Fusco family, said. Elizabeth Fusco, 42, the youngest of Grace Fuscos 11 children, recently told the New York Post that both her and her daughter, who has a preexisting health condition, have tested positive for the coronavirus since the death of her mother and her siblings. She still chose to cook dinner for her family the day she spoke with the Post. I have family to feed, she said while preparing the meal. My mother in her worst years, whenever she was scared or having a bad time, she cooked. So guess what Im doing? Im cooking. I feel very sad. I lost family but I still have to feed my family. I remember my sister and my mom when Im cooking. In this world there is no promise of tomorrow. No one can assume anything. Another Fusco relative, Gabrielle Cartagena, announced on Facebook Sunday that she tested negative for the coronavirus. As most of you have seen my family has been gravely affected by the COVID 19 pandemic sweeping the world. I am extremely grateful for all of the love and support received from everyone!!" Cartagena wrote. "I am happy to finally put everyones mind at ease, I am negative for COVID -19! I still have two family members in the hospital fighting and pray they come home soon. Please everyone stay safe and healthy during this time. Hope we can all be together again soon." This is to inform the general public that His Excellency, Sen. Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed coo the Executive Governor of Bauchi State has gone into self-isolation. This development is sequel to the report from the Nigeria Centre for disease Control (NCDC) that the son of the Former Vice President of Nigeria Mohammed Atiku Abubakar was tested positive to the Coronavirus upon his returned from an International trip through Lagos, the statement read. Niger Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has announced a shut down in the state, declaring restriction of movement from 8am to 8pm. The restriction of movement, according to the Governor in a state broadcast on Monday, would begin from Wednesday. He said that this move became necessary due to the new cases emerging from Abuja, of which Niger state is very close to. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Is American Equity Investment Life Holding Company (NYSE:AEL) a good dividend stock? How can we tell? Dividend paying companies with growing earnings can be highly rewarding in the long term. If you are hoping to live on your dividends, it's important to be more stringent with your investments than the average punter. Regular readers know we like to apply the same approach to each dividend stock, and we hope you'll find our analysis useful. A slim 2.6% yield is hard to get excited about, but the long payment history is respectable. At the right price, or with strong growth opportunities, American Equity Investment Life Holding could have potential. Remember though, given the recent drop in its share price, American Equity Investment Life Holding's yield will look higher, even though the market may now be expecting a decline in its long-term prospects. Some simple research can reduce the risk of buying American Equity Investment Life Holding for its dividend - read on to learn more. Click the interactive chart for our full dividend analysis NYSE:AEL Historical Dividend Yield, March 23rd 2020 Payout ratios Dividends are usually paid out of company earnings. If a company is paying more than it earns, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. So we need to form a view on if a company's dividend is sustainable, relative to its net profit after tax. In the last year, American Equity Investment Life Holding paid out 11% of its profit as dividends. We'd say its dividends are thoroughly covered by earnings. Consider getting our latest analysis on American Equity Investment Life Holding's financial position here. Dividend Volatility From the perspective of an income investor who wants to earn dividends for many years, there is not much point buying a stock if its dividend is regularly cut or is not reliable. For the purpose of this article, we only scrutinise the last decade of American Equity Investment Life Holding's dividend payments. The dividend has been stable over the past 10 years, which is great. We think this could suggest some resilience to the business and its dividends. During the past ten-year period, the first annual payment was US$0.08 in 2010, compared to US$0.30 last year. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 14% a year over that time. Story continues It's rare to find a company that has grown its dividends rapidly over ten years and not had any notable cuts, but American Equity Investment Life Holding has done it, which we really like. Dividend Growth Potential While dividend payments have been relatively reliable, it would also be nice if earnings per share (EPS) were growing, as this is essential to maintaining the dividend's purchasing power over the long term. Earnings have grown at around 9.8% a year for the past five years, which is better than seeing them shrink! A low payout ratio and strong historical earnings growth suggests American Equity Investment Life Holding has been effectively reinvesting in its business. We think this generally bodes well for its dividend prospects. Conclusion Dividend investors should always want to know if a) a company's dividends are affordable, b) if there is a track record of consistent payments, and c) if the dividend is capable of growing. Firstly, we like that American Equity Investment Life Holding has a low and conservative payout ratio. That said, we were glad to see it growing earnings and paying a fairly consistent dividend. Overall, we think there are a lot of positives to American Equity Investment Life Holding from a dividend perspective. Investors generally tend to favour companies with a consistent, stable dividend policy as opposed to those operating an irregular one. At the same time, there are other factors our readers should be conscious of before pouring capital into a stock. As an example, we've identified 3 warning signs for American Equity Investment Life Holding that you should be aware of before investing. If you are a dividend investor, you might also want to look at our curated list of dividend stocks yielding above 3%. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. The staff from Compiegne hospital in the Oise department, (Hauts de France), gathered on Monday to publicly pay their respects to Jean-Jacques Razafindranazy, the first doctor in France to die from Covid-19. He is the third French doctor to die over the weekend. At the end of February, the 67 year-old retired doctor Razafindranazy, came back to the emergency ward of Compiegne hospital, 84 kilometres north of Paris, to give his colleagues a hand. L'Oise department was the epicentre of the coronvirus outbreak in France. The first patient, a 60 year-old teacher ,was first hospitalised there. The man, who suffered from respiratory problems, and tested positive for the coronavirus, later died after being transferrred to a hospital in Paris. Extraordinary case According to France Info, Dr Razafindranazy was hospitalised himself on 4 March in Lille, where he tested positive for Covid-19. His health deteriorated quickly 10 days later. He died on Saturday 21 March, without being able to say good bye to his family. Doctors told his daughter that medication was having no effect at all and that it was "an extremely serious case, out of the ordinary." According to a France Info journalist at the scene, one hundred or so staff members at Compiegne hospital turned out to pay their respects, in front of the hospital on Monday. One doctor expressed his wish that this kind of sacrifice would make people understand how important it is to respect the confinement measures in place. "I send my warmest thoughts to your wife and children," he said addressing the group, "my support also goes out to the teams of hospital workers, in particular, those in emergency wards." "You will always be in our hearts and minds. Rest in peace." First evening curfew in France Compiegne has announced a curfew from Monday evening, banning any movement between 10pm and 5am. This measure is to stay in place until at least the 5 April. Nogent-sur-Oise and Creil, two other towns in the Oise region will also follow suit as of Monday evening. Meanwhile, messages of support were pouring in for Jean-Marie Boegle, a gynocologist who worked in Mulhouse, and who died on Sunday 22 March from coronavirus. French gynecologist dies from virus France 3 Television reported that Dr Boegle had gone to his holiday home near Dijon (Cote d'Or) in the Burgundy region of France two weeks ago, to get some rest. Tired, and suffering from other health issues, he decided to get tested for coronavirus. He tested negative the first time, however, a week later, he tested positive for Covid-19. He went in to a coma and died on Sunday. On Monday, several colleagues wrote messages showing their appreciation for Boegle. Gynecologist Bernard Servent, a retired gynecologist at the Diaconat clinic in Mulhouse, expressed his regret at losing his former colleague. "He was friendly, joyful, funny and very easy to like," remembers Servent. Fondly remembered Boegle had opened his own clinic, but continued to help with births at the Diaconant-Fonderie Clinic, where he was working until March 12th. Women who had given birth with Boegle's help also flooded social media with messages and condolences for the family. "He was a wonderful person, appreciated by his patients and colleagues alike.My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and children," wrote patient Sonia on Facebook. Third medical doctor dies On Sunday, a third doctor in France, 60 year-old Sylvain Welling, died at the Saint-Avold hospital in the east of France (Moselle) where he was being treated for severe respiratory difficulties, according to local media. It has not yet been established if he had tested positive for Covid-19. According to the latest figures published by the health agency of the Eastern Region, on Sunday, there were 1,977 people hospitalised due the coronavirus and 271 deaths reported since the beginning of the epidemic. A military field hospital has been set up in the region to help deal with the number of serious cases. tech2 News Staff Redmi will launch Redmi K30 Pro in China tomorrow (24 March). Rumour has it that in addition to the smartphone, Redmi might also launch a RedmiBook 14 Ryzen Edition and Mi Air Purifier F1. It is also speculated that the company is likely to drop another variant of Redmi K30 Pro called Redmi K30 Pro Zoom Edition. A report by 91 Mobiles referring to tipster Ishan Agarwal suggests that Xiaomi is likely to launch RedmiBook 14 Ryzen Edition that will offer up to 16 GB RAM and might feature an FHD IPS display. It is expected to come with an AMD Radeon Vega graphic card. In addition to this, the report also reveals that the all-new Mi Air Purifier F1 might also go official in China tomorrow. Xiaomi will reportedly launch a Redmi K30 Pro Zoom Edition that is likely to be available in 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage variant, 8 GB RAM + 256 GB internal storage and 12 GB RAM + 512 GB storage variant. This edition might come in Moonlight White, Sky Blue, Purple, and Space Grey colour options. As for Redmi K30 Pro, the report suggests that it is likely to come in 6 GB RAM + 128 GB internal storage variant and 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage variant. A Weibo post by Lu Weibing, Redmi General Manager confirmed previously that Redmi K30 Pro will be powered by Snapdragon 865 chipset. As per the previous reports, the smartphone is likely to feature a circular camera module that houses quad-camera setup and pop up selfie camera. Redmi K30 Pro will probably come with 5G connectivity and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. The smartphone might be equipped with a 4,700 mAh battery that will support 33W fast charging. The report also suggests that Redmi K30 Pro might feature a 64 MP Sony IMX686 primary sensor at the back. Private passenger auto insurer Windhaven National Insurance Co. (WNIC), a Texas-domiciled subsidiary of Florida-based Windhaven Insurance, has been ordered into liquidation at the request of the Texas Department of Insurance, which was appointed as liquidator. The order for liquidation was granted by the District Court of Travis County, Texas, 419th Judicial District on March 5. The court also granted TDIs request for a permanent injunction restraining WNIC officers and its agents from conducting business and restraining other parties from taking any actions against WNIC or its property, the order states. The courts approval of TDIs requests follows Windhaven Insurances announcement to its agents and employees in Florida that it was winding down the insurance operations of its entities, including Windhaven National Insurance Co., software company ClutchAnalytics and managing general agent, The Hearth Group. In its order, the court cited several findings as cause for the liquidation order including: WNIC does not have admitted assets at least equal to all its liabilities together with the minimum surplus of $5 million required to be maintained; it does not have liquid assets to meet its next 90 days current obligations; and the continuation of WNICs business would not be in the best interest of its policyholders, creditors or to the public. As liquidator, the Texas Department of Insurance is entitled to take over all property of any kind, including physical and financial assets, the court order states. WNIC was licensed in Texas in 2012 to write aircraft physical damage, auto physical damage, automobile liability, inland marine and other coverages, according to the Texas Department of Insurance website. Windhaven National also offered auto policies in Florida through its Florida Windward program and had 30,600 policies in that state, as of Dec. 31, 2019, according to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR). WNICs parent company announced it was ceasing all new and renewal business for its Windhaven companies in a message sent to agents on Feb. 26. The Windhaven companies include Windhaven Insurance Holdings Corp., Windhaven Underwriters, Windhaven Select, Windhaven Claims Management, Windhaven National Insurance Co. and The Hearth Insurance Group. The Hearth Insurance Group is a Florida-based MGA offering homeowners coverage on State National Insurance Co. paper. Windhavens software technology company, ClutchAnalytics, is domiciled in Texas and builds digital insurance distribution systems. Windhaven National closed its offices in Texas on Feb. 28; layoff notices filed with the Texas Workforce Commission showed that it had 96 employees in Dallas and 35 in Austin, the Dallas Morning News reported. Employees at the Windhaven Claims Managements facility in Miami were also told by the company they would be laid off on Feb. 28, 2020. A message to employees said the company had been unsuccessful in its efforts to seek financing to enable the company to continue operation, and as a result its lender had started a process to sell certain assets of the company at a public auction on March 4, 2020. No further information on the auction or the handling of claims has been provided. Tampa, Fla.-based The Hearth Insurance Group has offered homeowners insurance through State National Insurance Co. in Florida since 1990, and also offers coverage in Texas. Florida officials placed Windhavens non-standard auto insurer, Windhaven Insurance Co. (WIC), into receivership and began to liquidate that company in December of 2019. WIC, which launched in 2005, had about 73,000 active auto policies in Florida as of Nov. 30, 2019. In December, the Florida Department of Financial Services placed the non-standard auto insurer into rehabilitation. Shortly after that, DFS declared the former Florida auto insurer insolvent and the company was ordered into liquidation. Windhaven Insurance reported in a 2019 press release that, along with The Hearth, it had written close to $2 billion in home and auto insurance premiums since being established in Miami. It also said Windhaven Insurance had provided coverage to more than 240,000 policyholders through more than 8,000 local independent agents. It had additional offices in Tampa, Fla., and Dallas. Topics Carriers Agencies Texas Auto Florida Two gunmen tasked by the Telangana police to protect a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) in Bhadadri Kothagudem district were made to carry the luggage of the DSPs son from a hospital in Kothagudem from where he was sent to Hyderabad with strong symptoms of Covid-19. The 23-year-old son of the Kothagudem DSP, S.M. Ali, has since tested positive for the disease. In a video clip of the young man leaving the Kothagudem hospital and getting into a 108 ambulance, he can be seen accompanied by two gunmen in safari suits. One of them, with nothing but a handkerchief tied over his nose and bare hands, can be seen carrying the now Covid-19 patients luggage and placing it in the ambulance after the young man, who recently returned from London, sits inside the ambulance. Incidentally, gunmen provided by the police department to senior officials are meant for their protection and are not to be used as personal servants. As news of the Covid-19 positive test spread in Kothagudem, people began discussing how a senior police officer of the rank of DSP flouted the State Government guidelines on quarantine procedures and took his son home instead of having him admitted to a facility run by the government. It is learnt that Central Government officials have contacted the district collector and sought an explanation on this issue. It may be recalled that just a few days ago, a Telangana Rashtra Samithi MLA Koneru Konappa had flouted quarantine guidelines and went about taking part in a series of public programmes in Kagaznagar immediately after returning from a trip to the USA along with his wife. Meanwhile, with the DSPs son testing positive for Covid, the two gunmen who appeared to have been at the hospital to serve the young man, are among those who were admitted to Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Warangal and kept under observation. In all, 22 persons including the DSP are said to be among people with whom the Covid-19 patient, designated as Patient No. 26 by the State Health Department, was in close contact since his return from London on March 18. He first went to Khammam from Hyderabad and then to Kothagudem. By Gina Lee Investing.com - Oil prices plummeted to their lowest levels since 2003 as an anticipated deal between OPEC and the U.S. failed to materialise. Monday morning in Asia, International Brent Oil Futures fell 4.09% fall to $26.06 by 9:31 PM ET (01:31 AM GMT) while U.S. Crude Oil WTI Futures rose 0.75% to $22.83, recovering a little. On Friday, OPEC Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo invited Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton to the organisations summer meeting in June. Although this invitation quickly raised hopes for a deal to stabilise oil prices, Sitton attracted criticism as he called for decreased production of Texan crude output for the first time since 1970. Neither Saudi Arabia nor Russia are backing down from their brinkmanship in the ongoing price war, with Kremlin watchers stating that Russian President Vladimir Putin is unlikely to bend to what he perceives as Saudi oil blackmail. The increased supply that both countries are insisting on could soon send prices crashing even lower, as the unabating spread of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to lower demand. American Petroleum Institute Senior Vice President Frank Macchiarola told Bloomberg: It seems totally irrational that the solution to the disruptive behavior of Saudi Arabia and Russia would be to imitate OPEC. Related Articles Gold Prices Earn Reprieve as U.S. Dollar Weakens Energy & Precious Metals - Weekly Review and Calendar Ahead Russia: Gulf nations, not us, to blame for oil prices fall -TASS Kristalina Georgieva, in her turn, expressed support for Ukraine in the fight against the COVID-19 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and IMF Head Kristalina Georgieva discussed an increase in assistance to Ukraine during the coronavirus epidemic in a telephone conversation. This was reported by the press service of the President of Ukraine on March 22. "We have discussed the increase in the amount of Ukraine's support from the Fund in the face of major challenges to the economy, related to the global pandemic," Zelensky said. He informed the head of the International Monetary Fund about the measures that had been taken in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Ukraine. Georgieva, for her part, expressed her support for Ukraine, which "faces huge challenges due to the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus." Zelensky and the head of the IMF also discussed the expansion of the Funds cooperation program with Ukraine in order to support further reforms and steps on its implementation. As we reported earlier, according to the MP from the faction "Servant of the people" Yevgen Shevchenko, the International Monetary Fund will provide Ukraine with five billion dollars in gratuitous assistance in the fight against coronavirus. The government on Monday introduced a bill seeking to upgrade the Gujarat-based Raksha Shakti University as an institution of national importance and also change its name. Introducing the Rashtriya Raksha University Bill, 2020, Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy said according to a proposal, the Rashtriya Raksha University (in place of Raksha Shakti University) will be a multi-disciplinary institution to create new knowledge through research and collaboration with different stakeholders. While the Raksha Shakti University was a state university, the Rashtriya Raksha University will be a central institute. It will also help to fulfil the need for a pool of trained professionals with specialised knowledge and new skill sets in various wings of policing, criminal justice system and correctional administration, it said. The objective of the bill is to declare the Rashtriya Raksha University as an institution of national importance, Reddy said. At present, there are only few institutions in the country which provide the environment, infrastructure and specialisation for imparting in police sciences and internal security to meet the demands of modern, citizen-centric policing. Hence, there is a need to develop perspectives, undertake research and impart knowledge in the domain of policing and allied areas to the youth aspiring to join police and security forces at national level, the bill says. To address the aforesaid, it is proposed to establish the Rashtriya Raksha University by upgrading the Raksha Shakti University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, established under the State Act, that is, the Raksha Shakti University Act, 2009 by the Government of Gujarat as an institution of national importance, it says. The Rashtriya Raksha University is proposed to be a multi-disciplinary university to create new knowledge through research and collaboration with different stakeholders and help to fulfill the need for a pool of trained professionals with specialised knowledge and new skill sets in various wings of policing, the criminal justice system and correctional administration. The university will have linkage with world class universities in other countries, which will be need based, for the purpose of exchange of contemporary research, academic collaboration, course design, technical know-how and training and skill development. The university will promote global standards and provide dynamic and high standards of learning and research; working environment dedicated to the advancement and dissemination of education, research, training and scholarship of the highest quality in the domain of policing including coastal policing, security, law enforcement, criminal justice, cyber security, cyber crime, artificial intelligence and related areas of internal security; and public safety. Foreigners, Overseas Citizens of India cardholders, Non Resident Indians, Indian origin people living in Gulf and South East Asian countries can enroll in the university. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Finnish English HUHTAMAKI OYJ PRESS RELEASE 23.3.2020 AT 09:00 Huhtamakis ambition is to be the first choice in sustainable food packaging With 100 years of history and a solid Nordic heritage, Huhtamaki is today a key global player in food-on-the-go and food-on-the-shelf packaging solutions. The company has delivered strong growth in recent years, building strong foundations for the future. Huhtamaki has recently conducted a thorough review and renewed its long-term 2030 strategy in order to maintain its growth trajectory and meet future transformative trends. Going forward, Huhtamaki will focus on growth, competitiveness, talent and sustainability. The companys ambition is to become the first choice in sustainable food packaging. Huhtamaki will continue to be a growth company and will further focus on competitiveness. Sustainability also has a key role in Huhtamakis renewed strategy. The company is taking a leading role within the food packaging industry in addressing the global challenges of circularity and climate change. Acknowledging that packaging has a significant role to play, Huhtamaki is raising the bar across its activities and setting high sustainability ambitions. Huhtamaki will boost growth by scaling up its operations and further investing in emerging markets as well as capturing the opportunities related to sustainable solutions and food delivery. To improve its competitiveness the company concentrates on world-class operational performance, process performance, and digitalization. The focus on talent will translate in a zero-accident safety culture, developing strategic capabilities and nurturing a high-performance culture globally. In line with its heritage, Huhtamakis 2030 strategy emphasizes strong core values: Care, Dare, Deliver, as paramount in driving this successful journey. We will continue to grow through a relentless focus on innovation, scaling up in growth markets and developing new businesses to meet changing consumer needs. We will become more competitive by digitalizing all operations, running our manufacturing more efficiently and simplifying the way we work globally. In addition, we will develop our talent by building strategic capabilities and a high-performance culture. We aim to become best-in-class in safety. We will embed sustainability in everything we do, says Charles Heaulme, President and CEO of Huhtamaki. We have set very high sustainability ambitions, amongst them a commitment to achieving carbon neutrality in our production and Science Based Targets by 2030. We want to become world-class in all three areas of sustainability: environmental, social and governance. We will also strengthen and focus our innovation, designing all our products to be recyclable, compostable or re-usable, he concludes. Huhtamakis new 2030 sustainability ambitions are: Carbon neutral production and Science Based Targets 100% of products designed to be recyclable, compostable or reusable 100% of fiber from recycled or certified sources More than 80% of raw materials either renewable or recycled 100% of electricity from renewable sources More than 90% of non-hazardous waste to be recycled or composted Integration of Foodservice Europe-Asia-Oceania and Fiber Packaging business segments In line with its renewed strategy, the company has decided to integrate its Foodservice Europe-Asia-Oceania and Fiber Packaging business segments. Integrating the two business segments allows the company to capture growth opportunities more efficiently by improving customers access to both molded fiber and paperboard forming technologies. The segments will continue to be reported separately, at least for the remainder of the financial year 2020. Eric Le Lay will continue as President for the combined Fiber and Foodservice EAO (Europe-Asia-Oceania) segment. This change will become effective as of June 1. Long-term financial ambitions As part of the renewed strategy, Huhtamaki has also outlined its long-term financial ambitions: Comparable growth: 5+% Adjusted EBIT margin: 10+% Net debt / Adjusted EBITDA ratio: 2-3 Dividend payout ratio: 40-50% COVID-19 The safety and health of its employees and stakeholders is the number one focus and priority for Huhtamaki during the global outbreak of the novel corona virus. The company has put additional measures in place to protect the health and safety of employees and to safeguard the continuity of all operations. In addition to tightened hygiene protocols at all units and strict adherence to instructions given by health authorities, the company is also taking steps to pro-actively maintain the continuity of supply and ensure the safety of its products. In the current circumstances, it is even more important to help produce products which can help people consume food and drink safely. Strategy update for investors On March 24, 2020, at 13.30 EET, Huhtamaki will host a virtual strategy update with the President and CEO Charles Heaulme and CFO Thomas Geust presenting. The briefing will be recorded. The audio webcast and teleconference can be followed in real-time at: https://huhtamaki.videosync.fi/investor-brief-03-2020/ If you wish to ask questions, please dial one of the following numbers 5-10 minutes prior to the start of the call: Finland: +358 981 710 310 UK: +44 333 300 08 04 US: +1 855 857 0686 The confirmation code for the call is 78451321# An on-demand replay of the audio webcast will be available shortly after the end of the call at www.huhtamaki.com/investors. For further information, please contact: Calle Loikkanen, Head of Investor Relations and Financial Communications, tel. +358 10 686 7125 HUHTAMAKI OYJ Global Communications Huhtamaki is a key global player in sustainable food-on-the-go and food-on-the shelf packaging solutions. Our innovative products help billions of consumers around the world make responsible lifestyle choices every day. Today, packaging plays a significant role in food safety and convenience. We are committed to making packaging more circular and we embed sustainability in everything we do. We are focused on achieving carbon neutral production and having all our products designed to be recyclable, compostable or reusable by 2030. It's a question on the minds of San Francisco residents: When will coronavirus cases in the city peak? At a Monday afternoon press conference, San Francisco Public Health Chief Dr. Grant Colfax suggested the peak may be just around the corner, saying the number of patients infected with COVID-19 in the city will escalate in a week or two. "I am sad to have to say the worst is yet to come," Colfax said. "Every community where the virus has taken hold has seen a surge in coronavirus patients who need to be hospitalized. We expect that to happen in San Francisco in a week or two or perhaps less." UC Berkeley infectious disease professor Dr. John Swartzberg said he agrees with the timeframe presented by Colfax. "To understand what he's saying, picture a graph that's slowly going up and up and up and then suddenly it turns north. We're just on the part of that curve where it's going to start going up really fast," Swartzberg said. UCSF professor of epidemiology Dr. Jeffrey Martin said what well see in the next week or two really represents transmission that occurred in the past one to three weeks, roughly between Feb. 14 and the first week of March. "Most of that period was when we were not in an intensive social distancing mode," Martin said. "It was spreading in an invisible way in early March. That is what we will see in the next 10 to 14 days. People shouldnt be confused by that, however, and thinking that what we have been doing hasnt been working." On March 5, San Francisco had two coronavirus cases. As of Monday afternoon, the city had 131 but there are likely many more cases due to the limited number of people who have been tested. Swartzberg said we're at a point "where there's enough people infected who can infect enough other people to cause a steep rise in the number of cases." He added: "We'll see the numbers going up because there's more spread. They'll also go up because we're testing more, not a lot more, but more. The numbers will be raised a bit artificially as well due to better identification." What does a surge in patients look like? Swartzberg said one of the biggest impacts will be that hospitals will fill up. At the Monday press conference, San Francisco officials said they're preparing for the surge and have hired 82 new nurses. The state has provided 1 million masks for S.F.'s front line health care workers and first responders. Facebook has donated an additional 100,000 masks and 400,000 gloves. If the number of cases starts to escalate in a week or two, then when will San Francisco hit the peak? "It depends on how carefully we shelter in place," said Swartzberg. "If more of us start to behave responsibly then we're going to see that peak come sooner, and the curve not rise as fast. It's not like we don't have precedent for that. We have China, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea as places that took extreme measures." Martin adds that he suspects we could hit a peak in 10 to 14 days. "A peak means it goes down," he said. "I would expect in 10 to 14 days if people are complying, then things would indeed begin to go down." MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE: Sign up for 'The Daily' newsletter for the latest on coronavirus here. Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com. Bolivia officials recommend delaying election: Bolivia's Supreme Electoral Tribunal is recommending that elections scheduled for May 3 be delayed as the government imposes nationwide restrictions in an attempt to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. The tribunal announced a 14-day suspension of preparations for the elections, coinciding with a lockdown ordered by interim President Jeanine Anez that includes a stay-at-home order, a clampdown on domestic travel and a halt to international flights. Bolivia has confirmed 19 cases of the virus. Bolivia's congress would have to enact legislation to select a new date for the elections, according to Salvador Romero, president of the tribunal. KEY WEST, Fla. In the end, said passengers who fled a cruise ship because of a coronavirus outbreak at sea, the evacuation and journey back to the United States was more harrowing, chaotic and frightening than their ill-fated maritime voyage. Weak and sick from no food for nearly 24 hours, several passengers fainted. Two went into respiratory distress. Others had fevers so high that they had to be separated from the rest of the travelers aboard the chartered flight. Several had severe coughs. TRACKING CORONAVIRUS: Interactive maps, charts show spread of COVID-19 across Houston, rest of Texas This was almost as much of a debacle as the cruise was, said Jennifer Catron, a former medic who spent the entire 9 1/2-hour flight providing medical care. At one point, she took over the in-flight announcements and begged passengers to donate spare peanuts to help revive those who were passing out from low blood sugar. It was probably scarier than the cruise, Catron said of the flight, which landed at about 6:30 a.m. Friday and then idled on the tarmac in Atlanta for about five hours, because health officials learned that three of the evacuees had tested positive for the coronavirus. The test results became known to officials during the flight, triggering the hourslong delay that frustrated, angered and scared those on the plane. The Carnival Corp. confirmed that the tests were taken before the passengers left France, but the results came while the plane was en route. The return trip itself had been a harrowing all-night odyssey, with busloads of the passengers stuck for hours in Marseille, France, before boarding the flight to Atlanta. The long voyage had been doomed almost from the start. PORTRAITS FROM PANDEMIC: Houstonians' lives in the time of coronavirus The Costa Luminosa cruise ship, owned by Carnival, left Fort Lauderdale on March 5. Its destination: Venice, Italy. Three days later, an Italian woman was evacuated in Puerto Rico because she had symptoms of the coronavirus. Her test results were delayed, and it took a week for the ships captain to enact strict sanitary protocols. Another man, who had been on an earlier leg of the trip, died of the disease in the Cayman Islands on Saturday. The same day, several passengers with symptoms got off the ship in the Canary Islands. It made our cruise actually living hell, said Anna Smirnova, 67, from California. People were scared, and nobody knew what to do next. The cruise was to be a grand affair with stops in Antigua; Puerto Rico; Malaga, Spain; the Canary Islands and Marseille. But Antigua and Spain would not let the 1,400 passengers disembark. Since last Saturday, the passengers had been isolated in their cabins. The ship arrived Thursday at Marseille where the Americans, Canadians and French were allowed to get off. French health authorities tested a few dozen people who had fevers, and French media reported that 36 of the French peoples tests came back positive. Carnival said French authorities have not shared that information with the company. Before the test results for the Americans were known, the passengers climbed aboard buses and headed to the airport, where they sat in a parking lot for five hours. They then took a red-eye that the cruise line chartered, with nothing but juice and snacks. It was so crowded. There were so many sick people coughing, said Nilda Caputi, 82, who lives in Fort Lauderdale. It was horrible. Im old, but Im healthy. These people were really sick and very old, in wheelchairs with a pitiful cough. In emails sent from the plane, Catron chronicled the journey: This plane is a medical disaster, she said at one point, adding that one man looked about 60 with bronchitis like coughs and like he was going to fall over at any minute. This is NUTS! she wrote. Catron said the crew considered diverting the plane to Bermuda, but feared if they did, local hospitals would turn them away once they learned the passengers had been aboard a cruise ship with travelers who had the coronavirus. Once the plane landed in Atlanta, Kelea Edgar Nevis, 47, texted journalists in real time whenever someone fainted. 7:58 a.m.: Another HOUR. Were stuffed in here like sardines and its hot. 8:09 a.m.: People are starving. 8:11 a.m.: People are starting to gather. Were going to have a mutiny on here shortly. 8:30 a.m.: Even the crew doesnt know what were doing as we race across runway after runway to who knows where. 9:20 a.m.: Everyone is up in arms. At 9:46 a.m., more than three hours after landing, Nevis wrote that the plane no longer had toilet paper or tissues. Still no food since lunch yesterday French time, she texted. Catron called 911. Eventually, health officials removed sick passengers before the others walked off the plane. Nobody told Catron or the others, they said, that two people from Florida and one from Massachusetts had tested positive for the virus. Kristen Nordlund, a spokeswoman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the plane was diverted to a remote part of the Atlanta airport and that all the passengers were screened. The sick passengers were separated, she said. CDC is working with the state of Georgia and other federal partners to determine a plan for these passengers, she said in a statement. Passengers with no symptoms upon arrival were given health information advising them to stay home for 14 days after returning from travel, monitor their health and practice social distancing as they continued to their final destination. Several passengers acknowledged that they or someone in their party had high temperatures when the CDC checked. But as long as their temperatures fell after repeated tries, they were allowed to go home. Passengers said they booked flights to California, Arizona, Florida and elsewhere across the United States and Canada. Nordlund did not respond to questions asking whether it made sense to allow people who had been instructed to self-isolate to travel on commercial aircraft, potentially exposing them to other passengers. We got off the plane and you had to mark off a form asking, Do you have a fever? Do you have a cough? I put that I had a fever and I went through secondary screening, because I was feeling terrible, said Kelly Edge, a passenger from Miami. I watched three-quarters of the people from the ship, and they did not do that. They marked themselves safe, got their temperatures taken and that was it. They are roaming free, she continued. Edge said she went to an urgent care clinic afterward. A fever is considered a telltale marker for the coronavirus, which has killed more than 10,000 people globally. (However, the man who had been aboard the Costa Luminosa and died in the Cayman Islands never had a fever, hospital officials there said.) A Georgia state official who was not authorized to speak about the case said the three people who tested positive for the coronavirus were not exhibiting symptoms, and that 13 others, who were sick on the plane, had not been tested. In the early afternoon, the passengers were being sent to a hangar for screening. State officials said they had encouraged the Department of Health and Human Services to send two commercial buses to the airport to be standing by once the screening was complete. In a statement, Carnival said that its affiliate, Costa Crociere, which owns Costa Cruises, worked closely with the French health authorities to conduct medical screenings and interview guests to prioritize those who required additional evaluation. Ten of the evacuated American and Canadian passengers had been tested in France, and three came back positive. We are working closely with CDC and Georgia health officials to determine next steps, the company said. The company did not say why they let the people leave without medical attention, food or test results. Nor does Carnival know whether the people who disembarked in the Canary Islands tested positive. There are still 864 crew and 719 passengers from other countries on the ship, which is off the coast of southern France. More people were disembarked Friday, but the Italians will be returned to Savona, Italy. Catron decided that flying home to Virginia would be irresponsible, and she said she was trying to find a place to spend the night in Atlanta. We had so many medically unstable people who should never have been on that plane, she said. It was the most irresponsible thing I have ever seen. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. CVS Health said today it will pay bonuses of between $150 and $500 to employees who are required to work during the coronavirus pandemic. The bonuses will be awarded to pharmacists, store associates and store managers as well as other hourly employees. The company said it is also embarking on the most ambitious hiring drive in the companys history, with plans to immediately fill 50,000 full-time, part-time and temporary roles across the country. Roles include store associates, home delivery drivers, distribution center employees and member/customer service professionals. The company will utilize a technology-enabled hiring process that includes virtual job fairs, virtual interviews and virtual job tryouts. Many roles will be filled by existing CVS Health clients who have had to furlough workers, including Hilton and Marriott. The company plans to help employees with child and elder or adult care by working with Bright Horizons to offer 25 covered days of care. That will begin in April for all employees. CVS also is extending its paid sick leave to part-time employees during the pandemic. The company is already providing 14 days of paid to employees who test positive for COVID-19 or who need to be quarantined. Our colleagues have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to providing essential goods and services at a time when theyre needed most, said Larry J. Merlo, President and CEO, CVS Health. As they continue to be there for the individuals and families we serve, were taking extra steps to provide some peace of mind and help them navigate these uncertain times. MORE: The enforcement of Gov. Tom Wolfs closure of non-life-sustaining businesses starts today. MORE: Pa. has more than 450 cases of coronavirus. Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday extended his profound gratitude towards the SAARC leaders for their significant contribution to the COVID-19 emergency fund. Addressing the SAARC leaders and representatives on March 15 via video conferencing, PM Modi had proposed the emergency fund with an initial offer of USD 10 million from India for the purpose. Afghanistan and Maldives on March 21 pledged to contribute USD 1.2 million to SAARC Corona Emergency Fund proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Taking to Twitter, the Prime Minister acknowledged the contribution by Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and thanked the respective nations for showing solidarity with South Asian neighbours. PM Modi added that the cooperation will go a long way in fighting the disease effectively. Thank you Afghanistan, for contributing $ 1 Million to the COVID-19 Emergency Fund in solidarity with our South Asian neighborhood. Tashakkur President @ashrafghani. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 23, 2020 Sincerely thank President of Sri Lanka @GotabayaR for contributing $ 5 million to the SAARC COVID-19 Emergency Fund. Our cooperation will go a long way in fighting this disease effectively. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 23, 2020 Grateful to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh for announcing $ 1.5 million as contribution to the COVID-19 Emergency Fund. Through our solidarity and working together, we will overcome challenges posed by COVID-19. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 23, 2020 READ: PM Modi acknowledges his mothers blessings for India's Coronavirus fighters READ: PM Modi hails Air India crew as they airlift 263 Indians stranded in Rome amid COVID-19 Must work together Modi, on March 15, addressed a SAARC video conference to share each other efforts and issues as the seven countries battle the pandemic. The video conference was led by PM Modi and was attended by Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani, Maldives President Ibrahim Solih, Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bhutan Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering, Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's assistant - Dr Zafar Mirza. PM Modi highlighted the SAARC's ancient ties and said, 'We must work and succeed together'. Globally, around 11,800 people have died due to Coronavirus, with the epicenter being China. The virus has infected around 2,87,000 people globally and has now spread to North America, South America, Europe, New Zealand, and more than 100 other countries. READ: Afghanistan, Maldives pledge $1.2 million to SAARC Coronavirus Emergency Fund READ: BREAKING: Here's PM Modi's stern message to Lockdown violators in India's Coronavirus war Dallas, TX, March 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- H. Ross Ford III, President & CEO of TCN Worldwide Real Estate Services, is pleased to announce Activ Property Services, one of the main real-estate consultant firms in Romania, as the newest member firm to be selected to join TCN Worldwide. Operating at the national level since 1993, Activ Property Services provides integrated commercial real estate services to their clients, including advisory and transactional services for international and national landlords, tenants, developers, and investors. We are very pleased to announce the expansion of TCN Worldwides global coverage into Romania with the addition of Activ Property Services. Gheorghe Razvan and his team of over 30 real estate professionals have been serving the needs of the Romanian commercial real estate market on a national level for over 25 years. We are proud to welcome one of Romanias top independent commercial real estate services firms to our growing member roster, stated Ross Ford. We are excited to be a member of TCN Worldwide, one of the industrys largest international commercial real estate organizations, stated Gheorghe Razvan, Managing Director of Activ Property Services. Our firm is thrilled to join the many outstanding commercial real estate companies that make up TCN Worldwide; our partnership will help facilitate our ability to serve client needs throughout Romania and around the globe as we expand our array of services, expertise, and global coverage. About TCN Worldwide An extensive range of real estate services coupled with a personal commitment to exceed client expectations is what allows TCN Worldwide to be a leader in the commercial real estate industry. With over 1,500 commercial real estate professionals serving more than 200 primary and secondary markets worldwide, TCN Worldwide ranks as one of the largest and most comprehensive service providers in the CRE industry. TCN Worldwide provides complete integrated commercial real estate solutions across North America, Asia, The Middle East, Romania, and Australia. For more information on TCN Worldwide, contact H. Ross Ford at 972-769-8701 or visit TCNWorldwide.com. ### Attachment Hundreds of Indians stranded at Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur airport have been taken to different hostels and hotels in close coordination with local NGOs and community organisations, the Indian High Commission here said. The transit passengers were stranded due to the travel restrictions imposed by the government back home in response to the fast-spreading coronavirus pandemic. "All Indian nationals in Malaysia urged to respect the movement restrictions. Pl stay safe, stay healthy," the High Commission tweeted on Sunday. On Saturday, it said, "Hundreds of Indians stranded in Malaysia waiting at KLIA2 taken to different hostels, hotels etc. by @hcikl in close coordination with local NGOs and community organisations." The number of novel coronavirus cases in India rose to 415 on Monday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New York: No more play dates, no more picnics in the park with friends, no more pickup games of basketball. No more commuting or using public transport - unless absolutely essential. New York implemented dramatic restrictions on Sunday in an attempt to slow a pandemic that has swept across the globe and threatened to make the state one of the world's biggest coronavirus hot spots. Infections have soared across New York state, which now accounts for roughly 5 per cent of the world's confirmed cases. Authorities are warning of a critical shortage of medical supplies, the same problem that has seen Spain erecting a field hospital in a convention centre. Health workers prepare to receive the first patients with coronavirus at Ifema exhibition complex in Madrid. Credit:Getty Images New York Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered all nonessential businesses in the state to close and nonessential workers to stay home starting Sunday night, tightening even further restrictions put in place earlier. Worldwide, more than 335,000 people have been infected and more than 14,600 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University. San Diego, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/23/2020 -- An investigation was announced for investors in NYSE: TALO shares over potential breaches of fiduciary duties by certain Talos Energy directors. Investors who purchased shares of Talos Energy Inc. (NYSE: TALO) have certain options and should contact the Shareholders Foundation at mail@shareholdersfoundation.com or call +1(858) 779 - 1554. The investigation by a law firm concerns whether certain Talos Energy Inc. directors breached their fiduciary duties and caused damage to the company and its shareholders. Houston, TX based Talos Energy Inc., an independent exploration and production company, focuses on the exploration and production in the United States Gulf of Mexico and offshore Mexico. Talos Energy Inc. reported that its annual Total Revenue rose from $412.82 million in 2017 to $891.28 million in 2018 and that its Net Loss of $62.86 million in 2017 turned into a Net Income of $221.54 million in 2018. Shares of Talos Energy Inc. (NYSE: TALO) declined from $31.34 per share on January 7, 2020 to as low as $5.74 per share on March 16, 2020. Those who purchased shares of Talos Energy Inc. (NYSE: TALO) have certain options and should contact the Shareholders Foundation. Contact: Shareholders Foundation, Inc. Michael Daniels 3111 Camino Del Rio North - Suite 423 92108 San Diego Phone: +1-(858)-779-1554 Fax: +1-(858)-605-5739 mail@shareholdersfoundation.com About Shareholders Foundation, Inc. The Shareholders Foundation, Inc. is a professional portfolio monitoring and settlement claim filing service, , which does research related to shareholder issues and informs investors of securities class actions, settlements, judgments, and other legal related news to the stock/financial market. Shareholders Foundation, Inc. is in contact with a large number of shareholders and offers help, support, and assistance for every shareholder. The Shareholders Foundation, Inc. is not a law firm. Referenced cases, investigation, and/or settlements are not filed/reached and/or related to Shareholders Foundation. The information is provided as a public service. It is not intended as legal advice and should not be relied upon. A professor at Kansas State University is in intensive care with coronavirus after visiting Britain over spring break. Andrew Smith was taking students on a spring break trip to London earlier this month when he started having symptoms of the deadly virus on his return. He has since been diagnosed with double pneumonia as well as coronavirus after traveling with several K-State students during the trip. The professor said the group, which also included his two children who may also have the disease, did everything they could to avoid people during their return home. In a Facebook video on Sunday afternoon, Smith told from his hospital bed of his symptoms while being given oxygen. His wife Jen Smith identified her husband as first case of COVID-19 in Riley County. Andrew Smith had recently returned from a trip to London when he started having symptoms of coronavirus Smith, who teaches journalism and mass communications, said doctors have been 'struggling hard' to try and keep his fever under control. He said in the clip from his ICU hospital bed in Manhattan, Kansas: 'My fever's been spiking at 103 and they've been trying and struggling hard to keep that at least under control to let me heal a little bit and try to get better in that fashion. Those things are all parts of this illness.' Smith teaches at Kansas State University and in early March traveled to the UK with his family and some students on a study trip. He added: 'We did not stop anywhere, we did not stop at restaurants,' Smith said. 'We got off the plane, into a waiting car. And I've only been to the emergency room and the ICU, and that's it.' Kansas health officials announced on Saturday that Riley County had its first case of the virus, according to the Wichita Eagle. Smith's wife later identified him on Facebook as that patient, saying his condition was 'not improving' while he was being treated in hospital. Professor Andrew Smith is now in the ICU hooked up to oxygen after suffering from breathing difficulties. His wife believes she and their two children also contracted the disease Jen Smith wrote on Facebook: 'When we left on March 4 there were only a few cases in the US and the UK. 'While abroad we took the same precautions as everyone. We did not see a single medical [professional] on our travel home from London.' Jen Smith said she believes both herself and their children also have the disease, but only her husband's test has so far been examined by health officials. She wrote: 'I am fine. Abby and Aubri are fine. Andrew is not. Andrew works out every day, eats well and is in generally FANTASTIC health. This virus is selective and none know who the next victim will be.' Smith also thanked people for the 'outpouring of love and concern and prayers' he has received since being diagnosed. He added: 'The prognosis is ongoing, the goal is to get myself out of intensive care and then when that happens, move to the next step. 'So that's what we're working toward, and I'm fighting hard. I'm a fighter and so is my wife, Jen and my two kids are fighting through as well.' As of today there have been more than 39,000 cases of the virus in the US with more than 400 people have died. 25 years ago: Thousands mourn Singapores execution of Filipina maid Singapore Prime Miniester Gom Chok Tong On March 26, 1995, more than 40,000 people lined the streets in the Philippine town of San Pablo for the funeral of Flor Contemplacion, a Filipina domestic servant framed up in Singapore for a murder she did not commit and executed after a sham trial orchestrated by the Singapore government. Millions followed the funeral ceremony, which was broadcast on radio and television throughout the Philippines. The hanging of Contemplacion became a focus for the anger felt by impoverished Filipinos at the brutal exploitation suffered by millions, in a period when nearly 2,000 contract workers per day left the islands desperate poverty for work in a number of countries as domestic servants, laborers and in other unskilled jobs. There was widespread rage in the Filipino working class over her execution. Contemplacion, 42, was hanged on March 17 after being convicted on two counts of murder after a trial concocted to deflect suspicion from her Singaporean employer. She was charged with murdering another Filipina maid, Delia Maga, and a four-year-old Singaporean child in 1991. In February 1995, an eyewitness came forward and testified that the child drowned accidentally and the childs father killed Maga in revenge. Another witness said that Contemplacion was tortured into confessing to the crime. The Singapore government rejected last-minute appeals, including one from the Philippine President Fidel Ramos, for a stay of execution to hear evidence from new witnesses. Fearing the response of 75,000 Filipino contract workers in Singapore, the authorities posted heavily armed guards outside Changi prison during the execution. The government declared condolence meetings and prayer vigils for Contemplacion illegal and warned that anyone caught participating would be arrested and jailed. In the lead-up to the May 1995 elections, both the Ramos government and opposition politicians used the case to stoke Filipino nationalism. Ramos established a seven-member commission to examine the case and threatened to break diplomatic ties with Singapore. The inquiry carried out a new autopsy on the body of Maga which cast even further doubt on Contemplacions guilt. The Ramos government also canceled a visit by Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and dispatched a military aircraft to Singapore to provide transport for Filipino contract workers wanting to return home. 50 years ago: Air traffic controllers carry out sickout strike Jet flying over east Boston in 1973 On March 25, 1970, hundreds of members of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) staged a sickout strike against their employer, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), to protest low wages and poor working conditions. The sickout was triggered when three controllers who played key roles in the PATCO leadership were transferred to new jobs where they would have less influence among workers. The action by over 930 air traffic controllers caused major delays in air traffic, with over 300 flights being outright canceled. The sickout was strongest in New York City, where a national strike of US Postal Service workers, also waged against the federal government, had begun just one week earlier. Controllers from 19 other cities also called out, including in Boston, Kansas City, Chicago, and Pittsburgh. In some areas the entire controller staff called in sick, leaving supervisors scrambling to manage whole airports single-handedly. PATCO called the sickout strike in the face of federal law that declared strikes by air traffic controllers illegal. At this time the union was not officially recognized as the bargaining agent of the controllers but still held a membership of 7,000 out of Americas 9,000 controllers. At the peak of the sickout, New York and Kansas City saw 60 percent of their controllers out and Chicago had 75 percent of their controllers call out. The sickout lasted for three weeks and would involve a total of 3,600 workers, as controllers rotated in and out of sick leave, keeping traffic at a crawl. To keep traffic moving at all, supervisors filled in as much as they could, and those controllers who did not call out sick had their 8-hour shifts extended to 12. The FAA responded by firing over 100 controllers who were leaders and activists in PATCO. The Department of Labor joined the attack by placing fines upward of $1 million on the organization for carrying out unfair labor practices. In addition, the Airline Transportation Association (ATA), the airline companies lobbying group, filed a lawsuit against PATCO for disrupting business. The FAA also threatened individual workers, sending letters to strikers saying they would be fined two days pay for every day out if they called in sick and fired outright if they did not immediately return to work. After the strike concluded, negotiations began to recognize PATCO as the official union of all FAA controllers. Only after the 1970 PATCO convention, where the most militant members were forced out of the leadership and a strategy of conciliation rather than confrontation was put forward, under which the government could be assured of no strikes, did the negotiations move forward. In 1971, PATCO was officially recognized as the controllers union. By putting forward its conciliatory strategy, it would lay the foundation for the disastrous 1981 PATCO strike that resulted in a major defeat for workers. A series of articles discussing that strike can be purchased HYPERLINK "https://mehring.com/product/thirty-years-since-the-patco-strike/" \h here. 75 years ago: British and US troops cross the Rhine into Nazi Germany US soldiers crossing the Rhine On March 23, 1945, four Allied divisions, two from the British army and two from the US, crossed the Rhine River between the cities of Rees and Wessel, entering German territory. The action was a milestone in the latter stages of World War II, amid the collapse of the fascist regimes across Europe, including the Nazi Third Reich. The crossing, dubbed Operation Plunder, was the largest Allied amphibious assault since the D-Day landing in Normandy in June 1944 targeting France, which was then under German occupation. Operation Plunder would eventually involve almost 1.3 million Allied troops, primarily from the British 2nd Army and the US 9th Army, backed by some 5,500 artillery pieces. Planning for the offensive coincided with Soviet victories capturing large swathes of Poland and Prussia. Over the preceding weeks, German troops had beat a hasty and disorganized retreat on much of the Western and Eastern fronts. Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler had issued an order for the destruction of German civilian infrastructure in areas that could fall to the Allies, in a tacit recognition that a final defeat was approaching. The Rhine offensive began with a massive bombardment of German positions on March 23. Some 4,000 Allied guns fired for four hours, while British bombers carried out continuous raids on the city of Wessel, preventing German troops stationed there from hindering the crossing. The US armys 17th Armored Engineer Battalion began the construction of makeshift ramps for the river crossing late on March 23. Over the course of six hours, they laid 93 pneumatic floats and some 351 meters of treadway, facilitating the crossing of Allied trucks and other military vehicles. Allied forces making the crossing initially came under heavy machine-gun fire, however they rapidly gained a foothold as a result of continuous aerial bombardments. On March 24, the Allies launched Operation Varsity, the largest airborne operation in a single day in history. It involved the successful deployment of some 16,000 Allied troops into north German territory in parachute drops from C-47 aircraft. The speed and success of the Allied operation was such that on March 25, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and senior British military commanders were able to cross the Rhine and briefly survey enemy territory without any hindrance. 100 years ago: F. Scott Fitzgerald publishes first novel F. Scott Fitzgerald On March 26, 1920, 23-year-old F. Scott Fitzgerald, one of the most acute observers of American social life and one of the most significant American artists of the 20th century, saw his first novel, This Side of Paradise, published by Charles Scribner and Son. The novel, which was edited by the brilliant Maxwell Perkins, appeared in a first printing of 3,000 copies and was well received by critics. H.L. Mencken called it, the best American novel that I have seen of late. The novel sold out in a few days after it appeared in bookstores. The novel concerns Amory Blaine, a young upper-middle-class dilettante from the Midwest who goes east to college. Amory serves in World War Ithough the experience does not figure in the noveland becomes a copywriter for an advertising firm, when several disasters befall him. His love affairs are tainted by wealth and status-seeking, and by the end of the novel he becomes a socialist. Such a transformation was not unusual at that time, and for decades after. In the aftermath of the 1917 Russian Revolution, 1919 had seen mass strikes across the United States, the founding of the Communist International and its section in the United States, and the vicious reaction by the government in the form of the infamous Palmer Raids which broke up left-wing meetings and imprisoned and deported Communists, socialists and anarchists. It is worth quoting some of Amorys words toward the end of the book because they resonate with how many young people feel a century later: This is the first time in my life Ive argued Socialism. Its the only panacea I know. Im restless. My whole generation is restless. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 20:17:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The world is now in battle against the common threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, a disease caused by a previously unknown coronavirus that has spread to over 180 countries and regions around the world. The following are the latest updates on the contagious illness. - - - - TOKYO -- The Japanese government is set to tell the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that if it decides to postpone the 2020 Tokyo Olympics amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it will accept the IOC's decision, sources familiar with the matter said Monday. The latest development comes after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday hinted for the first time at the possibility the forthcoming summer games could be postponed if they could not be held in their "complete form" amid the pandemic. - - - - NEW DELHI -- The local government in the northern Indian state of Punjab Monday imposed curfew with no relaxation to check the spread of the COVID-19. "After reviewing situation with chief secretary and director general of police, announced full curfew with no relaxations. Deputy commissioners have been asked to issue orders accordingly. Any person required to be given relaxation will be so allowed specifically for given period and purpose," according to a statement put out by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on his twitter. - - - - WASHINGTON -- Beijing and Washington are "in the same boat" and should combat the coronavirus together, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai has said here. The outbreak of COVID-19 is a global public health challenge, Cui on Tuesday told U.S. news website AXIOS and documentary news program HBO, according to a transcript released by the Chinese Embassy in Washington D.C. - - - - CANBERRA -- The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia has soared over the past day, increasing from 1,098 Sunday morning to 1,479 Monday morning and then to 1,709 Monday afternoon. In a rare practice, the Australian Health Department updated the number twice Monday. Speaking at a press conference on Monday afternoon, Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy stressed the importance of social distancing to slow the spread of the virus, calling on Australians to "come down hard" on colleagues and friends who ignore self-isolation measures. - - - - WELLINGTON -- New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday that the country will shut down in response to the community transmission of COVID-19 in two days. Ardern announced the country would adopt the most severe response, level four of New Zealand's COVID-19 response system, in 48 hours. "These decisions will place the most significant restriction on New Zealanders' movements in modern history. This is not a decision taken lightly. But this is our best chance to slow the virus and to save lives," Ardern said. - - - - SEOUL -- South Korea said on Monday that it will set up the so-called "walking through" virus testing facilities at the country's main gateway Incheon International Airport, west the capital Seoul, to help prevent the COVID-19 cases from being imported from abroad. Yoon Tae-ho, an overall officer of disinfection at the Central Disaster Management headquarters, told a press briefing that about 40 "walking through" testing booths are scheduled to be installed at the Incheon airport from Wednesday. - - - - TOKYO -- Japan's health ministry and local governments said Monday the total number of people infected with the COVID-19 virus stood at 1,102 as of 10:30 a.m. local time here. The death toll in Japan from the pneumonia-causing virus currently stands at a total of 49 people, according to the health ministry, with the figure including those from the virus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship that was quarantined in Yokohama, close to Tokyo. - - - - LOS ANGELES -- U.S. President Donald Trump has approved California's request for a presidential Major Disaster Declaration to bolster the most populous U.S. state's COVID-19 emergency response efforts, California Governor Gavin Newsom said Sunday. The announcement came hours after Newsom sent a letter to Trump to request the action in response to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. - - - - CANBERRA -- The Australian government has called out Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel to help manage the outbreak of COVID-19. Linda Reynolds, the minister for defence, on Monday confirmed that ADF teams will help overwhelmed health authorities with contact tracing of COVID-19 cases. Reconnaissance, planning and support teams from the ADF have also been deployed to state coordination centers. - - - - BEIJING -- China's banking and insurance institutions have mobilized resources to aid more than 20 countries and regions in their fight against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), an official said. The Bank of China, for example, has purchased medical supplies totaling 2.25 million pieces including face masks and protective suits to send to more than 10 countries and regions, said Zhou Liang, vice chairman of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission. Feasible solutions were needed to eliminate traditional lime kilns while satisfying national lime demand, the Vietnam Foundry and Metallurgy Science and Technology Association has said. A traditional lime kiln locates in Uong Bi City in northern Quang Ninh Province. Photo baodautu.vn Dr Nghiem Gia, an expert from the association, said lime was an indispensable material for construction, agriculture, paper-making and metallurgy. In Viet Nam, production of lime was mostly manual and backward compared to many regional countries. Figures from the General Department of Environment showed there were about 1,000 manual lime kilns in the country with the capacity of between 15-20 tonnes per day, mostly located in northern cities and provinces of Hai Phong, Thai Binh, Bac Giang, Hai Duong, Ninh Binh, Ha Nam and Nam inh. Total production capacity was estimated at roughly two million tonnes per year. These manual lime kilns emit toxic gases which impact workers in production areas and surrounding communities. The index of dust and carbon dioxin exceeded 1.6 to 1.8 times and 4.0 to 4.2 times higher than allowed levels, respectively. Occupational accidents have been reported at these kilns. Eight workers were killed and one was seriously injured due to asphyxiation in a traditional lime kiln in Hoang Giang Commune in central Thanh Hoa Province in 2016. A year later, five others were killed after a traditional lime kiln collapsed in Phu Thu Town in northern Hai Duong Province. Gia said the policy of eliminating manual lime kilns was necessary, with Government and Ministry of Construction's decisions stipulating that all manual lime kilns be eliminated nationwide by the end of this year. However, the implementation of the policy would likely lag behind schedule. He said low awareness of traditional lime kilns owners, a lack of State policies to encourage lime production using modern methods and loose management were all to blame. Gia said many kiln owners refused to talk with local authorities, claiming the policy forcing them to switch from manual to industrial kilns within five years from 2015 to 2020 was a great challenge. Many said they did not have enough initial investments for the industrial kiln, so could not build a modern one. In addition, the State has not offered supportive policies in human resource training and advanced lime production technology to traditional lime kilns owners. Most workers in manual lime kilns were old and poorly educated. The removal of manual lime kilns would leave thousands unemployed if they were not trained to work in modern facilities, he added. Loose management has led to an increasing number of illegal manual lime kilns, creating more difficulties in eliminating traditional lime kilns nationwide. By 2030, demand for lime is estimated to be 10.8 million tonnes, with domestic consumption at about 7.8 million tonnes and exports three million tonnes. The amount of lime exported in 2010-20 averaged 0.5 to 1.5 million tonnes per year, with the main export markets South Korea, Taiwan, India, Thailand and Myanmar. Gia said comprehensive and feasible solutions were needed to eliminate traditional lime kilns and satisfy lime demand. He suggested localities develop a plan for the elimination of traditional lime kilns and heads of localities must take responsibility for carrying it out. The State should boost technological innovation to improve the capacity scale of modern lime production projects. Only projects with a capacity of more than 200 tonnes per day with advanced green technology could be approved from now on, he said. The certification of lime mines needed to be strengthened. Lime mines with the extraction capacity of fewer than 50,000 tonnes per year should not be licensed. Enterprises who wanted to switch from manual to industrial lime kilns should be given financial support, he said. VNS Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin George Georgiopoulos (Reuters) Athens, Greece Mon, March 23, 2020 06:35 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206ca4cd8 2 World greece,lockdown,coronavirus,COVID-19,health,Wuhan-coronavirus,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,infection,infectious-diseases Free Greece announced a lockdown on Sunday, restricting movement from Monday morning with only a few exceptions, to combat the spread of coronavirus. "It is maybe the last step, one that must be taken promptly and not in vain," Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a televised address. "We have to protect the common good, our health." Greece confirmed 94 new cases on Sunday, its largest single-day jump, taking its total to 624, with 15 deaths, up two. Citing Italy, which reported almost 800 new deaths on Saturday, Mitsotakis said it was his duty to prevent such a tragedy hitting Greece. "We must not get to the point where we will have to choose who lives and who dies," he said. Only those going to or returning from work, shopping for food or medicines or visiting a doctor will be allowed onto the streets from Monday. Starting on March 10, Greece acted fast to gradually close schools, gyms, cinemas, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, retail shops, shopping malls, museums and archaeological sites including the Acropolis, ahead of other governments in Europe. Public gatherings were restricted to 10 people and authorities subsequently ordered hotels across Greece to close until April 30, stepping up measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 respiratory disease. Greeks have for the most part heeded the government's call to stay home and practice social distancing. But some opted to flee to the islands or head to their countryside homes, defying official warnings of contagion risks. This prompted the government to ban such trips on ferries and allow them only for island residents. Restrict the frivolous few Mitsotakis said he would not allow a frivolous few to undermine the safety of most. "Staying at home is essentially the most profound demonstration of our collective duty," he said. Effective from Monday, people venturing out of their homes to head to or return form work will have to carry a completed form detailing their residence, work address and working hours or otherwise face a 150 euro fine if stopped by the police. All other allowed reasons to be on the streets - to visit a pharmacy, doctor, bank, food store or supermarket as well as to walk a pet and for physical exercise - will require a completed form or notifying the civil protection ministry via text messaging and mentioning the reason one has to be outside. "We do not circulate outside for no reason. We stay at home," crisis management minister Nikos Hardalias told reporters. "Pulsar provides us with a highly consistent and highly reliable distributed message queue that fits well in our financial use cases. Multi-tenant and storage separation architecture design greatly reduces our operational and maintenance overhead. We have used Pulsar on a very large scale in our organization, and we are impressed that Pulsar is able to provide high consistency while supporting high concurrent client connections." Qiang Fei, Tech Lead at Tencent. For the first time ever, the Apache Pulsar PMC team is publishing a user survey report. The 2020 Apache Pulsar User Survey Report reveals Pulsar's accelerating rate of global adoption, details how organizations are leveraging Pulsar to build real-time streaming applications, and highlights key features on Pulsar's product roadmap.Apache Pulsar is a cloud-native, distributed open source publish-subscribe (pub/sub) based high-performance server-to-server messaging and streaming system that manages hundreds of billions of events per day. It provides very low end-to-end latency, guaranteed message delivery, zero data loss, and a serverless lightweight computing framework for stream native data processing.Pulsar adoption has largely been driven by the market's increased demand for real-time, data-enabled technologies. While companies have tried to leverage monolithic messaging systems to build-out real-time offerings, they've hit major roadblocks.Ultimately, these technologies are not equipped to provide the scale or reliability that mission-critical applications require.As a result, companies have sought-out Apache Pulsar for its cloud-native, distributed messaging, and streaming platform capabilities. From asynchronous applications to core business applications to ETL, companies are increasingly leveraging Pulsar to develop real-time applications.Pulsar has received global adoption from major technology companies such as Verizon Media, Narvar, Overstock, Nutanix, Yahoo! JAPAN, Tencent, OVHCloud, and Clever Cloud, who rely on its ability to deliver on performance, scalability, and resiliency.As the Pulsar project and community garner increasing attention, we're excited to share theIn the 2020 Apache Pulsar User Survey Report, we hear from 165 users and learn how their companies are leveraging Pulsar's cloud-native, multi-layer design architecture, built-in multi-tenancy, and multi-cluster replication, to build scalable real-time offerings.This report details insights and use cases on how organizations are deploying Pulsar today.The report also reveals Pulsar's top-used features, its most popular applications, and how it is delivering scalable, reliable, real-time streaming solutions for organizations. In this quotation from Qiang Fei, Tech Lead for Tencent, we see how one organization is leveraging Pulsar to improve their offering:From its built-in multi-tenancy, which reduces architectural complexity and enables organizations to scale, to its multi-datacenter replication, which allows Pulsar to handle datacenter failures, we see how Pulsar has evolved into a robust and differentiated messaging and streaming platform. The report also reveals some of the community-driven features on Pulsar's product roadmap for 2020 and beyond.Join us for the first-ever Apache Pulsar Summit on August 26, 2020, in San Francisco, CA. More details on the Summit to come! Just like everywhere else in the country, Albertans are being told to stay home and for the most part are doing just that. And while we have lots in common with the ways people in all provinces and territories are trying to keep COVID-19 at bay, Albertans have one particular advantage. The rate of testing for COVID-19 is higher here than in any other province. Its higher than any jurisdiction in North America. As of March 20 Alberta had conducted 20,320 COVID-19 tests or 461 per 100,000 people. Ontarios rate was 95 per 100,000 people, Quebecs 91, according to statistics compiled by CBC Calgary reporter Robson Fletcher using data from provincial health authorities and Statistics Canada. You might wonder how this all came about given that for months now Jason Kenneys UCP government has been at war with doctors, nurses, health care workers and the public health care system in general. Nurses were told there would be layoffs. Doctors were facing reduced fees. More privatization of surgeries and treatments was on the way. All of this was on Kenneys agenda some of it still is part of the provincial budget that he hastily passed last week even as COVID-19 was making headway in Alberta and other provinces. Throughout all that, and fortunately for us, Albertas chief medical officer, Deena Hinshaw, and her team ignored the ongoing politics and focused on proven ways to contain spread of the virus. When the outbreak began in China and testing became available in Canada, Alberta Health Services publicly owned lab system procured testing kits from the national lab and started building local capacity, Hinshaw said last week during one of her daily live streamed updates. Then, if through testing someone was found to have the virus, all their contacts were traced and tested as well. Testing is focused on individuals who have developed symptoms within 14 days of returning from outside Canada or have had contact with someone who has been diagnosed with the illness. If people have concerns about symptoms they can get help through an 811 number and there is also an online symptom assessment tool. Testing has been ramping up as the number of cases increased. Last Tuesday, Alberta performed more than 2,000 tests for the first time in a single day. On Wednesday, just over 2,900 were completed and then another 2,800 on Thursday. The provincial labs are now running their testing 24/7. Medical students and other health care students have been recruited to help with the effort So they have people who theyve cross-trained to come in, so their equipment doesnt sit idle, Hinshaw said. I just cant say enough about the work of the lab and how amazing theyve been. As of Sunday, 259 people in Alberta have been diagnosed with COVID-19. One person has died. Twenty of Albertas total cases cannot be traced to recent travel so are likely the result of community spread. Eighteen people are in hospital, seven in ICU. Besides over seeing Albertas major testing efforts, Hinshaw herself, has become a sort of guardian angel figure. She gives daily briefings, which are broadcast live and in which she manages to sound calm, kind and compassionate while being completely open and truthful about the number of people infected and the precautions that must be taken to prevent further spread. All of this even though it has been only just over a year since she was appointed to the position by Rachel Notleys NDP government. Premier Kenney has been quick to praise her work too. And, of course, he likes to boast that Albertas testing rate is so much higher than other jurisdictions. The UCP government has finally retreated when it comes to layoffs for nurses. And for the time being they have rescinded their efforts to reduce doctors fees. And we are not hearing much about privatization these days. Suddenly our public health care system isnt seen as a drain on provincial government funds but a public service that is vital to the health and well being of everyone; vital to the well-being of the economy. As it should be. GS Gillian Steward is a Calgary-based writer and freelance contributing columnist for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: is a Calgary-based writer and freelance contributing columnist for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @GillianSteward Read more about: Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said in a statement on Saturday the company is hiring for 100,000 new roles, and urged laid-off restaurant workers to apply. Bezos added that the company has implemented a number of health and safety measures in response to the crisis, and has raised wages for hourly workers. Amazon has been flooded with orders since the virus began spreading across the US, as residents have been stocking up on household essentials and other basic goods. The deluge has forced the company into a tricky balancing act between protecting the health of its workers and keeping up with the rapid pace of customers' orders. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Founder, Chairman, CEO and President of Amazon Jeff Bezos speaks during an event about Blue Origin's space exploration plans in Washington, U.S., May 9, 2019. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is urging laid-off workers from closed-down restaurants and bars to come join the company as it struggles to accommodate an enormous volume of orders amid the coronavirus pandemic. Bezos said the company is hiring for 100,000 new roles, and is raising the wages of its hourly workers who help fulfill orders and deliver to customers. "At the same time, other businesses like restaurants and bars are being forced to shut their doors," Bezos said in a statement Saturday evening. "We hope people who've been laid off will come work with us until they're able to go back to the jobs they had." Bezos added that the company has implemented a number of health and safety measures in response to the crisis. "Everything from increasing the frequency and intensity of cleaning to adjusting our practices in fulfillment centers to ensure the recommended social distancing guidelines," Bezos wrote. A He added that the company has ordered millions of face masks to help protect workers, but noted that there is a global shortage delaying the masks. Amazon has been flooded with orders since the virus began spreading across the US, as residents have been stocking up on household essentials and other basic goods to tide themselves over as they isolate in their homes. Story continues The deluge has forced the company into a tricky balancing act between protecting the health of its workers and keeping up with the pace of customers' orders. Last week, the first known coronavirus case at an Amazon warehouse was confirmed at a facility in Queens, New York. Workers at the facility told The Atlantic that employees were still expected to work their regular night shift after their colleague was diagnosed, though Amazon denied that. Business Insider The Legislature met one day this week and has scheduled tentative sessions for one day per week during the coronavirus public health emergency, which will only take place if there is a specific need. In coming weeks, the Roll Call Report will feature recently introduced bill of interest. House Bill 4729, Authorize COVID-19 epidemic response spending: Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on March To appropriate $125 million for state response activities to the coronavirus epidemic, with $50 million going to the state Department of Health and Human Services and $75 million to the Department of Technology, Management and Budget to be distributed to relevant programs. 31 Sen. Kevin Daley R - Attica Y 32 Sen. Kenneth Horn R - Frankenmuth Y 36 Sen. Jim Stamas R - Midland Y House Bill 4729, Authorize COVID-19 epidemic response spending: Passed 92 to 0 in the House The House vote on the epidemic response funding bill described above. 95 Rep. Vanessa Guerra D - Bridgeport township Y 96 Rep. Brian Elder D - Bay City Y 97 Rep. Jason Wentworth R - Clare Y 98 Rep. Annette Glenn R - Midland Y 99 Rep. Roger Hauck R - Isabella County Y Senate Bill 718, Expand roadside drug testing pilot program: Passed 28 to 9 in the Senate To revise a 2016 law that ordered a roadside drug testing pilot program in five counties by extending it to the entire state. 31 Sen. Kevin Daley R - Attica Y 32 Sen. Kenneth Horn R - Frankenmuth Y 36 Sen. Jim Stamas R - Midland Y House Bill 4908, Increase cap on state housing subsidy debt: Passed 35 to 2 in the Senate To increase to $5 billion the current $3.4 billion cap on the amount of debt backed by the Michigan State Housing Developing Authority, which subsidizes housing developer borrowing. 31 Sen. Kevin Daley R - Attica Y 32 Sen. Kenneth Horn R - Frankenmuth Y 36 Sen. Jim Stamas R - Midland Y Senate Bill 592, Allow "double dipping" for corrections pensioners: Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate To allow "retired" state prison employees to collect a pension while also getting paid to do corrections work as an independent contractor, or employed by one. Versions of this law are often passed when government agency employees who are permitted to begin collecting full pensions at a comparatively early age take advantage of this rather than continuing to work until a more typical retirement age. 31 Sen. Kevin Daley R - Attica Y 32 Sen. Kenneth Horn R - Frankenmuth Y 36 Sen. Jim Stamas R - Midland Y House Bill 5576, Gov. Whitmer's "Michigan Reconnect" scholarship proposal: Passed 35 to 2 in the Senate To authorize a college and trade school grant program for individuals age 25 and above, with grants in the amount needed to cover tuition and fees for career-oriented classes at a community college that is above the amount covered by other scholarships and government aid. It would also authorize one-time grants of $1,500 for completing a private apprenticeship program. This is the "Michigan Reconnect" program proposed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in her 2019 State of the State address, and is projected to cost $46.3 million. 31 Sen. Kevin Daley R - Attica Y 32 Sen. Kenneth Horn R - Frankenmuth Y 36 Sen. Jim Stamas R - Midland Y Senate Bill 268, Gov. Whitmer's "Michigan Reconnect" scholarship proposal: Passed 81 to 12 in the House The House version of this proposal, whose provisions will likely be divided among two or more bills. 95 Rep. Vanessa Guerra D - Bridgeport township Y 96 Rep. Brian Elder D - Bay City Y 97 Rep. Jason Wentworth R - Clare Y 98 Rep. Annette Glenn R - Midland Y 99 Rep. Roger Hauck R - Isabella County Y House Bill 5024, Let townships impose property tax for mosquito control: Passed 72 to 21 in the House To permit townships to impose a 1 mill property tax for six years for mosquito abatement if voters approve, which would let these governments use existing tax revenue to pay for other spending instead. 95 Rep. Vanessa Guerra D - Bridgeport township Y 96 Rep. Brian Elder D - Bay City Y 97 Rep. Jason Wentworth R - Clare Y 98 Rep. Annette Glenn R - Midland N 99 Rep. Roger Hauck R - Isabella County Y House Bill 4910, Criminalize false emotional support animal claim: Passed 59 to 33 in the House To make it a crime to falsely represent to a housing provider that a person has a disability or is in possession of an emotional support animal prescribed by a licensed medical service professional, and permit a housing provider to require reliable documentation to confirm this. The bill would also establish procedures, standards and required credentials (including state licensure) for a medical professional prescribing an "emotional support animal." Falsely claiming this status, or falsely prescribing for it, would be subject to fines, jail or community service. 95 Rep. Vanessa Guerra D - Bridgeport township N 96 Rep. Brian Elder D - Bay City Y 97 Rep. Jason Wentworth R - Clare Y 98 Rep. Annette Glenn R - Midland Y 99 Rep. Roger Hauck R - Isabella County Y House Bill 4911, Authorize eviction for false emotional support animal claim: Passed 67 to 26 in the House To allow a landlord to evict a tenant who falsely claimed that a member of household has a disability or is in possession of an emotional support animal prescribed by a (legitimate) medical service professional. 95 Rep. Vanessa Guerra D - Bridgeport township N 96 Rep. Brian Elder D - Bay City Y 97 Rep. Jason Wentworth R - Clare Y 98 Rep. Annette Glenn R - Midland Y 99 Rep. Roger Hauck R - Isabella County Y Y = Yes, N = No, X = Not Voting SOURCE: MichiganVotes.org, a free, non-partisan website created by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, providing concise, non-partisan, plain-English descriptions of every bill and vote in the Michigan House and Senate. Visit www.MichiganVotes.org. Austria and Hungary on Monday received masks and other protective gear from China to help in the battle against the new coronavirus pandemic. Two Austrian Airlines planes from Xiamen in China arrived in Vienna carrying masks and other protective gear destined for Austria's western Tyrol province, as well as South Tyrol province in Italy, according to the carrier and the defence ministry. Authorities declined to say how many masks were being imported but local media quoted South Tyrol authorities as saying the shipment was part of an order placed by Italy for 1.5 million masks and 450,000 protective suits. Hungary also received protective gear and coronavirus testing kits from China, Eastern Europe's largest budget carrier Wizz Air said. One of its planes returned Monday loaded with nearly 11 tonnes of medical supplies, it said. Hungary plans to keep cooperating with Wizz Air to fly in medical supplies. "At this difficult time, we are trying our best to contribute to the fight against the epidemic," Wizz Air head Jozsef Varadi said in a statement. Austria and Hungary are among the latest countries to receive supplies from China, together with Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Greece and Italy. Hungary, with its population of some 10 million, has reported 167 cases and seven deaths. Nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban has however himself has said that this in underestimate. Hungary has tripled its capacity to produce masks from 25,000 per day to 80,000 per day, according to Orban, besides buying masks, protective gear and gloves. Orban insists hospitals have sufficient capacity and has brought in economic measures such as tax exemptions to soften the blow of the virus. Austria with its nearly nine million people has recorded more than 3,900 cases and 21 deaths. Strict measures have been put in place in both countries to restrict people's movements and the spread of the virus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jose K Joseph By Express News Service TIRUCHY: A special flight from Malaysia landed at Tiruchy International Airport on Saturday night to take back citizens stranded in the city. The flight with 186 Malaysian passengers took off at 12:40 am on Sunday. The special aircraft (AK 22) could accommodate a maximum of 186 people. Officials assured those left remaining passengers will also be taken back soon as the Malaysian embassy is in touch with Government of India to make similar arrangements, a source said. Sources said that there are about 500 Malaysians in Tamil Nadu. Many of us reached the airport on Saturday night. The officials told us they would be taking the passengers in batches and the first batch of 186 passengers will go on Sunday. We hope our name would come in the second batch, said Sugandi, a Malaysian citizen. Three districts in Tamil Nadu Chennai, Kancheepuram and Erode went into restrictions from Monday as part of measures to contain the spread of COVID-19. In Tamil Nadu, COVID-19 cases have been reported in these three districts, apart from Coimbatore. On Monday, a detailed order from the state government is expected listing what activities will be permitted. It is not clear till when the restrictions will be in place as the Union governments advisory did not specify any time period. So far in Chennai, it has been announced that all Metro rail services and inter-state private and government bus services will not operate till March 31. Transport Minister MR Vijayabhaskar said all inter-state government and private buses will be cancelled till March 31. The operation of the buses within the state, both private and government, will be kept at a bare minimum. Suburban trains of the Chennai division, passenger trains, long-distance Mail/Express and Intercity trains, including premium trains, have been cancelled till March 31. Trains which had commenced their journey prior to 4 am on Sunday will run-up to their destinations. Freight trains will run as usual. Cab and autorickshaw driver unions said they would take a decision based on the state governments order. During a high-level meeting with Chief Secretaries of all the States, the State governments were advised to issue appropriate orders to allow only essential services in these districts. The State governments may expand the list of districts depending on the assessment of the situation, a release from the Centre said. While it remains to be seen as to what services would be available for the State from Monday, the release from the Centre said that the State government should focus on the closure of all activities except services such as hospitals, telecom, medical shops, provision stores, etc. Factories making and distributing medicines, vaccines, sanitizers, masks, medical devices and ancillaries should be exempt from these restrictions, the release said. 23.03.2020 LISTEN Prevention is better than cure, so says the wise adage. The Peoples Democratic League (PDL) is deeply concerned both by the alarming levels and severity of the deadly Corona Virus (COVID-19) that is sweeping across the world, debilitating so many people that clinics have run out of space. Media reports on the debilitating effect of the Corona virus on lives and economies of affected countries lay bare the challenges ahead for the Government of President Julius Maada Bio in Freetown. Sierra Leone is yet to recover from the devastating effect of the Ebola virus. More so, it is the worlds poorest, as measured by the number of people living in extreme poverty and want. The countrys health sector is routinely battered by infectious diseases, such as malaria, cholera, Ebola and the threats of the new outbreak pandemic of Corona Virus that plagues whole peoples, whole nations and whole regions and raises alarms around the world. Despite the fact that the PPRC (Political Parties Registration Commission) in Freetown has created barriers and preventing Sierra Leoneans from participating in the peace and development efforts in the country, we deem it necessary to throw our support to the government of President Maada Bio in preparing Sierra Leone for facing and overcoming the challenges posed by the Corona pandemic. This support is necessary as we find ourselves in a trying and challenging time. The fight against societal issues such as pandemics and discrimination in national politics is something that needs unity and concerted efforts, to move Sierra Leone forward. Corona virus affects all peoples, no matter which political party, tribe, religion or region one belongs; and for us in Sierra Leone a strong bond is needed to address anything that discriminates individuals regardless of their tribe, religion or political belief. The fight against the Corona pandemic would be hampered in Sierra Leone by PPRCs policy of hate, discrimination and usurpation of the constitutional rights and democratic freedoms of the Sierra Leonean people. Our appeal is that the PPRC should do a noble service to the people of Sierra Leone by issuing out final certificates of political parties that have been gazetted since 2017 and prevented from exercising their constitutional rights of voting and be voted for in the 2018 elections. Hate and discrimination in the registration of political parties by all civilized standards constitute serious attack on the constitutional human rights and democratic freedoms of Sierra Leoneans, and by extend hinder progress and development in the country. It is a crime that all Sierra Leoneans should resist today and unite around our President in the fight against the Corona virus. The Presidents measures should unite all Sierra Leoneans. If we unite as one people, then we can overcome the challenges posed by the fast spreading Corona virus. The pandemic continues to be one of the most serious health concerns in the world. The Peoples Democratic League is not patriotic if it abandons the Sierra Leone at this trying and challenging time. This is not a time to condemn, but to come together as a family and support our Presidents measures to combat the spread of the Corona virus. This is the time all Sierra Leoneans should put our tribal and political differences and comply with the Presidents directives, regulations and communication to combat the spread of the Corona virus. While we condole with the loved ones that have departed with this pandemic in other countries, we send high hopes to those afflicted now that life can still be as normal as possible, if they receive regular treatment. Corona virus is a growing concern not only for one demographic. It chooses no region, poor or rich, and can affect any country if we do nothing. We can still prevent Corona virus. Let us unite behind President Julius Maada Bios anti-Corona measures. Fighting the challenges of Corona virus through greater awareness and prevention should be a top priority because the rate of the spread of the deadly pandemic is fast across the world. We cannot afford to lose a single Sierra Leonean life. We condemn attempts by unscrupulous and evil-minded people, who are hell-bent on politicizing the pandemic, creating unnecessary panic amongst our people. Health care is a basic human right which every human being should enjoy. It falls within life experiences to note how many illnesses can be prevented. We call on Sierra Leoneans to subscribe to one of PDLs sloganeer that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. Through this statement, we urge all PDL members and supporters across the length and breadth of Sierra Leone and the diasporas to join efforts in the war against Corona virus, which seeks to leave behind tears, suffering, economic devastation and misery across the world. We appeal to all public and private institutions, trade unions, civil society bodies and academic associations, traditional leaders, among others, to nail their support behind government regulations and communications on preventing the Corona virus. We appeal to our religious leaders as well to further pray for the country. Let us see the big picture! Let us unite and save Sierra Leone from the Corona Virus!! Lets put Sierra Leone first!!! Sender: Samuel Musa Kalokoh National Secretary for Administration The Peoples Democratic League (PDL) 1 Zara Lane, Portee, Wellington, Freetown. Sierra Leone, West Africa Email: [email protected] ; [email protected] In the past week Ahelee Rahman has created a poster interpreting a chemistry class experiment she wasn't there to see. She has also taken a piano lesson in her lounge room while her music teacher watched on remotely and even had virtual lunch with a friend. This is life as a high school student in the time of COVID-19. Melbourne Girls' Grammar student Ahelee Rahman is adjusting to remote learning. Credit:Joe Armao The Victorian school term was cut short for most schools this week, with students sent home and teachers given extra time to prepare for the possible switch to remote learning when classes resume in mid-April. Many independent schools had already switched to remote learning last week in response to the virus. Melbourne Girls Grammar, where Ahelee is in year 10, made the transition last week. KABALE A total of 95 people who were from Rwanda aboard two Jaguar buses were on Sunday, March 22, 2020, quarantined in Kabale district for fear of spreading coronavirus. The group, who included Metropolitan Innocentious Byakatonda, the Orthodox Archbishop in Charge of Burundi and Rwanda, were isolated at Kirigime Guest house in Kabale district. The group had been blocked from entering Uganda after authorities suspended all movements in attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus. But following consultations with the Health Ministry, the group was allowed to stay the hotel at the government cost. Alfred Besigensi, the Kabale District Health Officer, said health and security officials will keep watch of the guest house while monitoring the health condition of the passengers as well as prevent them from escaping. Besigensi called upon the public to remain vigilant and inform relevant health authorities in case they detect any person presents with Covid-19 like symptoms. By Sunday, Uganda had registered one case of Covid-19 of a 36-year old Ugandan businessman who arrived from Dubai aboard Ethiopian Airlines on Saturday. He reportedly returned to Uganda on March 21, 2020 at around 2 am aboard Ethiopian airlines. On the other hand, Rwanda as of Saturday, had recorded 17 confirmed cases of coronavirus, the highest number in the East Africa region. Rwanda has also suspended all unnecessary movements outside the home and clamped down on travel across its borders, in one of the toughest measures yet imposed in sub-Saharan Africa to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Related Natural gas futures are trading slightly lower on Tuesday as traders continue to assess the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on future demand, and as weather-trends lean toward the mild side. The price action suggests traders are betting on expectations of widespread coronavirus containment to continue to weigh on demand. Meanwhile, in its latest forecast, NatGasWeather noted a drop in heating demand expectations overnight from the American and European datasets but with no major changes to the overall pattern. As is, it would take colder trends for next week and beyond for the pattern to be considered cold enough, though still with just enough demand across the northern U.S. to be considered seasonal, NatGasWeather said. But with the overnight data losing a little demand, the natural gas markets could notice. At 14:53 GMT, May natural gas is trading $1.837, down $0.014 or -0.66%. Energy Aspects Updates First Quarter Storage Carryout Energy Aspects recently updated its end-March storage carryout projection to 1.99 Tcf, with near-term fundamentals remaining relatively steady over the past week despite the volatility in markets, Natural Gas Intelligence (NGI) reported. The present set of fundamentals does not currently support the $1.90/MMBtu-plus pricing that was observed last week, Energy Aspects said. There are risks to lower demand stemming from even greater congestion issues in the global liquefied natural gas market, as well as uncertainties linked to the spread of Covid-19 and its impact on demand. In addition, impacts to domestic demand including industrial demand and the power sector cannot be ruled outTo be fair, weaker crude prices, if sustained, would have a real bearing on associated production volumes, but that move would really begin to take hold later in 2020 and then in 2021. Daily Technical Analysis Story continues The main trend is up according to the daily swing chart. However, momentum is trending lower. A trade through $1.657 will change the main trend to down, while a move through $2.044 and $2.060 will signal a resumption of the uptrend. The minor trend is up. A move through $1.801 will change the minor trend to down. The momentum shifted to the downside when the March 11 closing price reversal top at $2.044 was confirmed late last week. The main range is $2.229 to $1.657. Its retracement zone at $1.943 to $2.010 is resistance. The minor range is $1.657 to $2.044. Its retracement zone at $1.851 to $1.805 is potential support. The market is current testing this zone. Daily May Natural Gas Daily Forecast Based on the early price action, the direction of the May natural gas futures contract the rest of the session on Tuesday is likely to be determined by trader reaction to the minor Fibonacci level at $1.805. A sustained move under $1.805 will indicate the presence of sellers. Taking out $1.801 could trigger an acceleration to the downside. Overtaking $1.851 will signal the return of buyers. This could lead to a test of $1.9225, followed by $1.943. This article was originally posted on FX Empire More From FXEMPIRE: Indian-origin American author Ruchika Tomar has been named the winner of the prestigious 2020 PEN/Hemingway Award for her debut novel 'A Prayer for Travelers' which the judges described as a "remarkable piece of writing, astute in style and structure". Tomar, hailing from California, is currently a lecturer at Stanford University. The award, honouring a "distinguished" first novel, includes a USD 25,000 prize and a month-long Residency Fellowship at the Ucross Foundation in Wyoming, a retreat for artists and writers, valued at USD 10,000. The judges described 'A Prayer for Travelers' as a "remarkable piece of writing, astute in style and structure and also in the story that it tells". Unfolding in a small town in Nevada, the novel traces the friendship of two women, a relationship that grows complicated until it shatters, and one of the friends disappears. "Tomar is an exquisite writer, and 'A Prayer for Travelers' is marked by a deft and deeply rendered sense of place. Even more, the novel pushes back against our preconceptions, shifting fluidly in time to evoke a sense of the floating nature of existence, especially for characters such as these, who find themselves, in nearly every way that matters, having to reckon with what it means to live on the periphery," the judges said. Tomar said she is "incredibly grateful" to the Hemingway family and the Ernest Hemingway Foundation for the "sincere honour of this award, and to PEN America for their tireless advocacy on behalf of writers and international literature". She holds a BA in English literature from the University of Califonia Irvine and an MFA from Columbia University. She has received fellowships from the Center for Fiction, the MacDowell Colony and Vermont Studio Center. Tomar joins other notable PEN/Hemingway winners and honourees including Marilynne Robinson, Edward P Jones, Jhumpa Lahiri, Colson Whitehead, Tommy Orange, Jennifer Haigh, ZZ Packer, George Saunders, Ha Jin, Yiyun Li, Teju Cole, and Ottessa Moshfegh. The PEN/Hemingway Award Ceremony takes place at the John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston but due to current concerns of the COVID-19 virus, the 2020 ceremony is postponed until further notice. The PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel honours a debut novel of exceptional merit by an American author who has not previously published a full-length book of fiction. One winner will be selected by a panel of three esteemed writers. The Ernest Hemingway Collection at the John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum spans Hemingway's entire lifetime and contains 90 per cent of existing Hemingway manuscript materials, making the Kennedy Library the world's principal centre for research on the life and work of Ernest Hemingway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo left Afghanistan on Monday without saying whether he was able to broker an agreement between the country's squabbling political leaders. Pompeo was in Kabul on an urgent visit to try to move forward a US peace deal signed last month with the Taliban. He'd traveled thousands of miles despite a near-global travel shutdown because of the coronavirus pandemic, at a time when world leaders and statesmen are curtailing official travel. But as his plane took off from Kabul, there was still no announcement on whether he'd worked out a solution to Afghanistan's political impasse. Since the US-Taliban deal was signed, the peace process has stalled amid political turmoil in Afghanistan, with the country's leaders deadlocked over who was elected president in last September's presidential polls. President Ashraf Ghani and his main rival, Abdullah Abdullah, have both declared themselves the country's president in dueling inauguration ceremonies earlier this month. Pompeo met separately with Ghani and then Abdullah before meeting together with both Afghan leaders. His schedule also had Ghani and Abdullah coming together for a one-on-one meeting, presumably to discuss a possible compromise. The United States pays billions every year toward the Afghan budget, including the country's defense forces. Afghanistan barely raises a quarter of the revenue it needs to run the country, giving Pompeo considerable financial leverage to force the two squabbling leaders to overcome the impasse. The political turmoil has put on hold the start of intra-Afghan peace talks that would include the Taliban. Those talks are seen as a critical next step in the peace deal, negotiated to allow the United States to bring home its troops and give Afghans the best chance at peace. We are in a crisis," a State Department official told reporters accompanying Pompeo. The fear is that unless this crisis gets resolved and resolved soon, that could affect the peace process, which was an opportunity for this country that (has) stood in this 40-years-long war. And our agreement with the Talibs could be put at risk." The official briefed reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss U.S. concerns. The U.S. and NATO have already begun to withdraw some troops from Afghanistan. The final pullout of U.S. forces is not dependent on the success of intra-Afghan negotiations but rather on promises made by the Taliban to deny space in Afghanistan to other terror groups, such as the insurgents' rival Islamic State group. But within days of the U.S. and the Taliban signing the peace deal in Qatar on Feb. 29, Afghanistan sunk into a political crisis with Ghani and Abdullah squaring off over election results and Ghani refusing to fulfill his part of a promise made in the U.S.-Taliban deal to free up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners. The insurgents were for their part to free 1,000 Afghan officials and soldiers they hold captive. The exchange was meant to be a good-will gesture by both sides to start the negotiations. The urgency of Pompeo's surprise visit was highlighted by the fact that the State Department has warned American citizens against all international travel, citing the spread of the new coronavirus. Pompeo has cancelled at least two domestic U.S. trips because of the outbreak, including one to a now-cancelled G7 foreign ministers meeting that was to have taken place in Pittsburgh this week. That meeting will now take place by video conference. Pompeo's last overseas trip in late February was to Doha, Qatar, for the signing of the U.S.-Taliban peace deal he is now trying to salvage. As the virus pandemic has worsened, causing many nations to close their borders and airports and cancel international flights, Pompeo and the State Department have come under increasing criticism for not doing enough to help Americans stranded overseas get home. On Saturday, just hours before he departed on his unannounced trip to Afghanistan, Pompeo was roundly attacked on social media for a photo he posted to his personal Twitter account of him and his wife, Susan, at home working on a jigsaw puzzle with a scene from the Tom Cruise film Top Gun on a TV screen. Susan and I are staying in and doing a puzzle this afternoon. Pro tip: if you're missing the beach, just throw on Top Gun! the caption read. Many of the critics took Pompeo to task for apparently not working while thousands of Americans are struggling to find transportation home from various countries. Washington's peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, who has been trying to jump start talks between Afghans on both sides of the conflict the next critical step in the U.S.-Taliban deal tweeted early Monday that the two sides are talking about the prisoner exchange. The intra-Afghan negotiations were never going to be easy but since Washington signed the peace deal with the Taliban, it has struggled to get the Afghan government to at least offer a unified position. Pompeo's visit is also extraordinary for the fact that the U.S., like the United Nations, had earlier said it would not again be drawn into mediating between feuding Afghan politicians. While the Afghan election committee this time gave the win to Ghani, Abdullah and the election complaints commission charged widespread irregularities to challenge Ghani's win. In Afghanistan's previous presidential election in 2014, also marred by widespread fraud and deeply disputed results, Ghani and Abdullah emerged as leading contenders. Then-U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry mediated between the two and eventually cobbled together a so-called unity government, with Ghani as president and Abdullah holding the newly created but equal in statue post of the country's chief executive. However, the Ghani-Abdullah partnership was a difficult one, and for much of its five years triggered a parliamentary paralysis leading up to the September balloting. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan is likely to take oath as Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister on Monday evening, reported news agency ANI. Highlights Chouhan had successfully led the battle against Kamal Nath-led Congress government He has been the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh thrice He positioned himself as Mamaji, a benevolent, paternal figure looking out for citizens A legislature party meeting is scheduled for 6 pm today, in which Chouhan is likely to be elected as the partys chief ministerial candidate, reported ANI. If he takes the oath today, this will be Chouhans record fourth term as chief minister. The BJP legislature party is meeting today, after the fall of the Congress government on Friday afternoon when Kamal Nath resigned barely two hours before the floor test he was supposed to face in the state assembly as per the Supreme Court verdict. During the political crisis the Congress faced in the state, Chouhan took the lead and continued to attack the government. It was he who filed the petition in the Supreme Court last Monday along with nine other MLAs seeking directions to issue an order to the Speaker of the state assembly to conduct a floor test. Gopal Bhargava, Leader of the Opposition in Madhya Pradesh, is one of the aspirants for the chief ministers post. The names of Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Thaverchand Gehlot, Narottam Mishra, the chief whip of the legislature party, and Kailash Vijayvargiya, the BJP national vice-president, are doing the rounds. Chouhan delivered some of the highest growth rates and Madhya Pradesh saw a boom in production. He positioned himself as Mamaji, a benevolent, paternal figure looking out for citizens, especially the women and the young. He also delivered a range welfare schemes to different social groups. All of this helped Chouhan construct a wide social coalition of upper castes, who had traditionally been with the party, Other Backward Classes (OBC) to which Chouhan himself belongs and segments of Dalits and tribals. This helped him win in 2008 and 2013 elections. The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation on Monday named two suspects who have allegedly been posing as directors of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) in the office to dupe unsuspecting members of the public. The Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, who personally signed the public notice from his office, identified the two suspects as Charles Wabande, who has been using the mobile telephone with number 09043177807, and Hajia Binta Bello who has been using the mobile telephone number 08038898704. Mr Idris expressed worry over the activities of the fraudsters, warning that Nigerians should be wary of their escapades and antics. He did not, however, explain what is being done to arrest the two. Nigerians should be wary of these fraudsters whose mode of operations involves making of telephone calls to unsuspecting public service staff and retirees, claiming they are Directors of IPPIS and that they can facilitate the payment of the staff or retirees outstanding arrears, Mr Idris said. He said the fraudsters, who usually demand money for their proposed services, also tell their unsuspecting victims about a 2020 IPPIS recruitment exercise being publicized through the portal www.ippis.gov.ng. In disclaiming the activities of these alleged fraudsters, Mr Idris said: The IPPIS has no mandate to recruit officers into the Federal civil service, and there is no IPPIS website for recruitment anywhere. IPPIS Desk Officers will not put calls through to retirees and staff having salary arrears. IPPIS does not handle or pay pension. The IPPIS office will never request any monetary benefit to facilitate any payment. The so-called Hajia Binta Bello and Dr Charles Wabande or whichever name they answer, are impostors and not staff of IPPIS or any ministry, department and agencies (MDAs) on the IPPIS Platform, Mr Idris said. The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation should not be held liable as a result of any dealings directly, indirectly or consequential arising as a result of transactions with the fraudsters, he added. He advised members of the public to ignore calls, publications and/or online messages from these fraudsters to avoid falling victims and to report such activities to the security agencies. Rioting swept through the crowded jail overnight in the Colombian capital Bogota amid rising tensions over the virus Montevideo: Panic over the spread of the coronavirus sparked a prison riot in Colombia that killed 23 inmates on Sunday, as Chile became the latest Latin American country to announce restrictions on movement. Rioting swept through the crowded jail overnight in the Colombian capital Bogota amid rising tensions over the virus in the penitentiary system. Justice Minister Margarita Cabello described the violence as an attempted mass breakout, part of what she said was a coordinated plan with inmates who caused disturbances in 13 jails across the country. The minister rejected accusations by rights groups that the riots were sparked by unsanitary conditions inside a prison system that was woefully unprepared to face the pandemic. A curfew in Chile "will take effect throughout the national territory from 10:00 pm to 05:00 am the next day," Health Minister Jaime Manalich announced Sunday. The country, which has 632 infections, registered its first death from the pandemic at the weekend. As the sun rose over New Delhi on Sunday morning, the megacitys normally chaotic streets were unusually calm. Minutes later, at 7 a.m., even those carrying out last-minute errands had dispersed as a nationwide curfew came into force. Billed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a peoples curfew against coronavirus, the voluntary shutdown lasted for 14 hours until 9 p.m. leaving markets empty, train stations quiet, and tourist sites actually looking like they do in the photos. Authorities said the curfew would serve as a test to see how prepared this country of 1.3 billion the worlds second-most populous nation was to deal with the pandemic. It was perhaps the worlds largest exercise in voluntary social distancing to date. But two days later, Indians found themselves facing a lockdown that was no longer optional. On Tuesday night, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a total ban on Indians leaving their homes for 21 days, set to come into force at midnight local time, abruptly putting one fifth of the worlds population under lockdown to combat COVID-19. To save India and every Indian, there will be a total ban on venturing out of your homes, Modi said. It is impossible to say the price India will have to pay if irresponsible behavior continues. The move followed days of increasing restrictions. On Monday, more than 200 million people were already under lockdown in 75 municipalities and four states. Indias railway service, which until recently carried some 25 million passengers per day, announced trains would cease running until March 31 at the earliest. And airports nationwide were all but deserted after a ban on domestic and incoming international flights came into force late Sunday. An Indian police officer wearing a mask checks a suburban train before they are locked down in Mumbai, India, on March 23, 2020. | Rafiq MaqboolAP With just 469 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 10 recorded deaths, the outbreak is less advanced in India than it is in much of the rest of the world, where recorded cases have passed 360,000. That could be partially due to Indias warmer climate although experts say its too early to tell. What they do know is that only 15,000 tests had been carried out in India as of Monday, and they are concerned the disease could be spreading undetected in the countrys many densely populated urban areas, threatening to overwhelm the countrys public healthcare system. Im deeply worried that theres a lot of community transmission and we are just not aware of it because there is not widespread testing, Dr. Ashish Jha, director of the Harvard Global Health Institute, told TIME earlier in March. The numbers, he said, are just not right. Story continues Keep up to date with our daily coronavirus newsletter by clicking here. Even as Indias government began implementing social distancing measures, some of its people proved that changing behaviors would not be an easy task. Across the country, people assembled on their balconies and in doorways at 5 p.m. on Sunday to applaud the nations health workers, responding to a request from Prime Minister Modi to show solidarity while practicing social distancing. But in some localities large crowds flocked into the streets enthusiastically banging pots and pans, risking spreading the virus further. In a housing block in Mumbai, photos showed residents jostling for space on a balcony. People clap from balconies in show of appreciation to health care workers at a chawl in Mumbai, India, on March 22, 2020. | Rafiq MaqboolAP Those attitudes might change with time as public health information campaigns gather steam. Ahead of all phone calls, Indians now hear the sound of a person coughing followed by a prerecorded message telling them to sneeze into a handkerchief, wash their hands and keep their distance from people who are showing symptoms. But concerns remain for the millions of Indians living in cramped urban slums where social distancing is unfeasible and hygiene facilities are already poor. India has just one hospital bed per 2,000 citizens, far below the World Health Organizations recommendation of 20. Late on Sunday, as the voluntary curfew came to an end, Modi urged Indians to prepare for a long haul. Janata curfew [Peoples curfew] will end at 9pm but it doesnt mean we should start celebrating, he said. Its the beginning of a long battle. People shouldnt come out of houses in states which have announced a lockdown. In the rest of the states, if it isnt very important, dont come out of your houses. Please send any tips, leads, and stories to virus@time.com. A slew of sizeable liquefied natural gas-fired power projects have been in the development pipeline in the past year as a way to replenish national power sources as Vietnam turns on a greener growth path. Investors are showing growing preference to running LNG-fired power projects Earlier this month, the prime minister allowed Long An I and Long An II thermal power plants that were already in the revised Power Development Plan VII (PDP VII) to shift from coal to liquefied natural gas (LNG), with a total combined capacity after conversion reaching 3,000MW. In December 2019, the premier approved adding Bac Lieu LNG Thermal Power Centre with a scale of 3,200MW to the national power development plan for 2011-2030. The Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu then swiftly conferred the projects investment certificate to Singaporean developer Delta Offshore Energy Pte., Ltd. for implementation. With an estimated investment value of VND93.6 trillion (US$4.1 billion), it is the largest-ever foreign direct investment project in the delta region until present. A month earlier, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) and US-based AES Group signed an MoU on conducting Son My 2 LNG power plant, with a scale of 2,200MW. The plant, to be located in the southern province of Binh Thuan, has an estimated investment of US$1.7 billion and a contract for 20 years. LNG is a clean and reliable energy source at a more reasonable pricing point, so it will play a key role in resolving the ever-growing energy demand in Vietnam. Signing the MoU at this time is an important milestone for developing Son My 2 power plant, a project that we believe will help the energy industrys transition in Vietnam, said Mark Green, president of AES for Asia-Europe. These projects are only a few of the more than 10 sizeable LNG power projects currently in the development pipeline, with production capacity reaching from about 1,000MW to 6,000MW. The MoITs recent report to the government has acknowledged that investors and localities are showing a huge appetite for thermal power projects using imported LNG. Particularly, besides LNG-fired power complexes whose planning schemes were approved with a combined capacity of 9,200MW, nine other LNG power complexes with a total capacity of approximately 34,000MW are in different phases of consideration. In addition, there have been two proposals on shifting from coal and oil to LNG, with a combined capacity after conversion reaching 5,700MW. Last month, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung met with a group of US and the Republic of Korea's investors showing a keen interest in developing LNG power projects in Vietnam. The investors reaffirmed their wish to invest in LNG power projects to develop clean energy sources and ensure sufficient power supply for both production and consumption. They also pledged to make long-term and effective investments in LNG power project development in the country. According to Deputy PM Trinh Dinh Dung, the demand for electricity in Vietnam is growing at an average 10% a year. The country is diversifying its sources of power in the direction of reducing coal power and raising the share of gas and renewable energy, Dung said, adding that gas-fired power is slated to account for 12% of total electricity generation, equivalent to 17GW, by 2030. Vietnam, with a GDP growth averaging 6.5% in the last few years, has a long-standing policy orientation that emphasises the crucial role of natural gas in supplying reliable, competitive electricity while meeting national carbon emissions targets. Based on the current outlook for domestic production, the country will need to import significant volumes of LNG within the next 5-10 years, necessitating at least US$7-9 billion of investment in LNG import infrastructure, according to the World Bank. Looking at the current national power system capacity of around 58,000MW, the aforementioned LNG power production projects with a capacity reaching nearly 50,000MW attest to strong investor engagement which is by no means cooler than the investment wave into solar and wind power projects in the past two years. VIR Bac Lieu LNG-to-power project triples January FDI inflow The Bac Lieu LNG-to-power project marks the first billion-dollar foreign direct investment project in 2020 after a year going without projects of this magnitude, effectively tripling the first-month foreign investment inflows against last year. Representative image live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More With the government suspending domestic flights, airlines may seem to have been grounded. But there is still a hope; and that is in the exception that the government itself has given. While announcing the suspension of flights, the Ministry of Civil Aviation noted that the "restrictions shall not apply to solely cargo-carrying flights." And that is the probably the life-line for airlines. "Airlines were already working on plans to use passenger aircraft as cargo-only flight. They will fill up the holds with cargo," said a senior executive from the industry. Even before the suspension came in, airlines had grounded about 40 percent of their fleet, with most of the international flights suspended, and having also cut domestic operations. Track this blog for latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show "And these cargo are already attracting a premium," he added. Especially so because passenger flights also used to carry cargo in their belly. But with their suspension, there is a vaccum. "Also passenger trains used to carry freight, the kind that goods train don't. This will also now shift to air," said another executive from aviation. He pointed out that movement of trucks, across state borders, have already been restricted. Nearly all airlines, including IndiGo and SpiceJet, carry cargo. International trend In many of the overseas markets, airlines have already made the shift to carrying cargo along the aisles. For instance, American Airlines earlier this month said that its's Boeing 777-300 passenger planes will fly to Europe, but carrying only cargo. These planes will carry medical supply, equipment of various kinds and even mail for US Army. Also Read: Exclusive | India's airlines ground around 1 in every 2 planes Industry executives said that cargo rates have climbed since the coronavirus outbreak. In some markets, the rates have increased by four times. In India, SpiceJet has a separate cargo arm called SpiceXpress. It has a fleet of four aircraft, including three Boeing 737-700s that have been converted into freighter planes. At the same time, IndiGo, which has the largest fleet in the country, is the biggest player. BlueDart Aviation, the arm of DHL, is also a significant player. The competition among them is set to increase with passenger flights being suspended. The government has not specified till when the suspension will last. Till then, the airlines will focus on cargo to make up for some of the losses. Six-figure loans handed out to small businesses may give them a chance of survival as coronavirus destroys their revenue. The government handed the banks $20 billion to help them lend $40 billion to struggling traders to help them stay afloat - up to $250,000 each. Thousands of small businesses will collapse as customers stay away during the pandemic and many were forced to close today by government order. Home loan mogul Mark Bouris said the 'quite intelligent' government scheme could be a lifeline to keep some of them open. Six-figure loans handed out to small businesses may give them a chance of survival and keep workers employed during and after the coronavirus pandemic 'That's a pretty good deal in terms of funding - you wish you'd been able to get that a year ago,' he told the Today show. He said the loans in effect paid the income tax of each employee, allowing businesses cut expenses and reduce catastrophic job losses. 'The government is saying please don't fire everyone,' he said. 'We've all got to show initiative - the government in how to rescue this country and make us feel safe... 'Those who run businesses must start to intellectualise how we can survive this, because government's cannot prescribe things for every single industry.' Half of each loan would also be guaranteed by the government, making it easier for owners to pay back and making it less likely for it to drag them down. Home loan mogul Mark Bouris said the 'quite intelligent' government scheme could be a lifeline to keep some of them open However, experts cautioned that the economy would be in a bay way for some time and it was unclear when revenues would recover enough to pay the loan back. 'Shareholders will wear the other half (of the loan), so you still have to be very careful with lending practices,' Shaw and Partners analyst Brett Le Mesurier told The Australian. 'And how do you establish how the loan can be repaid when you have little revenue and the duration of the lockdown is unknown?' Mr Le Mesurier said the loans were good for businesses that weren't too badly hit and just had a temporary cashflow problem, but not those on the brink. 'Debt can be helpful for those that have minor cashflow issues but for those whose businesses are severely and adversely affected debt is not the answer,' he said. The Coronavirus SME Guarantee Scheme is available to businesses earning up to $50 million a year with applications opening in April. Loans can be for up to three years and no repayments are due for the first six months. Centrelink offices around the country were flooded with unprecedented numbers as workers already laid off waited for hours in long lines to register as thousands of workers were laid off Banks will also have to assess applicant businesses on their income and profit before coronavirus wiped out massive amounts of their sales. 'The expectation is that lenders will look through the cycle to sensibly take into account the uncertainty of the current economic conditions,' the government said. Loans will be unsecured, meaning businesses won't have to put up assets as collateral, and will be run as a debt facility to reduce interest. Businesses will have the approved loan available to them which they can draw down on it bits as needed - and only pay interest on what they actually use. Banks rushed to promote the loans, but admitted they were still discussing with the government on how they would work. Commonwealth Bank will offer the loans at about four per cent interest - about half a per cent lower than its usual unsecured loans. 'By acting quickly, we can soften the impact of the coronavirus on small businesses across the country and the millions of Australians who depend on them for employment,' chief executive Matt Comyn said. The government handed the banks $20 billion to help them lend $40 billion struggling traders up to $250,000 to stay afloat National Australia Bank chief executive Ross McEwan said the stimulus package and in particular the SME loan was 'very welcome' . '[The scheme] will be critical in helping banks such as NAB support businesses who need a quick cash flow injection to stay open and keep people in jobs,' he said. Other measures in the rescue package announced on Sunday included doubling unemployment benefits to up to $1,100 a fortnight. The thousands, possibly millions, of people who lost their jobs or had hours cut back would also have waiting periods and asset tests waived to get their cash fast. Mr Bouris said the payments wouldn't be enough to save everyone from ruin, but were the best the government could do in a dire situation. 'It won't be enough for some people out there... but the government doesn't have unlimited money, particularly since it's going to be collecting a lot less tax over the next 12 months to two years,' he said. 'They can only had out what they've got, or they've got to borrow it.' Centrelink offices around the country were flooded with unprecedented numbers as workers already laid off waited for hours in long lines to register. The Covid-19 crisis is devastating for many industries, including the creative community. Almost all television and film production has now ceased globally - leaving hundreds of thousands of crew and cast without jobs. These include electricians, carpenters, drivers, hair and makeup artists and more, many of whom are paid hourly wages and work on a project-to-project basis. This community has supported Netflix through the good times, and we want to help them through these hard times, especially while governments are still figuring out what economic support they will provide. So weve created a $100 million fund to help with hardship in the creative community. Most of the fund will go towards support for the hardest hit workers on our own productions around the world. Were in the process of working out exactly what this means, production by production. This is in addition to the two weeks pay weve already committed to the crew and cast on productions we were forced to suspend last week. Beyond helping workers on our own productions, we also want to support the broader film and television industry. So $15 million of the fund will go to third parties and non-profits providing emergency relief to out-of-work crew and cast in the countries where we have a large production base. In the United States and Canada non-profits already exist to do this work. We will be donating $1 million each to the SAG-AFTRA Foundation Covid-19 Disaster Fund , the Motion Picture and Television Fund and the Actors Fund Emergency Assistance in the US, and $1 million between the AFC and Fondation des Artistes . In other regions, including Europe, Latin America and Asia where we have a big production presence, we are working with existing industry organizations to create similar creative community emergency relief efforts. We will announce the details of donations to groups in other countries next week. Whats happening is unprecedented. We are only as strong as the people we work with and Netflix is fortunate to be able to help those hardest hit in our industry through this challenging time. -Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Hengky Ola Sura (The Jakarta Post) Maumere, East Nusa Tenggara Mon, March 23, 2020 11:03 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206cb848d 1 National Holy-Week,easter,East-Nusa-Tenggara,Larantuka,Flores-Timur,Semana-Santa,paskah Free A celebration of Holy Week, popularly known as Semana Santa, in the town of Larantuka in East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) has been canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Larantuka bishop Mgr. Fransiskus Kopong Kung decided to cancel the series of prayers and the procession in a meeting attended by the priests of Larantuka and the Semana Santa committee on Saturday. We preserve tradition but we also nurture life and humanity. Protecting lives is a manifestation of faith, the bishop said, saying that in order to protect lives, people had to support the governments call for residents to stay at home and, therefore, the 2020 Semana Santa should be canceled. The Semana Santa is Larantukas unique blend of Portuguese ritual with local tradition, which originated from the 16th century. This year, the Semana Santa was planned to take place in April, during which thousands of Catholic pilgrims from around Indonesia would have gone to join the commemoration. Read also: COVID-19: Jakarta limits Nyepi rituals, suspends prayers at mosque, church for two weeks Previously, East Flores Governor Antonius Gege Hadjon had made a statement annulling the Bale Nagi movement, preventing the East Flores diaspora living outside the NTT province from returning to see the Semana Santa, according to the letter obtained by The Jakarta Post on Tuesday. The letter limited peoples mobility from and to the East Flores regency. The NTT provincial government has canceled the use of two boats that were to be used free of charge by people in the sea procession of Semana Santa. NTT secretary Benediktus Polo Maing asked the priests on Tuesday to inform Catholic people about the cancellation of the boats in the Semana Santa events. (aly) President Klaus Iohannis on Monday called to responsibility and criticized politicians' attempts to use the coronavirus crisis in the electoral battle. "Let us be responsible and not contribute to the prolongation of a difficult period for everyone. In these dramatic moments, the attempts by some politicians, including local elected officials, to use the coronavirus crisis in the electoral battle are all the more reprehensible. It is not time for political battles. To try to gain political capital in these moments denotes a frightening cynicism and an unimaginable lack of responsibility," said Iohannis.He stressed that the gravity of the situation is unprecedented and requires unity. AGERPRES A local resident tries to swot away a swarm of desert locusts in Mathiakani, Kitui County, Kenya, on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. The number of locusts in East Africa could expand 500 times by June, the UN's Food & Agriculture Organization said last month. Patrick Meinhardt | Bloomberg | Getty Images Already being ravaged by the worst infestation of desert locusts in 70 years, East African economies are now staring down the barrel of the coronavirus pandemic. The region was the standout performer for economic growth in the subcontinent prior to the locust outbreak, which threatens the food security and livelihoods of 25 million people and has required emergency funding of its own from the UN and international governments. Last week the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned that the "unprecedented" situation remains "extremely alarming," especially in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia where widespread breeding is in progress and new swarms are starting to form. The UN estimates that conducive breeding conditions could see the locusts multiply by 400 times this year, decimating crops in a region which relies on agriculture for roughly one-third of its gross domestic product (GDP) and more than 65% of its employment. Now, a combination of trade and production shocks resulting from the coronavirus outbreak, as well as the economic and medical challenges of trying to combat the pandemic itself, will likely compound these problems. "Already facing a shock to the terms of trade due to a devastating locust infestation which requires emergency funding on its own the blow to the regional economy dealt by the agricultural sector and food security will be worsened by short-term disruptions within the manufacturing, tourism, and construction sectors," NKC African Economics' Senior Financial Economist Irmgard Erasmus said in a report last week. "While the negative labor effects in the construction sector are at this stage likely to be limited, a lack of materials may stall robust growth in the construction sector a dominant driver of growth over the past five years." Chinese trade exposure Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti and Sudan have all reported cases of the virus and governments have begun to implement stringent restrictions on travel and social gatherings, hoping to nip the virus in the bud before it can overwhelm their fragile healthcare systems. But, even if East African nations are successful in curtailing the spread of the virus, which has increased at an exponential rate in Europe and the U.S., the systemic importance of China to the region's bilateral trade, and a slump in Chinese demand introducing a terms-of-trade hit to African exporters means further economic difficulties lie ahead. NAIROBI, KENYA - 2020/03/18: Commuters make their way into the Nairobi Train Station as a security personnel stands on guard while wearing a face mask as a preventive measure against COVID-19. Kenya has so far recorded seven case of Coronavirus. Dennis Sigwe/SOPA Images Travelers to be barred from transiting through Taiwan airports ROC Central News Agency 03/22/2020 05:31 PM Taipei, March 22 (CNA) Travelers will not be allowed to transit through airports in Taiwan starting March 24, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced Sunday, in what is the country's latest travel restriction to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The new policy, which will apply to all travelers who board their planes after midnight Monday Taiwan time, is temporarily scheduled to last for two weeks until April 7, the CECC said. The ban's aim is to reduce cross-border movements of people and lessen the risk of further spread of the disease, said Health Minister Chen Shih-chung (), who also heads the CECC, at a daily press conference. The CECC also called for those returning from abroad to follow related COVID-19 prevention measures. These include filling out a health declaration form at customs, undergoing the required 14-day self-quarantine, and reporting to health authorities if they show any symptoms within two weeks of returning to Taiwan, the CECC said. Also on Sunday, the CECC confirmed 16 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number in the country to 169 since the outbreak began. (By Chen Wei-ting, Chang Hsiung-feng and Chiang Yi-ching) Enditem/ls NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Delhi to ease restrictions, if Covid cases come down in next 2-3 days: Health Minister Lata Mangeshkar health update: Doctor says,'She in ICU with Covid-19 and pneumonia, will be under observation' Coronavirus cure: Why hydroxychloroquine drug has been recommended by ICMR? India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, March 23: The Indian Council of Medical Research has recommended hydroxychloroquine drug, which is an oral tablet, for treating healthcare workers tackling the suspected or confirmed coronavirus cases and also the asymptomatic household contacts of the lab-confirmed cases. The recommendation came a day after Jordan 's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorised physicians to use hydroxychloroquine along with an antiviral medicine as a treatment for coronavirus. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), sold under the brand name Plaquenil among others, is a medication used for the prevention and treatment of certain types of malaria. Nope! Paracetamol does not cure coronavirus Specifically it is used for chloroquine-sensitive malaria. Other uses include treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and porphyria cutanea tarda. It is taken by mouth. Common side effects include vomiting, headache, changes in vision and muscle weakness. Severe side effects may include: allergic reactions blurred vision or other vision changes breathing sore throat unusual bleeding or bruising blue-black skin color ringing in your ears or hearing loss angioedema, or rapid swelling of your skin hives mild or severe bronchospasm that causes trouble muscle weakness hair loss or hair that becomes lighter abnormal mood changes Although all risk cannot be excluded, it remains a treatment for rheumatic disease during pregnancy. Hydroxychloroquine is in the antimalarial and 4-aminoquinoline families of medication. The drug label advises that hydroxychloroquine should not be prescribed to individuals with known hypersensitivity to 4-aminoquinoline compounds. There are a range of other contraindications and caution is required if patients have certain heart conditions, diabetes, psoriasis etc. How it works: Hydroxychloroquine is an antimalarial drug. It treats malaria by killing the parasites that cause the disease. It isn't fully understood how this drug works to treat lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis. However, it's believed that this drug affects how your immune system works, which may be a benefit in lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. Warnings: Diabetic patients: Hydroxychloroquine and diabetes drugs all decrease your blood sugar level. Taking hydroxychloroquine with these drugs could cause low blood sugar. Your doctor may need to reduce your dosage of insulin other diabetes drugs. Skin problems: This drug may worsen the skin conditions psoriasis and porphyria. Liver problems or alcohol misuse: Liver problems or a history of alcohol misuse can make this drug less effective. Senior citizens: This drug is processed by your kidneys. Since, older adults with reduced kidney function may not be able to process this drug well, which can increase the risk of side effects, including vision damage. Pregnant women: This drug should be avoided in pregnancy. Studies show that the drug can be passed through the mother's bloodstream to the baby. Interaction with other medication: Recently, US President Donald Trump urged Americans to take a combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin drugs apparently against coronavirus infections. However, medicos and scientists remained divided over taking hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin drugs together. Five myths about coronavirus and its cure busted According to Professor ED, Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin should not be taken together "because they increase the risk of fatal cardiac arrhythmia due to QTc prolongation". "Hundreds of Coronavirus deaths have been documented as a result of SECONDARY bacterial infection in those weakened by the primary virus. That's why the dual treatment of antibiotic Azithromycin AND hydroxychloroquine is so promising," America First host Sebastian Gorka tweeted. [March 23, 2020] INVESTOR ALERT: Tostrud Law Group, PC Announces Investigation of Provident Financial Services (PFS) on Behalf of Investors Tostrud Law Group, PC announces an investigation on behalf of Provident Financial Services, Inc. ("Provident" or the "Company") (NYSE: PFS) investors concerning the Company and its officers' possible violations of federal securities laws. On April 27, 2018, Provident disclosed "deterioration in selected commercial credits, including a $15.4 million credit to a commercial borrower" that had filed for bankruptcy in March 2018. The Company established a $2.5 million specific reserve for this impaired loan. On July 5, 2018, Provident revealed that it expected an additional reserve for the remainder of the $15.4 million credit and that its net income for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 would be reduced by up to $9.3 million. Then, on July 27, 2018, pre-market, Provident reported a net charge-off of $4million for two additional loans from another commercial borrower that became impaired during second quarter 2018. The Company's Chief Executive Officer Christopher Martin stated that the losses "were primarily driven by two commercial relationships which we believe involved borrower fraud in each instance." On this news, Provident's stock price fell $1.46 per share, or over 5%, to close at $26.23 per share on July 27, 2018, thereby injuring investors. Later, in December 2019, certain Provident emails, which became public during the course of certain litigation, indicated that the Company was aware of the fraudulent nature of and/or risks posed by at least one of its failed loans. Specifically, Provident executives and top-level management, including CEO Martin, seemingly ignored multiple red flags and extended a $17 million loan to Lotus Exim International. If you purchased Provident securities, have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Jon A. Tostrud of Tostrud Law Group, PC by telephone at (310) 278-2600, toll-free at (855) 854-8678, or by email to [email protected], or visit our website at http://tostrudlaw.com/. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200323005011/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Closed casinos and business darken the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) On a typical Friday spring night the Atlantic City Boardwalk would be bustling with gamblers walking from casino to casino looking for that big pay day or a family out for a walk after dining at one of the city's restaurants. But this past Friday night was like no other. As the sun set, the city was eerily quiet. There were no shoppers walking from store to store at the Tanger Outlets The Walk and the only noise heard from the surrounding streets was the music coming from the occasional passing car with the windows down. This was an eye-opening contrast from a week earlier when the city was alive with St. Patrick's Day festivities which continued despite the overwhelming advice from federal and state health officials along with the CDC who urged "social distancing" to help contain the spread of the coronavirus. Don't Edit Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, left, and The Water Club Hotel, right, are dark, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) In a more drastic attempt to control the pandemic, Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday ordered all casinos, restaurants and bars to close while strongly suggesting people stay off the roads from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. With these restrictions now in place, Atlantic City has turned into a ghost town. The once bright lights from the casinos that served as a welcoming beacon to visitors as they drove in from the Atlantic City Expressway or the White Horse Pike have been darkened. The video display covering the facade of Harrah's Resort, which dazzled passersby with advertisements, was instead a blank slate. The massive LED illuminated ball on top of Ocean Casino Resort was lit while below only a few of the 1,399 rooms had lights on. A lone security guard roamed the casino floor passing by slot machines -- which remained on -- pausing for a brief moment to peek out from the floor-to-ceiling windows to a nearly empty boardwalk. Don't Edit The boardwalk is empty in Atlantic City, N.J., Friday night, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Advertisements from the many video billboards along the boardwalk spoke to the few people walking aimlessly about. Bicyclists seemed to take the place of Atlantic City's iconic rolling chairs which were nowhere to be found. A man riding his bike past Caesars, his fishing rod dangling from the back, commented how much cleaner the boardwalk looked at night with less people. Now that the governor has ordered New Jersey's 9 million residents to stay at home except for necessary travel and mandating that all non-essential retail businesses in the state to close until further notice, this surreal scene will continue to play out in Atlantic City and cities from across the state. Scroll below to see more pictures of Atlantic City during the coronavirus shutdown. Don't Edit A man walks past Caesars Atlantic City Hotel and Casino, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit The doors to Wild Wild West Casino at Bally's Atlantic City Hotel & Casino are padlocked, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Don't Edit Harrah's Resort Atlantic City is mostly dark, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Aleida Guzman, supervisor at Bricker's Burgers and More on the Atlantic City Boardwalk, takes an order, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit A courtyard at The Walk outlets in Atlantic City, N.J., is void of people early Friday night, March 20, 2020. Outlet stores would normally be open at this time, but had been closed to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit The silhouette of a security guard is seen in the window of the casino floor at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J., Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Tropicana Atlantic City is mostly dark, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Don't Edit Seats are taped off at the Atlantic City Bus Terminal, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit The Starbucks store at The Walk outlets in Atlantic City, N.J., is empty Friday evening, March 20, 2020. Earlier in the week, Starbucks had switched to "grab-and-go, " where customers could only take their orders to go in order to help stop the spread of coronavirus, but on Saturday morning, only stores with a drive-thru would remain open. This location closed. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Three girls take a walk on an otherwise empty boardwalk near Hard Rock Hotel Casino Atlantic City, Friday night, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Empty booths and seats inside Johnny Rockets, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Ocean Casino Resort is mostly dark, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Don't Edit The lights at Golden Nugget Atlantic City are off, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday, March 16, at 8 p.m. to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Two bicycles remain chained to a bike rack outside Bally's Atlantic City Hotel & Casino, Friday night, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Empty streets around the Tanger Outlets The Walk in Atlantic City, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit The Hard Rock Cafe inside Hard Rock Hotel Casino Atlantic City is empty, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Golden Nugget Atlantic City is mostly dark, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday, March 16, at 8 p.m. to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Don't Edit Animated signs are lit up with a safety message regarding coronavirus along the Atlantic City boardwalk, Friday night, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Then entrance to the Steel Pier, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Harry's Oyster Bar is is mostly dark, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit The skyline of southern Atlantic City is mostly dim Friday night, March 20, 2020, following the closure of the casinos to help slow the spread of coronavirus. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit A security guard checks the doors at Hard Rock Hotel Casino Atlantic City, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Don't Edit Resorts Casino Hotel, left, is mostly dark, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Ocean Casino Resort and Showboat Atlantic City is mostly dark, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Two men ride their bikes on an otherwise empty boardwalk near Wild Wild West Casino at Bally's Atlantic City Hotel & Casino, Friday night, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit A lone man with luggage walks down Atlantic Avenue near the intersection with South Pennsylvania Avenue, and the roads are nearly empty of traffic in Atlantic City, N.J., Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit An empty parking lot at Harrah's Resort Atlantic City, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Don't Edit Harrah's Resort Atlantic City is mostly dark, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit The skyline of northern Atlantic City is mostly dim Friday night, March 20, 2020, following the closure of the casinos to help slow the spread of coronavirus. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Hard Rock Hotel Casino Atlantic City is mostly dark, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit The boardwalk is empty and very few lights remain on at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J., due to the coronavirus outbreak, Friday, March 20, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit A bicyclist rides by Tropicana Atlantic City, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Don't Edit A sign at Caesars tells people to be safe, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Related stories St. Pat's parties continued in this N.J. Shore town amid coronavirus pandemic. May the luck o' the Irish be with them. (PHOTOS) Animal shelters face tough times in coronavirus outbreak. Your help may be their cure. Were canning and delivering beer. Coronavirus wont be our buzzkill, N.J. breweries say. Tim Hawk may be reached at thawk@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Tim on Instagram@photog_hawk and Twitter @photogthawk. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Lori M. Nichols may be reached at lnichols@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Lori on Instagram at @photog_lori and Twitter @photoglori. Find NJ.com on Facebook. If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.com's newsletters. Many years ago, Joey Tribbiani had said that "Inside good, outside bad". Years later what Joey did is what the entire world is doing. The world is supposed to self-isolate and quarantine because of the deadly outbreak of coronavirus. Be it Phoebe telling Chandler to wash his hands after using the bathroom or Joey discovering that he could stuff his mouth with more than 10 Oreos a time- everything is so relatable today. On a lighter note, we and social media were quick to point out how different scenes from Friends describe our different moods during self-isolation and self-quarantine. Pick yours! my mood in this quarantine pic.twitter.com/gsuO5u8zH3 friends scenes (@scenesofriends) March 22, 2020 And then there are many more! 1. What's better than playing dress-up and just having some fun? 2. How about just getting drunk? 3. Nap. Well, obviously! 4. Well, we all are guilty of putting our chef-hats on and cooking terrible food. Well, we are still doing it! 5. Nothing beats a nice hot-water bath! 6. One of many of Joey's self-discovery moments was about discovering his skills. He could stuff his face with as many Oreos he wanted. Can you do it too? 7. Boredom level? Infinity 8. Or you could find ways to say your name. There's always a new way! 9. Just like Chandler thought he could write ads, you could pay your own little advertising game and find one-liners while at home. Come on, that's how you kill time. We mean, pass! 10. Or you could learn a new language. And if nothing else works, obviously you can- Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency on the coronavirus outbreak in... Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency on the coronavirus outbreak in the country. The federal and state governments had put measures in place to prevent the spread of the virus. Such measures include travel ban, suspension of events, closure of schools and ban on large gatherings. However, some of the directives, particularly involving the ban on large gatherings, have been ignored by some political and religious leaders. In a statement on Monday, Falana said Buhari needs to declare a state of emergency to further establish the urgency and seriousness of the directives. He said the declaration will ensure that disobedience by political and religious leaders will become a punishable offence. In order to stem the dangerous trend the Federal Government should put necessary legal measures and mechanisms in place without any further delay, the statement read. In particular, the attention of the Nigerian people ought to be drawn to section 45 of the Constitution which provides that the fundamental rights of citizens to personal liberty, freedom of movement, freedom of assembly and association etc may be infringed upon or restricted in the interest of public health and public safety. Therefore, President Muhammadu Buhari should, as a matter of urgency, issue a proclamation of a state of emergency in the entire Federation pursuant to section 305 (1) of the Constitution. Once the proclamation is issued by the President and published it is required to be approved by a resolution supported by two-thirds majority of each house of the national assembly. Once the measures are set out in the said proclamation they will have the force of law capable of being enforced by the police and other security agencies. If President Buhari does not declare a state of emergency state governors are advised to issue Executive Orders to address the health challenge. The lawyer also asked for the decongestion of detention facilities in the country including correctional centres and police stations. He said convicts who are suffering from diabetes, tuberculosis, asthma and terminal diseases should be released from custody forthwith. Nigeria currently has 36 cases of the virus, spread across least five states and the federal capital territory (FCT). The country has also recorded its first death from the disease. Advertisement A shocking picture of a suspected coronavirus patient being rushed to hospital in London poses a stark warning to Britons who refuse to to observe social distancing rules 'making full lockdown of the capital inevitable'.' Disturbing images show medics carrying an elderly patient from a nursing home in Primrose Hill yesterday as the capital faces Italian-style measures to combat Covid-19. Masked police officers watch as health workers place the senior citizen in an ambulance outside the Carole House complex. The images surfaced just hours after Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned people who weren't following Government advice on social distancing that they have just 24 hours to take the measure seriously. As an 18-year-old from Coventry, West Midlands, became the youngest person to die of the virus in the UK, Mr Johnson threatened to exert stricter controls to help fight the outbreak. A source told The Times that a total lockdown could be 'inevitable', telling the paper that the PM would have the total support of Cabinet were he to execute the measures. Pictured: Medics load a patient into an ambulance after taking the elderly resident from a nursing home in Primrose Hill, north London, as the Prime Minister condemned people for putting others' lives at risk by not observing the Government's advice on social distancing The senior citizen was helped to an ambulance on Sunday as it was also revealed that the youngest person to die as a result of coronavirus in the UK was 18 Mr Johnson spoke out after crowds flocked to seaside resorts to celebrate Mother's Day. Britons were seen disobeying the rule of standing six feet apart as the country's total number of cases hit 5,683. With 281 people now known to have died from the virus in the UK, the PM used his daily press conference to warn there was 'no doubt' he would act to close open spaces and limit all movement outside homes if people continued to act foolishly, but stopped short of immediate action. Scots warned Covid-19 deaths could be 'much worse' than 2,000 if advice ignored The death toll from coronavirus in Scotland could be 'much worse' than 2,000 if people fail to heed warnings to stay at home, a government expert has warned. National clinical director Jason Leitch spoke out after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said pubs that stay open during the Covid-19 outbreak are putting lives at risk. Professor Leitch said: 'We really aren't messing around with this now. 'To protect individuals and society's vulnerable, we need to make very drastic social distancing and isolation choices.' The medical expert continued: 'The Chief Scientific Adviser in England has said he thinks 20,000 deaths across the UK would be a good outcome. 'In Scotland, that would be about 2,000, but the worst-case scenario is much worse than that. People need to take the advice they're being given very seriously.' Heeding advice not to go out unless necessary, and to stay away from others could be 'the difference between tens of thousands of deaths and the number of around 2,000', he added. Advertisement He later added: 'I don't think you need to use your imagination very much to see where we might have to go, and we will think about this very very actively in the next 24 hours.' Mr Johnson told the nation it was only 'two or three' weeks behind Italy where the death toll has already risen above 4,000 making it the worst outbreak anywhere in the world. There were 47 new cases identified in the UK on Sunday alone, with Britain's youngest victim to date dying at University Hospital, Coventry. Mr Johnson said that unless the UK could control the spread of the virus through social distancing, the NHS would be 'overwhelmed' in the same way that the Italian healthcare system had been. The surge in cases of the virus comes on the day Mr Johnson urged families to stay apart and instead celebrate Mother's Day via Skype and other remote communications. In a tough message to the public from Downing Street this afternoon, Mr Johnson said that even though he understood the physical and mental health benefits of open spaces, he would take drastic steps to protect health. In other developments: The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Britain rose from 5,018 to 5,683; In Italy, coronavirus claimed 651 lives in just one day taking the death toll to 5,476, while in France it rose 112 to 674; German Chancellor Angela Merkel went into quarantine after a doctor who treated her tested positive for the virus, and the nation banned meetings of more than two people; Chaos is expected at school gates this morning as teachers ask parents to hand over identification or pay slips to prove they are 'key workers' and entitled to keep their children in class; The NHS is to begin sending out letters to the 1.5million considered to be most at risk of the disease urging them to remain at home for the next 12 weeks; A nurse is fighting for her life in the hospital where she works after being diagnosed with coronavirus; High street chains including John Lewis, Zara, Waterstones and Primark announced the temporary closure of stores; Boots warned staff that it could run out of paracetamol by the end of trading next week, as supermarket panic buying continued with some selfish shoppers even gate-crashing an hour reserved for NHS staff; Thousands of churches across London and its suburbs are to close their doors entirely to try to enforce the Government's rules on social distancing. At a press conference in Downing Street, Mr Johnson said the Government had already taken 'very draconian steps' in closing schools, pubs and restaurants, but said they would have to go further if people do not heed the advice. The Prime Minister said: 'A huge quantity of our normal daily life has been totally transformed. 'It is very important for people's mental and physical wellbeing and they should be able to get out and exercise if they possibly can. But when we do that we have to do it responsibly. If you don't do it responsibly... there is going to be no doubt that we will have to bring forward further measures.' The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Britain rose from 5,018 to 5,683 in one day yesterday, official figures revealed Boris Johnson said further measures would be considered over the coming 24 hours if the public failed to adhere to the new social distancing requirements In a tough message to the public from Downing Street, Mr Johnson said: 'Even if you think you are personally invulnerable, there are plenty of people you can infect. Ministers are considering following other countries such as Italy and Spain that have banned people from leaving their homes unless they need to go to work or to buy essential food and supplies. Spanish police arrested 157 people for disobeying the rules in just the first five days, while Italian authorities have the power to fine anyone caught entering or leaving the area of the country worst hit by the virus. Germany has banned gatherings of more than two people outside people's homes. Mr Johnson said: 'I don't think you need to use your imagination very much to see where we might have to go, and we will think about this very, very actively in the next 24 hours.' Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said people need to realise it 'isn't a game'. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the police and Army may soon be required to enforce social distancing, as he warned that unless people stay at home 'more people will die'. Meanwhile, Lord Fowler said a more hard-hitting information campaign might be needed if people don't follow guidance. Recalling his own experience of dealing with the Aids crisis as health secretary in the 1980s, he told BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour: 'The first newspaper advertisements we did were very worthy. When we got on to television and we got on to our campaign, 'Don't Die of Ignorance', then they started taking notice.' Police have been forced to visit bars and restaurants following reports owners are ignoring orders to close. Officers were deployed after it was claimed some rural pubs were planning to hold 'lock-ins'. 'You are putting other people's lives at RISK': Boris Johnson hints he could ban ALL Britons from leaving their homes 'within the next 24 hours' if they don't keep 'absolutely crucial' six feet apart UK death toll rose by 48 in just 24 hours amid scenes of people gathering in parks and on beaches PM had urged families to stay apart and instead celebrate Mother's Day via Skype and other means He said said there was 'no doubt' he would act if people continued to ignore distancing advice from scientists Boris Johnson has hinted he could ban all Britons from leaving their homes 'within 24 hours' if they refuse to keep the 'absolutely crucial' six feet apart. The PM used his daily press conference to warn there was 'no doubt' he would act to shut open spaces and limit all movement outside homes if people continued to act foolishly, but stopped short of immediate action. It came as the UK death toll rose by 48 in just 24 hours to 281 people, with more than 5,600 confirmed cases. These who died in England were aged between 18 and 102, authorities said. Hours earlier there had been appalling scenes as Britons across the UK flocked to beaches and parks up and down the country to take a stroll with their loved ones for Mother's Day, despite social distancing advice from the government surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. The surge in cases of the virus comes on the day Mr Johnson urged families to stay apart and instead celebrate Mother's Day via Skype and other remote communications. In a tough message to the public from Downing Street this afternoon, Mr Johnson said that even though he understood the physical and mental health benefits of open spaces, he would take drastic steps to protect health. He suggested the UK could copy some of the more extreme lockdowns in other parts of Europe, such as Italy and France. I dont think you need to use your imagination much to see where we might have to go, he said. We will think about this very, very actively in the next 24 hours. We need to think about the kinds of measures that we have seen elsewhere, other countries that have been forced to bring in restrictions on peoples movements altogether. I dont want to do that because I have tried to explain the public health benefits. The remarks are a ramping up of pressure from Downing Street but are likely to result in increased demands for the action to take place immediately in line with other nations - with some saying it should have been done already. In a tough message to the public from Downing Street this afternoon, Mr Johnson said: Even if you think you are personally invulnerable, there are plenty of people you can infect. Pen y Pass near Llanberis in Gwynedd on Sunday morning as visitors ignore requests to stay away on Snowdonia today Oh I do like to be beside the seaside! Visitors continued to flock to seaside resorts today including this one in West Bay, Dorset People packed Bournemouth esplanade this morning (Sunday). Paddle boarders and swimmers braved the cold temperatures despite fears over the global coronavirus outbreak Seven more people in Wales have died after contracting the coronavirus as the UK death toll hits 240 with 5,018 positive tests for Covid-19. Pictured: St. Mary's Street in Cardiff lies empty People are pictured enjoying fish and chips on a bench in Skegness as crowds flocked to the resort despite warning about Covid-19 Dog walkers, cyclists, joggers and drivers all crowd Richmond Park this afternoon as some people continue to ignore the pleas of staying indoors to help try and reduce the amount of people getting infected with the coronavirus The infamous Columbia Road Flower Market in London showed no signs of slowing down today as many flocked there to purchase flowers Pen y Pass near Llanberis in Gwynedd on Sunday morning as visitors ignore requests to stay away on Snowdonia Even if you think you are personally invulnerable, there are plenty of people you can infect,' he said. Scots warned Covid-19 deaths could be 'much worse' than 2,000 if advice ignored The death toll from coronavirus in Scotland could be 'much worse' than 2,000 if people fail to heed warnings to stay at home, a government expert has warned. National clinical director Jason Leitch spoke out after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said pubs that stay open during the Covid-19 outbreak are putting lives at risk. Professor Leitch said: 'We really aren't messing around with this now. 'To protect individuals and society's vulnerable, we need to make very drastic social distancing and isolation choices.' The medical expert continued: 'The Chief Scientific Adviser in England has said he thinks 20,000 deaths across the UK would be a good outcome. 'In Scotland, that would be about 2,000, but the worst-case scenario is much worse than that. People need to take the advice they're being given very seriously.' Heeding advice not to go out unless necessary, and to stay away from others could be 'the difference between tens of thousands of deaths and the number of around 2,000', he added. Advertisement Take this advice seriously. Follow it. Because it is absolutely crucial. We will keep the implementation of these measures under review and of course we will bring forward further measures if it is necessary.' Hammering home the point, he added: 'If people cannot make use of parks and playgrounds responsibly, in a way that observes the two-metre rule, then of course we are going to have to look at further measures.' But despite advice from politicians and medical and scientific experts in recent days there were worrying scenes across the nation. In Dorset many strolled across the sands while others thought nothing of going for a dip in the sea this afternoon. The Scottish government has today criticised tourists for 'irresponsible behavior' as many got in their caravans to try and 'escape' from the coronavirus. In London, people were still out and about and some even made it down to the infamous Columbia Road Flower Market this afternoon, despite criticism from major Sadiq Khan who said Londoners needed to stay in to save lives. Cumbria Police said despite Government advice to avoid non-essential travel, the Lake District and other tourist hotspots in the UK were experiencing an 'influx' of visitors. In other developments: The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Britain rose from 5,018 to 5,683; In Italy, coronavirus claimed 651 lives in just one day taking the death toll to 5,476, while in France it rose 112 to 674; German Chancellor Angela Merkel went into quarantine after a doctor who treated her tested positive for the virus, and the nation banned meetings of more than two people; Chaos is expected at school gates this morning as teachers ask parents to hand over identification or pay slips to prove they are key workers and entitled to keep their children in class; The NHS is to begin sending out letters to the 1.5million considered to be most at risk of the disease urging them to remain at home for the next 12 weeks; A nurse is fighting for her life in the hospital where she works after being diagnosed with coronavirus; High street chains including John Lewis, Zara, Waterstones and Primark announced the temporary closure of stores; Boots warned staff that it could run out of paracetamol by the end of trading next week, as supermarket panic buying continued with some selfish shoppers even gate-crashing an hour reserved for NHS staff; Thousands of churches across London and its suburbs are to close their doors entirely to try to enforce the governments rules on social distancing. As of 2pm today, testing has resulted in 20 new positive cases in Northern Ireland, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 128. The total number of tests completed in Northern Ireland is 2,484. A total of 44 were aged 44 or under, another 44 aged 45-69 and 40 were aged 70 or over. Males made up 73 cases and females 55. Chief Medical Officer for Wales Dr Frank Atherton confirmed today that 12 people in Wales have died in total, with figures rising overnight by seven. 'My thoughts are with their families and friends, and I ask that their privacy is respected at this very sad time,' Dr Atherton said. The deaths occurred during the week, but test results have only just confirmed they were infected with Covid-19, were over 70, and had underlying medical conditions. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Robert Jenrick and Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Jenny Harries attend the news conference today Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick today said that now was the time to 'go further' to shield clinically vulnerable people, and pledged that they are 'not alone' Five of the deaths were at Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport, one in Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny, and one at the Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil. A further 89 people tested positive today, bringing the Welsh total of cases to 280. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also warned pubs that stay open during the Covid-19 outbreak are putting lives at risk. Ms Sturgeon said that while the 'vast majority' of bars, restaurants and cafes have complied with instructions from the Scottish Government to close, she had seen suggestions on social media that a 'small minority might not be complying'. She insisted: 'If that's true, make no mistake... lives are at risk as a result. Please do the right thing now.' Meanwhile, Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price has said self-isolaters should be banned from travelling to rural parts of Wales during the Covid-19 crisis. Mr Price has written to First Minister Mark Drakeford demanding he stops people travelling to caravan parks, second homes, and tourist accommodation. He said there are concerns about an influx of people into rural communities - putting even more pressure on local health and social care services. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon warned pubs that stay open during the Covid-19 outbreak are putting lives at risk This comes as High Street chain Boots warned staff that its warehouses only contain enough supply for another '1.3 weeks', and stocks will be exhausted by the end of trading next week. By Saturday March 28, the company expect to have run out of the painkiller Paracetamol. In an urgent memo to staff, Boots also announced draconian measures to limit the sale of all products 'containing Paracetamol', in each of its 2,500 stores, to just one per person. Halving the industry standard policy of two Paracetamol, Ibuprofen or Aspirin products per customer transaction. The company told staff the decision has been made in order to: 'Help us support as many customers as possible'. UK pharmacies have been placing large orders with pharmaceutical wholesalers to replace stock amid panic buying, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The memo warns staff at retail outlets: 'Our availability on lines which are being driven by Coronavirus is changing daily. Whilst we are continuing to try and secure more stock from suppliers there are lines which are now OOS (Out Of Stock) or with very low forward weeks cover and you may not receive further deliveries for a period of time.' It is illegal to sell more than 100 tablets or capsules of either paracetamol or aspirin in any one retail transaction, and Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) guidelines limit sale to two packets per transaction. The Paracetamol crisis comes after the government's chief science officer urged the public to avoid ibuprofen to treat Coronavirus. So much for social distancing! Fears lockdown is failing as Britons follow official coronavirus advice that it's safe to go for a Mother's Day stroll... by flocking to parks and beaches like everyone else Britons across the UK today flocked to beaches and parks up and down the country to take a stroll with their loved ones for Mother's Day, despite social distancing advice from the government surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. Many headed out and enjoyed the balmy spring weather after the government forced pubs and restaurants to close on Friday night. Official advise from the government stated people should practice social distancing in a bid to prevent draconian measures having to be implemented across the country. Despite this many people were seen rubbing shoulders today as they visited some of the UK's most popular outdoor spots. Tourists are also being urged to stay away from beaches and other holiday destinations in the UK to limit the spread of coronavirus as 244 people have now died in the UK, while 5,018 people are also reported to have contracted the illness. In Dorset many strolled across the sands while others thought nothing of going for a dip in the sea this afternoon. The Scottish government has today criticised tourists for 'irresponsible behavior' as many got in their caravans to try and 'escape' from the coronavirus. In London, people were still out and about and some even made it down to the infamous Columbia Road Flower Market this afternoon, despite criticism from major Sadiq Khan who said Londoners needed to stay in to save lives. Cumbria Police said despite Government advice to avoid non-essential travel, the Lake District and other tourist hotspots in the UK were experiencing an 'influx' of visitors. Advertisement Mr Price spoke out as would-be tourists are being urged to avoid beaches and other holiday destinations in the UK to limit the spread of the virus. The continuing rise in deaths came as the Welsh Government announced a series of measures aimed at tackling the crisis, including bringing doctors and nurses out of retirement and increasing testing. Mr Price is urging the Welsh Government to immediately order the closure of caravan parks, holiday parks and other holiday accommodation and use them, if necessary, to house frontline health staff. He also wants to see people banned from using their second homes during the pandemic and urged people not to travel. 'In the interest of ensuring a consistent approach and controlling demand on local services in these areas, I believe that the time has now come for the Welsh Government to give direction,' Mr Price said. Northwick Park Hospital declared a 'critical incident' due to a surge in patients with Covid-19 UNIONS PLEAD WITH PARENTS TO ONLY SEND CHILDREN TO SCHOOL AS LAST RESORT Parents are being urged to 'play fair' and not send their children to school if it can be avoided, amid concerns some pupils will turn up when they could be safely looked after at home, as the UK battles coronavirus. Schools are officially closed from Monday, but the children of so-called key workers - including medics, police and food distribution staff - are able to attend so they can be looked after while their parents help in the fight against the virus. Government guidance, issued on Friday, listed the relevant occupations and children with 'at least one parent or carer' who is considered critical to the Covid-19 response 'can attend school if required'. But organisations representing teachers and school leaders have said they fear large numbers of children will be sent to school on Monday, and warned parents may end up having to be told the students cannot be accommodated. Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union said: 'Headteachers and teachers are having to deal with numerous demands from parents because the Government has wrongly created an expectation that their child can be kept in school.' Dr Bousted said teachers and other school staff are 'on the front line' in the fight as they look after the children of other key workers. 'But they can only do this vital work if everyone plays fair,' she added. 'If schools are to limit their intake during the crisis, school leaders and teachers must exercise their professional judgment. 'There may have to be some difficult conversations with parents, which could include saying that the school cannot accommodate your child and remain safe,' she said. Advertisement 'I am asking that urgent steps are taken to avoid unnecessary additional pressure on our health and social care system at this difficult time. 'This should clearly be done in consultation with other governments, acting in co-ordination where possible, but independently if necessary.' Meanwhile, three junior doctors - all aged 30 - are 'not in a good way' and said to be on ventilators after contracting the bug in the same London hospital. A medical source told The Sun on Sunday: 'Some will get mild symptoms - but not all will, and what has happened to the junior doctors shows that. 'Hopefully they are all strong enough to fight off the virus. But it serves as a warning to younger people not to be complacent.' The UK's coronavirus death toll skyrocketed by 56 yesterday, while seven patients in Wales who tested positive for the disease have died. The total deaths in England rose by 56 yesterday, as a 41-year-old is thought to be the youngest victim in Britain since the outbreak began. All new victims in England had underlying health conditions, which is understood to include those suffering from cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases, hypertension, diabetes, as well as cancer patients. The eldest victim was a 94-year-old. Eight of the new deaths in England were at Northwick Park Hospital, in North West London, which declared a 'critical incident' on Friday. Meanwhile, Boris Johnson urged Britons to celebrate Mother's Day remotely by using video calls - as he admits the NHS could be 'overwhelmed' by the outbreak. The PM warned that 'the numbers are very stark and they are accelerating' as doctors said a 'tsunami' of severely ill patients was about to engulf them. They described near-apocalyptic scenes amid chronic shortages of basic equipment and fears that unprotected medics could become desperately ill themselves - or even become unwitting carriers and infect others. The PM's plea comes as rising numbers of infections has sparked people into frantic panic-buying, clearing the shelves of the nation's supermarkets. Environment Secretary George Eustice told people to 'calm down' and claimed there is 'more than enough food to go around'. But he said frontline NHS staff were being deprived of essentials because of an upswing in stockpiling. He said: 'This is a challenging time and there are many things the Government is asking the nation to do differently as we work together to fight this pandemic. 'Be responsible when you shop and think of others. 'Buying more than you need means others may be left without.' Mr Eustice was flanked by British Retail Consortium chief executive Helen Dickinson and NHS England national medical director Stephen Powis, who condemned the selfishness and said: 'Frankly we should all be ashamed.' The health chief made his admonishment as he pointed to a viral video of female health worker Dawn Bilbrough, 51, who broke down in tears after she faced rows of bare shelves following an exhausting shift. Ms Dickinson laid bare the sheer tonnage of food which has flown off the shelves in recent weeks when she revealed: 'There is a billion pounds more food in people's houses than there was three weeks ago, so we should make sure we eat some of it. Boris Johnson urges families to stay apart and celebrate Mother's Day via Skype, warning the 'NHS is on the brink' amid fears of a 'tsunami' of severely ill patients as coronavirus deaths jump by 56 in one day Boris Johnson urged Britons to celebrate Mother's Day remotely by using video calls - as he admits the NHS is on the brink of being 'overwhelmed' by the coronavirus. The Prime Minister's warning that 'the numbers are very stark and they are accelerating' came as the UK death toll soared. Doctors warned that a 'tsunami' of severely ill patients was about to engulf them, describing near-apocalyptic scenes amid chronic shortages of basic equipment and fears that unprotected medics could either become desperately ill themselves or become carriers and infect others. As hospitals raced to convert operating theatres into intensive care wards and begged vets to hand over ventilators normally used for pets, Mr Johnson pleaded with the public to reduce social interaction, even with their mothers. In a powerful letter, he said: 'Today is Mother's Day. It is a day when we celebrate the sacrifice and the effort of those who gave us life. Boris Johnson with his mother Charlotte Johnson Wahl in London, October 2014 Emirates Airline cancels all commercial flights Emirates Airlines has announced it will suspend all passenger flights amid the novel coronavirus outbreak. The Dubai carrier today said it had made the decision amid an 'unprecedented crisis situation.' The airline will temporarily suspend all passenger flights by 25 March. The airline wrote on Twitter: 'Today we made the decision to temporarily suspend all passenger flights by 25 March 2020.' CEO Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, said: 'The world has literally gone into quarantine due to the COVID-19 outbreak. 'This is an unprecedented crisis situation in terms of breadth and scale: geographically, as well as from a health, social, and economic standpoint.' On Friday, the United Arab Emirates announced the first two deaths from COVID-19 in the country. Advertisement 'Across the country, I know that millions of people will have been preparing to do something special - not just a card, not just flowers. 'I know that everyone's strongest instinct is to see their mother in person, to have a meal together, to show them how much you love them. But I am afraid that this Mother's Day the single best present that we can give - we who owe our mothers so much - is to spare them the risk of catching a very dangerous disease.' He added: 'The best thing is to ring her, video call her, Skype her, but to avoid any unnecessary physical contact or proximity. And why? Because if your mother is elderly or vulnerable, then I am afraid all the statistics show that she is much more likely to die from coronavirus... We cannot disguise or sugar coat the threat'. In a chilling reference to Italy, where the death toll rose by 793 yesterday to 4,825, the Prime Minister said that without a 'heroic and collective national effort to slow the spread', it was likely that 'our own NHS will be similarly overwhelmed'. The Government yesterday signed a landmark deal with private hospitals to supply an extra 8,000 hospital beds across England, almost 1,200 more ventilators and 20,000 more staff, including 10,000 nurses and more than 700 doctors. Around 1.5 million people in England considered most at risk from the disease because of their health conditions will be instructed to begin 'shielding' themselves. Letters will go out to them this week, advising them not to go out for 12 weeks. Mother's Day mayhem at the tills: Tesco supermarket is forced to shut after dozens of panic-buyers ignore 'NHS hour' - while shoppers accuse retailer of raising prices after it scrapped 600 promotional offers Hundreds of shoppers were spotted queuing outside supermarkets on Mother's Day this morning as self-isolation cancels celebrations. Eager shoppers were seen queuing outside a Tesco in Cheshunt just before it opened its doors to NHS workers and emergency staff in a bid to help them buy essentials before panic buyers ransack the shelves. However, one Tesco was forced to shut its doors after selfish shoppers invaded the hour reserved for NHS staff. The shop in Milton, near Cambridge, had to shut its doors and start operating a one-in one-out policy from 10.15am after hundreds of members of the general public started shopping too early and the store quickly became full too capacity. People queue at a Tesco Extra in Osterley, London, the day after Tesco announced their stores will now have a designated hour for NHS staff to purchase their food shops More shoppers are expected to flood into stores later while panic buying continues across the country despite warnings from the government and retailers that doing so is harmful to those in need. Tesco has now removed all of its multi-buy deals and promotions in a bid to put an end to shoppers buying up all essential items. The retail giant has also hiked prices on 600 products from Diet Coke to tampons. It claimed that the increase in prices were simply in response to the promotions ending. More than 8,000 items disappeared from Tesco's website over the past week and the number of fresh food products fell by almost two thirds, according to analysis by The Times. Shoppers queue outside a branch of Costco, in Croydon, south London, on the weekend after Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered pubs and restaurants across the country to close as the Government announced unprecedented measures to cover the wages of workers who would otherwise lose their jobs due to the coronavirus outbreak Advertisement NHS doctor fights for life: Ear, nose and throat consultant, 52, is on life support amid fears many more medics will catch coronavirus A senior NHS doctor is fighting for life after being infected with coronavirus , which may have happened during a routine appointment with a patient. The 52-year-old ear, nose and throat consultant from the Midlands had been 'fit and well' but was last night on a life-support machine. News of the medic's plight came as NHS colleagues warned many more staff will fall ill or die from coronavirus because of a chronic shortage of protective equipment. Meanwhile, hospitals were scrambling to avoid meltdown amid a 'tsunami' of severely ill patients, many of them struggling to breathe. And in a stark illustration of the desperate hunt for life-saving kit, health bosses have been forced to ask vets for ventilators designed for animals. A paramedic is seen in Cheshunt at the back of an ambulance amid the impending lockdown Angela and Robert Walsh, who own Corner House Equine Clinic in Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire, said their local hospital had got in touch to ask about ventilators. Mrs Walsh said: 'This brings home how serious this pandemic is. Never before have the vets of Britain been asked to provide equipment for humans.' Mrs Walsh told The Mail on Sunday that Christine Middlemiss, the UK's Chief Veterinary Officer, has written to every vet in the country asking for an inventory of their respiratory equipment. In hospitals, operating theatres are being frantically converted into intensive care wards and regular patients are being discharged to make way for a massive surge in coronavirus cases. NHS chief executive Simon Stevens announced an 'unprecedented deal' which will see private hospitals hand over their entire England-wide capacity of over 8,000 beds and 1,200 ventilators to the health service. Chief Executive of the NHS Simon Stevens arriving in Downing Street, March 20 The NHS will pay 'cost price', so private hospitals will not make a profit. Official figures seen by this newspaper show that at midnight on Thursday, 163 Covid-19 patients were being treated in critical care units across England -106 of them in London. Of those, 70 percent were men and only one in ten had severe underlying health problems. London is so far the hardest pressed area. One hospital, Northwick Park in Harrow, briefly ran out of intensive care beds on Friday. Elsewhere in the capital, doctors - including those at some of the country's most prestigious hospitals - admitted they may be only days away from the same fate. One consultant at a major Central London hospital told The Mail on Sunday: 'What's going on up the A40 at Northwick Park is going to land right smack in our face. 'Our whole hospital is pandemonium. It's managing, but it's about to stop managing.' Following the lockdown in most parts of West Bengal in view of the coronavirus outbreak, banking transactions in the state will be reduced by two hours till 2 pm instead of 4 pm from Tuesday, an official of the State Level Banker's Committee (SLBC) said here. The decision was taken at an SLBC meeting on Monday. Ashok Pradhan, MD & CEO of the United Bank of India (UBI), the convenor of SLBC in West Bengal, told PTI that banks will carry out basic four operations -- deposits, withdrawals, remittances and government transactions. "For the time being, banking transactions will be held till 2 pm. To observe social distancing, we will ask customers not to come to the bank for passbook printing. It is being suspended for the time being," he said. All rural branches will remain open, and in the metros where branches are concentrated within a certain area, services will be provided in a truncated manner as all of them are in CBS platform, an official of the UCO Bank said. At the SLBC meeting, discussions were also held on how employees will reach the office during banking hours due to the lockdown when no public transport will be available, he said. Banking services were exempted from the purview of the lockdown which will continue till March 27. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mumbai, March 23 : Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan gave a quirky twist to cheering and clapping for the ones who are serving during the coronavirus crisis. In his Instagram post, Kartik can be seen beating a plate and also wearing a pan on his head. He captioned the image: "#TaaliBajaoThaliBajao It's DIVINE. It's MAGIC.With everyone coming together, the ENERGY is through the roof!! We all Salute the Selfless Heroes !! Thank you @narendramodi sir for bringing the country together in this way!! #JantaCurfew. CoronaStopKaroNa." His photograph became an instant hit as it got over 1.8 million likes on the photo-sharing website. His "Pati Patni Aur Woh" co-star Bhumi Pednekar commented: "Aww" with a heart emoji. Kartik's fans too loved his quirky idea. One wrote: "Yaar ye to thaali bajate hue bhi handsome dikhta hai." Another recalled Kartik's character, Chintu Tyagi, in "Pati Patni Aur Woh" and commented: "Are Chintu Tyagi ji... Badhiya". A third user said: "This made my day". On the acting front, Kartik will be seen in the second instalment of the 2007 Akshay Kumar hit, "Bhool Bhulaiyya". -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Actor Kartik Aaryan, who recently voiced awareness on the coronavirus spread in his unique styled monologue, on Monday extended his thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for hailing his efforts and re-tweeting the post. The 29-year-old actor took to Instagram to express his thankfulness and has promised to "keep reminding everyone" about the importance of self-isolation during the coronavirus outbreak. 'The 'Pati, Patni, Aur Woh' posted a screenshot of PM Modi's tweet and wrote: "Thank you @narendramodi Sir Will keep reminding everyoneGARMIYON KI CHHUTTIYAN NAHI CHALU HO GAYI HAIN#CoronaStopKaroNa " The monologue video in which the actor has used his fast style of delivering points was earlier re-tweeted by PM Modi by saying: "The young actors have something to say. Its time to be 'Zyada Savdhan' and do 'Corona ka Punchnama'! #IndiaFightsCorona." In the Twitter clip shared on Thursday, the 'Pyaar ka Punchnama' star suggested the public in his own unique manner to act responsibly and refrain from socialising and venturing out unnecessarily. He had also tagged Prime Minister Modi in his post, expressing solidarity with the government's efforts to overcome the crisis. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) LONDON At the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, European governments are taking increasingly drastic measures to try to reduce spiraling deaths while others begged disobedient members of the public to follow self-isolation guidelines. In the United Kingdom, pressure mounted on the government to impose the same strict rules as its European neighbors as it became clear many people were simply ignoring government advice to avoid social contact. Britain's cases and deaths are spiraling with the same velocity seen two weeks ago in Italy, which remains the worst affected country in the world. "We need UK LOCKDOWN TODAY. If we do it today we may limit damage to be 'only' as bad as Italy, which is suffering terribly," Tim Colbourn, an associate professor in global health epidemiology at University College London, said in a tweet. "Every subsequent day of delay means more deaths here than in Italy in two weeks time," he added. "We're tracking Italy deaths from 14 days ago but have less ICU capacity." Image: A man walks past a large billboard raising awareness to the measures taken by the Italian government to fight against the spread of the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) in the streets of Naples (Carlo Hermann / AFP - Getty Images) On Sunday, the Italian government banned all internal movement inside the country and shut down nonessential industries. That was after another 651 infected people died in the space of 24 hours, a sharply rising death toll that stands at almost 5,500. "It is the most difficult crisis in our post-war period," Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said in a video posted to Facebook. The number of daily deaths in Italy was slightly down from Saturday's all-time high of 793, though experts cautioned on drawing too much hope from a slight drop across a single day. Meanwhile, France and Spain have introduced increasingly severe measures as their cases and deaths continued to rise quickly. Download the NBC News app for latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak. In France, where 674 have died, six local curfews have been imposed, and Monday marked the start of a state of emergency in which people would face increased fines for venturing outside without good reason. Story continues In Spain, which was already in a state of emergency, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told his country "we are at war" and warned that "the worst is yet to come." That country has seen 2,182 fatalities. And even in Germany, which has gained attention for its relatively low death rate, the government banned gatherings of more than two people. Meanwhile the country's leader, Angela Merkel, quarantined herself after one of her doctors tested positive. Image: The temporary hospital set up at a pavilion in Ifema convention and exhibition center in Madrid, Spain (Comunidad de Madrid / AFP - Getty Images) Shutting down all but essential services and travel leaves these governments with increasingly few levers to pull when trying to contain the virus. Some experts point out that these measures could well be working but there may be a lag time for them to have an effect. That's because people who contracted the virus as long as two weeks ago may only be getting seriously ill now. Nevertheless, a common theme is that without strict government enforcement, people in some countries are continuing to ignore official advice. Many people in Italy did not take the outbreak seriously in its early stages until it was too late. Now, people in that country are warning the rest of the world not to make the same mistake. The U.K. has so far resisted imposing the same restrictions as its European neighbors, instead only urging rather than telling people to stay at home and avoid contact with others. Only on Friday did it tell all pubs, restaurants and other public spaces to close. Image: Passengers squeeze on to a busy Central Line underground train at Stratford station, east London (Daniel Leal-Olivas / AFP - Getty Images) On a crisp, sunny weekend across the U.K., many people, particularly in the emerging coronavirus hot spot of London, were clearly not listening. Pictures of parks, seafronts and other public spaces teeming with visitors went viral on social media, to the outrage of those who have been making sacrifices and staying indoors. There was a similar story Monday morning, with images of packed subway trains sparking horror. Transport for London, the government body that runs the capital's subway system, has reduced its number of trains to enable "critical workers to make essential journeys." But this appeared to have the adverse effect of making the services that did run overcrowded, as many people decided to continue with their commutes. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been reluctant to curtail people's daily freedoms, in part, according to those who know him, because of his ideological belief in personal liberty and his fears about an overbearing state. Image: People gather in Greenwich Park despite of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in London (Simon Dawson / Reuters) But during his briefing Sunday, he said more strict measures would be imposed if people did not follow government advice. "If people don't exercise responsibly in the parks and green spaces, there is going to be no doubt we are going to bring forward further measures," he said. Jonson's health secretary Mat Hancock accused people who are ignoring government's advise and are still socializing of "very selfish" behavior Monday. Others have blamed Johnson's government, saying he has been slow to act while delivering vague or conflicting guidelines about how people should live their lives. Even The Times, one of Britain's leading newspapers, which endorsed Johnson's Conservatives during last year's nationwide election, said Monday he was "behind the curve" and that he had "squandered" the time he had to prepare. "The government still cannot say clearly whether the goal is to suppress the virus or whether it is still seeking only to slow its spread," the newspaper said in a column. 23.03.2020 LISTEN Several drinking bars in the Nmlitsakpo electoral area, Kpone- Katamanso Municipality of the Greater Accra Region, struggled to cope with patrons on Sunday, when churches shut down. Churches and mosques had shut down to observe the presidential directive against large gathering, measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. The GNA further observed that, there were no preventive measures in place at the various bars such as hand washing basins, soaps, sanitizers as well as social distancing as they hugged, cruddled and danced to loud music. Meanwhile, The Ghana News Agency (GNA) can confirm that, the churches on the other hand, observed the directives given by the President Nana Ado Danquah Akuffo-Addo to close down churches as part of measures to help prevent further spread of the coronavirus disease. Some of the Churches the GNA visited in the Nmlitsakpo electoral area included; The Christ Apostolic Church International,(CACI), the Church of Pentecost(C.O.P) Assemblies of God Church, Action Chapel, The Greener Pasture Full Gospel Church, Christ Redemption Church, Beauty of Zion church, Royal House Chapel among other churches. The GNA again observed that some of the churches had smaller cell meetings as they ensured there was reasonable distance between members. Pastor James Teye Nartey, Saki Circuit head pastor of the Christ Apostolic Church International, told the GNA that, the best way to overcome the spread was to adhere to the Preventive measures put in place. He added that God could heal the land again if Christians would summit to the creator. ---GNA Delhi Chief Minister on Monday asked people to observe the lockdown in place in the capital to contain the spread of If anyone violates it, they would be facing strict action, he warned. In an online media briefing, he also announced that 50 per cent of the DTC buses will be operational from Tuesday to ensure those involved in essential services do not face problems. Kejriwal said the lockdown is for everyone's benefit and it is important to ensure that the virus does not spread further, and cited the examples of Italy and the US where the number of was in hundreds initially but rose exponentially within weeks. He said the will take strict action against violators. Kejriwal said on the first day of the lockdown, it was observed that several people involved in providing essential services reached late to work and faced several hassles. "To ensure that they don't face problem, we will increase the DTC bus services to 50 per cent from Tuesday," Kejriwal said. The coronavirus pandemic could wipe out Australia's already struggling department stores. The Australian Retailers Association has warned larger fashion companies are most at risk as non-essential services go into lock down and consumers save their money. ARA's Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said larger retailers like Myer and David Jones will flounder, despite Scott Morrison's business rescue package. The prime minister on Sunday announced a second round of drastic rescue measures worth around $66billion, including grants of up to $100,000 to help small businesses pay their staff. 'It's an excellent package but it does not cover some of the bigger business that we're dealing with that, if this continues, will unfortunately head into liquidation,' Mr Zimmerman told the Herald Sun. The coronavirus pandemic could wipe out Australia's already struggling department stores The prime minister on Sunday announced a second round of drastic rescue measures worth around $66billion, including grants of up to $100,000 to help small businesses pay their staff 'I have been in discussions with retailers in the large sector who are extremely worried, particularly at this point in time, there is concern in the discretionary spend retailers so clothing, footwear, accessories.' The ARA and the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association have called on the government to provide bailout funding specifically for the retail sector. SDA National Secretary Gerard Dwyer said since Sunday's announcement that nonessential services will close across New South Wales and Victoria, retailers have gone into panic mode. 'Just this morning I was talking to a casual employee who's gone from 30 hours a week now to a single shift of three hours,' he said. Mr Dwyer said there can't be any limits in the government rescue fund based on business size, and the money should be given to any retailer - no matter how large -facing threat amid the coronavirus crisis. Alongside the cash payments, the government is launching a massive loan scheme worth $40billion under which it will guarantee 50 per cent of cheap loans given from banks to struggling companies to keep them from going under. 'We will be supercharging our safety net, we'll be supporting the most vulnerable to the impacts of the crisis, those who will feel those first blows,' Mr Morrison told reporters on Sunday. '(We will) preserve the businesses that comprise our economy so on the other side they can bounce back strongly and don't have to reassemble themselves from the ruins of failed businesses.' Sunday's package includes a significant expansion of the wage-based cash payments to small businesses already announced - measures Labor has flagged as supporting when parliament sits on Monday. Larger retailers like Myer and David Jones will flounder, despite Scott Morrison's business rescue package. Pictured with treasurer Josh Frydenberg Small and medium businesses and not-for-profits that employ people will now receive a full rebate on income tax withholdings, up to $100,000. They'll all get a minimum of $20,000 - 10 times the amount announced previously. This is expected to help some 690,000 businesses employing about 7.8 million people, along with 30,000 not-for-profits who weren't previously set to receive the cash flow injection. A coronavirus supplement of $550 a fortnight will be added to the Jobseeker payment - known as Newstart until last Friday - and access to the dole will be relaxed and waiting period waived to allow casuals and sole traders whose income drops off. Economists forecast nearly a million people could be out of work by October as the nation stays at home in a bid to slow the spread of the virus. A trained dog could be able to accompany child victims of sex abuse when giving evidence in a criminal trial thanks to a new pilot project which would be a first in this country. Children At Risk in Ireland (CARI) has advertised for the part-time position of Court Accompaniment Officer and Secondary Dog Handler as part of its two-year pilot research project to assess the impact of a facility dog in mitigating trauma for children in the Irish Justice System. The successful candidate will be responsible for relieving the primary dog handler, who is Court Team Leader, and CARI said the project is the first of its kind in Ireland, within the Irish Judicial System. While other jurisdictions such as Australia and the United States allow for trained dogs to accompany children when giving evidence, it has not occurred in this country. The idea behind the project is that the dog, trained at the Cork-based Dogs for the Disabled organisation, would be able to stay in the video link room with the child while they give evidence. Its understood the jury would not be able to see the dog, which would be trained to lie on the floor. Eve Farrelly, CARI executive director, said more details will be available when the training of the dog is completed and all the staff positions are filled. A primary handler has already been employed and applications for the position of secondary handler will be received up until the end of March. There is also a research element to the pilot project and Ms Farrelly said: "It is the first time that Ireland will be able to present this type of evidence-based research in this field. "It really is kind of groundbreaking stuff." Its understood that consultations have already been carried out with other interested parties, including the gardai and the judiciary. The advertised role of secondary dog handler and court accompaniment officer involves pre-trial preparation, accompaniment at the trial, and then post-trial support. According to the advertisement for the post, duties will include helping prepare children on a practical and emotional level by explaining the court procedure using age-appropriate language, to attend court with the child and their family for the duration of the trial, recording all phone calls and meetings with clients and update all files, and providing statistics on the service regarding phone call activity and meeting activity. As for their responsibilities as secondary dog handler, any successful candidate will need to ensure care, grooming, walking and feeding, working with the child and families within the research cohort alongside the dog during criminal proceedings, and ensuring all work with the dog is done within the budget provided. CARI said it hopes to be able to use the dog in court settings by the end of the year. JERUSALEM - Israeli forces shot and killed a 32-year-old Palestinian man early on Monday who was hurling rocks at Israeli troops, the Palestinian health ministry and the Israeli military said. The military said it thwarted an attack and opened fire at a number of suspects who were throwing rocks at Israeli vehicles on a highway in central West Bank, near the town of Qaliqilya. It says one of the suspects was killed while another was wounded and escaped. Clashes often erupt in the West Bank between Israelis and Palestinians but have dipped considerably since the outbreak of the coronavirus. In Israel, daily life has largely shut down with more then 1,200 people testing positive for the new virus. One patient has died and 24 are in serious condition. In the West Bank, 57 cases have been diagnosed so far, the majority of them in Bethlehem. The Palestinian prime minister has ordered a lock down and in Gaza, two cases have been diagnosed in patients who returned from Pakistan. New data out from SurePayroll finds that, even before fears of the pandemic hit, 24% of owners were worried about how their business would fare. About 3% operated at a loss for the latter part of 2019 and 12% thought theyd end 2020 in the red financially. Other interesting findings include: a 4 in 10 say their business impacts their family/home life a 25% say their business impacts their mental health a 25% say they are worried they wont be able to cover payroll at some point in 2020 More data from SurePayrolls Small Business Worry Index can be accessed here. The US Chamber of Commerce is also calling for the Trump administration to do more for small business owners. Last week, the chamber sent a letter to the president, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to cancel payroll taxes to help ease the burden on small businesses during this time. Temporarily cancelling the collection of these taxes will reduce the cost for employers for continuing to pay employees regardless of whether they are working or on sick leave and increase liquidity for employers to help them respond to losses in revenue, Chamber CEO Tom Donohue wrote in the letter, via TheHill.com. The US Chamber has a second proposal that would make disaster loan programs available to small businesses through the Small Business Association. Meanwhile, data from Convey sheds light on how businesses, small and large, are faring over the past few weeks of dealing with COVID-19. According to their data about 40% of retail and supply chain leaders are already seeing delays and disruption, but many retailers continue to see people ordering for deliver. For instance, their data shows online shipping volume increased almost 7% for early February and by early March has increased 52% (YoY). The Convey data further shows: a Order fulfillment time us up 40% over the past 3 weeks, to about 21.2 hours a Delivery delays are also on the increase, up from a 2.9% increase at the beginning of March to just over 4% by mid-March a Shipping volume for household and cleaning supplies is up 52% More data from Convey can be accessed here. By PTI DUBAI: Six Indians have been camping at the Dubai airport for the past five days after they were not allowed to board their connecting flight back home due to travel restrictions placed by India to limit the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a media report. The men flew into Dubai from various European countries on March 18. They were supposed to take the Emirates EK 510 flight to New Delhi later that evening. However, they couldn't get onto the plane as the same day India imposed a ban on all passengers arriving from Europe, the Gulf News reported on Sunday. Since then, the men are stranded at Terminal 3 of Dubai Aiport. Three of the six passengers hail from Punjab and one each from Rajasthan, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh. "We don't know what to do. We have been sleeping on airport benches. I don't know how long this stalemate will continue. Initially, there were seven of us but one of the passengers flew back to France on Sunday as he was tired of waiting, the paper quoted Deepak Gupta from Delhi as saying. ALSO READ: Travel hub UAE to halt flights as coronavirus reaches Gaza Ajmer Singh from Himachal Pradesh said he is on the edge of a nervous breakdown. The passengers said they have contacted the Indian consulate for help several times but haven't heard back from them. Neeraj Agrawal, head of chancery and consul (Press, Information and Culture) at the Indian Consulate in Dubai said they are trying to resolve the issue. We are aware of the case. Unfortunately, given the current scenario, there is only so much that we can do at this stage. The airport hotels are full so we can't accommodate them there. We can't fly them to India either. That said, we are in regular touch with the airlines and local authorities to relieve the plight of stranded men, said Agarwal. SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Dont want to venture out to the grocery store during the coronavirus crisis, and think Instacart is a great option to order essentials? Get in line - and expect a long wait. Instacart not so instant right now. If you order groceries Monday, you can get them delivered sometime Thursday at the earliest at all the major grocers including Wegmans, Price Chopper, Tops, Aldi, Target, Price Rite and BJs. Normally you could expect items to be delivered the same day. Curbside pickup also is backed up with a wait of several day. And products in high demand such as toilet paper, meat and other staples are often out of stock too. Want to ask Instacart a question or ask why your delivery hasnt arrived? Your hold time was approximately 59 minutes on Monday. Nationally, this past weekend Instacart had its busiest weekend in company history, the company told a newspaper in Charleston, S.C. In 2017, Wegmans and other grocers started allowing customers to order items online at through Instacart. Instacart personal shoppers collect the items you ordered and deliver them to your home. Orders can be placed up to seven days in advance. There is typically a minimum order and a delivery charge. Also, most stores add a price increase to items purchased through the service. While a popular option before the coronavirus pandemic, demand right now is outpacing supply. Instacart is overwhelmed with orders, say local supermarket officials. Wegmans, for one, has seen a huge increase in Instacart business. "And we expect that to continue to grow as this continues,'' said Marcie Rivera, Wegmans spokesperson. Inventory is low, so it takes longer to shop. And they have a lot of people placing orders and only so many Instacart shoppers. Rivera said with the increased e-commerce demand, there arent as many time slots each day for customers to choose from for delivery or curbside pickup orders. Customers are advised to keep checking, as slots sometime open up when someone changes their mind. Mona Golub, speaking for Price Chopper/Market 32, said the Instacart delays are national, and not just affecting our region. Demand has increased "dramatically,'' she said. In fact, Instacart sales have surged 20 fold in New York, an Instacart spokesperson told a Florida newspaper. Instacart officials did not respond to calls or emails today. Thanks for visiting Syracuse.com. Quality local journalism has never been more important, and your subscription matters. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources Coronavirus: Which workers get hurt most, least due to state-ordered business shutdowns? Syracuse hospitals go into wartime planning to brace for coronavirus NY coronavirus order for businesses to close: Whats considered essential, non-essential? Coronavirus way-of-life: Doctors, patients turn to telemedicine like never before Unemployed in NY? A survival kit for benefits, bills, evictions, mortgages, utilities, debts, help Joint support to fight drought and saltwater threat In the Mekong Delta, salt water is often going inland and then mixed with freshwater used for drinking and agriculture. Some areas facing these water shortages are also bracing for potential drought as the summer approaches. As a result, water shortages are rampant in the region, with 95,000 families left without fresh water. The United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) is working closely with the Vietnam Disaster Management Authority to provide support to the most marginalised families and children affected by heavy drought and saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta. Quickly mobilising funds to provide water containers, UNICEF so far helped more than 1,100 vulnerable families, 92 schools, and 92 commune health centres together around 5,000 people and also distributed water filters, soap, and hand sanitisers to local people. Furthermore, UNICEF also supports the governments efforts to provide the community with information to better care for and protect children. Multimedia messages on water and sanitation, health and nutrition, education, child protection, and food security have reached more than 500,000 families in Ben Tre and Soc Trang provinces. Meanwhile, learning from the extreme drought that affected large parts of Vietnam in 2015-2016, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women, and Save the Children International in Vietnam have also jointly implemented a project entitled Drought Forecast-based Financing (FbF) for Food Security, Livelihoods and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Vietnam. The project has helped communities effectively prepare for droughts by introducing FbF and Early Warning Early Action (EWEA) systems. An FbF/EWEA mechanism aims to reduce human suffering and loss by acting in anticipation of an extreme event in the window of opportunity between the events forecast and its occurrence, rather than responding to it after it has occurred. This project specifically pilots how an FbF/EWEA approach can be translated into the context of Vietnam and how it can be institutionalised into the countrys disaster management framework. Key outputs of the project have included the identification of drought risks in the two pilot provinces of Ca Mau and Gia Lai, a drought forecasting index, a list of early actions for drought, and insight into possible financing mechanisms, all of which are indispensable building blocks in constructing an automated system for forecast-based early action to mitigate the impact of disasters. Meanwhile, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is implementing a project to prevent saline water intrusion and ensure water distribution with an adequate salinity level by constructing water sluices and related facilities. Implemented from 2017 to 2022, the loans valued at 24.250 billion ($218.47 million) are poured into Ben Tre the province most affected by drought and saltwater. This project provides saline water intrusion control facilities in Ben Tre where saline water intrusion is strongly damaging crops. It improves agricultural productivity by providing agricultural water with low salinity, thereby contributing to adaptation to climate change and an improvement in local resident livelihoods through rural and regional development. Likewise, the European Union has decided to provide 60,000 ($66,600) in humanitarian aid for the Mekong Delta to help local residents cope with drought and saltwater intrusion. The aid is expected to benefit 24,000 people in provinces seriously hit. The funding will be channelled to the Vietnam Red Cross Society to provide clean drinking water for locals and step up activities to improve sanitation and healthcare for families affected by the lack of clean water. Disease prevention campaigns will be implemented regularly to reduce risks of water source-related diseases. The aid is part of the EUs contribution to the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund under the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. In addition, the US is committed to working with Vietnam to address ongoing drought issues in the Mekong Delta, including through the US Agency for International Development which works with the Vietnam Red Cross Society to position water treatment units throughout the Mekong and develop drought early warning systems and emergency plans so communities are ready to respond. The United States also works with Vietnam and other Mekong countries through the Lower Mekong Initiative, which hosted its second Mekong Research Symposium in Hanoi in December to examine new technical innovations and collaborations to better address environmental challenges. The Mekong Delta region in southern Vietnam is the countrys prominent food production area, producing more than half of the countrys food. State officials on Monday announced three more deaths related to the new coronavirus and 236 new cases, bringing the death toll to 12 and the total number of cases since the start of the outbreak to 1,285. Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he spoke by phone with President Donald Trump on Monday afternoon to discuss Illinois need for more masks and ventilators to fight COVID-19, saying the president was very responsive, frankly. This followed a Twitter spat on Sunday between the two after the governor claimed that the lack of federal action has made it harder and costlier for Illinois to fight the outbreak. At the same time, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said her administration wouldnt be waiting around for the federal government for help. The city of Chicago plans to rent thousands of hotel rooms to be used for people diagnosed with COVID-19 or those who believe theyve been exposed, in an effort to stop the spread of the virus and relieve the burden on hospitals. Chicagos hotel plan is the first of its kind, Deputy Mayor Samir Mayekar told the Tribune. The news comes as Illinois has begun its first full week under Pritzkers stay-at-home order, which lasts through April 7. Here are the latest updates Monday on the coronavirus in the Chicago area and Illinois: 10:15 p.m.: Oak Park homeless residents move from shelter after staff member tests positive for coronavirus Homeless residents in Oak Park had to be moved out of a shelter after a staff member tested positive for the coronavirus. The individual had been working at the shelter two days before the diagnosis. Housing Forward relocated 64 residents to vacant units offered up by local landlords and hotel rooms. It is now closed until further notice. According to its website, the organization is identifying those that were in close contact with the staff member and is conducting daily screening for symptoms. The agency had consolidated their operations to Oak Park Temple to mitigate spread of the virus early last week. The new location didnt have showers or laundry services and residents were shuttled to Housing Forwards support center in Maywood. Housing Forward, like other suburban homeless shelters in Cook County, relied on volunteer work and church space to accommodate residents at night, which has become increasingly scarce during the coronavirus pandemic. Cecilia Reyes 9:40 p.m.: US Olympic and Paralympic Committee says it favors postponing Tokyo Games Joining an ever-growing chorus, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee announced late Monday that it would favor postponing the Tokyo Games this summer amid concerns about the coronavirus. Team USA officials did not say when they would prefer the event to take place, but several other countries - including Canada, Australia, Germany, Brazil and Slovenia - have called for the Games to be held no earlier than 2021. Norways Olympic body said it did not want athletes going to Tokyo until the global health crisis is under control. In a statement posted on its website, the USOPC said it made the decision after talking with its athletes, many of whom have seen their training facilities closed and critical competitions cancelled amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Even if the pandemic tapers to the point where it would be safe to hold the Games, athletes have questioned whether Olympic trials and other qualifying events - many of which have been scrapped - could be held under healthy, fair and properly trained conditions. We regret that there is no outcome that can solve all the concerns we face, the statement read. Our most important conclusion from this broad athlete response is that even if the current significant health concerns could be alleviated by late summer, the enormous disruptions to the training environment, doping controls and qualification process cant be overcome in a satisfactory manner. To that end, its more clear than ever that the path toward postponement is the most promising, and we encourage the IOC to take all needed steps to ensure the Games can be conducted under safe and fair conditions for all competitors. Read more here. Chicago Tribune Staff 7:45 p.m.: School time lost to the coronavirus shutdown dont have to be made up but how long can that go on? At least up through March 30, the days that schools are shut down wont have to be made up. But after that? Things could change, and could hinge on schools abilities to provide effective and equitable e-learning. Read more here. Hannah Leone 7:06 p.m.: Waubonsie Valley grad and her football team catch military flights home after coronavirus left them stranded in Honduras Nearly a week after an Aurora high school graduate and her football team were left stranded in Honduras when the country closed its borders amid the COVID-19 outbreak, they found a way back to the United States on military flights. When she returned, Sarah Gomez, a 2011 Waubonsie Valley High School graduate, was caught off guard by how much had shut down during the week and a half she and her team were overseas. We went from like, oh, its a virus, oh, it could get worse, well see what happens, to coming back and its empty, she said. The roughly 55 players, coaches and leaders of American Football Events arrived in Honduras March 11 for a tournament. They spent time volunteering and played two days of their tournament before games were canceled on the final day of competition, March 15, as part of an effort to limit large gatherings to control the spread of the coronavirus. Later March 15, the team learned Honduras borders would be closing until further notice. Then, the country instituted a temporary curfew, since extended until at least March 29, which closed grocery stores, gas stations and banks and restricted residents movements. The team spent days hunkered down in a largely empty hotel in Tegucigalpa, the capital city, uncertain of when or how they would return home. Read more here. Sarah Freishtat 5:53 p.m.: Top Baxter execs test positive for COVID-19 The chief financial officer and a board member at Baxter International, the Deerfield-based medical products giant, have tested positive for COVID-19, the company said. James Saccaro, who serves as executive vice president and CFO at Baxter, continues to perform his responsibilities...from home after testing positive for the virus, the company said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing Monday. Baxter has a potential replacement lined up to temporarily assume Saccaros duties if changes to his condition warrant a medical leave of absence, the company said in the filing. An unnamed Baxter board member has also tested positive for COVID-19 and is recovering well in the hospital, the company said. Jose Almeida, the companys chairman, president and CEO, tested negative for the new coronavirus. Baxter, which generated $11.4 billion in sales last year, said in the filing that since the emergence of COVID-19, it has implemented a detailed action plan to protect employee workplace safety while maintaining the global supply of its products. Robert Channick 5:43 p.m.: In email exchange, Mayor Lori Lightfoot offers to withhold Chicago aldermans pay to help buy equipment for first responders amid coronavirus outbreak Mayor Lori Lightfoot responded to a City Council critics call for all city elected officials to take a 15-day furlough to help pay for new equipment to protect first responders from the coronavirus by offering to dock his pay, according to an email exchange between the two. Southwest Side Ald. Raymond Lopez, 15th, called Friday for the 50 members of the City Council, the mayor, treasurer and clerk to forgo their salaries for 15 days. On Saturday, he sent an email to Lightfoot and several members of her cabinet that was obtained by the Tribune, expressing the need for coronavirus-related literature to be translated into commonly-spoken foreign languages" and offering volunteers from his ward. The spirit of togetherness and volunteerism will not last if the city of Chicago drags its feet on giving them an outlet to help, Lopezs email reads in part. In a response email, Lightfoot countered, In the middle of a crisis, no one is dragging their feet, Ray. Read more here. John Byrne 4:59 p.m.: Facing unprecedented number of claims, Illinois urges laid off workers to apply for benefits online The state of Illinois, which is working through an unprecedented number of unemployment claims in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, is urging those who have lost their jobs to file for benefits online. Using the Department of Employment Securitys online portal at www2.illinois.gov/ides is the safest, easiest, and fastest route to submitting a claim and will free up the phone lines for those without internet or computer access, or who encounter technical difficulties submitting online, said spokeswoman Rebecca Cisco. More than 64,000 Illinoisans submitted unemployment claims during a three-day period last week, more than 10 times the number who submitted during the corresponding period last year, the department said. The state will release updated figures on Thursday on the number of claims it received for the week ending March 21. Gov. J.B. Pritzker said during a press conference Monday that the state moved its online application portal to a more expansive software platform after the system became overwhelmed in recent days with an unprecedented number of people trying to file claims. I dont think weve ever seen this before, even in periods during the 2008-2009 crisis, he said.The department is urging people to submit claims before 10 a.m. or after 3 p.m., and to refrain from calling to check on the status or from trying to file over the phone. Claims cannot be submitted using a smartphone, but rather must be sent through a desktop, laptop or tablet. Jocelyn Allison 4:30 p.m.: Med students sidelined from seeing patients Clinical rotations are a big part of medical school, but for right now the risks to students, who might lack adequate protective gear, and to their patients is too great, many Chicago-area schools have decided. To be so close to being licensed professionals and being able to help, but instead now were at home, that can be really disappointing, one student said. Read more here. Ariel Cheung 4:27 p.m.: Pace cuts some service amid continued ridership drop Pace is cutting some bus service in response to severe ridership drops, as workers and students stay home due to the coronavirus. As of Monday, Pace said its regular, fixed-route ridership was down 53% and its ADA Paratransit ridership in the city and suburbs was down 70% compared to normal passenger numbers, said spokeswoman Maggie Daly Skogsbakken. To cope with ridership drops, the suburban bus agency has moved to non-school service on routes that are boosted during the school year, and will not run service to special events, since they are all canceled, Skogsbakken said. Commuter and shuttle bug service, which runs workers to and from Metra stations, has been adjusted. These changes and others are available at the passenger notices page on Paces web site. Both Route 754, between Lewis University and downtown Chicago, and the Rosemont Circulator service are suspended. Routes 410, 411 and 412 in Niles will operate on adjusted schedules beginning on Tuesday, Skogsbakken said. Pace is recommending that riders reconsider unnecessary travel, give other riders space on buses, wash their hands, and stay home if they are sick. Read more here. Mary Wisniewski 4:22p.m.: Teacher at Loyola Academy in Wilmette tests positive for COVID-19 A teacher at Loyola Academy in Wilmette has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus and is recovering at home, officials announced Sunday. This is the first confirmed case of a student, faculty or staff member," Loyola president, the Rev. Patrick E. McGrath, said in a statement posted on the Catholic high schools website. The teacher was last in contact with students March 12 and began showing symptoms March 20, before testing positive March 21. "The individual is recovering at home and has our full support, McGrath said. Read more here. Karen Ann Cullotta 4:07 p.m.: Lake and Porter county officials in Indiana begin to adjust to stay-at-home order for residents Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Monday that residents should stay at home through at least April 7 to help decrease the spread of the COVID-19 virus, and Lake and Porter County officials have already started to make adjustments to follow the directive. The governor said Monday in an address streamed from the statehouse that he issued the stay-at-home directive because COVID-19 is spreading through all counties in Indiana, and residents need to work together to slow its spread. Stay at home. Unless youre going out on an essential errand or essential work or essential business, Holcomb said. The next two weeks are critical ... if were going to slow the spread, and we must slow the spread." In response, the Lake County Commissioners issued a declaration of emergency Monday stating all Lake County government buildings, including the buildings in Hammond, Gary and East Chicago, will close until April 7, according to a press release. Read more here. Alexandra Kukulka and Amy Lavalley 3:51 p.m.: Letter carrier, CTA train operator test positive for coronavirus, union officials say A local letter carrier has tested positive for COVID-19, said Mack Julion, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers, Branch No. 11, which represents more than 5,000 letter carriers in the Chicago area. A bus driver and train operator with the Chicago Transit Authority also have tested positive, said the heads of their respective unions. City officials had confirmed information about the bus driver on Saturday. Julion, who revealed the diagnosis during a Monday morning call organized by the Chicago Federation of Labor to discuss worker protections during the coronavirus crisis, said many members feel their offices have not been properly sanitized and that they lack enough hand sanitizers, gloves and face masks, he said. The union is also asking customers to be respectful of carriers space when they deliver mail to their homes. The postal worker was tested after going to the doctor with symptoms and is recovering at home, Julion said. One other carrier who worked with that person is in isolation, but wont be tested unless coronavirus symptoms develop. Keith Hill, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 241, which represents bus drivers, would like for CTA to allow customers to enter through the rear bus door to minimize proximity to the driver. Ken Franklin, president of Amalgamated Transit Union 308, which represents train conductors, and the other union heads also want testing to be available to their members. Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz 3:39 p.m.: FaceTime video chats reassure families of seniors in nursing homes and assisted living residences The precautions implemented to protect the elderly, the people most vulnerable to the coronavirus, can also make them feel the most isolated. The staff at area nursing homes and assisted living facilities, however are finding new ways for their residents to spend quality time with relatives, while still not allowing any visitors. I think its important for all residents in nursing facilities to have the presence of family in their lives, said Pat Dance, whose 97-year-old mother has lived in HCR ManorCare of Hinsdale for four or five years. Read more here. 3:29 p.m.: Video bond hearings in Cook County For what is believed to be the first time in more than a decade, Cook County bond hearings were held via videoconference on Monday an attempt to facilitate social distancing to guard against of COVID-19. Judge Charles Beach II sat on the bench in Courtroom 100. Prosecutors were nearby at their usual table. But defendants, public defenders, the court reporter, and even the Spanish interpreter were in separate rooms, watching and participating via video feed. When one defendant had to confer privately with his attorney about whether he had an appropriate place to say on electronic monitoring, they moved to a private breakout line to communicate - while the rest of the parties waited. Video bond court used to be routine in Cook County, until a lawsuit was filed alleging that it was unconstitutional to deny defendants the opportunity to go before a judge in person. Chief Judge Timothy Evans moved to stop the practice in 2008, before the lawsuit had concluded. Video bond court created a problematic disconnect between defendants and their attorneys, and crucially, it just diminished the humanity of the person being considered for bond, said Locke Bowman, who was active in the earlier fight against video bond hearings. Instead of a fully three-dimensional human being being considered, theres just a flickering image on a television screen, and thats to my view really problematic, he told the Tribune on Monday. But in the face of a global pandemic, the re-emergence of video bond court is understandable, Bowman said. Its fair from my standpoint to create this mechanism, but with the caveat that its being done solely for the purpose of addressing this crisis, he said. And when the crisis abates it will end, because of the preference that we all understand and is particularly important with regard to the criminal legal process to do things in person. Megan Crepeau 3:08 p.m.: CTA ridership down 70% over the weekend Ridership numbers keep falling on the CTA, with workers and students staying home because of the coronavirus pandemic. On Friday and Saturday, overall ridership was down 70 percent compared to the same days in 2019, a CTA spokesperson said in an email. On Sunday, ridership was down 72%. Rail ridership was down 78% all three days, while bus ridership was down 61% Friday and Saturday and 65% on Sunday. The CTA said it is losing more than $1 million per day in fares, and it also expects its cut of the revenue the state collects from sales, motor fuel, and other taxes to decline. The agency said it is also spending more to keep vehicles and stations cleaned and disinfected daily. As a result, we anticipate hundreds of millions of dollars lost over the course of this crisis, the CTA said. The CTA, Metra and Pace are all looking at the possibility of federal, state and local funding to help cover losses, the CTA said. The agency said it is committed providing the highest levels of service possible. Mary Wisniewski 2:48 p.m.: 236 new cases reported in Illinois, as well as 3 more deaths State officials on Monday announced three more deaths related to the new coronavirus and 236 new cases, bringing the death toll to 12 and the total number of cases since the start of the outbreak to 1,285. The virus has struck an additional county, Monroe, bringing the total number of Illinois counties affected to 31. The three deaths were all men in Cook County, two in their 80s and one in his 90s. The virus has now been detected in 31 of Illinois 102 counties and in patients ranging in age from younger than 1 to 99. Pritzker said he spoke by phone with President Donald Trump on Monday afternoon to discuss Illinois need for more masks and ventilators to fight COVID-19. The president was very responsive, frankly, Pritzker said. The two clashed publicly Sunday after Pritzker criticized the federal response during an appearance on CNN. Dan Petrella 2:47 p.m.: Mayor Lori Lightfoot says Chicagos stepping up without federal help On cable news Monday, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said her administration wouldnt be waiting around for the federal government to solve the citys problems amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis. Im a black woman in America. I learned early on nobody was going to save me. I had to step up and make sure I took care of myself. Thats the approach were taking in the city Chicago, Lightfoot said. We are stepping up, we are supporting our residents." Lightfoot appeared on Stephanie Ruhles MSNBC show Monday and was asked about the citys and states preparedness. Asked whether the city has abided by Gov. J.B. Pritzkers stay at home order, Lightfoot said the city had been paring down to essentials by shutting down schools and restaurants in the days leading up to it which has helped ensure compliance. Were still remaining diligent, were still trying to educate people into compliance, but I think so far so good, Lightfoot said. Lightfoot also said the city is okay right now with hospitals, bed counts and ventilators. So far, were fine, Lightfoot said. Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, meanwhile, appeared separately on MSNBC and added his voice to those calling for the nations leaders to learn from the coronavirus outbreak to prevent future pandemics from wreaking as much havoc on the country as the 2020 outbreak. Read more here. Gregory Pratt 2:06 p.m.: Two COVID-19 cases identified at Cook County Jail Two Cook County Jail detainees have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the sheriffs office.The detainees, one age 18 and one 42, tested positive Monday, according to a news release from Cook County Sheriff Tom Darts office. Both are being held in isolation cells in Cermak Hospital, the jails medical facility. They have been in Cermak since they became symptomatic on Friday, according to the release. The men were housed in different divisions of the jail when they started showing symptoms, according to the office. Read more here. Megan Crepeau 1:08 p.m.: Illinois National Guard begins testing first responders and health-care workers for coronavirus in Chicago The Illinois National Guard has begun testing first responders and health-care workers for the coronavirus at newly opened site on the Northwest Side. About 115 recently activated service members are assigned to the testing site, which opened Monday at a former vehicle emissions testing facility. The site will only do 250 tests a day, given on a first-come-first-serve basis, according to the Chicago Fire Department. Read more here. 1:05 p.m.: Chicago has 4 deaths, 490 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19, official says The city of Chicago as of Sunday afternoon had 490 cases of lab-confirmed COVID-19, and four deaths caused by the coronavirus, Dr. Allison Arwady, the commissioner of public health, said Monday on her daily Facebook Live question and answer session. About 2 percent of the citys cases are in people 17 or younger, 73 percent in people 18 to 59 and 25 percent in people 60 or older. About 78 percent of Chicago patients with COVID-19 did not have to be hospitalized, a figure in keeping with worldwide averages, and none were 17 or under, Arwady said. By contrast, half of those hospitalized were 60 or older. The younger people are, the more likely they are to have a very mild illness, Arwady said. That doesnt mean that young people cannot get severe illness. There are people who have died in those younger categories.Its much more likely to be serious in people 60 or older, particularly those with underlying medical issues. All four of our deaths have been in people over 60 with underlying medical conditions, she said. As for the difficulty of getting tests for coronavirus, she said, Even if you get a test, nothing changes in terms of your treatment. We dont have at this point yet any dedicated treatment, we dont have a vaccine." Noting the increase in cases in Chicago and Illinois, she made the point that social distancing takes time to slow the upward trajectory. "It doesnt mean the social distancing things that were doing are not working, Arwady said. More testing is coming on line every day, and so as we start to have more and more testing available, were diagnosing more cases and well see an increase. We will let you know when we are hopefully starting to see some of this flattening, but I want to set an expectation that this is not today or tomorrow, she added. This is really down the line. One goal of slowing the curve, she said, is to keep the health care system from becoming overwhelmed as it has in Italy. Social distancing flattened the curve in Japan, where there has not been those kind of problems, she said. These are difficult times, and I think its going to get more difficult before they get better, Arwady said, and she offered some mental health advice:Turn off the television, she said. There is such a saturation. It can make you more nervous. It can really, I think, alter the way you are seeing the world. Turn it off for a few hours. Coronavirus nonstop you are not going to miss any dramatic events in turning off the TV for a few hours. Arwady said that Mayor Lori Lightfoot would join her Tuesday for the Facebook Live event and would take questions. The event can be found on the mayors office Facebook page at 11 a.m. Hal Dardick 1 p.m.: Rev. Jesse Jackson to Trump: Test jail inmates for COVID-19, release non-violent suspects The Rev. Jesse Jackson says he spoke with President Donald Trump by phone Thursday night, a day after the Chicago and longtime civil rights leader sent a letter to the White House asking him to figure out a way, amid the coronavirus outbreak, to order the release of non-violent suspects awaiting trial in the nations jails where social distancing is next to impossible. We keep on hearing the most vulnerable in all of this is the seniors, but those in (jail) have no way to social distance you cant social distance, Jackson, the leader of the South Side-based Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, tells the Tribune. In a letter dated March 18, Jackson asked the president to test inmates currently behind bars and to release non-violent offenders awaiting trial to reduce the jail population and lessen the likelihood of an outbreak. Read the full letter here. I told him, they need to be tested immediately,' and I could tell some of (what I was sharing) was new information to him, Jackson said, explaining that the revolving door nature of those coming in and out of jails leaves those inside at risk of catching the potentially deadly disease. A White House spokesman didnt return respond to a request for comment, but Jackson says Hes taking it into consideration. Jacksons letter lays out what hes asking the president to do: I am urging you to consider immediately testing the 2.2 million persons currently incarcerated, Jackson wrote. "They are a captive audience and should not be devoured by the virus should someone in prison have it and spread it. And please consider releasing those arrested for non-violent offenses who are still incarcerated, but not convicted, after they have been tested for the virus so that they do not endanger the health of other inmates or the general public if they are released. We cannot leave those without healthcare to threaten the healthcare of all. Read more in The Spin here. Lisa Donovan 12:43 p.m.: Medical personnel to ride free on Metra while stay at home order is in place Doctors, nurses, paramedics and other medical personnel will now be able to ride free on Metra trains for the duration of the states stay at home order, the commuter railroad said on Monday. To ride free, medical personnel just need to present a work ID showing that theyre employed at a hospital, medical facility, doctors office or local fire department, Metra said in a news release. We know its a small gesture but if it makes this all a little bit easier for these men and women who are bravely showing up at work every day and saving lives during this crisis, its the right thing to do, Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski said. Metra has plenty of room on its trains, as ridership is down on Monday to about 10% of what it is on a normal weekday, spokesman Michael Gillis said. The railroad cut its weekday service by about half to deal with the loss of ridership and give workers more time to deep-clean train cars. Mary Wisniewski 12:35 p.m.: Man charged after yelling corona and coughing in Chicago cops face, police say A man has been charged with aggravated battery to a police officer after yelling corona and coughing in a Chicago cops face. Chicago police officers responding to a car accident in the Rogers Park neighborhood on Sunday saw Anthony Ponzi, 21, of Wilmette in a highly agitated state, slurring his speech and foaming at the mouth, according to an arrest report. When an officer tried to check Ponzis eyes for signs of impairment, Ponzi yelled Corona, OK and coughed directly on the officers face so close that the officer immediately felt particles of saliva/breath, according to the arrest report. Ponzi was taken into custody and taken to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, where he told hospital staff he did not have the virus, according to a Chicago police spokeswoman.Ponzi was charged with two counts of aggravated battery to a peace officer and misdemeanor charges including battery, resisting arrest, and DUI. He is expected in court for a bond hearing Monday. Read more here. Megan Crepeau and Jeremy Gorner Noon: More judges to take bench to speed release of Cook County Jail detainees who dont pose safety risk In an attempt to speed the release of detainees from the Cook County Jail amid coronavirus concerns, more judges will take the bench this week in Chicagos main criminal courthouse to formally release people who are not believed to pose a safety risk. Prosecutors, sheriffs and the Public Defenders office already have been working together to agree on which jail detainees could safely be released, and have brought about 100 of those cases before a judge for review. Criminal Division Presiding Judge LeRoy Martin Jr.'s new order Monday would essentially ramp up that process significantly, calling for more judges in more courtrooms to sign off on the agreed-upon cases. Martins decision came in the wake of Public Defender Amy Campanellis call for consolidated bail reviews, in which a judge could potentially approve the mass release of hundreds of detainees at once. Campanelli told Martin on Monday that the jail by inherently presents an enormous public health threat in a pandemic. By their nature, jails are confined spaces where social distancing is impossible unless it is depopulated, she said. ... It is festering, and people will get sick, they will need treatment, and will (the jails medical facility) be able to take care of them?" But Martin rejected the call for en masse releases, saying that each must be considered on a case-by-case basis even if the prosecutors and public defenders agree that the defendant should be released. I am hesitant to say we should take a group and some one order should be signed affecting that group, he said. While the court has a responsibility to the detainees in the county jail, the court also has a responsibility to the public and has a responsibility to not release individuals who, in the courts discretion, believes ought not be released. Megan Crepeau and Annie Sweeney 11:50 a.m.: City homeless shelters get additional beds at YMCAs to ease overcrowding Chicago homeless shelters will have access to approximately 900 beds to ease overcrowding and contain the spread of the coronavirus, according to city officials. Three YMCA locations throughout the city have already pledged 400 beds to the cause, city officials announced, and they expect an additional 500 beds will become available from other locations later this week. Mayor Lori Lightfoot is to announce the move at an afternoon news conference, along with additional space at downtown hotels for those awaiting confirmation of coronavirus diagnoses or who need to isolate themselves. The announcement comes after large and small agencies providing homelessness assistance felt the squeeze of supply and volunteer shortages amid mounting pressure to comply with public health recommendations of social distancing and self-isolation. Under governor Pritzkers stay-at-home order, shelters are deemed essential because they provide charitable and social services, but organizations across the city and suburbs have still had to close locations or cut the number of beds they have available for the safety of their staff and residents. Read more here. Cecilia Reyes 11:43 a.m.: Chicago plans to rent thousands of hotel rooms for coronavirus isolation in move to preserve space in hospitals The city of Chicago plans to rent thousands of hotel rooms to be used for people diagnosed with the new coronavirus or those who believe theyve been exposed, in an effort to stop the spread of the illness and relieve the burden on hospitals. City officials have an agreement to rent rooms in the 215-room Cambria Chicago Magnificent Mile, and are close to finalizing other deals that would give the city more than 1,000 hotel rooms to isolate people who are mildly ill with COVID-19, residents who fear theyve been exposed and for those who are awaiting test results, Deputy Mayor Samir Mayekar told the Tribune. Read more here. Ryan Ori and Lori Rackl 11:31 a.m.: Village of Oak Park says second resident tests positive for COVID-19 A second Oak Park resident has tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus, village officials announced over the weekend. Village public health director Mike Charley announced the positive result, saying a woman in her 40s had been tested March 18. The results were confirmed two days later. Read more here. Steve Schering 11:27 a.m.: Indiana governor orders residents to stay home due to coronavirus as state reports 7 deaths Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb on Monday ordered residents to remain in their homes except for essential errands in an effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus, mirroring similar orders in adjacent Illinois and Ohio. Holcomb said Monday that the order still allows the states 6.8 million residents to seek essentials including groceries and medicine and makes exemptions for employees of crucial industries. The state has reported seven deaths and 259 virus infections. The states most recent death from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, was an adult over the age of 60 in northeastern Indianas. Allen Countys health department announced his death Sunday, the Indiana State Department of Health said. Read more here. Associated Press 10:57 a.m.: Wisconsin governor orders non-essential businesses across the state closed to slow the spread of COVID-19 Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers ordered the closure of all non-essential businesses starting Tuesday, and is urging people to stay at home to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus that has killed four people in the state and infected at least nearly 400. Evers tweeted Monday that he would be signing the safer-at-home order on Tuesday. It comes after Evers already ordered K-12 schools and a host of other businesses closed, including bars, restaurants and hair salons, and limited gatherings to no more than 10 people. Read more here. Associated Press 10:35 a.m.: Pritzker again goes on TV to push Trump on medical supplies Appearing Monday on NBCs Today show, Gov. J.B. Pritzker pushed President Donald Trump to invoke the Defense Production Act to produce ventilators, a medical device used to treat individuals with respiratory failure caused by COVID-19. While U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams said Monday that this measure is unnecessary when companies are already volunteering to produce ventilators, Pritzker said prices are being ratcheted up when different states and countries compete to purchase them. In one case were competing with ventilators with FEMA and the federal government. So Illinois is bidding for ventilators against the federal government. In another case we were bidding against foreign countries and other states, the governor said. The Defense Production Act would prevent rising ventilator prices by allowing the federal government to act as a single buyer and then distribute ventilators between the states, Pritzker said. The governor also urged the U.S. Senate to resolve disagreements over the proposed $2 trillion aid package, but said the funds should funnel to middle-class and working-class families, as well as states. Needlessly handing billions of dollars to companies, when you could put it in the hands of average folks, or into the hands of states that are providing services, seems illogical. Antonia Ayres-Brown 10:08 a.m.: Illinois treasurer makes $250 million available for low-interest bridge loans The Illinois state treasurers office is making $250 million available to Illinois banks and credit unions to extend low-interest bridge loans to businesses and nonprofits affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Treasurer Michael Frerichs office will loan the money to financial institutions at an interest rate of 0.01%. The banks and credit unions will then lend the money to small businesses that have been shut down or limited by the COVID-19 outbreak at rates not to exceed 4.75%. Business must have less than $1 million in liquid assets or $8 million in average annual receipts, and they must be headquartered in Illinois or agree to use the money in the state.More information is available at bit.ly/SmallBizRelief. Dan Petrella 9:54 a.m.: Kane County religious school moves to e-learning as sheriffs deputies prepare to bring the school into compliance with stay at home mandate Kane County sheriffs deputies spent Monday morning at Northwest Baptist Academy in Elgin, planning to ask parents to keep their children home from what was believed to be the last open school in the state, but school officials decided to move to e-learning before the start of the school day. Undersheriff Patrick Gengler said his office had been in talks all weekend starting Friday with the school, which is part of the larger Northwest Bible Baptist Church community. Read more here. Katherine Rosenberg-Douglas 9:23 a.m.: Michigan governor to announce stay-at-home order today, official says Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will announce a statewide stay-at-home order to curb the spread of the coronavirus, with an exemption for certain workers, a government official told The Associated Press on Monday. The order, which will take effect at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, will allow essential" employees necessary to sustain and protect life to continue going to work, said a high-ranking administration official who had direct knowledge of the measure. The person was not authorized to speak publicly before the Democratic governors scheduled 11 a.m. Monday news conference. Read more here. Associated Press 8:30 a.m. As local athletes wait for answers, Japan signals the Olympic Games may be postponed With the Canadian and Australian Olympic teams refusing to compete in Tokyo this summer, Japanese organizers and the International Olympic Committee appear to be reconsidering their position on holding the Games despite the corona pandemic. Japanese Prime Minister Shinto Abe on Monday acknowledged the Games, which are slated to start July 24, may be postponed because of the threat to athlete health and safety. If Im asked whether we can hold the Olympics at this point in time, I would have to say that the world is not in such a condition, Abe told parliament. The comment, however, still leaves tens of thousands of athletes around the world in limbo, as many have seen their training facilities closed and critical competitions cancelled amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Even if the pandemic tapers to the point where it is possible to hold the Games, athletes have questioned whether Olympic trials and other qualifying events -- many of which have been canceled -- could be held under healthy, fair and properly trained conditions. I definitely want the Olympics to happen at some point," said rhythmic gymnast Elizaveta Pletneva of Deerfield, whose teams main qualifying competition has not been rescheduled yet. But when you look at whats happening around the world and you look at the calendar, Im not sure it will be able to happen this summer." Read more here. Stacy St. Clair As campuses empty, officials in college towns worry students will be missed by census The U.S. Census Bureau confirmed it will count the student population from now-shuttered dormitories, but some officials in large college towns remain concerned that campus closures because of the coronavirus could result in undercounting. Even before the COVID-19 outbreak, college students were already considered a hard-to-count population in each decennial census. Although students in on-campus residences typically arent responsible for counting themselves, those in off-campus apartments and houses have the potential to be uncounted if they fail to fill out the census questionnaire. Undercounts could diminish funding and political representation apportioned on the basis of population. Read more here. Antonia Ayres-Brown Chicagoans break out their sewing machines to make homemade masks for doctors, nurses Inspired by requests from local doctors and nurses, as well as calls for masks from providers such as the Indiana-based Deaconess Health System, volunteers have taken to social media with hashtags such as #1millionmasks. They are dusting off their sewing machines, sharing material and elastic, and arranging drop-offs and pickups from front stoops and porches. There are many women doing this in the last few days, said Dima Ali, a jewelry designer in Oak Park who has sewn masks for nurses, a doctor and a chef in a retirement center. After Ali posted Thursday on Facebook, neighbors started showing up with donations of elastic and fabric lots of fabric. I have boxes of fabric outside now. Its really heartwarming, Ali said Friday. I was like, OK, lets do this, people! Read more here. Nara Schoenberg Sunday, March 22 Heres a recap of coronavirus updates in the Chicago area and Illinois from Sunday: Saturday, March 21 Few could deny that Raymond Bloom was a patriot. Four years before he was drafted into the Army to fight in World War I, Bloom had become annoyed at the thoughtlessness of Americans who did not show the appropriate level of love and respect for the flag and national anthems that honored the country. Bloom had become so incensed that he brought his concerns to his class at Williams College, a prestigious liberal arts school on the East Coast. His outrage, his mother later wrote, inspired the college to implement formal action, though it is unclear in her letter what that action might have been. In that same letter, his mother wrote that her son wanted to serve his country and that the day he was drafted was the crowning joy of his life. On March 5, 1918, Bloom left the family ranch near Magdalena and boarded a train for Camp Funston, an Army training camp on Fort Riley, Kansas. He was the first of 31 draftees out of Socorro County at the time. On March 6, he wrote a post card to his mother from Colorado, telling her that he was due to arrive at Camp Funston that night. He signed his note With love, Raymond. Sixteen days after his arrival, Bloom was dead. He was 24. His death March 22, 1918, came not by the ravages of war but the relentlessness of a pandemic that was spreading across the globe unabated and, in the United States at that point, mostly downplayed. Camp Funston is believed to have been the first and deadliest locations in the United States where the virulent virus known alternately as the 1918 flu or the H1N1 virus or, erroneously, the Spanish flu struck. It was the most severe pandemic in recent history, infecting one-third of the worlds population, killing millions, including at least 650,000 in the United States and about 3,000 in New Mexico. As COVID-19 continues to amp up around the world today, one can wonder how long the 1918 pandemic will maintain that top status. So I turned to David Holtby, an Albuquerque historian who wrote the book Lest We Forget: World War I and New Mexico, a seminal work on our states role, contribution and sacrifice in the Great War which includes the causes and casualties of those who perished in the influenza pandemic. Because we have forgotten. Its essential to look back at history to compare what we learned then to what we should learn now. In his book, Holtby explains that he chose the title for his book because the phrase is often used as a cautionary warning that if lessons once known are lost we are in peril of bumbling into avoidable pitfalls. It refers to being unprepared and underestimating a coming crisis and singles out leaders incapable of decisive and proactive problem solving, officials who were watchful but unseeing blind to the reality of the horror they were about to bring into the world,' he writes. Holtby also believes in the importance of putting a face on those historical casualties, those humans behind the statistics and the facts. History is humanity. In the book I talk about how the particular reveals the universal, Holtby said as we chatted isolated in our separate homes. Its granular history, a means to look to the past to teach us through the stories of the people. As we continue to be bombarded with dismal numbers COVID-19 brings us daily, its easy to forget that behind every statistic is a person and a story. In 1918, one of those stories was Raymond Bloom. Through his research, Holtby discovered that Bloom was the youngest of two sons born to Anna and Richard Bloom, a prominent family well known in Magdalena and Santa Fe even after Richards death when Raymond was 7. He was a smart and sensitive lad, graduating second in his high school class and attending Williams before suffering a nervous breakdown in his senior year and returning to the family ranch near Magdalena to recover. Magdalena gave him back his health, affording him many hours of hiking and a job as a clerk at Becker & McTavish, a general mercantile store. Despite Anna Blooms letter expressing her sons honor in being drafted, Holtby said there are indications that the family attempted to dissuade the draft board from sending him to war but to no avail. Unknowingly, the draft board sent Raymond Bloom to his death. Within days of his arrival, Bloom was sick, his symptoms described as a severe headache, chills or chilliness, pains in the back or legs, temperature sometimes as high as 104, great prostration and drowsiness, Holtby wrote. Pneumonia quickly set in, fluid filling his lungs, essentially drowning him. A March 21 telegram from Fort Riley to his mother reported that Bloom was seriously ill with pneumonia. A second telegram dated March 22 reported that Bloom had died of pneumonia at 6:10 that morning. New Mexico newspapers, including the Albuquerque Journal, reported Blooms death as the result of pneumonia, with no mention of the influenza that was afflicting millions around the globe, including 48 seemingly healthy men from March 4 to March 29, 1918, at Camp Funston. To put these 48 deaths in three weeks into statistical perspective, in all 32 training camps during the final four months of 1917, fewer than 100 soldiers died from pneumonia, Holtby said. That connection and the militarys attempt to downplay the deplorable conditions that had served as both petri dish and death chamber for the soldiers at Camp Funston would not become clear until years later, Holtby said. The headline in the Journal on March 27, 1918, read: Santa Fe Pays Homage To Its First War Hero. Blooms farewell was the first military funeral in Santa Fe of any of the young men who answered their countrys call in this war, the paper reported, and the first member of the military from the World War I era to be buried at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. He, of course, would not be the last. At his funeral, his mother requested My Country Tis of Thee. It was a fitting way to remember him. UpFront is a front-page news and opinion column. Reach Joline at 823-3603, jkrueger@abqjournal.com, Facebook or @jolinegkg on Twitter. Facebook Twitter Google RAMBLER&Co ID By logging in to LiveJournal using a third-party service you accept LiveJournal's User agreement A New York couple got married in the street with their friend officiating from a nearby window amid fears the coronavirus outbreak might disrupt their October nuptials. Reilly Jennings, 28, and Amanda Wheeler, 38, got married on Friday in front of four of their best friends in the Manhattan neighbourhood of Washington Heights. Another of their friends officiated the ceremony from his fourth-floor apartment window, in honour of so-called social distancing rules around the virus crisis. Originally planning to get married in October, the couple feared stricter travel restrictions and the closure of their wedding venue might stop the big day going ahead. Writing on Instagram, Reilly said: "We were supposed to get married in October. The reality of that happening in our current climate seemed slim. "Amandas business closed and everything has just blown up." The couple managed to get a copy of their marriage licence on Thursday, but, as they were about to leave home on Friday for the ceremony, New York City's Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the bureau would be closing for the foreseeable future. Panicked, Reilly and Amanda starting messaging their friends, desperately hoping to find someone to officiate their wedding at short notice. "I definitely panicked," Reilly told NBC News. "I was freaking out a little bit. I just wanted to get it done." Luckily, the couple found out their friend Matt Wilson was certified to perform the ceremony and agreed to go ahead - from his apartment window. Avideo of the ceremony shows Matt reading an excerpt from the novel "Love in the Time of Cholera" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, before the couple say "I do" in front of neighbours hanging out of their windows and onlookers who had stopped in the street to watch. "What a day," Reilly said on Instagram. "Amidst the uncertainty and despair we all feel right now, marrying the love of my life in the most NYC moment was perfect. Iceland Foods has added a donation banner for the National Emergencies Trust to its website and social media channels in response to overwhelming demand from customers. On Monday, the supermarket announced its next steps in supporting the most vulnerable, as the effects of the coronavirus crisis continue to take hold. Following a surge in enquiries from customers seeking ways to help their local communities, Iceland has added a banner to its websites homepage to enable shoppers to donate to the National Emergencies Trust, an organisation that works with local charities and distribution partners to ensure that support is delivered to those that need it most. The charity has launched a Coronavirus Appeal specifically for those affected by the outbreak, whether that be due to ill health or economical and social struggles. Iceland will also be including links via its social media channels to ensure it is as easy as possible for customers to show their support for the charity, with the hopes of reaching its millions of customers with the call to action. The retailer will also email its customers with details of how to donate, further supporting the appeal. Richard Walker, managing director at Iceland Foods, said: The National Emergencies Trust is raising vital funds for those most affected, and its work will support local charities to help the most vulnerable people and ensuring they are cared for. They need our help at this unprecedented time and we are proud to be supporting. We have seen an overwhelming level of support and goodwill from our customers over the past few weeks, with many asking us how vulnerable groups in their communities can be helped. As well as donating where possible, we continue to ask our customers to support us by adhering to our priority and exclusive shopping hours, and acting with kindness and respect when visiting our stores. In addition to its support for the National Emergencies Trust, Iceland Foods has already donated 150,000 to Age UKs Emergency Coronavirus Appeal, as older people find themselves some of the worst hit within our communities. Last week, the retailer also became the first supermarket to announce dedicated hours for the elderly and the vulnerable, which has now been extended to include exclusive hours for the NHS over the weekend. Other supermarkets have also picked up on the initiative, including Lidl and Tesco in Ireland and Sainsburys. In an open letter, Sainsburys said that after receiving messages from many customers, it had decided to allocate specific shopping times for NHS and social care workers for half an hour before opening every day, from 7.30am to 8am Monday to Saturday. The dedicated shopping hours for the elderly, disabled customers and carers are running from 8am to 9am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Marks & Spencer also recently released a statement online announcing it is setting aside the first hour of the day for the elderly and vulnerable customers on Mondays and Thursdays, in addition to NHS and emergency workers on Tuesdays and Fridays. Apple CEO Tim Cook announced that the company will be donating masks to health professionals during the COVID-19 global pandemic crisis. In a tweet, Cook wrote, "Our teams at Apple have been working to help source supplies for healthcare providers fighting COVID-19. We're donating millions of masks for health professionals in the US and Europe. To every one of the heroes on the front lines, we thank you." Recently, Apple announced that it will close all offline stores worldwide outside of China until March 27 to help contain the spread of the virus. The company has also committed USD 15 million to help with worldwide recovery. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) MBABANE Police, community police, bagcugcuteli (health motivators), bagijimi (chief-runners) and bobandlancane (inner council) will be dispatched to ensure communities adhere to governments call of banning gatherings of more than 50 people. The Minister of Tinkhundla Administration and Development, David Cruiser Ngcamphalala, made this pronouncement yesterday during a press briefing which was held at the ministrys conference room. Ngcamphalala said government had observed with disappointment the non-adherence by communities that continued with social gatherings as usual. It was reported by various media that some of these gatherings exceeded the stipulated 50 people as advised by the Prime Minister, Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini, as means of preventing the spread of the coronavirus. The nation is urged to comply with the guidelines in order to protect our citizens from the pandemic, Ngcamphalala said. He said gatherings such as weddings, funerals, community meetings, church services and family meetings were being held without following the government stipulated precautionary measures. Preventative The minister said communities were urged to take preventative measures to eliminate transmission of the virus through adhering to the messages currently being run in the media, which included washing of hands regularly with running water and soap, covering mouth when coughing and also to avoid shaking hands and hugging and touching the face. Others are maintaining a distance of at least one to two meters from each other, all public and private gatherings attracting 50 or more people are suspended and those who have flu- like symptoms to contact the nearest health centres. Meanwhile, Hhohho Regional Administrator Princess Tsandzile said a meeting with all chiefs in the country would be scheduled soon to pass on the message because community members were overlooking the precautions by government. According to Princess Tsandzile, the Hhohho Region has been divided into two as they would be meeting Hhohho North chiefs next week Thursday, while they will visit Hhohho South on Friday. She said they wanted to make sure that all the chiefs received the announcement. The regional administrator said they would be accompanied by health officials to explain the status quo. Message On another hand, Shiselweni Regional Commander Wendy Hleta said police were trying by all means to send the message through to the nation and that they were not waging war but ensuring their safety. Hleta said should they find gatherings exceeding 50 people they would stop them. She said people could visit the nearest police station to seek guidance when they want to conduct gatherings. Hleta said mostly they encouraged that senior members of the family be represented during gatherings. Kerala decided to go in for a total lockdown from midnight tonight till March 31 with 28 new positive COVID-19 cases, the highest on a single day, being reported on Monday, taking the total number of people under treatment to 91 and more than 64,000 under surveillance. With positive cases continuing to rise, the government decided to go in for the lockdown from midnight tonight till month end, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who held a series of high-level meetings with various departments and stakeholders, said. At least 64,320 are under surveillance in the state and 383 are in isolation wards of various hospitals. Of the 28 new cases, 19 are from the worst-affected northern district of Kasaragod, five are from Kannur, one from Pathnamthitta, two from Ernakulam and one from Thrissur, Vijayan told reporters after a COVID-19 review meeting. This is the highest number of positive cases detected in the state on a single day. Within the last four days, the state had recorded 67 positive cases. "Twenty-five of the 28 found positive today had returned from Dubai," Vijayan said, adding as of now there is no evidence of community spread of the virus. As part of the lockdown, the state's borders will remain closed, state run KSRTC and private buses would be off the roads, but private vehicles would be allowed. Banks would be open only till 2 pm. "All essential materials will be made available. All state borders will remain closed. There will not be any public transportation.KSRTC and private buses will not ply, but private vehicles would be allowed. Petrol pumps would not be shut and LPG distribution will not be affected," Vijayan said. Hotels will be opened but only takeaway facility would be allowed. "We will also request the RBI to disinfect currency notes and coins.Essential shops will remain open from 7 AM to 5 PM in the evening. But medical shops are exempted from this," Vijayan said. Places of worship will be out of bound for devotees. A priest in Chalakudy was arrested on Monday after he conducted mass at a church defying goverment orders against large gatherings. He was later released. A case was registered against the priest and at least 100 people who attended the mass. With several instances of people in home quarantine defying medical advice to remain indoors, Vijayan said those in quarantine must strictly follow the health department's directions. He said their mobile tower location will be continuously monitored to make sure that they remain in quarantine or else strict action would be taken against those violating directions. In bad for tipplers, bars will remain shut in Kerala which is known for its high liquor consumption, but outlets of the state-run Beverages Corporation will remain open. "Beverages will remain open. We have had some previous bad experiences when the government had stopped the sale of liquor. It will create many social issues. Moreover, in the centre's list of essential services, beverages is also there," Vijayan said, adding that the crowd will be controlled. Four people who tested positive for the virus have been treated and discharged. While three medical students from Wuhan were treated and discharged earlier, a man from Kannur was recently discharged. Kasaragod and Kozhikode districts are already under lockdown as the district collectors had yesterday itself imposed prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC. "The situation in Kasaragod is bit different from other parts of the state. Restrictions are more severe there. People must strictly stay inside their homes.Those who fail to follow the health department's instructions will face arrest," he said. Those who reach the state from other states must striclty undergo home quarantine of 14 days, Vijayan added. Kasaragod's border with Kannur has been closed. Even small roads have been closed using barricades. At Vatakara in Kozhikode district at least 500 people standing in queue in front of a beverages outlet were chased away by police. Several migrant workers, who were stranded at the railway station in Palakkad following cancellation of long distance trains in the last two days, were taken to an auditorium at nearby Kanjikode by labour department officials where they were provided food and accommodation. This will continue till services are resumed, according to officials. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, March 23, 2020 18:32 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206ceac29 1 Business Indonesia,corporation,donation,COVID-19,Gojek,Adaro,Indofood,SOEs,Facebook Free Multinational and major local companies are rolling up their sleeves to not only keep businesses going but also help the government limit the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and its harsh impact on economic activities in the country. Assistance comes not only from the largest technology companies but also local publicly-listed companies and state-owned enterprises. They have come up with various initiatives to help the people affected by the new coronavirus, such as providing a safety net program. Homegrown decacorn (a start-up valued at more than US$10 billion) Gojek announced on Wednesday through a press release that it would be the first on-demand application in Indonesia to launch an income assistance scheme for its driver-partners who tested positive for COVID-19. Gojek strives to keep people living life as normal as possible amid the challenges the COVID-19 has brought, including the partners in our ecosystem, Gojek co-chief executive officer (CEO) Kevin Aluwi said in a written statement on Wednesday. Gojek will provide a stipend for its driver-partners for 14 days and will put on hold any due payments of its partners, including for insurance coverage and vehicle installments, until they are cleared to go back to work. The income assistance scheme is available since Thursday. They are saving lives. Our job is to support them as best we can and be the champion of their noble role in this story, co-CEOs Kevin and Andre Soelistyo wrote, referring to the driver-partners role in helping people stick to the social distancing regime urged by the government to limit the spread of the virus. Read also: What we can do to help those financially hit by COVID-19: Economist's take Gojek joins other major multinational corporations in providing financial security for their workers. Global tech giant Apple, for example, has updated its sick-leave policy by providing unlimited paid leave to its hourly employees who become sick with COVID-19 symptoms. Aside from the stipend given to its sick driver-partners, Gojek is also extending its support for healthcare workers by waiving food delivery fees in areas near hospitals and rolling out GoRide and GoCar vouchers for trips to and from hospitals and testing centers. PT Adaro Energy Tbk (ADRO), PT Indofood Sukses Makmur Tbk (INDF) and PT Puradelta Lestari Tbk (DMAS) are among the publicly listed companies that have donated funds to help cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. Indonesias major coal producer Adaro Energy, meanwhile, has handed the government Rp 20 billion ($1.33 million) in cash to help it fight COVID-19 through its task force set up to handle the crisis. "We will use up to Rp 5 billion from the donation to provide ambulances and the remaining Rp 15 billion to be dedicated to the team responsible for providing logistical support and medicine for nurses, doctors and health workers, including ambulance drivers, the head of the task force, Doni Monardo, who is also the chief of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), said after receiving the donation on Monday. Read also: Adaro donates Rp 20b to Indonesia's fight against COVID-19 SOE Minister Erick Thohir announced on Friday through a virtual press conference that, following a meeting with high-ranking officials including President Joko Jokowi Widodo, the SOE's CSR programs for this year would be used mostly to provide medical equipment and medical services for people infected with the new coronavirus. The minister said that pharmaceutical SOEs would also be tasked with producing and distributing up to 4.7 million masks by the end of March. Meanwhile, companies under the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) are in cooperation with the Buddha Tzu Chi Indonesia Foundation to raise up to Rp 500 billion ($31.27 million) in funds to donate healthcare equipment to medical workers. The funds, which would be distributed under the coordination of the Health Ministry and the COVID-19 task force, would be in the form of 1 million rapid test kits, 20,000 coveralls, four ventilators and 1 million masks. Meanwhile, Facebook announced on Wednesday through its Instagram platform that it would be offering $100 million in cash grants and ad credits, the latter refers to a form of payment for users ads on Facebook and Instagram, to up to 30,000 eligible small businesses in more than 30 countries Facebook operates in. We want to focus on helping small businesses [that] need it most in this time of crisis, so they can keep the lights on and keep their people paid, a Facebook spokesperson told The Jakarta Post on Friday, adding that the businesses did not have to be on its social media platform, either Facebook, Instagram or WhatsApp, to be eligible for the grants. Read also: Battered by virus: Businesses across Indonesia feel the pinch The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a sister corporation of the World Bank that focuses on developing the private sector in emerging markets, announced on March 17 it would increase its available COVID-19 financing to $8 billion, up from an earlier $6 billion. The IFC has pledged to give out more loans to companies if needed, wherein $2 billion of its $8 billion support in the COVID-19 response package will be allocated to finance existing clients in the infrastructure, manufacturing, agriculture and services industries that are deemed vulnerable to the pandemic. (ydp) Riska Rahman contributed to this report IVF babies are knit together by God but Christians should be hesitant, says theologian Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Babies conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF) are knit together by God in the womb like babies conceived in the traditional manner, according to notable Bible teacher John Piper. In an episode of Ask Pastor John posted to DesiringGod.org on Monday, Piper was asked by a listener named Carly about how to explain the Christian perspective on babies conceived by IVF. The question of being knit together derives from Psalm 139:13, which reads, For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mothers womb. How can a Christian explain to non-Christians that every child is a gift from God when some children are conceived medically through IVF and other fertility treatments? Im at a loss and I really want to be able to answer this question, inquired Carly. I believe all children are from God. But how do I answer this question? I recently saw a story about a lesbian couple who conceived a child through IVF. The child was fertilized by donor sperm and implanted in one woman and then harvested and implanted in the other woman to carry to term. Its so unnatural, but I know that child is meant to be here. Piper began by saying Christians "should be very careful, thoughtful, and hesitant to walk very far outside the natural processes God has put in place for making babies." "There is an entire global industry of baby-making which is shot through with unanswered ethical and medical questions," he said. Pointing out the problem of thousands of frozen embryos being abandoned, Piper said he is not opposed to adopting such embryos. There are people at our church that have done that: adopted an embryo, put it in Mom, and raised the baby. I dont think we should make decisions that contribute to that problem," he stressed. "Weve got ourselves with these thousands of frozen little babies because of all kinds of technological things that we didnt foresee would create all these issues." Piper then argued that creating human babies is decisively Gods work, not mans and cited multiple Bible verses, among them Job 10:11-12, Psalm 71:6, and Ecclesiastes 11:5. No baby decides if he or she is human. No parent decides if their baby is human. No sperm donor, egg donor, or womb donor decides if the baby is human, said Piper. I conclude from these passages and others that humans dont bring humans into being; God does. Humans contribute genetic material, but God makes the union of egg and sperm the living, eternal human soul. In arguing that IVF babies are knit together by God, Piper pointed out that God often uses foolishness and even evil to bring beauty into being. If God really creates a human soul that once did not exist, and now exists forever as a person, then doing this Godlike thing through natural or unnatural, good or bad, sinful or un-sinful ways of uniting egg and sperm is a piece of cake," he added. "Its relatively easy. I mean, creating a human being is the great glory and mystery. The how is relatively unimportant when it comes to whether God can do it or not. If God can orchestrate Herod, Pilate, brutal Roman soldiers, and unbelieving Jews to bring about the greatest life-giving event that ever was the death and resurrection of Jesus then making a human baby with sinful humans is not a problem, he concluded. IVF is a controversial topic in certain Christian circles, with many questioning the ethics of the practice. For its part, the Roman Catholic Church outright opposes the practice. Techniques involving only the married couple (homologous artificial insemination and fertilization) are perhaps less reprehensible, yet remain morally unacceptable, reads the Churchs Catechism in part. They dissociate the sexual act from the procreative act. The act which brings the child into existence is no longer an act by which two persons give themselves to one another, but one that entrusts the life and identity of the embryo into the power of doctors and biologists and establishes the domination of technology over the origin and destiny of the human person. The Ask Pastor John episode comes a month after Swedish researchers found that babies born through the use of IVF had a 45 percent higher mortality rate during their first 12 months of life. The proportions of children who were born preterm or with a low birth weight for gestational age were higher in assisted reproductive techniques-conceived than in natural conceived children," stated Kenny Rodriguez-Wallberg of the Department of Oncology and Pathology at Karolinska Institute. The main drivers for the first year mortality risk among children conceived with assisted reproductive techniques included respiratory distress, incomplete lung development, infections and neonatal hemorrhage, which are conditions often linked to prematurity. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 12:58:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A family member of a prisoner waits outside the prison where an attempted prison break happened in Bogota, Colombia, March 22, 2020. An attempted prison break in Colombia's capital Bogota left 23 inmates dead and 83 others injured, of whom 32 are hospitalized, Justice Minister Margarita Cabello said on Sunday. Seven prison guards and officials belonging to the National Penitentiary and Prison Institute (INPEC) were also injured, two of them critically, said Cabello. (Photo by Jhon Paz/Xinhua) BOGOTA, March 22 (Xinhua) -- An attempted prison break in Colombia's capital Bogota left 23 inmates dead and 83 others injured, of whom 32 are hospitalized, Justice Minister Margarita Cabello said on Sunday. "Today is a very painful day for the country. I have to report that last night there was a massive and criminal attempt to escape from the La Modelo penitentiary," said Cabello. Seven prison guards and officials belonging to the National Penitentiary and Prison Institute (INPEC) were also injured, two of them critically, said Cabello. Also on Saturday night, riots occurred in several other prisons in Colombia as part of a large-scale scheme to break out of jail, said the minister. "There were no escapes ... there was a criminal plan to escape that was thwarted," she said. Cabello denied that the hygienic conditions in the prisons raised the risk of contracting the novel coronavirus, and dismissed this as a concern for the inmates and the motive behind the riots. "There also are no sanitary problems that could have led to the plan or the riots. Today, there is not even a single case of infection, not an inmate, administrator or guard who has the coronavirus or who could be quarantined due to the coronavirus," said the minister. sl At least 2,000 San Francisco emergency medical workers will begin wearing rings this week that track their body temperature and other vital signs in a first-of-its-kind study to try to identify the early onset of COVID-19 and help curb its spread. In addition to UCSF Medical Center and Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital staff wearing the devices, UCSF also started a campaign Monday to ask the Oura Rings approximately 150,000 users to share their medical data in hopes that researchers can develop an algorithm that could detect the earliest stages of coronavirus, before symptoms manifest. Its that early detection that would allow wearers to seek treatment, isolate themselves and, especially for doctors and nurses serving vulnerable patients, stay home from work. The team hopes to develop a COVID-19 early detection device by fall, when infectious disease experts worry coronavirus will return for a second wave. It will help people self-quarantine sooner, get treatment sooner, said Dr. Ashley Mason, the UCSF assistant psychiatry professor who developed the project and is the lead investigator. Its expected back in the fall and we need to have tools ready. Its a novel approach and one that germinated over a text chain as COVID-19 grew in California. Two weeks ago, Masons study on saunas and extreme heat in the treatment of depression came to a screeching halt when UCSF froze all non-essential research. Nick Otto / Special to The Chronicle A dejected Mason texted Harpreet Rai, the CEO of Oura Health. She had purchased the Oura Rings because they were non-invasive, wearable devices that tracked body temperature. The pair discussed COVID-19 and the CEO began wondering if the ring device that records the wearers vital signs could help TSA agents in airports determine whether they are going to get sick. I told him, I have no idea how to get you into an airport, but Id like to put them on the fingers of all UCSFs emergency staff, Mason recalled. Lets do it! the CEO responded. And just like that, in less than two weeks the pair started a collaboration that could change how medicine operates, said Benjamin Smarr, a UC San Diego assistant professor of bioengineering and data science. There are plenty of signs we can predict this coming, said Smarr, who works as an Oura scientific adviser and will help crunch data. I have no question we could do a good deal of illness prediction. As opposed to an occasional doctor visit that provides a snapshot of an individuals body temperature, heart rate and other vitals, the ring collects vital health information from wearers while they are sleeping and provides aggregate data the next morning. Overnight, unbothered by the environment, the vitals will tell a story. Fever is one of the most reliable signs of people coming down with COVID, said Dr. Rick Hecht, an internist and director of research at UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Medicine who is a senior researcher for the study. One of the strategies in Wuhan, China, at the epicenter of the outbreak, was to have residents report their temperatures every day and immediately isolate anyone with a slight fever. The ring data provides a much more thorough analysis that eliminates fluctuations of temperature that can alter a thermometer reading, Hecht said. There are data indicating that people often dont feel sick or have a cough at the earliest onset of COVID-19, Hecht said, so that window of early detection can be key in reducing the spread. Researchers have taken particular interest in Petri Hollmen, CEO of a Finnish firm, who tested positive for COVID-19 and had been wearing one of the rings. On March 12, Hollmen woke up and learned his body temperature was 1 degree Celsius higher than normal about 100.4 Fahrenheit and his heart rate and breathing rates were slightly increased. But he felt normal, Hollmen recalled in an email to The Chronicle. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Without a device telling me this, I wouldve just thought that I was a bit tired due to the dog waking me up twice during the night, he said. Alerted to that data, he called the hospital because he had been traveling for work the weekend before in an area of Austria that had since been declared a coronavirus hot spot. His test came back positive, and he has since been quarantined at home, where he still has felt few symptoms. Without the ring measuring my body during the night, I would not even had known about the temperature rise, Hollmen wrote in a Facebook post. This makes this (illness easy) to spread you might not even recognize it. The short-term goal, Mason said, is for UCSF and San Francisco General emergency room doctors and nurses to get a heads-up of a fever or impending illness, not just COVID-19, so they stay home or get treated. Already taxed front-line medical workers can little afford to spread illness among themselves, she said. The long-term goal is to collect as much data of healthy and COVID-positive patients who wore the ring and determine common bio-marker activity that precipitated symptoms, such as heightened temperature or breathing patterns. Whether they will be able to differentiate the common flu from COVID-19 is unclear. My hypothesis is they might look pretty similar, but that might not be the main value, Hecht said. It could provide an early warning sign that you have some kind of infection going on. ... The important thing with this is were trying to let people who might be infected know early. The researchers hope users will volunteer their medical information through the Oura Ring app, which has a link to the UCSF study. In fall, (coronavirus) will probably come back, and if we get the data now, Smarr said, by the time it comes well have a good system testing. Matthias Gafni is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: matthias.gafni@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @mgafni Editors note: This story has been updated with additional information. The rings collect vital health information from wearers overnight and provide aggregate data in the morning. LOS ALAMOS Dorian Newton is a big-picture guy, a systems engineer who comes up with a vision and then figures out how to make it happen. But talk to him about the individuals in his nuclear waste-related work programs, and he gets all choked up. It was while watching the first class graduate from a waste processing operator boot camp recently that we realized (that) we had the opportunity to make not just one change, Newton says. Were impacting families, were impacting the region, were impacting generations. Newton, who has done military and civilian service in the Naval Nuclear Power Program, is engineering director of Newport News Nuclear BWXT Los Alamos. A DOE contractor, the company is charged with cleaning up decades-old waste sites at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Newton last month was given a top award for corporate promotion of education by US Black Engineer and Information Technology magazine. The award recognized Newtons role in starting a two-year nuclear operators apprenticeship program in conjunction with Northern New Mexico College that was registered with the state several months ago. It also honored the boot camps he started last year for waste operators and radiological technicians. All program participants are paid and are offered full-time jobs when they complete their training. Students also earn course hours and a certificate. The idea is to give participants support and mentorship, along with the paycheck, and to create a more diverse pipeline for jobs that will have a high demand for workers, Newton says. We look at diversity from the aspect of race, ethnicity, gender and background and what students can bring to the cohort to make it most successful, Newton said in a news release about the programs. It was, he says, the Navy that provided him with the structure he needed to succeed, and hes committed to providing the same thing to others. The Navy fed me, the Navy put a uniform on me, the Navy gave me lodging, Newton says. All the things that would have made it hard for me. The structure I needed, they provided. Were trying to provide some of that structure to help overcome barriers. What do you think makes you successful? To answer that, Ill tell a story. It was after I qualified as a ship test engineer. That was an inter-disciplinary type role where I was in charge of a lot of things that went on in a reactor plant. And in that role, we were doing a startup on a carrier. It was actually the carrier that I had served on. I was very comfortable and thought I knew everything. There was kind of a twist that I hadnt anticipated, and (we) ultimately ended up with a problem. We talked about that problem afterward, and then I realized there were members of the team who (said) I had created an environment that made them uncomfortable to share their input. And I took that on board, and I incorporated that and so the things that help me be successful is I spend a lot of emphasis on recognizing the resources that are there and bringing those resources together. You want everybody to bring their best to the table. What was your childhood like? My father and my mother were both in the Navy. When my father got out of the Navy, he got a job with Bell Helicopter. At that time, Bell Helicopter was in Iran, so we went. I did my kindergarten and half of first grade in Iran. Apparently, I could count in Farsi. I cant do that now. Where did you grow up? I was 6 years old when my mother and my father separated. She was tired of being in Iran, and she went home to Houston. She went her way with the intention theyd come back together, and it just didnt happen. So I grew up in Houston. I would visit my father in Michigan during the summers. What was your first job? Pops Pizza. I was a short-order cook. I actually made sandwiches. I was as young as you could be and work. Whats your favorite food? I like a good steak, but seafood. I like Cajun, Creole. I like oysters, I like shrimp, I like crawfish. We were six hours from New Orleans (in Houston). There was a huge store called Fiesta. It would be like a Latin-American type of Walmart. What I mean by that is you could get a lot of things that you wouldnt get in normal supermarkets. You could get a 26-pound bag of crawfish. Put that in the tub, and you put salt and water in there so they can clean themselves out. Theres a huge pot in the back yard. Wed boil them in there with crab boil and then pour them out on the picnic table. Its very unique to the Gulf region. Who inspires you? To be quite honest with you, characters in the Bible. The characters of Joseph, David. Typically, the thing that inspires me you see an individual who is provided a vision initially, and then you see the progress of their life. Theres no clear pathway to get to that initial vision, but ultimately when you see the fruition of it, you understand they had to go through things and counter things that they didnt necessarily understand. That type of story inspires me. I can see that in Frederick Douglass, I can see that in Martin Luther King. What was the happiest time in your life? I should probably say my wedding day. So Ill say that. Weve done some really great trips. We went to Niagara Falls for my 40th birthday, and that was pretty cool. I liked Duffs Famous Wings. Do you have any pet peeves? Yes, from being in the Navy on a nuclear reactor or just on a ship. Somebody is responsible 24/7 for various attributes that have to be in operation. Thats called a watch. When a person came to relieve you late from a watch or was not prepared to relieve you, they call that bagging you. Thats a pet peeve. In a broader sense, the concept goes to somebody who either comes too late to relieve you or turns something over to you thats not fully completed. Theyre not doing their portion of it, so you end up taking on more, more time or more effort. Describe yourself in three words. A good steward. One-on-One with Dorian Newton One-on-One with Dorian Newton "ANYTHING is possible," said Al Worden, Apollo 15 astronaut after his flight to the moon in 1971. These words, now more than ever ring true. Mr Worden, a patron of Lough Gur, passed away on March 18 at 88 years of age in Houston. As one of only 24 people to have flown to the moon, Mr Worden is part of an exclusive voyagers club. He remains the Guinness Book of World record holder for being the furthest person from earth. It was the great-great-grandson of a Lough Gur native, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, who launched the human space race by choosing to put a man on the moon. One such man to take up President Kennedys call to action was Mr Worden. Some 45 years after his historic flight to the moon, Al Worden, visited Lough Gur to close this circle of history. Kate Harrold, manager of Lough Gur, said his love affair with Lough Gur began in 2014 when he was introduced to the community group in 2014 by senior director of WP Engine, Paul Ryan and Cllr Brigid Teefy. "They suggested that he would appreciate a visit to Lough Gur and from the moment he arrived Al was hooked. "As the only Apollo astronaut to visit Limerick, patron of Lough Gur Al Worden will be remembered locally as a good, kind and generous person who marvelled at the extreme beauty of Lough Gur, believed in its value as a recreational area for Limerick citizens and the areas potential to put Limerick firmly on the map. "The link between ancient monuments and astronomy was of particular area of interest to Al who believed that we all need to take time to look up at the stars and appreciate what we have," said Ms Harrold. Mr Worden visited Lough Gur on three occasions - 2014, 2015 and 2016 - to help Lough Gur Development fundraise for initiatives connected with promoting and preserving Lough Gur as a site of international significance. "During his visits to Lough Gur, Al was always down to earth. He contributed in many inspirational ways to help propel a local community forward in their efforts to care for Lough Gur. I remember his mix of intellectual brilliance, ability to enjoy a good night out and make the most of life overall, said Ms Harrold. Fellow legendary astronaut, Buzz Aldrin tweeted: "'Line of Grey, Be Thou at Peace! Godspeed Al. May he rest in peace. : As the country battles hard to stem the spread of the deadly coronavirus, southern states have turned the focus on home quarantine, issuing stern warnings that violations of it would not be taken lightly and that it would invite legal action. In Kerala, police arrested a priest for holding a mass for faithfuls defying government orders. The priest Pauly Padayatti, Vicar of the Lady of Perpetual Help Church at Koodapuzha in Chalakudy, had conducted the mass in which at least 100 people had participated, police said. The priest was later let off on bail. Other states - Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Telangana also told its citizens that home quarantine should be a strict adherence, even as they initiated action against the violators. The warnings come amid fears of possible spread of the virus from infected persons who may have travelled long distances, hopping from one mode of transport to other, exposing others to the COVID-19 risk. The Telangana Railway police have booked five passengers, including two women, for allegedly violating the government's orders by using public transport despite being advised home quarantine on their return from abroad while a PFI activist from Karimanagar in the state was also held after it emerged he gave shelter to 11 Indonesians who had tested positive for the virus recently. The passengers booked by the Railway Police had come from abroad, and had been advised home quarantine and also marked with the stamping. "They (those stamped on their hands along with the date up to which the quarantine is to be observed) should not use public transport. But these five came to railway stations and boarded trains on Saturday and Sunday," Superintendent of Railway Police B Anuradha said. They were caught from various places of the state, while travelling, and shifted to different hospitals. The five home quarantine passengers including one with suspected symptoms of coronavirus belonged to Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. They had travel history to Nigeria, US, Indonesia, Dubai and Australia. In Karimnagar, a Popular Front of India organiser was earlier detained for running his mathematics institute despite government orders not to do so but later let off. However, police later found he had sheltered the 11 Indonesians infected with coronavirus, who were later shifted to a government hospital in Hyderabad. Arrested again on Sunday, he has been admitted to an isolation ward in a hospital in Karimnagar, police said. In Karnataka's Bengaluru, Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao said those subjected to home quarantine stamping would be arrested if they were found visiting public places. "A total of 5,000 home quarantine stamping were carried to ensure they remained home in public interest," he tweeted. "I have received calls some of those stamped are moving in BMTC (Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation) buses and sitting in restaurants. Please call 100, these people will be picked up, arrested and sent to government quarantine," Rao said. According to officials, the stamped people should remain quarantined at home, the default period being 14 days. The Tamil Nadu government also warned of legal action against overseas returnees violating directions for self- quarantine as a preventive measure against coronavirus, saying they become a threat of community transmission. State Health and Family Welfare Minister C Vijaya Baskar said the list of travellers had been handed over to district administration and police for tracking and legal action would be taken if anyone violated the order. The government indicated such violators' passports could also be confiscated. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prince Harry and Meghan Markle just got slapped with the fact that they are not welcome and needed in the U.K. anymore. On March 20, Express.co.uk launched a poll wherein they asked their readers whether Meghan and Prince Harry should return to the U.K. to be with the royal family amid the coronavirus pandemic or not. Around 6,396 readers participated in the poll, of which 88 percent (5,575 people) said "no." Meanwhile, the remaining 11 percent (711 people) and one percent (110) responded "yes" and "don't know," respectively. The poll came after talks about the royal family seeking for a placeholder due to the virus outbreak emerged. The poll also served as a response to royal expert Nigel Hawthorne, who claimed that the Duke of Sussex could replace Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles during these hard times since the two royals will likely be recommended to isolate and do self-quarantine due to their age. According to the author of "Call Me Diana," Prince William should be the one to step up amid this on-going widespread crisis. However, if ever Kate Middleton gets pregnant, someone else has to replace him again since a "physical presence" of a member of the royal family is what people need the most right now. If this scenario comes, Hawthorne added that the Buckingham Palace would have to "be on bended knee" before they could ask Prince Harry to replace his brother. Currently, the Duke of Sussex is the most ideal member since the next royals in the succession -- Prince George (the eldest child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge), Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis -- obviously cannot handle such crisis. However, the royal expert did not share the same sentiments with the royal watchers and the people of Britain. What Did The People Say After the poll ended, most people just proved that the Sussexes would not be welcomed back in the U.K any more. "No! Absolutely not. They chose to leave and the Royal Family and the country can manage without them," one participant wrote, which got seconded by another user who said that Prince Harry and Meghan are no longer needed and wanted. Another user stated, "There is a well-known quote which suits their situation which states as you make your bed, so you must lie on it." Meanwhile, most users brought up the problem once again and pointed out how much they do not deserve to face Queen Elizabeth II and her people since Prince Harry and Meghan only caused endless heartaches. While they got showered with criticisms once more, some people stood by the Sussexes again and defended the royal couple. One Sussex supporter said that Prince Harry can always come back to assist Prince William and the whole royal family even without his wife's approval. Prince Harry and Meghan will officially leave their positions as senior royal members on March 31, 2020, after they served the monarchy during the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey last March 9. Prince Harry may look all charming, playful, and approachable, but he is also a human being who has his own limit, especially when dealing with the negativities towards his beloved wife Meghan Markle. It has been three months since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced that they would be stepping down as senior members of the royal family. While the couple made it clear that they want to lead a financially independent life and spend their time between the United Kingdom and North America, rumor has it that the royal family's treatment towards Meghan led Prince Harry to such complicated decision. Some suggested that it all started in November 2018 when the 35-year-old Duke confronted his older brother William about not exerting effort to welcome the former "Suits" actress to the royal family. A source said that Harry felt that the 37-year-old Duke of Cambridge is not "rolling out the red carpet" for Meghan. Their father, Prince Charles, tried to step in the feud and instructed William to make an effort, leading the Cambridges to invite the Sussexes to spend Christmas with them. However, Diana's sons debunked the bullying rumors and released a joint statement saying that the hearsays about William bullying Meghan are nothing but fake news. Prince Harry's Final Straw Now that Meghan and Harry are only a few days before officially stepping down as senior royals, a source revealed that the Duke of Sussex reached his patience's limit. It made him decide to pursue their plans to quit their royal duties and move to Canada. "When it became clear Meghan was never going to get a fair shake, Harry snapped," a source told Us Weekly. "He's adamant that it was his call to move to Canada," the source added. Prince Harry is not only looking after the welfare of his 38-year-old wife but also their ten-month-old son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. It turns out that Harry pursued "Megxit" to be able to protect his son from the public and media scrutiny. "[Harry] wants to shield his son from the negativity and tension he would've been exposed to back in England," another royal insider said. "He knows what it's like to grow up in the spotlight, and he wants to give Archie the most normal upbringing possible," the insider added. Sussexes in Canada As soon as Meghan and Harry dropped their bombshell announcement last January, Meghan immediately flew back to Canada, where they are renting a mansion in Vancouver Island. Last week, Meghan joined Harry in the United Kingdom to wrap up a few final royal engagements. This includes attending the annual Endeavor Fund Awards, privately visiting the Immersive Storytelling Studio at the National Theater, gracing the Mountbatten Festival of Music, and joining the rest of the royal family during the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey. Right now, the Sussexes are back in Canada, where they are practicing strict home quarantine protocols to avoid catching the deadly coronavirus. Ellen DeGeneres seemed humble as she caught up with pal Michelle Obama via FaceTime on Monday. The comedienne continued her habit of checking in with famous friends in quarantine by calling the former first lady to chat about the ups and downs of social distancing from the safety of her Santa Barbara home. Though the 62-year-old talk show host seemed charming-as-ever while on the phone, days prior a viral Twitter thread left people calling Ellen 'one of the meanest people alive' after people flocked to post their worst real-life stories about her. Distracting herself? Ellen caught up with Michelle Obama via FaceTime on Monday, just days after 'mean' stories about the talk show host flooded Twitter Ellen - who was given the Presidential Medal Of Freedom by Michelle's husband President Barack Obama in 2016 - looked comfortable as she sat down in her well-appointed living room to make the call. The former sitcom star and Mrs. Obama seemed chummy, as Michelle described how she and the family are coping with isolation. 'We're just trying to keep the routine going, but we've also got a little bit of Netflix and chilling happening,' she said while also revealing that daughters Malia and Sasha were both home from school. 'My condolences that the kids are home,' Ellen laughed as Michelle admitted she 'shouldn't have boasted' about finally having an empty nest. Behind the camera was Ellen's wife Portia, who chimed in to say 'Hi' to the former First Lady. 'I'm filming!' the Arrested Development actress said, adding: 'This is my third career as a videographer.' Checking in: The comedienne continued her habit of checking in with famous friends in quarantine by calling the former first lady to chat about the ups and downs of social distancing from the safety of her Santa Barbara home. Michelle and Ellen are seen in 2018 above New routine: 'We're just trying to keep the routine going, but we've also got a little bit of Netflix and chilling happening,' she said while also revealing that daughters Malia and Sasha were both home from school. The family is seen in 2015 above Ironic! 'My condolences that the kids are home,' Ellen laughed as Michelle admitted she 'shouldn't have boasted' about finally having an empty nest Michelle talked about the pros and cons of isolating, sending her sympathy to those affected by the economic downturn while admitting she's been happy for life to slow down and let people be grateful for what they have. 'This is like no other time in history...' she said. 'You know there is some good and bad that goes with it. 'I feel for all the folks that are gonna suffer because of what's going to happen to the economy, and we have to be mindful about what we're gonna do to support those folks once this quarantine is over. '...On the positive side, I know for us, it's forced us to continue to sit down with each other, have real conversations. Really ask questions and figure out how to keep ourselves occupied without just TV or computers.' Simple things: Michelle talked about the pros and cons of isolating, sending her sympathy to those affected by the economic downturn while admitting she's been happy for life to slow down and let people be grateful for what they have High honors: Ellen was given the Presidential Medal Of Freedom by Michelle's husband President Barack Obama in 2016 Michelle went on, saying: 'It's a good exercise in reminding us that we just don't need a lot of the stuff that we have. When times are bad, having each other, having your health.. We can do with a lot less and I think that's an important lesson that I want my kids to understand.' 'Be grateful for what you have and be ready to share it, because that's really what it's all about,' she continued. Ellen agreed, revealing the ongoing pandemic has made her think about slowing down. After, the pair said their 'Goodbyes', but not before the funny gal challenged Michelle to a plank competition. 'We'll cross that bridge when you feel like you're in shape,' the lawyer/author said before signing off. Lessons: 'Be grateful for what you have and be ready to share it, because that's really what it's all about,' Michelle (above in 2019) said No comment: DeGeneres didn't say anything about the juicy accusations that popped up during a scathing Twitter thread which rocked the internet over the weekend DeGeneres didn't mention anything about the juicy accusations that popped up during a scathing Twitter thread which rocked the internet over the weekend. Former employees and fans flooded the micro-blogging platform with stories blasting the renowned talk show host, with one even calling her 'notoriously one of the meanest people alive.' Comedian Kevin T. Porter kicked the entire social media movement off on Friday, when he sent out a tweet urging people to message him 'the most insane stories [they've] heard' about DeGeneres in an effort to raise money for the Los Angeles Food Bank. Shortly after posting, legions of Twitter users who claimed to have had less than savory interactions with Ellen chimed in with their own tales. 'Right now we all need a little kindness. You know, like Ellen Degeneres always talks about!,' wrote Porter. '[And] I'll match every [story] w/ $2 to @LAFoodBank.' Yikes: Former employees and fans of Ellen took to Twitter Friday to blast the renowned talk show host for her alleged 'mean' behavior On a roll: Comedian Kevin T. Porter kicked the entire social media movement off, when he sent out a tweet urging people to message him 'the most insane stories [they've] heard' about DeGeneres in an effort to raise money for the Los Angeles Food Bank Before scanning his Twitter thread for the best responses, Porter reminded his audience that the stories they submit 'have to be real! Cause we need some REAL kindness right now.' According to one user, former head writer for The Ellen DeGeneres show Karen Kilgariff was 'fired' because she 'wouldn't cross the picket line' during a writer's strike. 'When Karen wouldn't cross the picket line she was fired and Ellen never spoke to her again,' they wrote. Alleged hostility and mistreatment of writers proved to be a reigning theme in the thread, with one user claiming that her 'friend' who had written for Ellen 'for two years' was never acknowledged by her. Loyalty tested: According to one user, former head writer for The Ellen DeGeneres show Karen Kilgariff was 'fired' because she 'wouldn't cross the picket line' during a writer's strike Talk to the hand: Alleged hostility and mistreatment of writers proved to be a reigning theme in the thread, with one user claiming that her 'friend' who had written for Ellen 'for two years' was never acknowledged by her Served: Another user, who had waited on the 62-year-old comedian at the Los Angeles vegan eatery Real Food Daily, claimed that Ellen 'wrote a letter to the owner & complained about [the waitress'] chipped nail polish '[She] told me Ellen didn't greet her once. In fact, upon employment, staff were told they weren't allowed to talk to her' TV writer Benjamin Siemon decided to provide the thread with some stories of his own, that included DeGeneres having an irrationally 'sensitive nose' and often picking 'someone different to really hate' each day on set. 'Everyone must chew gum from a bowl outside her office before talking to her and if she thinks you smell that day you have to go home and shower,' he alleged. 'A new staff member was told 'every day she picks someone different to really hate. It's not your fault, just suck it up for the day and she'll be mean to someone else the next day. They didn't believe it but it ended up being entirely true.' Another user, who had waited on the 62-year-old comedian at the Los Angeles vegan eatery Real Food Daily, claimed that Ellen 'wrote a letter to the owner & complained about [the waitress'] chipped nail polish (not that it was on her plate but just that it was on my hand).' She continued: 'I had worked till closing the night before & this was next morning, almost got me fired.' Another terrible restaurant experience included a story which she 'threw a place of salmon' in a waiter's face 'bc it wasn't what she ordered.' Ellen, a staunch vegetarian, appeared to have multiple negative run-ins with waitstaff, with one Twitter user claiming that the talk show host 'threw a plate of salmon' at her friend because it 'wasn't what she ordered.' Comedian Josh Levesque wrote to Porter explaining that a friend of his had worked as a production assistant for The Ellen Show during a time when actor Russell Brand was set to appear as a guest. Brand allegedly 'came into the employee break area to chat with the crew and hangout,' but then 'Ellen came in and got mad at him.' Apparently, Ellen told the Get Him To The Greek star that he 'didn't have to interact with these people' and 'that's why guests have their own area backstage.' Writer Alison Freer recounted a time when she had been working for a production on the Warner Brothers lot - where The Ellen Show is filmed. '[It] was our showrunner's 50th Bday. Caterer grilling steaks outside for special fancy lunch. Ellen sent someone over to demand they stop, as she doesn't eat meat.' Freer added: 'She's the worst.' One user, not speaking from experience, recalled hearing that Ellen had 'insisted' a newly employed assistant take her 'fancy-a** car on a run,' even though the assistant was 'not comfortable' driving the vehicle. 'The assistant accidentally backed it into a pole and was immediately fired for it,' they wrote. Lots of stories: People had more than a few anecdotes to share Though mostly negative experiences with DeGeneres were documented in Porter's thread, some Twitter users did voice positive exchanges they had had with the chatty gal. Actor Jordan James Smith recounted a time he had worked alongside Ellen on a shoot, where he described her as 'really nice.' 'I once worked on an American Express commercial with her and Beyonce. We talked and I made a joke that made them both laugh. She was actually really nice.' 'Oh nice, I'm glad you had a good experience with her!,' replied Porter to the optimistic commenter. Porter's initial tweet has since garnered more than 5,000 retweets and nearly 1,000 replies, since posting. Daily Mail has reached out to DeGeneres' reps for comment. Mixed bag: Actor Jordan James Smith recounted a time he had worked alongside Ellen on a shoot, where he described her as 'really nice.' 'I once worked on an American Express commercial with her and Beyonce. We talked and I made a joke that made them both laugh. She was actually really nice' Ellen - who is married to actress Portia de Rossi - has currently been holed up in her Los Angeles mansion in wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Since entering quarantine, the star has been using her personal social media to document her day-to-day, which has included calls to her famous pals and various attempts at learning new skills. Ellen announced on Twitter last Friday that The Ellen Show would 'suspend production' as a result of the growing seriousness of coronavirus. 'So, after some more thought, we have decided to suspend production completely until March 30th. We just want to take every precaution to ensure that we do our part to keep everyone healthy,' tweeted the talk show host at the time. DeGeneres continued: 'I love you guys, and can't wait to come back. I'm already bored.' Reprinted from the Dubuque Telegraph Herald March 13. As the escalation of COVID-19 has citizens across the country and around the world on edge, that lost hour of sleep last weekend was likely quickly forgotten. But in fact, health experts note that these twice a year time changes in the name of daylight saving time do have negative medical consequences. Mostly due to disrupted sleep patterns, this period sees an increase in heart attacks and depression. The question is, why are we bothering? Some states like Hawaii and Arizona function just fine without switching back and forth. The European Union has voted to do away with the switch next year. Similar legislation has been floated in Congress. Daylight saving time is, after all, something of a myth. There really isnt any saving of daylight. We just move the time of day a little bit so we might enjoy more time outdoors before sunset. It would be one thing if there were economic or energy savings in daylight saving time. But a government study showed there is virtually none. Department of Energy officials noted that, while people use less energy (household lights) when theres evening daylight, exactly the same amount of daylight was pulled from the morning, requiring more household lighting then. Imagine that. The twice-a-year switching isnt worth it. Whether its year-round standard time or year-round daylight saving time, lets set a standard and stick with it. Sometimes lawmakers have to look for a new path when they find the road blocked for legislation they believe in. Such was the case in the Iowa House of Representatives where a bill to address capping out-of-pocket insulin costs advanced this week. In last years session, Reps. Lindsay James, D-Dubuque, and Andy McKean, D-Anamosa, sponsored a bill that would have authorized a pharmacist to refill an insulin prescription in an emergency for 30 days without prescriber authorization. Sen. Carrie Koelker, R-Dyersville, filed a similar bill on the Senate side. But legislators couldnt get that issue over the finish line in 2019. Rep. Shannon Lundgren, R-Peosta, now House Human Resources Committee, sought another path to address insulin price issues with the cost capping legislation. Lundgren met with insurance and pharmaceutical industry reps, as well as other lawmakers and constituents, while James and Koelker continued to champion the cause. The final bill with the $100 cap passed in the Iowa House 98-1. Congrats to local lawmakers for their tenacity in addressing this issue. By now, drivers know they shouldnt be texting and driving. They have seen the statistics and heard the warnings. They know it is a violation of state law. Still, its not uncommon to see people with eyes and thumbs on their phones while driving. Its time to try a different tack. A bill moving out of an Iowa House committee would double the fines of drivers caught texting in a school zone from $30 to $60. Its a good idea. Because as bad as texting and driving is, texting and driving in a school district is downright idiotic. Heres a better idea. Rather than double the fine, how about increasing them by a factor of 10? The threat of a $60 fine might not get the attention of the aforementioned idiots, but $300 might. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A nurse who had treated Ebola patients in West Africa in 2014 was involuntarily quarantined for three days when she arrived at the Newark airport, on suspicion that she had been infected. She went to court, claiming violation of various rights. The suit ended in a settlement in which New Jersey agreed to grant certain protections to anyone quarantined, such as the right to a lawyer and the right to contest the decision. SACRAMENTO In a letter to President Donald Trump, Governor Gavin Newsom today requested a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration to assist in Californias COVID-19 preparedness and emergency response efforts. The Major Disaster Declaration would include any and all individual assistance programs to assist those affected by the outbreak and lessen the economic impacts of the crisis. Officials say the request would provide additional assistance, including but not limited to, mass care and emergency assistance, crisis counseling, disaster case management, disaster unemployment assistance, disaster legal services and Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance. Officials say the State of California and local governments have taken extraordinary steps to protect public health in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Last week, the Governor signed emergency legislation allocating $1.1 billion toward the states response, issued a Stay at Home order, deployed the National Guard to help support food banks, and signed an executive order to prepare the health care system for a possible surge in cases. Learn more about the states ongoing COVID-19 emergency response here. Action News Now will share the latest updates as they become available. For continuing coronavirus coverage, Click Here For notifications on the latest local updates related to coronavirus, download our app, Click here EDWARDSVILLE The longest part of Tuesdays city council meeting came during the public services section, when aldermen discussed approving Glen Carbons request to continue using the citys water system while it waits for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agencys (IEPA) approval to change sources. Glen Carbon has been trying to remove itself from the citys water system for more than a year now. Its most recent attempt was squelched by the IEPA after several other cities in the nation experienced issues with water source switches. Instead, the IEPA told Glen Carbon to create and run testing loops of water from Edwardsville and Illinois-American Water and send results to IEPA monthly. Glen Carbon has been using city water since 1996. Tuesdays meeting was novel in that it marked the first city council meeting held at the Wildey Theatre, owing to the coronavirus. Two elected officials, Alderman Chris Farrar and Alderwoman Janet Stack called in by phone. Those aldermen and city staff who attended respected social distancing rules during the meeting. Audience members had to wash their hands thoroughly and submit to body temperature scans before admittance. When it came time to discuss keeping Glen Carbon on the citys system through December 2020 and potentially through April 30, 2021, two council members, SJ Morrison and Jack Burns, voted no due to the rate the village will be charged. The village requested a $4 per 1,000-gallon fee. During a committee meeting last week, that amount was raised to $5.50 per 1,000 gallons, approved and forwarded to council for action. On May 1, the city is scheduled to raise its in-city water rate from $5.19 to $6.49. Before last January, the village paid an estimated bulk rate between $1.89 and $2.20 per 1,000 gallons. Morrison asked why the village is rate going up in a different manner than the citys rate. Burns said the city wants to be neighborly to the village and the cost difference has to do with the citys distribution and production costs. Burns admitted that he changed his opinion on Glen Carbons rate since last week. What he at first thought was an acceptable rate, he said last night was excessive one. Alderman Will Krause asked him to clarify his position, then Alderman SJ Morrison asked him if that meant he was okay with Edwardsville residents paying $6.49? Burns reminded everyone that the city lacks the villages administrative, billing and collection costs. Mayor Hal Patton said comparing the citys entire water system to Glen Carbons was apples and oranges. City residents pay for the production, delivery and upkeep of the entire system. The village wants a bulk rate to get the water then it will pump it through its own distribution system to its residents with its own set of charges. Patton mentioned the city has run a water deficit for a long time; the account is currently about $5.7 million in the red, which is one reason the citys water rates went up last May for the first time in many years. Alderman Craig Louer said the $5.50 idea was his as a compromise to revamp some city infrastructure and not have the village pay for things that are clearly the citys responsibility to pay. He noted the city is four to five years away from breaking even on water. Morrison said the logic of what they propose escapes him. He noted that city residents werent charged enough either for many years. A few weeks ago, during a committee meeting, he requested a way to spread out the rate hikes over time to mitigate the financial hardship a $1.30 per 1,000-gallon increase would generate and he was rebuffed. Im going to have a hard time supporting this, knowing our residents are paying more, Morrison said. Glen Carbon Village Administrator Jamie Bowden attended the meeting and he said village residents pay about $6.50 per 1,000 gallons, including the villages administrative costs. Reach reporter Charles Bolinger at (618) 659-5735 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a video conference with industry bodies to discuss the country's economic situation amid the coronavirus outbreak on Monday. The video conference will be held at 4 pm. India is taking measures to slowdown the spread of coronavirus as positive cases surge to 396. On Sunday, India observed "Janata curfew", supporting PM Modi's order on social distancing to reduce the spread of the disease. The government is ensuring India's preparedness, monitoring the situation and further enhancing testing facilities to chalk out mechanisms to fight COVID-19. The next 15 days are crucial in India's battle against the COVID-19 outbreak. On Sunday, the government decided to impose lockdown in 75 districts across India till March 31. Besides, the government also suspended railway services, interstate bus services till March 31. Moreover, several state governments also announced a lockdown. Shops have been asked to shut, companies have shut their operations. Ban on public gathering, religious places, have also been imposed tentatively to contain coronavirus spread. With all these factors, the economy is bearing the brunt. Also read: Where will Modi govt find money to fight coronavirus? $563 mn fund hopelessly small Also read: Pray For India Inc: Coronavirus destructs India's aviation, tourism, auto sectors Advertisement The US coronavirus toll surpassed 500 on Monday as the total number of cases went past 41,000 and fifteen states went into various forms of lock-down. The death toll from the virus in America is now 554, a sharp rise of more than 100 people in one day. Experts say the spike is yet to come and that the current state of crisis will last for another several months, at least. Over the past week, there have been a surge of new cases as testing across the country increases. On Monday alone, more than 11,000 new positive cases were confirmed. President Trump is yet to mandate a national lock-down because the problem is worse in some states than in others. Michigan, Massachusetts, Indiana, Oregon and West Virginia were the latest states to tell residents to stay at home and the city of Denver is urging its resident to. Now, 16 are under stay-at-home rules. New York and California were the first, along with Washington state. New York is by far the worst affected state in the country, with more than 20,000 of the cases in the US occurring there. An astonishing 12,000 are in New York City. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the worst was yet to come and that we were currently in the 'calm before the storm'. Scroll down for video As of Wednesday, the number of new deaths per day was more than 100 This graph shows how the number of new cases in the United States per day compares with Italy over the past five days The states are now urging President Trump to enact the Defense Production Act to instruct private companies to manufacture the medical supplies and equipment that the country desperately needs. He is resisting and is instead trying to make deals with the private sector which involves them putting together their own set of plans and commitments to address the crisis while still being able to thrive as independent enterprises. The president has also suggested that he will re-assess the national rules - to stay inside as much as possible and wash your hands - in 15 days. The Surgeon General has said already he does not believe it will 'likely' be enough. In New York, Gov. Cuomo said the crisis could last another 'several' months. He is urging Americans to 'settle in' to the current state of quarantine and to get used to it. On Monday, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, closed all businesses that are 'not necessary to sustain or protect life.' There are now more than 187 million people in various forms of lockdown across America as states choose to shut down non-essential businesses to battle the spread of coronavirus Medical personnel in hazmat suits at a drive-thru testing facility in Indianapolis on Monday The National Guard has deployed to New York and were setting up the Javits Center on Monday afternoon 'This disease cant spread from person to person if were not out there. 'Right now, too many people are still out and about unnecessarily, so we must do more. 'If we all come together, get serious, and do our part by staying home, we can stay safe and save lives,' she said. Massachusetts also issued a stay-at-home order to its 7million residents. 'These aggressive social distancing measures put in place today are designed to give public experts the time they need to ramp up additional steps that must be taken to effectively push back the virus,' Gov. Charles Baker said. West Virginia has also issued a stay-at-home order. It was the last state to report a coronavirus case. Governor Jim Justice however is implementing the order starting Tuesday night. 'From the standpoint of cases, as of last night we had 16 positive cases in our state, Gov. Justice said. One of those cases is a lady in a nursing home. 'This is the first case weve had of community transmission and so this is really significant,' he said. Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb told his constituents: 'Im telling you, the next two weeks are critical thats March 24 through April 7 if were going to slow the spread, and we must slow the spread.' 'It's going to get bad': Surgeon General urges Americans to 'come together as a nation' to fight coronavirus as former national security adviser says NY's numbers will continue to grow for 6 WEEKS - and the next 2 weeks will be the worst spike Surgeon General Jerome Adams warned on Monday 'things will get bad' this week The Surgeon General has urged the nation to 'come together' to fight coronavirus and warned: 'This week, it's going to get bad' in a plea to the public to stay indoors and stop spreading the deadly disease. Dr. Jerome Adams appeared on Today on Monday morning to tell young Americans who are still going out and socializing despite being warned to stay indoors and distance themselves by 6ft. He fumed over the number of people still going out in large groups and referred to the shocking number of crowds he saw in Washington DC via a webcam set up for people to virtually enjoy the famous cherry blossom blooms. 'I want America to understand. This week, it's going to get bad. We really need to come together as a nation. You're seeing young people out in beaches - here in DC. 'The district set up a cam to watch the cherry blossoms. You look on the cam and you see more people than cherry blossoms. This is how the spread is occurring. 'We really, really need everyone to stay at home. I think there are a lot of people who are doing the right thing. But unfortunately we're finding out a lot of people think this can't happen to them.' Dr. Adams said the US demography is younger than other countries. Nearly 30 percent of the cases were among people under the age of 45. 'The demography seems to be very different in the US versus in other countries. There are theories that it could be because we know we have a higher proportion of people in the US and also in Italy who vape - we don't know if that's the only cause. 'It's important for people to know: You can get this disease, you can be hospitalized from this disease, you can die from this disease. 'Most importantly, you can spread it to your loved ones. 'We need you to really lean in. That's why I reached out and I want to give a shoutout to Kylie Jenner who really stepped up last week and sent out a message,' he said. Dr. Adams also said the figures in New York - where there are more than 12,000 cases of the virus, more than five percent of the total cases in the world - reflect 'what happens two weeks ago'. 'We don't want Dallas or New Orleans or Chicago to turn into the next New York and it means everyone needs to be taking the right steps right now and it means stay at home.' Governors complain of 'disgusting' bidding war between states and the federal government for medical supplies as it's revealed surgical masks that cost 85 cents before the coronavirus pandemic are now being sold for $7 EACH State and city leaders have revealed that they are having to bid against each other for crucial medical supplies like ventilators and surgical masks because Trump won't put into action the Defense Production Act which would steady prices. On Monday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo led a chorus of leaders asking Trump to start nationalizing the system to allow the federal government to buy the supplies then distribute them fairly to where they needed to be. In order to do that, Trump must tell the manufacturers behind the supplies to make what the country needs, then buy them from them and divvy them up. He has not yet done that, saying he does not - as the president - want to interfere with businesses and their freedoms to produce what they see fit for the market. On Sunday night, he said: 'We're a country not based on nationalizing our business. Call a person over in Venezuela. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Illinois Gov. J. B. Pritzker have complained about the bidding war they are in for vital equipment 'How did nationalization of their businesses work out? Not too well.' According to The New York Times, he has been advised against it by the Chamber of Commerce which believes businesses need to be able to remain nimble and able to adapt - without being subject to government restrictions - during such uncertain times. But governors and mayors are crying out for it, saying they are being priced out of getting what they need. Cuomo revealed that N-95 masks - which cost 85 cents to buy before the pandemic - are now being sold for $7, an increase of 823 percent. Not only are the states having to bid against each other, but they are also having to bid against FEMA , representing the federal government- and all the foreign governments still trying to cope with their own coronavirus crises. 'We have been scrambling. We're buying from China, we're buying from all across the world. 'Can I say that we'll have enough equipment for next week? The week after? I can't say that, and that's out of our control. That's where we're going to need the federal government. Donald Trump is under mounting pressure to enact the Defense Production Act 'To have states competing with other states, to find these equipment, bidding against other states, driving the price up, masks that we paid 85 cents for we are now paying $7. Why? Because California is bidding, Texas is bidding, Illinois is bidding, it makes no sense. 'The federal government much nationalize the equipment production and supply issue,' Cuomo said. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the 'opportunism' at play was 'disgusting.' 'I've been hearing stories last few days from my Emergency Management team where they expected millions of masks to come in and they had to tell me that somehow we got outbid somewhere else in the world and they're going someplace else. 'The price gouging that's happening here and, bluntly, the opportunism by some, is disgusting. 'So, there's not now a national mechanism for ensuring and there has to be. And I talked to the president, vice president about this. 'There has to be a national intervention by the federal government to say, okay, here is the place first that needs the ventilators and the masks, here's second, here's third. 'And that's where they're going to go. Not an open market based on who can spend the most money and make the quickest deal. New York is at least are at the top of the list to receive supplies because it has the highest number of cases in the US. 'The price gouging that's happening here and, bluntly, the opportunism by some, is disgusting. 'So, there's not now a national mechanism for ensuring and there has to be. And I talked to the president, vice president about this. 'There has to be a national intervention by the federal government to say, okay, here is the place first that needs the ventilators and the masks, here's second, here's third. 'And that's where they're going to go. Not an open market based on who can spend the most money and make the quickest deal. New York is at least are at the top of the list to receive supplies because it has the highest number of cases in the US. An evangelical leader rebuked President Donald Trump on Twitter last week for referring to COVID-19 as the Chinese Virus. Last week the President tweeted his reassurance that the United States government will not let economic sectors that have been hit hard by the shutdowns related to the COVID-19 outbreak fail. He said, The United States will be powerfully supporting these industries, like Airlines and others, that are particularly affected by the Chinese Virus. We will be stronger than ever before! The United States will be powerfully supporting those industries, like Airlines and others, that are particularly affected by the Chinese Virus. We will be stronger than ever before! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 16, 2020 Eugene Cho, the President of Bread for the World and founder of Quest Church in Seattle, pointed out what he saw as an obvious problem with the Presidents tweet. He wrote on Twitter, Mr. President: This is not acceptable. Calling it the Chinese virus only instigates blame, racism, and hatred against Asians here and abroad. We need leadership that speaks clearly against racism; Leadership that brings the world together. Not further divides. Mr. President: This is not acceptable. Calling it the "Chinese virus" only instigates blame, racism, and hatred against Asians - here and abroad. We need leadership that speaks clearly against racism; Leadership that brings the nation and world together. Not further divides. https://t.co/wPTcnoO5QU Eugene Cho (@EugeneCho) March 17, 2020 Cho was born in South Korea to parents who had spent time living in North Korea. They immigrated to the United States when he was six. He told The Washington Post that he was concerned about the signal that President Trumps rhetoric might send to the general public and what the repercussions might be for people of Asian descent. He said, I cant speak for all Asians. I know for myself and my family, were not just contending with a health crisis There might be backlash. He also said that he knows of three people who have been assaulted in the last few weeks, which he attributed to anti-Asian sentiment. Trump has gone on the offensive over blaming the Chinese for the COVID-19 pandemic. A picture circulated last week of a picture of President Trumps notes for a press conference. He had crossed out Corona and had written Chinese over it. A reporter asked the President if he thought calling it the Chinese virus was racist. The President responded, not at all, CNBC reports. Another reporter asked the President why he continued to use the term. He responded Because it comes from China. Thats why. Cho made clear that he is not calling out the President out of hatred or a desire to cut him down. Rather, he wants the President to succeed in fighting the virus and knows that anti-Asian rhetoric will not bring calm into the storm the country is facing right now. He told The Washington Post, I pray for him and Vice President Pence. We want them to succeed, we need them to succeed. I say this not because Im eager to pick a bone, but because we want to be able to speak calm and peace into a chaotic situation. Scott Slayton writes at One Degree to Another. Photo courtesy: Eugene Cho Facebook Page Scott Slayton writes at One Degree to Another. Increased emergency payments for workers topped up by employers is being considered to support those who lose their jobs due to the coronavirus crisis. Government officials are scrambling to create a safety net for potentially hundreds of thousands of newly unemployed people. Amid mounting pressure to deliver better financial support, Tanaiste Simon Coveney promised a "significant" financial package that goes "well beyond" the 203-a-week "Covid payments" already on offer. Senior Government sources last night played down reports that Ireland will follow the lead of other countries bringing in schemes to ensure a capped percentage of workers' salaries will still be paid. Denmark is to pay up to 75pc of wages to affected workers, while the UK is pledging to maintain pay for virus-hit workers at 80pc of salaries. Such schemes are being examined but were described as "very messy" and "hard to administer". Some are targeted and do not cover everyone. Simple A source said that a "simple" solution is required and it's "probably going to be a higher Covid payment that employers can top up". The sums involved and how it will be paid were still being discussed at meetings at Government Buildings last night. Fianna Fail has criticised the financial support on offer so far as "weak" and out of step with other countries. Last night its finance spokesman Michael McGrath said that the job losses will "really hurt very quickly for people". He said everyone understands it takes time to finalise such a major policy announcement. "Speed is of the essence but you do have to get the detail right," he said. Mr McGrath said 330,000 self-employed people should not be forgotten in any support. He said Fianna Fail was not specifying an exact figure for the level of financial help that should be offered. However, he said there was "merit" in an Ibec proposal that up to 4bn be provided to fund salary replacement rates of at least 70pc of net wages lost for 20 weeks for up to 500,000 workers if necessary. Sinn Fein has suggested an income support scheme that will guarantee an income of up to 525-a-week for 20 weeks for all workers laid off. Party leader Mary Lou McDonald has said the Government's response needs to be "scaled up". She also told Newstalk Radio's On The Record that every workplace where it is not possible to have safe social distancing should be closed. Green Party enterprise spokesman Steven Matthews said there needed to be "more urgent action to help those who are suffering financially". Mr Coveney told RTE Radio that the financial package was still being finalised and the Government hoped to be in a position to announce it in the middle of the week. As coronavirus cases in the country surge past 400, a priest in Kerala who conducted a mass at a church defying a government order against public gatherings was arrested on Monday while authorities in Tamil Nadu plan to paste 'Do Not Visit' stickers outside houses of home quarantined people. Police also lodged criminal cases against home quarantined persons who ventured outside and have warned that violators of home quarantine order will face arrest. The total number of COVID-19 cases in the country surged to 415, a spike from the figure of 360 the night before, according to the Union Health Ministry. In Kerala, priest Pauly Padayatti, Vicar of the Lady of Perpetual Help church at Koodapuzha in Chalakudy, conducted the mass on Monday morning in which at least 100 people had participated, police said. The priest was arrested and later let off on bail. A case under sections 269 IPC (Negligent act likely to spread infection of diseases dangerous to life) and 118e of the Kerala Police Act (causing danger to public) has been registered against the priest and the 100-odd faithful. In Tamil Nadu, the greater Chennai Corporation said as many as 3,000 homes are under the quarantine watch for coronavirus and they will be stamped with stickers to ensure social distancing, the city civic body said. "All the houses where suspected home quarantine people are residing, stickers will be pasted for alerting others and to ensure social distancing," the city civic body said in a release. The green and red coloured stickers will have COVID19-Do Not Visit-Home Under Quarantine. The corporation, the biggest in Tamil Nadu, said "right now 3,000 homes are under quarantine watch in greater Chennai corporation limits." On the stamping of stickers, it said this was a "time of emergency and it has to be taken in the right spirit," in an apparent appeal to people to cooperate. The stickers will further have the name of the persons, the number of people under quarantine and address of the house. It will also have the starting and ending date of the quarantine period. In Delhi, there were reports that authorities have started marking residences with stickers in which one or more people have been asked to stay in home quarantine due to their travel abroad and likely contact with COVID-19 patients. Bengaluru city Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao said those subjected to home quarantine stamping will be arrested if they were found to visit public places. "5000 Home quarantine stamping was carried to ensure they remain home in public interest,"he tweeted. "I have received calls some of those stamped are moving in BMTC (Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation) buses and sitting in restaurants. Please call 100, these people will be picked up, arrested and sent to government quarantine," Rao said. According to officials, the stamped people should remain quarantined at home, the default period being 14 days. In Odisha, Police said criminal cases were registered against four persons including a Bhubaneswar-based couple, for violating quarantine guidelines. A case was registered against the couple on Sunday for flouting home quarantine rules after returning from abroad, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Anup Sahoo. The couple has been shifted to a quarantine facility and kept under isolation by the authorities, he said. In the second incident, a 30-year-old man who recently returned from Uzbekistan, was booked by the Danupali Police in Sambalpur on Sunday for violating COVID-19 quarantine guidelines, said Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Sambalpur, Tapan Mohanty. On getting information that the man registered for home quarantine was not staying indoors, the police carried out necessary verification and found he was violating COVID- 19 quarantine guidelines, he said. The man was booked under section 188 (disobedience of government order) and section 271 (disobedience of quarantine rule) of the IPC, police said. In another case, a resident of Puri Ghat area of Cuttack, who had recently returned from abroad, had been advised to observe home quarantine, but he was found to be flouting the order, a police officer said. An FIR was registered against him for violating home quarantine norms and the person was sent to an institutional quarantine facility, he said People asked to stay in home quarantine must strictly remain in isolation or be prepared for serious consequences, the police officer said. As many as 3,474 persons from Odisha who returned from abroad have so far registered themselves under the state government's Covid-19 portal, according to Subroto Bagchi, the state government's chief spokesperson on COVID-19, In Jammu and Kashmir, Police have registered an FIR against two persons, hailing from Awantipora area of Kashmir, for concealing their travel history to avoid mandatory quarantine for those coming from coronavirus-hit countries. "Upon the information received from the magistrate that two persons of Awantipora area have concealed their travel history in order to evade necessary quarantine process, a case under relevant sections of the law has been registered against them at police station Awantipora," a police spokesman said in Srinagar. He said the booked persons are students and have recently returned to village Charsoo and village Goripora of Awantipora with a travel history of visiting Pakistan and Bangladesh. "They have been sent to EDI Pampore to undergo necessary quarantine and further action under the said FIR shall be initiated after their quarantine period is over," the spokesman said. Police has appealed to the general public to cooperate with adminstration and its personnel in this unprecedented situation and disclose their travel history proactively. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a recent press release by the FDA, they confirmed the approval of a test kit that provides results in hours instead of days. The test kit is called Cepheid Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 from the pharmaceutical company Cepheid Inc. Alex Azar, Health and Human Services Secretary, is positive that with new diagnostic tools that can provide faster results, making it easier for Americans to get tested. How do the Cepheid Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 tests work? The pharmaceutical company based in Sunnyvale, California, confirms that the test kits can provide results in less than 45 minutes. The test starts with the collection of a biological sample of the patient, either through a nasopharyngeal swap or nasal wash. Next, the sample is mixed in a tube then transferred to a Cepheid cartridge along with a pipette. The cartridge already includes testing reagents for the virus. The cartridge is placed on a GeneXpert Machine which identifies if the patient has been infected by the virus or not. It is designed to detect nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2 via polymerase chain reaction. The machine comes in different sizes with the largest being able to test 80 samples simultaneously. Warren Kocmond, President of Cepheid Inc., said that the machines can be easily used by anyone and is able to perform round the clock. The test kits are expected to be shipped out on March 27 and rolled out by March 30. The FDA's emergency authorization allows unapproved products to be used during a public health crisis. Other test kits have been granted with emergency authorization but Cepheid's test kit is, by far, the only product that delivers results in less than an hour. Roche began shipping 400,000 CoVid-19 test kits last week under the FDA's Emergency use Authorization. The company plans to continue shipping their self-manufactured kits every week to help with the testing. FDA Alerts the Public on Fraudulent Test Kits The increase in confirmed Covid-19 cases has driven the public to get tested as soon as they have flu-like symptoms or suspected to have been in contact with someone who is infected. Some may purchase test kits for at-home use which the FDA has not authorized yet. The agency is serious when it comes to protecting the public's health safety thus they continue to monitor firms suspected of marketing Covid-19 test kits for home use. They are still working with developers to make at-home test kits available to the public but so far, they have not granted emergency use authorization to any. The FDA further reminds the public to follow the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's guidelines and seek medical attention if they suspect themselves or anyone they know to be infected by coronavirus. The agency had issued warning letters to identified companies selling fraudulent items and is now looking into enhanced enforcement at ports of entry to reduce the count of these products from entering US Territory. They further encourage the public to report any possible fraudulent Covid-19 test kits to them. Moreover, The President's Coronavirus Guidelines for America provides information on how individuals and families can help in slowing the spread of the pandemic virus. Related Articles: Campus News Residence halls set protocols for student health and monitoring An occupied room in Richmond Quad in the Ellicott Complex. Students must meet one of four criteria in order to stay in on-campus housing. Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki By MICHAEL ANDREI Students must limit interactions with others and always follow social distancing requirements remain six feet away from others, even in shared spaces. Students are not permitted to enter residence halls or apartments other than their assigned living space. Thomas R. Tiberi, director Campus Living Over the past two weeks, UB has prepared for the return of a significantly smaller student population to campus housing. Approximately 1,500 students many of whom never left during the spring recess are expected to live in residence halls and in on-campus apartments for the remainder of the spring semester. Theres usually 8,000. The decline is the result of UBs transition to distance learning instruction in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and steps UB is taking, including new protocols within campus housing, to safeguard the well-being of UB students, faculty and staff. For example, to stay in on-campus housing, students must meet one of four criteria: University housing is their primary residence (most international students). Safe living and dining arrangements cannot otherwise be made. Students will have limited or no access to technology if not on campus. Students who have in-person academic requirements. Thomas R. Tiberi, director of campus living, says students who remain in university housing have been issued strict guidelines that they are expected to follow while living on campus. Students must limit interactions with others and always follow social distancing requirements remain six feet away from others, even in shared spaces, says Tiberi. Students are not permitted to enter residence halls or apartments other than their assigned living space. Students from other residence halls and off-campus guests are not permitted to enter residence halls or apartments. To connect with friends or other students, please video chat, call or text them. Additionally, Tiberi says that if there is a university directive for students to remain in their room for an extended period of time, the students must comply. Any students who have questions should contact Campus Living. Guarding against the spread of COVID-19 To guard against the spread of COVID-19, the university has enacted mandatory quarantine protocols for suspected and confirmed cases of the virus. If a student or other individual tests positive, the Erie County Department of Health will take over supervision of that person and, in collaboration with UB, the individual will be isolated from the campus community. Should individuals be placed in mandatory isolation, they will receive ongoing support from the university. This includes medical and mental health services, faith-based and social services, food and mail delivery, daily trash removal, and laundry and maintenance services. A student packs a car on Sunday outside Richmond Quad in the Ellicott Complex as she prepares to return home for the remainder of the semester. Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki Additionally, the university is taking increased cleaning precautions across its campuses to ensure the health and safety of the UB community, in accordance with guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Cleaning protocols are reviewed and adapted as the COVID-19 situation evolves and new recommendations are released. Challenges faced by international students A sizable number of UB international students who live on campus stayed over spring break, says John Wood, interim vice provost for international education. Many graduate international students found the decision to leave or stay was complicated by challenges they faced here and in their home countries as the guidelines and advisories enacted to stem the spread of COVID-19 evolved and changed around the world, he explains. China and Singapore, for example, impose a 14-day quarantine on all students returning from the U.S. once they arrive in their home country, he says. The highly dynamic and complex international travel environment at present is making decisions about travel (for students and others) very challenging. To help international students adjust to the changes, International Student Services posted guidance to its website and continues to communicate with students regularly. We have sent an alert to all of our international students letting them know our International Student Services staff is working remotely, Wood says. We are transitioning to virtual advising through Zoom, prioritized to the immediate need. Students must self-monitor Students on campus and off have been instructed to self-monitor their health. On-campus students who are not feeling well and may be experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should immediately contact UB Student Health Services, where the staff is prepared to answer questions and provide support. If you are sick with COVID-19 or think you might have it, stay home or in your on-campus room, unless you need urgent medical care, says Mary E. Stock, senior physician, UB Student Health Services. Students are asked to please not go to the Student Health Services office before calling that will further spread the infection. Medical care advice is also accessible by contacting the on-call service when Student Health Services is closed at 716-829-3316. Call and follow the prompts to reach the service. Students who have medical needs unrelated to COVID-19 should call, not visit, Student Health Services. Faculty and staff should call their health care provider if they develop symptoms, Stock says. Common symptoms and what to do Washington, March 23 (IANS) US President Donald Trump confirmed that he has sent a personal letter to Kim Jong-un, offering assistance to North Korea in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. "We are open to helping other countries," Trump told reporters during a press conference at the White House on Sunday. Trump said it was a very serious time and added that the US had also offered help to Iran which is also facing a tough time, Efe news reported. Information about the letter was made public by Kim's sister and central committee member of the Workers' Party, Kim Yo-jong, on Sunday. It came day after the North Korean leader oversaw a test launch of the powerful tactical guided weapon on Saturday, prompting criticism from Seoul in the context of the health crisis and amid the stalled denuclearization talks between Pyongyang and Washington. Kim Yo-jong in a statement released by state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the letter sent by Trump was "good judgment" by the US President. She said it was a step in the right direction to keep the "good relations he had with our chairman" going. The "personal letter again", she said, was delivered "at a time when big difficulties and challenges lie in the way of developing the bilateral relations". "He (Trump) also explained his plan to propel the relations between the two countries and expressed his intent to render cooperation in the anti-epidemic work," concerning the COVID-19 infections around the world, she said. Kim's sister said Trump also "expressed his willingness to keep in close touch with the chairman in the future", and that the North Korean leader appreciated the personal letter from the US President. North Korea has so far not reported any coronavirus cases, but on Sunday, its main newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, urged the people to keep at least one meter away from one another and avoid public transport to prevent contagion. Relations between Washington and Pyongyang have progressively cooled since the failed Hanoi summit in February 2019. Earlier this year, Kim said he saw no reason to maintain the self-imposed moratorium on his nuclear tests and missiles to foster dialog with the US. --IANS ksk/ Senior BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan was on Monday elected as the leader of the BJP legislative party in Madhya Pradesh, at a meeting held at the party office here. Madhya Pradesh Observer Arun Singh and state in-charge Vinay Sahasrabuddhe participated in the meeting from Delhi via video conference. Chouhan is slated to take oath as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh at 9 pm on Monday. He earlier served as the state's Chief Minister between 2003 to 2018. This comes after Kamal Nath, on March 20, tendered his resignation to Governor Lalji Tandon as the Chief Minister following the resignation of 22 Congress MLAs. The Governor on Sunday wrote to Assembly Speaker NP Prajapati, stating about the no-confidence motion brought by the BJP against Nath and the resignation of BJP MLA Sharad Kol. Chouhan on Saturday alleged that the Assembly Speaker was pressuring the Secretariat to accept the resignation of Kol. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Governors Send Letter of Support and Solidarity Gibraltars former Governors have written an open letter to all Gibraltarians to express their support and solidarity in the face of the global coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. The letter applauds the unshakeable Gibraltarian spirit and promises to urge the Government of the United Kingdom to offer whatever practical and financial assistance it can to help Gibraltar overcome the challenges we face. The letter has been welcomed by the Chief Minister, the Hon Fabian Picardo, who sent a reciprocal message of hope and unity. The full text of the letter is as follows: Dear Gibraltarians, In these toughest of times, we write to offer the People of Gibraltar our heartfelt and steadfast support, as you stand strong in the face of Coronavirus and its economic implications. As ever,we know that the unshakeable Gibraltarian spirit will ensure that the Rock conquers this crisis. Tackling Covid-19 is likely to stretch the resources of the Government and People of Gibraltar just as it is stretching the Government and People of the United Kingdom. We are convinced that it will be important for Her Majestys Government in London to do what it can to support Gibraltar at this time. We are therefore urging Her Majestys Government to give Gibraltar whatever practical and, where appropriate, financial support it can to help Gibraltar overcome the challenges you face. As proud former Governors, we know that Gibraltar will succeed in beating Coronavirus and, in doing so, assure the continued progression of the Rocks prosperity. Albeit from afar, we all hope it will be of some reassurance to know that we are shoulder to shoulder in solidarity with you, our Gibraltarian friends, as you take on this unprecedented endeavour with courage and determination. With deepest respect, Lord Luce Sir David Durie Sir Francis Richards Lieutenant General Sir Robert Fulton Vice Admiral Sir Adrian Johns Lieutenant General Sir James Dutton Lieutenant General Edward Davis (Admiral Sir Derek Reffell (91) and Field Marshal Sir John Chapple (88) are not included in the letter as they are not on email and therefore it was not possible to get in touch with them before Gibraltar goes into lockdown. If they had been, they would have been equally keen to offer their solidarity. LOS ANGELESMax Konnor's no stranger to XXX, with nearly 90 DVD and Web scenes to his creditso it shouldn't be a surprise that adult cam platform CAM4 is welcoming the star as its first male brand ambassador! The award-winning performer will be featured in a series of monthly shows on CAM4, and will join the brand at major events throughout the year. Im very excited to use my platform and brand to represent this company in a wonderful way, said Konnor, who did his first cam work on CAM4 in the late '00s. I started camming with CAM4 before I started making videos. I love it; its like having sex with hundreds of people all at the same time! Max is a highly talented and engaging content creator, observed Gwen Coleman, program manager at CAM4. Well be collaborating with him in various ways to deliver the hottest live content possible for his fans. This is Konnors first ambassador role and he comes fully prepared with fun and creative ideas for his future shows. I have a bunch of ideas that I cant wait to share. Expect to see some special guests, said Konnor. Viewers can join the star for his first solo show here on March 25 at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET. United Nations, March 24 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has made an emotional plea to put all "armed conflicts on lockdown and focus together on the true fight of our lives" against coronavirus. Calling for a "global ceasefire," he said at a news conference on Monday, "The fury of the virus illustrates the folly of war. That is why today, I am calling for an immediate global ceasefire in all corners of the world." He was overcome by emotions as he started to speak and broke off and gathered himself to start again to speak to a world where conflicts rage even as it is engulfed by coronavirus. In keeping with the UN headquarters directives and New York City regulations against gatherings, Guterres held the news conference via interactive teleconferencing. He said, "To bring hope to places among the most vulnerable to COVID-19, end the sickness of war and fight the disease that is ravaging our world. It starts by stopping the fighting everywhere. Now." Guterres also appealed for a coordinated international response to the coronavirus pandemic. "We need a much stronger coordination, coordination in suppression of the disease, coordination in making sure that not only the developed countries can respond effectively to the disease but that there is massive support to the developing world not to let the disease spread like wildfire in the developing world," he said. A "huge package" was also needed "to respond to the economic and social consequences," he said. But it should not be like the bailouts during the 2008 financial crisis which focused on financial centres and it should instead "make households be afloat, make businesses be afloat, keep societies afloat." he said. "A double-digit GDP (gross domestic product) support" is needed for the developing nations and the world has to "make sure that, when we recover, we recover in a more sustainable and a more inclusive economy," he added.. The most serious conflict in the world using aircraft and sophisticated weapons is at the moment in Syria involving the government of Bashar al-Assad and Russia, which backs it; other rebels and Turkey, which supports them, and the Islamic State. The UN has failed to stop the fighting there mainly because the Security Council faces vetoes from Russia or even China. Yemen is yet another long-standing battleground where the Houthis backed by Iran are locked in a conflict with those backed by a Saudi-led coalition that is also backed by the West. Libya is also facing civil war conditions with several factions confronting each other. There are scattered hostilities of varying intensities in Africa in places like South Sudan, Cameroun and Central African Republic. Guterres said that his special envoys were working with parties in the conflicts to "make sure that this global appeal is not only listened to but leads to concrete action, leads to a pause in fighting, creating the conditions for the response to COVID-19 to be much more effective." (Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter @arulouis) Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) A merchants' association in Aurangabad in Maharashtra has opposed exemption given to shopping websites in view of the novel coronavirus outbreak, a functionary said. Those delivering parcels for these e-commerce sites could also transmit the virus, said Aurangabad Jilha Vyapari Mahasangh's Jagannath Kale. "The merchants association has called for a shutdown since Saturday. The average transaction in Aurangabad market is around Rs 300 crore a day. We have taken this decision looking at the critical condition now. The administration is asking all to avoid public contact, but it is allowing parcel delivery by unknown chains. We want the administration to revise the decision," Kale said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) MEXICO CITY On March 4, a few days after the first coronavirus case was discovered here, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador was asked about the infection at his daily news conference. With the coronavirus, this idea that you cant hug, the president said. You have to hug. Nothing happens. He crossed his arms and hugged himself, a signature gesture that he uses to show him hugging the Mexican people. As the virus outbreak was declared a pandemic, and nations went into lockdown and shut down flights and borders, critics used the remark as an exhibit of how the silver-haired, 66-year-old president is mishandling the crisis. Videos of it on social media have been shared hundreds of thousands of times. But Mr. Lopez Obrador was unrepentant, and in a seeming retort on March 14, he posted a video of himself hugging and kissing supporters at a large rally in the impoverished state of Guerrero. Mexico is behind Europe and the United States in its rate of coronavirus infection, but the number of cases is rising steadily. The government has not clamped down on travel or work, citing the enormous economic challenges as the peso tanks and the White House restricts crossings on the southern border. Mr. Lopez Obrador continues to make frivolous comments on the virus. At a news conference, he took out amulets that he says protect him, and he continues to attend rallies. On the flip side, Mexico has been tracing imported cases and putting those people in quarantine, has been preparing hospitals and stepped up actions in recent days, closing schools and encouraging people to stay at home. On March 20, the government also began a social-distancing campaign, telling people not to greet with hugs and kisses, and supported it with ads featuring a new superhero, Susana Distancia, her name a play on sana distancia, or healthy distance. People wear masks to help guard against the new coronavirus in downtown Tehran, Iran on Feb. 23, 2020. (Ebrahim Noroozi/AP Photo) One Iranian Dies of COVID-19 Every 10 Minutes In Iran, one person is dying of COVID-19 every 10 minutes, an official said in an apparent attempt to provide more insight into the countrys desperate struggle during the global pandemic. After weeks of downplaying the seriousness of the COVID-19 outbreak that has rattled the country, Kianush Jahanpur, spokesperson for Irans health ministry, has come out to speak about the mortality rate of the sickness. Jahanpur said on Twitter: Based on our information, every ten minutes one person dies from the coronavirus and some 50 people become infected with the virus every hour in Iran, according to a translation provided by Reuters. #_ # . Kianush Jahanpur (@drjahanpur) March 19, 2020 The number was based on the 149 deathsa recordthat occurred within 24 hours from Thursday to Friday. The previous day, 147 deaths occurred, according to officials. The total amount of infections has risen to 21,638, and 1,685 deaths, as of Sunday, according to official government data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. According to these figures, Iran was the third-worst impacted country on Sunday from the global pandemic after China and Italy. However, political resistance groups have claimed that the death toll in the country has already risen above 7,000. If that were true, the mortality rate in Iran would have overtaken Italy, which reported 5,476 deaths on Sunday. Chinese dissidents also claim that the official figures by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) are underreporting the number of deaths from the CCP virus across the country. Official figures on Sunday reported 3,144 deathsless than Italy. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. Another official, Ali Rabiei, a representative for President Hassan Rouhani, had earlier implied the fatality rate could be much higher than officials admitted. The death toll may be higher, and the test results for (the victims) could have been wrong, he said, reported Fox News. Some have died and we might not have known it was due to coronavirus. There may be some shortcomings in the figures, and sometimes you may see a jump in our announcement, Rabiei said. People, some wearing protective face masks, grocers stalls displaying produce at the Tajrish Bazaar in Irans capital Tehran on March 12, 2020. (AFP via Getty Images) Alinaqi Machayekhi, a prominent professor at Tehrans Sharif University of Technology, shared his expectations of the diseases advance in his country. If the Iranian government imposes strict responsible behavior, the disease would claim 12,000 lives out of a total of 120,000 infections, he told The Strait Times. But without coercive measures, the death toll could soar to up to 3.5 million given the population of 81 million, Machayekhi said. United Airlines to Fly Home Americans Stranded Abroad United Airlines on March 21 announced it will be reinstating some international flights, just days after saying its international schedule will be reduced by 90 percent for April due to government restrictions prohibiting travel over the CCP virus. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. In a press release, the airline said it will be reinstating a handful of international flights to Asia, Australia, Latin America, the Middle East and Europe in an effort to get customers where they need to be, noting that people around the globe are displaced and still need to get home. The reinstated routes will be in effect through the end of the month and include outbound flights between Newark and Amsterdam, Munich, Brussels and Sao Paulo; Washington Dulles to London; San Francisco to Frankfurt; and San Francisco to Seoul. Additionally, the airline will continue operating daily flights through May from Newark to Frankfurt, London, and Tel Aviv. From Houston, United will continue flying to Sao Paulo and from San Francisco to Tokyo and Sydney. San Francisco to Seoul flights have also been reinstated to March 29. The statement concludes: In destinations where government actions have barred us from flying, we are actively looking for ways to bring customers who have been impacted by travel restrictions back to the United States. This includes working with the U.S. State Department and the local governments to gain permission to operate service. Earlier this month, the State Department issued a Level 4 travel advisory warning all U.S. citizens to avoid international travel as the COVID-19 outbreak spreads across the globe, promoting dozens of countries to introduce travel bans and close their borders in an effort to contain the virus. As a consequence, tens of thousands of Americans are stuck abroad and unable to return home. On Sunday, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) sent a letter (pdf) to President Donald Trump urging the government to take more forceful action, including an aggressive approach by the State Department in arranging charter flights, invoking Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) authorities to make additional aircraft available for evacuations, and directing the Department of Defense to explore making military aircraft, where appropriate, available for this vital mission. No American should ever have to worry that they might be abandoned abroad by our government. As we work together to confront this unprecedented pandemic, we must provide Americans overseas the support that they need, Menendez added. Local celebs paid warm tributes to their mums as they celebrated Mother's Day at a distance due to the coronavirus. Honouring her mother all the way from Manchester was BBC sports journalist Holly Hamilton, who was raised by mum Kim and dad David in Greyabbey, Co Down. Mothers teach us everything from minding our Ps and Qs to how to ride a bike, but for Holly, watching Kim work as a journalist was all the career encouragement she needed. "My mum was absolutely my inspiration, although she tried very hard to put me off. I think she would've preferred a more secure occupation," Holly said. Now a regular on the BBC Breakfast sofa, Holly praised Kim online after opting to stay in England with husband, Co Armagh broadcaster Connor Phillips, due to the coronavirus. "Dates like Mother's Day are always difficult as it's a reminder that we can't just pop round to see our family when we want to! "I always make sure the card arrives on time, though... I wouldn't hear the end of it otherwise! "Although my parents are both healthy and in their 60s, it's so important to take every possible precaution," she said. "It's about maintaining the spread and not being anywhere we don't have to be." Asked what traits she inherited from the former journalist, Holly joked she missed out on her physique. "We're both quite stubborn, enjoy a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and are never wrong," she said. "People say we look alike, but sadly I didn't get her legs!" Expand Close Carl Frampton, wife Christine and children Carla and Rossa / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Carl Frampton, wife Christine and children Carla and Rossa Proving that boxers are more than just a tough exterior, Belfast sportsman Carl Frampton hailed his wife for all she does for their family. Carl (32) shares Carla (9) and Rossa (5) with Christine (32), who he wed in 2014. Alongside a holiday snap with his brood, the former two-weight world champion wrote: "Happy Mother's Day to the mother of our kids. Couldn't imagine a better one." Expand Close Claire Allan and mum Karen / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Claire Allan and mum Karen Meanwhile, bestselling author Claire Allan admits it's been a strange Mother's Day as she cancels plans amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Claire is determined to protect Karen (63), who has Crohn's disease and is recovering from a chest infection, making her one of society's most vulnerable. While she usually pens her bestselling thrillers in an office at her mum's house, the former journalist said that she is now missing her company. "I do feel a little as if my right arm has been chopped off," Claire said. "That helps keep it all in perspective, I suppose. If it's hard not to see her for a few days or weeks, it would be unbearable to not have her in my life anymore. She is particularly susceptible to the virus and it could have devastating consequences for her. So as hard as this is for all of us, it's so important we do all we can to ensure she is kept safe. "Mum is still relatively young, I want her to be around for a lot, lot longer!" Claire credits Karen for passing on her sense of fun, her caring nature and for teaching her to be a good listener. For many of us, Sunday was a chance to shower our mums with love and flowers, but for some it brings a painful longing for the women who are no longer with us. Expand Close Daniel Baker and his late mother Edna / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Daniel Baker and his late mother Edna Just eight months after losing his own mother, Belfast Lord Mayor Daniel Baker said he would love nothing more than to show her his appreciation. The Sinn Fein councillor took up the role of First Citizen last December. Mum Edna (nee Mulholland) died of cancer in August. "A year of firsts, I would love nothing more than to bring you flowers, like every day you're in my heart," he posted on Twitter. "My thoughts are with you mum and all the mums out there who are on the front line saving lives." Appearing on BBC's Sunday Politics on Sunday morning, First and Deputy First Ministers Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill issued a joint Mother's Day message urging the public to follow social distancing advice. A message from First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill ahead of #MothersDay Thank you to all our frontline staff working to keep us safe. Please maintain #COVID19 social distancing measures. @DUPleader @moneillSF pic.twitter.com/8c1cul6thr NI Executive (@niexecutive) March 21, 2020 Mrs Foster wished Mrs O'Neill and all mothers across Northern Ireland a happy Mother's Day. "This is a very strange Mother's Day, normally I would be attending church and then having lunch with my mother," she said. "Today we just want to say that we understand the difficulties that many children and many mothers are going through. "We understand the frustration that you're not going to be able to see your mother today, but please remember that it is for her own good." Mrs O'Neill said we all have a part to play in combating the spread of coronavirus. She said: "Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there. It's so important more than ever that we continue to work together this is about saving lives." My wife has cancer, and we always say, 'God is not surprised by cancer,'" Carney said. He designed our bodies to be able to handle that from the beginning. Hes not surprised by the coronavirus either. That doesnt mean its never fatal and that its not something to take seriously. Erica Berger, of Buffalo, also came to Aldi for groceries for her family. Usually, they buy a weeks worth of groceries at a time, and they bought a little extra Saturday, she said. Shes not yet nervous about the spread of COVID-19, she said. She, her husband and three children are enjoying spending time together and watching movies. Her son is playing video games. Greg Miller and his dog, Gracie, along with Teresa Smith and her dog, Layla, enjoyed a brisk outing Saturday in the Crow Creek Dog Park, 4800 Devils Glen Road, Bettendorf. Its all about the dogs, Smith said. They need the exercise, Miller said. They go crazy if you dont (exercise them). He said he has been reading books at home, and Smith said she has watched a lot of movies and enjoyed some wine. 'Time-traveller' makes bizarre claim, says 'underground alien race' will be discovered in August 2022 We are into a new year and everyone is hoping this year is kinder, but according to a self Pro tip: You don't have to be a five-star Michelin chef to impress in the kitchen. In fact, you don't always have to have any cooking ability at all. If visitors take one look around your kitchen and spot a few upscale kitchen items, or even items that just look upscale, your standing as a person who knows their way around the culinary arts goes up. Forged from Damascus steel, Damascus knives have a unique and striking wavy, patterned design that instantly catches the eye and implies you're a serious kitchen presence even if your skills don't extend beyond microwave popcorn. Whether you just want one as a showpiece or if you're looking for a full set, you can take an extra 15 percent off the already discounted price by entering the code SPRINGSAVE15 during checkout. Solo knives There's no more important weapon in a chef's arsenal that a quality chef's knife and the Damascus Santoku style chef knife ($38.20 after discount; originally $129) just screams formidable. In addition to the Santoku-style blade capable of handling most kitchen activities, it also comes with a sophisticated leather sheath that makes it an instant attention-getter. Of course, a gorgeous handle can put an already premium Damascus blade over the top. The Damascus chef knife with buffalo horn, brass and rose wood handle ($50.95 after discount; originally $94) not only slices, chops and skins like a pro, but the stunning buffalo horn and rose wood handle looks amazing. As does the pakka and rose wood hilt on this chef knife ($29.70 after discount; originally $72). For those looking to move beyond a chef knife, a quality paring knife for more intricate cutting, peeling, and mincing isn't a bad play either. This pro chef kitchen paring knife ($45 after discount; originally $70) is crafted from 240-plus layers of Damascus steel, 100 percent hand-forged and heat-treated for high-end, superior kitchen performance. And if you need power for a heavy duty meat-rending hack or chop, the heavy kitchen cleaver ($47.55 after discount; originally $74.20) will get the job done and then some. At 10 inches and with a hardness of 58 to 60 HRC, this etched and engraved blade checks all the boxes. 2-piece sets This 58HRC Damascus steel chef and fork knife set ($59.45 after discount; originally $92.40) not only cut and function with the best of them, their rustic, yet elegant look gives the feel that they just came right off the set of Game of Thrones. The fork is great, but if you need a pair of blades instead, the Damascus chef knives 2-piece set ($50.95 after discount; originally $137) have stunning cooper bolster and dyed bone handles on the 13-inch and 9.25-inch chef knives, each with a leather sheath, that expand your preparation options. 3-piece sets The pakka wood scale handles on this hand-forged Damascus steel 3-piece chef knife set ($59.49 after discount; originally $89) give this collection a stunning vibe and the variety of 13, 11, and 9-inch blades offer tons of versatility, regardless of the kitchen task at hand. If you want a full set to keep several intricate cutting assignments happening at once, the mini chef knives set of 3 ($63.70 after discount; originally $99.40) offers three 4-inch blades to get an assortment of kitchen prep knocked out quickly. 4-piece sets No matter your preferred kitchen aesthetic, either the solid, hearty Japanese pro olive wood kitchen knives 4-piece set ($63.70 after discount; originally $99.40); or the sleeker, more dangerous looking rose wood chef knives 4 piece set ($63.70 after discount; originally $99.40) should satisfy your needs. Whether you like the utility of the diverse olive wood set or the functionality of the more uniform rose wood collection, both serve up expert-level performance. 5-piece sets For those never sure where their cooking adventures may take them, better to be fully prepared with a complete 5-piece assemblage like this olive wood Japanese style set ($113 after discount; originally $176.40). You'll also get a variety of blade lengths with this equally classic pro chef's knives with Henkel rosewood and special burl set ($84.95 after discount; originally $134.40), including two 7.5-inch knives, two 6-inchers and one 2.5-inch blade for paring duties. For added utility, the 5-piece professional Damascus chef's kitchen set ($152.95 after discount; originally $475) with rosewood handles are designed for all manner of kitchen needs, from chopping and dicing meat and vegetables to precision work on smaller culinary projects. Finally, the Cuta 5-piece chef knives set ($103.65 after discount; originally $162.39) are a formidable collection, featuring polished rosewood and olive wood handles that look solidly traditional, especially in contrast to the artisanal pattern work of the Damascus blades. Prices are subject to change. For older adults and those with preexisting health conditions, the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) poses significantly more health risks such as pneumonia. And with its members belonging to high-risk age groups, the royal family will be closely coordinating with their medical teams amid the outbreak. "Clearly, members of the royal family are in high risk groups-not just over 70 but over 90 years old, too," said Dr. Anna Hemming, who spent seven years working as an in-house doctor at the Buckingham Palace where she looked after the royal family. For the sake of their own health, the senior family members will follow protocols such as self-isolation in case they, or anyone in the household, are feeling unwell with symptoms of fever or cough. Social Distancing Announcements have been made earlier by the royal family that upcoming events involving the gathering of large groups of people due to be attended by royal family members, most especially the queen, will either be cancelled or postponed. Advisories for other upcoming events, such as Trooping of Color, and the scheduled state visit of the Emperor and Empress of Japan will be made 'in due course'. "The queen always attracts huge crowds when she makes official visits so [she] will need to be mindful that she won't be creating groups to gather at a time when it is not sensible," Hemming continues. The queen has already cancelled all her public events and will be staying at Windsor indefinitely. Queen Elizabeth, 93, reportedly left Buckingham Palace for Windsor Castle a week earlier than planned, while her husband Prince Philip, 98, was taken to the castle from their Sandringham Estate. The couple has been apart from each other since early February, with Elizabeth based in London and Windsor Castle on weekends, and Philip mainly staying in their Norfolk estate. The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh have reportedly been using video calls in order to keep in touch with the rest of the family as they practice 'social distancing'. In her statement, the Queen said "At times like these, I am reminded that our nation has been forged by people and communities coming together to work as one, concentrating our combined efforts with a focus on the common goal," "We are enormously thankful for the expertise and commitment of our scientists, medical practitioners and emergency and public services, "Many of us will need to find new ways of staying in touch with each other and making sure that loved ones are safe. I am certain we are up to that challenge." Meanwhile, Hemming has assured that the Buckingham Palace along with the queen's other residences are managed by a team of skilled individuals living within close proximity. Royal Children to Stay Indoors For their part, Prince William and wife Catherine Middleton will make sure that their three children will remain indoors. The former Captain in the Army Medical Corps already assured that the young Cambridges will fare well on their own as they can play among themselves. "I am sure they have lots of activities and projects planned just as our children do," the former Captain in the Army Medical Corps assured. Aside from heeding the advice of staying indoors, Hemming has also urged the royal family to stay hydrated. "They should help boost their immune system with vitamin c and zinc and should clean down the surfaces and try to keep things as tidy as possible," In the event that anyone in the royal family is unwell, Hemming said they should all go into self-isolation for two weeks and sleep in separate rooms. People who recently returned from foreign travels to Nigeria have been urged to observe the compulsory self-isolation for 14 days as part of the governments efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus. The minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, at the national press briefing on the pandemic, on Monday, in Abuja said this has become pertinent as most of the confirmed cases of the virus in the country are from recently returned travellers. While confirming the number of cases reported in the country so far, Mr Ehanire said a higher percentage of the cases are imported. He said Nigeria has so far recorded 36 confirmed cases of the virus. Twenty six patients are from high burden countries, six were infected through people who came in from abroad and four are from unconfirmed sources. He said Nigeria recorded a death from the virus and another patient is in critical state and dependent on oxygen. He said the patient who died from the virus had an underlying medical condition. Mr Ehanire said with the latest development, the country is intensifying contact tracing to identify and test those who might have been in contact with infected people. He said it was an irresponsible act that some of the people who flew into the country are not abiding by the advisory. He lamented that they are not only putting their immediate families in danger but everyone they come in contact with if they are infected. He explained that they would not know they are infected until the symptoms show or they get tested. The fight to contain Covid-19 is a call for collective action. Self isolation is a social responsibility of every citizens and not that the government should enforce isolation We want to depend on the social responsibility of Nigerians. We have not gotten to that point of forced isolation but we have had to go after those who were known and observed that they were not observing the advisory. READ ALSO: More restrictive measures may be implemented by the Federal Government in the coming days, he said In the meantime, the minister urged Nigerians to avoid large gatherings and close physical contact especially with people they do not know. Preparedness Mr Ehanire said while the country is hoping that it does not record many cases of the virus, it has prepared for the outbreak. He said the country had started preparing since the cases in China began multiplying. We are focusing on containing the disease and preparing for it. We hope we dont get too many cases. He said Nigeria had been focusing on containing the disease and preventing the spread of the disease. He said the government is trying for disease not to filter into the grassroots and that is why they are making contact tracing very important. Capacity building The minister added that the country is working on capacity-building on laboratories in order to have more places to carry out the testing of samples in the country. He said currently, Nigeria has five laboratories, though the locations are skewed, three in the south west (Lagos and Osun) one in Abuja and the other in Edo state. He added that a new laboratory would soon be added to the existing ones to make it six. The important thing is not that you have testing centres everywhere; it is that you are able to test, he said. He added that they have pulled together all the respirators in the country, ( though he could not give a figure) and that they are also liaising with private hospitals to be able to get more if the need arises. Mr Ehanire also said that the country would be recalling retired doctors and nurses to assist with treatment if the need arises. Advertisements Within the past week, Auburn-based Chicken Salad Chicks business inside Mobiles Government Plaza has plummeted by 60% as jurors, attorneys and visitors have disappeared. The diners owner, Misty Whitehead, was hoping for relief and asked the Mobile County Commission to defer her rent payments for the next eight weeks or so during the coronavirus crisis. But on Monday, two of the three commissioners declined to grant Whiteheads request. And now the future of the lone eatery inside Mobiles Government Plaza is in doubt. I cant say what the plan is, said Whitehead, who owns and operates Chicken Salad Chick restaurants in Mobile and Baldwin counties. I think this week will be very telling as things get scarier for everyone. Commissioners Jerry Carl and Merceria Ludgood did not support the rent deferment, while Commissioner Connie Hudson in calling for the county to show mercy pushed for it. The issue never came up for a vote because it lacked two commissioners voting in support of it. The matter did include a spirited confrontation between Hudson and Carl, the two Republicans on the commission. Carl, during the meeting, said it was unfair for a government entity to provide a rent deferral when other restaurants in Mobile are not being offered something similar. Ten percent of Chicken Salad Chicks pre-tax sales go to the county each month, according to an agreement signed last year between the county and the eatery. I think the pushback youre getting here is its hard to do this for one person, and not for everyone, Carl said to Hudson. Hudson replied, Were not the landlord for every other business downtown. But Chicken Salad Chick is in our building and we are the landlord. Carl responded, We can certainly take it up at a different time. Hudson quipped, Im not sure she has additional time. I think what shell probably have to do is close the business. Carl said, Well, Commissioner Hudson, everyone is in this situation. Everyone is going to take a hit. Everyone has to suffer a little bit including us the county. We have to suffer. We cant show preference to people, especially ourselves, and people around us when there are people who are truly hurting. He added, We have people only working for tips and (we) should treat them differently than someone with a business in this building? Im sorry. Hudson, in an interview with AL.com immediately after the meeting, said the incident was shameful. They asked for a deferment for a short period of time so they have the revenue to sustain themselves, said Hudson. Its a deferral and they would still have to pay it. Were talking about $500 to $600 a month. She added, Were all going to have to pull together and help other businesses who are looking for some relief from this situation unless we want our industries go by the wayside. Carl said his views are about being fair to the other restaurants in downtown Mobile that are suffering and are not offered a similar break from county government. How are we ... going to face the rest of the restaurant owners downtown if we help Chicken Salad Chick? he said. Ludgood did not comment during the meeting. She has long been opposed to the county involving itself in providing services like dining inside the tax-owned building that may directly compete with privately-owned and operated downtown restaurants. Chicken Salad Chick, like other restaurant chains in Alabama, experienced a windfall of activity in the months leading up to the coronavirus crisis. The company, founded in 2008, opened 40 new restaurants in 2019, and had plans to add 50 more in the Midwest and the South this year. The eatery has been a welcomed site for jurors and attorneys at Government Plaza since it opened last fall. Chicken Salad Chicken was the first restaurant to open inside the building in more than a decade. Whitehead said that only four people are employed inside the small diner, which she referred to as a kiosk. Only a limited menu is served inside, and its only opened during lunch hours on weekdays. Whitehead said she was sick to my stomach over the vote. She said she didnt attend the meeting because Mobile County, like other government agencies in Alabama, maintains strict requirements regarding physical presence at public meetings during the COVID-19 crisis. Whitehead, a mother of four children, also wants to keep a social distance from others. I dont want to go into crowds, she said. When a fire ripped through the upper floors of the red brick building that held the archives of the Museum of Chinese in America, the staff thought that all was lost. The second floor of 70 Mulberry Street, a 130-year-old building that is a cherished cultural landmark in Chinatown, had been home to 85,000 items that helped tell the story of more than a century of Chinese-American history and culture. There were signs from long-shuttered Chinatown restaurants, traditional textiles, delicate paper sculptures and the jiapu, or genealogies, of families that document traditional Chinese names over decades. The fire started on Jan. 23 at around 8 p.m. on the fourth floor, destroying the roof of the building but leaving the museums collection unburned. The archives were still in grave danger: Firefighters had pumped water into the building for more than 20 hours, and museum staff members were told that no one would be allowed to enter and retrieve the items for months, leaving them to deteriorate and grow mold. The message that went out to the community was that tens of thousands of artifacts were likely to be lost. The Moroccan people woke up on Sunday to the sad news of many small marches in the cities of Tangier, Fez, Aroui, Tetouan and Sale in total disregard for the protective measures to avert the coronavirus outbreak. Two young people who instigated dozens of Moroccans to breach the quarantine imposed by authorities to fight coronavirus were arrested on Sunday, the Moroccan police said in a statement. The arrest comes after many lawyers and ordinary citizens called for the arrest of those who encouraged young people, including children, to mass in streets in total disregard for the precautionary measures taken across the country to prevent the spread of the virus. A group of lawyers said the call for disobeying the lockdown amounts to terrorist crime that aim at sapping public order and undermine public health. Theologians also condemned the disobedience as contrary to religious precepts that call for the need to preserve the health and life of the human being. Moroccans on social media largely condemned the marches as irrational and conducive for the spread of the virus. The lockdown in Morocco comes after a series of measures including closing all schools, mosques and public gathering venues. The government has submitted a draft law giving authorities a green light to enforce the lockdown and all the related measures. The draft also sets imprisonment terms ranging from one month to three months for any person violating the quarantine measures. Total coronavirus cases in Morocco reached 115 by Sunday evening including four deaths. The total number of coronavirus cases worldwide reached 335,360, while fatalities exceeded 14,610. In the next decade, the Marine Corps will no longer operate tanks or have law enforcement battalions. It will also have three fewer infantry units and will shed about 7% of its overall force as the service prepares for a potential face-off with China. The Marine Corps is cutting all military occupational specialties associated with tank battalions, law enforcement units and bridging companies, the service announced Monday. It's also reducing its number of infantry battalions from 24 to 21 and cutting tiltrotor, attack and heavy-lift aviation squadrons. The changes are the result of a sweeping months-long review and war-gaming experiments that laid out the force the service will need by 2030. Commandant Gen. David Berger directed the review, which he has called his No. 1 priority as the service's top general. "Developing a force that incorporates emerging technologies and a significant change to force structure within our current resource constraints will require the Marine Corps to become smaller and remove legacy capabilities," a news release announcing the changes states. By 2030, the Marine Corps will drop down to an end strength of 170,000 personnel. That's about 16,000 fewer leathernecks than it has today. Related: The Marine Corps Must Get Smaller to Get Better, Commandant Says Cost savings associated with trimming the ranks will pay for a 300% increase in rocket artillery capabilities, anti-ship missiles, unmanned systems and other high-tech equipment leaders say Marines will need to take on threats such as China or Russia. "The Marine Corps is redesigning the 2030 force for naval expeditionary warfare in actively contested spaces," the announcement states. Units and squadrons that will be deactivated under plan include: 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 264 Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462 Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469 Marine Wing Support Groups 27 and 37 8th Marine Regiment Headquarters Company. The 8th Marine Regiment's other units -- 1/8 and 2/8 -- will be absorbed by other commands. Second Marines will take on 1/8, and 2/8 will go to the 6th Marine Regiment. Artillery cannon batteries will fall from 21 today to five. Amphibious vehicle companies will drop from six to four. The Hawaii-based Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367, which flies AH-1Z and UH-1Y aircraft, will also be deactivated and relocated to Camp Pendleton, California, the release states. And plans to reactivate 5th Battalion, 10th Marines, as a precision rocket artillery system unit are also being scrapped. That unit's assigned batteries will instead realign under 10th Marines, according to the release. "The future Fleet Marine Force requires a transformation from a legacy force to a modernized force with new organic capabilities," it adds. "The FMF in 2030 will allow the Navy and Marine Corps to restore the strategic initiative and to define the future of maritime conflict by capitalizing on new capabilities to deter conflict and dominate inside the enemy's weapon engagement zone." Existing infantry units are going to get smaller and lighter, according to the plan, "to support naval expeditionary warfare, and built to facilitate distributed and Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations." The Marine Corps will also create three littoral regiments that are organized, trained and equipped to handle sea denial and control missions. The news release describes the new units as a "Pacific posture." Marine expeditionary units, which deploy on Navy ships, will augment those new regiments, the release adds. In addition to more unmanned systems and long-range fire capabilities, the Marine Corps also wants a new light amphibious warship and will invest in signature management, electronic warfare and other systems that will allow Marines to operate from "minimally developed locations." Berger has called China's buildup in the South China Sea and Asia-Pacific region a game changer for the Navy and Marine Corps. He has pushed for closer integration between the sea services, as the fight shifts away from insurgent groups in the Middle East and to new threats at sea. Marine officials say they will continue evaluating and war-gaming the service's force design. Our force design initiatives are designed to create and maintain a competitive edge against tireless and continuously changing peer adversaries, the release states. -- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins. Read more: Top Marine General Wants a New Class of 'Light' Amphibious Warship Angela Merkel's first coronavirus test has come back negative after she went into quarantine because a doctor who gave her a vaccination tested positive. The German chancellor went into quarantine yesterday but Vice-Chancellor Olaf Scholz said today that she is healthy but working from home. The doctor had visited Merkel, 65, on Friday to vaccinate her against the pneumococcus bacteria. German Chancellor Angela Merkel (pictured yesterday, before going into quarantine) has been tested for coronavirus with the results coming back clear Pictured: The almost empty motorway A40 at rush hour in Essen, Germany, today amid more severe restrictions on public life Her spokesman Steffen Siebert said on Sunday: 'The Chancellor has decided to quarantine herself at home. 'She will be tested regularly in the coming days... (and) fulfil her official business from home.' It came just hours after she banned gatherings of more than two people in a nationwide crackdown to stop the spread of the killer disease. The German chancellor also further tightened rules on social interaction, with restaurants ordered to only offer takeaway services and hairdressers and beauty, massage and tattoo parlours asked to close. Pictured: Police tape closes the Old Water Tower Square due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, in Mannheim, Germany, on Sunday Merkel last week announced gatherings in churches, mosques and synagogues would be banned and said playgrounds and non-essential shops would close amid growing numbers of coronavirus cases. Germany's public health agency, the Robert Koch Institute, also warned on Tuesday that the coronavirus crisis could last up to two years. The latest official figures show 22,762 coronavirus cases in Germany and 86 deaths - a death rate of just 0.4 per cent, or one in every 265 patients. To curtail the spread of fast-spreading COVID-19, the Delhi Police on Monday appealed to people through social media and public announcement systems to stay at home and venture out only in case of an emergency. The city will be under lockdown till March 31 midnight amid the coronavirus outbreak. The Delhi Police has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC in the national capital till March 31 in view of the coronavirus outbreak, banning protests and other gatherings. Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code bans assembly of four or more people in one place. Any person contravening prohibitory order shall be punishable under section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of Indian Penal Code. Announcement through loudspeakers are also being made requesting people to practice social distancing. To create awareness about the deadly disease, police personnel have also been visiting residents in some of the areas, including RK Puram and Vasant Vihar, and urging them to take all precautions against coronavirus. The policemen have been asking shopkeepers to ensure that only one customer at a time makes the purchase, while others maintain social distance and wait in queue. The shopkeepers have also been asked to keep washing their hands frequently and ensure their is no crowding of customers at their shops. The Delhi Police has initiated a string vigil to keep the public safe by ensuring the compliance to the directions of the government, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Narendra Bundela said. "During the field visit, scores of good citizens were observed supporting the government direction of social distancing as they stayed back home which increases the chances of curbing the spread of COVID-19," he said. "Good citizens can help to overcome this crisis and make the city COVID-19 virus free. United we stand and let's fight it together," he added. The Delhi Police has sealed the border areas and is only allowing those exempted from the lockdown. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The BJP's Delhi unit termed as "diectionless and disappointing" the budget 2020-21 presented in the Assembly on Monday by the Aam Aadmi Party government. Development of Delhi was never a priority for the Kejriwal government and today it has also been proved after the presentation of the budget, Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari charged. "The budget is directionless, disappointing and juggling with statistics. Like last year, this time too, the AAP government has shown only dreams to the people of Delhi and no new plan has been introduced through this budget," he stated. It was expected that the way the Municipal Corporation employees are working to keep Delhi clean and hygienic during the time of coronavirus pandemic, regardless of their health and safety, the Delhi government will announce more funds to strengthen the civic bodies but it failed to do so, Tiwari said. The Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, before presentation of the budget, demanded the government to release "dues"of the municipal corporations. Party MLA and former Delhi BJP president Vijender Gupta also expressed "disappointment" with the budget. The Kejriwal government has takena U-turn on Ayushman Bharat scheme, he said as Deputy Chief Minster Manish Sisodia said in his budget speech that the Centre's flagship health scheme will be implemented in Delhi. Gupta criticised the state government for depriving the people of Delhi from the benefits of Ayushman Bharat scheme for years and treated them in a "step-motherly" fashion. "Now, they have taken a U-turn and are now implementing the same scheme. This shows that all the claims made by the Kejriwal government are nothing but political gimmicks, with no relation to reality." Sisodia tabled the budget in the Assembly in presence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for the year 2020-21. With a total outlay of Rs 65,000 crore, the budget focuses on education and health sectors. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The number of COVID-19 cases in Bihar rose to three on Monday, after a 24-year-old man, with a travel history to the UK, tested positive for the disease at a hospital here, a Health Department official said. The man had returned from Scotland on March 19 and was admitted to a city hospital with coronavirus symptoms two days later, she said. Bihar reported its first death due to novel coronavirus on Sunday after a 38-year-old man, with travel history to Qatar, died at a hospital here. Another woman who tested positive is currently undergoing treatment for it. Out of 185 samples collected so far, three have tested positive for the disease so far, while reports of 55 are still awaited, the State Health Society's bulletin said. The Bihar government had on Sunday enforced a lockdown on all district headquarters, sub-divisional headquarters, block headquarters and urban local bodies of the state with immediate effect till March 31. In a circular issued in this regard, it, however, clarified that all essential services -- groceries, medicines, dairy shops, petrol pump, CNG stations, banking, ATM, post office and print and electronic media -- have been kept out of the purview of the lockdown. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) London-based former Bond girl Olga Kurylenko, 40, has revealed 'she has completely recovered' after suffering with coronavirus. The actress took to Instagram on Sunday to give an update of her health, where she gave a breakdown of her illness before excitedly stating she was now free of COVID-19. Alongside a snap of her cradling her four-year-old son Alexander Max Horatio while wearing a mask, Olga told how she's now using her time to 'reflect' and spend quality time with her boy. All better: London -based former Bond girl Olga Kurylenko, 40, has revealed 'she has completely recovered' after suffering with coronavirus She penned: 'Happy Mothers Day! #mothersday P.S. I have completely recovered. To recapitulate: For one week I felt pretty bad and was mostly in bed, sleeping, with high fever and strong headache. The second week, the fever was gone but some light cough appeared and I felt very tired. By the end of the second week I felt totally fine. Cough is almost gone although I still cough in the mornings but then it completely goes away for the day! Im fine! And now Im just enjoying this time to reflect on many things and spend my time with my son. Recovered: The actress took to Instagram on Sunday to give an update of her health, where she gave a breakdown of her illness before excitedly stating she was now free of COVID-19 Days ago Olga revealed she was 'feeling better' three days after announcing she had tested positive for coronavirus. The Quantum Of Solace star took to Instagram on Wednesday to give her 615K followers an update on her health, sharing that her 'fever has gone' just one day after she was refused a hospital bed with a temperature of 102F (38.9C). Posting a picture of herself wearing a green medical mask and a collection of vitamin bottles, she penned: 'Hello everyone! Im feeling better today. My fever is gone! I hear people cant figure out where I currently am. Im in London! Update: Days ago Olga revealed she's 'feeling better' three days after announcing she had tested positive for coronavirus 'How do I know its coronavirus and not just a flu? I did a test for coronavirus which came back positive. What are the medicines that doctors prescribed as treatment? NONE! 'I was told to take paracetamol in case my fever was too high and if I was in too much pain. However, I do take vitamins and supplements.' Olga went on to reveal she is taking pantothenic acid (B5), vitamin E, vitamin C, curcumin (turmeric) and zinc to help her immune system, although she stressed: 'Please note that these vitamins do NOT cure coronavirus.' The star also added that is using colloidal silver and cell food, but urged her 615K followers to be 'careful' before taking as they are not suitable for everyone. Bond girl: The Quantum Of Solace star took to Instagram on Wednesday to give her 615K followers an update on her health, sharing that her 'fever has gone' just one day after she was refused a hospital bed with a temperature of 102F (38.9C) (pictured in 2008 film still) It comes after Olga revealed on Monday that she was refused a hospital bed for coronavirus treatment because the wards are 'full' of patients 'struggling with life'. The Quantum of Solace star said she was struggling with a 102F fever, a day after she revealed she had tested positive for the virus. But the London-based actress said hospitals are 'only taking patients that are struggling with life', saying she was told to call an ambulance if it got worse. The 40-year-old said she did not know where she had contracted the virus, but suggested she could have picked it up from a taxi door handle. The UK government is telling people with suspected virus symptoms to self-isolate at home, which Olga is now doing. Fever: It comes after Olga revealed on Monday that she was refused a hospital bed for coronavirus treatment because the wards are 'full' of patients 'struggling with life' A day after revealing her condition, the actress posted to Instagram on Monday night: 'Why I'm not in hospital? 'Because hospitals are full and they are only taking patients that are struggling with life, if I understand correctly. I was told that if I get worse to call an ambulance.' The Soviet-born actress told her Instagram followers that she had been diagnosed in hospital after being taken in by ambulance with a fever of over 102F. 'They took a swab from my throat,' she said. She added that it was 'impossible to know' where she contracted coronavirus, but fears it may have been from a taxi door handle. Isolation: She is now facing days in isolation and posted a picture of her locked window on Instagram on Sunday night as she revealed she was 'locked up at home' (pictured) 'It could be anywhere,' she said. 'I could have touched a taxi handle and gotten it from there. It's on surfaces.' She said her temperature was a stable 100.4F (38C) 'for a week', sometimes higher, but is now coming down. 'Regarding coronavirus medicine, everywhere is at the same level,' she said. 'They didn't prescribe me anything other than paracetamol to bring down the temperature. That's all.' On Tuesday, she said: 'Thank you to everyone who has sent me well wishes. I'm overwhelmed with everyone's kindness.' The 40-year-old French national, who played Camille Montes in 2008's Quantum of Solace, said she was diagnosed after feeling 'ill for almost a week' with fever and fatigue. Scary: The 40-year-old French national, who played Camille Montes in 2008's Quantum of Solace, said she was diagnosed after feeling 'ill for almost a week' with fever and fatigue (pictured in October) She is now facing days in isolation and posted a picture of her locked window on Instagram on Sunday night as she revealed she was 'locked up at home'. Olga has lived in London for around six years. Her son aged four, from her former partner Max Benitz, and her mother also live in the city. The star did not say which hospital she was diagnosed at. The National Health Service is advising people to self-isolate for seven days if they have either a high temperature or a new, continuous cough. Patients are told they do not need to contact health professionals unless they cannot cope with their symptoms, they get worse or their condition does not improve after a week. Stunning: The mother-of-one originally rose to fame as a model after being discovered in Moscow at the age 13 (pictured in October) Olga has recently finished shooting her upcoming movie The Bay Of Silence, according to The Hollywood Reporter. It is not yet clear if anyone else will need to be quarantined as a result of her positive test. The mother-of-one originally rose to fame as a model after being discovered in Moscow at the age 13. She starred opposite Daniel Craig in Quantum of Solace as Bolivian secret agent Camille Montes, a role for which she did dialect training. Ascension, Livingston, St. Helena and St. James school districts have suspended Grab & Go food service amid the escalation of the coronavirus outbreak in Louisiana but they are offering different reasons for the decision. All four districts announced their decisions Sunday afternoon. Leaders of three of the four districts cited the governors shelter in place order issued at 2 p.m Sunday and the uncertainty it creates. Late Sunday, East Feliciana Parish schools, as well Impact Charter School in Baker announced they were suspending student meals. Christina Stephens, spokeswoman for Gov. John Bel Edwards, said it's a big misunderstanding: "K-12 schools, public and private, are a central function that will continue to operate." St. Helena and St. James parishes, however, offered another reason for canceling food service: Both districts learned this weekend they each have an employee who has tested positive for COVID-19. Louisiana issues statewide stay-at-home order to combat coronavirus spread; see details here Gov. John Bel Edwards issued Sunday a statewide "stay at home" order until April 12, requiring Louisiana residents to shelter in place unless As a result, we have no choice but to suspend all planned meal distribution for students, St. James Parish school leaders announced via Facebook. This is very unfortunate; however, we cannot take any chances. The safety of our students and employees must remain our top priority." St. Helena Parish Superintendent Kelli Joseph blamed the combination of having an employee test positive and the governors order. We are operating with an abundance of caution, Joseph said. We want to service our students. But, we also have to consider the safety and well-being of our cooks, bus drivers, janitors, and other staff, in addition to their families. Ascension, Livingston and St. James opened up five, 14 and five school meal sites, respectively, last week after Gov John Bel Edwards ordered all public schools in Louisiana to stay closed until April 13. St. James also has been delivering meals via school bus. St. Helena is exclusively delivering meals. All are feeding children 18 years and younger while school is out. In addition to suspending food service, Livingston Parish schools are closing all school facilities and no longer allowing employees to report to work, unless notified by Superintendent Joe Murphy. In a statement, Murphy pointed exclusively to the governors shelter in place order. While we are truly disheartened by the suspension of services at this time, we also have a responsibility to keep the citizens of our parish and our employees safe during this crisis. If further guidance and clarification is given regarding meal service, which allows for the continuation, we will resume our meal program at that time, Murphy said. Ascension Parish David Alexander, in his own statement, said Ascension is discontinuing the student meal program due to the governor's order, saying its prompting the district to reassess the safety of staff, logistics, and to determine where we might overcome areas that are perceived as compromising (government) guidelines. Vaccine news in your inbox Once a week we'll update you on the progress of COVID-19 vaccinations. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up A spokeswoman for Livingston Parish said the school district is not aware of any its employees testing positive. Alexander, in his statement, made clear hes not going to reveal that information if it were true, saying doing so would violate federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPPA. In his order, which takes effect at 5 p.m. Monday, Gov. Edwards ordered non-essential businesses to close and their workers to go home to avoid spreading the virus. Employees considered essential, who can still go to work, are health care workers, staffers in groceries, pharmacies, take-out restaurants and banks. Some school leaders expressed confusion Sunday about whether school meal program workers are also essential. Stephens said the confusion arose during a conference call Sunday afternoon with school superintendents led by Mark Cooper, the governor's chief of staff. Stephens said worried superintendents were reassured repeatedly that "(serving student meals) is a central function of the government, and it would be allowed under the order." She said state officials plan to continue talking to superintendents over the next day to allay their concerns. Acting State Schools Superintendent Beth Scioneaux sent a letter late Sunday urging superintendents and other meal providers to continue serving children through at least Friday, saying the state has heard their concerns and is working with the National Guards project management team "to develop multiple, unique, alternate solutions for meal delivery moving forward." Not every district came away from Sunday's conference call thinking they had to cancel school meals. Were going to push forward this week, said Taylor Gast, a spokeswoman for the East Baton Rouge Parish school system. East Baton Rouge, however, is taking other steps, including closing all school buildings completely, except those used for school meals and other continuing services, Gast said. Tangipahoa Parish schools also are continuing with student meals for the time being. The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board is reacting in other ways. It moved up to 10 a.m. Monday a meeting to give Superintendent Warren Drake emergency powers during the coronavirus crisis, a move many other Louisiana school districts have already taken. Gast said she's not aware of any East Baton Rouge school employees testing positive for COVID-19. Nigerias first identified coronavirus death involved a former Managing Director of the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Suleiman Achimugu, his family confirmed Monday. PPMC is the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) subsidiary in charge of petroleum products marketing and distribution. Mr Achimugus family said he died after showing symptoms of the virus following his return to the country from the United Kingdom recently. In a statement, which is already in circulation online, the family said Mr Achimugu died of the virus on Sunday, days after he returned to Nigeria from a trip to the United Kingdom. The statement signed by a member of the family, Abubakar Achimugu reads: Inna_Lillahi_wa_inna_ilayhi_rajiun Our family is deeply saddened to inform you of the sudden death of our beloved Father, Uncle, Brother and friend. Engr. Suleiman Achimugu (former MD of PPMC). He died of COVID 19 on 22/03/2020 some days after he arrived Nigeria from the UK. He was in self-isolation upon his return from the UK and personally called NCDC after experiencing some discomfort that are related to COVID 19 symptoms. He tested positive and was promptly evacuated to the specialist hospital. He died while receiving treatment. READ ALSO: We implore the general public to pray upon his soul and the recovery of infected persons. Your thoughts and prayers would be appreciated. Please maintain the public social distancing and restriction advice as we all walk through this very difficult time. He has since been buried according to Islamic rites. May Allah SWA have mercy on him. Ameen ABUBAKAR ACHIMUGU FOR THE Family. Outbreak The death was announced about an hour after the country confirmed five new cases of Covid-19, bringing to 35 the total number of cases in the country. (Natural News) On Sunday, as the Trump administration continued to roll out response plans to the still-emerging Wuhan coronavirus and governors locked down their states, the impact of the outbreak on our lawmakers became more profound. And frankly, its becoming a continuity of government issue. On Sunday, GOP Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, himself a physician, announced that he has been diagnosed with coronavirus. At 57, Paul has not yet reached an age where coronavirus is known to be more deadly. But Paul could be considered high-risk for the disease because in August 2019, the senator tweeted that he had part of his lung removed during surgery after it was damaged in a 2017 assault by his neighbor, Axios reported. Pauls office tweeted about his diagnosis: Senator Rand Paul has tested positive for COVID-19. He is feeling fine and is in quarantine. He is asymptomatic and was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive travel and events. He was not aware of any direct contact with any infected person. He expects to be back in the Senate after his quarantine period ends and will continue to work for the people of Kentucky at this difficult time. Ten days ago, our D.C. office began operating remotely, hence virtually no staff has had contact with Senator Rand Paul. Paul becomes the first U.S. senator diagnosed but not the first one to have taken direct action due to the virus. As CNN reported, Sens. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) both announced they would self-quarantine for 14 days after hearing their Kentucky colleague was ill, though neither of them are showing symptoms. Republicans could lose their Senate majority Upon learning that my colleague Sen. Paul tested positive for COVID-19, I consulted the Attending Physician of the U.S. Congress, Dr. Harding, Lee said in a statement. He advised me that because I have no symptoms or other risk factors, a COVID-19 test was not warranted. However, given the timing, proximity, and duration of my exposure to Sen. Paul, he directed me to self-quarantine for 14 days. Romneys office added: Since Senator Romney sat next to Senator Paul for extended periods in recent days and consistent with CDC guidance, the attending physician has ordered him to immediately self-quarantine and not to vote on the Senate floor. (Related: California Gov. Newsom warns 25 million could be infected in 8 weeks, which would lead to hundreds of thousands of deaths in California alone.) Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) announced March 17 that he had successfully completed a period of self-quarantine. But as CNN notes, there is a growing list of House and Senate members of both parties who are self-quarantining in order to avoid exposure to coronavirus. And as USA Today noted, there could also be political implications to the coronavirus. The paper observed that as more Republican senators either catch the disease or self-quarantine, they could temporarily lose their majority which could have major implications in terms of what legislation is passed, a delay in votes for President Trumps judicial nominees, and even a loss of quorum. Republicans could lose their Senate majority as the novel coronavirus courses through the U.S. Capitol with five GOP members in self-quarantine as of Sunday afternoon as lawmakers negotiated a massive economic rescue package to help laid-off workers and shuttered businesses, USA Today reported. But there may be a way around that. Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) have proposed a resolution calling for remote voting. Still, the outbreak of coronavirus is the result, once more, of Chinese malfeasance, and it merely underscores the need for the United States to cut their ties with a Communist government that refuses to play by the rules of civilized first-world nations. Sources include: USAToday.com Axios.com NaturalNews.com The Union Government on Monday ordered suspension of all domestic flight services beginning Tuesday midnight in a bid to move towards a complete lockdown prompted by the fast-spreading, deadly Covid-19 that has killed at least seven and infected 415 people in India. Operations will cease with effect from midnight that is 23.59 hours IST on 24/3/2020. Airlines have to plan operations so as to land at their destination before 23.59 hours on 24/3/2020, the civil aviation ministry said adding that the restrictions will not apply to cargo carrying flights. The restrictions on the operation of domestic flights have been imposed till March 31, the Civil Aviation ministry clarified. In its order, the ministry said, the central government considers that the movement of persons within the country by flights carrying a large number of persons together will aid and assist the spread of the virus within India and for the prevention of further spread of the epidemic disease, such movement of people must be restricted. This comes a day after India began a virtual lockdown for the rest of the month across states by suspending trains, interstate buses and Metro rail services till March 31, a decision that on Sunday followed millions of Indians heeding Prime Minister Narendra Modis call for a day-long voluntary shutdown to break the chain of coronavirus infections. So far, a complete lockdown has been announced in 82 districts across 19 states and union territories. To be sure, India has already suspended all international flights from landing in India for one week, from March 22 till March 29. No scheduled international commercial airliner to be allowed to land in India from March 22 till one week in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID 19) outbreak, the union government had announced Thursday. West Bengal chief minister on Monday also wrote to the Prime Minister asking him to immediately suspend all domestic flights. The Bengal chief minister has said the government has stopped all inter-state movement and shut roads while Railway operations have also stopped. But allowing flights to still land in the state remains a threat to the prevention of coronavirus spread. We are seriously concerned that the Government of India is still allowing operation of flights causing a huge breach of shutdown and quarantine protocol with no arrangements of social distancing that we are so painfully managing in the state, she wrote in the letter. Airlines over the past two weeks have been cutting down on flight operations due to low passenger load. GoAir on Saturday announced the suspension of all flights on Sunday in the wake of Janta Curfew. Indigo had also announced that the airline will be operating approximately 60% of its normal domestic schedule. Hanoi is taking all necessary measures to improve air quality, including treating to controlling waste in industrial zones and craft villages. The Hanoi Environment Protection Sub-department (HEPS) is running 11 automatic environmental monitoring stations, including two stations located on Trung Yen 3 street and in Minh Khai Ward of Bac Tu Liem district. The stations measure and provide six pollution indicators PM10, PM2.5, NO2/NO/NOx, CO, SO2 and O3. The other nine stations are located in the areas of Hang Dau, Hoan Kiem, Kim Lien, My Dinh, Pham Van Dong, Thanh Cong, Tan Mai, Tay Mo and French Embassy, monitoring four indicators - PM10, PM2.5, CO, NO2 and meteorological parameters. These are small sensor stations, using solar cells. The Hanoi Environment Protection Sub-department (HEPS) is running 11 automatic environmental monitoring stations, including two stations located on Trung Yen 3 street and in Minh Khai Ward of Bac Tu Liem district. The information about the air quality in Hanoi is also provided by AirVisual, an air quality measuring app. AirVisual said it collects materials from 14 air monitoring stations, 10 of which belong to the government. These include the Hanoi air quality control network, the northern environment monitoring center, and the US Embassy in Hanoi. Non-government organizations include three AirVisual Contributors. One of the partners is run by GreenID. Asked while the indicators and assessments about the air quality in Hanoi provided by the US Embassy and the municipal environment agency are quite different, Mai Trong Thai from HEPS said the one at the US Embassy is a sensor station and the station is located at the point where there are many construction works and heavy traffic. He stressed that HEPS is the only agency in the capital city which runs 10 air monitoring stations which have been operating well since 2017. Two of them meet quality standards. Also according to Thai, the US air quality index (AQI) is very high. Meanwhile, Vietnam is applying Vietnamese standards. With the same information about air quality, one would conclude the air quality is at the average level if referring to the Vietnamese standards, but this would mean very bad if referring to the US standards, he explained, adding that the different assessments lead to confusion. Thai affirmed that in Vietnam, the General Directorate of Environment and local environment departments are the only agencies in the right position to make declarations about AQI in Vietnam. The air quality reflected by the air monitoring network depends on many factors, including weather conditions. In foggy and humid days, the air cannot diffuse, therefore, the AQI will be high. But when sunny days come, the air diffuses, the index will be at the average level, he said. As Europe is applying Euro 5 and Euro 6 for emissions from transport vehicles, Vietnam should apply at least Euro 4 to improve the air quality. Mai Lan Vietnam launches air quality monitoring app The air quality monitoring app is user-friendly, easy to download, install and upgrade. Kerala's fisheries sector struggles to stay afloat amid virus scare by Navamy Sudhish March 23,2020 | Source: The Hindu The States fisheries sector in likely to incur huge losses in the beginning of the new financial year with top export destinations closing their doors and nearly zero demand from high-end hotel chains and resorts. Those working in the seafood industry say a number of factors, including the ban on shipments, newly imposed restrictions at fish landing centres, and logistical glitches have left the sector in total chaos. Major markets China and Europe are our major markets and since both are in the grip of COVID-19, there has been a mass cancellation of orders. While the shipments to China stopped immediately after the Chinese New Year, Europe buyers started citing logistical issues at import hubs from March. Our plant, which can handle daily shipments, could only manage three shipments in the last 90 days. We are facing such a crisis for the first time. It will take two or three months for the sector to stabilise, says Shajahan K.S., a Kochi-based exporter. While some exporters are still stocking varieties such as vannamei shrimp, demand for the most-sought-after items such as squid, cuttle fish, octopus and ribbon fish has come down considerably. Though there are still takers for tuna, its market is not very large and is mostly limited to Asian countries such as Thailand. Though some exporters got enquiries from China this week, the prices quoted were very low, hinting that business will not be back to normal soon. Dip in catch The sector was already struggling with a dip in catch and now with marine cargo movements coming to a standstill, we are finding it difficult to survive. Export companies are offering minimal prices due to the market fluctuations, says Peter Mathias, president, All Kerala Fishing Boat Operators Association. Another blow came when star hotels and resorts stopped their purchases, opting to keep a bare minimum inventory. They used to offer better prices for shrimp, crab and some other varieties. But with nearly nil tourist inflow, that door was also closed, says Francis, fisher. Guest labourers returning to their States due to COVID-19 scare is another crucial factor. For the last few days trawlers are finding it difficult to ensure enough hands on board. The recent restrictions in conducting auctions at harbours and fish landing centres have added to the sectors difficulties. This year, my sixth as a freelance journalist, started with a phone conversation with an editor. I figured the call would either be a starting shot blasted into the air or a bullet fired directly into my foot. For years, Id been living in Portland, Oregon, and serving proudly as a member of the Washington Posts Talent Network, which involved covering breaking news on everything from race to politics to western courtroom dramas. Id been on the scene whenever the Post needed me. But now I was finally willing to admit that the numbers werent panning out. I had other work that made more sense for the economics of my time. Besides, breaking stories was never a goal of mine; Id taken the gig out of necessity. I told my editor at the Post that I was officially taking myself off their freelance list. I wasnt looking to do less journalism, I said, just more of the work Id always wanted to do: investigations, unexpected stories, profiles, literary pieces. I wanted to play to my strengths. But I can still call you if something crazy happens in your corner of the world, right? the editor asked. I laughed and said, Of course. Goals aside, I told her, Im down for the cause. Im a journalist. If Im needed, Ill show up. Bearing witness, sacrificing ourselves for the greater goodthats what binds everyone in journalism, isnt it? THE MEDIA TODAY: In coronavirus coverage, a tricky balance between scrutiny and amplification You know what happened next. Within several weeks, Seattle reported the first American case of the coronavirus COVID-19. As of this writing, nearly fourteen hundred people have tested positive in Washington State; seventy-four have died. Seattle is not a place I typically report on, but it quickly became clear that the virus was making a spectral path down I-5, past the shadow of Mount Rainier and toward Portland. It went east, too, over the Cascades and through the high desert, toward Spokane and Missoula, Montana. Soon it had arrived in every place Ive ever called home, infecting new people, finding new hosts to unwittingly transport it closer and closer to everyone Ive ever loved. People had been dying all over the world; now the story had arrived in my midst. From my homewhere Im used to working, so social distancing is not that strangeI began following the spread of COVID-19 as if it were a story I was reporting, even though I wasnt. A story: something to be observed, unraveled, interrogated, and then conveyed to an audience. A story: something you process, but ultimately pass through, like an earthworm moving through soil. You can take things from a story, but never let it take things from you. Journalism provides a way to witness life without ever having to feel it. Sign up for CJR 's daily email But I sensed that, with this story, I was not just physically distanced, I was also emotionally distanced. For the first time in my career, I started wondering if Id actually be able and ready to step in and cover the news if I was asked. Every journalist I know between Mount Shasta and the Canadian border is reporting, in some way, on COVID-19. Staffers of the Seattle Times have been filing articles about the scale and power of the virus while President Trump misleads the public. Those reporters never flinched. But I was flinching like crazy, clinging to a before-this-all-happened set of goals Id made for myself at the start of the year. What if I dont want to sacrifice myself anymore? I thought. What if I just want to feel? Three weeks ago, I had stacked my year with a series of projects that would be intellectually and financially rewarding. God, what a before thing to think. I SOMETIMES JOKE that Im a garbage journalist. Knowing that every outlet will inevitably move on from a hot news storyremember two weeks ago, everything was all about Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders?thats when I come in and do my best work, poking around in the trash of a discarded news cycle. Its a strange way to functionisolating. It took me years to figure it out. Freelancing will fuck with you if you let it. I tell people all the time that freelancing, for me, has been like running a small, lovely store where people come in, smile at you, sniff, and admire your carefully crafted wares; then they tuck your merchandise into their purses and pockets and leave the store. You, the shop owner, are left wondering if the price tags werent visible somehow. You blame yourself for whatever error caused them to steal from you. Then you hope like hell they will come back to pay you. (Most do. In ninety days. Maybe.) Freelancers must learn to adapt and take work where they can get it. Doing what an editor asks is a big part of the job. Beyond chasing money and complaining on the internetIve done both things plentywhat else is the obligation of a freelance writer, really? Does a pandemic alter our set of responsibilities? Should we put our personal ambitions aside and join the ranks of journalists, already sleepless and overworked, who are sacrificing themselves to bring truth in a time of crisis? I have to wonder how many freelancers are panicking right now, taking the first offer of $300 for a quick-turnaround virus story. Im no health reporter. But unlike with wars or riots or mass shootings, there are no guidelines for covering COVID-19. Whats the size of the risk? Could a journalist, trying to be brave, contract a virus we dont fully understand for the benefit of an outlet that isnt going to pay a dime toward health insurance? Might some publications fail to pay entirely, if were staring down a recession? That Im not reporting on COVID-19 gives me pangs of guilt, a sense of cowardice. Im not sure, though, if courage is a requirement of my joba job in which its up to me to determine the rules. The feeling in my stomach may be something else entirely: that I feel so broken by the never-ending pace of reporting that, finally, something has made me realize a story is a story and living a life is something else. Being a journalist shouldnt be at odds with humanity. THREE WEEKS AGO, I had stacked my year with a series of projects that would be intellectually and financially rewarding. God, what a before thing to think. Why do we always believe we can control our future? Overnight, we all stopped shaking hands, stopped giving high fives, weighed whether chewing our fingernails was worth it. Suddenly, loud, boorish America went silent. With every pull-to-refresh of my phone screen came another catastrophe. There was no March Madness, no spring break. There was no school, no preschool, no college. No more lunch with friendsthe restaurants were closed. No more working from a coffee shopthose were shut, too. Thousands of people in Portland are now out of workbartenders, servers, cooks, and also staff at The Columbian and most writers at the Portland Mercury, a local alt-weekly. (Its sister paper, The Stranger, in Seattle, let most of its staff go, too.) The Portland Tribune cut the hours of some of the best watchdog reporters in the city, as a way of avoiding layoffs. Powells Bookstore, a place whose aisles I know so well that I can smell them if I close my eyes, is letting most people go. My heart is in my throat. A project that would have had me reporting in the Midwest next week was put on hold. I dont know when, or if, it will get picked up again. I cant rely on it for money anytime soon; that I know. Another editor wrote and told me to push pause on an idea we were developing, for which I have no contract yet. Yet another editor advised me to cease all face-to-face contact with sources. Even if I were to remain free of symptoms, everyone in my family could be ripe prey for COVID-19. A cough, for me, could be the end for them. I thought, I have to get away from all of this. The inundation of bad news. Journalism is supposed to comfort the afflicted, not afflict everyone. Journalists shouldnt be making predictions, tweeting erroneous statements wrought out of fear. Few, if any, of us have covered a pandemic before. And lets be honest: few, if any, of us know where the line is, where our hard work and courage and lack of feeling about a story might become obsessive, even harmful. The other day, my husband and I woke up, got in our car, and drove. We parked at the edge of a trail up on Mount Hood. We fixed our hiking boots into snowshoes and looked toward the peak, blurred by the white gauze of a lenticular cloud. Ive never been afraid to live in the shadow of volcanoes. Looking at Hood now, they seemed like benevolent goddesses in comparison to this invisible virus. We walked for miles silently, the quietest wed been in days, pausing to stare up high into the trees, where the wind blew like a fierce song. The storythis viruswas with me the whole time. What was I going to do? What were we all going to do? What was my role in all this? I am not infected with COVID-19, but in a way I am plagued by it. We all are. Things arent going to go backward. As I walked, I realized that I will, eventually, write about COVID-19. I will have to, when the time is right, when the initial sting has faded into a yellowed bruise. When society is changed, when our culture shifts, there will be no way to avoid this story. Like snakes, we will all shed our skin, leaving behind the time that came before this and settling into a new cycle of life in the time after death. ICYMI: Whats Become of the Arctic? Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Leah Sottile is a freelance journalist who has written for the Washington Post, High Country News, the California Sunday Magazine, the New York Times, and several others. She is the host of the podcast Bundyville, a two-time nominee for the National Magazine Award. She lives in Portland, Oregon. On Thursday morning, VOAs reporter in Seoul, William Gallo, received a text message from South Koreas emergency alert system. The message appeared on his telephone. He has received such texts hundreds of times during the coronavirus outbreak. Someone in Gallos Seoul neighborhood a 35-year-old man had tested positive for the virus. The text message provided a link to a government website that listed everything about the mans activities for the past two days. The man apparently arrived at Seouls Incheon airport at about nine in the morning. He took a train to a train station near Gallos home, and then went to a small food store. Five hours later, he went to a restaurant. More information followed. By now, messages like this one are commonplace in South Korea. Gallo says his phone receives more than 10 messages about infections in his neighborhood on some days. When he goes to other parts of Seoul, his phone provides information about cases in those neighborhoods. To prepare these messages, South Korea uses in-person interviews. It also uses large amounts of personal information, bank records, phone information as well as video from cameras around the city. This is possible because South Korean lawmakers changed privacy laws after the outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in 2015. The disease caused 39 deaths in the country. Now, during dangerous outbreaks, officials can easily get everyones private information without a court order. The plan has worked As a result, South Korea has been able to identify areas with more than one coronavirus case and quickly investigate the path of the infection. It can tell those infected to stay home and warn the public to avoid that area. The result has been stunning. South Korea has reported one of the lowest coronavirus death rates in the world: as of Monday, only 111 people have died out of 8,961 cases. The rate of new infections has also decreased. After reaching 909 new cases a day on February 29, South Korea reported just 64 new cases on Monday. South Koreas methods of fighting coronavirus have been praised as the model of how to contain the virus. It avoids forced restrictions on movement and does not lead to widespread closure of businesses. Some people, however, are worried about the loss of privacy. Kenneth Roth is executive director of Human Rights Watch. He told VOA his organization is worried governments may use the threat of coronavirus to increase their powers of surveillance. Once we allow them to be regularly used and give up our right of privacy, it will be very difficult to end it, said Roth. If South Korea is reducing privacy in exchange for fighting the virus, many South Koreans seem to accept it happily. Amid the coronavirus crisis, South Korean President Moon Jae-in is enjoying his highest approval ratings in months. In some ways, South Koreas government is helped in the fight against coronavirus by what remains of its authoritarian past, says Lee Sang-sin. He is an expert on political science and public opinion at the Korean Institute for National Unification. South Korea has a national registration system, he noted. Everyone has an identification number that must be given when buying a telephone. That has made it easier for government officials to find suspected coronavirus patients. There are other reasons it may be difficult for countries to use the South Korean system to fight coronavirus. South Korea is a small country, and is home to 51 million people. More than 50 percent live in cities and are easy to find. Most importantly, everyone in South Korea, including non-citizens, is part of a national healthcare system. Within the system, South Korea quickly built about 50 drive-thru testing centers. These have been praised internationally for their safety and effectiveness. Back to normal? As the number of new coronavirus infections decreases, life in Seoul has begun to return to the way it was before the outbreak. Schools are still closed, but people are out in public spaces and open areas. I'm Ashley Thompson. VOAs William Gallo reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story outbreak - n. the sudden appearance of a sickness positive - adj. showing the presence of a particular germ or virus interview - n. to ask a person questions stunning - adj. an extraordinary event surveillance - n. following and watching a person allow - v. to let someone do something authoritarian - adj. oppressive, lacking democracy Monday, March 23, 2020 at 10:01AM Photo courtesy of Netflix As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many TV and movie productions have shut down. The necessary move affects services like Netflix, who need a steady stream of shows as well as the productions that rely on Netflix for their livelihoods. That's why the streaming service created a US$100 million fund for the workers in the creative fieldfrom actors to set crews. The majority of the money will be given to the "hardest hit" staffers of its original shows. Around US$15 million of the fund will be given to third-party organizations and non-profits that are helping combat the pandemic (like SAG-AFTRA's COVID-19 Disaster Fund and the Actors Fund Emergency Assistance). How Netflix plans to divide the amount changes "production by production." The company previously promised two weeks of pay promised to productions that stopped work last week. While it's great for the streaming service to help out, Netflix also needs this for their future. With smaller productions who possibly can't afford the work stoppage, this ensures that they will be able to continue working in the future. Source: Engadget Vancouver-based fast food chain Burgerville said Monday that it would furlough 1,020 people in response to the coronavirus outbreak. The furloughs will impact 68 percent of Burgervilles workforce between its corporate office and restaurants across the Northwest, marking the biggest cut to operations in the companys 59-year history. The move comes after the governors of both Oregon and Washington ordered restaurants and bars throughout the states to close in hopes of containing the deadly coronavirus outbreak. While Burgerville had continued to keep many of its drive-thrus, mobile ordering and delivery services running, the company determined Monday that it had no other recourse than to start furloughing employees while in-dining service remained suspended. Since its founding in 1961, Burgerville has weathered many storms," Burgerville CEO Jill Taylor said in a statement. This is unprecedented, unpredictable and heart breaking. Weve been working hard to keep our doors open, but with the temporary dining room closures, its not enough to ensure the sustainability of Burgerville long-term with everyone working full-time. The company will continue to provide benefits to eligible furloughed employees. Those employees will be able to apply for unemployment benefits as well. The company did not say how long the furloughs would last. Burgerville will close its Portland airport location, Beaverton food cart and Tigard location. Staff will remain at the companys 38 other restaurants to continue to operate drive-thru, mobile order and home delivery services. There is no playbook for these very challenging times, Taylor wrote in a letter to the Burgerville community. My promise to the community employees, farmers and ranchers, and guests is we will continue to be nimble and keep our company moving into a new future. While there are certainly more tough times ahead, we intend to do all that is in our power to keep each other healthy and safe, and weather this storm together, as one company and one resilient Pacific Northwest region. -- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com | @jamiebgoldberg Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Those who depend on regular transfusions are increasingly worried as over 4,000 blood drives were canceled in the U.S. because of the coronavirus, according to the American Association of Blood Banks. This situation, which resulted in a loss of 130,000 donations, is unprecedented, according to Dr. Claudia Cohn, AABB's chief medical officer and director of the blood bank at the University of Minnesota Medical Center. "I'm looking to delay or reduce blood usage with the knowledge that the supply is not being refilled at a robust rate, and nationwide we're seeing this," Cohn said. Like clockwork, Tanya Baer's 9-year-old daughter Molly receives blood transfusions every three weeks as a treatment for thalassemia, an inherited blood disorder that requires regular transfusions. "I'm scared of her getting sick, but that isn't even my biggest concern right now," Baer said. "My biggest concern: is she going to be able to get a regular blood transfusion to live?" Baer has prepared Molly for the possibility that she may receive a reduced amount of blood in her next transfusion, which may cause her to not feel well. Molly has suffered before when she didn't receive the blood she needs. When her family adopted her as a two-year-old from China, Molly was anemic and fatigued from not undergoing regular transfusions, according to Baer. The Cooley's Anemia Foundation advocates for individuals like Molly and people have been voicing their concerns to the organization regarding blood shortages, according to its national executive director Craig Butler. "We've had patients that have reached out to us and have been told there's really only a five-day blood supply in their area or who have been told we won't be able to give you blood this week," Butler said. There can be serious consequences when people with thalassemia don't receive regular blood transfusions, including heart and liver failure, as well as death, according to Butler. He said that there is no medical substitute for blood, and supplies need to be constantly replenished because blood has a short shelf life. "It's really important in a situation like this to keep with the donations so that there'll be blood today, and blood tomorrow, and blood 10 weeks from now for everyone who needs it," Butler said. The University of Minnesota Medical Center, like many hospitals across the country, has postponed elective surgeries, including those that treat slow-moving cancers, in order to extend its blood supply. "Some of these are quite serious surgeries that are important, and we would not delay them unless we had to," Cohn said. Her hospital is splitting in half the usual amount of blood given to patients, but if a patient is still symptomatic, they will receive more blood. The American Red Cross still has blood donation centers open and has set up new ones at hospitals, said Dr. Pampee Young, the organization's chief medical officer. The American Red Cross website currently has an alert for a severe blood shortage because of the coronavirus. American Red Cross blood donation centers have implemented new protocols to prevent transmission of the coronavirus, including enhanced disinfecting procedures and checking the temperatures of both staff and donors, according to Young. They also space out appointments and seat donors six feet apart in the waiting room in order to practice social distancing. Young also said it's important to note that people can't transmit the coronavirus, or other respiratory illnesses such as a cold or the flu, by donating blood. "Right now, all the science that we know says that this is not a virus that can be transmitted by transfusion," Young said. AABB, which accredits the American Red Cross and most blood banks in the U.S., is trying to encourage a new round of donors. Once a person donates, they are unable to do so again for two months, according to Eduardo Nunes, vice president of quality, standards and accreditation at AABB. "The donors who are ready to come out and give have already done that," Nunes said. "Now, we need to get messaging out to the next wave of donors, that second tier of people who are less habituated." Those who are most likely to donate blood are people older than 60, according to AABB's Cohn. However, this group is most at risk in the coronavirus pandemic and may be more reluctant to leave home. "We need to develop a habit in younger people," Cohn said. "We need to get them out to donate now and get them to continue to donate because this is an ongoing need. It's never going to go away." Those interested in donating blood can schedule appointments through the American Red Cross' website or app. They should fill out a short questionnaire on the day of the appointment to ensure they are eligible. Donation also requires a short physical exam, including a temperature check. Tanya Baer urges those who can donate blood to do so. Her parents just gave blood for the first time in honor of Molly. "It's the one thing that you can do right now to change a life," Baer said. Those practicing social distancing and staying at home can still leave to donate blood, according to U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams. "Social distancing doesn't have to mean social disengagement," Adams said at a press conference Thursday. The shutdown of the hospitality industry will cost the local economy at least 100m per month, an industry body has projected. Colin Neill, the chief executive of Hospitality Ulster, warned that locking the doors of pubs and restaurants to the public and mass cancellations of hotel bookings will make a huge financial impact as well as threaten the survival of businesses and job losses. He said: "If you take it that the latest figure I've seen that we've been getting drawn up says the hospitality sector in Northern Ireland contributes something in the region of 1.4 billion to 1.5 billion per year. Well, shut us for six months and you can pretty much divide that in two and then some, because we'll not switch back on at full pelt again. "Thinking of a worse case scenario of six months like this, that's really where we are - you are talking at least 100m a month." Mr Neill has called for creative thinking from politicians to effectively freeze overheads on businesses so that they can survive. He added: "Paramount is the nation's health and our staff's health and all those things, but also an important link to health is a job and mental health and getting back to work. "It sustains 65,000 jobs, so again all of those jobs are in jeopardy. "Obviously with what the Prime Minister and the Chancellor has done we expect to save a lot of jobs, but I think somewhere in there that there will be casualties." In a touching interview, Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwins widow, Terri, revealed a promise they had made to each before his death. The brave woman explained how she managed to move forward despite the pain of losing her husband. She also addressed some of the rumors in the media about her love life. In a March 2020 interview with Courier Mail, the woman opened up about her life since her husbands death. After her husbands tragic accident, the widow said she had a pact to keep. We had a deal that if he died first, I would keep everything going, so it was never really: Am I going to do this? but it was, Oh my goodness, I am actually going to have to do this, she explained. She did, however, say that she was so afraid at the time. Steve, the well-known and beloved Australian TV personality and wildlife expert, sadly passed away in September 2006 from a stingray attack while filming a documentary. He left behind his wife, Terri Irwin, and two children. Dealing with her loss wasnt easy at all for her. No matter the circumstances are that you lose someone, nobodys truly prepared Steves accident was so unexpected, it was extremely challenging, she told People in 2018. Over the years, Terri Irwins achievements are nothing short of impressive. She managed to put together the Australian Zoo Wildlife Hospital and built the African Savannah at the Australia Zoo. She also continued working in television, while using part of the money to fund her wildlife conservation projects. Thirteen years on, Irwin believes she achieved everything they had planned. Terri Irwin attends as Animal Planet celebrates Crikey! Its the Irwins on Oct. 19, 2018, in New York City. (Getty Images | Monica Schipper) She also touched upon the multiple romances the media had tried to pin on her. I have kept track because its kind of funny Lets see, apparently, its all the Hogansthats Paul and Hulk; Russell Crowe, and most recently, its Richard Wilkins, she said. However, she added that the most flattering is Crowe. She went on to explain that while nothing is going on between them romantically, she considers him a very good friend of the family. I actually do really love him because he loved Steve and they were such good friends, she added. Steve Irwin being honored posthumously with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (Getty Images | David Livingston) In her interview with People from 2018, she went into further details about staying single since her husbands passing. I think its wonderful when people who have lost someone find love again, but Im not personally looking, and I havent been on a date in 27 years, she said. Irwin then explained she was happy with her life as it was, and a new romance was not on the cards for her. But Im content. I have two beautiful kids, a really full plate. Ive already had my happily ever after, she added. Life and death may have tested this brave woman. She has done her utmost to honor her late husband and his legacy and keep the promise she made to him. You cant focus on yourself. You need to focus on what youre doing for others, and then you can start to heal, she poignantly added. Yesterday the Labor Party government in Victoria, Australias second most populous state, announced the temporary closure of its school system from Tuesday, citing the coronavirus pandemic. New South Wales (NSW) Liberal Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced that she would not close schools, while declaring: We are encouraging parents to keep their children at home. The Labor-Greens government in the Australian Capital Territory said its schools would shift to on-line learning from Tuesday. Following a hastily-called meeting last night of the national cabinet, involving state and federal leaders, Prime Minister Scott Morrison insisted that all schools should remain open. He insisted that all children should go to school tomorrow and for the remainder of the school term, asserting that there had been no change to official health advice. In a bid to intimidate parents, Morrison claimed: Parents will be saving lives if they send children to schools. Accordingly, other states and territories are maintaining regular school operations. Many parents, however, are keeping their children at home, while increasing numbers of teachers, especially the most vulnerable, are refusing to go to the schools. This chaotic situation reflects the wider disarray and criminal neglect in the ruling elites response to the coronavirus crisis. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said yesterday that the school closure was a necessary public safety measure. This is not something that we do lightly, but its clear that if we dont take this step, more Victorians will contract coronavirus, our hospitals will be overwhelmed and more Victorians will die, Andrews said. The measures came after a spike in confirmed COVID-19 cases nationally. In Victoria, 67 additional cases were confirmed on Saturday, bringing the state total to 296, with those affected coming from different parts of the state capital of Melbourne, as well as multiple regional towns and cities. Andrews said he was acting on advice from Victorias chief health officer, which has not been made public, and that further advice would be sought when deciding if the second school term would resume as scheduled on April 15. No clear explanation has been given as to why schools in NSW are remaining open, despite the state being the worst affected by the pandemic, with 533 confirmed cases by last night. Likewise in Queensland, where confirmed coronavirus cases rose by 60 yesterday to a total of 319, Labor Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has declared that schools will remain open indefinitely, despite her government imposing a supposed lockdown yesterday. The Queensland Teachers Union has requested the government shut schools by mid-week. In the face of widespread anger among teachers, QTU President Kevin Bates warned the government that he could not rule out strike action being taken if backroom negotiations fail. The prime minister has insisted that the schools remain open in the national interest and cited the governments Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy as the decisive authority. Last night, however, Murphy conceded: We dont know whether children spread this virus. There is no data on that We are not ruling it out. It is possible. But we think the risks and benefits are on the other side. Children spread cold, flu and other viruses, so to throw doubt on their ability to spread coronavirus flies in the face of the necessary precautionary approach. The absence of detailed data on the issue reflects the rapidity with which the pandemic has developed internationally. What is known from previous pandemics and the coronavirus contagion strongly suggests that enclosing children together in schools and other confined spaces can accelerate the infection rate. In a letter published on March 18 in the New England Journal of Medicine, 25 doctors and medical experts from the Chinese Paediatric Novel Coronavirus Study Team explained that data from Wuhan Childrens Hospital demonstrates a spectrum of illness from SARS-CoV-2 [COVID-19] infection in children. Some showed no symptoms, while others who had co-existing medical conditions required intensive care support and invasive mechanical ventilation. The federal governments insistence that schools remain open is not based on prioritising public health and safety. Rather, the ruling class calculates that having teachers act as child minders is necessary to allow the corporations to extract as much profit from their workers as possible ahead of any total lockdown. The entire political establishment is responsible for endangering the lives of millions of ordinary people. Victorian Premier Andrews is now posturing as a champion of public safety after his school closure decision. The decision, however, has not been accompanied by the necessary wider provision of welfare and social services. Parents and caregivers who need to stop working to mind their children need to be provided 100 percent income compensation, as well as teachers and other school workers, including those working casually. Services must be made available for health and other emergency workers who cannot leave their workplaces to mind children at home. None of these measures are in place. The Labor governments decision to close the schools was made with an eye to the threat of school teachers and other staff taking strike action or other self-defence measures, in opposition to the Australian Education Union. A ferment is developing within the schools across the country (see: Australian governments refuse to close schools over COVID-19). The latest inconsistent federal and state government announcements have fuelled the anger. On social media, hundreds of teachers and school staff have expressed their bitter opposition toward the governments and the trade unions, which have just echoed government and education department talking points. In one Facebook group, a member of the NSW Teachers Federation (NSWTF) wrote: I have been a member of federation for 30 years. I am about to cancel my membership. Another replied: Me too and Ive been a member for over 45 years. Numerous teachers are demanding strikes and walkouts. Teachers are defying attempts to intimidate them into shutting up. On Facebook, one asked: So who else got a friendly reminder about code of conduct and commenting on social media! Another replied: Give them a friendly reminder about providing you with protective equipment. Another teacher wrote: Now is not the time for worrying about being censored. We need solidarity and to fight for whats right. I am happy to face disciplinary measures anyway, now that I have seen how little the government values teachers. It could stop me from returning to something I fundamentally oppose. Worry about later on later on, now, keep the groundswell going for shut down. We cannot stop the spread with schools open, and teachers as well as students and their families health is at risk. The task confronting all educators and school staff is to develop a collective response through the formation of Action Committees, independent of the teacher unions. The Committee for Public Education (CFPE) issued this call on March 18, in a statement demanding the immediate suspension of the education system, including primary and secondary schools, universities, tertiary education institutions and child-care centres, as an emergency step to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. Action Committees must develop the widest democratic discussionutilising social media and online meeting softwareon the necessary measures to protect the health and wellbeing of education workers and students. This includes organising strike action across the country. Teachers and school workers can contact the CFPE via: Email cfpe.aus@gmail.com Facebook https://www.facebook.com/commforpubliceducation/ Twitter https://twitter.com/CFPE_Australia The author also recommends: An interview with an Australian school teacher fearing coronavirus exposure [21 March 2020] Australian teachers defy union and vote for immediate school closures over coronavirus [19 March 2020] Close Australian schools to stave off coronavirus! Form action committees of teachers and school staff! [18 March 2020] Seven thugs from rival gangs have been jailed for more than 17 years for taking part in a knife and machete fight in front of terrified shoppers, caught on CCTV in west London. In the footage the two gangs can be seen wielding blades, and what appears to be a gun, as they take part in a pre-planned altercation on Harrow Road, near Westbourne Park tube station on January 2 2019. 'Drill' rappers Jordan Bedeau, 18, Rhys Herbert, 19, and a 17-year-old associate were members of the Ladbroke Grove gang in west London. The group also belonged to Notting Hill's notorious 1011 music gang - with music is so violent the rappers have been banned from releasing any more without informing police. 'Drill' rappers Jordan Bedeau, 18, (front) Rhys Herbert, 19, (behind) are part of the 1011 music group, and have been banned from posting violent rap songs While Damani Charles, 24, Brandon Wyse, 21, Youssef El-Idrissi, 28, and Osamah El-Badawi, 19, were from a rival group variously known as the Harrow Road Boys (HWB), or Mozart gang after the estate. During the fight two female members of the public were violently barged by a knife wielding attacker, with one gang member stabbed in the stomach and another left with a life changing facial scar. CCTV evidence recovered from the high street shops showed the whole incident unravel, including a knife being thrown and one defendant holding an item which resembled a gun. The 17-year-old from the Kensington-based Ladbroke Grove gang went to hospital seeking medical care after being stabbed but told police he had fallen off his bicycle. In the CCTV footage from the January 2 2019 attack a gang member is seen holding what appears to be a machete Police found a Snapchat video of El-Badawi on his phone wearing a motorcycle helmet with face covering and describing a chase between the two gangs earlier that day. In the video he described an altercation when someone tried to stab him and then rode off and 'writ off (sic) his bike'. The Ladbroke Grove group were tried and had to be sentenced separately at Isleworth Crown Court. 'Drill' rappers Jordan Bedeau, 18, (left) Rhys Herbert, 19, (right) and a 17-year-old associate were all members of the Ladbroke Grove gang in west London Sentencing HWB members Charles, Wyse, El-Idrissi and El-Badawi, Judge Karen Holt said: 'This incident took place on the 2 January last year in the area of the Harrow Road A4040 junction with Great Western Road. 'This was an organised violent disorder of gangs, namely Harrow Road boys and the Mozart gang of which you are all of. 'There was a relevant trigger incident, it was you Mr El-Badawi's, mobile phone that was seized from your bedroom at a police search that disclosed the snap chat video on the memory of that phone. Damani Charles, 24, (left) Brandon Wyse, 21 (right), Youssef El-Idrissi, 28, and Osamah El-Badawi, 19, were from rival group known as Harrow Road Boys, or Mozart gang after estate Osamah El badawi, 19, one of four gang members who tried to settle a dispute with two rappers and a teenager in a knife fight 'I take the view that this was an extremely violent disorder, it was pre-planned with all the defendants arriving at the scene armed with large weapons, including large knives. 'The knives and machetes in the hands of angry men only carry out this appalling behaviour mean you are in my view highly dangerous. 'Knife crime and stabbing in our city so often result in tragedy and loss of life. These machetes were recovered by police after they apprehended the 1011 drill music group preparing to attack another gang in November 2017 'This incident occurred not late at night with no one around, but in a busy public area or cars, pedestrians and shoppers. You Mr Charles used your knife, all four of you possessed a weapon.' One gang member, described as 'Green Arrow' in the CCTV evidence, was standing apart from the group with arms outstretched with an item that clearly looks like a gun. The groups then approach each other, all armed with knives making gestures at each other. Wyse is seen throwing a knife at the other groups Skoda as members of the public are seen running away in fear. The 1011 gang were caught red-handed as they set out to attack their rivals armed with machetes and baseball bats, in retaliation to threats made over a grandmother Charles was stabbed in the abdomen and tried to leave the scene but was found and treated by police. The other males were arrested at their home addresses. Charles, of Leander Road, Croydon, south London, admitted violent disorder and was jailed for three years and two months. El-Drissi, of Ilbert Street, Westminster, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was locked up for two years and 11 months. Wyse, of Bensham Lane, Croydon, admitted violent disorder and received two years and six months. El-Badawi, of Nutbourne Square, Westminster, admitted violent disorder and was sentenced to two years and 11 months. The 17-year-old, from Hammersmith, admitted violent disorder, and breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO). He was detained for 10-months. Bedeau, of Colville Square, Notting Hill, was earlier jailed for three years for violent disorder, possession of an offensive weapon and breach of a Criminal Behaviour Order. Herbert, of Lonsdale Road, Kensington and Chelsea, admitted violent disorder and breaching his Criminal Behaviour Order and was jailed for two years and six months. Bedeau and Herbert had each been handed CBOs banning them from posting violent rap songs in a bid to stop them inciting violence 'in any shape or form.' Detective Constable Russell Bryan, the officer in charge of the investigation said: 'These men, running around armed with knives and other weapons, had absolutely no regards for the massive surge of fear and panic that witnesses and members of the public were feeling due to their selfish actions. 'Although two of those sentenced suffered injuries, it's sheer luck that no one was killed in this dispute.' In an area with such stark inequality as the Bay Area, with pressing human needs such as poverty and homelessness, why should foundations and philanthropists support artists and arts organizations? The answer to this question lies in how we consider artists and cultural workers in relation to the community, and how they help address these and other problems. The arts provide a way to bridge gaps and amplify the voices of those who may not otherwise be heard. This is not new. Throughout history, artists have used their art to catalyze social movements, spark revolutions and change entrenched societal beliefs. These artists often emerge from current struggles and work to change narratives around racial inequity, community health, housing and economic displacement. For example, throughout Oaklands history, activists have used their art to effect change. Groups from the Black Panther Party to Black Lives Matter to LGBTQ+ rights groups have often used creative expression as part of their tactics in Oakland and the Bay Area. Today, Oakland remains a bastion of creative expression, with artist communities surviving in the area against great odds. The Joyce Gordon Gallery, the Betti Ono Gallery and the resident companies in the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts located in the heart of downtown Oakland helped mobilize the larger arts community in working with city officials to create legislation launching Oaklands first arts and culture district the Black Arts Movement Business District (BAMBD) along Oakland 14th Street corridor. The arts are of vital importance to Oaklands past and present. The arts foster community and create change toward a more just world. In general, large and small arts organizations have struggled, yet small organizations led by people of color and LGBTQIA+ have struggled to sustain themselves and as a result many of them have closed their doors. We are burdening organizations led by people of color, LGBTQIA+ people, people with disabilities, and other marginalized people with the most onerous, time-consuming proposals for the lowest amounts of funding. This needs to change. In California there are 103,191 arts-related organizations employing 545,627 people, with nearly 40,000 arts employees in San Francisco alone. As a way of supporting arts organizations working on the front lines of advancing racial and economic equity, the San Francisco Foundation Place Pathway launched the Artistic Hubs Cohort in 2013 and is now supporting a second cohort. AHC organizations such as Grown Women Dance Collective, consisting of dancers age 50 and over, is partnering with the East Bay Housing Organizations to create a dance piece to help organize affordable housing residents, many of whom are African American seniors. Additionally, in San Franciscos Chinatown, the Chinese Culture Center is hosting an international exhibit on LGBTQIA+ people in 2020 to highlight the narratives of this often overlooked Bay Area population. Local and national funders play a key role in these organizations ability to create capacity, as do city officials and policymakers. However, people of color, along with other marginalized groups, face an uphill battle to receive funding for their projects. Even during what the United Nations has declared the International Decade for People of African Descent, organizations led by people of color have received, on average, only 10% of philanthropic dollars over the past few decades. We need artists and cultural workers to help address serious, systemic challenges in the Bay Area, where extreme wealth coexists with extreme poverty. Actions that can help to improve these circumstances: Funders and government should increase their investments in the small arts community Funding applications need to be simplified and streamlined to create a level playing field for smaller arts organizations. Funders should prioritize general operational support, capacity building and facilities grants so that more arts organizations can obtain the facilities they need in order to operate. Voters and appointing bodies need to put arts and cultural leaders on school boards, commissions and funding advisory committees. Because of their potential for integrating economic development, performing arts and human services, arts organizations are critically important voices in policy conversations around cultural economies, creative placemaking, restorative justice and community cohesion. Sitting at the table with policymakers and philanthropists in conversations about critical social issues is an important next step for arts organizations. Maya Angelou once said that all great artists draw from the same resource: the human heart, which tells us that we are all more alike than we are unalike. It is often through artistic connections, speaking directly from the human heart, that we can cultivate change and transform the cultural narrative, perceptions and even policies. Danny Glover is an actor and U.N. ambassador. Barbara Lee represents the 13th District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Glover came of age as a young actor in the 1960s working with organizations like San Francisco Center for African and African American Art and Culture (now the African American Art and Culture Complex) and the Neighborhood Arts Program (NAP), which shifted the focus of the arts community to neighborhood centers that reflected the cultural identities of the local communities. If you pull into the parking lot of the San Francisco Zoo you might notice an ornate building facade that stands behind a barbed wire fence, seemingly out of place and without any historical explanation. That crumbling face and its decorative carvings were formerly part of the Fleishhacker Pool poolhouse, a city landmark from 1924 to 2012. The gigantic pool it served was built by Bay Area local philanthropist and city Parks Commissioner Herbert Fleishhacker to accommodate 10,000 swimmers. The pool opened on April 23, 1925. It was filled by 6.5 million gallons of saltwater pumped in from the nearby ocean at high tide. At 1,000 feet long and 150 feet wide, plus a separate tiered diving tower, it was the largest pool in the United States at the time. Local lifeguards used wooden rowboats to traverse the expanse it was so large. It opened to much fanfare from the city and it was said that in the 1920s and 1930s movie stars such as Johnny Weismuller, Esther Williams and Ann Curtis all swam there. The water was heated, though it generally fluctuated between 65 and 75 degrees a chilly temperature for most swimmers. The pool was even used for aquatic drills by the military during war years. We asked the Facebook group San Francisco Remembered for their memories swimming in the pool. Sandy Shaw said she learned how to swim there and it was also where she got her first summer job when she was 14 (in 1960) as a Locker Girl, My duties entailed checking stamp on hand to make sure they paid the entry fee, monitoring & overseeing the public/swimmers re policies, rules and guidelines for safety (i.e., running, wearing the proper foot protection, etc.) handing out & gathering the towels, sweeping and hosing down the entire locker room, including the shower area (it was huge!) Many people remembered passing swim tests at the pool for San Francisco public schools (which required learning to swim for graduation) as well as competing in swim competitions in the pool. Mike Murphy said, All City Swim Meets were held there. I was on the Mission High swim team. I spent a lot of time there. Elizabeth Damon Mitchell said, Yes! I remember finally being allowed to swim in the deep end when I passed the swim 'test.' I think I had to swim a lap across and tread water for one minute. Salty and freezing! Then I got to swim a long lap from end to end. Good times. Ellie Cannon added, Red Cross swimming lessons were five cents. It was cold there for sure. A few mentioned that there was even a longstanding rumor that a shark roamed the pool. Unfortunately, strong storms in 1971 caused extensive damage that eventually led to the pools closure. Studies showed that public usage was extremely low (22,140 in 1970), the annual operating costs were high ($56,000), and there was little revenue ($6,000) to offset these costs, according to the San Francisco Zoo. Refurbishment was out of the question. The abandoned poolhouse was left neglected for years, only to be extensively graffitied and left to play host to raccoons, feral cats and the occasional squatter. On December 1, 2012 a fire broke out, leaving only the facade you can see now. Today, the filled-in pool operates as a guest parking lot run by the San Francisco Zoological Society with oversight by San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. The city still owns the land. Did you swim in the Fleishhacker pool while growing up in San Francisco? Share your memories in the comments! Have photos to share? Send them to tessa.mclean@sfgate.com Tessa McLean is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her at tessa.mclean@sfgate.com or follow her on Twitter @mcleantessa. By Express News Service Alarmed over the rising numbers of COVID-19 cases across the country, the Centre has decided to suspend all domestic flights from midnight on March 24. International flights from airports across the country have already been suspended. Officials said that only cargo flights have been allowed to operate till further orders. With the shutdown of air services, now all modes of public transport have been placed under suspension in most parts of the country. While Indian Railways has already suspended the operation of trains, metro services have also been shut in all cities. Earlier, many state governments including Bihar and West Bengal had requested to suspend flights in their respective states. State governments have already been asked to implement a lockdown in over 80 districts across the country. The move has resulted in the shutting down of major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune and others. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting headed by the cabinet secretary and attended by chief secretaries of all states and the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister on Sunday. In view of the need to contain the spread of COVID 19, it was agreed that there is urgent need to extend the restrictions on the movement of non-essential passenger transport including inter-state transport buses till 31st March 2020, said the statement issued by the Centre on Sunday. Indian Railways has said that to ensure essential supplies in various parts of the country, movement of goods trains will continue. Today anchor Savannah Guthrie is slowly getting used to her new normal as she continues to work from home amid the coronavirus pandemic after coming down with a 'mild sore throat' and the 'sniffles'. The 48-year-old has posted a slew of images of her two children - Vale, five, and Charley, three - on Instagram since Wednesday, jokingly noting in one caption that she is struggling slightly with all the 'family time'. On Monday morning, instead of her normal trip to the NBC studios in Manhattan, the TV host shared an image of her kids looking out at a snowy backyard, having spent much of the weekend sharing updates about how her kids are 'destroying the house'. Struggling: Savannah Guthrie appears to have grown a bit exasperated with all of the 'family time' she's getting after starting to work from home last week Special moments: The 48-year-old shared this image of her children enjoying the snow on Monday morning, days after revealing she had come down with 'a mild sore throat' New normal: Savannah has been posting regular updates from her home since last week, at one point joking that her children were 'destroying the house' 'Our neck of the woods,' Savannah captioned Monday's post, which showed her two children wearing what appear to be Christmas-themed pajamas while gazing out of the window at the snow. Last week, the mother-of-two posted an image of her children's playroom floor, where she was listening to Kenny Rogers, after he passed away on Friday, while joking that they were busy 'destroying the house'. 'Listening to Kenny Rogers on repeat as my kids destroy the house,' she wrote. The day before, she shared an image of her gray sweatpants, with the same colorful floor in the background, captioning it: 'Is there a statute of limitations on how many days in a row you can wear the same sweat pants?' But while working from home has given Savannah a chance to spend most of her day in sweatpants, it has meant that she is spending much more time with both kids, something that she seems to be finding fairly tiring. On Thursday she posted a hilarious selfie, pulling a less than thrilled face as her daughter Vale was playing in the background. 'So. Much. Family Time.' she captioned the post, which also featured a photo of Vale and Charley playing together, as well as a video of them outside wearing bike helmets. Adorable: Savannah has two children, Vale, five, and Charley, three with her husband Mike Feldman, who has been helping to anchor the Today show from their basement Uniform: On Thursday, she asked, 'Is there a statute of limitations on how many days in a row you can wear the same sweat pants?' Spreading joy: Savannah recorded prayers for her local church, and shared a video of them for her followers to listen to on Sunday, in lieu of a more traditional service She took a break from family content on Sunday however to post a video that was recorded for her local church, and shows several different members of the congregation - including Savannah - recording prayers for others to listen to at home in lieu of a traditional service. 'Since so many of us are missing our Sunday services or traditions, sharing these prayers written for my church this morning,' she wrote, before adding: 'Sending a hug to all.' Savannah made Today history on Wednesday morning when she co-anchored the morning show from her basement at home, after revealing on Tuesday night that she would be joining Hoda via video link, while sharing images of the mini studio that had been set up in her New York City basement. 'Hi everybody! Well, this will be a first. Im going to be anchoring Today from my house!' she wrote on Instagram - while insisting that she is simply acting out of 'an abundance of caution' and 'to model the super vigilance the CDC has asked of us'. 'Im staying home because I have a mild sore throat and runny nose,' she continued. 'This was the advice of NBCs superb medical team and my bosses. I feel good and am sure I will be back in no time - but during these days, its on all of us to be extra cautious and caring of those around us. 'So see you tomorrow on Today - from my basement!' It was revealed last week that a staffer on the Third Hour of Today had tested positive for COVID-19, which NBC announcing on Monday that it had asked hosts Al Roker and Craig Melvin to remain home and 'trace their contacts' to ensure they had not come into contact with the person. As of Tuesday, both were also tuning into the show from home, with Al and Savannah both joining Hoda, 55, via video link on Wednesday morning - a first for the popular morning show. 'And we are back on a busy Wednesday morning, one not like a normal one here on Today,' Savannah said while opening the show. 'This show has been around a long time, 60-something years, but never has this happened before. 'We've got Hoda in our studio, Al and I are working from home, Craig is actually [working] from home as well, we're going to talk to him a little bit later this morning.' WFH: On Wednesday, Savannah made history when she tuned in to anchor the Today show from home, after coming down with 'the sniffles' and a 'sore throat' Something different: She shared images of her at-home studio set-up on Tuesday evening, revealing to Today viewers that she would not be coming into the studio Helping hand: Savannah revealed that her husband, Mike Feldman, had been roped in to serve as a producer and technician while she works from home Savannah went on to joke about her very 'short' commute, noting that she had simply had to walk down some stairs in order to get to work on Wednesday. 'I will say Hoda, this was the shortest commute in the history of the world,' she told her co-anchor, who clarified that Savannah was in fact 'in her basement'. 'Yeah, I walked down the stairs!' the mom-of-two responded. Hoda then admitted that the set-up on viewers' screens - which showed Savannah in one box, Hoda in another, and Al in a third - was 'a little funky', but said that she was 'happy to be sitting in between you guys'. She did however confess that she was 'feeling a little lonely' in the studio and missing her 'partner in crime'. 'Things look a little different, I feel a little lonely here, I'm missing my partner in crime, she's usually six feet away here!' Hoda joked. For his part, Al, 65, seemed more than happy with his at-home set-up, telling his two co-stars that he had 'just got the coffee maker going'. Solo: Her co-anchor Hoda Kotb remains in Studio 1A, despite a staffer on the Third Hour of Today testing positive for COVID-19 New normal: Al Roker has been working from home since Tuesday morning, after a staffer on the Third Hour of Today was revealed to have tested positive for the coronavirus Tuning in: The Today anchor noted that it is the first time in Today show history that such a set-up has been put in place 'It is very weird I will admit, but... venturing out, making sure you keep that physical distance, [even though] it's eerie, everybody is practicing what [the experts] are preaching.' Savannah joined Al in urging viewers to follow CDC guidelines for social distancing, noting that she is not showing any of the most serious symptoms connected with the coronavirus, but that she feels it is more important than ever to take extra precautions when feeling unwell. 'I have a sore throat and I have the sniffles,' she explained. 'I didn't even think anything of it, because frankly that doesn't seem to be on the official list of symptoms. 'But what I've been told is number one, doctors are getting new information about this novel coronavirus, it's new, that means we're learning about it and the symptoms that present. 'And the other thing is, if you're sick at all, the CDC is saying this is the time to stay home, and so, I had to admit it, and you know me, I like to come rain or shine and spread my germs around, but we don't do that anymore. We stay home, and we keep everybody safe. 'And like I told you, I think of it as a way of loving your neighbor. Love your neighbor and keep them safe.' One upside to Savannah's new working arrangement is the opportunity to spend more time with her husband, Mike Feldman, who - she revealed on Instagram - has stepped in to serve as a producer and technician while she is working from home. Absence makes the heart grow fonder! Hoda confessed that she was 'feeling a little lonely' in the studio by herself and admitted she was 'missing her partner in crime' "This show's been around a long time. ... but never has this happened before." @savannahguthrie and @alroker discuss what it's been like working from home while @hodakotb holds down the fort in Studio 1A pic.twitter.com/uhCdmAVp4Z TODAY (@TODAYshow) March 18, 2020 Precaution: Savannah shared the news about her decision to work from home on social media on Tuesday evening Taking care: She urged others to follow CDC guidelines and look after others 'Big shoutout to my husband @feldmike who has turned into producer and technician!!' she wrote on Instagram, while sharing an image of Mike sitting on a bed while working away on a laptop. Meanwhile her anchor Hoda refused to let the coronavirus pandemic stop her from celebrating her fiance Joel Schiffman on his 62nd birthday with an adorable family FaceTime party in their New York home. The 55-year-old Today anchor took to Instagram on Saturday to share images from the heartwarming celebration, revealing that the birthday boy spent his special day at home with their two daughters, Haley Joy and Hope Catherine, and a delicious-looking homemade birthday cake. Hoda's mother, Sameha, even joined in the fun via FaceTime, with the Today host noting that the video call was 'the next best thing' after her mom was unable to join them in person amidst the coronavirus pandemic. In the photos, Hoda, Joel, Haley, three, and Hope, 11 months, are seen sitting at a table, with a big blue birthday cake placed in front of birthday boy Joel and an iPad set up, on which Sameha's face can be seen. The images appear to have been taken just before Joel blew out his candles; three of them can be seen stuck into the frosted sheet cake, which is covered with rainbow sprinkles. 'Happy bday joel!!!' Hoda captioned the sweet snaps. 'We love you honey! Mom couldnt be here so next best thing!' Celebration! Savannah's co-anchor Hoda revealed her family marked her fiance Joel Schiffman's 62nd birthday with a party at home on Saturday amid the coronavirus pandemic Party: The 55-year-old's mother, Sameha, joined the celebrations via FaceTime, while Joel was at home with Hoda and their two daughters, Haley Joy, three, and Hope Catherine, 11 months Hoda and Joel have been together for more than six years, and got engaged in November, after the financier popped the question while the pair were on a romantic vacation in Mexico. The TV host shared the joyful news live on the Today show at the time, happily showing off her engagement ring to her co-hosts after revealing that she had a 'secret' to share with them. Hoda and asset manager Joel celebrated their anniversary in June, and she revealed while discussing the proposal that he 'said some beautiful things' before getting down on one knee and asking her: 'Will you be my wife.' Since then, Hoda has shared that she hopes to have a quiet and low-key wedding, revealing in February that she plans to leave the majority of the organization to the professionals. 'Im putting the planning in the hands of professionals,' Hoda, 55, told People. 'All I want is Joel, Haley and Hope, and my closest inner circle. I can picture Joel at the end of the aisle and Haley and Hope wondering whats going on.' Joel's birthday party comes just days after Hoda revealed she would be anchoring the Today show from the NBC studios alone, while her co-star Savannah works from home, after coming down with a sore throat and a runny nose. It has been announced that Standardbred Owners Association of New York President Joe Faraldo has tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus. The SOA of NY made the announcement on Sunday afternoon (March 22) via social media. The SOA of NYs social media announcement appears below. We were notified today that SOA President Joe Faraldo has been re-tested and has now been informed that he has tested positive for COVID-19. He is in communication with his doctor & local health officials and is currently recovering at home under quarantine where he has already been for nearly two weeks. Joe says that the last four days have been very promising in terms of a full and complete recovery, that his breathing has improved, and he is experiencing virtually no spikes in his fever. We wish him a speedy recovery. Any inquiries, please contact: Peter Venaglia SOA First Vice-President 917-733-5620 It was announced on March 14 that Faraldo, who had fallen ill, had tested negative for COVID-19. Faraldo had been in close proximity to John Brennan, who passed away due to the virus on March 10. Trot Insider will update this story with more information when it becomes available. Please join Standardbred Canada in wishing Faraldo a quick and complete recovery from the virus. The risks from coronavirus are leading to criminal justice changes in Arizona that would have previously seemed impossible in such a law-and-order state: Some elected sheriffs are calling for the release of certain offenders from jail and urging police agencies to issue citations rather than arrest people. In a memo obtained by The Associated Press, Pima County Sheriff Mark Napier wrote Wednesday that his detention center cant handle a large number of quarantined inmates, saying his commanders are hindered by the size of the jails population and its lack of housing space. Among steps Napier proposed to reduce his inmate population, is releasing 135 people jailed on probation violations or sending them to state prisons. Napier goes on to suggest suspending the sentences of people who serve their sentences on weekends or requiring them to complete their punishments all at once. Napier also wants the courts to consider commuting the sentences of all people convicted of a nonviolent misdemeanor who have served half of their sentences. Napier wrote that he was discouraging though not prohibiting local police agencies from booking people on misdemeanors. Napier later told the AP in an email that his memo was intended to guide discussions with a county administrator on opportunities to reduce the jail population. Napier said sheriffs cant unilaterally spring people from jail and that releases are a matter for judges and prosecutors. The New Mexico State Police have arrested a Capitan man on charges of shooting at cars on I-25 in Sandoval County. On March 10, the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau was called to investigate a shooting on Interstate-25 between Albuquerque and Santo Domingo, according to a State Police press release. A victim reported being involved in a road-rage incident in which his or her vehicle had been shot at near mile marker 248 the previous day. Through investigation and witness statements, State Police agents were able to get a description of the suspect and the vehicle license plate involved. They traced it back to Gunner Johnson, 44, of Capitan, according to the release. Agents located Johnson, who admitted to being in Sandoval County numerous times over the last few months, including being in a road-rage incident March 9. During the investigation, State Police agents also learned that since January, the Sandoval County Sheriffs Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bernalillo Police Department have all taken similar reports of vehicles possibly being shot at on I-25 between mile post 242 and La Bajada Hill. State Police Chief Tim Johnson mobilized a multi-agency task force of all four agencies that took the shooting reports to patrol I-25 to ensure the safety of the citizens. On March 11, NMSP arrested Johnson and charged him with aggravated assault, negligent use of a deadly weapon and shooting at or from a motor vehicle, according to the release. Agents searched Johnsons home and recovered a firearm and ammunition, which have been sent to the state crime lab for comparison with other reported cases. Although State Police have made an arrest in this case, out of an abundance of caution, motorists can still expect to see an increased law-enforcement presence on I-25 between mile marker 242 (Bernalillo exit) and La Bajada Hill. Police continue to have various aircraft operations monitoring the area for suspicious activity. If anyone believes they have been the victim or witness of a shooting on I-25 from mile marker 242 to La Bajada Hill since the beginning of January, or have seen anything suspicious during that time, theyre asked to contact the New Mexico State Police at (505) 841-9256, option 0, or 1-833-872-0336. From lab-grown "seafood" to dumplings made with tropical fruit instead of pork, rising demand for sustainable meat alternatives in Asia is spawning creative products to appeal to local palates. Meat and seafood consumption in Asia is projected to soar, fuelled by growing middle classes in booming economies, but green groups warn of the environmental damage such a trend could bring. Demand for plant-based meat alternatives is still nascent in Asia, but is nevertheless rising by about 30 percent annually and is particularly strong in developed markets such as South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore, industry players say. "We do see that there is a growing environmental consciousness among consumers around the world -- and that's not different in Asia," said Andre Menezes of Country Foods, which distributes products made by US alternative meat outfit Impossible Foods in Singapore. Meat consumption is an environmental threat as cattle produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas, while logging forests, which take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, to make way for animals destroys natural barriers to climate change, environmentalists warn. Eating seafood meanwhile can deplete already under-pressure fish stocks. US alternative meat titans have already seen the opportunity in Asia, with Impossible Foods seeking to establish a presence in China and rival Beyond Meat, which makes plant-based burgers, planning to open a production facility in the region. But they face competition from local startups, who are thinking beyond simply making faux burgers, and may be better in tune with what consumers want in a diverse region that is fiercely proud of its culinary traditions. They are planning products ranging from Chinese-style steamed dumplings filled with fake pork made from jackfruit -- a yellow, chewy tropical fruit -- to imitation crab and fish balls, a processed seafood snack popular across Asia. - Fruity, not meaty - Startup Karana is behind the jackfruit dumpings, which it plans to launch this year, and is also developing buns filled with imitation barbecue pork to mimic a mainstay of "dim sum" restaurants -- where customers choose from an array of small dishes. Company co-founder Blair Crichton hopes to create familiar products that can win over meat eaters. "We're not necessarily going to be promoting that it's jackfruit... it?s about packaging it in a way that is familiar to consumers," he told AFP. Singapore-based startup Sophie's BioNutrients is working with scientists at a local university to grow microalgae in nutrient-rich soybean residue, a waste product from the food processing industry. They plan to convert the algae to protein powder, which will then be used to make imitation seafood products, such as fish balls and crab. The process does not deplete seafood stocks or cause environmental damage, which traditional fishing can. The company's founder Eugene Wang said people in many Asian countries saw food as their best tradition -- and that simply trying to sell them plant-based patties would not cut it. "If you want to market to these people, you want to sell it in a burger format? No way," said Wang, whose company received Sg$1.0 million (US$700,000) funding from the city-state's sovereign wealth fund Temasek. Wang also founded Sophie's Kitchen, a US company selling plant-based crab cakes and shrimp in North America, Britain and Australia, but he is planning a range for Asian palates under the new company, which is independently operated. Several sustainable food startups have chosen to launch in Singapore and use it as a base to sell products across the region, with Temasek providing some financial backing. Still, such companies may have a hard time convincing consumers with traditional tastes to change to their products. Seow Chin Juen, an analyst focusing on food and nutrition in the region at consultancy Euromonitor International, said the "novelty aspect" was currently driving most sales of alternative meats. But this was "not sufficient to convert mass market consumers to consume these products on a regular basis", he added. Olivia Hayden Ong, a 28-year-old food and lifestyle writer in the city-state, was also sceptical people would rush to switch to jackfruit dumplings and algae fish balls. "I think it'll be slow (to catch on)... we still like our chicken rice, we still like our spare ribs," she told AFP. From lab-grown "seafood" to dumplings made with tropical fruit instead of pork, rising demand for sustainable meat alternatives in Asia is spawning creative products to appeal to local palates Demand for plant-based meat alternatives is still nascent in Asia, but is nevertheless rising by about 30 percent annually and is particularly strong in developed markets such as South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore, industry players say Foodie start-up Karana chef-in-residence Sowmiya Venkatesan displaying a plant-based "pork" and chive dumpling made from jackfruit in Singapore William Chen, director of the Food Science and Technology Programme at Nanyang Technological University, looking at microalgae samples in a research laboratory in Singapore By Robert Fisk March 23, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Few can forget the words of Tony Blairs government aide hours after the World Trade Center was destroyed on 9/11. It is now a very good day to get out anything we want to bury, wrote Jo Moore. Donald Trump obviously thought the same thing. As the coronavirus pandemic sweeps over America, he has ordered US troops to abandon three vital military bases in Iraq to spare them further attacks from Iranian-supported Iraqi Shia fighters. Trump has always boasted of the need for withdrawals but this was a retreat. The official line that the US was repositioning [sic] troops from a few smaller bases was almost as laughable as the final US marine abandonment of Beirut in 1984 after months under fire from Shia militias. Almost four decades ago, the Americans said they were redeploying to ships offshore. As in Napoleons redeployment from Moscow. Or the British redeployment from Dunkirk. Now US forces are going to reposition from their bases at al-Qaim, Qayyarah and the K-1 base near Kirkuk in Iraq. As in George Washingtons repositioning from Brooklyn Heights in 1776, I suppose, or the British repositioning from Kabul in 1842. Back in 1984, President Reagan said the Americans would not cut and run from Lebanon. But they did. In January this year, Trump said of Iraq: If we leave, that would mean that Iran would have a much bigger foothold [sic]. He was trying to smother a letter written by Marine Corps Brigadier General William Seely who had just told the truth about US strategy to the deputy director of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command, Major General Abdul Amir. The US led coalition, Seely had told his Iraqi opposite number, will be repositioning forces over the course of the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement. Whoops! Generals are not always expected to tell the truth. Seely, obviously an honest guy, didnt shy away from the facts. But the Pentagon did. The letter, claimed Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman General Mark Milley called Seelys letter a mistake. It was, he said, poorly worded and implied withdrawal which he said was not happening. Now we know that it is indeed happening. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Withdrawal is exactly what Seely meant. Far from being poorly worded, Seelys letter was all too accurate. But that, I guess, is a soldiers life under Trump. Tell the truth, and the liar in the White House will have you slapped down before proving that you were honest all along. The retreat from al-Qaim, French news footage reveals, is a rather scrappy affair, American soldiers furling dust-covered tents beside long forgotten Iraqi railway goods trains derailed in the fighting fifteen years ago. Scarcely three years ago, the US troops here and the Iraqis based alongside them had been fighting the apocalyptic Isis. Outside, the Shia Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) whose allied Kataib Hezbollah and al-Totof Brigades had also been fighting the same jihadis liaised with the Americans against Isis via the Iraqi army. They were supported, of course, by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. A reporter for the BBCs Persian service visited al-Qaim 15 months ago and noticed how the surrounding countryside was now emblazoned with PMF flags. There were occasional attacks against the Americans, and then folly of follies for the US military in Iraq since they were all supposed to be training the Iraqi army which now embraced the PMF Trump, the great commander-in-chief who would never retreat from Iraq, decided to assassinate the Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani And, perhaps even more stupidly, to wipe out, along with Soleimani, the deputy head of the PMF, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. Thus did the Pentagon kill or murder, since drones are now the liquidators of choice when Americas enemies are chosen for death the leader of the most prominent militia within the Iraqi army whose men, hitherto, surrounded the US bases. All further attacks on the Americans must be seen in the light of the deaths of these two men. An American mercenary was killed. Then two American soldiers and one British soldier at the Taji base (not yet on the retreat list). The Americans staged air strikes against the Kataib Hezbollah, killing more than two dozen of their men. A rocket attack seriously wounded 34 Americans all suffered traumatic brain injuries, according to the Pentagon but Trump said not a single soldier had been hurt. I heard they had headaches, he later remarked. If a US president can dismiss so blithely the injuries of his own military forces, of course, he can just as easily close a base or two. Or three. To add further injury and death to insult, the Americans then attacked Kerbala airport, under construction for future pilgrims to the Shia shrine and other sites across Iraq, killing three government soldiers from the Iraqi armys 19th Commando Division, two policemen and a civilian. The keepers of the shrine itself, sacred to the Imams Hussein and Abbas, condemned this assault, and the Iraqi foreign ministry filed a complaint to the UN Security Council. The Americans claimed that Shia militia weapons had been stored at the airport site. Mike Pompeo, the secretary of state, would threaten that America will not tolerate attacks but nor, it seems, will the Shia militias tolerate more attacks. They, after all, would not be repositioning. The Americans would. And when a US defence department official told the BBC that the proximity of the leading Shia militia to the al-Qaim base was a key factor within the calculation of the decision to move forces elsewhere, you knew the Americans had lost. But in the topsy-turvy world of Trumpland, its another victory. Like the US-Taliban agreement this month to pull American troops out of Afghanistan, 8,500 of them within 135 days in return for a promise from their guerrilla enemies of 19 years to keep al-Qaeda, Isis and other jihadis out of the country. The Americans will still have sufficient forces, we are told, to conduct counter-terrorism operations against the latter. In Pentagon-speak a language always divorced from real life but none more so than in the graveyard of empires USFOR-A [US Forces Afghanistan] is on track to meet directed force levels while retaining the necessary capabilities. Well, as they used to say, tell that to the marines. Oh yes, and if the Taliban keep their word, the Americans will withdraw the rest of their troops within 14 months. And all this, we must remember, is in a nation so divided that two rival presidents held rival swearing-in ceremonies in Kabul much in the manner of Roman emperors, although the country could scarcely contain both Rome and Byzantium thus mocking any American pretence at creating democracy in Afghanistan. I do still recall the US official, way back in 2002 after the Taliban had originally been destroyed, let us remember saying that this new Afghan democracy might not be Jeffersonian. What that particular founding father would have made of the US-Taliban agreement is anyones guess. He might even have nodded his approval to the Taliban side. But its all in keeping with the American footprint in the Middle East. Now you see it, now you dont. After all, its not many weeks since Trump said he would not abandon the Kurds of Syria and then abandoned the Kurds of Syria after they had finished fighting and dying for America in the campaign against Isis. Poor old Kurds. Poor old Afghans, too. And poor Iraqis. They really did not deserve the Americans. The US, in any case, doesnt have time to worry about them. It has yet another war on its hands against that pesky virus, it seems. And you cant reposition yourself away from that. Robert Fisk is The Independents multi-award-winning Middle East correspondent, based in Beirut. He has lived in the Arab world for more than 40 years, covering the war in Syria and Lebanon, five Israeli invasions, the Iran-Iraq war, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the Algerian civil war, Saddam Husseins invasion of Kuwait, the Bosnian and Kosovo wars, the American invasion and occupation of Iraq and the 2011 Arab revolutions. - " Source " A new death of a person infected with the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has been registered in Romania, the Strategic Communication Group (GCS) informs on Monday. It is a 71-year-old man from Suceava, who was confirmed positive on March 23. He had been admitted to the Suceava County Hospital on March 21.According to GCS, the man had previously been admitted to the cardiology section, where he is "a possible contact" with the patient transferred from the Infectious Disease Hospital of Iasi.This is the fifth death recorded in Romania so far because of the coronavirus. AGERPRES Press Release March 23, 2020 More testing, facilities, support for the people and frontliners, not more powers for Malacanang Statement of Senator Risa Hontiveros on the Proposed Additional Executive Powers vs. COVID-19 Ngayong may krisis, mas malawakang testing laban sa COVID-19 at dagdag-pondo para sa pagkain, personal protective equipment (PPE), at health facilities ang agarang kailangan ng publiko, hindi dagdag-kapangyarihan para sa Pangulo. I fully support the allocation of a supplemental budget to boost the government's efforts to immediately contain the novel coronavirus outbreak. However, the proposed grant of additional powers to the Executive Branch are clearly unnecessary to address the most pressing needs of health workers, COVID-19 patients, and poor Filipinos alike in this critical period. Our existing laws already grant government the powers and other necessary tools needed to mount an effective response against COVID-19. Notably, the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act or Republic Act No. 11332, of which I am an author, provides comprehensive mechanisms during epidemics or other health emergencies. Likewise, the Government Procurement Reform Act (RA 9184) at present authorizes government agencies to engage in speedier, alternative methods of procurement of resources - such as negotiated procurement - during calamities. In fact, the Government Procurement Policy Board issued Resolution 03-2020 to approve the efficient and expedient procurement procedures during this state of public health emergency. What needs to be done is the immediate allocation of a supplemental budget that will allow economic safety nets for the most vulnerable affected by COVID-19 and all other programs the government must undertake to expand the capacity of our healthcare system and complement local government initiatives. I also join the public's call for more and speedier mass testing, with priority to those who are at risk such as our health workers, frontliners and the elderly, and to detect and isolate more asymptomatic cases. Temporary health facilities should also be put up as isolation, treatment and rehabilitation centers as we expect a growing number of infected persons. Furthermore, I reiterate my call for relief packages that include cash assistance and food subsidies for poor Filipino families whose lives have been severely affected by the enhanced community quarantine. The government must also ensure ample funding to complement our local government units' efforts in providing their constituents' basic necessities. Maraming doktor at health workers na ang nagkakasakit at may ilan na ring nababalitang namatay bilang mga frontliners. Marami na ring pamilya ang nagugutom dahil nawalan ng pinagkakakitaan. These are urgent problems which cannot be solved by more centralization and more executive powers. The people need real solutions that present an overall health strategy to contain COVID-19 and protect the public's well-being: more funds to expand our health capacity, more economic safety nets, more testing and care for COVID-19 patients. Jerri-Lynn here. Where is Joe Biden on any of this? Today is a momentous day in American politics. Congress is considering a multi-trillion dollar bailout plan, an attempt to calm free falling markets and shape the American economy for the foreseeable future. Alas, it looks like Congress is scrambling to implement a stimulus plan that can best be described as business as usual. As Noam Chomsky pointed to on Matt Tabbi and Katie Halpers Useful Idiots podcast, Useful Idiots: Noam Chomsky on the Primary, Media Criticism, and COVID-19: Theres a concept of economy and efficiency. You should have just enough beds for what you need tomorrow. You shouldnt prepare for the future. Right? So the hospital systems crashing. Simple things like tests which you can easily get in a country South Korea, you cant get here. So the coronavirus, which should be controlled in a functioning society, is going out of hand here. Were just not ready for it. What were good at, what our leaders are good at, and have been very good at for the last 40 years, is pouring money into the pockets of the rich and the corporate executives while everything else crashes. [Emphasis added.] Will what happens today be any different? I hope so. I fear that as is so often the case, Chomsky is correct. Dont touch that dial. Stay tuned to see what happens next. By Eoin Higgins, staff writer at Common Dreams. Originally published at Common Dreams Sen. Bernie Sanders is raising the alarm over the Senate economic stimulus bill being drawn up to combat the domestic effects of the global coronavirus pandemic, warning that the legislation is being unduly influenced by lobbyists and business interestsnot the American people. Now is not the time to allow large corporations to take advantage of this horrific crisis by ripping off U.S. taxpayers and profiteering off of the pandemic, the Vermont senator said in a statement Sunday. The $1 trillion stimulus bill is being drafted in the Senate and the chambers leadership aims to vote on the legislation on Monday. Reportedly included in the bill are a number of provisions assisting industries affected by the fallout from the coronavirus outbreakhuge bailouts that Sanders said were too much to ask the American taxpayer for in a time of crisis. According to Sanders: Negotiations are continuing between Senate Democrats and Republicans and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin. On an appearance on Fox News Sunday, Mnuchin said that a deal was close between the two sides and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Ive been speaking to Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer, the speaker, and I think we have fundamental understanding, said Mnuchin. We look foward to wrapping it up today. As Politicos Jake Sherman reported Sunday, there are still a number of outstanding issues to be resolved. THE POSITIONING BEGINS here are some problems with the bill, as flagged by a democrat. Big four plus mnuchin meeting this am. pic.twitter.com/dlKVKO7WBG Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) 22 March 2020 Democrats hope to add to unemployment benefits for workers and paid sick leave, while limiting corporate abuse of bailout money. The bill is expected to include cash payments for workers. Sanders, in his statement Sunday, called for bold action to protect the American people. In this time of unprecedented crisis, we need an unprecedented legislative response that focuses on the emergency health care needs of the American people and that puts working families and the poor ahead of CEOs and huge corporations, said Sanders. 'At the same time, if we are a little careless, we will run into trouble. No doubt about that.' IMAGE: Devotees offer prayers at a temple in Surat. Photograph: PTI Photo "The only way to prevent the disease from spending is keeping the infected person away from the population. And that's what we are doing right now," Dr R Sajith Kumar, professor and chief of the department of infectious diseases and head of medical education at the Kottayam Medical College, tells Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier. How has India been tackling the coronavirus? I must say so far, it has been a success. That is because we started acting right from the beginning when the first three cases were identified in Kerala. Our response was very good. It was not like we started our efforts groping in the dark. We did everything systematically and in a structured manner trying to find the local clusters where the infected people might have accidentally gone. You mean, in Kerala? No, I am talking about India. The Government of India brought the stranded people from Wuhan in China, and then quarantined them. We had all the information about the number of Indians in China, how many of them were coming and how many were staying back. It was not like fighting an unknown enemy. We knew what we were doing. I would say it was a very structured and systematic effort that took place. Here in Kerala, we had only a handful of infected people. But we were confident that nobody else in India would get the infection from anybody who came back from China. You should see this as the most important positive point. Not a single person in India got infected from anybody during the China epidemic. It changed only when the epidemic reached Europe. In the China epidemic, the numbers were limited. And we exactly knew how many people were coming to India from China. And we had fixed points of entry. Another most important thing was, most of those coming from China were youngsters who were otherwise healthy. Also, those who were coming from China came as single individuals as most of them were students there. They did not come as family. So, it was easy to isolate them and contain the virus. We had no difficulty in keeping them away from their families for long periods too. This was what happened during the Wuhan episode. How different is the situation right now with Europe as the epicentre? The situation is totally different with the epidemic in Europe and the Middle East. There are two or three reasons for this. First, people are coming from so many areas. It is a convergence of so many routes and landing in so many places in India like Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kerala, Bangalore, etc. And they are getting redistributed among the Indian population. Is this going to be the biggest challenge and biggest risk for India? Yes. Right now, if you look at the number, you will see that 99.9% of the infected people got infected when they were outside India. This time, different strata of family members are affected because unlike those who came from China, those coming from Europe and the US are coming to join the families here. So, the first preference the moment they land at the airport, is go to their families. And most of the time they are coming to meet the elderly people in their families back home. This is a big challenge for us. Our primary job right now is to prevent them from meeting elderly family members. Look at the Ranni incident that happened in Kerala. The family who came here from Italy had a family reunion immediately after they landed. Then, they visited other relatives and also attended some family functions. I would say our country is not responsible for what has happened so far. Any control measures you announce in India will have no impact when people come to India carrying the virus. Unless of course, you stop them from coming to India. It is said that we have not had community spread so far. Do you expect that to happen soon? I will tell you how the virus spreads. Those coming with the virus will first infect those who are in close contact. That is not a community spread; just cluster spread. Like the family who came to Ranni infected other family members, which is the close cluster of people. If another person or a group of people get infected from someone in this cluster, and then infects somebody else, we will reach a situation where we will not be able to trace the origin. That's when community spread starts. Community spread happens when the cluster spread gets dispersed. Our job right now is to prevent the clusters from dispersing. Is it possible to prevent cluster spread from becoming community spread? It is possible, that is what Kerala is doing right now. For example, people from Ranni landed here on the 29th of February. Six people got infected from them in the first week of March. Now, we are in the third week of March. So far, not a single person who was in contact with one of these family members, has developed the disease. Do you feel the rest of India should follow what Kerala has done? Exactly. Have other states been following this method? From what the prime minister said, it appears that other states are following the same method as this is the only scientific method to prevent community spread. What we have done is nothing out of the world; just a scientific and systematic approach to the problem. Now, the 150-odd people who have come to the country with the virus, are staying in their own homes. If they infect their family members or the infected family members go out and infect somebody else, we may find it difficult to trace them. That's why we are trying to track the route of the maximum number of people and keep them in the net so that we will come to know immediately when somebody develops the symptoms. The only way to prevent the disease from spending is keeping the infected person away from the population. And that's what we are doing right now. When thousands of people got infected in most of the other countries, India has 341 infections (as on March 22). Some people say it is because of the hot climate we have. Is there any scientific truth in it? No. We do not have enough scientific information on whether environmental temperature has anything to do with this. We see the Gulf countries also getting affected, and we can't say that the temperature is low in those countries. Their winter is over, and now the temperature is high. You can't say that India is not getting affected; India is getting affected. And the time is only catching up with us, and we do not know whether the numbers will go up or not. The difference is, other countries did not behave the way we have done so far. In fact, even though we are telling people not to panic, we are sending panic messages, and this should keep the Indian population away from the infected people. In a way, this shouting out is good. Today, except in the metropolitan cities, you don't see anyone outside on the streets. If you go to any place in Kerala right now, you will see that people are not coming out at all. For a disease to affect people, you need three components. One is, the person should have the virus. Second is the transmissible range of the virus. And the third is the number of susceptible people who are coming into contact with the person with the virus. This is the formula; AxBxC. Here A is constant; the number of people who are infected is constant right now. It is increasing only at a slow pace. The transmissible range is fixed as far as the virus is concerned. It is not going to change and it is not changing. So, the determinant of the formula AxBxC is the number of susceptible people who are going to get into contact with the person with the virus. That is where we are right now. What has happened in many other countries is, for example in Europe or the US, the control of the government on the common man is much, much less than what we have here. Here, the common man listens. We have a tendency to listen to or respect authority. We don't question them. This may be one of the good traits that Indians have. This is exactly what helped China though whether you want to listen to authority or not, you are forced to listen there. And the authority was very powerful too. Here the authority is not powerful, but people are ready to listen. Also, do you feel because the virus arrived in India much later, we were able to see how the other countries behaved and not repeat the mistakes they did? There is no doubt about it. We now know how to face the disease. If it had happened here in India first instead of in China, it would have been the end of it! Yes, we have been fortunate that way. But looking at what is happening in the European countries, the US and the UK, I feel they have not learnt the lessons from the China epidemic. Also, Europe has a porous border. So, it is easy for the virus to spread. If you take India, there are hundreds of villages in India where people don't need to mix with outsiders. While mixing happens very easily in Europe. That could be one of the reasons why it spread so fast throughout Europe. Though there is no scientific proof to it, I think because Indians are exposed to so many viruses, we do not know whether immunity against one of those viruses is protecting us from the coronavirus. We do not know. It is a remote responsibility. The world has seen many viruses before, like SARS, Ebola, H1N1, etc. But coronavirus has brought the world on its knees. What is so dangerous about this virus? If the virus can kill somebody, it can survive only for a short time. If the virus does not kill you, it can survive for a longer period. About SARS, anybody who is infected with SARS lives only for a very small span of time. That was what happened with Nipah, and Ebola where the mortality rate was very high. And when the mortality rate is so high, the number of people remaining with the virus comes down. Similarly, nobody with HIV virus dies immediately; they live for 10 to 15 years. It means, in such conditions, viruses survive in the human body for longer periods. When that happens, more and more people get infected from them. The problem with coronavirus is that only the elderly is affected. So, if we have a system where the elderly alone is protected, we can prevent deaths and infections a lot. That's why in the guidelines to be followed, the government has asked people above 65 to be quarantined even if they are not infected. This will prevent the vulnerable population from getting exposed to the virus. If nobody dies of the coronavirus, nobody will be bothered about the virus. See, we have the common cold, flu, respiratory viruses and hundreds and thousands of people get infected. But nobody dies of these viruses. Our problem is the elderly and people with existing illnesses. So, our target should be to see that these people do not get infected. How is the war against covid-19 different from fighting other viruses like Nipah, HIV, etc? In the case of HIV, we had a similar situation till ART became available. With HIV treatment available, things are totally different. In the case of covid-19, a majority of people who are suffering from the infection are recovering without any problem. We are not worried about the number of youngsters getting infected with coronavirus because they will have a spontaneous recovery. Their mortality is 1 in 1,000 which is much less than, say, road accidents. More young people die from road accidents than due to coronavirus infection. We are only worried about the young people giving the infection to those around them, and they include the elderly and the diabetics. So, we want to prevent that from happening./p> By now, we know what is going to happen tomorrow. The whole picture is clear to us. That is why India is likely to succeed in this war. Does India having around 50% of its population below the age of 35 also helping? Yes. Unlike European countries, a majority of our population is young. Maybe that's why India has a bigger chance to succeed against covid-19. We cannot say anything with certainly unless we prove it scientifically. India may not succumb like other countries. At the same time, if we are a little careless, we will run into trouble. No doubt about that. Should India be worried right now? Yes. If you are not worried, you will not be careful. Like any country in the world has to be worried, India also has to be worried. If you are careless, there will be problems. Are the next two weeks crucial? Yes, the next two weeks are crucial. Because if we go to the next stage, then it will be a stage of no return. That is what happened to Italy and the whole of Europe. We don't want to go to that stage. Controlling 150 people who came to India is not difficult, but controlling even 50,000 people is very difficult and impossible. China not reporting many new cases, is it good news for the rest of the world? That will happen with all epidemics. After some time, the number of susceptible population will come down, that is when a good number of them either die or recover. There is nothing unusual in China not reporting any new cases. It is something we have expected. The earlier you reach that, the more comfortable you are. As an expert on infectious diseases, how long do you think this will last? It is difficult to say. Every epidemic has got a trajectory; it goes up to a significant level and then comes down. The only corollary I can think of is H1N1. It is still there in the community, but the big panic about it is over now. When people get H1N1, they are not dying in large numbers. Because we know how to handle the situation. So, I feel covid-19 might linger on for many more months at a smaller pace. Or, it can become catastrophic. It is practically unpredictable now. Some people compare this to the 1918 Spanish flu... We are worried whether we will go to that situation. It is a real worry for the entire world. Washington, D.C., March 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- An appeals court in Sanaa yesterday upheld a death sentence against Hamed bin Haydara, a Bahai imprisoned since 2013. The Baha'i International Community is decrying the verdict as "religiously motivated." After a series of trials spanning four years, Mr. Haydara was sentenced to public execution in 2018. The same court verdict also called for the dissolution of Baha'i institutions and the confiscation of any assets belonging to Mr. Haydara. An appeals process then began, dragging on over the course of 18 hearings. The Bahai International Community unequivocally condemns the death sentence against Mr. Haydara, said Ms. Diane Alai, Representative of the Bahai International Community to the United Nations in Geneva. At a time when the international community is battling a global health crisis, it is incomprehensible that the authorities in Sanaa have upheld a death sentence against an innocent individual solely because of his beliefs instead of focusing on safeguarding the population, including Bahais. Mr. Haydara was arrested at his place of work in December 2013. His case has been notable for a lack of due process since his arrest. Not only did he spend months in prison without a hearing, he suffered torture including beatings, electrocutions, and psychological abuse. Mr. Haydara was repeatedly denied treatment for medical conditions that developed as a result of the torture he experienced. He was also forced to sign documents while blindfolded, and, for several months, was denied visitors, including his wife and daughters. Furthermore, he was prevented from attending the lower court hearing when his sentence was issued. The Bahai International Community is utterly dismayed at this outrageous verdict and it calls on the court and the Houthi authorities to take immediate action to overturn this unjust sentence, said Ms. Alai. Since 2017, Houthi authorities have targeted and prosecuted over twenty members of the Bahai community in Yemen, including members of the Bahai administration. Mr. Haydara is one of six Bahais currently imprisoned in Sanaa for their beliefs. - County governments in the North Rift ordered bereaved families to collect bodies from mortuaries and inter them within 24 hours with a maximum of 50 mourners - The directive was aimed at reducing the risk of spreading coronavirus among Kenyans - However, its implementation has proven difficulty with many locals attending ceremonies in the usual manner Despite government's heighetend efforts to combat spread of the dreaded coronavirus, some Kenyans are yet to adhere to the directives given by both the national and county leadership. This was evident in Emusala village in Kakamega county and Shimanyilo village in Bungoma county where hundreds of residents gathered for burial ceremonies. READ ALSO: Boni Khalwale stirs internet after sharing pictures of Raila Odinga with wide open eyes during prayer Hundreds of mourners during a burial ceremony in Bungoma. Photo: Screenshot from NTV Source: UGC READ ALSO: Body of missing Nation journalist found at City Mortuary The ceremonies were both held on Sartuday, March 21, with hundreds of locals despite the county governments in the region directing families to hold funerals for a maximum of 50 mourners. The locals were seen seated closely together and talking to one another as the ceremonies were underway oblivious of the risk of spreading the deadly coronavirus. "We know the disease is there but we will not stop attending the burial of our beloved brother, we attend but also try to adhere to the laid down procedures by government," said one of the mourners Joseph Musungo. READ ALSO: Coronavirus: Museveni suspends all flights as Uganda reports first case On Friday, March 20, county bosses from the region ordered shut down of all morgues and asked bereaved families to bury their loved ones within 24 hours after demise to minimise interactions. However, the one of the family members who spoke during the funeral said the 24 hours was too short for them to organise for a funeral given they needed time to collect money to pay hospital bills before they could be allowed to collect the body. The county bosses also advised locals to suspend activities such as weddings as one way of limiting interactions. Mourners in Kakamega seated closely to one another despite government directive on social distances. Photo: Screenshot from Citizen Source: UGC READ ALSO: Coronavirus: Mwanamke afurushwa nje ya duka la jumla kukataa kutumia kieuzi The country has already confirmed seven cases of coronavirus and the patients are currently in quarantine. The killer diseases has claimed 13,055 lives with 307,766 cases having been reported. Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly. Source: TUKO.co.ke Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) inhibitors are class of medications used for the management of inflammatory arthritis. These target the TNF- alpha, a component of the immune system that is responsible for inflammation in the body. Currently, five inhibitors are available in the market namely, etanercept (Enbrel), infliximab (Remicade), adalimumab (Humira), certolizumab (cimzia), and golimumab (simponi). These are prescribed only for autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohns disease, and psoriasis. Get Exclusive FREE Sample Copy of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Inhibitor Drugs Market Report https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/3463 Biosimilars for the already marketed drug have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA). For instance, etanercept (brand name Enbrel) manufactured by Amgen Inc. has two biosimilars i.e. etanercept- szzs (erelzi) manufactured by Novartis AG and etanercept ykro (eticovo) manufactured by Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd. The advantage of using biosimilars is that they are cheaper as compared to the original medicine. Some of the manufacturers operating in the global tumor necrosis factor inhibitors drugs market are Novartis AG, Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc., and Merck & Co., and among others. Global Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Inhibitor Drugs Market Drivers Leading manufacturers are engaged in the development and manufacture of new products as well as biosimilars in the global tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor drugs market over the forecast period. This factor is expected to aid in growth of the market over the forecast period. For instance, Eticovo, a second biosimilar of Enbrel, manufactured by Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd, was approved by the U.S. FDA in May 2019 and the cost of Eticovo is US$ 1,500 less than the branded medicine (Enbrel costs around US$ 5,000 for per month supply). Moreover, the first biosimilar of Enbrel i.e. Erelzi, manufactured by Novartis AG, is available in the form of a sensoready pen with an inbuilt autoinjector, which is beneficial for patients suffering from arthritis and cannot work properly with their limbs. Renflexis (biosimilar of infliximab) was introduced in the U.S market by Merck & Co. in July 2018, at a list price of US$ 753.39 which represents a 35% discount to the current list price of Remicade, its reference product. Purchase this Report (Price 4500 USD for Single-User License) @ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/buy-now/3463 Increasing prevalence of autoimmune diseases around the globe is expected to foster the market growth of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors drugs. For instance, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2017, around 54.4 million people in the U.S. are suffering from some form of arthritis during (2013 2015). Global Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Inhibitor Drugs Market Restraints According to National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), 2019, it has been observed that 50% of the population suffering from autoimmune diseases worldwide, discontinue the use of TNF inhibitors after one year of use as only 5-10% of the population showed positive response to TNF inhibitors while the remaining people show disease activity or severe side effects even after the treatment with TNF inhibitors. Moreover, availability of alternatives drugs that belong to a different class available in the market is also expected to hinder the market growth. For instance, Pfizer Inc. announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in 2017, for Xeljanz (tofacitinib), a Janus kinase inhibitor which is a small molecular drug for rheumatoid arthritis. Some side effects caused by TNF inhibitors have been reported in the population, which include, increase in the risk of infections of the skin, soft tissues, and joints, and also increase in risk of cancer (non-melanoma skin cancers). These may also result in some other serious side effects, such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, sepsis, osteomyelitis, and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. The above factors are expected to restrain the global tumor necrosis factor inhibitors drugs market growth over the forecast period. Got any Query? Feel free to ask us at : https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/talk-to-analyst/3463 Global Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Inhibitor Drugs Market Regional Analysis North America is expected to hold the dominant position in the global tumor necrosis factor inhibitor drugs market over the forecast period, owing to increasing development and launches of new products in the region. For instance, under a global biosimilars development and commercialization agreement between Merck and Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd., Renflexis (biosimilar of Remicade (infliximab)) received the U.S. FDA approval in 2019 and was the first medicine to be available in the U.S. as a TNF inhibitor. Moreover, Amgen Inc. also announced the U.S. FDA approval for avsola in 2019 (infliximab-axxq) for all approved indications of the reference product, Remicade (infliximab) in the U.S. Also, Celgene Corporation recently received the U.S. FDA approval for otezla (apremilast) in 2019, an oral PDE4 inhibitor for the treatment of adult patients with mucositis (mouth ulcers) associated with behcets disease, a rare disorder that causes blood vessel inflammation throughout the body. Otezla is the first drug to be approved for this use in the U.S., providing a treatment option for behcets disease, many of whom develop mouth ulcers as a result of the condition. Increasing incidence of autoimmune diseases in the population is expected to be another factor supporting the growth of North America in the global tumor necrosis factor inhibitor drugs market. For instance, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2017, around 54.4 million adults in the U.S. were suffering from arthritis, which equals about 25% of the total population while, around 1.3 million people, 294,000 people and 0.6 to 2.4 million people over 15 years of age in the U.S were suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile arthritis, and spondylarthritides, respectively. According to the same source, by the year 2040, it is estimated that 78 million (26%) of the U.S. adults in the age range of 18 years or older are expected to have arthritis. Therefore increasing prevalence of autoimmune diseases in North America is expected to boost the tumor necrosis factor drugs inhibitor market growth over the forecast period. Request a Customization: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/3463 Global Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Inhibitor Drugs Market Key Players Some of the key players operating in the global tumor necrotic factor inhibitor drugs market are Amgen Inc., Novartis International AG, Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc, Merck & Co., Inc. d.b.a., AbbVie Inc., UCB S.A., Sanofi S. A, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Cadila Healthcare Ltd, and GlaxoSmithKline plc. Market Taxonomy By Drug Type Etanercept Infliximab Adalimumab Certolizumab Golimumab By Indication Rheumatoid Arthritis Juvenile Arthritis Psoriatic Arthritis Plaque Psoriasis Ankylosing Spondylitis Ulcerative Colitis Crohns Disease Others By Route of Administration Subcutaneous Injection Intravenous injection By Distribution Channel Hospital pharmacies Retail Pharmacies Online Pharmacies By Region North America Latin America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East Africa About Coherent Market Insights: Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity. Contact Us: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com U.S. Office: Name: Mr. Shah Coherent Market Insights 1001 4th Ave, # 3200 Seattle, WA 98154, U.S. US : +1-206-701-6702 UK : +44-020-8133-4027 JAPAN : +050-5539-1737 This is a special episode of Today in Pa dedicated the coronavirus pandemic. Today in Pa will be doing these evening updates every weekday throughout the pandemic. You can listen to the latest episode at this link, or on your favorite app including Alexa, Apple, Google, Spotify and Stitcher. Episodes are available every weekday on PennLive. Subscribe/Follow and rate the podcast via your favorite app. Today in Pa. Daily Podcast | Coronavirus Update March 23, 2020 7 Pennsylvania counties have been issued stay-at-home orders by Governor Tom Wolf as the number of deaths from the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 reaches six. The U.S. senate fails to pass a $2 trillion bill to help the economy and it looks like the Summer Olympics will be postponed to 2021. And, could a flu or pneumonia vaccine help you against COVID-19? No, but well explain why. Those are the stories we are covering in the latest bonus episode of Today in Pa, a daily weekday podcast from PennLive.com and hosted by Julia Hatmaker. Today in Pa is dedicated to sharing the most important and interesting stories in the state, but our bonus episodes about the coronavirus also look at how the disease is impacting the nation and the world. Todays bonus episode refers to the following articles: If you enjoy Today in Pa, consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or on Amazon. Reviews help others find the show and, besides, we like to know what you think of the program. Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. As the response to the coronavirus pandemic dominates headlines in the US, the Department of Justice is seeking to greatly expand its powers of detention. Politico reports that the Department of Justice is asking legislators to grant it new powers on everything from the statute of limitations to asylum claims and court hearings. With the Trump administration having already been challenged in the courts on its efforts to allow indefinite detention of immigrants who apply for asylum, the new measures if passed into law by Congress could open up a whole new set of legal battles. The documents reportedly request permission for judges and administration officials to be able to suspend court rules during an emergency. Under the rules, whenever a court is closed due to any natural disaster, civil disobedience, or other emergency situation as may soon happen in parts of the US as the pandemic rages the attorney general would be able to call an indefinite halt to court proceedings, meaning those awaiting trial would remain in detention until proceedings were restarted. The coronavirus epidemic has already been declared a national emergency, and states including California had declared their own states of emergency before that. After the Politico report, condemnation of the request came swiftly from both parties. On the Republican side, libertarian-minded Kentucky senator Rand Paul tweeted "We absolutely must, must, resist government run amok taking advantage of a crisis. This is how your liberty dies. Stand up America and resist." Utah senator Mike Lee wrote simply "OVER MY DEAD BODY". And on the Democratic side, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was equally blunt. Tweeting the original Politico article, she wrote: "Absolutely not". The issue of detention without charge or trial on national security grounds has been a running controversy since the Patriot Act was implicated after 9/11. A massive piece of legislation, it gave the government various new surveillance powers and critics including the American Civil Liberties Union also said that section 412 of the act could allow indefinite detention of immigrants. This section was never invoked until November 2019, when the Trump administration used it to prolong the detention of a Palestinian man whose sentence was about to expire. The justice departments requested measures would also allow the administration to place strict limits on who could apply for asylum in the US. Not only would those testing positive for COVID-19 be blocked, but those subject to a presidential proclamation suspending and limiting the entry of aliens into the United States would also be barred. The administration has already begun denying all entry to illegal migrants crossing the USs southern border regardless of whether they are applying for asylum or not. The number of people diagnosed with the coronavirus COVID-19 in Michigan continues to rise, reaching 1,328 on March 23. Fifteen people have died, with dozens more being treated in intensive care units, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said at a press conference Monday. Michigans first two COVID-19 cases were reported on March 10. Since then, the infectious disease has spread across much of the Lower Penninsula. Sorry, but your browser does not support frames. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported 293 new cases during its daily update on Monday, March 23. Muskegon and Kalamazoo were among the counties to report their first cases on Monday, and the first case also was reported in the Upper Peninsula. The numbers have spiked since last week, when the state began to significantly increase the number of people tested for the coronavirus. With the increase in testing, every day youre going to see the cases in Michigan skyrocket, said Emily Martin, an epidemiologist at University of Michigan. "Its because were filling in the gaps of the data. So it looks like its skyrocketing, and that results in a lot of panic and worry and hysteria because people feel like the virus is moving faster and faster and faster, when really its that were just seeing more of the picture than before, Martin said. Thirty-six of Michigans 83 counties are home to a resident who contracted coronavirus. About 86% of the COVID-19 cases -- 1,142 of 1,328 -- are in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. There are 411 patients who are Detroit residents; 227 who live elsewhere in Wayne County; 329 who live in Oakland County and 175 in Macomb County. Of the 15 patients who died, six were residents of Detroit, four in Oakland County, two each in Macomb County and Wayne County outside of Detroit and one in Kent County. Whitmer declared a state of emergency on March 10 after the first cases were identified. She has since closed schools, bars, restaurants and other establishments to prevent COVID-19 from spreading further. On Monday, March 23, she issued a stay-at-home order, requiring Michigan residents to stay at home except for essential business. There have been nearly 33,404 cases of the coronavirus and 400 deaths in the United States, according to the Center for Disease Control. Sorry, but your browser does not support frames. Every state in the country has reported a COVID-19 case. States with the highest number of cases include Washington, New York, California, New Jersey and Illinois. Coronavirus symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Many infected people exhibit mild symptoms and dont necessarily need to be tested or treated in-person, as theres currently no known vaccine or cure for the disease. Read all of MLives coverage on the coronavirus at mlive.com/coronavirus. Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus. PREVENTION TIPS In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores. The settlement of the technical unemployment after more than two months since it has to be paid by employers will lead to a serious survival problem for the majority of the non-food retail companies, Cosmin Savu Cristescu, executive secretary of the Romanian Retailers' Organization (RORETAIL) told on Monday private TV broadcaster Digi 24. "There are many elements that need to be further analyzed, procedures that need to be improved. A single example regarding employees: from the procedure that was introduced regarding the settlement of technical unemployment, it follows that this technical unemployment is to be settled after more than two months since it has to be paid by employers. You have to understand that, starting with March 6 week, the whole retail industry has remained almost entirely without income. Or, if the technical unemployment in April, for example, will be settled at the earliest in the second half of June, given that the retail has no income since the beginning of March, we have a serious problem for the survival of most companies," explained Cristescu.According to the representative of RORETAIL, the retail industry, especially the non-food industry, continues to be in a very bad situation.The Romanian Retailers' Organization - RORETAIL joins over 500 stores which sell about 100 national and international brands and employ over 3,000 people.AGERPRES YEREVAN, MARCH 23, ARMENPRESS. Today, the authorities and people of Artsakh are exerting every effort to revive Shushi and to restore, the cultural heritage of the city destroyed by the Azerbaijani authorities, reads the statement issued by the foreign ministry of Artsakh on the 100th anniversary of the Armenian massacres in Shushi by Azerbaijan. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the foreign ministry of Artsakh, the statement runs as follows, ''A hundred years ago, on March 23, 1920, the authorities of the newly created Azerbaijani Democratic Republic massacred the Armenian population of Shushi, the then administrative and cultural center of Artsakh. As a result of this heinous crime, thousands of Armenians were killed, tens of thousands were forced to flee their homes and the Armenian part of the city was looted, burned and completely destroyed. The surviving Armenian residents of Shushi, who made up the majority of the citys population, were completely expelled. Most of the once beautiful Armenian city was in ruins for many years. The enormous cultural heritage of Shushi was destroyed. The scale and cruelty of this crime struck the contemporaries who visited Shushi immediately after the massacre and noted that the wells were filled with the bodies of women and children. The tragedy left such a deep mark on the city and its atmosphere that even after 10 years it caused gloomy impressions and heavy feelings, which one of the prominent Russian writers of the twentieth century, Osip Mandelstam, reflected in his poem Phaeton Driver. The Shushi massacre became the apotheosis of the two-year-long attempts of the Azerbaijani authorities to seize and subjugate Artsakh. These irrepressible and unreasonable territorial claims to Artsakh by Azerbaijan, which was created as a result of the Turkish invasion in the South Caucasus, laid the foundation for the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict in its modern sense. The Azerbaijani authorities tried to achieve their goal through the direct support by the Turkish troops. Subsequently, the Turkish officers and emissaries continued to assist the Azerbaijani armed forces, including in organizing the Shushi massacre of 1920, attempting to continue the Genocide of Armenians, now in Eastern Armenia. The forcible inclusion of Artsakh in the structure of Soviet Azerbaijan, following the Sovietization of the Republics of the South Caucasus, did not solve the issue, as the policy of the Azerbaijani authorities towards the Armenian population of Artsakh changed only in form, but not in content. The beginning of the process of collapse of the Soviet Union in the late 1980s and early 1990s once again actualized the issue of physical security of the Armenian population of Artsakh. In response to the peaceful demands of the people of Artsakh for reunification with Armenia, a wave of mass killings and pogroms of Armenians swept throughut Azerbaijan. Thousands of Armenians were killed and maimed, hundreds of thousands were deported. The Armenian pogroms of the 1988-1990s were the continuation of the Shushi massacre of 1920 and clearly demonstrated that even after 70 years neither the goals nor the methods of the Azerbaijani authorities had changed. Only thanks to the self-organization of the people of Artsakh, which created a capable state with all the necessary institutions, including an efficient army, as well as the support of the Armenians worldwide, it was possible to repel the armed aggression of Azerbaijan in 1991-1994 and to prevent the repeating of the Shushi scenario in Artsakh, but on a larger scale. Today, the authorities and people of Artsakh are exerting every effort to revive Shushi and to restore, the cultural heritage of the city destroyed by the Azerbaijani authorities''. Even as the Karnataka government toughened measures to halt the spread of COVID-19 outbreak, the Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said on Monday quarantining the large number of people who have come in contact with the coronavirus positive patients remained the "only worry". Yediyurappa requested experts, doctors and owners of private hospitals to "serve the people through Government" which is serious to implement all their suggestions to contain the spread of the infections of the respiratory disease." "Our only worry is: How to quarantine the large number of people who have come in contact with the disease", the Chief Minister said. The experts, doctors and owners of private hospitals the government consulted suggested "complete shutdown", Yediyurappa said. They suggested to start fever clinics where preliminary checkups will be done. "Thirty fever clinics will be started", he said. They suggested the make people understand the seriousness of the situation, and popularise the message: 'Stay at home and prevent getting diseases', and strengthening of public- private partnership to tackle the COVID-19 outbreak. These owners came forward to spare the service of doctors and clinic staff working in their hospitals, andagreed to spare more than 100 ventilators. "My sincere and serious appeal to the people staying in urban areas not to visit villages and hamlets which are till today free from COVID-19", the Chief Minister said. The Karnataka government has already announced shutdown of all commercial activities barring essential services, in nine districts, where COVID-19 cases have been reported, till March 31. They are: Bengaluru city, Bengaluru Rural, Mangaluru, Mysuru, Kalaburagi, Dharwad, Chikkaballapura, Kodagu and Belagavi. Six new COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Karnataka on Sunday, taking the total number of infections to the respiratory disease to 26 -- the highest number of positive cases in a single day in the State. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Well-known Tamil actor-filmmaker M.R Viswanathan aka Visu died in Chennai on Sunday from cardiac arrest. He was 75. As per a statement by his daughter Lavanya, the veteran had suffered a cardiac arrest following which he was rushed to a hospital on Sunday afternoon. He died shortly after that. She also revealed that the funeral will be held on Monday. Viswanathans first tryst with acting began on stage in his school days. Before foraying into Tamil film industry, he was part of YG Parthasarathys theatre troupe and later, he went on to start his own troupe as well. Although he began his career in Tamil cinema as a writer for films such as Pattina Pravesam and Thillu Mullu among others, he soon shifted his focus towards direction and acting. As a filmmaker, some of his popular films include Samsaram Adhu Minsaram, Manal Kayiru, Aval Sumangalithaan and Dowry Kalyanam among others. Visu had made a strong impact as a filmmaker with family stories with good dose of humour. Two of his films - Samsaram Adhu Minsaram and Neenga Nalla Irukkanum won the coveted National award. His 1990 film Varavu Nalla Uravu won the Tamil Nadu state award for Best Writer. Visu was immensely popular for hosting popular Tamil debate show Arattai Arangam on Sun TV which was aired for several years and dealt with various social issues. He later went on to host Makkal Arangam, another popular talk show on Jaya TV. In 2016, Visu joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Also read: Idris Elbas wife Sabrina also tests positive for coronavirus after quarantining together, says I wanted to be with him Mourning the legends loss, several Tamil celebrities took to Twitter to express their condolences. Actor Radikaa Sarathkumar tweeted: RIP director and writer Visu sir, contribution to cinema and stage was immense. Our condolences to the family and key he rest in peace. (sic). Actor Karthi wrote: Deepest condolences on the demise of legendary Visu sir. Hell always be remembered for his classic films/talk shows & the family values for which he stood by. As a strong administrator & a guiding force in many assn. his absence creates a huge void. We will miss you sir. (sic) Filmmaker Mohan Raja tweeted: Visu sir, the legend. You will be always in my thoughts for creating the everlasting, ever inspiring Samsaram Adhu Minsaram. May your soul Rest in Peace sir (sic) Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop The Anglican Primate of Canada, Archbishop Linda Nicholls, has asked people to join her in a national day of prayer this coming Sunday to show solidarity with the whole world engulfed in COVID-19. Other Canadian churches are doing something similar, as are Christians and people of various faiths the world over. That for followers of Jesus this occurs in Lent, as we approach Easter and the bitter/sweet commemoration of the crucifixion and resurrection makes it all the more poignant. There is something refreshingly gentle and compelling about these calls, and it has to be said that they stand in dramatic contrast to what we too often see south of the border. Because whether we like it or not, the truth is that prayer, and the idea of praying for someone or something, has developed rather a bad reputation. Obviously the very notion of speaking to God is like spiritual catnip to atheists, but even to people who are agnostic, indifferent, or perhaps slightly sympathetic, the image of a politician in the U.S. offering prayers to the victims of yet another shooting rampage while simultaneously taking money from the National Rifle Association and opposing any form of gun control is, frankly, sickening. As a result, many see prayer as a form of tokenism, an empty gesture that is used to disguise lack of effort and a refusal to perform the real work of change and reform, and thats especially problematic at a time as disturbing and difficult as this. But such a suspicion of hypocrisy isnt unjustified. Donald Trump, for example, organized a day of prayer the Sunday before last and is a regular at national prayer breakfasts. Forgive my cynicism, but its difficult to think of this constantly abusive man with a record such as his as someone who holds himself accountable to God. Because accountability is what prayer is. When I pray, I hold my soul, my very being, open to my creator, and admit my vulnerability and my fears. I become a partner in a conversation, one that has to be burningly honest and candid if it is to have any meaning and substance. As the author C.S. Lewis said, We must lay before him what is in us; not what ought to be in us. I ask and I listen, I reflect and I am reshaped. Prayer is comforting in numerous ways, but also intensely challenging and even painful. It leads to as many questions as it does answers, and should motivate as well as root us. Of course we ask for things in prayer, but not for self-centred banalities or for the triumph of a personal cause. We pray for the victory of goodness, morality, justice, and peace, and on Sunday we will pray for those who are in need and pain, and for those who do Gods will as they work for our health and safety. Because God is love, and love includes the collective well-being of humanity. We pray, ultimately, that Gods will and not ours be done, and that desire has to rest on divine trust. Its not always easy, and its not supposed to be. This virus has challenged so much that we assumed to be secure and iron-certain. Weve no idea if the world we knew will return to what we considered normal, but for legions of people those who we have lost, those who have lost them that cant be the case. Religious belief is not fantasy, and a mature and adult faith should make us more and not less aware of lifes suffering. I pray that we will find a way forward and that the harm will be limited. I pray that the sense of social community, empathy and care, and political cooperation that have paradoxically surfaced in this time of isolation and separation will continue and flourish. I pray that we remember to pray and to keep praying, and see Gods meaning and call in every person around us, long after we feel safe and secure. I pray that we can be better, whatever we may believe or deny. I pray because it opens my heart and my eyes. I pray because I can do no other. House Judiciary Committee Postpones Hearing with AG Barr The House Judiciary Committees hearing with Attorney General William Barr scheduled for March 31 is on pause due to overwhelming health and safety concerns amid the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus pandemic. Due to overwhelming health and safety concerns, the @HouseJudiciary will postpone our March 31st oversight hearing with Attorney General Barr, Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), the committees chairman, wrote in a Twitter statement on March 23. Nadler added that the Justice Department (DOJ) was committed to rescheduling the hearing for a later date when the crisis abates. The hearing with Barr was announced on Feb. 12 after lawmakers claimed that the attorney general had engaged in a pattern of conduct in legal matters relating to the President that raises significant concerns for this Committee, citing media reports. The DOJ came under extensive scrutiny earlier this year over concerns that the department was acting under the influence of improper political interference from President Donald Trump in cases related to former associates of the president such as Roger Stone and Trumps lawyer, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. The Democrats had billed the hearing as an opportunity to seek information and fulfill its oversight responsibility regarding how several departmental matters had been handled, including the Stone case, the criminal case against former national security adviser Michael Flynn, the departments probe into the origins of the 2016 counterintelligence investigation on the Trump campaign, and the creation of a new process to vet information submitted by anyone including Giuliani. The DOJ didnt immediately respond to The Epoch Times queries about the postponement. Along with Barrs testimony, Nadler sent a subsequent letter to the DOJ requesting documents and interviews with former and current department officials. He requested testimony or interviews from more than a dozen U.S. attorneys who have knowledge of those criminal and civil matters, including John H. Durham, U.S. attorney for the District of Connecticut. Durham is leading the probe into the origins of the FBIs Russia investigation, the departments handling of antitrust enforcement, and the four prosecutors who withdrew from Stones case following the departments decision to revise the sentencing recommendation it deemed excessive. In that case, the announcement to revise the sentencing recommendation came after Trump weighed in on Twitter about the initial 7 to 9 years recommendation. Barr had maintained that the decision to revise the sentencing recommendation was made prior to Trumps Twitter post. Barr later issued some rare criticism to the president, saying that he thinks its time to stop the tweeting about Department of Justice criminal cases. He said the public statements about the department and its staff make it impossible for the attorney general to do his job. The attorney general added that he was not going to be bullied or influenced by anybody, whether its Congress, a newspaper editorial board, or the president. Trump subsequently agreed with Barrs assessment saying that his social media posts were making Barrs job harder. I do make his job harder. I do agree with that. I think thats true, Trump said at the time. Hes a very straight shooter. We have a great attorney general and hes working very hard. Hes working against a lot of people that dont want to see good things happen, in my opinion. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement of the outbreak in Wuhan allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. Todays Headlines The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning. Email address By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy 2.3k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Sen. Rand Pauls office has refused to say how the Senator from Kentucky was able to get tested for coronavirus ahead ill people who are showing symptoms. Pauls office has not provided an explanation: How did an asymptomatic Rand Paul get a test ahead of so many symptomatic people who've been waiting? Why did he walk around the Capitol and elsewhere for a week after being concerned enough that he got a test? Did his Senate health care plan pay for it? His office won't say. Edward-Isaac Dovere (@IsaacDovere) March 23, 2020 How did Rand Paul, who had no symptoms, get tested before people who are sick and currently in the hospital? One of the biggest scandals of the coronavirus crisis is how the rich, famous, and powerful have been able to get tested and get their results back quickly while ordinary Americans are being forced to wait in many cases weeks for their results. Rand Paul should have never been running around the Senate infecting other people. He should have been quarantined as soon as he was exposed to the virus and forced to wait for his test results like everyone else. In Trumps America, there are different sets of rules when it comes to coronavirus testing. If you are a celebrity or rich, you can get tested on demand. If you arent, good luck, because youre going to waiting to get tested and to have your results back. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook Photo credit: @mad_scientist_duffin - Instagram From Men's Health Powerlifter and strength expert Chris Duffin wasn't going to let anythingeven a global pandemicstop him from achieving what no other human has done (to our knowledge): squat and deadlift over 1,000 pounds for multiple reps. Duffin successfully completed three reps at 1,001 pounds as four guys spotted him at Kabuki Strength Lab in Clackamas, Oregon. After finishing his third squat rep and racking the weight, Duffin broke down in tearswhich were well-warranted as he completed this awesome feat. While the event wasn't sanctioned, Duffin is likely the first person ever to both squat and deadlift over 1,000 pounds, according to BarBend. Story continues Duffin was set to complete his Grand Goals challenge at an IHRSA event in San Diego over the weekend, but the meet was cancelled due to the coronavirus. Still, he was determined to finish his mission, which has been four years in the making after another impressive feat of strength. Duffin first sumo deadlifted 1,001 pounds for two reps back in 2016. Since then, we've also seen strongman Hafthor Bjornsson pull over 1,000 pounds for repsand mistakenly claim that he was the first in the world to do sobut he hasn't squatted for reps, too. Duffin's emotion at completing his goal is evident even in his Instagram caption, especially considering the peculiar challenge of completing it during such a tumultuous time. "1001 x 3 squat today. Despite all the uncertainty in the world and our lives right now, I set out on a clear and defined path 4 years ago. A path to do something epic, to inspire, and to raise money and build awareness for causes I believe in. It was a major battle for me in the last year to pull off the last portion of this goal," he wrote in part of his Instagram caption. And though Duffin acknowledges his record wasn't 'official,' he's pretty damn proud. "Words cant accurately convey how challenging this training was mentally, physically, or emotionally...but I can say Im proud to have finished things on my own terms. Yeah, its not recorded in any record books anywhere, but I dont give a rats ass... my goal was to be the first person to deadlift and squat 1000+lbs for reps. I did it, and no one can take that away. DONE," he wrote. You Might Also Like Three more positive cases of Sars-Cov-2 virus surfaced in Telangana on Monday, taking the total number of cases in the state to 30. In neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, the number of such cases went up to six, after the detection of a fresh case with Covid-19 on Sunday night. Tracking Coronavirus Outbreak: Live Updates What is alarming is that two of the 30 cases in Telangana turned out to be local people who contracted the virus from those coming from abroad. Andhra Pradesh, too, reported the first such case, who happens to be a primary contact of the Covid-19 patient coming from abroad. The person to have contracted the virus in Telangana is a 23-year-old male from Karimnagar who had no travel history. He came in contact with the group of 13 Indonesians who arrived in Karimnagar from Delhi on March 14 in Sampark Kranti Express, a health bulletin from the state government said. Ten of these 13 Indonesians tested positive for the virus and are undergoing treatment in the hospital. The local contact who has now contracted the virus had the guided Indonesian preachers. After shifting of foreigners to Gandhi hospital, he developed cold, cough and fever and admitted in isolation ward. He tested positive for the virus on Monday, Karimnagar district collector K Shashanka said. More on Covid-19: Your guide to staying safe Editorial: Time to prepare for Stage 3 How difficult it is to maintain 1-metre distance How it is different from seasonal flu and common cold The two more fresh cases that were reported in Telangana were that of a 21-year old man with travel history to France, and that of a 30-year old man with travel history to London. Both are from Hyderabad and their condition is stable, the bulletin said. In Andhra Pradesh, the sixth positive case for Covid-19 is that of a 49-year-old female from Visakhapatnam, who came in close contact with another 65-year-old patient who returned from Saudi Arabia on March 12. While the old man tested positive on March 17, the female who was admitted with symptoms on March 30, tested positive on Sunday night. Both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments announced complete lockdown of their respective states till March 31, in the wake of growing number of cases. Both the states had sealed inter-state borders and shutdown all public transport services. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Coronavirus provides unexpected boost for Kenyan fishermen March 23,2020 | Source: Reuters The coronavirus pandemic has handed Kenyan fishermen an unexpected boon - a rush of customers who now shun imported Chinese frozen fillets in favor of freshly caught fish from Lake Victoria. Kenya bought $23.2 million worth of frozen fish from China in 2018, according to the International Trade Center, almost all of its fish imports. Fishermen have long complained that the cheap imports were strangling local trade. The coronavirus has slowed Chinese imports. Nervous customers have turned to local fish. But Kenya will soon face shortages unless imports from China resume; it produces just over a third of what it consumes. Kenyan fishermen like 38-year-old Maurice Misodhi, whose skin has been weathered by the sun and wind during two decades on the water, have had a bumper month. Based at Dunga Beach in Kisumu, customers want every fish he catches. Misodhi says the Chinese lockdown seemed to have dried up imports of cheaper Chinese fish. As fishermen we can now smile, not because people are suffering from coronavirus, but because we can now sell our fish, and at a good price, he said. The price of a kilo of Nile perch - 250 shillings ($2.50) a month ago - has shot up to 350 shillings. Fish trader Mary Didi usually buys from Chinese suppliers but has now turned to Misodhi. The supply at the Chinese importers has gone down, and many of my customers were also scared of the Chinese fish, thinking they would contract the virus, she said. To keep the business running, I had to turn to fish from the lake. Bob Otieno, chairman of Dunga Beach Management Unit, says sales have shot up. The beach registers a catch of between 1 and 1.5 tonnes of fish each day and sales have gone up from 50% of the catch to 90% in the last two weeks. Previously, fishermen would eat, barter or give away around half their catch. We used to have many fishermen sell their catch at low prices because of competition from the Chinese fish, he said. Kenya produces 180,000 tonnes per year but consumes about 500,000 tonnes, according to 2019 government figures. Christine Adhiambo, the governments assistant director of fisheries for the lake region, said the two biggest importers of Chinese fish had not shipped from China since November and were running down stocks. Kenya could face shortages soon, she said. Kenya cannot satisfy its local fish demand, she said. That is why we heavily rely on supplements from China. 2020 Reuters. All Rights Reserved. Theme(s): Others. Mumbai, March 23 : In the toughest measure taken to fight the coronavirus outbreak so far, the Maharashtra government has imposed curfew in the state, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced here on Monday. The move came a day after he declared a near-total statewide lockdown till March 31 and also implemented prohibitory orders till nagar panchayat levels to combat the spread of COVID-19 which has claimed four lives and infected another 89 in Maharashtra, the highest in India. "The coronavirus spread is at a crucial stage. If we don't take strong steps now, we may face a situation similar to other countries. We have been making repeated appeals, but they seem to have had no impact, so we are forced to implement curfew," Thackeray said in an address to the people of the state. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed China central bank official says too early to talk of financial crisis BEIJING, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Despite recent tumbling in the global financial market in the wake of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, it is still too early to tell if a global financial crisis has arrived, a vice governor of China's central bank said Sunday. Chen Yulu, vice governor of the People's Bank of China (PBOC), noted that a global financial crisis, besides causing continued panic market collapse, usually triggers the bankruptcy of key financial institutions and severe damage to the real economy. Many countries have introduced countermeasures against the market turbulence, and their effects remain to be observed, Chen told a press conference. Both the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the global economy is a common challenge for all, Chen said, calling on all countries to enhance coordination on macro policies including public health and trade as well as fiscal and financial policies. Though China's battle against the COVID-19 outbreak has yet to achieve a final victory, the country is doing its best to help the international community contain the pandemic, he said. The PBOC, for its part, has strengthened policy coordination with international organizations and major central banks while informing central banks of the G20 group and major international financial organizations on the influence of and effective response to the COVID-19 outbreak, he said. China supports international multilateral platforms and institutions such as the G20 and International Monetary Fund (IMF) to play a positive role in policy coordination and crisis relief, so as to effectively contain the global pandemic and keep the global economy and financial markets stable, said Chen. Domestically, Chen said China's financial market has withstood the external shocks and remained highly stable, stressing that the Chinese government has ample policy space and tools to deal with the impact. While participating in international macro-policy coordination, China, as a global financial power, will work to keep the home market stable in accordance with existing principles and policy frameworks, which is the best way to contribute to global financial stability, he said. New Delhi: Madhya Pradesh crisis is likely to come to an end on Monday (March 23) as former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is expected to be elected as BJP legislative party leader, according to Zee Media report. Chouhan is likely to sworn-in as the new Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh in a simple ceremony at the Raj Bhawan, sorces told Zee Media. The BJP, however, has not made any formal announcement in this regard. The party high command has not yet called for a meeting of legislators to formally elect the leader. But Shivraj Singh Chouhan is reportedly the frontrunner for the top post. On March 19, the Supreme Court had ordered the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Speaker to conduct a floor test on Friday, thereby leaving the fate of the 15-month-old Kamal Nath government hanging by a thread after the resignation of 22 Congress MLAs. Following the top court order, Chief Minister Kamal Nath had told ANI, "We will study every aspect of the Supreme Court order --for the conduct of floor test in the Assembly tomorrow, discuss it with our legal experts and make any decision on the basis of their advice." He, however, quit as the chief minister ahead of the floor test. The Governor, Lalji Tandon, asked him to remain in the post till the new leader legislative party is elected. The numbers were stacked heavily against the Kamal Nath government which teetered to brink of collapse after 22 rebel MLAs stated to be supporters of Jyotiraditya Scindia, who quit the Congress in a coordinated revolt on March 10. Scindia later joined the BJP. Notably, these 22 rebel members joined the BJP at the residence of party chief JP Nadda. Scindia was also present there when these leaders were formally welcomed in the BJP fold by Nadda. A senior UK doctor who was diagnosed with coronavirus has described how she beat the bug - with chicken soup, lemonade and paracetamol all playing a part, Mirror.co.uk reported. Dr Clare Gerada, 60, caught the deadly virus after returning from a conference in New York. She was bed-ridden for days at her south London home, but has now recovered, and has explained what it is like to live with coronavirus. Dr Gerada, former head of the Royal College of GPs, said she went to work just a day after returning from New York, and it was then the symptoms started to kick in, with a dry cough and fatigue, although she initially thought it was just because she had only recently been on a long flight. But soon after she was suffering from a sore throat, shivers and a high temperature. Dr Gerada then decided it would not be wise to go back to work, and took to the internet to try and find out more information. She told MailOnline : "So I emailed 111. When I didn't hear back, I went to a testing pod at a local hospital. "I knew it was the coronavirus, as I am never normally ill and the flu season was all but over plus I'd had my jab." After her temperature read at a whopping 102F, Clare's coronavirus experience had begun, and would stay in bed for the next five days - only getting up to use the toilet. And after the five days, her symptoms disappeared apart of intense tiredness, but said three items helped her recover. Despite now being on the other side of youth, I have no underlying health conditions and two paracetamol three times a day and lemonade was all I needed," she said. I had Gods penicillin, chicken soup, which seemed to have a miraculous effect of bringing back my appetite." Clare said coronavirus was the worst illness she has ever had, and could only compare the bug to giving birth. She added: It was painful, and frightening the fear not because I thought I would die but because being unwell is just that, frightening." ELKO Local government is beginning to feel the impact of measures taken to address the coronavirus pandemic. Elko City Council will not meet Tuesday. Future meetings are canceled until further notice, according to Mayor Reece Keener. The City has posted coronavirus information and links on its website. Working together as a community we will strive to minimize the impacts to daily life as we develop strategies to protect the population, including those most vulnerable to severe illness, states one of the releases. Opponents of the Elko Band Councils marijuana dispensary had planned to present petitions to the City Council on Tuesday. City officials are concerned about the impact of the dispensary but they have no control over businesses on tribal land. The Elko portion of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone has been working with Cascade Strategic Investments of Portland, Oregon to open the Newe Cannabis dispensary in a building on the Elko Colony located off Ruby Vista Drive. The dispensary was approved by Gov. Steve Sisolak. The opponents said the Elko Band Council was planning an April 1 opening. No official statements have been released and council members have not returned calls from the press. Marijuana dispensaries were listed among the businesses that could remain open under Sisolaks directive, but they were ordered to close their storefronts on Friday when the governor modified his original announcement. Legal cannabis sales continue but by delivery only. Marijuana sales nationwide have increased in recent weeks since the pandemic was announced. In a recent interview with Oprah Winfrey, Idris Elba and wife Sabrina Dhowre talked about Tom Hanks, the coronavirus and their struggles to fight the deadly disease. Elba recently took it to social media to tell everyone that he tested positive for COVID-19. Dhowre said that on the morning of that interview, she learned that the results of her test also came out positive -- this despite not feeling any of the symptoms associated with the virus. Reality Talks Over COVID-19 Much like millions of people all over the world, Oprah Winfrey is in self-isolation in her home, but this did not stop her from releasing the first episode of her new streaming series devoted to answering all the queries and dispelling the myths about the novel coronavirus. Her first installment features Idris Elba and his wife Sabrina through a FaceTime interview. "COVID-19 has reached a pressure point, and although people have been talking about it for the past two weeks, I really felt as if not everyone knew what was going to come to them. There were a bunch of stories going around. It's a conspiracy! Is it even real?" Elba recalled. The 47-year old actor is currently in quarantine in New Mexico with his wife as he was expected to start filming a new project. Elba revealed that it was only when the test results came out positive that the problem became real for them. "I just had to tell people because I was compelled to tell them that the problem is very real," he added. Elba believes that it is really important to let people know that COVID-19 is a real threat. The "Hobbes and Shaw" actor revealed that he was inspired by what actor Tom Hanks did when they got diagnosed with the coronavirus last week. "Tom Hanks, being in a high-risk category for his age, was on the set of his new film in London when he came out. It was the right thing to do 100%," Elba said. "Film sets can be likened to incubators, which is why I think Tom did the right thing." Elba also revealed that when he found out that he tested positive, he felt the need to share it to the world so that others are made aware of the severity of the situation. As a way to reassure everyone that he was doing well, Elba said: "I feel fine. I've been checking my temperature every day." The "Thor: Ragnarok" actor also shared that he has not had any major symptoms. "I don't know how long I will be in isolation, but I think I will have to get tested again." The silver lining in all these is simple: Elba has got the chance to catch his breath. "From a mental health perspective, isolation has helped me gain focus. I am OK," he said reassuringly. Massive Information Drive In their desire to let people know that anyone could be a victim to the dreaded coronavirus, celebrities young and old have come out to talk about their experience. Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson were the first ones to be diagnosed with the virus. Their coming forward has inspired all the other celebrities to share their stories so that the general public is kept informed. Health professionals are working hard to send out the right information about COVID-19. The goal is not to scare the public, but to inform them of what is to come. Idris Elba expressed his gratitude to couple Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson for sharing their story. The actor only wants his followers to know that at this time of health crisis, learning more while they are at home can help save lives. Press Release Update on Technicolor's General Shareholders' meetingand the impact of Covid-19 Paris (Euronext Paris: TCH, OTCQX: TCLRY) is pleased to announce that Shareholders approved all resolutions at the Ordinary and Extraordinary General Shareholders' Meeting that was held today, presided over by Ms. Anne Bouverot, Chairperson of the Board of Directors. The resolutions were all adopted by more than 98.5% of votes cast and include: Approval of a reverse share split of the company's shares, pursuant to which 27 existing shares with a nominal value of 1 would be exchanged for 1 new share with a nominal value of 27. The Board of Directors decided today that the implementation of the reverse share split shall take place between April 9 and May 9 (reverse split period); Approval of a share capital reduction; Delegation of authority to the Board of Directors to proceed with a Rights Issue of up to 305 million. It is the intention of Technicolor to launch the Rights Issue as soon as market conditions allow this to happen; as soon as market conditions allow this to happen; Ratification of the appointment of Mr. Richard Moat , Chief Executive Officer since November 5, 2019, as a Director; , Chief Executive Officer since November 5, 2019, as a Director; Appointment of Ms. Cecile Frot-Coutaz as a Director, following her appointment as an observer by the Board of Directors in June 2019. The Board of Directors thanks all Shareholders for the confidence expressed by these votes. In consideration of the French Government's measure of confinement and in order to allow a debate of good quality with Shareholders, the Board made the decision to postpone the annual Shareholders' Meeting, initially planned for April 30, 2020, to a date which will be communicated later. Update on Covid-19 Technicolor is closely monitoring the evolution of the Covid-19 pandemic. Its priority is to support Technicolor's customers throughout this difficult period and to ensure the safety of its employees. Restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of the virus currently limit its operations in several markets including France, United Kingdom, India, Canada and the United States. While the company has successfully implemented work from home arrangements to ensure continuity and productivity across the group, including in Production Services, and supply chains in China have resumed activity, supporting Technicolor's Connected Home division, there remains significant uncertainty around the duration and magnitude of the disruption caused by this pandemic. Due to the current challenges associated with assessing and quantifying the full impact of the pandemic at this stage, the Group is hereby suspending the previously issued 2020-2022 financial guidance. The Group remains fully committed to significantly improving its profitability and cash flow generation, and continues to implement its previously announced cost savings measures. Technicolor has already started to work on the expected second stage of its transformation programmes, accelerating cost reductions and efficiency measures. The company plans to provide updated 2020-2022 guidance once there is more clarity around the impact of the pandemic. The planned Rights Issue will place Technicolor in a stronger position to cover its cash needs as well as to pursue its strategic roadmap. Ballot results of the Shareholders' Meeting. ### About Technicolor: www.technicolor.com Technicolor shares are on the Euronext Paris exchange (TCH) and traded in the USA on the OTCQX marketplace (OTCQX: TCLRY). Investor Relations Christophe le Mignan: +33 1 88 24 32 83 Christophe.lemignan@technicolor.com Attachment The Australian Federal Police has interviewed former SAS soldier Ben Roberts-Smith over allegations he kicked an Afghan prisoner off a cliff in a serious development in the long-running saga involving Australias most decorated Afghan veteran. Legal sources confirmed that the federal police recently requested Mr Roberts-Smith to attend a formal interview to respond to allegations made by special forces insiders that he kicked a detainee off a cliff in September 2012. Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith at Remembrance Day commemorations at the Australian War Memorial last year. Credit:AAP Sources with knowledge of the situation say the Victoria Cross recipient recently attended a police interview in Canberra and, as is standard practice, was cautioned that what he said could be used against him if he was ever criminally prosecuted. While the AFP does not comment on investigations, requesting to interview a subject normally comes near the end of an exhaustive probe and after critical witness statements have been collected. About 90 minutes after Mr Roberts-Smith's lawyer, Mark O'Brien, was contacted by The Age and Herald for comment, The Australian's defence writer Paul Maley quoted Mr Roberts-Smith confirming the police interview had taken place, and claiming he had volunteered for it. The transaction is expected to be completed in the next few months subject to customary approvals Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd, a research-led global pharmaceutical company has announced that it has entered into an agreement with Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) for divestment of its VWash brand and other extensions. Under this agreement, the brand and other trademarks, copyrights, know-how associated with Glenmarks VWash business will be transferred to HUL. Glenmark will receive an upfront payment and royalty on sales for 3 years. No employees will be transferred as a part of this agreement. The transaction is expected to be completed in the next few months subject to customary approvals. Glenmark launched VWash, a liquid vaginal wash, as an OTC product in 2013. Sujesh Vasudevan, President India Formulations, Middle East and Africa at Glenmark said, The decision to divest VWash brand is driven by the strategy to focus on our core therapy areas. While Glenmark has been able to establish VWash as a category leader, we are confident that HULsstrong market presence and large distribution network will accelerate future growth of VWash. Glenmarks OTC business will focus on its other leading brands like Candid Powder, Scalpe and introduce new Rx to OTC switches. Queensland will shut its borders from midnight on Wednesday to slow the spread of coronavirus after the Northern Territory, Western Australia, Tasmania and South Australia announced the same move. New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT still have open borders. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the state cabinet's decision on Monday. It comes after cases in the state soared to 319 from 259 last night. Nationally, there are 1,709 cases with seven deaths. Anyone entering Queensland will have to isolate for 14 days. Providers of essential services such as food and oil will likely be exempt. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured) announced the state cabinet has made the decision to seal Queensland off from the rest of Australia Cases in Queensland soared to 319 from 259 last night. Nationally, there are 1,709 cases with seven deaths On Monday afternoon, Health Minister Greg Hunt told Parliament that efforts are under way to double the number of intensive care beds and ventilators in the country amid fears hospitals will soon be overwhelmed. Australia currently has around 2,500 ICU beds, only enough to cover 0.01 per cent of the population at once. Mr Hunt said several Australian manufactures including medical company ResMed have offered to produce ventilators. He also revealed that one million masks are being distributed around the nation today - and there are 300million more on order. There are also 1.5million testing kits, including finger prick tests, on order as the government acknowledges that testing is crucial to slowing the spread of the virus. Australia's pubs, clubs, cafes, gyms and cinemas put up shutters on Monday as severe new restrictions to battle the coronavirus pandemic began. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced 'stage one' restrictions on Sunday night, ordering pubs and licensed premises close for six months. The restrictions also covered places of worship, casinos, nightclubs and registered clubs while restaurants and cafes can operate only for takeaways and deliveries. CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement The drastic move put a thousands of Australians who work in hospitality and entertainment out of a job. Today Treasurer Josh Frydenberg estimated that 1million people in Australia will be put out of work due to the coronavirus fallout. Around 95,000 people tried to apply online for income support at once, causing the MyGov website to crash at 9.40am on Monday. This was up from around 6,500 users at once last week. Mr Morrison has doubled the jobseeker payment with an extra $550 a fortnight to support those who have lost their jobs. He revealed that the Treasury advised him against adopting the UK government's drastic measure of paying 80 per cent of millions of workers' wages because it would take too long to implement. On Monday afternoon, the NRL told almost all staff to take leave immediately as the league faces being shut down by border closures. Staff will take paid annual leave and can accrue negative leave. The AFL has already been called off. Meanwhile, Minister for Industry Karen Andrews said hand sanitiser will be back on shelves soon, after several companies - including Shayne Warne's gin distillery - started making it to combat the high demand. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack during proceedings in the House of Representatives at Parliament House on March 23 The West Australian border will be closed in the coming days and Rottnest Island may be turned into a COVID-19 quarantine zone, Premier Mark McGowan announced on Sunday. Mr McGowan said entry to WA would be restricted via road, rail, air and sea from 1.30pm on Tuesday, with exemptions for essential services and trucking. 'These are extreme steps but these are extreme days,' he told reporters. South Australian Premier Steven Marshall announced that anyone entering the state would be subject to a mandatory 14-day isolation period. The border lockdowns will not affect the states' essential services, including the supply of food. 'The health of South Australians is unquestionably our number one priority and that is why we are acting swiftly and decisively to protect them from the impact of this disease,' Premier Marshall said. 'We do not make this decision lightly but we have no choice'. South Australia's borders will be monitored 24 hours a day and anyone entering the state will be forced to sign a declaration agreeing to self-isolate. State authorities moved to declare a 'major emergency' on Sunday, triggering the shutdown. But Police Commissioner Grant Stevens admitted authorities were limited in their ability to enforce the isolation orders. SA Police have been checking on those who have already been ordered to self-isolate after disembarking international flights. South Australia Premier Steven Marshall (pictured) announced the state will close its borders from 4pm on Tuesday Zdeno Chara and Tom Brady came from distinctly different backgrounds. But during their overlapping long stint in the region, Boston sports two 1977-born future Hall of Famers bonded over their love or winning and dedication to fitness. After Brady signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Friday after 20-years with the Patriots, the Bruins captain, who tuned 43 Wednesday took to Instagram Sunday to wish his friend well. Chara posted: Its with sadness and joy I find myself reflecting on the news of my friend and sports legend @TomBrady moving on from the @Patriots. For New England and its fan base, Toms departure is a major loss to the role he plays in leading the incredible Patriots. His 20 years have brought us all some of the most memorable moments in sports history. His departure leaves us with mixed feelings. We feel a loss but we also hope that he continues to have an outstanding career. Thank you, Tom, for the best 20 years of New England sports memories. Your leadership, athletic achievements and your contributions to Boston will forever be remembered by many generations. I wish you all the best. We will be watching and cheering you on! A worker works on the production line of a silk company in Shiquan county, northwest China's Shaanxi province, March 21, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua] As the ongoing impact of COVID-19 persists across the globe, there are signs of life in Chinas recruitment market after a tough start to the year. According to a recent survey by employment website Zhilian Zhaopin, during the first week after the Spring Festival holiday ended on Feb. 2, job postings by companies on the site in 38 major cities decreased by 71.7% from the same period last year, and the resumes posted by job seekers dropped by 83.3%. However, as the outbreak becomes contained and businesses start returning to work, the year-on-year decline in job postings and the number of resumes have slowed to 34.4% and 38.9%, respectively, in the sixth week after Feb. 2. The survey also shows that traditional training institutions, and hotels and restaurants were the most affected at the start of 2020. Between the first and sixth weeks after Feb. 2, the increase in job postings from these two types of businesses were 36% and 74%, respectively, the lowest among all types of businesses during the same period. Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics at a press conference on March 16 shows that the surveyed unemployment rate in China's urban areas stood at 6.2% in February, which was up 1 percentage point from the previous month. NBS spokesperson Mao Shengyong attributed the rise of surveyed urban unemployment rate to the decreased demands for workers amid the epidemic. He stressed that employment will continue to improve as companies resume production. Meanwhile, certain sectors saw less impact from the outbreak than others. The Job postings for accounting, finance, human resources, and law positions in the first week after Feb. 2 accounted for 6.18% of all job postings during that week, which was 1.5 percentage points higher than the same period last year. Job postings for real estate and construction positions increased by 1.46 percentage points year on year, which the report attributed to the need to build healthcare infrastructure for treating patients amid the outbreak. College graduates are experiencing more difficulty to find jobs this year as their number reaches a record-breaking 8.74 million, while opportunities and openings have either dwindled or been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak. In order to mitigate the impact on employment, the Ministry of Education has announced measures to ensure job creation, and facilitate the employment of college graduates. A recruiter is testing a video interview system for online campus recruitment. [Photo/Xinhua] A number of leading Chinese tech companies have adopted "contactless" recruitment activities to avoid people gatherings and reduce the risk of infection. Perfect World Games, a Chinese video game developer, started its spring campus recruitment in mid-March. Applicants to the company can complete all application-related procedures online, and qualified candidates would be interviewed over the internet. According to Zhilian's survey, over 52% of the surveyed college graduates said they hope the site would provide online video-interviewing services, while more than 80% of the employers said they would use video-interviewing services. As of March 18, a total of 147 online job fairs had been held on Zhilian.com, which is expected to post more than 270,000 job openings from over 70,000 companies. The usage of video interview saw a week-to-week growth rate of 123% on average since Feb. 10. In addition, for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the Chinese government has launched a series of policies, including subsidies as well as cuts and exemptions of tax and social insurance payments, to help them through the epidemic and lower the unemployment rate. Compared to the first week after Feb. 2, SMEs that have fewer than 100 workers saw the highest growth of employment in the sixth week. Zhilian's survey shows that the number of job openings posted by companies with 20 to 99 employees increased by 140.34%, and the companies with fewer than 20 people grew by 131. 17%. "In a bid to stabilize employment, we need combined efforts from the government, companies, and job seekers themselves," said Pan Helin, executive director of the Digital Economy Academy of the Zhongnan University of Economics and Law. Pan said job seekers could consider taking part in online vocational training programs to further improve their skills and meet market demand. Big data makes big promises when it comes to providing insights into human behavior and health. The problem is how to harness the information it provides in an efficient manner. An international team of researchers has proposed a microbiome search-based method, via Microbiome Search Engine (MSE), to analyze the wealth of available health data to detect and diagnose human diseases. They published their method on March 17, 2020 in mSystems, a peer-reviewed open access journal of the American Society for Microbiology. "Microbiome-based disease classification depends on well-validated, disease-specific models or markers," said Dr. SU Xiaoquan, from Single-Cell Center at Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). "However, current models are lacking that information for many diseases." In addition, SU said, multiple diseases can share the same biomarkers - the microorganisms that indicate something out of the ordinary, such as a mutated protein found in cancer cells, making it harder for researchers to correctly classify each one. To combat these issues for disease detection and classification, SU and his joint software team from Single-Cell Center, QIBEBT and Center for Microbiome Innovation (CMI), University of California at San Diego (UCSD), developed a new search approach based on the whole microbial community a human body contains, collectively called the microbiome. Every person has a microbiome, even if they do not have a disease. Traditional models compare samples from healthy subjects to those from people known to have specific diseases. With the new method, by searching based on the specific outlier, rather than known biomarkers that can code for several diseases, the researchers can identify the microbiome state associated with the disease across different cohorts or sequencing platforms. In this new approach, the research team employs a two-step process to identify disease. First, they search a baseline database of healthy individuals to detect any specific microbiome outlier novelty - or any known anomaly that differentiates the microbiome from a healthy state. They then search for that outlier in a database of disease-specific examples. "Our strategy's precision, sensitivity and speed outperform model-based approaches," SU said. The results of the search can provide quick predictions to help clinicians diagnose and treat diseases. "This search-based strategy shows promise as an important first step in microbiome big data-based diagnosis," according to Rob Knight, Director of CMI and UCSD. "In light of the general shift of microbiome-sequencing focus from healthy to diseased hosts, the findings here advocate for adding more baseline samples from across different geographic locations." XU Jian, Director of Single-Cell Center, QIBEBT, agrees. Next, the joint Sino-USA team is working towards encouraging their colleagues to join a coordinated effort to continue expanding the microbiome database, to include every population and every ecosystem on the globe. "With Microbiome Search Engine, performing a search can become as standard and enabling for new microbiome studies as performing a BLAST against your new DNA sequence is today." XU said. ### This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the National Health and Medical Research Council. The Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) was founded in 2006. The main headquarters of the institute is located in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China. The institute is comprised of a team of over 500 staff members, 207 graduate students, and 64 post-docs. QIBEBT is one of China's primary national research institutions for renewable energy and green materials, focusing mainly on research and development of the resources, technologies, products and processes for bio-based energy and materials. QIBEBT is devoted to providing systematic and sustainable solutions to China's bioenergy needs by integrating science, technology, and engineering in the fields of industrial biology, green chemical technology, and process engineering. March 23 : Kriti Sanon has participated in the janta curfew on Sunday, called upon by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fight COVID-19. Modi had also urged people to cheer the doctors, nurses and other medical staff by clapping hands or making sound with some utensils. The Panipat actress took to her Instagram handle and shared a video, where we can see Kriti along with sister Nupur Sanon and mom Geeta Sanon, making sound with plates and spoons and bells, as they cheered the real heros, who have been working day and night to keep us safe from coronavirus menace. Kriti has also posted a poem she had written sometime back, which seemed to be quite apt at the time when the entire world is facing the coronavirus breakout. Youve been running so fast Through endless wants That slowing down seems tough. Its a mirage youre chasing For my love, It is never really enough So hold onto what calms your soul For everything is temporary Hang by the moments that feel alive Uncomplicate and just BE, Kriti wrote. STEPANAKERT, MARCH 23, ARMENPRESS. The Foreign Ministry of Artsakh commented on the news on the U.S. suspending of funding for The HALO Trust projects in Artsakh. Armenpress presents the Artsakh MFAs full comment: Question: How would you comment on the information about the U.S. suspension of funding for the projects of The HALO Trust international NGO in Artsakh? Answer: The USAID funding for the humanitarian demining programs of The HALO Trust NGO in Artsakh was implemented in accordance with the planned schedule and budget, which expired in 2020. However, humanitarian demining work in Artsakh is not complete yet, and mine hazards for the population of Artsakh remain. Humanitarian demining is essential for the people of Artsakh, as it ensures the security and mobility of the civilian population as well as creates conditions for economic and social activity. In this context, it is regrettable that the decision to halt funding for the project has been made. However, it should be noted that the U.S. Congress continues the discussions on the U.S. Foreign Appropriations Bill for the next fiscal year, and 75 Congressmen have addressed a letter to the leadership of the Congressional Appropriations Committee, calling for 2021 budget to envisage funding for the continuation of demining activities in Artsakh. At the same time, representatives of the U.S. leadership have stated that they are considering the possibility of implementing other projects in Artsakh. We are hopeful that the U.S. Government will continue to support the implementation of other programs aimed at development and solving humanitarian issues in Artsakh. We would also like to use this opportunity to express our gratitude to the U.S. people and Government for their continued assistance rendered to Artsakh for many years, thanks to which numerous projects have been implemented. Health Minister Robin Swann has said that he believes forced social distancing and the closure of non-essential shops will be introduced imminently across the UK. Mr Swann said he believed the measures were necessary after large numbers of people ignored the Government's advice to self isolate over the weekend. Parks and beaches across the UK were filled with people over the weekend, Belfast's Nutts Corner Market went ahead as normal on Sunday despite calls from politicians for the market to be cancelled. Mr Swann also warned that nobody in Northern Ireland is immune from catching the coronavirus after revealing a third of 128 cases are people under the age of 44. The health minister said those who ignored the social-distancing guidance were "irresponsible". "It was selfish, people are not weighing up the seriousness of the situation we are in," he told BBC Talkback ahead of a Cobra meeting. Speaking about the worst case scenario of 15,000 deaths he said: "If people don't help us help them that's really where we are going." Mr Swann said legislation introduced in Westminster tomorrow would give Northern Ireland the power to act independently if necessary and he wouldn't hesitate to use it. "This is not only a virus that affects the old or the elderly, from our stats here in Northern Ireland at this minute in time over a third of those who have tested positive for Covid-19 are under the age of 44," he said. "A third are between the ages of 49-69, so this is not solely a virus that affects the elderly, this affects everybody across all generations, across all ages and across all communities so there is nobody out there who is going to be immune to this. "There is nobody out there who doesn't have a part to play in stopping spreading this virus." Mr Swann said tougher measures were needed as people were not following the advice. "I think we're going to be looking at enforced social distancing and the closure of non-essential shops," the UUP MLA said. Mr Swann said fines for people who ignored the measures were being considered. "I don't think at this time we can take anything off the table to drive home to people about how serious their actions and their responsibilities are at this minute in time," he said. Asked if he expected the new regulations to be introduced on Monday Mr Swann said: "We could be moving at that speed because what we see across the rest of the UK and Europe is that Covid-19 is moving at that speed". He said if people were forced to isolate quickly there was a chance of "slowing down the infection rate". "I don't think at this time we can take anything off the table to drive home to people about how serious their actions and their responsibilities are at this minute in time," Mr Swann said. By PTI MUMBAI: Aviation regulator DGCA on Monday came out with a slew of measures for airlines and airports on social distancing, which include ensuring adequate space between passengers and check-in counters and leaving one seat vacant between two passengers, among others. Besides maintaining adequate spacing at check-in counters between passengers (minimum one metre) and also between individual counters, airlines also have to ensure availability of adequate staff for guiding the passengers at check-in counters and during security checks, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) stated in its circular to all scheduled airlines in the country and airport operators. Airlines have also been asked to ensure that boarding is done in a manner to avoid bunching of passengers at any time and also ensure adequate spacing between passengers in boarding lines. According to the circular, the seat allocation at the time of check-in to should done to in a manner to ensure that the seat between two passengers is kept empty and the cabin crew has to maintain adequate distance while serving the passengers. At the same time, airport operators have been advised to ensure adequate check-in and security counters to avoid congestion and also sufficient staff at these places to guide passengers to avoid bunching. The airport operators have also to ensure sanitizers are provided at all prominent locations and carry out repeated public address announcements to sansitize passengers and airport staff, it said. Democrats object to bill, saying it would benefit companies more than hospitals, healthcare workers, cities and states. Partisan battles in the United States Senate stopped a $1 trillion-plus coronavirus response bill from advancing, but talks continued over Democrats demands for more funding for medical care and state and local efforts to combat the pandemic. The measure faltered after it failed to get the necessary 60 votes in the 100-member chamber to clear a procedural hurdle after days of negotiations, with 47 senators voting in favour and 47 against it. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urged Democrats to stop their obstruction, saying it was delaying aid and hurting financial markets. Democrats decried the Republican proposal as prioritising the needs of Wall Street and corporate America over those of average people. The bill is Congress third effort to blunt the economic toll of a disease that has killed at least 420 people in the US and sickened more than 33,000, leading governors to order nearly a third of the nations population to stay at home and putting much business activity on hold. The bill includes financial aid for regular Americans, small businesses and critically affected industries, including airlines. Democrats raised objections to the Senate bill throughout the day, with top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer saying it had many, many problems and would benefit corporate interests at the expense of hospitals, healthcare workers, cities and states. The failure of the measure to move forward sends Democrats and Republicans back to the bargaining table. The speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, said Democrats in that chamber will begin crafting an alternative bill. After the vote, Schumer said more money was needed for community health centres, nursing homes, masks, ventilators, personal protective equipment and aid to state and local governments. Schumer added that changes to the legislation are being made even as we speak but there still were too many problems in the legislation. He said he thought those problems could be overcome in the next 24 hours. Markets battered On the Senate floor, a visibly angry McConnell accused Democrats of obstruction. If we arent able to act tomorrow, it will be because of our colleagues on the other side continuing to dicker when the country expects us to come together and address this problem, he said. Policymakers were mindful that a failure to reach a deal on Sunday could batter already reeling financial markets on Monday. US stock futures, Asian cash share markets and oil prices plunged in early Monday trade after the legislative impasse. But Democratic Senator Joe Manchin said would not rush Democrats into a deal they do not want. Markets always come back, he said. In a sign of the diseases spread, Republican Senator Rand Paul on Sunday said he had tested positive. Republican Senators Mike Lee and Mitt Romney said they would self-quarantine as a result. They are very close At a White House briefing on Sunday, President Donald Trump said he still had hope that a massive aid package could pass Congress swiftly. They are very close to getting a deal done, Trump said. So Id be surprised if they didnt and if they dont, I think frankly the American people will be very upset with the Democrats because the Republicans are ready to approve a deal. The only reason a deal couldnt get done is pure politics. Vice President Mike Pence said 254,000 Americans have been tested for the virus and slightly more than 30,000 have tested positive. Trump said he had activated the National Guard in the three states hardest hit by the outbreak: California, New York and Washington. The Senate bills controversial provisions included those aimed at helping corporations, rather than workers, as well as those allowing the government to delay disclosing which firms, states or municipalities had received aid for up to six months. Former Vice President Joe Biden, the leading Democratic candidate to challenge Trump in the November US presidential election, blasted the presidents handling of the crisis. President Trump neglected, minimized, and lied about this virus, Biden said in a statement. Stop lying and start acting. Use the full extent of your authorities, now, to ensure that we are producing all essential goods and delivering them. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told Fox News Sunday the package would include loans for small businesses, direct deposits that could give an average family of four $3,000, and up to $4 trillion in liquidity for the US Federal Reserve to help businesses get through the next 90 to 120 days. A Republican-drafted bill seen by Reuters news agency gives the US Treasury the authority to provide up to $500bn in loans, loan guarantees and other investments in eligible businesses, states and municipalities during the crisis. Of this, up to $50bn could provide loans and loan guarantees for passenger airlines, $8bn for cargo air carriers and $17bn for businesses critical to national security. The remaining $425bn would be available for loans, loan guarantees and other investments for the Federal Reserve to provide liquidity to help the financial system lend to businesses, states and municipalities. 10,473 active COVID-19 cases in Canada: 145,415 diagnoses, 9,228 deaths and 125,714 recoveries (as of Sept. 21, 6:30 p.m. ET) Alberta - 1,459 active cases (16,739 total cases, including 256 deaths, 15,024 resolved) British Columbia - 1,987 active cases (8,208 total cases, 227 deaths, 5,972 resolved) Manitoba - 363 active cases (1,608 total cases, 18 deaths, 1,227 resolved) New Brunswick - 3 active cases (196 cases, 2 deaths, 191 resolved) Newfoundland and Labrador - 1 active case (272 total cases, 3 deaths, 268 resolved) Northwest Territories - 0 active cases (5 total cases, 5 resolved) Nova Scotia - 0 active cases (1,086 total cases, 65 deaths 1,021 resolved) Ontario - 3,299 active cases (47,274 total cases, 2,829 deaths, 41,146 resolved) Prince Edward Island - 1 active case (57 total cases, 56 resolved) Quebec - 3,193 active cases (68,128 total cases, 5,804 deaths, 59,131 resolved) Saskatchewan - 145 active cases (1,814 total cases, 24 deaths, 1,645 resolved) Yukon - 0 active cases (15 total cases, 15 resolved) Nunavut - 0 active cases (4 false positive cases) CFB Trenton - 0 active cases (13 total cases, 13 resolved) Authorities have been working to contain the spread of COVID-19, with Canadians having contracted the virus from travel to other countries, human-to-human transmission, as well as community spread. Of the over 145,000 cases that been diagnosed nationwide, at least 125,000 of them have been resolved, meaning those people are no longer considered infectious. As daily cases of COVID-19 start to increase across the country, Yahoo News Canada will focus on reporting active cases to put into context our current situation. Timeline of coronavirus cases in Canada September 2020 Sept. 21 Quebec in second wave of COVID-19 as it reports its most new cases since May Dr. Horacio Arruda, Quebecs director of public health, said on Monday that he is very, very, very concerned about the rise in cases in the province, after 586 new patients were identified. Story continues Due to the rise in cases over recent weeks, Arruda believes Quebec is now in the next stage of its COVID-19 pandemic. We are in the second wave, at the beginning said Arruda in French on Monday. The situation is serious. The situation is serious everywhere in Quebec. The 586 cases are the most in a 24-hour stretch since 641 cases were announced May 27. Its also now the 10th straight day that it has reported more than 200. The last time Quebec had a similar stretch was in late-May to early-June; since then it has enjoyed multiple stretches where it consistently reported fewer than 100 daily cases as it contained the spread of COVID-19 within the province. On Monday, Montreal, Quebec City and the Chaudiere-Appalaches region were moved to the provinces orange stage, the second highest on its COVID-19 alert system. Restrictions, such as gathering limits, are affected depending on where a region is on the colour-coded scale. Arruda said its highly probable that regions will move from orange to red (the highest alert level) but there is still time to flatten the curve and move back to yellow and green. If we want to have a Christmas that is a bit normal, people have to cooperate, said Arruda. Its major. Throughout the pandemic, Quebec has been Canadas worst-hit province. Along with owning the biggest death toll (5,804) of any jurisdiction, it has the most active cases per 100,000 residents. Ontario is the only province with more active cases, after it announced 425 new patients on Monday, the most in a 24-hour stretch since June 2. Of the most recent group of 586 cases in Quebec, Montreal reported the most with 219, followed by the Quebec City (92), Monteregie (76), Outaouais (31), Estrie (21) Chaudiere-Appalaches (50), Laurentides (39) and Laval (20) health regions. Quebecs testing numbers are reflective of its output from two days prior. Most recently, it completed 23,484 tests for COVID-19, as it continues to push its capacity. In the provinces latest 24-hour stretch, no one has died, but the province added three fatalities and retracted one from previous dates, setting its death toll at 5,804. Three-hundred and thirty-five patients have also recently recovered, which means there are now 3,193 active cases in the province. Over the weekend, the provinces police investigation into bars and restaurants resulted in them checking 2,206 establishments. Ninety fines were distributed and 1,500 warnings, for matters such as not respecting physical distancing requirements or consuming alcohol after the legal hours. Throughout Quebec schools, there are 392 active cases among students across public and private schools and 93 among staff, as of its most current information from Friday evening. One-hundred and nine students have recovered as well as 38 staff members. So far, at least 235 class bubbles have been sent home and asked to learn remotely, up by 46 since the last report. Of the provinces 3,089 schools, 334 of them have had a case of COVID-19, up by 62. Two more cases of transmission within Alberta schools, six more outbreaks Albertas chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw announced on Monday that health officials have identified two more schools where transmission likely occurred within the learning institution. The first case of transmission within a school setting was announced on Friday by Hinshaw, meaning that one individuals reason for infection is believed to be linked to another member of the school. The two most recent schools where transmission likely occurred are Vimy Ridge School in Edmonton and Springfield Elementary School in Peace River. As I stressed on Friday, this is not unexpected, and is not a cause for alarm, said Hinshaw. As we have seen transmission in other settings, we will see some cases where this happens in classrooms. Six new school outbreaks have also been identified since Hinshaws update on Friday, for a total of 19. An outbreak is declared when there are two or or more confirmed cases in individuals who were at the school within a 14-day time period. That is a very low number to reach and is not an indication of uncontrolled spread, said Hinshaw. Two schools have at least five cases and have been placed on Watch: St. Wilfrid Elementary School and Vimy Ridge School. So far, 81 schools in Alberta have had at least one COVID-19 patient among students and staff, with 126 total cases between them. Whenerver, theres a case, all teachers and classmates of the patient are required to self-isolate at home for 14 days. Hinshaw said that five school alerts have already ended, allowing students and staff to return to school. In each case, there was no sign of transmission that resulted from the potential exposure. Hinshaw said that only three per cent of schools in the province have had a COVID-19 exposure within the first three weeks of the fall semester. Of those schools, in school transmission has only been identified in about three per cent of them. We will continue to monitor closely as always, but this is a positive start, said Hinshaw. The provinces chief medical officer continued to note that its expected that the province will see cases in schools as long as theres transmission in the community. In mid-April, the province saw its general COVID-19 peak, but also the most cases among school aged children, despite everyone being under lockdown. What's really critical for schools is that they don't become a place where transmission happens and spread happens quite broadly, said Hinshaw. Our kids are best served by education in person. And that has an overall benefit to their health much bigger than just the benefit of maintaining protection from COVID-19. On Monday, Hinshaw also announced that the provinces labs identified 119 new cases between Friday and Saturday, 102 between Saturday and Sunday and 137 between Sunday leading to Monday. One more person has also died. The victim was a patient at the Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary, where an outbreak has been declared. So far, 14 patients and four staff members across three different units have now tested positive for the virus in connection to the outbreak. Three-hundred and twenty-two more patients have also recovered throughout Alberta, which now has 1,459 active cases. Of those currently infected individuals, 747 of them are in the Edmonton zone and 462 are in the Calgary zone. Ontario once again reports its most new daily cases since early June Ontario reported 425 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, the most in a 24-hour stretch since June 2. Its now the third time over the past four days that it has reported more than 400 cases. Its also the 11th straight day Ontario has exceeded the 200-case mark; before the recent stretch, the province had not posted over 200 cases since June 29. Of the most recent cases, which were identified after 31,753 completed tests, 175 of them are in Toronto, 84 in Peel, 60 in Ottawa, 20 in York, 14 in Durham, 13 in Waterloo and 12 in Halton. The remaining 27 public health units reported fewer than 10, while 15 of them reported no new cases at all. Eighteen new cases were identified in Ontario schools, for a total of 90. Of the recent group of cases, eight involve students, four involve teachers, while the other six have not yet been identified by the Ministry of Health. In total, there are now 75 schools that have had a case of COVID-19. Two more people have died and 178 have recovered in the provinces latest 24-hour stretch. There are now 3,299 active cases throughout the province, the most in all Canadian jurisdictions, and the most in Ontario since June 10. Toronto leads the way with 1,054 currently infected patients, followed by 709 in Peel, 505 in Ottawa and 288 in York. None of the other 31 public health units have more than 110. Updates from the rest of Canada Nova Scotia reported no new cases on Monday, as it remains the only province with no currently infected patients. Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island continue to have one active case each. New Brunswick reported two new cases on Monday. Both involve individuals between 20-29 years old in the Moncton region. They are both related to travel and linked to previously identified patients. There are now three active cases in New Brunswick. Two more people have died in WInnipeg, increasing Manitobas COVID-19-related death toll to 18. The recent victims include a man in his 80s in the Southern health region and a woman in her 80s in the Prairie Mountain health region. Twenty-two new cases were also identified in the provinces latest 24-hour stretch, in the Winnipeg (16), Southern (three), Prairie Mountain (two), and Interlake-Eastern (one) health regions. On Monday, Manitoba's chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin expressed concern over the rise in cases in Winnipeg. He said that some people have been going to many different locations while symptomatic. Of the provinces 363 active cases, 284 of them are in Winnipeg. Seven new cases were identified in Saskatchewan throughout the Saskatoon (five), Regina (one) and South East (one) zones. Three of the cases in Saskatoon are associated with the Brandt Industries workplace outbreak, which has seen a total of 17 linked cases. Two more people have recovered in the provinces latest 24-hour stretch, which leaves 145 active cases throughout Saskatchewan. Of those currently infected individuals, 27 are in communal living settings, while 76 are in its epicentre of Saskatoon. British Columbia provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry reported that over the weekend labs identified 121 new cases between Friday and Saturday, 117 between Saturday and Sunday and 128 between Sunday leading to Monday, for a total of 366. Over the same stretch, 175 more people have recovered and four have died. It means there are now a record-high 1,987 active cases in the province. There are 3,233 people who are self-isolating and are being actively monitored by B.C. public health, since they were in contact with a known COVID-19 patient. Henry said there have been a number of exposures in the school setting, but they are mostly very low risk. For example, an infected patient was in the learning institution for a short period of time; Henry said these exposure situations have usually been among adults, such as staff members. At the moment, there have been no clusters, outbreaks or transmission events in the school setting that have been identified by health officials. All of British Columbias health regions are expected to provide a full list of exposures, but Vancouver Coastal Health has recently come under fire for not providing their complete info. As a result, its not possible to paint a full picture of the situation in B.C. schools. Sept. 20 First elementary school in Ontario shuts down due to COVID-19 infections An elementary school in Ottawa has closed down after two students and two staff members tested positive for COVID-19, forcing it to temporarily shut down, according to CBC. Monsignor Paul Baxter Catholic School, in Ottawa's Barrhaven neighbourhood, is the first elementary school in Ontario to close due to the virus. On Sept. 16, Fellowes High School in Pembroke, Ont., was the first Ontario learning institution in general to shut down, after three staff members tested positive for the virus. The third case was linked to the first two. "Please know that we take our direction from Ottawa Public Health," Mark Kennedy, principal of Monsignor Paul Baxter, said in a letter to parents and guardians, which was obtained by CBC. "We have been working closely with OPH since we learned of our first confirmed positive test result of COVID-19." Parents with children at Monsignor Paul Baxter Catholic School in Ottawas Barrhaven neighbourhood were notified on Saturday about the closure. (Credit: Patrick Louiseize/Radio-Canada) Monsignor Paul Baxter Catholic School is expected to stay closed for about 14 days, according to the respective school board, while students are being encouraged learn online while at home. As of Ontarios latest update on Friday morning, there have been 60 schools so far that have reported a case of COVID-19 among staff or students. There are 72 total cases, with 25 among students and 22 among staff. The remaining 25 have not yet been identified by the Ministry of Health. Updated statistics are expected on Monday. Quebec once again records its largest increase in daily cases since May Quebec health officials announced 462 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, the most in a 24-hour stretch since 530 cases were announced May 30. It comes a day after Canadas worst-hit province announced 427 new cases, while its now the ninth straight day that it has reported more than 200. The last time Quebec had a similar stretch was in early late-May to early-June; since then it has enjoyed multiple stretches where it consistently reported fewer than 100 daily cases as it contained the spread of COVID-19. Of the most recent group of 462 cases, Montreal reported the most with 160, followed by the Quebec City (92), Monteregie (58), Laval (31), Outaouais (22), Estrie (21) and Chaudiere-Appalaches (19) regions. According to Radio-Canada, the Quebec government on Sunday is expected to reduce the size of private gatherings and impose new restrictions on restaurants and bars in its two biggest cities, due to their concerning case trends. Montreal, Quebec City and the Chaudiere-Appalaches region, which is south of Quebec City, will reportedly be placed on moderate alert. It means theyll be moved to the orange level (the second-highest) on its new colour-coded alert system, which categorizes the danger posed by COVID-19 in a respective region. Quebecs testing numbers are reflective of its output from two days prior. Most recently, it completed a record-high 29,006 tests for COVID-19, as it continues to push its capacity. In the provinces latest 24-hour stretch, one more person has died, while the province also added four fatalities to its death toll (5,802), involving victims who passed away between Sept. 13-18. Three-hundred and six patients have also recently recovered, which means there are now 2,944 active cases in the province. Updates from the rest of Canada Ontario reported 365 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, which breaks its two-day streak of reporting more than 400 cases. However, its now the 10th straight day Ontario has exceeded the 200-case mark; before the recent stretch, the province had not posted over 200 cases since June 29. The most recent cases were identified after officials completed a record-high 40,127 tests for the virus, leading to a 0.9 per cent positivity rate (one of the highest since June). One-hundred and thirty cases were identified in Toronto, 108 in Peel, 38 in York, 24 in Halton, 20 in Waterloo, 19 in Durham and 14 in Ottawa. The remaining 27 public health units reported fewer than 10, while 13 reported no new cases at all. In Ontarios most recent 24-hour stretch, a health-care worker has died, while 191 patients have recovered. There are now 3,054 active cases in the province, the most of any jurisdiction in Canada, and the most in Ontario since June 11. Nova Scotia reported no new cases on Sunday, as it remains the only province with no currently infected patients. One more person has recovered in Newfoundland and Labrador, which now has one active case. There also still remains one currently infected patient in both New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Twenty-nine new cases were identified in Manitoba throughout the Winnipeg (23), Prairie Mountain (three), Interlake-Eastern (two) and and Southern (one) health regions. Five additional patients have recovered, which means there are now 354 active cases in the province. Winnipeg is home to 275 of the provinces currently infected patients, as its worrisome case trend continues. In a press release, Manitoba health officials said that theyve notified parents about a possible exposure to COVID-19 at the Munroe Early Childhood Education Centre Preschool at 505 Chalmers Ave. in Winnipeg on Sept. 14 in the morning and afternoon. All close contacts have been identified, while the centre has closed off areas that were used by the infected patient. Public Health has also released a list of four other recent potential exposure warnings in the public, which are all in Winnipeg. In the latest 24-hour stretch in Saskatchewan, 20 new cases were identified in the Regina (10), Saskatoon (seven) and South East (one) zones, while the location of the final case is pending. The cases in Saskatoon are linked to the outbreak at Brandt Industries, which has had 14 cases so far, according to a press release by officials. Since one more person has recovered since Saturday, there are now 140 active cases in Saskatchewan; 27 of them are in communal living settings and 70 are in its epicentre Saskatoon. Saskatchewan Health Authority is also notifying the public about a list of potential COVID-19 exposures at various Saskatoon, Prince Albert and Waskesiu businesses between Sept. 10-18. Sept. 19 Ontario extends gathering restrictions for the entire province following another 400+ cases Premier Doug Ford announced on Saturday that the entire province of Ontario will now have to abide by new restrictions, which limit informal gatherings. Previously, gathering limits were set at 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors, but have now been brought down to 10 and 25, respectively, for the next 28 days. The restrictions were first put in place for hotspots Toronto, Peel and Ottawa on Friday, but have now been extended after the province recorded 407 new cases on Saturday the most in a 24-hour stretch since June 2. It also comes a day after Ontario recorded 401 cases on Friday, Weve seen alarming growth in the number of COVID cases in Ontario, said Ford on Saturday. Folks, the alarm bells are ringing. Ontario now has the most active cases throughout Canada with 2,881, followed by 2,793 currently infected patients in Quebec, which recorded 427 new cases on Saturday the most in a 24-hour stretch since May 30. Ontarios active case count continues to rise at an alarming rate, considering there were 1,345 infected patients throughout the province two weeks ago (Sept. 5). Saturday marks the ninth straight day that Ontario has exceeded the 200-case mark. Before the recent stretch, the province had not posted over 200 cases since June 29. Too much of it is being tied to people who arent following the rules, people who think it's OK to hold parties, carrying on as if things are back to normal. They aren't. ... We can't have these wild parties right now. It's just way, way too risky. For those who organize a gathering that exceeds the new limit, they can face a minimum fine of $10,000 under the current emergency orders. If you're caught going to one of these parties, you can get slapped with a $750 fine, said Ford. These new restrictions do not apply to events held in facilities such as movie theatres, restaurants, banquet halls, places of worship, gyms, or convention centres. However, Ford cautions against people who are currently joining political protests across the country. Over the past four months, Canadians have joined protests to demand racial equality and to shed light on police brutality against marginalized communities. Others have also protested against COVID-19 restrictions that have been put in place by various levels of government. Everyone has to follow the same rules, there can't be exceptions. You can't be going out there guys, let's use common sense, said Ford. We have to make sure we get our arms around this and everyone else to pitch in, so do not go out there to these massive protests. That would be dangerous for the community. The most recent 407 cases were identified after the provinces labs completed a record-high 38,940 tests for COVID-19. The one per cent positivity rate is still one of the highest Ontario has recorded in months. Of the most recent patients, 218 of them are among those 20-39 years old, the most of any age group. There were also 72 cases among those 40-59, and 72 involving people 19 years old or younger. One-hundred and twenty-nine were identified in Toronto, followed by 94 in Peel, 55 in Ottawa, 28 in York, 18 in Halton, 14 each in Waterloo and Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph, 12 in Hamilton, 11 in Simcoe-Muskoka and 10 in Middlesex-London. The other 24 public health units reported fewer than 10 cases, while 15 of them reported no new cases at all. I think the recommendation to go province wide was really precautionary, said associate chief medical officer of health Dr. Barbara Yaffe on Saturday. The increases are happening, particularly in certain dense urban areas, but there have been indications of small increases elsewhere. And we are trying to avert a further increase as much as possible. Ontarios associate chief medical officer of health said that you can get as close youd like to the people who are in your social circle of 10. But if youre with people who are not in that circle, you need to maintain a six-foot distance or wear a mask, such as now at gatherings of 10 indoors and 25 outdoors. Along with the most recent 407 new cases on Saturday, one more person has died in the provinces latest 24-hour stretch, which increases the death toll to 2,826. Quebec records its largest increase in daily cases since May Quebec health officials have identified 427 new cases of COVID-19, the most in a 24-hour stretch since 530 cases were announced May 30. Its now the eighth straight day that it has reported more than 200 cases. The last time Canadas worst-hit province had a similar stretch was in early June, and since then it has also enjoyed stretches where it consistently reported fewer than 100 daily cases. The rapid growth in cases in some areas is worrying, said health minister Christian Dube in a tweet on Saturday. Of the most recent group of 427 cases, Montreal reported the most with 128, followed by Quebec City (60), the Chaudiere-Appalaches region (36), Laval (34) and the Lower Saint Lawrence region (15). According to The Canadian Press, a major COVID-19 testing operation is underway in Quebecs Bas-Saint-Laurent region, following positive cases that were identified at a pork factory. Four-hundred and fifty employees at a slaughterhouse, Aliments Asta, are now being tested. Quebecs testing numbers are reflective of its output from two days prior. Most recently, it completed a record-high 28,442 tests for COVID-19, as it continues to push its capacity. In the provinces latest 24-hour stretch, two more people have died, while the province also added three fatalities to its death toll (5,797), involving victims who passed away between Sept. 11-17. Two-hundred and seventy-two patients have also recovered, which means there are now 2,793 active cases in the province. Exposure alert for popular Toronto nightclub after 4 patrons test positive Toronto Public Health (TPH) is warning of a potential COVID-19 exposure for patrons and staff who visited a popular nightclub venue in the city. Four patrons who were at NOIR inside REBEL Entertainment Complex on Sept. 11, between 10:30 p.m. and 2 a.m., have tested positive. Anyone who was at the venue at the same time may have been exposed to the virus. Based on the information provided in the venues contact tracing logs for staff and patrons, TPH is following up with all known close contacts, who will be instructed to self-isolate for 14 days and to go for testing. Everyone who was at the venue during Sept. 11 between 10:30 p.m. and 2 a.m. is being asked to monitor themselves for symptoms until Sept. 25. These individuals should make a particular effort to keep a six-foot distance from other people, wear a mask in public spaces, and wash their hands frequently, said a press release by TPH. They should also limit contact with others, especially those in health care settings, seniors, and/or other vulnerable populations. Upon inspection on Sept. 18, TPH found REBEL Entertainment Complex to be in compliance with all reopening protocols for nightclubs. Canadas Conservative leader tests positive for COVID-19, prompting Quebec premier to get tested Federal Conservative leader Erin O'Toole, left, and Quebec Premier Francois Legault get set to start their meeting in Montreal on Sept. 14, 2020. (Credit: The Canadian Press/Ryan Remiorz) Conservative leader Erin OToole has been diagnosed with COVID-19, after he and his family were tested for the virus. "He is very relieved that his wife and children have tested negative. O'Toole remains in self-isolation and is feeling well," said a statement from the Conservative party. OToole has been in isolation since Wednesday, after one of his staff members tested positive for the virus. They had travelled together in Quebec. Quebec Premier Francois, who met with OToole on Monday, decided to get tested as a precaution. His result has since come back negative, but he will stay in isolation until Sept. 28, in accordance with public health guidelines. OToole made a public outcry after he and his family waited hours at a Ottawa testing site on Wednesday, before they were turned away due to the capacity limitations. They were eventually tested on Thursday in Gatineau, Que., at a site that offers priority testing for members of parliament and their families. On Friday, Bloc Quebecois announced that leader Yves-Francois Blanchet and his wife Nancy Deziel tested COVID-19 positive. They will remain in isolation until Sept. 26 at his residence in Shawinigan, Que. Updates from the rest of Canada Two cases of COVID-19 were identified in Nunavut at the Hope Bay mine, which is 125 kilometres southwest of Cambridge Bay. Health officials believe that both patients were exposed in their home jurisdictions prior to travelling to Nunavut. Since the cases didnt original in Nunavut, theyll instead be counted in other jurisdictions, but at the moment its not clear where exactly. Nunavut remains the only Canadian jurisdiction to not have a confirmed case as part of its tally, while the Northwest Territories and Yukon currently have no active cases. Nova Scotia continues to be the only province with no active cases, after its remaining patient was marked resolved on Friday. No new cases were identified in Newfoundland and Labrador or New Brunswick, as those provinces continue to have two and one active cases, respectively. As of Prince Edward Islands latest update on Tuesday, it also has one currently infected patient. Eighteen new cases were identified in Manitoba throughout Winnipeg (13), Prairie Mountain (three) and Southern (two) health regions. Twelve additional patients have recovered, which means there are now 331 active cases in the province. Winnipeg is home to 252 of the provinces currently infected patients, as its worrisome case trend continues. In the latest 24-hour stretch in Saskatchewan, labs completed a record-high 2,873 tests. Officials were able to identify 11 new cases in the Regina (five), Saskatoon (two), South Central (two), Central West (one) and Central East (one) zones. The two cases in Saskatoon are linked to the outbreak at Brandt Industries, according to a press release by officials. Since three more people have recovered since Friday, there are now 121 active cases in Saskatchewan; 25 of them are in communal living settings and 63 are in its epicentre Saskatoon. It was also recently reported that the president of the Metis Nation-Saskatchewan, Glen McCallum, has tested positive for COVID-19. A Facebook post by Metis Nation-Saskatchewan advises everyone whos been in close contact with McCallum to monitor for symptoms and to get tested if they experience any signs of the illness. Sept. 18 Alberta sees first likely case of COVID-19 transmission within a school setting Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Albertas chief medical officer of health, announced on Friday that the province has seen its first case of COVID-19 likely transmitted within a school. This is not unexpected, and is not a cause for alarm, said Hinshaw. Even with the cautious approach we have been taking, we expected that we would eventually see some examples of transmission in schools. ... Let me repeat that it was inevitable. The transmission was likely to have occurred at Edmonton's Waverley School, a public elementary school in the Kenilworth neighbourhood. One student is believed to have been the source of infection for another. At this point, there is no evidence to suggest that the school will need to transition to a different learning model, or that other staff and students are at risk, said Hinshaw. According to CBC, who received confirmation from the respective school board, about 12 students from a combined Grade 1/2 class and seven staff members will now isolate for 14 days at home, monitor for symptoms and be tested. Throughout Edmonton, at least 1000 students are in self-isolation because they were in the same class as a patient while they were considered infectious. I ask that Waverley is not targeted w/ accusations of being unsafe, as Ive heard happened at St. Wilfrid #YYC when they were moved to a watch level. Parents, teachers & students are worried & trying to sort through the challenge of having their school IDd in the news. (6/10) Dr. Deena Hinshaw (@CMOH_Alberta) September 18, 2020 As of Friday, there are 78 individuals who attended school while infectious among students and staff. Fifty-seven of the provinces 2,415 schools have reported an infectious case. Of those cases, none of them have been hospitalized, said Hinshaw. A week earlier (Sept. 11), there were 29 schools across the province where an individual attended while infectious, with 32 cases linked to these schools, leading to three outbreaks. There are now 13 school outbreaks across Alberta, which means a school has had at least two cases. One of the schools, St. Wilfrid Elementary School, has had at least five cases. On Friday, Alberta Health Services announced 107 new cases of COVID-19. In that same stretch, one more person has died, while 165 patients have recovered. Of the provinces now 1,424 active cases, 711 of them are in the Edmonton zone and 450 in the Calgary zone. There are 44 people in hospital, which includes seven in intensive care. Nova Scotia is the only province to be COVID-19 free Health officials in Nova Scotia have announced that its final COVID-19 patient has recovered, meaning they are now no active cases in the jurisdiction. Its the only province with no active cases of COVID-19. There are also no currently infected patients in all three of Canadas territories. The latest patient to be identified in Nova Scotia was on Sept. 7. Throughout the pandemic, the province has had 1,086 cases; that includes 65 fatalities and now 1,021 people who have recovered. Nova Scotia was previously declared COVID-19 free on Aug. 10. But since Aug. 14, health officials have discovered 15 new patients, all of whom have since recovered. Despite the positive news on Friday, Nova Scotias provincial government has decided to renew its state of emergency until Oct. 4. Ontario reports its most new cases since June, takes over Quebecs spot for most currently infected patients The province announced 401 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, which marks the largest one-day spike it has seen since June 2. Its now the eighth straight day that Ontario has exceeded the 200-case mark. Before the recent stretch, the province had not posted over 200 cases since June 29. The most recent patients were identified after Ontario labs completed a record-high 35,826 tests for COVID-19. Ontario has now posted a 1.1 per cent positivity rate on three of the last six occasions the highest percentage since June 23. Of the most recent group of cases, 130 were identified in Toronto, 82 in Peel and 61 in Ottawa the three regions that will now face increased gathering restrictions starting Friday. Nineteen cases were also identified in Halton and 12 in Middlesex-London, as the region continues to deal with an outbreak in relation to Western University. All the other 29 public health units reported 10 or fewer cases of COVID-19, with 15 reporting no new cases at all. Since Thursdays report, 176 more people have recovered, but no else has died in relation to the virus. Throughout Ontario, there are now 2,652 active cases of COVID-19, the most since June 14. With Quebec announcing on Friday that they have 2,643 active cases, it means Ontario now has the most currently infected patients of any jurisdiction in Canada, a title Quebec has held for the majority of the pandemic in Canada. Quebec still has the most cases per 100,000 people. Of the currently infected patients in Ontario, Toronto leads the way with 806 active cases, followed by Peel (566), Ottawa (437) and York (247). All of the other 30 public health units have fewer than 85. Eleven new cases were identified in schools for a total of 72, but one was also removed from the tally. The cases are spread throughout 60 of the provinces 4,828 learning institutions, up by nine since Thursday. Of the latest cases, five involve students, while the other six have not yet been identified by the Ministry of Health. Four new cases were also reported in child care centres and private home daycares (one child, three staff) for a total of 76. There are two new cases among residents of long-term care homes and five new cases that involve health-care workers. Two-hundred of the cases are among those 20-39 years old, the most of any age group. There were also 99 cases among those 40-59, and 67 involving people 19 years old or younger. Of the provinces currently infected patients, there are 58 in hospital, which includes 20 in intensive care and 10 who require a ventilator. More than 400 students in Quebec contract COVID-19 since reopening Quebec announced on Friday that 44 more students and 10 staff members tested positive for COVID-19. There are now 272 schools (out of 2,685) that have had a reported case, up by 25 compared to the previous day. Throughout those institutions, there are now 401 students and 106 staff members that have contracted the virus since schools reopened Aug. 27. At least 189 class bubbles so far have been sent home and asked to learn remotely, up by 16 since Thursdays report. Quebec health officials announced 297 new cases of COVID-19, which marks the eighth straight day that it has reported more than 200 cases. The last time it had a similar stretch was in early June. In the same 24-hour stretch, no one has died, but officials added one more death to its death toll (5,792), which occurred on an unknown date, according a press release. Two-hundred and six more cases have been marked resolved, meaning there are now 2,643 active cases in the province. Bloc Quebecois leader tests positive for virus Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet's wife, Nancy Deziel, and a staff member tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week. (Credit: AP) Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet has been diagnosed with COVID-19. In a statement from his office, Blanchet said that he is doing perfectly well, but he will stay in isolation at his home in Shawinigan, Que., until Sept. 26. in accordance with Quebec public health rules. The leader of the Bloc Quebecois underlines the importance of distancing measures, the wearing of masks and of hand washing and invites Quebeckers to follow the instructions of the Government of Quebec if they show symptoms or if they have been in close contact with an affected person, the statement said. Earlier this week, Blanchet's wife Nancy Deziel was also diagnosed with COVID-19, which led to the Bloc leader deciding to also get tested as a precaution. According to The Canadian Press, Blanchet was already in self-isolation; one of his staff members had tested positive, resulting in multiple members of his caucus and other aides to also isolate. Blanchet is the first federal party leader to test positive for COVID-19. Earlier in the pandemic, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also self-isolated after his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau was diagnosed with the respiratory virus. Updates from the rest of Canada British Columbia announced 139 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday. It ties its output from Sept. 10 for the second largest spike in cases since the start of the pandemic. The province announced a record-high 165 new patients on Sept. 17. Forty more cases have also been added to its total case count (7,842) that were identified between Aug. 11- Sept. 16 by Vancouver Coastal Health. In the most recent 24-hour stretch, 78 more people have recovered and three have died. It means there are now a record-high 1,803 active cases throughout British Columbia. Newfoundland and Labrador has identified its first new case since Sept. 12, this time involving a male in the Central Health region between 20-39 years of age. The individual recently returned from traveling in the United States. According to a press release, he was asymptomatic while travelling back to Newfoundland and Labrador. There are now two active cases throughout the province. One more person has recovered in New Brunswick, meaning there is now only one active case in the province. As of Prince Edward Islands latest update on Tuesday, it also has one currently infected patient. There has been a concerning increase in the number of cases in Winnipeg, read a press release by Manitoba health officials, with the city being home to 29 of the provinces most recent 40 cases. The remaining cases are in the Interlake-Eastern (four), Prairie Mountain (four) and Southern Health (three) health regions. Eight more people have also recently recovered, which means there are now 325 active cases in Manitoba; Winnipeg is home to 239 of them. Prairie Mountain only has 38, after it was the provinces epicentre in August. Recent success in Prairie Mountain Health shows that focusing on the fundamentals can reduce the transmission of COVID-19, read the press release, with the region on Friday moving back to the yellow caution level under Manitoba's colour-coded pandemic response system. Saskatchewan health officials have identified 19 new cases throughout the Saskatoon (12), Regina (four) and Central West (three) zones. Of the latest cases in Saskatoon, six of them have been identified in the workplace at Brandt Industries, according to a press release. Fifteen more people have also recently recovered, which leaves the provinces active case count at 113. Of those currently infected patients, 24 are in communal living settings, while 61 are in its epicentre of Saskatoon. Sept. 17 Super-spreader event leads to 21 infections in Saskatchewan At least 21 cases of COVID-19 have been linked to a gathering at a Saskatoon home, after 47 people attended the event. Saskatchewan's chief medical health officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab, said the party gathering serves as a cautionary tale, since its now being looked at as a super-spreader. Gathering limits are capped at 30-people when physical distancing can be maintained between individuals who are not from the same household. The organizer of the event has since been fined $2,000, but no details on the nature of the gathering have been shared. "Things like this can snowball very quickly, and that's what we need to avoid as we move forward. Because you can start multiple chains of transmission that can cause secondary infections," said Shahab. There have been at least 160 people who have since been identified as close contacts of those who attended, which includes some cases that may be connected to schools. Health officials expect more cases to be identified in the upcoming days, before the chain of transmission is resolved. The best way we can keep COVID-19 away from our schools is to keep it at a low infection in our communities, and events like this dont help, said Premier Scott Moe. On Thursday, health officials said there are currently 14 cases among students in schools across the province. No transmission within the school setting has been reported. Health officials also announced that theyve identified seven new cases throughout Saskatchewans latest 24-hour stretch in the Saskatoon (four), South East (two) and South West (one) zones. Four more people have also recovered, which means there are now 109 active cases in the province. The Saskatoon region is home to 50 of those currently infected individuals; the zones active cases consist of those linked to the large gathering and interprovincial travel, said Shabab. British Columbia reports its largest one-day spike in cases British Columbia health officials have identified 165 new cases of COVID-19, the most in a 24-hour stretch since the start of the pandemic. The most recent group of patients were identified after a record-high 7,674 tests. However, the update is still part of a concerning trend for the province, since there are now also a record-high 1,705 active cases throughout B.C. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said that the rise in cases is linked to an increase in testing, but that health officials continue to see cases linked to exposure events, such as private gatherings. With Ontario imposing new restrictions on gathering limits on Thursday, Henry said B.C. will not do the same. A maximum of 50 people is still the number theyll look to have in place for gathering limits, but Henry reminded people that just because you can fit 50 people into your small back garden does not make it safe. Henry said that the province is now seeing the virus spread to other, more vulnerable sectors. We're now seeing a spillover into hospitals, said Henry. We're seeing our elders, our grandparents, our seniors, the people in our lives who are most susceptible to ending up in hospital or dying from this virus, are getting it. Sometimes they're getting it because we are not being careful enough as young people, and we're bringing it home unintentionally and spreading it to those we love. Exposures due to gatherings have been a key concern for B.C. ever since two hotel parties around Canada Day in Kelowna led to dozens of cases around the province, as well as possible exposure warnings for a variety of businesses. Officials continue to ask B.C. residents to check the growing list of public exposure warnings as part of contact tracing efforts. As of Thursday, there are 2,949 people who are self-isolating and are being actively monitored by B.C. public health, since they were in contact with a known COVID-19 patient. One more person has also died in the provinces latest 24-hour stretch, involving a resident of a long-term care home. It increases the death toll to 220. Seventy-three people have also recently recovered from the respiratory virus. Of the provinces 1,705 active cases, there are 57 people in hospital, which includes 22 in intensive care. Worrisome stretch continues in Ontario, 21 more cases in schools Ontario reported 293 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, which marks the seventh straight day that the province has exceeded the 200-case mark. Before the recent stretch, the province had not posted over 200 cases since June 29. The most recent patients were identified after Ontario labs completed 35,134 tests for COVID-19, the second highest amount in a 24-hour stretch since the start of the pandemic. Of those cases, 85 were identified in Toronto, 63 in Peel, 39 in Ottawa, 37 in York and 12 in Halton. All the other 29 public health units reported 10 of fewer cases, while 14 reported no new patients at all. On Thursday, Doug Fords provincial government announced new gathering restrictions for Toronto, Peel and Ottawa, which have been deemed Ontarios hotspots. Twenty-one new cases were identified in schools for a total of 62, which are spread throughout 51 of the provinces 4,828 learning institutions. Of the latest cases, five involve students, four involve teachers, while the other 12 have not yet been identified by the Ministry of Health. Two new cases were also reported in child care centres and homes (one child, one staff) for a total of 72. There were no new cases among residents of long-term care homes, but there are six new patients that involve health-care workers. One-hundred sixty-nine of the cases are among those 20-39 years old, the most of any age group. There were also 66 cases among those 40-59, and 37 involving people 19 years old or younger. Since Wednesdays report, 179 more people have recovered and three have died in relation to the virus. Throughout Ontario, there are now 2,427 active cases of COVID-19, the most since June 16. Toronto leads the way with 725 currently infected patients, followed by Peel (528), Ottawa (407) and York (216). All of the other 30 public health units have fewer than 80. Of those currently infected patients, there are 53 in hospital, which includes 21 in intensive care and 12 who require a ventilator. Montreal reports significant backlog, creating an even larger daily spike from earlier this week Quebec health officials announced 251 new cases of COVID-19, which marks the seventh straight day that it has reported more than 200 cases. The last time it had a similar stretch was in early June. On Thursday, Montreal health officials announced 248 cases that should have been reported to the public between Sept. 10-15. Due to the update, it means between Sept. 13-15, the province should have announced more than 300 cases each day, a mark it had not passed since June 1. That includes an extra 90 cases for Sept. 15, which brings that days spike to 382 the most cases in 24-hour stretch since June 1. On Thursday, the province announced that 208 more people have recovered. Two more have died in its latest 24-hour stretch, but the province also added one more fatality that occurred between Sept. 10-15, increasing the death toll to 5,791. There are now 2,553 active cases throughout Quebec, the most of any jurisdiction in Canada. The province also announced that 35 more students and eight staff members have tested positive for COVID-19. There are now 247 schools (out of 2,685) that have had a reported case, up by 10 compared to the previous day. Throughout those institutions, there are now 357 students and 96 staff members that have contracted the virus. At least 173 class bubbles so far have been sent home and asked to learn remotely, up by 32 since Wednesdays report. The Quebec government on Thursday decided to ban restaurants and microbreweries from selling alcohol after midnight, a rule that came into effect early this month for bars. The province also decided to provide more info on its colour-coded alert system, which was introduced Sept. 8. One of the factors that determines whether a region will change alert levels is based on its number of daily cases compared to its population size. Different enforcement measures are put in place based on the colours alert, such as for gatherings. Updates from the rest of Canada Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador both continue to have one active case; they have not identified a new patient since Sept. 7 and Sept. 12, respectively. As of Prince Edward Islands last update on Tuesday, there remains one active case in that province as well. One more person has recovered in New Brunswick, which now has two active cases of COVID-19. Eleven new cases were identified in Manitoba throughout the Winnipeg (eight), Southern Health (two) and Prairie Mountain (one) health regions. One more person has also recovered, meaning there are now 293 active cases throughout the province. Of those currently infected patients, 209 of them are in Winnipeg, while all the other four regions have fewer than 40. Alberta health officials have identified 146 new cases of COVID-19, but no new deaths were recorded in the provinces latest 24-hour stretch. Instead, 158 more people have recovered, which drops the provinces active case count to 1,483. Of those currently infected individuals, 751 of them are in the Edmonton zone and 470 in the Calgary zone. One new COVID-19 outbreak has been declared in a school for a total of 10 meaning there are at least two cases among individuals who were considered infectious while at the learning institution. Sept. 15 There are 251 new cases of COVID-19 that have been reported in Ontario on Tuesday, continuing the recent trend of more than 200 new cases each day. Less than half that amount, 117, were reported as newly recovered in the same time period. Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Christine Elliott said that the hotspots for new cases continue to be Toronto, Ottawa and Peel public health regions, with 73, 51, and 42 new cases reported respectively. Four additional deaths related to the virus were also reported. In Quebec, there were 292 new cases of COVID-19 reported in the last 24-hour reporting period, as well as five more deaths related to the virus. One of the deaths was in the last 24 hours, while the others were between September 8-13. The province also published an update to how COVID-19 has impacted schools; 283 infections have been reported in 172 schools, and 144 classrooms have been closed due to the virus, including 130 in the public school system. Students account for 217 of the in-school infections, while a further 66 are staff members. 249 of the cases are in the public school system. Prince Edward Island was the only province to see new cases in Atlantic Canada on Tuesday. There were two cases, one a man in his 50s who is a non-healthcare essential worker, the other a child related to a known case. The child is now considered recovered. There were no new cases in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia or New Brunswick. There were 17 new cases of COVID-19 identified in Manitoba on Tuesday. One of the cases is a healthcare worker, and is related to the outbreak at Bethesda Place. There are now eight staff and six resident who have contracted COVID-19 at that long-term care facility. Public health is also warning of possible exposure at St. Aidans Christian School in Winnipeg of Thursday, Sept. 10 and Friday, Sept. 11. Records show the patient was asymptomatic, and the case was not acquired at school. Sept. 14 Its not surprising: Three new outbreaks declared at Alberta schools There are now six school outbreaks across Alberta, after health officials were notified of three more schools that have reported at least two cases of COVID-19 over the weekend. The most recent schools with outbreaks include Ross Sheppard High School in Edmonton, Lester B. Pearson High School in Calgary and Auburn Bay School, a K-4 school in Calgary. The three schools that first declared outbreaks last week include Henry Wise Wood High School and St. Wilfrid Elementary School in Calgary, as well as Chinook High School in Lethbridge. With community transmission levels higher in the past few weeks, its not surprising to see some cases in staff and students at schools, said Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Albertas chief medical officer of health. There are now 42 cases among 35 Alberta schools that have a case of COVID-19, up from the 32 cases among 29 schools that the province reported on Friday. However, Hinshaw said that Alberta Health Services have yet to see transmission within the school setting, instead transmission is believed to have occured in the community. Hinshaw said theyre using the term outbreak out of an abundance of caution when there are at least two cases among individuals who were in the school setting while considered infectious. When there is a case among students in a classroom, all the others are sent home to self-isolate for two weeks. Hinshaw apologized for the inconvenience this has caused families, and noted that this approach is being used to gather information about who is most at risk of getting COVID-19 from a school exposure. Its expected that the provinces approach will change over time. Even with a cautious approach, it is likely that as the school year continues, we will eventually see some examples of transmission in schools, said Hinshaw. Our goal is to keep transmission as low as possible. Albertas Minister of Education Andre Corbould, said there are 2,380 schools that are open and operating without any cases, which represents approximately 98 per cent of schools in the province. On Monday, Hinshaw also provided an update on the provinces COVID-19 case count. Between Friday and Saturday, 105 new cases were identified, followed by 173 cases identified after a record-high number of testing), and then 140 new cases leading into Monday. One more person has also passed away increasing the provinces death toll to 254 while 323 people have recovered. Of Albertas 1,538 active cases throughout the province, 654 of them are in the Edmonton zone and 557 of them are in the Calgary zone. The North zone has 232, while the Central and South zones have fewer than 50. Today's numbers are a cause for concern for all of us: Ontario records over 300 cases for the first time since early June Ontario Premier Doug Ford pleaded with residents to avoid large gatherings, shortly after the Ministry of Health reported 313 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, the most in a 24-hour stretch since June 6. Of the recent cases, 112 were identified in Toronto, 71 in Peel, and 60 in Ottawa, which are the three regions Ford has described as hot spots. Thirteen cases were also identified in York, which is in consideration as a hotspot, considering all the other 31 public health units reported fewer than 10 new cases, while 15 of them reported no new cases at all on Monday. Today's numbers are a cause for concern for all of us, said Ford. Let me be crystal clear, every option is on the table. We will take every step necessary, including further shutdowns. Mondays update marks the fourth day in a row that Ontario has reported at least 200 cases. Before the recent stretch, the province had not posted over 200 cases since June 29. Throughout Ontario, there are now 2,027 active cases of COVID-19, the most since June 30. Toronto leads the way with 625 currently infected patients, followed by Peel (517), Ottawa (318) and York (159). All of the other 30 public health units have fewer than 70. Ford said that the chief public health officers in Toronto, Peel and Ottawa have all credited large gatherings for the spikes in cases. Theyve been private gatherings, and not ones at bars or restaurants. The premier noted that the majority of the population has been following guidelines and protocols, but the actions of just five per cent of those not in compliance can result in the virus spreading like wildfire. It drives me crazy. I'm up here like a preacher, telling people every single day, Don't let your guard down Don't let your guard down, said Ford. Folks, these [gatherings] have to stop. ... I'll be Premier Dad, Premier Granddad, premier anyone. I just want these folks not to have reckless parties. That's what it comes down to. The most recent patients were identified after 29,540 tests for COVID-19 were completed, the fewest over the past four days. It leads to a positivity rate of 1.1 per cent, the highest since June 23. Of the recent group of patients, 167 of them were among those 20-39 year old, the most of any age group, followed by 71 cases among those 40-59 years old. One of the cases is a long-term care resident, and one is a health-care worker. A community outbreak at Western University was also recently declared by the Middlesex-London Health Unit, which reported six cases on Monday. Starting on Monday, Fords government will return to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, where they will discuss what further steps they can take to slow the spread. Ford said the province is not yet in a full blown second wave, so theres time to curb the case trend like in earlier in the summer. Minister of Health Christine Elliott said the province is hoping to not have to roll any of its regions back to Stage 2 of the provinces reopening plan, considering the amount of work regions have put in to reopen. Instead, Elliott noted how a second wave will be much more difficult on the province compared to the first. Along with flu season, theres a reduced capacity in hospitals, since long-term care homes have had to reduce their capacities to limit the spread of COVID-19 as part of their protocols. Hospitals are also still working on a backlog of surgeries from the first lockdown. In the latest 24-hour stretch, the province also reported one more fatality, which increases the death toll to 2,816. One-hundred and thirty-three more patients have recovered in the provinces latest 24-hour stretch. Of the currently infected individuals, there are 47 in hospital, which includes 17 in intensive care and eight who require a ventilator. The Ministry of Health did note that about 35 hospitals did not provide data over the weekend. Concerning trend continues to gain pace in Quebec Quebec health officials have identified 276 new cases of COVID-19 in their latest 24-hour stretch. Aside from the 279 cases that were announced on Sunday, Mondays announcement marks the largest spike the province has recorded since June 3. Its also the fourth straight day that the province has announced over 200 cases. The last time it had a similar stretch was June 4-7. Officials have now reported over 100 cases in 17 straight reporting periods; before the recent stretch, it had recorded fewer than 100 cases on 14 of its last 18 occasions. In recent weeks, the virus has spread all throughout the province in various settings, such as in schools and bars. Of the most recent 276 cases, 60 were identified in Quebec City, 39 in Montreal, 32 in Chaudiere-Appalaches, 31 in Monteregie, 27 in Lanaudiere, 20 in Outaouais and 18 in Laval. Quebecs testing numbers are reflective of its output from two days prior. Most recently, it completed 20,173 tests for COVID-19. Its the fourth straight time that labs have completed at least 20,000 tests a mark it had never hit before. No one has died in the provinces latest 24-hour stretch, and 160 patients have recently recovered. It means there are now 2,054 active cases in the province, the most of any jurisdiction in Canada. According to Steve Faguy of the Montreal Gazette, its the first time that the province has had more than 2,000 active cases since Aug. 5. Throughout the pandemic, Quebec has been Canadas worst-hit province. It currently has the most total cases (64,262), active cases and deaths (5,780) of all of the nations jurisdictions. Updates from the rest of Canada British Columbia health officials provided their update for their last three reporting periods. In the first, from Friday to Saturday, health officials identified 137 new cases of COVID-19, which marks the second most cases the province has had in a 24-hour stretch throughout the pandemic. The following day, 119 cases were identified, followed by 61 leading into Monday. There are now a record-high 1,594 active cases in British Columbia, as its worrisome COVID-19 trend continues. In the same three-day stretch, 173 people have recovered, but six people also passed away. That includes five people in long-term care homes and the first victim in the Northern Health area. No new cases were identified in Nova Scotia or Newfoundland and Labrador, as those provinces continue to have one and two active cases, respectively. One new patient was identified in New Brunswick, which marks the first since Sept. 10. The latest individual who was diagnosed is in their 20s and resides in the Moncton region. The case is travel related, according to a press release. There are now three active cases throughout New Brunswick. As of Prince Edward Islands latest update on Sept. 11, it has eight currently infected patients. Health officials are expected to provide their weekly scheduled update on Tuesday. Twenty-one new cases of COVID-19 were identified in Manitoba.The Winnipeg health region is home is 17 of them, while the others are in Southern Health (three) and Interlake-Eastern (one). Three more patients have also recovered in the provinces latest 24-hour stretch, which means there are now 257 active cases in the province. Winnipeg has 171 of those currently infected patients, while Prairie Mountain Health has the second most with 43. Saskatchewan health officials have identified eight new cases of COVID-19 in the Saskatoon (six), South West (one) and South Central (one) zones. Three cases have also been removed from the provinces total, since one was a false positive and the other two involved people who were not residents of Saskatchewan. One more person has also recovered in the province, which brings the number of active cases to 103. The Saskatoon zone has the most currently infected patients with 43, followed by Central East. All the other 11 zones have fewer than 10 cases. Sept. 13 Seven cases linked to Toronto strip club prompts COVID-19 exposure alert Toronto Public Health (TPH) is warning of a potential exposure to COVID-19 at a strip club, after seven people who were at the venue tested positive. Six employees and one patron have been diagnosed with the virus after being at Club Paradise, located at 1313 Bloor St. W., between Aug. 29-Sept. 10. Cases started to emerge Sept. 4, according to a press release by TPH. Anyone who was at Club Paradise between those dates is being asked to monitor themselves for COVID-19 symptoms for 14 days after their last visit. They should also make a particular effort to keep a six-foot distance from other people, wear a mask in public spaces and wash their hands. The risk to patrons is currently considered low, while Club Paradise has taken the voluntary decision to close for a two-week period. Investigations by TPH inspectors on Aug. 20 and Sept. 5 found the establishment to be in compliance with all reopening protocols, via the press release. Toronto Public Health has released a list of guidelines for adult entertainment venues. Among them is that lap dances are prohibited, while establishments must maintain a customer log to help with contact tracing efforts. Based on the information provided in Club Paradises contact tracing logs for staff and patrons, TPH has followed up with all known close contacts Those individuals have been instructed to self-isolate for 14 days and to go for testing. In August, more than 500 people were asked to self-isolate for 14 days after a Toronto strip club employee at the Brass Rail Tavern tested positive for COVID-19. An initial investigation found that the venue was not in compliance with COVID-19 protocols. A patron also later tested positive. Quebec reports its most new cases since early June Some demonstrators in Montreal on Saturday carried signs and wore T-shirts and hats denouncing what they called fear campaigns by the Quebec government, suggesting that the danger of COVID-19 has been overstated. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press) Quebec health officials have identified 279 new cases of COVID-19, the most in a 24-hour stretch since June 3. Its also the third straight day that the province has recorded over 200 cases. The last time it had a similar stretch was June 5-7. Officials have now reported over 100 cases in 16 straight reporting periods; before the recent stretch, it had recorded fewer than 100 cases on 14 of its last 18 occasions. In recent weeks, the virus has spread all throughout the province in various settings. Of the most recent 279 cases, 57 were identified in Montreal, 42 in Quebec City, 38 in Monteregie, 27 in Laval, 26 in the Laurentides, 21 in Bas-Saint-Laurent, 20 in Chaudiere-Appalaches, 17 in Estrie and 15 in Outaouais. Quebecs testing numbers are reflective of its output from two days prior. Most recently, it completed 20,479 tests for COVID-19. Its the third straight time that labs have completed at least 20,000 tests a mark it had never hit before. All Quebecers have a responsibility and that is to prevent a second wave. ... Were not in a second wave but the trend is not good, said Quebec Premier Francois Legault on Friday. "I don't plan and I don't hope to have to go into each house, so I'm asking the population, please look at the number of cases, look at the virus. It's serious, so please don't do big parties without respecting the directives. One more person has died in the provinces latest 24-hour stretch. However, the death toll remains at 5,780, since an investigation has determined that a previously announced fatality was in fact not due to COVID-19. Two-hundred and fourteen patients have also recently recovered. Throughout the province, there are 1,938 active cases, up by 65 since Saturday. Of those currently infected patients, 124 of them are in hospital, which includes 19 in intensive care. On Saturday, several thousands of people gathered in downtown Montreal to protest against the Quebecs governments most recent mask mandate; it allows police to fine anyone who isnt wearing a mask when required to, such as in enclosed public places. Throughout the pandemic, Quebec has been Canadas worst-hit province. It currently has the most total cases (64,986), active cases (1,938) and deaths (5,780) of all of the nations jurisdictions. Worrisome stretch continues in Ontario as it reports over 200 daily cases for third straight day On Sunday, Ontario announced that they recorded 204 new cases of COVID-19 in the provinces latest 24-hour stretch. Its now the third day in a row that it has reported at least 200 cases, with officials announcing 232 on Saturday, and 213 on Friday. Before the recent stretch, the province had not posted over 200 cases since June 29. The last time it had three consecutive days above 200 was during its June 4-6 stretch. Of the most recent 204 new cases, 63 were identified in Toronto, 47 in Ottawa, 35 in Peel, and 13 in Windsor-Essex. Twenty-seven of the 34 public health units reported five or fewer cases, while 16 reported no new patients at all. Its not the City of Toronto or Peel Regions fault, said Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Friday. This is happening, weve got to work together. All Ive been asking is, please try to avoid these big gatherings. Just follow the guidelines and everyone will be OK. Of the recent group of 204, 106 of them were among those 20-39 year old, the most of any age group, followed by 38 cases among those 40-59 years old. Seven are among long-term care residents, and two are health-care workers. The cases were identified after the province completed 31,143 tests for COVID-19, which marks the third straight day that it has completed over 30,000. The positive test rate over the past three days has been 0.7 per cent. Aside from a three-day stretch earlier this month, the 0.7 rate is the highest the province has seen since July. In the latest 24-hour stretch, the province also reported one more fatality, involving a LTC resident, which increases the death toll to 2,815. One-hundred and twenty-four more patients have recovered in the provinces latest 24-hour stretch. Throughout Ontario, there are now 1,848 active cases of COVID-19, the most since July 4. Toronto leads the way with 545 currently infected patients, followed by Peel (486), Ottawa (280) and York (156). All the other 30 public health units have fewer than 60. Of those currently infected individuals, there are 39 in hospital, which includes 14 in intensive care and nine who require a ventilator. The Ministry of Health did note that about 35 hospitals did not provide data over the weekend. Updates from the rest of Canada No new cases were identified in Nova Scotia or New Brunswick, as those provinces continue to have one and two active cases, respectively. As of Prince Edward Islands latest update on Friday, there are eight active cases in the province. No new cases were also identified in Newfoundland and Labrador. In a press release, officials said that a presumptive case identified at the Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC) mine in Labrador has turned out to be negative. On Saturday, the province announced its first case since Sept. 5, involving an individual who recently returned from Newfoundland and Labrador. There are now two active cases in N.L. Eighteen new cases were identified in Manitoba, with 11 in Winnipeg, three in Southern Health, two in Interlake-Eastern and one each in the Northern and Prairie Mountain regions. Seventeen more people have also recovered, which means there are now 239 active cases in the province. Of those currently infected patients, 154 of them are in Winnipeg and 44 in Prairie Mountain, which used to be the provinces epicentre. There are 17 new cases in Saskatchewan throughout the Saskatoon (14), Central West (one) and Central East (one) zones. The location of the 17th case is still pending. According to a press release, at least six of the 14 cases in the Saskatoon zone are connected to a private gathering. One more person has recovered in the provinces latest 24-hour stretch, which leaves 99 active cases in the province. Of those currently infected residents, 38 are in the Saskatoon zone, while 26 are in the Central East zone. All the other 11 zones have fewer than 10 active cases. Nunavut remains the only jurisdiction to not have had a confirmed positive case throughout the pandemic. The Northwest Territories have zero active cases, and so does Yukon after its two remaining cases were marked resolved on Aug. 13. Sept. 11 Ontario reports its largest case spike since June Ontario reported 213 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, which is the most in a 24-hour stretch since June 29. Its the first time that the province has eclipsed at least 200 daily cases since July 21, and the 16th straight day that it has recorded over 100 cases of COVID-19. In early August, Ontario was able to stay under triple-digits on seven-straight occasions, as it made a habit of reporting fewer than 100 cases. Of the most recent 213 cases, 71 were identified in Toronto, 38 in Peel, 37 in Ottawa, 15 in Waterloo and 14 in York. Of Ontarios 34 public health units, 26 of them reported five of fewer cases, while 18 reported no new cases at all. Of all the recently identified patients, 143 of them are under the age of 40 (67 per cent of the cases). Its not the City of Toronto or Peel Regions fault, said Ford on Friday. This is happening, weve got to work together. All Ive been asking is, please try to avoid these big gatherings. Just follow the guidelines and everyone will be OK. In the latest 24-hour stretch, 124 more people have recovered, while the province subtracted one fatality from its death toll of 2,813. There are now 1,657 currently infected patients in Ontario, the most since July 9. To end the work-week, the province also launched a public website that will track the number of COVID-19 cases in schools. As of Friday morning, there are 13 cases at schools in Ontario, including nine staff members. All four student cases are at French Catholic schools in Ottawa. Quebec reports its most new cases since June Health officials in Quebec have identified 219 new cases of COVID-19, which is the most they have announced since June 7. Of the most recent cases, 42 are in Quebec City, 40 in Montreal, 20 in Monteregie, 19 in Bas-Saint-Laurent, and 18 each in both the Outaouais and Chaudiere-Appalaches regions, according to the Montreal Gazette. Its now the third time in the past six days the province has recorded at least 200 cases of COVID-19. Officials have also reported over 100 cases in 14 straight reporting periods. Before the recent stretch, it had recorded fewer than 100 cases on 14 of its last 18 occasions. All Quebecers have a responsibility and that is to prevent a second wave. ... Were not in a second wave but the trend is not good, said Premier Francois Legault on Friday. "I don't plan and I don't hope to have to go into each house, so I'm asking the population, please look at the number of cases, look at the virus. It's serious, so please don't do big parties without respecting the directives. In recent weeks, the virus has spread all throughout the province in various settings. On Friday, officials announced that they will ban karaoke, while ordering bars to keep customer logs from now on. It comes after a karaoke night held at a Quebec City bar on Aug. 23 has been linked to more than 80 cases, with secondary cases identified in at least three schools. On Friday, the province withdrew data on its COVID-19 situation within schools. Legault said it was because the information was incomplete and unreliable. Throughout Quebec, there are now 1,846 active cases of COVID-19, since 219 more patients have recovered. No one has died in the provinces latest 24-hour stretch, but officials added three more fatalities to its death toll from previous dates. Two deaths were also removed since investigations have shown that the causes of death are not attributable to COVID-19. The death toll now stands at 5,774. Updates from the rest of Canada One-hundred thirty-two new cases were recorded in British Columbia, which marks the provinces second largest daily increase to its total case count. Its only behind Thursdays increase of 139. Eighty-three more patients have recovered, but the provinces active case count still reached another record-high of 1,461. Officials continue to ask B.C. residents to check the growing list of public exposure warnings as part of contact tracing efforts. As of Thursday, there are 3,198 people who are self-isolating and are being actively monitored by B.C. public health, since they were in contact with a known COVID-19 patient. No new cases were identified in Nova Scotia or Newfoundland and Labrador, as their active case counts remain at two and one, respectively. A patient has recovered in New Brunswick, dropping its active case count to two, while three cases have been resolved in Prince Edward Island, where there are eight currently infected patients. For the second straight day, health officials in Manitoba have identified 15 new cases of COVID-19; eight of them were identified in Winnipeg, four in Prairie Mountain and three in Southern Health. Eighty-eight more people have recovered, which drops its active case to 287. Its the fewest number of active cases the province has had in weeks. Thirteen new cases were identified in Saskatchewans Central East (seven), Saskatoon (four), Far North East (one), and Regina (one) zones. Five more patients have also recovered, which brings the provinces active case count to 66; 20 of those infected patients are in the Saskatoon zone, the most of any zone. Health officials are also warning of a potential COVID-19 exposure at Regina International Airport, involving a trip arriving from Toronto. A resident of Edmontons Good Samaritan Care Centre has passed away, which marks the latest fatality in Alberta. However, the death toll remains at 253, since one previously recorded death has turned out not to be related to the virus. Health officials also identified 111 new cases of COVID-19 in the same stretch that 161 patients have recorded; it drops the active case count to 1,444. Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Albertas chief medical officer of health, said there are 29 schools across the province where an individual attended while infectious, with 32 cases linked to these schools. Three school outbreaks remain active. Sept. 10 Three COVID-19 outbreaks declared among schools in Alberta Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Albertas chief medical officer of health, said there are three schools that have at least two infected individuals, but there is currently no evidence of broader transmission. "While we are calling these outbreaks, this is a very cautious use of the term," said Hinshaw on Thursday. "We are acting out of an abundance of caution by treating two cases who are in a school while infectious within a 14-day span as an outbreak, even when the cases are within one family. Two of the schools are in Calgary: Henry Wise Wood high school and St. Wilfrid elementary school. The third is Chinook High School in Lethbridge. On Thursday, 113 new cases, five fatalities and 199 recoveries were recorded, as Albertas active case count dropped to 1,494. Throughout the province, there are 24 cases at 21 schools, said Hinshaw. For more on how Alberta Health Services is planning on dealing with the three outbreaks, please read here. Manitoba records its first case in a school since reopening Manitobas chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin said Thursday that the province has identified its first case in a school setting. The unidentified Grade 7 student at Churchill High School in Winnipeg had been tested for COVID-19 before the first day of school Tuesday, even though they had no symptoms. Classes have continued, and students are being asked to self-monitor for symptoms, but not to self-isolate. "This individual did everything that they were supposed to do and that resulted in no close contacts being identified in this area," said Roussin. The Winnipeg School Division said to The Canadian Press that the student wore a mask while in school and they they also maintained physical distancing the entire time. On Thursday, Roussin announced 15 new cases in Manitobas latest 24-hour stretch, with nine of them in Winnipeg. However, with 57 recently resolved cases, its active case count dropped to 360 the lowest its been in weeks. For more on the situation involving Manitobas first case in a school setting, please read here. British Columbia records its most ever new daily cases On the same day that schools reopened across British Columbia, health officials announced a record-high 139 new daily cases of COVID-19. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said moving forward we can expect cases in schools which has happened in other provinces across the country but a system-wide closure would only happen under severe circumstances. "That would mean that we were in dire straits in many other aspects of our community and that's what we're trying absolutely to avoid," said Henry on Thursday. With the latest update, there are now 1,412 currently infected patients in the province, the most ever throughout the pandemic. Officials continue to ask B.C. residents to check the growing list of public exposure warnings as part of contact tracing efforts. As of Thursday, there are 3,109 people who are self-isolating and are being actively monitored by B.C. public health, since they were in contact with a known COVID-19 patient. For more on how B.C. will balance its school reopening plan and its worrisome COVID-19 trend, please read here. Updates from the rest of Canada In Ontario, there were 170 new cases of COVID-19 reported on Thursday. The province also reported one additional death. The majority of new cases were in the Toronto area with 55, while York Region and Peel Region saw 28 and 22 new cases, respectively. Out of Ontarios 34 public health regions, 28 reported five or fewer new cases, with 14 of them reporting no new cases at all. There are now 1,567 active cases throughout the province, since 142 more patients have recovered. There were 188 new cases reported in Quebec, as well as two additional deaths linked to the virus, one of which occured in the provinces latest 24-hour stretch. With 224 patients having recently recovered, there are now 1,847 active cases in Quebec. In an effort to curb the steadily-rising number of infections in the province, Quebec will be issuing fines starting Saturday for those who refuse to wear masks. On Wednesday, all in-person activities and courses were suspended at two Cegep schools in Quebec's Bas-Saint-Laurent region after several students tested positive for COVID-19. According to health officials, the cases are likely connected to a party held in the region at the end of August, where more than 100 people were in attendance. A resident of New Brunswick tested positive for COVID-19 in Quebec yesterday, bringing the provinces total number of active cases to three. The individual will stay in Quebec until they recover. Elsewhere in Atlantic Canada, Nova Scotias active case count fell to two; Newfoundland and Labrador saw no new cases for the fifth day in a row, as its active case count stands at one. Prince Edward Island announced no new cases on Thursday after several were identified earlier in the week, related to international travel. There are still 11 active cases on the island. Saskatchewan health officials have identified six new cases in the same 24-hour stretch that six more people have recovered. It means there are still 59 active cases throughout the province, with 16 of those in Saskatoon (the most of any of its zones). Sept. 9 Ontario reported 149 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, down from what it had reported earlier in the week. Overall, the province saw a slight increase in the number of cases when compared to recoveries. The latest update comes as Premier Doug Ford meets with Quebec Premier Francois Legault to identify key areas of cooperation in the midst of the virus. Meanwhile in Quebec, 180 new cases of COVID-19 were identified, slightly elevated above the threshold at which authorities hope to keep new cases. Montrealers in particular are being advised not to gather with family and friends in an effort to curb the spread of the virus. Across Atlantic Canada, cases remained largely flat. In Nova Scotia, there was a possible reinfection of an individual in a long-term care facility; authorities are in the process of confirming the case, which was announced on Monday. New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador reported no new cases. Prince Edward Island identified two new cases, bringing the total number of active cases to 11. Manitoba reported 16 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. There are currently 404 cases active in the province. The update comes as the governing Progressive Conservative party says it aims to resume legislature next month with nearly normal operating procedures. In Saskatchewan, there was one new case of COVID-19 identified, bringing the total number of active cases to 59. One person remains in intensive care with the virus in Saskatoon. Alberta saw 98 new cases reported on Wednesday, with the majority of active cases in the Calgary and Edmonton areas. The province has also launched an online map for tracking COVID-19 cases in schools, as the province has confirmed that there are 16 cases at 16 of its schools. All of the cases were contracted from outside the school. In British Columbia, 100 new cases of COVID-19 were identified. With 37 patients currently in hospital with the virus, including 13 in intensive care, the province is currently seeing its highest number of hospitalizations since May 27. More than 3,000 people are currently being monitored due to exposure to known cases. Sept. 8 On Tuesday, Ontario reported 375 new cases of COVID-19 over the last two days, as no reporting was done on Labour Day. There were 180 new cases on Tuesday and 195 new cases on Monday, making these the highest increases the province has seen since July. The regions with the most new cases on Tuesday were Toronto (48), Peel (42) and Ottawa (37) health regions. Toronto Mayor John Tory stressed during a press conference on Tuesday that many of these new cases are young people, with 65 per cent of new cases in Toronto over the last month under the age of 40. Out of Ontarios 32 public health units, 28 reported five or fewer cases, with 18 reporting no new cases at all. In Quebec, 163 new cases were identified on Tuesday. The previous two days saw new cases exceed 200 daily. Some of the people who have been identified as having COVID-19 include the mayor of Longueuil and six possible cases that rode French Catholic school board buses in Ottawa. There are now 1,944 active cases of COVID-19 in Quebec, including 105 in hospital. Across Atlantic Canada, the most dramatic increase in COVID-19 occurred in Prince Edward Island. Two new cases were identified, in addition to four new cases reported on Labour day, brining the total number of active cases in the province to nine. All of the active cases are related to international travel, and all were detected while people were self isolating after arriving in P.E.I., as per government guidelines. Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador saw no new cases identified. Sept. 7 Canadas top doctor concerned over Canadas rising case count Dr. Theresa Tam, Canadas Chief Public Health Officer, expressed concern over the countrys rising case trend. Instead of holding a press conference Monday, Tam released a statement to warn Canadians of their COVID-19 situation. Over the last week (Aug. 30- Sept. 6), Canada reported an average of 545 cases a day, up by 25 per cent compared to the week before when 435 cases were reported daily. Two weeks prior, there was an average of 390 daily cases. The average daily case count has been increasing in recent weeks, said Tam in her press release. This is a concern and a reminder that we all need to maintain public health measures to keep COVID-19 on the slow-burn path that we need. With the fall months approaching, Tam is warning Canadians to be more mindful of events they attend, especially as the colder weather shifts activities indoors. While I know we are all eager to gather with our extended family and friends for the holidays, indoor gatherings may not be right for every Canadian or every family, said Tam in a press release that includes a list of questions you should ask yourself before attending an event. In the last week, some of Canadas biggest provinces have seen their concerning case trends continue to grow. Some health officials have linked the rise in cases to an increase in gatherings, primarily among young people. In British Columbias final update of the week, it announced its second largest ever case increase since the start of the pandemic. The 121 new cases on Friday were only behind the 124 cases it had reported a week prior, but the update still led to a record-high active case count of 1,233. Officials continue to ask B.C. residents to check the growing list of public exposure warnings as part of contact tracing efforts. Alberta finished the week with 1,433 active cases. According to Alberta Health Services, it marks the highest number of currently infected patients the province has had since May 10. Ontario recorded a triple-digit case increase each day of the last week. In early August, the province was able to stay under triple-digits on seven-straight occasions, as it made a habit of reporting fewer than 100 cases. On Sept. 5, health officials also announced 169 new cases, which marked the largest spike in daily cases the province has recorded since July 24. In Quebec, health officials recorded over 100 cases on each occasion throughout the past week, as part of a 10-day stretch of recording a triple-digit increase. Before the recent stretch, it had recorded fewer than 100 cases on 14 of its last 18 occasions. On Sept. 6, Quebec reported 205 new cases of COVID-19, which marked its largest single day spike since June 7. On Friday, the province also announced that 46 of its schools had at least one case of COVID-19 within the first week of classes. Saskatchewan and the Atlantic provinces have seen their COVID-19 case trends remain stable. But in the last week, Prince Edward Island did record three cases, after all of its other patients had recovered by Aug. 31. In Manitoba, the provinces active case count is no longer hitting record-highs, which was common throughout the second-half of August. On July 14, the province came very close to having no active cases. That day, after all of its initial patients had recovered, health officials diagnosed five other people. Since then, Manitoba has seen its curb trend upwards. On Aug. 12, for the first time, the province surpassed 200 active cases. On Aug. 26, it hit the 400-mark, which it hasn't been able to fall under since. Montreal, Quebec City lead the provinces largest case spike in 3 months Health officials in Quebec have identified 216 new cases of COVID-19 in their latest 24-hour stretch, the most since June 7. It comes a day after the province recorded 205 cases. Its now the 10th straight reporting period that the province has recorded over 100 cases. Before the recent stretch, it had stayed below that mark on 14 of its last 18 occasions. Of the most recent cases, 63 were identified in the Montreal region, 51 in the Quebec City region, 34 in the Monteregie region, and 18 each in the Laval and Lanaudiere regions. The recent amount of daily cases by Montreal and Quebec City are more than what Saskatchewan (34), Prince Edward Island (three), Nova Scotia (two), Newfoundland and Labrador (one) and New Brunswick (one) combined to report all of last week (41). Quebec health minister Christian Dube said on Aug. 25 that Quebec should not go beyond 160 cases per day, which works out to about 20 cases per one million residents. Its now eclipsed that mark on five straight occasions. The recent update is part of a concerning trend for the province, considering its now navigating the COVID-19 pandemic at the same time as its school reopening plan. On Friday, Quebec health officials released a list of 46 schools that have had a case of COVID-19 among either students or staff members throughout the first week of reopening. However, Dube said there have been no outbreaks, and instead in most instances the school has had an isolated case involving an individual who was infected outside of the school setting. For example, on Wednesday, health officials announced that a karaoke bar outbreak in Quebec City resulted in 40 infected patrons, leading to secondary spread among three students in three different schools. Throughout the pandemic, Quebec has led the way with 63,713 total cases of COVID-19. Eighty-nine more patients have recovered in the provinces latest 24-hour stretch. No one has died, but officials added one more fatality to its death toll of 5,770, which occurred between Aug. 31-Sept. 5. There are now 1,983 active cases of COVID-19 in Quebec, the most of any province in Canada. According to Steve Faguy of the Montreal Gazette, its now the ninth straight day that the provinces active case count has risen most recently by 126. Updates from the rest of Canada Ontario health officials said that they wont provide a statistical update on the provinces COVID-19 situation on Labour Day. The province will have an update on Tuesday for its two latest 24-hour reporting periods. One new case has been identified in Nova Scotia, the first since Aug. 31. The most recent patient is in the Central Zone and is currently under investigation by health officials. There are now four active cases in Nova Scotia. No new cases were identified in Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick or Prince Edward Island, as they continue to have two, three, and three active cases respectively. Fifteen new cases were identified in Manitoba. That includes seven in Winnipeg, six in Prairie Mountain and one each in the Interlake-Eastern and Southern regions. Five of the cases are close contacts of previously identified cases. Twelve more patients have recovered in the provinces latest 24-hour stretch, which leaves Manitoba with 412 currently infected citizens. Eleven more people were diagnosed in Saskatchewan. There were two cases each in the Far North West Saskatoon and Central West zones, and one each in the Central East, South West, South Central and South East zones. The location of the 11th case is still pending. One more person has also recovered, which leaves the province with 58 active cases. Sept. 6 Quebec reports its most new cases in almost 3 months Quebec reported 205 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, which marks its largest single day spike since June 7. The province has now reported over 100 cases in nine straight reporting periods. Before the recent stretch, it had recorded fewer than 100 cases on 14 of its last 18 occasions. On Aug. 25, health minister Christian Dube said that Quebec should not go beyond 160 cases per day, which works out to about 20 cases per one million residents. Its now eclipsed that mark on four straight occasions. Premier Francois Legault on Thursday said Dubes statistics are an objective, but it doesnt mean that the province will make an automatic return to lockdowns if the target is missed. If restrictions do need to be put in place, they will be imposed on sub-regions, and not the entire province. Of the latest 205 cases, 57 were identified in Montreal, 48 in Monteregie, 32 in Quebec City and 14 in Laval. Throughout the pandemic, Quebec has been Canadas worst hit province with a record-high 63,497 total cases. That includes 55,871 recovered patients (up by 61 since Saturday) and 5,769 fatalities, which leaves the province with 1,857 currently infected patients the most of any province. Since reopening schools on Aug. 27, the province has made national headlines. On Friday, Quebec health officials released a list of 46 schools that have had a case of COVID-19 among either students or staff members throughout the first week of reopening. However, Dube said there have been no outbreaks, and instead in most instances the school has had an isolated case involving an individual who was infected outside of the school setting. For example, on Wednesday, health officials announced that a karaoke bar outbreak in Quebec City resulted in 40 infected patrons, leading to secondary spread among three students in three different schools. Updates from the rest of Canada Ontario reported 158 new cases on Sunday, which marks the 11th straight day that the province has recorded over 100 cases of COVID-19. In early August, the province was able to stay under triple-digits on seven-straight occasions, as it made a habit of reporting fewer than 100 cases. Of the most recently identified patients, 49 are in Toronto, 44 in Peel, 21 in Ottawa and 16 in York. Twenty-nine of the 34 public health units reported five or fewer cases, while 20 reported no new cases at all. After going five straight days without a fatality, the province recorded two on Sunday, increasing the death toll to 2,813. There are now 1,390 active cases in the province (the most since July 30), since 111 more patients have recovered in the provinces latest 24-hour stretch. Two more patients have recovered in Nova Scotia, which leaves three active cases in the province. One more case has also been resolved in New Brunswick, leaving three active cases within that jurisdiction as well. No new cases were reported in Newfoundland and Labrador or Prince Edward Island, as they have two and three active cases, respectively. Twenty-nine new cases have been identified in Manitoba, scattered throughout the Winnipeg (17), Southern (seven), Prairie Mountain (three) and Interlake-Eastern (one) regions. Seven of the cases are close contacts of a previously identified case, while one is travel related. There is also one patient that is linked to an assisted living facility located next to the Donwood Manor personal care home. Donwood Manor has initiated outbreak protocols, even though the risk of further spread is considered low. Forty-six more people have also recovered, which drops Manitobas active case count to 409. Saskatchewan health officials have identified eight new cases. The Saskatoon zone has three, the Central East zone has two, and the North West, Regina and South East zones all have one new patient each. No has recovered in the provinces latest 24-hour stretch, meaning there are now 48 active cases in the province. Nunavut remains the only jurisdiction to not have had a confirmed positive case throughout the pandemic. The Northwest Territories have zero active cases, and so does Yukon after its two remaining cases were marked resolved on Aug. 13. Alberta and British Columbia dont provide case updates over the weekend, but as of Friday, those provinces have 1,433 and 1,233 active cases, respectively. Over the weekend, a high school in Calgary has notified parents of a case at its institution, after it opened for the 2020-21 school year on Tuesday. Sept. 5 Ontario reports its largest spike in cases since July Ontario health officials announced 169 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, which marks the largest spike in daily cases the province has recorded since July 24. The latest patients, which were identified after labs completed 28,672 tests, are primarily located in Peel (46), Toronto (42), Ottawa (30), and York (19). Twenty-eight of Ontarios 34 public health units reported five or fewer cases, while 19 reported no new patients at all. Peel, Toronto and Ottawa all individually recorded more new cases on Saturday than Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the four Atlantic provinces combined (27). The update comes a day after Peel recorded 72 cases, which caught Ontario Premier Doug Fords attention. The region consists of Caledon, Mississauga and Brampton, which has been its epicentre. I am really concerned about what is happening in Brampton, said Ford on Friday. Anyone who is thinking of having a big shindig this weeke ROME, March 23 (Reuters) - The measures adopted by the European Central Bank in response to the coronavirus emergency are sufficient and effective but the bank is ready to do more if necessary, a member of its Governing Council, Ignazio Visco, said on Monday. "The set of measures adopted has been effective in relieving tensions. We believe today that these are sufficient, but we are ready to do more if needed," Visco, who is also Governor of the Bank of Italy, told newspaper La Stampa in an interview. He added that the ECB was ready to increase the size of the emergency bond purchase program (PEPP) announced last week as well as changing its composition and length in time. (Reporting by Giulia Segreti; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman) After in-person classes were cancelled at his university in Fredericton, Kurvin Silvio decided to book a flight home to Mauritius. He was set to fly out his birthday, March 18, at 6 a.m. He made it as far as Toronto. As he was boarding the plane to fly to Dubai, a course that would have taken him from Dubai on to Mauritius, he received a text from his dad recommending he should stay put in Toronto. "My dad texted me and told me, 'You can't come back home because the country is shut down and the airport is closed,'" said Silvio, a second-year student studying French and political science at St. Thomas University. Given the global pandemic over COVID-19, Silvio wasn't surprised he could no longer fly home, although some Mauritians aboard the flight were "very shaken up." "For me, I would say it was a shock, but I was kind of prepared for it." Submitted by Kurvin Silvio All travellers and Mauritian nationals were banned from entering the airport on March 19. Silvio didn't want to risk getting stuck in Dubai or ending up in a quarantine in Mauritius, so he decided it was best to stay. Silvio is among many international students stuck in Canada after universities cancelled in-person classes and borders began closing around the world. Some have been able to leave before their home border closed, others haven't been so lucky. Borders closing hours before flight A week and a half ago, Maria Leiva along with 2,000 other students at her university, received an email saying classes would now be done online because of concerns over COVID-19. Leiva is a third-year student at St. Thomas, studying political science and international relations. She sent the email to her parents, and started planning her trip home to Honduras. Leiva lives in an apartment with one roommate, who is also from Honduras. They booked their flights together the next day, packed up their belongings and prepared to leave on Monday, March 16 at 4:10 p.m. Story continues "We were all ready, we had a hotel, we had our flights, our luggage packed, everything ready to go." But on Sunday night, hours before take off, Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, announced the country was closing its borders. There are more than 300,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 globally. There are more than 20 cases of COVID-19 in Honduras and 17 cases of the respiratory illness in New Brunswick. "On Monday, we were like, OK, so are we not leaving or what is happening?" At 1 p.m. on Monday, Leiva and her roommate decided to stay in Canada. "We decided we were not leaving, and now, even though it's hard to not be with your family at these times, I think we made the right decision." A few days later, Canada followed suit by closing its border. "If we had left, it could [have been] more difficult for us to come back and we don't know how long it's going to take for this situation to go back to normal." CBC Leiva is spending her time doing homework, cooking, watching movies and talking to her roommate. Silvio has been staying with Mauritian relatives in Toronto. He's been eating home-cooked meals, playing video games and preparing for his online courses, which were just launched today. "I kind of feel at home with the people I'm staying with here," he said. Fear for friends Leiva is worried about her friends, and what might happen if they're no longer able to pay rent because they're not working. She also wonders what will happen if parents are no longer able to go to banks and send money to their children studying abroad. "Things have been changing so dramatically and so fast these days that you don't have any sense of stability," she said. Silvio is worried about his friends and family back home. "We are not as developed as Canada or say, European countries," Silvio said, adding Mauritius had four cases two days ago, but now that number has ballooned to 28 cases and two deaths. "We know there is a shortage of respirators, doctors, sanitary products, and we don't have space [in hospitals] for everyone." International students seeking entry into the country received good news Friday when the federal government expanded the list of exemptions to air travel restrictions. International students holding a valid study permit or approved for a permit are now among the individuals considered essential travellers. Police on Monday identified 18-year-old Vincent Lewis-Coppin as the victim of a fatal shooting Friday evening in Boston. Officers responded to a report of a shooting shortly before 7:40 p.m. in the rear of 86 American Legion Highway in Dorchester, the Boston Police Department said in a statement. When officers arrived at the scene, they found Lewis-Coppin outside. He had been shot several times. The 18-year-old was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, according to the statement. The Boston Police Department is actively reviewing the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident, the statement said. Boston police asked anyone with information related to the shooting to call homicide detectives at 617-343-4470. Right after Saudi Arabia-led OPEC and Russia broke up their pact to keep oil supply and prices in check, some in the U.S. oil industry were optimistic that oil prices would go back up to $65 by the end of the year regardless of the end of the production restrictions. One of those was Jay R. Young, President and CEO of King Operating Corporation, an independent oil and gas operator in Texas, who argued in a post on Forbes that U.S. shale shouldnt panic because prices would bounce back. In just two weeks, the situation on the oil market has changed dramatically and prices for the U.S. benchmark are in the low $20s. Not only has the Saudi-Russian oil price war depressed prices, but the falling oil demand with coronavirus-caused country lockdowns is heavily weighing on the outlook for this years global oil demand. Analysts see 10 million barrels of oil (bpd) or more of lost demand and right now no one expects oil demand to grow this year compared to last years muted growth. [M]y prediction is oil will bounce back! And it wont be because of the emotional reactions Saudi Arabia and Russia took last night, poking out their chests over production cuts. It will be because of basic supply and demand and a lot of people will be scratching their heads saying, Why didnt I invest in the oil markets when prices were low? Young said in his post. Fewer rigs and falling well productivity rates across the U.S. shale patch would reduce U.S. oil production, thus leading to higher oil prices by the end of 2020, Young says. Related: What Happens If Oil Prices Go Negative? Growing U.S. oil production has frustrated the OPEC+ efforts to rebalance the market for the past three years. But the oil price crash is hurting the shale patch so much that companies are starting to cut budgets by 20-30 percent. Production will slow down inevitably, but the huge demand destruction, which is just beginning in the worlds top oil consumer, the United States, is set to continue depressing oil prices at least until the coronavirus pandemic is contained. Faced with such unprecedented demand flop, oil producing countries face a lot of pain in what promises to be an oversupplied market for the next months. In the U.S., the oil industry will suffer, in Saudi Arabia and Russia, the government finances will be hit. With demand falling off a cliff, oil at $65 by the end of the year would need millions of barrels per day taken off the market through another coordinated action among oil producers. Saudi Arabia and Russia are currently not backing down from the oil price war, even though their finances will be hurt by oil prices much lower than their fiscal breakevens. The question is, which oil producer will see this overproduction as a price too high. The U.S. is also wading into the debate, with U.S. President Donald Trump saying last week that at the appropriate time, Ill get involved in the Saudi Arabia-Russia oil price war. Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton spoke with OPECs Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo on Friday, and tweeted that we all agree an international deal must get done to ensure economic stability as we recover from COVID-19. He was kind enough to invite me to the next OPEC meeting in June. Related: Do Saudi Arabia And Russia Really Want To Kill U.S. Shale? The chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission, however, is not in favor of capping production. A couple of operators have suggested pro-rationing oil as a solution. While I am open to any and all ideas to protect the Texas Miracle, as a free-market conservative I have a number of reservations about this approach, RRC Chairman Wayne Christian said in a statement on Friday. The U.S. also has other options to intervene in the Saudi-Russian feud, including by passing the NOPEC legislation which would remove the immunity of any oil producing nation to be sued under U.S. antitrust laws. With oil demand expected to take a major hit in the coronavirus pandemic, oil price wars and a flood of oil supply from the former allies Saudi Arabia and Russia is the last thing oil bulls (if there are any left) need this year. Oil at $65 currently looks as unachievable as $100 oil looked when oil prices were at $65 a barrel. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: MANISTEE In an annual report to city council, the city's police chief said the City of Manistee has seen more criminal sexual conduct (CSC) investigations, more overdose reversal drug usage by first responders and there have been fewer fire runs. Tim Kozal, public safety director, updated council on statistics and accomplishments from last year compared with 2018. Overall, Kozal said there was an increase in the number of criminal sexual conduct (CSC) investigations, and he emphasized that those investigations take more time to complete than some other types of investigations. He said there were 33 CSC case investigations in 2019 and 19 investigations in 2018. Just one day would be possibly up at the child advocacy center with the interview. Its a very long and involved process. Making follow ups, getting the initial interviews, it takes a while, he said. Also, when you get into victims and testing, youre talking about waiting on stuff to come back from the lab, doing search warrants, analyzing phones, trying to corroborate. They are very sensitive cases and were very sensitive to that in the police department. Kozal said the department is also down one officer compared to normal and another is considered on light duty. So, weve been handling the same amount of calls, and short one or two officers, and the same amount of complaints, Kozal said. Mayor Roger Zielinski said it is also important to keep in mind that if you take a look at what is required now by our court system and what work has to be done to get a case to court, it takes a lot of time to do the paperwork if you will. Kozal said another recent use of the departments time was the investigation of more than 100 vehicle break ins over the summer. That took an (enormous) amount of time because the amount of evidence we recovered, to try and get it back to all the victims, Kozal said. A lot of these investigations do take a lot of time. For the fire department, Kozal said there were 21 fire runs in 2018 and eight last year. EMS runs were up slightly from 841 calls in 2018 and then 874 last year. Kozal said there were 8,713 dispatched complaints in 2018 and 8,483 in 2019. There were 264 vehicle accidents reported for 2018 and that number increased to 303 accidents last year. WORK WITH SCHOOLS Kozal took the time at the meeting to touch on the ongoing investigation of harassment at Manistee High School. He said there were more than 20 interviews conducted in that case. In an email Monday, Kozal said that at this time it is still open. We are waiting to get data back. A previous email from Kozal released March 11 stated that On March 6, 2020, the Manistee Police Department was contacted by Manistee Area Public Schools. Manistee Area Public Schools received an anonymous tip from Michigans statewide OK2Say (student safety initiative) program regarding cyber harassment allegations potentially involving students of the district. The news release said, Individuals associated with this alleged harassment have been identified and are currently being investigated. Kozal said he had enjoyed what he called the School Lunch Initiative where the department worked with local schools to periodically serve lunch for students. He said more than a year ago, he also worked with Manistee Area Schools with tabletop exercises. I would go in and I would have a PowerPoint of scenarios that would happen within the school, he said. And what I would try to do is with the teachers and administrators in the room task them with making decisions (saying)you have three minutes to make a decision. In a lot of these scenarios what I would do is I would make it that Im not available or law enforcement is not available, were on a house fire, because we want them to make the decision. He said this helps schools to reference their policies, evacuation plans and other things already set in place. (This way) they can make those decisions and feel confident if we ever have an incident at our schools, Kozal explained. What we did a couple months ago, we actually had the school safety advisory committee come in, and I actually did one of those tabletop scenarios with them so those parents that were there were involved and they were able to interact with the administration and listen to the thought process of decision making. He said this practice of tabletop scenario training has expanded throughout the county between the Manistee County Sheriffs Department and other school districts. W ith the coronavirus pandemic sweeping across the globe, a number of high-profile figures are desperately calling for members of the public to stay indoors to prevent the rapid spread of the deadly virus. The latest celebrity to call for people to remain on their sofas during the Covid-19 crisis is actor Kevin Bacon, who launched his #IStayHomeFor campaign last week. The campaign sees someone writing the name of the person theyre choosing to stay home for, sharing it online and tagging six more friends to do the same. #IStayHomeFor campaign rather humorously riffs off the famous Bacons Law - which suggests everyone is only six or fewer acquaintances closer to Kevin Bacon. In his video, the 61-year-old wrote the name of his wife of 32 years, Kyra Sedgwick, as the person he wants to protect. Further explaining the campaign on todays Good Morning Britain, Bacon explained: I want to keep in mind that theres a lot of people who cant stay home, and we should be staying home for them to protect the first responders and the medical workers and the unlikely heroes who are coming out of this thing the people who work in grocery stores and essential services, who dont have the luxury of staying at home. He added that the campaign, which has seen celebrities such as Demi Lovato and David Beckham get involved, has helped those who have struggled with staying indoors. Celebrities reacting to coronavirus - In pictures 1 /34 Celebrities reacting to coronavirus - In pictures Gigi Hadid with boyfriend Zayn Malik and sister Bella during her quarantined 25th birthday celebration Instagram / @gigihadid Joe Jonas and Sophia Turner have turned their isolation boredom into hilarious TikTok content TikTok Kylie Jenner and best friend Stassie have been very active on TikTok TikTok Gigi Hadid celebrated her 25th birthday with family while in quarantine Instagram / @gigihadid Chrissy Teigen and John Legend have been able to enjoy time with their kids Instagram / @chrissyteigen Katy Perry recorded herself for American Idol in a life sized hand sanitizer bottle Instagram / @katyperry Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson were the first celebrities to have a confirmed case and kept us updated on their recovery journey on Twitter and Instagram Instagram / @tomhanks Demi Moore and Bruce Willis in matching pajamas with their daughter and her boyfriend Instagram / @buuski Kaia Gerber adopted a puppy to keep her company Instagram / @kaiagerber Helena Christensen has been having her son take glam Instagram photos for her Instagram Brooklyn Beckham in quarantine with his girlfriend Nicola Peltz Instagram Matthew McConaughey played virtual bingo with seniors The Enclave at Round Rock Senior Living/Facebook Kim Kardashian on a flight wearing a face mask and gloves @kimkardashian Naomi Campbell preparing for a flight @naomi Gwyneth Paltrow wearing a facemask during a plane ride @gwynethpaltrow Bella Hadid wearing a face mask on a plane @bellahadid Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas @sophiet Sebastian Stan on a plane in protective gear @sebastianstan Naomi Campbell preparing for a flight @naomi Nicole Scherzinger with Thom Evans @nicolescherzinger Idris Elba announced on Twitter that he had tested positive for coronavirus @idriselba Robbie Williams greets fans with elbow bumps Getty Images Kylie Jenner and best friend Stassie have been very active on TikTok TikTok Kylie Jenner and best friend Stassie have been very active on TikTok TikTok Joe Jonas and Sophia Turner have turned their isolation boredom into hilarious TikTok content TikTok Katy Perry has taken to dressing up in outlandish costumes Instagram / @katyperry I see a lot of positivity and support for each other, he said. Weve been told to stay inside for the best of our ability, but its okay to go out and take a walk and walk a dog, and get some fresh air. You can do that, but you have to do that logically. Several other celebrities have been making the most of their time inside, raising the spirits of their fans during the coronavirus crisis. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New York is officially on pause." As of 8 p.m. Sunday Gov. Andrew Cuomos mandate that 100% of the states non-essential workforce should no longer report to work temporarily became the new normal. That shuttered thousands of small businesses -- from hair and nail salons, to clothing and convenience stores -- across the city. The order comes as the number of confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) cases across New York State rose Sunday to 15,168, with over 9,000 confirmed in New York City, including 593 confirmed cases on Staten Island. This is a statewide order. Its not what your county executive is doing. Its not what your mayor is doing. Its not what anyone else but me is doing and I accept full responsibility, Cuomo told reporters at a press conference Friday morning. *** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK *** Any non-essential business that doesnt follow the executive order could be penalized. CLOSING UP SHOP On Sunday afternoon many Staten Island merchants said they are hoping to survive the mandatory closure as they were getting ready to shutter their storefronts. Were by appointment only so we never had more than five people at one time, said Pablo Billstone, owner and operator of the PG Studio hair salon in Port Richmond. Our salon is always clean and we were already sanitizing daily. I hope people follow the rules and stay home so that we can move past this. If we stay closed for too long, I wont be able to generate enough money to pay for rent or the bills. LeeLee Woon, owner of Lee Lees Nails in Dongan Hills posted a note on Facebook telling her loyal customers that her salon will be temporarily closed. Dearest friends and customers. We will start temporarily closing from tonight to ..... until we are back to normal. I have to say thank you for all your support and love. See you soon. Stay safe and healthy, she said. Small businesses, like the Castleton Corners-based Goodfellas Restaurant, have been struggling with the new restrictions since in-restaurant dining was banned last week. Overall business is down about 30 to 40%, said owner Frank Rizzuto, Were doing our best to make sure people can keep working so they can pay their bills. Goodfellas is also offering non-contact delivery, he said. Wait staff at the restaurant, like Danielle Drucker, have been greatly impacted by the new social distancing regulations. Im only making about a third of what I normally would make in a week, said Drucker, who doubles as general manager. "Were doing our best to wear multiple hats right now. We know that a lot of people who are in our shoes arent even working at all. Employees at Donut World in Castleton Corners said they hope online orders will make up for the loss of business. About 70% of our orders for the last week have been online orders, said employee James Saccardo. ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES Under the executive order, however, essential businesses are not impacted. The state classifies essential workers as the following: Health care operations Research and laboratory services, hospitals, walk-in health care facilities, veterinary and animal health services, elder care, medical distribution, home health care workers/aides, doctors and dentists, nursing homes or residential facilities, and medical and equipment providers. Infrastructure Utilities, including power generation, fuel supply and transmission; public water and wastewater, telecommunications and data centers, airports and airlines, and transportation infrastructure, such as bus, rail and for-hire vehicles. Manufacturing Food processing, chemicals, medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, safety and sanitary products, telecommunications, microelectronics, agriculture and paper products. Retail Grocery, including food and beverage stores; pharmacies, convenience stores, farmers markets, gas stations, restaurants and bars for takeout and delivery, and hardware and building material. Services Trash and recycle collection, mail and shipping, laundromats and dry cleaning, building and cleaning maintenance, child care, auto repair, warehouse and distribution fulfillment, funeral homes, crematoriums and cemeteries, and animal shelters. Financial Banks, insurance, payroll and accounting. Other essential workers include news media, homeless shelters and providers, construction, and emergency management workers, such as fire, law enforcement, building code enforcement, security and building cleaners. *** Be the first to know: Sign up for our newsletters; and get breaking news and top stories pushed to your phone with the SILive.com mobile app. RELATED COVERAGE Coronavirus: 98 members of NYPD test positive, police commissioner says Coronavirus: Temporary hospital sites chosen; none on Staten Island Coronavirus: DMV shuts down all offices, auto bureaus Relief for homeowners: 90-day mortgage extension and more Rapidly shifting real estate market: Canceled open houses, virtual tours Coronavirus: Senate passes paid-leave bill for all New Yorkers Staten Island sees 120% jump in confirmed coronavirus cases, with 165, as testing capacity expands Small business owner: Coronavirus is going to crush us Governor: 75% of non-essential employees must work at home Coronavirus: NYC travel industry in triage mode FOLLOW TRACEY PORPORA ON FACEBOOK and TWITTER Chinese handset maker Xiaomi on Monday announced it will donate lakhs of N95 masks and protective suits in India amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. According to Manu Jain, Global Vice President, Xiaomi and Managing Director, Xiaomi India, these masks will be distributed in states like Delhi, Punjab and Karnataka. The handset maker will also donate hazmat suits to doctors at government hospitals like AIIMS. "At Xiaomi India, we've taken several measures of precaution such as curtailing business travel and external meeri, ensuring employees and all partners wear masks in public and keep their hands clean and sanitised," Jain added. According to the handset maker, each facility such as corporate office, warehouse, service centre, Mi Home and manufacturing plant will abide by the lockdown orders issued by the state and UTs. "Across all Mi Homes, we have activated Delivery on Call' service which allows users to call up their closest Mi Home and order their favorite smartphone for home delivery. All Mi Home staff also wears masks at all times and keeps their hands sanitised for walk-in customers," noted Jain. How far off is Davide Campari-Milano S.p.A. (BIT:CPR) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. This is done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple! Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model. Check out our latest analysis for Davide Campari-Milano What's the estimated valuation? We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 Levered FCF (, Millions) 242.3m 301.9m 329.8m 380.0m 411.0m 433.2m 451.1m 465.9m 478.2m 488.8m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x9 Analyst x10 Analyst x7 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 5.4% Est @ 4.14% Est @ 3.26% Est @ 2.65% Est @ 2.22% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 7.8% 225 260 263 281 282 276 267 256 243 231 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = 2.6b Story continues We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 10-year government bond rate (1.2%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 7.8%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2029 (1 + g) (r g) = 489m (1 + 1.2%) 7.8% 1.2%) = 7.5b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= 7.5b ( 1 + 7.8%)10= 3.5b The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is 6.1b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of 6.4, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out. BIT:CPR Intrinsic value, March 23rd 2020 The assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Davide Campari-Milano as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 7.8%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.800. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. Next Steps: Whilst important, DCF calculation shouldnt be the only metric you look at when researching a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For Davide Campari-Milano, We've compiled three pertinent aspects you should look at: Risks: For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Davide Campari-Milano that you should be aware of. Future Earnings: How does CPR's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the BIT every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. In Chiles drought-ridden Petorca, even the simple directive of washing ones hands is nearly impossible. The river in Petorca, Chile, is completely dry. The small, poor settlements that line Petorcas River Ligua once relied on the river for its source of water. But for the past 15 years, residents here have turned to delivery trucks that bring water from elsewhere. Unlike the running water they once enjoyed, the communities water now is stagnant, limited and often contaminated. The problems brought by the continuing drought have only been compounded by the ever-growing threat of the novel coronavirus, which has infected more than 328,000 and killed over 14,000 people worldwide. Chiles Ministry of Health has instructed people to stay at home and wash their hands, but for those living in the countrys drought-ridden areas, even such a simple task seems nearly impossible. Claudia* lives near the parched basin in Petorca. She says every day is a struggle to ensure she has water for her family. I am exhausted, Claudia tells Al Jazeera by phone. They say you have to wash your hands. What can I do? I disinfect everything, absolutely everything, and collect the little water I have so that the kids can wash. Claudia, a resident of Petorca The water from her taps comes out in drips, slowly filling the sink, she says. It takes her one hour to wash the dishes. Sometimes, the trucks do not arrive to fill her villages water cistern, leaving her community without water for days. A mother of two young girls, she is preoccupied with the threat of coronavirus. They say you have to wash your hands. What can I do? she says. I disinfect everything, absolutely everything, and collect the little water I have so that the kids can wash. She sent her eldest daughter to live with her mother in a nearby city for the time being. For sanitary reasons, she says. My mother has water. Avocado production, Petorcas main industry, is the cause of the drought, local activists say. Most Chilean avocados are exported, meaning increased international demand for avocados has led to a proliferation of plantations in the area. Each tree needs 66.6 litres (about 17.5 gallons) of water a day more than the 50-litre (13-gallon) quota of water reserved for residents, who often do not receive their full allowance. A man cycles past a sign that reads No more water theft, along a road in Petorca town [File: Ivan Alvarado/Reuters] Agricultural companies operating in the province have been accused by locals of illegally diverting water from the Petorcas rivers, driving the regions drought. Agricultural organisations claim they are only using legally sourced water, but Petorcas local government has begun to dismantle illegal pipelines and fine the corresponding companies. It is not drought, its theft, says Nicolas Quiroz, a member of the Movement for Water and Land Rights (MAT), a nongovernmental organisation. Health emergency Quiroz, who lives in Petorca, says the government has been absent in the crisis, and believes it has done too little, too late. We are in a health emergency and we arent able to look after ourselves as a consequence of being denied our right to water, he says. Maria Paz Bertoglia, an epidemiologist at the Universidad de Chile, says the lack of running water in the countrys dry zones which extend to provinces north of Petorca, is a cause for concern. It is a sanitary and social preoccupation not just to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but lots of illnesses, she tells Al Jazeera. Bertoglia says access to clean water should be a guaranteed right for everyone in our country. A farmer inspects flowers in a conservatory on a farm in Petorca town [File: Ivan Alvarado/Reuters] During one of his first televised statements addressing the coronavirus pandemic, President Sebastian Pinera sternly advised Chileans to comply with preventive measures. To save lives, I ask all my compatriots to wash their hands frequently with water, he said. Official instructions from the Health Ministry include washing your hands under running water for 30 seconds. It is impossible in the communities that have little water and rely on tanks and cistern trucks to provide water. Carolina Vilches, Petorca Municipality, To this date, the government has not publicly addressed concerns from those affected by the water crisis. The Health Ministry did not respond to Al Jazeeras request for comment. Petorcas local government confirmed they are in discussions with the Health Ministry and are working to address the problem. There are 632 confirmed cases of COVID-19 cases in Chile, 16 of which are in the Valparaiso region, where Petorca is located. Carolina Vilches, who oversees water resources at the Petorca Municipality, acknowledges that many in the province cannot comply with the hand-washing measures. It is impossible in the communities that have little water and rely on tanks and cistern trucks to provide water, she says. No one should have to live like this She is also concerned about what effect stricter quarantine measures may have those who drive cistern trucks that bring water to residents. We are at high risk. We cannot maintain the hygiene standards that this situation requires, she says, adding that she is hopeful the countrys central government will soon deliver support. A countryman crosses a dried-up river at the Petorca town in 2008 [File: Eliseo Fernandez/Reuters] Claudia says her kitchen is full of dirty plates. She will clean them at night, the only time there is enough water to do so. In her living room, a large pile of laundry waits to be washed she will take it to her mothers later in the week. She says the lack of water impacts her physically and mentally. I have to keep going on. For my daughters, and for myself, she says. But no one should have to like this. Its not healthy. *Name has been changed to protect the individuals identity. Locals and water rights activists in the region have reportedly received threats from local politicians and businesses for speaking up about their situation. Dr. Scott Isaacs has worked as an endocrinologist for more than two decades, focused on the medical needs of adults with diabetes in the Atlanta area. He never expected to be serving on the front lines of a pandemic. For weeks, his phone has been ringing off the hook. His diabetes patients, a high-risk group for coronavirus infection, want to know: How can they get tested? How can they stockpile extra medication? And can he write to their employers to recommend they work from home? Last week, Dr. Isaacs saw a patient with Type 1 diabetes, a nurse who is 10 weeks pregnant. She asked him how long she should stay home from work to avoid possible exposure, and he had to respond honestly: I really dont have an answer to that. Dr. Isaacs is used to relying on his medical expertise, but the coronavirus has suddenly put him in new territory, an experience shared by many medical specialists who may serve as the primary physicians of patients with particular medical needs. Physicians across every field who are trained to care for very specific medical problems are confronting a surge of patient questions and scrambling to keep up with rapid changes in case numbers and advisories from governments and health agencies. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 12:17:45|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Members of the Chinese medical team make a vow before leaving for Cambodia in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, March 23, 2020. The Chinese government has sent a team of medical experts to Cambodia to help the country fight the COVID-19 pandemic, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang announced Monday. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government has sent a team of medical experts to Cambodia to help the country fight the COVID-19 pandemic, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang announced Monday. The team, organized by the National Health Commission, consists of experts selected by the Health Commission of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The team left for Cambodia earlier in the day. The firms under the Vidarbha Association Software Exporters based out of IT Park Parsodi in Nagpur will be allowed to work with five per cent staff, the district administration said on Monday. The decision was taken after these firms approached the administration to give them partial exemption from lockdown rules in place due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. The administration asked the association to take steps to ensure workers do not get infected with the coronavirus, failing which action will be taken under the IPC and Disaster Management Act, 2005. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 23 By Nargiz Sadikhova Trend: Kazakhstan is extending visas and work permits for foreign citizens who are residing in Kazakhstan, Trend reports with reference to Kazakhstans Foreign Ministry. The ministry said that the decision was made by the countrys State Commission for the State of Emergency under Kazakhstans president due to the measures taken to countering the spread of the coronavirus in Kazakhstan. Thus, based on the commissions decision, visas and work permits for foreign citizens who are residing in Kazakhstan will be extended until April 20, 2020, whereas the duration of stay of foreign citizens who entered Kazakhstan according to the existing regulations on visa-free regime for 57 countries, will be extended for 30 days. By a decision of State Commission on Provision of Emergency State under the president of Kazakhstan quarantine regime has been introduced at 00:00 (GMT +6) on March 19, 2020, in Kazakhstans Nur-Sultan and Almaty cities due to coronavirus outbreak. On March 15, 2020, Kazakhstans President Kassym Jomart Tokayev signed a decree introducing an emergency state in Kazakhstan due to coronavirus outbreak, which came in force from 08:00 (GMT +6) on March 16 and will last till 08:00 on April 15, 2020. First two cases of coronavirus infection were detected in Kazakhstan among those who arrived in Almaty city from Germany on March 13, 2020. The latest data said that the overall number of coronavirus cases in Kazakhstan is 60 people. The outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fish market in late December 2019. As of today, over 339,200 people have been confirmed as infected. The number of people killed by the disease has surpassed 14,700. Meanwhile, over 98,800 people have reportedly recovered. Several countries are working on a vaccine against the new virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11. One of the few certainties about the coronavirus pandemic is the prospect of lawsuits concerning exposures, medical treatment, and future quarantines and vaccination orders. But one lesson from past outbreaks is that courts have seldom interfered with government authority to clamp restrictions on private citizens, as long as they have some connection with public well-being. The federal government passed its first quarantine law in 1796 during a yellow fever epidemic. In an unrelated case in 1824, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall said quarantines restricting movement from endangered areas were within the acknowledged powers of the states to provide for the health of the citizens. In 1902, the Supreme Court allowed Louisiana to prevent a ship of healthy passengers from docking at a port quarantined during an epidemic, on the grounds that the travelers might spread the illness. And in 1905 the court upheld Massachusetts requirement of smallpox vaccinations for all adults in the city of Cambridge during an outbreak of the disease, and a $5 fine against a resister who argued that the mandate violated his liberty. But the courts have also insisted on at least some arguable connection between public health and government curbs on freedom, as San Francisco health officials learned in 1900. After nine deaths from bubonic plague were reported in Chinatown, the city health office, with support from state and federal health officials, ordered a quarantine of a 12-block area that prevented thousands of residents from leaving. The order ignored evidence that the disease was spread by rats, not humans and the quarantine applied only to Chinese Americans, carving out a handful of homes and other buildings owned by whites. In a lawsuit by a grocer named Jew Ho, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said a limited quarantine of the death sites might have been justified, but there was no authority to enforce any ordinance in this city that shall discriminate against any class of persons in favor of another. The appeals court quoted an 1886 appeals court ruling in another case from San Franciscos Chinatown, a challenge to an ordinance requiring a permit to operate a laundry in a wooden building permits that were regularly denied to Chinese Americans and granted to others. The high court said the government could not enforce a law that, though neutral on its face, was administered by public authority with an evil eye and an unequal hand. The Constitution requires that you treat similarly situated people similarly, said Michelle Mello, a Stanford professor of law and medicine. If this affected only people of Asian descent, it would be a different conversation. The government needs to show a public health necessity, Mello said, and if it does, its given a lot of deference by the courts. The same might be true of private facilities, like the Life Care Center nursing home in Kirkland, Wash., where 29 patients or former patients have died of the coronavirus. If a nursing home were sued for failing to protect its residents or staff, Mello said, a jury would be instructed to put itself in the shoes of the decision maker at that time and under those circumstances, considering such factors as shortages of supplies or nursing staff, in deciding whether it acted reasonably. Or maybe theyd be expected to act even more carefully, said another health law professor, Dorit Reiss of UC Hastings law school in San Francisco. In a crisis, reasonableness can change, but it can change either way, she said. Lawyers for the victims would argue, and judges might agree, Reiss said, that in an emergency you should take more precautions. When it comes to government intervention during an outbreak, though, courts have generally refrained from intervening as long as the action was evenhanded. Opinions differ on the effectiveness and potential hazards of smallpox vaccinations, Justice John Marshall Harlan said in the Supreme Courts 7-2 ruling in 1905 upholding the vaccination mandate in Cambridge, Mass. But he said the procedure has strong support in the experience of this and other countries, and from high medical authority, and courts must accept those judgments when lawmakers rely on them. Even the governments failure to act for example, by not promptly providing test kits or other tools and procedures to combat COVID-19 is extremely difficult to challenge in court. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Its really hard to successfully sue the government for not mounting an effective public health response, Mello said. And Reiss noted that U.S. law shields the federal government from suits for discretionary policy decisions. But government authority is not unlimited, even during an epidemic. Quarantines, for example, can be challenged not only on racial grounds, as in the 1900 Chinatown case, but also for being too broad. Mass quarantines are going to run into constitutional problems, said Reiss. A state or local government will need evidence of a public health necessity to cordon off specific areas, she said, and would probably have difficulty justifying a quarantine of an entire city. At times, the courts response seems to have been based on who is affected by government orders. When San Joaquin County ordered a quarantine in 1948 for people with venereal disease, it put some of them in the county jail, which was already overcrowded and had been condemned for its conditions by a state legislative committee. But the states Third District Court of Appeal in Sacramento said health officers were entitled to choose the site in an emergency, and the court also upheld the quarantining of individuals whose homes were determined to be sites of prostitution, saying they were more likely to be infected than not. By contrast, the South Carolina Supreme Court in 1909 refused to allow an elderly lady of refinement suffering from leprosy to be quarantined in a pesthouse a small building located near a trash heap and formerly used to confine black people with smallpox and ordered her relocated to a comfortable cottage. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko The United Arab Emirates, home to the world's busiest international airport, announced early on Monday that it was suspending all passenger and transit flights for two weeks to stymie the spread of the new coronavirus. The announcement came a day after the first cases were reported in the Gaza Strip and Syria, where years of conflict have severely degraded the local health care infrastructure. The new cases also raised fears about other vulnerable areas, like war-torn Libya and Yemen. Dubai's airport is a vital hub connecting Western nations with countries in Asia and Australia, and suspending transit flights there affects travelers around the world. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, announced that an evening curfew would go into effect starting Monday from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. for three weeks. Countries across the Middle East have ramped up restrictions on daily life in an effort to contain the global pandemic. Most people only experience mild symptoms from the COVID-19 disease caused by the virus and recover within weeks. But it is highly contagious and causes severe illness in some patients, particularly the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. People can carry and spread the virus without showing any symptoms. More than 331,000 people have been infected worldwide, and more than 14,400 have died. Nearly 100,000 people have recovered. There are around 26,800 cases of the virus confirmed in the Middle East, but more than 21,000 of those cases are in Iran and many others are linked to travelers from Iran, which has reported nearly 1,700 fatalities. The UAE's emergency and crisis management body and its Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement that the decision to stop all commercial flights, including even transit flights, would take effect in 48 hours. The aviation authority said cargo and emergency evacuation flights would be exempt from the ban. Saudi Arabia and at least seven other countries in the Middle East have already suspended all commercial flights to try and stop the spread of the virus. Also, several Mideast countries, including Iraq and Kuwait, have imposed evening curfews. The UAE's Ministry of Interior announced overnight that people should only leave their homes in their personal cars for work or necessities. It said further announcements would be made regarding rules for taxis and public transport, on which many foreign laborers and workers across the country rely. It warned that violators could face fines or imprisonment. The UAE also announced that malls, shopping centers and restaurants will be closed for at least two weeks, though restaurants can still offer delivery service. The decision affects some of world's biggest malls and indoor mall attractions in the emirates of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Grocery stores, pharmacies and wholesale food suppliers are exempt from the ban. Countries across the Gulf have already closed schools, gyms, parks, beaches and mosques to the public, including Islam's holiest sites in Mecca and Medina. The cases in Gaza and Syria have raised particular concern, as both would be ill-equipped to detect or contain an outbreak. Authorities in Gaza say two people tested positive and were isolated after returning from Pakistan. Syria said a 20-year-old woman tested positive after entering from another country, without providing further details Gaza has been under an Israeli and Egyptian blockade since the Islamic Hamas movement seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. The coastal territory is home to more than 2 million people but it only has around 60 ventilators, and all but 15 are already in use, according to Abdelnasser Soboh, director of the World Health Organization's Gaza office. The nine-year civil war in Syria has left millions of people internally displaced. Poverty is rampant and many medical facilities are barely functioning. There are similar concerns about a catastrophe if the virus turns up in Libya or Yemen, which are both divided by civil wars that have ruined their healthcare systems. Afghanistan reported its first death on Sunday, a man in his 40s. The war-ravaged country has reported 34 confirmed cases. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The window period between the initial announcement of the COVID-19 causing coronavirus breaking out in the Peoples Republic of China and the first suspected case to be recorded in Eswatini and, consequently, governments declaration of a state of emergency, has been instructive on the countrys readiness for natural disasters as well as where on governments priority list the people fall at the very bottom. Long after a majority of countries in Africa, at least those already with suspected cases of COVID-19 but including some who had still not been affected, had prioritised the health and well-being of their citizens by being proactive and took positions with action plans to boot, government was still procrastinating even when the first suspected case had been reported. In the meantime the populace was being stressed by anxiety of a leadership vacuum and an uncertain tomorrow. And social media took the lead ahead of government in (mis)informing, (mis)educating and updating emaSwati about the pandemic and its management in order to minimise its spread and devastation thus sowing more confusion. In the meantime, some people even joked on the very social media that government was clueless on what to do and was waiting for neighbouring countries, specifically South Africa, to take the lead from whose cue it would then cut and paste into its response and position on the pandemic. By the time government declared a state of emergency, to a deafening applause from the beneficiaries of the political hegemony, South Africa had already declared a state of disaster three days earlier. Eswatini had also missed out on an emergency meeting on the coronavirus of ministers of health from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) member countries. However, given the state of shock and anxiety caused by the pandemic, which made it daunting to even think of travelling outside the country, SADC would have done well to utilise available cutting-edge technologies such as tele-conferencing and Skype instead of physically convening the regions captains of health in one place at such a critical point in time when their leadership was required on the ground in their respective countries. As it turned out, it is not only Eswatini which missed that emergency meeting but a few other countries as well. Deficiencies As I see it, it is the deficiencies of the political system that we find ourselves in this rut. Our skewed political system is the source of all the challenges facing this country today. Ample empirical evidence of this fact is there for the discerning to behold but one example is the huge divide between the haves and the have nots, a position also referred to as income disparities. This scenario can be blamed on the fact that the leadership is not accountable and answerable to the people. Hence important and urgent decisions in the interests of the ordinary folk are often stayed culminating in leadership vacuums until it is too late. Consequently, the foot soldiers in the form of technocrats and technicians may devise good plans and strategies which, however, cannot be freely implemented, ostensibly because this power does not reside with them. As it turns out, a workshop to sensitise and hone journalists on reporting on the novel coronavirus organised by the Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA) with the Ministry of Health revealed that much ground had been covered by health technicians to counter the threat posed by COVID-19. The efforts of these men and women should not go unnoticed or be clouded by often weak and wanting political leadership. As it were, good strategies and interventions the health technicians may come out with, as they have done for this pandemic, require political backing for them to be properly and adequately resourced. Yes, that old problem of scarcity of resources when it comes to issues and matters affecting emaSwati yet there always are resources for celebrations and projects of no economic value whatsoever is compromising interventions against COVID-19. Apparently, profligate spending by government is compromising external assistance being extended to emaSwati. Case in point being the World Health Organisation excluding this country from the list of countries to receive protective equipment ostensibly because Eswatini is not considered a poor country. The reasons for this are simple, they like the rest of us at least outside the coterie of blind loyalists - have studied governments spending patterns over time and came to the correct conclusion that the country was very wealthy. Indeed, this position is also enforced by the kingdoms classification by the World Bank and United Nations system as a medium income country, which means a larger percentage of emaSwati should be living within the middle class bracket. Yet the reality is that the majority of emaSwati are slaves to poverty and disease courtesy of reckless spending on useless and uneconomical vanity projects. In the meantime, ordinary emaSwati have to deal with poverty on a daily basis and cannot even access reasonably decent health services given the perennial shortages of medication in public health facilities. Right now, as the nation is faced with COVID-19, nurses are out in the streets protesting against potential exposure to the novel coronavirus because of a lack of protective clothing. And who can blame them for they are in the frontline of this apparent war and have to protect their own health. For without nurses, whatever interventions are activated will come to naught and will not stop the spread of the virus thus imperiling the lives of emaSwati. What will it take for the ruling elite to appreciate that they lead because of the people and that without the people they are obsolete? The lockdown declared by the Delhi government following the coronavirus scare has no meaning for people in Outer Delhi as they are violating the norms in areas such as Nangloi, Paschim Vihar, Vikaspuri, Mundka, Peeragadhi, Janakpuri and Tilak nagar without any fear. Moreover, e-rickshaws and gramin sewa tempos were seen plying on road without any hesitation, while Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the press conference on Sunday had clearly stated that these things will be completely banned. The biggest exaggeration was seen when a policeman, riding in an e-rickshaw, was seen heading towards the ring road from Jwala Heri market. When asked by IANS why he was riding an e-rickshaw despite the ban, he said that he had to go on duty but there are only a few buses running on roads. In such a situation, he has no other option. The most surprising thing is that whether it is e-rickshaw or gramin sewa, they were packed with passengers. Shockingly, only a quarter of the riders were seen wearing masks. Some gramin sewa drivers were also seen opting for internal routes to escape lockdown and earn money. The police, however, are monitoring the situation on main routes but they can't even stop these vehicles inside the colonies. A Reliance Fresh's store in Syed village of Nangloi was full of customers and they were seen pushing each others to purchase the goods. When IANS contacted the manager of this store, he said that he has instructed the guard to allow only one person from a family to come in and stop those who have not wearing a mask, but people are not following the instructions. The people apparently came to buy essentials goods for the whole month, hence, almost everyone had a companion but almost a half of these had no masks on their faces. Many florists regularly sit at the red light of Jwala Heri Market. Their shops are open. A florist named Salim even said that the government has granted all the two days. Moreover, the Section 144 is in forces that prohibits gathering of four and more people at one place at one time. But in areas such as Nihal Vihar, Vikaspuri and Janakpuri, people were moving freely. Customers were also purchasing plants from nursery. A salon was also opened in Nihal Vihar. Despite the Section 144 is in force, people were seen in groups at many places in these areas. This threatens to spread more of this epidemic. People either lack awareness or are deliberately flouting the rules. In areas like Tilaknagar and Nihal Vihar, many gurdwaras were seen open against the government's orders. Kejriwal had said in the press conference that no one will be stopped but people should come out only when its extremely urgent but in such a large areas, no policeman was seen questioning anyone. Two Shiv Bhojan centres run with Shiv Sena funds in Maharashtra's Aurangabad on Monday distributed 300 free thalis and plan to scale up the figure to 600 in a day for those affected by the lockdown in view of the novel coronavirus outbreak, said party MLC Ambadas Danve. He said a community kitchen would prepare 1000 food packets from Tuesday. Sena functionaries were using 10 sprays to disinfect public places for the past five days, former MLC Kishanchand Tanwani told PTI. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (CNN) - All non-residents will be banned from entering Hong Kong from midnight Wednesday local time, Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced at a news conference on Monday. Travelers will also not be allowed to transit through Hong Kong airport. The strict new measures come as the number of confirmed cases in the city has almost doubled in the past week. Many of the cases were imported from overseas, as Hong Kong residents who had left -- either to work or study abroad, or to seek safety when the city seemed destined for a major outbreak earlier this year -- returned, bringing the virus back with them. Walsh will be part of the executive team, reporting to Damien Mu, chief executive and managing director of AIA Australia and New Zealand. The experienced industry executive previously worked at Mercer and its sister company Marsh for more than 25 years, most recently as managing director and CEO of Australia and New Zealand where he was responsible for delivering the firms business segments of health, wealth, and career. He was also chief country officer of Mercers parent, Marsh & McLennan Companies (MMC), and director of five Mercer boards across Australia and New Zealand, including the trustee of the $25 billion in funds under management Mercer Master Trust. Were thrilled to have secured such a high-calibre leader in Ben, who joins the AIA family with decades of experience and a shared passion for purpose and making a difference in peoples lives, Mu said. We have a unique customer value proposition of life, health, and wellbeing and each of those pillars is fundamental to our shared value model. In heading up the life pillar of the business, Ben will pay a key role in helping us realise our vision of making Australia and New Zealand the healthiest and best protected nations in the world. As the business continues to grow, Bens leadership and expertise will allow us to deliver greater value in life insurance, further strengthening our leadership by identifying and investing in innovative ways to meet evolving customer needs and expectations. Four defendants are standing trial, three in absentia, over the 2014 downing of the MH17 passenger jet over Ukraine. The trial of four men accused of murder over the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in Ukraine in 2014 will be adjourned until June 8 to give defence lawyers more time to prepare, judges at the hearing in the Netherlands ruled on Monday. MH17 was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur on on July 17, 2014 when it was shot down by a missile fired from territory held by pro-Moscow rebels amid fighting in eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 aboard. Russia has denied any involvement. The defendants Russians Sergey Dubinsky, Oleg Pulatov and Igor Girkin, and Ukrainian Leonid Kharchenko held senior posts in pro-Russian militias in eastern Ukraine in 2014, according to prosecutors. They face preliminary charges of murder and of causing an aircraft to crash. Prosecutors say the four men helped to arrange the Russian missile system used to shoot down MH17, a civilian aircraft. Most of those killed were Dutch. Pulatov did not appear in person but sent lawyers to represent him, and they have told the court their client was not involved in the crash. The other defendants are being tried in absentia. Pulatovs lawyers argued at the opening of the case on March 9 that they needed more time to read through all the court documents. On Monday, the Dutch judges agreed with them. The court suspends the examination of the Pulatov case until June 8th, 10am, and the defence will be able to speak at that time, presiding judge Hendrik Steenhuis said. He said that meant the cases against the other three defendants, which are being tried simultaneously, would therefore also be suspended until that time. Mondays session was held behind closed doors due to the coronavirus outbreak but was broadcast via an internet livestream. In the aftermath of the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, the Russian military annexed Crimea in eastern Ukraine. Protests in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions blew up into a full-scale armed pro-Russian insurgency, and Ukraine deployed its armed forces to suppress the separatists. The violence escalated, and Ukrainian air force jets were deployed, with several shot down over the rebel-held territory. After the disappearance of MH17, a social media account linked to Girkin claimed responsibility for shooting down a Ukrainian military aircraft in the area. A video published by News Corp Australia a year later showed Russian-backed rebels arriving on the scene to discover it was a Boeing 777 civilian flight, packed with hundreds of tourists. Paris, Amsterdam, March 23, 2020 Press release COVID-19 Impact Update: Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield withdraws guidance and provides update on planned dividends for the 2019 fiscal year On February 12, 2020, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield ("URW" or "the Group") announced its 2019 results and proposed a dividend of 10.80 per stapled share. There were only a limited number of COVID-19 cases outside China at that time. Since then, the COVID-19 pandemic has evolved significantly and at a very rapid pace. Governments and business are employing stringent measures to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus, as described in the press releases issued by the Group on March 16 and 19. There is currently a lack of clarity about whether further measures will be deployed and significant uncertainty about the duration and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the operations of the Group. Consequently, URW announces that: It withdraws its 2020 AREPS guidance and expects to provide an update on its guidance when it can reliably estimate the duration, severity, and consequences of the current situation; To satisfy its REIT dividend distribution obligations, it will pay an interim cash dividend of 5.40 per share, as planned, on March 26, 2020 (ex-dividend date March 24, 2020). This payment will cover the Group's distribution obligations for 2019; and Taking a prudent view of the uncertainties about the duration and impact of the crisis, and in order to further augment the Group's strong liquidity position, it has decided to cancel payment of the final dividend of 5.40 per share. URW continues to focus on the strength of its asset portfolio, its capital allocation priorities and the preservation of its strong liquidity position, in addition to the health and safety of its employees and communities. These are unprecedented times and URW is taking all necessary measures to address these challenges in the best possible manner and prepare the Group for the future. For further information, please contact: Investor Relations Samuel Warwood Maarten Otte +33 1 76 77 58 02 Maarten.otte@urw.com Media Relations Tiphaine Bannelier-Suderie +33 1 76 77 57 94 Tiphaine.Bannelier-Suderie@urw.com About Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield is the premier global developer and operator of Flagship destinations, with a portfolio valued at 65.3 Bn as at December 31, 2019, of which 86% in retail, 6% in offices, 5% in convention & exhibition venues and 3% in services. Currently, the Group owns and operates 90 shopping centres, including 55 Flagships in the most dynamic cities in Europe and the United States. Its centres welcome 1.2 billion visits per year. Present on 2 continents and in 12 countries, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield provides a unique platform for retailers and brand events and offers an exceptional and constantly renewed experience for customers. With the support of its 3,600 professionals and an unparalleled track-record and know-how, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield is ideally positioned to generate superior value and develop world-class projects. As at December 31, 2019, the Group had a development pipeline of 8.3 Bn. Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield distinguishes itself by its Better Places 2030 agenda, that sets its ambition to create better places that respect the highest environmental standards and contribute to better cities. Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield stapled shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam and Euronext Paris (Euronext ticker: URW), with a secondary listing in Australia through Chess Depositary Interests. The Group benefits from an A rating from Standard & Poor's and from an A2 rating from Moody's. For more information, please visit www.urw.com Visit our Media Library at https://mediacentre.urw.com Follow the Group updates on Twitter @urw_group , Linkedin @Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield and Instagram @urw_group Access the URW 2018 report at https://report.urw.com/2018/ Attachment Paul Ibe, spokesman of Atiku Abubakar, has cleared the air about the rumours that trailed the alleged movement of the son of the former vice president who was diagnosed of coronavirus after he returned from Switzerland. When field work endangers the field The development of Bangalore into Indias technology hub has improved the standard of living for millions. But the effects of such urbanization on the citys surrounding farming regions are less clear. That was a subject that Pramila Thapa, a graduate student studying the impacts of urbanization on agricultural systems at the Universities of Kassel and Gottingen, Germany, hoped to study. Everything was set up for a large-scale social survey, said Ms. Thapas adviser, Tobias Plieninger, a professor at Kassel and Gottingen. We had developed a questionnaire, identified 60 villages and towns with a total of 1,200 potential respondents, recruited six interviewers. But with the coronavirus pandemic, the Karnataka state government in India shut down universities and other aspects of public life. And the German institutions partner in India had an additional concern about doing fieldwork at this time. Some people were concerned that we could be made responsible for carrying the virus into the villages, he said. Ms. Thapas project has been put on hold until the safety of her colleagues and the communities they study can be assured. The delay has been very painful, said Dr. Plieninger, especially for graduate students in his department whose projects will likely have to undergo substantial changes. Annie Roth Cant study firefighters during a crisis At Satchin Pandas lab at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, Calif., the coronavirus outbreak is pulling away the very people his research might be able to help. Dr. Panda studies circadian rhythms, the 24-hour cycles that rule our bodies. Hes especially interested in how to keep those rhythms strong, and how disruptions harm our health. For example, research has shown that shift workers whose daily lives are out of sync with the sun, such as nurses or firefighters, are more prone to certain illnesses, including cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Are you lost in the wild? Sorry, but the page you're looking for has not been found Try checking the URL for errors, goto home or try to search below. JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. You should upgrade or use an You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.You should upgrade or use an alternative browser The Tamil Nadu government on Monday warned of legal action against overseas returnees violating directions for self-quarantine as a preventive measure against coronavirus, saying they become a threat for community transmission. State Health and Family Welfare Minister C Vijaya Baskar said the list of travellers had been handed over to district administration and police for tracking and legal action would be taken if anyone violated the order. The warning came amid the rise in the number of coronavirus cases in the state to nine with all of them having overseas travel history. "#update: though tracked, some of the travellers violate Govt's strict order to #selfquarantine, thus becoming a threat for community transmission.", the Minister said in a tweet. The nine cases included a 45-year old man who became the first COVID patient in the state on return from Oman and been discharged after recovering. In another tweet, Baskar said it was clear that all the COVID-19 cases in the state so far had overseas travel history. "My request to everyone who travelled abroad during the past one month, (they) must self-quarantine and report to doctor if any symptoms persists", he said. A report from Erode said the house where seven Thailand nationals, two of whom tested positive for COVID-19, stayed at Kollampalayam there was sealed by authorities. The neighbouring houses were disinfected and people in the locality subjected to thermal screening, officials said. The two were now under treatment at the Perundurai Government Medical College Hospital. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Editor's Note: Get caught up in minutes with our speedy summary of today's must-read news stories and expert opinions that moved the precious metals and financial markets. Sign up here! (Kitco News) - Gold and silver prices are trading sharply up in early U.S. trading Monday. Prices shot from modestly higher levels overnight to sharp gains following an announcement from the Federal Reserve that the U.S. central bank will very aggressively buy more securities, including mortgage-backed, and also open up main street lending facility. The Fed used the term unlimited on amounts it will spend. U.S. stock indexes also shot above unchanged price levels on the day after trading sharply lower before the Fed news. April gold futures were last up $37.80 an ounce at $1,522.00. May Comex silver prices were last up $0.50 at $12.89 an ounce. Global stock markets were lower in overnight trading. U.S. stock index futures are presently pointed toward higher openings when the New York electronic day session begins. The New York Stock Exchange, itself, is now closed. When the markets opened electronically Sunday, U.S. stock indexes were locked limit down. The U.S. Congress over the weekend failed to agree on a financial aid package for U.S. businesses and citizens, which was being blamed for the even more dour marketplace mood to start the trading weekuntil the surprise Fed announcement just a short while ago. The Covid-19 outbreak continues to spread worldwide, with the U.S. economy shutting down even further as many states, including New York and California, have been locked down by their governors. Focus in the U.S. is on a shortage of medical supplies. Local health officials are now asking for the public to donate any supplies such as masks and gloves that they have at home. U.S. Senator Rand Paul has been diagnosed with Covid-19. Over the weekend much of the American public came to the stark realization the U.S. is not going to remain on lockdown for just a couple weeks, but instead for a period likely at least twice that long and probably even longer. China-U.S. relations are becoming more strained as President Trump now refers to Covid-19 as the China virus, which has angered the Chinese people. Following is an edited email dispatch from a market analyst Monday morning: U.S. economic growth estimates from the biggest investment banks are becoming increasingly dire. Last week, J.P. Morgan expected GDP to shrink 14% in the second quarter of this year, Goldman Sachs sees a 24% fall, while the latest forecast by Morgan Stanley is even gloomier, anticipating a 30% drop. However, the worst projections are coming from a well-respected Fed official, James Bullard, who said unemployment may hit 30% and GDP decline 50% in the second quarter. Within the next couple of weeks, we will get to know how severe the upcoming economic crisis will be. The scariest scenario is that it turns into a credit crisis which will break the financial system. The important outside markets today see Nymex crude oil prices firmer and trading around $23.00 a barrel. The U.S. dollar index is lower after hitting a three-year high overnight. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield has dropped to around 0.8% Monday after trading above 1.0% last week. U.S. economic data due for release Monday is light and includes the Chicago Fed national activity index. Technically, the gold bears still have the overall near-term technical advantage. Bulls next upside price objective is to produce a close in April futures above solid resistance at $1,550.00. Bears' next near-term downside price objective is pushing futures prices below solid technical support at the March low of $1,450.90. First resistance is seen at $1,535.00 and then at $1,550.00. First support is seen at $1,500.00 and then at the overnight low of $1,484.60. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 3.5 May silver futures bears have the solid overall near-term technical advantage. Silver bulls' next upside price objective is closing prices above solid technical resistance at $13.50 an ounce. The next downside price breakout objective for the bears is closing prices below solid support at $11.00. First resistance is seen at $13.23 and then at $13.50. Next support is seen at the overnight low of $12.29 and then at $12.00. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 2.0. Global emergency efforts to slow the coronavirus pandemic ramped up on Monday with more governments imposing extraordinary lockdowns, as the death toll topped 15,000 and more than one billion people were confined to their homes. From Germany banning even small gatherings, Italy barring travel, New Zealand announcing a new lockdown and Hong Kong shutting its borders to non-residents, the new round of containment efforts highlighted a deepening sense of panic around the world. According to an AFP tally, some 1.7 billion people globally have now been asked to stay home in line with mandatory or recommended measures rolled out by governments scrambling to slow the tide of the deadly pandemic. And with major cultural and sporting already wiped off the calendar, this year's Tokyo Olympics may be in peril. There are mounting calls to postpone the event and Japan's prime minister admitted for the first time a delay could be "inevitable". Markets on both sides of the Atlantic were hammered again on Monday and the virus continued to wreak havoc on the global economy, spurring fears of a global fallout not seen since the Great Depression. The death toll from the virus surged to more than 15,000, with over 340,000 infections, according to an AFP tally on Monday, with Europe the new epicentre of the outbreak that first emerged in China late last year. Italy's world-worst toll from the pandemic approached 5,500 with another 651 deaths reported on Sunday. Though still high, the daily toll was a slight dip from the previous count, offering a sliver of hope the country may finally be turning a corner. European nations continued to choke people's movement, with Greece the latest nation to follow Italy, Spain and France in imposing a nationwide lockdown. City streets in Greece normally packed with Monday morning traffic were suddenly deserted as residents stayed inside -- leaving the house only for essential trips. "It's a bit of a hassle... but these measures are necessary and we'll get used to them," said Athens resident Maria Bourras, who leaves her house regularly to walk her dog. In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday announced a ban on gatherings of more than two people, before putting herself in quarantine after learning she had been treated by an infected doctor. Her office said on Monday the 65-year-old was "doing well" and awaiting coronavirus test results. Italy banned travel and shut down a range of industries and businesses on Monday, a new wave of restrictions designed to finally slow the rate of deaths and infections. Meanwhile, Spain readied to extend its state of emergency, which bars people from leaving home unless absolutely essential, until April 11. It reported another spike in fatalities on Monday, bringing its total to 2,182 dead -- the third highest in the world after Italy and China. Residents across France, where the death toll jumped to 674, also remained shut in their homes and the government said lockdown measures could extend past the end of March. Meanwhile Britain inched towards similar tough measures, with the government under pressure to clamp down after crowds flocked to holiday hotspots and beaches at the weekend, defying social distancing recommendations. Across the Atlantic, US President Donald Trump ordered thousands of emergency hospital beds to be set up at coronavirus hotspots as a trillion-dollar economic rescue package crashed in the Senate. "We're at war, in a true sense we're at war," Trump said. More than a third of Americans were under various forms of lockdown in the country, including in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, but the number of infections nationally has continued to climb. Highlighting the desperation in the world's biggest economy, the mayor of New York said his city was just 10 days away from running out of ventilators. Markets reeled after the mega rescue package collapsed, sending bourses in Asia, Europe and the US on a downward spiral again. The economic fallout from the virus has sparked fears of a global slump not seen for decades. "This is the biggest economic shock our nation has faced in generations," Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said as he warned the pandemic could lead to a crisis akin to the 1930s Great Depression. As the pandemic overwhelms hospitals, doctors are having to quickly prioritise patients based on their chances of survival, inflicting a huge moral burden. "We go into medicine to heal people. Not to make choices about who can live," said Philippe Devos, an anaesthesiologist in Belgium. The virus emerged in China in December, after first being detected at a market that sold wild animals for human consumption in the central city of Wuhan. China has since sought to sow doubts over whether the virus began in Wuhan, while portraying itself as a saviour in the global fight and a role model for quarantines. On Monday it reported no new local cases of the virus, while life slowly started returning to normal in Wuhan with people heading back to work and public transport resuming. But there are fears across Asia of "imported" cases from Europe and other hotspots. New Zealand has yet to be hit hard but on Monday announced a four-week lockdown to prevent a Europe-style crisis, with Colombia set to follow suit on Wednesday. Hong Kong, which had largely avoided the virus in the first wave despite being so close to the Chinese mainland, said it would stop all non-residents from entering. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Steinhausen, March 23, 2020 - The Annual General Meeting of Schweiter Technologies on April 8, 2020 will be carried out without the physical participation of shareholders. Participation is only possible by instructing the independent proxy or by voting electronically. Based on Art. 6a Para. 1 of Ordinance 2 of the Swiss Federal Council on measures to fight the coronavirus of March 16, 2020, the Board of Directors decided that the Annual General Meeting on April 8, 2020 will be carried out without the physical participation of shareholders. Shareholders have the possibility to provide instructions to the independent proxy or to vote electronically. At the same time, the Board of Directors decided that the Annual General Meeting will take place at the company's headquarters instead of the seminar hotel Bocken in Horgen. For further information please contact: Martin Kloti, CFO Tel. +41 41 757 77 00, Fax +41 41 757 70 01, martin.kloeti@schweiter.com Please find the Media release in the PDF attached: YEREVAN, MARCH 23, ARMENPRESS. Spouse of the Armenian prime minister Anna Hakobyan has joined the fight against the novel coronavirus as a volunteer and is holding an awareness-raising campaign in the streets of the capital city of Yerevan. Mrs. Hakobyan told reporters that she also wants to bring her contribution to this process. Recently the ministry of healthcare applied for volunteers to tackle this disease. I immediately applied for it as I wanted to be engaged in volunteering activities and bring my contribution to the fight against coronavirus. The ministry said that many people were already applied for volunteering and they wanted to keep us away from this initiative, but we insisted that I should definitely do any action, Anna Hakobyan said. The PMs wife was distributing leaflets to citizens which shows what steps they need to take to protect themselves from COVID-19 and prevent the spread of the disease, as well as to self-quarantine. I urge our citizens to follow all the advices given by our relevant authorities. This is my first out to the street following the self-quarantine, at this period I visited a store with the Prime Minister only once and returned back. Today citizens saw me in the street, but didnt approach, we greeted each other in a distance and wished good health, she said. So far, 194 cases of the novel coronavirus have been confirmed in Armenia. Two patients have recovered and were already discharged from hospital. On March 16 Armenia declared a 30-day state of emergency to tackle the spread of the coronavirus. The state of emergency is effective until April 14, 17:00. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan Donald Trump has appeared to mock the threat of the deadly coronavirus facing Mitt Romney, the only Republican senator who voted to convict him on impeachment charges. The Utah senator and former presidential nominee said he was taking advice on self-isolation after spending time on Friday with Rand Paul, who announced on Sunday that he had tested positive for Covid-19. Told during a White House briefing that Mr Romney was one of several politicians self-isolating, the president said: Romneys in isolation? Gee, thats too bad. A reporter asked him: Do I detect sarcasm there? Mr Trump shook his head and said: No, no, none whatsoever. More than 400 people have died from Covid-19 in the United States, with more than 32,000 cases identified. MSNBC host Chris Hayes responded to Mr Trumps comment by tweeting: Super funny joke! One of our incredible colleagues died from this on Friday. Larry Edgeworth, an NBC employee who worked in an equipment room at the broadcasters headquarters in New York, died last week. Mr Romney has become a hate figure for the president and his supporters since becoming the lone Republican to vote for Mr Trumps conviction for abuse of power, one of the two charges he faced after being impeached by the House of Representatives. The president was accused of secretly trying to pressure a vulnerable ally into inteferring in the 2020 election by smearing Democratic frontrunner Joe Biden. Following his acquittal by Republican allies in the Senate, Mr Trump tweeted: Had failed presidential candidate @MittRomney devoted the same energy and anger to defeating a faltering Barack Obama as he sanctimoniously does to me, he could have won the election. Read the Transcripts! At a prayer breakfast he lambasted the senator again, referring to his justification of his impeachment vote because of his Mormon faith. Mr Trump said: I dont like people who use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong. At the CPAC conference of conservative activists, Mr Romneys name was repeatedly booed. On Sunday morning Mr Paul, a GOP senator for Kentucky, tweeted a statement reading: A statement on his Twitter account read: Senator Rand Paul has tested positive for COVID-19. He is feeling fine and is in quarantine. He is asymptomatic and was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive travel and events. He was not aware of any direct contact with any infected person. He expects to be back in the Senate after his quarantine period ends and will continue to work for the people of Kentucky at this difficult time. Ten days ago, our DC office began operating remotely, hence virtually no staff has had contact with Senator Rand Paul. Good Morning, welcome to Information Nigerias Newspaper headlines for today, 23rd March 2020. Here are the major headlines. Atikus Son Test Positive To Coronavirus Nigerias former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has revealed that his son tested positive for the deadly coronavirus. Atiku, on his verified Twitter page, late Sunday night disclosed that his son had tested positive for the virus. COVID-19: Only Detain For Serious Offenses IGP Tells Police Mohammed Adamu, inspector-general of police (IGP), has ordered police officers not to detain suspects for minor offenses over the coronavirus outbreak. NCDC Confirms One New Case In Abuja The Nigeria Center for Disease Control NCDC has confirmed a new case of Coronavirus in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja. Cuba Has Drugs To Fight Coronavirus Falana Writes FG Human rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN) has written a letter to the federal government stating that Cuba has drugs that can help in the fight against the deadly coronavirus. CPVID-19: Three More Cases Emerge In Lagos Three new cases of the new coronavirus were confirmed in Lagos on Sunday morning, World Health Organisation and Nigerias center for disease control said. Ogun State Govt Reveals Identity Of Doctor Who Identified Index Case Of Coronavirus The Ogun State Government has acknowledged and appreciated the young female doctor who identified the first coronavirus case in Nigeria. Taking to social media, the official account for coronavirus update from the state shared a photo of the doctor as they appreciated her. Oyedepo Holds Service, Says Plague Can Not Hinder Gods Work Bishop David Oyedepo, the general overseer of the living faith church also known as winners chapel held church service on Sunday, despite the government ban on religious gathering of over 50 people as a preventive measure against the spread of coronavirus. God Wants To Use Coronavirus To Show The World His Power Adeboye RCCG General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye has stated during his sermon today that God told him that at the beginning of the year there will be a compulsory holiday worldwide. COVID-19: Set Prisoners Free, Use Prisons As Detention Centers REPS A member of the House of Representatives, Rep. Chukwuma Umeoji, has suggested that inmates of correctional centres across the country be set free, while prisons are converted to quarantine centres for patients who have tested positive for the Coronavirus. Buhari Is Either Dead Or Just Inhuman Fani Kayode Femi Fani Kayode, a former minister for aviation and a peoples Democratic party (PDP) chieftain has lambasted President Muhammadu Buhari over his failure to address the nation following the coronavirus pandemic. Bengaluru police commissioner Bhaskar Rao checks duplicate and illegal seized from a sanitizers factory on March 20, 2020. (PTI) Bengaluru: Starting Monday midnight, Bengaluru will be sealed off completely to tackle the outbreak of coronavirus in the city, the citys police commissioner Bhaskar Rao announced late Monday evening. No vehicles will be allowed to come in or go out of the city. All bus services, both inter-state and inter-district, will be suspended. Section 144 would be in force throughout the city. The clampdown will begin midnight of Monday (Mar 23) and end at 12 midnight on March 31. Bhaskar Rao warned that any assembly of five or more people will be prohibited. Only vehicles used for emergencies will be allowed and movement of private vehicles will be restricted. All flyovers in the city will be closed to private vehicles. Only ambulances and vehicles used for essential services will be allowed. To enforce these restrictions, the police have invoked IPC section 269 (unlawful or negligent acts that are likely to spread infection of any disease dangerous to life) and 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life). Violaitons of these laws entails a punishment of two years in jail. We will mercilessly take action, Bhaskar Rao said. In other measures, the services of Ola, Uber and otheer taxicab services have been suspended. Friday prayers in Masjids have been suspended. People have been told to celebrate Ugadi festival inside their homes. Provision stores, ration shops, departmental stores and meat shops will remain open. Swiggy and Zomato will be allowed to deliver food. Barber shops, beauty parlours, florists, clothing stores and electronics stores will be closed. All hotels will not serve but will open takeaway counters. Policemen will be out to monitor the situation in the localities. Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) platoons will be deployed across the city to assist the police department. Local police stations will take a call on which shops can remain open. Commissioner Bhaskar Rao chaired a high-level meeting of all senior police officers including 18 DCPs and 40 ACPs in the city. A special team of personnel from the police and the BBMP has been set up to monitor people in quarantine. DCP Isha Pant will head the special team. The team has received inputs from the Kempegowda International Airport (KIAL) that as many as 43,000 persons returned from various countries between March 8 and March 19. The team will round up these 43,000 persons and ask if they have been in isolation. If not, they will be asked about who they have been in contact with. Till yesterday, the team managed to identify 20,000 people and issued self-quarantine notice to them. Police teams will pay surprise visits to the houses of people who are supposed to be in self-quarantine. Police are gathering inputs from intelligence agencies as well. Neighbours have been the primary source of information for the police. Foreign returned people will have a seal imprinted on their hands. If people with such a stamp on their hands are found roaming outside, they will be picked up and put in government isolation centres. At Shaheen Bagh, the number of protestors who have been on a sit-in protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) has reduced significantly on Monday amid lockdown announced in view of coronavirus till March 31 and the 'Janata Curfew' that was observed a day earlier. Speaking to ANI, Maryam, a protester said, "We respect and obey the decision taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It has been urged that a minimum number of people should gather at one place so people are coming here in shifts, in groups of five. We are ready to combat with coronavirus. We are following what has been told like wearing gloves, masks and using sanitizers." She added that some unknown people had hurled a crude bomb at the protesters at the site yesterday. "We don't know who they were. The government should have conducted an enquiry into this matter. They should care about these things. We are following the government's orders but they should also think about us and abolish this black law (CAA)," she added. Yesterday, a bullet was fired and a petrol bomb was thrown at the protest site and a case has been filed at Shaheen Bagh and Jamia Nagar police stations, a police official had said. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will hear on Monday petitions seeking the removal of anti-CAA protesters from Shaheen Bagh to prevent the spread of coronavirus, along with other pleas pending before it in the matter. "I believe that the SC will take a decision in our interest. The way they (interlocutors) talked to us so I think a good decision will be taken keeping in view of the women sitting here and in the wake of COVID-19," said Maryam. Many protesters at the site were seen donned in masks and maintaining distance to mitigate the chances of spreading the deadly virus. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has also announced a lockdown in the capital territory of Delhi from 6 AM today to midnight on March 31. According to latest data by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a total of 396 individuals have been confirmed positive among suspected cases and contacts of known positive cases. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 23 By Nargiz Sadikhova Trend: Kazakhstans Ministries of Healthcare, and of Trade and Integration have made changes to recommendations on operation of major trade facilities during the emergency state introduced in the country, Trend reports with reference to the ministry. The changes allow major trade facilities (shopping centers, hypermarkets, trade houses, markets) the area of which is no less than 2,000 square kilometers to operate over the time period from 10:00 (GMT +6) till 18:00. At the same time, the entities operating in major trade facilities and selling food items, medicines and non-food items will operate as usual with condition of strengthening sanitary and disinfection measures taken. In turn, non-food markets will operate from 10:00 till 17:00 with condition of strengthening sanitary and disinfection measures taken. Minimarkets and stores near living complexes will also operate as usual with condition of strengthening sanitary and disinfection measures taken. Catering facilities are allowed to operate with a number of restrictions: - those in major trade facilities are allowed to operate only via delivery services; - those operating outside major trade facilities must restrict time of work till 22:00, and the number of customers allowed inside at the same time must not exceed 50 people. These recommendations apply throughout Kazakhstan. However, governors and chief sanitary doctors of the region in question may take additional restricting measures based on local epidemiology situation, the ministry said. By a decision of State Commission on Provision of Emergency State under the president of Kazakhstan quarantine regime has been introduced in Kazakhstans Nur-Sultan and Almaty cities at 00:00 (GMT +6) on March 19, 2020, due to coronavirus outbreak. On March 15, 2020, Kazakhstans President Kassym Jomart Tokayev signed a decree introducing an emergency state in Kazakhstan due to coronavirus outbreak, which came in force from 08:00 (GMT +6) on March 16 and will last till 08:00 on April 15, 2020. First two cases of coronavirus infection were detected in Kazakhstan among those who arrived in Almaty city from Germany on March 13, 2020. The latest data said that the overall number of coronavirus cases in Kazakhstan is 60 people. The outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fish market in late December 2019. As of today, over 339,200 people have been confirmed as infected. The number of people killed by the disease has surpassed 14,700. Meanwhile, over 98,800 people have reportedly recovered. Several countries are working on a vaccine against the new virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11. The Petroleum Ministry has received several complaints of alleged corruption and irregularities against the CEO and other officials of Petronet LNG Ltd, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Monday. In a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha, Pradhan said the complaints against the Managing Director and CEO of Petronet and other officers were forwarded to the Chairperson of Audit Committee of the company for appropriate action. Prabhat Singh has been the Managing Director and CEO of Petronet LNG Ltd (PLL), India's biggest liquefied natural gas importer, since September 2015. His five-year term comes to an end in six months from now and he is eligible for a two-year extension of service till he achieves the superannuation age of 65 years. "Several complaints have been received in Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas against MD & CEO, PLL and other officers of PLL regarding alleged corruption/irregularities which were forwarded to Chairperson, Audit Committee, PLL for taking appropriate action," Pradhan said without giving details. He said PLL has its own board-approved vigilance mechanism whereby the board has nominated Chairperson, Audit Committee as nodal officer to deal with all the complaints received against functional directors. According to PLL's website, independent director Jyoti Kiran Shukla is the Chairperson of the Audit Committee. The panel comprises of three other independent directors. Shiv Sena MP Krupal Balaji Tumane had asked Pradhan if the government has conducted any investigation into the complaints received. Asked if the government has conducted any audit of the accounts of PLL regarding the irregularities during the last three years, the Minister said, "PLL is a board managed company and not a government company as per Companies Act." "Further, Audit Committee of the Board reviews and monitor auditing mechanism and ensures compliance to best auditing and corporate governance practices," he said. According to Pradhan, four government oil and gas public sector undertakings -- Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL), GAIL India Ltd, Indian Oil Corp (IOC) and Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) -- hold 12.5 per cent equity stake each in PLL. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 20k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) was all over the Senate while having coronavirus. He visited the Senate pool and the Senate gym. CNNs Manu Raju tweeted: Paul was at the Senate gym today and Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas told senators at lunch he saw Paul in the swimming pool today, per a source in the lunch Manu Raju (@mkraju) March 22, 2020 Here is Paul at the Senate Republican lunch on Friday: I took a picture inside the Senate GOP lunch when the door was open Friday and saw Rand Paul seated next to other senators. He is visible in this photo. pic.twitter.com/4qwZo5YdBs Manu Raju (@mkraju) March 22, 2020 Politico noted Pauls activities, The Kentucky senator had been interacting with his colleagues just days prior, voting on the floor, sitting in meetings and speaking to reporters in hallways. Rand Paul was spreading coronavirus around the Senate like he is Trump on a long weekend at Mar-a-Lago. Maybe, Pauls diagnosis will force Senate Republicans to stop playing games while they try to pass Mitch McConnells coronavirus corporate welfare bill. The coronavirus has hit the Senate and with a Republican majority that is at an at-risk demographic, it would be in their best interests if the Majority Leader would stop playing games and pass a bipartisan bill. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook But the major supermarkets in Dubbo have been gripped by the same panic buying rife in the cities. Potatoes have been particularly coveted in the fresh produce section, with four-kilogram bags selling out without an hour. Shelves are bare in Coles, Dubbo. Credit: Janie Barrett A woman in a wheelchair struggled to get her four cartons of long life milk up onto the conveyer, only to have them taken off her as she was reminded of the one-per-customer limit. "It's absolute pandemonium," one worker commented. Three kilometres away at the Quality Inn Dubbo, staff run steam cleaners over the carpets in an empty conference room. "Normally you don't get the chance to do this because the conference rooms are full," said manager Dave, who asked to only be referred to by his first name. The inn, which mainly caters to business travellers and corporate functions, has seen 250 room cancellations within the last week. Dave's team of casual employees are "frantic" with worry about their future. "We're trying to do extra things to keep them employed," he said. " If we stop paying them, they'll be off to welfare." Leah Thompson, Simone Mackenzie and Natie Bello work at the Quality Inn in Dubbo. Credit:Janie Barrett At the motel's upmarket restaurant, tables have been strategically distanced. Cutlery and glasses are only brought out as the food is served, to ensure there is no risk of contamination. "We're trying to come up with ways that are visible so that people can see there is a change," Dave said. "But this was probably our worst night ever, last night." Dave only took over the business in December, after relocating to Dubbo from the Gold Coast. "We're trying to keep the wheels turning but the scary part for us is, how long is the tunnel?" he said. Loading Receptionist Simone Mackenzie has just called off her wedding reception which she planned to hold at the motel's function centre in July, over concerns for the health of elderly guests. "It's heartbreaking," she said. "But the most important thing is to look after our families." The economic blowback is also being felt Orange's usually thriving winery region, where some cellar doors have abandoned wine tastings for at least a month. "I'm happy to organise payment and leave your wine on the front step," Patina wines posted on its website. "We want to do our part in minimising the pandemic." De Salis Wines was still serving up bubbly to day travellers on a glorious Autumn morning. Customers at De Salis Wines are separated as per the government's guidelines. Credit:Janie Barrett But owner Charlie Svenson, a microbiologist, has brought his expertise to bear to keep his customers safe. The usual spitoons have been traded for large buckets containing detergent, wine glasses are being run on longer cycles in the dishwasher and staff have been given training in how to safely remove their gloves. "You can deactivate the virus if you follow the right procedures," Mr Svenson said. Two of the vineyard's last three harvests were destroyed by bushfire smoke. "The family has taken taken zero pay so we can help keep our staff out the front," Mr Svenson said. As of Monday there were five confirmed coronavirus cases in Western NSW, including four in Orange and one in Bathurst. At a press conference in Dubbo, authorities said they were making extra provisions for people who were homeless and needed to be isolated because of the virus. Loading One healthcare worker, who wished to remain anonymous, was distressed at what she saw as a "widespread ignorance" to the risks in the smaller towns. "In my facility we've moved the chairs apart and people come in and pull them back together," she said, arguing for a full lock-down of aged care facilities. "All of these elderly people could be pushing into the health system at the same time." Meanwhile, the region's residents were turning to increasingly novel ways of shoring up supplies, including panic buying live chickens so they did not go without eggs. Cassie O'Neill runs a business selling about 18 dozen eggs every Saturday from a box strung up outside her Dubbo hobby farm. She attempted to purchase additional chickens last week because hers were maulting, but was told by her suppliers none would be available until at least mid-April. "It's just madness," she said. Cassie O'Neill, who runs Cassie's Fresh Eggs from home in Dubbo, has said there is a live chicken shortage. Credit:Janie Barrett Her husband Craig Thompson's alter ego is "Pooka", a clown and children's entertainer. On Friday night he was booked to perform at Bathurst's Golden Crown racing carnival, but was instead at home after the event was called off. He has already lost about $6000 revenue in cancelled events and future bookings are drying up. "As a child in Bourke I was sick in hospital and I went 'wow, wouldn't it be nice to bring laughter to kids'," he said. "I don't leave a festival until the last little person has been looked after." A video of Mr Thompson's mate Jeff Kleinig went viral this week when he walked down a busy Dubbo street in a hazmat outfit and a "self isolation" hula-hoop. Only a few days later Mr Kleinig discovered he had been on a flight with someone who had tested positive for the virus. "I was taking the piss out of coronavirus and now I've had to do the test for coronavirus," he said, chuckling. N andos has announced that it will close all of its UK restaurants in response to the ongoing coronavirus crisis. The cult-favourite chicken giant has more than 400 locations across the country, and employs more than 20,000 staff. The closures follow the prime minister Boris Johnsons call for all restaurants, bars, pubs and other communal spaces to close on Friday. It was thought that Nandos would remain open for takeaway and delivery services as the government is still permitting, but its restaurants will now close entirely. The health and safety of our customers and team is our highest priority, the company said in a short statement on its Twitter account. We have decided that the best course of action right now is to temporarily close our restaurants until further notice. The company ended the statement by saying, Well see you soon. The announcement follows the revelation from McDonalds this weekend that it would also close all of its UK locations a total of 1,270 sites. McDonalds employs more than 135,000 people across the country, with the majority of those on zero-hour contracts. This is not a decision we are taking lightly, but one made with the well-being and safety of our employees in mind as well as the best interests of our customers, said McDonalds in a Twitter statement yesterday. We will work with local community groups to responsibly distribute food and drink from our restaurants in the coming days. Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen have received negative coronavirus results. Spokesperson for vice-president, Katie Miller announced the results of the tests in a twitter post published on Saturday evening. Pence announced earlier on Saturday that he and his wife were going to be tested for coronavirus as a precaution after a staff member contracted the virus. The Vice-President had stated that the staff member, who had no contact with the President or the Vice-President, is doing well. Nevertheless, Mike Pence stood a few feet from President Donald Trump on the podium at a recent press conference. Share this post with your Friends on PRESS RELEASE 23 March 2020 Status on the consequences of the Covid-19 sanitary crisis The EDF Group is fully mobilized to maintain critical activities in the context of the Covid-19 sanitary crisis. It has the financial and operational capacity to deliver necessary power in all scenarios currently contemplated in France. Thanks to its constant policy of anticipation of its financial needs, the Group has a strong liquidity position, with 22.8 billion of liquidity* at end-2019. In addition, the Group has confirmed and fully undrawn revolving lines of credit for a total amount of 10.3 billion. The reduction in the level of electricity demand is expected to have a limited financial impact on supply and distribution businesses. Similarly, the temporary relief on fragile micro-enterprises electricity bills, which has been decided by the French authorities, should only temporarily increase the Groups working capital requirement, with no significant impact anticipated at year-end. On the other hand, the interruption of maintenance operations on production facilities, in the context of the stay home policy ordered by the authorities, calls for a reorganization of the outages schedule. Consequently, the assumption of 375-390 TWh of nuclear production in France in 2020 is currently being reviewed and will be adjusted downwards. Targeted EBITDA of 17.5-18 billion for 2020 is maintained at this stage for the lower end of the range. It may be revised when the outlook on availability and associated costs becomes clearer. Impacts for 2021 cannot be assessed precisely at this stage. The ongoing redefinition of the outages schedule, which aims primarily at maximizing availability for the 2020-21 winter period, may however have a negative impact on 2021 ouput. Similarly, the drop in power prices on wholesale markets may have a significant impact at year-end on the leverage ratio. The Group will precise in due time the impacts of this sanitary crisis on its activity and financial guidance, as the situation unfolds. Story continues * Cash, cash equivalents and liquid financial assets available for sale This press release is certified. Its authenticity can be checked on medias.edf.com A key player in energy transition, the EDF Group is an integrated electricity company, active in all areas of the business: generation, transmission, distribution, energy supply and trading, energy services. A global leader in low-carbon energies, the Group has developed a diversified generation mix based on nuclear power, hydropower, new renewable energies and thermal energy. The Group is involved in supplying energy and services to approximately 38.9 million customers(1), 28.8 million of which are in France. It generated consolidated sales of 71 billion in 2019. EDF is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange. (1) The customers were counted at the end of 2019 per delivery site; a customer can have two delivery points: one for electricity and another for gas. Only print this message if absolutely necessary. EDF SA French societe anonyme With a share capital of 1 551 810 543 euros Registered lead office: 22-30, avenue de Wagram 75382 Paris cedex 08 552 081 317 R.C.S. Paris www.edf.fr CONTACTS Press: +33 (0) 1 40 42 46 37 Analysts and Investors: +33 (0) 1 40 42 40 38 Attachment In an interview with "Axios on HBO," Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer urged Americans to re-engage in civics and vote and not to expect the judiciary to resolve political questions. Driving the news: It's more than knowing that "judges are not just shouldn't-be-politicians," he said. "They're very bad politicians. Don't get involved in that. That's not your job." The state of play: Breyer, whom Bill Clinton named to the court in 1994, joined me for a wide-ranging "Axios on HBO" interview at the Supreme Court on Feb. 25, weeks before the coronavirus triggered a national emergency in the U.S. and prompted the court to postpone oral arguments. When I asked him whether the rule of law is in trouble today, he responded, "It's always in trouble. It's always touch-and-go. ... The rule of law means a willingness to accept decisions you don't like, and they might be wrong." The coronavirus came up just once in our conversation when I asked if the U.S. legal system is equipped to deal with questions connected to globalization. His answer was essentially yes that while judges look at what's going on in other countries, ultimately cases here depend on U.S. laws, not geopolitics. "There are all kinds of things that now have a world basis," but decisions still revolve around "primarily this document, the Constitution." I asked Breyer what most Americans get wrong about the Supreme Court. He said, "I think the most common perception, which is wrong, in my opinion, is they think that we're just junior-league politicians and they think that all these cases are decided on political grounds." "We won't always get it right, but we're trying to do our best to figure out how law applies in this situation," he said. "And that's sometimes pretty tough. And the decisions people think are so obvious, they're not so obvious." "Look, I am who I am. I was brought up in San Francisco. I went to public schools. I grew up in the '50s, which I like. I think I was lucky. And I spent my time teaching. And you are who you are." He declined to discuss President Trump's recent call for Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor to recuse themselves from cases involving his administration though Breyer said it has to be a very high bar for a justice to step back. "If you're in a court of appeals and you're uncertain, you know, it's a sort of borderline, take yourself out of it," Breyer said. "Because there are a lot of other judges who can step in." But on the Supreme Court, "If you take yourself out of a case, it could affect the result. And therefore, you have to be careful on the one hand to take yourself out of the case if there is an ethical conflict of some kind, and not to take yourself out of the case if there isn't, because you have to participate." Between the lines: Breyer repeatedly declined to discuss controversies or upcoming cases and said it's obvious why. "We're here for 320 million Americans, and they think all kinds of different things," he said. "And if they should have the good luck or the bad luck to be in front of a court, whatever kind of judge you are, whether it's in what court it is, it doesn't matter. They must have the feeling that you will be fair." I asked Breyer if the First Amendment is as safe as it used to be in this era of misinformation and rising authoritarianism. He questioned the premise, recalling past suppressions including in World War I. "It's more now protected, I think, than it was, certainly, then," Breyer said. "And of course, I have confidence in the First Amendment and we depend on it." That includes a free press, he said, and a means to public opinion that is "informed." One fun thing: Breyer said he sometimes follows current events on Twitter, "but I never answer." When I asked if he reads President Trump's tweets, he told me, "I don't want to make a news story out of this, but I will, sometimes, sure." The bottom line: At 81, he said he feels healthy and he has no plans to retire. Who the president is and what the balance on the court could become is "not totally irrelevant" for a justice to consider, he said. But, as for retirement, "I don't really think about it" and "I enjoy what I'm doing." A former central Pennsylvania college student convicted of brutally raping an intoxicated classmate deserves no break on the 17- to 34-year prison term hes serving for the crime, a state Superior Court panel has ruled. Instead, the state judges seconded a York County judges finding that Ethan Rippeys punishment is well deserved given the sadism of the assault and Rippeys subsequent humiliation of the woman. As Judge Alice Beck Dubow noted in the Superior Courts opinion, the victim, who attended York College with Rippey, testified she was intoxicated in August 2016 when she told Rippey to stop a sexual encounter that was becoming too rough. Instead, the woman testified, Rippey forced her to perform oral sex on him, then he strangled and raped and sodomized her. When he finished, Rippey called the victim a dirty little slut as she ran crying out of the house, Dubow wrote Rippey testified during his trial that he and the victim engaged in consensual rough sex. He also complained while on the witness stand that the trial was playing havoc with his class schedule, Dubow noted. The jury convicted Rippey, now 24, of Westminster, Md., on charges of rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault and simple assault. In imposing the prison term, county Judge Craig T. Trebilcock cited the cruelty and callousness of the attack, concluded Rippey had no remorse, and questioned whether Rippey has a capacity for rehabilitation. On appeal to Dubows court, Rippey claimed Trebilcocks punishment is harsh and unreasonable. He claimed Trebilcock underestimated his amenability to rehabilitation and discounted the facts that he had overcome ADHD and had no prior criminal record. On the latter point, Dubow cited the victims testimony that in an earlier incident when she was intoxicated Rippey apparently had anal sex with her without her consent. The state judge also noted a nurse who examined the victim after the August 2016 rape testified she had never before seen such extensive injuries to a sexual assault victim. And that nurse specialized in treating such victims, Dubow noted. We conclude (Rippeys) sentence is not manifestly unreasonable, she wrote. Donald Trump on Sunday pledged to send in the national guard into Washington, California and New York, as the hardest hit states were declared disaster zones. The disaster declaration will provide federal assistance for both emergency protective measures and crisis counseling in Washington, the White House said. Trump said Sunday: 'And through (Federal Emergency Management Agency), the federal government will be funding 100 per cent of the cost of deploying national guard units to carry out approved missions to stop the virus while those governors remain in command. 'We'll be following them and we hope they can do the job and I think they will. I spoke with all three of the governors today, just a little while ago and they're very happy with what we're going to be doing.' Trump also said Sunday he'd ordered the Federal Emergency Management Agency to ship mobile hospital centers to the hard-hit states of Washington, California and New York amid the coronavirus pandemic. New York became the hardest hit state with close to 17,000 confirmed cases and 153 deaths Sunday evening; Washington has more than 1,700 confirmed cases; California more than 1,700. President Donald Trump, flanked by U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor, speaks during a news conference, on Sunday The president said FEMA will also provide thousands of hospital beds to New York, Califnoria and Washington plus dozens of medical stations which will be with the states in 48 hours. Two naval hospitals - one the east and west coast - will also be used. Trump said Sunday: 'I'm a wartime president. This is a war a different kind of war than we've ever had.' He added: 'We're sort of a backup for states.' Washington gov. Jay Inslee said the federal declaration was appreciated but added it was a 'first step' that doesn't go far enough. Health officials there reported at least 95 coronavirus deaths in Washington state and nearly 2,000 confirmed cases Sunday. In a statement Inslee said 'today's declaration does not unlock many forms of federal assistance we have requested to help workers and families who are badly hurting. 'We will continue working with our federal partners to deliver the full suite of disaster assistance that is sorely needed in our state, such as expanded unemployment benefits for workers who lose their paychecks as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.' Louisiana and Ohio have joined nine other states in issuing statewide stay at home orders aimed at stemming the spread of the deadly coronavirus New York City Grand Central Station pictured Sunday amid the coronavirus outbreak A man wearing a face mask walks across the street in San Francisco on Friday, a day after California's Governor Gavin Newsom implemented a statewide 'stay at home order' directing the state's nearly 40 million residents to stay in their homes for the foreseeable future A worker at Life Care Center in Kirkland wears a mask as she leaves the facility Friday evening. The nursing home has been at the center of the outbreak of the new coronavirus in Washington California gov. Gavin Newsom has earlier written to Trump asking that the state be declared a 'major disaster'. He said: 'Unfortunately, California has been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. 'Besides California being home to nearly 40 million people, which itself poses significant logistical issues few other states face, California partnered with the federal government in several extremely complex and challenging repatriation missions, which strained California's resources and impacted California's healthcare delivery system.' There were more than 35,000 cases across the U.S. and close to 500 deaths. New York state accounted for 117 deaths, mostly in New York City. On Sunday, New York passed Washington state, the initial epicenter of the U.S. outbreak, in the number of fatal cases. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo had said earlier: 'I think the federal government should order factories to manufacture masks, gowns, ventilators, the essential medical equipment that is going to make the difference between life and death.' Cuomo has told hospitals to figure out ways to increase their current beds by at least 50% because predictions from health officials are that COVID-19 cases needing advanced medical care will top 100,000 in New York state in the next month or so. Such a deluge could overwhelm hospitals in a city that has about 53,000 beds. Hospitals started to feel the crush Sunday, creating emergency room overflows and dedicating COVID-19 wings, with officials in Brooklyn saying a number were becoming overwhelmed. Health care workers said they were being asked to reuse and ration disposable masks and gloves. For most people, the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death. The vast majority of people recover. Washington also announced that all state campgrounds would be closed until April 30. More than 167 MILLION Americans are now under lockdown after Ohio and Louisiana ordered all residents to stay at home Ohio and Louisiana have joined nine other states in ordering residents to stay at home to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards announced the 'stay at home' directives at press conferences in their respective states on Sunday. The orders affect some 16 million residents across both states and exempt those who work in essential services such as healthcare and the food industry. 'The bottom line is we are in a race against time when it comes to this coronavirus and it's rapid spread in Louisiana,' Edwards said, as the number of cases in his state surpassed 830, including 20 deaths. The French Quarter of New Orleans - usually bustling with tourists and revelers - has become a ghost town since Mayor Latoya Cantrell imposed a shelter in place order on Friday The Louisiana order will go into effect at 5pm Monday and continue at least until April 12. It came two days after New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell announced a similar order for the state's largest city. In Ohio, where 351 cases have been reported and three people have died, the order will go into effect at midnight on Monday and remain at least until April 6. 'Every piece of evidence that I can lay my hands on indicates that we're at an absolutely crucial time in this war and what we do now will make all the difference in the world,' DeWine said. 'What we do now will slow this invader. It will slow this invader so our health care system ... will have time to treat casualties.' DeWine said that the order does permit a few exceptions - but only for essential tasks. 'There is really nothing in that order, that we have not already been talking about,' the governor said. 'There's nothing in that order, that I have not been asking you to do for the last week or so.' Ohio Department of Health Director Dr Amy Acton also spoke at the press conference and said the currently available testing data doesn't give a full picture of the state's coronavirus crisis as many cases have likely gone unreported. She estimated that 60 percent of the Ohio population will contract the disease at some point. 'There is no time left,' Acton said. 'Listen to what Italy is telling us. Today is the day. We must do everything we can in our power to protect the people on the frontlines - the first responders and healthcare workers.' Statewide lockdowns have already been ordered in nine other states - New Jersey, California, New York, Illinois, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Texas and Florida - with a total of 167.5 million people now affected. In announcing the New Jersey measures on Saturday, Governor Phil Murphy said: 'My job is to make sure we get through this emergency so that you can safely gather with family and friends later.' Murphy's announcement came after the state's top public health official said she believes 'we all' are going to eventually be infected by coronavirus. 'I'm definitely going to get it. We all are. I'm just waiting,' New Jersey Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli, 71, told a reporter for NJ.com in an interview published on Saturday. Persichilli said she based her prediction on algorithms that predict the spread of the virus, and that she would most likely suffer a mild case that lasted a few days, as the majority who contract the virus do. She added that she may not get the virus this month or this year, but that she fears it is coming for everyone. The Garden State now has 890 confirmed cases and 11 deaths, making it one of several rapidly growing hotspots across the country. NJ Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli (above) said of coronavirus: 'I'm definitely going to get it. We all are. I'm just waiting' The strict lockdowns now have millions of Americans ordered to stay home, and mandated the closing of all non-essential business, decimating jobs. An estimated three million Americans will file unemployment claims next week, marking the highest number of new jobless claims ever seen in US history. Bars, restaurants, stores and casinos lie boarded up across the US as the nation's once heaving cities have turned into ghost towns after state-wide mandates have ordered one in five Americans to stay at home. Fears are ramping up around how many Americans will find themselves on the breadline, struggling to survive and feed their families, as President Donald Trump warned that the pandemic is escalating to a level that he may throw the entire nation into lockdown for two weeks. In New York, carpenters in protective gear were seen boarding up the closed beauty store Sephora on 34th Street, Manhattan In the last 48 hours, eleven states issued the most extreme measures to date, ordering 100 percent of their non-essential workforces not to go to work. The long-term implications are even more concerning, with escalating fears that the US is headed for a recession. Chris Rupkey, chief financial economist for MUFG, warned that the US will turn from 'the best economy in history to the worst economy in history in not even two months' if the shutdown situation continues. 'Get out, get out while you can before they shutter the whole darn United States. A stunning reversal of fortune for the best economy in history to the worst economy in history in not even two months. The fastest recession in history. With no one spending a dime, it will stay that way a long, long time,' Chris Rupkey, chief financial economist for MUFG told The Hour. 'We are looking at something quite grave,' added economist Janet Yellen, the former Federal Reserve chair. 'If businesses suffer such serious losses and are forced to fire workers and have their firms go into bankruptcy, it may not be easy to pull out of that.' This grave warnings fly in the face of Donald Trump's continued optimism over the crisis. The president made the bold claim that the economy would be 'come back really fast' like a 'rocket ship' in a press conference on Thursday. The Labor Department reported Thursday that applications for benefits, a good proxy for layoffs, had already surged by 70,000 to 281,000 claims last week. The opposition Democratic Coalition (DK) and green LMP parties said the governments coronavirus response bill would grant the government special powers for an indefinite length of time. DK deputy head Csaba Molnar told an online press conference that the party will not vote in favour of the bill, nor for parliament to discuss it in an extraordinary session. Molnar said that so far, 16 European Union member states had introduced a special legal order in view of the pandemic. However, none of them have done so indefinitely or without specifying the areas the governments special powers pertain to that would be unimaginable in a democratic state based on the rule of law, Molnar said. DK specified four conditions for the government to be granted such powers, he said. Prime Minister Viktor Orban can see this as DKs ultimatum, he added. The governments special powers should be granted for a limited time, and be restricted to measures pertaining to the epidemic response and its impact on the economy, he said. The government may not be allowed to use the pandemic to exercise extraordinary powers at other areas, he said. During the state of emergency, all parliamentary group leaders should have the right to turn to the constitutional court which would be obliged to rule on their complaints within three days, he said. DK will not support any regulations curbing the freedom of the press and muzzling independent media, he said. At a separate, online press conference, green LMP said the governments special powers must be granted for a limited time only. The time frame must be laid down in law, LMP co-leader Erzsebet Schmuck said. Regarding economic measures to offset the economic impact of the pandemic, Schmuck said that by suspending investments not serving the development of Hungarian economy, such as the upgrade of the Paks nuclear plant and the Budapest-Belgrade railway line, some 600 billion forints (EUR 1.7bn) could be re-allocated to epidemic response. Those funds should be used to support people losing their jobs due to the epidemic, SMEs and local authorities, Schmuck said. MTI Photo: Marton Monus The Bar Council of Delhi on Monday said the High Court should consider a total shut down till March 31 to prevent the spread of coronavirus. It also suggested that no advocates, their staff or litigants be allowed to enter the court premises, except for urgent matters and said that the entire premises should be sanitised periodically. "According to the directions issued by the High Court, which were observed in the last week, it is noticed that even though the urgent matters are listed before the courts but the situation is similar to as observed during vacations," the Bar Council of Delhi said in a statement. It said that since there is no official declaration of holidays, the advocates and litigants have to come to the courts. "In this situation such it may be considered to go for a total shut down for the period up to March 31, 2020, which should also be declared as vacation," it said. "The cases listed during this period may be adjusted curtailing the future holidays to compensate," the Bar Council of Delhi added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - World Bank Group President David Malpass on Monday said that the development lender could deploy as much as $150 billion (129 billion pounds) in resources over the next 15 months to help developing countries fight and recover from the coronavirus pandemic. Malpass, in a statement to G20 finance ministers and central bank governors released by the World Bank, also called on G20 creditor nations to allow the poorest countries to suspend all payments on bilateral debt while they battle the virus. Reporting by David Lawder; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication. Staff wearing face masks guide shareholders to a meeting room before a general meeting of stockholders of Samsung Electronics in Suwon on Mar 18, 2020. (Jung Yeon-je/AFP) Tighter travel restrictions were imposed in several countries as the number of cases in the region soared past 95,000 - a third of the world's infections, an AFP tally shows. Outside China - where the deadly novel coronavirus was first detected in December and infected more than 80,000 people - South Korea is the hardest-hit country in Asia with more than 8,500 cases. While the number of infections in China has been falling for weeks, other countries are seeing the toll gather pace from spread of the highly contagious virus. Cases rose by roughly a third in Thailand overnight to nearly 600, fueling scepticism about claims in neighbouring Myanmar and Laos of zero infections. Three doctors treating virus patients in Indonesia died, taking the country's death toll to 48 with 514 confirmed infections. Most cases are in Jakarta, where businesses have been ordered closed for two weeks. After shutting its borders to foreigners and non-residents, Australia told citizens to also cancel domestic travel plans, with the number of cases topping 1,300. Bondi Beach and several other popular swimming spots were closed after crowds of sunbathers defied a ban on large outdoor gatherings. Pubs, casinos, cinemas and places of worship will be shuttered for up to six months starting on Monday. INDIA CURFEW Pakistan suspended international flights in a bid to prevent the virus from spreading. Officials in Sindh - the country's second-most populous province - ordered a lockdown effective midnight. Pakistan has reported 5,650 suspected cases, 646 confirmed infections, and three deaths from the virus. In nearby Bangladesh, however, only 27 cases have been reported, with two deaths. Millions of people in India were in lockdown on Sunday as the government tested the country's ability to fight the pandemic. Officials said every private-sector worker in New Delhi must work from home this week unless they are providing an essential service. Most public transport will also be halted. Billionaire Anand Mahindra, whose vast Mahindra Group business empire includes cars and real estate, said his manufacturing facilities would try to repurpose to make ventilators. Testing has expanded in the country of 1.3 billion people amid concerns that the 360 reported cases, including seven deaths, vastly understates the true scale of the crisis. People took to their balconies in major cities after Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Indians to thank medical workers and emergency personnel by clapping or banging pots and pans for five minutes at 5pm on Sunday. The World Health Organization has called for "aggressive" action in Southeast Asia, fearing that a major outbreak could cripple the region's often decrepit health care systems. SECOND WAVE Authorities are now dealing with a second wave of infections in places where outbreaks appeared to have been brought under control as people return from abroad. Singapore is banning all short-term visitors after a surge of imported cases took its total to 445 - including its first two deaths on Saturday. In Hong Kong, where the worst had appeared to be over, the number of cases nearly doubled in the past week as more people fly back to the financial hub. Infections in Malaysia hit 1,306 - more than half linked to an international Islamic gathering held last month, with attendees later returning to Singapore and Indonesia with the virus. In Sri Lanka, where 82 cases were reported, guards fired on inmates in a northern prison when they tried to break out, angry over a ban on family visits to prevent the spread of the virus. Two convicts were killed and six others wounded. Authorities also put restrictions on the sale of two malaria treatments amid fears of a run on the drugs after US President Donald Trump said that they might be effective to prevent a COVID-19 infection - though scientists agree that only more trials would determine if chloroquine really works and is safe. Papua New Guinea, which has one confirmed infection, declared a 30-day state of emergency and halted domestic flights and public transport for two weeks. Guam, which has 15 cases, confirmed a 68-year-old woman had died of COVID-19 - the first virus-related death in the Pacific. Assisted suicide, euthanasia enhance people's quality of life, bioethicists argue Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Bioethicists who support the death with dignity movement argue that using treatments to extend people's lives is less favorable for societies that would benefit from legalizing assisted suicide. In the current edition of Clinical Ethics, an article titled "Counting the Cost of Denying Assisted Dying" by David Shaw and Alec Morton, both of whom work at the Institute for Biomedical Ethics at the University of Basel, Switzerland, say they support the legalization of euthanasia because, in their opinion, it would increase people's "quality-adjusted life years" by assisting them in ending their life after they've been diagnosed with an illness or incurable disease. The assumption is that quality-adjusted life years are to be valued more than longevity, because generally speaking, most people are relatively healthy and able-bodied before their older years when sickness, disease, and injuries are more likely to occur. This point of view sees suffering as something that must be avoided and ended quickly by euthanasia or assisted suicide. Morton and Shaw argue that one of the benefits of euthanasia is that medical equipment and treatments can be used on healthier patients instead of those who are terminally ill and have a shorter life expectancy. They write: "resources consumed by patients who are denied assisted dying could instead be used to provide additional (positive) quality-adjusted life years for patients elsewhere in the healthcare system who wish to continue living and to improve their quality of life." They added: "[O]rgan donation may be an additional potential source of quality-adjusted life years in this context. ... Taken together, the cumulative avoidance of negative quality-adjusted life years and gain in positive quality-adjusted life years suggest that permitting assisted dying would substantially benefit both the small population that seeks assisted suicide or euthanasia, and the larger general population. As such, denying assisted dying is a loselose situation for all patients." The idea that euthanasia and assisted suicide are beneficial to societies has been showcased prominently in medical literature and ads directed at patients in urgent care waiting rooms. It represents a shift in medical systems that no longer prioritize the preservation of life, particularly in western countries. Many now favor the opinion that human beings are fully autonomous individuals who have the right to die at the time of their choosing. Concurrent with prioritizing the self-will of the individual in this sphere are considerations about cost-benefit analyses in healthcare systems. Morton and Shaw further argue that data from Belgium which along with the Netherlands has one of the most liberal euthanasia regimes in the world "suggests that 10% of those accessing euthanasia could donate at least one organ. Even if only 5% of those seeking assisted dying are enabled thereby to donate their organs, but this leads to 12 additional QALYs being gained from the transplantation (bearing in mind that more than one organ may be made available), then the benefits may be substantial: 14,572 QALYs in the high scenario and 1,457 QALYs in the low scenario." Writing in National Review Monday, Discovery Institute senior fellow Wesley J. Smith described the bioethicists' article "both immoral and amoral" because it "creates a disposable caste of people and reduces the sick and suicidal to mere beans for the counters to enter on spreadsheets." "Normal people dont think like these authors, which is why we should never cede power to the bioethics movement to determine the medical ethics and public health policies that impact us and those we love," he said. Smith noted in a separate essay Monday that the Canadian Psychiatric Association recently articulated in a February position statement that denying mentally ill people the ability to end their lives if they choose is tantamount to "discrimination" on the basis of their disability, and that caregiving professionals must not attempt to talk them out of it lest their "bias" interfere in the patient's decision-making. The idea that legalized euthanasia and assisted suicide is proving to be a "boon" for organ donation and therefore beneficial is also being furthered by some western media outlets. In January, the Ottawa Citizen reported that Canadians who opt to end their lives through assisted suicide or euthanasia are saving or improving the lives of others by including tissue and organ donation in their final wishes. The article held out as an example of virtue a woman who was on dialysis for several decades and was reportedly elated to know that her organs might be used to alleviate the suffering of someone on a transplant waiting list. The woman had worked for the Attorney General of Ontario whose office had helped write laws allowing the practice of what is euphemistically called "medical aid in dying" (MAiD) in Canada. A term used when the dying process is manipulated to acquire healthier organs for a recipient, perhaps at the risk of the donors health and well-being, is called "titration of death. "The initial period was comprised of how long after cessation of heartbeat a person was dead and not dying. As things progressed, the organs from these donors were compromised by ischemia (decreased blood supply) and in many instances were not useable. But in this context, recipient need was considered a priority in contrast to donor dignity," Dr. Greg Rutecki, an emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic Internal Medicine program and emeritus fellow at the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity, told The Christian Post in a previous interview. "The ethical concern is that the dying process of the donor will be compromised in favor of a good organ, making the recipient more important than the donor. Rather than a dying experience with family and friends. The transition becomes a medical-technological spectacle, in essence focusing on a recipient and his/her organs rather than a human being who is dying." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ni Komang Erviani (The Jakarta Post) Tabanan, Bali Mon, March 23, 2020 15:27 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206cd6def 1 World COVID-19-bali,virus-corona,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,Romania,tourists,tabanan,RS-Tabanan-general-hospital Free A Romanian couple on holiday in Bali tested positive for COVID-19. Officials report the man and woman are in stable condition after 10 days of being treated in isolation. I can confirm that we have received the laboratory test results of two foreigners who have been treated for 10 days at Tabanan General Hospital and the result is positive, the head of the Tabanan Health Agency, Nyoman Suratmika, said on Monday. Both patients are in stable condition. However, they will remain in isolation until their tests show negative, he added. Suratmika said the male patient had sought medical treatment first when he began feeling sick. He went to a private hospital in Badung regency before eventually being taken to the Tabanan hospital. He had a fever, cough and difficulty breathing [upon his arrival at the Tabanan hospital], he added. As he was showing COVID-19-like symptoms, the hospital decided to treat him in an isolation room, said Suratmika. After [he stayed for] two days at the Tabanan hospital, his wife began to show similar symptoms, so we also put her in isolation, he added. Suratmika said after the couple received medical treatment for 10 days, their health started to improve. Were grateful to find that the two patients are now in better condition, but since they are still COVID-19-positive were still waiting for full tests. Once they are declared negative for COVID-19, they are allowed to leave [the hospital], said Suratmika. COVID-19 has so far claimed the life of two foreigners, who were believed to be a British woman and a French man, in Bali. At the moment, an Indonesian man is being treated in a hospital in Bali for COVID-19. With the Romanian couple, the resort island has recorded five COVID-19 cases, with two fatalities, so far. The prime minister says schools should stay open, Victoria has shut them down and New South Wales will keep teachers at work but encourage children to stay home. Education has become the most confusing battleground in the fight against the coronavirus, with the Commonwealth and states seemingly at odds over what to do. Teachers in government schools say they are fearful for their own safety and well-being as they continue to work, while large sections of society shut down. They have called themselves 'glorified babysitters' - made to watch over other people's children because their parents have to attend to their own vital jobs. Teachers' unions claim social-distancing regulations in schools are impossible to regulate and that basic hygiene standards cannot be maintained. Some teachers have even said shortages of supplies such as soap and hand sanitiser have forced them to bring cleaning supplies form home. Meanwhile, doctors, nurses, ambulance officers, police, age care workers, chemists, supermarket shelf stackers and cashiers, bus drivers, rail staff and cabbies get on with their jobs. Teachers in government schools say they are fearful for their own safety and well-being as they continue to work while large sections of society shut down. Schools in Victoria will close while those in other states remain open Prime Minister Scott Morrison says schools should stay open, Victoria has shut them down and New South Wales will keep teachers at work but encourage children to stay home Mr Morrison said on Sunday: 'For those health workers and others, a complete closure of schools across the country would take out 30 per cent of our health workforce.' A paramedic wearing protective clothing attends to a patient outside Adelaide's Mount Barker Hospital Teachers have complained they felt abandoned and dispensable because of a lack of discussion about what might happen to them if they were infected by their students. Poll Should teachers be considered front line workers in the coronavirus crisis and keep schools open? yes no not sure Should teachers be considered front line workers in the coronavirus crisis and keep schools open? yes 141 votes no 121 votes not sure 16 votes Now share your opinion 'Personally I am disgusted with the message being sent that we are glorified babysitters so that others can go to work,' one Gold Coast high school teacher told AAP. 'The message is that teachers are sacrificial lambs.' A Queensland primary school teacher told AAP no one in authority seemed to be talking about people in her profession putting their health at risk. 'Teachers have been thrown under the bus,' she said. 'Teachers are used to making do, and doing whats best for the kids, but it seems that the government isn't thinking about us.' A secondary teacher from Melbourne's northern suburbs told Guardian Australia: 'Everyone else is at home sharing memes about self-isolation, which is great.' 'And you see them and just think, f***, I would do anything to be home. 'Because I don't want to be on the train, I don't want to be at work with all of this going on. We're feeling forgotten. 'The well-being of the teachers is not acknowledged and there's a lot of frustration and just a feeling of helplessness.' Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy argue closing schools would spread COVID-19 further as children would mix with more people if not in class. Teachers have complained they felt abandoned and dispensable because of a lack of discussion about what might happen to them if they were infected by their students Health workers and other essential employees would also have to stay home to look after children, taking them away from where they are needed most. Mr Morrison said on Sunday: 'For those health workers and others, a complete closure of schools across the country would take out 30 per cent of our health workforce.' 'Now, you could imagine what the health impact would be.' Schools in the United Kingdom were closed last week but children of workers in emergency and essential services will still attend so their parents can keep working. CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement On Monday, Health Minister Greg Hunt was forced to defend the federal government's position as Victoria closed its schools, NSW pushed for online learning and other states continued as normal. Sunrise host Natalie Barr challenged Mr Hunt: 'People are not listening because you have confusing messages and different states doing different things.' 'The premier of our biggest state is saying schools are staying open but she's encouraging parents to keep their kids at home.' Mr Hunt replied that the federal government had 'clear medical advice' it was safe and appropriate for children to be in school. He said NSW and Victoria were simply taking different approaches to preparing for predominantly online learning, given their varying term schedules. 'It is appropriate for individual states to say that these are the needs of our system right now,' Mr Hunt said. 'Some are less advanced in terms of preparing for online and they are making that capacity and decision today.' Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Northern Territory and Tasmania are operating as normal. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has said the health advice she was receiving was to keep schools open. There were 1,610 coronavirus cases in Australia on Monday including seven deaths so far Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said on Sunday all schools in Victoria would shut down from Tuesday and he would push for other states and territories to follow suit However, she has encouraged parents to keep their children at home and maintain their learning by doing so online. A third of NSW parents last week kept their children at home and made use of online learning capabilities, so it was best to move most students to that model. 'For practical reasons, in NSW we will encourage parents to keep their children at home to ensure there is one single unit of teaching,' Ms Berejiklian said on Monday. Parents who wanted to send their to class - among them those who needed to attend work or didn't have the facilities to learn online - still could. 'Parents that are workers with no other option, the school is safe for children to attend,' Ms Berejiklian said. 'No child will be turned away from school.' NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said schools would stay open at least until the first term breaks for holidays in three weeks. Victorian and ACT schools are set to close on Tuesday, with the state and territory bringing forward the end of the current term by four days. NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said schools in that state would stay open at least until the first term breaks for holidays in three weeks Meanwhile, doctors, nurses, ambulance officers, police, age care workers, chemists, supermarket shelf stackers and cashiers, bus drivers, rail staff and cabbies are getting on with their jobs. Nurses are pictured at a COVID-19 clinic at the Mount Barker Hospital in Adelaide A meeting between Mr Morrison and state and territory leaders on Sunday night ended with agreement all schools should aim to reopen on the other side of the Easter break. Mr Morrison has said his family was heeding current medical advice and he and wife Jenny would be sending their two girls to their Sydney school as usual. 'My kids will be going to school in the morning and... we will be following the medical advice,' Mr Morrison said. Mr Morrison on Sunday night said he respected the states' sovereignty, and that parents could pull their kids out of class even where schools stayed open. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said on Sunday all schools in Victoria would shut down from Tuesday and he would push for other states and territories to follow suit. Mr Andrews has said ahead of a National Cabinet meeting Victoria would go it alone if other states and territories chose to keep their schools open. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has said the health advice she was receiving was to keep schools open. However, she has encouraged parents to keep their children at home and maintain their learning by doing so online A decision on whether to reopen schools on April 14 after the term one holidays would be determined following advice from Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton. 'All measures to be implemented by Victoria are consistent with the health advice provided by the Victorian Chief Health Officer,' Mr Andrews said. Queensland Teachers Union president Kevin Bates, whose state is keeping schools open, said teachers were frustrated and fearful. 'What they feel is a lack of concern for their well-being as they continue to be asked to show up to work during an almost total shutdown of society,' Mr Bates told Sunrise. 'Teachers, principals, people who work in our schools and the parents are afraid and angry in many ways.' In an interview with ABC radio Mr Bates said: 'You cannot argue that the whole community should shut down, and we should keep our schools open without any change.' Teachers' unions claim social-distancing regulations in schools are impossible to regulate and that basic hygiene standards cannot be maintained NSW Teachers Federation President Angelo Gavrielatos has said his members were raising serious concerns about a lack of resources necessary to ensure satisfactory levels of cleaning and sanitation in schools. 'The lack of clarity, consistency and, at times, conflicting advice and opinions expressed by the medical community and elected leaders is creating considerable stress for teachers and principals,' Mr Gavrielatos said. 'The government must ensure that its Work Health and Safety obligations to all staff and students are met.' Last Friday the secretary of the NSW Education Department, Mark Scott, wrote to teachers thanking them for their work. 'You have worked tirelessly, with professionalism and dedication, to keep delivering our essential community service for children and families across New South Wales,' Mr Scott wrote. Professor Murphy has maintained the risk to schoolchildren from the virus was low. 'The consensus view of all of the chief health officers is schools should stay open,' Professor Murphy said. Mr Morrison has warned schools could be closed for the entire year if Australians did not co-operate with authorities to stem the spread of COVID-19. Two men in northern Syria have been admitted to hospital and are suspected of having contracted coronavirus writes Zaman Al-Wasl. Two displaced Syrian are in quarantine in Atmeh Hospital at the Turkish border, with medics suspecting they have been infected with coronavirus. Medics say they are waiting on the results of tests which have been sent to Turkey. Coronavirus infections have yet to be recorded in the large parts of Syria outside regime control the east, northeast and northwest. In the opposition-held northwest, rescue workers whose usual role is to respond to government bombardments have been sanitizing classrooms. Medics in the northwest fear the virus would spread very quickly in crowded camps for the displaced. All the countries bordering Syria have coronavirus outbreaks. The Minister of Health in the Syrian oppositions Interim Government, Doctor Maram al-Sheikh, told Zaman Al-Wasl that one more coronavirus case is in quarantine in the Afrin region north of Aleppo. The rebel-held northwest was already facing a major humanitarian crisis with nearly one million people displaced by fighting in the past few months as the Russain-backed regime mounted an offensive. Although the regime says it has yet to document any infections, Syria is considered be a high risk nation. We have vulnerable populations in camps, refugees, and slum areas at the outskirts of large urban centers, the World Health Organizations Syria representative, Nima Saeed Abid, told Reuters. If we take the scenarios in China or even in Iran, we are expecting we may have large number of cases and we are preparing accordingly. The entry ban announced overnight by Damascus followed the closure of schools, parks, restaurants and various public institutions. A health hotline is being launched, Health Minister Nizar Yazigi said. He also responded to suggestions of a cover-up. The health ministry is the only source of information about this matter and not rumors circulating on social media, the state news agency quoted him as saying on Thursday. When there is an infection, it will be announced. Meanwhile, Syrian activists and former detainees have called on the Syrian regime to release the inmates to protect them against the killer coronavirus pandemic. Most of the opposition detainees are held in the notorious Sednaya Military Prison in miserable conditions. The Syrian Network for Human Rights recorded that at least 1.2 million Syrian citizens were subjected to arrest and torture, and approximately 147,000 people are still under arbitrary detention or enforced disappearance and torture. Nearly 305,000 people have now been confirmed with the coronavirus globally, and while at least 95,000 people have recovered from COVID-19, more than 13,000 have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University in the US. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. New Delhi, March 23 : The National Task Force for Covid-19 constituted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Monday recommended the use of anti-malaria drug hydroxy-chloroquine to treat the Covid-19 disease in high-risk cases albeit with utmost precaution. ICMR Director-General Balram Bhargava said that the compound is recommended only for a healthcare worker who is treating a Covid-19 patient. "Secondly, it's recommended only for persons staying and caring for a household positive patient. They can take that only for prophylaxis, only for prevention," he added. ICMR told the states that the placing of healthcare workers under chemoprophylaxis with hydroxy-chloroquine should not instil a sense of false security. "They should follow all prescribed public health measures such as frequent washing of hands, respiratory etiquette, keeping a distance of minimum one metre and use of personal protective equipment (wherever applicable)," said the ICMR advisory. "The high risk contacts of a positive case placed under chemo prophylaxis should remain in home quarantine while on prophylactic therapy. As recommended by the task force, the drug should only be given on the prescription of a registered medical practitioner," it added. Apart from the symptoms of Covid-19 (fever, cough, breathing difficulty), if the person on chemoprophylaxis develops any other symptoms, he should immediately seek medical treatment from the medical practitioner who has prescribed the chemoprophylaxis, said the ICMR advisory. US President Donald Trump had claimed last week that chloroquine -- one of the oldest and best-known anti-malarial drugs -- had been approved by the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA). "We're going to be able to make that drug available almost immediately. And that's where the FDA has been so great. They've gone through the approval process -- it's been approved," he said during a White House briefing. The FDA, however, has made it clear that the drug has not been approved yet for treating those infected with Covid-19. When it comes to anti-malaria compounds chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, the "WHO scientific panel designing SOLIDARITY had originally decided to leave the duo out of the trial but had a change of heart at a meeting in Geneva on March 13 because the drugs 'received significant attention in many countries'." The available data are still thin. Researchers in France have published a study in which they treated 20 Covid-19 patients with hydroxychloroquine. They concluded that the drug significantly reduced viral load in nasal swabs. But it was not a randomised controlled trial and it didn't report clinical outcomes such as deaths, according to the prestigious journal Science. However, scientists have suggested dozens of existing compounds for testing and the World Health Organization (WHO) is focusing on what it says are the four most promising therapies. These are "an experimental antiviral compound called remdesivir; the malaria medications chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine; a combination of two anti-HIV drugs, lopinavir and ritonavir; and that same combination plus interferon-beta, an immune system messenger that can help cripple viruses," said the article in the journal Science of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) A Bergen County hospital that has been at the center of treatment of the coronavirus pandemic in New Jersey is seeking donations to help purchase protective equipment and other supplies for its staff. Holy Name in Teaneck said in a tweet that it is down to only a four-day supply of respirator masks, and has no disposable gowns left. As of today, Holy Name has a 4-day supply of N95 masks. We are out of disposable gowns. Your donation supports the purchase of critical supplies that will keep our healthcare heroes fighting on the frontline of this COVID-19 pandemic. Save lives by donating now. WE THANK YOU! pic.twitter.com/AvUg8aJLAq Holy Name Health (@holynamehealth) March 22, 2020 The latest numbers from the state show Bergen County has nearly 500 positive cases, with 94 new cases announced Sunday. Previous updates from the state said Holy Name had taken a number of those patients. And Holy Names own CEO said late last week that he was in self-quarantine after testing positive for the virus. Now more than ever, Im grateful for the tireless work of Holy Names healthcare professionals, who are on the front lines of this national pandemic, the CEO, Mike Maron, said in a statement March 20. "We are all in this together. Anyone seeking to donate to Holy Name should visit HelpHolyName.org. Your donation supports the purchase of critical supplies that will keep our healthcare heroes fighting on the frontline of this COVID-19 pandemic, Sundays tweet said. As this linked CDC graphic explains, the N95 masks are different from standard surgical masks - they contain a respirator that can filter out microscopic particles, including viruses and bacteria. Thats particularly useful because the coronavirus can be spread through droplets - in other words, bodily fluids from infected patients. Health care industry employees have complained in recent weeks about mask shortages at hospitals. Part of the reason is increased buying of masks by the general public. Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter. Sign up for text message alerts from NJ.com on coronavirus in New Jersey: Joe Brandt can be reached at jbrandt@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JBrandt_NJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Losses in the Marvel Cinematic Universe dont always mean death, even though dying in this franchise has become nothing more than relative. Other losses have occurred in past Marvel movies that are sometimes just as significant as the loss of a character. For instance, in the third Iron Man movie, Tony Stark lost the arc reactor he depended on. At the end of Infinity War, everyone knows the mass death count that occurred due to Thanos snap. More third films in the Avengers saga are coming up, particularly the third Spider-Man film and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Its in the latter film where fans are worried a major death is going to occur. The general consensus is saying it may be Rocket this time, something not every fan wants since a few think his story isnt quite finished. What are the prospects of Rocket dying in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3? Reddit fans have a lot of ideas about who might die in upcoming third films for Spider-Man, Guardians of the Galaxy, plus Ant-Man. Many think Ned in Spider-Man 3 will possibly die and come back later as Hobgoblin. Others think Ant-Man will lose Hank Pym. Then theres that possible death of Rocky Raccoon in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Speculation has been rampant on this for a while, and the conjecture may go even longer if Coronavirus delays these movies further. From the perspective of James Gunn, hes said he wants Rocket to have a complete arc, something he couldnt initially do after being fired by Disney. In a 2019 interview with Deadline, he said he wants to bring Rocket full circle without necessarily saying he wants to kill him off. Not that fans cant see Gunn is alluding to such a thing. Since Rocket has had to live a rough life not being able to trust anyone after being created as a cybernetically-enhanced creature, most people hope he can find some happiness if he ultimately dies. One clue popped up in a past movie insinuating Rocket knew he doesnt have a real long life span. Rocket Raccoons quip about not living very long Pack it up. This kid's Guardians of the Galaxy Rocky Raccoon costume wins Halloween https://t.co/njcxhR8Myk pic.twitter.com/jSZGCOX20t Daily Mail US (@DailyMail) November 4, 2015 During a suicidal mission in the first Guardians of the Galaxy, some might remember Rocket exclaiming hed go along with it because he didnt have a long time to live anyway. Anyone can take this a million different ways, including just a facetious statement. Of course, being a raccoon, Rocket may think he doesnt have a long time to live based on average raccoon life expectancy. Being a cybernetic creation, this might have changed, allowing him to live longer than even he thinks. If Vol. 3 takes place in the post-Endgame time, Rocket will be much older than when everyone saw him last. Its certainly possible hell just die from old age, or maybe tragically during a battle sequence. Heroic deaths are what the Marvel Cinematic Universe is all about as already seen with Tony Starks death. Regardless, one would hope Rocket will find some happiness before any of this happens. Some are talking about the love category more than anything. Can Rocket find love with someone like Lylla? Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Posters | Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images Rumors have popped up in the last year of Rocket finding a love interest in Lylla, an otter character from the comic books and from Rockets home planet of Halfworld. Giving him some kind of romantic happiness only makes sense since hes constantly gone through peril without much chance to enjoy his short life. Chances are good this will happen if making his death all the more poignant if not being able to sustain his relationship beyond a short time. Still, as the saying goes, its better to have loved than not at alleven if ones a cybernetic raccoon. Only James Gunn knows for sure. Yet, hes one of the best candidates for keeping every secret within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The following is a statement by Civil 20: This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200322005022/en/ Inequalities risk (Photo: AETOSWire) The events of this year alone, starting with the bushfires in Australia and moving to the outbreak of COVID-19, underscored the ever-growing complexity of our global shared challenges and expose the weaknesses of the current dominant economic system, and how it deepens inequalities between individuals and countries. We ask that G20 leaders recognize our new global reality and reorient this years G20 priorities towards building a more resilient global governance. G20 leaders need to uphold the principles of human rights, civic engagement, and democracy. As the crisis develops, the C20 observes with great alarm the continued deterioration of the situation for many vulnerable groups in different societies. Governments must protect and extend medical care to all people without leaving anyone behind. The infodemic surrounding the disease is equally fatal to the virus. The C20 stands in solidarity with communities suffering as a result of different governments lack of transparency. Governments are accountable in their response to the crisis, and work on empowering local communities and civil society actors in responding to the outbreak. We can learn from previous public health emergencies the importance of quality care continuum, protection of human rights, anti-discrimination and isolation of people living with the diseases and affected communities. COVID-19 is a sobering reminder that we need to increase investment in what we know works: strong international partnerships, building health care delivery systems that reach everyone, research and development, and an approach to care that prioritizes the most marginalized. The C20 urges that G20 leaders consider the recommendations in the statement on pandemic preparedness released jointly with the Business 20, Labor 20, Think 20, Women 20 and Youth 20. Another emerging lesson out of this emergency, is that hyper-globalization of our supply chains is making our trade systems extremely vulnerable to shocks. The C20 cautions G20 leaders against the ongoing attempts in trade agreement negotiations to open health markets to foreign investors and competition, turning health systems into yet another investment opportunity. We worry that the divide between those who can afford healthcare and those who cannot will be exacerbated. The C20 warns that inequalities will ensue as a consequence of the outbreak. Labor policies need to be put in place to address the needs of the most vulnerable, who cannot afford to sit at home, and prepare for the expected rise in working poverty, especially in countries with a high informal economy, where women are over-represented. The world is in need of multilateral coordination of an effective response to the economic crisis that provides adequate fiscal and monetary stimulus, while safeguarding liquidity from misuse by speculative activities. A fairly designed stimulus package should take into account not only the interest of businesses and SMEs, but also households, workers, and the most vulnerable. A problem with multiple dimensions requires a solution by multiple actors. Members of Civil Society and humanitarian NGOs continue to face tightened financial restrictions due to risk and cost aversion by banks in complying with FATF regulations. Such financial exclusion limits our ability to respond to global emergencies. We implore the G20 Leaders to take immediate action in responding to the substantial impact on education and the dwindling prospects of ensuring access. The world is entirely unequipped to maintain a promise of education for all; particularly in contexts where classrooms can no longer provide a safe environment for learning. The C20 calls on G20 leaders to expand this years G20 priorities to vigilantly respond to the changes in the labor market through expanding social protection systems, ensure digital and eLearning is accessible across, prioritize child online safety, address rising risks to debt sustainability in emerging markets as they face urgent financing needs to improve health systems capacity to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak, including debt relief and attending to their exposure to volatile capital flows. Civil Society 20 (C20) is one of the eight official Engagement Groups of the G20. It provides a platform of Civil Society Organizations around the world to bring forth a non-government and non-business voice. *Source: AETOSWire View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200322005022/en/ Nfon V.E. Mukete abdicates, cedes throne to Ekoko Mukete Screenshot from amateur video Prince Victor Ekoko Mukete, youngest son of Senator Nfon Victor Esemingsongo Mukete is the new paramount ruler of the Bafaws in Meme Division, Cameroons South West Region pending recognition from the competent administrative authorities. Saturday, March 21, 2020, 101-year-old Nfon Mukete abdicated and ceded the crown to Ekoko Mukete in an unprecedented ceremony at the Bafaw Palace in Kumba. Senator Nfon Mukete removed the traditional beads and crown and placed them respectively on the neck and head of Ekoko Mukete in the presence of kingmakers and custodians of the Bafaw tradition. The centenarian also handed a bible among other traditional paraphernalia to the one who will henceforth perform traditional rights as Nfon. One thing is remaining, the chieftaincy staff. It will be handed to you on the day of your installation in the presence of the administration. From today, you have full powers to perform duties of chieftaincy. You have full powers to continue as the traditional ruler of Kumba Town and the Bafaws from today in the name of Christ our Lord, Senator Nfon Mukete told Ekoko Mukete amidst cheers and ululations. 55-year-old Victor Ekoko Mukete is Vice President of the Cameroon Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Crafts (CCIMA) as well as Turkish Honorary Consul in Douala. Senator Nfon V.E. Mukete was born on November 15, 1918 in Kumba. The Bafaw patriarch attended Government School Kumba from 1926-32. In 1933, the centenarian won a five-year government scholarship to study at the government college Umuahia in Nigeria. Upon completion, the senator gained admission into the then lone science-based institution in Nigeria, Higher College Yaba. From 1948 to 1951, he studied at the University of Manchester in England. Senator Nfon Victor Mukete proceeded to the Cambridge University from 1951-1952. Senator Nfon Victor Mukete was trained as a botanist and an agriculturalist. He became paramount ruler of Kumba and the Bafaws in 1968. He was appointed Senator on May 14, 2013 and is currently serving his second five-year mandate. The agro-industrial entrepreneur and politician is author of the book, My Odyssey: History of the reunification of Cameroon. Given the context of our administrative and consular engagement with the Syrians, and given that this is effectively the only service and document delivery point for Syrians in Canada and the U.S., he wrote, we favor the prompt review/approval of this request, barring any real adverse information related to the proposed candidate . . . other than expected proximity/alignment with Damascus. [March 23, 2020] GCS Celebrates its 10th Anniversary in the Dominican Republic Consolidating its Position as the Leading FinTech in the Region Specialized in the development of technological innovations aimed at providing solutions to the financial, telephone and insurance industry, GCS (News - Alert), the most relevant FinTech in the Dominican Republic, celebrated its 10 years of operations in the country. A cocktail event with the presence of prominent personalities in the national sphere, served as the setting for the company's main executives to share with clients, associates and the media the milestones achieved in this first decade, as well as the plans and goals on which work will be continued in the coming months. The company ratified its commitment to innovation. It offers more than 10 technological solutions, most notably tPago, the first application in the Dominican Republic to provide contactless payments and PayPal top-ups. As of December 2019 the product had surpassed the 1 million Monthly Active Users. tPago has also been deployed and is currently serving users in Guatemala. GCS, whose trajectory has been key to the promotion of Fintech companies in the Dominican Republic - consolidating its position in 2018 as one of the founders and main promoters of AdoFintech [Dominican Fintech Association, known in Spanish as Asociacion Dominicana de Fintech] - also offers and develops services for tier-1 third-parties such as prepaid mobile wallets Altice-Peso and Claro's (News - Alert) e-fectivo-Movil, the company also manages a non-banking correspondent network of over 1,700 branches, the sale of Microinsurance through tPago, and QR code-based person-to-person transfers, among others. Brian Paniagua, Chief Executive Officer, expressed: "the first decade of the 21st century finds us as a company looking towards the future with greater energy and potential than ever. New territories, new segments, new products and services, with the aim of continuing to accelerate time-to-market for financial institutions and other service categories." Mr Paniagua spoke about the way the company has managed to serve, directly or indirectly, over 5 million Dominicans through more than 400 million transactions through GCS' products & services. These milestones are concrete exponential steps in their corporate vision of working towards financial inclusion and improving people's quality of life in the country and elsewhere in the region. The Chief Executive Officer noted that in order to achieve this, the company created a unique open-loop ecosystem encompassing all 14 main financial institutions nationwide, and more than 80 billing and service companies. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200323005712/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] YEREVAN, MARCH 23, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian had a phone conversation with Foreign Ministe rof Russia Sergey Lavrov, congratulated him on the occasions of the 70th birth anniversary and being awarded with state award Hero of Labour of the Russian Federation. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the President's office, Armen Sarkissian conveyed best wishes to the foreign minister of the friendly and allied country and emphasized the personal contribution of Sergey Lavrov to the development of the Armenian-Russian strategic relations, as well as his important role in the global political and diplomatic arena. Sergey Lavrov and Armen Sarkissian are linked not only by their current official status, but they have passed through long years of professional and friendly relations. The Armenian President wished the Russian FM good health and success. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan SEATTLE - Boeing will suspend operations at its Seattle area facilities due to the spread of coronavirus, idling tens of thousands of aerospace workers, the company said Monday. At least 110 people have died from COVID-19 in Washington state, mostly in the Seattle area. Boeing employs about 70,000 people in the region. The company said 32 employees have tested positive for the virus, including 25 in the greater Seattle area. Operations would be reduced beginning Wednesday, Boeing President and CEO Dave Calhoun said in a statement, and production would be suspended for two weeks. This necessary step protects our employees and the communities where they work and live, he said. Production is continuing at a Boeing plant in South Carolina where Boeing 787 jetliners are assembled. The company said employees in greater Seattle who can work from home will continue doing so and those who cant - like the tens of thousands of machinists who build airplanes - will receive paid leave. We will keep our employees, customers and supply chain top of mind as we continue to assess the evolving situation, Calhoun said. This is an unprecedented time for organizations and communities across the globe. Boeings shutdown comes after a worker died of COVID-19. The Seattle Times reports that co-workers and a union official confirmed Sundays death of the man who worked in Everett. The newspaper said the man was an inspector who had worked for Boeing for 27 years. The machinists union said it supported the decision to suspend production, according to a message on its website. Boeing said it was still trying to confirm the employees death. Boeing operates two commercial aviation production facilities in the Seattle area, one in Everett and another in Renton. Its Everett facility, north of Seattle, is the largest building in the world and produces airplanes like the 777s, 787s, 767s and 747s along with the KC-46A military refuelling and transport plane. About 30,000 people work there. Its plant in Renton, south of Seattle, produces the 737 line and military P-8s. About 12,000 work there. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee applauded Boeings decision. Now is a time for bold actions like these, he said in a statement. Boeing shares rallied Monday, however, gaining 11.2% to $105.62. Goldman Sachs had upgraded the shares to buy from neutral. Analyst Noah Poponak said the shares have hit a trough after a one-year drop of about 80%, making them attractive to investors. Poponak thinks Boeing has enough liquidity to get through a lean 2020, and the long-term outlook for the industry remains good. We think travel by flight will be as popular as ever once COVID-19 is resolved, he said in a note to investors. The virus has added to Boeings crisis surrounding the 737 Max, which remains grounded more than a year after two deadly crashes. The outbreak has caused airlines to cancel tens of thousands of flights. Analysts expect cash-strapped airlines to defer deliveries of new planes through 2020 and possibly longer. __ La Corte reported from Olympia. AP writer David Koenig contributed from Dallas. Highlights Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that the social media giant has donated its emergency reserve of 720,000 to the healthcare workers. Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed that they are donating millions of masks for health professionals in the US and Europe Elon Musk, on the other hand, sent a truckload of PPEs (masks, gowns, etc.) to UCLA Health As coronavirus spreads rapidly in various parts of the world, tech giants Facebook and Apple donate masks to healthcare workers in the US and Europe to provide protection during the novel coronavirus outbreak. On Sunday, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that the social media giant has donated its emergency reserve of 720,000 to the healthcare workers. Health workers urgently need more protective gear. To help, Facebook donated our emergency reserve of 720,000 masks that we had bought in case the wildfires continued. We're also working on sourcing millions of more to donate. I hope you're all staying healthy and safe! Zuckerberg said in a post. Apple CEO Tim Cook too shared on Twitter that Apple is providing masks to the healthcare workers. Our teams at Apple have been working to help source supplies for healthcare providers fighting COVID-19. We're donating millions of masks for health professionals in the US and Europe. To every one of the heroes on the front lines, we thank you, Cook tweeted. Tesla supremo Elon Musk, on the other hand, sent a truckload of PPEs (masks, gowns, etc.) to UCLA Health. Film director Peyton Reed took to Twitter to thank Musk for doing his bit, he wrote, I want to publicly thank for sending a truckload of PPEs (masks, gowns, etc.) to UCLA Health today! They will be put to good use. My wife, her co-workers and her patients thank you profusely. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, however, revealed in a blog post that the masks remain in short supply globally. We've placed purchase orders for millions of face masks we want to give to our employees and contractors who cannot work from home, but very few of those orders have been filled. Masks remain in short supply globally and are at this point being directed by governments to the highest-need facilities like hospitals and clinics. It's easy to understand why the incredible medical providers serving our communities need to be first in line. When our turn for masks comes, our first priority will be getting them in the hands of our employees and partners working to get essential products to people, he wrote. Earlier this week, Ali Baba founder Jack Ma donated over one million face masks and 500,00 test kits to the US. He also sent 20,000 testing kits to 54 African nations along with 100,000 face masks and 1000 medical hazmat suits with face shields. The oath-taking ceremony of the new BJP ministry in Madhya Pradesh will take place on Monday, official sources said. The ceremony will be held at the Raj Bhawan at 9 pm, the sources told PTI. The BJP legislature party meeting will be held around 7 pm to elect the legislature party leader. Congress veteran Kamal Nath resigned as chief minister recently, paving the way for formation of the BJP-led government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian Oil Corp (IOC), the nation's biggest oil firm, has begun the supply of the world's cleanest petrol and diesel across the country with all its 28,000 petrol pumps dispensing ultra-low sulphur fuel two weeks before the 1 April deadline Indian Oil Corp (IOC), the nation's biggest oil firm, has begun the supply of the world's cleanest petrol and diesel across the country with all its 28,000 petrol pumps dispensing ultra-low sulphur fuel two weeks before the 1 April deadline. "We have successfully rolled out the supply of BS-VI grade fuel across the country," IOC Chairman Sanjiv Singh said. "All our 28,000 petrol pumps across the country are dispensing BS-VI grade fuel for more than a week now." Other fuel retailers, Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL), are also progressively supplying BS-VI grade fuel and the entire country will switch to the cleanest fuel within this week. The government had set 1 April as the deadline for starting supply of Euro-VI emission compliant fuels. With this India joins the select league of nations using petrol and diesel containing just 10 parts per million of sulphur in an attempt to cut vehicular emissions that are said to be one of the reasons for the choking pollution in major cities. "We have leapfrogged from BS-IV (equivalent to Euro-VI grade fuel) straight to BS-VI in just three years," the IOC chairman said adding this is an achievement not seen in any large economies around the globe. Singh, whose firm controls roughly half of the country's fuel market, said almost all the company's refineries began producing ultra-low sulphur BS-VI (equivalent to Euro-VI grade) petrol and diesel by the end of 2019 and thereafter the mammoth exercise was undertaken to replace every drop of fuel in the country with the new one. "We have achieved the switchover without a single disruption," he said. This comes at a time when the nation battling outbreak of coronavirus imposed restrictions and states declared part lockdowns. India adopted Euro-III equivalent (or Bharat Stage-III) fuel with a sulphur content of 350 ppm in 2010 and then took seven years to move to BS-IV that had a sulphur content of 50 ppm. From BS-IV to BS-VI it took just three years. "It was a conscious decision to leapfrog to BS-VI as first upgrading to BS-V and then shifting to BS-VI would have prolonged the journey to 4 to 6 years. Besides, oil refineries, as well as automobile manufacturers, would have had to make investments twice - first to producing BS-V grade fuel and engines and then BS-VI ones," he said. State-owned oil refineries spent about Rs 35,000 crore to upgrade plants that could produce ultra-low sulphur fuel. This investment is on top of Rs 60,000 crore they spent on refinery upgrades in the previous switchovers. BS-VI has a sulphur content of just 10 ppm and emission standards are as good as CNG. Originally, Delhi and its adjoining towns were to have BS-VI fuel supplies by April 2019 and the rest of the country was to get the same supplies from April 2020. But oil marketing companies switched over to supply of BS-VI grade fuels in the national capital territory of Delhi on 1 April, 2018. The supply of BS-VI fuels was further extended to four contiguous districts of Rajasthan and eight of Uttar Pradesh in the National Capital Region (NCR) on 1 April, 2019, together with the city of Agra. BS-VI grade fuels were made available in seven districts of Haryana from 1 October, 2019. The new fuel will result in a reduction in NOx in BS-VI compliant vehicles by 25 percent in petrol cars and by 70 percent in diesel cars. India adopted a fuel upgradation programme in the early 1990s. Low lead gasoline (petrol) was introduced in 1994 in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. On 1 February, 2000, unleaded gasoline was mandated nationwide. Similarly, BS-2000 (Euro-I equivalent, BS-1) vehicle emission norms were introduced for new vehicles from April 2000. BS-II (Euro-II equivalent) emission norms for new cars were introduced in Delhi from 2000 and extended to the other metro cities in 2001. Benzene limits have been reduced progressively from 5 per cent in 2000 to 1 percent nationwide. Lead content in gasoline was removed in phases and only unleaded gasoline is being produced and sold from February 1, 2000. The octane number of gasoline signifies the improved performance of the engine. Loss in octane number due to phasing out of lead was made up by installing new facilities in the refinery and changes in refinery operation. RON (Research Octane Number) of gasoline for BS-2000 spec was increased to 88. This has over time been increased to 91. Singh said sulphur reduction will reduce Particulate Matter (PM) emissions even in the in-use older generation diesel vehicles. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic) has issued a statement, which reads as follows: "A hundred years ago, on March 23, 1920, the authorities of the newly created Azerbaijani Democratic Republic massacred the Armenian population of Shushi, the then administrative and cultural center of Artsakh. As a result of this heinous crime, thousands of Armenians were killed, tens of thousands were forced to flee their homes and the Armenian part of the city was looted, burned and completely destroyed. The surviving Armenian residents of Shushi, who made up the majority of the citys population, were completely expelled. Most of the once beautiful Armenian city was in ruins for many years. The enormous cultural heritage of Shushi was destroyed. The scale and cruelty of this crime struck the contemporaries who visited Shushi immediately after the massacre and noted that the wells were filled with the bodies of women and children. The tragedy left such a deep mark on the city and its atmosphere that even after 10 years it caused gloomy impressions and heavy feelings, which one of the prominent Russian writers of the twentieth century, Osip Mandelstam, reflected in his poem Phaeton Driver. The Shushi massacre became the apotheosis of the two-year-long attempts of the Azerbaijani authorities to seize and subjugate Artsakh. These irrepressible and unreasonable territorial claims to Artsakh by Azerbaijan, which was created as a result of the Turkish invasion in the South Caucasus, laid the foundation for the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict in its modern sense. The Azerbaijani authorities tried to achieve their goal through the direct support by the Turkish troops. Subsequently, the Turkish officers and emissaries continued to assist the Azerbaijani armed forces, including in organizing the Shushi massacre of 1920, attempting to continue the Genocide of Armenians, now in Eastern Armenia. The forcible inclusion of Artsakh in the structure of Soviet Azerbaijan, following the Sovietization of the Republics of the South Caucasus, did not solve the issue, as the policy of the Azerbaijani authorities towards the Armenian population of Artsakh changed only in form, but not in content. The beginning of the process of collapse of the Soviet Union in the late 1980s and early 1990s once again actualized the issue of physical security of the Armenian population of Artsakh. In response to the peaceful demands of the people of Artsakh for reunification with Armenia, a wave of mass killings and pogroms of Armenians swept throughut Azerbaijan. Thousands of Armenians were killed and maimed, hundreds of thousands were deported. The Armenian pogroms of the 1988-1990s were the continuation of the Shushi massacre of 1920 and clearly demonstrated that even after 70 years neither the goals nor the methods of the Azerbaijani authorities had changed. Only thanks to the self-organization of the people of Artsakh, which created a capable state with all the necessary institutions, including an efficient army, as well as the support of the Armenians worldwide, it was possible to repel the armed aggression of Azerbaijan in 1991-1994 and to prevent the repeating of the Shushi scenario in Artsakh, but on a larger scale. Today, the authorities and people of Artsakh are exerting every effort to revive Shushi and to restore, the cultural heritage of the city destroyed by the Azerbaijani authorities." As America was on the precipice of the worst health crisis in modern times, it appears that a few U.S. senators who had been briefed on its magnitude moved quickly and quietly to shield their finances against the coming cataclysm. This apparent breach of public trust is not just outrageous; its potentially illegal. The STOCK Act of 2012, for Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge, prohibited the buying or selling of stocks based on inside information that legislators learn on the job. The most suspicious of the transactions in question were made by Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., who sold off a reported $1.7 million in stocks in mid-February, one day after the stock market set a record high. It was the largest single-day sale he had made since 2016 and included companies most vulnerable to the pandemic: hotels, restaurants, shipping, drug manufacturing and health care. Burr has conceded that the transactions could look bad in hindsight talk about understatements and insisted that his actions were prompted by news reports. But its worth noting that Burr was making optimistic public statements about the governments preparedness for the pandemic while receiving closed-door briefings that were decidedly dire. Burr has asked the Senate Ethics Committee to open a complete review of the matter with full transparency. Also under scrutiny are the transactions of Sen. Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., whose husband, Jeffrey Sprecher, is chair of the New York Stock Exchange. They sold holdings valued at up to $3.1 million in companies that included ExxonMobil and Auto Zone, which have taken big hits in recent weeks. At the same time, they bought stocks in Citrix, which sells teleworking software. She has insisted the trading was a decision of our investment manager and she did not know about it at the time. January-February stock sales by Sen. Dianne Feinstein and her husband, investment banker Richard Blum between $1.5 million and $6 million in a biotechnology company also have drawn attention, but the circumstances do not seem comparable to the dealing by Burr and Loeffler. The value of the company, Allogene Therapeutics, had no apparent relation to the coronavirus impact. In fact, its stock rose in value after those sales. During my Senate career Ive held all assets in a blind trust of which I have no control, Feinstein tweeted last week. Reports that I sold any assets are incorrect. It would be unfair, at least from the disclosures to date, to conflate Feinsteins situation with the dubious dealings by Burr and Loeffler. But that hasnt stopped some conservative outlets from highlighting her name in the scandal or President Trump from invoking only her name when asked about the stock-trading reports. Burr was among just three senators who opposed the STOCK Act in 2012, calling it an insane and ludicrous duplication of existing law. Its value is about to be tested. This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters. - Popular Nollywood actor Gbenga Ajumoko has passed away - The Yoruba star reportedly died months after battling with two chronic ailments - Ajumoko was diagnosed with kidney failure and diabetes disease Nollywood has been faced with another tragedy after losing a popular actor and scriptwriter, Gbenga Ajumoko. The actor reportedly passed away months after battling with two chronic ailments. The actor, who was from Ijebu, Ogun state, was said to have been hospitalised for over six months after he was diagnosed. He was being treated at a hospital in Sagamu, Remo in Ogun state. According to reports, Ajumoko was diagnosed with kidney failure and diabetes disease. It was also reported that the actor was earlier diagnosed with hypertension, which led to the failure of his kidneys. PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigeria's #1 news app It was said that Ajumoko was being treated in secret when he was diagnosed but when the illness got worse it was revealed to the public. The actor's failing health had caused a lot of buzz in the Yoruba movie industry after Iyabo Ojo urged her colleagues to help Ajumoko. The deceased actor had begged Nigerians and the government to come to his aide. At the time, the injections he had to take per day cost N20,000 and Ojo alleged that she contributed for him to be taken care of. PAY ATTENTION: Do you have news to share? Contact Legit.ng instantly Meanwhile, Legit.ng had earlier reported that the Yoruba movie genre of Nollywood was recently thrown into another mourning as ailing veteran Nollywood actor, Kayode Odumosu, popularly known as Pa Kashumu, is dead. The actor who has been out of circulation for a while due to ill health lost the battle of life on Sunday, March 1, 2020. The news of his death was announced by actress Foluke Daramola-Salako via her Instagram handle. It was reported that the 66-year-old Nollywood legendary actor lost his sight and had a problem walking after suffering from an unknown illness. The late thespian was said to have been suffering from both liver and heart ailments which later affected his memory and eyesight. The condition was said to have deteriorated after he could not raise enough money to fund his medical trip to India so as to continue his treatment. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better How my sister's husband caused her death - Actress Ruth Eze | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng Two workers with Northern California's Pacific Gas & Energy rescued an elderly man who was trapped in his home in Calaveras County for five days due to snow, CBS Sacramento reported. Stockon-based PG&E troublemen Adam Gossett and Ean Collins were in the area of Big Trees Village where they had been working on restoring power impacted by a heavy storm. It was there that they said they heard a faint scream coming from a nearby home covered almost completely in snow, the utility said in a news release. "He was saying, 'Help me,' and 'I'm hungry,' so we grabbed our bagged lunches and some water and made our way to him," Collins said. please-help.jpg PG&E Handout The utility said the man had blown a whistle for two days as a call for help and placed "Please help!" signs in his windows with no luck. PG&E said the workers found that the 74-year-old man had been trapped in his home for nearly a week and was without food, power, heat, or a phone. "He was shivering and clearly in distress," Gossett said. Gossett and Collins called 911, PG&E said, and responders found the man was a diabetic and in need of additional care. "He said he had been praying for someone to help him. I told him, 'God answered your prayers today,'" Gossett said. Sole survivor of Chino Hills massacre describes what happened Rural towns are preparing for the worst during outbreak Over 300,000 coronavirus cases worldwide Exmoor National Park has urged visitors to maintain social distancing to slow the spread of coronavirus and protect local, rural communities. Visitors have been flocking to usually quiet national parks following the announcement that pubs, cafes, restaurants, gyms and leisure centres were to close. With fair weather over the weekend, reports were of unprecedented numbers of visitors for the time of year. Campsites and caravan sites are also reported to be busy across the UK, and people are taking out long-term lets at holiday cottages. Exmoor National Park, located in Somerset and north Devon, is one authority now raising concerns over the potential spread of the Covid-19 to vulnerable rural communities. Farmers and land managers are vital to ensuring Exmoor's distinct and diverse landscape is maintained and enhanced. There have been similar appeals in Snowdonia, Cornwall and the Scottish Highlands. Sarah Bryan, Chief Executive of Exmoor National Park, said: "We understand peoples wish to spend time in beautiful places like Exmoor at this extremely worrying time, when all other sources of respite are few and far between. "But with peoples lives and livelihoods at stake, its vital that government guidelines around social distancing are strictly followed to slow the spread of the virus and protect our local communities and NHS services." The National Park Authority has offered help to local agencies to respond to the crisis and ensure the needs of vulnerable residents and those in self-isolation are met. It is also working to support local businesses many of them farmers to help them cope with the inevitable economic impact of cancelled events and lost custom. Past experience of foot and mouth disease and the blizzard conditions of 2018 that left whole villages cut off shows the incredible resilience of Exmoor communities, who are already pulling together to support one another," Ms Bryan said. "We now need visitors to do the same by adhering to government restrictions around unnecessary travel and instead seeking opportunities to connect with nature closer to home. "We look forward to welcoming them back here when circumstances allow." Sinai Health Foundation CEO Louis de Melo said the new fund is a way to stay agile during unprecedented times, adding one of the biggest challenges remains how to foresee what the hospitals needs will be day-to-day. "Many people have asked us how they can help," de Melo said. "The best way for us to support our hospitals is to raise the funds that allow Dr. Gary Newton and Sinai Health to have the maximum flexibility to address the needs of their front-line staff and employees, whatever they may be." De Melo said the organization is currently exploring partnerships with vendors operating at Mount Sinai Hospital and Bridgepoint Active Healthcare, to provide morale-boosting meals and hot beverages for the many people across Sinai Health working tirelessly to provide the best of care and essential services across the hospitals. "As we manage through this COVID-19 pandemic, our front-line staff are playing an essential role providing life-saving care," said de Melo. "We want to take care of our staff as they take care of us, including all Sinai Health employees supporting the operation of our hospitals. Something as simple as a coffee or a pre-packaged meal can go a long way towards boosting morale." Sinai Health Foundation has been closely monitoring the developments related to the spread of COVID-19. The health and well-being of everyone in the Sinai Health community remains its top priority. To support Sinai Health in providing life-saving care, online donations can be made at sinaiCEOfund.ca. SOURCE Sinai Health Foundation For further information: Please contact: Amanda Ferguson, Manager, Public Relations, Sinai Health Foundation, [email protected], 647-248-7434 Prince Harry had reached his limit before he and wife Meghan Markle decided to officially move to Canada, a source claimed. The Duke, 35, and Duchess of Sussex, 38, who have officially stepped back as senior royals in a bid to become financially independent, moved from Windsor to Vancouver Island in January and currently live in a 10 million mansion. 'When it became clear Meghan was never going to get a fair shake, Harry snapped,' a source said, speaking to US Weekly. 'He's adamant that it was his call to move to Canada.' The royal couple carried out their last public royal duty before they walked away from the monarchy, at the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on March 9. Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan Markle, 38, attend the Commonwealth Day Service 2020 at Westminster Abbey on March 9, 2020 in London The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their baby son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor meet Archbishop Desmond Tutu at the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation during their royal tour of South Africa on September 25, 2019 in Cape Town Meanwhile, a second source previously claimed the royals moved to Canada to protect Archie from the 'negativity' in the UK. 'He wants to shield his son from the negativity and tension he would've been exposed to back in England,' they said, speaking to the publication. A further added that Prince Harry 'knows what it's like to grow up in the spotlight, and he wants to give Archie the most normal upbringing possible.' It comes as a close friend exclusively told DailyMail.com Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are self-isolating in Canada, and that Harry feels 'helpless' and is 'concerned' about the Queen and his father catching coronavirus. 'He wants to shield his son from the negativity and tension he would've been exposed to back in England' a source previously told Us Weekly. Pictured, at the Mountbatten Festival of Music on March 7 Taking to the Sussex Royal Instagram account, the couple have since broken their silence on the coronavirus pandemic and branded the efforts to tackle the coronavirus epidemic 'as true a testament there is to the human spirit.' They shared an inspirational quote alongside a long caption which began: 'These are uncertain times. And now, more than ever, we need each other.' 'We need each other for truth, for support, and to feel less alone during a time that can honestly feel quite scary.' As well as urging their 11.7 million-strong following to remain united, they also thanked those working tirelessly around the world to help fight. Since COVID-19 arrived in the United States, the judiciary has struggled to respond to a growing crisis that threatens every aspect of the justice system. Most state courts failed to respond promptly to the pandemic, likely exacerbating the spread of the virus by packing courtrooms and holding business as usual. Over the past two weeks, however, almost every state Supreme Court has issued an order dramatically scaling back judicial operations as much of the nation shuts down. Yet most of these courts have not taken a crucial step in combating the outbreak: freeing as many people as possible from jail. Public health experts agree that its necessary to reduce incarcerated populations to prevent detention centers from becoming an epicenter of the outbreak. In almost every state, a majority of people in jail have not been convicted. These pretrial detainees are legally innocent, and many are accused of misdemeanors or minor felonies. But only a handful of state Supreme Courtsincluding those in Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, and Washingtonhave ordered judges to release people in order to curb the spread of the virus. Its vital for these courts to step up and impose uniform rules across the entire state, and to do so now. Otherwise, individual judges will slowly develop their own rules, creating a patchwork of policies that may be insufficient to stop the spread, and too tardy to prevent an outbreak behind bars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Washington Supreme Court, which oversees the first state to experience a COVID-19 outbreak, has gone the farthest in mandating a statewide reduction in jail populations. On Wednesday, the court issued an order expediting motions for pretrial release and allowing detainees to cite the coronavirus when requesting a reduction or elimination of bail. Trial judges must consider the pandemic when defendantsespecially those most vulnerable to the virusrequest a bail reduction. And judges must expeditiously sign release agreements between prosecutors and defendants. The high court also directed judges to prioritize pretrial release and bail modification motions, as well as plea hearings and sentencing hearings that will result in a defendants release within 30 days. Remarkably, the Washington Supreme Courts sweeping order was largely the result of an agreement between Adam Cornell, the Snohomish County prosecuting attorney, and Amy Muth, chair of the defense bars COVID-19 task force. Cornell developed these policies for his own county early on after coronavirus cases skyrocketed in Washington. He then worked with Muth to propose statewide rules to the high court, which promptly adopted their recommendations. While prosecutors in other states fight efforts to shrink jail populations, Cornell has helped reduce the Snohomish County jail population by 35 percent. I spoke with him on Friday about his work preparing the justice system for a pandemic. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mark Joseph Stern: When did you first realize that the coronavirus would have a dramatic effect on the criminal justice system? Adam Cornell: Toward the end of February, it became abundantly clear that this was a threat that was not going to go away. The first thing that came to mind was: The world of criminal justice is about to change dramatically. The second thought that came to my mind was: I cant address this alone. Its critically important that we address this in a collaborative way, with everyone in the criminal justice system: corrections officers, public defenders, the clerks, the presiding judgeall those players are essential to assessing the threat. Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors have an awful lot of power in their community in their ability to exercise their discretion. But in a crisis like this, that discretion and power only go so far. There was a lot I did, policy-wise, thats within the ambit of my discretion. But a lot of the larger stuff is really a product of bringing people to the table. I have a couple friends who are public defenders in King County and it sounds like its been kind of a complete disaster there. It may be because people are just not sitting around a table. I think in a time of crisis its important to bring everyone to the table and to set our adversarial roles aside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What policies did you prioritize? One of the first things we did was implement a waiver of presence policy, a collaborative effort between my office, the presiding judge, and the public defender. That was the first policy that I implemented in my office. It was meant to do a very simple thingkeep people apart. Under the policy, during certain hearings in our court, like status hearings, a defendants presence can be waived and they can simply sign documents in the presence of their lawyer and avoid having to come to court at all. Those status hearings are sometimes the most populated hearings that we have and they oftentimes are hearings where there isnt anything particularly substantive thats happening. And I thought that was the perfect place to begin social distancing in our courts. Advertisement Advertisement Do you have a target number of people you hope to release? Theres not a target number. There are going to be individuals for whom we will not agree to releasefolks who have been alleged to have committed violent crimes and sexual assault crimes. There is a limit to this. But Im balancing public safety with a need to protect everyone in the community. Advertisement Advertisement Some commentators, like those on Fox News, have asserted that reducing jail populations will lead to a spike in crime, making communities less safe. Whats your response to that claim? I can tell you the thing that I am most focused on the safety of everyone in our community. I guess the Fox News folks will say this is a soft-on-crime kind of thing. This isnt about being soft on crime. This is about being mindful of the impact of this disease. And frankly, these policies protect my deputy prosecutors. They protect corrections staff and court staff. And were not talking about opening the jail to every person who is charged or convicted of a crime. This policy addresses low-level felony offenders and misdemeanants. Were not dismissing their cases. Were just agreeing to remove them from custody because that is the safest thing to do. Advertisement Other prosecutors, including those in New Orleans, have argued that releasing low-level offenders from jail would actually endanger the community by contributing to the virus spread. I take it you disagree? Lets talk about the alternative: Were going to fill our jails to the gills, invariably somebody is going to contract this virus, and its going to infect defendants, corrections officers, public defenders, deputy prosecuting attorneys, judges, everyone elseand were only going to increase the spread. Thats the alternative. The other thing is, these defendants who are serving sentences in jail, theyre going to get out! These people are not serving life sentences. The misdemeanants are not going to be serving more than a month. These people are going to finish serving the 10-day sentences they got for some stupid criminal trespass case, then theyre going to go back out into the community, and theyre going to be infected because they were in jail in the first place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another thing to consider, particularly for misdemeanants and low-level felony defendants, is that these people also have loved ones in the community who may need their care. This monolithic belief that criminals are bad misses the nuances of human frailty and human strength. So I think thats another important thing to consider. One thing that guides much of my work is the fact that I grew up in our states foster care system. As a kid in foster care, you learn to identify threats. You learn how to overcome those threats. So I think that has been in some way what has guided my response to the crisis. It guides my approach to the criminal justice system. My parents struggled with alcohol and drug addiction and all the attendant challenges that lead to a kid being brought into foster care. That doesnt mean Im a softie on things, but I think I understand nuance a little bit better. It has provided me a perspective on the world that guides my work. Advertisement It seems you believe, and reasonably so, that you can release low-level felony defendants and misdemeanants from jail without endangering the community. The logical next question is, if you can do that during the coronavirus pandemic, why cant you do that all the time? Advertisement There will be a time to consider what we do when the crisis has abated. We will have statistics that will show whether crime actually spiked in the two or three or five months of this crisis. We have to look at what the numbers tell us. I know reforms in some other jurisdictions, like Chicago, have actually led to a reduction of crime. I am really going to be interested in what the statistics tell us about crime during this time of crisis. Ill look at that and consider that as well as other stuff I cant even conceive right now because Im squarely focused on trying to get us through this crisis. Representative image With state governments across India announcing a lockdown to contain the spread of novel coronavirus or COVID-19, work at ongoing construction sites has come to a grinding halt, real estate developers told Moneycontrol. "Construction work has been stopped at all sites," said Satish Magar, President, CREDAI, National. "We support the governments decision for social distancing. We have started with labourers on our construction sites. Most Credai-affiliated developers have stopped work on construction sites and we are making provisions for their safety, food and reaching out to them and explaining the gravity of the situation," said Boman Irani, vice-president, CREDAI MCHI. Catastrophe waiting to happen Explaining the extent of the problem, Nayan Shah, President, CREDAI MCHI, said about one lakh workers -- primarily from Uttar Pradesh, Kolkata, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Jharkhand -- from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) have gone back to their villages in the last 10 days. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show "Work has to start by April 5 or April 7 latest. If there is any further delay, monsoons would pose a big challenge in a city like Mumbai, leading to a catastrophe. Projects that are at the basement and excavation stage may pose a threat to the safety of surrounding buildings during monsoons if work does not start soon," he stated. Developers spend around 20-25 percent and 60-65 percent towards construction cost for middle-income and lower-income housing units, respectively. "With construction workers returning back to their villages and construction coming to a halt, the loss would be in the range of 5-10 percent," Shah said In MMR alone, 10,200 projects, worth Rs 5 lakh crore, are registered under RERA. The total area under construction is around 8 crore sq ft and the total value is Rs 5 lakh crore. Total loans taken by developers to finance their projects is around Rs 2 lakh crore. As much as Rs 2.5 lakh crore has been raised through the home loan route. Shah wants the government to suspend all financial obligations including payment for premium to the MCGM/special planning authority/state government for one-year. "CREDAI MCHI believes that all premiums payable should be reduced by 75 percent for a period of five years." Moreover, he wants all EMIs payable by all residential homebuyers as well those due from developers to be deferred by 12 months. The industry body is seeking zero stamp duty for six months and removal of property tax for the next one year. Deadline extension With construction work coming to a halt, possession timelines of projects need to be adjusted, realtors told Moneycontrol. Niranjan Hiranandani - National President NAREDCO, said, With no work happening at construction sites and white-collared human resources in the work from home mode not to mention homebuyers not being able to visit construction sites/sales offices, the possession dates as mentioned under RERA filings look difficult to be achieved. Given this, authorities are requested to allow flexibility in terms of construction schedules and possession dates. Amit Modi, President Elect, CREDAI, Western UP, sees a delay of around seven to eight months in project completion on account of supply disruptions due to the coronavirus outbreak and the National Green Tribunal ban on construction last year. Since the NGTs ban on construction only 30 percent work was in progress and we stopped construction three days before the government announced the lockdown. Impact on daily wage labourers Daily wage construction workers too suffer because of the lockdown. Besides those from MMR who have returned home, about 50,000 construction workers from the around 3 lakh labourers in Delhi-NCR have returned to their hometown. Realtors say that they would not be deducting their wages. We will be directing all our contractors at the sites to ensure that labourers are paid full money, said Shah. Magar said he has petitioned authorities to utilise proceeds of the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Fund. "All developers pay one percent as cess to this board, which holds about Rs 1 lakh crore in its coffers." In Maharashtra, the BOCW Board has agreed to transfer an interim amount of Rs 1000 to all registered construction workers and also those whose registration is in process, he said. Subhash Bhatnagar, National Campaign Committee for Central Legislation on Construction Labour (NCC-CL), too has written to the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal requesting for a transfer of one-month minimum wage into the bank accounts of construction workers registered with the Delhi Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board (BOCW). This letter was in response to the March 22 order notifying a lockdown in the NCT (National Capital Territory) of Delhi until March 31. There are over 10 lakh construction workers in Delhi. Of which, 5.4 lakh are registered with the Delhi BOCW. Because labour officials of the Delhi BOCW suddenly stopped carrying out their responsibilities from May 2018 onwards, most construction workers do not have a live registration. Even the digital upgradation of membership, which was started on November 16, 2018, has been very slow. In 16 months, it has been able to update only 50,000-60,000 construction workers as live registrations of the over five lakh registered beneficiaries, the letter said Bhatnagar urged that all workers registered with BOCW be transferred one months minimum wage regardless of their registration status as live or pending renewal. States like Kerala, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Jharkhand have announced emergency relief as other benefits under their respective state BOCW boards in light of the current health crisis, without calling for a board meeting, the letter noted. The Supreme Court last week categorised over two crore registered construction workers as consumers making it possible for them to move consumer forums if any government denied them benefits promised under the welfare schemes implemented with funds collected as cess from real estate builders. Israel's Supreme Court on Monday ordered the country's parliament to reconvene for the selection of a new speaker, dealing a blow to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he tries to steer the country through the coronavirus crisis and fend off a looming corruption trial. The current speaker, Yuli Edelstein of Netanyahu's Likud party, suspended the parliament's activities last week, citing procedural issues and restrictions on large gatherings due to the virus. But the opposition Blue and White party, which is backed by a slim majority in the newly elected Knesset, said the country's legislature must continue to function at such a critical time. The party accused Edelstein of shuttering the halls of the legislature in order to keep his job and shield his beleaguered party leader. Blue and White is expected to choose a new speaker and use its parliamentary majority to push through legislation that could prevent Netanyahu from serving as prime minister in the future. The Likud party has accused Blue and White of relying on the votes of terrorist-sympathizing Arab members of parliament to trample democracy amid a national state of emergency and vowed to boycott a vote for a new speaker. A panel of five judges, chaired by Chief Justice Esther Hayut, ordered Edelstein to announce by late Monday whether he planned to bring the selection of a new speaker up for a vote, or else they would be forced to rule against him. In a harsh rebuttal, one of Netanyahu's closest surrogates, Cabinet Minister Yariv Levin, accused the court of formally taking control of the Knesset and turning its speaker into a rubber stamp. If Chief Justice Hayut wants to put herself above the Knesset, she is invited to arrive to the building with her guards and open the session herself. That way it will be clear we are witnessing a coup, he said. The crisis comes amid an aggressive outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in Israel, with Netanyahu looking to entice his rivals into an emergency unity government in the wake of the country's third inconclusive election in less than a year. Most people only experience minor flu-like symptoms and recover from the virus within a few weeks. But the virus is highly contagious and can be spread by those who appear well. It can cause severe illness, including pneumonia and even death in some patients, particularly in the elderly and those with underlying health problems. Around 350,000 people have been infected worldwide, and more than 15,000 have died. More than 100,000 people have recovered. In Israel, daily life has largely shut down with cases multiplying greatly over the past week, reaching nearly 1,250 people testing positive for the new virus. One patient has died and 24 are in serious condition. Opposition leader Benny Gantz and his centrist Blue and White party have pledged to support the government in its effort to combat the virus but appear reluctant to join in themselves. Gantz and his allies consider Netanyahu's offers insincere and have expressed skepticism over Netanyahu's power-sharing overtures, concerned that he will not follow through on his promises to cede power in 18 months. The opposition has also accused Netanyahu of using the coronavirus crisis as cover to undermine the country's democratic institutions. With the country in near-shutdown mode, Netanyahu has already managed to postpone his own pending criminal trial on serious corruption charges and authorize unprecedented electronic surveillance of Israeli citizens. Netanyahu faces charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in connection to a series of scandals. He is accused of receiving expensive gifts from wealthy friends and offering to exchange favors with powerful media moguls. The long-ruling Israeli leader denies any wrongdoing and says he is the victim of a media-orchestrated witch hunt. His hand-picked interim justice minister declared a state of emergency in the court system a day before Netanyahu's scheduled trail was to begin, forcing its postponement for more than two months. Even amid the health scare, Israelis have taken to the streets to protest what they consider an assault on Israeli democracy. Besides replacing Netanyahu's speaker of parliament, Gantz's party is also seeking to pass legislation that would impose term limits on the prime minister and bar a politician indicted on criminal charges, like Netanyahu, from being prime minister. Wary of losing his job as speaker, Edelstein has relied on his own legal council to argue that he has discretion on convening parliament, and he has dismissed allegations that he is railroading democratic procedures as spin. But in a formal response to the Supreme Court, Israel's attorney general said the emergency measures should not prevent parliament from convening and carrying out its duties. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As the number of Covid-19 positive cases soared in the country, the government put in place stringent measures, locking down districts to check the spread of Sars-CoV-2 virus. The government has already said that private sector workers in New Delhi must work from home this week unless they are providing an essential service. Most public transport will also be halted. Tracking Coronavirus Outbreak: Live Updates The 82 districts, where Covid-19 cases have been reported, are under complete lockdown. The Union Home Ministry said these 82 districts in 22 states and Union Territories are places from where Covid-19 cases have been under reported and are under complete lockdown, but state governments can extend the list of districts as they deem fit. Heres a look at what is shut where and what is not: To carry out basic essential transactions, the Indian Banks Association (IBA) has asked banks to open only selective branches in areas that have been placed under lockdown. The association asked the CEO of banks to empower their regional or zonal or circle heads to take appropriate decision in the matter. The association had earlier asked customers to use online and mobile banking channels for making their transactions. Except Karnataka, private vehicles are allowed in states across the country. Grocery shops, fuel stations, LPG agencies, telecom services, hospitals and pharmacies are open in almost every state. All schools, colleges, trains, inter-state bus services and offices are closed. Most of the states have also banned dine-in eateries, while some like Maharashtra and Rajasdthan have kept these open. Except Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, local bus services are also banned. Now, lets take a look at measures taken by various state governments as part of national lockdown. Delhi: Services of Ola and Uber will not be available in Delhi till March 31 amid the lockdown announced by the state government to contain the spread of coronavirus disease Covid-19. Uber is complying with all Central and State Government directives related to its services for containing the spread of Coronavirus, an Uber spokesperson said in response to a query. An Ola spokesperson said the company will enable a minimal network of vehicles to support essential services in cities, wherever applicable, as part of this national effort to reduce the contagion of COVID-19. The lockdown in Delhi will continue till March 31. The total number of coronavirus cases in the national capital on Sunday increased to 30, said the Union health ministry. The citys borders will remain sealed during the lockdown, but essential services related to health, food, water and power supply will continue, and 25 per cent of the DTC buses will run to transport people associated with essential services. Uttar Pradesh: Sixteen districts in Uttar Pradesh, including capital Lucknow, have been locked down till Wednesday amid a spurt in Sars-CoV-2 cases. The districts where the lockdown has been enforced in the first phase are Lucknow, Agra, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Ghaziabad, Varanasi, Allahabad, Kanpur, Aligarh, Moradabad, Lakhimpur Kheri, Bareilly, Azamgarh, Meerut, Gorakhpur, Saharanpur and Pilibhit. I appeal to all the citizens that they should stay indoors and not venture out of their homes. Unnecessary crowding and gathering at public places should be avoided. We are standing at a juncture where even a slight laxity can prove to be harmful, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said. Maharashtra: The state has seen highest number of Covid-19 patients in the country. Among the steps taken by the state government, all kinds of gatherings and travel are banned. The police in Pune have passed an order restricting assembly of five or more people in the city to avoid the spread of coronavirus. The order passed under Section 144 of CrPC restricts people to assemble at one place or organise any such event/programme where five or more peoples gathering can be expected. West Bengal: The West Bengal government on Sunday announced lockdown in the state, including rural and urban areas, till March 27. The state will be on lockdown till March 27 until further orders in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus, read the order issued by the government. The state government announced that no public transport including taxis and autorickshaws, except for vehicles going to and from hospitals, airports, railway station, bus terminals/bus stands and good carrying food and essential commodities, will be allowed to be on streets. Jharkhand: The Jharkhand government on Sunday announced a lockdown in the state till March 31 in wake of the surge in coronavirus cases in the country, said government officials. During the lockdown, the movement of all public transport is prohibited and all shops, commercial institutions, offices, factories, godowns, weekly markets will remain closed. Odisha: The Odisha government on Sunday suspended all inter-state bus services amid a lockdown imposed to contain the further spread of coronavirus disease Covid-19. The inter-state bus operation to and from Odisha will remain suspended till further orders, these buses coming from other states will not be allowed to reach their destination in Odisha after 11 am on March 23, said a government order. Similarly, no inter-state bus will be allowed to operate to other states from Odisha after 11 am on Monday. Bihar: The Bihar government on Sunday announced a lockdown till March 31 to prevent the possible spread of Covid-19. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said the lockdown is being enforced in all districts, sub-divisional and block headquarters and municipal towns. It came into effect immediately. Kumar urged people to extend their full cooperation to the state governments campaign to curb the spread of the disease. Karnataka: The state government on Sunday announced lockdown of nine districts and the suspension of operations of public transport all across the state. These nine districts are Bengaluru, Bengaluru rural, Kalburgi, Mysore, Mangalore, Kodagu, Chickballapur, Dharwad and Belagavi. They will remain under lockdown till March 31. The suspension of public transport all across the state, however, is only in place till Monday, Karnataka home minister Basavaraj Bommai said. Haryana: The Haryana government on Sunday ordered lockdown for seven of the states 22 districts, including Gurgaon and Faridabad, till March 32 and suspending all public and private transport and various non-essential services there with the positive coronavirus cases reaching 12. According to a state government notification, issued on Sunday, the lockdown in the seven districts - Gurugaon, Faridabad, Sonipat, Panipat, Jhajjar, Rohtak and Panchkula - was enforced at 9 pm. Testing has expanded in the country of 1.3 billion people after the number of infected people reached 396 on Sunday. The World Health Organization has called for aggressive action in Southeast Asia, fearing that a major outbreak could cripple the regions health care systems. New Delhi, March 23 : In view of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) restrictions across the country, the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is ensuring that pensions to over 65 lakh people are disbursed on time. In a statement, the EPFO said that due to the coronavirus pandemic, lockdowns have been declared in various parts of the country. "In order to ensure that no inconvenience is caused to the pensioners on account of the prevalent situation, the Central Provident Fund Commissioner has directed the field offices of EPFO to generate and reconcile pensioners' details and pension amount statements for the current month by March 25," it said. It was also directed that the money should be forwarded to the banks in advance so that the monthly pension is credited into the account of the pensioners in time i.e. during the month of March itself, it said. The EPFO said that it is disbursing monthly pension to more than 65 lakh pensioners every month under the Employees' Pension Scheme, 1995. On Monday, the total number of people affected by Covid-19 in the country climbed to 385. Supreme Leader: US officials are charlatans and terrorists IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, March 22, IRNA -- The Supreme Leader of the Islamic revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said on Sunday that no wise person could ever think of accepting aid offers from the US which is accused of engineering the coronavirus. Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks while addressing the nation on the auspicious occasion of the birth anniversary of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad which a major celebration across the Islamic world on Sunday morning. Ayatollah Khamenei stressed Iran's capabilities in coping with problems and challenges in all levels. He said Iran is quite capable of solving problems so we should identify domestic potential and employ all motivated and young experts. Referring to the false offers of medical assistance to Iran by some US officials, the Supreme Leader termed them as "one of those strange remarks". Addressing the US officials, he said: "First of all, you are facing shortages yourselves. If you have enough (equipment), use them for yourselves. You are under accusations that your created this virus. We do have enemies but the most evil of them is the US." During the televised speech which is also going live on Twitter and Instagram, the Leader also touched upon the advent of the new Iranian year, Nowruz. The speech was also available live on his official website, Khamenei.ir. The Supreme Leader used to address the nation from the holy tomb of the 8th Shiite Imam Reza in Mashad on the opening day of the new year annually but this year the program was cancelled due to health care concerns because of coronavirus spread in Iran. The following is the excerpt of the speech as published on Khamenei.ir: "God took a pledge from Prophets throughout history on the day of Mab'ath to believe in the Prophet of Islam and help him. The name and features of our Prophet were described in the undistorted versions of the Torah and Bible, and Jesus referred to the name of the Prophet of Islam." "Mab'ath contains great concepts. If one believes in these, he will achieve a pure life. One of the goals of the appointment of all prophets was social and economic justice. Imam Ali (pbuh) talked about justice and liberty a thousand years ago, well before Westerners addressed these." "300 years after the Prophet of Islam, the strongest government in terms of science, culture, politics the military was the government of Islam. If we're not lazy or narrow-minded today, we can achieve the peak of the Prophet's Islamic government and modern Islamic Civilization." "Prophets had many enemies. We shouldn't be surprised at having enemies. In the Battle of Ahzab, the believers said the number of enemies attested to God's pledge. The most vicious enemy is the US govt. They are lying, brazen, avaricious charlatans, and cruel, merciless terrorists." "The US government has declared a few times that they are ready to help Iran with medicines to fight the Coronavirus outbreak. That's strange. Firstly, based on the words of your own officials, you face shortages in the US. So use what you have for your own patients. Second, you're accused of having created Coronavirus. I don't know how true it is. But when there's such an allegation, can a wise man trust you? You could be giving medicines that spread the virus or cause it to remain. Experience shows you can't be trusted and you do such things." "Everyone should observe the guidelines of the National Committee for Combating Corona, God willing. Even religious gatherings have been cancelled in Iran, which is unprecedented in our history. But it's unavoidable. May God remove this disease from all the people of the world." 1424 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Unfortunately for some shareholders, the Yuzhou Properties (HKG:1628) share price has dived 31% in the last thirty days. That drop has capped off a tough year for shareholders, with the share price down 36% in that time. Assuming nothing else has changed, a lower share price makes a stock more attractive to potential buyers. In the long term, share prices tend to follow earnings per share, but in the short term prices bounce around in response to short term factors (which are not always obvious). So, on certain occasions, long term focussed investors try to take advantage of pessimistic expectations to buy shares at a better price. One way to gauge market expectations of a stock is to look at its Price to Earnings Ratio (PE Ratio). A high P/E ratio means that investors have a high expectation about future growth, while a low P/E ratio means they have low expectations about future growth. View our latest analysis for Yuzhou Properties Does Yuzhou Properties Have A Relatively High Or Low P/E For Its Industry? We can tell from its P/E ratio of 3.16 that sentiment around Yuzhou Properties isn't particularly high. If you look at the image below, you can see Yuzhou Properties has a lower P/E than the average (6.2) in the real estate industry classification. SEHK:1628 Price Estimation Relative to Market, March 23rd 2020 This suggests that market participants think Yuzhou Properties will underperform other companies in its industry. While current expectations are low, the stock could be undervalued if the situation is better than the market assumes. It is arguably worth checking if insiders are buying shares, because that might imply they believe the stock is undervalued. How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios Probably the most important factor in determining what P/E a company trades on is the earnings growth. Earnings growth means that in the future the 'E' will be higher. Therefore, even if you pay a high multiple of earnings now, that multiple will become lower in the future. Then, a lower P/E should attract more buyers, pushing the share price up. Story continues Yuzhou Properties maintained roughly steady earnings over the last twelve months. But EPS is up 8.0% over the last 5 years. A Limitation: P/E Ratios Ignore Debt and Cash In The Bank It's important to note that the P/E ratio considers the market capitalization, not the enterprise value. So it won't reflect the advantage of cash, or disadvantage of debt. Hypothetically, a company could reduce its future P/E ratio by spending its cash (or taking on debt) to achieve higher earnings. Such expenditure might be good or bad, in the long term, but the point here is that the balance sheet is not reflected by this ratio. Yuzhou Properties's Balance Sheet Yuzhou Properties's net debt is considerable, at 140% of its market cap. This level of debt justifies a relatively low P/E, so remain cognizant of the debt, if you're comparing it to other stocks. The Bottom Line On Yuzhou Properties's P/E Ratio Yuzhou Properties has a P/E of 3.2. That's below the average in the HK market, which is 8.6. It's good to see EPS growth in the last 12 months, but the debt on the balance sheet might be muting expectations. Given Yuzhou Properties's P/E ratio has declined from 4.6 to 3.2 in the last month, we know for sure that the market is more worried about the business today, than it was back then. For those who prefer invest in growth, this stock apparently offers limited promise, but the deep value investors may find the pessimism around this stock enticing. Investors have an opportunity when market expectations about a stock are wrong. If it is underestimating a company, investors can make money by buying and holding the shares until the market corrects itself. So this free visual report on analyst forecasts could hold the key to an excellent investment decision. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking at a few good candidates. So take a peek at this free list of companies with modest (or no) debt, trading on a P/E below 20. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. PR-Inside.com: 2020-03-23 14:03:02 Reno, Nevada, March 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- rfxcel, the longest-tenured track and trace solutions provider in the life sciences industry, today announced the launch of Accurate Immunization Management (AIM), an automated, cloud-based solution that tracks the dispensing of vaccines in the supply chain and seamlessly integrates with critical healthcare applications such as Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and Immunization Information Systems (IIS). AIM ensures that the right patient gets the right vaccine at the right time, rfxcel CEO Glenn Abood said. It can track any vaccine, including potential vaccines for COVID-19, in any supply chain, monitor inventory, and facilitate safe, timely delivery to any location. At a time when the world is depending on supply chains to function at peak performance, AIM is a tool to get vaccines properly delivered and dispensed. Abood, who founded rfxcel in 2003 with Chief Strategy Officer Jack Tarkoff, emphasized that AIM utilizes a configurable rules engine and automated inventory reordering to ensure that vaccines are always on hand and are delivered as intended. We designed AIM to be compliant, fast, and flexible in any country, Abood said, adding that it will comply with laws in the European Union, China, Russia, Asia, India, and the Middle East. It will never run counter to what regulations tell us we need to do to safeguard people and the worldwide vaccine supply chain, he said. The announcement of AIM comes as rfxcel is marking its 17th year of developing leading-edge supply chain software solutions. Last month, it released the latest version of its rfxcel Traceability System (rTS) software platform. rTS 7.0 continues the award-winning legacy of the companys signature full-stack solution, enabling true end-to-end supply chain traceability, environmental monitoring, and analytics from anywhere in the world. Highlights of 2019 included conducting major pharma pilots for the FDA and the Brazilian government, enhancing its powerful Integrated Monitoring (rIM) solution, launching a MobileTraceability solution, tripling the size of its team in Russia, increasing its presence in the Middle East, and entering the consumer goods industry. Weve been working on AIM for a while and have successfully tested it with some of our major customers, Abood said. Weve been excited about releasing it, but we couldnt imagine the timing would coincide with COVID-19 and a new normal for businesses everywhere. In these new circumstances, and with the situation changing hour to hour, we think AIM will strengthen rfxcels commitment to being a responsible and proactive member of the global business community. Abood concluded by saying that rfxcel was operating at full capacity and was in constant contact with its employees and customers. We are keeping supply chains moving in critical industries, including pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, worldwide government, and consumer goods, he said. To learn more about rfxcels Accurate Immunization Management solution and the companys other track and trace and environmental monitoring solutions for the life sciences industry, contact Vice President of Marketing Herb Wong and visit rfxcel.com. About rfxcel Founded in 2003, rfxcel provides leading-edge software solutions to help companies manage every aspect of their supply chains, lower costs, and protect their products and brand reputations. Blue-chip organizations in the life sciences (pharmaceuticals and medical devices), food and beverage, worldwide government, and consumer goods industries trust rfxcels signature Traceability System (rTS) to power end-to-end supply chain solutions in key areas such as traceability, environmental monitoring, regulatory compliance, serialization, and visibility. The company is headquartered in the United States and has offices in the EU, Britain, Latin America, Russia, the Middle East, India, Japan, and the Asia-Pacific region. Senior Producers, Larger-Cap Near-Term Production Royalty & Streaming Price Shrs O/S Mkt Cap Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Cash Flow Per Share Price/Cash Flow EV/EBITDA Div Yld Symbol Rating 20-Mar-20 (MM) (US$MM) 2019 2020E 2021E 2020E 2021E 2019 2020E 2021E 2020E 2021E 2020E % Altius Minerals Corp ALS 1.8 C$6.68 42 $194 0.55 0.40 0.46 16.6 14.5 1.03 0.89 0.99 7.5 6.7 -- 1.6% Anglo Pacific Group PLC (UK) APF 1.8 GBP$1.18 181 $246 0.21 0.21 0.24 5.5 5.0 0.22 0.22 0.23 5.4 5.1 12.8 4.6% Franco-Nevada FNV 2.4 US$94.74 189 $17,944 1.82 2.29 2.31 41.4 41.1 3.29 3.88 4.03 24.4 23.5 36.6 1.0% Maverix Metals (CA) MMX 2.1 C$4.26 120 $352 0.09 0.11 0.17 38.0 25.8 0.25 0.31 0.35 13.7 12.0 -- 0.2% Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd OR 2.1 C$9.47 157 $1,025 0.28 0.29 0.37 32.2 25.9 0.61 0.74 0.82 12.8 11.5 40.6 1.6% Royal Gold Inc RGLD 3.2 US$71.62 66 $4,696 2.03 2.67 2.74 26.8 26.1 4.52 5.36 5.61 13.4 12.8 17.4 0.9% Sandstorm Gold Ltd (CA) SAND 2.2 US$4.57 179 $816 0.09 0.12 0.15 37.7 30.5 0.30 0.37 0.40 12.3 11.6 22.4 0.0% Wheaton Precious Metals WPM 1.9 US$24.14 448 $10,727 0.56 0.90 0.93 26.9 26.1 1.12 1.52 1.59 15.9 15.2 19.1 1.2% Average 28.1 24.4 13.2 12.3 24.8 Gold Large-Cap Gold Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd AEM 2.1 US$36.80 241 $9,032 0.96 1.34 1.76 27.4 20.9 3.70 4.44 5.04 8.3 7.3 11.9 0.9% Barrick Gold Corp ABX 2.3 US$15.88 1778 $28,237 0.51 0.75 0.80 21.1 19.9 1.61 2.31 2.34 6.9 6.8 10.2 1.1% Kirkland Lake Gold (CA) KL 2.2 US$25.59 287 $7,260 2.74 2.76 2.73 9.3 9.4 4.38 4.40 4.59 5.8 5.6 37.3 0.4% Newcrest Mining Ltd (AU) NCM 3.0 US$12.60 769 $9,596 0.81 0.92 0.97 13.7 13.1 1.77 1.76 1.87 7.2 6.7 8.2 1.1% Newmont Goldcorp NEM 2.0 US$40.56 808 $32,764 1.32 2.02 2.30 20.1 17.6 3.89 4.86 5.10 8.4 8.0 16.1 1.3% Polyus Gold International (UK) PGIL 2.0 RU$8,495.50 134 $14,302 769.61 992.04 982.12 8.6 8.7 1054.82 1244.95 1226.97 6.8 6.9 -- 2.3% Zijin Mining Group (HK) 2899 1.7 CNY$2.43 25377 $11,544 0.17 0.21 0.26 11.5 9.5 0.40 0.49 0.55 5.0 4.4 20.2 0.0% Average 16.0 14.2 6.9 6.5 17.3 Mid-Cap Gold Price Shrs O/S Mkt Cap Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Cash Flow Per Share Price/Cash Flow EV/EBITDA Div Yld Symbol Rating 20-Mar-20 (MM) (US$MM) 2019 2020E 2021E 2020E 2021E 2019 2020E 2021E 2020E 2021E 2020E % Alamos Gold AGI 2.3 US$4.53 391 $1,773 0.21 0.26 0.40 17.5 11.4 0.66 0.73 0.97 6.3 4.7 10.4 0.7% AngloGold Ashanti Ltd AU 2.7 US$14.98 416 $6,286 0.91 2.10 2.27 7.1 6.6 2.50 3.44 3.64 4.4 4.1 5.2 0.5% B2Gold Corp BTG 1.6 US$2.79 1030 $2,870 0.23 0.39 0.34 7.2 8.2 0.49 0.69 0.63 4.0 4.5 9.3 0.2% Buenaventura (ADR) BVN 2.9 US$7.27 276 $1,951 (0.05) 0.49 0.57 15.0 12.6 0.20 0.94 0.88 7.7 8.3 7.9 0.6% Centamin PLC (CA) CEE 2.3 US$1.25 1156 $1,443 0.07 0.13 0.10 9.3 11.9 0.13 0.19 0.18 6.7 7.1 2.9 4.8% Centerra Gold (CA) CG 2.4 US$5.04 294 $1,481 0.71 1.00 1.00 5.1 5.0 1.44 2.07 2.09 2.4 2.4 4.4 0.0% Endeavour Mining Corp (CA) EDV 1.8 US$15.07 110 $1,657 0.67 1.45 1.92 10.4 7.8 2.75 3.88 4.47 3.9 3.4 9.8 0.0% Evolution Mining Ltd (AU) EVN 2.6 AUD$3.62 1704 $3,542 0.16 0.22 0.24 16.6 15.2 0.43 0.51 0.50 7.1 7.2 9.1 3.4% Gold Fields Ltd (ADR) GFI 2.8 US$4.00 883 $3,926 0.20 0.49 0.74 8.2 5.4 1.08 1.33 1.52 3.0 2.6 4.6 0.6% Harmony Gold Mining Ltd HAR 2.0 ZAR$37.17 543 $1,156 4.33 8.51 8.78 4.4 4.2 11.45 16.62 17.70 2.2 2.1 5.5 0.0% Kinross Gold Corp KGC 2.5 US$3.61 1254 $4,539 0.34 0.42 0.40 8.6 9.1 0.97 1.06 1.10 3.4 3.3 6.9 0.0% Lundin Gold Inc (CA) LUG 2.2 US$5.57 224 $1,250 (0.10) 0.40 0.59 13.9 9.5 (0.10) 0.65 0.91 8.5 6.1 -- 0.0% Northern Star Resources (AU) NST 2.9 AUD$10.72 740 $4,555 0.44 0.74 0.92 14.4 11.7 0.81 1.17 1.34 9.1 8.0 16.6 1.3% NovaGold Resources Inc NG 2.0 US$6.74 328 $2,245 (0.09) (0.08) -- -- -- -- -- (0.03) -- -- -- 0.0% Polymetal International PLC (UK) POLY 2.2 US$13.58 470 $6,387 1.25 1.67 1.73 8.1 7.8 1.46 2.07 1.99 6.6 6.8 10.4 3.9% Saracen Mineral Holdings (AU) SAR 2.0 AUD$2.97 1103 $1,881 0.17 0.27 0.31 11.0 9.4 0.32 0.44 0.51 6.7 5.8 37.2 0.0% Sibanye Gold Ltd (SA) SGL -- ZAR$44.33 2670 $7,646 -- (0.40) 9.55 -- 4.6 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- SSR Mining SSRM 2.0 US$10.77 123 $1,326 0.81 1.09 1.37 9.9 7.9 1.10 2.11 2.43 5.1 4.4 5.3 0.0% Yamana Gold Inc AUY 2.4 US$2.58 950 $2,482 0.35 0.15 0.17 16.8 15.0 0.55 0.64 0.70 4.0 3.7 5.4 0.8% Zhaojin Mining Industry Co Ltd (HK) 1818 2.2 CNY$6.92 3270 $3,190 0.21 0.33 0.38 20.9 18.4 0.78 1.12 0.83 6.2 8.4 19.1 0.5% Average 11.4 9.6 5.4 5.2 10.0 Note: Currency shown is that used by the company for financial reporting. Currency does not always reflect the country/market in which the company/stock symbol trades. GAAP may differ between stocks due to countries and markets. The tables are compiled from the Thomson Reuters database of consensus Ratings & Estimates of equity analysts. The historicals and estimates of earnings and cash flows exclude non-operating, special items. Thomson Reuters Rating System: Buy (1.0), Buy/Hold (2.0), Hold (3.0), Sell/Hold (4.0), Sell (5.0) Source: Thomson Reuters. Small-Cap Gold Price Shrs O/S Mkt Cap Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Cash Flow Per Share Price/Cash Flow EV/EBITDA Div Yld Symbol Rating 20-Mar-20 (MM) (US$MM) 2019 2020E 2021E 2020E 2021E 2019 2020E 2021E 2020E 2021E 2020E % Alacer Gold Corp (CA) ASR 2.6 US$2.46 295 $725 0.37 0.43 0.43 5.7 5.8 0.86 0.90 0.90 2.7 2.7 31.2 0.0% DRDGold Ltd (ADR) DROOY 5.0 ZAR$9.10 865 $451 0.50 0.92 -- 9.9 -- 1.17 1.26 -- 7.2 -- 18.9 0.0% Dundee Precious Metals (CA) DPM 1.8 US$2.70 181 $488 0.19 0.51 0.62 5.3 4.4 0.55 0.97 1.16 2.8 2.3 6.6 0.0% Eldorado Gold Corp EGO 2.8 US$5.99 165 $863 0.04 0.78 0.39 7.7 15.3 0.93 2.02 1.51 3.0 4.0 7.8 0.0% Equinox Gold Corp (CA) EQX 2.1 US$6.47 216 $1,397 (0.16) 0.89 1.13 7.3 5.7 0.53 1.51 1.97 4.3 3.3 -- 0.0% Gold Resource Corp GORO 2.0 US$2.38 66 $155 0.09 0.42 0.16 5.7 14.9 -- -- -- -- 0.4% Gold Road Resources Ltd (AU) GOR 2.2 AUD$1.05 879 $530 0.01 0.09 0.10 11.6 10.8 0.04 0.14 0.14 7.3 7.3 -- 0.0% Golden Star Resources GSS 2.5 US$2.20 161 $258 0.16 0.24 0.31 9.3 7.1 0.21 0.68 0.71 3.2 3.1 6.5 0.0% Gran Colombia Gold Corp (CA) GCM 2.0 US$2.37 61 $144 0.90 1.22 0.93 1.9 2.5 1.52 1.46 1.32 1.6 1.8 -- 0.0% Great Bear Resources (CA) GBR 1.5 C$6.05 46 $193 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 0.0% Hecla Mining Co HL 2.9 US$1.66 523 $869 (0.13) 0.02 0.07 NM 22.3 0.25 0.32 0.38 5.2 4.4 5.5 0.3% Highland Gold Mining Ltd (UK) HGM 2.0 US$1.84 364 $670 0.31 0.32 0.36 5.8 5.2 0.44 0.49 0.51 3.8 3.6 5.8 6.1% Hochschild Mining PLC (UK) HOC 2.5 US$1.08 514 $554 0.09 0.15 0.15 7.4 7.0 0.55 0.45 0.49 2.4 2.2 2.0 1.8% Iamgold Corp IAG 2.6 US$2.00 470 $950 (0.04) 0.18 0.20 11.0 10.2 0.78 0.78 0.81 2.6 2.5 2.0 0.0% K92 Mining (CA) KNT 1.4 US$1.95 213 $415 0.12 0.26 0.34 7.5 5.8 0.22 0.34 0.41 5.8 4.8 -- 0.0% McEwen Mining Inc. MUX 2.0 US$0.58 400 $232 (0.17) (0.03) 0.02 -- 25.8 (0.11) (0.03) 0.09 -- 6.4 -- 0.0% New Gold Inc NGD 2.8 US$0.50 676 $339 (0.08) (0.06) (0.02) -- -- 0.43 0.36 0.41 1.4 1.2 3.3 0.0% Oceanagold Corp (AU) OGC 2.1 US$1.10 622 $542 0.05 0.10 0.22 10.9 5.0 0.32 0.36 0.55 3.1 2.0 2.5 0.0% Orla Mining Ltd (CA) OLA 2.0 C$1.76 187 $227 (0.16) (0.09) (0.02) -- -- (0.12) (0.09) 0.05 -- 35.2 -- 0.0% Osisko Mining Corp (CA) OSK 1.8 C$1.94 291 $393 (0.17) (0.05) (0.05) -- -- (0.01) (0.04) (0.04) -- -- -- 0.0% Pan African Resources (UK) PAF 1.0 US$0.12 1928 $225 0.02 0.04 0.05 2.8 2.5 0.03 0.04 -- 2.6 -- 9.0 1.0% Perseus Mining Ltd (AU) PRU 2.2 AUD$0.81 1168 $543 0.03 0.06 0.11 13.6 7.4 0.15 0.18 0.25 4.4 3.3 76.1 0.0% Petropavlovsk PLC (UK) POG 2.2 US$0.22 3310 $714 0.02 0.04 0.05 5.2 4.9 0.01 0.04 0.07 5.5 3.3 6.4 0.0% Pretium Resources PVG 2.4 US$5.60 185 $1,038 0.55 0.49 0.52 11.4 10.9 1.21 1.15 1.18 4.9 4.7 -- 0.0% Regis Resources Ltd (AU) RRL 2.5 AUD$3.55 508 $1,036 0.36 0.42 0.47 8.4 7.5 0.58 0.63 0.67 5.6 5.3 6.9 3.7% Ramelius Resources Ltd (AU) RMS 1.8 AUD$0.82 659 $310 0.06 0.10 0.12 8.1 6.7 0.23 0.25 0.25 3.2 3.2 6.4 0.8% Resolute Mining Ltd (AU) RSG 2.1 AUD$0.78 1057 $473 0.02 0.14 0.16 5.8 4.8 0.15 0.26 0.28 3.0 2.8 -- 0.0% St Barbara Ltd (AU) SBM 2.3 AUD$1.94 699 $777 0.23 0.25 0.29 7.9 6.8 0.41 0.46 0.52 4.2 3.7 4.7 2.9% Sabina Gold & Silver Corp (CA) SBB 2.3 C$1.04 297 $213 (0.02) (0.01) 0.01 -- NM (0.01) (0.01) 0.03 -- 34.7 -- 0.0% Seabridge Gold SA 2.0 C$10.53 64 $467 (0.12) (0.08) (0.02) -- -- (6.29) -- -- -- -- -- 0.0% Semafo (CA) SMF 2.3 US$1.39 334 $463 0.22 0.29 0.40 4.8 3.5 0.66 0.75 0.85 1.9 1.6 3.4 0.0% Silver Lake Resources (AU) SLR 2.4 AUD$1.33 880 $672 0.06 0.09 0.12 14.1 11.3 0.17 0.22 0.24 6.1 5.6 16.1 0.0% Silvercrest Metals Inc SILV 1.8 C$7.11 109 $541 (0.10) (0.08) (0.11) -- -- (0.07) (0.05) (0.07) -- -- -- 0.0% Teranga Gold Corp (CA) TGZ 1.3 US$3.97 168 $665 0.01 0.26 0.53 15.1 7.5 0.93 1.15 1.61 3.4 2.5 8.0 0.0% Torex Gold Resources (CA) TXG 2.1 US$9.02 85 $770 0.79 0.43 0.66 20.9 13.7 3.51 3.14 3.31 2.9 2.7 4.8 0.0% Victoria Gold Corp (CA) VIT 2.0 C$5.59 58 $227 -- -- -- -- -- -- (0.40) 0.18 -- 31.9 -- 0.0% Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd (CA) WDO 1.9 C$6.18 138 $594 0.29 0.40 0.82 15.4 7.5 0.51 0.62 1.07 10.0 5.8 48.6 0.0% West African Resources Ltd (CA) WAF -- AUD$0.26 870 $220 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 0.04 -- 7.1 -- 0.0% Westgold Resources Ltd (AU) WGX 2.0 AUD$1.63 400 $373 0.06 0.20 0.36 8.3 4.5 0.31 0.49 0.65 3.3 2.5 -- 0.0% Average 8.9 8.5 4.0 6.5 12.8 Select (Gold >US$20MM Mkt Cap) Gold Springs Resource Corp (CA)* GRC 2.0 US$0.06 249 $14 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 0.0% Lion One Metals Ltd (CA)* LIO 2.0 C$0.77 107 $57 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 0.0% Minera Alamos Inc (CA) MAI 2.0 C$0.22 407 $60 (0.02) 0.01 0.03 21.5 7.2 0.03 0.03 -- 7.2 -- -- 0.0% Northern Vertex Mining Corp (CA)* NEE 2.0 US$0.14 251 $35 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 0.0% Paramount Gold Nevada Corp* PZG 2.0 US$0.55 28 $17 (0.21) (0.17) -- -- -- (0.19) (0.16) -- -- -- 0.0% Average 21.5 7.2 *includes research coverage by Scarsdale Equities. Note: Currency shown is that used by the company for financial reporting. Currency does not always reflect the country/market in which the company/stock symbol trades. GAAP may differ between stocks due to countries and markets. The tables are compiled from the Thomson Reuters database of consensus Ratings & Estimates of equity analysts. The historicals and estimates of earnings and cash flows exclude non-operating, special items. Thomson Reuters Rating System: Buy (1.0), Buy/Hold (2.0), Hold (3.0), Sell/Hold (4.0), Sell (5.0) Source: Thomson Reuters. Silver Price Shrs O/S Mkt Cap Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Cash Flow Per Share Price/Cash Flow EV/EBITDA Div Yld Symbol Rating 20-Mar-20 (MM) (US$MM) 2019 2020E 2021E 2020E 2021E 2019 2020E 2021E 2020E 2021E 2020E % Alexco Resource Corp* AXU 2.3 C$1.65 120 $136 (0.08) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 0.0% Americas Gold & Silver Corp (CA) USA 1.8 US$1.38 87 $119 (0.46) 0.11 0.21 12.1 6.5 0.00 0.43 0.76 3.2 1.8 30.2 0.0% Coeur Mining Corp CDE 2.4 US$2.92 243 $710 (0.25) 0.02 0.22 NM 13.4 0.42 0.68 0.97 4.3 3.0 4.4 0.0% Endeavour Silver Corp EXK 3.2 US$1.20 141 $169 (0.36) 0.03 0.01 43.5 NM (0.07) 0.22 0.20 5.4 6.1 4.7 0.0% First Majestic Silver Corp AG 2.6 US$5.57 210 $1,157 0.04 0.21 0.22 27.1 25.8 0.69 0.49 0.79 11.3 7.1 10.3 0.0% Fortuna Silver Mines FSM 2.1 US$2.27 160 $360 0.17 0.36 0.59 6.3 3.8 0.63 0.72 1.14 3.2 2.0 5.4 0.0% Fresnillo (UK) FRES 2.9 US$6.93 737 $5,109 0.23 0.30 0.38 23.2 18.2 0.59 0.86 0.91 8.0 7.6 5.6 1.7% MAG Silver Corp MAG 1.8 US$7.82 87 $670 (0.06) 0.13 0.28 59.2 28.4 (0.03) 0.27 0.57 29.3 13.7 76.9 0.0% New Pacific Metals Corp (CA) NUAG 2.7 C$4.70 147 $478 (0.01) (0.01) (0.01) -- -- (0.02) (0.02) 0.00 -- -- -- 0.0% Pan American Silver PAAS 2.2 US$11.77 210 $2,548 0.78 0.74 1.27 15.9 9.3 1.40 2.29 2.80 5.1 4.2 9.7 0.6% Silvercorp Metals Inc SVM 2.0 US$2.51 173 $436 0.21 0.21 0.19 11.8 13.1 0.43 0.40 0.38 6.2 6.6 -- 0.4% Average 24.9 14.8 8.5 5.8 18.4 *includes research coverage by Scarsdale Equities. Platinum Group Metals African Rainbow Minerals (SA) ARI 2.1 ZAR$97.23 224 $1,247 28.46 27.62 23.62 3.5 4.1 16.23 18.19 23.92 5.3 4.1 19.7 8.6% Anglo American Platinum Ltd (SA) AMS 3.3 ZAR$514.62 270 $7,952 70.61 103.31 103.29 5.0 5.0 107.94 95.79 142.49 5.4 3.6 12.9 2.2% Impala Platinum (SA) IMP 2.1 ZAR$59.45 799 $2,997 11.84 21.46 21.85 2.8 2.7 17.63 29.00 31.85 2.1 1.9 17.9 0.9% Lonmin PLC (UK) LMI -- US$0.96 290 $278 -- -- -- -- -- -- 0.48 0.02 2.0 62.9 -- 0.0% Northam Platinum Ltd (SA) NHM 1.7 ZAR$58.75 510 $1,716 5.30 13.10 14.27 4.5 4.1 13.55 22.30 27.22 2.6 2.2 48.5 0.0% Average 3.9 4.0 3.5 14.9 24.7 Base Metals & Diversified Large-Cap Base Metals Price Shrs O/S Mkt Cap Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Cash Flow Per Share Price/Cash Flow EV/EBITDA Div Yld Symbol Rating 20-Mar-20 (MM) (US$MM) 2019 2020E 2021E 2020E 2021E 2019 2020E 2021E 2020E 2021E 2020E % Anglo American PLC (UK) AAL 2.4 US$12.87 1363 $17,548 2.70 2.50 2.63 5.2 4.9 5.97 5.25 5.80 2.5 2.2 4.7 3.8% Antofagasta PLC (UK) ANTO 2.6 US$7.61 986 $7,499 0.51 0.44 0.57 17.3 13.5 2.12 1.59 1.66 4.8 4.6 6.7 2.8% BHP Billiton Ltd BHP 2.4 US$15.66 5058 $72,961 1.88 1.87 1.79 8.4 8.7 3.32 3.17 3.10 4.9 5.0 5.5 5.5% China Molybdenum Co Ltd (HK) 3993 2.5 CNY$2.00 21599 $10,010 0.08 0.12 0.15 17.1 13.7 (0.58) 0.30 0.38 6.7 5.3 43.6 0.0% Freeport McMoran C&G FCX 2.4 US$5.52 1451 $8,009 0.02 0.25 1.17 22.0 4.7 1.02 1.40 2.83 3.9 2.0 5.1 1.5% Glencore International PLC (UK) GLEN 2.2 US$1.39 13324 $18,548 0.18 0.18 0.24 7.6 5.8 0.63 0.64 0.61 2.2 2.3 5.1 6.4% Grupo Mexico (MX) GMEXICOB 2.5 US$1.62 7785 $12,617 0.29 0.24 0.25 6.9 6.4 0.51 0.35 0.35 4.6 4.6 6.1 6.1% Hindustan Zinc (IN) HZ 2.4 INR$136.25 4225 $7,698 17.76 18.58 19.78 7.3 6.9 21.46 23.17 24.34 5.9 5.6 3.6 0.0% MMC Norilsk Nickel (RU) GMKN -- RU$5,429.84 158 $32,743 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 13.8 7.8% Rio Tinto PLC (UK) RIO 2.7 US$37.39 1618 $64,090 6.36 5.19 4.55 7.2 8.2 9.15 7.84 7.36 4.8 5.1 5.8 2.7% Southern Copper Corp SCCO 2.6 US$25.41 773 $19,643 1.92 2.21 2.28 11.5 11.2 2.47 3.16 3.33 8.1 7.6 11.1 3.8% Vale SA (ADR) VALE 2.2 BRL$35.34 5284 $36,732 5.01 7.46 7.28 4.7 4.9 10.56 10.79 11.05 3.3 3.2 6.5 2.6% Average 10.5 8.1 4.7 4.3 9.8 Note: Currency shown is that used by the company for financial reporting. Currency does not always reflect the country/market in which the company/stock symbol trades. GAAP may differ between stocks due to countries and markets. The tables are compiled from the Thomson Reuters database of consensus Ratings & Estimates of equity analysts. The historicals and estimates of earnings and cash flows exclude non-operating, special items. Thomson Reuters Rating System: Buy (1.0), Buy/Hold (2.0), Hold (3.0), Sell/Hold (4.0), Sell (5.0) Source: Thomson Reuters. Mid-Cap Base Metals Price Shrs O/S Mkt Cap Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Cash Flow Per Share Price/Cash Flow EV/EBITDA Div Yld Symbol Rating 20-Mar-20 (MM) (US$MM) 2019 2020E 2021E 2020E 2021E 2019 2020E 2021E 2020E 2021E 2020E % Assore Ltd (SA) ASR 3.3 ZAR$288.29 140 $2,306 55.17 47.60 42.07 6.1 6.9 -- 18.27 27.33 15.8 10.5 10.8 7.7% Aurubis AG (GR) NDA 2.9 EUR$33.60 45 $1,615 3.22 3.75 4.21 9.0 8.0 5.56 5.84 6.54 5.8 5.1 4.3 2.3% Boliden AB (SW) BOL 2.4 SEK$160.00 274 $4,213 21.15 21.29 22.14 7.5 7.2 34.52 40.31 40.83 4.0 3.9 4.9 2.8% Exxaro Resources Ltd (SA) EXX 1.6 ZAR$81.00 359 $1,665 29.62 25.88 23.82 3.1 3.4 (9.28) 20.75 23.55 3.9 3.4 7.4 4.3% First Quantum Minerals (CA) FM 2.3 US$3.70 689 $2,554 0.36 0.06 0.44 59.1 8.5 1.29 2.24 2.50 1.7 1.5 11.9 0.1% Iluka Resources Ltd (AU) ILU 2.4 AUD$6.80 423 $1,650 0.66 0.75 0.90 9.1 7.6 0.76 1.16 1.25 5.9 5.5 -- 1.4% Independence Group NL (AU) IGO 2.5 AUD$3.68 591 $1,261 0.22 0.34 0.37 11.0 10.0 0.73 0.83 0.81 4.4 4.5 12.1 2.2% Ivanhoe Mines Ltd (CA) IVP 2.1 US$1.52 1197 $1,806 0.02 (0.03) 0.01 -- NM (0.01) (0.03) 0.22 -- 6.8 -- 0.0% Jiangxi Copper Co "H" (HK) 358 2.4 CNY$6.20 3463 $4,895 0.73 0.74 0.91 8.3 6.8 1.75 1.26 1.25 4.9 5.0 13.0 2.2% Kazakhmys PLC (UK) KAZ 2.2 US$3.68 472 $1,714 1.17 0.92 0.97 4.0 3.8 1.04 1.36 1.32 2.7 2.8 19.3 1.7% KGHM Polska Miedz (PO) KGH 3.4 PLN$57.92 200 $2,705 7.11 8.90 10.09 6.5 5.7 25.24 16.32 20.44 3.5 2.8 3.9 0.0% Lundin Mining Corp (CA) LUN 2.0 US$3.06 735 $2,252 0.22 0.42 0.62 7.3 4.9 0.77 1.05 1.31 2.9 2.3 4.7 0.0% Mineral Resources Ltd (AU) MIN 1.8 AUD$13.76 188 $1,488 1.34 1.55 1.41 8.9 9.8 1.40 1.86 2.04 7.4 6.7 6.4 3.3% Oz Minerals (AU) OZL 2.3 AUD$6.36 324 $1,184 0.51 0.29 0.77 21.9 8.2 1.58 1.14 1.75 5.6 3.6 5.6 2.2% Sesa Sterlite Ltd (ADR) SSLT 2.4 INR$75.45 3702 $3,735 15.29 15.72 18.13 4.8 4.2 52.82 47.84 50.48 1.6 1.5 3.2 3.8% South32 Ltd (AU) S32 2.1 US$1.03 4879 $4,958 0.13 0.10 0.16 9.8 6.6 0.30 0.27 0.31 3.8 3.3 2.6 2.2% Sumitomo Metal Mining (JP) 5713 2.4 JPY$1,864 291 $5,015 212.92 239.97 285.40 7.8 6.5 432.03 393.74 471.75 4.7 4.0 8.0 1.7% Teck Resources Ltd TCK 2.0 C$10.22 547 $3,908 2.75 1.92 2.50 5.3 4.1 6.16 5.03 6.51 2.0 1.6 3.3 0.9% Vale Indonesia Tbk PT (ID) INCO 2.2 US$0.09 9936 $944 0.01 0.01 0.01 11.6 7.5 0.01 0.02 0.03 4.0 3.3 5.0 0.0% Vedanta Resources PLC (UK) VED -- US$10.85 285 $3,089 -- 0.87 1.24 12.5 8.7 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Average 11.2 6.8 4.7 4.1 7.4 Small-Cap Base Metals Adriatic Metals PLC (AU) ADT 1.7 GBP$0.44 310 $156 (0.02) 0.01 0.30 40.9 1.5 (0.02) (0.01) -- -- -- 0.0% Atalaya Mining PLC (UK) ATYM 1.2 EUR$0.99 137 $144 0.24 0.42 0.62 2.4 1.6 0.17 0.27 0.37 3.7 2.7 8.8 0.0% Eramet (FR) ERA 1.7 EUR$28.34 27 $807 (0.12) 2.84 4.89 10.0 5.8 9.44 12.64 13.86 2.2 2.0 5.5 -- Ero Copper Corp (CA) ERO 2.2 US$7.65 86 $656 0.94 1.02 1.29 7.5 5.9 1.40 1.67 1.97 4.6 3.9 -- 0.0% Hudbay Minerals HBM 2.4 US$1.41 261 $364 (0.20) (0.15) 0.11 -- 13.3 1.19 1.07 1.33 1.3 1.1 2.2 0.4% Kenmare Resources (UK) KMR 1.8 US$2.04 110 $224 0.40 0.42 0.87 4.9 2.3 0.69 0.49 6.07 4.1 0.3 39.6 2.6% Mitsui Mining & Smelting (JP) 5706 2.3 JPY$1,553 57 $823 121.14 238.22 297.72 6.5 5.2 629.72 780.85 836.07 2.0 1.9 5.3 2.4% MMG Ltd (HK) 1208 2.7 US$0.15 8055 $1,194 (0.01) 0.00 0.01 67.4 13.2 0.14 0.09 0.14 1.6 1.0 11.0 0.0% Nexa Resources NA NEXA 3.0 US$2.69 133 $359 (0.03) (0.15) 0.10 -- 26.0 0.93 2.44 2.99 1.1 0.9 -- 6.5% Outokumpu (FN) OUT1V 2.8 EUR$2.20 416 $977 (0.20) 0.13 0.32 16.5 6.9 0.90 0.66 0.78 3.3 2.8 6.2 3.6% PolyMet Mining Corp PLM -- US$0.20 1006 $203 (0.02) (0.01) 0.03 -- 6.7 -- -- -- -- -- -- 0.0% Sandfire Resources NL (AU) SFR 2.4 AUD$3.12 178 $322 0.59 0.65 0.67 4.8 4.6 1.46 1.69 1.53 1.8 2.0 1.8 3.5% SolGold PLC (UK) SOLG 1.6 US$0.15 1923 $296 (0.01) (0.00) (0.01) -- -- (0.00) 0.00 0.00 -- -- -- 0.0% Trilogy Metals Inc TMQ 2.2 US$1.06 140 $148 (0.20) (0.09) -- -- -- (0.16) -- -- -- -- 0.0% Turquoise Hill Resources TRQ 3.0 US$0.36 2012 $721 0.15 0.05 0.16 7.2 2.3 0.03 0.00 0.17 93.3 2.1 5.6 0.0% Volcan Cia Ninera VOLABC1 3.0 US$0.09 4077 $1,794 (0.02) 0.01 0.01 6.9 7.2 -- -- -- -- -- 9.0 0.0% Western Areas NL (AU) WSA 2.2 AUD$1.74 274 $273 0.14 0.25 0.25 7.1 7.0 0.44 0.51 0.48 3.4 3.6 4.8 1.0% Average 15.2 7.3 10.2 2.0 9.1 Note: Currency shown is that used by the company for financial reporting. Currency does not always reflect the country/market in which the company/stock symbol trades. GAAP may differ between stocks due to countries and markets. The tables are compiled from the Thomson Reuters database of consensus Ratings & Estimates of equity analysts. The historicals and estimates of earnings and cash flows exclude non-operating, special items. Thomson Consensus Rating System: Buy (1.0), Buy/Hold (2.0), Hold (3.0), Sell/Hold (4.0), Sell (5.0) Source: Thomson Reuters. Aluminum Price Shrs O/S Mkt Cap Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Cash Flow Per Share Price/Cash Flow EV/EBITDA Div Yld Symbol Rating 20-Mar-20 (MM) (US$MM) 2019 2020E 2021E 2020E 2021E 2019 2020E 2021E 2020E 2021E 2020E % Alcoa Inc AA 2.5 US$5.48 186 $1,019 (0.99) (0.56) (0.01) -- -- 3.70 1.74 3.79 3.1 1.4 3.4 0.0% Alumina Ltd AWC 2.7 US$0.84 2880 $2,397 0.11 0.07 0.09 11.4 9.3 0.13 0.09 0.08 9.0 10.7 3.2 5.3% Aluminum Corp China Ltd (ADR) ACH 2.6 CNY$1.38 17023 $6,216 0.07 0.09 0.14 16.0 9.9 0.82 0.81 0.68 1.7 2.0 13.8 0.0% Century Aluminum CENX 2.5 US$3.15 89 $281 (1.35) 0.34 0.86 9.3 3.7 0.20 1.06 1.49 3.0 2.1 18.2 0.0% United Company Rusal Ltd (HK) 486 2.1 US$0.29 15193 $4,464 0.08 0.11 0.10 2.8 2.8 0.11 0.08 0.09 3.6 3.4 7.2 0.0% Average 9.9 6.4 4.1 3.9 9.2 Iron Ore Cliffs Natural Resources CLF 2.9 US$3.19 399 $1,272 1.05 0.44 0.65 7.3 4.9 1.98 1.19 1.15 2.7 2.8 9.0 2.7% Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (AU) FMG 2.8 US$6.00 3079 $18,295 1.19 1.11 0.77 5.4 7.8 1.60 1.52 1.15 3.9 5.2 4.8 9.4% Kumba Iron Ore Ltd (SA) KIO 3.4 ZAR$291.34 322 $5,377 50.73 44.12 34.42 6.6 8.5 85.20 61.75 50.47 4.7 5.8 5.0 11.2% Labrador Iron Ore Royalty (CA) LIF 2.1 C$14.41 64 $642 3.21 2.51 2.22 5.7 6.5 3.51 2.34 2.18 6.2 6.6 9.4 5.1% Mount Gibson Iron Limited (AU) MGX 3.3 AUD$0.78 1158 $518 0.11 0.09 0.08 8.6 9.5 0.10 0.14 0.17 5.5 4.7 24.4 4.2% Average 6.7 7.4 4.6 5.0 10.5 Fertilizers CF Industries CF 2.5 US$22.25 216 $4,810 2.31 1.91 2.41 11.7 9.2 6.79 6.09 6.33 3.7 3.5 13.1 2.5% Compass Minerals CMP 2.2 US$41.00 34 $1,390 1.90 3.32 3.97 12.3 10.3 4.71 7.35 9.51 5.6 4.3 10.1 4.7% Incitec Pivot Ltd (AU) IPL 2.8 AUD$1.78 1613 $1,649 0.11 0.17 0.21 10.6 8.5 0.29 0.39 0.41 4.6 4.3 7.1 1.4% Intrepid Potash IPI 3.0 US$0.98 132 $129 0.10 0.09 0.13 11.2 7.5 0.38 0.31 0.34 3.2 2.9 -- 0.0% Israel Chemical (IS) ICL 2.4 US$3.19 1280 $3,987 0.37 0.39 0.44 8.3 7.3 0.77 0.71 0.73 4.5 4.4 6.2 3.9% K & S Aktiengesellschaft (GR) SDF 2.9 EUR$5.52 191 $1,129 0.46 0.17 0.71 32.4 7.8 3.34 2.45 2.45 2.2 2.2 7.7 1.3% Mosaic Co MOS 2.5 US$9.59 379 $3,632 0.19 0.44 1.22 21.7 7.9 2.85 3.17 3.61 3.0 2.7 7.1 0.8% Nutrien Ltd NTR 2.1 US$27.75 573 $16,013 2.17 2.23 2.74 12.5 10.1 6.29 5.21 5.41 5.3 5.1 -- 3.7% Sociedad Quimica Minera (ADR) SQM 3.1 US$16.04 263 $4,930 1.06 1.20 1.52 13.3 10.5 1.62 1.78 2.10 9.0 7.7 7.5 4.6% Yara International ASA (NO) YAR 2.0 US$26.95 272 $7,669 3.09 3.32 3.86 8.1 7.0 7.00 6.34 6.63 4.3 4.1 6.9 4.1% Average 14.2 8.6 4.5 4.1 8.2 Coal Large - Mid Cap Price Shrs O/S Mkt Cap Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Cash Flow Per Share Price/Cash Flow EV/EBITDA Div Yld Symbol Rating 20-Mar-20 (MM) (US$MM) 2019 2020E 2021E 2020E 2021E 2019 2020E 2021E 2020E 2021E 2020E % Adaro Energy TBK (ID) ADRO 2.6 US$0.05 31986 $1,499 0.01 0.01 0.01 4.1 4.1 0.03 0.02 0.02 2.2 2.1 2.6 4.2% Banpu Public Co Ltd (TH) BANPU 3.3 US$0.18 5162 $911 0.01 0.03 0.03 6.7 6.1 0.08 0.05 0.06 3.3 2.9 14.4 5.0% China Coal Energy Co (HK) 1898 2.3 CNY$1.86 13259 $6,363 0.47 0.47 0.45 4.0 4.1 1.55 1.51 1.43 1.2 1.3 10.9 4.6% China Shenhua Energy Co (HK) 1088 2.4 CNY$12.27 19890 $40,434 2.23 2.06 2.00 6.0 6.1 3.98 3.41 3.65 3.6 3.4 4.3 6.3% Consol Energy CNX 2.4 US$6.76 187 $1,262 0.60 0.34 0.33 20.1 20.3 5.12 3.84 3.89 1.8 1.7 7.1 0.0% Whitehaven Coal Ltd (AU) WHC 2.2 AUD$1.80 1026 $1,060 0.33 0.15 0.21 12.4 8.7 0.60 0.37 0.46 4.9 4.0 5.4 5.5% Yancoal Australia Ltd YAL 3.0 AUD$3.11 1320 $1,539 0.69 0.29 0.38 10.7 8.2 -- -- -- -- -- -- 11.4% Yanzhou Coal Mining Co Ltd (HK) 1171 2.6 CNY$5.14 4912 $4,979 1.84 1.57 1.50 3.3 3.4 3.58 3.48 3.20 1.5 1.6 15.7 0.0% Average 8.4 7.6 2.6 2.4 8.6 Small Cap Alliance Resource Partners LP ARLP 2.3 US$3.88 127 $494 3.07 0.67 0.61 5.8 6.4 1.81 1.60 1.90 2.4 2.0 1.8 19.8% Arch Coal Inc ARCH 2.0 US$33.27 15 $504 12.58 10.25 12.97 3.2 2.6 24.26 20.78 27.12 1.6 1.2 -- 2.5% Fushan Int'l Energy Group (HK) 639 2.3 HK$1.33 5302 $909 0.22 0.22 0.21 5.9 6.4 -- 0.32 0.42 4.2 3.2 4.7 10.0% NLC India Ltd (IN) NLCINDIA -- INR$45.95 1387 $852 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 7.7 12.4% Natural Resource Partners LP NRP 2.0 US$10.85 12 $133 6.40 6.25 6.45 1.7 1.7 10.69 10.58 5.28 1.0 2.1 2.8 9.0% New Hope Corp Ltd (AU) NHC 1.8 AUD$1.15 832 $547 0.28 0.20 0.20 5.6 5.6 0.37 0.35 0.29 3.3 3.9 8.3 6.8% PT Tambang Batubara Bukit (ID) PTBA 2.6 IDR$1,800 11521 $1,304 371.00 310.78 318.05 5.8 5.7 383.90 340.95 341.42 5.3 5.3 5.8 0.0% Average 4.7 4.7 3.0 3.0 5.2 Note: Currency shown is that used by the company for financial reporting. Currency does not always reflect the country/market in which the company/stock symbol trades. GAAP may differ between stocks due to countries and markets. The tables are compiled from the Thomson Reuters database of consensus Ratings & Estimates of equity analysts. The historicals and estimates of earnings and cash flows exclude non-operating, special items. Thomson Reuters Rating System: Buy (1.0), Buy/Hold (2.0), Hold (3.0), Sell/Hold (4.0), Sell (5.0) Source: Thomson Reuters. Uranium Price Shrs O/S Mkt Cap Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Cash Flow Per Share Price/Cash Flow EV/EBITDA Div Yld Symbol Rating 20-Mar-20 (MM) (US$MM) 2019 2020E 2021E 2020E 2021E 2019 2020E 2021E 2020E 2021E 2020E % Cameco Corp CCJ 2.4 C$9.07 396 $2,474 0.10 (0.03) (0.01) -- -- 1.33 0.67 0.71 13.6 12.8 6.0 0.7% Denison Mines DNN 2.1 C$0.32 597 $133 (0.03) (0.03) (0.02) -- -- (0.03) (0.03) (0.02) -- -- -- 0.0% Energy Resources Australia (AU) ERA 4.0 AUD$0.15 3691 $307 0.01 0.00 0.00 -- -- (0.19) 0.02 0.00 7.3 -- 19.3 0.0% Nexgen Energy Ltd (CA) NXE 1.7 C$0.86 360 $214 (0.04) (0.09) (0.06) -- -- (0.04) (0.04) (0.03) -- -- -- 0.0% Uranium Participation Corp (CA) U 2.2 C$3.32 138 $316 (0.15) 0.43 0.51 7.7 6.5 (0.06) (0.05) (0.05) -- -- -- 0.0% Average 7.7 6.5 10.4 12.8 12.7 Note: Currency shown is that used by the company for financial reporting. Currency does not always reflect the country/market in which the company/stock symbol trades. GAAP may differ between stocks due to countries and markets. The tables are compiled from the Thomson Reuters database of consensus Ratings & Estimates of equity analysts. The historicals and estimates of earnings and cash flows exclude non-operating, special items. Thomson Reuters Rating System: Buy (1.0), Buy/Hold (2.0), Hold (3.0), Sell/Hold (4.0), Sell (5.0) Source: Thomson Reuters. Commodity Prices Cash Price (20-Mar-20) Silver ($12.59 / oz) Palladium ($1522 / oz) Platinum ($608 / oz) Aluminum ($0.72 / lb) Cobalt ($13.38 / lb) Copper ($2.20 / lb) Lead ($0.76 / lb) Molybdenum ($9.00 / lb) Nickel ($5.16 / lb) Tin ($6.58 / lb) Zinc ($0.85 / lb) Uranium ($24.10 / lb) Samsung Galaxy M21 First Sale Today In India Via Amazon: Price And Offers News oi-Karan Sharma Samsung has recently launched its latest smartphone - the Galaxy M21 and now the phone is all set to go sale today in India. The Galaxy M21 comes with highlighted features like triple rear-camera with 48 MP camera sensor, 6,000 mAh battery, infinity-U display and a lot more. Here are the details: Samsung Galaxy M21 Price And Offer The Samsung Galaxy M21 will be up for sale at 12 PM IST today via Amazon India, the smartphone will also be available via Samsung.com and on select retail stores. The Galaxy M21 will go on sale with a starting price of Rs. 13,499 for 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, and the 6GB RAM +128GB ROM variant will be priced at Rs. 15,499 in MIdbite Blue and Raven Black. Meanwhile, Amazon is offering an introductory discount Rs. 500 on the smartphone till March 31. Besides, the company is also offering an exchange value of up to Rs. 10,700 on your old smartphone. Amazon is also offering the smartphone for with no-cost EMI option starting at Rs. 706 per month. The company is also offering 10 percent instant discount on Citibank debit credit card and EMI transactions. 10percent Instant discount with HDFC Bank PayZapp Card. Samsung Galaxy M21 Specifications To recall Samsung Galaxy M21 flaunts a 6.4-inch Full HD+ Infinity-U Super AMOLED display with a 1080 x 2340 pixel. The screen carries an aspect ratio of 19:5:9 and protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 3. Under the hood, the smartphone is powered by an octa-core Exynos 9611 SoC, clubbed with Mali-G72 MP3 GPU. The smartphone is backed by up to 6GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 128GB of onboard storage. Users can also expand the storage up to 512GB via microSD card. On the software front, the Galaxy M21 runs on Android 10 on-top-of One UI 2.0. The smartphone is fuelled by a 6,000 mAh battery with 15W fast charging support. On the optical front, the Galaxy M21 features triple rear camera setup with a combination of 48MP primary sensor + 8MP 123-degree ultra-wide-angle lens +5MP depth sensor along with an LED flash. Upfront, the smartphone houses a 20MP camera sensor for selfies and video calls. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications The Redmi Note 9S has been unveiled in an online event streamed via YouTube and Facebook. This phone is the Malaysian version of the 9 Pro, with nearly the exact same specs, as projected earlier. However, it is also to be released internationally in April 2020. Working For Notebookcheck Are you a techie who knows how to write? Then join our Team! English native speakers welcome! News Writer (AUS/NZL based) - Details here Xiaomi has launched a new addition to the Redmi Note series today (March 23, 2020). The 9S does indeed have the same internals and I/O as the nearly-new 9 Pro - its IR blaster and 3.5mm jack included - but is directed at markets besides India in this launch. In addition, it seems the OEM has decided to make a subtle change to the phone's rear camera configuration. These shooters still come into the unique housing debuted in the Note 9 Pro and Pro Max. Their resolutions and other specs also remain the same - except for the main 48MP lens' f-stop. It is 1.6, as opposed to the 1.8 of the original Pro variant. This suggests that the 2 have different primary sensors, although Xiaomi failed to address this point during the new phone's presentation. Recently, Xiaomi Malaysia has been teasing this device, suggesting that the Redmi Note 9S might be exclusive to this market. However, this is not the case: it has also been released to the Singaporean and Thai markets, with a subsequent worldwide launch on the way. Unsurprisingly, the 9S has SKUs of either 4GB RAM/64GB internal storage or 6GB/128GB. They will cost 799 and 899 Malaysian ringgit (MYR, or US$180 and 202) respectively. In Singapore, these prices have been set at 299-349 dollars (US$204-239), or 6499-7999 Thai baht (US$197-243). For all other customers, the Redmi Note 9S will be released onto AliExpress from April 7, 2020. It will be priced from US$249 to $279 on this platform. Finally, Xiaomi has also announced a Mi Fan Festival (MFF) edition of this phone, which comes in a deep navy blue rather than the Aurora Blue, Glacier White or Interstellar Gray of the normal units. There is no word on a pricing variation for this commemorative 10-year anniversary version, although there will be only 2020 of its units available on its April 2020 launch. [March 23, 2020] AZ Local Impact Fund Launched by LeadMD and Invest Southwest LeadMD, the world's leading performance marketing consultancy, today announced its partnership with Invest Southwest to spearhead a small business relief fund in Arizona. Created in response to COVID-19, the relief fund aims to provide financial support to small businesses and those they employ in order to preserve the local economy during this challenging time. LeadMD and Invest Southwest have partnered together in this initiative, complementing one another with their expertise in marketing and entrepreneurial programs, respectively. LeadMD will seed the fund with an initial investment of $50,000 to launch the program and set a precedent for other AZ businesses to give back. "COVID-19 has changed the course of our economy, both globally and locally," says Justin Gray, founder & CEO of LeadMD. "And, while it's affecting everyone, certain industries and small businesses are hardest hit. We want to do our part to keep small companies and the people they employ in our home state in business. We need to work together through this time of global crisis. We're inviting others in our community who have the available resources to donate to the fund and help us do all we can to support one another as we navigate these economic hardships together. If you're looking for a way to help, your own backyard is the best place to start." A committee that will consist of local leaders and Invest Southwest board members will review all applications submitted by small businesses and determine how much of the relief fund will be allocated to each, according to predefined criteria. With additional criteria being decided, applicants must also meet the following: Must be headquartered in Arizona Must have been in business for one to three years Must be currently selling or servicing Must demonstrate a clear understanding of how funds will be used, including how employees will be directly affected by the funds Must detail specifically how COVID-19 has impacted business Must provide requested financial documents to verify business operations and revenue "We were eager to partner with LeadMD in catalyzing efforts to help small businesses most affected by the COVID-19 situation," says Diana Vowels, incoming chair of Venture Madness 2021 and VP of Community for Galvanize. "This local fund program aligns perfectly with our purpose to provide support and opportunties to the region and entrepreneurs. We're eager to offer the infrastructure and support needed to ensure the relief fund is managed seamlessly, and that it's easy to donate and apply for funds. Most of all, we're looking forward to playing a part in providing much-needed economic relief to businesses in our community." Interested donors can find more information about how to contribute to the fund here. To be considered as a recipient of the small business relief fund, business owners can apply starting on April 20. About LeadMD LeadMD is the number one performance marketing consultancy in the U.S. Launched in 2009, LeadMD empowers marketers to drive revenue and customer success. The company focuses on people, processes, and technology that create predictable and sustainable revenue for high growth and enterprise brands. LeadMD has helped thousands of brands improve and deliver value through strategy and proven tactics that work. For more information, visit https://www.leadmd.com or email [email protected]. LeadMD and the LeadMD logo are trademarks of LeadMD, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Helpful links: Facebook (News - Alert): https://facebook.com/leadmd Twitter (News - Alert): https://twitter.com/myleadmd LinkedIn (News - Alert): https://linkedin.com/company/leadmd About Invest Southwest Invest Southwest is the premier organization for connecting investors with the best and brightest ventures in the region. In addition to providing valuable information on topics important to the investment community, Invest Southwest offers year-round opportunities for investors to connect with emerging growth companies. Its signature event, Venture Madness, is a unique competition presented in partnership with the Arizona Commerce Authority. Venture Madness pits thoroughly evaluated, emerging companies against one another in a head-to-head competition to crown the champion of champions. Visit InvestSouthwest.org for more information. Helpful links: Donate to AZ Local Relief Fund Apply for AZ Local Relief Fund (beginning April 20) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/investsw/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/investsw LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/investsw View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200323005195/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Farmers literally fed the Allied forces and the worlds war-ravaged citizens during World War II. This time the war is against a different enemy COVID-19 the novel coronavirus. Everyone on the farm, and all those in the supply chain leading to the grocery store, are working hard to keep their fellow citizens fed. Just how important is Americas agricultural system? Please keep working! states Uncle Sam. Those are among the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce as deemed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 19, 2020, are: Farm workers to include those employed in animal food, feed, and ingredient production, packaging, and distribution; manufacturing, packaging, and distribution of veterinary drugs; truck delivery and transport; farm and fishery labor need to produce our food supply domestically. Farm auctions to continue Farms and rural America operate far more differently than our cities. Thats in part because many farmers do not have access to high-speed internet, the tool thats become the major response to todays social distancing efforts. Since many farmers cannot get online due to this underwhelming electronic infrastructure, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers issued an important exemption in Emergency Order #8 Updated Mass Gathering Ban. It involves auctions. Retail establishments and auctions that sell animals for production agriculture, animal feed, and agricultural equipment and parts . . . are exempt from the Mass Gathering Emergency Order. For reference, that language is found under Section G. iv. on page 4 of Executive Order #8. Governor Evers also doubled down on the federal governments declaration on the importance of agriculture, Activities necessary to cultivate and distribute food including farming, livestock, and fishing . . . are exempt from the Mass Gathering Emergency Order. For reference, that language is under Section G. i. on page 4 of Executive Order #8. Now its important to remember to preserve social distancing in these activities by keeping 6 feet of space between people during these events. Crops count, too Farm workers and support service workers to include those who field crops; commodity inspection; fuel ethanol facilities; storage facilities; and other agricultural inputs have been asked by order of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to keep the food production system moving full steam ahead during the spring cropping season. Back to animals and the essential workforce identified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security . . . Animal agriculture workers to include those employed in veterinary health; manufacturing and distribution of animal medical materials, animal vaccines, animal drugs, feed ingredients, feed, and bedding etc.; transportation of live animals, animal medical materials; transportation of deceased animals for disposal; raising of animals for food; animal production operations; slaughter and packing plants, and associated regulatory and government workforce. About equipment dealers . . . Employees engaged in the manufacture and maintenance of equipment and other infrastructure necessary to agricultural production and distribution. Bottom line . . . if you work in a sector that serves farmers, America needs you to help farmers feed America. Corey Geiger The author is the managing editor, and he brings over 22 years of industry leadership to our readers overseeing all editorial content and production of the magazine. His degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison combined dairy science and agricultural economics. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Its a strange new world, but the strangeness varies from city to city and country to country amid the global COVID-19 pandemic. RFE/RL Moscow correspondent Matthew Luxmoore joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss the measures and the mood in the Russian capital. The regime and the Sheikh al-Karama Forces have conducted a prisoner swap, freeing eight loyalist fighters for a senior commander reports Zaman Al-Wasl. An armed group operating in southern Suweida province has made a swap with the regime army, releasing eight fighters loyal to Bashar al-Assad, local activists said Sunday. The forces of Sheikh al-Karama, formed mainly of Druze community fighters, said the regime has freed a senior commander after two months of detention. In return, they have freed five officers, two Hezbollah militants and one soldier. Suweida has been spared the same scale of devastating violence, fighting and mass detainment that has rocked communities elsewhere in the country over the course of Syrias nine-year civil war. The Syrian Network for Human Rights recorded that at least 1.2 million Syrian citizens were subjected to arrest and torture, and approximately 147,000 people are still under arbitrary detention or enforced disappearance and torture. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Hungarian Spectrum published this translation of the draft proposal of the law submitted by Zsolt Semjen, deputy prime minister, to Laszlo Kover, president of the Hungarian Parliament last Friday. Hungarian Spectrum then made follow up posts looking into the proposed new bill, they're available in full on that website, here's an excerpt: Peter Barandy, minister of justice between 2002 and 2004, is a man of measured words. So, when he says that this new law has no legal purpose but is designed as a means to quash political life in Hungary and establish a dictatorship, we must take it very seriously. By now, Barandy has no trust in the Orban regimes justice system. But, as he put it, the government should at least have been a bit more careful about the bills title, Enabling Act, the same as Hitlers infamous Ermachtigungsgesetz of 1933. Governing by decree means the suspension of basic human rights, freedom of expression, right of access to data of public interest, right to protection of private data, right of conscience, freedom of religion, and even legal standing. There is no time limit to these abrogations of human rights. And since parliamentary discussions are suspended once governance by decree commences, political life will come to an end. Tamas Lattmann, an expert on international and European law, agrees. He especially questions the legal grounding of the proposal because it looks as if the government is going to use a state of emergency declared in violation of its own constitutional law to effect a genuine constitutional coup by perpetuating extraordinary legal rights in its own hands. In brief, the enabling act serves no legal purpose. Its only objective is political, the introduction of a dictatorship without time limit. Act .. of 2020 On Protecting Against the Coronavirus In order to ensure that the Government may take all necessary extraordinary measures required for preventing and mitigating the consequences of the COVID-19 human epidemic of 2020 causing mass infections, and keeping in mind especially that because of the human epidemic the sessions of Parliament may be suspended, in awareness of the fact that responsible decisions must be made in times of crisis, and although the measures introduced this far and to be taken in the future may seem to involve unusual and unfamiliar restrictions, complying with them, cooperating and being disciplined may prove to be the greatest asset of Hungarians, in recognition of taking joint action, coming together as a nation, and feeling thankful for the sacrifices made by health care workers, law enforcement workers and all others concerned, the Parliament passes the following law in respect of granting authorization to extend the effect of the Governments decrees that are issued in an emergency situation and determining the framework thereof: Section 1 This law determines the special rules pertaining to the emergency (hereinafter: emergency) decreed in Government Decree 40/2020. (III. 11.) on proclaiming emergency (hereinafter: Decree) pursuant to section 53 (1) of the Fundamental Law in order to prevent and mitigate the consequences of the human epidemic jeopardizing human life and property and causing mass infections and to protect the health and life of Hungarian citizens. Section 2 (1) In such emergency the Government in addition to the extraordinary measures and regulations set forth in Act CXXVIII of 2011 on emergency management and the amendment of certain relevant laws in order to guarantee for Hungarian citizens the safety of life and health, personal safety, the safety of assets and legal certainty as well as the stability of the national economy, may suspend the enforcement of certain laws, depart from statutory regulations and implement additional extraordinary measures by decree. (2) The Government may exercise the competence granted in paragraph (1) to the extent necessary and in proportion to the desired objective for the purpose of preventing, managing, and eliminating the human epidemic set forth in the Decree as well as for preventing and mitigating its harmful effects. Section 3 (1) Pursuant to section 53 (3) of the Fundamental Law, the Parliament authorizes the Government to extend the effect of sections 2 and 3 of the Decree, and the government decrees set forth in section 53 (1) and (2) of the Fundamental Law in the event of an emergency, until the end of the emergency. (2) The Parliament may withdraw the authorization set forth in paragraph (1) before the end of the emergency. (3) The Parliament confirms sections 2 and 3 of the Decree as well as the government decrees that were enacted between the going into effect of the Decree and the going into effect of the law, set forth in paragraph (1) b). Section 4 The Government shall provide information on a regular basis, during the Parliaments session or in the absence thereof, for the Speaker of the Parliament and the heads of parliamentary representatives groups about the measures that are taken to avert the emergency, as long as the effect of the measures is maintained. Section 5 (1) The President of the Constitutional Court (hereinafter: President) and the Secretary General of the Constitutional Court ensure the continuous operation of the Constitutional Court in an emergency and take the required organizational, operational, administrative and decision-making measures. (2) The full session of the Constitutional Court and of the council can also be held via electronic channels, based on the decision of the President, until the end of the emergency. (3) In an emergency the President may authorize a departure from the rules of procedure of the Constitutional Court. Section 6 (1) If the dissolution of the body of representatives of a local authority or a minority authority is decreed, this decision will take effect on the day following the end of the emergency. (2) Until the day following the end of the emergency, no midterm elections can be held, and already scheduled elections will be cancelled. Distributed ballots must be returned to the election office within fifteen days after the law goes into effect where they will be destroyed. Not yet scheduled and cancelled elections must be scheduled within fifteen days after the end of the emergency. (3) Until the day following the end of the emergency, no national or local referendum can be initiated, and all already scheduled national and local referendums will be cancelled. All deadlines set forth in sections II-IV of Act CCXXXVIII of 2013 on initiating referendums, the European citizens initiative and the referendum procedure shall be suspended. The deadlines will resume on the day following the end of the emergency. Not yet scheduled and cancelled national and local referendums must be scheduled within fifteen days after the end of the emergency. Section 7 This law will take effect on the day after it is promulgated. Section 8 The decision on the expiry of this law shall be made by the Parliament upon the end of the emergency. Section 9 Section 2 of this law, pursuant to section 54 (4) of the Fundamental Law, 5 of this law, pursuant to 24 (9) of the Fundamental Law, 6 (1) of this law, pursuant to section XXIX (3) and section 31 (3) of the Fundamental Law, 6 (2) of this law, pursuant to section XXIX (3), section 2(1) and section 35 (1) of the Fundamental Law are considered cardinal. Section 10 (1) After section 322, the following sub-heading and section 322/A will be added to Act C of 2012 on the Criminal Code (hereinafter: Criminal Code): Obstructing epidemic prevention 322/A. (1) Persons obstructing the implementation of epidemiological isolation, observation, quarantine or control decreed for the purpose of preventing the introduction or dissemination of an infectious disease that is subject to a quarantine, epidemiological isolation, observation, quarantine or control decreed during an epidemic, plant health or animal health measures taken to prevent the importation, exportation and dissemination or to eliminate the existence of contagious animal diseases or plant quarantine pests are considered a criminal act, punishable by up to three years of prison. 2) If the criminal act is perpetrated by a group, it is punishable by one to five years of prison. (3) If the criminal act causes death, it is punishable by two to eight years of prison. (4) Persons initiating an obstruction of epidemiological measures commit a crime that is punishable by up to one year of prison. (2) Section 337 of the Criminal Code shall be replaced by the following: Section 337 (1) Persons who at the site of a public emergency, before the grand public, claim or spread a falsehood or claim or spread a distorted truth in relation to the emergency in a way that is suitable for alarming or agitating a large group of people at the site of the emergency commit a crime that is punishable by up to three years of prison. (2) Persons who under extraordinary rule of law claim or spread a falsehood or claim or spread a distorted truth before the grand public that is suitable for obstructing or preventing successful protection commit a crime that is punishable by one to five years of prison. Our Fundamental Law, which is the basis of our legal system, describes in a very detailed manner and complete with guarantees, which is remarkable even by international standards, what to do in extraordinary situations, in addition to outlining the role of each constitutional body. Accordingly, extending the effect of an emergency past 15 days is the responsibility of the Parliament. Based on the above, the purpose of this proposal, in agreement with having an emergency decreed by the Government in Government Decree 40/2020. (III. 11.) on proclaiming emergency (hereinafter: Decree) pursuant to section 53 (1) of the Fundamental Law in order to prevent and mitigate the consequences of the human epidemic jeopardizing human life and property and causing mass infections and to protect the health and life of Hungarian citizens, is to confirm all measures that have been taken since and to extend their effect pursuant to section 53 (3) of the Fundamental Law. An additional purpose of the proposal is to let the Government of Hungary enact and maintain the effect of its decrees containing extraordinary provisions if the Parliament does not meet for a reason that is related to the human epidemic caused by COVID-19 in 2020 and resulting in mass infections. This justification will be published in the Directory of Justifications that is published as an annex to the Hungarian Official Gazette pursuant to section 18 (3) of Act CXXX of 2010 on law-making, as well as section 20 of the Decree 5/2019. (III. 13.) of the Ministry of Interior on the publication of the Hungarian Official Gazette as well as a reference to it with respect to the promulgation of statutory regulations and the publication of normative resolutions and orders. Detailed Justification Section 1 The proposal makes it clear that granting authorization and creating special regulations pertain specifically to an emergency decreed by the Government in order to prevent and mitigate the consequences of the human epidemic jeopardizing human life and property and causing mass infections and to protect the health and life of Hungarian citizens, as specified in the Decree. The regulation makes it clear that the regulation cannot be implemented in any other emergency, and that the regulation applies exclusively to this special rule of law. Section 2 In keeping with section 53 (1) and (2) and section 54 (1) of the Fundamental Law, section 2 (1) of the proposal permits the Government to take any measure and enact any normative regulation in addition to the extraordinary measures and regulations set forth in Act CXXVIII of 2011 on emergency management and the amendment of certain relevant laws that is necessary to guarantee for Hungarian citizens the safety of life and health, personal safety, the safety of assets and legal certainty as well as the stability of the national economy in relation to the human epidemic caused by COVID-19 in 2020 and resulting in mass infections. This opinion does not necessarily represent the views of XpatLoop.com or the publisher. Your opinions are welcome too - for editorial review before possible publication online. Click here to Share Your Story MTI Photo: Szilard Koszticsak Scientists from the University of Sheffield use Peak District grassland to answer a globally important question The team discovered how a large variety of plants are able to grow in one ecosystem when it is low in key nutrients The findings show that plants are able to share nutrients, which could explain high levels of biodiversity in many ecosystems around the world Scientists at the University of Sheffield have found that plants are able to co-exist because they share key nutrients, using grasslands from the Peak District. In a study published in Nature Plants, the team investigated how some ecosystems can have high biodiversity when all of these plants are competing for the same nutrients. They looked especially at ecosystems which are high in biodiversity but low in phosphorus, an essential nutrient for plant growth. To do this they used soil taken from Peak District limestone grassland which is low in phosphorus. They then injected different types of phosphorus into the soil which allowed them to track which plants took up which type of phosphorus. Their findings show that plants are able to share out the phosphorus by each preferring to take it up in a different form. This sharing is known as resource partitioning. Professor Gareth Phoenix, from the University of Sheffield's Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, who led the study, said: "The plants had different preferences for the various phosphorus compounds. Some showed greater uptake from the inorganic phosphorus form of phosphate, some preferred to use a mineral bound phosphorus compounds such as calcium phosphate, and others were better at using the organic compound DNA. Critically, this means the plants can co-exist because they are using different chemical forms of phosphorus in the soil. In other words, they are sharing the phosphorus. "Our research answers the global question of how we get very high levels of plant species biodiversity, especially in ecosystems with very low amounts of soil phosphorus. By helping to understand how we get high levels of biodiversity, we can also better protect ecosystems and conserve their biodiversity." The research used different radioactive compounds to directly trace the phosphorus from the soil into the plants to accurately trace which soil phosphorus compound the phosphorus in the plant came from. Only very tiny amounts of radioactive phosphorus are needed to detect the uptake, meaning the team could look at the natural behaviour of the plants in natural soil, and with small amounts of phosphorus, as you would find in nature. ### The research, Niche differentiation and plasticity in soil phosphorus acquisition among co-occurring plants, is published in Nature Plants. The work was funded by the Natural Environment Research Council. For further information please contact: Emma Griffiths, Media and PR Assistant, University of Sheffield, 0114 222 1034, e.l.griffiths@sheffield.ac.uk Notes to editors The University of Sheffield With almost 29,000 of the brightest students from over 140 countries, learning alongside over 1,200 of the best academics from across the globe, the University of Sheffield is one of the world's leading universities. A member of the UK's prestigious Russell Group of leading research-led institutions, Sheffield offers world-class teaching and research excellence across a wide range of disciplines. Unified by the power of discovery and understanding, staff and students at the university are committed to finding new ways to transform the world we live in. Sheffield is the only university to feature in The Sunday Times 100 Best Not-For-Profit Organisations to Work For 2018 and for the last eight years has been ranked in the top five UK universities for Student Satisfaction by Times Higher Education. Sheffield has six Nobel Prize winners among former staff and students and its alumni go on to hold positions of great responsibility and influence all over the world, making significant contributions in their chosen fields. Global research partners and clients include Boeing, Rolls-Royce, Unilever, AstraZeneca, Glaxo SmithKline, Siemens and Airbus, as well as many UK and overseas government agencies and charitable foundations. New instructions are available for citizenship, permanent residence, temporary residence applicants and their families as Canada works to stop the spread of COVID-19 Canada updates immigration instructions amid coronavirus response New instructions are available for citizenship, permanent residence, temporary residence applicants and their families as Canada works to stop the spread of COVID-19 Canada updates immigration instructions amid coronavirus response New instructions are available for citizenship, permanent residence, temporary residence applicants and their families as Canada works to stop the spread of COVID-19 Canada updates immigration instructions amid coronavirus response New instructions are available for citizenship, permanent residence, temporary residence applicants and their families as Canada works to stop the spread of COVID-19 Shelby Thevenot Alexandra Miekus Kareem El-Assal Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A Canada has refined the special coronavirus prevention measures made last week affecting immigrants and their families. Despite the calls to stay inside, Canada is still working to get residents home, and keep families together. At the same time, Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is still processing immigration and citizenship applications, taking measures to avoid delays in processing and refusals. The immigration department has refined the following measures for citizenship, permanent residence, and temporary residence applicants: Do you have more questions on coronavirus and Canada immigration? Check out our FAQ page More time for immigration and citizenship applications All immigration applicants can expect to see delays with some IRCC offices operating with essential staff only. There will be no expedited processing for the time being, except for special circumstances which will be decided at the discretion of the Migration Program Manager of the responsible IRCC office. IRCC may also continue to request additional documents necessary for all citizenship and immigration applications. These may include police certificates, biometrics, passports, medical examinations, and any documents that must be issued by Chinese, Iranian, or South Korean authorities. Applicants will have 90 days to respond to the request letter for additional documentation. If IRCC sent a request for additional documentation previously, but the applicant was unable to comply, they will be given an additional 90 days to respond. Even though the biometrics instruction letter will continue to say applicants have 30 days to give their biometrics, officers are instructed to allow the applicant 90 days to complete this step. More immediate family members exempt from travel restrictions Canada is restricting non-essential international travel in an effort to protect the health and safety of residents. During the coronavirus outbreak, only Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and protected persons may board an aircraft to Canada, as long as they pass health screening measures. Foreign nationals have been prohibited from boarding an aircraft destined for Canada from any country except the U.S. However, some foreign nationals may be exempt under the interim order, such as accredited officials, people whose presence in Canada has been deemed to be in the national interest, and immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Canada has expanded the definition of immediate family members from spouses, common-law partners, dependent children of the resident or their partner, and any children of those dependent children. Now immediate family members include parents, step-parents, the parents and step-parents of the spouse or common-law partner, as well as their guardian or tutor. Dependent child is defined as the parents biological child, who has not been adopted by any person other than the spouse or common-law partner or is the adopted child of the parent. There are two types of dependent children, according to Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. They may be younger than 22 years old and not married or in a common-law partnership, or they can be age 22 or older and have been financially dependent on their parents since before turning 22 and are unable to be financially self-supporting due to a physical or mental condition. There is no age requirement to sponsor a parent or step-parent. The location of the Canadian residents family member is not a factor. If travellers are exempt from the travel ban they are expected to self-identify to airlines at the point of boarding by presenting documentation to establish their family members status in Canada and their relationship to them. IRCC recommends showing immediate family members Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status documentation such as: Canadian passport Canadian permanent resident card Canadian permanent resident travel document (visa counterfoil) Visa-exempt foreign passport and IRCC Special Authorization for Canadian Citizens In addition, travellers should provide documentation showing their relationship to that family member such as a marriage or common-law status certificate, birth certificate, a Confirmation of Permanent Resident for Family Class, or other documents supporting an immediate family connection. These documents will be accepted in paper and electronic copies. Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs Family reunification The interim order also exempts foreign nationals whose travel to reunite family members has been authorized by a consular officer in writing. The same definition of immediate family applies, only the foreign national in Canada does not have to be a citizen or permanent resident. They may be in Canada as a worker, student, visitor, or protected person. Instructions for Temporary Residence applicants Temporary residence applicants who have an urgent travel request and are in China are asked to submit an online application and then flag the application to IRCC Beijing for urgent processing. Those in Iran and South Korea are asked to submit an online application using the web form for urgent processing. Migration Program Managers have the delegated authority to exempt applicants from the requirement for biometrics abroad on urgent or humanitarian and compassionate grounds. Applicants in China and Iran who are unable to provide their biometric data, submit travel documents due to the closure of visa application centres or a travel ban can still submit their applications online. Applicants in South Korea who experience delays in obtaining immigration medical exams due to lack of access to doctors will be given an additional 90 days to respond to this request. Temporary residents who wish to withdraw their application for temporary residence and who reside in an area where travel restrictions are imposed are asked to follow the normal procedure for withdrawal requests. Temporary residents who are unable to leave the country have several options depending on their current status: Foreign nationals whose temporary resident status may soon expire may apply online for an extension to maintain their temporary resident status in Canada. Foreign nationals who have an extension application currently in progress may remain in Canada under whats called implied status until a decision is rendered on their application. Foreign nationals whose temporary resident status has expired may apply for restoration. Canada still approving permanent residence applications IRCC will continue to process new applications for permanent residence. Files with missing documents will be retained in the system and reviewed within 90 days. Complete applications will be processed according to normal procedures. New applications with missing supporting documentation will need to include an explanation that they are impacted by service interruptions due to the new coronavirus. IRCC will take into account processing delays that may occur for principal applicants who are in Canada and have dependents abroad in China, Iran or South Korea who are unable to travel at this time. These applicants will not be granted permanent residence until travel is possible and they will be informed of the next steps. Applicants for permanent residence who are in possession of a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and a Permanent Resident Visa (PRV) and who inform the IRCC that they are unable to travel will be able to maintain the validity of their documents. Flexible citizenship appointments IRCC citizenship officers will reschedule missed citizenship appointments (e.g., knowledge tests, retests, interviews, hearings, and oath ceremonies) once it has learned that an individual has returned to Canada. IRCC is responsible for rescheduling the appointments within a reasonable timeframe to avoid delaying processing times. IRCCs citizenship officers are also required to provide applicants with an additional 30 days to send their documents to IRCC once applicants have notified IRCC they have returned from China, Iran, or South Korea. Applicants who have returned to Canada will have an additional 45 days to submit their request for medical opinion forms. Finally, permanent residents applying for citizenship upon return from China, South Korea, or Iran must still meet Canadas physical presence requirements as per normal procedure. Click here for more information about the coronavirus and Canada immigration. Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs 2020 CIC News All Rights Reserved Getty Images HSHS Illinois including HSHS St. Johns Hospital and HSHS Medical Group Memorial Health System, Springfield Clinic and SIU Medicine and Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach in Springfield will be accepting donations from the community related to COVID-19 coronavirus supply shortages beginning 1-4 p.m. Wednesday. Donations can include: boxed unused surgical type masks including N95 masks; clean handmade sewn masks; unused wrapped or boxed gowns and exam gloves; hand sanitizer; bleach wipes; and alcohol wipes. 18 March 2020, Hessen, Frankfurt/Main: Lufthansa planes parked because they are not in use at the moment, due to drastic cuts in flight schedules. Photo: Vasco Garcia/picture alliance via Getty Images Germany is bracing for many months of economic crisis, as it battles through the coronavirus pandemic. As Europes largest economy prepares to launch a multi-billion-euro rescue package today, government ministers in Berlin are concerned that the crisis will make key companies and industries vulnerable to hostile foreign takeovers. In a weekend interview with the Suddeutsche Zeitung (link in German) newspaper, the federal transport minister said that weakened German companies could be targeted by international investors and that the government needs to get laws in place to avert that. READ MORE: Lufthansa grounds 95% of flights and looks to state aid for survival "There is worldwide interest in successful German companies, also in mobility and infrastructure," transport minister Andreas Scheuer told the paper. He said he was in discussions with other ministries to draw up countermeasures, noting it is about securing economic power in Germany after the crisis." China in particular has shown great interest in cutting-edge German companies, especially in the tech and engineering sectors. Chinese firm Mideas 4.5 billion takeover of robotics firm Kuka in 2016 provoked major angst in government circles, as did Geely becoming Daimlers biggest shareholder in 2018. Olaf Scholz, Germanys finance minister and vice-chancellor, told Suddeutsche Zeitung that the government is ready to deploy the great financial strength of our state to protect companies at this time. It is also possible that the government would take temporary ownership in companies to help ward off foreign investors. READ MORE: Berlin to earmark 40bn to help self-employed and tiny companies weather coronavirus Bavarian state premier Markus Soder wants to ban foreign takeovers of German firms if needs be. "If at the end of this crisis... almost the entire Bavarian and German economy is in foreign hands and we no longer have any control options, then it is not just a medical crisis," Soder said. Story continues The IfO Institute said today that the COVID-19 crisis could cost the German economy more than half a trillion euros and more than a million jobs. "The costs are expected to exceed anything known in Germany from economic crises or natural disasters in recent decades," said Ifo President Clemens Fuest in a statement. The Ifo puts the costs of a two-month partial shutdown of the economy at between 255 bn and 495 bn. Merkel in quarantine A police officer stands guard outside the house where German Chancellor Angela Merkel lives in Berlin on March 22, 2020 after it was announced that she is going into quarantine. Photo: John MACDOUGALL /AFP via Getty Images Angela Merkels office announced on Sunday evening (22 March) that the chancellor would go into a two-week home quarantine, after a doctor with whom she had an appointment later tested positive for the coronavirus. READ MORE: Merkel goes into quarantine as Germany imposes extreme restrictions on public life The announcement came just after Merkel announced a raft of new measures aimed at slowing the spread of the virus in Germany. All 16 states will now implement a ban on more than two people gathering together at any time, and people should only leave the house for essential chores, and then alone or in groups of two maximum. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK Even before the coronavirus pandemic swept across the world, healthcare professionals in Venezuela contended with an endless shortage of medicine and equipment. The worst nightmare of Venezuelan healthcare professionals came true earlier this month when COVID-19 was detected in the country. Since then, at least 70 cases of the virus have been confirmed in Venezuela, increasing anxiety in a crisis-stricken country where the healthcare system lacks infrastructure and resources to treat basic diseases. We are facing an unknown disease, without knowing what the behaviour will be in our country, said Dr Oscar Noguera, an internist and director of Ancora Humanistas, a nongovernmental organisation in Venezuela. Health personnel are already complaining about the lack of adequate clothing for their protection, while the increased emigration of doctors and nurses has left our hospitals in a vulnerable condition, he told Al Jazeera. The number of intensive care beds available in the country is barely close to 80. In an attempt to contain the outbreak, President Nicolas Maduro imposed a nationwide quarantine and restricted travel between states. We are preparing for the most dire situation weve ever faced before, Maduro said on state television earlier this month. All of the country will enter a quarantine. It is indispensable and necessary, and it is the answer. But such measures have done little to quell the anxiety that comes with the coronavirus. 200125070959786 There is anguish, fear, and uncertainty as all the system has paralysed, but we also understand its time to remain calm, Rosa*, a lawyer and professor from Bolivar State, told Al Jazeera. The president also encouraged people to wear face masks, even if it meant improvising them, and he banned people from boarding the metro or taking trains without one. Since the outbreak, we have witnessed nervous purchasing, if you go to a pharmacy seeking for [disinfecting] alcohol or a mask you cannot find one, said Luis*, a professor in the state of Tachira. And if you manage to find a bottle of [disinfecting] alcohol, for example, it is expensive; the bottle can cost you up to 300,000 bolivares [$4.17] while our minimum wage is of 350,000 bolivares [$4.85], he told Al Jazeera. This forces you to choose between food or medicine. Meanwhile, some analysts warned that the quarantine is not a feasible option for a lot of people, as many operate in the informal economy. The quarantine poses a dilemma between producing [and surviving] or guarding and protecting yourself, Carlos Pina, a Venezuelan political analyst, said. Complex humanitarian emergency The country has not confirmed any deaths linked to COVID-19, but the outbreak has come at a time when Venezuela is already suffering from one of the regions worst humanitarian crises. Venezuelas health system is among the worst in the world in its capacity to respond and mitigate a pandemic, according to the Global Health Security Index. Treatable diseases such as diphtheria, measles and malaria have continued to spread. Venezuelas government said the US sanctions are hurting the administrations ability to buy medicines and food, while they have led to banks and foreign businesses to refuse services. US officials maintain that the sanctions do not prevent the government from buying food or medicine. The ability to respond to the pandemic depends on the state in which the public health apparatus is, and Venezuela is currently experiencing a complex humanitarian emergency, said Rafael Orihuela, doctor and former minister of health in Venezuela. To avoid the virus from escalating is impossible. We must prepare for the hard scenario of an increase of infections and deaths from coronavirus in Venezuela, he told Al Jazeera. As the country is today, it is hard to think that we will be able to get out of the danger of the virus alone, he added. Venezuelas President Nicolas Maduro wears a face mask while speaking during a televised announcement over the global coronavirus pandemic, in Caracas [File: Handout/Venezuelan Presidency/AFP] IMF refuses to help Venezuela Venezuelas government turned to the International Monetary Fund for five billion dollars in financing to strengthen the countrys health system. This is a crucial moment, and knowing the aggressive and highly contagious levels of this disease, we will take quick and forcible measures to stop its propagation, Maduro said in a letter to IMF. But the IMF rejected the request, arguing his government was not recognised by the international community. Venezuela has been locked in a political crisis for more than a year, with the US and more than 50 other countries recognising opposition leader Juan Guaido as the countrys interim leader. Maduro is now seeking a smaller one-billion-dollar rescue package, according to Bloomberg News. Meanwhile, Cuba sent 130 doctors to join the governments healthcare programme, Mision Barrio Adentro in the capital, while Venezuelas ally, China, sent 42,000 diagnosis kits to test for the infection. From Venezuelas soul, we want to thank the Peoples Republic of China and President Xi Jinping for this generosity, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said last week at Caracas International airport where she received the aid. Rodriguez also said that the World Health Organization (WHO) would provide medical supplies and technical assistance for the embattled country. We thank the WHO, who has confirmed that it will provide help to Venezuela as we are in a special condition. We are a country, illegally sanctioned, criminally blocked, she said last week. Maduro also said that Russia was planning to send a donation in medical equipment and [testing] kits. A member of the Bolivarian National Guard checks a mans temperature as a preventive measure against the spread of COVID-19 [Cristian Hernandez/AFP] Trap inside and outside Venezuela Venezuelan is, however, not just feeling the effects at home. According to the United Nations, 4.5 million people have left the country since 2015. Many who have fled lack healthcare, and with borders now closed, many feel more vulnerable than ever. The population that may feel most vulnerable is those that migrated by land (using a bus or by foot) to countries like Colombia, Ecuador, or Peru, said Pina, the Venezuelan analyst. In these cases, many Venezuelans not only do not have health insurance, but also live from their daily work and therefore they are the ones who are most exposed, exposing themselves to being infected, he said. 200323065512541 Inside the country, it is also challenging as many of them feel trapped in a situation where there are not many alternatives. Many families seem to feel helpless because the new government measures force them to be confined at home, Pina said. According to Pina many Venezuelans that live in the borders with Colombia and Brazil often go to these countries to satisfy their basic needs, including food or fuel, while many also work on the other side of the border. Quarantine measures are taken to prevent the spread of the virus, however, the economic consequences for the country can be disastrous. With this outbreak, the country could be entering a new phase of a humanitarian crisis, Pina added For Rafael Wong, a paediatrician and an infectious disease specialist in Bolivar State, the worry is not just for his patients, but also for fellow health professionals. We have to remember that statistically, our risk of acquiring the disease is higher, so when I do my daily job, I cannot have another feeling but that of concern, he told Al Jazeera. However, I cannot let that take over, I carry on with my daily duties, and I do that in my best capacity, he added. On our end, we also need to be careful, if we get sick we wont be able to help, and we will become a burden for our own colleagues, so we need to really be careful, give our best, and demand the best conditions. *Name has been changed at the request of the individual to protect his/her identity. The citizens of this country enthusiastically observed the 14-hour-long voluntary restriction, the Janata Curfew, on March 22, which was meant to check on the rapid spread of the pathogen. But were things back to normal post 9:00 pm? Not really. However, the next thing that happened, after the loud applause was Delhi Chief Minister in a briefing announced a complete shut down to control the spread of (Covid-19) in the region. The lock down kicked in from 6 a.m. Monday and will last till March 31. The chief minister has mentioned that all dairies, grocery shops, chemists and petrol pumps will remain open during the period. However, no public transport service will run, with exception of 25 per cent to help people reach essential services. But what exactly are essential services? In this case, essential services that have been exempted from the lock down are: Hospitals, food and milk supplies, chemist and pharmacies, police stations, armed forces, fire, telecom, internet, postal, e-commerce, banks, media (both print and digital) municipal and aviation services among others, keeping in view the smooth supply chain of goods. This means, even metro train services will remain shut till March 31 and only 25 per cent of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses will hit the roads. No other modes of public transport, including private buses, taxis, auto-rickshaws, rickshaws and e-rickshaws will be permitted during the lock down period. For the first time in its 167-year-old history, the has also cancelled all services of passenger trains, including suburban ones, till March 31. The nearest equivalent of this was the 54-day railway strike in 1974, when trains did not run in the country. The railways, however, said goods trains would run. Meanwhile, the Delhi police have imposed section 144 of CrPC which prohibits assembly of four or more people in one place till March 31. They have put up barricades at the border areas including Kapashera which connects Gurugram to Delhi and Vasundhara Enclave which connect Noida with the city. Police officials at the borders were seen asking people to go back and were only allowing those exempted from the lock down order. The CM also directed private firms to give compulsory paid leave to all employees, including contractual until the end of March. So far, the total number of Covid-19 cases in India rose to 415 on Monday, with 15 more people testing positive in Maharashtra. While the Delhi government has already put the capital under a lock down for nine days, the Centre has also ordered all the states to enforce lock down strictly. Legal action will be taken against violators, says a notification by the government. This comes after Prime Minister tweeted that some people were still not taking the lockdown seriously. He urged people to... To know more, listen to this podcast. The conservative movement has long fostered a paranoid strain that spreads conspiracies and rejects scientific expertise. The 1925 Scopes monkey trial, in which a Tennessee teacher was prosecuted for teaching evolution, is well known. So is the John Birch Societys 1950s hysteria over the fluoridation of water, which its members insisted was a Communist plot to poison Americans. And George Wallace was renowned for, among other things, his denunciations of pointy-headed intellectuals. Still, the Republican Party retained a deep reservoir of respect for science, for intellectual prowess, for simple facts. During the 1950s and 60s, William Buckley, an Ivy-League-educated intellectual, was a leading light of the conservative movement. The Grand Old Party embraced the science necessary to beat the Soviet Union to the moon. It supported vaccinations and funded research institutions. But somewhere along the way, that all changed. The GOP is now the stupid party, as Bobby Jindal, the Republican then-governor of Louisiana, put it. The nadir of its decades-long descent into know-nothing, flat-Earth denialism was its embrace of Donald J. Trump, the very stable genius who denied that the coronavirus pandemic was a crisis until a few days ago. Just ask longtime Republican political consultant Stuart Stevens, who wrote an opinion essay decrying the GOPs toxic fantasies. Stevens said, Dont just blame President Trump. Blame me and all the other Republicans who aided and abetted and, yes, benefited from protecting a political party that has become dangerous to America. Some of us knew better. The Trump administration slashed funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, dismantled the National Security Councils global health security office and ignored warnings from infectious disease experts who said the coronavirus would have dire consequences. Then, Trump stood before the cameras for weeks and insisted the risk to the American people remains very low. But, as Stevens noted, this didnt start with Trump. The GOPs distaste for science, distrust of experts and dismissal of facts have taken a couple of generations to culminate in this man-made disaster. While nature created the novel coronavirus, the Republican Party created the conditions for the Trump administrations wretchedly incompetent response. Over the years, several unfortunate trends came together in the Republican Party, producing a deadly confluence that disrespects science and downplays expertise. One of those trends was the acceleration of efforts by large industries, especially those that produce environmental toxins and release greenhouse gases, to persuade congressional Republicans to doubt the science that held them responsible for causing widespread harm. Dependent on contributions from those industries, the GOP went along, some of them denouncing climate change as a hoax. There is also a cultural component to the crazy. Modern science tends to dispute some long-held beliefs of religious conservatives, including the notion that homosexuality is a mental illness. Mainstream psychologists denounce so-called conversion therapy, which claims to cure gays and lesbians. But the Republican Party long ago arranged a marriage of convenience with socially conservative Christians; many of its current elected officials hail from fundamentalist religious backgrounds. Thus the anti-gay plank in the GOP platform was laid. At the state level, reactionary politicians have gone so far as to starve the treasuries of their public colleges and universities, since those institutions, as one Tennessee lawmaker put it, constitute a liberal breeding ground. Of course, as Stevens noted, some Republicans knew better. In a newly disclosed audio recording, Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, is overheard warning a group of wealthy members of a private club on Feb. 27 that the coronavirus could wreak havoc, probably akin to the 1918 pandemic that killed millions. That was weeks before Trump acknowledged the coming crisis. But did Burr share that with Republican voters, who depend on Fox News for their information? Of course not. His silence helps explain why, even now, so many elderly Trump-loving voters are ignoring warnings about avoiding crowds and cruises. They believe the propaganda that was spewed for so long, the insistence that the coronavirus warnings are a hoax. That makes them a danger not only to themselves but to the rest of us. It took the Republican Party a while to put the entire nation at risk, but their self-serving idiocy has now brought us to the brink of disaster. Email Cynthia Tucker at cynthia@cynthiatucker.com NEW YORK, March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- 5G+V2X CVIS will be a strong driver for highly automated driving. The V2X industry is thriving with advances in automotive connectivity, to which great importance has been attached by car producing powers worldwide, and it is vigorously promoted and deployed about which the development plans, laws & regulations, technical criteria and pilot construction are in full swing in different countries. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05877107/?utm_source=PRN Till 2025, the intelligent vehicles with conditional autonomy will be spawned in China, LTE-V2X and other networks will be regionally viable, 5G-V2X will be progressively available on expressways and in some cities, and the high-precision spatial-temporal datum service network will be fully covered, according to the Strategy for Innovative Development of Intelligent Vehicles circulated by National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) in February 2020. An intelligent vehicle system with Chinese standards will be established between 2035 and 2050. Two V2X technology roadmaps prevail worldwide, i.e., IEEE802.11p (DSRC) and C-V2X (Cellular-V2X). Application layer standards are drafted differently by countries. C-V2X springs up and wins the hearts of industry insiders since it is far superior to DSRC. C-V2X, encompassing LTE-V2X and 5G-V2X, gets energetically promoted in China. In December 2019, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) passed a resolution with one accord that most spectrums of 5.9GHz band will be reallocated and they will be dedicated for the unlicensed spectrum technology and the C-V2X technology. Over the past two decades, 75MHz in the 5.9GHz band was used for DSRC, but FCC seeking to revise the rules pointed it out that DSRC is at a standstill for many years, particularly in April 2019 when Toyota stopped using DSRC V2X technology. 5G NR based V2X will boost the development of fully automated vehicles. C-V2X (incl. LTE-V2X, 5G-V2X) is based on 3GPP specifications. LTE-V2X evolves towards 5G-V2X. 3GPP R14 standards supporting LTE-V2X was issued in 2017; 3GPP R15 standards that support LTE-V2X enhanced (LTE-eV2X) were formally completed in June 2018; 3GPP R16+ standards supportive for 5G-V2X started to be studied in June 2018. LTE-V2X is designed mainly to enable driver assistance, improve road safety, efficiency and comfort. NR-V2X, a fusion of communication technologies, big data, artificial intelligence, among others, suffice autonomous driving and other new features better. 5G NR V2X standards are rapidly under way and physical layer specifications plan to be nailed down in March 2020. Among the 25 projects about Rel-17 that were established at the 3GPP RAN Meeting held in Spain in December 2019, a standardization project -- 5G new radio sidelink enhancement -- will be a souped-up version of Rel-16 NR-V2X sidelink. Also, the technology roadmap of 3GPP 5G 3rd edition (Rel-17) was made explicitly during the Meeting. Noticeably, Chinese operators initiated and joined many projects of criteria constitution about 3GPP RAN R17. Progress in C-V2X deployment It is put forward in the Strategy for Innovative Development of Intelligent Vehicles to build a full-fledged intelligent vehicle infrastructure system, including (1) to build smart roads and next-generation national traffic control network, to expedite 5G construction and combination with telematics; (2) to study the licensing of special spectrums for automotive wireless communications, to hasten construction of wireless communication network for automotive use; (3) to accelerate construction of a unified national high-accuracy spatial temporal datum service capabilities by giving full play to the existing Beidou satellite positioning reference station network; (4) to develop the intelligent vehicle maps with unified standards, to build a perfect geographic information system containing road network information, to offer real-time kinematic (RTK) data services; (5) the existing facilities and data resources will be leveraged to build a national intelligent vehicle big data cloud-enabled platform. 5G+V2X, as a crucial infrastructure to autonomous driving, is booming with policy support. V2X started from 2019 to be piloted successively and will be more popular with 5G deployments in 2022. Meanwhile, 5G NR V2X is being tested and certified, setting the stage for large-scale application of intelligent vehicles with higher autonomy in 2025. The traditional automotive terminals like T-Box are on the brink of a revolution. The automotive TCU (Telematics Control Unit) integrates 4G/5G module, C-V2X module, onboard navigation module and so forth, which means the opportunities and challenges to the providers of both cockpit electronics and conventional telematics. Huawei Technologies rolled out the C-V2X T-Box compatible with both 4.5G and 5G; PATEO launched 4.5G C-V2X T-box; Neusoft released T-Box 3.0 combining C-V2X, 5G, Ethernet and other technologies; Samsung Harman announced the availability of TCU in-built with cellular NAD and Autotalks' 2nd-Gen chipset, offering C-V2X capabilities. Telematics evolves from initially TSP platform to intelligent connectivity platform and then to autonomous driving cloud-enabled platform (cooperative vehicle infrastructure system). 5G T-Box, a portal for big data of intelligent vehicles in future, will be the core product for smart hardware producers. Automakers also have collaborations with Tier 1 suppliers and plan to have the to-be-launched models configured with 5G+V2X successively. Perfection of C-V2X industry chain in China C-V2X industry chain involves communication chip, communication module, terminals & equipment, vehicle manufacturing, test & certification, operation services, etc., where there are many players such as chip vendors, equipment manufacturers, OEMs, solution providers and telecom carriers. In October 2019, C-V2X 'Four Crosses' (cross-chip module, cross-terminal, cross-vehicle, cross- safety platform) connectivity demonstrations were successfully held, a full interpretation of C-V2X complete chain technology competences and facilitating further C-V2X deployments at home. Huawei make great strides in C-V2X and has unveiled C-V2X chip, gateway, T-Box, RSU (Road Side Unit) to end-to-end solutions. In 2019, Huawei launched 5G in-car module MH5000 which is highly integrated with 5G and C-V2X technologies and is packed with 5G baseband chip Balong 5000 with such features as one-core multi-mode, high rates, downlink-uplink decoupling, support of SA (5G standalone) and NSA (5G non-standalone) dual-mode network, support of C-V2X, to name a few. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05877107/?utm_source=PRN About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Contact Clare: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Related Links www.reportlinker.com Equipped with sewing machines, elastic and 100 percent cotton fabric, armies of crafters across Alabama came together to sew homemade face masks to help those who are on the front lines of fighting the coronavirus pandemic. On Monday, Alabamas chief health official Dr. Scott Harris recommended against medical professionals using those hand-sewn masks in an effort to protect themselves against coronavirus. Harris said healthcare providers need N95 masks and hospitals are working to source more of those as shortages related to the coronavirus grow. Directions for making homemade masks have circulated online in recent days. There is no evidence that those are effective, Dr. Scott Harris said during a Monday press conference when asked about homemade masks. We would not recommend people use them. From Madison to Mobile, groups led by professional seamstresses and small businesses owners sprouted on Facebook over the past two weeks as the number of cases of coronavirus continues to increase. The Huntsville Hospital Foundation, which started an emergency fund for the facility, told Al.com Friday that officials are finalizing a plan to connect with people who are making homemade face masks for hospital workers. The health system has approved the wearing of clean, homemade masks in hospital environments that do not require personal protective equipment, and the Foundation will serve as the hub for these gifts, Communications Director Katie Coppens said. Details will be shared early next week with specific instructions on how these masks can be made and how they can be donated through the Foundation to serve our staff and patients. During a briefing at Huntsville City Hall on Monday, Huntsville Hospital Health Systems CEO David Spillers said there are certain criteria homemade masks have to meet. But he said anything is better than nothing during a tremendous shortage according to the CDC. I have seen people walking around the hospital today with colorful masks on. Were not going to tell them to take them off, Spillers said. If you want to go home, sew a mask and put it on, everyone can do that. So, no harm. No foul. Megan Eheman has made many things in her crafting career cloth dolls, rosaries and has her own monogramming business called Sewing by M.E. She quickly saw the need to expand her experience to homemade face masks and created the Facebook group Madison Mask Makers. Over 200 members joined the group in two days. Request for orders went from 60 on Sunday morning to 100 by Sunday afternoon. She said they are following guidelines given to the group by healthcare workers. This came to me as a way that I could be the hands and feet of God, Eheman said. I am super proud and excited to get a chance to know these people while helping others out. Most requests are for masks with pockets so healthcare workers can slip a filter into the masks. The medical workers are also stressing the importance of using two different types of fabric so they can tell which side is outside and inside. She said she hopes medical professionals will be able to use the masks on top of their CDC-recommended N95 respirators to prolong the life of the N95s. Any mask is better than no mask at all, Eheman said. We are simply trying to prevent our medical workers and professionals from being without any PPE. East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika repeated Harris comment in a COVID19 update on Wednesday, but marketing director John Atkinson says citizens can collaborate with the East Alabama Mask Makers Facebook group if they want to make masks for COVID19 patients. (Harris) stated that these masks were not suitable for healthcare providers as personal protective equipment, nor are they able to protect individuals from contracting the virus, Atkinson said in the media update. They can, however, be used by individuals who have confirmed or suspected COVID-19, as a way to prevent spreading the virus to those around them when they cough, etc. Since COVID-19 spreads through droplets expressed when an infected person coughs or sneezes, face masks are in high demand in medical settings across the nation. The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention said major distributors are reporting a shortage of personal protective equipment such as face masks, N95 respirators and gowns. The CDC allows healthcare professionals to use homemade masks, such as scarves or bandanas if nothing else is available. Starting Friday, the Jefferson County Department of Health will be accepting homemade face masks and gowns at the Christian Service Missions warehouse located at 3600 Third Avenue South in Birmingham. These items can be dropped off at the warehouse Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until noon. Former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama Joyce Vance is coordinating this effort with the community. Those who are at least an advanced beginner at sewing who also have access to a sewing machine or a serger can send their contact information to Birminghamppe@gmail.com to be added to the announcements lists for the Birmingham area. UAB Hospital Spokesperson Tyler Greer said employees caring for COVID19 patients are properly equipped with personal protection equipment, also known as PPE. While the hospital doesnt recommend the use of homemade masks, employees who are not taking care of coronavirus patients can wear the masks if they feel like the level of protection helps them. Greer said Wednesday the homemade masks must be washed and dried daily. Kathy Green and Christine McLean have been busy managing the Facebook group Facebook Mask Sewing for Birmingham, Al healthcare, which is more than 2,300 members strong. Green said she started the group after she saw an article about Deaconess Hospitals request to its community to sew masks. The Indiana hospital even made a tutorial on how to make the masks. I was thinking like, Wow if there is a need in Indiana, then there will be a need in the Birmingham community. So Green and her friend McLean, who has her own drapery business, asked a couple of friends who work in the medical field about whether there was an immediate need for masks. They said, Yes. Maybe, Green said. And a Yes. Maybe. was good enough for me to think, Well, there may not be a need today, but it may be a need in the very, very near future. Green and McLean said they have a plan to keep the masks sanitized by keeping them in bags. When the masks are delivered at one of their five drop off points, they will mark with the date the masks are collected. Then the medical workers will decide when they want to open the bags and use the mask. Members of the Birmingham group stayed busy by offering different patterns and offering their surplus of supply. McLean said those who dont know how to sew want to volunteer to pick up masks at drop off locations. They created a google document in the group where people from different facilities can order different types of masks. McLean said the effort to help healthcare workers showed the heart of the community. We have a wonderful community that is willing to come together and accept the charge to do whatever they can to help, McLean said. This story was updated Friday with comments from a few Alabama hospitals that have decided to allow some of their employees to wear homemade masks. OCEANA COUNTY, MI State police are looking for a Comstock Park woman who reported being lost while driving. Bronwyn Brooke Zickus, 73, was last heard from around 5:45 p.m. Sunday, March 22. She had called Oceana County Dispatch to report that she was lost. She was last seen driving a dark-blue Dodge Grand Caravan with a Michigan license plate of BCH670. She may be in the Rothbury area, state police said. The missing woman has brown hair, brown eyes, is about 5-foot-8 and 185 pounds. State police asked anyone with information to call the Hart post 231-873-2171 or Oceana County Dispatch at 231-869-5858. Also in MLive: First coronavirus case reported in Muskegon County West Michigan coronavirus victim really felt I was dying Victims body still missing but cold-case detectives find suspect Furloughed Hilton employees in the U.S. will be given direct access to an online resource center and expedited hiring processes at leading companies including Amazon, CVS, Lidl, Albertsons, Plastics Industry Association and Sunrise Senior Living. The hotel and resorts global chain has been forced to temporarily suspend services across the U.S. due to the coronavirus pandemic and guidance from government officials to close non-essential businesses in order to practice social distancing and curb the spread of the virus. The companies partnering with Hilton are planning to hire more than 200,000 workers collectively for short-term assignments, as they address the increase in demand during the pandemic. Wait, someone's hiring?: Amazon, Walmart are among companies adding workers during coronavirus crisis Layoffs surging: Unemployment claims may hit record 2.5M this week Stimulus check: What we know (and don't) "The recognized quality of our team members, including their hospitality and service culture training, make them ideal candidates to quickly step in and assist organizations in these temporary assignments," said Nigel Glennie, vice president of corporate communication at Hilton, in an interview with USA TODAY. "We hope to expand the program globally, adding more companies, and we plan to welcome these team members back when travel resumes." With approximately 60,000 direct employees in its corporate offices and hotels in the U.S., and 200,000 more through franchise hotels, the company made the decision to furlough workers, as opposed to laying them off. "Our partners need workers and our team members need to work right now, so this is an initiative we put together with the sole intent of helping our people, even though we can't be the ones to employ them right now," said Glennie. A Hilton Hotel in Cherry Hill, N.J. While in furlough, employees continue receiving health benefits from Hilton but are also able to apply for unemployment benefits. With the joint initiative to find temporary work for its furloughed employees, the company hopes its workers will return to their previous roles when service resumes. Story continues In a statement to USA TODAY, Lisa Bisaccia, executive vice president and chief human resources officer for CVS Health, said the company is ready to hire immediately and is looking to "fill more than 50,000 full-time, part-time and temporary jobs across the country." Among the roles detailed by Bisaccia are "frontline store associates, prescription delivery drivers, warehouse workers and member/customer service professionals." Likewise, CVS's pharmacy and clinical side will also be looking to add pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and nurses, among others. Similarly, Marriott International, announced Saturday that it would also be furloughing about two-thirds of its 4,000 corporate employees at the company's headquarters in the U.S. early next month for about 60 to 90 days. The company recently confirmed that it expects to furlough tens of thousands of workers throughout its network of hotels. "We are also working with our client Marriott to help place its furloughed workers in roles across our company," added Bisaccia. "We also anticipate working with other companies to help us scale up our temporary workforce to handle increased volume in our stores, distribution centers and call centers." USA TODAY reporter David Oliver contributed to this story. Follow Josh Rivera on Twitter: @Josh1Rivera This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Furloughed Hilton workers can get new jobs during coronavirus pandemic New Zealand is now at Alert Level 3. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says "we are all preparing to stay home". In the next 48 hours, New Zealand will move into Alert Level 4. This will give essential services time to get measures in place to continue working. Supermarkets, doctors, pharmacies, service stations, access to essential banking services will be available throughout New Zealand at every alert level. Schools will be closed from tomorrow, except for children of essential workers. School's will close entirely from midnight on Wednesday. "We are now asking all people to stay at home and avoid contact with other people, except for family. "Only spend time with those you are in self-isolation with." Jacinda says all bars, restaurants, pools, libraries, movie theatres, and other businesses are being asked to close all their face-to-face services. This measure is expected to be in place for the next four weeks. Jacinda says if we don't do this now, then we will be in lockdown for a longer period. "Together we do have the opportunity to contain the spread. I am asking you to do everything you can to help us." She says people will still have access to essential services. "Please do not panic buy. This then deprives other people from being able to buy what they need." Travel around New Zealand will also change, says Jacinda. "Over the next 48 hours, people will need to get home, be it locally or throughout the country. We have asked all air transport providers to ensure social distancing for that period. After 48 hours we will be moving to air travel only applying to the transport of people undertaking essential services and the transport of freight. "Public transport will also begin to transition over the next 48 hours will only be available for those working in essential services, for medical reasons, and to move essential goods including ferry services between the North and South Island. "Further details on the transition we are all now making will be made publicly available on the COVID-19 website. "Now I want to share with you what will happen while we are all in alert Level 4 to get ahead of COVID-19. "We will continue to vigorously contact trace every single case. Testing will continue at pace to help us understand the current number of cases in New Zealand and where they are based. If we flush out the cases we already have and see transmission slow, we will potentially be able to move areas out of Level 4 over time. "But for the next wee while, things will look worse before they look better. In the short term the number of cases will likely rise because the virus is already in our community. But these new measures can slow the virus down and prevent our health system from being overwhelmed and ultimately save lives." There are 36 new cases of coronavirus in New Zealand, as of 8am today. This brings the total number of cases in the country to 102. The Ministry of Health's Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield will provide an update to the media on the national COVID-19 response at 12.30pm today. He says more than half of the cases confirmed have clear links to overseas travel. "Most are close contacts of a confirmed case. "There are two that there is no link to where it has come from and is being treated as community transmission." Ashley says Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will be delivering an update on the country's alert level later this afternoon. More than 7400 tests have been carried out so far. "Your actions will be critical to our collective ability to stop the spread of COVID-19," says Jacinda. "Failure to play your part in the coming days will put the lives of others at risk. There will be no tolerance for that and we will not hesitate in using enforcement powers if needed. "Were in this together and must unite against COVID-19. "I am in no doubt that the measures I have announced today will cause unprecedented economic and social disruption. But they are necessary. "I have one final message. Be kind. I know people will want to act as enforcers. And I understand that, people are afraid and anxious. We will play that role for you. What we need from you, is support one another. Go home tonight and check in on your neighbours. Start a phone tree with your street. Plan how youll keep in touch with one another. We will get through this together, but only if we stick together. Be strong and be kind." New Zealand COVID-19 alert levels The alert system means people can see and plan for the kinds of restrictions we may be required to put in place. This includes escalating restrictions on human contact, travel and business operations. Download a table of the COVID-19 alert levels [PDF, 50 KB](external link) These alert levels specify the public health and social measures to be taken. The measures may be updated on the basis of (i) new scientific knowledge about COVID-19 and (ii) information about the effectiveness of intervention measures in New Zealand and elsewhere. The alert levels may be applied at a town, city, territorial local authority, regional or national level. Different parts of the country may be at different alert levels. We can move up and down alert levels. In general, the alert levels are cumulative, e.g. Level 1 is a base-level response. Always prepare for the next level. At all levels, health services, emergency services, utilities and goods transport, and other essential services, operations and staff, are expected to remain up and running. Employers in those sectors must continue to meet their health and safety obligations. Level 4 Eliminate Likely that disease is not contained. Risk assessment Sustained and intensive transmission Widespread outbreaks Range of measures (can be applied locally or nationally) People instructed to stay at home Educational facilities closed Businesses closed except for essential services (e.g. supermarkets, pharmacies, clinics) and lifeline utilities Rationing of supplies and requisitioning of facilities Travel severely limited Major reprioritisation of healthcare services Level 3 Restrict Heightened risk that disease is not contained. Risk assessment Community transmission occurring OR Multiple clusters break out Range of measures (can be applied locally or nationally) Travel in areas with clusters or community transmission limited Affected educational facilities closed Mass gatherings cancelled Public venues closed (e.g. libraries, museums, cinemas, food courts, gyms, pools, amusement parks) Alternative ways of working required and some non-essential businesses should close Non face-to-face primary care consultations Non acute (elective) services and procedures in hospitals deferred and healthcare staff reprioritised Level 2 Reduce Disease is contained, but risks of community transmission growing. Risk assessment High risk of importing COVID-19 OR Increase in imported cases OR Increase in household transmission OR Single or isolated cluster outbreak Range of measures (can be applied locally or nationally) Entry border measures maximised Further restrictions on mass gatherings Physical distancing on public transport (e.g. leave the seat next to you empty if you can) Limit non-essential travel around New Zealand Employers start alternative ways of working if possible (e.g. remote working, shift-based working, physical distancing within the workplace, staggering meal breaks, flexible leave arrangements) Business continuity plans activated High-risk people advised to remain at home (e.g. those over 70 or those with other existing medical conditions) Level 1 Prepare Disease is contained. Risk assessment Heightened risk of importing COVID-19 OR Sporadic imported cases OR Isolated household transmission associated with imported cases Range of measures (can be applied locally or nationally) Border entry measures to minimise risk of importing COVID-19 cases applied Contact tracing Stringent self-isolation and quarantine Intensive testing for COVID-19 Physical distancing encouraged Mass gatherings over 500 cancelled Stay home if youre sick, report flu-like symptoms Wash and dry hands, cough into elbow, dont touch your face At risk people People over 70 years of age, people who have compromised immunity or people who have underlying respiratory conditions should stay at home as much as they can. At risk people include: Those over 70: Older people often have underlying health issues, including respiratory issues that make them more vulnerable to COVID-19. People with medical conditions: Underlying medical conditions can make you more vulnerable to COVID-19. In particular, people with respiratory conditions, such as COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), heart conditions, high blood pressure, kidney problems and diabetes. People undergoing a treatment for cancer and blood conditions: As treatments for cancer and blood conditions affect peoples immune systems, this makes them more vulnerable to COVID-19. Pregnant women: Health experts do not yet know if pregnant women are impacted by COVID-19 in the same way as other people. However, pregnant women experience changes in their bodies that may increase their risk from some infections. People without easy access to healthcare Download a poster asking people not enter your building(external link) Find out more about COVID-19 For some of new Zealands communities, other aspects of their lives may mean they are also at risk. This includes: Yesterday, Northern Ireland suffered its second death from coronavirus, adding weight to the warning by Health Minister Robin Swann that we may be facing a "plague of Biblical proportions" if Covid-19 isn't beaten. Still, despite promising a large increase in testing, the figure is only going up from 200 to 800 tests a day. Something doesn't add up. The World Health Organisation's advice as to the most effective way to stem the tide of the coronavirus couldn't be clearer - "test, test, test". That's what countries which have managed best to contain the spread of the virus, such as South Korea and Singapore, have been doing from the start. There, they do widespread "community testing", which means taking swabs from people and checking them for infection before they even show symptoms. In South Korea, there are walk-in booths where anybody can be tested in seven minutes. By comparison, the number being tested in Northern Ireland, where positive cases rose to 128 yesterday, remains a fraction of what's needed. How are we supposed to know where we're at when it comes to coronavirus without testing to see how far it has spread in the community already? To put the figures in context, when Northern Ireland reaches the point of testing 800 people a day in another week's time, that will represent 0.04% of the population, which more or less corresponds to the UK's testing target nationwide. South of the border, they're planning to increase tests to 15,000 a day and open a number of drive-through testing centres. There's one currently being built in Offaly. Once the Republic reaches the 15,000-a-day target, that will represent 0.3% of the population. In other words they'll be testing seven times more people than we are - and even that isn't considered enough by virologists. Where does that leave Northern Ireland, if not dangerously exposed? Worryingly, some people still seem to be looking at the Republic and concluding that, because they currently have more infections than we do, we must in a better position than our neighbours. That line of thinking fundamentally misunderstands the situation. Testing only finds the cases of infection that are already out there. Not testing simply means you haven't identified those positive cases yet. It doesn't mean they don't exist. If there was to be a massive programme of testing in Northern Ireland, it would lead to a sharp rise in the number of positive cases; but that, counter-intuitively, would be a good thing, because it would be because of an increase in the number of people who have Covid-19, but are asymptomatic, or have very mild symptoms. What you want is to see the number of such non-serious positive tests increasing, while controlling the number who need critical care. Crucially, catching people at an earlier stage allows them to go into quarantine, thereby slowing down the community spread of infection. If you don't know you're infected, you're less likely to stay at home. Increasing the number of people in quarantine will in turn relieve pressure on the NHS further down the line. As Robin Swann has acknowledged, there are just 126 critical care beds in the whole of Northern Ireland, and the number of ventilators is only set to rise by 40 to 179 by the end of the month. The system will quickly become overwhelmed. The tests are not foolproof. There can be false negatives, and, just because someone is free of infection at the time of testing, doesn't mean they won't subsequently get coronavirus. Nor should the logistical difficulties involved in instigating a regime of large scale testing be underestimated. Public Health England is currently only managing to carry out 2,000 tests a day for a population of over 55 million people. That number is set to rise too, though again by nowhere near enough It won't be cheap either. Finding the money to pay for a public testing programme on the scale of South Korea would not be a given in Northern Ireland. The row over budgets back when the Executive was restored in January may feel like ancient history now, but the structural problems remain. Finding the money may mean making sacrifices elsewhere, as the local administration doesn't have the same ability as central Government to borrow gargantuan sums of money to deal with crises, and there's no way, with the economy going down the tubes, and people being laid off left, right and centre - 10,000 workers lost their jobs in Northern Ireland in the past week alone - that local taxation can take on the burden. But whatever difficulties there may be in instigating a large scale testing programme, what alternative is there if experts are to accurately track the spread of the disease and fine tune the official response to it? Right now, the rhetoric of biblical plagues which the Health Minister had adopted is, hardly surprisingly, alarming people. Politicians are using that language so that everybody takes more seriously the public information advice about the importance of social isolation and of regularly washing hands, but it can create anxiety where less needs to be. Fear cannot be eliminated entirely, because the potential for something even more terrible than we face at present remains; but the anxiety can be managed. In fact, it's essential that we alleviate it to avoid panic. Testing is one way to provide that reassurance. It could be that the number who are infected is not as bad as our worst fears. In South Korea, the number of positive cases has turned out to be just 4% of the tested population. If the same holds true in Northern Ireland, the nightmare scenario foreshadowed by the Health Minister, with over 9,000 deaths in a short period, might mercifully never come to pass. The only way to know for certain is by quickly testing huge numbers of people. The responsibility for making that happen lies with the whole Executive, not the Health Minister alone. Expand Close Health Minister Robin Swann Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Health Minister Robin Swann Robin Swann took on the most difficult brief at Stormont after the two main parties ducked the challenge, and, as he deals with an unprecedented, fast moving emergency, the former Ulster Unionist leader deserves to be supported rather than sniped at. Nonetheless, the answers given so far by the Health Minister and the Chief Medical Officer to the puzzling question of why we're not testing people as widely in Northern Ireland as in other parts of the world have been patchy, inconsistent, and not a little bit unconvincing. If there are good reasons for it, they need to be better communicated. Until then, people are entitled to demand that the threat of a biblical plague be met with a response of equally biblical proportions. 3.1k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard In an interview with Science, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases whose presence on the White Houses Coronavirus Task Force has made him a household name as the United States responds to the coronavirus pandemic, admitted its difficult to ensure that President Donald Trumps comments on the virus are accurate. Most everyone thinks that youre doing a remarkable job, but youre standing there as the representative of truth and facts but things are being said that arent true and arent factual, asked Sciences Jon Cohen. The way it happened is that after he made that statement [suggesting China could have revealed the discovery of a new coronavirus three to four months earlier], I told the appropriate people, it doesnt comport, because two or three months earlier would have been September, Fauci replied. The next time they sit down with him and talk about what hes going to say, they will say, by the way, Mr. President, be careful about this and dont say that. But I cant jump in front of the microphone and push him down. OK, he said it. Lets try and get it corrected for the next time. The president is known for volatile behavior and has been criticized for undermining the opinion of experts. Asked how hes managing to not get fired, Fauci said, Well, thats pretty interesting because to his [President Trumps] credit, even though we disagree on some things, he listens. He goes his own way. He has his own style. But on substantive issues, he does listen to what I say. Fauci, like many health experts, has advocated for social distancing to slow the spread of the virus, which has infected more than 352,000 people worldwide. Social distancing requires that individuals stay away from each other and also curbs large gatherings. But White House press conferences are typically attended by a slew of journalists and public officials who crowd into a single room. When asked about that, Fauci said that he continues to recommend that the White House hold virtual press conferences, but has so far received pushback. (He did note that Vice President Mike Pence has been really pushing for physical separation of the task force [during meetings]. The situation on stage [for the press briefings] is a bit more problematic, he said. I keep saying, is there any way we can get a virtual press conference. Thus far, no. But when youre dealing with the White House, sometimes you have to say things 1,2,3,4 times, and then it happens. So Im going to keep pushing. Late last night, President Trump suggested easing up on social distancing restrictions, saying the government would reassess the recommended period for keeping businesses shuttered and workers home after this week, even though health experts believe lifting restrictions would result in the deaths of more people. The novel coronavirus has killed at least 458 Americans nationwide according to the most recent statistics, with deaths expected to spike due in large part to the viruss long incubation period and a lackluster government response. Just before the Madhya Pradesh BJP legislature party meeting here on Monday evening to elect its new leader, senior party MLA Gopal Bhargava tendered his resignation from the post of Leader of Opposition. BJP vice-president and MLA Shivraj Singh Chouhan is tipped to be elected as head of the legislature party, paving the way for him to take over as the next chief minister. Today, on March 23, 2020, I tender my resignation from the post of Leader of Opposition. Please accept my resignation forthwith, Bhargava said in a letter sent to the principal secretary of the assembly secretariat. With Congress veteran Kamal Nath stepping down as chief minister last week after 22 party MLAs resigned, reducing his government to a minoritye, the BJP is set to form the next government. In January 2019, days after the Congress formed its government, Bhargava, a multiple-time MLA and former minister, was elected Leader of the Opposition. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) No state prisoners have tested positive for the coronavirus as yet, and the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections on Monday announced changes that are intended to keep its jails virus-free. For starters, starting on Saturday the state prison at Retreat will temporarily become be the new intake site for all newly committed prisoners and parole violators, Corrections Secretary John Wetzel said. That announcement comes just two months after state officials announced they were closing Retreat, a 350-bed medium security lockup near Wilkes-Barre, to save about $40 million annually due to a decline in statewide inmate numbers. Retreat has the smallest number of beds of any of the states prisons. Some of its buildings date to the 1800s. The use of Retreat as the sole intake facility with a boosted medical staff will reduce the number of ways individuals enter our system, Wetzel said. With this plan, moving forward, only one facility will be involved, greatly reducing the ways the virus can enter our system. New prisoners will be quarantined at Retreat - which had been scheduled for closure this summer - before being sent to the Camp Hill prison for classification and evaluation, he said. On average, about 150 new inmates or parole violators are processed into the state prison system weekly. Meanwhile, Wetzel said commitments of new prisoners are bring paused for several days as the new intake system is ramped up. Those measures include transferring some inmates out of Retreat to make room for the newcomers. Prison staff at Retreat will be equipped with safety gear to shield them from the virus, Wetzel said. New female prisoners will still be accepted at the prisons at Muncy and Cambridge Springs, although Muncy will be accepting new commitments only on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Wetzel said other steps his department is taking to reduce the inmate population and the risk of coronavirus exposure include: Working with the parole board to maximize releases Reviewing parole detainers for individuals in county jails and state prisons Expediting the release process for anyone with a pending home plan Reviewing inmates within the state prison system who are beyond their minimum sentences Reducing the number of reentrants in halfway houses Giving each inmate released a medical screening and referring to doctors when appropriate. We are doing all we can to mitigate the impact this virus will have on our system, Wetzel said. All ideas are being considered. San Antonio Aquarium was ordered shut twice on Saturday by the Leon Valley Police Department after officers found the business open to the public despite an emergency declaration amid the coronavirus pandemic, police said. The aquarium had received multiple warnings from the police but still had refused to close, officials said. CORONAVIRUS HITS HOUSTON: 'It's going to get bad' warns Surgeon General Earlier in the week we personally advised them that they could not be open to the public, but were allowed to have no more than 9 employees present to care for and feed the animals, Leon Valley Police Chief Joe Salvaggio said. Police were first called to the aquarium early Saturday to find the aquatic-theme business open to the public with multiple patrons inside violating Texas, Bexar County and Leon Valley emergency declarations. The owner, who was not present Saturday, had ignored their warnings and refused to shut down the establishment, police say. So officers issued the aquarium a citation and ordered the manager to immediately close. GROCERY EXPOSURE: Residents alerted about possible virus exposure at Texas H-E-B Later Saturday afternoon, Salvaggio said officers returned to find more than 15 people at the aquarium for a birthday party, as well as ten employees. Police again cited the manager and cleared out the aquarium. Salvaggio said that if the owner violates the ordinance one more time, police will be forced to revoke their certificate of occupancy and chain the entrance doors.Salvaggio also said he is seeking additional charges against the owner. The owner of the San Antonio Aquarium put the citizens, and now my officers in danger with his reckless actions, Salvaggio said. The last thing we want to do is to have to enforce laws that have been put in place for the health, safety and welfare of the public. We ask for voluntary compliance as the laws are in the best interest of the public as a whole. - Actress Funke Akindele-Bello's stepchildren have celebrated her on social media - The children, Tamira and Josiah, celebrated her on Mother's Day - They both shared photos of the actress on their Instagram pages Most times, the relationships between stepmothers and stepchildren are not always good or smooth, but there are some families that would surprise you with how close they are. In some of these families, the closeness between a stepmother and her stepchildren is so good that outsiders are convinced that they are related biologically. Actress Funke Akindele and her stepchildren seem to love each other a lot and fans saw a little of that on social over the weekend. On Mother's Day, Sunday, March 22, the actress was celebrated by her stepchildren. PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigeria's #1 news app The actress' stepchildren, Tamira and Josiah Bello, took to their Instagram pages to wish her happy Mother's Day. They thanked her for all she does for them. They described her as the best stepmom. PAY ATTENTION: Do you have news to share? Contact Legit.ng instantly Meanwhile, Legit.ng had earlier reported that the mother of two took to her social media page to celebrate her stepson, Josiah Bello, on his birthday. Taking to her Instagram page, Funke shared beautiful photos of her handsome young man and celebrated him with sweet words. The actress called Josiah her darling as she wished him a happy birthday. Stating that she loves him, she appreciated him for being wonderful to her. Recall that Nollywood actress Eniola Badmus took to her social media page to celebrate former First Lady of Lagos state, Senator Oluremi Tinubu on Sunday, March 2020, for Mothers Day. Eniola shared a photo of the beautiful senator on Instagram and wrote a lovely message to accompany the image. Describing the senator as her mum, the actress revealed that she is important to her. The movie star revealed that when she was hungry, God provided Oluremi Tinubu. She said that when no one could scold her for wrongdoings, she noted that one look from the senator would get her to behave well. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better Street Gist: Why parents maltreat their stepchildren - Nigerians | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday berated the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Buhari Presidency, which the party said have finally wrecked Nigerias economy, lamenting that there is no hope in sight under their control. The PDP lamented: APC and Buhari Presidency have turned us into a beggar nation and the world poverty capital with their inherent recklessness and lack of capacity to articulate strategies that will sustain and grow our hitherto robust economy which they took over from the PDP in 2015. The Party remarked that Nigerians are all aware that before the PDP left office in 2015, the party had succeeded in growing Nigerias economy with policies and programmes that boosted private sector participation to the extent that Nigeria was ranked the third fastest-growing economy, after China and Qatar, with capacity to lend to other countries. Today, the sheer incompetence, greed, reckless policies and deep corruption of the APC have reversed all these gains and destroyed our national economic capacities to the extent our nation can no longer finance our national budget. Our nation is currently in shambles with a drifting economy, a devalued currency (N380 to a dollar), collapsed infrastructure, a frightening 23.1% unemployment rate, high cost of essential goods, increased morbidity rate, reduced life expectancy and a despondent citizenry leaving our country in droves. This situation is worsened with the reckless foreign borrowing by the APC and its administration which today stands at an alarming $108 billion with no productive repayment plan; funds which have been exposed as being frittered and stolen by APC leaders and the cabal, PDP highlighted. The maintained that it is on record that the APC, as a party, has never made any useful suggestion or contribution towards good governance. Of course, it has no such propensity, being only a power-grabbing vehicle fabricated by treasury looters that have no interest in the welfare of Nigerians, PDP declared. The opposition bemoaned that more distressing is that the APC Federal Government has become overwhelmed, confused and now resorts to uncoordinated knee-jerk measures and lame excuses such as trying to heap the blames of our economic woes just on the COVID-19. It is however instructive to note that even before the COVID-19, our economy was already in shambles and had been on a free fall in the last five years, due to the incompetence and reckless policies of the Buhari administration It is also on record that our party had consistently pointed to the economic lapses of the Buhari-led APC administration with options on economic recovery, which were all ignored. President Buhari and the APC had persistently ignored wise economic counsels by well-meaning Nigerians, groups and even international organizations, who had consistently advised the government on the need to diversify our economy and boost private sector participation. Instead, the APC administration had continued to stifle foreign investments and cripple domestic production with its thoughtless exclusionist polices, inordinate lust for control, excessive taxes, repressive and exploitative export and import restrictions, suppression of open market participation, obnoxious forex policies, neglect of infrastructural development, abuse of human rights and disregard to the rule of law while failing in promises made to investors and domestic entrepreneurs. These have led to loss of investors confidence and crippling of strategic businesses across critical sectors. It is indeed wearisome that the Buhari administration had chosen to be laidback in the face of serious issues of governance. Nigerians can recall that when oil price dropped to $52 per barrel, below the $57 benchmark for the 2020 N10.95 trillion budget, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, while briefing newsmen at the end of the Federal Executive Council meeting on March 4, 2020, admitted that the Government was not taking any measures but waiting, according to her, for a reasonable time to act. The ministers declaration only confirmed that the APC Government failed to proactively engage other players in the international oil and gas market to adopt quick measure that would have protected our economy from the fallout of the international price war that triggered oil price crash, which now slumped to an alarming $28 per barrel, PDP declared. The Party decried that it is worrisome that while other countries quickly adopted measures to ease liquidity, the APC administration remained laidback and helpless, only to resort to knee-jerk measures. The result was that last week, not a single Foreign Portfolio investor participated in the Open Market Auction conducted by the CBN. That was a huge vote of no confidence on our system. The APC government later responded with a desperate measure of devaluing our currency to N380 to 1.USD at the Investor and Exporters (1&E) window; a development that has put our economy under more stress. It is, therefore, clear that our nation is doomed under APC and our challenges can only get worse under this dysfunctional party, PDP protested. Consequently, the PDP added that, as a pan Nigeria party, it is deeply worried and cannot fold its hands and watch while those who have no interest in the welfare of our nation continue to wreck the destiny of the people. In the light of the above, the PDP resolved as follows: Our Party, the PDP holds the Buhari administration responsible for the devaluation of the naira due to its failures. President Buhari should immediately end all tactless economic policies, accept failure, seek help and get more competent hands to work on the economy, develop strategies to strengthen the naira as well as paddle our nation out of the current economic quandary. The Government should end its exclusionist policies and allow competent Nigerians, who are now being engaged by other countries, to help out. The Buhari-led APC administration should immediately cut down the size of its over-bloated government and plug waste by clipping the luxury expenditure of the Presidency, cabinet ministers and other executive appointees while channeling billions of naira to be saved to national economy. The Buhari-led administration should also shelve every plan of increasing the already excruciating taxes including the Value Added Tax (VAT) which it increased from 5% to 7.5%, with an attendant high costs on essential goods and services. The Federal Government, in its plans to review the 2020 budget, should not touch items that have direct bearings on the welfare of Nigerians but immediately cut all over-bloated executive votes as well as expunge paddings and fraudulently duplicated items, which our party initially pointed out in the budget. The Buhari Presidency should immediately take steps to recover the over N14 trillion stolen by APC cabals, including the N9 trillion stolen oil money as detailed in the leaked NNPC memo and channel same to social palliatives. The PDP is worried over allegations of corruption in handling of the N1.3 trillion set aside to cushion the effect of COVID-19 on the economy. The PDP subsequently demanded ultimate transparency. The Federal Government should come clean on the source of the intervention, the specific intervention projects where the fund will apply, the level of involvement of other tiers of government and private stakeholders, as well as the mode of disbursements and monitoring, the PDP noted. The PDP demanded that the COVID-19 interventions be allocated to the three tiers of government for effective delivery and monitoring. Furthermore, the PDP called on all economic stakeholders, particularly, in the private sector, to immediately rally to articulate solutions and palliative measures, since it is clear that the Buhari-led APC government is clueless and has no solution to offer. The PDP urged the economic stakeholders to articulate ways to effectively diversify the economy and provide jobs using the all-inclusive measures implemented by PDP administrations to effectively grow the economy as well as successfully handle emergencies such as the Ebola virus disease. Our party worked very hard to grow our economy and will not allow an incompetent, insensitive and corrupt party and its administration ruin our nation, PDP declared. PV: 0 Millennials invent a word for every new phenomenon. For instance, individuals who ignore government instructions of staying at home and practising social distancing to curb Coronavirus or people who have begun hoarding food thereby causing food shortage across the world, have been called 'covidiots' by the netizens. The term is a portmanteau, combining two words -- Covid-19, and idiots. While it may be easy to dismiss such individuals as 'idiots', psychologists and sociologists claim that several factors are responsible for such cavalier behaviour, which show an utter disregard towards public health safety, and a complete lack of social responsibility. According to them, some of the factors that make people act in such a careless manner are social conditioning, lack of faith in the healthcare system, botched-up messaging from the government about COVID-19, lack of historicity as well as the absence of scientific approach. India is perhaps one of those few nations which have had the highest number of quarantine runaways, there are also many who have tried to hide their recent travel histories from the authorities so as to evade self-quarantine, symptomatic individuals are wary about being tested and of course, for all of us who have lived behind shut doors for over weeks now, there is a careless bunch of youth who are still going out for drives, partying and eating out as if they have already got a vaccination for the deadly virus, and there are also elderlies who just won't stop socialising, although, they are the ones at a greater risk of contracting the virus. Why Some People won't Practice Social Distancing? Counselling psychologist Natasha Mehta claims that people who are aware of the virus and its deadly impact, often ignore government advisories, and media warnings because of their obsessive need for instant gratification. "Current lifestyle choices have made most people seek immediate gratification which hinders their ability to be foresighted towards the eventual outcome of their actions," said Mehta. "Also, Indians are groomed with a 'chalta hai' attitude which fuels our irresponsibility (appropriate ability to respond)" she added. Ahmedabad-based sociologist Gurang Jani pointed out that another reason why many people don't understand that social distancing is a big part of social responsibility is because they generally don't think about society at all, and have a very limited world view. "We don't ever think about how to behave in public life, and what are our duties and responsibilities towards the society. Our worlds are very small and mostly restricted to our families, so our world view is also underdeveloped," said Jani. Jani said that many individuals have already alienated themselves from the problem of spreading virus. "The general thought process is that what is happening will not affect us. It is not our disease. For instance, people are blaming China for it. There are many racist jokes doing rounds on Whatsapp about how the corona is a Chinese disease," he added. A Mumbai-based clinical and counselling psychologist Arti Sharma claimed that the public perception of the rising risks of the pandemic is also inaccurate in India. "One of the reasons why people are not responding to social distancing is because they are not fully aware of the seriousness of the problem. Many are still ignorant about the technicalities of this disease -- it's mode of transmission, how to get tested etcetera," said Sharma. "Also, perhaps many are convinced that hygiene practices are not enough to control the spread of the disease," she added. Jani agreed with Sharma and pointed out that it hasn't helped the situation that most of the advertisements put out by the government in public spaces, newspapers and social media have been about washing hands, and staying indoors. There is hardly any other useful information being given to the public so that they can gauge the seriousness of the problem. "When the American president Donald Trump visited India, the roads of Ahmedabad were lined with billboards about his visit. But, there is hardly any billboard about the Coronavirus on the streets now, although spreading awareness about the virus is of utmost importance at this point." said the sociologist. Jani said that symbolic gestures like Janata curfew also doesn't help, especially when they turn out to be counterproductive, and instead of encouraging people to stay at home, actually brings them together in groups, increasing the risk of spreading the virus. "Indian political leaders have made many unscientific and irresponsible statements so far. From claims like India will not be affected by coronavirus because we have 33 crore gods and goddesses, to leaders saying that gaumutra will help combat coronavirus, there have been many such statements which no one from the government or the civil society have objected," he added. Such messaging should be stopped immediately by the government, and there should be a clear line of communication which tells true scientific facts about the virus if the government wants people to take the pandemic seriously, said the sociologist. Quarantine Runaways At this point, the best chance of treatment that anyone has is to be quarantined in the hospital after he/she has tested positive. However, lately, we have seen that many such quarantined people have tried to escape. It seems like an illogical step, and counterproductive. But many are resorting to it because they do not have faith in the healthcare system, and are afraid of the social stigma. Reports also claim that the hospitals where quarantined patients are being treated are unclean and congested. "People have little faith in our healthcare system. They do not know how the hospital people will treat them. If they would be provided with the right kind of support and care, or if they would be stigmatised." said Jani. There has been so much of stigma associated with coronavirus so far. People have refused to burn bodies of corona patients, friends and relatives have shunned them. However, that should not be the case. In case of corona positive patients, of course social-isolation is a must, but that doesn't mean they have to be emotionally isolated, pointed out Arti Sharma. The psychologist said that such patients should always stay in touch with their loved ones through phones. "Chances are that several people who have tried to run away from quarantine were feeling isolated. Mental health concerns could be inflamed by stressors associated with quarantine like infection fears, frustration, boredom, inadequate supplies, lack of information, financial loss and of course, the stigma associated with contracting the disease," said Sharma. "Corona positive patients should be treated with dignity and care. They should not be blamed for their condition. The health care workers taking care of them should be friendly and cooperative, that will ease off patients' anxiety. The focus should be on building trust so that symptomatic individuals voluntarily take the initiative to get tested." she added. Converting the 'Covidiots' There has been a lot of anger venting on social media towards those who continue to flout social distancing rules. But like most cases, anger isn't the solution. Counselling Psychologist Natasha Mehta suggests that a one-on-one approach may be most effective. So, if you take the initiative to broach the subject with a loved one who has refused to practice social distancing so far, it may work more than posting angry stories on Instagram. "Loved ones need to model correct behaviour and discourage the wrong behaviours and attitudes," said Mehta. "There need to be strict law enforcement to further secure the rights of safety for all. Inspirational messages/stories coming from the national icons will pace up the awareness and acceptance and action," she added. Mehta said that it may be beneficial to point out how social distancing has offered everyone a time to relax, reflect, recognise and resurrect. "We often hear people seeking peace but now that an opportunity has presented itself to actually get some peace in life, they are all panicking. This 'distancing time' gives us an opportunity to encounter a shadow side of the self which people are afraid of confronting. It's easy to run then to confront. Thus we choose to fill our lives with noise, activities or this or that to keep away from our own emotions." she added. What can the Government Do? As India grapples to contain the virus, so that we can avoid stage three, it is also becoming clear that neither the members of the government nor the public, in general, have a sense of historicity when it comes to tackling any kind of public health emergency. "Historically, India has witnessed famine (in 1899 and 1943) and plague (in 1901) during which lakhs of people have died. But, that kind of history is nor relayed, neither taught. We always learn Indian history from a glorious point of view. Therefore, the sense of history is not there within the government as well as within the civic authorities when it comes to tackling a public health crisis situation." said Jani. The sociologist pointed out that in the absence of experience in handling any kind of public health emergency, the best thing to do for the Indian government is to take a scientific approach and try to disassociate the stigma from the disease. Our understanding of health is tainted by religious beliefs, stigmatized culture, and misinformation and as long as this continues, we will not have everyone on one side against coronavirus, said Jani. "It is important for the government as well as CSR to provide scientific information. The WHO has already started giving health alerts. The Indian government can also do that. However, it isn't just on the government to fight the virus. Civic bodies, civil societies, teachers associations, doctors -- all these people should come together to disseminate correct information about the disease if they want everyone to take it seriously," he added. Talented classical musicians from around the globe shone brightly during the 36th annual Young Texas Artists Music Competition, held March 12-14 in Conroe. During the competition, classical musicians ages 18-32 (20-32 for Voice) vied for a share of $20,000 in monetary prizes and performance opportunities. Competitors, who are Texas residents or affiliated with a Texas university or school of music, competed in four divisions: Voice; Piano; Strings; and Winds, Brass, Percussion, Harp and Guitar. This years competition accepted 67 contestants, including a number of international musicians. YTA typically draws young artists from approximately 10 to 15 countries, including Canada, China, South Korea, Taiwan and nations throughout Europe and South America. Because the competition took place as national, state and local officials were calling for social distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus), YTA made the difficult decision to cancel the Finalists Concert and Awards that had been scheduled for the evening of March 14. Contestants were able to complete the preliminary rounds, however, and judges awarded Gold and Silver Medals. Contestants also will receive detailed written critiques from the judges, who are all esteemed leaders in their respective disciplines. We were so impressed with the professionalism, passion and skill our contestants demonstrated during their time with us, YTA President/CEO Susie Pokorski said. Participating in a music competition can be stressful under the best of circumstances. These young musicians remained focused on putting their best selves forward, even during a time of potentially frightening news and uncertainty. Pokorski also voiced gratitude for the many people who made the competition possible, including committee chairs, volunteers, donors, sponsors, competitors, vendors, judges, staff, board members, host homes, family and friends. Thank you all for your support, hard work, patience, loyalty, understanding and encouragement as we chalk up another successful YTA event to our record books, Pokorski wrote in a recent letter to YTA stakeholders. I say successful because though we faced cancellations and a challenge like never before, I think we lived up to our mission to encourage excellence in young Texas musicians and inspire their audiences, enriching the cultural life of our state. The 2020 gold medalist in Voice was soprano Elena Villalon from Austin. Villalon earned her bachelors degree at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) under the tutelage of William McGraw and is now an apprentice artist with Santa Fe Opera and participating in Houston Grand Operas Studio Artist program. Villalon also was a national winner in the 2019 Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions, and she won the audience prize in Houston Grand Operas 31st Annual Eleanor McCollum Competition. The Strings Division gold medal went to violinist SeungHoon Lee from Seoul, South Korea, who is pursuing his masters degree at Rice Universitys Shepherd School of Music. Lee has a bachelors degree, masters degree and artist diploma from Korea National University of Arts. He is the grand prize winner of the 2009 Daejeon Music Association Competition. He also was the first prize winner in the 2009 Korea Brahms Association Competition, and in 2014 was a finalist in the International Solo Violin Competition and the Korea Herald Music Competition. In the Piano Division, the gold medalist is Zhengyi Huang from Shenzhen, China. After meeting Jay Hershberger, president of the American Liszt Society, at age 14, Huang moved to the U.S. to study with him. Currently, Huang is an undergraduate at Rice Universitys Shepherd School of Music, where he studies piano with Robert Roux. Huang is the winner of numerous music competitions, including the 2016 Young Artists Solo Competition, which awarded him the grand prize. His awards also include first place in piano in the Mika Hasler Competition. Flutist Arin Sarkissian from La Crescenta, Calif. was named the gold medalist in the Winds, Brass, Percussion, Harp and Guitar Division. Sarkissian is an undergraduate student at Rice University, where he studies with Leone Buyse of the Shepherd School of Music. Sarkissian won first place in the 2019 Mika Hassler Competition, and his awards also include an honorable mention in the Yamaha Young Performing Artists Competition. He has completed international tours with several orchestras, including the National Youth Orchestra of the United States. Silver medals went to: Michael Skarke, countertenor, Voice Division, Baylor University; Julia Vicic, viola, Strings Division, Rice University; Chelsea de Souza, Piano Division, Rice University; and Chin-Tze Lee, clarinet, Winds, Brass, Percussion, Harp and Guitar Division, University of North Texas. Each gold medalist will receive $3,000, and silver medalists will receive $1,000. Young Texas Artists major sponsors and supporters this year include Houston Public Media (houstonpublicmedia.org), Lynda and Dan Kain, Annette and Ken Hallock, Carol and Dr. Douglas Aycock and the Conroe Visitors Bureau (visitconroe.com). For more information on the competition, visit http://www.ytamc.com/. I was first introduced to the Lent season whilst working in a London school. As I didnt have a background in a traditional denomination like Lutheran, Anglican or Catholicism,I learnt alongside the children all about Shrove (Pancake) Tuesday and Ash Wednesday. And while many may think Lent to be a religiousthing to do, I always like to stay curious and ask myself,What can I learn from this? What exactly is Lent? It is the period of reflection and preparation before the celebrations for Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday, six and a half weeks before Easter, and provides for a 40-day fast (Sundays excluded) in imitation of Jesus fasting in the wilderness (Britannica.com). Lent 2020 starts on Wednesday 26th February and goes until Thursday 9th April. Today, during Lent, many Christians commit to fasting, as well as giving up certain luxuries. It could be anything from chocolate, sugar, coffee, Netflix, alcohol, or playing video games. Should Christians partake? I personally think it is up to the individual and what they feel the Holy Spirit wants them to do rather than just partaking in it religiously. In the past, Lent has provided a specific timeframe of focused fasting and has kept me accountable. Fasting during Lent has helped me to focus on the upcoming Easter period and what this truly means as a believer, rather than just the typical four days of Easter. Fasting on the Rise Regardless of peoples belief system there has been a definite rise in the popularity of fasting. Intermittent fasting is all the rage, with people experiencing wonderful health benefits and seeing some amazing results, myself included. I find it fascinating that fasting is suddenly getting the attention it deserves, whereas it has been around for literally thousands of years. The bible really does contain everything we need to live healthy, abundant lives! However, fasting from food is just one element. God may be encouraging you to have a fast from social media, television or sugar. He knows you best and wants the best for you, so I would ask him to reveal if there is something, he thinks would be beneficial for you to take a break from. Exercising the Will Im the first to admit, I have great intentions and goals when it comes to fasting, yet when tiredness kicks in or Im feeling a little flat or bored, it is difficult for me to exercise my will and show some self-control! This is one area where fasting for a set period, such as Lent, can be beneficial. Knowing there is a greater reason for fasting rather than just losing a couple of kilos or getting clearer skin helps me as well. Fasting helps me to shift focus from the natural to things above. Jesus fasted and prayed. But he was clear in saying dont just do it religiously and for others to see how holy you are. Matthew chapter 6 verse 18 says; that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your father who is in secret. And your father who sees in secret will reward you. I believe it is a heart decision between you and the Father. Regardless of whether you will partake in a fast of some kind during Lent, I do pray it will be a time of reflection over Christs ultimate sacrifice; cancelling our sins once and for all, enabling us to have right-standing with the Father and giving us life and life abundantly. In light of where we are in the current health crisis, I would like to make a special motion: A motion to table all items voted by the budget and finance committee yesterday. I believe the more prudent action is to reconvene the budget and finance committee within the next two weeks to review the items discussed yesterday and to put together a coronavirus relief package-a request for the legislature. N.C. Community College System president Peter Hans has advised colleges to make plans to keep classes online for at least eight weeks, or until the end of the semester. Colleges say they might extend the spring term into the summer, giving students a chance to complete labs and workforce training that can't be done online. The coronavirus pandemic has injected uncertainty into nearly every aspect of society-and higher education is no exception. As North Carolina's leaders grapple with the challenges posed by curbing the virus' spread, dramatic policy decisions are being made on a daily, and sometimes hourly, basis.The following is a summary of what higher education leaders in North Carolina are doing and discussing in the face of national and state declarations of emergency.On Friday, the University of North Carolina Board of Governors met in special session by conference call . After UNC system president William Roper gave his report, board member Marty Kotis asked him three questions about the virus' impact on the campuses.One of Kotis' questions concerned how students' lives were being "upended" by having to swiftly move off-campus. Students were notified on Tuesday that they had to move out by Saturday-with only some students being granted exemptions to remain in campus housing. It is estimated that only about 10 percent of students remain on each UNC campus.Kotis asked. He inquired whether students would get a refund for their meal and housing expenses. He noted that many students will need a refund because many depend on the jobs they have on campus and may have to pay additional housing and food expenses elsewhere.Additionally, with all of the changes, Kotis wondered if it was realistic to expect students to be ready to start online classes by Monday, March 23.Roper responded.On the note of residential students' legal rights, UNC system legal counsel Tom Shanahan commented:Kotis also worried about the system's finances. He noted that university foundations, the fundraising arm of the institutions, will likely take a hit. He also pointed to a law that bars the system from borrowing for operating purposes.Kotis asked.Roper said. He added that the system should have an answer in a few days.Roper said. The legislature is not in session, but the system is making a priority list of policy recommendations to make to the legislature during its next session.Finally, Kotis recommended that the system pause its capital spending projects and divert the money for more immediate needs such as hospital beds. He also pointed to how other colleges are repurposing dorm rooms as treatment centers , suggesting that UNC adopt similar measures.Kotis' suggestion to delay asking the legislature for operations and capital improvement funding was adopted by the board. During his report, Temple Sloan, chairman of the Committee on Budget and Finance, proposed that capital improvement plans be tabled:After the board's meeting, Roper and board chairman Randy Ramsey conducted a conference call with the media. Roper said that he was "delighted" that the board decided to table capital projects, as it gives the system time to determine what the immediate financial and resource needs will be in the coming weeks.Other items discussed:Roper told the Martin Center that the system has not yet decided whether to go to a pass/fail grading system or whether it would be an option. He said that academic affairs staff, as well as provosts and deans, are discussing the possibility. "We should have that [decision] shortly," he said.Roper announced during the board meeting thatEach university will make "individualized" plans to find a way to celebrate.Despite the lack of traditional ceremonies, Roper said students will still be able to graduate on time.he told the Martin Center.The UNC system estimates that more than 95 percent of classes will be online. Roper wasn't sure which ones will not be online.When asked whether the health crisis would affect normal operations for the fall semester, Roper responded:North Carolina's community colleges have canceled classes or moved them online. Carolina Journal associate editor Julie Havlak reports:Students could get some financial relief with tuition. The State Board of Community Colleges is likely to consider letting students extend tuition payments towards future course enrollments, according to the press release.While it's not yet clear what grading system the UNC system will choose, other colleges in the state are going to a pass/fail grading system. Last Wednesday, Duke University instituted a default satisfactory/unsatisfactory grading scheme. At Davidson College, students have the option to choose a pass/fail grading system for their classes.The UNC system launched a digital resource to help instructors transition to online teaching. It outlines best practices for teaching with technology. The system also partnered with LinkedIn Learning to help instructors learn more about virtual communication software like Microsoft Teams.UNC-Chapel Hill students experiencing financial hardship due to the coronavirus can apply for assistance through the Carolina Student Impact Fund.The Martin Center will continue to provide updates as North Carolina colleges and universities respond and adapt to the coronavirus pandemic. A mysterious Android device code-named Zodiac is in the works at Samsung. The product believed to be a smartphone is coming along simultaneously with the companys next two Galaxy flagships. Thats according to the kernel source code of the Galaxy Z Flip, a high-end foldable announced last month. Data miners discovered the Zodiac moniker in reference to the Snapdragon 855. Qualcomms premium SoC already found its way to several Samsung phablets, including the Galaxy S10 and Note 10 lineups. Advertisement The companys top 2020 handsets should still feature the newer Snapdragon 865. Sure enough, the source code only mentions Project Zodiac support in regards to China. Samsungs kernel sources for the recently debuted Galaxy S20 series contain no mention of the mysterious gadget. While its presently unclear when exactly might the company announce the Zodiac, the products almost certainly planned for a 2020 debut. Can Zodiac reverse Samsungs (mis)fortunes in China? With no other info available, it remains to be seen whether the Zodiac adopts a traditional form factor. Samsungs push into foldables has been gaining significant traction over the course of the last 12 months, so the unannounced Android device may also end up being an extension of that endeavor. Advertisement As for its target market, the very existence of Project Zodiac confirms Samsung still hasnt given up on China. Once a top manufacturer in the region, the chaebols present-day market share in the countrys insignificant at best. Industry watchers remain divided on why thats the case. Most, however, agree Samsungs business in the Far Eastern country wont be bouncing back anytime soon. The inspection of Samsungs newest kernel sources also revealed the companys SoC strategy for 2020. More specifically, it confirmed its global approach to chipset implementation will remain unchanged. European consumers can hence once again expect arguably inferior versions of the Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Fold 2. Those two are set to utilize Samsungs in-house Exynos chips, whereas their U.S. counterparts should leverage the Snapdragon 865. Advertisement Though Exynos silicon was rarely behind Qualcomms offerings in the past, that only applies to a hardware perspective. Thats because Exynos chips have a poorer track record with driver support, leading to a variety of problems. Worse battery life and emulator performance are just some of the most notable differences between the two. For now, whats more or less confirmed is that the Galaxy Fold 2 is Samsungs Project Winner2. Likewise, the Galaxy Note 20 lineup bears the Project Canvas moniker. Both Android ranges should debut in the second half of the year. Editor's Note: With so much market volatility, stay on top of daily news! Get caught up in minutes with our speedy summary of today's must-read news and expert opinions. Sign up here! (Kitco News) - Money managers slashed their net-bullish positioning in gold futures to the lowest level since last summer during the most recent reporting week for data compiled by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Analysts said last week that they expected this decline since many traders have had to liquidate positions to raise cash or offset losses in other markets as so-called risk assets plunged amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Selling in gold was exacerbated when pre-placed sell stops were triggered at certain points. Money managers aggressively cut their long gold exposure, as massive equity-market declines forced the liquidation of assets to cover margin calls and to cover redemptions, said a research note from TD Securities. Commerzbank analyst Carsten Fritsch pointed out that the net-bullish positions of fund managers are at their lowest level since last June. This positioning could have fallen even further. Prices fell from the cut-off of the last CFTC report on March 17 to early Monday, before bouncing after another monetary-policy announcement from the Federal Reserve to prop up the economy. During the week-long period to March 17 covered by the last CFTC report, April gold tumbled by $134.50 to $1,525.80 an ounce, while May silver lost $4.46 to $12.495. Net long or short positioning in CFTC data reflect the difference between the total number of bullish (long) and bearish (short) contracts. Traders monitor the data to gauge the general mood of speculators, although excessively high or low numbers are viewed by many as signs of overbought or oversold markets that may be ripe for price corrections. The CFTCs disaggregated report showed that money managers trimmed their net-long position to 154,079 futures contracts from 210,185 the week before. The net length is now down by 35% from 238,546 lots a few weeks ago. The bulk of the selling in gold futures appeared to be long liquidation, as gross longs fell by 55,663 lots. There was a small increase of 443 total longs. The CFTCs latest figures for speculative market positioning confirm that the price slide up to mid-month was largely due to forced selling, Fritsch said. Besides liquidating in gold due to sharp declines in equities, TDS pointed out that volatility in the gold market may have contributed to some traders opting to exit in precious metals. Once the financial system stabilizes in response to pending massive fiscal-stabilization policy, the addition unprecedented central-bank liquidity and less uncertainty, money mangers are likely to feel comfortable to grow long exposure, TDS said. Money managers trimmed their their bullish stance in silver to a net long of 21,938 futures contracts from 26,746 the week before. The decline was more modest than gold as bulls and bears alike were getting out of the market. Bulls liquidated to the tune of 15,549 positions, while gross shorts fell by 10,741 as bears bought to offset and exit from these trades. As the coronavirus pandemic has threatened to bring the US to a halt, a s.e.x worker has lifted the lid on what will happen to her line of work. Alice Little, who is the highest-earning licensed s.e.x worker at the Moonlight Bunny Ranch in Nevada, US, admitted that she was worried business would be impacted negatively. She told how the viral outbreaks and the fear surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic could affect the business of a s.e.x worker. The 29-year-old s.e.x entrepreneur said: S.e.x workers are often stigmatised as diseased trollops to begin with. Combine that stereotype with even more societal anxiety over a dangerous virus like COVID-19, and s.e.x workers could wrongly be viewed as walking Petri dishes that should be avoided at all costs. According to MEA Worldwide (MEAWW), Alice said that s.e.x workers have the right to refuse any client for any reason. The s.e.x worker said she expected to see cancellations after the announcement of the first confirmed case in Nevada, but that exact opposite occurred. She claims that this increase is down to the basic human need for connection during stressful times. Alice continued: It goes to show that, in times of crisis, the need for human connection transcends the fear of the unknown. When society is faced with an alarming situation rife with uncertainty, people yearn to be with others that will hold them close, listen to them, and remind them why life is worth living. The escort believes that s.e.x workers offer more than just a physical connection, adding: Oftentimes, we are our clients most trusted confidants. Clients share their deepest emotional secrets and most tender vulnerabilities with s.e.x workers. So it makes sense to me why many people would want to be with s.e.x workers when political or health crises emerge. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates By Hyonhee Shin SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea reported on Monday its lowest number of new coronavirus cases and the extended downward trend in daily infections since the peak on Feb. 29 has boosted hopes that Asia's largest outbreak outside China may be abating. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said there were 64 new cases on Monday, taking the national tally to 8,961. The death toll rose to 118, from 110. The new numbers marked the 12th day in a row the country has posted new infections of around 100 or less, compared with the peak of 909 cases recorded on Feb. 29. But officials urged even greater vigilance as imported cases and new, small outbreaks continued to emerge, such as in nursing homes, churches and crowded workplaces. "We don't give much meaning to numbers yet, but as there are some fluctuations despite a declining trend, our top priority is to prevent sporadic group infections and repatriated cases", said Yoon Tae-ho, director-general for public health policy at the health ministry. Of the new cases, 13 were from overseas travellers who tested positive after the government toughened border checks and imposed a two-week mandatory quarantine for all long-term arrivals from Europe. South Korea began taking a 15-day intensive social distancing policy on Sunday, including restrictions on high-risk events such as religious, sports and entertainment gatherings. Yoon said most religious venues turned to online services and most others complied with new rules on distance between people at gatherings. But a church in the capital Seoul flouted the new rules, and members of its congregation scuffled with police, shoving and hurling abuse at officers who went there to check. Mayor Park Won-soon called the behaviour at the Sarang Jeil Church "unacceptable" and ordered its closure for two weeks after it held a service on Sunday, during which more than 2,000 people sat close to each other, some without masks. Story continues The church also failed to take a list of people attending the service, he said. Calls to the church for comment were unanswered. "It was an act that seriously threatens the safety of not only the attendees but our entire community", Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said. "We're in a state of emergency that amounts to a war, and the administrative orders must not be taken as empty threats." (Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Additional reporting by Jane Chung; Editing by Christian Schmollinger, Simon Cameron-Moore and Toby Chopra) Eighty one years after the Battle of Missionary Ridge in 1863 two other exciting events became a part of the history of the Civil War site. In a thick fog and drizzling rain on January 2, 1944 a four engine 13-24 Liberator carrying a crew of three was trying to find Lovell Field but had been circling for nearly two hours. Because of the heavy overcast the pilot miscalculated the height of the ridge and ran into power lines and trees prior to crashing into Dr. D P. Houstons limestone block house at 136 N. Crest Road which is presently occupied by the King Copler family. Prior to striking the Houston residence, the aircraft knocked columns off of the front of the neighboring Scott S. Price home. All three crew members were killed in the crash. The Houston house was set afire after the bombers fuselage broke up and the fuel in the plane ignited. Fortunately, the Houston family escaped but their home was engulfed in flames. One airman was thrown from the plane but the other crewmen were found in the wreckage. On September 30, 1949 seven airmen were flying from Augusta, Georgia to Spokane, Washington when one of the engines caught on fire on a B-24 bomber. Captain William Blair was the pilot and he instructed his men to bail out. According to eyewitnesses the crew parachuted into the area between McCallie Avenue and Main Street. One landed in a backyard, another got stuck in a tree, another landed on the roof of the now non-existent Ridgedale School, one glanced off a bank building, one was caught in telephones lines and the only parachuting casualty did not properly attach his parachute and he fell to his death on the grounds of the Ridgedale School leaving a six-inch deep depression in the ground. In an act of heroism, the pilot, Captain William E. Blair, stayed with the plane and steered it away from Missionary Ridge School into an uninhabited area over the eastern entrance of the Bachman Tubes to avoid any loss of life except his own. In recognition of his bravery and disregard for his own safety, American Legion Post 95 on Ringgold Road in East Ridge is named the William E. Blair Post to perpetuate his act of giving his life to save others 71 years ago. * * * Jerry Summers (If you have additional information about one of Mr. Summers' articles or have suggestions or ideas about a future Chattanooga area historical piece, please contact Mr. Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com We were expecting an austerity Budget. Commentators including Yolandi Esterhuizen, registered tax practitioner and Compliance Manager for Sage Africa & Middle East predicted increases in VAT, personal income tax, and corporate tax. These would raise the revenue needed to tackle the growing national debt, which is expected to rise to R3.56 trillion, or 65.6% of GDP, by the end of 2020/21. But Finance Minister Tito Mbowenis budget was not what was expected. In fact, it was quite the opposite. Real personal income tax relief, and a solid commitment to youth job creation and small business development, were some of the unexpected and welcome announcements. While commentators focused on the deficit, the minister focused on the long-term implications if we did not ignite economic growth. He allocated our limited resources to the things that will have the greatest socio-economic impact, like unemployment and streamlining tax processes, making it easier for small businesses to operate. For the first time in years, many people felt positive after the Budget Speech. Yes, there were hard decisions. Yes, therell be sacrifices, but in the long run, these changes are necessary and will drive growth. Speaking in a recent podcast, Yolandi Esterhuizen discussed the main themes she took away from this years Budget Speech. Give and take Minister Mboweni hinted that corporate taxes might be reduced in the coming years, which is great news. But in the same breath, he said that government might limit tax deductions and review business incentives. While individuals will surely welcome the personal income tax relief, the usual suspects were targeted for tax increases. For our sins, well pay more for alcohol, cigarettes, sugar, and our overuse of plastic bags. Even e-cigarettes, or vapes, will be taxed from next year. Well also pay a higher fuel price and Road Accident Fund levies. People positive There are a few reasons to feel positive after this Budget Speech, not only because we have more money to spend. Minister Mboweni also announced solid plans to fight corruption. Peoples hard-earned tax money doesnt always end up where it should, so efforts to clamp down on abusive behaviour are welcome. He also announced plans to address youth unemployment, followed shortly by the release of the Draft National Youth Policy, aimed at enabling young South Africans to actively participate and engage in society and the economy. Policies like this take a lot of work and consideration and dont emerge overnight. The fact that it was released so soon after the Budget Speech is proof that the government is walking the talk and has been working in the background on these issues. This policy is significant within the context of youth unemployment because, when more people are employed, the tax base increases and the budget deficit decreases. Positive future impacts could be even lower personal income tax for everyone. It remains to be seen how effectively governments plans to fight corruption and unemployment are executed, but the important thing is that there are plans in place and people will be held accountable for them. Small business support There was a lot of focus on small businesses in the Budget Speech. Government clearly wants to make doing business easier for SMEs, as seen in reviews of the preferential small business tax regime, the VAT registration threshold, and turnover tax. We welcome this relief for small businesses, as theyre the ones keeping the economy alive. Streamlining Minister Mboweni spoke about streamlining SARS submission processes, to the point where individuals may never have to submit a tax return again, and the process to submit employer reconciliation declarations will be simplified. This will free up companies time to focus on running and growing their businesses. To maximise these benefits, businesses should continually look for ways to streamline and improve their own operations. They shouldnt fall into the trap of doing things a certain way, because its only by changing their ways of working that businesses will thrive. By always being open to change, constantly innovating, and rethinking your processes, your business has a better chance of thriving in tough economic times. Change management and continuous learning A lot of changes were announced in the Budget Speech. Businesses can either view them as opportunities to learn and try something new, or keep doing things the way they always have and risk being left behind. Hire people who arent afraid of change and who appreciate that things change all the time. Change management is crucial within business, as is developing the mindset that change is okay, it can be positive, and it can make things easier. In making processes and tasks easier, people may worry about losing their jobs. But, in encouraging a culture of change, businesses can motivate their people to uplift themselves, learn new skills, and keep themselves relevant. Adopt solutions that reduce the admin burden and allow your team to work anywhere, at any time. Educate yourself on the constantly changing legislative requirements and what your responsibilities are as a business owner. Its an exciting time to be a small business owner in South Africa. Be open to change and make 2020 your year of learning. The Budget Speech has boosted morale in the country. Lets keep the momentum going. Amid Megxit and the completion of their final royal engagements, there has been a ton speculation about what Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry will do next. Though the Sussexes have made it clear that their charity work will continue, they are also seeking financial independence and will have to earn a living. So far, the Sussexes have been frowned up for reportedly earning a $1 million paycheck from a speaking engagement in Miami on-behalf of JP Morgan. There have also been rumors about a possible tell-all book and the duchess return to Hollywood. Now, there are whispers that Meghan is actually considering a documentary, but its not what you think. Experts are urging Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to capitalize on their visibility No matter what your personal opinion might be of them, everyone knows that the Sussexes presence in the British royal family brought a level of visibility that had not been seen since Princess Dianas era. Since the Sussexes are now tasked with earning their own living, many royal experts believe they need to strike when the iron is hot. Royal expert, Chris Ship believes the Duchess of Sussex will write a tell-all book or do a major interview. If they want to achieve all the things they want to achieve, and I will come to that shortly, they need to capitalize on their current high profile, he explained to ITV News. Right now, it couldnt be any higher. Here is an American woman, who in the space of less than two years, joined the Royal Family and then decided she wanted to leave it. That creates a huge amount of interest in this individual. Meghan could decide to tell all, to write a book, to do a big interview. However, considering the Sussexes respect for the queen we doubt an interview or book is in the works. Meghan Markle may be headed back to Hollywood After announcing Megxit, the duchess hired a Hollywood agent. Shes already snagged a voiceover role a Disney. However, her earnings will all go toward the charity Elephants Without Borders. It now appears that the duchess agent, Nick Collins of Hollywoods Gersh Agency. is looking for even bigger roles for the former actress. She knows she cant carry a film as an actress, an alleged insider told Daily Mail. People wont be able to get past the fact shes Meghan Markle. But shes determined to act again and she thinks a big, ensemble film is the way to go something that pays big but which doesnt put her front and center. Meghan Markle might be considering a documentary It may be more likely that the duchess will be combining her former career with her passion for helping others. Meghan remains hugely ambitious and is very open-minded to a return to acting which is what she knows, loves and does best, an alleged insider told The Sun. Her preference is to explore the route of a documentary in which she is able to follow up some of the causes she is interested in. This wish has been the focus of some of her most recent meetings and will likely shape the kind of work the agent Meghan goes with seeks to get for her. She is very excited about what the future holds. We will know more when the Sussexes formally announce their future endeavors. Chandigarh, March 23 : Taking the lead, Punjab Cabinet minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Monday announced to contribute his month's salary to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for helping those affected by coronavirus. In a statement, the Cooperation and Jails Minister urged people to stay indoors till March 31 to prevent spreading the disease. To help those whose livelihood is affected as a result of lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus, all IAS (Indian Administrative Services) officers of Punjab cadre shall contribute one-day salary to the Chief Minister Relief Fund, said a tweet by the state government. Elisabeth Moss as Cecilia Kass in The Invisible Man, written and directed by Leigh Whannell. (Universal) Coronavirus Its fair to say that the coronavirus pandemic has completely up-ended Hollywood, with cinemas closed, release dates shifting and productions halting all over the world. While many studios have moved to simply cancel upcoming releases, others have opted to ensure that recently released movies can find an audience online. Major studios including Universal, Disney, Paramount and Warner Bros have decided to put some of their most recent releases into digital stores and on to VOD platforms early. Here are all of the digital releases that have been fast-tracked in the UK, with information on some of the movies available on the other side of the Atlantic as well... Upcoming UK VOD Releases Dakota Johnson stars as Maggie Sherwoode and Tracee Ellis Ross as Grace Davis in The High Note, a Focus Features release. (Glen Wilson / Focus Features) Bad Boys For Life (Sony, UK: 11 May) Never Rarely Sometimes Always (Universal: 13 May) Call of the Wild (Twentieth Century Studios, 18 May) Cats (Universal, UK; 22 May, USA: now) The High Note (Universal Pictures: Rent at home from 29 May) Days of Bagnold Summer (Altitude: 8 June) Already on UK VOD Betty Gilpin stars in controversial horror movie 'The Hunt'. (Credit: Universal) Emma (Universal) The Hunt (Universal) The Invisible Man (Universal) And Then We Danced (Peccadillo Pictures) Military Wives (Lionsgate) Bloodshot (Sony) The Perfect Candidate (Modern Films) The Gentlemen (EFD) Vivarium (Vertigo) Trolls: World Tour (Universal) Anna Kendrick returns in animated sequel Trolls: World Tour. (Universal) Sonic the Hedgehog (Paramount) Just Mercy (Warner Bros.) Portrait of a Lady on Fire (Streaming on MUBI) Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Disney, on VOD and Disney+) The Rhythm Section (Paramount) Like A Boss (Paramount) My Spy (STX, streaming on Amazon Prime) Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice Live: Follow all the latest updates from the UK and around the world Fact-checker: The number of COVID-19 cases in your local area Explained: Symptoms, latest advice and how it compares to the flu Blue Story (Paramount) Playing With Fire (Paramount, UK) Richard Jewell (Warner Bros) Misbehaviour (Pathe) Calm With Horses (Altitude) Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (Warner Bros) Onward (Disney) US Releases The Way Back (Warner Bros, USA: 24 March, UK: tbc) Analysis of Derrys suicide prevention service has shown that it has helped almost 200 people in its pilot year prompting local councillors to call on central government to fund an enhanced service. Their comments come after the Department of Health recently said it would not meet the 215k cost for the coming year and advised Derry City & Strabane District Council to convene a meeting to discuss other options. However, its understood that Derry councillors are still of the view that the life-saving service should receive Executive funding rather than falling on local rates payers. The Psychology Research Institute at Ulster University conducted a detailed evaluation of the Community Crisis Intervention Service (CCIS), seen by the Derry News, and determined that it should be maintained with suggested improvements. In the period from the opening of the service in January 2019 to the November 30, the CCIS has had 187 service users, with a relatively even split between male and female users. It is likely that since then the number has risen to over 200. Whilst Foyle Search and Rescue and the PSNI refer at risk individuals on to the service, evidence shows that of the 187 service users, 102 came to it themselves or via their family or a member of the community. People experiencing a mental health crisis can be fearful of a busy Emergency Department (ED) which may only serve to exacerbate a crisis situation rather than resolve it. They want to avoid the drama and stigma attached to going to the ED, and the perceived coldness of the medical environment. Service-users stated that they preferred the warmth and therapeutic environment of the CCIS. They felt that the CCIS allowed discreet access to advice and help when it was most needed. One said: You could see how CCIS staff cared. It was genuine, it wasnt forced. If I didnt want to talk, I didnt have to. I could literally sit in silence and wait until I was calmed down. The majority used no further services, at that time, with a further 17 individuals only requiring signposting to other non-emergency services. Only 45 individuals required liaison with other emergency services such as the Emergency Department, PSNI or FSR, the report says. It is made clear that the authors of the report, Dr Edel Ennis and Dr Emma Walker, believe the service to be cost effective and service users valued non-clinical and individualised intervention. Suggested improvements were the need for extended opening hours, greater awareness of the service and more collaborative working between partner organisations. Amongst various recommendations, the report highlighted that funding decisions should take account of the need for continuous training of staff, the establishment of partnerships among referral agencies to allow provide follow-up care for service users and to develop the management of individuals who experience frequent crisis situations and present to services. In addition, it said: The service needs to be embedded within care pathway available to the NI ambulance service so that the ambulance service has the option of transferring people directly to the service if appropriate. EXECUTIVE FUNDING The Northern Ireland government has committed itself to improving the mental health of its citizens in the New Decade New Approach document and the Protect Life 2 suicide prevention strategy. These include recognition of the fact that 72% of the people who die by suicide have not been in contact with formal mental healthcare services in the 12 months preceding their death. Representatives in the city therefore believe there is an onus on the Executive to provide funding to, not only maintain the CCIS in the city, but to enhance it. Ulster Universitys independent analysis supports the views of local representatives. Independent Councillor Gary Donnelly said it is an absolutely vital service particularly at the moment when there are huge gaps in mental health provision. People fought long and hard for it and theres no doubt it has saved lives, to remove it would be a huge step in the wrong direction. SDLP Councillor Brian Tierney echoed those views saying it is very much needed for the most vulnerable people across the city and district. His party believes the service should be enhanced and that the burden should not fall on local rates payers but on central government. Figures show how successful it has been in assisting people, so we will be kicking the door of government to secure funding. People have fought hard for it and when a service like this goes away it is hard to get back. Sinn Fein Councillor Aileen Mellon also called on the Executive to fund CCIS. Everyone is of the same mind, that this service shouldnt be an afterthought or a temporary measure. It has to be made a real success. People worked very hard to get it and dont want to see it go. The analysis shows it has worked and speaking to CCIS and FSR volunteers theyve said the same. It should not be underestimated how valuable it is. People are dependent on this service and if it saves one life it is worth it. Such an important issue within the city should be made a priority. The CCIS has saved lives in its pilot year, according to CCIS and FSR staff and volunteers. It provides a safe space for those in crisis from 8pm on Thursdays until 8am on Sundays when many other services are not operational, and is run by Extern NI from the Holywell Building on Bishop Street. Bereaved local families, activists and organisations campaigned for a service of this kind for years. Service Co-ordinator, Joe Thompson, wholeheartedly believes it has been life-saving in that time. The long-awaited CCIS commenced on January 3, 2019. It was a 12-month pilot service that cost 129k. The Health Minister granted bridge funding to run until the end of March 2020, however, additional funds have been requested to run an enhanced service moving forward. If you feel in crisis and need support or if you have observed someone who is in distress and may come to significant harm through self-harm and suicidal behaviour please call the Community Crisis Intervention Service on: 028 7126 2300 West Bengal on Monday reported its first death due to COVID-19, after an elderly man who tested positive for the disease last week died at a city hospital here, a health official said. The 57-year-old man, a resident of Dum Dum in North 24 Parganas, was admitted to the hospital on February 16. His situation deteriorated on February 19, following which he was put on ventilator. A controversy has erupted over the travel history of the deceased, with his family members claiming that he had not been to any foreign country in the recent past and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stating that that the man had returned from Italy. With the death of this city resident, the number of active coronavirus cases in Bengal stand at six. A senior state government official said the deceased's wife, mother and mother-in-law have been placed under quarantine at a state-run hospital. According to the official, the man's body will not be handed over to his family and last rites will be conducted by the end of the day, following requisite norms. A spokesperson at the hospital, where he was admitted, said the 57-year-old had acute respiratory distress syndrome. "The man was admitted on February 16 with high fever and cough. Our critical care team tried using ECMO twice on Monday but the patient could not be revived. The cause of his death is heart attack from acute respiratory distress syndrome triggered by COVID-19," he said. In its statement, the hospital also said, "All necessary steps have been taken to ensure that the critical care team is safe. The state health department has been duly notified and all formalities will be followed as per official norms." During an all-party meeting here, Banerjee said the man along with his family had recently returned from Italy. "The man, who was admitted at a private hospital in Salt Lake, died this morning. Both he and his family had travelled to Italy to visit his son," she said. Banerjee instructed police to ensure that the deceased was cremated at the earliest at an electric crematorium and all measures were taken to avoid contamination. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (TNS) The traditional face-to-face campaign to convince people to fill out their 2020 Census forms has grounded to a halt by the coronavirus pandemic, forcing communities to switch their complete count efforts to social media and digital channels. It's also forced the U.S. Census Bureau extend the national deadline for the count by two weeks.The pandemic was an unanticipated scenario in 2020 Census planning, U.S. Census officials said Friday from Washington D.C. during a national telephone press conference. Theyre retooling field operations, advertising campaigns and setting new deadlines to get the nations population counted by Dec. 31 as required by law.Switching plans is happening locally in Upstate New York, too.We put on a full-court press for a complete count. Certainly the coronavirus pandemic has put this off track, Cohoes, N.Y., Mayor Bill Keeler said.Keeler made a robocall on March 12 when the first census forms showed up in mailboxes across the country. But Cohoes had to cancel its census-promotion events and shut the Cohoes Public Library where residents were to have access to computers to fill out their forms. Now it's a push to get the same message out digitally.The U.S. Census Bureau is dealing with the unsettled environment in which states are ordering shutdowns of business and directing people to stay home, said Albert E. Fontenot Jr., associate director for decennial programs, who is leading the count."This is not anything any of us could have anticipated or planned. Of all of our worst nightmares of things that could have gone wrong with the census we did not anticipate this set of actions," Fontenot said."We are adjusting operations as needed," Fontenot said. "The plan for the 2020 Census is resilient and adaptive.""Mark Castiglione, executive director of the Capital District Regional Planning Commission, said this was the first time that people had the option on filling it out online, by mail or over the phone. But getting them to do so was following traditional methods.The city of Albany was mobilizing its libraries, churches, schools, barbershops and other organizations to reach out to residents to complete their census forms. All of those groups are shuttered.The City of Albany Census Complete Count Committee is working diligently to transition to a fully digital outreach plan that includes social media contacts, emails, and phone calls from our communitys trusted voices, said David Galin, who chairs the committee and is Mayor Kathy Sheehans chief of staff.While we have cancelled many of our upcoming public outreach events due to COVID-19, we will continue to work very hard to ensure every resident of Albany is counted, Galin said.Fontenot echoed what Galin and Keeler said. The Census Bureau is urging local organizations to get online to remind people through social media and email to return their census forms.As of Saturday, the reports after a week of filings show that 16.7 percent of the nations households have completed their census forms, according to the census bureau. In New York state, 14.3 percent of households have filled out their forms.Across the Capita Region, Schenectady County has the highest completion rate so far with 18.8 percent, followed by Albany County at 16.8 percent, Rensselaer County 16.2 percent and Saratoga County, 15.3 percent. Statewide, Niagara County has the highest percentage reporting at 20 percent. Hamilton County, which is the state's least populous county, hasn't cracked 1 percent as just 0.4 percent have filed their census forms.Among the four region's major cities, Saratoga Springs has seen 19.7 percent of its households file their forms. Schenectady is next at 15 percent while Albany is at 14.5 percent and Troy is 14.2. Among the smaller cities, Watervliet is at 16.6 percent, Rensselaer 15.7 percent, Cohoes 14.1 percent and Mechanicville 14 percent.In the towns, Colonie is leading Albany County communities with 20.6 percent return rate and Rensselaerville lags all others at 11.1 percent. North Greenbush at 23.3 percent is the top town in Rensselaer County with Berlin at the bottom with just 3.3 percent. Providence at 19.9 percent in Saratoga County leads all other towns and Day is far behind at 2.1 percent. In Schenectady County, Niskayuna is at 23.8 percent while Duanesburg is at 18.3 percent with the county's lowest rat of return.In response to the coronavirus, the census bureau is pushing back its deadlines from early April to May for starting door-to-door outreach to get a complete county. Instead of the July 31 deadline for finishing the count, this has been extended to Aug. 14. This is part of a complete overhaul of the schedule for the census. Fontenot said census officials are meeting daily to monitor the evolving situation.Students who live off-campus still are supposed to be counted in the communities where they attend school on the April 1 Census Day. They still are expected to fill out forms saying so even if theyve returned to their parents homes.Well have to adjust our off-campus outreach strategy significantly because it relied heavily on peer-to-peer, in-person door knocking by student employees in midtown, which was set to begin after spring break, said Jordan Carleo-Evangelist, a spokesman for the University at Albany.We were already planning to do a lot of digital outreach, so well just double-and triple-down on that, including on social media and with direct e-mail outreach to students living off campus, Carleo-Evangelist said.Students living in on-campus dorms will be reported by colleges and universities from those addresses when those lists are filed with the census bureau.The coronavirus delays and operational pauses come after the Trump administration attempted to add a citizenship question according to the bureau, a move that critics said would discourage undocumented immigrants from participating when the Census is intended to count all people regardless of citizenship status. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled to block the administration from adding the question in 2019."One of the best ways you can help your community right now and one of the best ways you can support a wide variety of public health (efforts) is by completing your 2020 census online today," said Ali Ahmad, associate director for communications for the U.S. Census Bureau."The current situation underscores the need for census data," said Fontenot. "Census results are used to inform planning and funding for hospitals, health clinics and emergency preparedness, even school lunch programs."The Census Bureau has received 2.8 million applications and hired more than 600,000. There's been a dramatic up-tick in people applying for jobs with the 2020 Census, perhaps correlated to business closures and layoffs in many states. Timothy P. Olson, associate director for field operations for the U.S. Census Bureau, said 8,000 people are applying for census jobs daily.All hiring and training of applicants has been frozen until April 1. "We are urging people to consider applying because we may need more temporary employees than originally planned for, Olson said. Local student Elizabeth (Monroe) Flowers was among four recipients when the Tennessee Mortgage Bankers Association awarded $8,000 in college scholarships for 2019, according to Karley Bond, president-elect of TNMBA, who directed the associations scholarship program this year. Ms. Flowers will graduate from Silverdale Baptist Academy in May of 2020 and begin attending the university of Tennessee Chattanooga in the fall of this year. She is on the Honor Roll at her school, is a participant in the Chick-Fil-A Leadership Academy, and involved in multiple community service organizations, including the Chattanooga Food Bank. These scholarships are part of TNMBAs annual commitment to support and encourage students who represent the future of the mortgage profession, said Ms. Bond. The applicants this year were all very impressive. The recipients are always very thankful for the financial support, and even more appreciative in these uncertain times. It is a pleasure to be able to provide this support for them as they prepare for careers in this rewarding profession. There were four scholarships awarded this year, each valued at $2,000. Besides Ms. Flowers, they were awarded to Paul Arrowood, of Johnson City; Sarah Ngernwathana, of Martin; and Tiffany Search Wright, of Mt. Juliet. In addition to its ongoing college scholarship offerings, TNMBA introduced two new scholarships in 2020 as part of the celebration of the associations 60th anniversary. Ms. Flowers is the first recipient of the new scholarship for any high school graduating senior whose parent or company is an active member of the TNMBA. According to Ms. Bond, the qualifications for college scholarship applicants include: Current Tennessee residency; Junior, senior or MBA status in a four-year accredited college/university or masters program in Tennessee; Demonstrate course interest and direction related to the mortgage and financing profession (business, finance, economics, real estate, banking, etc.); Demonstrate a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. (Provide most recent transcript); and The ability to provide three references. Ms. Bond says TNMBA looks forward to continuing this initiative and building an even stronger future for our profession as these students develop their careers in the coming years, here in Tennessee. For more than 30 years, Mauro Morandi has been the sole inhabitant of a beautiful island in the Mediterranean Sea. For the past few weeks his hermit's hut has been an aptly isolated location from which to watch the global coronavirus crisis unfold. And, after being alone with his own thoughts for so much of his life, he's got some insight into the isolation that many of us now face in the weeks and months ahead. Morandi, a former teacher, arrived on the island of Budelli, off the coast of Sardinia, by accident while attempting to sail from Italy to Polynesia 31 years ago. He fell in love with the pristine atoll's crystal-clear waters, coral sands and beautiful sunsets and decided to stay. He took over from the previous caretaker shortly afterward and, at the age of 81, he's still there, having earned himself a reputation as Italy's Robinson Crusoe. Each night he sleeps in an old stone cottage and wakes up in the morning surrounded by mother nature. He enjoys exploring shrubs and cliffs and talks to birds at breakfast as they fly in and out of his little kitchen window. He keeps up with the news though, learning first of mainland Italy's shutdown against the spread of coronavirus, and then the rest of the world's. In his solitary world, he says he currently feels like he's in the "safest place on Earth." He's also eager to share a few tips on how to best face self-isolation. "I am fine, I'm not scared," he tells CNN Travel via the mobile phone that is his link to the outside world. "I feel safe here. This island offers total protection. No risks at all. Nobody lands, not even a single boat can be seen sailing by." 'Tough times' Like many of us, Morandi's main concern is for the wellbeing of his family and friends in his case living in northern Italy's Modena, one of the most virus-hit areas in Italy. "They're facing tough times," he says. Little has changed for Morandi since Italy's virus outbreak, except that he must now wait longer for people to bring him food from the mainland due to harsh restrictions imposed by Rome's government. These have meant that even the sporadic visits from tourists during the winter have ceased. Over the years he's become accustomed to daytrippers, befriending them and sometimes sharing his meals with them. Left alone, he spends the day admiring the sea, inhaling the pure air, collecting wood, preparing his meals and of course posting on Instagram. "I get bored, so I kill time taking photos of the beaches, the wildlife and scenery, editing shots and then sharing these on social media and Instagram," he says. "I have a lot of followers." The wild-bearded sea dog thinks the virus shutdown, if it continues, means tourists will be staying away at least until July, but the prospect of a quieter summer doesn't scare him. Morandi has a few tips for people now forced into solitude in Italy and elsewhere by the pandemic. He says a few weeks holed up inside is nothing to get upset about but is instead an opportunity to practice some soul searching. He speaks, he says, from experience. Despite having an entire island to himself, even Mediterranean winters can be tough and he spends many months in confinement. "I spend each winter shut in my house, for months on end I hardly wander across the island, but instead I kill time on the front porch under the canopy. So what the heck, people can't stay at home for two weeks? That's absurd." As Italy tightens restrictions on movement to control the virus, dozens of Italians have been fined in the last few days for leaving their homes for non-urgent reasons like a stroll in the park or at the beach. From wanderer to hermit "I read a lot, and think. I think many people are scared of reading because if they do, they'll start meditating and thinking about stuff, and that can be dangerous. "If you start seeing things under a different light and be critical, you could end up seeing what a miserable life you lead or what a bad person you are or the bad things you did." This introspection can, he says, ultimately be highly rewarding. Morandi recounts his own transformation from an inveterate wanderer who traveled across Europe each year to a solitary islander. "I just didn't feel like traveling anymore no interest," he says. "I understood that the most beautiful, dangerous, adventurous and gratifying journeys of all is the one inside yourself, whether you're sitting in the living room or under a canopy here in Budelli. That's why staying at home and doing nothing can be really hard for many." But, he adds: "I never feel alone." In Morandi's view, most people don't want to be alone because they can't stand their own company and the imposed shutdown is forcing many to face this. And, he says, while the current crisis presents an opportunity to re-evaluate their lives, he doesn't think that many will make the most of it. "I don't believe in the healing power of people to change," he says. "Perhaps some individuals will, but the majority are too accustomed to comforts and frenetic lifestyles." Meanwhile, time flows by as usual on Budelli. Winter this year has been milder, with spring-like temperatures and warm suns. The island's habitat remains quite untouched. No pollution. Clear fluorescent turquoise waters, lush wild vegetation, purplish rocks resembling natural sculptures and healthy air. "My cat died just the other day, she was 20 years old," Morandi says. "Perhaps this climate does bring longevity." 'Everything I need' Budelli is one of the most beautiful islands in the entire Mediterranean. Dating back to prehistoric times when the Earth's crust was still forming, legend says it's a shard of the mythical, lost Atlantis continent swallowed by the ocean. But the island isn't completely immune to climate change and nature's destruction by man, says Morandi. Not long ago a clear line of pinkish sand cut along the shore, made of bright pink, orange and salmon-tinted crushed coral, crystals, fossils and dead marine creatures, giving the shore a sparkling strawberry hue similar to that of sunset skies. "Now the pink is almost gone, hard to see," he says. "The directions of the winds blowing over Budelli have changed, the pinkish sand no longer piles up as it used to." The mayhem on mainland Italy is allowing Budelli's caretaker to buy time over his own fate. Ownership of the island has changed several times over the last few years. Since 2016, Budelli has been a government-owned national park, rendering Morandi's role obsolete a situation he has fought while continuing to live there. The virus emergency is likely to postpone any decision over his future for the time being, though his ramshackle home is in need of a restyle. "For now I've got everything I need. There's electricity, even if it needs a makeover, and running water, and an extra small stove for heating." Nothing to complain about. The-CNN-Wire & 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire (PANA) - As the world celebrates World Water Day, an estimated 400 million people in Africa still lack access to safe water, while 700 million lack access to proper sanitation Syracuse, N.Y. When Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced last week that restaurants statewide would be closed to eat-in diners, many restaurants around Central New York switched to takeout- or delivery-only. Now two local restaurants might join another growing list: restaurants that have decided to temporarily close after initially staying open following the coronavirus-related dining room ban. Heres two of their stories: * * * Its like a movie, a really scary movie The Cider Mill Restaurant in Taunton. Best of CNY chicken riggies. Charlie Miller The Cider Mill on Fay Road in Taunton gave the takeout-only business a whirl last week, and it was popular. They sold out of corned beef on St. Patricks Day, the first night after the dining room ban was instituted. They had a steady flow on Wednesday and Thursday too. On Friday, owner Dan Seeley and his crew sold 200 fish dinners and 200 regular meals. They brought in $5,000. A great night, he said. Customers wove through a carefully orchestrated maze in the parking lot to pick up their meals, give a faraway wave to the people who have been serving them for the past three years before heading home. The phone didnt stop ringing Saturday either. Seeleys wife and daughter were taking the orders and handling payments while his new granddaughter sat in a swing inside the empty restaurant. Seeley and the other chefs tried to keep up in the kitchen while his servers greeted the customers outside. At the end of the night, I looked around and had to wonder if it was really worth it, Seeley said today. Everyone was just exhausted. In the end, if someone had gotten sick, I would never be able to live with myself. The people who work here are like family. And right now, we all need to be with our families. The Cider Mill in Syracuse had two very busy nights of takeout, but when it was all over, owner Dan Seeley decided to close until the coronavirus scare had passed.Dan Seeley He and his staff met and decided to stop the takeout business. He promised theyd reopen once the virus had passed and the state lifted the restrictions put on restaurants. His wife, Teresa, posted a note on the restaurants Facebook page Sunday night. Since then, theyve been inundated with well-wishes from longtime customers. Theres no handbook that helps you prepare for this, he said. But the people whove reached out to us made me think deep down inside that well get through this. Seeleys already spoken with his mortgage company, and it has extended his next payment on the restaurant for 90 days. On Monday, he sat in a quiet office, paid bills, went through inventory and thought about what to do next. He figures his staff can collect unemployment until Cider Mill reopens. Hes still going to explore a low-interest loan that could help his 40 employees. He and other restaurant owners speak regularly through text message groups and social media. He fears many restaurants and bars will close permanently. Seeleys catering business, Diamond Catering, has already taken a hit. Hes lost $40,000 in the last few weeks alone. May 2 is his first scheduled wedding of the upcoming season. After that, hes got at least one booked every weekend. Its like a movie, a really scary movie, he said sitting in the silent restaurant. But we have strength in numbers. Im pretty optimistic. We really are all in this together. * * * Were going to stay open until we absolutely cant anymore Nesticos restaurant in North Syracuse has been open for about 20 years, but now its taking things week-by-week." The Italian restaurant opened for takeout dinner service on Friday and owner Peter Nestico pledged to give 100% of the proceeds from service that day to his employees. Nestico said hes planning to offer a limited menu of the restaurants best sellers for dinner this week from Wednesday to Saturday for takeout. If its profitable, they might do it again next week. Peter Nestico inside Nestico's restaurant in North Syracuse. 2014 file photo.Don Cazentre From this past Tuesday to Friday, the first week of the dining room ban, Nesticos did about one-third of its usual business. Even on Monday night, the last night of dine-in service, the restaurant only did about half its usual covers. With that, he was able to cover payroll, but little else. That doesnt pay for anything, Nestico said. Hes had to lay off around 90% of his employees, while others, particularly front of house staff, are questioning if it is worth it to work and potentially put themselves at risk. Before the coronavirus pandemic shut down dining rooms across the state, only around 10% of business at Nesticos was takeout. So 90% of my business went out the door, Nestico said. Unlike other restaurants built for a takeout or delivery business, Nesticos had to adapt. Fast. That meant employees were given new job descriptions, the restaurant had to tweak its menu and prices needed to be adjusted. "Everything was done on the fly basically, Nestico said. His food suppliers have, for the most part, been accommodating. One told him that they would supply him for the dinner services this week and would accept delayed payment. Another said it would consider. Hes been up at 5 or 6 in the morninghe cant sleep much these days anywaythinking about how to create a temporary business model in days thats vastly different than the one hes had years to perfect. Hes been chatting with Marty Richardson, owner of Nesticos Too diner in Fairmount, about what they can do next. Were going to stay open until we absolutely cant anymore, Nestico said. If the date comes where they cant stay open anymore, the long-term outlook for the restaurant is uncertain. Nestico said it will come down to banks and debtsif debts can be forgiven, then maybe the smaller restaurants can survive. If this lasts a week or two, Ill survive," Nestico said. "If its longer than that, I dont think so. Jacob Pucci and Charlie Miller find the best in food, dining and culture across Central New York. Contact Jake by email at jpucci@syracuse.com. You can reach Chuck at cmiller@syracuse.com or 315-382-1984. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Syracuse businesses rally to provide meals, work amid coronavirus crisis (photos) You can still get a gourmet meal with drinks in Central New York; you just have to get it to go With a city in need, the Westcott community steps up to the plate Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources Where can I still go? What NYs coronavirus stay at home order means First CNY coronavirus death: Elderly person with health problems Coronavirus: Former doctors, specialists answer the call to help with pandemic Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 19:45:15|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BELGRADE, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Montenegro has reported its first COVID-19 death, a 65-year-old man who tested positive for the disease shortly before dying hospital, Montenegrin authorities have confirmed. The patient, from the city of Herceg Novi, was admitted to hospital in Podgorica on Sunday morning for chronic lung disease and analysis of a swab sample confirmed coronavirus infection, said the joint statement of the Institute of Public Health and the Clinical Center of Montenegro. Boban Mugosa, director of the Institute for Public Health, said the first reported death indicates the epidemic is spreading, and warned citizens to heed "all prescribed measures and orders" to protect themselves from exposure. Director of the Clinical Center Jevto Erakovic said the patient had spent time in coronavirus-hit Serbia in the first half of this month. "The medical staff did everything that could have be done, used all necessary protective equipment and all procedures prescribed by the standards for the treatment of such patients," Erakovic added, warning people to take the threat of COVID-19 more seriously. There are 5,565 people under health surveillance in Montenegro, authorities said. Mugosa said 22 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in Montenegro so far. The country has imposed strict lockdown measures, including the closure of schools, a ban on public gatherings, and restrictions on land and sea passenger transport -- even before the country confirmed the first case. Since then, the number of people in public institutions has been restricted, while all people returning from abroad will have to spend at least two weeks in isolation. Stores that don't trade vital supplies have been closed, along with cafes and restaurants, while hotels remain open but must adhere to strict conditions. Several hotels on the Adriatic coast have been designated by the government as COVID-19 quarantine facilities. The NSW Teachers Federation will hold an emergency meeting with NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell, threatening to call for the closure of public schools unless its demands for teacher safety are met. This comes amid deep confusion from parents and schools over what the new arrangements for schools announced by the NSW government on Monday - that students are encouraged to stay home but will not be turned away from schools - mean for them. Changes to school guidelines in NSW have prompted widespread confusion. Credit:Janie Barrett The changes come as UNICEF, the international children's advocate, warns that children are at a heightened risk of abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence amid intensifying containment measures. Federation president Angelo Gavrielatos said the NSW government resolved on Sunday to ask all children but those of emergency workers to stay home. With COVID-19 still spreading rapidly across the country, most states in the U.S. have taken drastic measures -- such as closing down public schools and places of businesses, and encouraging people to practice social distancing -- to try to "flatten the curve." However, many of those in the healthcare field are at the front lines of this pandemic, and they don't have the luxury to suspend their day-to-day activities. Also, because of their constant interactions with COVID-19 patients, many healthcare workers are at a much higher risk than the average person to contract the disease. In that spirit, Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) recently announced it would provide drive-through testing for the SARS-CoV-2 virus -- the virus that causes COVID-19 -- to healthcare workers in Indianapolis, where it is based. This initiative will start on Monday, March 23, and will be available free of charge only to active healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists. Eli Lilly has lent its resources to help fight COVID-19 in its home state before. On March 18, the pharma giant announced that it would partner with the Indiana State Department of Health, with backing from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, to speed up the process to test for COVID-19 in Indiana. While we can no longer stop the spread of COVID-19, expanding access to tests for the potentially deadly disease is critical to slowing down its spread, which makes Eli Lilly's recent moves particularly noteworthy. Auction markets are now showing a clear and fairly rapid cooling, the Westpac senior economist Matthew Hassan has noted. Preliminary unadjusted clearance rates were in the mid to low 60s compared to the mid to low 70s last week. Uncertainty around COVID-19 has seen the preliminary clearance rate take a hit on the weekend, falling to 61.3 per cent across the combined capital cities. Despite the escalating health crisis and economic fallout related to coronavirus, the past week was the second busiest for auction activity so far this year with 2,539 homes taken to auction. The coronavirus scare prompted Sydneys auction market success rate to tumble into the 60s. Saturday's 68 percent success rate is down on 82 percent a fortnight ago and the 74 percent clearance rate last weekend, according to the preliminary realestate.com.au data. It was Sydney's lowest clearance rate in what has been an exceptionally strong year. Domain and CoreLogic put the Sydney rate at even lower, at 64 percent. There were just over 400 results tallied from the 750 auctions held in Sydney. Estate agents had feared that some of their buyers would stay away amid the current contagion health scare. But there are also looming concerns that the likely loss of workers' income across almost ever industry along with jobs losses will further dampen buyer enthusiasm. "I expect price falls ahead," Shane Oliver, the AMP Capital chief economist said. "Coronavirus social distancing and rising uncertainty about the economic outlook look to be impacting," he said. Sydney remains the strongest capital city auction market. The national clearance rate has dropped to 62 percent, down from 75 percent two weeks ago. Sydney agents now head into the busy pre-Easter auction period which is traditionally one of the busiest fortnights of the year. Search activity on realestate.com.au has slowed, Nerida Conisbee, the realestate.com.au chief economist noted last earlier this month. The top sale under the hammer was a three-bedroom Tofts Monks, Elizabeth Bay apartment (pictured top) for $4,225,000 to an expatriate buying when the Australian dollar was down near 18 year lows. The auction was brought forward by the fortnight given heightened demand. Auction clearance rates dropped in Melbourne. In Melbourne, a preliminary auction clearance rate of 62.7 per cent was recorded across 1,317 auctions, while last week there were 1,201 auctions returning a final clearance rate of 65.6 per cent. One year ago, the clearance rate was 55.1 per cent across 814 auctions. Melbournes most expensive sale was a five-bedroom, five-bathroom house in Albert Park at $9,010,000. CoreLogic described the weekend results as a turning point in buyer and seller sentiment. The two-member judicial commission inquiring into the 2018 Koregaon Bhima violence case on Monday sought a six-month extension from the Maharashtra government as it has postponed its hearing in view of the novel coronavirus outbreak and resultant lockdown. The commission on Monday wrote a letter to the state chief secretary seeking extension. "In view of coronavirus epidemic and complete lockdown, the Commission has postponed its proceedings until further notice. As such the Commission is unable to submit any report," the letter signed by commission secretary V V Palnitkar said. "If extension is given by the state government, the Commission intends to examine 40-50 more witnesses, including police, state and prominent politicians. For that purpose, the Commission will require not less than six months," it added. Violence erupted in Koregaon Bhima and nearby areas in Pune on January 1, 2018 during 200th anniversary celebrations of the Koregaon-Bhima battle. One person was killed in the riots and several others injured. The Pune police had said provocative speeches made at the Elgar Parishad conclave held on December 31, 2017 triggered the violence. Maharashtra government had set up a two-member commission in February 2018 to conduct an inquiry into the violence. The commission is headed by former high court judge J N Patel. Former chief secretary Sumit Mullick is its member. It has since then received four extensions. Last month, the commission was given a final extension till April 8 this year by the government to submit its report. On March 18, the commission had issued summons to NCP chief Sharad Pawar to appear as a witness before it on April 4. Apart from Pawar, the commission had also summoned a few senior police officials of Pune Rural area. Pawar was summoned as witness by the commission in view of certain statements made by him about the violence. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A woman in her 80s is the third New Canaan resident to die from the novel Coronavirus. Sunday, Gov. Ned. Lamont announced that three more deaths in Connecticut, bringing the statewide total to eight. Among those is a woman in her 80s from New Canaan. She had been living in a private residence and died at Norwalk Hospital, he said. There were 104 new cases reported Sunday, Lamont said, bringing the statewide total to 327. New Canaan Director of Emergency Management Michael Handler said eight residents have tested for COVID-19 during an update at 7 p.m. Sunday. We are still in the beginning of this so please continue to thoroughly wash your hands, maintain 6-foot social distancing and avoid all social gatherings, Handler said Sunday. Town Hall to close Monday To prevent more contact between residents, New Canaan will close Town Hall and other municipal offices to the public effective Monday, March 23. Lamont Friday ordered non-essential businesses to close and such employees to work at home in an effort to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. Most essential town employees will continue to serve the public from home, First Selectman Kevin Moynihan said Sunday. New Canaan residents, vendors and others doing business with the town may contact individual Town departments via telephone or email, or do their business online, if possible, at newcanaan.info. Any resident who has difficulty contacting a town department or finding an answer may call or email any of the following: Cheryl Jones, 203-594-3108, cheryl.jones@newcanaanct.gov Pam Flynn, 203-594-3000, pam.flynn@newcanaanct.gov Mimi Pitt, 203-594-3001, mimi.pitt@newcanaanct.gov Drive-through testing Drive-through testing by appointment only will be offered in New Canaan Monday from 1 to 4 p.m. Those who previously registered do not need to re-register, and those who were previously given March 27 appoinrtments should expect a call Monday morning giving a Monday time slot, Handler said. Testing is also anticipated Tuesday, he added. Murphy Medical Associates tested 50 residents Friday at Saxe Middle School. As of Friday, some 300 residents had registered for testing. Tests are given based on CDC guidelines, and require an appointment and a prescription. Appointments and required prescriptions for testing in New Canaan can be obtained by filling out three forms at coronatestct.com. Testing is also available by appointment only at both Norwalk Hospital and Stamford Hospital. Appointments at those sites require a prescription from your personal physician. German Chancellor Angela Merkel Tests Negative for Coronavirus German Chancellor Angela Merkel has tested negative for COVID-19, according to her spokesman. Steffen Seibert told news outlets on Monday morning that Merkel, who was quarantined on Sunday, will undergo more testing. Her initial CCP virus result was negative, he said. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. German Vice-Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated Monday that Merkel feels fine but she is working from home, Reuters reported. On Friday, she received a vaccine for the pneumococcus bacteria from a doctor, who later tested positive for the virus. After learning of the result, she was put into quarantine. Her chief of staff said she only had brief contact with the doctor. In a sweeping press conference on Sunday, before she learned of her test results, Merkel thanked the overwhelming majority of Germans who were following guidelines established by the government to deal with the pandemic. I know that it means sacrifice, she said of new social restrictions to combat the virus. Im moved by the fact that so many are abiding by these rules. This way we show care for older and sick people, because the virus is most dangerous to them. In short: we are saving lives with this, Merkel said, The Associated Press reported. Police officers check a street in Dortmund, western Germany, on March 22, 2020 due to the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19. (Ina Fassbender/AFP via Getty Images) Public gatherings of more than two people are currently prohibited across Germany to prevent the spread of the virus, which emerged last year in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, according to the chancellor. Merkel also ordered restaurants to offer drive-through and take-out only. Beauty, massage, and tattoo shops must also close. Around the same time she went into quarantine on Sunday, the office of Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) wrote that he had tested positive for the virus. He is feeling fine and is in quarantine, his office wrote in a statement. He is asymptomatic and was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive travel and events. He was not aware of any direct contact with any infected person. The junior Kentucky senator will still work for the people of Kentucky at this difficult time, his office said in a Twitter post. Ten days ago, our D.C. office began operating remotely, hence virtually no staff has had contact with Senator Rand Paul. Germany has recorded at least 27,000 confirmed cases of the virus as of Monday and at least 115 people have died, according to Johns Hopkins University. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 16:44:05|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HONG KONG, March 23 (Xinhua) -- China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) will ban the entry of all non-Hong Kong residents arriving from overseas by flights starting from Wednesday to prevent imported COVID-19 cases, HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced on Monday. For the 14 days since 12:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, Hong Kong will deny the entry of all non-Hong Kong residents arriving from overseas by flights, as well as those who have been to overseas in the past 14 days and arriving in Hong Kong through Chinese mainland, Macao SAR and Taiwan, Lam said at a press conference on Monday afternoon. During the period, transfer services at the Hong Kong International Airport will be suspended. Hong Kong will maintain the compulsory quarantine arrangements on inbound travelers from Chinese mainland. Meanwhile, all the travelers entering Hong Kong through Macao and Taiwan, regardless of whether they are Hong Kong residents, will undergo the same 14-day compulsory quarantine, Lam said. The measures, which came amid a remarkable increase of imported infections of COVID-19 recently in Hong Kong, aim to prevent more imported cases and to block the chain of transmission of the virus, said the chief executive. The Supreme Court will only hear extremely urgent cases in the coming week, signalling a near complete shutdown of the apex court. Only one bench will be available, if necessary, to transact judicial work and it will sit on Wednesday, a notification issued by the court said on Sunday. The decision was taken by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde, after consulting his colleagues. Honble the Chief Justice of India has, after consulting his colleagues, directed that during the course of the ensuing week, a Bench of two Honble Judges, as may be necessary to hear extremely urgent cases, will be available to transact judicial work, the notification said. There will be facility to conduct hearing through video conferencing. Rooms with requisite facilities for this purpose in the Supreme Court premises will made available for the convenience of the lawyers. In order to get the case listed before the bench, the advocate concerned should indicate the extreme urgency of the matter in writing which will then be listed at the discretion of the judge who presides the bench. The composition of the bench is not yet known. On Monday, however, two benches - both headed by CJI - will sit to hear cases. Earlier, five benches, including one chamber judge, were scheduled to sit on Monday. However, it was decided by the court on Sunday to cancel three of those five benches. The bench comprising CJI and justices L Nageswara Rao and Surya Kant will sit at 11 am on Monday. Thereafter, the bench comprising the CJI and justice DY Chandrachud will take up matters through video conferencing. UNITED NATIONS U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called Monday for an immediate cease-fire in conflicts around the world to tackle the coronavirus pandemic. The U.N. chief said: It is time to put armed conflict on lockdown and focus together on the true fight of our lives. Guterres said the world faces a common enemy COVID-19 which doesnt care about nationality or ethnicity, faction or faith. He said women, children, the disabled, marginalized and displaced and people caught in armed conflicts, which are raging around the world, are the most vulnerable and are also at the highest risk of suffering devastating losses from COVID-19. Guterres spoke as the Syrian conflict has entered its 10th year, the conflict in Yemen is in its fifth year and Libyas rival governments have been fighting for nearly a year. Africa also faces unrest from Somalia and South Sudan to Congo. The conflict in eastern Ukraine is nearly six years old and Colombia has still not made peace with the smaller of the armed groups it had been fighting. Extremist groups like the Islamic State and al Qaeda and their affiliates are also actively engaging in attacks in southeast Asia, Syria, Somalia, Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso and many other countries around the world. Guterres urged warring parties to put aside mistrust and animosity and take inspiration from efforts to get rivals to tackle the coronavirus together, but he stressed that much more was needed. End the sickness of war and fight the disease that is ravaging our world, the secretary-general said. It starts by stopping the fighting everywhere. Now. That is what our human family needs, now more than ever. Edith M. Lederer is an Associated Press writer. The lobbies of all Horizon Bank locations throughout Indiana and Michigan will be open by appointment only. The banks drive up, ATM, and Live Video Banking facilities will remain open and hours of operation will remain unchanged at this time. In addition, all offices and departments will be staffed and available to assist you by telephone. At Horizon, there is nothing more important to us than the safety and well-being of our customers, employees and communities we serve. We have announced the temporary measure of having our lobbies open by appointment only to do all that we can to ensure a safe environment while serving the financial needs of our customers and community. As we face the unknown impact of the COVID-19 virus, we continue to monitor the situation from credible sources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the state and local public health authorities, stated Craig Dwight. The last family to leave Walt Disney World in Orlando was sent off with a standing ovation from the staff at their hotel and resort. The Porter family arrived at the Riviera Hotel amid the coronavirus outbreak. Despite warnings to avoid areas with many people, the family said it decided to press on with their long-planned vacation. Once we arrived, we were told that all parks and hotels would soon be closing, the family told ViralHog video. This type of event had never happened in history. On our last day at Disney World, our resort manager at the Riviera Hotel told us that we were the last family in the resort and area to leave Disney World. A family that was the last to leave the Riviera Hotel in Disney World in Orlando is greeted by staffers on their way to the shuttle Hotel staffers applauded as the Porter family left the hotel on Friday The family said it made the decision to go ahead with their Disney World getaway despite warnings of the spread of coronavirus As we were walking to our shuttle, the entire staff lined up outside of the hotel to wave goodbye to my family and thank us for being a part of history. It was an amazing experience. The Walt Disney Company announced last week that its theme parks would be shut down starting at the close of business hours on March 15. The closure included its flagship theme park resort in Orlando; the Disneyland complex in Anaheim, California; Disneyland Paris; and all new departures of the Disney Cruise Line. A staffers gives a young girl a Daffy Duck doll as her family leaves the hotel on Friday The family is then seen getting on the shuttle to take them away In total, the company shut down all eleven Disney theme parks in North America, Europe and Asia. Just before shutting down last Sunday, Disney held a large 'farewell' gathering in its Orlando theme park. Images of large crowds gathered in close spaces infuriated the public, including Abigail Disney, the granddaughter of co-founder Roy Disney. Abigal Disney wrote 'are you f****** kidding me' in response to pictures of massive crowds at last Sunday night's showing of 'Happily Ever After', a fireworks show in Florida's Magic Kingdom. On March 15, Disney World in Orlando staged a 'farewell party' that drew huge crowds despite the spread of the coronavirus Disney shut its flagship theme park resort in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday night (pictured: revelers at the park before its closure) as the country tackles the spread of coronavirus Abigail Disney, the granddaughter of co-founder Roy Disney, wrote 'Are you f****** kidding me' in response to pictures of the 'farewell' party at Disney World Walt Disney World News Today - who are unaffiliated with the actual resort - first shared the images of the night with the caption: 'A whole cast of characters, from Mary Poppins, to Stitch and even Cinderella were at the special farewell at the Magic Kingdom.' People flocked to Twitter to slam the park. Nicole wrote: 'Disney was irresponsible for doing this, they should've closed Friday morning.' John Iglesias added: 'Its irresponsible. I just cant believe we cant come together on something so basic.' And Peter Crowley added: 'This irresponsibility is disgusting. If Florida's healthcare system is overwhelmed, Mickey will have blood on his gloves.' Disney said that there have been no reported cases of coronavirus at Disneyland Resort, but that the parks were being shut down in accordance with an executive order from California Governor Gavin Newsom banning large public gatherings. Disneyland and Disney California Adventure are next door to each other in the Los Angeles suburb of Anaheim. Just days after Disney shuttered its parks, a 34-year-old California man, Jeffrey Ghazarian, who attended a March 2 conference at Disney World in Orlando, died after contracting coronavirus It will only be the sixth time in history that Disneyland Park has made an unscheduled closure. As of Monday morning, 14 Florida residents have died after contracting coronavirus. In total, there are a reported 1,171 cases in Florida statewide. Of those, 45 cases are in Orange County, which is home to the Disney World theme park as well as other attractions like Universal Studios. Nationwide, more than 35,200 people are confirmed to have contracted coronavirus as of Monday morning. The death toll has surpassed 470. Just days after Disney shuttered its parks, a 34-year-old California man who attended a March 2 conference at Disney World in Orlando died after contracting coronavirus. Jeffrey Ghazarian, of Glendora, California, passed away last week at a hospital in Pasadena, where he'd been hooked up to a ventilator for five days. While the fatality rate is relatively low among most people Ghazarian's age, he appeared to have been at higher risk because of his history of asthma and bronchitis as a child, and the fact that he beat testicular cancer back in 2016. Ghazarian's family said he had recently taken a trip to Orlando for a conference on March 2 and stayed a few extra days to visit Walt Disney World and Universal Studios with friends. Relatives told TMZ Ghazarian developed a cough on March 7, which escalated to the point that he was coughing up blood hours later. He flew back to Los Angeles on March 9 and immediately when to the ER, where he was found to also be suffering from a high fever. Ghazarian was tested for COVID-19 after a chest X-ray confirmed that he had contracted pneumonia - as many other coronavirus patients have. Doctors prescribed him fluids and antibiotics and sent him home to self-quarantine until the results came back positive on March 13. He was again sent back home, this time armed with a portable oxygen meter. His oxygen levels plummeted hours later before he was transported by ambulance to the hospital, where it was discovered his lungs were 60 to 70 percent blocked by the pneumonia. Doctors then placed Ghazarian in a medically-induced coma and put him on a ventilator to give his lungs time to heal. His family claims he was approved for anti-viral medication but he didn't get it in time and his condition took a sharp turn for the worst this morning. 'He suffered a lot and put up a good fight,' Ghazarian's sister told TMZ. 'We will miss our Jeff everyday but we are thankful for all the fun happy memories of the times we had together.' Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf said the 2020 primary election will be postponed amid the coronavirus pandemic. The election had been scheduled for April 28. Read more Top Pennsylvania lawmakers and Gov. Tom Wolf have reached agreement on postponing the states primary election from April 28 until June 2, The Inquirer has learned, with legislation poised to advance Monday and move quickly through the state legislature. The proposal would also give county election officials more flexibility in consolidating polling places this year. The deal was reached after multiple conference calls throughout the day Sunday, including with legislative leaders of the House and Senate caucuses of both parties and the governors office, said State Rep. Garth Everett (R., Lycoming), the chair of the House State Government Committee, which will play a key role in moving the proposed legislation. My understanding as of right now is everybodys on the same page, he said Sunday night. Theres no partisanship, were just trying to work together. His Democratic counterpart on the committee, State Rep. Kevin Boyle of Philadelphia, confirmed the deal. Were still on track to move election day to June 2, Boyle said, calling the effort bipartisan. Leaders still need to run the agreement by rank-and-file lawmakers, which is expected this week. If there is no push-back, it could be sent to Wolf before weeks end. A Wolf spokesperson said Sunday that he supports postponing the primary. Everett will call a committee meeting Monday to consider and pass Senate Bill 422, which would create an advisory board on election bills and was previously passed by the Senate. If all goes according to plan, the House State Government Committee will pass the bill in its current form Monday, sending it to the House floor, where it would be amended Tuesday. There are two amendments, Everett said. The first would postpone the primary election and authorize county election officials to close and consolidate polling places without the usual court approval. They say they need the flexibility, as theyve lost polling places and poll workers due to concerns over the coronavirus. The second change would allow elections officials to begin processing absentee ballots earlier. A recent law loosened the states restrictive absentee ballot rules to allow any voter to vote by mail, but it requires waiting until 8 p.m. Election Day to begin processing those ballots, which could mean elections would take days to call. After amending the bill Tuesday, the full House can vote to approve the bill Wednesday, sending it to the Senate. Because the bill had previously gone through the chamber, senators can simply concur with its amended version, sending it to Wolf to be signed into law. Spokespeople for legislative leaders and the governor were circumspect Sunday when asked to comment on legislation whose language is still being developed. We have not yet seen the final bill, but were working with the legislature and are in support of moving the primary to a later date, a spokesperson for Wolf said. We continue to work with the House and administration toward the final consideration of moving the primary, said Jennifer Kocher, spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R., Centre) and Senate Republicans. We still need to talk with our caucus members about it. House Majority Leader Bryan Cutler (R., Lancaster) has been open to the idea of postponing the primary, spokesperson Mike Straub said. Straub said he had not spoken to Speaker Mike Turzai (R., Allegheny) and did not know his position. We will caucus the bill tomorrow and get a sense of where everyone is and then go from there, Straub said. It will be an interesting caucus. Turzai has been silent. As speaker, he will be a key player because he helps control the flow of legislation to the House floor. If the legislation passes and is signed by Wolf, Pennsylvania will join several other states in postponing their primaries, which in addition to the Democratic presidential nomination includes races for the U.S. House of Representatives and state House and Senate. In Pennsylvania, as elsewhere, the virus has upended election preparations, as institutions pulled out of hosting polls and poll workers declined to work. Election officials also worried that asking voters to congregate in central locations to cast ballots goes against public health guidance. They also faced administrative challenges as some offices were closed due to government shutdowns and others worked with skeleton staffs. As those problems mounted, county elections officials began urging the state to postpone the election. The postponement is a good thing because its going to give counties time to get their hands around some of the challenges theyve been facing, said Forrest Lehman, election director in Lycoming County, who was on some of the calls Sunday. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Primastuti Handayani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, March 23, 2020 15:37 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206cd7931 1 Opinion #commentary,nurse,COVID-19,medical-equipment,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,medical-practitioners,doctor Free The news finally hit us hard. We were prepared, but still in reality we were not prepared at all. When my sister-in-law told us that the hospital in which she works in Bandung, West Java, has been declared a referral hospital for COVID-19, we went into shock. Of course, we have known that she has always been a hardworking and dedicated nurse. We also knew she would be ready and on call every time some emergency occurs. But this is different. This is like she is at a point of no return. We dont know whether she will survive the pandemic. We dont know if she will return home safely every day. Call me paranoid. Call me overreacting. But medical workers have fallen victim after being tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus. The Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) revealed over the weekend that five doctors had died of COVID-19, while another died of exhaustion and a heart attack. Read also: COVID-19: Inadequate medical supplies take toll on lives of Indonesian medical workers The figure does not include the number of nurses who have become victims of COVID-19. So far, a nurse died of the virus on March 12, while Indonesian Nurses Association (PPNI) chairman Harif Fadhillah said nurses across the country have expressed concern over working unprotected while treating patients with COVID-19. Harif said that while health workers must wear hazmat suits, gloves, goggles and masks when in contact with COVID-19 patients, the truth is many hospitals do not have adequate equipment. According to my sister-in-law, she had been inside the intensive care unit (ICU) for five days in a row, each day for more than eight hours as the number of COVID-19 patients kept increasing. She also said the medical equipment would only last until this Friday. After that? She said she had no idea whether new supplies would come from the central government. I immediately called some friends to ask for information on where to purchase N-95 masks and surgical gloves, as well as hazmat suits. Some of them referred me to certain civil society groups for help, but they are also overwhelmed because the demand for medical supplies by referral hospitals is very high. As of Monday afternoon, Indonesia had 579 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 49 fatalities and it remains unclear how many were medical staff who worked on the front lines. Read also: If not us, who else will do it?': Sweat and tears of Indonesia's COVID-19 nurses, doctors My sister-in-law is not the only one fearing for her safety. My friends husband a doctor on Batam Island had to perform a surgery with an ordinary fabric mask as surgical masks are no longer available in the hospital. The government sent a Hercules aircraft to Shanghai, China, to pick up medical supplies and equipment disposable masks, N-95 masks, protective clothing, goggles, gloves, surgical caps, shoe covers and infrared thermometers to meet the demand from referral hospitals. On Monday, the government opened a makeshift COVID-19 hospital in Kemayoran in a complex that used to be the Asian Games athletes village. Jakarta has the most COVID-19-positive cases in the country, but we do not know the real numbers of cases in other provinces and on other islands. Amnesty International Indonesia executive director Usman Hamid has called on the government to be more serious about protecting medical workers. As the frontline staff for handling this COVID-19, medical workers are the most vulnerable group because they are exposed to patients in health facilities. The fact that many of them have been infected is proof that the government is not protecting them well. This is dangerous for medical workers, patients, their families, relatives and the community. The government must publish protocols on the protection of medical workers, he said last Wednesday. An Eijkman-Oxford Clinical Research Unit disease surveillance and biostatistics researcher, Iqbal Ridzi Fahdri Elyazar, had warned that if the authorities fail to take drastic measures to slow down the spread of COVID-19, the country could have tens of thousands of cases by April, shortly before the Idul Fitri holiday. Based on these calculations, Indonesia could be grappling with up to 71,000 COVID-19 cases by the end of April. We dont want that to happen, do we? My sister-in-law and other medical workers are staying in hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients. Dont we have to play a role in curbing the outbreak as well? Stay at home is all they ask so that we dont become carriers or get infected by other people when we go outside. Companies should be more considerate during this outbreak. If they cant shut down completely and have to have their employees take turns working, they can at the very least provide protection for their workers in the form of masks and hand sanitizer. We still want to celebrate Ramadan in a peaceful way, even if we get stuck in traffic as in previous years. We want to visit our parents and ask for their forgiveness. As for me, I just want to hug my sister-in-law and tell her how much I care for her something Ive forgotten to do in the past few years. But for now, all I can do is pray for the best: for her safety and for other medical workers safety as well. When Ontario became Canadas first province to close its public schools for the two weeks following March Break to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19, it felt like a bold move. Social distancing was just entering our collective vocabulary and the thought of people living under government-ordered lockdown stretched the imagination. Fast forward to today and it now seems a certainty that schools across the country wont be reopening, with most experts citing months of closures not weeks to come. So, if schools out for summer, now what? Its time to get creative and use all available resources to ensure no student is left behind. Public education is the bedrock of a fair and prosperous society. Without it, the economic participation of the one-in-three Canadians with school-aged children is compromised. This will be the longest full disruption to public education in our nations history. Its critical that the educational, social and economic impacts of this unprecedented situation on over five million students and their families be closely monitored and mitigated to every extent possible. The top priority has to be providing students with continued learning at home and trying to close the learning gaps that will undoubtedly grow. Evidence of significant learning loss during summer breaks already shows disproportionate impacts by household income. This will likely be worsened during the pandemic as many lower-income parents will have to keep working, while higher-income salaried parents can stay at home with their kids or more easily access private learning supports. Governments need to treat school boards and teachers as partners in the planning and execution of this next phase. Many are already stepping up, shifting to online learning platforms, telephone check-ins and learning packages for students. Ontarios plan to use TVO and TFO for additional educational programming is a good start. So, too, is the assurance from several governments that grade promotions, graduations and post-secondary admissions will not be disrupted. Everyone is doing their best, but there is more that must be done. Teachers need to be better supported to continue delivering programming to their students through on- and off-line methods. Technology and other learning resources now sitting unused in schools, campuses and even the private sector need to be deployed to students that dont have access at home, with an urgent emphasis on students with special needs and those in rural and remote communities without broadband access. Especially with public libraries now closed, either Canadas telecommunication companies or our governments need to find ways to deliver free internet access for families without it. This crisis will surely cause some friction over the efficacy of online education, especially with the on-going fight in Ontario over mandatory e-learning. In fairness, developing good online pedagogy takes months and years, and we are asking for it now in days. Training and technical support is needed urgently. But to steal FDRs call for bold, persistent experimentation, those justified concerns need to be set aside for now. Governments should provide explicit direction to all organizations receiving public funds to keep paying all staff. This will reduce strain on the Employment Insurance system and mitigate the rapid growth in economic detachment. For the public education system, that means continuing to pay casual and temporary staff, such as occasional teachers, educational assistants, care-takers, child care workers, bus drivers and crossing guards. The systems capacity can then be redeployed to where its most needed. This could include child care services for our essential workers in health care and elsewhere, or providing nutrition, physical activity and mental health supports to families that relied on in-school programs or need them now in these rapidly changing circumstances. Some staff and technology could also assist in the manufacturing effort for medical supplies. Schools and post-secondary institutions will then need to prepare for the social distancing restrictions to be loosened whenever that time comes. This should include planning for the potential of resuming classes in July or August. There should also be particular attention paid to helping close the inequitable learning gaps that will inevitably arise, especially for incoming university and college students that may miss most of their second Grade 12 term. COVID-19 is testing every part of our society like never before, and our education systems are no exception. But Canadas public education system has a global reputation for excellence and equity. That capacity needs to be redeployed to this new challenge and theres no time to waste. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Amelie Breitburd for all her support, not just at AXA UK & Ireland but across her many years in the group, said AXA UK & Ireland chief executive Claudio Gienal. I wish her every success in the future. Meanwhile AXA UK & Ireland will see the promotion of chief of staff Amber Wilkinson (pictured below), whose previous roles include AXA PPP Healthcare finance director and AXA UK head of M&A (mergers and acquisitions). Coming onboard the management committee, Wilkinson will become director of strategy, brand, and communications. Gienal commented: I am delighted that Amber and Roland are joining the AXA UK & Ireland management committee. Amber led our successful Beyond 2020 strategic review last year and will continue to oversee strategy as well as brand and communications as an important part of the management committee. I am also pleased to welcome Roland, who will bring operational experience and strategic thinking to his new role. Moquet moved to AXA from the French Treasury in 2005 and has held various positions within the group such as CFO of AXA Tianping in China. In Italy, he has been heavily involved in the launch of the businesss 2023 strategy. CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Ohio Health Department, acknowledging a thermometer shortage, has outlined its guidance for what employers staying open should do if they arent able to take the temperature of employees on their way into work. No. 1: Ask each employee to take their temperature at home. If you cannot find thermometers, and the employee does not have one at home to check their temperature you can screen each incoming employee with a basic questionnaire," the health department advises. Do you have symptoms of respiratory infection? - fever, cough, shortness of breath? No. Proceed to work." But if the answer is yes to symptoms, the health department advises, the employee should stay at home for at least seven days from the time they experience symptoms, and at least three days after they have no fever without fever-reducing medication, and have improvement in other symptoms (cough, shortness of breath). As for what thermometer is good enough at the workplace, health department spokeswoman Melanie Amato said, Any thermometer approved by the FDA would be considered appropriate for a business to use for these situations. The health department advises that touchless thermometers are best, but if you must use oral or other types of thermometers, make sure to clean the thermometer thoroughly between each employee, as to not spread infection. Employees should be sent home if their temperature is at least 100.4 degrees. Also, the health department said anyone exposed to someone with coronavirus should stay at home for 14 days from the time they were exposed. Though a lot of businesses have closed or will do so after today under order from Gov. Mike DeWine, essential businesses such as grocery stores, gas stations and take-out restaurants remain open. Read related stories Mapping Ohios 351 coronavirus cases When thermometers are not available, what should Ohio employers do to screen workers for the coronavirus? Latest Greater Cleveland restaurants delivery-takeout guide Gov. Mike DeWine orders Ohioans to stay at home during coronavirus crisis: The Wake Up for Monday, March 23, 2020 Coronavirus closings and restrictions in Ohio for Monday, March 23, 2020 Read what is in the news today: Politics -- The National Assembly Standing Committee will convene its 43rd session in Hanoi from March 23 to 25 under the management of Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and her deputies. The session is scheduled to hear Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, head of the national steering committee on COVID-19 prevention and control, who will report on the work. Society -- Nearly 200 Vietnamese attending English courses in the Philippines have been trapped in the country as it has halted all international flights due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic. They are waiting for the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs to grant permission for a charter flight operated by Vietnam Airlines to bring them back to Vietnam. -- People who are over 60 years old are advised to stay home and refrain from contacting other people or gathering in large groups, while the general population should wear face masks in public, wash their hands regularly, improve their nutritional intake, and exercise more, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said at a meeting on COVID-19 prevention and control in Hanoi on Sunday. -- A 30-minute hailstorm damaged houses and destroyed crops in the northern province of Dien Bien on Sunday. -- The Buddhist Sangha of Vietnam has requested that activities observing this years Vesak Day, which will fall on May 7, avoid the gathering of large crowds and organizing float and lantern parades on the streets in light of the COVID-19 epidemic. Business -- The U.S. is considering importing medical supplies and equipment from Vietnam to fight COVID-19, Vietnamese Ambassador to the U.S. Ha Kim Ngoc told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Sunday. -- Vietnams shrimp industry has not faced a great impact from the COVID-19 epidemic as the country is expected to enter its shrimp harvest season in August, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers told the Vietnam News Agency. World News -- The novel coronavirus has infected nearly 317,000 and killed more than 13,500 people globally as of Monday morning, according to Ministry of Health statistics. Over 97,500 cases have recovered. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! [March 23, 2020] Battelle to Support Food Banks During Coronavirus Pandemic As the coronavirus pandemic continues to escalate and present challenges to America, Battelle is donating $250,000 to food banks and food rescues in several communities where it has a significant presence. "At Battelle, we want to make a positive impact in the places where we work and live," said Battelle President and CEO, Lou Von Thaer. "Our mission, given to us by our founder, is to advance science and technology so we can direct our philanthropic and charitable giving to help others and improve society. As we rapidly research and develop tools and diagnostics to fight this virus, we're going to financially support those among us who are at greatest risk. When the country has most needed us during our 90-year history, Battelle always has risen to the challenge, and this time will be no different." The gifts will be made in $50,000 allotments to five different agencies: the Mid-Ohio Food Bank in Central Ohio; the Capital Area Food Bank in Washington D.C.; the Community Food Bank of New Jersey's Egg Harbor Township location; the Boulder Food Rescue in Colorado; and the Maryland Food Bank in Aberdeen (News - Alert). The Mid-Ohio Food Bank serves Central Ohio, location of Battelle's headquarters as well as research facilities in West Jefferson and Hilliard. "We are incredibly grateful to Battelle, an extraordinary organization that has been on the journey of connecting food to our hungry neighbors with Mid-Ohio Foodbank for decades," said Matt Habash, President & CEO, Mid-Ohio Food Collective. "From volunteer support to facility enhancements to partnering with us during these unprecedented times, Battelle is a wholly, committed partner to make sure that no one in our community goes hungry. Thank you Battelle for all you have done and our doing in ensuring a healthier, hunger-free community." In the Washington D.C. metro area, Battelle has four offices where employees conduct research and develop technology for a variety of federal agencies including those in the areas of defense, health, cyber and transportation. "This generous contribution simply could not have come at a better time," said Capital Area Food Bank President and CEO Radha Muthiah. Boulder is home to the National Ecological Observatory Network, which Battelle manages and operates for the National Science Foundation. Hayden Dansky, executive director Boulder Food Rescue, said, "This donation means so much to us in times like these-it will enable us to ensure that folks continue to get fed as things progress and they become more immobile." The Battelle Eastern Science and Technology Center (BEST) is located in Aberdeen and performs research and provides support to a variety of federal agencies including the Department of Defense. "Thanks to Battelle, we're in an even stronger position to meet the needs of Maryland communities during this difficult time," said Maryland Food Bank CEO & President Carmen Del Guercio. In Egg Harbor, Battelle's employees work on aviation security including screening technology used by the TSA keep airports safe throughout the country. Community Food Bank of New Jersey President and CEO Carlos Rodriguez said the COVID-19 pandemic presents a new confluence of challenges. "This contribution is so greatly appreciated as we seek to help these neighbors in need," said Rodriguez. About Battelle Every day, the people of Battelle apply science and technology to solving what matters most. At major technology centers and national laboratories around the world, Battelle conducts research and development, designs and manufactures products, and delivers critical services for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio since its founding in 1929, Battelle serves the national security, health and life sciences, and energy and environmental industries. For more information, visit www.battelle.org. Media Contacts For more information contact Katy Delaney at (614) 424-7208 or [email protected] or T.R. Massey at (614) 424-5544 or [email protected]. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200323005517/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A labourer unloads sacks of sugar from a truck at a wholesale food market in Ahmedabad By Rajendra Jadhav NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India is likely to export 4.5 million tonnes of sugar in 2019/20, down almost a fifth from an earlier estimate, as a drop in global prices due to the coronavirus outbreak makes overseas sales unprofitable for mills, a senior industry official said. Lower exports from the worlds biggest sugar producer could support global prices that have fallen nearly a third from a Feb. 12 peak and help rivals such as Brazil to increase exports. "There is no export parity after the recent fall in global prices. At this price level new deals won't take place," Prakash Naiknavare, managing director of the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Ltd told Reuters. Years of bumper cane harvests and record sugar production have hammered Indian sugar prices, making it hard for mills to pay money owed to farmers, who form an influential voting bloc. To reduce that debt and pare rising inventories, the government has approved a subsidy of 10,448 rupees ($137.5) a tonne for exports of 6 million tonnes in the 2019/20 season ending on Sept. 30. Indian sugar mills have already dispatched 2.8 million tonnes out of 3.7 million tonnes of contracts signed for the exports, Naiknavare said. Mills and traders may struggle to export remaining contracted quantity and "some exports contracts may get cancelled" due to the sharp drop in the prices, he said. Exports from India was expected to pick up from March after New Delhi reallocated unused sugar exports quotas in February. Before reallocation could accelerate exports, global prices tanked and dampened exports prospects, said B. B. Thombare, president of the Western India Sugar Mills Association (WISMA). Demand for the sweetener from ice cream and beverage makers typically rises during the summer season, but this year it has been falling as people are avoiding eating cold drinks and ice creams due to coronavirus concerns, Thombare said. India has reported 415 cases of the coronavirus and seven deaths but health experts have warned that a big jump could be imminent. Story continues In response, authorities have imposed travel restrictions and banned big gatherings for weddings or religious events, cutting sugar demand. "Sugar industry is in crisis. Exports are not happening. Local demand is falling. We can't pay cane farmers promised price," said Thombare. (Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Louise Heavens) Travel chaos continued Thursday at Hungary's borders which were suddenly closed Monday in response to the coronavirus pandemic, with diplomats urging Budapest to let trapped citizens enter the country. With just a few hours' notice, all of Hungary's borders were officially shut to non-nationals from Monday midnight, an emergency measure to protect the health of Hungarian citizens, according to Budapest. But the move has caused long tailbacks of freight and passenger traffic at road borders, as well as uncertainty at airports where travellers were stuck despite having Hungarian registration documents. Several dozen foreigners resident in Hungary were kept together in a small room at Budapest airport Thursday waiting to be let in, reported one of the group, Shaun Walker, the Guardian newspaper's Central and Eastern Europe correspondent. Around 60 people were being held in "a corona hellbox" for over nine hours with only the floor to sleep on, he wrote in a Twitter post. "European embassies got verbal assurances that foreigners who could prove they live and work in Hungary would be allowed in," he added. According to a government decree no foreigners apart from those with immediate Hungarian family members can enter Hungary after Monday. However, the rules seemed to be being applied arbitrarily in at least some cases, with several Budapest-based foreign nationals telling AFP that they were allowed to enter if they had official Hungarian documents. "There has been a confusion about the rules," said the UK ambassador in a Facebook video message earlier this week. "We are encouraging the (Hungarian) government to allow all UK residents of Hungary to re-enter the country," said a UK embassy statement Thursday. Another EU ambassador told AFP on condition of anonymity that "there seems to be no clarity on who can enter or not". "We hope that the general rule will be respected and that citizens with a registration permit according to EU regulations can enter their country to return to their work and their homes," said the ambassador. The government has not responded to several requests by AFP since Monday for clarification of the rules. Since Monday, tailbacks from the Hungarian border-crossings have stretched back several dozens of kilometres into Austria and Slovakia. After pressure from neighbouring countries Budapest began Tuesday allowing Romanian and Bulgarian citizens, many returning from workplaces in western Europe, to travel home through Hungary during the night-time. The so-called "humanitarian corridors" allow convoys of cars with special vignettes to travel on designated routes with assigned stopping points between 9pm (0800 GMT) and 5am local time. "The corridors could be opened during the day-time too if the situation requires it," said cabinet office minister Gergely Gulyas. Also on Thursday, neighbouring Austria announced that it was extending its emergency border controls to its frontiers with Hungary and Slovenia. Similar conrols had already been put up on the country's borders with Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Greggs has said it will close its entire store estate by the end of business on Tuesday after bosses said operating as a takeaway was not going far enough to ensure proper social distancing. The company added its name to a growing list of companies voluntarily closing stores ahead of suggestions the Government may step up action and close all non-essential stores. To keep everyone as safe as possible weve made the difficult decision to close all of our shops on Tuesday 24th March. Read our full statement below: pic.twitter.com/de0QNBHkFT Greggs (@GreggsOfficial) March 23, 2020 Wagamamas said it would also close its doors from 9pm on Monday, ending all takeaways and deliveries across its 150 sites. Emma Woods, chief executive, said: Due to the current situation, we have taken the decision to put down all of our chopsticks and temporarily close all sites across the UK for delivery and take-out until further notice. Fashion chain Next also said that it would close all 500 sites across the UK at 6pm on Monday and remain shut for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic. It follows full closures by McDonalds, Primark, John Lewis and Nandos as social distancing measures come under scrutiny. Others remain open, including B&Q, which has reported an increase in business, as families look to home improvements while in self-isolation. (PA) Greggs said the decision to close was an attempt to protect staff from the spread of the virus, and avoid crowds gathering for takeaways. The company said: Given the current and likely impacts of coronavirus we are now planning for the closure of our shop estate by close of business on Tuesday 24 March in order to protect our people and customers. It added: In addition to increased hygiene and separation measures we converted all of our shops to provide a solely take-away service accepting card payments only and have been advising all customers to follow social distancing guidelines while waiting to be served. It is now clear that to protect our people and customers we need to go further and temporarily close our shops completely. Greggs also said a planned 40 million handout to shareholders and a share buying scheme have been shelved, adding we intend to maintain employment of colleagues at full contract hours for as long as is practicable. The moves by Next and Greggs follows other big moves from companies including McDonalds and Primark, which both announced full store closures over coronavirus. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has faced calls for tougher restrictions especially in London, such as only allowing food stores and pharmacies to remain open. But thousands of outlets pre-empted any decision by voluntarily closing their doors. McDonalds announced that it will close every single one of its restaurants in the UK and Ireland from 7pm on Monday, following concerns about maintaining safe social distancing. There are approximately 1,300 McDonalds restaurants in the UK and Ireland and the decision will affect 135,000 staff members. An update from McDonalds UK and Ireland See you soon pic.twitter.com/43moFRrWRR McDonald's UK (@McDonaldsUK) March 22, 2020 Chief executive Paul Pomroy said the closures were because it had become clear that maintaining safe social distancing whilst operating busy takeaway and Drive Thru restaurants [was] increasingly difficult. Late on Sunday evening, Nandos said it would be closing more than 400 restaurants in the UK. In a post on Twitter, the company said: The health and safety of our customers and team is our highest priority. We have decided that the best course of action right now is to temporarily close our restaurants until further notice. Restaurant chains that have closed due to the Covid-19 outbreak include Pizza Express, TGI Fridays and Bills. Zizzi, Ask Italian and Prezzo were the first to implement temporary closures on Thursday, before a full closure of pubs and restaurants was announced by the Prime Minister. Patisserie Valerie chief executive James Fleming said both its in-store and online services will also cease as of Monday. A note from our CEO James Fleming. Please look after yourselves pic.twitter.com/SXlOrpseeu Patisserie Valerie (@valeriecafe) March 22, 2020 This is unprecedented and never have I had to make such difficult decisions, he said. I do however genuinely believe that with the support and loyalty of our wonderful teams and guests, Patisserie Valerie will come back stronger and better than ever. Meanwhile, fashion retailers have also been hit by the coronavirus crisis. On Sunday, Primark confirmed that it was closing all 189 of its UK stores, affecting around 37,000 jobs though employees would be paid in full for the next 14 days, the company said. Other clothing chains including Kurt Geiger, Topshop and New Look have announced mass store closures. The John Lewis Partnership said it is the first time in its 155-year history that it will not open its shop doors for customers but its online services will continue. HMV closed its stores for trade at the end of Sunday, although customers could still order through the website, with Foyles and Waterstones both closing their doors at the end of trade on Monday. Bosses at Cineworld were sent an open letter by a group of 800 staff who were made redundant after the cinema chain closed all its UK venues on Tuesday causing pay cuts of up to 60% and scores of redundancies. Card Factory decided to temporarily close all of its shops just three hours after announcing on Monday that it expects to begin selectively closing stores. In a statement to investors, Card Factory said: Further to our earlier announcement, we have decided to close temporarily all of our shops from the end of business today. We will keep this under continuous review and update further in due course. As European leaders scramble to enforce unprecedented restrictions on the movement of their populations in a desperate attempt to prevent their health-care systems being overwhelmed by the coronavirus pandemic, Italy has emerged as the new hotspot. Tracking Coronavirus Outbreak: Live Updates Italys world-topping death toll from Covid-19 approached 5,500 on Sunday after the Mediterranean country reported another 651 deaths in 24 hours. The latest daily toll was smaller than Saturdays record 793 fatalities but still the second-highest registered during Italys month-long crisis. The number of new infections rose by 10.4 per cent to 59,138. The government banned travel within the country on Sunday in yet another attempt to slow the spread of Sars-CoV-2 virus. It is the most difficult crisis in our post-war period, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said in a video posted on Facebook, adding only production activities deemed vital for national production will be allowed. The hardest-hit region of Lombardy banned any outdoor exercise not on personal property and set distance limits on dog-walking. Franco Locatelli, president of Italys Higher Health Council, said on Sunday that with the new stringent measures, Italy had exhausted all the possible ways it could to limit personal and professional contact. Last week, Italy overtook China as the country worst hit by the highly contagious virus. Spain, France and the UK all reported spikes in fatalities and caseloads over the weekend too, with fears mounting that numbers could mushroom in line with Italys in the coming weeks. Spain recorded close to 400 new fatalities on Sunday, bringing the total to 1,720, prompting a dire warning from the Prime Minister. We must prepare ourselves emotionally and psychologically for very hard days ahead, Pedro Sanchez said on Saturday. Sanchez said he would ask Parliament to extend a 15-day state of emergency, which bars people from leaving home unless absolutely essential, until April 11. Italy and Spain together account for 2,000 fatalities due to the deadly coronavirus disease Covid-19. COVID-19: FAST MOVING VIRUS REQUIRES FAST ACTION The federal government was slow to respond to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) crisis and is still falling far short of what is required. This is an emergency. Peoples lives and health are at stake. Unemployment is set to skyrocket; many people face a loss of income, a cut in living standards, poverty, and homelessness. The Governor-General has declared a biosecurity emergency and given the government extra powers to deal with the crisis and some state governments have declared a state of emergency. The government could still do much more to protect and provide for the well-being of the people of Australia. The $17.5 billion allocated in its first stimulus package provides a one-off payment of $750 for welfare recipients. It also includes provision for businesses with a turnover of less than $500 million to be able to write off purchases of up to $150,000 and a specific allocation for the tourism sector. There are other provisions to support apprentices and grants of up to $25,000 available for small businesses. This is to keep workers in jobs, but it is not clear what, if any, guarantees there are that this money would be used to do that. Shortages are leaving doctors, nurses, and other frontline workers dangerously ill-equipped to care for COVID-19 patients, due to limited access to supplies such as gloves, medical masks, respirators, goggles, face shields, gowns, and aprons. Healthcare workers rely on personal protective equipment to protect themselves and their patients from being infected and infecting others. The private/public structure of the health system adds to the problems of distribution, testing, and allocation of beds and resources. The Spanish government has announced measures to take over private healthcare providers and requisition supplies such as personal protection equipment and COVID-19 test kits. At the same time, fourth-year medical students are being co-opted to help. At the time of writing the government had still failed to heed the World Health Organisations (WHO) call to test every suspected case. The Australian government should also requisition the private health sector, putting it in a position to allocate resources on a rational basis for the testing and treatment of the virus and other urgent medical treatment. It is criminal that more Australians have not been trained as nurses, aged care and NDIS workers, and community workers. Australia relies heavily on migrant and visa workers from poorer developing countries a brain drain from countries that need those staff. The lack of centralised planning and co-ordination have seen large sectors of the population completely overlooked. In particular, disabled people appear to have been forgotten. The federal government, unlike some state governments, does not even have an Auslan interpreter present when making critical announcements. While the measures announced last week kept schools and university campuses open, an increasing number are going over to on-line teaching. Special leave All workers should be granted paid special leave if they are required to go into self-isolation or contract the virus. This is an area where the government could assist small businesses. The Work Health and Safety Act require employers to ensure the health and safety of employees and other persons so far as is reasonably practicable. This is achieved through employers managing risks to health and safety. As a highly contagious virus, COVID-19 is a hazard to the health and safety of employees and others. It can cause severe illness and even death in more vulnerable high risk people. At this stage, the most effective control is to identify potential carriers of the virus and support them to self-isolate to avoid exposing others. This requires full cooperation of employers and employees and it is essential that employees feel supported to declare potential illness. Workplaces that do not provide support to employees to declare potential illness are increasing the risk to employees and others, the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) said. It is essential that workers are supported to take the measures necessary to help control the spread of the virus. Workers who are not supported to isolate are at great risk of not identifying themselves. All workers need access to paid special leave and be supported to identify potential exposure and isolate at home. Casual workers, and others without access to leave, are more likely to attend work whilst sick for fear of a loss of income or future shifts. Some large and smaller employers, including several state agencies, have signed up to offer special paid leave and other support. There is a list on the ACTU corona website. Unemployed The government has failed to protect workers who have lost their job or have had their hours at work cut. Almost one-third of the workforce is casual, labour-hire, or work in the gig economy. They have no protection under the Fair Work Act a situation that needs rectifying as soon as possible. The layoffs have started as people cut back on their activities and businesses make cuts or close. Airlines, tourism, and education have already been struck with losses of Chinese students and the hit from the bushfires. Staffing cuts are becoming widespread as services are wound back or even cease. The government has agreed to waive the waiting period for unemployment benefits. Forty dollars a day is not enough to pay the rent, electricity, put food on the table, and meet other expenses. Newstart must be increased now, by at least $95 a week as called for by the Australian Council of Social Service. This would not only assist the unemployed but also be immediately spent and hence inject a much needed stimulus into the economy. Hundreds of thousands of jobs are at risk as the economy heads into deep recession. Stock markets are in free fall, with the odd short-lasting partial rise. Trade is grinding to a halt adding to the problems of shortages in some areas. International travel is out, and domestic is a fraction of its former level. State government packages include such measures as spending on public health, capital works expenditure, waiving or delaying payroll tax, and freezing utility bills and council rates. This will go a little way in contributing to employment and helping small businesses and families. Panic The public has received contradictory information from state and federal governments and medical experts. This has fuelled confusion and concern in the community that sees the measures being taken overseas and the rapid spread of the virus elsewhere. The government is fuelling anxiety and panic responses in people, and the media is playing it up. The Morrison Coalition government says that between twenty and sixty per cent of the population will become infected with the virus. Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Paul Kelly, said that under the best case scenario of a twenty per cent infection rate, about 50,000 people out of 5 million infected with COVID-19 would die. In a moderate scenario of 10 million infections forty per cent of the population would mean 100,000 dead, Kelly said. This best case scenario paints a grim picture of what lies ahead, and shows little confidence in the governments handling the situation. The official number of deaths in the Peoples Republic of China is less than 5,000. So it is not surprising that people who have the financial means are rushing the supermarkets and hoarding in preparation for self-isolation. The millions of Australians who are struggling daily to pay bills cannot do this. They should not be denied essentials. Supermarkets have made a killing out of the massive hike in sales. Trollies stacked with large bags of rice, or disposable nappies or long-life milk, etc. are continuously wheeled out the door. People can be seen returning to fill another trolley, and then another and so on. Sanitiser and soap have not been seen on the shelves for weeks in some stores. At present, the number of virus cases is doubling every four or five days. Much more could be done to educate the public and provide transparency about the situation and reasoning behind decisions. This would assist in building trust and understanding. Bans The measures announced on Wednesday 18th March restrict outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people and non-essential gatherings of 100 people indoors. The medical experts strongly advise on good hand hygiene and social distancing maintaining a distance of 1.5 metres. How this can this be done in schools, especially with younger children, is not as easy as it sounds. For example, how many classrooms are big enough for social separation? The latest travel advice is not to travel overseas, with the possibility of even stricter measures on the way. Risk to health care workers Since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, prices of medical equipment have surged. Surgical masks have seen a six-fold increase, N95 respirators have trebled, and gowns have doubled. WHO has warned that severe and mounting disruption to the global supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) caused by rising demand, panic buying, hoarding and misuse is putting lives at risk. Healthcare workers rely on PPE to protect themselves and their patients from being infected and infecting others. But shortages are leaving doctors, nurses and other frontline workers dangerously ill-equipped to care for COVID-19 patients. Moratorium required Special provisions must be made for people who do not have the means to pay rent, mortgage repayments, electricity, and other essential bills. Banks must be forced to suspend mortgage/rent payments. Emergency housing must become a top government priority, programs such as these will not only ensure a persons right to housing, but also significantly increase employment and affordable housing, the Communist Party of Australia said in a statement on the virus. (See page 3) All evictions must be stopped, and phone, energy and finance companies must back off households trying to survive on reduced incomes during the coronavirus crisis, Tenants Victoria and a coalition of more than thirty community groups said. The chair of housing group Homelessness Australia, Jenny Smith, has also called for the federal government to immediately deliver emergency payments to casual workers who lose their income during the pandemic, to prevent a tsunami of homelessness. Tens of thousands of Australian households have lost the wages they need to pay their rent because of the mass cancellation of events, and the requirement on growing numbers of people to self-isolate or quarantine, Smith said. More than thirty social services organisations around Australia have urged companies that provide essential services energy, water, finance, phones and rental housing to support people affected by the pandemic. For petitions to the government and other information for workers and trade unions visit the Australian Unions website. Hotels and guesthouses in Sligo-Leitrim are seeking the urgent support of local TDs to help save Irish tourism and secure the livelihoods of thousands of people employed across the country. Michael Yates, Chairperson of the Sligo-Leitrim Branch of the Irish Hotels Federation states: Safeguarding public health is an absolute priority for us, and this must go hand-in-hand with ensuring we have a viable economy to return to after the crisis. The health and wellbeing of our people is intertwined with the economy. People will need livelihoods when this is all over including the 260,000 people across the country who, up until recently, were employed in tourism and hospitality. This represents 11% of total employment nationally. It is also important to note that 70% of these jobs are outside of Dublin which highlights the regional contribution of tourism. Over 100,000 have already been laid off and it is deeply regrettable that many more will follow in the coming days,"h said. Tourism makes a vital economic contribution to our local economy here in Sligo-Leitrim and, up until last week, it supported 4,900 jobs and generated 178m in local tourism revenues annually. Within a short number of weeks, we have seen revenues plummet by up to 100% across the sector. Tourism businesses have now closed with thousands of people being laid off on a daily basis across the country. The challenges we now face are existential and far greater than anything we went through during the financial crisis. We require extraordinary measures and political leadership right now to ensure these closures and layoffs are temporary. That is why the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) has called on the Government to act extremely quickly to ensure that large parts of our economy, including tourism, are not obliterated by the current crisis." He said that Ireland needs its own great national effort to protect jobs along similar lines to the UK. It is extremely regrettable that the response so far by Government has been inadequate and this is causing alarm across our sector given the lessons learnt from the financial crisis and urgency required to minimise long-term damage to vulnerable sectors of the economy," he said. Last week, for example, the Government moved to defer commercial rates for businesses impacted by the crisis. Such a deferment is futile for tourism businesses that have no revenue as it just means they are being asked to accumulate the liability. It fails to tackle the underlying problem and will do little to get our people in Irish tourism back to work as part of rebuilding Ireland. For those businesses most affected, including those that have closed, these Local Authority rates must be waived until the crisis is over. Cash flow in particular is the killer of businesses in crises like this, and we have called on the Government to implement measures that will assist with cash flow now as well as reducing the rates of tourism VAT and employers PRSI to zero for the duration of the crisis. In addition to our call for local authority rates to be waived, we are seeking direct business supports, including finance and marketing assistance. Urgent measures required now: We now expect societal and business interruption to last far longer than originally anticipated, and this significantly changes the context and scale of Government intervention required. Nothing short of a drastic intervention will secure the future of Irish tourism. Hoteliers in Sligo-Leitrim are calling for urgent Government action on the following issues to protect the long-term viability of the 260,000 Irish tourism jobs and the wider economy: 1. Employees: Government should commit to paying 80% of the salary of workers if businesses keep them on their payroll. Similar to mortgage deferments, provide grants for employees who are renting. 2. Cashflow / Finance: measures to assist with cashflow for businesses facing short term problems, including: i. Interest free loans with deferred capital payment structures ii. Government supported and targeted bank support initiatives iii. 12-month payment deferment on Senior debt (Capital and Interest) 3. Government grants: business interruption grants to help businesses reopen and interest-free Capex grants that are repayable over time 4. Local Authority rates and water charges: to be waived for the duration of business interruption and initial recovery period due to Covid-19. 5. Taxation: tourism VAT rates and employers PRSI to be reduced to zero until the industry has recovered. 6. Insurance: grants to cover businesss public liability and property insurance for the duration of the crisis and for Government to require the insurance industry to be more flexible with charges in relation to businesses that are closed. We are all in this together and local tourism businesses, including hotels and guesthouses, are determined to get through this crisis and get the 260,000 people back to work in tourism. There is only so much we, as individual businesses, can do in the face of such an overwhelming crisis that threatens to obliterate Irish tourism. That is why, on behalf of all our members and local tourism businesses, we urging all TDs in Sligo-Leitrim to support our call for decisive and exceptional measures at this time of national crisis, concluded Mr Yates. In that same time period, only essential employees will report to work, and non-essential employees who can work from home will be allowed to do so, Gonzalez said. All non-essential employees will still be paid and receive benefits during this time, he said. TVS Motor Company has decided to halt all manufacturing operations at its plants in India and Indonesia till further notice following the coronavirus outbreak. All relevant employees have already been provided with work from home facility, the company said in a statement. "The well-being of the employees is paramount for the company. The immediate focus is to ensure the safety of employees, their families, and the extended enterprise including suppliers, dealers and our customers," it said. The company said it will protect jobs and salaries following the COVID-19 pandemic. The company would work closely with its dealers and suppliers and extend all support to them in the face of "this unexpected difficulty," the statement added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The department is urging people to submit claims before 10 a.m. or after 3 p.m., and to refrain from calling to check on the status or from trying to file over the phone. Claims cannot be submitted using a smartphone, but rather must be sent through a desktop, laptop or tablet. In Brittany, around fifteen cars with foreign number plates or from other regions were subjected to vandalism. Fifteen cars registered outside of Brittany, particularly those hailing from the Paris region, were vandalised over the weekend in several municipalities in Cotes-d'Armor, according to the Saint-Brieuc prosecutor's office. The public prosecutor of Saint-Brieuc, Bertrand Leclerc, told AFP they had received fifteen complaints in the municipalities of Plougrescant, Penvenan and Trevou-Treguignec. Cars were found with punctured tyres and scratches, as well as messages signed by FLB (the Brittany Liberation Front). Among the victims was a doctor whose car was on loan and registered in Luxembourg. Officials said they suspected the damage was linked to the coronavirus, in a display of defiance against those fleeing cities such as Paris for their second homes on the coast. Highlights Several posts claim Russian President Vladimir Putin has released lions on the streets in Russia However this claim is false A simple fact check brings out the true story Amid the coronavirus pandemic, several countries across the globe are under lockdown to control the spread of the virus. Social media is flooded with appeals from medical professionals and other emergency workers to stay home and be safe. In the wake of all this, several posts claim Russian President Vladimir Putin has released lions on the streets in Russia to ensure coronavirus lockdown in the country. These claims, however, are false. Russian president Vladimir Putin released 800 lions and tigers across Russia to devour anyone who comes out. Stay home or die hard. GOAT, says a post shared on Twitter. There are several such posts on Facebook as well. Russian president Vladimir Putin released 800 lions and tigers across Russia to devour anyone who comes out. Stay home or die hard. GOAT pic.twitter.com/9LXz6DLIf9 Kelvin M. Ashong (@Mawunya_) March 22, 2020 Heres another version of the post: Is this a wind up pic.twitter.com/sG4vnfnxAN Lord Sugar (@Lord_Sugar) March 22, 2020 There is no truth to the posts though. A reverse image search on Google resulted in an article by Metro.co.uk from April 15, 2016. It mentions that the incident actually took place in Johannesburg, South Africa. According to the article, Columbus, the lion was on the street acting for a local production company. Daily Mail had also published an article about the incident on the same date. It mentions that the lion wasnt on the loose and resided in a lion park close by. In case youre wondering about the breaking news band in the second version of the post, heres whats happening. A website called BreakYourOwnNews.com allows anyone to create a similar graphic. So the posts saying Russian President Vladimir Putin has released lions to ensure lockdown are fake. Not just because it can, but because it feels it should. Getty Images Absurdly Driven looks at the world of business with a skeptical eye and a firmly rooted tongue in cheek. So many businesses are asking the same questions: How long will it last? How much will people suffer? How great will the effect be on the economy? So many businesses -- especially those in travel and hospitality -- are being destroyed by the coronavirus Covid-19 outbreak. Many are instinctively concluding that they have to let most or all of their staff go. But is that truly the only option? In California, restaurants, bars and winery tasting rooms have been shut down. Vast numbers of people have lost their jobs. Many worry those jobs will never return. Yet one Napa Valley winery has taken a slightly different stance. Heitz Cellar in St. Helena has closed its tasting room, but continues to pay its staff. Its CEO and president, Carlton McCoy, explained why to the Napa Valley Register: In situations like this, you don't become a manager dealing with your employees. You're humans dealing with humans. Of course, many will say Heitz can afford it. It's owned by billionaire Gaylon Lawrence Jr. McCoy was a well-known sommelier and wine director at the Little Nell hotel in Aspen before Lawrence appointed him last year. Being a winery CEO is a slightly different proposition. Yet some -- perhaps even many -- CEOs would simply see redundant employees as a cost. Why bear that cost, especially in times so uncertain? In any case, if and when business does pick up, you can rehire them for, very likely, a lower salary. Right? For McCoy, it seems, it's simple: We're not looking for the quick game, or looking to report to shareholders that we were somehow profitable in the middle of a pandemic. It's true that many CEOs live to impress shareholders and garner stock bonuses. Why am I thinking of airlines here? They made vast profits. They spent billions on stock buybacks. Now they claim to have no money, so please could they have another $50 billion? Or else the employees must go. McCoy, though, says Heitz is choosing to make less profit and changing some investment priorities. Some might wonder whether the 40 employees are simply being reassigned new tasks, as wineries are currently deemed essential businesses in Napa. A Heitz spokeswoman told me: Per the current shelter in place order, all employees are at home. There are some management level team members who are working from home. Still, this decency will surely only last a limited amount of time, you might think. Heitz says otherwise: There is no time limit in regards to paying all Heitz employees. It is not just a gesture, but one that speaks to the leadership team's values. The leadership team is invested in the people and the community of Napa Valley. They understand how difficult some of their employees' lives would be if left with no wages. Don't the employees have to do anything to earn their money? Well, Heitz says that every day each employee has to send two ideas to McCoy. These ideas must revolve around helping the winery be in a stronger position when it reopens to guests. Looking after your people when things are dire isn't easy, especially in a situation as unprecedented as this. It's also the surest way to inspire their loyalty and effort if and when things improve. Clearly Heitz feels it can afford it. It's likely in a far better position than many businesses. But I've heard of at least one other billionaire this week who concluded that, goodwill be damned, idled employees were expendable. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky has tested positive for the coronavirus, his Deputy Chief of Staff Sergio Gor announced Sunday. The Kentucky Republican said he was tested out of caution due to his extensive travel and events. Senator Rand Paul has tested positive for COVID-19, Pauls account tweeted. He is feeling fine and is in quarantine. He is asymptomatic and was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive travel and events. He was not aware of any direct contact with any infected person. The thread continued, He expects to be back in the Senate after his quarantine period ends and will continue to work for the people of Kentucky at this difficult time. Ten days ago, our D.C. office began operating remotely, hence virtually no staff has had contact with Senator Rand Paul. Also Read: Fox News Media Headquarters in NY Hit With 4 Cases of Coronavirus Paul is the first U.S. senator and third lawmaker to announce that they have tested positive, followed by Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) and Rep. Ben McAdams (D-Utah). Paul was the only senator to vote against an $8.3 billion emergency supplemental aid bill to deal with the health crisis last month. I support our governments efforts to fight the coronavirus, Paul said in a statement. We also owe it to the American people to do it in a way that avoids piling billions more in debt on their backs. He was also one of eight senators who voted against paid sick leave in a stimulus bill that ultimately passed 90-8. I think that the paid sick leave is an incentive for businesses to actually let go employees and will make unemployment worse, Paul told Newsweek. Read original story Senator Rand Paul Tests Positive for the Coronavirus At TheWrap By Trend Turkey's export of chemical products to Uzbekistan increased by 3.67 percent and amounted to $34.3 million from January through February 2020, Turkeys Trade Ministry told Trend on March 19. Turkey's export of chemical products to Uzbekistan amounted to $17.7 million in February 2020, showing an increase of 0.99 percent compared to February 2019. From January through February 2020, Turkeys export of chemicals to world markets increased by 1 percent compared to the same period of 2019, and amounted to $3.2 billion. Over the reporting period, Turkeys export of chemicals amounted to 10.9 percent of the country's total export. Turkey's export of chemical products to world markets amounted to $1.5 billion in February 2020, which is 7.8 percent less compared to February 2019. In February 2020, Turkeys export of chemical products amounted to 10.3 percent of the country's total export. According to the ministry, Turkeys export of chemical products amounted to $20.6 billion from February 2019 through February 2020. Turkey's foreign trade turnover in Jan. 2020 amounted to $33.9 billion. In Jan. 2020, Turkey's export increased by 6.4 percent compared to Jan. 2019 and amounted to $14.8 billion. Turkey's import increased by 18.8 percent in Jan. 2020 compared to Jan. 2019, amounting to $19.2 billion. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz You may not be able to hit like a San Francisco Giants player, but you can stream like one. Like the rest of us, two-time World Series champion Hunter Pence is sheltering in place and attempting to unwind by watching television and movies. He shared with us a list of his favorite shows and movies that he's watching to fight cabin fever (scroll through the slideshow above). Stop & Shop announced Monday its donating $1 million to aid food banks across the northeast, including Boston, Springfield and Worcester, amid the coronavirus pandemic. The donation will be split among its 13 regional food banks partners. The money will be used to support the food banks in their efforts to combat food insecurity amid the pandemic. Specifically, the donation aims at supporting small business workers who may not be compensated during temporary closures, children without access to meals at school, older adults who are most vulnerable to the virus, and existing food bank clients who face food insecurity daily. The food banks receiving aid includes the Greater Boston Food Bank, the Worcester County Food Bank and the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. The effect of coronavirus is far more than physical; its having an economic impact on families and their ability to put food and other necessities on the table, Stop & Shop President Gordon Reid said in a statement. This donation will help our food bank partners across the Northeast who let us know theyre in need of cash to support the vital work they are doing in our communities to ensure access to food. Last week, Stop & Shop announced its employees would receive 10% raises to help offset costs during the COVID-19 outbreak. Other food banks that will be helped across the northeast include: Rhode Island Community Food Bank Food Bank of CT Foodshare Food Bank for Westchester County Food Bank of the Hudson Valley Fulfill Food Bank for NYC Community FoodBank of NJ Long Island Cares Island Harvest Related Content: A plane carrying returning medical staffers arrives at Kunming Changshui International Airport in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 22, 2020. About 700 medical workers of Yunnan Province left Wuhan on Sunday after finishing their tasks in Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Jiang Wenyao) The Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt. Ltd. (SMIPL), the two-wheeler subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan, has suspended production at its manufacturing plant at Kherki Dhaula, Gurgaon till further notice. This is in view of the precautionary measures taken in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and in line with the Haryana Government directives in this regard, a press statement said. SMIPL Managing Director Koichiro Hirao said, While the company has taken all measures to ensure the well-being of its employees at the workplace, we have announced a `Work from Home advisory to our employees and associates who are not involved with maintaining essential services". "The first and the foremost priority of the company is to ensure the health and safety of its employees and all stakeholders and we are determined to take all possible steps in that direction," he added. French luxury fashion conglomerate Kering has pledged to use a number of its factories to manufacture face masks in order to reduce the risk of shortages for medical staff amid the coronavirus pandemic. In recent weeks, it has been reported that doctors and medical staff across the globe are running out of face masks that they need to safeguard themselves against Covid-19. To combat the shortage Kering, the parent company to brands including Balenciaga, Gucci and Saint Laurent, has confirmed that it will start making face masks in its workshops. On Sunday, the company announced that its Balenciaga and Saint Laurent workshops in France will begin to manufacture masks once they receive approval from the relevant authorities. Kering said the workshops will comply with the strictest health protection measures for their staff members. In addition, Kering will also be providing the French health service with three million surgical masks, which it plans to buy and import from China, while Gucci has also vowed to produce and donate 1.1 million masks and 55,000 medical overalls to medical workers in Italy. The umbrella group has also made an undisclosed financial donation to the Institut Pasteur, an international research and education institute, to support its research into the coronavirus. The contributions follows those already made by Kering in China and Italy in recent weeks. In January, the company donated to the Hubei Red Cross Foundation to help fight the virus and also later donated to the four major foundation hospitals in the Italian regions of Lombardy, Veneto, Tuscany and Lazio. Kering is not the only fashion group stepping up during the coronavirus pandemic. Earlier this month, Louis Vuittons parent company LVMH pledged to use its perfume factories to manufacture hand sanitiser in order to reduce the risk of a shortage in France. Elsewhere, fashion designer Christian Siriano offered to make face masks for medical workers in New York. A spokesperson for the fashion designer said in a statement that the masks were being made specifically for hospital personnel. Christian has a staff of sewers on salary sitting at home and ready to work, said Bianca Bianconi, the designers publicist. Theyre starting to make them now, which we will donate and then a plan will be put together as we flesh it out to manufacture them/more. Air France Airbus A319-100 with registration F-GRHE landing at Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport in The Netherlands. Airbus boosted its liquidity with a 15 billion euro ($16 billion) expanded credit facility on Monday while suspending its 2020 outlook in response to the coronavirus crisis that has grounded much of the global airlines fleet. The European planemaker also joined U.S. rival Boeing in scrapping its 2019 dividend, worth a total of 1.4 billion euros. It also said it would suspend the voluntary top-up of staff pension schemes. "These measures are designed to protect the future of Airbus and to ensure we can resume normal business or future business as soon as the situation improves," CEO Guillaume Faury told reporters. Airbus has not drawn down any credit lines and said it had enough liquidity to cope with the coronavirus with some 30 billion euros worth of liquidity available. "We have a lot of runway with this 30 billion," Chief Financial Officer Dominik Asam said. Airbus shares fell 10% versus a wider French CAC40 market index down by around 4%. Faury called for "strong government help" for airlines across the world that have been forced to ground fleets, as well as for distressed aerospace suppliers. The French government has offered 300 billion euros of loan guarantees to help companies, but Airbus said its own credit facility was commercial and did not fall under the scheme. Boeing, already battered by the year-old grounding of its 737 MAX airliner, last week called for $60 billion in U.S. support for the U.S. aerospace sector. He hath founded it upon the seas, declares the motto of the Cayman Islands, and the seas indeed are a primary draw of this heavenly destination. Scuba diving, sailing, swimming with stingraysthese are the kinds of activities on the agenda during a visit to Cayman. A common question I received about our trip was, Where are the Cayman Islands? Ill admit I had to look it up myselftheyre just south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica, about 480 miles due south of Miami but a world of their own. Part of the British West Indies, the Cayman Islands comprises three islands: Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac. At 10 square miles, Little Cayman is the smallest of the three; Cayman Brac, located five miles east of Little Cayman, is a little larger and more populated. (And its the Cayman Islands or just Cayman, never the Caymans, by the way.) While Cayman is a divers paradise, anyone would find it easy to fall in love with the easygoing atmosphere, diverse Caymankind locals, and rainbow of blues in the tropical waters surrounding the islands. Stingray City. (Cayman Islands Department of Tourism) Visiting the Cayman Islands The best season to visit Cayman is wintertime. Its less hot but windier, which is actually a perk because the breeze blows away the bugs and keeps temperatures cooler. Since its close to the equator, theres not a massive distinction between seasons in Cayman, but summer is dreadfully hot and humid; however, the stiller summers boast more placid waters, which is often preferred for water sports, as the seas are less choppy. Year-round, ocean colors range from deep cobalt to cerulean to soft turquoise, and the siren song of the sea beckons. Like many tropical islands, Cayman will feel expensive to most visitors. The islands official currency is the Cayman Islands dollar, though U.S. dollars are widely accepted as well. One Cayman Islands Dollar equals about $1.20 USD, so the already-high-priced items cost even more to Americans post-conversion. Its an island, after allalmost everything has to be imported. Starfish Point. (Cayman Islands Department of Tourism) Getting to the Cayman Islands Fortunately, jetting to the Cayman Islands couldnt be easier. There are direct flights to Grand Cayman from many major cities in the United States, including Atlanta, Charlotte, Miami, New York, Newark, Washington, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, and more. Cayman Brac also has a small aviation hub, but Little Cayman is served only by inter-island flights, which are offered daily. Cayman Airways is the main airline youll see around the islandsthey offer nonstop service from New York, Denver, Miami, Tampa, and a few Caribbean citiesbut major players like American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, United, and others also have direct flights into Grand Cayman. Flying to Grand Cayman from Miami takes an hour and a half or lessand in true island spirit, Cayman Airways serves free rum punch to passengers, even on its morning flights. The Cayman Islands are well-known for their extraordinary diving. (Glenn Ostle-Feather & Fins Photography) From Grand Cayman, its another 35-minute flight if you want to continue on to Little Cayman, and another 10 minutes from there to Cayman Brac (just make sure to hop out at the right stop, because usually, the same flight takes passengers to both). Your captain personally loads your luggage into the baggage compartment as you board; soon, youre gliding over the Caribbean Sea, gazing out the window in awe at previously unimaginable shades of deep sapphire and glowing azure. Youll hop between islands in what feels like a plane of your ownCayman Airwayss De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter seats 15, though there were only nine people on our flight; the runway at Edward Bodden Airfield in Little Cayman cant handle aircraft much larger than that. Southern Cross Club and beachfront. (Southern Cross Club) The near-private flight experience is just the beginning of the easygoing vibe of Little Cayman. I think Im seat 3C, I said as I ducked into the cabin, clambering forward and counting the rows. A fellow passenger laughed. Theres no such thing here. Crime, too, is a non-issue on Little Cayman; I didnt realize until the end of our stay that I had never actually received a room key, nor had we ever locked our door. Flights land in Little Cayman four times per day, and a barge arrives once a week to bring supplies and provisions from Grand Cayman. Sundown on the beach on Little Cayman. (Will Burrard-Lucas) Scuba Diving in the Cayman Islands Divers from around the world flock to the Cayman Islands for the undersea experience. The flourishing world hidden just beneath the islands serene and brilliant waters is like no other on earth; bright and healthy coral reefs, shipwrecks, and abundant marine life await across 365 unique dive sites. In the Cayman Islands, it isnt uncommon to spot sea turtles, eagle rays, sharks, and hundreds of colorful fishall on one dive. Diving in the Cayman Islands is a bit like swimming through a tropical aquarium. Best of all, massive underwater walls start as shallow as 25 feet from the surface of the water and plunge straight down as deep as 2,000 feet, creating a unique area to swim and explore. The water is warm and crystal-clear year-round, with perfect visibility even at 100 feet. The dive sites are pristine and plentiful; scuba diving doesnt get much better than this. If youre not a diver, the Cayman Islands is a great place to become one. I came to the Cayman Islands with my parents to learn to dive, Stephanie Besenhofer, a college student visiting from Wisconsin, told me. It was my graduation present. Id much rather have an experience like this than gifts. Stingray City is a gathering spot of southern stingrays; here they are tame and visitors can interact with them. (Cayman Islands Department of Tourism) Growing up in a family of divers, I always heard them talk about how amazing it is to be under the water, but I never understood until I experienced it for myself. From diving coral reefs to shipwrecks and everything in between, Im so grateful to have had my first dive experience in Grand Cayman. After two days and four open-water dives to earn her scuba diving certification (she took the exam and did her pool dives before coming to Grand Cayman), shes obsessed. I cant get enough, Besenhofer gushed. The warm water, plus its blue color and clarity, made it so easy to dive in, and the abundance of aquatic life took my breath away, making it so addicting to keep diving. My husband and I are seasoned divers and were thrilled to explore a couple of dive sites around Bloody Bay Marine Park, including the famous Bloody Bay Wall, during our visit to Little Cayman. From micro to macro, the reefs we dove were full of life; we swam alongside hawksbill sea turtles, angelfish, parrotfish, glowing black triggerfish, a nurse shark, and even a friendly Nassau grouper, who adopted us as his underwater companions. It was the kind of wondrous experience that reminded us why we love to dive. Considering the beauty of its subaqueous world, its easy to see why Cayman is the birthplace of modern recreational scuba diving. This year, the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame will celebrate its 20th anniversary and make a permanent home at Grand Caymans historic Pedro St. James. Beach view at Southern Cross Club. (Southern Cross Club) Little Cayman Tiny, remote, and with only about 200 permanent residents, Little Cayman is paradise found. Theres one grocery store, a liquor store, a museum, an airstrip, a few places to stayand not much else. Most of the action is on the south-southwest of the island, near the airport, while the world-class diving is on the north side. Still, due to the islands small size, its only a 25- to 30-minute boat ride to most dive spots. Located just a mile from the airport (which you can walk up to on foot, by the way) lies Southern Cross Club, home to a barefoot elegance unlike any Ive experienced before. In terms of accommodations, 14 beach cottages pepper 900 feet of waterfront property, keeping the vibe intimate and serene. The rate includes three meals per day and, as a dive resort, much of the daily agenda centers around the morning and afternoon dive excursions. One of the two dive boats, Lucky Lady and Lucky Devil, departs daily at 8 a.m. for a two-tank dive and returns by noon. Theres also a 2 p.m. afternoon dive, as long as four people sign up, plus occasional dusk and night dives. Breakfasttypically a buffet of fruits with a made-to-order omelet station and pancakes, waffles, and moreis served from 79 a.m. every day, and lunch starts as soon as the morning dive boat returns, usually around 12:30 p.m. Dinner ranges from an Indian buffet to a DIY pasta station to three-course plated service. Hammocks and the tranquil life on the beach at Southern Cross Club. (Southern Cross Club) Around 80 percent of guests are divers, but fishing is another popular activitySouthern Cross Club offers both deep-sea and flats fishing. Theres also bicycles, kayaks, paddleboards, and snorkel gear available, which you can use to explore offshore Owen Island, surrounded by a reef, or the shallow reef-protected sounds around the island. Home to up to 200 species of birds, including red-footed boobies and a growing population of the threatened West Indian whistling-duck, Little Cayman is also a birdwatchers paradise. Still, diving is the main attraction here. And, of course, look up at nightyoull see hundreds of stars and maybe even the Southern Cross itself. The honor system exists without mention on Little Cayman and especially at Southern Cross Club, where the bar is self-service until the bartender, Javier, comes on duty at 4:30 p.m. We asked when the bar closes: When theres nobody here, he tells me. For the record, he makes a mean pisco sour. During the day, opt for a local beer. White Tip Lager and Shell Shock IPA, two popular options, are both made by Cayman Islands Brewery on Grand Cayman. Presently, they dont export, so the Cayman Islands are the only places in the world to enjoy these brews. Southern Cross Club offers both deep-sea and flats fishing. (Southern Cross Club) Grand Cayman After a few days spent in a private island paradise, it was time to head to the more metropolitan Grand Cayman. Kimpton Seafire Resort, located on the famous Seven Mile Beach, awaited with its large-scale resort amenitiesthere are several pools, a stretch of beach with lounge chairs and umbrellas, and killer ocean views from the modern, elegant rooms. At the resort, dine at Ave or Avecitathe chefs counter tasting menu is a unique experienceor, for a more casual experience, opt for Coccoloba on the beach, where the Mexican-inspired menu of tacos, tostadas, quesadillas, and margaritas is exactly what youll crave while dining just steps from the sand. You can also head down the beach to Calico Jacks Bar & Grill, a laid-back beach bar free of pretension (and overpriced drinks). Off the property, book a dinner at waterfront Bacaro. The menu reminds one of tapas, but instead of Spanish cuisine, its Venetian-style Italian dishes with a Caymanian flairthink beetroot potato gnocchi, sweet-and-sour red shrimp, and black tagliolini with lobster. All are presented in undersized portions so you can order a medley and sample a variety of small plates, though there are medium to large-size dishes available as well. Pair it with a refreshing selection off the gin-and-tonic menu. Avecita, at Kimpton Seafire and Spa. (Kimpton Seafire and Spa) Diving is as popular in Grand Cayman as it is in Little Cayman, but due to its larger size, there are many other activities on offer as well. Breakfast with the Rays, an excursion from Red Sail Sports, is a crowd-pleaser: They pick you up from your resort in the morning and then you board a 65-foot catamaran to sail out to Stingray City Sandbar, enjoying a continental breakfast and coffee aboard. Stingray City is a gathering spot of southern stingraysin previous decades, fishermen coming in from a hard days work would navigate to the calm shallows to clean their catch, dumping the scraps into the water. The stingrays, hungry for an easy meal, soon began congregating. Today, theyre basically tame, and visitors can interact and swim with them. If the water is on the rougher side, as it was during our visit, the captain will replace your coral reef snorkeling session with an added jaunt to Starfish Point, where you can disembark and walk around in search of the beachs many starfish. And if rum punch sounds good as a morning beverage (hey, youre in the islands), you can charge it to your room from the boat. The pool at Kimpton Seafire and Spa. (Kimpton Seafire and Spa) Winter is the windier season in Cayman, and while gusty knots may ruin some peoples vacations, its a kite surfers dream. Take a lesson at Kitesurf Cayman, located within Barkers National Park on the north side of the island, where breezy tradewinds create ideal kiteboarding conditions. The sport is easier to pick up than youd think: Our instructor had just finished up with a 75-year-old man learning to ride, and supposedly hes quite good. Picking up kitesurfing in your golden years is, apparently, not uncommon; the sportintimidating, fast, and high-impact as it looksis still do-able, as much of the skill relies on being able to fly the kite properly. By the end of our two-hour lesson, we were able to get up and ride (even if only a few feet). Skye Sherman is a freelance travel writer based in West Palm Beach, Fla. She covers news, transit, and international destinations for a variety of outlets. You can follow her adventures on Instagram and Twitter @skyesherman The author was a guest of the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism. WASHINGTON (AP) Top-level negotiations between Congress and the White House teetered Sunday over a now nearly $2 trillion economic rescue package, as the coronavirus crisis deepened, the nation shut down and the first U.S. senator tested positive for the disease. As President Donald Trump took to the podium in the White House briefing room and promised to help Americans who feel afraid and isolated as the pandemic spreads, the Senate voted against advancing the rescue package. But negotiations continued on Capitol Hill. I think youll get there. To me its not very complicated: We have to help the worker. We have to save the companies, Trump said. Were enduring a great national trial and we will prove that we can meet the moment. Were at war. President @realDonaldTrump: "We're enduring a great national trial, and we will prove that we can meet the moment ... No American is alone as long as we are united." pic.twitter.com/MbdWe6zoQx The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 22, 2020 At the otherwise emptied out Capitol, the draft aid bill was declared insufficient by Democrats, who argued it was tilted toward corporations and did too little to help workers and healthcare providers. The setback sent Republicans back to the negotiating table. With a population on edge and shell-shocked financial markets poised for the new work week, doubts emerged about the fate of an agreement that would provide some relief against health and economic crises that are likely to stretch for several months. Americans dont need to see us haggling endlessly, warned Senate Majority Leader McConnell, R-Ky., his voice rising on the Senate floor. He sought passage of the package by Monday. But Democrats say the largely GOP-led effort does not go far enough to provide health care and unemployment aid for Americans, and fails to put restraints on a proposed $500 billion "slush fund" for corporations. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said the draft package significantly cut back our hospitals, our cities, our states, our medical workers and so many others needed in this crisis. While the congressional leaders worked to send help, alarms were being sounded from coast to coast about the wave of coronavirus cases about to crash onto the nation's health system. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio had dire, urgent news from the pandemic's U.S. epicenter: "April and May are going to be a lot worse," he said on NBC's "Meet the Press." De Blasio all but begged Washington to help procure ventilators and other medical supplies. He accused the president of "not lifting a finger" to help. Trump urged Congress to get a deal done and, during the Sunday briefing, responded to criticism that his administration was sluggish to act. He cited his cooperation with the three states hardest hit New York, Washington and California and invoked a measure to give governors flexibility in calling up the national guard under their control, while the federal government covers the bill. But even as Trump stressed federal-local partnerships, some governors, including Republican Greg Abbott of Texas, expressed unhappiness with Washington's response. The president himself took a swipe hours earlier at Gov. J. B. Pritzker, D-Ill., saying that he and "a very small group of certain other Governors, together with Fake News" should not be "blaming the Federal Government for their own shortcomings." This came as the first senator, Republican Rand Paul of Kentucky, announced he tested positive for the coronavirus. Paul, who is a doctor and close ally of the president, said in a tweet he was not showing symptoms and was in quarantine. Paul was seen at a GOP senators' lunch on Friday and swimming in the Senate gym pool on Sunday morning. His office said he left the Senate immediately after learning his diagnosis. A growing list of lawmakers have cycled in and out of isolation after exposure, and two members of the House have said they tested positive. Five senators were in self-quarantine Sunday evening. In recent days, Trump invoked the Defense Protection Act, a rarely used, decades-old authority that can be used to compel the private sector to manufacture needed medical supplies like masks and ventilators. Officials said Sunday that it would be used voluntarily and businesses would not be compelled to act. "We are a country not based on nationalizing our business," said Trump, who has repeatedly railed against socialism overseas and among Democrats. "Call a person over in Venezuela. Ask them, how did nationalization of their businesses work out? Not too well." The president tweeted Sunday that automakers General Motors and Tesla were given "the go ahead" to make ventilators and other products. But no automaker is anywhere close to making medical gear such as ventilators and remain months away, if not longer. Nor do the car companies need the president's permission to move forward. Ford, General Motors and Tesla are being given the go ahead to make ventilators and other metal products, FAST! @fema Go for it auto execs, lets see how good you are? @RepMarkMeadows @GOPLeader @senatemajldr Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 22, 2020 Two days after he lashed out at a reporter who asked about his message to frightened Americans, Trump said, ``For those worried and afraid, please know as long as I am your president, you can feel confident that you have a leader who will always fight for you." But minutes later, when he learned that rival Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, was one of those in isolation, he declared "Romney's in isolation? Gee, that's too bad." Trump said he was not being sarcastic. He also, at one moment, incongruously complained about the lawsuits and scrutiny has faced in his short political career, saying "I think it's very hard for rich people to run for office." The urgency to act is mounting, as jobless claims skyrocket, businesses shutter and the financial markets are set to re-open Monday eager for signs that Washington can soften the blow of the healthcare crisis and what experts say is a looming recession. Stock futures declined sharply as Trump spoke Sunday evening. Officials late Sunday put the price tag of the ballooning rescue package at nearly $2 trillion. That does not include additional measures being taken by the Federal Reserve to shore up the economy. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who was leading a third day of nonstop talks on Capitol Hill, said the plan was meant to prop up the nation's weakened economy for the next 10 to 12 weeks. Mnuchin said workers and businesses will get assistance to help cover payrolls for the next 10 weeks; unemployment insurance; and a one-time "bridge payment" of about $3,000 for a family of four. Hospitals, he said, will get approximately $110 billion for the expected influx of sick patients. The treasury secretary said a significant part of the package will involve working with the Federal Reserve for up to $4 trillion of liquidity to support the economy with "broad-based lending programs." But Democrats have pushed for add-ons, including food security aid, small business loans and other measures for workers saying the three months of unemployment insurance offered under the draft plan was not enough. They warned the draft plans $500 billion for corporations does not put enough restraints on business, saying the ban on corporate stock buy-backs is weak and the limits on executive pay are only for two years. LIVE: Press Briefing with Coronavirus Task Force https://t.co/bPsEAcwjwb The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 22, 2020 "We're not here to create a slush fund for Donald Trump and his family, or a slush fund for the Treasury Department to be able to hand out to their friends," said Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren. "We're here to help workers, we're here to help hospitals." The president, when pressed by a reporter, dodged a question as to whether his own business would seek federal funds. He also said, unlike his predecessors at times of national crisis, he would likely not call any past presidents for advice, saying "I don't think I'm going to learn much." The details are coming from drafts of both bills circulating among lobbyists but not yet released to the public. They were obtained by The Associated Press. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover. By ANDREW TAYLOR, JONATHAN LEMIRE and LISA MASCARO Associated Press. Bev Banks contributed. AP writers Colleen Long, Hope Yen, Mary Clare Jalonick, Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Alan Fram and Padmananda Rama contributed to this report. Image-conscious Brits are rushing to make emergency hair and nail appointments as salons remain open despite a lockdown on bars and restaurants to stem the progression of the coronavirus outbreak. Many visited over the weekend and today for emergency trims and root touch-up appointments - but experts are calling for salons to be shutdown to comply with social distancing measures and preserve the safety of customers and workers. Meanwhile people took to social media to complain they've been unable to purchase hair dye kits due to panic buying. Many products on the Boots website are currently listed as out of stock, while others complained of empty shelves at supermarkets. It comes as Good Morning Britain host Susanna Reid admitted she ordered hair dye and root touch-up for her self-isolation period - 'following the lead' of fellow TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp. Hairworks hairdressers, in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, pictured, is still open but will be shutting in the coming days due to customer and staff safety The salon stayed open today and customers were pictured having their hair and beauty treatments done A customer opted for a manicure as well as a colour treatment on her hair before the Rochdale salon shuts its doors Brits are rushing to make emergency hair and nail appointments as salons remain open despite a lockdown on bars and restaurants to stem the progression of the coronavirus outbreak. Pictured: a nail bar currently still open and welcoming customers in Dartford, Kent Bare shelves in this branch of Boots in Kensington, west London show the run on home hair dye kits, with many brands and shades selling out The NHBF (National Hair and Beauty Foundation) has requested urgent government action for all salons and barbershops to be immediately added to the list of businesses that must close. But many hairdressers fear losing out on income as a result. Mark Dowdell, a freelance stylist at Earlsfield Hair in south west London, told FEMAIL that shutting salons will 'really bite' financially. Over the weekend a number of salons across the UK advertised last minute appointments - while others were fully booked. Today customers were pictured having their nails done, with a number of beauty salons still open despite government warnings regarding social distancing. Experts warn against visiting the salon to 'save lives' Dr Perpetua Emeagi, a lecturer in Human Biology and Biological Sciences at Liverpool Hope University and specialist in public health and vaccine development, told FEMAIL: 'The subject of having your hair cut amidst the coronavirus crisis is a fraught one. 'Ive seen some arguments made that because a hairdresser is standing behind you, youre somehow at potentially less of a risk than if you were having prolonged face-to-face contact in close proximity. 'But I dont believe that to be the case. If youre situated close to someone coughing or sneezing, you have a high chance of becoming infected irrespective of whether the person was in front or behind you. 'Its impossible to maintain the 2m social distancing measure in a salon. We now know that coronavirus spreads by releasing droplets following a cough or a sneeze. But studies have also shown that we not only release droplets when we cough or sneeze, but also when we do other expiratory activities, including talking and laughing. My advice is that people should absolutely avoid the salon.' Lisa Ackerley, trustee and chair at Royal Society for Public Health, also urged customers to stay away from hair salons during this period. 'However much you need a hair cut, now is not the time,' she told FEMAIL. 'We all need to keep 2m (6ft) apart, so going to the hairdresser or beauty salon is just not going to work. 'It is the same for those who have home visits from mobile hair and beauty therapists. 'Any of us could be infectious without having any symptoms, even if we feel fine. You could infect the hairdresser, or they could infect you. 'I know it is hard, but in the scheme of things, staying apart from each other is more important than looking good - this will save lives. Protect ourselves and protect others. It is simply not worth it.' Advertisement Many visited over the weekend and today for emergency trims and root touch-up appointments. Pictured: a barber shop in Dartford, Kent which is still open Many hair dye items are currently listed as out of stock on the Boots website, leaving customers irate Brits have been stocking up on home dye kits, meaning many products on the Boots website are out of stock Customers took to social media to complain that there is currently limited stock of hair dye available online and in shops On Saturday, Twitter user Debra wrote: 'Got a text from my hairdresser first thing this morning, asking if I want an emergency trim before they close up this afternoon. Turns out it was her day off and she came in especially. Feeling the love.' Nichola Daly, from Belfast, tweeted: 'Tried to get a last minute appointment with my hairdresser - fully booked today! There may be a crisis, but there won't be any greys shining through in Belfast.' And Tracey, from Tamworth, wrote: 'My hair appointment was cancelled so I went to another salon for an emergency fringe trim. I'm going to miss being high-maintenance.' Yesterday the Conservative MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale, David Morris, called on the government to add hairdressing businesses to the list of closed venues. This morning Sally Bloomfield, Honorary Professor at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine told FEMAIL: 'On the basis that we should limit any non-essential social interaction, yes, hair salons should be closed to fall in line with the other measures that have been introduced.' Over the weekend a number of salons across the UK advertised last minute appointments - while others were fully booked The NHBF said its priority is to 'protect our industry, colleagues, business owners, employees and clients from the further spread of the COVID-19 virus'. 'Some salons and barbershops have already taken the decision to close, and we believe that this is the right decision,' the organisation said in a statement calling for forced closures. 'Stylists, therapists and barbers are inevitably in close contact with a wide range of clients which means they cannot follow the governments social distancing guidelines.' Chancellor Rishi Sunak is believed to be preparing a fresh coronavirus economic bailout amid warnings thousands of sole traders will not survive the crisis. He had announced on Friday that the Government would cover 80 per cent of employers' wage bills in a bid to stop mass lay-offs. But following criticism that the self-employed were not receiving a similar level of support, the Treasury has spent the weekend drawing up a new package. Lisa Ackerley, trustee and chair at Royal Society for Public Health, urged customers to stay away from hair salons during this period. Pictured: a nail bar open in Dartford That will come as welcome news to Mr Dowdell, many of whose clients have cancelled their hair appointments for the foreseeable. 'I've seen a dramatic drop in my clients in the last two weeks, and certainly the last week,' he said. 'Mostly people have cancelled as a response to the social distancing, but also because we're a community hairdressers and have a high percentage of older clients, we've lost those because of the 70s being told to stay in. 'I did feel OK staying open until last week, and have carried on working, but I do think we come into close contact and there could be a high risk of transmission through contact.' He added that it is 'terrible' that the government has not yet made the same allowances regarding benefits for self-employed people. 'Obviously I will not earn anything over the coming weeks or months, which is very scary,' he said. 'I do find in general that the hair and beauty industry is always the last to get any help.' A spokesperson for Boots told FEMAIL: 'We have seen a significant increase in the sales of a range of different personal care products including hair dyes. We still have plenty of stock available in our warehouses and would encourage customers to use boots.com to place their orders.' The first rapid diagnostic test that could detect COVID-19 in around 45 minutes got a nod of authorization from US Food and Drug Administration, Friday. According to a statement from the manufacturer and California-based company Cepheid the shipment of the tests will begin next week. Chief medical and technology officer of Cepheid Dr. David Persing, MD, Ph.D., emphasized the importance of real-time evaluation of patients for admission to healthcare facilities due to the increasing number of demands for hospital services and clinicians having an on-demand diagnostic test. In addition, Persing pointed out the transformative effect of delivering an accurate test close to the patient to help alleviate the pressure on healthcare facilities as they can properly allocate their respiratory isolation resources. An answer to the plea of the healthcare community The announcement of the more efficient mode of testing answered the medical community's quest for quicker results in battling coronavirus, after weeks of battling the virus amid the scarcity of resources. Having a turnaround time of 24 hours to four days for the results of the tests, the previous testing methods were highly deficient and unacceptable for Dr. Rod Hochman, CEO Providence St. Joseph Health, an organization of 51 hospitals and about 1,000 clinics shared last week. Moreover, the dean of the Nation School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine set Wuhan, China as an example that if cases of the disease are not identified quickly and community spread continues unchecked, it could soon overwhelm the nation's medical system. Number of cases shot up During a Saturday news briefing on coronavirus response, Vice President Mike Pence announced that at least 195, 000 Americans were already tested wherein 22,000 of them tested positive and about half of the result is in New York. With the results skyrocketing more than 22,000, county hospitals and health care laboratory results around the country are not yet included in the data which means the numbers can balloon anytime if the data will be updated. In response to this, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo already addressed the state and said that the state and federal government are already working together to help contain the outbreak. Read also: NY Governor Cuomo Discusses State's Plans to Mitigate COVID-19 Spread Who should be first in line for testing? With the increase in number of tests, officials made clear as to what instances people should seek them. Emphasizing of using discretion before seeking a coronavirus test, the officials advised them to be administered to symptomatic people and not those who do not exhibit signs as they could be infected with the disease. Reminding the Americans, Pence stressed that if you don't have symptoms, don't do a test for it is another way of helping the nation to preserve the resources that the health care workers need in administering and supporting those who are dealing with coronavirus and other illnesses. Hesitant to be tested before for it is not necessary as he mentioned that given his position and after an office staff of him tested positive this week, he and wife Karen were tested for COVID-19. Related article: Dr. Fauci Says Social Distancing is Essential to Stop US from Becoming Italy @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Two Indians and 10 Kyrgyzstan nationals were held in preventive custody here on Monday in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak and sent to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the city for tests, police said. Acting on a complaint by the locals, police picked them up from a mosque in Kurji area of the Bihar capital. The foreigners were Islamic preachers, Digha police station SHO Manoj Kumar said. The two guides are residents of Uttar Pradesh, he said. Six of them were tested negative for COVID-19 while reports of the others are awaited, the police officer said. Six persons whose reports are awaited have been quarantined at a city hotel. "Initially, we detained them for medical examination but later set six of them free," the officer said, adding all had valid travel documents. They had arrived in the national capital in January this year, he added. The Bihar government had on Sunday announced a lockdown in urban areas with immediate effect to contain the possible spread of the novel coronavirus. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said the lockdown will remain in force in all district, sub-divisional and block headquarters, and municipal towns till March 31. The state had reported its first death due to COVID-19 on Sunday when a man with a travel history to Qatar died at the AIIMS here. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Need to know more about coronavirus in New York? Sign up for our daily morning newsletter. Correction officers pepper sprayed eight inmates over the weekend when they tried to go to a jail clinic to check their temperatures after a potential coronavirus case surfaced inside their Rikers Island unit, department records show. A so-called department probe team like a jail SWAT squad was summoned when the inmates refused orders to lock in inside the Anna M. Kross Center on Saturday night, according to an internal Correction Department initial report. A department spokesperson said on Monday that abuse allegations were being investigated. The incident began after an inmate in the housing unit who handled food was taken out when he exhibited flu-like symptoms, according to multiple sources. Other detainees then asked to have their temperatures taken by a medical staffer, two inmates told THE CITY. As they waited to go to the clinic, the probe team arrived, spraying several of them directly in the face multiple times, the inmates said. The Department of Correction is treating us like animals, said Angel Barbosa, 43, during a phone call from Rikers. Barbosa said he was doused multiple times in the head with pepper spray as he crouched down on his knees with his hands up in a corner. There was no riot, he added. It was just a couple of inmates asking to go to the clinic. Inmate Protests The next day, two housing dormitories of approximately 48 people each who are serving sentences of less than a year at the Robert N. Davoren Center, another Rikers facility, refused to go to the mess hall or to do their required daily work. The inmates are being held with people who are showing COVID-19 symptoms, one detainee said. Their beds are 2 1/2 feet apart and theyre being forced to clean with only a few shared pairs of yellow rubber gloves for protection. We want to be released immediately, he said. Anyone serving a city sentence is not a high risk to the community. City-sentences cases include anyone who is serving a year or less for something like petit larceny, misdemeanor drug possession, misdemeanor assault, disorderly, or theft of services, including turnstile jumping. Im worried that Im going to get coronavirus and that I wont be taken care of by this agency that doesnt care about us, he added. He said one man in his dorm was bright red and dry coughing, surrounded by others, before being transported to a medical area. People Are Gonna Die He was in here two and half hours, feeling and looking very sick, he said. There are a lot of elderly inmates in here, theres a 65-year old man who had surgery a week ago. Hes still here. People are gonna die. The unrest behind bars comes as the de Blasio administration struggles to curb the spread of the coronavirus among jail staff and detainees all held in close quarters. All told, there were 39 COVID-19 cases among people in custody and 21 among staff as of Monday, according to the Correction Department. There are also more than 130 officers and medical personnel under quarantine, along with 82 inmates, according to a source. The city has released more than 60 inmates with health issues and low-level charges from jail and is looking at another 200 possible cases, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Sunday. Meanwhile, up to 1,000 inmates in New Jersey will be let go, based on an agreement with prosecutors and defense lawyers. Inmate advocates are urging New York City to do the same and more. What Mayor de Blasio is doing is not enough. He should be ensuring the release of the greatest number of people, as soon as possible, said a joint statement by Eileen Maher and Jovada Senhouse, community leaders at VOCAL-NY. There were 666 people in jail due to a technical parole violation, like missing a curfew or meeting with a parole officer, as of Sunday. Also, 551 people are serving a year or less on city sentences for low-level offenses. Advocates want the city to immediately release everyone from those two groups and to stop putting new people in jail amid the coronavirus outbreak. No Warning Addressing the pepper spray incident, Peter Thorne, a Correction Department spokesperson, said safety is a top priority. We are deeply troubled by these allegations which, if true, do not represent the standard of conduct we hold employees to, he said. We are investigating this alleged incident. Talbert Brown, 55, an inmate in the unit who has asthma, said he was waiting to go to the clinic when the probe team arrived Saturday. We were standing behind the gate, he recalled. They just sprayed us because we wanted to get tested. They didnt give us no warning, he alleged. I couldnt breathe [afterwards]. My nose started bleeding. Afterwards, Talbert, who has been awaiting trial on a drug charge since February 2018, alleged he wasnt taken to the medical clinic until Sunday afternoon. They are not giving us no medical attention, said Barbosa. They are just saying if you die, we die with you. Help THE CITY cover the coronavirus crisis: If you or someone youre close to is incarcerated or works for the city Correction Department, please email us at coronavirus@thecity.nyc. You also can reach Reuven Blau at rblau@thecity.nyc or 646-591-1256 and Rosa Goldensohn at rgoldensohn@thecity.nyc or 646-397-1795. Want to republish this story? See our republication guidelines. SUPPORT THE CITY You just finished reading another story from THE CITY. We need your help to make THE CITY all it can be. Please consider joining us as a member today. DONATE TODAY! ROME -- Italy banned travel within the country on Sunday in yet another attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus, as data showed a further 651 people had died from the disease, lifting the number of fatalities to 5,476. A month after the first death from the highly infectious virus was registered in Italy, the government also issued an order freezing all business activity deemed non-essential in an effort to keep ever more people at home and off the streets. Amongst the sectors targeted were the car, clothing and furniture industries. They have until Wednesday to wind down operations and will have to remain shuttered until April 3. The interior and health ministries issued a separate statement, telling people they had to stay where they were, unless urgent business or health reasons forced them to move to another town or region. Italy has registered more deaths than any other country in the world, while the number of confirmed cases is second only to China, with the tally rising by 5,560 to 59,138 on Sunday, the Civil Protection Agency said. However, offering a ray of hope, the latest figures represented an improvement on Saturday, when the death toll rose by 793 and new cases increased by 6,557. We dont want to get over enthusiastic or overestimate a trend, but compared to yesterday there is a slight drop in the figures, said Franco Locatelli, the head of Italys top health council, which advises the government. We must not lower our guard, we must continue with the measures taken and respect the governments instructions, he told a news conference. Regional leaders having been pushing Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte for days to tighten the screws as infections have spiralled, but some business leaders and financiers expressed alarm at his decision to shutter more companies. 'At war' The closure of production activity is devastating. Our companies will lose market share and wont be able to reopen for lack of liquidity, Alberto Forchielli, head of Mandarin Capital Partners private equity fund, wrote on Twitter on Sunday. This is the end of Italys industrial system. Amongst the companies that said they were halting production in Italy were the worlds largest eyewear company, Luxottica. However, union leaders accused Conte of not going far enough with his closure order, noting that dozens of sectors had won exemptions. They threatened to call a general strike if they thought too many workers were exposed to health risks. In a video posted late Saturday night on Facebook, Conte said Italy was facing its most serious crisis since World War Two, with the health system in the wealthy north at breaking point and almost every intensive care bed now filled. China has already sent medical equipment and doctors to help Italy, while more than 50 Cuban doctors arrived in Milan on Sunday to provide assistance to the stretched hospitals. The Russian military said it would also start sending aid to Italy on the orders of President Vladimir Putin. Domenico Arcuri, head of the governments coronavirus relief effort, told state broadcaster RAI that Italy was at war. All wars are won in two ways, with ones own army and with the help of ones own allies, he said. Jefa Tacos sells gift cards for any amount. Its a great way for the community to come and help, Ocampo-Pena said. Were worried for our employees who are hurting the most. We have to cut down on hours and were going to try and keep them. We dont want to lose them. Were doing everything possible for our team. Were trying to ride it out as much as we can. KartikeyaL Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Jaipur Posts: 3,523 Thanked: 15,345 Times View My Garage The 2020 Lake Club Vintage and Classic Car Show, Kolkata The 2020 Lake Club Vintage and Classic Car Show was held in Kolkata on 23rd February 2020, in association with Calcutta motor Group (CMG). CMG is an association of Vintage car owners in Kolkata. Some of the members are Mr. Shrivardhan Kanoria, Mr. Rajiv Ghosh, Mr. Sanjay Ghosh, Mr. Sarojesh Mukherji, Mr. Subhojit Kumar and others. The show was curated by Mr. Shrivardhan Kanoria, after discussion with with Mr. Subhojit Kumar who is connected to the Lake club committee members. The idea got a red carpet welcome by the committee and the show was announced. Info courtesy: Mr. Shrivardhan Kanoria Some selected Vintage and Classic cars were invited, Mr. Rajiv Ghosh was involved with selection of the two wheeler's. Pictures from 22nd & 23rd February Picture credit : Deepanjan Sarkar and others List of participants Preparation CMG is an association of Vintage car owners in Kolkata. Some of the members are Mr. Shrivardhan Kanoria, Mr. Rajiv Ghosh, Mr. Sanjay Ghosh, Mr. Sarojesh Mukherji, Mr. Subhojit Kumar and others.The show was curated by Mr. Shrivardhan Kanoria, after discussion with with Mr. Subhojit Kumar who is connected to the Lake club committee members. The idea got a red carpet welcome by the committee and the show was announced.Info courtesy: Mr. Shrivardhan KanoriaSome selected Vintage and Classic cars were invited, Mr. Rajiv Ghosh was involved with selection of the two wheeler's. Last edited by KartikeyaL : 21st March 2020 at 14:25 . Dublin's Moore Street could rival some of the most famous streets in the world such as Las Ramblas in Barcelona if it is developed with vision, according to Dublin historian Barry Kennerk. "During the 1950s and 1960s there were about 70 stalls on Moore Street; today there are only 17," he said. "The area needs an integrated selling experience, not a fragmented one." Mr Kennerk said Dublin needs a Camden Market of its own, referring to the famous market in London which has evolved to become an important nerve centre for trade. "What is needed is a must-visit destination with a historical and cultural centre at its heart," he said. He said in the future, "when inbound air travellers are browsing their in-flight magazines, they need to read about Dublin's Moore Street in the same way people read about Las Ramblas in Barcelona, the English Market in Cork or the Christmas Market in Vienna". UK property group Hammerson announced last May the "unique character and vibrancy" of Moore Street will be restored under its proposals for a new urban quarter in the north inner city. Hammerson said it would seek "to protect and enhance the Moore Street area's unique heritage, including its market and connections with 1916, while at the same time delivering clear economic benefits and employment opportunities locally." "The plan by Hammerson has been broadly welcomed by the new Moore Street Advisory Group," Mr Kennerk added. Finding skincare designed to work when you are in your late 50s or beyond has never been easy. Product options tend to be limited, with obtuse terminology (densifying cream for fragile skin), accompanied by pictures of models in their mid-30s. The beauty industry isnt known for speaking frankly to its customers at the best of times, and once youve been through the menopause and have got the T-shirt, it hardly speaks to you at all. But change is on the way. I started a pro-ageing brand for mature women because I knew they felt invisible and neglected and I was one of them, says Cathy Kangas, CEO and founder of Prai Beauty. Its Ageless Throat & Decolletage Creme, aimed at women aged 45-plus, was an instant success when launched in Marks & Spencer in 2018. Excepting M&S Food, it became the retailers second best-selling product, making Prai the stores number one beauty brand. Last month, Prai launched Platinum Firm & Lift, a range specially designed for post-menopausal skin. We wanted to take our story one step further and address post-menopause, says Kangas. Theres no reason any of the changes that come with age should be swept under the carpet. Inge said that finding skincare designed to work when you are in your late 50s or beyond has never been easy It makes good economic sense, too. In her book The Skincare Bible, consultant dermatologist Dr Anjali Mahto points out that, despite womens average life expectancy being 83, the menopauses onset hasnt changed. That means more women with post-menopausal skin. If thats not a market waiting to be tapped, its hard to see what is. Kangas says: The tide is turning; theres an appetite and need for honesty and transparency over meaningless beauty-speak. Women want to celebrate whatever stage of life theyre in. That was borne out by the success of a spate of small new skincare brands last year which focused on the menopause, such as VENeffect and MegsMenopause (from Noel Gallaghers former wife Meg Mathews). Besides Prai, brands Nivea, Clarins and Korres have just unveiled formulas for post-menopausal skin. Like Kangas, Lena Korres, co-founder and chief innovation officer of Korres, says she wants to open up the dialogue so this subject is no longer taboo. Being post-menopausal means the body is oestrogen-deficient. That spells disaster for skin, which relies on the hormone. Five years after the menopause, you will have 30 per cent less collagen (which provides structure), 30 per cent fewer skin lipids (fats) and a 36 per cent drop in cell turnover. Your protective skin barrier will suffer water loss and irritation, and loss of fat and connective tissue will weaken blood vessels. The visible result is drier, thinner, slacker skin with age spots. So how to mitigate these ravages? Fortunately, the new breed of post-menopause skin formulas are here to do just that . . . FRENCH FAVOURITE Clarins Nutri-Lumiere, clarins.com The new Nutri-Lumiere range from the iconic French brand Clarins comprises a day cream and emulsion, both 90, night cream, 94, and essence, 55, designed to tackle dull post-menopausal skin. Marie-Helene Lair, Clarinss scientific communications director says: This demographic has been asking for targeted formulas for years and now has them. As Lair explains it, skin has a micro-nutrient network, which sends water, vitamins and other nutrients to the cells. Post-menopause, its activity grinds to a near-halt, leaving skin lacklustre. Nutri-Lumiere range from the iconic French brand Clarins comprises a day cream and emulsion, both 90, night cream, 94, and essence, 55 So the brand devised a complex of 17 brightening, energising and toxin-busting botanical extracts, delivered in light liquid or gel-cream formulas to enhance all-important penetration. Optimum nutrition restored, mature skin gets its glow back. The four products deliver roughly the same benefits, but come in different textures to suit individual preferences. VERDICT: A quenching treat. 4/5 AFFORDABLE OPTION Nivea Q10 Power 60+, boots.com This new addition to the popular Q10 range, launched last November, includes a day cream and Night Cream, both 13.99, and pampering oil, 19.99. It uses lauded cell-energising vitamin CoQ10 (already a Nivea staple) for boosting cell regeneration when skin needs it most. This is teamed with argan and grape seed oils, plus water-binding panthenol for rich moisturisation and skin barrier protection. Nivea Q10 Power 60+, boots.com: This new addition to the popular Q10 range, launched last November, includes a day cream and Night Cream This is the only post-menopause range that features a face oil (with CoQ10 and healing milk thistle oil). VERDICT: Reliably rich-textured. 3/5 THE POWER OF PINE Korres White Pine Meno-Reverse, feelunique.com This range has a pair of products a Volumising Serum-in-Moisturiser, 39, and Deep Wrinkle Plumping + Age Spot Concentrate, 54 which see the chic Greek beauty company set its sights on the thinning and blotchiness that blights post-menopausal skin. We use a white pine bark extract celebrated for its proven ability to detoxify cells and accelerate the production of new proteins, says Lena Korres. Its teamed with a peptide complex that restores water levels and skin volume. Korres White Pine Meno-Reverse, feelunique.com: This range has a pair of products a Volumising Serum-in-Moisturiser, 39, and Deep Wrinkle Plumping + Age Spot Concentrate, 54 Crucially, says Korres, clinical trials show that the right technology can actually put the skins state into reverse, with skin density, natural moisture, wrinkle depth and evenness in tone returning to pre-menopausal levels in 28 days. The two products work together, with the serum geared more towards tackling pigmentation and the cream concentrating on plumping and volumising. VERDICT: Impressive ingredients and research. 5/5 PLATINUM PICK Prai Platinum Firm & Lift, marksandspencer.com The full set comprises a day creme and serum, 35 each, and a night creme and serum, 38 each, all focused on recovering skins elasticity, with peptide complexes proven to lift and tighten. In studies of women aged 54 to 75, skin showed a 20 per cent improvement in firmness and density in two months. But there are other benefits. We use polymer and protein elastomer complexes that form a smoothing, tightening film on the skin, says Cathy Kangas. Prai Platinum Firm & Lift, marksandspencer.com: The full set comprises a day creme and serum, 35 each, and a night creme and serum, 38 each These give an immediate lifted appearance and act as a repository for key ingredients, releasing them over time. Skins depleted moisture content, meanwhile, is restored with water-binding algae, hyaluronic acid and plant oils. Theres also platinum to tackle age spots and dullness, and antioxidants to shield from further damage. Our pick of these would be the Firm & Lift Day Creme for its long-term and immediate benefits. VERDICT: Visible skin improvement was instant. 4/5 As the number of coronavirus cases and deaths rise, most peoples attention will understandably be focused on immediate concerns; how do they keep vulnerable groups safe (if they themselves are not vulnerable); are there enough food supplies and medical equipment, and should the government be enforcing lockdowns? Given the paramount nature of these considerations, it has been harder to spot the upcoming Emergency Coronavirus Bill which the government expects to pass Parliament in all its stages today, and deserves serious contemplation. It grants MPs some of the biggest powers since the end of World War II, but they will have incredibly little time to debate the 329-page document such is the ferocity of the Coronavirus, which has greatly compromised parliamentarians ability to be in Westminster at all. Of course, we are in a crisis, and most of us simply want to do whatever it takes (to echo Rishi Sunaks words) to save lives and keep loved ones safe. Theres the temptation to say lets get this thing through when it comes to the legislation. But the Bill is proposing some radical changes, and is designed to last for two years making its risks quite considerable to our way of life, hence why it needs scrutiny. Perhaps its prime function is to give the police, public health and immigration officers more authority. Currently the police are allowed to arrest anyone who fails to comply with regulations, and courts can impose fines of up to 1,000, but they will soon be able to detain and quarantine anyone who they suspect of being infected with the Coronavirus. Of course, these powers are designed to control those who pose a public health danger, but ultimately means we can all be taken into a suitable location for assssment and kept there if suspected of being infectious. A more chilling part of the Bill focuses on crematoriums, with the aim of speeding up the disposal of dead bodies. Local authorities will be allowed to direct the ways in which these are facilitated, stored and disposed of (with the Bill adding that this should be done with care and respect). Furthermore, only one doctor will be necessary to authorise a cremation although a medical referee at a crematorium will have to sign off the paperwork. Up until now, two doctors have been required to sign this off; a rule created after Harold Shipman murdered around 250 patients through lethal injections. Relaxing regulations, generally, is one of the main aims of the Bill. It will mean that recently-retired doctors and nurses can return to work; that social workers whove recently left can temporarily be added to registers, and that judicial commissioners can be temporarily appointed, who can authorise warrants under anti-terror laws. This is, of course, fantastic; these people are our unsung heroes, and will be lifelines in the coming months and years ahead. But the harder question to ask is how relaxing qualifications, en masse, will affect the UK? What do temporarily appointed judicial commissioners mean for law and order? In other words, we should not pretend this Bill is just another day in politics. We are in a completely unprecedented situation so its highly likely the legislation will go through. Not least because the Government is exhausted, doesnt have much time to play with and there are urgent priorities; finding ventilators and protecting NHS workers. Even so, a reform this significant should not pass without questions. Fortunately, David Davis, Harriet Harman and Andrew Mitchell have already signed a cross-party amendment to put a sunset clause on the legislation after a year. Chris Bryant has also sought an amendment that means the legislation gets renewed every two months. While they may come across as troublemakers when most people want the Government response to be full-steam ahead this is whats needed to make this Bill palatable. With sunset clauses, regular debates and votes, it can be kept under review. But we should not be complacent over this piece of legislation. What seems the right thing now can be the curtailment of our freedoms in years to come. From left, Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Vice Chairman Chung Euisun, LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won By Nam Hyun-woo Samsung, Hyundai Motor, SK, LG and other domestic conglomerates are coming up with emergency management measures to deal with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their profitability. The companies have so far employed protective measures for their workers, but are now looking to the industrial fallout from the outbreak as it is sure to cause problems for their manufacturing bases and supply chains, industry officials said Monday. SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won will hold a meeting with unit CEOs this week to come up with strategies to contain the impact of COVID-19. Though SK Group officials said they are yet to decide the exact schedule and participants in the meeting, the heads of SK Innovation, SK hynix and other core units are expected to attend. Industry officials said the main topic of the meeting will likely be SK Innovation, whose main business is refining, petrochemicals and rechargeable battery production. SK Innovation is expected to post an operating loss of up to 800 billion won ($625.3 million) in the first quarter of this year due to plunging oil prices. "Despite the plummeting demand for oil products amid the COVID-19 outbreak, major oil producing countries have failed to cut production, and this has led global oil prices to nosedive," Yuanta Securities analyst Hwang Kyu-won said. Hwang predicted that the company will likely see a 733.7 billion won operating loss in the first quarter while its annual operating profit will be 38.8 billion won, down 97 percent year-on-year. For SK hynix, the group's semiconductor affiliate, the priority is to ensure its memory chip supply chain keeps functioning, as semiconductor processing equipment firms in Europe and the U.S. have shut down their plants. Hyundai Motor Group is also in emergency mode due to setbacks in operating its plants abroad. Since March 27, employees of the group have been working from home to prevent the spread of the virus, but most returned to their offices Monday after a number of overseas plants shut down. According to the group, a Hyundai Motor plant in Chennai, India, ceased operation after the Indian government issued an order to shut down businesses in 75 cities by March 31. Affiliate Kia Motors' plant in Andhra Pradesh was not included in the affected cities, but the group said the plant is preparing for a potential shutdown. Prior to this, the Hyundai Motor Group decided to shut down a Hyundai Motor plant in Alabama from March 18 to March 31 and a Kia Motor plant in Georgia from March 19 to March 31, after an employee at the Alabama plant was confirmed to be infected with the virus. Their European plants Hyundai's in Czech and Kia's in Slovakia will also cease operations for two weeks starting Monday. Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are facing shutdowns in their smartphone and home appliance plants in India. Samsung has also halted operations at its Slovakian plant that produces televisions. Samsung's Indian plant is the company's largest smartphone manufacturing facility, capable of producing 120 million phones a year. During a visit to its domestic display manufacturing facilities last week, Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong said: "Unexpected internal and external variables are putting pressure on Samsung but we should not stop." "As the fallout of coronavirus looms, companies are now viewing this as a matter of their survival," a conglomerate official said. "So far, companies have been focusing on employee safety, but it is now about their corporate fundamentals." Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday thanked Bangladesh and Afghanistan for contributing to the COVID-19 emergency fund for SAARC countries, saying the challenge can be overcome by working together. "Grateful to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh for announcing USD 1.5 million as contribution to the COVID-19 Emergency Fund. Through our solidarity and working together, we will overcome challenges posed by COVID-19," Modi said. He also thanked Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani for his contribution to the emergency fund. "Thank you Afghanistan, for contributing USD 1 million to the COVID-19 Emergency Fund in solidarity with our South Asian neighbourhood. Tashakkur President Ashraf Ghani," the Prime Minister said. Besides Bangladesh and Afghanistan, Bhutan, Maldives and Nepal have contributed to the fund. Addressing SAARC leaders and representatives on March 15, Modi had proposed an emergency fund with an initial offer of USD 10 million from India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Retailers and a body representing consumers in Northern Ireland have urged shoppers to stop over-buying food Retailers and a body representing consumers in Northern Ireland have urged shoppers to stop over-buying food. Covid-19 has sparked panic-buying of items like toilet paper and pasta in many areas. But John French, chief executive at The Consumer Council, said he had been reassured by the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium that "empty shelves at supermarkets will not occur if households undertake their normal shopping patterns, and only buy what they usually need for themselves and their families". Aodhan Connolly , director at the consortium, said over-buying was causing unnecessary challenges for retailers. "Supermarkets have enough products to go around, but they are under pressure with this sudden increase in demand," he said. "Food retailers are focusing all their efforts on getting as much food on to their shelves as possible, and we would therefore ask that consumers only buy what they need." Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-24 02:54:52|Editor: yan Video Player Close ROME, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The coronavirus pandemic had claimed 6,077 lives in locked down Italy by Monday, with the cumulative number of confirmed cases reaching 63,927, according to new figures released by the Civil Protection Department. The death toll had increased by 601 from 5,476 recorded by Sunday, Civil Protection Chief Angelo Borrelli told a late afternoon press conference. The number of recoveries had also increased, with 408 more people cured by Monday, reaching a total of 7,432. Some 3,780 new active coronavirus infections were registered on Monday, bringing the total active cases to 50,418 since the pandemic first broke out in the northern regions of the country on Feb. 21. Borelli, who also serves as extraordinary commissioner in this emergency, explained that 68 people -- 28 of them COVID-19 patients -- have so far been moved from Lombardy to other hospitals across the country in order to provide some relief to the most affected region. "Germany has also taken in two patients, and it is ready to accommodate a total of eight," Borrelli told reporters. "I also want to highlight the solidarity showed by several other countries, which are helping us in this emergency, and especially the Russian Federation, the People's Republic of China, France, and Germany, all of which have provided staff and means against the epidemic," he stressed. Among the most affected regions were Lombardy (currently counting 18,910 active cases), Emilia Romagna (7,220), Veneto (4,986), Piedmont (4,529), Marche (2,358) and Tuscany (2,301), Borelli said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 23:11:43|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on March 23, 2020 shows Celal Akgul, a municipal council member of the Maltepe Municipality, speaks during the handover ceremony of donated surgical filter masks in Istanbul, Turkey. The China Peaceful Unification Association based in Turkey on Monday donated 10,000 surgical filter masks to a district municipality in Istanbul as a sign of solidarity with the country's fight against the COVID-19 outbreak. (Xinhua) ISTANBUL, March 23 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese association based in Turkey on Monday donated 10,000 surgical filter masks to a district municipality in Istanbul as a sign of solidarity with the country's fight against the COVID-19 outbreak. The representatives of the China Peaceful Unification Association delivered the masks to the Maltepe Municipality officials during a ceremony. "With the rise of the COVID-19 cases in Turkey, we immediately began to think about how we could help our Turkish friends," Chen Wei, head of the association, told Xinhua. "As we noticed that masks became scarce throughout Istanbul, we decided to supply these protection gears as much as possible for our comrades in the municipality," he continued. The association, which has 388 members across Turkey, managed to find the masks at two separate distributors in central Istanbul and purchased 10,000 for 5 liras (0.76 U.S. dollars) each, according to Chen. Celal Akgul, a municipal council member of the Maltepe Municipality, said they were grateful to see their Chinese friends not leaving them alone on such dark days. "We started to have difficulties in providing masks to our workers on the field and our people in the district," Akgul told Xinhua. In Akgul's view, sellers at the open-air bazaars across the district are among the most vulnerable group as they mostly do not wear masks or gloves to protect themselves from the virus. "We are now able to distribute masks to our sellers and beef up security measures in our bazaars," he said. Chen said that the association's donations would continue until Turkey would completely overcome the outbreak of the virus. The total number of deaths from the virus in Turkey climbed to 30 and the number of confirmed cases to 1,236 on Sunday. Last week, the Turkish government put limitations on the sales of some types of masks by mandating a doctor's prescription. [The stream is slated to start at 5:30 p.m. ET. Please refresh the page if you do not see a player above at that time.] Members of President Donald Trump's coronavirus task force hold a press briefing Monday at the White House as authorities on the local and state levels continue taking drastic measures to slow the spread of the disease. The outbreak has been expanding rapidly in the United States and roiling markets. Trump on Sunday announced that he has activated the National Guard in California, New York and Washington state in order to combat the spread of the coronavirus. On Monday, Trump unleashed dozens of tweets spreading conspiracy theories about the outbreak, chastising the World Health Organization for its early messaging, attacking his political enemies and the media, and promoting a dubious article that suggested a miracle cure was at hand. He also suggested he wants to loosen guidelines put in place to stem the spread of the virus. Meanwhile, groups representing U.S. mayors, county executives and first responders sent a letter to Trump begging him to employ the Defense Production Act to help them get desperately needed protective gear. Trump initially downplayed the impact of the outbreak but has since changed his tune. Earlier this month, he declared a national emergency, a move that freed up financial resources to assist Americans affected by the health crisis. Even so, critically needed testing has been slow to roll out. Health officials for weeks have been urging Americans to take strong precautions as coronavirus cases multiply. Earlier this month, the WHO declared the outbreak a pandemic, saying it expects "to see the number of cases, the number of deaths and the number of affected countries to climb even higher." Task force members include Vice President Mike Pence, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci and Acting Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Ken Cuccinelli, among others. The coronavirus, which is believed to have originated in Wuhan, China, has spread to dozens of countries globally, with more than 367,400 confirmed cases worldwide and at least 16,100 deaths so far, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. There are at least 41,500 cases in the United States and at least 499 deaths, according to the latest tallies. Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube. Invariably, when Americans feel threatened at an existential level, they buy weapons. That's because existential threats prove the truth in the saying that, when seconds count, the police are minutes away. Americans are currently worried that coronavirus will leave Americas normal infrastructure in tatters. Just a few days ago, USA Today reported on that fear and how its driving gun sales: [Ralph] Charette, a military veteran, spent $1,500 at a gun shop in Germantown, Wisconsin, after encountering aggressive shoppers and empty shelves at local grocery stores. [snip] "There's so much uncertainty and paranoia but you've got to protect your own," Charette said. Charette is among a growing tide of Americans who are going to retailers, pawnshops and online to purchase gun supplies and ammunition in the wake of COVID-19, which had killed more than 60 people in the U.S. as of Saturday afternoon. [snip] The [Ammo.com] website reported a 68% spike in sales between mid-February and early March. Online orders were booming most in North Carolina and Georgia. However, ammunition shopping also surged in Florida, which has over 100 confirmed coronavirus cases, and New York, with over 700 cases of the respiratory illness. At the same time that ordinary Americans want to exercise their Second Amendment rights, government officials in traditionally Democrat enclaves are trying to prevent people from doing so. In mid-March, Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen, of Champaign Illinois, signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency, despite the absence of any coronavirus cases in Champaign. With the order is in place, Feinen has arrogated to herself the ability to ban gun sales. Just a few days later, on March 16, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell also issued an emergency order allowing her to ban the sale or transportation of firearms. In Philadelphia, the police department stopped issuing concealed carry permits, while simultaneously announcing that they would be delaying arrests for . . . narcotics offenses, thefts, burglary, and prostitution. However, the police will continue to arrest people carrying a firearm without a permit. In the San Francisco Bay Area, a region notoriously hostile to the Second Amendment, a gun store located in Alameda County (home to the City of Berkeley) tried to keep its two locations open despite the local and state-wide shut-down orders. Solar Tactical, located in Livermore and Castro Valley, shared a video asking its customers to help keep it open. Its an excellent video explaining what governments (always Democrat-run governments) are doing and seeking help from people concerned about attacks on the Second Amendment: The Sheriff's department pushed back, claiming that selling guns was not an "essential business": @Solartactical you are not an essential business in Castro Valley. Please move to minimum basic operations per the Alameda County Health Order. pic.twitter.com/SWNgerwyQA Alameda County Sheriff (@ACSOSheriffs) March 20, 2020 By Friday, the Sheriffs office was using Twitter to announce that Solar Tactical had yielded to the Sheriffs pressure and would no longer sell guns while California is on lockdown. Think about what the Sheriff said: Enabling peoples right to keep and bear arms is not essential. The right to keep and bear arms a right premised upon people's ability to obtain working weapons is stated in the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution. Admittedly, thats not first place, but the Second Amendment still has a unique quality, distinguishing it from all other amendments in the Bill of Rights: Its the only Amendment dedicated to a single concept. The remaining Amendments in the Bill of Rights tend to jumble different ideas together under a single heading. For those who think that the Bill of Rights is just another set of laws, it is not. Instead, the Bill of Rights delineates rights that are inherent in each person. Absent overarching national needs, in a clash between the government and the individual over these rights, it is the government that most yield. The Founders, who were less than a decade away from winning a hard-fought Revolution against a nation that was then the strongest in the world, understood how important the Second Amendment is to individual rights and liberty. All the other rights are just words if the people have no way of standing up to their government. In other words, the Second Amendment is an essential right, and those businesses that support the Second Amendment should be kept open during times of potential chaos. MBABANE - At the height of the coronavirus outbreak, some good news had to come from government for the consumer. Yesterday, the Minister of Finance, Neal Rijkenberg, announced that banks had stated that individuals and companies that needed short-term financial support or relief could approach them. He, however, stated that each application would be assessed on a risk-based approach. The minister said the secondary crisis that Eswatini was facing was an economical one and therefore, the country had to put some measures in place and try and assist businesses that stand to suffer the effects of the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Giving more good news, the minister said during the first week of April 2020, fuel prices would also go down. However, the minister did not reveal the figure of how much the reduction would be, stating that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy was yet to finalise the calculations and would make the necessary announcement as usual. A litre of petrol currently costs E13.65. Reduced Rijkenberg further stated that the Central Bank of Eswatini had since reduced the discount rate with 100 basis points (one per cent) that would reduce the cost of debt by one per cent. Essentially, this means that consumers will pay less interest on their loans. The Central Bank has reduced the liquidity requirement for the banks from 25 per cent to 20 per cent giving the banks more liquidity, he said. According to an economist, this basically means that the banks would have more cash with them that they could responsibly lend to the public. Minister Rijkenberg further stated that the public must not fear a shortage of cash as the banking sector had enough liquidity. The minister had more good news for taxpayers when it comes to provisional tax payments. He said tax payers projecting losses would file loss provisional returns and therefore no payment would be required of them. The due date has been postponed by three months which means June declarations and payments are due in September and December declarations due in March 2021, said Rijkenberg. The minister further announced the extension of returns filing deadline by three months before penalties kicked in, otherwise normal filling was welcome. Rijkenberg said taxpayers facing cash flow problems should provide evidence which was to be considered for payment arrangements. However, this would only be applicable to current dues for Income Tax. The minister said for old debts, the Eswatini Revenue Authority (SRA) would waive penalties and interest if the principal debt was cleared by the end of September 2020. This applies to all debts excluding Customs debt, said Rijkenberg. He submitted that such a move would assist taxpayers clear their old debts and accumulated interest and penalties and start on a clean slate for their businesses to enhance recovery. Crisis The minister further submitted that more measures might be added in time depending on the level of the crisis. He said as the world economy slowed down, stock exchanges crash, trade flows were curtailed and movement in countries was stopped and as such there was a need for Eswatini to put some measures in place to try and assist individuals and businesses that stand to suffer from the effects of the economic crisis. Australians are being urged for the second time in two weeks to give blood after health officials acknowledged a drop in donations. Fewer people are coming forward to make donations as social distancing is enforced to contain COVID-19, the Red Cross Lifeblood has told Queensland's Chief Health Officer Jeanette Young. But Dr Young has encouraged donors to keep giving, saying there remains a critical need for blood so health workers can continue their work. 'We'll still see people needing treatment,' Dr Young said. Fewer people are coming forward to make donations as social distancing is enforced to contain COVID-19, the Red Cross Lifeblood has told Queensland's Chief Health Officer Jeanette Young 'All of that needs to continue and all of the normal work of our hospital system has to continue.' Last week, Lifeblood appealed for more than 14,000 people to come forward and donate blood or plasma and while many people have answered the call, 10,000 donors are still needed nationally over the next three weeks. 'Donating blood and plasma remains an essential activity to keep blood flowing to patients across the country, and travel and venue restrictions do not prevent you from giving blood - we need you now more than ever,' Lifeblood Chief Executive Shelly Park said in a statement on Monday. 'Coronavirus does not stop the need for blood and plasma. It is a critical resource and demand for blood is constant and will continue to be.' Ms Park said Lifeblood's donor centres remain open and its teams are ready to welcome donors who are healthy and well. 'Even though this situation continues to change rapidly, there are still patients in hospital who need blood and are relying on people to continue making these generous donations,' she said. The drop in donations has been attributed due to coronavirus policies such as social distancing. Social distancing advises that people stay more than 1.5 metres apart in order to lessen the chance of spreading the disease. Last week, Lifeblood appealed for more than 14,000 people to come forward and donate blood or plasma and while many people have answered the call, 10,000 donors are still needed nationally over the next three weeks (stock) However Lifeblood has said they have implemented measures for this wherever possible in their centres. Other measures implemented in donation centres include the increased disinfecting of items such as chairs, additional hand sanitiser and giving out public health information. People donating blood are no longer allowed to use hand grips to squeeze during the procedure. Eligibility for donating has also changed. Anyone that has returned from overseas can't donate for 28 days and must practice social distancing before they can give a sample. The same waiting period is in place for anyone who has come into contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19. Anyone who has coronavirus cannot donate until three months after they have recovered. Previously anyone with a runny nose and no fever has been allowed to donate plasma but this has also been changed so that anyone with mild cold-like symptoms must wait until they have recovered. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-24 00:20:18|Editor: yan Video Player Close MOSCOW, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said Monday it has detained two students on suspicion of planning an armed attack on an educational institution in the far eastern Sakhalin Region. The detainees, born in 2002 and 2003 respectively, are also suspected of being "involved in propaganda of terrorism, mass killings and suicide on the Internet," the FSB said in a statement. During searches, the FSB seized a sawn-off shotgun with ammunition, an industrially-made detonator, as well as improvised explosive devices, explosives, communications equipment and personal diaries containing information about a planned armed attack on an educational institution, it said. A criminal case was instituted against the detainees to answer public calls for combating terrorist activities, the statement added. Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae has said a mysterious hotel business venture he was involved in "didn't go ahead" as the premises where it was to operate has become a home for asylum seekers. It was announced last week that up to 150 immigrants are to be sent to the former Skellig Star Hotel in Cahersiveen, Co Kerry, as part of the Government's response to the coronavirus crisis. Mr Healy-Rae says his business plans didn't go ahead and he has raised local concerns at what he described as "poor consultation" over the plans to house asylum seekers at the former hotel. The premises had been the location where a company called Skellig Hotel Experience Ltd - which listed Mr Healy-Rae as a shareholder - was to carry out its activities. "Nothing came of it and it just didn't go ahead as I had envisaged," he said, adding he was no longer a shareholder. Mr Healy-Rae said the company has "absolutely nothing" to do with the plan to move asylum seekers to the hotel. He said he had heard concerns from local people about the relocation of immigrants. The Department of Justice said that, due to the coronavirus emergency, it was seeking to protect the wellbeing of immigrants housed in commercial hotels by moving them to dedicated centres. The contract with the former Skellig Star Hotel is for a 12-month period. YEREVAN, 23 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 23 March, USD exchange rate is up by 1.43 drams to 495.01 drams. EUR exchange rate is down by 0.35 drams to 528.77 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate is down by 0.21 drams to 6.13 drams. GBP exchange rate is down by 6.44 drams to 573.47 drams. The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals. Gold price is up by 388.47 drams to 23783.29 drams. Silver price is up by 10.50 drams to 201.01 drams. Platinum price is up by 361.47 drams to 9771.77 drams. Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the Madhya Pradesh BJPs legislature party meeting will be held on Monday evening to elect its leader who will head the new government in the state. The meeting will be held at the state party office here. Three-time chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is expected to be elected the BJPs legislature party leader, which will enable him to take up the coveted job for a record fourth time, party sources said. Two central BJP observers will attend the meet through video-conferencing from Delhi. Due to the coronavirus scare, the two central observers will take part in the meeting through video- conferencing. Even MLAs would be provided with masks and sanitisers at the meeting, state BJP president Vishnu Dutt Sharma told PTI. "In the BJP legislature party meeting, its leader will be elected. Almost all MLAs are taking part in it. Only those legislators who are stationed at far-off places like Rewa, Singrauli, Sidhi and Gwalior may not be able to take part in it. However, they have been informed about the meeting," Sharma said. BJP president JP Nadda has instructed to ensure no crowding takes place during the meeting, he said. "Therefore, only MLAs will be allowed to enter the premises without their assistants or security guards. Masks and hand sanitisers have been arranged for them, he said. Asked whether oath-taking ceremony will take place soon after the legislature party meeting, Sharma replied in the affirmative. After Assembly Speaker NP Prajapati accepted the resignation of 16 rebel Congress legislators on Thursday night, the government led by Chief Minister Kamal Nath was reduced to a minority with 92 MLAs in the 230-member house following which he resigned. With this, the strength of the house also got reduced to 222, trimming down the majority mark to 104. In this current situation, the BJP has a majority in the house with 107 MLAs. The BSP has two MLAs, the SP one while there are four independents. All these MLAs had extended support to the Congress during the formation of government in December 2018. In the changed scenario, the MLAs are likely to side with the BJP, sources in the saffron party said. Already, one of the independent MLAs, Pradeep Jaiswal, a minister in the Nath government, has announced his support to the BJP. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) UPDATED at 6:45 P.M. EDT on 2020-03-23 Myanmar on Monday designated the Arakan Army, an ethnic force engaged in a yearlong armed fight against the government, and affiliates as unlawful organizations and terrorist groups, state television reported. An announcement broadcast on state owned MRTV and signed by Minister of Home Affairs Soe Htut said that Myanmar President Win Myint had decided to apply the Unlawful Associations Act to the AA and subsidiaries, including the United League of Arakan, for activities that disrupt the peace and stability of the state and public. Earlier on Monday the AA had attacked a regional military training school in western Myanmars Rakhine state, sparking fighting in nearby areas that left casualties on both sides, spokesmen from the two armies and a local lawmaker said, in the latest deadly skirmish in a conflict that has killed dozens of civilians and displaced 140,000 villagers since the beginning of 2019. Khine Thukha, spokesman for the 11-year-old AA, said the announcement "shows that the Burmese government has no intention to resolve the problems it has with non-Burmese people politically and restore justice. It also means that Burmese government is already determined to use force to resolve all the problems." "We want to say their classification does not affect our missions much," he added. "We don't need the Burmese government's blessing to survive. As long as Rakhine people support us, we are a legal organization in Rakhine state," Khine Thukha said. Monday morning's AA assault on the No. 9 military training school in Rakhines Minbya township prompted fighting between the two armies in at least three nearby locations with fatalities on both sides, said Myanmar military spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun. The AA attacked the military training school at 6 a.m., he told RFAs Myanmar Service. They have attacked us at at least three locations. Aircraft deployed Myanmar forces regained control of the areas around 11 a.m., he said, adding that there were casualties on both sides and that government soldiers seized the bodies of dead AA troops and some of their weapons. Zaw Min Tun did not provide the numbers of deaths and injuries among Myanmar soldiers and said that the military training facility is not strategically important. Khine Thukha confirmed the attack on the training facility, but did not state the number of dead and injured among the ethnic armys ranks. The clashes took place in an area about a 15-minute drive away from Kanni village tract on the Yangon-Sittwe highway, a major thoroughfare in the region, and occurred as a result of a military airstrike, said Rakhine state lawmaker Hla Thein Aung of Minbya township. I can confirm that this armed fighting occurred in response to the militarys airstrike on the nearby area, he told RFA. A villager from Oakpho Taung village told me there were heavy artillery attacks near their villages, he added. When I call him again, I lost the phone connection. Zaw Tun, secretary of Rakhine Ethnics Congress (REC), a local relief group assisting some of the tens of thousands of civilians displaced by the conflict, said the military is increasingly using aircraft in its battles with the AA which have intensified since late 2018. Local villagers said the military has used fighter jets in some places, he said. They said it was three fighter jets that came one by one. They are also using the helicopters. In some places, the aircraft arrived in a group of as many as seven or eight. Internet blackout hurts locals Zaw Tun predicted a further escalation of hostilities given the situation on the ground, including recent intense fighting between the AA and government troops in Paletwa township of neighboring Chin state. A government-ordered internet service shutdown in eight townships in northern Rakhine and in Chins Paletwa township has kept residents in the dark about developments concerning the hostilities and the coronavirus pandemic as well as prevented them from conducting business, local people said on the nine-month anniversary of the web blackout. "We cannot know what is happening in these villages. There are delays in sending injured patients to the hospital because of the information blackout," said Oo Tun Win, a lawmaker from Rakhine's Kyauktaw township. "The internet shutdown has severely affected the people on the ground," he said. "As we speak, I heard some villages are on fire, but we can no longer get the latest information on the situation of the village and who is responding to the fire in real time." "The armed groups' right violations have become more aggressive during the internet blackout," he added. Soe Kyaw Myint, a school teacher in Rathedaung township, said she believes the internet shutdown is part of the reason that "as many as 95 percent of people here never heard of the coronavirus." "The majority of people don't know about the coronavirus and are not interested in how to protect themselves," she said. "I think they don't have an awareness because of the information blackout caused by the internet shutdown." Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 23) China has established two new research stations in the West Philippine Sea, Beijings state news agency reported. Xinhua reported March 20 that two research stations under the Integrated Research Center for Islands and Reefs of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have begun operating on Kagitingan Reef, which China calls Yongshu Reef, and on Zamora Reef, which is known to Beijing as Zhubi Reef. The research centers base is located at Panganiban Reef, which China calls Meiji Reef. Kagitingan, Zamora and Panganiban reefs are all within the West Philippine Sea, a portion of the disputed South China Sea claimed by the Philippines. The Chinese state news agency said the two research stations together with previously ones, are part of an integrated scientific research base on coral reef and deep-sea. It said the research base will support the study of oceanographers and improve their observations and experiments on capabilities in ecology, geology, environments, materials and marine energy utilization. The two stations are equipped with laboratories on ecology, geology and the environment, Xinhua reported, citing a source from the Chinese school. The Chinese research station on Kagitingan Reef, also known as Fiery Cross Reef, has several real-time monitoring systems for coral reef ecosystem, vegetation ecology and freshwater conservation. Meanwhile, the research station on Zamora Reef has completed the project design of monitoring systems for geological disaster and freshwater conservation. Xinhua said the Chinese Academy of Sciences will soon focus on research on ocean acidification, micro-plastic pollution, coral reef ecosystem conservation and marine disaster treatment. Last year, China also placed facilities in these areas supposedly to restore coral reefs destroyed by its island-building activities. It also opened a maritime rescue center in Kagitingan Reef that same year. Beijing first occupied Kagitingan Reef in 1988 and has since built structures there. In July 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that China violated its obligations under international law to protect and preserve the marine environment by its massive reclamation work and other island-building activities in Kagitingan Cross Reef and other contested areas in the Spratly group of islands. The landmark decision also recognized the Philippines' sovereign rights in areas being contested by China within Manila's 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone, or the West Philippine Sea. China rejects the arbitral ruling and stands by its sweeping claim to almost the entire South China Sea. Harrisburg police on Monday filed an attempted homicide charge against a 17-year-old girl for a shooting that occurred on Feb. 22. Sergeant Kyle Gautsch said the case against Lamya Jabree Wallace, a city resident, stems from a shooting on Berryhill Street. A man was shot in the back while driving near the Boys and Girls Club and was seriously injured, Gautsch said. Police have said the shooting might be gang-related. Court dockets filed for District Judge Paul Zozos indicated Wallace was not yet in custody as of Monday afternoon. Detective Christopher Silvio had charged her with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a minor and possessing a firearm without a license. The Delhi High Court on Monday directed the AAP government to set up a health facility at the riot victim relief camp at Eidgah in the northeast district of the national capital to prevent spread of coronavirus there. A bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Subramonium Prasad ordered the Delhi government to ensure that a team of doctors and public health officials visit the camp within 48 hours with sufficient medicines and equipment. The court also directed that adequate number of sanitation workers with equipment be deputed at the camp for maintaining hygiene in the area and to avoid spread of any infection or contagious disease. "Needful shall be done forthwith," it said to the Delhi government, represented by its additional standing counsel Anuj Aggarwal. The court also ordered the authorities to comply in a time-bound manner with the directions issued on March 20 by another bench of the high court with regard to providing fire engine, ambulance, mobile toilets, maintenance of cleanliness and hygiene, providing beds and linen and secure health of riot victims at the camp. "The primary focus of the Delhi government should be with regard to the health of all those staying in the camp site, particularly in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic. "The sanitation condition of the area would also be of equal significance, for preventing spread of any communicable diseases, more so when we are informed that over 600 persons are residing in the said camp," the bench headed by Justice Kohli said. The directions by the bench came while disposing of a plea by two residents of the camp who have sought deployment of qualified doctors and public health officials for screening, testing and treating the people residing there in light of the coronavirus pandemic in Delhi. In their plea, moved through advocate Shoeb Alam, the two residents also sought deployment of sanitation workers there to maintain hygiene and prevent spread of any contagious disease. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Reno, NV, March 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- rfxcel, the longest-tenured track and trace solutions provider in the life sciences industry, today announced the launch of Accurate Immunization Management (AIM), an automated, cloud-based solution that tracks the dispensing of vaccines in the supply chain and seamlessly integrates with critical healthcare applications such as Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and Immunization Information Systems (IIS). AIM ensures that the right patient gets the right vaccine at the right time, rfxcel CEO Glenn Abood said. It can track any vaccine, including potential vaccines for COVID-19, in any supply chain, monitor inventory, and facilitate safe, timely delivery to any location. At a time when the world is depending on supply chains to function at peak performance, AIM is a tool to get vaccines properly delivered and dispensed. Abood, who founded rfxcel in 2003 with Chief Strategy Officer Jack Tarkoff, emphasized that AIM utilizes a configurable rules engine and automated inventory reordering to ensure that vaccines are always on hand and are delivered as intended. We designed AIM to be compliant, fast, and flexible in any country, Abood said, adding that it will comply with laws in the European Union, China, Russia, Asia, India, and the Middle East. It will never run counter to what regulations tell us we need to do to safeguard people and the worldwide vaccine supply chain, he said. The announcement of AIM comes as rfxcel is marking its 17th year of developing leading-edge supply chain software solutions. Last month, it released the latest version of its rfxcel Traceability System (rTS) software platform. rTS 7.0 continues the award-winning legacy of the companys signature full-stack solution, enabling true end-to-end supply chain traceability, environmental monitoring, and analytics from anywhere in the world. Highlights of 2019 included conducting major pharma pilots for the FDA and the Brazilian government, enhancing its powerful Integrated Monitoring (rIM) solution, launching a MobileTraceability solution, tripling the size of its team in Russia, increasing its presence in the Middle East, and entering the consumer goods industry. Story continues Weve been working on AIM for a while and have successfully tested it with some of our major customers, Abood said. Weve been excited about releasing it, but we couldnt imagine the timing would coincide with COVID-19 and a new normal for businesses everywhere. In these new circumstances, and with the situation changing hour to hour, we think AIM will strengthen rfxcels commitment to being a responsible and proactive member of the global business community. Abood concluded by saying that rfxcel was operating at full capacity and was in constant contact with its employees and customers. We are keeping supply chains moving in critical industries, including pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, worldwide government, and consumer goods, he said. To learn more about rfxcels Accurate Immunization Management solution and the companys other track and trace and environmental monitoring solutions for the life sciences industry, contact Vice President of Marketing Herb Wong and visit rfxcel.com. About rfxcel Founded in 2003, rfxcel provides leading-edge software solutions to help companies manage every aspect of their supply chains, lower costs, and protect their products and brand reputations. Blue-chip organizations in the life sciences (pharmaceuticals and medical devices), food and beverage, worldwide government, and consumer goods industries trust rfxcels signature Traceability System (rTS) to power end-to-end supply chain solutions in key areas such as traceability, environmental monitoring, regulatory compliance, serialization, and visibility. The company is headquartered in the United States and has offices in the EU, Britain, Latin America, Russia, the Middle East, India, Japan, and the Asia-Pacific region. Herb Wong rfxcel Corporation 9258240300 hwong@rfxcel.com Gardai attached to the Special Detective Unit, have arrested three me in a search operation targeting dissident republican groups and activity. Three men, two in their forties and one in his fifties, were arrested on Sunday, March 22, in the midlands area under the provisions of section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. The men are currently detained in Garda Stations in the Dublin Metropolitan Region. The Special Detective Unit were supported by the Emergency Response Unit and other National Units during the arrest operation. This remains a live operation and further searches are being carried out by the Special Detective Unit supported by Divisional Search team and the Garda Dog Unit. Speaking on Sunday Deputy Commissioner Twomey, Policing and Security said: "This ongoing operation demonstrates An Garda Siochana determination to ensure the security of our state, in the midst of the ongoing critical COVID-19 situation. All of An Garda Siochanas' specialist units whose responsibility it is to protect the security of the state continued to be fully resourced and active keeping people safe at this time." Photo: Bonita de Boer/Flickr Here's what you need to know about what's happening in Dallas. Stay-at-home order issued for Dallas County Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins has issued a stay-at-home order for the county starting at 11:59 p.m. today. Read the full story on FOX 26 Houston. Dallas County Judge: Harris County expected to shelter-in-place very soon During a Sunday press conference where Dallas County announced a shelter-in-place, the judge who made the order also said that Harris County Judge Lina Hildago planned on doing the same. Read the full story on KPRC2 / Click2Houston. Employee at East Dallas Central Market tests positive for coronavirus An employee at a Central Market located in East Dallas has tested positive for the coronavirus and is in quarantine at home. Read the full story on Advocate. American stuck in Wuhan offers advice on how to stay sane A Dallas man who has lived under quarantine in Wuhan, China for the past three months has some advice on how to stay sane. Read the full story on NBC10 Boston. Inspired by Italy, Dallas residents sing together from their apartment windows In an act of solidarity amid social distancing and the coronavirus pandemic, residents of a Dallas apartment complex leaned out of their windows to sing "Lean on Me." Read the full story on NPR. This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. Standard Chartered (SC) Bank Korea CEO Park Jong-bok, second from left, loads face masks into a vehicle at the bank's main branch in Seoul, Friday. The bank donated 5,000 masks it received from SC Group to medical staff in Daegu. / Courtesy of SC Bank Korea Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 22:29:07|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese authorities on Monday deployed measures to guard against imported cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and a rebound in domestically transmitted cases in response to changes in the epidemic situation. A leading group of China's COVID-19 epidemic response convened a meeting on Monday, which was chaired by Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee. The meeting called for proactive and orderly resumption of work and production while ensuring effective epidemic prevention and control. "At present, the spread of domestically transmitted epidemic has been basically blocked, but the risks of sporadic cases and regional outbreaks still exist," said a statement issued after the meeting, urging people to remain clear-headed as the global pandemic situation remains complex and severe. A two-pronged prevention and control strategy should be implemented by focusing on both the prevention of imported cases and a rebound in indigenous cases so as to secure the hard-won achievements in the fight against COVID-19, according to the meeting. The meeting required the outbreak epicenter province of Hubei and the city of Wuhan to continue treating severely ill patients, promptly admitting new cases and conducting epidemiological investigations. Local authorities across the country should release epidemic information in an open and transparent manner without withholding truth, the statement said, calling for swift and targeted control measures once a case is identified. International exchange and cooperation should be strengthened to accurately and effectively curb cross-border COVID-19 transmission, according to the meeting. The meeting called on provincial-level regions at low risk to restore economic and social order while ensuring scientific and precise epidemic containment. These regions should adjust or call off preventive measures that are no longer commensurate with normal production and living order, the meeting noted. Migrant workers should not be subjected to isolated quarantine before returning to work if they are not from the very few areas still at high or medium risk, according to the meeting. Road traffic and public transportation in both urban and rural areas should be fully restored on the condition that the spread of the virus is under control, the meeting noted, urging a full reopening of logistics centers, freight transportation stations and express delivery services in these areas. The meeting also demanded safe and orderly efforts to send personnel stranded in Hubei to return home, and Hubei workers to return work. Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and deputy head of the leading group, attended the meeting. Taking major safety steps in view of coronavirus pandemic, the Supreme Court Monday decided to seal the chambers of lawyers in and around its premises and said that only one court would hear "extremely urgent matters" through virtual means. The top court said it is also cancelling the proximity entry cards of the lawyers and other staff members from Monday onwards, so that no one is allowed inside the premises. A bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices L N Rao and Surya Kant said that only senior advocate Dushyant Dave, president of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) can authorise a person to enter the premises for a very urgent reason. "We don't want any congregation of lawyers in the premise. One court will be sitting once a week to take up extremely urgent matters that too through virtual means. We will be sharing video link with the lawyers whose case is listed and they can even argue from their chambers or from their home," the bench said. The bench said that court will be invoking its plenary powers under Article 142 to direct extending indefinitely the limitation period for filing appeals against orders of High Courts or any tribunal in apex court, so as not to render them time-barred because of the pandemic, referred to as COVID-19. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said the limitations of appeals which are about to expire in coming four-six weeks, should be deemed to have been extended. Senior advocate A M Singhvi, who was appearing in a matter, said that video-conferencing also requires that lawyers gather at one place, which is a serious concern. "We will devise a mechanism in which an identity of lawyers will be created and they can argue even sitting in their chambers or from their home," the bench said, adding that Justice D Y Chandrachud, who is the chairman of e-committee of the apex court will be looking into devising the modalities. Dave said it would be appropriate if the court declare the period as a vacation as several litigants are pressurising the lawyers to appear for them. "The problem is what do we call it in law...we can call it shut down or vacation. If we declare it as a vacation, then the court will have to function in the month of June to make up for working days. But whatever it is, we are very sure that their will be no congregation. You (Dave) please ask lawyers to close their chambers by tomorrow 5 PM after which it will be sealed. No sanitation staff should be allowed," the bench said. The CJI said that it would be passing an administrative order by Monday evening. It said that since no lawyers is expected to go abroad at the juncture, the filing of petition could be done at any time and the top court would be reviewing the situation once at the end of every week. Dave said that everyone is scared to come to the premises to file petitions and it would be appropriate if the court declare it as a vacation for four weeks. "We have 6,000 licences for video app. Will give you a particular video link and you can address us from home or chamber. We will take a decision today," the bench said. Dave added that judges also not need to take care and don't need to come to courts and can hear the matter from their homes. "Doctors at Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) facility are taking extensive care of all of us but we need to take precaution," the bench said. The chief justice said he would take a call on a possible shut down or to advance the summer vacations, as demanded by the lawyers' organisations. The issue of shutting down the apex court's functioning was raised by the SCBA president and the members of the Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. On March 21, both the Supreme Court lawyers bodies SCBA and SCAORA have recommended to the Chief Justice S A Bobde to prepone the summer vacation in the top court by declaring holidays for two to four weeks in view of the coronavirus pandemic. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The YMCA of Greater Houston is offering special essential jobs child care services across the region, announcing a new program beginning on Monday where children ages 1 to 12 years old can be cared for at each facility while their parents are working what is defined as essential jobs, including first responders, medical personnel and food industry and grocery store workers. Curtis Lemieux, executive director of summer programs for the YMCA Greater Houston, said the program was a result of the YMCAs desire to provide help to first responders as well as workers in essential jobs like the medical and grocery and food industries as the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic seems to worse by the day. With school districts across the region shuttered for the foreseeable future, many parents are struggling to find childcare while doing essential jobs such as paramedics, police, grocery store staff, doctors, nurses and firefighters. Lemieux said there are two age groupings for youth at the new program age 12 months to 5 years old and a second grouping for ages 5 to 12 years old. The younger age group will be split between children age 12 months to 35 months old and then ages 3 to 5 years old. According to a press release on the program, essential employees are defined as, city or county staff responding to the crisis, first responders such as police, fire, EMS, medical personnel, food provision or distribution personnel (working at a food bank or grocery stores) and other organizations or businesses providing critical services to the community during the crisis. The program is open to those who meet the criteria and can provide proof of employment in an essential field, Lemieux added. The cost varies from $30 to $50 per day depending on which age grouping a child is placed in. Roxanne Davis, community liasion for the two YMCAs in The Woodlands, said the cost of the program is, very much a reduced fee, from normal pricing, noting that the three meals and a snack are included and the hours of childcare available are longer than normally offered, from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Financial assistance is available, Davis added. YMCA 1st Responder Childcare Program details The program for ages 5-12 and will run from 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. starting March 23. Youth will take part in, "fun enrichment activities," including arts and crafts, assorted games, lessons in literacy and STEAM topics and other activities. Meals are provided, with a breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks provided by the Houston Food Bank. Proof of employment must be provided upon first check-in. Essential personnel are defined as city or county staff responding to the crisis, first responders such as police, fire, EMS, medical personnel, food provision or distribution personnel (workign at a food bank or grocery stores) and other organizations or businesses providing critical services to the community during the crisis. - Source YMCA Greater Houston See More Collapse Lemieux said YMCA officials reacted quickly to create the program and hope it is utilized as needed. The YMCA is looking to open as essential childcare spaces as needed to serve the gap that is in our community right now. Our main objective is that the youth of our essential personnel have a space to go to continue to get academic enrichment, to engage with programming and to have some outlets that our essential personnel can go to work knowing their kids are taken care of. The YMCA has a special landing page on its website where details of the program and qualifications needed are outlined with age group breakdowns of regional locations where the program is being offered and activities being offered. Lemieux said the page is updated daily with new Y locations that are just starting the program in their areas. We are accepting our younger youth into our early care centers as well for the essential personnel. There are some different age (groups) all the way through 12 years old, he added. The program includes meals, with breakfast, lunch and dinner for the children. There will be less than 50 people in total in each facility and regular cleanings and disinfectant work is being done. Social distancing will also be enforced at the sites, he said. We are following the guidelines from the CDC, were doing a one to nine ratio (teacher to student) and no more than 50 people in the building and small groups. We are also doing wellness screenings at the door, so everyone will have a wellness check to get into the program, Lemieux explained. The YMCA is a national movement and our colleagues in Seattle who have been dealing with this a couple of weeks longer than we havethey started doing this program. They saw the need and filled the need and it has been really successful there. We were able to utilize some of the strategies they had in Seattle and other parts of the United States. Lemieux said the program is similar to what YMCAs across the nation have done in various disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Harvey. Because of the organizations partnerships with various other charitable organizations and governmental groups, collaboration has been easier, he noted. As for morale, Lemieux reported that YMCA staff across the Houston region are holding up well and staying focused as the situation changes regularly. People are doing OK. It is a tough situation, but our Y staff are all with us because of their drive to serve the community, Lemieux added. These are the places where YMCA professional staff can find a sense of community and keep learningwe are learning social distancing. We are used to being with people all the time, so technology (is helping connect). I think we are doing well all things considered. Of the two YMCAs in The Woodlands, Davis, said the Shadowbend Y in The Woodlands is the communitys designated Essential Personnel Child Care Site, and is located at 6145 Shadowbend Place in The Woodlands. Locally in The Woodlands, YMCA officials are working in conjunction with CHI St. Lukes Health, Kelsey-Seybold and Houston Food Bank. The essential personnel community is so grateful for the services and support the YMCA is offering during this difficult time. Our staff are ready to welcome these children, with open hearts and provide them a safe, fun and nurturing environment to learn, grow and thrive, Davis said. As a non-profit organization, we depend on community support to continue to support those in need. For those who are YMCA members, we ask that you continue to support our work through your membership. For community member and businesses who would like to support our efforts, please reach out to our development team, scott.harper@ymcahouston.org. jeff.forward@chron.com Four more doctors have died after contracting the coronavirus in France, officials have confirmed today. One of the doctors, a 66-year-old gynaecologist in Mulhouse near the border with Switzerland and Germany, was infected by a patient during a consultation, according to his clinic. Another was a 60-year-old general practitioner at a hospital in Saint-Avold near Metz, further north along the German frontier, according to the town's mayor. Both medics died on Sunday when officials announced the death of a 67-year-old doctor who was among the first to treat coronavirus cases in the northern Oise department, which has been badly hit by the outbreak. Four more doctors in France have died after contracting the coronavirus - bringing the total number of doctors who have died in the country to five. Pictured: A patient suffering with Covid-19 is evacuated from the Mulhouse civil hospital, eastern France on March 23 Concerns over the welfare of medical staff continues to grow in France after a total of five doctors died after contracting the virus. Pictured: French soldiers wear protective face masks as they attend a briefing at a military field hospital near Mulhouse hospital A general doctor aged 70 died in the hospital in the eastern city of Colmar, also in eastern France, with another doctor aged 68 died in Trevenans just to the south, medical sources and local officials said. A total of five doctors have now died in France after contracting the coronavirus, as concern grows over the welfare of medical practitioners on the frontline. The latest death toll comes just a day after the country reported the first death of a doctor treating COVID-19 patients. Health experts warn that many French hospitals are already overflowing with coronavirus cases even as the government races to set up military field hospitals to help cope with a shortage of beds. Mulhouse has imposed its own nighttime curfew in addition to nationwide home-confinement rules seeking to curtail the virus, which has spread rapidly in France's eastern regions. France is also experiencing a shortfall of ventilators to care for seriously ill patients and face masks and other protective equipment for health workers. France's national health service reported on Sunday that 674 people had died in the country so far - an increase of 112 in just 24 hours. Pictured: A patient with coronavirus is taken from the Mulhouse civil hospital in eastern France French soldiers wearing protective masks arrive for setting up tents as part of a field hospital to cope with a surge in COVID-19 cases in Mulhouse Tents with intensive care units installed by French Army are seen at a miitary field hospital near Mulhouse hospital as France faces an aggressive progression of the coronavirus disease The country has confirmed more than 16,000 cases of coronavirus since the outbreak began in January. Helicopters and drones have also been called up to boost the government's attempts to keep people in their homes, police officials said Saturday. 'The helicopters will give us a larger vision and a panoramic view of the situation in real time to help guide the patrols on the ground,' a national gendarmerie source said. One helicopter was already in use on Saturday, hovering above major Paris parks to ensure that confinement rules were respected. On Saturday, a French navy helicopter-carrier was on the way to Toulon on the south coast of France to evacuate coronavirus patients from the Mediterranean island of Corsica to hospitals in nearby Marseille. And on Saturday evening, a French navy helicopter-carrier was on the way to Toulon from where the vessel's helicopters will evacuate coronavirus patients from Corsica to Marseille. Drones will also be used to help keep people confined, in particular to keep an eye on the banks of the Seine river. Hospitals in Germany and Switzerland have offered to treat some critically ill coronavirus patients from the neighbouring Alsace region in France, which is struggling to cope with a rising number of cases. Four teaching hospitals and an army hospital in the south-western German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg will take in ten French patients requiring ventilation, and the state is checking with other hospitals for more spare beds in intensive care units, the state's science and research ministry said in a statement on Saturday. That was followed by the German regional states of Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland, as well as three Swiss cantons, also joining in the effort to care for French patients. French regional officials took to Twitter to thank their German and Swiss counterparts as the first patients were transferred over the weekend. Doctors in the eastern French cities of Mulhouse and Colmar have warned that the healthcare system is at breaking point. The crisis in the east of the country led the French army to transfer six patients in critical condition due to coronavirus to a military facility on Wednesday. French soldiers discuss measures to treat coronavirus inside the military field hospital built in Mulhouse, eastern France, which is one of the hardest-hit regions in Europe France has so-far confirmed more than 16,000 cases of coronavirus and 674 deaths from the disease, with the Alsace region particularly badly hit The region around Alsace has long had ties, with thousands of workers crossing borders daily for work and commerce. 'We are sending a sign of solidarity to our French neighbours,' Baden-Wuerttemberg state science minister Theresia Bauer said in the statement. The ministry added, however, that there were limits to the state's hospital capacity and help would be offered for only as long as intensive-care beds were not needed by patients in closer vicinity. It said critically ill coronavirus patients needed ventilation for an average of three to seven days. The French government on Tuesday put its 67 million people under lockdown in an unprecedented act during peacetime, after an almost 20% rise in deaths and reported cases in just 24 hours, with eastern France the worst-hit region. Cantons in northwest Switzerland, for their part, are preparing to accept six seriously ill coronavirus patients from Alsace, Swiss authorities said on Sunday. Hospitals to take two patients each are the University Hospital in Basel, the Cantonal Hospital in Bruderholz, and the Jura Hospital in Delemont. The Swiss cantons said capacity additions were in the works as they prepare to tackle an expected rise in cases. anatakti Serious clashes take place again at the Greek-Turkish borders in Evros. The war-like scenery begun again when illegal immigrants attempted to storm the fence on the borderline.The illegal immigrants are encouraged, as usual, by the Turkish police who launched tear gas grenades against the Greek defending forces.Their number and the frequency by which they were launched, however, was unprecedented as it can be seen in the footage below.Earlier, new attempts were made to destroy the barbed wire with the use of tools, while some of them were seen using surveillance and recording equipment to monitor the Greek forces moves.The fence is being continuously reinforced on the Greek side, while on the Turkish side they try to open holes on it to get illegal immigrants through, without success thus far.Turkish media broadcast videos showing the disinfection of the migrant camp set up by the Turkish side of the border. The Turkish sides moves raise questions about whether there are Covid-19 cases among the illegal immigrants or whether there is sufficient concern for their protection by the Turkish authorities.Groups of illegal immigrants continue to be at the official border crossing in Evros, seeking ways to open passages at the fence to illegally enter Europe.Late Thursday afternoon, a group of illegal immigrants set fire to a tree near the fence in Kastanies in order to make it fall and destroy part of it, creating a passage to the Greek territory.(Evros wont fall patch on the shoulder of a Greek soldier)Their effort, however, was thwarted by the immediate reaction of Greek forces, who at the same time created a double perimeter on the spot to deter them if they succeeded.The Hellenic Army has also deployed on the borderline at least one of the David Special Firefighter Vehicles it uses for security reasons in firing ranges. One such vehicle can be seen in the video below. An inmate from a New York federal prison has tested positive for the coronavirus, making it the first confirmed case in the federal prison system in the United States. The detainee, who is imprisoned at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center, complained of chest pain Thursday, a few days after arriving at the facility, the Federal Prisons Office told The Associated Press. He was taken to a local hospital and tested for COVID-19, officials said. The detainee was released from the hospital on Friday and returned to prison, where he was immediately placed in segregation, the agency said. The Prisons Office learned on Saturday that he had tested positive for COVID-19. Confirmation of the first case of coronavirus in the US federal penitentiary system comes as Canadian prisons take precautions to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Health officials have warned of the dangers of prison epidemics, which are ideal environments for viruses, for more than a decade: inmates share small cells with strangers, use toilets a few feet from their reads and are gathered in the day from the rooms where they spend hours together. There have been two positive cases among the staff of the Federal Prisons Office: an employee who works in an administrative office in Grand Prairie, Texas, and another employee who works in Leavenworth, Kansas, but who, according to officials, has not had contact with detainees since it became symptomatic. The Federal Bureau of Prisons has temporarily halted visits to 122 federal correctional facilities in the United States, including social and legal visits, although officials have said exceptions may be made for legal visits. Officials said that staff at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center would continue to monitor the detainee and that they were making efforts to locate those with whom he had been in contact, as well as to clean up affected areas . Other detainees who were housed with the man are also under quarantine, as well as staff members who may have been in contact with him. Each member of staff and contractor entering the metropolitan detention center is subjected to improved medical screening, including taking a temperature with an infrared thermometer and a series of questions to identify risk factors for coronavirus, wrote an official of the Federal Prisons Office in a letter to the chief justice of the southern district of New York earlier this week. Share this post with your Friends on Strack & Van Til has launched a checkout challenge campaign to provide emergency assistance to the Salvation Army as the service agency looks to stock its food pantries and expand services to help Lake, Porter and Jasper counties during the coronavirus crisis. People can donate at the checkout aisle at Strack & Van Til to help the Salvation Army provide groceries, hot meals and other services to families suffering from hardship because of lost jobs or income during the COVID-19 pandemic. The community nonprofit's food pantries have seen a surge in visits from restaurant workers, bartenders and other furloughed employees after the state ordered the temporary closure of such establishments to stop the spread of the virus. Brian Clark, coordinator for The Salvation Army of Lake County, said the agency has heard "many stories of residents of Lake County, who due to no fault of their own, have been dropped in a quagmire of despair and uncertainty." Please, as you shop for your own groceries at your local Strack & Van Til store, please consider others who cant afford to buy food and pay for other needs at this time. Please round-up your grocery bill to the nearest dollar at the checkout," Clark said. US seafood retailers increase online orders as coronavirus restrictions expand by Brian Hagenbuch March 18,2020 | Source: SeafoodSource Crowds have thinned at Seattles famed Pike Place Fish Market, as fears of the spread of coronavirus are keeping more and more consumers home. The normal scrum of phone-wielding tourists surrounding the typically boisterous fish market was practically absent over the weekend, but Anders Miller, one of the markets four co-owners, said the drop in foot traffic has coincided with a spike in online orders. Were definitely shipping a lot. People are at home and were getting stuff out. Its kind of business as usual. Theres clearly less foot traffic, tourism and stuff is down, but besides that were doing the same thing, Miller said. The market started a special shipping deal USD 20.00 (EUR 17.80), with no weight limit, to most of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho that has made it more affordable for local consumers to get seafood delivered to their doorsteps. Meanwhile, online fish monger Wild Alaskan Company also saw a drastic uptick in its membership sales. According to Wild Alaskan founder Arron Kallenberg, the company had record-breaking membership additions over the weekend. Sundays (15 March) new members were nearly 100 percent more than their largest day prior to the outbreak. Sales are slowing in traditional retail channels, so the online retailers are in an excellent position to redirect inventory, and [do] it with a lot less social interaction, Kallenberg said. Both Kallenberg and Miller expressed that they are looking to backfill the limited access some consumers might be experiencing, and that their prices have remained essentially unchanged. "We have not changed our prices, nor do we have any intention to do so as a result of this tragedy. We want to be part of the solution. We believe our core value proposition is good in good times and even more important in uncertain times like these, Kallenberg said. On Pike Place Fish Markets website, wild king salmon fillets were listed at USD 39.99 (EUR 35.76) per pound, with wild frozen-at-sea coho selling for USD 25.99 (EUR 23.24) per pound, and fresh Columbia River steelhead gong for USD 19.98 (EUR 17.86). Cooked Dungeness crabmeat and Alaskan king crab claws and legs were both going for USD 49.99 (EUR 44.71) per pound. And, paradoxically, the disruption seems to be increasing availability to seafood, according to Miller. Id say if anything theres more supply, because of all the restaurants that are struggling. If the restaurants arent buying fish, all the sudden theres more fish available, Miller said. Late Sunday, 15 March, Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced the temporary closure of bars and restaurants, but many restaurants had already shut their doors, including establishments run by Tom Douglas and Renee Erickson two of Seattles most recognizable chefs and champions of local seafood. Kallenberg said Wild Alaskans supply is robust as well, and it should only get stronger with the likelihood that seafood that is normally exported will continue to stack up in domestic freezers. Were a full U.S. supply chain. All of our raw material and secondary processing is here. Were not reliant on the international supply chain, so kind of oddly, we might be benefitting from that surplus, he said. Kallenberg, who grew up in an Alaskan fishing family, added that the general uncertainty underscores one of Wild Alaskans core philosophies. Food security has always been a major tenet of our business. In Alaska, everyone has their catch for the year in the freezer and they eat it year-round. Thats always been part of our philosophy; food security for the modern consumer. They dont go hunting or fishing, but we can essentially emulate that for them, Kallenberg said. 2020 Diversified Communications. All rights reserved. Theme(s): Others. SAGINAW, MI - The Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance and Michigan Health Improvement Alliance are asking citizens to donate needed medical supplies amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The items include N95 face masks, hand sanitizers and disinfectant wipes and they can be dropped off beginning Monday, March 23, at Saginaw Valley State University. President Donald J. Trump has asked various industries to donate what they are able to provide in terms of N-95 respirators and other supplies to hospitals. The regional effort is enlisting the help of the public. It is unclear how many respirators or other supplies will be forthcoming to this area out of Michigans allocation from the Strategic National Stockpile, but the number is unlikely to meet the need, the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce stated in a press release. We can expect current clinical supplies to be exhausted. The needed supplies are as follows: N-95 masks Hand sanitizer (>60% alcohol) Disinfectant wipes (>60% alcohol) High-efficiency air filters Gloves Goggles Clear face shields Clear safety glasses Surgical gowns M4 red top tubes Dacron swabs (for sample collection) If you have these materials and are able to donate them, note the following: 1. Fill out the form in the Survey for Materials link HERE. 2. Businesses can drop materials off to Saginaw Valley State University from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning Monday, March 23. 3. A designated and secured area for materials is available at the SVSU Ryder Center (see map HERE). Those with questions may email Dallas Rau at d.rau@thrivegreatlakesbay.org or Tera Szeliga at tszeliga@greatlakesbay.org. At the request of regional health departments, THRIVE (Transforming Health Regionally in a Vibrant Economy), a co-led initiative between the Michigan Health Improvement Alliance (MiHIA) and the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance (GLBRA), is coordinating the process of addressing supply shortages due to the contagions spread. Related: Where to find takeout food at Bay City-area restaurants during coronavirus closure Bay County doctor with coronavirus released from self-quarantine Bay County declared in state of emergency due to coronavirus Bay County Health Department releases updated coronavirus testing criteria Complete coverage at mlive.com/coronavirus Rebecca Wanjiku, 32, lost her husband, Simiyu Machani, three months after their wedding. She was only 28 then, making her life confusing as a young widow. She shared her story with Nation.co.ke. ********************************* My life has changed a lot. By nature, I am a worrier. If you know anything about serial worriers, it is that they do not understand the concept of one day at a time. They are always planning meticulously to dodge future disasters. I was still learning the one-day-at-a-time mantra from the love of my life, Simiyu Machani when he suddenly departed. Its the first time I am having to reflect deeply on my life, which has been a rollercoaster of sorts. I am currently on study break from my station in Cape Town in South Africa. I am not complaining. I am enjoying the views of the Table Mountains and the taste of Cape wine there. What better thing would a 32-year-old widow be doing? Let me start from the beginning. Simiyu, my departed husband, was my best friend. We met in June 2014. He was 28, an electrical and electronics engineer graduate from JKUAT and a CPA-K holder. He was a Campus Ministry Facilitator with Fellowship of Christian Unions (Focus Kenya), and coordinating short missions for exchange programme students. I was 26, and an intern at the same organisation when we met. We were inseparable ever since. In about a month of being friends, I said to myself, I wanna get married to this guy. In November 2nd 2014, he officially asked me to be his girlfriend and added for one year and then you become my wife? See why I wanted to marry this guy? Thats precision right there and I love precision. The previous year I had graduated from the University Of Nairobi School Of Business with a degree in Commerce and Information Systems. For a girl, born in a remote village called Wanyororo in Nakuru I was right on track. Then there is the fact that I grew up as an Akorino girl. I left the religion in February of 2006, when I turned 18. There was something that didnt sit right for me there. My elder sister came home one day and found me with blow-dried hair. I reminded her that our denomination wouldnt take me back once I had uncovered my head and was seen publicly. I have never looked back. The one thing I loved in the sect and still love were the songs. When I met Simiyu, I was my own woman. One ready to take on the world and make her own decisions. We quickly set our wedding date for the 14th of November 2015. The day came, and went and I had the time of my life. A few days later we started our new little home with a lot of enthusiasm. We talked, played, prayed and laughed. We were still getting used to our new titles, husband and wife. When we found ourselves intimidated by the titles, we would fall back to what we knew well; being friends. Three months later, Simiyu was dead. It was the 9th of February 2016, when he died on the spot through a road accident on his way to Eldoret for a work function. The death of a beloved is an amputation, CS Lewis said. The fact that you get a prosthetic and learn how to use it well does not mean you have overcome as you can never be the person you were before the loss. We had just received our wedding photos that weekend. We were to watch the video together when he was back. We were yet to collect the remainder of our wedding cake. We had not even picked our marriage certificate from our best couple. What sort of cruel joke was this? Why was my love gone so soon? Worse, I couldnt attend his burial. Family wrangles ensured I stayed away as he was buried in his fathers land. Finally, last year December, four years later, I got closure after I visited his resting place. Its very confusing being a young widow. Many felt the need to reassure me that I was going to get married again soon, to an even better man. Who told them I wanted that? I was not even sure I wanted to be alive leave alone love again. Those who did not know what to say looked at me awkwardly. And then there was this group, fond of asking How is your heart? Thats a weird question which I am yet to make sense of. In the days that followed I lost weight, had insomnia, slept too much and had paranoia. It was the darkest time in my life. Friends blended my food when I could not chew and reoriented me into life again. They listened to my endless monologues without interrupting or getting tired. Crying and laughing with my friends got me through. I love them, even those who nicknamed me the hottest widow in town. I cannot say I have fully overcome because I do not think grief is something that can be overcome. It is more of a journey than an event. It is lighter now than the previous years. But as a good student, I decided to keep practising what Simiyu taught me. I started putting my guard down and started living more in the present. I realised that it is not in my power to plan the future however much I wish I would. I started taking risks. I quit my job (I worked in Sales), because I was struggling and not enjoying the duties I had. I had no backup plan. I gave away whatever house possessions I had, packed my two bags and hopped on a plane to volunteer in Northern Nigeria. People were asking me so many questions. Is it safe there? How will you survive as a volunteer without a salary? How about friends and family? I didnt have answers to any of these questions. I had finally cracked the one-day-at-a-time code and it opened a door to the rest of my wonderful life. After two years of volunteering in Nigeria and Gambia, I packed up again and moved to Cape Town. I got admitted to the University of Cape Town to study a Masters in Information Systems. That was in 2019 and I am meant to complete this year. To make ends meet, let me just say there has been some tears, a lot of fundraising, a weak attempt at crowd funding and part time work from the university. I do not know whats next. Life after the Masters programme will unfold as it pleases. My only commitment is to make the most of what comes. Federal parliament has passed the coronavirus economic stimulus measures designed to cushion the sledgehammer blow of the coronavirus. A series of bills was approved on Monday night, with two packages worth $17.6 billion and $66 billion at the heart of the Morrison government's response. In separate legislation, the government set aside a further $40 billion for urgent and unforeseen spending associated with the pandemic, likely to cause a recession. Federal parliament has passed the coronavirus economic stimulus measures designed to cushion the sledgehammer blow of the coronavirus (Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Prime Minister Scott Morrison pictured) The package was approved to help people suffering due to the impact of the coronavirus (pictured: People waiting outside Royal Melbourne Hospital to be tested) Jobseeker, youth allowance, parenting and special benefit payments will be boosted by $550 a fortnight. Finance Minister Mathias Cormann confirmed the coronavirus supplement would be extended to full-time students. The government will no longer need legislation to make changes to welfare settings after passing an amendment to the package, giving the social services minister unprecedented powers. There will also be two $750 payments for welfare recipients. Small lenders will get a $15 billion boost from the government while businesses will get cash injections to encourage them to keep staff on during the crisis. A range of other measures are included in the packages, including targeted support for the tourism and aviation sectors. Labor supported the government in rushing legislation through parliament despite raising concerns about some of the measures. WHAT WILL CENTRELINK PAY? The $550 a fortnight coronavirus supplement will boost the following payments for the next six months: Single, no children $1115.70 (up from $565.70) Single with a dependent child or children $1162 (up from $612) Single, aged 60 or over, after 9 months on payment $1162 (up from $612) Partnered $1060.80 each (up from $510.80 each) Special case single carers such as foster parents $1,340.10 (up from $790.10) This $550 supplement will also be added to other welfare categories such as youth allowance and farm household allowance. Check if you get it here Austudy and Abstudy have also since been added to the recipients, Finance Minister Mathias Cormann told the Senate on March 23 The time-limited coronavirus supplement will cost an estimated $14.1 billion The first $750 coronavirus supplement announced on March 12 One-off payment to welfare recipients registered from 12 March to 13 April. Check your eligibility here This is estimated to cost Australia $4.8 billion The second $750 payment announced March 22 A second one-off payment for welfare recipients registered on 10 July. Check your eligibility here This is estimated to cost Australia $4 billion Retirees get lower social security deeming rates and more flexible super Lower deeming rates will add $105 more to the aged pension in its first year from May 1. Details are here This is expected to cost the Budget $876 million Fact sheets on all the proposed benefits can be found at the Treasury website Advertisement Finance Minister Mathias Cormann (pictured) confirmed the coronavirus supplement would be extended to full-time students The opposition argued the payments would not be in people's pockets until late April while also criticising the decision to allow people to access their superannuation early. Prime Minister Scott Morrison addressed a scaled-down House of Representatives on Monday, invoking the spirit of the Diggers. 'So we summon the spirit of the Anzacs, of our Great Depression generation, of those who built the Snowy, of those who won the great peace of World War II and defended Australia,' Mr Morrison said. 'For many, young and old, 2020 will be the toughest year of our lives.' Labor leader Anthony Albanese said most Australians only knew stories of war, hunger and financial strife from their grandparents. As of Monday night there were 1,716 confirmed cases of the coronavirus across Australia WHERE TO GO FOR HELP * Tax relief: if you have a debt to the tax office you can't pay call the Australian Tax Office emergency support infoline on 1800 806 218 * Unexpected bills for essentials: don't go to high-interest payday lenders. No-interest and low-interest loans of up to $3000 available from Good Shepherd Microfinance. * Utility providers will negotiate a payment plan to keep the power, water and gas on - ring them * Banks will make hardship provisions available if you are having trouble paying your mortgage - call your lender * Set up a myGov account at my.gov.au so you can access welfare help online * Go to Services Australia and use the payment and service finder to work out what help you can get * Access up to $10,000 of superannuation early this financial year, see here * The first $750 coronavirus supplement will go to those registered as on income support and eligible between 12 March and 13 April. The second $750 payment will go to those eligible and registered on 10 July. Check here * The new coronavirus supplement of $550 per fortnight is being added to several welfare payments - check if you are eligible here * A list of Services Australia phone numbers for different information lines from crisis payments to low income health care cards is here * Visit the Services Australia and register for a Jobseeker Payment or call to register on 132 850 * Centrelink advance payments are available in some circumstances * You can get rent assistance from Services Australia if you are on a JobSeeker payment. * National Debt Hotline for free advice and support for those in financial difficulty 1800 007 007 * Ask your employer to register on the ATO website ato.gov.au to keep your job going during the coronavirus shutdown so you can get $1500/fortnight Advertisement 'This is a time for national leadership, consistent messages, clear directions,' he said. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has hinted at the potential need for a third stimulus package down the track, as Australia faced its biggest challenge outside of war time. 'We confront an enemy without a flag or a face and we are deploying every weapon in our arsenal to defeat it,' he told parliament. 'We will bounce back as a nation stronger than ever.' Mr Frydenberg told parliament superannuation was the 'people's money' and would be freed up by the government. The pandemic has seen tens of billions of dollars wiped off share prices in the past few weeks. Members and senators abided by new rules to ensure there are four square metres for each person, and no more than 100 people in a room at any one time. The House of Representatives agreed on a new parliamentary sitting calendar, with politicians next due to return in August. The next scheduled sitting was to have been in May for the federal budget, which has now been postponed until October 6. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 17:20:20|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close Cambodian Minister of Health Mam Bunheng (2nd L, front) and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian (1st L, front) welcome the Chinese medical team at the Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, March 23, 2020. A team of Chinese medical experts arrived in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Monday to help the country fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The seven-member Chinese medical team, from south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, came over with tons of medical supplies including ventilators, medical masks, test kits and others. (Xinhua/Mao Pengfei) PHNOM PENH, March 23 (Xinhua) -- A team of Chinese medical experts arrived in Cambodia on Monday morning to help the country fight the COVID-19 and they received a warm welcome from Cambodian officials and well-wishers. Their arrival was live broadcast on local TV channels, including the state-run National Television of Cambodia (TVK), the official Facebook page of Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, and leading online news provider Fresh News, among others. Landing at the Phnom Penh International Airport via a special chartered plane, the seven-member expert team was cordially greeted by Cambodian Health Minister Mam Bunheng and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian. Dozens of well-wishers also welcomed them at the airport by waving the flags of Cambodia and China when they walked down from the plane. At the airport, the Chinese experts posed for group photos with Bunheng and Wang as well as others, with two banners writing that "A Friend In Need Is A Friend Indeed" and "Lancang-Mekong Has Only One Origin, China and Cambodia Have Only One Heart." According to a Cambodian Ministry of Health's press release, the expert team, from south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, came over with tons of medical supplies including ventilators, medical masks, protective suits, test kits, and infrared temperature sensors. With experience in containing the spread of the COVID-19 in China, the Chinese experts are expected to provide valuable advices to their Cambodian counterparts to fight the virus effectively. Speaking briefly to reporters at the welcoming ceremony, Bunheng said the Chinese medical team came to Cambodia at the request of the Cambodian government and they would stay here for two weeks to aid Cambodia to contain the virus spread. "We are ready to cooperate with the Chinese medical team to fight the COVID-19," he said. "This is a symbol of friendship, solidarity, and brotherhood between the peoples of China and Cambodia." The minister, on behalf of the Cambodian government, expressed his profound gratitude to the Chinese government for sending the medical team and medical supplies to Cambodia, saying that the assistance was very valuable. "A friend in need is a friend indeed, we highly value China for coming to help us immediately when we are in difficult time," Bunheng said. The arrival of the Chinese expert team was also welcomed by social media users in the kingdom. Thousands of Facebook users expressed their sincere thanks to China for the assistance and were confident that, with China's support, Cambodia would be able to contain the spread of the COVID-19 faster. "Welcome to Cambodia, thank you, the Chinese doctors, for coming to help our country," Bopha Chiem commented on Facebook. Another Facebook user Hor Kimsay wrote "Thank you, the Chinese people, for paying particular attention to the health of the Cambodian people, we will keep your good deed in our mind forever." Cambodia has so far recorded a total of 86 confirmed cases of the COVID-19, and two of the patients, a Chinese man and a British woman, have fully recovered and been discharged from hospitals. Chheang Vannarith, president of the Asian Vision Institute, said since Cambodia lacks resources in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and its healthcare system is relatively weak, China's aid is crucial to stem the virus spread. "Cambodia alone cannot contain and mitigate the pandemic. Therefore, international support is necessary," he told Xinhua. "China can play a critical role in assisting Cambodia to fight against the virus, both in terms of expertise and the supply of medical equipment such as test kits, ventilators, and protective gears for medical staff." Photo: Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images Harvey Weinstein tested positive for coronavirus in an upstate New York prison, the New York Post reported, citing an official with knowledge of the situation. The Niagara Gazette first reported the claim that Weinstein has coronavirus. His lawyers told Vulture that they have not received information indicating he was sick with the virus and would likely not know anything until Monday morning. Weinstein was transferred to Wende Correctional Facility, a maximum-security state prison near Buffalo, several days ago. One of his lawyers told Vulture that Weinstein was put into isolation when he arrived at Wende as a precaution due to coronavirus concerns at New York Citys infamous Rikers Island jail, where he was prior to his transfer to prison. On February 24, a jury found Weinstein guilty of first-degree criminal sexual act and third-degree rape. On March 11, Justice James Burke imposed a sentence of 23 years in prison. Before Weinstein was moved upstate, he had bounced between Rikers (which is now dealing with the coronavirus) and Bellevue Hospital, where he underwent treatment for heart problems. Asked for comment, the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision responded, The Department cannot comment on an individuals medical record. However, we can confirm that two of the Departments approximately 43,000 incarcerated individuals, both at Wende Correctional Facility, have confirmed cases, the departments statement said. With each confirmed case, DOCCS worked with the Department of Health to identify any potentially exposed individuals in order to provide notifications and to stop the spread of the virus. Previously, DOCCS officials said that Weinstein would be at Wende throughout the classification process which effectively just means processing an inmate into the states prison system and then determining the prisoners security, medical, and mental-health needs. Because there is no standard timeframe for this classification process, its unclear how long Weinstein will be at Wende. Its also not clear whether Weinstein will be moved to another lockup or ultimately just stay at Wende. The DOCCS recently suspended all visits because of the COVID-19 crisis. As with other inmates impacted by suspended visitation, Weinstein will receive five free stamps per week, two free secure messages via electronic messaging per week, and one free phone call weekly. This is a breaking news story and has been updated throughout. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella told "Axios on HBO" that he is not focused on cutting costs in the face of the coronavirus crisis, but instead aiming to meet "new demand" for Microsoft Teams and other Office applications as more employees work from home. Why it matters: Tech companies like Microsoft are taking on central new roles in keeping government, business and education up and running as offices shut down to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. What's happening: Microsoft warned in February that earnings would fall short of expectations due to the virus, but that related to the supply of PCs coming out of China, not the broader impact of the pandemic. Asked if he was contemplating layoffs or slowing in investments in certain areas, Nadella said that's not where he is putting his energy. "So for now, what I'm focused on is ... what I would call new demand," Nadella said. "I don't think, you know, one month ago I would have thought of 'work from home' as a complete new scenario with the type of spikes we have today. Overall activation of Microsoft 365 is increasing significantly." (That's a mix of new paid users and free trials, though.) While the spike in demand has led to some challenges Microsoft Teams had an outage in Europe last week Nadella said that, overall, the shift from company-based servers to the cloud has prepared the economy to handle a large population of employees working from home. "I think we are so much better equipped today," Nadella said. "But clearly the spikes we are seeing are pretty unprecedented, right? This was not a growth that we had looked at and planned in any spreadsheet or any model we had even a month ago." Yes, but: It's not like a near shutdown of the economy isn't going to hurt other areas. "When you have large swaths of our consumer economy quarantined, there will be an impact," Nadella said. "We are clearly going to have some demand shock," Nadella said. "But Microsoft is a very diversified business, and that's been one of our strengths through the previous downturns. ... We have a good set of businesses with good business models." The big picture: With a huge concentration of employees in Washington state and a presence in China Microsoft was hit early by the epidemic and acted early, encouraging its employees to work from home and promising to pay hourly workers even if their services were not needed as full-time employees telecommute. Meanwhile: Nadella said he is still tapping Bill Gates' expertise, even as the Microsoft co-founder announced last week he would step down from the company's board. California Sen. Kamala Harris, left, speaks as New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, right, and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer listen during a Joe Biden campaign rally at Renaissance High School in Detroit. Harris and Whitmer have been floated as potential vice presidential picks for Biden. (Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images) Joe Biden made a smart move by promising to choose a woman as his running mate. Next he needs to be smart again and choose the right woman. Pledging to select a female vice president was smart because its the right thing to do. America, supposedly the land of equal opportunity, should have elected a woman president long ago. The veep spot is just one step away. The right thing isnt always the smart thing politically. But in this case it was for the Democratic front-runner. Assuming Biden becomes the partys presidential nominee, the right female running mate should help the ticket appeal to swing-vote suburban women in battleground states he must carry to oust President Trump in November. Moreover, by promising unequivocally to select a woman, the former vice president will avoid a heap of pressure to do just that leading up to the partys nominating convention in July. With the issue off the board, it wont distract him from his main message of anti-Trump, steady-handed, moderate pragmatism. But its vital for Biden that he select a running mate who isnt a campaign liability or distraction. He needs someone who will help the ticket attract voters, or at least not drive them away. For more than a year, California Sen. Kamala Harris, 55, has been on the short list of speculators VP contenders. But selecting her might not be the smartest play. Biden commented after Harris gave up her own presidential bid in December that he would consider the senator for anything she was interested in, including the vice presidency. Selecting a woman of color could excite the Democratic base something Biden, 77, doesnt do. He has all but clinched the nomination because Democrats consider him the most likely candidate to beat Trump, the quality they deem most important, polls show. Harris, who is black, would be the first woman of color ever nominated for vice president by a major political party. A Biden-Harris ticket would reflect the growing diversity of Democratic voters. Story continues Those are the upsides. Theyre outweighed by downsides. For starters, Harris selection by Biden would look too cynical, too blatantly political to many voters. Moreover, a running mate should be able to deliver her home state for the ticket. Harris isnt needed for that. Californias 55 electoral votes roughly 20% of the total required to win the presidency are in the bag for any Democrat. Anyway, she didnt exhibit much lasting appeal as a presidential candidate, even among voters of color in her own state. A November poll of likely voters by the Public Policy Institute of California found Harris was the first choice for only 9% of home state Latinos and 9% of other ethnicities, mostly black and Asian voters. Biden was supported by 27% of Latinos and 20% of other non-white voters. Biden doesnt need a running mates help to win over black voters. They have been his strength. Harris also didnt exactly compile a stellar record as state attorney general. She was risk-averse for example, not taking positions on two ballot propositions to abolish capital punishment and one to speed up executions, despite her professed career-long opposition to the death penalty. The two abolition measures failed and the proposal to expedite executions passed. Her risk-averse trait carried over onto the presidential campaign trail where she often stumbled, most notably in wavering awkwardly on universal healthcare. This was despite aggressive, prosecutorial rhetoric. But if Biden did choose Harris and they were elected, it would significantly alter Californias political landscape. Harris would automatically become a potential president, stymieing Gov. Gavin Newsoms long-range White House ambitions. But in the short term, Newsom would reap a political bonanza. The governor would choose Harris Senate successor. Whom would he reward? Theres a long list of quality Democratic options: State Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra, a former congressman from Los Angeles; U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff of Burbank, who led the House impeachment of Trump; Secretary of State Alex Padilla; Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis ... Or Newsom could grab the Senate seat himself by resigning and being appointed by the new governor, Kounalakis. Its doubtful he would do that. If Newsom named a statewide official, he could also choose that persons replacement and control a game of musical chairs. But were getting way ahead of ourselves. Biden has other women of color he could consider, including two Western Latinas: Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, 55, has a resume similar to Harris she is a former state attorney general and first-term senator. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, 60, is a former U.S. House member. Stacey Abrams, 46, who is black, narrowly lost a 2018 race for Georgia governor and is frequently mentioned as a potential VP. Get serious. Maybe someday, but so far the highest office she has won is state legislator. Some other women: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, 48, is impressive. And she could deliver a vital state that Hillary Clinton lost to Trump four years ago. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, 70? Too far left. Not a good fit. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, 59, could have broad appeal in the Midwest and assure victory in her home state, which supported Clinton only narrowly in 2016. Her presidential race never gained traction, but shes smart, experienced, articulate, upbeat and her moderate ideology would be acceptable in battleground states. Shes in sync with Biden politically. Right now, Bidens smartest choice seems to be Klobuchar. With event cancellations and social distancing precautions occurring in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the supply of blood for patients in need has dwindled as less people turn out to donate. Cy-Hope and Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center are asking residents who are able to spend a few minutes away from home to help local healthcare professionals by giving blood. Cy-Hope is hosting a blood drive with Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center on Wednesday, March 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hope Chest Resale Market, 12015 Barker Cypress Rd., Cypress. Hotels and guesthouses in Kilkenny are seeking the urgent support of local TDs to help save Irish tourism and secure the livelihoods of thousands of people employed across the country. Chair of the South-east branch of the Irish Hotels Federation Colm Neville says safeguarding public health is an absolute priority, and it must go hand-in-hand with ensuring there is a viable economy to return to after the crisis. "The health and wellbeing of our people is intertwined with the economy," he said. People will need livelihoods when this is all over including the 260,000 people across the country who, up until recently, were employed in tourism and hospitality. This represents 11% of total employment nationally. It is also important to note that 70% of these jobs are outside of Dublin which highlights the regional contribution of tourism. Over 100,000 have already been laid off and it is deeply regrettable that many more will follow in the coming days. Tourism makes a vital economic contribution to our local economy here in Carlow-Kilkenny and, up until last week, it supported 6,200 jobs and generated 163 million in local tourism revenues annually. Within a short number of weeks, we have seen revenues plummet by up to 100% across the sector. Tourism businesses have now closed with thousands of people being laid off on a daily basis across the country. We must do everything within our power to ensure that these closures are temporary. The challenges we now face are existential and far greater than anything we went through during the financial crisis. We require extraordinary measures and political leadership right now to ensure these closures and layoffs are temporary." The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) has called on the Government to act extremely quickly to ensure that large parts of the economy, including tourism, are not obliterated by the current crisis. When we look across the water to the UK, we see a range of seriously impressive measures to save jobs and the economy, such as the UK Governments decisive commitment yesterday to pay up to 80% of the salary of employees if businesses keep them on their payroll as the economy crashes. Here in Ireland, we need our own 'great national effort to protect jobs' along similar lines," he said. It is extremely regrettable that the response so far by Government has been inadequate and this is causing alarm across our sector given the lessons learnt from the financial crisis and urgency required to minimise long-term damage to vulnerable sectors of the economy. Last week, for example, the Government moved to defer commercial rates for businesses impacted by the crisis. Such a deferment is futile for tourism businesses that have no revenue as it just means they are being asked to accumulate the liability. It fails to tackle the underlying problem and will do little to get our people in Irish tourism back to work as part of rebuilding Ireland. For those businesses most affected, including those that have closed, these Local Authority rates must be waived until the crisis is over. Cash flow in particular is the killer of businesses in crises like this, and we have called on the Government to implement measures that will assist with cash flow now as well as reducing the rates of tourism VAT and employers PRSI to zero for the duration of the crisis. In addition to our call for local authority rates to be waived, we are seeking direct business supports, including finance and marketing assistance. Urgent measures the IHF says are required now: Employees: Government should commit to paying 80% of the salary of workers if businesses keep them on their payroll. Similar to mortgage deferments, provide grants for employees who are renting. Cashflow / Finance: measures to assist with cashflow for businesses facing short term problems, including: Interest free loans with deferred capital payment structures; Government supported and targeted bank support initiatives; 12-month payment deferment on Senior debt (Capital and Interest); Government grants: business interruption grants to help businesses reopen and interest-free Capex grants that are repayable over time; Local authority rates and water charges: to be waived for the duration of business interruption and initial recovery period due to Covid-19; Taxation: tourism VAT rates and employers PRSI to be reduced to zero until the industry has recovered; Insurance: grants to cover businesss public liability and property insurance for the duration of the crisis and for Government to require the insurance industry to be more flexible with charges in relation to businesses that are closed. We are all in this together and local tourism businesses, including hotels and guesthouses, are determined to get through this crisis and get the 260,000 people back to work in tourism. There is only so much we, as individual businesses, can do in the face of such an overwhelming crisis that threatens to obliterate Irish tourism," said Mr Neville. That is why, on behalf of all our members and local tourism businesses, we urging all TDs in Carlow-Kilkenny to support our call for decisive and exceptional measures at this time of national crisis." Central District of Illinois U.S. Attorney John C. Milhiser and Springfield division FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean M. Cox are cautioning people to be on guard against those who would use the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak to scam people. Unfortunately, while uncertainty can reveal the best of our society and citizens good will and generosity, scammers and fraudsters take advantage of others to prey on peoples fears and to exploit our compassion and generosity, Milhiser said. New scams will emerge, not only person to person, but also cybercriminals who will perpetuate scams to steal your money by selling fake cures online and other forms of cyberfraud. Harvey Weinstein has tested positive for coronavirus, the head of New York states corrections officers union confirmed to Reuters on Sunday. The disgraced film moguls diagnosis was first reported earlier in the day by the Niagara Gazette. At the time of the Gazettes report, Weinsteins team told HuffPost that it had not been informed of any positive test result for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. Weinstein, who is starting his 23-year prison sentence for rape and sexual assault, was transferred last week to Wende Correctional Facility, a maximum-security prison near Buffalo, New York. He previously had been splitting time between New York Citys notorious Rikers Island jail and a Manhattan hospital. The disgraced film moguls diagnosis was confirmed by Michael Powers, the president of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association. Michael Powers, the president of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, told Reuters that Weinstein was placed in isolation at Wende Correctional Facility. Powers also expressed concern for the corrections officers who had come into contact with Weinstein. The officers lacked proper protective equipment, Powers said, adding that several staff members were now quarantined. The board that oversees New York Citys jail system said Saturday that at least 28 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the citys jails, including at Rikers. At least 58 other people were being monitored in contagious disease and quarantine units, Board of Correction interim chairwoman Jacqueline Sherman wrote in a letter to criminal justice leaders. The best path forward to protecting the community of people housed and working in the jails is to rapidly decrease the number of people housed and working in them, Sherman wrote. Weinstein, 68, has a history of poor health. He was hospitalized earlier this month after suffering a mild heart attack, according to his spokesman. He also suffers from diabetes, high blood pressure and other medical conditions. His lawyer, Imran Ansari, told Reuters he was... Continue reading on HuffPost Amid mounting pressure, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown is preparing to issue a statewide stay-at-home order Monday, according to a news report. A draft reviewed by Willamette Week orders residents to stay in their homes whenever possible and bans nonessential gatherings, according to the newspaper. The draft order allows people to go outside to run or hike, as long as they can stay six feet away from others. It would close many businesses including hair salons, gyms, senior centers and theaters, Willamette Week reports. It wouldnt shutter offices, however, but it would require employers to let their workers telecommute as much as possible. CORONAVIRUS IN OREGON: THE LATEST NEWS The order is expected to be effective right away, according to the newspaper. It wasnt immediately clear how long the order would last. Violating any of Browns orders would be a misdemeanor crime, Willamette Week reports. At least 161 people in Oregon have now been infected by the virus, which has sickened more than 335,000 people worldwide. The true count is likely far higher but isnt known because of limited testing. Five people in Oregon have died because of the virus, which is also known as COVID-19. Browns office did not return messages from The Oregonian/OregonLive on Sunday. The Oregonian/OregonLive Subscribe to our Oregon coronavirus newsletter: The Nepal government on Monday announced a nationwide lockdown from 6 am (local time) on 24 March in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. One more positive case was reported in the country on Monday, taking the total number of positive cases to 2. The nationwide lockdown in Nepal will be in place till 31 March. Nepal on Monday confirmed its second coronavirus case, a 19-year-old female student who returned from France via Qatar. On January 24, a Nepali national who returned from Chinas Wuhan city, the epicentre of the virus, was tested positive for COVID-19. The man was later released from hospital after he was cured. SOURCE: AGENCIES We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. March 21 (Reuters) - The launch of Walt Disney's streaming services in France will be delayed by two weeks at the request of the French government, Variety https://bit.ly/2J7Gpeo reported on Saturday. The report cited a statement from Kevin Mayer, head of Disney's Direct-to-consumer and International business. Disney officials could not immediately be reached for comment. Disney+ is set to launch in the UK and most major European markets on March 24, but European subscribers will receive temporarily degraded video quality, the report said. Anticipating higher consumer demand, the company is instituting measures to "lower our overall bandwidth utilization by at least 25% in all of the markets launching Disney+ on March 24th," the report said, citing Mayer's statement. It also said Disney had agreed to a European Union request for streaming-video providers to limit their video bit-rates during the coronavirus emergency so as not to overload internet networks. YouTube, owned by Alphabet Inc, Amazon Inc's Prime video and Netflix had previously said they will sacrifice streaming quality in the European Union to help avert online gridlock as tens of millions of people stay indoors and switch to working from home. The request to the companies was made by European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton to ensure the smooth functioning of the broadband infrastructure. (Reporting by Aishwarya Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Daniel Wallis) Biere: Switzerland has called up thousands of army reservists to help in the battle against coronavirus, the first time it has done so since World War II. In order to relieve hospitals under pressure, the army announced it could mobilise up to 8,000 personnel. Lieutenant-Colonel Raoul Barca, in charge of a battalion of 750 soldiers, told AFP it was the first time that reservists had been called up since 1939. "The situation is serious... the coming days will be critical for the health care system," director-general of health for the Geneva canton Adrien Bron told reporters on Sunday. Schools, universities and creches have been closed in Switzerland as part of measures to limit the transmission of the virus. The country has recorded 7,000 infections including 60 deaths from the disease. It has so far avoided confinement restrictions adopted by other countries but on Friday announced that it would ban all gatherings of more than five people, and that anyone standing closer than two metres to others risked a fine. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. San Francisco, 23 March 2020 : The Report Regenerative Medicine Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis By Product (Primary Cell-based, Stem & Progenitor Cell-based), By Therapeutic Category (Dermatology, Oncology) And Segment Forecasts, 2019 - 2025 The global regenerative medicine market size is expected to reach USD 5.60 billion by 2025, expanding at a CAGR of 11.6% over the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Regenerative medicines are expected to have a significant impact in healthcare to treat specific indications and chronic conditions. Therefore, high prevalence of cancer, neurodegenerative, orthopedic, and other aging-associated disorders coupled with increasing global geriatric population is driving the market growth. Moreover, rising prevalence of inheritable genetic diseases is anticipated to fuel the demand in the field of biotechnology field. Market players are engaged in implementing novel protocols for the release of novel therapeutics. For instance, in July 2018, Convelo Therapeutics launched regenerative medicines for the treatment of various neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis.Agreements models initiated by the companies coupled with commercialization in emerging countries fuels the growth. For instance, in March 2018, Hitachi Chemical signed an agreement with the Daiichi Sankyo and SanBio Group to conduct clinical manufacturing of regenerative medicines developed by respective companies for Japanese and U.S. markets. Regenerative medicine is anticipated to witness great attention in healthcare sector due to its wide range of applications and significant advancements tissue engineering, stem cells, gene therapy, drug discovery, and nanotechnology. For example, 3D printing is preferred over scaffold with stem cells to restore structure and functional characteristics of biological specimens. Dermatology is estimated to hold the largest market share in terms of revenue in 2018, owing to the availability of various products and their application in simple and chronic wound healing. Oncology therapeutic category on the other hand, is projected to expand at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period owing to the presence of strong pipeline of regenerative medicines for cancer treatment. North America held the largest regenerative medicine market share in terms of revenue in 2018 and is projected to continue its dominance in near future. A significant number of universities and research organizations investigating various stem cell-based approaches for regenerative apposition in U.S. is anticipated to propel the growth. Access Research Report of Regenerative Medicine Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/regenerative-medicine-market Further key findings from the report suggest: Therapeutics emerged dominant among product segments in 2018 due to high usage of primary cell-based therapies along with advances in stem cell and progenitor cell therapies Implementation of primary cell-based therapies in dermatological, musculoskeletal, and dental application results in highest share of this segment Stem cell and progenitor cell-based therapies are anticipated to witness rapid growth due to high investments in stem cell research and increasing number of stem cell banks With rise in R&D and clinical trials, key players are offering consulting services leading to lucrative growth of the services segment Asia Pacific is projected to witness the fastest CAGR during the forecast period due to rapid adoption of cell-based approaches in healthcare and emergence of key players Key players operating in the regenerative medicine market including AstraZeneca; F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.; Pfizer Inc.; Merck & Co., Inc.; Integra LifeSciences Corporation; and Eli Lilly and Company Browse more reports of this category by Grand View Research at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry/biotechnology Grand View Research has segmented the global regenerative medicine market on the basis of product type, therapeutic category, and region: Regenerative Medicine Product Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) Therapeutics & Devices Primary Cell-bases Therapeutics Dermatology Musculoskeletal Surgical Dental Others Stem Cell & Progenitor Cell-based Therapeutics Autologous Allogeneic Others Cell-based Immunotherapies Gene Therapies Tools Banks Services Regenerative Medicine Therapeutic Category Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) Dermatology Musculoskeletal Immunology & Inflammation Oncology Cardiovascular Ophthalmology Others Regenerative Medicine Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa Access Press Release of Regenerative Medicine Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-regenerative-medicine-market About Grand View Research Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare. For More Information:www.grandviewresearch.com Another 27,000 Connecticut workers submitted initial claims for jobless benefits between Saturday and Monday, pushing to more than 100,000 claims that have been filed since March 13 amounting to nearly 6 percent of the states workforce as of January. On Monday, a union representing Foxwoods Resort Casino workers indicated some 5,000 people would be furloughed, without indicating the percentage that are residents of Connecticut versus Rhode Island. Connecticuts unemployment rate stood at 3.7 percent in January, near a record low. About 42,000 people were receiving unemployment compensation prior to Gov. Ned Lamont declaring a public health emergency as hospitals began admitting patients afflicted with the novel coronavirus COVID-19. Speaking Monday afternoon, Lamont indicated he continues to try to make public health the priority in slowing the virus spread with the mandatory closure of some businesses, while allowing others to continue operating that offer essential services or otherwise are critical to the larger economy, such as major manufacturers. The biggest building blocks of our economy, ... a lot of them are not being touched, Lamont said. The reason Ive decided to keep that going is because its a contained area, and we can control the people who are going in and out. We can give them fever tests, we can make sure that they are least likely to be infected. Believe me every CEO of every one of these companies is doing everything they can to monitor that, because the last thing they can have is an infection there. The Connecticut Department of Labor indicated it continues to shift resources to speed the processing of claims, having stated previously it could take anywhere from 10 to 15 days for claimants to receive payments via direct deposit of debit cards. Unemployment compensation pays about half of ones average paycheck over the preceding 15 months, with 13 percent of the total subject to federal and state income taxes. DOL is directing people to its website at www.filectui.com to file claims, fielding general questions via email as well at dol.webhelp@ct.gov or via phone at 203-455-2653 or 860-263-6975. A live chat function on the website was unavailable as of Monday afternoon. Includes reporting by Andrew DaRosa. Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman Around four in a thousand people worldwide suffer from schizophrenia, according to scientific estimates. The disease affects people from all walks of life, including Vincent van Gogh, the painter Agnes Martin, mathematician John Nash and Eduard Einstein, a son of the great physicist. The disease touches men and women equally. Despite its prevalence, however, schizophrenia has remained a mystery. Diagnosis has relied on patient behavior, such as hallucinations, delusions and disordered thinking, rather than on quantitative biomarkers. As a result, psychiatrists' ability to objectively diagnose and treat people with the illness has been impaired. New research, led by Prof. LIU Bing and Prof. JIANG Tianzi from the Institute of Automation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and their collaborators, may change this situation, though. The scientists have recently developed a novel imaging marker that may help in the personalized medicine of psychiatric disorders. The study, published in Nature Medicine on Mar. 23, shows that abnormal striatal function can be a promising biomarker for the diagnosis of schizophrenia and treatment response. In their search for suitable biomarkers, the scientists collected multimodal neuroimaging data from a total of 1100 individuals with schizophrenia and healthy controls from 2010-15. Using the large dataset, the researchers first proposed the concept of "functional striatal abnormalities." They then used artificial intelligence technology on resting state fMRI data to map striatal dysfunction at the individual level. The researchers showed, for the first time, that striatal dysfunction was effective in distinguishing schizophrenia patients and that such dysfunction was also responsible for poorer antipsychotic response. Based on the newly developed biomarker, the researchers extended their research to other neuropsychiatric disorders. They showed that individuals with bipolar disorder also showed striatal dysfunction that overlapped with the dysfunction associated with schizophrenia. After combining different levels of data, the researchers suggested that striatal dysfunction is related to the dopaminergic system and polygenic genetic risk for schizophrenia. The study also evaluated using this biomarker to predict diagnostic labels and treatment responses across several different hospitals. The scientists hope research on the biological underpinnings of psychiatric disorders will increase understanding of disease mechanisms as well as guide new drug development. ### A web-based tool developed to calculate personalized functional striatal abnormalities (FSA) score for each individual is available at https://www.szbiomarkers.net/. The research was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China, the National Key Research and Development Program, the Leading Projects Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Natural Science Foundation of China. Anthony Scaramucci, former director of communications for the White House and founder of SkyBridge Capital LLC, speaks during the Skybridge Alternatives (SALT) conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 8, 2019. Joe Buglewicz | Bloomberg | Getty Images The Dow Jones Industrial Average is down 32.81% from the beginning of the year, while the S&P 500 index has fallen 28.66% over the same period. "We're in a protracted bear market," said Scaramucci, who is founder and managing partner at investing firm SkyBridge. "I think there's at least 10% to 15% more to go in equity prices here." In the short term, however, he said he is optimistic because of the expectation that Congress will approve economic stimulus for the country. On Sunday evening, a huge funding package failed to get enough votes in a key Senate procedural vote. "I predict that they will get a deal done. They know how sensitive this is for markets," Scaramucci said. "It may come before the (market) opening, but if it doesn't, my guess is it will come after tomorrow's close." He said the stimulus will send a message to U.S. citizens that the government is there for them "in a time of crisis like this." "I've told people, this is so much worse than the global financial crisis. It's literally 9/11 plus the global financial crisis," he added. Impact on 2020 US elections The mining industry in Ghana and the entire West African Sub-region will soon receive a major boost following the establishment of a world-class Geochemical Laboratory at Tarkwa in the Western region of Ghana by SGS Ghana Limited. The facility will complement the existing facilities available in the country by ensuring that clients receive full scale geochemical analytical services at the highest quality and promptness that is required. The Client Liaison Manager of SGS Ghana at Tarkwa, Wilfred Appiah who made the announcement at the just ended maiden edition of the Ghana Gold Expo held in Takoradi said, the facility is one of SGS Ghanas top-notch laboratories in the sub-region. With a network of what some have described as super labs, clients in the mining industry can enjoy various standardised and validated methods and techniques using state of the art equipment that spurs growth and reaches desired targets timeously. Players in the mining industry can also get enhanced services offered by sister labs for MMI (Mobile Metal Ion) analysis, multi-element analyses by ICP-AES, ICP-MS, and XRF. SGS also invested in FAST technology (Field Analytical Services & Testing) using the pXRF, FTIR and ED-XRF scanning instruments for mineralogical sample analyses. Carbon and Sulphur analyses are offered from SGS Maslab in Tema which is also fed from the new SGS environmental feeder, lab recently opened in the Cyanide area in Tarkwa. Mr. Appiah noted that SGS Ghana is part of the global entity SGS, which is recognised as a global benchmark for quality and integrity and the worlds leading inspections, verification, testing, and certification company with offices worldwide including Accra, Tema, Tarkwa, Takoradi, Damang, Ahafo, Akyem, and Obuasi. SGS which was established in 1878 in Europe, opened its Ghana operations in 1960 in Ghana and provide services in the following sectors; Oil, Gas and Chemicals, Agriculture, Food and Life, Certification and Business Enhancement, Environment, Health and Safety, Government and Institutions, Industrial and Minerals. The company has a network of 2,600 offices and laboratories and more than 94,000 employees around the world. The Convenor of the Ghana Gold Expo, Dr. Steven Blessing Ackrah expressed excitement about the new facility adding that it was a good effort at ensuring responsible mining as the theme of the Expo indicates; Promoting Responsible Gold Mining and Zero Mercury. Contributions to the facilities in Ghana, such as the Geochemical Laboratory in Tarkwa by SGS continue to place Ghana favourably for responsible gold mining in the region, he added. He observed that the enthusiasm and overwhelming representation by stakeholders in the mining industry was a testament to the strength of gold in the current market and the high level of interest in doing business in Ghana". Gold price have hit $1667 as of March 11 and have shown strong recent gains amid stock market crises worldwide. Henry Treku who is in charge of Strategy and Partnerships for Ghana Gold Expo also noted that the high-level investors who attended the expo are in the right place at the right time if they were interested in producing gold responsibly and sustainably. Ghana is good for such opportunities, he stressed. He thanked SGS for sharing the news about the new laboratory and extending an invitation to key stakeholders to witness the world-class facility. However, we have been informed that due to the Covid 19 outbreak, and the recent press release of 2 cases in Ghana, SGS was compelled to postpone the opening function which was scheduled to be held on the 18th of March in Tarkwa. Dublin, March 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Disposable Medical Gloves - Market Analysis, Trends, and Forecasts" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Disposable Medical Gloves market worldwide is projected to grow by US$2.8 Billion, driven by a compounded growth of 6.1%. Examination Gloves, one of the segments analyzed and sized in this study, displays the potential to grow at over 5.9%. The shifting dynamics supporting this growth makes it critical for businesses in this space to keep abreast of the changing pulse of the market. Poised to reach over US$6 Billion by the year 2025, Examination Gloves will bring in healthy gains adding significant momentum to global growth. Representing the developed world, the United States will maintain a 5.2% growth momentum. Within Europe, which continues to remain an important element in the world economy, Germany will add over US$100.4 Million to the region's size and clout in the next 5 to 6 years. Over US$86.8 Million worth of projected demand in the region will come from Rest of Europe markets. In Japan, Examination Gloves will reach a market size of US$330.6 Million by the close of the analysis period. As the world's second largest economy and the new game changer in global markets, China exhibits the potential to grow at 9% over the next couple of years and add approximately US$766.2 Million in terms of addressable opportunity for the picking by aspiring businesses and their astute leaders. Presented in visually rich graphics are these and many more need-to-know quantitative data important in ensuring quality of strategy decisions, be it entry into new markets or allocation of resources within a portfolio. Several macroeconomic factors and internal market forces will shape growth and development of demand patterns in emerging countries in Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East. All research viewpoints presented are based on validated engagements from influencers in the market, whose opinions supersede all other research methodologies. Competitors identified in this market include, among others: Ansell Healthcare Products LLC B. Braun Melsungen AG Cardinal Health Inc. Cypress Medical Products LLC Halyard Health Inc. Hartalega Holdings Bhd Kossan Rubber Industries BHD Medline Industries Inc. Molnlycke Health Care AB Paul Hartmann AG Rubberex Corporation (M) Berhad Semperit AG Holding Shijiazhuang Hongray Group Supermax Corporation Berhad Top Glove Corporation Bhd Vulkan Medical AS Total Companies Profiled: 90 Key Topics Covered I. INTRODUCTION, METHODOLOGY & REPORT SCOPE II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. MARKET OVERVIEW Disposable Medical Gloves - A Prelude Market Outlook Key Growth Drivers Select Growth Impediments Global Market for Rubber Gloves - An Insight Innovations Drive Growth Asia - Focal Point for Future Growth Malaysia Dominates Rubber Gloves Market Recent Market Activity Global Competitor Market Shares Disposable Medical Gloves Competitor Market Share Scenario Worldwide (in %): 2020 & 2029 2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS 3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS Improving Healthcare Expenditure Turbo Charges Demand Rising Incidence of Hospital Acquired Infections Propels Market Growth Aging Population and Growing Number of Surgical Procedures Spur Demand Diagnostic Laboratories Increasing in Number - Demand for Medical Gloves to Surge The Trend towards Powderless Examination Gloves for Medical Use Medical Gloves Market to Sustain Healthy Growth Increasing Healthcare Awareness to Spur Demand for Medical Gloves Latex Gloves Rapidly Lose Share to Synthetic Gloves Nitrile Gloves - An Effective Synthetic Alternative to Natural Rubber Latex Gloves Nitrile Gloves Witness Surging Demand Vinyl Disposable Gloves Laced with Inherent Drawbacks Manufacturers of NR Latex Gloves Rise to the Challenge Underplayed Advantages of NRL: Hoping to Reinstate Consumer Confidence Implementation of Double Gloving Practice Spurs Growth Opportunities Natural Rubber Production Scenario Durability of Medical Gloves: A Key Issue Future of Powdered Gloves Precariously Hangs in Balance Product Variables for Commercial Success Managed Care Vs. Cost Concerns Industry Upbeat on the Technology & Innovation Front Hartalega Develops Non-Leaching Antimicrobial Gloves with Active Ingredient Surgical Gloves: Shaped by Comfort, Fit & Barrier Protection 4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE III. MARKET ANALYSIS IV. COMPETITION For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/crb4r2 Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Safeway has reached an agreement with a union representing Northern California workers to increase their pay, hours and sanitation. The contract, viewed by The Chronicle, says that Safeway and United Food and Commercial Workers Local 5 reached an agreement arising from the extraordinary challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily impacting the grocery industry, referring to the disease caused by the coronavirus. Local 5 members are working around the clock to assure that families have the food and supplies they need. Along with health care workers they are truly first responders during this growing crisis, union President John Nunes said in a news release Monday. Albertsons Companies, the nationwide grocery chain that owns Safeway, pledged to give a $2-an-hour pay raise to California grocery workers at Safeway, Vons, Albertsons and Pavilions stores. Safeway will also pay workers up to two weeks if they are diagnosed with COVID-19 or are told by a doctor to quarantine or self-isolate. Employees 65 or over who choose to self-isolate will be able to use accrued sick or vacation time. The grocery chain promised to practice social distancing, sanitize throughout stores, suspend in-store product demonstrations and self-service bars, and encourage online ordering. It will also continue current plans to install hard plastic shields in all checkstands to protect employees. The contract also lays out a protocol for contactless delivery. A driver drops off groceries on a doorstep, rings the bell, and steps back 6 feet before informing whomever opens that theyre doing so because of the coronavirus instead of bringing bags inside, as Safeway couriers typically did before. If a recipient has disabilities, the driver will maintain 6 feet of separation as they come inside. Food-delivery drivers employed by Grocery Works will be allowed time to sanitize their hands at least once an hour and will wash their hands when they arrive at a store. Safeway will provide all necessary materials including hand sanitizers, disinfecting cleaning products and appropriate training. Safeway will also provide extra staffing to clean and stock bathrooms. The grocery chain will make additional work hours available for employees who want them and make every effort to accommodate workers who have scheduling conflicts because of the need to care for children whose schools have closed. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes Now Playing: Bay Area stores grocery stock up on essential supplies in preparation for the emergency shelter-in-place-order across most of the region. The mandate is the nation's strongest move so far in response to the coronavirus threat. Video: Yalonda M. James, Erika Betty Carlos In ways that we could not even imagine, overnight, our country changed and as a result it changed the way our teams conduct business, Albertsons CEO Vivek Sankaran said in a statement. I am so proud to say our teams did not skip a step. In our manufacturing plants, distribution centers and in our stores, our associates are working tirelessly to serve our customers. They work every day to keep our communities fed, their pantries and medicine cabinets stocked, and to ensure one less worry on our customers minds as we all face this unprecedented pandemic. The union is also pressing state government to mandate additional paid leave to grocery workers, access to free coronavirus testing, and require food retailers to allow them access to regular hand washing, sanitary cleaners and protective gear. The proposal also would mandate sufficient staffing to assure that sanitary conditions are maintained for employees as well as customers. Mallory Moench is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@mallorymoench The Government looks set to unveil an unprecedented income-support scheme in the coming days in which it will pay 75% or 80% of the wages of the thousands of workers who have lost and will lose their jobs amid the Covid-19 crisis. Government officials are looking at schemes in Denmark and Portugal and are weighing proposals from employers and trade unions for a new package of measures. It comes as British prime minister Boris Johnson did a surprise u-turn on its laissez-faire response to the crisis by announcing on Friday night it would guarantee 80% of the wages of UK workers at 30,000 (32,620). Employers will pay the remainder of the wages. Patricia King, secretary general of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Ictu, and Fergal OBrien, director of policy and public affairs at employers group Ibec, told the Irish Examiner they submitted to Government officials separate proposals for an income-support plan late last week. Ictu said that the cost to the exchequer of its proposal would amount to 1.7bn through to the end of June for incomes up to 40,000, while Ibec said its proposal will cost 4bn because its over a longer period and estimates that 500,000 people could, under a worst-case outcome, lose their jobs over the coming months. But Mr OBrien said Ibecs costing also includes the existing bill for the emergency sick pay measures the Government has announced, as thousands of pub, retail and hospitality workers lost their jobs in the lockdown of a week ago. Ireland is a rich country and we can afford to do this, Mr OBrien said. Ms King at Ictu said: If we all do what we are supposed to do and curtail the spread of this and it works, and come July 1, we start to reset the economy. The objective is that when the shutters come up, the workers come back to work, and people have money in their pocket and start spending again, she said. A Department of Finance spokesman said the Government is considering options to reduce further job losses and provide support to those who have lost their jobs. We have already taken a number of measures including a 3bn package and we will also study provisions made in other jurisdictions, the spokesman said. Trade union Mandate secretary general John Douglas praised SuperValu, Tesco, and Dunnes for plans to roll out perspex screens to protect their frontline staff and for imposing other protection measures but said elsewhere in the retail industry it has been hit and miss. He said that tens of thousands of its members have been laid off but some well-known retailers have behaved disgracefully by laying off staff with little notice or cut hours to unsustainable levels. Mandate represents 35,000 retail staff and about half of those workers have been laid off, he said. Meanwhile, the US was inching closer last night to agreeing a huge bailout programme for its economy. US senators met yesterday in a bid to finalise a bipartisan bill worth more than $1tn (932bn) to help soften the economic blow from the coronavirus pandemic. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and House speaker Nancy Pelosi say they want to add more worker-focused provisions to the draft legislation released late last week by Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell. Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin has been representing the Trump administration in the talks. Republican leaders said they were hopeful they can resolve outstanding issues on the virus-relief package, as they have some agreement on total spending levels for certain provisions. Republicans agreed to the Democratic request to bolster unemployment insurance. Lawmakers are still discussing how to characterise the loans to small businesses that would be forgiven if companies retain most of their workforce, essentially turning them into grants. Im confident well get to yes, Mr McConnell said. Additional reporting from Bloomberg The head of the Belarusian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan of Minsk and Zaslavl Pavel, flew around Minsk on a helicopter and poured holy water on the capital to protect it from the spread of COVID-19, the Belarusian Orthodox Church said in a press release MINSK (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd March, 2020) The head of the Belarusian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan of Minsk and Zaslavl Pavel, flew around Minsk on a helicopter and poured holy water on the capital to protect it from the spread of COVID-19, the Belarusian Orthodox Church said in a press release. The Metropolitan did the flight on Sunday. The press release further stated that many believers had requested the Church organize a prayer amid the pandemic and continue with its traditions the latter is likely a reference to mass gatherings in churches and the taking of communion, which are ill-advised given the rapid spread of the coronavirus. Belarus has confirmed 76 COVID-19 cases so far. Beenu Arora, Founder and CEO of Cyble Inc. We are honored to welcome Beenu into the community, said Scott Gerber, founder of Forbes Councils, the collective that includes Forbes Technology Council. Beenu Arora, Founder and CEO of Cyble, a cybersecurity company offering third-party security scoring and threat intelligence powered by Artificial Intelligence fused with human analysis, has been accepted into Forbes Technology Council, an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs, and technology executives. Beenu Arora was vetted and selected by a review committee based on the depth and diversity of his experience. Criteria for acceptance include a track record of successfully impacting business growth metrics, as well as personal and professional achievements and honors. We are honored to welcome Beenu into the community, said Scott Gerber, founder of Forbes Councils, the collective that includes Forbes Technology Council. Our mission with Forbes Councils is to bring together proven leaders from every industry, creating a curated, social capital-driven network that helps every member grow professionally and make an even greater impact on the business world. As an accepted member of the Council, Beenu has access to a variety of exclusive opportunities designed to help him reach peak professional influence. He will connect and collaborate with other respected local leaders in a private forum. Beenu will also be invited to work with a professional editorial team to share his expert insights in original business articles on Forbes.com, and to contribute to published Q&A panels alongside other experts. Finally, Beenu will benefit from exclusive access to vetted business service partners, membership-branded marketing collateral, and the high-touch support of the Forbes Councils member concierge team. Beenu commented about his membership, "I am thrilled about my acceptance to the council. Forbes is an iconic name in the business community, and they have created an outstanding platform to foster innovation, exchange of thoughts and ideas with other technology and business leaders. Cybersecurity is a growing challenge for organizations globally. While industries are rapidly adopting digitization, without mature cybersecurity and privacy capabilities, organizations will be at the increased risk of being victimized by cyberattacks. Cyble mission is to provide organizations with a real-time view of their supply chain cyber threats and risks. Our SaaS-based solution powered by machine learning and human analysis provides organizations' insights to cyber threats and enable them to respond to them faster and more efficiently. We continually hunt for cyber threats and cybercriminals and often discover large organisations affected due to them. Most recently, our cybercrime research unit disclosed a massive data breach at a large professional services company. We don't see the trend going down anytime soon. Cybercrime is becoming a lucrative space, and we see many new actors and entities entering in, which is increasing the volume and sophistication of cyberattacks, especially due to ransomware. I look forward to collaborating with the other members of the council and sharing my knowledge and insights." ABOUT FORBES COUNCILS Forbes Councils is a collective of invitation-only communities created in partnership with Forbes and the expert community builders who founded Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC). In Forbes Councils, exceptional business owners and leaders come together with the people and resources that can help them thrive. For more information about Forbes Technology Council, visit forbestechcouncil.com. To learn more about Forbes Councils, visit forbescouncils.com. ABOUT CYBLE INC. Headquartered in the US, Cyble is a leading provider of threat intelligence and third-party security scoring company. Cyble's platform, powered with Artificial Intelligence and fused with human analysis, also allows organizations to gain (close-to) real-time view of cyber threats and risks posed by suppliers, partners and third parties and help build better and stronger resilience to cyber-attacks and breaches. Cyble works with many Fortune 500 organizations. The company has offices and teams located in Singapore, US, India and Australia. Official website: https://cyble.io Contact: Cyble Inc. Tel: +1 678 379 3241 contact(at)cyble(dot)io How to Understand Democratic Socialism Despite the century of saturation by propaganda against the name of socialism throughout Western countries, its political relevance is intensifying. Anti-communist propaganda has often taken two different (and, I would argue, logically incompatible) lines: socialism is evil; socialism is politically irrelevant. The two lines had coexisted right from the emergence of socialism as a political fact in the 19th century. The relative prevalence of each has varied according to political opportunity the greater and more imminent the threat posed by socialism to bourgeois power, the less tenable the irrelevant line, and so the more the evil. The collapse of the Soviet Union and many other allied socialist states was heralded by the imperialist propagandists as the end of history the final victory of the so-called liberal democracy (read: imperialism) over socialism. The mainstream political discourse leant hard towards irrelevant. But despite the end of grand narratives, the voracious imperialist need for war to prop up the ever-sinking ship of capitalism meant that a new enemy needed to be invented. The clash of civilisations narrative found that enemy in Islam, or rather a particular artificial construct of Islam. A few independent governments overthrown, a few million people dead, a few new markets opened up to foreign exploitation later, and this epic inferno of clashing civilisations has burnt out. Which is not to say that the violence and destruction of livelihoods have ended; on the contrary, around the world terrorist violence, in many cases with direct US backing, continues. However, I am not talking about facts, I am talking about liberal politics. Do you remember five years ago when all that was on the television was the war on terrorism, refugees, Islamic extremism? I do. I also remember that five years ago if China was discussed on television, they would speak of the Chinese government. Now far more often I hear instead the Chinese Communist Party and even sometimes how it is the central threat of our times (regards to Mike Pompeo). Do these changes in political discourse reflect any objective shift in conditions in the Middle East or China? Not so much. Indeed the level of aggression towards these places has remained consistent. It reflects a change in the political climate in the West instead. The alternative conflict narrative failed; socialism vs capitalism is back on the agenda. So too, is the Cold War mentality. Figures like Jeremy Corbyn and Bernie Sanders have appeared, vocally promoting socialism. Their surges of popularity among large sections of the population, if temperamental, show a growing desire of the people (particularly young people) for socialism, or at least for an alternative to the current form of capitalism. Of course, what they propose is far from what we would call socialism and does not intend to change the basis of capitalist society. Yet it is clear that much of the ruling class consider even their views enough of a threat to carry out defamatory media campaigns and underhanded political manoeuvering against them. The phenomenon of the so-called democratic socialists is not a new one. Engels 1847 draft entitled The Principles of Communism (rewritten with Marx into the famous Communist Manifesto) mentions the democratic socialists who share some similar ideas to communists in terms of short term policy objectives. However, they view those objectives not as a stepping stone to revolutionary overthrow of the capitalist class and a thorough economic transformation, but as entirely sufficient to indefinitely curb the excesses of capitalism. Engels describes these democratic socialists as either proletarians who are not yet sufficiently clear about the conditions of the liberation of their class, or they are representatives of the petty bourgeoisie, a class which, prior to the achievement of democracy and the socialist measures to which it gives rise, has many interests in common with the proletariat. This description remains strikingly accurate. Why are the objectives and outlook of the democratic socialists insufficient? There are two main reasons. Firstly, they do not sufficiently recognise the class basis of our society. Although they frequently obliquely refer to class and for this we can acknowledge the overall progressive nature of their rise in popularity they do not recognise the extent of bourgeois class power in economy and politics. No matter what reforms they could put in place, without destroying the power the capitalist class has over our entire society, any reform that touches bourgeois profits will be repealed in the end. This does not mean that such reforms are entirely worthless. Many of the benefits enjoyed by working people in much of the Western world were achieved by workers struggles in the 1930s and 40s, fought for by both social democrats and communists, particularly in the union movement. This was a time when the workers movement (both the unions and the Communist Parties) was very strong the CPA reached 20,000 members. Many decades later, a lot of these benefits still linger. However, it is clear that with the weakening of the union movement and left politics, the capitalist class has been clawing back every one of these reforms piece by piece. So long as the capitalist class remains in power, both via their political control over the state and their economic power, any victory for the working class will remain a precarious and ephemeral one. Secondly, they do not have a robust scientific analysis of the economic basis of capitalism. They view exploitation as an aberration of capitalism and not its core mechanic. In this way, they uphold the essence of bourgeois political economy. They rely on redistribution via increased taxation, but no fundamental restructuring of economic relations. This dooms their policies to failure. So long as the entire economy is based on the dominance of private property and wage labour, the profit motive will remain the overriding dictator of the whole societys economic life regardless of the thoughtful words of the government. So long as the base of this system remains the same, any policies aimed at bettering the working class are bound to cut into short-term private profits, which will mean the bourgeoisie will only intensify exploitation in whatever other ways they can find. This includes forcing other countries to open further to increased imperial exploitation via political and economic pressure, and the threat of military intervention or its reality - aggressive war. The chequered track record of the democratic socialists with regards to foreign policy, and tendency to fall perfectly in line with imperialism on these questions, reminds us that they are unlikely to inhibit the latter effectively. Well never find out precisely what a Corbyn-led UK would have looked like, and we probably wont find out what a Sanders-led US looks like. There is every chance it would end in disappointment. Does this all mean that we should adopt a hostile attitude towards the democratic socialists? Not at all. Indeed we can find an answer to this in the Australian context. Unlike the UK and the US, we have in fact not seen a similar ideological development of comparable magnitude. There is not yet any Australian Bernie Sanders. Despite my criticisms of the democratic socialism, it can be recognised that it does contain sprouts of an independent working-class perspective and socialist objectives, if in an unpolished form. However the continued ideological dominance of the Australian Labor Party over the Australian working class, with a class-collaborationist outlook, inhibits even this level of ideological development. If there were to emerge an Australian equivalent, it should be seen as a progressive development and an ally in this stage of the workers struggle. If such a trend achieved victory at the polls, even if it did end in disappointment, that disappointment would not necessarily doom us to another two steps back. It would present us an opportunity for the working class to push forward towards greater demands revolutionary demands. With social distancing being on everyone's mind as we travel to area stores to pick up necessities, one local chain is helping us make sure we are doing it correctly. Walgreens locations around Houston and across the nation are making sure customers are keeping a safe distance and following the proper recommendations of standing 6 feet apart, in compliance with recommended social distancing. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: List: H-E-B stiffens product limits to 'protect the supply chain' According to the CDC, The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person: Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet). Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. "These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs," shares the CDC. In order to reduce the chance for the virus while shopping, stores such as Walgreens are making sure customers are aware of the proper distance to stay from one another. Measures include placing blue markers on the floor to assist customers in distancing themselves. Walgreens shared the following statement on its website: "Implementing social distancing guidelines to ensure a safer store experience for team members, customers and patients. All stores now have a Social Distancing Line, which begins six feet away from all checkout counters. Lines are clearly marked where customers may wait until the team member instructs them to step to the counter. Six foot increments are also marked to indicate where customers should stand in line to ensure they are keeping appropriate distance from others." SOCIAL DISTANCING: Photos: Houston's most popular places become stark, empty scenes during outbreak H-E-B has also implemented measures to protect its employees and customers. In recent days, they installed protective shields at checkout counters and have started limiting the number of customers that can shop at once. H-E-B spokesperson Julie Bedingfielnd shared the following statement with KSAT on why they are limiting the number of people coming into the store: Were limiting the amount of people in the doors at the start of the day to ensure customer safety. Throughout the day, our store leaders are making sure customers are practicing social distancing and may limit customers through the door periodically. H-E-B store leadership will continue to monitor the amount of people in store. If customers are unable to maintain a safe social distance, our store leaders will pause allowing more customers into the store until flow supports social distancing. In addition, many stores are providing hand sanitizer before customers enter and are wiping down carts with disinfectant cloths. All these measures are in the hopes of keeping the virus from spreading and keeping stores open and viable places of commerce. The Delhi Assembly passed a Rs 65,000-crore budget for the 2020-21 financial year on Monday, with an emphasis on the education, health and transport sectors. IMAGE: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal addresses a press conference, in New Delhi. Photograph: Kamal Kishore/PTI Photo In the budget presented in the House by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, the Aam Aadmi Party government set aside Rs 50 crore to deal with the coronavirus outbreak. Presenting the budget for the sixth consecutive time in the Assembly, Sisodia said the Delhi government will implement the Ayushman Bharat Yojana of the Centre in the national capital. The Bharatiya Janata Party had been accusing the Arvind Kejriwal government of stalling the scheme and depriving the people of Delhi of its benefits. This was the first budget of the AAP government after it was re-elected to power with a thumping majority last month. Sisodia, who also holds the finance portfolio, said the per capita income of Delhi had increased by 44 per cent over the last five years. The budget focussed on the education and health sectors, which the deputy chief minister said were important areas in the Kejriwal model of governance. Presenting the budget in the presence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Sisodia said digital classrooms will be set up in each government school and an amount of Rs 100 crore was set aside for the purpose. The deputy chief minister, who also holds the education portfolio, proposed 145 new schools of excellence in the budget. "By 2024, we will establish Delhi on the world's education map," he asserted. The health sector was allocated Rs 7,704 crore for the next financial year. The government set aside Rs 724 crore for new hospitals and Rs 365 crore for setting up new mohalla clinics and polyclinics. Sisodia said the Kejriwal model of governance was centred around elements of economics and people's welfare, pointing towards empowerment of women through free rides in public transport buses. The free-bus-ride scheme for women will continue in the next financial year, he added. The budget allocated Rs 1,700 crore for providing basic facilities in the unauthorised colonies of the national capital. "Under the Kejriwal model of governance, the chief minister has guaranteed the largest and cheapest public transport system in Delhi. "Under this, the government has a target to have a fleet of 11,000 buses and to lay metro lines for 500 kms," Sisodia said. In view of a land crunch, the government will convert its four bus depots into multi-storey buildings to accommodate more buses, he added. The budget allocated Rs 100 crore for the Mukhyamantri Teerth Yojana for 2020-21. The city government will also run a "Campaign for Communal Harmony" across the national capital, Sisodia said while underscoring its importance in the wake of last month's communal violence in northeast Delhi. The budget presentation lasted for around an hour and a half, during which all members maintained a distance with each other by leaving the seats between them empty. Earlier, the five-day budget session was cut short to a daylong session in view of the coronavirus outbreak. As of now, 415 confirmed cases have been reported, 23 patients have been discharged and 7 deaths reported. By PTI NEW DELHI: Air India stated on Sunday that vigilante resident welfare associations (RWAs) and neighbours were ostracising and calling police on its crew members, who went abroad as a part of their duty. "It is alarming to note that in many localities, vigilante Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and neighbours have started ostracising the crew, obstructing them from performing their duty or even calling in the police, simply because the crew travelled abroad in the course of their duty," the airline said in a press release. These "vigilantes" had "conveniently" forgotten that many a spouse, parent, sibling, child and near and dear ones were brought home safely from coronavirus-hit countries by the Air India crew, it added. The national carrier has earned the praise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other ministers for rescuing stranded Indians from foreign countries in the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic. On Sunday itself, it brought back 262 Indians stranded in Rome in a special flight. "We would like to appeal to all concerned, particularly the law enforcement agencies, to ensure that our crew are treated with the courtesy, respect and freedom that every citizen of this country deserves, especially in light of the fact of their having undertaken flight duties to affected countries to bring back Indian citizens," the airline said. The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has urged Muslims to obey instruction by the government on the ban on public assembly due to the coronavirus pandemic. Ishaq Akintola, MURIC director, said this in a statement issued on Monday. Akintola said, In spite of governments efforts at sensitizing the general public on the need to shun gatherings, many Muslims are still calling our office asking us to speak against the ban on public gatherings so that they could observe Jumuah service. Let us make our position clear on this. MURIC will not support any Muslim group or individual found contravening the ban on public assembly because the ban is in the best interest of citizens. It is not targeted at any religious group. Saudi Arabia cancelled all Jumuah prayers. It also suspended Umrah. For the first time in history, nobody is performing tawaaf at the Haram. In Kuwait, adhan (call to prayer) has been changed from Come for prayer (haya ala al-salat) to Pray in your houses (soluu fii buyuutikunm). But here in Nigeria we still find a handful of Muslims who insist on conducting Jumuah service. Do we want to be more Muslim than Muhammad (peace be upon him)? He said Islam is religion of moderation which does not encourage extremism, adding that the curse of Allah is upon extremists. Read Also: Coronavirus: Governor Umahi Bans Burials, Weddings In Ebonyi MURIC warns against extremist propensities. We all can see where Boko Haram has taken us. It started from little excesses like this. Islam is a religion of moderation. It is dangerous phenomena like Corona Virus that the Glorious Quran warned us against when it said Do not make your hands contribute to your own destruction, but do good for Allah loves those who do good (Wa laa tulquu biaydiikunm ila al-tahlukah, Quran 2:195), he said. We Muslims must face reality. The manner of congregational salat inside the mosque has all the likelihoods of infection. We stand shoulder to shoulder and feet to feet. There must be no gap between a worshipper and the man standing next to him. On the contrary, health experts recommend at least one meter between persons in social interaction in order to prevent infection. MURIC urges all Muslims to see governments instructions on Covid-19 as necessary and beneficial to them. It is therefore in their best interest to cooperate. Zuhr prayers should be offered at home in place of Jumuah. The same may be done with the five congregational prayers where the number of those in the mosque is more than 20. However, we strongly advise praying daily salat at home with members of the family as domestic jamaah. David Iben put it well when he said, 'Volatility is not a risk we care about. What we care about is avoiding the permanent loss of capital. So it might be obvious that you need to consider debt, when you think about how risky any given stock is, because too much debt can sink a company. Importantly, Hop Fung Group Holdings Limited (HKG:2320) does carry debt. But the real question is whether this debt is making the company risky. What Risk Does Debt Bring? Debt assists a business until the business has trouble paying it off, either with new capital or with free cash flow. If things get really bad, the lenders can take control of the business. However, a more common (but still painful) scenario is that it has to raise new equity capital at a low price, thus permanently diluting shareholders. Of course, plenty of companies use debt to fund growth, without any negative consequences. The first step when considering a company's debt levels is to consider its cash and debt together. Check out our latest analysis for Hop Fung Group Holdings What Is Hop Fung Group Holdings's Debt? The image below, which you can click on for greater detail, shows that Hop Fung Group Holdings had debt of HK$208.4m at the end of June 2019, a reduction from HK$231.4m over a year. But on the other hand it also has HK$306.4m in cash, leading to a HK$98.0m net cash position. SEHK:2320 Historical Debt, March 23rd 2020 How Healthy Is Hop Fung Group Holdings's Balance Sheet? We can see from the most recent balance sheet that Hop Fung Group Holdings had liabilities of HK$332.8m falling due within a year, and liabilities of HK$107.6m due beyond that. Offsetting these obligations, it had cash of HK$306.4m as well as receivables valued at HK$142.4m due within 12 months. So its total liabilities are just about perfectly matched by its shorter-term, liquid assets. This surplus suggests that Hop Fung Group Holdings has a conservative balance sheet, and could probably eliminate its debt without much difficulty. Succinctly put, Hop Fung Group Holdings boasts net cash, so it's fair to say it does not have a heavy debt load! Story continues In fact Hop Fung Group Holdings's saving grace is its low debt levels, because its EBIT has tanked 71% in the last twelve months. Falling earnings (if the trend continues) could eventually make even modest debt quite risky. When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. But it is Hop Fung Group Holdings's earnings that will influence how the balance sheet holds up in the future. So if you're keen to discover more about its earnings, it might be worth checking out this graph of its long term earnings trend. Finally, a business needs free cash flow to pay off debt; accounting profits just don't cut it. Hop Fung Group Holdings may have net cash on the balance sheet, but it is still interesting to look at how well the business converts its earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to free cash flow, because that will influence both its need for, and its capacity to manage debt. Over the last three years, Hop Fung Group Holdings saw substantial negative free cash flow, in total. While investors are no doubt expecting a reversal of that situation in due course, it clearly does mean its use of debt is more risky. Summing up While it is always sensible to investigate a company's debt, in this case Hop Fung Group Holdings has HK$98.0m in net cash and a decent-looking balance sheet. So while Hop Fung Group Holdings does not have a great balance sheet, it's certainly not too bad. When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. But ultimately, every company can contain risks that exist outside of the balance sheet. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 5 warning signs for Hop Fung Group Holdings (of which 1 makes us a bit uncomfortable!) you should know about. Of course, if you're the type of investor who prefers buying stocks without the burden of debt, then don't hesitate to discover our exclusive list of net cash growth stocks, today. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. Twistrix.com scored 40 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2/5.0 Stars by Social Team This CoolSocial report was updated on 18 Oct 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. The total number of people who shared the twistrix homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the twistrix homepage on Twitter + the total number of twistrix followers (if twistrix has a Twitter account). The total number of people who shared the twistrix homepage on Delicious. The total number of people who shared the twistrix homepage on StumbleUpon. 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Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND - An Italian returnee who was isolated at the Damongo Hospital in the West Gonja District over a suspected COVID-19 has tested negative - The 35-year-old Italian returnee had arrived in Ghana for three weeks and was made to report at the Damongo Hospital after he exhibited symptoms of the Coronavirus - The man tested negative after tests were carried out at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi - Residents of Damongo hit the streets in wild celebration following news the returnee tested negative Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Ghana Some residents of Damongo have celebrated the negative test results of a 35-year-old Italian returnee who was isolated at the Damongo Hospital over a suspected case of COVID-19. YEN.com.gh previously reported that the Italian returnee was quarantine by health authorities at the Damongo Hospital in the West Gonja District in the Savannah Region after he allegedly exhibited symptoms of the dreaded Coronavirus. The earlier report also indicated that after the Italian returnee arrived in Ghana on February 28, 2020, he reported to the health facility with symptoms similar to COVID-19. Some residents of Damongo noticed that he showed symptoms including couching and reported the issue to community opinion leaders including the Municipal Chief Executive. READ ALSO: First no-makeup video of Despite's son's wife Tracy hits online after sweet honeymoon Photo credit: mynewsgh.com Source: UGC The Municipal Chief Executive advised that he reported to the health facility for his COVID-19 status to be ascertained against spread of the deadly disease. He was quarantined for further medical observation and test to find out whether or not he had been infected after he reported at the hospital. His blood samples were taken to the Tamale Teaching Hospital to be transported to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi for testing. Fortunately, he tested negative for the Coronavirus. Photo credit: mynewsgh.com Source: UGC Some residents took to the streets in massive jubilation over the negative test results. The returnee was bathed with powder amidst wild celebrations while he held broad smiles. Photo credit: mynewsgh.com Source: UGC YEN.com.gh previously reported that a suspected Coronavirus case has been detected at Paga in the Kasena-Nankana West District of the Upper East Region. The suspected case was discovered on Saturday, March 21, 2020, by health workers at the Nakolo Clinic. Health authorities at Paga are making efforts to find out more details about the COVID-19 case. Disclosing details of the latest suspected case to ghanaweb.com, the District Director of Health Service, Hypolite Yeleduor, said the suspected sufferer came to the Nakolo Clinic from a nearby village close to the border on the side to Burkina Faso to seek health care. READ ALSO: First no-makeup video of Despite's son's wife Tracy hits online after sweet honeymoon Faces of Ghana: A Mysterious Voice Speaks to Me When I'm Working - Engineer Explains #Yencomgh Have national and human interest issues to discuss? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page. Source: YEN.com.gh Governor Bill Lee established the COVID-19 Unified Command, a joint effort to be led by Commissioner Stuart McWhorter, to streamline coordination across the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), Tennessee Department of Health and Tennessee Department of Military. The COVID-19 pandemic challenges every aspect of traditional government response in a crisis, said Governor Lee. I have appointed the Unified Command to effectively change the way we attack COVID-19 in Tennessee as we work to simultaneously address health, economic and supply crises. Commissioner Stuart McWhorter currently heads the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration and will leave this post to head the COVID-19 Unified Command. Mr. McWhorter appointed retired Brig. Gen. Scott Brower to serve as chief of staff for the operation. Gen. Browers special forces background and previous service as the Acting Senior Commander for the 101st Airborne Division has enabled him to pull leaders together and troubleshoot quickly in a crisis, said Mr. McWhorter. Governor Lee has urged our team to challenge every barrier and assembling this team is the first step. BG Brower resides in Clarksville and most recently served as the military advisor in residence to the president of Austin Peay State University. The COVID-19 Unified Command also includes: Patrick Sheehan, TEMA director Dr. Lisa Piercey, commissioner, Tennessee Department of Health Maj. Gen. Jeff Holmes, Adjutant General, Tennessee Department of Military More information regarding COVID-19 response is available HERE. Hero MotoCorp slumped 8.86% to Rs 1656.5 after the company announced decided to halt operations at all its global manufacturing facilities. The company in a regulatory filing announced that it has decided to halt all global manufacturing facilities in India, Colombia and Bangladesh along with Global Parts Centre (GPC) at Neemrana with immediate effect until 31 March 2020. The company also said employees at all the other functions and locations including the Centre of Innovation and Technology (CIT) in Jaipur in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan will continue to work from home, except for those whose physical presence is necessary to run the daytoday essential services. The company further assured that proactively monitoring the situation since the early stages of the breakout of COVID19, and had rolledout a slew of measures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of its employees and also, thereby to help contain the spread of the Coronavirus. Hero MotoCorp is a motorcycle and scooter manufacturer. The company is the largest two-wheeler manufacturer in the world. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With educational institutes suspending classes till March 31 in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, foreign students, studying in district colleges, are feeling dejected as international flights have been suspended. They said with the number of coronavirus cases rising daily, they are worried about their family members. Scores of students from various countries, including Africa, Indonesia, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Nepal, and the US are studying at Punjab College of Technical Education and CT Group of Institutes in Ludhiana. Majority of them had visited their country last year during the summer break. All students are staying in hostels and are being provided basic facilities including food and medical care. A BPharma student, Gwantwa Absalom, from Tanzania, said, I start the day by talking to my parents. In fact, in the wake of the virus, I now talk to them for longer periods as compared to earlier. I had visited my country in June and was planning to go again during the break. When the college authorities suspended classes for 15 days, I decided to visit my parents. But it was not feasible for me to go for a short duration and that too in the middle of the session, said the 22-year-old, adding that she solves the assignments given by college teachers to keep herself busy and stays in touch with them through video calls. Ntsukunyane Victor Ntlhoki, 19, from Lesotho, said, When the number of cases rose in China, I made no plan to go home. I felt that by April, it will subside but in fact, it turned into a pandemic. The situation worries me as the number of cases are still increasing and the state government has imposed a curfew, adding that he stays in touch with his family to know about their well-being. I stay busy either by reading books or watching movies or listening to music, he said. I follow the precautions, stay in my room and sometimes talk to my hostel mates so that I dont feel isolated, he added. Suraj Dhungyel, 21, from Bhutan, said, I miss my family and often talk to them when I feel homesick. Earlier, I used to talk to them twice a week, but in the present circumstance, I interact with them through video calls almost every day. He said, I had visited my country in May and had stayed there for two months. The high rate at which the number of Covid-19 cases are rising in India worries me. To pass time, I surf the internet and complete the assignments given by teachers. I call my parents three times a day and am planning to go back to Bhutan as I feel that the situation is better there. By Stephen Lendman March 23, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Crises are opportunities for ruling authorities to institute policies not easily introduced during normal times. Post-9/11 and at other extraordinary times, the public is willfully deceived to believe that by sacrificing personal freedoms, greater security is possible not realizing that both will be lost. The price of liberty is eternal vigilance. The cost of its loss is tyranny the US and West far advanced toward its becoming full-blown. Protecting public health to prevent COVID-19 from spreading by stay-at-home orders, state and community lockdowns, and social distancing reflect common sense policymaking. Overstepping occurs if martial law is declared and constitutional rights are suspended what tyrannical police state rule is all about. Post-9/11, US hardline rule became reality by presidential executive orders, national and homeland security presidential directives, and enactment of police state laws along with actions against designated domestic and foreign adversaries, dissent, civil liberties, human rights, and other democratic freedoms. State-sponsored indefinite detentions, assassinations, extraordinary renditions, military commission trials, torture, mass surveillance, and other extrajudicial actions were instituted and remain in place on the phony pretext of protecting national security at a time when Americas only enemies are invented. For nearly two decades, the US has been waging war OF terrorism, not on it, at home and abroad a bipartisan coup detat on world peace, equity, justice and the rule of law. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Police state measures were prepared in advance and on the shelf for rolling out in the aftermath of the 9/11 mother of all state-sponsored false flags. The mother of all establishment media promoted Big Lies left most people unaware that what happened on that fateful day was all about advancing Washingtons imperium, along with cracking down on homeland freedoms. Will spreading COVID-19 outbreaks in the US be used as a pretext for further hardening of hardline police state rule, including suspension of vital habeas rights? According to Politico on Saturday, the Trump regimes Justice Department quietly asked Congress for the ability to ask chief judges to detain people indefinitely without trial during emergencies, adding: Documents seen by Politico detail the (DOJs) requests to lawmakers on a host of topics, including the statute of limitations, asylum and the way court hearings are conducted. The Trump regime already closed the nations borders (except for commerce), imposed restrictions on international and domestic air travel, barred foreign nationals from entering the US whove been in China, Iran, and European countries recently, and suspended visa services at US embassies and consulates worldwide. About a fourth of the US population is locked down following orders by individual state governors, others highly likely to follow, perhaps the entire nation in the days and weeks ahead as COVID-19 outbreaks will likely continue to increase before abating. Some measures are justified to enhance public safety, others not. Clearly no justification exists to order indefinite detentions arbitrarily under any circumstances. If permitted or not, will martial law and suspension of the constitution follow? According to Politico, one of the documents it saw calls for Congress to empower the attorney general to circumvent judicial proceedings whenever (a) district court is fully or partially closed by virtue of any natural disaster, civil disobedience, or other emergency situation. The authority would apply to any statutes or rules of procedure otherwise affecting pre-arrest, post-arrest, pre-trial, trial, and post-trial procedures in criminal and juvenile proceedings and all civil process and proceedings. National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers executive director Norman Reimer said if indefinite detentions without trial become the law of the land, habeas rights no longer will exist as long as the practice continues. Anyone for any reason, real or invented, could be arrested and never brought before a judge until they decide that the emergency or the civil disobedience is over. I find it absolutely terrifying. Especially in a time of emergency, we should be very careful about granting new powers to the government. This is something that should never happen anywhere! The DOJ document also asked Congress to suspend statute of limitations or criminal investigations and civil proceedings during national emergencies, said Politico, adding: The DOJ wants Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure change(d) to expand the use of videoconference hearings, and to let some of those hearings happen without defendants consent, according to the draft legislative text. According to Reimer, forced video hearing (without consent of the accused) would violate their civil liberties a terrible road to go down. We have a right to public trials. People have a right to be present in court represented by counsel. Tahirih Justice Center head Layli Miller-Munro said the DOJ request, if implemented, would block refugees and asylum seekers from entering the US a way to keep unwanted people of the wrong race, creed, color, or nationality out of the country. Make no mistake. The DOJ document was likely prepared before or straightaway after the onset of COVID-19 outbreaks. The 300-plus page USA Patriot Act was written before 9/11, readied to be considered by Congress, passed, and signed into law six weeks after the state-sponsored false flag. The Trump regime will likely take full advantage of spreading COVID-19 outbreaks for hardened police state rule instead of prioritizing public health and economic justice actions for ordinary Americans. The greatest risk to remaining personal freedoms for ordinary Americans will be if martial law and suspension of the Constitution become the law of the land by executive order. Perhaps its coming if Congress and/or the courts dont intervene to block it. While extraordinary times call for extraordinary actions, its vital to institute them lawfully to protect public health and welfare as top priority. Visit Stephen's website - www.stephenlendman.org - Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His newest book as editor and contributor is titled Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III. www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html A Philadelphia death row inmate who authorities now say is 'likely innocent' has been hospitalized after coming down with symptoms of coronavirus, after his exoneration trial was delayed for months due to the pandemic. Walter Ogrod, 55, was sentenced to death more than two decades ago for the murder of four-year-old Barbara Jean Horn. But Philadelphia District Attorney now believe his conviction was based on flawed evidence and a coerced confession, and he had been due to have an exoneration trial next week before it was delayed. Ogrod had been in the prison infirmary at the State Correctional Institution Phoenix, in Montgomery County with a fever, cough and difficulty breathing for the last two weeks. He was placed in isolation with a fever of 106 degrees. After being returned to his cell his fever calmed but he was still coughing. However, his conditions worsened over the weekend and he has now been taken to an outside hospital for treatment. Walter Ogrod, now aged 55 (left), was convicted in 1996 of murdering Barbara Jean Horn, 4 (right), in Philadelphia in 1988 and sentenced to death. He is said to be suffering from coronavirus symptoms Ogrod has been behind bars for nearly 23 years after being convicted in 1996 for molesting and then murdering his four-year-old neighbor, Barbara Jean Horn in northeast Philadelphia. Last month, the Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner asked a judge to strike Ogrod's conviction calling the case a 'gross miscarriage of justice.' It was argued that his case relied on flawed, hidden or corrupt evidence. A court hearing was initially scheduled for this Friday which would decide whether he would be exonerated. But that hearing was pushed back to June amid the global coronavirus pandemic. Ogrod's attorney, James Rollins, told the Philadelphia Inquirer: 'To make an innocent man remain even one extra day on death row is unjust. To leave him on death row showing symptoms of COVID-19 without adequate medical treatment would be unconscionable.' Following his arrest in 1992, Ogrod made a confession to the toddler's murder, which the Philadelphia DA's Office said was coerced earlier this month The 30-year-old murder case made headlines in 2017, when New Orleans-based journalist and author Thomas Lowenstein wrote a true-crime book, The Trials of Walter Ogrod, which raised troubling questions about the man's conviction and highlighted some of the inconsistencies in the investigation. In July 1988, Ogrod was living across the street from the home of Barbara Jean Horn. At 3pm on July 12, the toddler went outside to play in the front yard while her mother was at work and disappeared. When her father went outside to check on his daughter and found her missing, he went looking for her, then called the police. Following a two-hour search, Barbara Jean's body was found inside a TV box next to some trash cans two blocks from her home. The office of DA Larry Krasner (pictured) has filed paperwork asking a judge to vacate Ogrod's conviction and release him, saying he is 'likely innocent' For years, it was thought that the toddler was beaten to death with a weight bar, but according to the latest court filing from Krasner's office, the child likely died from asphyxiation, but police and prosecutors suppressed the real cause and manner of death. Ogrod was arrested in 1992 after being interviewed by police and giving conflicting information. He then signed a 16-page, detailed confession, which was written by Detective Marty Devlin. From the time of Ogrod's arrest, through his two trials and eventual conviction and sentencing, he has maintained his innocence. His brother Greg recently spoke to 6abc, saying ,'It's time to let him out.' The new filing seeking Ogrod's exoneration and release argues that there is no 'credible evidence' proving that he was the person who killed the child, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. It also offers a blistering critique of police and prosecutors who worked on the case in the 1990s, arguing that not only had they helped convict an innocent man, but they also allowed the true perpetrator to go unpunished, and possibly commit other crimes. Krasner's office specifically lays the blame for the flawed prosecution on two detectives, Martin Devlin and Paul Worrell, who investigated the case, accusing them of engaging in coercive methods, including sleep deprivation, in order to get a confession out of Ogrod. In 2017, New Orleans-based journalist and author Thomas Lowenstein (left) wrote a true-crime book, The Trials of Walter Ogrod (right), which raised questions about the man's conviction Almost immediately after he signed the confession admitting that he killed Barbara Jean with a weight bar, he recanted. According to the new court documents, the detectives had a history of 'using coercive techniques to obtain confessions and incriminating suspects.' Since 2016, three convictions that hinged on confessions obtained by Devlin have been overturned. Devlin and Worrell have never publicly addressed the misconduct allegations. Former Assistant District Attorney Judith Rubino, the prosecuted Ogrod, previously denied any misconduct at trial. 'I haven't seen anything to indicate he didn't do it, that he's innocent,' Rubino told NBC10 in January, when it was first reported that the case was under review by Krasner's office. 'If there is, I haven't seen it.' Ogrod was tried for the first time in 1993 and was on the verge of being acquitted when one juror had a change of heart as the verdict was being read, resulting in a mistrial. His second trial in 1996 focused on two jailhouse informants, John Hall and Jay Wolchansky, who testified at trial that Ogrod had confessed to them to killing the youngster. Hall, nicknamed 'Monsignor,' was notorious for getting inmates to confess. He said Ogrod admitted to the murder and allegedly told him of his plans to kill the little girl. Hall's credibility was later called into question after he admitted to lying about another murder case. Wolchansky testified that Ogrod had told him he beat Barbara with the weight, which, the DA's office now says is 'demonstrably false.' According to prosecutors, the two jailhouse snitched had 'colluded' against Ogrod, and that during his second trial it was never disclosed to the jury that Wolchansky had severe mental health problems. Though most people on the stage have much more useful and accurate information to offer than Trump, they are forced to cede the platform to him while he babbles on for an hour. The nation is held captive while he verbally attacks reporters, recreates history and makes up stuff as if we are too dumb to know it. Algeria will impose a curfew to combat the coronavirus in the capital Algiers from 7pm-7am and a full lockdown in the town of Blida, centre of the worst outbreak in the country, with both measures starting on Tuesday and lasting for 10 days. The measures, to be enforced by the army, were announced in a statement by the presidency on Monday and residents of Blida will be able to receive food and other staples by delivery, it said. Search Keywords: Short link: Hundreds of backpackers have defied social distancing directives designed to combat the coronavirus pandemic and gathered on the beach at Byron Bay. Frustrated locals are calling for hostels to heavily enforce self-isolating measures and for tourists to adhere to them for the sake of community health. But judging by the gathering at the shore to watch the Sunday's sunset, those pleas were falling on deaf ears. Tim Cassidy, who has lived in Byron Bay for nearly 50 years, told Daily Mail Australia that local hostel owners were carrying a heavy responsibility to stop the spread of COVID-19. 'Hostel companies and their managers are fully accountable here, and our council, particularly Mayor Simon Richardson. [There are] lives are at stake here,' he said. 'It is the responsibility of hostel management to enforce what we are all required to do at this heavy time. Hundreds of backpackers in Byron Bay defied coronavirus social distancing rules to gather on the beach and watch the sunset on Sunday (pictured) Tourists and locals watched the sun set over the coastal New South Wales holiday town on Sunday evening Frustrated locals have called for hostel managers to lock down their accommodation 'I feel a deep responsibility, in this time of this heavy virus potentially spreading here, to request that all backpacker hostels are policed and if necessary, placed in lockdown now for everyone's wellbeing. 'The town was packed with Aussies too, so this isn't biased in any way. We should all be wise right now.' Mr Cassidy urged hostel managers to implement COVID-19 policies, including signs in all dorms, text messages to all guests, and announcements on a regular basis to all guests. He called on the local government to put in place restrictions like those elsewhere restricting public gatherings and to urge people to socially distance themselves from others. 'Lock down if possible, but preferably organise emergency flights home for all these precious backpackers too. Their families my be worried back home,' he said. Mr Cassidy, who works as an online antiques dealer, also implored local police to take social distancing more seriously. '[Police need to] enforce fines for breaches of new laws and policies concerning numbers of people and distancing both indoors and outdoors in the backpacker hostels, if necessary,' he said. It comes after Scott Morrison warned even more draconian measures could be imposed if Australians don't take social distancing seriously during the pandemic Tim Cassidy, who has lived in Byron Bay for nearly 50 years, told Daily Mail Australia it's up to local hostel owners to lock down their accommodation 'They basically need to serve and protect and enforce in these unprecedented times.' It comes after Scott Morrison warned even more draconian measures could be imposed if Australians don't take social distancing seriously during the pandemic. On Sunday a fed-up Prime Minister announced tough new 'stage one' restrictions, ordering pubs and licensed premises to close for a period that was expected to last for six months or more. The restrictions also cover places of worship, casinos, restaurants and cafes without takeaway services, nightclubs and registered clubs. Expressing his frustration with Australians who flocked to Bondi Beach on Friday and Saturday, Mr Morrison begged the community to act responsibly. 'As we've just made very clear, that when that [social distancing] doesn't occur, then more dramatic measures have to be introduced,' he said. 'I would simply ask Australians to be calm and exercise some sensible judgement.' NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Monday implored people to understand the seriousness of the COVID-19 outbreak after social distancing rules on the weekend were widely ignored. 'This is getting very serious and our actions have to match how serious this is,' Ms Berejiklian told reporters in Sydney on Monday. Thousands of sunseekers went to Bondi Beach last Friday (pictured) and Saturday, breaking social distancing rules and angering Scott Morrison Her comments come as the number of COVID-19 cases in NSW jumped to 669 as of 8pm on Sunday - increasing by 136 cases in 24 hours. The premier said authorities on the weekend noticed not enough people were following the health advice and social distancing guidelines which is why a shutdown of non-essential services has been put in place from 12pm on Monday. The NSW government decided on the new restrictions on Sunday before Prime Minister Scott Morrison in the evening announced that all state and territory leaders had agreed to a nationwide shutdown of 'principal places of social gathering'. There are 1,676 confirmed coronavirus cases in Australia, and more than 338,000 around the world CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement Ms Berejiklian said the state's police force is on standby if people fail to comply with the restrictions. 'We want people to take personal responsibility ... Your personal actions can result in someone getting very sick or dying,' she said. 'If people fail to enforce, the police are on standby to deal with that.' NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant urged young people in particular to play their part and adhere to social distancing rules to protect the most vulnerable in the community. NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said authorities were left with 'no alternative' but to shut down non-essential services after hundreds of people ignored guidelines and flocked to Sydney's Bondi Beach at the weekend. Bessemer police officers spent part of Sunday morning patrolling the churches in the west Jefferson County city to make sure no large-scale gatherings were taking place. After 5 p.m. today, all Jefferson County non-essential retail stores are mandated to shut down to try and slow the spread of COVID-19 in the most sweeping of any such regulation in any Alabama county. As of Monday morning, Jefferson County accounted for 79 of Alabamas 167 coronavirus cases. Law enforcement officers will begin to patrol shops and businesses in the states most populated county, first to ensure compliance and secondly to make sure criminals arent taking advantage of an already-stressful situation. Im having the cars on each beat to make sure that everyone is aware the law does apply to them, said Bessemer Police Chief Mike Roper. We are not trying to arrest anyone. Its very important that they do it. And it needs to be volunteer. Its for their safety and the publics safety. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall on Saturday sent a memo to all law enforcement in Alabama informing them of how they can legally enforce the health order. Marshall said those who knowingly and willing violate the Alabama Department of Public Healths orders during the coronavirus pandemic could face misdemeanor charges and fines of up to $500. While the unprecedented nature of this pandemic and the governments evolving response seem to demand some restraint related to criminal enforcement of this order, if a violator has been made aware of the health order and the refusal to comply presents a threat to public health and safety, the penalties of Section 22-2-14 are available as an enforcement tool, Marshall wrote in the memo. Alabama law says any person who knowingly violates or fails or refuses to obey or comply with any rule or regulation adopted and promulgated by the State Board of Health of this state shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. The law also says if a person continues to violate or not comply with the order, they can be charged with an additional offense daily. On Thursday, State Health Officer Scott Harris, issued this order: Prohibited gatherings of 25 or more where people cannot stay 6-feet away from each other. Closed all beaches, senior citizen centers, colleges and universities. Childcare centers except those providing care for the children of essential workers Prohibited visitation at hospitals and senior living centers. Prohibited on-premise dining and consumption at all restaurants and breweries. Only take-out or curbside pickup is permitted. Elective dental procedures postponed. Jefferson County Health Officer Mark Wilson issued a stricter order and ordered all nonessential businesses closed, even expanding the list of mandated closures on Sunday night to include all hair salons, barber shops and retail stores. This is a matter of life and death, Wilson said in a video statement announcing the expanded restrictions and saying his earlier announcements left confusion. Im aware that many people are asking questions about what is essential or not. This is not a time to look for loopholes. Jefferson County law enforcement leaders say they are aware of Marshalls memo and plan to keep an eye on compliance. At this point, we are advising citizens and businesses of the various Health Department notices and violations because everything is too new and fluid. We are referring them to the updated information and asking them to comply, said Birmingham Police Chief Patrick Smith. Repeated violations may result in further action by the Health Department, referral of businesses for business license review to the Public Safety Committee or enforcement of the misdemeanor sections. It is not our goal to over police the conditions, but we do want people to take this seriously - and I do believe many have - and voluntarily comply to keep everyone safe and reduce the transmission of the virus, he said. I would encourage the community to adhere to the Health Departments restrictions and guidelines to keep children and families safe, by keeping them home as much as possible to limit exposure, Smith said. If you have to call the police for any reason, alert the dispatcher, if you or someone in your home has been diagnosed with Covid-19 or showing symptoms, so that we are able to respond appropriately to limit any exposure. Jefferson County Sheriffs Deputy Chief David Agee said he is expecting 100 percent compliance. Our enforcement efforts havent changed our objective is to catch criminals, he said. But if we get a complaint, we will respond to it. We will advise them they are in violation and give them a chance to comply. I think thats the best way to handle it. In Mountain Brook, Police Chief Ted Cook said the Chamber of Commerce is making sure all affected businesses know about the order. Wed much rather educate than have to issue violations, he said. Most of our businesses do everything they can to follow the law. I wouldnt anticipate any violations. Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis said his department received complaints over the weekend about some businesses that remained open despite the restrictions. We went by and talked to them and most didnt know they were supposed to be closed, he said. Department leaders are meeting about the issue Monday. A challenge in Hoover, Derzis said, is that part of the city is in Jefferson County and part is in Shelby County, which is not under as many mandatory closures. Well abide by whatever the Health Department puts out there and were hoping the businesses will adhere to whatever rules and regulations are issued. Homewood Sgt. John Carr said they, too, met today about the matter and how best to handle the situation, including issuing daily citations ranging from $25 to $500. "We will be enforcing it,'' he said. AMA WA president Andrew Miller is calling on the government to meet urgently with the states top healthcare professionals to ensure frontline workers were not pawns when it comes to important decisions being made. AMA WA President Dr Andrew Miller. Credit:Nathan Hondros Dr Miller said he had received thousands of messages from frontline doctors saying they were dissatisfied with the way the government had managed the pandemic. Were at risk of having more cases than anywhere else in the country, he said. I have never seen frontline doctors, as dedicated as passionate. I'm seeing people speaking out who have never spoken out before in huge numbers, saying we really think we can help in this crisis, we understand it as well as anyone. Dr Miller said the best medical minds in the country were on the frontline and the government needed to be open to working with them to tackle this terrible virus. We're not just pawns to be moved around on a board at the whim of someone who doesn't understand our operational conditions, he said. Once we've had that meeting, we undertake that we will have full transparency, not only to the profession, but also to the public. That will have a calming influence once the doctors on the frontline have that seat at the table. Nollywood actress, Eniola Badmus was recently under attack on social media for visiting her colleague, Funke Akindele days after she returned from the UK. Information Nigeria recalls the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC urged those who returned from countries with high risk of Coronavirus to practice self-isolation for 14 days. However, Badmus failed to adhere to guidelines and Nigerians trooped to Twitter to bash her. Reacting to the backlash she received from web users, Badmus explained that she has been indoors since she got back to Nigeria and she only drove in her car to visit a friend, after which she returned home. Read Also: Nigeria Confirms Five Fresh Cases Of Coronavirus See the tweet and reactions below: In a first of its kind, President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Cabinet Ministers, the Chief Ministers, other politicians and common people across India came together to thank coronavirus warriors and other essential services providers to contain the epidemic's spread. The largest public 'appreciation' exercise in the country witnessed participation of the army, paramilitary forces, Bollywood personalities, television anchors and religious personage clapping and beating utensils at 5 p.m. on Sunday as called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the countrymen on Thursday. The Prime Minister had called upon the people to clap or beat utensils for 5 minutes to express their gratitude to the people providing essential services, including sanitation employees, medical professionals, delivery boys, railways, airports and other transportation department employees and many more, who were serving without caring for their own comfort and safety to contain the coronavirus spread. The Prime Minister had also appealed people to enforce 'janata curfew' between 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday to break the chain of spread of infection that has claimed over 6 lives and infected over 340 in India. It has killed 13,049 and infected over 3.7 lakh across the globe. The coronavirus warriors, like health professionals and others, who are taking care of ailing people and performing their duties of sanitizing Metros, trains and other public facilities in the country's fight against coronavirus. President Kovind, First Lady Savita Kovind and Chief Ministers, like Yogi Aditya Nath (UP) and Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy (Andhra Pradesh), took part in the exercise. Amitabh Bachchan as well as many other Bollywood personalities too participated in the 'thanking' exercise. With the number of coronavirus rising, state governments are set to issue orders to allow only essential services in about 75 districts with confirmed Covid-19 cases. It was decided at a meeting Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba and P.K. Misra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, here on Sunday, with the Chief Secretaries of states. Despite the appeals driven home by government leaders, the HSE, the wider medical health services and gardai that social distancing is the only veritable community response to curtailing the spread of Covid-19, it would seem that still so many totally ignored or simply don't understand observance of two metre space from person to person. Photographer Aishling Conway captured walkers yesterday along the canal observing 'social distancing'. However, only minutes prior to the photograph being taken, there was a group of six to seven youth gathered together in a cluster. Popular spots across Co Kildare saw an increase in walkers and families out enjoying the fine weather on what was a very strange celebration of Mother's Day. The canal walk from the Harbour in Naas, was packed all weekend, albeit most (not all) appeared to be keeping a distance between walkers. However, it was reported that several groups of teenagers were 'hubbing' along the canal and scarpered before our photographer managed to capture them on camera. Last night, An Garda Siochana stated a group of five young people were spotted out socialising together (area unknown). One is awaiting a Covid-19 test and was supposed to be in total self-isolation, while another of the group suffered a severe asthma attack. The youth who is awaiting a test was bored and decided to join his friends, stated gardai. This action put the safety of the emergency services, and continued service to the public, at risk. Parents - step up to the mark. Your responsibility. We are busy enough! Please Share! they appealed Co Wicklow: Lough Tay on Saturday near the Sally Gap (Picture: Dublin-Wicklow Mountains Rescue) Similarly on the Curragh, a great natural amenity, so many walkers observed the safe distance as Conor Williams' photograph below shows. A KildareNow reporter witnessed large crowds at the popular landmark Donnolly's Hollow with groups of children playing freely together. The photo below, also by Conor Williams Photography show a cluster of people gathered together to the fore of the photograph - this is NOT social distancing! Mayhem occured in Co Wicklow, when gardai were forced to have parked cars towed away to free blocked roads. Because of traffic volumes and careless parking, access to the Sally Gap is now restricted from Annacarter Cross on one side of Luggala and from the Boley Hourigan car park on the other side. A number of cars have already been towed. Please remember the emergency services need access to busy uplands areas, stated An Garda Siochana Wicklow on Saturday last. Similarly and sadly, Glendalough and its tourist centre is now closed, owing to the increased crowds, with little or no heed of the social distancing as visitors queued at food stalls and in the car park. https://www.facebook.com/keithconff/videos/2771724242918150/ In Howth perhaps the most shocking scenes were witnessed (above) as queues lined up for at list a kilometre along the street to get into a fish and chip shop and, as shown here from Cllr Keith Connolly's (FF) video, there is absolutely no recognition of social distancing recommendations. Microsoft last week followed Google's lead, telling customers that it was suspending releases of its Edge browser. Citing "current global circumstances" rather than outright naming the COVID-19 pandemic and its upturning of, well, virtually everything, Microsoft said it would not upgrade the current Edge 80 to the next version, Edge 81. "As the situation evolves," Microsoft said, it will inform customers of other changes, and presumably when it will resume Edge refreshes, through the Microsoft Edge Dev account on Twitter. Google made a similar announcement March 18, telling Chrome users it had stopped upgrading the browser a day after it was due to shift from version 80 to 81. Google didn't say COVID-19 triggered the decision either, asserting that the "adjusted work schedule" was to blame. Both decisions were, of course, clearly caused by the pandemic and its disruptions, including vast numbers of company employees sent home to work there. (In a tweet, Paul Kinlan, the lead for the developer relations team at Google, ticked off several specific reasons for the suspension, including "lower productivity, worry about asking ecosystem to change, being able to respond quickly when there's an issue.") It wasn't a surprise that Microsoft followed Google in halting browser upgrades. Both Chrome and Edge, after all, rely on the Google-led open-source Chromium project for their core technologies. "We are making this change to be consistent with the Chromium project, which recently announced a similar pause due to adjusted schedules," wrote Kyle Pflug, principal program management lead, in the Friday post. Like Google, Microsoft told users that it will continue to service version 80 of its browser with security updates. The Redmond, Wash. company did just that Thursday, when it refreshed Edge to build 80.0.3987.149; that build included fixes for the same vulnerabilities cited by Google when it patched Chrome 80 the day before. Mozilla has not said if it would maintain its every-four-week schedule of upgrading Firefox, which last month accounted for far less browser share than Chrome but more than Edge. The next update, to Firefox 75, is expected April 7. The Spokeswoman of the U.S. Department of State Morgan Ortagus has strongly refuted Khamenei's repetition of allegations that the United States created the Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) which she referred to as the "Wuhan Virus". On March 23 in a speech broadcast live to the nation, Khamenei turned down the United States' offer of help in dealing with the coronavirus epidemic in Iran including sending medicines to fight the outbreak. "Use what you have for your own patients," he told the United States Khamenei also said Iran could not trust the United States because they could be giving medicines that "spread the virus or cause it to remain" and alleged that a section of the virus was created to match the genes of Iranians. In a tweet on March 24, Morgan Ortagus quoted a tweet from Khamenei's account to the same effect and said the "conspiracy theories about the Wuhan Virus" by Khamenei are harmful, irresponsible, and 100 percent false. Ortegus also charged that if Khamenei were a true leader, he would return "the billions in his tax-free hedge fund" back to the Iranian people to deal with the virus outbreak. In early March some Chinese media and officials including a Foreign Ministry Spokesman had pushed the theory that coronavirus was an American disease introduced to China by visiting members of the U.S. Army in Wuhan. The theory has been disowned by top officials including the Chinese ambassador to Washington who said it was "crazy" to spread rumors about the deadly virus originating from a military lab in the United States. The United States strongly reacted to the allegation and President Donald Trump himself is now referring to the virus as the "Chinese Virus". On the basis of the many similarities including the genetic structure of the virus responsible for the new illness which is very similar to the virus causing the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), most scientific bodies and organization are now referring to the new virus from the coronavirus family as SARS-CoV-2. The illness itself is referred to as Covid-19. [March 23, 2020] RedSky Announces Complimentary 60-Day E911 Remote Worker Program CHICAGO, March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- RedSky Technologies, the leading provider of E911 solutions for the enterprise, is offering a 60-day complimentary E911 service designed specifically for organizations deploying remote worker programs in the midst of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. This full-service solution will include RedSky's national cloud-based E911 solutions, E911 Anywhere and MyE911. Combined, these fully supported solutions will provide location identification and proper routing for new work at home workers and road warriors dialing 9-1-1 from company-provided devices and softphones outside the office. RedSky's E911 solutions can help transition organizations to a decentralized environment, while keeping tem protected and compliant with newly enacted federal E911 legislation. "Our commitment to public safety has always been the core of our business," says Tony Maier, President of RedSky, "and in light of the current pandemic, we want to ensure that all organizations are able to provide E911 protection for their employees quickly and cost-effectively". Deployment of this solution can be achieved in as little as 48 hours. For more information, please reach out to us at [email protected] About RedSky RedSky is the leading provider of on-premise and cloud-based E911 solutions with more customers, more technology, and more experience than any other provider. More than a million workers, students, guests and visitors rely on RedSky for E911 protection. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/redsky-announces-complimentary-60-day-e911-remote-worker-program-301028413.html SOURCE RedSky Technologies, Inc. In context: AT&T Chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson during a recent interview with CNNs Reliable Sources indicated that the telecommunications provider is most certainly seeing changes in traffic patterns as more people are being forced to stay home due to government mandates. Stephenson told host Brian Stelter that mobile volume is up 40 percent and Wi-Fi calling has shot up 100 percent. The increased usage has resulted in some added stress on the network, Stephenson admitted, which has forced the company to go out and do some augmentation of networks. AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson on broadband and internet demand as more people work from home amid the coronavirus outbreak: "Were seeing some signs of stress. Were having to go out and do some of augmentation of network but right now the network is performing quite well. pic.twitter.com/6IDS6RAjJ7 Reliable Sources (@ReliableSources) March 22, 2020 Ultimately, the network is performing quite well, Stephenson said. The Federal Communications Commission earlier this month launched the Keep Americans Connected Pledge, asking broadband and phone service providers not to disconnect residential or small business customers during the coronavirus pandemic due to their inability to pay their bills. Hundreds of companies have already signed the pledge including virtually every major wireless and broadband provider in the US. The European Union has been proactive in its approach to ensuring communications networks dont cave under the added stress of people using the Internet now more than ever for work and play. The union has successfully petitioned several streaming service providers including Netflix, Facebook, YouTube, Disney, Apple and Amazon to reduce the quality of their streams during these uncertain times. Its unclear if similar measures will be taken to protect infrastructure in the US although at this point, nothing is really surprising. Last week, the AFL spent long days, and nights, meeting to discuss whether the 2020 season should go ahead. The game's chief executive, Gillon McLachlan, eventually gave the green light after extensive discussions that included putting in place protocols dealing with COVID-19. Even federal Health Minister Greg Hunt and Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy gave their blessings. And yet within a minute of the first bounce of the first clash of the season between Carlton and Richmond, things went awry. After the Tigers' two-time premiership player Shane Edwards kicked the first goal of the year, his teammates immediately crowded round to congratulate him with hugs and high fives. A runner offered him a shared drink bottle, from which he took a swig. Richmond's Sydney Stack and Carlton's Zac Fisher hug after the game. Credit:Getty Images Things did not get any better from there. After the final siren, handshaking, high fives and general close contact was the order of the day within and between the teams. Was an empty stadium not enough of an indication that the times had changed, not just for the crowds but for the players? It took less than 24 hours for the AFL, which prides itself on taking a leadership role in the community, to release new protocols, but the damage had been done. MBABANE While there is minimal flow of patients to the Mbabane Government Hospital, local clinics are flooded with patients and as a result they are experiencing drug shortages. Most of the clinics have been experiencing an influx of patients, since last week. Of note is that the Mbabane Government Hospital medical staff had downed tools, demanding protective gear. Patients who were admitted were also discharged following the situation. Meanwhile, it was established by this reporter during a visit to some clinics that they had challenges coping with the influx of patients. Clinics that were visited included Mahwalala Red Cross and the clinic situated at the old Mbabane Police Station. Confirmed In an interview with nurses at the Red Cross Clinic, they confirmed that they were weighed down by the number of patients they had to attend to on a daily basis. According to the nurses, they had to attend double the number of patients compared to normal days. Normally, they stated that on Saturday, only one nurse assisted patients and she found herself having to attend to triple the number attended to on an average weekend. They said yesterday, they attended to 135 patients, yet the figure usually stood at 80 people during weekdays. This, they said, was devastating as they also were not prepared on how best they could deal with the situation, exposing themselves in the process. The nurses said they had raised the issue with their employer as they needed to be prepared. The Ministry of Health decided to dump us and not engage us, at least on how to respond, they said. According to the nurses, there was a dire need for them to also get tested for the coronavirus, especially because they came into contact with various patients including those who showed suspicious symptoms. Contracted Right now we do not know whether we contracted the coronavirus or not, stated one of the nurses. She said she was forced to assist a lady from Mpumalanga, South Africa who had flu-like symptoms together with her child. On the issue of drugs stock-outs, they said their shelves were running dry. In mid-February, China was reporting nearly 2,000 new coronavirus cases a day, but three weeks later that number had dropped below 100, and it continues to fall. While some people distrust the numbers and other information coming out of China, others believe that we can learn from the measures that China took. Those measures reportedly included more than a month of city-wide lockdowns of the hardest-hit areas (such as the Wuhan area, where the first cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by a coronavirus, were detected), extensive public monitoring of citizens and extremely proactive surveillance to detect cases, immediate isolation of patients, strict social distancing, and various methods of punishment and rewards to encourage adherence to such measures. About the time that new coronavirus cases in China were beginning to decline, daily new cases in Italy began to ramp up: 335 new cases reported on March 2, 1,797 on March 9, and 3,233 on March 16. On March 10, Italy began a nationwide lockdown that is supposed to last until April 3. So far, however, the lockdown has done little to slow the new cases of coronavirus or deaths from COVID-19. On March 21, Italy reported that the previous day, the country saw 6,557 new cases and 793 deaths. Even though Italys total of diagnosed infections (53,578 on March 21) is far below Chinas, Italys overall COVID-19 death toll (4,825 on March 21) is the highest in the world. South Koreas approach to coronavirus has been much different than those in China and Italy. No lockdowns. No roadblocks. No restriction on movement. The results, however, are quite close to those reported in China and potentially even better. Test, Test, Test What is the approach to coronavirus in South Korea? The first step is testing. Every week, nearly 140,000 people are tested for coronavirus in South Korea. While thats less than 0.3% of the population, the per-capita testing rate is the highest in the world. Results from dozens of drive-through testing centers go to 96 public and private laboratories, where test teams work around the clock to determine results estimated at 98% accurate and deliver them via a phone call (if positive) or a text (if negative). When the virus hits in large numbers in a particular area, then a makeshift test center is created. For example, when there was a mass infection at a call center in Seoul, medics set up outside and quickly took swabs from hundreds of staff members in the building. M*A*S*H-Style Triage What happens when your test is positive? That depends on how sick you are. After studying early coronavirus infection cases, South Korean officials determined that about 80% of the cases are mild and, of the remaining 20%, only half need medical treatment at a fully-equipped hospital. So, on March 1, the countrys Centers for Disease Control and Prevention made the decision to stop admitting every confirmed patient into a hospital. Now, what health officials do is divide patients into four groups: asymptomatic, mild, severe, and critical. Only those in the latter two categories such as those running fevers more than 100 degrees, having difficulty breathing, or aged 50 or above go to the hospital. The others are instructed to recuperate at home or, if they need some level of care, at company dormitories such as those owned by Samsung Life and LG that have been reclassified as residential treatment facilities. Encouraging Results and a Go-Forward Strategy Medical experts in South Korea believe that early detection via accurate tests followed by isolation can lower the mortality rate and prevent the virus from spreading. So far, the approach seems to be working. The fatality rate for coronavirus in South Korea is 0.7%, whereas globally it is reported at 3.4%, although the latter number may be higher than actual because not all cases are reported. South Koreans are doing their part to help slow the spread of the disease. Schools are closed, offices are encouraging people to work from home, and large gatherings have stopped. Every day, however, more people are venturing back onto the streets of Seoul, and restaurants are beginning to get busy again. Seoul offers plenty of bottles of hand sanitizers in places such as elevators, and people dressed in costumes at subway entrances remind you to wash your hands. A South Korean Approach in a Small Italian Town Italy's first coronavirus-related death was recorded in Vo, a town of 3,300 that is 30 miles from Venice. Now, health authorities appear to have stopped the spread of COVID-19 in that town, preventing any new infections. In late February, when roughly 3 percent of Vo residents were infected with coronavirus, authorities began testing and retesting each of the town's inhabitants, even if they displayed no symptoms. Anyone with a positive test was put into quarantine, as were all people who had come into contact with that person. Days after testing and isolation began, the infection rate had fallen to 0.3%. By testing everyone and not just those who showed symptoms, local authorities were able to quarantine asymptomatic carriers. We were able to contain the outbreak here because we identified and eliminated the 'submerged' infections and isolated them, says Professor Andrea Crisanti, an infections expert at Imperial College London on sabbatical at the University of Padua in Italy. It is clear that you cannot test all Italiansbut you can test people close to those who are asymptomatic. We must use asymptomatic cases as an alarm bell to widen our action." Why the U.S. Hasnt Followed South Koreas Lead Yet The U.S. and South Korea each recorded its first case of coronavirus on January 21. While South Korea spent the following two months developing and implementing its testing-based strategy, with excellent results, the U.S. had trouble getting out of the starting blocks with testing. As of March 17, South Korea had tested over 5,000 people per million; the U.S. only 125 per million. The problem, according to Alec Stapp of the Progressive Policy Institute, is that U.S. officials stuck to rigid regulations. Under ordinary circumstances, it often takes a decade or longer for a new diagnostic test or therapeutic drug to earn approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In a crisis, the FDA can allow public labs and private companies to circumvent the regular approval process under its Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) authority. But rather than accelerating approvals for test kits and test labs, the requirement to get an EUA which went into effect on January 31 actually slowed down approvals, because labs were forced to undergo greater scrutiny than in non-emergencies. Finally, on March 16, the FDA expanded the EUA exemption to all commercial manufacturers and labs using new commercially developed tests, and the FDA also devolved regulatory oversight of these labs to the states. Later that week, government officials announced that they expect to have 1.9 million tests available thanks to high throughput automated machines at commercial labs. Testing soon should be available in most parts of the country. For example, Target, Walgreens, CVS, and Wal-Mart have announced that they soon will offer drive-through testing. Testing alone will not solve the coronavirus pandemic but, as South Korea has demonstrated, widely available testing is a critical part of a strategy to flatten the curve and reduce the impact of the virus. Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Chung Sung-Jun/Staff Chris Bolinger is the author of Daily Strength for Men, a 365-day daily devotional from BroadStreet Publishing. The book is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Christian Book Distributors, DailyStrengthForMen.com, and on the Inspirational Reading rack at many supermarkets, drug stores, gas stations, and gift shops. AL-HAMRA MILITARY BASE, United Arab Emirates U.S. Marines and Emirati forces held a major military exercise Monday that saw forces seize a sprawling model Mideast city, a drill conducted amid tensions with Iran and despite the new coronavirus pandemic. Troops raced over the dunes of the Al-Hamra Military Base to take the model city, complete with multistory buildings, an airport control tower, an oil refinery and a central mosque. Controlled explosions rang out as Emirati troops rappelled from hovering helicopters and Marines searched narrow streets on the Persian Gulf for mock-enemy forces. The biennial exercise, called Native Fury, shows the close ties between American forces and the U.A.E., a federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula home to Abu Dhabi, the capital, and Dubai, its financial heart. It also comes after the United States killed Irans most prominent general, Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, in a drone strike in January, and Tehran retaliated with a ballistic missile attack on American forces in Iraq. While acknowledging the tensions, U.S. officials dismissed the idea of Tehran viewing such an exercise with suspicion. By Express News Service CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu is set to go into lockdown from 6 pm on Tuesday, with all district borders in the state to be sealed till March 31, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami announced in the assembly on Monday. All district collectors have been advised to issue necessary orders under Section 144 in this regard and Superintendents of Police have been directed to ensure that they are followed. All district borders in the state will be sealed. Here's the list of services that will be affected: Other than shops selling essential commodities like milk, meat and groceries, other shops, commercial complexes and workshops will not function. Government departments like district administration, police, fire and rescue services, prisons, public health, courts and local bodies will continue to function. Other government offices are to remain closed. Employees of private firms including IT, telecom and other technological sectors are to work from home while private medical facilities can continue to operate. Other than emergency services, no other transport services including public and private buses, autos and taxis will function. Interdistrict and interstate transport will not function barring those for essential services. Industries manufacturing essential commodities and export, import companies dealing with the same would be allowed to function with minimal workforce. All construction work except essential projects will be halted. However, workers must be remunerated for these days. Only takeaways will be permitted in eateries while government-run Amma canteens will function as usual. The chief minister said the government is considering relief measures to people economically affected by these measures. The CM advised that those who have returned from abroad should quarantine themselves and look out for symptoms of the coronavirus. If the symptoms were to be manifested, they should get themselves tested in government or private hospitals. Even those who have no travel history or those who have not come in contact with people who have returned from abroad should get themselves tested in case they show symptoms. District collectors have been advised to take appropriate efforts to ease the inconvenience caused to pregnant women and senior citizens due to the curfew. A Texas couple donated flowers that were supposed to be for their wedding to three assisted living homes after they postponed their nuptials due to the coronavirus outbreak. Kristall Goytia and Jason Oswald made the decision last Monday to delay their wedding, which had been scheduled for March 21. By that point, it was too late for the couple to cancel their wedding flowers, which had already shipped and were scheduled to arrive that Wednesday. "I just wanted somebody to be able to enjoy our flowers since we wouldnt be able to," Goytia told TODAY. Kristall Goytia said she wanted to With the help of her church, Goytia found three assisted living homes near San Antonio that happily accepted the flowers. The sweet gesture was shared by one of the homes, Legacy at Forest Ridge, on its Facebook page, along with photos of some of the residents smiling next to the gorgeous bouquets. The bouquets brought smiles to the faces of the residents at Legacy at Forest Ridge, an assisted living home in Schertz, Texas. (Legacy at Forest Ridge) Since senior citizens are especially vulnerable to contracting COVID-19, residents haven't been able to have friends and family visit them. Melissa Smith, executive director of the home, told TODAY that residents were thrilled to receive the flowers. "It is an honor and a blessing to know that amidst the chaos of COVID-19, our residents are not forgotten," Smith said. "Our seniors deserve every ounce of joy and recognition, and we are grateful to those who see their beauty." Since COVID-19 is especially dangerous for senior citizens, visitors have been limited at the home. (Legacy at Forest Ridge) In order to keep with safety guidelines, Goytia dropped the flowers at the front door with the staff, who then distributed them to the residents. Goytia said she's surprised that her generous deed is getting attention but said she just wanted to "spread some joy" during a time when people need it most. As for that wedding, the couple have a new date to look forward to: Aug. 1. Almere, The Netherlands March 23, 2020, 8 a.m. CET The Supervisory Board of ASM International N.V. (Euronext Amsterdam: ASM) today announced the nomination of Benjamin Loh as CEO, President and Chairman of the Management Board of ASMI, succeeding Chuck del Prado. Mr. Loh is a Singaporean citizen, with a proven background in the high tech industry. From the late nineties until 2005 he worked for Oerlikon Corporation, lastly as Senior Vice President responsible for Asia. After that he joined Veeco Instruments Inc where his last position was the Executive Vice President responsible for Global Field Operations. He then moved to FEI Company in 2007 where he held various executive positions and ultimately became its Chief Operating Officer. In 2015 he joined the Swiss-based VAT Vacuum Valves company where, as Group Management Board member, he was responsible for worldwide Sales and Marketing until late 2017. Mr. Loh also holds positions as a non-executive director in several companies, and was an advisory board member of Semi China. Jan Lobbezoo, Chairman of ASMI Supervisory Board, said, "The Board is very pleased to nominate Benjamin Loh to lead the Company in its next growth phase. Benjamin has a wealth of experience as a business leader and from working in the electronics and semiconductor industry." About the retirement of Chuck del Prado, Mr. Lobbezoo said: "We are very grateful for Chuck's tremendous contributions to ASM. Under his leadership ASM has grown significantly. He leaves the company in great shape, with a lot of opportunities for further growth." The remuneration package of Mr. Loh shall consist of a base salary of 630,000, in combination with a long term share incentive and a short term cash incentive, both dependent on realizing certain predefined targets. ASM shareholders will be asked to appoint Mr. Loh as Management Board member for a four-year term at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on May 18, 2020. After that the Supervisory Board will appoint Benjamin as the CEO, President and Chairman of the Management Board. About ASM International ASM International NV, headquartered in Almere, the Netherlands, its subsidiaries and participations design and manufacture equipment and materials used to produce semiconductor devices. ASM International, its subsidiaries and participations provide production solutions for wafer processing (Front-end segment) as well as for assembly & packaging and surface mount technology (Back-end segment) through facilities in the United States, Europe, Japan and Asia. ASM International's common stock trades on the Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange (symbol ASM). For more information, visit ASMI's website at www.asm.com . Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: All matters discussed in this press release, except for any historical data, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These include, but are not limited to, economic conditions and trends in the semiconductor industry generally and the timing of the industry cycles specifically, currency fluctuations, corporate transactions, financing and liquidity matters, the success of restructurings, the timing of significant orders, market acceptance of new products, competitive factors, litigation involving intellectual property, shareholders or other issues, commercial and economic disruption due to natural disasters, terrorist activity, armed conflict or political instability, epidemics and other risks indicated in the Company's reports and financial statements. The Company assumes no obligation nor intends to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future developments or circumstances. This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation. CONTACT Investor contact: Victor Bareno T: +31 88 100 8500 E: victor.bareno@asm.com Media contact: Ian Bickerton T: +31 625 018 512 Attachment (Newser) Convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, New York prison officials said. He's in isolation at Wende Correctional Facility, the Niagara Gazette reports. Another inmate at Wende also has tested positive. Weinstein was transferred there Thursday from Rikers Island; new state prisoners are sent to Wende for security and health issues to be assessed, then often are moved to another prison. Weinstein's spokesman and attorney said Sunday that they hadn't been told the former Hollywood mogul had tested positive, per the Daily Beast. Prison officials suspect he already had the virus when he arrived from Rikers. story continues below The head of the correctional officers union said it has asked the state system to suspend transferring of inmates during the pandemic. "There is no better breeding ground for this virus than a closed environment such as a correctional facility," he said. At Rikers, 21 inmates were confirmed to have the coronavirus before being sent to Wende. Weinstein, 68, was to be held at Wende for as long as eight weeks. (Read more coronavirus stories.) A cruise that was turned away from New Zealand, Tahiti and Fiji over coronavirus fears has been forced to dock in Hawaii because of mechanical problems. The Norwegian Jewel, which carried about 2,000 passengers, docked on late Sunday afternoon after setting sail from Sydney last month. Its passengers, none of whom have coronavirus, are to be flown home by Norwegian Cruise Line from Honolulu to Los Angeles; Sydney; London; Vancouver, British Columbia; and Frankfurt, Germany. After initially saying the passengers could not disembark, the Hawaii Department of Transportation said it would allow them to. The ship requires repairs to its propulsion mechanism which requires that there are non on board, the department said. The Norwegian Jewel cruise ship docks at Honolulu Harbor on Sunday afternoon. Most of its 2,000 passengers are Australian and none have tested positive for coronavirus Passengers on board the Norwegian Jewel. They are to disembark in Hawaii as the ship requires repairs and Norwegian Cruise Lines is chartering flights from Honolulu to Los Angeles; Sydney; London; Vancouver, British Columbia; and Frankfurt, Germany 'A detailed plan is being developed with Norwegian Cruise Line that keeps passengers isolated to avoid any potential strain on Hawaii's resources, while also addressing the well-being of the cruise line passengers who have been at sea for a very long time,' said Jade Butay, director of the Hawaii Department of Transportation. The ship had to cut short its 23-day cruise of Australia and French Polynesia because many ports were closed due to the coronavirus, the ship's owner, Norwegian Cruise Line, said in a statement. Charter flights have been arranged for ship passengers on Monday and Tuesday from Honolulu to Los Angeles; Sydney; London; Vancouver, British Columbia; and Frankfurt, Germany, the company said. 'Because of the additional precautions we are taking in response to the COVID-19 crisis, it will take some time to transport these passengers safely to their chartered planes and we thank the public for its cooperation and understanding,' Butay said. The Norwegian Jewel cruise ship is in lock down while health authorities test a man for Coronavirus on February 14 There are no confirmed cases of the coronavirus among the ship's 2,000 passengers and 1,000 crew members, the transportation department said. On Thursday, the Norwegian Cruise Line said the Norwegian Jewel was turned away by Fiji and New Zealand. The ship had refuelled in American Samoa but was not allowed to disembark at the Port of Pago Pago. The Norwegian Cruise Line suspended the ship for all voyages from March 13 to April 11. 'Please know that we will continue to consult with The World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to take action as necessary,' the company said in a statement. 'Our business also relies on the availability and accessibility of ports around the world. As such, we will continue to monitor the situation and evaluate the feasibility of redeploying our ships as planned on April 12, 2020.' Shimla, March 23 : Himachal Pradesh on Monday saw its first coronavirus death as a 69-year-old Tibetan man who recently returned from the US died, health officials said. Tenjin Chopel was undergoing treatment in the state-owned Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College in Tanda town in Kangra district. Additional Chief Secretary (Health) R.D. Dhiman said the patient was earlier undergoing treatment in a private hospital. He was hospitalized in the Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College on Monday morning. After his death, his swab samples confirmed that he was Covid-19 positive. He reached the Delhi international airport on March 15. After spending some days in Delhi he reached McLeodganj, the abode of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on March 21 while hiring a cab. A day after putting the state's most populous Kangra district under lockdown, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Monday extended the shutdown to the entire state. However, only essential services will be allowed in the backdrop of spread of two COVID-19 cases in Kangra district. The entire state was placed under lockdown till further orders, Thakur said in the state Assembly, whose ongoing Budget session was curtailed. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text The COVID-19 outbreak that has forced practically the entire country into a lockdown has dashed the hopes, of landing a plush job, of thousands of students graduating this year. A final-year engineering student from Pune, Akhila Karunakaran, for example, had been unable to secure a pre-placement offer and was eagerly eyeing the campus placement process to get a job when she graduates in 2020. But, right around the time of placements, her campus has been shut down to contain the spread of coronavirus. My internship at a retail firm did not go very well and so I did not get any (pre-placement) offer from them. I was expecting that the campus jobs drive would help me, but now I dont know what to do, she said. Also Read: Live updates of COVID-19 in India Karunakaran is one of at least 50,000 engineering and management students who might have to hunt hard for a job as the coronavirus crisis deepens. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show With over 400 positive reported COVID-19 cases in India, both the central and state governments have strictly enforced shutdowns to contain the pandemic. Educational institutions have been shut down and classes, as well as placement, activities suspended. Every year, about 300,000 students graduate from management schools, while 1.5 million engineers pass. Industry sources said about 50,000 such students across India are yet to be placed. For both engineering and management schools, while a majority of their graduating batch students have been placed under the first few phases of placement, several others were waiting for their chance in the third and fourth phases of placement that usually is held in March and April. While several students have now independently approached human resource consultants, these firms have also expressed an inability to help them find employment citing COVID-19. These are freshers with no work experience. Companies are barely hiring due to the uncertainty created by the coronavirus situation. A few lateral hires are still being done but it is going to be tough for fresh graduates to find jobs, said the India chief of a staffing firm. Timing is critical Once students miss out on the placement sessions at the campus, it is difficult to find employment. While the help of recruitment consultants can be taken, their services are chargeable and hence, it is not an economically viable option. S Tamizharasan, a final year MBA student at a Tamil Nadu-based technology institute has tried his luck with all past alumni to help find a job. Since he missed the first phase of the placement at his college due to a family emergency, he is now unable to find any help. Companies who had confirmed their presence in phase two of placements are no longer responding to our messages. For me, the biggest worry is that I may end up with no job despite a degree, he added. Though there have been talks of institutes tying up with technology providers to provide e-placement opportunities to students, no concrete plans have been finalised. The director of placement at a Mumbai-based engineering college said companies are also expressing reluctance to hire students through video interviews. He added that students could be given some opportunity in the second half of the year to appear for interviews. Considering the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, it is unlikely that placements would be allowed to resume in April 2020. For graduating students, this is going to be tough time. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Belseran Christ (The Jakarta Post) Maluku Mon, March 23, 2020 14:17 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206cccf36 1 National Maluku,border-areas,border-security,coronavirus,COVID-19,Wuhan-coronavirus,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,health Free The Maluku administration is set to tighten all entry points to the province after announcing on Sunday its first confirmed COVID-19 case, a resident who had moved from Bekasi, West Java, to the city of Ambon. According to the head of the provinces COVID-19 response team, Kasrul Selang, the Maluku administration was working closely with a number of agencies to coordinate the various steps needed for the stringent measure. With the discovery of a positive [COVID-19] case in Maluku, we will step up efforts to tighten controls at points of entry such as airports and ports, Kasrul said in a press conference at the Maluku governors office in Ambon on Sunday afternoon. Kasrul said the infected patient had been placed under surveillance at Dr. Haulussy General Hospital in Ambon since arriving from Bekasi. His condition had been improving before he tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The test results of the samples we sent [on Saturday] to the Health Ministry's research and development center have returned and one sample was confirmed positive for [COVID-19] while the other one tested negative, he said. Kasrul added that the patient had been isolated and was currently in intensive care. Maluku has placed 53 people under monitoring for COVID-19, consisting of 26 people from Tanimbar Islands, six from Ambon, three from West Seram, 10 from Buru, two from Tual and six from Aru Islands. The numbers have increased sharply upon the return of residents who had visited other regions, especially in Tanimbar Islands, which previously had only one person under monitoring. Kasrul said Maluku residents were advised to remain calm in responding to the positive COVID-19 case and continue to take proper preventive measures while monitoring directions from the government and the authorities. We should remain cautious and vigilant. (syk) Fernando Sanz: My father never wanted to believe how incredible he was and what people wanted from him Real Madrid Paid homage to Lorenzo Sanz Lorenzo Sanz passed away from the coronavirus on Saturday, and his son Fernando paid tribute to the character behind the beloved former Real Madrid president Fernando spoke of the sadness that his family is going through while highlighting the qualities that the late Lorenzo Sanz possessed. "We are devastated and overwhelmed," said Fernando Sanz on Tiempo de Juego. "My father never wanted to believe how incredible he was and what people wanted from him. "All of us who have been with him have been privileged." Ivan Campo won the Champions League in 2000 under Sanz's presidency and had a very personal relationship with his family "Lorenzo was my president, but I lived alone in Madrid and he treated me like a son," he said. "I even spent New Years at his house." Manolo Sanchis also played under Sanz, and was on hand to pay his tribute to his former president. "He always knew how to understand what was going on in a dressing room," Sanchis stated. "He was very close. He showed me from the first minute that he was a direct person." Similarly, Fernando Morientes noted Sanz's care for all those involved with the club. "He had a close relationship with the dressing room. He was always with us," the former Real Madrid striker said. "My relationship with his son Fernando helped me get to know him as a person. "He could spend hours telling anecdotes about Real Madrid." Foley police arrested a Mississippi man in the kidnapping and beating of a woman inside her home Saturday morning. Police arrived to the scene at 326 4th Avenue at approximately 4 a.m. after the female victim called 911 requesting for help. Officers discovered the woman badly beaten suffering from significant blood loss and trauma. Gary Orlando Hawkins, 34 of Meridian, Mississippi, was located at the scene of the residence intoxicated and also bleeding from minor wounds. Police believe that Hawkins held the female victim against her will in her home and beat her to unconsciousness. Hawkins was arrested and charged with the following: Ministers will 'dial in' to tomorrow's Cabinet meeting tomorrow to minimise coronavirus risk. Downing Street has revealed that a 'very significant' number will take part in the crucial gathering remotely. The PM's spokesman has also confirmed that Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab would fill in if Boris Johnson becomes ill - although he is currently 'well'. Details of the arrangements emerged as the government seeks to show it is practising what it preaches over 'social distancing'. Mr Johnson is under huge pressure to scale up the lockdown in the UK amid fears that many people are flouting the rules and putting lives at risk. In London, the Tube system was still busy this morning and joggers and dog walkers have been out in force in parks. Downing Street has revealed that a 'very significant' number of ministers will take part in Cabinet tomorrow remotely. Cabinet is pictured meeting last month The PM's spokesman has also confirmed that Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab (pictured in Downing Street today) would fill in if Boris Johnson becomes ill - although he is currently 'well' The Prime Minister's spokesman said: 'I would expect that now and for the foreseeable future a very significant number of Cabinet ministers will take part by dialling in or via video conferencing.' Reports over the weekend suggested a number of ministers were jockeying for the post of stand-in prime minister. The spokesman said: 'The Prime Minister is well... the Foreign Secretary is the First Secretary of State.' If Mr Raab was also ill, the PM has the power to delegate responsibility to any of his ministers, the spokesman added. Mr Johnson is preparing to address the nation tonight amid signs he will finally put the UK into full coronavirus lockdown after the UK's death toll spiked by 54 to 335. The PM will make a televised speech amid fury that many people are still flouting government guidance, with parks and Tube trains in London - regarded as the engine of the UK outbreak - still busy. The government's Cobra emergency committee is due to meet at 5pm, and Mr Johnson is expected to make a significant announcement later. The move comes after the number of fatalities went up by 54 in a single day - the second biggest rise yet. Health Secretary Matt Hancock has underlined that a decision on toughening measures is expected 'very soon', hitting out at 'selfish' behaviour and saying 'nothing is off the table'. He pointed to measures in Italy and France - where all municipal spaces have been closed, forms have to be filled out to leave the house, and police are on patrol handing out fines. The backlash has been mounting against Mr Johnson's 'relaxed' style today, with warnings of a 'full-scale mutiny' among Cabinet if the lockdown is not extended, and Labour claiming his 'mixed messages will cost lives'. Downing Street today dodged questions about the prospect of a mutiny, and said it was looking at evidence to decide whether social distancing must be enforced. 'If our analysis is that people haven't stopped their interaction then we will take further measures,' the PM's spokesman said. Labour's official position has shifted to insist it is time to introduce harsher 'compliance measures'. Young Australians have been warned they risk wiping at least $100,000 from their retirement savings if they withdraw money from their superannuation during the coronavirus pandemic. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Sunday the unemployed and Australians who had lost their jobs to the effects of the virus can withdraw $10,000 tax-free this financial year and the same amount the following year. But a super industry body has warned a 20-year-old could be down $120,000 by the time they reach retirement simply by withdrawing the tax-free allowance. Scroll down for video People queue up outside a Centrelink office in Abbotsford in Melbourne's inner-city. Struggling Australians have been offered early access to their super funds during the coronavirus pandemic, but industry bodies have warned them to think twice before liquidating their accounts Industry Super Australia said money left in a super account would earn back value in future years. 'Taking your super now is like selling a house at the bottom of the market - youll lose money you would probably claw back over time,' ISA chief executive Bernie Dean told The Australian. The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia has also recommended taking fund out of a super account only after other savings and government support had been depleted. It is estimated the almost $1trillion held in equity by super funds overseen by the government regulator will have lost almost a third of its value in the year to December. ASFA chief executive Martin Fahy said an account worth $40,000 a few months ago could have dropped in value to as little as $22,000 and urged Australians to reconsider liquidating at this stage. The early access will also apply to workers who have lost more than 20 per cent of their income, and the government has estimated the changes could inject up to $27billion worth of cash into the economy. A long queue outside a Centrelink Service Centre in Sydney on Monday. The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia said taking money out of a super account should be considered only after other savings and government support had been depleted The government has estimated the changes to super withdrawals could inject up to A$27 billion worth of cash into the economy ASFA deputy chief executive Glen McCrea said a high number of workers were already trying to access their superannuation, even though funds will not be available until after mid-April. On Monday night, the federal parliament passed coronavirus economic stimulus measures designed to cushion the sledgehammer blow of COVID-19 - which has killed seven people in Australia and infected 1,886 people. A series of bills was approved with two packages worth $17.6 billion and $66 billion at the heart of the Morrison government's response. Coronavirus cases soared to 1,886 on Tuesday In separate legislation, the government set aside a further $40 billion for urgent and unforeseen spending associated with the pandemic, likely to cause a recession. CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement Jobseeker, youth allowance, parenting and special benefit payments will be boosted by $550 a fortnight. Finance Minister Mathias Cormann confirmed the coronavirus supplement would be extended to full-time students. The government will no longer need legislation to make changes to welfare settings after passing an amendment to the package, giving the social services minister unprecedented powers. There will also be two $750 payments for welfare recipients. Small lenders will get a $15billion boost from the government while businesses will get cash injections to encourage them to keep staff on during the crisis. A range of other measures are included in the packages, including targeted support for the tourism and aviation sectors. San Francisco Fire Department Three people have been taken to the hospital two with critical injuries after an early morning crash Monday in San Franciscos South of Market neighborhood, authorities said. The crash, which occurred at 7:21 a.m., involved a pickup truck and a car in the area of 10th and Harrison streets, according to San Francisco police. One of the vehicles was traveling the wrong way on a one-way street. BISHKEK A court has postponed for one week the trial of former Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev and 13 co-defendants over deadly clashes with security forces last year at Atambaev's compound in a Bishkek suburb. The Birinchi Mai district court in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, began the high-profile trial behind closed doors on March 23, but almost immediately adjourned the hearing after Atambaev experienced a drop in blood pressure. The court abruptly stopped the hearing and said it would adjourn until March 30. Before announcing the delay, the judge added that he was rejecting a defense motion to remove himself from the trial because he had ruled it would be held behind closed doors. Defense attorneys claimed Atambaev had no confidence in the procedure because of this move. Last August, security officials were sent to Atambaev's compound in Koi-Tash near Bishkek after he refused to obey three subpoenas calling him to the Interior Ministry for questioning in an investigation into his alleged involvement in the illegal release of a jailed organized-crime boss in 2013. Atambaev was arrested on August 8 after he surrendered to police following a violent two-day standoff. The standoff by the former president and his supporters resulted in the death of a 47-year-old security officer, Usenbek Niyazbekov, and injuries to more than 170 others, including 79 law enforcement officers. Atambaev and the 13 co-defendants were charged with murder, attempted murder, threatening or assaulting representatives of authorities, hostage taking, and forced power seizure. All 14 defendants pleaded not guilty and called the case against them politically motivated. Five more defendants in the case made plea deals with investigators and will be tried separately. The 63-year-old former president currently faces a separate trial for charges linked to the release of the crime boss. Aziz Batukaev was convicted of several high-profile crimes, including the murders of a Kyrgyz lawmaker and an Interior Ministry official, before his release in 2013. Kyrgyzstan saw a smooth and peaceful transfer of power from Atambaev to his ally, Sooronbai Jeenbekov, a move welcomed by the international community after presidential transitions -- in 2005 and 2010 -- came after violent rioting. However, the deadly clashes in August at Atambaev's compound underscored a power struggle between him and Jeenbekov and raised fears of instability in the Central Asian country. In Retrospect: News from the Jan. 13, 1922 and Jan. 12, 1972 Souderton Independent Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 23:50:14|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TEHRAN, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Monday that the United States has obstructed the international fight against novel coronavirus outbreak by maintaining anti-Iran sanctions. "Iranian people appreciate the growing global campaign of government and civil society leaders calling for the lifting of illegal U.S. sanctions," Zarif tweeted. However, "the United States is not listening, impeding global fight against COVID-19," he said, urging the countries to defy U.S. pressures. Iran is one of the hardest-hit countries by the novel coronavirus epidemic, with the total number of confirmed cases of 23,049, of whom 1,812 have died. After the outbreak of COVID-19 in Iran on Feb. 19, the Iranian officials strongly criticized the continuation of U.S. tough economic sanctions against the country which they said hampers Iran's fight to stem the disease. German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday decided to quarantine herself after reports that a doctor, who had come in her contact, tested positive for COVID-19, the German government said in a statement. "The Chancellor was informed after today's address to the press that the doctor who gave her a preventive vaccination on Friday was diagnosed positive for coronavirus. In this regard, the chancellor decided to immediately go under home quarantine. She will be regularly tested for coronavirus," the statement read, as quoted by Sputnik. According to Johns Hopkins University, the number of people affected by the coronavirus in Germany has reached 23,974 cases and the number of deaths has reached 92. Earlier in the day, the German government had announced tight measures regarding freedom of movement of citizens in the country due to the epidemiological (control of disease) situation. So far, the worldwide tally of the lethal coronavirus has reached 3,18,000 and over 13,700 people have died, according to the World Health Organization. A string of cars ran toward Interstate 35 along two lanes of road at Brooke Army Medical Centers security gate after a quiet morning that saw Staff Sgt. James Long without much to do at his guard station for minutes at a time. Far fewer cars arriving at a gate that typically sees thousands of motorists a day enter Fort Sam was just one change in life for military bases nationwide as people adjusted to the coronavirus pandemic. A woman who drove to the gate wearing a surgical mask was another unfamiliar twist. Youre good to go, Long, 32, of Converse said after she raised an ID card, her car window down. Have a blessed day, OK? Thank you. As the COVID-19 outbreak dramatically reshapes life, the pace has slowed at gates dotting Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston and Camp Bullis, which together normally see a daily traffic count of 25,000 or so. A Security Forces veteran of four deployments, Long no longer sees the busy morning rush, and the procedures themselves have changed. More Information Security at the gates For gate hours under FP Con Charlie see http://www.jbsa.mil/holiday-gate-hours/ See More Collapse Before last week, Long would take each motorists ID card and use a hand-held device to scan it through the Defense Biometric Identification System, which is connected with Texas and U.S. criminal databases. Now touching the card is verboten, even with the latex gloves hes been issued. Motorists now lower their windows and raise their IDs so Security Forces airmen or Department of the Air Force police can scan them, no hands. The guards, called defenders by the Air Force, also are keeping a discreet distance from the drivers. Inside the Visitor Control Center at BAMC, retired Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Brian Nelson sat at his desk along with Manuel Mora, waiting for a customer. Ordinarily, the place would be packed with people, their numbers as large as the fire code allows. Many visitors are relatives of BAMC patients here to get a pass. On this day, not a soul was in the office at one point, and parking was easy to find in a lot so notoriously small that those familiar with it say someone goofed when designing it. No one really welcomes the slower pace. I wouldnt necessarily say its better because there are people out there who need help that just are not getting it because of the situation that were in right now, said Nelson, who spent nearly 23 years in the Navy. And that was before visits to JBSA hospitals and clinics were sharply curtailed to prepare for the need to shift to acute care as the community spread of COVID-19 became apparent. The joint base reported that 15 people in the military community, both military personnel and civilian retirees, have tested positive for the coronavirus as of Monday. JBSA officials raised the Health Protection Condition from Bravo to Charlie over the weekend to try to support health authorities in their efforts to flatten the curve and spread of COVID-19, said Maj. Kim Bender, a joint base spokeswoman. On ExpressNews.com: New Air Force training routine: COVID-19 quarantine in San Antonio The change still lets motorists keep their windows down when entering JBSA-Lackland, -Randolph, -Fort Sam and Camp Bullis, but theyre encouraged to check a link, jbsa.mil/holiday-gate-hours, to know the gates hours of operation, some of which are now curtailed. Those coming to the visitors center now face a locked door. A Security Forces airman or a worker such as Nelson will come to a window and ask their business, then call BAMC to confirm if the visitors are being accepted. Its a fast-moving train, Lt. Col. Andrew Moore, commander of the 502nd Security Forces Squadron, said of the changes. Top hits: Get San Antonio Express-News stories sent directly to your inbox Mora, 64, of New Braunfels served a tour in the Navy before working for the Border Patrol and as a civilian police officer. He and Nelson wear gloves but also can don an N95 respirator if they wish. They have plenty of the masks on hand and more on order. Security Forces began to work through scenarios weeks ago to determine what measures to take in each health protection condition and decided early on to stress personal hygiene. Supplies were ordered to ensure that enough was available at the joint bases. Switching to tactical and then latex gloves reminded troops to not touch their faces. We get very used to using our hands and touching our faces and going through that process, but by overemphasizing it, were making sure people dont do what they normally do, Moore said. Like elsewhere across the country, some defenders havent felt well and took sick leave. If theyve had flu-like symptoms, theyre checked before going home, with Moore and his medical people monitoring them. None so far has been suspected of having the coronavirus. People have been responding like theyve been responding in society, Moore said. People are on edge because were just a microcosm of society. Everybody is trying to figure out whats next and what those effects are. Moore, 40, once was an enlisted man. He remembers guarding a gate in Hawaii when he was 18. Over the years, hes supervised 2,000 airmen and has done tours in Iraq, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia. Long, the staff sergeant at the gate, who has served in Afghanistan and Southwest Asia, said that as far as managing, Im just being positive. As far as dealing with the everyday people coming along, I just try to help them out, he said. Sig Christenson covers the military and its impact in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Sig, become a subscriber. sigc@express-news.net | Twitter: @saddamscribe Connecticut State Universities have been asked to prepare facilities to house COVID-19 patients and health care professionals, as the state readies for a potential surge in new cases. Gov. Ned Lamonts spokesman, Max Reiss, said the state is looking to prepare surge capacity for patients and related needs. Southern Connecticut State University has been asked to provide 80 beds, spokesman Patrick Dilger said. In a post on Twitter this weekend, SCSUs Office of Residence Life instructed students to retrieve belongings from their dormitories before we turn over a building(s) to the state. Central Connecticut States Sheridan Hall is being prepared to serve as emergency shelter for health care professionals, President Zulma Toro said in a message to students and faculty Sunday. Sheridan Hall residents have been informed that a FEMA-certified, professional moving company will be packing their belongings, and the crates will be temporarily stored in a secure location until the pandemic ceases, she said. Western Connecticut State University is preparing Fairfield Hall, a 108-bed residence hall on the schools Midtown campus in Danbury, spokesman Paul Steinmetz said. It should be ready by Wednesday morning, he said. The school has not been officially asked to make the space available, but we expect to soon, Steinmetz said. Overflow space is also being prepared for patients affiliated with Yale University at the schools Payne Whitney Gym, Yale Health director Dr. Paul Genecin said in an interview on the university website this weekend. The Yale Health Center, which provides healthcare for the majority of Yale students, employees and their families, has a limited in-patient clinic that would not be able to accommodate members of the Yale community who might become severely ill with COVID-19, he said. The space in the gym could be activated to handle patients from the Yale community who cannot be treated at the center. The space could be used for coronavirus patients who do not need to be admitted to a hospital, but cannot care for themselves at home, or who need a place to stay away from elderly or immune-compromised family members, Genecin said. While this space would not be meant to serve as ICU overflow from Yale New Haven Hospital, it would offer general care monitoring of vital signs and provision of food and hydration, for instance, he said. Liz.teitz@hearstmediact.com CLEVELAND, Ohio Cuyahoga County is making changes to its sewer maintenance operations after more than 30 sanitary engineers walked off the job or called in sick last week due to concerns about the coronavirus. The county on Monday began staggering the workers shifts so only about half of the normal crew remains at the countys Harvard Road garage on a given day, allowing for more so-called social distancing, spokeswoman Mary Louise Madigan said. The county also asked the 39 city governments that part of the sewer program to allow the sewer workers access to the citys bathrooms and sinks when out on the job, Madigan said. Meanwhile, the Public Works Employees Association reported that the sewer workers returned to work on Monday, and is glad the county made the changes. The staggered shifts and other changes were announced after cleveland.com asked the county to respond concerns raised late Friday by the sewer workers union, including: Not having access to hand sanitizer The lack of public bathrooms and sinks when theyre out responding to sewer problems. Most restrooms are now closed to the public. Being required to gather with 20 to 30 other employees at the Harvard Road garage, where they must share time clocks and close quarters. The workers on Friday said they wanted to keep working, but do so safely, which wasnt possible, according to James McGowan, who represents Public Works Employees Association. The workers last week proposed reducing staff to a skeleton crew, with the ability to call in workers when sewer problems arise, but management initially declined, McGowan said. Public Works Director Michael Dever on Friday told cleveland.com that the workers are essential to maintain sewer systems. They are among the groups that Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine deemed essential in his Sunday shelter-in-place order. The workers are outfitted with goggles, face masks and rubber gloves, Dever had said. The county also continues to encourage workers to maintain social distancing, and is limiting access to a shared locker room at the Harvard facility, Madigan said. Insurance Regulatory Authority Chief Executive Officer Godfrey Kiptum responded to questions from the public via Sunday Nation. 1 Many surveys have revealed that insurance uptake in the country is still low. What are some of the reasons that contribute to this? Komen Moris, Eldoret. There are a number of reasons: First, there is a lack of public awareness on insurance matters. The authority is engaged in aggressive campaigns to educate the public on the role and importance of insurance. These activities include training and certifying at least 100 agents in each of the 47 counties, conducting consumer education outreach activities in 40 counties, targeting groups such as boda-boda riders, farmers, boat riders, teachers, the business community, cooperatives, youth, religious organisations, and chiefs. We have also conducted insurance week in collaboration with other organisations, targeting the public and open days for lawyers, universities and schools. Second, the nature of insurance contracts is also a contributor. For a long time, insurance companies have used policy documents with fine print and technical jargon that have not been easy to understand. In 2012, the authority embarked on a project to simplify policy wording that was adopted by all insurance companies. The authority has simplified policy wording for 14 classes of general insurance business, including motor vehicle. Thirdly, is the negative perception of insurance by the public. This has been largely caused by poor customer service by some insurance companies. The authority has put in place several measures aimed at improving the image of the industry. These include requiring companies to have a customer-care desk to address policyholders grievances and implementing a transparency and consent framework that requires insurers to treat their customers fairly at all stages of the business relationship. The authority has put in place a consumer protection unit that receives and resolves complaints filed against members of the insurance industry. Fourth is the problem of insurance products that do not address the needs of most people. The authority will address this through the proposed micro-insurance regulations that have been gazetted. These will give access to most of the population and covers will be commensurate with different categories of people. 2 Why are some insurance companies that went under not deregistered? What goes on at these shells of insurance companies? Githuku Mungai, Nairobi All companies that went under have been deregistered. However, the process of dissolving companies is long. The court has appointed interim liquidators for Standard Assurance Ltd and Concord Insurance Company. Liquidation requires the Commissioner of Insurance to make an application to the High Court. The other two companies United Insurance Company and Blue Shield Insurance Company are under statutory management. They are awaiting a court decision. Liquidating insurance companies is subject to the 2015 Insolvency Act, which is outside the ambit of the authority. 3 There has been an outcry that some rogue insurance companies take premiums and swindle clients money as the regulator looks the other way, and that the regulator has failed to rein in such firms. What are you doing to protect the public? Raphael Obonyo, Nairobi One of the objects of the authority is to protect policyholders and beneficiaries of insurance contracts. The authority is both a prudential and market conduct regulator. The regulator ensures that insurers are financially sound and stable to meet their liabilities as they fall due. The authority also ensures that companies treat their customers fairly and anybody who feels aggrieved can complain. The authority has implemented risk-based supervision, which is a tool for assessing risks that an insurance company is exposed to and measures put in place to mitigate the risks. 4 A number of insurance companies have gone under over the past three decades, right under the nose of IRA, leaving many Kenyans languishing in abject poverty. What are you doing to ensure that directors and managers of collapsing firms found culpable of abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds take responsibility? Raphael Obonyo, Nairobi The authority has amended the Insurance Act to give it power to hold directors of insurance firms jointly and severally liable where assets of an insurer that collapses have been misappropriated. Section 175 makes errant acts committed by persons with authority in an insurance company, including directors, a criminal offence. 5 Some insurance companies have introduced sub-limits and restrictions that make customers unable to access health services. Whenever employees seek medical attention, the companies argue that the procedure recommended by the doctor is not necessary and therefore they cannot authorise. How does IRA deal with errant firms that flout members right to access medical insurance services? James Mark Ngari, Kerugoya An insurance contract is guided by terms and conditions as stipulated in the policy document. We urge the public, and specifically policyholders, to ensure that they get a policy document from the insurance company as this exemplifies the insurance contract between them. They should also read the terms and conditions of the policy to ensure that it captures what has been agreed before signing the document. There is a grace period, indicated in the policy document, where a policyholder can cancel the contract if they are not satisfied with the terms and conditions. In the event of a dispute between a policyholder and an insurance company, the authority is guided by the terms and conditions of the policy document. Hence policyholders should understand what is in the document to ensure that their interests are not jeopardised in any way. A policyholder can negotiate with an insurer on the cover they need if the standard cover is not adequate. The limits and sub-limits can be agreed upon between the parties. 6 A majority of banks have diversified their businesses to include a wide range of insurance products and services so as to remain competitive and relevant, even though insurance is not their core business. As a regulator, what measures have you put in place to ensure that they fully adhere to insurance regulations? Dan Murugu, Nakuru Let me clarify that banks are not offering insurance products and services. Rather, they have partnered with insurance companies in an arrangement known as bancassurance to act as distribution channels for insurance products. Banks have wide branch networks and hence insurers are able to reach clients across the country. Lenders are therefore registered as insurance agents under the Insurance Act. 7 With the advancement in technology over the last 20 years it can be said that insurance brokers are no longer relevant. However, I think that these people are still important to grow and expand insurance cover across the country. How does your authority plan to work with them to reach as many Kenyans as possible? Dan Murugu, Nakuru Advancement in technology will not replace brokers in the insurance value chain. Technology offers a platform for consumers to conduct research before buying insurance cover, such as comparing price as well as purchasing simple insurance products. Insurance intermediaries (brokers and agents) will remain relevant in the distribution of products especially complex commercial, life and health risks. They also play a critical role where personal interaction and expert advice are required. Most insurance brokers are changing their business models from the traditional role of acquiring and placing insurance services and products to providing risk management and advisory services. The challenge for insurers and intermediaries in this era of technology is to customise their business models in line with the varying needs and preferences of customers. 8 Sir, you sit on the board of the Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA) while your counterpart at RBA sits on the IRA board. Could you help us understand why this arrangement is necessary? Dont you think the arrangement can create conflict of interest where, say, RBA wants to discipline one of its members who on the other side has met all IRA requirements? Faustine Bundotich, Nairobi The two agencies regulate financial services and this arrangement facilitates collaboration and better supervision of the two sectors. Most of the players in the financial services sector provide services across the four sectors: banking, securities, insurance and pensions. 9 Why is IRA unable to solve public complaints? I filed two cases one on accident and injury against Xplico Insurance. The second was about my car cover with Monarch Insurance, which replaced my proposal with an agency one without my knowledge or authority. I have not received any response from IRA, which makes me think that either the insurance companies are powerful and therefore untouchable or IRA just doesnt care. George Maina Wahome, Nyahururu The authority listens and responds to all claims and injury claims and subjected to court processes. The authority responded to Mr George Maina Wahome on August 27, 2018, and we have not heard from him since. 10 The Treasury Cabinet secretary in January decreed that NHIF comply with Section 19 of the Insurance Act and IRAs regulatory requirements if it is to continue offering commercial insurance services. To what extent has the fund complied with this? What will be the significance to clients if NHIF is placed under the ambit of IRA in so far as regulation is concerned? Samuel B. Njiru, Nyayo Embakasi The Insurance Act has been amended to bring NHIF under the supervision of IRA. The purpose of regulation is to ensure protection of policyholders, hence their regulation will ensure that the interests of policyholders will be taken care of. 11 Is there a limit as to how many insurers a person can engage with for the same issue? Shem Onderi, Kisii Clients are free to engage with any licensed insurer for any services that they need. However, it will not be to the benefit of the policyholder but to indemnify. The concept of indemnity does not, however, apply for life insurance. When an insured insures their lives with several insurers, they can be paid by all of them whenever the insured event materialises. Despite the restrictions placed on large gatherings in the country, minister of defence, Bashir Mugashi and Garba Shehu, spokesman to President Muhammadu Buhari, were among those in attendance at a public event in Abuja, yesterday. The event, the 2020 annual leadership lecture organised by the Barewa Old Boys Association, Abuja branch, was held in Asokoro area of the city on Saturday morning. Although, the FCT has not reported any case of Coronavirus, it had joined other states to restrict the large crowds in a bid to curb the spread of the disease. The restriction was announced by Ramatu Aliyu, FCT minister of state, on Tuesday during a meeting with relevant agencies in the nations capital. When guest arrived at the venue of the programme, reporters observed that guests were asked to use hand sanitisers and their body temperature checked. But there have been cases where people are infected without showing symptoms immediately. Sixty-four persons were present at the lecture, though 95 seats were reserved for attendees. Below are pictures from the programme: Share this post with your Friends on Mark Wahlberg attends the Netflix Premiere Spenser Confidential at Westwood Village Theatre on February 27, 2020. (Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Netflix) Mark Wahlberg may be one of the biggest names on the big screen, but the Spenser: Confidential star, 48, says he doesnt have all that much to do with Hollywood. Im so out of the loop with Hollywood, the actor told the Guardian in a revealing new interview. Other than working, I go to the supermarket. I dont go to dinner parties on the scene, or screenings. I live in Beverly Hills, but it could easily be the English countryside, because I dont see anyone and I dont do anything. I dont go to awards unless I have a movie in them. I go to bed early, I get up early, I take my kids to school and Im with my wife if Im not Im working. Its a far cry from Wahlbergs tumultuous upbringing in Boston, where the youngest of nine kids dealt with a challenging life both at home and outside. When I walked out my door violence is also all that was there, said Wahlberg, adding that he was always in trouble, and I was kind of little. In the circumstances where I was being preyed upon, at times, I had to protect and defend myself. Its not an easy thing to navigate as a teenage kid whos 52, 120 pounds, with grown men. Read more: Insane celebrity workout routines Wahlberg recognises that he made some tragic mistakes during his youth. He found himself incarcerated after attacking a man while high on drugs in 1988, serving 45 days out of a two-year sentence after pleading guilty to felony assault. I made a lot of terrible mistakes and I paid for those mistakes dearly, said Wahlberg, who decided to overhaul his life and do the work. Marky Mark on 10/13/91 in Chicago, Il. (Photo by Paul Natkin/WireImage) I took it upon myself to own up to my mistakes and go against the grain and not be a part of the gang any more to say that I was going to go and do my own thing, he said. Which made it 10 times more difficult to walk from my home to the train station, to go to school, to go to work. Related Video: In Depth Look at Mark Wahlbergs Life and Career Determined to do the right thing, Wahlberg embraced his second chance in life. Now, he channels his own experiences into his work. Story continues I do think the one thing I have to my advantage is that I have all this real-life experience that I can apply to my work, he added. I think audiences can definitely sense authenticity. But that came with a real price. Read more: Hollywoods most overpaid stars Despite his teenage wiles, Mark says his four children arent that interested in hearing about their dads past. They make fun of it, like, Oh God here we go, Dad and his street stories, whatever Dad. Theyre not impressed, said Wahlberg. Well they dont act impressed, thats for sure. Kate Moss and Mark Wahlberg (Marky Mark) at the Saks Fifth Avenue Store in Hollywood, California (Photo by Barry King/WireImage) The interview also saw the former underwear model reflecting on his early 90s Calvin Klein campaigns with supermodel Kate Moss, who has since expressed discomfort about the revealing shoots and accused Wahlberg of making unwelcome comments about her body. I think I was probably a little rough around the edges. Kind of doing my thing, he told the Guardian, adding with a laugh that he wasnt very worldly, lets say that. But Ive seen her and said hello. I think we saw each other at a concert here and there, we said hi and exchanged pleasantries. Low Oil Prices Makes China Happy - Hmmmm (Just Saying) Source: China General Administration of Customs, based on Bloomberg, L.P. Chinas annual crude oil imports in 2019 increased to an average of 10.1 million barrels per day (b/d), an increase of 0.9 million b/d from the 2018 average. China remains the worlds top crude oil importer, surpassing the United States in 2017. Chinas new refinery capacity and strategic inventory stockpiling, combined with flat domestic oil production, were the major factors contributing to the increase in Chinas crude oil imports in 2019. Source: China General Administration of Customs, based on Bloomberg, L.P. In 2019, 55% of Chinas crude oil imports came from countries within the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the smallest share since at least 2005. Chinas crude oil imports from Saudi Arabia increased by more than 0.5 million b/d in 2019 to 1.7 million b/d, or 16% of total crude oil imports. From 2017 until earlier this year, OPEC members and other partner countries had been voluntarily reducing crude oil production, which resulted in some non-OPEC producers increasing their shares of Chinas crude oil imports in recent years. In addition, in 2019, sanctions were placed on Iran and Venezuela that significantly affected their ability to export oil, reducing their shares of imports. Source: China General Administration of Customs, based on Bloomberg, L.P. Note: OPEC is the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. Russia remained the largest non-OPEC source of Chinas crude oil imports in 2019, averaging 1.6 million b/d, or 15% of total crude oil imports. Brazil overtook Oman as the second-highest non-OPEC source of Chinas crude oil imports, increasing by less than 0.2 million b/d to average 0.8 million b/d for the year. Chinas crude oil imports from the United States declined in 2019, primarily as a result of trade negotiations that imposed tariffs on many U.S. goods, including crude oil. Several factors contributed to Chinas increase in crude oil imports in recent years. Although Chinas domestic crude oil production increased 0.1 million b/d in 2019averaging 4.9 million b/dit has remained essentially flat since 2012, ranging between 4.8 million b/d and 5.2 million b/d. In contrast, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates Chinas consumption of petroleum and other liquids grew 0.5 million b/d in 2019 to 14.5 million b/d, and Chinas net imports for crude oil and other liquids grew 0.4 million b/d to 9.6 million b/d in 2019. Chinas crude oil imports also grew in 2019 because of strategic stockpiling of crude oil and increases in commercial crude oil inventories following refinery expansions, which require increases in storage as refineries begin operations. Last year, Chinas refinery capacity increased by 1.0 million b/d, primarily because two new refining and petrochemical complexes came online with capacities of 0.4 million b/d each. As a result, the countrys refinery processing also increased to an all-time high in 2019, averaging 13.0 million b/d for the year. EIA estimates Chinas domestic petroleum and other liquids consumption averaged 13.9 million b/d in the first quarter of 2020, a decline of 0.6 million b/d from the 2019 annual average, primarily as a result of the Chinese governments containment measures related to the outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The economic and transportation effects from this outbreak are still developing and will likely affect Chinas crude oil imports, refinery runs, and domestic consumption through the second quarter of 2020. Principal contributor: Jeff Barron Racist extremist groups, including neo-Nazis and other white supremacists, may be seeking to infect police officers and Jews with the coronavirus, according to an ABC News report. The network obtained an alert, from the FBIs New York office, stating that members of extremist groups are encouraging one another to spread the virus, if contracted, through bodily fluids and personal interactions. The alert was sent Thursday to local police agencies, ABC News reported. It warned that extremists may try to use spray bottles to spray bodily fluids toward police officers, and spread the disease to Jews by going any place they may be congregated, to include markets, political offices, businesses and places of worship. According to ABC News, white supremacist posts on the Internet have been blaming Jews and Jewish leaders for both the coronavirus and the ensuing shutdowns in places such as New York, New Jersey and California. Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter. Yes, its beginning to look a lot like Christmaswhich, for many of us, feels like a rush into chaos. Celebrating Advent during this season slows us down and helps our hearts and minds be reoriented around the coming of Christ.Yes, its beginning to look a lot like Christmaswhich, for many of us, feels like a rush into chaos. Celebrating Advent during this season slows us down and helps our hearts and minds be reoriented around the coming of Christ. GRANTS totalling more than 7,000 are set to be awarded to charities, clubs and community groups in Henley. The Henley and Leichlingen Twinning Association has been recommended to receive 1,900, the Town & Visitors Regatta 1,500 and Greener Henley 500. Smaller grants for organisations were recommended for approval at a meeting of the town councils finance strategy and management committee. The final decision is due to be made by the full council on Tuesday. Sue Fitzsimons, speaking on behalf of the twinning association, said the link with Germany was founded 40 years ago. Last October a party of 16 people from Henley travelled to Leichlingen to mark the 40th anniversary of the two towns being twinned. Mrs Fitzsimons said members were treated really well and enjoyed excursions and a vintage car rally, with the highlight being a three-course dinner at a palace. This year the Germans would be coming to Henley and the group would like to reciprocate their kindness. They were planning trips to Cliveden House and on a Hobbs of Henley boat and dinner at Leander Club. Councillor Stefan Gawrysiak said that when Henley delegations went to Leichlingen or the other twin towns of Falaise and Bled they put on a fantastic show. It can be slightly embarrassing when they come to us, he added. Councillor Ian Reissmann, who chairs the committee, said: I fully support the principle of twinning and the timings particularly good we do need to remind ourselves that we are still Europeans. The Town & Visitors Regatta applied for 1,500. Councillor Lorraine Hillier said it was the peoples regatta and more should be done to promote it. They ask for very little, she said. We shouldnt hesitate in supporting this. Its a genuine community event, which is what this town council is all about. Cllr Gawrysiak said: Its a brilliant event. You can park there for free and watch the races for the whole day for free. Greener Henley requested 1,000 and the committee recommended 500 is awarded. Chairman Dave McEwen said the group ran its first festival at the Christ Church Centre in November and wanted to run a bigger event in the town centre later this year. The money would cover the cost of a marquee, insurance and publicity as they wouldnt be charging for admission or asking stallholders to pay. We hope well get more people involved in the things that are going on and raise awareness, said Mr McEwen. Councillor Kellie Hinton said: Climate change and the climate emergency are very important to this town and council and this is one of the few applications I will support the full amount for. Councillor Will Hamilton suggested giving the group free use of the town hall rather than spend money on a marquee and Councillor Laurence Plant suggested awarding 50 per cent of the amount requested because of the pressure on the councils grants budget. Councillor Gawrysiak said: We have got to recognise this is a community organisation with lots of members who actually do things in Henley. Greener Henley has, in fact, been the driver for all or most of the initiatives on the climate change working group. Members also recommended giving 1,000 to the Oxfordshire Volunteer Befriending Service after hearing it supported 60 people in Henley. Other recommendations were as follows: Opera Prelude 650 towards a young artists development day in July. The Regatta for the Disabled 600. Sing Your Pain Away, a community singing group 200. Jeux DEspirit, a production company 450 for free use of Kings Arms Barn. Walkers are Welcome 250 for publicity towards a walking festival in May. Henley Town FC requested 2,500 towards refurbishing changing rooms and the referees room. Cllr Reissmann said the application had a lot of merit but suggested deferring a decision until after councillors had discussed it with the clubs new officials. The committee also agreed that the Arts Society Henley can have free use of council premises for about six committee meetings or members coffee mornings per year. Members rejected a request by the Bishopsland Educational Trust in Dunsden, which runs silversmithing courses, for 1,200 to enable it to exhibit at Henley Festival this year. The committee also refused to award 2,500 to Shiplake Vikings Rowing Club and not to award 600 to the South Oxfordshire Mencap Society as it is one of the Mayors chosen charities. By Tong Kim The coronavirus has spread to over 150 countries, with over 306,000 confirmed cases and more than 13,000 fatalities. The world already seems like it's heading for recession because of the virus. What political impact the coronavirus will have on the countries it has infected is not knowable at this point. History has witnessed two worse pandemic calamities the Black Death of the 14th century ravaged Europe, Africa, and Asia, with an estimated death toll of between 75 million and 200 million people and the 1918 influenza pandemic from which about 50 million people worldwide perished. China still maintains that the origin of the coronavirus is not known scientifically. On Chinese social media rumors have spread that members of the U.S. military were involved in the origin of the virus. However, it is hard to deny that the novel coronavirus officially called COVID-19 originated from Wuhan, China. The city reported the first breakout of the virus in December. Some call it the Wuhan virus. Trump calls it the "Chinese virus" because "it comes from China." In reaction, the Global Times of the Chinese Communist Party accused Trump of using "the China card to divert domestic attention from a botched handling of the virus to attacking China." China appears ready to strike back in a propaganda and trade war with the U.S. Trump has been tough on China. Beijing will be glad to see Trump go. After Trump used the expression "Chinese virus," some wondered whether he was stigmatizing China or Chinese-Americans from a racial perspective. Simply, by using the expression, he may have tried to distance himself from a terrible failure to reckon with the threat of coronavirus at the beginning of the outbreak in the United States. Trump has complained that China was not transparent in the initial phase of the virus spreading and that China did not warn other nations of the infectiousness of coronavirus. If China had done so, the world would have been better prepared earlier. Good news from China is that the number of new cases is coming down, while the number of cured patients in Wuhan is increasing. South Korea did not close all air traffic with China but it has been effective in combatting the virus through an aggressive testing system and an effective public campaign against the pandemic. In terms of the political impact of coronavirus on South Korea, it is not clear which political party ruling or opposition will benefit from the pandemic in the coming national parliamentary elections, which are still scheduled for April 15. Yet, no one party is expected to win a landslide victory. In North Korea last week, Kim Jong-un showed up at the ground breaking for the construction of a general hospital in Pyongyang. He stressed an urgent need to improve the North's poor medical services. Incredibly, the North claims that there has been no outbreak of coronavirus in their country. In Washington, Trump is facing the biggest political crisis since he took office. The prospect of his reelection is in trouble. His selling point for reelection was a good economy with more jobs, a low unemployment rate, a thriving stock market, and reassuring rallies of his core supporters. Now all gone with the wind of the coronavirus. The U.S. may be forced to substitute its traditional conventions to nominate their presidential candidates with "virtual conventions" television shows without the attendance of convention delegates. While Joe Biden was appearing as the presumptive presidential nominee for the Democratic Party, several remaining Democratic primaries have been postponed. It is not clear how the primary process will end. North Korea would seem to prefer Bernie Sanders to Biden for the nomination. Last year, North Korea called Biden "a rabid dog" after Biden had called Kim "a murderous dictator." Biden said he would not meet with Kim without preconditions. Biden's North Korea policy will be a rebuke of Trump's, and probably a repeat of Obama's which also failed. Trump seems to be coming back to handle the problems from coronavirus more aggressively. However, if Trump is convinced of losing in November, will he consider postponing federal elections altogether? If that happens, Kim may welcome it rather than the possibility of Joe Biden winning the election for next president of the United States. In the meantime, disruptions from lockdowns, closings, and cancellations will continue in many places in the world. However, these pandemic calamities too will pass and normalcy will be restored at some point. Tong Kim ( ) is a visiting professor with the University of North Korean Studies, a visiting scholar with Korea University, a fellow at the Institute of Corean-American Studies, and a columnist for The Korea Times. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons/Amanda Matlovich/Netflix From Town & Country From the beginning, Netflix's Self-Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker sets up Addie Munroe (Carmen Ejogo) as Madam C.J. Walker's (Octavia Spencer) foil and rival. Munroe appears to come from a wealthier background, benefit from bigots' colorism, and lack all of Walker's kindness and warmth. When Walker relocates, Munroe follows, attempting to sabotage her at every turn. While most of Self-Made is adapted from the very true story of America's first female self-made millionaire Madam C.J. Walker (and more particularly, from Walker's great-great-granddaughter A'Lelia Bundles's book, On Her Own Ground), there was no one in her life named Addie Munroe. There was, however, Annie Malonea figure who in many ways was just like Addie, and in others very different. Annie Malone came from fairly humble beginnings. Malone (earlier known as Annie Minerva Turnbo, then Annie Pope-Turnbo, and sometimes still referred to as Annie Turnbo Malone) was born in the small town of Metropolis, Illinois in 1869. Like Walker, Malone was born to formerly enslaved parents and orphaned at an early age, and later raised by her older sisters. She attended school through the beginning of high school, but eventually stopped going due to a downturn in her health. She developed her Wonderful Hair Grower around 1900. In 1900, at the age of 31, Malone moved to Lovejoy, Illinois and starting mixing and experimenting with different ingredients. She soon developed her signature product, the Wonderful Hair Grower. Both Malone and Walker are often given credit for inventing their respective haircare systems, which called for more regular washing, applying their proprietary sulfur-based products, and regularly massaging the scalp, but as Bundles points out in On Her Own Ground, such techniques were already in existence. What the two of them did was popularize them. Madam C.J. Walker began working for Malone in 1903. Story continues After Malone moved to St. Louis in anticipation of the 1904 World's Faircorrectly assessing that the hubbub and large crowds would help her products catch onshe hired Walker was a sales agent. It's not clear how or when they met before working togetherit depends who you ask. Malone had it that she had "personally" cured Walker's scalp issues, and it seems plausible that she was telling the truth. To grow her business, Malone often knocked on doors, offering free scalp treatments. But Walker claimed that she was nearly bald when the solutiona sulfur-based treatmentcame to her in a dream. After Walker married C.J. (and later struck out on her own, competing with Malone), the two seem to have had some kind of falling out. Photo credit: Smith Collection/Gado - Getty Images Malone's Poro Company would grow to become wildly successful. The Wonderful Hair Grower was only one of the products that Malone would come to produce under the auspices her new business, the Poro Company. Malone started with door-to-door sales, expanded to retail, and finally created the first Poro College in 1918. The landmark building housed not only a cosmetology school that trained her recruits in the "Poro method" of haircare, but the main office for her nationwide business, and a manufacturing center for her Poro products. Malone also let black organizations like the National Negro Business League, which had trouble finding a place to meet elsewhere, use her space. By the 1950s, there were 32 Poro Colleges; over the lifespan of the company, tens of thousands of people served as Poro agents. Malone's wealth peaked in the 1920s, and it's believed that she was worth $14 million at one point during that periodthough the documentation is sparse, to say the least. Some even allege that Malone became a millionaire before Walker did. In 1927, she suffered a setback when her husband Aaron Malone, whom she'd married and 1914 and relied on as a business partner, filed for divorce and asked for half of the company. After a bitter dispute, she was able to settle with him and retain full ownership of the Poro Company. The Great Depression then brought its own set of financial hardships, as did a series of lawsuits, but Malone managed to continue running the company for decades. She was extremely generous with her wealth. Malone was a great philanthropist, giving thousands to help build the St. Louis Colored YWCA, donating the site for the St. Louis Colored Orphans' Home, and much more. Still, Malone isn't remembered the way Walker is. Whether it's because Malone's records weren't as well-preserved as Walker's were, because Walker's daughter A'Lelia kept her legacy alive, because Walker's story was more appealing than Malone's, or all of the above, Madam C.J. Walker's story often overshadows that of her former employer, Annie Malone. You Might Also Like The Philippines has reported a sharp increase in confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), with the death toll now at 33. The country has also seen the fall of front liner health workers amid the coronavirus fight, with three doctors succumbing to the infection. In the battle against the novel coronavirus, many doctors and nurses have lost their everyday lives. They are widely regarded as modern-day heroes, risking their health to help those who are infected. In the Philippines, the sharp increase of coronavirus cases has overwhelmed the health care system, with health care workers most at risk due to the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE). Over the weekend, the country reported three of its doctors had succumbed to complications from the COVID-19 disease. Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 Colorized scanning electron micrograph of a VERO E6 cell (blue) heavily infected with SARS-COV-2 virus particles (orange), isolated from a patient sample. Image captured and color-enhanced at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. Credit: NIAID Modern-day heroes The government has commended the selfless and heroic deeds of health workers who serve as front liners in the war against COVID-19. The medical community in the country mourns the passing of the three doctors in the past week. Dr. Israel Bactol is the youngest casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. A cardiologist from the Philippine Heart Center, Dr. Rose Pulido, an oncologist from the San Juan de Dios Hospital, and an anesthesiologist, Dr. Gregorio Macasaet III of Manila Doctors Hospital. The Philippine Heart Center (PHC) confirmed the death of Dr. Bactol and honored him as he lost his young life while fulfilling his duties as a doctor. It is a sad day for the whole association as we have lost one of our own in the fight against COVID. He is a casualty of this war. We honor him as he lost his young life while fulfilling his duties as a doctor, a young cardiologist, and a dedicated member of PHA, the PHA said. Please pray for the eternal repose of his soul. Please pray for all our members and all our other doctors and healthcare workers in the frontlines and all the people who are afflicted by the disease. We lost a young, brilliant, promising doctor in this battle. You are our hero!, the association added. Meanwhile, the Philippine Medical Association deeply mourns its fallen colleagues who risked their lives while serving other people in the fight against COVID-19. Philippines fight against COVID-19 The country is still in a state of shock, as the government flows emergency funding to fight the virus and provide assistance to health workers and those on the front line. As of writing, there are 396 confirmed cases of COVID-19, but the number is expected to increase with the arrival of more testing kits. Some of the patients had died even before their results were confirmed positive for the disease. The Department of Health also confirmed that there are 33 COVID-19 related deaths in the country, prompting measures to detect and trace those who are infected to prevent the spread of the virus. Further, health officials scramble to track about 215 people who attended a religious gathering in Malaysia that has drew 16,000 Muslims from 30 countries. The religious event has been linked to the sudden increase of cases in Malaysia as it reports 1,306 confirmed cases. The Tablighi Jamaat congregation was held between Feb. 27 and Mar. 1 at the Sri Petaling Mosque on Kuala Lumpur. Authorities are scrambling to trace the Filipinos who attended a religious event in Malaysia, which has been linked to a spike in COVID-19 cases in several countries across Southeast Asia. Testing key to coronavirus fight The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that testing is essential in conjunction with the lockdowns in most countries affected by the coronavirus. The WHO is now working with agencies from around the world to ensure the availability of testing kits. To support our call to test every suspected case, we are also working hard to increase the global supply of diagnostic tests. There are many companies globally that produce diagnostic kits, but WHO can only buy or recommend kits that have been evaluated independently, to ensure their quality, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHOs Director-General, said. So we have worked with FIND the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics to contract additional labs to evaluate new diagnostics. In parallel, were working with companies to secure the supply and equitable distribution of these tests. And were also working with companies to increase the production of the other products needed to perform the tests, from the swabs used to take samples to the large machines needed to process them, he added. U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced it confiscated last week 690 pounds of methamphetamine, a record for one of its Arizona port of entries. The massive shipment has an estimated street value of $12.4million. The shocking discovery took place at the Nogales Commercial Facility when Border Patrol officers searched through a tractor trailer driver by a 34-year-old Mexican national. CBP said the motorist attempted to enter the United States through the Port of Nogales when he was subjected to a routine cargo inspection after declaring he was transporting a load of bell peppers and tomatoes. CBP officers last week seized 690 pounds of methamphetamine that were hidden inside a trailer's secret compartment. The discovery happened when a Border Patrol K-9 detected the drugs after the federal immigration agents conducted a routine search of a truck driven by a Mexican national. The finding set a record for Arizona ports of entry The drugs were split into more than 600 packages and have an estimated street value of $12.4 million. The truck driver, a native of Mexico, was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations A CBP K-9 alerted the border officers to more than 600 packages of meth that were hidden in 'a non-factory floor compartment' inside the trailer. 'CBP officers are focused on our highest priorities which includes stopping the flow of hard narcotics such as methamphetamine and opioids from entering our country,' said Area Port Director Michael Humphries. 'Our officers prevented these dangerous drugs from causing devastation to families and ultimately saving many lives, not only in our community but throughout the United States.' The truck driver, whose name was not released, was transferred to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations. 'As proud partners of CBP, we stand ready to investigate drug seizures discovered at the ports of entry by those who are uniquely qualified in stopping attempts of illicit drugs from entering the United States,' said Juan Mariscal, the Nogales Assistant Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). 'HSI remains dedicated to working with our law enforcement partners to keep our communities safe.' Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category At Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston, nothing is more important than the safety and well-being of children. Information about the novel coronavirus is rapidly evolving as new details are confirmed and new questions emerge causing concern that can make children and families anxious. Acknowledging some level of concern, without panicking, is appropriate and can result in actions that reduce the risk of illness. Helping children cope with anxiety requires providing accurate prevention information and facts without causing undue alarm. It is important to remember that children look to adults for guidance on how to react to stressful events. If parents and caregivers seem overly worried, childrens anxiety may rise. Parents should calmly reassure children that competent adults are working hard to ensure that people throughout the community stay healthy. However, children also need factual, age-appropriate information, about the potential seriousness of the new coronavirus, and concrete instruction about how to avoid spread of the virus. Parents should meet children where they are developmentally, so younger children should have more limited, basic information, while teens are able to understand more complex concepts. For older children, this is an opportunity to build media literacy skills to separate fact from fiction, while avoiding sensationalism. Teaching children positive preventive measures, talking with them about their fears, and giving them a sense of some control over their risk of infection can help reduce anxiety. Reassure them that although this is serious and they should expect inconveniences and some sacrifices, it is temporary. Life will return to normal. Following are some helpful tips for parents published by the National Association of School Psychologists: Remain calm and reassuring. Children will react to and follow your verbal and nonverbal cues and reactions. Make yourself available. Children might need extra attention from you and want to talk about their concerns, fears, and questions. Avoid excessive blaming. It is important to avoid stereotyping any one group of people as responsible for the virus. Monitor and limit television viewing and social media. Try to avoid watching or listening to information that might be upsetting when your children are present. Be honest and accurate but keep it simple and do not try to overexplain. In the absence of factual information, children often imagine situations far worse than reality. It is also important to help prevent the spread of respiratory illness. Parents and caregivers need to encourage children to practice good daily hygiene, including frequent hand washing. Giving children guidance on what they can do to prevent infection gives them a greater sense of control over disease spread and will help to reduce their anxiety. Public health officials have said one of the best defenses against spreading a virus is for children to wash their hands frequently with soap for at least 20 seconds, about the time it takes to sing the Happy Birthday song twice. This is a simple and effective method to share with children. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the following are actions that children and adults alike can take to help prevent the spread of respiratory illness such as novel coronavirus: Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Cover a cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. Stay home when sick, except to get medical care. Each one of us has a role to play in the safety and wellbeing of children. If we all do our part, we can help children cope with this situation and lessen the risk for everyone. Hattery is the president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston All lawmakers should undergo preliminary coronavirus testing before they gather to vote. Ukrainian Health Minister Illia Yemets calls on Members of Parliament to vote for the introduction of a national emergency in connection with the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in the country. "Health Minister Illia Yemets is calling on lawmakers to demonstrate determination, be brave and get together for the sake of the Ukrainians and vote for the introduction a national emergency," the Health Ministry said on Facebook on March 23. The ministry also says that all parliamentarians should undergo preliminary coronavirus testing before they gather to vote. Read alsoUkraine's Health Minister Yemets said to be going to resign lawmakers As UNIAN reported earlier, the Cabinet of Ministers on March 11 decided to introduce quarantine in Ukraine from March 12 to April 3 over the spread of the coronavirus. As of the morning of March 23, there were 73 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ukraine, including three deaths and one recovery. Geographically they are distributed the following way: Dnipropetrovsk region: 2; Donetsk region: 1; Zhytomyr region: 2 (incl. one death); Ivano-Frankivsk region: 5 (incl. one death), of them three confirmed in the past day; Kyiv (city): 29, of them 20 confirmed in the past day; Kyiv region: 5, of them one confirmed in the past day; Lviv region: 2, of them one confirmed in the past day; Ternopil region: 1; Chernivtsi region: 25 (incl. one death); Cherkasy region: 1, which was confirmed in the past day. The first death from the new coronavirus in the country (a 71-year-old woman in Zhytomyr region) was reported on March 13. The second death a 33-year-old woman tested positive on March 17 was reported in Chernivtsi region. The third fatal case was a 56-year-old woman, who died in the city of Ivano-Frankivsk on March 18. SPRINGFIELD Gov. J.B. Pritzker detailed the states efforts to stock up on personal protective equipment and said President Donald Trump was responsive to the states needs in a phone call Monday, one day after the pair feuded on Twitter. During his daily COVID-19 briefing in Chicago, the governor also announced a new partnership with the manufacturing and biotech industries in the state to produce needed supplies and called for donations of personal protective equipment, or PPE. My administration continues to work day and night to scour the globe in the global supply chain, Pritzker said of the hunt for medical supplies needed to deal with COVID-19. The briefing came as the state announced 236 new confirmed cases of the virus, bringing the total to 1,285, and three new confirmed deaths, bringing the total to 12. The three new deaths came in Cook County in two men in their 80s and a man in his 90s. Monroe County reported its first case, meaning the virus has been confirmed in 31 counties, although experts urge all Illinoisans to assume the virus has already reached their community. Pritzker said as the state tries to ramp up its preparation efforts in terms of supplies, it is working with in-state manufacturers and trying to purchase supplies on the marketplace. In an effort to bid for ventilators, Pritzker said Illinois was competing with the federal government. In another case, it was bidding against other states and other countries. It's the federal government's job to make sure that cash strapped states are not paying more than they should have to pay for supplies, that we are not watching prices go up by the hour, because we're competing against one another, yet for the common good, Pritzker said at the briefing. He said the first shipment of medical supplies from the federal government came on March 12, and a duplicate order came on March 20, but the two shipments combined equaled only a fraction of the states request. He said the total requests and shipments were as follows: 2.34 million protective N95 masks requested, 246,860 received; 900,000 surgical masks requested, 91,298 received; 7.4 million gloves requested, 325,082 received; 924,000 gowns requested, 91,298 received; 47,500 goggles requested, none received; 120,000 face shields requested, 111,978 received. He said the state also requested 4,000 respirators but received none. He said the state made another request for hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, gowns, goggles and meals ready to eat, but the March 20 shipment the state received contained the same size shipment it received March 12 without any of the other items. Pritzker said he spoke to Trump around noon Monday and the president was very responsive. He said he talked to Trump about a need for masks and ventilators, and noted he has called on the president to use the National Defense Production Act to make the federal government a single purchaser for the necessary equipment rather than having states bid each other up. The president was very responsive, frankly he didn't so much like the idea of invoking the Defense Production Act, but he did say, you know, What do you need? Let me see if I can get that for you, Pritzker said of the call. It seems like he's being very responsive to what I asked for. And I hope that we'll be able to receive those items in relatively short order. The pair spoke hours after Pritzkers Monday morning appearance on Good Morning America and struck different tones than they did Sunday on Twitter when they traded barbs. Partisan bickering regarding the COVID-19 response prompted a statement from Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, Monday afternoon. "Fighting for our state through this pandemic is neither a Republican nor Democrat issue, Durkin said in a statement. We share a common enemy and share the same goal of working together to eradicate COVID-19. As in all emergencies, time spent on blame or fault provides little or no merit nor solutions. Despite the challenges, the time is now and we must be vigilant and united to defeat this virus. Pritzkers office also announced that the state has executed contracts to purchase 2.5 million N95 masks, 1 million disposable surgical masks, 11,000 gloves and 10,000 personal protection kits. Per the partnership with the Illinois Manufacturers Association and the Illinois Biotechnology Innovation Organization, or iBIO, some companies will begin manufacturing products ranging from medicine and therapies, N95 masks, gloves, gowns, ventilators and sanitizer and other medical equipment. Pritzker said some facilities would be repurposed to manufacture needed equipment and all would meet social distancing and other guidelines. While the task is daunting, manufacturers stand ready to once again answer our nations call, conquering obstacles and leading the way forward, said Mark Denzler, IMA president and CEO. The Illinois Manufacturers Association and the 592,000 women and men working on factory floors across our state are proud to support Governor JB Pritzkers efforts to combat and contain this virus, producing life-saving products in desperate need across Illinois. The IMA and iBIO are also organizing medical supply donation programs, and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency will direct donated supplies to the health care and emergency response providers across the state with the most need. I would also like to make a direct ask to the owners of tattoo parlors and nail salons and elective surgery centers and other facilities temporarily closed during this crisis, to contact my administration about their stores of PPE, Pritzker said. Pritzker said those looking to donate PPE can email the administration at ppe.donations@illinois.gov. Pritzker also noted that the states unemployment claims website is on a new platform designed for increased demand. He encouraged those affected by COVID-19 to apply for unemployment online rather than by phone at https://www2.illinois.gov/ides/Pages/default.aspx. A 24-year-old woman who recently travelled from the USA and showed possible symptoms of coronavirus died at a private hospital in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra, a senior state health official said on Monday. Her samples were sent for testing to Tanda's Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College but she died before the arrival of the report, the official said. The woman had reportedly come from the USA to his permanent residence in Kangra a few days ago, Himachal Deputy Director-cum-State Surveillance Officer, Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP), Dr Sonam G Negi, said. Negi told PTI, "It is not yet sure whether she was suffering from COVID-19 or not, but she returned from the country where the virus has already spread. The hospital doctors, staff and those who remained in touch with her have been quarantined as a precautionary measure, he added. She was admitted to the private hospital about two days ago with possible symptoms of COVID-19, he added. Negi said, 'We are awaiting her report. After that it will be confirmed whether she was suffering from COVID-19 or not. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has announced a complete lockdown in the state. Taking to Twitter, CM Vijayan informed that the state borders will also be sealed. However, essential services will remain open. He added that the state will intensify monitoring activities and strict measures have been imposed in Kasaragod. This comes after the state reported 28 new cases on Monday, a day after the Janta Curfew was imposed. Kerala will go into a lockdown. Strict measures imposed in Kasaragod district. Essential services will remain open. State borders will be closed. Have decided to intensify monitoring activities. Pinarayi Vijayan (@vijayanpinarayi) March 23, 2020 After Maharashtra, Kerala is the second-most affected state in the country. It has reported 67 COVID-19 positive cases so far. Amid the outbreak, the Kerala High Court has decided to remain shut till April 8. READ | BREAKING: CM Uddhav Thackeray Announces Curfew In Maharashtra; Essential Services Exempted Curfew in Maharashtra In a massive decision, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced a curfew across the state of Maharashtra from Monday midnight amid the novel coronavirus outbreak. Essential services such as grocery, milk, medical shops, etc. will remain open. All places of worship will be closed. Moreover, all forms of public transport will not be operational. He also mentioned that he had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the need to stop domestic flights. In one private vehicle, only the driver along with two passengers will be permitted if they are going out for unavoidable reasons. Furthermore, all the district borders within the state will be sealed. READ | Punjab Ministers And Cong MLAs To Contribute One Month Salary Towards COVID-19 Relief Fund Coronavirus crisis in India As of date, 415 positive cases have been reported of the pandemic Coronavirus (COVID-19) with Maharashtra reporting the highest at 89. Seven deaths have been reported till date. India has suspended all visas and barred travel from Afghanistan, Philippines, EU, UK, China, Malaysia and mandatory 14-day quarantine from several other countries and shut down over 75 districts across the nation. India has also closed the India-Pakistan border and restricted passenger movement at the border with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Myanmar. The government is monitoring all suspected cases and issued preventive advisories with Bihar, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Assam, Delhi, Kerala, Jammu - Kashmir declaring the disease an epidemic shutting down all educational institutions, monuments, parks, gyms, swimming pools, pubs and banning large gatherings. READ | COVID-19 Crisis: After Lockdown, J&K Administration Now Seals All Borders Of The UT READ | After Air India, IndiGo Claims 'employees Being Ostracized' Amid COVID-19 Outbreak The S&P/ASX 200 gained nearly 190 points on Tuesday to close 4.2 per cent higher at 4735.7 points. All sectors finished in green with energy gaining 7.6 per cent and real estate gaining 7.1 per cent. While Australians were trading stocks US politicians were locked in discussions about passing the White House's trillion dollar economic package. It looks likely to succeed on Tuesday, Washington time, which boosted US futures. The gain in energy stocks includes a 20.6 per cent increase in Santos to $3.52, a 17.2 per cent increase in New Hope Corp, and a 5.6 per cent increase in Woodside Petroleum. The real estate sector was boosted by a 12 per cent rise in Goodman Group and 18 per cent gain in GPT. Vicinity was one of the most traded stocks among the ASX with 38.6 million shares trading hands. It gained 4.6 per cent to $1.02. Credit Corp surged 46 per cent to close at $9.12 and Corporate Travel gained 31.3 per cent to $7.56. Afterpay also enjoyed a strong session, up 26 per cent to $11.21 after falling below $10 on Monday. GrainCorp dragged on the consumer staples sector when it started trading for the first time since the United Malt demerger, falling 31 per cent. And Virgin Money dropped nearly 16 per cent as the UK, where it is based, implements tougher measures to fight the COVID-19 outbreak. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 23, 2020) - The Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE" or "the Exchange") today issued the following statement on the Government of Canada's COVID-19 Economic Response Plan: "The COVID-19 outbreak is causing massive economic disruption across the country. The Canadian Securities Exchange applauds the federal government for recognizing the magnitude of the crisis and announcing a major economic response plan to support individuals and small businesses. However, the Exchange is concerned that the government's plan does not treat all small businesses equally, and that CSE-listed companies and their affected employees will not be able to access the relief measures. Specifically, the CSE is concerned about the proposal to provide small employers with a temporary wage subsidy for a period of up to three months. The subsidy enables these businesses to reduce their payroll tax remittances, helping them to keep their workers employed during this difficult period. This is an important and welcome measure. Unfortunately, the federal government said that it is only available for corporations eligible for the small business deduction, non-profit organizations and charities. To be eligible for the small business deduction, Canadian corporations need to be privately controlled. Publicly-traded companies, including those listed on the CSE, are ineligible as the proposal is currently drafted. This is inherently unfair, and creates a substantial and unnecessary risk to the Canadian economy. The CSE is home to 538 publicly traded companies, other Canadian stock exchanges are host to many hundreds more. Smaller publicly-traded firms are facing the same economic disruption as their privately-held counterparts, and the risk of job losses is equally high in both groups. It is illogical to provide relief to one set of small businesses and not the other. The CSE recognizes that the situation is evolving rapidly and the federal government is moving very quickly to support Canadian businesses, so the inadvertent omission of listed companies from this legislation is understandable. However, it is crucial that the government amend the proposed legislation to ensure that all small businesses can benefit equally from its economic response plan. That is the best way to protect jobs during an unprecedented economic and public health crisis." About the Canadian Securities Exchange: The Canadian Securities Exchange is a rapidly growing stock exchange focused on working with entrepreneurs to access the public capital markets in Canada and internationally. The exchange's efficient operating model, advanced technology and low fee structure help companies of all sizes minimize their cost of capital and maximize access to liquidity. The CSE fosters positive working relationships with issuers, providing superior responsiveness to their specific needs. It offers investors in Canada and abroad access to a multi-sector stable of growth companies through a liquid, reliable and highly regulated trading platform. The exchange strongly supports entrepreneurship and has established itself as a leading hub for discourse in the entrepreneurial community. For more information, please visit www.thecse.com and our blog at http://blog.thecse.com. Contact: Richard Carleton, CEO 416-367-7360 richard.carleton@thecse.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53697 Treasurer Josh Frydenberg was forced to make a quick exit during a television interview about the coronavirus crisis. The Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party was being questioned by Tracy Grimshaw on Monday night's episode of A Current Affair when he suddenly rushed off camera. While answering a question about the future of schools amid the pandemic, the Treasurer ripped off his ear-piece and microphone and said: 'I have to go now Trace.' Treasurer Josh Frydenberg made a spontaneous exit during a live television interview while talking about the coronavirus crisis 'Oh...alright...I had so many other questions,' Grimshaw said as Mr Frydenberg walked off screen. The Treasurer was called away from the interview as a division vote had just been called in parliament to pass legislation on the coronavirus stimulus package. The division vote is a physical vote of all members of parliament, who need to be physically present in the chamber. Before his abrupt exit from the interview Mr Frydenberg assured Australians the government is doing all it can to support the economy. 'We do know the economy will bounce back stronger than ever after the coronavirus has gone through,' he said. 'That is obvious, because this is a health crisis, it won't be solved by the bankers and politicians and public servants, it will be solved by the medical researchers and by the scientists and doctors. The Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party made the bizarre exit in the middle of questioning by Tracy Grimshaw 'Oh...alright...I had so many other questions,' Grimshaw said as Mr Frydenberg walked off the screen 'Once we have that vaccine, the economy and life will bounce back. In the meantime, it will be very difficult, very challenging.' But when Grimshaw said relief measures could put Australia in a $110 billion deficit, Mr Frydenberg's admitted it could be the case. 'It's going to take years to recover for not just the Australian economy but the world,' he admitted. Frydenberg said the extent of the impact is still unknown. The number of infections in Australia has more than doubled in the space of four days from 710 last Thursday to 1,716 on Monday. Queensland will shut its borders from midnight on Wednesday to slow the spread of coronavirus after the Northern Territory, Western Australia, Tasmania and South Australia announced the same move. New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT still have open borders. There are now a national total of 1,716 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Australia Unemployed Australians forced out of a job by the new restrictions were lined outside Centrelink offices on Monday hoping to to lodge claims for unemployment benefits and emergency assistance. On Monday, the prime minister vowed to continue to support the most vulnerable as he warned that many more would likely lose their jobs as a result of the pandemic. 'The tests, hardships and sacrifices that will be placed on all of us, on our national character, will undoubtedly break our hearts on many occasions in the months ahead,' he said as he addressed parliament. CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement 'But we must resolve today, as Australians, to come together and to pledge to each other across our nation that this coronavirus will not break our Australian spirit. 'So, together, and with the rest of the world, we face this unprecedented challenge. A once in a hundred year event. 'A global health pandemic that has fast become an economic crisis, the likes of which we have not seen since the Great Depression.' In a bid to slow the spread of the deadly illness, pubs and licensed premises will be closed from midday Monday for about six months. The restrictions also cover places of worship, casinos, restaurants and cafes without takeaway services, nightclubs and registered clubs. As news broke of the looming closures, panicked shoppers headed in droves to liquor stores to stock up on alcohol, however, bottle shops will remain open. The stricter rules come after tens of thousands of people flocked beaches across the country on Friday and Saturday, ignoring the ban on mass gatherings and social distancing orders. Bob Owen /Staff photographer Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Judge Nelson Wolff shared details of a new Stay Home, Work Safe order to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in San Antonio and Bexar County during at a 6 p.m. news conference Monday. It orders San Antonians to stay home unless they are making essential trips or exercising. The announcement comes a day after Gov. Greg Abbott said shelter in place-like decisions were up to local officials. In such orders, which have already been implemented in other U.S. cities, essential businesses such as grocery stores and pharmacies remain open. San Antonio's order is similar. By Sam Richards Bay City News Foundation MARTINEZ (BCN) Even though the Martinez Farmers' Market was gone for only one week as a result of the novel coronavirus pandemic, it was clear that many of those on hand for its return Sunday morning were welcoming back an old friend. "I'm so glad they deemed this 'essential,'" said Teri Gwin of Crockett, who described herself as a loyal Martinez Farmers' Market customer. "This is so much safer than the grocery store. I'm glad it's open again." On Sunday morning, in the middle of a downtown that was eerily quiet and almost completely shut down, about 20 vendors set up on Main Street selling fruits, vegetables, meats, tamales, flowers and other items. It was a beehive of activity in a fairly inactive area. "I'm thrilled they brought this back; this is going to help everybody," said Pleasant Hill resident Pete Sabine, the owner of Roxx on Main, a Martinez restaurant within the boundaries of the farmers' market. "This will help bring the town together." Micheal Peterson agreed. He is the Martinez market manager with the Concord-based Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association, and had a careful eye for how things were going Sunday. Among his professional observations were that some booth layouts will have to change for next week. Peterson also had personal observations. A resident of downtown Martinez, he recognizes the market's value beyond the fresh fruit and vegetables. "This is one of our strongest community markets, and everybody bands together," he said. Though the Martinez market was closed for a week in the name of social distancing, the California Department of Food and Agriculture has since deemed farmers' markets as essential food sources that may remain open. A number of other weekend markets in the Bay Area, including those in Concord, Pleasanton and Danville, remain "temporarily closed." Mike Ceas of Martinez was carefully examining several vendors' wares Sunday. He said he comes to farmers' markets because his money goes farther than at a grocery store. A CalFresh client, Ceas said he uses the "Market Match" program in which someone who spends $10 in CalFresh benefits at the farmers' market gets an extra $10 to spend on fresh produce. "This a crucial thing for me," he said. "I save a lot of money with this." Peterson pointed out that the booths Sunday were about 10 feet apart from one another, for social distancing purposes. There are also new safety edicts to be followed -- there were no free samples being offered by the vendors, and there was no live musician, as there generally has been here. Vendors were wearing gloves. Also, hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes were everywhere. Early during Sunday's market, people were generally good about keeping 6 feet from others. Despite all those things, "The crowd's good, maybe more than I expected," Peterson said. "It's winter season, and this is pretty typical for this time of year." During the summer, he said, the Martinez Farmers' Market often has twice the number of vendors. Vendors on Sunday said they were generally happy with the level of business, and that they were glad Martinez is back on the circuit of markets. Nannette Mori, with Ken's Top Notch Produce, from Reedley near Fresno, said the Martinez closure was one of only two that affected that company last week. "We're happy to be here, and so many people have said, 'We're glad you're here,'" Mori said as she weighed customers' oranges and grapefruits. Teri Gwin said she bought produce at the grocery store the week the Martinez Farmers' Market was closed. She was happy to be back on Main Street Sunday. "This is safer than the store, she said. "It's always better to be in the fresh air." Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. There were some 114,000 U.S. public and private schools closed by coronavirus concerns as of Friday, with 45 states ostensibly having ordered all schools to close temporarily. Educators, parents, and students are adapting to a new reality of distance learning and disruption for the time being. But that doesnt mean there arent outliers, especially among private schools. At Cornerstone Christian Academy in Statesville, N.C., the campus itself has remained open, and about one third of the pre-K-12 enrollment of 165 students have opted to go to the school, while the rest last week began taking advantage of the academys distance-learning alternatives. I know were a rare bird right now, Renee Griffith, the principal of the private school about 45 miles north of Charlotte, said in an interview on March 20. Its not a pushback against the government. Its just what we felt was best for the parents that we serve. Educators say there have been pockets across the country where private schools remained open, at least until governors issue orders requiring all schools to close. In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, had deferred to local authorities in recent weeks on the issues of closing schools and businesses. But on March 19, he signed an executive order closing public and private schools through April 3. This is a very rapidly spreading disease, but its one we are prepared to respond to, Abbott said at a virtual town hall that evening. Laura Colangelo, the executive director of the Texas Private Schools Association, said many of her groups 876 members were following guidance of local health authorities and closing only when the COVID-19 virus was present in their communities. That was happening in Dallas, Houston, East Texas, and El Paso, but not everywhere, she said. A blanket closure makes more sense in a smaller state than in a state as big as Texas. But she expected her groups members, which include Roman Catholic parochial schools, other Christian and religious schools, independent schools, Montessori schools, preschools, and others, to comply with Abbotts order. The general sentiment is were all in this together, said Colangelo. Myra McGovern, the vice president of media for the National Association of Independent Schools, said many of the 1,900 schools in her group made the decision to close even before their local governments did. The Washington-based group represents nonprofit, independently governed private schools and includes many of the nations most elite boarding and day schools. In most cases the schools did not have any exposure to the virus, but they felt [closing] was the right move for the broader community, said McGovern. Steve Lindquist, the director of accreditation for the Association of Christian Teachers & Schools, a Brandon, Fla.-based group that represents some 200 schools in 35 states, said most of those have closed in compliance with government orders. We have counseled our schools to follow whatever their state guidelines are out of prudence and precaution, he said. Some schools are a little more conservative in their approach to this, measuring hysteria against continuing to operate, Lindquist said. Being a school of choice, they want to make sure theyre doing what their clientele expects of them. Still, he said he was aware of only two of his groups schools that were still holding school on campus, and they were operating in compliance with government guidance on gathering size. Just a Recommendation One of the two was Cornerstone Christian, the North Carolina academy. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, issued an executive order on March 14 closing all public schools in the state temporarily and barred gatherings of more than 100 people. But the school-closure part of the order didnt apply to private schools. North Carolinas Division of Non-Public Education, which is situated in the state department of administration rather than the department of public instruction, has this message on its website: DNPE recommends that private schools follow the guidance issued by the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention], the NC Department of Health and Human Services, and the Governor. It is recommended that gatherings of 50 or more people be discontinued. It is the discretion of each private school to decide how to proceed with instruction. Griffith, the principal of Cornerstone Christian, said that while 84 students showed up this past Monday, the numbers have been in the 50s and 60s the rest of the week. The campus has multiple buildings, and once students are in their classrooms, the numbers are generally close to the limit of 10 people per gathering recommended by the federal government. The federal guideline is just a recommendation, she said. If the federal government mandated that we close down, we would do that. For now, Cornerstone Christian is proceeding with one-third of its enrollment still coming to school. Griffith emphasized that staff members are taking the temperature of anyone who enters the facility and is being especially diligent with sanitizing surfaces. Its working well, Griffith said. It seems that for the moment we have made every parent happy because they feel this is the best place for their child. The government is to begin massive widespread testing for coronavirus to begin when the lockdown period ends, Health Minister Olivier Veran announced at the weekend. After initially eschewing this policy, the government has now changed tack. Why now? Mathematical modeling conducted in China shows that at least 50% of contaminations are linked to patients who show few or no symptoms of illness and it seems likely that many people who are unaware they have the virus are spreading it. A recent Chinese study, published in Science magazine, also found that at the beginning of the epidemic in Wuhan, 86 per cent of those infected were not detected and very possibly went on to contaminate others. The approach in France at first was to test those who presented with symptoms and then isolate positive cases and all those traced to have been in contact with them. This failed to stem the transmission of the virus significantly. As the numbers who feared they might have the virus grew, the policy changed but to reduce the strain in hospitals conducting tests, still only health workers and vulnerable patients were tested. People with coughs colds and fevers were asked to self-isolate in case they had the virus and might transmit it. Not enough test kits The strategy was the only option as there were simply not enough test kits, or labs available to process the results, biologists and doctors told Le Figaro newspaper. In contrast Taiwan, scarred by its experience of the SARS virus in 2003, prepared thousands of test kits and tested widely very early on in the epidemic - and Taiwan has relatively a very low incidence of coronavirus despite its proximity to the epicenter of the virus in Wuhan in China. France is now racing to produce enough kits to be able to test massively once confinement ends it will be vital to know who tests positive to Kovid-19 in case there is another wave. The coronavirus known as COVID-19 is posing global threats that are challenging businesses worldwide, forcing them to put new policies and practices into place to prepare for and communicate with their workforces. One of the most critically impacted sectors is the technology industry. The virus has disrupted global businesses, forcing many tech company workers to cease travel to infected areas. Tech companies associated with major events such as Mobile World Congress, RSA and Googles Las Vegas sales and marketing event most recently felt some consequences. Many companies in affected areas are straining their tech abilities to have large swaths of their labor forces work remotely. Some businesses are taking steps to prep their employees to work from home. For instance, tech industry companies with direct exposure to China felt the effects in the very early stages of the virus appearance there. Disruptions to iPhone supply lines impacted Apple almost immediately. Closings and slowdowns in China had a nearly immediate impact on Microsofts installation of its Windows software on laptops and Surface tablets. The spread of the virus is affecting tech businesses both large and small that rely on supply chains, conference attendance and transportation in general. The coronavirus outbreak is grinding the tech industry down to a crawl, said Michael Bancroft, cohost of Globalive Medias Beyond Innovation on Bloomberg Television. Weve seen industry conferences like MWC Barcelona and F8 called off due to concerns about the virus spreading, and workers are generally being told not to travel, he told the E-Commerce Times. This crawl is forcing tech companies to rely on telepresence tools to host meetings, which often are less effective than face-to-face meetings for closing sales, Bancroft said. Were also seeing the global supply chain for electronic parts significantly disrupted, and companies like Apple have warned their sales results will falter because they cant get access to parts needed to make their devices, he added. Universal Challenges The coronavirus is presenting new challenges for businesses. It is forcing them to put new policies and practices into place to prepare for and communicate with their workforces. There is no question that the impact of the coronavirus will continue to be felt 100 percent in the tech space in terms of the work cycle, remote work access and the overall workforce, said Liz Miller, principal analyst at Constellation Research. That said, it could be the technology sector that keeps work flowing in this age of the coronavirus, she told the E-Commerce Times. The impact is being felt in ripples as tech companies are canceling massive user group and thought leadership events, seeing both the opportunity to connect with customers and connect with influencers being lost, Miller said. Spawning New Work Ethics The coronavirus is driving a surge in remote work and opportunities to work from home. This introduces new challenges for businesses that are not used to supporting a remote workforce or even doing the majority of their work digitally, suggested Rita Selvaggi, CEO of ActivTrak. One of the most important things is for employees and employers to understand that were all in this together and have to make remote work productive, she told the E-Commerce Times. Tech company or not, the spreading virus is forcing companies to adapt their procedures and use technology to overcome hurdles. For tech-based companies, that probably will mean scrambling for more equipment, suggested Avani Desai, president of Schellman & Company. With the issues already seen with the supply chain, we are having to order laptops and phones by the bulk in preparing what it is going to look like in the next one-to-three months, she told the E-Commerce Times. The use of telecommuting is expected to increase initially where clients are outside of the U.S., but that trend is likely to continue as the virus spreads within the U.S. as well, Desai said. We are having to balance the need of our client visits and the health of our employees, she noted, adding that conferences and required ongoing trainning in large groups is forcing his workers to find other venues such as online training. Viral Changes Abound To better understand the extent to which COVID-19 is impacting business functions, VoIP phone systems firm 88 conducted a survey in partnership with Dynata. The survey asked businesses how they planned on supporting employees as the situation unfolds. A D V E R T I S E M E N T The results of the research have not yet been made public, but a summary was provided to the E-Commerce Times. The survey polled 483 American consumers with a full-time job. For some 44 percent of respondents, the coronavirus already has impacted the way they do business. Despite the relatively small number of cases reported in the United States, businesses especially those with an international presence have begun to feel the effects. Fifty-five percent of survey participants have canceled travel plans and 50 percent are having fewer meetings with employees, customers and prospects. Eighty-six percent of respondents said their businesses have established and communicated a plan of action for times of crises. Also, 72 percent have reminded employees of behaviors to avoid, and 52 percent have restricted travel. Companies are increasing their reliance on remote work to keep businesses operational, the survey revealed. For instance, 15 percent of respondents said they already were working remotely as a result of the coronavirus. Another 40 percent were increasing their use of video conferencing. Furthermore, 90 percent of respondents said they were either confident or very confident that they would remain productive if asked to work remotely as a result of a crisis. Technology Traffic Overload Global health concerns created by the coronavirus have led to the largest remote workforce in human history. This is creating massive overloads of Internet traffic, as VPN systems are flooded by tens of millions of employees trying to log in, usually across crowded, long-haul public internet lines, according to Aryaka. The company on Tuesday announced a solution for eliminating VPN overloads. Aryakas Secure Remote Access leverages the companys global private backbone and requires no architecture changes by the customer. Most companies offer some type of remote VPN solution, but they were never designed for peak capacity that is, to scale for the present situation when nearly all the employees in a region are working remotely, said Shashi Kiran, chief marketing officer of Aryaka. As a result, local VPN servers are getting overloaded with the number of connections and amount of traffic required to support such a large increase in demand, impacting employee productivity, he said. The company is offering a free VPN concentrator domain license with new qualifying purchases of the Aryaka SmartSecure Remote Access solution. The promotion is valid until April 30 for both new and existing customers. Tech Ahead, Not So Bad High-tech may be the most prepared industry to adapt and survive as the coronavirus continues to spread, said Alexander Kehoe, operations director of Caveni. The actual labor infrastructure of technology companies can make them the best type of industry during any sort of disruption, like a viral outbreak. Despite the obvious concerns over the waves in the financial market causing short term losses, most tech companies have a very robust remote infrastructure in place, Kehoe told the E-Commerce Times. The vast majority of tech companies top talent is fully capable of working while isolated at home. That serves as a significant advantage over many traditional companies. Some short term turmoil might hit tech companies, but their user base, their employees and their products are relatively insulated from any severe consequences, Kehoe said. For example, Amazon may see gains as people stock up on products. Amazons cloud services probably will not be affected at all. All in all, the tech industry will not see too much in terms of overall impact, Kehoe predicted. Tech Firms Face Brand Threats The coronavirus absolutely will impact the tech industry in three key ways, noted Constellation Researchs Miller. First will be its impact on product. With so much of tech today fueled by global workforces, the coronavirus will mean having to manage production, innovation and sales cycles around a pandemic reaction and the long-term health and productivity management of these global teams. Everything from manufacturing to raw materials will be impacted the question will be how long will our supply chains be disrupted in the near term? And how will we minimize impact to the overarching value chain in the long term? she said. The second point of impact is how people actually work, according to Miller. The impact on manufacturing and on making the things that power technology and electronics is only one part of the situation. The industry is seeing a ripple effect in the necessity to shift work styles away from the physical work space to the virtual. This is not like the financial slowdown that caused skyrocketing gas prices and fares during the 2008 global recession. This is a matter of not getting on planes, not coming into the office, and not gathering on a scale that currently ranges from precaution to outright fear, she explained. In the end, we will settle on a new work culture post-coronavirus-outbreak that normalizes a societal pact where if you are sick no matter what the work culture dictates, you work from home. You might not log off completely, but each individual will bear the corporate culture responsibility of NOT being the super spreader [of the virus], Miller said. The third impact affects tech brands. Right now we are in the throes of event disruptions due to major technology players weighing the risks of hosting events versus cancelling them. The biggest so far was the cancellation of Mobile World Congress. That decision impacted mobile technology players and the entire city of Barcelona as well as the financial fortunes of many businesses in the surrounding region. Now user group and influencer conferences are being canceled due to an abundance of caution. This is as much a brand safety decision as it is a public safety one, demanding that new ways to connect, engage and communicate will come into play, Miller said. For example, do you have a hand-shake-free conference? Do you opt in for smaller, more contained, and more intimate dinners and knowledge exchange scenarios? Is a virtual event going to cut it? While the current conversations are revolving around risk, this will eventually shift to conversations led by brand security and business impact, Miller predicted. Can Tech Save Biz From Cyber Onslaught? As businesses take action to protect employees from the health crisis by ceasing travel and implementing remote working plans, they inadvertently are exposing themselves to mass cyberthreats, warned Morten Brgger, CEO of Wire. The coronavirus will be one of the biggest experiments in remote-working history, he told the E-Commerce Times. Companies need to be prepared for the security implications associated with employees working from various locations, often via unsecured WiFi networks. However, for companies its not just about being prepared for a global pandemic. Its also about readiness for the future, Brgger said. Cybercriminals already are exploiting these weaknesses and launching coronavirus-related phishing scams and cyberattacks. Companies need to set up the right framework to prevent any halt in their business operations lest these issues present damage to the economy at large, he added. It is common for cybercriminals to use high-profile, global news stories in their schemes. The coronavirus outbreak is no different. Cybercriminals are using the fear and vulnerability surrounding the event to scam individuals, Brgger explained. It is likely that coronavirus-related email phishing campaigns will continue. In fact 96 percent of all data breaches start with email phishing. On top of this, companies now are requiring employees to work remotely. This will help avoid contamination and further spread of the coronavirus, but it also means that employees are working outside the bounds of secure company perimeters. What to Do Brgger recommends that all companies tech or otherwise take these steps to ward off cyber intrusions: A truck driver in North Carolina was recently caught hauling nearly 18,000 pounds of toilet paper inside a stolen trailer, as per the Guilford County Sheriffs Office. The police department took to Facebook, where they informed that the motorist was busted by cops after they followed the lorry to a warehouse. An investigation is still underway and there have been no arrests made at the moment. A statement from the County Sheriff department read, On March 18th, 2020, Deputies with the Guilford County Sheriff's Office - Specialized Enforcement Unit, initiated an investigation involving a violation of NC Motor Vehicle law by the driver of an 18-wheel tractor-trailer traveling on Interstate 40 in Whitsett, North Carolina. The statement further read, "Deputies followed the vehicle to a warehouse/dock facility a short distance off of the interstate and encountered the driver. After further investigation, it was determined the 53 foot Hyundai dry-van trailer was reportedly stolen locally and was being utilized to transport nearly 18,000 pounds of commercial, bathroom paper products. READ: COVID-19: People Play Poker With Toilet Paper At London Club, Netizens Divided While speaking to an international media outlet, Captain Daryl Loftis said that the cargo was actually part of a shipment that was otherwise lawful, only the trailer was stolen. He further described the incident as legitimate cargo going to a legitimate place. READ: Dutch PM Assures Country Has Enough Toilet Paper For 10 Years As Panic-buying Continues 'Take it easy Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump urged its citizens to 'take it easy' and that 'it will all pass' in a bid to calm the people who are panic buying and leaving aisles at supermarkets empty. Trump even assured Americans that grocers would remain open and that the supply chain remained healthy. Trump said that the stores are working to keep up with demand and added that there is no need for anyone in the country to hoard. Trump also raised awareness on how to protect yourself from contracting COVID-19. Trump urged citizens to 'do your part'. From meeting and travel precautions to personal hygiene, the US President wants citizens to contribute to stopping the spread of the fatal virus and the video is titled, 'we're in this together'. READ: Coronavirus: Violinists Perform 'an Ode To Empty Toilet Paper Shelves' To Raise Awareness READ: Australia: Cafe Offers Coffee In Exchange Of Toilet Papers Amid Coronavirus Outbreak Singer Kenny Rogers, who embodied "The Gambler" persona and whose musical career spanned jazz, folk, country and pop, has died at 81. Rogers died at home Friday night in Sandy Springs, Georgia, representative Keith Hagan told The Associated Press. He was under hospice care and died of natural causes, Hagan said. The Houston-born balladeer with a husky voice had such as "Lucille," "Lady" and "Islands in the Stream," the latter with Dolly Parton. He sold tens of millions of records, won three Grammy Awards and was the star of TV movies, making him a superstar in the late '70s and '80s. With his silver beard and folksy charm, the Grammy winner excelled as a musical stylist for more than six decades. He had retired from touring in 2017. Despite his crossover success, he always preferred to be thought of as a country singer. "You either do what everyone else is doing and you do it better, or you do what no one else is doing and you don't invite comparison," Rogers told The Associated Press in 2015. "And I chose that way because I could never be better than Johnny Cash or Willie [Nelson] or Waylon [Jennings] at what they did. So I found something that I could do that didn't invite comparison to them. And I think people thought it was my desire to change country music. But that was never my issue." Parton posted a video on Twitter on Saturday morning, choking up as she held a picture of the two of them together. "I loved Kenny with all my heart and my heart is broken and a big ole chunk of it is gone with him today," she said in the video. "Kenny was one of those artists who transcended beyond one format and geographic borders," said Sarah Trahern, chief executive officer of the Country Music Association. "He was a global superstar who helped introduce country music to audiences all around the world." Rogers was a five-time CMA Award winner, as well as the recipient of the CMA's Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013, the same year he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. He received 10 awards from the Academy of Country Music. He sold more than 47 million records in the United States alone, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. A true rags-to-riches story, Rogers was raised in public housing in Houston Heights with seven siblings. As a 20-year-old, he had a gold single called "That Crazy Feeling," under the name Kenneth Rogers, but when that early success stalled, he joined a jazz group, the Bobby Doyle Trio, as a standup bass player. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 23, 2020) - Getchell Gold Corp. (CSE: GTCH) (OTCQB: GGLDF) ("Getchell" or the "Company") a leading Nevada focused Gold and Copper exploration company, today announced that its common stock has been approved for trading on the OTCQB Venture Market under the ticker symbol "GGLDF", effective as of the opening of trading today, March 23, 2020. The Company will continue to trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol "GTCH". "It is intended that the OTCQB Venture Market will provide our current and future shareholder base with increased visibility and transparency through high-quality disclosure, transparent trading and ease of access to Company information. This is an exciting development and we are pleased to commence trading on the OTCQB", said Bill Wagener, CEO & Director of Getchell Gold. The OTCQB is a Venture Market operated by OTC Markets Group and is designed for early-stage and developing US and international companies. To be eligible, companies must be current in their reporting and undergo an annual verification and management certification process. U.S. Investors can find current financial disclosures and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the Company on www.otcmarkets.com. About OTC Markets Group Inc. OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates the OTCQX Best Market, the OTCQB Venture Market and the Pink Open Market for 10,000 U.S. and global securities. Through OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN, they connect a diverse network of broker-dealers that provide liquidity and execution services. OTC Markets enables investors to easily trade through the broker of their choice and empower companies to improve the quality of information available for investors. About Getchell Gold Corp. The Company is a Nevada focused gold and copper exploration company listed on the CSE: GTCH and OTCQB: GGLDF. Getchell Gold is directing its efforts on its most advanced stage project, Fondaway Canyon, a past gold producer with a significant in-the-ground historic resource estimate. Complementing Getchell's asset portfolio is Dixie Comstock, a past gold producer with a historic resource and two earlier stage exploration projects, Star Point and Hot Springs Peak. Story continues For further information please visit the Company's website at www.getchellgold.com or contact the Company at info@getchellgold.com. Mr. William Wagener, Chairman & CEO Getchell Gold Corp. +1 303 517 8764 info@getchellgold.com The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed this press release and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Not for distribution to U.S. news wire services or dissemination in the United States. Certain information contained herein constitutes "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the private placement and the completion thereof and the use of proceeds. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "will" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, including: the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, use of proceeds from the financing, capital expenditures and other costs, and financing and additional capital requirements. Although management of Getchell have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward looking information. The Company will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53659 A man who tested positive to the coronavirus after sailing on an infected cruise ship said passengers were let into Sydney with no health checks - and took public transport home when they were allowed to disembark. The NSW government controversially gave the green light for the Ruby Princess to dock in Sydney Harbour on March 19, considering the move 'low risk'. It was later discovered 48 passengers on board had contracted the virus, including Tamworth man Greg Butler. It has since been discovered there were 48 passengers on board with the virus including Tamworth man Greg Butler (pictured) The NSW government allowed the Ruby Princess to dock in Sydney harbour on March 19 as it was considered low risk The 56-year-old told The Daily Telegraph he was waved through security without any health checks when he disembarked on Thursday. 'They didn't check bags, they didn't check passports We could have brought a bag of heroin in and walked straight through with it,' he said. Despite some passengers feeling sick, no one had their temperature checked and Mr Butler was allowed to travel home on public transport, he said. It was not until the following day he was told of the confirmed cases on board before he began to feel symptoms himself. 'They've just let nearly 3,000 people into the city, God knows how many people had the virus,' Mr Butler said. He has since had a bad headache, cough, and felt pins and needles throughout his body. Mr Butler said security waved passengers through with the only information they got a flyer (pictured) Despite some passengers feeling sick, no one had their temperature taken and Mr Butler was allowed to travel home on public transport The Defence Force has vowed to help NSW health officials track down infected passengers from the Ruby Princess. Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said 'Contract Tracing Support Teams' are being set up across Australia. Their role is to help NSW Health find people who may have come into contact with a positive COVID-19 patient. 'A team of ADF personnel (has been) supporting NSW Health from yesterday,' she said. Concerns regarding cruise ships arose when the Diamond Princess was quarantined off the coast of Japan in February following an outbreak of COVID-19 on board. Last week the government suspended all cruise ships - however some, such as the Ruby Princess, have only just completed their trips Over 700 passengers of the 3,700 people on board quickly developed coronavirus. The ship was forced to stay at sea for close to three weeks before the decision was made to quarantine people onshore. CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement Last week the government suspended all cruise ships - however some, including the Ruby Princess, have only just completed their trips. Ms Reynolds said there are also teams in Queensland, Western Australian and the Northern Territory helping deal with the COVID-19 outbreak. 'These ADF teams will provide logistics, transport, health and general planning assistance as the workload of civilian medical teams continues to increase as more Australians are diagnosed with, or affected by, COVID-19,' Minister Reynolds said. 'Defence continues to follow the advice of Australian health authorities when prioritising its support arrangements. 'We will continue to ensure Defence medical facilities are appropriately staffed to minimise any impact on our public health system.' Other duties of the ADF teams amid coronavirus have included taking supplies to quarantine zones such as Christmas Island and assisting the Department of Health. Their role is to help NSW Health find people who may have come into contact with a positive COVID-19 patient (stock) The announcement comes as the Western Australian government try to stop a cruise ship with hundreds of unwell passengers docking in Fremantle. Premier Mark McGowan said more than 250 of 1,700-plus passengers on board the Magnifica cruise ship had reported upper respiratory illnesses but he'd been told the vessel needed to refuel, which had to be allowed. That may happen in Fremantle 'or elsewhere'. Mr McGowan said he had spoken with Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton about a course of action. 'I will not allow what happened in Sydney to happen here,' Mr McGowan told reporters on Monday. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Princess Cruises for comment. [March 23, 2020] CarSoup.com Releases COVID-19 Plan For Dealer Partners BLOOMINGTON, Minn., March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In light of the impact that the uncertainty of the COVID-19 outbreak has had on the automotive industry, CarSoup.com has unveiled a two-stage plan to help both its dealer partners and the customers who shop on CarSoup.com. This two-part plan includes making it easier for buyers to connect with dealers in this troubling time and helping ease the financial burden dealerships are facing. Step 1 CarSoup.com is waiving billing for the month of April as an act of support for its dealer community. "We recognize the value of our dealer partners who have worked together with us for the past 22 years," says Brian Bowman, president of CarSoup.com. "Our business was founded by dealers, for dealers, and dealers will always come first. We know these are confusing times that will not be easy on our business or our employees, but we believe it is the right thing to do at this time." Step 2 Effective March 23, CarSoup.com will roll out a "Shop at Home" feature that highlights deales who are willing to sell a vehicle to someone without that customer having to come into the dealership. The selling process can be online or offlineas long as the dealer is willing to sell and deliver the car to the customer's residence or work, they can be included in this program. CarSoup.com plans on additional communication with dealers by April 20th to reassess the situation in regards to its May plans, and it urges its dealer partners to contact their account manager for more details. About CarSoup.com Founded by Larry Cuneo in 1998 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, CarSoup.com has been the third-party automotive website leader in the upper Midwest for the past two decades. Built by dealers, for dealers, CarSoup.com makes buying, selling, or researching new or used vehicles a snap. With over 4,000,000 vehicle listings and smart, intuitive, easy-to-use search tools, CarSoup.com saves shoppers time and money by giving them access to the best deals and the best support from local dealers, ensuring an automotive buying experience that is as happy and easy as possible. CarSoup.com's trustworthiness, focus on value, and understanding of dealers create an approach to car buying and selling that empowers shoppers to buy or sell with confidence. CONTACT INFORMATION Craig Burris Director of Operations, CarSoup.com [email protected] View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/carsoupcom-releases-covid-19-plan-for-dealer-partners-301028347.html SOURCE CarSoup.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The US State Department issued a stinging rebuke of France on Sunday after it released an Iranian prisoner wanted by the United States for allegedly evading sanctions. The United States deeply regrets Frances unilateral decision to release Iranian national Jalal Rohollahnejad from its custody, State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement. Rohollahnejad was the subject of a US extradition request. There are multiple outstanding US charges against him related to the illegal export of equipment with military applications in violation of US sanctions. France released Rohollahnejad in an apparent prisoner swap with Iran in Friday. Hours later, Iran released Roland Marchal, a French researcher who had been detained by Tehran for more than eight months. Why it matters: A French court initially approved Rohollahnejads extradition to the United States last year. Washington accuses Rohollahnejad of attempting to export industrial microwave systems from the United States to Iran on behalf of a company linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Still, Washington has facilitated its own prisoner exchange with Iran before. In December, the United States released Masoud Soleimani, an Iranian stem cell researcher also accused of sanctions violations, in exchange for Xiyue Wang, an American student who had been detained for 10 years in Iran. President Donald Trumps "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran, his 2018 withdrawal from the nuclear deal and the subsequent sanctions have also split the United States and Europe. France and other countries are struggling to salvage the deal, which Iran is no longer complying with. Whats next: With the prisoner exchange, it is now unlikely that Rohollahnejad will face the US criminal justice system. France and the European signatories to the nuclear deal have also activated the nuclear deals dispute resolution mechanism to address Irans noncompliance with the accord even as they hope to salvage it. Know more: Iran has put American prisoner Michael White on medical furlough, reported diplomatic correspondent Laura Rozen last week. And for the latest on the United States pressure campaign against Iran, read congressional correspondent Bryant Harris write-up of the latest Iran sanctions Washington implemented last week. Forgotten remnants of Australias manufacturing past are being drafted into the front line of the war against COVID-19 to help hospital emergency departments and intensive care units stockpile surgical masks and ventilator machines. In the tiny northern Victorian town of Lemnos, named after the Aegean island to which ANZAC soldiers were evacuated from the trenches of Gallipoli, Australias only manufacturer of surgical masks has ramped up production to try to meet an increasingly desperate demand. A worker operates a machine on the protective mask production line at the Mask Factory facility in Hong Kong, China. Credit:Bloomberg Med-Con general manager Steven Csiszar, who has run the small family-owned company for 30 years, has entered an unlikely partnership with the federal government which involves ADF personnel working in his factory and DFAT officials using diplomatic channels to source imported raw materials. In the space of a few weeks, Mr Csiszar has gone from managing a staff of two machine operators, each working a single eight-hour shift, to overseeing a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week operation, with 24 staff and a mission to produce 30 million masks by the end of the year. The USNS Mercy arrives at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, on March 3, 2018. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Katarzyna Kobiljak) Navy Hospital Ship Mercy Heads to Los Angeles, Not Seattle The 1,000-bed Navy hospital ship Mercy will sail to Los Angeles and not to Seattle, as officials anticipate bed demand in California will be five times higher than in Washington. The Mercy, which is currently being prepared in port in San Diego, is one of two that will be used as a referral and critical care hospital to take the pressure off hospitals better equipped to handle infectious disease on the front lines of the battle with COVID-19. The Department of Defense has been given direction to dispatch it to Los Angeles immediately, FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor said during a White House briefing on March 22. DOD has advised that Mercy can get into position within a week or less of todays order. Washington currently has more cases of the CCP virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, than California. However, according to Gaynor, The projected need for beds in California is five times more than that of Washington. The ship will serve as a referral hospital for non-COVID-19 patients currently admitted to shore-based hospitals, and will provide a full spectrum of medical care to include critical and urgent care for adults, the Navy stated in a news release March 23. This will allow local health professionals to focus on treating COVID-19 patients and for shore-based hospitals to use their Intensive Care Units and ventilators for those patients. Another hospital ship, the Comfort, will likely head to New York, but may not be able to sail for a few weeks from its base in Norfolk, Virginia, where it has been undergoing maintenance. The Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) arrives in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Oct. 3, 2017. (U.S. Air Force Capt. Christopher Merian/U.S. Navy via Getty Images) Thats a weeks issue, so its going to be a little while, Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman told reporters March 18. At that time, its intended to head to New York, but well continue to evaluate the situation and make a determination on where its best suited. Hoffman indicated that the military would help in any way it could, but said its medical capacity was limited, with only 2 percent of the hospital bed capacity in the country. Engineers and National Guards The military is being used in various other ways to assist with the crisis caused by the CCP virus. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will build land-based, alternative care sites in Washington, California, and New York, President Donald Trump announced on March 22. Eight large federal medical stations will be built with at least 2,000 beds. Washington will get three large and four small medical facilities with 1,000 beds. The president also announced that federal funding was being made available to the National Guard in the three statesgranting Title 32 statusleaving the governors free to activate units without worrying about the cost. That Title 32 status is no different than when the National Guard responds to natural disasters, wrote the head of the National Guard, Gen. Joseph Lengyel, on Twitter. Governors and adjutants general, who know best what is needed on the ground, will continue to command Guardsmen and women and use them where they are needed most. A U.S. National Guard soldier stops traffic as fellow troops distribute food to local residents at the WestCop community center in New Rochelle, New York, on March 18, 2020. (John Moore/Getty Images) The reservist National Guard, organized under the Department of Defense, is predominantly a state resourcethe modern-day heir to organized state militias. Officials emphasized that the March 22 announcement didnt mean the National Guard had been federalized, i.e. were now under the command of the president. The default legal position is that Guardsmen are commanded by the state governor, not the federal government. Federalizing the Guard would strip the Guard of the ability to engage in law enforcement. This is because a military force under the command of the president is forbidden by the Posse Comitatus Act to be used on U.S. citizens to enforce the law. Lengyel said on March 22: I hear unfounded rumors about National Guard troops supporting a nationwide quarantine. Let me be clear: There has been no such discussion. More than 7,000 members of the 450,000-strong Guard have been called out across all 50 states, according to a statement (pdf) on March 22. The Guard has so far been providing medical testing, assessments, facilities, ground transportation, transport, logistics, command and control, and liaison officers, Lengyel said. Guardsmen include medics. But since they are drawn from the civilian population, officials say enlisting their help has to be balanced against the fact that they would likely already be on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19. FEMA is considering an offer from cruise company Carnival Corporation to turn several cruise ships into temporary hospitals. If we need them. I hope we dont need them, Trump said at the briefing. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. Six new coronavirus cases surfaced in Bexar County on Sunday, bringing the San Antonio area total to 45, the Metropolitan Health District reported. Stay up to date on the latest coronavirus news with mySA.com, and ExpressNews.com: In all, 26 of the 45 confirmed cases are related to travel to places where the virus had already spread, up from 16 reported the day before. Ten people contracted the virus through community transmission, meaning they were exposed from an unknown source. That is up from nine on Saturday. Seven cases originated from close contact with someone who had the virus. Metro Health is investigating two other cases, down from nine the day before. Metro Health also reports it has done 311 tests, with 273 negatives for the virus, as of Saturday evening. A third of the positive cases are people in the 40- to 49-year age range. On ExpressNews.com: This is what a deep clean looks like On Sunday, Gov. Greg Abbott said there were a total of 334 cases in Texas, with six deaths. But the governor added that when the number of people presumed by medical officials to be positive, and the confirmed cases at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland are added, Abbott said the total number for the state is 566. Additionally, Abbott said 8,700 people have been tested in Texas so far. He noted less than 10 percent of those tests have returned positive. This story will be updated as information becomes available. MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE: Staff writer Chris Quinn contributed to this report. Princeton University's campus was largely deserted as of March 18, 2020 as a growing number of colleges require students to leave for the remainder of the spring semester. As U.S. cases of coronavirus soar, colleges and universities across the country are shutting down to prevent the virus from spreading. For students who can't go home, this poses serious complications. Northeastern University gave students three days to leave its Boston campus, which hosts the majority of its 27,000 students, just days after stating that students were not being asked to move out of dorms. Elizabeth Taft, a junior at Northeastern, was unable to return home due to her father's susceptibility to the virus. Living off campus, she said she didn't realize the gravity of the situation until her part-time job at a bakery an essential source of income disappeared. "The fact that I could work made me feel a little bit better. I still had some structure left," Taft said. "That's kind of when it really hit me." Her bakery closed on March 15 in cooperation with Massachusetts' in-person dining ban. Employees would continue to be paid for half their regular hours over the next week. After that, Taft said they were expected to file for unemployment. Last Monday, Massachusetts received nearly 20,000 new unemployment claims more than during the entire month of February. Taft said the Department of Unemployment Assistance has been unresponsive and that she is relying on support from friends. "I don't really have a plan at this point," she said. "I'm just trying to figure it all out as it comes." A February survey found nearly 40% of college students who responded had struggled with food insecurity in the last 30 days. Marginalized students were also found to be at greater risk. First-Generation Low-Income at Yale, or FLY, works to connect students with the school's administration. Its former co-president Neche Veyssal said she has talked to many students who moved into their friends' off-campus apartments after their request to stay on campus was denied. "That comes at the cost of having to pay rent and buy food," Veyssal said. "What students have been doing is going to food pantries and living off noodles. They're going to whatever supermarkets they can and buying the cheapest food they can." More from Invest in You: How parents cope when home is also a workplace, a school and a daycare center What you need to know and do amid the coronavirus pandemic Money will run short for many Americans, so start planning now for when it happens A Yale spokeswoman told CNBC in a statement: "We are providing prorated refunds for room and board. In addition, we are ensuring continuity of campus employment (pay) this term while students are away. The university is also providing housing and food for students who have nowhere to go beyond campus." Abnner Olivares, a first-generation and low-income freshman at Yale, was back home in Los Angeles when he was told not to return to campus. Living with a family of nine in housing meant for three people in addition to waking up three hours earlier for online classes Olivares said this will likely impact his academic performance. Although he is used to having an empty refrigerator, the Yale student said he is normally able to buy and cook fresh produce for his family when he is home. But as hoarding continues to cause shortages in supermarkets, he said his family is mostly eating frozen foods. "I'm usually the person who's cooking for my family during break because they're on very busy schedules," he said. "But this time it's different. I'm expected to also do my homework." Relying heavily on his meal plan, Olivares was working two on-campus jobs to support himself before Yale's campus began to close. Despite the university's commitment to continue paying student employees, he said there have been no updates within the last week. Nationwide closures of restaurants and retail stores have halted countless part-time jobs, a vital source of income for many college students. For those living away from home, many are looking elsewhere for help. Paige Swanson, a senior at Yale and a former co-president of FLY, said her request to stay on campus was denied by the university despite not being able to return home, which forced her to move in with friends. Her suitemate, an international student from India, also had her request denied. While Swanson and others have greatly benefited from alumni assistance which includes a spreadsheet of food and housing resources for those in need she said this is only a "short-term solution" for many students. "Having talked to administrators, it's very unclear how [refunds] will be determined," she said. "A lot of students are just finding whatever affordable food they can." Many other universities have also committed to prorating housing and meal plan costs for students leaving campus, including Harvard University, Duke University and Northeastern University. Michigan State University is offering a $1,120 credit to all students who leave campus by April 12. But not all schools are issuing refunds. Georgetown College in Kentucky announced it was "not in a financial position to offer any rebates on housing or meal plans for this three-week period (or the remainder of the semester, if we are in a situation that requires us to remain online beyond the next three weeks)." The college told CNBC it had not made a final decision regarding the rest of the semester despite its statement. SIGN UP: Money 101 is an 8-week learning course to financial freedom, delivered weekly to your inbox. CHECK OUT: Clean your phone at least once a day, says infectious disease specialist here's how via Grow with Acorns+CNBC. Disclosure: NBCUniversal and Comcast Ventures are investors in Acorns. After gun shops around the state were forced to close Saturday because of the coronavirus outbreak, a gun retailer and a Second Amendment group have sued Gov. Phil Murphy, charging hes violating the constitutional right to bear arms. The lawsuit was filed Monday in federal court by the New Jersey Second Amendment Society and Legend Firearms shop in Monroe. It comes days after Murphys executive order did not include gun shops as an essential business, forcing the online portal that processes background checks to shut down. The exigencies surrounding this viral pandemic both justify and necessitate changes in the manner in which people live their lives and conduct their daily business, the lawsuit said. However, this emergency (like any other emergency) has its constitutional limits. It would not justify a prior restraint on speech, nor a suspension of the right to vote. Just the same, it does not justify a ban on obtaining guns and ammunition. The lawsuit names Murphy and Col. Patrick J. Callahan, the superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. At a press briefing on Monday, Murphy was asked directly about gun shops being deemed non-essential businesses. Im comfortable where we landed, the Democratic governor said on deciding what businesses were essential for his executive order. He declined to comment further. State Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, who was also at the news conference, declined to comment on the lawsuit, but said the decision was, "consistent with federal guidelines, and well defend the governors executive order in court. Callahan said, those stores at this juncture are deemed non-essential. On Saturday, the online service used to process background checks for firearm dealers, the New Jersey National Instant Criminal Background Check System, told stores they can no longer process requests. Per Executive Order 107, (Murphy) is ordering the residents of New Jersey to stay home, directing all non-essential retail businesses closed to the public, a notice on the online system states. At this time, the order includes New Jersey Firearms State Licensed Dealers. The order does not specifically name gun dealers as a non-essential business. However, it also doesnt list them among those deemed essential, which includes liquor stores, office supply shops and grocery stores. The lawsuit filed Monday tells the story of a Robert Kashinsky, a New Jersey resident who doesnt own a gun but wanted to purchase one to protect himself and his wife in the event that the situation developed such that emergency services were unavailable or were not reliably available. On Saturday, Kashinsky visited an unspecified gun shop to view his options. He decided he would purchase either a rifle or a shotgun, but he did not buy the gun that day. He had planned to go back to the store March 24, but now he can longer do that. While state and local governments have the power to reasonably regulate the keeping and bearing of arms, the lawsuit said, they do not have the power to prohibit the keeping and bearing of arms, nor do they have the power to close the channels of distribution by which people obtain firearms and ammunition. Murphys executive order, the lawsuit said, violates the Second Amendment and 14th Amendment. It seeks to reopen the online background check system so that gun dealers can once again sell firearms. NJ Advance Media reported Thursday that gun shop owners were working long hours to keep up with the demand for business amid anxiety surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. On Sunday, gun owners said they consider themselves essential businesses because they sell guns and ammo to retired and active members of law enforcement. Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein has tested positive for coronavirus in an Upstate New York prison, according to a new report. Weinstein has contracted COVID-19 and is now in medical isolation at the Wende Correctional Facility near Buffalo, an Empire State law enforcement official confirmed to Deadline on Sunday. The 68-year-old movie mogul is serving a 23-year sentence for rape and sexual assault in a landmark #MeToo case. Weinstein was transferred to Wende, a maximum security prison, from Rikers Island this past week. At least 38 people at the Rikers Island, including corrections officers and inmates, have tested positive for novel coronavirus as of Saturday; its believed Weinstein first contracted the virus at the New York City prison complex, but he also spent time in custody at a NYC hospital where he was treated for chest pains and high blood pressure. According to the Niagara-Gazette, Weinstein is one of two Wende inmates who have COVID-19, officials said. DOCCS spokesman Thomas Mailey told the New York Daily News that he could not comment on Weinsteins health status due to privacy rules, but did confirm that two Wende inmates have confirmed cases of coronavirus. The maximum security facility has a capacity of 961 prisoners. Board of Correction interim chairwoman Jacqueline Sherman expressed concerns about the spread of coronavirus in the U.S. prison system, which has more than 2.2 million people. An inmate at the Auburn Correctional Facility has tested positive for COVID-19, Cayuga County officials said Sunday, and dozens of others are being monitored in Rikers contagious disease and quarantine units, Sherman said. It is likely these people have been in hundreds of housing areas and common areas over recent weeks and have been in close contact with many other people in custody and staff, Sherman said Saturday. The best path forward to protecting the community of people housed and working in the jails is to rapidly decrease the number of people housed and working in them. New York City recently agreed to release 56 Rikers inmates on their own recognizance, because they are potential health risks for coronavirus and low-level offenders. We will identify any inmates who we think need to be brought out, either because of their own health conditions, if they have any pre-existing conditions, or because the charges were minor and we think its appropriate to bring them out in this context, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday. Weinstein, known behind bars as inmate No. 20B0584, was found guilty last month of two sex crime felony charges after a nearly six week trial. The Oscar-winning producer of Shakespeare in Love" was convicted of raping an aspiring actress in 2013 and forcibly performing oral sex on a TV and film production assistant in 2006. His lawyers have said theyll appeal. Weinstein is also facing multiple sex crimes charges in California, but its unclear if his coronavirus case could delay the legal proceedings. Weinstein has been accused of sexually assaulting or harassing more than 100 women, including famous actresses like Ashley Judd and Rose McGowan. Celebrities with coronavirus: See the list (updated) Coronavirus in NY: 15,168 cases across state, with 114 deaths, Cuomo says Cuomo on coronavirus: This could take 4-9 months; It will be hard, but it will be OK' 38 test positive for coronavirus in NYC jails, including inmates at Rikers Island The National Conference on Monday turned the party's district and block units across entire Jammu province into Covid-awareness-cum-help centres to support the government efforts to contain the spread of the epidemic. The party urged its functionaries to educate people on various preventive measures against the outbreak through various modes of communication while observing mandatory advisories issued by the government from time to time. "It is an unprecedented situation and calls for an extraordinary effort to defeat the virus," NC provincial president Devender Singh Rana said in a statement here. Rana spoke to the district and block presidents and urged them to lend all possible help to those in distress by taking up their genuine problems with authorities and serve as a bridge between the people and the government. It is the time for resilience, understanding and collective response to a grim situation that can be overcome by demonstrating unity and sense of responsibility, the NC leader said, hoping that the people would observe to dos and don'ts with a sense of commitment. Meanwhile, in a message to colleagues through social media, Rana wished them and their families the best of health and wellness. "Please stay safe and take all precautions as advised by the government," he said, adding that people's resolve to fight pandemic together and unitedly is a beacon of hope. Let's all pledge to do all that we can and all that we should to prevent the epidemic from spreading. This is not an hour to panic but, in fact, a moment to display measured and composed conduct and be a part of a societal collective response as the situation demands in the days to come," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It's not only the car manufacturers in the Philippines that decided to stop their operations following the community quarantine set by the government. In fact, even Swedish company Volvo Cars has closed its Belgian plant until April 5, while its Swedish and US plants will be closed between March 26 and April 14. Volvo car plant employees And just like in our country, social distancing will also be enforced by letting their employees work from home starting March 26. Their number of working hours has also been reduced to prevent further virus transmission. According to Volvo Motors, these actions will " secure jobs and ensure that Volvo Cars can come back to normal production as soon as it is possible and safe." Our primary concerns are the health of our employees and the future of our business, said Hakan Samuelsson, chief executive. With the help of valuable supporting programs put in place by governments and authorities, we have been able to act quickly. Volvo's manufacturing plants that are most affected by the virus are at the company's headquarters, R&D and Safety Center in Gothenburg, Sweden, and in Ghent plant and in Belgum. Meanwhile, its four Chinese manufacturing plants in Chengdu, Daqing, Luquiao, and Zhangjiakou have been reopened after an extended closure period. According to reports, there has already been an indication that China's car market is slowly returning to normal. Volvo car plant employees Coronavirus in Sweden The first confirmed case of the Coronavirus pandemic was announced last January 2020, when a woman returning to Wuhan was tested and confirmed positive for the virus. Meanwhile, the first-ever report of a community transmission were two patients at the St. Goran Hospital in Stockholm on March 6, while the first death was reported on March 11. A person in their 70s died in the intensive care unit of the Karolinska University Hospital following a community transmission of the COVID-19 virus. Medical tent set up outside Visby Hospital, That same day, the Swedish government has temporarily banned all gatherings larger than 500 people. Meanwhile, the second and third deaths in the country happened on March 14. An 85-year old woman in the Vastra Gotaland region, and an elderly person in the Stockholm area died due to the virus. As of March 15, there were 1,190 confirmed cases in Sweden. The place that seems to have the most confirmed casualties is Stockholm County, with 760 reported and confirmed cases. Story continues Also Read: WILLEMSTAD/PHILIPSBURG:--- The governments of Curacao and Sint Maarten have implemented some unavoidable precautionary measures related to the coronavirus (CO VID-19) pandemic. Both countries have closed their borders for commercial flights. Furthermore, maritime traffic, with the exception of transport of oil products and freight, has been restricted. On the request of the governments, the CBCS has calculated the effects of the closure of the borders. The calculations show that these measures will have a significant adverse impact on the economies of Curacao and Sint Maarten. The CBSC supports the governments inevitable decision to close the borders, as it was based on the threat that the virus poses to public health. Keeping the borders open would cost many lives and bring about a catastrophic overload on the health care system on the islands. None of this can be considered responsible options for small communities such as ours, said Dr. Jose Jardim, CBCS acting president. As mentioned in a previous press release, the decision to close borders will, however, have an adverse effect on the economy. In particular, tourism, transportation services and other services related to the tourism sector will be affected by the closure of the borders. The longer the closure of the borders lasts, the greater the negative effect will be on the economy. The magnitude of the adverse effect will also depend on how fast the economy will recover after the borders are reopened. The CBCS calculated four scenarios of the impact of the closure of the borders based on the duration of the closure, namely 1 month, 2 months, 3 months and 6 months. Furthermore, a distinction was made between a fast recovery and gradual recovery. In case of a fast recovery, economic activities, particularly in the tourism and transport sectors, will recover quickly once the borders are reopened. Meanwhile, in case of a gradual recovery, it is assumed that economic activities will reach their normal trend after approximately 1 year. Based on the latest projections of the CBCS, in which the effects of the closure of the borders and the coronavirus were not taken into account, the economy of Curacao would have contracted by 2.5% in 2020. The effect of the closure of the borders on the economy of Curacao is significant. Dr. Jardim emphasizes that, in case of fast recovery of economic activities after reopening of the borders, the economy will contract in real terms by 4.5% (closure of 1 month) to 14.2% (closure of 6 months). The contraction is deeper in case of a gradual recovery, namely between 8.8% (1 month) and 19.4% (6 months). Before the closure of the borders, the economy of Sint Maarten was projected to grow in real terms by 2.9% in 2020. The projections have been adjusted downward now that the borders have been closed. If the borders are reopened after 1 month, the economic growth will slow to 0.8% in case of a fast recovery. The economy will, however, contract in case the borders remain closed longer. If the borders remain closed for 6 months, the economy would even contract by 15,0%, according to the acting president The outlook is worse in case of a gradual recovery. The economy of Sint Maarten would then contract between 5,7% (1 month) and 29,2% (6 months). The CBCS has yet not taken into account the economic effects of a possible outbreak of the coronavirus (including increased healthcare costs and reduced economic activities) in Curacao and Sint Maarten. CBCS once again stresses that Curacao and Sint Maarten do not have the tools and resources to mitigate such a crisis. It is precisely in times like these that the Dutch government should be pointed at one of the core principles on which the Kingdom is based and that is set out in article 36 of the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands: The Netherlands, Aruba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten shall accord one another aid and assistance, according to Dr. Jardim. Given the significant implications of the closure of the borders, the rapid implementation of an aid package is paramount. A n NHS nurse was left shocked and distressed after finishing a long shift only to find her car window smashed in. Hollie Coates had hoped to drive straight home after work at James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, on Sunday, but instead was forced to confront the horror of shattered glass. The recently qualified medic said the sight was particularly devastating at a time when hospital staff are working extra time to help out during the coronavirus crisis. Urging her colleagues and fellow medical workers to be careful, she told of her upset in a sobering Facebook post. Ms Coates warned fellow medics to be careful where they park / Hollie Coates She wrote: So after finishing a shift at James Cook Ive came out to my back window being smashed in. Just wanting to warn all staff to be careful where they are parking. This is particularly upsetting at a time when we are all working above and beyond and doing extra shifts during annual leave to pull together to fight this nasty and life-threatening virus. Ms Coates post which has been shared by more than 2,800 people in less than 24 hours has sparked outrage online, but it has also inspired an act of huge kindness. Photos show the car's back window totally shattered / Hollie Coates The nurse told the Standard how a man from Sunderland, Mick Belford, spotted her message and stepped in to help at her time of need. She said Mr Belford and his repair company Kwickscreens fitted her car with a new window screen completely free of charge. The grateful young nurse shared her thanks online via a Facebook tribute on Monday lunchtime. She wrote: "Wow! Would just like to say a huge Thank you Mick Belford and his colleague from Kwikscreens for replacing my car window after it got smashed after my shift in A+E yesterday, completely free of charge. "This is a huge act of kindness and I cant thank you enough. "Could not recommend Mick and his company more, done an amazing job and are really nice genuine guys. "Even kinder of him to be so generous during these uncertain times we are all going through. "Please help me to repay him and show his page some support and be sure to use them if you ever need this service. Thanks again. Eight more Members of Parliament (MPs) have been told to self-quarantine after recent trips abroad on national assignments. The Speaker of Parliament who gave the directive on Monday, March 23 failed to name the eight MPs. Prof. Mike Oquaye while addressing the House said, the MPs in question were following advice and instructions of a medical doctor and the clerk to Parliament. You dont expect me to mention names. This is not done anywhere with regards to these conditions. They are in self and voluntary isolation under the supervision and advice of our medical doctor and the clerk to ParliamentYou dont go about issuing details of names and all that. We are handling a matter in a very professional manner, he said. The Majority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, in giving some details about the MPs involved said contrary to claims, the MPs were not being held in mandatory quarantine in a hotel in Accra. Those of them that the Speaker alluded to were members who attended statutory meetings on behalf of Parliament and they had these engagements outside the country. Those of them we have informed them to stay away and be in voluntary confinement. Fortunately, they all arrived before the broadcast by the president over the weekend so they have not been quarantined in hotels. They are conforming, we are told, he said. 5 MPs, 2 parliamentary service staff in self-quarantine Last week, Some two Members of Parliament and five parliamentary service staff who travelled outside the country recently were ordered to be in self-quarantine for the mandatory 14-day period before returning to work. The MPs involved are Binduri legislator, Dr. Robert Baba Kuganab-Lem and Ayawaso East lawmaker, Mahama Nasser Toure. They recently returned to the country from Japan and India respectively. Majority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu who announced the decision said the persons concerned were to observe the necessary protocols to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in case they got infected when they travelled outside the country. Coronavirus cases in Ghana Currently, 24 cases of Coronavirus (COVID19) have been confirmed in Ghana, with one death recorded. The government has announced various measures including the closure of the country sea, land and air borders to stop the spread. ---citinewsroom The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. (Newser) Young German adults hold "corona parties" and cough toward older people. A Spanish man leashes a goat to go for a walk to skirt confinement orders. From France to Florida to Australia, kitesurfers, college students and others crowd the beaches. Their defiance of lockdown mandates and scientific advice to fight the coronavirus pandemic has prompted crackdowns by authorities on people trying to escape cabin fever brought on by virus restrictions, the AP reports. In some cases, the virus rebels resistthreatening police as officials express outrage over public gatherings that could spread the virus. "Some consider they're little heroes when they break the rules," French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said. "Well, no. You're an imbecile, and especially a threat to yourself." story continues below After days of noncompliance by people refusing to abide by lockdown, France on Friday sent security forces into train stations to prevent people from traveling to their vacation homes. Florida officials closed some of the state's most popular beaches after images of rowdy spring break college crowds appeared on TV for days amid the rising global death toll, which surpassed 13,000 on Sunday. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Saturday that people from 18-to-49 account for more than half of the state's coronavirus cases, warning them "you're not Superman, and you're not Superwoman." He warned that "you can wind up hurting someone who you love, or hurting someone wholly inadvertently. Social distancing works, and you need social distancing everywhere." (Read more coronavirus stories.) It was less than a month ago that Gov. Phil Murphy unveiled a $40.9 billion state budget for the upcoming fiscal year and his administration declared that tax revenues were doing very well. So strong were they, in fact, that the state treasurer announced the state would prepay $280 million into the public employee pension plan, a move virtually unheard of for a state perpetually behind on its contributions. But weeks or months of mayhem and shutdowns that are taking drivers off the road, shoppers out of the stores and people out of work will mean fewer taxes for the state. Add unknown demands for more public health spending to that and it means the states finances are in turmoil. As we all know, the impact of COVID-19 at the local level, the national level, and globally is unpredictable and rapidly changing, Treasurer Elizabeth Muoio said in a statement. The breadth of any impact COVID-19 will have on our state and our finances will be predicated on the length and depth of any change in economic activity, much of which heavily depends on future events outside the control of our state. Muoios office warned in a revenue update last week that because of lags in how tax revenues are collected and reported like sales taxes are collected by a business and later remitted to the state the effects of the coronavirus crisis on revenues wont be immediately apparent. Treasury is closely monitoring the evolving situation surrounding COVID-19 and the sharp decline in the stock markets, the office said in a statement. Where it may first show up is in personal income tax withholdings from workers paychecks, said Josh Goodman, a state fiscal and economic policy expert with the Pew Charitable Trusts. State services are largely funded through personal income, sales and corporation business taxes, and then smaller taxes like the inheritance tax and cigarettes tax. All are directly affected by economic conditions, Goodman said. States two largest revenue sources are personal income tax and sales tax. If people are working fewer hours or theyre getting laid off, that tends to reduce personal income taxes. If consumers are spending less, that reduces sales tax collections. If people are staying home, then gas tax revenue will decline, he said. And states that are heavily dependent on capital gains, if the stock market is down that tends to affect tax revenue. From July through February, New Jersey tax revenues were up 6.4 percent over last year. The treasurer even raised the estimate of how much money the state would collect this year by nearly $1 billion because of strong growth in the sales, income and business taxes. Senate President Stephen Sweeney D-Gloucester, told reporters on a conference call Thursday that while hes very worried about the budget, hes comforted by the states healthy revenue collections before the onset of the outbreak. State officials are optimistic this years tax collections will be buoyed by stock market performance in the second half of last year and noted last month that estimated quarterly tax payments were up 6 percent. Were going to have a good surprise this year because last years markets were exceptional, said Sweeney, referring to the states April tax filings. Additionally, he said, the state has some flexibility to adjust its spending plans for the rest of the fiscal year ending June 30 to offset any drop-off in taxes. Still, New Jersey is considered least prepared among U.S. states to weather a crisis such as this, due in part to its relatively small cash reserves and longterm pattern of spending outpacing revenues, Goodman said. New Jersey was called out in a report from the Wall Street bond ratings firm Fitch Ratings as a lower-rated state that is more vulnerable to the adverse economic conditions posed by the coronavirus pandemic" because of lower levels of financial resilience. Some federal help is already on the way, with $13.8 million in CDC funding to New Jersey, as well as an estimated $810 million in new Medicaid funding for the state. In a letter to President Donald Trump and congressional leaders, Murphy and the governors from New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut estimated fighting the coronavirus would cost them $100 billion in lost revenue and increased spending. Murphy also has called for block grants to states, and Trump said he would strongly consider it. In Washington, lawmakers in both houses of both parties are pushing new legislation to help the economy recover from the coronavirus, including direct payments to the public. Sweeney said he has plans to discuss the budget with the administration on Monday, as the public health crisis throws into question the revenue and spending estimates in the governors proposed budget and the Legislatures annual budget process, during which state government department heads appear before the Senate and Assemblys budget committees in dozens of public hearings. You know, we, unlike the federal government dont get to print money, he said. And we have a constitutional deadline to get the budget done by June 30. Sign up for text message alerts from NJ.com on coronavirus in New Jersey: If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter. NJ Advance Media reporter Jonathan D. Salant contributed to this report. Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @samanthamarcus. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Posted by Jeremy on at 11:20 PM CST Kids can role-play as heroic warrior The Mandalorian and play out action-packed Star Wars: The Mandalorian scenes with this detailed, LEGO brick model of The Razor Crest (75292) starship. scenes with this detailed, LEGO brick model of The Razor Crest (75292) starship. This fun buildable toy includes 4 LEGO minifigures: The Mandalorian, Greef Karga, Scout Trooper and the Child, plus an IG-11 LEGO figure, all with cool weapons to role-play exciting battles. The Razor Crest has a dual LEGO minifigure cockpit, 2 spring-loaded shooters, cargo hold with opening sides/access ramps and carbonite bounty elements inside, sleeping area and detachable escape pod for creative play. This 1,023-piece construction playset offers a challenging build and combines brilliantly with other LEGO Star Wars sets. It makes a super Christmas gift or birthday present for boys and girls aged 10+. sets. It makes a super Christmas gift or birthday present for boys and girls aged 10+. The Razor Crest dreadnought measures over 5.5 (14cm) high, 15 (38cm) long and 11 (28cm) wide. It makes an eye-catching Star Wars: The Mandalorian display piece when it is not being used to transport vital cargo! Coming as quite a surprise the week before 2020 International Toy Fair when LEGO made the official reveal during the run-up to its New York debut, the personal spaceship of The Mandalorian has pulled in a lot of attention despite there only being a handful of photos.Now though, LEGO have updated the set's product page with a full description and a raft of detailed images.Relive bounty hunter The Mandalorian and the Childs battles against Scout Trooper and other enemies with The Razor Crest (75292) LEGObuilding toy for kids. This brick-built armoured transport shuttle features a cargo hold with opening sides that double as access ramps and carbonite bounty elements inside, a dual LEGO minifigure cockpit, spring-loaded shooters, escape pod and more authentic details to inspire creative play.A challenging build for ages 10 and up, this 1,023-piece starship construction kit includes 5 collectible LEGOcharacters, including new-for-August-2020 The Mandalorian and the Child LEGO minifigures. Its great for role play and combines with other LEGOsets for even more action.Since 1999, the LEGO Group has been recreating iconic starships, vehicles, locations and characters from the legendary Star Wars universe. LEGObuilding toys are hugely popular with awesome gift ideas for all ages.You can pre-order it now at LEGO shop@home and Amazon.com for $129.99 where it will be available from September 1st - just a month before the second season airs.You can get a closer look at the sets coming out in the next few months via out 2020 International Toy Fair: LEGO Star Wars Round Up , and don't forget you can win a 75292 The Razor Crest in our Rebelscum sweepstakes. All five passengers had been allegedly violating the government's orders by using public transport despite being advised home quarantine on their return to Hyderabad from abroad. Hyderabad: The Telangana Railway Police on Sunday booked cases against five passengers, including two women, for allegedly violating the government's orders by using public transport despite being advised home quarantine on their return to Hyderabad from abroad. According to Superintendent of Railway Police B Anuradha, all passengers who came from abroad are checked with thermal screening devices and some of them had been advisedhome quarantine and also marked with stamping. "They (those stamped on their hands along with the date up to which the quarantine is to be observed) should not use public transport. But these five came to railway stations and boarded trains (to reach their destinations) on Saturday and Sunday, " the official said. They were caught from various places of the state (while travelling) and shifted to different hospitals. The five home quarantine passengers including one with suspected symptoms of coronavirus, and belonging to Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh were detained after fellow passengers alerted the authorities. They had travel history to Nigeria, US, Indonesia, Australia and Dubai. Click here to follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak Cases were registered against them under relevant sections of IPC and The Epidemic Diseases Act 1897, which the Telangana government invoked in the state on Saturday on violating the state government's order to prevent COVID 19, the official said. Health officials earlier said any person who has returned from any foreign country or has been in transit shall be in self-home quarantine for 14 days from the time of arrival in India, irrespective of having any symptoms or not. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 23) Authorities in Hong Kong confirm another Filipino has tested positive for COVID-19. The Hong Kong Health Department officially informed the Philippine Consulate General of this latest development Monday. To date, the total number of Filipinos in Hong Kong confirmed to have the virus is three. The Philippine Consulate General said it would extend all assistance to the affected Filipinos. It has not yet released a statement on this development. No details on the patient have also been released. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 23:40:54|Editor: yan Video Player Close NAIROBI, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Kenya is considering putting in place an economic stimulus package that will cushion informal sector workers from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, an official said on Monday. Simon Chelugui, cabinet secretary, Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, told journalists in Nairobi that certain groups have been disproportionately affected by the travel restrictions that have been imposed by governments across the world. "We will present our proposals to the National Treasury for measures from the labor sector that are designed to cushion workers and especially those in the informal sector as a result of the economic slowdown occasioned by the outbreak of the coronavirus," Chelugui said after meeting representatives of the Federation of Kenya Employers and the Central Organization of Trade Unions. The east African nation reported its first case of coronavirus on March 13. Since then the government has closed schools, banned public gatherings and encouraged people to stay at home. Chelugui said that the tourism, manufacturing, agricultural, transport, wholesale and retail sectors have all been hit by the epidemic. The ministry of labor urged employers to utilize other options such as offering leave to employees and avoid declaring their labor force redundant. "Laying off workers will only worsen the situation of the most vulnerable members of society," he added. An immune reaction in the brain seems to play a major role in the development of Alzheimer's disease. In a way, it "adds fuel to the fire" and apparently causes an inflammation that, in a sense, keeps kindling itself. The study has now been published in the journal Cell Reports. Alzheimer's disease is characterized by clumps of the protein A (amyloid beta), which form large plaques in the brain. A resembles molecules on the surface of some bacteria. Over many millions of years, organisms have therefore developed defense mechanisms against such structures. These mechanisms are genetically determined and therefore belong to the so-called innate immune system. They usually result in certain scavenger cells absorbing and digesting the molecule. In the brain, the microglia cells take over this role. In doing so, however, they trigger a devastating process that appears to be largely responsible for the development of dementia. On contact with A, certain molecule complexes, the inflammasomes, become active in the microglia cells. They then resemble a wheel with enzymes on the outside. These can activate immune messengers and thereby trigger an inflammation by directing additional immune cells to the site of action. "Sometimes the microglia cells perish during this process," explains Prof. Dr. Michael Heneka, head of a research group at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) and director of the Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Gerontopsychiatry at the University Hospital Bonn. "Then they release activated inflammasomes into their environment, the ASC specks." Disastrous dual role These released specks take on a calamitous dual role: On the one hand, they bind to the A proteins and make their degradation more difficult. On the other hand, they activate the inflammasomes in even more microglia cells, and much more than A alone would do. During this process, more and more ASC specks are released. It thus adds fuel to the fire, as it were, and thereby permanently stokes up the inflammation. "As a result, a fundamentally useful immune mechanism becomes an essential factor in the development of Alzheimer's disease," emphasizes Heneka. It is actually desirable that ASC specks remain active after cell death: They can then be taken up and used by other immune cells. "These then do not have to produce their own inflammasomes, which means that they can react more quickly to a bacterial infection, for example," says Heneka. In the brain, however, this mechanism is of little benefit: Nerve cells constantly produce small amounts of A. It is possible that these deposits only become a serious threat to brain function in combination with the ASC specks. The scientists hope that a better understanding of these processes might also lead to the development of new therapeutic approaches. This is because the accumulation of A probably begins decades before the first symptoms of disease appear. Early intervention may be able to slow down this fateful process. "This might make it possible to treat Alzheimer's disease preventively in the future, so that there is no impairment of mental performance in the first place," hopes Prof. Heneka. Fast-service sandwich chain Subway and clothing retailer H&M are the latest high-street businesses to take a hit from the Covid-19 outbreak. Subway has closed all of its stores in Ireland and the UK to guard against the further spread of the virus. We took this decision as we want to continue doing everything in our power to keep people safe, said Colin Hughes, Subways country director for the UK and Ireland. It follows similar Irish market announcements by Supermacs, Starbucks, McDonalds, and Nandos. H&M, the worlds second largest clothing retailer, has scrapped its proposed dividend due to coronavirus, and is reviewing all parts of its operations, including all costs. The historic move by H&M to scrap its dividend comes with 68% of its stores closed as the pandemic is hitting the global clothing retail industry relentlessly. Meanwhile, the owner of discount clothing retailer Primark, which trades here as Penneys, has said it will take a 650m (710m) hit to net sales for every month Covid-19 forces it to keep shops closed. UK conglomerate Associated British Foods (ABF) has closed its Primark stores in the UK, which represent 41% of annual revenues. Penneys stores in Ireland were closed last week, as were Primark stores in Europe and the US. All of the groups 376 Primark/Penneys stores, across 12 countries, are now closed and ABF has stopped placing new orders for the shops. The group said it is hopeful of recovering 50% of total operating costs for its Primark/Penneys business. The outbreak continues to affect the airline sector. Stobart Air, which operates the Aer Lingus Regional service, will suspend all flights outside of Ireland from Saturday. It will continue to operate its public service obligation routes from Dublin to Kerry and Dublin to Donegal. Separately, Aer Lingus last week said it would be halving overall pay and working time for all employees, including management, as it cuts flight capacity by at least 75%. G4S, one of the worlds largest private security firms, said it will suspend its dividend due to uncertainty stemming from the pandemic and the impact it may have on key markets. B&Q owner Kingfisher, which closed some shops last week, has postponed issuing its financial results, as per a widespread call from the UKs financial watchdog, but said while annual revenues were slightly down, it saw a fourth-quarter bounce in its troubled French operations. Elsewhere, food giant Nestle told employees to prepare for difficult times ahead and make all the necessary efforts to supply customers with the food and beverages they need. Please get ready for the storm to hit because hit it will, chief executive Mark Schneider told staff. Tibetan monks created a sand mandala dedicated to world peace at the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts on Magazine Street in New Orleans on March 13. Creating a sand mandala is part of a Tibetan ritual of painstakingly creating art from sand and then destroying it in order to release the deity's blessings into the world. The mandala was destroyed in a ceremony and later swept into the Mississippi River. The Sacred Arts Tour Monks are refugees from Tibet and belong to the Drepung Gomang Monastery in India. The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Abuja chapter, has called off its indefinite strike. The decision to suspend the strike which began March 17 was announced in a statement issued by its president, Roland Aigbovo. I am happy to announce to you that the 8-days long strike action embarked on by members of ARD-FCTA has been suspended and our members are to return to their respective duty post immediately. The FCTA management is given up till 30th April 2020 to resolve all contentious issues; failure to do so will only lead to a resumption of the strike action, Mr Aigbovo said. The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) earlier directed that all striking unions affiliated to it to go back to work until the ongoing Coronavirus (Covid-19) is contained. All Nigerian doctors are members of NMA and other doctors associations like the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) are affiliate members. Nigeria recorded its first death from the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak on Monday after the country confirmed five new cases. Nigeria has a total of 36 confirmed cases including one death. Reason for strike The association said it embarked on strike to protest, among others, the failure of the government to make complete payment of their over two months basic salaries. Mr Aigbovo said their members had been thrown into financial distress due to the nonpayment of their salaries and despite repeated warnings and ultimatum, nothing has been done by the authorities. READ ALSO: He said there has been salary irregularities and shortfalls since the migration to the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System by the FCTA. Moving forward I call on the FCTA management to roll out plans aimed at containing the coronavirus (COVID-19) infection even as we return to work. We expect to see adequate infection prevention and control measures in all our hospitals with adequate supply of face masks, hand sanitizer, Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs), Mr Aigbovo said. He also commended members of the association for staying true to the course and the perseverance in the face of financial constraints. YEREVAN, MARCH 23, ARMENPRESS. China is ready to provide additional support to Armenia, Chinese Ambassador to Armenia Tian Erlong told ARMENPRESS. He noted that the donations will include medical overalls and artificial respiration devices totaling 110 thousand USD. The Ambassador ephasized the readiness of the Chinese side to continue close cooperation with Armenia aimed at solving various problems resulted by the coronavirus. He emphasized that for overcoming the pandemic it's necessary to achieve international consolidation and solidarity. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan Story Highlights Seven in 10 Kenyans lacked money for food at times in the past year Almost six in 10 Ethiopians lacked money for food in the past 12 months WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In the past month, large swarms of locusts have devastated crops across large swaths of East Africa, threatening the livelihoods and the food supply of millions who were already struggling to afford food before the locust invasions. While swarms have been spotted in 10 countries, places such as Kenya and Ethiopia -- where the majority of residents say they could not afford food at times in the past year -- have been among the hardest hit. Although aid agencies are working with local governments to combat the locusts, they currently lack the equipment and funding they need, and amid the COVID-19 outbreak, experts can no longer travel to countries to help train the local communities to fight the spread of the pests. This poses tremendous risk for the communities affected, not only in Africa but also the Middle East, where the locusts are expected to spread in the next month. Food security in Kenya was already at risk in 2019 from drought conditions in some parts of the country and excessive amounts of rain in other areas. Before the locust plague that is devastating Kenya's farmland, Gallup's surveys in 2019 found nearly seven in 10 (69%) saying that they had been unable to afford the food their families needed at times in the past year. This is essentially equal to the record-high 70% who said the same in 2017. Over the course of Gallup World Poll trends since 2006, no less than 53% of Kenyans have said they struggled to afford food. Struggles to Afford Food Widespread in Ethiopia as Well The percentage of Ethiopians struggling to afford food has generally risen since the question was first asked as part of the World Poll in the country in 2012. The current 57% of Ethiopians who say they have lacked money for food in the past year is similar to the 55% who reported the same in 2016 and 2017. Internal conflict within the country that has affected farming in some areas and displaced an estimated 2 to 3 million Ethiopians has exacerbated Ethiopians' struggles to afford the food they need. Uganda and Tanzania at Risk as Well While farmland has already been devastated in Kenya and Ethiopia, locusts have also reportedly crossed into the East African countries of Uganda and Tanzania. In both of these countries, high percentages of their populations reported that they lacked money for food in the past year. In 2019, about two in three Ugandans said they could not afford food at times in the past year. Heavy rainfall in areas of Uganda in 2019 disrupted agriculture and infrastructure, further adding to residents' difficulties in affording food. In 2019, a slim majority of Tanzanians (54%) said they lacked money for food in the past 12 months. This is largely similar to the levels seen in the country since 2012. Bottom Line Much of the population in several East African countries was already struggling to afford food before the recent swarms of locusts in the region. This has been exacerbated over the past several years in East Africa because of extreme weather and internal conflict. Locust swarms have devastated farmland in Kenya and Ethiopia at the worst possible time, and similar levels of devastation may occur in Uganda and Tanzania -- and elsewhere across Africa and the Middle East. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has already begun coordinating efforts with governments in the region to employ pesticides against the swarms. However, as of early February of this year, the effort had not yet received sufficient donations to cover its costs. Even if this effort is fully funded and successfully eradicates the locust swarms, substantial damage has been done to crops in the region, and large-scale international food aid will likely be required to avert famine there. But getting aid to the region will prove even more difficult with the spread of COVID-19. For complete methodology and specific survey dates, please review Gallup's Country Data Set details. Learn more about how the Gallup World Poll works. By Kim Bo-eun Shinhan Financial Group Chairman Cho Yong-byoung / Korea Times file Shinhan Financial Group said Monday it has introduced a system under which CEOs of affiliates will play a leading role in incorporating key technology into their digital transformation processes. Under the system, Shinhan Bank CEO Jin Ok-dong will be tasked to ensure that artificial intelligence (AI) is developed in the bank's digital transformation. The chiefs of Shinhan's card, brokerage and two insurance units will be responsible for seeing that big data, cloud computing, block chain technologies and health care capabilities are developed. Each core technology was matched according to relevance with the units' business. The CEOs will be tasked with coming up with new business models and collaboration projects, according to the group. Shinhan Financial Group Chairman Cho Yong-byoung brought up the idea at a management meeting held last week. "Only 3 percent of companies seeking innovation are seeing successful results," Cho said at the meeting held March 18. "CEOs' digital leadership, along with synchronization of strategy and culture, is crucial for the Shinhan group's successful digital transformation." The group plans on bringing more of its affiliate CEOs into the system, with the goal of collaboration among the units to maximize synergy. "The chairman stressed the need for digital transformation to be carried out in an innovative and open manner, at the group's management forum held in January," a Shinhan official said. "The system is intended to make CEOs of each of the affiliates undertake leadership in the digital transformation, according to the respective key technologies." As many as 4,595 people are in home quarantine in Punjabs Majha region, as on Monday (March 23), according to data provided by the Punjab health department and administrations of Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran and Pathankot districts. These people are either those who returned from coronavirus-hit countries China, Iran, Italy, Korea, France, Germany and Spain or their relatives and other people who came in contact with them, say officials. They have been told to isolate themselves at their homes for 14 to 28 days, depending upon each individual case. As Amritsar has already reported two Covid-19 positive cases, the health department has tightened quarantine restrictions. Those coming from abroad are being kept in quarantine centres for 24 hours and then being told to stay at home for the next 14 to 28 days, said Amritsar civil surgeon Dr Prabhdeep Kaur Johal. A total of 1,625 people are in home quarantine in Amritsar district. Besides them, 48 tourists have been quarantined in facilities created by the government. Also, the two patients who have contracted the disease are admitted at the isolation ward of Guru Nanak Dev Hospital. The health department has pasted banners outside houses of those quarantined so that their neighbours can keep a distance from them. Teams of expert doctors are keeping a close watch on quarantined people so that those who develop symptoms are immediately shifted to isolation wards of hospitals, said Dr Johal. The highest number of people under government-imposed self-isolation are in Gurdaspur. District magistrate Mohammad Ishfaq said 2,079 such people have been identified and directed to quarantine themselves in their respective houses for 14 days. As many as 228 executive magistrates have been tasked with keeping a close watch on them. Police are helping in implementing the curfew and not let those in home quarantine roam around in the city, he said. In Tarn Taran, no suspected patient has been isolated in hospital. However, 800 people have been quarantined in their homes, said Dr Anoop Kumar, civil surgeon. Tarn Taran deputy commissioner Pardeep Kumar said if any person defies the order, strict action is being taken. Pathankot has 91 such cases. We are putting stamps on the hands of such people. It mentions the time period for which the person has to remain in home quarantine, said senior medical officer Dr Bhupinder Singh, adding that the district has not reported any positive case and no one has been kept in the isolation ward of the civil hospital. London: Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ordered a lockdown of Britain in a decision that takes the country from having some of the most relaxed restrictions in Europe to some of the toughest in the space of just three days. In a rare, late-night address to the nation following a sharp rise in the United Kingdom's death toll, Johnson said all non-essential shops, libraries and playgrounds would join restaurants, bars and cafes in closing. People can only leave their house to shop for basic necessities, attend medical treatment or travel to and from essential work, Johnson said. He warned the public could be stopped by police to explain why they are out of their homes and could be fined, similar to the situation in France where thousands have been sanctioned for breaking the rules. "These are the only reasons you should leave your home," Johnson said. "You should not be meeting friends. If your friends ask to meet, you should say no." Dothans Construction Partners has acquired two hot-mix asphalt plants in Pensacola and Defuniak Springs, Fla. The plants were acquired for an undisclosed amount. Construction Partners says the Pensacola plant will allow the company to pursue a variety of public, private and Defense Department projects, while the Defuniak Springs plant gives it entry into the western Florida panhandle along the Interstate 10 corridor. In addition, both plants are located on or near aggregate rail terminals, and are able to purchase liquid asphalt from the companys recently acquired terminal in Panama City, Fla. We are pleased to continue our expansion efforts in Florida with todays acquisition, Robert P. Flowers, senior vice president said. We believe that the Florida panhandle is poised for growth in the coming years, and this transaction positions us favorably to participate in that growth by expanding our Florida footprint. This approval will be applicable, both for Edelweiss health insurance and Edelweiss group health insurance policies, till such time that the virus is declared as abated by the Government and/ or WHO, it said further. New Delhi: Edelweiss General Insurance on Monday said its COVID-19 policy cover will be extended to those who are put in quarantine in specified government facilities. Edelweiss health insurance policy covers COVID-19, further in view of serious challenges by this pandemic for customers, Edelweiss General Insurance has taken some steps for its customers, it said in a statement. "We have decided to cover hospitalisation for not only those who have a confirmed diagnosis but also those who have been quarantined in specific facilities identified by the government. The coverage amount is up to the sum insured under the policy. For the quarantined patients, the health policy ensures coverage for the entire period of quarantine with up to 100 percent of the claim amount being paid against quarantine and detection charges, it said. However, if any patient is in a remote location and is unable to reach the hospital during the quarantine period, Edelweiss Health Insurance will support domiciliary hospitalisation for the patient. The insurer said patients can visit any nearby hospital for immediate treatment and expenses will be reimbursed. In case of cashless benefits, patients are requested to visit EGI's network hospital with their TPA card for any medical assistance. "EGI has sought and received approval from IRDAI, allowing waiver of the initial waiting period of 30 days post policy inception, for the first time, for COVID-19 virus coverage." This approval will be applicable, both for Edelweiss health insurance and Edelweiss group health insurance policies, till such time that the virus is declared as abated by the government and/ or WHO, it said further. The company said it has also introduced a modular product structure under which customers can customise solutions to provide cover against a wide range of illnesses including pandemics and vector-borne diseases, at affordable costs. Any employer or other existing groups can customise this for their employees, customers or members. In the context of COVID-19, this policy can take care of hospitalisation expenses of the insured along with incidental expenses which are not usually covered under a policy, it said. Small businesses and startups can avail this to provide the much-needed basic accident and health cover to their employees. Shanai Ghosh, CEO, Edelweiss General Insurance, said, In an unfortunate situation of being detected and testing positive, or suspected and quarantined in a facility specified by the government, we have ensured that at least the cost burden is eased for our customers." A royal commentator has revealed the nickname given to Meghan Markle during her time on Suits. The Duchess, 38, who played the role of Rachel Zane on the legal drama between 2011 and 2017, was reportedly called 'Meghan gets s*** done' by her fellow cast members. Speaking on Vice's Vice Versa: Meghan Markle Escaping The Crown, which premiered this month, royal commentator Omid Scobie explained how the nickname came about when the LA-born former actress started donating leftover food from set to the homeless. Scroll down for video Royal commentator Omid Scobie has revealed how Meghan Markle was nicknamed 'Meghan gets s*** done' during her time on Suits, after she donated leftover food from set to charity. Pictured: Meghan arrives at the Royal Albert Hall on March 7 The royal donated food from the set of Suits, with the Executive Director Brian Harris previously revealing: 'That Thanksgiving she would bring in all the food...all the turkeys and the fixings for over 100 people.' The royal reportedly also brought cast and crew members from the TV series to the centre. Last year a community centre has revealed how staff nicknamed the Duchess of Sussex 'the lovely Meghan' when she volunteered for the Toronto-based charity while working on Suits. Speaking on Vice's Vice Versa: Meghan Markle Escaping The Crown, which premiered this month, royal commentator Omid Scobie explained how the nickname came about when the LA-born former actress started donating leftover food from set to the homeless (Meghan seen on set) Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan selected St. Felix Centre as one of their 12 charities to feature in December in an effort to highlight those helping the 'lonely, hungry and homeless'. The Duchess of Sussex volunteered with the charity while living in Canada and working on the TV series, spending time at the soup kitchen to hand out leftover food from the set. The charity revealed on Twitter that 'many people have fond memories' of the Duchess of Sussex, with some nicknaming her 'the lovely Meghan'. Meghan starred as paralegal Rachel Zane in Suits from 2010 until her last episode was aired in April 2018, a month before her wedding at Windsor Castle. Following her exit from the show Meghan has remained friends with her former co-stars, with both Gabriel Macht, who plays Harvey and also Patrick J Adams, who plays Mike Ross, attending her wedding to Prince Harry. HipCityVeg allows pickups only at its location on 18th Street near Rittenhouse Square. Read more Philadelphias restaurant industry, which has largely collapsed in the last week during the coronavirus crisis, is asking elected officials for relief. Following statewide lobbying by the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association, a coalition of 42 local restaurateurs, who collectively own more than 150 restaurants in the city, sent a letter Monday to elected officials to seek swift action on a variety of issues. They have asked city, state, and federal lawmakers for: Emergency unemployment benefits for laid-off employees (eliminating the four-week delay to receive checks). Rent abatement and a moratorium on commercial and residential evictions and collection actions for at least 60 days (mandated 60-day grace period to avoid defaults). Intervention to require insurers to provide business-interruption coverage related to closures that are mandated by the government related to the current health crisis. Emergency loans with no or low interest to businesses that are impacted by the government-mandated closures. (The city just announced the Philadelphia COVID-19 Small Business Fund, designed to provide grants and zero-interest loans.) A state sales tax holiday for restaurant pickup and delivery orders, so that restaurants that stay open can compete on an even playing field with grocery delivery services (which are not generally subject to sales tax). The letter, posted on the site savephillyrestaurants.com, includes a petition. The signees are a whos who of the Philadelphia restaurant scene, including Michael Schulson, Stephen Starr, Valerie Safran and Marcie Turney, Mike Solomonov and Steve Cook, Marc Vetri and Jeff Benjamin, Jill Weber, and Ellen Yin. They fear that in just a few months, there might not be many restaurants left in Philadelphia. I feel like Im in a war, said Nicole Marquis, founder of the vegan fast-casual HipCityVeg eateries, who organized the effort after a meeting of restaurateurs last week at Zahav that she described as like walking into a funeral. These are very dark days for us, the letter reads. Right now, our future, with just a trickle of our former income, looks very bleak. We have had to close many of our restaurants entirely and lay off all or nearly all of our beloved teams. None of us has a clear path to survival beyond a couple of weeks from now. As you know, restaurants run on very tight margins, and without daily revenue, we cannot pay our rent, our employees, our vendors, or ourselves. Unlike other industries, restaurants do not have deep reserves for slower days, let alone months. Marquis, who has shuttered her bar Charlie was a sinner and is doing limited pickup business out of her Bar Bombon, estimated that her revenue had dropped 80% to 90% not enough to sustain her remaining HipCityVeg employees beyond a couple of months. Her hourly workers are the most vulnerable, she said. Im personally utterly heartbroken, especially having to say goodbye to 275 employees, Marquis said. Like all restaurateurs, the coronavirus has flipped the script. Only a couple of weeks ago, we were having great conversations with investors. We were poised for a national rollout, and its hard to imagine that were now fighting for our survival. Many restaurateurs are particularly upset in insurance companies denial of business-interruption claims, given that the shutdowns are government-mandated. If a volcano erupted in the middle of Center City, they would have to pay," Marquis said. This is a sonic wave thats rippling through our economy, and we have to help the people on the front lines, she said. Before The Gambler, way before Islands in the Stream and before the First Edition, Kenny Rogers was a Jeff Davis graduate attending classes at the University of Houston. But by March 17, 1958, the Chronicle recognized that Rogers was going places. At that point, he had scored a hit with That Crazy Feeling on the Carlton label. In that days editions (PDF), reporter Howard Stentz reported that the 19-year-old was scheduled to perform on Dick Clarks American Bandstand. By Kim Sun-ae I decided not to eat delivery food anymore after reading an article on the harmful effects of excessive plastic use. If I eat delivery food, substantial plastic waste is generated. Although I'm still using plastic every day as a small part of my life, I'm trying to change and reduce my use of plastic. In various ways, plastic enters our bodies through the food chain. According to "In the Flood of Plastic," an article in the 168th issue of Green Review by farmer and writer Choe Yong-tak, many chemical fertilizers include plastic to control their absorption speed. This causes concerns that these fertilizers can also be a route for microplastic to enter our bodies. When my father and I grew vegetables in a weekend farm, we did not cover the soil with plastic. Nonetheless, when we tilled the soil, we found plastic there. Maybe the people who grew vegetables there before us used the plastic to prevent weed growth and didn't remove it properly. It was not good to see plastic in the soil where we grew food to eat. In his book "How to Give Up Plastic," Will McCallum, who works at Greenpeace, says that whenever we wash clothes made from synthetics, nylon or polyester threads thinner than a hair come out and flow into the sea. Animal plankton such as krill eat these microfibers. From there, the plastic is accumulated through the food chain. So if we eat fish or other sea animals, we may eat the plastic in them too. According to a 2015 study by an Australian research team, more than 90% of seabirds have plastic in their digestive organs. Microfibers which come out when we do laundry are said to account for about one-third of marine plastic. To reduce the plastic flowing into the sea, we can choose clothes made from natural fabrics like cotton instead of synthetics like polyester. Also, we can buy fewer clothes and purchase second-hand clothes instead of new ones. To decrease plastic use, McCallum also recommends decreasing the use of plastic products in cafes or stores, including plastic straws, bags, cups and bottles. We use them for a very short time and then throw them away. Nevertheless, what we throw out comes back to us through bioaccumulation. Therefore, for ourselves and for all living beings, we should cut our use of plastic. For plastic-free shopping, McCallum urges us to use reusable grocery bags, thermoses, water bottles, food containers, among others. After reading his book, I decided to bring a grocery bag and a food container whenever I go to buy food, instead of using disposable plastic bags. These days most foods, including tofu, bread, fruit and vegetables, are packed in plastic bags or containers. But if consumers request plastic-free food packaging, food companies will sell their products in more environmentally-friendly ways. Let's find and share diverse ways to reduce plastic use. Kim Sun-ae (blog.naver.com/dancinglf) wrote a book of illustrated essays, "Old Potato, New Potato." 5.4k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Trump is still bitter about Sen. Mitt Romneys vote to convict him during the impeachment trial, so he mocked Romney for self-quarantining. The exchange: Q: On top of Senator Paul, now four senators are in isolation. The rules say in order to vote Trump: Who are they? Reporter: Romney, Lee. Gardner, and Rick Scott. Rick Scott also. Two of them were in contact with Rand Paul. With the critical stimulus package. Trump: Romney is in isolation? Gee, thats too bad. Video of Trump: Trump mocks Mitt Romney for self-isolating due to coronavirus concerns. Even in the middle of a national emergency, Trump is still bitter about Romney's impeachment vote. pic.twitter.com/pgXQqhSgMA Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) March 22, 2020 The country is in the midst of a pandemic that is killing Americans and wrecking the US economy, and Donald Trump is taking shots at Mitt Romney. The reason why the coronavirus is out of control in the United States is that Donald Trump is incapable of leading the nation. Trump views everything from the perspective of his own grievances and ego. America needs a leader in a time of crisis, while Donald Trump is mocking a US Senator for leading by example and going into self-quarantine because he had contact with Sen. Rand Paul. Donald Trump will never measure up to what a president should be. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook A primary school headteacher has died after testing positive for coronavirus as young and healthy Britons begin to fall victim to the disease in increasing numbers. Wendy Jacobs, 58, was headteacher at Roose Primary School in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. She was diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus last week and was rushed to Furness General Hospital's intensive care unit but later died. Pupils, parents and teachers have been left devastated and have decided to close the school today - even for the children of 'key workers'. It is not known if she had any underlying health conditions. Wendy Jacobs was headteacher at Roose Primary School in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria A statement from the school's Chair of Governors, Fred Chatfield, said: 'Dear parents and carers, It is with great sadness that I write to inform you that our headteacher Mrs Jacobs passed away today. 'This is devastating news for our school and nursery community and all our thoughts and sympathies are with her family. 'We are all in shock, and given these exceptional circumstances we have taken the decision to close the school and nursery fully tomorrow to all pupils, including those of essential workers. 'I am sure you will understand that opening the school and nursery is not an option. 'We would recommend that all children we kept at home tomorrow. 'This is a huge loss to our school, nursery and our community and I will be in touch as soon as possible to explain how we will celebrate Mrs Jacobs' life and contribution.' Mrs Jacobs was diagnosed with the deadly COVID-19 virus last week and was rushed to Furness General Hospital's intensive care unit but later died In a statement, Wendy's family said: 'On Sunday our mum passed away from pneumonia complicated by Covid-19. 'It's possible she would have passed from the pneumonia alone. 'She was an incredible woman and her last act as headmistress was to ensure the school she cared so much about was closed the day after she started showing symptoms and only reopened once she was sure it was safe and her staff and pupils were protected. 'At this time we ask for privacy, respect and for people to refrain from speculating or commenting on her death. 'We wish this respect and privacy also be extended to all the staff and pupils at Roose Primary School.' The school's tragic loss comes as the UK coronavirus death toll reached 281. Deaths jumped by 48 in 24 hours yesterday, with victims aged between 18 and 102. The 18-year-old, who had underlying health conditions and lived in the West Midlands, is Britain's youngest victim so far. A&E doctor and Labour MP for Tooting Dr Rosena Allin-Khan warned Britain is 'heading for disaster' on a par with Italy's as hospitals in the UK approach full capacity. After completing a shift at St George's Hospital in south London over the weekend she stressed it is not just elderly and vulnerable patients at risk of dying of the virus. Pictured: Pupils, parents and teachers at Roose Primary School in Cumbria have been left devastated by their headteacher's death Young and healthy Britons are being admitted to intensive care units, with a 36-year-old nurse from the West Midlands currently on life support. As of 9am on Sunday, 78,340 people had been tested for coronavirus in the UK, with 5,683 patients confirmed positive. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the Government is ready to impose tougher restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus if people do not follow the guidance on social distancing. His warning came after parks, beaches and nature reserves were pictured packed with people enjoying the spring sunshine over the weekend. Did you know Wendy Jacobs and want to pay tribute to her? Email lara.keay@mailonline.co.uk or ring 0203 615 1637 British tourist Kimberley Finlayson, pictured, died in hospital in Indonesia after testing positive for the virus, and is among the 281 Britons to have fallen victim of COVID-19 Susan Martin, the wife of darts player Geoff, of Warrington, Cheshire, died after contracting the virus last week The father (left) of Ali Milani (right), who stood for Labour in the Prime Minister's Uxbridge and Ruislip constituency last year, died of coronavirus in Iran eight days after getting the virus Chilling moment medics carry suspected coronavirus patient into ambulance from his London home as cases jump 665 in a day and a boy, 18, 'with health issues' becomes UK's YOUNGEST death By Sebastian Murphy-Bates for MailOnline, John Stevens, Colin Fernandez and Larisa Brown for The Daily Mail A shocking picture of a suspected coronavirus patient being rushed to hospital in London poses a stark warning to Britons who refuse to to observe social distancing rules 'making full lockdown of the capital inevitable'.' Disturbing images show medics carrying an elderly patient from a nursing home in Primrose Hill yesterday as the capital faces Italian-style measures to combat Covid-19. Masked police officers watch as health workers place the senior citizen in an ambulance outside the Carole House complex. This shocking picture shows an elderly suspected coronavirus patient being rushed to hospital from a care home in Primrose Hill, London In a tough message to the public from Downing Street, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said yesterday: 'Even if you think you are personally invulnerable, there are plenty of people you can infect.' The images surfaced just hours after Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned people who weren't following Government advice on social distancing that they have just 24 hours to take the measure seriously. A&E doctor warns fit and healthy coronavirus patients in their THIRTIES are fighting for their lives and warns medics will eventually have to choose who gets the last ventilator By Sam Blanchard for MailOnline An A&E doctor in London has warned even people in their 30s are fighting for their lives in intensive care because of the coronavirus crisis. Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, an emergency doctor and Labour MP for Tooting, south London, revealed doctors will soon have to start rationing life support machines. After working at shift at St George's Hospital in the capital at the weekend Dr Allin-Khan said the number of people being hospitalised is increasing 'very, very quickly'. She said patients with other health problems were having to be shipped out to children's wards so there was enough room to treat the people with COVID-19. Almost 5,700 people in the UK have been officially diagnosed with the disease but the true number is thought to be dozens of times higher. Almost 300 patients have died. Dr Allin-Khan said the UK is 'heading for disaster' and pleaded with people to obey social distancing rules and stop going to busy areas after thousands of people were pictured defiantly visiting tourist destinations at the weekend. The MP added that doctors will soon have to choose who does and doesn't get 'the last ventilator' in intensive care. At the weekend a doctor working in Italy revealed that in some places over-65s were being knocked down medics' priority list. Advertisement As an 18-year-old from Coventry, West Midlands, became the youngest person to die of the virus in the UK, Mr Johnson threatened to exert stricter controls to help fight the outbreak. A source told The Times that a total lockdown could be 'inevitable', telling the paper that the PM would have the total support of Cabinet were he to execute the measures. Mr Johnson spoke out after crowds flocked to seaside resorts to celebrate Mother's Day. Britons were seen disobeying the rule of standing six feet apart as the country's total number of cases hit 5,683. With 281 people now known to have died from the virus in the UK, the PM used his daily press conference to warn there was 'no doubt' he would act to close open spaces and limit all movement outside homes if people continued to act foolishly, but stopped short of immediate action. He later added: 'I don't think you need to use your imagination very much to see where we might have to go, and we will think about this very very actively in the next 24 hours.' Mr Johnson told the nation it was only 'two or three' weeks behind Italy where the death toll has already risen above 4,000 making it the worst outbreak anywhere in the world. There were 47 new cases identified in the UK on Sunday alone, with Britain's youngest victim to date dying at University Hospital, Coventry. Mr Johnson said that unless the UK could control the spread of the virus through social distancing, the NHS would be 'overwhelmed' in the same way that the Italian healthcare system had been. The surge in cases of the virus comes on the day Mr Johnson urged families to stay apart and instead celebrate Mother's Day via Skype and other remote communications. In a tough message to the public from Downing Street this afternoon, Mr Johnson said that even though he understood the physical and mental health benefits of open spaces, he would take drastic steps to protect health. In other developments: The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Britain rose from 5,018 to 5,683; In Italy, coronavirus claimed 651 lives in just one day taking the death toll to 5,476, while in France it rose 112 to 674; German Chancellor Angela Merkel went into quarantine after a doctor who treated her tested positive for the virus, and the nation banned meetings of more than two people; Chaos is expected at school gates this morning as teachers ask parents to hand over identification or pay slips to prove they are 'key workers' and entitled to keep their children in class; The NHS is to begin sending out letters to the 1.5million considered to be most at risk of the disease urging them to remain at home for the next 12 weeks; A nurse is fighting for her life in the hospital where she works after being diagnosed with coronavirus; High street chains including John Lewis, Zara, Waterstones and Primark announced the temporary closure of stores; Boots warned staff that it could run out of paracetamol by the end of trading next week, as supermarket panic buying continued with some selfish shoppers even gate-crashing an hour reserved for NHS staff; Thousands of churches across London and its suburbs are to close their doors entirely to try to enforce the Government's rules on social distancing. At a press conference in Downing Street, Mr Johnson said the Government had already taken 'very draconian steps' in closing schools, pubs and restaurants, but said they would have to go further if people do not heed the advice. The Prime Minister said: 'A huge quantity of our normal daily life has been totally transformed. 'It is very important for people's mental and physical wellbeing and they should be able to get out and exercise if they possibly can. 'But when we do that we have to do it responsibly. If you don't do it responsibly... there is going to be no doubt that we will have to bring forward further measures.' Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, an A&E doctor and Labour MP for Tooting, south London, revealed her experience of working on the coronavirus frontlines over the weekend Ministers are considering following other countries such as Italy and Spain that have banned people from leaving their homes unless they need to go to work or to buy essential food and supplies. Spanish police arrested 157 people for disobeying the rules in just the first five days, while Italian authorities have the power to fine anyone caught entering or leaving the area of the country worst hit by the virus. Germany has banned gatherings of more than two people outside people's homes. Mr Johnson said: 'I don't think you need to use your imagination very much to see where we might have to go, and we will think about this very, very actively in the next 24 hours.' Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said people need to realise it 'isn't a game'. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the police and Army may soon be required to enforce social distancing, as he warned that unless people stay at home 'more people will die'. Meanwhile, Lord Fowler said a more hard-hitting information campaign might be needed if people don't follow guidance. Recalling his own experience of dealing with the Aids crisis as health secretary in the 1980s, he told BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour: 'The first newspaper advertisements we did were very worthy. When we got on to television and we got on to our campaign, 'Don't Die of Ignorance', then they started taking notice.' Police have been forced to visit bars and restaurants following reports owners are ignoring orders to close. Officers were deployed after it was claimed some rural pubs were planning to hold 'lock-ins'. DUESSELDORF (dpa-AFX) - Castellum said it plans to start construction of a new office building, with E.ON as the major tenant, with an investment of about 1.3 billion Swedish kronor, including land acquisitions. Castellum is building a new Nordic head office for E.ON, to serve as the workplace of about 1,500 employees in the Nyhamnen district, located near Malmo's Central Station. Skanska is the procured entrepreneur for the project. The planned new building in Nyhamnen comprises about 27,000 sq.m. leasable area, of which E.ON rents about 24,000 sq.m. Construction is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2020, and preliminary occupancy is planned for the first quarter of 2023. The leasing agreement between E.ON and Castellum amounts to 12 years and corresponds to an annual rental value of 70 million kronor, which will be reported with net rental for 2020. The remaining vacant area of 3,000 sq.m. corresponds to an economic vacancy rate of 9% and for these areas there are ongoing negotiations. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. When we read about poaching animals, the issue is usually phrased in terms of environmental effect or governmental policy. Poachers sometimes kill or capture animals to sell them locally or for the global trade in wildlife, wrote Jani Actman in a 2019 National Geographic piece. And an article from that same year in The New York Times explored the increased demand for lion bones something that has had an international impact and which has affected governmental policies in different ways. One thing that most coverage about poachers and poaching doesnt necessarily address, though, is that it can also be a matter of life and death for humans. At The New York Times, liana Magra and Lynsey Chutel wrote about the death of Lt.-Col. Leroy Bruwer, a South African detective whose focus was on stopping the poaching of rhinos. His work, apparently, cost him his life: Up to one million British travellers have been told to return home immediately as more airlines plan to cease flights amid the coronavirus pandemic. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab today advised all tourists or short-stay travellers to return to the UK as soon as possible, with further closures to air routes expected within the next 48 hours. The announcement marked a drastic escalation of Foreign Office guidelines issued last week which advised against all but essential international travel for 30 days. It comes as Boris Johnson banned gatherings of more than two people and ordered the closure of all shops selling non-essential goods as well as playgrounds and churches in dramatic measures announced this evening. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said that all UK citizens who live here but remain out the country should head back as soon as possible, as airlines cease flights around the glob Travellers gather outside he airport in Moscow, Russia amid the growing coronavirus crisis In a statement today, Mr Raab said: 'We are strongly urging UK travellers overseas to return home now where and while there are still commercial routes to do so. 'Around the world, more airlines are suspending flights and more airports are closing, some without any notice. 'Where commercial routes don't exist, our staff are working round the clock to give advice and support to UK nationals. 'If you are on holiday abroad the time to come home is now while you still can.' The Foreign Office said all British travellers should contact their tour operator or airline now to arrange a commercial flight if they want to return home. The advice applies to Britons travelling aboard rather than those who live overseas. The government also said it 'is working with airlines to keep routes open and is calling for international action to keep air routes open for a sufficient period of time to enable international travellers to return on commercial flights.' Travellers in masks get ready too take a charter flight coordinated by the U.S. embassy at La Aurora airport in Guatemala City Travellers wait for a flight at La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City, Guatemala Passengers wear face masks as they arrive at Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow, Russia Transport Secretary Grant Shapps added: 'This is a very difficult time for British citizens travelling overseas, or those with families and loved ones abroad. 'We're in close contact with airlines, who are working tirelessly to ensure British citizens travelling overseas can safely return to the UK. 'We are also working closely with other government departments, including the FCO to ensure airlines are able to operate to bring people back home.' Some Britons who have been stuck abroad claimed on social media they had been trying to contact the British Embassy in order to return home for days only to be told to 'check with the airline'. Jordan Harris, who arrived at London Heathrow today after nine days stranded in Sri Lanka, said: 'It's alright Dominic Raab saying "get home whilst you still can" but I've just spent nine days in Sri Lanka trying to get the British Embassy to give us any advice other than "check with the airline"'. Passengers wears face masks after arriving at Hong Kong airport on March 23 Transport Secretary Grant Shapps added: 'We're in close contact with airlines, who are working tirelessly to ensure British citizens travelling overseas can safely return to the UK' Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry has said she will seek an urgent meeting to ask for a government repatriation programme for up to one million Britons who are still stuck abroad. Last week, Mr Raab told the foreign affairs committee he didn't know for sure how many Britons were still abroad, but believed it could be between 300,000 and one million. Citizens have reported being stranded in New Zealand, Peru, Spain and Morocco after nationwide lockdowns were put in place amid the growing pandemic, which has infected some 348,000 people globally. Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, told The Times: 'While its right British travellers are being urged to return to the UK, the reality is there are thousands of UK residents stranded in dozens of different destinations with no means to get back. 'The government must improve its communication and provide British citizens fearful of being stranded abroad with useful advice. 'Where scheduled services have been withdrawn, it should leave no stone unturned to get these people on flights home.' Two women wear face masks and plastic gloves as they wait for a flight at Vnukovo International Airport today A traveller plays her violin prior to boarding a flight at La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City A woman types a text message on her phone as she stands outside the Vnukovo International Airport A WhatsApp group of more than 300 people claimed the British embassy had been 'appalling' throughout the crisis, the Guardian reported. Some 400 Britons are set to be repatriated from Peru this week, however, after Mr Raab announced he had gained permission for a flight to leave the country for the UK. Gearoid McKendrick, 28, from Galway, had climbed up Machu Picchu without phone signal when Peru announced a nationwide lockdown which left him stranded in South America. 'It was not until we woke up in the hostel the next morning that we heard the lockdown had been announced and we had until midnight to get out of the country,' the IT worker told the Irish Times. He attempted to contact Air Canada, who he was due to fly home from Columbia with after months of backpacking, but he said he hasn't been able to make contact with the airline. Speaking from his Cusco hotel room, Mr McKendrick explained he also hasn't been able to speak to his travel insurance company. 'Ive had no response from them either so I am kind of at a loss at what to do,' he said. British tourists who were aboard the cruise ship Braemar arrive back in UK from Cuba at Heathrow Airport in London last Thursday Travellers wear surgical masks as they arrived at London Heathrow airport amid the coronavirus crisis in March Amelia Mills, whose younger brother is also struck in Peru, said 'at least there is a commitment from Raab to do something' after it was announced the Foreign Secretary had secured permission for a UK flight to leave Peru 'early next week'. In a tweet on Saturday, Mr Raab said: 'I spoke to my counterpart in Peru today, Gustavo Meza-Cuadra, and we committed to work together in the coming days, so Britons in Peru and Peruvian nationals in UK can return home, amidst the challenges of tackling Covid-19.' Marc Wilson, 33, has also accused the British embassy of being 'no help' after he became stranded in Guatemala due to the coronavirus outbreak. Mr Wilson, from Southampton, told the BBC he is unable to leave his accommodation and roads have been closed after his return flight to the UK was cancelled. 'I would like to get back to the UK immediately... the embassy in Guatemala has been zero help,' he said. 'They have not replied to any emails of mine and they are publishing their plans to try and get us out too late for anyone outside of Guatemala City to join. There has been no advice on what is best to do.' The number of fatalities in Britain rose by 54 to 335 today - the second biggest daily rise yet. This evening, Mr Johnson ordered the closure of all shops selling non-essential goods as well as playgrounds and churches as he plunged the UK into a coronavirus lockdown this evening. Gatherings of more than two people will be banned in the most dramatic curbs ever seen in Britain in peacetime, as the government goes all out to stop the spread of the killer disease. In an address to the nation from Downing Street, Mr Johnson said weddings, baptisms and other social events must be cancelled to stop the NHS collapsing under the strain - although funerals can go ahead. In an announcement today, Mr Raab said: 'We are strongly urging UK travellers overseas to return home now where and while there are still commercial routes to do so' People must only go out for essential supplies, medical help, or to travel to work if unavoidable. Going out for exercise will be allowed once a day, but parks will be patrolled to make sure there is no abuse of the rules. Mr Johnson said his message to the public was simple: 'You must stay at home.' Police will have powers to fine those who do not fall into line, and disperse any public gatherings. The premier was finally forced into the draconian move amid fury that many people are still flouting 'social distancing' guidance, with parks and Tube trains in London - regarded as the engine of the UK outbreak - still busy. 'Though huge numbers are complying and I thank you all - the time has now come for us all to do more,' Mr Johnson said. 'From this evening I must give the British people a very simple instruction - you must stay at home. 'Because the critical thing we must do is stop the disease spreading between households.' EUGENE, Ore. -- When restaurants started closing their lobbies amid coronavirus concerns, food delivery services like GrubHub and Uber Eats became a way for people to still buy food from their favorite places without dining in. For GrubHub driver Allison Merrill, despite so many people staying home, she's seen a drop in orders. "I was making probably 10 to 15 orders a day," said Merrill. "Now I am making two or three. People are stocked up right now and they don't want to order food where they don't know where it's been and don't know who has touched it." Jennifer Buczynski is dental assistant out of work right now, and she said it's been a lifesaver. "I started delivering around January 18, so before all of this began," said Buczynski. "Once this all started it actually kind of worked out where I was making enough money on a daily basis with this that I figured could actually survive." But money isn't the only consideration. The companies have begun allowing drivers to drop off the food at a customer's doorstep so there is no physical contact, adding another level of distance. Neither Merrill or Buczynski say they're too concerned with getting sick. Im hoping people dont order that are sick and that maybe their neighbor or somebody else can help them out by doing that for them, but I just havent worried about it I just feel like I need to help out," said Buczynski. Merrill echoed this thought. "I've thought about it, but it's not even me getting sick, it's I don't want to get anyone else sick or my family so its a reminder to keep that distance," she said. They both said they hope the services stay operating, but even if they don't the companies said they would compensate drivers and in some cases even the restaurants. Bogota prison riot over coronavirus kills nearly two dozen A view of smoke coming out of La Modelo prison after a riot by prisoners demanding the government to take healthcare measures against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Bogota BOGOTA (Reuters) - A prison riot in Colombia's capital Bogota late on Saturday left 23 prisoners dead and 83 injured, the justice minister said on Sunday, as detainees protested sanitary conditions amid the global outbreak of coronavirus. Thirty-two injured prisoners are hospitalized, Justice Minister Margarita Cabello said in a video, while seven prison guards were also injured. Two guards are in critical condition. The Andean country will enter a nationwide lockdown meant to stem infections from Tuesday night. So far 231 people have been confirmed infected with the disease and two have died. "Today is a very sad and painful day," Cabello said. "Last night there was a mass criminal escape attempt at the El Modelo prison and riots in various detention centers around the country." Graphic cell phones videos were posted to social media late on Saturday showing what appeared to be the inside of the prisons. Some showed small fires, others injured prisoners and guards. In one video, a man says the incarcerated have been "abandoned like dogs" amid the virus outbreak. Reuters could not independently verify the origin or authenticity of the videos. No prisoners escaped during the riots, Cabello said. "There is not any sanitary problem that would have caused this plan and these riots. There is not one infection nor any prisoner or custodial or administrative staffer who has coronavirus." The office of the human rights ombudsman called on the government to declare a prison emergency which could allow early release for older prisoners. "This way there could be exceptional circumstances that would facilitate releases and temporary rules for those over 60 and with sentences of up to eight years," the office said on Twitter. Colombia's 132 prisons have an 81,000-inmate capacity but house more than 121,000 prisoners, according to figures from the Justice Ministry. The second Colombian to die from coronavirus was a 70-year-old woman in the city of Cali, the health ministry said on Sunday. Her daughter arrived in Colombia from Cuba, where she had been in contact with a person from the United States who is positive for the virus. The daughter currently has a cough, the ministry said in a statement, while the victim's 74-year-old husband is hospitalized and positive for the virus. (Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta and Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) - Ghana has closed all of its borders to human traffic effective Sunday, March 22, 2020 - The closure was announced by President Nana Akufo-Addo in a public broadcast - According to Akufo-Addo, the move is to help reduce the importation of Coronavirus into the country Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo has directed that all of Ghana's borders be closed for two weeks as the nation fights the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The closure of the borders starts from 12:00am on Sunday, March 22, 2020, after which every human who wants to enter will be quarantined and tested for the virus. "Firstly, all our borders, that is by land, sea, and air will be closed to human traffic for the next two weeks, beginning midnight on Sunday. Anybody who comes into the country before midnight will be mandatorily quarantined and tested for the virus." However, Akufo-Addo added, "this closure will not affect goods, supplies, and cargo." President Akufo-Addo made the announcement in his third address to the nation on the Coronavirus pandemic. As already reported by YEN.com.gh has had 19 cases with one of them dying in Kumasi. Of all the cases 16 were imported. The new measure is to help stop the importation new COVID-19 cases into the country and help stop the spread in the country. Meanwhile, the government has set up a special Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for the Coronavirus disease. The 16-bed facility is to treat complicated cases of Coronavirus especially patins who will suffer respiratory complications. The facility is located at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) at Legon in Accra. Earlier, the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II had called for a stop to all political activities amid the Coronavirus fight According to Otumfuo, it was prudent for the nation to concentrate on the disease rather than politics. He thus urged the media to devote their time to fighting the disease rather than giving coverage to politics. Yenkasa: Coronavirus: Is Ghana ready? | #Yencomgh: Have national and human interest issues to discuss? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page Source: YEN.com.gh Shimla, March 23 : Himachal Pradesh on Monday saw the first death of a 69-year-old Tibetan man, who recently returned from the US, owing to coronavirus, health officials said. Tenjin Chopel was undergoing treatment in the state-owned Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College in Tanda town of Kangra district. Additional Chief Secretary (Health) R.D. Dhiman said the patient was earlier undergoing treatment in a private hospital. He was hospitalized in the Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College on Monday morning. After his death, his swab samples confirmed that he was Covid-19 positive. He reached the Delhi international airport on March 15. After spending some days in Delhi he reached McLeodganj, the abode of Tibetan spiritual the Dalai Lama's abode on March 21 while hiring a cab. A day after putting the state's most populous Kangra district under lockdown, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Monday extended the shutdown in the entire state. However, only essential services will be allowed in the backdrop of spread of two COVID-19 cases in the district. The entire state was placed under lockdown till further orders, Thakur informed in the state Assembly, whose ongoing Budget session was curtailed till Monday. Area hospitals and blood banks are running out of blood and donations are desperately needed. Officials at the American Red Cross said it is facing a severe shortage after many blood drives across the country were canceled in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. Since the beginning of March, nearly 5,000 blood drives have been canceled nationally. But, the need for blood goes on, officials said. Emergency surgeries require continuing healthy supplies and cancer treatments that cannot be postponed require both whole blood and platelet products. Anyone can donate so long as you are healthy. Blood drive organizers are being extra cautious and taking donors temperatures at the door, and disinfecting beds before and after donations to reduce the spread of the virus. Blood can be donated at facilities in the Greater Springfield area: BLOOD DONATION Baystate Medical Center Blood donations have been moved to Whitney Avenue at Holyoke with our bloodmobile there daily from 10 a.m. top 4 p.m. For information, call 413-794-4600 Holyoke Medical Center Donor Center: Call for an appointment at 413-534-2591 Stop at the front entrance desk and let staff know you are there to donate. You will be allowed to proceed even though no visitors are allowed. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. American Red Cross: Nearest location is 150 Brookdale Drive, Springfield, MA 01104 Schedule an appointment online HERE Enter the zip code of 01104 for the nearest ARC location in Springfield to see available dates and times Call 1-800-733-2767 Hours: The Governor of Kano, Abdullahi Umar Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has ordered the immediate closure of all the event centers in the state over Coronavirus pandemic. The Governor made this announcement in special state live broadcast to the people of the state on Monday afternoon. Also Read: Ezekwesili Mourns As Nigeria Records First Coronavirus Death Ganduje expressed that although the state has not recorded any case of the virus, shutting down event centres is a preventive measure against the deadly virus. Ganduje also expressed that any social gathering in the State should not have more than 20 people at any given time. He further appealed to members of the General public to adhere to the advice of medical professionals in observing personal and environmental hygiene aimed at achieving the set targets. Inside Hook It might feel like a lifetime ago, but it was only earlier this month that Woody Allens memoir Apropos of Nothing was scheduled for release by Hachette, and subsequently dropped by the publisher after a significant pushback including from many Hachette employees. Now, the story of the controversial memoir in which Allen writes of his relationships with family, friends, and the loves of his life has taken yet another turn. Allens memoir Apropos of Nothing has been given the surprise drop treatment. (Yes, just like the new Childish Gambino album.) Arcade Publishing released the memoir today, according to an article in The Hollywood Reporter. The article offers a summary of the book, and also notes that this edition features a new afterword by the author and filmmaker: Buddhist monks gave out lucky charms to protect their religious followers from the coronavirus. Phisutthi Rattanaphon, the abbot at Wat Theraplai temple, Suphan Buri, central Thailand, handed out the orange holy papers which had been blessed to visitors for free, on Monday morning (March 23). Monk Phisutthi said they put spells on the letters along with pictures of holy spirits that will keep worshipers safe from the coronavirus. He said: "We have been giving away the holy amulets for the Buddhist devotees for them to be spiritually protected and be safe from the virus. "Moreover, they can count on the holy spirit in their minds. I wish they would be less stressed about the news and concentrate on living their lives in healthy ways." Monks said that a ''magical'' letter is printed with pictures of holy Buddhist spirits and spells. The abbot Phisutthi added that the temple welcomes all visitors who want to take the holy papers, but before enter the gate, they have to do a temperature check. He said: "Worshipers will not only be given the spiritual letters, they will also get free surgical masks. All the temple staff are paying attention to hygiene.'' The Jharkhand Assembly on Monday passed a resolution that the NRC will not be implemented in the state and the NPR exercise should be carried out using the 2010 format, joining a number of other states where such resolutions were passed earlier. The resolution was moved by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Alamgir Alam and passed by the House without discussion, amid a protest by BJP members, before it was adjourned sine die in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. The Jharkhand legislature joins the list of the assemblies such as those of Puducherry, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Bihar, West Bengal, Telangana and Delhi in passing resolutions either against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) or the National Register of Citizens (NRC) or the National Population Register (NPR). The resolution, which was the last business of the day, was moved in the afternoon amidst vociferous protest by BJP members, who trooped into the well of the House. It was passed by voice vote before the House was adjourned sine die. In a statement, BJP state unit president Deepak Prakash later termed the passing of the resolution in the House without a discussion as "unfortunate". "The country is dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and the state is under lockdown. Passing the resolution under such a circumstance without a discussion is unfortunate," Prakash said. Claiming that both the NPR and the NRC are matters pertaining to the central government, he alleged that the aim of the resolution was "political appeasement". The JMM-Congress-RJD alliance came to power in Jharkhand late last year, dethroning the BJP. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Brescia president Massimo Cellino has called for the Serie A season to be cancelled due to the plague of coronavirus. Italy is in lockdown, with more than 4,800 people having been killed there by the Covid-19 pandemic. Cellino, who owned Leeds between 2014 and 2017, believes the severity of the global health crisis continues to be underestimated by some. You dont have to think about when to start again, but if you survive, he told the Corriere Dello Sport newspaper. Everything has to be moved to the next season. It is time for realism, gentlemen. This is the plague. You can no longer play this year. Think about the next one. Some people still does not realise what is happening, and those people are worse than the virus. I dont believe in miracles, I stopped doing it long ago. We reset. Brescia were bottom of the division and destined for relegation when all domestic sporting activity at all levels in Italy was suspended on 9 March. While Cellino has called for the competition to be scrapped, some clubs, including title-chasing Lazio and sixth-placed Napoli, are reportedly eager to return to training. Anyone who wants this cursed (title), take it. It is closed. Finished. And I am not saying this because Brescia is last in the standings, Cellino added. We are last because we deserve it. PA Last week Samsung released its software camera fix for the Exynos-powered Galaxy S20 series and now the is making its way to more regions and is also arriving to Snapdragon units in the US. The Samsung Camera app will now boast the latest 10.0.01.98 build number. The S20 Ultras autofocus and skin tone problems were addressed by the OTA update that is now seeding to S20 Ultra, S20+ and S20 users in Germany and the US on both carrier locked and SIM-free units. Galaxy S20 series ATCH update changelogs The update carries the same G98xxXXUxATCH build number where xx will vary depending on which S20 device you own and U signaling carrier-locked devices while U1 being carrier unlocked phones. The update ranges between 366MB and 415 MB depending on the unit and also brings device stability and other bug fixes. Via Harvey Weinstein arrives at Manhattan Criminal Court with his attorneys on Feb. 24, 2020. Disgraced film producer and convicted sex criminal Harvey Weinstein tested positive for the coronavirus while in prison, a New York state corrections union official told NBC News on Monday. Weinstein, 68, was put in isolation less than a week after he was transferred to a maximum security prison in upstate New York, according to Michael Powers, president of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, who spoke with NBC. Powers also said that seven staff members at that facility who came into contact with Weinstein have been quarantined. New York Department of Corrections spokesman Thomas Mailey declined to comment when CNBC asked about Weinstein's health. Weinstein's lawyer Arthur Aidala and spokesman Juda Engelmayer said they would "neither confirm nor deny whether Mr. Weinstein has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus." "While his team is now fully aware of his current medical condition ... we are going to continue protecting his privacy and maintain his privacy," they said in a statement, which also was signed by Weinstein's prison consultant, Craig Rothfeld. Weinstein's team said that any statements about his health were not made or authorized by the state Corrections Department "and could be considered a violation of" federal medical health information privacy law, known as HIPAA. Earlier this month, Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison after being convicted of rape and sexual assault. Last week, he was transferred to Wende Correctional Facility in Alden, a small town in Erie County located east of Buffalo and about a 45-minute drive from Niagara Falls. There are two confirmed cases of coronavirus at Wende, where Weinstein is being held, according to a person familiar with the matter who declined to be named. Allegations of sexual misconduct by Weinstein, who along with his brother Bob founded the influential indie studio Miramax, prompted the #MeToo movement. That movement has prompted many women to come forward with stories of alleged abuse and assault by powerful men. Weinstein was a larger-than-life figure in Hollywood, revered and feared throughout show business from the 1990s until recently. He produced Oscar-winning films such as "Pulp Fiction," "Shakespeare in Love" and "The King's Speech," and was a prominent donor to Democratic politicians and causes. Weinstein, who had appeared to be in poor health during his trial, was rushed to Manhattan's Bellevue Hospital to be treated for a heart procedure after his conviction in February. After undergoing a procedure to clear a heart blockage, Weinstein, who turned 68 this month, spent time at the Rikers Island jail complex before he was moved upstate. Weinstein was convicted at trial of third-degree rape and committing a criminal sexual act in the first degree, more than two years after articles detailing his alleged serial abuse of women were first published. He was found not guilty of the most serious charges, which were two counts of predatory sexual assault and one count of first-degree rape. Weinstein's sentence fell below the maximum possible length of 29 years behind bars. But his sentence far exceeded the five years' imprisonment that his defense attorneys had requested. Weinstein faces more charges in California, including an allegation of raping one woman and sexually assaulting a second woman over a two-day period in 2013. Hours after his sentence was imposed, the Los Angeles district attorney's office said it had begun the process of having Weinstein extradited to California to face those charges. - 103 policemen are now considered as persons under monitoring in Central Visayas - They have shown influenza-like ailments and were advised to undergo self-quarantine - The Regional Director of Health Services assured the public that there are no policemen who have tested positive for COVID-19 - The region continues to be vigilant in its fight against COVID-19 PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed Amidst the ongoing measures implemented by the government in its fight against the coronavirus, the frontliners, including policemen, are at a high risk of contracting the virus. In Central Visayas, 103 policemen were considered as persons under monitoring or PUMs. These are the policemen who showed flu-like ailments. In response to the condition of the policemen, they were advised to undergo self-quarantine. 103 Policemen tagged as PUMs in Central Visayas (Photo: CNN Philippines) Source: Twitter As per Inquirer, Police Colonel Relie David Canlas, Regional Health Services Director, said during a press conference on March 20 that the PRO-7, which has its headquarters at Camp Sergio Osmena had no policemen who tested positive of coronavirus. Cebu City has also started local testing for COVID-19. PAY ATTENTION: Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! In a previous report by KAMI, the government faced problems when they imposed the initial community quarantine, which was elevated into the now ongoing enhanced community quarantine. It also suspended transportation causing massive problems with commuters. The coronavirus outbreak started out in Wuhan, Hubei Province of China. Scientists believed that the virus came from an animal at one of Wuhan's wet markets. At present, the Philippines is under a state of calamity while the entire Luzon is under an enhanced community quarantine. Please like and share our amazing Facebook posts to support the KAMI team! Dont hesitate to comment and share your opinions about our stories either. We love reading about your thoughts and views on different matters! Are you an avid fan of a celeb? You might want to challenge yourself and see if you can guess the voice of celebs through recordings. Here are some of the answers to our respondents. Check out all of the exciting videos and celebrity interviews on our KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel! Source: KAMI.com.gh Ukraine's Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) has opened a criminal investigation into the possible official negligence of Cabinet officials in the implementation of measures aimed at counteracting the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). "Deputy Prosecutor General, head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office Nazar Kholodnytsky registered a criminal proceeding on the fact of possible official negligence of officials of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine," SAPO said on Facebook on Monday. According to the report, on January 31 and February 8, 2020, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov sent letters to Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk about the urgent need to limit the export and re-export of products that can be directly or indirectly used in the implementation of anti-epidemic, preventive and therapeutic measures in Ukraine to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Cabinet ignored the proposals of the NSDC secretary. According to SAPO, the information on the possible commission of a criminal offense was entered into the Unified Register of Pretrial Investigations on the grounds of a crime under Part 2 of Article 367 of Ukraine's Criminal Code on March 23, 2020. In accordance with Article 214 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine, the pretrial investigation was entrusted to investigators of the central office of Ukraine's State Bureau of Investigations (SBI). Honcharuk served as Prime Minister of Ukraine from August 29, 2019 to March 4, 2020. The authorities in Uganda are trying to track down 84 passengers who were on an Ethiopian Airlines flight with a man who tested positive for coronavirus. They have called on the travellers to come forward for screening. On Saturday, Uganda's health minister Ruth Jane Aceng had said all of them were in quarantine and could easily be monitored. However, that was not the case and the passengers had been let go and told to self-isolate. A government official told the BBC it was assumed all the passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET338 into Uganda had been separated and quarantined. Efforts are now underway to trace them. Meanwhile, at least two priests have been arrested in Uganda for conducting masses despite a ban on religious and other gatherings due to the coronavirus. A priest at a Catholic church in the capital Kampala insisted he was recording a televised service with a production team, but eyewitnesses said several dozen people were in the congregation. Uganda confirmed its first case of coronavirus on Saturday. A number of African countries have reported a jump in infections, including Kenya, Tanzania and Nigeria. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Pune, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/23/2020 -- The global cinnamon market will derive growth from the increasing demand for the product in several countries across the world. According to a report by Fortune Business Insights, titled "Cinnamon Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Ceylon Cinnamon, Saigon Cinnamon, Cassia Cinnamon, Korintje Cinnamon, Others), By Form (Quills, Chips, Powder, Oil, Others), By Application (Essential Oils & Aroma Therapy, Beverages, Bakery, Other Processed Foods, Pharmaceutical, Cosmetics) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026," the market will benefit from the increasing number of product launches by major companies across the world. To Gain More Insights into the Market with Detailed Table of Content and Figures, Click Here: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/cinnamon-market-101925 Some of the leading companies that are operating in the global cinnamon market are: - Pure Ceylon Cinnamon - Fuchs Group - ACH Food Companies, Inc. - Biofoods Pvt. Ltd. - Mc Cormick & Company, Inc. - Sauer Brands, Inc. - Elite Spice, Inc - HDDES Group - SDS Spices Pvt. Ltd. - The Ceylon Spice Company Pvt. Ltd. The report provides an in-depth analysis of the global cinnamon market. It highlights the latest product launches and labels major innovations in the market. In addition to this, it states the impact of these products on the growth of the market. The competitive landscape has been discussed in detail and predictions are made with respect to leading companies and products in the coming years. Forecast values have been provided for the market for the period of 2019-2026. The factual figures have been obtained through trusted sources. Moreover, these predictions are made on the basis of extensive research analysis methods, coupled with the opinions of experienced market research professionals. Product Overview: Cinnamon is a spice that is derived from the branch of a tree. It is used as a flavouring agent in several foods across numerous countries. The demand for cinnamon is rising constantly, accounting to the health benefits it offers, along with the flavors that it possesses. The substance helps reduce blood glucose and cholesterol levels. As cinnamon is an integral part of various cuisines in the Asian and the Middle East countries, as a result of which it has witnessed a huge demand in numerous countries across this region. Recent breakthrough concepts and theories supporting the benefits of cinnamon in treatment against diabetes will open up a huge potential for the companies operating in the global cinnamon market. Major Market Drivers: Increasing Cinnamon-infused Foods Will Provide Impetus to Market Growth The report encompasses several factors that have contributed to the growth of the market in recent years. Among all factors, the increasing use of cinnamon in several foods by major restaurants across the world will create several opportunities for market growth. IN September 2019, the Sri Lanka Export Development announced the launch of a new brand of spice. The company introduced 'Ceylon Spice', an initiative that was taken to produce, process, brand, and promote the original Sri Lankan spices. The report highlights a few of the major industry developments of recent times and gauges their impact on the global market. Request A Sample Copy - Cinnamon Market Report https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/cinnamon-market-101925 Key Segments Analysis: By Type Ceylon Cinnamon Saigon Cinnamon Cassia Cinnamon Korintje Cinnamon Others By Form Quills Chips Powder Oil Others By Application Essential Oils & Aroma Therapy Beverages Bakery Other Processed Foods Pharmaceutical Cosmetics By Geography Regional Analysis: North America to Show Considerable Growth; Increasing Number of Product Launches by Major Companies to Aid Growth The report analyzes the ongoing cinnamon market trends across five major regions; North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa. Among these regions, the market in North America is projected to emerge dominant in the coming years. The huge demand for cinnamon and cinnamon-integrated products will have a positive impact on the growth of the market in this region. Moreover, the advancements in ways to extract and harness cinnamon will contribute to the growing adoption of the substance across several food products. Besides North America, the market in Europe and Asia Pacific will exhibit a considerable CAGR driven by the growing demand for the product in several countries across this region. Industry Developments: October 2017: Fuchs Group announced that it has completed the acquisition of UK based spices and herbs producer, The Bart Ingredients Co. Ltd. Fuchs is already an established manufacturer in this region and through this acquisition, it will look to establish a formidable stand in the market. Related Queries: - cinnamon benefits - cinnamon meaning - cinnamon and honey - cinnamon coffee - what is cinnamon - cinnamon sugar Have Any Query? Ask Our Experts: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/cinnamon-market-101925 The laboratory has registered four new coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Kyiv on March 23, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported. "This afternoon, we received 4 more laboratory-confirmed cases of coronavirus from the State Institution Kyiv City Laboratory Center of the Health Ministry of Ukraine. That is, the number of people living with COVID-19 in Kyiv rose up to 28 people in the capital," Klitschko wrote on his Facebook on Monday. According to him, among the new cases are a 17-year-old girl who returned from studies in London, a 53-year-old woman who contacted a patient in the Kyiv region, a 28-year-old woman who returned from Austria, and a 21-year-old man who had contact with a sick relative. "Two patients are in the Oleksandrivska hospital. And two are being treated at home under medical supervision on self-isolation," the mayor said. Klitschko noted that because of the threat of a possible rapid spread of infection, he appealed to the Ministry of Internal Affairs with a request to tighten control over the observance of severe restrictive measures by Kyiv citizens, especially those arriving in Ukraine from abroad, as well as the implementation by enterprises and institutions of measures to organize remote work of the employees. As reported, according to the Center for Public Health of Ukraine, late on March 22 there have been 73 laboratory confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ukraine. Later on, Klitschko specified that 14 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Kyiv on March 22, not 20, so that the total number of infected reached 24. A couple from Pune, who were the first positive coronavirus cases in Maharashtra, tested negative for the disease after their incubation period of 14 days, said a health official on Monday. The Pune-based couple, along with their daughter, was part of a tourist group of 40 which had returned to Mumbai from Dubai on March 1. They had travelled to Pune by cab. The daughter of the couple and the cab driver also tested positive for the coronavirus subsequently. "Today, the couple's samples were sent for testing to NIV (National Institute of Virology) here after they completed 14 days here at Naidu Hosptial. Their tests have come negative. "As per the protocol, fresh samples will be again sent to NIV on Tuesday morning and if they, too, test negative, the couple will be discharged from the hospital," said the health official. Their daughter, who is in her 20s, and the cab driver are still in the hospital and their samples will be sent for testing after they complete 14-day incubation period, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Christian mother faces court in China for homeschooling her child Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Christian parents in China are paying close attention to a lawsuit filed by Chinas communist government against a Christian mother who chose to homeschool her child instead of sending him to a public school. The mother, identified as Fan Ruzhen, appeared in the Yintai District Court in Beihai on China's southwest coast last week, according to the U.S.-based group China Aid. After summoning her several times and threatening to revoke her government-provided subsistence paycheck to punish her for homeschooling or providing a Christian education to her child, the Chinese government filed a lawsuit against her last September. In the first court session last December, Fan recited her rights and defended her competence to educate her child, the group said. In a December hearing, the judge suggested the two parties reach a settlement, but the government wasnt willing. Her lawyer said the government violated the Compulsory Education Law of China by accusing her. And five teachers came out to support Christian education as a solid alternative to public school, but the government has refused to budge from its opposition. Under Chinese law, all children must attend nine years of compulsory education from elementary school to the end of middle school. But homeschooling is now popularly seen as an alternative among parents opposed to the government curriculum or the countrys exam-oriented education system, according to the online magazine Sixth Tone. Last March, Chinas Ministry of Education urged authorities nationwide to deter non-traditional educational institutions from operating, and threatened to punish parents who send their children to such facilities, the magazine reported. Meanwhile, schools in China have been teaching children that Christianity is an evil cult. According to a 2019 report by Chinese persecution watchdog Bitter Winter, children are being taught to oppose religion, encouraged to question the beliefs of family members and report those closest to them to authorities. Although China claims that it allows religious freedom, it has been carrying out a crackdown on underground churches and Christian activists for years. In 2015, more than 1,000 crosses were removed from church roofs and entire church buildings were destroyed across the Zhejiang province. The Chinese government continued its campaign against Christianity during the countrys coronavirus outbreak by destroying crosses and demolishing a church while people were on lockdown. On March 13, a church in Guoyang County, Anhui Province saw its cross removed by authorities. A video shared by the Chinese Christian Fellowship of Righteousness documented the moment when the crane removed the red cross from the churchs rooftop. Another church in Huaishang district of the city of Bengbu, Anhui province also had its cross removed at the beginning of March, according to International Christian Concern. Ms. Yao, a local Christian, said the removal was led by the head of the local United Front Department, a Communist Party organ employed to govern religious affairs. More than 60 million Christians live in China, at least half of whom worship in unregistered, or illegal underground churches. China is ranked as one of the worst countries in the world when it comes to the persecution of Christians on Open Doors USAs World Watch List. In addition to Christians, the communist government continues to persecute and monitor members of various religious minorities, including the detention of over 1 million Uighur and other Muslims in western China over the last three years. Israel has reported its first death from the COVID-19 coronavirus: Arie Even, an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor who died Friday. There are more than 1,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Israel, health officials said. Born in Budapest in 1932, Even whose birth name was George Steiner survived the Holocaust after his mother was tipped off about their impending arrest. Even, his mother, and brother hid in a basement in the Hungarian countryside; his father had been sent to a Nazi camp, and was able to survive. The family moved to Israel when Even was 17. Even's children spoke with the Los Angeles Times on Sunday, and said he had several other close calls during his life he fled a cholera outbreak in Spain and survived heart attacks. His daughter Ofra told the Times "humanism was in his DNA," and he was concerned about the treatment of Palestinians. "He always spoke about Israeli responsibility." His daughter Yael said their father "believed profoundly in equality, in civil rights. He believed that this land belonged to all of its citizens." His wife, Yona, died in 2012. She was a diplomat, the same career Even had before he resigned, as couples could not serve together. Even's children and 18 grandchildren were not able to visit him during his last days in the hospital, over fears they would catch the virus. The government made an exception so a small funeral could be held for Even on Saturday. It took place in the middle of the night, with the burial team all wearing hazmat suits. Only Even's son, Omri, was allowed to attend. More stories from theweek.com Trump, whose hotel business is losing millions, says 'I'll be the oversight' of $500 billion coronavirus 'slush fund' People are dying after self-medicating with unproven COVID-19 drug promoted by Trump Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick thinks grandparents should be willing to sacrifice their lives to save the economy Syrian President Bashar al-Assad granted amnesty and reduced sentences for all crimes committed before yesterday, while also offering amnesty to military deserters who turn themselves in within the next few months. Similar amnesties have been issued on several occasions, most recently in September of last year. The decree did not say whether freeing prisoners was part of an attempt to halt the spread of the new coronavirus inside Syria's jails. Syria reported only its first virus infection yesterday. Strict measures have been taken across the war-torn country to prevent the spread of the virus, including the closure of restaurants and cafes. Iran, one of the hardest-hit countries in the world by the new virus, released 85,000 prisoners last week on temporary leave. The move was apparently an effort to keep the virus from spreading through Iran's prisons. Iran has been a strong ally of Mr Assad during Syria's nine-year civil war. The conflict in Syria has killed more than 400,000 people and displaced half the country's population. Yesterday's decree granted amnesty to several crimes that weren't included in previous amnesties. "I've had pneumonia so many times and it has almost killed me, and I'm just so scared of having that feeling of not being able to breathe again." When she arrives in Brisbane she will also have to self-isolate alone for 14 days because her mother has chronic lung disease. "If I come with anything I would take her down. I would hate myself if I came back and brought something back with me and made her really sick," Ms Mills said. NSW resident Brendan Williams has watched his plans for a two-year working holiday in Canada disintegrate in less than three weeks. The 24-year-old's trip through Europe, before his move to Canada, also turned from pleasure to peril as he found himself racing to escape lockdowns in three different countries. "I came over here hoping to bounce around Europe for a few months before heading to Canada, but that's pretty much all gone down the drain," he said. Sign up to our Coronavirus Update newsletter Get our Coronavirus Update newsletter for the day's crucial developments at a glance, the numbers you need to know and what our readers are saying. Sign up to The Sydney Morning Herald's newsletter here and The Age's here. Mr Williams fled from lockdown in the Czech Republic to Portugal via Spain with four other Australian men. But they were all barred from boarding their connecting flight in Madrid as they weren't Portuguese citizens. Instead, they headed to the resort town of Alicante in the hope of waiting it out, but Spain's lockdown kicked in and they were soon being questioned by police for being in the country. Loading After a week waiting without any sign of change, Williams struck out for London alone. Now he's unsure of where to go, with his plans of working in Canada in tatters and a flight home to Australia now prohibitively expensive. "I'm essentially in survival mode in England for the foreseeable future because I really don't want to go back to Australia. Especially with all the drama from flights, let alone flight prices and airport closures," he said. In Guatemala, Tom and Cecilia Norris, 33 and 28, were just six weeks into a trip around the world when they first started hearing the Central American government was battening down against the coronavirus. Loading They and fellow Australians Jane Macpherson and David Lord, 33 and 31 respectively, had just returned from an overnight trek when they were told the borders would close at midnight on Monday. They scrambled to leave before being told by the Australian consulate to stay put, but on Wednesday they heard of foreigners leaving by a remote northern border post. The four decided to move in the middle of the night on Thursday. Mr Norris' Guatemalan government contact told them: "You must leave tonight. Do not to stop for anyone, not even the police." "Our driver Dannie joked that we were in a movie. He drove so fast that four hours into the trip he had to stop to pour water on the tyres to cool them down. When he did, they were steaming," he said. After crossing the border, the two couples flew across Mexico to Los Angeles, where they managed to book flights back to Australia just hours before US President Donald Trump closed the US-Mexico border. The four don't know when they will be able to travel again and Mr Norris is concerned about the position travel insurance companies will take when assessing the claims of thousands of Australians returning home. "Until the government's global 'Do Not Travel' warning, we were covered for pandemics. We hope insurers do not try to exploit these unprecedented circumstances and decline coverage because Australians urgently followed our government's own advice," he said. WASHINGTON, March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In a resounding win for the property management industry, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld the district court's decision to dismiss the patent lawsuit between Consumer 2.0, Inc. (dba "Rently") and Tenant Turner, Inc. "We not only defended ourselves from Rently's misguided patent, but we also defended the property management industry's freedom to choose the best leasing software provider from the marketplace as it deems fit," emphasized James Barrett, Chief Executive Officer at Tenant Turner. "Rently attempted to preempt the entire concept of self-access viewings. This is a huge win for renters and property managers everywhere." Rently filed suit against Tenant Turner on July 3, 2018 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. The Court dismissed Rently's complaint later that year following oral arguments and again in April 2019. Rently appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on May 3, 2019. Oral arguments were presented before a three judge panel of the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals on March 5, 2020. The Court unanimously and promptly affirmed the District's dismissal on March 9, 2020. The patent in question broadly described the concept of self-access viewings of properties for lease by property management firms. The Court dismissed the case in favor of Tenant Turner and stated the disputed claim in the patent is an abstract idea not valid for patent protection. "We're thankful the Court has continuously found the claims in Rently's patent to be too abstract of a concept to be owned by a single entity," said Chris Stewart, Chief Technology Officer at Tenant Turner. "The idea of technology assisted self-access viewings shouldn't belong to anyone, but rather be a part of a holistic solution for the property management industry." Laurin H. Mills of Samek, Werther & Mills, counsel to Tenant Turner in the dispute, added, "In 2014, the Supreme Court handed down its landmark decision on patent eligibility in Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank Int'l. Yet, years after Alice, the Patent Office failed to embrace its teachings and issued Rently a patent on the obviously patent-ineligible method of "automated entry." Fortunately, both the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, and the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, spotted the Patent Office's mistake and struck down the Rently patent on automated entry at the earliest possible procedural juncture." "We are grateful for Laurin's unwavering guidance and the Court's wisdom and discernment," declared Brandon Anderson, Tenant Turner's Chief Operating Officer. "Our mission is to deliver technological advancement for the growing residential property management industry, to help our customers be successful stewards for their property owners and responsive to their prospective tenants. Ultimately, we're driving efficiency in housing and increasing occupancyfor which we are proud to fight." About Tenant Turner, www.tenantturner.com Tenant Turner's easy-to-use software brings ease and automation to the home rental process. With Tenant Turner, prospective tenants have the option to self-schedule showings 24/7, freeing up property managers' time and equipping them for growth. Tenant Turner services thousands of property managers across the U.S. and Canada. For more information visit www.tenantturner.com. About Samek, Werther & Mills, www.samek-law.com Samek, Werther & Mills is a boutique general business, litigation, and dispute resolution practice serving clients of all sizes and industries in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. For more information visit www.samek-law.com. Media Contact Brandon Anderson Media Relations [email protected] (804) 256-3542 tenantturner.com SOURCE Tenant Turner, Inc. Across Houston, people are trying to help as their communities suffer through the coronavirus pandemic. The doctors and nurses at Memorial Hermann Hospital included. : Three new positive coronavirus case were reported in Telangana taking the total of those infected to 30, the government said on Monday. The three include one with travel history to France and another to London, according to a media bulletin on coronavirus. The third person is a resident of Karimnagar who came in contact with the 10-member group of Indonesians which tested positive for the virus. The group had stayed in Karimnagar for two days after traveling from Delhi in a train. The lockdown in the state to check spread of coronavirus till March 31 began today. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, said President Donald Trump should direct companies to produce personal protective equipment and other medical supplies. Last Wednesday, Trump invoked the Defense Production Act, which allows him to order that manufacturers make certain equipment necessary for the nation to deal with a crisis. He has not yet compelled companies to do so, however, despite the calls of Gov. Andrew Cuomo and other elected officials, because Trump says companies are doing so voluntarily. Cuomo and other governors have said that, without the federal intervention, they are being forced to compete against each other for the critical supplies, which pushes up prices. The federal government could control the distribution of supplies, sending them where they are needed most, and control prices. Our health care personnel are working overtime to save lives. We must work together to step up as a nation to meet this unprecedented challenge, Stefanik said in a news release. I believe President Trump should take action under the Defense Production Act to meet our nations needs during this national emergency. Stefanik seeks stop to medical purchases from China U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, is a cosponsor of the Protecting our Pharmaceutical Supply from China Act, which would prohibit federal agencies from making drug and medical device purchases from the country over a two-year phase-in and provide incentives to manufacture pharmaceuticals and devices in the United States. The legislation would prohibit the Department of Health and Human Services, Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense from making these purchases. It would also take precautions to track active pharmaceutical ingredients. The time has come for Congress to take serious action to move United States pharmaceutical production out of China. We have become far too dependent on China, and it is time that we equip our domestic pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers to be able to efficiently produce these items here in the United States, Stefanik said in a news release. Creating this transparency in the supply chain should bring security not only to our pharmaceutical supply chain, but also to the American people who rely on their products for their own personal health needs. Covering nontraditional workers U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, was among a bipartisan group of representatives that sent a letter to Senate officials, asking for financial support for small businesses and their employees who may not be covered by unemployment insurance during the COVID-19 crisis. Freelance employees and independent contractors may not be covered by unemployment insurance. Also, small businesses need to have cash flow to remain operational and pay their employees, according to a news release. The letter urges the Senate to: Include the expansion of supplemental unemployment assistance for workers who have been affected by the adverse economic conditions; Bolster the Small Business Administration loan guaranty program by raising the maximum loan guaranty percentage to a minimum of 90%; Include language in its emergency stimulus package that allows more individuals and businesses to utilize the House-passed paid leave tax credits. Small businesses are the backbone of our North Country economy, and they must be protected during this unprecedented crisis, Stefanik said in a news release. Help for veterans U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, is sponsoring legislation to continue educational benefits for veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the current GI Bill, veterans, spouses and dependents only receive half of the authorized housing allowance for online classes rather than the full amount for in-person classes. With on-campus classes suspended across the country because of the coronavirus, veterans risk losing hundreds of dollars in benefits per month. During this unprecedented time, veterans utilizing the GI Bill should not lose any of the benefits they have earned from selflessly serving our country, she said in a news release. State help sought for small businesses Assemblyman Dan Stec, R-Queensbury, is backing legislation to provide relief to small businesses. The Assembly minority has unveiled the Small Business Emergency Recovery Act of 2020, which would: Immediately direct the states settlement reserve fund of $890 million toward small businesses; Create a 0% interest loan program dedicated to helping small businesses meet their payroll commitments; Repurpose available tax credits to help the needs of the states existing small businesses; Use all economic development discretionary funding for existing small businesses within New York; Move tax deadlines for remittance, business tax, and personal income tax ahead 180 days; and Suspend all regulatory fees on small businesses for 180 days. During these troubling times it is important we provide assistance to our local small businesses and their employees in any way we can, Stec said in a news release. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and are crucial to our upstate communities. Many of our residents rely on these businesses being open and their goods and services readily available. Reach Michael Goot at 518-742-3320 or mgoot@poststar.com and follow his blog poststar.com/blogs/michael_goot/. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The coronavirus pandemic is causing panic in Australia's hotel sector, with bookings and occupancy rates plummeting in the past week. Hotel companies are facing unprecedented challenges, with few people staying in hotels or likely to do so for some time and occupancy rates expected to drop to 10 per cent. Julian Clark is the chief executive and co-owner of the Lancemore Group of hotels which is grappling with the business impact of coronavirus. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui Julian Clark runs the Lancemore Group of hotels and warned there could be 75,000 people unemployed in the sector within a month, a figure backed by Tourism Accommodation Australia. The Lancemore Group was started by Mr Clark's mother 34 years ago and the group's hotels include The Lindenderry in Red Hill, The Mansion Hotel in Werribee and The Larmont in Sydney. Computer & Technology New Research In Action Report IT and Enterprise Service Management SaaS And Software: The Top Global Vendors 2020 23.03.2020 14:13:10 - Germany 23. March 2020: While process automation, Artificial Intelligence (AI), bots and ITSM for non-IT Assets are a high investment priority for most enterprises, the vendor landscape is changing. (live-PR.com) - While some vendors have made acquisitions to expand their growth and to accelerate the adoption of new technologies such as AI, other vendors have continued their organic extension into the automation and optimization of services outside of IT namely into the enterprise or business teams. As enterprises realize that service excellence within reflects positive on the ability for its - While some vendors have made acquisitions to expand their growth and to accelerate the adoption of new technologies such as AI, other vendors have continued their organic extension into the automation and optimization of services outside of IT namely into the enterprise or business teams.As enterprises realize that service excellence within reflects positive on the ability for its teams to serve customers, the demand towards enterprise service management has fueled the market growth at all global IT and ESM vendors. Research In Action GmbH has updated its global market analysis report Vendor Selection Matrix IT and Enterprise Service Management SaaS and Software: The Top Global Vendors 2020. The Vendor Selection Matrix is a unique, primarily survey-based methodology for comparative vendor evaluation. A minimum of 60% of the evaluation results are based on a survey covering 1,500 IT buyers in enterprises worldwide. The analysts opinion accounts for a maximum of 40% of the evaluation results (not close to 100% as in most other vendor evaluations). Report details can be viewed here: Eveline Oehrlich, Research Director for IT Automation at Research In Action GmbH comments: ITSM and ESM have become one. The extension of ITSM tools towards enterprise services is a natural evolution and elevates ITs value to the business. Joined decision making between IT and the business. The provisioning and delivery of services is no longer the job of IT only. Digital attitudes will continue to drive the adoption of ESM. Managing the network of workers, connectivity, data security, regulatory compliance, internal governance and the management and compensation of device usage for example, must be managed and orchestrated by a team or function to ensure excellence in service delivery and support. Demands for agility, velocity and improvements of service quality require intelligent automation. The automation of processes has always been one of the fundamentals of IT and Enterprise Service Management. Agile thinking and Digital Transformation models such as DevOps require intelligent automation across all processes within the service eco system. AI and Machine Learning support modern ways of working and interacting. Intelligent chatbots and other AI-assisted service tools are on the rise and are providing an efficient and automated way to improve customer and employee journeys. The gain in economic benefits and scalability of these has great benefits. The modern ways of working require collaboration and coordination which demand further innovations. Teams comprised of global, local, internal and external team members which are part of partners and suppliers need models to collaborate and coordinate. Employee and customer experience rules. Research has shown that there is a close link between employee experience and customer satisfaction. Modern IT and Enterprise Service Management tools empower the workforces of today to improve customer experience. Who came out on top? Here are the Top 10 results Vendor Selection Matrix IT and Enterprise Service Management SaaS and Software: 1. ServiceNow 2. BMC 3. Micro Focus 4. Cherwell 5. Serviceware 6. Matrix42 7. Efecte 8. TOPdesk 9. Freshworks 10. IBM Vendor Selection Matrix Disclaimer: Research In Action GmbH does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in our research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings. The information contained in this research has been obtained from both enterprise as well as vendor sources believed to be reliable. Research In Action GmbHs research publications consist of the analysts opinions and should not be considered as statements of fact. The opinions expressed are subject to change without further notice. Research In Action GmbH disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. About Research In Action: Research In Action GmbH is a leading independent information and communications technology research and consulting company. The company provides both forward-looking as well as practical advice to enterprise as well as vendor clients. Press Contact: Research In Action GmbH Eveline Oehrlich Research Director Alte Schule 56244 Hartenfels Germany Telephone: +49 151 40158054 E-Mail: Internet: teams to serve customers, the demand towards enterprise service management has fueled the market growth at all global IT and ESM vendors. Research In Action GmbH has updated its global market analysis report Vendor Selection Matrix IT and Enterprise Service Management SaaS and Software: The Top Global Vendors 2020. The Vendor Selection Matrix is a unique, primarily survey-based methodology for comparative vendor evaluation. A minimum of 60% of the evaluation results are based on a survey covering 1,500 IT buyers in enterprises worldwide. The analysts opinion accounts for a maximum of 40% of the evaluation results (not close to 100% as in most other vendor evaluations).Report details can be viewed here: researchinaction.de/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/VSM-ITESM-GL-2020-WWW.pdf Eveline Oehrlich, Research Director for IT Automation at Research In Action GmbH comments: ITSM and ESM have become one. The extension of ITSM tools towards enterprise services is a natural evolution and elevates ITs value to the business. Joined decision making between IT and the business. The provisioning and delivery of services is no longer the job of IT only. Digital attitudes will continue to drive the adoption of ESM. Managing the network of workers, connectivity, data security, regulatory compliance, internal governance and the management and compensation of device usage for example, must be managed and orchestrated by a team or function to ensure excellence in service delivery and support. Demands for agility, velocity and improvements of service quality require intelligent automation. The automation of processes has always been one of the fundamentals of IT and Enterprise Service Management. Agile thinking and Digital Transformation models such as DevOps require intelligent automation across all processes within the service eco system. AI and Machine Learning support modern ways of working and interacting. Intelligent chatbots and other AI-assisted service tools are on the rise and are providing an efficient and automated way to improve customer and employee journeys. The gain in economic benefits and scalability of these has great benefits. The modern ways of working require collaboration and coordination which demand further innovations. Teams comprised of global, local, internal and external team members which are part of partners and suppliers need models to collaborate and coordinate. Employee and customer experience rules. Research has shown that there is a close link between employee experience and customer satisfaction. Modern IT and Enterprise Service Management tools empower the workforces of today to improve customer experience. Who came out on top? Here are the Top 10 results Vendor Selection Matrix IT and Enterprise Service Management SaaS and Software:1. ServiceNow2. BMC3. Micro Focus4. Cherwell5. Serviceware6. Matrix427. Efecte8. TOPdesk9. Freshworks10. IBMVendor Selection Matrix Disclaimer:Research In Action GmbH does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in our research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings. The information contained in this research has been obtained from both enterprise as well as vendor sources believed to be reliable. Research In Action GmbHs research publications consist of the analysts opinions and should not be considered as statements of fact. The opinions expressed are subject to change without further notice. Research In Action GmbH disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.About Research In Action:Research In Action GmbH is a leading independent information and communications technology research and consulting company. The company provides both forward-looking as well as practical advice to enterprise as well as vendor clients.Press Contact:Research In Action GmbHEveline OehrlichResearch DirectorAlte Schule56244 HartenfelsGermanyTelephone: +49 151 40158054E-Mail: eoehrlich@researchinaction.de Internet: www.researchinaction.de Press Information: Research In Action GmbH Contact Person: eMail: eMail 23.03.2020 14:13:10 - Disclaimer: If you have any questions regarding information in this article please contact the author. Please do not contact Live-PR.com. We are not able to assist you. Live-PR.com disclaims content contained in this article. Live-PR.com is not authorized to give any information about content and not responsible for content posted by third party. ESPOO, Finland, March 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Picosun Group's first priorities are customer satisfaction and health and wellbeing of the Group's employees and customers. Picosun takes extremely seriously the global threat posed by the COVID-19 novel coronavirus epidemic and follows the rules set by governments and WHO. As the epidemic restricts global traveling, the importance of local offices and subsidiaries close to the customers is of utmost importance. The last years have been the time of rapid growth and expansion for Picosun. Strong emphasis has been put on new recruitments especially on the service and support sector. Trained and qualified staff of service engineers are on call at the Group's US locations in Texas, Arizona, and California and Asian locations in Japan, China, Taiwan, and Singapore. Dedicated sales and support personnel in Germany and France are available for the Group's European customers. Local process support is also available on each continent. At Picosun's Finnish headquarters and local offices, employees are encouraged to remote work from home whenever possible. Meetings are arranged virtually via video links and online platforms and inviting external visitors to the company's premises is minimized to bare necessities. Cleaning of the premises and other hygiene measures have been intensified. All recruitment interviews are conducted remotely. Despite of the challenging times, Picosun's customer projects and deliveries continue. Process support and applications consultancy is always available from our Ph.D. level experts, and our Helpdesk serves 24/7 at [email protected]. Delivered PICOSUN ALD system installations and commissioning, as well as customer support on-site, are taken care of by local Picosun offices with their trained and experienced staff. "All of us here at Picosun wish good health and safety to everybody in this difficult and unexpected situation. In times like this, collaboration is the key to success and speedy recovery. Our business continues and we will put all our effort in sustaining the high level of quality that is the trademark of Picosun. We will further intensify our efforts to bring the benefits of ALD to medical industry. ALD is the very technology that enables our modern, mobile, data-driven and interconnected global society. Now is the time when this society can truly work together for better future," says Jussi Rautee, CEO of the Picosun Group. For more information regarding your projects or deliveries, please contact your respective Picosun sales or support contact person. For quotations for our ALD equipment and solutions, or process demo, please contact [email protected] or [email protected], respectively. As several expos and conferences the Group is sponsoring or exhibiting at have been postponed, please see the new dates in our event calendar on our website. Picosun is looking forward to meeting you all again later this year in good health and spirits! Picosun provides the most advanced AGILE ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition) thin film coating solutions for global industries. Picosun's ALD solutions enable technological leap into the future, with turn-key production processes and unmatched, pioneering expertise in the field - dating back to the invention of the technology itself. Today, PICOSUN ALD equipment are in daily manufacturing use in numerous leading industries around the world. Picosun is based in Finland, with subsidiaries in Germany, North America, Singapore, Taiwan, China, Korea, and Japan, offices in India and France, and a world-wide sales and support network. Visit www.picosun.com. More information: Mr. Jussi Rautee CEO, Picosun Group Tel. +358-50-321-1955 Email: [email protected] Web: www.picosun.com CONTACT: Minna Toivola D.Sc., Marketing Manager Picosun Oy Email: [email protected] Tel: +358-40-758-8748 This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/picosun-oy/r/picosun-reinforces-local-operations-to-ensure-customer-satisfaction-during-the-covid-19-epidemic,c3065687 The following files are available for download: SOURCE Picosun Oy Once upon a time, Jake Tapper, although leaning left, was a reasonably balanced reporter. The Trump years, however, have destroyed his ability to separate fact from opinion. Now, hes as bad as any other mainstream media reporter. And if you doubt that statement, you only need to look at his conduct on Sunday, when he allowed himself to be used twice as a conduit for incorrect, left-leaning material. It started early in the morning when Tapper interviewed Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the avatar of the modern Democrat Party, about New Yorks shortage of masks and ventilators. During the interview, Ocasio-Cortez repeated the Politico lie that President Trump called coronavirus a hoax. As the video shows, though, what Trump said was that the hoax was the medias politicized attacks against him through the vehicle of the coronavirus, just as they attacked him about Russia and Ukraine. When Ocasio-Cortez repeated this debunked lie, Tapper sat there, blinking like moronically, saying nothing: AOC just repeated the lie that President Trump called coronavirus a "hoax." This is not true, and has been debunked by numerous fact checking sources. This would've been a great time for a fact check, @jaketapper... https://t.co/Ps1hItAKGA pic.twitter.com/X8qQEwMthF Abigail Marone (Text EMPOWER to 88022) (@abigailmarone) March 22, 2020 After being called upon for letting Occasional-Cortez get away with this defamatory remark, Tapper had the gall to defend himself by claiming that Trump was lying, not about coronavirus, but about the fact that the media was attacking him: I thought about it, because the president did not call the virus a hoax. But i didnt because he *did* call a hoax the concerns of those saying that the response from the president was insufficient and that he was downplaying the gravity of the crisis. And that too was a lie. https://t.co/MdPeulQpZ1 Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) March 22, 2020 Apparently, Tapper hasnt been watching Trumps now-daily press conferences, during which the media is often more intent upon arguing with and attacking the president than they are on getting facts for the American people. Moreover, Tapper also seemingly missed that Trump was the only leader in the world to take the Chinese Virus so seriously that he closed Americas borders to China at the end of January. Then, the media attacked Trump as a racist; now, the media accuses him of being passive and ineffectual. Showing that Tapper's abysmal excuse for allowing Occasional-Cortex to lie wasn't an anomaly, he was at it again Sunday evening. On Sunday, Reuters published a half-truth story that implied that America could have stopped the coronavirus if Trump hadnt eliminated a CDC position that had an American representative in Beijing to monitor epidemic outbreaks. Both the Reuters headline and the first fifteen paragraphs focused tightly on that missing CDC person. Much of the articles content read like standard Chinese propaganda. It was only in the sixteenth paragraph that the truth emerged. Because the position was in Beijing and China deliberately suppressed information about what was happening in Wuhan, an American presence in Beijing wouldnt have made any difference: One disease expert told Reuters he was skeptical that the U.S. resident adviser would have been able to get earlier or better information to the Trump administration, given the Chinese governments suppression of information. In the end, based on circumstances in China, it probably wouldnt have made a big difference, Scott McNabb, who was a CDC epidemiologist for 20 years and is now a research professor at Emory University. The problem was how the Chinese handled it. What should have changed was the Chinese should have acknowledged it earlier and didnt. Despite being a reporter, Tapper didnt bother to read the whole Reuters report. Instead, he retweeted it, putting his professional imprimatur on a half-truth that functioned as a lie: (Reuters) - "Several months before the coronavirus pandemic began, the Trump administration eliminated a key American public health position in Beijing intended to help detect disease outbreaks in China, Reuters has learned."https://t.co/uo7oNTNHlL Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) March 22, 2020 And once again, when called upon it, Tapper offered a pathetic defense: If you dont like Reuters headline and first paragraph dont take it up with me. Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) March 22, 2020 People on Twitter were quick to point out that Tapper is a weasel. The following is just one of many examples: You tweeted out one part of the piece whole ignoring a crucial detail: The dismissal according to experts was irrelevant due to China covering up discovery and early spread of the contagion. Jake, why is CNN reluctant to report Chinas role in all of this? Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) March 22, 2020 As noted above, Tapper is not the only failed journalist out there. Its just that his one day output represents what all the mainstream "journalists" are doing. At days end, it was President Trump who best summed up whats happening out there in Media Land: Trump referred to coronavirus as the Chinese virus, and the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, accused China of spreading disinformation about the novel coronavirus; but can China be sued by governments of the world and be held legally accountable for the spread of COVID19? According to a Fox News report, China CAN be held legally accountable. Twitter It is believed that China initially covered up the intensity and true information about coronavirus emergence. An Israel-based attorney - who specializes in suing terrorist regimes and state sponsors who orchestrate human rights abuses on behalf of victims - Nitsana Darshan-Leitner told Fox News, "Generally countries like China have sovereign immunity and governments cannot be brought to regular courts or held liable regardless of their conduct. However, an argument could be made that just like support for terrorism, which is legally actionable, a government that engages in such reckless disregard and negligence and covers up an epidemic which has the potential to spread worldwide could be held legally liable. Reuters Darshan-Leitner further explained, "Cover-ups and deliberate acts to conceal a deadly medical crisis are not [among] the protected acts of a sovereign state or of responsible leaders." If anyone like a hospital or a chemical company learns of a dangerous and highly contagious disease and then deliberately covers up its existence, they can clearly face criminal and civil liability. She said, "China is not to blame for creating the virus but for not sounding the international alarm and trying to conceal it from the world." Reuters A study by the University of South Hampton in the UK claims that China could have prevented 95 per cent of coronavirus infections if its measures to contain the outbreak had begun three weeks earlier. The study said, Coronavirus cases could have been reduced by 66 per cent if the measures were taken a week earlier, or by 86 per cent if action began two weeks earlier. If action was taken three weeks later, then the situation could have worsened 18-fold. Reuters A timeline by Axios states that China reported its first patient that started showing COVID-19 like symptoms on December 10. China was obligated to report the outbreak of coronavirus early and governments can sue it for not doing so, before international tribunals. Cuban doctors and medical professionals landed in Italy on Sunday to aid the country's fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Doctors, nurses and a logistical team arrived to provide support to Italian medical personnel who are dealing with a growing number of patients which are straining the country's medical system. Italy now has more than 59,000 cases and 5,476 deaths. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia but the vast majority of people recover from the virus. The coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 328,275 people and killed more than 14,300 people worldwide. More than 95,650 people have recovered so far, mostly in China. President Donald Trump's war on official Washington began almost the minute he took office. Since his inauguration, he's proposed steep cuts to department budgets, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. His team sowed chaos with dramatic reforms at agencies like the State Department (which he called the "Deep State Department" on Friday). He's left a huge number of positions unfilled: The Pentagon alone has a record number of civilian vacancies. His loyalists have tried to spy on and scapegoat career officials, who are not tied to any party or president, at the National Security Council. This war has taken on greater intensity since Trump's acquittal in the U.S. Senate's impeachment trial last month. Last week, he fired Russell Travers, the acting director of the National Counterterrorism Center and a decades-long member of the intelligence community, and his deputy, in an apparent campaign to root out what he's called the disloyal "snakes" in government. The Travers incident would be worrisome even before the coronavirus was spreading dramatically and the stock market was crashing. But it makes clear Trump remains as dedicated to his war against government as to the one against the pandemic. Although the president tweets about being at "war" against the disease, Trump will struggle to get the people and policies to win it as long as he remains obsessed with his Washington purge. Trump and his loyalists have long claimed to be beset by a "deep state," and it's true the president has met resistance - in bureaucratic brinkmanship and leaks like the anonymous New York Times op-ed. Trump is far from the first president to face intrigues, but his response has been singular, particularly since the impeachment proceedings, in which several civil servants gave what he saw as damaging testimony. Upon the Senate's acquittal, Trump took revenge, using a disloyalty list to oust some of those players and others across the Pentagon, Treasury Department, NSC and intelligence community. This sort of purge is undermining government at a time when it is needed most. Even though the White House has rightly promised a "whole-of-government" pandemic response, which requires all agencies - including national security departments - working together, the government is far from whole. More than two-thirds of the top jobs at the Department of Homeland Security, which plays a key role in domestic response, are vacant or filled by acting officials. The Department of Health and Human Services and other agencies are similarly shorthanded. A hunt for disloyalty makes it harder to find qualified people to fill these jobs and keep the other positions filled: It's no wonder the White House has resorted to hiring college students. The loyalty tests also have made it hard to simply offer advice, leaving many of the best minds in public health and other policy howling on Twitter and cable news. Tom Bossert, who served as the administration's first homeland security adviser and oversaw much of the government's biosecurity portfolio, reportedly tried to advise the White House as the crisis built but his calls were blocked by officials in the administration. A purge in government also makes it harder to develop the best policies. Unforeseen crises are opportunities for new voices and new ideas to be heard, but people speak up only when they trust giving honest advice will not hurt their careers. Clearly that is not the case in Washington: trust is the first casualty of a snake hunt. That's one reason so many former officials are worried about the message the purge and its dismissals will send to those remaining in the ranks of the intelligence community. (Nine former intelligence chiefs wrote a public letter about this Friday.) It's also why so many meetings with Trump on coronavirus begin with praise. Even as testing lagged behind, CDC Director Robert Redfield said the most important message he wanted to deliver during the president's tour of the agency's Atlanta headquarters was to thank the president for his "decisive leadership." Unless they bend a knee, advisers know their advice may fall on deaf ears or their tenures be cut short. Although much still is to be learned about Trump's stubborn and stilted response to the coronavirus pandemic, it is not hard to see the purge's damage in the dysfunction so far. All the missteps and misstatements suggest loyalty has too often carried more weight than expertise. The president's Oval Office address to the nation two weeks ago was just one piece of proof. Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, who reportedly sought advice from a relative's Facebook group, led the drafting. It was Kushner who apparently advised Trump not to declare a "national emergency" in his remarks: one of many mistakes that had to be corrected in the speech's aftermath. Kushner reportedly set up a "shadow task force" of loyalists and private advisers that is sowing confusion among the government's existing experts and Trump's panel for fighting the pandemic. Trump is not the first to mistakenly prioritize government loyalty over its performance. Before George W. Bush launched the Iraq War, Defense Secretary Don Rumsfeld publicly rebuked and sidelined Army Chief of Staff General Eric Shinseki, who told Congress the war effort would require a much bigger force than planned. Rumsfeld also sought to remove reconstruction team members because of their previous work for Democrats. Colin Powell's State Department was viewed as soft and insufficiently committed to the mission; its insights were ignored. The disaster in Iraq had many causes, but purity tests were among them: They suggested to those in government something was more important than winning the war. The war was lost anyway, along with the lives of thousands of Americans and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis. Amid a spiraling pandemic, that death toll is an object lesson. How history judges Trump's handling of coronavirus will depend not on how those in government feel about the president but how they perform in the weeks and months ahead. With the health of millions and his own legacy on the line, Trump must realize he has to pick his battles and the one that matters is not with the government but with the virus that threatens so much. - - - Gans, the director of communications and research at the University of Pennsylvania's Perry World House, is the author of "White House Warriors: How the National Security Council Transformed the American Way of War." DAVIS, Calif., March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- USDA Service Centers in California will continue to be open for business by phone appointment only and field work will continue with appropriate social distancing. While our program delivery staff will continue to come into the office, they will be working with our producers by phone, and using online tools whenever possible. All Service Center visitors wishing to conduct business with the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or any other Service Center agency are required to call their Service Center to schedule a phone appointment. In the event a Service Center is closed, producers can receive assistance from the closest alternate Service Center by phone. Producers can find Service Center phone numbers at farmers.gov/service-center-locator. FPAC agencies continue to look at the flexibilities to deliver programs on behalf of producers, just as they have in past situations, such as natural disasters. Farmers and ranchers are resilient and FPAC agencies will continue to deliver the farm safety net programs and resource conservation programs that keep American agriculture in business today and long into the future. Online services are available to customers with an e-Auth account, which provides access to the farmers.gov portal where producers can view USDA farm loan information and payments and view and track certain USDA program applications and payments. Online NRCS services are available to customers through the Conservation Client Gateway. Customers can track payments, report completed practices, request conservation assistance, and electronically sign documents. Customers who do not already have an e-Auth account can enroll at farmers.gov/sign-in . For the most current updates on available services and Service Center status visit farmers.gov/coronavirus. SOURCE USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service (Newser) Negotiations between Congress and the White House teetered Sunday over a nearly $2 trillion economic rescue package as the coronavirus crisis deepened, per the AP. As President Trump took to the podium in the White House briefing room and promised to help Americans who feel afraid and isolated as the pandemic spreads, the Senate voted against advancing the rescue package. But negotiations continued on Capitol Hill. At the otherwise emptied out Capitol, the draft aid bill was declared insufficient by Democrats, who argued it was tilted toward corporations and did too little to help workers and health care providers. The setback sent Republicans back to the negotiating table. Americans don't need to see us haggling endlessly, warned Senate Majority Leader McConnell on the Senate floor. He sought passage of the package by Monday. story continues below But Democrats say the largely GOP-led effort does not go far enough to provide health care and unemployment aid for Americans, and fails to put restraints on a proposed $500 billion slush fund for corporations. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said the draft package significantly cut back our hospitals, our cities, our states, our medical workers and so many others needed in this crisis. The package would include relief checks to Americans, possibly two separate ones for a total of $2,000. Trump predicted the two sides would reach agreement soon. "To me it's not very complicated: We have to help the worker. We have to save the companies," Trump said. "We're enduring a great national trial and we will prove that we can meet the moment. We're at war." (Rand Paul became the first US senator to test positive for the virus.) (Read more coronavirus stories.) BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The lockdown of Belgium due to the coronavirus epidemic will continue for at least the next eight weeks, health minister Maggie De Block told the De Zondag paper on Sunday. From March 17, Belgians are only allowed to leave home to buy food, for health-related errands or to assist someone in need. Schools and universities are closed and employees of most companies have to work from home. Non-essential travel abroad is prohibited until April 5, all gatherings are banned and police are patrolling the streets to monitor and enforce the restrictions. Asked how long this would last, De Block said: "That's the million dollar question! We are now heading towards the peak of the epidemic, after which the curve will descend. I think this situation will last for at least another eight weeks. It would be the normal curve." She said the estimate was based on what happened in China and South Korea, where the epidemic hit earlier. (Reporting by Jan Strupczewski; Editing by Catherine Evans) Bernacki Joins Leadership Team at AmWINS Group AmWINS Group, Inc. ("AmWINS"), a global distributor of specialty insurance products and services, today announced that Mark R. Bernacki will join the firm as president of AmWINS Special Risk Underwriters (SRU) and executive vice president of AmWINS Group, effective March 30, 2020. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200323005508/en/ Bernacki Joins Leadership Team at AmWINS Group (Photo: Business Wire) In his role, Bernacki will drive strategy and build capacity for SRU, which underwrites risks on behalf of domestic and international carriers and distributes exclusively via AmWINS brokers. Also, as executive vice president for AmWINS Group, he wil lead the alternative risk team and work with Underwriting Division President Bob Petrilli to grow the division organically and via M&A. "Mark brings a depth of knowledge and experience to our property business and adds valuable perspective based on his time spent in London, said Petrilli. "His market savvy, combined with his industry relationships, will be a perfect fit to support SRU's continued growth and to deepen market connections for the division as a whole." Prior to joining AmWINS, Bernacki spent 14 years at Beazley Group, where he most recently served as head of global property and as a member of the executive committee. Prior to his tenure at Beazley Group, Bernacki worked at Liberty Mutual Group in various leadership roles, including vice president of broker operations for Liberty Mutual Property. "I'm thrilled to join the AmWINS family," said Bernacki. "The opportunity to build on such a strong foundation alongside a team who shares my beliefs and business values makes me excited for what's to come." Bernacki received his bachelor's degree in Finance and Management from the University of Wisconsin. About AmWINS Group, Inc. AmWINS Group, Inc. is the largest independent wholesale distributor of specialty insurance products in the United States, dedicated to serving retail insurance brokers by providing property and casualty products, specialty group benefit products and administrative services. Based in Charlotte, N.C., the company operates through more than 115 offices globally and handles premium placements in excess of $17.4 billion dollars annually. To learn more, visit www.amwins.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200323005508/en/ Photo: Jerald Jackson/Flickr Missed the most recent top news in Houston? Read on for everything you need to know. Two local children test positive for COVID-19 Read the full story on FOX 26 Houston. Man with dementia missing from Houstons East End, police say Read the full story on KHOU 11 News. At least 8 Houston firefighters now in quarantine Read the full story on FOX 26 Houston. The number of Houston-area coronavirus cases stands at 166, with 2 deaths, 7 recoveries reported Read the full story on KPRC2 / Click2Houston. Open Book: Houston Chronicle invites you to digital storytime Read the full story on Houston Chronicle. This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. As of Saturday evening, roughly 150 people in the Houston area had tested positive for COVID-19. According to health officials, two of the most recent patients are children under the age of 10. Houston police are asking the public to keep an eye out for Samuel Ramirez-Gonzalez, 75. The City of Houston has secured safe and secure accommodations for Houston firefighters who were exposed to COVID-19 and were not able to quarantine at home. Here is a quick look at the coronavirus cases that have been reported in the Greater Houston area. Our economy has never felt a sudden shock quite like this. Beaches are closed. Non-essential businesses in parts of the state are closed. Factories have been idled. Unemployment claims are spiking. Its a lot to keep up with. Heres Alabamas latest economic news -- good and bad. And a few things to know about how swiftly-changing national policies could affect you. What you need to know tonight National: The Senate failed to pass a procedural vote for a $2 trillion economic stimulus package intended to reverse a sharp downturn in the nations economy. Alabama Sen. Doug Jones was the lone Democrat to vote with the Republicans on the bill -- after voting against a similar procedure on Sunday -- saying he was embarrassed by partisan gamesmanship. At dispute is the amount of money dedicated to corporations vs. the amount of money allocated to working families and healthcare providers, as well as what rules are in place to ensure bailout funds get to the workers. Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says Democrats and the White House are nearing a deal. The Federal Reserve is taking unprecedented steps to try to calm the market. They announced today a plan to buy as much government-backed debt as it deems necessary. And for the first time ever, the Fed said it plans to buy corporate debt, too. It didnt work. The market continued to slide after the news. State: As the strictest coronavirus measures took effect in Jefferson County, Gov. Kay Ivey announced the state would push back the income tax filing deadline to July 15, matching the Federal extension. Market Update Dow open: 19,028.36 Dow close: 18,584.34 (Down 3.04%) In case you missed it What were watching Bill Thornton has a story coming tomorrow morning about how Alabamas timber industry is being spurred by a surprising source: a national demand for toilet paper. Speaking of, heres a toilet paper calculator to determine how much you really need. Resources Coronavirus in Alabama: How many infected; where to get tested; key information you need Coronavirus in Alabama: How to help, how to get help What happens if you lose your job due to coronavirus? What to do if you cant pay your bills Alabama urging employers to file unemployment claims on employees behalf COVID-19 COVERAGE RESOURCES: Follow our live updates. Find all of our coronavirus stories. A continuously updated vital information post. A free text-messaging service so you can receive the most urgent coronavirus updates on your cellphone. And ask questions. To sign up, subscribe to Alabama Coronavirus Urgent Alerts. A new weekday newsletter is available. You can subscribe here. Also, download our mobile app where you can receive on-the-go notifications. Yes, Ukraine will ask for 5.5 billion dollars under a three-year program and 4.5 billion dollars as assistance in the fight against coronavirus Open source Ukraine may receive increased funding of up to 10 billion dollars from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which will include 5.5 billion dollars under a three-year program and 4.5 billion dollars as assistance in the fight against coronavirus. It was reported by EPravda with reference to the interlocutor at the National Bank of Ukraine. The IMF has recently announced that countries would be able to use additional support tools in order to fight the coronavirus. These are the Rapid Credit Facility (RCF) and the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI). It should be noted that Iraq is one of the first to get aid from the Fund in the amount of 5.4 billion dollars. However, according to the newspaper, Ukraine is considering another option - to increase funding under the EFF program to about 10 billion dollars. "The EFF is a support tool, on which we have reached a preliminary agreement for 5.5 billion dollars. We can increase the volume of this program and give the government, in full or in part, the first, increased from 0.6 to 2-2.5 billion dollars in order to cope with urgent needs that are caused by the coronavirus, the interlocutor in the NBU stated. As we reported earlier, such an increase in financial assistance for Ukraine was discussed between President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and IMF Head Kristalina Georgieva. Executives at Tennessee-based Ingram Content Group affirmed their commitment to support the bookselling and publishing trade as best they can through the coronavirus crisis. On Sunday, the metropolitan Nashville Mayor issued a shelter in place order for Davidson County, Tenn., which covers a geographical area where a large number of Ingram employees live and operate, and took effect as of midnight. But as Ingrams wholesale, distribution, print on demand, and digital services fall into exceptions in the directives that were been issued, the operations are considered essential services and the company has been encouraged to continue operations. We are monitoring all global geographies where we do business for announcements regarding COVID-19 and are adjusting our business accordingly," said Ingrams president and CEO Shawn Morin in a statement Sunday evening. "At this time, we can report that all our facilities and distribution centers around the world remain open. Ingram Content Group continues to take actions to support the health and safety of all our associates as well as provide critical services to the industry in these difficult times, In conversation with PW last week, Morin said, "Our industry is obviously experiencing unprecedented shifts in how consumers buy books. These shifts include changes in book availability due to supply chain issues, traffic at retail stores, temporary closures of libraries and retailers, and an increase in direct to consumer book sales, whether in print or digital formats." He added, "Ingram is fortunate to be in a unique position where it can help the industry cope with fallout from the coronavirus." The company's ability to cope with any closures was a key point in the conversation. "We have built in a lot of redundancy into our operations," said Morin, noting that with five North American distribution centers, on distribution center in the U.K., as well as seven global print-on-demand facilities, if business is disrupted in one location, it can be shifted to another. "Many of our print centers are co-located with distribution centers. This capability removes risk from the supply chain and provides direct access to channels," he said. "We are also capable of directly serving global channels of distribution through all of our locations. As volume shifts in channels of distribution we are shifting our people and connectivity to where business is going, while paying careful attention to the needs of those who are most affected." Morin noted that disruptions in the traditional supply chain were already happening, some of which were changing on-sale dates or keeping books out of stores, and that Ingram was seeing an increase in titles being made available through its Lightning Source POD system across all sectors, from trade and academic titles, to children's and illustrated books. "Our Lightning Source POD solution is a risk-free way to guarantee availability and access to channels on a global basis. Our established and extensive network of distribution and print on demand serves as availability insurance should there be supply chain disruptions." In addition, Ingram's digital distribution platforms, CoreSource, which provides distribution for e-books and audiobooks, and VitalSource, for e-learning and digital textbooks, has seen an influx of titles and conversions as well. With so many bookstores closed to customers, many booksellers are shifting their customers to shop online, either through their own proprietary sites or through IndieBound, and many are depending on Ingram's ability to continue fulfilling orders. Ingram's direct to home program, which fulfills books ordered by customers directly, bypassing the store altogether has seen increases in volume, confirmed Morin. In addition, other online retailers for which Ingram fulfills orders, including Bookshop.org, Target, Walmart, and Amazon--plus some stores not so well known for being in the book space--have also seen an increase in sales. Categories that are trending are children's books, cooking, self-help, work and activity books, as well as journals. This, naturally, can only keep up so long as Ingram can keep its offices and warehouses running. "We have developed business continuity plans in the past, but this is unprecedented," said Morin, who explained that those able to work at home have been given permission to do so. "For our warehouses we are focused on keeping our associates safe and healthy. We are allowing for timing between shifts, are focused on social distancing and are cleaning like crazy. If we find ourselves with a requirement to close a facility, we are confident we can be back up and running very quickly." The key for this to work for the industry is communication. "We have spoken to nearly all of our publishers and retailers in the course of the past several weeks. If our colleagues in the industry have a question or idea about how Ingram can help, we want them to call us," said Morin. "All in all, we feel like we are in a good position to help the industry during this difficult time. Ingram associates are working hard all over the world with publishers, retailers, and libraries to provide business continuity. We want to make sure that all of clients and customers are aware of ways that they can work with us to help defend their business and prepare for the future." Mitchell Kaplan, president of Books & Books in Miami, has closed his five bookstores and was forced to furlough 80 employees. He's offering online sales and using his small warehouse to fulfill orders. "When that doesn't work, we are relying on Ingram to deliver books. We are dependent on them and it would be very disruptive if they had to shut down operations," said Kaplan. "As booksellers, we will rely on them now more than ever and are grateful they are there for us." Baystate Health is among several Massachusetts health networks and hospitals seeking donations of masks, eyewear and other personal protective equipment as they work to weather the coronavirus pandemic. Items the Springfield-based health network needs include: gloves gowns N95 masks surgical masks face shields goggles Baystate is not accepting donations of hand-sewn masks. Staff will determine whether other supplies offered for donation can be used. To make a donation, call 413-794-6552 or email covid19PPE@baystatehealth.org. To help with Baystates ability to purchase these items, call 413-794-2025 or email PPEpurchasing@baystatehealth.org. The health network is also accepting monetary donations through the Baystate Health Fund. This fund provides resources that can be put to use immediately where the need is greatest and where your donation can do the most good, Baystate said Tuesday. To donate, visit BaystateHealth.org/Giving. Related Content: Airlines cancelled more flights on Monday, as Australia and New Zealand warned against non-essential domestic travel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) halted flights for two weeks and Singapore and Taiwan banned foreign transit passengers in the coronavirus battle. As demand evaporates, the number of scheduled flights last week was down more than 12 percent globally from the year earlier, flight data provider OAG said, with many airlines having announced further cuts to come. "It is a war against a virus," Andrew Herdman, director general of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines, told Reuters in a telephone interview. "What we have to do is take care of the institutions and people's livelihoods, the soft capital, so that we can restart effectively in a timely way when the time comes." Ratings agency Moody's estimated global capacity would fall by 25 percent to 35 percent this year, assuming the spread of the virus slowed by the end of June. The UAE, home to major carriers Emirates and Etihad Airways, said it would suspend all passenger flights and airport transit for two weeks to help rein in the virus. The decision takes effect in 48 hours, it added, with cargo and emergency evacuation flights exempted. Emirates said on its website it would temporarily suspend all passenger services for two weeks starting March 25 due to the government directive. Singapore Airlines Ltd had been planning to halve its international capacity before the Asian city-state banned entry or transit by short-term visitors on Sunday. It stepped that up to a cut of 96 percent through at least the end of April, responding to what the carrier on Monday called the greatest challenge it has faced in its existence. "Without a domestic segment, the group's airlines become more vulnerable when international markets increasingly restrict the free movement of people or ban air travel altogether," it said, announcing plans to ground most of its fleet. The airline normally relies heavily on connecting passengers from markets such as Australia to Europe and India to North America through its hub. Singapore Airlines would look to defer aircraft deliveries and has drawn on lines of credit to meet immediate cashflow requirements, it added. Taiwan announced similar curbs that will hit China Airlines Ltd and EVA Airways Corp, which have marketed Taipei as a convenient and affordable transit airport, competing with Hong Kong and Singapore. In Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd has cut its passenger capacity by 96% in April and May as government curbs hit travel. Planemaker Airbus announced new steps to bolster its financial position, including the signing of a credit facility for 15 billion euros ($16.1 billion). Airbus added it was withdrawing its 2020 financial guidance, dropping a proposed 2019 dividend that had a cash value of 1.4 billion euros and suspending funding to top up staff pension schemes. In the southern hemisphere, Qantas Airways Ltd, Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd and Air New Zealand Ltd were re-examining domestic schedules after their governments advised against non-essential domestic travel. Regional Express Holdings Ltd (REX), which serves remote Australian towns, said it would shut all operations, except some subsidised routes, from April 6, unless governments quickly expressed a willingness to underwrite its losses. Australia's largest airport operator, Sydney Airport Holdings Pty Ltd, wants to cut capital spending from a forecast A$350 million to A$450 million ($200 to $257 million), so as to focus only on critical projects, it said on Monday. In Hawaii, which ordered 14 days in quarantine for all arrivals from Thursday, Hawaiian Airlines said it would suspend most long-haul passenger services except for a daily flight from Honolulu to Los Angeles and a weekly flight to American Samoa. In mainland China, the first to have been hit by the virus, domestic capacity has been rising as some internal curbs are eased, but there are concerns that passengers on international flights could re-import the virus. China's aviation regulator said all international flights due to arrive in the capital will be diverted from Monday to other airports in the country. More than 570,000 flights to, from and within, China alone were cancelled from Jan. 1 to March 16, flight data provider Cirium says. Also read: Coronavirus pandemic: ATF price slashed by 12%; petrol,diesel prices unchanged Also read: Coronavirus in India Live updates: AIIMS to shut OPD wing; Parliament defers budget session Indians will continue to be Indians. As the nation observed the 'Janta curfew' called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, March 22, they also took part in a nation-wide event to mark the curfew. At 5 PM, Indians queued on their balconies and doorsteps, and clapped, banged on pots, pans and plates. They created the "sound" to thank the healthcare and essential service workers on the front line of the fight against #Coronavirus. They took PM Modi's 'taali bajao, thaali bajao' advice and acted on it. After the exercise, they went back inside their homes, and managed to convince, send and receive a fake message on WhatsApp about the event. During Diwali every year, the same message of "NASA sharing visuals of India from space" starts circulating with an image. Every single year, without fail. That's definitely fake. The new message, also on similar lines, stating how 'NASA satellite videos LIVE telecast have shown that the coronavirus is retreating in India thanks to the people's efforts at 5 PM on 22nd March." If this wasn't unscientific enough, the message continues with "The cosmic level sound waves generated have been detected by NASA's SD13 wave detector and a recently made bio-satellite has shown COVID-19 strain diminishing and weakening." Soon, people started sharing this forwarded message on Twitter. You seem to have forgotten clapping and beating plates (this actually happened at 5 PM across India today). Apparently NASA has confirmed that it worked. pic.twitter.com/V40gaW10ZX Brihadeesh (@_peregrinator_) March 22, 2020 Congrats India. Seems like the war against #CoViD has been won. Whatsapp has started receiving results straight from NASA. https://t.co/A11BsvJIq5 Kahanikaar (@vishalvkumar) March 22, 2020 It's 2020, and we really shouldn't have to be 'fact-checking' this for you, since the chances of receiving a genuine WhatsApp forward in a Desi family group is very, very low. But, here it is, anyway. The forwarded message is (obviously) fake. For starters, NASA can't record sounds from the earth in isolation. There is no possible way, scientifically, or otherwise, to do that. Sounds recorded of the earth can be recorded, then isolated from the background noise, which in this case, the clapping and the banging was the background noise. So no, NASA did not record any sounds of India's clamour. Here's how NASA does record its sounds, though. Secondly, there is no such this as an "SD-13 Wave Detector", that is owned by NASA. Here's a list of a general idea of the equipment NASA owns on the electro-magentic spectrum, and this 'wave detector' is definitely not on it. So the viral message, is fake, through and through. But this wasn't the only bit of fake news. There were a lot more, unscientific claims. NASA has said that as of today India is the only country that can be heard from space. This is happening for the first time in human history. So proud of my country! UNESCO has declared this the best measure taken against Covid-19. Please RT to the maximum. Rajesh Bysani (@fartfree) March 22, 2020 NASA released map with highest decibels registered across all parts of India. This is what am expecting soon. sobanbabu (@Sobanism) March 22, 2020 Two months ago, Modi met scientists of ISRO and Nasa to discuss #coronavirus, where he wondered if it would be possible to spray chemical all over India with the help of a satellite. Parth MN (@parthpunter) March 21, 2020 Two months ago, Modi met scientists of ISRO and Nasa to discuss #coronavirus, where he wondered if it would be possible to spray chemical all over India with the help of a satellite. Parth MN (@parthpunter) March 21, 2020 NASA HAS DECLARED INDIA AS MOST MUSICAL COUNTRY IN WORLD PP (@momoskhanehaibc) March 22, 2020 BREAKING NEWS!!!NASA has announced that the astronauts on their International Space Station could hear our loud clapping noises from India at 11:30 am GMT We indians have finally made our voices hear loud and clear across the world!!! JAI HIND #clapforourcarers Leena Mathew (@leenasind) March 22, 2020 Some people also played on the 'NASA Diwali message' and produced a gem of a meme, we really wanted to applaud. No one Literally no one Indian Uncles on whatsApp:India today at 5.00 PM picture taken by NASA pic.twitter.com/vNUve98QdL Noor Sayed (@imNoorsayed) March 22, 2020 NASA has released satellite image of india today.. pic.twitter.com/gpBaQqQ6I5 sameer khan (@306f32c65f9a46e) March 22, 2020 NASA predicted what India might look like today pic.twitter.com/cSju2nVsxS Reddit India (@redditindia) March 22, 2020 Amazing picture of India on March 22, 5pm - from NASA pic.twitter.com/v1wrGPqVYY rabhinder kannan (@rabhinderkannan) March 22, 2020 NASA releases satellite image of India today at 5pm pic.twitter.com/73C5xiUw3i Hatim Ali (@orkyaboltetum) March 22, 2020 Nasa has just released a photo of India from Space. Real. Not fake. pic.twitter.com/IEmYrBMYnl (@theAmeyRane) March 22, 2020 Indians becoming self-aware about the fake WhatsApp forwards is something that surely deserves claps. Slow claps. The Tamil Nadu government on Monday announced a series of intensified measures to tackle coronavirus such as pasting stickers on the houses of overseas returnees advised self-quarantine and setting apart over 9,000 beds and 560 ventilators in government hospitals. Outlining the initiatives taken by the government for thwarting the spread of the contagion and managing the infected, Chief Minister K Palaniswami told the state assembly that Rs 500 crore has been allocated from the state disaster relief fund for anti-virus initiatives, up from the initial sum of Rs 60 crore. In a bid to ensure those under home quarantine on return from foreign countries do not come into contact with outsiders, he directed officials to "paste home quarantine information" on the doors of houses of such people. Data on home quarantined people should be shared with police, local bodies and field health officials so that people getting in contact with those isolated will be avoided, he said. Incidentally, the Greater Chennai Corporation separately announced it would paste stickers at the houses of those under home quarantine so as to alert others to avoid contact with them. As of now, those returning from foreign countries and not having any symptoms of coronavirus are asked to remain under home quarantine for 14 days as a precautionary measure. Batting for strict monitoring of people who had travelled abroad and those who had been in touch with them, Palaniswami said surveillance should be on in respect of their self-quarantine considering public good. The chief minister said he issued the directions during a review meet held by him here on Monday on the measures to check coronavirus which has infected nine people in the state, where a lockdown will come into effect from Tuesday 6 PM. "Understanding the gravity of the situation, people should resolutely stand shoulder to shoulder with the Tamil Nadu government," he said. All, in particular those who returned from abroad and other states should furnish information about them to the health department and extend full cooperation, he said. "In the first phase, of the 92,406 inpatient beds in government hospitals, 9,266 beds have been converted as isolation beds and this number will be increased on need basis," he said. As many as 560 ventilators, and monitors have been additionally allocated for government hospitals to create intensive care unit facilities. Medical equipment needed to create 500 more ICU beds were being procured and all drugs required to treat coronavirus patients have been adequately bought and kept ready, he said. Private hospitals have been advised to earmark 25 per cent of beds for treating the virus patients, he said. "I am directly monitoring the situation," he said adding Chief Secretary K Shanmugam was heading a task force and Ministers for Health, Municipal Administration and Revenue were involved in anti-virus initiatives. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Some of the UKs top research groups will work to assess how the Covid-19 coronavirus spreads and behaves by sequencing its genome in labs across the nation. The Covid-19 Genomics UK Consortium composed of the NHS, Public Health Agencies, Wellcome Sanger Institute, and numerous academic institutions will use whole genome sequencing to map the spread of the virus and how it behaves. It is believed this technique will lead to a greater understanding of the virus, allowing scientists to identify variants in the genetic code that may help to treat future mutations. The project follows on from the likes of scientists in China and France who have already sequenced the genetic makeup of the virus to better understand how it functions. Business secretary Alok Sharma said: At a critical moment in history, this new consortium will bring together the UKs brightest and best scientists to build our understanding of this pandemic, tackle the disease and ultimately save lives. As a Government we are working tirelessly to do all we can to fight Covid-19 to protect as many lives and save as many jobs as possible. Samples from substantial numbers of infected people will be handed on to labs in Belfast, Birmingham, Cambridge, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Norwich, Nottingham, Oxford and Sheffield, which will then collaborate to build a clearer picture of how the virus functions. Recommended New symptom of coronavirus could be loss of taste and smell Using this data, scientists will be able to monitor changes in the virus at a national scale to understand how the virus is spreading and whether different strains are emerging. Government chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance said: Genomic sequencing will help us understand Covid-19 and its spread. It can also help guide treatments in the future and see the impact of interventions. The UK is one of the worlds leading destinations for genomics research and development, and I am confident that our best minds, working as part of this consortium, will make vital breakthroughs to help us tackle this disease. Professor Sir Mike Stratton, Director of the Wellcome Sanger Institute, added: In response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the Sanger Institute will deploy its large-scale sequencing platform alongside regional sequencing centres to support UK Public Health Agencies, regional NHS centres and several universities to better understand the coronavirus outbreak in the UK. Samples from substantial numbers of confirmed cases of Covid-19 will be whole genome sequenced and, employing the Sanger Institutes expertise in genomics and surveillance of infectious diseases, our researchers will collaborate with other leading groups across the country to analyse the data generated and work out how coronavirus is spreading in the UK. This will inform national and international strategies to control the pandemic and prevent further spread. [March 23, 2020] Talroo to Offer Free Marketing Automation to Healthcare Companies Interviewing and Hiring Online AUSTIN, Texas, March 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- At a time when the hiring landscape is changing quickly, Talroo is offering free marketing automation to healthcare companies to boost interest and attendance in online interviews and events. As some sectors of the economy inevitably pause hiring based on the Coronavirus outbreak, other sectors like healthcare, logistics, delivery, and more are ramping up to meet demand. With much of the countrys workforce adjusting to working from home and now being reliant on online communication tools, the hiring process is also moving online. Talroo aims to use its automated communication module from its Talroo Events product to support the healthcare markets most time-sensitive and vital hires. With the recent urgency to move to hosting virtual events and online interviewing, more companies are relying on Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Hangouts, and other tools to get a face-to-face connection with candidates. Other companies have been using platforms like Brazen, HireVue, or ModernHire for online interviewing and hiring already. No matter what software recruiters are using, Talroo can make that investment more worthwhile by boosting attendance to those online events whether they are webinars, video intervies, or open office hours. Talroo automates regular email and text communication with candidates, so recruiters dont have to spend time manually contacting people and reminding them of their events. There is also a free sharing function that enables employers to push to their social networks at no extra cost. If healthcare companies need more candidates to interview, Talroo can also help more than 64 million healthcare job searches happen each month on Talroos network. Were in uncharted waters with how COVID-19 will effect hiring in the long term. Short term, however, its clear that vital services still need to be provided, and some companies, especially in healthcare, will need to move to scalable on-demand methods to improve hiring efficiency. Talroo intends to support our partners in any way possible over the weeks and months to come, said CEO Thad Price. If you're interviewing online or hosting online events, and you need more healthcare candidates, let us know at [email protected] or get started here. About Events Events is a full-service product that attracts candidates to physical and online hiring events. Ideal for both large employers and recruitment ad agencies, Events finds the right job seekers, automates messaging to candidates, and gets the right people to in-person hiring events, open houses, and career fairs all while providing candidate volume at a competitive cost-per-registrant. Events is ideal for high-volume, high-turnover industries like warehouse, retail, customer service, and healthcare. About Talroo Talroo is a data-driven job advertising solution that helps businesses reach the candidates they need to make hires. Through AI, unique talent audiences, and a pay-for-performance model, Talroo enables companies to find their ideal candidates and reduce cost-per-hire. Talroo has earned a spot on the Inc. 500/5000 list of fastest-growing companies for six consecutive years. To learn how Talroo can help your organization hire better, visit talroo.com. Media Contact: Samantha Smith [email protected] 512-717-0650 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] UPDATE: All Michigan residents, most businesses ordered to stay home to slow spread of coronavirus The governors office has briefed business leaders on an upcoming executive order that would further shut the state down and keep Michigan residents in their homes, according to Michigan Chamber of Commerce CEO Rich Studley. Studley said he agreed with the governors decision. Whitmers executive orders have been measured, have been thoughtful and its clear to us the governor has been focused on doing the right thing at the right time. Another person on the call speaking on background said the order would go into effect at midnight but allow for the wind-down of some processes. Businesses will support the order, the source said. A spokesperson for the governor did not confirm that the stay-at-home order was coming. The governor plans an 11 a.m. press conference. Business leaders over the weekend had discouraged the governor from taking such action. But the cascade of other states doing so escalated and grew to include neighboring Ohio. States including Ohio, Illinois and California have ordered residents to stay at home with exceptions for essential trips. Whitmer shot down rumors of a shutdown as recently as Friday afternoon but left the door open. Now, I recognize that not having plans to do something right now doesnt mean at some point we might have to take more aggressive action, she said. She said Friday she was sharing best practices with other states. Studley said he and other business stakeholders have been in constant communication with Whitmers administration and other states. Studley said Whitmer is working very hard to do this in a way that doesnt unnecessarily harm or do permanent damage to our states economic health." Over the weekend, Michigan hit more than 1,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus. The governor also further restricted some business, shutting down tattoo parlors, salons and barbershops. PREVENTION TIPS In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores. Complete coverage of coronavirus in Michigan. MBABANE Keeping the elderly and children at home, hand sanitising and keeping a metre distance was observed among several churches, while others staggered their services. This follows the government ban of large gatherings; especially events of more than 50 people. In order to comply with the precautions issued by government through the Ministry of Health and World Health Organisation (WHO), several churches with a large membership had to stagger their services to stick to the specified 50 persons. Among other churches, the Mbabane Alliance Church, which has a large membership, divided their services into 14 groups. This has resulted in their services being divided into seven groups each on Saturday and Sunday due to their large membership. In an interview with Reverend Johannes Mazibuko, the leader of the church, he said although the national emergency was delivered during the due course of last week, the church had started implementing the precautions. Mazibuko said following the announcement, they met as the church leadership to strategise on how they would properly implement the precautions as per governments call. He said although it was seriously affecting their services, they considered to follow the precautions because it was important to protect congregants. Accommodate According to Mazibuko, the church will have services on Saturday and Sunday in order to accommodate all members. Reverend Mazibuko said congregants would choose days and times that they were comfortable with and services would begin from 8:30am until 5pm on both days. According to the cleric, normally, they met on Sundays where they divided into two groups for the English and siSwati services, breaking off at 1pm. Mazibuko said due to the new arrangement, they had reduced their services to a minimum of one hour. We had no idea on how we would be able to achieve this but it has to happen, said the reverend. Meanwhile, he said the church started last week to follow the precautions where they held talks creating awareness regarding the COVID-19 pandemic where they engaged health workers. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-24 02:16:53|Editor: yan Video Player Close DAKAR, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Senegalese Minister of Health and Social Action Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr on Monday confirmed that 12 new cases of COVID-19 were reported across the country, bringing the total number to 79. During the daily press briefing on COVID-19 in Senegal, Sarr said his ministry received 12 positive tests from the Institut Pasteur in Dakar, including six imported cases, two cases infected by confirmed patients, and four community transmission cases. Meanwhile, according to the minister, three more patients are now cured of COVID-19. A Senegalese who had returned from Italy and tested positive on March 11, known the country's fifth confirmed case that set off a chain of local transmission, is among the three. Since midnight Friday, Senegal has suspended all international passenger flights till April 17. From Monday midnight, Senegal and The Gambia will close their borders for 21 days in order to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. Since Saturday, Senegal and Mauritania have closed their borders till further notice. Of the 79 COVID-19 cases in Senegal, 38 are imported; eight patients have been declared cured by local health authorities. Police were called to Queen's Park in Bolton, Greater Manchester, on Sunday afternoon: Google A seven-year-old girl was stabbed to death in a park in a totally unprovoked and random attack in front of her family, according to police. The child was attacked as she enjoyed the sunshine at Queens Park in Bolton, Greater Manchester, on Sunday afternoon. Members of the public detained the suspect, a 30-year-old woman, immediately after the stabbing at around 2.30pm. Detectives said the woman was not known to the family of the girl. She is being held for questioning by Greater Manchester Police after officers arrested her on suspicion of murder. Words cannot describe how awful this attack is, said assistant chief constable, Russ Jackson. The family were out in the park, enjoying the spring sun when in a totally unprovoked and random attack this little girl sustained horrendous injuries and sadly died a short while later. This is a familys worst nightmare. The incident is horrendous and I cannot begin to imagine what the family of this little girl are going through. We are determined to quickly understand how this came to happen, leaving a young family so distraught and so devastated in an instant. Police said in a statement that officers were called to the scene at 2.34pm after receiving emergency calls about the attack. Ambulance and police attended and found that a seven-year-old girl had been attacked by a woman with a knife, the force added. The child sustained extremely serious injuries and, despite the best efforts of her family and medical responders, she sadly died a short while later. The assistant chief constable said the force was working to understand the motive for this completely random and brutal attack. The girls family is being supported by specialist family liaison officers. Read more Man arrested after two women stabbed to death in neighbouring houses Senator Mbella Moki Charles Facebook The Presidency of the Republic of Cameroon has been sending text messages attributable to President Paul Biya calling on citizens to strictly adhere to anti-coronavirus restrictions rolled out by government as 56 positive cases are now known. Together, with a spirit of citizenship, courage and sense of responsibility, lets bar the spread of the coronavirus by respecting the guidelines of the Government and the World Health Organisation, the SMS signed by Paul Biya read. Chief Dr. Dion Ngute Joseph, Prime Minister, Head of Government has since taken the relay to expound on the various measures prescribed by the President of the Republic in a bid to contain the spread of the virus. The public is urged to strictly observe the hygiene measures recommended by the World Health Organisation, including regular hand washing with soap, avoiding close contact such as shaking hands or hugging, and covering the mouth when sneezing, Dion Ngute said in a tweet in furtherance of presidential prescriptions. On March 18 when the thirteen measures instructed by the President of the Republic, Paul Biya went into effect, the Prime Minister called on the public to observe the measures with responsibility, discipline and solidarity, while not giving in to panic. In many other tweets, the PM reminds citizens that gatherings of more than 50 persons are prohibited throughout the national territory, averring that a system for regulating consumer flows will be set up in markets and shopping centres. Although the countrys territorial borders were closed from March 18, the Prime Minister in a statement said In accordance with the CEMAC Treaty, trade with member countries continues under strict observance of appropriate health controls. Enter Senator Mbella Moki Charles On Sunday, Senator Mbella Moki Charles of the South West Constituency took to Facebook to harp on the killer nature of the novel coronavirus and urged citizens to diligently adhere to measures taken by government to roll back the pandemic. The threat is real and devastating ... Let us be humble and face realities. The challenge is huge and enormous. We should as a Nation seek God, said the Senator. The former two-term Mayor of Buea in two separate Facebook posts Monday March 23, 2020 warned that ignoring the measures taken by government could be disastrous. His words: COVID 19: Our major towns should stop ignoring government advice. Coronavirus is not a hoax. It is an urgency of the moment. We need no other argument, we need no other plea. Coronavirus is a pandemic. Everyone should respect government's advice. Although some persons have been quick to remind the Senator that lawmakers were the first to flout presidential anti-coronavirus directives, others are of the opinion that it is not too late for the Senate and the National Assembly to adjourn their on-going First Ordinary Sessions given that gatherings of more than 50 persons have been prohibited. The easiest way for the novel coronavirus to spread is by airborne droplets from an infected person's coughs or sneezes. But you can also get the virus if you touch a surface or object that has microbes on it and then touch your nose, mouth or eyes. According to a study published last week in the Journal of Hospital Infection, university students touched their face 23 times per hour, with 56 percent of the contact with skin, 36 percent with the mouth, 31 percent nose and 31 percent eyes. Stay up to date on the latest coronavirus news with mySA.com: As data is still being collected on SARS-CoV-2 (the novel coronavirus), the study examined the lifespan of the similar SARS coronavirus on various inanimate surfaces. At a temperature of 68 degrees, SARS lasted: Less than 8 hours on latex 2 to 8 hours on aluminum 2 days on steel 4 days on wood 4 days on glass 5 days on metal 5 days on ceramics 5 days on plastics (but one strain survived up to 9 days on plastic) Those findings likely also apply to SARS-CoV-2, Rachel Graham, an epidemiologist at the University of North Carolina, told Business Insider. In general, nonporous surfaces like doorknobs, desktops and airplane seat trays tend to transmit viruses better than porous surfaces such as paper money, human hair, rug pile and fabrics. The microscopic holes or spaces in porous surfaces can trap the microbes, preventing them from being transferred. One surface touched by people all the time is a great place for germs to hang out their cellphone. The glass and metal surface of a cellphone often harbors contagions, especially on phones that are carried into the bathroom. University of Arizona researchers found cell phones carry 10 times more bacteria than most toilet seats. The Journal of Hospital Infection study found that temperature changes have a major effect on the lifespan of viruses. SARS, for example, does not like heat at 86 degrees its survival on steel surfaces was cut by at least 50 percent. But it does thrive in high humidity, moderate temperatures and low-wind environments. The easiest way to kill coronaviruses like SARS-CoV-2, according to the study, is the most obvious with a disinfectant. Solutions containing 62% to 71% ethanol alcohol, 0.5% hydrogen peroxide or 0.1% sodium hypochlorite will do the trick within a minute. Wiping down a desk with hand sanitizer won't kill the virus because the alcohol content is not high enough. MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE: Mike Moffitt is an SFGATE Digital Reporter. Email: moffitt@sfgate.com. Twitter: @Mike_at_SFGate Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas recently made an announcement that deserved far more attention than it received both for what it says about the present, and more ominously, what it portends for the future. Pappas disclosed there are 57,515 property owners who need to pay their property taxes to avoid foreclosure at a May 8 tax sale. That is exactly 17,000 more than last year at this time, she said. There are, obviously, a variety of reasons why so many property owners in that county are behind a 42 percent increase compared to this time last year. One can write them off to forgetfulness and administrative errors of one kind or another. But those are issues that are not new. So is there something else at play here like property taxes that have become so onerous people cant pay them? Pappas wants the Legislature to extend the payment deadline to avoid mass foreclosures. But thats just putting a finger in the dike, because the property-tax problem is only going to get worse. Thats one reason why the abject failure of Gov. J.B. Pritzkers property-tax task force is, even if not surprising, so disappointing. Last year, in an effort to persuade some legislators to approve putting his proposed progressive-income-tax constitutional amendment on the November 2020 ballot, the governor promised that a legislative task force look at the problem of rising property taxes and propose solutions. Thats a time-honored ruse give us a high income tax and well lower property taxes that Illinois politicians have employed. But they usually go through the motions, producing platitudes and bromides that end up on a shelf somewhere gathering dust. Facing a Dec. 31 deadline, the 88-member task force demonstrated its lack of zeal by doing virtually nothing, then failing to meet it. This week, the chairman of the revenue committee in the Illinois House stated the obvious there will be no report and no recommendations for improving the situation. Two factors are at play. Our legislators simply arent up to the heavy lifting thats required to effectively address complicated issues. Further, the states property-tax problem is hugely complicated, to the point that it would probably take a complete restructuring of the tax system in Illinois that would cause political complications for our re-election-focused legislators. Republicans on the property-tax task force came up with their own set of proposals to ease spending pressure on local taxing bodies, like eliminating unfunded mandates and eliminating and/or consolidating local units of government. Democrats essentially ignored them while complaining that there is no one real solution that is going to offer one-size-fits-all relief. you have all these ideas that come together, and no one can gain a majority to author a finalized report, said state Rep. Mike Zalewski, chairman of the House revenue committee. There are reasons for that. Property taxes are imposed by local units of government, of which there are far too many. To ease the burden on local governments, the state would have to both lower the locals costs while providing them with more revenue. So far, the state shows little interest in doing either to any significant degree. As a consequence, spend-happy legislators want to raise taxes to support their policy while local officials rely on a steady stream of property-tax increases to meet their obligations. Thats all well and good until property owners cant take it anymore because they dont have the financial resources. Is that whats happening in Cook and the collar counties? Is so, when will the contagion spread downstate, where property taxes are already high and constantly going higher? If anything is obvious about this state and its massive fiscal woes, its that the governor and legislators simply wont act until circumstances are so bad that they have no choice. Thats why its one tax increase after another. Theres a breaking point. Pappas announcement should serve as a warning that a property-tax apocalypse is coming, perhaps sooner than those in charge anticipate. News-Gazette, Champaign New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday said it was mulling over shutting down its functioning and considering to hear urgent matters through virtual means. The top court said that by Tuesday evening, all lawyers' chambers in and around the apex court premises would be sealed. A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde said the apex court administration would temporarily cancel all proximity cards to dissuade lawyers from coming to the court. The bench, also comprising justices L N Rao and Surya Kant, said only Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Dushyant Dave could authorise lawyers to enter the top court premises for urgent reasons. It said there would be no gathering of lawyers on the court premises till further orders. The chief justice said he would take a call on Monday itself on a possible shut down or to advance the summer vacations, as demanded by the lawyers' organisations. The issue of shutting down the apex court's functioning was raised by the SCBA president and the members of the Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. KARSTEN MORAN, STR / NYT Activist investor Carl Icahn is nearing a truce with Occidental Petroleum Corp. that will see three new directors appointed to the oil companys board, according to people familiar with the matter. The deal would also see the billionaire investor support the return of Occidentals former Chief Executive Officer Stephen Chazen as chairman, the people said, asking not to be identified because the matter is private. A settlement has yet to be signed, and the talks could still fall apart or the terms change, they said. Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India has postponed the preliminary exams for the recruitment of assistant engineers (AE) and assistant administrative officer (AAO) which were scheduled to be conducted on April 4. LIC has issued a short notice on its official website at licindia.in regarding the postponement. Candidates can check the official notice online. The preliminary examination for the recruitment of AE and AAO (specialist) 2020 scheduled for April 4, 2020 is postponed till further instructions. All applicants are requested to constantly visit our website www.licindia.in> careers> recruitment of Assistant Engineers/ AAO (specialist) 2020 page for regular updates. The recruitment drive is conducted to fill 50 vacancies of assistant engineers and 168 vacancies for assistant administrative officer (specialist). The preliminary exam will be conducted online and the questions will be objective in nature. There will be 100 questions from reasoning ability, English language and quantitative aptitude carrying a maximum of 70 marks. Candidates who will clear the PT will have to clear the mains and interview. The shortlisted candidates will have to a undergo a pre- recruitment medical examination. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Spain's death toll from coronavirus surged by 514 today, a 23.6 per cent increase which takes the total to 2,696. The latest figures from the Spanish health ministry mark the country's largest one-day increase in deaths since the outbreak began. The overall number of infections also rose sharply, jumping by 6,584 - an increase of nearly 20 per cent - to reach a total 39,673. The latest jump comes a day after Spanish soldiers were revealed to have found dead and dying people abandoned in multiple care homes, after the army was called in to disinfect the properties over virus fears. Spain's defence minister Margarita Robles said the military had found 'some old people completely abandoned, sometimes even dead in their beds'. Some people's bodies were found under the same roof as loved ones who were still alive, Spanish media says. Reports say that some care home staff had been sent home after virus outbreaks were detected at the properties, making it likely that elderly residents were infected. Spain's general prosecutor has launched an investigation as authorities promised to be 'strict and inflexible' about safeguarding older people. Army units disinfect a residential home in Spain after it emerged that dead and abandoned pensioners had been found in properties similar to this one Spanish army units wearing protective gear work outside a residential home in Andalucia A sanitary worker cleans the nursing home where a woman died and several residents and care providers have been diagnosed with coronavirus in Grado Members of Spain's Military Emergency Unit walk with special equipment to disinfect areas to prevent the spread of coronavirus A military team enters the Abando Indalecio Prieto Renfe station in Bilbao to disinfect it due to the coronavirus crisis yesterday The Spanish military were mobilised to focus on elderly care homes towards the end of last week. State prosecutors have already announced they are investigating a Madrid care home where at least 17 people have died. Monte Hermoso, near the Spanish capital's biggest park Casa de Campo, was identified last week as the first care home rocked by mass deaths due to coronavirus. Regional health chiefs confirmed yesterday that 21 people had died at a care home in Alcoy near Alicante identified as Domus Vi. The places where bodies have been found 'abandoned' have not been identified. Spain's Defence Minister Margarita Robles told a prime-time Spanish TV programme: 'The army, during some visits, has seen elderly people absolutely abandoned, if not dead in their beds. 'We are going to be strict and inflexible when dealing with the way old people are treated in these residences.' Members of a military emergency unit work near a residential home in Spain, some of which have sparked alarm after people were found dead or abandoned there Members of Spain's Military Emergency Unit attend the Palacio de Hielo mall in Madrid last night which will be used as a morgue to store dead bodies of coronavirus victims The Monte Hermoso care home in Madrid, pictured, where at least 19 people have died of coronavirus. Authorities have not named the care homes where people were found abandoned The Domus Vi care home in Alcoy, Alicante, where regional health chiefs said yesterday that 21 people had died. Authorities have not named the care homes where people were found abandoned Coronavirus has infected more than 33,000 and killed 2,200 in Spain alone. Pictured: Members of Spain's Military Emergency Unit with specialist disinfectant equiptment Soldiers tasked with disinfecting care homes in Spain as part of measures to slow the spread of coronavirus are discovering abandoned bodies. Pictured: Soldiers disinfected a shopping mall which will be used as a morgue Insisting that the great majority of elderly care homes did a proper job of caring properly for their residents, she added: 'The full weight of the law will be brought to bear on those who don't fulfil their obligations.' Those who have died are mainly people over 70 and particularly the over-80s, health ministry spokeswoman Maria Jose Sierra said. 'Nearly 70 percent of patients placed in intensive care units are more than 60 years old,' she added. Under coronavirus protocols, health workers have been instructed to leave bodies in place in suspected Covid-19 deaths until the arrival of a doctor. But given the upsurge in deaths, the delay can be lengthy. Politicians in Madrid have admitted 20 per cent of its elderly care homes have coronavirus cases. The Madrid region has suffered the brunt of the epidemic with 12,352 infections - just under a third of the total - and 1,535 deaths, or 57 percent of the national figure. With the city's funeral services completely overwhelmed, Madrid officials have commandeered the Palacio de Hielo ice skating rink to serve as a temporary morgue in order to handle the surge in deaths. This map shows the latest number of cases around the world, as of Monday evening. Spain is the third-biggest cluster of cases, behind only Italy and China Politicians in Madrid have admitted 20 per cent of its elderly care homes have coronavirus cases. Pictured: Policeman outside a shopping mall which will be used as a morgue An ambulance drives through a civil guards' check point on a highway in Madrid yesterday Spain yesterday praised the health workers on the front line of the crisis, but warned that the crisis is yet to peak. Health workers account for nearly 12 per cent of Spain's total 33,089 registered cases which rose by 4,517 yesterday from the 28,572 recorded on Sunday. The national health service is 'demonstrating a great capacity to respond in an exceptional situation', health minister Salvador Illa told a news conference. He warned the next week would be difficult, and that the epidemic could reach its peak in Spain in the coming days. Retirement homes are 'an absolute priority for the government', the health minister told a press conference. 'We will exercise the most intensive monitoring of these centres.' Earlier, the city hall said the city's 14 public cemeteries would stop accepting more bodies because staff there did not have adequate protective gear. The improvised morgue would start to be used 'in the coming hours,' the regional government of Madrid said. 'This is a temporary and exceptional measure which aims to mitigate the pain of the family members of the victims and the situation hospitals in Madrid are facing.' A nearby congress centre has been converted into a field hospital for coronavirus patients that will have a total of 5,500 beds. Civil Guards check cars on a highway in Madrid yesterday. The region around the capital has been the worst-affected part of Spain Volunteers Felicia Gonzales (left) and Juan Carlos Infantes (right) prepare bags with food for vulnerable people at a restaurant in Madrid yesterday Madrid has also converted a major conference centre named IFEMA into a temporary hospital to deal with the wave of patients flooding the healthcare system. The field hospital will have 5,500 beds once it is fully sent up, including 500 in an intensive care unit. Soldiers were also deployed to Barcelona to help build a temporary homeless shelter at the city's Fira event centre. The shelter, to be managed by the Red Cross, will allow up to 1,000 homeless people to isolate themselves in hygienic conditions, Barcelona's Mayor Ada Colau said. Spain's deputy prime minister Carmen Calvo is among those awaiting urgent test results today after he was taken to hospital with a respiratory infection on Sunday. Two other ministers and the wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez have tested positive for the virus over the past weeks. On Sunday, Sanchez said he would seek parliamentary approval to extend a two-week state of emergency by a further 15 days, until April 11. Sanchez said he hoped all parties would support the extension. It would be the first time in Spain's four-decade democracy that a state of emergency would be prolonged. SAHARA Las Vegas hosted a team member food distribution event on Thursday, March 19. The resort-casino invited employees to receive complimentary bags of groceries, which included milk, eggs, cheese, beverages, and fresh fruits and vegetables, in support of those impacted by the mandatory closures related to the COVID-19 crisis. More than 500 employees turned out to receive over 15 pallets of supplies, and leftover food was donated to Three Square Food Bank to support its Emergency Food Distribution Strategy. Goods were donated from excess stores the resort had prior to the month-long closure. The food drive is just one of a number of ways SAHARA Las Vegas is working to sustain team and community members impacted by the temporary halt in resort operations. Bengaluru, March 23 : Seven persons, including six from Bengaluru tested positive for coronavirus pandemic, taking their total number to 33 in Karnataka, an official said on Monday. "Till date, 33 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state which includes one death," a health official told IANS. Among the seven new cases on Monday, six are men and one woman. A 46-year-old Kerala man with travel history to Dubai who arrived in the city on Sunday has tested positive for the virus. He is currently being treated in Mysuru and has emerged as Karnataka's 27th positive case. The health department has identified three high risk primary contacts of the Kerala man. Similarly, a 38-year-old Bengaluru resident flew to Dubai and returned on March 17, he tested positive for virus as the 28th case. He is being monitored in isolation at a designated hospital in the city. A 41-year-old Bengaluru resident who returned to India from London on March 13 has tested positive for Coronavirus as the 29th case. He is currently under isolated observation in the city. Karnataka's 30th positive case is a 30-year-old city woman, the wife of the 17th positive case. She is undergoing treatment in Bengaluru. A 24-year-old man from Bengaluru with travel history to the UK and Dubai returned to the city on March 18, testing positive as the 31st case. He is under isolated observation in a designated city hospital. Similarly, a 60-year-old man from the city travelled to Germany and returned on March 17 to test positive for the virus as the 32nd case. He is currently under observation in a designated hospital in Bengaluru. The last case for Monday and the 33rd case in Karnataka is a 22-year-old man from Kannur, Kerala with travel history to Dubai. He returned to Bengaluru on Sunday and tested positive. Currently, he is under isolated observation in the city. Likewise, a 54-year-old man from Kasaragod, Kerala also tested positive for the case but not counted as a state case though he landed in Mangaluru and crisscrossed between the state and Kerala. The state health department, however, requested the people who travelled in the same flight and KSRTC bus as the Kasaragod man to report to the helpline. The health department has initiated contact tracing for all the new patients. On Monday, only one person discharged from hospital in Bengaluru. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 13:48:05|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close Photo taken on March 23, 2020 shows an empty pedestrian road in downtown Athens, Greece. City streets across Greece were deserted as the government launched on Monday a 14-day nationwide lockdown in an effort to contain the further spread of the COVID-19. Greece has registered so far 17 deaths linked to COVID-19, up from 15 reported a day earlier and 71 new confirmed cases, bringing the total to 695. (Photo by Lefteris Partsalis/Xinhua) BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- As the number of COVID-19 infections continues to rise worldwide, Greece announced a nationwide lockdown on Sunday as part of measures to contain the further spread of the contagious disease. The 14-day nationwide lockdown became effective from Monday 6:00 a.m. local time (0400 GMT). "It must be taken on time, so it is not taken in vain ... We need bold and timely initiatives," said Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in an address broadcast live on public broadcaster ERT. The World Health Organization (WHO) said late Saturday in a daily situation report that a total of 32,000 new infections were reported in the past 24 hours as of 23:59 CET Friday (2259 GMT), bringing the global cumulative number of confirmed cases to 266,073. The pandemic had killed 11,184 people worldwide as of midnight Friday, an increase of 1,344 deaths compared with the previous day, the report said. In Europe, the epicenter of the pandemic, the death toll had risen to 6,000 as of midnight Friday, which marked an increase of 1,101 in a 24-hour span, as the total number of cases increased by 23,950 to 128,541. The spread of the coronavirus showed no sign of abating on Sunday in Italy, which has been hit hardest by the pandemic in Europe, with the total confirmed cases of COVID-19 standing at 59,138 and deaths reaching 5,476. In Spain, the number of confirmed cases rose to 28,572 on Sunday, including 1,720 deaths. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said that his government was seeking to extend the current state of emergency, which was declared on March 14, for another 15 days after the end of the initial period. In Britain, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 5,683 as of 9:00 a.m. (0900 GMT) Sunday, up 665 from the previous day. Also on Sunday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled a plan to shield around 1.5 million vulnerable people in the country, which he said would be more effective than many other measures to slash the number of infected cases. The number of COVID-19 cases in the United States topped 33,276 as of 19:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (2300 GMT) Sunday, including 417 deaths, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. Israel has decided to transfer around 33 million U.S. dollars to the Palestinian National Authority for containing the COVID-19 outbreak, Palestinian sources said Sunday. Besides, the WHO report showed six additional countries and regions reported their first confirmed cases, while 98 countries and regions have seen local transmission of COVID-19. CHARLESTON, S.C., March 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Carolina Financial Corporation (CARO) (Carolina Financial) today provided notice that in addition to the physical location of its Special Meeting of Stockholders, relating to its merger with United Bankshares, Inc. (United), Carolina Financial is providing stockholders an alternative to physically attending the Special Meeting. Due to the emerging public health impact of the coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) and out of an abundance of caution to support the health and well-being of Carolina Financials employees and stockholders, the Special Meeting will now include a virtual meeting format, via live webcast. Stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 10, 2020 can attend the virtual meeting via the internet at www.meetingcenter.io/299156389 by using the control number included on the proxy card, voting instruction form or notice previously received. Carolina Financial urges stockholders to vote and submit proxies in advance of the Special Meeting by one of the methods described in the proxy materials for the Special Meeting. About Carolina Financial Carolina Financial is headquartered in Charleston, S.C. and is the parent company of CresCom Bank. As of December 31, 2019, Carolina Financial had assets of approximately $4.71 billion, with 73 CresCom Bank locations in North Carolina and South Carolina. CresCom Bank owns and operates Crescent Mortgage Company, which is based in Atlanta. About United United is a financial holding company with approximately $19.7 billion in assets as December 31, 2019. United is the parent company of United Bank, the largest community bank headquartered in the Washington, D.C. metro area. United Bank and its mortgage subsidiary George Mason Mortgage, LLC, have 138 full service banking locations and 15 mortgage offices in Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio. Story continues Participants in the Transactions United, Carolina Financial and their respective directors, executive officers and certain other members of management and employees may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from Uniteds and Carolina Financials stockholders in favor of the merger with United. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be considered participants in the solicitation of the United and Carolina Financial stockholders in connection with the proposed merger is set forth in the prospectus and joint proxy statement filed with the SEC. You can find information about the executive officers and directors of United in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and in its definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on March 29, 2019. You can find information about Carolina Financials executive officers and directors in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and in its definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on March 22, 2019. Additional Information About the Merger and Where to Find It This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval. Stockholders of United and Carolina Financial and other investors are urged to read the prospectus and joint proxy statement included in the registration statement on Form S-4 that United filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed merger because it contains important information about United, Carolina Financial, the merger, the persons soliciting proxies in the merger and their interests in the merger and related matters. Investors are able to obtain all documents filed with the SEC by United free of charge at the SECs Internet site (http://www.sec.gov). The prospectus and joint proxy statement and other documents filed in connection with the merger may also be obtained for free by accessing Uniteds website at www.ubsi-inc.com under the tab Investor Relations and then under the heading SEC Filings or by accessing Carolina Financials website at www.haveanicebank.com under the tab Investor Relations and then under the heading SEC Filings. You are urged to read the prospectus and joint proxy statement carefully before making a decision concerning the merger. For More Information, Contact: William A. Gehman, III, EVP and CFO, 843.723.7700 NSW schools will stay open but parents are being encouraged to keep their kids at home as the state ramps up online learning efforts amid the coronavirus pandemic. Premier Gladys Berejiklian's position appears at odds with the prime minister's stance and has led parents to criticise the governments for sending mixed messages. 'This coronavirus crisis will take many things from this country and one of the things I am determined it will not take is a year of learning from our children,' Scott Morrison told federal parliament on Monday afternoon. 'There is no health reason for schools to be closed or for children not to go to schools.' A teacher is seen in an empty class room at a primary school in Melbourne's inner north on Monday Premier Gladys Berejiklian's position appears at odds with the prime minister's stance and has led parents to criticise the governments for sending mixed messages Ms Berejiklian earlier said while no child would be turned away from a NSW public school but she urged parents to keep their kids at home if possible. 'We are encouraging parents to keep their children at home - for those parents who have no option schools will remain open,' the premier told reporters. Standardised teaching units will be put in place so students get the same education whether they are at home or in the classroom. 'There won't be a separate class for kids at home, there won't be a separate class for kids at school, there will be one unit of teaching which makes it simple and practical,' Ms Berejiklian said. A general view of a class room at a Primary School in Melbourne's inner north on Monday. According to Compass Education, 30 per cent of students stayed at home across the country on Friday. But that figure jumped to 50 per cent on Monday Almost one third of parents in NSW were already keeping their kids home, Ms Berejiklian said on Monday. According to Compass Education, an online school management system, 30 per cent of students stayed at home across the country on Friday. But that figure jumped to 50 per cent on Monday. 'We're seeing substantial confusion among parents given the governments' positions are not aligning on closures,' chief executive John de la Motte told the AFR. 'We're seeing huge amounts of electronic communication coming out from schools right now. In the last week, we saw a 40 per cent increase in assignments being set by teachers. They knew kids were not going to go to school. 'We've been processing hundreds of thousands of texts from parents saying their kid won't be at school today.' State Education Minister Sarah Mitchell says the state is well-prepared to tackle the challenges posed by the COVID-19 outbreak. 'This coronavirus crisis will take many things from this country and one of the things I am determined it will not take is a year of learning from our children,' Scott Morrison told federal parliament on Monday afternoon 'We are ready to transition and we have a lot of material that is ready to go. In challenging times we think this is the right decision to have made.' Teachers, including those with health concerns, will be given more flexibility to work from home. The NSW Teachers Federation says the government must protect staff who have now been thrust on to the frontline of the coronavirus crisis. CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement 'What we have now is a recipe for chaos,' a union spokesman said in a statement. 'There is but scant reference to the safety of teachers and principals and other school employees in dealing with this crisis.' The union said it would throw its weight behind calls for schools to close if the government could not guarantee complete health protection for teachers as well as support for parents working in essential services. The Association of Independent Schools of NSW on Monday supported the state government's decision to keep schools open but ask parents to keep their children at home. The Public Service Association - which represents 17,500 non-teaching school staff across NSW - called on the Berejiklian government to follow the UK approach and close schools for all children but those of essential service workers. 'The NSW government can readily make arrangements to ensure the children of essential service workers can remain supervised by staff at school during school hours - and if needed after school care too,' PSA general secretary Stewart Little said in a statement. There are now a national total of 1,716 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Australia NSW Opposition leader Jodi McKay wants the coalition to close schools immediately. 'Parents and teachers need clarity and leadership - I don't see why schools are open,' she told reporters. Schools in Victoria and the ACT will close on Tuesday. Victoria has brought the state's school holidays forward to support the early shutdown and the ACT will have pupil-free classrooms where teaching is conducted online. Australia's chief medical officer says his expert panel on Sunday 'came to the conclusion that the risks of children not going to school were greater than the risks of them staying at school'. 'That position may change,' Professor Brendan Murphy acknowledged on Monday. NSW has 704 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Tehran, Iran Mon, March 23, 2020 14:31 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206cce07e 2 World Iran,Ayatollah-Khamenei,US-Iran-tension,coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus,COVID-19,pandemic,health,SARS-CoV-2,novel-coronavirus Free Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei said Sunday his country would never accept any aid to fight the novel coronavirus from arch-enemy and "charlatans" the United States, as Tehran announced 129 new deaths. Speaking in a televised address, Khamenei charged in a message directed at Washington: "No one trusts you. You are capable of bringing into our country a drug that will keep the virus alive and prevent its eradication." Iran has been one of the countries worst hit by the COVID-19 illness along with Italy, Spain and China, and the latest fatalities raised the official death toll to 1,685, the health ministry said. More than 1,028 new cases in the past 24 hours meant a total of 21,638 people had now tested positive for the virus, said ministry spokesman Kianouche Jahanpour. US President Donald Trump -- who has stepped up sanctions and a "maximum pressure" campaign on Tehran over its nuclear program --- said on February 29 that Washington was ready to help Iran fight the virus if its leaders requested it. But Khamenei reiterated Iran's rejection, charging that Washington, which whom it has had no diplomatic relations for more than 40 years, was "capable" of wanting to intensify the epidemic in the Islamic republic. "Today America is our most ferocious and vicious enemy," Khamenei said in his address to the nation. "The American leaders are liars, manipulators, impudent and greedy ... They are charlatans," he said, also labeling them "absolutely ruthless" and "terrorists". The American proposals "to help us with medicines and treatments, provided we ask for them, are strange", he said, noting that the United States itself suffers from "a horrible shortage not only of disease prevention equipment but also of medicines". Speaking to Washington, he added: "If you have something, use it for yourself." 'Times of hardship' Khamenei advised Iranians that "everyone should follow the instructions" of the authorities to fight the epidemic "so that Almighty God will put an end to this calamity for the Iranian people, for all Muslim nations and for all mankind". Jahanpour said Tehran province had reported 249 new cases and the central province of Yazd, where 84 new patients had been counted, "could become a new focus of the disease in the coming days". To limit the spread of the virus, the authorities have asked people to refrain from travelling during the nation's current New Year celebrations. In Iran "about 68 percent of deaths from COVID-19 disease are people over 60 years of age", Jahanpour said, stressing that family trips "are generally risk factors for this age group". Iran has a population of some 81 million and the disease is present in all 31 provinces. While it refuses to seek assistance from the American "Great Satan", the Islamic Republic has not closed the door to international help. Iran said that by mid-March it had received medical equipment or financial aid from Azerbaijan, Britain, China, France, Germany, Japan, Qatar, Russia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. Aid group Doctors Without Borders (MSF) announced Sunday it would send a 50-bed inflatable hospital and a nine-person emergency team to Isfahan, Iran's third largest city. "Iran is by far the hardest hit country in the region and Isfahan is the second most affected province in the country, and we hope that our aid will relieve, at least in part, the pressure on the local health system," said Julie Reverse, MSF's representative in Iran. An Oregon Department of Corrections officer is suing the state, a former coworker and corrections officials for $7 million after he was attacked with a stun gun. The civil rights lawsuit filed last week on behalf of Michael Kilgus accuses Coffee Creek Correctional Facility of maintaining a culture of silence enforced through violence, threats, and hazing, The Statesman Journal reported. The lawsuit says Kilgus was tased in the back, left without medical care and that he had a seizure. Kilgus, a Coffee Creek corrections officer, was training under Antony Ruvalcaba to be on the prison SWAT team in 2018. Kilgus joined a November 2018 Taser training session and while another member of his group volunteered to be hit with a stun gun, Kilgus said on Facebook that he had been tased. According to the lawsuit, seeing the post threw Ruvalcaba into a rage. The staff worked to get Ruvalcaba a Taser, despite him not being a certified Taser instructor. T They called Kilgus to the firing range and Tased him after Kilgus apologized for the social media post, the suit said. Corrections spokeswoman Jennifer Black said Ruvalcaba was fired. We have zero tolerance for hazing and we do not tolerate the code of silence, she said in a statement. This behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by the Oregon Department of Corrections. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Oregon Members of Wexford County Council vented their anger at Irish Water once again at their monthly meeting last week, after it emerged that the delivery of long promised Wastewater Treatment Plants around the county was to be postponed by a year due to a 100 million shortfall in funding. A group scheme for Ballyhack, Duncannon and Arthurstown was due to go to construction in the first quarter of this year. The Kilmore Quay plant was due to go to tender this summer with a view to entering construction phase by the end of the year, while a treatment plant for Fethard on Sea was said to be at design phase. The amount of untreated raw sewage being pumped into the sea at these locations has long been a source of embarrassment locally and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has raised its major concerns on numerous occasions. In Kilmore Quay, for example, it was previously reported that the equivalent of 1,600 wheelie bins of raw sewage was being discharged into the sea on a daily basis. Towards the end of last year, public consultations took place in relation to the construction of wastewater treatment facilities, however, according to the council members, confirmation has now come through that these are to be delayed by 12 months owing to a lack of funding. In Kilmore Quay, that means that a further 584,000 wheelie bins of raw sewage will find it's way into the sea. Cllr Michael Whelan expressed his dismay, particularly referencing Duncannon, where he said the council are doing great work to improve the situation. He also expressed his concerns that there was no guarantee these projects would go ahead next year. 'I would ask that we write to Irish Water to seek assurances and to express our dismay,' he said. 'They say it's still high on the list of priorities, but it won't be done this year. For Duncannon, the contractor had been chosen and everything. The council has spent over 600,000 on improving water quality down there too, but Irish Water seems to have disregarded what's been done by pulling out.' Cllr John Fleming blasted Irish Water saying that they are 'holding up all developments' in Wexford, while Cllr Jim Moore questioned where the funding for the utility provider was going to come from in the future. 'We have four areas in conflict with the EPA in relation to all the legislation on discharges,' he said. 'This is perhaps not getting the attention it deserves. Once we made the decision not to pay for water, we are in a situation where Irish Water is competing with health and housing for funding. Long term, where is the funding going to come from?' Director of Services Eamonn Hore said that he would write to Irish Water on behalf of the representatives and ask them to send a representative to offer some clarity on the Wexford projects. By Trend Azerbaijans Cabinet of Ministers has held a meeting under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Ali Asadov on March 23. The meeting participants discussed the situation related to coronavirus infection in the country and made s decision to declare a special quarantine regime to prevent the spread of the infection. The special quarantine regime envisages the following restrictions: - Those above the age of 65 are banned from leaving home. Lonely persons of this age will receive social services in accordance with the law; - Entry and exit to/from Baku, Sumgayit and Absheron is restricted. This restriction doesnt apply to special-purpose vehicles, including ambulances, emergency and rescue vehicles, as well as cargo transportation vehicles; - regardless of the form of ownership, passenger transportation between districts and cities is suspended; - the relevant departments were instructed to ensure the return of Azerbaijani citizens from abroad by charter flights with the condition of their placement in compulsory quarantine for a period of 14-21 days within a certain schedule. In this case, preference should be given to families with young children, the elderly, persons in need of medical care, and women; - The Baku Transport Agency should provide a special line for express buses that will run along the route between metro stations from 06:00 to 22:00. Passengers are advised to minimize the use of the metro and give preference to ground modes of transport; - Gathering in groups of more than 10 people in public places, including on the streets, boulevards, parks, etc. is banned; - citizens are advised to keep a distance of two meters; - a new regime is introduced in catering enterprises; - Home delivery is available without time limits from 12:00 to 15:00; - the operation of all shopping centers is suspended (with the exception of supermarkets, grocery stores and pharmacies located there); - the relevant departments were instructed to ensure the operation of grocery stores, pharmacies and other vital facilities. Monitoring the implementation of the requirements of the Special Quarantine Regime has been entrusted to the Ministry of the Internal Affairs. The Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers urges the population to stay at home, follow the self-isolation rules and call 103 or the hotline 1542 in the case of detecting coronavirus symptoms. National Australia Bank's head of business banking, Anthony Healy, is the second senior executive this month to announce he will be leaving the lending giant, which must now fill two critical senior management vacancies. Mr Healy, chief customer officer of business and private banking, who had previously been mooted as a potential next CEO of the bank before it opted for Ross McEwan, on Monday said now was the "right time" for him to depart the bank. It comes after another senior executive, former NSW Premier Mike Baird, also announced he would be stepping down from his job running the consumer banking arm of NAB. Anthony Healy, chief customer officer of NAB's business and private bank, will leave at the end of April. Credit:Wayne Taylor The departures mean Mr McEwan, appointed last year, will now need to appoint senior executives to run the bank's business division, seen by investors as the "crown jewel" of NAB, and its consumer banking arm. Mr Healy, who before running the business bank was in charge of NAB's New Zealand business, signalled it was the right time for a new phase in his career. By PTI WASHINGTON: World Bank President David Malpass on Monday urged G-20 countries to let poorest countries suspend all repayments of official bilateral credit due to the adverse impact on their economies due to the coronavirus pandemic. These are difficult times for all, especially for the poorest and most vulnerable, he said in his telephonic address to G20 Finance Ministers on COVID-19. The first goal of the World Bank Group is to provide prompt support during the crisis, based on a country's needs. It's also vital to shorten the time to recovery and create confidence that the recovery can be strong, Malpass said. Coronavirus crisis, he said, will likely hit hardest against the poorest and most vulnerable countries, those roughly 25 poorest countries drawing on International Development Association (IDA). "Many were already in a difficult debt situation, leaving no space for appropriate health and economic response. We are ready to frontload IDA19 with up to USD 35 billion and identify additional resources. However, we cannot have IDA resources go to pay creditors," he said. As such he made a call to action to G20. "I urge all official bilateral creditors of the poorest countries to act with immediate effect to help IDA countries through debt relief, allowing the countries to concentrate their resources on fighting the pandemic," he said. Working to provide a fast response, utilising all its available instruments, the World Bank President said that countries need to move fast to boost health spending, strengthen social safety nets, support the private sector and counter financial-market disruption. "Countries will need to implement structural reforms to help shorten the time to recovery and create confidence that the recovery can be strong. For those countries that have excessive regulations, subsidies, licensing regimes, trade protection or litigiousness as obstacles, we will work with them to foster markets, choice and faster growth prospects during the recovery," he said. Early this month, World Bank and International Finance Corporation (IFC) Boards approved a USD 14 billion package to respond to COVID-19. Of that, the IFC is making USD 8 billion available in relatively fast-acting financial support for private companies, he said, adding that International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the IDA will be making USD 6 billion available in the near term to support healthcare. The World Bank is currently restructuring existing projects in 23 countries, many of these through the use of 'contingent emergency response components', he said, adding that it is also preparing projects in 49 countries in a new fast-track facility, with decisions expected this week on as many as 16 country programmes. Malpass said that the World Bank has identified a range of rapid procurement modalities leading to bulk purchases. "And we are working together with other MDBs and the IMF to assess needs, implement the new system, and develop co-financing," he said. "We are in dialogue with China among other key countries to obtain help with the rapid manufacture and delivery of many of these supplies and are grateful for their positive responses so far," Malpass added. Memphis, TN -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/23/2020 -- Memphis, TN- March 14, 2020 - The firm of Watson Burns PLLC handles a diverse mix of cases but generally represents plaintiffs in litigation focused on protecting the rights of individuals and businesses injured or damaged by the conduct of others. The firm has extensive experience handling class action and mass tort cases. The firm was founded in the year 2005 by Frank L. Watson, III, and William F. Burns, who first met in the year 1996 while working as trial lawyers. They joined forces based on their shared vision of creating a boutique trial firm focused on winning high stakes civil litigation in the most efficient manner. To achieve our goals, we have maintained a strict policy of accepting and litigating only a handful of cases at any given time, with both partners evaluating and "signing off" on each new matter," commented the company spokesperson. "Being selective as to our caseload allows the firm and our staff to focus their attention and energy on the significant matters our clients face. This model has worked better than we could have ever imagined, having led us to win a vast majority of our clients' cases defended by some of the most aggressive law firms in the country, including Williams & Connolly, McDermott Will & Emery, Greenberg Trauig, Debevoise & Plimpton, Bass Berry & Sims, and Baker Donelson, to name a few." To definitively prove legal malpractice, it must first be shown that an attorney-client relationship existed. This can usually be shown through an agreement or contract. This contract or agreement means the attorney had a duty of care to their client. It must be demonstrated that the attorney breached the duty of care, and that breach of duty of care resulted in financial losses for the client. "At Watson Burns PLLC, our legal malpractice attorney in Atlanta offer a legal representation of victims of legal malpractice," commented the company spokesperson. "A legal malpractice occurs when clients have suffered damage or damages due to the carelessness or mistakes of another attorney. For it to happen, a lawyer must have been negligent, in breach of a contract, or otherwise in violation of the American Bar Association's Rules of Professional Conduct. Victims of legal malpractice should file a claim in the assistance of a professional lawyer to proves that the lawyer is guilty of malpractice." Lawyers at Watson Burns PLLC have significant experience handling lawsuits involving wrongful death and catastrophic injuries, including traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury (paraplegia, quadriplegia, and partial paralysis), amputation, severe burns, and disfigurement. Individuals who have an acute injury, due to their tenacity and small caseload, the firm has earned a statewide reputation of aggressively litigating these types of cases on behalf of individuals and families whether they arise out of the motor vehicle and trucking accidents, construction site injuries, equipment-related accidents, product-related accidents, premises injuries caused by third-party criminal acts, toxic exposure, and other dangerous practices. About Watson Burns, PLLC Watson Burns, PLLC takes great pride in their combined trial experience in complex litigation matters in Tennessee and throughout the United States. The firm offers protection of the rights of individuals, consumers, and companies harmed by the wrongful actions of others. Its lawyers have been appointed as lead class counsel in numerous state and federal courts nationwide. Police minister Bheki Cele has warned that police will proactively monitor and enforce coronavirus regulations and restrictions in South Africa. President Cyril Ramaphosa recently announced restrictions to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, which includes prohibiting gatherings of more than 100 people. The Cooperative Governance Ministry has added additional restrictions, which include that pubs and clubs would be limited to 50 patrons at a time. The sale of alcohol at bars, restaurants, and shebeens is also not allowed to continue past 18:00. The regulations have effectively shut down night clubs and bars, as they are forced to close between 18:00 and 09:00 on weekdays and Saturdays. On Sundays and public holidays, any establishment which sells alcohol must be closed between 13:00 and 06:00. People and establishments who do not adhere to these new restrictions face a fine or jail time of up to six months. Police crackdown Speaking to eNCA, Cele said they are appointing spotters to monitor restaurants and bars to ensure they adhere to the restrictions. He said there is a specific focus on places which sell food and alcohol. If you break those laws the police will disperse the people there, if there are more than 50, and we will take the owner in detention, he said. Cele added that people who organise events of over 50 people also face the event being broken up and the organisers being taken into custody. Cele said restaurants must keep a register of every person who visits the establishment along with the time of their visit. He said this is necessary to ensure that everyone who visited the restaurant can be traced if a person who tested positive for coronavirus also visited the establishment. Bheki Cele interview Now read: Bad news about coronavirus outbreak in South Africa - Anita Joseph recently took to social media to celebrate her husband on his birthday - The curvaceous actress described him as the chosen one - Some people, however, used the opportunity to troll her over failed celebrity marriages Nollywood actress, Anita Joseph, recently took to social media to celebrate her husband on his birthday. Sharing a photo of him from their wedding day, the curvaceous actress showered him with sweet words. She described him as the most handsome man in the whole world and the chosen one. She wrote: "You Complete me Life with you has been sweet It wont even make sense with someone else I said yes to the best man in d Universe !! And we are uniquely and gorgeously Made for each other The Days are Long when you're not Close to me. PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News on Legit.ng News App "Thank you for coming into my world. Thank you for Completing me And been True in a world where theres no TRUTH Thank you for being my best friend this 3years I Love you Forever King The Chosen You will always Lead.. Your blessings are released and your Hands Are Blessed. Welcome to your Best year Ever ...This year you shall experience Gods ultimate grace, favour, kindness in JESUS Name Amen Thank you for helping and encouraging my BIZ @hourglassfashionworld Thank you for pushing me Baba I would v given you the world and all the gold in it if I can But we are Enough and We love our small Circle KING @realmcfish may the rest of your years be the very best. My handsome Husband " While many people took to the comment section to celebrate him, there were some who seized the opportunity to troll her over how often she posted him on her page. @expensive_nenye wrote: Can you keep him off social media Anita replied, warning her not to advise her next time. @rafiatehi write: Those are the compliments we are hearing now. After some years now you will be hearing is a 20 seconds man. Happy birthday The actress did not take kindly to this and tagged him an animal that remains in the zoo. PAY ATTENTION: Do you have news to share? Contact Legit.ng instantly Another user, @officialmimi wrote: All this celebritys love story the tire person. Soon egungun go enter express Anita fired back: May amadioha nkweree enter your love story, that is if you have any okpo, na ur self you Dey wish bad luck. I pity you Well, it is pretty obvious Anita Joseph is not here for the bad wishes and it is simply beautiful to watch. Meanwhile, March 22, 2020, marked Mothers Day in Nigeria, and many people took to various social media platforms to celebrate and honour the day. Nollywood actress and new mom, Toyin Abraham was not left out. She took to her Instagram page to celebrate the day with a photo from when her son, Ire was born. Street GIST: Biggest Cause of Misunderstanding in Relationship | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng Rare earth miner Lynas Corporation (ASX:LYC) said today that it has temporarily ceased production at its Malaysian plant, in response to the Malaysian governments recent announcements regarding the escalation of COVID-19 cases and tighter movement controls in Malaysia. The tighter movement controls in Malaysia are currently scheduled to end on 31 March 2020. The company said it supports the government's actions. The company's operations in Australia, Mt. Weld, will continue to operate. "As a responsible business, Lynas has taken steps to ensure the health and safety of our people and our communities and we support the governments actions to control the outbreak. Accordingly, we have initiated a safe temporary shutdown of our plant into care and maintenance mode," said the company in a statement. "We have taken actions to significantly reduce cash outgoings during the temporary shutdown. We will continue to pay all our staff during this time." The company said its cash balance is A$111.8 million as of the end of December. "Lynas currently expects to achieve positive cash flow from operations during the March quarter, before payment of approximately A$14 million relating to the Permanent Disposal Facility (PDF) project announced on 30 January 2020." Lynas is the world's only major rare earths producer outside China. Thieves broke into a school and stole four freezers packed with food meant for the children of critical workers. The burglars broke into Gosfield School, in Halstead, Essex, and targeted four freezers with food inside. The theft meant that children of critical workers who were in school or staff would not be fed- until donations from well-wishers started pouring in. Burglars raided four freezers in Gosfield School, Halstead packed with food meant for the children of critical workers CCTV footage revealed burglars broke in over Friday night and the early hours of Saturday morning. Gosford School is an independent school which charges up to 15,000 a year per pupil and caters for reception up to 6th form. Caro Daniels, registrar at the school said: 'It is just rubbish that someone would do this after we worked so hard to get things ready. 'But the response has been incredible we have had so much donated by the community. 'We've been given a chest freezer and the loan of a freezer from a school and a restaurant called Pavilion in Colchester brought us the food they were going to throw out. The burglars broke into Gosfield School, in Halstead, Essex, and targeted four freezers with food inside 'We are now able to feed our children for the rest of the term now they are here. The theft was horrible, but the response was incredible.' A school spokesman said: 'Members of staff have been into Halstead to purchase food early this morning but with restrictions on what they are allowed to purchase this is not straightforward. 'Therefore we would respectfully request that all children of key workers who are attending School bring along a packed lunch, nut free snacks and a water bottle.' The burglars have been slammed online by Facebook users. Ben Sutton said: 'Absolute SCUM. Anyone buying/receiving this knocked off gear with knowledge, deserves a prison sentence. 'Always rely on the scum to reveal itself at the time of community need.' Freya Murkowski added: 'This is utterly awful, I'm so sorry this has happened to you. 'Some people amongst us know no morals, I just hope they don't need the support of our health system to fight this virus as they certainly don't deserve it. Gosfield School is an independent school which charges up to 15,000 a year per pupil and caters for reception up to 6th form [File photo] 'I hope as a community we can come together to make sure the children are fed. Is there a way you can construct a list and see if people are willing to donate food items to make sure the children and staff are fed.' Essex Police launched an investigation into the incident. A force spokesman said: 'We received a report today (Monday 23 March) reporting a burglary at Gosfield School in Halstead Road, Gosfield. 'It was reported that between 21 March and 22 March food and commercial freezers were removed. 'If you saw anything, have any CCTV or dash cam footage, or have any other information please call us on 101 quoting the crime reference number 42/44904/20 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.' Common people in Hyderabad and other places in Telangana rushed to buy essential commodities on Monday morning as the lockdown announced by the state government till March 31 to contain the spread of coronavirus began. With the 24-hour 'Janta curfew called by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao coming to an end at 6 AM am on Monday, people sought to purchase vegetables and other essential items. Several customers at the Rythu Bazar (government-run vegetable market) at Erragadda in the city complained that vegetables were being sold at higher prices. Chief Minister Rao on Sunday announced lockdown till March 31 and urged people to remain in homes as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus, as the total number of COVID-19 patients in the state rose to 27 with six fresh cases being reported on Sunday. The lockdown was announced under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897. As part of the lockdown, all state borders shall be sealed other than for movement of essential commodities, according to a Government Order (GO) that notified the lockdown. All public transport services, including state-run buses, Hyderabad Metro, taxis and auto-rickshaws will not be permitted, the GO said. Any congregation of more than five persons in public places is prohibited, it said. All shops, commercial establishments, offices, factories, workshops, godowns shall close their operations. However, production and manufacturing units which require continuous process such as pharmaceuticals may function, it said. Banks/ATMs and related activities, Print and electronic media, IT and ITeS, including telecom, postal and internet services and others which provide essential goods and services are excluded from the restrictions. Sale of vegetables, groceries, vegetables and others is also excluded from the restrictions, it said. Every person who is required to observe home quarantine shall strictly observe the same failing which he/she will be liable for penal action and shifted to government quarantine, the GO said. In view of the hardships due to lockdown, all 87.59 lakhs food security cardholders in the state would be given 12 kg of rice per person amounting 3.58 lakh tonnes at a cost of Rs 1,103 crore, it said. Further, all food security card holding families would be given a one-time support of Rs.1500 to meet the expenditure on other essential commodities such as vegetables at an estimated cost of Rs 1,314 crores, according to the GO. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) PR-Inside.com: 2020-03-23 19:45:37 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1003 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 PICKERING, ON / ACCESSWIRE / March 23, 2020 / Renforth Resources Inc. (CSE:RFR)(OTC Pink:RFHRF)(WKN:A2H9TN) ("Renforth" or the "Company") is pleased to offer shareholders the following update on our activities, which are "business as usual" in this COVID-19 environment.New AlgerOur Winter 2020 drill program at New Alger concluded with 2052m drilled in 4 holes as follows;REN-20-38 - previously press released on Feb. 25th, drilled to 561m at -45. Results include 2.87 g/t Au over 4.6m in the #3 vein, within this interval results include 4.56 g/t Au over 2.4m and within that interval 8.75 g/t Au over 0.75mREN-20-39 - drilled to 492m at -45REN-20-40a - drilled to 30m before the hole shallowed unacceptably due to blocky groundREN-20-40 - drilled to 501m at -60REN-20-41 - drilled to 468m at -55Each of these drill holes intersected the mine area, and other veins within Piche volcanics on the south side of the Cadillac Break at New Alger. These holes intersected the individual veins, generally speaking, deeper than most of the prior drilling at New Alger. Samples have been submitted for assays, Renforth will be releasing results as soon as available.In addition to this, our focus has turned to Spring at New Alger. Typically, we can expect to be in the field without snow by the end of April. At this time our planning includes blasting for a mini bulk sample from the Discovery Veins, in areas which gives us an average grade of 1 g/t Au on surface. In addition to planning this operation it is expected we will be doing additional prospecting in the area of the Discovery veins, which we have stripped for ~275m of ~500m of known strike, in order to see if we can further extend the strike and/or obtain additional samples within the known extent. Additionally, our recent resampling and metallic screen work have both highlighted that we need to do additional sampling at New Alger in general due to the presence of coarse gold, and specifically the Discovery veins, as we identify the alteration, which can be subtle, associated with the presence of gold. Renforth is funded to do this work and anticipates the timeframe of the field work portion is perhaps late April, then May into June.ParbecRenforth is currently planning Metallic Screen work at Parbec, details of that program will be announced upon the completion of planning. This program is imminent.Nixon-BartlemanRenforth is planning a field program for Nixon-Bartleman, expect to take place in June of the year. Renforth has not worked this wholly owned surface gold asset, located west of Timmins, ON, in several years. This property has been extensively explored by previous owners, with no consolidation of information. In addition, Renforth's sole exploration program on this property resulted in successful sampling for gold on surface and the extension of the known mineralized strike from 200m to ~450m with results which included a cut channel returning 13 g/t Au over 0.6m, within which 0.3m returned 22.1 g/t Au in sample #1409321 (press release Sept. 10, 2014). Upon completion of the planning for this program details will be announced, Renforth expects this will be June/July work and is funded to carry out this work.Malartic WestRenforth intends to use the summer exploration season in order to carry out further work on our discovery of a copper/silver mineralized system at Malartic West, located and sampled over 175m within the Pontiac Sediments south of the Cadillac Break. Additional details of planning will be released as available.Generally speaking we are using our time while waiting for assay results in order to plan spring/summer field work. Our team is respecting COVID-19 guidelines with each team member practicing social distancing and working remotely. When it is time to get out in the field Renforth is confident that we can maintain best practices in terms of both our technical work and our commitment to everyone's health and safety.Technical information in this press release was reviewed and approved by Francis R. Newton P.Geo (OGQ # 2129), a "Qualified Person" pursuant to NI 43-101.For further information please contact:Renforth Resources Inc.Nicole BrewsterPresident and Chief Executive OfficerT:416-818-1393E: nicole@ renforthresources.com #269 - 1099 Kingston Road, Pickering ON L1V 1B5ABOUT RENFORTHRenforth Resources Inc. is a Toronto-based gold exploration company with five wholly owned surface gold bearing properties located in the Provinces of Quebec and Ontario, Canada.In Quebec Renforth holds the New Alger and Parbec properties, in the Cadillac and Malartic gold camps respectively, with gold present at surface and to some depth, located on the Cadillac Break. In both instances' additional gold bearing structures, other than the Cadillac Break, have been found on each property and require additional exploration. Renforth also holds Malartic West, contiguous to the western boundary of the Canadian Malartic Mine property, located in the Pontiac Sediments, this property is gold bearing and was the recent site of a copper discovery. In addition to this Renforth has optioned the wholly owned Denain-Pershing gold bearing property, located near Louvicourt, Quebec, to O3 Mining Inc.In Ontario Renforth holds the Nixon-Bartleman surface gold occurrence west of Timmins Ontario, drilled, channeled and sampled over 500m - this historic property also requires additional exploration to define the extent of the mineralization.No securities regulatory authority has approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release.Forward Looking StatementsThis news release contains forward-looking statements and information under applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward looking. Forward-looking statements are frequently identified by such words as may', will', plan', expect', believe', anticipate', estimate', intend' and similar words referring to future events and results. Such statements and information are based on the current opinions and expectations of management. All forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and subject to a variety of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including the speculative nature of mine Netflix has been called upon to lower its streaming quality to reduce the strain on broadband as Australians start to work from home amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Australian government has discussed with telecommunication companies like Telstra about Netflix decreasing the amount of data being used to stream movies and shows. It comes after the streaming giant announced quality would be reduced in Europe and the UK on Sunday night, slashing internet traffic by 25 per cent. During peak times, Netflix can account for 80 per cent of Australian internet traffic - which could continue to grow as thousands are forced to work from home. Netflix has been called upon to lower its streaming quality to reduce the strain on broadband as Australians start to work from home amid the coronavirus pandemic (file image) Last week, communications minister Paul Fletcher met with representatives from major networking companies to discuss the pressure streaming services could have on the Australian internet. 'Our telcos are quickly responding to the evolving challenges of COVID-19 and have in place business continuity plans to continue to deliver vital telecommunications services,' Mr Fletcher said. 'NBN Co and other industry participants are expecting a change in traffic patterns, with higher traffic levels during the day and increased activity in the suburbs as compared to business districts. 'All of these factors are being taken into consideration with retail service providers in provisioning the network.' A spokesperson for Mr Fletcher said the meeting had discussed Netflix temporarily reducing the high 'bit rate' that uses data in the network - but there was no immediate need for this just yet. 'The Government, NBN Co and retail service providers have been having constructive discussions with video streaming and gaming platforms about steps they could take to help optimise broadband conditions, such as by temporarily dialling back the default very high 'bit rate' they use to transfer data over the network,' the spokesperson said. More and more Australians are expecting to be working from home due to spread of coronavirus (file image) 'While ordinarily and not currently an issue, we note that even minor bit-rate adjustments on high volumes can contribute to lessening network load without any significant change in quality. 'Such temporary measures are already in place in Europe, and we welcome the cooperation of the streaming platforms and their willingness to do their part in maintaining optimal broadband for all Australians.' Netflix said that while removing the highest quality of streaming, viewers would only notice a slight difference. 'In Europe, for the next 30 days, within each category we've simply removed the highest bandwidth streams,' Netflix said in a statement. 'If you are particularly tuned into video quality you may notice a very slight decrease in quality within each resolution. But you will still get the video quality you paid for.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted Netflix for further comment. (Photo : NASA on Unsplash ) Space: Super-Earth and Comet Spotted Near Earth and Sun; Here's the Best Galaxy Travel You Might See Soon (Photo : NASA on Unsplash ) Space: Super-Earth and Comet Spotted Near Earth and Sun; Here's the Best Galaxy Travel You Might See Soon While people now panics over a deadly virus, space experts are now making marvelous space findings that you would love to see! Within this week, another asteroid might hit planet Earth as NASA identified this as another detected 'Near-Earth Object' or NEO that is possibly taller than the whole building of Empire State in New York! Meanwhile, a space study about a low-mass planet candidate now found that has Earth-like features called 'Super-Earth'! Heads up! Asteroid taller than Empire State and Super-Earth near Sun spotted! For those people out there that love the information about NEOs, here comes another potential asteroid that might hit Earth soon. According to UK Daily Express, an asteroid identified as Asteroid 2012 XA133 with a size of 390m or meters taller than the Empire State Building is expected to be seen in Earth skies on Friday, Mar. 27. As National Aeronautics and Space Administration or NASA reported on Sunday, Mar. 22, the agency is now tracking the possibility of collision between the asteroid and the planet. Luckily, for now, NASA found no evidence that it will crash on Earth but might just swing by on the planet. Here comes the interesting part, though. Asteroid 2012 XA133 is now fast-approaching compared to when it was identified eight years ago. This space rock was about 4.1 million miles or 6.66 million km from the Earth-- if you compare it to the distance of the planet from the Sun, which is about 93 million miles or 149.6 million km. As clarified by the agency, there are a lot of NEOs that surrounds planet Earth. Most of them do not have any impact on the planet, and only some are reported to have the possibility of having a collision with Earth. "Some asteroids and comets follow orbital paths that take them much closer to the Sun and therefore Earth - than usual-- just like Asteroid XA133," said NASA. "In fact, as best as we can tell, no large object is likely to strike the Earth any time in the next several hundred years." 'Super-Earth' found lurking near Sun; What is Super-Earth? A recent study from space experts Mario Damasso and colleagues, are now giving more clarity on Earth-like planets called 'Super-Earth' lurking in deep space. According to the research study led by Damasso, a low-mass planet candidate has been seen behind the nearest star from the Sun called Proxima Centauri. It has a distance of 1.5 AU and might be orbiting near the star. Every 5.2 years, the Super-Earth was seen orbiting near Proxima Centauri, and recently, the potential planet did it again. Researchers suggest that this Super-Earth could have a higher mass than planet Earth but can't exceed the masses of bigger planets like Uranus and Neptune. Once the findings are proven to be accurate, experts said that it could be one of the highlights in space for the year 2020 since there are still questions regarding the impact and how Super-Earth is born in space. For now, let's just wait for a while. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Assam government has issued an e-mail id for residents of the state, who have been stranded abroad due to suspension of international flights in view of the coronavirus pandemic, to send their details for providing financial assistance, an official said. An advisory issued by Chief Secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna said on Monday that residents, who went abroad 30 days before the suspension of international flights from March 22 and are unable to return to their homes due to the coronavirus outbreak, will receive the one-time financial assistance of USD 2,000. Such persons can communicate to the government at the email id: covhelpline.assam@gmail.com and also at the state finance department's twitter handle @assamfindept. The state government will soon announce the detail guidelines about the eligibility and process of availing such assistance, the advisory said. In case, passports and visas have expired due to the ban on travel in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, the persons can also communicate it to the government which will take up the matter with the Ministry of External Affairs and the embassies concerned. The state government directed all offices to take steps for proper cleaning and frequent sanitisation at the workplace and ensure regular supply of hand sanitisers, soaps and running water in the washrooms. Heads of the government departments and offices are also advised to ensure that only 50 per cent of employees, other than officers, should attend office every day and the remaining staff should be instructed to work from home, officials said. This arrangement can be made on a rotational basis, they said. These instructions, however, shall not apply to the officers and employees engaged in essential or emergency services and those directly involved in taking measures to control the spread of COVID-19. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Computer & Technology The so-called Bonpflicht and its digital Alternative: How the QR Code can help Companies comply with the new Receipt Law Bonpflicht in Germany: the QR Code by DENSO is the digital alternative to the printed receipt. 23.03.2020 17:24:34 - Since January 2020, the obligation to issue a receipt, the so-called Bonpflicht, has been in effect in Germany. (live-PR.com) - Retailers and business owners have been forced to deal with the new receipt law ever since. However, the QR Code, invented by DENSO WAVE, part of the Toyota group, can function as a digital alternative to the printed receipt. Information about the QR Code, solutions for mobile data collection, modern scanners and handheld terminals, RFID and NFC, and DENSO WAVE - Retailers and business owners have been forced to deal with the new receipt law ever since. However, the QR Code, invented by DENSO WAVE, part of the Toyota group, can function as a digital alternative to the printed receipt.Information about the QR Code, solutions for mobile data collection, modern scanners and handheld terminals, RFID and NFC, and DENSO WAVE EUROPE are available at Dusseldorf. The German Bonpflicht, which means stopping the unlawful practice of not printing receipts, has been issued in order to curb under-the-counter trading as much as possible. That way, it is more difficult for retailers, restaurateurs, and other professional groups to illegally avoid paying taxes by not issuing receipts. In Italy, Austria, France, Albania, and Romania, a similar law to print receipts is already in place. And the new regulations are starting to work there. According to the tax union and the Federal Audit Office, Germany loses at least ten billion Euros per year in taxes due to this unlawful practice. However, the receipt regulation is an additional burden on the environment, and it also leads to more bureaucracy. These are two important aspects that come with the new Bonpflicht. Thanks to the QR Code, which was invented in 1994 by Masahiro Hara for DENSO WAVE, part of the Toyota group, digital solutions are more than possible. Further information about the QR Code, which has been combining information in a small square since 25 years, can be found at QR Code as a smart and environmentally friendly Alternative to Receipts The problem with receipts is the thermal paper that they are printed on. This type of paper is bad for the environment. The Cologne-based EHI Retail Institute, a research and educational institute for the retail sector, reports 5.7 million kilograms of additional thermal paper will be needed because of the new receipt law. This is where the QR Code comes in as a sustainable alternative. For instance, a bakery in Lower Saxony has been using the QR Code instead of printing receipts. The outcome is that the bakery is more than satisfied with the QR Code. In fact, they save at least 1.500 register rolls per month as a direct result of this implementation of the QR Code. The bakery still complies with the new tax laws, since customers who ask for a receipt can scan the respective QR Code with a smartphone at the counter. Thus, the obligation to issue a receipt is fulfilled. Why Germany has issued the Bonpflicht and how QR Codes are a digital alternative, is explained here: In general, the law on printing receipts stipulates that customers can also receive their receipt via NFC, customer account or email. However, not all of these solutions are desirable as they can cause problems. Furthermore, they can also result in an unmanageable workload. QR Codes on the other hand are fast, uncomplicated, and sustainable. In addition, customers who do not want a receipt for small amounts of purchases, for example at bakeries, are not bothered with the Bonpflicht. The bakery chain from Lower Saxony working with QR Codes instead of printed receipts speaks of a positive feedback from their customers because of the environmental aspect. Almost three months after the introduction of the Bonpflicht, the legal requirement is still criticized. A minimum limit is being discussed, meaning, a receipt would only have to be issued when a certain purchase value is reached. France could serve as an example. A law has been enforced there: Starting in 2022, receipts will only be issued for purchases of items over 30 Euros. In the meantime, the QR Code, invented by DENSO WAVE, part of the Toyota group, is the best digital alternative in order to comply with the Bonpflicht. Further information about the QR Code, the Frame QR Code, the Secure QR Code, solutions for mobile data collection, modern scanners and handheld terminals, RFID and NFC, and DENSO WAVE EUROPE is available at For the European market, DENSO WAVE EUROPE is the contact point for all enquiries on QR Codes, mobile data collection, handheld terminals, and scanners. The durable and robust terminals and scanners manufactured by DENSO are to be found in storage, logistics, at the POS, in production, and field & sales automation applications. Short and informative video clips about the terminals, scanners, and solutions from DENSO WAVE EUROPE can now be viewed on YouTube. The clips include the 20th anniversary of the QR Code, a company presentation, and introductions to the various devices for mobile data capture such as the BHT-1500, BHT-1400 and the GT20 scanner. For more information, click on the link below: QR Code is a registered trademark of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED. DENSO WAVE EUROPE GmbH Managing Director: Katsuhiko Toji Keiichi Yamazaki Press Contact: PPR Hamburg Rafael R. Pilsczek, M. A. Sinstorfer Kirchweg 18 D-21077 Hamburg Phone +49 (0) 40 32 80 89 80 Fax +49 (0) 40 65 58 43 58 Mobil: +49 (0) 170 310 79 72 DENSO is one of the worlds largest manufacturers of mobile data devices. We follow one mission: Driven by Quality maximum quality in mobile data collection. Decision-makers in the fields of retail, logistics, and production rely on DENSO for their business requirements and in implementing the Internet of Things. DENSO is a member of the Toyota Group and is exclusively represented in Europe by DENSO WAVE EUROPE: EUROPE are available at www.denso-wave.eu Dusseldorf. The German Bonpflicht, which means stopping the unlawful practice of not printing receipts, has been issued in order to curb under-the-counter trading as much as possible. That way, it is more difficult for retailers, restaurateurs, and other professional groups to illegally avoid paying taxes by not issuing receipts.In Italy, Austria, France, Albania, and Romania, a similar law to print receipts is already in place. And the new regulations are starting to work there. According to the tax union and the Federal Audit Office, Germany loses at least ten billion Euros per year in taxes due to this unlawful practice.However, the receipt regulation is an additional burden on the environment, and it also leads to more bureaucracy. These are two important aspects that come with the new Bonpflicht.Thanks to the QR Code, which was invented in 1994 by Masahiro Hara for DENSO WAVE, part of the Toyota group, digital solutions are more than possible.Further information about the QR Code, which has been combining information in a small square since 25 years, can be found at www.denso-wave.eu/en/about-us/25-years-qr-code.html QR Code as a smart and environmentally friendly Alternative to ReceiptsThe problem with receipts is the thermal paper that they are printed on. This type of paper is bad for the environment. The Cologne-based EHI Retail Institute, a research and educational institute for the retail sector, reports 5.7 million kilograms of additional thermal paper will be needed because of the new receipt law.This is where the QR Code comes in as a sustainable alternative. For instance, a bakery in Lower Saxony has been using the QR Code instead of printing receipts. The outcome is that the bakery is more than satisfied with the QR Code. In fact, they save at least 1.500 register rolls per month as a direct result of this implementation of the QR Code.The bakery still complies with the new tax laws, since customers who ask for a receipt can scan the respective QR Code with a smartphone at the counter. Thus, the obligation to issue a receipt is fulfilled.Why Germany has issued the Bonpflicht and how QR Codes are a digital alternative, is explained here: www.thelocal.de/20191219/explained-why-retailers-in-germany-will-soon-be-forced-to-issue-a-receipt-to-you In general, the law on printing receipts stipulates that customers can also receive their receipt via NFC, customer account or email. However, not all of these solutions are desirable as they can cause problems. Furthermore, they can also result in an unmanageable workload.QR Codes on the other hand are fast, uncomplicated, and sustainable. In addition, customers who do not want a receipt for small amounts of purchases, for example at bakeries, are not bothered with the Bonpflicht.The bakery chain from Lower Saxony working with QR Codes instead of printed receipts speaks of a positive feedback from their customers because of the environmental aspect.Almost three months after the introduction of the Bonpflicht, the legal requirement is still criticized. A minimum limit is being discussed, meaning, a receipt would only have to be issued when a certain purchase value is reached. France could serve as an example. A law has been enforced there: Starting in 2022, receipts will only be issued for purchases of items over 30 Euros.In the meantime, the QR Code, invented by DENSO WAVE, part of the Toyota group, is the best digital alternative in order to comply with the Bonpflicht.Further information about the QR Code, the Frame QR Code, the Secure QR Code, solutions for mobile data collection, modern scanners and handheld terminals, RFID and NFC, and DENSO WAVE EUROPE is available at www.denso-wave.eu For the European market, DENSO WAVE EUROPE is the contact point for all enquiries on QR Codes, mobile data collection, handheld terminals, and scanners. The durable and robust terminals and scanners manufactured by DENSO are to be found in storage, logistics, at the POS, in production, and field & sales automation applications. Short and informative video clips about the terminals, scanners, and solutions from DENSO WAVE EUROPE can now be viewed on YouTube. The clips include the 20th anniversary of the QR Code, a company presentation, and introductions to the various devices for mobile data capture such as the BHT-1500, BHT-1400 and the GT20 scanner. For more information, click on the link below: www.youtube.com/channel/UCHp4Yboj7IccPlSeRxQ6yBQ QR Code is a registered trademark of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED.DENSO WAVE EUROPE GmbHManaging Director:Katsuhiko TojiKeiichi YamazakiPress Contact:PPR HamburgRafael R. Pilsczek, M. A.Sinstorfer Kirchweg 18D-21077 HamburgPhone +49 (0) 40 32 80 89 80Fax +49 (0) 40 65 58 43 58Mobil: +49 (0) 170 310 79 72DENSO is one of the worlds largest manufacturers of mobile data devices. We follow one mission: Driven by Quality maximum quality in mobile data collection. Decision-makers in the fields of retail, logistics, and production rely on DENSO for their business requirements and in implementing the Internet of Things.DENSO is a member of the Toyota Group and is exclusively represented in Europe by DENSO WAVE EUROPE: www.denso-wave.eu Contact information: DENSO WAVE EUROPE GmbH Parsevalstrae 9 A 40468 Dusseldorf Contact Person: Kaber Kolioutsis Marketing Communication Specialist Phone: +49 (0) 211 540 138 40 eMail: eMail Web: http://https://www.denso-wave.eu Author: Rafael Pilsczek e-mail Phone: 04032808980 23.03.2020 17:24:34 - Disclaimer: If you have any questions regarding information in this article please contact the author. Please do not contact Live-PR.com. We are not able to assist you. Live-PR.com disclaims content contained in this article. Live-PR.com is not authorized to give any information about content and not responsible for content posted by third party. - The Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) have successfully repelled a Boko Haram terrorists attack - The MNJTF is a combined multinational military formation from Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria - It is headquartered in N'Djamena, the capital of Chad and is mandated to bring an end to the Boko Haram insurgency As Nigeria and neighbouring countries continue to collaborate in the fight against terrorism, troops of sector four Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) have successfully repelled a Boko Haram terrorists attack at Tumour in Niger Republic. Legit.ng gathered that during the attack, 48 terrorists were killed while four others were captured by the gallant troops. This was disclosed by the coordinator Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, March 23. Major-General Enenche addressing the media at a recent briefing in the Defence Headquarters Source: Original PAY ATTENTION: Download our mobile app to enjoy the latest news update The MNJTF is a combined multinational formation, comprising units, mostly military, from Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria. It is headquartered in N'Djamena, the capital of Chad and is mandated to bring an end to the Boko Haram insurgency. The Force has at various times dealt a heavy blow to terrorists across the West African borders. Similarly, troops of Operation Lafiya Dole successfully repelled Boko Haram terrorists attack at Yamteke in Gwoza local government area of Borno state. In the process, 4 Boko Haram terrorists were neutralized while three AK47 rifles, two hand grenades and One phone were recovered. In Adamawa, a terrorists' attack was successfully repelled by hunters at Sabon-Gari village of Madagali local government area of the state. During the encounter, two terrorists were killed and One AK47 rifle was recovered. The hunters have been working cooperatively with the Nigerian military in the theatre. In Plateau, the gallant multi-agency troops of Operation Safe Haven encountered some gunmen at Kurgwi along Namu-Chibdai road in Quan Pan local government area of Plateau state on Thursday, March 19. In the process, two notorious gun runners were killed and one AK 47 rifle was recovered Meanwhile, the Nigerian military says its operations across the country will go on despite the outbreak of the dread COVID19 pandemic. Military authorities say they can not suspend their operations in the country because operations are not conducted in enclosures but in the open. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better NAF Officers make history as first female fighter, helicopter combat pilots | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng During the height of morning rush-hour Monday, the interstate that is usually bumper to bumper was less congested. New Orleans residents appear to be staying home amid the coronavirus pandemic. As of 5 p.m. Monday, a statewide "stay-at-home" order goes into effect, limiting outings to only essential activities in an effort to help combat the spread of the disease. NO.percapita.032420_cg_23.JPG coronavirus.new.orleans.003.jpg NO.percapita.032420_cg_21.JPG coronavirus.new.orleans.005.jpg NO.statestayathome.032420.0002.JPG NO.statestayathome.032420.0001.JPG NO.statestayathome.032420.0003.JPG NO.mandate.032420.007.jpg NO.mandate.032420.008.jpg NO.mandate.032420.004.jpg NO.mandate.032420.005.jpg NO.mandate.032420.009.jpg NO.mandate.032420.006.jpg Empty Decatur Street NO.mandate.032420.002.jpg coronavirus.new.orleans.006.jpg coronavirus.new.orleans.007.jpg coronavirus.new.orleans.008.jpg coronavirus.new.orleans.009.jpg NO.percapita.032420_cg_20.JPG NO.mandate.032420.001.jpg NO.diymasks.032420.001.jpg NO.diymasks.032420.005.jpg NO.diymasks.032420.003.jpg NO.diymasks.032420.004.jpg coronavirus.new.orleans.001.jpg coronavirus.new.orleans.004.jpg coronavirus.new.orleans.002.jpg NO.rattraps.032420.0010.JPG NO.rattraps.032420.0008.JPG NO.rattraps.032420.0002.JPG NO.employeefood.032420.0002.JPG NO.employeefood.032420.0005.JPG NO.employeefood.032420.0003.JPG NO.employeefood.032420.0006.JPG NO.employeefood.032420.0001.JPG NO.restaurantbless.ADV_2.JPG NO.restaurantbless.ADV_3.JPG NO.restaurantbless.ADV_4.JPG NO.restaurantbless.ADV_10.JPG coronavirus.310.jpg coronavirus.313.jpg NO.delgadomedical.032420_4.JPG NO.delgadomedical.032420_2.JPG NO.delgadomedical.032420_3.JPG NO.delgadomedical.032420_1.JPG coronavirus.307.jpg coronavirus.312.jpg coronavirus.314.jpg coronavirus.306.jpg coronavirus.304.jpg coronavirus.305.jpg New Orleans library during pandemic Morning traffic Empty downtown New Orleans NO.percapita.032420_cg_24.JPG NO.percapita.032420_cg_22.JPG NO.percapita.032420_cg_26.JPG David Grunfeld Follow David Grunfeld Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! 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There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Lucknow, March 23 : Under the lockdown announced by the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh, only 20 services will continue to operate normally while the rest of the services have been shut down. According to the advisory issued late on Sunday, the services that will continue include medical and health service, hospitals, pharmacists, pathological laboratories, Home Department, police services, urban development, food and civil supplies, power, fire services and animal husbandry. Petrol pumps, telephone and communication services, banks, postal services, media houses, shops selling essential commodities, gas agencies, surgical stores, banks, ATMs, life insurance services, information departments, information technology and online services have also been exempted from the lockdown. However, the state government has not yet issued necessary directives to the police force. People who came out of their house on Monday to purchase essential commodities were subjected to rude behavior by the police. In at least two places, in Lucknow and Prayagraj, the police did not allow the owners to take their pets to veterinary clinics. Rickshaw pullers were not allowed to operate causing inconvenience to those who do not have personal conveyance. Government employees will work form home in most departments but they have been directed not to leave the stations during the lockdown. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Instacart, the grocery delivery and pickup company, is looking to hire 300,000 workers across North America to meet surging demand for grocery deliveries, as millions of people are urged to stay home to limit the spread of coronavirus. The company plans to bring on these "full-service shoppers" over the next three months. Instacart lets users shop from grocery stores like Whole Foods, Costco, Safeway, among others, to be delivered to their homes. "As more people look for immediate, flexible earnings opportunities during this time, we hope that Instacart can be an additional source of income for those looking to earn while also delivering for the communities in which they live," said Instacart Founder and CEO Apoorva Mehta in a statement on Monday. Instacart Wait, someone's hiring?: Amazon, Walmart are among companies adding workers Connecting workers: Furloughed Hilton workers offered access to other jobs As for its current workers, Mehta confirmed in the release that the company is also offering additional support for workers who may be affected by COVID-19. "All in-store shoppers nationwide now have access to sick pay, an accrued benefit that can be used as paid time off if youre absent from work due to illness or injury. Additionally, any full-service or in-store shopper can receive up to 14 days of extended pay if youre diagnosed with COVID-19 or placed in individual mandatory isolation or quarantine." Instacart joins a group of companies hoping to add more workers to keep up with demand for their services. Among those also adding new jobs are: Amazon, Domino's Pizza, Kroger, Pepsi and Walmart. Follow Josh Rivera on Twitter: @Josh1Rivera This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Instacart to hire 300,000 additional workers amid coronavirus demand Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-24 06:29:19|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic speaks at the meeting with Chinese experts in Belgrade, Serbia, March 23, 2020. Serbian authorities plan to fight the COVID-19 in cooperation with Chinese experts, and have decided to start massive testing among its population, President Aleksandar Vucic said at a press conference on Monday. Crisis staff for COVID-19 met experts from the frontlines of the battle in China, and according to Vucic who attended the meeting, they discussed ways for healthcare staff to treat the virus infection and deal with the virus itself. (Serbian Presidential Palace/Handout via Xinhua) BELGRADE, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Serbian authorities plan to fight the COVID-19 in cooperation with Chinese experts, and have decided to start massive testing among its population, President Aleksandar Vucic said at a press conference on Monday. Crisis staff for COVID-19 met experts from the frontlines of the battle in China, and according to Vucic who attended the meeting, they discussed ways for healthcare staff to treat the virus infection and deal with the virus itself. So far, according to him, the authorities were trying to influence the pandemic curve, but the "virus itself was not substantially attacked." "The essence is that we decided to change our approach and policy and to go for mass testing," he said. According to Vucic, drastic increase in tested samples will be noted in the next 48 hours. Serbia already has enough testing kits for the next few days from a Chinese donation, and will need to obtain more. The meeting also discussed the measures that the Serbian state can further implement in order to enable the professionals to do their job, as well as economic measures to ease the impact of the crisis on the future of people in Serbia. Vucic said that the Chinese experts were satisfied with measures adopted so far by Serbian authorities and therapeutic protocols, announcing that they will also help with regard to Chinese traditional medicine, where it proved efficient. Patients will be separated according to the severity of their symptoms and distributed to designated locations across the country. Vucic said that Serbia received a significant number of ventilators from China as a donation, and purchased some more from China too, "because they couldn't be bought anywhere else." He asked people "to stay at home between 21 and 28 days" and put an end to coronavirus. Vucic said that Serbia is preparing a plan to help companies that don't lay off employees during the crisis and that it does not plan to decrease pensions or salaries in public sector. He predicted that Serbia's growth rate will be around minus two percent, "which would represent one of the best results in Europe." The third infected person died on Monday in Serbia, while confirmed cases now amounted to 249. President Donald J. Trump in the first 2 minutes of his White House press conference on Sunday used the term Chinese virus to describe COVID-19, even after many Asian Americans have asked him to stop for fear of retribution. The term has been criticized because many Asian Americans see it as racist and one of the causes behind violence towards them across the U.S. "It is dangerous for him to continue calling it the Chinese coronavirus," Rep. Judy Chu, the first Chinese American woman elected to Congress, told CNN. "He is creating more xenophobia every single time he does that. And we can see the results in what's happening to Asian Americans across this country." COVID-19 was coined on Feb. 11 by the World Health Organization and is being used across the world by experts and politicians alike to speak about the pandemic. "It's not racist at all, no, not at all. It comes from China, that's why. I want to be accurate," Trump said on Wednesday. There have been multiple accounts of violence on Asian Americans over the last weeks as a result of fear and ignorance surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Vice President Mike Pence and other experts at the White House refer to the virus using WHO, Centers of Disease Control and Prevention official terms for the virus. Trump, however, is unapologetic about his terminology. It is imperative to understand that while anxieties may be high, we should not target any one group, or operate in a climate of fear that is not based on facts, Bob Luz, the Massachusetts restaurant association's president and CEO said in February. With news of the coronavirus, weve seen an uptick in fear of people who look like this, said Rosalind Chou, a sociology professor at Georgia State University to CNN. Real people are affected. Sign up for free text messages about important updates on coronavirus in Massachusetts Related Content: (Photo provided by Maria Evseyeva) Time at home offers opportunities to catch up on the classics by Pete Rosenbery CARBONDALE, Ill. With stay-at-home orders in place in Illinois until April 8 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Southern Illinois University Carbondale faculty have a few insights for people who might want to catch up with the classics in film and literature during their free time. Pinckney Benedict, a professor in the Department of English, said that our lives are story-driven, from the stories that we tell about ourselves and others to the stories that others tell about us and themselves. Powerful stories well-made novels, films, television shows, video games give us a framework within which we can understand who we are, Benedict said. He said that whether a person identifies with Othello, Desdemona, Walter White or The Witcher, taking time away from a daily grind gives people the opportunity to see what they would have to undertake to become more like a character you admire, or less like a character you find reprehensible. For Benedict, a story is classic if it accomplishes two things simultaneously: Captures an utterly idiosyncratic moment in time, such as a place, subculture, historical event, even if fictional, with absolute accuracy and specificity Shows something that is universally human and true and timeless. In Benedicts terms, Seven Samurai, True Grit, both the novel and films, and Gerry Andersons puppet show Thunderbirds are examples. Touching an emotional cord Walter C. Metz, a professor in the Department of Cinema and Photography, notes involvement in art, film and literature has long been the most important activity in which humans engage For example, Artistophanes was writing some of the greatest comedy in human history at the end of 5th Century B.C., and Lysistrata, written in 411 B.C., still makes Metz laugh when he reads it or sees it performed. Film and literature touch an emotional cord, Metz said. During the first day of the pandemic, he pulled several BluRay disks from his collection knowing that watching movies would be the only way to stay sane. His choices included the 1984 film, The Natural with Robert Redford, in which Roy Hobbs, Redfords character, is a failed genius. He was the best at doing one thing, but made a mistake and seemingly could never recover, Metz said. However, in the cinema, the glorious essence of greatness can be recovered. Metz explained that When Hobbs hits the home run at the end, he shatters not only the stadium's lighting grid, but also the cynicism of Bernard Malamud's novel, from which the film was adapted. The movie's ending drives literature professors to distraction, but it is possible to revel simultaneously in the novel's criticism of the American Dream and the film's glorious celebration of it, Metz said. The movies that touch him the most are those he saw in a theater with people he loved the most, Metz said, remembering when his father, who died two decades ago, took him in 1982 to see Blade Runner on opening night. There were few spectators in attendance. It was only a decade later that people began to notice how important that film really was. At the time, people wanted Han Solo. Harrison Ford gave them Sam Spade, Metz said. Dont be a badger. Be a person. When sitting back to be enveloped by a book or film, its important to take the time seriously, Benedict said. Dont cram a little narrative into a short time in between periods of work, he said. Our ability to imagine ourselves in circumstances other than our own is one of the things -- the relatively few things -- that separates us from other sorts of creatures. A badger can dig its hole all day, and we admire it for its industry; but in the end, its a badger and cant enjoy and find revelation in the stories of other badgers. Dont be a badger. Be a person. Benedict emphasized the importance of fully employing empathy and imagination. It may seem to some like escapism, but taking in a powerful human narrative, even quite a short one is to remind yourself why you bother to do the difficult things that you do, he said. Trust your taste and follow where it leads Those who might take the opportunity to become more interested in literature and film are about to enter a magical time in their lives, Benedict said. Many students were trained in school to think of literature like homework. He suggests starting with something that has long intrigued the reader or viewer, perhaps something based on a classic story. Few storytellers set out to be dull and pedantic. They want to beguile and charm and frighten, Benedict said. Kafka thought his stories were hilarious, even if your 11thgrade English teacher didnt. Dickens was more popular in his day than Stephen King and JK Rowling are in ours. Help in finding that book or film Metz and Benedict also have recommendations about finding films and literature. In literature, a recommendation is: Goodreads: Meet your next favorite book at goodreads.com/ For cinema and film commentary, there are: Observations on film art a blog by David Bordwell at davidbordwell.net/blog/. How It Should Have Ended available on YouTube. Red Letter Media available on YouTube. Walters World: Film Criticism Powered by Learning, by Metz at com/ Benedict said look to commentators whose tastes seem to complement or perhaps challenge yours and look to them for guidance. Then, he said, offer your own. Theres no better way to discover what you truly value in stories than by clearly stating your opinions and then discussing them -- calmly and politely, of course, but vigorously -- with others, he said. You will make discoveries and change your mind, and youll help others to make discoveries and youll change their minds. Thats what literature, broadly construed -- anything from The Epic of Gilgamesh to a virtual reality sci-fi game that comes out tomorrow is made for. Actor Rajinikanth has issued a clarification after Twitter took down one of his tweets for allegedly misrepresenting facts about Sundays janta curfew, which was observed in India to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Twitter had deleted two tweets in which Rajinikanth had spoken about the curfew, and the repercussions of not following it. The actor wrote in his clarification, according to Pinkvilla, I had said that if we respect the curfew and stay at home for 14 hours, we can prevent India from entering the Stage 3 (of this pandemic). It was understood as if I said that it was enough if we stayed at home for 14 hours on Sunday alone and was shared widely. Twitter had removed my post for the same reason. In response to this tweet, Twitter India posted, Thank you for joining us in ensuring the dissemination of accurate information about Covid-19, Thalaiva. In his original tweet, the actor had said, With the Prime Minister calling for Janata Curfew on March 22nd, India prepares to avoid crucial Stage 3 community transmission of coronavirus in the country. Italy tried implementing a similar nationwide curfew to prevent Stage 3, but to the lack of support from the citizens, the efforts failed, resulting in the death of thousands of people to the pandemic. Also read: Priyanka Chopra joins janta curfew in spirit from USA, honours first responders amid Covid-19 lockdown. Watch video He added, We dont want such a crisis in India and I urge everyone to rise to the occasion and participate in the Janata Curfew by strictly staying indoors and practising social-distancing. In these crucial times, let us also remember and thank the selfless service of all the doctors, nurses and medical workers by participating in the nationwide appreciation and prayers at 5 pm tomorrow. The coronavirus has infected over 340000 people worldwide, including close to 400 in India. Celebrities such as Varun Dhawan, Ayushmann Khurrana, Aishwarya Rai, Amitabh Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone and others participated in the janta curfew on Sunday, and shared videos and pictures on social media. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop ALBANY We all would like to think that the work we do is essential to keeping society running. But recently, many New Yorkers have found out that the job they do is not essential at least, not in the middle of a pandemic. In an effort to combat the rapid spread of the coronavirus, Gov. Andrew Cuomo last week ordered all workers in non-essential businesses to stay home effective Sunday night. As of Monday morning, nearly 21,000 New Yorkers have been diagnosed with COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus; 157 have died. New York's directive joined similar orders from Connecticut, New Jersey, California and Pennsylvania, meaning a sizable proportion of the U.S. population more than one out of five people have been told to work from home unless they are exempted. "This is just the greatest social disruption weve ever faced in any of our lives," said Jim Grasso, a labor attorney with Phillips Lytle LLP. "Were in uncharted waters, and its unclear how were going to come out of it at the other end." A list of exempted businesses posted by Empire State Development includes dozens of fields, from the obvious choices like hospitals, grocery stores and banks to funeral homes, laundromats and storage facilities. Ride share and delivery drivers, janitors, skilled trades like electricians and plumbers, animal shelters and gas stations are also considered essential. Some Capital Region companies excluded from the order include GlobalFoundries, the Malta semiconductor manufacturer; Mowhawk Fine Papers in Cohoes, which makes paper and envelopes for customers like the Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic; and Extreme Molding in Watervliet, whose products include a medi-pacifier used for giving medicine to infants. The exemption also includes any business that's considered crucial to the supply chain of a listed essential business. That expands the number of people who are potentially allowed to continue going to work, but also creates ambiguities that are "ripe for abuse" if companies try to self-determine whether or not they are essential, said Craig Bucki, a Phillips Lytle attorney whose focuses include litigation involving state and municipal government. "I suppose you can go on down the line and somehow say, 'I supply somebody who supplies somebody else who could be essential,'" Bucki said. "If you have any ambiguity as to whether you should be considered essential or not, its better to get that approval from the state, and to get that endorsement than to make that self determination and turn out to be wrong." Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Owners who think their businesses should be considered essential can request a designation from Empire State Development. Even if a business is considered essential, only workers whose presence is crucial to the function of the business should go to work. During a press conference last week announcing the executive order, Cuomo stressed that the directive is legally binding. "These provisions will be enforced. These are not helpful hints," Cuomo said. "These are legal provisions. There will be a civil fine and mandatory closure for any business that is not in compliance. Your actions can affect my health thats where we are." In the meantime, employers in New York now have grapple with not being able to keep up with out-of-state competitors who can continue with business as usual. "People will need to survive and move on to do whatever they need to do to make a living," Grasso said. "I'm not sure how this is going to shake out, but I'll be surprised if things are back to what they were two weeks ago anytime soon." Michael.Williams@timesunion.com This release contains inside information 23 March 2020 COCA-COLA EUROPEAN PARTNERS (CCEP) COVID-19 UPDATE, FY20 EARNINGS GUIDANCE WITHDRAWAL & SHARE BUYBACK PROGRAMME SUSPENSION UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE CCEP has been closely monitoring and assessing the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation. Our priorities are to do all we can to look after our people, support our customers and communities and protect our business for the long term. We have implemented a range of measures to support the wellbeing of our people, in line with guidance from governments and health authorities, including large scale home working and additional safety measures to support those in the field or at manufacturing sites. We are working closely with our suppliers, partners and The Coca-Cola Company to ensure we are adapting to best serve our customers. We continue to build finished goods and raw material inventory; we are shifting resource to meet changing customer demand from the Away-from-Home (AFH) channel to the Home channel; we are prioritising core SKUs and we are managing through logistical challenges alongside developing further contingency plans. Furthermore, we are working with our community partners to support them through this difficult time. To protect our business and manage cash at this time, we are actively working through all measures we can take. As the situation is unprecedented and rapidly evolving, it is not possible today to accurately predict the impact on our business. We have, however, started to see an increasing impact on the AFH channel with some volume moving to the Home channel. We are modelling, incorporating learnings from other Coca-Cola bottlers, the effects of differing revenue and volume impacts in these channels, but it is too early to draw conclusions. We are also reviewing our variable operating expenditure, including reducing discretionary spend in areas such as marketing, promotions, seasonal labour and merchandising, and delaying discretionary capital expenditure. Measures will continue to adapt as the situation evolves. Whilst we remain confident that the post pandemic future of the business remains strong, the significant uncertainty in relation to the duration and impact of the situation on our markets, leads us to believe it is appropriate to withdraw our guidance for the current financial year. In addition, to keep CCEP well positioned and preserve maximum flexibility during this challenging period, we will suspend our share buyback programme until further notice. Regarding cash returns to shareholders: Share buyback: to date we have repurchased c.130 million of the 1 billion share buyback programme announced last month. As highlighted above, this will be suspended until further notice Dividend: CCEP has paid its 2019 dividends. In line with CCEP's normal cadence, the board will take a decision on the 2020 interim dividend at the time of the Q1 trading update on 28 April 2020 CCEP remains well positioned given its current financial position and maintains a strong balance sheet with net debt/adjusted EBITDA as at 31 December 2019 of 2.7 times. CCEP has strong cash generation and good access to liquidity, with c.1.8 billion available, being the aggregate of accessible cash and committed, unsecured bank facilities. There are no covenants associated with any of our debt or bank facilities. We will provide further updates as necessary. We have also taken the decision to postpone our May 2020 capital markets event and to reassess timing later in the year. Person responsible The person responsible for arranging the release of this announcement on behalf of the Company is Clare Wardle, the Company Secretary. Contacts Investor Relations Sarah Willett Claire Michael Joe Collins +44 7970 145 218 +44 7528 251 033 +44 7583 903 560 Media Relations Shanna Wendt Nick Carter +44 7976 595 168 +44 7976 595 275 About CCEP Coca-Cola European Partners plc is a leading consumer goods company in Western Europe, making, selling & distributing an extensive range of non-alcoholic ready to drink beverages & is the world's largest Coca-Cola bottler based on revenue. Coca-Cola European Partners serves a consumer population of over 300 million across Western Europe, including Andorra, Belgium, continental France, Germany, Great Britain, Iceland, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain & Sweden. The Company is listed on Euronext Amsterdam, the New York Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange & on the Spanish Stock Exchanges, trading under the symbol CCEP. For more information about CCEP, please visit www.cocacolaep.com & follow CCEP on Twitter at @CocaColaEP. More detail can be found in our factsheet at: https://www.cocacolaep.com/assets/IR-Documents/Factsheets/9a0e2f66d1/2019-CCEP-Investor-Factsheet-Master-web.pdf LEI: 549300LTH67W4GWMRF57 Forward-looking statements This document contains statements, estimates or projections that constitute "forward-looking statements" concerning the financial condition, performance, results, strategy and objectives of Coca-Cola European Partners plc and its subsidiaries (together "CCEP" or the "Group"). Generally, the words "believe," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "project," "plan," "seek," "may," "could," "would," "should," "might," "will," "forecast," "outlook," "guidance," "possible," "potential," "predict," "objective" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which generally are not historical in nature. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from CCEP's historical experience and present expectations or projections. As a result, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. These risks include but are not limited to those set forth in the "Risk Factors" section of the 2019 Annual Report on Form 20-F, including the statements under the following headings: Packaging (such as marine litter); Perceived health impacts of our beverages and ingredients, and changing consumer preferences (such as sugar alternatives); Legal, regulatory and tax change (such as the development of regulations regarding packaging, taxes and deposit return schemes); Market (such as disruption due to customer negotiations, customer consolidation and route to market); Cyber and social engineering attacks; Competitiveness and transformation; Climate change and water (such as net zero emission legislation and regulation, and resource scarcity); Economic and political conditions (such as continuing developments in relation to the UK's exit from the EU); The relationship with TCCC and other franchisors; Product quality; and Other risks (such as widespread outbreaks of infectious disease, including the current COVID-19 pandemic, and the uncertainty, impact, scale and duration of such outbreaks). Due to these risks, CCEP's actual future results, dividend payments, and capital and leverage ratios may differ materially from the plans, goals, expectations and guidance set out in CCEP's forward-looking statements. Additional risks that may impact CCEP's future financial condition and performance are identified in filings with the SEC which are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. CCEP does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required under applicable rules, laws and regulations. CCEP assumes no responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any forward-looking statements. Any or all of the forward-looking statements contained in this filing and in any other of CCEP's respective public statements may prove to be incorrect. This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com. ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: x5ubYpyXkmnInJ9vlp2WZ2djmGqUyGnFl2bGlGadZJaVcJtgyJqSZsnLZm9jmm5s - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-62596-1263h.pdf Shares of Reliance Industries (RIL) slumped 13.37% to Rs 883.85, resuming recent slide after spurting in the previous session. The RIL stock surged 11.24% to Rs 1,020.20 on Friday, 20 March 2020. So far the stock has fallen 33.48% in March from its close of Rs 1,328.65 on 28 February 2020. Meanwhile, RIL informed that it is enhancing its production capacities to produce 100,000 face-masks per day and a large number of personal protective equipments (PPEs), such as suits and garments, for the nation's healthworkers. The move is a part of steps taken by RIL to help India fight against coronavirus. RIL also announced an initial support of Rs 5 crore to Maharashtra Chief Minister's Relief Fund. All 736 grocery stores of Reliance Retail across the country will ensure sufficient supply of essentials, including staples, fruits and vegetables, bread, breakfast cereals and other items of daily use. RIL is India's largest private sector company. RIL's activities span hydrocarbon exploration and production, petroleum refining and marketing, petrochemicals, retail and digital services. On a consolidated basis, Reliance Industries (RIL) reported 13.55% increase in net profit to Rs 11,640 crore on 2.52% decrease in net sales to Rs 152,939 crore in Q3 December 2019 over Q3 December 2018. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One more person tested positive for the coronavirus here on Monday, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases in Uttarakhand to four. The 49-year-old man, a US national, was admitted to the isolation ward of the Doon Government Hospital here on March 21, Director in-charge (Health) SK Gupta said. The reports of his swab samples, which were sent to the designated laboratory in Haldwani for testing, arrived on Monday, confirming that he was suffering from COVID-19, he added. Eighteen other samples sent to the laboratory in Haldwani tested negative, Gupta said. A team of doctors is attending on the man at the Doon hospital. Those who came in contact with the US national were identified, Gupta said, adding that they were being quarantined. With this, the number of coronavirus cases in Uttarakhand has climbed to four. Three other cases were reported from the Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun earlier. The first coronavirus case was reported on March 15, when an Indian Forest Service (IFS) probationer with a travel history to Spain tested positive for the disease. Two more IFS probationers had tested positive for the disease on March 19. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Americans may be down a bit during this current national--or international--emergency but they are definitely not out. The ingenuity and creativity of Americans to produce and innovate along with the right to retain most of the resulting rewards--such as advances in the high tech field where Americans so dominate--is being matched during the current crisis on a more basic level while keeping America great. Sanitizers are desperately needed to keep the COVID-19 disease at bay and so not only will there be sanitizers, there will be artisanal sanitizers. In attractive glass flasks no less. The Latest Craft Product From Brooklyn Distilleries: Artisanal Hand Sanitizer NewNew York Citys hospitality industry has been decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Bars have been shuttered. Most restaurant staff have been laid off. But local distilleries are still up and running, producing the most Brooklyn of all medical products: small-batch artisanal hand sanitizer in glass flasks. I never thought in my life that Id be in the hand sanitizer business, says Stephen DeAngelo, founder of Greenhook Ginsmiths in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. I dont think the future is too bright for gin right now, says DeAngelo who, like most distillers, relies on restaurants and bars for a large percentage of his sales. This helps to keep my staff busy at this time, and were doing a lot of good for the hospitals as well. Greenhook Ginsmiths already has two orders from hospitals, for 2,500 gallons and 1,700 gallons of hand sanitizer, respectively. Some distilleries are giving it away for free, while others are asking for small donations to cover costs. St. Agrestis Spirits, which focuses on bottled cocktails but uses its base gin to produce hand sanitizer, has been including a bottle of artisanal hand sanitizer with every order, which started on Tuesday after the state relaxed laws on booze-to-go. The distillery has partnered with Greenhook Ginsmith on deliveries. Delivery is keeping us alive right now, says St. Agrestis founder Louis Catizone. For those who want the Christmas spirit in their sanitizer Potter himself uses a 87 percent alcohol that is perfectly good gin that is a little bit old, and doesnt taste the way we want it to. As a result, his hand sanitizer smells a little bit like Christmas, which is characteristic of the juniper berries used in the distillation of gin. Juniper berries have always had a reputation for medicine, says Potter. It has been used since the Ancient Greeks for things such as an upset stomach. Juniper also has a very long history as being antiseptic, and having antimicrobial properties. Antiseptic is important. And so is eating. Although authorities throughout the country have ordered restaurants to close, restaurant take out, drive through and home delivery are still allowed. And since people still have to drink something to go with their food at home in California, you can now get cocktails delivered to your home during shelter in place Drive-through beer pick-ups? Craft cocktails delivered to your door? The states Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) is temporarily relaxing several regulations in order to provide some relief for restaurants, bars and liquor stores that have been hard hit by shelter-in-place orders that have either severely restricted their businesses or forced them to close. The new rules make it easier for businesses to sell alcohol to customers while the orders are in effect. (snip) By Friday morning, Christ Aivaliotis, owner of the Kon-Tiki bar in Oakland, was already working on creating mai tais and zombies for delivery. The announcement that he could now offer some of his tiki drinks to customers came as a huge relief. We bought a bottling system, Aivaliotis said, similar to what youd use to bottle beer. He re-hired some of the laid-off employees as delivery drivers. He began delivering the bottled drinks to customers in Oakland at 5 p.m. on Friday as long as they also ordered some food, a condition of the ABCs relaxed regulation. The fruity rum drinks, intended for two or more people to share, cost $18-$28. In less than two hours on Friday, they sold out of all 96 bottles theyd made. So much safer as all the drinking is done at home so no drunk driving home from a restaurant/bar. But a private auto meets the requirement for the safety of self isolation so drive-throughs for--hopefully--sober drivers have quickly emerged. One Las Vegas strip club is staying open amid a 30-day shutdown recommended by Gov. Steve Sisolak and taking social distancing to another level by offering drive-through strip shows. (snip) Were going to offer drive-up window strip shows, said Ryan Carlson, director of operations for Little Darlings. Guests can drive up to the front door and were going to have dancers separate by the 6-foot separation rule and they can enjoy a totally nude show right from the seat of their car. The 10 minute drive-up shows will run a patron $100 tips encouraged and are expected to begin at 8 p.m. Saturday and continue as demand warrants. As these few examples demonstrate--and there are so many more--the ability and willingness of so many to so quickly adapt to meet the ever changing requirements of an unexpected and unprecedented situation proves--once again--that although there will be unfortunately great pain, Americans will emerge from this stronger than ever and make America greater. Two Donegal residents who raped a blind drunk student after bringing her back to their flat have been jailed for nine years. Ghanaian nationals Boakye Osei (30) of Tooban, Burnfoot and Kelvin Opoku (33) of Cill Graine, Letterkenny had pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to the rape of the woman in a town in the county in February 2015. The woman had been out with her friend in a nightclub and the two women were walking home when they met Opoku and Osei. She got into the car believing the men had offered to take her to her home. The woman told the trial that on a scale of one to 10 in terms of drunkenness, she was a 10 and about to pass out. A video clip shown during the trial showed the woman staggering around the apartment and later falling on the bathroom floor, exposing her underwear, before the two men hold her up. They took her into the bedroom where Opoku and then Osei raped her. The woman testified that she was blind drunk and could not and did not consent to any sexual activity. In an interview with gardai, Opoku claimed that the woman had not been too drunk to consent and said she had been an enthusiastic participant. Osei denied having any sexual activity with the woman. Passing sentence today, Mr Justice Alex Owens said he accepted that neither man set out to rape the woman. However they were fully aware of her incapacitation due to her intoxication and were prepared to take advantage of it, he said. Justice Owens said that Osei continues to insist that he didn't have sex with the woman, despite the forensic evidence. He said Osei claims the woman and her friend must have fitted him up by putting the woman's DNA on his condom and that he is the victim in all of this. He said that a probation report states that Opoku's empathy and insight is somewhat limited. He said that if Opoku has managed to convince himself of his innocence and lack of culpability, he has not convinced anyone else. Justice Owens sentenced both men to nine years imprisonment. He recommended that Opoku be deported following the completion of his sentence. He said that Osei is an Irish citizen and if his status is withdrawn he will be the author of his own misfortune. He ordered that both men undergo four years post release supervision during which they must follow all directions of the Probation Service. He said that failure to comply with this order was a criminal offence with a maximum sentence of imprisonment of 12 months. The woman, who is now in her 20s, told the court that it was difficult to narrow down into words the effect this has had on her. 'Like reopening an old wound' In her victim impact statement, which she read out before the court, the woman said the experience of being stripped of her clothes in the sexual assault treatment unit to be examined internally and externally was challenging and humiliating. The woman said she was told she had to attend a hospital to be put on anti-HIV medicine because of the ethnicity of the accused. She said she spent the next few months going to hospitals for blood tests and to take medications she had not heard of before she was given the all clear. She said that she had already decided if she was diagnosed with HIV she would kill herself. She said she still feels panic and fear around black males. The woman said the recent trial was the third attempt for it to go ahead. She said she had to prepare herself emotionally and take time off work each time. She said the trial was one of the hardest things she had ever had to experience and that reliving the events was like reopening an old wound. She said that the men had robbed her of five years of her life. Garda Sean Duffy told Seamus Clarke SC, prosecuting, that on the date in question, the woman had been out with her friend in a nightclub. The woman's friend struck up a conversation with the two accused while walking home and the women went with them to Opoku's then address in the town. 'Felt something heavy on top of her' A video clip shown during the trial showed the woman in an intoxicated state and being brought into a bedroom. The court heard that while the woman was halfway asleep, she felt something heavy on top of her and something inside her. She felt there was a pause and then another sequence of movements and she did not consent to any of this. Gda Duffy said the woman's friend said that after she blocked Osei from having sex with her, he went over to the woman and had sex with her after Opoku had left the room. A condom discarded by Osei found in the kitchen was used to establish a forensic link that Osei had had sex with the woman. In interview with gardai, Opoku claimed that the woman had not been too drunk to consent and said she had been an enthusiastic participant. Osei denied having any sexual activity with the woman. Both men have previous convictions for minor road traffic offences. Colman Fitzgerald SC, defending Opoku, said his client had a badly incorrect view of what rape is and has at all times insisted he did not force the complainant. He said Opoku has not seen his wife and children since being returned to Ireland from the UK on foot of a European arrest warrant. Barry White SC, defending Osei, said his client did not give evidence during the trial and did not perjure himself before the jury. He said Osei has four children by two different women and appears to be a good family man. After a five-week trial in late 2019, a jury of seven men and four women took just over two hours to return unanimous guilty verdicts. Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D., Ariz.) on Sunday criticized Senator Rand Paul (R., Ky.) for continuing to interact with fellow senators and other staff while waiting for the results of his test for Wuhan coronavirus. Ive never commented about a fellow Senators choices/actions. Never once, Sinema wrote on Twitter. This, America, is absolutely irresponsible. You cannot be near other people while waiting for coronavirus test results. It endangers others & likely increases the spread of the virus. Paul responded to the criticism on Monday. For those who want to criticize me for lack of quarantine, realize that if the rules on testing had been followed to a tee, I would never have been tested and would still be walking around the halls of the Capitol, the senator said in a statement. The current guidelines would not have called for me to get tested nor quarantined. It was my extra precaution, out of concern for my damaged lung, that led me to get tested. The broader the testing and the less finger-pointing we have, the better. Pauls office announced on Sunday that he had tested positive for the coronavirus, however it did not confirm when the senator had been tested. Paul was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive travel and events. He was not aware of any direct contact with any infected person, read a statement on the senators Twitter account. On Wednesday Paul spoke about the coronavirus on the Senate floor, and on Friday Paul attended a GOP Senate lunch. The announcement drove Utah senators Mike Lee and Mitt Romney, both of whom had interacted closely with Paul, to self-quarantine. Senator Jerry Moran (R., Ka.) reportedly told colleagues that Paul visited the gym on Sunday morning, although Paul denies that he had learned of his diagnosis before going to the gym. We want to be clear, Senator Paul left the Senate IMMEDIATELY upon learning of his diagnosis. He had zero contact with anyone & went into quarantine, Pauls office posted on the senators Twitter account on Sunday. Insinuations such asthat he went to the gym after learning of his results are just completely false & irresponsible! More from National Review Airborne spread of COVID-19 has not been reported so far and it is transmitted mostly through respiratory droplets and close contact, Regional Director of WHO South-East Asia Dr Poonam Khetarpal Singh said on Monday. Her comments came in the backdrop of rumours about air borne transmission of the novel coronavirus doing rounds on social media. "Airborne spread has not been reported for COVID-19. Based on the information received so far and on our experience with other coronaviruses, COVID-19 appears to spread mostly through respiratory droplets (for instance those produced when a sick person coughs) and close contact. This is why WHO recommends maintaining hand and respiratory hygiene," Singh said. She said Chinese authorities reported that there could be a possibility of aerosol transmission in a relatively closed environment with prolonged exposure to high concentrations of aerosols, like in ICUs and CCUs in hospitals. However, "more investigations and analysis of epidemiological data is needed to understand this mode of transmission of the virus," she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US-based global tech giants, including IBM, Amazon, Google and Microsoft, have partnered with the White House to "unleash the power of American supercomputing resources" for combating the novel coronavirus, President Donald Trump has said. From volunteering to manufacturing masks and ventilators to ramping up production of essential medical supplies and general items, the country's private sector have joined America's war against coronavirus in a big way, Trump said on Sunday, while launching a new public-private consortium organised by the White House, the Department of Energy and tech company IBM. "The outpouring from the private sector (in the fight against coronavirus) has been extraordinary," he said The public-private consortium will "unleash the power of American super computing resources" to fight the deadly viral infection, the president said. IBM, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, MIT, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Department of Energy's National Laboratories, the National Science Foundation and the NASA will be primarily computing resources to help researchers discover new treatments and vaccines. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show "They'll be working along with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and all of the people that are working on this (COVID-19 research)," Trump said. The NIH is the primary agency of the US government responsible for biomedical and public health research. Trump said US-based multinational conglomerate Honeywell will immediately expand its personal protective equipment manufacturing operations in Rhode Island to produce millions of additional N95 masks for the US government strategic national stockpile. These masks will then be delivered to various States. "This expansion is already underway and it's going to provide a lot of jobs for that state (Rhode Island), probably around 500," Trump said. The president said the White House has been receiving calls from private sector companies, volunteering to manufacture essential commodities. "Hanes, who makes things of cotton...They call us and said we're going to make millions of masks. We got a call today the head of 3M, they're going to make tremendous products, and they're more or less in that business," he said, adding that major auto manufacturers, like the General Motors and the Ford, too have talked to the White House about manufacturing ventilators. In the wake of the increasing cases of Coronavirus in Nigeria, the federal government has announced a series of measures to restrict population movement in the country and limit the spread of the virus. Some of these measures are the ban of travellers from high-risk countries of Covid-19 and also the closing down of schools nationwide. As of Monday afternoon, Nigeria has recorded 36 cases of COVID-19 and one death. However, the most widely recommended ways to prevent one from contracting the virus are good hygiene, frequent hand washing, and social distancing. But for many Nigerians who lack access to potable water supply, such preventive measures will be difficult to implement. Lack of access to water Zuwaira Selah, a resident of Gwalada, travels about 10 kilometres every day to get water for her household use. One will think she goes that far to access clean water but, unfortunately, the only source of water in the community is a stream that also serves as a defecation spot. Our only source of water is the stream you see over there, Mrs Selah told this reporter in Hausa. Gwalada, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory, lies inward after Zuba, along the Abuja-Lokoja expressway. The community is about 65km from the centre of Abuja. The road that leads to the community is in a bad state as the reporter continually avoided potholes that litter the road. The stench from the stream that Mrs Selah was talking about is the first welcome a visitor to Gwagwalada community receives. The water of the stream is greenish as fresh and dried defecations surrounds the stream. Unfortunately, Gwalada is only one of the numerous communities that lack access to potable water supply in Nigeria. Statistics Access to safe drinking water, safely managed sanitation, and proper hygiene (WASH) services are considered as basic human rights. However, the 2017 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), indicates that 69 million Nigerians do not have access to safe water and 19 million have to walk long distances to get unsafe water from lakes, streams, and rivers. A report of the Joint Monitoring Programme of the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) titled Progress on drinking water, sanitation and hygiene: 2000-2017 shows that one in three people globally do not have access to clean drinking water. The report states that three billion people around the world lack basic handwashing facilities In 2017, 60 per cent of the global population (4.5 billion) had a basic handwashing facility with soap and water available at home. Another 22 per cent (1.6 billion) had handwashing facilities which lacked water or soap at the time of the survey, and 18 per cent (1.4 billion) had no handwashing facility at all, the report shows. Unrealistic The statistics above show that preventive measures of handwashing may be unrealistic in Nigeria. Even though Nigerians are willing to practice good hygiene by properly washing their hands, lack of access to clean water may defeat the intention for many. A group, the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth, said the urgency of checking the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic has pushed the importance of hand-washing to the fore, and places availability of clean and potable water at the centre of the campaign to check the virus spread. Advertisements We are being told to wash our hands with water and soap when the taps in our communities are all dry, Akinbode Oluwafemi, deputy executive director, ERA/FoEN said in a statement made available to PREMIUM TIMES on Monday Most of our communities lack water for consumption and for basic hygiene and this makes checking public health emergencies much more difficult, it said. Based on World Bank estimates, Nigeria will be required to triple its budget or at least allocate 1.7 per cent of the current Gross Domestic Product to WASH. In recognition of the importance of water to human development, March 22nd every year is set aside as World Water Day. The theme for 2020 is Water and Climate Change. Other Consequences Inadequate potable water supply in Nigeria remains a major contributing factor to high morbidity and mortality rates among children under five. Without these basic needs, the lives of millions of these children are at risk. For children under five, water- and sanitation-related diseases are one of the leading causes of death. Every day, over 800 children die from preventable diseases caused by poor water, and a lack of sanitation and hygiene, according to UNICEF. A call to Action Mr Oluwafemi said this years World Water Day is a wake-up call for governments at all levels. As Nigerias Covid-19 confirmed cases continue to grow, this years World Water Day is a wakeup call to government at all levels paying lip-service to the water sector to work the talk. It is unfortunate that a city like Lagos which has a population of nearly 21 million people, rather than making substantial investment in the water sector, is eyeing the failed Public Private Partnership (PPP) model promoted by the World Bank. PPP model will further worsen the water crisis in Lagos as that infamous path can only lead us to situations like the Flint and Pittsburgh water crisis in the US and water shortages that will make local communities vulnerable to the COVID-19 and other illnesses, he said. He urged government at all levels in the country to declare emergency in the water sector given the significance of water in checking public health emergencies like the ravaging Covid-19. NORWALK Elizabeth Street residents awoke to screams Monday morning when a woman discovered a man and his children dead from an apparent murder-suicide in the garage of a vacant property. Police said Yimi Moncada, 27, killed his two young children before killing himself at the South Norwalk property. Police said they found Moncada and his children, Gisselle, 5, and Jesus, 4, around 7:30 a.m. Monday after receiving a call from a concerned family member. The children were staying with their father for the weekend, but a family member notified police when they did not return on time. According to court records, Moncada and the childrens mother divorced in 2017. Giselle Moncada-Valdavinos was a kindergarten student at Rowayton Elementary School. In a statement posted Monday on its Facebook page, Norwalk Public Schools called for the community to pray for the children who were victims of a senseless act. The district said counselors will be available by phone, video chat or video conference for anyone needing support. In the coming days, Rowayton will find a way to come together virtually and celebrate these beautiful children, the statement said. In time, when activities have started returning to normal, the school will have the opportunity to come together in person and remember Giselle. A woman, described by police as a family member, discovered the bodies at the dilapidated home, which is planned for demolition and has ties to a relative of Moncada. Kristie Reda, who lives on Elizabeth Street, said her sister-in-law awoke at 7 a.m. Monday to the womans screams when she made the discovery. This makes me feel unbelievably sad it just hits way too close to home, Reda said. This is something horrible to deal with in normal circumstances, and if you add in the quarantine situation, its something you really dont want to see. Lt. Thomas Mattera, head of the Norwalk Police Detective Bureau, said he could not reveal whether Moncado left a note. I cant get into any of the specifics because the investigation is still ongoing. What I can say is that this was a very traumatic incident and we are doing all we can to help the family, Mattera said. A Crime Scene Unit van could be seen outside the detached garage on the homes property early Monday morning, as detectives investigated the scene. The small, one-way street around the corner from the police station was closed to traffic for most of the day. Ignoring the cold winds and occasional flurries, bystanders stood along the perimeter of the scene, marked by yellow caution tape, as police moved to and from the property. I wouldnt say this is exactly a quiet neighborhood, but you never expect anything quite like this, said one of bystanders, who only identified himself as a neighbor. The Supreme Court Monday directed all states and Union Territories to constitute high-level committees to consider releasing on parole or interim bail prisoners and undertrials for offences entailing up to 7-year jail term to decongest prisons in the wake of coronavirus pandemic. The top court said overcrowding of prisons is a matter of serious concern, particularly in the present context of coronavirus (COVID19). In regard to the provisions of Article 21 of the Constitution of India, it has become imperative to ensure that the spread of coronavirus within the prisons is controlled, the court said. A bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices L N Rao and Surya Kant said the state or UT could consider the release of prisoners who have been convicted or are undertrial for offences for which prescribed punishment is up to 7 years or less, with or without fine and the prisoner has been convicted for a lesser number of years than the maximum. "We direct that each State/Union Territory shall constitute a High Powered Committee comprising of (i) Chairman of the State Legal Services Committee, (ii) the Principal Secretary (Home/Prison) by whatever designation is known as, (ii) Director General of Prison(s), to determine which class of prisoners can be released on parole or an interim bail for such period as may be thought appropriate," it said. The top court said it would be open for the High Powered Committee to determine the category of prisoners who should be released depending upon the nature of offence, the number of years to which he or she has been sentenced or the severity of the offence with which he/she is charged with and is facing trial or any other relevant factor, which the Committee may consider appropriate. It also directed that the Undertrial Review Committee set up by the court in another matter, shall meet every week and take such decision in consultation with the concerned authority. It said that the High Powered Committee shall take into account the directions contained its 2014 verdict of Arnesh Kumar versus State of Bihar. It asked the states and UTs who have not filed their responses to do so within three weeks from today and listed the matter after three weeks. "Taking into consideration the possibility of outside transmission, we direct that the physical presence of all the undertrial prisoners before the Courts must be stopped forthwith and recourse to video conferencing must be taken for all purposes," the bench said, adding that the transfer of prisoners from one prison to another for routine reasons must not be resorted except for decongestion to ensure social distancing and medical assistance to an ill prisoner. It directed that there should not be any delay in shifting sick person to a Nodal Medical Institution in case of any possibility of infection is seen and prison specific readiness and response plans must be developed in consultation with medical experts. It said that 'Interim guidance on Scaling-up COVID-19 Outbreak in Readiness and Response Operations in camps and camp like settings' -- jointly developed by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC), International Organisation for Migration (IOM), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and World Health Organisation (WHO), published by Inter-Agency Standing Committee of United Nations on March 17, 2020 -- may be taken into consideration for similar circumstances. "A monitoring team must be set up at the state level to ensure that the directives issued with regard to prison and remand homes are being complied with scrupulously," it said. The top court added that looking into the possible threat of transmission and fatal consequences, it is necessary that prisons must ensure maximum possible distancing among the prisoners including under trials. The top court also noted the steps taken by various states and UTs including shifting of over 11,000 prisoners to less congested prisons in Jharkhand. "An overview of the responses reflects that considerable measures for protection of health and welfare of the prisoners to restrict the transmission of COVID-19 have been taken by the State Governments," the bench said. It said these measures generally include creation of isolation wards, quarantine of new prisoners including prisoners of foreign nationality for a specific period, preliminary examination of prisoners for COVID-19, ensuring availability of medical assistance, entry points scanning of staff and other service providers, sanitisation and cleanliness exercise of prison campus and wards, supply of masks etc. It said that significant measures have been taken by Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Tripura, Jharkhand, Goa, Kerala, Telangana and UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Chandigarh who have advised the prison authorities that visitors may be allowed to interact with prisoners only through video calling or telephonic call. On March 16, the top court had taken suo motu cognisance of overcrowding of prisons across the country and said it is difficult for jail inmates to maintain social distancing to prevent the spread of coronavirus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Any lingering doubts about the devastating impact of the coronavirus on Britains households and economy over the coming months were last night fully erased by the Prime Ministers address. In effectively locking down our high streets, the leisure industry and all social venues and contact, he has also shuttered the economy. The British people have never forgiven successive governments for the bail-out of the banks in 2008, the deep recession and the decade of austerity and squeezed incomes which followed. But what the country faces now is infinitely worse. Britains open and free market and the service economy on which full employment and relative prosperity is based has been put into deep freeze. The restrictions on movement and economic activity now adopted here are in line with those in place in much of Europe as well as in California. Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressing the nation from 10 Downing Street, London, as he placed the UK on lockdown to stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic Since we first heard about Wuhan flu and a novel coronavirus that had emerged in China in January, I believed the disease would push the world into recession. After all, the output of China counts for as much as 25 per cent of global output. Now we are in a different place, with the virus rampant across the world and particularly among the Group of Seven richest countries of which we are a member. The only means of controlling it is to shut down as much of commerce as is physically possible. This, as most forecasters now predict, will mean a loss of output of between 10 and 20 per cent in the second quarter of the year (April to June) which, terrifyingly, will persist until the disease is controlled. Yes, ordinary households will suffer, but the new measures will make the tough conditions already being felt on the high street before the virus struck look like a picnic. Retail sales in Britain total some 400billion annually of which 39p in the pound is spent on food; 12p on clothing, 9p on petrol and 8p on household goods from electronics to furniture. Amid these categories only the supermarkets and neighbourhood shops have any prospect of remaining profitable. Even they, however, face challenges of suppliers impacted by the virus. Our shuttered High Streets: Scenes like this will be the norm until coronavirus is under control The coronavirus is an unprecedented global pandemic and the economic costs will be huge If one wants to understand the impact, consider the statement made to the stock market in the last 24-hours by Associated British Foods, the owners of the highly successful Primark no-frills clothing chain. It revealed the closure of its stores worldwide would cost it 650million of revenues a month. Even the best run businesses could not expect to survive that without the far reaching measures Chancellor Rishi Sunak has put in place, along with the Bank of England, to keep enterprise in hibernation in the hope that it can spring back to life when the health crisis has retreated. Before last nights fierce hardening of restrictions on economic activity, the Governments piecemeal approach had shocked and roiled financial markets, but had failed to keep people in their homes or close down unnecessary social and economic contact. With the latest steps the Prime Minister has crossed a Rubicon and now a slump is inevitable. The lockdown makes it even more imperative the Chancellor moves heaven and earth to make sure it is not just PAYE wage earners who are protected from financial disruption, but the self-employed and freelancers the core of Britains brilliant creative sector as well. The world has changed forever. Instead of presiding over a carefully orchestrated loosening of the fiscal strings, to allow for investment in new infrastructure, Boris Johnsons ambitious post-EU government and his neophyte but authoritative Chancellor are engaged in extending the reach of the state to a degree which would have made Jeremy Corbyn wince. The eventual borrowing costs could reach as much as 15 per cent of output (although that is less than in World War Two when borrowing surged to 25 per cent). Even if the economy could be cajoled out of hibernation relatively rapidly, the Governments priority would then be to sort out the legacy of Covid-19. It is hard to see how the already hurried programme of delivering a new trade arrangement with Brussels and a deal with the US could ever be reached on the Governments current timetable. The only comfort in the economic catastrophe in which we find ourselves is that new digital world means no one should be fully cut off from their work or their families. Online shopping means we are not utterly dependent on a trip to the high street. And the video conferencing site Zoom means that many enterprises can communicate and keep businesses running, if at a much lower velocity. But truly there is no room for any complacency. The lockdown of commerce is an economic shock greater than anything in our lifetime. We are heading into a deep chasm and even with the enormous assistance offered by Government clambering out is going to be hugely challenging. New Delhi, March 23 : The lockdown declared by the Delhi government following the coronavirus scare has no meaning for people in Outer Delhi as they are violating the norms in areas such as Nangloi, Paschim Vihar, Vikaspuri, Mundka, Peeragadhi, Janakpuri and Tilaknagar without any fear. In the lockdown situation only the shops that sell essential goods are allowed to open, but here in Outer Delhi, salons, vehicle mechanics and paan shops have been opened since morning. Moreover, e-rickshaws and gramin sewa tempos were seen plying on road without any hesitation, while Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the press conference on Sunday had clearly stated that these things will be completely banned. The most surprising thing is that whether it is e-rickshaw or gramin sewa, they were packed with passengers. Shockingly, only a quarter of the riders were seen wearing masks. Some gramin sewa drivers were also seen opting for internal routes to escape lockdown and earn money. The police, however, are monitoring the situation on main routes but they can't even stop these vehicles inside the colonies. A Reliance Fresh's store in Syed village of Nangloi was full of customers and they were seen pushing each others to purchase the goods. When IANS contacted the manager of this store, he said that he has instructed the guard to allow only one person from a family to come in and stop those who have not wearing a mask, but people are not following the instructions. The people apparently came to buy essentials goods for the whole month, hence, almost everyone had a companion but almost a half of these had no masks on their faces. Moreover, the Section 144 is in forces that prohibits gathering of four and more people at one place at one time. But in areas such as Nihal Vihar, Vikaspuri and Janakpuri, people were moving freely. Customers were also purchasing plants from nursery. A salon was also opened in Nihal Vihar. Despite the Section 144 is in force, people were seen in groups at many places in these areas. This threatens to spread more of this epidemic. People either lack awareness or are deliberately flouting the rules. In areas like Tilaknagar and Nihal Vihar, many gurdwaras were seen open against the government's orders. Kejriwal had said in the press conference that no one will be stopped but people should come out only when its extremely urgent but in such a large areas, no policeman was seen questioning anyone. (Jayant K. Singh can be reached at jayant.k@ians.in) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Emmerdale will start airing just three episodes a week from March 30, it was announced on Monday. ITV confirmed the further cut to ensure they have enough episodes of both Emmerdale and Coronation Street, which have suspended filming, to air 'until at least the early summer.' It was previously announced that Emmerdale would air five episodes a week, from Monday to Friday, but it has now been cut to three in line with Coronation Street. Cut: Emmerdale will start airing just three episodes a week from March 30, it was announced on Monday to ensure it has enough episodes to last until summer after filming was suspended A statement from ITV explained that 'following yesterdays announcement that filming of Coronation Street and Emmerdale will be suspended, ITV has taken the decision to reduce Emmerdales transmission pattern to three episodes per week from Monday 30 March'. 'The Yorkshire based soap will air on Monday, Wednesday and Friday with Coronation Street airing at 7.30pm on the same nights'. 'The change to Emmerdales transmission pattern will ensure we have episodes of both soaps airing on ITV until at least the early summer.' On Sunday it was confirmed that Coronation Street and Emmerdale will stop shooting from Monday due to COVID-19 concerns. A statement from the broadcaster said its staff had been working hard to ensure filming continued 'whilst adhering to the Government's latest health guidelines'. Announcement: The news comes as ITV bosses confirmed they would be halting filming for Coronation Street and Emmerdale from Monday March 23 The statement said: 'ITV has sadly taken the decision to suspend production of the soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale with effect from Monday March 23. 'We've been doing our best to carry on filming, whilst adhering to the Government's latest health guidelines, to ensure we've episodes of both soaps airing on ITV until at least the early summer. 'However, the health and well-being of the production teams, actors, crew and their families is of paramount importance to us and we now feel that the time has come to stop filming. 'We'd like to thank our viewers for their support and hope they continue to enjoy both soaps in the coming months.' Suspend: A statement from ITV read, 'ITV has sadly taken the decision to suspend production of the soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale with effect from Monday 23rd March' Earlier this week, the BBC suspended filming of EastEnders and other top BBC dramas including Casualty, Doctors, Holby City, River City and Welsh series Pobol y Cwm. EastEnders fans will still be able to get their fix of Walford from episodes already filmed, and TV bosses say just two episodes will air each week to make them last as long as possible. Production on long-running Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks is set to be halted at the end of the month, it was also announced on Sunday. Bosses of the popular series also revealed that the number of episodes aired weekly would be reduced from five to three. This is not the first time ITV has been forced to take shows off air due to circumstances outside of its control. For eleven weeks, between August and October 1979, industrial action forced Coronation street (which began in December 1960) off the air, along with the majority of the network. On Friday Andy Whyment, 38, who plays Kirk Sutherland on Coronation Street, said the show had been forced to rewrite scripts as cast members self-isolated. Empty: The sets of Coronation Street (pictured) and Emmerdale will remain empty over the coming weeks if not months The actor took to Instagram to revealed it's been a 'tough week' amid the upheaval caused by the coronovirus pandemic. Alongside a snap of himself and wife Nicola Willis enjoying a beer, the star praised everyone on the show for all pulling together during this difficult time. He penned: 'So ready for a drink tonight been a tough week at work with rewrites and changes with some cast members having to self isolate. 'I just want to say Im so proud of everyone @coronationstreet the way people have mucked in this week has been incredible and shows how much love there is for the show. 'Its a mad situation we all find ourselves in but well get through this, stay safe everyone xxx.' His co-star Georgiua Taylor, who plays Toyah Battersby was in agreement, as she wrote: 'Everyone has been incredible havent they? 'I was saying to Mark tonight how I feel so lucky to work with such an outstanding team. And all done with such good grace and humour xxx.' With Andy replying: 'couldnt agree more we have an amazing cast and crew xx.' Tough: On Friday Andy Whyment, 38, who plays Kirk Sutherland on Coronation Street , said the show had been forced to rewrite scripts as cast members self-isolated Jane Danson, who plays Leanne Battersby, added: 'Totally agree. We all worked together at the worst of times. Its been difficult but everyone on and off camera has pulled together. Stay well everyone x.' While Tyrone Dobbs actor Alan Halsall also wrote: 'Couldnt agree more mate, just shot the last scene of the week & the spirit was amazing! Tough times as you say & I hope @coronationstreet can keep people entertained!' It comes after both Coronation Street and Emmerdale bosses confirmed that the soap's planned storylines will be affected by their scheduling changes during the coronavirus pandemic. An ITV spokesperson revealed that episodes that were planned to air around Easter or VE Day in May will inevitably be shown on a different dates, after cutting back on their weekly broadcasts to ration their filmed episodes. Which UK shows have stopped filming? Hollyoaks Coronation Street Emmerdale EastEnders Line Of Duty Peaky Blinders Doctors Casualty Holby City River City Pobol y Cwm Vera Call The Midwife The Only Way Is Essex Advertisement In their statement a spokesperson told MailOnline: 'In the coming weeks some episodes of Coronation Street and Emmerdale will understandably be out of kilter due to the temporary transmission pattern for both programmes which takes effect from Monday 30 March. 'Episodes due to broadcast at Easter and those commissioned and filmed to commemorate VE Day, for instance, won't now air on the dates we'd anticipated. Coronation Street will now air just three episodes a week, while Emmerdale will only air five. The ITV spokesperson also confirmed that despite government advice for residents to avoid social contact in pubs and restaurants, they would be continuing to include scenes in The Rovers Return and Woolpack. They told MailOnline: 'Additionally, as both Coronation Street and Emmerdale film many weeks before they air on ITV, episodes will continue to feature scenes set in the Rovers and Woolpack and other communal areas. 'Although the Governments latest guidelines indicate that people should avoid such public spaces, wed ask viewers to make allowances for the fact that filming took place before the coronavirus pandemic... and to make sure they follow the most recent Government's health advice.' Corrie and Emmerdale join a long list of programmes that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with many shows including rival soap EastEnders, Casualty, Holby City and Call The Midwife forced to halt filming. By PTI NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha passed the Finance Bill, 2020, without any discussion on Monday as the House curtailed its sittings in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. More than 40 amendments were introduced by the government to the Finance Bill, which was moved for consideration and passing by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. A decision to pass the Bill without any discussion was taken at an all-party meeting convened by Speaker Om Birla. Some amendments moved by the Opposition were negated. The Bill gives effect to the financial proposals of the central government for fiscal 2020-21. Against the backdrop of the coronavirus outbreak, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal said it was an "extraordinary situation" and that a decision to pass the Bill without any discussion was taken at the all-party meeting. As Sitharaman was moving various amendments to the Bill, Congress leader in the House Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and DMK leader T R Baalu tried to intervene as they wanted to know about a financial package for sectors impacted by the coronavirus outbreak. The Bill, with all the amendments moved by the government, was passed by the House. The Budget Session was scheduled to end on April 3. Bill de Blasio hits out at President Trump, saying people will die needlessly unless hospitals can get crucial supplies US stocks tumbled on Monday amid political wrangling over a coronavirus relief package and a growing number of global deaths. Battles between Democratic Party senators and their Republican Party rivals prevented an economic rescue package from advancing. As the politicking continued in Washington, the mayor of New York City has warned people will die needlessly unless a shortage of medical equipment is resolved within days. Al Jazeeras Heidi Zhou-Castro reports from the US state of Maryland. By Susan Heavey WASHINGTON, March 23 (Reuters) - The U.S. surgeon general issued his starkest warning to date on Monday about the health risk posed by the coronavirus outbreak, warning Americans that the crisis was "going to get bad" this week. The country's top public health official, Surgeon General Jerome Adams, sounded the alarm as nearly one-third of Americans awoke to "stay at home orders." As of Sunday night, states with a population totaling more than 100 million people have imposed restrictions to curtail the virus, which has infected nearly 35,000 people and killed 428 in the United States, putting the country on a track similar to those of devastated European countries such as Italy and Spain. "This week it's going to get bad," Adams told NBC's "Today" show, saying there were more people out to see Washington's famed annual cherry blossoms than there were blossoms. "This is how the spread is occurring. Everyone needs to be taking the right steps right now: stay home." Trump imposed a 15-day national action plan a week ago urging Americans to follow the direction of the "stay at home" orders of state and local officials. At the same time, he has also been far more optimistic than health experts have been about the prognosis for the outbreak while also voicing concern about the negative effect of shutting down wide swathes of the economy. "We cannot let the cure be worse than the problem itself," Trump tweeted in all capital letters overnight. "At the end of the 15-day period, we will make a decision as to which way we want to go." Also on Monday, the U.S. Federal Reserve mounted an extraordinary new array of programs to offset the disruptions to the economy caused by the outbreak, backstopping an unprecedented range of credit for households, small businesses and major employers. CONGRESS MEETS Congress was trying to address concerns over the economy, which is forecast to shrink as a result of emergency measures. U.S. Senate Democrats and Republicans were working on an economic relief bill, aware that failure to strike a deal could trigger further heavy losses in U.S. stock markets. Story continues The Senate was due to reconvene at noon ET (1600 GMT) to consider the bill, which Democrats argue favors corporate interests at the expense of healthcare workers, hospitals and state and local governments. Republicans in turn accused them of obstructing a badly needed stimulus in the midst of a national emergency. Independent experts have suggested far more than 15 days will be needed to halt the spread. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy on Monday called on the federal government to do more to provide personal protective equipment, noting that all states "are all out looking for the same thing" in competition with each other. "We need a lot more," Murphy told CNN. "Anything they could do is going to make a huge difference." Murphy reiterated his call for the federal government to collectively provide $100 billion in direct cash assistance to New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. Trump on Sunday defended his decision to hold off using his powers under the Defense Protection Act to ramp up supplies, telling reporters at a news conference that nationalizing businesses "is not a good concept." Murphy noted that on one day last week 15,000 New Jersey residents applied for unemployment benefits, crashing the state's computer systems. "We need the feds to come in a big way to help us," Murphy said. "Folks are hurting." The first of two U.S. military hospital ships was dispatched on Monday to boost hospital bed capacity as the number of U.S. coronavirus cases swells. The U.S. Naval Ship Mercy departed San Diego with nearly 900 staff on board to take on non-coronavirus patients and allow local personnel to manage those on shore with the virus, the Pentagon said in statement. Trump on Sunday said the Mercy would be dispatched to Los Angeles while the USNS Comfort would go to New York. (Reporting by Susan Heavey, Doina Chiacu and Nathan Layne; Writing by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Howard Goller) Pacific Gas and Electric Co. will plead guilty to 85 felony counts because of its responsibility for the deadly 2018 Camp Fire, a monumental step that will mark one of the greatest corporate admissions of criminal liability in United States history. PG&E Corp., the utilitys parent, revealed its plea agreement in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday. The company reached the agreement with Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey, who investigated the San Francisco companys role in Californias deadliest and most destructive wildfire more than 16 months ago. PG&E will admit to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of unlawfully causing a fire, with three special allegations for greatly injuring a firefighter, greatly injuring more than one person and burning multiple structures. No current or former PG&E executives were indicted because the liability did not rest with any one person, Ramsey said. A PG&E power line started the Camp Fire, which destroyed nearly 19,000 buildings and almost totally leveled the town of Paradise. PG&E is already a convicted felon because of charges that arose from the deadly 2010 San Bruno gas pipeline explosion. As part of the Butte County plea agreement, PG&E has agreed to pay a fine of about $3.5 million the maximum allowed by law and $500,000 to reimburse Ramseys office. The company will also spend as much as $15 million to provide water to Butte County residents who lost access as a result of damage to the Miocene Canal in the fire. A Butte County grand jury indicted the company last week, forcing PG&E to choose whether it wanted to fight the matter at a trial. We decided to take responsibility for the role our equipment played in this fire, said PG&E Corp. CEO Bill Johnson in an interview with The Chronicle. We didnt make this decision lightly, but in the end, I think this is the best course forward, particularly for the victims. Johnson said he hopes the plea helps move along the process of rebuilding the communities and taking care of victims. PG&Es plea agreement still needs to be entered in Butte County Superior Court and approved by the judge overseeing the companys bankruptcy case. Both the utility and PG&E Corp. filed for bankruptcy protection in January 2019 because of their legal burden from the Camp Fire, the 2017 Wine Country wildfires and the 2015 Butte Fire. Johnson was originally expected to appear in Butte County court on Friday, when PG&E would enter its plea, the district attorneys office said in a statement. But the courthouse is closed because of the coronavirus pandemic, so PG&E is now scheduled to appear in court on April 24. The 16-member grand jury that indicted PG&E was impaneled in March 2019 and had one year to complete its work, according to Ramseys office. Jurors carefully listened to nearly 100 witnesses, examined over 1400 exhibits and produced many thousands of pages of transcript, Ramsey said in his offices statement. The official Camp Fire death toll is 85 people. But Ramseys office said that during the subsequent investigation more information was developed which cast doubt that one of those deaths was a direct result of the Camp Fire. PG&Es agreement to plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter is a rare event for the U.S. legal and corporate systems. Perhaps the closest recent analogue is BP, the petroleum company that pleaded guilty to 11 counts of manslaughter in 2012 over the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion that killed 11 people and sent millions of gallons of oil flowing into the Gulf of Mexico. Ramsey told The Chronicle that PG&Es 84-count involuntary manslaughter plea seems to be unprecedented, based on his offices research and consulting with others. Were not taking any victory laps, were just grateful that we have sought and hopefully obtained justice, he said. The pleading wont fully heal the emotional scars still felt by the families of the victims, including Art Castile, whose partner is the stepdaughter of Camp Fire victim Bill Godbout. It doesnt bring (Bill) back, and no one goes to jail, Castile said, still saddened by the loss. The news also was little consolation for Olivia Carmin, whose sister, Matilde Heffern, 68, died in the Paradise home she shared with her daughter, Christina, 40, and granddaughter, Ishka, 20. It does help a little, Carmin, who lives in Georgia, said. So many lost so much. Im happy that PG&E has finally admitted that it was manslaughter. That is I guess a small win so far. But we lost so much when my sister died. Its still sad. PG&E is serving its fourth of five years probation resulting from felony convictions that stem from the 2010 San Bruno gas pipeline explosion, which killed eight people and destroyed 38 homes. By admitting it committed felonies in connection to the Camp Fire, PG&E is in apparent violation of the terms of its probation from the San Bruno case. Kelly Strader, a professor at Southwestern Law School, said in an email that the Camp Fire plea deal may make sense for both sides. The involuntary manslaughter charges would have been hard to prove at trial, and the plea let the state proclaim victory without facing a challenging trial, Strader said. For PG&E, the plea certainly is awful public relations, but it may well have decided that facing (involuntary manslaughter) charges would have been worse, Strader said. Fire Tracker Follow wildfires across the state Latest updates on wildfires burning across Northern and Southern California The Camp Fire began after a worn hook on PG&Es 115,000-volt Caribou-Palermo transmission line failed on Nov. 8, 2018, state officials have concluded. The hook supported live power lines and it was attached to a century-old lattice steel electrical tower. When the hook broke, power lines slapped against the tower, causing sparks to fly into the vegetation below, investigators say. Fast winds sent the flames racing toward Paradise, a town of about 20,000 people in the Sierra Nevada foothills east of Chico. PG&E has been facing political threats to radically reshape its structure, including a bill by state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, that would put the company under the control of a new government agency. PG&E has resisted those efforts. But as part of its bankruptcy, the company recently reached an agreement with Gov. Gavin Newsom that says PG&E could be bought by the state if it does not meet certain deadlines or if its operating license is revoked by regulators. PG&Es role in recent horrific fires has also prompted action from its state regulators at the California Public Utilities Commission. In February, a commission administrative judge moved to impose a record $2.14 billion penalty against PG&E over the 2017 and 2018 wildfires. The penalty has not yet been finalized. Staff at the commission who investigated PG&Es connection to the Camp Fire found that the company did notproperly maintain and inspect the equipment involved in the fire and botched an opportunity to prevent the disaster. PG&E is appealing the judges decision, hoping to secure a lower penalty the company previously negotiated with commission staff and other groups. More than a year after the Camp Fire, Christina Taft still finds herself missing her mother, Victoria. The 66-year-old former actress and Hollywood stuntwoman died in the fire after refusing to leave the Paradise duplex where she lived with her daughter. Hearing about PG&Es criminal charges wouldnt bring her mother back but it did help absolve Christinas guilt. In the months after the wildfire, she blamed herself for Victorias death. Its very important for it to be criminal because a lot of the time it felt to me that no one was taking responsibility for the fire, she said. It helps the guilt and shame. When it came down to push and shove, during this huge fire that I had no control over, it felt like I did the wrong thing when I could have saved my mom. The Camp Fire should be looked as something that could have been prevented. San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Bob Egelko contributed to this report. J.D. Morris and Lizzie Johnson are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: jd.morris@sfchronicle.com, ljohnson@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @thejdmorris, @lizziejohnsonnn The World Health Organisation (WHO) has launched a free-to-use WHO Health Alert chatbot on WhatsApp. This service aims to keep the public informed about the worldwide spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, and it can also answer questions from users about the pandemic. The WHO Health Alert will provide guidance on topics such as how to protect yourself from infection, travel advice, and debunking coronavirus myths. It is currently only available in English but will add support for Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish over the coming weeks. Digital technology gives us an unprecedented opportunity for vital health information to go viral and spread faster than the pandemic, helping us save lives and protect the vulnerable, said WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. We are proud to have partners like Facebook and WhatsApp, that are supporting us in reaching billions of people with important health information. How to sign up To add the WHO Health Alert chatbot to your WhatsApp application, follow the steps below. Click on the WHO Health Alert link to add the chatbot as a contact. link to add the chatbot as a contact. Open a chat with the WHO Health Alert chat and text the word Hi to get started. Once you have activated the service, you can send it questions about the COVID-19 coronavirus and navigate through text menus for more information and updates on the outbreak. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in South Africa has risen to 274 as of Sunday 23 March, according to Health Minister Zweli Mkhize. Gauteng currently has the highest number of confirmed cases with 132, followed by the Western Cape with 88. After recording the first case of the coronavirus in South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal now stands at 36. According to the NICD, a total of 9,315 tests have been conducted in South Africa, 9,041 of which came back negative. Now read: Airbnb offers full refunds due to coronavirus 23.03.2020 LISTEN I recognize the seriousness and applaud the efforts of all concerned to contain COVID-19 virus. However, it is my misfortune to be caught on the wrong side of the border when it is critical that I return home. I must return home to work to support myself as my bills and life in the United States does not come free. My 80-year-old mother, who is travelling with me, is now without her maintenance medications, and is in danger of having to return to exhaustive cancer treatments should we again be retained. We arrived in Ghana 11/03/2020 and were scheduled to leave 21/03/2020. Our flight from Ghana was cancelled without notice. We had a connecting flight to return to the United States from Brussels via United Airlines/Brussels Airlines. Not ones to sit idle, my mother and I actively began searching for other flights that would make our connection in Brussels. Neither my mother nor myself were able to get through to our booking agents or airlines. Each phone call required a long wait time of no less than 2 hours. And then we were either disconnected or returned to the queue for another extended wait. There has been no communication or resolution from the airlines. We resigned ourselves to the fact that we would probably have to extend our stay. In doing so, we have had to purchase brand new tickets and pay for additional hotel days. This has gone far beyond budget. And now to be informed that we may again be detained or prevented from leaving? It feels like we are being punished for being healthy. Our new flight is scheduled for 27/03/2020. Instead of closing airline traffic, why not test departing passengers in advance of their flights and quarantine those that require it? On arrival, we were greeted by, what looked like, a very capable, prepared health team. By preventing our departures, you are possibly causing greater health and definitely financial stressors. I respectfully request that you consider the hardships that your closed borders may create and weigh them heavily against whatever advantage you believe you will achieve. Respectfully, Geri Handon UPDATE: Bronson is no longer accepting donations at the West Main site in Kalamazoo. KALAMAZOO, MI -- Front line medical workers across Bronson Healthcare are asking the public to lend a hand during the coronavirus pandemic. The healthcare group is asking the community to donate protective gear for workers caring for coronavirus patients, including homemade masks. The donation drop off will begin 1 p.m. Monday, March 23. Donations can be dropped off at the following four locations 1 p.m. to 4 p.m Monday through Friday: Portage: Bronson Diagnostics at Woodbridge, 2640 W. Centre St. Battle Creek: Bronson Urology Specialists, 4441 Capital Avenue Southwest Paw Paw: Bronson LakeView Outpatient Center, 451 Health Parkway South Haven: Bronson Family Medicine, 930 Blue Star Highway Kalamazoo County confirmed its first three cases on Monday, March 23. Bronson Methodist Hospital confirmed it was caring for a Calhoun County resident who tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday. New and unused donation items that Bronson will accept include: Disposable face masks N95 masks, sometimes called respirators Eye protection, including face shields and safety goggles Disposable gowns Disposable gloves, especially non-latex Disposable surgical caps Disposable foot covers Wipes: bleach or antimicrobial Hand sanitizer Bleach Additionally, Bronson is accepting home-sewn face masks, according to the press release. These will be used by staff in appropriate areas to help protect staff and conserve the supply of protective gear. Recommendations for materials and patterns are available at bronsonhealth.com/coronavirus-covid-19. The hospitals can not accept the following items: medication, blankets, toys, clothing or other medical supplies. PREVENTION TIPS In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores. MORE MICHIGAN CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE HERE. Below is a county-by-county map of Michigan tracking confirmed COVID-19 cases, followed by a map of possible exposure sites and a chart based on the states daily reports. The maps will be updated as more reports are released. If you are reading this story on mobile and cant see the map, click here to view it on the web. Reported coronavirus cases: Sorry, but your browser does not support frames. More coronavirus coverage on MLive: Bronson Healthcare asks for coronavirus donations including protective gear, homemade masks All Michigan residents, most businesses ordered to stay home to slow spread of coronavirus Kalamazoo Public Safety closes facilities to the public during COVID-19 outbreak University College Cork and University College Dublin are to provide a course, free of charge during the coronavirus pandemic, to help more nurses treat patients with Covid-19. The National Foundation module in Critical Care Nursing is an online accelerated programme aimed at increasing the number of nurses available to provide critical care to patients with Covid-19 as well as to other patients who require intensive care. In China and Italy, an estimated 5% to 12% of patients who became infected with Covid-19 needed intensive care. Professor Josephine Hegarty, Head of UCCs School of Nursing and Midwifery said: The easy and rapid access to this education will increase the number of nurses available to provide critical care to patients with Covid-19 as well as to other patients who require intensive care. "This module will facilitate nurses to develop high-level skills in caring for patients who are critically ill and help them to work collaboratively with other healthcare professionals in intensive care settings. In addition, the module will facilitate nurses to provide the high levels of support to patients and families during their period of critical care, she said. In Italy, it was reported in the first two weeks of the outbreak, that of all the patients who were admitted to hospital with Covid-19, 16% required care in an intensive care unit which needs specialist nursing, medical and allied health care teams. From experience in other countries that have had large numbers of people with Covid-19, the majority of patients who require intensive care treatment are older and have underlying conditions such as cardiac disease and respiratory conditions. The 2018 Irish National ICU Audit reported that, normally, the average length of stay for patients who require intensive care is five days. It has been estimated that patients with Covid-19 may need eight to 10 days in intensive care. At present, it is recommended that there is a ratio of one nurse to one patient in an intensive care unit, especially for patients who are ventilated, and it is recommended that the ratio should not fall below 1:2. The National Foundation module in Critical Care Nursing is an online accelerated programme developed in partnership with the HSE. With immediate effect, ONeills are manufacturing scrubs for the Health and Social Care Trusts. The health and safety of our workers is paramount. We are observing government hygiene and distancing protocol. We are delighted to support the work of frontline healthcare staff. pic.twitter.com/oZJwNR5ek9 O'Neills (@ONeills1918) March 23, 2020 Meanwhile, Irish sportswear company O'Neills is to start making scrubs for healthcare workers. The GAA jersey manufacturer says it will soon be providing scrubs for health and social care trusts. O'Neills says it is observing government hygiene and distancing advice. [snippet1]987600[/snippet1] Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday that he will sign an executive order that will force anyone who travels from New York or New Jersey to Florida to self-isolate for two weeks immediately after they land in the state. While speaking Monday about whether he will lock down the state of Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis said huge amounts of New Yorkers are flying to Florida despite the stay-at-home order they are currently under. It's hard not to notice something more indigenous to Americans than to most of the world: Using humor to fight something that's (literally) deadly serious. There are a lot of jokes about the coronavirus, a lot of memes, and a lot of videos making fun of the infection itself, as well as some of the practices associated with fighting it (social distancing, wearing masks, overvigorous hand-washing, etc.). For examples of a variety of tongue-in-cheek coronavirus jabs, check out BabylonBee.com. But there are also those pleading that we stop with the humor already, that "being funny" when people are dying is, well, seriously not funny. A recent article about a young man in New Jersey who lost his fiance to the virus brings up this very issue. He quite bluntly asks, can we stop with the joking already? I must admit, I for one am very sympathetic to his request and agree that if someone in my close family had the virus -- and especially if they died from it -- just how funny then would I find the humor aimed at corona? But I also see the humorous jabbing side of all this, as well. To me, the humor is more along the lines of "whistling past the graveyard," throwing a middle finger at death and saying, you won't defeat us. Mike Rowe had a wonderful, measured response to what's happening worldwide, and especially how we in America and in all "free" countries around the world should react. He's a big proponent (indeed the originator) of something he calls "Safety Third," the idea that if safety is actually first, certain tasks would never get done and freedom would be curtailed. He shares the classic illustration of the British people's response to the Germans daily bombing of London back in WWII. Rowe applies his "formula" to the current crisis and you can read about it on Facebook. Humor might, at worst, be insensitive in this time of caution and fear (real or imagined), but it certainly isn't deadly. In fact, some craziness might even awaken some folks who wouldn't normally take this pandemic so seriously -- the young, for example, who may think this seeming madness is going overboard since they themselves are more likely to survive the infection. Rap music might reach this crowd. Just Google words like "Corona rap" and you'll find a lot of quirky, even raunchy, humorous examples. There is, of course, something infinitely worse than humor to "fight" the virus, and that's when it gets politicized. Many in the media seem more concerned with what we label the virus than how we fight it. Questions at a recent press conference with the president and his team kept falling back into the name-calling arena, that to call the virus from China a Chinese virus was racist. It seems that the virus that hit America back in 2009 by way of Mexico, labeled H1N1, was also at the time called the Swine Flu. I don't recall anyone in the press pelting then-President Obama with pleas for clarification on the nomenclature. Think about it: If it's referred to as the Swine flu and it comes to us via Mexico, doesn't that imply that Mexicans are... dirty? Here's the long and short of it. Name-calling and humor are both sidebars to defeating something that in most of our lifetimes has never been seen before -- whether the calls for sheltering-in-place are way overblown or not, most nonpolitical people in the know, including many scientists and doctors, believe that, in this case, we should err on the side of caution. So, there's science and being informed by facts, and then there's trying to score political points -- which could certainly prove deadly. Certainly now is the time we need to come together so that a few months down the road, we can all pat each other on the back and say, "Together we WON!" Then, alive and kicking, a renewed America can use the upcoming election to debate and decide who was the bigger champion of the victory over the dreaded coronavirus. by Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi Suspension of functions in the larger parishes of Tokyo. Local Catholics are united in prayer. The moment to create a stronger spiritual communion among the faithful. On March 24 the archdiocese will make a decision for Easter and Holy Week. Tokyo (AsiaNews) - Something good has been born from a bad situation. So I'm optimistic. I encouraged all Catholics to remember that we are not isolated but rather that in prayer we are united," says Msgr. Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, Archbishop of Tokyo. He speaks of how difficult it was to make the decision to suspend masses, which can only be celebrated in small communities where 10-50 people usually attend services. He believes that now is the time to create a stronger spiritual communion. Below the reflections of Msgr. Kikuchi. We have decided to suspend public masses from February 27. The ban is absolute for Sunday services in larger parishes. However, weddings and funerals can be celebrated, provided that sufficient measures are taken to prevent infections. The suspension also applies to weekday masses, apart from those held in small communities. It is not easy for the Church to make the decision to suspend masses, which should be offered daily. But I hope the faithful understand the seriousness of the situation. In the parishes of the Tokyo Archdiocese, there are quite a number of churches visited by a large number of people, including tourists, who come from many different places. Moreover, thinking about the increasing number of elderly people among the faithful, it is important to put efforts in avoiding risks, such as the possibility of close contact with other people during the mass and the possibility of getting infected along the way as they travel to church. We have certainly considered the possibility of emphasizing personal responsibility of the faithful in their participation in the mass. However, during this crucial two weeks, in order to prevent the spread of the infection, and to ensure its effectiveness, it was decided that the mass should be suspended. We absolutely believe in the power of prayers. There is no stopping us from praying just because the infections had spread widely. In taking various practical measures to respond to COVID-19, there is no point in having a Church in this world unless we include our spiritual response in our fight against COVID-19. Recalling the words of our Lord commanding Do this in memory of me, would lead us to think that the suspension of the mass is for us a spiritual defeat. The fact is we must offer more prayers than usual during this time of crisis. The suspension of the mass is actually not a defeat, but rather it is an opportunity for us to reaffirm the power of prayer, to deepen our spiritual life through prayer, and to recognize from our hearts its power. Grounded on a faith that hopes for life, with compassion and love, let us pray to God our Father, through the intercession of our blessed Mother, that He may restore those who are infected by COVID-19 and take full control of the situation. The idea was to allow the faithful to return to church after March 14: the new restrictions imposed by the government have made this impossible. Our decisions are based on the statement by the Commission of Experts of the Ministry of Health, which asked citizens to avoid contact with each other, and not to gather in places without adequate ventilation. This is exactly what we have done. It is true that there are small parishes in Japan, where only 10-50 people attend Sunday mass. For example, the diocese of Sapporo has made it clear that those with only 10 people can continue to recite their liturgy. The problem is that in Tokyo there are churches where more than 500 faithful participate. It is difficult, for example, to order large parishes to close their chapel, and instead allow small communities to continue with the services. What is happening is that some faithful of our archdiocese are joining those who participate in the masses in the small parishes of the neighboring dioceses. Now the point is that Sunday mass was not suspended to protect the faithful from the infected, but rather to ensure that they are not the source of infection for others, especially the elderly with past or chronic diseases. According to the Ministry of Health, there are many young people who are infected without having any symptoms. They could become a source of contagion in our community. Although I am worried about how far this situation can continue, I am happy to hear of many Catholics who have started expressing their desire to receive communion and to physically attend mass. They have begun to understand how important the Eucharist is for our spiritual life, now that they have lost the opportunity to receive it. Ukraine has received polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests to detect coronavirus for more than 10 days. The tests will be delivered to all regions. The press service of the Office of the President of Ukraine reported that. "The Il-76 military aircraft that returned from China on Monday night has sent the first batch of medical cargo to Ukraine. Two types of tests, in particular, for PCR and rapid diagnostics," the statement said. About 100,000 tests will be sent to the Armed Forces, State Border Guard Service, National Guard and police units. Another 100,000 tests will be submitted to hospitals, identified as the basic ones for anti-epidemic measures. As we reported earlier, over the last 24 hours, the Ukrainian border guards processed over 22,000 people, including 15,000 for entrance. It was reported that one of the arrivals was diagnosed with Covid-19 coronavirus. At Boryspil checkpoint, during the procession for arrival, a passenger of one of the flights, a citizen of Ukraine complained about feeling bad. A man had the express test, which showed a positive result and confirmed the infection with coronavirus. The diseased was transferred to the infectious unit of the hospital, the message said. Some of the 40,000 runners in the 2017 Broad Street Run pass City Hall on their way to the finish in South Philadelphia. Read more The Broad Street Run, the countrys largest 10-mile race, is the latest regional event to be postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak. The run, originally scheduled for May 3, has been postponed to Oct. 4, Mayor Jim Kenney said Monday. This decision was not taken lightly, race organizers said in a statement on their Facebook page. Based on recommendations by the CDC and after consulting with the Citys Health Department, this is the best way to keep all runners, volunteers, staff, and spectators as safe as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic. Registrations will automatically be transferred to the new date, but runners who cannot make it on Oct. 4 may transfer their bibs or delay their participation until 2021 without a fee. Answers to more specific questions about the postponement can be found at broadstreetrun.com/faqs. The race has been a Philly tradition for 41 years. It begins at Broad Street and Somerville Avenue and ends at the Navy Yard in South Philadelphia. About 40,000 runners participate and spectators often crowd Broad Street to cheer them on, particularly in nice weather. The race has raised more than $5 million for the American Cancer Society. What happened Shares of upscale retailer Nordstrom (NYSE:JWN) were down again on Monday, on growing investor concerns about the company's likely losses amid the coronavirus pandemic. As of 11:30 a.m. EDT, Nordstrom's shares were down about 12.9% from Friday's closing price. So what Concerns are growing around Nordstrom's ability to keep its online storefronts up and running as state governments shut down nonessential businesses to help limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Here's the problem: Nordstrom's online storefronts are supported by three fulfillment centers, located in California, Iowa, and Pennsylvania. The governors of California and Pennsylvania have already ordered "nonessential" businesses to shut down, and Iowa may be set to follow shortly. Nordstrom closed all of its brick-and-mortar stores in the U.S. and Canada last week. Investors have been hoping that the company could use its online stores to help turn over inventory and generate at least some revenue while its physical stores are shut down. But if its fulfillment centers are closed -- as seems imminent -- the company won't be able to fill any orders, online or otherwise. Now what Nordstrom already withdrew the full-year guidance that it issued just a few weeks ago, at the beginning of March, when it announced its plan to shut down stores and weather the crisis. But if it can't do business online, CEO Erik Nordstrom (and investors in the company's battered stock) will need a new plan -- soon. The Board of Directors of Jazeera Airways met virtually on March 19 to discuss the suspension of flights and present conditions in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The airlines Board agreed to suspend its previous recommendation to distribute dividends to shareholders for the financial year ending December 31, 2019. The suspension comes as part of measures taken by the airline to enable it to weather through current challenges and protect the business in the long-term. Commenting on the decision taken by the Board of Directors, chairman Marwan Boodai, said: On behalf of everyone at Jazeera Airways, I take this opportunity to first extend our deepest gratitude to Kuwaits Government, and in particular the Ministry of Health, for the immediate measures taken to limit a spread of the virus in the State of Kuwait. We are honoured to support their efforts in every way possible. As a private sector company, we are taking full responsibility to ensure our business continuity. Therefore, we have implemented decisive measures to safeguard our financial position caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, including the suspension of the 2019 dividend payment and activating the drawdown of bank facilities, that were not previously tapped, to support Jazeeras ongoing liquidity through the coming months. We have always taken prudent and pivotal actions in difficult circumstances. In such times, placing our employees and customers first is our priority by ensuring they are not affected in the long-run. We are committed to our role as a Kuwaiti national carrier and will continue to perform our part to ensure we can support the economy and uphold our national duty. In a statement, the International Air Transport Association (Iata), said that over 16,000 passenger flights have been cancelled in the Middle East and the number is expected to increase exponentially with the additional measures in different countries. International bookings in the Middle East are down 40 per cent year-over-year in March and April, as of March 19. Iatas statement revealed that Middle East airlines had lost $7.2 billion in revenue as at March 11, while ticket refunds have increased by 75 per cent in 2020 compared to the same period in 2019 (February 1 to March 11). In Kuwait alone, Iata added that consistent with the 'Extensive Spread' Scenario published on March 5, the disruptions from COVID-19 could result in 2.9 million loss in passenger volumes and $547 million loss in base revenues. Jazeera Airways is building a dedicated auxiliary special medical facility - Kuwait Passenger Reception Centre (KPRC) - in coordination with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Ministry of Health at Kuwait International Airport, to screen all inbound passengers and test them for coronavirus before entering the arrival hall. The new facility is a remote extension of the Jazeera Terminal 5 (T5) and will be ready when the Kuwaiti Government plans the reopening of Kuwait International Airport to passenger traffic. The airline had announced placing its fleet of 14 aircraft at the disposal of the State of Kuwait to support its efforts to return Kuwaiti citizens to the country as well as serve for transporting medical products and equipment needed. Boodai said: Jazeera Airways has faced previous challenges in its history and is confident that the underlying position of the airline is capable to successfully manage this current period. We believe the situation is temporary and the aviation market as well as Kuwait economy will stabilise and return to growth, as a result of the joint efforts between the government of the State of Kuwait and the private sector, under the patronage of His Highness the Amir of the country, may God protect him and His Highness the Crown Prince." - TradeArabia News Service Many in the sector argue that there will be at best three to four players in the sector over the long term and that the weaker airlines will be weeded out sooner or later. The coronavirus epidemic has brought home that reality with a bang. Image used for representational purpose. Photograph: Reuters. Two rumours gripped the aviation industry as the covid virus revealed its full stranglehold over the sector earlier this week. One, the aviation industry in India has been speculating on which would be the next airline to down shutters. This question has been a topic of much debate for a long time now -- ever since Jet Airways became history. Many in the sector argue that there will be at best three to four players in the sector over the long term and that the weaker airlines will be weeded out sooner or later. The epidemic has brought home that reality with a bang. Even CAPAs Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kapil Kaul, usually an industry cheerleader who always errs on the positive side of caution, seemed pessimistic. If this continues for another two weeks with the same severity, a shutdown of certain players cannot be ruled out, he said. Almost all the airlines are seeing a drop in loads, which is expected to intensify as the numbers for March come in. International operations have been suspended by almost all players. A senior official in IndiGo said that while loads had currently shown a dip of 12-15 per cent, the drop in bookings in the coming weeks was even sharper and therefore they expected a further dip in loads for April. But airports in India are equally stressed and claim they need support too. On March 16, Mumbai-headquartered GoAir began to give everyone the jitters. The airline stopped all international operations, drastically reduced domestic flights, and asked employees to stay at home without pay. The contracts of 70-odd expat pilots, signed as recently as August last year, have been terminated and the pilots have been asked to return to their home countries with a promise that their full and final settlement would be done in due course. The airline asked its own employees to go on leave without pay, aiming to cut at least 35 per cent of its staff across departments and close to 50 per cent in support functions. A staggered salary cut of 20 per cent has been suggested for the remainder staff. GoAir has reduced its fleet from 54 to 38 and will be reducing further down to 20 aircraft. In an email response, the airline maintained that this was temporary and in response to the present crisis but that the airline expects to remain on track and add 12-15 aircraft every year to its fleet right up to 2025. In the airlines case, sources maintained that it faced a double whammy as there was no senior management to handle the crisis. SpiceJet reported a sharp fall in loads starting mid-March. While the February loads remained high, it is March onwards that traffic has virtually dried up. The airline is suspending its international flights but has not yet grounded any aircraft although it has reduced utilisation and future grounding cannot be ruled out. Ajay Singh, the airlines CEO, is likely to delay vendor payments and is largely expected to manage to keep his ship afloat as he has through past crises. He is expecting a large compensation for the delay in the Max aircraft by Boeing but the two sides have not yet agreed on the final amount. The chances of compensation, however, are looking brighter since the US government is expected to bail out Boeing in the coming weeks. Vistara too has not yet grounded its domestic fleet but has reduced utilisation. In a more precarious position, sources argued, is Air Asia India. That the Tatas have been less than happy with the way this venture has unfolded is well known but sources in Mumbais aviation circles and in the ministry of civil aviation (MoCA) speculated that this might be the perfect opportunity for the Tatas to put an end to this sad saga. Considering the mayhem that airlines in Malaysia too are currently facing, the Tatas partner in the venture Air Asia Berhard may not be as resistant either, pointed out a senior government official. Sources said that a Tata team had gone recently to meet Tony Fernandez to stress the fact that the Tatas could no longer put in any more funds to keep the airline going. This has been conveyed to him more than once, said a Tata source. The auditors of the airline have raised concerns on it being called a going concern on the grounds that the accumulated losses of the airline for the year ended 2018-19 are now Rs 1,284 crore against a share capital of Rs 534 crore. In addition, the companys current liabilities exceed current assets by Rs 962 crore. According to sources, the MoCA and finance ministry are looking at a package to bail them out. The bailout includes waiving all kinds of taxes (including on aviation turbine fuel) and lowering various charges. A top MoCA official, however, told this writer that consolidation among Indian carriers has been long overdue and perhaps this is the best time. He argued the governments financial situation itself was precarious with goods and services tax collection below expectations. But private airlines argue that this is by that yardstick perhaps the best time for the government to close down Air India also. The airline recorded a higher than ever before loss of more than Rs 8,550 crore in 2018-19 and this year is expected to be even higher. The beating the traffic has taken since the beginning of this year will reflect in the financial years results, many argued. They pointed out that cancelled flights were in fact the bright spot because the aircraft loads had dipped so sharply. Moreover, there are unlikely to be any buyers for Air India for a while to come. The chances of sale of the airline are down to nil in the present environment. Before suggesting the private airlines consolidate, the government should put its own house in order, said a private airline CEO. He argued that the most inefficient players should be the first to bow out and Air India should lead that pack. Airlines around the world are seeking support from their governments and several governments are stepping in to support the sector. India has not yet announced anything and pressure on the government is building up. Whether it succumbs is a several billion rupee question. Beijing has lashed out at Washington after US President Trump said he wished China 'could have told us earlier' about the coronavirus outbreak. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs today accused the US of 'slander' and 'scapegoating' over Trump's implication of a government cover-up. It condemned America for 'wasting the precious time China bought the world' in the prevention of the pandemic. It also labelled Washington's actions as 'immoral' and 'irresponsible'. The latest tit for tat comes as China and the United States lock horns in an escalating diplomatic row over the origin of the coronavirus. Both sides accuse the other of causing the global outbreak. Trump called the coronavirus 'the Chinese virus' once more at a press conference on Sunday despite being warned by Beijing to 'correct the mistake immediately'. Scroll down for video Geng Shuang (pictured last Wednesday), a spokesperson from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, condemned the US for 'wasting the precious time China bought the world' in fighting the coronavirus pandemic. He slammed Washington's actions as 'immoral' and 'irresponsible' US President Trump said on Saturday that he wished China would have informed him about the epidemic sooner. He said at a press briefing: 'I wish they could have told us earlier about what was going on inside. We didn't know about it until it started coming out publicly' Geng Shuang, a spokesperson from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also condemned US State of Secretary Mike Pompeo for accusing China, Russia and Iran of giving false information about the coronavirus pandemic. Mr Geng criticised US federal agencies of teaming up and launching smear campaigns against China. He said at a press briefing in Beijing: 'I can't help but ask who exactly is spreading disinformation, confusing the public and confounding black and white?' He accused the US of playing 'inferior tricks' of slander and diverting people's attention from its own mistakes. Mr Geng also condemned US State of Secretary Mike Pompeo for accusing China, Russia and Iran of giving false information about the pandemic. Pictured, patients wait in line outside the fever clinic of Wuhan Union Medical College Hospital for nucleic acid detection on March 18 Mr Geng said at a press briefing in Beijing: 'I can't help but ask who exactly is spreading disinformation, confusing the public and confounding black and white?' Pictured, doctors at fever clinic of Wuhan Union Medical College hospital perform tests for patients on March 18 Mr Geng went on to slam the US for wasting the time Beijing had won for the world to stem the spread of the virus. He said: 'In the past two months or so, Chinese people have united as one, spared no effort in fighting the epidemic with one heart and one mind, bought the whole world precious time in stemming the pandemic and made a significant contribution.' The official then questioned: 'In this precious time, what has the US side done?' He claimed that China started to give regular reports about the outbreak to the US and the World Health Organization on January 3. He blamed the US for failing to impose any effective measures, which caused the number of its confirmed cases to soar from just over 10 to more than 300,000 in the space of 50 days or so. 'By now, the US side is attempting to slander others, shifting its responsibilities and looking for a scapegoat. These acts are not only immoral but also irresponsible. They provide no help to America's own counter-epidemic efforts or the counter-epidemic collaboration of the international community.' President Trump said on Saturday that he wished China would have informed him about the epidemic sooner despite having praised the nation for its 'efforts and transparency' in January. Trump also said at the press briefing that 'I have a tremendous relationship with President Xi'. Cardboard cutouts displaying images of US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping with protective masks are pictured near a gift shop in Moscow, Russia, on March 23 Trump thanked China and President Xi for their 'efforts and transparency' in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak in a tweet on January 24. But he explained on Saturday that he wished China could have been transparent about the outbreak in Wuhan much earlier He said at a press briefing: 'I have great respect for China. I like China. I think the people of China are incredible. I have a tremendous relationship with President Xi.' But he quickly pointed out: 'I wish they could have told us earlier about what was going on inside. We didn't know about it until it started coming out publicly. 'But I wish they could have told us earlier because we could have come up with a solution.' The remarks came nearly two months after President Trump thanked China for its 'efforts and transparency' in tackling a deadly virus. He tweeted on January 24: 'China has been working very hard to contain the Coronavirus. The United States greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency. It will all work out well. In particular, on behalf of the American People, I want to thank President Xi!' Speaking of the conflicting comments, President Trump said on Saturday that he did think highly of China's containment when he sent that tweet, but he wished China could have been transparent much earlier. He added: 'China is not a beneficiary here. China has lost thousands and thousands of people. China has gone through hell over this I just wish they could have told us earlier. They knew they had a problem earlier.' President Trump doubled down on the claim at the daily press briefing on Sunday. He told reporters: 'I'm a little upset with China, I'll be honest with you. Because as much as I like President Xi and as much as I respect the country and admire the country... they should have told us about this. More than 470 have died of the coronavirus and over 39,000 have been infected in the US A medical worker wearing a single protective glove and a face mask walks past a line of workers and visitors waiting to be tested for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, at the main entrance to the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in New York today China and the United States are going head to head in a new diplomatic dispute over the origin of the contagion, which has killed more than 15,000 people worldwide. A Beijing's spokesperson this month heeded a conspiracy theory and claimed that the virus might have been brought to Wuhan by the US military. While US President Trump repeatedly referred to the virus as 'the Chinese virus' and insisted that 'it's not racist at all'. Beijing's top coronavirus expert denied that the bug originated in Wuhan for the second time last Wednesday and slammed such claim as 'irresponsible'. 'The epidemic of the novel coronavirus pneumonia indeed took place in China, in Wuhan but it does not mean its source is in Wuhan,' said Dr Zhong Nanshan, the leader of a team of experts appointed by China to tackle the health crisis. Dr Chen Xuyan (pictured), the director of the ICU Department of Beijing Tsinghua Chang Gung Hospital, expressed her surprise at how quickly American researchers were developing coronavirus vaccines on Chinese state broadcaster CCTV last Tuesday A Chinese medical expert also suggested that the US might have obtained a specimen of the novel coronavirus before China did, raising the possibility that Washington had known about the disease before Beijing. Dr Chen Xuyan from Beijing claimed that the first possible vaccine had entered clinical trials in America 'way too quickly'. She made the comments on Tuesday state broadcaster CCTV on Tuesday after a team in Seattle injected the first shots of an immunisation candidate into humans. Confusion over seemingly conflicting messages from Toronto hospitals and the provincial government about the need for self-isolation after travelling overseas is causing alarm among health-care workers, says the association representing nurses and nurse practitioners in the province. The Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) says that policies enacted by some hospitals instructing employees who have travelled abroad in the last two weeks to report to work immediately have left nurses worried for their safety and that of their patients in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Theyre concerned that the organizations areputting them, putting their colleagues and putting their patients and in fact communities and families at risk, said Doris Grinspun, CEO of the RNAO. In the last few days, Grinspun says shes heard from dozens of her members concerned that the hospital policies seem at odds with what the provincial government has been telling Ontarians: to self-isolate for 14 days as soon as they return home after travelling overseas. In a memo to the health system late last week, David Williams, the chief medical officer of health for Ontario, said he was recommending that health-care workers who have travelled outside the country in the last two weeks self-isolate for a period of 14 days starting from their arrival in Ontario. He added that if some workers are deemed critical for continued operations, he recommends they undergo regular screening, use appropriate personal protective equipment for the 14 days and undertake active self-monitoring, including taking their temperature twice daily to monitor for fever, and immediately self-isolate if symptoms develop. Hayley Chazan, a spokesperson for Health Minister Christine Elliott, told the Star Sunday that it is the provincial governments expectation that hospitals abide by our guidance, but its not a directive at this time. Hospitals that have told employees who have travelled within the last 14 days to return to work include Michael Garron (formerly Toronto East General) and Sinai Health, which includes Mount Sinai Hospital and Bridgepoint Active Healthcare, Mount Sinai. Dr. Ian Fraser, chief of staff at Michael Garron Hospital, told the Star Sunday that Williamss advice to self-isolate for 14 days after returning to Ontario was based on the perception that the risk for COVID-19 was related mainly to travel. But as we know right now, and certainly as Dr. Eileen de Villa, Torontos chief medical officer of health, identified we have community transmission. So that doesnt discriminate people who are potentially at risk and those who are not, said Fraser. As of Sunday evening, Toronto Public Health said it had 220 cases of COVID-19 reported in the city, 11 of which have resulted in hospitalization. In a statement to the media earlier Sunday, Fraser said his institution is conducting enhanced screening of every individual entering the building and that this approach is focused on symptoms rather than travel. We are asking asymptomatic health-care workers returning from international travel to return to work based on several robust safety measures and strategies we have put in place from the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, he said. On Friday, Sinai Health sent a memo to staff saying that because there is now community transmission of the virus, travel is no longer the driving risk factor. People who have not travelled may now be at similar risk for having COVID-19 as those who have travelled, reads the memo. All health-care workers who are asymptomatic, regardless of travel, are to report to work and it is not necessary to wear a procedure mask while at work. Similarly, Sunnybrook hospital has told its health-care workers who have travelled within the last 14 days that they may continue to work if they do not have symptoms. In a message sent to staff last Thursday, the hospital said those workers who have travelled within the time frame and who are asymptomatic must self-monitor for fever or any respiratory symptoms, however mild and take their temperature twice a day. Those who develop any symptoms or have a fever of greater than 38 C, must exclude themselves immediately and report to the hospitals occupational health and safety department. COVID-19 is in the community, which makes travel history less relevant but makes monitoring for symptoms, even mild, highly important, the message said. Marneuli and Bolnisi municipalities in eastern Georgia have been placed under lockdown, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said. The decision was taken after a local, 62-year-old woman tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday after coming into contact with more than 80 people and spending four days in a local hospital. How the woman contracted the virus is as of yet unknown. Her health condition is critical. However, Gakharia and health officials stated that the woman attended a religious event, and that 86 individuals with whom she had contact have been identified, adding that the total number of contacts is far more. Entry to and exit from the municipalities are under lockdown, and the Georgian Defence Ministry has set up checkpoints. All stories, except those offering food, medicine or others of critical importance have been closed. Public transport has been paused indefinitely. Movement inside the municipality is strongly controlled. Locals are able to move about only to buy food, medical products or see a doctor. Locals may be able to carry out agricultural work only in line with strict rules. Order inside the municipalities will be ensured by the Interior Ministry. Local hospital, Geo Hospitals, where the infected patient spent four days, is under quarantine. An open-air hospital has been arranged near the hospital. Doctors will visit all families to check for suspicious symptoms of the virus, Agenda.ge reported. All those who were in the municipalities at the time of quarantine [who are no residents of the municipalities] will have to stay there for two weeks. Iran Linked to CCP Virus Cases in 23 Countries; Porous Borders Contribute to Chaos The Iranian regimes severe mismanagement of the CCP virus crisis and its continuing lack of transparency has earned it the reputation of being a major center of the global pandemic, experts say. According to the U.S. Institute of Peace, Iran has spread the pathogen to 23 countries, with cases as far away as North America, Europe, and New Zealand. Even China, the initial center of the pandemic, reported 11 cases of the infection from Iran on March 5. Other cases were linked to Iran in Australia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. The countrys porous borders have further added to the chaos in the Arab world, according to Faisal Al-Rfouh, a professor of political science and international studies at the University of Jordan. I believe the Iranian government betrayed their people so they didnt announce the extent of the coronavirus and they didnt take the needed measurements to limit or minimize the extent of it in the Middle East, Al-Rfouh told The Epoch Times. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China before it was transmitted worldwide. Al-Rfouh, a former Jordanian culture minister and a visiting professor of political science at Glendon College at York University in Toronto, believes that the Iranian regime is responsible for the spread of the CCP virus across the Arab world. News reports back Al-Rfouhs claimroughly 9 out of 10 of the more than 18,000 confirmed cases in the Middle East can be traced from Iran, including the first confirmed cases in Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Oman. This irresponsible spread of the deadly virus, he says, has intensified anti-Iran sentiment in the Middle East. Not just angry, they are very angry! Arab nations are angry with the zero measurements or the ways with which they dealt with it and they spread this disease, Al-Rfouh said. While the callous handling of affairs by Iran has contributed to the outbreak in the entire Middle East, Irans location on the geostrategic map and the permeability and porousness of its borders has raised concern in the Pentagon, according to Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, the commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East and South Asia. Iran sits in the middle of the [Middle East] theater, so their ability to pass that infection to other states is very worrisome, McKenzie said in a March 13 briefing with lawmakers. There are also extensive reports on how the virus has advanced across Irans porous borders into the neighboring countries of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Al-Rfouh particularly expressed concerns about the Islamic Republics border with Iraq. The open border between Iran and Iraq is so dangerous. So I think and believe that the Arabs have all the right to blame Iran, because the Iranian regime didnt tell the truth about coronavirus cases in their country, he said. The first 33 cases of infection in Iraq came from Iran, reported Tablet magazine. There are also reports about millions of Afghan refugees living inside the country, and concerns about the pandemic going unreported. Cabinet members wearing face masks attend their meeting in Tehran, Iran, on March 18, 2020. (Office of the Iranian Presidency via AP) Utter Chaos While Arab countries have closed borders and transportation links with Iran, the situation inside the country continues to grow at alarming proportions, with many reports of quarantine being broken, particularly in religious shrines. The porous borders further aggravate the situation. On March 24, the country issued its most dire warning about the new CCP virus ravaging the country, suggesting millions could die in the Islamic Republic if people keep traveling and ignore health guidance. In announcing the new warning, Iranian state TV journalist Afruz Eslami cited a study by the Sharif University of Technology that offered three scenarios: If people cooperate now, Iran will see 120,000 infections and 12,000 deaths before the outbreak is over; with medium cooperation, there will be 300,000 cases and 110,000 deaths. If people fail to follow any guidance, it could collapse Irans already-strained medical system, Eslami said. If medical facilities are not sufficient, there will be 4 million cases, and 3.5 million people will die, she said. On March 23, hard-line Shiite demonstrators pushed their way into the courtyards of two major shrines that were closed because of the virus. We are here to say that Tehran is damn wrong to do that! one Shiite cleric shouted, while at the shrine in Mashhad, according to a video posted online. Others joined him in chanting: The health minister is damn wrong to do that, the president is damn wrong to do that! Police later dispersed the crowds and made arrests. The demonstrations occurred even after the countrys supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, issued a religious ruling prohibiting unnecessary travel. A man disinfects the shrine of Saint Masoumeh against CCP virus in the city of Qom, 78 miles south of the capital Tehran, Iran, on Feb. 24, 2020. (Ahmad Zohrabi/ISNA via AP) Iran Infects Other Countries Cases originating from Iran have been reported around the globe, including in New York and Los Angeles. Since Iran didnt take required precautionary measures, nations with religious, economic, and political ties with the Islamic Republic became easy targets for the outbreak, Manjari Singh, a New Delhi-based Middle East expert, told The Epoch Times in an email. In most of the countries in the Middle East such as in Iraq, Lebanon, and Qatar, the initial spread is from the Iranian individuals who have traveled to these countries, Singh said. An India Today report on March 24 said that 254 Indians in Iran have tested positive for COVID-19. However, confusion arose of these cases when they were confirmed positive by the Indian medical team stationed in Iran, but negative by an Iranian team. Around 254 people have been tested positive by the Indian medical team, but when we went to the Iranian hospitals to recheck, they said we are not positive. According to Iranian authorities, it is not Covid-19. We are disturbed and confused. We want to go back, an Indian pilgrim named Asgar Ali told the media. These pilgrims continued to live in hotels and go to the markets since they werent provided food and medicine, thereby endangering the lives of others. A few days back, India brought back its expatriates from Iran and is quarantining them in Rajasthan [desert state], Singh said. The situation on Irans border with Pakistan is also discouraging. The Guardian reports that 6,000 people were quarantined in a dusty camp on Pakistans border with Iran in Taftan town, a stop on the trade route between two countries in Balochistan. Shia Muslims use the route to travel to religious shrines in Iran. The infected in Taftan were lodged in tents without any toilets or basic amenities such as towels or blankets. The report mentions that the border remains very porous, and on March 24, 100 people from Iran got into Taftan by bribing officials on the border. Singh points out that many countries in the Middle East dont see eye to eye with each other, particularly with Iran. Theres a lack of coordination in crisis management and control, which eventually got better diplomatically after many countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) sent help to Iran. But will it transform into a bettering relation between Shia Iran and Sunni Arab countries led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, that is too soon to comment on. These steps are based on humanitarian grounds and therefore their longevity can be short-lived, she said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. US President Donald Trump has said he is "a little upset" with China over its late sharing of information on the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus and refusing to accept a visit by American medical experts to the country "out of pride". "They should have told us about this," Trump told reporters at a press conference in the White House on Sunday during a briefing on his administration's coronavirus response. "I'm a little upset with China. I'll be honest with you, because as much as I like (Chinese) President Xi (Jinping) and as much as I respect and admire the country," he said. There are now 31,057 confirmed cases across the US, with 390 deaths. New York state has become the epicentre of the outbreak in the US and accounts for almost half of the country's cases. Trump said soon after he received information about the spread of the deadly viral infection in China, he wanted to send US medical team there. However, China did not allow. Without specifying any timeline, Trump said he had spoken to President Xi "specifically" about sending US team to China, however, "he doesn't want this... this is not something that he wants". The US president said it is "out of pride" that China didn't "want us to send people" and "they didn't really respond". "I wish they could have told us earlier about what was going on inside," Trump said. "We didn't know about it until it started coming out publicly," he said. Trump added that China "was very secretive and that's unfortunate." Reiterating that America's relationship with China is "very good", Trump said, "I wish they (had) told us three months sooner that this was a problem. We didn't know about it. They knew about it and they should (have) told us. We could have saved a lot of lives throughout the world." Meanwhile, the US and Chinese officials continued with their war of words over coronavirus on Twitter. "Since early January, the CCP has retaliated against its citizens and journalists in China for making information public, launched disinformation campaigns around the world, and limited the international community's access to valuable public health information," the National Security Council of the White House tweeted, referring to the China's ruling Communist Party. On March 20, Morgan Ortagus, spokesperson of the US State Department, tweeted, "By Jan. 3, Chinese authorities had already ordered #COVID19 virus samples destroyed, silenced Wuhan doctors, and censored public concerns online. @SpokespersonCHN is right: This is a timeline the world must absolutely scrutinize." Responding to the tweet, Hua Chunying, spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said China has been updating the US on coronavirus and its response since January 3. On January 15, the US State Department notified Americans in China about the US Centre for Disease Control's warning against the coronavirus. "And now blame China for Delay? Seriously," she said. China, Hua tweeted, has treated COVID 19 as highly pathogenic virus according to the law on prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. "As WHO stated, China identified the pathogen in a record short time and shared genetic sequence with the world, which helped others with epidemic response," she said. However, Ortagus denied her remarks. "Nonsense. You call it 'highly pathogenic' now, but last month your officials blocked a WHO report from calling COVID19 a 'dangerous pathogen'," she said, tagging a link of a 'Financial Times' article on the topic to buttress her argument. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Monica Samayoa, Oregon Public Broadcasting Immigrant communities throughout Oregon say they are experiencing a sense of fear about the spreading of coronavirus a state of worry thats being heightened because many do not speak or read English as a first language. Because of this, many in Oregons immigrant communities are resorting to social media as their primary source of information. Organizations like VOZ Workers Rights Education Project, Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN), Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO), African Family Holistic Health Organization (AFHHO) and Unite Oregon, have taken it upon themselves to educate and inform their communities regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. The organizations all said the top frustration is getting information and resources readily available in languages other than English. VOZ executive director Osmani Alcaraz-Ochoa said as the seriousness of COVID-19 has progressed, staff at VOZ have been educating laborers who are still coming in seeking work in construction, landscaping and moving companies. But theres been a sharp drop-off in employment in the past few weeks. They see how they can potentially be impacted as immigrant workers and workers of color being more at risk, workers that dont have medical leave, sick paid leave, paid time off, or arent able to work remotely because they dont have those kinds of jobs since they are temporary and day-to-day, Ochoa said. They see themselves as very vulnerable. Alcaraz-Ochoa said VOZ has created a GoFundMe campaign to ensure workers can access funds for medical care, sick leave, housing and food. They are also informing people about the importance of social distancing and other preventive measures to slow the pandemic. Social media saves the day Getting news and updates from staff members or local news outlets has been working for some but others are having a difficult time finding trustworthy sources. PCUN executive director Reyna Lopez said the mostly non-English-speaking Latino farmworkers and tree planters her group works with are relying on social media platforms like Facebook to translate and share news within their communities. Our digital posts on Facebook, the ones in Spanish have been the ones that have gotten the most clicks, the most shares, the most engagement on those posts, Lopez said. But Lopez points to another challenge they face, which is getting news translated in a timely manner. For now they are relying on Facebook. Another challenge that appears to be especially big in Oregons immigrant communities: missed work shifts. That was starting to happen even before Feb. 28 when Oregons first COVID-19 case was reported. Lopez said workers in processing plants have been informing her of reduced work hours as she said Chinas purchasing of canned fruits from Oregon slowed down. Some are now being asked to take time off with no pay. Theyre being asked to take these days and not expect any pay for these hours and talking with community members theyre saying, Well thats just the way it is, theres not really a lot we can do about it, people are kind of accepting that this is the new norm, Lopez said. PCUN is asking government leaders to come up with solutions where they can expand employment insurance and extend unemployment insurance benefits to these workers. Other immigrant communities that are facing a similar problem in terms of getting news translated in their language have figured out a way without waiting for local news. APANO community organizer Wanna Lei said the Chinese American community is mainly getting its information from WeChat, a Chinese social media app that offers multipurpose messaging and has an estimated 1 billion users. Lei said they post and update every day and get information from local government leaders and translate the news, so they can quickly share it with others. But Lei said although the community has been informed for months now, they are also very stressed out. Earlier we were really concerned with our families in China right now it is our turn, Lei said. The novel coronavirus initial outbreak in China means Oregons Chinese American community has been well aware of the virus for months. And now that it has spread to the rest of the world, Lei said families feel that the roles have switched. Now, families in China are concerned with their families in the United States and fear that people are not taking it seriously enough. They really worry, and some people actually talked with me and they want to encourage people in our community to have more people wear masks, Lei said. Members of Oregons Chinese American community said more needs to be done to protect themselves and others in the community. Lei also said some people are confused on what to do after losing their jobs because of the coronavirus and are having trouble finding resources online for support, especially with filling out unemployment forms. Racial rhetoric and harmful narratives Associate director at APANO, Duncan Hwang, said the Chinese American community is also facing a spike in microaggressions and racism toward Chinese immigrants. In an era of already-rising xenophobia, Asian Americans in Oregon and beyond have been disturbed by what theyre hearing the coronavirus called. A CBS News reporter tweeted that a White House official had referred to it as the kung-flu and President Trump has taken to calling it the Chinese virus. Before the outbreak locally, there was a lot of xenophobia, in terms of reduced business and over racist comments, but now its kind of more widespread you do see it in national news like the federal government calling it the Wuhan coronavirus or the Wu-flu, Hwang said. Hwang said calling COVID-19 other names is creating a harmful narrative. For a lot of Asian American folks, weve been hearing about Coronavirus and talking really nonstop about it since really last November and December. Its been going on much more deeply and much longer and thats really kind of impacted peoples lives here even before there were cases in the U.S. Folks were afraid to go out and socialize and visit shops and restaurants and things like that, Hwang said. As the fear of getting COVID-19 or being ordered to shelter in place has begun to sink in for people, those who own businesses have been left with difficult decisions. Long Nguyen, owner of Mekha Grill, said he doesnt want to close as he worries about how he will pay his mortgage and rent, but Gov. Kate Browns recent restrictions on restaurants has left him no choice. I feel shocked, really shocked, and I dont know what to do to be honest with you. I cant think of anything right now, Nguyen said. I saw a lot of customers stay away from, especially, Asian restaurants. I dont think its discrimination, but in general, because were Asian. Nguyen was not aware of Browns announcement until the night before it was to be put in place. I will fight, whatever I can do to survive, Nguyen said. Even though we have community, in the restaurant business everybody stands on their own. Fear of the unknown Unite Oregon works with many different communities across the state to build a unified intercultural movement for justice. Executive director Kayse Jama said many families are afraid, especially those who live in rural parts of Oregon. He said they have been more difficult to reach as the COVID-19 situation develops. What we are hearing from families is fear and unknowns and challenges that they have because they are already struggling with a lack of health care in rural areas, particularly, as well as in Portland, Jama said. Jama echoed a lot of what other immigrant communities are facing, as information sharing has been limited, especially with those in rural Oregon. Jama said Unite Oregon is fielding a lot of questions that theyre struggling to find answers to. A lot of questions around how to support their families, a lot of questions about schools and how they can support their kids and the education system, whats going to happen to me if I lose my job. Those are some of the challenges they are facing, Jama said. Joy Mulumba is a supervisor with African Family Holistic Health Organization, which serves over 200 families in the Portland metro area that speak Swahili, a Bantu language spoken in Tanzania, Kenya and other parts of East Africa. He said the organization has a similar challenge as he does not know when they will receive help from the state. AFHHO has also been using social media and messaging apps like WhatsApp to share information, but some of the elders in their communities struggle to use new technology and so Mulumba has no choice but to make face-to-face contact with them to update them with what is going on in the news. Ive been watching YouTube videos about how to be responsible in a pandemic, Mulumba said. I realized the knowledge and the skill sets of what I have right now is not equipped to handle this, but I should not be just the only person; it should be a community effort. He said his goal is to come up with a preparedness kit that would focus on health resources that workers can use for themselves and for the community. OPBs Kaylee Domzalski contributed to this report. This story was originally published by Monica Samayoa of Oregon Public Broadcasting, one of more than a dozen news organizations throughout the state sharing their coverage of the novel coronavirus outbreak to help inform Oregonians about this evolving heath issue. Haiti - FLASH : 3 new cases of COVID-19 in Haiti The Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) informs the population that there are 3 new cases of COVID-19 which are confirmed, as of March 22, 2020, in the country since the first 2 cases on March 19 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30310-haiti-flash-2-cases-of-covid-19-confirmed-in-the-country.html bringing the total of confirmed cases to 5 after the national laboratory tests on suspicious cases. However, the MSPP has not yet specified the place where these cases were recorded, nor the sex or age of the people infected. "Within the framework of the transparency that the Government has promised, it will continue to provide the population with good information so that they can properly protect themselves," maintains the MSPP. The MSPP continues to ask the population to respect all the principles of health and safety that the state has already given to prevent the disease from spreading in the country. - Stay home - Always wash your hands - Avoid putting your hands in your mouth, nose and eyes - Keep a distance of one meter from other people, in case you have to out for an emergency. HL/ HaitiLibre NEW ORLEANS, March 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, the former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have only until March 23, 2020 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Qudian Inc. (NYSE: QD), if they purchased the Company's securities between December 13, 2018 and January 15, 2020, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. What You May Do If you purchased securities of Qudian and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ([email protected]), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-qd/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action by overseeing lead counsel with the goal of obtaining a fair and just resolution, you must request this position by application to the Court by March 23, 2020 . About the Lawsuit Forescout and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. Qudian and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On January 16, 2020, the Company disclosed the withdrawal of its fiscal 2019 guidance "due to uncertainty related to the recent regulatory and operating environment" including several regulatory developments in China's online consumer finance industry. On this news, the price of Qudian's shares plummeted. The case is Stephen Bellingham, et al. v. Qudian Inc., et al., 20-cv-00577. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California and Louisiana. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. Contact: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner [email protected] 1-877-515-1850 1100 Poydras St., Suite 3200 New Orleans, LA 70163 SOURCE Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Related Links http://www.ksfcounsel.com/ Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 10:51:41|Editor: yhy Video Player Close PORTO, Portugal, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Seven persons have been detained in Portugal by security forces for the crime of disobedience under the state of emergency amid the COVID-19 outbreak, a Portuguese minister said Sunday. One of the arrests "was a particularly serious case of violation of the duty of confinement" by one COVID-19 patient, because it was a violation of "mandatory confinement," said Eduardo Cabrita, minister of internal administration, at a press conference. The man was arrested on the street in Porto, the second largest city in Portugal, while he should have stayed at home under surveillance, the minister explained. The other six cases were due to "non-compliance with the instructions of the security forces," he added. Any disobedience under the state of emergency shall be punished with imprisonment for up to one year or a fine of up to 120 days, according to the Portuguese law. A day fine is based on the offender's daily personal income. Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa declared Wednesday a state of emergency in an attempt to contain the COVID-19 spread. Portugal has reported 1,600 COVID-19 cases and 14 deaths. A local official in Florida has apologized for suggesting that placing a blow dryer up ones nose cures coronavirus. Bryant Culpepper, the commissioner of Okeechobee County, stunned colleagues during a meeting on Friday when he brought up possible treatments for coronavirus that he said he saw on a cable news channel. Culpepper claimed coronavirus could not live at temperatures greater than 136 degrees Fahrenheit so he advised people to treat themselves with the common haircare product. He said he saw a doctor recommend this during an appearance on the One America News Network (OANN). Bryant Culpepper (orange shirt), the commissioner of Okeechobee County, Florida, said during a meeting on Friday that hair dryers could cure coronavirus I said how would you get the temperature up to 136 degrees? The answer was you use a blow dryer,' he said. 'You hold a blow dryer up to your face and you inhale through your nose and it kills all the viruses in your nose, Bryant said, citing a study into the virus, although it is unclear what study he was referencing. One of the things pointed out in this interview with one of the foremost doctors that has studied the coronavirus said that the nasal passages and the nasal membranes are the coolest part of the body. 'Thats why the virus tends to go there until it then becomes healthy enough to go into the lungs. Medical professionals and health experts have warned against this theory and said a hairdryer will do nothing to prevent Covid-19, the official name for the new strain of coronavirus currently sweeping the world. Culpepper said that he learned of the 'cure' while watching a segment on the cable news channel One America News Network. He is seen right posing with a six-pack of Corona beer False! Please Dont. Our nose carries bacteria, as part of normal flora. Those bacteria may bet confused, Faheem Younus, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Maryland tweeted, debunking the false claim. The World Health Organization has also said hand dryers cannot kill the virus, which can still be transmitted in hot climates. After Culpeppers comments were blasted online, the commissioner doubled down on Facebook, writing: No one is holding a gun to your head to do anything you do not want to do but for some, they dont have a lot of options. Culpepper on Monday posted an apology on his Facebook page after his comments sparked a backlash I am Heartfully Sorry for the comments I made on Social Media,' he wrote. 'I was only trying to give comfort to those in Okeechobee who have no insurance to treat their families All this wonderful Science you believe in yet Thousands die every day from Cancer, Leukemia, ALS so why havent they been cured with all the Scientist working on for years. Go ahead and laugh all you want and feel like fools when I am proven right. However, Culpepper has since issued an apology after widespread mockery online. I am Heartfully Sorry for the comments I made on Social Media. I was only trying to give comfort to those in Okeechobee who have no insurance to treat their families. I will not offer any more suggestions unless they are tried and proven. I ask for All of your forgiveness for anything offensive that I uttered during these exchanges. Earlier this month, as news of the spread of the coronavirus began to dominate headlines, Culpepper posted a photo on his Facebook page showing him posing with a six-pack of Corona beer. Coronavirus has now infected more than 41,000 Americans and killed 476. The Shingrix vaccine for shingles is the most effective in preventing the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It has been in use since 2017 and its rate of effectiveness is 90%. There are other available vaccines, as well. Around 500,000 people over the age of 60 are diagnosed with shingles in the United States each year. One in three adults are likely to contract it during their lifetimes. CDC also states that vaccination is the only way to protect against shingles and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), the most common complication from shingles. What is shingles? Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. Anyone who has had the chickenpox virus (varicella zoster virus, or VZV) may develop shingles later in life. It is a nerve disease that can cause discomfort and visible rashes and blisters on the skin. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) reports that most people live with the VZV virus and never develop shingles. However, it is estimated that it will develop in one of every three U.S. citizens. Symptoms Because shingles is a nerve disease, the first signs of it may be an itch or burning sensation that usually occurs below an area of skin where a rash will soon appear. A tingling sensation may also be felt. Other symptoms have been described as stabbing, throbbing or shooting sensations below the skin. In addition to a visible skin rash, shingles may also cause discomfort around the eyes and even vision loss. Beyond skin and eye symptoms, upset stomach, headache, fever and chills may develop. Muscle weakness, scarring of skin, chills and impaired hearing are also symptoms. Certain age groups at risk Shingles can occur at any age but appears more often in the elderly. The two groups most susceptible to shingles are aging adults and anyone with a compromised immune system. More than half of all shingles cases are reported in people over sixty and the risk increases even more after age seventy. Those whose immune systems have difficulty battling infections are also at risk. The immune system may weaken due to age, treatment for cancer, organ transplant drugs or an infection such as HIV. The immune system can be weakened by short-term occurrences, too. These can include a cold, stress or exposure to the sun. It should be stressed that shingles, itself, is not contagious. However, the chickenpox virus is contagious. Anyone who has not had chickenpox should avoid those with shingles. Prevention and treatment The Shingrix vaccine is administered in two doses over several months. While it has proven to be most effective in preventing shingles, another vaccine, Zostavax, has been in use since 2006. It is recommended for anyone who may be allergic to Shingrix. It may also be used by healthy adults over age 60 and is recommended if Shingrix is not available. Those factors notwithstanding, Shingrix is recommended even if Zostavax has been administered in the past. Shingrix is recommended if someone does not know if they have had chickenpox or if they have had shingles in the past. In most cases, if someone has contracted shingles, that will be the only occurrence. However, it is possible for the same person to contract it again. There are several ways to treat shingles symptoms but first, the disease should be properly diagnosed. Before any treatment begins, it is important to receive a definitive diagnosis from a physician. After diagnosis, antiviral medications should be administered as soon as possible. The three prescription medications recommended most are acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir. Calamine lotion and wet compresses may also relieve shingles discomfort. To learn more about shingles vaccines, treatment and management, log on to vascularhealthclinics.org and visit the Infectious Diseases Institute. Ask Dr. Haqqani If you have questions about your cardiovascular health, including heart, blood pressure, stroke lifestyle and other issues, we want to answer them. Please submit your questions to Dr. Haqqani by e-mail at questions@vascularhealthclinics.org. Dr. Omar P. Haqqani is the chief of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery at Vascular Health Clinics in Midland: www.vascularhealthclinics.org live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More The coronavirus pandemic could not have hit India's auto industry at a worse time. Why so? Showrooms across major cities and towns have downed shutters choking sales of Bharat Stage IV (BS4) vehicles, auto factories are under lockdown hampering supplies of BS6 upgrades and market sentiments are at its worst with the stock market going back to the levels of early 2017. Certain cars, two-wheelers, trucks and buses which comply with BS4 emission norms are still lying with the dealers. If not sold before April 1 this stock of vehicles will become useless as according to Supreme Court directives only BS6 vehicles can be sold and registered on and after April 1. Which companies could be impacted? Hero Motocorp, Indias largest manufacturer of two-wheelers and Tata Motors, the largest truck and bus maker, are among the companies who have stock of BS4 vehicles. Hero, which sells 4.5-5 lakh motorcycles and scooters every month, has already sought three months to get rid of this inventory in its application to the Supreme Court. The company did not clarify the number of BS4 stocks it has but by the start of February it had more than 6 lakh units, most of which were BS4. Tata Motors had about 7,500 cars and SUVs and an unspecified number of trucks and buses of the BS4 variety by end of January. Tata Motors did not reply to a questionnaire sent by Moneycontrol seeking details of its precise unsold BS4 inventory across passenger and commercial vehicle categories. Hero which makes Splendor, Passion and HF Dawn is doling out discounts of nearly Rs 21,000 on the BS4 stocks while carmaker Hyundai is selling Santro, Xcent, old Creta and i20 with discounts of up to Rs 1.15 lakh on the BS4 kind. However, due to the coronavirus outbreak many auto showrooms have downed shutters till March 31, thus making it impossible to clear the older stock. Moreover, regional transport offices that register vehicles are operating at less than half their capacity. How has shutdown at production facilities impacted? While the marketing and sales divisions of companies were working overtime to get rid of the BS4 stock, the production teams were working equally hard to boost the availability of BS6 replacements. Model-by-model upgradation was done by companies but at a pace that did not allow auto companies to complete the transition in time. The result is that many models, especially those powered by diesel engines, are yet to be launched in the market. But due to the outbreak, more than two dozen car and two-wheeler makers are forced to close manufacturing operations to break the spread of the virus. Plants in Maharashtra, Haryana and Tamil Nadu will be shut till March 31. Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Honda, Toyota Kirloskar, Mercedes, Fiat, Force Motors, Volkswagen, Bajaj Auto, Hero Motocorp, Honda Motorcycles and Scooter and Suzuki Motorcycle are the companies that have shut down their factories. What will all this do to auto sales numbers? Coronavirus will have a drastic impact on the stock clearance before the March 31 BS-VI transition deadline. The government has not yet taken a stand on granting any extension which is natural given that it is directed by the Supreme Court. FADA has filed a petition in the apex court where we expect the government to be called upon by the Court to take a stand, said a note from Dolat Capital. As per data shared by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) passenger vehicle sales in the domestic sector during April-February declined by 15 percent to 2.63 million units while commercial vehicle segment reported a fall of 22 percent compared to the same period last year. March will most likely be the worst month of the year in wholesale dispatches and as per companies, there wont be a recovery in demand until the start of the festive period that kick-starts around September. Gulf nations step up measures against coronavirus as infections continue to rise. Saudi Arabia will impose a nationwide curfew from Monday evening, while the United Arab Emirates has announced the suspension of all passenger and transit flights as the coronavirus cases in the world continue to increase. Saudi King Salman ordered a curfew to slow the spread of the coronavirus, state news agency SPA reported. The curfew will be enforced from 7pm to 6am for 21 days. The UAE, which has 153 reported coronavirus cases, said it will suspend all flights to and from the country for two weeks, state news agency WAM said on Monday, adding that cargo operations will continue. The UAEs Ministry of Health has decided to close shopping and commercial centres, leaving open pharmacies and supermarkets, along with fish, vegetables and meat markets dealing with wholesalers, WAM reported. It will limit restaurants to delivery services. WAM said the closures will take effect in 48 hours and will last for two weeks, subject to review and evaluation. 200322235532945 The UAE has urged the public to stay at home except in cases of necessity, including getting supplies, such as food and medicine, or performing essential jobs, WAM said. On Sunday, Saudi Arabia recorded 119 new cases of the virus for a total of 511, the highest number in the Gulf region, the Health Ministry said. The tally of cases in the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council now stands at more than 1,700. UAE stimulus package The UAE, the regions tourism and business hub, approved an additional 16 billion dirhams ($4.4bn) on Sunday for a total stimulus package of 126 billion dirhams, according to a tweet from its vice president, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai. 200312165334964 The tourism and hospitality sector in Dubai, the regions most diversified economy, has been hit hard by the disruption to global travel because of the coronavirus pandemic. Emirates, based in Dubai and one of the worlds biggest airlines, said on Sunday it would suspend passenger operations with the exception of repatriation flights to 13 countries by Wednesday. On Sunday, Oman, which has 55 cases, banned public gatherings and shut currency exchange shops. Muscat also announced that the government would reduce government services to 30 percent of total employees, adding that the rest will work remotely, according to the state media. Bahrain ordered all stores except those supplying essential goods to shut. It reported a second death on Sunday, a citizen evacuated from Iran, taking the GCCs total number of deaths to four. Bahrain has 335 reported cases. In Kuwait, where a daily curfew from 4pm until 5am is in place, some supermarkets were allowing only 50 shoppers at a time. The country had 188 confirmed cases as of Monday. Qatar, which has 494 cases, has begun installing checkpoints to enforce a ban on public gatherings. Parks and public beaches remain closed as the government announced a hotline for people to report breaches of the ban. Troubled swimwear brand Tigerlily has become Australian retail's first victim of the coronavirus pandemic, with the company blaming it for a drop in sales after appointing administrators on Monday. KordaMentha administrator Scott Langdon has been appointed to the business, which operates across 30 retail locations along with an online store and employs around 200 people. Tigerlily was started by Jodhi Meares (right) in 2000 before she sold it to Billabong in 2007. Credit:Dallas Kilponen Mr Langdon said COVID-19 was a "core reason" for Tigerlily's collapse, as the company had seen reduced sales since the virus was declared a pandemic. This echoed similar warnings from stationery brand Kikki K, which waved the white flag in early March. "In the past fortnight, it had accelerated in terms of the tightening of the retail space and [the effect on] sales," he said. HANDOUT / National Institutes of Health / AFP via Getty Images A CentroMed health care provider who works at Sarah E. Davidson Clinic at Haven for Hope has tested positive for COVID-19 after being exposed to a family member with COVID-19, according to a news release from health officials. CentroMed learned about the health care provider on Friday, the release said. On that day, the provider was placed on a 14-day home quarantine and all staff at the Davidson clinic and the La Paloma de Paz Shelter Clinic were sent home. Both are closed as of Monday afternoon. Iran is reporting another 127 coronavirus deaths, bringing its death toll to 1,812 amid 23,049 confirmed cases. Iran is battling the worst outbreak in the Middle East, and has faced widespread criticism for not imposing stricter quarantine measures early on. It is also suffering under severe American sanctions imposed after President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. State TV reported the latest figures on Monday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed has gone into self-isolation over fears of coronavirus after his contact with the son of Atiku Abubakar. The self-isolation was confirmed on Monday by the Governors Chief of Staff, Ladan Salihu. Naija News recalls Atiku disclosed on Twitter on Sunday evening that his son tested positive to the coronavirus pandemic. Dr. Salihu disclosed via his Twitter handle that Governor Mohammed, alongside his entourage, met with the Vice Presidents son while on flight from Lagos to Abuja. He noted that all of them have taken the test and are expecting the result. The tweet reads: Our Governor Bala Mohammed in self isolation following contact with Atiku Abubakars Son. Yes. We were on the same flight from Lagos to Abuja. They shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. The Gov and the rest of us have taken tests. The results will be negative in sha Allah. Share this post with your Friends on For the duration of the COVID-19 crisis, Please Explain is coming to you five days a week. In today's episode of Please Explain, Tory Maguire and Stephanie Peatling discuss the federal government's decision to shut down non-essential services across Australia to stop the spread of coronavirus. They also dive into the mixed messages coming from the state premiers and the Prime Minister on whether Australia should close schools. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Market Research Future Published a Half-Cooked Research Report on Global Glass Additives Market Research Report- Forecast to 2023 According to Market Research Future (MRFR), Global Glass Additives Market is predicted to grow at a moderate CAGR over the forecast period of 2016 to 2023. The substantial growth of the Global Glass Additives Industry over the forecast period is attributable to technological advancements, such as using lanthanum oxide as an additive to improve the durability and refractive index of glass materials, have urged the growth of the market and rapid urbanization. The increasing demand from the expanding building & construction industry is also expected to drive the demand for Glass Additives Market significantly. Furthermore, growing investment in the packaging industry, along with the constant expansion of the building & construction industry globally, especially in the emerging economies, is estimated to fuel the growth of the market. However, factors such as the growing adoption rate of plastic as a comparatively cheaper alternative to glass are expected to hinder the growth of the market over the assessment period. Key Players: The key players operating in the Global Glass Additives Market are DuPont. (U.S.), GILLINDER GLASS (U.S.), HAMMOND GROUP INC (U.S.) Potters Industries LLC (U.S.), Namibia Rare Earths Inc. (Canada), Torrecid Group (Spain), SCHOTT AG (Germany), Ardagh Group (Republic of Ireland), Lynas Corporation Ltd (Australia), METALL RARE EARTH LIMITED (China), among others. Get Free Sample @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5140 Segmental Analysis: The Global Glass Additives Market is bifurcated based on the Product and Application. Based on Product, Global Glass Additives Market has been segmented into metal oxide, nano-particles, and polymers & rare earth metals. Based on Application, Global market for Glass Additives is segmented into building & construction, electronics & appliances, packaging, automotive & transportation, and others. Regional Analysis: Based on the Region, Global Glass Additives Market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), Latin America (LATAM), and the Middle East & Africa (MEA). North America is one of the major markets for Glass Additives and is expected to witness remarkable growth over the forecast period. Developed countries such as the U.S and Canada are substantial contributors to the regional market share owing to the presence of established electronics and packaging industries in the region. Additionally, investments towards product innovation are expected to drive the market over the forecast period. Europe has been assessed as the largest region in the Global Glass Additive Market. European countries such as France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Spain, and the U.K are expected to contribute substantially owing to established end-use industries and increasing expenditure on R&D activities for product innovation. Browse Key Industry Insights spread across 139 pages with 35 market data tables & 12 figures & charts from the report, Glass Additives Market Information: By Product (Metal Oxide, Nanoparticles and Polymers & Rare Earth Metals), Application (Building & Construction, Packaging, Automotive & Transportation, Electronics & Appliances) and Region Growth Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast 2023 in detail along with the table of contents: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/glass-additives-market-5140 Asia Pacific is likely to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period due to increasing demand from multiple application sectors such as automotive, building & construction, and packaging, among others. Emerging economies in APAC such as China, India, Malaysia, and Vietnam are significant contributors to the market owing to the rising automobile production and sales over the forecast period. furthermore, the rise in the working population has consequently raised the demand for ready-to-eat items has led to growth in the market of packaged foods, which is further expected to contribute the demand for long-lasting Glass Additives products in the packaging industry. In addition, comparatively low-cost labor, availability of raw material are favorable factors for the market growth in the region. Latin American region is expected to witness moderate growth over the forecast period, owing to the market growth in developing countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. The Middle Eastern & Africa region is expected to witness steady growth over the forecast period, due to the increasing expenditure in the commercial, residential, and institutional construction sector in Middle Eastern countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE. This is attributable to the growing consumption of aesthetic glass in the region, which consequently contributes Global Glass Additive Market over the forecast period. Read our Blogs @ http://mrfrblog.com Related Chemicals and Materials Market Research Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/categories/chemicals-market-report About Market Research Future: At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions. Contact: Market Research Future +1 646 845 9312 Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com New Delhi: The country's leading automakers, including Maruti Suzuki India (MSI), Mahindra & Mahindra and Honda Cars, on Sunday announced suspension of manufacturing activities across plants in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak in the country. The country's largest car maker MSI halted production at its Gurgaon and Manesar plants with immediate effect, while Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL) decided to suspend manufacturing at its two plants in the country till 31 March. Similarly, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) announced to suspend production at its manufacturing plants in Maharashtra. Automaker Fiat also put brakes on production in the country till the end of this month. In the two-wheeler segment, Hero MotoCorp and Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) suspended production across their manufacturing plants. MSI in a statement said, "The company will shut production and office operations at its facilities in Gurugram and Manesar (Haryana) with immediate effect till further notice." The company's research and development centre at Rohtak will also remain closed, it added. The duration of this shutdown will depend upon government policy, MSI said. The company's two plants in HaryanaManesar and Gurgaonchurn out 15.5 lakh vehicles per annum. MSI said it has been taking all recommended precautions against the spread of coronavirus, including sanitisation and hygiene measures. "As a next step, the government policy now requires closure of production and, accordingly, the company has taken a decision on production closure," it said. HCIL said production operations at both its manufacturing plants in Greater Noida (Uttar Pradesh) and Tapukara (Rajasthan) will be temporarily suspended from 23-31 March. The company said its intention is to restart production on 1 April, however, this will be dependent upon advice from the government, health authorities, and market and supply conditions. M&M said it has suspended manufacturing operations at its Nagpur plant with immediate effect and will also halt production at Chakan (Pune) and Kandivali (Mumbai) from Monday. None of the company plants is working on Sunday as well, M&M added. "We are carefully monitoring the rapidly evolving COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to take swift and appropriate action on other plants in Maharashtra and across the nation," the company said. Meanwhile, all company offices across the country have already implemented work from home, it added. Similarly, automaker Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) together with Fiat India Automobiles Private Limited (FIAPL), FCA's joint venture manufacturing facility in Ranjangaon, said the temporary suspension is in response to the increasing prevalence of positive COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra and particularly in Pune. "There will be no retrenchment of any plant employees as a result of the plant closure and all will continue to receive their salaries during this closure period", the company said. MG Motor India said production at its Halol (Gujarat) plant is closed till 25 March. Market leader Hero MotoCorp said it has suspended production until 31 March. "With the safety and well-being of its employees as top priority in view of the escalating COVID-19 situation, the company has decided to halt operations at all its global manufacturing facilitiesincluding in India, Colombia and Bangladeshand the Global Parts Centre (GPC) at Neemrana with immediate effect until 31 March, 2020," Hero MotoCorp said. Employees at all the other functions and locations, including the Centre of Innovation and Technology (CIT) at Jaipur, will continue to work from home, except for those whose physical presence is necessary to run the day-to-day essential services, it added. Similarly, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) said it has suspended operations across its four manufacturing plants in the country with immediate effect. "The well-being of employees and all stakeholders being the top priority, the company has temporarily announced shutdown of operations across all its four manufacturing plants with immediate effect till further notice," HMSI said in a statement. The duration of this shutdown will depend upon the government policy, it added. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem was frustrated in video of a call with President Donald Trump after she found out a local hospital system received COVID-19 testing supplies before the states lab. The state lab halted testing this week after running out of reagent, the compound needed for the chemical analysis in COVID-19 tests. Labs around the country are running low on testing supplies. The South Dakota lab received a shipment on Thursday morning, but only enough to run high-priority tests. Noem said Friday the state lab ran 29 high-priority tests, but none came back positive. The lab is also sending some of its lower-priority tests to commercial labs out of state, but those take four to five days to process. Video of Trumps conference call with governors was posted Thursday by NBC News. Noem had publicly praised the White House for its help in finding supplies, but told Trump that she got pushy with a few people when shipments kept getting canceled. She then learned a local hospital system got supplies before the lab, even though it does not have an operating lab. Theyve received what I was trying to get, Noem told the president in the call. Trump then signaled to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar that he should respond to Noem, making a circular hand motion conveying he wanted to move forward with the call. I just dont want to not be a priority area because we are a smaller state or less populated, Noem said. Azar then told the governor that most labs are buying testing supplies on the open market and that theres a trillion dollar supply. After testing 692 people for COVID-19, the state has 14 positive results, including one person who died. But there are 270 more tests awaiting results. South Dakotas lab has supplies to run about 100 tests. Officials are saving those for people like healthcare providers and nursing home workers who could easily spread the coronavirus. In the call, Noem said she has reached out to other governors to see if they could spare any supplies after several shipments of reagent were canceled. White House staff told Noem that private hospitals can now purchase reagents. For most people, the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover from the virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild cases recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe ones can take three to six weeks to get better. Noem said in an update Friday that she spoke with federal officials and they failed in the shortage situation. She also raised concerns about how the economic downturn from the coronavirus outbreak will impact the state budget. Lawmakers are scheduled to meet in Pierre for one day at the end of the month. Small businesses and nonprofits are now eligible for federal loans for disaster relief, the governors office announced. The unemployment claims call center has been flooded with calls, but an updated number of claims was not available. The state has closed schools, but the governor has not issued an order to shutter businesses. A spokesperson for Sanford Health, which is working to develop testing, said Sanford has not acquired reagent. Avera, another large healthcare provider in the state, did not immediately comment. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Ecuador marked its highest daily increase in deaths and new cases of coronavirus on Sunday, with the total reaching 14 dead and 789 infected, authorities said. The number of fatalities rose from seven late Saturday to 14 on Sunday morning, while infections surged from 532 to 789, according to the country's National Risk and Emergency Management Service. Ecuador had 166 people infected with the COVID-19 illness on Friday. It is the Latin American country with the second greatest number of deaths behind Brazil, which had 18. Ecuador on February 29 acknowledged that the new coronavirus had reached the country. A septuagenarian who lived in Madrid and who had flown to the port of Guayaquil two weeks earlier became the country's first case of COVID-19. The woman later died in a hospital. Like other Latin American countries, Ecuador has implemented curfews, closed borders, cancelled classes, and banned all flights in a bid to stop the spread of the new coronavirus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Houston company is developing a drug that could protect people in close contact with patients who have COVID-19 from contracting the illness caused by the new coronavirus. The drug, delivered as an aerosol known as PUL-042, was created by biopharmaceutical company Pulmotect, MD Anderson Cancer Center and Texas A&M, which have worked together to develop the drug for more than a decade. PUL-042 has been tested on mice and has had limited human trials in the United Kingdom and at that point would usually be at least a year away from approval by the Food and Drug Administration. Pulmotect plans to launch clinical trials testing the safety and effectiveness of the drug in humans next week at Houston Methodist, the company said. If successful, it could request expedited approval in the next six months. If approved, it could provide short-term immunization for doctors, nurses and people in close proximity to COVID-19 patients until a proper vaccine is developed. Our lungs are the front line of defense against noxious pathogens, said Colin Broom, Pulmotects chief executive. Normally we can fight those off. But an overwhelming infection that you get from this virus? You just cant fight that. Pulmotect and its research partners are among the many drug companies and scientists racing to find vaccines and treatment for COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus. The virus can cause severe pneumonia in patients, who may experience fevers, dry coughs and difficulty breathing, along with possible gastrointestinal symptoms, according to Baylor University researchers. On HoustonChronicle.com: Is the vaccine to thwart the new coronavirus stored in a Houston freezer? Pulmotects drug works by stimulating a thin layer of tissue that lines the inside of the lungs and training it to be hostile to invading pathogens. It differs from most vaccines because its effect is almost immediate, but temporary, while vaccines can take weeks to develop antibodies that can fight infections but that last for years, if not lifetimes. Someone taking the PUL-042 would have to inhale it twice a week to maintain its effectiveness, said Dr. Burton Dickey, chair of pulmonary medicine at MD Anderson Cancer Center and one of the leading researchers. The company has successfully tested the drug on some of the worlds most vicious viruses in mice, including strains of SARS and MERS, two other coronaviruses. Researchers said it acts like Clorox, killing bacteria, viruses and microorganisms that cause illness. Youd expect it to work against any virus, Dickey said, but this provides proof it works against highly virulent coronaviruses. Whats next The aerosol has moved to clinical trials in the U.K. examining how safe the drug is for smokers who have respiratory issues. Like other vaccines and drugs that could treat COVID-19, two things are keeping PUL-042 from becoming consumer-ready: money and federal approval. Researchers have asked the FDA to approve the drug in time to address the global pandemic. Broom said they have also turned to the National Institute of Allergy and Infection Diseases and the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority in hopes they can fast-track their drug into clinical trials in the U.S. CORONAVIRUS: Stay informed with accurate reporting you can trust Approval from one of those federal agencies could mean a grant to study how it would work with people who could be exposed to the coronavirus. The company, which has raised $28 million over the last 13 years, has secured funding from its investors for a COVID-19 trial. Researchers estimated that the trial could be completed within the year with just $5 million in funding, if not sooner, given the jump in cases worldwide. At the rate cases are happening, Dickey said, you could be seeing in a few weeks if its effective. Pulmotect had originally pitched itself to the FDA as a drug that could help cancer patients who are more susceptible to respiratory infections. Its possible, Broom and Dickey said, that as the public health crisis grows, federal officials will support funding the drug as a part of the fight against the new coronavirus. We need to pivot, Broom said, and really evaluate PUL-042 in this pandemic. gwendolyn.wu@chron.com twitter.com/gwendolynawu A man was charged 50 for a thermometer according to a Laois Offaly TD who has called for an end to businesses to end profiteering from the coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic. The Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley says a small number of businesses in his constituency are engaged in excessive charging and profiteering on the back of the crisis. "One constituent has informed me that when he went to buy a thermometer locally in the past few days, he was charged the outrageous price of 50. "He needed to have a thermometer as some members of his household have serious health issues. "I am appealing to businesses not to exploit the pandemic, and to remember that many families have less income than normal," he said. Last week, Deputy Stanley called on the Government to intervene to outlaw a number of unfair practices appearing during the Covid-19 pandemic. He called on the Government to intervene to outlaw a number of unfair practices appearing during the Covid-19 pandemic. That a small number of GPs and creches are currently engaged in unfair profiteering during the crisis and these practices must be legislated against if necessary. Over the past week, I have received complaints from constituents that some GPs and creches are engaging in unfair practices. People have contacted me saying that creches are continuing to charge full price even though their doors are shut. Parents are being told that unless they continue to pay their fees their child will not have a place when the doors re-open. These are parents who have either recently lost their job due to the pandemic or are still working but will need to find and pay for alternative arrangements for their children. Ive also been informed of GPs asking patients over the phone for their credit card details when they phone with potential Covid-19 symptoms. Earlier this week some GPs were charging patients an additional 30 for a Covid 19 phone consultation, despite the fact they are already being paid 30 by the Government for this consultation. I raised this in the Dail with the Minister for Health this week and he confirmed that GPs should not be loading an additional charge on patients. These are hard pressed workers and families who are enduring significant stress and should not be taken advantage of. The Government needs to act as a matter of urgency to stamp out these sharp practices. I am calling on the relevant Ministers; Zappone, and Harris to meet with Early Childhood Ireland and the Irish Medical Organisation to tell them in no uncertain terms that this is not on and that those who are in the most difficult of circumstances must be protected. If necessary, we should enact legislation to stamp out this ruthless profiteering, he said. Nigeria confirmed its first fatality from coronavirus, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control said today. The 67-year-old man, Suleiman Achimugu, died in the capital Abuja after returning to Nigeria following a medical procedure in the UK. Achimugu, a former managing director of Nigeria's Pipelines and Product Marketing Company, had underlying medical conditions including multiple myeloma and diabetes and he was also undergoing chemotherapy, the NCDC said. The 67-year-old man, Suleiman Achimugu (pictured), died in the capital Abuja after returning to Nigeria following a medical procedure in the UK In a statement, his family said he died on Sunday, 'some days' after returning from the UK. He had self-isolated before experiencing symptoms and going to a specialist hospital for testing and treatment. A man stands with sanitiser in his hand at the entrance of a Living Faith Church, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease in Lagos, Nigeria On Sunday, the governor of Lagos state called on all non-essential government workers to work from home and practice social distancing for at least two weeks, and appealed to the private sector to do the same Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa, confirmed five new cases of coronavirus on Monday. Two of them were travellers who had returned from the United Kingdom. There are now 36 confirmed cases, 25 of which are in the commercial capital Lagos, a city with some 20 million residents. Two patients have been discharged. On Sunday, the governor of Lagos state called on all non-essential government workers to work from home and practice social distancing for at least two weeks, and appealed to the private sector to do the same. Rebecca Long-Bailey has called for the government to establish a National Food Service to help people isolating due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Labour leadership candidate said a comprehensive and coordinated service should allow households in need to receive weekly packages of free essentials, delivered by the Royal Mail. Under the shadow business secretarys plan, the packages would include food and basic hygiene and pharmaceutical products, like toilet roll and paracetamol. It comes after the Communications Workers Union last week voted for its postal workers to offer their labour as a fourth emergency service during the pandemic. The packages under Ms Long-Baileys plan would be available to households in need, whether through isolation, lack of mobility or financial difficulties. The policy also would also aim to take the pressure off supermarkets and slow the spread of the virus by allowing people to stay at home with empty leisure spaces like cinemas used as temporary storage and packing facilities. Weve all seen the empty supermarket shelves and worried whether our friends and loved ones will have everything they need during the outbreak, Ms Long-Bailey said. Supermarkets have worked incredibly hard to stay stocked and implement their own forms of rationing on essential items but its not working. The supermarkets cant be expected to deliver on their own. We need a comprehensive and coordinated response from the government that I call the National Food Service. This service would coordinate the supermarkets and their supply chains and work with Royal Mail so that everyone receives the essentials who needs them. We really can make sure that no one is left behind in this crisis. Rebecca Long-Bailey is running in the Labour leadership election (Getty) Meanwhile Keir Starmer, the frontrunner in the Labour leadership contest, has said that the extraordinary times of the pandemic meant the government should now set out further compliance measures. Though Sir Keir did not specify any specific measures, he said they should resemble those introduced in other countries. These are vital days in the battle against the coronavirus, he said. Any additional measures should sit alongside a national plan of action to support people to cope, including the most vulnerable and self-employed. At the weekend the government announced that it was looking at distributing food and aid packages to 1.5 million extremely vulnerable people. Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said he had been working with councils, with supermarkets and with the armed forces, to ensure that food and other basic supplies can be delivered to the doorstep of these people, hundreds of thousands of people across the country for as long as it takes. Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Show all 20 1 /20 Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Top: Nabi Younes market, Mosul Bottom: Charles Bridge, Prague Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Grand Mosque, Mecca Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Sagrada Familia, Barcelona Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Nabi Younes market, Mosul Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Basra Grand Mosque, Iraq Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Charles Bridge, Prague Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Taj Mahal hotel, India Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Dubai Mall, UAE Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Beirut March, Lebanon Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Gateway of India, Mumbai Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Cairo University, Egypt Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Amman Citadel, Jordan Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Beirut March, Lebanon Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Cairo, Egypt Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Cairo University, Egypt Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Victoria Memorial, India Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Amman Citadel, Jordan Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Amman Citadel, Jordan Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Sidon, Lebanon Reuters In some parts of the country, communities have organised their own efforts to distribute food and supplies to their neighbours. Supermarket shelves in some regions have been left empty as supply chains struggle to cope with people stocking up for a potentially long stay at home. Restaurant closures, school closures and increased home working is also thought to have put more pressure on shops, which people are turning to for an increased number of meals during the pandemic. Increased scarcity of food has also put pressure on food banks, with some warning they are close to collapse. The great billion dollar sumo match between Oracle and Google has been winding its way through the courts and is just about to reach the final round where the US Supreme Court will decide, among other things, whether an API can be copyrighted. There are a number of nuances to the case including accusations of pure plagiarism, but the tantalizing question about APIs and whether they might be copyrightable is giving programmers and their good friends, the lawyers, something to argue about for many billable hours. On one side of the debate are programmers who are wondering if theres one more legal gotcha that theyve got to worry about when writing their code. Is this another reason to sit through more meetings with more lawyers? On the other side are the very same programmers who are putting in long days creating wonderful APIs and want to be rewarded with control over their baby. In other words, its an opportunity for the same lawyers to validate the programmers creativity and bring in licensing fees. The case has been decided both in Googles and in Oracles favor by different courts at different stages. In the latest ruling, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit decided that Googles use of the Java API packages was not fair as a matter of law and started the process of assessing damages. Now the Supreme Court has scheduled hearings for March 24, 2020, and may finally decide the case. Maybe not forever, though, because forever is a long time. The details of the battle between Google and Oracle will be of interest to lawyers and programmers who are immersed in Java development for the Android platform, but the larger question about copyrightability affects almost every programmer who calls hundreds or millions of APIs almost every day. Aside from a few coders working at the lowest level of machine code, APIs are a part of almost every programmers daily existence. Should APIs be copyrighted? How much power should programmers have over others? Here are N different reasons that argue both for and against giving the programmers the power over their APIs. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 23) The Philippine General Hospitals cancer institute will remain open even as it is tapped by the Health Department to become a referral hospital for COVID-19 patients. University of the Philippines PGH director Dr. Gap Legaspi said Monday cancer patients receiving treatment from the hospitals cancer institute can still do so even if they will be allotting 130 beds for suspected COVID-19 patients. Napagkasunduan namin na we will treat cancer as an urgent case. Hindi siya elective, so itutuloy po ang serbisyo dito. The cancer institute is still open. We continue to do our radiotherapy, Legaspi said in a press briefing. [Translation: We agreed that we will treat cancer as an urgent case, no longer elective. So our services will continue. The cancer institute is still open. We continue to do our radiotherapy.] He added that many of the patients seeking treatment from the cancer institute are funded by PGH itself, so they would have a hard time finding another hospital to seek treatment from. PGH is one of three hospitals tapped by DOH to become a referral center for possible COVID-19 patients. The Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City and Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital have also been tapped to be a referral center. Initially, these hospitals would only accept patients under investigation for COVID-19 who exhibit mild symptoms and are at risk of deteriorating, like those above 60 years old and have preexisting health conditions. They would also accept COVID-19 patients who are in moderate to critical condition. Eventually, Gap said, these hospitals would only accept those who have tested positive for the viral disease once the Health Department manages to ramp up its testing. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire assured that there more tests could be conducted with the arrival of 100,000 test kits at various laboratories across the country. COVID-19 has infected 462 people in the Philippines, with 33 of them dying because of the disease caused by a virus called SARS CoV-2. Eighteen of those infected have recovered. Globally, over 339,000 have been infected and 14,705 have died because of the viral disease. Over 98,000 have recovered. The disease is spread through small droplets from the nose or mouth when people infected with the virus cough or sneeze. To prevent infection, authorities are urging people to practice regular hand washing, cover their mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, and avoid close contact with those who show respiratory symptoms. Commonly reported COVID-19 symptoms are fever, dry cough and shortness of breath. Those with severe and critical symptoms should call the Health Department at (02) 8-651-7800 local 1149-1150. CNN Philippines Multi-platform Writer Xave Gregorio contributed to this report. NORWALK A man in his 50s is the second city resident and the youngest in Connecticut to die from the coronavirus. Gov. Ned Lamont announced on Monday the man is among 10 deaths in Connecticut from COVID-19. The man was recently hospitalized at Norwalk Hospital. Learning we have a new death in Norwalk breaks my heart. Its not unexpected, but is very sad, Rilling said in a statement. This is a very serious public health crisis. It is not a time for games. We all need to come together and do our part to stop this virus. Social distancing means staying home unless you absolutely have to go out for groceries or medicine. It does not mean continuing to live life as usual. Please take care of yourselves and each other. Rilling said he did not have more information about the man, including whether he had an underlying health condition. On Monday, Norwalk reported its highest spike yet in COVID-19 cases: 11 residents tested positive, bringing the total number to 28. There are 270 reported cases in Fairfield County and 415 in the state. Two Norwalk residents have now died of COVID-19. On Friday, a woman in her 80s died in Norwalk Hospital of the virus. A spokeswoman for Norwalk Hospital on Monday declined to say how many people are being treated at the hospital for the virus. erin.kayata@hearstmediact.com Delhi to ease restrictions, if Covid cases come down in next 2-3 days: Health Minister Lata Mangeshkar health update: Doctor says,'She in ICU with Covid-19 and pneumonia, will be under observation' Using untested medicines to treat COVID-19 could be dangerous: WHO warns India pti-PTI Geneva, Mar 23: The World Health Organization warned Monday that the use of untested medicines to treat COVID-19 without proper evidence of their efficacy could be dangerous and raise false expectations. "Using untested medicines without the right evidence could raise false hope and even do more harm than good, and cause a shortage of essential medicines that are needed to treat other diseases," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told journalists in a virtual news briefing. The bishop, not recognized by the government, wishes to thank the Holy See for helping them in the moment of the coronavirus crisis. A novena also to ask God for an end to the epidemic in Europe. Caritas Hong Kong collects funds and masks for Italy. Former Chinese students in Italy collect donations for the Gemelli Polyclinic and other hospitals. Rome (AsiaNews) - The diocese of Wenzhou (Zhejiang) has decided to launch a fundraiser to buy surgical and protective masks to be sent to Italy and the Holy See, to meet the needs and dire lack of equipment created by the demands of the coronavirus pandemic. Msgr. Pietro Shao Zhumin is bishop of the diocese. He is not recognized by the government, and is often arrested or sequestered. This is his attempt to express gratitude, especially to the Holy See which in February sent 700,000 masks to China - at the height of the crisis - a part of which were distributed to Wenzhou. The bishop also promoted a prayer novena among his faithful to stop the epidemic in Europe. Several other Chinese dioceses - such as Xian - are collecting donations to help Italy which is currently the country with the highest number of coronavirus victims. Even the Caritas of Hong Kong is holding fundraisers and gifting masks to Italy. AsiaNews also received news of fundraisers by former Chinese students in Italy to be donated to the Gemelli Polyclinic and other healthcare institutions. Below the text of the appeal by Msgr. Shao Zhumin. Communication regarding donations addressed to areas affected by the epidemic To all of my brothers and sisters in the Lord of the diocese, Peace to you! The Coronavirus epidemic is affecting the whole world, reaping innocent lives, including many healthcare workers who have laid their lives down in their service. This situation has cast a shadow of fear over our own existence. Right now, Europe who had provided us with help in our time of need is seriously hit by the epidemic, in particular the Holy See and Italy. Due to the lack of protective materials, cases of infection increase day by day, with an extremely high mortality rate; many cases of contagion have also been confirmed within the clergy and religious congregations. During the epidemic period in our country, the Holy See prayed for the epidemic in China, giving us many protective materials. According to some sources, the Holy See donated 70 thousand protective masks to China, a part of which was reserved for the Wenzhou area. This gesture of love still warms our heart today. Now that they are threatened by the coronavirus, we must in turn restore everything we have received. We held a novena so that the epidemic in China could be contained; now we also pray for these areas affected by the coronavirus. Therefore, I decided to make an appeal: 1. Let us continue to hold a novena for the epidemic, in particular so the epidemic in Europe may be contained; 2. Each parish priest must collect donations within his own parish, to purchase masks and protective suits. The faithful are asked to do everything possible to help their brothers and sisters in the affected areas; 3. The deadline for donations is the fifth Sunday of Lent, and parishes will deliver them to the diocese. During the period of Lent, the words of the apostle Saint Paul continue to echo in my heart: "We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body" (2 Cor. 2, 4-10 ). We are all the Body of Christ, let this love be expressed also in our life. God bless you for your generosity! The bishop of the diocese of Wenzhou Shao Zhumin 03/22/2020 Shoppers in the US could have their temperatures taken before they enter stores as part of new tactics to try and halt the spread of coronavirus. Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said Americans could see thermometer checks carried out at supermarkets, as they have in Italy and China. At the height of China's outbreak, authorities made extensive use of temperature screening, setting up checkpoints not just at airports but outside apartment buildings and also shops. Yesterday a Rome branch of Eurospin Supermarket chain became the first in Italy to check customers' temperatures at the door, as deaths in the country soared and more stringent lockdown measures were imposed. A staff member of a supermarket in Beijing wearing a protective suit using a thermometer to check the temperature of a customer at the entrance last month Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr Anthony Fauci speaking at a press conference at the White House last week Security staff checking the temperature of a passengers arriving from Turin and Milan by train at Naples Central station as Italy ramped up measures to slow the virus spread at the weekend In an interview with the Science Magazine journal, Dr Fauci said give 'serious consideration' to screening shoppers at US stores. When asked if this measure could be introduced at US stores, he replied: 'Yes, of course. I think the logistics of that have to be worked out.' Dr Fauci went on to say that the measure has been considered at previous meetings. He added: 'That was discussed. All these things are discussed. Not all of them are implemented. This is something that should be considered. 'I will bring it up at the next task force meeting and see whether there's some sort of a logistical, bureaucratic reason why it can't be done. The rationale for doing it is at least worth serious consideration.' The use of temperature checks around the world has been at border checks, with many countries such as Russia, India and South Korea screening arrivals at airports. Former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer having his temperature taken before entering the White House last week A man in protective gear is seen with an clinical thermometer to check the temperature of the passengers in cars arriving from Italy at the Austrian border European countries such as Austria, Germany and Slovenia have screened the temperatures of people at the land border with their neighbors. Despite the high number of cases in both countries, Italy and Germany say temperature checks at airports are ineffective on its own. Experts have warned against relying on just thermometers that measure surface temperatures to screen for coronavirus. Jim Seffrin, an expert on infrared devices at the Infraspection Institute in New Jersey told the Washington Post: 'A person can show up with a higher than average surface temperature because they just went out for a jog, or they may have been standing near a heating lamp, causing them to be warm.' In the US temperature checks have been seen at medical centers and government buildings, especially the White House where everyone entering is now screened. Earlier this month, a Chinese restaurant chain in California - Sichuan Impression - began checking the body temperatures of all of its customers before they entered. A member of media getting their temperature checked before a news conference with President Trump last Friday Polish border guard officers in protective suits hold thermometers during sanitary border controls at the German-Polish border Respected immunologist, Dr Fauci, has clashed with President Trump over his coronavirus comments in recent days. He was caught smirking at Trump during a coronavirus press conference last Friday afternoon. Dr Fauci was also forced to publicly row back on the president's claims that the anti-malarial drug cloroquine offered a potential cure for coronavirus in the latest of a series of public rebukes. Fauci said that he tried not to 'embarrass Trump' and said that he attempts to deal with the president by 'continually' talking about scientific facts. He has also criticized the president for publicly shaking hands with people and said he had to tell him information three or four times. In the same interview, Dr Fauci was asked why the US was slow to react to the coronavirus crisis, despite having prepared pandemic measures in place. He said: 'It's almost like the fog of war. After the war is over, you then look back and say, wow, this plan, as great as it was, didn't quite work once they started throwing hand grenades at us. It really is similar to that. 'Obviously, testing [for coronavirus] is one clear issue that needs to be relooked at. Why were we not able to mobilize on a broader scale? But I don't think we can do that right now. I think it's premature. We really need to look forward.' As of Sunday evening, at least 33,400 confirmed cases were recorded in the US with more than 400 deaths. Shortages of everyday necessities and soaring prices are bringing North Korea to the brink of bankruptcy. Sources say rice prices have soared a whopping 25 percent in the provinces and border areas in the last 15 days amid a border lockdown and domestic travel restrictions due to the coronavirus scare. A source said on March 20 rice prices in open-air markets in Hyesan, Ryanggang Province jumped by 25 percent from 5,040 North Korean won per kilogram on March 5 to 6,300 won on March 19. Rice prices are rising even though the regime has set a cap of 5,000 won to prevent starvation. Pork prices also soared by 16.7 percent over the period from 15,120 won per kilogram to 17,640 won. "The price increases are inevitable because of the suspension of both formal cross-border trade and smuggling," a researcher at a government-funded think tank here said. "The prolonged border lockdown could deal an irrecoverable blow to the North Korean economy." A study puts North Korea's per capita GDP at US$790. In a recent report published in the journal Nature Research, Vienna University of Economics and Business in Austria made the estimate based on analysis of the dispersion and intensity of light in commercial satellite images of night views in North Korea, the age structure of the population and employment rates by industry between 2012 and 2018. The North's official Rodong Sinmun daily on March 20 claimed 1,500 people in South Pyongan Province and 1,090 in North Pyongan Province had been released from quarantine after suspected coronavirus infections. More than 8,000 North Koreans have been released from quarantine so far. But the daily said that nobody has tested positive and claimed, "The epidemic has not spread into our country yet while the world is in the midst of a pandemic." It is a longstanding challenge to be able to control biological systems to perform specific tasks. In a paper published in Nature Physics, researchers at the Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen - in collaboration with groups in US and UK, have now reported doing just that. They have found a way to control bacteria to transport microscopic cargos. Bacteria form the largest biomass in the world, larger than all the animals and plants combined, and they are constantly moving, but their movement is chaotic. The researchers pursued the idea that if this motion can be controlled, they might be able to develop it into a biological tool. They used a liquid crystal to dictate the direction of the bacterial movement, and added a microscopic cargo for the bacteria to carry, more than 5 times the size of the bacteria. Bacteria-scale railroad construction Amin Doostmohammadi, Assistant Professor at the Niels Bohr Institute, explains that in the past there have been attempts to control the behavior of bacteria. But he and his colleagues adopted a novel approach: "We thought to ourselves, how about we create a track for the bacteria? The way we do that experimentally is to put the bacteria inside a liquid crystal. The trick is that a liquid crystal is not like a crystal, nor is it a liquid, it is somewhere in between. Each molecule in the crystal has an orientation, but doesn't have a positional order. This means that the molecules can flow like a liquid, but they can also align like a crystal at the same time. This is exactly the physics underlying liquid crystal displays (LCDs), for televisions, monitors and mobile phones We can prepare the underlying liquid crystal such that it takes a well-defined pattern. And the bacteria will orientate in the same direction. It doesn't restrict the bacterial movement, it just orientates them in the direction we want them". Pattern designing and model building Strong jets of bacteria moving in a designated direction without fluctuations is the great outcome of the experiment, according to Amin Doostmohammadi. What usually happens if the jets of bacteria are strong enough to be useful, the concentration of bacteria has to be high, and instabilities typically start to appear. The jet becomes unstable and chaotic. But in the liquid crystal pattern, the instabilities can be largely suppressed and prevent the bacterial jets from becoming chaotic. The pattern dictates the direction. This means it is possible to create jets of bacteria strong enough to carry strings of microscopic cargos, each piece of cargo 5 times the size of the bacteria themselves. Scientific field expanding - and still more potentials are revealing themselves. Over the last ten years or so the scientific field has expanded. Presently it is possible to control bacteria to a rather large extent and the so called "active matter" - the bacteria, can be made to rotate or form different patterns. Now, with this approach, bacterial jets can be stabilized in space such that they can even carry microscopic cargos. "We are still at an experimental level, and there is not yet a designated area of use for this technique. At the moment, the main motivation is medical applications. But really, when we think about it, we are actually talking about a completely new type of material. We know the liquid crystal from before, but now we are dealing with a living liquid crystal", Amin Doostmohammadi says. " You can imagine all sorts of material science opportunities with this research. Perhaps it could apply to other systems, to cellular behavior or sperm behavior and so on. As a theoretical physicist, I think about the fundamental implications in terms of the science, but this capability of the drug delivery by bacteria, this is something new. One thing worth noting is that when you deliver a drug this way, you don't need any external force. The bacteria are doing it by themselves. It is like a fluid pumping itself. It is a self pumping fluid, so to speak". Theory and experiment are inextricably linked The results have been obtained in a collaboration with other research groups. Two collaborators in the USA, Oleg Lavrentovich at Kent State University, and Igor Aranson at Penn State University - started this branch of research in 2014. Now teamed up with Amin Doostmohammadi at the Niels Bohr Institute and Julia Yeomans at the University of Oxford, experiments and theory have come together to design and control strong bacterial jets. "We may have a theoretical idea, but it is the coupling of theory and experiment that actually leads to these promising results", says Amin Doostmohammadi. ### The Suspect, Habeed Kasali The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a 35-year-old man identified as Habeed Kasali, for reportedly killing his kinsman he suspected of having an affair with his wife. The native of Totowu village in Igbesa allegedly stabbed 32-year-old Bamidele Johnson with scissors multiple times after a fight ensued between them during a cofrontation, leading to his death. Ogun State Police Spokesperson, Abimbola Oyeyemi said the incident was reported at Igbesa Police Division by a family member of the deceased. He said; They are both natives of Totowu. The incident occurred on Saturday. The suspect confronted the deceased that he was having an affair with his wife despite several warnings and it led to a fight. In the process, the suspect used scissors to stab the deceased several times on his chest, eye and neck which made Bamidele to lose consciousness. He was immediately rushed to Crest Hospital at Isuti Road in Egan, Lagos but was confirmed dead by the doctor. Having realised that the victim had died, the suspect took to his heels, but the DPO Igbesa SP Abayomi Adeniji quickly dispatched his detectives to go after him and he was eventually arrested where he ran to. The body of the deceased has been recovered to Ota General Hospital Mortuary for autopsy. The Commissioner of Police Kenneth Ebrimson has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspect to homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) for further investigation and prosecution. People rushed to buy essential commodities and police stepped up their presence as a three-day lockdown began in 16 Uttar Pradesh districts on Monday to fight the spread of coronavirus. After the Janta curfew on Sunday, people in some areas were seen coming out to stock up on groceries. Some complained that traders had hiked the prices of vegetables. Lucknow Police Commissioner Sujit Pandey said members of his force were out in large numbers, making people aware of the lockdown and ensuring that essential commodities remained available. "Police are on the job, he said. Pandey said 190 police vehicles and public address systems at road crossings in the state capital were put to use, asking people to remain indoors. Officials said those employed in essential services like banks and the health sector were being allowed to move about after showing their identity cards. "Efforts are on to see that people do not venture out unnecessarily, a senior official said. The official said sanitisation work at major crossings and markets was also on. The state government had on Sunday declared a lockdown till Wednesday, amid increasing coronavirus cases. In the first phase, the lockdown will be in force in the districts of Lucknow, Agra, Gautam Budh Nagar, Ghaziabad, Varanasi, Allahabad, Kanpur, Aligarh, Moradabad, Lakhimpur Kheri, Bareilly, Azamgarh, Meerut, Gorakhpur, Saharanpur and Pilibhit. In a tweet on Monday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath appealed to people to take the lockdown seriously and stay indoors to help check the spread of the virus. On Sunday, he told reporters in Gorakhpur that 15 districts in the state will be under lockdown in the first phase. Then, in a late night order, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi said Pilibhit has also been added to the list of districts. Barring essential services, all government offices, educational institutes, autonomous bodies, business establishments, private offices, malls, shops, factories, godowns and public transport will remain shut in these districts, the state government said. The government will periodically evaluate the situation and redefine essential services, Principal Secretary (Medical, Health and Family Welfare) Amit Mohan Prasad said. The services declared essential include medical, health and family welfare, medical education, home, intelligence/prison administration, police, armed forces and paramilitary forces, personnel department, district administration, energy, urban development, food and civil supplies, disaster relief, fire services, civil defence, information, emergency services, telephone, internet, network services and IT-enabled services. Postal services, banks, ATMs, insurance companies, e-commerce, media, petrol pumps, LPG and oil agencies, medicine shops, medical equipment shops and medicine producing units, agriculture production and animal fodder too have been classified as essential services. On Sunday, the chief minister had asked people to avoid unnecessary gatherings at public places. "We are standing at a juncture where even slight laxity can prove harmful," he said. He said the districts under lockdown are those where coronavirus cases have been reported. "These districts will be thoroughly sanitised. Cleanliness drives are already going on for the last three days," the chief minister said. He said people from places like Mumbai and Surat had arrived in large numbers at Jaunpur, Mirzapur, Mau, Kushinagar, Jhansi, Ghazipur, Ayodhya, Basti, Barabanki, Deoria, Ballia, Santkabirnagar and Gonda districts. My appeal to them is to stay at home. The administration is making the list of such people and making provisions to keep them separately," he said. They would be sent to isolation wards on the slightest suspicion of illness and given free treatment, he said. He asked residents of Nepal-bordering districts like Maharajganj, Siddharthanagar, Shravasti, Balrampur, Bahraich and Pilibhit to remain alert. The Uttar Pradesh State Roadways Transport Corporation will remain completely closed from Monday to Wednesday. "No bus from Uttar Pradesh will go to Nepal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan or any other state," he said. The state had reported 27 coronavirus cases till Sunday. Representational image Smoking, drinking, general poor health: Researchers say these are some of the factors that could explain why more men seem to be dying from coronavirus than women. In countries such as Italy, men represent nearly 60% of people who tested positive for the virus and more than 70% of those who have died, according to the country's National Health Institute (ISS). Even in countries like South Korea, where the proportion of women who have tested positive for the virus is higher than that of men, about 54% of the reported deaths are among men. But while health officials are starting to take note of these staggering numbers, the United States is not releasing the basic nationwide data that is crucial to understanding who is most vulnerable to the virus, according to a CNN analysis. Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House's coronavirus response coordinator, said at a White House press briefing on Friday: "From Italy we're seeing another concerning trend. That the mortality in males seems to be twice in every age group of females." Regarding this data on Italy, Birx said in an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer: "Just having the knowledge of that helps us in the United States so we can be very specific in talking to the American people about who to protect and how to protect them." CNN has reached out to Birx for additional comment. When CNN asked the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for data split by sex for US cases of coronavirus and deaths by coronavirus, known as sex-disaggregated data, the CDC did not respond. Comprehensive data about those who have gotten sick could help inform more effective responses to the crisis. But public health researchers say that when governments such as the United States either don't collect, or don't publish their data, it's impossible for experts to gain an accurate sense of what's going on. Data divided by sex In collaboration with Global Health 50/50, a research institute examining gender inequality in global health, CNN analyzed the publicly available data from 20 countries with the highest number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 at the time of data collection -- March 20. The aim was to see why men seem to be dying more than women. From these 20 countries, only six provided data broken down by sex for both confirmed cases and deaths - China, France, Germany, Iran, Italy and South Korea. A further seven provided such data for the number of confirmed cases only. No sex-disaggregated data could be located for the remaining countries. The research has been submitted for publication and has not yet been peer-reviewed. The data is not comprehensive in all cases: For example, the figures for China only cover the period through the end of February, well before community spread approached zero. And no reliable data exists on the proportion of tests administered to men versus women in any country. Furthermore, there are undoubtedly cases of the virus that are not reflected in the national data for any country. But across the countries for which we have data - spanning nearly a quarter of the world's population - we found that men were 50% more likely than women to die after being diagnosed with Covid-19. While necessarily partial and incomplete, the results highlight what public health experts have been warning for some time, theorizing that it is not only biology but also gendered behaviors -- the different ways in which men and women conduct their lives -- which may play a significant role in the different mortality rate for respiratory diseases. "When we look at the data what we're seeing is that in every country with sex-disaggregated data ... there is between a 10% and 90% higher rate of mortality amongst people diagnosed with Covid if they are men compared to if they are women," says Sarah Hawkes, professor of global public health at University College London (UCL) and co-director of Global Health 50/50. "If I was designing clinical guidelines, I would very much want to understand why some people seem to have a much higher risk of mortality than others. It might for example lead to a difference in the way in which we administer clinical guidelines amongst people who have pre-existing health conditions that lead to risk of death along with those with chronic lung disease, who are more likely to be men." Hawkes also noted that reporting sex-disaggregated data on epidemics has been requested by the World Health Organization since 2007, but many countries fail to do so. As the US data was not publicly available on a national level, CNN went state by state to request the data, but many did not release it. Even states such as New York and California, where the outbreak is particularly severe, did not provide CNN with the requested data, despite several attempts. In some cases, CNN located the data in press releases from local counties, care homes and hospitals. "I'm pretty sure that in a country with the sophistication of the health system and the surveillance system that the United States has, that it's not that there's an absence of data," says Hawkes. "I am fairly sure that down to the smallest districts across the US, people have the data. What we've not seeing happening it seems is a collation, a collection of that data at state and national level with the speed which one might hope to see from the perspective of global health research." Historically, coronaviruses such as SARS and MERS tended to affect men disproportionately, according to Dr. Luis Ostrosky-Zeichner, infectious disease specialist at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth in Texas. During previous epidemics, males were reported to have a worse clinical outcome due to SARS in Hong Kong. They also had a higher risk of dying from MERS, in a study conducted in Saudi Arabia and South Korea. From an evolutionary perspective, some research suggests that women have a stronger immune response against viral infections than men because they spend part of their lives with a foreign body inside -- their offspring -- thus granting them a survival advantage. "It might have to do with hormonal changes," Ostrosky-Zeichner said. "There is actual research in animals that has shown there may be a biological basis for the sort of increasing susceptibility in the male gender and not only that but also an increased severity and response to the virus." Pre-existing conditions Initial reports of people with severe Covid-19 disease have found that they were likely to have underlying health conditions such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease and chronic lung disease, according to Global Health 50/50. These conditions tend to be more common among men in the six countries analyzed as well as globally, the institute said, possibly because of riskier lifestyle choices. "If Covid-19 is following the same kind of patterns that we see across a range of other diseases, what we know is that men tend to have across their life courses ... greater risks of exposure to behaviors that will lead to adverse health outcomes in the long term," says Hawkes. "So in most countries, for example, what we see is that men smoke tobacco and drink alcohol at far greater rates than women do," she said. Smoking is a clear example of how such behavior differs between men and women. China has the largest smoking population in the world, with around 316 million adult smokers. But while over 50% of Chinese men smoke, less than 3% of women do, according to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. In Italy, 7 million men smoke as opposed to the 4.5 million women, according to 2020 data released by the National Health Institute (ISS) The institute reported that, upon admission to hospital, "a third more Covid-19-positive smokers had a more serious clinical situation than non-smokers." For these smokers, the risk of needing intensive care and mechanical ventilation is "more than double. "If you've got a group of men who have been smokers in their lifetime and then get it [Covid-19] and now have chronic lung disease as a result of the smoking, and then get exposed to corona infection, it seems as if they are more likely to suffer from severe corona infection, and be at risk of death," Hawkes said. Other studies have shown that Italian men also have higher rates of hypertension than age-matched females, while Chinese men tend to have higher blood pressure and are more likely to have Type 2 diabetes. All these factors contribute to possible complications if they get the coronavirus, researchers say. But the lack of data on how many men died of novel coronavirus as opposed to women, Global Health 50/50 researchers say, feels like a missed opportunity for governments to implement public health policies that target certain groups of people who are significantly more vulnerable than the rest of the population. "What Covid-19 reveals is a classic case of failing to use data for decision making. For every patient there is a record of their sex. But that data is not collated and analyzed with a gender lens," Dr. Kent Buse, co-founder of GH5050 and chief of strategic policy directions at UNAIDS told CNN. The same view is shared by Arthur Caplan, a bioethicist at New York University, "All data establishing risk, ability to recover, infectivity is crucial in a pandemic," he told CNN. "Data ought to be collected, transparent as to methods, and disseminated promptly." For as long as this data is not made publicly available, it cannot be analyzed by outside experts, like Global Health 50/50, for clues on why men seem to be dying more from Covid-19. Ama (mother) Join Us!? We call for justice for the thousands of Native American women who were victims of forced or coerced sterilization practices. It is estimated over a twenty-year period between 1960 and 1980 that tens of thousands of Native American women were sterilized without their knowledge or consent. Due to poor record keeping during this era the exact number will never be known. Many of these women went to their graves having suffered this incredible abuse of power. We will petition the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs to introduce a bill calling for a public apology to the individuals and their Tribal Nations. We ask individuals around the world to stand by the victims of this horrific abuse by signing our petition. Reports of forced sterilization of Native American women began to surface in the 1970s.* Of the 100,000 to 150,000 Native American women of childbearing age during this period experts estimate up to 70,000 of these women were involuntarily sterilized through tubal ligation or hysterectomy.* Many women were not given a choice to refuse to undergo the sterilization procedure and some were even coerced into signing consent forms, making it appear that they had willing given consent. Recent evidence has suggested that the sterilization procedure was often carried out under the pretence of other operations, routine check ups or during emergency surgery relating to pregnancy or abortion when the women were experiencing high stress. Many of the victims didn't know they were sterilized until years afterwards. https://www.change.org/p/united-states-government-to-offer-public-apology-to-native-american-women-who-were-victims-of-forced-sterilization Find out more of the story at: https://www.amamovie.com/ Apple is attempting to do as much as it can to contribute to the global response to the Coronavirus pandemic. Weve identified 17 things Apple has done so far, quite apart from the work it will be doing behind the scenes to fix its supply chains, in the fight. Apple warned its investors Apple in mid-February warned investors that it would fail to meet its previous estimated revenue targets of $63 billion to $67 billion. At the time, it cited lower customer demand in Greater China, but this now seems to have become a global problem. The companys stock continues to decline, though most analysts anticipate recovery toward the end of the year. WWDC will be held online, not in place Apple will not hold its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in San Jose this year. Instead of inviting thousands of the most important people in its community to get together in one place, the company will hold its conference online instead. It promises its show will still be packed with information. Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering said: "I look forward to our developers getting their hands on the new code and interacting in entirely new ways with the Apple engineers building the technologies and frameworks that will shape the future across all Apple platforms." No March event? Apple had been expected to announce new products during a March special launch event. These were thought to be new iPad Pro models, new Macs and the iPhone 9/iPhone SE device. Apple did announce Macs and the new iPad Pro in a March press release, but th launch of its new, lower-cost iPhone may have been delayed on a lack of demand and logistical problems. Sharing the wealth Apple has donated in excess of $15 million to help support treatment of the sick and mitigate the economic impact of the crisis. This has included substantial donations in Italy. The company also supports two-to-one corporate matching for any employee donations that relate to coronavirus. The company is presently sourcing and donating millions of masks to health professionals in the U.S. and Europe. To every one of the heroes on the front lines, we thank you, Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a Tweet. Siri gets smarter Siri can now help you figure out whether you are suffering from COV-19. When you ask it a question such as: Do I have the coronavirus? youll be guided through a series of questions to help you answer the question. Youll be advised to stay home or to request further help if your symptoms appear severe. App Store help The company is promoting telehealth applications in the App Store when customers ask Siri about coronavirus. It is accelerating the reviews process of COVID-19 applications from reputable sources to help make sure users have the best available information rather than false or misleading information. Apple News gets proactive There are lots of conflicting claims around COV-19. This is confusing and at a time when the global message needs to be utterly clear, Apple News has moved to curate the content it provides. It now provides a COVID-19 news section offering what it calls verified reporting from what it calls trusted news outlets." On iOS and iPad OS devices youll find a hand-picked set of headlines and links to a detailed coverage page. Staying in? Read a book Apples Books store in the U.S. now offers a small collection of free books (including audiobooks) for adults and children to keep you occupied while remaining isolated. Oprah has an Apple TV+ show on the topic Oprah has announced a new Apple TV+ show that will focus on the pandemic. "Oprah Talks COVID-19 is a new free to view Apple TV+ series featuring remote discussions with leaders and others affected by the disease. Oprah wants to provide insight, meaning and tangible advice to help us through the crisis. Apple has closed its retail stores Apple closed all its retail stores in China. Those stores are now open, but it has closed its stores everywhere else on the planet. The idea here is to limit contact between groups of people. Unfortunately, some customers whose devices were being repaired by Apple Geniuses may have been told they cant now pick up their item until the stores open once again. Apple has committed that hourly workers will continue to receive pay in alignment with business as usual operations." Adopt remote working Apple has moved to flexible work arrangements worldwide outside of Greater China. It is urging workers to work remotely if they can. It is also urging those who must attend the workplace physically to stay at least two meters apart. There have been reports that Apples culture of secrecy is making remote work quite hard to do but thats only to be expected, and problems have a tendency of getting solved. The company is also deep cleaning all its sites and offices. Caring for employee health Apple is introducing new health screenings and temperature checks across all its offices. The company has also moved to accommodate employees who need to take a leave of absence to accommodate personal or family health circumstances created by COVID-19 including recovering from an illness, caring for a sick loved one, mandatory quarantining, or childcare challenges due to school closures. Promoting credible information Apple is promoting official government information videos via iTunes/Apple Music in the U.S., and also on its home page. Reduce bandwidth demands In line with other streaming media providers, Apple has committed to reducing the resolution of shows streamed through its Apple TV+ network in Europe. Curating podcasting content Apples podcasts app now features a row of reputable Coronavirus-related content. The company is also focusing more on personal development topics through its podcasting service. Maintaining support MacRumors cites an internal memo to Apple Authorized Service Providers in which Apple says its network of authorized repair shops will receive maximum payouts for qualifying product repairs for the months of March and April. Apple Card assistance The consequences of what is taking place are impacting everybody and creating real hardship for many. Apple Card users have been told that if they need help making it through, they can enroll in a new customer assistance program that will allow them to skip their March payments. You should pay attention Apple isnt doing all of these things out of a sudden attack of altruism or as a contribution to some twisted form of April Fools joke. It is doing them because it knows we face a global problem that, if left unchecked, will overwhelm global health provision services, cost vast numbers of lives, and generate an economic slow-down akin to the Great Depression, or worse. Some of those consequences may now be unavoidable. Cook recently said: There is no mistaking the challenge of this moment. The entire Apple family is indebted to the heroic first responders, doctors, nurses, researchers, public health experts and public servants globally who have given every ounce of their spirit to help the world meet this moment. We do not yet know with certainty when the greatest risk will be behind us. That Apple is applying the full extent of its energies in this attempt should make even the greatest cynic wake up to the need to practice social distancing, hide indoors and wash their hands. Those small steps seem the least we can do for medical staff across the entire planet who are even now risking (and in many cases, losing) their own lives on the front line of our struggle against this disease. Are you an Apple, iOS or Mac developer who is offering free services, or augmenting existing ones to help in this struggle? Please drop me a line and I'll let people know. Please follow me on Twitter, or join me in the AppleHolics bar & grill and Apple Discussions groups on MeWe. Advertisement The Surgeon General has urged the nation to 'come together' to fight coronavirus and warned: 'This week, it's going to get bad' in a plea to the public to stay indoors and stop spreading the deadly disease. Dr. Jerome Adams appeared on Today on Monday morning to tell young Americans who are still going out and socializing despite being warned to stay indoors and distance themselves by 6ft. He fumed over the number of people still going out in large groups and referred to the shocking number of crowds he saw in Washington DC via a webcam set up for people to virtually enjoy the famous cherry blossom blooms. 'I want America to understand. This week, it's going to get bad. We really need to come together as a nation. You're seeing young people out in beaches - here in DC. 'The district set up a cam to watch the cherry blossoms. You look on the cam and you see more people than cherry blossoms. This is how the spread is occurring. 'We really, really need everyone to stay at home. I think there are a lot of people who are doing the right thing. But unfortunately we're finding out a lot of people think this can't happen to them.' Scroll down for video Dr. Jerome Adams appeared on Today on Monday morning to tell young Americans who are still going out and socializing despite being warned to stay indoors and distance themselves by 6ft Dr. Adams said the US demography is younger than other countries. Nearly 30 percent of the cases were among people under the age of 45. 'The demography seems to be very different in the US versus in other countries. There are theories that it could be because we know we have a higher proportion of people in the US and also in Italy who vape - we don't know if that's the only cause. 'It's important for people to know: You can get this disease, you can be hospitalized from this disease, you can die from this disease. 'Most importantly, you can spread it to your loved ones. 'We need you to really lean in. That's why I reached out and I want to give a shoutout to Kylie Jenner who really stepped up last week and sent out a message,' he said. Dr. Adams also said the figures in New York - where there are more than 5,000 cases of the virus, more than five percent of the total cases in the world - reflect 'what happens two weeks ago'. 'We don't want Dallas or New Orleans or Chicago to turn into the next New York and it means everyone needs to be taking the right steps right now and it means stay at home. Despite warnings from the government to stay inside or 6ft away from people at all times, many people went to view the famous cherry blossom bloom in DC over the weekend There are now more than 35,200 cases of the virus in the US and 471 people have died The majority of New York City is following the rules and staying at home. Time's Square is shown on Sunday 'It means our 15 days initiative was really based on the fact that when it came out a week ago, we were two weeks behind Italy. Tom Bossert, former national security adviser, said on Sunday New York's cases would continue to rise for six weeks 'We really hoped to instill a sense of urgency in America,' he said. Dr. Adams' warning came as Tom Bossert, former national security adviser, predicted that New York City's cases will continue to increase for the next six weeks. He believes the worst spike will come in the next two weeks. France, Spain, GB and US are now all on the same epidemic curve. 'Pretty soon he US will become the leader because of its size in terms of reported cases and that will be a terrifying day what Im trying to communicate to people is that while NY is bad, the rest of the country cant take a breath. 'Weve got a six week growth curve in NYC, the next 2 weeks will be the most aggressive multiples of 10 potentially.' As of Sunday night, there were more than 35,000 cases of the virus in the US and 471 people had died. In New York City, there are more than 5,000 cases 117 have died. Their forecasts are less optimistic than President Trump's Twitter suggestion that the current state of crisis could be over in 15 days. Trump said on Sunday night that he would reassess the situation in 15 days The president on Sunday night tweeted: 'WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF. 'AT THE END OF THE 15 DAY PERIOD, WE WILL MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHICH WAY WE WANT TO GO!' It prompted many to ask whether the lockdown that some states were experiencing would be over in 15 days. Health experts have long said that the virus will take much longer to stunt. Trump has resisted a national lock down, saying there is no need for it because many states are 'unaffected'. There is at least one case of the virus in every state in the country and there has been for around a week. Despite stern warnings from health experts to abstain from gathering in public places in an effort to control the spread of the coronavirus, a bevy of residents flocked to the beaches of Acapulco over the weekend instead. Images showed dozens of beachgoers spread across the Mexican resort town's sands that were once a top destination for the rich and famous. Children used inflatable tubes to stay afloat in the Pacific coast waters. Photographs proved many residents are willing to go about their daily lives despite the outbreak of the deadly virus that has cause two deaths and infected at least 316 people in Mexico as of Monday. Visitors flocked to Mexico's Pacific coast beaches of Acapulco over the weekend despite health officials warning the public to stay away from mass gatherings amidst the coronavirus outbreak that has caused two deaths and infected at least 316 people in the nation of 129million A woman is seen on a street in Mexico City as the coronavirus forced many to stay home during the weekend Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (right) recorded a message for his country of 129million residents in which he implored people to go out to restaurants and enjoy a family meal. He said that he would inform them if they have to remain inside their homes if the coronavirus pandemic worsens in Mexico For one man it was business as usual in the Gulf state of Veracruz as he set up his iced beverage vending cart just a couple of yards away from a banner posted by the city government that read, 'we recommend not attending public places with crowds' due to the COVID-19 epidemic that has killed at least 15,436 globally. By comparison, the streets of Mexico City resembled a ghost town, devoid of the large crowds that give life to the vibrant capital. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who has been criticized over his continuous lax approach as he dismisses the severity of the virus, visited a local restaurant in the southwestern state of Oaxaca and in a recorded video message told his nation of 129million it was fine to attend their local restaurants and enjoy a family meal. 'Don't panic. Let's move on and don't stop coming out. We are still in the first phase. I'm going to tell you when you can't come out,' Lopez Obrador said. 'But if you can do it and have the economic means, then continue taking the family to eat at restaurants, at [food] stands because that strengthens the economy. Beachgoers in Acapulco dismissed any concerns of the coronavirus pandemic Mexican Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes of the Roman Catholic Church records an online mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Sunday 'We do not do anything good, we do not help if we become paralyzed in an exaggerated way,' the leftist leader added. 'We are going to continue our normal lives and in due course your president will tell you when to stay away.' Lopez Obrador boasted about his country's five major civilizations as proof that Mexico would outlast the coronavirus pandemic. 'Because of our cultures , Mexicans are very resistant to all calamities. We have always come out ahead. And this time we are going to get ahead,' he said. 'Our people are bearers, heir of ancient cultures, of great civilizations, and that is where 'our strength lies.' Motley Fool If you're looking for some worthwhile growth stocks to buy and hold through the storm, you've come to the right place. Lithium Americas (NYSE: LAC), ChargePoint Holdings (NYSE: CHPT), and Cognex Corporation (NASDAQ: CGNX) are three growth stocks that could be good buys in January. Scott Levine (Lithium Americas): If you're like most growth investors, you've undoubtedly come across plenty of ink spilled about electric vehicles since the market is expected to grow considerably over the next decade. KABUL -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has completed an urgent visit to Kabul without saying whether he was able to broker an agreement between Afghanistan's quarreling political leaders. The U.S. State Department said Pompeo was flying to Doha on March 23 after his one-day visit in Kabul. State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said Pompeo would meet in Doha late on March 23 with Taliban representatives, including the Taliban's chief negotiator Mullah Baradar, to press for the Taliban to continue to comply with a peace deal the militant group signed with Washington in late February. Pompeo was in Kabul on March 23 to broker talks between President Ashraf Ghani and Ghani's main political rival, former Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah. But as Pompeo's plane left Kabul late on March 23, there was still no announcement on whether he was able to broker a deal between Ghani and Abdullah. The Associated Press quoted reports from the Afghan capital that Pompeo had given Ghani and Abdullah until March 24 to come up with a compromise in their dispute over the country's official presidential election results. But there was no indication either side had offered to compromise their position. Pompeo was hoping to advance progress on a peace deal signed on February 29 by U.S. negotiators and the Taliban. Pompeo met separately with Ghani and Abdullah on March 23 before meeting together with both Afghan leaders. Since the signing of the deal with the Taliban, the peace process has ground to a halt amid political turmoil, with both Ghani and Abdullah arguing they'd won the presidency through a contested election in September 2019. According to the official election results, Ghani won the presidency outright in the first round of the election with just over 50 percent of the vote compared to about 39 percent for Abdullah. But Abdullah has alleged there was widespread fraud in the ballot count and staged his own presidential inauguration to reinforce his claim that he was the legitimate winner of the election. Pompeo hoped to help end the political stalemate which has put on hold the start of intra-Afghan peace talks that would include the Taliban. Pompeo's visit came a day after the Afghan government held its first talks with the Taliban about a prisoner swap. The talks were announced by U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad. Prisoner releases by both sides is an important step in the peace process, Pompeo said in a March 22 statement on Twitter. The talks -- held via Skype amid the coronavirus pandemic -- lasted more than two hours and were facilitated by the United States and Qatar, Khalilzad said. The spread of the coronavirus has made the release of prisoners that much more urgent, he said. Afghanistan announced the same day the first death in the country due to COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. Afghanistan had 34 confirmed cases of the virus as of March 22. The United States on February 29 signed a historic agreement with the Taliban that could lead to the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Afghanistan and an end to the countrys 18-year conflict. According to a joint declaration published by the U.S. and Afghan governments on February 29, the United States and NATO would withdraw all troops in Afghanistan within 14 months if the Taliban upholds the commitments made in the agreement. All sides conveyed their strong commitment to a reduction of violence, intra-Afghan negotiations, and a comprehensive and permanent cease-fire, Khalilzad said. The envoy said a follow-up meeting between the Afghan government and Taliban will be held in the next two days. With reporting by AP and AFP B oris Johnson has locked down the UK for the next three weeks and told people to stay at home in the latest bid to throttle the spread of coronavirus. The Prime Minister said people will now only be allowed to leave their homes for very limited purposes and that police will have the power to enforce the latest restrictions. In an historic address to the nation, Mr Johnson declared a "national emergency" and said: People must stay at home except for shopping for basic necessities, for exercise but only once a day, any medical need and travel to work but only if essential. Shops selling non-essential goods will also be closed and gatherings in public of more than two people who do not live together are being prohibited. Other premises including libraries, playgrounds, outdoor gyms, and places of worship must also shut. Funerals can still go ahead but weddings have been banned, as have baptisms and other ceremonies. Parks will remain open for exercise but gatherings will be dispersed, with police being handed the power to step in and enforce the new measures. In his televised statement from Downing Street, Mr Johnson said police forces will have the powers to enforce the new measures, including by issuing fines and dispersing gatherings. Boris Johnson addresses the nation on Monday night / Andrew Parsons He said people had been asked to stay at home during the pandemic, "and though huge numbers are complying - and I thank you all - the time has now come for us all to do more. "From this evening I must give the British people a very simple instruction - you must stay at home. Because the critical thing we must do is stop the disease spreading between households. "That is why people will only be allowed to leave their home for the following very limited purposes: shopping for basic necessities, as infrequently as possible; one form of exercise a day - for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your household; any medical need, to provide care or to help a vulnerable person; and travelling to and from work, but only where this is absolutely necessary and cannot be done from home. Mr Johnson added: "To ensure compliance with the Government's instruction to stay at home, we will immediately: close all shops selling non-essential goods, including clothing and electronic stores and other premises including libraries, playgrounds and outdoor gyms, and places of worship; we will stop all gatherings of more than two people in public - excluding people you live with; and we'll stop social events, including weddings, baptisms and other ceremonies, but excluding funerals. "Parks will remain open for exercise but gatherings will be dispersed." The Prime Minister has announced strict new lockdown measure for the UK / Andrew Parsons Mr Johnson said the measures will be in place for at least three weeks and that they will be reviewed after this time. The announcement comes after a meeting of Cobra, the emergency committee, on Monday evening. Earlier the Prime Ministers spokesman said officials were studying a range of data showing footfalls on High Streets, public transport and parks and if social interaction was not reducing fast enough, they would take whatever measures are necessary. Loading.... The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK surged by 967 to 6,650 on Monday. The national death toll also jumped to 336, with 55 new cases confirmed. Over the weekend, crowds of people were witnessed visiting open spaces across many parts of the UK, at times flouting official social distancing advice. There were growing fears that Britain is on a similar trajectory to Italy - scene of the world's worst outbreak - where the death toll passed 5,000 over the weekend. The Italian government was one of a number of European countries to announce new or extended restrictions - with Germany banning public gatherings of more than two people not from the same household. Loading.... The Department of Health has said a total of 83,945 people have now been tested in the UK, 77,295 negative and 6,650 positive. In England, a further 46 coronavirus patients were confirmed to have died, with four more fatalities in both Scotland and Wales and one in Northern Ireland. Announcing the new death toll, NHS England said all the patients had underlying health conditions. They were aged between 47 and 105. Also on Monday night, emergency legislation to respond to the coronavirus outbreak cleared the House of Commons. Meanwhile Dominic Raab and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) warned Brits travelling abroad that they should return to the UK as soon as possible. Further closures to air routes may be enforced within the next 48 hours, possibly without notice, the FCO said. Mr Raab said: Around the world, more airlines are suspending flights and more airports are closing, some without any notice. Where commercial routes dont exist, our staff are working round the clock to give advice and support to UK nationals. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday congratulated Shivraj Singh Chouhan on taking oath as Madhya Pradesh chief minister, describing him as an able administrator. "Congratulations to Shri @ChouhanShivraj Ji on taking oath as CM of Madhya Pradesh. He is an able and experienced administrator who is extremely passionate about MP's development," Modi wrote on Twitter. He extended best wishes to Chouhan for " taking the state to new heights of progress." Just 15 months after losing power, BJP leader Chouhan was back as Madhya Pradesh chief minister on Monday night for a record fourth term and immediately faces the daunting task of stemming the spread of the coronavirus. The 61-year-old MLA from Budhni took oath of office in a simple function at Raj Bhavan in Bhopal, where he was sworn in by Governor Lalji Tandon at 9 pm. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The EU on Monday urged the international community to send humanitarian aid to Iran to help its coronavirus fight, arguing that such steps would not breach US sanctions. The bloc is preparing to send 20 million euros' (USD 21.5 million) worth of humanitarian aid to Iran, where new coronavirus has killed more than 1,800 people, making it one of the countries hit hardest by the pandemic. Josep Borrell, the EU's chief diplomat, said Brussels would support requests for help made by Iran and Venezuela -- also heavily sanctioned -- to the International Monetary Fund. "We are going to support this request because these countries are in a very difficult situation mainly due to the US sanctions that prevent them from having income by selling their oil," Borrell said after talks with EU foreign ministers. Tehran and Caracas are both under swingeing US sanctions aimed at starving their regimes of income, but Borrell said that shipments of food, medicine and medical equipment should not be affected. "This has to be reaffirmed because many believe that if they participate in this kind of humanitarian trade they can be sanctioned," he said. "This is not the case but it has to be reaffirmed in order for everybody to understand that they can participate in this kind of humanitarian help." The EU and US have been at loggerheads over Iran since President Donald Trump abruptly withdrew from the Iranian nuclear deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions. European countries have battled to save the accord, arguing it is the best way to prevent Tehran acquiring the bomb. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo signalled on Twitter that Washington was unreceptive to the Islamic republic's first-ever request for a loan from the IMF, where America effectively holds a veto. He accused the regime of funding "terror abroad" and accused the Iranian leadership of lying about the pandemic, after Tehran rejected a US offer of aid. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An outspoken member of Irans outgoing parliament has said that the country is in transition from an Islamic Republic to an Islamic rule, meaning a non-parliamentary government. Ali Motahari, who was barred from running for the recently-elected parliament, in an interview says, A group within the state seriously strive to achieve Islamic governance, because peoples vote has only a decorative phenomenon for them. He added, These people believe parliament is a consultative body, which is supposed to realize the wishes of the Supreme Leader and the president should be directly appointed by the Leader. Motahari in the interview proposes the future president to be appointed by the Supreme Leader. The socially conservative but politically reformist politician also says most of the current challenges are the result of one group stubbornly opposing President Hassan Rouhani and if in 2017 his opponent, the conservative Ebrahim Raeesi was elected, maybe we would have even achieved negotiations with the America. Motahari insisted that Participating in elections has no impact on our destiny and elected bodies are a decor for democracy. Real decisions are made elsewhere, he maintained, pointing out that parliaments leadership always waited to see what Supreme Leader says. He added that when he was deputy speaker of parliament he proposed to hold talks with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to clarify the powers of the legislature, but politicians do not even believe parliament is in a position to talk with the Supreme Leader. Photo credit: Grove Pashley From Popular Mechanics If the internet breaks under COVID-19 (coronavirus) pressure, it will be because of hardware, not bandwidth. Internet access is supplied by hundreds of networked fiber optic cables that circle the entire world. Europe has capped bandwidth for streaming services, but it's temporary and not a big change. As the world continues to work from home indefinitely because of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, can an increased demand for high-speed internet crash the whole system? While its true the amount of internet bandwidth in the world technically is finite, any breakdowns will be at the local and likely hardware level, not in the shared entire amount of internet itself. Where the Internet Comes From Today, youre likely using WiFi if youre reading this at home. But large offices are often still hardwired with ethernet cables, which can make setting up a large network a lot easier when people are using desktop computers that stay static. All the hardware in that kind of workstation is probably logged by its individual MAC address, and that can also be attached to an IP address based on your ethernet ports. Businesses already use a ton of bandwidth, and they pay more for it, the same way business flyers account for up to 75 percent of airline profits despite being a small fraction of total passengers. For a long time, business traffic unquestionably dominated, but then streaming servicesnot just Netflix and other similar platforms, but YouTube, toorapidly closed the gap and moved ahead. As more and increasingly better content is available to stream in high definition, people keep using up whats available. In 2016, Quartz reported video streaming amounted to 70 percent of bandwidth at any given time. On top of that, people stream music (YouTube accounts for 70 percent of this, too), while gamers and other enthusiasts hang out on Twitch and similar services, and we continue to communicate on Facetime and Skype. Story continues So were using much more streaming than ever, and that number only continues to climb. All this bandwidth is carried around by networks of fiber optic cables, which are to internet bandwidth what giant power lines are to the electrical grid. Huge, concentrated amounts travel over these trunk lines and then branch into the smaller sections of our cities and then our neighborhoods and homes. And were fully linked around the world with the help of over 400 massive, undersea cables that stretch for thousands of miles. Its easy to walk around with wireless devices and marvel at how internet seems to swirl in the air like a miasma, but everything we use is powered by an omnipresent overlay of wires and antennas that work the good, old fashioned way even with space-age technology. Like a theremin, this huge grid hums with increasing energy based on how close we are to it. Photo credit: Submarine Cable Map/PriMetrica A Coronavirus Crash? The move to working from home during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic is, without a doubt, the best public health decision people could have made. But our new reality has led to many questions, like whether or not the sudden move to remote work will crash the internet. This is where hardware comes into play rather than pure bandwidth. Many workers from places with intranets and direct ethernet links to business-grade bandwidth still need the same complex tools and are now tapping into them remotely. It's this shift from corporate networks to consumer equipment where any breakdowns will occur, according to Harvard technology policy and computer science professor Jim Waldo. At Harvard, we have a fairly sophisticated network, Waldo told the university's Gazette. That keeps a lot of the traffic that is being sent from Harvard inside its network, where we know what the bandwidth constraints are, we know how many switches it's going to be going through. Now that everybody is at homeand home may be anywhere from Boston to China for some of our studentsit is going via a much more complicated route and a much more varied set of equipment, and that's going to stress everything. Waldo says the internets ability to scale up and keep up is the real marvel here, and certainly peoples real usage has backed that up. In October, Popular Mechanics looked at the homepages of newspapers between the late 90s and now, and the sites are anywhere from about 30 to 50 times larger now before you count high-resolution images or streaming video. Each new development online, from simple things like multimedia at all or the ability to use outside fonts and scripts, added to the per-page burden on everyones connections. More importantly, as Waldo points out, the internet was made to cut corners and seamlessly cover errors. If one domain server is out, your request goes to another. Our data is passed back and forth in a container called a packet, and packet loss is part of what networks are designed to tolerate. Even the idea of a packet is a way to minimize errors with clever design. Streaming video is one of the most fault-tolerant, with long buffers and video-quality sliders that adjust automatically to your connection. While much is being made of the announced bandwidth limiting of Netflix and other streaming services, the quality of life reduction wont be much. European Union officials asked for this change based on concerns and feedback, and the guess is whats driving that isnt people who live in cities with robust internet infrastructureits those in rural areas with less reliable internet and fewer failsafes if something does happen to it. Photo credit: Atomic Imagery - Getty Images In the U.S., nearly 7 percent of people, almost all of them in rural places, use reliable but rigidly capped satellite internet. Another nearly 15 percent have no formal internet access, instead using mobile networks or public WiFi spots, or simply going without. Now, public libraries in many areas are closed, taking away a place where underserved people could use high-speed internet. Businesses, and their public WiFi networks, are closed. Kids used to using computers in schools may not have computers at home. All that is to say, the overall idea of bandwidth isnt threatened by an increase in users. Instead, its what Waldo calls the last 100 yards: a reduction in places people usually use internet, pushing them to instead rely on phones. Workers are streaming meetings and pushing large files back and forth that would usually be on an intranet. Capping Netflix for a month just puts more wiggle room in the hands of people whose less reliable networks might need it the most. You Might Also Like WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court is leaving in place a decision that a man freed after more than 40 years in prison cant sue for damages. The high court on Monday turned away a lawsuit by Louis Taylor. Taylor was convicted of starting a 1970 fire at the Pioneer Hotel in Tucson, Arizona, that killed nearly 30 people. He was serving a life sentence when he was freed in 2013 after an expert determined the fire was not arson, a finding the government disputed. In order to be released, Taylor entered a no contest plea to the original charges against him. Lower courts ruled that because of the no contest plea Taylor could not sue for damages. As is usual, the Supreme Court did not comment in turning away the case. The high court announced its decision not to hear the case and many others in an order posted online. The court previously postponed arguments that had been scheduled for this week and next because of the coronavirus and closed the Supreme Court to the public. [March 23, 2020] USRA Names Carol Kory Director of Microgravity Sciences at NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio COLUMBIA, Md. and WASHINGTON, March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Universities Space Research Association (USRA) today announced the appointment of Dr. Carol Kory as Director of Microgravity Sciences effective immediately. Carol is an established leader in technology research and development, with over 25 years of experience in program management and planning, business development, and intellectual property protection within the government and commercial sectors. She has published and presented over 200 technical papers at international conferences and in peer-reviewed journals, holds seven patents, and is the recipient of numerous NASA individual and team awards throughout her career. Significant accomplishments include the integration of airborne environmental intelligence and situational awareness hardware in support of the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC). In addition, she developed the first accurate electromagnetic model for high power amplifiers that explained an anomaly in the NASA Cassini mission to Saturn. She also developed five prototype antennas for the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) Continuation Project; and performed electromagnetic analyses on the International Space Station (ISS) Space Communication and Navigation (SCaN) testbed antennas prior to launch. p> Bernie Seery , Senior Vice President of Technology at USRA noted, "Carol's scientific and management credentials are of the highest caliber, and she has already developed a great working relationship with NASA -- not just within the Microgravity Program, but with many other programs at the Center. She will continue to work with our USRA researchers, their Glenn colleagues and sponsors, and university PIs to deliver the highest quality of scientific research on our existing and proposed scientific experiments for the international Space Station and related ground test facilities." In her previous positions she served as Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of Technology at Teraphysics Corporation, Director of Business Development at Vencore Services and Solutions, and Director of Technology at QinetiQ North America. Carol holds a B.S. from the University of Dayton, and M.S. and doctoral degrees from Cleveland State University, all in electrical engineering. About USRA Founded in 1969, under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences at the request of the U.S. Government, the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) is a nonprofit corporation chartered to advance space-related science, technology and engineering. USRA operates scientific institutes and facilities, and conducts other major research and educational programs, under Federal funding. USRA engages the university community and employs in-house scientific leadership, innovative research and development, and project management expertise. More information about USRA is available at www.usra.edu. PR Contact : Suraiya Farukhi, Ph.D. [email protected] 443-812-6945 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/usra-names-carol-kory-director-of-microgravity-sciences-at-nasa-glenn-research-center-in-cleveland-ohio-301028374.html SOURCE Universities Space Research Association [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Last Friday night at Allen Avenue, Lagos, there was a lull in human traffic. Loud music from giant loudspeakers, however, was a constant at strategic locations along this road, in the heart of Ikeja, renowned as a convergence point for commercial sex workers and their potential customers. Primarily a residential area, Allen Avenue has bulged; by day, it accommodates shopping centres, offices, and markets. At sunset, skimpily-clad ladies emerge and turn it into a night crawlers paradise. Known in some quarters as Nigerias Sin City, it is home to nearly ten strip clubs, several bars, nightclubs, lounges, bars and much more. One of the major converging spots for the commercial sex workers is in front of the popular Peka Hotel, adjacent to a well-known eatery at Opebi. During the day, Peka looks like your regular average bar with open space where anyone can go for a drink. At night, it transforms into a beehive of activities fun-seekers, food vendors, and commercial sex workers mingle freely as businesses vigorously prospect for clients. Last Friday night was different; there was a handful of people in the vicinity even as the clock raced towards midnight. It may not be unconnected with the outbreak of coronavirus which has led over 10,000 people dead globally. In Nigeria, 30 cases of the disease have been recorded, 22 of them in Lagos. Poor patronage The Lagos State government recently announced a ban on public gatherings of more than 50 people, later reducing the crowd to 20. On Saturday, however, Lagosians defied the directive, trooping put in their numbers to attend wedding engagements and party at night clubs. As at 11 p.m., on Friday, bars and parking lots at several joints at Allen were largely empty. It was the same at Peka where security guards, wearing nose masks, point thermometers at customers and then administer hand sanitisers. I will not allow you in again, cant you just stay somewhere or go home if e no pay you? a guard barked at a skimpily-clad lady, as I made my way into the sparsely-populated bar. Hardly had I sat down when a lady appeared, introducing herself as Blessing. Oga I am available, I will do you well, she said, giggling and pulling up another chair. Commercial sex workers on Allen Avenue, Ikeja Lagos (Photo Credit: Medium.com) Why is this place scanty tonight, did the police come to raid or whats going on? I asked. Surprise surfaced on Blessings face. Are you not aware of Coro virus (coronavirus)? E be like say people dey fear oo. I asked her if shes not scared of contracting the virus. Its not my portion, she snapped. Me I know that kind thing no fit affect me if I no hustle how I would survive. I dont know why today (Friday) is like this, I think people will still come, most of the guys coming this night, just carry girls straight, they are not coming in to sit down to drink. Blessing said she is a student at the School of Nursing in Port Harcourt and is in Lagos to raise some money. She added that she might have come at the wrong time because of the low patronage being witnessed with the growing cases of Covid-19. That N10,000 for all night is not good especially when you say we are going to Ipaja (a suburb in Lagos), this coronavirus is really affecting business, she mumbled as she gulped the drink offered. Advertisements Divine protection Moments later, Blessings friend, who identified herself as Chioma, joined us. She said she is aware of the coronavirus but believes in divine protection. She, however, said she takes precautions. I have a sanitizer in my bag and I am very choosy at my client, Chioma said. I usually prefer those I know before but if the money is good, I can take the risk, Nah God dey protect all of us. The taxi drivers and food vendors at Allen Avenue corroborated what the ladies said, adding that they fear it may persist if the threat of the virus rises. Sunday Olugbade, a taxi driver, said market has been very slow. People no too come out like before. This project will enable the community to focus on other aspects of life. The community in drought stricken Serdo was devastated to learn the water from their newly bored well was so heavily contaminated with fluoride and salt that it had to be sealed. All hope of the end of a persistent struggle to find safe water was gone. Until, that is, USAID, CARE Ethiopia, Puretec Israel and DuPont Water Solutions joined forces to build a solution that would sustain the community for decades. Sixteen reverse osmosis (RO) elements were donated by DuPont to provide clean, cool water to some 2,000 citizens. Commissioned in October 2019, the Serdo water scheme is now providing 5,000 liters per hour of safe water, stopping the need for lengthy walks to fetch it or truck delivery into the town. The solution is being kept sustainable through the technical training of regional water managers and community-based operators and technicians. President of the Afar regional state, His Excellency Awol Arba stated, This project will enable the community to focus on other aspects of life, in the inauguration in October 2019, in which he and U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia Michael Raynor, turned on the tap. The Ambassador underlined the importance of the project to alleviate a serious situation where this community simply did not have access to reliable and safe drinking water. Serdo again has hope, with water shortages no longer distracting from other aspects of life. With hope comes opportunity and prosperity. The project serves as a role model for reviving hope across the state of Arfa which has approximately 40 other capped boreholes that were drilled only to be found similarly unfit for direct use. About DuPont Safety & Construction DuPont Safety & Construction is a global leader in delivering innovation for lifes essential needs in water, shelter and safety; enabling its customers to win through unique capabilities, global scale and iconic brands including DuPont Corian, Kevlar, Nomex, Tyvek, GreatStuff, Styrofoam and FilmTec. More on DuPont Water Solutions can be found at https://www.dupont.com/water. About DuPont DuPont (NYSE: DD) is a global innovation leader with technology-based materials, ingredients and solutions that help transform industries and everyday life. Our employees apply diverse science and expertise to help customers advance their best ideas and deliver essential innovations in key markets including electronics, transportation, construction, water, health and wellness, food and worker safety. More information can be found at http://www.dupont.com. 3/23/2020 DuPont, the DuPont Oval Logo, and all trademarks and service marks denoted with , or are owned by affiliates of DuPont de Nemours, Inc. unless otherwise noted. Almost all of the UK's schools re-opened today to serve coronavirus key workers but most parents heeded the warning to keep their children at home, a survey of 3,500 headteachers has revealed. The National Association of Headteachers has said that less than 20 per cent of all schoolchildren were dropped off today - far lower than the up to 50 per cent predicted by experts yesterday. Staff have told MailOnline that in some cases 'only one or two' children arrived at the gates this morning - and had up to ten teachers and teaching assistants to look after them. All UK schools were ordered to close for up to six months on Friday - but 94 per cent have reopened to care for children whose parents' work is 'critical' to the fight against coronavirus, which has killed 281 in the UK so far. But there have been a number of cases where the children of coronavirus key workers, including firefighters and food delivery workers, have been turned away at the school gates as confusion over who is eligible continued today. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders union NAHT, said 'It appears that the vast majority of families have responded to our appeal not to send their children to school, and we thank them for that. Taking your child to school should remain an option of last resort'. But in a warning about safety he added: 'School leaders are crying out for sight of the expert medical evidence on safe levels of attendance and density'. As most UK schools reopened today - after they were ordered to close on Friday to halt the spread of coronavirus, it has emerged: Primary school headteacher Wendy Jacobs, from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, has died after testing positive for coronavirus; Some parents are threatening to sue schools and have instructed solicitors to send legal letters setting out their legal 'entitlement' to an emergency place for key workers, according to the Association of School and College Leaders; Millions of parents today started homeschooling their children. Online learning apps and websites went down and 800,000 children took part in a YouTube PE lesson with Joe Wicks; UK's total number of coronavirus cases has hit 5,683 - with 281 people now known to have died; Millions of children are predicted to turn up at school today despite a plea from headteachers to keep them at home unless it is unavoidable. A key worker arrives with two children at New Ash Green Primary School in Kent this morning. The chaotic scenes at schools up and down the country have emerged today with teachers abused and some parents turned away despite being key workers Headteachers had been 'overwhelmed' by applications over the past three days with unions including the NAHT warning schools 'couldn't cope'. But while it appears many chose to stay away today a significant number of parents claimed that schools turned them away. This afternoon schools were warned they cannot impose a blanket ban on taking children if only one parent is a key worker and they have no other option of childcare. The Government has set out its key worker definition to battle coronavirus - but many believe it is too vague and is leaving many schools and parents confused about who is eligible Downing Street said today that headteachers who have insisted that both parents must be key workers are wrong and should change their policy immediately. Firefighter Mark Atkinson tweeted: 'I'm a key worker and my child was refused entry to school today. Does the school have the right to refuse?' One key worker parent in Leicester told MailOnline said: 'I dropped my daughter off this morning and at first the school said they were closed, then they said my child was going to be the only child so had no food and then they gave me an admissions form to move my child to a different school. My wife works in care and I am a courier. We are both key workers doing our part in this crisis but our school is causing us more stress'. Another parent who works delivering foods to supermarkets, said: 'I informed the school I wished for my two young children to attend [so I could work]. They stated both that parents are required to be key workers so his children cannot attend & this simply is not the case'. He added: 'I may now have to cease work'. However, where school staff have asked for proof from parents who fail to meet the criteria there have also been ugly scenes at the school gates this morning, MailOnline can reveal. One man, whose wife is a school teacher, wrote on social media today: 'My wife and her colleagues have been verbally abused by parents of non key workers demanding their children are in school'. Teachers have revealed that nail bar workers, mobile hairdressers as well as McDonald's and KFC workers have asked for spaces for their children claiming their work is crucial to keeping the country running. Others wanted their offspring at school because they 'can't cope with their kids at home for five days a week' because they need 'peace and quiet'. One critic wrote: 'My wife works at a school office and is dealing with the requests for key worker childcare and you can't believe how some of these people are acting. One parent wants her children looked after 3 days a week because she is working from home and needs some peace and quiet. Stop taking the p**s'. Another tweeted: 'A woman I know well works at a school where a KFC employee claims to be a 'key worker' so that her children can be in school'. Health Secretary Matt Hancock told BBC Breakfast today: 'The most important message is if you don't have to take your child to school, even if you're a key worker, then you should not take your child to school'. And unions have claimed that many parents had heeded the warning and kept their children home. Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said this afternoon that initial feedback from members indicates that parents have listened to calls to use schools only when they have no option to keep children at home. 'Schools are reporting that the number of pupils arriving is manageable,' he said. 'We are grateful to parents for their understanding. We would like to pay tribute to schools for their amazing work in organising this provision so quickly. 'They have calmly gone about the business of identifying children who need places, arranging staffing cover and providing learning resources for children who are at home. It has been an exemplary exercise in superb leadership'. Britons have been urged to keep their children at home unless 'absolutely necessary' as schools were threatened with litigation from parents and the row over Boris Johnson's 'vague' coronavirus key workers list rumbled on. Teachers have been given the power to ask parents for ID and payslips to prove they are 'key workers' amid fears that many will lie about their jobs so they can drop off their children - with schools warning parents: 'We will turn you away'. Paul Whiteman, head of the National Association of Headteachers, has said that schools cannot cope and begged people not to abuse the key worker system amid claims McDonald's staff have asked for places Year 11 pupils, some with graffiti-covered shirts reading 'Survivor 2020' and 'Class of Corona 2020' leave a secondary school in Odiham, Hampshire on Friday Primary school headteacher dies just days after testing positive for coronavirus A primary school headteacher has died after testing positive for coronavirus as young and healthy Britons begin to fall victim to the disease in increasing numbers. Wendy Jacobs was headteacher at Roose Primary School in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. She was diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus last week and was rushed to Furness General Hospital's intensive care unit but later died. Pupils, parents and teachers have been left devastated and have decided to close the school today - even for the children of 'key workers'. It is not known if she had any underlying health conditions. Wendy Jacobs was headteacher at Roose Primary School in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria A statement from the school's Chair of Governors, Fred Chatfield, said: 'Dear parents and carers, It is with great sadness that I write to inform you that our headteacher Mrs Jacobs passed away today. 'This is devastating news for our school and nursery community and all our thoughts and sympathies are with her family. 'We are all in shock, and given these exceptional circumstances we have taken the decision to close the school and nursery fully tomorrow to all pupils, including those of essential workers. 'I am sure you will understand that opening the school and nursery is not an option. 'We would recommend that all children we kept at home tomorrow. 'This is a huge loss to our school, nursery and our community and I will be in touch as soon as possible to explain how we will celebrate Mrs Jacobs' life and contribution.' Advertisement Unions have claims that parents working in fast food chains, such as McDonald's, have been asking for a place in schools insisting they are 'key workers' using the Government's 'food distribution' definition in its controversial guidance. Private school fees could be refunded Private schools will be offering parents a partial refund, a sector chief has said. Neil Roskilly, chief executive of the Independent Schools Association, said schools were considering returning a portion of fees for the summer term. He added: 'I think schools, if they can afford it, will also freeze fees for next year because they know things are tough for parents.' But Mr Roskilly said that many parents are not withholding fees as they understand that schools are trying their best to maintain a 'continuity of education' using technology. And Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the Independent Schools Council, urged parents to not withdraw fees as private schools will face the risk of closure if they lose money. He told The Sunday Telegraph that independent schools are 'small businesses' and are 'in the same boat as everyone else'. Advertisement Geoff Barton, general secretary at Association of School and College Leaders, said: 'The list is rather more extensive than we expected. That has led to some difficult exchanges, with parents saying things like, 'I work in McDonald's so that is food production.' If your school is near a big hospital, health workers' children will be your priority. 'Some school leaders have had letters from lawyers - that's a sign of how the extensive nature of that list has set the hare running. Head teachers are already having to make quite difficult decisions without getting into disputes with parents who think a school place is their entitlement.' Checks at the gates will root out those parents falsely claiming to have jobs 'critical' to the country's coronavirus response. The move comes amid concerns that over-stretched teachers will be swamped. One head has blasted the 'disgraceful mob mentality' of parents which may mean she cannot open at all. Last night, the Department for Education released last-minute guidance, telling teachers how to police the children they let in based on their parents' occupations. Teachers said pet shop workers, carpet fitters, nail technicians and even sausage makers were claiming key worker status. 'We know many schools will have already spoken with parents/carers to identify who requires a school place,' the official document said. 'If it proves necessary, schools can ask for simple evidence that the parent in question is a critical worker, such as their work ID badge or payslip.' The guidance stated: 'If required, we recommend asking for simple evidence that the parent in question is a critical worker, such as confirmation from their employer on what their job is and how it is critical to the Covid-19 response. If any problems occur, schools should speak to their local authority.' The document also revealed that teachers will be expected to work through the Easter holidays to look after key workers' children. Hairdressers and dog groomers have also been claiming they are included on the sweeping list of jobs 'critical' to the coronavirus response, a Times Educational Supplement survey found. Teachers have been up early today using the '5oclockclub' and admitted they are scared about going into work in schools with children that may be carrying the virus Teaching unions urged mothers and fathers to 'play fair' or risk a situation which will become 'impossible to support'. A plea was made to companies not to put 'profit before people' and ensure parents can work from home or schedule their hours so they can look after children. Key workers are designated as those in sectors such as the NHS, transport, the food supply chain, social services, governmental and national security roles. However, retailer Pets At Home gave staff a lawyer's letter saying they were in a 'critical category' due to the need to keep up 'the sale of food and other necessary goods including veterinary medicine'. But one teacher remarked: 'The Government stated schools are open for children of essential workers. Dog collars are not essential.' A spokesman for Pets at Home said: 'The letter we shared with colleagues was simply intended to help them, and teachers at their children's schools, understand what we believe to be the government guidelines. 'There is no question that NHS workers and others on the front line are the utmost priority and so we asked colleagues using this letter to also be respectful of the needs of others and the difficult decisions schools are having to take and to only apply for 'key worker' status if absolutely necessary.' Education analysts said 20 per cent of pupils could attempt to go in today. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, yesterday said: 'We are getting reports of an overwhelming demand for places.' He also asked employers: 'Do not put profit over people. School places are there for the most vulnerable and to keep truly crucial operations running.' Key workers: List of 'critical' staff whose children can attend lessons The 'key workers' who can send their children to school are divided into eight categories: Health and social care Includes doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, social workers, care workers; producers and distributers of medicines and medical protective equipment. Education and childcare Includes teaching staff, social workers and specialist education professionals. Key public services Includes those running the justice system, religious staff, charity workers and journalists. Local and national government Includes those needed to deliver the Covid-19 response or deliver essential public services. Food and necessary goods Includes those involved in food production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery as well as those essential to the provision of other goods like hygienic and veterinary medicines. Safety and national security Includes police and support staff, MoD workers, the armed forces, fire services, those maintaining border security and prison staff. Transport Includes workers on air, water, road and rail transport either passenger or freight. Utilities, communication and financial services Includes staff needed for banks and workers in the oil, gas, electricity and water sectors. Advertisement Dr Mary Bousted, of the National Education Union, said: 'If schools are to limit their intake during the crisis, school leaders and teachers must exercise their professional judgment. There may have to be some difficult conversations. 'Children who have one parent as a key worker should remain at home. Their other parent should look after them.' Hundreds of thousands of pupils are eligible for makeshift 'educational provision'. But the Government's definition of key workers is 'too generous' and has led to the risk of schools being flooded, said Neil Roskilly, chief executive of the Independent Schools Association, which has over 500 member schools. He added: 'Parents are thinking not only can I get my child away and looked after but I might even be able to expect some Easter holiday cover.' Vulnerable children will still be cared for by schools, and children on free school meals will also be provided for. Schools chief inspector Amanda Spielman said yesterday: 'Parents need to hear the message: Keep children at home if at all possible. Support the decisions your child's school are making.' Dr Mary Bousted, NEU joint general secretary, said the schools can only operate to help during this outbreak 'if everyone plays fair'. She said: 'If schools are to limit their intake during the crisis, school leaders and teachers must exercise their professional judgment. 'There may have to be some difficult conversations with parents, which could include saying that the school cannot accommodate your child and remain safe.' Schools will not be expected to take a normal attendance register, but will be asked to submit a daily report stating whether they are open and how many children and staff are in school so capacity can be tracked, the department said. The department has also published guidance on vulnerable children, with schools being asked to have a process in place to check on the welfare of any children in need who do not continue to come to school, to ensure they do not fall through the gaps. NSPCC chief executive Peter Wanless said it is 'imperative' that different agencies understand who is responsible for children at home and added that social workers 'will need continued support and resources to support those in isolation'. He said: 'We are living in a public health emergency and it's never been more important for everyone to play their part in recognising and reporting abuse and neglect. Anyone with concerns about a child can contact the NSPCC Helpline for professional advice.' Latest coronavirus video news, views and expert advice at mailplus.co.uk/coronavirus Teachers have been given the power to ask parents for ID and payslips to prove they are 'key workers' amid fears that many will lie about their jobs so they can drop off their children. Pictured: A parent and a child play in London today P.E. lesson in the living room! Body Coach Joe Wicks leads families in a free 30-minute YouTube exercise class to keep children active while schools are closed - and 806,000 households join in Schools may be out but P.E. class went ahead this morning, thanks to a live YouTube workout by celebrity fitness expert Joe Wicks. Joe, better known as the Body Coach, broadcast an easy-to-follow 30 minute workout on his YouTube account at 9am this morning, with more than 806,000 families across the UK tuning in to exercise. Excited parents took to Twitter to share photos and videos of their kids following Joe's lead - punching, running and stretching on their living room floors. Joe Wicks, better known as the Body Coach, broadcast an easy-to-follow workout on his YouTube account at 9am this morning, with more than 806,000 families tuning in to exercise Joining in the fun! Excited parents took to Twitter to share photos and videos of their kids following Joe's lead - punching, running and stretching on their living room floors Some mothers and fathers also took part in the class - and admitted it was good to get moving after spending so much time cooped up indoors. Wicks is one of a number of professionals offering online workouts and sessions to help parents home schooling their children during coronavirus self-isolation. The next P.E. with Joe class will take place at 9am tomorrow morning and the videos can be watched on his YouTube channel at any time. Announcing the idea on Instagram last week, Wicks said: 'Starting from Monday, every single day from Monday to Friday, I'm going to do a live workout called 'PE with Joe' on my YouTube channel The Body Coach TV. Popular choice! Wicks revealed that 806,000 families joined in with the workout today 'It's a workout specifically designed for kids. Because when the schools closed, there is no PE. Don't worry, I've got you. 'I'm going to take this over. I'm going get your kids moving, fit and energised, positive and optimistic. He added: 'It's a 30-minute session for little kids right up to secondary school, get involved, have fun. We're going to be doing loads of basic exercises. You don't need a lot of room.' Family time! Parents across the UK shared photos of their kids getting active with Joe Wicks x Parents who demand that school takes in their kids By Simon Walters for the Daily Mail Primary school head Jennifer Gill angrily accused parents of 'threatening' her staff and undermining Boris Johnson's attempt to stop Covid-19 from spreading. Pictured: Mr Johnson today A headmistress denounced the 'disgraceful mob mentality' of non-key worker parents refusing to keep children at home. Primary school head Jennifer Gill angrily accused parents of 'threatening' her staff and undermining Boris Johnson's attempt to stop Covid-19 from spreading. She said it was not the school's duty to 'provide 'emergency (child care) to protect jobs.' Miss Gill rebuked parents for acting as though 'having to look after your child is an inconvenience' in the face of a 'global emergency'. And she said that as a result of the parents' revolt she was seriously considering closing the entire school today to safeguard teachers. It is the latest evidence that the public are not heeding the Prime Minister's calls for responsible behaviour. There have been distressing scenes in shops with the elderly and health workers unable to get vital supplies of food because of panic buying. And the Government was forced to close pubs, restaurants and cafes after pleas to stay away from were ignored. From today only the children of key workers such as NHS, police, social and care workers, mortuary workers, those involved in the food supply industry and some transport staff around 20 per cent of the workforce can send their children to school. The Government decided not to follow other nations where all schools are closed, arguing that it would remove key workers from the front line in the war on coronavirus. But it means other people must look after their children, making it impossible for some to carry on working. There have been distressing scenes in shops with the elderly and health workers unable to get vital supplies of food because of panic buying. Pictured: Empty shelves at a Waitrose supermarket in London Some school chiefs warned last week that confusion over the definition of key worker could see schools overwhelmed, with children turned away from school gates. The fears were reinforced yesterday by Miss Gill, of St Patrick's Roman Catholic state primary school in Consett, County Durham. In a letter posted on the website of the school, which has 400 pupils, she said if parents did not believe the seriousness of the situation they should turn on the television and see 'the Italian army transporting coffins in the night from towns unable to cope'. Her letter says: 'Parents have been threatening to bring children to school next week despite not being allocated an emergency place. Due to this disgraceful mob mentality, I am seriously considering full closure on Monday to protect my staff. 'School staff cannot be threatened for advice that has been issued to try to reduce deaths. The JJ Moon's in Tooting, south London, was packed with punters on on Thursday despite the government's warnings to stay away 'Emergency care is not provided to protect jobs and a place at school is not an automatic entitlement it is a last resort to enable essential key workers to carry out their roles. 'Many key workers will not need emergency care; sending your child to school puts them, your family and school staff at risk. Families where only parent is a key worker are not eligible for emergency care.' Miss Gill says she appreciates it is a 'challenging and stressful time' but calls on parents to 'put the needs of the whole community first' and think how their actions can harm 'the health and wellbeing of others'. She stresses that looking after your child should not be seen as an inconvenience 'when one considers the alternative'. The school, which was established in 1926 and rated good by Ofsted, was contacted for comment. Latest coronavirus video news, views and expert advice at mailplus.co.uk/coronavirus The first Online International Theatre Festival in Egypt will kick off on 27 March The brainchild of theatre maker Hytham Elhawary, Egypt's first Online International Theatre Festival will take place between 27 and 30 March. The initiative comes in response to the shutdown of all activities involving large public gatherings in the country. The idea came when Elhawary had to postpone the 5th edition of the Youth of the South Theatre Festival (YSTF), which was scheduled for April and each year brings theatrical activities to southern Egyptian governorates, holding many creative activities in towns and villages. "Due to the circumstances we are all going through, we had to postponed the 5th edition of the Youth of the South Theatre Festival (YSTF). Why not go online, I thought. Isn't it a suitable way of keeping in touch with all theatre practitioners and our audiences?" Elhawary, who is also the YSTF's president, told Ahram Online. The online festival is organised by the artistic association that Elhawary manages (the 'Seen' Association for Arts and Culture), in cooperation with Tunisia's Spring Festival for Theatre and is aligned with the International Theatre Institute (ITI). "We rely a lot on cooperation with the Tunisian festival in marketing and promoting the online event as well as in creating vibrant links with international theatre practitioners," Elhawary adds. According to Elhawary, the online festival accepts entries from all around the world until 26 March and the chosen plays will be presented between 27 and 30 March on the online platforms of the YSTF and the Tunisian festival. The plays duration should not exceed 60 minutes. While the Youth of the South Theatre Festival targets specific theatrical content with productions capitalising on showcasing and promoting the heritage and folkloric arts, the online festival opens up to all topics. "Preliminarily we were planning to present two plays per day, but due to a high number of submissions, we will include three plays daily. The plays will be uploaded online with a discussion option available for the audiences," Elhawary reveals. Apart from the discussions encouraged by the management, Elhawary also reveals that the festival will upload the workshops/lectures given by the theatre specialists. "The coronavirus outbreak and the closure of all artistic activities should not stop us from reaching out to each other and to our audiences. Though we do not present theatre on the stages, we won't stop our life. We should go outside the box and the online activities are a perfect way of doing so." Elhawary also sees this as an opportunity to implement this format in the long-run. We will definitely go for more editions of the festival. This one is just the beginning and I am sure we will learn a lot throughout the festival's days and we will implement possible expansions in the event's upcoming editions. For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Search Keywords: Short link: Holcim, Cemex suspend Luzon output ICR Newsroom By 23 March 2020 Holcim and Cemex have suspended production at their operations in Luzon, the Philippines, to comply with social distancing and quarantine measures put in place by the countrys government to address the coronavirus pandemic. Holcim has suspended plant, terminal and office operations with measures covering the Bacnotan, La Union, Norzagaray and Bulacan cement plants. The companys terminals in Calaca, Mabini, Manila and Batangas as well as the dry-mix plant in Paranaque will no longer dispatch products. However, plants and terminals in Visayas and Mindanao would remain operational. "These are unprecedented actions but necessary and critical to support the government's efforts to combat the disease. We are doing our best to safeguard our communities and employees while protecting the integrity of our business during these very difficult and impactful times," Holcim said. Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc disclosed its suspension of output from its Solid Cement works in Antipolo City and the delivery of products. These measures were consistent with protecting the health and safety of its employees, contractors, customers and community, according to Cemex Published under At least 17 police commandos killed after their patrol came under attack in a remote area of Sukma district. Maoist rebels have killed 17 Indian security forces in an ambush in central state of Chhattisgarh, a police spokesman said, in the deadliest attacks in recent years. More than 300 armed rebels took part in the attack on a police commando patrol in the jungles of Sukma district, police superintendent Shalab Sinha told AFP news agency. Large numbers of reinforcements were sent to the district on Sunday. We have recovered 17 bodies and another 15 police are being treated for injuries, he said. We believe the ambush was carried out by between 300 and 350 attackers. Other officials said four Maoists were killed in the battle on Saturday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack. My tributes to the security personnel martyred in the attack. Their valour will never be forgotten. Condolences to the bereaved families, he posted on Twitter. The toll was the worst for Indian security forces battling the left-wing rebels since April 2017 when 25 police commandos were killed in an attack in the same district. Sixteen commandos were also killed in a bomb attack in the western state of Maharashtra before Indias election last year that was blamed on the Maoists. The far-left rebels, also locally known as Naxals, have been fighting in eastern, central and southern forest areas since the 1960s, demanding more rights for the poor and for tribal groups. Indigenous people who inhabit the mineral-rich regions, have been caught in the middle of a conflict that has pitted the Maoists against government forces. Thousands of people, mostly tribal people have been killed. Security forces have been accused of committing rights abuses and extrajudicial killings of innocent indigenous people. Human rights activists and journalists have been dubbed urban Naxals and targeted for reporting the abuse and unlawful killings. Press Release 23 March 2020 Since the coronavirus began to spread, occupancy at the Group's hotels has fallen significantly and was 10 to 15 percent in the previous week. Scandic is now planning for a situation where occupancy continues to remain at this level in the coming months before gradually improving during the second half of the year. Advertisements In a short period of time, Scandic has carried out a number of comprehensive measures to reduce costs and adapt operations to current market conditions. The company has already reduced its staff by more than 7,000 team members so far, both in hotel operations and support functions. As part of these measures, a number of hotels will also be closed temporarily. For instance, around 60 hotels in Norway have been closed. The Scandic hotels that remain open will continue to offer good service for guests with more rigorous cleaning and hygiene procedures in place and a more limited offering of food and beverage services than normal. With these measures in place, Scandic estimates that the company's costs, excluding rents, will be reduced by more than 60 percent from April. Scandic is also working intensively to implement further cost reductions. In addition to significantly reducing costs, Scandic has also taken measures to protect cash flow during the coming months. Investments and ongoing projects have been reduced and tax payments have been deferred in line with tax deferral programs in Scandic's markets. Scandic has agreed with most of its property owners on a temporary rent payment solution that is adapted to the current market situation. In addition, for a certain period, Scandic has also decided not to collect franchise fees from franchisees. It's obviously painful to be forced to lay off or terminate team members' employment, but this has been absolutely necessary given the current situation and we're working very hard to lower costs and protect cash flow. The most substantial reductions are done in Norway, Finland and Denmark while the effect of cost reductions in Sweden is limited by more restrictive labor law regulations regarding layoffs. It is necessary for the Swedish government to introduce additional supportive measures to mitigate the damage that is currently being done to the Swedish hotel industry in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, says Jens Mathiesen, President & CEO of Scandic Hotels Group AB. Scandic has credit facilities of 5.5 SEK billion that extend to June 30, 2022 and available liquidity currently amounts to approximately 1.3 SEK billion. Assuming that occupancy continues to be very low during the second quarter, Scandic estimates that it will have additional financing needs totaling 1 to 1.5 SEK billion during 2020 of which most relates to the payment of deferred rents, taxes and fees at the end of the year. Scandic expects to have a financing solution in place during the second quarter 2020 for this scenario. For more information, please contact: Jan Johansson, CFO Email: [email protected] Phone: +46 705 758972 Henrik Vikstrom, Director Investor Relations Email: [email protected] Phone: +46 709 52 80 06 This information is information that Scandic Hotels Group AB (publ) is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact persons set out above, at 07.30 CET on March 23, 2020. Improved weather: A mother and daughter adhere to social distancing guidelines as they push their prams in the open countryside in Connemara yesterday. Photo: Ray Ryan Scenic coastal towns are urging people to stay home and not travel to their holiday homes or caravans during the current Covid-19 crisis. It comes as outdoor revellers continued to ignore social distancing advice in many areas, which experts say is essential to halt the spread of Covid-19, and a period of fine weather has enhanced the problem. Wicklow County Council was yesterday forced to close parking facilities at the popular walking trail in Glendalough. A spokesperson said: "Wicklow County Council wishes to advise members of the public that the upper car park at Glendalough is closed, including the food franchises at this location, until further notice." Also in Wicklow, gardai said that because of traffic volumes and "careless parking", access to the Sally Gap had to be restricted yesterday, with a number of cars being towed. They said that emergency services needed access to busy uplands areas. According to Met Eireann forecaster Paul Downes, the improvement in the weather will continue into this week. "It's a sunny, bright start to the week, generally with good sunshine," he said. However, the fine weather is likely to see more people leave their homes for outdoor pursuits, but they are asked to continue to follow social distancing advice while doing so. Some coastal areas are already reportedly feeling the strain of a deluge of visitors. Donegal TD Padraig Mac Lochlainn said families were being asked to remain in their "primary" home during the crisis, and to shop locally, and go for walks while maintaining social distancing. "I have been inundated with complaints from across Donegal this weekend about large numbers of people travelling to holiday homes, caravan parks and the beaches from outside areas," he said. "This is not a holiday period. This is a national emergency." In Kilkee, Co Clare, Fianna Fail councillor Cillian Murphy told the Irish Independent: "If you are looking to do contact tracing, it's not great to have people travelling in and out of the county for the weekend. It brings a whole layer of complexity into contact tracing. "The message really is, for your sake and our sake, please stay in your own home." Mr Murphy said that tourism was very important to the area, and everybody would be very welcome when this current emergency period is past. But he said that if the population was doubled or tripled, then existing resources were going to be further stretched. "We really have to start thinking about what an extra 2,000 or 3,000 into these communities actually means in terms of the resources a town can provide. It is an issue because in general they don't have the capacity to cope with these large increases in population for a sustained period." On January 24, a Nepali national who returned from China's Wuhan city, the epicentre of the virus, was tested positive for COVID-19 Kathmandu: Nepal on Monday confirmed its second coronavirus case, a 19-year-old female student who returned from France via Qatar. The student has been kept under isolation at the Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital in Kathmandu, Minister for Health and Population Bhanubhakta Dhala told a press conference here. The teenager had returned from France via Qatar on March 17, he said, adding that her family members will also be quarantined. On January 24, a Nepali national who returned from China's Wuhan city, the epicentre of the virus, was tested positive for COVID-19. The man was later released from hospital after he was cured. (Newser) In a series of terrifying internal memos, the chief surgeon at New York-Presbyterian Hospital says there are not enough masks, equipment, or beds for the COVID-19 patients that could eventually come in. Dr. Craig Smith warns staff in his memos that anywhere between 700 and 934 intensive care beds will likely be needed when the hospital sees its peak number of coronavirus cases. "The lower estimate exceeds our ICU capacity, even with surge construction," he writes, per ABC News. And when it comes to masks, hospital workers are soon expected to need 70,000 per day, far outstripping availability, Smith warns, per Business Insider. As for when the peak will hit, he cites data projections that predict it could happen between April 12 and 22, per NBC New York. story continues below "In the past few days it has also become obvious that the virus has breached our Department walls, and we can expect to hear about increasing numbers of infected Department colleagues," he wrote, per the New York Post. "It should be no surprise if these infections appear in clusters associated with the care of infected patients." He says the data is "alarming" and says it could be even worse: "The next month or two is a horror to imagine if we're underestimating the threat." He also adds one semi-hopeful caveat: "Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to apologize profusely in a few weeks for having overestimated the threat. That would mean we never exceeded capacity, and that mortalities and morbidities rarely seen in non-pandemic circumstances were avoided." (Read more coronavirus stories.) The closure, she said, leaves herself and Abuelo's employees in the same position as many who work in the foodservice industry without jobs and without the opportunity to seek employment elsewhere. "Nobody's hiring right now. ... They (employees) were devastated and blindsided," Shelton said. "We've always been a family. We've always had each other's back. We're a full female management team, so we loved each other. The hope is that I can just get in someplace and then take my 30 people with me." The restaurant just had food delivered to keep to-go orders moving, and to help keep diners fed once patrons were allowed to dine in again, Shelton said. "Ninety percent of the food, since the staff wasn't aware of what was going to happen, we let them come in and just take. Because of this being unexpected ... our truck just came in so our coolers were full, stocked. We were ready to open for business once all these bans got lifted," Shelton said, adding any leftover food was given to area restaurants and Meals on Wheels. "We had a board that we were counting down the days until we were going to open, and we got stuck on 13 days until we open," Manager Ana Preciado added. According to the report, during the epidemic, a group of people went to Pochaiv Lavra to make a pilgrimage A monastery in Pochayiv, Ukraine 24 Channel The Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova urged citizens to stay at home and refrain from going to church. The government made such a statement after eight people got infected with Covid-19 upon arrival from Pochaiv Lavra, Ukraine, Ziarul de Garda reports. According to the report, during the epidemic, a group of people went to Ukraine to make a pilgrimage. On their return, eight of them have tested positive for a new Covid-19 coronavirus, the rest are being monitored. "Citizens who went during the epicenter of the epidemic to the monastery, to Ukraine, and now there are eight infected people from there, and there is a risk that all that bus is infected. Nothing will save us if we unconsciously go to get infected, the PM stated in his address. As we reported earlier, Ukraine's Healthcare Ministry stated that the express tests for COVID-2019 would be conducted only by doctors of certain healthcare establishments. "If you have symptoms of ARVI, go see your family doctor. ER doctors only depart for urgent cases. Medical workers of urgent medical aid teams will not be conducting tests for Covid-19," the message reads. Markets regulator Sebi has directed four companies of Moral Group and their directors to invite claims and complaints from public regarding unpaid dues for the companies' non-convertible debentures (NCDs). Moral Devcon Ltd, Moral Health & Personal Care Ltd, Moral Commotrade Ltd and Moral Infrastructure Ltd are the companies which have been directed to invite claims, along with their directors -- Arun Kumar, Ajay Kumar Sharma and Gyaneshwar Sharma. Sebi noted that the four companies raised a total of about Rs 16 crore by issuing non-convertible debentures (NCDs) during 2010 to 2014 to over 25,000 investors without complying with the Companies Act and Issue and Listing of Debt Securities Regulations. Accordingly, the regulator in October 2017 had directed the firms and their senior officials to refund the illegally mobilised money to investors, and also barred them from accessing securities market for four years from the date of completion of refunds. However, in their submissions, the firms said that they had already paid an amount of nearly Rs 20 crore to all the investors in March 2014 through cash, and also submitted CDs to Sebi containing contact details of the investors. "Since the CDs contain thousands of files, it is not possible to verify whether the CDs actually contain soft copies of documents pertaining to each investor," Sebi said in an order dated March 20. It further added that though the firms have submitted documents in respect of investors, "the same cannot be accepted as sufficient evidence of refund." Also, contrary to the companies' claim that they have refunded money to all the investors, four investors had written to Sebi denying receipt of refunds. In these circumstances "it would be appropriate to invite claims for any unpaid dues on the companies' NCDs through a newspaper publication," Sebi said, and directed the firms to come out with newspaper publication inviting complaints or claims within two months. The newspaper publication shall also contain an advisory informing the investors to separately forward a copy of such complaints or claims to Sebi, the regulator added. Among other directions, the companies and their directors shall remain barred from the securities market till further orders, Sebi said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Stobart Air, the operator of Aer Lingus Regional services - which includes flights between Donegal Airport and Dublin - is set to make changes to its operations this week. In a statement today, it said that it has taken the decision in response to the Covid-19 outbreak However, it stressed: "We will continue to operate our public service obligation (PSO) routes from Dublin to Kerry and Dublin to Donegal, maintaining vital domestic connectivity for passengers." Passengers using the Donegal service should check with the airline or airport for further information. The Covid-19 pandemic has seen the demand for airline services decrease at unprecedented levels. Its rapid impact across the global aviation industry has been staggering, the company said. Last week, Loganair announced it will be suspending all Glasgow - Donegal flights from today. Stobart Air announced today that it has taken the decision to operate a significantly reduced schedule this week and temporarily suspend all international flight operations with effect from Saturday, March 28 until further notice. All scheduled international services will continue to operate up to 23:59 on Tuesday 24 March to ensure passengers have an opportunity to complete trips or make necessary travel arrangements. International services between 25 March and 28 March (Wednesday-Saturday) will be reduced to limited services between Dublin and Glasgow and Dublin and Edinburgh. All affected passengers will be notified by email and advised of their options. It also pointed out that the company has been engaging with its staff, their representatives and wider suppliers over recent days as it explored difficult but necessary measures to retain jobs such as voluntary unpaid leave and reduced working hours while reducing the cost base. Now, given the decision to suspend international services, temporary lay-offs will be required. Consultation with staff and employee representative groups to make the difficult but necessary arrangements are underway, the statement added. Stobart Airs operations, particularly our Aer Lingus Regional service, has proven to be popular with millions of passengers over the years. Central to this has been our team of pilots, cabin crew, ground and executive staff. We remain committed to the resumption of services once the Covid-19 pandemic has ended. Aer Lingus has been informed by Stobart Air, operator of the Aer Lingus Regional franchise, that it will cease some of its operations commencing this Wednesday, 25 March. Passengers will be contacted to advise them of their options. Aer Lingus Regional guests can change their flights using the Manage Trip section on aerlingus.com Never before in the post-liberalisation era have so many people who have had the privilege of flying in an aircraft forced to not just visit, but stay put in government healthcare facilities. If privileged Indians, who can afford corporate healthcare, are finally waking up to the pains of the common man, it is due to Covid-19. Till date, the shortcomings in public healthcare were not a news of great interest to the privileged, for only the poor were affected. The acute shortage of infrastructure and lack of hygiene in government hospitals are rarely discussed beyond newspaper columns. That seems to be changing. Social media is now filled with pictures of the poor state of government hospitals. Many states have reported at least one case of a person breaking out of or trying to avoid quarantine in those hospitals, raising fears of community transmission. Private hospitals are now being roped into the fight against the coronavirus. While the pricing and cost of treatment will be fixed by the government, access for those relying on the governments free health insurance vis-a-vis corporate policyholders is also a concern. Covid-19 is a wake-up call. The public healthcare system in India needs serious fixing. It is lacking severely in infrastructure, manpower and experience. Indias health expenditure is not even 2% of its GDP, and most of that is spent on health insurance. Its time to invest substantially in government hospitals and primary health centres to deal with circumstances such as these. Consider the damage an outbreak of this nature can do in rural areas, where PHCs are ill-equipped to even deal with childbirths. The nation clapping its hands in a show of solidarity with our foot soldiers of public healthcare is a great start. But much more is needed. We can begin by strengthening infrastructure for basic hygiene at state-run healthcare facilities. Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday that New Jersey residents should expect all schools in the state to remain closed for a long and extended period of time due to the coronavirus outbreak, though no timetable has been determined. Last week, Murphy ordered all schools in the state both public and private, as well as universities to close by end of day on March 17. The order did not include children day care centers, the governor said. Murphy took the dramatic step Saturday of signing executive orders shutting down non-essential retail businesses, canceling social gatherings, and instructing people to quite simply stay at home." The new orders calls for nearly all New Jersey residents to stay in and refrain from travel except for obtaining food and medicine, seeking medical attention, visiting family and close friends, exercise, and reporting to work at a business that is still open. The governor said at the time they will stay closed until such time as deemed by health officials to be safe for classes to resume. The non-essential retail business shutdown took effect Saturday night. The list of essential businesses that are allowed to keep operating is, according to the state website: Manufacturing, industrial, logistics, ports, heavy construction, shipping, food production, food delivery, and other commercial operations; and medical facilities where a sick or injured person is given care or treatment, such as doctors offices, hospitals, dentist offices, long-term care facilities and other medical offices. On Sunday, Murphy kicked off his daily coronavirus briefing with a stern message to the residents of New Jersey: the state wont tolerate racism as it battles a pandemic. The governor, without providing any details of specific incidents, decried any racist attacks against members of New Jerseys Asian population, saying diversity is the core strength of the state. This repugnant and repulsive behavior is wrong. We are one New Jersey family. Everyone is fighting the same fight," Murphy said. "We are going to get through this together. Also, he said hes really damned unhappy to hear stories hes hearing about New Jersey residents not abiding by his stay-at-home order to combat the coronavirus outbreak and warned Sunday to expected a law enforcement crackdown. Sign up for text message alerts from NJ.com on coronavirus in New Jersey: Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Visitors asked to leave coastal communities over fears they will tax local services and spread the COVID-19, have been taking the ban reasonably well, say local authorities charged with delivering the news. Campers were asked to leave Oregon State Parks by 1 p.m. Monday; day users by 5 p.m when the parks close, while virtually every community of any size north of Lincoln City had issued bans on visitors. Lincoln County planned a joint meeting with local towns Monday evening to do the same. As hard as that news was, were seeing wonderful compliance, said Chris Havel, spokesman for Oregon Parks & Recreation. We said, if you are able to leave, leave, and that is exactly what is going on. People understand. They are disappointed just like we are, but they are complying. The closure will be in effect until at least May 8, when the state will decide if it is time to reopen them. While imposing the ban on hotel and short term rental guests, cities also worked to ensure that guests, including medical, utility and construction workers, were protected. Were now housing only essential personnel in the area, said Seaside City Manager Mark Winstanley. Other than that weve asked visitors to leave the area until this is over. The onslaught of visitors caught most communities off-guard, coming days after relative quiet. Winstanley assumed the strongly worded pleas from Gov. Kate Brown and others to practice social distancing and stick close to home would be heeded. These are very unusual times, Winstanley said. We thought that was something everybody recognized that and people would stay close to home. And then on Saturday a whole bunch of people showed up. That was not the reaction we wanted. We want people to visit, but this isnt the time people should be coming here and recreating. People need to respect peoples space. Monday morning, Brown issued a more definitive order that establishes legally enforceable restrictions on public activity. Parked cars lined the roadway near Agate Beach in Lincoln County over the weekend.Courtesy of Chan Christiansen Notice of the impending closure of state parks drew more than 1,500 comments on the parks social media links, Havel said. The vast majority of the comments were understanding. Some, however, were not. There is that small group that says Im not sick, what harm could it be to walk on the beach or a trail? Its way past time for people to understand its not about you. We heard that loud and clear when we saw what was going on on the coast, in the Gorge, in central Oregon. We saw not enough people taking the communitys needs seriously enough. We have local grocery stores, gas stations all of those things bear the burden of our travel. What we are seeing is yes, there is that tension between your individual needs and the effect your needs have on a community. Lets pay attention to the effect we have on a community. That will ultimately pay off for all us. The bans are also underscoring the longtime tension between urban and rural Oregon and not only on the coast. Ken Hart, the president of Saint Alphonsus Medical Center in Ontario, has asked local retail establishments known to attract an inordinate amount of people from outside the community to consider curtailing or ceasing operations. Hart referred specifically to marijuana dispensaries, which, he noted, increase daily traffic visits to the area from nearby Idaho communities by 500 a day or 3,500 a week. As we have seen what has happened in Blaine County, Idaho, a rural county with a population of just 21,000 people, but the highest number of confirmed cases in Idaho at 17 as I write this, subjecting small communities to an influx of external visitors is dangerous for all involved. Lori Tobias, special to The Oregonian/OregonLive Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. The Afghan government has held its first talks with the Taliban about a prisoner swap, the U.S. envoy to the war-torn country has said. "Prisoner releases by both sides is an important step in the peace process," Zalmay Khalilzad said in a March 22 statement on Twitter. The talks -- held via Skype amid the coronavirus pandemic -- lasted more than two hours and were facilitated by the United States and Qatar, Khalilzad said. The spread of the novel coronavirus has made the release of prisoners "that much more urgent," he said. Afghanistan announced the same day the first death in the country due to COVID-19, the new strain of the coronavirus. Afghanistan had 34 confirmed cases of the virus as of March 22. The United States last month signed a historic agreement with the Taliban that could lead to the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Afghanistan and an end to the country's 18-year conflict. According to a joint declaration published by the U.S. and Afghan governments on February 29, the United States and NATO would withdraw all troops in Afghanistan within 14 months if the Taliban upheld the commitments made in the agreement. "All sides conveyed their strong commitment to a reduction of violence, intra-Afghan negotiations, and a comprehensive and permanent cease-fire," Khalilzad said. The envoy said a follow-up meeting between the Afghan government and Taliban will be held in the next two days. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Talk about a perverse response. Talk about the exact opposite of what we need to be doing during a pandemic. Talk about feeding the flesh when we should be nurturing our spirits. Talk about giving ourselves to carnality when we should crying out for mercy. As things stand today, normal life has been totally upended. Families are suffering. Companies are going out of business. Health care systems are being stretched beyond the limit. Italy cannot bury its dead. Yet it is a pornography website that comes to the rescue. I kid you not. As the headline on PC Mag announced, Pornhub Premium to the Rescue: France, Spain to Get Free Access, Too. Yes, Italy wont be the only country to get free access to Pornhubs premium service in the wake of the coronavirus. The adult website is now expanding the same offer to users in France and Spain, which have also been experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases. Residents in both countries are now facing lockdowns, forcing them to stay at home. In response, Pornhub will give the countrys users free access to the premium service for the next month. Thanks, but no thanks, Pornhub. The last thing we need is more porn. Of course, we can readily question the altruism of Pornhub. This is just another cynical attempt to get more people hooked on porn, leading to more subscriptions. Yet even without this ploy, more people are accessing porn. As reported by Adweek on March 13, Pornhub Reports an Increase in Traffic as More People Self-Quarantine. The adult site believes this spike is from users working from home. Such is the way of the human race. But even if Pornhub decided to give away free porn for life, theres nothing good about it. Porn leads to shame. To pollution. To degradation. To perversion. To death. The last thing we need during an international health crisis is more porn. Really! To be sure, we dont know exactly what sparked the current crisis, be the cause human, divine, or natural. And we can hardly say that, in every nation around the world, the virus is an act of divine judgment. But we can say that we desperately need divine intervention. We can say that this is a time for prayer and fasting rather than a time for partying and feasting. We can say that this is no time to be increasing our intake of porn. More than 2,500 years ago, in the midst of a national crisis, the prophet Isaiah delivered this message: The Lord, the Lord Almighty, called you on that day to weep and to wail, to tear out your hair and put on sackcloth. But see, there is joy and revelry, slaughtering of cattle and killing of sheep, eating of meat and drinking of wine! Let us eat and drink, you say, for tomorrow we die! (Isaiah 22:12-13) Does this sound familiar? The Lords response was severe: The Lord Almighty has revealed this in my hearing: Till your dying day this sin will not be atoned for, says the Lord, the Lord Almighty. (Isaiah 22:14) So it is today that, with Italy in crisis and with France and Spain in great danger too, Pornhub is saying, Have a month free on us! Get hooked at our expense! Watch explicit videos containing every imaginable (and unimaginable) sex act! This is what you do when your country is falling apart. This is how you pass your time. What madness. What absolute, and utter madness. And what a picture of our world today. We have lost our moral bearings. We have lost our spiritual foundations. We have lost our fear of God. Even here in America, as our elderly lay dying, our young people are partying. While hospitals search for ventilators, college-age kids get wasted and sleep around. After all, its spring break! We have lost both our minds and our souls. But all is not lost. And not all of us are lost. Many are seeking God earnestly. Many are praying for mercy. Many are sobering up. Many are changing their ways. Many are hearing the divine wake-up call. Many are examining their lives. Their priorities. Their standards. Their values. The Lord is getting our attention. Now is the time to turn from uncleanness. To turn from sin. From selfishness. From greed. From complacency. From porn. Now is the time to turn to God until meaning, until He intervenes. Until He pours out mercy. Until He changes us. Until we learn the holy lessons of the moment. It is prayer, not porn, to the rescue. God have mercy. Press Release IIM Lucknow Students Fund Beats NIFTY Yet Again for the Fourth Consecutive Year Students fund gets 17.96% returns on Equities, 25.84% on Derivatives against 5.56% gain in NIFTY As has been the tradition at Credence Capital of beating the markets consistently, this time has been no different. With its annual closure of the fund for the batch 2009-11, a clump of students at the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow has yet Many Americans are now facing hardship and unemployment after the global pandemic coronavirus led to closures of schools and businesses. The number of people filing for unemployment benefits jumps to two-and-a-half-year high last week. The virus has crippled many industries, upending the lives of the people. Economists predict a recession by the second quarter---the country's first in 11 years. It's expected California will suffer the most with experts predicting a loss of 280,000 jobs in the state during the first quarter of 2021. Read More: The government has passed economic relief packages intended to aid those who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19. What is unemployment relief? Unemployment benefits aim to give a temporary source of income to those who have lost their jobs or working hours through no fault of their own. In light of the coronavirus outbreak and lockdown measures, lawmakers have expanded the list of people eligible to receive unemployment relief. Workers who have fallen ill, have been quarantined, laid off, had hours reduced, and those who can't work to care for their children can now apply for unemployment compensation. However, self-employed and independent contract workers such as rideshare drivers and freelancers are not eligible to receive unemployment relief. In California, residents can collect unemployment or disability insurance. Their eligibility largely depends on their reason for leaving work. Unemployment benefits are given up to 26 weeks while disability insurance claims can be claimed for up to 52 weeks. What is the process? The process of applying and receiving an unemployment relief package varies across states. They follow a general pattern based on guidelines set by the Department of Labor. Authorities advise individuals to file for a claim with the unemployment department after the last day of work. The department will ask for information such as income and the reason for unemployment. Some states allow individuals to file their claims online. Authorities contact your last employers to verify all the information given which includes the reason for leaving work. The weekly benefit amount is then calculated based on past earnings. In California, individuals who were sick or quarantined would generally receive $50 to $1,300 a week---less for those who have had their hours cut. California's unemployment department has published additional guidelines you can read here. We provide a variety of support services to individuals affected by #coronavirus in California. If you can't work, are being required to work less, or your child's school shuts down due to #COVID19 , visit https://t.co/VvrBqUM9lT for more info. EDD (@CA_EDD) March 13, 2020 How long does the process take? Generally, it takes the department a couple of weeks before they release the money. However, it applies to cases where employers are quick to respond and verify the information given. In worse cases where employers delay or details are missed on paperwork, the department could take several more weeks---or months--- before releasing the unemployment funds. How will COVID-19 affect the processing of claims? With coronavirus sweeping through the nation, the federal government has allowed states to handle claims with extra flexibility. Individuals who have been sick or quarantined are required to present evidence provided by a healthcare professional who has treated them or advised them to observe self-isolation. Individuals who have not been sick must be actively looking for work. The department will be requiring those filing for unemployment claims to contact potential employers. How will the department deal with a spike in unemployment claims? Loree Levy, California unemployment department's top spokesperson, said the unemployment department is working overtime to meet the influx of new claims. Workers from other departments, as well as retirees, are also assigned on a shifting schedule to help process unemployment claims. The department is looking at ways to allow staff to process claims remotely. They are also looking into hiring new staff members in a bid to provide unemployment benefits in a timely manner. Many Republican allies fear the toll on the economy would make it harder for Trump to win another four-year term. President Donald Trump is considering measures to reopen the United States economy, even as the highly contagious coronavirus is spreading rapidly and hospitals are bracing for a wave of virus-related deaths. Trump senior economic adviser Larry Kudlow told Fox News on Monday: The president is right. The cure cant be worse than the disease. Were going to have to make some difficult trade-offs. The White House would look at a number of things, he said. Trump issued guidelines a week ago that he said aimed to slow the spread of the disease over 15 days, including curbing unnecessary travel. Economic activity has ground to a halt in some states. Late on Sunday, Trump tweeted: We cannot let the cure be worse than the problem itself, adding that at the end of the 15-day shutdown period, we will make a decision as to which way we want to go. Trump, who had hoped to build his campaign for the November 3 election on a booming US economy, now is looking at the potential of millions of lost jobs. Many of his Republican allies fear the toll on the economy would make it harder for him to win another four-year term. Cases of coronavirus have grown more than 15 times since last weeks guidelines. New York City hospitals are days from a crisis, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Sunday. If we dont get more ventilators in the next 10 days, people will die who dont have to die, he said. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a Trump confidant, cautioned against prematurely lifting containment rules because of concerns about the economy. My advice would be to follow medical advice to contain the virus, he told reporters on Capitol Hill. If we can take some pressure off the economy, fine, but my primary focus is to make sure the virus is contained and defeated. And were just going to have to suffer through the economic consequences. The Trump administration has been pushing for aggressive monetary policy steps to stem the economic hit of the epidemic, after the president spent several weeks playing down the health risks and rapid spread. The Federal Reserve on Monday rolled out an extraordinary array of programmes to backstop an economy reeling from sweeping restrictions on people and businesses that scientists say are needed to limit the spread of the coronavirus. While Trump ponders ways to reopen at least parts of the economy, some advisers are warning the spread of the virus is worsening at the moment. This week, its going to get bad, Surgeon General Dr Jerome Adams told NBCs Today show on Monday. Americans arent taking stay-at-home guidelines seriously enough, Adams said. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said on Sunday that the lockdown affecting large segments of the American public was likely to last 10 to 12 weeks, or until early June. Trade-offs Over the last few days, some economic policy advisers have started to focus on how long lockdowns and other measures to contain the virus might last, one outside adviser said. The team of newly returned economic adviser Kevin Hassett has determined that if the shutdowns continue much longer, the US could slip into depression. One source said Trump began talking privately late last week about reopening the country after the 15-day shutdown. Trump believes we are strong and need a strong economy as we deal with this crisis, the source said. Stephen Moore, the economic commentator who Trump tried to tap for a vacant Federal Reserve seat last year, has been particularly influential, the economic adviser said. He has the presidents ear on this issue, he added. Moore questioned Californias plan to shut down much of the economy last week. We have to ask this question, is it worth trillions of dollars of losses?, he said on Fox News. Moore didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Former Republican Senator Bob Corker, who frequently had disagreed with Trump, said he backs the presidents desire to resume some economic activity. Were going to have, in my opinion, if it continues for long, because of the financial distress that people will have a month from now, two months from now, three months from now when people are financially devastated, the domestic violence, suicides, deprivation that were inflicting upon ourselves, he said. OP-ED: PALESTINIANS DESERVE BETTER Last month, Seamus Carey wrote an insightful and spot-on article on Trumps Peace Plan (Guardian #1902) that got me thinking. The Trump Deal of the Century is just another attempt to crush the Palestinian Resistance, to force the Palestinians to accept further oppression, occupation. Its an attempt to coerce them to submit to a sham US/Israeli imposed peace deal which will only result in further loss of land and rights. Palestinians have admirably and bravely responded with defiance to Trumps plan to defeat their righteous resistance. The Palestinians have already lost over seventy-eight per cent of historical Palestine to Israel. The remaining twenty-two per cent of the Palestinian territories consists of the Israeli blockaded Gaza Strip and fragmented segments of the Israeli occupied West Bank, with Israeli settlements, forts, walls, fences, roads, and other infrastructure surrounding them, under the control of the Israeli army, settlers and police. It seems the only issue to discuss in peace talks is what small morsels of land Israel will allow the Palestinians to have for their illusory state. Why illusory? Because Israel and the US will accept no peace deal without strict controls and fixed conditions on the establishment of a Palestinian state. With such demands, what is there really to discuss in Trumps plan or any peace talks? More than 775,000 Israelis now live in Jewish settlements beyond Israels 1967 borders, on Palestinian land in the West Bank and Jerusalem captured during that war. Israel intends to continue to expand its illegal West Bank settlements and keep building in the major settlement blocs. Israel is adamant that it intends to keep them and Jerusalem in any future peace agreement. What sort of future Palestinian state is possible considering the fact that Israel has created in the occupied territory? On the West Bank, Israeli rule is pervasive, with bits and pieces of Palestinian territory encircled by Israeli settlements and military bases. The West Bank has been described appropriately as a portion of Swiss cheese, the Palestinian areas being the small holes, surrounded by the larger Israeli part. Israeli military forts and positions sit on the hilltops; Israel controls the road network and checkpoints, aquifers and other resources. Daily life, movement, the economy, everything is dependent on the whim of Israels repressive military rule, its laws, regulations, and curfews. The Israeli government also wants any future Palestinian state to have only limited independence, have no military forces, with Israels army retaining control of the states borders, airspace, and the fertile Jordan Valley. Israel also wants its military forces to have free reign to operate in the Palestinian areas. These are precisely the policies that Trumps Plan supports. These and the continued settlement construction are precisely the main obstacles to peace and a lasting solution to the Palestinian problem. Given this stark situation, a viable Palestinian state cannot be built on such a minuscule area. Trump and Israels peace deal would only create a micro, mini-state lacking any actual political, social, military, economic independence, and any real resources exactly the kind of Palestinian state they want to establish. This is not an independent, genuine Palestinian state, nor is it a just, legitimate solution to the Palestinian problem. Since the publication of this Trump Peace Plan the mainstream media in Australia have been full of opinion pieces by various pro-Israeli and Zionist writers promoting this US and Israeli plan. The reason for this is that it is an excellent deal for Israel, strengthening and entrenching the colonial settler states dispossession of and rule over the Palestinians. And the Israeli lobby is relentlessly trying to rally public backing for it and in doing so to pressure the Palestinians to give in. Israels image is not what it once was though, as many more people see the real face of Israeli repression and its callousness, making it challenging to attain support even in Australia. So instead of a diversity of opinion on this question that presents readers with different views of the issues involved we only get various pro-Israeli and Zionist commentators pushing the Israeli position on the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, with almost total neglect of the Palestinian side of the story. There is usually no attempt to allow the Palestinian narrative or voice to be heard on the question. Indeed, it is as if the outlook of one of the central participants in the conflict that has gone on for over 60 years is almost completely missing from the dialogue. There are of course in Australia and elsewhere many articulate and eloquent Palestinian voices that exist and are worthy of space in our media. And hearing them speak would permit Australians to be better informed and get another stance on the conflict. The resolution of such conflicts begins with an understanding of the viewpoint of both parties, not by ignoring one side. Palestinians deserve to be listened to, as there can be no peace or just resolution to this tragic situation without attention to their point of view and recognizing that Palestinians do have rights. History shows this is the key to settling such disputes. In a society that says it encourages democratic values and free speech, it would be a more persuasive statement if those in power allowed more balanced news coverage on the Palestine struggle and a diversity of information and views on this vital matter. Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger state, has declared a curfew in the state following the coronavirus outbreak in the country. According to the governor, the curfew will begin at 8am to 8pm till further notice starting from Wednesday. Read Also: Breaking: Nigeria Records First Death From Coronavirus Bello made the declaration while addressing journalists at the government in Minna on Monday. There is also a ban on all public gatherings of more than 20 people. Street hawking and begging in the have also been prohibited. Nigeria recorded its first death on Monday, and a total of 35 confirmed cases. More details to follow Phuket Immigration confirms B500 a day overstay fines are being levied PHUKET: Phuket Immigration has confirmed that B500 a day fines are being levied on any people who remain in the country after their permits to stay have expired. COVID-19Coronavirusimmigrationhealthtransport By Tanyaluk Sakoot Monday 23 March 2020, 07:27PM Foreigners queue at the main Phuket Immigration Office in Phuket Town today (Mar 23). Photo: Supplied Phuket Immigration Deputy Chief Lt Col Udom Thongchin told The Phuket News late this afternoon (Mar 23) that his office has no authority in the matter. Everything is up to the Immigration Bureau in Bangkok, he said. Lt Col Udom urged foreigners needing to stay in Thailand, or unable to travel home, to obtain a letter from their embassy requesting the Thai Immigration Bureau to allow them to extend their stay in the country. If the foreigner cannot obtain such a letter, Phuket Immigration were unable to help them, he said. If a foreigners permit to stay is about to expire and they cannot get a letter from their embassy, or their embassy refuses to issue them a letter, we have no regulation that can help them, Lt Col Udom explained. We can only wait for any new policies to come from the Immigration Bureau in Bangkok, he said. My advice is for foreigners to urge their embassies to issue them a letter requesting a 30-day extension. If their visas expire, they will be charged for B500 a day overstay in accordance with the law, Lt Col Udom confirmed. Lt Col Udom also clarified that the issue of people having to leave the country because their permit to stay will expire does not apply to foreigners renewing their one-year extensions to stay. These are being processed as usual, he said. If people are just renewing their one-year permit to stays, like they do every year, they do not have to leave the country while waiting for their renewal to be approved just as usual. These people are unaffected, he said. Thomas Mailey, a spokesman for the state prison system, declined to comment on Mr. Weinsteins health, citing privacy rules regarding medical records. In February, a jury of seven men and five women in Manhattan convicted Mr. Weinstein of rape and criminal sexual act, and earlier this month, a judge sentenced him to 23 years in prison, which his lawyers said would amount to a life sentence given his frail health. The sentencing marked the latest chapter in the decline of one of the most powerful figures in Hollywood, whose reported abuse of women ignited an international movement to confront sexual harassment and assault by powerful men in the workplace. Mr. Weinstein is one of two inmates who have tested positive for the virus at the Wende Correctional Facility, a maximum-security prison in Erie County, state officials said. They were the first among 43,000 inmates in New York prisons to be found to have contracted the disease. Ten state corrections department staff members have tested positive, including correction officers at the Green Haven, Shawangunk, Sing Sing, Downstate and Fishkill prisons. Before he was sent to Wende, Mr. Weinstein had been held in an infirmary unit at the Rikers Island jail complex for several days before and after his sentencing. He left Rikers just as the coronavirus began to spread through the city jails. As of Monday, 39 inmates, 21 corrections staff and six health workers in New York City jails had tested positive. West Hollywood's Sunset Strip was largely devoid of motor and pedestrian traffic on Thursday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) This month, David Cooley, owner of the iconic West Hollywood LGBTQ club the Abbey Food & Bar, watched in horror as news changed by the hour as restaurants shut in France, as countries sealed their borders with Italy, as friends in Barcelona were quarantined. Cooley recognized the severity of the situation and acted before others did partly because the new pandemic instantly recalled another health crisis that slammed his community 40 years ago. He closed the Abbey and its sister club, the Chapel, on March 12, four days before Los Angeles County mandated that bars bolt their doors amid coronavirus fears. And he worried that young people who weren't alive in the early 1980s when the first news reports broke about a mysterious "gay cancer" stalking U.S. cities weren't taking the new menace seriously enough. "I lived through the AIDS crisis," he said. "I was marching the streets and telling the people to get out of the bars and go home." David Cooley, owner of the Abbey in West Hollywood, in a pride parade. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) It was the first time that Cooley had closed his business in 29 years. Last week, as New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and other metropolises closed businesses and restricted public movement, Cooley and other business owners along the Santa Monica Boulevard strip the heart of the Los Angeles LGBTQ community said it was surreal to see the area so desolate. The blocks-long parade of bars and restaurants resembled a tranquil suburb more than the vibrant "Boystown." The virus is affecting the LGBTQ community in numerous ways. Organizers have announced that all events related to L.A. Pride in June will be postponed because of the pandemic. On Wednesday, officials announced that West Hollywood Mayor John D'Amico has tested positive for the coronavirus and is quarantined at home. With 19 confirmed cases, West Hollywood has the most per capita in L.A. County. Midafternoon Thursday, when clubs and bars normally would be preparing to open, the area was crisp and sunny but quiet. Scattered people walked dogs or jogged down Santa Monica, some wearing masks, but street parking was abundant and many establishments were dark, with printed notices about the coronavirus taped to their doors. Story continues Laurie Marhoefer, an expert on 20th century LGBTQ history and politics at the University of Washington, said the coronavirus could bring back traumatic memories for gay people who survived the AIDS crisis. For many, those years were marked not only by fear of acquiring a deadly disease but also by anxiety over the vitriol directed at gay people for supposedly practicing a risky and promiscuous "lifestyle" and rage at the seeming indifference of many politicians to swiftly address the outbreak. Foreshadowing the current furor over President Trump's use of the term "Chinese virus," issues of social stigmatization overshadowed the AIDS crisis. In Cuba, HIV-positive people were quarantined against their will, as were Haitian refugees. "The parallels are eerie, though, yes, the viruses are very, very different all the misinformation, all the rumors, the confusion and fear mixed together, not knowing what's safe and what isn't, not knowing how much worse this will get, or who might get sick," Marhoefer said. "The isolation we're all experiencing now is probably affecting this community in a particularly sharp way, because of this history." A sign on the fence of the Abbey in West Hollywood announces the bar's temporary closure. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) After the Abbey closed, Cooley's staff divvied up the remaining inventory of food and took home grocery bags. He also posted a letter on the Abbey's website. "I know this will hurt my staff, some of which have been with me for 29 years, my loyal guests who have made the Abbey part of their lives, and my community, who will no longer have the Abbey as a safe space to support each other during the crisis," he wrote. In the early 90s, the Abbey, then a cafe, was a meeting place for gay people to safely discuss the AIDS epidemic. Cooley sees similarities between that time and now. "People are not taking this as seriously as they should," he said. "During the AIDS crisis, people were still going out and people just thought they were above it, that they wouldnt get sick. This could spread even more rapidly." Others don't see the same parallels. Michael Niemeyer, who owns the club Micky's West Hollywood, said he sees the coronavirus distinctly because of the way it's evidently transmitted through breathing and touching, rather than through blood and other bodily fluid transfer. "Plus," he said, "I come from a time when government officials thought closing a gay bar was their civic duty." Niemeyer acknowledged that he didn't realize the gravity of the new coronavirus at first, equating it to a regular flu. On March 15, before the state and L.A. stay-at-home directives went into effect, the handful of bartenders working at Micky's wore latex gloves. Customers made few comments about the virus, and the patio was packed. That day, Niemeyer was visiting family in Florida, who persuaded him to take the virus more seriously. He flew to Columbus, Ohio, and looked at renting a car in case flights to L.A. were canceled. It cost $640 a day. He decided it was time to close the bar. "I don't know if we should have closed earlier," he said. "I've been in the gay bar business for 40 years, so I've seen everything but this." Niemeyer said he worries most about his 48 employees who are now out of work, especially those such as DJs and dancers who are independent contractors. He also worries particularly about LGBTQ people of color who visit from neighborhoods where there aren't as many queer-friendly spaces. "I think, if we're closed for very long, it's going to be very unhealthy for us, mentally, psychologically. Online is great, but you still need to know there's a community. One of the things people love about West Hollywood not just the bars is that it's a really pedestrian place," he said. "I don't think we're all that liberated in this case that we don't need a neighborhood." Larry Block, owner of Block Party WeHo, posts a notice about masks he is making available to West Hollywood residents. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) Larry Block, who owns the gay-friendly boutique Block Party WeHo, said Thursday that business was down by 80%. That night, Los Angeles County issued sweeping new rules to limit the spread of the virus, including ordering retail businesses that are considered nonessential to shut down. Block closed his doors. He had already purchased 6,000 masks from a vendor in China exclusively for West Hollywood residents. He said he donated 130 to a group that advocates for homeless people in the area, is giving away others to seniors, disabled people and those in affordable housing, and is selling the rest. Block said his brother, who lived in China until February, is sick with COVID-19 symptoms. He said hes supplying a necessity for local residents, despite criticism that hes contributing to mask shortages affecting front-line healthcare workers. We have to be extra vigilant, he said. Its so concentrated here. People are asymptomatic. He fears that the long-term economic effects of the coronavirus could speed up a gentrification process already underway in the neighborhood. "I look at this as almost a tremendous undertow that can suck out the last bastion of what we have here in our community," he said, "before the big money comes in and buys it at a discount rate, and then all the sudden the gay bar is just a straight bar and the Block Party turns into American Apparel." Shoshana Joseph, left, and her wife, Marta Knittel, in their shop, Yogurt Stop. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) Amid the uncertainty, one business seemed to be weathering the storm. Shoshana Joseph and her wife, Marta Knittel, own Yogurt Stop, which has become one of the last late-night businesses on the strip. The shop cut back hours but is still open until 2 a.m. Friday through Sunday. Seeing the owners there an hour before their new opening time Thursday, two women hesitantly walked up to the shop. Joseph waved them in. "Hi, ladies," she said. "We're open for you." Since the most recent county directive, nearly all orders come through online delivery services. Yogurt Stop is one of the few LGBTQ-owned small businesses left in the area. Joseph said her goal is just to stay afloat through the pandemic. "I think people need familiarity right now," she said. More familiarity came Sunday afternoon in the form of a livestreamed drag show organized by the country-western-themed club Flaming Saddles. Brunch couldn't be served, but looks would be. Thrissur: Kerala police on Monday has booked a Catholic priest for violating the Covid-19 advisory against conducting Holy Mass in which more than 100 people attended. Fr. Pauly Padayatti, vicar of Nithya Sahaya Matha (Mother of Perpetual Help) church at Koodapuzha near Chalakudy in Thrissur district has been arrested by the police. Despite the strict restrictions of the health department and the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) to temporality suspend church services involving laity in churches, the vicar conducted the Holy Mass on Monday. The police have also registered case against the devotees for violating the guidelines by attending the service. The top church leadership including Cardinal Mar George Alencherry repeatedly urged the laity not to go to churches for Holy Mass or other services. The faithful have been asked to participate in the online streaming of Holy Mass by bishops and priests and pray from their homes. Asur Review Cast: Arshad Warsi, Barun Sobti, Sharib Hashmi, Ridhui Dogra, Anupriya Goenka, Amey Wagh Director: Oni Sen Indian web shows have almost caught up with the good content worldwide, especially in the crime-thriller genre. The budget and hence the production value could still be a constraint but its turning out really well on the storytelling part. The latest such show on the block, Voot Selects Asur does its job quite neatly. Theres a bit of Hindu mythological references and a tinge of supercop extravaganza, Asur travels back and forth in time zones 18 years apart. Theres Delhi with high IQ yet struggling officers and theres Banares with even higher IQ criminals. CBI officer Dhananjay Rajput (Arshad Warsi) has been accused of his wifes murder and his former colleague Nikhil Nair (Barun Sobti) is the only one with willingness and expertise to solve the mystery. But before the FBI-returned Nair could get a grip on the situation, he finds himself entangled in serial killings. What he and his fellow officers such as Lolark Dubey (Sharib Hashhmi) and Nushrat (Ridhi Dogra), could achieve in a limited period forms rest of the story. Read: Sacred Games Season 2 Review Read: Inside Edge Season 2 Review However, director Oni Sen, in typical True Detective style, binds this murder mystery with a genius-gone-wild narrative of a psychopath killer. It actually serves the purpose, especially when he shoots in open space with characters in close ups. You remember those American crime stories where the green fields engulf corpses and hid double-edged daggers. In fact, the essence of Asur is to give it a mystical touch and exploring the impact of religious beliefs on the making of a serial killer. There are loose ends but Sen has tried to attach authenticity to his characters. You see characters reciting verses from religious books and standard psychology books. We also witness people fighting due to their biases and some only sticking to facts. In short, theres a segregationobjective and blinded by faith. And this has been done in the most obvious way. You may accuse Sen of spoonfeeding the audience but such ploy serves the purpose. You know which side to choose! Barun Sobtis simple-yet-cool charm and assuring presence takes over from here. Be it Tu Hai Mera Sunday or 22 Yards, he has gone beyond expectations. He is subtle, unassuming and nuanced. Wish we could see more of him and quite often. Though Arshad Warsi spearheads Asur but Sobti slowly makes it his own. Warsi and Sharib Hashmi have also stuck to their briefs. With his experience, Warsi never crosses the threshold of theatrics and brings in other supporting characters without making it obvious. The look and feel of Asur is also relatively new to the Indian audience. Though Sacred Games will also be the pioneer in this segment but Asur has got its game right. It loses the sheen towards the last episodes though. It becomes obvious and plays as per the natural progression in the viewers head. On second glance, it might seem as an oversimplified version of the good versus evil plot, but it will definitely hold your attention till you reach there. Asur, an eight-episode series, is a good pick during coronavirus lockdown. Rating: 3/5 Interact with Rohit Vats at Twitter/@nawabjha Every time you open Instagram, Facebook is hoovering up your data. It knows where youre logging in from, whose stories you habitually watch, and which ads you linger on. That information helps Instagrams algorithm show you things you might likeand, more importantly for their business, things you might spend money on. Theres little you can do to keep an app from gleaning this data, but high schoolers have figured out one workaround to confuse social media algorithms. Samantha Mosley, a 17-year-old, presented at hacker convention ShmooCon about how she and her friends share a single Instagram account and peruse at their leisure. With their combined varied interests, Instagram knows less about who and where they are, and serves up a variety of content: sports, cooking, animals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was intrigued. Ive long felt that the less social media companies know about me, the better. Facebook is confused about my gender and location, which it asks me about constantly, and I take great joy in looking through what it thinks Im interested in for ad sales: Seal, the musician; Obsessed, a 2009 film I have never seen; categories like human eye, sock, and knowledge. I jumped at the opportunity to fool Instagram, too, so I enlisted two Slate staffers to join me in a weeklong experiment in which we used the same Instagram account to see how our collective viewing changed the content or ads the app displayed. As soon as my first co-conspirator logged on, I noticed a few changes. We used an account I made in 2016 for my dog, which I had not logged into since. Id followed a handful of my favorite Instagram dogs, so the Explore page, unsurprisingly, showed even more dogs, since that was basically the only interest that could be gleaned from my activity. Beyond that, the account was pretty much a blank slate for the three of us whod be using it. There were no hard rules for the experiment besides to follow, like, search, and watch whatever you wanted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As soon as my first co-conspirator logged on, I noticed a few changes. While I initially started the account by following a few Boston terriers and pit bulls pages (I have a type), my colleague had followed a few other dogs of different breedsa Samoyed, a beagle mix, and a black Lab, among othersand a rabbit account. Immediately, Instagram made use of this information by showing me a different assortment of animals on the accounts Explore page; what used to be only Boston terriers now included bulldogs and Dalmatians. As we browsed, Instagram seamlessly molded the Explore page content; as I leaned into my fascination with The Bachelor, following a few of my favorite contestants from the past couple of seasons, Instagram added show spoilers and memes on the Explore page alongside the accounts baseline content of dog videos. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A week later, things started to take off. The Explore page began to include recipes for vegan baked blueberry doughnuts, posts from pregnant fitness influencers, a side-by-side comparison of Robert Pattinson in 2005 and 2020, a photo of a chair designed to look like a scorpion, and a zit-popping videoall things Id never expect to see based on what I usually look at online. In looking at Instagrams list of ad interests for the account, it appears our activity had added some new things to the list; while the original account had generated ads for dogs and pets, the post-experiment list now included some predictable additions like The Bachelor, food, and pop music, as well as some interesting ones, which I assume Instagrams algorithm must associate with the categories we viewed: divination and clairvoyance, pseudoscience, and Pitbull (the rapper). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the end of the week, I didnt feel like Id necessarily done much to really confuse Instagramif anything, it now just had a wider variety of ads to show me and my collaborators, and data from three phones instead of one. But I did find an unexpected result: the thrill in seeing posts on the Explore page that the usual algorithm wouldnt have shown me. And when I saw these posts, I spent time with them. Rather than clicking on the usual dog photos, I gravitated toward posts with unfamiliar images: celebrities I didnt recognize, or exercise clips and meal plans. I knew I was not free of the algorithm, of course, but it was a joy to see even a fraction of the many things on Instagram I wouldnt normally come across. Advertisement A similar joy had struck me when I first joined TikTok. Without any knowledge about my interests, the app seemed to be showing me everything to see what might stick: old Japanese men dancing, magic tricks, artists who splattered paint on blank canvases, teen girls complaining about high school boys, stop motion animators. I was amazed by the abundance of creativity out there; who knew that there were metalsmiths recording their process, or people who used their access to an industrial-strength shredder to document the destruction of a jar of Nutella? Advertisement Advertisement We talk about the bubbles social media createsthe sheltered dwellings each site confines us to, feeding us content it thinks we want to see. My blank-slate TikTok account let me peer into other subcultures bubbles, which were all so much more interesting to me than what apps think I want to see. Eventually, TikTok learned my habits and the wacky content smoothed into cute animals and pranks. But while the novelty lasted, it reminded me of the internet of the late 90s and 2000s, when there were few platforms, and no site on the internet tried to learn from your clicks. Rather, you just clicked around wandering the endless space, stumbling upon a new web comic, a page that displayed a random Vin Diesel fact upon each refresh, a repository of X-Files fan fiction. The week after our shared-account experiment, I continued to use that Instagram account, and noticed that my co-conspirators influence on the Explore page was waning. The algorithm tightened its focus again to mainly dogs and Bachelor memes, which meant I clicked on more dogs and Bachelor memes, until thats all that was left. In the end, I didnt feel like wed confused Instagram and its data collection; rather, I felt like wed outsmarted ourselves by, however briefly, reintroducing some serendipity in our daily browsing. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. A total of 49,735 camera-based fines were imposed on March 22 during the 'Janata Curfew,' said the Delhi Police on Monday. "As no manual fines were imposed yesterday, a total number of 49,735 camera-based fines were imposed," said the Delhi Police officials. The 'Janata Curfew' had been imposed on March 22 from 7 am to 9 pm. According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the number of COVID-19 cases has now climbed to 467 including eight deaths. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Michigan prison inmate has coronavirus COVID-19, although he may have caught the virus outside prison while hospitalized for another medical condition. The man was incarcerated at Kinross Correctional Facility, which houses minimum- and medium-security prisoners near Sault Ste. Marie, said Chris Gautz, spokesman for the Michigan Department of Corrections. The man left the prison on March 11 for treatment of a medical condition, Gautz said. While in a Lower Penninsula hospital, he was on a floor with patients were showing symptoms of COVID-19. Gautz said it was his understanding that the prisoner did not show symptoms of COVID-19 while at Kinross. We dont know definitively when the inmate was infected with the virus, Gautz said. The man was tested for coronavirus on March 17, and correction officials learned of the test results Sunday. The inmate remains hospitalized. Once he is released, he will be kept in isolation until he recovers, Gautz said. Read all of MLives coverage on the coronavirus at mlive.com/coronavirus. Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus. PREVENTION TIPS In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores. WASHINGTON -- From coronavirus hotspots like Iran to China neighbors like Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Central Asia, audiences are relying on Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) as a source of trusted news and an alternative to inaction and rampant disinformation in the countries where they live. We are the local press in the countries where we work, said Jamie Fly. Our reporters, and their families, live and work in these communities, and they personally feel the urgency of the situation and understand the grave threat posed by a lack of information or false claims. Fly said, For many of our audiences, especially those subject to rampant disinformation circulated by authoritarian regimes, we are the difference between them being informed and prepared about the virus, or not. RFE/RL began tackling the coronavirus in January, with reporting by the Russian Services Siberian unit about its emergence in China, and coverage of early efforts by governments to spread conspiracy theories about its origins. Radio Farda launched its own investigation of coronavirus cases to challenge false reporting by the Iranian regime, documenting province by province that virus-related fatalities in the country are at least 50 percent higher than authorities claim. Journalists in numerous countries have had to disperse a fog of politicized and false statements, and refute dubious advice propagated by public figures -- including presidents -- about the preventive effects of vodka, dry saunas, and exotic herbs. In a March 16 report about Russia, the EU declared that "pro-Kremlin media outlets are actively spreading disinformation about coronavirus in an attempt to undermine public trust in Western countries." The Russian-language network Current Time has produced videos debunking elaborate conspiracy theories by Russia's most-watched TV personalities, attributing the virus to U.S. President Donald Trump, the Miss Universe beauty pageant, biological warfare, and the CIA. In addition to countering disinformation, RFE/RL journalists have worked overtime to fill the void in basic public health information, using innovative tools in local languages to provide clear guidance on hand-washing, face masks, the unfamiliar concept of social distancing, and how to self-quarantine. The Belarus Service is educating its audiences with an interactive quiz about the virus and how it spreads. Targeting a younger, digital population short on reliable news, the Georgian Service is publishing special info-cards on Facebook and Instagram explaining symptoms, preventive measures, and tips for working from home. Correspondents from numerous language services have interviewed medical workers in the hinterlands and reported on the availability of medical facilities and supplies. To respond to community needs, RFE/RL journalists have taken public-interest reporting one step further, using their platforms to provide public services while urging calm. In Ukraine, where the coronavirus forced the cancellation of the countrys annual DocuDays human rights film festival, Current Time stepped up to provide free screenings of the previous years entire program on its documentary film channel. To help its audiences navigate a chaotic information landscape, the Bulgarian Service has stood up an interactive platform that serves as a community bulletin board, allowing people to volunteer services or ask for support. In the remote tribal regions of Pakistan, where the Taliban control the airwaves and public health information is scarce, Radio Mashaal enlisted local medical experts to explain the coronaviruss symptoms in a Facebook video that has been viewed over 800,000 times. Reporting by the Afghan Service alerted authorities to the threat of mass infection from the influx of thousands of Afghans who have been fleeing the virus from neighboring Iran. The Tajik Service has filled a yawning information void, flooding its platforms with guidance on recommended public hygiene, while posting real-time information on train schedules and border closings for labor migrants who continue to travel. The coverage produced a 25 percent spike in views on the Services YouTube channel last week, pushing its viewership over the 4 million mark. About RFE/RL RFE/RL relies on its networks of local reporters to provide accurate news and information to more than 37 million people in 26 languages and 22 countries where media freedom is restricted, or where a professional press has not fully developed. Its videos were viewed over 3.6 billion times on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram/IGTV in FY2019. RFE/RL is an editorially independent media company funded by a grant from the U.S. Congress through the U.S. Agency for Global Media. ---- FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Joanna Levison in Prague (levisonj@rferl.org, +420.221.122.080) Martins Zvaners in Washington (zvanersm@rferl.org, +1.202.457.6948) WAPELLA Central Illinois farmers dont anticipate the coronavirus causing any issues with spring planting, but all agree that with the ever-changing uncertainty of the outbreak, the future is difficult to predict. Its going to be a different year this year, no matter what, said DeWitt County farmer Marvin Finfrock. Already, most farmers have ordered their seed, and some have even started to prepare their equipment for the fields, once the weather breaks and the rains have stopped. Finfrock said while the coronavirus is on everybodys mind, its the markets that are going to have a more immediate impact on the life of a farmer this spring. The biggest thing is that the grain markets went to hell, he said. The oil markets went to hell and the grain markets followed and that is our concern right now. Bob Wells, an independent crop consultant from Bement, also has concerns about the markets. Crop prices have taken a hit over the past two weeks, he said. I think corn is at a 52-week low now, and soybeans have dropped significantly since Jan. 1, although there was an end-of-January rebound. I expect to see lower livestock prices, but that could mean better meat prices to the consumer. The Illinois Farm Bureau is watching the situation closely. On Monday, Illinois Farm Bureau President Richard Guebert Jr. and IFB Vice-President Brian Duncan spoke with Illinois Department of Agriculture Acting Director Jerry Costello via a conference call about what consequences the outbreak might cause for farmers. A national lockdown for instance that would halt spring planting would be devastating on several levels, Duncan said. You cant do that, he said. Agriculture would have to be considered an essential service. Duncan said going forward, it is essential that the supply chain for agriculture remains open. Whether it is livestock processing facilities or input suppliers for the crop side or ethanol plants, he said. Agriculture cant shut down. We need transportation and processing to keep moving. We see the pictures of empty grocery shelves and empty meat cases and it reminds us that we have our work to do. Any disruption to that supply chain could have devastating economic consequences for not only the short term, but also in the long term. Duncan added that the markets are also a focus for the IFB. "Farmers are very concerned," he said. "The market prices have collapsed for grain and livestock. We've taken a hit over the last two weeks." Knowing that the coronavirus is changing rapidly, some are worried about the unknown factors ahead. If they close state borders or something like that and it affects the supply chain, it could be a mess, said Clinton area farmer Terry Ferguson. Suppliers for seed corn and chemicals need to be able to travel and do their jobs. Parts and products need to have no disruptions. As things stand now, everything remains in order, and we should be fine. Many farmers are just anxious to get back in the fields. A year ago, planting was delayed due to an unusually wet spring. That made for a late fall harvest and not all of the field preparation for the spring was completed. Chrissy Ledford, who farms with her husband and family near Pontiac, agreed that the low grain prices and market issues were the immediate issue with farmers. Looking ahead, we don't anticipate much of an impact on our upcoming planting season, she said. Operation wise, we are one of the few businesses it hasn't affected yet, simply because we don't need groups of 10 or more to perform our duties. I'm sure it has and will impact those with livestock and our hearts go out to all those businesses hurting because of this mandatory shut down of restaurants, bars, small businesses and factory workers. Macon County farmer Steve Talmas farms near Decatur and said there are still a lot of unknowns. The weather is one thing, the markets are another, and the virus is another, he said. At this point, it is too even guess when we might get back into the fields but when we do, its a fair question to ask about what we are going to experience. Contact Kevin Barlow at (309) 820-3238. Follow him on Twitter: @pg_barlow The Auchan Drive service has run out of available slots and has been forced to suspend bookings after a barrage of customers. Auchan told Paperjam the service was still active, but unable to accommodate new orders at present. Around 2,000 orders were on hold awaiting collection time slots, with the supermarket hoping to add another 500 slots in the next few days. The click and collect service has experienced a huge surge in popularity as Luxembourg continues to halt any unnecessary travel, while encouraging citizens to stay at home. However, supermarkets are bearing the brunt of an increase in demand, with many struggling to restock shelves as customers rush to buy supplies. Auchan is not the only supermarket with delays to online services - Cora Messancy in Belgium has had to temporarily pause its service for a week, while Colruyt in Arlon experienced a 70% increase to its Collect & Go service, causing long waits for deliveries. Delhaize gives priority to police and healthcare workers Delhaize Luxembourg has appealed to customers to cease bulk-buying, reiterating that the supermarket has sufficient stock. The supermarket chain will also offer priority access to police and nursing staff to do their shopping. In addition, it has asked customers to avoid shopping between 8am and 9am, to allow vulnerable members of society and the over-65s to do their shopping. By William Lambers We have seen emergencies like coronavirus before in the United States, such as the 1918-20 flu pandemic, which left my grandmother and her siblings orphaned. During the same time of that horrific flu, the United States was dealing with two other major crises. The first was World War I, which was brought to an end by the November 11, 1918 Armistice. But there was another, too hunger and malnutrition in the war-torn countries. At the end of 1918, U.S. schools took part in World Relief Week. The idea was to promote the saving of food so more could be sent overseas to feed the hungry. The influenza wreaked havoc with this event, forcing the closing of schools. But it did ultimately take place in some schools after postponement. The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that Ohio schools had a lesson plan learning about hunger in Europe. The students studied maps and food reports from Herbert Hoover, who led world relief efforts. The students were asked to share their findings with parents and others so everyone would know about hunger and preventing food waste. Even though a flu crisis was gripping the country, students were helping others overseas. This gives us a shining example for students today coping with school closings caused by the coronavirus. They can learn online about hunger emergencies overseas and what can be done. In Southern Africa severe drought has led to hunger for millions. In Yemen, more than 20 million people are starving because of a civil war. In Afghanistan conflict and drought have increased hunger. There are many other countries living in hunger from war and drought caused by climate change. The UN World Food Program, Catholic Relief Services, Save the Children, CARE, Action against Hunger and other agencies are working hard to bring them relief. The coronavirus is also starting to appear in these nations already weakened by hunger. Barron Segar of the World Food Program USA explains, The number of coronavirus cases around the world is rising fast, crossing borders and threatening vulnerable, hungry populations. In places like Yemen, Syria and Bangladesh, health systems are already barely functioning, there is limited access to clean water, and sanitation products are out of reach for millions. Students could write letters to their representatives urging them to help nations suffering from hunger and coronavirus. Mount St. Joseph University and University of Cincinnati are holding a Free Rice challenge, to see which school can answer the most questions using the online educational game. When you play Free Rice, every correct answer means ten grains of rice donated to the World Food Program. This helps WFP feed the hungry in war-torn Syria, Yemen, South Sudan, Afghanistan and many other impoverished nations. Even though schools are closed, students can still learn and take action to make the world a better place. William Lambers is an author who partnered with the UN World Food Program and Catholic Relief Services on the book Ending World Hunger. His writings have been published by the USA Today, History News Network, Baltimore Sun and other news outlets. On Thursday, 13 postal workers had tested positive; by Friday, that number was 20, including the one from the Bethlehem facility where Mr. Jackson works, according to Mr. Hogrogian. On Sunday, postal officials in Washington said the number was fewer than 30. With a work force of 630,000, those numbers are still relatively small, but they are expected to keep rising in the coming days and weeks. Mr. Jackson and other rank-and-file workers worry that the Postal Service is not doing enough to protect them, and that they could become unwitting carriers of the virus. They had no plan and they werent proactive at all, Mr. Jackson said. It was just crazy to me. FedEx and UPS workers are facing similar fears that their warehouses were contaminated or soon will be. When Mr. Jackson returned to work the night after the meeting, he said, the cones had been removed from the sick workers station and the crew was expected to keep going. Another Bethlehem colleague, Sean Craig, said he was continuing to report for work but was worried about his infant son and his 82-year-old mother. Furious shoppers have hit out at a group of women seen stripping baby formula from a supermarket's shelves despite supposedly strict purchasing restrictions. An angry shopper from Rowville, in Melbourne's south-east, took photos of the group and posted them to social media on March 17. The shopper said the three baby formula opportunists 'bounding to and from' the Woolworths buying a tin of formula each time - 'without a baby between them'. Angry customers have hit out a group of women (pictured) seen stockpiling baby formula despite there already being a purchasing limit on the item The miffed shopper said he approached the only security guard on duty who told him the group had 'been going all day'. 'One security guard can't look after an entire store,' the man wrote. A number of other people on social media immediately hit out at the group of women. 'God that makes my blood boil. This is why I prefer dogs to humans,' one user wrote. 'One security guard can't look after the entire store but he's aware they've been at it all day he could refuse them re-entering the store,' another added. 'Like locusts,' another replied. A number of social media users quickly hit out at the women for stockpiling baby formula when they 'didn't have a child between them' Woolworths has imposed a two can limit on how much baby formula a customer can buy in any transaction. 'Please note, multiple transactions containing baby formula per single customer may be cancelled prior to dispatch, in line with our terms and conditions.' The man who got the photos (pictured) said the security guard had told him the women had been in the store stockpiling baby formula for the entire day Such a rule was only effective if supermarket staff stopped people making repeated visits to the store. Supermarkets and chemists brought in the limit on baby formula per more than 24 months ago after it was revealed shoppers were buying the product in bulk to send back to China. More recently, Coles, Woolworths, and Aldi have implemented shopper restrictions on some products amid coronavirus linked panic-buying. Online deliveries of some products have also been stopped by Coles and Woolworths. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has slammed grocery hoarders amid the COVID-19 crisis and said he had a plan to stop them if the situation continued. 'There are measures that could be moved towards if we had to do it, but, to be honest, I'd be very disappointed if we had to,' he said. A Wooloworths spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia staff do their very best to monitor the purchasing of baby formula. 'We encourage any parents who find their chosen baby formula is unavailable on the shelves to speak with store management, so we can help get them stock as quickly as possible,' the spokeswoman said. The Supreme Court has ordered all states to consider releasing some prisoners on parole to reduce overcrowding in prisons. Each state has been ordered to constitute a high powered committee which will decide on the matter. "Each state shall constitute a high powered committee, it will determine which class of prisoners can be released on parole or interim bail for such period as may be appropriate," said the order by Chief Justice of India S.A Bobde. The High-level committee will work in consultation with the State Legal Service Authority for deciding on the release of prisoners. According to the order, prisoners convicted or charged with offenses having jail term of up to seven years can be given parole. The apex court's order was clear that the prisoners are being released in an attempt to avoid overcrowding in jails during the COVID-19 outbreak. Earlier, the Supreme Court had asked chief secretaries of all states to respond by March 20 with measures that need to be taken to curb overcrowding in jails amidst the COVID-19 outbreak. The SC was expected to hear on the matter today. The Maharastra government last week had submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court seeking the release of over 5,000 prisoners on bail or medical furlough from all jails in the state. The state government had done this to decongest its already overcrowded prions. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country were 415 as of 9:00 am on March 23. Globally, the number has climbed to over 3,30,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including around 14,000 deaths. Also read: Coronavirus: How UP, Rajasthan, Gujarat are dealing with virus scare Also read: Coronavirus in India Live updates: PM Modi briefs top journalists on current situation Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam Beverage Co. Ltd. (SPVB) has donated 2,000 five-liter bottles of water, equivalent to 40,000 liters of water, to support 4,000 households in two districts of the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre that are worst-hit by ongoing severe drought and saline intrusion. The donation was part of a program initiated by the provincial Commission for Mass Mobilization and Vietnam Fatherland Front urging people to take the initiative in preventing and coping with the natural calamities. The households in Chau Thanh and Binh Dai Districts, as well as a provincial school for children with disabilities, received the bottled water of SPVB-owned Aquafina brand at a ceremony held in Ben Tre on March 9. Le Ngoc An, Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam's senior director of sales in the Mekong Delta region, gifts 40,000 liters of bottled water to residents in Ben Tre Province, Vietnam, March 9, 2020. The complicated situation of drought and saline intrusion in Ben Tre that has dragged on from late 2019 until early 2020 has had a serious impact on the daily lives of the local people and the economic development of the province. Authorities in Ben Tre have taken many measures to support its residents in overcoming and mitigating the damage caused by the saline intrusion. The donations made by SPVB and other organizations are expected to help the people of Ben Tre get through this tough period. With a desire to contribute to the community, SPVB has for the past three years supported the installation of 51 water filtration systems, supplying clean water to about 29,300 people in Ben Tre through two programs 'MIZUIKU I love clean water' and 'Clean water for education.' In the coming time, through these two programs, the company will continue to expand activities to bring clean water to communities nationwide. A Ben Tre Youth Union official (left) hands bottled water donated by Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam to a household in Ben Tre Province, Vietnam, March 9, 2020. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The launch of GrabMart follows the call of the government and Ho Chi Minh City to increase online transactions during the COVID-19 epidemic Grab users based in Ho Chi Minh City can now easily search for and choose from a wide assortment of foodstuff, ranging from canned, readily processed to fresh food and bottled drinks from Grabs partner convenience stores, retail outlet chains, and supermarkets. The orders will be forwarded directly to the GrabMart's merchant partners. The shippers receiving the orders will go directly to the store, give the order number, then deliver the goods to customers, helping to shorten idle time significantly. The pilot launch of GrabMart aims to heed the call of the government and Ho Chi Minh City to ramp up online transactions, bringing more safe choices to consumers during the COVID-19 time," said Nguyen Thai Hai Van, Grab Vietnam managing director. "With GrabMart, we wish to improve user experience while simultaneously increasing opportunities to raise drivers income as well as augment the business efficiency of for GrabMart merchant partners. Today, the Grab app has been downloaded onto more than 185 million mobile devices, giving users access to over 9 million drivers, merchants, and agents. Vietnam is the third country in Southeast Asia where GrabMart is rolled out, following Indonesia and Thailand. The new move is the continuation of the Grab for Good programme the company is pursuing. In the time ahead, more and more shops, associated partners, and products will be invited to join GrabMart. As the leading super app in Southeast Asia, Grab provides everyday services that matter most to consumers. Today, the Grab app has been downloaded onto more than 185 million mobile devices, giving users access to over 9 million drivers, merchants, and agents. The company is currently the most diversified tech car-hailing service provider in the region, besides rendering food and merchandise forwarding services in 339 cities in eight Southeast Asian nations. Activist and human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency in Nigeria in the interest of public health and safety. This he said will force people to stay at home and ensure the ban on social gatherings and other forms of large gatherings put in place to curb further spread of coronavirus in the country is effective. Falana noted that if a state of emergency is declared, measures such as the ban on large gatherings that are being ignored by some political and religious leaders can be enforced as disobedience will become a punishable offence. In order to stem the dangerous trend the Federal Government should put necessary legal measures and mechanisms in place without any further delay, the statement read. In particular, the attention of the Nigerian people ought to be drawn to section 45 of the Constitution which provides that the fundamental rights of citizens to personal liberty, freedom of movement, freedom of assembly and association etc may be infringed upon or restricted in the interest of public health and public safety. Therefore, President Muhammadu Buhari should, as a matter of urgency, issue a proclamation of a state of emergency in the entire Federation pursuant to section 305 (1) of the Constitution. Once the proclamation is issued by the President and published it is required to be approved by a resolution supported by two-thirds majority of each house of the national assembly. Once the measures are set out in the said proclamation they will have the force of law capable of being enforced by the police and other security agencies. If President Buhari does not declare a state of emergency state governors are advised to issue Executive Orders to address the health challenge, Falana declared in a statement on Monday. Meanwhile, Naija News reports Nigeria recorded its first death from the COVID-19 disease on Monday as the number of confirmed cases increased to 35. Share this post with your Friends on Whoever said that happiness resides in shopping and not in money could not have lied. Crazy discounts and attractive offers are enough to lure shopping lovers. Shop from AliExpress in Kenya and get a taste of happy shopping. Image: Facebook.com, @AliExpress Kenya Source: UGC Work, school or even duty errands seem to be inevitable, and each must get attended to equally. For this reason, finding ample time to go shopping in malls or retail stores for most people seems quite impossible. To shop from AliExpress in Kenya, you are sure to carry out your normal daily activities and have your goods delivered at your doorstep. About AliExpress The online retail service is based in China. The Alibaba Group owns the platform. The renowned online platform initially started in 1999. AliExpress consists of mini businesses in China and other places like Singapore. It provides products and retail items to online buyers either locally or internationally. Small businesses get an opportunity to sell to buyers through the platform. Aliexpress does not sell products directly to consumers but facilitates the connection of sellers to consumers. E-commerce stores that use the dropship business model will preferably work suitably with this platform. Steps on how to shop from AliExpress in Kenya Image: unsplash.com Source: UGC The main reason why the site has a vast customer base mainly points to its low price items and variety of items. To buy from the website in Kenya, follow the steps below: Get connected to the internet and visit the online shop. Create an account on the website. Provide valid shipping address Navigate through the variety of items to find your preferred items or item. Read the reviews on your product and double-check the (colour, size, model e.tc.) Place your order. Pay for your product. You get an email with a tracking link of your product until it reaches your location. READ ALSO: How to use Aspira to shop now and pay later To find the bestselling AliExpress products follow the steps below: Visit their website. Choose your items of choice and category. Within the category look for a particular item on the search bar. Filter the results according to Orders and check the 4-star & Up field. It gets you the high rated items. The resulting display of items will be arranged according to the number of orders and stars. You could do the same for other categories. Payment options Image: unsplash.com Source: UGC Once you have placed the order and want to pay, AliExpress online shopping provides various payment methods. Some include Visa, Master Card, Western Union, bank transfer and M-PESA. Aliexpress M-PESA remains to be the most common way of payment in Kenya. The service works on the platforms mobile app on Android and iOS. The steps include: Access the mobile app. Purchase the items you want. On the checkout step, choose the M-PESA payment method. Enter your Safaricom phone details. Confirm the shipment details. Then, click pay now. However, the M-PESA option cannot function through the desktop website platform. On top of that, buyers should read product reviews before purchasing items. You do not want to be disappointed after the arrival of your product. AliExpress shipping to Kenya Does Aliexpress deliver to Kenya? The AliExpress standard shipping in Kenya uses DHL, FedEx or by Postal Address. The delivery option via local post with free shipping may take between 45-60 days. You can use other delivery options which will take lesser time. Some of the AliExpress Kenya delivery options include: DHL Office Karen Tana House Post Office GPO Branch MPost City Square Post Office Ruai Post Office building Posta Kenya (Post office) Posta Kenya (Post office) Mombasa Nyali Posta Kenya-Nyoka road AliExpress contacts for inquiries include a customer helpdesk for issues with purchased goods. You could also chat with them and seek guidance on what item you need. The other ways you could contact them include the online chat and email option. READ ALSO: Top gift shops in Nairobi in 2020 Choosing a shipping company Before selecting a company to ship your goods, there are certain factors to consider. They include: The destination of your shipment The provider should be able to deliver to almost all locations or where you are. The products to be delivered. If your products are delicate, then the provider must assure the safety of the items. Size of item. Centres on the volume and the average amount of products needed to be delivered. The speed of shipping The company that delivers the products over a short period. Tracking: Has to be able to show you where your goods are at every time before reaching the destination. Insurance options: All companies offer assurance on items in places prone to problems. Multiple shipping options: The buyer can choose the shopping provider from whom you ship with products. Free delivery costs: Customers, sometimes by offering free shipment. Real-time carrier rates: Similar rate as what your provider is charging you. AliExpress dropshipping AliExpress dropshipping serves to be among the most popular marketplaces. The idea bests fit e-commerce entrepreneurs looking for efficient ways of selling their products. In this model, you have the freedom of setting your prices and markups. Additionally, you could get the product contents from its official site straight to your store. You also have a variety to choose from millions of varied items. The best part is that after selling an item, you buy it from an AliExpress supplier and then have it transported directly from their warehouse to your customer. So, are you wondering how to dropship using Aliexpress? There are specific steps that you need to do to use it: The first step includes creating and setting up your online store using a platform like Shopify. Use an app like Oberlo to start importing products from AliExpress marketplace. The app plays a significant role in streamlining and syncing your imported items from the site with your Shopify storefront. Additionally, it lets you know of any changes in price and inventory from your supplier. The app could also help to send tracking codes to customers and dispatch notifications. If a customer orders an item, you will go to your supplier and order the same thing to be shipped directly to your customer. AliExpress shipping tracking also plays a significant role in this type of business model. The customer uses his/her tracking number, visits the platforms tracking site, enters the code, and the result will show the location of the item. Shopping gives you instant gratification and appreciation of the hard work that you have put in at work or just for the sake of feeling better. AliExpress provides a better medium for you to buy almost anything right in the comfort of your home. All you got to do is shop from AliExpress in Kenya and enjoy fabulous offers and discounts. READ ALSO: What is billing address in online shopping? Top 9 Online Shopping Sites In Kenya How to sell on Kilimall - seller registration and commissions Source: TUKO.co.ke The novel coronavirus pandemic has slammed small businesses across Oregon with hurricane force, and governmental agencies at the state and local level are scrambling to help. Its like Catch-22, said Nathan Buehler, communications and research manager for Business Oregon. In order to recover and get economic output going and get money flowing and paychecks to people, people have to be working. Currently, though, people are being directed to stay home, avoid crowds and practice social distancing. Restaurants are restricted to takeout service. To get out of the economic piece of this, you cant have COVID-19 flowing around everywhere, Buehler said. In order to stop that, you have to have people not work and stay home. You have to shut down restaurants and bars. You have to stop this thing to get back up and running. But when youre not working the economy is going to keep going down. Legislation is pending in Congress to provide federal assistance. But the need is acute now. Business Oregon has several loan programs to meet the immediate crisis, including direct loans and a program offering guarantees to minimize the risks for private lenders making business loans. The Business Oregon website has a link to a regularly-updated resource page for small business looking for places in which to turn for help. The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering economic injury disaster loans. Applications are available online. Portland mayor Ted Wheeler has convened a task force to look for ways to help the citys businesses. The city provides information online on how to defer loan payments for businesses that have had revenues decline by 10% or more, provide rent relief for commercial tenants in Prosper Portland properties, and defer loan payments for businesses that have borrowed from Prosper Oregon, the citys economic development agency. Prosper Portland is partnering with the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO) to provide $150,000 in grants for businesses owned by those of Asian or Pacific Islander descent. Applications are available online. A number of other municipalities also have stepped into the breach. The city of Beaverton launched an emergency business assistance program to provide grant money to struggling businesses. Applications can be made online. For a lot of small businesses, its dire with cash flow, said Michael Williams, Beavertons economic development manager. Demand has dropped off for a cross section of businesses to very little or nothing. Beaverton has scrounged for whatever general fund money quickly was available, from monies budgeted for other business development projects to its travel budget. We decided to go early and go big with a small grant program to keep them alive until hopefully the crisis abates in a few weeks or the federal government jumps in with some programs, Williams said. In the first day, Williams said, more than 130 businesses applied. Applications can be made online. Businesses that have had mandated closures are first in line. Payments should begin by the end of the month. The grants are important Williams said, because loans only serve businesses that can pay them back. If you dont think youre going to be around," he said, youre not going to take on a loan and go deeper in debt. The City of Hillsboro has also rolled out a program that includes $500,000 in emergency business support grants, $500,000 in emergency loans for small and mid-sized businesses and $100,000 in rental assistance. Applications will be available online by Monday. We continue to see the size of the problem define itself, said Dan Dias, Hillsboros economic and community development director. What we know is many of our small and medium-sized businesses are seeing an impact. Were seeking to take some steps to soften the impact and buy time. -- Ken Goe kgoe@oregonian.com | @KenGoe Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter on Monday to praise the rescue efforts undertaken by Air India. Modi in his tweet said Air India 'has shown utmost courage and risen to the call of humanity.' Modi retweeted Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri's tweet that highlighted the efforts of the Air India crew while evacuating 263 Indians, mostly students from coronavirus-hit Rome. The rescue operations carried out in Rome were led by Captain Swati Rawat and Captain Raja Chauhan. Air India's Boeing 777 was utilised in this herculean rescue operation. Extremely proud of this team of @airindiain, which has shown utmost courage and risen to the call of humanity. Their outstanding efforts are admired by several people across India. #IndiaFightsCoronahttps://t.co/I7Czxep7bj a Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 23, 2020 This, however, is not the first time that the Modi government has shown appreciation for Air India crew members and pilots involved in coronavirus related rescue operations. In the second half of February, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had handed out Letters of Appreciation to 68 pilots involved in the rescue operations to evacuate stranded Indians in Wuhan. These letters of appreciation were personally issued by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Also read: Coronavirus: Govt gives Letters of Appreciation to Air India staff involved in Wuhan evacuations While appreciating the efforts of the Air India pilots in the Wuhan rescue operation, Puri said, "We are proud of the intensive commitment shown by the Air India team to bring home their countrymen in spite of very trying conditions in the epidemic-hit Wuhan." Also read: Coronavirus in India Live updates: Take legal action against violators, Centre tells state govts Also read: Coronavirus update: PM Modi expresses anguish at people not taking lockdown seriously In a letter to PM Modi, President of Makkal Needhi Maiam Kamal Haasan on Monday asked the Centre to take 'swift steps' to save the livelihood of millions amid the Coronavirus crisis in the country. "Fear of the virus should not be compounded by the fear of livelihood," he said. As per the latest figures, the Coronavirus outbreak in the country has affected over 477 people in the country. With all states going into partial or complete lockdown, all workplaces and shops have been shut leaving open only essential services to operate. The actor-turned-politician advocated that the hardest hit would be the unskilled labour force who struggle daily to make ends meet. Read: Kamal Haasan Urges TN Govt To Take Anti-Coronavirus Steps; Points At 4-5th Week Importance 'Direct transfers to labour force' "Economic experts have suggested a slew of measures including tax breaks, deferred credits and grants. These measures would benefit the industrialists and employers which is essential. But the task force should ensure that there is no drop in the wages of the labour force. It should also consider direct transfer to this most vulnerable population to enable them to tide over the crisis," read his letter. Read: MASSIVE: All Domestic Commercial Airlines To Cease Operation From Midnight On 24 March Read: Kamal Haasan Approaches MHC Against Cops, Alleges Harassment In 'Indian 2' Accident Probe Coronavirus crisis in India As of date, 477 positive cases have been reported of the pandemic Coronavirus (COVID-19) with Maharashtra reportig the highest at 89. Seven deaths have been reported till date. India has suspended all visas and barred travel from Afghanistan, Philippines, EU, UK, China, Malaysia and mandatory 14-day quarantine from several other countries and shut down over 75 districts across the nation. Read: Sitaram Yechury Writes To PM Modi, Asks Him To Scale Up Testing Of People For COVID-19 A member of the Secret Service has tested positive for coronavirus. The federal law enforcement agency announced the news overnight on Sunday and later clarified that the unidentified employee had not had any contact with colleagues or people they are hired to protect, in the past several weeks. The Secret Service member was said to be experiencing mild symptoms of the illness which can range from as little as a headache and fever. A Secret Service employee has tested positive for COVID-19 it was revealed overnight Sunday. File image: Secret Service officers stands guard as President Donald Trump walks across the South lawn of the White House in Washington DC on March 5 (stock picture) Above shows the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States as well as related deaths as of Monday 'A U.S. Secret Service employee has tested positive for COVID-19,' a spokesman said in a statement. 'The employee is currently in quarantine. The agency will continue to monitor the employee's condition.' It's unknown where the employee worked. CBS learned from an official: 'The Secret Service has conducted a comprehensive contact trace assessment and determined that the employee has not had contact with any Secret Service employee or protectee for nearly three weeks.' Coronavirus carriers are recommended to stay in quarantine for 14 days to prevent the spread of the deadly virus to others. It comes as confirmed cases rose to around 600 in the Washington DC area. Among those is a member of Vice President Mike Pence's team who was experiencing mild symptoms. However Pence tested negative this weekend. President Trump and his advisor daughter Ivanka Trump have also tested negative. Secret Service conducted a 'comprehensive contact trace assessment' and found the employee hasn't had contact with colleagues or protectees for three weeks. File image from March 12 outside the White House West Wing (stock picture) The first person to contract the disease in Washington DC was a reverend in his 50s earlier this month. Since then numbers have rapidly spiked. Around the country there were more than 35,000 confirmed cases and over 471 deaths to COVID-19 on Monday. As a third of the country was under lockdown after governors issued stay-at-home orders to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin was hoping to reach a deal on a massive economic rescue plan. Trump officials and congressional leaders, meanwhile, were to resume talks Monday morning after working through the night on the $2 trillion plan. People and businesses could get cash within the next two to three weeks and Steve Mnuchin has pleaded with companies to hold on and not fire their workers. Democrats had derailed the plan Sunday night, arguing it was tilted toward corporations and did too little to help workers and health care providers. Across the country there have been vast job losses and a lack of medical supplies for those on the frontline treating patients in hospital. COVID-19 victims can experience pneumonia and death in more severe cases. Ivanka (left) and Donald Trump (right) recently tested negative for the coronavirus. The White House senior advisor and her father are pictured at a daily coronavirus task force briefing in Washington DC on March 20 Vice President Mike Pence (right) also tested negative recently. A member of Pence's staff tested positive recently Hospitals are on the front lines of this crisis, bracing themselves for a wave whose height they cannot see before it hits, given the lack of widespread testing for coronavirus. But others are doing heroic work in the background. Like the Public Defenders Office and American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, whove been valiantly fighting to reduce our inmate population and prevent jails from becoming the next big drivers of the outbreak. As a result, our state just agreed to take unprecedented action: Starting no later than Wednesday, every person sentenced to county jail on a minor charge will be released, unless a prosecutor makes a safety objection. We must let them all out, with the exception of violent criminals, to prevent this virus from exploding behind bars. Its the most important issue the Murphy administration has led the way on, aside from making testing free for everyone he can. I dont know that theres any other American state thats done this, the governor said Monday. The agreement, approved by Chief Justice Stuart Rabner, could affect as many as 1,000 people in our jails, the ACLU estimates. It will undoubtedly save lives. The benefit is speed. We dont have to wade through all these cases, one by one. Its streamlined to get people out quickly, yet still give prosecutors a chance to object. If they do, inmates can plead their case before a judge. And time is of the essence: A single staffer or new intake can bring this virus into the jail, spawn an outbreak, then bring it back out to infect kids, aging parents, and all the rest of us. If corrections officers get sick, they leave fewer people to guard the most dangerous inmates. To flatten the curve, we must reduce the jail population immediately, by releasing the most harmless inmates. They can return to jail and complete their sentences in the future, if necessary. The priority now is to slow the spread of the virus. To their credit, Attorney General Gurbir Grewal and the head of the county prosecutors association, Angelo Onofri, focused their energies not on fighting these releases, but on how to make it work. This is New Jersey at its best, as Alexander Shalom of the ACLU says. In a time of crisis, figuring out what makes the most sense, rather than trying to win. This is really about elevating public health. The severity of the crisis is forcing us to take actions that we wouldnt consider in normal times, Grewal acknowledged. Now its on prosecutors and judges to do their part, too. Objections are due by 5 p.m. Monday, and the numbers will speak for themselves. Theyll tell us which counties are outliers, and are refusing to follow the spirit of the order, demanding a swift crackdown by the AG or the courts. Weve been hearing from public defenders about prosecutors seeking detention in outrageous cases, like a 19-year-old jailed in Ocean County just last week for trespassing, a fourth-degree charge. Thats the exact opposite of what we need to be doing as this virus rages. The old check fraud case thats been sitting around for a month, the old financial fraud case that hasnt moved for months theres not a reason to charge it right now when were in the midst of this pandemic, Grewal said. No. Dont be that guy. You want to be on the right side of history, as public defender Joseph Krakora says, so if theres an outbreak in your jail, you made every effort to get as many people out of jail that can safely be released without threatening the public safety. Otherwise you will have the deaths not only of prisoners, but of corrections officers and their loved ones and untold others on your hands. Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. Police arrested 255 people in Kolkata on Monday evening for violating the restrictions imposed in the metropolis in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, officials said. The arrests were made after 5 pm when the lockdown came into effect, they said, adding that those held will be prosecuted under sections dealing with disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant. Naka checkings are underway at every important junction of the city, officials said. The lockdown, which will continue till March 27, was clamped to prevent further spread of the virus. Kolkata's police commissioner Anuj Sharma urged the people to stay at home and cooperate with the administration in maintaining law and order. I appeal to all citizens to #StayHome and cooperate with the administration. @KolkataPolice will continue the drive against violators, he tweeted. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also appealed to the people to follow the guidelines set by the government and not to come out of their homes unless there is an emergency. She also asked them to cooperate with the government to fight the menace. In West Bengal, a person has died and six COVID-19 patients are currently undergoing treatment. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Coronavirus: Two flights from Turkey to repatriate Italians Will depart from Istanbul tomorrow for Rome and Milan (ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, MARCH 23 - Two special flights from Istanbul will leave on Tuesday for Rome and Milan to allow Italian citizens residing in Turkey or temporarily in Turkey to return to Italy. The flights will be operated by Turkish Airlines in an agreement between Italian and Turkish authorities, and will depart from the new Istanbul Grand Airport at 16:20 local time for Milan and 18:15 local time for Rome. The repatriated Italians will be subject to quarantine measures in effect for arrivals from abroad. In order to take advantage of this opportunity, which includes payment for a one-way ticket, passengers must register by 17:00 on Monday with the Italian Consulate General in Istanbul, by writing an email to the address: emergenza.istanbul@esteri.it. Further information is available at the Italian Consulate General in Istanbul website.(ANSAmed). US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Afghanistan on Monday on an unannounced visit to promote the implementation of the US-Taliban deal, Reuters news agency reported MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd March, 2020) US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Afghanistan on Monday on an unannounced visit to promote the implementation of the US-Taliban deal, Reuters news agency reported. According to Reuters, Pompeo is expected to hold meetings both with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, and his key political rival, Abdullah Abdullah, refusing to recognize the results of the recent election. This case is extremely poignant considering we are approaching the 25th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, Chief Wade Gourley of the Oklahoma City Police Department said in the statement. This event not only scarred the community of Oklahoma City, but had a profound effect on the nation. Mr. Varnells lawyer, Vicki Behenna, said in an interview on Monday that the sentence was a little bit higher than what we wanted but that were very grateful it wasnt life, which is what the government was asking for. Ms. Behenna said that she planned to appeal Mr. Varnells 2019 conviction on counts of attempting to use an explosive device to damage and destroy BancFirsts corporate offices, and of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction against property used in interstate commerce. Mr. Varnells arrest was the culmination of a domestic terrorism investigation involving an undercover operation, during which Mr. Varnell had been monitored closely for months as the bomb plot developed. This case required thorough investigation and careful coordination among agents and prosecutors in a matter that is our highest priority terrorism, said Timothy J. Downing, the United States attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma. While many Bollywood actors are finding their engagements to make the most of the self-isolation time, Kriti Sanon on Monday channelled her inner poetic skills and recited a Hindi poem on social media. The 29-year-old star hopped on to Instagram on Monday and shared a video where she is seen reciting one of her newly written Hindi poems. The actor, who is seen at the comfort of her house, started the video by addressing how the self-isolation time has given everyone an opportunity to do things that otherwise were being slacked off. "Well, I feel that this quarantined time has given all of us a lot of time to do all the things we didn't have the time for." The 'Lukka Chuppi' actor further said that the self-distancing time has got her "back to writing poetry" and it is after a very long time she has "written something in Hindi." "Thham jaa, Theher jaa..We've been running too fast.. It almost feels like we needed to PAUSE.. We MUST!" she captioned the post. The poem recited by the 'Panipat' actor was throwing light on the fact of slowing down a little bit in this fast-paced world. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (Bloomberg Opinion) -- Drastic global measures to keep populations apart and slow the spread of the coronavirus could remain in place for months. Thats posing the difficult question of how long hundreds of millions of us can keep this Herculean effort going. The signs from Asia, where the disease first appeared, arent encouraging. China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan have been mobilized since January. The strain is showing, with complacency emerging as the first wave of infections ebbs. Imported cases are on the rise, raising the risk of a second wave. If that happens, President Xi Jinpings celebrated visit to Wuhan this month may start to look as premature as U.S. President George W. Bushs infamous mission accomplished speech in 2003. No one knows the precise secret to sustaining good behavior in a pandemic of this scale and potential duration. Complicated ethical issues arise around personal freedoms and privacy. But we know from studies of past outbreaks, including severe acute respiratory syndrome in 2002-03, that there are steps authorities can take, including communication and targeted financial support that allow everyone to act responsibly. Its hard to overstate the importance of individual conduct when vaccines are unavailable, the supply of antiviral drugs and ventilators is limited, and transmission of the virus can happen before symptoms set in. With carriers hard to spot, social distancing staying home, in essence is the single most effective means of holding back the spread, preventing hospitals from becoming overwhelmed and sliding into emergency triage. This was true during the Spanish Flu of 1918, and remains so. Consider the study released this week by Imperial College in London, which estimated that without controls and changes to individual behavior, 81% of the U.S. and British populations would get the novel coronavirus, resulting in 2.2 million American deaths and 510,000 in Great Britain. It was enough to prompt both governments to tighten measures. Story continues Getting people to behave when danger is real and present isnt as troublesome as getting them to act before and, especially, after the peak. Thats a problem when some risk may well remain until an effective vaccine is released perhaps 18 months from now, meaning closures could continue in some form, or return intermittently. Humans simply arent able to sustain a state of high vigilance. They falter. For doctors and nurses during SARS, and in China during the Covid-19 outbreak, fatigue proved deadly. It can prove fatal for the wider population too, as restrictions soften. Past pandemics show that second waves can be painful: During SARS, Toronto was declared free of local transmission, relaxed precautions and found a single hospital ward at the center of a second outbreak a week or so later. So what does Asias experience tell countries that are just embarking on a period of indefinite shutdowns? One is that patience eventually strains. The SARS experience put populations on alert in China, Singapore and particularly Hong Kong, as my colleague Nisha Gopalan has written. Yet that can encourage a belief that the current epidemic will, like SARS, ebb and disappear in the summer possible, but not certain. Bars in central Hong Kong are no longer empty. Singapore has already warned against complacency. Singapore and Hong Kong, trading cities that depend on the movement of people, are especially vulnerable once borders reopen. Neither experienced a real first wave of infections, so wouldnt be on Chinas war footing either. We have also learned that coercion works in the short term. Its unclear whether it can be effective for long or indeed at all outside China, where drones monitored mask usage, roadblocks were put up and people with mild infections were separated from their families in mass isolation centers. Success in reducing infections doesnt make such measures sustainable, or desirable. This brings us back to personal conduct and responsibility. Culture may matter less than is often considered. Governments have to be trusted. That means being clear, transparent and speaking with one voice. Without good communication, authorities simply wont be able to command the confidence of populations. That imperils their ability to tighten and loosen restrictions as the epidemic shifts, which is fundamental to easing the economic pain. This is certainly challenging for governments like Hong Kong, where the leaders approval rating sank to a single-digit percentage last month or the U.S., where President Donald Trump was initially dismissive of the potential risk from the virus. Britains volte-face wont have helped either. But its possible to do better. Singapores prime minister has struck the right note, shoring up morale. Taiwan has daily, live-streamed press conferences. South Koreas success has been based on data, transparency and testing. Perhaps the best recent example is from Europe Leo Varadkar, Irelands prime minister, outlined the grim risk of 15,000 cases by the end of the month, but also the countrys ability to contain the worst. Nudging may not always be enough. Emergency powers may still be necessary, to suspend meetings, close public places, and isolate the sick and at-risk. They may be the only way to stop potentially lethal crowds, like the Malaysian religious gathering that prompted a lockdown. Yet using police to impose basic stay-at-home demands can rapidly overwhelm law enforcement, and raise resentment. Self-policing is more effective. The catch is that, like corporations, most households havent squirreled away enough cash to manage a months-long shutdown. That means targeted handouts, as soon as possible, reaching the most vulnerable sections of the population. Governments will need to keep dispensing cash and bear the budget deficit pain or accept virus consequences. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners. Clara Ferreira Marques is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering commodities and environmental, social and governance issues. Previously, she was an associate editor for Reuters Breakingviews, and editor and correspondent for Reuters in Singapore, India, the U.K., Italy and Russia. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 23) The House of Representatives adopted the Senate version of the bill that will grant President Rodrigo Duterte special authority to address the COVID-19 crisis in the Philippines. In a special session, the committee passed House Bill No. 6616, which would declare a national emergency amid the rapid spike of COVID-19 cases in the country. The measure, would authorize the chief executive "for a limited period and subject to restrictions", powers that would help address the infectious disease's outbreak. These include the possible realignment of funding in the 2020 budget and the allocation of funds and investments of government agencies for the country's COVID-19 response. The bill will likewise give the executive the power to purchase essential medical supplies such as personal protective equipment, assign venues that may be used as quarantine centers, as well as other goods and services for COVID-19-affected communities. The proposed law also lets Duterte implement other preventive measures to curb the spread of the disease including fast-tracking of testing for persons under investigation and monitoring (PUIs and PUMs), regulation of public and private transport, regulation of traffic on all roads, and ensuring compliance of local government units for the community quarantine standards. The Philippines has recorded 396 COVID-19 cases as of Monday, including 33 deaths and 18 recoveries. Automobile makers and auto component manufacturers in India have been asked to shut their plants by their respective industry bodies in view of the coronavirus pandemic. In view of the deteriorating situation arising out of COVID-19, SIAM (Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers) and ACMA (Auto Component Manufacturers Association of India) have both requested their members to consider plant shut down. The members of SIAM and ACMA both in original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and auto component industry have been asked to consider plant shut down for a limited time to overcome the critical period so that workers are not exposed to the virus, SIAM President Rajan Wadhera said in a statement. "This is in line with SIAM's motto of 'Building the Nation, Responsibly," he added. Already Maruti Suzuki India, Tata Motors, Hyundai, Toyota Kirloskar Motor and Hero MotoCorp have announced temporary shut down of their respective manufacturing units as the coronavirus outbreak spreads across the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In Nigeria, clashes between Berom youth and Fulanis in Plateau State ensued resulting in the destruction of lives and properties. In Mexico, two men a 21-year-old law student and his uncle, were burnt to death. In Ghana, fear and panic reigned as phone lines were jammed, and many were forced to sleep outside in the open. Unverified information, which was widely circulated using technology and social media, in the case of Nigeria and Mexico Facebook and Whatsapp respectively, was behind the fatalities. While the dangers of misinformation may not have been felt in Ghana as in other countries, there is still a need to be concerned. This is more so as the country is just a few months away from general elections which are expected to be keenly contested. The two main personalities involved former president John Dramani Mahama and incumbent president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and the political parties they belong to, the National Democratic Congress, and the New Patriotic Party, have indeed sent signals of the seriousness of this years general elections. Dubawa, therefore, in response to the many challenges posed by misinformation particularly during elections as evidenced in the role it played in the 2016 US elections is equipping journalists with the necessary skills to confront the issues head-on. At its maiden fact-checking training in Ghana, the organisation trained media practitioners on how to conduct a full-fledged fact-checking exercise, how to use multimedia verification tools such as reverse image search to verify images as well as interpreting and using data properly. Programme Officer and Team Lead for Dubawa Ghana, Caroline Anipah, said the training is one of the organisations ways of equipping the media with the needed skills to effectively carry out its mandate as the fourth estate. It falls under our objective of building the capacity of the media to verify information and possibly establish fact-checking desks in their various newsrooms, Ms Anipah said. The three-day training brought together fifteen journalists from four of Ghanas 16 regions, half of whom are in editorial positions, representing television, radio, print, wire and online media. This being our maiden training, we thought it would be wise to start with media managers as they have a lot of say on what goes on in their respective newsrooms, Ms Anipah said. We are hoping they will be ambassadors of verification in their newsrooms and beyond. Ebele Oputa, Programme Officer, Dubawa Nigeria in a session with participants Some participants expressed their appreciation to Dubawa saying the training had built their capacity to do their work effectively especially as the country prepares for its general elections. As we approach the 2020 general elections, the information and skills from the training will be even more useful to fight rumours, inaccurate and false information, Jonas Nyabor, Data/Online Journalist at Citinewsroom said. Peter Serinye, News Editor at Metro TV, said lack of resources had rendered his organisation unable to train its staff on fact-checking. Ive always been fascinated by the ability of my competitors to fact check claims especially those made during major addresses by politicians. Unfortunately, I neither had the training nor did my organisation have the resources to provide training in fact-checking. So the Dubawa training could not have come at a better time, especially that 2020 is an election year in Ghana, Mr Serinye said. He aims to ensure his colleagues get the same training in order to enhance the organisations credibility. It was thrilling to join fellow media men and women to learn the skills and the rationale underpinning fact-checking. Going forward, its my desire to get everyone in my team get the training so that Metro TV will enhance its credibility by checking and cross-checking claims made in the public domain, especially by politicians. Our cohort was rather small. Dubawa should not stop, resources permitting, until every single Ghanaian journalist or media practitioner is trained in fact-checking, Mr Serinye said. For Jacqueline Quaye, a blogger at Ameyawdebrah.com, learning how to use multimedia verification tools was the highlight of the training. The introduction to fact-checking tools was my favourite session as I got more enlightened on how to easily detect FAKE NEWS. As an online writer, these tools would aid me in selecting the right photos for my work, she said. The founder and Chief Executive of PTCIJ, the promoter of the Dubawa, Dapo Olorunyomi, in congratulating the team urged them to form an information-sharing cohort which will defend the journalism profession and uphold the countrys democracy through effective verification. Mr Dapo Olorunyomi addressing participants The organisation plans to have more training for journalists and other stakeholders soon. Results trickling in Already, the training has started yielding some positive results. Participants have started incorporating fact-checking in their work. Kwame Boakye, a writer for PulseGhana, tried his hand on his first fact-check which incidentally was about a cure for the coronavirus. Another participant, Regina Bortey, an anchor at Starr 103.5, presented a fact-check also on a purported cure for the COVID-19. Other participants are in the process of verifying and finalising claims. Knowledge sharing has also occurred as some participants have passed on the knowledge acquired with members of their newsrooms. The work Dubawa Ghana does is amazing and learning to be a part of this fact-checking cohort has been a privilege. Sharing the information I learnt during the training with my colleagues has been very helpful in the stories we publish, Ms Quaye said. DUBAWA is a non-partisan verification and rating platform designed to help renew West African journalism through the promotion of professionalism and the culture of factual public debates that leads to the amplification of truth and accuracy in reporting. It is also a repository of tools and resources that can be used by media professionals and the general public to verify information and produce fact-based reports. Advertisements DUBAWA is one of the three internationally accredited fact-checking platforms in Africa, holds a membership of the International Fact-checking Network that regulates this important phase of journalism, and currently has offices in Nigeria and Ghana. New Delhi: The country's PM Narendra Modi has thanked countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan for contributing to the SAARC COVID19 Emergency Fund. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has thanked Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina while tweeting. CM Jayaram announced 'Himachal Pradesh Lockdown' PM Modi tweeted from his official Twitter handle saying that I am thankful to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina for contributing $ 1.5 million to the COVID-19 Emergency Fund. By coming together and working together, we will be able to face all the challenges related to Kovid 19. Along with this, PM Modi has also thanked Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa for his contribution of $ 5 million. PM Modi has said that with our mutual support we will be able to fight this virus effectively. Number of corona infected reaches 734 in Pakistan, Pak may lockdown soon Along with this, PM Modi has also thanked Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani for the support of 1 million dollars. Several neighboring countries of South Asia have supported the Kovid 19 Emergency Fund. CM Mamata appeals to PM Modi to stop all flights A municipal corporation worker sprays disinfectant inside a bank as a preventive measure to contain the spread of coronavirus in Vijayawada. Photo: PTI The Karnataka government on Monday night announced a lockdown from March 24 till month end in the entire state as seven new COVID-19 cases were reported, taking the tally in the state to 33. The government earlier announced stricter measures in nine districts, including Bengaluru, where lockdown was declared on Sunday till March 31 to contain the spread of virus. In a late night tweet, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said "after assessing the situation of covid-19, we have decided to lockdown not just 9 districts but the whole state of Karnataka starting tomorrow till March 31st. I request all citizens to co-operate and please stay indoors." In another tweet in Kannada, he said, the total lockdown was extended to the entire state "to control covid-19 infection which is spreading at dangerous level." The government on Sunday announced shutdown of all commercial activities barring essential services in Bengaluru city, Bengaluru Rural, Mangaluru, Mysuru, Kalaburagi, Dharwad, Chikkaballapura, Kodagu and Belagavi till month end, while closing state borders and postponing board exams. Orders were issued on Monday prohibiting gathering of more than five people in public places in these districts, stopping public and private transport services, and closing of government offices there. "All gatherings of more than 5 persons shall be prohibited in public places except for purposes of containment of COVID-19 and statutory and regulatory functions," the state government said in an order signed by Chief Secretary T M Vijay Bhaskar. It said all shops, commercial establishments, offices, workshops, godowns dealing shall close their operations subject to exceptions, while all industries and factories except those dealing with essential goods and services, food, medical equipment, drugs, fuel, agricultural inputs etc, shall remain closed. "They (industries) are advised not to remove any worker on this account and advised to sanction paid leave on these days (till March 31) to the remaining workers," it added. The government said all foreign returnees shall remain in strict home quarantine, and violation of home quarantine will entail penal action and shift to government quarantine. The ongoing budget session of the Karnataka legislative assembly will be cut short, asSpeaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri announced that it will be adjourned sine die on Tuesday, amid growing demand for it to be curtailed in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak. "ill date 33 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state which includes one death," the state health department said in a bulletin. It said 31 positive patients are in isolation at designated hospitals and are stable. The seven new positive cases confirmed on Monday include two from neighbouring Kerala, and five from Bengaluru. The government in its order has said all passenger transport services including inter-state, inter-district and within the district operations of Road Transport Corporations and private operations shall be stopped in the nine districts. "Plying of private vehicles shall be permitted only for procuring essential commodities and exceptions permitted," it said, adding that all Ola, Uber, taxis, autorickshaws and other hired services shall not be permitted for passenger transport except for procuring essential commodities and medical emergencies. All government offices dealing with non-essential services as notified by government shall remain closed, the order said, as it also called for stopping of all prayer and festival gatherings in the nine districts. Warning against violating the regulations, the order said those in violation will have to face the law under Epidemic Diseases Act, the Disaster Management Act, sections of IPC, among others. The Health Department said a mammoth exercise of identifying overseas passenger who had landed in Kempegowda International Airport at Bengaluru before March 17, was taken by city civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike and have applied home quarantine stamps on 5,000 people on Sunday. Following the shutdown, the government said food will be provided free of cost through state run 'Indira Canteen' for the poor who depend on their daily wages for livelihood. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Trump Pandemic rages Global Times By Wang Cong and Xie Wenting Source:Global Times Published: 2020/3/22 16:18:40 Last Updated: 2020/3/22 22:18:40 US president assigns blame for own errors US President Donald Trump has spared no efforts in scapegoating China for allowing the coronavirus to rampage in the US, using an old trick from his political playbook: giving derogatory nicknames to his opponents. But with his latest attempt - calling the coronavirus "Chinese virus" -- Trump has run into a brick wall. Not only did the term fail to catch on, as he clearly hoped, it has instead inspired many US citizens, from ordinary people to celebrities and Nobel laureates, to come up with what analysts call more accurate terms that keep the focus on the US president to take responsibility for his failure to stem the epidemic, such as "Trump Pandemic." In a scathing opinion piece in the New York Times on Thursday, renowned Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman called the coronavirus outbreak the "Trump Pandemic" and argued that while the virus didn't originate in the US, "the [US] response to the threat has been catastrophically slow and inadequate, and the buck stops with Trump." On Twitter, the term "Trump pandemic" was being widely used by many, including celebrities. US comedian Rosie O'Donnell, who has 1.1 million followers on Twitter, has used the term and others, including "Trump Plague." Joe Lockhart, a former White House press secretary under Bill Clinton, said on Twitter Saturday: "Trump Pandemic [-] as long as we're renaming things." Many on Twitter have also been using other hashtags such as "Trump Virus" and "Trump Lies and People Die" in tweets criticizing the US President's bungled anti-epidemic efforts. "'Trump Pandemic' is not only vivid but also very accurate," said Li Haidong, a professor of US studies at the China Foreign Affairs University in Beijing, noting that Trump's negligence and inaction caused the disaster. "The Trump administration has an inescapable responsibility for the current global pandemic." Compared to the widespread opposition and condemnation of Trump's racist term from around the world, including US presidential candidate and former vice president Joe Biden and Mike Ryan, a senior official at the World Health Organization, the term "Chinese virus" has only been used by a small number of anti-China politicians, such as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and US lawmaker Tom Cotton, who has repeatedly spread conspiracy theories about the origin of the virus. These politicians have also been harshly criticized by many. The widespread criticism from mainstream media and some Democratic politicians toward Trump was driven by the notion that Trump was trying to rally voters by "stirring up populism," said Sun Chenghao, an assistant research fellow at the institute of American studies in the Beijing-based China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations. "In a moment of crisis, Trump definitely wants to intensify his populism to attract voters," Sun told the Global Times on Sunday. In China, officials have also stepped up their efforts to counter the US government's attempts at scapegoating China. On Saturday, Hua Chunying, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, offered her counterpart at the US State Department, Morgan Ortagus, via Twitter a chronicle of China's releasing of information to the US to counter some US officials' criticisms of China. These included a notice on the virus released by Wuhan authorities as early as December 31 and updates to the US authorities since January 3. "Lying and slander won't make the US great, nor will it make up for lost time," Hua wrote in one of her five tweets directed at Ortagus, a rare public exchange between the spokespersons. Trump's resorting to xenophobia and populist rhetoric ahead of the presidential election has not only drawn widespread criticism, but also intensified polarization and division among the US public, said Sun Chenghao, an assistant research fellow with the Institute of American Studies of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations in Beijing. "Trump is accelerating the political polarization and division in the US and further turning the United States of America into the Divided States of America," Sun told the Global Times on Sunday. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Supreme Court, on March 23, issued orders to complete shut down physical courtrooms due to the coronavirus pandemic, CNN-News18 has reported. There has been a nationwide lock-down due to the rapid spread of COVID-19. The Centre has asked all the state governments to follow the measures strictly. All violators of the lock-down will face legal consequences. As per the order, there will be no physical courtrooms anymore. All proceedings will be held via video-coferencing, Chief Justice of India Sharad Arvind Bobde has said. Coronavirus LIVE updates The order has also said that lawyers' chambers need to be sealed by 5 pm on March 24. The CJI has also said that the apex court will remain open only once a week. The situation will be reviewed later on. 23 March 2020 JML FINANCE (LUXEMBOURG) SARL Board Changes, including appointment of Julius Meinl VI to the Board of Julius Meinl Living PLC Julius Meinl Living PLC, through its group companies, acquires prime real estate assets for development into serviced residences that the group will then operate itself ("Julius Meinl Living"). Julius Meinl Living is fully owned by the Meinl family who, over the last 150 years, have demonstrated their expertise in Central and Eastern Europe in consumer goods, retail and real estate. The aparthotels will have a premium positioning and will operate under a brand that reflects the Meinl family heritage. Julius Meinl Living recently announced that Erik Webb Dempsey had joined as Chief Financial Officer and that he would become a board director of Julius Meinl Living PLC. Erik brings more than 20 years of CFO-level experience in biotechnology, construction, utilities and real estate, including in the Czech Republic where he has lived for most of his adult life. Through his career, Erik has garnered a wealth of experience in real estate investments and valuation, financial control, financial reporting, capital management and project management and has a wide range of senior level banking relationships. Erik's formal registration as a board director has now been completed. Julius Meinl Living is today pleased to announce that Julius Meinl VI, will additionally become a board director of Julius Meinl Living PLC. Julius Meinl VI has over 10 years of principal investment and entrepreneurial experience. He previously worked for Colony Capital, a global real estate investment firm, as well as in the real estate investment banking group at Credit Suisse. He holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business. Finally, Edward Carbone is stepping down from the board of Julius Meinl Living PLC. Julius Meinl Living thanks him for his input and service. The appointment of a replacement director will be announced in due course. As Julius Meinl Living moves towards its objective of becoming the leading provider of serviced residences in Central Europe, expands the number properties in its portfolio and moves each one through development towards operation, it recognises the need to recruit in order to strengthen and deepen its team at all levels ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: yZmakciZapuYl5ttacdtb2hrbZqVl2OZbWOXmZKZk8yZbJ2RlmlpmZ3LZm9jmm5m - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-62590-jmlfls-press-release-re-board-230320.pdf Controversial TV host Kerri-Anne Kennerley has signed a lucrative deal with Channel Ten to stay with Studio 10 for another year. The 66-year-old titan of television confirmed the news to Woman's Day magazine on Monday, while laughing off reports she could be replaced. 'It's been in the works for weeks,' she told the publication. 'It's been in the works': Studio 10 host Kerri-Anne Kennerley, 66, (pictured) has revealed she has signed a lucrative deal to stay on the show, as reported in Woman's Day magazine Monday The former Midday host is certainly no stranger to controversy, with her adding it is part of what makes the show so successful. 'It's an opinion-based talk show,' she said. While admitting that she loved the show, the star added that if Channel Ten hadn't have wanted her to resign she would have left. 'If they didn't want me to re-sign, I wouldn't have been bothered. I can amuse myself quite happily without daytime TV.' Candid: 'If they didn't want me to re-sign, I wouldn't have been bothered. I can amuse myself quite happily without daytime TV,' Kerri-Anne said She finished by saying it was her beloved late husband John who encouraged her to take on the TV challenge. Appearing alongside Sarah Harris and Joe Hildebrand and Angela Bishop, Kerri-Anne has certainly forged a number of headline-making moments on the show. The beloved presenter came under fire from fans in December, following a comment she made to senior reporter Antoinette Lattouf live on air. Inspiration: Kerri-Anne finished by saying it was her beloved late husband John who encouraged her to take on the TV challenge prior to him passing away. Pictured together at the Logies in 2017 Shock: The pair's co-stars were left speechless in December, after Kerri-Anne made a remark about journalist Antoinette Lattouf's playsuit live on-air Antoinette wore a pin-flashing ensemble, and, as she sat beside Kerri-Anne to lead a segment on slang words, Kerri-Anne asked if she'd 'forgotten her pants'. Following an audible gasp from her co-stars, married mother-of-two Antoinette responded that she was 'wearing a playsuit'. Fans in their masses immediately took to Facebook accusing the host of 's**t-shaming', even demanding that Kerri-Anne 'should apologise live on air'. Kerri-Anne also famously clashed with Yumi Stynes on Australia Day last year, with her attacking the motivation of 'Invasion Day' protesters. Australian swimwear brand Tigerlily has collapsed into voluntary administration as the retail industry is devastated by the coronavirus outbreak. The chain, which has 30 stores across the country and global sales via the online store, appointed administrators from KordaMentha on Monday. Despite recording the annual sales of around $35million, a statement released on Monday cited COVID-19 as being a key reason for the decision. Australian swimwear brand Tigerlily has collapsed into voluntary administration as the retail industry continues to be bit by the coronavirus outbreak The chain, which has 30 stores across the country and global sales via the online store, appointed administrators from KordaMentha on Monday Administrators Scott Langdon and Jenny Nettleton said Tigerlily has seen a drop in sales but the outbreak of the coronavirus was the last straw, the Australian Financial Review reported. 'It reduced the number of people coming through shopping centres, which reduced sales in an already challenging environment,' Mr Langdon said. 'A sale of business process will commence immediately and we expect a high level of interest in the business given the strong brand and its reputation.' The brand plans to continue to trade 'on a limited basis' throughout the administration and it is not yet known whether stores will close or if employees are at risk of losing their jobs. Mr Langdon believes there will be a high level of interest in the business given its strong sales. The swimwear giant was founded by model Jodhi Meares in 2000 and has been sold in David Jones and other prominent Australian retailers. The company had a complete rebrand in November last year after wiping all social media and starting from scratch. Despite recording the annual sales of around $35million, a statement released on Monday cited COVID-19 as being a key reason for the decision The announcement follows a rough start to the year for retailers in the Australian market. Tigerlily is the eighth brand to collapse in the past four months, following Colette by Colette Hayman, Kikki K and Harris Scarfe among others. Most recently, Harris Scarfe, Bardot, Colette Hayman and Ishka announced they had collapsed. Iconic Australian car brand Holden is also shutting up shop and will stop manufacturing and importing cars after first opening in 1856. Restaurant chains have also not been immune from the retail apocalypse. In 2018, most Max Brenner stores were forced out of business while the end of 2019 also signalled the end of Criniti's stores across the nation. Another high-profile administration was makeup line Napoleon Perdis. But the beauty brand was later saved by a creditor, similar to Jeanswest, which went into voluntary administration this year. Islamabad, Pakistan Pakistan has moved closer to a countrywide lockdown to attempt to control the accelerating spread of coronavirus cases across the country, as cases hit more than 850 and doctors complain of dwindling personal protective kits. On Monday, a full lockdown went into effect in the southern city of Karachi, home to more than 20 million people, while Punjab province home to almost half of Pakistans 207 million people also announced widespread restrictions on public movement. The government in both areas has restricted people to their homes, other than to access essential services such as groceries, pharmacies or medical care, according to a government announcement. Countrywide, Pakistan has so far recorded at least 859 cases of coronavirus, with six deaths and six patients making a full recovery, according to government data. The number of cases has more than quadrupled in a week. In Karachi, citizens were ordered to remain within their homes and to only leave for emergencies or to obtain groceries or medicines. 200125070959786 [The provincial] government is satisfied that it has become extremely urgent and important to prevent mixing/gathering/meeting of people by taking extreme measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 and therefore imposes ban on the movement and the gathering of people, read a government announcement. The lockdown will remain in place until at least March 31, the statement said. A day earlier, however, Pakistans Prime Minister Imran Khan said that he was not prepared to place the entire country on lockdown because of the associated economic costs. Twenty-five percent of Pakistanis are below the poverty line today if I impose a complete lockdown then my countrys rickshaw drivers, pushcart vendors, taxi drivers, small shopkeepers, daily wage earners, all of them will be shut in their homes, Khan said in a televised address to the nation. If Pakistan had the resources that Italy has, that France has, that the US has, that England has, I would fully lock down all of Pakistan today. The prime minister advised citizens to self-quarantine if they felt ill, and to limit their social contacts to stop the spread of the virus. Pakistans government has placed a ban on all public gatherings, closed educational institutions, shopping malls and other public places until at least April 3. On Saturday, the country also suspended all incoming international air traffic until April 4. Quarantine woes Sindh province, within which Karachi is located, has seen the highest number of cases across the country, recording at least 352 cases since Pakistans outbreak began in late February. At least 260 of those cases were tested at a quarantine camp in the city of Sukkur, established to house travellers who arrived in the country from Iran and had previously passed through the Taftan quarantine camp at the border. The Taftan camp criticised by those held there as lacking proper medical and social isolation facilities has been at the centre of Pakistans outbreak of cases. At least 57 percent of all people who have tested positive for coronavirus in Pakistan passed through the camp at some stage, according to government data. In Taftan, everyone was sleeping in a single room, all our children were sleeping with us, said Hussain Bux Gopang, 48, currently housed at the Sukkur quarantine camp. There were very few medical checks in Taftan. They would check our temperature on our forehead [and] they had no other checking there. Others echoed those complaints. They kept us in a tent [in Taftan], said Lal Bux Khaskheli, 36, a labourer who arrived at Taftan from Iran on March 2. It was very, very cold, and we had small blankets. It was very difficult there. We did get food on time, but there were just a few bathrooms for about 600 people. The camp at Sukkur, which currently houses more than 1,000 people, has been set up in a disused residential complex, and people held there say facilities are much better. Per person, we get one room, with a bed, a prayer mat, a towel, soap, said Gopang. Conditions are good here. This is 100 percent better than Taftan. Khaskheli, however, disagreed, saying while there was better medical care and testing, those in the Sukkur quarantine camp were still not being treated for their pre-existing conditions. We have not been asked about our symptoms or what we should be doing in order to save ourselves from infection, he said. The least they should do is monitor our conditions. In addition to Sukkur, people who passed through Taftan are also being held at separate quarantine camps across the country, in Multan (1,247 people), Dera Ghazi Khan (782), Dera Ismail Khan (269), and just outside Quetta (532), according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). More than 400 people remain quarantined at Taftan, according to the provincial governments data. Lack of supplies Pakistani authorities say they are racing to secure supplies and hospital space in case numbers of COVID19 patients continue to rise. Currently, the government says it has more than 35 hospitals set up to deal with the outbreak, equipped with more than 118,000 beds. Doctors across the country, however, have complained that they are battling the virus without proper protective equipment. We do not have personal protective equipment (PPE), or goggles, and even [face] masks we are buying from our own funds, said Dr Ahmed Zeb, 35, a spokesman for a doctors union in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. We have nothing and we dont know where patients are coming from. 200323064432820 Dr Hazrat Akbar, 29, practising at a major hospital in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, echoed those concerns. Only those on the front line have kits, those in emergency and casualty do not really have access to them, he told Al Jazeera. At his hospital, which caters to thousands of patients a day, with a staff of more than 1,000, Akbar said there were less than 40 PPE kits left in storage. On Friday, Lieutenant General Muhammad Afzal, the NDMA chairman, said the government was working on securing more PPEs and other resources for healthcare workers. On Sunday, the health ministry announced that 14 metric tonnes of PPE, including face masks, thermometers, gloves [and] gowns, had been dispatched to Pakistan. On Sunday, authorities in Gilgit-Baltistan state said a young doctor had contracted the virus while screening travellers at a road checkpoint, and subsequently died. If we do not protect our healthcare providers and keep losing them what will we do? Wont it get worse than Italy and China? asked Zeb. Follow Al Jazeeras Asad Hashim on Twitter @AsadHashim Minister of National Security Stuart Young is moving to deal with bars and churches which defy the COVID-19 ban. The minister met with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and the Chief of Defence Staff yesterday morning to look at measures to be taken to ensure compliance with the Governments directive that the congregating of people in non-essential business places and churches should be discouraged. COVID-19 claims first Thai abroad WORLD: A Thai woman, who was the head chef of a Thai restaurant in the United States, has become the first reported Thai death in a foreign country from COVID-19. CoronavirusCOVID-19deathhealth By Bangkok Post Monday 23 March 2020, 09:29AM MedStar Georgetown Hospital. Photo: Wikipedia Foreign Ministry spokesman Cherdkiat Atthakor said the ministry had received a report from the embassy in Washington that a 66-year-old Thai woman, known only as Pailin, had passed away at MedStar Georgetown Hospital on March 21. Her niece informed the embassy that the hospital had confirmed her death was the result of COVID-19, making Pailin the first Thai to have died abroad as a result of the virus, he said. The embassy is following up on the case to provide assistance to her relatives in the US. This recently-listed, nearly $1 million Friendswood home boasts some unique features, namely a "Star Wars" Death Star, Darth Vader himself and some lightsabers. Houston-based realtor Ellis Young, 41, and his two sons, Bryce, 13, and Kaiden, 9, donned their best Star Wars gear and channeled the dark side to help attract attention to the home. "We decided we would do something fun to get people's attention and with everything that is going on, try to lighten people's mood," Young said of the listing on the Houston Association of Realtors. Young said he is known around the Pearland and Friendswood area for his unconventional tactics and using lighthearted for-sale signs, something he calls his "calling card" now. He made headlines in 2018 after garnering attention for a Manvel home listing that featured a for sale sign with the words, "Not Haunted," according to Young and media reports. "I am kind of notorious for doing stuff like this to my listings to get them outside of the box," Young said. One of his latest signs on a Pearland home makes light of the coronavirus pandemic and states, "The only corona in this house comes with lime," while some of his other sigss make fun of himself for being bald: "Agent needs money for hair plugs." "All of these things are not to offend anyone, it's just to lighten the mood of what can be a stressful time for a seller," Young said. "And it puts buyers in a better mood when they come in and see something humorous." Young said his Star Wars photoshoot only took about an hour and credits his friend Dan Young, no relation, for photoshopping the other intergalactic features in. Gov. Phil Murphy and other New Jersey officials will provide their daily update Monday on the spread of coronavirus and the states efforts to slow the pandemic. The press conference is scheduled for noon and can seen on the governors YouTube channel. NJ Advance Media will add the live stream to this post when it becomes available. The gatherings have generally lasted more than an hour as multiple officials offer information and field questions from the media. Its also when state health officials provide the latest official numbers for cases. Often they start several minutes later as officials gather the latest information on the number of positive tests by county and statewide. Among the topics Murphy is likely to touch upon is the opening of the second state-run testing center - this one at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel. The governor will also likely discuss the additional social distancing measures he ordered on Saturday. All non-essential retail businesses in the state are closed. Residents should remain home unless their job is considered essential or if they are shopping for food or attending to a medical need. Outdoor exercise is permitted, too. During Sundays update, Murphy said there are 1,914 coronavirus cases statewide. At least 20 people have died. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Click the photo to write a caption and have a chance to win a free subscription to the Norfolk Daily News. TVS Motor Company has announced that it will be shutting down all its manufacturing facilities for two days starting March 23, 2020. The announcement comes in order to ensure the safety of the workers and prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country. READ: Hero Motocorp Suspends Operations Globally Till March 31 TVS stops operations A statement read, "In view of COVID-19, for considering the safety and well being of its employees, TVS Motor Company as an interim measure has decided to shut operations at its manufacturing facilities and offices for two days effective 23rd March 2020. The company would take further steps after reviewing the situation." A number of automobile firms are shutting down production and other facilities in order to prevent the spread of the virus and also follow the government orders of continuing only essential services. READ: Maruti Suzuki Suspends Operations Indefinitely Due To Coronavirus Outbreak On Sunday, Hero Motocorp announced the suspension of its manufacturing facilities across the world till March 31. A statement released by the firm read, "With the safety and wellbeing of its employees as top priority in view of the escalating COVID-19 situation, Hero MotoCorp has decided to halt operations at all its global manufacturing facilities including in India, Colombia and Bangladesh - and the Global Parts Centre (GPC) at Neemrana with immediate effect until March 31, 2020." "Employees at all the other functions and locations including the Centre of Innovation and Technology (CIT) in Jaipur in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan will continue to work from home, except for those whose physical presence is necessary to run the day-to-day essential services," the firm added. READ: Manufacturers Shut Plants, Markets Down Again As Virus Rips Maruti Suzuki also announced that it will be temporarily suspending operations at its facility in Manesar, Haryana, in accordance with the government's policy in the backdrop of the Coronavirus outbreak. The firm will be shutting its operations in Gurugram and Haryana indefinitely. A statement by Suzuki read, "The Company will shut production and office operations at its facilities in Gurugram and Manesar, Haryana, with immediate effect till further notice. The Research and Development Centre at Rohtak will also remain closed." READ: Parliament's Budget Session Likely To Be Adjourned Sine-die On Monday Amid Coronavirus Military planners have visited the ExCel Centre, in Londons Docklands, to ascertain whether it can be used as a hospital if the NHS runs out of beds to treat coronavirus patients. Eight service personnel from the Ministry of Defences "Covid Support Force" carried out the logistical assessments at the centre as part of a contingency programme with a sharp expected rise in numbers of those suffering from the virus in the coming weeks. The NHS will run the "field hospital" should the site be chosen as one, with no plans at this stage of military medics working at the site. No other large facility has been looked at, so far, for use as a treatment centre, but this may change in the coming days. Defence officials stressed that this was a preliminary stage of scoping operations, and the decision is yet to be made on whether the ExCel Centre will be utilised. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said: To assist NHS England to prepare for a number of scenarios as the Coronavirus outbreak unfolds, a team of military planners visited the ExCel centre in London to determine how the centre might benefit the NHS response to the outbreak. The MoD said last week that the use of barracks, the building of "tent cities" and, possibly, ships, to make up for a shortage of hospital beds are all under consideration but officials say it may be more logistically effective to provide personnel and equipment in facilities such as hotels near hospitals. While up to 10,000 soldiers, sailors and air force from the support force can be deployed on the ground, DSTL (Defence Science and Technology Laboratory) in Porton Down is working with other government scientific and medical facilities, including Public Health England, in the search for a treatment. Training has begun of 150 drivers to drive oxygen tankers for hospitals and clinics, with the service to become operational in 10 days. Military personnel will also be used to deliver food to elderly and vulnerable people in prolonged isolation. Under the terms of the Military Aid to Civil Authorities, the armed forces can deployed to help civil powers, like the police and fire service, in times of emergency and they will be available if there is rioting or looting and to guard quarantine zones if these are established. The Covid Support Force will be run from the Headquarters Standing Joint Command in Aldershot, which coordinates resilience missions for the state. Military planners that command unit been placed in government departments dealing with the crisis. Reservists, especially those with specific skill sets, will be used in the operations with measures in place to call them out when necessary. As of 22 March 2020, 14:00 Hr a total of 315 suspected cases have been tested for COVID-19 by Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) and Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR). Twenty-four (24) of these have been confirmed at the laboratory as COVID-19. Twenty-three of the confirmed cases are receiving treatment in isolation and one (1) of the cases who had underlying chronic pulmonary condition prior to having COVID-19 has died (myjoyonline). This is the fact of the situation in Ghana. The president in his address to the nation assured Ghanaians that the government is doing all in her power to make sure Ghanaians are safe. To that effect all public gatherings, including conferences, workshops, funerals, festivals, political rallies, sporting events and religious activities, such as services in churches and mosques, have been suspended for the next four (4) weeks. All Universities, Senior High Schools, and basic schools, i.e. public and private schools, have been closed till further notice. In addition, all points of entry into the country either by land, air or sea have also been closed to human traffic. These and many others are the measures that have been put in place to contain the spread of the virus. It is not surprising that some Ghanaians are still ignorant of the Covid-19 situation. This is the time in which public education is key. Others know there is some virus whose name they cant even pronounce. They have no idea what it is or how it is transmitted. Education about the Covid-19 virus, its mode of transmission and ways one can protect him/herself is vital in the fight against the virus. Effective public education should be made in all major local dialects so that all and sundry will get the message and understand. Most Ghanaians depend on the media for information. Others who have little or no formal education depend on some learned individuals for explanations to happenings. There is a lot of misinformation out there. This has led to a lot of misconceptions and wrong perceptions. In explaining the facts of the matter, it should be done without inciting fear and panic. As a nation, we believe God is in control. 25th March, 2020 has been declared by the President as a National day of prayer and fasting. We believe in prayer. This is the time we have to call on our God to heal our land. He is our shelter in a time of storm. I entreat all, to go on their knees in prayer for prayer changes things. 2 Chronicles 7:14 Says, if My people, who are called by My Name, humble themselves, and pray and seek (crave, require as a necessity) My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear [them] from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land. This notwithstanding, at the individual level, we should still observe the necessary precautions and social distancing measures. We should be careful and do away with every carefree attitude. Our survival is in our own hands. Always use an alcohol based hand sanitizer. Wash hands regularly with soap under running water.Avoid shaking of hands. Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. Eat well and get enough sleep. These are not normal times. We should avoid politicising the issues. This fight against Covid-19 is not an NPP, NDC or any other political party matter. We should come together as a people, put aside our political affiliations and fight as one. Pharmacies, supermarkets, retailers and vendors should avoid raising prices of some essential items needed to protect ourselves, especially hand sanitizers. They should in these times, focus on making these essential items easily obtainable at reasonable prices, rather than profits. All hope is not lost. We will stand victorious when it is all over. Our survival is in our own hands. Let us all be each others keeper and be careful. Spread calm, not panic. Frimpong Mansoh Cobbina GBC Radio Central Cape Coast [email protected] Fear of (everybody else) flying By Duggan Flanakin Just over a year ago, newly elected U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and U.S. Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA) shocked the world by proposing a Green New Deal. One of its more controversial provisions was a proposal to build high-speed rail at a scale that would make air travel unnecessary. In 2013, Elizabeth Rosenthal told New York Times readers that air travel is the most serious environmental sin for many Americans. A single round-trip flight from New York to Europe or San Francisco adds 2 or 3 tons of carbon dioxide per passenger to the atmosphere, she claimed. Air travel emissions are rising, because the volume of air travel is increasing much faster than gains in flight fuel efficiency. The website Green Choices calls air travel one of the most greenhouse-gas-rich forms of transport in existence, and laments that the lack of fuel taxes on aviation fuel is a subsidy that makes air travel surprisingly (and unacceptably) cheap. In addition to carbon dioxide, air travel generates nitrogen oxides and water vapor that also contribute to the greenhouse effect. In the view of allegedly Green Choices, aviation industry growth is incompatible with efforts to combat climate change. The European Union brought aviation into its emission trading system in 2012. However, protests from China, the USA and other countries confined that program to intra-EU flights through 2024. Transport & Environment, which bills itself as Europe's leading clean transport campaign group, claims the aviation sector has a climate impact that continues to spiral out of control, with no sign of abating. Over in the United Kingdom, which just left the European Union and supposedly left EU climate doctrines behind, decades-old plans to build a third runway at Londons busy Heathrow Airport ran into yet another roadblock, as the UKs Court of Appeal ruled that the runway proposal was illegal because it did not take into consideration the governments own climate change commitments. London Mayor Sadiq Khan and his environmentalist allies cheered the decision, which Heathrow Airport Holdings (but not the British government) promises to appeal to the countrys Supreme Court. Khan has long condemned the third runway plans, calling them the wrong decision for London and the whole of Britain, and claiming its construction and the increased number of flights it would allow would be devastating for air quality across London. The much-needed runway would increase airport capacity from 85.5 million passengers a year to 130 million and increase annual total flights from 474,000 to 740,000. It would result in up to $228 billion in economic growth across the United Kingdom and create up to 180,000 new jobs nationwide all at a cost estimated at under $20 billion. Even if Heathrow ultimately wins the right to build its third runway, the delays brought about largely by Britain signing the Paris climate agreement will surely raise the price of construction, hugely inconvenience travelers, and postpone much needed revenues from landing fees and commerce. The Confederation of British Industry in June 2018 had lauded the decision by then-Prime Minister Theresa May and her full cabinet to approve the airport expansion. But current Prime Minister Boris Johnson does not favor it. CBI Deputy Director-General Josh Hardie has said, Our aviation capacity is set to run out as early as 2025, so its crucial we get spades in the ground as soon as possible. Those who hope we can replace jet engines with clean energy will be sad to learn that, while there are solar airplanes, they are slow (maximum speed 100 kilometers or 65 miles per hour), unable to carry passengers, and dependent on good weather. They also provide very narrow margins of error for pilots. As Dan Reed explained in a 2019 Forbes op-ed, applying the Green New Deal just to air travel would devastate the U.S. economy, while addressing only the 3.5% of greenhouse gas emissions attributable to air travel. Severe cutbacks in air travel would eliminate many of the nations 700,000-plus airline jobs (average 2016 salary $86,000), and severely impact industry vendors, airports, cargo hauling companies, hotels, other travel-related companies, and all who rely on goods and services including I would add flu and COVID test kits, cures and vaccinations for every corner of America and the world. Such an action by the United States would also threaten U.S. dominance in aircraft manufacturing, advanced aviation and aerospace technology, as well as aircraft design and production, Reed noted. Meanwhile, UN climate conferences involve thousands of activists, bureaucrats, politicians and reporters, who fly to distant places, stay at 5-star hotels and eat lavishly, while hectoring us average citizens about our travel and emissions, and devising new agreements to rule humanity with an iron fist. (Why do so many have to attend these gabfests, and why cant they conduct these meetings via videoconference?) Meanwhile, Prince Charles and his entourage of family, servants and security staff tour the realm and planet by private jetliner, to warn us that climate change and lost biodiversity are the greatest threats humanity ever faced. Former President Obama and his family and entourage still enjoy Hawaiian vacations. Al Gore and Leo DiCaprio are (in)famous for using private jets, SUVs and limousines to get to climate events, where they lecture us lesser mortals on what we must do to protect Planet Earth from catastrophic warming caused by (other) humans (than themselves). Ultra-billionaire Mike Bloomberg tries to justify his use of private jets and helicopters by explaining that they are essential if he is to continue his global quest to eliminate fossil fuels (and fossil fuel jobs) and end the supposed climate crisis. None of them have any intention of ending their private travel extravagances. They just think we should end our modest and occasional use of commercial travel. Theyre not afraid of flying. Theyre afraid of everyone else flying. Or more accurately, they dont think the rest of us deserve the opportunity, joy or necessity of flying for vacation, business or any other matter. They are privileged. We are not. Instead of airplanes flying overhead through the atmosphere and landing at airports near urban centers large and small they want hundreds of new rail lines, with thousands of miles of track slicing through forests, grasslands, farmlands and backyards, put there largely through powers of eminent domain, however much locals might object. (The trains would be electric, of course, powered by clean, green, intermittent, unreliable wind and solar power, and requiring vastly more mining, wind turbines, solar panels, batteries and child labor.) The impacts on property rights and biodiversity would be significant. Meanwhile, in 2018 China announced plans to build 216 new airports by 2035, almost doubling the number of airports in that country today, to meet the growing demands for air travel. China had 552 million air passengers in 2017 and wants to connect its far-flung cities and people more quickly and efficiently. COVID-19 may have delayed those plans, but it will be fixed and will not derail the plans. India has launched a truly ambitious plan to build 100 new airports by 2024, to spur economic growth. The plan will also double the domestic aircraft fleet and upgrade existing runways, many of which date to World War II. Just four years ago, only 75 of Indias 450 runways were operational. These are important issues. But will air travel bans and a Green New Deal benefit people and planet? As my CFACT colleague Paul Driessen has pointed out (here, here and here) the GND would require mining on massive, unprecedented scales. It would blanket hundreds of millions of acres of cropland, scenic areas and wildlife habitats with wind turbines and solar panels. The impacts on wildlife, biodiversity, living standards and human rights would be monumental and catastrophic. For the USA to shutter its airline industry is highly unlikely. However, 67 Members of Congress cosponsored the Green New Deal plan, including Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT). Sanders later introduced his own (slightly scaled-down) GND to transform America away from modernity and prosperity and back to the pre-reliable-electricity good old days when living standards were a fraction of todays. Meanwhile, climate and extreme weather patterns will continue doing what they always have: change. In fact, the worst of all possible outcomes would be a cooler planet, with less atmospheric carbon dioxide, combined with organic and subsistence farming. Biodiversity loss and starvation would be rampant. Duggan Flanakin is Director of Policy Research at the Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (www.CFACT.org) and author of many articles on energy, environmental and climate issues. Home Jails can be incubators for disease so we have to take bold and drastic steps, an official said. The state of New Jersey plans to release low-risk inmates serving county jail sentences to limit the spread of the coronavirus, the governor said on Monday. The announcement follows an order late Sunday night signed by Stuart Rabner, chief justice of the states supreme court, to suspend or commute sentences being served by inmates as a condition of probation or a municipal court conviction. The move is being made to protect the health of inmates and limit the spread of the COVID-19 disease, state Attorney General Gurbir Singh Grewal said. Jails can be incubators for disease so we have to take bold and drastic steps, Grewal said. People released will be subject to the states stay-at-home order and will serve their sentence once the health crisis is over, Grewal said. Thousands of inmates in at least 16 states are being released in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in crowded jails and prisons. California, New York, Ohio and Texas are among the states where officials are sending low-level offenders and elderly or sickly inmates home early. At the countrywide level, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is still transferring some inmates from coronavirus hot spots such as New York City to prisons in other parts of the country, even as three prisoners tested positive for the COVID-19 respiratory illness over the weekend, a top union official said on Monday. American Federation of Government Employees Council of Prison Local 33 President Shane Fausey called on Attorney General William Barr to take unprecedented action to temporarily stop the movement of all prisoners between facilities until the virus can be contained. I am imploring the attorney general of the United States to stop all inmate movement, shelter in place at least for 14 to 21 days, following the guidance of the White House press briefings, he said in a phone interview. Spokespeople for the US Department of Justice and BOP did not have any immediate comment. The BOP, which operates 122 facilities, has taken some precautions similar to those in state and local jails and prisons by suspending social visits. ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Salvation Army, the nation's largest social services organization, is evolving efforts to meet rising need due to COVID-19. With a presence in almost every ZIP code in America, The Salvation Army is uniquely positioned to meet the changing needs of America's most vulnerable. Monetary donations allow the most efficient response to evolving demand, but the organization will now accept select in-kind goods at locations across the country. "Responding to crisis is in our DNA," says Commissioner David Hudson, national commander of The Salvation Army. "In our 150-year history, societal events have taught us to be flexible and adapt. This isn't the first time we've had to evolve our services due to demands from pandemics or wide-scale economic hardships. We're prepared and we're honored to be stewards of the public's generosity." The Salvation Army believes that no one should have to go without basic supplies and is committed to utilizing its expansive network to get items quickly into the hands of those who need them. Financial contributions are needed most in order to most efficiently respond to demand and support local economies through the purchase of goods. Donations also help support essential Salvation Army programs that shelter and feed vulnerable individuals and families, provide emergency assistance and support the emergency personnel mobilized to fight the pandemic. Gifts can be made at salarmy.us/covid or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY. Additionally, if Americans find themselves with extra basic necessities that can be given to someone in need, they can drop them off at their local Salvation Army service center. These items include: Nonperishable Food Food items must be packaged in sturdy cans, boxes or bags. Avoid items packaged in glass. Acceptable items include: canned meals (soup, stew, chili), tuna (or other canned meats), boxed instant meals (mac and cheese, Hamburger Helper), peanut butter, canned fruit, canned vegetables, canned beans, pasta and spaghetti sauce, rice, cereal, healthy snacks, flour and sugar. Food items must be packaged in sturdy cans, boxes or bags. Avoid items packaged in glass. Acceptable items include: canned meals (soup, stew, chili), tuna (or other canned meats), boxed instant meals (mac and cheese, Hamburger Helper), peanut butter, canned fruit, canned vegetables, canned beans, pasta and spaghetti sauce, rice, cereal, healthy snacks, flour and sugar. Baby Supplies Formula, food, bottles, pacifiers, diapers and wipes. Formula, food, bottles, pacifiers, diapers and wipes. Hygiene Products Purchased and unused items such as hand sanitizer, soap, shampoo, toothbrushes and toothpaste, razors, deodorant, hairbrushes and combs, and feminine hygiene products. Purchased and unused items such as hand sanitizer, soap, shampoo, toothbrushes and toothpaste, razors, deodorant, hairbrushes and combs, and feminine hygiene products. Cleaning and Sanitizing Items Antibacterial spray (such as Lysol), antibacterial wipes, bleach, dishwashing detergent and laundry detergent Antibacterial spray (such as Lysol), antibacterial wipes, bleach, dishwashing detergent and laundry detergent Paper Products Paper towels, tissues, and toilet paper In the months that follow, The Salvation Army will continue to meet the basic needs of the 23 million Americans it already serves, and it anticipates it will also serve a new generation of need that is born out of the virus. While everyone is being impacted by this coronavirus outbreak, the one in six people living in poverty and the more than 550,000 individuals experiencing homelessness will feel the effects quicker and more deeply. People can join the fight for good and support their local Salvation Army and community by visiting salvationarmyusa.org/COVID19. If you are in need of assistance, please visit www.salvationarmyusa.org to find your local service center. About The Salvation Army The Salvation Army annually helps nearly 23 million Americans overcome poverty, addiction and economic hardships through a range of social services. By providing food for the hungry, emergency relief for disaster survivors, rehabilitation for those suffering from drug and alcohol abuse, and clothing and shelter for people in need, The Salvation Army is doing the most good at 7,600 centers of operation around the country. In the first-ever listing of "America's Favorite Charities" by The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The Salvation Army ranked as the country's largest privately funded, direct-service nonprofit. For more information, visit SalvationArmyUSA.org. Follow us on Twitter: @SalvationArmyUS and #DoingTheMostGood SOURCE Salvation Army Related Links https://www.salvationarmyusa.org Hollywood star Tom Hanks said he and wife Rita Wilson were on the mend Monday, after two weeks in hospital and self-isolation with the coronavirus. "Hey folks, two weeks after our first symptoms and we feel better," he posted in a social media message to fans, urging them to respect lockdown advice. The multiple Oscar-winning actor was on Australia's Gold Coast to film an Elvis Presley biopic when he and Wilson, both 63, came down with the disease. The pair were admitted to hospital, where they were treated before being released into self-isolation last week. The movie has since been put on ice. As both the United States and Australia struggled to curb infections and keep people from social gathering places, Hanks on Monday urged supporters to listen to advice about containing the pandemic. "Sheltering in place works like this: You don't give it to anyone -- you don't get it from anyone. Common sense, no? Going to take a while but if we take care of each other, help where we can, and give up some comforts... this too shall pass. We can figure this out." Also read: Tom Hanks self-isolating a week after testing positive for coronavirus: I have the blahs but no fever Hanks had earlier provided a similar update a week after announcing his diagnosis. Hey folks. Good news: One week after testing positive, in self-isolation, the symptoms are much the same. No fever but the blahs. Folding the laundry and doing the dishes leads to a nap on the couch. Bad news: my wife has won 6 straight hands of Gin Rummy and now leads by 201 points, hed written. Follow @htshowbiz for more Oak Brook, IL - Just released is the April edition of SLAS Technology featuring cover article, "CURATE.AI: Optimizing Personalized Medicine with Artificial Intelligence," by Agata Blasiak, Ph.D., Jeffrey Khong, Ph.D., and Theodore Kee, Ph.D., (University of Singapore and The N.1 Institute for Health). In this review, the authors explain an alternate approach to the current limited and suboptimal big data decision-making tools that are used to help medical teams determine a patient's drug and dose recommendation. In their review, Blasiak, Khong and Kee introduce CURATE.AI, an AI-derived mechanism-independent technology platform built to address the challenges in personalized dosing. CURATE.AI profiles are dynamically generated for an individual patient based on only that patient's data, drug doses and phenotypic outputs. The profile is then used to recommend drug doses towards a desired response. Drug doses may be reduced, yet drug efficacy can increase with an accompanying drop in the toxicity levels. Although different approaches aim to individualize drug selection, less focus has been given to personalizing the dose for the identified drug or treatment. When drugs are given at suboptimal doses, effectiveness can be impaired or absent. This also happens to be a major cause of clinical trial failure and poor response rates from patients. Additionally, the same patient's medical state will be different from one day to the next, which means the original selected dose will require readjustments over time. "No two people are the same - an unavoidable reality that has complicated medical care throughout time. The treatment that works for one patient may fail for another," says Blasiak. "With advances in engineering, the medical team is more and more equipped to tailor the treatment to an individual." ### Access to "CURATE.AI: Optimizing Personalized Medicine with Artificial Intelligence" is available at https://journals.sagepub.com/toc/jlad/25/2 until April 20. For more information about SLAS and its journals, visit http://www.slas.org/journals. SLAS (Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening) is an international community of 16,000 professionals and students dedicated to life sciences discovery and technology. The SLAS mission is to bring together researchers in academia, industry and government to advance life sciences discovery and technology via education, knowledge exchange and global community building. SLAS Technology: Translating Life Sciences Innovation, 2018 Impact Factor 2.048. Editor-in-Chief Edward Kai-Hua Chow, Ph.D., National University of Singapore (Singapore). SLAS Discovery: Advancing the Science of Drug Discovery, 2018 Impact Factor 2.192. Editor-in-Chief Robert M. Campbell, Ph.D., Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN (USA). Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-24 06:53:48|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close British Prime Minister Boris Johnson addresses the nation at 10 Downing Street in London, Britain, on March 23, 2020. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Monday evening a series of measures that aim to restrict social contact in the UK, so as to curb the spread of COVID-19. (Andrew Parsons/No 10 Downing Street/Handout via Xinhua) LONDON, March 23 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Monday evening a series of measures that aim to restrict social contact in the United Kingdom, so as to curb the spread of COVID-19. Johnson made the announcement during a TV address to the nation. "From this evening I must give the British people a very simple instruction: you must stay at home," said the prime minister. Starting from Monday night, people in Britain will only be allowed to leave their homes for "very limited purposes", including shopping for basic necessities, for any medical need, for one form of exercise a day, and to travel to and from work when necessary, said Johnson. Police have powers to enforce the rules, including fines and dispersing gatherings, according to Johnson. Meanwhile, all shops selling non-essential goods, such as clothing and electronic stores, are ordered to close, and places like libraries, playgrounds, and outdoor gyms will be closed. All social events are banned and even gatherings of more than two people in public, except for people one lives with, are banned as well. The tougher new measures will be in place for at least three weeks from Monday evening, according to the government. The announcement came after the prime minister warned Sunday that the government will have to go further if people do not follow its advice. "I believe the great majority of scientists will say the same, these measures are certainly appropriate and sensible and it was high time that they are taken by the government," said Prof. Sylvia Richardson, director of MRC Biostatistics Unit at University of Cambridge. "Whether they are effective will depend on compliance and the prime minister's message needs to be reinforced by a daily communication exercise targeting the general public as well as special groups like young people," said Richardson. The government has been stepping up its measures in recent weeks. It was only on March 20 when it announced that cafes, bars, pubs and restaurants, etc. must close. But during the weekend, large groups of people were seen in some parks and tourist spots, prompting concerns that many people might be ignoring government's advice of avoiding social contact. This happened despite the fact that COVID-19 cases have been rising quickly in the country. As of Monday morning, there had been 6,650 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the UK, an increase of 967 in the past 24 hours, according to the latest figures released by the Department of Health and Social Care. A total of 335 COVID-19 patients had died, the figures showed. "Without a huge national effort to halt the growth of this virus, there will come a moment when no health service in the world could possibly cope; because there won't be enough ventilators, enough intensive care beds, enough doctors and nurses," said Johnson. Earlier on Monday, Britain's Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has advised its residents traveling abroad to return home now, if commercial flights are still available. Aside from these measures, the government is also giving more funding support to research on vaccines and other treatments. Six coronavirus research projects will be the first to benefit from a share of 20 million pounds (23 million U.S. dollars) in government investment, according to a statement from the government. Two of these projects will carry out pre-clinical and clinical vaccine trials, as well as supporting researchers to develop manufacturing processes to produce a vaccine at a million-dose scale. "In the midst of a global health emergency, the UK is using all its extensive research expertise to quickly develop new vaccines to target this international threat," said Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock. The Karnataka government on Monday decided to purchase 1,000 ventilators from medical devices company Skanray Technologies and five lakh Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), amid rising COVID-19 cases. Health Minister B Sriramulu convened a meeting with officials to review the situation in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, and with the Mysuru-based firm through a video conference. "In the meeting, it was decided to buy 1,000 ventilators immediately", the Minister tweeted. He said the government has already taken steps to buy ten lakh masks, and decided to purchase five lakh PPE. "The Health Department has been working on a war- footing to halt the spread of the (COVID-19) infections", Sriramulu tweeted. The Minister appealed to the citizens to strictly follow social distancing. Six new COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Karnataka on Sunday, taking the total number of infections to the respiratory disease to 26 -- the highest number of positive cases in a single day in the State. The Karnataka government has announced shutdown of all commercial activities barring essential services in nine districts, where COVID-19 cases have been reported, till March 31. They are: Bengaluru city, Bengaluru Rural, Mangaluru, Mysuru, Kalaburagi, Dharwad, Chikkaballapura, Kodagu and Belagavi, Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India has waived off the need for Drug Controller General of India's approval for COVID-19 testing kits that are developed locally. Two companies whose diagnostic test kits had been validated by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)'s National Institute of Virology have begun supplies today, government officials informed at a press conference today. These include Altona Diagnostics and MY LAB. The names of kits are 'RealStar SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR kit 1.0' and 'Patho Detect', respectively. Along with the new approval for low cost diagnostic kits, the government has also allowed 12 laboratory chains with 15,000 collection centres all over the country to carry out COVID-19 tests. "The number of lab chains that are participating in the registration process is increasing every minute," Balram Bhargava, director general ICMR and secretary Department of Health Research said. The officials also informed that the companies manufacturing sanitisers have ramped up their capacity and distilleries have been instructed to supply sufficient raw material. India has 415 confirmed COVID-19 cases now, and all seven deaths that happened had co-morbid conditions, the officials said. The government also asked the states to ready dedicated hospital facilities to treat COVID-19 patients in case of a larger outbreak in the coming days. Also read: Coronavirus: How UP, Rajasthan, Gujarat are dealing with virus scare Also read: Coronavirus in India Live updates: Country records 8th death; govt bans domestic flight ops from March 24 Defence Minister Nicolae Ciuca calls on Romanians, on his Facebook page, to respect the pieces of advice of the authorities and to stay home. "Regardless of the region of the country where you carry out your professional activity or where you live, even if you are outside the borders of the country, we must be united in this difficult period for both the population and the authorities that are facing an unseen challenge in Romania's contemporary history. Throughout history, the Romanian people, together with the Army and the state institutions, has overcome all the difficult moments," says Ciuca.The Minister maintains that the Army is involved in the fight against the pandemic."I assure you that the military are and will be fully involved in what the country's defense entails, in the fight with an unseen enemy that has no military camp, doctrine or strategy of attack. Coronavirus is the global enemy of all states, whether they are countries from Asia, from the East or from the West defended by NATO," says Ciuca.Also, the Defence Minister says that people must observe the advice of the authorities."The main strategy we can apply in the fight against coronavirus, the only one that has proven its effectiveness, is to stay home, avoid as much as possible getting close to other people and especially protect yourself. Whenever you return home or meet your friends and acquaintances do not shake hands or hug. Wash your hands every time you have the chance, as often as possible and mandatory when you return home (...) Dear Romanians, follow the advice, only accept information from secure sources and, again, stay home. This is the first thing I tell everyone. Don't leave your home unless you have a good reason," Ciuca writes.He also calls on the military - to support the authorities "in this unequal battle with an unseen enemy"."I know it is not easy, but together we will overcome this period. The winners are those who write history. Only united, respecting the measures imposed by the authorities, will we defeat this unseen enemy," concludes the message of the Minister of Defense. Traders despair as lockdown transforms bustling market into ghost town THAILAND: The partial lockdown of Bangkok which started yesterday (Mar 22) sent business owners, especially in Lat Phrao, scrambling to restrict or close their services, but at the same time shouldering financial burdens amid the outbreak of COVID-19. COVID-19CoronavirushealthSafety By Bangkok Post Monday 23 March 2020, 10:14AM Tables and chairs at a dine-in restaurant at The Mall Bang Kapi shopping centre are stacked up after restaurants in the capital and surrounding provinces were ordered to stop taking sit-down customers. Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb Following the order by Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang on Saturday, Saphan 2 Market remained alive, but its food court was empty, with tables removed from booths to encourage the public to eat at home. The decline in the number of customers dampened the spirit of the market where familiar faces and shouts once could be seen and heard. For now, folk clad in face masks rush home once they have done their business. The sweeping closures are seen by many as confusing. Street vendors, though not included in the partial lockdown, could be seen sitting in a state of despair. The latest order inevitably hit them hard. Who are they selling items to when customers refrain from going out? Sukanya Kanta, a food seller, said officials asked a market owner to remove tables to ensure every seller will offer only takeaways. I can sell khao tom (rice porridge) as usual even though the number of customers has dropped by 30%. The government should have announced the partial closure sooner because I think the outbreak is getting out of hand, she said. Karoon Janphongsri, a noodle shop owner, urged the government to communicate better to alleviate panic in the aftermath of the partial lockdown. On our part, we [restaurant owners] are more than ready to join hands in fighting the coronavirus outbreak. Our shop is providing takeaways and essential utensils for our customers, but I think the situation is as grim as a war. We are helping ourselves because the government must be at a loss, he said. Lat Phraos Chok Chai 4 Market also remained open, but surrounding shops shut their doors and hung placards reading closed temporarily. While a supermarket and convenience stores operated as usual, massage shops, beauty salons, and cosmetic clinics are closed until April 12. The owner of a beauty salon, who asked not to be named, said she will not earn any income during the three-week closure, but still has to pay rent of up to 20,000 baht per month. I am willing to cooperate with authorities. However, if possible, I would like the government to provide relief measures to help tenants, she said. Jiraphorn Lertchaipat, a resident, said she is facing the problem of overpricing for home delivery amid the partial lockdown. They overcharge me for delivery services, she said. Takeaways are more expensive than eat-ins. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office announced Monday the arrest of a suspect in a fatal stabbing over the weekend. Sheriff's deputies arrived at a home on the 800 block of Brommer Street in Live Oak after receiving a report at about 8:50 p.m. Saturday of a stabbing in the home. In front of the house, deputies found and arrested 35-year-old Leif Ames. San Francisco Mayor London Breed appeared in a live streamed press conference Monday afternoon to speak sternly to the residents of San Francisco, warning them that if individuals continue to defy social distancing precautions, the city will close its public parks. Breed cited observations of casual gatherings at the city's beaches and on the streets of San Francisco. "Sadly, in some of our parks and along our beaches we have noticed there are a lot of people taking this opportunity to have picnics," she said. "This is not what this is about. For public safety we need people to comply." Currently, the shelter-in-place order allows residents to go outside for essential activities only, which includes outdoor exercise. But Breed and San Francisco Director of Health Grant Colfax say too many residents have been flippant about the order. "What I don't want to do is close all parks, because I want people to have recreational support," she continued. "If things continue the way we saw them happen over the weekend, well have to close our parks system ... [We'll do what] we need to do in order to ensure people are not allowed to use these spaces. I want to plea to the people of our city to comply with the order." Breed pointed out instances wherein people gathered on the street "having drinking parties, out on the streets socializing and coming together," who haven't been taking the order seriously. "You are putting lives at stake, putting public lives in jeopardy," she said. "This is serious ... What happens if it's your grandmother? What happens when it's your uncle? And what happens when we don't have a [hospital] bed for them to be in because they got sick? We don't want to get to that point." Breed also noted that the city would be taking "more aggressive direction" to address failures to social distance, but did not speak to specifics. Health Director Grant Colfax spoke to the implications of not social distancing on public health and hospital capacity, saying "the worst is yet to come." "This is our time to stay apart while we stand together as San Franciscans," he added. Last week, Breed appeared on CNN to to respond to clips of San Francisco posted to Twitter by Jake Tapper, purportedly showing locals not engaging in social distancing. "We see a bunch of people who are not social distancing," Tapper said. "They're holding hands and walking down the street ... The people of San Francisco I shouldn't say the people, many people in San Francisco have clearly not gotten the message." Breed later appeared on CNN's "The Situation Room" with Wolf Blitzer shorty thereafter to respond to Tapper's tweet, telling Blitzer that many San Franciscans are following the order. "I think ultimately, it's not a fair assessment to say people are just out and about and not necessarily following the social distancing protocols we put into place, because they are," she said at the time. "You see the buses are empty, you see the roads are empty, you see people are doing everything they can to comply." Breed's warning to city residents on Monday, however, struck a different tone. Her message implied city officials may follow suit with Marin County, which closed public parks on Sunday, should locals continue to defy stay-at-home orders. "It is a matter of life and death," she said. "This is not the time for a party, a play date. Be respectful of your neighbors and one another." MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE: Sign up for 'The Daily' newsletter for the latest on coronavirus here. Alyssa Pereira is an SFGate digital editor. Email: alyssa.pereira@sfgate.com | Twitter: @alyspereira Press Release March 23, 2020 Gatchalian wants intensified fake news crackdown, perpetrators behind bars A pandemic worse as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis. This is how Senator Win Gatchalian described the persistent spread of disinformation over the Philippines' cyberspace amid a public health emergency. According to Gatchalian, both the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) should expedite their investigation to track down, sue, and lock up fake newsmongers over the internet who sow panic and confusion in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. Gatchalian said that putting fake news peddlers behind bars would send a message that those who spread disinformation will not get away it. The Philippine National Police (PNP) has already warned the public that fake news peddlers could be charged for violating Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. The law provides for an imprisonment of six to 12 years to those found guilty. A Cebu-based optometrist, for instance, who allegedly spread a false report on COVID-19 was sued for violating Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to Section 6 and Section 4 (c) 4 of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. Another fake news story that recently went viral is an alleged statement from the United States (US) State Department, which warns of potential looting incidents in Luzon during the month-long lockdown period. The US embassy has since debunked the alleged statement as a hoax, reminding the public that the embassy only releases information through its official social media accounts, website, and distribution to local journalists. "Imbes na makatulong sa pagbabahagi ng sapat at tamang impormasyon ngayong nasa gitna tayo ng krisis, nagiging sanhi pa ng kalituhan at kaguluhan ang mga nagpapakalat ng maling balita. Hangga't wala tayong naipapakulong sa mga nagpapakalat ng mga kasinungalingang ito, patuloy ang mga taong ito sa kanilang paghahasik ng takot at kalituhan sa publiko," said Gatchalian. Gatchalian added that different scams, including bogus donation drives, could be thriving now that Luzon is in a lockdown. According to him, authorities should also launch a crackdown on individuals or groups behind these activities. Meanwhile, Gatchalian cautioned the public to be vigilant about the information they receive and share through their different communication platforms. He reminded the public to get information only from official government channels, websites and social media pages of established media institutions and other legit organizations. The lawmaker concluded that the public can do their part by proactively reporting dubious reports to authorities. ### Gatchalian: mga nagpapakalat ng fake news dapat tugisin Hinimok ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang National Bureau of Investigation o NBI at ang Philippine National Police o PNP na bilisan ang pagtugis, pag-demanda, at pagpapakulong sa mga nagpapakalat ng fake news. Mas mabilis pa aniya ang pagkalat ng fake news sa internet kaysa sa pagkalat ng sakit na dulot ng coronavirus. Ayon kay Gatchalian, ang pagpapakulong sa mga taong nagpapakalat ng fake news ay magsisilbing babala para sa mga magdudulot ng takot at kalituhan ngayong nasa gitna ng isang public health emergency ang bansa. Una nang nagbabala ang PNP sa publiko na ang mga nagpapakalat ng fake news at maling impormasyon ay maaaring kasuhan ng paglabag sa Republic Act 10175 o Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. Sa Cebu, halimbawa, isang optometrist na diumano'y nagpakalat ng isang maling ulat ang kinasuhan ng paglabag sa Article 154 ng Revised Penal Code at ng Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. Kumalat din kamakailan ang isang diumano'y babala mula sa United States State Department na maaaring umakyat ang mga insidente ng nakawan sa Pilipinas sa kalagitnaan ng lockdown. Itinaggi naman ito ng embahada ng Estados Unidos at ipinaalala sa publiko na anumang pahayag na manggagaling sa kanila ay lumalabas lamang sa kanilang mga opisyal na social media channels, website, at mga ulat na ibinabahagi sa mga mamamahayag. "Imbes na makatulong sa pagbabahagi ng sapat at tamang impormasyon ngayong nasa gitna tayo ng krisis, nagiging sanhi pa ng kalituhan at kaguluhan ang mga nagpapakalat ng maling balita. Hangga't wala tayong naipapakulong sa mga nagpapakalat ng mga kasinungalingang ito, patuloy ang mga taong ito sa kanilang paghahasik ng takot at kalituhan sa publiko," ayon kay Gatchalian. Nagbabala din ang mambabatas na dapat maging alerto ang publiko at mga otoridad sa iba't ibang mga scam, pati na ang mga pekeng donation drives na maaaring maging talamak ngayong mahaba-haba ang panahon ng mga taong manatili sa bahay. Ayon sa kanya, dapat tugisin ng mga otoridad ang mga nasa likod nito. Samantala, hinimok ni Gatchalian ang publiko na maging mapanuri sa mga ulat at impormasyon na kanilang natatanggap. Pinaalalahanan niya ang publiko na kumuha lamang ng impormasyon sa mga opisyal na mga plataporma at pahayagan ng pamahalaan at lehitimong mga organisasyon. Dagdag pa ng senador, maaaring labanan ng publiko ang pagkalat ng fake news sa pamamagitan ng pag-report sa otoridad ng mga maling ulat. ### Casey Gwinn, the president of Alliance for Hope International, said that approximately half of the family justice centers in 42 states are still open, while half have moved to electronic communications and advocacy. In the state of California, Mr. Gwinns organization supports 24 centers, which he expected will be forced to convert to electronic communications instead of providing a walk-in service. His network is requesting that court systems in multiple states extend orders of protection. Children who are unable to attend school or day care are also at greater risk. Under normal circumstances, 90 percent of the children exposed to intimate partner violence in the home each year are eyewitnesses to it; Unicef reports a higher rate of physical and sexual assault rates. Mr. Gwinns organization runs Camp Hope America, a year-round camping and mentoring program, for trauma-exposed youth in 25 states across the country. He said they are exploring other options for the camps to continue this year if there are still restrictions on gatherings, possibly moving them to childrens local communities. They are also planning to incorporate phone and digital communication services. We might not see the statistics rise right away. When I spoke with Katie Ray-Jones, the chief executive officer of the National Domestic Violence Hotline, last week, she told me there had actually been fewer calls in recent days, down from between 1,800 and 2,000 a day to approximately 1,700. This is not because domestic violence is happening less, but because it is harder for victims to report it. Her biggest worry is that they cant reach out for help. Victims are unable to have a phone conversation when the perpetrator is beside them, and abusers often monitor the phones of their victims. Ms. Ray-Jones has seen how an abusive partner can leverage Covid-19 for fear, isolation and manipulation. One caller to The Hotline spoke about her husband forcing her to wash her hands repeatedly until they were raw and bleeding. Another threatened to kick her out of the house to increase her exposure to the virus. During this global public health crisis, we have more of a responsibility to reach out to those who are especially susceptible older people and those with pre-existing respiratory conditions. We can also be more alert to our friends and loved ones who are in abusive relationships and feel especially vulnerable in a time when social distancing is the new normal. 'New Tactical Guided Missiles' Tested in North Korea's Recent Launch Report Sputnik News 03:38 GMT 22.03.2020(updated 04:33 GMT 22.03.2020) MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The recent launches by North Korea were tests of new tactical guided missiles that are expected to make an "epochal" change to the country's defene strategy, North Korean media reported. "The test launch has clearly demonstrated the features of guided missiles, including the differently defined trajectories and incidence angles, the accuracy of hitting the target and the warhead's power", the North Korean state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. According to the report, the launch was attended by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un who said that these missiles, along with other ones currently in the works, would make a "decisive contribution" to implementing the country's strategic goals, namely an "epochal change of its defence strategy". "We must strengthen our firepower in order to be able to destroy any enemy outside our territory should they dare to conduct military operations against our country. This is precisely the party's set goal of building national defence and the most advanced defence strategy and deterrence force", Kim Jong-un was quoted as saying. On Saturday, South Korean media reported, citing the Joint Chiefs of Staff, that North Korea had fired two short-range ballistic missiles from North Pyongan Province toward the Sea of Japan. The South Korean military later identified them as short-range missiles that flew some 250 miles at a 31-mile altitude. This launch is already Pyongyang's third this year, with the first two conducted on 2 March and 9 March. In late 2019, North Korea carried out a series of weapons tests, the last one that year was in November, when Pyongyang fired two short-range projectiles towards the Sea of Japan. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Sunday said the National Guard could begin monitoring drive-in testing sites on Monday and prodded the federal government to do more to help states secure more tests and medical supplies to fight the spreading coronavirus outbreak. The Republican declined at a news conference to follow the lead of other states with a statewide shelter in place order. But he warned Texans that it could be coming if they dont heed his previous orders on Friday that limited social gatherings to under 10 people, closed schools, bars and gyms and banned dine-in eating at restaurants. DISASTER EXPERT: Houston area needs shelter-in-place and coronavirus team now Stricter standards will be taken, if necessary, Abbott said. If you dont have an essential reason for leaving your home, you should not be leaving your home. The announcement came as the Texas Department of State Health Services reported 334 people statewide have tested positive for the virus, up from 304 on Saturday, and officials in Dallas said a man in his 80s has become the sixth Texas with the disease to die. The vast majority of people who contract the virus recover within weeks. It causes only mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but it can lead to more severe illness, including pneumonia, especially in older adults and people with preexisting health problems. Abbott did not dissuade big-city mayors in Dallas, Houston and Austin from issuing a shelter-in-place order if they think that is best. He said local authorities have the power to enforce stricter standards than he has so far, and noted that more than 200 counties havent had a reported positive coronavirus test. PORTRAITS FROM PANDEMIC: Houstonians' lives in the time of coronavirus Dallas County has the greatest number of cases, with 30, according to the health department. It is followed by Harris County, with 27, and Bexar County, with 24. Abbott previously told the National Guard to get ready and said Sunday they can help local officials set up medical tents, reboot previously closed hospitals and medical facilities or monitor the traffic at drive-thru testing sites that are sprouting up the states major cities. He said Texas shares the frustration of other states regarding the the federal government's slow response to the coronavirus outbreak. The governor also urged the federal government to ramp up production of personal protection equipment. He said the state has tried but cant deliver quickly enough. We've tried strategies. And the delivery date's in July. That's not going to work. We need delivery dates tomorrow. The next day, Abbott said. And we have ready money to pay for anybody who can sell (personal protection equipment) to uso us. We'll cut you a check on the spot. Abbott also announced new measures to free up hospital resources to address the pandemic. He said that he issued executive orders to allow hospitals to treat two patient in a room, rather than one, and directing heath care workers to postpone all "elective or non-essential medical procedures. ___ Bleiberg reported from Dallas ___ The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. ___ Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak Inter-not -- Has a Canadian right-wing blogosphere had an impact on politics, society, and culture in Canada? updated to 2020 (Part One) By Mark Wegierski Partially based on research done with Mike Krupa, M.A., for a paper accepted for the August 28-August 31 2014 American Political Science Association (APSA) Annual Meeting and Exhibition (110th APSA Annual Meeting)(Politics after the Digital Revolution) (Washington, D.C.), from which we had to withdraw because of unforeseen personal circumstances. The emergence of the Internet, where social, political, and cultural commentary could supposedly be freer of so-called gatekeepers, is said to have introduced a greater and more genuine pluralism of outlooks to societies. Considering that it could be argued that much of Canada ideologically resembles the bluest of the Blue (Democratic) American states, the emergence of right-leaning counter-tendencies would arguably be a step toward greater pluralism. However, despite over two decades of Internet development, it could be argued as far as the author of this article can ascertain -- that a Canadian right-wing blogosphere barely exists. Looking at some of the conservative Canadian websites and major bloggers, its easy to see there wasnt any point in recent Canadian political developments where they might have made an impact comparable to the blogger impact in the 2004 U.S. Presidential election. That was when right-wing bloggers turned back an attempt by the main stream media to undermine George W. Bushs Presidential campaign. The MSM was questioning Bushs National Guard service record, based on what were ultimately proved to be forged documents. (It is, of course, an entirely separate issue, that Dubyas two terms have ended up as an almost unmitigated disaster for any more seriously defined conservatism in America.) The author finds that, in Canadian society, which, unlike the U.S., does not have solid social bases, groups, or publications for a more substantive conservatism, the presence of a few websites and bloggers has had decidedly minimal impact. The impact of the so-called right-wing blogosphere is certainly far less in Canada than in the United States. The impact of various personal blogs (such as those of Kate McMillan, Kathy Shaidle, or Richard Klagsbrun) is difficult to accurately gauge. There are as well the party-based Blogging Tories. The website conservativeforum.org is only an archive site. Free Dominion could be called a self-posting forum where commentary is not formally structured. Unfortunately, Free Dominion has been recently subjected to vicious lawfare and its situation is highly tenuous. Enter Stage Right is one of the few independent, formally structured, consistently-edited, frequently updated, conservative Canadian e-zines, that the author of this article is aware of (apart from Judi McLeods Canada Free Press). In July 2013, there arose with great fanfare, the daily webzine, Freedom Press Canada Journal, but it was forced to greatly reduce the frequency of its postings as of November 30, 2013, and, in subsequent months, appears to have been completely removed from the Internet. From mid-2014 onward, short article postings began to very sporadically appear on the website (freedompress.ca), but now that website appears to no longer be extant. Recently, there has arisen Ezra Levants The Rebel (or The Rebel Media) website, with dozens of bloggers contributing to it. Another substantial media initiative is Candice Malcolms True North Canada. There is also c2cjournal.ca a prestigious quarterly online publication. Canada also has one of the most prominent pro-life, pro-family news websites in the world (lifesite.net). There are, as well, some right-leaning individual blogs associated with major newspapers and magazines (such as, most prominently, The National Post, and Macleans). There are, as well, the blogs associated with some far smaller publications, notably Convivium and Comment (by the social conservative think-tank, CARDUS); and The Interim: Canadas Life and Family Newspaper. There is a social conservative journal in Quebec, called Egards. Two websites of the culturalist opposition are capforcanada.com and eurocanadian.ca . To be continued. Mark Wegierski is a Canadian writer and historical researcher. Home Advertisement The U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy has been loaded with supplies and has set sail to Los Angeles providing 1,000 extra beds more medical staff in support of the coronavirus pandemic. As hospitals in states worst hit by the disease become overrun with patients in need of ventilators, and other states prepare for similar situations, Mercy will take care of non-COVID-19 in-patients. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest forklift drivers were pictured preparing to deliver pallets of supplies aboard Mercy (T-AH 19) at Naval Base San Diego, California on Saturday. Bottles of water and soda Canada Dry, Sunkist and Red Bull were among the shipment. As the number of confirmed infections surpassed 35,000 and deaths 470, the ship sailed up the West Coast Monday with 800 Navy medical personnel and support staff as well as 70 civil service mariners. The USNS Mercy is docked at Naval Base San Diego as it prepares to deploy to assist with the COVID-19 pandemic. It will sail to Los Angeles Monday with 1,000 hospital beds for non-coronavirus patients A Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest forklift driver, preparing to deliver pallets of supplies aboard the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) at Naval Base San Diego in San Diego on Saturday Navy Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy is loaded with supplies in support of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Above the number of confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and related deaths in the US is shown as of Monday 'The ship will serve as a referral hospital for non-COVID-19 patients currently admitted to shore-based hospitals, and will provide a full spectrum of medical care to include critical and urgent care for adults,' the Navy said in a news release Monday. 'This will allow local health professionals to focus on treating COVID-19 patients and for shore-based hospitals to use their Intensive Care Units and ventilators for those patients.' The ships are not built to deal with respiratory disease outbreaks because they don't have segregated compartments, meaning they will not treat COVID-19 patients. They were designed for trauma and combat casualties and up staff to suit those services come with the ship. Up to 1,200 Navy staff can be accommodated on board. The ship was originally destined for Washington one of the first states to be hit by quick community spread. However it was determined California was in need of more help than its northern neighbor state. In Washington State there were 1,996 confirmed cases and in California there were 1,816. But California is projected to be short 4,000 beds. About 5 percent of coronavirus patients are expected to be hospitalized there. However with consideration will spike the number of hospitalized Californians to 20 percent, an additional 20,000 beds are in demand, according to Governor Gavin Newsom. Mercy is loaded with supplies in support of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) response efforts at the naval base in San Diego This handout picture released by the US Navy shows the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) taking on supplies last week Images show crates of water bottles prepared to go on board where 1,000 people can be moved from hospitals in LA so beds there can go to coronavirus patients in need of ventilators Sugar snacks and drinks including Twix, Starburst Duos and Crush Orange are packed and ready to go on Mercy Saturday 'The Department of Defense has been given direction to dispatch it to Los Angeles immediately,' Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Peter Gaynor said Sunday during a press conference. 'DoD has advised that Mercy can get into position within a week or less of today's order. Even though there are more cases right now in Washington, the projected needs for beds in California is five times more that of Washington.' In New York there were more than 16,000 confirmed cases and 99 deaths by Monday. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio blasted President Trump for not helping his home city and state more as it led the states in terms of infection rates. Governor Andrew Cuomo has also ordered hospitals to deliver a plan to increase their hospital accommodation capacity by at least 50 percent to 75,000 but it's predicted more than 100,000 beds will be needed in New York State. Cuomo has said they aim to go from 53,000 spaces to accommodation for 110,000 in just 45 days. Help will be on the way in a few weeks from Norfolk, Virginia where USNS Comfort is undergoing maintenance. Last week the Pentagon said it was destined for New York but much like Mercy, plans could change. The USNS Mercy, a Navy hospital ship, departs the Naval Station San Diego and heads to the Port of Los Angeles to aid local medical facilities dealing with coronavirus disease. Workers are see on board the Mercy Members of the army look on as the USNS Mercy, a Navy hospital ship, departs the Naval Station San Diego for LA Members of the army are seen, as the USNS Mercy, a Navy hospital ship heads to the Port of Los Angeles to aid local medical facilities The 894-foot modified supertankers are decked out with 12 operating rooms, a medical lab and digital radiological services The massive hospital ship also has a pharmacy, an optometry lab, a CAT-scan and two oxygen producing plants Calling it a 'weeks issue', Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman admitted 'it's going to be a little while'. 'At that time, it's intended to head to New York, but we'll continue to evaluate the situation and make a determination on where it's best suited,' Hoffman said. The 894-foot modified supertankers are decked out with 12 operating rooms, a medical lab, digital radiological services, a pharmacy, an optometry lab, a CAT-scan and two oxygen producing plants. At a press conference Thursday, Trump said he'd spoken to the chairman of Carnival Cruise Lines about its fleet potentially helping with the government's coronavirus response. The suggestion came after officials spent the past several weeks warning Americans to avoid cruise ships for their own safety after COVID-19 outbreaks ravaged multiple vessels. 'One of the things that happened this morning, I spoke with Micky Arison at Carnival Cruise Lines, and he's going to make ships available,' Trump told reporters. 'So in addition to the big medical ships that you have coming, if we should need ships with lots of rooms, they'll be docked in Los Angeles and San Francisco - different places.' California Governor Newsom has also turned to hotels as places to house homeless people who come down with the virus. Florida and Washington state have done the same. Police at the scene on Galgorm Road in Ballymena A 51-year-old man has been remanded into custody charged with murdering the owner of a guesthouse where he had been living in Ballymena. Michael Lenaghan of Galgorm Road in the town is accused of murdering 67-year-old Inayat Shah on Saturday. The defendant appeared at Coleraine Magistrates Court on Monday and there was no application for bail. Mr Shah ran the Traveller's Rest B&B. He died following a stabbing incident at Galgorm Road. The defendant is also charged with threatening to kill another male and maliciously wounding another male with intent to do him grievous bodily harm. The defendant was in handcuffs in the dock and only spoke to confirm he understood the charges. Expand Close Inayat Shah / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Inayat Shah A police officer said she was aware of the facts surrounding the case and believed she could connect him to the charges. A defence solicitor said the defendant had "mental health" issues. He suggested a full assessment could be carried out in custody. The solicitor claimed "a revolving door from custody culminated in this incident taking place". The solicitor said the defendant had not been "under the care of anyone in the community". He said he was not applying for bail. The case was adjourned until March 26 to Ballymena Magistrates' Court. The court clerk said the defendant had a previous matter listed for that date. After days of trying to return to the U.S. from Peru, Mike Rustici and Linda Scruggs caught a flight that landed in Miami, Florida on Saturday. Like thousands of U.S. tourists and Americans living abroad, the couple was caught in limbo as nations closed their borders to try to stop the spread of the new coronavirus. Rustici and Scruggs said they didn't know how or when they would make it home to Nashville, Tennessee especially after the State Department essentially told them they were on their own. The couple said they were grateful to be able to finally return, but they're concerned for other stranded travelers hoping to go home as the global outbreak rages on. "It's a big mixture of relief and guilt, almost like survivor's guilt. We know there's so many more people still over there," Rustici said. "In the end, we just got really really really lucky." Rustici and Scruggs said they trained months to hike to Peru's Machu Picchu Inca ruins and arrived in Peru this month. Days after they landed, Peru's borders were closed. The two said they were stuck in a hotel for days and received little help from the U.S. Embassy in Lima. For most people, the new virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority recover. Advertisement The National Guard has begun installing four hospital units for coronavirus patients inside the Jacob Javits Center in Manhattan. Dozens of troops arrived at the sprawling 1.3 million-square-foot convention center on Monday morning, hours after Governor Andrew Cuomo and President Donald Trump confirmed plans to set up 1,000 beds inside. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is slated to oversee the set-up of four separate wings with 250 beds each, and will also staff and stock the facility with medical supplies. 'This is literally a matter of life and death,' Cuomo said Sunday. '[If] we get these facilities up, we get the supplies, we will save lives. If we don't, we will lose lives. That is the simple fact of this matter. 'From my point of view, construction can start tomorrow. There is no red tape on the side of New York.' New York City is now the focal point of America's outbreak, with more than 12,000 of the almost 42,000 confirmed cases in the US and 100 of the nation's 576 deaths as of Monday. The National Guard began installing four hospital units for COVID-19 patients inside the Jacob Javits Center on Monday Dozens of troops arrived at the sprawling 1.3 million-square-foot convention center on Monday morning, hours after Governor Andrew Cuomo and President Donald Trump confirmed plans to set up 1,000 beds inside National Guard members began unpacking supplies Monday, but it's not clear when the facility will be ready to take patients The Javits Center is located in the Hells Kitchen neighborhood on the west side of Manhattan. The exterior is pictured Cuomo held a press conference inside the Javits Center before National Guard members began setting up medical supplies Cuomo toured the Javits Center on Monday and held a press conference there, where he said the Big Apple is still in 'the calm before the storm'. 'This is going to get much worse before it gets better. You're going to see more people coming into the health system than we can handle,' he said. 'Once we get through that, we'll focus like a laser on the economy.' Cuomo said 'first order of business' was to stop the public health emergency, rather than fixing the economy. 'We can fix everything else, but we can't fix loss of health,' he said. In addition to the Javits Center, Cuomo also asked the federal government to set up makeshift hospitals at the Westchester Convention Center, to accommodate the cluster of coronavirus cases in New Rochelle, and at the state universities in Stony Brook and Old Westbury, Long Island. President Trump confirmed the Javits Center efforts after Cuomo made his public request, but did not mention the other three locations. Cuomo has warned that the state will need to increase its hospital capacity by at least 100 percent if the virus continues spreading at its current rate. He predicted that 80 percent of New York's 19 million residents will become infected over the next nine months. The governor issued an order on Sunday requiring all hospitals in the state to increase capacity by at least 50 percent, with a goal of 100 percent. He said the state currently has about 53,000 hospital beds available and expects that some 110,000 will be needed when the outbreak reaches its peak. As of Monday there are more than 43,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in the US and 553 deaths The Federal Emergency Management Agency is slated to oversee the set-up of four separate wings with 250 beds each FEMA will also staff and stock the Javits Center medical facility with equipment The Javits Center is typically reserved for large events such as auto shows and trade conventions National Guard members survey a mountain of medical equipment waiting to be unpacked at the Javits Center This chart shows the layout of beds inside the four-unit temporary hospital During his press conference Cuomo warned that New York City is still in 'the calm before the storm' Trump issued a disaster declaration on Sunday for New York, California and Washington - the three states with the highest number of coronavirus cases. 'The federal government has deployed hundreds of tons of supplies from our national stocks pile to locations with the greatest need in order to assist in those areas,' the president said at a White House press briefing. 'Through FEMA, the federal government will be funding 100 percent of the cost of deploying national guard units to carry out approved missions to stop the virus while those governors remain in command. 'We'll be following them and we hope they can do the job and I think they will. I spoke with all three of the governors today, just a little while ago and they're very happy with what we're going to be doing.' Trump also said Sunday he'd ordered FEMA to ship mobile hospital centers to all three states, along with supplies such as gloves, hospital beds, N95 masks and gowns. His administration emphasized that the deployment of guard members is not martial law, but the president invoked martial language as he discussed the development. 'I'm a wartime president,' Trump said. 'This is a war a different kind of war than we've ever had.' At least 7,300 National Guard members have already been deployed to all 50 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico to help with coronavirus relief efforts by distributing food, sanitizing public areas and building temporary screening centers and medical facilities. The Javits Center set-up comes as: The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the US climbed to 39,408 on Monday, including 477 deaths Gov Cuomo announced that trials will begin tomorrow for the anti-malaria drug touted as a potential 'miracle' coronavirus treatment Democrats blocked the $2trillion phase three coronavirus economic stimulus package again, even though Republicans claimed ahead of the vote that they were proposing a bipartisan bill Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards claimed his state has the fastest growing cases of coronavirus in the world 10 states have issued stay-at-home orders affecting millions of Americans across the country The Dow erased all gains since President Donald Trump's election in 2016 as it plunged 900 points on Monday The Javits Center is one of New York City's largest venues, spanning 1.3 million-square-feet US President Donald Trump answers a question during the daily briefing on the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, at the White House on Wednesday in Washington, DC. Photo: AFP US President Donald Trump has been repeatedly and deliberately using the term "Chinese virus," which is considered racist. This shows that Trump and his team are panicking and misbehaving. They have not found any good way to take the pandemic and the market sentiment under control. As a result, they wantonly escalated conflicts with China, trying to escape Americans' questions over their incompetence, making China a target of their anger. Previously, Trump was seen as reasonable for not blaming China for the serious epidemic in the US. It was mainly US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and certain US congressmen who have been firing on China. Yet, the recent quick spread of the pandemic in the US is making Trump, who used to reiterate the risks were low in the US, very awkward. US stocks were falling, constantly triggering "Trump circuit breakers". This is a heavy blow to Trump, which destroyed his economic achievements, which he has been most proud of and was counting on it to seek a second term in the Oval Office. Trump is really panicking. Some believe it is the tweets of Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian that irritated Trump. On March 12, Zhao questioned the US on Twitter and raised the possibility that it was the US army that brought the virus to Wuhan last October. But Zhao only raised the question and demanded the US explain on his personal Twitter account, not on a diplomatic occasion. This is not on par with US politicians like Pompeo who used "New virus" and "Chinese virus" to smear China. And here came Trump. There must have been elements of a show through which means he passes the buck to China so that the Americans will just find fault with China instead of blaming the incompetence of his administration. Some Republicans and radical China hawks have been utilizing the US media system to help Trump administration. They demanded China to be held accountable for US losses, including suing the Chinese government for compensation. Washington's behavior of passing the buck to China is political hooliganism. Among world leaders, only Trump and politicians like Pompeo are blathering on about "Chinese virus" or "New virus," blaming China for their own incompetence in the pandemic fight. The WHO has explicitly opposed linking the virus to specific countries and regions. The pandemic situation in many European and Asian countries is more severe than that in the US, yet none of them blamed China like the US. On the contrary, China has made huge sacrifices to bring the pandemic under control within its borders. It has gained time for the world. This is the official recognition of WHO, and it has hardly been disputed across the globe other than the US. More and more countries are recognizing and learning from China's methods in the fight against the virus. The phased victory in China is inspiring hard-hit countries which are now in difficult times. Only Washington is still hysterically discrediting China. Some US political elites are not only indulging in a geopolitical mind-set, their attitude toward China and other foreign countries have also been twisted. When China suffered from the epidemic, they were relatively calm. But when their country was hit by the virus, they just had no manners and became hysterical. Trump's words are self-contradicting. Not long ago he praised China's anti-virus effort and thanked China for data sharing and cooperation. But he took a U-turn in his attitude by using "Chinese virus" and complaining that China did not disclose early reports about the virus to the US. There are reasons to believe the pandemic situation in the US and continued meltdown of the US stock market have prompted the Trump administration to make a major strategy - making China a scapegoat. We'd like to remind the US administration that its action is dangerous. Trump and his team must attentively fight the virus. Passing the buck to China will only deceive themselves instead of the American people. They would question the White House: What were you doing when China's anti-virus fight won the world enough time to prepare? Does the virus really pose so low risk that there is no need to panic, as you have claimed? In this photo released by the official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks in a meeting in Tehran, Iran, on Feb. 5, 2020. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP) Iran Leader Refuses US Help, Citing Virus Conspiracy Theory DUBAI, United Arab EmiratesIrans supreme leader refused U.S. assistance March 22 to fight the CCP virus, citing an unfounded conspiracy theory claiming the virus could be man-made by the United States. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. Ayatollah Ali Khameneis comments come as Iran faces crushing U.S. sanctions blocking the country from selling its crude oil and accessing international financial markets. But while Iranian civilian officials in recent days have increasingly criticized those sanctions, the 80-year-old Khamenei instead chose to traffic in the same conspiracy theory increasingly used by Chinese officials about the new virus to deflect blame for the pandemic. I do not know how real this accusation is but when it exists, who in their right mind would trust you to bring them medication? Khamenei said. Possibly your medicine is a way to spread the virus more. He also alleged, without offering any evidence, that the virus is specifically built for Iran using the genetic data of Iranians, which they have obtained through different means. You might send people as doctors and therapists, maybe they would want to come here and see the effect of the poison they have produced in person, he said. There is no scientific proof offered anywhere in the world to support Khameneis claims. However, his comments come after Chinese government spokesman Lijian Zhao tweeted earlier this month that it might be US army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan. Be transparent! Make public your data! U.S. owe(s) us an explanation! Lijian likewise offered no evidence to support his claim, which saw the U.S. State Department summon Chinas ambassador to complain. A Chinese state newspaper tweeted March 22 another allegation trying to link the virus to Italy, similarly hard-hit by the outbreak. Wuhan is the Chinese city where the first cases of the disease were detected in December. The origin of the virus isnt known. International and national health experts have been scrambling to find out more information about the virus. For most people, the CCP virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia; the vast majority of people recover from the virus. Khamenei made the comments in a speech in Tehran broadcast live March 22 across Iran marking Nowruz, the Persian New Year, and the Islamic commemoration known as Isra and Miraj. He had called off his usual speech at Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad over the virus outbreak. His comments come as Iran has over 21,600 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus amid 1,685 reported deaths, according to government figures released March 22. Experts still fear Iran may be underreporting its cases. Iran is one of the hardest-hit countries in the world by the new virus, sweeping across leaders in both its civilian government and Shiite theocracy. Across the Middle East, Iran represents eight of every 10 cases of the virus and those leaving the Islamic Republic have carried the virus to other countries. Iranian officials have criticized U.S. offers of aid during the virus crisis as being disingenuous. They have accused the Trump administration of wanting to capitalize on its maximum pressure campaign against Tehran since withdrawing from the nuclear deal in May 2018. However, the U.S. has directly offered the Islamic Republic aid in the past, despite decades of enmity, such as former President George W. Bush did during the devastating Bam earthquake of 2003. The U.S. sanctions have made it more difficult for Iran to access the global market. International firms remain leery of deals with Tehran, even those for humanitarian purposes. The U.S. and Switzerland announced a trade mechanism in late February the two nations say presents a voluntary option for facilitating payment for exports of agricultural commodities, food, medicine, and medical devices to Iran. All this comes after months of tensions that ended with Iran saying it would no longer follow any limits of the nuclear deal. A U.S. drone strike in January killed top Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, while Tehran retaliated with a ballistic missile attack targeting American forces in Iraq. Reassigning blame could be helpful to Irans government, which faced widespread public anger after denying for days that it shot down a Ukrainian jetliner, killing 176 people. Widespread economic problems, as well, has seen mass demonstrations in recent years that saw hundreds reportedly killed. Iranian hard-liners have supported conspiracy theories in the past when it suited their interests. Following the Sept. 11 attacks, some publicly doubted al-Qaidas role and state TV promoting the unfounded conspiracy theory that the Americans blew up the building themselves. Meanwhile, on March 22, Iran imposed a two-week closure on major shopping malls and centers across the country to prevent spreading the virus. Pharmacies, supermarkets, groceries, and bakeries will remain open. Doctors Without Borders also plans to open a 50-bed inflatable treatment unit in the Iranian city of Isfahan. The Epoch Times contributed to this report. A man looks over a barrier set up to prevent people from entering or leaving a residential compound in Wuhan, China, on March 17, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Why Patients Are Not Counted as New Virus Cases in Wuhan The city of Wuhan, ground zero of Chinas epidemic, has reported no new CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus infections for five consecutive days as of March 23. Locals have reported a different scenario. Meanwhile, the Wuhan government recently explained why it refuses to count new cases of people testing positive. Zero New Infections Chinas National Health Commission reported on March 23 that there were no new domestic infections the previous day. Since March 19, the commission has reported that nearly all newly diagnosed patients in China are imported casesexcept one new domestic patient who was diagnosed in Guangdong Province on March 20. The Guangdong health commission announced on March 22 that this patient is from Guangzhou city. He was infected with the CCP virus after contact with an imported patient who recently traveled to Istanbul, Turkey, the announcement said. Meanwhile, Tu Yuanchao, deputy director of the Hubei provincial health commission, explained why there have been no new infections in Wuhan in an interview with state-run newspaper Hubei Daily on March 22. Wuhan is the capital of Hubei Province. Tu said newly reported patients fall into two groups: those who recently relapsed after initially recovering from the disease, and those who test positive during nucleic acid testing for COVID-19 but dont show symptoms. The relapsed cases were reported when they were first diagnosed. We wont report them. At present, Wuhan city designates Jinyintan Hospital and Pulmonary Hospital to treat the relapsed patients, Tu said. Tu said that as authorities havent seen an example of a relapsed patient infecting other people, he didnt think these patients could spread the disease to others. For the second group of patients, Tu said the government wouldnt count them as COVID-19 patients, but would send them to the quarantine center for two weeks monitoring. Real Voices Meanwhile, a Wuhan resident, the wife of a senior manager at a local bank, said that managers were recently informed of a new directive from authorities. The managers of Wuhan state-owned businesses received a notice saying they could only resume production after no new infections are reported in Wuhan for 14 consecutive days, the source told the Chinese-language Epoch Times on March 23. The source added that the local government wanted businesses to operate as soon as possible, and told government agencies they need to make it happen. In an audio recording shared on Twitter by an overseas Chinese activist named Charles, the local Party boss of a neighborhood committee in Jiangan district can be heard explaining to her community that families cant go downstairs at the same time to pick up goods they ordered, as they should practice social distancing in order to stay safe. I told you guys, the situation is not good. Dont trust the zero new infections. You wont know the truth if you are not at the frontlines, the Party boss said. When a resident reminded her that she shouldnt share this information, the Party boss answered, If nobody tells the truth, we will become the second Li Wenliang. Li Wenliang is one of the eight doctors who first publicized information about a SARS-like outbreak in December 2019. Li was reprimanded by Chinese authorities. He died of the CCP virus on Feb. 7. Propaganda The Chinese regime has recently begun pushing propaganda that the virus outbreak could have originated in Italy, the hardest-hit country outside of China. State-run newspaper Global Times reported on March 22: The virus outbreak in Italy might have occurred earlier than in China, adding that the virus [spreading] in Italy might not have come from China. Meanwhile, Chinese trolls have begun posting on international and Chinese social media platforms, such as Twitter, Facebook, and popular Chinese app WeChat, claiming that China is the only safe country to be in to stay away from the virus. Screenshots of multiple Twitter accounts show that they all tweeted the same message in Chinese, with only the country name changed. The outbreak in France [also U.S., Canada, Spain, Italy] is out of control. I heard from friends who work at French [American, Canadian, etc.] hospitals that countless people are asking for help at hospitals every day, but they dont have diagnostic kits. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus as the CCP virus because the Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed it to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. This decision has been made to limit the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus and to protect citizens, residents, and international travellers. The suspension of flights to and from Abu Dhabi International Airport will commence at 23:59 (UAE local time) on Wednesday 25 March, and will last for an initial 14 days, subject to further directives by the relevant authorities. Cargo and emergency evacuation flights are exempt and will continue. Tony Douglas, Group chief executive officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said: These are unprecedented times and unprecedented decisions are being made by governments, authorities and companies, including Etihad, to contain the spread of the coronavirus and to help minimise its effects around the world. We stand with our loyal customers, who are having to endure disruption and inconvenience to their travel and their daily lives, and we dedicate all our efforts and resources to ensuring we do all we can to assist them with their travel planning during this challenging period. As the national airline, we stand in full support of the UAE governments decision, and are confident that were well prepared to weather the commercial and operational impact this suspension will have on our services. Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCM City, the countrys largest and busiest airport. (Photo courtesy of ACV) ACV decided to reduce fees for a range of airline services at airports, including service fees for aircraft navigation (cut by 50 percent); and pipe ladder services, carousel rentals, automatic baggage handling, check-in counters and ground services (by 10 percent). In addition, ACV, which operates more than 20 airports across the country, will waive office rental fees for airlines that have stopped flying, and reduce fees by 30 percent fees for airlines that are still operating flights. ACV will also waive fees for some specialised aviation services. Last week, the Ministry of Transport asked the Ministry of Planning and Investment to report to the Prime Minister about the proposed reduction of 50 percent for fees for takeoff, and landing and aircraft operating services for domestic flights. The Ministry of Transport has also asked the Government to assign the Ministry of Finance to oversee an exemption of import tax and environmental protection tax on aircraft fuel for three months. Domestic airlines have suspended many routes to China, the Republic of Korea, Europe, and Southeast Asia. National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has suspended all its international routes until April 30. Vietnam Airlines had earlier suspended flights between Vietnam and China, Hong Kong, Macao, the Republic of Korea, France, Russia, Malaysia and Taiwan. According to ACV, this year the passenger volume through Vietnamese airports is expected to fall by 40 percent compared to last year. International visitors will decrease by 70 percent. ACV expects profit this year will decrease by 10 trillion VND (426.5 million USD) due to the effect of the pandemic. Etihad Airways will temporarily suspend all flights to, from, and via Abu Dhabi following a decision by the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, and the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), to suspend all inbound, outbound, and transit passenger flights in the UAE. This decision has been made to limit the spread of the coronavirus and to protect citizens, residents, and international travellers. The suspension of flights to and from Abu Dhabi International Airport will commence at 23:59 (UAE local time) on March 25, and will last for an initial 14 days, subject to further directives by the relevant authorities. Cargo and emergency evacuation flights are exempt and will continue. Tony Douglas, group chief executive officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said: These are unprecedented times and unprecedented decisions are being made by governments, authorities and companies, including Etihad, to contain the spread of the coronavirus and to help minimise its effects around the world. We stand with our loyal customers, who are having to endure disruption and inconvenience to their travel and their daily lives, and we dedicate all our efforts and resources to ensuring we do all we can to assist them with their travel planning during this challenging period." As the national airline, we stand in full support of the UAE governments decision, and are confident that were well prepared to weather the commercial and operational impact this suspension will have on our services, he said. Guests will be notified if their flight is cancelled. However, the airline has urged all guests to check the status of their flights, using the Etihad Airways Flight Tracker prior to proceeding to the airport. Etihad Airways continues to follow UAE and international government and regulatory authority directives and is applying a contingency plan to assist affected customers. The airline will announce the resumption of services through its usual channels once restrictions are lifted. - TradeArabia News Service Louisiana Senate President Page Cortez said Monday the state Legislature will likely extend its suspension of the legislative session until after the states stay-at-home order is set to expire, in mid-April. Cortez, a Lafayette Republican, said the Legislature is obligated to come back March 31 because when lawmakers adjourned a week ago to help slow the spread of the new coronavirus, they set that date to return. Also, Cortez said lawmakers would read in late-filed bills that day. But he said the Legislature will likely convene, read in the bills and then go home until after April 13, when the stay-at-home order put in place by Gov. John Bel Edwards is set to be lifted. +5 Louisiana Legislature to suspend session in latest step to battle coronavirus The Louisiana Legislature suspended its annual lawmaking session for two weeks Monday in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the latest in a Cortez said that while he doesnt want to speak for House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, he believes Schexnayder agrees the move is prudent. Schexnayder did not return calls Monday. Vaccine news in your inbox Once a week we'll update you on the progress of COVID-19 vaccinations. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Cortez added that the state budget process is in flux, and he indicated a meeting of the Revenue Estimating Conference, which decides how much money the state has to spend, could be delayed after initially being set for April 8th. The budget is further complicated by cratering oil prices and federal stimulus money that will dramatically change revenue streams for the state. Everything is sort of a mystery at this point, Cortez said. Were working on every 12 hours getting new information. Louisiana can handle a few weeks of coronavirus closures. Any longer could cause budget problems. A mere two weeks ago, Louisiana legislators headed to pre-session parties with their biggest fiscal worry being how much of the surplus would The Legislature suspended its work only a week after gaveling in on March 9. Hours into the session, Edwards announced Louisiana had confirmed its first coronavirus case. As of noon Monday, the state had 1,172 confirmed cases and 34 confirmed deaths. The virus had spread to 41 of 64 parishes. While the elderly remain the most affected group, young people in several countries are struggling with the virus. A 13-year-old girl has died as a result of the coronavirus in Panama, state health officials said in a statement. The young girl was being treated at a paediatric hospital in the South American country when she died on Sunday, officials said. The deaths were notified to the [Ministry of Health] epidemiological system after the Gorgas Memorial Institute carried out the rigorous examinations and determined that the deaths were the result of respiratory complications due to COVID-19, state officials said in the release, referring to the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. No further information about the teen was immediately available. A man, aged 92 years, also died on Sunday, Panama confirmed. The two deaths raised the coronavirus death toll to five in Panama. Panama has 313 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, according to local media. Panama health officials reported 68 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, up 28 percent from the previous day, Lourdes Moreno, national director of epidemiology, told reporters on Sunday that more than eight in 10 of the individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 are now home under isolation. Only the elderly? The coronavirus is widely viewed as a threat to the elderly and those with chronic health conditions, according to health officials across the globe. Only one death of someone younger than 20 was recorded in China through February 11, according to Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention figures cited by CNN. There were no deaths among children younger than 10. The spread of the virus has caused a worldwide scramble to develop vaccines and treatments [Craig Lassig/Reuters] However, cases such as the 13-year-old in Panama and that of a 12-year-old in the US state of Georgia who is currently on a respirator, have raised alarms. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released figures last week that showed 38 percent of people hospitalised in relation to the virus were aged between 20 and 54. Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said during a briefing on Sunday that US health officials are looking very closely at those figures. According to CDC numbers, about 80 percent of US deaths related to the virus were people aged 65 and older, with those older than 85 accounting for the majority of that figure. The US has over 41,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and roughly 470 deaths as of March 23, according to Johns Hopkins University. The global total sits at over 372,000 confirmed cases and 16,000 deaths. Two Republican senators are self-quarantining after Sen. Rand Paul became the first senator to test positive for the new coronavirus. And President Donald Trump seemed to make light of the situation as he appeared to enjoy that Sen. Mitt Romney is one of them. Romneys in isolation? Trump asked reporters at a news conference Sunday. Gee. Thats too bad. The reporter asked the president if he could detect sarcasm in his voice. No, Trump answered. None whatsoever. Advertisement I think it was quite a while ago, Trump tells ABC News when asked when he last had contact with Rand Paul, who tested positive for COVID-19. Romneys in isolation? Gee, thats too bad, Trump adds about Romney being among senators self-quarantining. https://t.co/YL2iazzYuq pic.twitter.com/Rkphe82Mox ABC News (@ABC) March 22, 2020 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump also said he thought it was quite a while ago that he had his last contact with Paul. Advertisement Trump has repeatedly sparred with Romney, particularly after the Utah senator became the lone Republican to vote to convict him of abuse of power last month. Romney and Sen. Mike Lee, also of Utah, said they would self-quarantine Sunday after news of Pauls diagnosis. Sens. Cory Gardner, R-Colorado, and Rick Scott, R-Florida, are also in self-quarantine after contact with individuals who tested positive. Many were decidedly not amused by Trumps apparent sarcasm in relation to coronavirus self-isolation. Super funny joke! wrote MSNBC host Chris Hayes. One of our incredible colleagues died from this on Friday. Deeply saddened by this news. Larry was the audio technician for the @NBCnews team dispatched to cover my 2012 campaign. He was a special part of the Romney Rambler family. Ann and I send our prayers to Larrys wife, Crystal, his sons, and loved ones. https://t.co/sayaequM5X Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) March 21, 2020 For more on the impact of the coronavirus, listen to What Next. GI UK Medical, a Northallerton, North Yorkshire, UK-based new medical device supplier, secured 650k in funding. NPIF Mercia Equity Finance made the investment. The funding is allowing the company to develop its global supply partnerships, initiate its sales and marketing strategy, recruit two new sales staff and establish itself as a new NHS supplier. Formed by Andy Fox, Andy Smith and Lawrence Wade, GI UK Medical specializes in gastroenterology products and will offer the NHS and private healthcare providers technologies to improve patient care and reduce cost. The company has already struck a number of exclusive deals, including the right to supply a new capsule endoscopy system which can replace the need for an invasive colonoscopy. The patient swallows a capsule containing a tiny video camera and, as the final footage is initially analysed by artificial intelligence, it also saves doctors hours of time in watching the full video. The company has already attained its ISO 9001 quality standard that it requires to trade successfully. FinSMEs 23/03/2020 Could a state, to protect the health of its residents, close its borders to people from other states? It seems unlikely, but legal scholars have reached different conclusions. In 1937, as many migrants from poverty-stricken Dust Bowl states headed west, California passed the so-called Okie law making it a crime to bring an indigent person into the state. Three years later, the Supreme Court unanimously declared the law unconstitutional, with the majority citing Congress exclusive authority to regulate interstate commerce. The Constitution prohibits states from chaining people to that part of the land where accident of birth has first placed them, Justice James Byrnes said in the lead opinion. I think that would keep the state from closing its borders unless a court found that this was necessary to achieve the compelling interest of protecting public health, said Erwin Chemerinsky, the law school dean at UC Berkeley. Rory Little a constitutional law professor at UC Hastings in San Francisco, said the courts would probably allow a state to deny entry to anyone who had tested positive for the disease. He also said courts have not questioned Hawaiis longstanding ban on bringing in many common types of fruits and vegetables produced elsewhere. But Little said the courts have largely prevented states from denying or limiting rights of out-of-staters without a compelling reason. He noted the Supreme Courts 8-1 ruling in 1985 that required New Hampshire to allow a Vermont resident to practice law after she had passed the New Hampshire bar exam. That ruling relied on a constitutional provision that says the citizens of each state shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several states. However, Marjorie Cohn, a former professor at Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego and former president of the National Lawyers Guild, said courts might give states broader authority over their borders during a public health crisis She cited a 1965 Supreme Court ruling that upheld the U.S. governments refusal to let Americans travel to Cuba. Writing for a 6-3 majority, Chief Justice Earl Warren said the right to travel was not absolute, even between states, and did not mean that areas ravaged by flood, fire or pestilence cannot be quarantined when it can be demonstrated that unlimited travel to the area would directly and materially interfere with the safety and welfare of the area or the nation. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Cohn commented, Although it would not necessarily be wise or effective for states to close their borders, courts would likely uphold such restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The American Bar Association weighed in Monday on a related issue, whether the federal government could impose a quarantine that closed a states borders a closure President Donald Trump briefly proposed for virus-stricken New York state before backing off. Governors have broad powers to invoke restrictions in their state, while the power of the president is significantly limited by law and Supreme Court precedent, the ABA said in a fact check on its website. A nationally ordered lockdown would be unprecedented and would likely lead to a court challenge on constitutional grounds. But the ABA indicated that Trump acted legally when he closed the nations borders. The federal government has broad authority to quarantine and impose other health measures to prevent the spread of disease from foreign countries, the lawyers association said. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko A "fit and healthy" NHS nurse is on a ventilator in intensive care after contracting coronavirus, her family has said. Mother-of-three Areema Nasreen, 36, is in a critical condition at Walsall Manor Hospital in the West Midlands where she usually works. Her sister, Kazeema Nasreen, who works as a healthcare assistant at the same hospital, told Sky News the family thinks she could have picked it up "virtually anywhere". The 22-year-old said her sister, from Walsall, was on annual leave when she first started showing symptoms and does not think she picked it up at work. Walsall Manor Hospital in the West Midlands where Areema Nasreen is being treated. / Google Maps She confirmed her sister is currently in a critical condition and on a ventilator, but "making tiny little progress". Speaking to BirminghamLive on Sunday, Kazeema Nasreen urged everyone to "take coronavirus seriously". Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures 1 /81 Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures A deserted Westminster Bridge PA A man wearing a face mask or covering due to the COVID-19 pandemic, walks past customers sat outside a restaurant AFP via Getty Images Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons Runners pass cardboard cutouts of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William during the London Marathon in London AP An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station Jeremy Selwyn Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield PA A sign is displayed in the window of a student accommodation building following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Mancheste Reuters People take part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions, in Londo AP People sing and dance in Leicester Square on the eve on the 10PM curfew Reuters Hearts painted by a team of artists from Upfest are seen in the grass at Queen Square, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Bristol Reuters Graffiti reads 'good luck and stay safe', as the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases grow around the world, under a bridge in London Reuters A sign is pictured in Soho, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London Reuters Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures, during a coronavirus briefing in Downing Street, London AP A person runs past posters with a message of hope, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Manchester REUTERS Riot police face protesters who took part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions in London AP An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London's Piccadilly Circus PA Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images Durdle Door in Dorset Reuters Captain Tom Moore via Reuters Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak PA An NHS worker reacts at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS Reuters Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno @AndrewStuart via PA Tobias Weller PA Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed London Landscapes: Hyde Park and the Serpentine, central London. Matt Writtle A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus PA Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue Reuters A young man cuts another man's hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford Reuters General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London via Reuters Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace Getty Images A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home PA Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak. PA Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers PA A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of "panic buying" cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus. Getty Images People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour PA Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus PA Children are painting 'Chase the rainbows' artwork and springing up in windows across the country Reuters Social distancing in Primrose Hill Jeremy Selwyn A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended PA Homeless people in London AFP via Getty Images A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow's street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss PA The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic PA A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world Reuters Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA Britain's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street Reuters The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh's Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak. PA Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear PA A sign at a Sainsbury's supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world Reuters Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" Getty Images A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads "Diseases are in the City" in Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors PA A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh PA A quieter than usual British Museum Getty Images A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre Getty Images A deserted Trafalgar Square in London PA Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport Getty Images She said: "My sister who is an amazing nurse on the front line and who always helps so many has now caught this virus. "She is critically ill in ICU (intensive care unit), on a ventilator and fighting for her life. "I want everyone to know how dangerous this is. My sister is only 36 and is normally fit and healthy. "People are not taking this seriously enough. She is young - it is not just the elderly who are at risk." She said the family are "heartbroken" but she praised the staff at Walsall Manor Hospital who have gone "above and beyond" in their care for her sister. "Areema loves the NHS," she said. "Her colleagues are like a second family and they have been truly amazing with her - and us. States have begun reshaping election policies to expand access to mail-in voting. Election officials in states with restrictive absentee requirements are looking for ways to allow as many voters as possible to use absentee ballots, a safer alternative to in-person voting in a global pandemic. If this crisis continues into November, however, some experts warn that a pivot to voting by mail could strain state resources and disenfranchise certain voters if not handled properly. U.S. elections have been in flux since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland and Ohio all delayed their Democratic primaries. New York officials also are considering delaying that states April 28 primary. But many states are taking their responses to COVID-19 further. Voting by mail looks different in each state. While most states allow all voters to cast a mail-in ballot, 17 states restrict absentee voting to people who have disabilities, who are ill or who would be out of town on Election Day. Several states have begun lifting restrictions on mail-in voting, opening the process to people who may have fears of exposure to the highly infectious virus. Among them is Alabama, which postponed until July 14 its March 31 runoff in the Republican election for U.S. Senate. The July date would give officials time to process absentee ballots, and its the last day the state could hold an election without interrupting the November general election, according to Alabama Secretary of State John H. Merrill. That spreads out the work for them, Merrill said in an interview, enabling the voters more time to have their voices heard and votes counted. Alabama is one of the 17 with restrictions on absentee voting, normally requiring a voter be absent from their home county on Election Day, be ill or have a physical disability, have a job during voting hours or be a caregiver for a family member. But like his peers around the country, Merrill, a Republican, chose to allow any eligible voter in the state to vote absentee because of virus concerns. Elections officials have made similar accommodations in Delaware, Virginia and West Virginia, allowing all voters concerned about COVID-19 to request an absentee ballot. In light of the situation, we want to make sure this election is as free, fair and safe for all voters as we can, said Jennifer Gardner, deputy press secretary of West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner, a Republican. We understand the health risk here, and were taking that very seriously. But not every state is lifting restrictions. Some are going in the opposite direction: Kentuckys GOP-dominated legislature last week passed a new voter ID law that goes into effect before the November election. Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, has not said whether hell sign the bill, but he has said he doesnt want to make voting more difficult. Republicans have the numbers to override a veto. In Missouri, which allows only voters who meet specific criteria to vote by mail, officials last week pushed the states municipal elections from April 7 to June 2. But Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft told Stateline that he is bound by state law and will not expand mail-in, absentee voting. This is not something I can change, he said. For certain election authorities, even if I could, which I cannot, they are not prepared and set up and able to do that well. Ashcroft will consult with local election officials and state lawmakers to determine whether to change state election laws before November. He said hes willing to consider changes but doesnt want to rush to solutions that could lead to unintended voting disruptions. In other states with restrictions, there is a strong push to open the absentee process amid this emergency, including in Connecticut, Indiana and Rhode Island. And its not just states that have restrictions on mail-in voting. States such as Arizona, Idaho and Kansas, which dont require an excuse to vote absentee, also are encouraging voters to cast mail-in ballots. This renewed support for expanding absentee ballot access has encouraged officials at the Democratic National Committee, as the party continues to manage a presidential primary season that is slated to run through June. States need to take every precaution to make sure every voter can participate safely, said Ken Martin, vice chairman of the Democratic National Committee. That includes expanding mail-in voting. Thats a way that we can ensure that everyone can participate in the election without disenfranchising them or putting their personal safety in jeopardy, said Martin, who also serves as the chairman of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. No one should have to put their own health at risk by participating in democracy. Further, he hopes states will expand early voting so people can vote while social distancing, while also instituting automatic voter registration. The party, he said, also will support local election officials who need to make the tough choice of postponing a primary for the health of their voters. After Ohio decided last Monday night to postpone its primary until June, election experts said states need a strong, worst-case-scenario contingency plan before November, and need to find the best way to transition to a voting system that more heavily relies on mail-in ballots. States have a long to-do list: Figure out how many voters now use mail-in or in-person ballots. Buy paper and envelopes even as vendors could be delayed because of the pandemic emergency. Decide how to get ballots to voters. And process absentee ballots even as election staffers are teleworking. States are contemplating how they can realistically expand the options they provide voters in ways that maintain the infrastructure they have so they can process them appropriately, said Tammy Patrick, a senior advisor for the elections program at the Democracy Fund, a bipartisan foundation. If youre going to expand it, go big and do it right. Even in states that are used to mail-in voting, a flood of absentee ballot requests can stress a voting system. In Wisconsin, nearly 400,000 voters have requested mail-in ballots for the April 7 presidential primary, more than each of the last four spring elections. The Democratic Party has sued the state to extend absentee voting. Luckily for states and counties around the country, Patrick said, there are best practices for registering voters, accommodating voters with disabilities, processing applications, and even designing envelopes. But fully integrating an elevated vote-by-mail system takes years and a large investment, said Neal Kelley, registrar of voters for Orange County, California, which transitioned to its new system in 2019. There were several lessons he learned along the way, including the need to double his ballot-scanning capacity and increase communication with voters about the changes. He also recently added I Voted stickers to mail-in ballots, which he said was one of the most popular things hes done as registrar. [All of these elements] really changed the voters perception of having trust in the system, Kelley said, and having trust that the ballot is going to be handled and counted correctly. There are still some voters who dont trust the mail service with their ballots. To address those concerns, some states and counties offer ballot tracking services following the ballot from drop-off to delivery and processing at the local election administrators office. Pasco County, Florida, a jurisdiction of 369,000 voters just north of Tampa, was the first in the state to offer a ballot tracking service -- a response to voters concerned with their ballots getting lost in the mail, said Brian Corley, the countys supervisor of elections. You have to have that confidence with dealing with voters, he said. It gives them that peace of mind. There are many elements of a mail-in ballot system that must be done carefully, said Whitney Quesenbery, director of the Center for Civic Design, which has worked with several election jurisdictions around the country. It needs to be done early; it needs to be done in an open way, she said. What comes out of that sausage-making process must be a system that protects voters and protects the system. We cant compromise integrity and we cant compromise access. We cant leave our marginalized voters behind. A vote-by-mail system could disenfranchise certain groups, including those with lower incomes, residents of large apartment complexes with unreliable mail service and people on tribal reservations, said Jacqueline De Leon, a staff attorney at the Native American Rights Fund. Many Native Americans lack traditional addresses or home delivery, relying on a post office box that is rarely checked and often shared by several families. Further, several states, including Arizona and Montana, have criminalized mass ballot collecting, which voting rights groups often use during elections to help geographically isolated populations who might lack personal transportation. Were very concerned that the virus is going to mean an increase in vote-by-mail, she said, and thats going to disenfranchise Native Americans if accommodations are not made. Washington state, which runs its elections entirely by mail, sought to protect Native American voting rights by passing legislation last year that allows voters to use a tribally designated building as a residential pickup and drop-off location, De Leon said. Other experts argue there should be a strong in-person option for other voters who cannot vote by mail. But any expansion of voting by mail must be secure, said Marian Schneider, president of the election security nonprofit Verified Voting. Remember, she said, were coming off the 2016 election, where we had an unprecedented attack on our election. Some members of Congress, meanwhile, have discussed legislation that would guarantee a mail-in ballot for every voter during a national emergency. Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Ron Wyden of Oregon introduced a bill last week that would expand early voting and provide resources for access to the ballot for voters with disabilities and recruit younger poll workers. This article was first posted on Stateline, an initiative of The Pew Charitable Trusts. Chairmen of the six area councils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have directed that their respective area council secretariats remain shut till further notice, to contain spread of the Corona virus. The area councils are Kuje, Kwali, Gwagwalada, Bwari, Abaji and Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC). The chairmen under the auspices of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), FCT Chapter, gave the directive at a joint news conference, on Monday in Abuja. Chairman of the association, Mustapha Danze, who is also the Chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council, said skeletal services however, would be on-going at the various secretariats. In synergy with the FCT Administration and from the outcome of our meeting, we jointly agree conclusively to close the whole area council secretariats to contain the fast spread of this epidemic in the Federal Capital Territory until further notice. However, skeletal services will still continue in the secretariats, particularly our health departments personnel, who will be deployed to our communities to sensitise the public. Furthermore, this skeletal services will still be subject to final approval of the FCT Administration, on when everybody returns to work; but for now all secretariats remain closed, Mr Danze said. He urged area council employees to adhere strictly to precautionary measures as advised by health professionals to curb the spread. On the issue of salary payment, Mr Danze assured the people that appropriate measures had been put in place to ensure prompt payment of wages in spite of the secretariats closure. (NAN) Kyiv has four more laboratory-confirmed Covid-19 cases, mayor Vitaliy Klitschko posted on Facebook. "This afternoon, the State Institution "Kyiv City Laboratory Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine" informed us of four more laboratory-confirmed coronavirus cases, he wrote. That is, the number of Kyiv residents infected with Covid-19 has increased up to 28 people. Among the new patients is a 17-year-old girl who returned from London, a 53-year-old woman who contacted a patient in Kyiv region, a 28-year-old woman who returned from Austria, and a 21-year-old man who contacted a sick relative. "Today, when tens of thousands of Ukrainians return to Ukraine from abroad by special flights, we are in danger of a possible rapid spread of the infection. I appeal to the Ministry of Internal Affairs with a request to tighten control over the compliance of Kyiv residents, especially those arriving in the country, with strict restrictive measures, and the compliance of enterprises and institutions with the organization of work from home of their employees. We must limit the number of social contacts as much as possible!" Klitschko emphasized. As of morning March 23, Ukraine confirmed 73 coronavirus cases, including three lethal ones. One patient recovered and was discharged from hospital. ol The ongoing budget session of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly will be cut short as Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri announced that it will be adjourned sine die on Tuesday, amid growing demand for it to be curtailed in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. The House will meet at 10 am on March 24 and discuss the budget, demands of departments and supplementary estimates following which the chief minister will give his reply and it will be passed, the speaker said in the assembly on Monday. "Also appropriation bill will be tabled and passed, after which the session will be adjourned sine die," Kageri said. Announcing the outcome of the Business Advisory Committee Meeting, he said the House will sit on Monday as long as possible and continue with the ongoing discussion on the budget. The BAC met this afternoon amid growing demand from legislators cutting across party ines to postpone the session or to curtail it in view of COVIS-19 outbreak. Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah said: "adjourn today itself, we are ready to get the finance bills passed, our demand is that the session be adjourned today itself." Industries Minister Jagadish Shettar said the opposition leader had expressed similar opinion during the BAC meeting. But it has been decided for tomorrow following discussions and gathering every one's view as the Chief Minister will have to reply for the discussion on the budget and the approval also has to come from the Legislative Council, he added. The budget session that began on March two was scheduled to end on March 31. Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa who holds the finance portfolio presented the 2020-21 budget on March 5. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Donald Trump indicated Monday morning he supports ending social distancing when the 15 day mark arrives even as his own surgeon general advised people to stay home as the coronavirus spread was going to get worse. The president retweeted demands from people to be allowed to go back to work when the 15 days his administration recommended are finished. The president's push for a return to normal comes as the economy is tanking and Dr. Tony Fauci, a leading expert on infectious diseases who is part of the White House's coronavirus task force, warned that social distancing may last 'several weeks.' Additionally, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams warned Monday it get worse. 'This week, it's going to get bad,' Adams told NBC's 'Today Show.' 'We really, really need everyone to stay at home.' He advised patience. 'We know it's going to be a while before life gets back to normal,' he told CBS 'This Morning.' Trump, however, took to social media Monday morning, where he retweeted a variety of people with a different view, including a sex counselor who wrote: 'The fear of the virus cannot collapse our economy that President Trump has built up. We The People are smart enough to keep away from others if we know that we are sick or they are sick! After 15 days are over the world can begin to heal!' He also pushed another suggestion that only high-risk groups isolate after the 15 days in the guidelines he recommended have expired: '15 days. Then we isolate the high risk groups and the rest of us get back to work before it's all over for everyone!!' President Donald Trump indicated Monday morning he supports ending social distancing when the 15 day mark arrives U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams warned Monday the coronavirus situation is going to get worse and advised people to stay home The president's advocating a return to work comes as federal reserve board member warned unemployment could hit 30 per cent because of the virus and Federal Reserve announced new programs Monday morning to keep businesses afloat. It also reflects an increasing fear that the medical precautions have devastated the economy. Trump is basing his re-election effort on a strong U.S. economy. The president hinted at his changing thought pattern late Sunday night when he said the administration will make a decision at the end of a 15-day period on 'which way we want to go' to fight coronavirus, implying that the country could re-open. 'We cannot let the cure be worse than the problem itself,' he said on Twitter. That tweet reflects advice offered by conservative commentator Steve Hilton, the former communications director for ex-British Prime Minister David Cameron. Hilton wrote in an op-ed for Fox News that 'You know, that famous phrase? "The cure is worse than the disease." That is exactly the territory we are hurtling towards. You think it is just the coronavirus that kills people? This total economic shutdown will kill people.' He argued that 'a family thrown out of their home -- the mom gets sick, the kids are orphans -- her death won't be counted. The dad who has been out of work for 30 years and finally got a job last month, and now he is back on the scrap heap and turning back to drinking and drugs -- his death won't show up in a neat little box on cable news. Poverty kills. Despair kills. This shutdown is deadly.' 'Keep the ban on large gatherings, but stop the total shutdown for everyone and start the total protection of the elderly and those most likely to need hospitalization. Don't turn a public health crisis into America's worst catastrophe,' he concluded. 'Save small businesses. Flatten the curve, but not the economy, and do it before it's too late.' But Trump's position conflicts with that of Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who warned on Friday that the isolation may need to continue. 'If you look at the trajectory of the curves of outbreaks in other areas it's at least going to be several weeks,' he told NBC's 'Today Show.' 'I cannot see that all of a sudden next week or two weeks from now it's going to be over,' he said. 'I don't think there's a chance of that I think it's going to be several weeks.' Medical experts, including Dr. Tony Fauci, have warned that it may take 'several weeks' of social distancing to slow the spread of the coronavirus Louisiana and Ohio have joined nine other states in issuing statewide stay at home orders aimed at stemming the spread of the deadly coronavirus The White House, in guidelines released last week, discouraged gatherings of 10 or more people and urged bars and restaurants to close. Trump has said that recommendation would be revisited on 'Day 14' as to whether or not it needs to continue. Hard hit areas, such as New York, California, and Illinois, have even tougher restrictions where residents have been told to stay at home. There have been more than 33,000 cases across the U.S. and more than 400 deaths. The disconnect between the president and medical experts come as Fauci admitted that he has to tell President Trump facts four times to get his point across and that he will 'keep pushing' to correct any inaccuracies about the coronavirus that are relayed by the White House. The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said in an interview with Science that 'when you're dealing with the White House, sometimes you have to say things 1,2,3,4 times, and then it happens. So I'm going to keep pushing.' He said that he tries to correct Trump when the president makes errors but he 'can't jump in front of the microphone and push him down.' He also criticized the president for publicly shaking hands with people, saying: 'I say that to the task force. I say that to the staff. We should not be doing that.' 'Not only that - we should be physically separating a bit more on those press conferences.' His comments come just one day after he admitted he has been 'walking a fine line' by publicly contradicting Trump in an interview with the New York Times. Dr. Tony Fauci said he has to tell President Trump things as many as four times before it will sink in Dr Anthony Fauci was caught smirking at President Donald Trump during a coronavirus press conference on Friday, further fueling rumors of tension between the pair He was also forced to publicly row back on the president's claims that the anti-malarial drug cloroquine offered a potential cure for coronavirus in the latest of a series of public rebukes. He said that telling Trump 'things he doesn't want to hear' was a 'risky business.' Fauci said that he tried not to 'embarrass Trump' and said that he attempts to deal with the president by 'continually' talking about scientific facts. 'I don't want to act like a tough guy, like I stood up to the president,' he said. 'I just want to get the facts out. And instead of saying, 'You're wrong,' all you need to do is continually talk about what the data are and what the evidence is.' The health expert admitted that the tactic was 'risky' but maintained: 'I say it the way it is, and if he's gonna get pissed off, he's gonna get pissed off. 'Thankfully, he is not. Interestingly,' he said. And Fauci insisted that Trump was not offended by his advice. He told the Times: 'Hes a smart guy. Hes not a dummy. So he doesnt take it certainly up to now he doesnt take it in a way that Im confronting him in any way. He takes it in a good way.' Fauci said that he had been working round the clock as the coronavirus crisis unfolds. As of Sunday night, there were 35,214 confirmed cases in the U.S. of the infection, which was blamed for 471 known deaths. 'I'm exhausted,' he said. 'About a week ago, I was going about four or five days in a row on about three hours of sleep, which is completely crazy 'cause then I'll be going on fumes. 'The last couple of nights, I've gotten five hours' sleep, so I feel much better.' In response to speculation that he had been banished from the White House when he disappeared from press briefings for two days in the past week , he said: 'That's kind of funny but understandable that people said, 'What the hell's the matter with Fauci?' because I had been walking a fine line. Dr. Fauci said President Trump isn't offended by his advice as he's a 'smart guy' who takes it in the right way it is meant 'I've been telling the president things he doesn't want to hear. I have publicly had to say something different with what he states.' On Friday Fauci appeared to roll his eyes and suppress laughter as Trump lashed out at the State Department, describing them as the 'Deep State department'. Dr Fauci then placed his hand over his face, in what many described as a 'face palm' reaction to Trump's inflammatory remarks. Video of the incident was shared across Twitter, with many commenting on the doctor's body language. In recent weeks, Dr Fauci has garnered a reputation for repeatedly contradicting Trump's claims about coronavirus. On Thursday, the president said that there had been positive results after doctors trialed chloroquine on COVID-19 patients, and suggested the drug could be a 'game-changer'. 'It's shown very, very encouraging early results. We're going to be able to make that drug available almost immediately. It's been approved,' Trump said. However, a few hours later Fauci told CNN: 'There's no magic drug for coronavirus right now'. 'Let me put it into perspective for the viewers .. there has been anecdotal non-proven data that it [chloroquine] works... but when you have an uncontrolled trial you can never definitely say that it works'. Sterlite Power on Monday said that it has concluded divestment of its three power transmission assets worth USD 100 million in Brazil. The three assets, including Arcoverde, Novo Estado and Pampa, have been sold to Investment Fund Vinci Energia, ENGIE Transmisso de Energia Participaes, and FIP Brasil Energia and CYMI Construes, respectively, for a total consideration of BRL 566 million or USD 100 million, the company said in a statement. It said, after these transactions, the company retains seven projects in several Brazilian regions, which are at different phases of execution. Vineyards, in Rio Grande do Sul, is in the advanced phase of construction, already partially energised, corresponds to 70 per cent of the enterprise and is scheduled for final delivery this year. The other six are in different phases of environmental licensing. Passing through the Northeast with Dunas, Borborema and So Francisco. In the midwest, Goyaz, and in the north, there is Marituba and in the Southeast, the company continues with Solaris. Pratik Agarwal, Managing Director, Sterlite Power, said We delivered our first project ArcoVerde in May 2019, much ahead of schedule. "Recently we divested some of our projects to marquee developers and investors, which reflects the high quality of assets in our portfolio. We remain committed to sustainable execution of our projects which contribute to the expansion of the energy transmission system of Brazil. Acquired by Investment Fund Vinci Energia, the project Arcoverde in operation since May 2019 and delivered 28 months ahead of the schedule established by ANEEL (The Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency) (August 2021). The Sterlite Power is a global developer of power transmission infrastructure with projects of over 13,315 circuit kms and 23,885 MVA in India and Brazil. It is also the sponsor of IndiGrid, India's first power sector Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT), listed on the BSE and NSE. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) [March 23, 2020] Zignal Labs and The Public Good Projects Announce First COVID-19 Insights Service Integrating Artificial Intelligence with Expert Public Health Analysis SAN FRANCISCO, March 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zignal Labs , creator of impact intelligence solutions that monitor the real-time evolution of opinion, and public health nonprofit PGP (The Public Good Projects), experts in health communications, today announced the launch of Project RCAID (Rapid Collection Analysis Interpretation Dissemination). RCAID is an innovative insights service that combines artificial intelligence, machine learning and expert analysis to monitor the conversation around COVID-19 (coronavirus). Scanning traditional, social and broadcast media, and analyzed through the lens of public health experts, RCAID captures emerging themes in real time, and provides daily, customized recommendations for professionals on the front lines of what the World Health Organization has called an infodemic . Public and private health institutions must be able to respond urgently and knowledgeably to mitigate the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic on the worlds population. Traditional media monitoring and historical reporting do not provide the agility needed to manage the volume and velocity of news. While orchestrated information campaigns and response plans are being mobilized in real time, the speed of information traveling through the general population - across traditional and social media - has made it challenging for organizations to effectively monitor and manage evolving conversations around the virus. Global experts dealing with COVID-19 arent just grappling with treating the sick and developing a vaccine - they must urgently provide the public with the most accurate and current health information, said Adam Beaugh, CEO and co-founder of Zignal Labs. Government agencies, healthcare institutions, pharmaceutical manufacturers and health insurers all must meet the challenge of an unprecedented spread of misinformation and disinformation as they educate the public on safe and effective strategies to minimize risk and stay healthy. Analyzing the conversational data around COVID-19 can unlock new insights and identify new methods to reach people with inforation that may save their lives. RCAID is one of the many ways Zignal Labs is supporting its customers during this unprecedented public health crisis. To allow all customers to better understand and react to the infodemic across their organizations, Zignal Labs is providing each of its customers with complimentary access to a dedicated real-time COVID-19 dashboard. This dashboard profile offers tracking and monitoring of the conversation around COVID-19, with the option to customize the COVID-19 topics specific to their businesses. For those needing contextualized insights and public health expertise from PGP, the RCAID service empowers health professionals with a deeper understanding of online conversations to guide their strategic plans and response. The RCAID solution offers customers: Real-time access to global and multi-language data from publicly available media channels (broadcast, news, social media, blogs, online video, etc.) Analytics to gauge which stories, influencers, outlets, words, geographies and topics are gaining the most traction, and how they are trending over time Access to dedicated public health practitioners, whose recommendations follow crisis response standards (e.g. CDCs CERC framework) framework) Ability to look at levels of automation to help determine where COVID-19 narratives are being propagated in inauthentic ways, or where disinformation may be a factor Customized topics and geographies for each teams needs Daily insights available by phone, email, automated email alerts, text alerts, custom dashboards and downloadable reports Information, which spreads as fast as disease, can make a crisis better or worse. Modern public health emergencies require modern mitigation techniques, and these need to be linked to best practices in crisis and emergency risk communications, said Dr. Joe Smyser, CEO of The Public Good Projects. RCAID enables public and private healthcare organizations to understand the impact of the information they are sharing, and craft communications plans tailored to their specific needs. As we progress through the phases of this pandemic, RCAID will evolve as well. To access customized, daily insights on media conversations related to COVID-19 and coronavirus through RCAID, please visit www.RCAID.org . To learn more about Zignal Labs, please visit https://zignallabs.com/ . To learn more about PGP, please visit https://publicgoodprojects.org/ About Zignal Labs Zignals Impact Intelligence platform measures the real-time evolution of opinion, and identifies the topics, networks and people that can shape it. Using AI and machine learning, Zignal mines social, traditional and broadcast media for signals of changing beliefs. With Impact Intelligence, marketers, communicators and insights professionals drive more powerful campaigns, products and experiences, and risk analysts identify threats before they fully emerge. Headquartered in San Francisco with offices in New York City and Washington D.C., Zignal serves customers around the world, including Expedia, DaVita, Under Armour, Synchrony, Prudential, DTE Energy, The Public Good Projects and Uber. To learn more, visit: www.zignallabs.co m. About PGP PGP (The Public Good Projects) is a public health nonprofit composed of experts in public health, media, and marketing. PGPs mission is to apply best evidence and practices from the public and private sectors to design and implement bold projects for health. PGPs programs and initiatives are evidence-based, tailored for particular populations, employ a collective impact model, and are scientifically evaluated. To learn more, visit: https://publicgoodprojects.org/ Contact: Michael Basilio [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Dire early numbers on jobs from the Labor Department for March and even more alarming figures from the states point to the obvious in the age of coronavirus: historic spikes in unemployment rates that could hit the post-9/11 generation of veterans especially hard. "We know it's coming; everybody does," Thomas Porter, executive vice president for government affairs at Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), said of the expected jump in unemployment rates when the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases the final numbers for March in the first week of April. "I've seen the reports from employment agencies across the country getting a huge spike in applicants" for unemployment benefits, said Porter, a Navy veteran of Afghanistan. "We expect a huge uptick in demand for services." His concerns were borne out by the BLS report for the second week in March, which showed that initial claims for state unemployment benefits, a key indicator of layoffs, climbed by 70,000 to 281,000. Related: The Military's Coronavirus Response The increase of more than 30% in initial claims from the previous week was "clearly attributable to impacts from the COVID-19 virus," the report said. "A number of states specifically cited COVID-19 related layoffs, while many states reported increased layoffs in service-related industries broadly and in the accommodation and food services industries specifically." Based on the BLS numbers, investment bank Goldman Sachs and Bank of America Merrill Lynch projected that initial claims for unemployment could be in the range of 2 to 3 million when BLS issues another weekly claims report Thursday. The surge in claims threatened to overwhelm the ability of state offices to deal with them. Long waits to get through to state offices were reported nationwide, and New York, Oregon and New Jersey reported website crashes. Colorado reported that 11,000 claims were filed March 16-17, compared to the usual weekly average of 400. Louisiana reported that 30,000 new claims for unemployment assistance were filed from March 16-19, up from 1,700 in the previous week. The blizzard of rules and regulations on who qualifies for unemployment insurance, and when and how to apply, vary from state to state and can complicate the process for a recently laid-off worker seeking to navigate the systems. Virginia's Employment Commission advised, "If you are a worker who has been totally or partially separated from your job due to coronavirus, please note that no claim for unemployment insurance may be filed or processed until an actual lay off from employment has occurred, or until there has been an actual reduction in hours." Washington state's Employment Security Department advised, "If you are following guidance issued by a medical professional or public health official to isolate or quarantine yourself as a result of exposure to COVID-19, and you are not receiving paid sick leave from your employer, you may be eligible to receive unemployment benefits." However, the Virginia commission said, "Eligibility decisions are made on a case-by-case basis." No Signs of Pandemic Slowing Down The coronavirus pandemic that has sent shock waves through world economies showed no signs of abating as it progressed exponentially in the U.S. and elsewhere. By mid-morning Sunday, the number of confirmed cases in the U.S. had passed 27,000 -- up 3,000 from the day before -- and the number of deaths approached 350, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center and other estimates. Worldwide, there were more than 318,000 cases and more than 13,600 deaths. Italy was the hardest hit, with more than 53,500 cases and more than 4,800 deaths. As a result, the near-historic lows in unemployment rates for veterans and the general population recorded in 2019 are expected to come to an abrupt end when BLS reports the figures in the first week of April. In its last monthly report before the impact from coronavirus could be gauged, BLS said that the economy had added 273,000 jobs in February. The overall unemployment rate was little changed and stood at 3.5% in February, a tick below the 3.6% in January, to remain in the range of a 50-year low. The jobless rate for all veterans was 3.6% in February, compared to 3.5% in January and 2.7% in February 2019, the BLS report said. As is usually the case, the rates for post-9/11 veterans were higher. The unemployment rate in February for post-9/11 veterans was 4.5%, compared to 4.4% in January and 3.4% in February 2019, BLS said. There have been numerous reports, surveys and academic papers on joblessness among those who served since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, but the BLS, in separate report last week on the employment situation for veterans, noted the high disability rate for post-9/11 veterans, referred to as "Gulf War II-era" veterans by the bureau. "In August 2019, 41% of Gulf War-era II veterans had a service-connected disability, compared with 25% percent of all veterans," the report said. -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. Read more: American Woman Rescued in Secretive Military Op, Trump Says British Lion is to halt most on-farm inspections in the face of the growing coronavirus epidemic hitting the United Kingdom. With the government appealing for people to avoid unnecessary contact, the British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) has now decided to suspend most on-farm inspections for the Lion code. "We have been keeping the position of Lion Code audits under review on a daily basis," the body said. "This included liaising with Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) in terms of them also continuing to carry out inspections on farms and in packing centres. "With the new advice from government on the continuing coronavirus situation, we have taken the decision to cease physical audits of Lion registered sites with immediate effect. "NSF are currently working on a protocol for remote assessments and further details of what this will look like will be circulated in the coming days. "This could also include the assessor asking the site to provide coverage via a smart phone or similar (e.g. providing coverage of the site)." BEIC added: "The only physical audit that will take place will be on newly registered laying sites. The conditions attached to this are: agreement from the site, the subscriber and the auditor. "Both the site and auditor would need to confirm good health with a risk assessment agreed by both parties." Defra is so far saying that its inspections will continue as normal: "APHA is currently continuing with its farm inspections regime," it said in a written response. "APHA is following the latest government advice and will continue to re-assess this position based on any updates. "We are in regular contact with the farming industry representatives and will continue to update them on how our response to Covid-19 affects them." More widely, major industry events have been cancelled in the wake of the virus spread, which has been classified as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation. One of the events cancelled was the conference of the International Egg Commission that was due to take place in The Hague in the Netherlands in April. "Due to the ongoing outbreak of Covid-19, the IEC Executive Board has made the difficult decision to postpone the 2020 IEC Business Conference in The Hague. The conference will now take place on 11 13 April 2021," said the IEC. The IEC conferences are designed to bring people together from around the world to share information and develop relationships for the benefit of the global egg industry. IEC added: "The health and welfare of IEC delegates during these events has always been the IECs top priority, and with the rapidly evolving global situation, along with the WHOs decision to upgrade the global risk status to very high, it is with regret that the IEC has deemed postponement to be the only option at this stage in the planning process." "All delegates that have secured a conference place should have received an email explaining their reimbursement options. If you have not yet received this email, please contact the IEC events team." The Royal Agricultural Society of England (RASE) also announced the cancellation of the Pig and Poultry Fair, which last took place two years ago. "The RASE trustees made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Pig & Poultry Fair event, following Government advice indicating that gatherings should not take place," it said in a public statement. "Whilst we are sorry to have to make this announcement to cancel, we believe it is the right decision, to protect the health of the industry and indeed the wider population, in these unprecedented circumstances." It said future plans for the event would be announced in due course. The management of Lagos university teaching hospital has denied a gloomy prediction about coronavirus, asking Nigerians to disregard the fake news. The message, quoting a consultant of the Infectious Diseases Unit, LUTH, said the Covid-19 pandemic in Nigeria will be worse than that of China and Italy. It also claimed that those who recover from COVID-19 suffer close to 50 per cent of permanent lungs damage. I spoke with the consultant of the Infectious Diseases Unit, LUTH yesterday and he told me clearly not to listen to a single thing spoken by the government, the purported message said. A lot of people are already infected and are taking Armatem at home, meaning when the pandemic becomes full blown in Nigeria, it will likely be worse than China and Italy. Pls tell your family and friends to stay away from needless gatherings, no matter how important, keep your hands as clean as possible all the time, avoid touching anything outside your house, run away from anyone who sneezes or coughs around you. Pls I have a note of warning for all of us, especially those in Lagos. They are dealing with far more than what they are revealing and he warned that everyone should take caution as though the pandemic is already full blown in Nigeria. He said even those who recover from COVID-19 suffer close to 50% of lungs damage permanently, which means they will be on medication forever or they may die from complications in a few years after recovery from COVID-19. Its not a flu like China makes people believe, its more like chronic pneumonia, the message read in part. Fake news The LUTH said the institution had nothing to do with the message that has since gone viral. Our attention has been drawn to a message making the rounds on social media quoting the Infectious Disease Consultant from LUTH as saying people should disregard the information being provided by @followlasg. Kindly disregard this message, the management wrote on its official Twitter page. Speaking on Channels TV earlier Monday, the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Chikwe Ihekweazu, said only a tiny bit of people infected with Covid-19 will have issues with their health. The disease is a new one and nobody has had it before, so for any physician to talk authoritative about the disease is not authentic information, he said. Nigeria has a total of 36 confirmed cases, 32 active cases, two discharged and one death. The first death from the disease was the case of a 67-year-old male who returned home following medical treatment in the UK. A statement released by two top ENTs in the UK suggests that a loss of sense of smell, or anosmia, is one of the symptoms of the novel coronavirus. A statement released by two top ENTs in the UK suggests that a loss of sense of smell, or anosmia, is one of the symptoms of the novel coronavirus. Growing anecdotal evidence from around the world - including reports from Italy, Iran, Germany and the US - suggests that a sizable proportion of confirmed cases present with this symptom. In mild cases, where classical symptoms are not present, anosmia may be considered as evidence to get tested. Professors Claire Hopkins and Nirmal Kumar, who released the statement on Friday, said that post-viral anosmia is commonly reported after infection from several viruses, so these findings are not especially surprising. Since the evidence is mostly anecdotal and the studies small, more research is needed to corroborate these observations. However, given WHOs repeated appeals to test, test, and test, this diagnostic criteria should be taken seriously since it has been seen in those not exhibiting any other symptoms. Those who believe they are healthy may unwittingly spread the infection and strain the already stretched global health infrastructure. What were the details of the statement? Preliminary studies in China have shown that ENTs are a high-risk group - many were infected and killed as the virus ravaged Wuhan. Since the doctors work on the nasal cavities of their patients, there is a higher likelihood of the virus being contracted in large doses and leading to the infection. Just as health officials have urged hospitals and patients to delay non-emergency and elective treatments, ENTs are also recommended to hold back on non-essential procedures. A study in South Korea that consisted of 2,000 patients with mild symptoms showed that 30% had anosmia of varying degrees. The statement also said that more than 2 in 3 confirmed cases in Germany presented with the symptom, indicating that it is, in fact, quite widespread. It is not yet known if the presence of the symptoms translates to a more or less lethal form of the infection. Some patients have gone to make a recovery whereas the situation has worsened in other cases. What can be taken from all this? Those exhibiting mild symptoms may be unaware that they are carriers and can spread the disease since they haven't taken strict precautions or maintained social distance. Since evidence suggests that anosmia is present even in milder cases, the statement recommends self-isolation for a week should you notice an impairment in your sense of smell. More ambitiously, the ENTs hope that anosmia becomes a part of diagnostic criteria and those presenting it should be tested as well. However, barring a few countries such as South Korea, testing has been an issue, so adding another symptom to the list will be difficult. For now, it is best to follow guidelines outlined by WHO: wash hands frequently, practice social distancing and contact a medical professional if you begin to notice any symptoms. For more tips, read our article on Coronavirus. Health articles in Firstpost are written by myUpchar.com, Indias first and biggest resource for verified medical information. At myUpchar, researchers and journalists work with doctors to bring you information on all things health. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More FMCG major Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) on March 23 said it is acquiring Glenmark Pharmaceuticals-owned intimate hygiene brand VWash. "The deal includes acquisition of intellectual property rights, including trademarks, design and know-how related to the VWash brand. The consideration has been split into two parts involving an upfront cash payment upon closing of the deal and a deferred consideration over the next three years," HUL said in a press release. The transaction is subject to fulfilment of certain conditions and both the companies are looking to seal the deal in the next few months. "Glenmark will continue to manage the business until the transaction is completed, and will also continue to manufacture for HUL for an agreed period of time," the release added. (Newser) Idris Elba did not socially distance himself from his wife, and she has now tested positive for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, NBC News reports. The couple was criticized by some for posting a video about Elba's positive test results in which his wife, Sabrina Dhowre Elba, sat right next to him, with some wondering why Elba didn't quarantine himself. But as the couple explains to Oprah Winfrey in a FaceTime interview for her new AppleTV series, they were together last Monday, the day Elba was likely exposed, and continued to be together until he left for New Mexico for work. "If I had caught it, she had certainly caught it in that time period, as well," he explained. "People were right to have highlighted that spatial distancing is important. I think given the context of the video, which was telling the world what has happened to us, we weren't thinking about that specifically." story continues below Added Dhowre Elba, "I could have made the decision to put myself, maybe, in a separate room or stay away, and I'm sure that people are making those decisions. And they're tough decisions to make. But I made the decision to want to be with him and, you know, still touch him. ... I think thats an instinct as a wife. You just want to go and take care." She adds that symptom-wise, all she has so far are symptoms equivalent to seasonal allergies. Elba, similarly, says he is feeling OK so far, but they acknowledge they could still develop symptoms. They are both quarantined in New Mexico, per People. Essence reports that new episodes of the series, Oprah Talks COVID-19, will be released each week. In addition to talking to experts and those affected by the virus, Winfrey will also discuss mindfulness and advice for keeping spirits high. (Read more coronavirus stories.) WASHINGTON President Donald Trump signaled Monday that he is eager to lift federal social distancing guidelines announced last week that were intended to slow the spread of coronavirus but that have taken a heavy toll on the economy. The White House announced the guidelines March 16, and Trump said the aim was to "bend the curve" of new COVID-19 cases to reduce the strain on hospitals. It's difficult to say how effective the guidelines have been, but public health experts have said social distancing is key to reducing transmission of the virus. Adopting a mantra that has bounced around conservative media for several days, Trump asserted in a tweet late Sunday that the nation could not let the "CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM," then retweeted several users arguing that most Americans without underlying health conditions should soon return to work. Here's what to know about the Trump administration's guidance: What is Trump's coronavirus guidance? Trump and federal health officials announced guidelines March 16 to slow the spread of coronavirus. Officials describe the effort as "15 days to bend the curve" of new cases. The guidelines called on Americans to avoid gatherings of 10 or more people and suggested that states with "community transmission" close their schools, bars, restaurants and other businesses. More: Fauci addresses Trump coronavirus claims More: Trump weighs release of some prisoners after one tests positive for coronavirus Each and every one of us has a critical role to play, Trump said. If everyone makes these critical changes and sacrifices now, we will rally together as one nation, and we will defeat the virus. The guidelines recommended that seniors stay home and avoid contact with other people, that Americans avoid discretionary travel shopping trips and social visits and that customers use drive-thru, pickup and delivery options instead of eating out. Story continues Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and President Donald Trump have disagreed on how to treat the coronavirus. When will those guidelines lift? The short answer is: It's impossible to say. The Trump administration rolled out the guidelines March 16 and said they would last 15 days, which would run to about March 30. Trump and others indicated early on that they might need to extend the guidelines. Public health officials suggested they may need months, not weeks, to arrest a rapid spread that could overwhelm the nation's medical system. "We'll see what happens," Trump said March 16 at a news conference, in response to a question about how long the social distancing guidelines may need to be in place. "But they think August. Could be July. Could be longer than that. But I've asked that question many, many times." Public health officials warned Americans against heading out. "This week, its going to get bad," Surgeon General Jerome Adams predicted on NBC's "Today" show Monday. "Everyone needs to be taking the right steps right now: Stay home." President Donald Trump says he's asked "many, many times" how long social distancing guidelines should remain in place. What does Trump say now? Trump signaled he is considering lifting social distancing guidelines once the 15-day window expires. He hasn't said he will just that he's thinking about it. WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF, Trump posted Sunday on Twitter just before midnight in Washington. AT THE END OF THE 15 DAY PERIOD, WE WILL MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHICH WAY WE WANT TO GO! More: Trump signals he may lift federal coronavirus guidelines More: Rand Paul's coronavirus infection sends shock waves through Senate Trump retweeted two users who used similar language to urge that only high risk groups be isolated and that the rest of America goes back to work." The tweets are a classic Trump public relations move. The president could be serious about lifting the guidelines or he could be working to pump up financial markets, which have plummeted as the restrictions put a heavy weight on the economy. Or he could have something else in mind. The president often signals in one direction while moving in another. The Trump administration has not imposed a nationwide quarantine. What about stay-at-home orders? It's important to note what the Trump administration didn't do March 16. Despite rumors and phony social media posts, the administration did not impose a nationwide quarantine. There is considerable legal debate about the president's powers to lock down the nation. Individual states have taken more aggressive positions. New York, which has been particularly hard hit by the virus, required all nonessential businesses to close or face up to $2,000 in fines. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed an order Sunday requiring residents to stay at home except for visits to the doctor or the grocery store. Even if the federal government lifts its guidelines at the end of next week, those state orders would remain in effect. Contributing: David Jackson and Courtney Subramanian This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When will coronavirus end? When will Trump lift stay at home guidance? After shuttering and laying off staff, small business owners are wading through paperwork to get emergency aid. First came the order to close up. Then the laying off of staff. Now small-business owners across the U.S. are bleeding cash and wading through paperwork to get financial assistance. I keep hearing that helps on its way, but I cant see much information, said Susan Choi, the owner of a Hayward, California-based party-equipment rental business she founded with her mother in 1998. A week ago, she had to let go of her eight employees. Large swathes of the U.S. are under confinement orders that are becoming stricter by the day as authorities try to contain the coronavirus outbreak. Among the hardest hit are clothing shops and other mom-and-pop stores that are the engine of the economy. The impact is hard to overstate. The restaurant industry alone is set to lose 7.4 million jobs, consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. estimates. The shutdowns across the country could send the jobless rate spiraling to 30% in the second quarter, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard told Bloomberg. Help is on the way. Its just not fast and sweeping enough for many. Congress has yet to pass a rescue package that could include about $350 billion in loans for small businesses that would convert into grants if they retain most of their workforce. Those companies can apply for low-interest disaster loans from the Small Business Administration. The catch: it can take as long as 21 days to process an application. Once approved, it might take another week to go through, the agency says. Every day counts when half of small businesses have a cash buffer of less than a month, according to a JPMorgan Chase Institute study. As of Monday, all states were approved for coronavirus disaster loans. The SBAs site warned: We are experiencing high volumes of traffic and the site might be slow. For the last several days, its been a constant stream of emails and phone calls to everyone in the office, Robert H. Nelson, the SBAs Massachusetts district director, said Thursday. Are we in uncharted waters? Maybe so, said Bill Koontz, an agency spokesman in Sacramento, California. Industry advocates say loans arent enough, especially for the smallest outfits. An instant cash injection is the only way to save them from failing, according to the Small Business Majority. The group, which represents a network of more than 58,000 small-business owners nationally, is calling for $500 billion of support split equally between cash grants and low-interest loans. We have to move quickly and at scale, said Mark Herbert, the groups vice president. Julie Verratti, co-founder of Denizens Brewing in Silver Spring, Maryland, had to furlough 30 employees a few days ago. While her company may be able to operate for the time being, others wont. Shes urging Congress to take immediate action by calling a temporary halt to rent, mortgage and commercial-debt payments. Im not against SBA disaster loans, but theyre not part of the solution in the first wave, Verratti said. Thats the second or third wave. The SBA may be the only entity that will lend to small businesses during this crisis. Banks arent set up to make fast working-capital loans, said Kurt Chilcott, chief executive of San Diego-based SBA lender CDC Small Business Finance. Such loans would be too risky, especially when no one knows when businesses will rebound, and federal regulators would need to relax all kinds of rules, he said. In some cases, emergency funds set up by states could provide some bridge funding until the company gets its disaster loan from the SBA, he said. Floridas program, for example, offers as much as $50,000 generally, or $100,000 in certain cases. However, the mix of state and federal money probably wont cover the overwhelming need. Were still going to lose a lot of smaller or not particularly well-capitalized small businesses, Chilcott said. Small businesses employ almost half of the private workforce in the U.S., and contributed about two-thirds of net employment gains in the U.S. since 2011, according to the SBA. The tiniest firms, of 20 or fewer people, account for about 20 million employees. Their collapse under the current stay-at-home orders will reverberate across the economy. Other hard-hit countries are grappling with the same conundrum seeking to contain the virus without destroying small and medium-sized businesses. From Italy to France and Germany, governments are weighing measures including loan guarantees, moratoriums on repayments and support for furloughed workers. In the U.S., many are seeking creative ways to generate sales. Kimberly Anderson, who had to shut down her fashion boutique in Philadelphia a week ago, took pictures of her inventory and reached out to clients via Facebook, Instagram and text messages. She contacted designers to try to get light spring looks for her customers. The mother of two applied for an SBA loan, but was unable to complete the application right away because she didnt have all the required documents at hand. Ive been so overwhelmed, Anderson said. I know theres a list of things I have to do, like looking into funding and seeing what the state of Pennsylvania is offering right now, if anything. In Atlanta, Amy Wilson closed her Zone of Light Studio last Monday. The eight-year-old business, which offers after-school programs for children and event space for weddings and parties, generated $300,000 in revenue last year. It is now taking in nothing, while monthly bills for rent, insurance and utilities total $11,000. I have a little bit saved up, but that will last two or three months, Wilson said. If it ends in May, I have lost $70,000, but I will be OK. If it goes through July, it will be awful for me. I will be in big trouble. For Choi, the owner of the party-equipment business in the Bay Area, the week has been tough. After initially being told her county didnt qualify for a disaster loan, she was able to apply. A few days later, she was told her loan was moving forward and could possibly close in a few weeks. How long is this going to go on? she said. Thats the most nerve-wracking part. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: COVID-19-hit aviation sector of India is bracing for a huge impact as Ministry of Civil Aviation has ordered suspension of all domestic flight services, except solely cargo-carrying flights beginning Tuesday midnight for an undefinite period to contain spread of the pandemic. Kinjal Shah, Vice President at the Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency (ICRA) said that even though industry load factor has been very low in the last few days, a complete shutdown will have a huge finance impact. Not every airline has a healthy cash flow. Meeting fixed expenses will be a challenging task. A lot is dependant on the governments stimulus package as going ahead recovery will be very slow, especially for the international sector. There is also a possible scenario of a few airlines meeting the fate of Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines, Shah told this publication. Airlines are likely to waive off flight rescheduling and cancellation fees, which would put more pressure on their balance sheet. To note, sector is already reeling under huge debts and has been hit because of overall economic slowdown. Another aviation expert on the condition of anonymity said that survival of Wadia-family backed GoAir and Ajay Singh promoted SpiceJet can turn critical without an external support. These two airlines, unlike others, does not have huge cash reserve or backed by large Groups, the expert said. The latest effort to lock down movement within the country comes days after India suspended all international flights from landing in India, a measure which forced many airlines to cancel hundreds of flights, ground dozen of flights and even cut pay slips of senior employees. Some experts also believe that the ongoing January-March period may turn out be the worst ever quarter for the aviation sector. The Corrective Action Preventive Action (CAPA) on March 18 had estimated that consolidated losses for all airlines in India, except Air India, in Q1 are expected at $500-600 million but "this is bound to be revised downwards later". COVID-19 has already hit operations at the world's biggest airlines. Singapore Airlines, which termed the outbreak as the greatest challenge it had ever faced, is cutting down capacity by 96 per cent and grounding almost all of its fleet. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday paid tributes to freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru on their death anniversary observed as 'Shaheed Diwas' (Martyr's Day). "My tributes to Shaheed-e-Azam #Bhagat Singh, Shaheed Sukhdev & Rajguru on their #Shaheedi Diwas. My Govt has been commemorating this day as #Youth Empowerment Day," Singh tweeted. With Punjab government ordering a state-wide lockdown till March 31 as an emergency measure to prevent spread of coronavirus, Singh also made a mention of various challenges posed by COVID-19. "During these extraordinary circumstances, I exhort every youngster to remain strong & resilient as we fight @Covid19," Singh said in his tweet. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A letter from the Duke of Wellington in which he slams troops that were 'pretending to be soldiers' in 1810 has gone up for sale. The hero of Waterloo laid into the Militia of Lisbon for not giving enough to the cause during their battle against the invading French in Portugal in the Peninsular War. One section of the letter sees Wellington label their behaviour as 'infamous' as he criticised their efforts. In the letter, pictured, he said the behaviour of the troops was 'infamous' and called for new measures to make them buck up their ideas The Duke of Wellington slammed his soldiers who he said weren't doing enough as they fought the French in the Peninsula War in 1810 The Lisbon Volunteer Chausseurs were in the firing line in particularly after a third of their ranks failed to show up to the front line of battle. The four-page document, which will go to auction on Wednesday, was sent by Wellington to British diplomat Charles Stuart on October 16, 1810. His mood had not been helped by the recent loss of 40 boats at the city of Santarem. Wellington wrote: 'I intended and do advert to the conduct of all the Militia of Lisbon, as well as that of Thomar. 'The conduct of the whole is infamous, and some measures must be adopted to force people who pretend to be soldiers and receive pay and provisions as such to do their duty. 'The Lisbon Volunteer Chasseurs are as bad as the rest. I don't believe one third of the number are here.' The letter has been put up for sale by a European collector with International Autograph Auctions Europe, of Malaga, Spain. It is expected to fetch 2,000. (2,200 euros). Francisco Pinero, of International Autograph Auctions Europe, said: 'This is a letter of fine military content written in the wake of a loss to the enemy. 'It is being sold by an extremely reputed European expert and collector.' Wellington ended up victorious in the battle despite his discontent with the soldiers. In 1810, during the Peninsular War (1807-14), a newly enlarged French army under Marshal Andre Massena invaded Portugal. Wellington defeated the French by building a network of forts, before he defeated Napoleon in 1815 to cement his status as the hero of Waterloo Wellington was tasked with repelling this new threat but public opinion in Britain, shared by some in the army, was that they should evacuate the country. Instead, Wellington first slowed the French down at Buaco, then prevented them from taking the Lisbon Peninsula by building the Lines of Torres Vedras, an impressive network of forts. The baffled and starving French invasion forces retreated after six months. In 1815, Wellington cemented his hero status by defeating Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo. Jamaicas Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has charged several executives from the now-defunct startup Symbiote Investment (Caricel) for breaching the countrys Telecommunications Act. Charges were issued against Symbiotes CEO and company secretary - the husband and wife Lowell and Minette Lawrence along with director Nathalie Neil and an executive of a different company, Xtrinets Livingstone Hinds. The Jamaica Gleaner reports that the four were charged with one count of conspiracy to use spectrum without a licence, and five counts of using spectrum without a licence. These actions would violate Section 63A (1) (b) of Jamaicas Telecommunications Act. In late 2018, Jamaicas Supreme Court ruled in favour of allowing the government to revoke Caricels operating licences. Almost immediate afterwards on 10th December 2018, the company handed over control of its licensed facilities and operations to Xtrinet. Caricel acquired a licence to offer 4G services in May 2016 for JMD2.65 billion (US$19.4 million). It fell afoul of Jamaicas courts in October 2017 after trying to sell its business to South Africas Involution Limited. Parliament was adjourned sine die on Monday, 11 days before its Budget Session was scheduled to conclude, in view of the intensifying nationwide measures to encourage social distancing to combat the coronavirus. The Lok Sabha passed the Finance Bill, a crucial budget legislation, without a discussion after the leaders of all political parties agreed to forgo a debate due to an "extraordinary situation", a term used by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal in the Lower House. The government had last week claimed that the session will continue in accordance with its schedule, asserting that parliamentarians should be seen doing their job when emergency workers, including medical and airline staff, were doing theirs. However, tightening measures to curb people's movement in many parts of the country led to an increasing call from the parliamentarians for curtailing the session with some parties, including the Trinamool Congress and the Shiv Sena, asking their members to withdraw from its proceedings. Some MPs also went into a self-quarantine over the suspicion that they had come in contact with people infected by the virus. Congress leader in the House Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury asked the government to announce a financial package for those hit by the coronavirus outbreak. Some Congress members clapped for a few seconds when Chowdhury was speaking about the financial package. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader T R Baalu said there was an excruciatingly painful situation in the country due to the coronavirus outbreak and sought a financial package. While the House was adjourned soon after the bill was passed, the Rajya Sabha debated the budgets for the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, bid farewell to its retiring members and then returned the Finance Bill without a discussion, before being adjourned. The Budget Session was divided into two phases. The first phase began on January 31 and concluded on February 11. The second phase, which commenced on March 2, was to conclude on April 3. The first week of the second phase was largely a washout as the government turned down the Opposition's demand for a discussion on last month's communal violence in northeast Delhi. Both Houses discussed the violence after Holi, during which Home Minister Amit Shah asserted that the government will not spare the culprits. Before adjourning the proceedings sine die on Monday, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla stressed the need for social distancing and efforts to tackle the pandemic. The members of the Lower House also clapped to express their gratitude to those working to tackle the coronavirus outbreak, including medical professionals. Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy introduced two bills in the House -- the Rashtriya Raksha University Bill and the National Forensic Sciences University Bill. In the Rajya Sabha, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu led the members in paying tributes to the 57 members from 20 states, who would be retiring in the coming months on the completion of their terms. Naidu said the outbreak of the dreaded coronavirus across the globe and the efforts to curb its spread were a major contemporary issue the House needed to take note of. "The efforts of the central and state governments and the people of our country are particularly noteworthy," he added. Naidu said March 22 was a "Super Sunday for our country" and the voluntary curfew observed by people for 14 hours to contain the spread of the virus was "unprecedented and heartwarming". "The people of our country rose in unison to the call of national duty in this hour of crisis," he said. Parliament also commemorated the martyrdom day of freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru, and paid tributes to the security personnel who were recently killed in an encounter with Maoists in Chhattisgarh. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) H undreds of people have flocked to McDonald's in a final rush for fast food after the company announced it would close all its UK restaurants due to coronavirus. On Sunday, McDonald's announced it would be closing its restaurants at 7pm on Monday to protect the safety of its customers and staff during the pandemic. It comes after the fast-food chain closed all its seating areas last week in a bid to slow the spread of Covid-19. Hours before the restaurants closed on Monday, customers were left waiting in long queues as people scrambled to their local branches for their final McDonald's. Cars queue up at a drive thru McDonald's restaurant, / REUTERS Phil Meredith, from Bracknell, waited for an hour with his children to get their last meal from the McDonald's in Wildridings Road. He told the Standard: "I thought it would be busy, but not that bad. A lot of people were just ditching their cars and walking in." Phil Meredith waited an hour in the queue outside the McDonald's in Wildridings Road, Bracknell / Phil Meredith By the time the family made their order, the McDonald's had already run out of Big Macs and milkshakes. Ryan, from Mansfield, also said people "panic buying their last Happy Meal" meant staff from the McDonald's in Nottingham Road had to leave the restaurant to help manage the traffic. Long queues were also seen outside the McDonald's in Nottingham Road, Mansfield. / @Ryan_27 The decision to temporarily close all McDonald's restaurants came after Prime Minister Boris Johnson called for all pubs, clubs and restaurants to close on Friday. A queue of cars wait for the drivethru at a McDonald's in Reading / Jason Collie In a statement on Twitter, McDonald's said it had taken the "difficult decision" to ensure the well-being and safety of its employees and customers. We will work with local community groups to responsibly distribute food and drink from our restaurants in the coming days," McDonald's said. A McDonald's employee with an order for a customer at the drive thru / REUTERS Thank you to our brilliant employees for their hard work during this incredibly challenging time. Fujifilm Toyama Chemicals (Tokyo, Japan) flu drug Favilavir, which is currently being promoted with the label, Avigan, has become the first-ever antiviral medicine to be approved for use as a treatment for COVID-19 in China. The National Medical Products Administration of China has approved Favilavir for treating the now-declared pandemic illness after it appeared to be effective in coronavirus patients during clinical studies.Favilavir, which has proven to be an effective antiviral drug for fighting RNA infections by inhibiting the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, or RdRp, is mainly used for treating influenza in Japan and China. According to medical authorities in China, Favipiravir had delivered encouraging outcomes in clinical trials of 340 coronavirus-infected patients in Wuhan and Shenzhen. The Ministry of Science and Technology of China has stated that Favilavir was shown to prevent COVID-19 from spreading and further damaging the health of patients in clinical studies. According to reports, the patients in Shenzhen who were administered Favilavir turned negative for the coronavirus after a median of four days after becoming positive, as compared to a median of 11 days for patients who were not treated with the drug. Additionally, X-rays showed improvements in the lung condition of 91% of the patients who were administered Favipiravir, as compared to 62% of patients who were not treated with the drug.Despite its potential, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet regarded Favilavir as an effective treatment medicine for coronavirus. Nevertheless, doctors in Japan are said to be conducting clinical studies of Favilavir on coronavirus patients having mild to moderate symptoms in the hope of preventing the virus from multiplying in the patients. Manitoba has no plans to shut down all but essential commerce, unlike some other provinces, at least for now. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/3/2020 (659 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Manitoba has no plans to shut down all but essential commerce, unlike some other provinces, at least for now. "We are going to take appropriate actions at the appropriate time," Premier Brian Pallister said Monday during a teleconference announcing a new online tool for Manitobans to help each other during the COVID-19 pandemic. "This is more of a marathon than a sprint," he said, referring to the challenges facing Manitobans in the weeks and months ahead. Right now, the focus is on how to "flatten the curve" through social distancing, so Manitoba's health-care system doesn't get slammed by more critically ill patients than it can handle, Pallister said. All Manitobans, including health-care providers, are being advised to cancel or postpone unnecessary out-of-province and out-of-country travel. "Now is not the time for non-essential travel," chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin said at his daily briefing. New online tool The province has teamed up with the private sector to develop an online tool that connects volunteers with those who need help during the COVID-19 pandemic. Premier Brian Pallister said those requiring assistance anywhere in Manitoba can use the web-based application, www.HelpNextDoorMB.ca, which went live on Monday. click to read more The online site is designed to safely match volunteers with such needs as grocery and medication deliveries, snow-clearing and other necessities. The provincewide online platform was designed and developed by North Forge Technology Exchange, a non-profit Winnipeg technology organization, with the help of software industry partners. "We're talking about assisting vulnerable people and getting services that they need, help that they need," Pallister told a news conference. "It could be a person living with a disability or recovering from an injury. It could be a vulnerable senior looking for help in getting groceries," he said. Jerin Valel, the province's director of technology and transformation, said the online tool will be moderated and monitored by a group of volunteers led by North Forge. Depending on the circumstances, volunteers may be pre-cleared through background checks -- criminal as well as child abuse registry checks -- to ensure the safety of those being assisted, he said. Valel said the online service can be accessed through mobile phones, tablets or desk top computers. Those who are already volunteering during the coronavirus emergency can use the application to continue to do good deeds, he said, adding that volunteers will be asked to adhere to recommended social distancing protocols. He said someone who lives outside Manitoba will be able to use the online tool to ask a volunteer to check on a loved one here. Meanwhile, in answer to media questions, Pallister said the online service might also come in handy in the case of a big Red River flood. Provincial flood forecasters are scheduled to update Manitobans on the flood threat in the coming days. "Based on the projections, our flood likelihood is greatly reduced from what we might have thought some weeks ago," the premier said Monday. Pallister said fighting a flood could present challenges to those who wish to fill sandbags while observing social distancing rules. -- Larry Kusch Close "This is not just a suggestion. The Public Health Act allows us to issue orders." Anyone who returns from travel, international or domestic, needs to self-isolate and self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days, he said. That does not include individuals involved in the commercial transportation of goods and services, or employees who live in a neighbouring jurisdiction and travel to Manitoba for work; or normal personal travel between border communities, which includes visits to a cottage. As of Monday, all 20 reported cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba are travel-related, Roussin said. Fourteen of the cases have been lab-confirmed, with six probable positives. There are no COVID-19 patients being treated in Manitoba hospitals; the only individual who was in hospital has been discharged. Roussin said the latest probable positive case is a man in his 50s who lives in Winnipeg. Another case initially identified as probable has been ruled out. That involves a false positive test in which health officials were tracing the person's contacts to determine if it was travel-related. The test was not confirmed positive by the National Microbiology Laboratory, so it was sent for re-testing at Cadham Provincial Laboratory, the provincial testing facility, and came back negative. Dr. Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer, and Lanette Siragusa, provincial lead, health system integration, quality and chief nursing officer for Shared Health, heading in to speak during the provinces latest COVID-19 update. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press) Health officials are trying to prevent the spread of the virus while dealing with a testing backlog at Cadham, Roussin said. "Theyve been certainly prioritizing certain groups of tests, those of health care workers, those who are critically ill, those in hospital, as well as those who are from a long-term care facility and First Nations. Those are being prioritized." Cadham, along with labs around the world, are struggling to source the required "reagent," the COVID-19 testing material that extracts viral RNA (ribonucleic acid) from the nose swab samples. Those reagents are in short supply. The province is investigating ways to expand its capacity. "This is not just a suggestion. The Public Health Act allows us to issue orders." Chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin "Right now the major roadblock is the reagent and that is worldwide, in all jurisdictions," Roussin said. Cadham lab is working on producing its own, "which is why theyre now getting out of this backlog and getting up to full capacity this week." Roussin couldn't say how many COVID-19 tests were processed at the lab Sunday but that 4,300 had been done to date, with 20 positives, which is "remarkably low," he said. On Sunday, 436 people visited the 11 COVID-19 screening sites across the province, and there have been 4,100 visits since the first sites opened March 12. The sites require referrals from Health Links, which received 2,400 calls Sunday with a 33-minute average wait, Lanette Siragusa, Shared Health chief of nursing said Monday. The wait time has fallen from almost two hours last week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/JOHN WOODS Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister: "This is more of a marathon than a sprint." Demand for intensive-care unit beds has lessened, she said. There are 131 medicine beds in Winnipeg open right now and intensive-care unit capacity is just under 80 per cent, said Siragusa. "We dont see those numbers very often." In an effort to prevent the spread of the virus in the community, in-home health-care providers are contacting clients to complete screening in advance of normal appointments over the phone or from an appropriate social distance before entry to the home. Screening is intended to identify whether services may safely be postponed or offered in another way, such as over the phone. Pallister said more closures and extending school closures may be coming. And the order to reduce gatherings to fewer than 50 people could be adjusted downward. "The work we do now, and have undertaken previously, is starting to show were getting a handle of the number of new cases, but we're not out of the woods." Premier Brian Pallister "We'll have more to say on that tomorrow or the day after," he said, noting he's still not aware of any violation of the gathering-size order being reported to public health officials. When asked about what will happen to laid-off Manitoba tenants who can't afford rent at the end of the month, Pallister said it is "a key concern" and "we'll have more to say on this and several other issues in the not-too-distant future." Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The province is trying "to anticipate the needs of people going forward... and trying to make sure we have the services available when people need them," he said. "Almost every single industry is going to see consequences as a result of the pandemic," he said, while calling Manitoba the "home of hope." Manitoba has a healthy, diverse economy to help it weather the COVD-19 storm better than other provinces, he said, adding Manitoba is "reaping the benefits" of its early efforts to prepare for the virus. "The work we do now, and have undertaken previously, is starting to show were getting a handle of the number of new cases, but we're not out of the woods," he said. carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca Carol Sanders Legislature reporter After 20 years of reporting on the growing diversity of people calling Manitoba home, Carol moved to the legislature bureau in early 2020. Read full biography James Durbin The recent actions by Saudi Arabia to flood the world oil markets at extremely low prices is bringing the American oil and gas industry to a screeching halt. Ironically, some 1 million -- thats right, 1 million -- barrels per day of oil are being imported into the United States right now from Saudi Arabia. The largest refinery in Texas, and fifth largest in the world, located in Port Arthur is now owned by Saudi Arabia. Shell sold control of the refinery to the Saudis in 2017. Today, 650,000 plus barrels of the 1 million per day imported from Saudi Arabia goes into their 100 percent Saudi-owned Motiva refinery in Port Arthur, according to online reports. None of the gasoline produced from this refinery is made from American oil it is 100-percent Saudi derived. Saudi Arabia sells this gasoline mainly through its Shell and some through its 76-branded, Motiva-supplied service stations in South Texas and all across the Gulf and East coasts. No American would want to support a country that is purposefully doing its best to gut our American energy industry. I dont believe the average American has any idea when they purchase gas at a Motiva-supplied gas station, that gasoline and its profits are 100 percent Saudi. The inside store sales are different. They are and should be supported as they are independent contractors in most cases. I do believe though, we should educate the American consumer and ask them to know who is making a profit when they fill up their car. Its more important than ever for Americans to support US companies, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 virus outbreak. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 20:37:52|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WUHAN, March 23 (Xinhua) -- A total of 115 A-level tourist attractions have reopened to the public by Monday noon in central China's Hubei Province that was hard hit by the COVID-19 outbreak over the past few months, according to local authorities. The attractions reopened with strict epidemic prevention and control measures, according to the provincial department of culture and tourism. Of the attractions, four are under Class 5A and 35 under Class 4A. Most of the attractions feature "flower tours," the department said. China's tourist attractions are graded based on their quality, with those with the highest quality branded "Class 5A," and the lowest "Class 1A." Hubei has 421 A-level tourist spots. The department issued a guideline on Sunday, providing 20 items on the resumption of operations in these tourist spots. It said that tourist attractions in low-risk areas could reopen to the public, while those in medium- and high-risk areas will remain closed. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-24 02:38:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, March 23 (Xinhua) -- World Bank Group President David Malpass said Monday that the COVID-19 pandemic will likely hit the poorest countries the hardest, urging stepped-up international support for these countries. "These are difficult times for all, especially for the poorest and most vulnerable," Malpass made the remarks at the Group of Twenty (G20) finance ministers and central bank governors' conference call on the COVID-19 pandemic. This crisis will likely hit hardest against the poorest and most vulnerable countries, those roughly 25 poorest countries drawing on the World Bank's International Development Association (IDA), he said. "Many were already in a difficult debt situation, leaving no space for an appropriate health and economic response," said Malpass, adding that the World Bank is ready to front-load the recently replenished IDA with up to 35 billion U.S. dollars and identify additional resources. Making a call to action to the G20, Malpass urged all official bilateral creditors of the poorest countries to act with immediate effect to help IDA countries through debt relief, allowing the countries to concentrate their resources on fighting the pandemic. "I'm calling on the G20 leaders to allow the poorest countries to suspend all repayments of official bilateral credit, until the World Bank and the IMF (International Monetary Fund) have made a full assessment of their reconstruction and financing needs," said Malpass. The World Bank president also noted that the multilateral lender has identified a range of rapid procurement modalities leading to bulk purchases, and it is working together with other multilateral development banks and the IMF to assess needs, implement the new system, and develop co-financing. "We are in dialogue with China among other key countries to obtain help with the rapid manufacture and delivery of many of these supplies and are grateful for their positive responses so far," Malpass said. The World Bank president said countries need to move fast to boost health spending, strengthen social safety nets, support the private sector and counter financial-market disruption, urging them to implement structural reforms to help shorten the time to recovery and create confidence that the recovery can be strong. Last week, the World Bank announced an increased 14 billion dollars of fast-tracking financing to assist companies and countries in the wake of the rapid spread of COVID-19, up from the previously unveiled 12 billion dollars. Officially confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States increased by nearly 14,000 over the weekend to 32,356, and the number of deaths more than doubled from 158 to 414. Worldwide, there were 60,000 new cases in the past two days, bringing the total to more than 335,000, along with just under 15,000 deaths. The United States now leads the world in new cases and is second only to China and Italy in the number of patients infected with COVID-19. The majority of new cases have occurred in New York City, where there are now over 9,000 cases in the city alone and nearly 16,000 cases statewide, along with 114 deaths. New Jersey has surpassed both Washington and California to have the second largest number of cases in the country. Thirty states now have at least 100 cases and thirty-four have at least one death. Despite having fewer cases than Italy, hospitals across the US are already being overrun. Nurses, doctors and other medical professionals are reporting a shortage or lack of masks, gowns, gloves and other personal protective equipment necessary to keep themselves from getting coronavirus in cities across the country, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle. There is also a shortage of intensive care units and ventilators, which are used to keep the most critically ill patients alive. National Guard personnel stand at attention as they wait for patients to arrive for COVID-19 coronavirus testing facility at Glen Island Park, Friday, March 13, 2020, in New Rochelle, N.Y. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) An intensive care nurse in a Midwestern city gave her account from being a front-line health care provider during this pandemic. As I sit here after my 16-hour shift, 8 of it being our designated COVID floor, I can't keep quiet any longer. This is no joke people. This is nothing like the flu. This is nothing like anything I've experienced before in my 8 years that I've been a nurse. I don't think that people can understand the realness of this situation unless you are on the front line like me and all the other healthcare professionals. This is just the beginning. It will only get worse before it gets better. Numbers continue to rise. Hospital policies are changing by the hour. Step-down units are no longer that, they are designated coronavirus units because of their proximity to the ICU. I can't imagine what our healthcare would be like if we weren't doing everything we've been doing. like closing schools or social distancing. As healthcare workers, we've all been exposed. We all go back to our families, our young children or elderly parents and risk exposing them. Then we come back to the hospital for our next shift and even more uncertainty. Are we going to have the proper PPE to help keep ourselves safe? What if we are quarantined to the hospital for days and can't see our families? What would I do if I get it? Making plans with my husband about how I would be quarantined to my basement and how hard it would for my children to have to stay away. When will I get to see my parents again? This is no joke. So please stop saying this is all political or it is just an irrational fear. I know, because Im it. Conditions in New York City are increasingly dire. Mayor Bill de Blasio, appearing on the NBC program Meet the Press, described the conditions in apocalyptic terms, warning there would be many, many deaths, some of which he attributed to the failure of the Trump administration to provide necessary medical supplies and equipment. If the president doesn't act, people will die who could have lived otherwise, he said. I'm worried about saving lives right this minute. And I don't see the federal government at this moment, de Blasio continued. April is going to be worse than March. And I fear May will be worse than April. So bluntly, it's going to get worse, a lot worse, before it gets better. Remarkably, Trump was not asked either about the huge rise in coronavirus positives or the warnings from de Blasio in the course of a 90-minute White House press briefing Sunday evening. The reporters had either internalized Trumps threats against media questioning, from Fridays press conference, or had been directed by their editors not to mention the skyrocketing infection total because it might further inflame popular anger. Such acts of censorship and self-censorship will not save either the Trump administration or the entire social order of American capitalism as working people become aware, through bitter experience, of the complete indifference of the US ruling elite to the impending public health catastrophe. Official Washington is preoccupied, not with saving lives, but with carving out various pieces of a new bailout bill, estimated at as much as $2 trillion, to reward the corporations and industries that control both the Republican and Democratic parties and dictate their policies. The bill stalled in the Senate Sunday, amid wrangling over its precise terms, but the bulk of the funding will go straight into the coffers of the giant corporations and the billionaires. The sudden increase in new cases is partly a reflection of the increase of testing for COVID-19, particularly in New York. While both the United States and South Korea had their first confirmed cases the same day, January 20, it took the Trump administration two months to begin testing on a mass scale, with nearly 200,000 tests in the past seven days, compared to under 26,000 before then. The experience in New York, and the example of countries which have tested aggressively, like South Korea, indicate that if testing were implemented in such a scale in other states, the case numbers would increase by a factor of five or even ten. In addition, testing is still only provided to those who show symptoms of the coronavirus. New York Citys coronavirus web page explicitly says that, Unless you are hospitalized and a diagnosis will impact your care, you will not be tested. In other words, even if the level of testing currently being implemented in the city is implemented across the country and based on the level of hospitalization needed in China and Italy, it would still likely underestimate the number of infected people in the United States by a further factor of ten. This has essentially been the policy of every state and the entire Trump administration since the coronavirus entered the country. It was established at the onset of the outbreak that COVID-19 can be transmitted from person to person even when an infected patient has no symptoms. Even as late as March 10, Trump patronizingly told the country that, It will go away. Just stay calm. It will go away. Millions of people in factories and distribution warehouses across the country have still not been provided with adequate safety equipment to continue working, even though these are areas where the virus can easily spread. The only official document regarding the coronavirus from the federal government to the general population is the two-page guideline encouraging social distancing to slow the spread of the pandemic. As has been repeatedly pointed out by the World Health Organization, this is wholly insufficient. WHO has repeatedly pleaded with world governments to expand their testing capabilities and to test everyone with the symptoms of the coronavirus and everyone with whom they were in contact. This is both to stop the pandemic now, as well as in the future. A study released last week by Londons Imperial College makes clear that the coronavirus will return even after large-scale efforts to prevent social gatherings. Even in the best-case scenarios, the disease still spreads to large sections of the population and, by their estimates, at least 1.1 million die in the US alone. The research underlines the fact that any type of mass quarantine is only truly effective when systematic testing is available to the entire population. These numbers also assume that adequate care will be available for every coronavirus patient. The Society of Critical Care Medicine notes that there are only 96,600 intensive care units in the country and 62,000 ventilators. Even if they are all dedicated to helping coronavirus patients, which would sacrifice tens of thousands suffering other ailments, hundreds of thousands of people each day would not have access to these lifesaving devices. The danger of loss of life in the millions is not the chief concern of the Trump administration or its counterparts in Europe, who have provided many trillions of dollars to financial markets and major corporations in the forms of bailouts and promises to purchase various toxic assets. At the same time, paltry sums to provide economic relief for the tens of millions of workers facing destitution from reduced hours, being laid off and a myriad of other financial hardships are still being haggled over in Congress by both the Republicans and Democrats. There are also increasingly high-profile calls for the military to be deployed to deal with the pandemic. During yesterdays broadcast of Meet the Press, New York City Mayor de Blasio called for the military to be mobilized and that soldiers should be sent to places where this crisis is deep, like New York, right now. He claimed that the US military is the best logistical organization in the nation and as such should be used to distribute masks, ventilators and other medically necessary equipment to combat the coronavirus. Whatever the military is being used for in the short term, workers should have no illusions that the military will not be at some point ordered, alongside the police and National Guard, to suppress the growing social unrest from the increasing physical and economic suffering caused by the pandemic. There are already numerous reports, although currently being denied, that the governors of New York and California are considering declaring martial law to enforce the lockdown of their states. [March 23, 2020] Aker Solutions Wins 20-year Umbilicals Master Order with Chevron OSLO, Norway, March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Aker Solutions has entered a master agreement to provide umbilicals for Chevron-operated oil and gas fields in the US Gulf of Mexico. The company also secured the first work order under the new master agreement, to provide 24 kilometers (15 miles) of umbilicals for Chevron's Anchor project. The scope of the Chevron agreement includes the delivery of engineering, design and manufacturing of dynamic and static control umbilicals, dynamic and static power umbilicals, and service and installation support. This agreement lays the foundation for a long-term collaborative relationship incentivizing both Chevron and Aker Solutions to jointly improve long-term performance both technically and commercially through multi-project synergies, execution excellence and repeatability, and life-of-field thinking. "We are honored to have entered this master order with Chevron and to have been awarded the Anchor work order," said Luis Araujo, chief executive officer of Aker Solutions. "This demonstrates the mutual trust between the two organizations, as well as the capabilities and experience of our umbilicals manufacturing organization in the US." Anchor Aker Solutions was at the same time awarded the first work order under the Chevron master order for the Anchor project in the US Gulf of Mexico. The scope includes about 24 kilometers (15 miles) of 20,000 psi dynamic steel tube- and power umbilicals and distribution equipment. The deepwater field is located approximately 225 kilometers (140 miles) offshore Louisiana at a water depth of 1,524 meters (5,000 feet). Aker Solutions' facility in Mobile, Alabama in the United States will perform the engineering, design and manufacturing of the umbilicals. The work will start up immediately. The contract will be booked as order intake in the first quarter of 2020. Media Contact: Ivar Simensen mob: +47-464-02-317 email: [email protected] Investor Contact: Fredrik Berge mob: +47-450-32-090 email: [email protected] This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/aker-solutions-asa/r/aker-solutions-wins-20-year-umbilicals-master-order-with-chevron,c3066089 The following files are available for download: https://news.cision.com/aker-solutions-asa/i/aker-solutions-umbilicals-mobile,c2764769 Aker Solutions Umbilicals Mobile A global push to slow the spread of the coronavirus ramped up Monday with more governments imposing emergency lockdowns that have put more than 1.7 billion people confined to their homes. In the face of the relentless march of the virus, the United Nations appealed for an immediate ceasefire in the world's conflict zones, and France and China called for urgent talks of the G20 major economies to coordinate an international response to the escalating crisis. World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the pandemic was clearly "accelerating" as the number of deaths surged close to 16,000, with over 350,000 declared infections, according to an AFP tally based on official sources. More than 10,000 have now died in Europe alone, the new epicentre of the disease. But Tedros added: "We are not helpless bystanders. We can change the trajectory of this pandemic." From New Zealand and South Africa announcing new lockdowns, Germany banning even small gatherings, Italy barring domestic travel and Hong Kong shutting its borders to non-residents, the new round of containment efforts highlighted a deepening sense of panic around the world. At least 1.7 billion people globally have now been asked to stay home in line with mandatory or recommended measures rolled out by increasingly anxious governments, according to an AFP count. Tedros acknowledged that a number of countries were struggling to take more aggressive measures because of a lack of resources. But while praising the energy being put into finding a vaccine, he cautioned that there was currently no proven effective treatment. Markets on both sides of the Atlantic were hammered again as the virus continued to wreak havoc on the global economy, spurring fears of a global fallout not seen since the Great Depression. And with major cultural and sporting already wiped off the calendar, there are mounting calls to postpone the Tokyo Olympics and Japan's prime minister admitted delay could be "inevitable". Story continues - 'Necessary measures' - With war-ravaged Syria announcing its first coronavirus case, UN chief Antonio Guterres appealed for a worldwide ceasefire to protect the vulnerable in conflict zones. "The fury of the virus illustrates the folly of war," he said. In Italy, now the hardest hit country, the death toll passed 6,000. But the number of single-day deaths was slightly down on Sunday, offering a glimmer of hope it may finally be turning a corner. Other European nations also continue to choke people's movement, with Greece the latest to follow Italy, Spain and France in imposing a nationwide lockdown. Normally bustling city streets in Greece were suddenly deserted. "It's a bit of a hassle... but these measures are necessary and we'll get used to them," said Athens resident Maria Bourras, who leaves her house regularly to walk her dog. German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday announced a ban on gatherings of more than two people, before putting herself in quarantine after learning she had been treated by an infected doctor. Her office said the 65-year-old was "doing well" and her first test came back negative. - 'We're at war' - Italy banned travel and shut down a range of industries and businesses, while residents were finding creative ways to pass the time indoors as shut-in measures neared the two-week mark. "Since I can't go out, I do gymnastic exercises in my house. I drink at least five times a day: I've got five glasses of water lined up in my kitchen so I don't forget!" 86-year-old Rome resident Carla Basagni told AFP. Spain readied to extend its state of emergency, which bars people from leaving home unless absolutely essential, until April 11. It reported another spike in fatalities, bringing its total to 2,182 dead -- the third highest in the world after Italy and China. Residents across France also remained shut in their homes and the government said lockdown measures could extend past the end of March as the death toll reached 860. Meanwhile Britain inched towards similar tough measures, with the government under pressure to clamp down after crowds flocked to holiday hotspots and beaches at the weekend, defying social distancing recommendations. Markets reeled after the US mega rescue package collapsed, sending bourses in Asia, Europe and the US on a downward spiral again. US President Donald Trump hinted he was running out of patience with the economic shutdown caused by the mass quarantine measures. "WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF," he tweeted. Trump had on Sunday ordered thousands of emergency hospital beds to be set up at coronavirus hotspots as a trillion-dollar economic rescue package crashed in the Senate. "We're at war, in a true sense we're at war," he said. More than a third of Americans are under various forms of lockdown, including in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, but the number of infections nationally has continued to climb. Highlighting the desperation in the world's biggest economy, the mayor of New York pleaded for desperately needed hospital supplies and urged Trump to enforce a nationwide lockdown. IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said it stands "ready to deploy all our $1 trillion lending capacity" and warned that the recession could be at least as bad as during the global financial crisis. And Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison bluntly told his compatriots they faced an economic crisis akin to the 1930s Great Depression. - Moral burden - As the pandemic overwhelms hospitals, doctors are having to prioritise patients based on their chances of survival, inflicting a huge moral burden. "We go into medicine to heal people. Not to make choices about who can live," said Philippe Devos, an anaesthesiologist in Belgium. The virus emerged in China in December, after first being detected at a market that sold wild animals for human consumption in the central city of Wuhan. Beijing has since sought to sow doubts over whether the virus began in Wuhan, while portraying itself as a saviour in the global fight and a role model for quarantines. On Monday it reported no new local cases of the virus, while life slowly started returning to normal in Wuhan. But there are fears across Asia of "imported" cases from Europe and other hotspots. Mumbai, March 23 : Bollywood veteran Amitabh Bachchan shared an opinion offering logic behind the Janata Curfew clapping at 5pm on Sunday, but netizens werent very impressed. On facing social media flak, Big B subsequently took down his post. In the post the superstar shared an opinion someone sent him, suggesting that vibration caused by mass clapping can reduce or destroy potency of the deadly coronavirus. "AN OPINION GIVEN : 5 pm ; 22nd Mar, 'amavasya', darkest day of month; virus, bacteria evil force at max potential & power ! Clapping shankh vibrations reduce/ destroy virus potency Moon passing to new 'nakshatra' Revati. cumulative vibration betters blood circulation," talking to Twitter Instagram on Monday afternoon, Big B shared. He added in Hindi: "Someone sent this to me. Don't know how much of this is true." However, after facing flak from netizens, the actor soon deleted the post. One user commented: "I demand an apology from @SrBachchan for spreading misinformation through his Twitter account putting millions of lives at stake. #AmitabhBachchan" Another user wrote: "Hollywood celebrities like Rihanna, Ryan Reynolds and Justin Timberlake donated millions to fight coronavirus. Meanwhile Amitabh Bachchan is sharing watsapp forward on how noise and Amavasya can kill viruses. What sham these Bollywood celebrities are." Sharing a screenshot of Amitabh Bachchan's tweet, another user wrote: "Next time anyone asks what is the difference between SRK and Amitabh Bachchan, show them this." Like the rest of India, the veteran actor also participated in the clapping ritual on Sunday evening along with his family. Big B shared a video on Instagram where he can be seen clapping his hands standing on the terrace while his daughter Shweta Bachchan Nanda, daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and granddaughters Navya Naveli Nanda and Aaradhya Bachchan ring bells. Appreciating the unity shown by our nation, which participated together in encouraging the working staff like doctors, cleaning staff and delivery boys by clapping hands, ringing bells and banging utensils, Amitabh Bachchan wrote a poem on his blog. He wrote: "Questions in blue .. for it was true ..what we witnessed in prime .. was a nation divine .. united in one .. nothing undone ..historic in its conclusion .. never an ablution ..not a spectacle in sight .. national resolve and fight ..we worked for humanity .. with utmost clarity ..our differences apart .. coming together to start ..this historic revolution .. be same be one be one creation .. !" The megastar concluded with a message for his fans, saying, "Love .. be safe be cautious .. be in prevention." -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed I t is vital that backbenchers get a chance to hold all legislation up to proper scrutiny. That means Parliament has to modernise very rapidly by allowing MPs and peers to vote, debate and contribute to the democratic process remotely. We must find ways for MPs to debate this legislation remotely, or the numbers shining a light on sweeping emergency powers will collapse, handing the executive unprecedented power. The delay to the local elections means theres a 17-month gap between Decembers election and a proper test of the Governments mandate. That means proper checks and balances should be bolstered, not torn down. The Parliamentary authorities must act with speed. Westminsters set-up is already one of the most centralised, undemocratic systems among advanced democracies. This crisis must not further entrench that. Josiah Mortimer, Electoral Reform Society Editor's reply Dear Josiah You are right: we need to use this grim crisis to make our democracy stronger, not blast away its foundations. Its true that powers passed in an emergency tend to stick, even if governments promise they wont. So MPs should be allowed to debate and work remotely. After all, lots of people are already working from home. So should the courts, which need to keep doing their job without everyone crowding into a single room. Theres no reason why the Commons and the Lords couldnt form a joint committee to work online and watch over the way powers in the Coronavirus Bill are used and change them if needed. But none of this takes away from the most important point: this is an emergency. The Government does need new powers, and it needs them fast. Delaying things by even two weeks to allow MPs to debate would cause a lot more harm than good. As for elections, this country has been voting almost non-stop since 2015. A pause of 17 months is the least of our current problems. Julian Glover, Associate Editor, Comment Neglect of elderly must end now People queue to shop at Sainsbury's supermarket in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, where the store had announced that the first hour of opening would be for elderly and vulnerable customers / PA Matt Hancock has rightly called for everybody in the community to support the people who are being shielded for their own protection: the elderly and the vulnerable. But how can the community access millions of elderly people who are still off the radar six years after Jeremy Hunt called their neglect a source of national shame? Mr Hancock must therefore ensure that the most neglected elderly are placed within the Governments inclusive One Nation agenda for social care, and that its watered down Loneliness Strategy gets the action and funding it deserves. Trevor Lyttleton MBE, Founder and former chairman of Contact the Elderly Ban on evictions is not enough The Governments temporary ban on evictions is welcome, but ministers must do more to avoid a coronavirus spike in homelessness. London faces both the highest number of cases and the worst housing pressures in the country. Although boroughs are working flat out to help the homeless, we urgently need the Government to improve welfare support for those losing income, otherwise the temporary ban is simply storing up problems for further down the line. Cllr Darren Rodwell, London Councils housing spokesman Joy and spirit of Rorys campaign Rory Stewart / Getty Images Working in Rory Stewarts campaign team, it has been fascinating to see such an unconventional and collectivist movement flourish. With no central infrastructure or plentiful supplies of cash, the campaign hasnt just required tenacity to run, but also the dedication of hundreds of volunteers, both young and old, who were keen to prove themselves, despite little prior experience. In a conference call last week, Rory remarked that we have so far fought with a whole lot of heart, spirit and joy. Whether through efforts to reach out to Londoners via #ComeKipWithMe, or our policies for halving rough sleeping and cutting violent crime, the principle of less politics, more action has been reflected in every respect. Egypt's military on Sunday informed that a senior officer has died of coronavirus after he got infected while participating in 'sterilisation' drive, which the military has been carrying out across the country. According to Al Jazeera, Major General Khaled Shaltout died on Sunday. The country's military has been sterilising and disinfecting public institutions and public squares in major cities to contain the spread of the lethal virus. Meanwhile, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi urged the citizens on Sunday to stay at home for two weeks in response to the country's precautionary measures to control the spread of COVID-19. "Help us Egyptians to pass two weeks at least without much increase of the number of cases," said the Egyptian president in a televised speech. "We are 100 million people, so we should take it with utmost seriousness and cautiousness until we pass it safely," Sisi said. Egypt has confirmed 294 COVID-19 cases including 10 deaths and 41 recoveries as of Saturday, Xinhua reported. According to the Health Organisation (WHO), the worldwide tally of the lethal coronavirus has reached 3,18,000, with over 13,700 death. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Home Just In There wont be any guest in Nepal Armys Ghodejatra event this year Kathmandu, March 23 The Nepal Army says it will host an event on the occasion of the annual Ghodejatra festival this Tuesday at the Army Pavilion, Tundikhel of Kathmandu as in the previous years. However, there will not be any guests due to the increasing coronavirus fears. In its bid to control the potential infection of the deadly virus, the government has urged the public not to leave the house except whenever necessary and to avoid crowds of more than 25 people. However, the national military organisation is continuing the event, during which it showcases various horseriding skills. But, there will not be guests such as the president, the vice-president, the prime minister, the chief justice, officials in Parliament, ministers, diplomats in Kathmandu and senior bureaucrats as in the previous year. Only limited officers of the army will be present, the Nepal Army spokesperson Bigyan Dev Pandey says. The event will be broadcast live for the army officers and personnel living in other barracks via a satellite. Victoria has a new coronavirus police squad, with 500 officers given powers to arrest and detain people flouting self-isolation rules and crack down on unlawful gatherings. On Monday, Police Minister Lisa Neville said the coronavirus enforcement squad was formed after officers carrying out spot checks on the weekend found people were failing to comply with isolation and social-distancing measures. Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton, Premier Daniel Andrews and Police Minister Lisa Neville announce new lockdown measures on Monday morning. Credit:Simon Schluter The new squad is large by state police standards. In contrast, last year about 130 police officers and public servants were deployed at counter-terrorism command, and about 85 personnel were in family violence command, with another 415 non-command level officers in family violence operations around the state. The new police squad will doorknock those who are in self-isolation and respond to reports of any non-essential gatherings which dont adhere to restrictions. Advertisement Congestion has eased in numerous cities across the United States, particularly in Los Angeles which is known for its notoriously heavy traffic. Images taken on Monday show relatively quiet roadways and highways in Los Angeles just days after Gov Gavin Newsom ordered the majority of California's 40 million residents to shelter in place. Newsom's order is an unprecedented but necessary one that officials hope will help curb the coronavirus spread. Congestion has eased in numerous cities across the United States, particularly in Los Angeles (pictured on Monday) is known for its notoriously heavy traffic Images taken on Monday show relatively quiet roadways and highways in Los Angeles just days after Gov Gavin Newsom ordered the majority of California's 40 million residents to shelter in place Newsom's order is an unprecedented but necessary one that officials hope will help curb the coronavirus spread. This image shows the roadway to the Los Angeles International Airport on Monday Normally congested freeways in California were truly free - of traffic - and city streets remained mostly empty in areas usually bustling with cars, bikes, scooters and commuters emerging from rail stations The governor's effort to combat the pandemic in the nation's most populous state was by far the most sweeping and was followed Friday by similar announcements in New York and Illinois. California is one of the hardest-hit states, with more than 1,800 confirmed cases and 36 deaths as of Monday afternoon. In general, people seemed to be heeding state and local orders to stay home as much as possible. Normally congested freeways in California were truly free - of traffic - and city streets remained mostly empty in areas usually bustling with cars, bikes, scooters and commuters emerging from rail stations. Yosemite National Park closed to visitors Friday, the latest of California's top tourist destinations to do so. Most retail businesses and virtually all schools were closed and those that could were having employees work from home. Gas stations, supermarkets and convenience stores were open along with auto repair shops and those providing essential services, such as plumbers and electricians, were still on the job. But restaurants were only delivering or providing take-out. At the same time, people were sweeping grocery store shelves bare despite government pleas that hoarding was unnecessary because there were no shortages. Toilet paper was universally in short supply. Up to 500 members of the California National Guard were activated Saturday to help with humanitarian aid. Most of them are providing help in distributing food at food banks, whose volunteer base has declined during the crisis while the need for them has soared because many people are losing work. Residents of Los Angeles appear to be adhering to the 'Stay At Home' order issued by Newsom to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 A normally bustling Los Angeles International Airport is seen with only a few cars dropping off and picking up passengers on Monday This aerial image shows an area along the 405 and 101 freeway intersection on Monday Highways in Los Angeles usually have bumper-to-bumper traffic on a daily basis unlike Monday's eerily empty roadways This image shows a small amount of traffic, but nothing in comparison to what Los Angeles normally has from day-to-day However, stores and farmer markets were bustling, and many people took advantage of the beautiful spring weather and rushed to the outdoors. At beaches and parks, not everyone heeded calls to practice social distancing, prompting Newsom to call them out. 'Those young people are still out there on the beaches thinking it's time to party. It's time to grow up, time to wake up,' he said at an evening news conference. 'Time to recognize that it's not just about the old folks, it's about your impact on their lives. Don't be selfish.' Los Angeles County Health Director Barbara Ferrer urged people to stay home and only go out for essential needs. Those who have been tested and come back negative shouldnt have a false sense of security. 'You can be negative today and positive tomorrow,' she said. 'Stay home as much as possible. You are safer at home.' This image shows a few dozen cars along the usually busy intersection of the 405 and 101 freeways Terminals at LAX were nearly deserted on Monday with only a handful of passengers waiting on their flights Passengers are seen at the LAX airport wearing masks while checking on their flights on Monday Newsom has said infection rates of the COVID-19 virus are doubling every four days in some areas and projected that 56 per cent of the state's population - about 22 million people - could contract the virus in the next two months if aggressive prevention isn't taken. On Saturday, he ordered spending $42million in emergency funding to allow the state to lease two hospitals - Seton Medical Center in Daly City and St Vincent Medical Center in Los Angeles - for three months to provide care for patients with COVID-19. The emergency fund will also be used to buy or refurbish ventilators, provide more patient transportation service and expand testing capacity at a state laboratory. California's 416 hospitals have a combined 78,000 beds for patients, Newsom said, and the state was working to set up 10,000 additional beds by converting hotels and convention centers into quasi hospitals to meet the potential demand. The Santa Clara Convention Center, for example, will accommodate 250 patients. At beaches and parks, not everyone heeded calls to practice social distancing, prompting Newsom to call them out. Beachgoers are seen at Huntington Beach on Saturday People were seen riding their bikes along a bike bath near the pier of Huntington Beach, California, on Saturday Venice Beach Boardwalk (pictured) was officially closed Monday after widespread ignoring of social distancing over the weekend Carter Kruse of the Venice neighborhood of Los Angeles has a solitary workout on Venice Beach, Monday, in Los Angeles Lemmon McMillan of Playa del Rey, California, has a racquetball court to himself on Venice Beach Boardwalk, on Monday An Los Angeles Police Department patrol car drives through Venice Beach Boardwalk, Monday, in Los Angeles Residents have been told to stay 6 feet away from others, not gather in groups and wash their hands frequently. They can go out to get food, fill prescriptions, seek medical care, care for vulnerable relatives or neighbors and get exercise, such as walking. North of San Francisco, the Marin County Sheriff's office shut down access to the Mount Tamalpais Watershed 'due to the astronomical amount of people NOT practicing social distancing and home sheltering.' Authorities there said there was back-to-back traffic to coastal attractions and parking lots to beaches were full. Newsom said he expected social pressure - not policing - to help enforce his stay-at-home order. He said he doesn't want to shut down parks or beaches, and that National Guard troops will only be deployed to help law enforcement 'make sure all our logistics are operational.' For most people, COVID-19 causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. It can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, for some people, especially older adults and those with existing health problems. The vast majority of people recover. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-24 03:57:49|Editor: yan Video Player Close PARIS, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The number of coronavirus infection cases in France jumped to 19,856, up by 3,176 in one day, Health Minister Olivier Veran announced on Monday. A total of 180 more coronavirus deaths were reported in 24 hours, bringing the toll to 860. And 8,675 patients are hospitalized, including 2,082 in intensive care units, said the minister. Veran said two more doctors had died of COVID-19 in the Grand Est region near the German border. The COVID-19 epidemic has claimed three fatalities among French medical staff since the outbreak in late January. The government will authorize the use of anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of "severe forms" of COVID-19 in hospitals and "under strict medical supervision," according to the minister. He added that he would issue a decree "in the coming hours" to frame out the use of chloroquine to treat COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. The minister also said that 20 million masks would be delivered this week to hospitals and retirement homes, adding that France had already ordered "more than 250 million masks," which were intended in particular for medical staff who have been faced with a dire shortage of the protective gear. "In addition, we are already preparing a new delivery for care givers in town. These masks should be available next week," he added. "Our health system continues its preparation with the determination to cope with the epidemic. All public and private health establishments are fully mobilized," the minister said, admitting that "the situation is difficult." On March 17, France was put into lockdown for at least 15 days. Only really necessary trips, such as for professional or health reasons or to buy food, are allowed. Some 100,000 police officers are deployed to enforce the movement restriction. Britons infected with coronavirus are among thousands of patients taking part in a European coronavirus mega-trial of four experimental therapies. The trial, called Discovery, includes 3,200 patients who have been hospitalised from the killer virus in the UK, Spain, Germany, France, Sweden and Luxembourg. It will test the effectiveness of four treatments, including a course of the anti-malaria drug chloroquine, Ebola medication remdesivir and HIV tablets lopinavir/ritonavir. The AIDS drugs will be trialled with and without an injection of a multiple sclerosis drug known as interferon beta. The drugs were selected after showing promise in early studies in China's epicentre Wuhan at the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak. There are currently no approved treatments or preventive vaccines for COVID-19 and most current patients receive only supportive care such as breathing assistance. Global infections have now soared past 300,000, with researchers around the world now scrambling to work on new treatments and develop a vaccine. A European coronavirus mega-trial of four experimental drugs is now underway on thousands of patients. The anti-malaria drug chloroquine will be one of the treatments tested Ebola medication remdesivir - touted as a potential coronavirus cure by Donald Trump - will also be trialled The scientists behind the Discovery trial say its strength is that drugs can be swapped out if they don't work and replaced with promising new ones highlighted in the latest research. Florence Ader, a professor in infectious diseases at Lyon University who is leading the trial, said: 'We analysed data from the scientific literature on SARS and MERS coronaviruses and the first publications on SARS-COV2 from China in order to come up with a list of antiviral molecules to be tested. '[They include] remdesivir, lopinavir and ritonavir in combination, the latter being administered with or without interferon beta and hydroxychloroquine. 'The list of these potential drugs is also based on the subset of experimental treatments classified as top priorities by the World Health Organization (WHO). Lopinavir/ritonavir, marketed as Kaletra (shown), is an anti-HIV medicine given to people living with the virus to prevent it developing into AIDS. It is a class of drug called a protease inhibitor, which essentially stick to an enzyme on a virus which is vital to the virus reproducing In the Discovery trial, the HIV tablets will also be trialled as a combined treatment with interferon beta 1a, a naturally occurring antiviral protein. The molecule forms part of the lungs' own defence mechanism to fight off viruses WHAT ARE THE DRUGS BEING TRIALED? The trial, called Discovery, includes 3,200 patients who have been hospitalised from the killer virus in the UK, Spain, Germany, France, Sweden and Luxembourg. It will test the effectiveness of four treatments, including a course of the anti-malaria drug chloroquine, Ebola medication remdesivir, HIV tablets lopinavir/ritonavir and MS drug interferon beta. The drugs were selected after showing promise in early studies in China's epicentre Wuhan at the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak. So, what are the drugs? Chloroquine One drug being used by doctors fighting the coronavirus outbreak is chloroquine phosphate, an anti-malarial medication. The drug sold under the brand name Arlan kills malaria parasites in the blood, stopping the tropical disease in its tracks. But tests of the drug which has been used for 70 years on COVID-19 patients in China show it has potential in fighting the life-threatening virus. Chinese officials claimed the drug 'demonstrated efficacy and acceptable safety in treating COVID-19 associated pneumonia'. South Korea and China both say the drug is an 'effective' antiviral treatment against the disease, according to a report by US virologists. Chloroquine is also available over-the-counter from pharmacies without a prescription and its safety profile is 'well-established'. Chinese scientists investigating the other form of chloroquine - called hydroxychloroquine - penned a letter to a prestigious journal saying its 'less toxic' derivative may also help. Remdesivir Remdesivir is an anti-viral drug that works by crippling a virus enzyme called RNA polymerase, which stops a virus from reproducing. It was developed around 10 years ago by the pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences with the intention of it destroying the Ebola virus. It was pushed aside, however, when other, better candidates emerged. But it remained an anti-viral drug with the ability to destroy various viruses in lab tests, scientists said. Doctors in the US tried it on three hospitalised coronavirus patients but results were mixed. The drug is now being trialled on coronavirus patients in China and at the University of Nebraska, CNN reports. Remdesivir also proven to be safe is not prescribed on the NHS. Lopinavir/ritonavir Lopinavir/ritonavir, sold as Kaletra and Aluvia, is an anti-HIV medicine given to people living with the virus to stop it developing into AIDS. The drug has shown promise as a way of tackling coronavirus, scientists say, because it is able to bind to the outside of the coronavirus. It is a class of drug called a protease inhibitor, which essentially stick to an enzyme on a virus which is vital to the virus reproducing. By doing this it blocks the process the virus would normally use to clone itself and spread the infection further. Chinese media reported that the drug was successfully used to cure patients with the coronavirus, but the reports have not been scientifically proven. US-based manufacturer AbbVie has donated free supplies of Kaletra to health authorities in China, the US and Europe it is not clear whether the UK is included. The drug is available on the NHS and was prescribed around 1,400 times in 2018, either as Kaletra or ritonavir on its own. Interferon beta Interferon beta is given to thousands of patients with multiple sclerosis to help tackle their symptoms. Some patients taking the combination of ritonavir/lopinavir will also be given interferon beta, branded as Avonex, Rebif, Plegridy. Tests have shown the molecule can help marmosets fight off a similar but far deadlier coronavirus infection, called MERS. The body makes its own interferon to dampen down inflammation in the body. The drug is made of synthetic forms of the protein. Advertisement 'The great strength of this trial is its adaptive nature. This means that ineffective experimental treatments can very quickly be dropped and replaced by other molecules that emerge from research efforts. 'We will therefore be able to make changes in real time, in line with the most recent scientific data, in order to find the best treatment for our patients.' Chloroquine is an anti-malarial drug which works by stopping parasites from replicating inside the body, and could stop the coronavirus by making the inside of a cell too dangerous for a virus to enter. Two versions of it chloroquine phosphate and hydroxychloroquine were on a list of drugs which the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has banned companies from buying with the intention of exporting them. Meanwhile the Wuhan Institute of Virology in the city where the crisis began claimed the drug was 'highly effective' in petri dish tests. One report has claimed officials in the Netherlands already suggest treating critically-ill patients with the drug. And doctors in South Korea and China both say the drug is an 'effective' antiviral treatment against the disease, according to a report by US virologists. The drug is cheap, safe and readily available to buy over the counter in the UK as travel medicine a two-week supply costs just 3.22 from Boots. Remdesivir has been touted by Donald Trump and credited with helping in the recovery of a 79-year-old Italian man who had the disease. The promising anti-viral drug works by neutralising a vital enzyme viruses use to reproduce. It is called a RNA polymerase inhibitor. It was developed 10 years ago by California-based drug firm Gilead Sciences, with the intention of it destroying the Ebola virus. It effectively treated monkeys infected with Ebola, according to the US National Institutes of Health. But it had little success on humans. However, it remains a functional antiviral drug which, in lab conditions, can destroy a variety of viruses. Researchers from the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China said it was 'highly effective' against the COVID-19 coronavirus. Doctors in the US have tried it on patients and it managed to speed up the recovery of the first person to be treated for the virus there. The a 35-year-old man in Washington state, close to Seattle whose infection was announced on January 20 recovered after being given the drug. Coronavirus cure hopes were further raised after an infected Italian man in his 70s recovered with the help of the experimental Ebola drug. Doctors gave the unidentified 79-year-old remdesivir. Officials in Liguria the coastal region where the patient lives, which is south of Milan announced he had recovered and could go home after 12 days in hospital. The drug also showed success in a critically-ill woman in the US and 14 Americans who tested positive for the coronavirus after catching it on the Diamond Princess cruise ship. Lopinavir/ritonavir, marketed as Kaletra and Aluvia, is an anti-HIV medicine given to people living with the virus to prevent it developing into AIDS. It is a class of drug called a protease inhibitor, which essentially stick to an enzyme on a virus which is vital to the virus reproducing. By doing this it blocks the process the virus would normally use to clone itself and spread the infection further. A group of patients who were among the first in Australia with confirmed cases of coronavirus were successfully treated using the HIV drugs along with chloroquine. Lopinavir and ritonavir, the active drugs in Kaletra, were also tested in China on a group of 199 patients with COVID-19 but the trial found less impressive results. The study published in the New England Journal of Medicine on March 18 the Chinese researchers gave 99 patients the drug and the remaining standard care over four weeks. 'In hospitalized adult patients with severe Covid-19, no benefit was observed with lopinavirritonavir treatment beyond standard care,' the study concluded. The study found both groups took 16 days to see clinical improvement. However, the study did find those treated with Kaletra spent less time in intensive care - 6 days compared to 11 days for the control group. The study also found a small group patients treated with the drug within 12 days of developing symptoms did appear to show improvement over standard care. About 35 companies and academic institutions are also working to create a vaccine for COVID-19 as opposed to a treatment. In the Discovery trial, the HIV tablets will also be trialled as a combined treatment with interferon beta 1a, a naturally occurring antiviral protein. The molecule forms part of the lungs' own defence mechanism to fight off viruses. Doctors believe giving more of this molecule to the lung could help reduce the severity of infection with COVID-19. Flu, anti-malaria, arthritis and HIV medication: The promising therapies being tested on coronavirus patients around the world - but how many are the NHS trying? OXFORD UNIVERSITY BEGINS TRIAL OF HIV AND STEROID DRUG FOR CORONAVIRUS The first UK patients have been enrolled in a clinical trial for possible COVID-19 treatments. Researchers from the University of Oxford have launched a new clinical trial to test the effects of potential drug treatments for patients admitted to hospital with the virus. There are currently no specific treatments for the coronavirus and it is possible some existing drugs used for other conditions may have some benefits. Scientists say the randomised evaluation of COVID-19 therapy (recovery) trial will provide doctors and the health service with information they need to determine which treatments should be used. The treatments initially included in the study have been recommended by an expert panel that advises the chief medical officer in England. They are lopinavir-ritonavir, which is normally used to treat HIV, and the steroid dexamethasone, which is used in a wide range of conditions to reduce inflammation. The side effects and safety of both drugs are already well known. Other potential treatments will also be assessed by the trial in the future. Peter Horby, professor of emerging infectious diseases and global health in the Nuffield department of medicine, University of Oxford, and chief investigator for the trial, said: 'There is an urgent need for reliable evidence on the best care for patients with COVID-19. 'Providing possible new treatments through a well-designed clinical trial is the best way to get that evidence. He added: 'All patients will receive the standard full medical care, regardless of which treatment group they are placed in.' Adult inpatients who have tested positive for COVID-19 in NHS hospitals, and not been excluded for medical reasons, will be offered the chance to take part in the trial. Participants will be allocated at random by computer to receive one of the two drugs being studied or no additional medication. This will enable researchers to see whether any of the possible new treatments are more or less effective than those currently used for patients with the virus. Martin Landray, professor of medicine and epidemiology at the Nuffield department of population health, and deputy chief investigator, added: 'The streamlined design of this clinical trial allows consenting patients to be enrolled in large numbers easily and without compromising patient safety or adding significantly to the workload of busy hospitals and their staff. 'In this way we can rapidly assess the value of potential treatments for Covid-19 and provide reliable information on the best ways to treat patients with this disease.' Chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty and NHS England medical director Professor Stephen Powis have written to NHS trusts in England asking them to fully support the new trial. Advertisement NHS hospitals are coming under growing pressure to use experimental drugs to try and treat patients infected with the coronavirus. Doctors and pharmaceutical firms around the world are scrambling to find a drug that can stop the deadly virus, which has now killed more than 8,200 people. Medicines already in use for conditions ranging from HIV to rheumatoid arthritis, malaria, the flu and even Ebola are serious contenders and are being tested to see how they could help patients infected with COVID-19. The Government has refused to confirm if any are being tested out on the 2,626 coronavirus patients in the UK the NHS advises anyone with troublesome symptoms to take paracetamol and rest at home unless they feel life-threateningly ill. But its medicines regulator last month banned companies from exporting three drugs for HIV and malaria in a bid to protect the UK's stocks of them. All three have been used in experimental treatments by doctors in China, raising the prospect of Britain doing the same. Here, MailOnline reveals some of the drugs that experts believe have potential. Chloroquine phosphate (Malaria) One drug being used by doctors fighting the coronavirus outbreak is chloroquine phosphate, an anti-malarial medication. The drug sold under the brand name Arlan kills malaria parasites in the blood, stopping the tropical disease in its tracks. But tests of the drug which has been used for 70 years on COVID-19 patients in China show it has potential in fighting the life-threatening virus. Chinese officials claimed the drug 'demonstrated efficacy and acceptable safety in treating COVID-19 associated pneumonia'. Experts at the University of Palermo in Italy, as well as a team in Israel, collated the research on the drug in treating the coronavirus. In their report, they claimed officials in the Netherlands already suggest treating critically-ill patients with the drug. South Korea and China both say the drug is an 'effective' antiviral treatment against the disease, according to a report by US virologists. The Wuhan Institute of Virology in the city where the crisis began claimed the drug was 'highly effective' in petri dish tests. Tests by those researchers, as well as others, showed it has the power to stop the virus replicating in cells, and taking hold in the body. Twenty-three clinical trials on the drug are already underway on patients in China, and one is planned in the US and another in South Korea. University of Minnesota experts are planning to test whether the drug sometimes given to treat lupus and arthritis prevents the progression of COVID-19. Chloroquine was prescribed around 46,000 times in 2018 in the UK but it is also available over-the-counter from pharmacies without a prescription. One drug being used by doctors fighting the coronavirus outbreak is chloroquine phosphate, an anti-malarial medication. It is sold under the brand name Arlan Professor Robin May, an infectious disease specialist at Birmingham University, said the safety profile of the drug is 'well-established'. He added: 'It is cheap and relatively easy to manufacture, so it would be fairly easy to accelerate into clinical trials and, if successful, eventually into treatment.' Professor May suggested chloroquine may work by altering the acidity of the area of cells that it attacks, making it harder for the virus to replicate. Hydroxychloroquine (Malaria) Chinese scientists investigating the other form of chloroquine penned a letter to a prestigious journal saying its 'less toxic' derivative may also help. Hydroxychloroquine, sold under the brand name Plaquenil, may treat COVID-19 In the comment to Cell Discovery owned by publisher Nature, they said it shares similar chemical structures and mechanisms. The team of experts added: 'It is easy to conjure up the idea that hydroxychloroquine may be a potent candidate to treat infection by SARS-CoV-2.' But the Wuhan Institute of Virology scientists admitted they are still lacking evidence to prove it is as effective as chloroquine phosphate. Hydroxychloroquine, sold under the brand name Plaquenil, causes side effects such as skin rashes, nausea, diarrhoea and headaches. Drug giant Sanofi carried out a study on 24 patients, which the French government described as 'promising'. Results showed three quarters of patients treated with the drug were cleared of the virus within six days. None of the placebo group were treated. French health officials are now planning on a larger trial of the drug, which is used on the NHS to treat lupus and rheumatoid arthritis as well as malaria. Lopinavir/ritonavir (HIV) Lopinavir/ritonavir, marketed under the brand names Kaletra and Aluvia, is an anti-HIV medicine Lopinavir/ritonavir, marketed as Kaletra and Aluvia, is an anti-HIV medicine given to people living with the virus to prevent it developing into AIDS. The drug has shown promise as a way of tackling coronavirus, scientists say, because it is able to bind to the outside of the coronavirus. It is a class of drug called a protease inhibitor, which essentially stick to an enzyme on a virus which is vital to the virus reproducing. By doing this it blocks the process the virus would normally use to clone itself and spread the infection further. In a clinical trial application submitted in the US from Asan Medical Center, in Seoul, South Korea, scientists said: 'In vitro [laboratory] studies revealed that lopinavir/ritonavir [has] antiviral activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).' Chinese media reported that the drug was successfully used to cure patients with the coronavirus, but the reports have not been scientifically proven. US-based manufacturer AbbVie has donated free supplies of Kaletra to health authorities in China, the US and Europe it is not clear whether the UK is included. The drug is available on the NHS and was prescribed around 1,400 times in 2018, either as Kaletra or ritonavir on its own. Favipiravir (flu) Favipiravir is the active ingredient in a flu drug called Avigan which is sold in Japan. Doctors in China have claimed it was 'clearly effective' in patients with the coronavirus after they gave it to 80 people in the cities of Wuhan and Shenzen. Favipiravir is the active ingredient in a flu drug called Avigan which is sold in Japan They said it sped up patients' recovery, reduced lung damage and did not cause any obvious side effects. It is also used to treat yellow fever and foot-and-mouth. According to local media, patients who were given the medicine in Shenzhen had negative results for the coronavirus an average of four days after being diagnosed. This compared with 11 days for those who were not treated with the drug. It is not clear what the results were of the trials in Wuhan, the worst-hit part of China. The drug is an anti-viral medication which neutralises a vital enzyme that viruses use to reproduce. It is called a RNA polymerase inhibitor. It is not used by the NHS. It's produced by the Japanese company Fujifilm Toyama Chemical. Remdesivir (Ebola) Remdesivir is an anti-viral drug that works in essentially the same way as favipiravir by crippling the RNA polymerase enzyme, stopping a virus from reproducing. It was developed around 10 years ago by the pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences with the intention of it destroying the Ebola virus. It was pushed aside, however, when other, better candidates emerged. Remdesivir is an anti-viral drug that works in essentially the same way as favipiravir by crippling the RNA polymerase enzyme, stopping a virus from reproducing But it remained an anti-viral drug with the ability to destroy various viruses in lab tests, scientists said. Doctors in the US tried it on three hospitalised coronavirus patients but results were mixed. The drug is now being trialled on coronavirus patients in China and at the University of Nebraska, CNN reports. Doctors writing in a study led by the Wuhan Institute of Virology, published in the prestigious scientific journal Nature last month, said: 'Our findings reveal that remdesivir [is] highly effective in the control of 2019-nCoV infection in vitro.' They added that, since the drug is proven to be safe in humans, it 'should be assessed in human patients suffering from the novel coronavirus disease'. Remdesivir is not prescribed on the NHS. Sarilumab (Rheumatoid arthritis) Sarilumab, a rheumatoid arthritis drug which is marketed as Kevzara in the US, is set to be trialled on patients in the US Sarilumab, a rheumatoid arthritis drug which is marketed as Kevzara and is available to be prescribed on the NHS, is set to be trialled on patients in the US. Pharmaceutical companies Sanofi and Regeneron plan to give the medication to people with the coronavirus to see if it can help calm their immune response. The drug works by blocking part of the immune system which can cause inflammation, or swelling, which is overactive in people with rheumatoid arthritis. With German Chancellor Angela Merkel isolating herself, the effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus in Europe became even more complicated as leaders grapple with enforcing increasingly severe measures to control the pandemic. After coming into contact with a doctor who later tested positive, the German leader will be forced to chair an emergency cabinet meeting Monday via video conference. The gathering is to sign off on a plan to borrow as much as 350 billion euros ($370 billion U.S.) to counter the economic impacts of the virus. At the European Union level, finance ministers are expected to convene via video conference to sign off on temporarily scrapping budget rules. The move would pave the way for enormous spending to prop up economies and show citizens that their personal sacrifices will be worth it. There's "no limit" to how high France's spending could go in the fight against coronavirus's spread, Budget Minister Gerald Darmanin said in a French radio interview on Monday. "We need to protect our population." Italy, the epicenter of the crisis on the continent, is being dragged deeper into a recession after the outbreak that's crippling its northern regions forced the government to ban almost all movement inside the country and shutter almost all industrial production. The impact of virus on the economy will be strong even as measures by the European Central Bank and European governments help limit the intensity and length of the slump, Bank of Italy chief Ignazio Visco and Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said in separate interviews in La Stampa newspaper. "The European Central Bank has deployed a protective shield, now it's up to European governments to go into battle and defend the economy," Conte told La Stampa. "We'll use all the tools which can help us start to run again." In her final public appearance before going into quarantine, Merkel announced tighter nationwide lockdown measures, including limiting contact outside immediate family to no more than one person and restricting restaurants to take-out services. She renewed her appeal for people to reduce social contact. Adherence to lockdown measures has been uneven in Europe, stoking concerns about containing the virus after a weekend that saw more than 2,000 fatalities in Italy and Spain. In the Netherlands, the government may weigh further restrictions after images emerged over the weekend of locals taking advantage of the sunny weather by flocking to parks and North Sea coastal towns. In response, an official emergency alert was pushed out to mobile phones on Sunday, urging residents to maintain a distance of at least 1.5 meters (5 feet) between one another. Closing non-essential stores is one of the options the government is looking at during a meeting later on Monday, Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported. The coalition government led by Prime Minister Mark Rutte has so far resisted calls from some opposition parties for a complete lockdown. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson also threatened "tougher measures" unless British people stop ignoring calls to avoid social gatherings. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, whose wife has tested positive for the virus, extended the state of emergency in his country for another two weeks. Europe is discussing more aggressive collective action to prop up the economy. Bank of France Governor Francois Villeroy de Galhau called for emergency loans to states by the European Stability Mechanism rescue fund. European Central Bank Vice President Luis de Guindos said the EU should marshal a joint fiscal response this week. Germany received the green light from EU regulators for subsidized loans to companies hit by the coronavirus pandemic. The approval by the European Commission in Brussels on Sunday covers two German programs to provide liquidity through development bank Kreditanstalt fuer Wiederaufbau. This marked one of five commission endorsements over the weekend of national aid being permitted under a temporary looser EU rulebook, with France, Denmark, Italy and Portugal also getting clearances. As Belgium weighs extending its lockdown for another eight weeks, there have been some signs of progress. Austria, which introduced lockdown measures similar to Germany's a week earlier, has slowed down the spread of the virus significantly, according to Health Minister Rudolf Anschober. "The measures we imposed are starting to work," Anschober said in a statement Sunday, adding that the rate is still "way too high" to scale back restrictions. Top leader stresses avoiding complacency in COVID-19 fight Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong chaired the Politburos meeting on the COVID-19 combat on March 20, saying over-confidence or complacency must be avoided as the pandemics development remains very complex and unpredictable. The event in Hanoi was attended by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, other Politburo members, secretaries of the Party Central Committee, members of the national steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control, and officials of ministries, sectors and central agencies. According to Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong, challenges caused by COVID-19 also provide a chance for economic and business restructuring. In the short term, public investment should be promoted to stimulate demand; investment in agriculture and food production increased to ensure food and social security; and difficulties facing businesses, especially small- and medium-sized enterprises, removed. Party Central Committee extends greetings to LPRP on founding anniversary The Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) has sent a message of congratulations to the Central Committee of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party (LPRP) on the occasion of the 65th founding anniversary of the LPRP (March 22). In the message, the CPVCC has lauded the sound leadership of the LPRP over the past 65 years, especially during the 35-year reform. Vietnams Party, State and people will work closely together with the Party, State and people of Laos to further foster the Vietnam-Laos special solidarity, for the sake of the two countries people, and for peace, stability, cooperation in the region and the world, the message said. Vietnam posts trade surplus of nearly US$1 billion in first half of March despite COVID-19 epidemic Vietnam reports total import - export revenue of over US$21.47 billion in the first half of March, with a trade surplus of nearly US$1 billion. (Illustrative image) Vietnam reported total import - export revenue of over US$21.47 billion in the first half of March, with a trade surplus of nearly US$1 billion, despite the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs. Vietnams import-export revenue from early this year to mid-March is estimated at US$50.3 billion, up 7% over the same period in 2019, and trade surplus is estimated at US$2.74 billion. The results demonstrate the efforts of the government and business community in maintaining the stability of foreign trade activities amid the difficulties caused by the COVID-19 epidemic. Teacher congratulated for being selected in Global Teacher Prize Top 50 finalists Ha Anh Phuong (third from left) with her students Minister of Education and Training Phung Xuan Nha on March 19 sent a congratulatory letter to Ms. Ha Anh Phuong, who has been honoured in the list of Global Teacher Prize Top 50 finalists. Born in 1991, Ha Anh Phuong is an ethnic minority English Language high school teacher, living and working in a mountainous area. The institution she works at, Huong Can High School, is located in an area of the northern province of Phu Tho where more than 90% of the students are ethnic minorities aged 15 to 18. The Global Teacher Prize is a US$1 million award, presented annually to an exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession. The Varkey Foundation established the prize in 2014, to recognise and celebrate the impact that teachers have around the world not only on their students, but on the communities around them. One COVID-19 patient discharged from hospital A student returning from Daegu, the RoK, who is the 18th COVID-19 case in Vietnam, recovers and is allowed to go home on March 20. (Photo: NDO/Le Hong) A COVID-19 patient, the 18th case detected in Vietnam, was declared free of the disease and allowed to go home on March 20. He was the first case detected in the northern province of Ninh Binh and had since been receiving treatment at the provincial General Hospital from March 7. The male patient, born in Thai Binh province, was a student returning from Daegu, among the hardest hit areas of the COVID-19 epidemic in the Republic of Korea (RoK). He was sent to a concentrated quarantine facility on March 4 and admitted to hospital three days later after testing positive for the virus. SMS campaign launched to support COVID-19 prevention A text message campaign to call for public support for the countrys fight against the acute respiratory disease (COVID) caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 was launched in Hanoi on March 19. The Ministry of Information and Communications, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committees Standing Board, the Health Ministry, and the Vietnam Red Cross Society jointly launched the campaign with the aim of raising funds to support COVID-19 prevention and control efforts. The campaign is taking place from March 19 to June 18, 2020. Supporters can join the programme by texting CV n to 1407, of which n is the number of support. Each text message will contribute at least VND20,000 (US$0.86) to the fund. All the money pooled by the programme will be used to buy medical equipment, necessities and support COVID-19 patients and those undergoing quarantine. Winners of propaganda painting contest for ASEAN Chairmanship 2020 announced The organising board will present three second, three third and ten consolation prizes. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has announced the winners of the propaganda painting contest for the VIetnam's ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020. The contest was launched in January, aiming to raise public awareness of ASEAN and the year in which Vietnam takes over the role of ASEAN Chair. The contest attracted hundreds of entries that highlight the theme of ASEAN - Cohesive and Responsive as well as the image of a peaceful, stable, safe and friendly Vietnam along with the socio-economic achievements of the country. The organising board will present three second, three third and ten consolation prizes and one movement award to units and individuals with the most outstanding works. Farmers have welcomed the recent government announcement to increase its Farm Recovery Fund pot to 10 million. The fund has increased by 6m to help farmers affected by torrential rain from storms in February that led to wide-scale flooding. Support will be available for farmers in parts of East and North Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire and Herefordshire. Other areas such as Somerset and Cumbria are also being looked at. Under the Farming Recovery Fund, affected farmers in eligible areas can claim for grants between 500 and 25,000 to cover a number of uninsurable repair costs. These could include the re-cultivation of farmland, including re-seeding, replanting cover crops and alleviating soil compaction. NFU Deputy President Stuart Roberts welcomed the announcement, saying the fund boost will be a 'huge relief' those affected farmers. We know of some farmers facing bills of hundreds of thousands of pounds from uninsurable losses, including high value horticulture crops rotting in the ground," he said. "Its been impossible to get new crops planted due to five months of incessant rainfall." With extreme weather events becoming more frequent, the NFU said it will continue to work with government to ensure it takes steps to protect productive farmland,. Malawians will return to the polls in early July for a presidential election rerun ordered by the countrys top court, which annulled last years vote results because of irregularities. Following the Constitutional Court ruling on February 3 that nullified the presidential elections and ordered that there should be fresh elections, the commission therefore announces that the elections will be held on 2nd July, Electoral Commission Chief Jane Ansah told a news conference. In a landmark ruling last month, the Constitutional Court overturned the outcome of the May 2019 election, which handed President Peter Mutharika a second term in office. 200213051640196 The court said the poll results were fraught with widespread irregularities in particular, the massive use of correction fluid on tally sheets. It ordered the holding of fresh polls within 150 days, but Mutharika is appealing the courts ruling. The appeal will be heard in the Supreme Court starting April 15. A previous attempt by the president to suspend the court ruling was rejected by the top judicial body in February. The case was the first time a presidential election has been challenged on legal grounds in Malawi since independence from the United Kingdom in 1964, and only the second vote result to be cancelled in Africa after the 2017 Kenya presidential vote. [March 23, 2020] Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company Announces the Signing of a Sponsorship Agreement with the Parent Company of Redragon Redragon joins a growing list of sponsors that includes Twitch, a subsidiary of Amazon Boca Raton, Florida, March 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company (OTCQB: WINR) (Simplicity Esports), an established brand within the esports industry, owner and manager of multiple esports teams, including Flamengo Esports, an operator of Esports Gaming Centers, and online tournaments announced today that it signed a 2020 sponsorship agreement with the parent company of Redragon, a global manufacturer and distributor of headsets, mice, keyboards, and accessories for gaming. Roman Franklin, President of Simplicity Esports, commented, I am excited to announce the signing of another corporate sponsor for our Flamengo Esports team. Redragon is a well known global brand that sells its products in 30 countries on four continents. We value all of our official partners and sponsors, and their financial commitments that contribute to the success of Flamengo Eports. This will be a mutually beneficial sponsorship arrangement that prominently displays the Redragon brand on our Flamengo Esports jersey sleeve. About Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company: Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company (WINR) is an established brand within the esports industry, competing and streaming in popular games across different genres, including Apex Legends, PUBG, Overwatch, League of Legends, Smite, and various EA Sports titles. Additionally, Simplicity Esports operates Esports Gaming Centers and play-at-home online tournaments that provide the public an opportunity to experience and enjoy gaming and esports in a social setting, regardless of skill or experience. Apex Legends, PUBG, Overwatch, League of Legends, Smite and EA Sports are registered trademarks of their respective owners. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond Simplicity Esports control, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of Simplicity Esports Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) on August 29, 2019, as amended or updated from time to time. Copies are available on the SECs website at www.sec.gov. Simplicity Esports undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law. Simplicity Esports Contact: Roman Franklin President [email protected] 561-819-8586 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] (CNN) Emirates Group is temporarily suspending most passenger flights maintaining just its cargo operations because of coronavirus. The Dubai-based airline plans to halt most passenger services as of March 25, it said in a statement Sunday. After initially saying it would suspend all passenger flights, the company amended its statement later Sunday to say it will continue operating passenger flights to 13 destinations in response to "requests from governments." Emirates is also taking a number of other cost-cutting measures, including reducing operations at its air services division, Dnata, and a temporary cut to most employees' basic salaries. The announcement comes as airlines around the world grapple with a massive loss of business as demand for air travel dries up amid the coronavirus outbreak. Around the world, coronavirus cases have topped 300,000, nearly 13,000 people have died and many countries and local jurisdictions have implemented travel restrictions to stop the spread. US airlines say they have seen a "virtual shutdown" in air domestic travel, and some wonder if federal officials will ground many or all domestic flights. The US airline industry is seeking about $50 billion in federal help to deal with the crisis. "The world has literally gone into quarantine due to the COVID-19 outbreak," Emirates Group chairman and CEO HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said in the statement. "As a global network airline, we find ourselves in a situation where we cannot viably operate passenger services until countries re-open their borders, and travel confidence returns. By Wednesday 25 March, although we will still operate cargo flights which remain busy, Emirates will have temporarily suspended most of its passenger operations," he said. Emirates will continue to operate its international air cargo network to transport "essential goods including medical supplies" around the world. Passenger flights will continue to the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Australia, South Africa, the United States and Canada "until further notice, as long as borders remain open," Emirates said in its updated statement Sunday. The company said it is taking steps to protect the health of employees who have to continue coming to work, including enhanced cleaning at its facilities and on its planes, temperature screening at office entry points and providing hand sanitizers and masks to some frontline employees. In order to further manage costs, the President of Emirates Tim Clark and President of Dnata Gary Chapman plan to take a 100% basic salary cut for three months. Emirates also plans to cut most employees' basic salaries by 25% to 50% for three months, in what the company said is a move to avoid having to lay off staff. Employees will still receive "other allowances" during this time, and junior level employees will be exempt from the salary reduction. "Rather than ask employees to leave the business, we chose to implement a temporary basic salary cut as we want to protect our workforce and keep our talented and skilled people, as much as possible," Sheikh Ahmed said. "We want to avoid cutting jobs. When demand picks up again, we also want to be able to quickly ramp up and resume services for our customers." This story was first published on CNN.com, "Emirates Group suspending most passenger flights and cutting staff salaries amid coronavirus outbreak." Russian Supreme Court upholds denial of IKEAs $1mln suit against ex-wannabe president RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 11:47 23/03/2020 MOSCOW, March 23 (RAPSI) The Supreme Court of Russia has upheld refusal to recover about 80 million rubles ($1 million at the current exchange rate) from ex-presidential candidate Pavel Grudinin's TT Development company in favor of IKEA's Russian division IKEA Mos, according to court records. The Supreme Court has held that the claims of the applicants arguments do not refute the court findings; they are aimed to reestimate circumstances established by lower instances. They do not confirm serious violations of law by courts resulted to the case outcome, according to the Supreme Court. The claimant has challenged rulings delivered by lower commercial courts in April, July and November 2019. IKEA Mos demanded from TT Development 79.5 million rubles in penalties for the alleged breach of its obligations in connection with a land sale deal that was entered into on December 30, 2015. Earlier, the parties petitioned for an approval of a settlement agreement made for the establishment of legal certainty as concerned their rights and liabilities; however, this petition was dismissed by a court on March 19 citing a failure to comply with the relevant legislation and infringe on lawful interests and rights of third parties. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 11:27:22|Editor: yhy Video Player Close WASHINGTON, March 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump has activated the National Guard in three states that are hit the hardest by the coronavirus outbreak to combat infections, he said Sunday. The governors of the states of New York, California and Washington "will be in command" of the missions, and the costs will be covered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Trump said at a White House press conference. FEMA has been directed to deliver four federal medical stations with 1,000 beds to New York, eight federal medical stations with 2,000 beds to California, and three federal medical stations and three smaller medical stations with 1,000 beds to Washington, according to the president. The supplies will arrive in New York and California within 48 hours, with two navy hospital ships expected to be put into operation on the West Coast and East Coast, respectively, Trump added. The president has also invoked the Defense Production Act to boost production of masks and public health items that have become critical amid the pandemic, but he has yet to actually move on that front despite mounting calls for him to take action. Washington state reported the first confirmed cases and deaths during the early days of the spread of the coronavirus in the United States. It was later surpassed by New York state, which has now become the epicenter of the outbreak in the country. California, the nation's most populous state, has ordered all of its residents to stay at home so as to slow the spread of the contagious disease. Confirmed cases and fatalities both continued to surge nationwide, reaching 33,276 and 417, respectively, according to the latest data from Johns Hopkins University updated Sunday at 6:43 p.m. ET (2243 GMT). Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 11:54:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NANJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Mauro Benvenuto, an Italian captain of China Eastern Airlines, took a vacation last month and returned to his hometown of Rome, where he never expected the coronavirus would break out. "I felt that Italy was quite safe at that time, with only a few confirmed cases," Benvenuto said, adding that as soon as he got back, he took the measure of a two-week home quarantine which he had learned in China's fight against the virus. But before Benvenuto finished his quarantine period, the coronavirus began to hit Italy and the confirmed infection cases climbed quickly, which led to the Italian government announcing it was sealing off the whole country on March 10, so as to curb contagion. Benvenuto thought the closure of cities would be an effective move as he learned back in China that staying home is key to preventing the spread of coronavirus. "My family and friends in Rome are taking the initiative to stay home, and we believe we will get through this," Benvenuto told Xinhua over the phone. Benvenuto has worked with China Eastern Airlines as the captain of an Airbus A320 since he settled down in the east China city of Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu Province, in 2014. Earlier this month, China Eastern Airlines sent an A350 plane to escort nine Chinese medical experts and 31 tonnes of medical supplies on a direct flight from Shanghai to Rome. Benvenuto was proud and thrilled to talk about it on social media with his Italian friends. The Shanghai-Rome air route operated by China Eastern Airlines opened nine years ago and has benefited from the Belt and Road Initiative which Italy has also joined. More than 1 million passengers have taken flights on the route. Benvenuto said he has received many greeting messages from his colleagues in Nanjing, who are concerned about his family's health and safety. "This is what true friendship is like! I told them that my neighbors and I sang on the balcony. We will get over it. I will go back to work in China as soon as it is over," Benvenuto said. Benvenuto's fellow Italian Antonino Scordo is a chef currently working at a luxury hotel in Nanjing, and he has been concerned about the pandemic situation of Italy, especially his hometown, the city of Sorrento where his parents and friends live. "I have had a hard time lately, worrying about my family and friends in Italy," Scordo said. He lives with his wife and son in Nanjing. When the coronavirus broke out in China, his parents and friends kept sending him their regards, and he also heard from news that Giuseppe Cuomo, mayor of Sorrento, sent condolences to Chinese victims of the epidemic. He said since Nanjing and Sorrento became "Friendly Cities" last year and jointly organized the "Grateful Michelin" Star Chef Alliance of the 4th Global Italian Food Week series, the cultural ties have become stronger. "We worry about Italy this time. I call my parents every day and keep following the latest news in Italy," he said. Nanjing, where Scordo lives, has previously implemented strict epidemic prevention and control measures. And there have been no new confirmed patients for about a month, with all the infected discharged from hospital already. Businesses have also gradually resumed work. Scordo said he was reassured when he heard the news that China has sent medical teams and supplies to support Italy's battle against the virus, as he had witnessed himself the success of the anti-virus efforts in China. "I trust China 100 percent and hope everyone in Italy can strictly take the measures Chinese doctors have suggested," Scordo said. "Chinese experience is very valuable. And as China can overcome the outbreak, so does Italy," he added. A eight-year-old boy has died in hospital after he was attacked by a number of dogs at a house in Dublin. The boy was left fighting for his life after being mauled at around 4pm on Sunday at a house in Tallaght, police said. He was initially rushed to a local hospital before being transferred to Crumlin childrens Ireland's largest paediatric hospital. On Monday afternoon, Irish police confirmed that the eight-year-old had died. A Garda spokesman said the dogs were confiscated before being put down. Goa witnessed total shut down for the second consecutive day on Monday as the state government extended the 'Janta curfew' to contain the spread of coronavirus. A delegation of various industrial bodies in Goa met Chief Minister Pramod Sawant at his residence on Monday, urging him to allow the industry work with 20 per cent workforce. Sawant on Sunday announced that the 'Janta curfew' will remain in force till the intervening night of March 25- 26. All markets, shops, offices and religious places remained closed on Monday. In order to effectively implement the extension of 'Janta curfew', the state government has declared a three-day holiday for government and private sector including banks, so that people stay indoors. The government and private bus services have also been suspended. Only hospitals and health services, pharmacies, and essential government services like police, health, electricity and water supply will be operational. The state government on Monday announced that milk booths and fuel stations would remain open. Goa Police have heightened patrolling across the state to ensure miscreants do not take advantage of the situation. The coastal state's borders have also been sealed to stop vehicular movement, except for the essential commodities. Goa shares border with Maharashtra and Karnataka. On Sunday night, Sawant paid a surprise visit to state border at Keri village in North Goa district to assess the implementation of the state governments order. All exams in the state have been postponed and schools are closed till further order. Meanwhile, a delegation of various industrial bodies in Goa met Sawant at his residence on Monday, urging him to allow the industry work with 20 per cent workforce. The delegation comprised representatives of the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Goa Small Industries Association, Confederation of Indian Industries and others. GCCI president Manoj Caculo told reporters that they met the chief minister and extending their full support to the state government in fighting the coronavirus. "While supporting the government in its endeavour, the industry also requested certain relaxations, including permission to function with minimum 20 per cent workforce," Caculo said. The delegation also urged the chief minister to exempt the pharmaceutical sector from the shut down, he said. In a statement issued after the meeting, the industry players said they requested the chief minister for allowing a few concessions sot as to facilitate skeletal services and also finish some works in progress. "The chief minister assured to study the industry representation and come out with revised guidelines later during the day," the statement said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) France and China agree on the need for emergency talks by leaders of the G20 major economies on coordinating an international response to the coronavirus crisis, the French presidency said Monday. French President Emmanuel Macron spoke by telephone with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Monday, after Saudi Arabia, which currently presides over the G20, last week called for a "virtual" summit. "The two leaders agreed a summit would be helpful in particular on the health front... and on the economic front" the Elysee Palace said in a statement, citing "coordinated fiscal and monetary measures." France sent medical aid to China in January as it battled the virus outbreak that emerged in the city of Wuhan in December. Beijing returned the favour by supplying masks and other equipment to Italy, France and other hard-hit European countries. "The presidents agreed that their teams will remain in close contact over technical cooperation as well as material needs to combat this epidemic," the statement said. Saudi Arabia has called for an extraordinary videoconference of G20 leaders as the economic fallout from the coronavirus lockdowns spreading worldwide hammered financial markets, putting many countries on course for a recession. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senator Doug Jones (D., Ala.) on Monday afternoon broke with fellow Democrats to vote in favor of a fast-tracking an economic stimulus bill aimed at offsetting the effects of the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic. Jones had voted against cloture on Sunday, and was the only Democratic senator to break rank in Mondays cloture vote. Senate Democrats on Monday succeeded a second time in stifling the procedural vote to debate the stimulus with a 49-46 vote. Jones was embarrased by both sides partisan negotiation tactics, the senator told CNN. He faulted Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) for trying to force a vote on cloture while the Trump administration was still negotiating the details of the stimulus with Democrats, but also blamed Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) for engaging in partisan debates. It was just an embarrassing the bickering, the back-and-forth, the pointing fingers, Jones said. Jones is the first Democratic senator from Alabama since 1997, and is up for election this fall. Negotiations between congressional Republicans and Democrats have stalled as Democrats introduced several demands for additions to any coronavirus aid package. Those demands reportedly included increased fuel emissions standards for airlines as well as an expansion of wind and solar tax credits. The legislative demands came after House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D., S.C.) told House Democrats on Thursday that the coronavirus stimulus represented a tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision. More from National Review New study shows that fishes above and below falls are unlikely to interbreed -- vital information for the battle with invasive species in the Great Lakes New research shows that fishes on either side of Niagara Falls--one of the most powerful waterfalls in the world--are unlikely to breed with one another. Knowing how well the falls serves as a barrier to fish movement is essential to conservation efforts to stop the spread of invasive aquatic species causing ecological destruction in the Great Lakes. The study is published today in the journal Molecular Ecology. "In the past 50 years or so, aquatic invasive species have expanded in the Great Lakes as a tremendous conservation concern, causing billions of dollars' worth of damage," said Nathan Lujan, lead author of the study and a Gerstner Scholar at the American Museum of Natural History. "Both Canadian and American authorities are concerned about the potential impact of these species on the Great Lakes and are very interested in installing barrier technologies in the Niagara River that would slow or stop their spread." For more than 11,000 years since glaciers retreated from North America, most water flowing through the Great Lakes has crossed the Niagara Falls, which has a flow rate of more than 750,000 gallons per second. There's one other way water can get through this constriction point: through the Welland navigation canal, which was built about 200 years ago and features a series of locks that bring vessels from one side of the falls to the other. The canal is relatively small compared to the Niagara River, but questions remain about how significant it and the falls are in allowing fishes to move upstream to downstream, and vice versa. The leading idea is to install a combination of barrier technologies in the Welland Canal, including electricity, sound, light, and possible physical barriers to inhibit fish movement. "If you're going to spend potentially hundreds of millions of dollars on installing barrier technologies and fishes can go right over the falls, then that's obviously not a good use of resources," Lujan said. "If people can survive it in a barrel, you'd think a fish could." To investigate these questions, Lujan and colleagues examined the DNA of seven native fish species to determine whether populations above and below Niagara Falls interbreed or are reproductively isolated. By gathering data from throughout the fishes' genomes, they found that populations of all species are genetically distinct on opposite sides of the falls. Then they modeled how DNA from different populations mix, and determined that in four species there has been no significant migration past Niagara Falls since the falls were first formed 11,000 years ago. Two other species showed some indication of migration past the falls, yet the models indicated that no species had migrated past the falls via the Welland Canal. "These results should reassure policymakers that infrastructure being considered to prevent the movement of invasive aquatic species will not impact native species, and that the falls themselves are an effective barrier to both upstream and downstream movement of aquatic species," Lujan said. "Additional measures to prevent fish movement can safely be restricted to the Welland Canal." ### Other authors on this study include: Jason Weir, from the University of Toronto Scarborough; Brice Noonan, from the University of Mississippi; Nathan Lovejoy from the University of Toronto at Scarborough; and Nicholas Mandrak, from the University of Toronto at Scarborough. This study was funded in part by the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, grant #s RGPIN-2014-570 05226, RGPIN-2016-06221, RGPIN-2016-06538, and Discovery Accelerator Grant 492890. Link to study: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/mec.15406 ABOUT THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY (AMNH) The American Museum of Natural History, founded in 1869 and currently celebrating its 150th anniversary, is one of the world's preeminent scientific, educational, and cultural institutions. The Museum encompasses 45 permanent exhibition halls, including those in the Rose Center for Earth and Space plus the Hayden Planetarium, as well as galleries for temporary exhibitions. It is home to New York State's official memorial to Theodore Roosevelt, a tribute to Roosevelt's enduring legacy of environmental conservation. The Museum's approximately 200 scientists draw on a world-class research collection of more than 34 million artifacts and specimens, some of which are billions of years old, and on one of the largest natural history libraries in the world. Through its Richard Gilder Graduate School, the Museum grants the Ph.D. degree in Comparative Biology and the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree, the only such free-standing, degree-granting programs at any museum in the United States. Annual on-site attendance has grown to approximately 5 million, and the Museum's exhibitions and Space Shows can be seen in venues on six continents. The Museum's website, digital videos, and apps for mobile devices bring its collections, exhibitions, and educational programs to millions more around the world. Visit amnh.org for more information. Two months after Ralph Hakman walked through the infamous gates of the Auschwitz death camp for the fourth time since its liberation 75 years prior, he passed away at his home in Los Angeles. The Holocaust survivor, born Rachmil Hakman in Poland, was 94 years old at the time of his death on Sunday. Marina Amaral, a 26-year-old Brazilian artist known for her colorizations of historical black-and-white photographs, announced the news of Hakman's passing on Twitter Monday. Brazilian artist Marina Amaral on Monday announced on Twitter the passing of Holocaust survivor Ralph Hakman at age 94 on Sunday Between 1983 and January 2020, Hakman visited the Auschwitz death camp in Poland, where he spent more than three years, four times and was planning a fifth trip this spring Amaral worked with Hakman as part of a project called Faces of Auschwitz in collaboration with the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum, and a team of academics, journalists and volunteers. According to its website, 'the goal of the project is to honor the memory and lives of Auschwitz-Birkenau prisoners by colorizing registration photographs culled from the museums archive and sharing individual stories of those whose faces were photographed.' Amaral tweeted that for the past year, she has been making a documentary about Hakman and has befriended him and his family. 'Ralph, may you Rest in Peace,' the artist wrote. 'You can finally leave all the suffering behind you. We love you and promise you that the whole world will hear your story. I'm sorry that we could not do this while you were here. 'Our deepest condolences to the Hakmans during this difficult time.' Hakman had been active for many years in the Holocaust survivor community of Southern California and often spoke publicly about his experiences during World War II, which claimed the lives of his parents and eight of his nine brothers and sisters. In late January, the Los Angeles Times published a detailed account of Hakman's fourth visit to Auschwitz, which was destined to be his last, to mark the 75th anniversary of the death camp's liberation by Allied forces. Hakman entered the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp in Poland in 1942 aged 17 and remained there for more than three years After the war, Hakman married Esther in 1949 (pictured), and the couple eventually settled in Los Angeles Hakman, a native of Glinice, Poland, was 17 years old when he arrived by cattle car at Auschwitz in May 1942. Unlike many other Jewish prisoners, he was not rounded up but turned himself in as part of a bargain meant to save the lives of his older sister and her baby. After being transferred to the Birkenau camp at the Auschwitz complex, Hakman was inked with the inmate number 37,495 and assigned to work in the so-called 'central sauna' where prisoners' clothing was disinfected and their heads shorn. Against overwhelming odds, Hakman survived the brutal conditions inside the camp by relying on the kindness of his uncle, who would share bread with him, and a Polish foreman who would give him a bowl of soup each day while working on a construction crew. For more than three years, Hakman was savagely beaten by Nazi guards, heard the sounds of people being poisoned to death with noxious fumes and witnessed their bodies spilling out of the gas chambers and incinerated inside a crematorium. In January 1945, as Adolf Hitler's Third Reich was just months away from defeat, Hakman found himself on a death march from Poland to Germany. In May, he and a group of other prisoners managed to escape and soon learned from a Russian soldier that the war effectively was over. Hakman arrived in the US in 1949 and eventually made his way to Los Angeles, where he settled in 1960 with his first wife, Esther, and their two children. Hakman is the subject of a documentary being produced by Amaral titled Faces of Auschwitz In 1983, he returned to Auschwitz for the first time since his liberation, accompanied by his family. His second trip took place in 2010, a year after Hakman's wife passed away from cancer. He was joined at the time by his five grandchildren. Hakman returned to the death camp for a third time in 2015 after marrying his second wife, Barbara Zerulik, and then again this past January. During his fourth and final visit, Hakman addressed a delegation of the World Jewish Congress in Krakow, Poland, and shared some of his vivid memories from the camp. When asked by a Los Angeles Times reporter why he keeps coming back to a place where he had lived through the most traumatic experiences of his life, he explained that he is driven by a sense of duty to both the dead and the living. 'I would be guilty not to go. What if I see someone I know?' said Hakman. 'What if these are my last chances?' Hakman was planning to make a fifth trip to Auschwitz later this spring so he could walk the grounds of the sprawling camp, where an estimated 1.1million people perished during the war. Your browser does not support the audio element. Burdens stack further on the barren land of Van Lam 3, a Cham-majority village in south-central Vietnam, as two local men have been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Van Lam 3 Village in Ninh Thuan Province is home to some 1,000 households with a population of approximately 5,000, most of whom are of Cham ethnicity. Two of their residents have been diagnosed with COVID-19 after flying home from a Malaysia visit. The local people have been referring to COVID-19 as the viral drought, juxtaposing the equally devastating impacts of the disease with those of an ongoing drought that has wreaked havoc on the land for over a year. Medical workers check the body temperature of a resident in Van Lam 3 Village, Ninh Thuan Province, Vietnam. Photo: Dinh Cuong / Tuoi Tre From scorching sun to the viral drought According to locals, Van Lam 3 has gone more than 12 months without noticeable rainfall, leaving the land too arid for farming. Not even weed has survived the drought. Amid the muted brownish hue of the field, one does not struggle to find herds of lambs plowing the soil in search of grass roots to feed on. The two COVID-19 infections, patient No. 61 and patient No. 67, and the total lockdown that followed only came to worsen the local peoples situation, as temporary jobs are only available outside of the village. [We] cant go outside to seek work or go to the market [to vend items] while most of us are poor people living paycheck to paycheck, said Kieu Thi Dan, a villager. We are going to struggle severely this year compared to previous years. The Van Lam 3 populace are mostly Cham people who lead a collectivist lifestyle with concentrated housing isolated from the fields, where they earn their livelihood primarily from farming and free-range cattle raising. Their thousands of cattle, mostly sheep, are especially at risk during the lockdown. The sheep are already dying from the drought. Under the lockdown, we are also unable to find grass to feed them. It would be the end for us if they die, said Truong Thi Truc Dinh, who owns 2,000 sheep in Van Lam 3 Village. Adherence and obstacles under quarantine Dan made no attempt to hide her fear of COVID-19: her family have even been sleeping with face masks on. Her neighbors share the same sentiment as they stay behind closed doors and sporadically feel their foreheads with the back of their hands for signs of fever. It was the perfect feeding ground for false rumors about the disease that have spread quickly since the first infection in Ninh Thuan was announced. In response, local authorities have been using loudspeakers to disperse verified COVID-19 updates and information. Strict quarantine measures have been introduced since March 18 including movement restrictions for all residents in Van Lam 3. All 16 entrances to the village are now barricaded. An entrance to Van Lam 3 Village in Ninh Thuan Province, Vietnam is barricaded. Photo: Dinh Cuong / Tuoi Tre Van Lam 3 residents from the outside were allowed to enter the quarantine zone but are not allowed to leave until the lockdown is lifted. Authorities also advised villagers who were outside of the quarantine zone when the lockdown was imposed to stock up on enough grass to feed their cattle during the isolation period before re-entering. The peoples concerns are totally valid. In this situation, one of our priorities since the epidemic was announced [in Ninh Thuan] has been to support our residents on many levels, said Ba Van Canh, chairman of Phuoc Nam Commune in Thuan Nam District, where Van Lam 3 Village is located. As food is indeed of top importance, we are preparing rations for the people during quarantine. We will make sure that no one is left hungry, he said. Regarding the cattle, we will work closely with our people to figure out a solution to keep them fed." Local people purchase food at Van Lam Market in Van Lam 3 Village, Ninh Thuan Province, Vietnam. Photo: Dinh Cuong / Tuoi Tre Moderation of religious activities On March 18, along with quarantine orders, the administration of Phuoc Nam Commune also declared a commune-wide restriction of large public gatherings to prevent cross infection. This decision inevitably affects the Muslim community in the area. This years Suk Yong -- the prominent triannual celebration of religious Cham Bani communities in Vietnam -- will still be held, though on a significantly smaller scale compared to 2017s, a Phuoc Nam Commune official told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. Local followers have unanimously agreed to celebrate Suk Yong expeditiously with minimal attendance this year, said Nguyen Lai, a religious leader. According to Lai, participants in religious services during this years Suk Yong will be restricted and all rites will be conducted within one hour. Lai also expressed his belief in the followers awareness about COVID-19. The majority of people have refrained from leaving their houses except when they purchase essentials such as food, he said. A mosque is closed during quarantine in Van Lam 3 Village, Ninh Thuan Province, Vietnam. Photo: Dinh Cuong / Tuoi Tre Religious leaders have also done their part on informing the community of medical safety guidelines. Daily prayers at local mosques have also been halted, with two mosques entirely shuttered due to the epidemic. Followers are instructed to practice rituals at home. Answering from an isolation ward in Ninh Thuan, Chau Van The, leader of a mosque in Van Lam 3, said all activities at the mosque were immediately ceased upon the news that a mosque goer had caught COVID-19, Vietnams patient No. 61. The administration of Phuoc Nam has advised newlyweds and families to opt for brief wedding ceremonies over big gatherings. They said that in light of the isolation of clergy members, weddings of the local Muslim community would most likely be canceled due to the lack of religious authority to perform required rituals. The only two COVID-19 positive cases in Ninh Thuan so far are both residents of Phuoc Nam Commune, Thuan Nam District in Ninh Thuan Province. They are the 61st and 67th infection confirmed in Vietnam, respectively. The two patients were part of a congregation of 90 Muslims from the provinces of An Giang, Tay Ninh, Ninh Thuan, and Dong Nai, as well as Ho Chi Minh City, who traveled to Malaysia from February 27 to March 4 to attend religious ceremonies at Seri Petaling Mosque in Kuala Lumpur. In light of the two cases, the Government Committee for Religious Affairs has requested Vietnamese Alliance Churches and the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Vietnam to halt mass public gatherings for the upcoming Easter celebrations. The committee also tasked local religious committees and boards of representatives of local Muslim communities with detecting members of the congregation that went to Malaysia and informing followers of self-isolation requirements, medical clearance, and tests available at local health centers. The novel coronavirus known, which first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019, has infected over 337,000 people and killed more than 14,600 globally as of Monday morning, according to Ministry of Health statistics. Vietnam has confirmed 116 infections, with 17 having walked out of the hospital free of the virus by Friday last week. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Moskalkova turns to UN over violation of rights of Russian Vinnik detained in France AP/TASS 13:00 23/03/2020 MOSCOW, March 23 (RAPSI) Russias High Commissioner for Human Rights Tatiana Moskalkova has sent the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer a request to protect the rights of Russian citizen Alexander Vinnik detained in France, the ombudsmans press service reports. According to the federal ombudsman, the Russians health has seriously deteriorated. Court hearings are held at night that negatively influences his physical state. He is also prohibited from walking. Moreover, Vinnik is banned from communication, including phone calls to his wife and children, denied receipt of the press and books, the statement reads. Thus, Moskalkova asks Melzer to visit the Russian national and to demand that French authorities rectify existing violations of the detainees rights allowing him to meet the wife and children and fresh air walks. He was arrested in Greece, where he went on vacation, in July 2017. The U.S. authorities earlier charged him with crypto currency fraud claiming that the Russian national, acting as an operator of BTC-e digital currency trading platform and exchange, had received $4 billion and did business in violation of anti-money laundering legislation. Vinnik pleaded not guilty. France and Russia have also sought extradition of Vinnik. In the homeland he has been put on the international wanted list on cyber fraud charges. Russian prosecutors have repeatedly sent a request for his extradition to Greek authorities. However, the man was extradited to France in late January. The Conversation We rely on the news media to help us understand the world. But news media does not provide unbiased windows. This bias has been shown to be a problem for Indigenous Peoples around the world . For example, Brad Clark of Royal Roads University has said that TV news coverage of First Nations, Metis and Inuit alternates between imagery of invisibility and hyper-visibility resulting in the marginalization of Indigenous voices in Canada. In their book Seeing Red, Mark Anderson and Carmen Robertson take readers through more than 150 years of Canadian journalism. They explain that although racist narratives are becoming less blatant over time, colonial stereotypes have endured [and even flourished] in the press. It is said that the idea of reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples will be a fleeting one until the media stops construct(ing) them in demeaning unidimensional ways. In more recent examples, Les Couchi of Nipissing First Nation writes about how portrayals of savage, unruly, drunk and lazy [Indians] leads to prejudices across powerful boardrooms and government offices. Hayden King, Anishinaabe scholar of Indigenous Politics at Ryerson University, writes that the general approach of 20th century newspapers was to paint Indigenous Peoples as savages to be mocked, excused or contained . Muskrat Falls on the Churchill River in Labrador, Canada. Photo: Douglas Sprott Move to renewable energy: A justice challenge The move to renewable energy in colonialized nations has been called a dual energy justice challenge by political scientist Julie MacArthur and sociologist Steve Matthewman of the University of Auckland. In efforts to combat climate change and build renewable energy, those involved including journalists must be mindful not to re-write a history of exploitation of Indigenous territories and Peoples. Accounts show that large-scale hydro especially Site C in British Columbia and Muskrat Falls in Labrador brings with it local health risks and threats to Truth and Reconciliation efforts. These more recent developments mirror other massive hydro projects in the James Bay Cree and the Northern Manitoba First Nations regions, which have long caused irreparable environmental damage and dispossession. The protests, lawsuits and general opposition that emerges from these large-scale, so-called clean energy projects stem from unfair processes of development that align with a history of the extractive industry across Canada. It is no surprise then that such developments in South American contexts have been labelled a form of [low] carbon colonialism by geographers Mary Finley-Brook and Curtis Thomas. The symbol for the collaboration, A Shared Future research program: four elements teaching from Algonquin Elder Barbara Dumont-Hill. Illustration by Simon Brascou Analysis of news media stories I am part of a team of Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars engaged in research for A Shared Future . We collected news stories from 2008-17. We then analyzed the portrayals of Indigenous communities involvement in renewable energy projects across Canada. We focused our analysis, published in Energy Research and Social Science , on the many people that are leading or are strongly impacted by these transitions. So how did mainstream news media portray Indigenous Peoples through stories about renewable energy projects? Theres some good and some bad news. Across the six media outlets we examined (CBC, APTN, Globe and Mail, National Post, Vancouver Sun, Toronto Star), there were examples of excellent articles which included Indigenous perspectives, histories and cultural context. This was especially so with regard to content produced by APTN, but there were examples from the other news organizations as well. Providing these contexts may help audiences understand the views and actions of Indigenous Nations. For example, stories answered key questions like: Why did Treaty 8 First Nations in British Columbia organize protests in response to the Site C dam? Why are issues of sustainability and self-sufficiency so important to members of T'Sou-ke Nation and Six Nations of the Grand River? We also found problems. One was that many writers used quotes from both Indigenous leadership (both formal and informal), next to non-Indigenous folks in positions of power (think energy utilities, provincial governments). In almost every case, the journalist who may have been attempting to balance the article with both sides began with quotes from Indigenous peoples, before turning to those framed as having technical, policy or applied expertise on the topic often non-Indigenous peoples. While this can be seen a technique in journalism to front-load a story with top-heavy facts, knowing that not all readers read beyond the headline or first paragraph, what we saw was the final word given to non-Indigenous peoples. As a result, readers may be left with the feeling that Indigenous views can be extinguished by western reason or science. Are reporters speaking to those in positions of power last, or otherwise giving them the last word? Such a practice could open avenues for responding to and answering concerns brought forth by Indigenous Peoples. What can journalists, media outlets and universities do? For journalists, media producers and academic institutions, we recognize the road map provided by the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada. Specifically, we point to Calls to Action No. 84 and No. 86. Call No. 84 demands that the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation restore funding for Indigenous programming and increase access for Indigenous Peoples to work in and lead at the news organization. Call No. 86 is broader and arguably more important. It puts forward the requirement that all journalism students in Canada be educated on the history of Indigenous Peoples, government relations, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and treaty rights. Too often, the news stories published over the past decade about Indigenous Peoples involvement in renewable energy told the stories of these two powerful forces government and industry ignoring UNDRIP and neglecting to include reporting on Aboriginal and treaty rights to advance all forms of energy development without the free, prior and informed consent of Indigenous Nations. In simple terms, free, prior and informed consent is the principle that Indigenous Peoples should have a voice in how, or even if, a project affecting them moves forward. It holds promise to help in reconciliation in Canada, and should be treated as an essential governing principle for developments of all types moving forward. A Shared Future: Inaugural Team Meeting Eight years ago, the University of British Columbia set an example in offering journalism students a course called Reporting in Indigenous Communities. By 2017, Wilfred Laurier University, Kwantlen Polytechnic and Carleton University made courses on Indigenous studies mandatory for all students of their journalism programs. Meanwhile, Ryerson University has created a course called Reporting on Indigenous Issues and first-year journalism students are required to complete a module that includes Indigenous histories and the challenges of reconciliation. Many other universities that offer journalism degrees lag behind in terms of implementing Call No. 86. Without such education, it becomes easy to skip the Truth in Truth and Reconciliation and focus on the click-bait of headlines and leave out the context. Renewable energy development is urgently needed to address climate change. Add to that the economic benefits that come from a global clean energy transition and its easy to see why people may want to skip the truth-telling: it is uncomfortable and may interfere with the bottom line. But it is part of the hard work of reconciliation. Renewable energy in Canada from Muskrat Falls and Tobique First Nations $50 million investment in a wind farm in the east, to the solar panels on Skidegates heritage centre in the west, to the range of renewable energy projects in the North exists and is shaped by a complex colonial history and an even more complex colonial present. These are facts that all Canadians must be educated about, and the media has an important role in reporting this reality. [ Deep knowledge, daily. Sign up for The Conversations newsletter . ] This is a corrected version of a story originally published on Jan. 22, 2020. The earlier story said a UBC course is called Reporting in Aboriginal Communities instead of Reporting in Indigenous Communities. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article Join the Conversation Rolla, MO, March 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- When representatives from Phelps Health, anticipating a shortage of protective masks due to the coronavirus outbreak, needed help, students, faculty and staff at Missouri University of Science and Technology answered by harnessing the power of technology and ingenuity. Campus was abnormally quiet Saturday and Sunday, March 21-22, not only because it was the weekend before spring break but also because, due to the coronavirus outbreak, most students had moved out for the semester and a majority of faculty and staff prepared to work remotely. But 3-D printers in a couple of buildings on campus were humming away, fabricating prototype masks and face shield brackets. Inside the Kummer Student Design Center, where S&T students usually work on rockets, solar cars, Mars rovers and other projects, a few students, faculty and staff outfitted one room Saturday with a dozen 3-D printers to produce prototypes for Phelps Healths physicians, nurses and other medical workers. Across campus, students at Missouri S&Ts Makerspace were using their 3-D printers to fabricate prototypes of the face shield brackets. The university enlisted more printers for the cause Sunday. Phenomenal prototypes The S&T prototypes are phenomenal, says Dr. Casey Burton, director of medical research at Phelps Health. Although there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Rolla, Burton and Shawn Hodges, Phelps Healths director of ancillary and surgical services, foresaw the need to obtain more protective gear for the Rolla-based regional health system. Shawn had already been experimenting with 3-D printed masks with Rolla High School but realized he needed to drastically scale up production capacity to meet the needs of our community, Burton says. He reached out to me to rally the university and beyond for their support and to help organize those operations with him on our end. Burton asked Missouri S&T Chancellor Mohammad Dehghani if it was possible to harness the universitys 3-D printing capabilities to aid in the effort. Dehghani directed others across campus to do what they could to assist. The Kummer Student Design Center staff and students were among the first to respond. Dr. Chris Ramsay, assistant vice provost for student design and director of the center, marshalled the few remaining student members of the centers 19 design teams to set up a 3-D printer farm to run 24 hours a day in the center at 10th Street and Bishop Avenue. We started out with five 3-D printers at the design center, Ramsay says. I sent a note out to all the design teams, and the students who were still in town brought their printers in and now were up to 12. Students re-energized This has re-energized our design team students, Ramsay says. Hundreds of S&T students had worked since the fall on projects for design competitions that are now canceled due to the coronavirus. This community need fulfills a hunger that they have to do something positive and meaningful in this crisis. While the design center produced prototype surgical masks, S&Ts Makerspace chief executive officer Daustin Hoelscher, a senior computer engineering major from Mascoutah, Illinois, was printing a prototype bracket for the face shields. Phelps Health medical staff evaluated both product prototypes on Sunday and were continuing evaluations Monday. This could certainly be a game changer for us and even the rest of the world, so we appreciate Missouri S&Ts efforts, says Dr. Brian Kriete, otolaryngologist and medical director of surgical services at Phelps Health. Im so pleased with how our university community has come together to help in this time of need, says Dehghani. The rapid response and support for one of our important community partners typifies the true S&T spirit of innovation, ingenuity and community engagement. I am very proud of the way our university has responded to this critical need. A community effort The Rolla Public School System is also involved in the effort, with instructors at Rolla High School, Rolla Junior High School and Rolla Technical Institute (RTI) putting their 3-D printers to use. Some students in robotics classes and teams are also helping, says Dr. Amy Hermann, RTI director. RTI instructors Meghan Bilbrough and Leigh Ann Carpenter also sent out an all call to all our robotics kids, saying if they had 3-D printers, we could help the community. Several robotics kids are now printing too, she says. Attachment ONA urges employers to work with us to minimize risk to patients TORONTO, March 22, 2020 /CNW/ - In response to the Minister's order released last night, the Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) is demanding health-care employers work with us to redeploy registered nurses and health-care professionals to other sites and locations within an employer, should that be necessary during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Registered nurses and health-care workers know how to pull together during a crisis and under intense pressure. We have had lots of practice, including during SARS," says ONA President Vicki McKenna, RN. "We know that we are in a crisis and remain committed to caring for patients. If not done carefully and thoughtfully, any redeployment of nurses and health-care professionals could put both patients and front-line nurses at risk. "In addition, employers and government must understand that our predominantly female profession must balance work and other responsibilities, including child care, every day," she says. "It must be a priority to keep nurses and health-care workers safe and ensure that redeployment is carried out as smoothly as possible with as little risk to our patients as possible. We are not a barrier to a well-coordinated and appropriate response to the pandemic, we are part of the solution." McKenna says that ONA will meet with the Ontario Hospital Association today and will urge health-care employers across the province to work with ONA, and our local leaders, as the province faces down the pandemic. ONA is the union representing more than 68,000 registered nurses and health-care professionals, as well as 18,000 nursing student affiliates, providing care in hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, the community, clinics and industry. Visit us at: www.ona.org; Facebook.com/OntarioNurses; www.Twitter.com/OntarioNurses SOURCE Ontario Nurses' Association For further information: Sheree Bond, (416) 986-8240, [email protected] Related Links www.ona.org Srinagar/UNI: As many as 29 people coming from Coronavirus affected countries, who skipped medical teams by changing routes or concealing travel history to avoid quarantine, were tracked by authorities. The Srinagar DC, who is spearheading the governments efforts to contain any spread of COVID-19 in the valley, said that he is glad things are improving as people are getting in touch with control room and (Self) reporting. 'Let's keep it up,' he added. 'Thank u everyone around for ur DMs and calls to control room. Medical, IT & Surveillance teams today were able to track 29 people coming from Bangkok, UK, Dubai, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan etc who skipped medical teams by changing routes or avoiding travel history. Love you all,' Chaudhary wrote on his micro-blogging site twitter. He said in last three days, authorities have accommodated 1196 people traveling from Bangladesh, Ladakh, Bangkok, Dubai, Combodia, UK etc at 24 facilities, in different categories of risk. On Sunday, he had reacted sharply to criticism over keeping all in-bound travelers in quarantine centers, saying people arriving from abroad are not cooperating and are hiding their travel history. Giving details about some people who hid their travel history in a series of tweets, the Srinagar DC, had said, 'Two brothers. Same Medical College in Bangladesh. One travels by air, declares travel history lands in Quarantine. Other takes road goes home, probably enjoyed Wazwan. Smart neighbor informs Control Room. Team got in touch. Symptomatic. WHO guidelines lecture please?' 'A gentleman coming from Italy reaches New Delhi via another port. Takes train to Jammu n Cab to home in #Srinagar. Just to hide travel history. Traced. Need collective focus to handle it. Things are not that simple as they appear from homes & office rooms. WHO guidelines anyone?,' he said. 'Four passengers just reached from Mauritius, Dubai and Kazakhstan "decline" to declare travel history. Done quickly by IT team. My "WHO Guidelines wala Friends" can u pl send a "Recorded Sermon" to help convince such people? Please? I beg. Ignore the Thick Skin and help Face with medical mask,' he added. Chaudhary said a girl coming from US posed as Student returning from Bangladesh. 'A thick skinned babu (as we are called) insisted on passport while allotting room, got to know. USA 3rd highest COVID cases in world. I need to attend another lecture on WHO guidelines now,' he wrote. Image Credit: UNI The storm is coming, Gov. Kate Brown said over the weekend in a plea for Oregonians to stay home to help prevent the further spread of the novel coronavirus. Patients with the virus are beginning to hit Oregon hospitals in meaningful numbers, and public-health officials worry that the inevitable surge soon will overwhelm the state medical systems ability to care for those suffering from Covid-19, the respiratory illness caused by the runaway virus. The new website Covid Act Now -- created by data scientists, including a former Google Cloud executive, in partnership with epidemiologists, public health officials and political leaders -- offers a visualization of what Oregon could be facing very soon. And its not encouraging. Take a look at the graph above -- and then go to the website and check out the particulars for Oregon and other states. You also can dig into the model itself. Even with social distancing orders in place since last week -- that is, people being asked to mostly stay home except for weekly trips to the grocery store and necessary outings like doctor appointments -- the unofficial website sees Covid-19 patients swamping Oregon hospital capacity by the middle of April. Thats the orange/brown wave on the graph, with the black line being the available hospital beds. And if Oregonians ignore public-health officials calls for them to stay on their couches? That would be the red spike on the graph. The point of no return for intervention to prevent hospital overload, the model concludes, is nigh: March 24 to March 29. Another model, one by Oregon Health & Science University, reached a somewhat similar conclusion to Covid Act Nows, showing a shortage of 1,400 hospital beds in Oregon by April 16. Dave Northfield, the director of communications at the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems, said in an email that OAHHS is not doing its own modeling and that its hospitals are in close daily contact with the Oregon Health Authority. To be sure, data models offer at best educated guesswork. The Covid Act Now site clearly states: This model is intended to help make fast decisions, not predict the future. Covid Act Now lays out the models assumptions in a note, pointing out that the coronavirus is a new disease. Variables will change. On Monday, Gov. Brown issued a more-restrictive stay-at-home order that could end up bending the models projected curves. The order closes additional businesses across the state and could lead to jail time for people who violate it. This post has been updated. -- Douglas Perry @douglasmperry Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. The nationwide count for COVID-19 crossed 300 on March 21, even as authorities struggle to contain the outbreak that has claimed lives and affected millions of livelihoods. In these testing times, companies are leaving no stone unturned to ensure the safety of their employees and customers alike and are doing their bit towards controlling the spread of the virus. In a letter addressed to the public, Gopal Vittal, Chief Executive Officer, Airtel, said, We, at Airtel, provide an essential service of keeping our customers and the country connected. There is a great responsibility on us, as connectivity providers, to do what it takes to make sure everything works in this time of stress. Therefore, we are doing everything we can to keep our employees and partners safe. The letter written by Airtel CEO Gopal Vittal. (Airtel) With many employees working from home, internet networks are under strain. Airtel, which is Indias largest telecommunications service provider, is upgrading its quality of service and advancing investments to keep up with this spike in demand. Also Watch | Lockdown over coronavirus: Mumbai police use drones to monitor situation Further, to minimize people-to-people contact, all mobile, WiFi and TV services provided by Airtel can be bought on the Airtel Thanks app or its website www.airtel.in. But in the event that you need to go to a store or call a technician home to attend to a technical bug, you can be rest assured of precautions being taken by Airtel. We are fully committed to ensuring that our employees and partners stay safe. For any Airtel employee that you may interact with at an Airtel store or at your home I want to re-assure you that we have taken all appropriate health and safety measures. We have not only stepped up sanitation and provided masks to all our field force, but are also taking proactive precautionary quarantine measures, as and where required, Vittal added. As more and more cities report cases and the country prepares for a lockdown, Airtel has also prepared a contingency plan in case a critical Network Operating Center or call center needs to be placed under quarantine. Employees have been grouped into smaller teams and virtual locations have been created. The same is being done for partners providing key service functions. These include tower companies, software providers, equipment vendors, and call centres. We have also reviewed contingency plans of all our partners to ensure that we are all coordinated and operate as a single unit. We will continue to assess the situation and take appropriate action so that you (customers) have no disruptions and can stay connected with your loved ones, he further said. VANCOUVER, March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Dolly Varden Silver Corporation (TSX.V: DV | U.S.: DOLLF) (the "Company" or "Dolly Varden") is pleased to announce that it has retained a new team of experienced, technical mining professionals focused on growing and advancing silver resources and has appointed an Investor Relations Representative to enhance shareholder communications and investor awareness. "On behalf of the board of directors, I would like to welcome this new dynamic and energetic team that will enable Dolly Varden to progress towards a leading silver exploration and development Company." said Shawn Khunkhun, CEO President and Director. "We are acutely aware of the global uncertainty related to the Covid-19 virus, however we will take advantage of the time to complete data review and compilation efforts and to investigate corporate development opportunities. The Team: Ryan Weymark Technical Advisor, Engineering Ryan Weymark, P. Eng. is a Professional Engineer (P. Eng.) with experience in mining, heavy civil and infrastructure projects. Ryan has experience working on projects as a consultant, contractor and owner's representative at various stages, from pre-feasibility through to completion. Mr. Weymark is currently Principal of Weymark Consulting, providing project management services to the resource sector, including Teck Alaska Corporation and Imperial Metals. Mr. Weymark was Vice President - Project Development for IDM Mining, until the acquisition by Ascot in March 2019. Prior to joining IDM Mining, Mr. Weymark was a Project Manager with Ledcor Contractors Ltd. in the Heavy Civil and Mining Division. Prior to Ledcor, Ryan worked for Teck Resources Ltd. in various project and operational roles, including Mine Construction Project Manager for the Line Creek Phase II Expansion Project and Project Engineer for the Quintette Coal Operations Project. Prior to Teck, Mr. Weymark worked for SNC-Lavalin Inc. in the Mining & Metallurgy Division on various feasibility and pre-feasibility studies. Mr. Weymark holds a B.A.Sc from the University of British Columbia in Mining and Mineral Processing and is a registered Professional Engineer with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia. Jodie Gibson Technical Advisor, Geology Mr. Gibson, P.Geo. is an exploration geologist with over 14 years of mineral exploration experience throughout the North American cordillera from Alaska to Mexico, including syngenetic and epigenetic precious and base metal systems. He was the project manager of the Underworld Resources Inc. exploration team that discovered and defined the Golden Saddle and Arc deposits. These assets were subsequently sold to Kinross in 2010 for $139-million. Mr. Gibson was served as vice-president of exploration for White Gold Corp where he supervised over $30-million in exploration activities over the previous three years, with highlights including expansion of the Golden Saddle and Arc deposits and five new discoveries across the White Gold district, including the high-grade Vertigo discovery on the JP Ross property. Mr. Gibson holds a Bachelor of Science degree and a master of science degree from Indiana State University and is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia. Mr. Gibson is currently vice-president of exploration for K2 Gold, a Discovery Group Company. Marilyne Lacasse - Project Geologist Marilyne Lacasse, P.Geo is a dynamic professional geoscientist with extensive experience in project management in logistically challenging areas and rugged terrain exploration in northwest British Columbia. Mme. Lacasse was part of the team that successfully restarted IDM Mining's Red Mountain Gold project and doubled its mineral resource before the acquisition by Ascot in March 2019. She is a graduate of Geology from the Universite du Quebec a Montreal and is a registered professional geologist with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia. Alex Horsley - Investor Relations Alex Horsley has been working in the capital markets and mineral exploration sector since 2006. He has served has a Director of several public companies. Mr. Horsley has been involved with a significant number of financings in public and private sector. Alex has developed long standing relationships with an extensive network of high net worth investors, brokers, analysts, investment bankers and private equity groups. The Company has granted a total of 750,000 stock options to purchase common shares ("Shares") of the Company, each of which entitles the holder to purchase one Share at a price of $0.25 per Share for a period of 5 years with vesting over a two-year period. The grant of stock options was made in accordance with the Company's stock option plan and is subject to TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") approval. Any Shares issued on the exercise of these stock options will be subject to a four-month and one day hold period from the date of grant. About Dolly Varden Dolly Varden Silver Corporation is a mineral exploration company focused on exploration in northwestern British Columbia. Dolly Varden has two projects, the namesake Dolly Varden silver property and the nearby Big Bulk copper-gold property. The Dolly Varden property is considered to be highly prospective for hosting high-grade precious metal deposits, since it comprises the same structural and stratigraphic setting that host numerous other high-grade deposits (Eskay Creek, Brucejack). The Big Bulk property is prospective for porphyry and skarn style copper and gold mineralization similar to other such deposits in the region (Red Mountain, KSM, Red Chris). Dolly Varden is also a member of the British Columbia Regional Mining Alliance, a cooperative effort between First Nations, Industry and the BC Provincial Government, to promote mining activities and investment in the northwestern region. Additional information about the Company and its activities may be found on the Company's website www.dollyvardensilver.com and under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Dolly Varden to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, the appointment of replacement management and TSXV approval of the options granted. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs but given the uncertainties, assumptions and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements or information. The Company disclaims any obligation to update, or to publicly announce, any such statements, events or developments except as required by law. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. SOURCE Dolly Varden Silver Corp. Q. I am the treasurer of a small 501(c)3 foundation that works with a village in Vietnam. All the monies donated are used for the school and village. We have very little overhead because we all volunteer. Each year the foundations president and I go to the village to assess our progress and identify the needs of the people. We pay our own way. Can I deduct these expenses on my tax return? Giver A. Wed like to commend you for your charitable work. And yes, depending on the specific circumstances, you may find a tax benefit. The IRS does allow for the deduction of expenses incurred in relation to charitable activities within certain guidelines, said Steven Gallo, a certified public accountant and personal financial specialist with U.S. Financial Services in Fairfield. Want more personal finance news? Enter your email address to be the first to know: To take the deductions, the work you do has to be for a qualified charity, which yours is as a 501(c)3 charity, he said. You can only deduct out-of-pocket expenses to the extent that they are directly related to the services you are providing are not reimbursed, he said. The expenses must have been incurred only because of the services you are providing. Also, the expenses cannot be personal, living or family expenses, he said. And, the charity work you are providing must be real and substantial throughout the trip. You cant deduct expenses if your duties are nominal or insignificant, he said. You can deduct the following expenses: Air, rail and bus transportation, car expenses, lodging costs, the cost of meals and taxi or other transportation costs between an airport or station and hotel, Gallo said. You can not deduct for the value of your time or if a significant part of your trip is for vacation or recreation purposes, he said. Based on your description and the above guidelines, it seems you would be entitled to the deduction, Gallo said, noting that you must itemize deductions on your federal tax return to take advantage of these deductions. Email your questions to Ask@NJMoneyHelp.com. Karin Price Mueller writes the Bamboozled column for NJ Advance Media and is the founder of NJMoneyHelp.com. Follow NJMoneyHelp on Twitter @NJMoneyHelp. Find NJMoneyHelp on Facebook. Sign up for NJMoneyHelp.coms weekly e-newsletter. Flash The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in France has risen by 1,559 within a day to 16,018, while the death toll increased by 112 to 674 in total, Health General Director Jerome Salomon said on Sunday. Currently, 7,240 people are hospitalized, including 1,746 patients in intensive care. So far, 2,200 people have made recovery, according to figures updated by the French health official. "The epidemic continues to spread and get worse," said Salomon, who also announced the first COVID-19 fatality among French medical staff. In a Facebook post by one of the victim's children, the deceased was an emergency doctor from Compiegne, in the Oise in northern France, one of the first departments to be hardly affected by the virus. "The virus kills and continues to kill...The situation will continue to worsen in the coming days before the results of a strict confinement slow down the epidemic," Salomon said. "The French must be patient and show solidarity. Staying at home is saving lives and avoiding serious cases," he added. Salomon revealed that a European clinical trial was launched this Sunday in at least seven European countries to test four experimental treatments against the coronavirus. "It is planned to include 3,200 patients in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, Germany and Spain and may be other countries, including at least 800 in France," he said. Speaking to RTL radio and LCI television earlier in the day, Health Minister Olivier Veran said France was expecting preliminary results in two weeks from a clinical test of the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine. "I have authorized several clinical tests in France, including that of chloroquine for several hundreds of hospitalized patients. I will report each positive or negative result," the minister said. "We are doing everything to check if it is effective. If it's so, we will give it to French patients without delay. Within 15 days, we'll have the results of consolidated studies," he added. Veran also said "France is preparing to test more." "After the containment's removal, it will (be) necessary to test," he said. The government was working to equip 120 laboratories to detect the coronavirus, according to the minister. France has been under lockdown since Tuesday. Only journeys for professional reasons, the purchases of basic necessities or essential health and family needs are allowed. Non-compliance with the rules risks a fine of 135 euros (144.37 U.S. dollars). More than 22,000 fines were issued for breaking lockdown rules on Sunday, bringing the total fines to 91,824 since the containment went into force early this week, said Alain Thirion, Director General of Civil Security and Crisis Management, adding over 1.3 million checks have been carried out so far. Thirion added any recurrence of non-compliance within 15 days risks a fine of 1,500 euros and four violations in 30 days will become an offense punishable by a fine of 3,700 euros and six months in jail. The new measures came after the National Assembly approved on Sunday an emergency health bill, which empowers the government to restrict people's movement and requisition certain goods and services over a period of two months. In Paris, the popular promenades along the Seine river, the lawns of Les Invalides and the Champ de Mars park around the Eiffel Tower were closed during the weekend. Rivera city of Nice, Perpignan and Beziers in southern France has imposed from Saturday a curfew in response to many people defying the government's recommendation to strictly respect social distancing. (1 euro = 1.069 U.S. dollar) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ros Krasny (Bloomberg) Washington, United States Mon, March 23, 2020 10:15 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206cb2b75 2 World senator,US,COVID-19,stimulus Free Two other Republican US senators said theyll go into self-quarantine after Rand Paul of Kentucky announced on Sunday that hed tested positive for Covid-19. The moves by Senators Mike Lee and Mitt Romney of Utah have thrown a wrench into efforts by the Senate to pass a massive coronavirus economic stimulus package by Monday. Two other Republicans, Senator Cory Gardner of Colorado and Senator Rick Scott of Florida, have also been in self-quarantine in response to possible exposure to the virus from other infected individuals. Paul, who voted against two emergency coronavirus spending bills this month, tested positive for the virus and is in quarantine, according to a post on his Twitter account on Sunday. Hes the first US senator, and third member of Congress, known to have become infected. Lee subsequently said he would self-quarantine for 14 days -- which means no traveling or voting -- on the advice of the Attending Physician of the US Congress. Paul, the Kentucky lawmaker, was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive travel and events, according to the tweet. Paul and Lee will miss a vote expected Monday on a bill to provide some $2 trillion in direct and indirect stimulus to the US economy as it reels from the widening effects of the pandemic. Senators must be present to vote, and current rules dont allow remote voting -- although pressure is mounting for that to change. The responsibility of the Senate is to remain open, Senator Brian Schatz, Democrat of Hawaii, said on Twitter. Remote voting must be instituted immediately. Paul, 57, is feeling fine and isnt aware of any direct contact with any infected person, his Twitter message said. Symptoms of the virus can include fever, coughing, and shortness of breath. A follow-up tweet said he expects to be back in the Senate after his quarantine period has ended, and that virtually no staff has had contact with the senator in the past 10 days, when his DC office began working remotely. Representative Mario Diaz-Balart, a Florida Republican, and Representative Ben McAdams, Democrat of Utah, last week both revealed they had been diagnosed as positive. The three join more than 31,000 other Americans known to have the virus, according to a running tally from Johns Hopkins University. Some 390 have died in the US Globally, cases have exceeded 328,000 with over 14,000 deaths. Paul was among a handful of Republican lawmakers on March 18 to oppose a $100 billion stimulus package to offset the impact of Covid-19 on the US economy. The measure was approved 90-8 and signed into law by President Donald Trump. Earlier this month, Paul was the lone vote against an $8 billion emergency spending package aimed at boosting funds for testing and lowering the cost of certain related medical treatments. He proposed an amendment that offset some of the costs of the legislation with cuts elsewhere, which was rejected. The senators father, former Texas Representative Ron Paul, has been one of final holdouts among coronavirus skeptics as the impact of the pandemic has broadened this month and state governments have ramped up their response. The 2012 Republican presidential candidate penned a column entitled The Coronavirus Hoax, dated March 16. Governments love crises because when the people are fearful they are more willing to give up freedoms for promises that the government will take care of them, the elder Paul wrote. He termed Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, the chief fearmonger of the Trump administration. CLEVELAND, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced on Sunday that all nonessential businesses will be ordered to close by Tuesday as part of the response to the coronavirus outbreak. However, the list of businesses that are allowed to stay open under the health directive signed by Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton is incredibly broad, meaning mass business closures are unlikely as of right now. DeWine confirmed in his press conference the order for nonessential businesses was less a new action and more codifying already existing recommendations. The move was part of a broader response DeWine outlined Sunday that included limiting day care centers in the state and issuing a stay-at-home order. Related: Common sense exceptions to Ohios stay-at-home order: What you can (and should) still leave the house to do The order takes effect at 11:59 p.m. Monday night. The list of businesses that can continue to operate include: Food production and distribution Super markets, farmers markets, convenience stores and other places that sell groceries Pharmacies Charitable and social services Gas stations Liquor stores and distributors Auto supply and repair shops Bicycle supply and repair shops Media Banks Financial and insurance institutions, including money lenders and pawn shops Hardware and supply stores that sell electrical, plumbing and heating equipment Critical trades such as plumbers, electricians, and HVAC services Laundromats and other laundry services Businesses that sell supplies to work from home Mail and delivery services Airports Computer and electronics supplies Transportation services Hotels and motels Critical infrastructure Home-based care services Legal and accounting services Agriculture, including food and licensed marijuana Religious entities Labor unions Real estate services, including appraisals Gun stores DeWine has already ordered several sectors close in response to the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, including barber shops, nail salons and tattoo parlors. Bars and restaurants are still allowed to provide carryout and delivery services. Each of the businesses that are allowed to stay open must follow good protocol, good guidelines, in regard to health, DeWine said. Those requirements, as outline in the order, are: Designating six-foot distances between workers with signage, tape or any other means Making hand sanitizer and sanitizing products readily available to both customers and employees Requiring separate hours for vulnerable populations, including the elderly Online posting about hours of operations and how to contact the business by phone or other means For the businesses that are staying open, you really need to follow this, DeWine said. This is just really, really important that you follow this. As DeWine has done throughout his response to coronavirus, the order closing nonessential businesses is likely meant to serve as a sign to businesses currently not following his and Actons guidance. Last week, DeWine threatened that businesses not complying with health officials guidance may make him close businesses to a broader extent. Local health officials and law enforcement are permitted to enforce the directives in the order. DeWine said those who dont comply could face a second-degree misdemeanor, though added he was not anticipating a large amount of charges due to noncompliance. That is not what were trying to accomplish here, DeWine said. But were trying to show the seriousness of this. This is no longer a suggestion. This is something that is no longer an idea. This is important. This is important enough to put it in a health order. Read more cleveland.com coverage: Mapping Ohios 351 coronavirus cases Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose proposes pre-paid, statewide mail vote for delayed primary Ohio Pharmacy Board moves to prevent stockpiling of anti-malarial drugs being tested as COVID-19 treatment Gov. Mike DeWine orders developmental disability day service centers be closed due to coronavirus Kochi, March 23 : A Catholic priest P. Pauly was on Monday arrested by the police here, for breaking the guidelines put out on account of COVID-19 by the district authorities, said the police. A police official of the Chalakudy police station told IANS that the priest has been arrested and will be given bail. "It was for violating the guidelines that is in place. He will be given bail," said the official requesting anonymity. The incident occurred after the police came to know about the prayer session that took place at the Kudapuzha Nithyasahaya Matha Church, at Chalakudy, near here around 6:30 a.m. The police after knowing about it came and took the priest into custody. The police also asked the priest clean his hands with the sanitizer before taking him to the police station. The police are also contemplating to register cases against around 100 laity who attended the morning prayers. A Donegal TD said he has been 'inundated with complaints' regarding people travelling to holiday homes, caravan parks and beaches in the county. Padraig Mac Lochlainn said: "I have been inundated with complaints from across Donegal this weekend about large numbers of people travelling to holiday homes, caravan parks and the beaches from outside areas. I would like to make a number of points about this. "Families have been asked to remain in their primary homes (not their second homes, mobile homes or caravans) and to shop locally and go for walks (while social distancing by at least two metres) locally. "Caravan parks should not be open at this time, anywhere on the island of Ireland. The government need to call for this as soon as possible. This is not a holiday period. This is a national emergency. "This should not be turned into a 6 counties versus 26 counties issue. "Its an issue this last week in seaside towns and villages across this island of Ireland and in Scotland, England and Wales. "Nobody can be in any doubt anywhere in Europe or the world that there is a urgent need to follow the public health appeals. "Dont be selfish or reckless with the lives of your family or other families for the foreseeable future, particularly our elderly and those living with underlying conditions, who are terrified at this time," concluded Padraig Mac Lochlainn. Health Ministry Urges all to Stay Home Saudi Press Agency Sunday 1441/7/27 - 2020/03/22 Riyadh, March 22, 2020, SPA -- The committee concerned with following up the health situation of the new Coronavirus (COVID-19) affirmed the importance of continuation of applying and enhancing all precautionary measures in all entry ports. The committee held today its 32nd meeting under chairmanship of Health Minister Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawazan Al-Rabiah and in presence of the members of all governmental relevant entities. During the meeting, the committee reviewed all reports and developments of the virus as well as the epidemiological situation of the virus worldwide including the confirmed cases in the Kingdom. The committee urged all to stay home and no going outside except the need arises. Following the meeting, Dr. Mohammed Al-Abd Al-Aali, spokesman of the Ministry of Health, confirmed that the total number of confirmed cases with the new Coronavirus (COVID-19) around the world amounted to 312,000 cases, adding that 94,000 cases recovered so far. He disclosed that the number of deaths reached 13,400. "So far, 511 cases are confirmed in the Kingdom, with an increase of 199 new cases. Seven cases are confirmed for persons coming from abroad and are isolated now. 72 cases, with no emergence of symptoms, from Turkey are healthy isolated at a hotel in Makkah. These cases were detected early during the epidemiological investigation for a previous case which was announced a week ago. 40 cases are recorded for people who were in contact with previous cases on occasions and gatherings or family meetings," he said. He added that the new cases covered many regions and governorates in the Kingdom, including 72 in Makkah, 34 in Riyadh, 4 in Qatif, 3 in Khobar, 3 in Ahsa, and one case in each Qassim, Dhahran and Dammam. He also announced the recovery of 18 cases with no deaths, disclosing all cases are adult, except 17 cases for children. Dr. Al-Abd Al-Aali affirmed that the advanced laboratory examinations exceeded 23,000 cases which are all negative, pointing out that the Health Center (937) received 280,000 calls about the new Coronavirus. The Spokesman of the Health Ministry urged all to abide by the instructions for their safety and health, calling to avoid shaking hands, washing hands continuously, staying away from gatherings and applying 14-day health isolation for anyone coming from abroad. He called on everyone to take advantage of the self-assessment service about the symptoms of the new Coronavirus, which is available on MAWID electronic application. Dr. Al-Abd Al-Aali urged anyone coming from infected areas to communicate with the Health Center (937), warning from rumors about this virus. --SPA 18:10 LOCAL TIME 15:10 GMT 0030 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Normally, they would have been alive with children clutching fresh daffodils and a box of chocs for a beloved mother or grandmother. Yesterday, however, churches up and down the land stood empty on what should have been one of the busier days of the year Mothering Sunday as ministers went through the devotional motions in front of absentee, online congregations. Leading the nation in virtual worship was the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who held a service in the Crypt Chapel at London's Lambeth Palace. He urged us not to 'pull up the drawbridge' against our neighbours, adding: 'That's the kind of thing that leads to panic buying, to growing fear and to spiritual and emotional as well as physical isolation. It destroys us.' Churches up and down the land stood empty on what should have been one of the busier days of the year Mothering Sunday as ministers went through the devotional motions in front of absentee, online congregations (Pictured: Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby) He also reminded people of all faiths to put a candle in their windows at 7pm last night, as a symbol of 'the light of life' and of hope. For the first service of its kind ever conducted at Lambeth Palace, the archbishop was accompanied only by his wife, Caroline, who read the lessons, and his chaplain, Dr Isabelle Hamley, who read the prayers. In order to keep the numbers down to the bare minimum, the music was supplied separately by a small choir from St Martin-in-the-Fields, singing chants and hymns including Lord of All Hopefulness from the confines of their own church. Broadcast on Radio 4 and the BBC's local radio network, the pre-recorded service was also streamed online. The choice of the bare-walled Crypt Chapel, rather than the palace's much grander 13th-century main chapel, lent added poignancy to what is likely to become the standard form of Sunday churchgoing for some time to come. A church parishioner watches a laptop inside Liverpool Parish Church during the Church of England's first virtual Sunday service given by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby Here was the Primate of All England addressing the world in just his basic 'convocation robes', lighting candles in what could have been a tiny Norman church in the middle of nowhere. As it happens, the Crypt Chapel only came into being during our last major national emergency. For centuries, it had been the archiepiscopal wine cellar until a German bomb destroyed the main chapel during the Second World War. As a result, a new, safer place of worship was constructed in the basement. The Archbishop began his sermon by reminding us that, long before it became an occasion for thanking mothers, Mothering Sunday was a day when people returned to the parish where they had grown up. 'Mothering Sunday is about place about knowing where we are rooted, what gives us life, how we are related to others. It's a place for starting from and returning to. In ancient tradition, we return to the church where we were baptised; the church that 'mothered us' spiritually.' Hence the pain of separation at a time like this. 'Today many of us are disconnected from our roots, from our mother place. Lacking roots, we now have to find ways to make a place of safety and welcome for other people at a difficult time.' Pictured: A candle lit by Justin Welby in the window of Lambeth Palace in London These were not just religious sentiments. 'There are some places that speak to our hearts very powerfully,' he said. 'For me there are bits of London, where I was born and a section of the north Norfolk coast around a village called Blakeney. 'It has memories of my grandmother's house, of cold winters and a fire, of security, of summers messing about in mud and sand, or later on, in a boat.' He urged the country to find consolation in God, thereby enabling us to console others, especially 'the frightened, the panic-struck, the panic-buying, the fearful and all those around in whom alarm is rising'. He might also have included the hordes of people now fleeing the capital and big cities for holiday destinations just like Blakeney. There, local officials have expressed grave concern at the sudden surge of incomers. The archbishop concluded with an instructive warning: 'In all of the current troubles, and, let's be straight, they really are serious troubles, looking inwards will only reveal the limits of our own resources, and lead to deeper fear and selfishness.' Later, a Lambeth Palace spokesman said that Archbishop Welby was hoping to see a similar national service broadcast every Sunday morning from a different part of the UK. He will remain at Lambeth during the current crisis and attend proceedings in the House of Lords. All across Britain, there were similar online services yesterday morning from Bristol Cathedral to the Church of Scotland's Martin's Memorial Church in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. All tried to keep things as upbeat as they could. In Buckingham, the regular congregation at St Peter and St Paul's Church were told that if they walked past the churchyard later, there would be a Mothering Sunday card and chocolate left out for them. Though the coronavirus outbreak has emptied the pews nationwide, it has also led to a marked upswing in church attendance in places, if online worshippers are included. At St Martin-in-the-Fields, in central London, more than a thousand people have been joining the online daily service of morning prayer. That is a larger congregation than the 850-strong capacity crowd the church enjoys at Christmas. As we like to reassure ourselves at such times, it should all be over by then. By Express News Service MYSURU: Mysuru reported its second case of COVID-19 on Monday with a man from Kerala testing positive for the virus. Confirming this, Deputy Commissioner Abhiram G Sankar said that the man arrived in India on an Emirates flight from Dubai to Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru and later took a taxi to reach Mysuru where he stayed in a room before getting admitted to the KR Hospital. The route map of the patient which is available with the TNIE revealed that he boarded a direct flight on March 21 at 9.50 pm from Dubai and reached KIAL on March 22 at 2.55 am. He then took an Airbus to Akash medical hospital, was checked and sent back to the airport. The man then booked a taxi from the airport to Mysuru, took a tea break at Kengeri at 6.30 am on March 22 and reached a room on Meena Bazar road at Mandi Mohalla area in the city at 8.30 am. He was then taken to KR Hospital at 1.45 pm on a bike by a relative and admitted. His swab was collected on Sunday which was tested and confirmed as positive on Monday morning. Both the patients are stable and are presently at KR Hospital. They will be shifted to the new district hospital which has been transformed into a special COVID-19 hospital, said DC Abhiram Sankar. Yet another lapse? A day after it was confirmed that the first COVID-19 patient from Mysuru was allowed to leave Bengaluru despite his symptoms at the airport, yet another lapse has come to light, as the second positive case reported in Mysuru also left a hospital after it ruled out COVID-19. The route map of the patient suggests that he was even screened at the airport in Bengaluru and allowed to leave but tested positive when he was admitted at KR Hospital in the city. When contacted, senior health officials from Mysuru said they are still clueless about what had really happened in this case, as the route map was prepared as per the statement given by the person. World Bank President David Malpass on Monday urged G-20 countries to let poorest countries suspend all repayments of official bilateral credit due to the adverse impact on their economies due to the coronavirus pandemic. These are difficult times for all, especially for the poorest and most vulnerable, he said in his telephonic address to G20 Finance Ministers on COVID-19. The first goal of the World Bank Group is to provide prompt support during the crisis, based on a country's needs. It's also vital to shorten the time to recovery and create confidence that the recovery can be strong, Malpass said. Coronavirus crisis, he said, will likely hit hardest against the poorest and most vulnerable countries, those roughly 25 poorest countries drawing on International Development Association (IDA). "Many were already in a difficult debt situation, leaving no space for an appropriate health and economic response. We are ready to frontload IDA19 with up to USD 35 billion and identify additional resources. However, we cannot have IDA resources go to pay creditors," he said. As such he made a call to action to G20. "I urge all official bilateral creditors of the poorest countries to act with immediate effect to help IDA countries through debt relief, allowing the countries to concentrate their resources on fighting the pandemic," he said. Working to provide a fast response, utilising all its available instruments, the World Bank President said that countries need to move fast to boost health spending, strengthen social safety nets, support the private sector and counter financial-market disruption. "Countries will need to implement structural reforms to help shorten the time to recovery and create confidence that the recovery can be strong. For those countries that have excessive regulations, subsidies, licensing regimes, trade protection or litigiousness as obstacles, we will work with them to foster markets, choice and faster growth prospects during the recovery," he said. Early this month, World Bank and International Finance Corporation (IFC) Boards approved a USD 14 billion package to respond to COVID-19. Of that, the IFC is making USD 8 billion available in relatively fast-acting financial support for private companies, he said, adding that International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the IDA will be making USD 6 billion available in the near term to support healthcare. The World Bank is currently restructuring existing projects in 23 countries, many of these through the use of 'contingent emergency response components', he said, adding that it is also preparing projects in 49 countries in a new fast-track facility, with decisions expected this week on as many as 16 country programmes. Malpass said that the World Bank has identified a range of rapid procurement modalities leading to bulk purchases. "And we are working together with other MDBs and the IMF to assess needs, implement the new system, and develop co-financing," he said. "We are in dialogue with China among other key countries to obtain help with the rapid manufacture and delivery of many of these supplies and are grateful for their positive responses so far," Malpass added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The anti-Citizenship Amendment Act, NRC and NPR protestors at Ghantaghar in Lucknow on Monday temporarily suspended their agitation due to the government's orders issued after the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic. "The anti-CAA, NRC and NPR protest in Lucknow's Ghantaghar has come to an end," Commissioner of Police, Lucknow, Sujeet Pandey said. However, the women have symbolically left behind the stage set up for the demonstrations and their dupattas (stoles) as a mark of their protest. In a letter written to the Commissioner of Police, Lucknow, the women's body leading the protests said that the demonstrations will resume as soon as the government withdraws the orders issued to combat the COVID-19 situation in the country. It has also requested the administration to leave the stage constructed at the protest site untouched. Many anti-CAA protests, around the country, have been temporarily called off in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The Uttar Pradesh government has put 16 districts under total lockdown till April 25, which include Agra, Lucknow, Gautam Budh Nagar, Ghaziabad, Moradabad, Varanasi, Lakhimpur Khiri, Bareilly, Azamgarh, Kanpur, Meerut, Prayagraj, Aligarh, Gorakhpur, Pilibhit, and Saharanpur. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), India so far has 396 confirmed cases of the infection. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) JACKSON, MI Jackson County residents were grocery shopping and filling their vehicles with gas after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced her stay-at-home order begins shortly after midnight. There are now 1,328 cases of COIVD-19 across Michigan and 15 deaths as of the afternoon of Monday afternoon, March 23, state officials said. The executive order should help slow the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. There are five cases in Jackson County, officials said. More Jackson County residents test positive for coronavirus Residents may only leave their home under very limited circumstances, and non-essential businesses are closed under the order that begins at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, March 24, and will last three weeks until April 13. Executive Order 2020-21 prohibits all businesses and operations from requiring workers to leave their homes unless those workers are necessary to sustain or protect life or to conduct minimum basic operations. I think its bunk, Parma Township resident John Woody said. All she succeeded in doing is closing the remaining small businesses. Read Michigan Gov. Whitmers entire coronavirus stay-at-home order People were already social distancing and avoiding unnecessary trips outside before Whitmers order, he said. His wife, Debra Woody agreed. Im not happy that the governor implied the president didnt do his job, she said. The issue has become a political one, with Whitmer mainly communicating with liberal states such as New York and California, John Woody said. He said he thinks Whitmer should talk to more Republican states, including southern ones. On the other side of things, Nancy and Zane Brasheras went grocery shopping wearing latex gloves, to help provide an extra layer of protection, and they said they have face masks on the way. Im scared of this whole thing, Nancy Brasheras said. Its like the world is ending. She said they saw a fight in Meijer over toilet paper. People are scared and are panicking, she said. As a high-risk senior, Jackson resident Caroline Zangwill only left her house to pick up a prescription and buy fresh vegetables. She said she had stayed home for more than a week and is texting and calling people for social interaction. The shutdown is important to stop the spread of coronavirus and stop people from gathering as they had, she said. I think its a great idea because the coronavirus cases are multiplying very quickly and the only way to stop it multiplying is to shut it down, Zangwill said. Armed with paper towels and trash bags, Jackson resident Randal Stockard was heading home. As a contractor, hes unable to work from home, so for now hes sitting tight for the three weeks and seeing what happens, he said. I think its a good idea, a really good idea, Stockard said. The movement needs to slow down. Jackson resident Alice Mulhearn worked in a one-person office but made sure to forward her emails and phone lines so she could work remotely, because she assumed a shutdown was coming. Im still processing it, Mulhearn said. This wasnt unexpected because were doing everything Ohio does but one day later. It is important to keep a sense of humor through these weeks, she said. But she does have one question a lot of people are asking already. Why didnt I get my haircut two weeks earlier? she said. Read all MLive coronavirus coverage here. Michigans coronavirus stay-at-home order torture, but good for some and way overboard for others How you can still enjoy local Michigan music during the coronavirus outbreak Michigan among top 5 states for confirmed coronavirus cases Consumers Energy CEO Patti Poppe gives $1M in coronavirus aid to Jackson small businesses Jackson hospital further limits who can be tested for coronavirus Rooftop preaching, drive-thru services encapsulate church in the age of coronavirus Jacksons collaboration muscles paying off, says nonprofit CEO creating COVID-19 relief fund How Grandma Sarahs soup is inspiring goodwill amid coronavirus crisis Jackson indefinitely closes public playgrounds to prevent coronavirus spread The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has been criticized for doubting the genuineness of President Akufo-Addos measures in fighting the pandemic coronavirus. General Mosquito as he is popularly called, reportedly said the real intention of President Akufo-Addos ban on public gatherings is to rig the 2020 elections. is whole announcement of emergency ban, emergency here, stopping this gathering, stopping that gathering, in my view, on the surface, it will appear to the world that the president is acting to deal with the COVID-19 and so on...But the real intention is not to deal with COVID-19 at all. The real intention is to find space to put the pieces of the rigging equipments together. So that by the time anybody could say jack, the election has been compromised, he is quoted to have said. Kwesi Pratt, speaking to this on Fridays edition of Peace FM morning show, 'Kokrokoo' said Asiedu Nketiahs comment was a bit disturbing. I wonder why he made those comments. How can the ruling government rig elections with coronavirus; I dont understand and it is disturbing, he intimated. Listen to him in the video below . . . Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Hyundai India and three motorcycle majors have suspended operations at their manufacturing facilities here and elsewhere in the country from Monday to prevent further outbreak of coronavirus. While Hyundai has suspended operations from Monday till further notice, Royal Enfield has decided to close down factories till March 31. TVS Motors will shut the doors of its manufacturing facilities in India and Indonesia till further notice, even as Yamaha decided to close down its plants in Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana till March 31. Hyundai India, one of the largest carmakers in the country which has a sprawling facility at Irungattukottai near here, said it would await further notification from the Tamil Nadu government on resuming operations at the plant. READ: Coronavirus: Tamil Nadu to implement Section 144 from March 24 evening The company, which manufactures vehicles for both the domestic and foreign market, also announced extending support for two months for those who cant avail free service or extended warranty for their vehicles. Royal Enfield said it will close all its manufacturing facilities in Tiruvottriyur, Oragadam and Vallam in Chennai and technical centres across the globe. It also announced closing down of its offices and dealerships across the country from Monday till March 31. This has been done keeping in mind the safety and wellbeing of all employees and casual and temporary workers. During this time, the company employees will continue to work-from-home and there will be no salary deduction for any permanent or temporary employees or workforce, and no reduction of workforce, the company said in a statement. All companies said they have allowed their employees to work from home and promised to pay them salaries. The complete lockdown will put further strain on the companies in the sector which is already bleeding due to economic slowdown. Follow live updates of coronavirus cases here Yamaha is fully committed to the health protocols in the wake of the COVID-19 threat and as a responsible corporate, it has been taking all the precautionary measures such as increased frequency of sanitization at factory premises and work stations, restrictions in travel and creating awareness among the employees in the current scenario, Yamaha India said in a statement. TVS said the immediate focus was to ensure the safety of employees, their families, and the extended enterprise including suppliers, dealers and our customers. Assuring that it will protect jobs and salaries in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, TVS said it would work closely with their dealers and suppliers and extend all support to them in the face of this unexpected difficulty. Reckless revellers risked lives on Friday night as they ignored Government advice to stay away from pubs and clubs despite grave warnings about coronavirus. Parts of Belfast city centre were a ghost town in lockdown almost immediately after the Government announcement to close businesses and restrict gatherings. But despite the warnings about social distancing, hundreds of partygoers flocked to the handful of bars and restaurants which ignored the Government advice. Announcing the closure of bars, Prime Minister Boris Johnson had pleaded with people to avoid going out on Friday night. "Some people may of course be tempted to go out ... But please don't," he said. "You may think you are invincible, but there is no guarantee you will get mild symptoms, and you can still be a carrier of the disease and pass it on to others." Young people were pictured spilling out of popular student bar Filthy McNasty's on the Dublin Road as well as a number of other establishments across the city - not doing anything legal but ignoring pleas from ministers and medics not to socialise. Social media has been awash with pictures of young people gathering in parks and bars. End-of-school parties and anti-social behaviour by young people have been reported across Northern Ireland over the weekend. On Friday, former investigative journalist-turned-screenwriter Declan Lawn (43)posted a picture on Twitter of a group of young people in Crawfordsburn Country Park ignoring the ban. Posting a picture with the faces of the youngsters obscured, he said: "Massive group of kids - look like A-level students, maybe 100 of them - having a proper party at Helen's Bay right now. Took a pic but some might be U17 so here it is with faces blurred out. "They just don't give a sh** though do they? They may do next week when their parents are in hospital. If one of these guys has the virus I reckon they all do by now!" While most schools have been closed, some will be open for the children of key workers from Monday. Students no longer in schools, after they were ordered to close, risk passing the virus on to more vulnerable groups like the elderly, so police have urged party participants to consider the wellbeing of others and follow official guidance. The PSNI said: "Police are still receiving reports of anti-social behaviour and end-of-school parties. Review the advice of the Health Minister (Robin Swann, right), consider the health of others and adhere to the social distance practices outlined by the health department." Last night at Millennium Park on Belfast's Oldpark Road police had to deal with over 30 young people causing anti-social behaviour after they managed to get themselves locked in the park. There was growing anger last night at plans to hold a Sunday market at Nutt's Corner today with up to 250 stalls. The SDLP's public health spokesman Justin McNulty said the decision for the market to proceed is "reckless and could potentially cost lives". Prime Minister Boris Johnson last night warned that the coronavirus outbreak is "accelerating", as he urged people not to visit their parents on Mother's Day today. In a stark message to the country, he said the NHS was in danger of being "overwhelmed" in the same way as the Italian healthcare system unless people heeded Government advice on "social distancing". He said that while "everyone's strongest instinct" was to visit their mother on Mother's Day, the best single present they could give her was to stay away and spare her the risk of becoming infected. "This time the best thing is to ring her, video call her, Skype her, but to avoid any unnecessary physical contact or proximity," he said. "And why? Because if your mother is elderly or vulnerable, I am afraid all the statistics show that she is much more likely to die from coronavirus." Global blame game continues over where the coronavirus came from as China, the US, and Iran point fingers. A war of words between the United States and China over coronavirus intensified on Monday after the Chinese embassy in France suggested the outbreak actually started in the US. President Donald Trump and other American officials have repeatedly described coronavirus as the Chinese virus, incensing Beijing and sparking tit-for-tat accusations on the origin of the contagion. How many cases of COVID-19 were there among the 20,000 deaths due to the flu that started [in the US] in September last year? the Chinese embassy in Paris asked in a string of messages on Twitter. Did the United States not try to pass off pneumonia due to the new coronavirus as flu? The embassy did not point to any scientific evidence for its claims. Chinas embassy in France also described the surprise closing last July of the largest American biochemical weapons research centre at the Fort Detrick base in Maryland. After the closure, a series of pneumonia or similar cases appeared in the United States, it alleged. Iran accusations Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed on Sunday that the coronavirus could be man-made by the US government. The virus is specifically built for Iran using the genetic data of Iranians, which they have obtained through different means, he said. Calling COVID-19 the Wuhan virus, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday said Khameneis fabrications are dangerous. He works tirelessly to concoct conspiracy theories and prioritises ideology over the Iranian people, Pompeo said of the supreme leader. Trump and Pompeo have angered Beijing by repeatedly referring to the Chinese virus when discussing the COVID-19 outbreak first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan. Earlier this month, a foreign ministry spokesman in Beijing, Zhao Lijian, suggested in a tweet the US military brought the virus to Wuhan. The US in response summoned Chinas ambassador, accusing China of spreading conspiracy theories and of seeking to deflect criticism for its role in starting a global pandemic and not telling the world. As the City of Laredo enters its fourth day of being shut down, Sunday marks the second day in which the southern border between the United States and Mexico was partially shut down allowing only essential travel. READ MORE: Lockdown working to slow coronavirus, officials say Although the policy is fixed in the idea that it will lasts for 30 days which began on Saturday 12:01 a.m. and only allows people with essential travel reasons to go from one country to another, many people are still confused about what the policy truly means for them and others that use the border frequently. Reactions to the border closure were both positive and negative. Honestly, I believe it is a good thing as it does allow for the virus to slow down and infect less people, especially across the border as there might be more cases on either side that we dont know and it could affect the other community with no cases, Claudia Trevino said. Trevino said the border closure is not something to be mad about but rather glad as it shows both countries care about finally putting a halt to the growing infections both locally and around the country. However, others view the closing as something potentially bad for both the people and the economy. The border closing could be bad, Rafael Mendoza said. An example is my mom went to Mexico for vacation, and thank God she got here yesterday. But if she didnt shed be stuck over there. There are people who left and have not come back yet. Certainly, this is a major fear as news headlines have reported that various American citizens have stayed overseas in countries that have closed their border completely. However, Mendoza should not worry as a press release sent out by an official from the City of Laredo offered guidelines by the Customs and Border Protection Agency that stated that U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents returning to the United States can enter the country without any problem. The reason for this is because the shutdown is not a complete one like in other countries but rather a partial one for only nonessential travel. Nevertheless, people tend to have other worries about the shut down. Another reason is a lot of people have family they see on the regular in Nuevo Laredo. If they are over there when it shuts down, they will be stuck in Mexico as well, Mendoza said. Certainly, this is something that other people who were seen traveling across the border were also concerned about as they have families to see across the border. I just want to see my loved ones as she can cross and me too, but I dont think my daughter wants to go out as much for the time being, and I have to go several times, said Rogelio Saldivar, who says he has a grown daughter with children who live in the sister city. In my way of thinking, I do believe that visiting her and my grandchildren is an essential thing, Saldivar said. Although it might be considered essential to Saldivar, there is no language in the guidelines set by CBP on whether visiting family is considered an essential reason for visiting the country. This is because the only things listed as non-essential relate to touristic activities such as sightseeing, recreation, gambling or attending cultural events. Im certainly not attending any of those as everything is already closed over there as well, Saldivar said. He further added that once he crossed back into the country, he had no trouble in telling the custom officials that he crossed the border to see family as he was told he could come back as a citizen of the country. However, he did point out he is sad that much of the economic strength of the border between both cities has gone down as stores have closed on both sides of the border and are seeing less traffic coming through from either side. Nevertheless, commercial trade, which is one of the main exceptions of the restrictions put on traveling across the southern border, is not the only kind of people allowed or considered to be essential based on the new policy. According to the guidelines released by the CBP, some of the people who are considered essential in terms of traveling also include individuals traveling for medical purposes, individuals attending educational institutions and individuals traveling to work in the United States because they are citizens living in the neighboring country or have work visas to be employed in the United States. Individuals engaged in cross-border trade, individuals engaged in official government travel or diplomatic travel, members of the U.S. armed forces and even individuals engaged in military-related travel or operations will also be allowed to travel freely across the border despite the partial border shutdown. Despite these exceptions and the fact that commercial trade will not be impacted at all, some see this as bad for the overall economy of the Laredo area that depends on traffic from Nuevo Laredo. I get we will allow commercial vehicles in, but not allowing anyone else to cross will make us all lose money, Mendoza said. Others hope that the closure is something good and hope it will be something worthwhile for the benefit of not just Laredo and the sister city but for putting an end to the pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus as well. READ MORE: City of Laredo closes down parks, recreational facilities due to coronavirus In the end, I hope this border shutdown was a good idea as I would really hate if it was done and the situation is only worse a month from now or two and no solution is seen to open the border back that depends heavily on the economy of the local area and mall, Trevino said. Gov. Greg Abbott asked President Donald Trump on Monday to issue a major disaster declaration and provide Texas with direct federal aid to address shortages of supplies related to the unfolding coronavirus crisis. In a letter to the president, Abbott said the outbreak of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the state and affected local governments. Abbott added that federal assistance is necessary to save lives, to protect property, public health, and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a larger disaster. The governor said Texas faces shortages of protective and medical equipment, testing supplies, hospital beds and "a healthy and adequate cadre of medical personnel." Texas receives more disaster declarations than any other state in the nation and is still recovering from Hurricane larvey and the subsequent four major disasters, of which the last is Tropical Storm Imelda, Abbott wrote. The constant bombardment of disasters places Texas at an economic disadvantage to combat the spread of this pandemic. Already, Abbott has issued executive orders limiting gatherings to 10 people or fewer and barring dine-in eating and drinks at bars and restaurants, among other restrictions. He said in the letter to Trump that Texas faces $21 million in costs related to the states coronavirus response, and an additional $30 million in purchase orders, as of Saturday. The funds Abbott requested would come from the Federal Emergency Management Agencys crisis counseling assistance and training program and grants reserved for emergency protective measures. Abbotts comments mirror those from his news conference Sunday, when he made a plea for help from the federal government but did not specifically mention Trump. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, also called on Trump in the latest episode of his podcast to invoke the Defense Production Act and force private manufacturers to make ventilators and other medical equipment. jasper.scherer@chron.com WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS? What is the coronavirus? A coronavirus is a type of virus which can cause illness in animals and people. Viruses break into cells inside their host and use them to reproduce itself and disrupt the body's normal functions. Coronaviruses are named after the Latin word 'corona', which means crown, because they are encased by a spiked shell which resembles a royal crown. The coronavirus from Wuhan is one which has never been seen before this outbreak. It has been named SARS-CoV-2 by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. The name stands for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2. Experts say the bug, which has killed around one in 50 patients since the outbreak began in December, is a 'sister' of the SARS illness which hit China in 2002, so has been named after it. The disease that the virus causes has been named COVID-19, which stands for coronavirus disease 2019. Dr Helena Maier, from the Pirbright Institute, said: 'Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that infect a wide range of different species including humans, cattle, pigs, chickens, dogs, cats and wild animals. 'Until this new coronavirus was identified, there were only six different coronaviruses known to infect humans. Four of these cause a mild common cold-type illness, but since 2002 there has been the emergence of two new coronaviruses that can infect humans and result in more severe disease (Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronaviruses). 'Coronaviruses are known to be able to occasionally jump from one species to another and that is what happened in the case of SARS, MERS and the new coronavirus. The animal origin of the new coronavirus is not yet known.' The first human cases were publicly reported from the Chinese city of Wuhan, where approximately 11million people live, after medics first started publicly reporting infections on December 31. By January 8, 59 suspected cases had been reported and seven people were in critical condition. Tests were developed for the new virus and recorded cases started to surge. The first person died that week and, by January 16, two were dead and 41 cases were confirmed. The next day, scientists predicted that 1,700 people had become infected, possibly up to 7,000. Where does the virus come from? According to scientists, the virus almost certainly came from bats. Coronaviruses in general tend to originate in animals the similar SARS and MERS viruses are believed to have originated in civet cats and camels, respectively. The first cases of COVID-19 came from people visiting or working in a live animal market in Wuhan, which has since been closed down for investigation. Although the market is officially a seafood market, other dead and living animals were being sold there, including wolf cubs, salamanders, snakes, peacocks, porcupines and camel meat. A study by the Wuhan Institute of Virology, published in February 2020 in the scientific journal Nature, found that the genetic make-up virus samples found in patients in China is 96 per cent identical to a coronavirus they found in bats. However, there were not many bats at the market so scientists say it was likely there was an animal which acted as a middle-man, contracting it from a bat before then transmitting it to a human. It has not yet been confirmed what type of animal this was. Dr Michael Skinner, a virologist at Imperial College London, was not involved with the research but said: 'The discovery definitely places the origin of nCoV in bats in China. 'We still do not know whether another species served as an intermediate host to amplify the virus, and possibly even to bring it to the market, nor what species that host might have been.' So far the fatalities are quite low. Why are health experts so worried about it? Experts say the international community is concerned about the virus because so little is known about it and it appears to be spreading quickly. It is similar to SARS, which infected 8,000 people and killed nearly 800 in an outbreak in Asia in 2003, in that it is a type of coronavirus which infects humans' lungs. It is less deadly than SARS, however, which killed around one in 10 people, compared to approximately one in 50 for COVID-19. Another reason for concern is that nobody has any immunity to the virus because they've never encountered it before. This means it may be able to cause more damage than viruses we come across often, like the flu or common cold. Speaking at a briefing in January, Oxford University professor, Dr Peter Horby, said: 'Novel viruses can spread much faster through the population than viruses which circulate all the time because we have no immunity to them. 'Most seasonal flu viruses have a case fatality rate of less than one in 1,000 people. Here we're talking about a virus where we don't understand fully the severity spectrum but it's possible the case fatality rate could be as high as two per cent.' If the death rate is truly two per cent, that means two out of every 100 patients who get it will die. 'My feeling is it's lower,' Dr Horby added. 'We're probably missing this iceberg of milder cases. But that's the current circumstance we're in. 'Two per cent case fatality rate is comparable to the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1918 so it is a significant concern globally.' How does the virus spread? The illness can spread between people just through coughs and sneezes, making it an extremely contagious infection. And it may also spread even before someone has symptoms. It is believed to travel in the saliva and even through water in the eyes, therefore close contact, kissing, and sharing cutlery or utensils are all risky. It can also live on surfaces, such as plastic and steel, for up to 72 hours, meaning people can catch it by touching contaminated surfaces. Originally, people were thought to be catching it from a live animal market in Wuhan city. But cases soon began to emerge in people who had never been there, which forced medics to realise it was spreading from person to person. What does the virus do to you? What are the symptoms? Once someone has caught the COVID-19 virus it may take between two and 14 days, or even longer, for them to show any symptoms but they may still be contagious during this time. If and when they do become ill, typical signs include a runny nose, a cough, sore throat and a fever (high temperature). The vast majority of patients will recover from these without any issues, and many will need no medical help at all. In a small group of patients, who seem mainly to be the elderly or those with long-term illnesses, it can lead to pneumonia. Pneumonia is an infection in which the insides of the lungs swell up and fill with fluid. It makes it increasingly difficult to breathe and, if left untreated, can be fatal and suffocate people. Figures are showing that young children do not seem to be particularly badly affected by the virus, which they say is peculiar considering their susceptibility to flu, but it is not clear why. What have genetic tests revealed about the virus? Scientists in China have recorded the genetic sequences of around 19 strains of the virus and released them to experts working around the world. This allows others to study them, develop tests and potentially look into treating the illness they cause. Examinations have revealed the coronavirus did not change much changing is known as mutating much during the early stages of its spread. However, the director-general of China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Gao Fu, said the virus was mutating and adapting as it spread through people. This means efforts to study the virus and to potentially control it may be made extra difficult because the virus might look different every time scientists analyse it. More study may be able to reveal whether the virus first infected a small number of people then change and spread from them, or whether there were various versions of the virus coming from animals which have developed separately. How dangerous is the virus? The virus has a death rate of around two per cent. This is a similar death rate to the Spanish Flu outbreak which, in 1918, went on to kill around 50million people. Experts have been conflicted since the beginning of the outbreak about whether the true number of people who are infected is significantly higher than the official numbers of recorded cases. Some people are expected to have such mild symptoms that they never even realise they are ill unless they're tested, so only the more serious cases get discovered, making the death toll seem higher than it really is. However, an investigation into government surveillance in China said it had found no reason to believe this was true. Dr Bruce Aylward, a World Health Organization official who went on a mission to China, said there was no evidence that figures were only showing the tip of the iceberg, and said recording appeared to be accurate, Stat News reported. Can the virus be cured? The COVID-19 virus cannot be cured and it is proving difficult to contain. Antibiotics do not work against viruses, so they are out of the question. Antiviral drugs can work, but the process of understanding a virus then developing and producing drugs to treat it would take years and huge amounts of money. No vaccine exists for the coronavirus yet and it's not likely one will be developed in time to be of any use in this outbreak, for similar reasons to the above. The National Institutes of Health in the US, and Baylor University in Waco, Texas, say they are working on a vaccine based on what they know about coronaviruses in general, using information from the SARS outbreak. But this may take a year or more to develop, according to Pharmaceutical Technology. Currently, governments and health authorities are working to contain the virus and to care for patients who are sick and stop them infecting other people. People who catch the illness are being quarantined in hospitals, where their symptoms can be treated and they will be away from the uninfected public. And airports around the world are putting in place screening measures such as having doctors on-site, taking people's temperatures to check for fevers and using thermal screening to spot those who might be ill (infection causes a raised temperature). However, it can take weeks for symptoms to appear, so there is only a small likelihood that patients will be spotted up in an airport. Is this outbreak an epidemic or a pandemic? The outbreak was declared a pandemic on March 11. A pandemic is defined by the World Health Organization as the 'worldwide spread of a new disease'. Previously, the UN agency said most cases outside of Hubei had been 'spillover' from the epicentre, so the disease wasn't actually spreading actively around the world. If holding Mahatma Gandhis poster, waving the Tricolour and peacefully agitating for the cause of a secular framework of the Constitution of India makes you a traitor, then who really makes the cut for being called a true Indian? This question pops up in the mind when one thinks through the prism of Shaheen Bagh, for this is the place where debates around nationalism and secularism are followed by charges of sedition. The all-women protest in Shaheen Bagh has crossed 100 days. (Photo: Reuters) Hundreds of women demonstrators have been holding fort in Shaheen Bagh since December 15, 2019, against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR). Ironically, these women hit the streets against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who happens to be a flag-bearer of women empowerment. The protest started against the passing of the CAA, which came into effect on December 11, 2019, offering citizenship to non-Muslim immigrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Having singled out Muslims as the sole non-beneficiaries, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government said the amended law will protect religious minorities fleeing persecution in the aforementioned countries. The legislation assumes Muslims dont face persecution in places like Pakistan and Afghanistan. Interestingly, at Shaheen Bagh, which has now completed 100 days of protest, the peaceful protest and the temperament of those protesting, has remained unfazed even in the face of harsh weather conditions since Day 1. From the biting cold of December, to the attempted provocation in slogans like Goli Maro, to the frenzy created by a gunman who turned up at the protest site, Shaheen Bagh remained peaceful. Even the northeast Delhi riots, which left over 50 persons dead, couldnt deter the resolve of Shaheen Bagh protesters. What could have been the driving force behind the enduring conviction at this demonstration site in the national capital? Well, I believe that for any nationalist Indian, who believes in peace and communal harmony, who can be a bigger inspiration than Mahatma Gandhi, whose posters often graced the demonstration site, alongside posters of Jawaharlal Nehru and BR Ambedkar? The Father of the Nation called his protest mode satyagraha or truth-force. In Gandhi's philosophy, satyagraha is an outgrowth of non-violence. Satyagraha was an ideology Gandhi lived by. Much before he joined the freedom struggle, when he was practicing law in South Africa, Gandhi practised satyagraha. Gandhian ideology didnt die with his assassination. Gandhi and his principles continue to inspire free India. It has only acquired a new name - Gandhigiri. Shaheen Bagh has been adhering to the same Gandhian ideology, even in the face of extreme provocation; even the violent ones. Gandhi taught the world: If someone slaps you on one side of your face, turn the other one to him." Had Shaheen Bagh not adhered to democratic principles, would Supreme Court have appointed interlocutors and not ordered eviction of protesters from the site? Amid petition after petition seeking their removal, the protesters always defended the demonstrations saying, CAA combined with NPR and NRC was no less dangerous than any other deadly situation. For the agitating women, the protests may have come as a liberating opportunity. For years, many of them had been seen as suppressed by their largely patriarchal Muslim society. The CAA, however, proved a game changer. With these women, including those in the burqa and hijab, having led the agitation, the role of men from the community was reduced to that of being volunteers alone. The icing on the cake has remained the heart-warming support from people from all walks of life, communities, religious and political ideologies, who cherish Indias unity in diversity. To that end, Shaheen Bagh has achieved a lot and is not just a protest site alone. It stands for much more that goes beyond just winning or losing. Also read: Ranjan Gogois nomination is in keeping with Rajya Sabhas highest standards One of the most striking stories to come out of the unfolding COVID-19 crisis has been that of panic buying. Photos of supermarkets stripped bare and stories of key workers being unable to buy essentials has made for harrowing coverage. The narrative of selfish hoarders has not taken long to take hold in the press or on social media, where some have also suggested it vindicates the idea of we Anglo-Saxons as more self-centred than our neighbours on the continent, where there are not similar reports. But it isnt as clear-cut as all that. Some very well-informed commentators have started to push back, very persuasively, against the idea that the UK is in the grip of mass panic-buying. Their case, set out here by Greg Callus of the Financial Times, is both simple and plausible: that our incredibly efficient, just-in-time supply chain-driven supermarkets are struggling to adapt to an extraordinarily sudden shift in an entire nations shopping habits. A whole system built around predicting demand and minimising waste or excess storage was always going to need time to adapt to a major shift, even if there are no actual shortages. For a small urban supermarket such as a Tesco Metro or Little Waitrose to end up with empty shelves, all thats required is for the commuters who normally stop in there for a few bits on their way home to try and do a bigger shop. And as Stephen Bush points out in the New Statesman, these are just the sort of supermarket most likely to be frequented by journalists. Their excitable coverage may very well have helped to fuel unease amongst the broader public and exacerbated what was initially quite a small problem. It will also have focused on instances of bad behaviour, magnifying such acts in the public imagination and building a potentially misleading impression of the shopping public. In fact this reflects a broader problem, which long predates the coronavirus crisis, of media coverage over-emphasising the experiences of the cities (especially London) in which the media class live. Supermarket shortages are definitely not just confined to London stories crop up in the Yorkshire Post, Birmingham Mail, Liverpool Echo, Express & Star, and Manchester Evening News but there is still a danger of over-estimating the extent to which this represents the national picture as Callus argues, urban supermarkets are those whose supply model is most vulnerable to even a small shift in demand if it is not foreseen. Similarly, the headline figure that the British have spent an extra 1 billion on groceries over the past few weeks needs to be put into perspective. Spread over the number of people shopping and the overall value of the UK grocery sector, it really isnt all that much especially when you factor in the number of people needing to eat at home who would previously have picked up one or more of their meals at work or otherwise out. And as for those stories about well-stocked shelves in European supermarkets, it cant just be put down to greater civic-mindedness on the part of the citizenry several continental countries have imposed much stronger formal restrictions on movement than Britain. As the Sun notes: supermarkets in Italy, France, Spain and Germany have been limiting how many people can enter a store at one time. In parts of Italy, the country worst hit by the deadly virus, customers can visit a supermarket only every 48 hours and must stand three metres apart. None of this is to say that there isnt a problem, even if actual hoarders are a much smaller part of it than press coverage might lead you to believe. Ministers must ensure that key workers, the elderly, and other at-risk groups are able to get what they need. But notwithstanding the several measures both the Government and supermarkets have announced over the past week, including food packages for the most vulnerable and coordinated deliveries, we ought to expect the sector to adapt its supply chains to the new conditions in time. Ministers can always supplement this with stronger legal restrictions if needed. A misleading portrait of the national mood is not just unflattering it will shape (and misshape) the formation of Government policy as the crisis continues to unfold. If the key lesson here is merely that ministers and journalists need to take more care in how they communicate with an uneasy public, best it be learned this side of a total lockdown. WASHINGTON President Trumps refusal to invoke the Defense Production Act to commandeer resources for the federal government is based on a bet that he can cajole the nations biggest manufacturers and tech firms to come together in a market-driven, if chaotic, consortium that will deliver critical equipment from masks to ventilators in time to abate a national crisis. Over the past five days, after weeks of minimizing the virus and dismissing calls to organize a national response, administration officials have been pulling executives into the White House Situation Room, and connecting them by phone, in a desperate effort to unlock existing supplies and ramp up new production. Rear Adm. John Polowczyk has been plucked from the staff of the Joint Chiefs, where he is a senior officer for military logistics, to run the effort to build a supply chain. And Peter Navarro, the White House trade adviser, is also playing a leading role. The government has essentially thrown out its existing playbook for dealing with pandemics, seizing the issue from the Department of Health and Human Services and moving it to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. But it is far from clear that the effort to enlist companies like General Motors, Apple and Hanes, just a few of the firms that have promised to free up existing supplies of masks or repurpose 3-D printers to produce ventilator parts, constitutes an effective strategy. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 23) A doctor who contracted the coronavirus disease shared her storyfrom thinking it was simply a mosquito-borne disease, to spending her birthday quarantined in her room, infected with the fatal virus. Hindi ko akalaing tatamaan ako agad. Nagsisimula pa lang ang gyera nun, casualty na ako, said Dr. Grace Caras-Torres, who identified herself as patient no. 194, in a Facebook post Monday. [Translation: I didnt think I would be infected that early. The war was just starting then, and I was already a casualty.] At first, the doctor suspected it was chikungunya, a viral disease transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes. However, she said her symptoms became progressively worse, as she came down with recurring high-grade fevers, as well as headache and body pains. Saka lang nag-sink in sakin na posibleng Covid nga ito nung malaman kong may symptoms din yung kasama kong mag-opera ilang araw nang nakalipas [Translation: The possibility of being positive for COVID-19 hit me when I learned that my colleagues in the hospital also started exhibiting symptoms even days before], she wrote, adding that her first thought following this realization had been her family. Ang anak kong 4-year-old, ang parents kong seniors. Inexpose ko sila, ang iyak ko noon. [Translation: My child who is 4-year-old, my parents who are senior citizens. I exposed them [to the virus], I cried.] In an effort to protect her family members from the virus, Caras-Torres quarantined herself in her bedroom, where she eventually spent her 42nd birthday alone. She added that her colleagues who were also infected already required intubation, while four have already died. Akala ko pagaling na ako, bigla akong nagtae. Sabi sa Wuhan, pag nagkaroon ng GI symptoms, tuluy-tuloy nang pumapangit ang kundisyon, she added. [Translation: I thought I was recovering, but then I began experiencing diarrhea. In Wuhan, they said once you experience gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, thats when your condition worsens.] Ngayon lang ako natakot. Napaiyak ako. Hindi pa ako handang mamatay. [Translation: Thats when I got scared. I couldnt help but cry. I am not yet ready to die.] The doctor said that beyond the viral disease taking a toll on her physical health, she also had to battle with its accompanying emotional and mental impact. She added that it is important that people check in on each other, especially those who are sick and in quarantine, at a time like this. Sana matapos na ito. Sana gumaling na kami. Sana wala nang mamatay. Miss na miss ko na ang anak ko. Ngunit salamat pa din sa lahat ng taong tumulong at nangamusta. Too many to mention. Mahal ko kayo. At Dyos ko, maraming salamat po at buhay pa ako at ok ang pamilya ko. [Translation: I am hoping this will end. I hope we recover soon. I hope no other person dies from this. I miss my child so much. But thank you, still, to everyone who offered help and checked in on me. Too many to mention. I love you all. And God, thank you very much that Im still alive and that my family is ok.] Earlier, the Philippine Heart Association announced the death of a young cardiologist who contracted COVID-19 while fulfilling his duties as a doctor. As of March 23, health authorities have confirmed 462 cases of the viral disease in the country, which have since claimed the lives of 33. A total of 18 patients have meanwhile recovered. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday shared a message which explains the meaning of coronavirus in Gujarati. He said on Twitter that the forward is very relevant today. In Hindi it means ko: koi ro: road par, na: nahin nikale. (No one come on streets). Modi has been taking to social media to disseminate information on ways to protect against the deadly virus. He has also batted for social distancing, asking people to stay home and venture out only when absolutely necessary to check the spread of coronavirus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Cloud-first has become the guiding principle for application modernization and migration. Cloud-native is the mantra for application development. And hot technologies like containers, microservices and serverless computing are all associated with the public cloud. So, where does that leave the private cloud? Private cloud typically an on-premises data center that enterprises are attempting to retrofit with virtualization, automation, self-service, capacity planning, and other features that come built into the public cloud has definitely taken a back seat. For a time, many enterprises seemed to be migrating as many apps as possible to the public cloud and relegating the private cloud to hosting an ever-shrinking collection of legacy, highly customized, out-of-support, end-of-life apps. But as we enter the second decade of the cloud revolution, a new vision has emerged in which private clouds become an equal partner in an integrated, multi-cloud world of private, public, and edge clouds. Gartner is calling this the distributed cloud, and Michael Warrilow, research vice president for infrastructure software, predicts that "it has a great potential for success." Warrilow in 2018 framed the issue facing traditional private clouds, which didn't have the infrastructure to match hyperscale public cloud. "Infrastructure and Operations leaders must resist the temptation to mimic a style of computing that they are ill-equipped to replicate," he wrote in a research report. But if you can't beat them, join them. IT execs don't need to try to replicate public clouds on their own anymore, because public cloud vendors are now offering to deliver the best features of the public cloud right to the doorstep of on-premises or co-located private cloud environments. Amazon Outposts, Microsoft Azure Stack/Azure Arc, Google Anthos, and Oracle Cloud on Customer, all of which have been announced in the past year or so, have the potential to be game-changers. The vision, according to Forrester analyst Chris Gardner, is for enterprises to run workloads on the appropriate platform, whether that's public cloud or on-premises, and to strive to provide private clouds with equivalent functionality to public clouds to the extent possible. No more second-class citizen. John LaPlantes passing reminds us all of a turning point in the transportation life of our city, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in a statement. He was a passionate public servant who helped bring CDOT to life nearly three decades ago. While John may be gone, his impact in moving Chicago forward can be seen in the streets, sidewalks, alleys and bike paths that line every corner of our city. Passengers wait to board a train at Manchester Piccadilly on March 19, 2020 in Manchester, England. (Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images) The government has announced temporary measures to take charge of the UKs rail network to provide stability and certainty during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The Department for Transport said on Monday it would temporarily suspend all rail franchise agreements for an initial six months. Private sector train companies will continue to run their routes for a set fee but the government will collect all revenues and take on all risk associated with the running the railways. Annual season ticket holders will be able to claim a refund for unused time free of charge. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told the BBC he would "ensure no-one is unfairly out of pocket for doing the right thing". The government said the measures were necessary to keep the rail system operating after a sharp drop in passenger numbers. Passenger numbers had already fallen by 70% and a sustained slump could leave some train companies at risk of going bust. Read more: Chancellor missed out one major way to help millions of UK workers This will allow us to ensure that trains necessary for key workers and essential travel continue to operate, the Department for Transport said in a statement. No other passengers should travel. Londoners starting to work from home has led to empty train carriage seats, such as on this service on 19 March 2020. (Richard Baker / In Pictures via Getty Images) People deserve certainty that the services they need will run or that their job is not at risk in these unprecedented times, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said in a statement. We are also helping passengers get refunds on advance tickets to ensure no-one is unfairly out of pocket for doing the right thing. Paul Plummer, chief executive of the Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operators and Network Rail, said: The industry strongly welcomes the Department for Transports offer of temporary support and while we need to finalise the details, this will ensure that train companies can focus all their efforts on delivering a vital service at a time of national need. Read more: Coronavirus Primark is closing all stores but will pay staff wages Story continues Matthew Gregory, chief executive of transport company First Group (FGP.L), said: We welcome and have accepted the UK Governments swift and comprehensive offer of emergency measures which provides certainty for all of the Groups franchises and the continuity of our vital rail networks during this time. Separately on Monday, First Group and rival transport operator Go-Ahead (GOG.L) both put out statements warning of a sharp drop in passenger numbers and business. Both companies reassured investors they were doing everything to conserve cash and keep the business going. Go-Ahead, which also runs bus services, said it would also help to support the UK response to coronavirus by laying on extra buses for NHS workers and for food deliveries. We aim to support the UK's efforts in tackling the crisis by providing unused buses to transport NHS workers, supporting supermarkets with food deliveries and delivering essential goods to cut off and self-isolating communities, said David Brown, Go-Ahead chief executive. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK By Trend Citizens of Georgia in Azerbaijan will be able to return to the country only through the Red Bridge checkpoint, Trend reports citing Georgian media. The corresponding decision was made at a meeting of the interagency coordination council led by Georgian Prime Minister Georgi Gakharia. On March 21, Georgia declared a state of emergency until April 21 to prevent the spread of coronavirus. For the duration of the emergency, the air, land and sea borders of Georgia will be closed to passengers. It will still be possible to transport goods, as well as receive Georgian citizens who intend to return home. At this stage, it was decided that the goods will be transported unhindered, and Georgian citizens in Azerbaijan can enter the country only through the Red Bridge checkpoint, the Georgian government administration said. As noted, the corresponding decision was made after an assessment of the epidemiological situation in the country and consultations with representatives of the healthcare sector. To date, 54 cases of coronavirus infection have been recorded in Georgia. The first case of the coronavirus was confirmed in Georgia on February 26. The outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fish market in late December 2019. The symptoms include cough, headache, fatigue, fever, aching and difficulty breathing. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz MONTREAL - The mayor of a Quebec town that has seen all four of the province's COVID-19 deaths to date says he is having trouble getting information from local health officials. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/3/2020 (659 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. MONTREAL - The mayor of a Quebec town that has seen all four of the province's COVID-19 deaths to date says he is having trouble getting information from local health officials. Christian Goulet, the mayor of Lavaltrie, said he wishes he had more to tell his citizens about the novel coronavirus pandemic. Provincial health officials have said the four deaths are tied to a single seniors residence in the Lanaudiere region northeast of Montreal, and in a statement Monday, Goulet identified the EVA Lavaltrie as the site. "People are extremely worried about the situation," Goulet said in an interview. The town has just over 14,000 residents. The outbreak and the resulting deaths have sparked heightened concern for seniors living in care homes. On Monday, Premier Francois Legault said he is tightening restrictions on the homes, prohibiting residents from leaving without supervision. "Its a tough decision, but its a necessary measure," Legault said. He explained that a small minority of residents have been going out, raising concerns of infection among their fellow residents. "The last thing we want in Quebec is for the virus to enter in seniors residences," Legault told reporters in Quebec City. "It's where we could see the most disastrous results." In his statement Monday, Goulet asked for more information and transparency from the regional public health authority. He said that he was in contact with the authority's president and general manager Daniel Castonguay Saturday and was told there may be a press conference in the near future. But otherwise, he is still in the dark on the next steps. "Everyone has a role to play in a situation like this," Goulet said in the interview. "It's on the regional public health authority to inform the population on what measures have been put in place." The health authority said in a statement that it has taken special steps to address the outbreak at EVA Lavaltrie. Residents have been asked to stay inside, where they will be monitored, and employees must ensure they have no symptoms and are applying protective measures to ensure they don't get sick, the agency said. In addition, the building has been disinfected, nurses and security guards will be on site, and the provincial police are providing help, the statement said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 23, 2020. News Desk Editor Jack is the news editor at the Emerald. He is a journalism and political science major at the University of Oregon who enjoys reading alone, drinking coffee alone and eating in parks...alone. Send tips or food recs to jforrest@dailyemerald.com Multnomah Falls will no longer be accessible to hikers looking to check out the waterfalls as the Forest Service tries to slow the spread of coronavirus in Oregon. Most amenities at Multnomah Falls Lodge closed earlier in the week but officials said Sunday they would take the bigger step of erecting a physical barrier after it became apparent visitors were not properly social distancing at viewpoints and other areas around the falls. We will be closing the area around Multnomah Falls Lodge at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning, Rachel Pawlitz, a Forest Service spokesperson said Sunday. That will require us putting a barrier up. Pawlitz said some trails would be open but the plaza, viewing areas and trail to the upper platform will all be closed to limit exposure for staff and visitors. We are taking things day to day, Pawlitz said, and we will continue to monitor whether we need to close more. Though some trails will be open, Pawlitz said the Forest Service is asking people to consider that transmission of COVID-19 can happen from people who dont show symptoms of the virus. We are asking people not to hike on any of our crowded gorge trails right now, she said, and are asking people to just walk in their neighborhood. Pawlitz said in these areas it just is not possible to follow the social distancing guidelines that recommend people separate themselves by at least six feet. Also Sunday, officials announced that all Oregon State Parks are set to close Monday in response to the growing outbreak. -- Lizzy Acker 503-221-8052, lacker@oregonian.com, @lizzzyacker Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. BEIJING, March 22 (Xinhua) -- China has 61 percent of the world's self-made women entrepreneurs with fortunes of more than a billion U.S. dollars, up 4 percent year on year, according to a recently released Hurun list of 100 self-made women billionaires from 16 countries. China has far outstripped its followers including the United States in second place and the United Kingdom in third, which has 19 and six self-made female billionaires respectively, according to the list. Zhong Huijuan, a 59-year-old Chinese entrepreneur who started a pharmaceutical company empty-handed, has been named the world's richest self-made women billionaire with 106 billion yuan (about 15.1 billion U.S. dollars), read the list. It also showed that nine out of the list's top 10 female moguls are from China. China's Beijing, Shenzhen and Shanghai have the most self-made women billionaires on the list, while Hangzhou and Xiamen have broken into the first five spots, the list added. U.S. oil supermajor ExxonMobil has reduced the run rates at its second-largest refinery in the United States, Baton Rouge in Louisiana, after slumping fuel demand has filled storage tanks, sources with knowledge of the operations at the 502,500-bpd refinery told Reuters on Monday. Exxon reduced the production processing rate to some 440,000 bpd on Saturday, and the number of contract workers was reduced by 1,800 on Friday, Reuters sources said. The Baton Rouge facility typically employs around 2,000 contract workers. The Baton Rouge refinery is Exxons second-largest refinery and the second-biggest refinery in the state of Louisiana. Demand for fuel in the United States, and across the world, is taking a major hit as people are asked or ordered to stay at home as countries grapple with the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Oil demand in the United States is set to tumble over the following weeks, as cities are under lockdown, non-essential businesses and services are closed, and people are asked to work from home wherever possible. Considering that the United States is the largest consumer of crude oil in the world, consuming 19.96 million bpd--or 20 percent of the worlds total, demand in the U.S. alone is set for a steep decline while states and the federal government fight with the growing cases of Covid-19 infections. In the U.S., the transportation sector is the backbone of oil demand, accounting for 9.329 million bpd of all petroleum products consumed in the U.S. in 2018, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Europe consumes around 7 million bpd of the worlds crude oil demand, or 7 percent of the typical 100-million-bpd demand, and although this demand is smaller than the one in the U.S., European oil demand is plummeting as all major economies, including the worst-coronavirus-hit Italy, Spain, France, and now Germany, are under lockdown, with travel strongly discouraged. Refining operations in Europe and elsewhere in the world are being curtailed as gasoline and jet fuel demand is falling off a cliff due to the enormous demand destruction in the spreading coronavirus pandemic. In Europe, oil majors are shutting down refinery units as major economies are under lockdown and flights are severely restricted, Reuters reported on Friday, quoting sources and industry data provider Genscape. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Advertisement This is the moment a family of polar bears posed for a paw-trait after venturing out of their den for the very first time - and one cub appears to be waving at the camera. The 12-week-old cubs were captured with their mother by award-winning British wildlife photographer Brian Matthews, 41, in Wapusk National Park in Manitoba, Canada, earlier this week. They were seen stomping around in thick snow in -40 degree temperatures before curling up for a well-earned snooze on Mom. Matthews captured the cub's first steps into the outside world. Hey baby! One of the adorable polar bear cubs appears to be waving at the camera, proud to be out and about with Momma British wildlife photographer Brian Matthews captures the polar bear family asleep in the snow, the babies on Momma's tummy Taking a big step - one of the polar bear cubs walks beneath Momma's tummy in the cold snow, not straying too far just yet Staying close to Momma - one of the curious cubs huddles next to its Momma while exploring the white landscape 'It was amazing to see. The cubs were only 12 weeks old, just out of the den - they were about the size of a West Highland Terrier,' Matthews told SWNS. 'The cubs were wary of the world, but when they weren't sleeping or eating they loved to play and fight - much to the annoyance of their mother,' he added. Matthews said that despite her enormous size, the cub's mother could not prevent them from wriggling out of her grip to go exploring in the snow. But after a lot of fun, they both nestled on her stomach exhausted. Hello there! A curious little white face emerges from between Momma's hue feet in the freezing -40 degree snow The 12-week-old polar bear siblings venture out into the freezing snow following closely behind Momma bear Feeling a little braver - one of the cubs clambers onto Momma's back to get a better look around at the beautiful landscape Matthews, who is from Hartlepool, County Durham, UK, had been in Canada for three weeks when he caught sight of the polar bear family. He said the mother and her cubs had been in their den for around four months before venturing outside. 'The cubs would jump on their mothers back to get a free ride - they have to sprint to keep up with their mother even when she walks slowly - but she would usually shake them off,' Matthews said. 'They were still very interested in the world, often stopping to look at trees and try to chew on them, or digging little holes,' he added. Matthews said the cubs watched their mother do everything and 'stuck to her like glue', often underneath her and between her legs. 'This protects them from any predators but also the cold wind - the cubs aren't as insulated as she is, as adult polar bear fur can be 20cm thick,' he said. The family were captured by Matthews on camera wandering high through the Canada snow in single file A parting shot - the family appear to be posing for the camera, looking off into the distance Despite the risks polar bears can pose, Matthews said he wasn't worried about being so close to them. 'On the day that I saw this family, they knew I was there. They sometimes would look directly at me, and smell the air. They weren't bothered. At no point did I feel scared,' he said. Adding: 'The biggest risk to the cubs is the cold, exhaustion, when they get to the sea ice other bears and if they stumble into a wolf pack on the way to the ice.' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) delivers a statement at the hallway of the Speaker Balcony at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on March 23, 2020. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) Pelosi Announces Her Own COVID-19 Plan as Senate Leaders Clash Over Details As lawmakers in the Senate struggled Monday to finalize the $2 trillion COVID-19 economic stimulus package, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced her own relief plan. Pelosi said in a March 23 statement that the Senate Republican relief plan put corporations first, not workers and families, and announced that her bill, called Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act, would be unveiled later in the day. In the Senate, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and several other Republicans angrily accused Democrats of trying to take advantage of the CCP virus crisis to advance their political agenda with unrelated provisions, including ones around renewable energy and vote by mail. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan and causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement of the outbreak fueled its spread throughout China and across the world. Insisting that COVID-19 relief funds must protect [] workers wages and benefitsnot CEO pay, stock buybacks or layoffs, Pelosi said the House Democrat bill would strengthen unemployment insurance and occupational safety protections, and offer free treatment for COVID-19 patients. She characterized her bill as one that takes responsibility for the health, wages, and well-being of Americas workers. Leftwing Episode of Supermarket Sweep McConnell defended the GOP proposal as a compromise package and alleged the Democrats were trying to pad the relief package with what he called a Democratic wish list and a leftwing episode of Supermarket Sweep, ABC reports. McConnell cited examples like imposing new emission standards for airlines and handing out tax credits for solar energy. Rachel Bovard, senior director of policy at the Conservative Partnership Institute, shared what she indicated were fragments of Pelosis bill. One part talks about the value of collective bargaining for federal employees, while another requires airlines to fully offset their carbon emissions. You know what families who cant work and are struggling to make rent really care about? Being able to look up greenhouse gas emissions from the flights they cant afford to book, Bovard needled in a tweet that cited Section 706 of the bill, about improving consumer information regarding release of greenhouse gases from flights. McConnell said the Senate, which is controlled by the Republicans, would hold another procedural vote on the package after it fell short on Sunday. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) suggested the vote would again fall short unless the measure included more guardrails to avoid misuse of the $500 billion earmarked to help struggling industries. Schumer said the bill has moved in favor of the Democrats with regard to unemployment insurance, ABC reports, but complained that it still includes something most Americans dont want to see: large corporate bailouts with almost no strings attached. McConnell accused Democrats of filibustering the bipartisan bill they helped write. This is the moment to debate new regulations that have nothing whatsoever to do whatsoever with this crisis? Thats what theyre up to over there, McConnell said, ABC reports. Democrats wont let us fund hospitals or save small businesses unless they get to dust off the Green New Deal. They ought to be embarrassed, he said. Ive never been more frustrated with my Democrat colleagues, said Sen. John Thune (R-S.D). Not only are they blocking vital relief, walking back on good-faith bipartisan negotiations, and stalling Senate actiontheyre intentionally misleading the American people. Lets get it straight. Later on Monday, the Senate didnt advance the relief package for the second time in two days. Senators voted 49-46 and fell short of the three-fifths support that is necessary to debate the plan. The negotiations will continue between Democrats and Republicans, said Schumer. Earlier, both sides said they were close to an agreement on the massive bill, which Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said carried a $2 trillion price tag. I think were very close. We need to get this deal done today, Mnuchin told CNBCs Jim Cramer on Monday, adding that while existing funds had already been deployed to soften the blow of the virus, we need Congress to approve additional funds today. As top administration officials and congressional leaders struggled Monday to finalize the economic rescue package, the virus crisis deepened. I didnt expect to be starting off my week with such a dire message for America, Surgeon General Jerome Adams said on CBS This Morning, as he warned the numbers will get worse this week. Things are going to get worse before they get better. We really need everyone to understand this and lean into what they can do to flatten the curve. According to data collected by Johns Hopkins University, as of Monday afternoon, there were 41,511 confirmed COVID-19 infections in the United States and 499 deaths. Reuters contributed to this report. In a nutshell: In addition to local governments, one of the favorite targets for ransomware gangs are hospitals and medical facilities. With the coronavirus outbreak straining countries healthcare systems to the limit, ransomware operators have pledged not to attack these organizations during the pandemicthough one group appears to have broken its promise. Weve seen several hospitals hit with ransomware over the years, forcing some to run on pen and paper. With so many medical facilities struggling with the influx of coronavirus patients, a ransomware attack right now would be devastating, and almost certainly result in lost lives. Last week, Bleeping Computer contacted several ransomware operators to see if they planned on targeting health organizations during the outbreak. Only two responded, both promising to avoid entities such as hospitals. DoppelPaymer said it always tries to avoid medical facilities, and if it did hit one by mistake, the group would offer the decryption key for free. It did warn that some companies try to represent themselves as something else, so it would be double and triple-checking firms before releasing any free keys. The operators behind Maze ransomware said, "We also stop all activity versus all kinds of medical organizations until the stabilization of the situation with virus." But it appears the group is stretching the truth with that claim. On March 14, the Maze gang attacked the systems of Hammersmith Medicines Research (HMR), a UK company that carried out tests to develop the Ebola vaccine, and performs early clinical trials of drugs and vaccines. Its ready to perform trials on any Covid-19 vaccines that are being developed. Computer Weekly reports that while the attack took place before the pledge, the group published thousands of former patients' details days after the promise because HMR refused to pay. Malcolm Boyce, clinical director of HMR, said, We repelled [the attack] and quickly restored all our functions. There was no downtime. He added that the group had sent the company medical files of former patients as proof they had accessed the firms data. Boyce said HMR is a research company, not a pharmaceutical firm, and does not have the funds to pay the ransom demands even if it wanted to. We have no intention of paying. I would rather go out of business than pay a ransom to these people, he stressed. It might appear that cybercriminal gangs are doing the right thing by not targeting medical organizations right now, but it's a promise that should be taken with a grain of salt, as many know that hospitals' current desperation makes them more likely to pay a ransom. Former President John Mahama has described the recently-passed Imposition of Restrictions Bill as boding ill for Ghanas democracy. The country has recorded twenty-one cases of the virus so far, with one death. Ghanas Minority in Parliament, also, recently, said that the Bill which is part of efforts by the President to fight the spread of the coronavirus, was premature and unnecessary. The bill gives legal backing to powers that can be exercised by the President to impose restrictions on citizens in times of public emergencies like the coronavirus pandemic for purposes of public safety and protection. The House considered the bill throughout Friday. Attorney General Gloria Akuffo, who moved the motion for the third and final reading of the bill, explained to the House the reason for the broad nature of the legislation. The emphasis is creating a piece of legislation that will deal not only with the risk that our country has been exposed to presently, but also in the future, she said. In a memo to the Speaker, however, the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, said his caucus is of the conviction that the introduction of the proposed Imposition of Restrictions Bill by the Presidency is premature and unnecessary. A single draconian measure of this kind is limited in its utility and myopic in its constitutional considerations, he argued, adding: It fails the test of the moment in its lack of comprehensiveness and specificity with respect to the COVID-19 threat and its multi-sectoral impacts, while assigning the Executive broad authorities that undermine the most basic principles of democratic jurisprudence. It is our view that the 2012 Public Health Act (Act 851) already delineates upon the requisite declarations by the Honorable Minister of Health all the necessary powers to manage the present crisis. In view of that, we remain open to discussing whatever supplementary legislation may be required to support those critical elements of an effective national response plan that are not adequately provided for in Act 851. For Parliament to move forward on a bipartisan basis it will be necessary to debate a comprehensive, multi-sectoral, national response plan. The moment in which Ghana finds itself calls for a proactive plan that goes beyond occasional lists of reactionary measures. We will need to review the underlying epidemiological and statistical analyses that inform the proposed interventions, and the same applies to the strategic plan for executing those interventions. We need to understand what financial and human resources are available for this campaign, as well as the applicable legal and institutional frameworks. We need clarity on the constraints to planning and implementing this national response, and we need a mechanism for monitoring and evaluation that will allow for informed adjustments as the situation evolves. Only the Executive Branch can provide such details of any plan. To date, the Executive has shared no such a plan with Parliament and, regrettably, does not as yet appear to have one, the MP said. Speaking at the end of a three-day fasting and prayer session on Sunday, Mr Mahama, who is also the flag bearer of the NDC, said: I commend the Minority in Parliament for standing on principle in opposing the passage of the Imposition of Restrictions Bill, which does not address the needs of the moment and portends danger for our democracy. It is my earnest prayer that at a time such as this, the public welfare will triumph over personal and partisan interest, he added. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. Despite social distancing and shuttered venuesmoves designed to staunch the spread of the novel coronavirussome essential workers still need to commute in their cars, and many others need to drive to places for food, medicine, and other supplies and services. For many, that means the occasional trip to the gas station is inevitable, as is touching the pump handle and payment keypad. Pump handles and credit card keypads, which are high-touch areas, could have the virus present, which experts say can stay alive for hours or even days on hard surfaces. Your best protection overall is to wash your hands properly on a regular basis and to refrain from touching your face with unwashed hands. But there are a few things you can do that will help you stay safe when you have to pump gas. CRs auto experts suggest several ways to approach this task. Consider carrying some disposable nitrile or latex gloves in your car to use when gripping the pump handle. Short of that, you can try to use paper towels that are sometimes available at the pump or have some with you to cover your hands when you grip the handle. Do the same to isolate yourself from the keypad when entering payment information. Invert the gloves and throw them away, and also any paper towels you might have used. Use hand sanitizer to make sure your hands are clean after youre done and before you get back into your car. Cleaning your hands after youre done seems like the quickest, easiest precaution. But some drivers might want to have disinfectant wipes handy for wiping down the gas pump handle and the payment keypad before pumping. This process ensures that Im not inadvertently transferring the virus from a high-touch surface like a gas pump to my vehicles door handle, and from there into the interior, says Gabriel Shenhar, associate director of CRs auto test program. Story continues Whichever method you prefer, our best advice is to be prepared ahead of time because washing your hands properly with soap and water at a gas station is not always an easy or feasible option. John Eichberger, executive director of the nonprofit Fuels Institute, says gas station owners and operators are doing what they can to combat the spread of COVID-19 by cleaning their facilities more often. But that might not be enough assurance for some motorists. If consumers are really worried about touching a gas pump handle, they can do what they do when they go to a grocery store and wipe down surfaces with disinfectant wipes when they need to touch something, Eichberger says. Although its not entirely clear how long the coronavirus lives once attached to a surface like a door handle, Eike Steinmann, a virologist at Ruhr-Universitat Bochum in Germany who has studied the lifespan of viruses on various surfaces, says they probably wont last more than a few days. Stephen Thomas, M.D., chief of infectious diseases and director of global health at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, N.Y., says that bacteria and viruses exist everywhere in the natural environment, and thatagainyour best defense is frequent, vigorous hand-washing. Coronaviruses are surrounded by a protective envelope that helps them attach to and infect other cells. The friction from scrubbing is enough to break down the viruss coating, Thomas says. And as you would after any trip outside your home during this unusual time, remember to wash your hands before touching anything at home. The CDC recommends washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and failing that, using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. More from Consumer Reports: Top pick tires for 2016 Best used cars for $25,000 and less 7 best mattresses for couples Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright 2020, Consumer Reports, Inc. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Julie Charpentrat (Agence France-Presse) Paris, France Mon, March 23, 2020 07:07 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206ca59c1 2 Parents lockdown,coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus,COVID-19,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,health,infection,infectious-diseases,parenting,parenting-tips Free "I've put the kids in the freezer, so everything's cool now." Parents may be joking on social media about their childcare hell as more and more countries go into lockdown with the coronavirus. But child protection professionals are not laughing. They have real worries about the risks with families locked up 24/7 together for an indefinite period. "You will no doubt want to throw your children out the window at some point. That's normal," psychologist Moira Mikolajczak told AFP. "What isn't normal, is to do that," she warned, as she urged parents to give themselves a break and "not try to be Superman or Superwoman". While governments across Europe from Ireland to Greece have been having schools send lessons and activity ideas by email to occupy bored children, social media is full of testimony from parents frazzled at having to be both teacher and playmate to their kids. Grassroots groups, however, are trying to step into the gap with the French feminist collective #NousToutes ("All of Us"), which campaigns against domestic violence, mobilizing with WhatsApp support groups and practical tips on how "not to blow your top". "Being locked down gives us the chance to spend lots and lots of time with our children," the group said, tongue ever so slightly in cheek. But when "we have to work from home and we are all stuck together in a small space, tensions can escalate." 'Step away!' Its WhatsApp groups already have 4,000 members dispensing support and tips on how to stay zen. First among them is "step away when you feel the tension mount [even if that means locking the toilet door]". Parents should also watch funny videos with their children, "and program in 'off' times when you can be on your own... while someone else looks after the children". The main thing is to try to avoid "words or gestures... that can hurt and wound... because we can behave in ways that we will regret immediately". Mother-of-three Sarah, whose kids range in age from seven to just two months, is "staying relaxed" so far. "Yesterday I took an hour for myself in my room, without a child hanging from me, and I did a meditation session via Instagram," the Parisian told AFP. "It's going OK, but it's worrying for the long haul," she said as France neared the end of its first week in total lockdown. If it is tough for the parents, it's no walk in the park for the children either -- they too have been ordered home across large swathes of Europe and now in parts of the US. "When we got into the living room when Mummy is working, there can be arguments," said 10-year-old Estheban. "I am having to be a mother, a teacher, a cook, a cleaner and do my job as an executive in a bank from home at the same time," said Virginie, who has two sons aged 11 and six. While most parents will cope, said Mikolajczak, Professor of Emotion and Health Psychology at the University of Louvain in Belgium, some will not. "We can predict increases in parental burnout," she said, and sometimes there could even be "neglect and violence". 'Relax the rules' Governments have the same worry, with the French children's ministry warning of a "higher risk of mistreatment... and since it will be happening at home, it will be hard to spot." "Stay at home parents are more vulnerable to burnout," Mikolajczak said, an effect likely to be exacerbated by the fact they are there against their will. "Western families are also not used to living on top of each other," she added. Added to which families can no longer turn "to grandparents for help nor go out" somewhere to blow off steam. Mikolajczak said structuring the children's day can really help with moments when they will play or work on their own. And she urged parents to "be flexible and not afraid to relax some rules". "Let it go," said Etienne, the father of two girls aged 10 and six, who has adopted the refrain from Disney's film "Frozen" to get him through the crisis. In these exceptional times you cannot juggle everything, he said. "At the beginning when the schools closed, I put myself under pressure. I didn't know what to do. I had no time for myself nor the kids. "Then the penny dropped. I stopped working and since then it's going a lot better," he said. The Odisha government has booked four people, including a couple, in three districts for breaking house quarantine rules and moving out of their houses, officials said on Monday. Police in Bhubaneswar lodged the complaint against the couple for allegedly violating the house quarantine norms, after returning from abroad. A man in Cuttack, who had returned from the US, was forced into a government quarantine centre after he went to a market. Highlights They were booked under several sections of the Indian Penal Code All four were moved to government quarantine centres Out of 76 samples tested so far in the state, two have been found to be positive The couple and the man were booked under sections 188, 269, 270 and 271 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) on Sunday. Another person from Sambalpur district, who had recently returned from Uzbekistan, was also sent to a government quarantine on Sunday after he was found violating the quarantine guidelines. Sambalpur Police registered a case against the person under sections 188 and 271 of IPC. PC Chaudhury, the commissioner of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, said the couple went to malls to do buy provisions though they should have been staying at home for 14 days. The health officials had checked on the couple through routine questioning and found that they did not adhere to the guidelines of home quarantine. So they have been brought to the government quarantine centre at Yatri Niwas, said Chaudhury. So far, there are 15 people in the two government quarantine centres as well as three hotels designated as quarantine facilities in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. Officials said 104 of the 3474 people, who had registered themselves with the government portal and helpline after returning to the state from abroad after March 4, have been identified for violating the restrictions of home quarantine. The state government has already asked local district administration or municipal administration to conduct a local inquiry and move them to government quarantine if they are found violating the conditions. In Odisha, 76 samples have been tested so far of which two were found to be positive. Meanwhile, a human rights activist lodged a case before the National Human Rights Commission against the medical superintendent of AIIMS Bhubaneswar for hiding the travel history of his son who was found Covid-19 positive. The 19-year-old son of an AIIMS, Bhubaneswar medical superintendent was found to be infected with Sars-Cov-2 on March 19, a day after he returned from the United Kingdom where he studies. The human rights activist Akhand alleged in his petition that the medical superintendent, who is also the nodal officer of coronavirus disease in AIIMS, concealed the travel history of his son who was admitted in the AIIMS isolation unit and kept in doctors room. It was both medical and administrative negligence on the part of the medical superintendent that he did not reveal he was in direct contact, thus risking the spread of Covid-19. It gross negligence on the part of the functionary to conceal his sons travel history, Akhand stated in his petition. He also demanded action against the superintendent and Dr Sourin Bhuniya, in-charge of isolation unit of AIIMS. This had an impact on IMS and SUM Hospital, a private hospital in Bhubaneswar as a number of its doctors working there stayed in the same housing complex where the patient stayed before testing positive, Akhand said. Though AIIMS director has denied any lapse on part of the medical superintendent, the Resident Doctors Association of the hospital has in a mail blamed the superintendent for trying to conceal the details of the patient. We dont know how much secondary or primary contacts the patient has made. We need to shut down all elective OPDs and operations for the safety of everyone working and visiting AIIMS Bhubaneswar, they wrote in an e-mail. Meanwhile, the Orissa High Court on Monday suspended hearings till March 31 with immediate effect and said no further case listing will be made up to March 31. The State should pay hotel and guesthouse owners 44m a week to keep all of their pre-crisis staff on the payroll and reduce long-term economic damage, PwC argues in a new report. The professional consultancy firm calls on Government to provide funding equivalent to 75pc of the current cost of the payroll across Ireland's hospitality sector. Business owners would be required to pass that cash directly to fully retained staff. PwC cites Denmark's recent decision to launch its own 75pc "payroll subvention" as inspiration. The PwC paper argues that, if all 180,000 workers normally employed in hospitality end up on the State's new Covid-19 unemployment benefit, this would cost the State 41.7m weekly - including 5.1m in lost income tax. But if those workers receive at least 75pc of their usual pay via State funds provided through their employer, PwC calculates this would cost 44m weekly - and, in exchange, keep that work force intact and contributing to income tax. "The knock-on impact of allowing this industry to be severely damaged to the economy and taxation is huge," the report says. PwC estimates that about 100,000 workers in the sector have been laid off already, but the State could spur a reversal by deploying the proposed payment scheme. It says once the crisis abates and travel starts to resume, the State will need to provide zero-interest recovery loans to the hoteliers to help them "relaunch the sector" more quickly. "Getting these people back into work as Ireland emerges from the Covid-19 crisis is critical," the report says. "However, there is a significant risk that unless interventions are taken, the businesses which employ these indviduals may no longer be viable and unable to return to a 'business as usual' state." The report says its proposed solutions "could well be a template for other industry sectors facing similar challenges". Mike Pompeo earlier met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his longtime rival Abdullah Abdullah in Kabul on Monday. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will meet Taliban officials in Qatar on Monday on his way back from a one-day trip to Afghanistan as part of efforts to salvage a historic deal signed with the armed group in February. Pompeo will hold the highest-level talks ever between the United States and the Taliban, the US State Department said. Secretary Pompeo is going to meet with Taliban officials in Doha including Mullah Baradar, Talibans chief negotiator, to press the Taliban to continue to comply with the agreement signed last month, said State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus. As part of the deal with the US, the Taliban is demanding the release of all its prisoners held by the Afghan government, which has been reluctant to follow through. Pompeo and Mullah Baradar were to meet at Qatars Al Udeid Air Base, which is used by American and other forces in the Gulf state that served as the host to a year of talks between the United States and the Taliban. Earlier, Pompeo met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his longtime rival Abdullah Abdullah, who conducted a parallel inauguration after contesting the presidential election result. Pompeo arrived early Monday in the Afghan capital of Kabul on a previously unannounced visit to help salvage a deal signed in February between the US and the Taliban group amid tension among the Afghan leadership. He visited Ghani at his palace before meeting Abdullah, both of whom say they are Afghanistans rightful leader following a disputed presidential election in September. Their standoff has stalled the selection of a negotiating team to represent the Afghan government in planned talks with the Taliban. Neither of the two budged A diplomat in Kabul briefed on the meetings and two other Afghan officials said they were inconclusive. It did not work. Neither of the two budged, the diplomat said, speaking on condition on anonymity. A spokesman for Ghani declined to comment, saying details of the meetings had not yet been released. Omid Maisam, a spokesman for Abdullah, said if there were more meetings, a solution was not impossible and that they wanted a peaceful end to the crisis. One of the provisions of the US-Taliban agreement signed in Qatar on February 29 was the proposal to organise talks between Afghan leadership and the Taliban to achieve lasting peace in the war-torn country. Formal talks have not yet begun, hampered by disagreement over the release of prisoners a condition set by the Taliban and by the feud between Ghani and Abdullah. The February deal also calls for the gradual withdrawal of US and other foreign troops over a 14-month period the main focus of the US diplomatic efforts. The first phase of that withdrawal has already begun, though some troop movements have been slowed by the coronavirus pandemic. In exchange, the Taliban committed not to allow Afghan soil to be used against American security interests and promised to negotiate for the first time with West-backed Kabul leadership. However, since the Doha agreement was signed, the Taliban have continued to carry out attacks. Furthermore, the Afghan government and the Taliban have not begun formal negotiation as planned, stymied in part by the bitter feud between Ghani and Abdullah, which has stalled appointment of a negotiation team to represent the Afghan government. Visit amid the pandemic Pompeos visit comes at a time when much global travel has been stalled by the coronavirus pandemic, which has infected more than 360,000 and killed more than 15,000 globally. US Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad, who helped negotiate the Doha agreement, made a plea to both sides last week to act fast on the release of prisoners, a condition the Taliban has set for the talks. Khalilzad said the pandemic added urgency for the release, illustrating how the outbreak is affecting one of US President Donald Trumps top foreign policy priorities. With 40 infections in Afghanistan, fears are growing that the thousands returning home from neighbouring Iran every day might add to the outbreak in a nation with a public health network devastated by years of war. The Taliban and the Afghan government held a virtual meeting on prisoner releases on Sunday, officials said. TORONTO, March 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As part of its ongoing efforts to repatriate Canadians, Sunwing is operating close to 30 flights to bring home over 5,000 Canadians today. By the end of the day, over 60,000 stranded Canadian travellers will have been brought home since the carrier began its repatriation efforts on March 16, 2020. This total also includes over 3,000 stranded Canadian travellers across the Caribbean, Mexico, Cuba and Florida who were offered seats free of charge. The carrier announced last week that it would be giving away any remaining seats on its repatriation flights to any Canadians stranded in destination. Today, Sunwing is operating close to 30 flights across a wide range of destinations across the Caribbean, Mexico, Florida and Cuba, leaving today, in order to bring these Canadians home safely. The schedule may change as the situation on the ground in various destinations continues to evolve. Sunwing also continues to offer available seats on its repatriation flights from southern destinations to stranded Canadians, free of charge including for non-Sunwing customers. We understand a lot of Canadians are still stranded outside the country and struggling to get home, said Stephen Hunter, CEO of Sunwing Travel Group. Thats why we want to open up any extra capacity we have. Its the Canadian thing to do. Todays flights bring the company closer to having all Sunwing customers home. The last repatriation flights will operate on Monday March 23, after which time all Sunwing flights will be temporarily suspended. At the current estimate, Sunwing will be operating almost 400 flights and spending more than $26 million to bring these Canadians home safely, at no extra cost to the customer. Canadians looking to return home on a Sunwing flight should check the most up to date flight times at https://www.sunwing.ca/pages/en/flight-status-alerts . If a northbound flight is operating from their destination, they should make their way to the departure airport and present themselves to the Sunwing Airlines check in counter. If space remains prior to departure at the closure of check in, any available seats will be offered to Canadians or Canadian permanent residents free of charge. Given the unprecedented situation the focus of our company and destination team remains on the repatriation of our customers. We therefore ask to please refrain from calling us since availability can only be confirmed at the airport ahead of the closure of check in for each flight service. Story continues About Sunwing The largest integrated travel company in North America, Sunwing has more flights to the south than any other leisure carrier with convenient direct service from over 33 airports across Canada to more than 45 popular sun destinations across the U.S.A., Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. This scale enables Sunwing to offer customers exclusive deals at top-rated resorts in the most popular vacation destinations as well as cruise packages and seasonal domestic flight service. Sunwing is consistently voted the top leisure airline by travel agents and is the perennial winner of the Consumer Choice Award. Customers can look forward to starting their vacation off with award-winning inflight service, which features a complimentary glass of sparkling wine*, non-alcoholic beverage service; together with a buy on board menu of light meals and snacks, including kids choices, the World Famous Original Smoked Meat from the iconic Montreal-based Schwartzs Deli along with delicious menu options inspired by Food Network Canada Celebrity Chef, Lynn Crawford. Sunwing customers also benefit from the assistance of the companys own knowledgeable destination representatives, who greet them upon arrival and support them throughout their vacation journey. Sunwing supports the communities where it operates through the Sunwing Foundation, a charitable initiative focused on the support and development of youth and humanitarian aid. Sunwing matches all donations the Foundation receives through its Spare Change Program on board Sunwing Airlines, no administrative fees are collected and 100% of the proceeds go to charity. *Service may be unavailable on select flights For all media enquiries, please contact: Rachel Goldrick Senior Corporate Communications Manager Sunwing Vacations 1-800-387-5602 | media@sunwing.ca A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/264d1d91-6631-440e-9c74-fe705f56610e Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA) The Mauritius Government has imposed a 10-day curfew on the country from 20:00 hours on Monday 23 March to 20:00 hours local time on Thursday 2 April 2020 in a bid to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 14:01:48|Editor: yhy Video Player Close NEW YORK, March 22 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. state of New York will build four temporary hospitals to address imminent hospital capacity issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew Cuomo said Sunday. He listed the four sites selected as the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan, a Westchester county center, and locations at State University of New York's Stony Brook campus and Old Westbury campus. The state has been working with the Army Corps of Engineers to explore possible locations to be turned into temporary medical facilities, he told a press conference. "And now we just have to get it done and get it done quickly," he said. Regarding the fact that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will erect a federal hospital within the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, he said, "The federal hospital by FEMA is different than (from) the Army Corps of Engineers temporary facility." "The FEMA hospitals come with staff and with supplies. They're in 250-bed configurations. We're asking for four of those 250-bed configurations to be assembled in Javits Center," Cuomo added. Experts predicted the peak of COVID-19 outbreak in New York to happen in early May, which would require as many as 110,000 hospital beds. Currently, the state has about 53,000. The New York governor also urged President Donald Trump to implement the Defense Production Act, which could mandate private companies to produce essential medical equipment. "We have cries from hospitals around the state. I have spoken to other governors across the country. They have the same situation," said Cuomo. "So I believe the federal government should immediately utilize the Defense Production Act." Earlier on Sunday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city, where some 9,000 coronavirus cases have been confirmed, is running out of medical supplies, such as gloves, gowns and masks, in 10 days. There are currently over 33,000 COVID-19 cases confirmed in the United States, with some 15,000 of them in the New York state, according to data by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University. Danny Devito and Roberto De Niro have joined forces to urge New Yorkers to stay home to slow the spread of the killer coronavirus. The two acting legends shared video messages during Gov. Andrew Cuomo's press conference Monday morning, pleading with the public to practice social distancing to protect themselves and the rest of society. 'Hello, this is Robert De Niro. We all need to stay home,' the 76-year-old New Yorker said in the surprise PSA. 'We need to stop the spread of this virus, and we can only do it together. Not just to protect ourselves but to protect others and all the older people you love,' he said filming the clip from his own home. 'Please - I'm watching you,' he cheekily added, reprising his line from his 2000 comedy Meet the Parents. Danny Devito and Roberto Di Niro have joined forces to urge New Yorkers to stay home to slow the spread of the killer coronavirus. 'We need to stop the spread of this virus, and we can only do it together...I'm watching you,' De Niro said, echoing his line from the movie Meet the Parents The 76-year-old actor and New York native urged his fellow Big Apple residents to stay indoors to slow the spread of the virus. Pictured at the February Oscar Awards DeVito, from Neptune Township, New Jersey, also shared a video message pleading with New Yorkers to remain in their homes. 'Hi everybody, it's Danny DeVito and I'm asking you from the bottom of my heart all over the state of New York - stay home. I mean everybody. We got this virus, this pandemic, and you know young people who get it, they can transmit it to old people and next thing you know, I'm outta there!' he said 'Stay home and don't spread the virus... Watch a little TV why don't ya,' the 75-year-old added with a smile. Other celebrities including Ben Stiller, LaLa Anthony and Alec Baldwin have also shared video PSAs in collaboration with Governor Cuomo. 'Ive got a message for all you young people who think its business as usual. Its not. We really have to all stay at home. Thats the only way were going to stop the spread of this virus and its only going to work if we all do it together,' Stiller said in his PSA. In Monday's press conference Cuomo announced that the number of New York coronavirus cases has climbed to 20,875 statewide. New York's cases account for an astonishing five percent of cases worldwide. 'We got this virus, this pandemic, and you know young people who get it, they can transmit it to old people and next thing you know, I'm outta there!' actor Danny DeVito said in his PSA DeVito is from Neptune County, New Jersey. His home state has reported nearly 3,000 cases of coronavirus and the death toll has hit 27 Other celebrities including Ben Stiller, LaLa Anthony and Alec Baldwin have also shared video PSAs in collaboration with Governor Cuomo 'Ive got a message for all you young people who think its business as usual. Its not. We really have to all stay at home. Thats the only way were going to stop the spread of this virus and its only going to work if we all do it together,' Actor Ben Stiller said in his PSA The number of cases have jumped by 5,707 since Sunday. There are at least 12,305 cases in New York Citys five boroughs and 157 people have died so far. An increase in overall testing is the reason behind the surge in New York's numbers. Washington state and California follow behind New York as states with the second and third worst outbreaks in the US. In the US, there are now more than 39,000 cases of the virus and more than 400 people have died Tomorrow, New Yorks state doctors will start trialing anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine. The drug has not yet been proven as effective in battling the virus, but President Trump drummed up excitement over it when he called it a 'game changer' last week. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the White House coronavirus expert, said more work was needed before it could be heralded as a solution. In Monday's press conference Cuomo announced that the number of New York coronavirus cases has climbed to 20,875 statewide. New York's cases account for an astonishing five percent of cases worldwide. This chart shows how the number of coronavirus cases has dramatically climbed over the past month Medical workers pictured speaking with patients at a COVID-19 testing station at the Brooklyn Hospital Center on Monday Long lines pictured outside the testing center in Elmhurst Queens on Sunday A drive-thru COVID-19 testing center pictured Saturday in Jericho, New York Cuomo said on Monday that New York is also launching a trial later this week to inject seriously ill people with coronavirus anti-bodies in the hope that it will boost their immune systems. 'The FDA gave the New York state department of health approval to use on a compassionate care basis a drug we think has real possibility. 'On the drug therapy, Tuesday we are going to start the hydroxychloroquine with the zithromax the drug combination that president Donald Trump has been talking about. The FDA approved the New York state department of health to proceed with an experiment of the drug again on a compassionate care basis.' Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 10:57:36|Editor: Wang Yamei Video Player Close JAKARTA, March 23 (Xinhua) -- A shipment of 800,000 COVID-19 testing kits supplied by China arrived in Indonesia's capital on Monday, carrier Xiamen Airlines said. Xiamen Airlines' Jakarta office said that the cargo, consisting of tens of thousands of medical gloves and other 17 ton of epidemic prevention supplies, landed at Jakarta International Airport early Monday morning. After receiving the request from Indonesia government two days ago, Xiamen Airlines said the company promptly coordinated the related side in China and prepared and safely transported the cargo to Indonesia within 48 hours, adding that this is the airlines' first international carriage after the outbreak of COVID-19. Indonesia reported the first confirmed cases of COVID-19 three week ago, and the total number of COVID-19 cases climbed to 514 with 48 deaths by Sunday. Governor of Jakarta Anies Baswedan on Friday declared a state of emergency for the next two weeks in the city, the center of Indonesia's COVID-19 outbreak. Pressure continued to mount Sunday for Oregon Gov. Kate Brown to implement a statewide stay-at-home order amid the growing coronavirus outbreak. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler appealed to the governor directly, calling on social media for a statewide order and saying he was ready to implement a Portland-specific directive on Monday if Brown didnt act. His appeal came the same day Oregon health officials announced another coronavirus death, the states fifth, and 24 new cases of the virus. At least 161 people in Oregon have now been infected by the virus, which has sickened more than 335,000 people worldwide. The true count is likely far higher but isnt known because of limited testing. Brown is expected to detail new orders on Monday, but she has not yet suggested she might order Oregonians to stay home except for essential trips. Instead, she said in conversations with other elected officials that she was considering more modest measures. Wheelers appeal to Brown came over Twitter, where he tagged the governors handle and proclaimed: We cannot delay any longer. The (number) of cities, counties, electeds, health care groups, joining me in pushing for this continues to grow, Wheeler said on Twitter. We remain hopeful you will act. But if not, I'm ready to act for Portland tomorrow. CORONAVIRUS IN OREGON: THE LATEST NEWS The move came after a group of Portland-area mayors, of which Wheeler is a member, voted 24-1 to call on Brown to issue a statewide order. Absent such a directive, the mayors want to issue their own citywide stay-at-home orders within their boundaries. Those cities include Gresham, Beaverton, Lake Oswego, Hillsboro and others. The chairs of Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties also sent a message to Brown on Sunday in support of a statewide order. We ask that you move boldly to protect the residents of this great state by issuing a clear Stay at Home, Stay Safe Executive Order, the three county leaders wrote. And a group of over 30 Oregon business associations sent Brown a message Sunday that, in part, urged her to "provide a single, statewide standard as local governments contemplate stay-at-home orders. Browns office didnt return messages seeking information Sunday, but she did announce a new executive order prohibiting Oregon law enforcement officers from evicting renters from their homes. That order will be in effect for 90 days. In a call with mayors and other officials from the Oregon coast, Brown indicated she would probably issue an order on Monday restricting the business of salons, tattoo parlors and gyms, according to Tillamook Mayor Suzanne Weber. In her own social media posts, Brown told Oregonians to stop crowding public spaces during spring break Sunday because of concerns about spreading the coronavirus. But she did not order people to stay home. And so far, many have chosen not to. Browns message to stay home, stay healthy and avoid nonessential travel didnt appear to resonate with the thousands of travelers who swarmed the coast at the start of spring break. The reaction from locals was swift, with some coastal communities telling visitors to go home. The COVID-19 pandemic is not just an opportunity for a traveling vacation, Weber, the Tillamook mayor, said in a video message. Its a threat to our very lives. Managers of other Oregon destinations have also pushed away travelers amid the outbreak. Authorities announced on Sunday an impending closure of the Multnomah Falls plaza, viewing areas and trail to the top of the famous waterfall. And all Oregon State Parks are set to close Monday, with campers being told to pack their bags. We would have preferred an orderly shutdown of the system and to remain open for daytime visits, but our concern for the effects on rural health care systems requires us to move up and expand our plans, Lisa Sumption, director of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, said in a statement announcing the parks closure. We know this will cause a disruption, since were suspending service to everyone, even people who live near a park. Reducing contact between people is more important than recreation at the moment. -- Jim Ryan; jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015 Lizzy Acker and Lori Tobias contributed to this report. Subscribe to our Oregon coronavirus newsletter: Five people associated with a Washington County senior care facility have tested positive for the new coronavirus. Three residents and two employees of Regency Park, an assisted living and memory care facility in the Beaverton area, have contracted COVID-19. The virus has infected at least 161 people throughout the state, and five people have died. Regency Park residents are being closely monitored, according to Washington County Public Health, and people entering the facility are being screened. "We are deeply concerned about our community members in senior-care facilities who are at high risk from COVID-19, Dr. Christina Baumann, Washington County Public Health deputy health officer, said in a statement. Slowing the spread of this virus and protecting those who are at high risk for complications is our greatest priority. COVID-19 may be a mild illness for many, but it can be serious and life threatening to our senior community members and others. We urge everyone to take precautions and stay home at the first sign of illness. There are at least 55 coronavirus cases in Washington County. That figure includes at least three of the Regency Park cases. -- Jim Ryan; jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015 Subscribe to our Oregon coronavirus newsletter: ALTON State Rep. Monica Bristow, D-Alton, is promoting new measures to help businesses address challenges during the coronavirus outbreak. The United States Small Business Administration has approved Illinois eligibility for disaster assistance loans for small businesses and the Illinois Department of Revenue will defer sales tax payments for bars and restaurants. (Newser) Past research has suggested that men with at least one older brother are more likely to be gaya phenomenon called the fraternal birth order effect. Now, a new study by Canadian and German scientists adds more evidence to that theory, and it points to possible antibodies produced by the siblings' mom. NBC News cites research published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B journal that analyzed data from 10 unrelated studies involving nearly 5,400 male subjects, both homosexual and heterosexual. The scientists found that men who had one older brother had a 38% higher chance of being gay than those without an older bro. Having three older brothers doubled a man's chances of being gay, per Phys.org. One thing the study didn't find: any correlation between birth order and sexuality in women. story continues below Although a reason for this link wasn't found, the researchers have been looking at one theory in particular: the "maternal immune hypothesis," which lead study author Ray Blanchard first put forth more than 20 years ago. Per this theory, cells or cell fragments from male fetuses enter the mother's circulation either during the pregnancy or during childbirth. As a result, the mother produces antibodies against these "foreign," male-specific objects, and those antibodies remain in her body. During her next pregnancy with a male child, those antibodies somehow cross over into the fetus's brain, "bind to male-specific molecules on the surface of neurons and prevent these neurons from 'wiring-up' in a fully male-typical pattern." As a result, the study notes, "the individual will later be attracted to men rather than to women." Still, Blanchard tells NBC, "this research is just the foundation for further analysis." (Read more discoveries stories.) And we shouldnt be favoring special interests, like the airlines. The bill contains $58 billion just for the airlines, while industries from manufacturing to hotels to energy have weighed in with requests nearing $3 trillion. Boeing alone is seeking $60 billion. Even the Tennessee Distillers Guild wants help. Lets insist on a level playing field. The government should approach allocating the capital as we did in 2009: lending to solvent companies on commercial terms and investing in insolvent ones deemed too important to fail in part by wiping out equity holders. Yes, that may involve the distasteful prospect of temporary government ownership of some companies. We faced that problem with General Motors in 2009 and solved it by limiting government to a passive role and selling the governments stock as quickly as possible. As the 2008 legislation the Troubled Asset Relief Program did, the Senate bill delegates most of the responsibilities for its execution to the executive branch. Democrats feel, with justification, that the Trump administration could turn the money into the equivalent of a slush fund. So we should consider alternatives, like creating a special master to oversee the fund or delegating substantial authority to the Federal Reserve, which announced on Monday a wave of lending programs aimed at businesses as well as financial markets. Then theres the question of conditionality. In rescuing the auto companies, we imposed few other conditions on the recipients. Under the current circumstances, some additional strictures would be appropriate. Companies receiving help must agree to keep all workers on the payroll. Stock buybacks, dividend increases and pay raises for top executives should be banned until the loans are repaid. But we should stop short of other suggested requirements, like the proposal that air service to certain destinations not be interrupted. Tihar Jail will release around 3000 inmates in the next 3-4 days, Tihar jail administration said on Monday. "Tihar Jail will release around 3000 inmates in the next 3-4 days. Of these, 1500 convicts will be released on parole and other 1500 undertrial prisoners to be released on interim bail," said Tihar Jail administration. The total number of coronavirus cases in the country reached 467 and nine people have died due to the infection, the health ministry said on Monday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Oregon Gov. Kate Brown issued a stay-at-home order on Monday, after stalling for days on the move to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. The order, which Oregon mayors, county commissioners and medical groups had been calling for, requires Oregonians to stay at home as much as possible or face class C misdemeanor charges. Oregonians can leave their home to go to work, obtain or provide food, or to buy essential consumer goods. They can access certain essential government services and care for seniors, children, family members, other vulnerable people and livestock. Businesses that are not listed in Browns order (see list below), they may remain open -- as long as customers and employees can maintain six feet of distance from others. Those may include gas stations, banks, plant nurseries, auto repair shops and self-storage facilities. So, where can you go? These businesses may stay open: Business offices and nonprofits, though employees shall facilitate telecommuting to the maximum extent possible Coffee shops Bars, brew pubs, cafes, restaurants and wine bars and other similar establishments only for delivery or pick-up orders Childcare facilities with a limit of 10 children who are the same each day. Priority must be given to children of medical or emergency frontline responders Doctors offices, health care facilities and emergency services Food courts Grocery stores Pharmacies Pet stores and veterinary offices These businesses must close*: Amusement parks Aquariums Arcades Art galleries, which are open without appointments Bowling alleys Childcare facilities that cannot limit children to 10 who are the same every day. Order is in place from March 25 through April 28. Cosmetic shops Fraternal organizations facilities Furniture stores Gyms and fitness studios Hair salons and barber shops Hookah bars Indoor party places, including jumping gyms and laser tag Jewelry shops and boutiques, unless they use pick-up or delivery services Malls, both indoor and outdoor Medical and facial spas, day spas and massage therapy services Museums Nail and tanning salons Non-tribal card rooms Outdoor sports courts Playgrounds Pools Private and public campgrounds Senior activity centers Social and private clubs Skate parks Skating rinks Ski resorts State executive branch offices and buildings shall close to the maximum extent possible Tattoo and piercing parlors Tennis clubs Theaters Yoga studios Youth clubs *Note: If a business isnt listed above, they may remain open -- as long as customers and employees can maintain six feet of distance from others. In her order, Brown wrote while many businesses and organizations that are heavily dependent on foot traffic and in-person interactions have already closed or will close under the expanded order, other businesses that make robust plans to meet social distancing requirements -- and enforce those requirements -- may remain in operation, preserving jobs while ensuring health. This distinction from closing all businesses except for those categorized as essential as mandated in other states, aims to minimize unintended consequences and add clarity for businesses who can adjust their business models to accommodate vital social distancing measures. The governor said the Oregon Health Authority has the power to expand the scale of closures and that any retail businesses that fail to comply will be closed until they demonstrate compliance. -- Laura Gunderson, lgunderson@oregonian.com 503-221-8378; @lgunderson Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Sign up to receive texts from The Oregonian/OregonLive about major developments in the coronavirus pandemic. CREDAI-MCHI, an apex body for realty firms of Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), on Monday said it has converted a municipal training centre into a quarantine facility for over 250 patients because of spread of the coronavirus disease. Separately, Supertech Chairman R K Arora said the company has created a eight-member technical expert team, which can be deployed by the district administration for carrying out sanitisation activities in housing societies at Noida and Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh. The expenses will be borne by the company, he added. CREDAI-MCHI said in a statement that it has converted the Municipal Capacity Building and Research Centre (MCMCR) into a quarantine centre which could be used for testing and self-isolation. The 5-storey building has been fitted with latest facilities including 250 beds, spacious rooms, conference rooms for doctors etc, it added. CREDAI MCHI President Nayan Shah said: "The MCMCR facility, which is a municipal training facility, has been transformed into a quarantine centre which will be able to house over 250+ patients." The association is an apex body of real estate developers in MMR consisting of over 1,800 members. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Its just a few days into the COVID-19 pandemic in this country, anyway. A week ago Monday a friend said, We are going to see things you and I have never seen in our lifetimes. I thought he was an alarmist. Two days later, I was preparing to go to New York to have dinner and see Alec Baldwin and Andy Borowitz at Town Hall. Minutes before leaving, I got word that Westport First Selectman Jim Marpe and Westport-Weston Health District director Mark Cooper would hold a press conference outside a different town hall: Ours. I figured Id catch a later train. By the time the press conference ended though, the show in the city had been canceled. And all hell broke loose in my hometown. There was much more to come, of course. With schools closed but distance learning not yet in place many parents of young children settled down to help them with the educational packets theyd brought home, in preparation of a closure. Many parents of older students enforced the stay home/social distancing advice theyd been hearing for days. Some parents ignored that advice. They arranged play dates, even sleepovers, for their kids. They let their teenage drivers head downtown or to friends homes. It was like a snow day, but the weather was fine. The weather was even better on Saturday. Dozens of Westporters flocked where they always do when the sun shines: Compo Beach. Most kept their distance from others. There were no big gatherings, no circles of chairs and shared picnics. But the sight unnerved town officials. Clearly, their social distancing message needed more power. That night, Marpe announced that the Compo playground a place packed with people, whose surfaces (like any playground) have probably never been cleaned would be closed until further notice. So would the Compo and Burying Hill parking lots. That did not sit well with a certain segment of residents. Figuring there was more than one way to skin this coronavirus cat, on Sunday they headed back to the beach. They parked up and down Soundview Drive and along side streets, right underneath the No Parking signs. Police ticketed the vehicles, but that hardly made a dent. When the first group left, others drove down and took their place. The next day, things changed even more dramatically. With 20 cases now confirmed in town up from one the day before Marpe invoked emergency powers. All restaurants, bars, delicatessens, any place food or beverages are prepared for on-premises consumption, were closed to indoor service. Food could be picked up curbside or delivered only. All gyms and fitness centers were closed too. So were all gatherings at the Inn at Longshore. That might sound random, until you realize its one of the most popular spots in Westport for weddings. All that happened in the seven days after I thought my friend was pushing the panic button. Its been just hours, really, since the reality of the coronavirus hit home. But everyone alarmists and non-worriers; optimists and pessimists; folks who see the glass as half-empty, and those who always think it overflows now whistle the same tune. Things will get even worse before they get better. Its astonishing what I already miss. With schools closed until who knows when, what I wouldnt give now to drive behind a yellow Dattco bus. Id gladly stop every 10 yards if it meant kids could go to school. Im betting it wont be long before those same youngsters cant wait to go back. School is so important, they now realize. For the little ones, its the excitement of learning to read or write, then discovering math and science. In middle school, its a place to channel all that excess energy, in a warm, nurturing environment. For teenagers, high school sports, drama, music, newspaper, robotics theyre all indispensable. Add in proms, the college application process, figuring out who you are and where you fit in the world, guided by adults who care (and are not, for better or worse, your parents), and you understand why school is the cornerstone of our kids days. Thats just one segment of town. What happens to older Westporters, now that another structural institution the senior center is closed? What about the men and women whose physical and mental health may be dependent on their yoga or spin class, or their daily swim at the Y? Those questions are just the tip of the iceberg. And, like any iceberg, the greatest danger lurks where no one can see it. Stay tuned, buckle up, and wash your hands. Dan Woog is a Westport writer, and his Woog's World appears each Friday. He can be reached at dwoog@optonline.net. His personal blog is danwoog06880.com. CLEVELAND, Ohio A 17-year-old boy faces charges in the shooting death of a man in a liquor store in Clevelands Lee-Harvard neighborhood. The teen is in the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center after his arrest in Independence, police said. Kevin Boyd, 24, of Cleveland, died in the shooting, according to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiners office. The incident happened about 6:20 p.m. Friday at the One-Stop Liquor Store in the Lee-Harvard Plaza on Lee Road and Harvard Avenue. Boyd was standing in line waiting to pay when an argument broke out between him, the 17-year-old boy and two others, according to police. The group fought in the store, and the 17-year-old boy pulled out a gun and shot Boyd several times, according to police. Gang detectives tracked down the 17-year-old boy and arrested him on Saturday, police said. The deadly shooting was the fourth in three days in Cleveland. Read more from cleveland.com: One dead, one critical in shooting in Clevelands Fairfax neighborhood Man found dead of gunshot wounds in Cleveland field Man shot to death in Clevelands Euclid-Green neighborhood Ohio says no elective surgical abortions during coronavirus outbreak Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has asked the states abortion providers to stop providing "non-essential" surgical abortions to help preserve personal protective equipment for those on the front lines of the fight against the novel coronavirus outbreak. (Y)ou and your facility are ordered to immediately stop performing non-essential and elective surgical abortions, Ohio AG Yost wrote to three of the states abortion providers, according to HuffPost. Non-essential surgical abortions are those that can be delayed without undue risk to the current or future health of a patient." The letters were addressed separately to the Womens Med Center in Dayton, Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohios Cincinnati Surgery Center, and Preterm in Cleveland. If you or your facility do not immediately stop performing non-essential or elective surgical abortions in compliance with the attached order, the Department of Health will take all appropriate measures, the letter stated. Yost's letter comes as the Ohio Department of Health issued an order last week to postpone elective surgeries and procedures in the state's hospitals in order to "help us preserve critically short supplies of PPE (personal protective equipment) and preserve inpatient beds and other equipment for critically ill patients," Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said. As of early Monday, there were more than 336,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus around the world with 14,641 deaths and 98,334 recoveries, according to Johns Hopkins University. The number of U.S. cases stood at more than 32,000 with at least 400 deaths. Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio responded to Yosts order, saying its top priority is ensuring that every person can continue accessing essential health care, including abortion. We are complying with the Ohio Department of Healths order regarding personal protective equipment, which requires hospitals and surgical facilities to stop providing non-essential surgeries and procedures and take other steps to reduce the use of equipment, it said. Under the order, Planned Parenthood can still continue providing essential procedures, including surgical abortions, and our health centers continue to offer other health care services that our parents depend on. Our doors remain open. Planned Parenthood said the Health Department's order did not require them to stop providing abortion care, including surgical abortion. Also last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced in a statement that all elective surgeries, non-essential medical, surgical and dental procedures be delayed during the COVID-19 outbreak. The number of healthcare providers being asked to assist with the COVID-19 response is on the rise, so non-essential surgeries and procedures should be delayed, CMS said. The reality is clear and the stakes are high: we need to preserve personal protective equipment for those on the front lines of this fight, said CMS Administrator Seema Verma. CMS explained that delaying non-essential surgeries and procedures will also free up our healthcare workforce to care for the patients who are most in need. Zimbabwean journalist, Zororo Makamba, has become the first person in the country to succumb to coronavirus COVID-19. Health Minister Obadiah Moyo announced Monday that the 30 year-old television and digital media journalist died at Wilkins Hospital in Harare, two days after he was diagnosed of the disease. Zororo is the son of former radio personality and Telecel shareholder, James Makamba. Moyo said Zororo recently visited New York, which has been declared as one of the placed hard-hit by the coronavirus in the United States. In his Instagram page, the late journalist is identified as host and executive producer of POV. I hold the pen & my story is still being written, wrote Zororo on his Instagram page. The person who was the first person to contract coronavirus is said to be recovering at an isolation hospital. The person is a resident of Victoria Falls. US Companies Face Logistics Nightmare as Pandemic Creates Freight Bottlenecks WASHINGTONU.S. businesses are grappling with supply chain disruptions from plant closures in China because of the CCP virus pandemic. Although most Chinese factories are back in operation, delays in moving goods have exacerbated the supply crisis for companies that are heavily dependent on goods and parts from China. For a majority of U.S. businesses, lead times between the placement of order and delivery have doubled, according to a survey by the Institute for Supply Management, conducted Feb. 22 to March 5 among more than 600 U.S. companies. Almost one-half of companies reported delays in moving goods within China, and 46 percent reported delays in loading goods due to severe congestion at Chinese ports, the survey found. Chinese factories are reopened and running at 90 percent of capacity, according to experts. However, due to shipping backlogs, companies cant bring products to the United States fast enough. Theres a logistics nightmare, said Michael Einhorn, president of Dealmed Medical Supplies, a New York-based medical supply distributor. We have products coming from several different factories and several different sources. And were trying to fly them in. And with DHL, its going to take us seven days just to fly it. Dealmed imports personal protective equipment (PPE) such as facemasks and gowns, along with thousands of other medical products from China. Were waiting in line behind the guy thats selling furniture, because the guy whos selling furniture called DHL first and now, he gets to go first, even though these [PPE] products are literally life and death, Einhorn said. Medical professionals across the country are experiencing a lack of protective equipment such as masks, respirators, surgical gowns, and gloves that are currently in high demand due to the outbreak. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. UPS announced that it has resumed services in most areas of mainland China, except for Wuhan City. Significant Backlogs Frederick Smith, chairman and CEO of FedEx, told CBS on Mar. 22 that his business has increased because of the pandemic. Just last week, for instance, we flew 246 flights in and out of China, he said. Passenger planes, which carry a lot of cargo in the underbelly, are grounded, he noted. So, with the shutdown of the passenger operations across the Pacific, we have significant backlogs coming into this country and a significant amount of traffic going back to China, he said. More recently, the same things true across the Atlantic. FedEx employees are working very heavily on both the business-to-business side, moving things for hospitals and diagnostic labs, picking up specimens and getting them into the various locations where they can be tested, Smith added. In order to help ease freight bottlenecks, American Airlines announced March 19 that it would use its grounded passenger planes to move cargo between the United States and Europe. The company said in a statement that its first cargo-only flight since 1984 would fly between Dallas and Frankfurt, Germany, starting March 20, operating two round trips over the course of four days. The passenger plane can carry more than 100,000 pounds and will transport medical supplies, mail for active U.S. military, telecom equipment and electronics, and e-commerce packages, the airline said. Other carriers including Delta Air Lines, Korean Air, and Qantas also running passenger aircraft to move cargo in certain lanes. Hard Lessons U.S. businesses are learning hard lessons from the rapid spread of the virus, which has caused supply disruptions across the globe. I think that U.S. companies are waking up to a new understanding of supply chain risk, Daren Samuels, practice director at Patina Solutions, a supply chain consultancy told The Epoch Times. It feels like a time of instability, he said, adding that this instability will push the U.S. companies to carefully examine their global sourcing strategies and set up more flexible supply chains. Samuels says many clients have been talking about pulling out of China and moving to the United States and Mexico after the escalation of the trade war with Beijing last year. He said its especially challenging for U.S. companies to have Chinese supply chains, if they have high-mix, low-volume production, meaning a large variety of products in small quantities. Many companies are considering moving their production to Taiwan, Han-Ching Lee, marketing manager at TechDesign told The Epoch Times. The Taiwan based company was founded in 2015 to provide a supplier-matching platform for electronic hardware companies. We have received many project inquiries looking at the possibility of moving productioneither partially or entirelyfrom current suppliers in China to new ones in Taiwan, due to both the U.S.China trade war and coronavirus fears, she said. These are extraordinary times we are living in and the crisis we find ourselves in the midst of, is unprecedented in our lifetime. The team at Fethiye Times, along with and our supporters, are working to bring you the most up to date and factual information possible to keep you updated with what is happening. Not only are we trawling through hundreds of alerts about the coronavirus to identify the information that is useful to our readers, but we are also dealing with questions and following up on information sent in all of which we are more than happy to do. This is however, a drain on our resources. Steve and I were talking yesterday and have made the decision that, whilst we are in the midst of this crisis, we will not be following our usual format for news and articles but will instead bring you the news as follows. Each morning we will bring you an update via Fethiye Times Facebook page- on the numbers; how many people in Turkey have been diagnosed with covid-19 and the death toll, along with any news that has broken overnight. Throughout the day we will bring you news updates as they happen, both nationally, locally and direct from the Municipality. Again this will be via the Fethiye Times Facebook page. Early evening, we will bring you a round up of the days news via www.fethiyetimes.com. This will be a brief summary of what has happened in the last 24 hours, with appropriate links. That way, you will have have everything you need to know (by day) in one place for easy reference. The Fethiye Times daily articles will be temporarily suspended, however we are aware that people are isolated in their homes and need something else to think about to alleviate cabin fever. We will therefore bring you articles on an ad-hoc basis that we hope you will enjoy. Steve will continue with the weekly photo album and we will also bring you photographs from around Fethiye and the local area for as long as we can still go out for work and essentials. COVID-19 daily round up Monday 23 March 2020 Workers disinfect streets in southern Adana province. (AA Photo) Turkey has confirmed nine more deaths from COVID-19, bringing the total to 30, all of whom were senior citizens. The total number of confirmed cases rose to 1,256, an increase of 309 cases in 24 hours. Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Sunday evening Turkey has conducted 20,345 coronavirus tests so far, 1,256 of which came back positive. Ankara took its strictest measures so far on Saturday, banning people over 65 and those with chronic health problems from leaving their homes. The Interior Ministry ordered all restaurants to shut down to customers except for deliveries and take-out. On Sunday, the ministry banned picnics and barbecues as too many Turkish citizens continue to ignore warnings to remain at home. Based on worldwide trends, infections of the aggressive virus are predicted to continue multiplying in Turkey. READ: Turkey introduces drastic measures as coronavirus death toll increases READ: Coronavirus kills 30th senior citizen in Turkey as cases jump to 1,256 Banks reduce working hours from today Whilst there is still no all-encompassing lockdown in place in Turkey, further measures have significantly altered daily life. Following a recommendation from the Banks Association of Turkey, effective from Monday 23 March, banks will reduce their working hours from 12:00 to 17:00. Please be mindful that today there were massive queues outside the banks in Fethiye at 12:00. If you have to physically go into your bank, you might want to consider getting there a little later. Please make sure you take extra care and maintain a distance of at least one meter from other people. Source: https://www.sozcu.com.tr/2020/ekonomi/son-dakika-bakan-kurum-duyurdu-kira-bedeli-alinmayacak-5695533/ German couple fined 6300 TL for not complying with quarantine rules Reports so far suggest enforcement of the failure to self quarantine or breaking curfew for over 65s differs from region to region, with some areas offering advice to those who break it while others are being ordered to return home immediately. However, in Konya, the TRT Haber news team report one German couple faced a much stiffer penalty in the form of a 6,300TL fine for not complying with the self quarantine rule on returning from Germany perhaps deterrent enough if youre considering ignoring the restrictions. https://www.trthaber.com/haber/turkiye/karantina-kurallarina-uymayan-gurbetci-cifte-para-cezasi-469187.html Elderly Turks play tag with police amid corona curfew It is perhaps the most dangerous time to be elderly, but the coronavirus did little to daunt the countrys senior citizens from going out. I am not that old, a 74-year-old man told Istanbul police who were enforcing the ban on people aged 65 and older from leaving their house. A statement from the Ministry of Health said, It is of utmost importance for all our citizens to comply with the measures taken to halt the epidemic as soon as possible, While a decrease in the number of people outside offers a glimmer of hope, the fact that thousands ignored calls to stay at home and flocked to parks and coastal areas across the country has had the opposite effect. READ: https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/i-am-not-that-old-elderly-turks-play-tag-with-police-amid-corona-curfew/news Source: TRT World Corona curfew in Turkey: A guideline for the elderly, chronically ill The recent coronavirus curfew and home confinement measures in Turkey have got many, especially the expat community, asking about how to shop or go to the doctor or banks. Heres a breakdown of it and a guide to follow to avoid breaking the rules READ: Corona curfew in Turkey: A guideline for the elderly, chronically ill Turkish medical society lists measures against COVID-19 The Turkish Geriatrics Society released a statement on Monday stressing the importance of hygiene in avoiding the novel coronavirus. In a written statement, the society emphasized that there was currently no vaccine against the virus and that recommendations mostly focused on prevention strategies. It reiterated that the elderly were at higher risk of serious complications if they contracted COVID-19, according to scientific studies. There are over 349,000 confirmed cases worldwide, with a death toll topping 15,000, while more than 100,000 have recovered. READ: Turkish medical society lists measures against COVID-19 Turkey applauds health workers fighting COVID-19 Dont forget to go out onto your balconies tonight at 9pm (local time) and applaud, whistle and cheer our health workers on. As President Erdogan says in the video, The efforts of our healthcare professionals deserve more than any kind of applause #StayHome Follow Fethiye Times on social media for regular updates. Like us on Facebook Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Twitter Todays featured image: Deserted restaurants in Gocek by Lyn Ward Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Howard Schneider (Reuters) Washington Mon, March 23, 2020 09:25 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206cac4b2 2 Business Federal-Reserve,James-Bullard,coronavirus,COVID-19,lockdown,US-economy,recession Free In normal times massive unemployment and a collapse in economic output would be tragic. This time, as the coronavirus cloisters millions of Americans and shuts down the US economy, it should instead be saluted as an investment in public health that lays the groundwork for a rapid rebound. That is the view of St. Louis Federal Reserve President James Bullard, who argues that a potential US$2.5 trillion hit coming to the economy is both necessary and manageable if officials move fast and keep it simple. It may seem an unconventional view in a moment of global anxiety, but Bullard argues the shutdown measures now being rolled out are essential to shortening the course of the pandemic. They must also be coupled with massive federal government support to sustain the population through its coming isolation and prime the economy to pick up where it left off. To Bullard that means: Match any lost wages. Match any lost business. No questions asked. No arguments about bailouts or moral hazard - the sticky issue of publicly funded rescues of bad actors. And, above all, when the losses are tallied, dont call it a recession. Recessions are the ordinary - even predictable - contractions in activity that mark the end of normal business cycles. Bullard, who has earned a reputation inside the Fed for a penchant to rethink problems and reframe debates, said this is anything but. Frame this as a massive investment in US public health, Bullard said in a Friday telephone interview. "Crazy heavy" jobless claims? That's OK. Bullards comments came as US lawmakers debated emergency economic measures worth $1 trillion or more, a figure Bullard says may underestimate whats needed. Nonetheless it is still opening old wounds from the 2007-2009 economic crisis over who deserves what, whether corporations should get help, and how generous the government should be with workers. The spread of the coronavirus has touched off those discussions worldwide, but with an urgency that is shredding old hesitancies. United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnsons government on Friday announced it would pick up 80 percent of the national wage bill for the next three months. Many Fed officials have called for a stronger US fiscal response in recent days, but Bullard went a step further with an explicit call for the US government to match what is being lost dollar for dollar. For now, he said, economists and policymakers should turn their view of data on its head because little will make sense otherwise. The recent jump in unemployment claims? Thats a win, a sign that so-called government stabilizers are being used. The hope should be that such programs get crazy heavy use in coming weeks, he said. If economic output falls by half in the second quarter, thats a win - not a record-setting defeat. It means businesses have heeded orders to close and customers to stay home. We are not trying to move production and income up in the second quarter. We are trying to keep it out of the second quarter, Bullard said. You want capital to just sit in place. Switch off the factory ... Then switch it back on. 30 percent unemployment a possibility Bullard was among the large group at the Fed who at first felt the virus risk would pass with little economic damage, as have other similar health scares such as SARS and ebola. They are all now trying to catch up, with emergency rate cuts, extensive new programs to keep markets working, and other steps to aid an economy grinding to a halt. In line with his colleagues, he said he was ready to do more, including putting more of the Feds direct lending powers to work if needed. It is early days and we are willing to do more. I am willing to do more, he said. Bullard was blunt about the dilemma posed, saying the economics profession was reeling as it tries to understand what is taking place. For now whats usually good - jobs and production - are bad, and the headline numbers are going to be staggering. Bullards ballpark estimate is that unemployment could hit 30 percent, higher than in the Great Depression and three times more than the 2007-2009 recession. Output in the second quarter could be half the norm, a hit of about $2.5 trillion. That is unavoidable if the virus is to be contained through social distancing or government orders to stay at home. Illustration of economy class seats on an airplane. (Shutterstock/ vvoe) Keep everyone whole All this neednt wreck the economy. Legislation working its way through Congress has begun to roll out some support. Bullard said the core aim can be kept simple: keep everyone, households and businesses whole through the second quarter. Do it with a quick expansion of unemployment insurance to cover lost wages, and through grants and loans to business to cover losses from unemployed capital. From a macroeconomic standpoint, he argues, it is a tractable problem. Again using back of the envelope math and a 30,000-foot view, he said perhaps half a trillion dollars of lost output will be accounted for by necessarily lost consumption - all the movie tickets and clothes no one buys and trips people will not take. As to the other $2 trillion, Bullard said the federal government should borrow and distribute it to people and business. That is completely feasible, in service of limiting economic damage, he said. This is a planned, organized partial shut down of the US economy. We are throttling back output on purpose to meet health guidelines... Transfer income to affected households. Call it pandemic relief, Bullard said. Get transfers to businesses that are affected heavily, and come out on the other side. Identical economy. Produce the same goods as before. Like Chen and Hassan, there are a large number of Chinese and Iranians extending their helping hands as brothers and sisters to fight against COVID-19 in Iran. Photo taken on March 21, 2020 shows the official account of the Iranian Embassy in China on the Chinese social media platform Weibo. (Xinhua/Deng Hua) BEIJING, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Since March 5, Chinese businessman Chen Cangsong and his Iranian friend Hassan Tavana have been working around the clock, busy with gathering donations from all over the world and then sending them to Iran, where the COVID-19 epidemic is raging. Both Chen and Hassan serve on the Business Council of the United Nations Maritime-Continental Silk Road Cities Alliance based in Quanzhou, in the southeastern Chinese Province of Fujian, where they have sent a rush shipment of supplies, including over 80,000 medical masks and 3,000 goggles, to Iran. Chen is busy dealing with the influx of messages from donors in member companies scattered in 16 countries. "We have our phones work day and night to make sure no donation is missed as sometimes messages come around midnight or before dawn," Chen said. Like Chen and Hassan, there are a large number of Chinese and Iranians extending their helping hands as brothers and sisters to fight against COVID-19 in Iran. Photo taken on March 18, 2020 shows a box of donations received by the Iranian Consulate General in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Deng Hua) INFLUX OF DONATIONS Recently, the official account of the Iranian Embassy in China on the Chinese social media platform Weibo has seen thousands of Chinese netizens post their best wishes for Iranians and the country's success in the fight against the epidemic. A friend in need is a friend indeed. Within 24 hours after the Iranian Embassy set up a donation channel on Weibo, about 567,000 U.S. dollars' worth of donations had poured in. "It is beyond our expectations, it surprised and impressed me," Ramazan Parvaz, consul general of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Shanghai, said Wednesday. Besides funds, medical supplies like face masks, goggles, protective garments and ventilators have been donated by Chinese people from various walks of life. In Beijing, Liu Zhengchen and his colleagues at the Beijing New Sunshine Charity Foundation have dispatched five shipments of medical supplies to Iran, including testing kits, protective garments, ventilators and pulse oximeters. "In our hardest time fighting against COVID-19, Iran donated three million medical masks to us. Now that our situation is getting better, it's time for us to help them," said Liu. Chinese medical team members meet with Iranian medical experts in Tehran, Iran, March 7, 2020. (Xinhua) On March 11, Guangdong Wanyang Pharmaceutical Company Ltd. (GWP) delivered 11,000 masks and 400 pairs of medical rubber gloves it had collected from its business circles to the Iranian Consulate General in Guangzhou. On March 17, 50,000 masks from Shanghai-based travel agency 54Traveler arrived in Tehran on Tuesday and were waiting to be distributed. On March 18, the Shanghai People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries sent a batch of surgical masks as a donation to the Iranian Consulate General in Shanghai. "While the epidemic in China is easing, the situation abroad is worsening. We can feel the pain brought by the epidemic to people of other nations so we want to do more to help," GWP chairman Liao Yibing told Xinhua. On his Twitter account, Ambassador of Iran to China Mohammad Keshavarz Zadeh expressed his gratitude over the Chinese aid, saying that all the donations would be airlifted to Iran as soon as possible. JOINT FIGHT "The sons of Adam are limbs of each other, having been created of one essence. When the calamity of time affects one limb, the other limbs cannot remain at rest." These words by the Persian poet Sa'adi were cited by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif when he expressed his solidarity with China as the Asian country was fighting an arduous battle against COVID-19. Ten days after Iran reported its first confirmed case on Feb. 19, a medical team sent by the Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) arrived in Tehran. At that time, China was in the thick of battle against COVID-19. Upon their arrival in the early morning, the experts immediately engaged in exchanging experience on combating COVID-19 with their Iranian counterparts, and promoting bilateral cooperation on medicine and health. Chinese medical team members meet with Iranian Red Crescent Society officials in Tehran, Iran, March 2, 2020. (Chinese Embassy in Iran/Handout via Xinhua) Zhou Xiaohang, head of the team and also head of the Disaster Relief and Health Department of the Shanghai Branch of RCSC, told Xinhua whenever they went to the Health Ministry of Iran to check and count the donations from China, local staff would approach them and say: "China, thank you!" "The Chinese delivered to Iran what we need urgently. They are real friends of Iran," Abalfazl Delkhasteh, a student at Shahid Beheshti University in Iran, told Xinhua. Masih Daneshvari Hospital is one of Tehran's designated hospitals for COVID-19 treatment, where a nurse in the respiratory department who only gave her name as Somayeh told Xinhua that the hospital has developed plans for clinical treatment based on China's experience and recommendations. "China is one of the first nations to support Iran in this fight. Chinese donations and expertise exchange with affected countries, including Iran, stands out not only as a humanitarian gesture, but also as responsible behavior on the part of a global power," said Hassan Ahmadian, assistant professor of Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Studies at the University of Tehran. "The Chinese have provided Iran with all of their experiences in dealing with the virus. This generously provided information has helped Iran," said Seyed Mohammad Marandi, a professor at the University of Tehran. Besides medical supplies and experts from China, other materials which have proven useful during China's COVID-19 fight are also being used and widely circulated in Iran, including Chinese traditional medicated soaps and an electronic guide on COVID-19 prevention and control compiled by Chinese expert Zhang Wenhong. An online Chinese-Persian group of volunteer translators initiated by a Chinese university student has attracted over 200 volunteers from both China and Iran, who are working to share anti-COVID-19 knowledge with embattled Iranians. A member of an online voluntary Chinese-Persian translation group works in Yining of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Xinhua) In different cities of China, common people like Liu Zhengchen, Liao Yibin and Chen Cangsong are still busy with handing over donations to foreign countries, including Iran. "The virus does not know borders. In the era of global integration, helping others is also helping ourselves," Liao said. What a massive change a couple of weeks can bring. We would normally be getting into the full swing of the air show season right about now, but sadly the pandemic has postponed our usual experiences. Indeed, it will likely be some time before another air show takes place anywhere in the world. However, two weeks ago on March 8th, the performers at Tyabb Airport on the outskirts of Melbourne, Australia were able to hold their event. Our regular Antipodean correspondent, Phil Buckley, was on hand to record the action, and we are happy to bring you his report below. Tyabb Airshow 2020 by Phil Buckley In what was a short notice air show lead in, that meant the aviation event was lucky to even go ahead, the 2020 Tyabb Airshow held at Tyabb Airfield in Victoria, Australia once again lived up to its drawcard appeal, attracting around 9,000 people to the exciting day. The 2020 show had been facing cancellation sadly, not due to any medical emergency, but due to last years efforts by the local council to shut it down and the airport too. This fate may still await the airport sadly, if the council gets it way.. The Penisula Aero Club (PAC) has overseen the show for many years, and worked hard to create a successful aviation event for enthusiasts of all ages. All funding raised flows back into assorted local community organsiations and operations. The event is supported by passionate pilots who provide their time for free, displaying their aircraft in the air and on the ground. With a single runway flanked by a lone taxiway just a few yards from the crowd line, the Tyabb Airshow allows the general public to see taxiing aircraft up very close. They can also view the static aircraft displays arrayed in front of behind the cordon as well. Over the years, the Tyabb Airshow has attracted a range of warbirds, military participants and general aviation aircraft. Indeed, Tyabb is currently home to several famous warbirds including Judy Pays Old Aeroplane Company collection (CAC Mustang, P-40F Kittyhawk, T-28 Trojan, T-6 Harvard and more) as well as the only Vought Corsair currently flying in Australia (Graham Hoskings F4U-5 Bu.124493). Across the day, a mix of displays took place. They ranged from a single ship, right up to large formation flights. Mixed in the planned program were several deHavilland Tiger Moths which, unfortunately, could not fly due to strong winds. Legacy warbird trainers varying from former RAAF CT-4s, Winjeels and a Harvard, took to the sky and were welcomed warmly. The event also had a few T-28 Trojans in Vietnam War-era colors flying. The popular Southern Knights aerobatic display team with their North American Harvards always gets peoples attention with their elegant displays, vibrant colors and smoke systems not to mention the throbbing roar of their engines. The Tyabb event was largely a fighter affair, with various WWII-era pursuit types zooming through the skies, either singly or in formations throughout the day. The Temora Aviation Museum brought their CAC Boomerang and Spitfire, the RAAF Museum flew their newly airworthy CAC Mustang, a P-40N made the trip down from Wangaratta. The locally-based P-40F and Corsair joined the previously mentioned fighters and others types for the final and truly spectacular, massed formation flyby. Giving the event a little generational diversity, the Royal Australian Air Force brought a few of their currently active types, including a No.35 Squadron C-27 Spartan from RAAF Base Amberley, the RAAF Roulettes display team from RAAF Base East Sale. The Roulettes used their spanking-new Pilatus PC-21s, which replaced the earlier PC-9/As just last year. The former PC-9/As are now being sold off in Australia, with a few heading to the USA for future training work. Another RAAF participant included a massive No.36 Squadron C-17 Globemaster, which flew in from Queensland. This behemoth participated in the final displays of the day. Overall it was a marvelous event, and we do hope that the Tyabb Airshow will still be able to take place next year with the same thrilling displays and radial engine music. More importantly, we also hope that the airfields long term future as a going concern can be secured by then too! Many thanks indeed to Phil Buckley for his report and images. We hope you all stay safe out there, and stay home. Be well everyone! New York's mayor issues a stark warning as the state struggles to slow the spread of coronavirus. The city's mayor, Bill de Blasio, warned that "people will die who could have lived otherwise" The coronavirus outbreak in New York will get worse, with damage accelerated by shortages of key medical supplies, the city's mayor has said. "We're about 10 days away from seeing widespread shortages," Bill de Blasio said on Sunday. "If we don't get more ventilators people will die." New York state has become the epicentre of the outbreak in the US and accounts for almost half of the country's cases. There are now 31,057 confirmed cases nationwide, with 390 deaths. On Sunday, the state's Governor Andrew Cuomo said 15,168 people had tested positive for the virus., an increase of more than 4,000 from the previous day. "All Americans deserve the blunt truth," Mr de Blasio told NBC News. "It's only getting worse, and in fact April and May are going to be a lot worse." New York now accounts for roughly 5% of Covid-19 cases worldwide. On Friday, President Donald Trump approved a major disaster declaration for the state which gave it access to billions of dollars of federal aid. However, Mr de Blasio has continued to criticise the administration for what he views as an inadequate response. "I cannot be blunt enough: if the president doesn't act, people will die who could have lived otherwise," he said. "This is going to be the greatest crisis, domestically, since the Great Depression," he added, referring to the economic crisis of the 1930s. Speaking at a news conference at the White House on Sunday, Mr Trump said he had also approved a major disaster declaration for Washington state and would approve a similar measure for California. "This is a challenging time for all Americans. We're enduring a great national trial," he said. President Trump also said a number of medical supplies were being sent to locations nationwide, as well as emergency medical stations for New York, Washington and California, the worst-hit states. Doctors across New York have reported depleted medical supplies and a lack of protective gear for healthcare workers on the frontlines of the outbreak. Warnings of such shortages have reverberated across the country as other state governors have pleaded with the federal government to make more supplies available. In California, officials instructed hospitals to restrict coronavirus testing. Meanwhile, a hospital in Washington state - once the centre of the US outbreak - said it could run out of ventilators by April. And on Sunday, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said states were "competing against each other" for virus supplies. "We need millions of masks and hundreds of thousands of gowns and gloves," he said. "We're getting just a fraction of that. So, we're out on the open market competing for these items that we so badly need." An almost $2 trillion (1.7 trillion) emergency stimulus bill intended to blunt the punishing economic impact of the pandemic failed to pass the US Senate on Sunday. The bill got 47 votes, falling short of the 60 needed in the 100-member chamber. Democrats raised objections to the bill with Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer saying it had "many, many problems". Democrats accused Republicans of wanting to bail out big businesses. Talks between Democrats and the White House are continuing. BBC Romania's government barred most foreigners from entering the country on Saturday and tightened restrictions on movement inside the country to try to limit the spread of the new coronavirus. "Foreign citizens and stateless persons are banned from entering Romania through all border points," Interior Minister Marcel Vela said during a national address. Exceptions would be allowed for those transiting through Romania using corridors to be agreed with neighbouring states, he added. Vela cited the example of neighbouring Hungary, which this week also barred entry to foreign nationals but has allowed Romanians returning from Western Europe to transit its territory. Exceptions to the new ban will also be made for diplomats, people who need to travel for work purposes, those who have immediate Romanian family and those in humanitarian need. The government also announced further restrictions to those adopted after President Klaus Iohannis declared a state of emergency on Monday. As of Saturday evening, dental clinics were closed, people were forbidden to attend church services and any public gathering of more than three people was also forbidden. Weddings and funerals are to be limited to eight people. Between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am people are not to leave the house unless necessary for work reasons. Romania has confirmed 367 cases of the novel coronavirus, but has so far reported no deaths. Anytime theres a huge event like the Super Bowl where a large number of people convene from different locations, often to party, illegal activities such as human and sex trafficking tend to heat up, and thus, hit the national radar. Before this years game, the Miami Herald highlighted how traffickers already had begun laying traps and setups to ensnare guests and visitors into trafficking rings. While it is important to increase vigilance during events such as these, its also crucial to recognize this is a year-round concern. Law enforcement in Miami proactively warned hotels and ride share drivers to prepare for these dangers in advance of the Super Bowl, but a heightened level of awareness to this crime is really needed at all times, particularly for the hospitality industry. A Growing Problem Not surprisingly, hotels tend to play a significant role in trafficking cases, as they offer potential traffickers a private location to shelter victims before transporting them. Data from the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) indicates that between December 2007 and Dec. 31, 2017, there were 3,596 instances of human trafficking involving a hotel or motel. Further, hotels and motels were the third most common venue for sex trafficking in 2019 and have been routinely in the top three since 2013. Recent news stories help to highlight the severity of the problem of human trafficking for the hotel industry. According to USA Today, in late 2019, several lawyers approached a federal panel to consolidate 21 pending lawsuits alleging hotel chains across the country had ignored warning signs of human trafficking at their establishments. One of these cases, in Columbus, Ohio, involved a woman who sued three separate hotel chains claiming that employees overlooked clear evidence of trafficking. This evidence she cited included signs hotel operators should train staff to be on the lookout for, including trash cans filled with condoms, cash payments for rooms and the guests refusing housekeeping services. In a second example, 12 hotel chains in Detroit were named in a lawsuit for ignoring signs of human trafficking. One of the victims was a 17-year-old, who was kidnapped at school and taken to a hotel, where she says she was held and abused. The lawsuit states that there were clear warning signs, such as her inability to make eye-contact with staff, her lack of identification or luggage, violent altercations that went on in the hallways involving her, and more. Her representation stated, Despite all of those opportunities to see what was happening, they just kept accepting the money for the rooms, indicating negligence on the part of the hotel and its staff. Making a Difference As is clear in these examples, hotels can play a significant role in human trafficking cases and stand to suffer heavy damages if found guilty. Insurance cannot protect a hotel if there is clear evidence that hotel staff was aware of the incidents and failed to act. Insurers of the hospitality industry must make it a priority to educate their clients on the importance of staying attentive and identifying warning signs. First, agents and brokers can consider providing information to their clients regarding the potential warning signs. The Department of Homeland Security shared some health signs to look for, including: Malnourishment, poor hygiene or injuries, The guest in question has no money or identification or is dressing inappropriately for their age, Owner of the room only pays in cash and frequently brings in new guests. Guests refuse to allow hotel staff to enter the room but request housekeeping services. To identify these issues, hoteliers need to incorporate strict training and education regiments. While mandatory training programs already exist by law, agents and brokers can encourage their policyholders in this space to do more to minimize the chance of a trafficking incident, including: Take a stand. Taking part in campaigns such as the American Hotel & Lodging Associations No Room for Trafficking can help spread awareness that these crimes will not be tolerated. To that end, establishing a clear, anti-trafficking policy can further this message. Create a detailed Abusive Act and Human Trafficking policy. A written policy detailing training, detection, response, reporting and documentation of any abusive acts or trafficking will establish clear protocol and rules to follow. Implement regular training sessions. These training sessions will not only keep staff aware of the latest prevention practices but will emphasize the importance of staying prepared so they can intervene when necessary. Drop the Do Not Disturb. In response to safety threats, Disney hotels have removed Do Not Disturb signs, replacing them with room occupied signs. This provides Disney staff with the right to enter rooms for maintenance, repairs, or to check on guest and property safety, according to the New York Times. This trend has caught on at hotels across the country recently. These are just a few of the many steps agents and brokers can recommend to policyholders in the space. Human trafficking is still a far too widespread issue in the hospitality industry. Hotels with untrained, unprepared staff offer criminals a safe haven to execute their plans. To help put a stop to this, agents and brokers can make their hospitality clients aware of the steps necessary to identify and act on any and all warning signs and encourage training and education for employees. Topics Agencies Training Development MANZINI- Is it safe? This is one question that students doing Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) at UNESWA are probably asking themselves. This comes after the students doing PGCE have been ordered by their lecturer to board public transport and submit their assignments at the university despite the Kings declarations to avoid large gatherings and the closing down of tertiary institutions due to the widespread of the coronavirus. Assignment Information gathered from a student at the University of Eswatini (UNESWA), Kwaluseni Campus was that two weeks back, they were given an assignment which was to be due today. Unfortunately they had to close last week due to the current situation of coronavirus, (COVID-19). This comes shortly after government invoked Section 29 of the Disaster Management Act of 2006 where it declared a national emergency. This, according to government, was after accessing the severity and magnitude of the outbreak of the coronavirus in the country. Through the voice of the Prime Minister, Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini, government further announced that schools and tertiary institutions would be closed indefinitely until further notice. However, the student said to their surprise, their lecturer insisted that they continue to submit the assignment on the stipulated date regardless of the Kings declaration of a national emergency. Report He said they called the student representative council (SRC) chairperson to report the matter and he went to the assistant dean of students affairs (ADSA), to report this matter and to their dismay, the ADSA after hearing about this just allegedly ignored the chairperson, hence today they are expected to all board public transport and travel to Kwaluseni Campus to submit their assignment regardless of how risky that was. We have assignments which are due in three weeks from today including the group assignment. About the assignment which is due next week, the lecturer said we must write it and insert it into an envelope with our names, surname and ID numbers and submit it at the gate, said the student. The student claimed that this was a message from the lecturer conveyed to them (students) by the class representative. According to the student, given the Kings declaration of a national emergency, it could have been ideal for them to submit the assignments online rather than submitting them personally. Comment The University of Eswatini Registrar, Dr Salebona Simelane was reached for comment and said they were not aware of the arrangement between the concerned lecturer and students. We are also not aware of government restrictions on travel by the public as these are students that you are talking about, he said. He said their assumption, again based on the information provided by this reporter, would be that the students would be coming to the institution from the different regions of the country. We are satisfied that the lecturer, again based on your information, is not going to be instructing any group of students, he said. He said communication between lecturers and students remained open and that it was gatherings that were not allowed of groups above 50 people. A grammar school has shut its doors after a parent tested positive for coronavirus - taking a step further than advised by health officials. St Andrew's Grammar School in Dianella, in Perth's CBD, closed on Monday after a parent of a Year One and Year Four student tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday. Neither child has shown symptoms of the infection. The school closed despite the Western Australian Department of Health saying there was no need for the measure. St Andrew's Grammar School in Dianella, in Perth's CBD, closed on Monday after a parent of a Year One and Year Four student tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday However a vote by the school board and the Hellenic Community was made to shut the doors in order to minimise any potential risk to students. St Andrew's Grammar School will be closed until the start of Term 2 so that a proper clean of the facility can be conducted. If either student shows signs of COVID-19 - such as fever or a dry cough - contact tracing will be undertaken to see who the students have come into proximity with. Principal Craig Monaghan said the move was to ensure students' safety. 'The safety of our children is our number one priority and so we decided to act,' said Mr Monaghan in a statement. 'While there is no directive from the government for us to close, we decided that couldn't put our children at risk and decided to take the extra precaution.' 'We are in the fortunate position that online learning has already been set up and will be implemented today.' He said the school, which has students from kindergarten to Year 12, has been planning a transition to online learning for weeks. 'There will be minimal disruption to learning for our students and our attention is turning to how to give them the best possible education under these circumstances,' he said. Students, staff and parents were informed during a meeting on Sunday. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has made it clear he doesn't believe it is necessary to close schools - unless a case of coronavirus has been diagnosed there - based on the current health advice Mr Monaghan said the feedback has been largely positive. 'I've had several emails and messages supporting the decision, and am continuing to consult with parents about why we made it and the way forward,' he said. A spokeswoman from the WA Department of Health said a directive to close the school would only have been made if a student has tested positive. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has made it clear he doesn't believe it is necessary to close schools - unless a case of coronavirus has been diagnosed there - based on the current health advice. Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan echoed his sentiments. However some states have moved ahead with their own plans regarding school closures. New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced on Monday while schools would be open the government was advising parents to keep their children home if it was possible. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced from Tuesday that schools would be shut as students were meant to begin holidays on Friday. Auckland, New Zealand -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/23/2020 -- Better Building has announced that it will continue to roll out its sustainable and affordable renovation solutions across all major cities in the country. The company is hoping to meet growing demand in the market with this new drive for service delivery. Home renovations are becoming a huge part of the construction industry and it's not hard to see why. In fact, Better Building New Zealand claims that average bathroom renovations Auckland can have massive positive effects on the overall value of any home. Besides, the cost of renovations can now be tailored to meet the budget of different people. Whether it's a customer looking to add luxury touches to their bathroom or a budget DIYer looking to make basic improvements in the kitchen, there are options out there to cater to anyone. This is the reason why Better Building in New Zealand and its services have become extremely popular in New Zealand. The company, however, feels that there are more customers out there who could easily benefit from its solutions and it's, therefore, its duty to make sure that it's able to reach out to these markets. There's a challenge though. Home kitchen renovation Auckland is not easy to do. These projects require a lot of investment in equipment and staff in order to serve bigger markets. But Better Building seems like it has a lot of experience in this area. The company has also made other investments in its capacity in an effort to make services generally available to as many people out there. There is surely going to be a huge push though in the coming few weeks to make sure that these services are available to many new customers without affecting the overall standards of quality. After all, Better Building has made it clear that the reason why it has been able to reach the very top of the renovations industry is based on its commitment to excellence and quality. Even as it rolls out its renovation services to new customers in New Zealand, the firm is promising to do everything it takes to make sure that this level of excellence and quality is maintained moving forward. Home renovations are big projects for most people and they rely on contractors to deliver value for money. Better Building d says that it will not let anyone down as far as quality goes. The company is also looking to launch several other construction services too. About Better Building Better Building is one of the leading construction companies in New Zealand offering an array of services. The firm works hand in hand with homeowners to deliver customized construction solutions at some of the most affordable rates in the market. To learn more about its solutions and how it works, you can visit betterbuilding.co.nz Contact : Better Building Auckland New Zealand +64 (21) 288 2322 BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 23 By Nargiz Sadikhova Trend: The decision on whether to close off major settlements in Kazakhstan due to coronavirus outbreak should be made soon, Kazakhstans President Kassym Jomart Tokayev said, Trend reports with reference to the press office of the president. Tokayev made the statement during a meeting of a State Commission on Emergency State held in Nur-Sultan on March 23, 2020. The head of state said that in order to avoid sharp increase in the number coronavirus cases, isolation measures in the country should be tightened. Taking into consideration constantly flowing information as well as negative and positive experience of other countries, we should continue preparing countrys medical system to any development of the situation. It is important to ensure the complete isolation of the quarantine zones in Nur-Sultan and Almaty cities, to prevent the possibility of crossing cities borders on foot. The decision on whether it is necessary to close off major settlements in Kazakhstan due to the coronavirus outbreak should be made soon, Tokayev said. The president added that peoples going to work should be limited and a home isolation mode should be provided. It is time to temporarily close all centers for the population service in the country, while ensuring the opportunity to receive all services online. The requirements for the sanitary treatment of public facilities where public access will be maintained must be strictly carried out, Tokayev said. He added that the time has come to introduce additional restrictions in air, railway and road passenger transportation inside the country. All those arriving from other countries via all types of transport, including from the countries of Eurasian Economic Union should undergo quarantine. The monitoring of those arriving via charter flights should be increased, Tokayev said. By a decision of State Commission on Provision of Emergency State under the president of Kazakhstan quarantine regime has been introduced in Kazakhstans Nur-Sultan and Almaty cities at 00:00 (GMT +6) on March 19, 2020, due to coronavirus outbreak. On March 15, 2020, Kazakhstans president signed a decree introducing an emergency state in Kazakhstan due to coronavirus outbreak, which came in force from 08:00 (GMT +6) on March 16 and will last till 08:00 on April 15, 2020. First two cases of coronavirus infection were detected in Kazakhstan among those who arrived in Almaty city from Germany on March 13, 2020. The latest data said that the overall number of coronavirus cases in Kazakhstan is 62 people. The outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fish market in late December 2019. As of today, over 339,200 people have been confirmed as infected. The number of people killed by the disease has surpassed 14,700. Meanwhile, over 98,800 people have reportedly recovered. Several countries are working on a vaccine against the new virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday announced the statewide curfew in the backdrop of coronavirus pandemic. "Today I am compelled to announce a statewide curfew. People were not listening and we are compelled," said Thackeray. He also said that the government is sealing district borders to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the districts which are not affected by it. Maharashtra has 89 confirmed cases of coronavirus. "Yesterday we sealed the state borders and today we are sealing district borders. We will not allow it to spread to the districts which are unaffected as of now," said Thackeray. "Essentials like groceries, milk, bakery, medical, etc will remain open. People need not panic. All religious places will remain closed. Only the priests and clerics alone will be inside and pray. Today I am compelled to announce a statewide curfew. People were not listening and we are compelled," he added. Earlier in the day, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has announced a "full curfew" in the state "with no relaxations" in a bid to combat the coronavirus pandemic. Prime Minister Modi has asked state governments to ensure rules of lockdown are followed properly and called on citizens to take the issue seriously. "Many people are still not taking the lockdown seriously. Please save yourself by doing this, save your family, follow the instructions seriously. I request the state governments to ensure the rules and laws are followed," he tweeted. The number of coronavirus positive patients in India rose to 415 on Monday, as per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media NEW HAVEN A man was shot while driving on Whalley Avenue Monday, then crashed on Broadway, according to city police. Officers responded to the incident at approximately 1:20 p.m., finding a 24-year-old man wounded in the shoulder, Capt. Anthony Duff said. He was transported to Yale New Haven Hospital and listed as stable, Duff said. Another passenger in the car suffered minor injuries and was hospitalized as well. By Express News Service HYDERABAD: More than 800 foreign returnees who work in the IT sector of the city, including foreigners who come to the city as guests of various companies, have been put in self-isolation in view of the Coronavirus outbreak. Speaking to Express, IT and Industries Principal Secretary Jayesh Ranjan said, As of last week, 800 returnees from other countries who work in the IT sector have been put in isolation. This includes foreigners too. Ranjan added that this measure has been in place since the beginning of March and everyone in question is being asked to be in isolation for 20 days. Latest figures of the number of people from the IT sector isolated will be released soon, government officials said. An official from Society for Cyberabad Security Council (SCSC) said that the companies in which these employees work, are monitoring to ensure they adhere to isolation. We have shared with them the advisory and have told them that every individual has to be quarantined, he said. There has been an increase in stigma in the IT sector against foreign returnees. This after an IT employee was sent to Gandhi Hospital after being found with symptoms of Covid he later tested negative). On Saturday, IT Minister KT Rama Rao appealed to industry representatives to report to the government about employees who have come back from overseas trips. The coronavirus outbreak could increase gang violence in Britain as drug dealers compete over a shrinking market, a report has warned. With bars and nightclubs closed, and most parties cancelled, the Policy Exchange think tank forecast a dramatic reduction in purchases of cocaine and other drugs. A report released on Monday said the change may cause an increase in inter-gang rivalry faced with dwindling revenue streams, resulting in increased violence. School closures may allow street stabbings to continue at a high rate, it added, and robbery could worsen if coronavirus forces police to do fewer patrols and stop and search operations. Addressing parliament on Monday, the home secretary admitted that school closures could make children vulnerable to county lines gangs who use teenagers to transport and deal drugs. Priti Patel said: Children are not at school and they therefore could become prey to gangs and are equally more vulnerable, so we're working with the police to make sure there's greater work taking place on protecting young people. The Policy Exchange report also warned that a reduction in neighbourhood policing "may embolden street gangs, increasing their sense of impunity". This will be exacerbated if courts are forced to close to slow the spread of the virus," it added. Richard Walton, a senior fellow at the Policy Exchange and former Metropolitan Police officer, said: The risk with an increase in gang violence over the comings months is that stabbings in particular so often require intensive care treatment. Hospitals must be spared this extra strain on their resources as they cope with the peak of the coronavirus pandemic. The report also predicted an increase in domestic violence through quarantine and social distancing measures, as well as rising fraud, online scams and shoplifting. Cressida Dick: Met Police not ruled out boosting numbers in London amid Coronavirus Amid reports of burglars posing as NHS workers testing for coronavirus, the Policy Exchange warned of distraction burglaries were likely to become more common. But it added that other forms of crime may be reduced as a result of the outbreak, including disorderly behaviour and fights related to bars, pubs, nightclubs and restaurants. Police forces across the country have drawn up plans for coping with the loss of up to a fifth of officers and staff during the coronavirus pandemic. Senior officers said there would be a graduated withdrawal of service if the pandemic worsens, with emergency responses and supporting the NHS prioritised over other functions. The Policy Exchange report said that if the ability to deal with anything other than the most serious crimes diminishes, it could loosen temporarily the fabric of law and order in society. It said that a reduction in neighbourhood officers would leave some communities vulnerable to local disorder and criminal opportunists, while reducing the visibility of the police. Official government advice predicted that riots are unlikely, but the research warned that the reduced presence of police officers could leading to occasional pockets of street disorder that could spread. Officers have been given powers to forcibly detain people for coronavirus isolation or testing, but the Policy Exchange predicted that the British model of policing by consent would assist social cohesion and cooperation. The impact on crime and law and order will be profound but short term and not of the same scale, complexity or severity as on the health service, the report concluded. Some crime will increase but a lot of crime will decrease, helping to balance crime-related demands. The investigation of serious crimes will continue but less serious crimes will result in a much-reduced service. The report recommended boosting Neighbourhood Watch schemes across the country and working to maintain police Safer Neighbourhood Teams with a visible street presence. It called for a national advertising campaign to raise morale across the country and build social cohesion, alongside improved cooperation and information sharing between authorities. Mr Walton called coronavirus the biggest challenge to policing since the Second World War. With stretched resources, the police will have to adapt faster than ever before, he added. The government will have to give them all possible support, including military backup so that the police can maintain law and order on the streets. The report was released a day after the National Crime Agency (NCA) warned that organised crime groups and paedophiles may try to exploit the outbreak. Investigators have found coronavirus-themed malicious apps and websites, as well as email phishing attacks aimed at stealing personal and financial information. There have been numerous reports of people ordering protective equipment and other linked products that never arrived, and a British man has been arrested over fake coronavirus treatment kits. The NCA warned that with more children spending time online alone following school closures, there was a risk of increased offending by paedophiles. And people smugglers are reportedly telling migrants the UK is safer from coronavirus than continental Europe in order to boost demand for dangerous small boat crossings over the English Channel. The Home Affairs Committee has started an inquiry into the preparedness of the NCA, police, border force and other agencies to respond to the pandemic. (Photo : Screenshot from: Pexels Official Website) It is not a surprise or a coincidence that every time there is a major news event happening in the world, scammers are targeting and preying on the public to spread malware. This time these tricksters are using and impersonating the World Health Organization to do it. Read Also: Intel Engineering Has Done it Again! Neuromorphic Chips Now Has 100 Million Neuron "Spikes" HawkEye Malware Researchers at IBM X-Force have reported that the HawkEye malware is being distributed to the public using a World Health Organization e-mail address from Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. These victims are then asked to click and open up a link that is attached to the e-mail which launches a password-and-bitcoin harvesting malware on Windows. X-Force had then stated in the report that "One thing worth mentioning is that the attackers put some effort into hiding the real intention of it. The environmental awareness of our sample was quite good and average users would most likely not notice an info-stealer being installed." Pwn2Own Results Pwn2Own is a hacking competition in which elite developers are being challenged to try and find vulnerabilities and try to compromise big-name brands for a prize. People tend to overlook this event ever since the coronavirus outbreak. The winners this year were STAR LABS hacking team, Fluroacetate, and Georgia Tech Systems Software and Security Lab. There are various kinds of software that these hackers or contestants are capitalizing on and it includes Apple macOS, Microsoft Windows, Oracle VirtualBox, and Ubuntu Linux. All bugs that were found will be privately reported to the vendors and will be shared when updates and patches are then available to be installed. Mozilla to walk back TLS 1.0, 1.1 cuts Mozilla had said they will be reverting the change for an unidentified amount of time to try and better access to critical government sites that have been sharing COVID-19 information. The company had planned on dialing back support for the weak TLS 1.0 and 1.1 web encryption protocols to maintain support amid the coronavirus outbreak. FCC gives out a warning about Coronavirus scams The FCC has already spoken about the phishing, robocall and other scams that involve the coronavirus pandemic. These have been rounded up to HVAC cleaning, test kits, and fake cures. According to The Register, FCC consumer and government affairs chief Patrick Webre, said that the FCC has stated that they are trying to track scams and advising the public to help them look the other way and warn them about these imposters that are tiring to steal their money and identity. Rogers Data Leak Rogers, a Canadian telecom giant have admitted that they had some customer information and data left exposed in database that was unprotected. Canuck ISP has stated that this database was solely used by one of its partners in marketing and did not provide or contain any kind of password nor card numbers. In this time and situation that the entire world is currently experiencing, it is frightening that these scammers would even think about spreading fake news about the COVID-19, expose personal data and information of the public and even cures that are not even real. Read Also: Killer Droids? Researchers Say Nobody's Prepared for Drone Terrorists 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Representative image Until several days ago, some bars and restaurants were still packed with St. Patricks Day crowds. Beaches were full. And it seemed as if many young adults were slow to take steps to curb the spread of the coronavirus. I kept hearing, Eighty percent of cases are mild, said Christian Heuer, 32, of Los Angeles, who tested positive for the virus last week and has been running a low-grade fever for six days. But this is not just a sniffly runny nose. Its the real deal. Youre really sick. His girlfriend, Natasha Wynnyk, 28, felt fine for several days after Heuer got sick, and she thought she might be impervious to infection. Then her fever spiked on Monday evening, and she started experiencing severe and sharp aches in her back, joints and fingers, which she compared to a feeling of being stabbed. The couple are part of a worrying trend suggesting that young people may have contributed to the pandemics spread in the United States and other countries by going about business as usual for too long, perhaps believing that being young and healthy protected them from infection. But preliminary figures released on Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that adults ages 20 to 44 represent nearly one-third of U.S. coronavirus patients whose ages are known. Younger adults are generally more resilient than older people, but an increase in chronic health conditions among millennials, in their 20s and 30s now, has made them less hardy than they might think. They have seen rising levels of obesity and illnesses such as Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, as well as an increase in heart disease and some cancers. These are strongly associated with poor outcomes from coronavirus infection. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show In addition, some 17% of men and 12% of women ages 18 to 44 smoke cigarettes, and 4% to 7% use electronic cigarettes, according to national figures. Both increase the risk of respiratory illness. How members of this generation will adapt to life during the pandemic might also dovetail with other problems. Compared with members of Generation X, in their 40s and 50s now, millennials have higher rates of behavioral health problems like depression which affects 1 in 20 adults who are in their mid-30s, according to one report and a significant number have alcohol and substance abuse problems, which are easily aggravated by social and economic turmoil and dislocation, experts say. Millennials make up the largest share of the labor force and are a vital part of the economy, but they also face unique financial struggles. Many millennials juggle several jobs in the gig economy, and they are more likely than any other age group to be uninsured. Many are also burdened by student debt and contend with increasingly unaffordable housing. As a generation, they have borne the brunt of drug overdose deaths. Many have postponed marriage and starting a family for financial reasons. While they have heard that by engaging in social distancing they can play an important role in reducing the spread of the coronavirus to others more vulnerable than they are, they are not immune. Although the risk of hospitalization or dying from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, increases with each decade of life, according to the CDCs recent analysis of cases, the agency found that young adults can develop severe disease: Of 508 patients admitted to hospitals, 20% were 20 to 44 years old. Some younger people do die of the disease, at a rate of about 1 or 2 per 1,000 cases. The reports authors cautioned that their analysis was limited because much of their data was incomplete, and that information about chronic health conditions that affect the severity of disease was missing. A report on millennials health by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, released last year, said chronic physical health conditions that are more common among millennials compared with Generation X members include high blood pressure, which affects more than 1 in 8 adults in their mid-30s, and Type 2 diabetes, which affects 1 in 25. The report analyzed claims from the large insurers database. Obesity, which has increased in prevalence for all Americans, is also considered a risk factor for the coronavirus, experts say. But many news reports have consistently emphasized that the elderly and those in poor health are the most vulnerable and most likely to die. The message has been that if youre younger and generally healthy, youre going to be fine, and I think thats the wrong message, said Mila Clarke Buckley, 30, who writes about living with Type 2 diabetes on her blog, Hangry Woman, and creates sponsored content for FreeStyle Libre, a continuous glucose monitoring system. It makes young people feel that invincibility they already feel about their health. Living with diabetes puts Buckley at heightened risk for severe illness if she were to become infected, she said, so she has stopped traveling out of town. She is also staying home more and practicing social distancing even with her husband, who is still going out to work. He has a cold right now, so we are sleeping in separate bedrooms, Buckley said from her home in Houston. We know that if I get sick its a big deal it may impact me a lot harder. Buckley said she had turned down a tempting invitation from her sister-in-law, who had invited the entire extended family over for dinner, now that restaurants were offering limited service. But the family is large, Buckley said, and she declined. We told her we dont think its a good idea to gather, and perhaps she should rethink it, she said. To catch up with her friends, Buckley said, she made a date for a FaceTime Happy Hour for this week. Well each pick out our own favorite wine and jump on FaceTime at 7 oclock, she said. But staying home and practicing social distancing may take a greater toll on young adults as they face additional mental health challenges, especially if they live alone or struggle with anxiety or depression, said Benjamin F. Miller, a psychologist who is the chief strategy officer for Well Being Trust, a national foundation focusing on mental and spiritual health. Young adults are less likely than older adults to be married, and a 2018 Cigna survey of 20,000 Americans found that many reported feeling lonely and left out. Those who are 18 to 37 were more likely than older adults to report they had no meaningful relationships, did not share ideas and interests with anyone, felt isolated and did not feel close to anyone. Many of our millennials already feel socially disconnected, and this exacerbates those ongoing feelings these folks already had, Miller said. The Blue Cross report said that 6 of the top 10 conditions taking the heaviest toll on young adults were behavioral health conditions like substance abuse and mental health problems. Like many millennials, Will Lanier, a 34-year-old from Austin, Texas, works at home, running the Out Foundation, a wellness and fitness organization for LGBTQ people that he founded. (A survivor of ulcerative colitis and colon cancer, he serves as a patient advocate on a Pfizer advisory board, for which he receives some financial compensation.) He lives alone and worries about the desolation he might feel if classes at his CrossFit gym are shut down. FaceTime can only do so much, and human interaction is so important, Lanier said. While people often make a point of reaching out to older relatives or neighbors who live alone and may be lonely, he said, people dont check on young people. Its just me and my dog Ill go days without talking with someone, he said. If I slipped in the shower, itd be days before anyone found me. c.2020 The New York Times Company Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 15:01:00|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- China launched a national online learning platform to keep studies going for its hundreds of millions of primary and secondary students who have been confined to their homes amid the novel coronavirus outbreak. Jointly launched by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on Feb. 17, the free learning platform covers the 31 provincial-level regions on the Chinese mainland. The platform has been upgraded to further enrich its resources and promote the all-round development of students, featuring 10 sections, including epidemic prevention education, moral education, mental health education, classic literature and digital teaching materials. With the support of China's telecom and technology giants, such as China Telecom, China Mobile, Alibaba, Baidu and Huawei, the platform can host 50 million students simultaneously. More than 870 million visits had been paid to the platform's website as of March 19, the China Education Daily said in a Monday report. China has postponed the start of the new school semester as part of its epidemic control efforts and students have turned to online courses for nearly two months. As the epidemic has basically been curbed in China, some regions have resumed school classes or announced dates for starting the new semester, most of which prioritized graduating middle and high school students. DES MOINES Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Sunday ordered the closures of salons, barber shops, tattoo parlors, swimming pools and more businesses, and she pleaded with Iowans to remain in their homes as much as possible, especially if they are feeling sick, to help limit the spread of the novel coronavirus. But Reynolds fell short of issuing a shelter-in-place order for Iowa, as have at least a half-dozen states, including eastern neighbor Illinois. At this point were going to continue to re-evaluate every day, well sit down with the (Iowa) Department of Public Health, well look at the (federal) CDC guidelines, well look at whats happening in other states, and well evaluate what were seeing in the state of Iowa, where the hot spots are, and well make that decision going forward, Reynolds said Sunday during a news conference held in the State Emergency Operations Center at Camp Dodge in Johnston. But right now were not at the place where were ready to implement that (shelter-in-place) order. After a slow but steady increase in the number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Iowa since the first case was confirmed here, the number of cases has doubled over the past two days. From March 9 to March 20, a span of 12 days, there were 45 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Iowa, according to state data. Over the past two days, an additional 45 cases have been confirmed. Tama County is now reporting three cases. In order to limit the coronavirus spread, Reynolds previously ordered the closure of restaurants and bars except for drive-through or carryout service, and per federal guidelines ordered Iowans to avoid gatherings of 10 or more people. Reynolds new action taken Sunday ordered the closures of salons, medical spas, barbershops, tattoo establishments, tanning facilities, massage therapy establishments, and swimming pools. A shelter-in-place order can vary from state to state. But generally it would mean individuals would be required to stay in their homes other than to conduct essential tasks like buying groceries or caring for family members, and only essential businesses like grocers, gas stations and health care facilities, for example would be allowed to remain open. Reynolds said Sunday the state is not yet ready to create such an order; she instead pleaded with Iowans to make the individual choice to practice caution. I just want to close out the press conference again (with) a heartfelt plea to Iowans to be responsible and help be a part of the solution. And that is, if youre not feeling well or youre sick, please stay home, Reynolds said. If we all do that, we will get through this and we will help (prevent the virus impact) from shutting down our health care system. Thus far the Iowa public health department has been publishing the number of confirmed cases and the number of negative tests for the coronavirus. Starting next week, the state also will make public the number of coronavirus-related hospitalizations and the number of individuals who have recovered from the virus, a spokesman for the governors office said. A state public health department official said Sunday that the state has been tracking that data. Reynolds during Sundays news conference also detailed suggested guidelines for child care facilities in Iowa. The state human services department is recommending, among other preventative steps: Parents who are working remotely should keep their children at home with them. Child care facilities may stay open, but should conduct temperature screenings upon drop-off. Children with a temperature of 100.4 or higher should not be allowed to stay at a child care facility. Child care facilities should take precautionary cleaning measures like disinfecting all surfaces and toys, removing all plush toys and barring families from bringing plush toys from home, and washing blankets daily. Our goal today is the same as it always is: providing safe care and meeting the needs of the families that we serve, said Kelly Garcia, director of the state human services department.Reynolds also asked schools, churches and other community organizations with building space to help address child care needs, especially for the children of workers in essential industries like health care. She said the state hopes to partner with local entities to help provide child care, and that programs are ready or being prepared in Waterloo, Council Bluffs and other communities. The biggest need we have now is space, Reynolds said. If you have the space, we have a plan to quickly put a program in place. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. "The captain came on the intercom and told us several passengers and crew have flu-like conditions," one passenger told Business Insider. Reuters Passengers on board the MS Zaandam, a Holland America Line cruise ship, have been asked to remain in their state rooms because several crew members and guests have begun exhibiting flu-like symptoms. These individual instances of sickness have not been confirmed as COVID-19 cases. Holland America confirmed to Business Insider that 13 guests and 29 crew members have reported to the ship's medical center "with influenza-like symptoms." "Out of an abundance of caution, we have now asked all guests to remain in their staterooms until we have more information," the spokesperson said. "The captain came on the intercom and told us several passengers and crew have flu-like conditions," one passenger told Business Insider in a text. The Zaandam's 1,243 passengers and 586 crew members are currently sailing north after being shut out of South American ports over coronavirus concerns. Are you a cruise ship passenger or employee with a story to share? Email acain@businessinsider.com. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Passengers onboard the MS Zaandam, a Holland America cruise ship, have been asked to remain in their staterooms after several passengers and crew members began exhibiting "flu-like symptoms." "This morning aboard Zaandam, 13 guests and 29 crew reported to the ship's medical center with influenza-like symptoms," a Holland America spokesperson told Business Insider in a statement. "Out of an abundance of caution, we have now asked all guests to remain in their staterooms until we have more information." Chile had previously blocked the ship, which has 1,243 guests and 586 crew members on board, from allowing its president to disembark over coronavirus concerns, leaving the cruise ship uncertain about its ongoing route. Previously, the cruise was scheduled to last 14 days, embarking from Buenos Aires on March 7 and set to end in San Antonio on March 21. Those plans were diverted due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the cruise ship rerouted its course to sail north to an undetermined destination. Story continues But now, a day after the ship was supposed to dock in San Antonio, passengers are reporting an outbreak of sickness on board. An American guest who asked to go by his first name Chuck over privacy concerns described the March 22 announcement to Business Insider. "The captain came on the intercom and told us several passengers and crew have flu-like conditions," Chuck told Business Insider in a text. "We are all now confined to our rooms. I guess the fun is over. Now I wish we would have upgraded to a balcony." A Holland America spokesperson confirmed that "guests have been asked to remain in their staterooms and monitor their health." "If they become symptomatic, they are asked to call the medical center for an evaluation and care from the ship's medical professionals (at no charge)," the spokesperson said. "Effective today, meal service will be provided by room service until further notice. All public areas are closed." The quarantine will also apply to all crew members "who are not required for the safe operation of the ship," and all cruise staffers will be asked to practice social-distancing and self-isolation. Previously, the cruise line said in a statement that the Zaandam was not in quarantine and that there were no known or suspected cases of COVID-19 on board. The passengers and crew members who are currently exhibiting flu-like symptoms have not yet been diagnosed with COVID-19. Chuck said that guests will still be allowed to order room service and that the captain said the decision was made "out of caution." Another source whose brother is currently onboard the ship confirmed that passengers have been confined to their rooms due to "flu-like symptoms." This is the latest instance of the havoc that the coronavirus outbreak has wrought on the cruise ship industry. Six passengers died after getting caught up in the coronavirus outbreak onboard the Diamond Princess ship in February. A majority of the guests released from the Grand Princess declined to be tested for the disease after a lengthy quarantine. Now that crew members and passengers on the Zaandam have been struck with an as-of-yet-unknown illness, it is unclear what the ship's next course of action will be. But Chuck said that the news from the captain has brought down spirits on board. Yesterday, passengers had cheered the captain had announced that the ship's crew hoped to sail through the Panama Canal and up to Fort Lauderdale. "The mood just changed," he told Business Insider in a text. Holland America has advised people with relatives on board the ship to call 1-877-425-2231 and 1-206-626-7398 for more information. Read Holland America's full statement here: This morning aboard Zaandam, 13 guests and 29 crew reported to the ship's medical center with influenza-like symptoms. Out of an abundance of caution, we have now asked all guests to remain in their staterooms until we have more information. There are 1,243 guests and 586 crew on board. Zaandam is following the response protocols that have been developed in coordination with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Since it is flu season, and COVID-19 testing is not available on board, it is difficult to determine the cause of these elevated cases at this time. The safety and well-being of our guests and crew is one of our highest priorities. The ship has activated these precautionary measures out of an abundance of caution: As is our standard practice, all ill persons have been isolated and their close contacts placed in quarantine. Guests have been asked to remain in their staterooms and monitor their health. If they become symptomatic, they are asked to call the medical center for an evaluation and care from the ship's medical professionals (at no charge). Effective today, meal service will be provided by room service until further notice. All public areas are closed. The entire ship is operating at maximum sanitation levels, including rigorous cleaning and disinfecting of public and crew areas. Crew who are not required for the safe operation of the ship are being quarantined. Those that are needed to maintain the ship's operation are being asked to self-isolate when not performing essential functions, practice social distancing, self-monitor and report any illness to the Medical Center. Both internet and guest stateroom telephone services remain complimentary so that guests may stay in touch with their families. Zaandam was sailing a South America voyage that departed Buenos Aires, Argentina, on March 7 and was originally scheduled to end in San Antonio, Chile, on March 21. However, due to global health concerns, Holland America Line made the decision to suspend its global cruise operations for 30 days and end its current cruises in progress as quickly as possible and return guests home. Despite previous confirmations that guests could disembark in Punta Arenas, Chile, for flights, we were not permitted to do so. No one has been off the ship since March 14 in Punta Arenas. Zaandam then sailed to Valparaiso, Chile, where it remained at anchor March 20-21 while taking on provisions and fuel, including regular medications for those that needed them. Zaandam departed Valparaiso on March 21 and is currently sailing north. Our intention is to proceed to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for arrival on March 30, however we are still working on securing a reservation to transit the Panama Canal. Alternative options are also being developed. For those with family members on board, they can call the following numbers for information: 1-877-425-2231 and 1-206-626-7398. Are you a cruise ship passenger or employee with a story to share? Email acain@businessinsider.com. Read the original article on Business Insider Home Search ICH DOJ seeks new emergency powers amid coronavirus pandemic By Betsy Woodruff Swan March 22, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - The Justice Department has quietly asked Congress for the ability to ask chief judges to detain people indefinitely without trial during emergencies part of a push for new powers that comes as the coronavirus spreads through the United States. Documents reviewed by POLITICO detail the departments requests to lawmakers on a host of topics, including the statute of limitations, asylum and the way court hearings are conducted. POLITICO also reviewed and previously reported on documents seeking the authority to extend deadlines on merger reviews and prosecutions. A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment on the documents. The move has tapped into a broader fear among civil liberties advocates and Donald Trumps critics that the president will use a moment of crisis to push for controversial policy changes. Already, he has cited the pandemic as a reason for heightening border restrictions and restricting asylum claims. He has also pushed for further tax cuts as the economy withers, arguing that it would soften the financial blow to Americans. And even without policy changes, Trump has vast emergency powers that he could legally deploy right now to try and slow the coronavirus outbreak. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter The DOJ requests which are unlikely to make it through a Democratic-led House span several stages of the legal process, from initial arrest to how cases are processed and investigated. In one of the documents, the department proposed that Congress grant the attorney general power to ask the chief judge of any district court to pause court proceedings whenever the district court is fully or partially closed by virtue of any natural disaster, civil disobedience, or other emergency situation. The proposal would also grant those top judges broad authority to pause court proceedings during emergencies. It would apply to any statutes or rules of procedure otherwise affecting pre-arrest, post-arrest, pre-trial, trial, and post-trial procedures in criminal and juvenile proceedings and all civil process and proceedings, according to draft legislative language the department shared with Congress. In making the case for the change, the DOJ document wrote that individual judges can currently pause proceedings during emergencies, but that their proposal would make sure all judges in any particular district could handle emergencies in a consistent manner. The request raised eyebrows because of its potential implications for habeas corpus the constitutional right to appear before a judge after arrest and seek release. Not only would it be a violation of that, but it says affecting pre-arrest, said Norman L. Reimer, the executive director of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. So that means you could be arrested and never brought before a judge until they decide that the emergency or the civil disobedience is over. I find it absolutely terrifying. Especially in a time of emergency, we should be very careful about granting new powers to the government. Reimer said the possibility of chief judges suspending all court rules during an emergency without a clear end in sight was deeply disturbing. That is something that should not happen in a democracy, he said. The department also asked Congress to pause the statute of limitations for criminal investigations and civil proceedings during national emergencies, and for one year following the end of the national emergency, according to the draft legislative text. Trump recently declared the coronavirus crisis a national emergency. Another controversial request: The department is looking to change the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure in some cases to expand the use of videoconference hearings, and to let some of those hearings happen without defendants consent, according to the draft legislative text. Video teleconferencing may be used to conduct an appearance under this rule, read a draft of potential new language for Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 5(f), crossing out the phrase if the defendant consents. Video teleconferencing may be used to arraign a defendant, read draft text of rule 10(c), again striking out the phrase if the defendant consents. Reimer said forcing people to have hearings over video rather than in person would threaten civil liberties. If it were with the consent of the accused person it would be fine, he said. But if its not with the consent of the accused person, its a terrible road to go down. We have a right to public trials. People have a right to be present in court. The department also wants Congress to change the law to explicitly say that people with Covid-19 the illness caused by the novel coronavirus are not included among those who may apply for asylum. And the department asked for the same change regarding people who are subject to a presidential proclamation suspending and limiting the entry of aliens into the United States, according to the draft legislative language. Layli Miller-Muro, the CEO of the Tahirih Justice Center, which advocates for women and girls fleeing violence, said the language would block anyone on a presidential travel ban list from seeking asylum in the U.S. I think its a humanitarian tragedy that fails to recognize that vulnerable people from those countries are among the most persecuted and that protecting them is exactly what the refugee convention was designed to do, she said. The asylum request comes as the Trump administration on Friday said that it would begin denying entry to all migrants illegally crossing the U.S. southern border, including those seeking asylum. I hope we come out of this with a sense of oneness, interconnectedness, Miller-Munro said of the coronavirus pandemic. Borders cant protect us. Viruses do not care. " Source " Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== Exclusive: Inside The Military's Top Secret Plans If Coronavirus Cripples the Government AOC slams reported DOJ effort to indefinitely detain people during emergency: 'Abhorrent' In their recent editorial, CT needs a viable Republican party, the editors of Hearst Connecticut Media bemoaned the failure of Republicans to promote viable candidates for Congress in Connecticut. The failure to elect Republicans isnt a healthy situation, they claimed, arguing that electing Republicans to office is essential to maintaining a vital democracy. The media conglomerate, which operates a newspaper monopoly over southwestern Connecticut, singled out Democratic congressman Jahana Hayes, the first Black woman ever to represent Connecticut in Congress, as the states most vulnerable congressman, and urged the GOP to put up a stronger candidate against her than Republican candidate and notorious Giuliani crony, Robert Hyde. It is telling that Hearst editors published their editorial urging the election of more Republicans to Congress in the midst of the impeachment of Republican president Donald Trump, as every Republican congressman was voting against his impeachment. Those Republicans turned a blind eye to Trumps betrayal of American ally Ukraine, to Trumps corruption of the justice department, his violation of Congresss power of the purse by unilaterally diverting billions in tax dollars to build a border wall, his obstruction of justice, his refusal to honor Congressional subpoenas. That Republican president is now compiling an enemies list and carrying out a purge of government employees he believes disloyal to him. Yet none of that concerns Hearst Connecticut editors, who want the people of Connecticut to elect more Republicans to protect that tyrant. Hearst editors, when encouraging Connecticut voters to elect more Republicans, does it not trouble you that Republican senators voted to put a credibly accused attempted rapist, Brett Kavanaugh, on the United States Supreme Court? Does it trouble you not that the Republican president who nominated Kavanaugh, Donald Trump, is himself accused of rape, sexual assault, or sexual harassment by at least 23 women? Hearst editors, think back to January 2017, when tens of thousands of Connecticut women outraged by Trumps misogyny and Republican policies eliminating womens reproductive rights joined mass protest marches in Boston, New York, and Washington, D.C, while thousands more demonstrated against Trumpism here in Connecticut. That year, Democratic women mobilized against Trumpism and the GOP, winning control of 22 Connecticut municipalities. The following year, Democratic women delivered a powerful rebuke to the GOP in state legislature elections, increasing Democratic control, swelling the number of Democratic women senators from seven to 10, and women representatives from 22 to 29. That year, Jahana Hayes made Connecticut history by becoming the first African-American woman elected to Congress, joining the wave of outrage against Trump and his GOP that saw 36 women elected to Congress, all but one Democrats. Hearst editors, have you forgotten that outrage? Hearst editors, have you forgotten the damage the GOP has done to Connecticut? The 16 years of rampant corruption and mismanagement of Rowland-Rell? How those Republicans left Connecticuts pension funds vastly underfunded; its budget $3.6 billion in deficit, the rainy day fund empty; the Special Transportation Fund verging on insolvency; our economy collapsing? Have you forgotten the GOPs punitive legislation capping federal deductions for state and local taxes (SALT) that specifically targeted Democratic states, of which Connecticut has been hardest hit? That Republican bill raised Connecticuts federal taxes by more than $10 billion, equivalent to half our entire state budget. Connecticuts 4th district, represented by Democrat Jim Himes, incurred the 7th highest tax increase of all the countrys 435 congressional districts. Hearst Connecticut editors, should Connecticut voters reward the GOP for doing that to us? Have you forgotten that Republican legislators voted against creating our state health insurance exchange, which now provides health insurance to nearly 400,000 residents? That even after the Newtown slaughter, majorities of Republicans in both chambers of the state legislature still voted against gun control legislation? That Republican legislators have repeatedly proposed enshrining racist voter suppression in our state constitution? That GOP legislators continue to block early voting? That majorities of Republicans voted against making gay marriage legal? Have you forgotten how Republicans blocked the nomination of the openly gay Justice Andrew McDonald to be chief justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court for no other reason than his sexual orientation? Have you forgotten the Connecticut GOPs 2017 budget? That proposed eliminating public funding for state elections; eliminating the Roberta Willis Scholarship that helps 15,000 low-income minority youth attend college; the massive cuts to the University of Connecticut which then-president Susan Herbst claimed would sink us for decades; cancellation of the earned income tax credit for Connecticuts working poor; its $100 million tax on teachers? Hearst editors, as the publisher of several newspapers serving Connecticut towns and cities with large Black and Hispanic populations, what message are you sending when you single out Jahana Hayes, the first black woman ever elected to Congress from the Constitution State, as the most vulnerable Democratic congressman, and call for the GOP to put up a candidate against her thats not just viable, but capable of winning? When you call for a Republican to run against the vulnerable African-American Congressman Hayes, did you not consider Republicans support for Donald Trumps characterization of the White Supremacists rioting in Charlottesville as very fine people? The Constitution State must vote out every Republican at every level of government in every town and congressional district. That will save our vital democracy. Sean Goldrick is a resident of the Riverside section of Greenwich. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment There is a concern of more considerable significance than any of those commonly gleaned from the current coronavirus crisis. It is the possibility that a spiritual message from God could go overlooked. As a whole, people have tremendous faith in medical science to cure any illness. Wisdom would readily acknowledge that the advances made in healthcare are astonishing, but it remains something of an art. It still requires imagination, guesswork, trial and error methods. Medical experts arent always confident about what theyre doing. Though most people are never involved in the esoteric aspects of medical research, even the layman can see its a risky business, and there are no guarantees it can always help us. Yet because we have such high expectations, we tend to overuse it. Physicians say large portions of the people they see do not actually need a doctor. They suffer from an ailment that could just as easily be served with a little rest and self-tender love and care, and not a prescription. So much medicine is dispensed for psychological reasons rather than an actual physical sickness. Millions and millions of dollars are spent by people who have come to believe that a pill can relieve almost anything. Our oft unquestioning faith in medical science and use of its facilities is driven by latent anxieties of suffering, aging, pain, and disability. Worst of all, death terrifies us. These fears are met with an unfounded faith in the perceived absolute power and sagacity of the medical profession. Some physicians will even encourage this dependency. Is it any wonder healthcare costs have astronomically risen? Is it any wonder so many people are willing to risk their freedom for a socialistic healthcare system? My point is this. We should affirm the value of the healing arts as a gift from God. Indeed, there is much that medicine can do for us. Still, it has its limits. Its practitioners are not gods. They possess no sacral mystique, but are fallible human beings like the rest of us. People with faith in the Lord of creation; know it is only God who is never in error. Only God is ever in complete control. And although we would not readily dismiss the blessings of medical research and practice, only God truly has the power to heal. So, how is this related to the current coronavirus pandemic? There are several ways, but for now, lets stick to the spiritual. Health experts are working around the clock to contain the virus and to find a vaccine. Things appear promising. Yet everything could turn on a dime. The virus could mutate into something more infectious and lethal. Infections could spread beyond the capacity to handle despite the medical communitys best efforts. The death toll could escalate into thousands upon thousands. Other variables include the severe weakening of our economy, which could not only leave us with hospitals overflowing with the ill, but our streets filled with the hungry and homeless. Only God knows, and ultimately our plight is in his hands, not the doctors and medical scientists that are seeking to provide a solution. Neither can the government save us. Government like medical science is meant to serve us, but government must always be eyed with a healthy dose of skepticism, especially in an hour of crisis. Governments have a penchant for capitalizing on crises as a means of extending their powers and reducing our liberties. These words should not generate panic, but are meant to precipitate deep contemplation. Neither do they give an excuse for ignoring the direction of healthcare experts or the governments instructions at this time. Their purpose is simply to declare unequivocally that our hope is in God. They are meant to say that God, in His all-wise providence has allowed this moment to serve His purposes, one of which is to remind us of our profound vulnerabilities and desperate need of Him. Its a point of tremendous consternation for some people that God would be at the heart of a calamity. It is, however, a jagged reality pill that must be taken if we would be spiritually healthy. Yes, God may use trouble to send a message, to make us reflect, to cause us to take introspection, to change our direction, and reshape our persons. How we respond to Him can make the difference. In Jeremiah 18:1-11, the Bible says the prophet Jeremiah observed a potter working at his wheel. Jeremiah said he saw that people are like clay in Gods hands. If God sees their lives marred by rebellion towards Him, He reserves the right to break the vessel down and rework it. Jeremiah said if the Lord declares judgment on a nation and that nation turns from its evil, the Lord can avert the disaster heading their way. If they ignore God and refuse to start living right, then God wont oblige himself to help them at all. The story of the potter and his wheel illustrates a double freedom that can only be exercised within a specific window of time. People have the freedom to respond to Gods sovereign plans, and God has the freedom to change his plans in the context of their timely response. During these recent uncertain days, much has been said about the choice between fear and faith. But an equally important message may be the choice between repentance and ruin. When we have operated throughout our lives, individually and corporately, without the appropriate recognition of God, his grace and mercies, then calamity behooves us like prodigals to return home to a loving and benevolent Heavenly Father, lest our lot become worse. Song writer and musician, Steven Van Zandt, once said, What the world needs is an Emergency Boss an Emergency Czar an Emergency Commander a true Master of Disaster one person completely responsible for the anticipation, immediate reconnaissance, and urgent execution of rescue and relief efforts around the world. There is only one person, one entity that fits this role not medical research not the government not anyone else but only God. Thats the message that may be lost and overlooked in the COVID-19 health pandemic. Lets face it; even if the coronavirus doesnt get worse and the danger passes swiftly, everyone who is outside of saving faith in Jesus Christ is facing an incomparable disaster the loss of their soul. Jonathan Edwards, the Congregationalist Protestant theologian of the 17th Century, said that every person without Christ hangs by a slender thread over the pit of hell, with the flames of divine wrath flashing about it, and ready every moment to singe it, and burn it asunder. Without Christ, said Edwards, they have nothing of their own making to save them, nothing to keep off the flames of wrath, and nothing that they can do to induce God to spare them. If God is ignored past the opportunity of his gracious offer to repent and be saved, everything is lost lost forever. Could you be missing the message highlighted by COVID-19? Is the message lost to America? Is it lost to much of the world? Emergencies, traumas, challenging and impassable predicaments, can serve as powerful dispatches of Gods authority over us. God alone is in control. God alone is our hope. God alone is the source of healing. God alone can save. God alone can make the injustice right. God alone can turn the tragic around. We dont just need God in times of trouble, but every single moment of every single day. And we cant just keep thumbing our nose at God and expect Him to be there for us when were in distress. What do you need to decide? Do you recognize, perhaps now more than ever, your need of God? Do you need to repent of your sins and turn to Christ? President Muhammadu Buharis chief of staff, Abba Kyari, has raised an urgent public health alarm to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, informing him of the arrogance of some Nigerian lawmakers towards health officials. Mr Kyari, in a letter to Femi Gbajabiamila on March 21, said the minister of health had drawn his attention to repeated violation of screening procedure at the nations airports. As you are aware, these airport screenings are our primary line of defence and refusal by any citizen to subject to these tests is a threat to our nation, the chief of staff wrote. The letter surfaced on social media Monday morning, although it was unclear who first posted it. Mr Kyari admonished Mr Gbajabiamila to immediately rein in the excesses of federal lawmakers and ask all those who have refused to submit to medical test for COVID-19 to report themselves at the screening centres across the country. The letter did not specifically name the lawmakers that declined screening upon returning from a foreign trip. A spokesperson for Mr Gbajabiamila, Lanre Lasisi, did not return calls seeking comments about the letter. READ ALSO: It was unclear why the minister of health failed to contact the head of the lower chamber of parliament directly once he became aware of the matter. He could not be immediately reached to comment for this story. The seriousness of the matter may have compelled the chief of staff to the president to write to write Mr Gbajabiamila. Nigeria currently has 35 cases of COVID-19 infections, as at Monday morning, with health officials warning citizens to maintain social distancing and isolate themselves if they had recently visited places with high number of infections. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Daniela Wei and Allen Wan (Bloomberg) Hong Kong Mon, March 23, 2020 16:01 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206cdb999 2 Food China,kfc,Pizza-Hut,business,catering-service,coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus,COVID-19,pandemic,health Free KFC and Pizza Hut operator Yum China Holdings Inc. is trying out new business lines like catering and delivering raw food for home-cooking to boost revenue as Chinese customers shun eating out amid the coronavirus pandemic. Last month, Chinas biggest fast-food chain operator began customizing menus for its corporate clients which allow employees to order food through KFCs mobile app tailored to their budget. Pizza Hut is now delivering raw steaks -- complete with a recipe that details the exact minutes of frying time -- to home cooks. Delivery is contactless: riders drop the food off and stand two meters away to watch people pick up their items. The traffic is recovering but it still takes some time, Chief Executive Officer Joey Wat said in an interview Thursday in Shanghai. Given the challenge and also the opportunity, we were able to give these a big push. The Chinese restaurant economy has been at a near-standstill for two months as the coronavirus infected nearly 81,000 people locally and killed over 3,200 since it emerged from the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December. Even as Chinas domestic infections dwindle to zero after harsh containment measures kept hundreds of millions of consumers at home, people remain fearful to go out as the pandemic widens globally. Cases worldwide now top 300,000 with more than 13,000 dead. About 60% of listed restaurant operators in China are at risk of running out of cash within six months, according to data compiled by Bloomberg and company reports. Many medium and small-sized operators have already shut down. Food delivery, which contributed about a third of Yum Chinas revenue pre-outbreak, has boomed. Yum China, which operates 9,200 outlets nationwide according to its latest annual report, has more cash than most to survive even as dine-in demand fell to almost zero and 30% of stores were closed during the peak of the epidemic. The group said last month that it expects an operating loss in the March quarter. Wat said that the second quarter will still be challenging. Opportunity for innovation Yum Chinas run of strong free-cash-flow generation in 2018-19 will end in 2020 as store closings, shorter operating hours and reduced customer traffic due to the coronavirus outbreak hurt results, Bloomberg Intelligence analysts led by Michael Halen wrote in a March 4 note. The virus outbreak added to challenges such as fierce competition and high material costs the fast-food giant was already facing. Its same-store sales missed analysts consensus in the last two quarters prior to the epidemic. Still, Wat struck a note of optimism. Because Yum China directly manages almost all of its outlets -- unlike its former American parent company Yum Brands Inc. which works with franchisees -- it can move more quickly to innovate and tweak its business model. Wat said that the company still hopes to open several hundred new outlets this year, and has no plans to lay off any workers. About 95% of its stores are now open although consumer sentiment is still weak. For the recovery of the business, we would have to be a little patient. The second quarter will still be a little challenging, said Wat. The crisis also gives us opportunities to become more open-minded for innovation, she said. (Photo : Screenshot from Twitter of @CP24) The Internet of Things or better known as the IoT is being used by companies and the governments around the world to monitor and track mass individuals and collect data without you even knowing it. What if a nation with vast resources puts it into use to spy and use it for attacks? Russia had a plan for this. Read More: How to Track a Cell Phone Location Without Them Knowing Russia's FSB Hacked Once Again The successor Russia's KGB, the FSB, has been penetrated once again by a group of hackers. This particular hacked exposed "a new weapon ordered by the security service," its target? The IoT, the name of the so-called "Fronton Program," is to exploit the vulnerabilities of the IoT en masse. Fronton Program And The Internet of Things Fronton Program, as it is called, wanted to exploit several IoT devices with the intent of not accessing those certain items but rather, to herd them all together and their surveillance power right into a botnet. This will be used against larger targets, like major U.S. and European infrastructures, internet services, or maybe even the infrastructure within countries of their choosing. The Internet of Things is a network of gadgets in the real world that require no need for man-intervention for it to work while it collates data in real-time. Whereas one gadget is "dumb," but when used together with other IoT devices, it tends to collect data that can otherwise seem impossible to. What Can Botnet Do And Why Should You Be Worried? Botnets are a series of computers or internet-connected devices to perform tasks otherwise impossible for just one machine to do. The hackers have seen a document entailing that the FSB wants it for this reason -- "a powerful attack of several hundred thousand machines can make social networking sites, file hosting services inaccessible for several hours. An attack on national DNS servers can make the internet inaccessible for several hours in a small country." Read More: How to Track Someone's Phone by Their Number Recent Botnet Attacks in Our Time It's been a while since botnet attacks have been used en masse, but it still is troubling to know the effects and what it can do to our modern-day and age. An example of the last botnet attack was an IoT botnet that infected over 600,000 devices called "Mirai." Back in 2016, "Mirai targeted the popular DNS provider DYN. This event prevented Internet users from accessing many popular websites, including Airbnb, Amazon, Github, HBO, Netflix, Paypal, Reddit, and Twitter." Breadcrumbs Lead to FSB The work order for the prototype cyber weapon was easily sniffed out; the document said that it "was allegedly prepared by InformInvestGroup CJSC by order of military unit No. 64829, better known as the FSB Information Security Center." The Reason Why IoT Devices Are Easy to Hack IoT devices are poorly maintained since, again, you don't need to do a thing for them to work on their own but don't have the security to protect themselves as well. No firmware updates, as well as most often than not, only has factory-set credentials i.e., username: admin password: 12345. Regardless of the hackers being able to whistleblow FSB's actions and plans regarding the IoT and botnets -- is it something that would deter Russia or any government in using it when the time comes and if it would be needed? The answer to that seems rather apparent if you think about it. Read More: Killer Droids? Researchers Say Nobody's Prepared for Drone Terrorists 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. LISBON (AP) Like most rural veterinarians, Dr. Alana McNutt is a jack of all trades. On Tuesday, she did hysterectomies on two cats and two dogs before loading up her pickup to go to a farm near Lisbon where she vaccinated and provided other care to 1,000-pound cattle. And because its calving season, McNutt, 35, is ready for emergency calls when a mama cow, goat or sheep is struggling to deliver a baby. The biggest challenge a mixed animal veterinarian faces is some percentage has to be emergency work, she said of veterinarians who treat both pets and farm animals. According to the Cedar Rapids Gazette, there is a shortage of mixed animal and farm animal veterinarians across the country because of the unpredictable hours and the need to live in rural areas. To recruit more rural veterinarians critically important in a state that is the No. 1 producer of hogs and eggs the Iowa Legislature has proposed repaying student loans for vets who work in an underserved area for four years. The big thing in Iowa is were the largest animal agriculture state in the U.S. so its very important we have veterinarians and farmers to take care of these animals, said Dr. Randy Wheeler, executive director of the Iowa Veterinary Medicine Association. House File 2615 provides up to $15,000 a year, up to $60,000 over four years, in loan repayment for at least five veterinarians a year who commit to serving in rural areas in the state. To qualify, veterinarians must care for food supply animals or have a focus in food safety, epidemiology, public health or animal health. If approved, the program would need an appropriation of $300,000 a year, said Rep. Norlin Mommsen, R-DeWitt, who is the floor manager for the bill. Weve been talking to Rep. Kerr about putting money into the education budget for it, Mommsen said, referring to David Kerr, R-Morning Sun, who chairs the Education Appropriations subcommittee. Its not a done deal, (but) there seems to be a consensus its necessary thing. A state program would supplement the federal Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program, in which the U.S. Department of Agriculture pays up to $25,000 each year toward education loans of vets who agree to serve in a designated shortage area for three years. For this program, Iowa has identified seven counties as having shortage situations: Carroll, Cedar, Cherokee, Humboldt, Jasper, Jefferson and Union counties. Graduates of the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine leave with an average debt load of $142,000, according to an article last fall by Dave Gieseke in the colleges Gentle Doctor magazine. Average starting salaries in Iowa are about $70,000, but the perception is rural salaries are at the lower end. Dr. Rachel DeSotel, 32, of Kalona, graduated from veterinary school at Kansas State University in 2014 with about $250,000 in debt. Shes applied three times for the federal loan repayment program and has been turned down every time, despite working in rural Washington County, which qualifies because it is adjacent to Jefferson County. Only so many are going to get it from the federal level, she said. There are a lot of counties and a lot of vets who need assistance, all vying for just a few awards. The Nauvoo, Ill., native chose to work for Schlapkohl Veterinary Services in Kalona because she fell in love with the community and enjoys caring for dairy goats and working horses owned by many Amish farmers. But persuading young vet school graduates to move to rural areas can be a tough sell, especially if they also need to find work for a spouse, Wheeler said. About 40 percent of ISUs 2020-2022 graduating classes are on the academic track to care for companion animals, like cats and dogs, ISU reported. Another 35 percent plan to work in a mixed animal practice, while only 18 percent say they will be focused on food animals, including cattle and swine. Wheeler, who worked as a mixed animal veterinarian for 30 years, said he has seen veterinary practices in urban areas grow while rural offices are consolidating. This means if there is an animal emergency, a veterinarian may have to drive 30 minutes to an hour versus 15 minutes to provide treatment. When veterinarians are more frequently on a farm, they are more likely to spot sick animals before the animals infect the rest of the barn, Wheeler said. Lay people can castrate and dehorn, but they dont always recognize if an animal is sick, he said. McNutt, who grew up in Tipton and is the daughter of veterinarian Dr. Jim McNutt, purchased Tipton Veterinary Services in 2018 with her husband, Dr. John Prickett. They have been struggling to hire two new veterinarians, she said. I personally want to strive for a nice work-life balance and you cant do that if youre on call 24/7, said the mother of two young children. The only way you can do that is spread out your workload by hiring more veterinarians. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 " Our career so far has taught us to be patient, says Doyin Bugsey Julius, the more talkative half of Nottinghams foremost rap duo Young T & Bugsey. Wait your turn. Dont wait forever you still have to grab it but our time will come. Signed to a major label record deal four years ago, 2020 finally looks like their breakthrough year, global apocalypse permitting. Earlier this month they were announced as Radar artists by Spotify, with the streaming service choosing one act from each of 20 different countries to give extra support. The title of the pairs most recent hit, Dont Rush, seems appropriate. Its a laid-back groove with a guest verse from drill star Headie One, its half-sung vocals putting them firmly into the more melodic side of the UKs rap scene. Its one of multiple stand-outs on their superb debut mixtape Plead the 5th, which theyre going ahead with releasing today even though everything else in their lives is now on hold. A UK tour, including a London show, which would have taken place over the coming weeks is now pencilled in for September. After Glastonburys cancellation this week, they cant be sure whether their summer festival appearances will go ahead. This virus is gonna affect our release parties, our tour, a lot of content we were gonna make with people in our scene. We had a lot of plans this week and next so wed have loads of content to post but we cant record things in the flesh so its all messed up, says Bugsey, but hes stoic about the situation. Its like were in a movie right now. But you cant really be mad. Were all experiencing the same thing. Theres no one to point the finger at, its just happening. Were not too annoyed about it. We were meant to meet in Ealing at a recording studio where they ordinarily travel down to work but thats off. Instead, like the rest of the population this week, were on a conference call. They dial in from their respective homes, close to each other in the Top Valley area north of Nottingham city centre. London's best music venues, in pictures 1 /24 London's best music venues, in pictures Brixton Academy Getty Images Royal Albert Hall AFP/Getty Images Village Underground Ian Gavan/Getty Images Barbican Wembley Arena Getty Images Shepherd's Bush Empire The O2 Getty Images for Red Bull Southbank Centre Getty Images Hammersmith Apollo Flickr/Paul Hudson EartH Wyatt Dixon Roundhouse Stuart Leech Cafe Oto Dawid Laskowski Union Chapel Daniela Sbrisny The Jazz Cafe Celebrating: the new Camden Jazz Cafe is one this year The Windmill Neela Khan Vela The Lexington Ronnie Scott's Bush Hall Theyre both energetic, talking over the top of each other in their rush to explain their gradual rise, but theyre easy to tell apart on the phone. Rachard Young T Tucker, 22, has Jamaican roots but has lived in Nottingham all his life. He speaks with a typical East Midlands accent. Bugsey, 23, was born in Ibadan, in Nigeria, came to south London aged five and moved to Nottingham at 12 with his mother and two younger brothers. He sounds like more of a southerner. Neither of them claim to have considered that a rap career might be a bit harder to come by in the Midlands. They dont have accents on record and wouldnt dream of referencing Robin Hood and Friar Tuck in song. Homegrown rap is booming in cities all over the country not just London right now. Aitch, from Manchester, has carved the clearest path for them to follow with his numerous recent hits. The three of them share Strike a Pose, which was big with the Love Island crowd, spent six weeks in the top 10 last autumn and earned them a platinum disc. For me, I never saw a line between London and outside of London, says T. I dont know whether I was naive or oblivious but I didnt feel it was gonna be 10 times harder being from Nottingham. We never saw it as a problem. We just lived in our bubble, trying to make it, continues Bugsey. At the end of the day, weve got the exact same tools that people in London have. And we were never making grime anyway. We were more into American music growing up. They also looked up to older local rappers 2tone and Jah Digga, who never became commercially big but were well respected in their city. However, it was a place, not a person, that helped them the most in the beginning. Meeting through mutual friends aged 15, they began to spend all their time at Community Recording Studios, a Nottingham charity that gives young people access to professional music equipment. We would leave college, go straight there and be there til it closed, says T. Its a proper good place, man. Every single Nottingham artist has come from CRS, claims Bugsey. When youre young and, I dont want to use the word misguided, but maybe youre around misguided stuff and you might not go down the greatest path, they give you mentors people who can sit you down from time to time and give you things to think about. Thanks to a local project called Full Effect, set up by Prince Harrys Royal Foundation to give creative opportunities to Nottinghams young people, as teenagers they went to London for three days to shadow the team behind Link Up TV. Its a YouTube channel with 1.7 million subscribers that makes videos for rap and R&B artists. They got to hang around Kaylum Dennis, who is now Stormzys full-time videographer, and a range of rappers. The most we done was hold up a light but we were around all these people wed seen on YouTube. We went back to Nottingham and people were like, Oh my god, I cant believe you met them! It was like taking a kid who wants to be an astronaut to Nasa and letting them meet Neil Armstrong, says Bugsey. It gave us this super drive: We need to be like this. We need to get to where these guys are by any means possible. Their friends who made music gradually dropped away for other interests, leaving just the two of them. Though there arent many duos in UK rap, there was never any question of solo careers. We lived close to each other, grew up together, were exposed to the same life experiences. It was always meant to be like this. Its fate, says Bugsey. If theres no Young T, I wouldnt be what I am and T wouldnt be what he is if it wasnt for what I contribute, you get me? So theyre very much in this together, social isolation notwithstanding. Theyve waited a long time to put out their first full collection and are content that at least people will have plenty of time at home to listen to it. Theyve got enough big tunes to enliven any enforced lock-in and theres much more to come but, like they said, theres no rush. Weve managed to accomplish so much with no album or body of work so far, says Bugsey. What level are we gonna be at when we do drop an album? I cant even imagine. An Irish cybersecurity startup outlines the cyber threats facing health organisations, writes Trish Dromey Unscrupulous cyber criminals across the globe are taking advantage of overstretched health care organisations and companies as people work from home are now vulnerable to cyber attacks. A Czech hospital has already been a victim of a ransomware attack, says Paul Dwyer, founder of Dublin cyber security technology company Cyber Risk International (CRI). He adds that employees everywhere are now receiving more phishing emails, fraudulent invoice requests and are being sent fake log ins which allow hackers access to company systems. Given that hospitals can be crippled by this type of attack, Mr Dwyer doesnt charge health organisations in Ireland which need to boost their cyber security for its software. He says his company is also offering online advice and information to businesses on ways to mitigate the threats of cybercriminal opportunists taking advantage of the Covid-19 crisis. Employees are no longer safe behind firewalls in their offices and they are dealing with are a whole new set of risks, he says. CRI completed a 1m funding round at the end of last year and was preparing to launch CyberPrism in the US market when Covid 19 began to spread globally. Although the companys expansion plans have been temporarily put on hold, Mr Dwyer says the type of cyber management system offered to CRIs customers works well in situations where cyber security needs to be managed with a minimum amount of human contact. It allows companies to self assess the cyber security risk, can be used by non cyber experts and is a viable alternative to bringing in professional service teams to perform a cyber security assessment, which has been traditional practice, he says. Mr Dwyer originally set up CRI in 2014 as a cyber security services company. Within the first eight weeks we had taken on 1m worth of orders but the reality was we couldnt find the number of cyber security staff we needed to scale internationally, he explains. Within a year, Mr Dwyer decided to use his expertise in cyber security to create a software solution which automate the services provided by the company and allow it to develop global sales as a cyber technology company. Bootstrapping and using revenue from services, CRI spent two years developing the system and building and testing a prototype. What was different from existing solutions was our methodology it combines business security with risk management, he says, adding that self assessment is both more cost effective and less invasive CRI launched CyberPrism at an EU Cyber Summit in Dublin in 2018. Within the first three months last year we sold nearly 1m worth of software, says Mr Dwyer. His clients include Irish Life, Laya Health Care, Axa, Debenhams, Bank of Ireland, as well as Ryanair. The British government became a customer in 2019. CyberPrism is the only cyber assessment approved by the UK government for use in the public sector, he says. Securing 1m in funding in October, which included High Potential Start Up funding from Enterprise Ireland as well as investment from SOS Ventures, allowed the company to complete the transition from a service company and to hire more sales and marketing staff. It has since grown its core staff numbers to eight but employs 15 people in all, with offices in London and New York. Targeting companies across a wide variety of sectors, the companys main success has so far been in the financial and aviation markets. Before the Covid 19 crisis, CRI had planned to focus its attention on the financial sector in North America. In the current situation Mr Dwyer says the company aims to develop a global network of resellers and to use online resources to grow the business. Advising all companies to be vigilant, he says CRI will continue to provide threat related support information via social media channels. Food prices shoot up although groceries have been exempted from lockdown Stray cyclists seen on the Fancy Bazaar road in Guwahati during the 'Vyapar Bandh' called by the Assam Chamber of Commerce on March 23, 2020. The Assam government has extended the shutdown until March 31. (PTI) Guwahati: The Assam government announced a complete lockdown of the state from 6 pm this evening till March 31 as a measure to counter the threat of coronavirus. Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told reporters, Extraordinary times need extraordinary measures. The minister clarified that certain exceptions have been made to ensure essential items are available for purchase and basic services continue to operate. Groceries, fruit shops, chemists and petrol pumps will remain open and persons associated with essential services like electricity, water supply, fire brigade and medical services will be allowed to go to work. There will, however, be no public transport. The transport department has already issued orders prohibiting all inter-state passenger vehicles (i.e. contract carriages, stage carriages, taxi cabs, maxi cabs) entering or going out of Assam until March 31, 2020. Sarma said strict action will be taken against those who violate the lockdown orders. The All Guwahati Newspaper Hawkers Association has announced that they would not distribute newspapers from Tuesday. Though the state government has not put any restrictions on groceries and establishments dealing in essential food items, prices of all food items have shot up. Significantly no northeastern state has as yet found a positive case of coronavirus. Some 23 persons with recent history of foreign travel have been kept under observation in confinement but most of them have tested negative in preliminary tests. Alex Salmond has today been acquitted of attempted rape and a series of sexual assaults, including one with intent to rape. The former Scotland's first minister Alex Salmond faced 13 charges including one of attempted rape, one of intent to rape, nine charges of sexual assault and two of indecent assault. The ex-SNP leader, 65, was cleared of all charges by a jury following an 11-day trial at the High Court in Edinburgh. The jury returned not guilty verdicts on 12 charges and returned a not proven verdict on a charge of sexual assault with intent to rape. The former first minister was charged with indecently assaulting Woman A, a senior government official, in 2008. The arrest of former Scotland's first minister Alex Salmond (pictured outsider court today), saw him face 13 charges including one of attempted rape, one of intent to rape, nine charges of sexual assault and two of indecent assault On occasions in June and July 2008 in Glasgow, he was accused of indecently assaulting her by kissing her on the mouth and touching her buttocks and breast over her clothing; and sexually assaulting her in either December 2010 or December 2011 in Ego nightclub in Edinburgh, by touching her arms and hips over her clothing. He was charged with indecently assaulting Woman B at Bute House, the Scottish First Minister's official residence, in October or November 2010. She had accused him of repeatedly seizing her by the wrists, pulling her towards him and trying to kiss her. Woman C accused him of assaulting her in a car in Edinburgh during February 2011 by touching her leg with his hand over her clothing, but said that was 'impossible' with others in the car who would have seen the incident take place. Alex Salmond spoke to reporters outside the High Court in Edinburgh today after he was cleared of attempted rape and a series of sexual assaults Prosecutors charged him with sexually assaulting Woman D on a number of occasions between 2011 and 2013 at various locations, including Bute House and the Scottish Parliament building. Between May 2011 and June 2013, he was alleged to have sexually assaulted her by touching her buttocks over her clothing and stroking her arms and hair. Woman F claimed he assaulted her at Bute House in December 2013 and sexually assaulting her in either November or December 2013. He was accused of making her sit on a bed, lying on top of her, struggling with her and pulling up her dress with intent to rape her. Woman G - a Scottish Government official said he twice assaulted her - once in Glasgow during 2012 and secondly in Bute House in April 2014. She accused him of smacking her buttocks at a Glasgow restaurant in March 2012. Salmond said: 'It didn't happen.' Meanwehile Woman H said in 2014 Salmond sexually assaulted her attempting to rape her the same year. In June of that year at Bute House, he had been alleged to have sexually assaulted Woman H by removing his clothing and underwear, pushing her onto a bed, kneeling over her, pinning her to the bed, lying naked on top of her and then trying to rape her. The former SNP chief was charged with sexually assaulting Woman J - a party worker - in Bute House in September 2014. Kirk Torrance, 38, then the SNP's new media strategist and now a technology consultant, told the court he'd seen Woman J at an SNP office the day after the alleged sexual assault. Asked if she seemed upset, Torrance told the court that Woman J seemed quite the opposite actually and appeared to be in good spirits. The ninth alleged victim - Woman K - said he assaulted her at Stirling Castle in November 2014, by touching her buttock with his hand over her clothing, while they had a photo taken together at the event. The former first minister of Scotland bumped elbows with a lawyer as he left the court today Defence witness Alexander Anderson, 41, said he was at the event where Woman K had a photo taken with Salmond. Asked by Salmonds defence team if he saw anything untoward Anderson, who worked for Salmond for 15 years and served as a special adviser to him, replied: No, I didn't. Mr Salmond was cleared of all charges. In an emotional speech on the steps outside court, he thanked his friends and family for standing by him while referencing the coronavirus pandemic. He said: 'Whatever nightmare I've been in over these last two years is nothing compared to the nightmare that every single one of us is currently living through. 'My strong, strong advice is to go home, those who can and are able to, care take of your families; and God help us all.' Speaking outside court after the verdict, Salmond thanked the courts, police and his legal time. He also thanked friends and family, 'for standing by me over the last two years.' He added: 'As many of you will know there was certain evidence that I would like to have seen led in this trial but for a variety of reasons we were not able to do so. 'At some point that information, that facts, and that evidence will see the light of day but it won't be this day, and it won't be this day for a very good reason. 'And that is whatever nightmare I've been in over these last two years is as of nothing compared to the nightmare that every single one of us is currently living through. 'People are dying, many more are going to die. What we are doing now, and I know you've got a job to do, is not safe. 'My strong, strong advice is to go home, those who can and are able to, care take of your families and god help us all.' TIMELINE: The two-year battle of the figurehead of Scotland's independence movement as he fought to clear his name Alex Salmond has been acquitted of attempted rape and a series of sexual assaults, including one with intent to rape. The former first minister of Scotland was cleared of all charges by a jury following an 11-day trial at the High Court in Edinburgh. Here is a timeline of events leading to the verdict. January 2018: The Scottish Government receives two complaints of harassment involving Alex Salmond, dating back to 2013, and launches an inquiry. March 2018: The former first minister is informed about the investigation against him. August 23 2018: The Daily Record publishes news of allegations made to the Scottish Government against Mr Salmond via a tweet. The former first minister denies claims of harassment and launches a court action against the Scottish Government to contest the complaints process that was activated against him. August 24 2018: Nicola Sturgeon posts a statement on Twitter saying she has been aware for 'some time' of the investigation into Mr Salmond and has no role in the process. She says: 'My relationship with Alex Salmond obviously makes this an extremely difficult situation for me to come to terms with.' Police Scotland confirm allegations have been passed to the force. Mr Salmond strenuously denies sexual harassment complaints made against him during his time as Scotland's first minister, saying he has 'never engaged in criminality'. August 26 2018: Ms Sturgeon says there is 'no legal basis' to suspend Mr Salmond from the SNP, following calls for the move from opposition parties. She says her party has not received any complaints about her predecessor's conduct - nor has it carried out the investigation. August 27 2018: Mr Salmond writes to Scotland's top civil servant, Permanent Secretary Leslie Evans, calling for an inquiry into how sexual harassment allegations against him were made public. August 28 2018: Mr Salmond formally begins his legal action against the Scottish Government by lodging his petition for a judicial review at the Court of Session in Edinburgh. August 29 2018: The former first minister announces he has resigned his membership of the SNP to avoid divisions in the party. He launches a crowdfunding campaign to help with his costs in the legal action and the 50,000 target is smashed within hours. January 8 2019: Judge Lord Pentland rules at the Court of Session that the Scottish Government's actions were 'unlawful in respect that they were procedurally unfair and they were tainted with apparent bias'. Ms Sturgeon supports the decision of Ms Evans to settle the case after a failure to properly apply the complaints procedure. Mr Salmond calls on Scotland's top civil servant to quit her post after accusing her of 'wasting' hundreds of thousands of pounds of public money. January 15 2019: The Scottish Parliament announces it will mount its own investigation into the fallout from allegations against the former first minister. January 24 2019: Police Scotland confirms it has arrested and charged Mr Salmond. He appears at Edinburgh Sheriff Court facing allegations of sexual assault, including attempted rape. The former first minister gives a statement saying he 'refutes' the criminal allegations and plans to defend himself 'to the utmost' in court. January 31 2019: An investigation into whether Ms Sturgeon breached the ministerial code during discussions with Mr Salmond is put on hold until the conclusion of the court case against him. February 6 2019: MSPs vote to establish a Holyrood committee to investigate the Scottish Government's handling of complaints against Mr Salmond, later agreeing to put its work on hold until the conclusion of the court case. November 21 2019: Mr Salmond first appears at the High Court in Edinburgh and pleads not guilty to the charges against him. March 9 2020: The trial starts at the High Court in Edinburgh. March 23 2020: The jury returns not guilty verdicts on 12 charges, including attempted rape, and a not proven verdict on a charge of sexual assault with intent to rape. Advertisement How one of Scotland's most senior politicians was put on trial to prove he was an innocent man cruelly framed By John Dingwall It was the shocking case that put one of Scotland's most senior politicians in the dock with a jury being asked to decide whether he was either an evil sexual predator or an innocent man cruelly framed. The arrest of former Scotland's first minister Alex Salmond saw him face 13 charges including one of attempted rape, one of intent to rape, nine charges of sexual assault and two of indecent assault. Insisting on his innocence from the beginning and throughout the trial, he instructed his top level legal team, the leader of the Scottish bar, Gordon Jackson QC, Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, and Shelagh McCall QC, to represent his case at the High Court case in Edinburgh. He had strongly denied all charges alleged to have been committed against nine women over a six-year period. Earlier in the trial, he was acquitted of a 10th sexual assault allegation after that charge was withdrawn by the prosecution. At one stage during proceedings, Salmond dramatically took to the stand and said the charges were fabrications and exaggerations and in some cases had been orchestrated for political reasons. Among some of the more lurid allegations was one by a former Scottish Government official, Woman H, who told the court of an alleged attempted rape in June 2014. She said she felt 'hunted' by Salmond moments before the alleged incident at the first minister's official residence, Bute House in Edinburgh. She also told the court she had been sexually assaulted by him in May 2014 when he allegedly kissed her face, neck and touched her legs. But Salmond denied the incidents took place during those months. Mr Salmond was seen at an earlier hearing with his wife Moira Salmond who was by his side He said there had, however, been a consensual sexual encounter the previous year. He added: 'Neither party were naked but in a state of partial undress, in terms of buttons or whatever. 'It shouldn't have happened but both of us agreed it would be put behind us.' Salmond, who described himself to the court as a 'journalist' and 'retired politician', added: 'It was just two old friends and things had gone too far. 'Both of us realised it wasn't a good idea and we parted good friends.' He said Woman H was 'one of my biggest cheerleaders' but seemed 'annoyed' after he did not help her professionally in 2015. He said her account of an alleged attempted rape was 'not true' and she was not at Bute House on the night in question. A businesswoman also cast doubt on the allegation when she said she did not recall seeing a complainer on the evening the alleged assault was said to have taken place. Woman H, had said the incident, at Bute House, had followed a dinner. The defence witness, a company director, said she was at the dinner with Mr Salmond and another guest. Asked if Woman H had been there, the businesswoman said she did not recall seeing Woman H 'at any point' during that evening. A Scottish celebrity supporter of Scottish independence, however, said by video link that the woman who accused Alex Salmond of attempted rape was present on the night she alleged the attack took place. A former SNP MP Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh also testified that Woman H had texted her to say it would 'be great' to work with Mr Salmond again in 2015. She said Woman H was later 'clearly very annoyed' that her project had not been endorsed by Mr Salmond. Ms Ahmed-Sheikh also said she had been at Stirling Castle in November 2014 and had watched Mr Salmond having his photograph taken with a former civil servant known as Woman K, but had not seen anything untoward. The former first minister was alleged to have put his hand on the bottom of Woman K while the photograph was being taken. During the trial, a civil servant also told how Alex Salmond asked her to recreate a Jack Vettriano painting, featuring a woman wearing a skimpy Santa outfit kissing a man. She said that moments later he began 'wrestling' with her 'like an octopus'. The woman, known as Woman B, testified that Salmond sexually assaulted her after a meeting at Bute House, in Edinburgh, in 2010. Mr Salmond had just been advised not to send out a painting by the Scottish artist called Ae Fond Kiss as his Christmas card because it would be 'deeply inappropriate'. Woman B said that, once they were alone, Mr Salmond said to her: 'Let's recreate the pose on the Christmas card.' She said: 'He grabbed my wrists and pulled me towards him. I was shocked. 'He was very persistent. It felt like I was sort of wrestling with an octopus; there was always another hand coming at my wrists.' Salmond had told jurors he had never had a non-consensual relationship with a woman in his life as he was questioned about another allegation that he assaulted a woman in his bedroom at Bute House in late 2013. He said he and a Scottish Government official, known as Woman F, had 'collapsed into what I would describe as a sleepy cuddle' on a bed after they drank the Chinese spirit Maotai together. Salmond claimed he said sorry two weeks later when the issue was raised by one of his staff, saying she had a 'legitimate grievance, even if it wasn't what actually happened and not what was presented at the time'. Salmond said: 'I apologised. I was the first minister. She was in my bedroom. We were tipsy, it shouldn't have happened.' Salmond also insisted during the trial that some of the accusations against him have been 'deliberate fabrications for a political purpose'. He told jurors that one of his accusers had encouraged at least five other people to exaggerate or make claims against him. The senior Scottish Government official, known as Woman A, said he sexually assaulted her in Glasgow between June and July 2008. But Salmond told the jury: 'I would never, under any circumstances, be touching (the complainer) inappropriately. 'These are all public places. It would be insane to do anything like that. These claims are a fabrication.' Mr Salmond's lawyer, Gordon Jackson, QC., had argued there was not enough evidence to prove Salmond guilty. In his closing speech to the trial on Friday of last week, he said the allegations against his client didn't 'make sense' when examined closely. He added that the Crown had not proven that the former SNP leader was guilty of any criminal offences during the two-week trial. 'If in some ways the former first minister had been a better man, I wouldn't be here, you wouldn't be here, none of us would be here,' he said. 'I'm not here to suggest he always behaved well or couldn't have been a better man on occasions. That would be a waste of my time. 'But I'm in a court of law and I'm dealing not with whether he could have been a better man, because he certainly could have been better. 'I'm dealing with whether or not it was established he was guilty of serious, sometimes very serious, criminal charges.' Mr Jackson went on to say there was a 'pattern' in the case where 'something that was thought nothing of at the time' later become a criminal charge at the High Court. He told the jury that it required a 'very, very high standard of proof' to find Mr Salmond guilty, and insisted allegations against his client 'don't make sense and are never going to make sense' when they are examined closely. But prosecutor Alex Prentice QC painted Mr Salmond as a 'sexual predator' who had used his position and power to 'satisfy his sexual desires with impunity'. Trial judge Lady Dorrian had told the jury they must set aside 'emotional considerations, sympathies or indeed prejudices' before asking them to retire to consider their verdicts on Friday. She reminded the jury that there were three verdicts available to them, guilty, not guilty or not proven, according to Scottish law, the latter two being verdicts of acquittal. But there was further drama when two jurors were discharged before a verdict was reached, with the remaining 13 told they still required a majority of eight to reach a guilty verdict. Delores DeVaul, MyLegacy Realty, LLC Delores DeVaul spent 20 years moving from place to place as a military wife. She and her family made their home in Mississippi, Berlin, England, Ohio and Maryland. When her husband retired from the Air Force in 2003, they moved to Cibolo. She had thought about becoming a home appraiser before the move but decided to get her real estate license instead. My parents always owned a home and they had investment rental property, so I was always interested in real estate. DeVaul became an agent in 2004 and attained her brokers license in 2008. Her plan was to not only sell houses but to be a property manager as well. Soon after becoming a broker DeVaul opened MyLegacy Realty, LLC in Schertz. MyLegacy turned into a family business several years ago when her two sons became licensed agents. She said most of her clients are looking for new houses, but the market for existing homes remains strong. As the coronavirus pandemic sweeps the globe, New Jersey has taken steps to limit its regional spread by ordering the closure of non-essential businesses. Among those deemed essential are stores that sell food, medicine and supplies that anyone may need during the crisis. Many employers in these essential businesses have announced raises and bonuses for employees still coming to work during these uncertain times and some have announced they will hire thousands of additional workers to meet a soaring demand from a nervous and hungry public. The following stores with operations in New Jersey are offering incentives to employees. Convenience stores 7-Eleven To meet increased demand, the company plans to hire an additional 20,000 employees for its corporate stores and franchised location. It has also enhanced its paid time off policy for corporate store employees, though details are not included in an announcement on the companys website. Wawa Wawa has announced that hourly employees actively working in its stores will receive a temporary wage increase. The announcement doesnt describe the size of the increases or how long they will last. Its also providing up to 14 days of additional paid time off to any employee affected by the pandemic. Pharmacies Rite Aid The company is giving non-management hourly employees a temporary $2 per hour pay boost, effective through at least May 2. The company has also established a Pandemic Pay policy to ensure workers are fairly compensated if diagnosed with the virus or quarantined due to exposure. Walgreens The company wants to fill about 9,500 existing full- and part-time jobs in stores across the country, including customer service associates, pharmacy technicians and shift leaders. Walgreens also plans to hire temporary customer service associates to bolster in-store staffing. Some of these temporary jobs could lead to full-time employment, the company noted. Grocery stores Stop & Shop Unionized workers at Stop & Shop are receiving a 10 percent pay increase and two additional weeks of paid sick leave during the crisis. Acme The grocery chain owned by Albertsons will temporarily pay all non-union and union frontline associates an additional $2 per hour. ShopRite United Food & Commercial Workers Local 152, based in Egg Harbor Township, reported that ShopRite is providing employees in its jurisdictional area with a $2 per hour pay boost through May 2 Major Retailers Walmart In addition to its plans to hire more than 150,000 hourly employees in response to increased demand, Walmart has announced it will pay $365 million in bonuses to employees working in its stores, clubs, supply chain and offices. That includes $300 for full-time hourly employees and $150 for part-timers. Target Full- and part-time hourly workers in stores and distribution centers will receive a $2 per hour pay increase through at least May 2. Employees in high-risk groups during the pandemic 65 or older, those who are pregnant or have underlying medical conditions as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can receive up to 30 days of paid leave if they prefer not to work during this emergency, the company announced. These moves are part of a $300 million investment that includes added wages, new paid leave, bonus payouts and relief fund contributions, according to a statement from Target. Home Depot Full-time employees are receiving an additional 80 hours of paid sick or personal time, while part-timers will receive an additional 40 hours. Those hours can be taken anytime until the end of the year. Lowes The home improvement store is providing 14 days of emergency paid leave for employees feeling sick, caring for a loved one or because they face new hardships such as closed schools and daycares. The company is also expanding its telemedicine benefit to all employees and their families, even those not enrolled in the companys medical plan, whether they are seasonal, temporary, part-time or full-time. BJs Wholesale Club The company will increase wages for hourly staff by $2/hour from March 23 through at least April 12. At the end of March, managers and key personnel in stores and distribution centers will receive one-time bonuses ranging from $500 to $1,000. The company is also hiring for permanent and temporary positions. Coffee/fast food Starbucks The company is offering catastrophe pay for 30 days to employees who choose to stay home because they are concerned about their safety, have been diagnosed with coronavirus disease, were potentially exposed to the virus, or are at high risk. Starbucks has temporarily closed its cafes and moved to drive-through-only service in response to the pandemic. That arrangement will last for at least the next two weeks. https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2020/navigating-through-covid-19/ McDonalds The global fast food giant is offering two weeks of paid leave to employees affected by the pandemic. Delivery Amazon The company has announced it will hire an additional 100,000 workers to meet a surge in demand prompted by the pandemic and boosting its hourly wage by $2 through April. The coronavirus death toll stands at 20 in New Jersey, with more than 1,900 confirmed infections. Globally, more than 343,000 infections and about 14,700 deaths have been reported, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University of Medicine. Is there a business we missed? Let us know. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter. REPOST: VISITING WRESTLEMANIA CITY: LOOKING BACK AT A WEEK OF EXPERIENCES IN COVERING WRESTLEMANIA 30 IN NEW ORLEANS PLEASE NOTE: THE FOLLOWING WAS WRITTEN BEFORE THE PASSING OF THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR. Originally written April 9, 2014. While some people might think I went to New Orleans last week, the reality is that I traveled to a mystical place that like Atlantis, only surfaces once a year: Wrestlemania city. It doesn't matter what the host city is, because Wrestlemania City isn't defined by it's geographic location but by its population. I spent six days in New Orleans, hitting eight different wrestling events and meeting hundreds of wrestling fans, many of whom I am proud to say, are PWInsider Elite subscribers. The last six days were extremely exhausting, with not a lot of sleep but a lot of great moments personally and professionally. as I write this, I feel like I am underwater, having been completely wiped out by flight delays, talked out by many conversations and emotionally wiped out by sheer osmosis as I watched fans weep and fans storm out of Wrestlemania after seeing the unthinkable happen with The Undertaker. It was an amazing, industry re-defining weekend, topped by the best Wrestlemania since Shawn Michaels retired, the return of The Ultimate Warrior, a new generation taking their stand, an old generation celebrating their legacy, and a hell of a lot of great wrestling. Here are some thoughts and observations on the events of the last week. Journey with me to Wrestlemania City. WEDNESDAY APRIL 2nd I start my journey with a 7:00 AM Jetblue flight to New Orleans out of JFK. That means I am out the door at 5 AM in a taxi to Terminal 5, which truth be known, is probably the best Airline terminal in the United States with a ton of shops, an awesome food court and one of the most relaxing atmospheres anywhere in any airport, if you can get past TSA. So of course, I have an issue at TSA. My backpack gets flagged and I am asked if, of all things, I have a Tazer with me. Of course I say no, so of course, they have to rummage through my bag. As it turned out, my recording equipment set off their X-Ray machine and they decide they have to take the microphones out of the casing. They then swab said mics, then take the microphone shields off and swab the inside of the mics. Why? I have no idea. I ask why. They just look at me and tell me everything is fine. Well, that was surreal. The flight is perfect and I arrive at my hotel by 11 AM New Orleans time. Within ten minutes of checking in, an Elite subscriber says hello to me in the lobby. This would be an ongoing, humbling experience for the next several days, ranging from running into an Elite from Montreal who had just arrived on Bourbon Street within minutes of running into me to running into Elites in the airport leaving to the three guys who screamed out PWInsider as they drunkenly ran down the street at 3 AM in the morning as I was returning to my hotel. Usually the most feedback you receive when you work online is somewhat negative - it's always about what you didn't do or how your opinion is insane or what sucked about Raw, but to a person, everyone I met was so high on the site and what we do here that it really ended up being one of my favorite weeks ever, where I was reminded of everything we've gotten to accomplish here over the last decade. Wednesday was my only real "down time" - if you can call it that - as I went right up to the room to record two audio shows. When those were done, we explored the French Quarter, hit the casino, got to see the Mississippi River for the first time (hey, I'm from NYC and have never been to the Statue of Liberty either, go figure), looked at Bourbon Street in the daytime, met up with some local friends and had some of the best BBQ shrimp I'd ever tasted. There are wrestling fans everywhere. There are WWE promotional banners and posters and digital signs pushing AXXESS and Wrestlemania everywhere. I am most amazed that the local free paper (Sheamus on the cover) not only has articles about the WWE events but a full listing of all the independent events as well. Wrestlemania City in full effect. If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here! MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI The first case of coronavirus in Muskegon County has been reported by health officials. The adult female is a presumptive positive for COVID-19 as the result of testing through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the Muskegon County health department reported in a press release Monday, March 23. The woman was tested on March 20, and her test result was confirmed Sunday evening, March 22, Kathy Moore, director of the health department, said during a morning press conference. The woman has no history of domestic or international travel, and was self isolating at her home, Moore said. The womans close contacts have been informed, are being monitored for symptoms and informed to self quarantine, according to the press release. The woman is being responsible and cooperative and tends to stay at home and is not very social, Moore said. This is not a big concern for large community spread by this individual, she said. About another 45 tests from Muskegon County are pending, and that the lab is inundated, Moore said. About 10 have been returned as negative, she said. We probably will receive additional cases in the near future, Moore said. Justin Grill, chief medical officer for Mercy Health in Muskegon, said anyone experiencing symptoms should call their primary care provider. Coronavirus symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Those with symptoms are encouraged to call their medical providers office or the State of Michigan hotline at 888-535-6136. There are now 1,035 cases diagnosed statewide the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported over the weekend. An additional 787 cases were reported on Saturday. The number of deaths in Michigan remained at eight. The most recent death involved a 52-year-old man with underlying health conditions. He was being treated at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital in Clinton Township. A concentration of the cases are in southeast Michigan, with 325 cases in Detroit, 277 in Oakland County, 152 in Wayne County, and 140 in Macomb County. MLive has complete coverage on coronavirus COVID-19, including maps of known cases, at mlive.com/coronavirus. PREVENTION TIPS Michigans State Emergency Operations Center is coordinating state-government resources and the response to the coronavirus spread. It has shared the following tips: What you can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases: Always cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue or sleeve. Stay home if you are sick and advise others to do the same. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, if soap and warm water are not available. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces (computers, keyboards, desks, etc.). Its not too late to get your flu shot! While the influenza vaccine does not protect against COVID-19 infection, it can help keep you healthy during the flu season. For statewide and national information on the virus, visit Michigan.gov/Coronavirus or CDC.gov/Coronavirus. More on MLive: Monday, March 23: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan Cities, townships in Muskegon County adjust hours due to coronavirus Families appreciate school-delivered meals as Muskegon adjusts to coronavirus shutdown Former Vice President Joe Biden blasted President Donald Trump's response to the coronavirus and ripped the tone of the president's daily briefings as he reinserted himself into the pandemic debate with a video statement made from his home. 'Trump keeps saying he's a wartime president. Well, start to act like one,' Biden implored, speaking in front of a bookshelf from his Wilmington, Delaware home. 'We need to get in motion get in motion today what we should have set in motion weeks ago,' Biden said. 'Donald Trump is not to blame for the coronavirus. But he does bear responsibility for our response,' Biden said, speaking directly from the camera and clearly reading from a teleprompter. Biden also criticized the tenor of Trump's now-daily televised briefings from the White House, after he last week attacked an NBC correspondent who asked him whether Americans should be scared of the virus. Former Vice President Joe Biden spoke on the coronavirus response from a TV studio constructed in his home in Delaware. 'Trump keeps saying he's a wartime president. Well, start to act like one,' Biden implored 'These briefings are an important opportunity to inform and reassure the am public. They are not a place for political attacks or to lash out at the press,' Biden said in his livestream, which featured buttons where viewers could contribute to his campaign. As at earlier on-line events, Biden experienced SNAFUs. He halted his comments at a key moment, after blasting the administration for failing to act soon enough to get the military to built temporary hospitals. He could be seen reaching his hand to the side of his podium in what may have been an instruction to the teleprompter operator or whoever was manipulated the text of his speech. 'In addition to that. In addition to that we have to make sure that we are in a position that We are,' Biden said, stalling for time. 'Well, let me go to the second thing. I've spoken enough on that,' he said, moving on. 'The president must use the Defense Production Act ...' he continued, moving on to his next point, about getting out needed supplies. Biden appeared to motion to an aide off-camera when there was a snag in his remarks, which he appeared to read from a teleprompter Biden ripped Trump for his daily White House briefings on the virus. 'They are not a place for political attacks or to lash out at the press,' Biden said Vice President Joe Biden says Donald Trump should start acting like a wartime president, a phrase Trump has applied to himself Biden spoke as U.S. coronavirus case skyrocketed The livestream began in mid-sentence, with Biden looking to his camera and asking, '... ready to go?' He then rubs his nose, looks off screen again, pauses, and begins. 'Good morning,' he said to kick off the speech. Biden revealed in a Sunday night interview that he had made updates to his home as he seeks to reassert himself in the national debate. 'They put in a new high-speed line into my home, they've converted a recreation room, basically, into a television studio. So beginning tomorrow, I guess tomorrow, I'm making the first presentation,' he said. He held an event earlier this month at a hotel in his home town of Wilmington, but that event, before the administration issued strict recommendations on social distancing, required reporters and staff to travel. Biden, considers himself a retail politician, was deprived of a crowd or an audience who might feed off his remarks. He stumbled at times, including at the very start of his livestream. 'We have to do what we did in the 40s and the 20s the 2020s. And we can do that. We need to build a medical arsenal here,' he said at one point. 'Is the White House actively planning for what it will take for the American people to begin to return to something resembling a normal life? I don't know,' he said. He called on Trump to end infighting in his administration and 'listen to the scientists,' after Trump's comments have been contradicted by virus expert Dr. Anthony Fauci. He also weighed in on a relief package that is the subject of high-stakes negotiations in the Senate. He said a 'no-strings corporate bailout makes no sense.' Earlier, Biden demanded the federal government abandon efforts to seek to have Obamacare ruled unconstitutional by citing the impacts of the coronavirus. Biden released a letter to Trump and state attorneys general blasting the ongoing lawsuit, after dramatically scaling back his own public appearances amid the outbreak. 'At a time of national emergency, which is laying bare the existing vulnerabilities in our public health infrastructure, it is unconscionable that you are continuing to pursue a lawsuit designed to strip millions of Americans of their health insurance and protections under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including the ban on insurers denying coverage or raising premiums due to pre-existing conditions,' Biden wrote. 'No American should have the added worry right now that you are in court trying to take away their health care. You are letting partisan rancor and politics threaten the lives of your constituents, and that is a dereliction of your sworn duty. I am therefore calling on each of you to drop your support of litigation to repeal the ACA,' he wrote. 'The litigation you are supporting Texas v. the U.S. jeopardizes every single one of those protections and threatens the peace of mind and access to care for hundreds of millions of Americans. Monday is the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act He said the outbreak would have been worse without the law. 'The purpose of your suit is to destroy the ACA. Make no mistake: If the ACA did not exist right now, in this public health crisis, tens of millions of people would not have health insurance. 100 million would not have protections for the kind of underlying conditions that make them even more vulnerable to the impact of COVID-19.' Biden has cancelled public events amid the outbreak, even as he scored potentially decisive blows against Sen. Bernie Sanders in his bid for the Democratic nomination. Biden is marking the 10th anniversary of the signing of Obamcare with a call for Donald Trump to end a lawsuit against it The health law was one of the signature achievements of President Barack Obama He addressed the media earlier this month and called for using the military to build emergency hospitals, but his visibility has dropped dramatically during the expanding crisis. On Sunday, he released a web video contrasting his response to a question with Trump's when asked how he would respond to people who are 'scared' by the outbreak. Biden e plans to speak from his home state of Delaware Monday. Monday was to have been the day when former President Barack Obama was set to speak on the anniversary of the act at an event with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. But American University cancelled it amid the outbreak. Amid a looming strain on the nation's health care system, the administration is considering opening Obamacare enrollment period, Politico reported. There are 36 new cases of coronavirus in New Zealand, as of 8am today. This brings the total number of cases in the country to 102. The Ministry of Health's Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield will provide an update to the media on the national COVID-19 response at 12.30pm today. He says more than half of the cases confirmed have clear links to overseas travel. "Most are close contacts of a confirmed case. "There are two that there is no link to where it has come from and is being treated as community transmission." Ashley says Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will be delivering an update on the country's alert level later this afternoon. More than 7400 tests have been carried out so far. What we know so far: As of Sunday afternoon, there were 66 cases in New Zealand, one confirmed in Tauranga. This has now jumped to 102 following Ashley's announcement this afternoon. A Bay of Plenty man in his 30s who recently returned from the United States on March 17 is the first Tauranga person to test positive for COVID-19. The Director-General has announced the case is amongst the 14 new NZ cases of COVID-19 confirmed today by laboratory testing, bringing the number of confirmed cases in NZ to a total of 66. The locations are Auckland five cases, Northland one, Canterbury one, New Plymouth two, Waikato three, one in Tauranga, and one in Dunedin. COVID-19 Alert Level 2 Ashley says that the COVID-19 Alert Level remains at Level 2. The Prime Minister is expected to make an announcement on the alert level later this afternoon. You will note that from the presentation the Prime Minister made yesterday that as part of Alert Level 2 we are asking people with pre-existing conditions such as chronic respiratory disease which might include severe asthma, bronchiectasis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and people who are immune-compromised or if they are having cancer treatment, to remain at home. A message to the over-70s many of you are fit and healthy, and living active lives, but the older we are, the less our immune system is able to fight off this virus and indeed other infections, and we have seen from overseas that older people are at more risk of serious complications. So we are strongly urging you to be aware of the need to stay at home and not to have contact with others, says Dr Bloomfield. Please do adhere the advice to stay at home. Ask friends and families, particularly your children, not to visit. For the meantime this may mean talking to your family on Skype or other methods. Earlier on Suday, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said the government would move to the next two phases of the Covid-19 alert levels, if yesterday's two confirmed cases were proven to be the result of community transmission. A level 3 alert status recognises a heightened risk that the disease is not contained and demands that authorities further restrict travel and public gatherings. A host of public venues would face closures, including gyms, libraries, museums, food courts and pools. Some non-essential businesses would face closure too. Ashley says Healthline is overloaded and he pleaded with people to use it properly. Its not there to give general advice, nor to offer information about self-isolation, he says. Current Cases of COVID-19 in NZ: Case Location Age Gender Travel details 66 Auckland 20s M Austria to Auckland via Doha arrived 17 March- flight EK448 65 Northland 40s F Melbourne to Auckland on Sunday 15 March flight JQ217 64 Canterbury 50s F San Francisco to Auckland on Monday 16 March flight NZ7 Auckland to Christchurch on Tuesday 17 March flight NZ523 63 Taranaki 20s M Dubai to Auckland on Tuesday 17 March flight EK448 Auckland to New Plymouth on 18 March flight NZ8041 62 Taranaki 50s M Bangkok to Auckland on Sunday 15 March flight TG0491 Auckland to New Plymouth on 16 March flight NZ8041 61 Auckland 40s F Travel to Africa details to come 60 Auckland 20s M Dubai to Auckland on Monday 16 March flight EK448 59 Auckland 60s No international travel history exposed at World Herefords Conference in Queenstown. 58 Auckland 60s M No international travel history exposed at World Herefords Conference in Queenstown. Domestic travel history: Dunedin to Auckland on Sunday 15 March flight NZ674 57 Hamilton 60s F Travel history to Ireland, Dubai and Australia. Details to come. 56 Bay of Plenty 30s M Travel history to the United States of America details to come. 55 Coramandel 60s M Honolulu to Auckland on 14 March flight HA445 (arrived 15 March) 54 Waikato 40s F Contact with a confirmed case 53 Dundedin 40s M LA to Auckland on 14 March flight NZ1 Auckland to Queenstown on 14 March flight NZ615 52 Auckland 50s F Under investigation 51 Nelson 20s F Travel related, however international flights outside of infectious period. Domestic flights: Auckland to Nelson on 16 March flight 5065 50 Nelson 60s F Under investigation 49 Manawatu 20s F Doha to Auckland on 14 March flight QR0920 Auckland to Palmerston North on 16 March flight NZ5107 48 Manawatu 40s M Travel related. Queenstown to Christchurch on 13 March flight NZ642 Christchurch to Palmerston North on 13 March flight NZ5181 47 Taupo 50s M Dubai to Auckland on 10 March flight EK0448 46 Auckland 70s M Dunedin to Auckland on 16 March flight NZ674 45 Wellington 30s F Dubai to Auckland on 12 March flight EK44 Auckland to Wellington on 12 March flight NZ433 44 Wellington 50s M Travel related, however international flights outside of infectious period. Domestic flights: Auckland to Wellington on 8 March flight NZ449 Wellington to Hamilton on 12 March flight NZ5810 Hamilton to Wellington on 13 March flight NZ5823. 43 Wellington 50s M Sydney to Wellington on 14 March flight QF161. 42 Waikato 60s F Singapore to Auckland on 13 March flight SQ0285. 41 Auckland 60s M Cruise ship travel. Domestic flights Dunedin to Auckland on 15 March flight NZ670. 40 Wellington Region 50s M Travel related, however flights outside of infectious period. 39 Otago 20s Male LA to Auckland on Wednesday 18 March flight NZ554 Auckland to Queenstown on Wednesday 18 March flight NZ615 38 Wellington 30s Male Not infectious on flight 37 Auckland 40s Female London to Doha to Auckland (on Sunday 15 March) - flight details to come. 36 Auckland 40s Male Los Angeles to Auckland - flight details to come. 35 Auckland 30s Female Los Angeles to Auckland - flight details to come. 34 Waikato 70s Female Dubai to Auckland on Monday 16 March flight EK0450 33 Waikato 60s Male Dubai to Auckland on Monday 16 March flight EK0450 32 Hawkes Bay 30s Male Doha to Auckland on Monday 16 March flight QR920 Auckland to Napier on Tuesday 17 March flight NZ5021 31 Wellington 40s Male Melbourne to Wellington on Saturday 14 March flight SQ247 30 Canterbury 50s Male Los Angeles to Auckland on Saturday 14 March flight AA83 Auckland to Christchurch on Sunday 15 March flight and NZ535 29 Auckland Singapore to Auckland on 11 March 28 Southern DHB Sydney to Christchurch on Friday 13 March flight EK402 27 Southern DHB 30s Female London to Auckland on Tuesday 17 March flight NZ1 Auckland to Christchurch on Tuesday 17 March flight NZ525 Christchurch to Dunedin on Tuesday 17 March flight NZ5749 26 Auckland 40s Male Melbourne to Auckland on Sunday 15 March flight QF153 25 Auckland 60s Male Los Angeles to Auckland on Friday 13 March flight NZ05 24 Rotorua 50s Male Singapore to Auckland on Friday 13 March - flight SQ285 23 Northland 20s Male Sydney to Auckland on Monday 16 March flight VA0141 22 Taranaki 40s Male Cairo to Frankfurt (Lufthansa LH581 on Saturday 7 March) to Vancouver to Auckland on Sunday 15 March flight NZ23 Auckland to New Plymouth on Sunday 15 March flight NZ8035 21 Taranaki 40s Female Dubai to Auckland on Monday 9 March - flight EK448 Auckland to New Plymouth on Monday 9 March - flight NZ8041 20 Waikato 70s Male Singapore to Auckland on Sunday 15 March flight SQ285 19 Waikato 20s Female Sydney to Auckland on Sunday 8 March flight NZ112 18 Canterbury 40s Female Singapore to Christchurch on Monday 16 March flight SQ297 17 Invercargill 40s Male Not infectious on flight 16 Auckland 60s Male Travelling from Canada (on Thursday 12 March) - flight details to come. 15 Auckland 60s Male San Francisco to Auckland on Friday 13 March flight NZ7 14 Auckland 40s Female Not infectious on flight 13 Auckland 50s Male Dubai to Auckland on 14 March flight EK448 12 Dunedin Teens Male Associated with travel of case 11. 11 Dunedin 40s Male Singapore to Auckland on Saturday 7 March - flight NZ283 Auckland to Dunedin on Sunday 8 March - flight NZ675 10 Wellington 70s Male Los Angeles to Auckland on 14 March flight AA83 Auckland to Wellington on 14 March flight NZ419 9 Wellington 30s Male Los Angeles to Auckland on 14 March flight AA83 Auckland to Wellington on 14 March flight NZ419 8 Wellington 60s Male Brisbane to Wellington on Saturday 14 March flight NZ828 7 Dunedin 30s Female Denmark to Doha to Auckland on Tuesday 10 March - flight QR920) Auckland to Christchurch on Tuesday 10 March - flight JQ225 6 Auckland 60s Male Houston to Auckland on Friday 6 March flight NZ029 5 Auckland 40s Female Associated with travel - Doha to Auckland on Sunday 23 February flight QR0920 4 Auckland 40s Male Singapore to Auckland on Tuesday 25 February flight NZ283 3 Auckland 40s Male Associated with travel - Doha to Auckland on Sunday 23 February flight QR0920 2 Auckland 30s Female Singapore to Auckland on Tuesday 25 February - flight NZ283 1 Auckland 60s Iran to Bali to Auckland on Wednesday 26 February flight EK450 Mumbai, March 23 : After returning from London a few days ago, actress Sonam Kapoor has been in self-quarantine at her Delhi's home. And now she is badly missing her family in Mumbai -- especially dad Anil Kapoor and sister Rhea Kapoor. On Monday, Sonam took to Instagram and posted a childhood picture of herself with father Anil Kapoor and sister Rhea. "Miss you," she captioned the image. For the unitiated, Sonam and her husband Anand Ahuja, chose to self-quarantine in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, on returning from London. Last week a video had gone viral on the Internet that showed Sonam interacting with her mother-in-law Priya Ahuja from her first floor window, maintaining safe distance. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Equity-oriented mutual fund schemes delivered a negative return of about 25 percent to investors over the last one month as the broader market witnessed significant downtrend amid coronavirus-triggered recession fears New Delhi: Equity-oriented mutual fund schemes delivered a negative return of about 25 percent to investors over the last one month as the broader market witnessed significant downtrend amid coronavirus-triggered recession fears. The 44-player mutual fund industry is not immune to the economic blowback of COVID-19, and going ahead, small and mid-cap equity schemes will continue to remain under pressure in the short to medium term on account of volatility in the markets, said Krishna Karwa, Senior Research Analyst, at iFAST Financial India. According to data compiled by Morningstar India, all the equity scheme categories -- equity-linked saving scheme (ELSS), mid-cap, large & mid-cap, large-cap, small-cap, mid-cap and multi-cap have given negative return in the range of 25-26 percent between 19 February and 18 March, 2020. Individually, large and mid-cap funds have given a negative return of 26.63 percent followed by large-cap (26.58 percent), ELSS (26.47 percent), multi-cap (26.45 percent), small-cap (26.32 percent) and mid-cap (24.84 percent). Notably, all the funds fell less than their respective benchmark indices during the bear market. The benchmark Sensex crashed about 30 percent during the same period, falling from 41,000 level to 29,000 level, following the coronavirus pandemic, the decline in international crude oil price and the Yes Bank fiasco. "We have seen such falls in the market multiple times before, while pessimism may remain for some time given the uncertain situation with the spread of the coronavirus. But as we have seen in the past over the long term markets will recover," Morningstar India Director- Manager Research Kaustubh Belapurkar said. He, further, said that investors should continue to focus on asset allocation and continue with their investment and systematic investment plans (SIPs). If an investor was under-allocated to equities as per his risk profile, it would be a good time to start increasing the equity exposure at current low valuations. He advised investors to keep at least 7-10 year investment horizon in mind with a volatile asset class like equities. Echoing similar views, iFAST Financial India's Karwa said that corrections have made the valuations pretty attractive, and investors should consider going long on small and mid-cap funds. "Despite witnessing a marked dip in net asset value (NAV) in recent times, large-cap and blue-chip funds should be able to bounce back at a faster pace. Quality businesses and industry leaders with superior fundamentals will always command a premium multiple over the rest, and would be the first ones to see investment inflows on major dips, he added. With regard to the debt schemes, Karwa expects stress in the credit markets to persist. From a defensive standpoint, an investor should focus more on short-duration debt funds (typically up to one year) with good liquidity. Those with a higher risk appetite can keep long-duration credit risk funds on their radar as well, he added. "The current market downturn has led to both concerns as well as a sense of potential wealth creation opportunity due to this increased awareness," said Satyen Kothari, Founder & CEO, Cube Wealth. Pereda earned a minor-league Gold Glove Award from Rawlings. The 23-year-old native of Venezuela threw out 44 of 88 potential base stealers and had a .996 fielding percentage in 85 games at Double-A Tennessee last season. Pereda has a .248 batting average in seven minor-league seasons. Japan Data A survey of 18-year-olds in Japan found that many had few opinions on environmental matters. Greta Thunberg, the young Swedish environmental activist, delivered a speech at the United Nations Climate Action Summit in September 2019 in which she called for a change in orientation from the current overemphasis on economics, telling world leaders that, The eyes of all future generations are upon you. And if you choose to fail us, I say, we will never forgive you. Nearly every day there are reports in newspapers and on TV related to the repercussions of global warming, such as damage from typhoons and torrential rain on an ever-larger scale and the impact on fishery resources from rising ocean temperatures. However, a survey of Japanese 18-year-olds regarding climate change conducted by the Nippon Foundation found that one in three respondents, or 33%, were unaware of the risks associated with global warming. When asked for their thoughts on Japan being the worlds fifth largest generator of carbon dioxide, 68.8% of survey respondents said the emissions should be reduced, while 12.9% said they were unavoidable due to social activities. Among those aware of the risks of global warming, 80.0% held the position that emissions should be reduced, whereas among those not aware of the risks 46.1% said that emissions should be reduced and 41.5% said they had no opinion either way. Under the Paris Agreement, an international framework for responding to global warming, Japan set the medium-term target of reducing its emissions of greenhouse gases by 26% by fiscal 2030 compared to the level of fiscal 2013. As to whether this goal is sufficient compared to other countries, the answer among nearly half of those surveyed, or 47.6%, was Dont know. Among those unaware of the risks associated with global warming, the proportion of those who answered Dont know was 75.4%. When asked for their view on President Donald Trump withdrawing the United States from the Paris Agreement, 75.8% of those surveyed who were unaware of the risks associated with global warming responded with Dont know. There was an overall tendency among those unaware of the risks associated with global warming to have no opinion regarding specific questions in the survey, answering Dont know instead. At the UN Climate Action Summit in September 2019, Greta Thunberg called for efforts to counter global warming, which developed into protests by young people in countries around the world, including school strikes. Among the 18-year-olds surveyed in Japan, however, only 29.6% expressed sympathy with her views, while 52.9% said they didnt know. In particular, among those unaware of the risks associated with global warming, an overwhelming 72.5% said they didnt know, while those who agreed or disagreed were limited to 14.8% and 11.8%, respectively. The survey included an open-ended question on what measures respondents thought were needed to tackle global warming. The focus of many of the answers was on the everyday actions of individuals, rather than major social reforms, including the following: The efforts of each individual are important; Become aware that the effort of each individual includes yourself; Each person should try to curb greenhouse gases as much as possible. (Translated from Japanese. Banner photo: Greta Thunberg at a December 9, 2019, United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP25). Jiji.) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Andrew Osborn (Reuters) Moscow, Russia Mon, March 23, 2020 08:08 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206ca79dd 2 World Italy,Russia,aid,coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus,COVID-19,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,health,infection,infectious-diseases Free The Russian army on Sunday began flying medical help to Italy to help it battle the new coronavirus after receiving an order from President Vladimir Putin, a goodwill gesture that Moscow labelled "From Russia with Love". Giant Il-76 military planes began taking off from an airbase in the Moscow region after Putin spoke to Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Saturday and agreements were later reached between respective defense ministers. The Kremlin said Putin had expressed his support for Italy's leaders and people in the extremely difficult situation they were facing and had heeded an Italian request for help. Italy recorded almost 800 deaths from the coronavirus on Saturday, taking the toll in the world's hardest-hit country to almost 5,000, out of over 53,000 reported infections. "Giuseppe Conte expressed his sincere gratitude for the steps Russia is taking to support Italy at such a tough time for it," the Kremlin said. Moscow has tried to cultivate close ties with NATO and European Union member Italy in recent years. It asked Rome to help persuade the EU to lift sanctions imposed over Russia's annexation of Ukraine from Crimea in 2014 - although those sanctions remain in place. China, the origin of the outbreak, has also sent medical supplies to Italy, amid complaints from eurosceptic far-right leader Matteo Salvini that the European Union was failing in its duty of solidarity. 'From Russia with love' TV footage released by the Russian Defense Ministry showed a column of at least seven military vehicles, including large trucks, waiting to be loaded onto planes. The planes and trucks bore giant stickers showing heart-shaped Russian and Italian flags next to one another with the slogan 'From Russia with Love' in both Russian and Italian. At least three planes took off on Sunday afternoon. The Ministry said they were bound for the Pratica di Mare military airbase, 30 km southwest of Rome. The Kremlin said Russia was sending truck-based units capable of disinfecting vehicles, buildings and public spaces, as well as medical specialists and equipment, including testing devices, to the worst-hit Italian regions. The team included some of Russia's leading medical military specialists, who had first-hand experience of fighting outbreaks of African swine fever and anthrax and of developing vaccines against Ebola, it said. The Defense Ministry said its help, being sent on nine military transport planes, would consist of eight medical brigades plus around 100 other personnel, including the epidemiological and virus experts. Russia itself has reported 367 cases of the virus, many of them in Moscow, and one coronavirus-related death. Suspect The Lagos State Police Command on Monday said that three pastors were arrested but later released on Sunday for allegedly conducting church services in deviance to the Lagos State Government {LASG}s order. Deputy Commissioner of Police Mohammed Ali in charge of Operations, Lagos Command, confirmed the arrest of the pastors to the News Agency of Nigeria {NAN}. Ali said that one of the pastors arrested is from one of the Pentecostal Churches. He said that the pastors were not detained but warned to comply with the governments directive to prevent further spread of coronavirus. He said, We did not hold our weekly prayers in the mosque at the police headquarters because we had to comply with the directive of the Lagos State Government. I also implore churches and other religious organisations to follow suit, he said. Ali said that the operations to ensure the public complies with the state governments directive would be a continuous one. He warned that any religious leaders caught disobeying the directive of the state government would face the consequences. NAN reports that LASG last week through a directive put a hold on social gatherings of people above 50 in number; including church services and mosque meetings. The government said that it was part of its efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the state. (NAN) MHLANGATANE Residents in communities along the borderline seem to have gotten the message on how best COVID-19 transmission can be prevented. Over a week ago, the residents, particularly around Mhlangatane, claimed they would not stop using informal crossings but they seem to have backtracked on this. On Saturday, during a visit to some of the informal crossings, it was found that the number of people entering into the country or leaving had dropped. This was confirmed by transport operators who usually use vans to transport travellers in and out of the kingdom. The travellers then use informal crossings normally manned by members of the Umbufto Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF). Spread Even at the informal crossings, members of the army have taken steps to prevent the spread of the disease by providing water to wash hands to members of the public as they arrive into or leave the country. Transport operator Musa Ngwenya said the numbers of people entering the country or leaving had dropped. Ngwenya said this was a good sign that people were heeding to the warnings by government. He said during the week, it appeared the numbers were much lesser than the norm. Ngwenya said on Saturday, the first van left at about 2:30pm. He said it was the first time this had happened, adding that this was a sign that people were no longer travelling to SA. Though he said this was a good sign in the prevention of the spread of the virus, Ngwenya said it was a huge impact on their business. Another driver Sibusiso Nsingwane said the number of commuters had dropped drastically. Commuter Selina Tsabedze said it was difficult not to enter Eswatini or SA for people living along the borderline. As you can see, I went to buy mealie meal, she said. She said it was cheaper to go to SA because one can even walk there while Buhleni, which is the nearest Eswatini town, was far. Tsabedze said it was for this reason that people entered SA or vice versa adding that they would starve to death if they did not. Some of the residents said the closure of schools by both countries may also have contributed to the low movement. They said this meant that children learning in SA did not have to return home every weekend. Xiaomi's online event for the Redmi Note 9S just finished and just as expected it's a new name for the already announced Redmi Note 9 Pro. That's not to take anything away from what is certainly a great phone though. The Redmi Note 9S is built around a 6.67-inch IPS LCD panel with 1080 x 2400px (20:9 aspect ratio) resolution. Xiaomi says it can reach up to 450 nits brightness, supports HDR10 and complies with TUV Rheinland's standards for low blue light emissions. This is also the first phone from the series with a punch hole for the selfie camera, which Xiaomi calls Tiny DotDisplay. And last, but not least, the screen has Gorilla Glass 5 protection layer and so does the back of the phone. Inside you get the Snapdragon 720G coupled with either 4GB or 6GB of RAM while the storage options are 64GB and 128GB, respectively. You can expand that via the microSD card slot. Speaking of, there are two more fan favorite features that will stay for at least another year - 3.5mm audio jack and IR blaster. The square-shaped camera module on the back packs four cameras - a 48MP main one with f/1.8 aperture, 8MP ultrawide unit with f/2.2 aperture and a 5MP macro lens. The last piece is a 2MP depth-sensing camera for better portraits. The cutout of the display houses a 16MP camera with f/2.5 aperture and it can record 120fps slow-motion videos. A 5,020 mAh battery keeps the lights on, which partially explains why the phone weighs 209 grams. The battery can be charged at up to 18W, but Xiaomi supplies a 22.5W-capable brick in the box. Finally, the fingerprint reader has been moved from the back to the side. It seems that most budget phones these days prefer the side-mounted fingerprint scanner + power button combo. In Malaysia the price of the 4GB/64GB configuration is MYR799 (165) and MYR899 (190) for the 6GB/128GB. In Singapore, the handset will be selling for SGD 299 and SGD 349, respectively. In Thailand, it will cost THB 6,499 and THB 7,999 and AliExpress will be asking $249 and $279, while shipping around the globe. The Redmi Note 9S will be made available starting April 7. You can choose between Aurora Blue, Glacier White and Interstellar Grey. The announcement finished with the unveiling of a MFF 2020 Limited Edition of the Redmi Note 9S. Only 2020 units will be made of the exclusive paintjob that will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Mi Fan Festival this year. Gasoline futures in New York fell as much as 13 percent to $0.50 a gallon, the lowest level since the current contract started trading in 2005. Source: Bloomberg The previous gasoline contract last traded that low in 2001... Source: Bloomberg All of which means Americans - on average - can expect gas-prices at the pump to plunge below $2/gallon very soon... Source: Bloomberg Energy prices slid toward this multi-decade low on plunging demand due to the economic fallout from the coronavirus crisis, and as prospects for a OPEC-Texas production deal faded. The government is taking a whatever it takes approach, said Marshall Steeves, an analyst at IHS Markit. That doesnt change the fact that demand destruction is going to continue. There are still so many unknowns on the demand front. The duration of this economic shutdown is so uncertain that its making me believe the bottom may not be in yet. As Bloomberg notes, the prospects for the oil market remain bleak with more nations going into lockdown to tackle the virus. At the same time, supply is surging. The chance that either Saudi Arabia or Russia will back down from their price war seems remote, with President Vladimir Putin unlikely to submit to what he sees as the kingdoms oil blackmail, according to Kremlin watchers. Related: Not Even Higher Oil Prices Can Save U.S. Shale Even if crude demand recovers to normal levels by the middle of the year, 2020 is still on course to suffer the biggest decline in consumption since reliable records started in the mid-1960s. We are now looking at a scale of surplus in the second quarter we probably never have seen before, said Bjarne Schieldrop, chief commodities analyst at SEB. Until now, the biggest annual contraction was recorded in 1980, when it tumbled by 2.6 million barrels a day as the global economy reeled under the impact of the second oil crisis. By Zerohedge.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: As Iranians were preparing to put behind them a bitter year full of sorrowful events, the coronavirus appeared as an unexpected and unwanted guest, destroying their plans to celebrate the Persian new year on March 21. Though the Iranian public expects the government to place cities with high concentrations of coronavirus cases under quarantine, President Hassan Rouhani has refrained from doing so. His administration has not said a word about the reasoning behind the decision, but US economic sanctions seem to be playing a central role in preventing the Iranian government from taking the most obvious measure to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Irans first confirmed case was reported just one day before the parliamentary election on Feb. 21. Soon, Iranian media outlets were full of reports and warnings, urging people to take precautions. Irans holy city of Qom, the site of a Shiite holy shrine and Iran's grand ayatollahs, has been recognized as the epicenter of the virus in Iran with hundreds of confirmed cases. Officials have pointed to Chinese laborers and an Iranian merchant as originally bringing the virus to the city. As the days have passed and people keep hearing worrisome news about the rising death toll, many wonder why the government is still unwilling to enforce quarantine measures. The public is especially angry with religious authorities, as they assume clerics were behind the government decision not to quarantine Qom. Soon, the grand ayatollahs based there announced that everyone must follow the orders of physicians and government decisions to limit the virus spread. Chief Justice Ebrahim Raisi said March 9 that the religious authorities have not opposed putting Qom under quarantine. But rage at Iranian officials has risen as the infection quickly spread from Qom to other provinces, and see Italy extending its strict quarantine measures nationwide. Despite the publics demands and calls from some politicians, Irans president declared March 15 that no city would be put under quarantine. This is while Irans hospitals across the country are on the verge of a terrible crisis as they stretch the limits of their capacity. Very soon, they wont be able to accept new COVID-19 patients. Rouhani wrote a letter March 14 to world leaders that the countrys effort to contain the outbreak was severely hampered by US sanctions and urged other nations to ignore them. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in remarks March 20, said medical supplies have never been included in the sanctions. Albert Boghzian, an economics professor at the University of Tehran, told Al-Monitor, The sanctions have blocked our access to our foreign exchange reserves and our foreign income while making transactions costly for us. At the same time, we are facing an oil embargo, and this means a decline in our foreign exchange earnings. Simultaneously, we have a grave problem with purchasing equipment and technology, as no foreign company dares to make a deal with us. Mentioning the quarantines in China, Kuwait and Italy, Boghzian speculated as to why Rouhani hasnt followed suit. When theres a quarantine in place, the government should provide some services to people, including an amount of money and even packing and delivering food and other needed things. Under such circumstances, a government does anything to make people stay at home, Boghzian said. If the government had no budget deficit and could purchase necessities from local and foreign factories to distribute among people, and could provide laborers and workers with their monthly income, then the quarantine could be enforced. An evangelical pastor fighting for life in hospital after being diagnosed with coronavirus is showing signs of improvement, his church said yesterday. Pastor Mark McClurg of Newtownards Elim Church is in intensive care in the Ulster Hospital after testing positive for the virus last week. Two people in Northern Ireland have died from the virus, and 128 people here have tested positive for the infection. Last night an update posted on his church's social media page revealed medics felt Pastor McClurg was starting to make progress in the fight against the virus. "He has been able to sit up this morning, and though exhausted he and the doctor believes he is making progress, however slow and small it may be," a church spokesperson said. "Any improvement is a blessing, and a result of prayer. "He appreciates the prayers of the family of God, both local and worldwide. "He is humbled and confident that prayer will prevail and bring him through. "Please continue to uphold him and his precious wife and family. Pray without ceasing." Yesterday, Bangor Elim Church called on its congregation to pray for Pastor McClurg's speedy recovery. "As you may be aware Mark was hospitalised early this week and on Thursday he tested positive for coronavirus," a church spokesman said. "I am writing to ask for urgent prayer. "Mark has had an uncomfortable night and the hospital have decided that ventilation may be the best course of action in order to give Mark's body and heart some rest from the stress he is currently experiencing. "Please pray for God's intervention and healing power at this time. "Please pray for (his partner) Claire and the children who are also self-isolating at this time, also his brother Sam and all the family. "Obviously, visiting by anyone including family is not permitted, and this in itself is incredibly distressing for everyone closest to Mark." A second pastor, Lee McClelland of Ark Church on Belfast's Cliftonpark Avenue, is also in intensive care after testing positive for the disease. Hundreds of heartfelt messages and prayers for both men have been posted by worshippers. Paul Cairns, who knows both, wrote: "Praying for friends of mine - Pastor Lee McClelland and Pastor Mark McClurg; both servants of the Lord that need your prayers, both in intensive care with confirmed coronavirus. "More prayer more power!" Another worshipper, Denise McKendry, wrote: "We thank you Lord for the slight improvement in Mark and for answered prayers. "We continue to pray for him and his family as well as all the others who have been brought down by this virus. "Heal them Lord and let them see that you are the light shining through this dark time." Pastor McClurg's brother Sam, who is a pastor at an Elim Church in Rathfriland, issued a statement. "On behalf of Mark and Claire and his family we want to thank everyone who has been praying for him," he said. "A lot of people are texting messages of support directly to Mark, and whilst this is encouraging, Mark needs to focus his strength on beating this virus. "His condition in ICU hasn't improved since Tuesday, so continue to pray for his lungs and breathing and for time for his body to beat this virus. "God is in control." TWO Limerick girls remain stranded in Australia this Monday night after their flights were cancelled. Aimee Landers, aged 27, from Murroe, and Aine Ryan, aged 26, from Corbally - along with many other young Irish people - are desperately trying to get home. Aimee said distraught Irish passengers in Perth Airport had to break the sad news to their loved ones earlier this Monday that, "We were unable to get flights". She appeals to the Irish Government to help get Irish people home. Aimee and Aine flew out to Westerm Australia in January and were excited for their big adventure Down Under. In February, they got jobs in the hair and beauty industry. "As the spread of the coronavirus started to hit Australia it became apparent that, like many Irish people over here, our jobs were now in jeopardy. Last Thursday, we got the bad news and we worked our last shift on Saturday. "Unfortunately as we are not citizens of this country and we are here on a working holiday visa we, like many Irish, are entitled to nothing," Aimee told the Limerick Leader this Monday evening. The second Aimee and Aine heard their jobs were at risk they began looking into getting flights home. "Although it had been in the back of our minds as we heard about how serious things were getting in Ireland. Family is everything at the end of the day and in this scary, unprecedented time it's very difficult to be so far away from home," said Aimee. They booked flights with Emirates last Thursday, March 19 to depart from Perth Airport tomorrow - Tuesday, March 24. "We met our first hurdle on Sunday evening when Emirates announced they would be suspending all flights from Wednesday, March 25. "Unfortunately this resulted in our Dubai to Dublin flight being cancelled. We organised another flight with British Airways for Dubai and rushed to the airport tonight (Monday evening in Australia) to see if we could get out earlier. "At the airport it became quite apparent that there were many Irish, of all ages, in the same boat praying, hoping and begging the airlines for help," said Aimee. A lot of tears were shed by Irish people in Perth Airport as "distraught passengers had to break the sad news to their loved ones that we were unable to get flights and with no indication as to when we will ever get home". On behalf of herself and "the countless Irish citizens stranded in Australia", Aimee appeals to the Irish Government to "please help us return home to our loved ones". "These are worrying and scary times that no one could have possibly predicted. But now we need to stay united and get through them together with our families by our side. "I have no doubt our country can and will pull through this. Ireland is home and right now home is where we need to be," said Aimee. The best friends have returned to their rented accommodation but now have the added worry of paying rent with no income. Riders on two of NJ Transits three light rail lines will be the next NJ Transit passengers to see service reductions due to coronavirus concerns and Gov.Phil Murphys orders for non-essential employees to work from home. Service on the RiverLine and Newark Light rail will be reduced starting Wednesday, March 25. Newark Light Rail will operate on a Saturday schedule and the RiverLine will run on a Sunday/Holiday schedule, starting on Wednesday, officials said. Service on the busier Hudson-Bergen Light rail will continue to operate on a weekday schedule NJ Transit bus service will continue to run on weekday schedules, but riders will have to get on the bus through a different door. To protect bus drivers, passengers will get on the bus by using the rear door on buses that have back doors, officials said. Its a precaution to expand social distancing as much as can. We expect customers to pay. They can walk to front of bus and pay, said Nancy Snyder, an NJ Transit spokeswoman. We are encouraging our customers to use the mobile app. While cash will be accepted, officials prefer riders use the NJ Transit My Tix feature of its smartphone app to safeguard drivers from coronavirus. The app allows riders to buy single, round-trip, 10-trip-bus tickets and monthly passes. It eliminates the need to handle cash. NJ Transit officials also cordoned off front seats closest to bus drivers on buses for increased social distancing, she said. Travel should be limited to essential personnel only, under orders issued by Gov. Phil Murphy to reduce the spread of coronavirus. Murphy ordered New Jerseys 9 million residents to stay at home on Saturday, with some exceptions and required all non-essential retail businesses in the state to close until further notice. Two more coronavirus testing centers opened Monday, a day after Gov. Phil Murphy announced that the number of cases in New Jersey has climbed to 2,884 including 27 deaths. Rail schedules changed to a Presidents Day schedule starting Monday due to reduced ridership. Murphy said NJ Transit ridership has dropped by 90% due to changing work patterns caused by the coronavirus. Sign up for text message alerts from NJ.com on coronavirus in New Jersey: Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter. Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @commutinglarry. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. A riot by prisoners demanding government health measures against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Bogota An investigation is underway into an attempted prison break in Colombia, which has left more than 20 inmates dead and more than eighty injured, some seriously. Fear of the Corona virus seems to be a factor in the developing unrest in the country`s prison population. By James Blears The riot and attempted mass break out happened at the Modelo prison in Colombia`s Capital Bogota. Outside the prison walls, masked families of inmates, claim they heard gunfire, shortly after security forces went in to restore order. Colombia`s Justice Minister Margarita Cabello says that two prison officers who were injured, among thirty two hospitalized are in critical condition. She`s vowing to bring criminal charges against those responsible for murder and assault. The unrest spread to thirteen prisons nationwide. The Minister says she believes it was carefully orchestrated. Inmates insist they`re in grave danger of the epidemic of corona virus, because of chronic overcrowding in Colombia`s prisons, which are holding more than thirty thousand more than maximum capacity . Yet no inmates have fallen sick, as yet. Colombia so far has more than 200 reported cases. Coronavirus patients in their 40s are among those fighting for life in COVID-19 intensive care units in Sydney. More than 800 people have tested positive to the virus in NSW, as the state continues to register the highest number of confirmed cases in Australia. At least seven on those are understood to be critically ill in hospital ICUs, including some aged in their 40s and 50s. 'These are young people coming in. This is scary and it needs to hit home for people that this is not the common flu,' an ICU worker told The Sydney Morning Herald on the condition of anonymity. 'I don't want to frighten people, because there is a lot of hope, but only if we all take this seriously.' Coronavirus patients in their 40s are among those fighting for life in COVID-19 intensive care units in Sydney. Pictured: A paramedic transporting a patient at the COVID-19 Clinic at the Mount Barker Hospital in Adelaide Australia's Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said on Monday drastic social distancing measures were necessary because younger people had a 'cavalier attitude' towards the virus. 'Young people have often been quoted as saying, ''well, I'm going to not get a serious disease so it doesn't bother me'',' he said. 'Those young Australians... just think that your transmission or your spread of this virus could lead to a serious and even fatal disease in one of your elderly relatives or friends.' Premier Gladys Berejiklian urged the public to take personal responsibility to slow the spread of coronavirus, with police standing by if people fail to comply with social distancing rules. Coronavirus cases soared to 1,886 on Tuesday 'This is getting very serious and our actions have to match how serious this is,' the Liberal leader said on Monday. Meanwhile, public transport across NSW will continue operating despite a steep decline in passengers. Transport for NSW secretary Rodd Staples on Monday said there had been a 40 to 45 per cent decline in public transport travel across the state in the past fortnight. But trains, trams, buses and ferries will keep running. 'It is no surprise to anyone that customer numbers are down ... due to the coronavirus outbreak, however, importantly, this has created sufficient space on all modes to allow our customers to socially distance themselves in the majority of cases,' Mr Staples said in a statement. Premier Gladys Berejiklian urged the public to take personal responsibility to slow the spread of coronavirus CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement Cleaning and public health messages have been ramped up across the network, as more people are encouraged to work from home and limit non-essential travel. NSW schools will stay open but the NSW premier encouraged parents to keep their kids at home if possible despite the prime minister insisting 'there is no health reason for schools to be closed or for children not to go to schools'. There have been 48 confirmed cases among passengers from the Ruby Princess cruise ship which docked in Sydney on Thursday and five cases from the Ovation of the Seas which berthed a day earlier. NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant on Monday said 327 cases had been acquired overseas, 155 were from contact with known cases and 65 had been locally transmitted. The remainder are under investigation. There have been 48 confirmed cases among passengers from the Ruby Princess cruise ship which docked in Sydney on Thursday Dr Chant urged young people in particular to adhere to social distancing rules to protect the most vulnerable in the community. She insisted there was no evidence of COVID-19 aboard the Ruby Princess when it docked. 'There was no outbreak on the ship,' she said, arguing while there was some flu, the COVID-19 cases subsequently came to light. A nationwide shutdown of principal places of social gathering came into effect at midday on Monday. Ms Berejiklian said police were on standby if people failed to comply with the restrictions. Australia's Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said on Monday drastic social distancing measures were necessary because younger people had a 'cavalier attitude' towards the virus 'We want people to take personal responsibility ... your personal actions can result in someone getting very sick or dying,' the premier said. The public will no longer have to touch pedestrian crossing buttons in Sydney's CBD after Monday. Transport for NSW had already automated some major intersections but is expanding the system to combat the spread of coronavirus. Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore is hopeful the initiative will remain in place once the threat of the disease passes, a city staffer said on Monday. [March 23, 2020] Box Announces Agreement With Starboard Box (NYSE: BOX), a leader in cloud content management, today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Starboard Value LP (together with certain of its affiliates, "Starboard"), an investment firm which owns approximately 7.7% of the Company's outstanding common stock. Under the terms of the agreement, three new independent directors will join the Box Board of Directors prior to the company's 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders in June 2020 ("2020 Annual Meeting"), two incumbent directors will not stand for re-election to the board at the 2020 Annual Meeting and one incumbent director will retire from the board effective as of the 2020 Annual Meeting. The board will be set at 9 directors following the 2020 Annual Meeting. Jack Lazar, formerly chief financial officer of GoPro and Atheros Communications, will join the Box Board of Directors immediately. In addition, a second new director will be selected from a list of candidates provided by Starboard or will otherwise be mutually agreed. A third new director will be selected by the board prior to the 2020 Annual Meeting. "We are pleased to welcome Jack to our board," said Aaron Levie, Box Co-founder, CEO, and Chairman. "He brings valuable experience in both the enterprise and consumer technology markets, along with a strong track record of helping companies drive disciplined growth and profitability as both a leader and board member. I look forward to working with Jack and our other new independent directors to continue to create value for stockholders. We are also pleased to continue our collaboration with Starboard and appreciate the constructive approach they have taken." "I'm thrilled to join the Box Board of Directors. Aaron, Dylan, and the entire leadership team at Box have pioneered cloud content management and the company has a massive opportunity to define the future of work around the world," said Mr. Lazar. "I'm honored to be joining an experienced board and look forward to helping Box drive sustainable and profitable growth." Rory O'Driscoll will not stand for re-election and Josh Stein will retire from Box's Board of Directors at the time of the 2020 Annual Meeting. Box co-founder Dylan Smith will continue in his role as CFO but will not stand for re-election as a director at the 2020 Annual Meeting. "We thank Rory and Josh for their many contributions as directors and early investors in Box," Mr. Levie added. "Rory has served on our board for 10 years, and Josh has served for nearly 14 years. During that time, they have played a critical role in the growth of Box, and we have benefitted greatly from their valuable insight and support." In addition, Boxtoday announced the formation of an Operating Committee of the board. This committee will work with Box's CEO, CFO, and management to identify and recommend opportunities for further improvement in growth and margin performance. Mr. Lazar and the new independent director chosen in collaboration with Starboard will join existing directors Sue Barsamian and Kim Hammonds on the committee. Ms. Barsamian has served on the board since 2018 and brings several decades of enterprise software experience from HP and Mercury Interactive. Ms. Hammonds has served on the board since 2018 and brings leadership experience from her previous roles as the Group COO of Deutsche Bank AG and the CIO of The Boeing (News - Alert) Company. Peter Feld, Managing Member of Starboard, said, "We are pleased to have worked constructively with the Box board and management team to reach this agreement to strengthen the board with new independent directors and to create a new Operating Committee. We see a number of opportunities for substantial shareholder value creation and look forward to seeing the Company execute on opportunities to drive profitable growth towards a best-in-class financial profile. We are confident the addition of three new independent directors will add tremendous value to the board, and we also share the board's appreciation for Rory and Josh's years of service." The agreement with Starboard includes other customary provisions. Additional information about today's announcement will be filed on a Form 8-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is serving as financial advisor to Box and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation is serving as legal advisor. About Jack Lazar Mr. Lazar is currently an independent business consultant and has served on the Board of Directors at Silicon Laboratories, Inc. (SLAB) since April 2013, Mellanox (News - Alert) Technologies (MLNX) since June 2018, Resideo Technologies (REZI) since October 2018 and Casper Sleep (CSPR) since April 2019. Mr. Lazar also served on the Board of Directors of TubeMogul (News - Alert), an enterprise software company for digital branding, from October 2013 to December 2016 when it was acquired by Adobe Systems and Quantenna Communications, a wireless semiconductor company, from July 2016 to June 2019 when it was acquired by ON Semiconductor. From January 2014 until March 2016, he served as Chief Financial Officer at GoPro, Inc., a provider of wearable and mountable capture devices, where he completed its 2014 IPO. From January 2013 to January 2014 he served as an independent business consultant. From May 2011 to January 2013, Mr. Lazar was employed by Qualcomm (News - Alert), a developer of communications semiconductor solutions, and served as Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and General Manager of Qualcomm Atheros, a developer of communications semiconductor solutions. Mr. Lazar served in a variety of positions at Atheros Communications, Inc. from September 2003 until it was acquired by Qualcomm in May 2011. Most recently, he served as Atheros' Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of Corporate Development. During his tenure at Atheros, the company completed its IPO. Mr. Lazar is a certified public accountant (inactive) and holds a B.S. in commerce with an emphasis in accounting from Santa Clara University. About Box Box (NYSE:BOX) is a leading Cloud Content Management platform that enables organizations to accelerate business processes, power workplace collaboration, and protect their most valuable information, all while working with a best-of-breed enterprise IT stack. Founded in 2005, Box simplifies work for leading organizations globally, including AstraZeneca, General Electric, JLL and Morgan Stanley. Box is headquartered in Redwood City, CA (News - Alert), with offices in the United States, Europe, and Asia. To learn more about Box, visit http://www.box.com. To learn more about how Box powers nonprofits to fulfill their missions, visit Box.org. About Starboard Starboard Value LP is a New York-based investment adviser with a focused and differentiated fundamental approach to investing primarily in publicly traded U.S. companies. Starboard invests in deeply undervalued companies and actively engages with management teams and boards of directors to identify and execute on opportunities to unlock value for the benefit of all shareholders. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200323005174/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Even though the Martinez Farmers' Market was gone for only one week as a result of the novel coronavirus pandemic, it was clear that many of those on hand for its return Sunday morning were welcoming back an old friend. On Sunday morning, in the middle of a downtown that was eerily quiet and almost completely shut down, about 20 vendors set up on Main Street selling fruits, vegetables, meats, tamales, flowers and other items. It was a beehive of activity in a fairly inactive area. Though the Martinez market was closed for a week in the name of social distancing, the California Department of Food and Agriculture has since deemed farmers' markets as essential food sources that may remain open. A number of other weekend markets in the Bay Area, including those in Concord, Pleasanton and Danville, remain "temporarily closed." Two Milpitas firefighters and one of their spouses have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the city's Fire Department announced Monday. The firefighters and spouse are self-quarantining and have not required hospitalization, fire officials said. One firefighter had notified the department on Saturday of the positive test, then the second did on Sunday. The source of the infection hasn't been determined, but the first infected firefighter interacted with five other firefighters during the course of duties, including the second who tested positive and three others who are showing symptoms of the virus but have not received positive test results. All exposed firefighters are self-quarantining at home for the next 14 days, according to the fire department. Marin County Public Health Officer Dr. Matthew Willis announced Monday he has tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus. Willis said he does not know the source of his exposure since he has been meeting with health care workers around the Bay Area as part of his work in the county's response to the virus. Willis' positive test is among other health care workers who also have been diagnosed with the virus. Three health care workers in Sonoma County reportedly have tested positive. Deputy Public Health Officer Dr. Lisa Santora will lead the county's operations as Willis recovers. The Alameda County Public Health Department on Monday announced the county's first death caused by the novel coronavirus. County health officials said in a news release that the person who died was an elderly person with underlying conditions that placed them at greater risk of serious illness and was hospitalized. The person who died didn't have a history of travel or a known contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case, so they likely contracted the disease via a community-acquired transmission, according to the county. A Santa Clara County Main Jail inmate tested positive for the novel coronavirus and a San Jose police officer may have been exposed, according to the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office. The 31-year-old man, whose name wasn't released, reported feeling sick during his booking into the jail and let prison staff know a family member of his had returned from Europe a few days earlier. He was reportedly masked and taken to an isolation cell. He was taken to the prison's infirmary, isolated, tested for the COVID-19 coronavirus infection and confirmed infected on Sunday, according to the sheriff's office. The prisoner remains in quarantine under medical monitoring. A San Jose police officer was also possibly exposed, sheriff's officials said. Also, arrestees are being screened for COVID-19 symptoms like a dry cough, fever or shortness of breath outside of the jail now, according to the sheriff's office. Contra Costa County officials on Monday announced a trio of donation sites where residents can provide protective medical supplies for health care workers caring for novel coronavirus patients. Local businesses and residents throughout the county can donate items like goggles, face shields, unopened antibacterial and disinfecting wipes, unopened N-95 and surgical masks and medical gowns. Facebook has already donated 350,000 medical gloves to be distributed to healthcare providers throughout the county. The three sites -- 151 Linus Pauling Drive in Hercules, 1750 Oak Park Blvd. in Pleasant Hill and 4545 Delta Fair Blvd. in Antioch -- will be open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The county will begin accepting donations at each site Tuesday. Santa Cruz County is urging people to avoid its beaches during the statewide shelter-in-place order prompted by the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Although outdoor exercise is still being allowed and encouraged as long as safe social distancing guidelines are followed, authorities around the country have seen large gatherings at beaches, many from students on spring breaks. "Santa Cruz County is a popular destination for college students during this time of year," Sheriff Jim Hart said in a news release. "However, the county is asking everyone to adjust their routines in order to protect everyone's health, including their own." Violations of the order against large gatherings could lead to a misdemeanor citation or arrest, but the county is instead seeking voluntary compliance from residents and visitors. The United Food and Commercial Workers Local 5 union announced Monday an agreement with Safeway on a suite of new protections and rights Monday for grocery store workers during the novel coronavirus outbreak. The agreement terms include increased scheduling flexibility for parents, expanded paid sick leave, up to two weeks of paid time off for workers exposed to the virus before they are required to use sick leave, a $2 per hour pay raise for at least two weeks and giving existing employees priority over temporary employees for additional hours. "Local 5 members are working around the clock to assure that families have the food and supplies they need," UFCW Local 5 President John Nunes said. "Along with health care workers they are truly first responders during this growing crisis." UFCW officials are also making an effort to lobby state legislators to adopt protections for grocery store workers, like more paid leave, free coronavirus testing, mandated increased staffing and adequate sanitary cleaners and products like gloves. BART's ridership losses remained mostly steady last week as the agency plans to roll out reduced service hours Monday and until further notice amid the Bay Area's shelter-in-place order due to the spread of the novel coronavirus. Ridership throughout the BART system was down between 87 percent and 89 percent from Tuesday to Sunday when compared to average ridership in February. BART officials estimate the ridership and fare revenue losses and reduced economic activity during the shelter-in-place order could cost the agency $57 million each month. Starting Monday, weekday BART service will reduce from 5 a.m. to midnight to 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Service on Saturdays and Sundays will also reduce from 6 a.m. to midnight Saturday and 8 a.m. to midnight Sunday to 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on both days. Train frequency is not expected to change, according to the agency. Santa Clara County legislators, nonprofits and tech corporations on Monday announced plans for an $11.25 million financial support package for homeless and housing insecure residents facing unemployment during the worldwide novel coronavirus crisis. Financial support from SAnta Clara County, the city of San Jose, non-profit advocacy organization Destination: Home, faith-based Sacred Heart Community Service, and tech giants Cisco, Western Digital, Adobe, Zoom Video Communications Inc., Broadcom, Micron, Facebook, Infosys Silver Lake, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation have put together a multi-million dollar care package for locals impacted by the economic fallout from the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. Monetary contributions include: $2 million from Cisco; $1.5 million from Western Digital; $1 million from Adobe; $1 million from Destination: Home; $500,000 from Zoom; $500,000 from Broadcom; $300,000 from Micron; $150,000 from Facebook; $100,000 from Infosys; $100,000 from jSilver Lake; and $100,000 from Hewlett Packard Enterprise. The Silicon Valley Community Foundation also on Monday announced a $250,000 donation to the financial assistance program. On Tuesday, the San Jose's City Council and the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors will consider proposals to add $2 million each in funding for local programs to use for homeless and housing insecure individuals and families. Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Harry and Meghan will step down from their senior royal duties at Buckingham on April 1 and will no longer receive money through the sovereign grant. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are already done with all their royal engagements before they step down from their senior royal duties. However, how can Prince Harry and Meghan Markle maintain their lavish lifestyle in Canada? What is the couple's net worth? Meghan Markle's career as a Hollywood actress helped her to accumulate an estimated amount of $5 million. On the other hand, Prince Harry has a total net worth of $25 million and that includes his inheritance from his mother Princess Diana and his annual allowance from Prince Charles. However, it is not clear as to how much Prince Harry received from the crown. Overall, the total money of Prince Harry and Megan Markle when combined together is $30 million. But the question is can they sustain their lavish lifestyle in Canada with their total accumulated money? Their Previous Expenses Prince Harry and Meghan Markle spent hundreds of thousands for their son, Archie. In the previous interview with Prince Charles, he said that he wants to have two babies. This means that the same expenses will be spent or even more for their second baby. Even though Serena Williams hosted and paid Meghan Markle's' baby shower that costs around $200,000, this also means that Meghan may want the same caliber of a baby shower later on for their second baby. It was also reported in another article that Meghan Markle spent around $11,000 for acupuncture and numerology before her first delivery. The couple also spent $43,000 babymoon at the Heckfield Place. Prince Harry and Meghan have gone through three nannies since Archie was born. The salary of their nannies is between $36,000 and $59,000 dollars since they hired nannies from Norland College, a school that teaches aspiring nannies. They also spent $3.8 million to renovate their house, a Frogmore Cottage, in 2019 before they moved in. The expenses include $60,000 for a green energy-unit, fireplaces, staircases, and a floating floor. It was posted on the website of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex that their home went into the mandatory renovation. Meghan Markle is a style icon. It is not a surprise anymore if she was seen wearing a lavish and expensive dresse. On different occasions, Meghan was seen wearing $2,000 Stella McCartney dress, $1,390 Sentaler coat, $116 Banana Republic dress and a $123 Everlane jumpsuit. It was also found out that Meghan Markle spent more on dresses compared to other members of the royal family. An example of this is Kate Middleton where she only spent around $85,000 on clothing while Meghan Markle spent around $500,000 on maternity dress during her pregnancy. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also spent their Christmas and took a vacation for six weeks together with their son in U.S. and Canada. They also stayed in a mansion in Vancouver Island where they spent $13.3 million. Their Estimated Expenses Once They Start Living Independently Starting April 1, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will not receive money through sovereign grants anymore. This simply means that they have to work as professionals for them to earn income that will help sustain their lavish lifestyle. Here are some of their expected expenses: Since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are high-profile individuals, they need to spend $1 million for day-to-day security in one year. This includes $570,000 for residential security, $245,000 for a driver, and $150,000 for an advance agent. However, the security for the new life of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will cost $10 to $30 million a year according to the security experts. They also have to pay for the nannies of their child and as well as to spend money on their other lavish lifestyle. Looking at their accumulated money, lifestyle, and their potential expenses once they stop receiving money from the crown, it looks as if their budget will not survive a year. Read more: Tamale-based afro-pop and dancehall artiste, Ahmed Mujahid Bello, aka Fancy Gadam, has released a new song to educate Ghanaians particularly those up north about the effects of coronavirus. The single, which was released a few days ago, talks about how the disease spreads, its effects on our health and how the world can come together to conquer it. The lyrics are simple and to the point, urging people to rub, rub, rub their hands, avoid touching their faces, and stay away from crowded places among others. Fancy Gadam, who is one of the most-sought-after performers in the Northern Region, said the single titled 'Corona' and sung in Dagbani was produced by Dr. Fiza. According to him, the motive behind the new single is to use local dialects to engage and educate the masses about the Coronavirus pandemic. We need to collectively fight the deadly disease and let us pray for the nation and hopefully Allah would wipe this virus away from the surface of the earth, he said. The song, yet to be aired on all the radio stations in the country, will be made available for download on online digital platforms soon. Fancy Gadam began his music career at the age of 12 as a performer at schools and public events. He has six studio albums to his credit; 'Kalipo', 'Ashili', 'Nawuni Yiko', 'Takahi', 'Mujahid' and 'Dream'. In 2016, Fancy Gadam signed a one year deal with Twellium Company Limited, manufacturers of rush energy drink, as the brand ambassador for the the northern regions of Ghana. Fancy Gadam was endorsed by the Ministry of Inner City And Zongo Development and The Commission for National Culture as the new Face of Zongo community at the Zongofest 2017, an event that is hosted to honor individuals who have contributed to the development of Zongo communities in Ghana. ---Daily Guide Experts are debunking the conspiracy theories that claim the coronavirus wreaking havoc across the globe is a bio-weapon engineered in a lab. Theories have floated that COVID-19 is actually a man-made disease created by either China or the US with destructive purposes, but scientific and political evidence in both countries prove that such speculation is unfounded. In the US some conservative politicians have speculated that China created the killer virus out of their biosafety level-four (BSL-4) laboratory located in Wuhan, China where the outbreak originated. That lab, run by the Wuhan Institute of Virology, studies severely infectious diseases and houses pathogens and some types of coronaviruses. Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas tweeted his theory that the virus came from Wuhans lab on January 30. Experts are debunking the conspiracy theories that claim the coronavirus wreaking havoc across the globe is a bio-weapon engineered in a lab. Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas has pushed the theory that the virus could have come from Wuhan's biosafety laboratory American social scientist Steve Mosher has also pushed the theory that the virus escaped or was released from Wuhan's virus lab. He penned an opinion piece for the New York post on February 22 entitled Dont buy Chinas story: The coronavirus may have leaked from a lab 'We still dont know where the coronavirus originatedI would note that Wuhan has Chinas only biosafety level-four super laboratory that works with the worlds most deadly pathogens to include, yes, coronavirus,' he wrote. Former White House aid Steve Bannon defended Cotton last month on Fox saying: 'The mainstream media and far left [are] saying, "Oh, hes a conspiracy theorist". All hes saying: Its incumbent upon the Chinese Communist Party and President Xi [Jinping] to come out and give all information ... this is all Cottons saying.' American social scientist Steve Mosher penned an opinion piece for the New York post on February 22 entitled 'Dont buy Chinas story: The coronavirus may have leaked from a lab'. Mosher, the president of the Population Research Institute, has also written a book entitled Bully of Asia: Why Chinas 'Dream' Is the New Threat to World Order, which sheds a bit of light on his stance on the country. 'It probably is a ChiCom laboratory experiment that is in the process of being weaponized,' right-wing political host Rush Limbaugh said last month. This theory has been mostly pushed in the public eye by conservative political pundits. Some speculate that the virus was manufactured at a biosafety level-four (BSL-4) run by the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan China (above), where COVID-19 broke out An inside look at the Wuhan Institute of Virology where scientists study infectious diseases including different types of coronavirus pictured above Exterior shot of the Wuhan Institute of Virology pictured above However, BSL-4 facilities have the highest level of security due to their dangerous work and the life-threatening agents they research including Ebola, Lassa fever, and Marburg viruses so it's unlikely COVID-19 could have mistakenly escaped, as per Forbes. The lab is also decked out with high-caliber ventilation systems, reinforced walls, security systems and construction to insulate the lab and separate it from the outside world. There are at least six BSL-4 facilities in the US in Atlanta, Georgia, Frederick, Maryland, Galveston, Texas, Hamilton, Montana, and San Antonio Texas, that also study dangerous pathogens. 'Conspiracy theories about manmade viruses are not new. We saw this with HIV the rumor that the US made it and introduced it into Africa. But they are really dangerous kinds of things to get spread around,' Gerald Keusch, a professor of medicine and international health and associate director at Boston University, said to Vox. China has flipped the script and has suggested the US engineered the virus and released it in Wuhan. As of Monday there are more than 35,000 cases of the virus in the US and 471 deaths. In New York specifically there are 16,000 cases But that can be debunked by the fact that the US, along with dozens of other nations, has been heavily impacted by the disease that has already claimed over 400 lives. Much of the US is under lockdown and more than 35,000 cases nationwide have been reported. President Donald Trump has only added fuel to the fire by calling the COVID-19 'the Chinese Virus' in response to rumors that the US military created the virus. In one press conference last week Trump even acknowledged the conspiracy theories that the US manufactured the virus. China was putting out information, which was false, that our military gave this to them, that which was false. Rather than having an argument, I said I have to call it where it came from it did come from China. So I think its very accurate term. But no I didnt appreciate the fact that China was saying our military gave it to them. Our military did not give it to anybody, Trump said. President Donald Trump has only added fuel to the fire by calling the COVID-19 'the Chinese Virus' in response to rumors that the US military created the virus President Trump asked about his use of the phrase Chinese Virus: REPORTER: Critics say that using that phrase creates a stigma. TRUMP: No, I dont think so. I think saying that our military gave it to them creates a stigma. https://t.co/b2yn5ubJEh Benny (@bennyjohnson) March 17, 2020 Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei refused US assistance to fight COVID-19 citing unfounded conspiracy theories that American created the virus. 'I do not know how real this accusation is but when it exists, who in their right mind would trust you to bring them medication?' Khamenei said. 'Possibly your medicine is a way to spread the virus more.' He also alleged that the virus 'is specifically built for Iran using the genetic data of Iranians which they have obtained through different means.' To this date scientists around the world are trying to find the origin of the virus and how it ended up infecting humans. Research into the genetic makeup of the virus suggests that its RNA sequences closely resemble those of viruses contracted by bats, according to the New England Journal of Medicine report published on February 26, 2020. Scientific studies of the virus say its genetic makeup is similar to infectious that bats contract and it could have been passed to humans through an animal host. A nurse in a protective suit pictured attending to a baby with COVID-19 in a Wuhan hospital on March 16 Of course, scientists tell us that SARS-CoV-2 did not escape from a jar: RNA sequences closely resemble those of viruses that silently circulate in bats, and epidemiologic information implicates a bat-origin virus infecting unidentified animal species sold in Chinas live-animal markets, the report said. Chinese officials also reported that several of the first cluster of COVID-19 cases were connected to a live animal market where both seafood and other wildlife were sold as food in Wuhan. Now experts are trying to find out how the virus was transferred specifically to humans. The similar SARS virus that broke out in 2002 to 2003 similarly jumped from bats to humans via intermediate animal hosts such as masked palm civets. 'All we know [is] its likely distant source was bats, but we dont know who was between bats and people,' Vicent Racaniello, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Columbia and host of the This Week in Virology podcast said. 'It could be a direct infection [between bats and humans] as well.' Further research into the virus cells show that they are so incredibly complicated and powerful that its unlikely humans could have engineered them. Its highly unlikely the coronavirus is a bio-weapon because of how the virus behaves its deadly but real bio-weapons kill at much higher rates and can be readily transported and released Philadelphia Superintendent William R. Hite Jr., shown in this file photo, said Monday that the School District is one of many eyeing possible longer-term school closures amid the coronavirus outbreak. Read more As the number of coronavirus cases balloons around the country and across the region, schools are bracing for longer-term closures. In Pennsylvania, Gov. Tom Wolf announced Monday that schools, initially shut through Friday, will remain closed at least through April 6 and possibly longer if necessary to save lives and stop the spread of COVID-19. The number of positive cases increases daily, and were seeing it spread to more counties, Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Pedro Rivera said in the statement. We must adhere to the social distancing guidelines. Extending the closure will help every community in its efforts to mitigate the spread. Rivera said he had directed the states 29 intermediate units to help districts prepare continuity of learning plans, including procedures for students with disabilities and English language learners. Asked what impact the extended closure might have on graduation, Wolf said officials havent decided yet. New Jersey schools are closed through next Tuesday at Gov. Phil Murphys order. Elsewhere, officials have enacted or warned of extended shutdowns, including Kansas, where all school buildings have already been ordered closed for the rest of the school year, and California, where Gov. Gavin Newsom said he expected few, if any of the states schools would reopen before the summer break. READ MORE: Parenting in the time of coronavirus: How do you manage work and supervising kids? And Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam on Monday ordered schools closed through at least the end of the academic year, saying, We are essentially fighting a biological war right now in this country. While Pennsylvania has not required schools to provide instruction during the current shutdown, a number of districts have been preparing to launch programs, expecting that the closures would continue. From an educators standpoint, I would wrestle with going any longer than these two weeks without instruction, said Upper Dublin Superintendent Steve Yanni. The Montgomery County district is planning to announce a distance learning plan soon that would begin on March 30, focused on standards so we dont have concerns about kids matriculating from one level to the next, and graduation. Many districts only have been providing optional lessons and assignments for students, as they await guidance for how to provide instruction without violating federal law that requires access for students with disabilities. Other concerns include English language learners and students without access to technology. Thats the big unknown question at this point, said Christopher Marchese, superintendent of the Avon Grove School District in Chester County. A number of districts, including Philadelphia, have made educational packets available for families to pick up. Philadelphia Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. said Monday that the district was making long-range plans, and would release enough packets this week to get students through another 10 days of the school shutdown. READ MORE: As coronavirus closes schools, wealthier districts send laptops home with students. What about poorer districts? Hite said the district wants its teachers communicating with their young people, with their classes. We want them to maintain those relationships. Last week, the district had sent mixed messages about whether online instruction could continue, but officials now say its permitted, as long as its not graded or required. Philadelphia is also eyeing possible longer closures, Hite said at a Monday news conference. Were also beginning to explore ways to provide more technology for young people and broadband in the event that this goes even longer, he said. More districts are turning to online learning now that the closures are continuing. The Centennial School District is preparing an online learning program, but there are huge challenges. We dont have enough machines, computer devices for all our kids, said Superintendent David Baugh. Were trying to triage it. The Bucks County district is aiming to provide one device per family this week. In addition, there are kids that online learning is just not good for, said Baugh, adding, Were hoping to be back soon, but we dont see that happening. Pennsylvania on Thursday canceled standardized tests for the school year, and federal officials said Friday that they would waive standardized testing requirements. In Florida, where schools are shut down until April 15, state officials have canceled grades for students for the rest of the school year. On Monday, Pennsylvania officials also canceled exams for students in career and technical programs. New Jersey is requiring its districts to provide instruction during the closure, and some are already warning parents to expect to guide their childrens learning for a long haul. A stay-at-home lifestyle and remote instruction are likely to continue well beyond the original estimate of two weeks, Haddonfield officials wrote in a Monday letter to parents, referencing Murphys stay-at-home order, saying, We should plan to follow his directive until further notice and into the foreseeable future. Mary Gruccio, superintendent of the Vineland School District, said her district, where 62% of the school systems 10,000-plus students live below the poverty line, is doing its best to match children with technology so every family has access to uninterrupted online learning. Weve lent out as many Chromebooks as we could for our students who needed them at home, said Gruccio. Paper packets are available for those families who want them, including those with small children, Gruccio said, and teachers have gone out of their way to engage families in ways they havent had to in the past. Everybodys been so supportive, Gruccio said. Its just a very sad time. Cases of the new coronavirus have been confirmed in even numbers across Hungary, with no epicentre detected, Cecilia Muller, the chief medical officer, said. Speaking at a press conference of the operative board coordinating the epidemic response, Tibor Lakatos, head of the boards emergency centre, said that the current situation does not warrant the introduction of curfews. Muller said that the second coronavirus tests conducted on the contacts of the Moroccan transport minister, Hungarys Interior Minister Sandor Pinter among them, have tested negative. Regarding regulations for home quarantines, whether voluntary or ordered by the authorities, Muller said persons under quarantine should not leave their homes, even for short periods of time. They should separate themselves from others in the household, and use, if possible, separate bathrooms and utensils, and disinfect frequently, she said. Muller also called for a heightened regard for the health of the elderly who are much more vulnerable to the virus than other demographic groups. Infants with undeveloped immune systems should also be shielded, she said. The operative board does not plan to restrict the movements of the elderly, and hopes they will heed their advice, she said. MTI Photo: Gyorgy Varga Greece has reportedly suspended flights from Britain and Turkey amid a containment measure to stem the spread of coronavirus, as the lockdown was imposed nationwide. The ban came into effect immediately in Athens at 04:00 GMT on March 23 and was a temporary and pre-emptive measure, a ministerial decree confirmed to the news agency. The ban will extend until April 15. According to the reports, the travel policies have been revised by the government, who has now imposed stern restrictions for Turkey citizens. The passengers from neighbouring Turkey have been hit with a total ban, as restrictions were extended to the sea, rail and road connections, completely prohibiting travel. The government published an official statement in state gazette saying that the temporary restriction of the aircraft from the United Kingdom and Turkey was for preventive reasons, for the protection of public health from the contagion of COVID-19 in the Greek Territory. The Greek citizens, holders of residence permits, or persons with permanent or usual residence in Greece, were, however, exempted from the ban. The transit of truckloads and the cargo ships was permitted to keep the trade and commerce flowing, as per the reports. Read: Fitness Enthusiasts Think Outside The Gym During Coronavirus Read: Coronavirus-hit UK Companies Asked To Delay Financial Statements 624 confirmed cases Recently, Greece received a supply aircraft of the mask donations from mainland China. Airport officials said in a statement that the load comprised of mainly FFP2 masks reserved for the hospitals. According to reports, Greece has been facing a shortage of masks and other medical equipment. Beijing and Athens share a strong commercial relationship for over a decade, especially since after terminals in the port of Piraeus, near Athens, were sold to the Chinese shipping giant Cosco by Greece, as per agency reports. At least 624 confirmed cases and over 17 fatalities have been recorded in the country from the COVID-19, as per the reports. Greece installed strict health screenings at airports and sent passengers suspected of carrying virus strain on the mandatory 14-day quarantine. The government reportedly adopted drastic measures to limit movement. It scrambled to shutter establishments and banned the assembly of more than 10 people. Read: Hong Kong Bans Entry Of Non-residents To Curb Coronavirus Spread Read: UK Army To Help Critically Underequipped Hospitals Amid Coronavirus Crisis They are certainly taking 'working from home' to a new level. Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest were both joined by their significant others while filming their morning show. The two television personalities were joined by Mark Consuelos and Shayna Taylor as they shot LIVE with Kelly And Ryan from home on Monday morning. Three's a crowd: Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest were both joined by their significant others while filming their morning show Sweet couple: Ryan, 44, and his 27-year-old model girlfriend Syana Taylor even matched in tie-dyed white and black hoodie and sweatpants combinations as they shared healthy at home recipes Ryan, 44, and his 27-year-old model girlfriend even matched in tie-dyed white and black hoodie and sweatpants combinations as they shared healthy at home recipes. Shayna is a bit of an expert in the field as she is a wellness influencer and entrepreneur whose aim is to transform the self-care industry with her website, blog, and Instagram. Ryan donned beige sheepskin Ugg boots as he interviewed his ladylove who gave a step-by-step instruction on how to make her black bean brownie muffin. Interesting: Shayna is a bit of an expert in the field as she is a wellness influencer and entrepreneur whose aim is to transform the self-care industry with her website, blog, and Instagram Yum: Ryan donned beige sheepskin Ugg boots as he interviewed his ladylove who gave a step-by-step instruction on how to make her black bean brownie muffin Support system: At one point Ryan tripped over their dog as Shayna extended her hand to help him keep his balance Shayna didn't stop there as she also showed off oatmeal pumpkin puree muffins and black bean ginger bars. After the two first met in 2013 they soon began dating, splitting the following year. They then rekindled their love, dating for three solid years before splitting in February 2019. After a few months apart they decided to give things another try. On the same episode, Kelly was joined by 48-year-old husband Mark who dished on the upcoming musical episode of Riverdale. Bond: On the same episode, Kelly was joined by 48-year-old husband Mark who dished on the upcoming musical episode of Riverdale Lots of love: Pals Ryan and Kelly shared a laugh This came just days after it was announced that the celebrity couple has donated $1 million to aid relief efforts in the Big Apple, a source told People. People's source said that some of the money would be allocated to the New York Governors Office for the purchase of urgently needed ventilators. The rest of the money would be given to WIN, an organization running 11 womens shelters across New York City. The Live With host, 49, and the Riverdale actor, 48, have been married since 1996 and share three children. Hundreds of Student nurses are scheduled to take to the front line today in the fight against Covid-19. These students will be unpaid and begin their mandatory work placements as part of their college degree. Placements generally last six weeks and most third level nursing courses have work placements in almost every year of the degree. Despite Minister for Health, Simon Harris' plea for medical staff to return to paid medical roles in the Irish health service, this offer of payment has not been extended to the trainee nurses and only refers to those who are fully qualified. They are set to join many other student nurses at the coal face and according to Fianna Fail TD for Limerick Deputy Niall Collins they should be paid for the important work they are doing during the current Covid-19 crisis. Several student nurses on placements have contacted Deputy Collins to say they are working the same number of hours as qualified nurses without any pay. Deputy Collins said: Medical staff across the country are working extremely hard and under pressurised situations during the ongoing Covid-19 crisis. However, several student nurses have not had their placements suspended and are now working on the front line of this crisis. Student placements in other disciplines in third-level colleges have been suspended but this is not the case for many trainee nurses.They are working in difficult situations without any pay and many have concerns about how they will pay their rents and bills. According to TheJournal.ie, the Irish Nurses and Midwifery Organisation (INMO) outlined that students who are taking up work placements should be paid for their efforts. The INMO stated that training should not be interrupted where possible. Proper supervisions continues during any training and if interrupted for any reason which is not your fault, we will advocate for the best possible outcome." The HSE has become exceptionally pressurised in recent days as the number of people with the coronavirus is expected to surpass 1,000 today. SEE HERE: For all of the latest Covid-19 news in Ireland A new state law may pave the way for more technology being developed at New Mexicos national laboratories to make their way to the commercial market. It could also pave the way for more companies licensing technology from Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory, according to Jackie Kerby Moore, manager of technology and economic development at Sandia. We hope it will draw more companies to the labs, Kerby Moore said. Were excited about the opportunities for job creation. The new law created the Technology Gross Receipts Tax Credit three-year pilot program, which Kerby Moore said helps a technical maturation gap. Companies that obtain a license through Sandia of Los Alamos or have a cooperative research and development agreement with the institutions will be able to apply for $150,000 in technical assistance per year. It would allow them to seek assistance with the procurement of their technology, she said. It would allow us to assist them in prototyping, proof of concept, technical validation and testing of the technology. Kerby Moore said companies would have access to the labs facilities and equipment and assistance for field demonstrations. It would allow the companies to have access to the inventor, who would do more tests before they make their product available to their customers, Kerby Moore said. Companies that could benefit from the program include those developing solar cell technology products or aerospace technology. We plan to help companies develop their products to a point where a customer will buy, or an investor will invest, Kerby Moore said.. Both laboratories will be able to claim tax credits against their gross receipts tax liabilities for their work with businesses. Each lab can claim up to $500,000 the first year, $750,000 the second year, and $1 million the third year. In total, the labs will be able to provide up to $4.5 million in time, technical assistance and resources over three years. The new program will go into effect July 1. It is modeled after the New Mexico Small Business Assistance Program, which paired the labs with small businesses in New Mexico. The new program offers a higher financial amount for technical assistance, according to the labs. Exactly one week after the closure of all schools and universities across France in a bid to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, the broadcast of educational progamming began on the France 4 television channel nationwide this Monday. Since the shutdown, the implementation of home education measures has been an ad-hoc affair with schools around France encountering logistics issues specific to their location, size and connectivity. The reality of what lies ahead for France's schooling system, on lockdown since the beginning of last week, was outlined by Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer on Sunday - in a best case scenario students will not be returning to their classes before 4 May. However, any decision to re-open schools, colleges, lycees or universities is dependent on the evolution of the coronacvirus When asked whether the school year could be prolonged and school holidays pared-down, the minister replied hitting the [summer break] is not the goal. Yet the confinement of students to their homes is raising questions about the feasibility of holding end-of-year exams such as the baccalaureat. Blanquer's announcement came ahead of today's nationwide launch of the Lumni education platform on France 4 to assist with pre-school, primary and secondary students to keep up with their exercises. Operation Nation apprenant (Learning Nation in English) proposes a series of live broadcasts, podcasts and videos, spearheaded by France's Ministry for Education. The move follows a chaotic week among teachers and educational institutions across France, trying to come to terms with how to ensure the continuity of the school curriculum as classes are indefinitely cancelled. According to one high-school teacher in the city of Tours, about 200km south-west of Paris, Marie said at the beginning of the week it was chaos. I had to reply to around 120 individual emails from students who were totally lost or didn't understand the information being given out. The implementation of distance learning by some 850,000 teachers across the country has never been done before and it became clear from the outset that it was going to be a time consuming exercise. To ensure the continuity of France's curricula on lockdown, the National Centre for Distance Education has given open access to its online resources, with exercises, virtual classes and video-conferences available to teachers and students alike. I had to prepare all the documents, all the teaching structures that I don't normally need in the classroom, between Monday and Wednesday evening. I worked over 30 hours just organising the distance learning classes for the children it was less than easy, Marie added. Little by little, the new system began to fall into place, yet many students have found themselves in a situation that they're not the only ones who need the only computer in the household. Brothers and sisters also need to continue their studies online, and that can throws everyone's homework deadlines off balance. However, for all this to be work seamlessly and equitably, connectivity becomes an issue. For Sarah, a teacher at a lycee in Ariege, situated in the heart of the Pyrenees mountain range, staying connected all week has been impossible. We realised very quickly that the system couldn't support such a volume of virtual interaction and data transfer that was needed between teachers, to ensure the support and solidarity we need. So we've looked to other tools that are outside the national education system. There you go. Never mind. So following the school closures, logistical somersaults, online educational databases and distance learning tools made available for France's teachers and students, how have these measures been received by the pupils on the ground? I asked my 8 year old son Evan what he thought about learning under lockdown. David Coffey:Tell us about the first class that you saw on TV today. Did you like it? Evan:Yes, I liked it. It was good, they had maths and they also had writing and stuff like that. It was good but not as good as school as I go to during the week. David:You'd prefer to be in school? Evan: Yeah. David Coffey: Why? Do you miss your friends? Evan:Yeah. David Coffey: On a day to day level, getting out of bed and going off to school. it's always a bit of a hard task... do you not prefer just being at home? Evan: Well, with the getting out of the bed, I agree with you, but I prefer going to school because you don't have to work at home you can take your time at school. School is like five times better than home. David Coffey: Now we've had the Minister of Education who said that you won't be back we'll probably won't be back in school until the fourth of May at the earliest. Is that a good thing or a bad thing for you? Evan: A very bad thing. It's a very bad thing because I'm going to miss my birthday 21st of April 2018 It's going to be not that great. It's not going to be great. Like, I'm going to miss my birthday. I can't have a party. I can't have party with my friends. I can't go to my auntie Sally or anything like that. David Coffey: Okay. So it means your social life has been severely disrupted? Evan: Well, yeah. And as with all children of his age, the hardest part of the lockdown is the lack of interaction with his peers. And of course the priority of having a decent birthday party, which indeed will have to be "post-poned until further notice". An expression we're all getting used to after almost 1 week since the restrictions were introduced to contain the spread of CoVid-19. The exacerbating COVID-19 pandemic around the world calls for joint efforts from global countries. However, some U.S. politicians are showing ill mentalities and intentionally associating the pandemic with China, stigmatizing the country by calling the pandemic Wuhan pneumonia and Chinese virus. Such practice is extremely irresponsible and immoral, which will not only do nothing good to the epidemic control in the U.S., but also seriously impede international solidarity in the battle against the virus. China firmly opposes and condemns such smears, and urges the U.S. to correct its mistakes and stop the groundless accusation against China. Viruses are a common challenge faced by the entire human race. To associate a virus with specific countries goes against the principles of international organizations. The World Health Organization (WHO) reiterated that the origin of the novel coronavirus has not been confirmed yet, and the world needs to focus on how to curb the virus and avoid stigmatization. By naming the disease as COVID-19, the WHO hopes to not associate the term with any region or country, and the names of certain contagious diseases had once led to stigmatization and other unfavorable results. The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) emerged in some Middle East countries in 2012 triggered broad controversy because it was named after the region. Base on such experiences and lessons, the WHO and other institutions proposed in 2015 a guiding principle on naming newly discovered contagious diseases, advocating to name them with neutral and general terms. However, such principle is neglected by some U.S. politicians who only spread stigmatization and create panic, which just reveals the dark side of their mind. The origin of the virus is a scientific issue, and to discover it calls for scientific and professional researches. Now relevant tracing work is still underway, and no conclusion has been reached yet on the origin of the virus. I think it's also important in terms of looking at the emergence of any disease; disease can emerge anywhere. Coronaviruses are a global phenomenon; they exist on a global basis, said Michael Ryan, Executive Director of WHO Health Emergencies Programme at a press conference. It's really important that we don't start to ascribe blame to geographic origin and that we look at this in terms of how we respond, how we contain and how we stop this virus. Daniel Lucey, an adjunct Professor of Medicine-Infectious Diseases at Georgetown University Medical Center noted that first human infections must have occurred in November 2019if not earlierbecause there is an incubation time between infection and symptoms surfacing. However, the U.S. politicians have already started the blame game and smearing, and are preventing fact-based discussion, when the origin of the virus is not confirmed yet. What do they want? The world must use science to conquer stupidity and conduct cooperation to eliminate prejudices, especially when global public health security is facing severe challenges. This is a time for prudence, not panic. Science, not stigma. Facts, not fear, counselled UN chief Antonio Guterres. However, certain U.S. politicians are totally brainless and unscrupulous. They dont care about facts, and what they do is just repeating the ridiculous prejudices that have long taken roots in their mind. Even after Robert Redfield, the director of the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention admitted some Americans who seemingly died from influenza were tested positive for the novel coronavirus in the posthumous diagnosis, and agreed it was absolutely wrong to label the COVID-19 as the China Virus, the U.S. politicians are still covering the facts and smearing China in almost a crazy way. The pandemic is a test for countries governance capability, and also reflects their performance in international cooperation. The preoccupied problems of the U.S. in politics and health care have been exposed, and the country must face up to them and fill the shortages to safeguard the health of its people. And yes, the American public are disappointed. Stephen Morrison, senior vice president at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and director of its Global Health Policy Center recently questioned the U.S. government: The Chinese bought us a month of time to prepare ourselves by imposing these astonishing and draconian measures. Unfortunately, we didnt make good use of that time and now were heading into a very dangerous situation. The Chinese government has always shared information with the U.S. Chinese experts shared therapeutic plans with their American peers, and Chinese enterprises are also trying to help the U.S. to fight the virus. However, these still failed to stop the U.S. politicians from attacking and smearing China, as it is a way for them to divert public anger. They are returning evil for good and undermining the international cooperation on combating the pandemic, which is totally irresponsible for peoples health. The virus is still rampant, and the American politicians are advised to blame and smear less, focus on the business of their own country, and play a constructive role in safeguarding global public health security. (Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by Peoples Daily to express its views on foreign policy.) The COVID-19 virus is touching every aspect of our lives and having a profound impact on individuals, businesses and society at large. Box's Aaron Levie has built a successful business from dorm room to IPO and beyond. He spoke to TechCrunch today about the level of creativity and focus that it's going to take to succeed in the current environment. Levie pointed out that his company was a fledgling startup when the economic downturn hit in 2008, but he thinks this one could have a much greater impact on business than that one did. "I think Silicon Valley is going to definitely experience this in a very, very significant way. We were building a company in 2008, and that was extremely hard, but I don't think it is going to compare to how hard the coming year is going to be," Levie said. This morning on Twitter, Levie wrote that we are in uncharted territory, and everyone will have to work together to help navigate this crisis. We have *no* playbook for this type of economic event. That means we cant wait around for others to execute their playbook. It doesnt exist. We all have to collectively find a way, however creative, to support others as we find a way through this. Aaron Levie (@levie) March 22, 2020 He believes the government will need to step in to help individuals and businesses alike. "Businesses, who have lots of employees, need to be supported, but fundamentally we need to make sure that we're focused on all the workers that are out of work, hopefully just temporarily displaced, but we're going to need a lot of government financial support to get through this," he said. For startups, he advised startups to firmly focus on their mission. "It's about extreme focus right now. It's about extreme discipline. It's about making sure that you're maintaining your culture during this time," Levie said. Story continues As for his own company, he's looking a three areas: his employees, his customers and the community. He said his first priority is making sure his employees are safe and healthy and that the hourly workers who support the business normally are being taken care of as we move through this unprecedented situation. Secondly, he's making sure that he supports his customers. To that end the company has removed any license limits as customers deal with increased usage with employees working from home. He has also joined forces with Cloudflare in an effort to provide small businesses with 90 days of free services to help ride out the situation, and he said they would revisit extending these programs if the situation continues. Thirdly, he says every business who can has to look at ways to support the communities where they live to assist non-profit organizations who are helping in the response. "This is an event where business communities globally are going to have to put more of a concerted effort on this than any issue in modern history," Levie said. Levie is not alone in this thinking by any means. He points to other leaders such as Chuck Robbins, Marc Benioff and Tim Cook, all who have stepped up in recent days to offer help and support. He has built his company from the ground up to one that's on nearly an $800 million run rate, but like so many business leaders, he is dealing with a situation which, as he said, has no playbook. Like every other CEO, he's trying to help keep his business thriving, while not losing sight of the needs of the people in his organization, his customers or his community. It's not an easy balancing act for anyone right now. DECATUR Ten tests for COVID-19 have been completed in Macon County as of noon Monday, with eight negative results and two pending results, officials said. Additionally, three Macon County residents have been tested outside of Macon County, with two negative test results and one test result pending. No cases of the disease caused by the new coronavirus have been confirmed in Macon County. Information comes from the county's Crisis Communication Team, which is made up of local government and health care leaders. Officials continued to stress that testing is not widely available, making it vital for everyone, whether or not they have symptoms, to practice social distancing and take precautions. Macon County Public Health Administrator Brandi Binkley also addressed the testing situation in a video on the health department's Facebook page on Sunday. She reiterated that testing guidelines come from the Illinois Department of Public Health. "Testing capacity is very limited, so those kits have to be used for the people who absolutely need them," she said, adding, "In most cases, about 80% of people that have this are able to recover safely at home." There is also a possibility that a health care provider may have submitted tests to a private lab and Macon County may not be notified. In that case, the county's health department would be told if a private lab test were confirmed as positive, officials have said. State health officials on Sunday said there were 296 new confirmed cases, bringing the statewide total to 1,049. Nine people have died from the disease. A total of 8,374 had been tested. Another update from Gov. J.B. Pritzker and state officials is scheduled for this afternoon. Here is other information from the Crisis Communication Team: IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS Symptoms of COVID-19 can include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure. Do not go to a hospital emergency room or doctor's office unless it is a true emergency. Instead, call your primary care doctor. If you do not have a primary care doctor, you may call DMH Medical Group at (217) 876-2856, Crossing Healthcare at (217) 877-9117 or SIU at (217) 872- 3800. HSHS Medical Group Family Medicine Forsyth is operating a regional respiratory hub. Their hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please call your primary care provider before seeking care at the respiratory hub and if you have any questions. Memorial Health System is operating a respiratory screening clinic at its DMH Express Care East location to screen people for the COVID-19 virus. The clinic at 4455 U.S. 36 East will operate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. People coming to the respiratory clinic should call (217) 876-1200 before they arrive. Patients and visitors to healthcare facilities should be prepared to be screened before entering. NEED FOR BLOOD DONORS The American Red Cross Blood is hosting a blood drive every Tuesday from noon to 6 p.m. at Decaturs American Red Cross Chapter, 2674 N. Main St. The American Red Cross now faces a severe blood shortage due to an unprecedented number of blood drive cancellations during this coronavirus outbreak. Healthy individuals are needed to donate now to help patients counting on lifesaving blood. For an appointment, please visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Public officials are telling people to stay home, but youre encouraging people to go out to give blood. Why are you contradicting that guidance? Like a hospital, grocery store, or pharmacy, a blood drive is essential to ensuring the health of the community, and the Red Cross will continue to hold blood drives during this challenging time to help meet patient needs. During a crisis, we see the best of humanity when Americans step up and help their neighbors. In the midst of this coronavirus emergency, we are asking people to take this responsibility seriously by practicing social distancing and donating blood. These two activitieswhich are not mutually exclusivewill go a long way in keeping community members healthy by slowing the spread of the virus and by ensuring that patients across the country receive lifesaving blood. In practice, we recommend people leave home only for necessitiesbe they health care, groceries, or blood donation. In fact, the U.S. Surgeon General has said, You can still go out and give blood. Were worried about potential blood shortages in the future. Social distancing does not have to mean social disengagement. We understand that people have concerns right now about all aspects of public health but want to stress that donating blood is a safe process and people should not hesitate to give. Its important to note that blood drives have highest standards of safety and infection controland do not fall in the category of mass gatherings. We are also spacing beds, where possible, to follow social distancing practices between blood donors and are looking at staggering donor appointments further apart to reduce the number of people at a drive at any one time. Is it safe for older people to come out and donate? In many areas of the country, public officials are asking older individuals to limit public interaction as much as possible. We encourage all donors to follow the guidance of their local health officials. Please note, however, that our Red Cross blood drives have the highest standards of safety and infection control and do not fall in the category of mass gatherings. Depending on the severity of the outbreak in a particular community and an older donor's particular circumstances, some older donors may choose to postpone their donation appointment to a later date. MASK DRIVE There will be a mask drive at the Decatur Civic Center on the next three Thursdays from 1 to 3 p.m. All masks collected will be distributed to both hospitals in Macon County. We are suggesting putting them in Ziploc bags in quantities of 25. More details about the mask drive and a formal release are forthcoming. Thank you to the community for your help! IS MY BUSINESS ESSENTIAL? If you are unsure whether your business is considered an essential business and can continue operating, contact the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity by phone or email to learn more. They can be reached by phone at 800-252-2923 or by email at ceo.support@illinois.gov. AGENCIES NEED VOLUNTEERS A message from the United Way and the agencies seeking volunteers: Agencies need volunteers under 59. We ask all volunteers 60 and over to take a break and stay well because we are going to need you when this all ends! To volunteer at the Good Samaritan Inn: Please contact Francie at 217.429.1455 between the hours of 9:00 and 2:00. If you don't get an answer, please try back, or simply drop by to see if help is needed. You can also schedule your volunteer time by email Francie at Volunteercoordinator.goodsam@gmail.com. Due to the shift in meal delivery, The Good Samaritan Inn is operating on reduced staff and hours. Your patience is truly appreciated. To volunteer at Northeast Community Fund: Northeast asks that you go to their website, northeastcommunityfund.org and register through their volunteer portal. Once signed up, volunteers can schedule themselves online for one or two 2.5 hour shifts (9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays). Please select "food pantry" when self-scheduling. For United Way of Decatur & Mid-Illinois: Please use the Get Connected: Volunteer in Mid-Illinois portal. Contact Allison Petty at (217) 421-6986. Follow her on Twitter: @allison0512 Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SHASTA COUNTY, Calif. - Shasta County Public Health Officials confirmed a second positive case of COVID-19 in Shasta County. Officials say a woman in her 70s is the second Shasta County resident to test positive for COVID-19, the novel Coronavirus. The patient is in isolation at a local hospital. She recently traveled to an area in California with known community transmission. Shasta County Health Officer Dr. Karen Ramstrom and public healths communicable disease team are working to identify others who are at risk of infection and will issue quarantine orders as necessary. Health officials will be available to answer additional questions during tomorrows daily 11 a.m. press conference. Action News Now will share the latest updates as they become available. For continuing coronavirus coverage, Click Here For notifications on the latest local updates related to coronavirus, download our app, Click here German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday (March 22) went into home quarantine immediately, after a doctor who met her on Friday to vaccinate her tested positive for coronavirus. Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert announced in a press statement that the German leader will continuously be tested for coronavirus because the test conducted at an early stage is not very reliable. Seibert added that the German chancellor will continue to work as usual from her quarantine. Earlier on Sunday, German Chancellor Merkel had implemented a "contact ban" and not a nationwide lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus in Germany. Addressing a press conference, Merkel said that tough measures would be taken by the government to fight against coronavirus. The great aim is to gain time in the fight against the virus, Merkel said. Notably, Germany has been badly hit by coronavirus outbreak as over 23,000 people have tested positive for the deadly virus in the country, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. At least 92 people have died due to coronavirus in Germany. Several European nations are currently in a state of lockdown as the epicenter of the global pandemic has now shifted Wuhan in China to Italy, Spain, Germany and France. Italy recorded maximum number of cases outside China, followed by Spain, the United States, Germany, Iran, France and South Korea. Germany has already sealed its border with France, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark and Luxembourg to curb the spread of coronavirus. The Supreme Court on Monday said it was mulling over shutting down its functioning and considering to hear urgent matters through virtual means. The top court said that by Tuesday evening, all lawyers' chambers in and around the apex court premises would be sealed. A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde said the apex court administration would temporarily cancel all proximity cards to dissuade lawyers from coming to the court. The bench, also comprising justices L N Rao and Surya Kant, said only Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Dushyant Dave could authorise lawyers to enter the top court premises for urgent reasons. It said there would be no gathering of lawyers on the court premises till further orders. The chief justice said he would take a call on Monday itself on a possible shut down or to advance the summer vacations, as demanded by the lawyers' organisations. The issue of shutting down the apex court's functioning was raised by the SCBA president and the members of the Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A large number of Nepalese nationals were stranded in seven districts of Uttar Pradesh for several hours on Monday after the Nepal government closed the international borders to check the spread of the coronavirus, a state government officer said. The situation eased in the evening as the Nepal border police lifted the barriers on roads leading to Nepal from the seven districts in UP to allow the stranded Nepalese citizen to return home, Maharajganj district magistrate Ujjwal Kumar said. The step was taken after a high- level meeting between Indian and Nepalese governments. From Tuesday, no one will be allowed cross the border from India or Nepal till March 29, he said. An officer said majority of the Nepalese arrived on the border at 4am and were allowed entry at 6.30pm. Earlier in the day, tension was palpable at the Uttar Pradesh- Nepal border in Maharajganj and Siddharthnagar districts of UP on Monday morning after Nepal border police stopped Nepalese citizens from returning to the Himalayan nation from India. The situation was no different in Siddharthnagar, Shravasti, Balrampur, Bahraich, Lakhimpur and Pilibhit districts that share their borders with Nepal. The affected people, including women and children, told police officers that they were Nepalese citizens returning from various cities in India and wished to go home. They also showed their documents but the officers refused to pay heed to their pleas. Indian citizens were also not allowed to enter Nepal. A Nepal police officer deputed on the border near Sonauli in Maharajganj district said the decision to close the borders till March 29 was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Sunday night. The movement of commercial vehicles across the border will continue as usual but truck drivers, helpers and cleaners will be screened before entry, he said. People became restive and tried to cross the border, but were pushed back. Extra police force was deployed to control the crowd. Shiv Bahadur Thapa, resident of Butwal town in Nepal, said he, along with his wife and children, arrived from New Delhi in the morning, but was stopped at the border. I am trying to contact my family members and friends to manage my entry into Nepal, he said. As the crowd multiplied, residents of Sonauli feared the large gathering on border may lead to the spread of coronavirus in the town. Maharajganj district magistrate Ujjwal Kumar held a meeting with the Nepal administration and police officers to resolve the issue. He urged the Nepalese officers to permit their citizens to enter the country. After talks in the morning, the Nepal border police briefly lifted the barricades, allowing their citizens to return. At 10am, they again closed the borders, leaving hundreds of people stranded. Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh government permitted the Indian citizens returning from Nepal to cross the border. These people were screened by doctors at medical camps on the border. Those found to be unwell were referred to hospitals nearby for treatment. Maharajganj DM Ujjawal Kumar said, The Indian citizens coming from Nepal were permitted entry after screening by the medical team posted on the border. We are also maintaining their details, including address and the place of visit. The district administration has also set up a helpdesk. Daily, around 12,000 people are being screened at the border health camps. Regular awareness campaign was organised in the villages located on UP- Nepal border. An officer posted at the immigration office in Sonauli said, the ministry of home affairs on Monday ordered the closure of all immigration check posts at all airports, seaports, land ports, rail ports and river ports in view of the spread of Covid- 19. The vehicles/ trains carrying goods and essential supplies were exempted from this order. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath held a review meeting on Sunday and directed the officers of Maharajganj, Siddharth Nagar, Shravasti, Balrampur, Bahraich, Lakhimpur and Pilibhit to remain alert. He directed the officers and police force to remain vigilant and screen people crossing the border. A report from New Delhi said Nepalese authorities had decided to allow the countrys nationals stranded at land border crossings in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal provided they furnished proof of citizenship, people familiar with developments said. The Nepalese citizens will be allowed after providing proof of citizenship such as passports or citizenship cards, the people said. Those who were allowed to cross the border will also have to undergo medical screening and be quarantined within their homes for 14 days, they added. The head of the district administrations on the Nepalese side will supervise this process. Officials of the Nepalese embassy are also coordinating with Indian authorities to assist some 400 Nepalese citizens stranded at the Anand Vihar bus terminal in New Delhi. Several Nepalese organisations in New Delhi provided food and other essential supplies to the stranded people on Monday. The people stranded at the bus terminal are expected to be shifted to a relief camp or some other accommodation till arrangements can be made for their evacuation. BOX GROOM, MARRIAGE PARTY DENIED ENTRY A groom, Rafiq Ahmed, resident of Campeerganj town in Maharajganj district in UP, was denied permission by Nepal police to cross the international border at Maharajganj (Uttar Pradesh). Rafiques marriage was fixed with a woman from Bhairahwa town in Nepal. As the marriage was to be solemnised on Monday, Rafiq arrived with the baraat (marriage party) but the Nepal police stopped him and the baraat from crossing the border. The bridegroom family also arrived on the border to persuade the police officers to allow the groom to cross the border, but Nepal police turned down the request. Rafiq returned home to Campierganj with the baraat. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Turkey removes 8 mayors in Kurdish region: Turkey has dismissed eight mayors being investigated on terrorism-related charges in eastern Turkey and replaced them with state officials, the Interior Ministry said, sustaining a crackdown on the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP). The ministry said four of the mayors had been detained, one faced an arrest warrant and the three others were under investigation. The mayors are from Batman city; the Diyarbakir province districts of Ergani, Egil, Lice and Silvan; and districts in the provinces of Bitlis, Igdir and Siirt, it said. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his government accuse the HDP of having links to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a militant group. The HDP denies it. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott asked President Donald Trump on Monday to issue a major disaster declaration and provide Texas with direct federal aid to address shortages of supplies related to the unfolding coronavirus crisis. In a letter to the president, Abbott said the outbreak of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the state and affected local governments. It was Abbotts most direct plea for federal aid yet, coming a day after he sounded the alarm on Texas shortage of testing supplies and protective equipment for health care workers. Yet, Abbott has steered well clear of complaining about how Trump has handled the coronavirus crisis, as Democratic governors in Illinois and New York have called on the president directly to do more. Instead, the Republican governor has been more careful to direct his frustration at the federal government. Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox The problem is the lack of availability of testing resources, Abbott said Sunday. The federal government is aware of both our demand as well as the inadequate supply, and they are working aggressively to ramp up the supplies they are providing. So far, Abbotts more careful criticism of the federal government hasnt helped increase the states testing capabilities. As of Monday morning, Illinois, Washington, and New York were all testing more people per capita than Texas. And Trump approved a major disaster declaration for New York on Friday, despite clashing with Gov. Andrew Cuomo repeatedly over coronavirus-related issues. Last Wednesday, Abbott projected testing would be up to 20,000 per week by the end of the week. But while testing numbers rose as drive-thru locations began to spring up, still only about 10,000 Texans had been tested as of 8 p.m. Sunday 8,480 by private labs and 1,575 by public labs. That places Texas, the second-largest state, at the bottom of the top five states doing the most testing. By Monday, New York had tested 78,289, Washington had tested 30,875, California had tested 26,400 and Florida had tested 13,094, according to The COVID Tracking Project. We are testing to the full extent to testing capabilities at this time, Abbott said Sunday. For the latest: Map of coronavirus cases across Texas Meanwhile, Trump has also declared major disasters in California and Washington, unlocking Federal Emergency Management Agency funds for emergency aid, crisis counseling, legal services and nutrition assistance. The declaration also covers unemployment benefits, a critical area in Texas where mass layoffs might quickly drain the state fund that pays those claims. Texas unemployment insurance program also does not cover independent contractors and self-employed workers, meaning those Texans would only receive benefits if Trump declares a major disaster. In his letter to Trump on Monday, Abbott said Texas also faces shortages of protective and medical equipment, testing supplies, hospital beds and a healthy and adequate cadre of medical personnel. Texas receives more disaster declarations than any other state in the nation and is still recovering from Hurricane Harvey and the subsequent four major disasters, of which the last is Tropical Storm Imelda, Abbott wrote. The constant bombardment of disasters places Texas at an economic disadvantage to combat the spread of this pandemic. For subscribers: Sen. Cruz calls on Trump to address medical supply shortages by invoking Defense Production Act Sunday, Abbott said Texas has the money to buy protective and testing equipment, but the supplies are not available for us to be able to purchase. Cuomo said the problem with supplies is that states are competing with one another and driving up the price. Rather than the federal government procuring the equipment to distribute, it has been left to states to fight each other for masks and testing equipment. So we find a mask manufacturer, Im trying to contract with them, Californias trying to contract with them, Texas is trying to contract with them. Masks that we paid 85 cents for, were now paying $7, Cuomo said over the weekend. Monday, Cuomo again expressed his frustration during his daily morning briefing. This is not the way to do it, he said. Im competing with other states. Im bidding up other states on prices. Abbott noted in his letter to Trump that Texas faces $21 million in costs related to the states coronavirus response, and an additional $30 million in purchase orders, as of Saturday. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, also expressed concern over the equipment shortages in the latest episode of his podcast, calling on Trump to invoke the Defense Production Act and force private manufacturers to make ventilators and other medical equipment. Trump and the governors Trump has been critical of governors who have shifted blame onto him. Sunday, he slammed Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and a very small group of other governors, including Cuomo, for blaming his administration for their own shortcomings. Pritzker has been among those criticizing Trumps role. After Trump slammed him on Twitter, Pritzker responded with his own tweet. You should be leading a national response instead of throwing tantrums from the back seat, he added. Where were the tests when we needed them? Wheres the PPE? Get off Twitter & do your job. And early on, Trump went after Cuomo, saying on Twitter last Monday: Cuomo of New York has to do more. A short time later, Cuomo responded: I have to do more? No YOU have to do something! Youre supposed to be the President. By contrast, Trump on Sunday had nothing but praise for Abbott. Hes a great governor, and he knows what hes doing, Trump said when asked by the Dallas Morning News what he thought about Texas not instituting a statewide shelter-in-place order like Illinois, New York and California. I have total confidence in Gov. Greg Abbott. Erin Douglas and Taylor Goldenstein contributed to this report. jasper.scherer@chron.com; jeremy.wallace@chron.com Irans supreme leader has suggested that the United States created a special version of the deadly coronavirus now ravaging the country. The disease has killed at least 1,685 Iranians, including 129 in the last 24 hours. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Irans top political, military and religious leader, spurned offers of US help in a speech on Sunday marking the beginning of the Persian calendar year. He suggested Washington would exploit any acceptance of American aid. The American leaders have said several times that we are willing to provide you with treatment and medical assistance, he said. First of all, you face shortages yourselves. If you have anything available, use it yourselves. Second, you, Americans, are accused of producing this virus. I do not know how true this accusation is. But as long as this accusation stands, which sane mind will trust you? Iran has a history of attempting to deflect its own failings onto western powers, especially the US and the UK. On Saturday, Irans deputy health minister accused the UK of impeding its efforts to halt the spread of coronavirus by preventing the sale of 1 million surgical masks because of United States sanctions. We had bought several million masks from Britain before [the epidemic started] but the country did not deliver them to us due to the sanctions, Alireza Raisi told the hardline Fars News Agency. He did not provide any evidence or details of the purportedly scuttled deal, nor specify whether it was through a private firm that may have decided on its own not to follow through with the deal. If substantiated, the case would amount to the most concrete example of how US sanctions imposed on countries and companies that do business with Iran are impeding efforts to halt coronavirus in one of the worst-hit countries, surpassed so far only by contagions in Italy and China. A Foreign Office spokesperson referred The Independent to a 2 March statement of solidarity with Iran, in which the UK, France and Germany commit 5 million to help Iran fight the pandemic. More than 21,000 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Iran. Mr Khamenei said the US could use aid offers as a way to further spread this disease to disrupt Iran. Washington and Tehran are in the midst of a standoff sparked by the White Houses withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal. In conspiratorial remarks, Mr Khamenei suggested the US brewed a special version of the virus based on Iranian genetic information they have gathered. He provided no evidence for his statement. Covid-19 has struck the US hard, killing at least 388 people so far as it hammers and overwhelms urban and rural health systems. Iran says it has been hampered by US sanctions, which Washington tightened after confrontations between American-backed forces and Iranian-backed militias in Iraq this month. Mr Raisi said that numerous medical staff had come down with Covid-19 because of shortages of protective equipment and masks, and that efforts to obtain the materials in the world market had been complicated by US sanctions. The US rules were imposed after Donald Trumps administration withdrew the nuclear deal and launched an aggressive attempt to economically besiege the country. We are facing serious problems for ordering, purchasing and transferring money due to the sanctions, Mr Raisi told the news agency. We cannot buy ventilator systems and ICU [intensive care unit] beds. Also, transferring money to purchase certain drugs is not possible for us. Like Iran, the US, UK and other countries are facing shortages of surgical masks as the coronavirus spreads throughout the world, with horror stories of doctors forced to reuse medical supplies for days emerging from numerous hospitals. Sorry we have had to remove all disposable face masks from our website, said the online portal of PK Safety, a South Wales firm that makes masks. There is a global shortage of masks. NHS medics on the front line of Britain's coronavirus emergency have been targeted by thugs who smashed up their cars while they treated the sick. Dr Alec Watson was pulled from his shift at the King's Cross Hospital, Dundee, after his and a colleague's vehicle windows were both shattered. And nurse Holly Coates was devastated after finishing an exhausting day at James Cook Hospital, Middlesbrough, to find her back window had also been battered. Nothing is believed to have been stolen in either case, but the public has been warned to brace for a spike in crime as people exploit the time of crisis to carry out criminal activity. Ms Coates shared pictures of her vandalised Ford on Facebook, which revealed a gaping hole in the glass. Dr Alec Watson had his Volvo car window smashed in during his shift at King's Cross Hospital in Dundee Nurse Hollie Coates also found her Ford battered after finishing her shift at James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough Ms Coates said the vandalism was particularly upsetting as the NHS was already under strain from the coronavirus pandemic In an emotional Facebook post last night, she wrote: 'So after finishing a shift at James Cook I've came out to my back window being smashed in, just wanting to warn all staff to be careful where they are parking. 'This is partially upsetting at a time when we are all working above and beyond and doing extra shifts during annual leave to pull together to fight this nasty and life-threatening virus.' She quickly received a flood of support from well-wishers who tore into the 'disgusting' vandals. The same day, Dr Watson, who triages people suspected of having coronavirus over the phone at King's Cross Hospital, was alerted to damage to his Volvo at around 10.45am. He found the front passenger window of his had been completely caved in and had sprayed shards of glass across the hospital car park. Another car, believed to belong to a senior nurse at the hospital, was also vandalised at around the same time. Dr Watson branded the culprit's actions as 'appalling', especially as the NHS is already under strain with coronavirus cases piling up daily. Dr Watson branded the culprit's actions (smashed window pictured) as 'appalling', especially as the NHS is already under strain with coronavirus cases piling up daily He said: 'We are hugely busy at the moment with coronavirus and this is the last thing we need. 'I'm semi-retired but have been working more to help ease the pressure. 'At around 10.45am reception told me the police were there because two cars had been damaged. 'Mine was in the car park, beside the special area that's cordoned off to examine patients with potential coronavirus. 'The passenger window was completely smashed, although nothing was taken as I don't keep valuables in the car. 'I was taken out of my busy work for an hour to speak to the police. It's appalling that someone has done this, especially during this time.' Dr Watson said he will now have to take a taxi to work while the damage to his car is repaired. Police arrived at the hospital shortly after 10.30am after receiving multiple reports of vandalism to the vehicles. One witness described how he saw a man on a bike behaving suspiciously in the area around the time of the incident. He said: 'I saw a man on a bike who was looking pretty shifty. I drove up the road up there and then came back and he was gone. 'It looked like he was looking into the cars but I didn't get a good sight of him unfortunately. 'I don't think the car parked on the street had been done at that stage but I don't know about the one in the car park. 'I think it's awful somebody could do that to hospital workers at a time like this. 'Everyone has enough to deal with and this is the last thing NHS staff need.' A spokesman for Police Scotland confirmed officers are investigating, while MailOnline has contacted Cleveland Police for information. Britain's NHS is creaking under the pressure of coronavirus cases, with Boris Johnson warning it threatens to be 'overwhelmed' people flout social distancing rules and help accelerate the spread of the virus. Some NHS staff have also complained of not being given the appropriate protective equipment, while others lament the lack of food on the shelves at the end of their shift after panic-buyers strip the aisles bare. Yet many organisations have tried to lighten the load on these frontline staff and several supermarkets have now enforced reserved early hours for them to shop. While swathes of the nation are pulling together to help out their fellow countrymen in dark times, some yobs have have exploited the crisis. In one example of thuggery, thieves broke into the Old Vicarage hotel in Shropshire on Friday night and gutted its fridges and freezers of food waiting to be delivered to people in self-isolation. The public was today warned to stay vigilant of heightened gang violence on the streets, which could also heap more pressure on the health service. Richard Walton, former head of counter-terrorism at Scotland Yard, said: 'The risk with an increase in gang violence over the coming months is that stabbings in particular so often require intensive care treatment. 'Hospitals must be spared this extra strain on their resources as they cope with the peak of the coronavirus pandemic.' Gannett, the owner of USA TODAY and more than 260 daily local media properties, is launching a nationwide effort to help communities support local small businesses during the coronavirus crisis. The media company announced Monday a new website, supportlocal.usatoday.com, that will allow users to select local businesses in their community to support by buying gift cards for use at a later time. Visitors and business owners can also add local businesses to the platform. We feel that local businesses are such a core part of the fabric of the country and the communities we all live in, said Kevin Gentzel, Gannetts chief revenue officer. They really are a reflection of the heartbeat of America. Last Wednesday, Gentzel and Maribel Perez Wadsworth, president of Gannetts news division and publisher of USA TODAY, wrote a joint op-ed in USA TODAY urging local communities to support small businesses during the crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic has ground everyday life in the U.S. and other parts of the world to a halt. More than 33,000 cases of illness have been reported in the U.S. and more than 400 people have died. Extremely light traffic moves along the 110 Harbor Freeway toward downtown mid afternoon, Friday, March 20, 2020, in Los Angeles. Small businesses have been hit hard. Many shut down to help curb the spread of the virus, though essential businesses have largely remained open, including grocery stores, gas stations and pharmacies, some with shortened hours to clean and restock. Many restaurants are also open but only offer takeout or delivery orders. Dinner reservation app OpenTable released new data showing just how severe the situation is for restaurants throughout the country. Sit-down dining at U.S. restaurants that participate in the companys reservation system have screeched to a halt. Reservations and walk-ins on Saturday, March 21, were down 100% from the same day in 2019, according to OpenTable. You have coronavirus questions: We're answering them. Lawmakers are working on emergency packages to help small businesses cover expenses as they remain shut down while consumers shelter at home and practice social distancing. Story continues On Saturday during a White House coronavirus task force briefing, President Donald Trump said he talked with thousands of small-business owners about the crisis in a conference call. He also has spoken with restaurant industry representatives. I assured them my administration is doing everything within its very considerable power to support them and their employees, Trump said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus: Gannett launches site to help struggling small businesses Imagine a pristine T&T where there are no more homeless people or animals. One where hunger has been eliminated as the relic of a bygone era. A world where pipe-borne water is delivered to every home every day, not wasted in an archaic system where significant leaks are either ignored or washed out to sea. Marin County health officials ordered the immediate closure of the countys parks Sunday, one day after visitors crowded Marins parks and beaches despite Californias shelter-in-place order. In its daily coronavirus briefing, however, Marin Countys health department clarified that the closure refers to motorized access to parks and that residents are still allowed to walk or bike on trails and in parks near their homes. The closure of the parks relates to motorized traffic to and from parks, Dr. Lisa Santora, Marin deputy public health officer, said in a video message. This is a necessary step to protect our community. We are not discouraging Marin County residents from getting outside and walking or biking to a park or trail near your home. The closures include city, state and federal areas including the Point Reyes National Seashore, Muir Woods National Monument and Mount Tamalpais, per a county news release, and impacted more than 18,000 acres overall. According to the release, visitors can still use paved pathways maintained by Marin County including the Mill Valley-Sausalito Multiuse Pathway and Corte Madera Pathway provided that they adhere to social distancing guidelines. In the release, Marin County Sheriffs Sgt. Brenton Schneider said Saturdays influx of visitors had ignored social distancing practices and put vulnerable residents and workers at risk. This is creating unsafe conditions for employees working at businesses that are staying open because they are deemed essential, Schneider said. Those workers are being overwhelmed, and they are fearful about all the close contact that theyre witnessing. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Marin County Fire tweeted photos of a line of cars and a crowded Stinson Beach on Saturday and wrote: We understand the communities frustration with the LARGE amount of people traveling to the Coast today and NOT adhering to the Shelter Order. The influx of people is putting our vulnerable residents at risk. Please stay at home! Marin County reported 38 confirmed cases of the coronavirus as of Sunday. That total has not risen over the last two days. In their briefing, county health officials said the static number was because of delayed reporting, adding: We will continue to see local transmission increase in the days and weeks to come. Matt Kawahara is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mkawahara@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @matthewkawahara A local man trying to return to Ireland from New Zealand has appealed to the Irish government for help after a series of cancelled flights. Hundreds of people are effectively stranded in Australia and New Zealand as flights out of both countries are cancelled in huge numbers. They include Gary Kelly, from Broadford, Co Kildare, not far from Edenderry in Offaly where he attended school. Gary had booked flights from Christchurch to Dublin only to discover they have now been cancelled as the country tightens travel restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic. His flights have been cancelled with no option for a new flight. The news comes as further restrictions on airspace come into force in New Zealand on Wednesday. Gary and his girlfriend have prepared to come home to Ireland and have given up their lease from this Thursday. They now say they have nowhere to turn and are trying to shed light on their situation and that of others on social media. "The embassy is telling people to speak to airlines; airlines saying to speak to embassies. It seems to be nobodys job to help people get home," he said. "Some citizens have ended leases and are going to be left with nowhere to turn? I myself have my lease ending Thursday and nowhere to go. I spent the last of my money on a flight only for it to be cancelled. Nobody is willing to step up and help. Help Irish people get home," he pleaded. New Zealand is planning to go into a total lockdown later this week. The National Task Force for COVID-19, constituted by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), on Monday recommended the use of hydroxy-chloroquine for preventive treatment of healthcare workers and individuals in close contact of coronavirus patients. The task force has recommended the use of hydroxy-chloroquine for prophylaxis of SARS-CoV-2 infection for selected individuals, such as asymptomatic healthcare workers involved in the care of suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19. The drug may be also used in case of asymptomatic household contacts of confirmed COVID-19 patients. "Hydroxy-chloroquine is found to be effective against coronavirus in laboratory studies and in-vivo studies. Its use in prophylaxis is derived from available evidence of benefit as treatment and supported by pre-clinical data," ICMR said in its latest report on Monday. Commenting on the development, ICMR Director-General Balram Bhargava said, "Hydroxy-chloroquine is recommended only for a healthcare worker who is treating a Covid 19 patient. Secondly, it's recommended only for persons staying and caring for a household positive patient. They can take that only for prophylaxis, only for prevention." Also Read: Coronavirus in India Live updates: Death toll in India reaches 8; confirmed cases rise to 415 For healthcare workers, a dose of 400 mg twice a day on day 1, followed by 400 mg once weekly for next 7 weeks, has been prescribed. The medicine has to be taken with meals, as per the report. The task force has recommended a dose of 400 mg twice a day on day 1, followed by 400 mg once weekly for next 3 weeks for household contacts of laboratory confirmed cases. This has to be taken with meals. "All asymptomatic contacts of laboratory confirmed cases should remain in home quarantine as per the national guidelines, even if they are on prophylactic therapy," it said. Also Read: India allows two companies to supply Covid-19 testing kits; no DCGI approval needed The drug, however, has not been recommended for prophylaxis in children under 15 years of age. "The drug is contraindicated in persons with known case of retinopathy, known hypersensitivity to hydroxychloroquine, 4-aminoquinoline compounds," the report said. Meanwhile, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has also approved the protocol recommended by the ICMR National Task Force for limited use in crisis situation. Davids decision is a testament to our company, our leaders, our technology and ambitious growth strategy. David G.W Birch is an author, advisor, commentator and internationally recognized thought leader in digital identity and digital money. David is the Global Ambassador for Consult Hyperion, the Technology Fellow at the Center for the Study of Financial Innovation, a Visiting Professor at the University of Surrey Business School and holds a number of board-level advisory rolls around the world. Before helping to found Consult Hyperion, he worked as a consultant in Europe, the Far East and North America. David has been focused on the convergence of identity and payments for the last decade. His landmark book Identity is the New Money was a thought-provoking account of the connection between national ID schemes, financial inclusion and payments. Combining AU10TIXs technology and Davids strategic insights puts AU10TIX on a path to broaden its portfolio of solutions. "I was flattered to be asked and delighted to be able to accept the invitation to join the AU10TIX Advisory board at this exciting phase of the companys journey, said Birch. AU10TIX has established itself as a global leader and is distinguishing itself through its advanced machine learning technology, its continuing talent acquisition and its unmatched customer base. I am excited to be working with Ron, Carey and the rest of the management team. As a recognized leader in the space David could have joined any number of identity companies, we are humbled and excited that he chose to join us at AU10TIX, said Carey Kolaja President, COO, AU10TIX. Davids decision is a testament to our company, our leaders, our technology and ambitious growth strategy." David has a proven track record of success in helping leading companies to grow and develop their products and services. With our strategic investors TPG and OAK, our sustainable economics, and our growing advisory board, we are positioned to take our first step beyond ID verification KYC / AML into new and growing markets. In early December, the Assad regime, along with Russian, Iranian and Hezbollah forces, launched a brutal military campaign against the people of Idlib -- the last opposition-held stronghold in Syria. This offensive precipitated the largest and fastest single wave of Syrian internal displacement, nearly one million, since the start of the conflict. This attack on Idlibs 3 million people, most of them women and children, is an attempt by Russia, one of the belligerent parties in the Syrian conflict, to gain a strategic advantage in the region, said U.S. Ambassador to Turkey David Satterfield during a March 10th press conference. This mass uprooting of civilians in Idlib is a deliberate Russian maneuver to force displaced Syrians from their homes towards the Turkish border, in an attempt to compel Turkey to take decisions favorable to Russian ambitions to both retake the Idlib zone for the [Syrian] regime and effect, through the retaking of Idlib, an end to the ability of the international community to see either the full implementation of Resolution 2254 or a situation in which there is any stand made against Russian aggression. In response to the deteriorating humanitarian situation in northwest Syria, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft announced in early March that the United States will provide $108 million in additional humanitarian assistance for the people of Syria. However, she said, Humanitarian aid is only a response [to the crisis]. The real answer is an immediate cease-fire, a durable cease-fire. Indeed, the United States is encouraged by the Turkish-Russian ceasefire in Idlib, which took effect on March 6. We hope it will help deescalate a very dangerous situation and relieve the dire humanitarian crisis precipitated by attacks on civilians by Russians, Syrians, and their allies. It is imperative that everything possible be done at this moment to stabilize, in an enduring fashion, the ceasefire agreed to in Moscow on March 5th, to put an end to territorial incursions. There will be no safe zone, no secure zone, if there is not an enduring ceasefire, said Ambassador Satterfield. Ambassador Satterfield continued The sad record of Syria over the course of the past two years has been ceasefires with Russian guarantees have not been ceasefires; they are temporary, transactional halts until Russia is prepared to renew the campaign, he said. That must not be the case in Idlib. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 19:53:14|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close COLOMBO, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Monday pledged 5 million U.S. dollars to the COVID-19 emergency fund initiated for SAARC (the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) countries to deal with issues related to the virus, a statement from the President's Office said. The statement said that the contribution to this fund was on a voluntary basis and such a fund was vital as the economies of each SAARC country were being severely affected by the strict measures each country has to adopt to keep the COVID-19 at bay. On March 15, SAARC leaders held discussions via video conferencing to discuss ways of supporting each other during the outbreak of the disease in South Asia as each country was facing challenges in fighting the virus. The statement said Sri Lanka was especially affected as the island country's tourism sector was just recovering from the terrorist attacks in April 2019. The statement said that at the conclusion of the SAARC leaders' video conference, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi advocated a joint effort to combat the challenges posed to the region by the virus and proposed to set up the COVID-19 emergency fund as a security blanket for the SAARC countries. Sri Lanka has so far recorded 86 COVID-19 patients while over 200 are under observation in the designated hospitals across the country. Over 11,000 people are under quarantine. WASHINGTON - Lawmakers from states that share borders with Canada are urging President Donald Trump to preserve the flow of essential goods and services between the two countries, even if the global pandemic forces more stringent quarantines and travel restrictions in the United States. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/3/2020 (659 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Canadian and American flags fly near the Ambassador Bridge at the Canada/USA border crossing in Windsor, Ont. on Saturday, March 21, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Rob Gurdebeke WASHINGTON - Lawmakers from states that share borders with Canada are urging President Donald Trump to preserve the flow of essential goods and services between the two countries, even if the global pandemic forces more stringent quarantines and travel restrictions in the United States. New York senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, both Democrats, released a letter Monday urging the White House to consider the importance of bilateral travel to businesses, families and communities near the Canada-U.S. border. "Many businesses in our states, including hospitals and medical equipment providers, depend upon travel across the northern border for essential supplies and personnel," it reads. "In attempting to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, we must ensure that any new travel restrictions do not handicap these industries and their ability to respond to outbreaks quickly and effectively. Federal agencies and the Coronavirus Task Force will need to co-ordinate closely to ensure the necessary exemptions are made to travel restrictions." The letter was co-signed by 18 other border-state lawmakers, including Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown. It also called on Trump to provide "the appropriate exemptions to any domestic quarantines mandated by federal, state or local officials to ensure public health and safety." While protecting public health is paramount, the letter continued, "it is critical that businesses Americans rely on to provide medical supplies and other essential goods do not see their supply chains and workforce compromised by restrictions on travel domestically and across the U.S. border." Canada and the United States put a mutual ban in place early Saturday prohibiting casual, non-essential travel between the two countries as part of a joint effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. Travel for work or school is still permitted, as are temporary foreign workers and long-haul truckers carrying shipments between the two countries. Since the ban went into effect, traffic from Canada to the U.S. has dropped by 75 per cent, a senior official from the Department of Homeland Security told a briefing call Monday. "We have committed to having these restrictions in place for a limited time, but that limitation is hard to see the end of at the moment," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity under the rules of the call. "It is when the spread of the virus no longer poses a threat to the United States or to our neighbours." As for whether the U.S. is considering whether to add countries to its travel ban, the official said, "The answer, without having to name countries, is yes." Images from across the continent of people flouting public pleas to stay home and avoid congregating in large groups ripped around the internet over the weekend, fuelling fear of more stringent crackdowns on personal mobility. It didn't take long: on Monday, Ontario and Quebec both ordered non-essential businesses to close, as did Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnston. And Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sounded ready to do the same. "Enough is enough. Go home and stay home," Trudeau said. "This is what we all need to be doing and we're going to make sure it happens." Canadians who believe they are engaged in essential travel but encounter difficulties getting across the border can call for help using an expanded hotline established by the Canada Border Services Agency, said Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland. "CBSA has very swiftly set up a hotline and a website that people can use if they are at the border and they feel they are engaged in essential crossing of the border and need some help getting across," she said. "Canadians doing essential work who need to cross the border, please use that hotline to let us know if you are having difficulties." The agency's Border Information Service, which usually operates under limited hours and provides recorded advice, is now available 24 hours a day and staffed by actual service agents. It can be reached at 1-800-461-9999. This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 23, 2020. Follow James McCarten on Twitter @CdnPressStyle 'They should have told us about this', Donald Trump told reporters at a press conference in the White House on Sunday during a briefing on his administration's coronavirus response Washington: US President Donald Trump has said he is "a little upset" with China over its late sharing of information on the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus and refusing to accept a visit by American medical experts to the country "out of pride". "They should have told us about this," Trump told reporters at a press conference in the White House on Sunday during a briefing on his administration's coronavirus response. "I'm a little upset with China. I'll be honest with you, because as much as I like (Chinese) President Xi (Jinping) and as much as I respect and admire the country," he said. There are now 31,057 confirmed cases across the US, with 390 deaths. New York state has become the epicentre of the outbreak in the US and accounts for almost half of the country's cases. Trump said soon after he received information about the spread of the deadly viral infection in China, he wanted to send US medical team there. However, China did not allow. Without specifying any timeline, Trump said he had spoken to President Xi "specifically" about sending US team to China, however, "he doesn't want this... this is not something that he wants". The US president said it is "out of pride" that China didn't "want us to send people" and "they didn't really respond". "I wish they could have told us earlier about what was going on inside," Trump said. "We didn't know about it until it started coming out publicly," he said. Trump added that China "was very secretive and that's unfortunate." Reiterating that America's relationship with China is "very good", Trump said, "I wish they (had) told us three months sooner that this was a problem. We didn't know about it. They knew about it and they should (have) told us. We could have saved a lot of lives throughout the world." Meanwhile, the US and Chinese officials continued with their war of words over coronavirus on Twitter. "Since early January, the CCP has retaliated against its citizens and journalists in China for making information public, launched disinformation campaigns around the world, and limited the international community's access to valuable public health information," the National Security Council of the White House tweeted, referring to the China's ruling Communist Party. On 20 March, Morgan Ortagus, spokesperson of the US State Department, tweeted, "By 3 January, Chinese authorities had already ordered COVID-19 virus samples destroyed, silenced Wuhan doctors, and censored public concerns online." Click here to follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak Responding to the tweet, Hua Chunying, spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said China has been updating the US on coronavirus and its response since 3 January. On 15 January, the US State Department notified Americans in China about the US Centre for Disease Control's warning against the coronavirus. "And now blame China for Delay? Seriously," she said. China, Hua tweeted, has treated COVID-19 as highly pathogenic virus according to the law on prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. "As WHO stated, China identified the pathogen in a record short time and shared genetic sequence with the world, which helped others with epidemic response," she said. However, Ortagus denied her remarks. "Nonsense. You call it 'highly pathogenic' now, but last month your officials blocked a WHO report from calling COVID-19 a 'dangerous pathogen'," she said, tagging a link of a 'Financial Times' article on the topic to buttress her argument. Tens of billions have been put aside by the Morrison government to spend on emergency medical supplies and further financial assistance as the global economic chaos from the coronavirus outbreak deepens. The government has further bolstered its war chest as it embarks on months of unprecedented spending in an attempt to cushion the domestic economy against the fallout from tough measures to further halt the spread of COVID-19. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg described the coronavirus as a "Team Australia moment". Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Legislation to authorise the extra spending was set to pass both houses of Parliament on Monday, with an annual discretionary fund of $1.2 billion controlled by Finance Minister Mathias Cormann boosted to $40 billion. Parliament is now scheduled to return in August, after a scaled-back session on Monday to pass supply bills and the legislation needed for a $17.6 billion stimulus package and $66 billion of small business and income support measures. Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev has donated his annual salary to the Fund to Support Fight Against Coronavirus, Trend reports. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a Decree on March 19 on measures regarding the protection of health of population and strengthening the fight against coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in the country. Under the Decree, the Fund to Support Fight Against Coronavirus, aiming to take preventive measures and speed up the fight against COVID-19, was established. In accordance with the decree signed by Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev on March 19, 2020, 20 million manat was initially allocated to the Fund from the Presidential Reserve Fund. Individuals and legal entities can voluntarily donate funds to the Fund to Support Fight Against Coronavirus, which has been established to provide financial support for measures taken to combat coronavirus infection and prevent its spread in Azerbaijan. The funds will be used to finance the fight against coronavirus, in particular, creation of medical institutions of a special regime, rewarding health care workers and providing them with material assistance, improving the infrastructure in medical institutions and strengthening their material and technical base. There were glimpses of how much could be at stake. A month before the coronavirus outbreak led to orders that tens of millions of Americans largely stay at home, white supremacists had urged each other to spread the virus by filling spray bottles with saliva, spitting on elevator buttons and other ways, intelligence officials said. The bioterrorism plot was detailed in an unclassified intelligence briefing in late February by the Federal Protective Service, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security. Hate group members used the instant messaging application Telegram to urge each other to weaponize the virus and target law enforcement officers and nonwhite communities. There was no evidence members of hate groups took any of those actions. But Jonathan Greenblatt, the chief executive of the Anti-Defamation League, said in an interview Sunday that its not surprising that hate groups have been trying to seize on the anxiety and confusion over the coronavirus outbreak. I think were all in the fog of war trying to understand what the coronavirus will mean for our families, our firms and our society as a whole, Mr. Greenblatt said. And sometimes, the virus and traditional police work intersect. On March 6, police in Portland, received a report of the theft of 20 to 25 cases of N95 respirator masks, each case containing 400 masks. The next day, the theft victim discovered someone selling what seemed to be the same masks on Craigslist. A 22-year-old man was arrested on theft charges, eventually 13 boxes of the masks were recovered, and the theft victim donated all the masks to local hospitals for dealing with the coronavirus, police said. Still, across the country there have been few arrests so far related to the coronavirus. That was in stark contrast to the stringent approach of police forces abroad. In Jordan, 400 people were arrested after violating a nationwide curfew introduced on Saturday. A 26-year-old man was arrested on the Isle of Man, in the Irish Sea, after failing to self-isolate. He faces a possible fine of up to 10,000 pounds (about $11,500) and prison. As of Friday, more than 31,000 people in Spain had been reported for not abiding by stay-at-home rules, according to the countrys Interior Minister, Fernando Grande Marlaska. The Afghan authorities on Sunday decided to release "a number of prisoners" as part of measures undertaken to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease in the country, the presidential palace said in a statement. Earlier in the day, US Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad urged the Taliban and the Afghan government to immediately release captured prisoners as agreed to in the peace process in light of COVID-19. He said the matter was discussed during a four-party video-conference on Sunday. "A number of detainees are being released as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus," the statement read. According to the statement, the administration of the Prisons Regulatory Authority and officials of the country's judicial bodies are set to develop a specific plan on the release of prisoners within 48 hours. So far, Afghanistan has confirmed 34 COVID-19 cases. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) WASHINGTON An inmate at a federal jail in New York City has tested positive for coronavirus, marking the first confirmed case in the federal prison system. The inmate, who is housed at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, complained of chest pains on Thursday, a few days after he arrived at the facility, the federal Bureau of Prisons told The Associated Press. He was taken to a local hospital and was tested for COVID-19, officials said. The inmate was discharged from the hospital on Friday and returned to the jail, where he was immediately placed in isolation, the agency said. The Bureau of Prisons learned Saturday that he had tested positive for COVID-19. The inmate remained isolated away from other prisoners on Saturday, but medical and psychiatric staff were visiting him routinely, officials said. The confirmation of the first coronavirus case in the system by the BOP comes as jails and prisons across the country are taking precautions to slow the spread of coronavirus. Health officials have been warning for more than a decade about the dangers of outbreaks in jails and prisons, which are ideal environments for viruses: Inmates share small cells with total strangers, use toilets just a few feet from their beds, and are herded into day rooms where they spend hours at a time together. There have been two positive cases among BOP staff members: an employee who works at an administrative office in Grand Prairie, Texas, and another employee who works in Leavenworth, Kansas, but who officials said did not have contact with inmates since becoming symptomatic. The Bureau of Prisons has temporarily halted visitation at all 122 federal correction facilities across the U.S., including both social and legal visitation, though officials have said some exceptions could be made for legal visits. Officials said staffers at the Metropolitan Detention Center would continue to monitor the inmate and they were working to trace who he had contact with, as well as sanitizing affected areas. Other inmates who were housed with the man are also being quarantined, along with staff members who may have had contact with him. Every staff member and contractor entering the Metropolitan Detention Center is subject to an enhanced medical screening, including having their temperature taken with an infrared thermometer and are asked a series of questions to screen for coronavirus risk factors, a Bureau of Prisons official wrote in a letter to the chief judge in the Southern District of New York earlier this week. The agency said inmates at the lockup are free to walk about their housing units and use common areas but may also choose to remain in their cells to self-seclude. But officials said they were not going to isolate inmates who may be considered to be at risk because there were too many of them to isolate them on one or two units, according to the letter. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and even death. The vast majority of people recover from the virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe cases may take three to six weeks to recover. ___ Associated Press writers Michael R. Sisak and Jim Mustian in New York contributed to this report. ___ The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Staying put might be the best chance one has against the coronavirus. Yet, if you have to inevitably travel in these catastrophic times, then you have to live through a novel experience, like the virus itself: it is as daunting as surreal. The first thing that strikes you is the realization that you are now out of the safety and comfort of your home, exposed, vulnerable and a potential meal for a creepy virus that has never been known to attack the human race before. One had to take a flight out of New Delhi to Guwahati in the wee hours of Monday, a necessity forced by a sudden change in personal circumstances. If you have to fly out of town to virtually anywhere, out of sheer emergency, heres how it will likely go. First, youll have to scramble for tickets. It will take several attempts and minutes. Travel apps will show you various options, but after you click through the steps, it will probably end in disastrous messages like these: This flight isnt available. But travel you must. Train services remain suspended till March 31st. Anecdotally at least, just about a quarter of domestic scheduled flights are functional at any point of departure times in the Delhi international airport. Taxi bays are filled with stranded aircraft, as scores of planes are grounded. There is no nationwide ban on air travel. However, the reality is that it is becoming increasingly difficult to travel within India, or anywhere abroad. Cancelled flights were few and far between just over a month ago. Bogged down by lockdowns and skeletal staff to man operations, airlines are now lopping off tens of flights from their schedules. To make it worse, tickets arent cheap. Consider this: the Delhi-Guwahati sector I flew cost me Rs 9700, up from an average fare of Rs 5000, a jump of almost 100%. As the pandemic soared, restrictions have squeezed travellers and their options. Its worse elsewhere. According to a Bloomberg report on Monday, Emirates, the worlds largest long-haul airline, will cease all operations from March 25. Every airline across the globe has curtailed flights. Its apparently tough now for carriers to operate viably on many routes. Chopping flights is also a way to match the altered demand and supply and mop up revenues, what with fewer and fewer people travelling. India has already shut itself for international trips, inbound and outbound, from Monday. Its a woeful state of affairs. Unless you have a chauffeur, getting to the airport is no less troublesome. Ride-hailing service Uber suspended its services in Delhi on Monday, according to a statement from the company. This could ripple around cities, as six states are in shutdown mode. A neighbourhood yellow-black taxi agreed to drop me to the airport on Monday morning. However, he had two key conditions. First, a flat Rs 1000 as fare from East Delhi, double the usual fare. Secondly, in the wake of Delhi governments announcement of a lockdown from Monday, I had to set off for the airport at midnight for my 9 am flight. I have to get back to my base before the curfew begins, he said. As we set off for the airport, 23 kms of asphalt, the national capital blurred past me like a ghost town. Brightly lit but woefully silent roads. I shuddered as the taxi zoomed past the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, which has tested for coronavirus patients. The airport itself was spooky. It had far less passengers but everyone wore masks. All airport stores were shut and screened off. We are closed because of your safety, one notice at a store said. Restaurants were open but not serving at the time. At the entry point, the Central Industrial Security Force guard manning the gate would not touch your phone to check the electronic ticket. Instead, he will ask you to zoom into it for him. Likewise, for your ID; you need to hold it up yourself for display. At the check-in counter too, a similar hands-off policy was in force. Passengers were encouraged to use self-check-in kiosks if possible. The airline I was flying, Vistara, insisted that those with only a cabin baggage use the self-check-in kiosk. If you sneeze or cough, co-passengers will proactively move further away from you. Stepping into the aircraft felt as if you were heading into a virus zone. You could be on a seat that could have been occupied by someone carrying the virus. The frequently touched areas, like the food tray and hand rests, are virtually no-go areas, just as the aircraft toilet, you say to yourself. You merely uncomfortably squeeze into your seat. At the end of journey, you dont step out of the aircraft confident, but shaken. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Apple CEO Tim Cook is pledging the companys help during the coronavirus pandemic. In a tweet, Cook, a native of Alabama, said Apple has been helping source supplies for healthcare providers fighting COVID-19. Were donating millions of masks for health professionals in the U.S. and Europe. To every one of the heroes on the front lines, we thank you, Cook wrote. In another message, Cook said Apple was donating medical supplies to Italy, one of the countries hardest hit by the coronavirus. Our teams at Apple have been working to help source supplies for healthcare providers fighting COVID-19. Were donating millions of masks for health professionals in the US and Europe. To every one of the heroes on the front lines, we thank you. Tim Cook (@tim_cook) March 21, 2020 Its never been more important to support each other. Were making a substantial donation including medical supplies to Protezione Civile in Italy, to help the heroic first responders, medical personnel & volunteers working tirelessly to protect & save lives. Vicini all Tim Cook (@tim_cook) March 19, 2020 Apples technology is being used in the coronavirus as well. Apple has updated its voice assistant Siri to provide information to users who wonder if they have coronavirus. The update include a step-by-step questionnaire with questions about if they are exhibiting the symptoms such as fever, cough and shortness of breath. Siri then directs people to call their healthcare provider or, if the symptoms arent extreme, to stay home and avoid contact with others. 81 Shares Share We are scared. This virus threatens our lives. It threatens our families. It threatens our friends. We have physician friends crying between patients in fear that their partners who work in the emergency department (ED) may contract this virus, known to affect health care workers with greater severity than the average person. We see reports of hospitals and health care offices running out of personal protective equipment (PPE). What follows are updated recommendations from the CDC, decreasing the necessary amount of PPE required to treat patients with SARS-CoV-2. We are begging friends and family and anyone we know with access to facemasks to send them to us or donate them to their local hospital as we are being told that bandanas and scarves may eventually substitute for specifically designed barriers. We see death rates doubling every other day. We see the logarithmic scale becoming exponential. We are tired. Every report on the news centers around this virus. Our social media feed is filled with our next friend quarantined with the disease another colleague taken off the front lines in this fight and another loved one who may succumb to this illness. The Dutch Medical Care Minister collapsed on the floor of parliament and has subsequently left his post. Our texts are filled with concerns from parents, friends, and coworkers, asking what they should be doing, asking how serious this actually is; concerned for us and for their own families. And we go home, fall asleep in physical, mental, and emotional collapse before waking up and going back to the hospital, knowing today may be the day we notice the first of the symptoms. We are annoyed. We walk into the hospital, knowing we will get this virus. Ask anyone who works in health care, and they are resigned to the inevitable truth that they will one day test positive for SARS-CoV-2. And yet we see the governor of Oklahoma exclaiming proudly how he and his family and so many more people are out at a packed restaurant. Meanwhile, the President of the United States has invoked the Defense Production Act. He has proclaimed that we are at war. But this is not a war that will be won with bombs and guns and rolling up our sleeves to get to work. Rallies for morale will not energize Americans and get them past this. This is a war that must be fought quietly in our homes, surrounded by our families, leaving only for the greatest necessities. We must do what we can to help those in the vanguard. The nurses who walk into every room in the ED not knowing what sits on the other side of that curtain. The front desk attendants who must talk with patients fearful for their lives. The cleaning crews who must sterilize and disinfect every surface to further prevent the spread of the virus. These are our soldiers, the ones for whom we should be brandishing yellow ribbons. And then we see a headline in the LA Times which states that LA County has given up on containing the virus and that doctors are told to skip testing some patients, as if this is somehow different from the standard of care. Surely a nice piece of clickbait, one that will undoubtedly drive more traffic to the website and allow for increased revenue from ad sales, but not one that portrays the facts or the general recommendations of the leaders in the field dedicated to containing this virus. The article reads, Doctors should test symptomatic patients only when a diagnostic result will change clinical management or inform public health response. This is standard practice across all of medicine. One should never perform a test unless it leads to a change in treatment plan. Thats the basis of good medical stewardship, both financial, medical resource and otherwise. If a patient with minimal symptoms comes in coughing and febrile but in no distress that would warrant admission to the hospital, that patient should be sent home with instructions to take care of ones self and to avoid contact with other people. If that same patient comes in and suddenly has SARS-CoV-2, the instructions should be exactly the same. Testing the patient does not containment make; appropriate self-quarantine does. Unfortunately, SARS-CoV-2 has spread more rapidly than the adoption of self-quarantine; thus, all we are able to do at this point is slow disease transmission: hence the LA County Department of Public Health Advisory. The difference becomes when that patient must be admitted due to more severe symptoms, and the patient then will need to be properly quarantined within the hospital, which is a much more complicated endeavor. Health care workers must know if this patient is contagious with SARS-CoV-2 or if they instead have the flu or bacterial pneumonia or any other number of diseases that may manifest with such generic symptoms. Perhaps the title should have read: LA County implores patients with minimal symptoms to stay home, thus becoming the real heroes as health care workers struggle to take care of the imminently dying. Perhaps the article should have spoken to the importance of self-quarantine for purposes of not further spreading a virus with an unpredictable course in the older and the infirm? Perhaps the LA Times should have discussed LAC+USC emergency department residents, walking headfirst into the fires armed with nothing more than a thin sheet of cloth and the hope that their youth and vitality will keep their symptoms minimal so that they can then go back into the fire 2-3 weeks later, watching all the while as their colleagues fall one by one. But that wouldnt grab as many clicks, would it? That wouldnt sell as many advertisements. We need your help. We are scared. We are tired. We cant fight this alone. Please help us. Grant Meeker is a resident physician. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Nigerian police with megaphones struggled to keep the faithful in bustling Lagos away from church on Sunday, as worshippers in Africa faced tough restrictions aimed at halting the spread of coronavirus. "Go home, coronavirus is not a joke," a uniformed officer shouted at a crowd in the tightly-packed slum Makoko. Authorities in the city of around 20 million have limited religious gatherings to no more than 50 people -- a miniscule number compared to the thousands who regularly pack out churches. Tensions rose as worshippers clustered at the gate of Makoko's Celestial Church of Christ only to find policemen handing out fliers on the dangers of the virus blocking their way. "No-one told us that the churches were closed," shouted Judith, a young woman dressed up in her best Sunday outfit of a sparkling dress. "We want to pray, coronavirus is not here -- it is the whites who brought it to us." Florence Uche, a regular at the Methodist Church of the Trinity on Lagos island, said she would not miss the Sunday service for "anything in the world". But she still had her temperature taken at the entrance and insisted she was not hugging her fellow worshippers any more. "God told me three days ago to spread the word that the spirit of coronavirus is dead. We will soon attend its funeral," she said, brandising a bottle of hand sanitiser. Some 30 kilometres (18 miles) away in neighbouring Ogun state, thousands of believers flocked to one of Nigeria's largest pentecostal churches despite similar limitations from local authorities. "Coronavirus cannot stop God's children, but I assure you that the solution will be found this week," Bishop David Oyedepo told those gathered at the Living Faith World Outreach Ministries. The roughly 10,000 people praying and singing was still far short of the 50,000 that the church can hold as worshippers were told to gather in homes and local church branches to follow the service on television. "Our markets are open so there is no way to curb this but only God can save Africa from this pandemic," the bishop said. 'For our health' From Kenya, to South Africa, to Nigeria, authorities across the continent have imposed draconian limits on their deeply religious populations to curb the rising number of confirmed infections. Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation of some 190 million people, currently has 27 recorded cases, but testing has been limited. Most places of worship were closed in Kinshasa, the chaotic capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, for the first time in living memory. "Since we were born we can't remember anything like this," Catholic priest Father Michel from the shuttered Notre Dame de Fatima told AFP. "But it is for our own good, for our health." Services were broadcast over the internet and radio, and donations were made online after religious leaders told citizens to take the new virus as seriously as the Ebola epidemic that has ravaged the country. "It is quite shocking as Sunday is the day dedicated to Jesus," said 16-year-old high school student Deborah. "But we understand that it is for our own security." Elsewhere in the region, pastors have come up with new ways to reach out to their congregations. In Abidjan in Ivory Coast evangelical preachers made tours of private houses where worshippers had been told to gather in groups of 20 or 30. Soap and sanitiser was waiting for visitors outside one home in the crowded district of Yopougon as some 20 people inside sat on plastic chairs one metre apart from each other. "Usually the congregations are about 3,000 or 4,000 people," said evangelist Elie Kone from the Baptist church. "But this is not too serious -- our faith is above all inside us." Despite a government ban of gatherings of more than 100 people in Zimbabwe, worshippers flocked to Harare churches on Sunday. The Zimbabwe government stepped up its rhetoric to try and dissuade people, even going so far as to say that worshippers risked going to hell. "Let's be responsible. All of us will die. And then go to hell," government spokesman Nick Mangwana said on Twitter. burs-cl/del/har A 95-year-old has become the oldest known woman in Italy to recover from coronavirus. Alma Clara Corsini made a full recovery from Covid-19 without the need for antiviral treatment after her body showed a great reaction to the disease, doctors say. The grandmother was taken to hospital on 5 March after showing signs of the illness but has already returned to her home in Fanano, Modena, after a remarkable recovery. She told Gazzetta Di Modena from her hospital bed: Yes, yes, Im fine. They were good people who looked after me well. The Italian newspaper said Ms Corsini had been the pride of staff during her treatment at a hospital in Pavullo. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever or coughing. However, for some older adults and people with existing health problems it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. Italy, the epicentre of the virus in Europe, has had more than 59,000 cases of Covid-19 so far. The countrys death toll from the disease climbed by 651 to 5,476 on Sunday. The rise was down on Saturdays figure of 793, but Italy remains one of the worst affected countries in the world, with its death toll surpassing China's last week. The entire country has been in lockdown since 9 March with strict social distancing measures in place. The hardest-hit northern region of Lombardy has gone even further, banning any outdoor exercise not on personal property, including individual exercise, and setting distance limits on dog walking to stop people flouting the rules. Anyone caught breaking the restrictions will now face a fine of up to 5,000 euros (4,620). Metalworkers unions in the region have threatened to strike to protect the health of their members because a government decree temporarily shutting many businesses due to coronavirus has allowed too many to remain open. The three main unions, FIOM, FIM and UILM, said the list of companies that can continue working has been excessively extended, covering areas of dubious importance and allowing firms excessive discretion in applying for exemptions. The government decree, signed on Sunday, says all but essential businesses must close until 3 April, and sets out a long list of sectors deemed essential. Globally, there are now about more than 337,500 cases of coronavirus and more than 14,650 deaths related to it. More than 98,000 people have recovered so far, mostly in China where the outbreak began in the city of Wuhan, in Hubei. Additional reporting by agencies. " " Tomas de Torquemada, grand inquisitor of the Spanish Inquisition, is illustrated with King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella in 1478. Torquemada was extremely hostile toward Jews and likely influenced the issuance of the Edict of Expulsion. Stefano Bianchetti/Corbis via Getty Images The day before Christopher Columbus set sail for the New World (or whatever it was he was hoping to find), another ship carrying a heavy historical legacy left Spain. On Aug. 2, 1492, a ship of Sephardic Jews those living in and expelled from the Iberian Peninsula made its way out of Spanish waters. The ship held the last Jews legally allowed in Spain, after they endured a terrible forced exodus from their homes. On an episode of Stuff You Missed in History Class, hosts Holly Frey and Tracy Wilson tell the story of how King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile decided they would whisk away an entire ethnic minority from their kingdoms. Advertisement Predictably, this move was prompted mostly by stereotypes and fear. Many Catholics in Spain were resentful of Jewish moneylenders who charged interest on loans, and believed that Jews had killed Jesus. Jews were also scapegoats for conflict and disease, as is common for minority groups. They were accused, for instance, of starting the Black Death in Toledo, Spain, in the mid-14th century. So, Spain put a tighter leash on Jews in the country. They were required to live only in certain neighborhoods and wear a yellow badge to distinguish themselves, and they were forbidden from certain professions. Due to the stifling laws that guarded Jewish communities, many Jews had already converted to Christianity. But that only stoked the fire, as some Jews grew suspicious of those who had converted. Many Christians simply didn't believe that the conversos (the converted Jews) were truly Christian or had given up their Jewish religion. And the reasons people did convert and assimilate were complex. But the leash soon tightened even more. In March 1492 Ferdinand and Isabella issued the Edict of Expulsion, which was publicly announced on April 29. The decree allowed Jews to stay in Spain only if they converted to Christianity, basically limiting them to Catholicism, the dominant religion in Spain. If Jews chose not to convert, they had four months to leave the country or face execution by the Spanish Inquisition. The Jews who departed Spain anywhere from 100,000300,000 left couldn't take gold, silver or coins with them. They could sell their possessions to fund the journey, but they could only get letters of credit for the value of the items. Naturally, the ostracized population wasn't terribly well-off, so getting out of the country proved arduous. The reasons that Ferdinand and Isabella declared the expulsion are unclear. Listen to the podcast episode below to learn about the debate over why Ferdinand and Isabella chose to issue the edict, and what its impact was on Jews and Spain. Now That's Interesting Even the Jews who left Spain met hostility in neighboring countries. They were forced to leave Sicily in 1493, Florence in 1494, Portugal in 1497 and Provence in 1498. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Xinhua) Mon, March 23, 2020 20:04 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206ced2ad 2 News China,travel,destination,coronavirus,COVID-19,Hubei,World-Heritage-Site Free World heritage site, Mount Fanjing, in Southwest China's Guizhou province, exempted tickets for local medical workers aiding Hubei Province, the center of the coronavirus outbreak in the country, for a lifetime, sources with the scenic zone said. The tourist site has also made sightseeing buses and cableway services in the scenic area free for these medical workers, according to the developer of the site. A total of 1,443 medical workers of Guizhou province were sent to Hubei to help with the fight against the virus. Since Tuesday, Guizhou's medical teams have been departing Hubei as the outbreak has been subdued. Read also: Apple reopens all 42 China stores after virus closures Mount Fanjing was reopened on Feb 28. The tourist attraction has carried out strict epidemic prevention and control measures while resuming operation, including offering online ticket booking service, disinfecting public spaces and facilities, checking visitors' temperatures and masks. Boasting rich natural resources and high vegetation coverage, Mount Fanjing was listed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 2018. Guizhou's top-rated 420 tourist sites, including Mount Fanjing, are made ticket-free for medical workers across the country from the restart of operation to the end of this year. BERKELEY (BCN) A 52-year-old Richmond man was arrested Saturday in connection with a Friday homicide in Berkeley, police said Sunday. Members of the Berkeley Police Department's Special Response Team arrested Hosea Askew in Richmond, where he lives. Askew was wanted in connection with the shooting shortly after noon Friday of a man in his 20s shot and wounded near the corner of University Avenue and Chestnut Street, just east of San Pablo Avenue. Paramedics were unable to revive the victim at the scene, police said. ALSO: Gun store agrees to 'minimum operations' after call-out by Alameda Co. Sheriff Homicide detectives are continuing their investigation. Anyone with additional information about this crime is asked to call the Berkeley Police Department's Homicide Unit at (510) 981-5741. Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. (Natural News) After months of covering for Communist China as the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak turned into a pandemic, officials at the World Health Organization are beginning to panic because global health systems are collapsing under the weight of so many cases. Take one look at whats happening in some health systems around the world. Look at the intensive care units completely overwhelmed. Doctors and nurses utterly exhausted, Mike Ryan, executive director of the World Health Organizations emergencies program, said at a press briefing from the organizations Geneva headquarters. This is not normal. This isnt just a bad flu season. As reported by CNBC, more than a quarter of a million people around the world have been infected by the virus; more than 10,500 have died, as of this writing. And just last week, the WHO declared Europe to be the new epicenter for COVID-19, hitting Italy the hardest. Ryan said that more than 26 million healthcare workers could end up treating victims sickened by the virus. Whats more, there is a huge shortage of PPE personal protective equipment like masks, gloves, and gowns for them. And of course, the bulk of those items come from China, which is not fully recovered from the outbreak there and, thus, is not up to full production capacity. These are health systems that are collapsing under the pressure of too many cases, Ryan said, according to CNBC. Its safe to say that the supply chain is under huge pressure. The network reported further: As the virus has spread from China across the world, it has overwhelmed some countries. In Italy, the death toll is rising by the hundreds everyday as health officials struggle to increase the countrys health-care capacity. On Thursday, the number of people who have died from COVID-19 in Italy surpassed that of China. Thats a very large number Officials and leaders in the U.S. are scrambling to cope with an exploding number of coronavirus cases. Governors in New York, California, New Jersey and Illinois have issued stay-at-home orders for nearly everyone. Meanwhile, mayors of metropolises like San Francisco and New York City have similarly instructed people to self-quarantine, non-essential businesses to close or restrict their hours, and for people to avoid any large gatherings. U.S. leaders are also predicting that, based on the rapidly expanding numbers of sick nearly 20,000 in the U.S., as of this writing, with 250 deaths and 147 recoveries they will also run short of hospital beds to treat those who are in critical shape. Right now, in New York specifically, the rate of the curve suggests that in 45 days we could have up to an input of people who need 110,000 beds that compares to our current capacity of 53,000 beds, 37,000 ICU units, ventilators, which compares to a capacity currently of 3,000 ventilators, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Friday, according to CNBC. Natural News founder Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, reported Friday that California Gov. Gavin Newsom warned that 25 million Americans could become infected within a two-month period, which could then lead to hundreds of thousands of deaths. We did some math on this projection, and we concluded the Governor likely believes the number of infections doubles each week, which means this is 8 doublings, or 2 ^ 8, which is 256. If you divide 25.5 million by 256, you get the number of Californians the Governor believes are infected right now, Adams wrote. That number is nearly 100,000, he added. Thats a very large number, he wrote, considering the number of known cases at present. In short, as the global health systems begin to fail, theres no reason to believe that cant happen in the United States under the weight of coronavirus. Sources include: NaturalNews.com CNBC.com From the elderly Italian woman who routinely lines up the glasses of water she sets herself to drink every day, to the British composer leading a virtual orchestra, life for Europeans under coronavirus lockdown is an uncharted mix of resilience and creativity. Hundreds of millions of people have suddenly undergone the biggest change to daily life since World War II as governments order them to stay at home in a bid to beat the disease. Amid disaster movie-like scenes of deserted streets, the main challenge for many is simply keeping up their spirits despite the boredom and isolation of being confined at home. Whether it's having evening drinks on video phone, chatting to neighbours through open windows, or joining in mass sing-alongs and applause, staying connected with the outside world is key. - ROME - Carla Basagni, 86, a retired artist living in Rome's Trastevere neighbourhood, has made herself a routine to get through the days alone. "Since I can't go out, I do gymnastic exercises in my house. I drink at least five times a day: I've got five glasses of water lined up in my kitchen so I don't forget!" she told AFP. But she added that she drinks "only a little wine, even if I love it!" In Italy, which rolled out new restrictions at the weekend after becoming the new epicentre of the disease, people need a special personal declaration to leave the house confirming that it's for work, grocery shopping or a critical reason such as health. Anyone caught breaching the lockdown risks three months in prison and a 206-euro ($220) fine. Stuck in her house for nearly 24 hours a day, Basagni says that she cooks "nice little meals, I read, and sometimes I lie down for a little sleep on my sofa or on my bed." - MADRID - Paula Perez, a 19-year-old medical student who lives in a Madrid apartment with her mother, said she was "very moved" the first time she heard the applause for health workers. In their little 50-square-metre (538-square-foot) apartment, they follow the same ritual every evening: at 8:00 pm, after the applause, neighbours speak to one another out of their windows. "Our neighbour above works in a hospital and tells us what's happening," said Perez. Spaniards are under strict lockdown and can only leave home to work if they can't do so at home, buy medicines or food, or to briefly walk the dog. Madrid's usually crowded streets are now practically empty. Instead, people play music from their balconies or have lottery parties with their neighbours, shouting out numbers from one window to the other. Perez's mother Maria Jimenez, 48, an agricultural engineer, works remotely from a table in the front room after all her work visits were cancelled. She speaks every day to her elderly parents in a village in the southern region of Andalucia, while worrying about her siblings, some of whom work in health or for the police. She adds that sometimes she feels "guilty" of being "useless". "I read the newspapers on the internet, we watch the TV news over dinner," adds Perez, "but I don't want to think about the epidemic all day: that makes me anxious." - PARIS - Baptiste Saude, a freelance documentary director in his 30s who lives in Paris, says that the "most difficult thing is the absence of any social life". Normally he would play sport or see friends in the evening, but since the lockdown he's been experimenting with a "Skype apero" -- an evening drink via video call -- with other locked down friends. France last week adopted similar rules to Italy and Spain except that going out for some "physical activity" is allowed. Violators face a fine of 135 euros. Saude says he, at least, has previous experience of being under lockdown while he was in the French military on a base in Mali. He's also helping elderly people in his neighbourhood by calling them for a chat, for example 84-year-old Odile, whom he helps to record herself doing scales for a remote piano lesson. - LONDON - Ben Morales Frost, a composer based in southeast London, is using his self-enforced quarantine to spearhead a global music initiative called "lockdown orchestra". He said that for most musicians "suddenly, the rug's been pulled from underneath them". "So I thought it'd be quite nice to set up a virtual orchestra," he added. Britain has implemented a less stringent shutdown compared to its European neighbours, but last week ramped up its response, closing schools and then ordering all cafes, pubs and restaurants to close until further notice. Following an appeal to musicians shuttered in their homes around the world, Frost has recruited more than 500 -- enough to staff seven full-size orchestras -- on six continents to collaborate on a piece of music he recently wrote. They will send him clips that he'll then edit together with a remote team, before the virtual concert goes on YouTube on Friday. "It's gone nuts actually -- I did not expect that at all." burs-dk/kjm Daily life under coronavirus lockdown has revealed uncharted resilience and creativity among Europeans In Spain people play music from their balconies after strict lockdown measures were brought in to battle the spread of the coronavirus STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- About six weeks ago, Tony Giordano, 71, went outside of his Westerleigh home after a wind storm to find branches from the oak tree strewn as far as three houses away with one branch stuck in the ground like a javelin. It had to be over 150 pounds of wood, said Giordano, who loves on Waters Avenue. After Giordano reported the tree to the Parks Department in early February, he was told on two separate occasions by members of the agency that the tree was hazardous, with dead limbs threatening to fall. Then you realize how dangerous it was, he told an Advance/SiLive.com reporter during a phone interview on Sunday. However, what Giordano thought would be an easy fix turned into a far-more tedious process. I thought it was a fairly simple thing, he said of having the tree pruned or removed. Parks Department employees responded to the tree, said Charisse Hill, a city Parks press officer. But it was deemed that the tree first had to be pruned by Con Edison since it was surrounding power lines. Crews from the Parks Department do not prune trees that are entangled in electrical wires due to safety concerns around the high voltage power lines. Giordano continued his effort to have the tree safely managed out of concern for passersby. He even applied a warning to the tree. Tony Giordano, 71, a Westerleigh resident, said a large tree outside his home was deemed dangerous by the Parks Department. (Photo courtesy of Tony Giordano) Philip OBrien, a Con Edison spokesman, said licensed arborists removed three large sections of the tree surrounding the companys utility lines, adding, safety is always our number-one priority. About a week after Con Edison responded to the tree around mid-March pruners from the Parks Department returned, but left shortly afterwards, Giordano said. Giordano called the Parks Department and was told the utility company did not prune enough. While Giordano was told the Parks Department would contact Con Edison regarding a follow-up on March 18, OBrien said Con Edison is not aware of any follow-up from Parks saying its not adequate. Theres real miscommunication here, Giordano said, who admitted that he and his family love this tree" a Scarlet Oak, according to Parks Department data and will miss it greatly. After being contacted by an Advance/SiLive.com reporter about the agencys response to the tree, a Parks Department spokeswoman said the agency will re-inspect the tree this Monday to determine the best course of action for removal. A Con Edison spokesman said the company will contact the boroughs forester on Monday to assess the appropriate action moving forward. I dont mind this game, how often will I need a city tree taken down? Giordano said, But this is very dangerous not only to me but to my neighbors, to pedestrians and passing traffic." One of the dead branches stretches across our street to the opposite sidewalk the limb is very obviously dead and must weigh hundreds of pounds, he said. To make immediate pruning requests, the tree service request system can be accessed by calling 311 for conditions including damaged or dead limbs, interference with traffic signs or signals, broken hanging limbs, and street and sidewalk blockages. AIADMK ally PMK on Monday demanded the Tamil Nadu government follow other southern states in providing cash and other necessary assistance to people as a result of hardships faced due to the outbreak of novel coronavirus including loss of livelihood. Pattali Makkal Katchi chief S Ramadoss cited the examples of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Telanagana to urge the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu to extend assistance to people. While Kerala has earmarked Rs 20,000 crore to be utilised for various purposes including provision of free ration items, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have proposed cash assistance among others to the needy while announcing a lockdown of the respective states till March 31. Similarly, in Tamil Nadu too, additional quantity of rice besides other food items should be provided to people, Ramadoss said in a statement. Daily wage labourers in the construction and transport sectors have been hit hard due to various curbs following the virus outbreak and therefore the government must immediately provide them with a cash assistance of Rs 3,000 and extend it to every week in April if the situation persisted, he added. Tax sops for SMEs and a six-month moratorium on EMIs on various loans were the other demands of Ramadoss. Meanwhile, AMMK leader T T V Dhinakaran urged the government to postpone the exams to Classes XI and XII in the state. The indpendent MLA also demanded for paid leave to private sector employees and government's cash assistance to those in the unorganised sector. He also demanded that the government impose a three- week curfew to handle the situation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rep Ilhan Omar (D-MN) takes part in a discussion on "Impacts of Phobia in Our Civic and Political Discourse" during the Muslim Caucus Education Collective's conference in Washington, July 23, 2019. Democratic Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts introduced legislation on Monday that would suspend student loan payments and forgive $30,000 in debt for borrowers during the coronavirus outbreak. The bill, called the Student Debt Relief Act, would also prevent the government from seizing the wages and Social Security checks of defaulted borrowers. There are now dozens of members of Congress who believe the global health crisis, and the way it has brought the economy to a near halt, has made student debt cancellation necessary. "During this public health emergency, no person should have to choose between paying their student loan payment, putting food on the table or keeping themselves and their families safe and healthy," the lawmakers wrote in a statement. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., proposed last week that the federal government forgive $10,000 of student debt for each borrower. The Trump administration and Senate Republicans have come out with more modest proposals. ZAGREB, Croatia A strong earthquake in Croatia on Sunday caused panic, the evacuation of hospitals and widespread damage including to the capitals iconic cathedral all amid a partial coronavirus lockdown. A 15-year-old was reported to be in critical condition and 16 others were injured, authorities said. The European seismological agency, EMSC, said the earthquake measured 5.3 and struck a wide area north of the capital, Zagreb, at 6:23 a.m. (0523 GMT) Sunday. The epicenter was seven kilometers (four miles) north of Zagreb at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles). Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said the earthquake was the biggest in Zagreb in the last 140 years. Many buildings in the capital cracked and walls and rooftops were damaged. Downtown streets were littered with debris. Concrete slabs fell on cars and chimneys landed in front of entrances. Footage from the scene showed mothers dressed in nightgowns hugging their newborn babies in a parking lot as they evacuated a damaged maternity hospital amid freezing temperatures. The women, newborn babies and incubators were being moved to a new location with the help of the army. Zagrebs iconic cathedral was also damaged, with the top of one of its two spires collapsing. The cathedral was rebuilt after it toppled in the 1880 earthquake. Power was cut as people ran out of their homes. Several fires were also reported. At least two other temblors were recorded later. Residents shared photos of belongings falling off shelves, broken bottles and glass inside homes. Officials first said a 15-year-old was killed, but doctors later said that she was in critical condition and that they were fighting to save her life. They gave no immediate details on the extent of other injuries. The earthquake struck amid a partial lockdown of the capital because of the spread of the coronavirus. People were told to avoid public areas, such as parks and public squares, but had little choice as they fled their residences. Up to five people are allowed to be together while keeping a distance. Health Minister Vili Beros warned people to keep a two-meter (around seven-foot) social distance as requested by decrees passed by the government in an attempt to prevent the spread of COVID-19. There are 235 coronavirus cases confirmed so far in Croatia. Earthquakes are dangerous, but coronavirus is even more so, Beros said, as people rushed out of their homes to congregate in city parks. Some of Zagreb residents disagreed. Earthquakes are more important than the coronavirus. If the earthquake hits, and you are under a door, you worry about yourself first and then the mask later, Paul, a man from Peru who lives in Zagreb, told a local TV station. He gave only his first name. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever or coughing. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. Some 93,800 people have recovered, mostly in China. Plenkovic, the prime minister, urged citizens to remain calm and stay outside their homes in the central parts of Zagreb, which sustained the most damage. We have two parallel crisis that contradict each other, Plenkovic said after an emergency meeting of Croatias top officials. Croatian soldiers wearing masks and carrying shovels could be seen helping efforts to clear the damage on the streets of Zagreb. Top officials toured the damaged areas as some citizens criticized city authorities over the poor states of buildings in the old part of the city, some of which date back to the 19th century. We will try to clear the streets as soon as possible, the prime minister said. Stay outside your homes and keep distance. Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic said the situation was complicated by the restrictive virus-related measures in place. There are rules for when there is an earthquake, but when there is an earthquake at the same time when there is a global pandemic, then its a much more complex situation, Bozinovic told the state HINA news agency. Associated Press writers Dusan Stojanovic and Jovana Gec in Belgrade, Serbia, contributed to this report. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Latest Headlines Put RTA reform proposals on ice Now is not the time for the Government to push through its proposed tenancy law reforms, property market players say. Monday, March 23rd 2020, 12:10PM by Miriam Bell REINZ has today called for the proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill to be put on hold while the country deals with the effects of COVID-19. The call comes after the Reserve Bank announced last week that it is slowing down its regulatory initiatives for an initial period of six months. Likewise, the Financial Markets Authority has said it will be providing regulatory relief to market participants to give them an additional two months to provide their audited financial statements. REINZ chief executive Bindi Norwell says that thousands of people around the country are having extremely difficult conversations with their employers as to whether they still have a job or not. While there is a financial support package available to businesses, the reality is that this is going to impact peoples ability to pay their rent, she says. It is likely to lead to more difficult conversations with property managers and landlords. In some cases, this will lead to landlords having difficult conversations with their bank around mortgage repayments. While the country works through what its new normal looks like, REINZ is calling on the Government to take this into consideration and put the proposed tenancy law reforms on hold, Norwell says. Over the past few years, landlords and property managers have had to deal with extensive changes in legislation from asbestos, to a ban on letting fees through to insulation. In fact, there have been more regulatory changes for the property industry in the last few years than there were in the previous five years. Norwell says that this is why there should be more of a keep calm approach while everyone adjusts to the effects of COVID-19 particularly as there has been so much opposition to some of the proposals (ie: the 90-day notice rule). Tenancies War spokesman Mike Butler agrees. He says the Government should not push through its radical changes to tenancy law under the cover of the Covid-19 scare. Not only do the measures penalise New Zealands 290,000 private landlords, many of whom might consequently sell, but they will immediately make it tougher for around one million renters." Thats because fewer private rental properties will increase demand and raise rents further and it will be harder for tenants with a tarnished credit or rental history to get a private rental property. The Government should put the legislation on hold but, in the meantime, it is critical for landlords to speak out, Butler says. Meanwhile, the New Zealand Property Investors Federations petition calling for the RTA to remain unchanged is still up and running. NZPIF executive officer Sharon Cullwick is urging anybody concerned about the proposed reforms to sign the petition here. Submissions on the Bill close at midnight this Wednesday 25 March and the NZPIF, REINZ, property investor associations around New Zealand and the Tenancies War group are all encouraging as many people/organisations as possible to make a submission. It is possible to make a submission on the Bill here. And the full content of the Bill can be read here. Read more: On the brink of a crisis Battle against RTA reforms continues Special Offers Comments from our readers No comments yet Sign In to add your comment Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 17:08:39|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Yang Meiyan works on the farm near a relocated community in Rongshui Miao Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, March 13, 2020. In 2010, Yang Meiyan set up a farm in Rongshui to raise pigs and plant fruits. At present, 140 mu (9 hectares) of fruit trees are planted on the farm and more than 3,000 pigs are put on the market every year. Most of the 20 workers employed by Yang Meiyan are poor women who were relocated to the county. Rongshui Miao Autonomous County is a deeply impoverished county in Guangxi and a key county in the national poverty alleviation and development work. It is also a major labor export county. Working outside is the main approach for many poor families to increase their income. In recent years, with the deepening of poverty alleviation and rural revitalization, many women who worked in other places have returned to their hometowns and used their learned skills to start their own businesses. Up to now, more than 1,300 women have returned to Rongshui to start their own businesses including running farms, homestays, restaurants, agricultural cooperatives, etc. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang) People renting beach houses in counties that have blocked visitor access to North Carolinas Outer Banks because of the new coronavirus should get their money refunded, a state panel says. The North Carolina Real Estate Commission ruled on Thursday that state law sides with tenants in this situation, The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk, Virginia, reported. Dare and Currituck counties have approved orders preventing visitors and non-resident property owners from entering the Outer Banks. And Hyde County has blocked visitor access to Ocracoke Island. Landlords who wont refund money are open to a lawsuit, according to the commission. Monica Thibodeau, the owner of Carolina Designs Realty in Duck, said social media and phone calls have been mixed about the visitor prohibitions. The company manages vacation rentals for owners for a fee. Thibodeaus company plans to give people refunds, or reschedule the rental to a later date if theres agreement. Were trying to keep everybody happy as possible, said Thibodeau, a member of Ducks town council. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics North Carolina Bexar County commissioners will meet at 10 a.m. Tuesday to consider creating loan and grant programs to help small businesses that have been hurt by the coronavirus pandemic, and will take action on other issues unrelated to the health crisis on a short agenda. The Bexar County Commissioners Court will consider approval of a grant and interest-free loan agreement with LiftFund, a 26-year-old nonprofit based in San Antonio, for two programs to issue a total of $5,250,000 in loans and grants over four years. The programs are intended to stimulate and encourage business and commercial activity, promote Bexar County and increase job opportunities during this difficult time, according to a county memo. On ExpressNews.com: County emergency order sets price control, fines for violators Under the Bexar County COVID-19 Loan Program, the county would make a $5 million investment for loans up to $25,000 to small businesses, which could defer principal payments for up to four months. The county also would award a $250,000 grant for LiftFund to provide one-time $5,000 economic development grants for micro businesses with five or fewer employees that have suffered financial losses from the pandemic. Finally, the county would provide a $400,000 grant in four annual $100,000 installments to LiftFund to administer the loan and grant programs. Seating at Tuesdays meeting will be limited, with chairs spaced at least 6 feet apart. Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff signed an order last week that caps the number of people in an enclosed space at 10. The meeting will be held in the Double-Height Courtroom in the Bexar County Courthouse, which under normal circumstances has seating capacity for about 170, with 50 additional seats in the balcony. As usual, the meeting will be live-streamed on the county website, bexar.org. On ExpressNews.com: County retains medical expert on coronavirus Monica Ramos, Bexar County public information officer, said the county wants to facilitate access to the meeting while maintaining distance between individuals for health reasons. Residents and county staff members will be able to hear audio of the meeting in the hallway and enter the courtroom when their item comes up for discussion or presentation. Ramos said the county is developing ways for residents to send statements or to call in with comments by phone during the public comment portion of commissioners meetings while the health restrictions remain in place. Scott Huddleston covers Bexar County government and the Alamo for the San Antonio Express-News. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | shuddleston@express-news.net | Twitter: @shuddlestonSA Farming Out Work Emmanuel Ansah-Amprofi didnt plan to be a farmer. He was content practicing immigration law - until he stumbled on an insight that stunned him. He learned that the onions sold in his local market were imported. It bothered him: How can we have all this land, good weather, water, and still import onions? he wondered. At home, he googled how difficult is it to farm? - the search query that launched him into agriprenuership". Today, Emmanuel is the CEO and Founder of Tro Tro Tractor. It is essentially an Uber for tractors that allows farmers to use their phones to rent sharable tractors. Tro Tro Tractor is putting people to work, helping farmers cut costs, and enabling consumers to get more value for their money. Emmanuels story has been told across the world. It is inspiring because it represents what is possible when young people are equipped to see the latent potential around them and turn it into opportunity - especially on a continent whose greatest asset is its young people. Africa is home to the largest population of young people in the world - and it is only growing. Whether and how these young people plug into the economy will determine the future of the continent. Securing dignified work for young women and men is Africas defining challenge - and opportunity. The burning question for policymakers is: how do we unlock the opportunity? "There is no silver bullet; it will take bold action and multi-sectoral partnerships and investments. Under the banner of an ambitious new strategy, Mastercard Foundation is forging those partnerships and underwriting those investments. In the challenge of youth unemployment, the Foundation sees an opportunity to transform the continent and the world, says Mastercard Foundation President and CEO Reeta Roy. Developed in consultation with young people, policymakers, educators, and entrepreneurs, The Young Africa Works strategy aims to extend dignified work to 30 million young people in Africa - including 21 million young women - over the next 10 years. Across the continent, one of the key sectors of focus is agriculture, which by some estimates has the potential to reduce poverty by nearly twice as much as even the most promising alternative sectors. Young Ghana Working In Ghana, Mastercard Foundation aims to see three million young women and men access work opportunities by: Supporting small enterprises through business development services, access to finance, and access to markets to encourage their growth and expansion; Enabling young people to acquire skills that are needed by employers in growing sectors of the economy; Strengthening the quality of education to prepare students for the future of work; and Scaling digital training and enhancing technology-focused work opportunities. To effect Young Africa Works in Ghana, the Foundation has established an in-country office in Accra. They will focus on a number of sectors, with a special emphasis on opportunities that impactfully leverage new technology to address a range of challenges. As Nathalie Akon Gabala, Mastercard Foundations Regional Head for Western, Central and Northern Africa, and Country Head in Ghana says, technology is changing the nature of work in Africa, with the potential to create significant growth and work opportunities. They have already started. Solar Taxi, one of the enterprises that the Foundation supports, is an example of an innovative business that is solving multiple challenges and creating work in the process. The initiative provides a solar-powered transportation service to the city. In six months, Solar Taxi successfully completed more than 200 rides and deliveries across Accra. During its pilot phase, the program created 24 jobs - half of which absorbed previously unemployed individuals. In Ghana, Mastercard Foundation is implementing its strategy through partnerships with the National Board for Small Scale Industries; CAMFED; Ghana Tech Lab; and Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology - and they expect more partnerships to follow. The Foundation also intends to leverage an existing network of hubs across Ghana to conveniently deliver entrepreneurship and digital skills training, and business development services, to youth and at scale. Mastercard Foundation Background Since 2009, Mastercard Foundation has invested more than USD 200 million in programs that have impacted the lives of more than nine million Ghanaians. The Foundations partnerships with CAMFED, Ashesi University, and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have enabled young women and men to access secondary and tertiary education, and entrepreneurship opportunities. Programs under the Foundations Youth Forward initiative such as Youth Inclusive Entrepreneurial Development Initiative for Employment (YIEDIE) and MASO are improving the capacity of young people in Ghana to be connected to jobs, grow their businesses, and access finance to expand opportunities available to them in the construction and agricultural sectors. Mastercard Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the world. Through its Young Africa Works strategy and Canadian EleV program, the Foundation works with partners to ensure young people, especially young women, access quality education, financial services, and dignified work. The Foundation was established in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company. The Foundation is independent with its own Board of Directors and CEO. For more information, visit http://www.mastercardfdn.org/ Follow Mastercard Foundation on Twitter @MastercardFdn The novel coronavirus is now a worldwide outbreak. The World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the spreading of the virus to be a pandemic. In other words, all of the public health systems throughout the world are now dealing with the outbreak (or at least, expecting one). There is no vaccination available yet, and scientists are still studying how the virus behaves in specific environments. However, experts note that it is crucial to remain calm and conscious about our daily habits to protect ourselves, families, friends and others. What are People Doing for Protection? Currently, people are doing everything they can to protect themselves. This includes avoiding big crowds, public transportation, and handshaking. People must wash their hands consistently. These are all real-life measures suggested by WHO and other public health bodies. These measures can make a significant impact when it comes to coronavirus prevention. The use of hygienic masks is one way to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Since the outbreak of the virus, hygienic masks are among the most sought medical accessories in the U.S. and the rest of the world. Masks are now in such high demand that there has been a black market developed in Italy where a group of scammers has been arrested for trying, and almost succeeding, to sell overpriced masks illegally. Do Hygienic Masks Really Help? The World Health Organization recommends wearing a mask if you are showing symptoms or caring for a sick person only. Photo by Anastasiia Chepinska on Unsplash Because the virus can be transmitted so quickly, it is no wonder that people want to get protection. Buying and wearing a hygienic mask is probably among the first solutions for most people. However, the truth is that these masks offer little to almost no protection at all. The World Health Organization has repeatedly asked people to refrain from excessive buying of masks. The market has seen an incredible price surge, which makes it much harder to buy masks for those who really need it: healthcare workers. According to experts, the buying rate of hygienic masks actually does more harm than good in the long run. The WHO issued several instructions regarding the use of hygienic masks. First of all, it makes sense to wear them if you are a person treating or taking care of a person that has been infected or is under the suspicion of being infected. Also, you should wear a mask if you are showing symptoms like coughing or sneezing, regardless if they represent the symptoms of the regular flu, cold, or the coronavirus. Wearing masks can be effective only if combined with frequent hand washing and using hand sanitizer. Hygienic masks will not give you the proper protection unless you take other precaution measures. For full instruction on how and when to use hygienic masks, you can visit the official instructions from the World Health Organization here. Three students of Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIM-B), who were stuck in France where they had gone on an exchange programme, have returned to India. India has a total of 415 reported cases of COVID-19 so far. In France, there have been 14.485 positive COVID-19 cases till now. Due to the rise in the number of cases, the aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation prohibited the travel of passengers from European Union countries, Turkey and the United Kingdom to India with effect from March 18. In a media statement, IIM-B said that all the three students - Anshul, Khushbu and Gagan Saiprasad - who were returning from an exchange programme had faced tense moments when Air France cancelled the Paris-New Delhi flight, and they were stuck at Charles De Gaulle (CDG) airport. The institute said that once the students reached out, IIM-B resources started providing support. The Indian Embassy in Paris, which was contacted, provided reassurance to the students. Coronavirus LIVE updates COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show IIM-B arranged for their tickets from CDG on an alternative flight and ensured their speedy return. They landed in Mumbai around 3 pm on Saturday and are now on their way to their respective homes. Home quarantine has been advised, said the institute. Across India, educational institute campuses have temporarily suspended classes to prevent the COVID-19 infection from spreading. Online classes have replaced the daily lectures. Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein on Monday directed the officers of the planning and finance department to clear all files of the health department without any delay so that necessary measures in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak can be taken. Mein, who also holds the planning and finance portfolio, convened an emergency meeting to take stock of the situation. He assured providing all kinds of support to the health department to carry out activities to prevent an outbreak in the state. Mein said that participation of every people in the community-based measures and close monitoring of the situation to mitigate the spread of coronavirus are very crucial. He appealed to the people not to panic during the lockdown period and follow the instruction of the state government. Health and Family Welfare Minister Alo Libang, who was also present in the meeting, said that the state government is taking every possible preventive measure to tackle the emerging situation. The doctors, nurses and all health workers are working round the clock to monitor the situation in the state, he added. Home Minister Bamang Felix assured providing assistance to the health department to create awareness among the masses. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) F oreign Secretary Dominic Raab would stand in as prime minister if Boris Johnson became unwell, his spokesman has said. As the UK coronavirus outbreak continues to grow, the Prime Minister's spokesman confirmed that the Foreign Secretary would step in if necessary if Mr Johnson fell ill. The spokesman said: "The Prime Minister is well... the Foreign Secretary is the First Secretary of State." If Mr Raab was also ill, the Prime Minister has the power to delegate responsibility to any of his ministers, the spokesman added. Reports over the weekend suggested a number of ministers were jockeying for the post of stand-in prime minister. Boris Johnson speaking in Downing Street / PA It comes as the Government continues to battle the coronavirus outbreak, with 5,683 cases of Covid-19 now being confirmed in the UK. Mr Johnson has no symptoms of the virus and Mr Raab has tested negative twice after developing a cough. Members of Boris Johnson's Cabinet will steer clear of Downing Street in order to comply with social distancing measures, the Prime Minister's spokesman added. He said Tuesday's Cabinet meeting will see a "very significant" number of ministers taking part remotely. "I would expect that now and for the foreseeable future a very significant number of Cabinet ministers will take part by dialling in or via video conferencing," the spokesman said. The Government will also ramp up its public information campaign, Downing Street said. "We have been conducting an extensive public information campaign on social distancing measures," the Prime Minister's spokesman said. B oris Johnson is facing growing calls to order a widespread lockdown after thousands of people ignored calls for social distancing at the weekend. Crowds flcoked to markets, beaches, parks and other beauty spots despite calls for people not to gather in large numbers in a drive to slow the spread of Covid-19. Conservative former Cabinet minister Julian Smith said he would support any measure the Government brought forward to force people to comply with the guidance. For Labour, shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said ministers should be making immediate preparations for the next stage while learning from other European nations. The calls came as an 18-year-old was thought to have become the youngest victim of the virus in Britain as the number of deaths in the UK rose to 281. Loading.... There are growing fears that Britain is on a similar trajectory to Italy scene of the worlds worst outbreak where the death toll passed 5,000 over the weekend. Mr Johnson warned that the NHS could be overwhelmed in the same way as the Italian healthcare system has been, if the the spread of the virus in the UK is not curbed. But at his daily No 10 press conference on Sunday, Mr Johnson indicated he was reluctant to ban people from going outside for a walk or to exercise because of the physical and mental health benefits, as long as they acted responsibly. Mr Smith, the former Northern Ireland secretary, said: Many people have recklessly ignored government advice this weekend. I will support any measure the Government needs to force people to follow the guidelines designed to protect NHS staff and UK citizens lives. For Labour, Mr Ashworth said: We urge the Government to make immediate preparations for the next stage and learn lessons from other European nations. If voluntary social distancing measures are not adhered to, the Government must bring forward their plans for stronger action. While people were heading to open spaces, there were signs that city and town centres were closing down with McDonalds, John Lewis, Primark and Timpson among the high street chains to announce they were closing their doors. Loading.... The Government said it would ensure those without families and friends to support them would continue to receive food and medicines, with the military helping to organise deliveries. Schools across the country will be opening their gates only to the children of key workers considered essential to the running of the country, with apparent confusion over how many will be admitted. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson appealed to parents to keep their children at home unless their job is critical in the response to the coronavirus. This will help to halt the spread of the virus, protect the NHS and save lives, he said. General insurers saw an improvement in their incurred claim ratio, from 94 per cent in 2017-18 to 91 per cent in to better pricing and claim management. In 2016-17, the ratio for the industry was 105.6 per cent. The incurred claim ratio represents the total claims paid from the net premiums collected during the year. Premiums received versus claims paid A claim ratio of over 100 per cent indicates that a company is paying out more towards claims than the amount of premiums it earns, which can adversely impact its viability. A ratio of less than 100 per cent implies that the business is profitable. I believe an incurred claim ratio of between 60 and 90 per cent is optimal because it suggests that the insurance is viable, yet not overly profitable for insurers, says Kapil Mehta, Co-founder, Securenow.in. The government business segment which now includes the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (PMJAY) has seen the sharpest improvement, from 115 percent in 2017-18 to 90 per cent in 2018-19, as per the handbook of Indian insurance statistics 2018-19 released by the Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). This is due to better claim management and price corrections (increase in premiums) during the financial year, says Sanjay Datta, Chief, Underwriting, Claims and Insurance Reinsurance, ICICI Lombard. While the PMJAY was rolled out in September 2018, only a few insurers, including Apollo Munich (now merged with HDFC ERGO) and Bajaj Allianz, have participated in the scheme, as states have largely preferred the trust model. In this model, insurers are not involved. Instead, claims are paid out of a pool created using contributions from central and state government contributions. Group business declines for private insurers However, the private sector slipped in the group business (non-government), with the incurred claim ratio increasing from 85 per cent in 2017-18 to 91 per cent in 2018-19. Stiffer competition has made pricing challenging. The premiums were lower during the year, explained Datta. Overall, though, improvement in public and standalone insurers numbers meant that the consolidated industry posted a better picture from 107 per cent in 2017-18 to 105 per cent in 2018-19. While the public sectors incurred claim ratio improved marginally from 116 per cent to 115 per cent, standalone insurers posted a sharper improvement, from 85 per cent to 78 per cent. The individual business continues to be largely stable. Retail continues to be a profitable segment for the industry, Datta. The individual (other than family floater) segments incurred claim ratio for the industry remained unchanged at 73 per cent. The family floater segment showed a nominal deterioration from 70 per cent to 71 per cent though public sector insurers saw their incurred claim ratio worsen from 87 per cent to 92 per cent. This could be largely because of a higher proportion of policyholders from the older age-groups in their portfolio, says Mahavir Chopra, an independent insurance consultant. Older individuals health status increases the chances of higher and more frequent claims. While the ratio is an important metric for the industry, how should policyholders view it? Individual policyholders should not make a simplified judgement about the insurer based on the incurred claim ratio. These are complex ratios based on the age of the insurer, kind of plans, demography the insurer caters to, and whether the insurer has a large proportion of ageing population in its portfolio, says Chopra. You can, however, keep track of the rise in the incurred claim ratio to figure out whether the insurer will hike premiums in the future. A very high ICR can hint at an upcoming hike in insurance premiums, especially for senior citizens, says Chopra. Incurred claim ratio need not be a determining parameter, but can be a guiding factor. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, March 23, 2020 19:11 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206cec575 1 National coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-bali,lockdown,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,COVID-19-lockdown,Bali-tourism,foreign-tourists,tourists Free Hundreds of foreign nationals have packed immigration offices in Bali in recent weeks, requesting to extend their visas as their home countries lock down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Bali branch of the Law and Human Rights Ministry, at least 1,830 foreigners have applied for a so-called emergency stay permit at immigration offices on the resort island since February. "They were registered at the immigration offices of Badung, Denpasar and Singaraja," the office's spokesperson, I Putu Surya Dharma, said on Monday as quoted by kompas.com. He said up to 80 percent of the foreigners were Chinese nationals. The rest came from Britain, Italy, the United States, and Germany, among other countries. As Jakarta enters a state of emergency after recording more than 350 COVID-19 cases, Bali, a hot spot for international tourists, has reported only six cases, all of which authorities said originated outside the island. The first case was that of a British tourist referred to as Case 25, who died at Sanglah Hospital and was only known to have COVID-19 after her death. The second case was a foreign tourist from France, while the third and fourth cases were Balinese who had just returned from Italy and Jakarta, respectively. Udayana University virologist Gusti Ngurah Mahardika said the low number of cases in Bali was "scientifically odd". If we look at the pattern of the disease, it is impossible [for Bali] not to have any local transmissions at this stage, as it is impossible for infected patients not to have had direct contact with other people while in Bali, he said. Before the government announced the countrys first cases in early March, Bali was the first region in Indonesia to have been linked to a number of cases affecting foreigners. A week before Jokowis announcement, New Zealand confirmed its first coronavirus case of a female citizen in her 60s who had traveled from Tehran to Auckland via Bali. A Chinese national identified as Jin reportedly visited Bali in late January and tested positive for COVID-19 days after returning to his home country. As of Monday afternoon, Indonesia has announced 579 COVID-19 cases nationwide, with 49 deaths. (vny) The global blue light therapy market is expected to reach USD 337.1 Million by 2027, according to a new report by Reports and Data. Blue light therapy makes use of blue light to treat specific conditions or disorders that may or may not be related to skin and is recognized as a pain-free procedure. Growing prevalence of acne is likely to boost market demand in the forecast period. Blue light therapy is a kind of noninvasive treatment for acne vulgaris where blue light is deployed to destroy specific acne-causing bacteria on the skin. As per the American Academy of Dermatology, light therapies have proved to be promising in treating acne, and numerous individuals have observed a considerable betterment in the health of their skin after several sessions. It may be implemented to treat conditions that have already occurred on the skin or to control the condition before an acne outbreak occurs. Request free sample Copy of this research report to Understand the structure of the complete report@ https://www.reportsanddata.com/sample-enquiry-form/2490 Increasing prevalence of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is estimated to drive the growth of the market in the upcoming years. Narrow-band blue light is equally effective as bright white-light for treating SAD, a form of depression associated with seasonal changes. As per the American Psychiatric Association, in the U.S. every year approximately 5.0% of adults suffer from this disorder, which can last for nearly 40% of the year. Women have a higher tendency to get affected by SAD as compared to men, and younger people are more likely to get affected than older ones. Additionally, risk factors for SAD, other than the ones mentioned above, comprise a family history of SAD or some kind of depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder, among others. Further key findings from the report suggest By product type, light box contributed to the largest market share in 2018 and is likely to grow at a rate of 4.5% in the forecast period. Blue light therapy is generally carried out using a box of fluorescent lights, which aids in treating various types of depression, sleep disorders, and other conditions related to skin. By application, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) held the largest market share in 2018 and is likely to grow at a rate of 5.0% in the forecast period. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a kind of depression that is associated with seasonal changes. SAD occurs at nearly the same time each year, and its treatment may comprise blue light therapy, among other methods. By end-users, home care settings are likely to grow at the highest rate in the forecast period. The market in North America contributed to the largest market share in 2018 and is estimated to witness a growth rate of 4.3% in the forecast period. The market dominance is owing to the higher acceptance of advanced technologies, well-established healthcare facilities, and surging incidence of target conditions, among others. Key participants include Philps Koninklijke NV, Sphere Gadget Technologies, Aura Daylight, North Light Technologies, Veriflux Inc., Nature Bright, Klarstein, Zepter International, PhotoMedex, and Beurer, among others. Order Your Copy Now (Customized report delivered as per your specific requirement)@ https://www.reportsanddata.com/checkout-form/2490 For the purpose of this report, Reports and Data have segmented the global blue light therapy market on the basis of product type, application, end-users, and region: Product Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2016-2027) Light Box Floor & Desk Lamps Light Visor Handheld Devices for Skin Treatment (HDST) Blue Light Therapy Bulbs Dawn Simulator Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2016-2027) Psoriasis Vitiligo Eczema Winter Blues Acne Vulgaris Sleeping Disorders Seasonal Affective Disorders (SAD) End-Users Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2016-2027) Hospitals Clinics Homecare Settings Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2016-2027) North America U.S Europe U.K France Asia Pacific China Japan Latin America Brazil MEA To identify the key trends in the industry, click on the link below: https://www.reportsanddata.com/report-detail/blue-light-therapy-market Read More Reports:- Metamizole Magnesium Market By Type (Granules And Powder), By Application (Capsules, Tablets, And Others), And Region- Global Forecast To 2027 Metformin Hydrochloride Market Size, Trend and Growth By Type (Metformin HCL, Metformin DC, Others), Application Type (Metformin Hydrochloride Tablets, Metformin Hydrochloride Extended-Release Tablets, Others), And Region- Global Forecast To 2027 Pentazocine Market By Type (Injections, Tablets), By Application (Adults, Children, Elderly), And Region- Global Forecast To 2027 Particle Therapy Systems Market By Type (Proton Therapy, Heavy Ion Therapy), By Application (Research And Treatment), By Product And Service (Cyclotrons, Synchrotrons, Synchrocyclotrons), By System (Single Room, Multi Room), By Cancer Type And Region- Global Forecast To 2027 Bovine Blood Plasma Derivatives Market Size, Share & Trends, By Type (Bovine Serum, FBS, Bovine Serum Albumin, Fibrinogen, Protein Ingredient, Others), By Application (Scientific Research, Industrial Production, Feed, Others), And Regional Forecasts To 2027 About Reports and Data Reports and Data is a market research and consulting company that provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. Our solutions purely focus on your purpose to locate, target and analyze consumer behavior shifts across demographics, across industries and help clients make a smarter business decision. We offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a multiple industries including Healthcare, Technology, Chemicals, Power, and Energy. We consistently update our research offerings to ensure our clients are aware about the latest trends existent in the market. Reports and Data has a strong base of experienced analysts from varied areas of expertise. Contact Us: John Watson Head of Business Development Reports And Data | Web: www.reportsanddata.com Direct Line: +1-212-710-1370 E-mail: sales@reportsanddata.com A deadly series of 64 interlinked IEDs was uncovered by the CRPF on Monday during an anti-Naxal operation in Bihar's Aurangabad district, a senior official said. The improvised explosive devices' circuit trap was detected in the forests of Sahiyari village of Aurangabad under Madanpur police station area when a joint team of 153rd battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and its elite jungle warfare unit CoBRA were combing the area, he said. According to the official, the IEDs were detected around 1 pm. They were found connected through a wire. Had it detonated, a number of troops would have suffered fatal injuries, he said. The IEDs were being defused when reports came in last. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Italian clinical guidelines have called for the presence of comorbidity and functional status to be evaluated as considerations in the allocation of resources, as a relatively brief progression in healthy patients could become longer and thus more resource-consuming on the health care system in the case of elderly patients, fragile patients or patients with severe comorbidity. This idea is both straightforward and concerning: Patients with disabilities may require more resources than the nondisabled. In a crisis, the nondisabled can be saved more efficiently. As a result, when doctors must choose between a disabled and a nondisabled patient with similarly urgent levels of need, the nondisabled patients should get priority, since they will recover more quickly, freeing up scarce resources. Adopting such an approach would be a mistake. Even in a crisis, authorities should not abandon nondiscrimination. By permitting clinicians to discriminate against those who require more resources, perhaps more lives would be saved. But the ranks of the survivors would look very different, biased toward those who lacked disabilities before the pandemic. Equity would have been sacrificed in the name of efficiency. Not only is such an approach poor ethics it can also interfere with efforts to combat the pandemic. In 2015, the New York State Department of Health developed guidelines on how to allocate ventilators in a crisis. Among other things, they permit hospitals to take away ventilators from those who use them on an ongoing basis in the community or at a long-term care facility if they seek hospital care. Not only is this a concerning precedent, it also interferes with the trust in the medical system that we need to combat the virus: Chronic ventilator users may have reason to avoid seeking needed hospital care if they become infected, based on a well-founded fear of being sacrificed for the greater good. I spoke to a colleague of mine, Alice Wong of the Disability Visibility Project, on these issues. As a 46-year-old who uses a ventilator on a regular basis, she has a lot at stake. My vent is part of my body I cannot be without it for more than an hour at the most due to my neuromuscular disability. For clinicians to take my vent away from me would be an assault on my personhood and lead to my death, Alice writes. I deserve the same treatments as any patient. As a disabled person, Ive been clawing my way into existence ever since I was born. I will not apologize for my needs. Hailey Bieber is sure to put on plenty of sizzling beach displays this summer. And on Sunday, she whiled away some time while self-isolating with husband Justin Bieber by promoting her latest Roxy swimsuit collection on social media. The 23-year-old posed in a black one-piece with neon green stripes from her Sister collection with pro surfer pal Kelia Moniz. Pool time: Hailey Bieber promoted her latest Roxy swimsuit collection with pro surfer pal Kelia Moniz on Instagram on Sunday Moniz, 27, was seen in a neon green bathing suit top and white high-waisted short shorts, featuring the neon green stripes down the sides and matching laces. Moniz also shared some photos from the campaign, one featuring an aerial shot of her swimming in a pool while Bieber walked past in a neon green one-piece. Another showed Bieber wearing a white RXY hoodie and white bikini bottoms while Moniz rocked an oversized black t-shirt with cut-off blue jean shorts. They were photographed for the campaign by Monizs husband Joe Termini, who introduced the gal pals. Tropical: Moniz, 27, was seen in a neon green bathing suit top and white high-waisted short shorts, featuring the neon green stripes down the sides and matching laces Good friends: The pair were photographed for the campaign by Monizs husband Joe Termini, who introduced the gal pals In the swim: The women were seen splashing around in a swimming pool during the photo shoot This marks the pairs third of four Sister collections with Roxy, having launched the first last March and the second in July. Bieber told Cosmo about how their friendship inspired the swimsuit collection last March when the first collection dropped. She said: Were just close. We got along really easily from the day we met. It sounds like were like a couple. [laughs] I guess for a minute, it felt like we were, because I was single and alone and attached to Kelia's side, and shes a married woman. Bonded: Another showed Bieber wearing a white RXY hoodie and white bikini bottoms while Moniz rocked an oversized black t-shirt with cut-off blue jean shorts A Taiwanese man has been fined more than 28,000 after police found him dancing in a nightclub while he was meant to be self-quarantining at home. Officers equipped with mobile phone scanning technology were sweeping through clubs and bars in Taipei on Sunday when they discovered the 35-year-old, named only as Huang. Using their 'M-Police' cloud-based app the officers were able to instantly check Huang's status. He had recently returned from Cambodia and was still under a mandatory 14 day quarantine period. He was arrested in Taipei's Omni Nightclub and moved immediately to a quarantine facility run by the island's centralised epidemic control centre, which was activated even before coronavirus epicentre Wuhan was put on lockdown. Officers equipped with mobile phone scanning technology were sweeping through clubs and bars in Taipei on Sunday when they discovered the 35-year-old, named only as Huang (pictured being busted) Nightclub visitors in Taipei, Taiwan, are screened for temperature and quarantine status before entering a nightclub Huang, whose registered residence is in neighbouring New Taipei City, was issued a fine of one million Taiwanese dollars (28,220) for breaching the island's strict quarantine law. Huang's visiting of a 'crowded and enclosed space' was deemed 'malicious', resulting in the heavy punishment, the municipal Department of Health said in a statement. New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih said in a press conference today: 'I will not go soft on you. If you leave your home, I will fine you.' Those found to have taken public transport while flouting a quarantine order will be fined up to 56,850, local media said. Before the latest fine, 55 people had been found skipping quarantine, resulting in fines totalling 93,890. Huang's punishment brings quarantine-related fines to 122,360. Taiwan's model response to the coronavirus outbreak is the result of lessons learned during the 2002 SARS outbreak. The island has yet to order a lockdown. Using their 'M-Police' cloud-based app the officers were able to instantly check Huang's status. He had recently returned from Cambodia and was still under a mandatory 14 day quarantine period Schools across all years remain open, with rigorous temperature and symptom screening taking place at gates and in classrooms. A recent spike in confirmed COVID-19 cases, of which there are 195 in total, has mostly come from Taiwan nationals returning from Europe and the United States. Confirmed or highly suspected individuals ordered to self-isolate by Taiwan Centers for Disease Control are being monitored via their mobile phone SIM card's GPS signal. The island has banned all foreign nationals from entering, while passport holders must self-isolate for at least 14 days from date of entry. The island, which has a population of 23.7 million, has recorded two COVID-19-related deaths to date. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Made Anthony Iswara (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, March 23, 2020 A labor leader has called on the government and companies to promptly take measures to avoid widespread layoffs as COVID-19 threatens workers' welfare. Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) president Said Iqbal suggested last Friday an alternating shift system or partial dismissal in a bid to keep production running without laying off workers. In the case of a partial lockdown, he also urged employers to send their employees home without cutting their salaries. "We know that the coronavirus pandemic situation is very difficult. But the government and employers must act decisively and responsibly to provide protection for workers," Said said in a press statement. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency, as the cases of coronavirus begin to rise in Nigeria. Recall that some days ago, the federal government placed several countries on travel ban, suspended large gatherings and ordered the closure of schools, in a bid to curb the spread. Also Read: COVID-19: Some Lawmakers Refusing Screening At Airports Presidency But some of the directives, especially the ban on large gatherings, have been ignored by some political and religious leaders. Falana, in a statement on Monday, urged Buhari to declare a state of emergency, to further establish the urgency of the matter. Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! Boris Johnson's sombre television address last night marked a moment in this nations life which all who watched it are likely to remember for as long as they live. In what amounts to a dramatic escalation, the measures he unveiled surpass many of the restrictions introduced in the dark days of World War II. The whole country is effectively quarantined during the coronavirus pandemic, and we are for the most part confined to our homes. At times, his natural desire to safeguard our liberties has collided with the advice he has proffered, leaving many of us confused, and unsure as to what we were being asked to do We may leave to shop for basics in a diminishing number of shops allowed to stay open. We can exercise outside once a day by ourselves or with people we are living with. Only essential travel is permitted. The police will enforce these measures. Needless to say, a fair number of ambiguities remain. But it is clear that these extraordinary new restrictions which I welcome with a heavy heart are an unprecedented infringement of our personal liberties. Only a few days ago, the Prime Minister plainly regarded such restraints with abhorrence. He did not come into politics to limit the freedoms of the British people. To the depths of his soul, he believes that liberty and Britishness have been forged together by our history, and that if at all possible the State shouldnt barge around in our lives. He has lived his own life according to these lights, prizing his freedom to do whatever he pleases within the law. When his father Stanley said last week that he would visit the pub if he wanted to, the familiar Johnson family gene was on show. Boriss innate horror of authority revealed itself when a journalist at Sunday afternoons No 10 press conference suggested that the police might be more proactive. He looked momentarily shocked. In his mental picture of Merrie England, it is not the role of the police to boss us around. This largely explains why the PM has consistently been behind the curve in recent days. He asked us not to go to pubs and restaurants. Most complied, but some ignored his plea. Such establishments were legally shut down some days later after numb-skulled people had continued to party. The Government also dithered over closing schools, with its advisers producing various arguments as to why it was inadvisable to do so. Then, last Thursday, children were at last told to stay away. It seemed as though every significant new measure had to be wrung from the Prime Minister, and came too late. Precious time was being squandered in the battle to curb the spread of the contagion. Again and again, he has apologised during these press conferences for asking us to adopt new forms of behaviour. He has frequently reiterated his regret, which Im sure is genuine, that he should be recommending measures which may seem coercive. He did not come into politics to limit the freedoms of the British people. To the depths of his soul, he believes that liberty and Britishness have been forged together by our history, and that if at all possible the State shouldnt barge around in our lives At times, his natural desire to safeguard our liberties has collided with the advice he has proffered, leaving many of us confused, and unsure as to what we were being asked to do. For example, last Friday he said that he hoped to see his elderly mother on Mothers Day, which is what any loving son would hope to do. Yet the Government advice soon made clear that such visits were undesirable. On Sunday, the freedom-loving Boris stated of course I want people to be able to go out in the parks and open spaces and enjoy themselves before observing that even if you think you are personally invulnerable, there are plenty of people you can infect, and whose lives will be put at risk. So what has changed? A Prime Minister who weeks ago seemed unchallengeable has come under pressure from within the Cabinet. In particular, Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Minister for the Cabinet Office Michael Gove are said to have been pushing for more decisive measures. But it must have become clear even to our freedom-loving PM that exhortation by itself would not succeed in making everyone behave responsibly and with due regard for their fellow citizens. A significant minority of people were not prepared to play ball. Over the weekend, there were countless cases of crowds flocking to the seaside, and to wide open spaces such as Snowdonia. Social distancing may have been sometimes observed, but the evidence of lots of photos is that it often wasnt. Others were not to blame for failing to observe official guidance. There have been pictures of people crammed together in tube trains in London the nations coronavirus hotspot almost inevitably spreading the disease. So a lockdown became inevitable if we are to have any chance of avoiding the tragic fate of Italy, which, as Mr Johnson pointed out in a newspaper article over the weekend, is only two weeks ahead of where we are. Even so, although the measures announced last night were undoubtedly very radical, they still do not match in severity those adopted by some European countries. We are not yet quite in the position of the French and Italians, who are required to download a form which they must fill in before leaving their homes so that they can satisfy the authorities. One cant helping thinking that, just as previous measures have had to be tightened up following their announcement, so last nights provisions may not be the last word so far as the terms of the lockdown are concerned. Moreover, there are other areas in which the Government needs to show greater clarity and more concentration of purpose. Why have flights from countries ravaged by coronavirus been allowed to land in the UK? Why isnt there more testing for the disease, which the PM has said is vital? The key question now is how people will respond to this extraordinary lockdown. Will free-born Britons cavil at the kind of undeniably coercive restrictions which we like to think are more acceptable to countries on the Continent with a history of authoritarian government? I believe most people will grin and bear it just as our grandparents put up with privations such as rationing during World War II. They will know that what Boris announced last night will be strictly temporary. Some will grumble, of course, and a few will disobey. And Im also sure that most of us will also recognise that Boris Johnson is a lover of liberty who did not introduce these measures lightly, and will not maintain them a second longer than is necessary. Over the past few days, as captain of our menaced ship, the Prime Minister has drawn an increasing amount of criticism not only from those who dont like him but also from among his own ranks. Is he up to the task? Is he the man for the hour? Has he caught the mood of the nation? Is he too laid-back and relaxed? These are the questions that are being asked up and down the land. There is no definitive answer to them yet. Mr Johnson is a lifeenhancer who may not have been intended by the divinities who fashioned him to preside over a siege economy or introduce constraints on our freedoms. But such are the immense challenges of the hour. Boris is the Prime Minister weve got. Last night, there was reason at last to believe that he may be the one we need. President Muhammadu Buhari has cancelled the meeting of the heads of state of the Chad Basin Commission scheduled for next week, as a safety measure to stop the spread of the Coronavirus. The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, disclosed this at a media briefing in Abuja, on Monday. The government, at the highest level, is already leading by example. Mr President has cut down the number of courtesy visits. Mr. President is not shaking hands. One of the presidents daughters is in self-isolation. Visitors to the State House get their hands sanitised and their temperature taken at several points before reaching the executive council chambers, the minister said. He said the federal government was aware that some political and religious leaders had either denied the existence of coronavirus or defied the directives to avoid a large gathering. He said leaders of all hues must show great responsibility at this time, by avoiding putting the lives of not just their followers but also those of the general public in danger. For those who would continue to willfully flout the directives aimed at checking the spread of this disease, the long arm of the law will soon catch them. READ ALSO: PREMIUM TIMES reported how many religious institutions and public places adhered to the directives to limit public gatherings. However, some ignored such directives. In Lagos, many night clubs remained open on Saturday despite the directive of the state government, ditto for Ibadan. In Ogun, while many churches were closed and resulted to online services, the Covenant church headed by David Oyedepo held its physical service attended by thousands of people on Sunday. Nigeria recorded its first death from the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak on Monday after the country confirmed five new cases. Nigeria has a total of 36 confirmed cases including one death. SPRINGDALE, Ohio A patrol car crashed during the pursuit of a suspect in southwest Ohio, killing one officer and injuring another, police say. Kaia Grant, 33, an eight-year-veteran of the Springdale Police Department, was killed in the crash Saturday night, Fox 19 reports. Sgt. Andrew Davis was treated and released at a hospital. Cincinnati.com reports Terry Blankenship, 42, of Loveland, Ohio, was stopped by Elmwood Place police, who discovered he was wanted on a warrant for aggravated burglary. A chase started, with Elmwood police following Blankenship onto Interstate 75 north. Grant and Davis joined the pursuit, which involved up to 30 cars, WLWT Channel 5 reports. Police tell cincinnati.com that Blankenships vehicle eventually struck Grants patrol car, and that Grants car then struck Davis vehicle. We want them to put themselves in a safe situation to avoid these type of circumstances, Springdale Public Information Officer Keenan Riordan tells cincinnati.com. I know our officers used their vehicles as shields. Unfortunately, we never expected the suspect to what we believe deliberately ram the vehicles and use his own vehicle as a weapon. Its just a really, really unfortunate time for us, for sure. Blankenship is in custody and is in a hospital in serious condition, reports say. Charges have not yet been filed. Grant is the first officer with the Springdale Police Department to die in the line of duty. According to cincinnati.com, she is the 27th officer killed in the line of duty in 2020 in the U.S. More crime-related content on cleveland.com: Two arrested, accused of stealing North Canton pizza shop tip jar, running over employees leg during escape Man found dead in port-a-potty near Ohio Walmart Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi lauded on Monday the Chinese success in containing coronavirus in a telephone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday afternoon, the Egyptian presidency said. El-Sisi expressed to Xi his aspiration to boost cooperation between the health establishments of the two countries to benefit from the Chinese mechanism to manage the coronavirus crisis. The Chinese president expressed his people and governments gratitude for Egypts quick aid to the country during the crisis. He asserted that China was fully ready to present its experience and capabilities to combat the virus. The Egyptian presidency added that the two leaders agreed to boost strategic cooperation between the two countries especially when it comes to the localisation of Chinese technology. Search Keywords: Short link: File photo According to Punch Metro, the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, has said the fighter jets deployed by Operation Lafiya Dole killed scores of Islamic State of West Africa Province/Boko Haram leaders and fighters in Alinwa, Borno State. The acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig Gen Bernard Onyeuko, said in a statement on Friday the jets bombed leaders of the terrorist groups during a meeting in a cluster of buildings in the area. He said the air offensives would be sustained in the identified terrorists hideouts. Onyeuko said, This was achieved during the ongoing subsidiary Operation Decisive Edge in another successful air interdiction mission on Thursday. The airstrikes were executed on the heels of impeccable intelligence reports indicating that some top ISWAP commanders and some of their fighters and designated suicide bombers had assembled at the location for a meeting aimed at orchestrating coordinated attacks against a number of targets in Borno State and its environs. Operation Lafiya Dole therefore dispatched its fighter jets to the location, recording devastating hits on many of the structures housing the ISWAP leaders and fighters, destroying them and neutralising their occupants. Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, on Friday decorated three newly promoted officers at the Army Headquarters. They were two Regimental Sergeant Majors Agbo Nwabueze, Tijani Nambadi promoted to the rank of Captain and a Master Warrant Officer Zakaria Ibrahim elevated to the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major. The Navy's West Coast hospital ship will leave San Diego on Monday and head 125 miles up the coast to Los Angeles, where it will help relieve demands on local hospitals during the coronavirus crisis. It's one of two 1,000-bed Navy hospital ships that will deploy to a U.S. city as the country braces for medical facilities to be taxed by rising numbers of critical COVID-19 patients. And even though Washington state has seen the highest number of West Coast coronavirus cases, officials say California is going to need the hospital ship Mercy more in coming days and weeks. "Even though there are more cases right now in Washington, the projected needs for beds in California is five times more than that of Washington," Pete Gaynor, the Federal Emergency Management Agency's administrator, said Sunday. Washington was the first state in the U.S. to report a coronavirus case in January. Since then, the state has been hit hard by the virus, reporting nearly 2,000 cases and 95 deaths due to the fast-spreading illness. Related: Navy Hospital Ship Could Take Weeks Getting to New York as Coronavirus Cases Soar Now, analysis is showing the demand for medical care will be higher in California, Gaynor said. The Mercy will leave Naval Base San Diego on Monday with more than 800 Navy medical personnel and support staff, according to a news release from 3rd Fleet. Once in LA, it will treat non-coronavirus patients. "This will allow local health professionals to focus on treating COVID-19 patients and for shore-based hospitals to use their intensive-care units and ventilators for those patients," the release states. The Navy's East Coast hospital ship, the Comfort, will go to New York. But that isn't expected to happen for weeks as the ship undergoes maintenance in Virginia. New York has nearly 17,000 coronavirus cases, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo is pleading for the Army Corps of Engineers to begin construction on hospitals there as experts warn the state's system will become overwhelmed. California Gov. Gavin Newsom last weekend asked President Donald Trump to stage the Mercy in the port of Los Angeles through Sept. 1. "Our state and health care delivery system are significantly impacted by the rapid increase of COVID-19 cases," he wrote in a March 18 letter to Trump. "... We project that roughly 56 percent of our population -- 25.5 million people -- will be infected with the virus over an eight-week period." -- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins. Related: Everything You Need to Know About the Navy's Hospital Ships Disgraced movie producer and convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein tested positive for the coronavirus in a New York prison, according to published reports Sunday. Weinstein was being held at the Wende Correctional Facility in upstate New York after being transferred from New York Citys Rikers Island jail to serve 23 years in state prison for the sexual assault of two women. The 68-year-old tested positive for the contagious respiratory illness Saturday, the New York Post reported, citing a source briefed on the matter. The Niagara Gazette first reported Weinsteins test result earlier on Sunday. State officials told the newspaper that there were two inmates at the Wende prison who positive for coronavirus, but would not confirm Weinstein was sick. A source told the New York Post that Weinstein was likely infected while being held at Rikers Island. New York Citys jail system has seen at least 38 inmates test positive, according to the Associated Press. Representatives for Weinstein told the Post they did not have information about his condition. Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. PM Modis security breach: SC to announce name of judge to head probe panel today India has everything needed to be hub for medical tourism: PM Modi COVID-19: PM lauds Air India for evacuating Indians abroad India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Mar 23: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lauded Air India for evacuating Indians stranded abroad amid the coronavirus outbreak. In a tweet, the PM wrote, "extremely proud of this team of @airindiain, which has shown utmost courage and risen to the call of humanity. Their outstanding efforts are admired by several people across India. #IndiaFightsCorona" Extremely proud of this team of @airindiain, which has shown utmost courage and risen to the call of humanity. Their outstanding efforts are admired by several people across India. #IndiaFightsCorona https://t.co/I7Czxep7bj Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 23, 2020 Earlier India's civil aviation minister, Hardeep Singh Puri had said, when the going gets tough, the tough get going.The crew of @airindiain Boeing 777 led by Capt Swati Raval & Capt Raja Chauhan responded to the call of duty & displayed exemplary determination by airlifting 263 Indians, mostly students, stranded in Rome. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, March 23, 2020, 12:21 [IST] In some ways, the two men have intertwined political fortunes with the pandemic likely to be the defining moment of their political careers. New York has been hardest hit by the virus of any state so far. Of the more than 40,000 cases across the country, over 20,000 are in New York, the governor announced Monday, clustered largely in New York City. Hospitals are already out of supplies in many quarters. Economic losses from most of the states businesses closing down are likely to have a disproportionate impact on the countrys unemployment numbers. Officials say that they expect a bigger surge of cases in upcoming days as New York tests more than 16,000 people a day. Farmers are calling for a 'land army of employees' to support the industry in picking fruit and vegetables during the coronavirus pandemic. As restrictions on day-to-day lives increase and challenges build, farming groups have warned that a lack of labour could affect the supply of fruit and veg. Last year's figures show that 98 percent of harvest staff were from outside the United Kingdom. The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) estimates that there could now be a shortage of 80,000 workers due to the Covid-19 crisis. CLA president, Mark Bridgeman said the government must recognise that farmers' supply of labour is in 'jeopardy'. A shortage of 80,000 workers is something we have never seen before," he told The Guardian. That is why we are calling for a land army of employees to support farmers in feeding the country. The current economic effect of the coronavirus in the UK has already led to thousands of job losses. To remedy this, workers hit hard by the virus's impact could be retrained to do farm work, Mr Bridgeman said. We need urgent government assistance to help source workers and advertise positions, he said. Time is of the essence. If we fail to find these key workers, businesses will go bust. The NFU echoed this, saying the government must act quickly: A spokesperson said: Growers who rely on seasonal workers to pick, pack and grade our fruit and vegetables are extremely concerned about their ability to recruit workers this year. The industry is already working hard to promote roles on farms locally, recognising that this could help those who unfortunately find themselves out of work. "We are urging the government to address this situation as soon as possible. It comes as farm labour specialists HOPS invited British people to apply for jobs picking and packing fruit and veg. The berry sector has also confirmed it will soon commence a recruitment campaign to encourage British people to work on farms. China's ambassador to the United States has slammed rumours which claimed the novel coronavirus originated in an American military lab. Cui Tiankai, Beijing's top man to Washington, commented on the topic in a new interview after a spokesperson from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs this month accused the US military of bringing the virus to Wuhan. Mr Cui, 67, said he stood by the remarks he made in an earlier programme, during which he branded the conspiracy theory as 'crazy'. Cui Tiankai (pictured in 2018) condemned conspiracy theories surrounding the origin of the coronavirus virus. He said in a new interview: '[It] is not [something] for diplomats or journalists to speculate [on], because such speculation will help nobody, it's very harmful' Mr Cui told news program Axios on HBO that, eventually, people would need to find out where the virus originally came from, but he said 'this is the job for scientists'. '[It] is not [something] for diplomats or journalists to speculate [on], because such speculation will help nobody, it's very harmful,' he said. 'So why not let our scientists do their own professional job and give us some answer eventually.' However earlier this month, another Chinese official showed his support for the conspiracy theory on Twitter, which is blocked in mainland China. China's foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian (pictured) tweeted on March 12, suggesting that the virus might have come from the United States - not the Chinese metropolis of Wuhan The country's foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian tweeted in both Mandarin and English on March 12, suggesting that the virus might have come from the United States - not the Chinese metropolis of Wuhan. 'It might be US army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan. Be transparent! Make public your data! US owe us an explanation,' tweeted Mr Zhao, who is known for his provocative statements on social media. Asked to comment on Mr Zhao's tweet by Jonathan Swan, a reporter at Axios, Mr Cui said: 'Maybe you could go and ask him.' After being pressed to share his point of view on Mr Zhao's posts, Mr Cui stressed that he represented his government in the United States and 'not any particular individual'. 'I don't have the responsibility to explain everybody's view to you,' he said. 'It might be US army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan. Be transparent! Make public your data! US owe us an explanation,' tweeted Beijing's spokesperson Mr Zhao. In the picture above, a US soldier wears a face mask while carrying paper towels in New Rochelle on March 23 In an interview with CBS news show Face the Nation last month, Mr Cui told anchor Margaret Brennan that it was 'very dangerous to stir up suspicion, rumours and spread them among the people' during the coronavirus outbreak. Mr Cui said: 'For one thing, this will create panic. Another thing that it will fend up racial discrimination, xenophobia, all these things, that will really harm our joint efforts to combat the virus. 'Of course, there are all kinds of speculation and rumours. 'There are people who are saying that these virus [sic] are coming from some - some military lab, not of China, maybe in the United States. How- how can we believe all these crazy things?' More than 470 have died of the coronavirus and over 39,000 have been infected in the US With domestic cases falling to zero in China and soaring abroad, Beijing is now rejecting the widely held assessment that the city of Wuhan is the birthplace of the outbreak. Beijing's top coronavirus expert last week denied that the bug originated in Wuhan and slammed such claim as 'irresponsible'. 'The epidemic of the novel coronavirus pneumonia indeed took place in China, in Wuhan but it does not mean its source is in Wuhan,' said Dr Zhong Nanshan, the leader of a team of experts appointed by China to tackle the health crisis. China reported no new local cases today but confirmed another 39 infections brought from overseas. Pictured, people wear masks as they walk at Ritan Park in Beijing on March 22 One of China's top coronavirus experts today warned that the nation is facing a second outbreak due to the increasing number of infections detected among new arrivals from abroad. Professor Li Lanjuan, a member of Beijing's expert team on the virus, said she was 'very worried that imported cases could trigger another large-scale epidemic in our country'. Her comment came after health officials reported the country's first case of someone who is believed to have contracted the disease from another person returning from abroad. Chinese health officials today reported no new local cases of the deadly virus but confirmed another 39 infections brought from overseas. Worldwide, more than 15,400 people have been killed by the contagion and around 359,000 people have been infected. Madrid, Spain Magdalena Arance survived the Spanish Civil War and she is confident she will also survive the coronavirus pandemic. However, aged 84, Arance is among the population most at risk from the new virus that has swept the world and has put her home country, Spain, under quarantine. Her confidence comes from the help she is receiving from her neighbours, some of whom she had never met before these difficult times. Like Arances neighbours, hundreds of volunteers in Spains capital Madrid are offering to bring medicine or groceries to elderly and sick people who live in their districts so they do not have to leave their homes and risk catching the coronavirus. Since March 15, the country has been under a nationwide lockdown that has confined people to their homes unless they need to buy basic supplies and medicine, or go to work or the hospital. Spain is one of the worst-hit countries in Europe, with 29,909 cases and 1,772 deaths. The Madrid region has become the epicentre of the crisis and its healthcare system is overloaded. Safety protocols In Chamberi, the district in Madrid where Arance has lived since she was born, more than 70 people have joined the Red de Cuidados (Care Network), explains Cristina Domingo, one of its members. It was initiated by some young people in the neighbourhood, says Domingo, who is in charge of coordinating the requests received over the phone. But right now there is a volunteer group in almost every district in Madrid. People are participating very actively. Other cities in Spain are doing likewise and groups have been formed across the country. Arance heard about the network from her pharmacist. I called to ask if they could bring me home a sore throat remedy and they told me that some people in the neighbourhood were offering to help, says Arance, who lives on her own and whose family is too far away to travel to help her under the current restrictions on movement. Domingo processed Arances request and found a volunteer to go to the pharmacy and bring the medicine to her apartment. Due to Arances age, their main concern was to avoid any risk of contagion. We have established a safety protocol that everyone needs to follow. It was one of the hottest issues of discussion at the beginning, says Domingo. Avoiding contact and sterilising everything was key. They told me that they would call me after leaving the medicine outside my door so I could collect it, says Arance. It was really easy. Im now spreading the word among my friends. Solidarity and mutual assistance However, volunteers still outnumber those making use of them, explains Adrian Perez, spokesperson of the Care Network in Moratalaz, another district in Madrid, that was created a few days before the lockdown. One of the main issues so far is to get people to trust us because there have been some scams, Perez says. The Red Cross recently warned against a scam targeting elderly people who were offered fake coronavirus tests at home. Arance herself would not have trusted the network if the information had not come from the pharmacy. In todays society, we are not used to people helping someone they dont know for the sake of just helping, says Domingo. In Vallecas, one of the biggest districts in Madrid, they are trying to build trust networks identifying buildings where potential beneficiaries may live and asking for the help of one of their neighbours. We need to rely on their own trusted environment, explains Victor Jose Cervigon, one of the members of the network in Vallecas. It has to be the neighbours who give assistance in the first place. If they cannot, then they can call us, Cervigon says. According to Cervigon, more than 250 people have joined the network and they have helped about 100 people so far. The group works in an altruistic way, based on values of solidarity and mutual assistance, he says. Really beautiful Some others also try to find help on the internet. As soon as schools closed [on March 11], people started to post offers for babysitting. In the beginning, they were mostly professional services, but it quickly became altruistic, says Sonia Alonso, a co-founder of Tienes Sal?, which means Do you have salt?, an online platform that puts people in contact with their neighbours in Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia. At the moment, almost every post that is published in the network is from people offering their help, says Alonso. And despite being an online platform, the offers of help are also reaching people in their 60s and older who are a big portion of the users. The age range is wider than on other platforms. Maybe because relying on your neighbours is a more old-fashioned thing that our parents and grandparents were more used to, says Alonso. These solidarity networks are not only essential for the survival of hundreds of vulnerable people in Madrid during this crisis. They are also building stronger bonds among the members of the community creando barrio (literally making neighbourhood), as they say in Spanish. We have a common purpose now. There are no longer stupid discussions over politics or any other absurd issue, says Victor Cervigon from Vallecas. Now, Magdalena Arance is looking forward to the quarantine being over and being able to meet up with Cristina Domingo and the other members of the network to thank them over a coffee, and perhaps even with a kiss. All this that is happening is really beautiful, she says. Im really touched because people who didnt know me at all just wanted to help without expecting anything in return. By Lee Gyu-lee "Time to Hunt," a crime drama, will be released through Netflix on April 10 instead of in movie theaters due to concerns over the coronavirus. Announcing the Netflix release, Little Big Pictures said it had made the decision so people could watch in a safe environment. "As threats of the coronavirus are continually pervading throughout the world, we sought a most effective and safe means for the film to reach a larger audience," it said. The thriller will be released exclusively on the streaming site and will be available in 190 countries. The movie was supposed to be released in Korean theaters on Feb. 26. But the release was postponed indefinitely due to the virus. Directed by Yoon Sung-hyun, the movie follows a group of unfortunate youngsters who fall into poverty in a dystopian world. An ex-con Jun-seok(Lee Je-hoon) teams with his best friends Jang-ho (Ahn Jae-hong), and Ki-hoon (Choi Woo-shik) for a heist. The film was invited to screen at this year's Berlin International Film Festival and became the first Korean film to screen for Berlinale Special Gala. Thousands of Queenslanders who have lost their jobs in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak will find out what help the state government will provide on Tuesday. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the state's budget committee would meet on Monday to nut out details of a rescue package for workers and households and an announcement would be made on Tuesday. The government will announce an assistance package on Tuesday. Credit:Shutterstock "It's incredibly tough. It is heartbreaking. I mean, people's lives are being completely turned upside-down," Ms Palaszczuk said. "Every day there are new changes, it is a new world, a new reality. So we just have to do everything we can." New Delhi: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday (March 23) announced a state-wide curfew in order to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. Notably, Punjab became the first state in the country to resort to this measure in the battle against COVID-19. The state government also announced Rs 20 crore from the Chief Minister`s relief fund to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. The Chief Minister, after reviewing the situation with Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh and DGP Dinkar Gupta, announced "full curfew with no relaxations." The orders came as Amarinder Singh announced a slew of relief measures to support the affected masses as a result of the restrictions imposed in the light of the growing coronavirus threat. "The DCs have been asked to issue orders accordingly. Any person required to be given relaxation will be so allowed specifically for a given period and purpose," the Chief Minister tweeted. According to the statement, "These included free food, shelter and medicines for those in need, with Rs 20 Cr sanctioned out of the CM`s relief fund for the same and DCs & SDMs asked to extend all assistance to those in need." It further stated that the Chief Minister has also announced deferment of payment of electricity, sewerage and water bills in the state. Giving details of the relief measures announced by the state government, Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh said that the Chief Minister has directed the local government department to defer the due date of making payment of water and sewerage bills by one month in all Municipal Corporations and Councils, besides extending the amnesty scheme on property tax till May 31, 2020. Earlier, the state government had initiated legal action against violators of home quarantine. "All measures being taken are for the larger good of everyone. While I am happy that everyone is cooperating, I will not let a few threaten the safety measures being taken against #Covid," Singh earlier tweeted. Likewise, the due date for payment of all those domestic, commercial and small power industrial consumers having monthly/bi-monthly electricity bills up to Rs 10,000, which falls on or after March 20 has been extended up to April 15.The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has been asked not to recover the late payment surcharge from these nearly 35 lakh consumers who would benefit from the move. "The Chief Minister has also directed the Transport Department to extend the due date of all taxes under the Punjab Motor vehicle Taxation Act by one month up to April 30, 2020," the statement said, adding "The Cooperation Department has decided to waive off, for two months (March-April 2020), penal interest on their crop, which is obtained by them from Central Coop Banks and Primary Agriculture Co-op Societies. Consequent upon this decision, these farmers can now repay their crop loans till April 30, 2020." On the directions of Chief Minister, the Labour Department has already decided to provide financial assistance of Rs 3000 to 3,18,000 registered construction workers through DBT in their bank accounts, involving approximately an expenditure of Rs 96 crore. After Punjab, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray also imposed curfew in the state to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus. (With Agency Inputs) Haiti - FLASH : Repatriation of American citizens to the USA Message to American citizens in Haiti : "We understand the challenges that the rapidly evolving international response to the COVID-19 pandemic is causing U.S. citizens who are seeking to return to the United States. The U.S. Embassy in Haiti is working closely with the State Department Repatriation Task Force to assist U.S. citizens who wish to depart Haiti, while observing the Haitian Governments measures to contain the spread of COVID-19. As of today, March 22, Eastern Airlines (a private company) has the permission of the Haitian government to operate repatriation flights for American citizens wishing to depart Haiti. These are direct charter commercial flights, for which passengers must book and be ticketed directly with the airline. Complete information, including the scheduled times, costs, ticketing information, can be found on Eastern Airlines website at: https://goeasternair.com/ " Note that 4 flights are currently scheduled on the website for March 24 and 25 departing from Port-au-Prince to Miami. HL/ HaitiLibre According to the most recent report from the regulator of national banks, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), JPMorgan Chase has exposure to $1.2 trillion in Credit Default Swaps while Citibank has exposure to $1.76 trillion for a combined total of $2.96 trillion as of September 30, 2019. According to the same report, the total exposure to Credit Default Swaps among all national banks in the U.S. is $3.7 trillion meaning that just these two banks are responsible for 80 percent of that exposure. As of this past Friday, JPMorgan Chase had lost 39.3 percent of its common equity capital in the past five weeks while Citibank, a subsidiary of Citigroup, had lost 51.7 percent. That left JPMorgan Chase with just $256.68 billion in market cap versus Citigroups meager $79.86 billion. One of our readers emailed us today asking if Credit Default Swaps were still around after they had collapsed Wall Street and the U.S. economy during the 2008 financial crash. Not only are these derivatives of mass destruction still around thanks to lapdog federal regulators and a timid Congress but two of the most dangerous banks in America have not just purchased protection through Credit Default Swaps, but they have sold protection (taken on the risk of a defaulting corporation or credit) to the tune of $1.5 trillion. Since the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act in 1999, these giant Wall Street casino investment banks have been allowed to own some of the largest federally-insured banks in America where moms and pops hold their life savings. JPMorgan owns the federally-insured Chase Bank which has more than $1.6 trillion in deposits. Citigroup owns Citibank which holds approximately $1 trillion in deposits. Its certainly not that the federal regulators think that these two banks know how to manage risk and thus they can be trusted with Credit Default Swaps. Citigroup was the biggest basket case among all federally-insured banks during the 2008 financial crisis. Citigroup received the largest taxpayer-bailout of any bank in U.S. history as its stock went to 99 cents. Its bailout haul included an infusion of $45 billion in capital from the U.S. Treasury; a government guarantee of over $300 billion on its dubious assets; a guarantee of $5.75 billion on its senior unsecured debt and $26 billion on its commercial paper and interbank deposits by the FDIC; and a secret revolving loan facility from the Federal Reserve that sluiced a cumulative $2.5 trillion in below-market-rate loans from 2007 to the middle of 2010. (See chart below from the Government Accountability Office audit.) JPMorgan Chase, which has retained the same Chairman and CEO, Jamie Dimon, through three guilty pleas to criminal felony counts and is under a new, ongoing criminal probe for turning its precious metals desk into a racketeering enterprise, should have been permanently banned from engaging in derivative trades in 2012. That was when Jamie Dimon allowed a woman with no trading licenses, Ina Drew, to supervise traders in London who gambled with hundreds of billions in depositors money and lost at least $6.2 billion making bets on exotic derivatives. It became known as the London Whale scandal. That case was so serious that it was investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Senates Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which wrote this about the matter: The JPMorgan Chase whale trades provide a startling and instructive case history of how synthetic credit derivatives have become a multi-billion dollar source of risk within the U.S. banking system. They also demonstrate how inadequate derivative valuation practices enabled traders to hide substantial losses for months at a time; lax hedging practices obscured whether derivatives were being used to offset risk or take risk; risk limit breaches were routinely disregarded; risk evaluation models were manipulated to downplay risk; inadequate regulatory oversight was too easily dodged or stonewalled; and derivative trading and financial results were misrepresented to investors, regulators, policymakers, and the taxpaying public who, when banks lose big, may be required to finance multi-billion-dollar bailouts. With an indictment like that, it is nothing short of a regulatory failure of epic proportions that these Wall Street banks are still endangering the safety and soundness of the U.S. banking system and U.S. economy with their wild derivative exposures Continue reading the article And so we flew home. Early last week we booked flights. On Saturday morning we arrived back in Australia. For 48 hours it seemed like a tough decision, until we asked ourselves: wheres family? For us and we are incredibly lucky to have flexible jobs that made it simple. For other Australians overseas it is more complicated. They have jobs they cant leave, or partners who dont want to go to a country that isnt home and which they might not be able to leave for, what, six months? More? These emotional tugs-of-war are happening across the world. And these people are among the luckiest - people with jobs, people who can (or could) afford to travel. Beachgoers descended on Bondi beach in their thousands on Friday, despite the coronavirus threat. Credit:AAP One of the most exhausting features of this crisis, so far, has been the constant communication. Also one of the most rewarding, the most cheering, the most distracting though Im not sure distraction quite works when you are distracting yourself from articles about the virus by reading group messages about the virus. I am, like many of you, getting messages on Twitter, on Instagram, on various Whatsapp threads, on Facebook, on Slack. This is just life, of course, but it is more constant now and feels more urgent. Still, for all the extra blocks of stress it adds to the already very tall pile, it also adds to the sense of community. And that, right now, is tremendously heartening. Tangible generosities are happening all over the country. So many people offered us help for our arrival, offered to drop groceries off as we went into self-isolation. Pairing theologically rich lyrics with soaring melodies, Peoria, Illinois-based Grace Worship incorporates both classical and pop influences for its recording of "Calvary's Anthem," available everywhere now. This is the second single from this worship team's debut Christ Be All EP available to preorder now from Grace Worship/The Fuel Music. Drawing on its 150-year church history (Grace Presbyterian Church) to bring a multi-generational focus to Christ Be All, the EP is centered on Jesus' prayer in John 17 for the body to be "one" and honors the rich heritage of Christian hymnody while incorporating modern anthemic choruses and pop hooks. This unique blend, reaching across generations and music genres, is especially captured well in "Calvary's Anthem." The new single features lyrics from Robert Lowery's classic hymn, "Nothing But the Blood," along with verse lyrics to accompany its traditional Appalachian melody by Grace Presbyterian Church pastor Dr. Bryan Chapell. Additional melody, chorus and bridge is supplied by worship director Kevin King, who also sings the song and orchestrated the piece. "With brilliant brass, sensitive strings and a powerful band, this track centers on Christ's interceding work on the cross that causes hell's hold to cease and frees us to a life of joyful worship," says King. With Worship Musician premiering the "Calvary's Anthem" video this week, King also wrote and leads the EP's title track and "Christ Be All (Live)" video that was premiered by Worship Leader. The title song incorporates words from Andrew Murray's classic book, Humility, and is meant to help worshippers express, along with the Apostle Paul, "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me" (Galatians 2:20) as they sing, "May Christ be all and I be nothing." Visti: www.graceworship.com Tags : Grace Worship Easter grace worship calvary's anthem Grace Worship interview The coronavirus outbreak has brought the UK economy to a temporary standstill, according to a quarterly report. KPMGs latest quarterly UK Economic Outlook forecasts a 2.6 per cent decline for 2020 with flat growth predicted in the second half of the year. But a protracted outbreak of Covid-19 could also result in a more severe impact than the 2008 to 2009 downturn with a 5.4 per cent fall. In both scenarios though, the report suggests the countrys economy is expected to recover by the second half of 2021 assuming the public health measures put in place stem the rise in the number of cases. Yael Selfin, KPMGs chief economist, said: The Covid-19 pandemic is first and foremost a human crisis. But there will also be a very substantial negative impact on the global economy and the UKs economic performance this year and potentially next, but the economy is expected to recover by the second half of 2021. Until we know how and when the Covid-19 outbreak will end, the scale of the negative economic impact will be difficult to quantify. However, it is now almost certain that the UK is slipping into its first significant downturn in over a decade. On Friday, Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, said employers would be able to apply to HM Revenue and Customs to cover 80 per cent of the wages of staff they keep on up to 2,500 a month. Economists have said the bill to taxpayers for the governments unprecedented scheme could run to billions of pounds a month. The Bank of England also cut the base rate of interest to a record-low 0.1 per cent to ease pressure during the pandemic. In Scotland, a 350m support fund was announced to help those left struggling in the wake of the outbreak as part of Scottish government measures worth around 1.9bn. Catherine Burnet, senior partner at KPMG in Scotland, said: The latest UK Economic Outlook data highlights the scale of the challenge facing businesses across Scotland. Fiscal measures and immediate relief action from the Scottish and UK governments have gone some way to help mitigate some of the damage, but theres widespread acknowledgement that more action will be needed in the coming months to keep the economy moving. The business community also needs to work together more collaboratively than ever before to ensure were playing our role in supporting employees, customers and wider society. Staff in NHS feel like 'lambs to slaughter' while treating coronavirus patients Over the weekend, pubs, clubs, restaurants and other town centre staples were told to close by both the prime minister Boris Johnson and first minister Nicola Sturgeon. While the move itself is a bid to halt the spread of the virus, it has brought uncertainty to many employers even with the announced financial support. Mr Selfin added: With the UKs government charged with meeting an ambitious timetable for its post-Brexit trading relationship with the EU, the scope for further economic uncertainty this year was already high. However, the Covid-19 pandemic represents a far more dramatic short-term disruption to growth. While both governments and central banks have moved quickly to offer fiscal and monetary policy support to the global economy, more will be needed to shore up the economy in the short term, including measures to help the most vulnerable businesses and households and prevent a deeper economic slump. The impact of the pandemic will be far reaching. It is likely Covid-19 will result in a massive expansion in government debt and this could threaten to dislodge the governments original vision to 'level-up' the UK economy, long after the pandemic is past leaving the chancellor with a big challenge on his hands. Press Association Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Laure Fillon (Agence France-Presse) Paris Mon, March 23, 2020 12:06 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206cbd419 2 Environment air-quality-index,environment,pollution,health,coronavirus,COVID-19 Free Air quality is improving in countries under coronavirus quarantines, experts say, but it is far too early to speak of long-term change. Images by the US space agency NASA are clear, in February the concentration of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) fell dramatically in Wuhan, China, the epicentrt of the COVID-19 pandemic, passing from an indicator that was red/orange to blue. NO2 is mainly produced by vehicles, industrial sites and thermal power stations. As China moves past the peak of its crisis, however, recent images by the European Space Agency (ESA) show a resurgence in NO2 emissions. A striking reduction has also been observed by the ESA in northern Italy, which has been locked down to fight a spread of the novel coronavirus, which causes COVID-19. The European Environment Agency (EEA) reports a similar change in Barcelona and Madrid, where Spanish authorities issued confinement orders in mid March. 'Dramatic drop-off' "NO2 is a short-lived pollutant, with a lifetime in the atmosphere of about one day," said Vincent-Henri Peuch, from the EU earth surveillance program Copernicus. "As a result, this pollutant stays near the emissions sources and can be used as a proxy of the intensity of activity in different sectors," he told AFP. Fei Liu, an air quality researcher at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, noted the change in China, saying: "This is the first time I have seen such a dramatic drop-off over such a wide area for a specific event." Even during the economic crisis more than a decade ago, the decrease in NO2 levels "was more continuous in time," according to EEA air quality specialist Alberto Gonzalez Ortiz. In northern Italy, "average NO2 concentration levels have been almost halved on average," Peuch remarked. The pollutant can provoke serious inflammation of the respiratory system. Read also: Venice canals clear as city tourist-free under coronavirus Long-term exposure As for other countries or regions that have told inhabitants to remain confined at home, notably Argentina, Bavaria, Belgium, California, France and Tunisia, specialists are poring over the data to see if the trend is similar. Meanwhile, less NO2 does not necessarily mean purer air. Beijing experienced episodes of pollution owing to fine particles in February, NASA's Earth Observatory reported. The air in Paris was also rated as moderately polluted Friday owing to the presence of fine particles and NO2 even though the population had already been confined at home for three days. Peuch explained that the concentration of polluting matter can vary with the weather. "Some emissions sources, like energy production and residential use of energy are likely not to be decreasing markedly when more people have to stay at home," he noted. The concentration of so-called PM2.5 and PM10 particles and carbon monoxide (CO) are "also expected to be reducing over time," Peuch said. These are a mixture of minute solid particles and liquid droplets present in the atmosphere with diameters of 2.5 and 10 micrometers (microns). So what should we expect in terms of improvements to health, given that air pollution provokes around 8.8 million premature deaths each year according to a recent study? Fine particles irritate the eyes and throat and inhibit breathing. In extreme cases, elderly people and those who suffer from asthma risk death if not properly treated. In the longer term, air pollution can cause chronic respiratory or cardiac problems or lung cancer. "Less pollution is always good," notes Gonzalez Ortiz. Confinement measures thus protect in two ways, by reducing the risk of COVID-19 infection and by easing pollution from road traffic, according to a group of French doctors known as Air-Sante-climate. It is nonetheless hard to know how much benefit the world's population will actually experience because, according to the health experts, "what will have more impact is the long term exposure," Gonzalez Ortiz said. STAMFORD Consumer financial-services firm Synchrony and the companys Synchrony Foundation have announced a commitment of $5 million to support hunger-relief organizations and other nonprofits in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. To support families and communities facing hunger, Stamford-based Synchrony is donating $1.5 million to support hunger-relief nonprofits. The recipients include Feeding Americas COVID-19 Response Fund, which helps food banks across the country, and Meals on Wheels America, which supports older adults. The company is committing the remaining $3.5 million to local and national nonprofits to tackle long-term needs in communities hit by the pandemic. It did not disclose the specific recipients in that group. In this time of crisis, we must all work together to overcome challenges, Margaret Keane, CEO of Synchrony and president of the Synchrony Foundation, said in a statement. Synchrony is committed to serving our employees, partners, and customers and to supporting communities in their greatest hour of need. Were all in this together, and by uniting to help protect the nations most vulnerable and bring empathy into our actions, we will get to a better day and a stronger future. In 2018, Synchrony and the Synchrony Foundation donated more than $8 million to nonprofits, according to company data. Also in 2018, Synchrony employees spent more than 44,000 hours volunteering at 450 nonprofits in their communities around the world. Their activities included building homes and preparing meals for the homeless and filling back-to-school backpacks for children from low-income communities. Among Connecticut-based organizations, the company has supported the Bartlett Arboretum, Boys & Girls Club, buildOn, Childrens Learning Center, the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, Domus, Inspirica and the United Way of Western Connecticut. Synchrony is headquartered at 777 Long Ridge Road. pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; 203-964-2236; twitter: @paulschott The Centre has requested chief secretaries of all states to exempt services of SEBI-regulated stock market entities as well as related workforce from the purview of lockdown imposed to curb spreading of coronavirus infections New Delhi: The Centre has requested chief secretaries of all states to exempt services of SEBI-regulated stock market entities as well as related workforce from the purview of lockdown imposed to curb spreading of coronavirus infections. The move comes against the backdrop of alleged instances of brokers, depository participants and other personnel-related to stock markets facing difficulties in commuting to their workplaces. In a letter, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba has requested that services of SEBI-regulated stock market entities be exempted from the purview of lockdown. "Further, essential staff related to these agents should be allowed to commute so as to ensure that these establishments function smoothly," as per the letter addressed to Chief Secretaries of States and Administrators of Union Territories. The domestic stock market suffered its worst-ever single-day crash on Monday, with the benchmark indices plummeting as much as 13.15 percent as sell-off continued amid rising coronavirus cases. In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, many states have announced partial or complete lockdown, to curb the spreading of infections. Besides, authorities are encouraging social distancing as part of dealing with the situation. "It is pertinent to mention that stock markets are critical for the economy and as such its various constituents are important financial market institutions," the letter said. At least three states Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan have already issued clarifications to authorities to allow employees working in exchanges and broking offices to commute to their offices. On Monday, stockbrokers association ANMI asked markets regulator SEBI to include brokers and depository participants under essential services. The Association of National Exchanges Members of India (ANMI) has around 900 stockbrokers as members. GoAir , Asias most trusted and punctual airline said that it has appointed Sanjiv Kapoor as Advisor. Sanjiv whose career spans over two decades with airlines in Asia, Europe, and the US as investment advisor, portfolio manager, and management consultant will advise GoAir on important business and government matters. Prior to GoAir, Sanjiv steered Vistara as its Chief Strategy and Commercial Officer and played a pivotal role in its growth from nine aircraft and 40 flights to 36 aircraft and 200 flights a day. Likewise, Sanjiv in his earlier stint with SpiceJet, led the airline through its unprecedented turnaround as its Chief Operating Officer, shepherding the airline through a period of record high oil prices and a cash crunch, to cultural and operational transformation, ownership change, and profitability within 15 months. The other companies he worked with include Northwest Airlines, Bain and Company, Temasek Holdings (Singapore), and BCG (the Boston Consulting Group), among others. Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Vinay Dube, Chief Executive Officer, GoAir said: I welcome Sanjiv to the ever growing GoAir family. His strong domain knowledge and deep expertise in the aviation sector will help GoAir in multiple ways. Sanjiv has a MBA in Strategic Management from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth College, Hanover. GoAir is the aviation foray of Indias 283-year-old Wadia Group that comprises leading brands including 156-year-old Bombay Burmah, 140-year-old Bombay Dyeing, 101-year-old Britannia Ltd., 65-year-old National Peroxide Limited, the decade old Bombay Realty and many others. The 14-year old airline has flown 81.27 million passengers since its inception in 2005. GoAir flies to 35 destinations that include 27 domestic destinations namely Ahmedabad, Aizawl, Bagdogra, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Jammu, Kochi, Kolkata, Kannur, Leh, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Patna, Port Blair, Pune, Ranchi, Srinagar and Varanasi, as well as 8 international destinations namely Phuket, Male, Muscat, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Bangkok, Kuwait, and Dammam. By Trend As part of measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection (COVID-19) large shopping centers and malls will be closed for a month in Azerbaijan from March 23, 00:00 local time, with the exception of grocery stores and pharmacies, due to the coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers told Trend. As coronavirus infection continues to spread rapidly around the world, serious preventive measures continue to be taken. For this purpose, borders between many countries were temporarily closed, flights were suspended, and restrictive measures were taken with respect to crowded places. Based on the recommendations and requirements of the World Health Organization, a number of rules were applied in Azerbaijan, including social isolation measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus, which was declared a global pandemic. For this purpose, mass events were canceled, the operation of crowded social and cultural facilities was suspended, and the working hours of restaurants and cafes were reduced. In addition to all this, given the rapid and widespread of the virus, it is necessary to take additional measures in crowded places. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Burkina Faso is fast increasing as many top government officials test positive. Six ministers of state; The Education Minister, Foreign Affairs Minister, Mines Minister, Education Minister, the Minister for the Interior as well as the Minister of Trade, Industry and Handicrafts, Harouna Kabore have all tested positive. The confirmation of their cases contributes to the countrys jump in new cases to 99. The rumour has become realityI have just been notified that I have COVID-19, Minister of Foreign Affairs Alpha Barry said in a tweet late on Friday, referring to media speculations about his health. Simeon Sawadogo, the Minister for the Interior also confirmed in a Facebook post that he had tested positive. The Education Minister, Oumarou Idani also announced that he was positive. Other top officials They are not the first top officials in that country to test positive. Rose Marie Compaore, a top parliamentarian and the 2nd vice president of the National Assembly died of COVID-19 last week. The US Ambassador to Burkina Faso, Andrew Young has also tested positive for the disease. Curfew announced Last Friday when cases stood around 40, President Roch Marc Christian Kabore announced the closure of the land and rail borders and a 7 pm to 5 am curfew. Other measures announced to contain the spread including the closure of the Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso airports for all commercial flights. The president also prohibited any grouping of more than 50 people. For the country of about 20 million people, the president has urged the public to avoid shaking hands and kissing. A dedicated toll-free number, 3535 has also been announced for reporting all issues and inquiries related to COVID-19. ---citinewsroom PREMIER Sharlene Cartwright Robinson has decided not to attend the Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) meeting in the UK scheduled for the fourth week of March. The JMC meeting, an annual gathering of overseas territory leaders, governors and Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials, was earlier postponed for elections in the UK. On March 12, the premier said: "Whilst TCI remains coronavirus free with no confirmed cases, it is important that leadership at all levels remain grounded for what is proving to be a fast moving and constantly evolving issue. "TCIs first position remains to prevent, but we are preparing to keep our people safe in the event of a positive case. "On the matter of constitutional talks, it is my intention to reach out to the OT minister to seek an early audience as soon as possible via technological means. "I remain committed to this issue but know that this is the best decision at this time. Cartwright Robinson has informed the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, her overseas territories colleagues and Leader of the Opposition Washington Misick, who was scheduled to join her during the talks, of her decision. Grieving families across the country have confronted similar obstacles as the spread of the coronavirus reshapes and shutters significant parts of everyday life. The highly contagious virus has made many common mourning rituals dangerous. Its like the perfect storm, said Char Barrett, owner of A Sacred Moment Funeral Services in Washington state. You have people who want to be close, people who are crying, people kissing and hugging its the worst possible situation for trying to tell people to keep their distance from each other. See Full Image Gallery >> The electric EV3 that England-based Morgan unveiled at the 2016 Geneva auto show has been deep-sixed, but the company hasn't given up on electrification. It's now developing the technology in-house. "We have two EV-trained technicians in our development team, which, without saying a great deal tells you a lot about our commitment to electric technology," Jonathan Wells, Morgan's lead designer, told Autoblog. The company planned to bring its battery-powered three-wheeler (pictured) to production but it put the model on an indefinite hiatus in 2018 due to issues encountered with its powertrain supplier. The setup consisted of a 21-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack that zapped a 47-horsepower electric motor into motion. The EV3 featured fast-charging technology, and it offered up to 120 miles of driving range, figures that would have made it a fun, zero-emissions runabout. It also illustrated how Morgan could move its design language forward. Canceling a project that's well on its way to production is never ideal it's a big waste of time and money but Wells explained the entire company learned a lot from it. The lessons drawn from the EV3 included how to manufacture an electric car, and how to ensure its dealer network is ready to service one. "We learned a great deal from the EV3 program, and that's really fueling future project generations and future projects that are in play at the moment," Wells hinted without providing more specific details. He nonetheless hinted Morgan developed a new, aluminum-intensive platform named CX in part to accommodate electrified technology. It's the chassis the Plus Six and the recently-unveiled Plus Four are both built on. "Our previous platform would have required quite a lot of work to satisfy impending legislation, the drive towards alternative propulsion types, and safety systems that are coming online. We recognized we needed a new platform," he summed up. In other words, Morgan's cars aren't nearly as old-school as they might look. Story continues "We're keeping an eye on the future, and we'll be ready for it when it arrives," Wells affirmed. Related Video: Click here to See Video >> China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) has completed the structural frame of the C03 office building, making it the first high-rise to reach this milestone among 18 contracted by the company in the P5 package of the Central Business District (CBD) project in Egypt's new administrative capital. Chang Weicai, general manager of CSCEC Egypt, said in a ceremonial statement that C03 is the first building in the CBD project to have completed the structural frame construction, and the steady progress of the project amid the COVID-19 pandemic has boosted the morale among the Chinese and Egyptian employees, who have been working together to fight against the outbreak and tackle its obstacles. With the unwavering support and unremitting efforts of the construction workers and all participating parties from the two countries, the project will surely be delivered on time and create win-win outcomes. Chang was joined by representatives from the project owner New Urban Communities Authority and the construction supervising agency Dar. The representatives celebrated the milestone, and spoke highly of the overall progress of the project. They added that they hope CSCEC Egypt and its project teams can keep the momentum to finish the structural frames of the rest of the buildings as soon as possible. Construction of the C03 office building project began on Jan. 23, 2019. The basement was finished on July 17, 2019, marking the end of the 175-day foundation construction phase, while construction of the structural frame began on Jul. 2, 2019, which lasted 417 days before it was completed on Mar. 15. During the construction process, the project management department took full advantage of the local recruiting strategy and conducted professional training sessions through a "1+N" scheme, which not only strengthened the local workers' skill-sets, but also improved their work efficiency. In addition, the department made full use of the building information modeling technology to optimize construction management, develop construction techniques, and improve the equipment utilization rate. Also on Mar. 15, the first curtain wall unit was installed on another buildingthe C04 office building of the P1 package of the projectmarking the beginning of the external curtain wall installation stage in the CBD project. According to Wang Tao, manager of the exterior installation department of CSCEC Egypt, all the construction teams of CSCEC Egypt have overcome the challenges raised by the COVID-19 pandemic, and made every effort to complete the processing and assembly of raw materials in China, coordinate international shipping, and deliver the first batch of the curtain wall units to the construction site in early March. As production resumes in China, CSCEC Egypt said it feels confident to guarantee the on-time delivery of the project and show results in response to the support from the Egyptian government and people in these difficult times. Bangladeshi Ambassador to Korea Abida Islam speaks during a ceremony at the embassy in Yongsan-gu, central Seoul, March 17, to mark birth centenary of the country's late founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and National Children's Day. / Embassy of Bangladesh Spread of coronavirus forces embassy to observe commemoration in low-key manner By Yi Whan-woo The Embassy of Bangladesh in Korea celebrated the birth centenary of the country's late founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman last week. The embassy also celebrated National Children's Day, which has been observed in accordance with Bangabandhu's care for children in his lifetime. Bangabandhu, who loved to spend time with children on his birthdays, died in 1975. The celebration on March 17 came amid the global spread of the coronavirus and public efforts to avoid crowded places and minimize people-to-people contacts. In that regard, the commemorative event was limitedly to embassy officials and a few members of the Bangladeshi community in Korea. Bangladeshi Ambassador to Korea Abida Islam, joined by embassy officials and members of the community, hoists the Bangladehi flag outside the embassy, March 17. / Embassy of Bangladesh Bangladeshi children and other participants pose during a ceremony at the Bangladeshi Embassy in Korea, March 17. / Embassy of Bangladesh The Delhi Assembly passed a Rs 65,000-crore budget for the 2020-21 financial year on Monday, with an emphasis on the education, health and transport sectors. In the budget presented in the House by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government set aside Rs 50 crore to deal with the coronavirus outbreak. Presenting the budget for the sixth consecutive time in the Assembly, Sisodia said the Delhi government will implement the Ayushman Bharat Yojana of the Centre in the national capital. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had been accusing the Arvind Kejriwal government of stalling the scheme and depriving the people of Delhi of its benefits. This was the first budget of the AAP government after it was re-elected to power with a thumping majority last month. Sisodia, who also holds the finance portfolio, said the per capita income of Delhi had increased by 44 per cent over the last five years. The budget focussed on the education and health sectors, which the deputy chief minister said were important areas in the Kejriwal model of governance. Presenting the budget in the presence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Sisodia said digital classrooms will be set up in each government school and an amount of Rs 100 crore was set aside for the purpose. The deputy chief minister, who also holds the education portfolio, proposed 145 new schools of excellence in the budget. "By 2024, we will establish Delhi on the world's education map," he asserted. The health sector was allocated Rs 7,704 crore for the next financial year. The government set aside Rs 724 crore for new hospitals and Rs 365 crore for setting up new mohalla clinics and polyclinics. Sisodia said the Kejriwal model of governance was centred around elements of economics and people's welfare, pointing towards empowerment of women through free rides in public transport buses. The free-bus-ride scheme for women will continue in the next financial year, he added. The budget allocated Rs 1,700 crore for providing basic facilities in the unauthorised colonies of the national capital. "Under the Kejriwal model of governance, the chief minister has guaranteed the largest and cheapest public transport system in Delhi. "Under this, the government has a target to have a fleet of 11,000 buses and to lay metro lines for 500 kms," Sisodia said. In view of a land crunch, the government will convert its four bus depots into multi-storey buildings to accommodate more buses, he added. The budget allocated Rs 100 crore for the Mukhyamantri Teerth Yojana for 2020-21. The city government will also run a "Campaign for Communal Harmony" across the national capital, Sisodia said while underscoring its importance in the wake of last month's communal violence in northeast Delhi. The budget presentation lasted for around an hour and a half, during which all members maintained a distance with each other by leaving the seats between them empty. Earlier, the five-day budget session was cut short to a daylong session in view of the coronavirus outbreak. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) MOSCOW As the oil market experiences turbulent times, Moscow projects an image of a calm power. The breakup of the Russian-Saudi oil deal over production cuts known as OPEC-plus has helped cause oil prices to plummet to new lows and created associated geopolitical risks. Following the end of the OPEC-plus agreement, Saudi Arabia dropped prices and said it will boost production. On March 20, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed speculation that Russia and Saudi Arabia are in an oil price war. There are no price wars between Russia and Saudi Arabia. There is a very unfavorable pricing environment for many countries, Peskov said. He took issue with those who said this is a catastrophe for Russia, since as our president and our government reiterated that we have a solid safety margin for several years, which will support fulfilling all social commitments, development plans, and so on. The remarks of President Vladimir Putins spokesman came as a virtual response to President Donald Trumps statement that he would intervene in the standoff between Saudi Arabia and Russia at the appropriate time. The price drop is also hurting US oil companies; the United States, Russia and Saudi Arabia are the world's top oil producers. Its very devastating to Russia because when you look at it, their whole economy is based on that and we have the lowest oil prices in decades, so its very devastating to Russia. I would say it is very bad for Saudi Arabia but theyre in a fight, theyre in a fight on price, theyre in a fight on output. At the appropriate time Ill get involved, Trump said. Peskov responded, Russia and Saudi Arabia have good relations, a partnership. We do not think that anyone should intervene in these relations." Russias divorce with the OPEC-plus deal came rather abruptly but wasnt entirely unexpected for people in the industry. Al-Monitors Nikolay Kozhanov concluded in April 2018 that Russia might not be ready for a long-term commitment to the deal. Kozhanov, writing about the recent developments, said, Moscow definitely took the Saudi factor out of the equation when making a decision on further Russian participation in OPEC-plus. Indeed, the drivers for Russias deal with OPEC and disincentives for staying in the deal had more to do with other factors. There were at least two schools of thought vis-a-vis OPEC-plus in Moscow. One the Kremlin appreciated the idea that the deal would help Russia make more money based on the pricing. Eventually, the deal resulted in economic benefits for Russia, which saw its National Wealth Fund double its reserves from $65 billion (4.04 trillion Russian rubles) to $124.4 billion (7.7 trillion rubles) in 2019. Russias National Wealth Fund is a part of federal budget assets, primarily supporting the countrys pension system. The downside was that Russia would virtually have to give up a share of its market presence to competitors. Since the end of 2016, oil production in the United States has grown by 45%, or by 4 million barrels per day, This increase represents 35% of all oil production in Russia. This is where the second school of thought kicked in. Propagated by Igor Sechin, the head of the Russian oil giant Rosneft, it saw the deal with OPEC as a "strategic threat" that played into the hands of the US shale oil industry. Observing the highly volatile situation in the market, the Kremlin, however, kept postponing its departure in hopes for better timing. This time had apparently come with the COVID-19 pandemic. The fall in global oil demand in the first quarter of 2020, much of it apparently due to the coronavirus, was the biggest in the history. Much of the impact of the virus, however, may impact the global economy with a two-month lag. Oil buyers in China have canceled their March and April oil order placements, so it remains to be seen how the market will perform in the second quarter. The 2020 global oil demand is expected to fall below 100 million barrels per day. In a recent interview with Reuters, Russias Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin said there were two scenarios discussed in the OPEC-plus meeting prior to the breakup of the deal. One, promoted by Moscow, suggested the extension of the deal for one more quarter to see the actual impact of the coronavirus pandemic on oil markets. The expectation in Moscow was for oil to fall $5-8 per barrel but that there would be enough time to assess production risks. It was an 'optimal option' that wouldnt have collapsed the market but give time for the making of more prudent policies, Sorokin said. The other proposal, advocated by the Saudis, was to cut production by 1.5 million barrels per day first for one quarter, with the possibility of further extension. Russia would have had to cut about 300,000 barrels per day (bpd) double what it had to cut under the current commitments. Beside that we deemed [the Saudi] proposal excessive, for us its harder to carry out technologically. We have a more complicated production structure than our Arab partners, we have more drilling sites, less maneuver to cut the production. He said that 600,000 barrels per day is too extreme and these levels of production are harder to resume. Some of it might have never come back which means wed lose jobs, see lower investments. The statements by the Russian officials suggest that at some point both schools of thought merged into one decision to leave the deal. Moscow was assured that staying in the agreement would no longer be beneficial for the oil market and the Russian economy and Rosnefts reasoning that the OPEC-plus limits gave US producers more leverage also sounded more convincing. Therefore, Moscow felt it had both market and political incentives to leave the deal. The Russian logic was that by strengthening its own position in the market and with no limits imposed by the OPEC-plus obligations, Russia would double its oil revenues once the oil price goes back up to a high level. Sorokin said that the ministry modeled all types of scenarios possible to devise this strategy and that so far it has been accurate. Sorokin told Reuters that Russia officials forecast the price to fall to $30 per barrel within the first days and forecast the return of prices to the range of $40-$45 in the second half of the year and to $45-$50 next year, providing therere no force majeure circumstances. Critics of the Russian move argue that the price of $45 per barrel is only possible should Moscow resume negotiations with the OPEC on new production policies. While Russia would not mind establishing a new status quo, Saudis looks determined to continue the confrontation. The head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Kirill Dmitriev, confirmed that Moscow and Riyadh are not holding talks on joint actions on the oil market in the collapsing prices environment. Some in Moscow see the Saudi reaction as a bluff aimed at forcing Russia back to the negotiating table. While Riyadh had more ways to manipulate the market and bigger production capacities than Moscow, it may not be ready for a long-term oil price war itself. Saudi Arabias economy is more dependent on oil than Russia's; the Russian budget can still be in surplus with the price of oil over $42 per barrel, whereas the Saudis need at least $80; Russia also has bigger reserves to draw on though a bigger population to feed. All of this may not necessarily matter given that the Russian strategy although seemingly well-reasoned and better calculated is based on uncertainty that the coronavirus introduces to the world economy. At the end of the day, Russia could take a leading position over oil market regulation, eliminate or weaken some key competitors and create a better environment for the establishment of stable prices. Or it could find itself punching above its weight yet again and bring the United States into the fight and suffer more devastating consequences from new sanctions. Until either outcome materializes, Russia will have to suffer the losses with the rest of producers and hope that the higher-risk uncertainty-based approach will turn into dividends. Not that Moscow hasnt encountered this bifurcation in the Middle East before. WASHINGTON As President Donald Trump suggests the response to the coronavirus may be going too far, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is urging his administration go further. Cruz who has emerged as one of the most vocal members of Congress on the dangers the virus poses wants the administration to tell private manufacturers to begin making ventilators, warning the nation could soon face a shortage. I don't want to see doctors having to make a choice of who gets to live and who has to die because they don't have the equipment to save their lives, Cruz said on his podcast, Verdict. You can't build a ventilator overnight, he said. And if we wake up two weeks from now and instead of 11,000 cases, we've got 200,000 cases or a million cases, it might be too late then. Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox The first senator to quarantine himself earlier this month, Cruz has joined many Democrats in urging the Trump administration to invoke the Defense Production Act and force manufacturers to start making ventilators and other medical gear. Cruzs calls come as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott made his most urgent plea to the federal government for help yet, warning that Texas is short on both testing equipment and personal protection supplies for doctors and nurses, joining governors in other states, including New York, in calling for more from the federal government. It puts Cruz at odds with the president, who has said using the act to force production would be nationalizing our business. On Monday, the president said his administration would use the act to go after people hoarding supplies but not to compel companies to make them. And he signaled he might soon back off some of the aggressive coronavirus containment measures in an effort to save the economy. WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF, Trump tweeted. AT THE END OF THE 15 DAY PERIOD, WE WILL MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHICH WAY WE WANT TO GO! For subscribers: Tracking coronavirus: Interactive maps, charts show spread of COVID-19 across Houston, rest of Texas While Congress haggles over a nearly $2 trillion stimulus package to boost the economy, Cruz has called for a focus on health care: Pushing for the federal government to focus on expanding testing, producing medical supplies, bolstering hospitals and working on finding a cure for the disease that had killed nine in Texas and infected at least 777 as of Monday afternoon. Everyone recognizes this is a public health threat, Cruz said on his podcast. We need to do everything on the front end to make sure we're not forced into an impossible situation on the back end. Cruz on Friday wrote to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, urging him to use the significant powers of the Defense Production Act, a law stemming from the Korean War that allows the federal government to require private industry to make material deemed necessary for national defense. Several Democrats have been urging the same, including Texas U.S. Reps. Colin Allred of Dallas, Veronica Escobar of El Paso, Sylvia Garcia and Al Green of Houston and Vicente Gonzalez of McAllen, who signed a March 13 letter calling for Trump to use the act to begin the mass production of supplies. U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Laredo Democrat, has also called for it, saying last week, there is no time to waste, we need to protect Americans now. For subscribers: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott makes most urgent plea yet for federal help But the administration has been hesitant to do so. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the heads of major corporations have lobbied the administration against using the act, saying it could prove counterproductive, imposing red tape on companies precisely when they need flexibility to deal with closed borders and shuttered factories. Trump invoked the act in an executive order he issued on March 18, which directed Azar to determine proper nationwide priorities and allocation of all health and medical resources, including controlling the distribution of such materials (including applicable services) in the civilian market. But his administration has so far done little more than urge manufacturers to help out, something U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, a Republican from The Woodlands, called for, as well. In a time of public crisis, it falls on all of us to do our part to support the nation, Brady wrote in a newsletter to constituents. Right now, President Trump is calling on all manufacturers across the nation to help produce critical equipment to combat the coronavirus. We need more life-saving ventilators, respirators, and personal protective equipment for our healthcare professionals and manufacturers in Texas can help us achieve this. For subscribers: Why Gov. Abbott lags behind cities and other states in coronavirus response Bradys office says his call to action has received hundreds of responses from individuals and companies alike who want to help. Cruz has pushed for stronger action, saying the country needs to do more now to brace for the expected surge in cases and hospitalizations, and like Trump and many of his colleagues likening the efforts to contain the coronavirus to a war. It's how we won World War II, Cruz said. Remember World War II for us started with Pearl Harbor, started with a kamikaze attack, a surprise attack that took out a vast percentage of our Naval fleet. And we leaned in and rebuilt and it was the power of this economy that enabled us to win World War II. We can mobilize that same economic power. This post contains material from the New York Times. Kotlin is a general purpose, free, open source, statically typed pragmatic programming language initially designed for the JVM (Java Virtual Machine) and Android that combines object-oriented and functional programming features. It is focused on interoperability, safety, clarity, and tooling support. Versions of Kotlin targeting JavaScript ES5.1 and native code (using LLVM) for a number of processors are in production as well. Kotlin originated at JetBrains, the company behind IntelliJ IDEA, in 2010, and has been open source since 2012. The Kotlin team currently has more than 90 full-time members from JetBrains, and the Kotlin project on GitHub has more than 300 contributors. JetBrains uses Kotlin in many of its products including its flagship IntelliJ IDEA. IDG Kotlin as a more concise Java language At first glance, Kotlin looks like a more concise and streamlined version of Java. Consider the screenshot above, where I have converted a Java code sample (at left) to Kotlin automatically. Notice that the mindless repetition inherent in instantiating Java variables has gone away. The Java idiom StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder(); Becomes in Kotlin val sb = StringBuilder() You can see that functions are defined with the fun keyword, and that semicolons are now optional when newlines are present. The val keyword declares a read-only property or local variable. Similarly, the var keyword declares a mutable property or local variable. Nevertheless, Kotlin is strongly typed. The val and var keywords can be used only when the type can be inferred. Otherwise you need to declare the type. Type inference seems to be improving with each release of Kotlin. Have a look at the function declaration near the top of both panes. The return type in Java precedes the prototype, but in Kotlin it succeeds the prototype, demarcated with a colon as in Pascal. It is not completely obvious from this example, but Kotlin has relaxed Javas requirement that functions be class members. In Kotlin, functions may be declared at top level in a file, locally inside other functions, as a member function inside a class or object, and as an extension function. Extension functions provide the C#-like ability to extend a class with new functionality without having to inherit from the class or use any type of design pattern such as Decorator. For Groovy fans, Kotlin implements builders; in fact, Kotlin builders can be type checked. Kotlin supports delegated properties, which can be used to implement lazy properties, observable properties, vetoable properties, and mapped properties. Many asynchronous mechanisms available in other languages can be implemented as libraries using Kotlin coroutines. This includes async / await from C# and ECMAScript, channels and select from Go, and generators / yield from C# and Python. Functional programming in Kotlin Allowing top-level functions is just the beginning of the functional programming story for Kotlin. The language also supports higher-order functions, anonymous functions, lambdas, inline functions, closures, tail recursion, and generics. In other words, Kotlin has all of the features and advantages of a functional language. For example, consider the following functional Kotlin idioms. Filtering a list in Kotlin val positives = list.filter { x -> x > 0 } For an even shorter expression, use it when there is only a single parameter in the lambda function: val positives = list.filter { it > 0 } Traversing a map/list of pairs in Kotlin for ((k, v) in map) { println($k -> $v) } k and v can be called anything. Using ranges in Kotlin for (i in 1..100) { ... } // closed range: includes 100 for (i in 1 until 100) { ... } // half-open range: does not include 100 for (x in 2..10 step 2) { ... } for (x in 10 downTo 1) { ... } if (x in 1..10) { ... } The above examples show the for keyword as well as the use of ranges. Even though Kotlin is a full-fledged functional programming language, it preserves most of the object-oriented nature of Java as an alternative programming style, which is very handy when converting existing Java code. Kotlin has classes with constructors, along with nested, inner, and anonymous inner classes, and it has interfaces like Java 8. Kotlin does not have a new keyword. To create a class instance, call the constructor just like a regular function. We saw that in the screenshot above. Kotlin has single inheritance from a named superclass, and all Kotlin classes have a default superclass Any , which is not the same as the Java base class java.lang.Object . Any contains only three predefined member functions: equals() , hashCode() , and toString() . Kotlin classes have to be marked with the open keyword in order to allow other classes to inherit from them; Java classes are kind of the opposite, as they are inheritable unless marked with the final keyword. To override a superclass method, the method itself must be marked open , and the subclass method must be marked override . This is all of a piece with Kotlins philosophy of making things explicit rather than relying on defaults. In this particular case, I can see where Kotlins way of explicitly marking base class members as open for inheritance and derived class members as overrides avoids several kinds of common Java errors. Safety features in Kotlin Speaking of avoiding common errors, Kotlin was designed to eliminate the danger of null pointer references and streamline the handling of null values. It does this by making a null illegal for standard types, adding nullable types, and implementing shortcut notations to handle tests for null. For example, a regular variable of type String cannot hold null : var a: String = "abc" a = null // compilation error If you need to allow nulls, for example to hold SQL query results, you can declare a nullable type by appending a question mark to the type, e.g. String? . var b: String? ="abc" b = null // ok The protections go a little further. You can use a non-nullable type with impunity, but you have to test a nullable type for null values before using it. To avoid the verbose grammar normally needed for null testing, Kotlin introduces a safe call, written ?. . For example, b?.length returns b.length if b is not null , and null otherwise. The type of this expression is Int? . In other words, b?.length is a shortcut for if (b != null) b.length else null . This syntax chains nicely, eliminating quite a lot of prolix logic, especially when an object was populated from a series of database queries, any of which might have failed. For instance, bob?.department?.head?.name would return the name of Bobs department head if Bob, the department, and the department head are all non-null. To perform a certain operation only for non-null values, you can use the safe call operator ?. together with let : val listWithNulls: List = listOf("A", null) for (item in listWithNulls) { item?.let { println(it) } // prints A and ignores null } Often you want to return a valid but special value from a nullable expression, usually so that you can save it into a non-nullable type. Theres a special syntax for this called the Elvis operator (I kid you not), written ?: . val l = b?.length ?: -1 is the equivalent of val l: Int = if (b != null) b.length else -1 In the same vein, Kotlin omits Javas checked exceptions, which are throwable conditions that must be caught. For example, the JDK signature Appendable append(CharSequence csq) throws IOException; requires you to catch IOException every time you call an append method: try { log.append(message) } catch (IOException e) { // Do something with the exception } The designers of Java thought this was a good idea, and it was a net win for toy programs, as long as the programmers implemented something sensible in the catch clause. All too often in large Java programs, however, you see code in which the mandatory catch clause contains nothing but a comment: //todo: handle this . This doesnt help anyone, and checked exceptions turned out to be a net loss for large programs. Kotlin coroutines Coroutines in Kotlin are essentially lightweight threads. You start them with the launch coroutine builder in the context of some CoroutineScope . One of the most useful coroutine scopes is runBlocking{} , which applies to the scope of its code block. import kotlinx.coroutines.* fun main() = runBlocking { // this: CoroutineScope launch { // launch a new coroutine in the scope of runBlocking delay(1000L) // non-blocking delay for 1 second println("World!") } println("Hello,") } This code produces the following output, with a one-second delay between lines: Hello, World! Kotlin for Android Up until May 2017, the only officially supported programming languages for Android were Java and C++. Google announced official support for Kotlin on Android at Google I/O 2017, and starting with Android Studio 3.0 Kotlin is built into the Android development toolset. Kotlin can be added to earlier versions of Android Studio with a plug-in. Kotlin compiles to the same byte code as Java, interoperates with Java classes in natural ways, and shares its tooling with Java. Because there is no overhead for calling back and forth between Kotlin and Java, adding Kotlin incrementally to an Android app currently in Java makes perfect sense. The few cases where the interoperability between Kotlin and Java code lacks grace, such as Java set-only properties, are rarely encountered and easily fixed. Pinterest was the poster child for Android apps written in Kotlin as early as November 2016, and it was mentioned prominently at Google I/O 2017 as part of the Kotlin announcement. In addition, the Kotlin team likes to cite the Evernote, Trello, Square, and Coursera apps for Android. Kotlin vs. Java The question of whether to choose Kotlin or Java for new development has been coming up a lot in the Android community since the Google I/O announcement, although people were already asking the question in February 2016 when Kotlin 1.0 shipped. The short answer is that Kotlin code is safer and more concise than Java code, and that Kotlin and Java files can coexist in Android apps, so that Kotlin is not only useful for new apps, but also for expanding existing Java apps. The only cogent argument I have seen for choosing Java over Kotlin would be for the case of complete Android development newbies. For them, there might be a barrier to surmount given that, historically, most Android documentation and examples are in Java. On the other hand, converting Java to Kotlin in Android Studio is a simple matter of pasting the Java code into a Kotlin file. For almost anyone else doing Android development, the advantages of Kotlin are compelling. The typical time quoted for a Java developer to learn Kotlin is a few hoursa small price to pay to eliminate null reference errors, enable extension functions, support functional programming, and add coroutines. The typical rough estimate indicates approximately a 40 percent cut in the number of lines of code from Java to Kotlin. 127 new deaths reported in the last 24 hours in Iran New deaths brought the number of fatalities to 1,812 amid 23,049 confirmed cases. Irans death toll from the new coronavirus has increased to 1,812, with 127 new deaths in the past 24 hours, a health ministry spokesman told state TV on Monday, adding that the countrys total number of infected people has reached 23,049. THE WORST OUTBREAK IN THE MIDDLE EAST Kianush Jahanpur said that in the past 24 hours, some 1,411 Iranians had been infected with the virus across the country, which has the worst outbreak in the Middle East. Over the last 24 hours, 127 people succumbed to death due to the deadly virus, he added. He went on to say that over 36 million people have also been screened with regard to coronavirus infection. Suriya and his family became the first to come up with financial aid to save the technicians of the FEFSI union. The star family has donated Rs 10 lakh to the technicians who are struggling due to the industry shut down, that has taken place on account of Coronavirus outbreak. Earlier, there was buzz that the FEFSI union leader, RK Selvamani might have a word with Tamil actors to donate for the good cause. Well, this is not the first time when Suriya and family are scripting a chapter in philanthropy. Earlier, the actor, with his brother had donated Rs 25 lakh and Rs 35 lakh for Kerala and Chennai flood relief respectively. Recently, Suriya took to his Twitter handle to explain the importance of social-distancing. In a short video, the actor added that the virus is spreading faster than we thought and therefore awareness on this is very important. He asked people to stay indoors and fight the Coronavirus. He also said that all precautions like being at safe distance from everyone and washing hands have to be taken care of so that India doesn't become second Italy. Suriya also quoted 'Anjuvathu anjamai pethamai' which translates to 'it is foolishness to say no to fear'. The actor's next release Soorarai Pottru might get postponed due to the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak. The movie had to recently suspend its post-production work. He will also team up with director Hari for the sixth time for Aruvaa. Suriya To Sport A Unique Look In Hari's Aruvaa! T he Met launched a crackdown on violent crime and drugs, warning criminals they would not go easy on them because of coronavirus. Officers will use stop and search, weapons sweeps and knife arches to target knife thugs in London hotspots. Raids will be carried out on drug dealers whose trade is linked to a high proportion of the violence, the force said. Retailers will also be visited to ensure they are preventing young people from buying knives. The fight against violent crime on Londons streets could be tested if the capital continues to be the centre of the pandemic. With thousands of children now off school, police are concerned some might be at risk from gangs. The campaign is part of Operation Sceptre running from today to March 29. Type 96A Main Battle Tanks (MBT) attached to the PLA 73rd Group Army fire 125-millimeter guns during live-fire training exercise in East China's Fujian Province on July 4, 2017. Photo: 81.cn The powerful combined arms battalion, each one including almost all types of basic military arms and professions, has now become a basic combat unit of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), enabling the service to react much more quickly in the fast-paced dynamic of modern warfare, gaining more advantages, experts said on Sunday. As the PLA is accelerating its transformation process, the combined arms battalion has now become an all-new basic combat unit and joined combat sequences, the PLA Daily reported on Friday. Compared with a traditional battalion, a combined arms battalion has almost all types of basic military arms and professions that the army has to offer, including dozens of professions and hundreds of positions, the report said. This means a combined arms battalion could have more than a dozen types of different units at its disposal, including infantry units, tank units, artillery units, aviation units, light armor vehicle units and amphibious assault units, rather than, for instance, a battalion full of only tank units like in the past, a military expert who asked not to be named told the Global Times, noting that each different combined arms battalion could have different focuses based on the battlefield situation. "The combined arms battalion is not a simple permutation and combination, it requires highly efficient management of all different arms units and integrated utilization," said a senior officer at the PLA Army Staff's training department, noting that this modularized, multifunctional force structure can achieve fast and flexible combinations based on the situation on the battlefield, forming different kinds of combat patterns and letting all combat factors make the best of the system's potential. Multiple types of combined arms battalions are already embedded into the PLA Army's combat system, achieving multiple source perception in combat command, high integration in combat factors and multidimensional expansion of combat space, the PLA Daily said, noting that the army troops' mobilization combat, multidimensional offense and defense capabilities have been greatly enhanced. More combined arms battalions could be established and more training will be held to make this model become even more powerful, experts said. The Frigate Regina Maria, pennant number F-222, from the Maritime Fleet structures was integrated, on Monday, in the Standing NATO Maritime Group (SNMG-2), which is operating in the Black Sea in the coming three weeks, a press release of the General Staff of the Naval Forces (SMFN) shows. According to the quoted source, the complement on the F-222, numbering 222 sailors, will execute naval, aerial and anti-submarine surveillance missions, together with the crews of the frigates BGS Drazki (Bulgaria), HMCS Fredericton (Canada), ITS Virginio Fasan (Italy), and TCG Salihreis (Turkey) and exercises of maritime interdiction, logistic transport, as well as medical search, rescue and evacuation, in view of increasing interoperability in conducting military actions between allies.The Romanian Naval Forces participate in the mission to ensure the safety of the Alliance, in accordance with the commitments assumed towards partners, contributing with two warships integrated in standing maritime groups of NATO, the minelayer Vice-Admiral Constantin Balescu, the flagship of the SNMCMG-2 (Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group), which is operating in the Mediterranean Sea, and the F-222, carrying a Puma Naval helicopter, integrated in SNMG-2 (Standing NATO Maritime Group).Before leaving for the international mission, prevention measures against the COVID-19 were taken and protection materials were ensured for the personnel in accordance to procedures in force, in order to maintain the battle readiness of the ship and the personnel on board the Regina Maria frigate.AGERPRES Under Gov. J.B. Pritzkers stay-at-home order, shelters are deemed essential because they provide charitable and social services, but organizations across the city and suburbs have still had to close locations or cut the number of beds they have available for the safety of their staff and residents. Last week, the Illinois Department of Human Services announced additional funds would be available throughout the state for agencies providing homelessness assistance. Customer attrition and churn are not new problems. Anyone who has spent time in the sales world has heard statistics around the cost of acquiring a new customer. It can be five to 25 times more expensive to acquire a new customer than to retain an existing one. More importantly, improving your customer retention by just 5 percent can increase profits by 25-95 percent, depending on your industry and company size. Needless to say, companies cannot afford to neglect their customer churn. Today, many companies are intrigued by the idea of turning to artificial intelligence for help in the sales process. However, most do not know where or how to get started. The best way to tap into the power of AI and machine learning is by building an intelligent experience. The intelligent experience is all about leveraging AI and ML to derive predictive insights that can be embedded into the workflow of a CRM. Companies seeking a competitive advantage must find ways to make their business operations more intelligent. Shifting the Focus How can the intelligent experience help improve customer retention? It starts with a shift in focus. Typically, businesses are addressing the problem by homing in on churn. They invest time in figuring out how to prevent churn. However, the focus needs to shift from customer churn alone to an overall look at customer success. Focusing on churn exclusively is a very reactive tactic. Oftentimes, companies are late to the party with churn. They will identify customers likely to churn when its too late. This is because there is a major difference between a leading indicator and a lagging indicator. For example, many businesses want to look at order cadence as a sign of churn. However, it tends to be a lagging indicator of a problem that manifested earlier. In order to make an impact, businesses must look at the leading indicators. Often the best indicators for churn are further back in the customer lifecycle, during acquisition and onboarding. Sometimes high customer attrition is not due to poor customer service but to poor customer acquisition efforts. Think back to what was happening in your business when a new customer started. Were you launching a new product? Were there changes in your manufacturing process? How long did it take the customer to start utilizing your service once the deal was executed? It is crucial to assess the landscape of the acquisition time period. This often is where perceptions of the relationship start to form. Customers are going to be comparing their initial experience to the expectations you set during the sales process. As the age-old adage tells us, first impressions are hard to shake. Examining the Cost Have you ever determined the true cost of customer churn for your business? Before you take any steps to improve customer retention, you must quantify the cost of churn. There are three major variables to consider. A D V E R T I S E M E N T First is obviously the loss of recurring revenue. Whatever that customer is paying is money lost. Second, with any existing customer, there is an opportunity to upsell and expand revenue. So you have to take into consideration the loss of that potential revenue. Finally, factor in all your customer acquisition costs. By combining these factors, you can get a better understanding of the true cost of customer churn. Once you have determined the true cost of customer churn, you can begin assessing the quality of churn. Not all customer attrition is regrettable. You should be able to determine what an acceptable level of churn is and set an established benchmark using basic analytics. For example, it might be OK for a customer to leave if the cost-to-serve is high and the margins are low. That assumes you are acquiring net-new customers at an appropriate velocity and volume to compensate for lost business. AI is certainly exciting, but you cannot jump into it without first laying the foundation with basic analytics. Getting Smarter About Customer Success After you shift your focus from purely churn to overall customer success, determine the true cost of customer churn, and establish foundational analytics, you then can begin using analytics and AI to drive customer success and reduce attrition. As I mentioned earlier, the real value is in creating an intelligent experience. When implementing AI into a business, gathering insights is great, but that is not enough. You must be able to leverage the insights that can be uncovered from data to identify next steps. Your AI project cannot be simply about getting a score of how likely a customer is to churn. You need to set your team up for action by weaving insights into the business process. This allows the focus to move from churn to customer success. Here is how it actually works. To predict the probability of a customer to churn, you need a logistic regression model that is trained on historical data. It is looking for examples of customers who have churned and ones who have not. It will learn from these situations and develop a probability score for each customer. Then various actions can be taken to influence that probability in hopes of changing the outcome. A D V E R T I S E M E N T Natural language processing models can be used to discern a customers sentiment. These models can be fed large amounts of unstructured data such as call recordings and Web chats to find themes. Then customers can be classified by how they feel: good, bad or indifferent. These classifications then are put into a logistic regression-based churn model. You are starting to chain together multiple models to help isolate customers who are likely to churn. The key is to figure out how to intervene before something actually happens. This is the power of predictive analytics. It allows you to be more proactive in improving customer retention rather than reactive to customer churn. Here is an example of how to pair insight with action: George, an inside sales rep, is working the retention desk, which is a specialized team tasked with reaching out to customers who have a high likelihood of churning. He enters the office in the morning and logs into his CRM. He sees a call list generated by an AI model that surfaces and ranks customers likely to churn. It tells George why the customer is likely to churn and provides a relevant sales play to take action. There is even more value in what AI and ML can do after George makes the call and takes the recommended action. Once he inputs his call notes and updates the CRM, the customer can be re-scored in real time. This system allows you to continue ensuring you are taking the next best steps to retain the customer. AI is the future of business operations. When contemplating an investment in AI, be sure you have a setup that will allow you to embed insights into the daily workflow of your organization. Through the power of AI, you can start blurring the lines between sales, service and marketing. Remember, the best time to have a selling conversation is right after youve solved a problem. AI can be used to improve customer retention in a variety of industries. Consider how implementing AI can help change your sales operations and ultimately drive customer success. By IANS NEW DELHI: A meeting of the BJP Legislature Party in Madhya Pradesh will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday. The BJP has issued special instructions to the legislators regarding this meeting to be held in the state party office amid the lockdown due to coronavirus. The MLAs who want to attend the meeting can reach the venue without supporters or they can join from home through videoconferencing. Sources say that the new Chief Minister can also take oath at Raj Bhavan at 7 p.m. Party sources said there is a possibility of Shivraj Singh Chouhan being elected the leader of the legislative party. If this happens, then Chouhan will become the Chief Minister of the state for the fourth time. Why is Chouhan the strongest contender? There are many reasons for this. He has the image of being a people's leader while the other contenders, Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and senior party leader Narottam Mishra, do not have a presence among the people. In the 2018 Assembly election, the BJP had selected the candidates going by the suggestions of Chouhan. Hence, there are many Chouhan loyalists in the party. Sources say that since the by-elections for 24 seats are yet to take place, the BJP leadership will not overlook Chouhan. The party also believes that it will be risky to introduce a new face as Chief Minister at this juncture. Sources say that Jyotiraditya Scindia is also in favour of making Chouhan the Chief Minister. A group of teenagers were arrested for coughing on an elderly couple in Hitchin, Herts A gang of teenagers who intimidated an elderly couple by coughing on them have been arrested. The pensioners were approached in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, and one of the group coughed in their faces. An altercation then took place leaving the woman with a black eye, police said. A spokesman for Hertfordshire Police told Yahoo News UK: An elderly couple were walking through the park when they were approached by three people, one of whom reportedly coughed in their faces, making them feel uncomfortable. An altercation then ensued after a passer-by intervened. The woman aged in her 70s subsequently suffered bruising to one of her eyes and her vehicle was damaged. The spokesman said she was taken to hospital for a check-up and is now recovering at home with her family. He added: The person who intervened, a man aged in his 30s, also suffered bruising. Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice Live: Follow all the latest updates from the UK and around the world Fact-checker: The number of COVID-19 cases in your local area Explained: Symptoms, latest advice and how it compares to the flu Three males, aged 16, 18 and 19, have been arrested and interviewed in connection with the incident. They have been released under investigation while enquiries continue. Police appealed for witnesses to contact police quoting case number ISR 252 of 20 March and asked people not to post details of those they believe are involved or share footage on social media as it could hamper the investigation. Dairy products manufacturer Hatsun Agro and owners of milk brand 'Arokya' on Monday said it has taken all necessary steps to ensure 'uninterrupted supply' of milk to customers. The city-based company issued the statement after the Tamil Nadu government declaring a lockdown from 6 pm of March 24 till March 31 in a bid to control the spread of coronavirus. The government has said essential commodities including milk and vegetables would be available to the people. "In order to ensure the essential commodity of milk is available to customers, Arokya Milk has taken all necessary steps to ensure uninterrupted supply", the company said. It has taken adequate safety and hygiene measures to ensure quality milk was available to the customers, the statement said. Cleanliness and safety protocols were given utmost importance at processing and distribution points, the company said, adding measures were also taken to ensure availability of cattle feed for dairy farmers and necessary packing material for packing milk and curd. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Monday said apart from essential and emergency services, public and private transportation would not operate during the lockdown. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two more inmates at the Massachusetts Treatment Center tested positive for the coronavirus after officials announced over the weekend that a prisoner at the Bridgewater facility has the viral respiratory infection. The National Guard has also set up screening tents outside of prisons in the commonwealth. Individuals attempting to enter a facility will be surveyed and have their body temperatures taken, authorities said. As of today, three inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 at MTC and have been quarantined from the general population, officials said. One officer has reported testing positive at MTC and has been instructed to stay home and follow their physicians instructions. The first incarcerated individual in the state reported to have the disease was confirmed at MTC on Saturday. He serving a life sentence. DOC has temporarily suspended all family and friend visits to prevent the introduction of the virus into its facilities. Attorney visits will be allowed during this time. The agency is also working with its contracted medical provider, Wellpath, to monitor the spread of the infection. [Wellpath] will meet with inmates who have presented symptoms consistent with a viral illness, authorities said. If an inmate has symptoms and meets the criteria for testing as with any other individual, the state health department would make the decision whether to have the inmate tested. Several public officials, including U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, as well as advocacy organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts have urged federal and state governments to reduce the number of incarcerated individuals amidst growing concerns of the illness. The ACLU of Massachusetts demanded last week that Gov. Charlie Baker grant commutations to certain prison populations, including people whose sentences end in the next year and any person incarcerated on a technical supervision violation. Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins announced earlier this month as well that she plans to release inmates particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus and who pose no meaningful risk. Currently, 646 COVID-19 cases and five deaths due to the virus have been reported in Massachusetts. More than 6,000 residents have been tested for the disease. The Department and our contracted medical provider have been actively preparing for this virus and we continue to closely monitor developments associated with its spread, DOC said in a statement. Health and safety precautions to minimize the risk of introduction and transmission have been and remain in place to protect inmates and staff. Related Content: The recently recognized Pamunkey Tribe is seeking to build two casinos in Virginia as full-scale gaming moves closer to reality. The tribe has its eyes on Norfolk, where local officials already support plans for a facility on 13.4 acres on the waterfront. The tribe is also hoping to bid on a potential casino in the capital city of Richmond. The Pamunkey Tribe is eager to move forward with its plans to build a world-class resort and casino in Norfolk and ready to respond to Richmonds Request for Proposals to bring a casino to the River City, a statement released to the media read. Its plans to build two resorts with casinos will allow the Tribe to provide needed programs and services to its members. It will be a great partner for Norfolk and Richmond. The Tribe will keep profits in Virginia through reinvestment locally and will provide tremendous benefits to these regions of the Commonwealth for decades to come. A conceptual rendering of the Pamunkey Tribe's proposed $700 million casino in Virginia. Image: Pamunkey Tribe Moving forward depends on additional steps at the state and local levels, as Gov. Ralph Northam (D) has yet to sign legislation that paves the way for full-scale gaming. Assuming the bill becomes law, voters in Norfolk and in Richmond would then be asked whether they want a casino in their community, the outcome which will affect the tribe's plans. The tribe could go another route, by seeking federal approval to have land placed in trust in order to open a casino. The process, however, is likely to take several years, if not longer, due to hurdles at the Bureau of Indian Affairs and potential legal challenges. Opening a casino under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act also requires a Class III compact if the tribe intends to run slot machines, card games and related offerings. The state would have to come to the table and negotiate. As a recently recognized Indian nation, the tribe would have to prove that it was "under federal jurisdiction" in 1934 in order to quality for the fee-to-trust process at the BIA. The tribe could also ask Congress to acquire trust lands. Six other tribes in Virginia also recently gained recognition by going through Congress. The Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act authorizes lands to be placed in trust for them. The law, however, it bars them from engaging in gaming on their lands. They could still seek gaming through the state but none have publicly expressed an interest, and most of their leadership, in the past has disavowed gambling. Read More on the Story Join the Conversation Related Stories While two of them have been booked in South Kashmir's Awantipora area of Pulwama district, the third one was booked by police in North Kashmir Ganderbal district. Sources said the resident of Ganderbal had landed in Srinagar via a Jet Airways flight and he was overhead on board telling a fellow passenger that 'he was a happy bomb'. Police said he has been put under quarantine after being booked for hiding his travel history. Earlier, two persons, both students studying in Pakistan and Bangladesh, who recently returned to village Charsoo and village Goripora of Awantipora were booked for the same offence. They have been sent to EDI Pampore to undergo necessary quarantine and further action under the said FIR shall be initiated after their quarantine period is over. Awantipora police appealed the general public to cooperate with administration and Police in this unprecedented situation and proactivly disclose their travel history. People are also requested to inform Police Control Room Awantipora on phone number 01933247369/7051404001, if any person found in their locality to have returned from outside Jammu and Kashmir. --IANS sq/in Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 10:07:41|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close People line up to buy sanitizer at a pharmacy in Johannesburg, South Africa, March 22, 2020. South Africa on Sunday reported 34 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the country's total to 274. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng) CAPE TOWN, March 22 (Xinhua) -- South Africa on Sunday reported 34 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the country's total to 274. Of the 274 cases, 208 patients, or 76 percent, have a history of travel from an area hit by the novel coronavirus outbreak, according to South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD). The majority of the rest had contact with persons who have an international travel history, the institute said. Contact tracing of all cases is underway to detect potential infections, the NICD said. South Africa reported its first case on March 5. The COVID-19 patients had mostly traveled to Europe, the United States, Canada or the Middle East. Of the country's nine provinces, seven provinces have so far reported COVID-19 cases, with Gauteng posting the highest number, followed by Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. The only provinces with no cases are Northern Cape and North West. A major Nigerian pentecostal preacher has vowed to continue holding Sunday service for thousands of his followers, spurning worldwide medical advisory against physical contact at a time of blazing coronavirus. David Oyedepo brushed aside the potential hazards of his decision to defy government restrictions on social gatherings across Nigeria, saying some members would rather look up to Sunday service as the only viable means of treatment against COVID-19, a strain of coronavirus that has killed more than 15,000 people and left tens of thousands bedridden across the world. Shutting down churches would be like shutting down hospitals, Mr Oyedepo said during March 22 Sunday service that streamed live online. There are many, many places that would never have any medical solution but in church. Mr Oyedepo held the service at the headquarters of his Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel) on the outskirts of Lagos on Sunday morning, the same day that Nigerias coronavirus infections jumped to 30 and health experts were raising alarm about the importance of social distancing. A police spokesperson told PREMIUM TIMES officers showed up to ask Mr Oyedepo not to hold service for the health benefit of his members and society, but he proceeded nonetheless. The preacher held two services within hours apart even though the government had placed an indefinite moratorium on religious gathering amidst scramble to contain the spread of the virus. The service in Sango-Ota, which falls under Ogun State but keeps a close proximity with the nations commercial capital, held without provision of hand sanitisers to members, according to two people who attended. They also did not check for our temperature before hundreds of us went into the church for service, Tunmise Ogunlolu, a member of the church, told PREMIUM TIMES. But everyone was visibly afraid throughout the service. Ms Ogunlolu said she and many others attended the programme to see whether Mr Oyedepo would announce indefinite suspension of service pending the containment of COVID-19, but I was not too disappointed that he did not postpone. The anointing that we received at church yesterday was very important to myself and other members, she added. But I am not sure I will take the risk again next week. Another member who attended the service said it was obviously scanty. Winners Chapel boasts of some of the largest congregations in Nigeria. Its headquarters can hold as many as 250,000 people during overflow, and Mr Oyedepo himself has once been listed amongst worlds richest pastors by Forbes, Reuters reported. The church also has hundreds of other branches in Nigeria and other countries. Although the headquarters, officially dubbed Canaan Land by the church, had long assumed a community of its own, some of its administrative functions are still subject to state and federal laws in Nigeria. Yet, the church was left out when law enforcement authorities besieged worship centres across Lagos and Ogun to enforce social distancing measures on Sunday. Several churches were closed in downtown Lagos and some communities in Ogun for apparent violation of a widely publicised ban on gatherings of more than 50 persons. The number has been reviewed downward to only 20 in Lagos. But the fear of security agencies to enforce the ban at Canaan Land might not be unconnected with Mr Oyedepos towering influence and friendship with political bigwigs across the country. A spokesperson who declined to provide his name even though his number was listed on the churchs website said he was just learning from PREMIUM TIMES that service held. I never knew there would be service today, you are just telling me now that you saw the evidence on the Internet, the official said, promising without fulfilling to call back and provide clarification. Above the pack Winners Chapel appeared to be the only church in its category that held service against public health directive on Sunday. A cascade of Sunday service cancelations began amongst other mega and minor pentecostal churches across the country following meetings with state governments throughout the week. Some churches, like the Commonwealth Zion Assembly and Methodist Church Nigeria, that initially asked members to show up for Sunday service later decided against it at the eleventh-hour, urging their members to obey public safety directives instead. Most of the churches used the Internet and other forms of mass media to pass message to their members at home on Sunday. Mr Oyedepo himself acknowledge the essence of governments directive in statements preceding his declaration that the church was more important than the hospital for some members. Every measure being taken is only to preserve lives, Mr Oyedepo said. We will subscribe fully to whatever preserves lives. Advertisements He also said churches are coming up with other means of passing sermon to members outside the church, saying it would help avoid up and down movement. Yet, the preacher said he would continue to hold physical Sunday service for potentially thousands of members in continuous violation of existing public order. It is not a number of people that makes fellowship, it is the gathering of the brethren, he said. Although the legality of the shelter-in-place directive of governors has been a subject of debate on social media, the police have said they would enforce it because it has the support of the majority. Abimbola Oyeyemi, Ogun police spokesperson, told PREMIUM TIMES officers were at Canaan Land on Sunday to enforce compliance, but Mr Oyedepo and his ministers thwarted their efforts. Police officers were there to caution them but they refused and held their service, Mr Oyeyemi said. Mr Oyeyemi admitted to PREMIUM TIMES that the churchs action was inappropriate, but officers had overlooked it with the hope that such would not happen again going forward. We hope that by next week Sunday they would listen to the voice of reason and comply, the police chief said. Nobody is above the law. Yemeni air defense deters Saudi-led jets from striking areas in Ma'rib Iran Press TV Sunday, 22 March 2020 6:22 PM Yemeni air defense units have thwarted a Saudi airstrike against strategic and residential areas in the central province of Ma'rib, says the spokesman for Yemeni Armed Forces Brigadier General Yahya Saree. Saree said in a post published on his official Twitter page on Sunday that a squadron of Saudi-led warplanes sought to bombard areas in Sirwah district at 10:03 p.m. local time (1903 GMT) the previous day, when the domestically built, long-range Fater-1 (Innovator-1) surface-to-air missile defense system intercepted the jets and forced them off Yemeni airspace. The high-ranking Yemeni military official said the aircraft left the area without carrying out any act of aggression. Less than a week ago, the Fater-1 missile defense system foiled an airstrike by a squadron of Saudi-led warplanes against areas in the same district. Yemeni armed forces unveiled Fater-1 along with other domestically-built long-range, surface-to-air missile defense systems on February 23. Minister of Defense Major General Mohamed al-Atefy, Chairman of the General Staff Major General Mohamed al-Ghammari and Brigadier General Saree were in attendance during the event. Saudi Arabia and a number of its regional allies launched a devastating campaign against Yemen in March 2015, with the goal of bringing back to power a former Riyadh-backed government and crushing the Houthi Ansarullah movement. The US-based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), a nonprofit conflict-research organization, estimates that the war has claimed more than 100,000 lives over the past nearly five years. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have purchased billions of dollars' worth of weapons from the United States, France and the United Kingdom in the war on Yemen. The Saudi-led coalition has been widely criticized for the high civilian death toll from its bombing campaign. The alliance has carried out more than 20,650 air raids in Yemen, according to the data collected by the Yemen Data Project. The UN says over 24 million Yemenis are in dire need of humanitarian aid, including 10 million suffering from extreme levels of hunger. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Wine Society temporarily closes "with immediate effect" The Wine Society has announced it is not taking any new orders and it will stop making any deliveries, with immediate effect. In a statement to its members, chief executive officer, Steve Finlan, said: "The Prime Minister's statement was very clear that the single most important action we can all take in fighting coronavirus is to stay at home in order to protect the NHS and save lives. "I wholeheartedly support the need to do this and as a result we need our employees to stay at home. Many of our employees are already working from home, but this latest development means that our warehouse and transport operations will now be suspended. "Many of you will be disappointed and some may not agree with our decision, but it is simply impossible for us to argue that it is worth putting our employees at risk in order to deliver a non-essential service. I believe that this is the responsible action to take right now and I hope that most of you will agree. "I am extremely sorry that this will mean that we are unable to fulfil outstanding orders for the time being. It is uncertain exactly how long this position will prevail. "Our Member Services lines will be not be taking inbound calls today and will reopen with a smaller home-based team tomorrow. In the meantime, the team will start immediately to contact members about the status of their orders so that we can bring clarity to the situation. My sincere apologies if our automated systems for communication around delivery are not quite in sync with the speed that we have taken this action. "We pride ourselves at The Wine Society in always doing the right thing. I believe strongly that we are doing the right thing in this instance. "We will endeavour to provide timely and effective communication as this rapidly evolving situation continues to develop. In the meantime, I would like to thank all members for your understanding and support, and to extend our very best wishes to you all." Speaking to DRN yesterday, Pierre Mansour, the company's head of wine buying, said the first priority for the company is protecting its staff. He said: "We are putting their health and wellbeing first." He confirmed that over the last two weeks the business has seen "unprecented demand" but that staffing levels had dropped by 50%. He said: "This means that our biggest challenge currently has been dealing with the increase in orders from our members and then getting their orders and wine out of our warehouses and into delivery. It has been all hands on deck and we have had people from all different types of roles in the company all coming in to help, if they have been able to." Related articles: The number of COVID-19 cases around the globe continues to explode with 372,563 cases and 16,381 deaths in 168 countries as of Monday afternoon, according to Johns Hopkins University which is tracking the spread. Italy has seen the most deaths, reporting 6,077. China has reported 3,153, Spain 2,207, Iran 1,812, France 860, the United States 573, the United Kingdom 335, and Netherlands 213. You can see the spread of the pneumonia-like virus in the maps above from Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering. The maps are regularly updated with data from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. ALSO: Over 1.5 billion globally told to stay home to avoid virus In Italy, the hardest-hit country of all, declines in both new cases and deaths for a second consecutive day provided a faint glimmer of hope, though it is too soon to say whether the crisis is leveling off. Italian officials said Monday that the virus had claimed over 600 more lives, down from 793 two days earlier. All told, the outbreak has killed more than 6,000 Italians, the highest death toll of any country, and pushed the health system to the breaking point. The risk to doctors, nurses and others on the front lines has become plain: Italy has seen at least 18 doctors with coronavirus die. Spain reported that more than 3,900 health care workers have become infected, accounting for roughly 12% of the country's total cases. British health workers pleaded for more gear, saying they felt like cannon fodder. In France, doctors scrounged masks from construction workers and factory floors. The Dutch government has tightened its measures aimed at reining in the spread of the coronavirus, including banning all gatherings until June 1. Canada's most populous province is ordering the closure of all non-essential businesses. Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the order will be effective at midnight Tuesday and will be in place for at least 14 days. India took the extraordinary step of shutting down the nation's vast rail system, which has long been the lifeblood of the country of 1.3 billion people. Turkey's health minister says the country will begin the mass production of respirators for domestic use and to export to countries in need. Fahrettin Koca said the government will also employ 32,000 more health workers across Turkey to fight the virus. A number of health personnel had contracted the virus, Koca said, adding that the exact figure would be released at a later date. The way U.S. officials respond to the severe pressure on hospitals and people's willingness to keep their distance from others will prove critical in coming days, public health experts said. Actions taken right now will have a huge impact on the course of this epidemic in the U.S., said Josh Michaud, associate director of global health policy with the Kaiser Family Foundation in Washington. Its an important moment." The crisis continued to ease in China. The city of Wuhan, where the outbreak first emerged late last year, said it is allowing residents limited movement as its lockdown is gradually relaxed. China is now sending planeloads of protective gear and doctors to Europe. The U.S. is completely wasting the precious time that China has won for the world, said Geng Shuang, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government's top infectious-disease expert, promised that medical supplies are about to start pouring in and will be clearly directed to those hot spots that need it most. The Associated Press contributed to this story. MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE: Sign up for 'The Daily' newsletter for the latest on coronavirus here. Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com. By Jung Min-ho A Korea University official has been suspended for flirting with 40 international students after allegedly stealing their phone numbers from a database. According to police and Korea University, the man is being investigated for allegedly violating the personal information protection law after sending KakaoTalk messages like "I had a crush on you" to 40 Chinese students for several days from March 16 the day he started working there. After receiving the messages, some students complained to the school, which reported the matter to police on March 20. A Korea University representative reportedly said the man has been suspended and will be fired eventually. Helping out: The LE Samuel Beckett berthed on Sir John Rogersons Quay in Dublin. Photo: Aerial.ie Three Naval Service vessels will help with Covid-19 testing from today as the Defence Forces also consider the use of non-essential Army facilities to support the HSE. Tanaiste Simon Coveney said Ireland was effectively doubling the size of the health service - and would use army-style field hospitals if required in the worst-case scenario. The patrol ships deployed to Dublin, Cork and Galway now join with GAA facilities, including Croke Park in Dublin and Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork, in support of the massive expansion of virus testing across Ireland. There are now 35 test centres nationwide, with a further 20 under consideration. Pairc Ui Chaoimh will, at peak operations, handle 1,000 Covid-19 tests a day. Around 40,000 people are now waiting on Covid-19 testing - with an average waiting time of four to five days. A number of non-essential Army facilities have also been identified for potential use if the Government and HSE require greater isolation capacity in dealing with the Covid-19 epidemic. These are in Dublin, Cork and Kildare. However, they will only be required if the HSE premises, nursing homes and offices already earmarked prove incapable of meeting the expected isolation demands posed by the surge in Covid-19 detections. LE Samuel Beckett has been assigned to Dublin, LE William Butler Yeats has been sent to Galway and LE Eithne has been deployed to Cork. The three vessels will act as support bases for onshore testing centres - with testing staff supported by electricity supplies, accommodation, food preparation, water and equipment storage on the berthed vessels. However, testing will not take place on the vessels. 03/23/2020 Photo (c) gguy44 - Getty Images Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University: Total U.S. confirmed cases: 35,530 Total U.S. deaths: 473 Total global cases: 354,677 Total global deaths: 15,436 Cases surge in New York New York has now become the center of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the U.S., with the number of confirmed cases exceeding 20,000, rising 38 percent in 24 hours. As of this morning, the state had recorded 99 deaths, with most occurring in the New York City metro. The state has launched Operation PAUSE, part of a 10-point plan to slow the spread of the virus by keeping residents at home. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said today that too many residents, particularly in New York City, are still approaching life as normal. He says life is anything but. "It has to stop and it has to stop now," Cuomo said over the weekend. "New York City must develop an immediate plan to reduce density." Stalemate stalls aid package The Senate resumed work late this morning on a massive aid package that includes help for businesses and individuals affected by COVID-19 economic fallout. In a vote Sunday, lawmakers failed to approve a procedural measure that would allow them to move quickly toward passage. Democrats withheld their support over concerns that the package provides too much aid to businesses. After Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y) worked late into the night, both sides expressed confidence they could reach an agreement. More pumping The Federal Reserve attempted to calm markets today by announcing a package of programs that will pump money into the system. Among its measures, the Fed will continue to purchase government bonds, providing liquidity for aid programs. The Fed said it will continue pumping money in the amounts needed to support smooth market functioning and effective transmission of monetary policy to broader financial conditions and the economy. While waiting for Congress to act, the Fed is also providing loans for small businesses, many of which have been ordered to shut down to promote social distancing and slow the spread of the virus. Testing existing drugs Scientists are currently testing 70 existing drugs for their effectiveness against the coronavirus. Some of the medications may already be in some consumers medicine chests since they are used to treat other chronic conditions. The researchers say finding existing drugs that can stop the virus will be a lot faster than trying to develop new ones. The list of drugs also includes some drugs that are still in clinical trials and not yet approved. Tuesday is senior day at Walgreens Walgreens has joined the list of retailers setting aside shopping times for seniors. Starting tomorrow, Tuesdays will be senior day, with the hour from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. set aside for seniors-only shopping at Walgreens stores. Caregivers and their immediate families are also included. All day on Tuesdays, seniors will find discounts on a wide range of products, with consumers age 55 and older receiving 30 percent off on Walgreens brands and 20 percent off on national brands. Walgreens pharmacists are proactively contacting senior customers to make sure they have adequate supplies of medications. Hopeful note Renowned biophysicist Michael Levitt, who has a Nobel prize to his credit, is predicting that the U.S. will follow the same virus pattern China experienced. On January 31, Levitt correctly observed that the rate of new cases in China had slowed and further predicted they would soon reverse. He turned out to be correct. He predicted that China, where COVID-19 originated, would begin to get back to normal long before other health authorities suggested. He believes the U.S. and the rest of the world will follow suit, as long as strict social distancing is observed.. "What we need is to control the panic," he told the Los Angeles Times. In the grand scheme, we're going to be fine." Around the nation As a pre-emptive measure to tide over any frictional liquidity requirements on account of dislocations due to COVID-19, the Reserve Bank of India has decided to conduct the following fine-tuning variable rate Repo auctions for Rs 1,00,000 crores in two tranches of Rs 50000 crore on March 23 and March 24 2020. As a special case, Standalone Primary Dealers will be allowed to participate in these auctions along with other eligible participants. All other terms and conditions as applicable to term Repo auctions will remain the same. The Reserve Bank is monitoring the evolving financial market conditions. The Reserve Bank will calibrate its operations to meet any need for additional liquidity support, if warranted, to ensure normal functioning of markets, promote staff welfare and preserve financial stability. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government of Singapore is tracing the coronavirus in ways that are simultaneously impressive and terrifying for those who worry about high-tech dictatorship. The latest example: On Saturday, a friend living there received a WhatsApp message from the Singaporean government with instructions to download a new coronavirus tracing app called "TraceTogether." The app uses Bluetooth to help the government track down and notify people who have come into close contact with somebody infected with the coronavirus. How it works, per ChannelNewsAsia (CNA): Singaporeans download TraceTogether from the App Store, enter their cellphone number and consent to their numbers being "stored in a secure registry." They switch on Bluetooth and push notifications. According to the Singaporean government, the app attaches a random ID to your cell number. "It then uses Bluetooth to detect other users who come within two to five meters of you and records their random IDs internally," per CNA. If a user of the app tests positive for the coronavirus, Singapore's Ministry of Health will have them send their app logs to the government. The Singaporean government will then "decrypt the random IDs to determine the mobile numbers of my close contacts." This means that Singaporeans won't have to rely on their memories to recall whether they've had contact with somebody who later tests positive for the virus. Between the lines: This app is a high-tech form of contact tracing identify an infected person, then immediately identify who they might have infected, test those people, on down the line. Testing is the first and essential step to making it work. That's why we can't do it. Testing plus contact tracing is the right thing to do in any outbreak, it's what worked in Singapore and South Korea. There are ways to do it that are not incompatible with freedom but we can't do it here in the United States because testing sucks so much here. The other side: Some of the government's techniques would be difficult to implement in a free society. Over many decades, Singaporeans have become comfortable unquestioningly following directives from their dictatorial government. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks during a media briefing at the State Department in Washington in a file photograph. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) US Secretary of State Condemns Irans Lies About CCP Virus U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has criticized Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for spreading lies about the CCP virus pandemic. Khamenei has made dangerous fabrications regarding the new illness, Pompeo said in a scathing statement on March 23. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus as the CCP virus, which causes the disease COVID-19, because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mishandling allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. Some Trump administration officials have been calling it the Chinese virus or the Wuhan virus. Irans role in the spread of COVID-19, which originated in China last year, include its primary airline running dozens of flights between Tehran and China in February, further infecting the Iranian people, Pompeo said. At least five foreign countries first cases of coronavirus were directly imported from Iran, putting millions more lives at risk, he added. A member of a medical team wears a protective mask following the CCP virus outbreak, as he prepares disinfectant liquid to sanitize public places in Tehran, Iran, on March 5, 2020. (WANA/Nazanin Tabatabaee via Reuters) Irans leaders also ignored warnings from health officials in the country and denied the first domestic death from the virus for at least nine days. Pompeo also alleged that Iran is misrepresenting U.S. sanctions on the Middle Eastern country, which dont target imports of food, medicine, and medical equipment, or other humanitarian goods. Iranian documents show their health companies have been able to import testing kits without obstacle from U.S. sanctions since January, he said. Khamenei rejected the United States offer of millions of dollars in medical assistance because he works tirelessly to concoct conspiracy theories and prioritizes ideology over the Iranian people, Pompeo added. Pompeos rebuttal came after Khamenei made a number of dubious claims in an address to his people, including promoting a conspiracy theory from the Chinese Communist Party that the U.S. military brought the illness to China in the first place. Rejecting a U.S. offer of assistance, Khamenei said: I do not know how real this accusation is but when it exists, who in their right mind would trust you to bring them medication? Possibly your medicine is a way to spread the virus more. Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivers a televised speech on the occasion of the Iranian New Year Nowruz, in Tehran, Iran, on March 20, 2020. (Official Khamenei website/Handout via Reuters) He also claimed that the CCP virus is specifically built for Iran using the genetic data of Iranians, which they have obtained through different means. You might send people as doctors and therapists, maybe they would want to come here and see the effect of the poison they have produced in person, he said. Some of the statements were also posted on Twitter, where they remained untouched as of March 23. In one post, Khamenei said that offers of assistance from the United States were strange. Based on the words of your own officials, you face shortages in the U.S. So use what you have for your own patients, he said, before making the claims. While most other countries have seen mortality rates of 3 percent or lower, Iran has recorded more than 1,800 deaths from COVID-19, for a mortality rate of about 7.8 percent. The rate in the United States, which has about 500 deaths, is 1.2 percent. While Iran has officially reported approximately 23,000 cases, experts believe the country has been manipulating the number of cases and deaths. Two Bengaluru-based DJs were arrested on Monday following a joint investigation by the Anti-Narcotic Cell of the Goa Police and the Bengaluru Police's Central Crime Branch, which have claimed to have busted a "well laid out drug distribution network" in multiple states including Goa, Karnataka and Kerala. A statement issued by the Goa police on Monday said, that the DJ's Mohammed Fayiz (27) and Rashid (29) were arrested from Bengaluru by a joint team of officials and LSD sheets and MDMA worth Rs. 5 lakh were allegedly seized from them. Both Fayid and Rashid hail from Kerala, but were based in Bengaluru and were known to conduct "high profile rave parties", according to the statement issued by the Goa Police. "Upon interrogation by the Central Crime Branch of Bangalore, the two accused revealed that they used to pose as sound mixers and DJs in parties and night clubs and supplied party drugs like LSD and MDMA," the statement said. Goa Police said, that the duo were working in tandem with a former Turkish military commando Murat Tas (47), who was previously arrested in February this year in the beach village of Arambol in North Goa, in possession of MDMA worth Rs. 71 lakh. "The duo were in touch with Turkish commando Murat Tas who was part of their gang for luring in tourists visiting Goa, especially foreigners," the statement also said. BERKELEY (BCN) To help make it easier to shelter in place, the City of Berkeley will temporarily suspend enforcement of some parking rules, including those pertaining to parking meters, time-limited parking, school zones and residential permit parking, through April 7. "Normal daily patterns of traffic and parking needs have changed, and we are all adjusting," a City of Berkeley news release reads. "We'll be monitoring the situation, and we may realize that changes need to be made." Enforcement will continue unchanged for parking at red curb, fire hydrants, disabled parking blue zones, street sweeping (times), yellow zones in commercial areas and for double parking. Enforcement of prohibitions on parking in construction zones and driveways will be done only in response to specific complaints. City officials ask that drivers not park for long periods around venues that are struggling during this time, such as restaurants doing pick-up and delivery only, or near essential destinations such as grocery stores. Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. The three shared the cab while it was returning to Hyderabad after dropping the Paris returnee home The AP police are in an attempt to contact trace the three persons who travelled in the same cab. (PIB Image) Vijayawada: It seems like the travel patterns of foreign returnees is whats causing a headache to the various state administrations fighting the spread of coronavirus in the country. A good share of foreign returnees, who came back home using either public or private transport and refusing to quarantine or report hospitals are now easily one of the biggest health risks for the country. The situation is no different in Andhra Pradesh. A student, who returned from Paris recently, used a private cab to reach his hometown in Vijayawada from Hyderabad. The Guntur based cabbie then ferried three other persons in the return journey to Hyderabad. While the Paris returnee has now tested positive for Covid-19, the AP police are in an attempt to contact trace the three persons who travelled in the same cab. The Vijayawada police on Sunday announced a high alert in the entire city, asking the public to observe Janata Curfew for three more days after one more positive case of Covid-19 was reported in the city. The latest Covid-19 victim reached India when he landed in Delhi on March 16, reached Hyderabad by flight by 12 noon, and finally reached home in Vijayawada on the same day at 6 pm. He spent two days travelling to various places, stopping for food and other needs in various points in the city. Hence, officials have started contact tracings to identify all persons who might be in danger of getting infected by the virus. The medical, health and municipal officials plunged into action and conducted medical checkups in 500 houses adjacent to the victim's residence near the fish market in one town at Vijayawada in 3 km radius of the area. Krishna district collector A Md Imtiaz said that the student reached his house in a private cab, after which the driver took three others from Guntur to Hyderabad and dropped them off at Kukatpally area. He said that officials have shared the details of the cab to Telangana government authorities and have started an inquiry to find out more details and current location of these three persons who travelled in that cab. He said that the student had suffered from fever since March 20. He was shifted to an isolation ward, where he was found Covid-19 positive. He said that police have started an inquiry to find out persons in the cab. Officials of all departments concerned, including police, revenue, and medical and health, are supervising the situation in one town, he said. He said that a high alert has been announced throughout the city and sought cooperation of public to contain the spread of Covid-19. Abba Kyari, the Chief of State to President Muhammadu Buhari, has written a letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila. In the letter dated March 21, 2020, Abba Kayi expressed displeasure over the alleged refusal of some members of the House of Representatives shunning airport screening when they touched down at the airport. He wants the erring House members to visit the test centre immediately, maintaining that their action was a serious threat to national security. The authenticity of the letter has not been confirmed, and Abba Kyari did not state the airport where the incident happened or the House members involved. It was has been brought to the Honourable Minister of Health recent report to this office that some members of the House of Representatives are refusing to subject themselves to medical screening at airports. As you are aware, this airport screening is our primary line of defence and refusal by any citizen to subject to this test is a threat to our nation. Accordingly, you are kindly requested to direct all members of the House of Representatives who returned to Nigeria from foreign trips to report themselves to the nearest NCDC test centre with immediate effect. As always distinguished President of the Senate, please accept the assurances of my highest regard,the letter reads. See some reactions from Nigerians about the letter. We should #prayforitaly, but please, pray for Nigeria first. We are on the same path that Italy took. Our leaders are refusing to test; our President is clueless & attended Jumaat; Abba Kyari & some religious leaders are even bigger covidiots. Italy has infrastructure, we dont. pic.twitter.com/yRG6x638uG Ayo Bankole (@AyoBankole) March 23, 2020 Abba Kyari should not be writing to the speaker and senate president instead to the IG of police any senator who refuse to subject themself to medical screening should be ceased and placed under quarantine for 14days. We must get sense by force https://t.co/toZJo0C0QS Dragon fly (@Mr_Amode) March 23, 2020 Just saw a letter from Abba Kyari to @femigbaja & there are so many issues with it. The confusing grammar in the 1st sentence. The fact that members of @nassnigeria think that they are above the laws they make. And that the letter made no reference to the President. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/eZUnyZh8EF Ose Anenih (@ose_anenih) March 23, 2020 Guys, stay away from National Assembly members who just returned from overseas. They have been refusing COVID19 tests. In this letter, Abba Kyari said they are a threat to the nation, urging the Senate President/Speaker to prevail on members test for the virus! pic.twitter.com/a5vSlH5vIB Jackson Ude (@jacksonpbn) March 23, 2020 I cant make up my mind whether this letter was for the Speaker of the House of Representatives or for the Senate President. Or whether this is just trademark Nigerian carelessness in action as usual. pic.twitter.com/KoRIuGbKgb Naijaman (@hugo_davy) March 23, 2020 See forget Abba Kyari and the Senate president o! If your Father, Mother, Uncle, Aunt, Sugar Daddy or Sugar Mummy is a member of the Senate Alaye STAY AWAY FROM THEM O!!!#COVID19 THE WRITING DJ?? (@thewritingDJ) March 23, 2020 Starting a letter with speaker house of representatives and ending same letter with senate President but youd never see that Thats the level of incompetence in Aso Rock Ricky (@Fattsoul) March 23, 2020 Very poorly written piece. Abba Kyari wrote to the Speaker but gave your assurances to the Senate President. These people cannot even write simple letter and Nigeria is paying them salaries ? pic.twitter.com/JCfmK2uvWP Tope Akinyode (@TopeAkinyode) March 23, 2020 The memo was to speaker (House of rep) but acknowledged senate president to the speaker.. If this memo is direct source.. Then there is problem with people ruling us IKUEYEMI DANIEL (@IkueyemiD) March 23, 2020 Abba Kyari Chief of Staff to Buhari wrote to The Speaker House of Reps over Coronavirus, he then finished the letter by acknowledging the Senate President. This is what we get for voting in dumb skulls. zeezou (@zeezoulee) March 23, 2020 Lets ignore the senate president / speaker house of reps conclusion and confusion for now, if any pther thing in that Abba Kyari letter gives u trouble then you still dunno whats going on in Nigeria? Zaid Maina (@Z_mainah) March 23, 2020 Coronavirus has taken over the world and more importantly has massive impact on the world's economy. As the world is trying to make sense of this pandemic, major corporates are doing their bit in fighting this unprecedented situation. The fashion industry is also trying to do its bit to contribute to fighting the pandemic. iStock Last week, Zara's parent company, Inditex, which also owns brands like Bershka, announced that they shall be turning over their supply chains to produce medical supplies for donation to hospitals, in an effort to fight against the coronavirus pandemic. iStock Likewise, H&M, the worlds second-biggest fashion retailer, recently announced that it would use its vast supply network to source medical equipment for hospitals in the European Union to aid the medical professionals in their fight against the deadly coronavirus. This would also include protective equipment. iStock The EU has asked us to share our purchasing operations and logistics capabilities in order to source supplies, but in this urgent initial phase, we will donate the supplies, a H&M spokesperson said in an email to a leading publication. iStock H&M said it had been informed that N-95 masks were the main priority, but gowns and gloves were also depleting rapidly. A lot of countries like Italy have already run short of protective gear for health workers and of equipment crucial in the treatment of severe coronavirus cases. This move by the retailer giant can be especially beneficial considering only recently an Italian doctor succumbed to coronavirus that he contracted due to shortage of supply of gloves which forced him to work without them. We really don't want to be in a situation like that again. H&M has temporarily shut its stores in many of its markets due to the pandemic. It has suppliers around the globe, but mostly in China and other Asian countries such as India, Bangladesh and Vietnam. Besides H&m and Zara, LVMH, the parent company too, has instructed three of their perfume factories (known to produce for Christian Dior, Givenchy, and Guerlain) to stop all current productions and start making hand sanitizers as there was a dearth of sanitizers in medical facilities in Europe. Prominent Bollywood personalities such as Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Hrithik Roshan, and many more on Sunday came out on their balconies as a part of PM Narendra Modi's Janta Curfew initiative to give a shout-out to people who have been providing medical and other essential services during the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. PM Modi urged people to clap, ring bells or bang utensils for five minutes to show their appreciation. Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi on Monday took to his Twitter handle to show the after-effects of banging utensils broken utensils due to high enthusiasm by the people. Tihar jail to release 3000 inmates to avoid overcrowding as Coronavirus cases cross 400 At 5 pm on Sunday, India saw a sudden burst of activity in the evening as families emerged on their roofs in a collective gesture of thanksgiving to essential service providers. Men, women and children were seen on their roofs, balconies, verandas and windows beating 'thaalis' or simply clapping to send a message of solidarity with the rest of the country fighting the pandemic. And thats what happens when a billion people unite to clap on PM @narendramodi jis call! Just got this as a forward on Whatsapp! This shows the level of enthusiasm we all witnessed yesterday! #WhatsAppUniversity #ClapAt5pm #5Baje5Minute #IndiaFightsCorona #IndiaComeTogether pic.twitter.com/4HeWrPtngp Vivek Anand Oberoi (@vivekoberoi) March 23, 2020 Coronavirus crisis in India As of date, 470 positive cases have been reported of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) with Maharashtra reporting the highest at 89. Nine deaths have been reported till date. India has suspended all visas and barred travel from Afghanistan, Philippines, EU, UK, China, Malaysia and mandatory 14-day quarantine from several other countries and shut down over 20 states and Union territories. India has also closed the India-Pakistan border and restricted passenger movement at the border with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Myanmar. The government is monitoring all suspected cases and issued preventive advisories with states declaring the disease an epidemic shutting down all educational institutions, monuments, parks, gyms, swimming pools, pubs and banning large gatherings. All domestic airplanes and trains have ceased operation. Richa Chadha gives virtual company to beau Ali Fazal amid Coronavirus outbreak; Watch (with PTI inputs) Chief of the Defence Force Angus Campbell was requesting an annual callout of reservists last October to test whether the military could rapidly respond to bushfires and other natural disasters, ADF briefing notes reveal. Before Australia's bushfire season hit catastrophic levels, the ADF also warned the federal government that climate change was increasing the number of natural disasters and noted Australian Bureau of Meteorology advice that there was now "an earlier onset of the bushfire season". ADF chief Angus Campbell was preparing for an annual callout of reservists last year. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The revelations come as the ADF is being called on to help deal with the coronavirus pandemic, including providing specialist engineers to help make protective masks and helping track down people who have had contact with confirmed COVID-19 cases. Briefings obtained by The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, released under freedom-of-information laws, suggest Defence knew it would be increasingly called upon to respond to natural disasters and was putting plans in place for an annual callout of reserves to test its capabilities. Ms. Riechmann was trained as a special-education teacher and taught for years in Myrtle Beach, S.C., where she also led a Girl Scout troop. She moved back to Cincinnati in 2010 to care for her elderly father. In 2016, her customized van broke down and she cannot afford to replace it. Since then, she has had to give up social activities. Thalidomide was commonly prescribed overseas to treat morning sickness, but Ms. Riechmann said her mother was given the drug because she had a history of miscarriages. She said she remembered the day a photographer visited to take pictures of her for the lawsuit. I was wearing a pair of navy blue shorts and a coordinating yellow and blue striped tank top. It was summer. I can remember my parents being asked to remove my shirt at one point, so that they could get pictures of the arms without the shirt being in the way. Our bodies are breaking down because we are using our joints and parts of our body in ways they werent meant to. The human body was not meant to crawl on your knees for 55 years. You learn to walk when youre a year old, and then you dont go back to crawling. But I never passed that. Looking to the future, the Ministry of Innovation and Technology, has said local and interurban transport operators will accept expired official travel documents allowing discounts up to 15 days after they expire on March 31. The announcement states that the ITM has requested operators accept expiring certificates and vouchers entitling holders to public service travel discounts, so that "Travelers with Disabilities" and "Travel Vouchers" for employees under the age of 65 may continue to be used after they expire. Students will be able to continue to benefit from discounted travels with the student ID from the first semester of 2019/2020 or a printed electronic student certificate even after March 31. The ministry stressed that the measure is not intended to facilitate traveling during an emergency state, but to allow those affected to benefit from a discount after the end of the pandemic measures until a new document can be received. We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Teen Mom 2 star Jenelle Evans and estranged husband David Eason are giving it another go. The Oak Island, North Carolina native, 28, made the revelation in an a Q&A session on her YouTube page Sunday, as she fielded questions from fans about her family and future. Evans was asked was if she and Eason, 31, have gotten back together, and she clapped and confirmed her rekindled romance. The latest: Teen Mom 2 star Jenelle Evans, 28, said she and estranged husband David Eason, 31, are giving it another go. The Oak Island, North Carolina native made the revelation in an a Q&A session on her YouTube page Sunday 'Me and him are deciding to work things out right now and we're taking it slowly,' said Evans, who filed for divorce from Eason October 31. The mom-of-three acknowledged she 'came back to North Carolina,' where she and Eason share a home. 'I'm living here permanently now,' said the one-time MTV star, who said that maintaining double residences - she's been renting an apartment in Nashville - was too costly to continue doing. 'The reason why I came back to North Carolina is because I cannot afford rent and a mortgage; I have to choose one or the other,' she said. 'And I have a house here that I own. I don't own the apartment in Tennessee, so I decided to move back.' Homecoming: The mom-of-three acknowledged she 'came back to North Carolina,' where she and Eason share a home Economic reality: Evans said that she came back to North Carolina because she couldn't afford to pay both a rent and mortgage Idyllic: She said that the children 'have their own space here' over '11 acres of land for them to play on' Evans is mother to to sons Jace, 10, with Andrew Lewis and Kaiser, five, with Nathan Griffith; and three-year-old daughter Ensley with Eason, who also has a daughter named Maryssa from a past relationship. She said that the children 'have their own space here' over '11 acres of land for them to play on.' 'It's very spacious,' she said. 'Kaiser and Ensley, they really miss the animals, they really miss the chickens, the goats, everything; so we decided to come back here, and things are going pretty smooth.' Fun time: Evans and her kids hung out by the pool as they socially distance Double trouble: The one-time MTV personality and daughter Ensley wore matching swimsuits A look back: Evans filed for divorce from Eason October 31 after a rough 2019 Eason, who tied the knot with Evans in September of 2017, made headlines last April after he fatally shot the family's French bulldog Nugget, claiming the canine had behaved aggressively toward Ensley. Jenelle lost custody of her kids for two months in the wake of the violent incident, and was also terminated by MTV the month after. She said that moving forward, she and Eason 'have decided to just try to remain positive no matter what,' defending his character as a father and husband. 'I want to tell you guys that David has never abused the children, he's never abused me,' she said. 'We've always had disagreements and those would turn into big arguments and this is the reason why I decided to go back home and work out my relationship, because ultimately it's for my family.' She said in their most recent reconciliation, she reached out to him and apologized for the swift nature of the split, and sought to set new terms in their relationship moving forward. Evans added: 'Before I moved back to North Carolina, I told him, I said, "Things have got to change. We cannot be so unhappy. We have to start communicating with each other about our problems and we have to sort it out and we can't let the same thing keep happening or the same topic for an argument keep occurring."' March 23 (Reuters) - Gold prices fell on Monday as investors liquidated their positions in the safe-haven metal despite stimulus measures from global central banks to combat economic damage from the coronavirus outbreak. FUNDAMENTALS * Spot gold fell 0.7% to $1,487.83 per ounce by 0101 GMT. * The metal rose as much as 3.1% on Friday as a wave of fiscal and monetary stimulus from central banks across the globe halted a run for cash. * U.S. gold futures rose 1% to $1,499.50 per ounce. * Asian markets were set for another turbulent week as more countries all but shut down in the fight against the virus, threatening to overwhelm policymakers' frantic efforts to cushion what is clear to be a deep global recession. * The U.S. Federal Reserve continued to roll out emergency support on Friday as it enhanced efforts with other major central banks to ease a global dollar-funding crunch. * Nearly one in three Americans were under orders on Sunday to stay home to slow the spread of the pandemic as Ohio, Louisiana and Delaware became the latest states to enact broad restrictions, along with the city of Philadelphia. * Airlines cancelled more flights as Australia and New Zealand advised against non-essential domestic travel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) halted flights for two weeks and Singapore and Taiwan banned foreign transit passengers. * China reported 46 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, the fourth day in a row with an increase in Chinese cases, all but one of which was imported from overseas; while the city of Wuhan, announced it would be loosening a two-month lockdown. * The impact of the pandemic will be "quite severe," but a long expansionary period and high employment rates mean the global economy should weather the current shock, a top International Monetary Fund official said. * Physical demand for gold jumped last week in Singapore as buyers took advantage of a recent slide in prices after investors dumped the metal to raise cash. * Hedge funds and money managers reduced their bullish positions on COMEX gold contracts in the week to March 17, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) said on Friday. * Palladium fell 1.1% to $1,623.50 per ounce, while platinum rose 1.2% to $618.50. * Silver slipped 0.9% to $12.47 per ounce. (Reporting by Asha Sistla in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu) 8780; outside U.S. +91 80 6182 2808; Reuters Messaging: Reuters Messaging: asha.sistla.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) PR-Inside.com: 2020-03-23 21:41:02 Paris, Amsterdam, March 23, 2020 Press release COVID-19 Impact Update: Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield withdraws guidance and provides update on planned dividends for the 2019 fiscal year On February 12, 2020, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW or the Group) announced its 2019 results and proposed a dividend of 10.80 per stapled share. There were only a limited number of COVID-19 cases outside China at that time. Since then, the COVID-19 pandemic has evolved significantly and at a very rapid pace. Governments and business are employing stringent measures to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus, as described in the press releases issued by the Group on March 16 and 19. There is currently a lack of clarity about whether further measures will be deployed and significant uncertainty about the duration and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the operations of the Group. Consequently, URW announces that: It withdraws its 2020 AREPS guidance and expects to provide an update on its guidance when it can reliably estimate the duration, severity, and consequences of the current situation; To satisfy its REIT dividend distribution obligations, it will pay an interim cash dividend of 5.40 per share, as planned, on March 26, 2020 (ex-dividend date March 24, 2020). This payment will cover the Groups distribution obligations for 2019; and Taking a prudent view of the uncertainties about the duration and impact of the crisis, and in order to further augment the Groups strong liquidity position, it has decided to cancel payment of the final dividend of 5.40 per share. URW continues to focus on the strength of its asset portfolio, its capital allocation priorities and the preservation of its strong liquidity position, in addition to the health and safety of its employees and communities. These are unprecedented times and URW is taking all necessary measures to address these challenges in the best possible manner and prepare the Group for the future. For further information, please contact: Investor Relations Samuel Warwood Maarten Otte +33 1 76 77 58 02 Maarten.otte@urw.com Media Relations Tiphaine Bannelier-Suderie +33 1 76 77 57 94 Tiphaine.Bannelier-Suderie@urw.com About Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield is the premier global developer and operator of Flagship destinations, with a portfolio valued at 65.3 Bn as at December 31, 2019, of which 86% in retail, 6% in offices, 5% in convention & exhibition venues and 3% in services. Currently, the Group owns and operates 90 shopping centres, including 55 Flagships in the most dynamic cities in Europe and the United States. Its centres welcome 1.2 billion visits per year. Present on 2 continents and in 12 countries, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield provides a unique platform for retailers and brand events and offers an exceptional and constantly renewed experience for customers. With the support of its 3,600 professionals and an unparalleled track-record and know-how, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield is ideally positioned to generate superior value and develop world-class projects. As at December 31, 2019, the Group had a development pipeline of 8.3 Bn. Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield distinguishes itself by its Better Places 2030 agenda, that sets its ambition to create better places that respect the highest environmental standards and contribute to better cities. Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield stapled shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam and Euronext Paris (Euronext ticker: URW), with a secondary listing in Australia through Chess Depositary Interests. The Group benefits from an A rating from Standard & Poors and from an A2 rating from Moodys. For more information, please visit www.urw.com Visit our Media Library at https://mediacentre.urw.com Follow the Group updates on Twitter @urw_group , Linkedin @Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield and Instagram @urw_group Access the URW 2018 report at https://report.urw.com/2018/ Attachment New Delhi, March 23 : Everyone loves a good conspiracy theory, even if it is about coronavirus spread. According to the IANS C-VOTER Gallup International Association Corona Tracker 1, an exclusive first global poll on Covid-19, 45 per cent Indians believe that a foreign power/other force is deliberately causing the spread of coronavirus. Though 33 per cent Indians rubbished the theory, the fact that 45 per cent believe in the conspiracy theory says something. Meanwhile, 44.5 per cent said "a foreign power/other force is deliberately causing the spread of coronavirus." When asked who they think are behind it, 75.1 per cent blamed China. Indians aren't alone who believe in the conspiracy theory. Globally, 36 per cent said that they believe a foreign power/other force is deliberately causing the spread of coronavirus. Among other countries, 18 per cent in Germany, 21 per cent in the US, 20 per cent in Italy, 23 per cent in Pakistan and 29 per cent in France find logic in that theory. In countries like Ecuador, the number of believers in the conspiracy theory is 52 per cent. The survey was conducted in 22 countries around the world. In each country, a representative sample of men and women was interviewed over the last two weeks either face to face, via telephone or online. The margin of error for the survey is between 3 and 5 per cent at 95 per cent confidence level. More than 20,000 interviews were conducted globally for this survey. The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in India rose to 424 on Monday, as per the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Eight people have succumbed to the virus till now. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) We are getting questions where students are now reaching out to us from, you know, home in New Jersey, and saying, Hey, I was going to do my census, but I didnt get the letter before I left. Can I still do it? said Rob Donahue, the director of the Northwestern Center for Civic Engagement. New Delhi: Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed in the national capital on Monday night (March 23). Delhi Police Commissioner SN Srivastava warned people that strict action will be taken against those who do not follow the restrictions. Srivastava told ANI, "In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed in Delhi. We expect that everyone will stay at home other than people related to essential services. Strict action will be taken against those who will not follow the restrictions." Earlier in the day, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that lockdown imposed in the backdrop of coronavirus pandemic will strictly be enforced in the national capital. He made this statement after Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked the state governments to ensure that rules of lockdown are followed properly. Delhi CM also tweeted, "I completely agree with you, Sir. Today, several people violated the lockdown. This is not acceptable. Due to this, the health of all citizens is at risk. This would be strictly enforced in Delhi." The Chief Minister today warned people as they ignored instructions to stay at home. On the first day, a large crowds was seen at interstate bus terminals and other places despite prohibitory orders, sparking concerns about the spread of coronavirus. Traffic crawled on the Delhi borders as police barricaded roads and conducted thorough checks on those entering the national capital. Doctors, patients going to hospitals, media personnel and those involved in essential services were allowed to pass. All satellites cities --- Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad and Gurgaon --- saw traffic jams. Admitting that "execution" of the prohibitory orders in the city was "not up to the mark today", the Delhi Police moved to seal all border pickets and said curfew passes will be issued to people associated with essential services. They, however, said that mediapersons will not need the passes and their ID cards will suffice. On Sunday, Kejriwal had announced a complete lockdown in Delhi from March 23 till March 31 for the prevention and containment of COVID-19. He had stated that all shops, commercial establishments, factories, workshops, offices, godowns, weekly markets shall stop their operations and only essential services and establishments have been exempted from the lockdown. Notably, police has now imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in the capital till March 31 in view of the coronavirus outbreak, banning assembly of four or more people in one place. Advertisement A food policy expert has warned a food disaster could be imminent unless the Government implements rationing. Tim Lang, professor of food policy at City University in London, has written a letter to Boris Johnson asking him to 'initiate a health-based food rationing scheme to see the country through this crisis'. He wrote to the Prime Minister 'out of immediate concern about the emerging food crisis' and in the letter described public messaging about food supply as 'weak and unconvincing'. His warning comes after shoppers across the country have been met with empty shelves as panic-buying takes hold. Shoppers queued through the car park outside a Costco in Thurrock on Monday as many are facing empty shelves in supermarkets In the UK's largest supermarket, Tesco in Walkden, pet food has all but disappeared from the shelves The scarcity in our shops has left many vulnerable people and NHS staff unable to buy food and essentials. Professor Lang said it is understandable that concerned families have been bulk-buying if they are concerned about self-isolating for a number of weeks. But he believes clearer public messaging from the Government would have helped to avoid this crisis. He also criticised the Government for 'blaming' consumers who are going out to buy groceries to last a few days. He said: 'The supermarkets are already subject to unprecedented purchasing stress. Yet people have been stocking up, not least out of concern that, if someone in their household falls ill, they will be unable to obtain more supplies. Much of the alcohol was emptied after Boris Johnson enforced a pubs and clubs lockdown What are the supermarkets doing to help? Many supermarkets have taken matters into their own hands to ensure the most needy are able to buy their food during this crisis. These are the measures taken by the shops in the past few days: Aldi - shoppers are limited to buying four of any one product. They have also slightly reduced their opening hours and will close at 8pm, allowing more time to restock the shelves Asda - on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, NHS staff will get an hour of priority shopping from 8am. Hours have also changed to 8am-8pm, allowing staff time to thoroughly clean and restock Iceland - elderly and vulnerable people are able to enjoy an hour of shopping before the general public from 8am. The shop will also be open to NHS staff for the final hour of the day from Monday to Saturday Lidl - a four-item limit is being enforced on certain items in an attempt to prevent bulk-buying M&S - on Tuesdays and Fridays, NHS emergency workers have priority for the first hour of trading, while on Mondays and Thursdays, older and vulnerable customers will get the first hour of the day. The times depend on the local store Morrison's - Between 7am and 8am on Mondays and Saturdays, NHS workers can stock up at Morrison's Tesco - priority access has been given to NHS workers for the first hour of the day, and opening times vary across their stores. This does not apply to Express shops Sainsbury's - shoppers can buy a maximum of three of any grocery product and two of the most popular items including toilet paper, soap and UHT milk. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, elderly, vulnerable and NHS customers have priority from 8am to 9am Waitrose - the first opening hour is dedicated to elderly and vulnerable shoppers and the people who look after them. Batches of 'hard to find' and essential stock will be reserved exclusively for NHS workers, and they will also be given priority checkout Advertisement 'Consumers have repeatedly been told to look after themselves, so cannot be blamed for acting within their viable realm of influence. 'It might be regrettable, but stockpiling or uncivil behaviour in stores are signs that appeals to restraint or repetition of the 'We are in it together' message are wearing thin when it comes to food supply.' The professor also fears for low-income families as food banks close and others have very short supplies. He said: 'Some very hungry people are being 'gate-kept' out of food banks because systems for allocating vouchers are failing.' This will in turn lead people to turn to unhealthier options as they look for whatever food they can get, which will cause further health problems later down the line, further burdening the NHS. Professor Lang's fears led him and other experts to call on the Government to immediately implement a system of rationing based on health needs, taking account of age, income, and vulnerability. He also demanded a cash injection to low-income households which would allow them to stay healthy and fed. In an article accompanying the letter, published in The Conversation, Professor Lang said: The 'public good' lies in feeding all well, according to need not income. 'Those values are what got the UK through the second world war, as our Churchill-inspired prime minister ought to know.' Environment Secretary George Eustice has said there is no shortage of food in the country, with manufacturers having increased production by 50 per cent. Prof Lang told the PA news agency the current situation facing the country is 'Brexit times 20', and criticised the Government for blaming the public 'when they buy food', suggesting that the term 'stock-piling' is being used incorrectly. 'Stock-piling means you get enough food for six months or a year,' he said. Prof Lang said it is 'an entirely understandable situation' that people are turning to supermarkets more in light of cafes and restaurants being closed. He said it is 'unacceptable' to blame the consumer, adding: 'This is unacceptable. This is not the way to treat the public in a good way.' Tim Lang, professor of food policy at City University, has urged the Government to implement rationing to prevent a food crisis Prof Lang said a 'very difficult period' is ahead, adding: 'We've got to do demand management, not just blame people when they start getting three days or a week's food supply. 'That's nothing. Nothing. In my childhood, that's what everyone did. He said there needs to be a public food committee which 'addresses the interest of the public', adding: 'What is being exposed is the lack of devolved regional and local food engagement.' He added: 'We're in a bad place, to be stark with you.' Prof Lang said the public are beginning to 'act rationally in some respects' by 'stocking up a little bit', adding: 'They're doing what we used to call a larder.' He added: 'The public is absolutely understandable to act in a fearful way. The way to deal with food fears in these circumstances is not to start blaming them. 'It's stupid. Absolutely stupid.' Professor Lang's fears led him and other experts to call on the Government to immediately implement a system of rationing Supermarkets up and down the country including Tesco and Sainsbury's enforced a shopping hour just for key workers last week A number of supermarkets have taken measures independent of Government to ensure vulnerable people can buy food, having specific hours open to NHS staff and elderly people. Supermarkets up and down the country including Tesco and Sainsbury's enforced a shopping hour just for key workers last week after frenzied shoppers cleared the shelves of essential items such as toilet roll, as well as cupboard staples such as pasta and tinned foods. And today, NHS workers were left in tears after shop workers greeted them with applause and flowers. NHS workers posted pictures of the flowers they received during the special hour put on for NHS staff The medical staff in Swansea were visiting the Tesco store in Llansamlet to shop for food before getting back to battle the coronavirus ic. One shopper said: 'It's time to thank our NHS workers. They are around the clock and risking their own lives to save others. 'They are the everyday heroes who are doing something incredible all as part of their day job.' Despite the new shopping hours, many vulnerable people have still been found many shelves empty. A 92-year-old woman begged people to 'think about us in care homes' in an emotional post viewed more than one million times. Ms Chew (pictured above) has received a huge response to her video including flowers and cards Lillian Chew has lived at Jasmine Court Care Home in Chorley, Lancashire, for four years but she has issued a heartfelt plea for people who are stockpiling to urge restraint when shopping during the coronavirus outbreak. Looking straight into the camera, Ms Chew asks people to think about care home residents like herself and 'these poor, poor people that are on their own' so they could still have access to essential supplies during the current pandemic. In her emotional message, Ms Chew says: 'Hello everyone out there, my name is Lillian. I'm in a care home in Chorley, Lancashire. 'I beg all you people out there, who are going out and clearing the shelves of everything, to think about us in care homes and these poor, poor people that are on their own and can't get anybody to help them. 'So please, think twice before you go to clear the shelves. Please take care everybody, and God bless you all.' WASHINGTON The State Department says more than 13,000 Americans stranded abroad have contacted the agency for help getting home amid the coronavirus outbreak, a senior official told reporters Monday. The Trump administration is scrambling to charter commercial flights to dozens of countries amid mounting pressure from lawmakers and their marooned constituents. But State Department officials are also telling Americans to get home on commercial flights if that's even possible, as more countries impose severe travel restrictions and mass quarantines to stop the spread of the disease. "We are encouraging people ... to avail themselves of commercial means (to get back to the U.S.) while they still exist," said the senior State Department official, who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity. "But that window is closing fast." There's no guarantee, he said, the U.S. government will be able to get every American home, particularly those stuck in hard-to-reach locations. "I'm hesitant to give a guarantee we can move every single person," the official said. For those Americans who can't get commercial flights, he said, they need to register with the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, called STEP. "The only way we're going to find somebody is if they've registered with us in STEP and provided pretty detailed information about who they are, how to get in touch with them, etc.," the official said. Some Americans who have contacted the State Department are in very remote locations, such as Iquitos, Peru. "The only way in and out of the Iquitos is by air ... and the Peruvians have shut down internal air travel," the State Department official said. The agency is working with the Peruvian government to get permission to move those Americans by plane to Lima and then back to the U.S. But the arrangements are complex, and the outcome unclear. Story continues The Trump administration has already brought about 5,000 Americans home from 17 countries, including about 800 from Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the outbreak. Officials hope to fly another 1,600 U.S. citizens back this week from countries across the globe, the official said. Were looking at 16 or so flights in the next five days and about 1,600 passengers identified for those flights. There's room for more, he said. They are prioritizing vulnerable Americans the elderly and those with underlying conditions as they build out flight manifests. Thousands of Americans have found themselves in limbo amid the global freeze on international travel as the novel coronavirus spread across the globe. Many of these stranded travelers say the State Department and its embassies have offered little to no assistance. When Kristin Monesmith, an ER nurse from North Carolina, learned that Peru's president had ordered a lockdown, the last flight out of Cusco had already left. So she went to the U.S. Embassy. The doors were locked, with a sign on the door just referring people to their website, which said nothing, Monesmith said. The embassy has been no help at all. The State Department has said that they do not send flights to bring Americans home, that is not their practice so we should not expect it. State Department officials defended their response, noting the situation is unprecedented and constantly evolving. It has been a lot of hard work, and it is going to be a lot of hard work going forward, the State Department official said. We are devoting all of our resources to this. But the agency set up a task force to coordinate the repatriation efforts only last week as members of Congress began demanding a more robust response. On Thursday, Sen. Robert Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called on the State Department to begin chartering commercial airplanes and even use Pentagon aircraft to bring stranded Americans home. No American citizen should be abandoned overseas as we confront this unprecedented pandemic simply because of a failure of government to provide them the support that they need, Menendez said. Candace Kaiser and her friends rented a house in Calca, Peru, after learning they would not be able to return to South Carolina. She said the U.S. embassy in Peru has not responded to phone calls or emails requesting help to get home. The State Department official said they have used some military planes, on a space-available basis, to bring stranded Americans home. They are also using some Department of Homeland Security flights to bring citizens home; those planes head to Central American countries loaded with deported immigrants and are coming back with stranded Americans, he said. The official conceded the State Department has had some glitches with its STEP website but said employees are working to expand capacity so it doesn't crash as more Americans enroll. The State Department has also set up a call center to help marooned Americans, but agency officials say the best way to get on the agencys radar is to register through STEP. The call center phone number is 202-501-4444 for those overseas and 888-407-4747 for those calling within the U.S. on behalf of stranded family or friends. Contributing: Tom Vanden Brook This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus: State Dept. planning to bring Americans abroad back home Now, a ground-breaking report by World Animal Protection is sounding the alarm over the international trade of Ball pythons. The charity is also calling for a stop on all global wildlife trade. Wild animals, poached from their natural habitat or bred in captivity, are typically placed in cramped cages and dirty conditions, which causes them suffering and creates a lethal hotbed of disease. This can harm humans when coming into contact with them as we have seen with COVID- 19. The virus is believed to have been transmitted from animals to humans at a live animal market in Wuhan, China. Snakes sold there were originally suspected as a potential source. However, even if snakes are not the original source, the charity's visits to snake farms in West Africa revealed that these facilities do more than just feed the demand for Ball pythons as pets. They also act as wider trade hubs, exporting other wildlife, including bats, civets and primates, which are higher up the human health list of concern when considering their role in epidemics such as SARS in 2002 and Ebola in 2013. China banned the consumption of land-based wild animals due to COVID-19 and late last week Vietnam followed suit. While this is a great first step, other wild animals such as exotic pets and animals used for traditional medicine are not included. Limiting our contact with these animals is necessary to decrease the chances of viruses spreading to humans and a permanent ban on all wildlife trade would help to prevent major health epidemics and pandemics from happening again, as well as reduce animal suffering. Edith Kabesiime, Wildlife Campaign Manager at World Animal Protection Africa, says, "The international trade of African Ball pythons is an important source of economic income for some local communities, but when the snakes are all gone, the money will be too. With the recent coronavirus outbreak, we are also starting to realize that the economic and human costs of an outbreak due to the demand for an exotic animal is a price not worth paying." Meanwhile, Ball pythons and other wild animals continue to suffer in the exotic pet trade. Cassandra Koenen, Global Head of Wildlife not Pets at World Animal Protection says, "The trade of Ball pythons as exotic pets is a massive global market that has impacted millions of animals over the last several decades. These misunderstood animals suffer cruelty from capture, through to a life of captivity. We must end the global trade of wildlife for our health and their welfare." Canada is considered one of the main importers of Ball pythons. In just over 45 years, more than 3 million Ball pythons have been exported from West Africa, to Europe, Asia, the United States and Canada. In Canada, an estimated 28,000 Ball pythons are kept in households as pets. While most owners mean well, the lack of understanding for the animal's welfare just leads to suffering as Ball pythons are mainly kept in spaces much smaller than their natural habitats. Once these animals are sold, anyone who comes into contact with them is at risk of contracting illnesses like Salmonella. A recent outbreak in Canada had just over 90 cases where people had come into contact with pet snakes before they became ill and that may have been the cause of the outbreak. We are all in this together and our relationship with animals needs to change. World Animal Protection is asking people to join the movement to help stop the global wildlife trade. It will benefit humans and animals alike. Notes to editors See the full documentary on Ball pythons by World Animal Protection here About World Animal Protection From our offices around the world, including Australia, Brazil, Kenya, and Canada, we move the world to protect animals. Last year, we gave more than 3 billion animals better lives through our campaigns that focus on animals in the wild, animals in disasters, animals in communities and animals in farming. For more information visit www.worldanimalprotection.ca SOURCE World Animal Protection For further information: For an interview with a spokesperson or for B-roll and images contact Nina Devries [email protected] or 437-970-6565 Bethenny Frankel has multiplied her commitment to donate N95 facemasks to medical professionals in need. After first revealing she was ready to give 10,000 masks through her disaster relief organization BStrong and their partner Global Empowerment Mission last Friday, the 49-year-old reality star has now raised enough funding to supply over 1million masks to those in need. The reality star was happy to share that medically-approved masks and other supplies, which she calls her BStrong corona kits, will be available in the next few days and headed straight to health professionals on the front lines, during an interview on Radio.com. Disaster relief: Bethenny Frankel's organization BStrong and partner Global Empowerment Movement have now raised enough money to supply 1million face masks to medical professionals in need. Frankel is seen October 2019 above 'Every time theres a disaster I really hear from my social media followers. Theyre all over the world, and they let me know whats going on quicker than the news for me sometimes,' the businesswoman said. 'I get over a thousand messages a day with people from all over the country every hospital, every clinic, everyone in a panic and with no supplies,' she said of the problem. Frankel went on to share how she was pinpointing those in most need with a 'grid system' as she works with five different suppliers to get out the goods. 'We have suppliers all over the world. We have suppliers and manufacturers in China, we have an Israeli company were working with,' she said. In need: The reality star said that medically-approved masks and other supplies, which she calls her BStrong corona kits, will be available in the next few days and headed straight to health professionals on the front lines, during an interview on Radio.com Doing good: Bethenny Frankel has revealed that she's donating half a million masks to medical staff in desperate need via her organization, BStrong Earlier in the week Bethenny took to social media to update her fans on her disaster relief mission and reveled she had now been cleared by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) to provide the masks via her organisation. 'We're in touch with hospitals nationwide who are desperately seeking masks in EVERY state,' she shared, adding that she was both 'manufacturing and shipping.' On Saturday, things were just starting to gain momentum as Bethenny revealed her number had gone up from the original 10,000 figure to a 150K+ mask commitment. '#BStrong has now committed to 150k+ masks to be distributed to Mass. General, UCLA, Cedars Sinai, Mt. Sinai, NYU, Newton Wellesley, and more hospitals all over the country - this is because of YOU!' she wrote on social media. Giving back: 'We're in touch with hospitals nationwide who are desperately seeking masks in EVERY state,' she shared, adding that she was both 'manufacturing and shipping' 'Thousands of dollars are coming in by the minute and we need to keep it going! Our healthcare workers cannot protect themselves and need support.' She added that her charitable organisation would also be donating some kits for health workers during this global pandemic. 'We are also donating #coronakits to healthcare workers who need hydration, sanitization, and immune building supplies. #THISISACRISIS.' She continued: 'Without our doctors and nurses, who would take care of us when we or our family members get sick? As always 100% of the funds we raise go towards the effort' Some of the hospitals: 'We're in touch with hospitals nationwide who are desperately seeking masks in EVERY state,' she shared, adding that she was both 'manufacturing and shipping' Giving back: Bethenny's 'corona kits' included hand santizer, a hydration kit, medical recommendations, gloves, immune boosters, and a cash card Bethenny also made it a point on Sunday morning to tell her 2.1 million followers that she had six assistants helping her ensure that masks were also being distributed to smaller hospitals as well. 'The mask task is my b***h right now,' she added. She also noted that that FEMA had now agreed for hospitals to source their own masks and get fully reimbursed, since their was now such a shortage. 'Hospitals, come to us. We have masks, we're manufacturing them by the minute, and then you can get reimbursed.' Hard at work: Bethenny shared a video of her staff packing 'corona kits' for medical staff in need 'So if you're in a hospital in Philadelphia, if you're a hospital in Washington, if you're the President of the hospital, I'll get on the phone with you and decide how many masks you need right now and then you can bill FEMA.' The former Real Housewives of New York star also spoke about how celebrities were getting their coronavirus test results back faster. 'I don't know, I don't have an answer for you,' she shared. 'I was sick as a dog two weeks ago with no answers for 10 days and had a splitting headache and didn't go to a very good friend's wedding cause I thought I had it so I just kept myself alone and in my room and I don't have an answer for you.' There are currently 15,168 cases of coronavirus in New York alone, according to figures from CNN on Monday. Around the US, the are currently around 32,000 cases and there have been over 400 deaths. Boeing Suspending Production at Washington State Facilities Due to COVID-19 Spread Boeing is suspending production at its Washington state facilities because of the spread of COVID-19, the new disease caused by the virus that emerged in China last year. Operations at all sites across the Puget Sound area will shut down on March 25 and last for two weeks, Boeing said on Monday. The company is the largest private employer in the state. Boeing President and CEO Dave Calhoun called the move a necessary step that will protect employees and the communities they work and live in. We continue to work closely with public health officials, and were in contact with our customers, suppliers and other stakeholders who are affected by this temporary suspension. We regret the difficulty this will cause them, as well as our employees, but its vital to maintain health and safety for all those who support our products and services, and to assist in the national effort to combat the spread of COVID-19, Calhoun added. The spread of the CCP virus is causing an unprecedented situation for companies and communities around the world, the CEO said. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mishandling allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. All Boeing employees were told to report to work on Monday to receive guidance on their roles in the coming days. Employees who can work remotely will continue doing so while others will get paid leave for the initial 10 working days of the suspension. Boeing said it would keep employees, customers, and suppliers updated as to when production is started back up. When the suspension, the company plans to take an orderly approach to restarting production with a focus on safety, quality and meeting customer commitments. A Boeing airplane at Paine Field in Everett, Washington, on Jan. 24, 2020. (Jason Redmond/AFP via Getty Images) The company has around 70,000 workers in the Puget Sound region, representing nearly half of Boeings global workforce, the company said last year. Boeing said it spent more than $5 billion with nearly 2,000 suppliers and partners in the state, citing the most recent data available, which was from 2017. Boeing previously said 18 employees in the Seattle area tested positive for COVID-19. About 1,000 others were self-isolating because of possible exposure. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, like a number of other governors, declared a state of emergency over the new illness. He ordered non-essential businesses to close in the states three most populous counties and for people to stay home except for essential trips. A major cluster of cases centered around a nursing home in Kirkland, just outside Seattle, was identified last month and helped prompt some of the measures. Washington has confirmed 1,996 cases, of which 1,040 are in King County. Seventy-five of the states 95 deaths are in that county. Half of the deaths come from those who were 80 or older. The state has tested 30,875 people. Six percent of those tested have tested positive. Experts say ways to avoid contracting the new illness include avoiding close contact with people who are sick, staying at least six feet away from all people except for those they live with, and frequently cleaning their hands, especially after theyve been in a public place, or after blowing their nose, coughing, or sneezing. There are situations that defy our ability to maintain the constitutional order we treasure. A nuclear attack. Terrorists who use our freedoms as cover for their war against us. A pandemic may be such a circumstance. Our executive branch -- federal and state -- must be empowered to act decisively in an emergency. Throughout the Cold War it was assumed that the president had the power to order a cataclysmic nuclear strike against our enemies without consulting Congress or a court. The launch window might be only a few minutes; please God, let us be strong enough that no rational power ever places us in this horrifying scenario. But where are the limits in a crisis where potentially substantial loss of life is spread out across the population and over time? Our Constitution was written in an age when epidemics were frequent and deadly yet it includes no clause for coping with widespread sickness. The coronavirus is not Ebola or smallpox and we are told it is not some sort of bioweapon from a hostile power. Its ability to kill (4.4% worldwide [i]; 1.3% in the US[ii]) is not as certain and gruesome as Ebola (50% die) or smallpox (30% die). Many people with COVID-19 remain asymptomatic or had no more ill effect than a bad cold while other people die from this mysterious illness. Meanwhile, government at all levels is taking action that is devastating the economy and wreaking havoc on individual lives. About 100 people die everyday in automobile accidents. Nobody has yet demanded a nationwide speed limit of 10 miles per hour. Yet thats exactly what were doing to our society, to our economy, to our people. The CDC says that about 34,200 people died of influenza in the 2018-19 flu season. We didnt bring the entire United States to a halt. Does COVID-19 and governments reaction establish an untenable precedent? The effort to limit COVID-19s toll is an admirable goal. The means by which this is done is questionable. All across this republic, governors are acting -- often without consulting state legislatures or courts on the advice of unelected health bureaucrats. Sick and elderly people in hospitals and nursing homes are denied the comfort of loved ones. Governors have signed enabling acts to take over private property, to close workplaces, to restrict the movement of individuals (who have not even been tested for illness), even limiting how many guests one can have in a private home. Courts in Washington state suspended jury trials, potentially violating the Fifth and Sixth Amendment. In Ohio, the governor and the state health director postponed the states primary in the middle of the night, despite state law mandating that this is a legislative decision. The Bill of Rights is one of the most severely weakened victims of the Coronavirus panic. We may never know if this was a disease that leapt into life through the evolutionary process or if something nefarious was going on in a lab in Wuhan, or if just bad things happen sometimes. We do know the communist Chinese government remains totalitarian, willing to let many people die so it can hold on to the image of omnipotence that enables its grip on power. Through hideous malevolence or sheer incompetence, this is what totalitarian statists do, from Auschwitz to the Gulag, Chernobyl to Wuhan. The Xi Jinping regime is telling its people the U.S. is to blame. China must pay a price for its denial and dishonesty as this developed; openness and truth could have mitigated the spread of the disease. The blood of thousands is on their hands. Undoubtedly Americas enemies are watching how we react, as a people and as a government, learning what shuts down the American economy. Freedoms enemies are noting how easy it is to use fear of a barely understood illness to take away liberty. We may never be able to know if the authorities acted in haste and overreached their power, or if they executed a bold strategy to save thousands of lives. What we do know is that to exercise this degree of power, to abrogate Constitutional rights even for a worthy purpose and for a short time, there must be a reckoning. We entrust government officials, elected, appointed, or career bureaucrat, with a responsibility to the entire society. Perhaps law could be written stating that any public official who takes an action which violates the personal liberties of the citizens of the United States would be subject to trial for a massive civil rights violation against all the citizens. If they are found not guilty, thats the end of it and we accept that they did their duty. No case would establish precedent because all situations are different. If found guilty, severe personal penalties would ensue, imprisonment or even death. This way we ensure that the people we put in office never forget that they are guardians of liberty and know that any attempt to seize or misuse power -- no matter how worthy -- must be taken with a degree of seriousness beyond elections and political futures. If we dont rein this in today, these people will reign over us tomorrow. Cy-Fair ISD, along with school districts around the nation, have closed through at least April 10 in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the disease that has been contracted by more than 700 people in Texas and 17 in Harris County. In the near future, the district will continue to pay employees and instruct students through the internet. Related: Coronavirus live updates: Fort Bend closes hair and nail salons, Texas up to 700+ COVID-19 cases Cy-Fair ISD updated the community during a special livestreamed meeting on March 23, including details on employee leave and pay. Marney Collins Sims, general counsel for CFISD, said the district wanted to make sure salary and hourly employees were safe and paid, initially giving everyone emergency leave for the week of March 16, when the entire district was shut down, before officially returning to duty March 20. Sims said many employees, specifically teachers are now working from home, designated as modified locations. Sims said the need to be held accountable while working from home, as well as general structure of their work routine, is under the discretion of each CFISD school principal. We are going to work with staff and we are going to find what works best and support those who may need help with this online delivery, Sims said. We have given a structure, but we have vested in the principals the authority and the ability to work with their staff and establish ... that staff are getting in touch with their kids. Teresa Hull, CFISD chief of staff, said the district had been monitoring the spread of COVID-19 before spring break and began installing hand sanitizer dispensers on campuses and modifying their attendance policy. CFISD closed all campuses the week of March 16 to prevent spread of the disease. CFISD is currently operating as of March 20 although all students and most staff are not on campus. Hull said on-site workers, like cleaning staff and food services, are having their work schedules staggered in order to optimize social distancing and precaution for the disease. All district employees can be contacted by phone or electronically from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. due to phone calls being forwarded. Hull said all CFISD employees will receive their full pay, both part-time and full-time employees. CFISD is still operational and eligible for Average Daily Attendance funding, Hull said. All eligible part-time and full-time employees receive pay regardless of their location or schedule, she said. Hull said construction around the district, including renovations, will resume as planned. Linda Macias, chief academic officer for CFISD, said online learning is now available for all students, including instruction for special education, deaf, dyslexic and other students with disabilities. Programs for students in gifted and talented education and students with dual credit courses are also available. One of our main, main priorities was to make sure that we were including information for our support programs ... as part of our system, she said. There are many different resources so we can keep providing for our dyslexic students. The online learning portal, which is accessible through the CFISD website, includes suggested schedules, instructions on how to login properly and adjustable scheduling. Macias said students taking college courses will resume class on April 13. As for economically disadvantaged students, Macias said families are currently being contacted by teachers so they can receive a physical version of the online instruction or CFISD can aid them in gaining access to the internet. Our teachers have been charged with contacting every one of their students, she said. They are checking to see if they have internet access at home. If they dont, the teachers are keeping a log or record of those that dont. Macias said teachers are not grading work at the moment, but that CFISD is waiting on further instruction from the Texas Education Agency. She said graduating seniors and other students will be updated on moving to the next grade and choosing classes, but CFISD is waiting to see how COVID-19 could further affect scheduling. Were waiting for guidance, but we are thinking about that and working through it, Macias said. We will be looking (to) see if they have earned the credits that are required for graduation (with) teacher input. For more information on CFISD and how the district is adapting to the spread of COVID-19, visit https://www.cfisd.net/en/parents-students/health/coronavirus. chevall.pryce@chron.com Rajasthan Health Minister Raghu Sharma on Monday said the government has imposed prohibitory orders restricting assembly of five or more people to prevent the spread of coronavirus. He said that people can be booked under Indian Penal Code section 188 (disobedience of order) if they are found violating the order. "The state government has taken strict measures like imposing a lockdown but I have seen that people are not taking it seriously. The prime minister himself has said that the lockdown should be strictly implemented," Sharma said. He said that in order to deal with any emergency, the state government has identified one lakh beds for quarantine in places like houses, hotels, hostels and hospitals. The minister said that strict action will be taken against those spreading rumours on social media and flouting prohibitory orders and added that the state government has arrested 29 people for such offences. Hoarding and black marketing of masks, sanitiser and food grains is also punishable offence, he added. The health minister said that a COVID-19 relief fund has been constituted by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot where people can make donations. Nursing and paramedical councils have contributed Rs 11 lakh each whereas medical and pharmacy councils have contributed Rs 5 lakh each, he added. Doctors' Union associates have decided to donate their one-day salary and several public representatives are also doing the same. The chief minister also decided on Monday that all ministers will contribute Rs one lakh each to the fund and Congress MLAs will give their one-month salary to combat COVID-19. Former chief minister Vasundhara Raje tweeted that she would donate her two months' salary to the chief minister's and prime minister's funds. "To combat the COVID-19 outbreak, I'm donating my salary of 2 months to the CM & PM relief funds, respectively. Additionally, I have also released a sum of Rs one lakh from my MLALAD to aid medics assisting patients. The amount will be used to purchase medical necessities," she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pharmacies around the world have been inundated with people searching for an unproven Covid-19 treatment after Donald Trump claimed two already available drugs could be a game changer when it comes to the coronavirus pandemic. Australia saw a surge of prescriptions for drugs the US president touted during a press conference last week, according to ABC News, including chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, which is sold under a variety of names. Meanwhile, pharmacists in Tijuana, Mexico told the Associated Press a lot of people from north of the border have been coming here and buying the medications that Mr Trump suggested could treat the novel virus. At least 35,000 Americans have contracted Covid-19 as of Monday. The Ohio Board of Pharmacy was also taking steps during the weekend to prevent residents from buying the drugs in bulk, approving an emergency regulation that limits the sale of both drugs in a unanimous vote conducted by phone. Both drugs are used in malaria cases, and could lead to deadly side effects for people attempting to treat themselves for Covid-19. Whats more, officials warned the hoarding of such critical medications could leave patients who actually require the drugs with a severe shortage. In Nigeria, at least two patients were rushed to local hospitals in Lagos after overdosing on chloroquine, according to Bloomberg News. Oreoluwa Finnih, senior health assistant to the governor of Lagos, told the news outlet in a statement: Chloroquine is still in a testing phase in combination with other medication and not yet verified as a preventive treatment or curative option. Leading health officials in the United States have also warned against buying into reported claims of seemingly miraculous recoveries by Covid-19 patients who were treated with a combination of the anti-malaria drugs. Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a member of the White House coronavirus task force, said the drugs were not known treatments for Covid-19 during a press briefing on Friday. The evidence that youre talking about is anecdotal evidence, he told reporters as public demand for the drugs began spiking, according to reports. We're trying to strike a balance between making something with a potential of an effect to the American people available, at the same time that we do it under the auspices of a protocol that would give us information to determine if it's truly safe and truly effective. He added: But the information that you're referring to specifically is anecdotal, it was not done in a controlled clinical trial. So you really can't make any definitive statement about it." Still, the president has been promoting both drugs and quickly stated after the doctor spoke that he was a big fan of chloroquine. I've seen things that are impressive and we'll see, Mr Trump said. We're going to know, so we're going to know soon, including safety, but, you know, when you get that safety this has been prescribed for many years for people to combat malaria, which was a big problem, and it's very effective. It's a strong it's a strong drug, so we'll see." O ne coronavirus case can be responsible for 59,000 infections if isolation measures are not followed, a top medical professor has said. Intensive care specialist Professor Hugh Montgomery, who has been working on the frontline in north London's Whittington Hospital, explained why Covid-19 is so contagious and why it is vital to follow the Government's new measures. Speaking to the Standard, Prof Montgomery said that a person with normal flu can infect up to 1.4 other people, so after 10 such transmissions one person can be responsible for ultimately infecting 14 people. However, he said that this coronavirus is "very, very infectious" and so every person who contracts it can passes it to three others. Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures 1 /81 Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures A deserted Westminster Bridge PA A man wearing a face mask or covering due to the COVID-19 pandemic, walks past customers sat outside a restaurant AFP via Getty Images Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons Runners pass cardboard cutouts of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William during the London Marathon in London AP An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station Jeremy Selwyn Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield PA A sign is displayed in the window of a student accommodation building following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Mancheste Reuters People take part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions, in Londo AP People sing and dance in Leicester Square on the eve on the 10PM curfew Reuters Hearts painted by a team of artists from Upfest are seen in the grass at Queen Square, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Bristol Reuters Graffiti reads 'good luck and stay safe', as the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases grow around the world, under a bridge in London Reuters A sign is pictured in Soho, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London Reuters Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures, during a coronavirus briefing in Downing Street, London AP A person runs past posters with a message of hope, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Manchester REUTERS Riot police face protesters who took part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions in London AP An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London's Piccadilly Circus PA Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images Durdle Door in Dorset Reuters Captain Tom Moore via Reuters Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak PA An NHS worker reacts at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS Reuters Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno @AndrewStuart via PA Tobias Weller PA Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed London Landscapes: Hyde Park and the Serpentine, central London. Matt Writtle A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus PA Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue Reuters A young man cuts another man's hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford Reuters General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London via Reuters Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace Getty Images A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home PA Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak. PA Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers PA A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of "panic buying" cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus. Getty Images People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour PA Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus PA Children are painting 'Chase the rainbows' artwork and springing up in windows across the country Reuters Social distancing in Primrose Hill Jeremy Selwyn A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended PA Homeless people in London AFP via Getty Images A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow's street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss PA The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic PA A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world Reuters Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA Britain's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street Reuters The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh's Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak. PA Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear PA A sign at a Sainsbury's supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world Reuters Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" Getty Images A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads "Diseases are in the City" in Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors PA A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh PA A quieter than usual British Museum Getty Images A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre Getty Images A deserted Trafalgar Square in London PA Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport Getty Images "If each of those three passes it to three and that happens at 10 layers, then I have been responsible for infecting 59,000," Prof Montgomery explained. One step further would result in a single case ultimately causing the virus to spread to 177,000 people and so on. "It is an exponential curve, which means with one person huge numbers are infected," Prof Montgomery said. These sorts of figures will be "inevitable in reality" if people do not change their behaviour, he added. "But if people do change their behaviours, then we will start seeing the impact of these measures on the figures in 14-15 days." Professor Hugh Montgomery explains how contagious coronavirus is / Channel 4/Dispatches It comes as the Government introduced new distancing rules to stop the spread of the virus, including ordering the closure of bars, schools, restaurants, clubs, gyms and cinemas. However, Brits across the country were pictured flooding open public spaces, like parks, beauty spots, markets and beaches on the weekend, despite the advice to stay indoors at home. On Monday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said "nothing is off the table" as minsters seek ways to try and curb the spread of Covid-19, which has led to lockdowns and curfews across Europe. Prof Montgomery reiterated the Government's advice, saying: "We have got to flatten the curve and all that means is to stop the cases doubling. "If people do act, then they will look back at all this and say that wasnt that bad. But this is only if they follow these measures." If you are irresponsible enough to think that you dont mind if you get the flu, remember its not about you - its about everybody else, he added. Prof Montgomery, who is also a councillor at the Intensive Care Society, also defended the Government against criticism that not enough has been done to prepare for the outbreak. He said: "I think the government is doing its best and this is not a consequence of austerity either. "You could not have these beds and resources running all the time in Britain because it would bankrupt the country. No one can always maintain the capacity for this kind of struggle. "You cannot have thousands and thousands of intensive care doctors waiting around," he added. "It is also unfair to have a go at the Department of Health, Public Health England and the NHS - all three of those bodies are doing the most amazing job that they can do. "This is war and what they are suddenly having to do is on the hoof. A lot if of these things built for civilian use were not built for war." As a doctor also working on the frontline, he said: "We have all trained to do this, to look after very sick people, to deal with high pressure environments. "We have not chosen the easy path so when faced with the challenge, we are a very robust group of people who will step up to it. On the morale within the NHS, he said: "People are worried and they are uncertain but positive and up for the fight." Coronavirus - In pictures 1 /106 Coronavirus - In pictures A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" is seen on an underground station platform Getty Images Customers wearing face masks shop at the pork counter of a supermarket following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Wuhan, Hubei province Reuters Westminster Bridge is deserted in London the day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the UK in lockdown PA Canadian passengers Chris & Anna Joiner ask for help onboard the MS Zaandam, Holland America Line cruise ship, during the coronavirus outbreak, off the shores of Panama City via Reuters A man crosses a nearly empty 5th Avenue in midtown Manhattan during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in New York City Reuters The London Eye is pictured lit blue in support of the NHS, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons Commuters cope with Coronavirus Jeremy Selwyn Milan's Piazza del Duomo empty AFP via Getty Images People in protective clothing walk past rows of beds at a temporary 2,000-bed hospital for COVID-19 coronavirus patients set up by the Iranian army at the international exhibition center in northern Tehran, Iran AP Martina Papponetti, 25, an ICU nurse at the Humanitas Gavazzeni Hospital in Bergamo, Italy poses for a portrait at the end of her shift AP Pope Francis celebrating a daily mass alone in the Santa Marta chapel at the Vatican, as part of precautionary measures against the spread of the new coronavirus COVID-19 AFP via Getty Imag Vysheyshaya Liga - FC Torpedo-BelAZ Zhodino v FC Belshina Bobruisk - Torpedo Stadium, Zhodino, Belarus, March 27, 2020 Players in action during the match despite most sport being cancelled around the world as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters Hanks and Wilson both have coronavirus Tom Hanks General view of an emergency makeshift field hospital as it is set up at Pacaembu Stadium for coronavirus (COVID-19) patients with a capacity of 200 beds in Sao Paulo, Brazil Getty Images People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour despite Prime Minister Boris Johnson calling on people to stay away from pubs, clubs and theatres, work from home if possible and avoid all non-essential contacts and travel in order to reduce the impact of the coronavirus pandemic PA Naomi Campbell catches a flight in a hazmat suit with goggles, a surgical mask and rubber gloves @naomi Sophie and Emily Ward pose for a photograph with their hand-drawn picture of rainbows and a message on their window in St Helens, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Corona virus outbreak. PA Shoppers queue outside a branch of Costco, in Croydon, south London, on the weekend after Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered pubs and restaurants across the country to close PA Charing Cross Tube Bakerloo Line very quiet at 8.15am Jeremy Selwyn A woman with a plastic box over her head on the London Underground. PA A Racegoer attend Cheltenham Festival on Ladies Day wearing a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits a laboratory at the Public Health England National Infection Service in Colindale PA A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn A couple kiss in Milano Centrale railway station in Milan on March 8, 2020 AFP via Getty Images A combination picture shows visitors wearing protective face masks following an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) looking at blooming cherry blossom nd a pigeon walking at an closed cherry blossom viewing spot during the first weekend after Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike (not pictured) urged Tokyo residents to stay indoors, in a bid to keep the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from spreading Reuters This combination photo created on March 5, 2020 shows tourists visiting Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap province on March 16, 2019 (top) and on March 5, 2020 AFP via Getty Images Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump looks at the $2.2 trillion coronavirus aid package bill as Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Vice President Mike Pence stand by during a signing ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House Reuters A satellite image shows an empty South Beach during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Miami, via Reuters General view inside the empty stadium as the two teams line up prior to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund at Parc des Princes UEFA via Getty Images A Sainsbury's supermarket in Cambridge is among those to sell out of antibacterial hand sanitizer PA Tents and ambulances are set up next to the Princess Cruises Grand Princess cruise as it sits docked in the Port of Oakland on March 09, 2020 in Oakland, California. The Princess Cruises Grand Princess has been held from docking until today as at least 21 people on board have tested positive for COVID-19 also known as the Coronavirus Getty Images Medical staff produce traditional Chinese medicine to treat patients infected by the COVID-19 coronavirus at a hospital in Wuhan AFP via Getty Images Army soldiers wearing protective suits spray disinfectant as a precaution against the new coronavirus at a shopping street in Seoul, South Korea AP Russian President Vladimir Putin wearing protective gear walks at a hospital for patients infected with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the outskirts of Moscow via Reuters A woman who has recovered from the COVID-19 is disinfected by volunteers as she arrives at a hotel for a 14-day quarantine AFP via Getty Images Passengers on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship are seen as the ship arrives at Daikoku Pier where it is being resupplied and newly diagnosed coronavirus cases taken for treatment as it remains in quarantine after a number of the 3,700 people on board were diagnosed with coronavirus Getty Images Dave Abel pictured in hospital in Japan Manchester United fans in the stands during the Premier League match at Old Trafford PA Police officers wearing masks stand in front of the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel in La Caleta, in the Canary Island of Tenerife AP Carnival revellers wear protective face masks at Venice Carnival Reuters A general view is pictured of Burbage Primary School in Buxton, Derbyshire after the closure of the school as a pupil's parent has tested positive for the novel coronavirus COVID-19 AFP via Getty Images People wearing face masks walk past the Olympic rings in front of the new National Stadium, the main stadium for the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Game Getty Images People leave Kents Hill Park Training and Conference Centre in Milton Keynes where Coronavirus evacuees are due to be released from quarantine today and allowed to go home PA Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA A woman wears a mask while crossing London Bridg Getty Images A general view of Worthing Hospital in West Sussex PA Passengers relax on board the Holland America-operated Westerdam cruise ship, which has been denied permission to dock in Thailand over coronavirus fears via Reuters A child waves as she sits in a vehicle carrying residents evacuated from a public housing building, following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, outside Hong Mei House, at Cheung Hong Estate in Hong Kong Reuters A woman wearing a Minnie Mouse face mask looks at her mobile phone in Beijing on February 11, 2020 AFP via Getty Images The Costa Smeralda cruise ship of Costa Crociere, carrying around 6,000 passengers, is docked at the Italian port of Civitavecchia after a health alert due to a Chinese couple and a possible link to coronavirus on board, in Civitavecchia, Italy Reuters A patient covered with a bed sheet at an exhibition centre converted into a hospital as it starts to accept patients displaying mild symptoms of the novel coronavirus in Wuhan AFP via Getty Images A medical official takes the body temperature of a man at the departure hall of the airport in Changsha, Hunan Province, as the country is hit by an outbreak of a new coronavirus, China Reuters The view of the Wuhan International Conference and Exhibition Center Getty Images A plane carrying British nationals from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, arrives at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire A police vehicle enters the gates of the Royal Air Force station RAF Brize Norton in Carterton AFP via Getty Images Passengers wear face masks as the push their luggage after arriving from a flight at Terminal 5 of London Heathrow Airport AFP via Getty Images French citizens arrive and settle aboard of an evacuation plane with destination southeastern France, before departure from Wuhan Airport (WUH), China AFP via Getty Images Police stand at a checkpoint at the Jiujiang Yangtze River Bridge that crosses from Hubei province in Jiujiang, Jiangxi province, China Reuters A member of staff at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside prepares for a bus carrying British nationals from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China PA Doctor Paul McKay, who is working on an vaccine for the 2019-nCoV strain of the novel coronavirus, poses for a photograph with bacteria containing fragments of coronavirus DNA, at Imperial College School of Medicine (ICSM) in Londo AFP via Getty Images Workers produce masks at the Thai Hospital Product Company Ltd. factory in Bangkok AFP via Getty Images Passengers wearing face masks are seen on a bus after disembarking from the Costa Smeralda cruise ship, after tests on a woman from Macau with suspected coronavirus came back negative, in Civitavecchia, Italy Reuters People hoard bottles of alcohol after the Philippine government confirmed the first case of the new coronavirus in the country, in Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines Reuters Taking precautions: with fears growing that the coronavirus will spread from China, a health official checks a womans temperature on the underground in Beijing Getty Images An empty road is seen in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province on January 27, 2020, amid a deadly virus outbreak which began in the city AFP via Getty Images Students wearing masks meditate prior to a lesson at a high school in Phnom Penh, Cambodia AP Medical staff at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital wear protective clothing to help stop the spread of a deadly virus AFP via Getty Images Staff move bio-waste containers past the entrance of the Wuhan Medical Treatment Center, where some infected with a new virus are being treated, in Wuhan, China AP Workers driving excavators at the construction site of a field hospital In Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. The builders will complete the 1,000-bed hospital by February 3 to cope with the surge of 2019-nCoV patients in the city Getty Images Buddhist monks wear masks as they walk near Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodi AP A woman and a child wearing protective masks walk toward check-in counters at Daxing international airport in Beijing AFP via Getty Images An employee sprays disinfectant on a train as a precaution against a new coronavirus at Suseo Station in Seoul, South Korea AP A policeman wearing a mask walks past a quarantine notice about the outbreak of coronavirus in Wuhan, China at an arrival hall of Haneda airport in Tokyo, Japan Reuters Paramilitary police wear face masks as they stand guard at Tiananmen Gate adjacent to Tiananmen Square in Beijing AP The resident wear masks to buy vegetables in the market in Wuhan Getty Images Staff sell masks at a Yifeng Pharmacy in Wuhan AP Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV AP He continued to say that the "small kindnesses" people are showing NHS staff has made a huge difference. The other day an unknown person had pizzas delivered to the entire Intensive Care Unit staff, he said. Finally Prof Montgomery hailed Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty and Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, both of whom he has worked with. "I have not met a single person who isnt sure that they are the best people in those roles. We are so lucky that they are in the post at the moment. MIAMI - Floridas attorney general launched an investigation into a report that Norwegian Cruise Lines downplayed the risks of the new coronavirus with misleading sales pitches to continue to book cruises, officials said Monday. Attorney General Ashley Moody said the Consumer Protection Division is conducting an extensive investigation into the sales scripts employees received to quell virus fears coming from potential customers and sell cruise packages. We are in the thick of a public health crisis like our modern world has never experienced, Moody said in a statement. Let this serve as a warning to anyone seeking to mislead consumers during these challenging times. The Miami New Times reported earlier this month that it obtained emails showing managers encouraged sales employees to use misleading information such as that the new coronavirus could only survive in cold temperatures. The news outlet said cruise bookers received scripts instructing them to give wary travellers erroneous information such as the Coronavirus can only survive in cold temperatures, so the Caribbean is a fantastic choice for your next cruise. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it is not clear whether the spread of COVID-19 will diminish when weather becomes warmer. Other viruses spread more during cold weather months, but that does not mean it is impossible to become sick with these viruses during other months, the CDC states. Moody said the Miami-based cruise line is co-operating with the investigation. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A couple who were desperate to get married despite the coronavirus pandemic went ahead with their ceremony on a popular Sydney beach before police shut it down. Anders and Sophie Ridley-Smith had planned a church wedding for next month but had to quickly change their plans as the deadly virus threatened to ruin their nuptials. The couple had 'just wanted to be married' and tied the knot on Sunday at Balmoral Beach in the city's north. By 3pm, beachgoers were ordered off the sand as Mosman Council followed police instructions to close the beach when more than 500 people had gathered. The closure comes after social distancing rules were introduced to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Anders and Sophie Ridley-Smith (pictured) had planned a church wedding for next month but had to quickly change their plans as the deadly illness threatened to bring the entire world to a halt As guests and other beachgoers were told to scatter, Mr Ridley-Smith announced to the crowd: 'We got away with a heist. We're right on the buzzer'. His father, Anthony Ridley-Smith told the Sydney Morning Herald they made their last-minute plans to host the wedding on the beach on Thursday as rules for combating the spread of the coronavirus were ramped up. 'This is the reception. One drink and we're out of here,' he said. A bystander had informed the council of the mass gathering, a council spokesman said. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced even stricter rules would be brought in on Monday morning after Australians failed to take social distancing seriously. From midday on Monday, pubs and licensed premises will be forced to close for six months. By 3pm, beachgoers were ordered off the sand at the beaches in Sydney's north, as Mosman council followed police instructions to close the beach (pictured: Police at Balmoral Beach on Sunday) CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement The restrictions also cover places of worship, casinos, restaurants and cafes without takeaway services, nightclubs and registered clubs. The new restrictions were announced as the number of coronavirus cases in Australia hit 1,550, doubling every three to five days, and police warned of six month jail terms for those who breach public health orders. As news broke of the looming closures, panicked shoppers headed in droves to liquor stores to stock up on alcohol, however, bottle shops will remain open. Earlier on Sunday evening the Prime Minister managed to avoid a complete nationwide lockdown after a tense eleventh hour meeting with the national cabinet. Mr Morrison met with state and territory leaders to discuss further measures to stem the spread of the coronavirus, hours after announcing a second stimulus package worth $66billion. The federal government introduced strict new rules, shutting down pubs, restaurants and cafes after Australians failed to take social distancing orders seriously (pictured: people at Bondi Beach on Friday) beaches across NSW have been blocked off in a bid to stop mass gatherings amid the coronavirus crisis While New South Wales and Victoria were pushing for a full-scale lockdown where only supermarkets, petrol stations, pharmacies, convenience stores, freight and logistics services would remain open, the states eventually agreed to more limited shutdowns over fears their economies could collapse. After the meeting Mr Morrison announced there would be a staged process starting with a shutdown of 'principal places of social gathering'. 'I am deeply regretful that those workers and those business owners who will be impacted by this decision will suffer the economic hardship that undoubtedly they will now have to face,' the Prime Minister said. 'That is a very, very regretful decision. But a necessary one in the view of the premiers and chief ministers and myself to ensure that we can control the spread of this virus.' Seaborne coking coal prices retreated on Monday March 23, with fears of a global economic downturn taking hold due to the spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) even though sentiment among Chinese participants started to become more optimistic. Fastmarkets Indices Premium hard coking coal, fob DBCT: $159.43 per tonne, down by $1.22 per tonne Premium hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $167.48 per tonne, down by $4.35 per tonne Hard coking coal, fob DBCT: $142.51 per tonne, down by $2 per tonne Hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $156 per tonne, unchanged An offer was heard for an 80,000-tonne May-laycan cargo of premium low-volatility hard coking coal at $171 per tonne cfr China, with an option to replace the brand with another premium low-volatility cargo at $170 per tonne cfr China, a source told Fastmarkets. A buyer source from India said that seaborne coking coal prices would fall in the coming weeks because demand in India was expected to be weak with shutdowns taking place in several states in a bid to contain the spread of 2019-nCoV. "Many automobile plants had been shut down while ports and most steel mills are still operating," he added. A trader source from India said the economic shock of the global spread of 2019-nCoV was expected to hit Indias steel sector soon, adding that coking coal imports would be affected for sure. At least one major steel producer in the country has already made the decision to shut down its blast furnace because of 2019-nCoV and the expected impact on downstream demand, Fastmarkets understands. Authorities in India have announced the complete shutdown of 75 districts in 22 states and union territories across the country until March 31, with the country reporting more than 400 confirmed 2019-nCoV infections at the time of publication. Meanwhile, the main coking coal production hub of Queensland, Australia, will close its borders starting March 25 to prevent the spread of 2019-nCoV, the state announced on Monday. But Australias main rail freight operator Aurizon confirmed that its Central Queensland Coal Network (CQCN) continues to deliver services to our coal customers. CQCN is a regionally-based operation that does not cross state borders and Aurizon said that train crews and infrastructure employees primarily live and work in the regional communities in which the business operates. We are working closely with coal supply chain participants in our daily operations and also with respect to business contingency planning in response to [2019-nCoV], Aurizon said. Last week, the Queensland Resources Council noted that the countrys cabinet had announced that mine sites are essential activities, with the Queensland government also reiterating the importance of the sector, adding that despite the current conditions it was an essential service to Queensland. United States-based metallurgical coal miner Corsa Coal, meanwhile, said late on March 20 that the companys physical business locations in the state of Pennsylvania were no longer required to close under the March 19, 2020, order of the governor. The order requires all non-life-sustaining businesses in Pennsylvania to close their physical locations for an indefinite period in connection with [2019-nCoV]. But updated business guidance in connection with the order includes coal mining and support activities for mining as life-sustaining businesses and, as a result of this development, Corsa has recommenced operations at its mines and preparation plants in Pennsylvania, the miner said. A trader source from China said that demand in that country for seaborne coking coal would increase in the second quarter, when more manufacturing companies start to return to normal operations. "But it is unclear whether the customs restrictions will be loosened, the source said. If it continues to be tight, we traders will be faced with purchasing issues. According to a survey conducted in late February by the China Enterprise Confederation, about 97.08% of the top-500 enterprizes in China's manufacturing industry had resumed production, with 83.72% of workers in ferrous metallurgy and 81.36% of worker in the petrochemicals and coke-making industries getting back to work. A Singapore-based trader source agreed that Chinese demand for seaborne coking coal would rise in the second quarter, although he was pessimistic about the demand outlook at other major economies. He said that with Mongolia expected to resume coal exports from April 1 and Anglo American expected to resume its Moranbah North mine operations in Queensland in June, the supplies would be sufficient. Another Singapore trader source said that demand for seaborne coking coal would fall in the second quarter because of steel mill shutdowns in Europe. Dalian Commodity Exchange The most-actively traded May coking coal contract closed at 1,243.50 yuan ($174.78) per tonne on Monday, down by 11 yuan per tonne from March 20. The most-actively traded May coke futures contract closed at 1,765 yuan per tonne, down by 21 yuan per tonne day on day. Bigg Boss Malayalam 2 might have ended on screen midway, but it seems the controversies related to the show are here to stay. The popular contestant of the reality show, Arya has recently shared a post on her Facebook account which has aroused the curiosity of many. She wrote, "OUR STATE CYBER CELL IS VERY POWERFUL" AND WE BELIEVE IN THEM .."(sic) Well going by the post, it looks like the understandably miffed actress has approached the Cyber cell over the backlash she has been facing on social media. Well, her post has also invited criticism from people who continue to create jokes, memes and negative comments on Arya for her 'powerful' post. Few commented that they believe in the forest department, who are sure to capture the 'venomous snake'. While the others have supported the actress reminding that the show was a game and she was an active contestant throughout. Known for her acting tactics in the celebrity talk show, Badai Bungalow, Arya was seen taking a stand against Rajith Kumar. The fans of the latter have been targeting the actress since then and it further increased with Rajith's sudden suspension from the house post rubbing chilli on a female contestant during a task. Talking about the second season of Bigg Boss Malayalam, the makers had to suspend the show midway on Day 76 due to the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak. For the uninitiated, the show was just 4 weeks away from the finale with 10 contestants inside the house when it stopped airing. Bigg Boss Malayalam 2 Contestant Daya Ashwathy Faces Severe Backlash On Social Media The Taoiseach says he will not be calling for a full lock-down unless to told to do so by medical officers. Leo Vardakar has come under intense public pressure to follow the lead of other European states such as Spain and Italy, who have prohibited any unnecessary outings or gatherings in public. A total lockdown would mean Irish citizens could only leave their home to go to the supermarket, the pharmacy, the bank, essential workplaces, to care for family or walk your dog. Taoiseach says he will follow advice of CMO, not Twitter for instruction on lock down. No lock down has been advised. Says it could bring COVID19 could bring virus roaring back when it ends and Ireland is following S.Korea model. pic.twitter.com/h3FMUi2521 aoife moore. (@aoifegracemoore) March 23, 2020 Spanish authorities had arrested 157 people disobeying the measures during the first five days of lock down. Mr Varadkar says he has not been advised to call for such measures, and will be following the lead of South Korea, whose model has been held up by medical experts as the most effective in stopping the spread of the virus. "What happens in public places should be rooted in the advice of the chief medical officer and public health doctors, not what's trending on Twitter, not what politicians may be calling for," he said. "What we have done from the very start, is we follow the advice of the chief medical officer, and the national public health emergency team, and that is made up of public health doctors and people who are who are experts in infectious diseases around social distancing. "The World Health Organisation were very clear about this over the weekend, what you need is a comprehensive strategy, involving social distancing, social isolation testing and contact tracing like that in South Korea where they've been successful in containing the virus. That's what we're doing. "It's very much rooted in the advice of the CMO and the public health experts on the World Health Organisation (WHO) and that's the right thing to do." Mr Varadkar added there are concerns that when the lock down has ended, the virus could reemerge. "I am minded of what Dr Mike Ryan from the WHO said over the weekend that those who concentrate too much on lock down, and if you have a sharp lock down and you reverse it, the virus might came roaring back, what we need is a comprehensive strategy on social distancing, social restrictions, testing and isolation of those who have tested positive," he said. The HCM City Pasteur Institute has just confirmed two more samples tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus after the COVID-19 disease surveillance system in the southern region had identified two suspected cases for the novel coronavirus in Tay Ninh. Case 117 is a male patient, 30, a Vietnamese national residing in Tan Hung district in the southern province of Long An. The patient spent time travelling in Phnom Penh, Cambodia over the course of March 9-19. On March 16, he got illness with a fever, a cough, and shortness of breath. On Mach 19, the patient returned to Vietnam through Moc Bai-Tay Ninh border gate and was transferred to Tay Ninh Province General Hospital to undergo isolation, treatment and sampling. When hospitalized, the patient still has a fever, a cough, and shortness of breath and is now kept in quarantine at the provincial general hospital. Case 118 is a 23 year-old female patient who is a Vietnamese national living in Chau Phu district, An Giang province. He gets chronic bronchitis. He also came back Vietnam from Cambodia, also via Moc Bai-Tay Ninh border gate. At the border gate, the patient was discovered with indications of fever, cough, and shortness of breath and was subsequently dispatched to Tay Ninh General Hospital for isolation and treatment. Earlier, the Ministry of Health on March 23 confirmed three further cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection, including a doctor, taking the total number of infections in Vietnam to 116. The 114th patient is a 19-year old male Vietnamese national who resides in Hoang Mai district of Hanoi. He had been studying in the Netherlands and returned to Vietnam on March 15 on flight SQ176. The patient was admitted to the National Tropical Diseases Hospital in Dong Anh district after displaying symptoms such as a high temperature of 38 degrees Celsius along with a sore throat on March 19. His samples were then tested by the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases on March 21 with the results coming back positive for the COVID-19, subsequently being confirmed by the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology. The 115th case is a 44 -year- old female Vietnamese national who lives in the Czech Republic. She is the daughter of the 94th COVID-19 patient and arrived at Noi Bai International Airport on flight SU290 along with her mother on March 18. After landing in the country, she was immediately transferred to a concentrated isolation facility in Bac Giang province alongside her mother, with screening results coming back negative on March 18 by the Hanoi Center for Disease Control. Her sample then tested positive for the novel coronavirus following tests done by the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases and the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology. The 116th patient is a 29-year-old Vietnamese doctor who has been treating coronavirus infected patients at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases Hospital in Dong Anh district. He tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus on March 21 after starting to show symptoms of sore throat, cough, muscle ache, and fever over the course of March 19-20. Medical workers who had been working alongside the infected doctor were then placed under supervision, with their samples showing negative results for the virus on March 21. At present, all COVID-19 patients are being isolated and under treatment at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases where they remain in stable health condition. Hanoi initiates measures to ensure sufficient goods for COVID-19 fight In the face of an increasingly complicated situation regarding the social and economic impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic, Hanoi has requested that centralised distribution systems move to increase commodity reserves in an effort to ensure that supply resources to the capital are maintained within the next 60 to 90 days. The request came during a recent meeting held between the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Hanoi People's Committee which discussed the need to prepare a sufficient amount of goods in response to the possibility of the epidemic affecting Hanoi. This comes as a response to the capital confirming its first positive COVID-19 case which saw distribution businesses immediately initiate plans to transfer goods. According to businesses, the current level of stockpiling has surged by up to five times the usual amount. Consequently, the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade has completed a detailed stockpile plan whilst simultaneously directing suppliers and producers to ensure that there remains a sufficient supply of goods for distribution systems in order to meet peoples needs. Most notably, the Department has planned for a range of scenarios to ensure that goods are provided for people in quarantine. The city has therefore requested that production and business units ensure the consistent supply of essential items as a means of providing people with a sufficient amount of goods. Tran Thi Phuong Lan, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade, said Hanoi is working to satisfy peoples needs for commodities in any situation, especially for cases where individuals have been put into isolation. We have ensured the volume of goods for businesses in the metropolitan area as well as nearby districts. The Peoples Committees at a district and township-level must remain active in signing contracts with these distributors," Lan added. At the meeting, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai underlined the need to stay vigilant when it comes to developments with regard to the actual market situation in order to co-ordinate with enterprises to implement supportive measures aimed at ensuring the supply of essential goods is maintained. In particular, firms need to maintain price stabilisation and a consistent standard in their products whilst also enhancing links among localities to ensure goods distribution and meeting the urgent needs of locals, Hai noted. VOV/VNN The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank is opening seven additional free pop-up pantries this week to provide healthy food during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Six other pantries opened last week. Most of the pantries are located at schools that are offering to-go meals for students, but the pantries are open to anyone in the community. California, New York, and Washington state deployed National Guards to battle the spread of the coronavirus. The administration emphasized that the deployment of the National Guards is not martial law, President Donald Trump announced on Sunday. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will shoulder the expenses for the missions to respond amid the coronavirus outbreak, even though the National Guards are under the command of the state governors. During a White House press briefing, President Donald Trump said, "We're dealing also with other states. These states have been hit the hardest." Resounding the legislative leader of New York state and the chairman of New York City, who has condemned the president for not acting more forcefully, Trump used martial language during the briefing. In the United States, New York has the most affirmed cases and a large number of death tolls of the coronavirus. "I'm a wartime president. This is a war - a different kind of war than we've ever had," Trump said. Read Also: China Coronavirus Outbreak: Critics Blame Government for Secrecy of Info, Control of Media About 7,300 National Guards are deployed in all 50 different states of Washington and Puerto Rico as of Sunday morning. Trump said that the government distributed a large number of medical supplies from the national stocks pile to other locations where it is needed the most. Sanitized n95 masks, gloves, gowns, and hospital beds are included in the medical supplies that will be distributed in the next couple of days. New York has roughly 15,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, which is higher than 4000 since Saturday, followed by Washington with 1,700 confirmed cases, and California about 1,500 which escalated significantly in the U.S. over the past week. They were the most affected states amid the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S. At least 340 people have died from the coronavirus in Washington state and New York state, most of them are middle-aged adults that are in their 50s. The National Guards were sent by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to New Rochelle, the suburb outside of New York City that has an enormous case of the coronavirus. He also encouraged the government to deploy the military to battle the coronavirus pandemic. According to the COVID Tracking Project, the U.S. conducted 150,000 infections tests in total. Roughly 650,000 people could be infected in a couple of months. The U.S. government banned group gatherings and instruct people to stay mostly at their home, forty-five states have shut down schools, restaurants, and bars in many areas. Jeffrey Shaman, a professor of environmental health sciences at Columbia and the leader of the research team, referring to the Spanish flu said, "We're looking at something that's catastrophic on a level that we have not seen for an infectious disease since 1918, and it's requiring sacrifices we haven't seen since World War II. There are going to be enormous disruptions. There's no easy way out." Related Article: Coronavirus Could Overwhelm U.S. Without Urgent Action, Estimates Say @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The numbers that drive headlines - those on Covid-19 infections, for example - contain significant levels of uncertainty: assumptions, limitations, extrapolations, and so on. Experts and journalists have long assumed that revealing the "noise" inherent in data confuses audiences and undermines trust, say University of Cambridge researchers, despite this being little studied. Now, new research has found that uncertainty around key facts and figures can be communicated in a way that maintains public trust in information and its source, even on contentious issues such as immigration and climate change. Researchers say they hope the work, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, will encourage scientists and media to be bolder in reporting statistical uncertainties. "Estimated numbers with major uncertainties get reported as absolutes," said Dr Anne Marthe van der Bles, who led the new study while at Cambridge's Winton Centre for Risk and Evidence Communication. "This can affect how the public views risk and human expertise, and it may produce negative sentiment if people end up feeling misled," she said. Co-author Sander van der Linden, director of the Cambridge Social Decision-Making Lab, said: "Increasing accuracy when reporting a number by including an indication of its uncertainty provides the public with better information. In an era of fake news that might help foster trust." The team of psychologists and mathematicians set out to see if they could get people much closer to the statistical "truth" in a news-style online report without denting perceived trustworthiness. They conducted five experiments involving a total of 5,780 participants, including a unique field experiment hosted by BBC News online, which displayed the uncertainty around a headline figure in different ways. The researchers got the best results when a figure was flagged as an estimate, and accompanied by the numerical range from which it had been derived, for example: "...the unemployment rate rose to an estimated 3.9% (between 3.7%-4.1%)". This format saw a marked increase in the feeling and understanding that the data held uncertainty, but little to no negative effect on levels of trust in the data itself, those who provided it (e.g. civil servants) or those reporting it (e.g. journalists). "We hope these results help to reassure all communicators of facts and science that they can be more open and transparent about the limits of human knowledge," said co-author Prof Sir David Spiegelhalter, Chair of the Winton Centre at the University of Cambridge. Catherine Dennison, Welfare Programme Head at the Nuffield Foundation, said: "We are committed to building trust in evidence at a time when it is frequently called into question. This study provides helpful guidance on ensuring informative statistics are credibly communicated to the public." The findings are published today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Prior views on contested topics within news reports, such as migration, were included in the analysis. Although attitudes towards the issue mattered for how facts were viewed, when openness about data uncertainty was added it did not substantially reduce trust in either the numbers or the source. The team worked with the BBC to conduct a field experiment in October 2019, when figures were released about the UK labour market. In the BBC's online story, figures were either presented as usual, a 'control', or with some uncertainty - a verbal caveat or a numerical range - and a link to a brief survey. Findings from this "real world" experiment matched those from the study's other "lab conditions" experiments. "We recommend that journalists and those producing data give people the fuller picture," said co-author Dr Alexandra Freeman, Executive Director of the Winton Centre. "If a number is an estimate, let them know how precise that estimate is by putting a minimum and maximum in brackets afterwards." Sander van der Linden added: "Ultimately we'd like to see the cultivation of psychological comfort around the fact that knowledge and data always contain uncertainty." "Disinformation often appears definitive, and fake news plays on a sense of certainty," he said. "One way to help people navigate today's post-truth news environment is by being honest about what we don't know, such as the exact number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK. Our work suggests people can handle the truth." ### Notes: Most experiment participants were recruited through the online crowdsourcing platform Prolific. They were given short, news-style texts on one of four topics: UK unemployment, UK immigration, Indian tiger populations, or climate change. Uncertainty was presented as a single added word (e.g. 'estimated'), a numerical range, a longer verbal caveat - "there is uncertainty around this figure: it could be somewhat higher or lower" - or combination of these, as well as the 'control' of a standalone figure without uncertainty, typical of most news reporting. They found that the added word did not register with people, and the longer caveat registered but significantly diminished trust - the researchers believe it was too ambiguous. Presenting the numerical range (from minimum to maximum) had the right balance of signaling uncertainty with little evidence for loss of trust. Last month, David Spiegelhalter launched a podcast about statistics, 'Risky Talk'. In the first episode he discusses communicating climate change data with Sander van der Linden and Dr Emily Shuckburgh, leader of the University's new climate initiative Cambridge Zero. By Sangmi Cha SEOUL, March 23 (Reuters) - South Korean President Moon Jae-in called on Monday for a full investigation into a network of chat rooms at the heart of an operation to blackmail women and underage girls into sharing sexual images of themselves. The National Police Agency told reporters that 124 suspects had been arrested and 18 operators of chat rooms on Telegram and other social media had been detained as a result of investigations into such sexual crimes since last September. The perpetrators would attract victims through fake job ads and solicit compromising photographs. They would then threaten to release the photographs if the victims did not send images of increasingly degrading and violent acts, the police said. At least 74 women, including 16 underage girls, were "virtually enslaved" for several months, police said. In some cases, the victims were blackmailed into committing violent acts on themselves. Public outrage hit critical mass on Monday as a petition gathered over 2.3 million signatures - passing a threshold that requires the presidents office to respond. The author of the petition urged the authorities to disclose the identity and the face of the man, who allegedly lured victims into taking nude images of themselves and shared them on a chat room on Telegram, a popular encrypted messaging app. The petition also criticized other participants who paid as much as 1.5 million won ($1,187.32) to view the images. Police said as a matter of policy they would not reveal the name of the man believed to be at the centre of the network, who went by the username "GodGod." The presidential Blue House spokesman Kang Min-seok told reporters that Moon considered the alleged crimes to be "a cruel act that destroyed human life" and that he had asked police to treat the case as a serious crime. Moon also urged police to expand their investigation into the members of the chat rooms to change the perception of perpetrators who "hide behind anonymity". Story continues As digital sex crimes rise worldwide, South Korea has also become the global epicentre of spycam pornography - the use of tiny, hidden cameras to film victims naked, urinating or mid-sex. Late last year South Korean, British and U.S. authorities said they had arrested 337 people worldwide, including 223 South Koreans, after knocking out a child pornography web site operated from South Korea. ($1 = 1,263.3500 won) (Reporting by Sangmi Cha. Editing by Josh Smith and Simon Cameron-Moore) President Donald Trump has hit out at China for being very secretive in sharing information on its coronavirus outbreak that has claimed over 13,000 lives globally, asserting that the US and the world would have been better prepared if Beijing gave an advance warning about the impending crisis. Speaking at a press briefing here on Saturday, Trump denied reports that the US intelligence reports in January and February had warned of a coming pandemic, saying America did not know about the outbreak until it started coming out publicly. Just so you understand, China is not a beneficiary here. China has thousands and thousands of people. China has gone through hell over this. Theyve gone through hell. Ive had conversations with (Chinese) President Xi (Jinping). I just wish they could have told us earlier. They knew they had a problem earlier. I wish they could have said that, Trump said. For more than a week now, Trump has been addressing the White House press on a daily basis, with each briefing running for more than an hour every day. China was very secretive (on coronavirus). Very, very secretive. And thats unfortunate, he told reporters. Trump reiterated that he greatly respects China and shares a very good relationship with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, but expressed his disappointment that Beinjing was dishonest and slow to alert the world about the seriousness of coronavirus. I have great respect for that country. I have great respect for the leader of that country and like him. Hes a friend of mine. But I wish they would have told us earlier, that they were having a problem, he said. Because they were having a big problem and they knew it, and I wish they could have given us an advance warning. Because we could have done a lot of things - as an example, some of the things that were talking about, where we order them as quickly as we can. If we had a two- or three-month difference in time, it would have been much better, Trump said. As per latest figures available at Worldometers, the United States with 26,686 confirmed cases has emerged as the third most coronavirus infected country after China (81,054) and Italy (53,578). A total of 340 deaths have been reported in the US, the sixth worst affected country in terms of fatalities after Italy (4,825), China (3,261), Iran (1,556), Spain (1,378) and France (562). Trump insisted that the US and the world would have been better prepared but for the more timely information from China. Trump rejected a report in a leading US daily claiming he had repeatedly ignored warnings as early as January and February that coronavirus could present a huge problem. We didnt know about it until it started coming out publicly, but I wish they could have told us earlier about it because we could have come up with a solution, said the president. China, at the same time, he said, has worked very hard. China has lost thousands and thousands of people, he said. In a tweet, former National Security Advisor John Bolton said that China silenced coronavirus whistleblowers, expelled journalists, destroyed samples, refused CDC help, and concealed counts of deaths and infections. It is a fact there was a massive coverup. China is responsible, he said. The world must act to hold them accountable, Bolton demanded. However, the Democratic leadership did not agree with Trumps explaination. We need to bring people together to fight coronavirus. Blaming China may seem like good politics, but it doesnt solve anything, or mitigate the Trump Administrations failures, said Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff. Calling it the Chinese virus only breeds disunity, discrimination and division. Enough already, said Schiff, Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in a tweet early this week alleged that the president had been turning to racist rhetoric to distract from his failures to take the coronavirus early on. Trump criticised China over the coronavirus this week, saying Beijing should have acted sooner to warn the world and dismissing criticism that his labelling it the Chinese Virus was racist. The Trump administration has rejected attempts by Chinese officials to blame the virus on the US military. Globally, the death toll from the virus has risen to 13,048 with more than 307,277 cases reported in over 165 countries and territories, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. On March 19, U.S. President Donald Trump stood in the White House to give yet another statement about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). A photograph of the president's speech notes showed the word "Corona" scratched out and replaced with "Chinese" written in sharpie. The photo, taken by a Washington Post reporter, exposes how factually inaccurate Trump's racist language is. Rather than informing the public with scientifically accurate information, Trump is policing language in order to create a political distraction and cover up his own mishandling of the epidemic. This made-up language also happens to carry racist undertones and has the result of exacerbating discrimination and assaults against Asian Americans, as well as Asians the world over. There are widespread examples of racist assaults against Asians around the world. Asians have been called "viruses," denied lodging, and even physically assaulted. At two separate hotels in Indiana, USA, Americans of Hmong descent were kicked out because of their race. At Sheffield University in the U.K., a Chinese student was attacked for wearing a mask. Meanwhile, a South Korean student in New York City was punched in the face for not wearing a mask. There are more than enough cases to demonstrate that racism against Asians is a huge problem. Donald Trump's choice, along with that of other politicians, to now refer to the novel coronavirus as the "Chinese virus" is only going to make the problem worse. The phrase makes the false assertion that the virus is somehow connected to the Chinese people. This, after all, is the underlying impulse for the string of racist attacks. Notice that most of the examples don't even involve Chinese people, let alone people of Chinese descent. Many of the victims are Americans. So, calling the virus "Chinese" doesn't even limit the racism to Chinese people; it targets everyone who appears to be Asian. Chinese people have nothing to do with the virus, so why use such a qualifier? There are less than 7,000 existing cases in China now, compared with over 20,000 in the United States. This was a real turnaround. The policies China took to close public places and quarantine arriving passengers and returnees were effective at preventing the spread of the virus. Now that restaurants are starting to open back up is a sign of that success. Nor is there precedent for using a location-based qualifier to refer to a pandemic. H1N1 swine flu was not referred to as "North American Flu." Ebola was named after a river when it was discovered in 1976, but not a country. MERS does include a region, not a country, in its full name, but it is typically referred to by its acronym. Steven Taylor, author of Psychology of Pandemics, pointed out in an interview with The Hill, that other pandemics throughout history have often led to racist and xenophobic responses and that leaders should try to clamp down on racism. "Our leaders need to be transparent," he said, "they need to maintain public trust, and they need to offer advice about things like racism and need to lead by example to send out a consistent message that racism is not an acceptable or sane way of dealing with this problem." Unfortunately, Donald Trump, from the start, has downplayed the seriousness of the crisis. In January, he said it wouldn't become a pandemic, because "we have it totally under control." Throughout February, he said it was no more dangerous than the flu. He referred to news articles and opposition politicians who warned about the virus as being part of a "hoax." Trump's leadership, unfortunately, has been focused on trying to solve his own political problems. Early on, he thought that if people were concerned about the COVID-19, they would blame him and that the markets would be hurt. That is why, when he finally got around to treating COVID-19 as a minor problem, his proposal was to cut taxes; he prioritized the health of the markets over public health. Unfortunately, downplaying the problem didn't make it go away; it only made the virus spread faster. So, 14,000 cases later, Trump has taken to blame-shifting with "Chinese." Early on, Trump was praising China. So, what has changed since February? The severity of America's COVID-19 epidemic. Trump is trying to do two things: First, put the blame on a foreign country. Second, smear any American who criticizes his response. But blaming China does not excuse Trump. China did not prevent the United States from accepting testing kits from the World Health Organization. China didn't lie about the lack of testing kits in the USA. China didn't cause the number of cases in America to be underreported for weeks so that, by the time the first death occurred, Seattle, Washington was already a hot zone. Trump credits himself with blocking travel from China on February 2. But Canada did not block travel, and as of March 21 had 1,200 coronavirus cases, compared to 24,200 in the United States. That means either that travel bans don't work, as I argued, or that the Trump administration's domestic policies for combating the virus have been even more unsuccessful. Early on, Chinese local authorities did make mistakes in Wuhan. On March 19, the Wuhan Public Security Bureau admitted responsibility for the mishandling of the case of Dr. Li Wenliang, and announced its officers would face reprimands. But pointing to other country's missteps doesn't excuse America's or those of any other country. By the end of January, the world knew very well that the novel coronavirus was a problem that could spread internationally. The World Health Organization declared a global health emergency on January 31. Trump's domestic policies towards the novel coronavirus were not stifled at all by China's words or actions. As late as March 7, Trump was still refusing to take the novel coronavirus seriously. "No, I'm not concerned at all. No, we've done a great job with it," he said. Trump is making a disingenuous attack to defend himself against accusations of his own mishandling of a crisis, a disingenuous attack for which Asians are the collateral damage. But Americans are better than this. If we remain focused on combating COVID-19 and not scapegoating other people, we can get through this. Mitchell Blatt is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/MitchellBlatt.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. If you would like to contribute, please contact us at opinion@china.org.cn. Oman Air will be suspending all flight operations between Muscat and Istanbul, Turkey from March 25 to 31, due to new travel restrictions. All guests holding Oman Air flight bookings can contact the Call Centre at (+968) 24531111 or Oman Air representatives in their countries, the carrier said in a statement. This follows the recent suspension of operations to and from India and Pakistan due to the coronavirus outbreak, according to media reports. All operations to Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore have been cancelled from March 22 to April 4. Flights to India have been halted till March 28, pending further updates. The carrier also announced plans to suspend all flights to Kathmandu in Nepal from March 25 to 31, reports said. - TradeArabia News Service East Antarctica's Denman Glacier has retreated 5 kilometers, nearly 3 miles, in the past 22 years, and researchers at the University of California, Irvine and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory are concerned that the shape of the ground surface beneath the ice sheet could make it even more susceptible to climate-driven collapse. If fully thawed, the ice in Denman would cause sea levels worldwide to rise about 1.5 meters, almost 5 feet. With this sobering fact in mind, the UCI and NASA JPL scientists have completed the most thorough examination yet of the glacier and surrounding area, uncovering alarming clues about its condition under further global warming. The team's assessment is the subject of a paper published today in the American Geophysical Union journal Geophysical Research Letters. "East Antarctica has long been thought to be less threatened, but as glaciers such as Denman have come under closer scrutiny by the cryosphere science community, we are now beginning to see evidence of potential marine ice sheet instability in this region," said co-author Eric Rignot, chair, Donald Bren Professor and Chancellor's Professor of Earth system science at UCI. "The ice in West Antarctica has been melting faster in recent years, but the sheer size of Denman Glacier means that its potential impact on long-term sea level rise is just as significant," he added. According to the study, Denman Glacier experienced a cumulative mass loss of 268 billion tons of ice between 1979 and 2017. advertisement Using radar interferometer data from the Italian Space Agency's COSMO-SkyMed satellite system, the researchers more precisely determined Denman's grounding line, the point at which the ice leaves the land and begins to float in the ocean. "Differential synthetic aperture radar interferometer data from 1996 to 2018 showed us a marked asymmetry in the grounding line retreat at the ice sheet's land-sea interface," said lead author Virginia Brancato, a postdoctoral fellow with NASA JPL who was a postdoctoral scholar at UCI when the study was conducted. Denman's eastern flank is protected from retreat by a subglacial ridge. But Brancato said that the western flank, which extends roughly 4 kilometers, is characterized by a deep and steep trough with a bed slope conducive to accelerated retreat. "Because of the shape of the ground beneath Denman's western side, there is potential for rapid and irreversible retreat, and that means substantial increases in global sea levels in the future," she said. In December, Nature Geoscience published a paper on the BedMachine Antarctica project led by Mathieu Morlighem, UCI associate professor of Earth system science, which revealed that the trough beneath Denman Glacier extends 3,500 meters below sea level, making it the deepest land canyon on Earth. The UCI and NASA JPL scientists report in the Geophysical Research Letters paper that the bed configuration of Denman is unique in Antarctica's eastern sector. Other major glaciers, such as Totten and Moscow University, feature prograde beds that slope down in the flow direction, providing some measure of stability, Rignot said. Tracking the state of the floating extension of Denman Glacier, a 24,000-square-kilometer mass that includes the Shackleton Ice Shelf and Denman ice tongue, will be especially important, he added. The researchers used the German Aerospace Center's TanDEM-X satellite in combination with data from COSMO-SkyMed to assess the melt rate of the floating sea ice, learning that the Denman ice tongue has shed mass at a rate of about 3 meters per year, above average compared to other East Antarctic ice shelves. "We need to collect oceanographic data near Denman and keep an eye on its grounding line," Rignot said. "The Italian COSMO-SkyMed satellite system is the only tool for us to monitor grounding line conditions in this sector of Antarctica, and we are fortunate to have on our team Dr. Brancato, who is skilled in extrapolating the data to give us the precise and up-to-date information we require." Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 23, 2020) - Nicola Mining Inc. (the "Company") is pleased to report the results of the final two drill holes of the 2019 diamond drill hole program ("2019 Drill Program"). The 2019 Drill Program consisted of five holes at the Company's wholly-owned New Craigmont Copper Project ("Craigmont Project"), located 14km from the City of Merritt, BC. The 2019 Drill Program targeted potential mineralization in the southwest margins of the historic Craigmont open pit and historic underground workings. All holes intersected copper mineralization (Figure 1). Additional to mineralized intercepts, the 2019 Drill Program provided insight into a potentially larger mineralized system, as highlighted below: 1)Two Styles of Mineralization: Drill holes intersected skarn-type mineralization typical of the historical mine and for the first time, mineralization with porphyry-style characteristics. 2)Extension of Mineralization and Alteration: The 2019 Program expanded drill-tested length of the west-trending corridor of copper mineralization to 900 metres. Figure 1: Map of 2019 exploration drill locations To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4873/53693_0478926b0442394a_001full.jpg The first three drill holes of the 2019 Drill Program targeted extensions of the No. 3 Mineralized Body. These holes returned long intercepts of propylitic alteration containing shorter, higher-grade Cu intervals. The final two drill holes were designed to evaluate the alteration corridor along strike of the No. 3 Mineralised Body and below the historic underground workings. Drill hole CC-19-74 is located 200m west of CC-19-71 and positioned to test the westward extent of the No. 3 Mineralized Body. Drill hole CC-19-75 is located 200m east of CC-19-73 and below Portal 2400. It was drilled to 751.33 m and positioned to evaluate the continuation of the Upper Zone encountered in drill holes CC-19-71, 72 and 73. Table 1: Drill Hole highlights of CC-19-74 and CC-19-75 Hole ID (Easting, Northing, Azimuth, Dip) Interval width (from - to) Cu (%) Zone CC-19-74 (647434, 5563502, 009, -63.9) 19.25m (547.00 - 566.25m) 0.7 Upper Zone Porphyry-style Includes 7.37m (552.78 - 560.15m) 1.39 CC-19-74 9.00m (720.50 - 729.50m) 0.31 Skarn zone CC-19-75 (647918, 5563427, 011, -66.4) 34.00m (548.00 - 582.00m) 0.38 Upper Zone Skarn-style Includes 12.50m (554.00 - 566.50m) 0.55 CC-19-75 14.00m (719.50 - 733.50m) 0.51 Lower Zone Porphyry-style CC-19-74 intersected two distinct mineralisation styles (Figure 2). The upper zone mineralization is dominated by fracture-controlled chalcopyrite veinlets associated with sericite-chlorite alteration. Cu grades are related to the abundance of these veinlets. This zone is interpreted to be the westward continuation of the No. 3 mineralized body. The deeper zone is comprised of semi-massive chalcopyrite magnetite in a skarn mineral assemblage. This deeper zone is beyond the limits of previously exploited mineralized bodies. CC-19-75 intersected two mineralized intervals (Figure 2). The upper zone is dominated by retrograde skarn assemblage associated with chalcopyrite magnetite mineralization. The lower zone contains quartz - chalcopyrite veinlets and disseminated sulfide more typical of porphyry style mineralization (Figure 2). This lower zone is located 180m below the 2400' level, which are the deepest underground workings. The retrograde skarn alteration associated with chalcopyrite magnetite/hematite was the focus of mining activities from 1962-1981 and is well-documented in the Craigmont Mine literature. The historic No. 3 Mineralized Body and more recent drilling completed by the company encountered veinlet-controlled and disseminated mineralization associated with chlorite-sericite alteration that resembles intermediate argillic alteration described in porphyry deposits worldwide. Figure 2: Examples of copper mineralization styles encountered in CC-19-74 and CC-19-75. Upper Zone CC-19-74 Chalcopyrite in veins and disseminations associated with a sericite-chlorite assemblage. CC-19-74 @ 555m (1.53 % Cu) To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4873/53693_0478926b0442394a_002full.jpg Lower Zone CC-19-74 Retrograde skarn containing epidote-chlorite-magnetite with semi-massive chalcopyrite and pyrite. CC-19-74 @ 721.4m (0.98% Cu) To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4873/53693_0478926b0442394a_003full.jpg Upper Zone CC-19-75 Typical skarn with chalcopyrite-magnetite mineralization. CC-19-75 564m (1.39% Cu) To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4873/53693_0478926b0442394a_004full.jpg Lower Zone CC-19-75 Carbonate superimposed on quartz-chalcopyrite veinlets and chalcopyrite disseminations. CC-19-75 @ 722.1 m (0.93% Cu) To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4873/53693_0478926b0442394a_005full.jpg Further work based on results of recently completed drilling will involve: 1. Continued compilation of historical mine information to delineate critical alteration zones. 2. Undertake petrography to support alteration mapping. 3. Refine a geological model incorporating information from recent drilling. Future exploration will be planned to explore the mineralization corridor hosting the historic Craigmont Mine mineralization and test the hypothesis for a porphyry centre associated with Craigmont skarn mineralization. In addition, other Cu prospects on the New Craigmont property will be evaluated and advanced. The Company also announces that it has issued 1,350,000 Incentive Options at $0.12, expiring on January 20, 2025 to key management, directors and service provides. The Company has a policy to issue up to 5% in Incentive Options. Scientific and Technical Information All information of a scientific or technical nature contained in this document, has been reviewed and approved by Kevin Wells, P. Geo., a consulting Geologist to Nicola Mining. Wells is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About Nicola Mining Nicola Mining Inc. is a junior mining company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and is in the process of recommencing mill feed processing operations at its 100% owned state-of-the-art mill and tailings facility, located near Merritt, British Columbia. It has already signed four mill profit share agreements with high grade gold producers. The fully-permitted mill can process both gold and silver mill feed via gravity and flotation processes. The Company also owns 100% of Treasure Mountain, a high-grade silver property, and an active gravel pit that is located adjacent to its milling operations. About New Craigmont Property In November of 2015, Nicola became the first group in decades to consolidate ownership of the New Craigmont Project (the "Property") and has been actively conducting mineral exploration since. The Property is a wholly-owned copper property with an active mine permit (M-68), located 33 km south of the world-class Highland Valley porphyry district. It lies at the southern contact between the Nicola Group rocks and Guichon Creek batholith, of which the latter is known to be a precursor to mineralization at Highland Valley. For further details on the Property, see the technical report entitled "Technical Report on the Thule Copper- Iron Property, Southern British Columbia, Canada", filed on May 8, 2013 on Sedar at www.sedar.com. On behalf of the Board of Directors "Peter Espig" Peter Espig CEO & Director For additional information Contact: Peter Espig Phone: (778) 385-1213 Email: info@nicolamining.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53693 The Arunachal Pradesh government has announced a lockdown in the state from Monday evening till March 31 in view of the coronavirus outbreak, officials said. All essential services will be allowed during the period, according to a notification issued by Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar on Sunday night. The government will enforce "complete safety restrictions" from 5 pm on Monday till March 31, he said, adding that the step has been taken as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of the virus in the state. "No public transport services, including operation of taxis, auto-rickshaws, will be permitted except transport of all kinds to and from hospitals, airport, helipad, railway stations, and goods carriers carrying food and essential commodities," the notification said. All shops, commercial establishments, offices, factories and workshops shall also shut their operations, it said. People are required to stay at home and carry out only basic services while strictly following social distancing guidelines, the chief secretary said. Any gathering of more than 10 people will be prohibited in public places, while the employees of private companies are required to stay at home and shall be treated as on duty and be paid in full, the notification said. "Any person found violating this order shall be prosecuted as per the relevant provisions of law," Kumar said. Supplies of foodgrains, groceries, vegetable, fruits, meat, fish, bread, milk, medical services, pharmacies and banks and ATMs among others have been exempted from the purview of the lockdown. Courts and correctional services, food and civil supplies and other government agencies on duty, police, armed forces and paramilitary forces have also been kept out of the purview of the lockdown. Kumar said that people who come out to provide or avail essential services shall be allowed on their self-declaration. The chief secretary urged people not to panic and assured them that the state has sufficient stock of essential commodities that will last at least 45 days. "We urge people to remain calm and not to resort to panic buying as all essential commodities are not restricted. Senior officials have been deputed in each district as nodal officers to follow up on the implementation of the lockdown," Kumar said. A large number of students studying outside the state are returning to Arunachal Pradesh daily, which may spread the disease, he said. No positive case of COVID-19 has been detected so far in the state, Kumar added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Loading Loading The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday March 19, 2020, arraigned one Babatunde Morakinyo, Iretidu LTD and Tree Four Universal Concept Limited, on a 23 count charge for Money Laundering contrary to Section 5 (1) (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act to the tune of N110,000,000 (One Hundred and Ten Million Naira) only. They are being prosecuted before Justice A R Muhammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja. One of the charge reads: That you, Iretidu (a Designated Non-Financial Institution(DNFI) and BABATUNDE Morakinyo, being Director of the said company sometimes in March, 2019 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, failed to report in writing to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, a single transaction of the sum of N110,000,000 (One Hundred and Ten Million Naira) carried out in the GTBank PLc account No.0025311546 operated by Iretidu Ltd as specified under Section 10(1)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011(As Amended) and you thereby committed and offence contrary to and punishable under Sections 10(3), 16(2) (b), and 19 of the Money Laundering (prohibition) Act, 2011(AS Amended). The defendant pleaded not guilty, when all the charges were read to him and in view of the not guilty plea of the defendant, the prosecution counsel, E. E Iheanacho, prayed the court to grant a trial date and urged the accused to be remanded in custody. The Defense counsel, Mahmud Abubakar Magaji, SAN, however prayed the court to grant the defendant bail. Justice A.R. Muhammed granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200, 000, 000 (Two Hundred Million Naira) only, with two sureties to stand for the first defendant. One of the sureties, he said must be owner of a landed property in Abuja, FCT and that the value of the property must meet the bail bond of N200 million. According to the Judge, the surety must release the original title document of the property to be kept in the custody of the Registrar of the court throughout the duration of the trial. He ordered that the second surety must be a Civil Servant in the employment of the Federal government or any of its agencies and must not be below grade level Grade Level 10 while the first defendants International Passport must be deposited with the chief registrar of the court. The Judge further said that the two sureties should submit their recent passport photographs with the Court Registrar. Justice A.R Muhammed, thereafter, adjourned the case to March 27, 2020, for commencement trial. The Union Territory of Ladakh has been placed on lockdown till March 31 to check the spread of coronavirus even as the reports of 16 fresh samples of suspected cases have tested negative, a senior government official said on Monday. The lockdown came into effect across Ladakh at 8 pm on Sunday and will remain in force till 6 pm on March 31, officials said. Ladakh has so far recorded a total of 13 positive coronavirus cases. The District Development Commissioners of both Leh and Kargil districts have imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), the Disaster Management Act and the Epidemic Diseases Act under which only essential services will be available to the people till March 31, Commissioner Secretary (Health) Rigzin Samphel told reporters here. Seeking cooperation of the people, he said, "We will ensure that they do not face any problem during the shutdown period". He said the reports of all 16 suspected cases -- 12 hailing from Kargil and four from Leh -- were received from Delhi on Saturday and were negative. "The test report of a person, having a recent travel history to the United States and who reached Leh on Saturday in a very bad condition with suspected symptoms of COVID-19, is likely to reach by this (Monday) evening," he said. Samphel said all the co-passengers of the person have been contacted and asked to remain under home-quarantine for 14 days and to ensure no physical contact with family members and others. He said the Leh airport will operate as usual and there is no change in schedule of flights arriving from Delhi or Jammu. The deputy commissioners of Leh and Kargil said in the lockdown order that there would be a "complete ban on assembly of three or more persons for any reason, whatsoever, and complete shutdown of all shops and business establishments, educational institutions, markets and Anganwadi centres". However, the essential services and supply chains to maintain the essential services were exempted from the purview of the shutdown, the officials said. They said there would be complete restrictions on the movement of interdistrict and intra-district commercial transport and other modes of public transport, except for authorized transport plying for essential purposes. They said the residents were asked to stay at home and come out only to procure essential commodities for consumption (one person per vehicle) in the immediate vicinity of their homes, while strictly following the norms of social distancing. "Any violation of the order will invite punitive action under Section 188 of the IPC and other relevant sections of Epidemic Diseases Act and the Disaster Management Act," the officials said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Transforming everyday eggs into bright, colourful, sometimes speckled or glittery objects is one of springs great pleasures, even if you arent a kid. Although the most famous decorated eggs today might be the elaborate jewelled Faberge eggs from Russian high society of the late 19th century, royals throughout Europe have been coating eggs in gold, silver or expensive dyes collected from far corners of their trading routes since at least 1290, when King Edward I commissioned the decoration of 450 eggs to be given out to his fellow nobility at Easter. We closely associate dyeing eggs with Easter, but historians say that the tradition of painting or otherwise decorating eggs predates Christianity. Archaeologists have even found ostrich eggs in a cave in South Africa that someone engraved with hatched patterns some 60,000 years ago. Colourful eggs have long been part of the Persian New Year and are also associated with the Egyptian celebration of Sham Ennessim, which marks the beginning of spring. In Europe, both rabbits and eggs were a prominent part of early pagan festival Eostre, where Anglo-Saxons hoped to curry favour with the goddess of fertility, whose animal symbol was a bunny. During early Christianity, Christians were forbidden from eating animals products, including eggs, so farmers would hard-boil eggs to preserve them for later, which is why so many traditional Easter foods and baked goods contain hard-boiled eggs. The idea of an egg-laying Easter rabbit likely first started in Germany, where, for hundreds of years, parents have been passing down the tradition of the Osterhase, a fabled rabbit that left behind coloured eggs for children. This tradition probably came to America with German immigrants in the 1700s. In the Jewish tradition, an undyed hard-boiled egg is an important part of the Seder plate, but the connection between Easter and Passover is, of course, much deeper than eggs. The word Easter derives from Eostre, but many other languages use a Passover or Pesach derived word for the holiday, such as Pasqua, Paques and Pascua. Paas egg-dyeing kits invented in 1893 by William Townley, who owned a drug store in Newark, N.J. were named for the Dutch word for Easter, Pasan. This etymological web reminds us that although many Americans associate egg-dyeing with Christianity, the practice of decorating eggs for symbolic reasons or just for the craft of it extends far beyond any one denomination. I absolutely loved dyeing Easter eggs when I was a kid my sister and I continued to dye eggs until we were well into high school and I still get a kick out of doing it with my kids today. Were a nerd family that loves digging into the origin of words and traditions, but even if the history behind egg-dyeing isnt at the forefront of your mind when youre setting up the cups of vinegar and food colouring, its fun to think about different ways to make them. On a recent evening, we experimented with several different techniques that Id read about online. Although Martha Stewart is one of the many fans of blowing out the inside of an egg before decorating the shell, I prefer the old-fashioned method of boiling the eggs before dipping them, usually in dye made from an egg-dyeing kit. If you dont want to use the tablets, you can use liquid food colouring (between 6 and 20 drops, depending on the colour and just how colourful you want your eggs) in 1/2 cup water and 1 teaspoon of vinegar. Why vinegar? Eggshells contain calcium carbonate, and the calcium reacts with the acid in the vinegar to make carbon dioxide, which allows the dye to permeate the outside of the shell. Too much vinegar will create too many bubbles on the surface, which creates an uneven saturation of colour, and not enough (or not using any) prevents the colour from soaking in. The mixture of 1 teaspoon vinegar to 1/2 cup water creates a liquid with just the right pH for the magic to happen. But before we get to the crafty part of this project, a quick reminder about hard-cooking eggs. You can bake raw eggs at 350 degrees for 30 minutes (some people put them in a muffin tin first) or you can cover them with water and boil them for between 4 and 9 minutes, depending on how you like your yolk. For our egg-dyeing session, I used my Instant Pot to pressure cook the eggs for about 4 minutes, which doesnt save that much time over boiling them, but I could cook all 18 eggs at a time. I also like having to deal with only 1 cup of water in the bottom of my electric pressure cooker rather than a whole pots worth. An Instant Pot will come in handy if you want to dye and cook your eggs at the same time. Put the food colouring, water and vinegar mixture in three or four pint-size canning jars, depending on the size of your multicooker. (An 8-quart Instant Pot should hold four pint-size jars.) Place a wire rack and a cup of water inside the Instant Pot, and then place the jars on top. Place 2 or 3 eggs inside each jar, topping each jar off with a little more water to cover the eggs. Seal the multicooker and pressure cook for six minutes and use natural release for the steam. The jars will be hot when you finally open the multicooker, so use gloves to remove them. Dunk the eggs in cold water to help cool them faster and then store in the fridge for up to a week. We kicked off the experiment with the Pinterest-friendly Cool Whip method. Some people use shaving cream for creating these tie-dyed eggs, but then you cant eat the eggs, so I stuck with whipped cream. The boys took turns scooping store-bought whipped topping onto a sheet tray, about 1/2-inch thick, and then they each squeezed drops of food colouring on top. They used a chopstick to gently swirl the colours, but not too much so that everything turned brown or grey. We soaked four hard-boiled eggs at a time in a bowl of vinegar for about two minutes, and then dried them off before rolling them in the swirled Cool Whip. I used the same wire rack that goes inside my Instant Pot to let the Cool Whip-coated eggs sit for about 10 minutes before giving the boys paper towels to wipe them off. Once they wiped off the Cool Whip, the swirled colours remained and looked a lot like every tie-dyed T-shirt Ive ever made. Another nifty food-related twist I saw online was using a similar method with uncooked rice. This one took a few tries to get right, but the idea is the same: Soak the eggs in vinegar for a few minutes, and place a layer of rice on a plate or in a small container with a lid. Squeeze a few drops of food colouring on the top, and then dry off the egg and roll it around in the rice, which creates all kinds of scratchy lines of dye on the shell. We found that using already dyed eggs worked best for this method so that the colour would show through beneath the texture of the rice-applied dye. One trick youll see a lot online is using rubber bands and stickers to create layers of colour. Both of these methods work well, but we didnt have as much luck with electric tape, which I saw recommended in many places. In our experiments, the tape slipped right off the shell when submerged in liquid. I did have success using an upside-down cap placed in the bottom of a small glass, which held the egg in place so I could slowly pour in the dye. If you pour in a little bit of dye every five minutes, you can create an ombre effect that, though laborious, looked impressive and perfectly suited for Instagram. We had fun using crayons, but not in the way you might usually use them in the egg-dyeing process, which is to write on the shell to prevent that part of the shell from absorbing dye. (Although we did write our names on a few eggs just for old times sake.) This method calls for heating the eggs in the oven for about 10 minutes until they are hot enough to melt the wax from a crayon. Youll want to have tongs handy so you dont handle the eggs directly. The hot eggs easily melted the wax, and once the eggs cooled a little, we could rub the colours around to make some really neat designs on the eggs. I prefer working with the eggs so that I can still eat them later, so I dont leave them out of the fridge for more than 30 minutes and I dont coat the outsides with inedible materials. I have seen some really beautiful techniques that call for using rubber cement on the outside and then peeling it off after you dye the egg and another that calls for using silk ties. For that technique, you cut up a silk tie (or anything else thats silk) into squares large enough to wrap around the egg. Cut out similar sized pieces of cotton, and then wrap up unboiled eggs in the fabric, with the pattern side of the silk pressed up against the shell and the cotton on the outside. Tie with a twist tie or a rubber band and then simmer for 20 minutes. Remove the fabrics to reveal the pattern that transferred to the egg. No matter which method you use to dye eggs this year, its rewarding to remember that this annual art project is actually a cultural tradition that dates back so much further than many of us might have realized when we were kids or maybe even teenagers fishing out a rainbow of eggs with those little wire dippers. Forced by the new coronavirus, Iran took the tiniest of steps to placate global advocacy for religious freedom. A temporary release of about 85,000 prisoners to curb the spread of COVID-19 disease included Ramiel Bet Tamraz, an Assyrian Christian serving a four-month sentence for holding illegal church meetings. He was one of seven Christians set free, some on bail. The releasewhich also pardoned 10,000 prisoners in advance of this past weekends celebration of Nowruz, the Persian new yeardid not include four Christians recently granted a retrial. Ramiels father Victor was the pastor of the Assyrian Pentecostal Church of Tehran until 2009, when it was shut down by the government for holding services in Farsi, the Iranian national language. Arrested in 2014 for conducting services at home, in 2017 he was given a 10-year jail sentence. Released earlier on bail with his wife Shamiram, they are awaiting the outcome of court appeals. Ramiels sister Dabrina has advocated for her family all the way to the White House. Raising awareness always helps, she told CT, prior to her brothers release. When the US and international bodies speak out and address persecuted Christians, they have an enormous amount of influence. According to the latest annual report of violations against Christians in Iran, 17 believers ended 2019 in prison on account of their faith. Culled from public statistics describing sentences from 4 months to 10 years, the reportreleased in January and jointly produced by Open Doors, Article 18, Middle East Concern, and Christian Solidarity Worldwidewarned the true number could be much higher. Open Doors, which ranks Iran No. 9 among the worlds worst persecutors of Christians, reports at least 169 Christians were arrested from November 2018 to October 2019. Compared to those who decline advocacy, Dabrina said that international attention can result in better treatment in prison and the dropping of charges. She believes this is one reason her parents court sessions keep getting delayed. Putting them in prison will cost them a lot, she said. They will have to give answers for why they put in prison a 65-year-old licensed pastor, from a Christian background. Irans constitution establishes Shiite Islam as the official religion. But it also guarantees freedom of religion for official religious minorities: Armenian and Assyrian Christians, Zoroastrians, and Jews. Christians number 117,700, according to government statistics, out of a population of 83 million. Estimates for converts to Christianity, however, range from 300,000 to 1 million, according to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom. Its latest report states that the law prohibits Muslims from changing or renouncing their religious beliefs, and that apostasy is a crime punishable by deathas is proselytization. But even for converts, advocacy helps. Dabrina highlighted the example of Mary (born Fatemeh) Mohammedi, a 19-year-old would-be university student, denied her education by the regime. She was arrested in January, protesting the Iranian government for covering up the accidental downing of a civilian aircraft in the response to US killing of Qassem Soleimani. Released prior to the coronavirus measure, her court hearing may have been pushed back because of the outbreak. But prior to this, reports say Mohammedi was beaten and forced to sit in the cold in front of the toilets. Dabrina said that female prisoners especially need advocacy, as they are more likely to face ill treatment. Practiced by only 21 percent of countries in the Middle East and North Africa region, such imprisonment of women for religious reasons is rare in the world, according to Open Doorss 2020 Gender-Specific Religious Persecution Report. But the advocacy groups latest Iran dossier states the number has risen, once the government began arresting ordinary house church members, rather than just leaders. The behavior of the security forces was very aggressive and violent, one woman told Open Doors, describing a raid. They treated us, especially women, as if they were treating a bunch of prostitutes. Mohammedi has been a particular bother to the government, as a rare example of an advocate for Christians within Iran. Following an invitation to Christians by the intelligence minister to explain why they converted from Islam, she wrote him an open letter. Mohammedi accused the minister of violating the constitution, which states no one may be molested or taken to task simply for holding a certain belief. But she is not the only one protesting. From within prison, Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh wrote an open letter questioning the government narrative of conversion being against national security. Would it be even possible for a committed Christian, he wrote, noting the biblical injunction to submit to government, who was born and raised in Iran and whose forefathers lived in this land for thousands of years, to act against the national security of his own country? Serving a 10-year sentence for establishing house churches, Gol-Tapehs length of term made him ineligible for the coronavirus release. Mansour Borji, director of Article 18, hopes to multiply their examples. Also a board member of SAT-7 PARS, Borji has appeared on the Christian satellite network to help Iranians understand their universal right to freedom of religion and belief. Iranians here have not been raised with an understanding of what their rights are, only their duties, he said. What Iran is doing to deny their citizens these rights is illegal. Borji recognized the freedom-limiting stipulations in the Iranian civil code. But he pushed back on the apostasy charge, noting that Shiite jurisprudence is not uniform about the death penalty. Yet he stated clearly that the Iranian government is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. These United Nations documents technically govern all civil law, he said, a message he emphasizes on SAT-7. Now, when accused Christian converts go before a prosecutor, they can speak without feeling like a criminal, Borji said. It gives them mental stamina and the moral high ground. They can say, I know it is my legal right to choose. SAT-7 PARS began broadcasting in 2006, and now reaches 2 million Farsi speakers in Iran and neighboring countries. Half of these are under 25 years old. In addition to traditional religious broadcasting, SAT-7 PARS also tackles sensitive social issues. These have included Female Genital Mutilation (rare among Irans Shiite Muslim majority, more prevalent among its Sunni minority) and domestic abuse (affecting up to 2 in 3 Iranian women). But following discussions with the UN and European Union, in 2018 SAT-7 partnered with the Nordic Ecumenical Network on International Freedom of Religion and Belief to promote the concept across all its stationsincluding Arabic and Turkish. The first in this series of eight educational videos has been broadcast in Farsi. The rest are currently being translated. Yet from Tehran, Sebouh Sarkissian, archbishop of the Armenian Orthodox Church, counsels outsiders to respect the freedom of religion already present. Christians are allowed to celebrate and practice their religion, he said. We live in a period of mutual respect, accepting each other as we are. But if freedom means that we can evangelize Iranians, this is forbidden. No Christian has ever been arrested for practicing his faith, Sarkissian said, only for trying to convert Muslims. His church numbers between 75,000 and 85,000 ethnic Armenian citizens of Iran, who worship freelyin their own languagein about 25 churches. They host Bible studies and run Sunday schools. Tehran also boasts 16 Armenian schools, where in addition to the standard curriculum they teach Christianity alongside Armenian history and language. Two of five parliament seats (out of 290) reserved for religious minorities are assigned to Armenian Christians. The Iranian government invites church leaders to official events, honors Christmas, and allows them to light the streets around the church for Easter, he said. Sarkissian is a member of the SAT-7 international board, and appreciates how the network brings the gospel into Farsi-speaking Christian homes. Many Armenians do not speak their original language well. But consistent with their language of liturgy, the Orthodox tell religious inquirers that theirs is an Armenian church. People in general are free to choose their own religion, Sarkissian said. But here, the religion of the state is Islam and all Muslims must observe it. Conversion is not encouraged; they should remain in their faith. Early in her faith journey, Mohammedi cried when a priest in one of Irans traditional churches turned her away. She attributed this to government oppression. They put people under pressure, she told Article 18. And so if people want to know about Christianity, they say nothing, because its too dangerous. This is not limited to the Orthodox, however. Reza Jafari began exploring Christianity in a Farsi service of an Assyrian Evangelical Church in Tehran, which under a wave of government pressure asked them to stop attending. Now a SAT-7 PARS presenter based in Cyprus, his weekly 90-minute show Signal features testimonies of others who have accepted Christ. Jafari intends it to be an encouragement, especially to scattered believers. Sharing the convictions of Borji and Mohammedi without the specific focus on religious freedom, he also hopes to normalize the concept of following Jesus. Sometimes fanatic Muslims think we are secret agents, Jafari said. We want Iranians to see we are just like them, and not a different species. Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the number of ethnic Armenian citizens of Iran. There are 75,00085,000, not 750,000850,000. By Delana Isles GRACEWAY Supermarkets have assured that they have adequate amounts of food in stock and alternative sources of food supply should the need become necessary. However, this need is reportedly not necessary as their supply chain from the US is solid and continuing. The assurance came in response to rumours that the local arm of the supermarket chain will be restricted by its US parent company on the supplies they will ship to the TCI in the coming weeks due to their own need in the US. According to the stores management, the local stores have enough stock to supply the country for the foreseeable future, and they have a high level of confidence that supply from the US will remain steady. Last weekend, there was a rush of panic buying at all of the IGA supermarket outlets, leaving empty shelves where there was Lysol, hand sanitiser and fresh meat, particularly chicken and pork, and many other essential products. On Wednesday (March 18), IGA managing director Ken Burns said they already have shipments of meat coming to the Islands, some of which have already arrived. However, he stated that the supermarkets can only restock Lysol and hand sanitiser sporadically, as this shortage is worldwide. Burns said when these high demand sanitation items are restocked, the store will strictly monitor their purchase as he wants everyone to be able to purchase some. "With the current global disruption it is to be expected that some items may not be readily available or in short supply. "However, we remain committed to sourcing alternatives and keeping the island in good supply. "We would ask everyone to be considerate in the way they shop. We understand your concerns, but buying more than is needed can sometimes mean that others will be left without. "There is enough for everyone if we all work together, the stores management stated on its Facebook page. The TCI depends heavily on the importation of food, and while successive governments have promised to transform and develop the agricultural potential of the territory not much has been done to minimise the Islands dependency on the US and other markets for food and other essential items. Former governor Peter Beckingham had cautioned policy makers in 2016 - as he was on his way out - on the possible implications of heavy dependency on food importation. Ex-premier Dr Rufus Ewing acknowledged the warning, promising diversification in the area of agriculture to ensure food security. "The Turks and Caicos Islands food security is primarily met by importation. "The country is predominantly a net food importer with the total import of agriculture goods averaging $45 million over the last five years. "This is not a good position to be in, Dr Ewing said in 2016 when he was premier. WASHINGTON The sun had barely risen Monday when U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams took to the airwaves. I want America to understand: This week, its going to get bad, he said on NBCs Today. It got bad quickly. For the first time since the coronavirus pandemic reached U.S. soil, the country reported more than 100 deaths in a single day, pushing the death toll past 500 and the infection total to more than 41,000. As the number of confirmed cases of covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, exploded across the country and the world, lawmakers on Capitol Hill spent much of the day locked in a bitter stalemate, unable to finalize the outlines of a $2 trillion stimulus package. The Federal Reserve again announced an unprecedented set of actions meant to boost the faltering U.S. economy, but stocks on Wall Street tumbled again anyway. Leaders in Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Virginia and a growing list of other states issued their strictest orders yet for Americans to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. More than 100 million Americans nearly 1 in 3 are under orders from their governors to stay at home. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, ordered all passengers on all flights that originate in New York or New Jersey to self-quarantine for 14 days when they arrive in the state. Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo, a Democrat, ordered a similar quarantine for any person flying into her state. But even as more states and even other countries continued to tighten restrictions in an effort to prevent hospitals and medical workers from being overwhelmed by the rapidly spreading virus, President Donald Trump signaled a wariness with the mounting economic consequences of bringing the nation to a halt. "Our country wasn't built to be shut down," Trump said at a White House briefing late Monday afternoon. "At some point, we're going to be opening up our country. It's going to be pretty soon." The president argued that a severe economic downturn could eventually pose a greater threat, in terms of the number of lives ruined, than the pandemic itself. "If it were up to the doctors, they might say, 'Let's shut down the entire world,' " Trump said, making clear that he has little appetite for ongoing restrictions that threaten to further cripple the economy, even as experts have argued that they are critical to slowing the spread of the coronavirus. Trump noted that tens of thousands of Americans die each year of the flu, and that thousands more perish each year in automobile crashes. "That doesn't mean we're going to tell everybody no more driving of cars," he said. Asked about his desire to quickly get the nation moving again as health experts say the worst of the outbreak lies ahead for much of the country, Trump said the country can juggle health concerns while not shutting down completely. "We can do two things at one time," he said, adding, "We can't have the cure be worse than the problem." Vice President Mike Pence said the federal government will reexamine its social-distancing recommendations for Americans at the end of March. "We thought it was important for every American to take action, as tens of millions are, to help us slow the spread," Pence told reporters. "But at the end of this 15 days, we're going to get with our health experts, we're going to evaluate ways in which we might be able to adjust that guidance for the American people." The initial 15-day period in which the administration urged people to work from home and avoid gatherings ends March 30. Against Monday's backdrop of partisan gridlock, conflicting messages from the nation's leaders and growing financial turmoil, a deep and worsening public health crisis continued to engulf the nation. The virus has claimed lives in at least 34 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, according to tracking by The Washington Post. By Monday afternoon, three dozen states had reported new deaths. New York, now a hotbed of the outbreak, reported the most, with 43. The state announced that its number of new cases had surged by more than 5,000 overnight to 20,875, in part because of expanded testing. In the New York metropolitan area, 1 in 1,000 people has been infected by the disease five times the rate in other parts of the country, said Deborah Birx, the head of the administration's coronavirus task force, said at the Monday briefing. Of those tested for the virus in the New York region, 28% were positive compared with 8% elsewhere in the country, she said. "All of my friends and colleagues [in New York], this is the group that absolutely has to self-isolate at this time," Birx said. Officials have warned that the nation is likely to see a surge in new covid-19 cases this week, particularly in places where testing capacity has ramped up. The outbreak's acceleration has led an increasing number of governors to clamp down on movement in their states in a bid to slow the flood of infections. Indiana, Michigan, Oregon and West Virginia became some of the latest states to announce stay-at-home orders on Monday. Wisconsin's governor said he plans to follow suit on Tuesday. The governors of Maryland and Massachusetts have ordered nonessential businesses to close, and Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, said schools would remain closed for the rest of the academic year. "The next two weeks are critical if we are to slow the spread of covid-19, and we must slow the spread," Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, a Republican, said in announcing a statewide stay-at-home order through April 6. "You must be part of the solution, not the problem." Such actions mean tens of millions of Americans are now under directives to hunker down at home, leaving for only the most essential activities. Other countries also ratcheted up efforts to slow the pandemic. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday ordered far-reaching measures across the United Kingdom, including closing shops, libraries and places of worship and allowing people out only to buy essential items. "Without a huge national effort to halt the growth of this virus, there will be a moment when no health service in the world could possibly cope," Johnson said in a national address. India's largest cities began shutting down all but essential services and closed nearly all public transportation until the end of the month in a dramatic bid to check rising coronavirus infections. The government announced the suspension of all domestic flights, a move that alongside the cancellation of all passenger trains will bring the country to a virtual halt. Last week, all international flights were barred from landing in the country until March 29. In New Zealand, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern prepared the nation for a month-long lockdown, saying, "The worst-case scenario is simply intolerable." In Senegal, the military was set to begin enforcing a strict curfew as coronavirus cases mount in the West African country. Meanwhile, even as he has backed social distancing in recent days, Trump has been eager to balance the public health implications of the pandemic with the dire impact that containment measures are having on the economy including mounting job losses and a plummeting stock market. Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, no political ally of Trump, acknowledged Monday that the shutdown is unsustainable, and that the state needs to begin planning how to restart its economy. But he also said he has "no second thoughts" about pausing most of his state's commerce. "I take total responsibility for shutting off the economy in terms of essential workers," Cuomo said during a news conference. "But we also have to start to plan the pivot back to economic functionality, right? You can't stop the economy forever." New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat, also acknowledged the economic implications of the current strategy. But during an appearance on CNN, he said that if left unchecked, the virus could cripple the health-care system. "I understand people who say, 'Wow, this is an extraordinary sacrifice,' " de Blasio said. "It is, but if you don't slow this thing down, you'll sacrifice a lot more on the other end of the equation, and we've got to think about the human cost here." In Washington, the Federal Reserve made its latest attempt to head off financial collapse, launching a massive effort Monday to keep money flowing to businesses, homeowners and local governments. The central bank said it would purchase an unlimited amount of U.S. Treasurys and mortgage-backed securities in an extraordinary effort to inject money into the economy and get investors off the sidelines. By days end the stock market had continued to slide despite the governments action, with the Dow Jones industrial average and the Standard & Poors 500 skidding about 3%. As the number of infections and deaths climbed higher Monday, health workers continued to plead for more protective masks, gloves, testing swabs and other supplies. Officials in multiple states scrambled to open additional hospital beds for the expected influx of covid-19 patients. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said he expects to deploy two Army field hospitals to New York City and Seattle this week to help combat the pandemic, although he said FEMA would make the final call on which cities would receive them. Speaking at a Pentagon news conference Monday, Esper said "prepare to deploy orders" had been issued to five expeditionary medical units, including the Army field hospitals, which he said he expected to provide 248 beds each. The defense secretary said he expects the pop-up hospitals to provide excess capacity for hard-hit areas as local authorities identify buildings that can be converted into temporary hospitals. The Washington Posts John Wagner, Felicia Sonmez, Derek Hawkins, Heather Long, Danielle Paquette, Jennifer Hassan, Lateshia Beachum, Brittany Shammas and Paul Sonne, Niha Masih and Joanna Slater contributed to this report. The outbreak of coronavirus has already resulted in some workers compensation claims and more are expected. But whether those claims are going to succeed depends on the individual circumstances and the state where the infection occurred. While compensability issues will play out case-by-case, workers compensation insurers in at least two states have decided that they will guarantee workers compensation benefits for health care workers and first responders. Kentucky Employers Mutual Insurance Co. announced effective immediately it will pay wage-replacement benefits for any first responder or employee in the medical field who is quarantined because of direct exposure to a person diagnosed with COVID-19. Ryan Worthern, communications director for KEMI, said the insurers staff decided to adopt the policy, but informed its board of directors and Gov. Andy Beshear of the decision. Based on our interpretation of Kentucky workers compensation laws and given the unprecedented circumstances surrounding this pandemic, KEMI policyholders needed the assurance of knowing that KEMI will provide the appropriate care and benefits for those first responders affected by COVID-19, Worthern said in an email. Taking care of our own is exactly what KEMI was created to do, and we are grateful to know that our board fully supports this swift action. Washington State Fund KEMIs announcement follows a decision March 5 by the Washington state Department of Labor and Industries to pay wage-loss and medical treatment expenses for any health care worker or first responder who is quarantined because of coronavirus exposure. Washington operates a monopoly workers comp system, so that policy impacts every employee in the state who is covered by the state system. L&I spokesman Tim Church said the department has already received several workers compensation claims due to coronavirus exposure, but he did not know if they were filed by medical or health care workers. Church said a quarantine normally would not be covered by workers comp unless the worker was made ill by workplace exposure. Church said coronavirus claims by Washington workers outside of health care or emergency services will be decided on a case-by-case basis. NCCI Watching The National Council on Compensation Insurance, a rate advisory organization for most U.S. states, said that it remains to be seen whether other states will follow Washington states lead. NCCI said that many state workers comp statutes exclude ordinary diseases of life such as the common cold or flu. However, NCCI said at least 10 states have issued mandates for coverage of coronavirus by health insurers. The directives vary but include coverage for testing and visits to emergency rooms or urgent care facilities without deductibles or copays, NCCI said. These measures, if expanded to more states, could have the impact of limiting claim activity in the WC market in those cases where only testing or quarantine are necessary, NCCI said. John F. Burton, a retired Rutgers University professor and national workers compensation expert, told the Society of Human Resources Management that some states have specific lists of occupational diseases in statute, and coronavirus is certainly not on those lists. Megan B. Caramore, a partner with Vandeventer Black in Norfolk, told SHRM that obtaining coverage in Virginia will be an uphill battle under that states system, but workers covered under federal law. The Virginia Workers Compensation Act requires the claimant to prove that ordinary disease of life arose out of the employment by clear and convincing evidence (a heightened burden of proof), Caramore explained in an email. Under the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act, the claimant is frequently entitled to a presumption that the injury/illness is related to the work, and the employer bears the burden of rebutting the presumption. Specific Facts Fisher Phillips, a national law firm that specializes in employment law, said whether COVID-19 is compensable under workers comp depends on the specific facts. The worker must show that the illness or disease arose out of or was caused by conditions peculiar to the work and that he or she had a greater risk of contracting the disease and in a different manner than the general public, the firm said. Woodruff Sawyer, a national insurance broker, gave two examples illustrating how differently state workers compensation laws treat occupational illnesses. In South Carolina, a contagious disease is not covered for workers who contracted the disease from co-workers or who faced equal exposure while away from work. In California, employees sickened by communicable diseases were able to get benefits by showing they were particularly vulnerable. Woodruff Sawyer said a Disneyland employee who contracted measles was awarded benefits for the illness in 2015 because he showed he had been exposed to unvaccinated foreign visitors at the park. California workers who were exposed to dust while on the job also won claims seeking coverage for valley fever, which is caused by fungus spores that live in soil. Case-by-Case Two insurance carriers gave notice of their stand toward the coming workers comp claims in notices earlier this month: Texas Mutual Insurance Co. and SAIF, Oregons state-chartered workers comp insurer, both issued bulletins that said they will decide whether coronavirus exposure is compensable on a case-by-case basis. Texas Mutual added this caveat: However, the more widespread COVID-19 becomes, the more difficult it may be for the employee to show that it is work related rather than an ordinary disease of life to which the general public is exposed. A white paper issued by Aon explains why greater exposure to the general public tends to limit liability for workers comp. While every jurisdiction has specific laws pertaining to workers compensation and communicable disease claims, the general rule for most industries is that the matter would likely not be deemed compensable if the employee was considered at no greater risk than the general public. Topics COVID-19 Claims Workers' Compensation Washington Talent Russia's flagship carrier Aeroflot said that it would resume flights to Dubai starting 23 March in connection with the revocation of the decision to suspend flights on this route by the Russian authorities, Sputnik reports. "Due to the withdrawal of the Russian authorities' decision to suspend flights on the Moscow Dubai Moscow route, one daily flight will be carried out starting 23 March", the company said in a statement. At the same time, the company said that it would suspend flights to a number of countries, including India, Sweden, Finland, Bulgaria, and Croatia. Bhagat Singhs objection to faith and God seemed to be both philosophical as well as springing from the severe religious unrest that he observed around him which marred regular life in 1920s India. In Amitav Ghoshs novel The Shadow Lines, the unnamed narrators grandmother whom he addresses as Tha'mma talks of how as a student in Dhaka, she wanted to join the revolutionary movement that was active in Bengal in the first decade of the 20th century. She talks of revolutionary societies like Jugantar and Anushilan and how a quiet, retiring classmate of hers turned out to be a member of one of them. These societies which were part of the first wave of the revolutionary movement propagated a programme of violent resistance to British rule by assassinating prominent British officials in their bid to state the case for Indias freedom. Highly motivated, secretive and daring, for a time, they caught the imagination of the public. Eventually, the British came down hard on them, sending several to the gallows. But what remains unsaid is that while these societies were popular and patriotic, they were also characterised by a strong Hindu element in ideology and practice. They drew on the literature of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and Swami Vivekananda for inspiration, swore oaths on the Bhagavad Gita and often worshipped arms in the presence of an idol of Goddess Durga. It appears that non-Hindus found virtually no place in the movement. By contrast, the second wave of the revolutionary movement that grabbed the centre stage from the early 1920s and formed an important of the anti-colonial movement during that entire decade till the execution of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev on March 23, 1931, was distinctly non-religious. While some individual members did observe their faith privately, religion formed no part of the rituals and conduct of the organisation itself. Arguably, in large part, this was on account of the convictions of Bhagat Singh. In a long essay, Why I am an Atheist, written and completed in 1931, a few days before his hanging, Bhagat Singh laid bare the nature of his lack of faith. In a nuanced and well-argued stance, he traces how his atheism came to be. Clearly, atheism wasnt part of his childhood. His grandfather was an orthodox Arya Samajist and as a boarder at the DAV School, Lahore, the teenaged Bhagat Singh was in fact given to reciting the Gayatri Mantra several times a day. This habit lapsed in time, but not his faith in God. His close compatriot in revolutionary activities, Sachindra Nath Sanyal, was a fervent believer as well as were some of his other fellow-travellers in the revolutionary movement. But in spite of keeping such company, by 1926, Bhagat Singhs faith had lapsed. In his own words, Realism became our cult. Atheism seemed to be the outcome of the extensive programme of the reading of revolutionary literature that Bhagat Singh had embarked on in the years prior to his final lapse of faith. And it was atheism that did not waver till his dying day. "Belief softens the hardships, even can make them pleasant. In God man can find very strong consolation and support," Bhagat Singh states in the essay. But, given that many trials and tribulations lay ahead of him, what is perhaps of interest is how faith did not make a comeback to Bhagat Singhs life. By his own telling, his first arrest in May 1927 over suspected complicity in the Kakori Case did not send him scurrying to faith. In fact, the police officers who arrested him actually encouraged him to pray, perhaps as a veiled threat of sorts since they probably intended to apply third-degree methods to him. But it didnt make a dent. Later, even when his execution was imminent, religious belief remained conspicuous by its absence. Clearly, faith had completely left him leaving no traces behind. Bhagat Singhs objection to faith and God seemed to be both philosophical as well as springing from the severe religious unrest that he observed around him which marred regular life in 1920s India. This was a matter that Bhagat Singh had also written on prior to 1931. In an article entitled Religion and National Politics published in the journal Kirti, in May 1928, Bhagat Singh talks of how religion is proving to be a barrier to national unity and preventing people from moving forward in their quest for independence. The practices of social distancing mandated by religious leaders were proving to be a huge obstacle. Equally, religions habit of demanding complete submission was in Bhagat Singhs opinion, weakening individuals, and not helping to build their self-confidence. Similarly, in another article, Communal Problem and Its Solution, published in the same journal the following month, Bhagat Singh comments darkly on the recent Lahore communal riots. These riots were prompted by the publication of a controversial book called Rangila Rasul by an individual with Arya Samaji persuasions which the Muslim community found offensive. On the other hand, cow slaughter was a sore point with the Hindu community. These differences were then sought to be resolved with daggers and fists. The article castigates the members of all three religious communities (Hindu, Muslim and Sikh) for their inability to keep a cool head in the face of provocation and the political leadership for their inability to play a constructive role. Interestingly, the article also takes to task the press and journalists for instigating communal tension through mischievous headlines and reports. The economic question, Bhagat Singh believes, is at the root of much of the tension and to attempt to solve that problem is to strike at the heart of the matter. The impression that one gathers when re-reading these articles is that little has changed in close to a hundred years. On the one hand, it is tempting to say that religion has re-emerged as the faultline of Indian society in the last decade. But it appears that a heightened awareness of religious (and caste) differences was never very far away from the surface all along. Hence the inability of people to band together to demand more from elected representatives and the bureaucratic machinery. The nation has meandered along for seven decades riding on the back of some noteworthy achievements, but with most urgent tasks to do with economic matters left undone. How then can we hope to plot our way forward? In a country like India, while atheism is bound to have limited appeal, could we hope to make realism our cult? Could the sobering fact of widespread poverty, poor educational accomplishments and our lackadaisical health-care system not to mention the doddering economy and the agricultural crisis force us to look away from our religious and caste differences and concentrate on more compelling matters instead? The distractions that media and political leadership throw at us are not going to go away. It is up to us to look away. That would perhaps be the greatest tribute to Bhagat Singh. By Rod Nickel and Kelsey Johnson WINNIPEG, Manitoba/OTTAWA (Reuters) - After failing to grow wheat in Canada's subarctic Yukon territory 15 years ago, farmer Steve Mackenzie-Grieve gave it another shot in 2017. Thanks to longer summers, he has reaped three straight harvests. This spring he plans to sow canola on his family's 450-acre farm near Whitehorse, a city not much further from the North Pole than the heart of Canada's crop belt Saskatchewan. "If you asked me five years ago if I would be growing wheat, I'd have laughed," said Mackenzie-Grieve, 62, who harvested some 100 acres last year. Canada's average temperature over land has warmed by 1.7 degrees C (3 degrees Fahrenheit) since 1948, with the north warming by 2.3 degrees C, the government said in 2019. More promising for Canada, one of the world's top grain exporters, is that its frost-free season expanded by more than 20 days on average from 1948-2016, according to a 2018 paper by Environment Canada scientists. Large-scale farming with quality harvests remains an elusive challenge in the far north, due to short summers and lack of infrastructure to store and transport commodities. But a warming climate makes crops possible in far-flung, isolated places. Newfoundland and Labrador, with a tiny fraction of Canada's arable land, plan to add farm area the size of Toronto, the nation's largest city. The easternmost province has added 184 hectares (455 acres) of land for fruit and vegetable production since 2017, up nearly one-third, by converting public land to grow crops such as cabbages and cranberries. It aims to produce 20% of its own food by 2022 - double the existing rate, and has set aside 62,000 hectares for future farmland. "Climate change will have a very negative climatic, social and economic impact on the province but there still may be some small offset gains by producing food," said Newfoundland and Labrador Fisheries and Land Resources Minister Gerry Byrne in an interview. Story continues Climate change has made Canada's food prices "way more volatile" during the past five years, said Sylvain Charlebois, director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia. Prices of salad greens, for example, spiked due to droughts or excessive rains in California. CANADA 'UNIQUELY SUITED' The warming trend has led Santosh Kumar, the scientist who leads Canada's wheat-breeding program for the northern Prairies, to begin this year assessing test sites further north than ever before. Kumar said Canada is "uniquely suited" to add arable land as it has a lot of permafrost, or ground frozen for at least two years straight, that could thaw and become available. Russia and Canada have the greatest "frontier area" suitable for agriculture, with 4.3 million and 4.2 million square kilometres respectively, as early as 2060, based on temperature and moisture levels, though not soil suitability, scientific journal PLOS One said in a February paper. For Canada, that means a potential quadrupling of agricultural land. Arable land made up 11% of the world's land mass in 2016, the most according to United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization records dating back to 1961. Canada's arable land has dropped by nearly 5% from a peak in 2001 to 43.8 million hectares. Expansion in Canada would mean less destruction of the Amazon rainforest and other sensitive environments for farming, said Lenore Newman, associate professor of geography and the environment at University of the Fraser Valley. But "hoping for some magical windfall from warming is wishful thinking," as it is unknown how suitable boreal soils are for agriculture in the Northern Hemisphere, she added. Expanding arable land can also hurt the environment as it releases carbon from the soil, the PLOS One paper said. OBSTACLES TO EXPANDING AGRICULTURE Whether farming in remote areas can be profitable is a key question, Kumar said. "Farmers don't want to put something in the field just because it can grow." Chris Oram has cleared five acres of new arable land in Newfoundland in each of the last five years with a government subsidy. He grows modest volumes of corn and melons, covering young shoots in plastic in early spring to trap warmth because of unpredictable weather. "It has been a bit hotter, but this year we never took a (corn) harvest because it was so cold and wet," Oram said. But there are limits to expanding farm production as many vegetable growers in Newfoundland & Labrador have no access to cold storage that would allow them to supply grocers year-round. Much of the Yukon, where Mackenzie-Grieve farms, is too rocky for crops. Unlike southern Canadian farmers, he has no commercial grain handler to buy his wheat, so he blends it in livestock feed that he sells. "It's hard to do stuff here. We're a long ways from anywhere. You just figure out how to make it work." (Reporting by Rod Nickel in Winnipeg, Manitoba and Kelsey Johnson in Ottawa; Editing by Denny Thomas and Richard Chang) Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 23, 2020 | PADUCAH By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 23, 2020 | 09:18 AM | PADUCAH A charity organization is asking local residents to help it continue serving the community during the COVID-19 emergency. The United Way of Paducah-McCracken County says that although it has canceled or postponed several upcoming fundraising events to meet social distancing requirements, the organization will continue to work with its partners to serve the local community. In a Facebook post, the organization asks donors and volunteers to help provide services and stability to those in need. Here is the full statement: "Paducah & McCracken Co. neighbors: We are facing unprecedented circumstances regarding the coronavirus, COVID-19. Were closely monitoring the situation by communicating regularly with our community partners. In response to the ever growing needs of our most vulnerable community members, we have no doubt that our generous donors and volunteers will rise to the challenge. We know there will be ongoing resources needed for; childcare, food, financial stability, and healthcare. We will show up. We will make a difference and as always, we will #LiveUnited. We have made the difficult decision to cancel or postpone upcoming local fundraising events, however we know there are immediate needs we cant ignore. The United Way of Paducah-McCracken County will address the emergent needs of our local community and will work with community partners to best serve our neighbors. We need your support. We have set up a way for you to easily give and, as always, you can rest assured that your dollars will go directly to our local community as we face this crisis together. The time is now. To respond to emergent needs in Paducah-McCracken County text GIVE to 77513." In addition to cash donations, the United Way says there are also some things residents can do to help alleviate some of the burden on those who are most vulnerable during this time. They advise everyone to only purchase the items they need, limit items to keep stocked for just a few days, and ask that anyone who can donate needed items to a local food bank. The Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition (GNECC) has commended government for the bold directive to fight the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in the country. In a press statement, the Chairman of the Coalition, Mr Joseph Atsu Homadzi cautioned all parents and guardians to practice all necessary precautions such as social distancing, washing of hands under running water, the use of sanitizers and disinfectants. Mr Homadzi urges government to fast-track the rollout of distance learning programmes on various media platforms to engage the children at home. He calls on government to ensure that the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) is well resourced to engage in extensive education on the pandemic nationwide. He urges government to intervene in calling to order businesses and individuals taking advantage of this unfortunate situation to hike prices of essential commodities such as disinfectants and sanitizers in this critical period and again to use this opportunity to establish a comprehensive emergency response system for the education sector to better manage the effect of similar future occurrences on the delivery of education. Mr Joseph Atsu Homadzi has promised a continuous complement of the effort of the government to ensure a friendly learning environment for the children of this country. As we head into a time of uncertainty and a possible crisis in healthcare, social unrest and economic and financial havoc initiated with the pandemic of Covid-19 worldwide, there has been an unprecedented shutdown in India. Central and state governments, state-run institutions and the private sector, all have acted with speed to ensure their shutdown is effective and the spread of this dreaded and sometimes fatal disease is contained. While this clamp down is a welcome step to cope with the emergent need to contain the transmission of the virus, we also need to comprehensively study the serious life-threatening implications for our elderly population or those who are immunocompromised due to diseases. The situation is evolving every instant and we can only guess how it develops in the future. And it is not getting over soon with medical professionals estimating that it may last for at least 2-6 months. If we are lucky. That governments and their institutions are acting at the ground level and not just tweeting or posting on social media is reflected by the effectiveness of official orders of closedown of schools, colleges and other places where people congregate. While it may have seemed alarmist to begin with, we Indians must realize that a failure to have acted in time would have led to horrendous consequences as in Italy or China. The coming days will show whether the Government was alert or alarmist. The criminal law, specifically the Indian Penal Code, has provisions such as sections 269 and 270 to punish those who unlawfully, negligently or maliciously commit acts that spread infectious diseases dangerous to life. Government can give directions for quarantine of vessels (ships) and failure to comply leads to criminal prosecution. There are provisions under the Code of Criminal Procedure, or CrPc, empowering executive magistrates to act against activities injurious to health. Failure to comply with these directives can lead to criminal prosecution. However, these measures are mainly reactive to a deteriorating situation. In India, successive administrations have for decades ignored public healthcare systems, which has led to a situation where we have promoted privatization of healthcare and ignored the states duty to protect the right to life of individuals. Primary and secondary healthcare centres at a local level lie abandoned or unmanned. General medical practitioners, who formed the backbone of private healthcare have all, but disappeared. There are no credible government medical testing labs, except in large towns and district headquarters. In most states at the block-level, government healthcare presence is either non-existent or ineffective. In some states, primary healthcare has been taken away from municipal bodies and is back with the state government, with no benefit to the ailing. Indias failure to ensure access to clean air, clean water, healthcare preventive and treatment, among others is a breach of the right to life. Not only is healthcare a fundamental right but also recorded in our Directive Principles. We lose Indians to infectious diseases that are treatable and preventable on a daily basis. Yet, during the 12th five year plan, 2012-2017, we reduced public spending on healthcare substantially. Public-private partnerships have been a way of promoting qualitatively superior healthcare to make India a destination of health tourism, which is evident from our prominent city hospitals in the metros. A visit to government hospitals outside the metros shows the woeful absence of infrastructure, doctors and health professionals. Healthcare has been fighting for funding along with education, environment, urban development etc. and has been at the losing end for long with governments propounding the theory of minimum government maximum governance. But what about the right to life? The States duty to provide healthcare was recognised in 1989 in Parmanand Kataras case. Treatment cannot be sacrificed on the altar of governments committed to market economy unmindful of human cost. The abrogation of the governments responsibility to provide healthcare at the village, block, tehsil and district levels has thrown up a challenge to policymakers, which is not just limited to healthcare but has far-reaching economic, political and governance implications. Covid-19 is a wake-up call for governments worldwide, centre or state, at every level, not only in India but internationally, that basic amenities such as healthcare and education cannot be completely subcontracted to the private sector. This is necessary to bring about a state where a citizen who pays his taxes (and even the ones who do not), is owed a duty by the State as part of our social contract, not to be left to seek access to inadequate state healthcare facilities, which fails to protect our lives and health. (Sidharth Luthra is a former Additional Solicitor General and senior advocate, Supreme Court. The views expressed are personal) 2k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard The novel coronavirus has claimed at least 458 lives in the United States according to the most recent statistics, and health experts are unyielding in their recommendation that the nation must adhere to an initial 15-day period of social distancing to slow the spread of the virus. But President Donald Trump said last night that the government would reassess the recommended period for keeping businesses shuttered and workers home after this week, tweeting in all capital letters that, WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF. AT THE END OF THE 15 DAY PERIOD, WE WILL MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHICH WAY WE WANT TO GO! he added. WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF. AT THE END OF THE 15 DAY PERIOD, WE WILL MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHICH WAY WE WANT TO GO! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 23, 2020 Both health experts and politicians believe ending the social distancing period would be the wrong move. I want America to understand: This week, its going to get bad, Surgeon General Jerome Adams said during an appearance on NBC. We really, really need everyone to stay at home. There are not enough people out there who are taking this seriously. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) argued that ending the social distancing period would result in more deaths nationwide. If you dont slow this thing down, it will sacrifice a lot more on the other end of the equation, and weve got to think about the human cost here, he said. Economists have said the pandemic has set the world on the path for a recession. Greg Daco, chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics estimates output would fall 0.4 percent in the first quarter and 12 percent in the second. This is not just a blip, said Daco. Weve never experienced something like this. The presidents message came as Republican and Democratic lawmakers butted heads over a massive stimulus package that Democrats have likened to a corporate bailout. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) had initially proposed a procedural vote on the package timed for 9:45 a.m. today, but it was blocked by Democrats. I think theres a good chance well have an agreement. But we dont need artificial deadlines. We will get this done. We will come in at noon and hopefully we will have an agreement by then, said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). McConnell yesterday accused Democrats of playing games and scuttling the opportunity for a bipartisan deal. I want everybody to fully understand if we arent able to act tomorrow, it will because of our colleagues on the other side continuing to dither when the country expects us to come together and address this problem, he said last night, adding that the notion that we have time to play games here with the American economy and the American people is utterly absurd. A vote in the Senate is expected at 1 p.m. In the backdrop of COVID-19 outbreak, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference leader Hasnain Masoodi on Monday requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah to direct revocation of detention orders against all the detainees lodged within and outside Jammu an Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, March 23 : In the backdrop of COVID-19 outbreak, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference leader Hasnain Masoodi on Monday requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah to direct revocation of detention orders against all the detainees lodged within and outside Jammu and Kashmir. The former Jammu and Kashmir High Court judge in a letter to the Home Minister said that the detainees are detained without charge and trial on a mere suspicion under the Public Safety Act (PSA) and are lodged in Ambedkar Nagar, Agra, Tihar and other jails outside Jammu and Kashmir. Citing the lockdown and restrictions imposed on travel and traffic to combat the COVID-19 crisis, Masoodi said it would make it impossible for the relatives to visit the detainees. And, resultantly they would be exposed to immense psychological distress and their valuable constitutional right defeated, Masoodi said. "This apart, the detention as universally accepted, because of overcrowding is in conflict with social distancing a key response to COVID-19 crises. The detainees, otherwise held without charge or trial, against said backdrop, deserve to be released and the detention orders revoked," the Lok Sabha MP said. "I would, therefore, request you to direct revocation of detention orders against all the detainees lodged within and outside J&K and pending such revocation request you to direct immediate shifting of all the detainees lodged outside J&K back to J&K forthwith." Masoodi's request came a day after the government decided to lockdown 80 districts across 22 states and Union Territories in India where only essential services would be allowed in the backdrop of spread of COVID-19 which has claimed seven lives and 384 confirmed cases in the country. The MP further said that many detainees, who have been detained without charges and trial on mere suspicion, were later found to be misplaced. There are numerous judicial pronouncements commanding the government to lodge the detenue in a jail near home so that the relatives and friends visit the him, and the detenue due to lack of social interaction, is not exposed to mental trauma, he said. In the case of the detainees lodged in jails outside Jammu and Kashmir, the MP said the direction is being observed in breach. "It needs no emphasis that a detenue is not denuded of all his rights at the prison gate", but continues to have available a number of rights, including the right to have interviews with friends and relatives after reasonable intervals." Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Even as the Senate floor erupted into bickering and bad blood between Republicans and Democrats on Monday, there is one reason above all others why a massive coronavirus economic stimulus bill will get to Donald Trump's desk: No one has abandoned the talks. Even as Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell and minority leader Chuck Schumer traded barbs on the chamber floor as the latter's Democrats blocked a procedural motion that would have teed up a final vote once a deal is place, negotiations involving both men and senior Trump administration officials continued. Democrats on Sunday became concerned that GOP-crafted provisions for a $500 billion fund to provide large companies federal assistance as much of the economy is slowed during the pandemic. Republicans have reacted angrily to Democratic demands for new collective bargaining powers for unions, studies of climate change and other things typically supported by the American left and opposed by the right. Here are three reasons why the talks remain very much alive and a deal is probably afoot Monday night or Tuesday morning. Blowing off steam These major legislative packages, especially ones for emergencies, have become a major challenge for Washington Democrats and Republicans alike over the last 12 years have had to strike fewer and fewer compromises as the political system got more and more partisan. That means the final stages always get a little noisy. And, almost as if on cue, senior lawmakers were venting some steam on Monday afternoon as US stock markets again posted losses. "Let me give the American people a taste of the outstanding issues we woke up to this morning. Here are some of the items on the Democratic wish-list over which they chose to block the legislation last night: Tax credits for solar energy and wind energy. Provisions to force employers to give special new treatment to Big Labour. And listen to this: new emissions standards for the airlines," Mr McConnell said on the Senate floor. "Are you kidding me? This is the moment to debate new regulations that have nothing to do with this crisis? That's what they're up to over there. The American people need to know it," he added. "Democrats won't let us fund hospitals or save small businesses unless they get to dust off the Green New Deal? Ouch. But Democrats were giving as good as they were getting. "The bill still includes something that most Americans don't want to see," Mr Schumer said on the Senate floor around midday. "Large corporate bailouts with almost no strings attached. Maybe the majority leader thinks it's unfair to ask [for] protections for workers and labour [for] companies that are getting hundreds of billions of dollars. "We think it's very fair to ask for those. Those are not extraneous issues....We're looking for oversight," he said. "If this federal government is making a big loan to someone, to a big company, we ought to know it and know the details immediately. The bill that was put on the floor by the Republican leader said no one would know a thing about those loans for six months, at least." They're still talking The late senator John McCain frequently counselled reporters during times of emergency to remember two things about the Senate. The first: Anything is possible. The second: There is always a chance so long as all sides are still in the room. And, yes, all sides are still talking. Though Mr Schumer blasted Mr McConnell over what he called a tendency to head to the floor for a "partisan screed," the New York Democrat said he and Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin are still talking. In fact, he said the two are intent on "getting things done". "He left my office at about 12.15am last night and was there at about 9am this morning. The White House congressional liaison (Eric Ueland) has been in and out of the office as well," Mr Schumer said. "We're very close to reaching a deal, very close. And our goal is to reach a deal today -- and we're hopeful, even confident, that we will meet that goal." No Trump tweets Time and again during his term, the 45th president has fired a legislative Hellfire missile into attempts to strike bipartisan deals. From immigration to spending legislation to an infrastructure overhaul package, Mr Trump has signalled his intent to sign major bills before hearing criticism on conservative news networks or from other far-right voices and launching a bill-killing tweet. This time, however, Mr Trump's silence about the content of the emerging bill has been notable. Other than calling for help for the airline industry and American workers, the only issue on which he has voiced a strong opinion is his statements in support of prohibition large corporations from using federal assistance dollars to buy back their own stock to inflate its value. The president, however, has not tweeted about the talks so far on Monday. On Sunday evening, he said he is confident both sides want to pass a stimulus measure. The bottom line: Expect more fireworks on the floor, and sharp words as members and administration officials continue to pull long hours. But as long as they are talking, help for the stumbling US economy is likely days away. A man was killed and another wounded after being ambushed with gunfire outside a southeast Houston convenience store Sunday night. The two men were near the store in the 6000 block of the Gulf Freeway near Maxwell Lane when another pair of men drove up in a dark-colored sedan shortly after 8 p.m., according to Houston Police Department homicide detective E.A. Martinez. Almost immediately, the men in the car started shooting at the two men at the store, Martinez said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 22 By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend: Effect of coronavirus affecting Kazakhstans GDP could equal -0.086 percent or $154.2 million, a representative of Asian Development Bank (ADB) told Trend. The ADB said in their analysis that the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak will have a significant impact on developing Asian economies through numerous channels. "This include sharp declines in domestic demand, lower tourism and business travel, trade and production linkages, supply disruptions, and health effects," the ADB said. ADB noted that the magnitude of the economic losses will depend on how the outbreak evolves, which remains highly uncertain. "In case with Kazakhstan, according to the best case scenario, the economy will not be significantly affected by the outbreak and the net effect on GDP will comprise -0.017 percent. In the case of moderate scenario, the net effect on countrys GPD will amount to -0.032 percent or $57 million. On the assumption of the worst case scenario the effect on GDP will be equal to -0.086 percent or $154.2 million," the ADB said. The ADB noted that the most affected sectors of the economy in all cases will be agriculture, mining and quarrying while transport services and light/heavy manufacturing and construction will experience the least impact from the outbreak. The outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fish market in late December 2019. Some sources claim the coronavirus outbreak started as early as November 2019. The symptoms include cough, headache, fatigue, fever, aching and difficulty breathing. It is primarily spread through airborne contact or contact with contaminated objects. In mild cases, according to the Chinese authorities, treatment takes about a week, in severe cases - two or more. Chinese health authorities say that the majority of the people who have died were either elderly or had underlying health problems. Aside from Mainland China, the cases of coronavirus spreading have also been confirmed in other countries. Several countries are developing a vaccine against the new virus. --- Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh Q: I am finalizing the terms of a divorce from my husband of 19 years. We have two children and I will get custody with my husband having visitation. He will pay me alimony and child support. I am aware that alimony is no longer tax-deductible but wonder if that is also the case with child support. A: There are a few things to clarify. First, for divorces finalized after 2018 alimony is no longer a tax deduction for the party making the payment. This also means that the recipient does not have to include the alimony in income. For pre-2019 divorces, the alimony paid could be deducted but the recipient had to include the payment as income. This was often favorable because the payor is generally in a higher tax bracket than the payee, so through negotiations the parties could decide how the tax benefits and detriments could be shared. Now the alimony is no longer a tax issue for either party. And let me clarify that any divorce finalized before 2019 continues to be taxed under the old rules, even for tax years after 2018. Child support was never deductible by the party making the payment and was never income to the recipient. Support is intended to address the needs of the child. If it was taxed there would be less money available, after tax, than might be needed to support the child. Any monies that you receive for both alimony and child support will not be included in your taxable income. However, your husband will also not be able to claim a tax deduction for the alimony as may have been true had your divorce occurred in 2018 or earlier. You should be aware that the property settlement that you negotiate may have tax implications. Property settlements are not income but anything that you receive from your husband will result in you taking over his tax basis. Tax basis is used to determine gain or loss on a future sale. You and your husband should consider the tax effects of how you divide marital property. Q: When I was an undergraduate student in college my parents paid my tuition directly to the school. We were told this was not a gift because the money never passed through my hands. I borrowed money to obtain a masters degree and graduated with $23,000 of debt. After I made payments for several years my parents paid off the balance of $18,400. Because this related to college costs is there a way for me to treat this as not being a gift? A: Payments made directly to a college do not need to be reported as gifts. Payments made to medical care providers are treated the same. The loan repayment doesnt qualify for this exception to gift treatment. The person who received the gift doesnt report it as income. You will not have to report anything related to your parents payment of the loan. Your parents have made a gift of $18,400 to you. If their payment came from community funds (because New Mexico is a community property state), each of your parents has made a gift of $9,200. The tax law allows each person to gift as much as $15,000 without reporting the gift to the IRS. The person receiving the gift must have a present right to enjoy the property for this $15,000 exclusion to apply. When a donor transfers money to a third party for the benefit of another person, such as your parents payment of your loan, the courts treat the transfer as if the money was given to you with you then paying the loan. This will qualify the transfer for the $15,000 annual exclusion. This means that your parents do not need to report the loan repayment as a gift. The only exception would be if your parents have made other gifts to you during the year that, in total, exceed $15,000 for each of your parents. The loan repayment will not be part of your taxable income. This is true no matter how large the gift may be. The tax law simply says that gifts received during the year are not included as income. James R. Hamill is the Director of Tax Practice at Reynolds, Hix & Co. in Albuquerque. He can be reached at jimhamill@rhcocpa.com. A brother and sister duo, who were put under home quarantine in North Paravur Kochi after returning from the United Kingdom, have defied the authorities and flown back to the UK, said Health Inspector of North Paravur Municipality. The official said that the duo fled without informing the health officials. The two flew back to the UK on March 21, he added. ''The duo had arrived from the UK on March 13. They were asked by us to remain under home quarantine for 14 days at Peruvaram in North Paravur. We were in constant contact with them till March 20," he said. "We lost contact with them for a day. When the contact was restored they claimed that they were in Mumbai due to some emergency. But later their family informed us that the duo had reached the UK. We promptly informed North Paravur police about this," said health inspector. A case has been lodged against them at the North Paravur Police Station. "Health workers lodged a complaint against the missing duo as they had fled out of quarantine defying the government orders," said KS Jayan, SHO of North Paravur Police Station. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An employee of the ShopRite supermarket at Morrell Plaza in Northeast Philadelphia has tested positive for coronavirus, the company said Sunday night. Daniel Emmer, a company spokesperson, said the employee was no longer in the workplace, and added that colleagues who had been in contact with the worker had been asked to self-quarantine for 14 days. Emmer did not identify the employee, give the persons gender or age, or say when the employee tested positive for the virus. He said the store, in the 9900 block of Frankford Avenue in Morrell Park, will remain open after undergoing a thorough cleaning. Supermarkets have been deemed life-sustaining businesses as many other businesses in Pennsylvania and New Jersey have shut down, and many employees have had to deal with increased demand and customer traffic amid the coronavirus outbreak. Emmer said: We are proud of the amazing dedication our associates are demonstrating and we thank them for their service to our customers in keeping stores open and shelves stocked with essentials our shoppers need. Numerous sub-Saharan countries acted to stem the spread of coronavirus on Monday, with South Africa announcing a soldier-patrolled lockdown and Senegal and Ivory Coast each declaring a state of emergency. The pandemic had been slow to spread in Africa compared to the Middle East and Europe, but in recent days the number of deaths and infections have increased, sparking concerns about the continent's vulnerability to contagious diseases. South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa said the government had "decided to enforce a nationwide lockdown for 21 days" from midnight Thursday to "avoid a human catastrophe". There have been more than 400 coronavirus cases in Africa's most developed economy -- the highest in sub-Saharan Africa -- with the number multiplying six-fold in just eight days. Ramaphosa said the numbers could spiral given that South Africa has "a large number of people with suppressed immunity because of high HIV and TB and high levels of poverty and malnutrition." "This is a decisive measure to save millions of South Africans from infection," he said. "Without decisive action, the number of people infected will rapidly increase... to hundreds of thousands." Ramaphosa said the army would patrol the streets along with the police to ensure the ban is respected. - 'The situation is critical' - More African countries are expected to announce tough confinement measures after sealing their borders and closing public places. Senegal declared a state of emergency as well as a dusk-to-dawn curfew starting on Tuesday. "I say this to you with solemnity -- the situation is critical. The speed of the progress of the disease requires us to raise the level of the response," Senegalese President Macky Sall said late Monday, calling the pandemic a "true world war". Fellow West African nation Ivory Coast ordered a similar curfew, as well as progressive confinements measures based on the geographic spread of the virus. In the centre of the continent, DR Congo locked down its second city Lubumbashi for 48 hours on Monday and deployed security forces. Streets were deserted and stores were closed, an AFP journalist said. The move came after two people with coronavirus arrived on Sunday on a flight from the capital Kinshasa. The DRC has recorded 30 cases of coronavirus since March 10, two of them fatalities. - Rising cases - Africa hasn't yet suffered the kind of terrifying rise in virus cases seen elsewhere. The reason for this is unclear, but many African countries have used the precious time to impose travel restrictions, close schools and appeal for social distancing. However, those numbers are now rising significantly. According to a toll compiled by AFP, the number of known cases across the continent -- including North Africa -- stood at more than 1,600 on Monday, of which some 50 have been fatal. The first detected case south of the Sahara was announced in the Nigerian city of Lagos on February 28, and the first death was reported in the Sahel state of Burkina Faso last Wednesday. That was followed by fatalities in Gabon, the DRC and Mauritius. On Monday, three more countries were added to this list: Nigeria -- the most populous country in Africa -- as well as The Gambia in western Africa, and Zimbabwe in the south. All three deaths were of individuals who had arrived after making extensive trips abroad. - Peril for Africa - Ghana on Monday closed schools and universities and suspended public events, while in Burkina Faso a security source said the authorities "were thinking more and more about total confinement of the population for two or three weeks". Rwanda late Saturday barred all "non-essential" movement, Gabon imposed a night curfew, while the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius began a 14-day lockdown on Friday. Health experts have sounded loud and repeated warnings about Africa's vulnerability to coronavirus. Crowded shantytowns, poor sanitation and decrepit health infrastructure offer ideal opportunities for the lethal microbe. "The system itself is overstretched and inadequate to deal with a coronavirus epidemic," Zimbabwean doctor Norman Matara told AFP last week. But lockdowns too can have a catastrophic effect in countries where there is little or no social safety net to help people buy food or pay their bills. "In reality, partial or total confinement could have disastrous effects for the African continent," Cameroonian writer Calixthe Beyala said on her Facebook page. Time for China to help US fight against pandemic Global Times By Chen Qingqing and Wang Cong Source:Global Times Published: 2020/3/21 14:56:20 Last Updated: 2020/3/22 23:49:37 China to provide help for US at subnational level amid COVID-19 outbreak As the number of coronavirus infections spirals out of control in the US, observers and analysts believe it is time for China to consider lending a hand to hard-hit US states in fighting against the deadly coronavirus based on humanitarian grounds despite Washington's escalating xenophobic slurs and hostility toward Beijing by repeatedly calling the novel coronavirus the "Chinese virus." Some Chinese organizations, hospitals and individuals are planning to provide more help to local medics and hospitals in the US, who are also eager to learn more about China's clinical experiences in treating critically ill patients and seeking support for personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies such as N95 face masks and surgical gowns, according Chinese observers, medics and industry insiders. In states like California and New York, which have maintained long-term subnational cooperation with China, and are also home to most Asian-American communities in the country, some local groups are now helping state governments and local hospitals to reach out in purchasing supplies from the world's largest manufacturer. Some American medics and experts reached by the Global Times also called for national-level cooperation between the two countries, which will help tackle supply shortages more effectively. Calls for help A California-based medical expert, who preferred not to be identified, told the Global Times on Friday that some local medics are eager to know if China has plans to donate medical supplies to local hospitals, as it did to Italy, as more medical staff in the US state stand exposed to the deadly disease, in addition to inadequate supplies of protective masks, ventilators, and intensive care beds. "The immediate need is for more PPE and testing capabilities," Larry William Chang, an infectious diseases expert from of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, told the Global Times via email. Chang noted that the major challenges the US faces include inadequate supplies of PPE, ventilators, and overall health system capacity. "We also do not have some of the technological innovations such as phone-based monitoring apps to help with contact tracing and isolation," he said. The overall confirmed cases of coronavirus in the US have surpassed 27,000 as of Sunday, which are almost 10 times higher than a week earlier, data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. An increasing number of people in the US are also calling on local governments to seek cooperation with China to beat back the virus, as the US federal government has been failing to help. "If the federal government and their clown for a president won't help states like California, they should go to China for help," one social media user tweeted Friday. China can help the worst-affected US states like California, New York, and Florida, which have relatively fewer cases but a huge elderly population, by sending ventilators, according to several observers in the US. "If China wants to look very good right now to America, it will be about ventilators," one observer based in California told the Global Times on Saturday, adding that most states will manage other supplies such as masks. "I think [New York and Florida] would accept Chinese aid." A representative from a New York-based Chinese association, who preferred not to be identified, told the Global Times during the weekend that the association has been reaching out to companies in China to purchase medical supplies while it still takes time to ship products to the US. "We've been communicating with other states too, though it's not easy but we'll do our best to make orders," she said, noting that it has ordered over 10,000 units of medical equipment, which are still too little compared to surging demand in hospitals everyday. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo recently said "we literally have people in China shopping for ventilators which is one of the largest manufacturers," while President Donald Trump asked governors that they should be buying medical supplies for their states and that the federal government is not a "shipping clerk." Local media New York Post said in an article on Friday that coronavirus killed city residents "at a rate of more than one per hour." Facing the unprecedented crisis, the city's medical system is also nearing a crisis point due to critical shortage of lifesaving ventilators, machines, and more medical workers are overwhelmed as there have been inadequate supplies for doctors. Shortage of supplies and medical equipment, growing risks among medical staff getting infected, and hospitals being overwhelmed were part of scenarios at the early stages of the outbreak in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province, where the first confirmed novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) cases were reported in January in the country. When Washington tried to pass the buck to Beijing by blaming China's delayed pandemic response for the rapid surge of cases in the US, which are now crashing its healthcare system, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Friday that the Chinese side has been notifying the US of epidemic development, prevention and control measures on a regular basis since January 3. Meanwhile on January 27, key health officials in China and the US spoke on the phone, and at the time, the US side appreciated the Beijing's transparency in response to the outbreak. Unfortunately, without drawing lessons from Wuhan's scenario, Washington's passive response to COVID-19 led its own medical staff unprepared for the current crisis. People-to-people ties When Trump kept playing down the impact of the coronavirus, shifting the blame to China, which, some observers said, aimed to hide the administration's inadequate preparation for this crisis, some doctors and medics in different US states such as New York, California and Maryland have started to seek help from China, particularly from Chinese medics who have had experiences in fighting this battle at the frontline. Shmuel Shoham, a transplant infectious diseases physician at Johns Hopkins, shared a Tweet on Friday saying, "right now over 80 doctors at Hopkins and at hospitals in China just finished a meeting via videoconferencing. The doctors in China taught us from their recent experience." Some Chinese hospitals have begun offering clinical and treatment experiences to some US doctors and medical experts. For instance, the First Hospital of Zhejiang Province had a videoconference call with some experts at Yale University on Wednesday. Chinese experts answered questions including "what the core experiences are in dealing with the virus?" "what the experiences are in treating patients who are critically ill?" "what the standards for ICU treatment are?" "how to protect medics from infections?" and so on, according to media reports. "I think the teleconference call we had was a great example of China and US cooperation at an institutional-level. At the national-level, any ability for China to help with our supply shortages would be wonderful." Chang said. However, the US federal government continues to smear China by ignoring the fundamentals of science by labeling COVID-19 as the "Chinese virus", sparking outrage among not only Chinese but also Asian Americans., Such offensive tactics lowered chances for Beijing and Washington to work together at a national level, particularly some "racist and xenophobia-driven attacks" on China which have become unacceptable, inflaming the spat of words between the two countries, according to observers. It would be more valuable for China to work with the US at the subnational or local level, which could be also be meaningful, Li Haidong, a professor of US studies at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address An Italian restaurant has launched a home delivery service after the hospitality industry was forced to shut its doors indefinitely under the tough new coronavirus restrictions in Australia. In light of the Prime Minister Scott Morrison's advice, Fratelli Fresh has rolled out its 'Gourmet Grocer & Home Chef' service in an effort to cope with the financial strain of the worldwide pandemic. The restaurant will now offer ready-made meals, pasta sauces and a range of fresh, dry, and tinned grocery items to homes around Sydney to help alleviate the pressure of shopping and home cooking. The online delivery service will take orders daily, with those received by 7pm delivered the next day between 4pm and 8pm from Monday to Saturday. Fratelli Fresh has launched a home delivery service after the hospitality industry was forced to shut its doors indefinitely under the tough new coronavirus restrictions in Australia Fresh meals prepared to order include family serves of beef and vegetarian lasagnes, Bolognese sauce, pesto, lamb ragu, and Napolitana tomato sauce. Pizza packs are also available, enabling customers to build, top and cook pizzas at home. Other food items on the menu include 500g or 1kg portions of pumpkin soup, chicken and vegetable soup. To order pantry ingredients, customers can get 500g bags of dried pasta; 1kg bags of flour, sugar, and rice; as well as tinned tomatoes, cannellini beans and chick peas; and jars of olives, anchovies and arrabiata sauce delivered to the door. For fresh fruit and vegetables, you can order onions, potatoes, tomatoes, broccoli, zucchini, carrots, celery, mushrooms, fennel, sweet potato, lettuce, apples, bananas, avocado, oranges, and lemons, as well as fresh herbs, and eggs by the dozen. Patrons can also get drinks delivered to their door, including cold-pressed juices, sparkling, red and white wines - available as single bottles and packs of six, spirits, gin, vodka and whiskey, and six-packs of beer by 4 Pines, Corona and Asahi. All-essential toilet roll and hand soap are also available. The restaurant will now offer ready-made meals, pasta sauces and a range of fresh, dry, and tinned grocery items to homes to help alleviate the pressure of shopping and home cooking Fresh meals prepared to order include family serves of beef and vegetarian lasagnes, Bolognese sauce, pesto, lamb ragu, and Napolitana tomato sauce 'We are working closely with suppliers and our grocery list is locked in for the first few weeks,' Rockpool Dining Group chief executive officer Thomas Pash said. 'After that, we will reassess stock availability on a weekly basis and update our online grocery list accordingly, including adding new items and house-made meals.' Customers can also get a discount with a selection of small and large 'meal deals' that comprise a range of dried pasta, fresh pasta sauces and even wine. Deliveries will be made to the Eastern suburbs, South Sydney, Sutherland Shire, Sydney CBD, Inner West, North Sydney, Manly and Brookvale. To make an order, please visit the website. Nigeria is hoping for the best in its efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic, but it is also prepared for the worst, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, has said. The minister also urged Nigerians to be prepared for tougher directives that the government may put in place to tackle the disease. Mr Mohammed said this on Monday at a press briefing in Abuja on the federal governments efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic. The truth is that things may yet get worse than it is now, hence the need for all hands to be on deck. Tougher decisions may yet be on the way to contain this disease. But whatever decision is taken will be in the best interest of Nigerians, he said. The federal government has already shut all schools and all international airports to prevent the spread of the disease. Many states have also put in place directives to limit public gatherings. On Monday, Mr Mohammed assured that the federal government is prepared to take on and defeat the pandemic. President Buhari has assured Nigerians that the government is on top of the situation and that there is no cause for panic. This is not the time to engage in name-calling, second-guessing the government or playing politics. He urged Nigerians to come together as one to stop coronavirus dead in its tracks, as the virus just like Ebola does not select its victims on the basis of their political party affiliation, religion or ethnicity. He commended the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Immigration officers and others at the ports of entry as the first responders. We also thank Nigerians for complying with all the preventive measures being put in place by the government, he said. Having shut the countrys airports, the minister requested the cooperation of the general public in the area of contact tracing. As you may be aware, health services use contact tracing to find people who may have been exposed to an infectious disease, in this case, coronavirus. He said an Inter-Ministerial/Multi-Sectoral Preparedness and Response Committee set up by the federal government on January 31 has been responsible for the formulation of many of the containment measures so far rolled out. The committee was set up to put in place an action plan for joint response, in the event that the importation of the disease occurs, to ensure its containment. He also recalled that President Buhari on March 9 set up a Presidential Task Force for the Control of Coronavirus, especially to check the diseases potential of causing significant disruption to health services in the country as well as impacting negatively on the economy. Fake news Our efforts to tackle coronavirus are not being helped by the spread of fake news, Mr Mohammed lamented. He said the news going around that the virus cannot affect Africans for one reason or another, or that the young are immune to it is not true. Based on what we know so far, no one is immune to this disease. In New York, for example, 54 per cent of those infected are between the ages of 18 and 49. As the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned, young people are not immune to coronavirus and must avoid socialising and communicating it to older, more vulnerable people. He also said the prescription of chloroquine (which has not been approved for treating coronavirus), garlic, hot bath, etc, as the cure-all for the virus, should be shunned. He said Facebook has been bringing down flagged posts in this regard and Whatsapp is working with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to strengthen the capacity to keep the public informed on coronavirus. He also said a message being circulated on social media claiming that the federal government has agreed to pay N8,500 to each citizen to stay at home for one month starting from March 3, is fake. The message also asked Nigerians to enter their voters card number or national identity card number and other details on a certain website link in order to access the money. Advertisements He urged Nigerians not to fall for the scams. An audio recording that is being circulated on social media, especially on WhatsApp, has made some bogus claims, including that Nigeria is seeking to buy used protective gear from China, waiting for money from the WHO before doing anything, that Nigeria has no funds to tackle the disease because the foreign reserves have been exhausted and funds were stolen, that Nigeria is understating the figures of those infected, etc. This is a most irresponsible, inaccurate and definitely orchestrated job by a charlatan and should be disregarded by all Nigerians. It is obvious that this hatchet job is aimed at distracting the hard-working health officials and misinforming Nigerians in order to create panic, he said. ConsumerAffairs is not a government agency. Companies displayed may pay us to be Authorized or when you click a link, call a number or fill a form on our site. Our content is intended to be used for general information purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment based on your own personal circumstances and consult with your own investment, financial, tax and legal advisers. Company NMLS Identifier #2110672 Copyright 2021 Consumers Unified LLC. All Rights Reserved. The contents of this site may not be republished, reprinted, rewritten or recirculated without written permission. Los Angeles, March 23 : Hollywood star Vin Diesel could be calling the shots as a director more often if filmmaker Steven Spielberg has his way. Diesel had written, directed, and produced t in the self-starring 1997 movie "Strays", in which he played a drug dealer looking for a better life. Earlier, he had also directed and starred in the 1995 short film "Multi-Facial", which had led Spielberg to give him a role in his 1998 film, "Saving Private Ryan". In a recent interview with The National, the 52-year-old actor said director Spielberg has been encouraging him to direct more often, reports aceshowbiz.com. "Speaking of Steven Spielberg, I saw him recently, and he had said to me, 'when I wrote the role for you in 'Saving Private Ryan', I was obviously employing the actor but I was also secretly championing thedirector in you, and you have not directed enough. That is a crime of cinema and you must get back in the directing chair.'" Diesel said. He added: "I haven't directed enough." The star went on to say he hopes to complete a planned film series about famed Carthaginian military leader Hannibal Barca, who fought the Romans during the Second Punic War around 200 BC. "I haven't done it yet. As much as I am grateful for the accomplishments, there are moments when I go 'God, you promised the universe, very specifically, the Hannibal Barca trilogy, and you haven't delivered it. You travelled all over the world'," he said. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Guest Column Long Way to Go but Marching to It: 20 Years of Pushing Political Reform in Myanmar AAPP headquarters in Yangon in 2018. / Htet Wai / The Irrawaddy Suspicious eyes and a lack of knowledge, funding and security greeted us when we set up the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) in the ThaiMyanmar border town of Mae Sot on March 23, 2000. I myself had never touched a computer before I arrived in Mae Sot. The Internet and mobile phones were barely in use at the time. I was lucky not to be killed. One of the ethnic armed forces suspected me to be a thug from the Burmese army because my father used to be a soldier, and the place I stayed at the Mae Sot market (one night cost 20 bahtUS$.60) was also suspected as a place the Burmese intelligence forces used to gather information. However, my colleagues from the ThaiBurma border vouched for me, offering their guarantee to that ethnic armed group that I was not that kind of personI was finally free from suspicion. Since I arrived in Mae Sot, I have been lucky to receive the support from these pro-democratic groups. Though I live in Thailand, I have no legal documents allowing me to stay. I have been detained many times by Thai authorities because I was regarded as illegal. I have to work with AAPP in this cycle of detention and release. A vital bridge to the inside Working hard in a difficult situation, AAPP earned the trust of ethnic armed forces and international governments and later became a bridge between the inside and outside of Burma. The organizations mission depended on proving that there were political prisoners inside Burmawe had to document their existence. First, we had to document the list of political prisoners in Burma. Then, we investigated different prison situations in Burma. We used information from our network inside to write reports to share with diplomats, the United Nations, INGOs and the media. AAPP caught the attention of media from all over the world, including the BBC, Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, Democratic Voice of Burma, The Irrawaddy, Mizzima and New Era Journal. AAPP became well-known and the issue of political prisoners in Burma rose to the top of the agenda at international meetings with Burmas military leaders. International leaders used the release of political prisoners as the barometer for measuring Burmas political progress. When it was Burmas turn to serve as chair of ASEAN, human rights groups and US and EU leaders pressured ASEAN to bar Burma from the chair because the Burmese regime refused to release political prisoners and showed little progress on human rights. ASEAN leaders finally agreed and skipped over Burma for the chair. AAPP joined an ad hoc commission with the National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB) and the Burma Lawyers Council (BLC) to investigate the events of Myanmars Black Friday, also known as the Depayin massacre. On May 30, 2003, 70 or more people were killed when Daw Aung San Suu Kyis convoy was attacked by pro-government thugs in Sagaing Regions Depayin Township. The results of the investigations have been presented to governments, human rights groups and the United Nations. AAPP also worked with Dr. Sein Wins exiled National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB), the National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB) and ethnic and democratic forces along the ThaiBurma border. The association has partnered with Burma support groups all over the world, including the US Campaign for Burma, Burma Campaign UK and others, to lobby the US and EU to impose more sanction on Burmas military junta. Between 2000 and 2010, AAPP and other groups conducted many campaigns for the release of political prisoners, the 2009 global campaign being the most successful, with more than 80 countries participating. We intended to collect 888,888 signatures, in honor of the 8888 democratic revolution, to call on the UN to make the release of all political prisoners a priority. We collected over 700,000 signatures and presented them to the UN Special Envoy to Burma. Ko Tate, a co-founder of AAPP, was a member of the delegation. This campaign, along with other reasons, put great pressure on the Burmese military junta to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Min Ko Naing and all political prisoners. Burma after 2010 The political climate changed inside Burma in 2010 and AAPP changed its vision and mission. Before 2010, our work focused on the release of all political prisoners, assisting incarcerated political prisoners, the reintegration of released political prisoners and pushing for a free political process that would allow the release of political prisoners. After 2010, we changed our vision to the following: to achieve national reconciliation and to help transform Burma into a free and democratic society, where no political prisoners remain incarcerated and individuals civil and political rights are protected, fulfilled and maintained. As a result of political changes, AAPP leaders were removed from the countrys blacklist. AAPP Secretary Ko Tate Naing and I, as joint secretary, returned to Burma for the first time on Jan. 5, 2013. That year, AAPP was invited to participate in the Committee for Scrutinizing the Remaining Political Prisoners set up by President U Thein Sein. AAPP tried our best to ensure the release of the remaining political prisoners. Through new offices in Yangon and Mandalay, AAPP provided counseling training to former political prisoners so that they could become counselors. The program created jobswhich still continue todayfor 42 former political prisoners, providing support for their family members. The AAPP provided human rights awareness trainings at government-run schools and universities and in villages. In addition, AAPP holds 12-day basic human rights, human rights documentation and transitional justice trainings for members of political parties, ethnic youth and human rights defenders in all states and divisions in Burma. AAPP believes that in order to have a rule of law, we need just laws. We focus on advocacy to abolish or review laws that repress the countrys democracy, such as the Peaceful Assembly Law, Telecommunication Law Section 66 (d), the Prisons Law and the laws governing the Myanmar Human Rights Commission. AAPP also continues working on documenting the number of political prisoners, assisting incarcerated political prisoners, freeing political prisoners and rehabilitating former political prisoners, including support for former political prisoners and their family members. AAPP has urged the government to handle past cases of human rights violations as a part of transitional justice. In transitional justice, truth is the most important thing. In order to have truth, documentation is necessary. AAPP has conducted interviews with 3,500 former political prisoners to document their experiences, creating a record that will be helpful for truth commissions in the future. The government still needs to address human right violations from the pastto recognize them and work towards reparations for those who have suffered from the actions of the army or government agents. We work with civil society and ethnic groups to achieve this goal. We believe we must push for institutional reform as well, to prevent such human rights violations from happening again. AAPP is lobbying and advocacting for prison reform, police reform and a restructuring of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission. AAPP encourages international governments, especially the US and EU governments, to apply pressure and engage with Burma, to push for reform of domestic institutions and to invest more in Burma to support job creation. The issue of political prisoner is directly related to the countrys political and economic situation as well as social equality and federalism for ethnic groups. Because of armed conflicts, villagers near conflict zones are detained arbitrarily and tortured. There are extrajudicial killings. Farmers had their lands confiscated under the military junta in the past and are now fighting to get their land back. As a result, they have been detained and sentenced. Freedom of the press, freedom of assembly and freedom of speech are basic principles for democracy. However, the government has interpreted these differently and activists and human rights defenders have been detained because they exercise these basic democratic rights. The government must stop. To solve the issue of political prisoners, the government needs to take a holistic approach. We cannot do this one-by-one, case-by-case. We need to end armed conflict and we also need to solve land grab problems justly and quickly. The government needs to allow people to practice basic democratic principles such as the freedoms of speech, assembly and press. We need a law to protect workers. If the government does not allow people to practice civil and political rights, Burma will never be proud among the international community and more sanctions will come. We intended to dissolve AAPP as soon as possible after we established it in 2000. But to do so, we need to create a society where there are no political prisoners. I hope we will reach that goal soon. To achieve it, we need the government to respect human rights and we need people who respect human rights. Though our name is the Assistance Association For Political Prisoners, what we are doing is about more than the release of political prisoners. Its about achieving national reconciliation and helping to transform Burma into a free and democratic society, where no political prisoners remain incarcerated and individuals civil and political rights are protected, fulfilled and maintained. Its a long way to go but we are marching to it. Bo Kyi AAPP Joint Secretary You may also like these stories: NLD Proposal to End Immunity for Myanmars Ex-Military Govt Fails to Pass in Charter Vote NLDs Bid to End Myanmar Militarys Constitutional Grip on National Security Voted Down Myanmar Parliament Approves Amendment to Constitutions Language on State, Regional Minister Appointments Launch: The North Korean government released this photo of the test-firing of a tactical guided weapon US President Donald Trump sent a personal letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, seeking to maintain good relations and offering co-operation over the coronavirus pandemic, Mr Kim's sister claims. The letter came as Mr Kim watched the firing of tactical guided weapons, drawing criticism from South Korea, as nuclear talks are deadlocked. Mr Kim's sister and senior ruling party official, Kim Yo Jong, praised Mr Trump for sending the letter at a time when "big difficulties and challenges lie ahead in the way of developing ties" between the countries. She said Mr Trump explained his plan to "propel the relations between the two countries ... and expressed his intent to render co-operation in the anti-epidemic work", an apparent reference to the global coronavirus outbreak. She said her brother was grateful for the letter. North Korea has repeatedly said there hasn't been a single case of the coronavirus on its soil. Some foreign experts question that claim and say an outbreak in the North could cause a humanitarian disaster because of its poor medical infrastructure. . A senior US administration official said Mr Trump sent a letter to Mr Kim that was consistent with Mr Trump's efforts to engage global leaders during the pandemic. Kim Yo Jong said Mr Trump's letter is "a good example showing the special and firm personal relations" between the North Korean and US leaders. South Korea's military confirmed it detected two short-range ballistic missiles that flew from a site in North Korea across the country and landed in the waters off the east coast. Washington The fate of a sweeping government rescue package to prop up an economy devastated by the coronavirus pandemic was in limbo Sunday after Democrats blocked action in the Senate, objecting to an emerging deal they said failed to adequately protect workers or impose strict enough restrictions on bailed-out businesses. In a procedural vote that unfolded after three days of fast-paced negotiations to reach a bipartisan compromise, Senate Democrats registered their opposition to the bill even as top negotiators continued to struggle behind the scenes to strike a deal. The 47-47 vote was a stunning setback for a package that is emerging as the largest economic stimulus measure in modern American history now expected to cost $1.8 trillion or more. The White House and lawmakers in both parties were bracing for chaos in the markets Monday morning should they fail to come to terms on the huge government rescue plan. Republicans and Democrats, as well as President Donald Trump, have agreed that the plan is crucial to cushioning the economic blow of the rapidly spreading disease, which has shuttered entire industries, forced workers to stay at home and wreaked havoc in the global markets. It would send $1,200 direct payments to millions of Americans, additional jobless benefits and aid to states and provide hundreds of billions of dollars for loans to businesses. But as its outlines emerged Sunday, Democrats denounced the package as a corporate giveaway that favored big business over workers and failed to ensure that bailed-out companies would not enrich themselves after receiving government aid. "In the midst of an unprecedented national crisis, Republicans can't seriously expect us to tell people in our communities who are suffering that we shortchanged hospitals, students, workers and small businesses, but gave big corporations hundreds of billions of dollars in a secretive slush fund," said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., a top negotiator. Democrats also said the measure provided insufficient unemployment aid offering only three months while they have insisted on at least four and lacked adequate funding for state and local governments, emergency food assistance and relief from student loans. Earlier in the day, the top four congressional leaders met with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to hash out differences over the package. But far from emerging with news of an agreement, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who returned from San Francisco on Saturday to take part in the final stages of negotiations, said the House would pursue its own legislation. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. "We'll be introducing our own bill and hopefully, it will be compatible with what they discussed in the Senate," Pelosi told reporters as she left a meeting in the office of Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the Senate majority leader. In a fiery speech on the Senate floor a few hours later, McConnell, his voice occasionally rising, blasted Democrats for their reluctance to support the measure after Republicans gave ground and struck several major compromises on their highest priorities. "We are at the point where both sides have come a long way towards each other," he said. "And each side has to decide whether to continue elbowing and arguing over the last several inches and risk the whole thing or whether to shake hands and get it done." Time was running out for Congress to act. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday, the first senator confirmed to have the disease. After his announcement, two other Republican senators Mitt Romney and Mike Lee of Utah announced that they would immediately self-quarantine. While some might view the Pappas legislation as protecting scofflaws, its more complicated than that. The lack of true property tax reform at the state level has exacerbated tax rates and levies in some of Cook Countys hardest hit communities. Lawmakers still have not moved to reform pensions or allow voters to have a say about that issue on the November ballot. Local property taxes that fund police and fire retiree pensions are squeezing government resources, driving up local tax bills and cutting into the delivery of local services. And a new assessor in place, Fritz Kaegi, is making commercial property owners nervous with more transparent, more accurate but higher assessments. An eight year old boy has tragically died after being attacked by two dogs in Dublin. The child died this morning at Crumlin Children's Hospital. At around 4pm yesterday, the child was seriously injured following a reported attack by a number of dogs at a house in the Tallaght area. The child was taken to Tallaght Hospital with serious injuries before being moved to Crumlin yesterday. The dog warden has been notified and the dogs have been confiscated. A full investigation into this incident is underway by Gardai at Tallaght Garda Station. Gardai and the emergency services rushed to the scene when the alarm was raised. At approximately 4pm on Sunday a male child (8) was seriously injured following a reported attack by a number of dogs at a house in the Tallaght area, a garda spokesperson said after the incident. The house where the attack took place is a detached property off the Blessington Road. A container storage business is also run from the same address, with the storage units situated beside and behind the house. Gardai confirmed at lunchtime that the young boy had tragically died. More to follow... London: The growing havoc on one side of Corona has increased so much. That there is only a view of Tawahi everywhere. As of now, the number of people who have died from this virus has exceeded 12000. The fear of this virus is spread among people. The World Health Organization (WHO) believes that locking up cities and countries to defeat Corona will not work. With the lockdown, adequate steps of public health will have to be taken, otherwise this disease can flourish again. Top Emergency Expert Mike Ryan of WHO told the BBC in an interview that countries cannot rely solely on lockdown to deal with the disease spread from Corona. Ryan said that all the public health measures will have to be taken to prevent this disease from recurring. We have to first find out the people who are badly ill and infected with Corona. Who came in contact with them will also have to find out. Then all these have to be isolated and treated properly. It is also being said that the danger is also from the lockdown. At the same time, let us tell that if we do not find the sick and infected people and start treating them, then in the event of removal of the lockdown, the number of people struggling with this disease can increase immediately. According to information from sources, due to Corona, many countries including Taiwan are criticizing WHO. Taiwan says the WHO failed to warn of the crisis in time. Taiwan says it has alerted the WHO and the International Health Regulator (IHR) on December 31 about the infectious disease that began in Wuhan. It is known that Taiwan has been excluded from the organization due to the insistence of China to declare its share. Taiwanese officials allege that despite receiving information, the WHO did not warn other countries of the horrors of COVID-19. At the same time, WHO chief Tedros Adhanam has also been criticized for praising Chinese President Xi Jinping. Tedros had said that Jinping did a very good job in dealing with the disease. Also Read: Corona had knocked in this country before China, claims scientist Giuseppe Remuzzi Doctor given vaccine for corona found infected 'Corona' orgy continues in America, 419 people died so far China turns down Trump's proposal, says no help needed Skip to: Influenza (or the flu) is an infectious respiratory condition caused by influenza viruses. Influenza is different from the common cold. Unlike the common cold, influenza (flu) can lead to serious health complications such as pneumonia, otitis media, and death. Although influenza can affect anyone at any age at any time of the year, it circulates at higher levels and can cause outbreaks during the winter in the northern hemisphere. Young children, older people, and people with pre-existing health conditions are most at risk of complications from flu infection. Influenza virus. 3D illustration showing surface glycoprotein spikes hemagglutinin purple and neuraminidase orange. Image Credit: Kateryna Kon / Shutterstock Prevalence & Incidence Within the USA and the UK, the peak season for influenza typically is between October and April, whereas countries along the equator are typically at risk all year round. In between each 'flu-season,' subtle mutations occur to influenza viruses, known as (mild) antigenic drift, that can lead to epidemics. Pandemics (global epidemics) can occur when a new subtype of the influenza virus (type A) emerges when there is an abrupt major antigenic change to the virus antigens, this is called antigenic shift. Compared to annual local epidemics, which are less severe and have a better prognosis due to milder mutations, global pandemics occur with massive changes to each virus subtype. Human populations who have not been exposed to this subtype before are vulnerable to infection as their immune system does not recognize the new subtype. This leads to a faster and more aggressive spread of influenza. Examples of global influenza pandemics include the 1918 Pandemic (H1N1 virus), 1957-1958 Pandemic (H2N2 virus), 1968 Pandemic (H3N2 virus) and the 2009 H1N1 Pandemic (H1N1pdm09 virus) which is estimated to have caused between 100,000 and 400,000 deaths globally in the first year alone. 3D graphical representation of the biology and structure of a generic influenza virus, and are not specific to the 2009 H1N1 virus Symptoms The initial symptoms of influenza are similar to that of the common cold, and unlike the common cold, which is gradual, influenza can emerge quite rapidly a one to three days after infection with the first symptoms typically being that of chills and aches. Symptoms include: Fever (sudden onset) as well as chills Dry cough, sore throat, and hoarseness Muscular pains and aches: including headache and earache Watering reddened eyes, face, and mouth Nausea (feeling sick) and loss of appetite Runny and blocked nose, or nasal congestion (more common in common colds) In some cases, diarrhea or abdominal pains The symptoms of influenza are a mixture of the symptoms of a common cold (but more severe), with that of the symptoms of pneumonia, fatigue and muscular pain. Typically, a cough coupled with a fever is a good indication of influenza. In healthy individuals, the flu can last up to 2 weeks and can be naturally fought off by the body's immune system. It is estimated that between 30 to 50% of influenza infections have no symptoms at all. A definite diagnosis can be made by using the rapid molecular assay test, which is able to quickly diagnose influenza by taking a nasal swab within the first four days of symptomatic onset. These assays test for viral antigens (of the viruses discussed below) and can provide results within 30 minutes. Image Credit: Fizkes / Shutterstock Causes Influenza is caused by the influenza virus; of which 3 main types affect humans: Influenza types A-C. These viruses are airborne and therefore spread in the air by coughing or sneezing; ejecting approximately half a million virus particles, less commonly contact of contaminated surfaces, may also lead to infection. Influenza A and B are responsible for seasonal influenza, whereas Influenza C only causes mild symptoms. Influenza A is also responsible for more serious global pandemics. Influenza A is primarily hosted in wild aquatic birds that typically cause 'bird-flu' in wild and domestic bird populations as well as the occasional human influenza pandemic. Influenza A viruses are categorized by subtype based on two surface proteins: hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). The different types of H and N are numbered and there are 18 different H subtypes and 11 different NA subtypes. It's the combination of these proteins that identify which subtype an influenza A virus belongs to, e.g., H1N1 (Spanish Flu 1918 and 2009) or H5N1 (Bird Flu 2004). Influenza A is prone to a high rate of mutation and is incredibly genetically diverse, hence the reduced immunity in humans throughout life. Influenza B only is almost exclusive to humans. It has only one subtype and although there is antigenic drift resulting in different strains of Influenza B there is no antigenic shift so humans typically have a higher level of immunity to it from childhood. Influenza C also has one species that can affect humans, dogs, and pigs. Usually, Influenza C causes mild infections in children. Although a fourth group, influenza virus D was identified in 2011, it appears to be limited to cattle and pigs although there is concern that it could become an emerging disease threat for cattle-workers in the future. Once a person has become infected, depending on the type and destructive properties of the strain, the infection may take place along different parts of the respiratory system, or in other tissues. Typically, humans only possess particular enzymes that are able to allow influenza viruses to infiltrate cells within the throat and lungs (cleavage of hemagglutinin) and therefore cannot infect other tissues or organs, however, more severely virulent strains such as H5N1 can also bind to receptors much deeper within the lungs, and as such are able to cause more severe symptoms including pneumonia but is less easily 'coughed-out', compared to those that bind to the upper respiratory tracts which tend to be less severe. Treatment, Prevention & Control Those that are diagnosed with influenza need to isolate themselves and avoid close contact with others in the effort to limit the spread of the virus. Basic preventative strategies such as washing one's hands with warm water and soap, the use of tissues when sneezing, and blowing one's nose as well as not stockpiling used tissues may be a good start in limiting spread. The best course of action for someone who has influenza is to rest, sleep, keep warm, drink plenty of fluids, take OTC (over the counter) medications such as paracetamol or ibuprofen to treat pains, aches and fever symptoms. Other OTC medication mixes can also be taken but must not be taken in conjunction with paracetamol as they typically contain it. As influenza is viral, antibiotics will have no effect on the infection or alter the outcome in any way, unless there is a secondary bacterial infection after influenza infection. The only real treatment of influenza are antivirals, especially within the first 48 hours of infection, however, many virus strains are resistant to conventional antivirals. The main antivirals used include oseltamivir (75mg twice daily for 5 days) or zanamivir (10mg as 2x 5mg puff inhalations, twice daily for 5 days). These antivirals can also be used as chemoprophylaxis agents to prevent or reduce the severity of influenza if infected (in high-risk groups). Healthy individuals may fight off the infection naturally within a couple of weeks, however, high-risk groups including young children, pregnant women and the elderly may be given antivirals. Particular groups of people may be eligible for the free flu vaccine in the UK on an annual basis in the run-up to winter. These include those over the age of 65, pregnant women, obese individuals, carers and home workers, children of primary school age, or those with chronic illnesses. It is important to stress, and the 'flu-jab' does not guarantee protection from seasonal influenza. However, it reduces the risk of infection and/or complications of infection in risk groups. A new influenza vaccine needs to be made every year for each influenza season based on the most common variants of that or the previous year due to the high mutation rates of the viruses. It is also the reason why 100% of protection cannot be guaranteed. Influenza and COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus, are both infectious respiratory illnesses. Although the symptoms of COVID-19 and the flu can look similar, the two illnesses are caused by different viruses. COVID-19 is caused by one virus, called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, or SARS-CoV-2. Sources: NHS.uk (2020). Flu. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/flu/ Ghebrehewet et al, 2016. Influenza. BMJ. 355:i6258 https://www.bmj.com/content/355/bmj.i6258 Moghadami, M (2017). A Narrative Review of Influenza: A Seasonal and Pandemic Disease. Iran J Med Sci. 42(1):2-13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28293045 Greenbook of Immunisation. Chapter 19: Influenza Further Reading Hyderabad: Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Sunday announced a total lockdown of Telangana till March 31 to combat the coronavirus (Covid-19) epidemic. Addressing a press conference here after reviewing the situation in the state, Chandrashekar Rao said the state government has taken this decision under the Epidemic Dis-eases Act of 1897. A notification has been issued. He said that with suspension of all international flights and denial of entry by the sea route, the threat of further import of Covid-19 infection had been minimised, but there was need to contain spread of virus from people who have already tested positive. Eessential services like milk and vegetables would be exempted from the shutdown. Only one person from each family would be allowed to shop for essentials. The chief minister announced that all shops and establishments, shopping malls, supermarkets and wine shops would remain closed till March 31. However, small kirana shops will be open. All public transportation, including auto rickshaws, taxis, private bus and Hyderabad metro rail services stand suspended till March 31. All inter-state borders with Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have been closed. No vehicles, including public and private transport buses, or private vehicles would be allowed into the state. Only trucks carrying essential commodities like milk and vegetables would be permitted. Poor people would be provided 12 kg of rice per each member of the family. This will be open to about 87 lakh white ration card holders, who will be given Rs 1,500 per family to purchase vegetables and groceries. The government has sanctioned Rs 2,417 crore for this. While appealing to people stay away from gatherings, the chief minister said that groups of more than five people would not be allowed on roads anywhere in the state. He said that during the lockdown period, 20 per cent of staff and officers of government departments, other than those involved in emergency services, would function in offices on a rotation basis. He announced that all educational activities, including invigilation of papers and aganwadi centres stands closed during this lockdown. Alternate arrangements would be made to supply nutritious food to mother and child during the interregnum. Mr Rao made it clear that all private institutions and establishments, besides the state government, should pay wages to outsourcing and contract employees during the lockdown. He said that the total number of Coronavirus positive cases had gone up to 26, with five new cases reported on Sunday. All the five people have international travel history; two have returned from London, two from Dubai and one from Scotland, he said. The government has identified all pregnant mothers who are due for delivery from Monday to till March 31 and he has issued orders to ensure measures for safe deliveries and proper medical care for mother and new born. Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre will become a testing centre for COVID-19, said Infectious Diseases Consultant & Microbiologist at the BDF Hospital and Member of the National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus, Lieutenant Colonel Dr Manaf Al Qahtani. The centre will be divided into a reception and classification area, three halls, a pharmacy and rapid treatment area, A Bahrain News Agency report said yesterday (March 22). The first hall will be for testing purposes for contacts of active COVID-19 cases who are asymptomatic, and 400 seats will be available in the waiting area. The second hall will be a testing hall for contacts of active COVID-19 cases who are experiencing symptoms and will provide more than 400 seats in the waiting area, 250 beds, as well as resting areas. The third hall will be allocated for testing individuals arriving at Bahrain International Airport, and provides more than 400 seats, 250 beds, as well as a dining area. Tests are conducted by a specialised medical team and examination mechanisms are classified as individuals arriving from abroad, individuals in contact with active COVID-19 cases who have arrived from abroad, and positive cases with an unknown source. Dr Al Qahtani highlighted the kingdoms continued cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO), adding that the kingdom has become the first Arab country to participate in the WHOs solidarity trial, aimed at jumpstarting research for the establishment of a treatment designed to eradicate COVID-19. Dr Al Qahtani highlighted that the WHO has once again praised the kingdom for the additional efforts and guidelines introduced to contain the spread of COVID-19, including its social distancing measures and contact tracing efforts. Dr Al Qahtani added that there are 183 active COVID-19 cases, and that all are stable except for three cases that are critical. Dr Al Qahtani highlighted that 149 cases have been treated and discharged, and 250 individuals have left quarantines. He noted that since the official announcement of cases linked to contacts of active COVID-19 on March 19, the ministry has tested 1,922 individuals, over a period of four days, and only 31 cases returned positive. Dr Al Qahtani reiterated the importance of all citizens and residents who have interacted with active COVID-19 cases to call 444, self-isolate and follow the health guidelines provided to them by a specialised medical team. Dr Al Qahtani added that citizens and residents above the age of 70, as well as pregnant women, and immune comprised individuals are advised to practice social distancing as much as possible. According to the current analysis of Reports and Data, the global Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) market was valued at USD 267.1 million in 2019 and is expected to reach USD 371.8 million by the year 2027, at a CAGR of 4.2%. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a treatment provided for cardiac or respiratory diseases. It uses a pump to circulate blood through an artificial lung back into the bloodstream. It is an advanced temporary life support system to help in respiratory and cardiac function. It is used for oxygenation, elimination of carbon dioxide gas, and hemodynamic support. The machine or system is connected to the patient by a cannula, which is placed in large veins and arteries of legs, neck, or thoracic region. This step is termed as cannulation. Device pumps out the blood into the oxygenator to add oxygen and eliminate carbon dioxide. This oxygenated blood is then passed back into the patient, similarly as the normal heart does. Request free sample Copy of this research report to Understand the structure of the complete report@ https://www.reportsanddata.com/sample-enquiry-form/2465 Increasing the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and increasing ECMO centers across the globe are some of the factors driving the market growth. Heart related disease is the leading cause of death globally for both sex groups. It is estimated that in the U.S., approximately 1,055,000 individuals will have coronary diseases, including 720,000 new and 335,000 recurrent coronary events. The number of artificial respiration via the help of the device in a developed nation such as the U.S. from the past decade is driving the market growth. The improved survival rate with ECMO is another major factor propelling market growth. Recently in Korea, the inpatient received ECMO for respiratory failure. The study showed improving survival rate from 30.8% to 35.9%. However high cost of the procedure may hinder the market growth. Further key findings from the report suggest Various organizations and research institutes are engaged in clinical trials of the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation to evaluate the efficiency of the device. For instance, NHS ECMO completed the study of the ECMO service for adults with respiratory failure. Central Hospital, Nancy, France is engaged in studying the efficacy of venoarterial ECMO prior the left ventricular assist device implantation Favorable reimbursement policy such as, Medicare and Medicaid reimburse the patients going through extracorporeal membrane oxygenation procedure based on its mode of cannulation and medical indication is expected to fuel the market growth of the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation market Leading players of the market such as Getinge group recently launched its Cardiohelp System and Cardiosave Market players are focused in developing the advanced technologies in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. For instance, MC3 Cardiopulmonary received US FDA approval for its Crescent jugular dual lumen catheter in the US for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. During 2019-2026, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation market is expected to register a CAGR of 4.8% in Asia Pacific; followed by North America and Europe, with 4.6% and 4.1% CAGR, respectively. High prevalence of severe cardiogenic shock and related diseases across the globe is the major factor driving the market during the forecast period across all regions. The venoarterial ECMO type of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation segment dominates the field with highest market share in the year 2018. It is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.4% during the forecast period to reach USD 156.61 million by 2026 Based on end use segment, pediatric is expected to account for the CAGR 4.4% of the global extracorporeal membrane oxygenation market, as growing incidences of birth defect and premature birth across the world and raising public awareness about the technologically advanced respiratory support Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the highest rate. Developing nations such China, and India are likely to witness high growth due to high prevalence of cardiac and pulmonary diseases, increased healthcare expenditure and growing R&D investment High cost of the ECMO procedure and lack of skilled personnel are the key factors likely to hamper growth of the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation market Key participants include Getinge Group (Sweden), Medtronic plc (Ireland), LivaNova PLC (U.K.), XENIOS AG (Germany), Terumo Corporation (Japan), MicroPort Scientific Corporation (China), NIPRO Corporation (Japan), OriGen Biomedical, Inc. (U.S.), ALung Technologies, Inc. (Germany), and EUROSETS S.r.l. (Italy). Order Your Copy Now (Customized report delivered as per your specific requirement)@ https://www.reportsanddata.com/checkout-form/2465 For the purpose of this report, Reports and Data has segmented the Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) market on the basis of type, component, application, end use and region: Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2016-2026) Venovenous ECMO Venoarterial ECMO Arteriovenous ECMO Component Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2016-2026) Pumps Cannula Oxygenators Gas Blender Heat Exchanger Pressure Monitor Bladder Reservoir Controller Gas Cylinder Others Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2016-2026) Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) Birth Defects of the Heart Meconium Aspiration Syndrome (MAS) Severe Pneumonia Severe Air Leak Problems Severe High Blood Pressure in the Arteries of the Lungs (PPHN) Others End Use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2016-2026) Pediatric Adult Regional Outlook (Revenue in USD Million; 20162026) North America U.S Canada Europe Germany France U.K Rest of the Europe Asia Pacific China India Japan Rest of Asia-Pacific Middle East & Africa Latin America Brazil To identify the key trends in the industry, click on the link below: https://www.reportsanddata.com/report-detail/extracorporeal-membrane-oxygenation-ecmo-market Read More Reports:- Recombinant Human Serum Albumin Market Size, Share, Trends & Analysis By Type (OsrHSA, ScrHSA, Others), By Application (Cell Culture Media, Medical Supplements, Others), By Region And Forecast To 2027 Purified Human Proteins Market Size, Share & Analysis, By Product Type (Native Purified Human Protein, Recombinant Purified Human Proteins), By Application (Laboratories, Medical), By Region, Segment Forecasts To 2027 Cellulite Reduction Devices Market Size, Share & Analysis, By Procedure (Non-Invasive, Minimally Invasive, Topical), By End Use (Hospitals, Clinics & Beauty Centers), And Regional Forecasts To 2027 Helicobacter Pylori Diagnostics Market Size, Trends & Analysis, By Technology (Immunoassays, POC, Molecular Diagnostics), By End-User (Hospitals, Diagnostics Laboratories, Clinics), And Regional Forecasts To 2027 Preclinical Tomography System Market Size, Trends & Analysis, By Type (CT, PET, & SPECT, Composite System), By Application (Biopharmaceuticals, Research Institutes, Others), By Region, Forecast To 2027 About Reports and Data Reports and Data is a market research and consulting company that provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. Our solutions purely focus on your purpose to locate, target and analyze consumer behavior shifts across demographics, across industries and help clients make a smarter business decision. We offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a multiple industries including Healthcare, Technology, Chemicals, Power, and Energy. We consistently update our research offerings to ensure our clients are aware about the latest trends existent in the market. Reports and Data has a strong base of experienced analysts from varied areas of expertise. Contact Us: John Watson Head of Business Development Reports And Data | Web: www.reportsanddata.com Direct Line: +1-212-710-1370 E-mail: sales@reportsanddata.com AUSTIN, Texas Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Sunday said the National Guard could begin monitoring drive-in testing sites on Monday, and the Republican declined at a news conference to follow the lead of other states with a statewide shelter in place order. But Abbott warned Texans that it could be coming if they dont heed his previous orders on Friday that limited social gatherings to under 10 people, closed schools, bars and gyms and banned dine-in eating at restaurants. Stricter standards will be taken, if necessary, Abbott said. If you dont have an essential reason for leaving your home, you should not be leaving your home. Meanwhile, the top elected official in Dallas County on Sunday issued the strictest order in Texas so far. Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins issued an order telling residents to shelter in their homes except for essential activities. The order also prohibits gatherings beyond a single household and commands non-essential businesses to cease operation outside of people working from home. It takes effect at 11:59 p.m. Monday and will remain in place until the same time on April 3. The Texas Department of State Health Services reported 334 people statewide have tested positive for the virus, up from 304 on Saturday, and officials in Dallas said a man in his 80s has become the sixth Texas resident with the disease to die. The vast majority of people who contract the virus recover within weeks. It causes only mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but it can lead to more severe illness, including pneumonia, especially in older adults and people with preexisting health problems. Abbott on Sunday also prodded the federal government to do more to help states secure more tests and medical supplies to fight the spreading coronavirus outbreak. The governor did not dissuade big-city mayors in Dallas, Houston and Austin from issuing a shelter-in-place order if they think that is best. He said local authorities have the power to enforce stricter standards than he has so far, and noted that more than 200 counties havent had a reported positive coronavirus test. Dallas County has the greatest number of cases, with 30, according to the health department. It is followed by Harris County, with 27, and Bexar County, with 24. Abbott previously told the National Guard to get ready and said Sunday they can help local officials set up medical tents, reboot previously closed hospitals and medical facilities or monitor the traffic at drive-thru testing sites that are sprouting up the states major cities. He said Texas shares the frustration of other states regarding the federal governments slow response to the coronavirus outbreak. The governor also urged the federal government to ramp up production of personal protection equipment. He said the state has tried but cant deliver quickly enough. Weve tried strategies. And the delivery dates in July. Thats not going to work. We need delivery dates tomorrow. The next day, Abbott said. And we have ready money to pay for anybody who can sell (personal protection equipment) to us. Well cut you a check on the spot. Abbott also announced new measures to free up hospital resources to address the pandemic. He said that he issued executive orders to allow hospitals to treat two patients in a room, rather than one, and directing heath care workers to postpone all elective or non-essential medical procedures. ___ Bleiberg reported from Dallas ___ The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. ___ Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative Bank Limited, Mumbai, Maharashtra, a Multi-State Urban Cooperative Bank was placed under All-Inclusive Directions under sub-section (1) of Section 35 A read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 with effect from close of business on September 23, 2019 in the interest of depositor protection. The Directions were modified from time to time, the last being on November 5, 2019 as a result of which 78% of the depositors of the bank were in a position to withdraw their entire account balance. Reserve Bank has been closely monitoring the situation and has been holding regular meetings with the Administrator and the Advisory Committee of the bank. The Reserve Bank has also been, directly and through the Administrator, discussing with various authorities on expeditious sale of securities and recoveries of loans. Due to various factors including legal processes, tangible outcomes are taking some time. It must be noted that unlike in the case of commercial banks, the Reserve Bank has no powers to draw up an enforceable scheme of reconstruction of a cooperative bank. Nevertheless, in the interest of the depositors and the stability of the cooperative banking sector, the Reserve Bank of India, in consultation with various stakeholders and authorities, is trying to work out a scheme for revival of the bank. In order to take this forward, it is considered necessary to extend the aforesaid Directions for a further period of three months. Accordingly, it is hereby notified for the information of the public that the validity of the aforesaid Directive dated September 23, 2019, as modified from time to time, has been extended for a further period of three months from March 23, 2020 to June 22, 2020, subject to review. All other terms and conditions of the Directives under reference shall remain unchanged. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) He took a left, three rights and, two minutes later, pulled into the closest school campus, one of 19 meal distribution sites that Prince William County Public Schools has set up to feed its 92,000 students 44 percent of whom rely on federally subsidized meal programs during the novel coronavirus-driven closure of all Virginia public schools. Gross, an out-of-work IT specialist, looked at the bagged breakfasts and lunches on Tuesday morning. They were, he knew, his familys only hope for food that day. AVON, Ohio -- While many businesses are shuttered and residents are sheltering in place at home due to the COVID-19 virus, the wheels of local government continue to turn. The work of the city must move forward, said Mayor Bryan Jensen. To that end, the city has provided information and suggestions regarding attendance at public meetings. Due to the COVID-19 crisis and resulting state of emergency called by Ohios Gov. DeWine, the mayor and City Council encourage all members of the public who plan on attending public meetings to take all precautions recommended by the Ohio Department of Health, Jensen said. The recommended precautions (from the Center for Disease Control and Protection) include: Maintaining a safe, six-foot distance from other people No shaking hands Wash hands with non-antimicrobial soap and water, alcohol-based hand rub or antiseptic hand wash after having contact with respiratory secretions and contaminated objects/materials. Practice proper respiratory etiquette: Cover mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, or direct cough/sneeze into your elbow area. Dispose of tissues in the nearest waste receptacle after use. Please consider the risk to your health and the health of city workers before deciding whether or not to attend a meeting. For those who will not be attending city meetings but want to keep up on city actions, agendas for all public meetings are available on the citys website: www.cityofavon.com. For any legislative items of concern, Jensen said: Feel free to contact the mayors office, any of our administrators or a council member. In addition, all meetings are recorded and will be made available upon request. Please be considerate of your neighbors and your public employees and periodically check the citys website for updated information on cancellations and reschedulings, as we all try to get through this unprecedented time. For further information, contact City Council President Brian Fischer or Clerk of Council Barbara Brooks at 440-937-7821 or email at bbrooks@cityofavon.com. Read more from the Sun Sentinel. Las Vegas Motor Speedway will host four Red Cross blood drives beginning Friday, March 27. Other drives will be held on April 2, April 7 and April 11. The drives will take place in the Thrive Hive Digital Center in the speedway infield, and will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Our community has both a lack of donated blood as well as facilities to collect blood, LVMS GM Chris Powell said. Our facility gives the Red Cross a donation center in the northeast part of the valley that is spacious enough to accommodate the social distancing guidelines set forth by local, state and federal governments. To make an appointment or to learn more, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit www.RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device. Completion of a RapidPass online health history questionnaire is encouraged to help speed up the donation process. To get started, follow the instructions at www.RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App. A blood donor card or drivers license, or two other forms of identification, are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. The Red Cross is asking that individuals postpone their donation for 28 days if the following apply: (1) Travel to China and its special administrative regions, Hong Kong and Macau, as well as Iran, Italy and South Korea, or (2) Diagnosis of COVID-19, contact with a person who has the virus, or suspected to have it. For donors who havent been to the Speedway before, take exit 54 off I-15 North, Speedway Blvd. Make a right on Speedway Blvd. and follow until Checkered Flag Lane. Make a right and take Checkered Flag Lane to the infield tunnel. Turn left through the tunnel and toward the Thrive Hive Digital Center. Directional signage will be provided as well. Toronto Mayor John Tory declared a state of emergency Monday in response to the growing COVID-19 crisis a move that will grant him greater powers to enforce social isolation. The decision was announced shortly after Ontario Premier Doug Ford ordered the mandatory closure of all non-essential workspaces in the province. Heres a look at how other cities and provinces across Canada are taking steps to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Vancouver Vancouver city council unanimously approved a motion on Monday to impose severe fines on violators of the municipal state of emergency bylaw up to $50,000 for businesses and $1,000 for individuals. Now is the time to: shut down, stay put, save lives, Mayor Kennedy Stewart tweeted. The Vancouver park board also closed all public outdoor recreation facilities within parks and beaches. British Columbia also issued a ban on large public gatherings and ordered events with more than 50 people to be cancelled. Calgary In Calgary, all playgrounds were closed as of Monday, and some homeless people were moved into hotels. On March 15, the city declared a state of local emergency which meant that all city-run facilities, such as libraries, were forced to close. Businesses like restaurants and bars were also required to reduce their capacity. Regina Regina city council has declared a local emergency and closed all public facilities. Gatherings of more than five people are prohibited. Restaurants, bars, and nightclubs are closed except for takeout and delivery services only, and retail stores, such as clothing and furniture stores, are closed except for delivery. Quebec Premier Francois Legault ordered a shutdown of all in-person business activity in the province, except for essential services like grocery stores and pharmacies. People living in senior homes are not be allowed to leave their residences. Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante also said that all public facilities, such as libraries and pools, are closed. Nova Scotia The province has declared a state of emergency and police are now allowed to enforce orders of social distancing and self-isolation, and violators can face hefty fines. Effective Monday, anyone travelling to the province from any other point in Canada or the world will have to self-isolate. Social gatherings of more than five people are also banned. Non-essential businesses are allowed to remain open, but only as long as a two-metre distance can be kept between individuals the recommended number for social distancing. Midland Healths President and Chief Executive Officer Russell Meyers said Monday morning that MMH is nowhere near overwhelmed. Russell Meyers said 14 persons are in isolated areas of the hospital on two floors for respiratory issues, but he doesnt believe all would be labeled as persons under investigations for coronavirus. Meyers said that only one patient has tested positive the man in his 60s who was disclosed last week. Much of Meyers press conference Monday morning provided an update about the hospital and its capabilities. He said the hospital was at 41 percent occupancy, which is low for this time of year. He also said 100 people were seen over the weekend in the emergency room (ER), which he said is about half of what is normally seen this time of year. He said the hospital has kept those persons under investigation or those with certain respiratory issues inside smaller areas on two floors, including the critical care. He also said there are contingency plans for opening up more of the hospital, if needed, and using larger spaces, even outside the central Midland hospital complex. As far as the isolation of the patients, that is taking place on the critical care floor and space for medically sick patients, Dr. Larry Wilson, chief medical officer for Midland Memorial, said later in the day. We have done a lot of work in the hospital to be prepared for managing this disease as it presents itself, Wilson said. We are doing a good job isolating patients that we believe potentially could have the covert infection. Meyers said the hospital has lots of ventilators, addressing a concern seen on social media. He said there are 44 in the hospital and another 37 single-use ventilators that could be used if needed. He said the hospital is soliciting donations for protective equipment such as masks -- at its Legends Park complex, 5615 Deauville Blvd. Later in the day, Wilson said the hospital received PPE (personal protection equipment) masks the N95 ventilator-type masks. We are giving out a breath of reprieve that we got a little bit more opportunity to protect our health care providers in the midst of taking care of these patents, Wilson said. As far as testing goes, Meyers said 110 tests have taken place and seven results have come back. He expects results to come back quicker this week. Testing results currently are sent to commercial labs coming online. Wilson said later in the day that he has been promised by Pathology Department officers that within a short period of time there will be tests available that can be done in Midland. Hotel Los Monteros could be one of the first in Malaga province to be adapted for use by the health service in its fight against coronavirus. Inspectors visited the iconic Marbella hotel on Monday to see how it can be adapted or "medicalised" to provide overflow beds for hospitalised patients with the virus when the Costa del Sol hospital reaches saturation point. The Costa del Sol health agency (Agencia Sanitaria) aims to use the hotel, which has 173 rooms, half of which are suites, to accommodate patients with milder symptoms, to free up beds in the hospital for more serious cases. It could also be used for health professionals who are not resident in the area but are being brought into to strengthen the staff at the Costa del Sol hospital, which is one of the medical facilities on the frontline of the battle against the pandemic. The hotel has the advantage of being close to the hospital as well as to the main Costa del Sol dual carriageway. A disadvantage could be that a lot of the rooms in the hotel have steps. If it is not deemed suitable for hospitalised patients, the hotel has offered the health service its beds and other equipment if necessary. Until just over a week ago the hotel was full and looking forward to a busy Easter. Now, the 140 staff have been temporarily laid off and remaining guests have gone home. Nationwide closures The Spanish government announced last week that all hotels in the country must close by Thursday this week. The Ayre Gran Hotel Colon in Madrid has been in use as an overflow hospital for less serious cases since the end of last week. Britons must remain home where possible, says prime minister, as he warns police will fine anyone caught flouting rules. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ordered people to stay at home to try to halt the spread of coronavirus, closing alll but essential shops, and warning that those who do not follow the rules will face fines. From this evening, I must give the British people a very simple instruction: you must stay at home, Johnson said on Monday in a prerecorded televised address to the nation, replacing his usual daily news conference. As deaths from the virus in the United Kingdom jumped to 335, Johnson said people would only be allowed to leave their homes to exercise, shop for basic necessities, address a medical need, provide care for others, or travel to and from work where absolutely necessary. Almost 7,000 people have been infected with coronavirus so far in the country, home to about 66 million. Thats all these are the only reasons you should leave your home, Johnson said, adding that people should not meet friends or family members who do not live in their homes. If you dont follow the rules, the police will have the powers to enforce them, including through fines and dispersing gatherings, he warned. The new measures would be reviewed in three weeks, and relaxed if possible. The government will close all shops selling non-essential goods, Johnson said, including clothing stores, as well as other premises including libraries, playgrounds and outdoor gyms, and places of worship. Advice to stay at home and avoid social gatherings went unheeded over the weekend by millions who took advantage of sunny weather to flock to parks and beauty spots, ignoring instructions to stay two metres (six feet) apart. Under the new measures, the government will stop all gatherings of more than two people in public who do not live together, and stop all social events, including weddings and baptisms but not funerals. Parks would remain open for exercise but gatherings would be dispersed, Johnson said. It brings the UK in line with measures seen in plenty of other countries around Europe, said Al Jazeeras Rory Challands. For much of this crisis, the UK has been a step or two behind other countries. There were plenty of people in the UK saying, Why cant we see the same measures?. Italy, now the global epicentre of the crisis with most coronavirus deaths and a quickly rising number of patients, is currently under complete lockdown. Spain and France have similar measures in place to contain the spread of the infection. Without a huge national effort to halt the growth of this virus, there will come a moment when no health service in the world could possibly cope; because there wont be enough ventilators, enough intensive care beds, enough doctors and nurses, Johnson said in his address. Separately, an emergency bill giving authorities sweeping powers to tackle the outbreak, including the right to detain people and put them in isolation to protect public health, passed through the House of Commons. The legislation will go before the House of Lords on Tuesday. Earlier, in a pleading request to increase supplies of personal protective equipment, more than 6,000 front-line doctors warned they felt like cannon fodder and were being asked to put their lives at risk with out-of-date masks, and low stocks of equipment. Health Secretary Matt Hancock admitted there had been issues, but promised action was being taken. He said the army would drive trucks throughout the day and night to get supplies to medical staff. Its like a war effort it is a war against this virus and so the army have been incredibly helpful in getting those logistics so we can get the supplies to protect people on the front line, he told the BBC, saying the health service now had 12,000 ventilators, 7,000 more than at the start of the crisis. The government on Monday also urged all Britons travelling abroad to return home. However, this would not be possible for all, since some countries have closed their borders. On the 22nd of March, India took a call to clap and cheer for health workers, who are working round the clock to provide services to those who are infected with the deadly virus. From clapping to rooting for health workers, people showed enthusiasm and zeal and being grateful. People followed a spontaneous Janta curfew after PM Modi appealed that the citizens should remain indoors for most of the day. However, it was ironic when there was a burst of activity in the evening as families emerged in a collective gesture of thanksgiving to medical professionals, health and sanitation workers for doing their job even in a pandemic situation. Many people forgot the entire logic behind Janta Curfew and collected in large groups. Celebs are unhappy to see the situation and they wish people had acted more responsibly. Richa Chadha shared a video from Mumbai and wrote: Stupid level max. This is the opposite of a #jantacurfew. The video she shared had people celebrating on the streets during the 14-hour curfew recommended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Slamming people who failed to understand the real logic behind Janata Curfew, celebs wrote: There's people now walking and chilling outside. Stupidity....that's our virus. Vir Das (@thevirdas) March 22, 2020 Killed the purpose ! Seriously https://t.co/0jIN7zVGcM Gauahar Khan (@GAUAHAR_KHAN) March 22, 2020 Why cant some people cant understand the seriousness and the word #jantacurfew disappointed to see people on road when #covid19 is spreading so badly..if you are in this video be ashamed of yourself.requesting police and government to come up with more strict rules @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/tlefmTfofs Jay Bhanushaali (JB) (@jaybhanushali0) March 22, 2020 Stupid level max. This is the opposite of a #jantacurfew https://t.co/S2bpUVhLge TheRichaChadha (@RichaChadha) March 22, 2020 The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Sunday confirmed 396 positive cases of coronavirus in the country including foreign nationals. "A total number of #Coronavirus positive cases has spiked to 396 in India (including foreign nationals)," said an official from the ICMR. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 7 deaths due to coronavirus have been reported. Maharashtra has reported the highest number of COVID-19 cases followed by Kerala. Meanwhile, Several states including Delhi, Karnataka, Punjab, Maharashtra, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal have imposed a lockdown to contain COVID-19 spread. A new online coronavirus tool, developed by paramedics with the Montgomery County Hospital District, helps people determine their specific risk to the disease. The feature, available at mchd-tx.org/covid-19-screening, was rolled out Friday evening by MCHD in conjunction with the Montgomery County Public Health District. It is a simple question-and-answer method of determining whether a person is low-to-no, medium or high risk. There are also considerations for special populations. After a few simple questions, the tool will give a person specific step-by-step instructions on how to proceed whether you have symptoms or are asymptomatic, a statement from MCHD read. There are six questions pertaining to a persons recent traveling history, symptoms, contact with those infected with COVID-19 and other risk factors. Negative answers to each yielded a low-to-no risk of exposure results. An affirmative response to traveling to either China, Iran, Italy, Japan or South Korea yielded an immediate high risk of exposure. A chart of guidelines encourages the user to isolate themselves from group settings, among other recommendations. Morgan Clark, an MCHD community paramedic case manager, in a statement explained the tool was made with existing resources in mind and an aim at condensing information on COVID-19. This new resource also lists MCPHs COVID-19 information phone number, 936-523-5040, along with a dial-in and text-to mental health hotline. There are also links to resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and local public health and well-being entities. The tool is a one-stop-shop in a time where there is so much information, one could be easily overwhelmed, said Clark in a statement. Nivea Wheat, a fellow community paramedic case manager, added to Clarks sentiment. There is plenty of misinformation out there, Wheat said in a statement. The new tool will hopefully give someone a sense of calm or at least a solid plan on what to do in such confusing times. jose.gonzalez@chron.com twitter.com/jrgzztx MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad discussed ensuring a lasting ceasefire in the Idlib region during talks in Syria, the Russian defense ministry said on Monday. The two talked about Russia providing humanitarian aid to Syria and enabling the country's economic recovery with the help of Russian specialists, as well as various aspects of military and technical cooperation. (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin, Writing by Alexander Marrow, Editing by Catherine Evans) The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on Monday asked the state government to set up isolation wards at all central jails across Vidarbha in view of the coronavirus pandemic. A division bench headed by Justice S V Shukre also raised concerns about medical staff working with coronavirus patients in government hospitals, which increases the risk of their families being exposed to infection. The bench suggested arrangements to be made for the staff to stay in hospital premises itself. The bench was hearing a petition filed by one Jairam Zanwar claiming the government medical hospitals in the three districts lack facilities. The court was on Monday informed that separate wards need to be set up in jails to ensure prisoners showing any symptoms of the virus are kept away from the others. "We direct the state to make necessary arrangements for setting up isolation wards at central jails in Vidarbha region within a week's time," court said. The court also directed the Central and state governments to procure adequate numbers of testing kits. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Users are being sent disconcerting WhatsApp messages about the "dance of the pope" despite the fact no such thing appears to exist. The message warns people about the possibility of a virus, and tells them to send it around. As such, the warning itself is a kind of virus, spreading around the messaging app quickly. It is largely harmless: it is just a warning, and the message contains only text, so cannot pose any real danger to the people receiving it. But it spreads unnecessary fear, as well as encouraging people to needlessly send it on to friends. It is just one of a number of messages that flare up on WhatsApp and spread quickly by making recipients fearful about their safety. The "dance of the pope" message has been around in one form or another for years. It is not clear how it began, or where it got its strange name from. Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at Californias Stanford University. Page and Brin chose the name google as it recalled the mathematic term 'googol', meaning 10 raised to the power of 100 Google Gadget and tech news: In pictures Hexa drone lifts off Chief engineer of LIFT aircraft Balazs Kerulo demonstrates the company's "Hexa" personal drone craft in Lago Vista, Texas on June 3 2019 Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures Project Scarlett to succeed Xbox One Microsoft announced Project Scarlett, the successor to the Xbox One, at E3 2019. The company said that the new console will be 4 times as powerful as the Xbox One and is slated for a release date of Christmas 2020 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures First new iPod in four years Apple has announced the new iPod Touch, the first new iPod in four years. The device will have the option of adding more storage, up to 256GB Apple Gadget and tech news: In pictures Folding phone may flop Samsung will cancel orders of its Galaxy Fold phone at the end of May if the phone is not then ready for sale. The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty Some people are receiving the message that begins with a warning about the "Martinelli" video. That warning which has been around for years appears to be entirely fake, and there is no reason to worry about any such message. It also includes a common reminder about "WhatsApp Gold", and urges anyone reading the message not to be taken in by scams promising it. For once, this message is not in itself a hoax: there really is a scam that promises WhatsApp Gold or WhatsApp Plus, and that is often used as a way to trick people into downloading malicious software or otherwise trick them into believing in scams. But the "Pope" message then also goes onto warn about another video, and urges people to pass it on. "Please inform all contacts from your list not to open a video called the 'Dance of the Pope'," a representative example reads. "It is a virus that formats your mobile. Beware it is very dangerous. They announced it today on BBC radio. Fwd this msg to as many as you can!" The call to share the wording that comes at the end appears to have worked, and the message has been passed quickly across WhatsApp and beyond. There has been no such announcement of any kind of virus on BBC radio. The rest of the message is so vague that it is impossible to know what it really refers to, but it does not appear to be linked to any real threat. Experts caution that users should be cautious about any files they receive over messaging apps, especially if they come from unknown people or have strange wording or names attached to them. But there appears to be nothing specific to be worried about in relation to the "Dance of the Pope" video. Idaho Legislature passes bill banning most abortions if Roe v. Wade is overturned Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Idaho Legislature has passed a bill that, if enacted, would ban most abortion procedures in the state if the U.S. Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade is overturned. The Idaho House of Representatives voted 49-18 in favor of Senate Bill 1385 on Wednesday, with the state Senate having voted 27-7 in favor of the legislation last week. After both houses voted to approve the proposed legislation, it was sent to the desk of Gov. Brad Little on Thursday afternoon and awaits his signature. Sponsored by Republican state Sen. Todd Lakey, SB 1385 is meant to take effect if either the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe or the U.S. Constitution is amended to give states the right to ban abortion. Every person who performs or attempts to perform an abortion as defined in this chapter commits the crime of criminal abortion, reads the bill in part. Criminal abortion shall be a felony punishable by a sentence of imprisonment of no less than two (2) years and no more than (5) years in prison. The proposed ban on abortion includes exemptions for rape, incest, or if a woman is facing a medical emergency in which the baby cannot be saved. Nothing in this section shall be construed to subject a pregnant woman on whom any abortion is performed or attempted to any criminal conviction and penalty, added SB 1385. The pro-life group Idaho Choose Life celebrated the House vote, calling it a historic rebuke to the abortion regime forced upon the states by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973. Some in the pro-life movement have sought to impede this legislation, arguing that it doesnt really do anything. We beg to differ, the group said Thursday. It unapologetically makes 98% of all abortions happening in the state today illegal, once the Supreme Court recovers its proper limits of authority by restoring to the states the power to protect preborn babies and women from the scourge of abortion. The Idaho chapter of the ACLU has been critical of the bill, at one point claiming that it would harm womens health. This legislation would prevent Idaho women from accessing safe and long-held legally protected abortion care, which is a critical component of their health and dignity, as well as independence, freedom, and social and economic equality, the ACLU of Idaho argued. (Newser) While the world is hunkered down amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Jewish community and cops have an extra concern piled on: extremist groups out to do them harm by "trying to weaponize" the virus, as Rolling Stone puts it. Per an intelligence alert sent Thursday from the FBI's New York office to local police agencies, members of white supremacist, neo-Nazi, and other racist groups are being encouraged, if they themselves become infected with the virus, to spread it to Jews and police officers via "bodily fluids and personal interactions," specifically with the use of spray bottles, ABC News reports. The alert notes these extremists are being told to try to hasten this spread by going after cops on the streets, as well as members of the Jewish community in "any place they may be congregated, to include markets, political offices, businesses, and places of worship." story continues below A weekly intelligence brief sent out last month by a Homeland Security division noted similar tactics, with extremists talking about spitting on elevator buttons, leaving "saliva on door handles" at neighborhood FBI offices, and spreading the virus in "nonwhite" areas, per Yahoo News. The Hill notes a recent Anti-Defamation League report that extremists are also spreading conspiracy theories "that Jews are responsible for creating the virus, are spreading it to increase their control over a decimated population, or they are profiting off it." These theories are being disseminated not only on extremist-friendly platforms like Gab and 4chan, but also on more mainstream social media like Twitter, Facebook, and Reddit. Among those pushing these messages: conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who has posted videos on Telegram claiming that "globalists" (often code for Jews) have engineered the coronavirus. (Read more coronavirus stories.) [March 23, 2020] AgJunction Announces New Customer Wins in the APAC Region SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., March 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AgJunction Inc. (TSX: AJX) has signed with GeoSurf Corporation (GeoSurf) and Anhui Zhongke Intelligent Sense and Big Data Industrial Technology Research Institute Co. Ltd (ISTI) to provide precision agriculture solutions in the APAC region. GeoSurf has recently launched TaznaX, which is a precision agricultural solution for rice and onion transplanters based on AgJunctions Wheelman and Whirl technology. Dr. M. Brett McMickell, president and CEO of AgJunction said, We are excited to see the launch of TaznaX in Japan. GeoSurf is the first customer to integrate our new Wheelman-based technology and new Whirl Cloud features. Luke McBeath, senior director of engineering added, AgJunctions engineering team has developed features in our Whirl Cloud specifically designed for manufacturers and suppliers, such as support access and over-the-air updates. We are currently developing more advanced functionality for Whirl Cloud, such as advanced diagnostics. AgJunction also agreed to provide ISTI with a complete autosteering solution for major original equipment manufacturers in China. Of this agreement, Dr. McMickell said, Our deal with ISTI is aligned with our modularization strategy. Using a flexible approach, AgJunction was able to develop a precision agricultural solution that meets the needs of manufacturers in China. About AgJunction AgJunction Inc. is a global leader of advanced guidance and autosteering solutions for precision agriculture applications. Its technologies are critical components in over 30 of the worlds leading precision agriculture manufacturers and solution providers and it holds over 200 patents and patents pending. AgJunction markets its solutions under leading brand names including Novariant, Wheelman, Whirl and Handsfreefarm. AgJunction is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, and is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol AJX. For more information, please go to AgJunction.com . Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws and is based on the expectations, estimates and projections of management of AgJunction as of the date of this news release, unless otherwise stated. The use of any of the words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "objective", "ongoing", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information. These statements are only predictions and actual events or results may differ materially. Although the Companys management believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee future results, performance or achievement since such expectations are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and political uncertainties and contingencies. In particular, forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to statements with respect to: the Companys vision with respect to autosteering for farmers and the expectation that regular updates will be pushed out to the app ensuring farmers can always operate their Wheelman products with the most up-to-date technology. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking information contained in this press release. In respect of the forward-looking information, AgJunction has provided such information in reliance on certain assumptions that it believes are reasonable at this time, including, but not limited to, the sufficiency of budgeted capital expenditures in carrying out planned activities; that AgJunction's future results of operations will be consistent with management expectations in relation thereto; availability of key supplies, components, services, networks and developments; the impact of increasing competition; conditions in general economic, agricultural and financial markets; demand for the Company's products; and the continuity of existing business relationships. Since forward-looking information addresses future events and conditions, such information by its very nature involves inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to the risks associated with the industries in which AgJunction operates; competition; inability to introduce new technology and new products in a timely manner; legal claims for the infringement of intellectual property and other claims; negative conditions in general economic, agricultural and financial markets; and reduced demand for the Company's products. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Additional information on other factors that could affect the Company's operations or financial results, are included in reports of AgJunction on file with applicable securities regulatory authorities, including but not limited to, AgJunction's Annual Information Form which may be accessed on its SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is made as of the date hereof and AgJunction undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. Contact: Media [email protected] Investor Relations Gateway Investor Relations Cody Slach, Managing Director 1-949-574-3860 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] OAKLAND, Calif. U.S. trade officials removed tariffs on the Apple Watch, the latest Apple device to avoid the United States-China trade war that had once looked like a dire threat to the companys business. The U.S. trade representatives office said in a letter on Friday that it had granted Apples request that the Apple Watch, which is assembled in China, be exempt from tariffs. Apple had argued that it had not found a way to make the watch outside China to meet American demand for the device over the next year. The Apple Watch was subject to the latest round of tariffs in the trade war, which were cut to 7.5 percent from 15 percent in a trade deal signed this year. While Apple is among the biggest and most prominent importers of goods assembled in China, the company has mostly avoided tariffs on its major products throughout the yearslong trade war. The Centre's plan to construct a new Parliament complex by 2022 has left several parliamentarians unimpressed. While some did not like the new look of the Parliament building, others questioned the need to construct a separate complex instead of revamping the old one. The plan to construct new complexes for both Houses of Parliament is part of a larger redesign planned for the entire Central Vista area. The new design is supposed to consist of two large structures, where the two Houses of Parliament would be housed in a triangular complex. The matter was discussed at a general purposes committee meeting on March 19, The Economic Times reported. At the meet chaired by Om Birla, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, a few lawmakers reportedly complained that the design of the new structure resembles a seven-star hotel and lacks the gravitas that the original Parliament building has. Moneycontrol couldnt independently verify the report. The interiors are alright, but the outer structure definitely does not have or evoke the sense of grandeur and iconic nature of Parliament. A lot of objections were raised by several MPs on the issue, the article quotes one lawmaker as saying. One of the Opposition MPs, who attended the meet, said the design of the new building isnt airy enough and the choice of construction material such as granite and glass might make it look like a 'hotel lobby'. While some parliamentarians questioned why the existing structure isnt being revamped, a veteran politician pointed out that lack of space is one of the main reasons why the existing structure cannot be expanded, the report said. A handful of MPs raised concerns over the type of construction material that the government plans to use, which would mostly be imported, unlike that of the existing structure which was built using material available locally. For instance, when the British constructed the present Parliament building, they used local Indian stones, which gave it a unique and authentic look and feel. Besides, MPs were concerned about the fate of several iconic sculptures and other artefacts that exist in the present complex. Another concern of lawmakers was the Central Hall being retained in its present form and no equivalent of it in the new one. They also pointed out how once MPs start operating from the new complex, the old one may be subject to eventual neglect and not be maintained properly. Questions concerning the cost of erecting the new structure were raised by politicians cutting across party lines, including members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Australian consulate in Phuket confirms letters for expats stuck in Thailand PHUKET: The Australian Consulate-General in Phuket has confirmed it will provide visa support letters to those Australians in Thailand who can prove long-term residency in Thailand. COVID-19Coronavirusimmigrationtourism By The Phuket News Monday 23 March 2020, 05:53PM Photo: DFAT Please email Consular.Phuket@dfat.gov.au with your personal particulars page of your passport and a copy of your current visa. There will be no fee applied for this service, said a notice posted on the consulates official website this afternoon (See here.) We will not consider providing these letters to those who are traveling on Tourist Visas, the notice added. Australian Government advice remains that Australians should seek to return home while commercial options remains to do so, the notice said. Australians were urged to check the Australian governments SmartTraveller website (click here) for more details. T he Government is tonight heading towards new measures to clamp down on coronavirus, with a closure of non-essential shops looking likely. Other measures being discussed in Whitehall include curbing travel on public transport and enforcing the rules on visiting parks and markets. Cobra, the emergency committee, was meeting ahead of the Prime Ministers nightly press conference , often a sign that fresh action is imminent. The Prime Ministers spokesman said officials were studying a range of data showing footfalls on High Streets, public transport and parks and if social interaction was not reducing fast enough, they would take whatever measures are necessary. The Standard revealed last week that stores selling leisure goods and other non-food and non-medical items could be asked to shut. Londoners on a bus on Monday morning / Jeremy Selwyn Both No 10 and City Hall now say that Londons public transport network should be used only by critical workers, especially the NHS and food sectors. However, workers in sectors like construction pleaded for clearer guidance about whether they should continue to work or not. Another new action could be a move to enforcement of by police or council officials, possibly backed by fines, of rules like the need to keep 2 metres apart. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, who has been urging for official advice to be hardened and made into rules, was involved in the discussions with Boris Johnson. In other developments: Tomorrows weekly cabinet will see a significant number of ministers dial in from home or attend by video conference, No 10 said. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is the designated survivor who will run the country if Boris Johnson is incapacitated by coronavirus, Downing Street revealed. As First Secretary of State, the Esher MP would automatically take over, said No 10, unless the Prime Minister designated somebody else. Treasury officials are working round the clock on a package of help for the self-employed, said No 10. It will be the fourth major bailout package by Chancellor Rishi Sunak. London Councils today appealed for quick relief to tradesmen and members of the gig economy. The PMs spokesman said: We understand the difficult position the self employed are in. Officials are working round the clock to develop a well-targeted support package. In a major concession to cross-party critics, the Government said emergency powers will have to be renewed every six months by the House of Commons or the will fail. The assurance was given after senior Tories including David Davis and Andrew Mitchell put down amendments for the powers to lapse after a year or six months unless renewed. Originally they were due to last two years. Downing Street called on the Olympic Organising Committee to seriously consider postponing the Tokyo Games due this summer. Japanese PM Shinzo Abe said he was considering the move . Downing Street emphasised that it will take whatever measures are necessary after a weekend in which people flouted the rules by going out to socialise in spring sunshine. A group walk through Primrose Hill in north London / PA The Prime Minsters spokesman said officials were studying a wide range of data and said: If that information shows they have not stopped, then we will need to take further measures. Discussions are taking place all the time. The spokesman confirmed that non-food shops may be asked to close, if the scientific advice is to do so. But it was for individual companies to decide now if they should follow store chains like John Lewis who have closed their doors already. A major advertising campaign to discourage social interaction and give more clarity to people about their obligations is being prepared, the spokesman said. A Pret A Manger is closed in central London / Jeremy Selwyn The official spokesman appeared to acknowledge that cases will continue to rise, saying it would take some days for the measures we announced to have some impact. Work is still being carried out on a possible bailout for the stricken aviation industry. The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: The Transport Secretary and his department have been in regular contact with the aviation sector. A number of measures to support the sector are available including time to pay, financial support for employees and loan schemes from the Bank of England and the Government, as is the case for other sectors. Merck Foundation , the philanthropic arm of Merck Germany plans to conduct the New Edition of their UNESCO Merck Africa Research Summit (MARS) 2020 with the aim to Empower Women & Youth in Research on the 13th of October in Lusaka, Zambia on the side of their annual conference Merck Africa Asia Luminary. Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and Chairperson of UNESCO-MARS explained The summit aims to contribute to building research capacity in the African research community, with special focus on The Role of Scientific Research in responding to Cancer and Vaccines Development Two emerging challenges in Africa. The end objective is to empower African young researchers & women researchers, advancing their research capacity and promote their contribution to STEM. UNESCO-Merck Africa Research Summit MARS 2020 will have scientific support from UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), African Union Scientific, Technical and Research Commission (AU-STRC), Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Graduate School, Tata Memorial Centre, India and Merck Foundation. We will present the Best Young African Researcher Award and the Best African Woman Researcher Award to recognize the outstanding contribution of African Female Scientists with the aim to promote women in research and advance their contribution to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), added Dr. Rasha Kelej. The summit will be a unique opportunity for the winners of a MARS Research Awards to share their research output and findings. It is also an opportunity for networking and career development. The Summit will provide a platform where they will be able to discuss and enable a conducive environment for better research. Abstracts are invited from final year African PhD students and young investigators involved in research related to either of the following topics: 1) Cancer (specially in women) & 2) Vaccines Development. The applicants should be primarily based at African Research Institutes and Universities, although collaboration within Africa as well as outside is encouraged. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires When Argentine couple Diego Aspitia and Sofia Cuggino got engaged to be married a year ago, they set a date in March, but like countless others across the globe, their wedding fell victim to the coronavirus lockdown. Argentina went into a nationwide lockdown last week and faced with a choice of whether or not to go through with their wedding plans, the couple decided to hold a virtual service, with minister, friends and family all looking on via Instagram and Facebook. "A wedding is one of the most important events in life. It took us a while to get used to the idea that we were not going to have the one we wanted," said Aspitia, 42, a drugstore employee in the central city of Cordoba. "But we left our dream aside for the common good. We are staying at home, we respect the isolation and we are very happy with that." Having just moved into a new home and using a Wifi signal borrowed from neighbors, the couple linked up on Saturday with their evangelical church minister, and about 400 "guests" for the event. "When everything fell through, we had to keep to the most important thing in mind, which for us was always that others be there as witnesses and to have their blessing," said Cuggino, 32, an agronomy professor at Cordoba University. "That was it. There was no party, there was no food, there was no dress -- that was it!" she said. - Party on hold - Their romance "was built through video calls, letters written on paper, hours talking on WhatsApp, Telegram, all the means there were," said Cuggino, who spent much of their relationship studying in Spain. Plans for a wedding party are on hold until the nominal 11-day quarantine period is over. "But as soon as it ends, we'll go to the registry office to have the marriage in person, because in Argentina for your union to be legal it must be validated by the civil registry and a judge," said Cuggino. "The party is pending, because we want to hug and dance and laugh and look each other in the eye and drink with our guests." Argentina has nearly 300 coronavirus infections, with four deaths. Though most coronavirus cases are concentrated in Buenos Aires, the couple's home city of Cordoba is also a significant hotspot. Argentina has gone into nationwide lockdown, but that didn't stop one couple, who organized a virtual wedding An unusual mutant piglet was born in China with completely smooth skin and a 'trunk like an elephant'. The young hog was born on 19th March and was the only one in its litter to present with the odd birth defects, its owners said. According to farm resident Fan Meiling, the sow that mothered the piglets belongs to her uncle in the county of Jinsha, which is in Bijie City in south-western China's Guizhou Province. Ms Fan's video shows the mutant piglet with an elongated nose 'like an elephant' having been born completely hairless. The video, taken by Fan Meiling, shows the unusual piglet with a small trunk and perfectly smooth skin being cared for by farm workers The piglet was held up by farm workers, and kept separate from the rest of the litter It is placed in isolation under a livestock heat lamp while its siblings are sleeping together in baskets nearby, the footage shows. Ms Fan said: 'I'd never seen anything like it before. It was very strange, and it seems everyone else thought so too.' Sadly, the pig with the bizarre malformation died just hours later, she revealed. The rest of the litter were kept in a basket away from their unusual sibling, who sadly died hours after the video was taken Ms Fan said her uncle has reported the mutant piglet to the local animal husbandry bureau, with officials expected to take and examine the animal. The cause of the piglet's mutations were still unclear at the time of writing. Greetings from Australia, the Commonwealth of confusion. Video of angry shoppers brawling over toilet rolls in Sydney supermarket aisles was broadcast around the world. Closely followed by footage of massed crowds cheerfully breaking disease control laws by clustering on Bondi beach. If a picture could tell a thousand words: Bondi Beach being closed after beachgoers ignored social distancing rules. Credit:Steven Siewert One is a picture of a panicked Australia terrified of the consequences of the virus, the other of a recklessly indifferent Australia that just doesn't care. Should we be terrified, or should we be indifferent? At the same time, Australia's states and territories are splintering off in different directions. First, Tasmania shut its borders to the rest of the country. Then the Northern Territory does the same, followed by South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland. Different states announced different rules for quarantining foreign shipping. Then, on the weekend, Victoria broke away from everyone else and announced that its schools would be closed from Tuesday. Other states are keeping their schools open, but with attendance at the discretion of parents. When the Commonwealth looks so confused, is it any wonder that the people are, too? Jenkintown Road closed from Monday through May In order to curb the spread of the novel Coronavirus across the country, India on Sunday imposed a complete or partial lockdown in several states at least till March-end. The restrictions will prohibit all but essential services from operating and will take effect from Monday morning. However, E-commerce websites like Flipkart and Amazon have been exempted by the government from any order that restricts supply through them. E-commerce companies may be regularly inspected Late last week, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution said that it has issued necessary directions to state governments to ensure that couriers of e-commerce platforms are allowed to supply essential items without inconvenience. The ministry has asked state governments and local administrations to exempt e-commerce operations, their vendors, and third-party delivery partners from any prohibitory orders to ensure that consumers can access essential goods and services in case of strict lockdowns. However, the department has noted that e-commerce companies and delivery partners are required to maintain proper hygiene and sanitation in their facilities, and vehicles, they may be regularly inspected and disinfected. Flipkart on Saturday said that e-commerce world over has been the lifeblood for cities under shutdown to fight against coronavirus while lauding the government move to exempt e-tailers from any order that restricts supply through them."We see that world over, e-commerce, powered by technology, has played a key role as a partner with the public authorities and has been the lifeblood for cities under shutdown to fight Covid-19," Flipkart spokesperson said in a statement. E-commerce companies have seen a jump in order across several categories in last several days and have run out of stock in some categories especially masks and hand sanitizers. READ | Amazon confirms first known Coronavirus case in an American warehouse READ | Amazon, Flipkart need to establish system for collecting plastic waste: CPCB to NGT 'We are working around the clock' Amazon said that the ongoing coronavirus crisis has impacted its operation in the short term and it is working to resolve it. "In particular, you will notice that we are currently out of stock on some popular brands and items, especially in household staples categories. You will also notice that some of our delivery promises are longer than usual. We are working around the clock with our selling partners to ensure availability on all of our products, and bring on the additional capacity to deliver all of your orders," Amazon said in a blog post. The company did not share any comment on the government's move to exempt e-commerce for the supply of essential items. Coronavirus in India According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the total number of cases saw a surge with over 396 positive cases, which also includes foreign nationals. Maharashtra has reported the highest number of Coronavirus cases, followed by Kerala. In addition, the Ministry of Health has stated that over seven people have died due to Coronavirus. READ | Walmart and Flipkart jointly invest in agri-tech startup Ninjacart; Here's what it does READ | 'Unacceptable': France accuses Amazon of pressurizing workers amid coronavirus scare SHENZHEN, China, March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Nam Tai Property Inc. ("Nam Tai" or the "Company") (NYSE Symbol: NTP) today announced that the Company filed its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 (the "2019 Annual Report") with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 23, 2020, Washington D.C. time. The Company has posted the 2019 Annual Report on its website and the 2019 Annual Report can be accessed electronically at https://www.namtai.com/report/index.html. The Report is also available on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. The Company will deliver, within a reasonable time after request, a paper copy of its 2019 Annual Report, including its complete audited financial statements, free of charge, to any shareholder upon request. To request a paper copy, please contact the Company by email at [email protected] to the attention of Nam Tai's Investor Relations, Re: 2019 Annual Report on Form 20-F. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE OUR SHARE PRICE TO DECLINE Certain statements included in this announcement, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "might", "can", "could", "will", "would", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "forecast", "intend", "plan", "seek", or "timetable". These forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, may include projections of our future financial performance based on our growth strategies and anticipated trends in our business and the industry in which we operate. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations about future events. There are several factors, many beyond our control, which could cause results to differ materially from our expectation. These risk factors are described in our Annual Report on Form 20-F and in our Current Reports filed on Form 6-K from time to time and are incorporated herein by reference. Any of these factors could, by itself, or together with one or more other factors, adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition. There may also be other factors currently unknown to us, or have not been described by us, that could cause our results to differ from our expectations. Although we believe the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. These forward-looking statements apply only as of the date of this announcement; as such, they should not be unduly relied upon as circumstances change. Except as required by law, we are not obligated, and we undertake no obligation, to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements that might reflect events or circumstance occurring after the date of this announcement or those that might reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. ABOUT NAM TAI PROPERTY INC. We are an owner, developer and operator of technology parks, and we mainly conduct business in mainland China. Our main land resources are located in Shenzhen and Wuxi, China. The three plots in Shenzhen will be developed into Nam Tai Inno Park, Nam Tai Technology Center and Nam Tai Inno Valley. We plan to build these parks into landmark parks in the region, provide high-quality industrial offices, industrial service spaces and supporting dormitories to the park tenants, and provide comprehensive industrial services to corporate tenants through our full-chain industrial model. Based on the experience of developing and operating technology parks and the industrial relationship network accumulated over the past 40 years, we have also exported the operation mode of technology parks to other industrial properties, using the asset-light model to rent industrial properties for repositioning, renovating and leasing. While China maintains rapid economic growth, we will actively seize development opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and other first- and second-tier cities in China, and continue to strengthen and expand the business of industrial real estate, commercial and residential properties. Nam Tai Property Inc. is a corporation registered in the British Virgin Islands and listed on the New York Stock Exchange (Symbol: "NTP"). Please refer to the Nam Tai website (www.namtai.com) or the SEC website (www.sec.gov) for Nam Tai press releases and financial statements. SOURCE Nam Tai Property Inc. Related Links http://www.namtai.com Veteran home schoolers are rallying to support parents who are suddenly forced to take their children out of school because of the coronavirus crisis, encouraging them not to panic and to embrace the change in learning. Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Sunday night said parents were free to keep their children at home, but schools should remain open until the end of term. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Monday encouraged parents to keep children at home, and said that last week up to 30 per cent of parents had already done so. Rachael Clark, who helps manage a new Facebook page called Home school due to Virus and School Closures in Australia, said it had attracted more than 5000 members since it was established last Monday. The group includes people with experience in teaching and home schoolers who want to support parents in the general community. FOREST CITY, Iowa, March 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Winnebago Industries, Inc. (NYSE:WGO) today announced it will be temporarily suspending most production activities at the Companys Winnebago, Grand Design RV, Newmar, and Chris-Craft facilities. This action is in response to the national spread of the coronavirus, the national emergency associated with the virus, and unforeseeable change in business circumstances that have accompanied it. These steps are designed to lower the probability of coronavirus exposure to employees and adjust future production output relative to a fast-changing demand landscape for the Companys products. Winnebago Industries and its businesses will remain open and perform essential activities for its dealers and end customers, including remote retail support for dealers, along with technical care, warranty administration, and parts fulfillment. Each of the Companys businesses will suspend production during the week of March 23rd and based on present conditions, the manufacturing suspension is currently anticipated to last through April 12th. As this global situation continues to rapidly evolve, our top priority is the health and well-being of our employees, business partners, customers and communities, said Winnebago Industries President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Happe. We are also seeing demand for our products shift dramatically as the nation takes appropriate action to curb the spread of the coronavirus. This decision is not an easy one, but we are confident it is in the best interests of all our stakeholders. During this time, we will remain flexible with operations that can provide products related to the support of mobile health care, command centers and other logistical needs that local, state and Federal resources may require during this crisis. To support employees and their families affected by this temporary production suspension, the Company is providing base pay and benefits for the first two weeks. As we take precautionary measures in the best interest of both our employees health and our long-term business prospects, we remain confident in the strength of our balance sheet and in our cash position to allow us to provide the appropriate pay and benefits to our employees and weather a period of business interruption from this health crisis, Happe continued. Winnebago Industries will continue to monitor this situation very closely and is committed to executing contingency plans that ensure a safe work environment for employees and disciplined production strategies that benefit the Company and its channel partners before resuming full operations. About Winnebago Industries Winnebago Industries, Inc. is a leading U.S. manufacturer of recreation vehicles under the Winnebago, Grand Design, Newmar and Chris-Craft brands, which are used primarily in leisure travel and outdoor recreation activities. The Company builds quality motorhomes, travel trailers, fifth wheel products and boats. Winnebago Industries has multiple facilities in Iowa, Indiana, Oregon, Minnesota and Florida. The Company's common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and traded under the symbol WGO. For access to Winnebago Industries' investor relations material or to add your name to an automatic email list for Company news releases, visit http://investor.wgo.net . BioLargo Continuing Operations Through the COVID-19 Crisis Answering the call for hand sanitizer production Westminster, CA, March 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- BioLargo, Inc. (BLGO), developer of sustainable technologies and a full-service environmental engineering company, today released a statement from its President & CEO, Dennis P. Calvert, about how it and its subsidiaries are handling the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Dear stockholder, We believe that BioLargo is uniquely positioned to weather the storm of the COVID-19 crisis. Many of our major clients constitute essential services such as municipalities, landfills, air force bases, and so forth. As we are supporting these essential services, our commercial units are continuing to operate and are still solving clients challenges every day. Part 1 How the crisis is affecting our operations Our Odor-No-More air quality control division provides an essential service to the waste handling industry, and will continue to do so every day. It continues installations of misting systems at waste facilities, continues to make sales calls, and continues to manufacture, sell and ship product to its customers. Odor-No-Mores joint venture in South Korea is proceeding as planned and expects to begin operations in the next 30 days. Our environmental engineering division in Tennessee has a backlog of commercial opportunities. Its engineers are working every day at home where possible, in an effort to promote social distancing. Existing clients include the seven United States Air Force (USAF) bases, its waste to energy conversion plant project on the East coast, and its magnesium extraction project in Northern California. New business opportunities continue to present themselves and they are busy making proposals and bids that are moving forward. We also have multiple bids out to serve additional U.S. Air Force bases as part of an expanded effort to serve this key client. Although COVID-19 dominates the news, PFAS water contamination is still a priority concern for municipalities all over the country. We are cautiously optimistic about our EPA Phase II grant application to accelerate the PFAS development work to go commercial and expect to hear from the EPA soon. Story continues Part 2 Answering the call for a hand sanitizer Our Canadian team at BioLargo Water has a number of assets at its disposal to answer the call to produce needed hand sanitizers in this emergency situation. Our team is formulating a proprietary product using our core technology, in response to a Canadian government request for these high-demand products. Relaxed interim regulations from Health Canada designed to expedite product review and approval encourage company management to believe there is strong potential for rapid production and sales. Our team is uniquely qualified to serve this need with offices located at a government facility (the University of Alberta) that has a fully equipped, qualified and licensed manufacturing facility. With a team of science professionals that have already received over 70 research grants, their technical skills are well known in government circles. They have access to the chemical ingredients and formulations necessary to produce the product. Finally, BioLargo has entered into contract negotiations with a Canadian distributor to manage the selling process. Additional partners and assets are being evaluated to ensure the process can move swiftly. BioLargo Water also continues to work on the commercial pilot project at Sunworks Farm, the last step before full commercialization of the AOS, as well as wrapping up its storm water demonstration pilot. The team has also expanded its grant application activity to support its growing list of opportunities for commercial pilots. It also has a new Regulation Crowdfunding program available at www.waterworksfund.com and we encourage you to see that site for more details about BioLargo Water. We believe it will help us get the word out about our breakthrough science as well as create awareness of the investment opportunity. Part 3 How the crisis is affecting the company at large As we all know, the COVID-19 crisis is creating dramatic changes around the world, in every facet of society. The overall drop of the stock market has contributed to extreme pressure on BioLargos stock. You know that we have successfully weathered a number of storms in the past, and with your continued support, we believe that we can weather this one too. Despite the current market challenges presented by the COVID-19 outbreak, BioLargo continues to forge ahead. Assuming adequate financing and continued investor support to complement the companys existing financing facility through Lincoln Park Capital, BioLargo stands poised to not only survive the crisis, but emerge strong and ready for growth as its technologies find adoption through partnerships around the world and as growth capital becomes accessible. It is more important than ever for the companys allies to continue their support for the company. Together, we can be successful in building BioLargo into a world-class, leading innovator in cleantech products and services, as we know it is destined to be. Finally, our hearts go out to every single person affected by the COVID-19 pandemic those who have been personally and directly affected by the disease, those who have been financially burdened by its impacts, and those whose livelihoods are threatened by the prospect of a protracted economic downturn. It is our true hope and belief that this crisis comes to a speedy end, for everyones sake. Part 4 Our internal response and policies We wanted to discuss how we as a company are promoting responsible organizational behavior to protect our employees, subcontractors, partners, and customers from spread of the virus: We have formalized company-wide COVID-19 Employee Guides for both our US- and Canada-based business units that provide specific guidelines on hygiene, respiratory etiquette, social distancing, self-isolation, travel restrictions, and more We are requiring that any employee who develops cold- or flu-like symptoms stays at home and quarantine for the CDC-recommended period of 14 days, and managers are adopting highly flexible sick leave policies to accommodate such practices Any employee able to carry out normal work functions from home is currently doing so All company meetings are now virtual using online conferencing tools All company travel to conferences, trade shows, and non-essential business development trips are postponed or canceled Our sales and Business Development teams continue to keep an open dialogue with our clients to ensure the safety of all employees Safety equipment is checked daily to ensure all employees are amply protected as they are working Office and warehouse areas are sanitized several times daily for those who must work at a main location. Finally, we encourage any of our investors, followers, and supporters to reach out to us if they have any questions or comments about how BioLargo is handling the COVID-19 crisis, or to discuss the science and social aspects of this world event. You can reach BioLargos President & CEO Dennis P. Calvert by email at dennis.calvert@biolargo.com, and you can reach out to us on social media at: About BioLargo, Inc. BioLargo, Inc. is an innovator of technology-based products and environmental engineering solutions provider driven by a mission to make life better. We feature unique disruptive solutions to deliver clean air, clean water and a clean, safe environment (www.biolargo.com). Our engineering division features experienced professional engineers dedicated to integrity, reliability, and environmental stewardship (www.biolargoengineering.com). Our industrial odor control division, Odor-No-More (www.odornomore.com) features CupriDyne Clean Industrial Odor Eliminator (www.cupridyne.com), which eliminates the odor-causing compounds and VOCs rather than masking them, and is now winning over leading companies in the solid waste handling and wastewater industries and other industries that contend with malodors and VOCs. Our subsidiary BioLargo Water (www.biolargowater.ca) develops the Advanced Oxidation System "AOS," a disruptive industrial water treatment technology designed to eliminate waterborne pathogens and recalcitrant contaminants with better energy-efficiency and lower operational costs than incumbent technologies. We are a minority stockholder of and licensor to our subsidiary Clyra Medical (www.clyramedical.com), which features effective and gentle solutions for chronic infected wounds to promote infection control and regenerative tissue therapy. Contact Information Dennis P. Calvert President and CEO, BioLargo, Inc. 888-400-2863 Safe Harbor Act This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ from expectations, estimates and projections and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as expect, estimate, project, budget, forecast, anticipate, intend, plan, may, will, could, should, believes, predicts, potential, continue, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Attachment SPRINGFIELD The clock is ticking for Illinois lawmakers to put a proposal on the November ballot asking voters to approve a change to how legislative maps are drawn, but session days continue to be canceled amid a viral pandemic. A few years ago, a citizen led initiative received nearly 600,000 signatures for a ballot initiative looking to create an independent commission to draw legislative maps instead of the boundaries being crafted by politicians. That was challenged by an attorney close to longtime House Speaker Michael Madigan and thrown off the ballot. Citizen initiatives always get challenged, said a spokesperson for the Illinois State Board of Elections. There wouldnt be a legal challenge for a legislative initiative They can put anything they want on the ballot. One measure in the state Senate, Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 18, has bipartisan support. If you dont do it now, this happens every ten years, right, said state Sen. Melinda Bush, D-Grayslake. Shes a sponsor of SJRCA18. We redo our maps based on population, she said. It happens every ten years. This is the time to do it. States are required to redraw their Congressional and legislative maps every 10 years, after new U.S. Census data is released, to account for population changes and migration. State Sen. Jason Plummer, R-Vandalia, is also a sponsor of the measure. He said with the Census set for this year, the time is now. This is the year to do it and theres a bipartisan group of folks working towards it, Plummer said. It seems like a lot of good things are lining up. And the governor has said he would only sign a map that is fair and I hope he honors his word. Bush said there is a lot of support, but there may be political considerations as well. She said other states that have made a more fair process havent seen that. They did it in California and it didnt cause them to elect less members of the party that was controlling the map, Bush said. So fair maps doesnt necessarily mean youre going to change the number of representatives that you have in one party or another, it just makes it fair so that people are really being electing, and I think you get better representation that way. One problem critics of the current map-making process have is districts are drawn to favor political parties, which leads to a lack of competition for voters to choose from. If put on the ballot and approved by voters, SJRCA18 would establish an independent, 17-member commission appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to draw the Congressional and General Assembly maps. Members would be nominated by each political party and cannot be sitting elected officials or their employees. Three of the members couldnt have any political affiliation. The measure also allows the public to provide comments during the process. The Illinois State Board of Elections says the deadline for lawmakers to pass a measure to get on the November ballot for voters to decide is May 4. Both the House and Senate canceled session this week and next week. Theyre not scheduled the following two weeks for spring break but are advised they could be called back at any time. Incidents of foreign nationals attempting to escape from coronavirus quarantine facilities to fly home has increased the fear among locals, adding to the hostility faced by them. Australian national Alison Gibberd sat in the back of an ambulance outside the Community Health Centre in Keralas Chithirapuram on Thursday, waiting to be tested for coronavirus. This, three days after being taken into quarantine by local health officials on 16 March. The 46-year-old arrived at the Kochi international airport on 12 March from Australia. She travelled from Melbourne to Singapore aboard the Singapore Airlines' flight SQ238 and then by the SilkAir MI468 flight from Singapore to Kochi. After arriving in Kochi, she said enquires about her travel history were made and she was released upon being found to exhibit no symptoms of the coronavirus. On the day of her arrival in Kochi, the Ministry of Healths travel advisory did not include arrivals from Australia and Singapore in the mandatory quarantine list. Neither did the advisory on the day she was taken into quarantine. Alison and her friend Nicola Aldridge (43) were stopped on 16 March, the same day that Idukki district blocked the entry of foreign and domestic tourists, by angry villagers at a village in Muttom. It was made clear we could not leave. Soon after, health officials arrived, told us we would be able to continue on our way to the airport soon, but later we were driven to Munnar. On the way, we were asked to leave a restaurant we had stopped at for a meal, Alison said, recounting the hostility of locals. Incidents of foreign nationals attempting to escape from coronavirus quarantine facilities to fly home has only increased fears among locals, adding to the hostility faced by travellers. Nicola arrived in India on 2 March and travelled to Kanyakumari and Kochi. Although a Kerala government order issued only on 13 March said that arrivals from abroad can be quarantined for a minimum of 14 days, she is also lodged at the isolation facility. Nicola and Alison were kept at an isolation facility set up at a hotel called Meridian Meadows in Munnar. "The facility had no soap, toilet paper or utensils at their disposal," Alison said. A day after their arrival at the isolation facility, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday announced fresh guidelines allowing foreign nationals in the state to fly out of the state if they test negative. After the foreigners cited this order a day after its release, health officials promised them that they will be tested, Alison said on Twitter, also telling Firstpost that district officials were not aware of the order till the day she showed it to them. Idukki DMO Dr Priya N confirmed that the two women were tested only on Thursday after they became aware of the chief minister's order on Wednesday, pointing towards the lack of communication of directives to district officials. She said that they were not tested on Monday as they were asymptomatic, adding that they were taken into quarantine as instruction to isolate those from affected countries for 14 days was issued since the earlier stages of the outbreak. She also mentioned that there was some deficiency in making certain arrangements regarding Alison and Nicolas cases. Six days after Alison and Nicola were taken to the Meridian Meadows quarantine facility, the results of their swab tests came in. Since the visit by health officials at Muttom till Saturday, when they were tested negative, Alison alleged that she got no answers from health officials on why her testing and return were being delayed and the absence of documentation throughout the quarantine. Nor were they provided any documents relevant to the process, even as the High Commissions office sprung into action only after an announcement came stating that Australia will close its borders on 20 March for both citizens and non-residents, with the order likely to remain for at least six months. Lack of communication from the health department left Alison and Nicolas return to Melbourne in jeopardy. Earlier, it was the state government-mandated 28-day isolation for air passengers that would have extended her stay in India till 12 April, amid airlines fast suspending services and the Australian government advising nationals travelling abroad to return home at the earliest. While Alison said she and Nicola had been promised their reports would be handed over at the earliest, the delays and lack of answers they received set them on edge. Even though Dr Priya told Firstpost they'd be released by Friday if they tested negative, the Melbourne residents were only able to check out of the hotel after receiving their reports on Saturday. Then came the scramble to reach Kochi airport, almost four hours away, to board one of the last few available flights as Australia began shutting down its borders. Highlights State-owned MTNL has increased data available to its broadband and mobile users for one month. The new offer is for now available only in Delhi and Mumbai circles. MTNL is offering more data because the company wants to encourage work from home during the coronavirus pandemic. State-owned Mahanagar Telecom Nigam Limited (MTNL) has doubled the amount of data bandwidth available to people who use its broadband and mobile phone plans. The move is aimed at encouraging people to work from home as India tries to limit the spread of coronavirus in the country. The MTNL offer for now will be available to users for a month. The new scheme will be available in Mumbai and Delhi circles as the telecom company operates from there. MTNL's free broadband service can be availed by landline users and new customers for a month as most organisations have moved towards work from home. "MTNL has doubled free data in all the broadband plans of landline as well as mobile for one month will effect from today so that people are encouraged to work from home," MTNL Chairman and Managing Director Sunil Kumar told PTI. A few days ago, BSNL came up with its Work @ Home promotional plan. The plan is free and unlimited for landline users who do not have broadband. The services are available in all circles of India except for Andaman and Nicobar telecom circles. The offer can be seen as advantageous for new customers opting for copper cable installation will not be charged the installation fees, BSNL officials told PTI. However, the users will have to buy a modem for the service. The new service provides daily broadband data by offering a maximum speed up to 10 Mbps for a limit of 5 GB per day. Public sector companies are reportedly the first ones to come up with schemes which encourage work from home. MTNL's prepaid plan of Rs 100 gives 8 Mbps data for a validity of 15 days and provides 10 GB. The installation and testing charges for the same are at Rs 500 and the initial charges for WiFi modem is Rs 250. The users will not be charged with any monthly service. Covid-19, a disease caused by coronavirus, has so far killed seven people in India and over 400 people have been infected. Uber India has reportedly offered no help to thousands of its driver partners in light of the suspension of its services due to the coronavirus pandemic. Thousands of these drivers are now left staring at the prospect of not having any pay until normal services are resumed, for which no date has been confirmed on Uber Indias official blog. Amit Kumar, a driver partner for Uber India in the Delhi NCR (national capital region) area, confirmed to News18 that services in all of Delhi NCR have been suspended as of today, with the company having told its drivers that the suspension will last until at least March 31. Kumar says, There is no such help or assistance that the company has offered any of its drivers, and we have been told to fend for ourselves. Most of us are sitting idle at home, and only a very few of us have managed to find alternate employment with either news publications or medical organisations. The situation is seemingly the same for drivers working with Olacabs as well. A second cab driver, who presently drives with Olacabs and wished to not be named, stated, We have to fend for our present situation because we are not directly employed with the company. This leaves us in a position where we have to look for alternate options to earn money during this period, but the moment we take out our cars, the police direct us to return back home with them. Right now, we do not have a clear way out. Reports detailing Olacabs driver related initiatives state that the company is offering up to Rs 30,000 worth of floater medical insurance, along with free medical help and doctor consultations. However, no reports have revealed any details about any financial aid that Olacabs may be extending to its remaining drivers. A spokesperson for the company could not be immediately contacted by News18, and the story will be updated if the company offers an updated statement or strategy. News18 reached out to Uber India for a statement on the matter. In response to the queries, Uber India directed us to a statement by Andrew Macdonald, senior vice president of rides and platforms at Uber, who states, We are providing financial assistance to anyone who drives or delivers with Uber and is diagnosed with COVID-19 or placed in individual quarantine by a public health authority. This assistance is now available worldwide. Clarifying the financial help, a statement by Uber India on the matter says, We will provide drivers and delivery persons with financial assistance for up to 14 days if they actively drive or deliver with Uber and get diagnosed with COVID-19 or are personally placed in quarantine by a public health authority. Explaining the amount of financial support that Uber will extend to its drivers, the companys official blog states, To ensure our financial assistance fairly meets the needs of everyone who uses our platform to earn, the amount of assistance you receive will be based on your average daily earnings over the last six months. If you have been on Ubers platform for less than six months, your average earnings will be based on how much you have earned in the time between your first trip and March 6, 2020. When Kumar was asked about whether the monthly installments, which many of Ubers drivers pay the company towards the car that they drive, have been called off in light of the COVID-19 crisis, he said that no such announcement has been made by Uber India so far. He further ascertained that over the past weeks, even as the COVID-19 outbreak escalated in India, the company did not roll back the 25 to 30 percent incentive that it charges its drivers, which too may have gone some distance towards extending financial assistance to the Indian driver partners. Uber India is also yet to reveal what steps they are adopting for the vast majority of their drivers and delivery partners, who have not been put in quarantine or tested positive for COVID-19. A part of Uber Indias statement, shared with News18, says, The circumstances surrounding COVID-19 are changing rapidly and we expect they will continue to do so over the coming weeks and months ahead. To ensure we are responsive to this reality, this policy is effective until April 6, 2020, at which time we will reassess the situation and release a go-forward policy. Uber India and Olacabs driver partners are not employees of the companies, and as a result, do not come under having a monthly fixed minimum wage of any sort. They are deemed as independent contractors, who go without any guarantee or assurance of support in most cases. With a majority of Indias on-contract drivers being dependent on their daily earnings to make ends meet, the focus will remain on what steps do Uber and Olacabs take in terms of millions of their drivers globally, who may be facing the prospect of financial despair at the worst possible time. KALAMAZOO, MI -- All public transit services throughout Kalamazoo County will be free during the coronavirus outbreak. Fares will not be necessary for Metro services starting Tuesday, March 23, according to a Metro press release. Those services include both the Metro Connect routes that offer curbside assistance and fixed routes that run through the cities of Kalamazoo, Portage and Parchment and the townships of Comstock, Kalamazoo, Texas and Oshtemo. To help eliminate the spread of coronavirus, passengers on fixed routes will now board at the back of the bus and are asked to limited contact with the driver. Passengers needing ramp assistance can enter the bus using the front door. Sanitation practices both on the bus and at the bus stations ramped up two weeks ago with extra hand sanitizer available and more frequent cleaning services, Metro Executive Director Sean McBride said. The free ride directive came shortly after Kalamazoo County confirmed its first three cases of coronavirus on Monday, March 23. Also on Monday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a stay-at-home order mandating that residents only go out for essentials like medicine and groceries and that all nonessential business shut down. PREVENTION TIPS Michigans State Emergency Operations Center is coordinating state-government resources and the response to the coronavirus spread. It has shared the following tips: What you can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases: Always cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue or sleeve. Stay home if you are sick and advise others to do the same. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, if soap and warm water are not available. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces (computers, keyboards, desks, etc.). Its not too late to get your flu shot! While the influenza vaccine does not protect against COVID-19 infection, it can help keep you healthy during the flu season. MORE MICHIGAN CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE HERE. Below is a county-by-county map of Michigan tracking confirmed COVID-19 cases, followed by a map of possible exposure sites and a chart based on the states daily reports. The maps will be updated as more reports are released. If you are reading this story on mobile and cant see the map, click here to view it on the web. Reported coronavirus cases: Sorry, but your browser does not support frames. More coronavirus coverage on MLive: Kalamazoo County deputy tests positive for coronavirus, sheriff says Kalamazoo Public Safety closes facilities to the public during COVID-19 outbreak Bronson Healthcare asks for coronavirus donations including protective gear, homemade masks Michigan Gov. Whitmer urges residents not to panic during three-week stay home order Michigan reports first coronavirus case in prison inmate At the Kingston Hotel, a famous Sunday night Canberra watering hole for the nation's pollies, news of an impending pub ban ensured a group of Nationals MPs stayed until drinks were called. Across town, a specially chartered RAAF jet landed in the dark at Fairbairn airbase carrying MPs from both sides of the aisle, all keeping their distance from each other on a two-hour flight south. Others drove solo for seven hours from Melbourne. Prayers in the House of Representatives with MPs practising social distancing. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen At 10am on Monday, Speaker Tony Smith struck a sombre tone as 90 MPs - a touch over half the usual suspects - assembled in the House of Representatives to find the seating arrangements had changed. "Please sit only in the seat or the space allocated to you with your name," he announced. "There are bottles of hand sanitiser at a number of locations within and around the chamber. You will also note that several of the doors to the chamber are open. This is to reduce the need for members to touch the door handles." NEW DELHI -- India said on Monday it will shut down domestic flights to halt the spread of coronavirus and imposed a curfew on a giant state as the number of people dying of the disease ticked up across densely populated south Asia. India has reported 415 cases of the coronavirus but health experts have warned that a big jump could be imminent, which would overwhelm the underfunded and crumbling public health infrastructure. On Monday, India confirmed its eighth death - of a 54-year-old man with no history of foreign travel, suggesting the start of community transmission of the virus, officials said. Streets were deserted in the national capital Delhi and offices shut at the start of a lockdown to run till the end of the month. The government ordered commercial airlines to shut down domestic operations from midnight on Tuesday on top of a ban on international flights to try and contain the coronavirus. About 144 million people traveled on domestic flights last year. Rail travel, the lifeline of India, has already been suspended after thousands of people, mostly migrant workers, swarmed train stations to go home as businesses shut down and jobs dried up. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said many Indians were not taking the lockdown seriously. Please save yourself, save your family, follow the instructions seriously, he said on Twitter. The chief minister of the western state of Maharashtra, which has had the highest number of cases in India, ordered a curfew from Tuesday to force people indoors. Despite multiple requests, people are not following rules. This compelled the government to impose the curfew, Uddhav Thackeray said. The countrys main stock exchange located in Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra, will however remain open, an official said. Newspapers canceled print runs in Mumbai after vendors refused to distribute them due to worries about the coronavirus, which emerged in China late last year and has spread around the world. Globally, cases exceed 325,000 with deaths topping 14,000. Thousands fleeing to Nepal Nepal ordered all land border crossings with India and China shut until March 29, saying thousands of people, most of them Nepali migrant workers, had crossed into Nepal in recent days from India, believing their homeland to be safer. Nepal reported its second case of the coronavirus on Monday, a citizen who had recently returned from France. The closing of the border crossings is meant to ensure that no one infected with the virus crosses over to Nepal from India and China, said Surya Thapa, an aide to Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli. In Pakistan, the opposition-ruled southern province of Sindh began a lockdown including in the biggest city of Karachi, even though Prime Minister Imran Khan said he opposed such a sweeping measure because of the economic consequences for the poor. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his effort to contain the spread of coronavirus virus, held discussions with various industry representatives, including ASSOCHAM, FICCI, and CII, through video conference on Monday. He urged industry stakeholders to adopt a humanitarian approach and not to cut down workforce despite the negative impact on their businesses. PM Modi said that while the government was working on giving fillip to the pace of growth in the country, an unforeseen hurdle in the form of COVID-19 came in front of the economy. "The challenge posed by the pandemic is graver than even that posed by the World Wars and we need to be on constant vigil to prevent its spread," he said. The Prime Minister said that the fulcrum of the economy is trust. "Trust has a unique yardstick - it is earned or lost in difficult and challenging times. The parameters of trust are at a critical juncture in various sectors of the economy," he said. The PM thanked the industry representatives for speaking in one voice on the needs of the unorganised sector and said that this marks a new dawn of economic integration. He asked them to allow employees to work from home wherever doing so is feasible through using technology. He said it is imperative that production of essential items should not be impacted at this time, and black marketing and hoarding be prevented. He reminded them about the importance of 'swachhta' and following medical advice to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at factories, offices and workplace. He added that social distancing is the biggest weapon in our fight against preventing the spread of the virus. He also requested them to use their CSR funding for humanitarian causes related to the pandemic at this critical juncture. Several sectors like tourism, construction, hospitality and daily life engagements including the informal sector have been severely hit due to COVID-19, which will have impact on the economy going ahead. The industry representatives thanked the Prime Minister for leading from the front and taking swift, front-footed action to counter the threat. They informed the Prime Minister about the steps being taken by them to maintain supply lines of essential items and medical equipment including ventilators, assistance in creation of isolation wards, utilisation of CSR funds for combating COVID-19 and provision of assistance for migrant labour. In the meeting, specific issues being faced by sectors like banking, finance, hospitality, tourism, and infrastructure were discussed. The industry bodies requested for help to overcome these challenges through financial and fiscal assistance. Industry representatives also appreciated the importance of instituting a lockdown, irrespective of economic losses, to prevent the spread of the virus. Since January PM Modi held several rounds of meetings and discussions with people from various walks of life and officials in order to find ways and means to fight COVID-19. He had been holding meetings on a daily basis wherein he is updated regularly by the Cabinet Secretary and the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister's Office. Prime Minister is also being updated by the Group of Ministers (GoM) set up under the chairmanship of the Minister for Health and Family Welfare Harsh Vardhan on the steps being taken by the government. By Chitranjan Kumar Also Read: Coronavirus outbreak: ICMR recommends use of hydroxy-chloroquine for critical COVID-19 cases Also Read: Now, Indian Inc can spend CSR funds to combat coronavirus The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Louisiana increased over the past 24 hours from 837 to 1,172 with 14 additional deaths, bringing the total deaths to 34. In Lafayette, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals as of noon Monday is reporting nine coronavirus cases, up from six Sunday. Elsewhere in Acadiana, 10 cases of COVID-19 were reported Monday, including three each in Iberia and St. Landry parishes, two in Evangeline Parish, and one each in Acadia and St. Mary parishes. There have been no deaths in Acadiana. As coronavirus death toll climbs, nursing homes fear supply shortages, residents' isolation As the unfolding coronavirus crisis continues to spread, leaders at some of Louisiana's most vulnerable facilities nursing homes and senior Top stories in Acadiana in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Louisiana reported its first case of coronavirus on March 9, with the first death reported March 14 in Orleans Parish. Acadiana's first two cases were reported March 18 in Lafayette Parish. Some of the rise in cases is because Louisiana in the past week ramped up testing as more test kits became available. The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, which had been updating the number of COVID-19 cases twice a day, starting today will only release them once a day, at noon. For the past week, Sunrise weatherman James Tobin has been doing live crosses from his apartment while in self-isolation amid the coronavirus pandemic. And on Monday, host David Koch scolded James on air after his segment was plagued by technical difficulties. 'Pay your data bill!' David said, as newsreader Natalie Barr laughed along. 'Pay your data bill!' Sunrise host David Koch (right, with newsreader Natalie Barr) scolded weatherman James Tobin for his poor connection during a live cross from his home on Monday James, 39, was seemingly aware of the issues before his segment was cut off. 'We're working with what we've got at the moment. One last thing...' he said just as the live feed from his kitchen completely froze. Back in the Sunrise studio, David said impatiently: 'No, no we cant. Bad luck, you don't get one last thing. Pay your data bill!' Working from home: For the past week, James has been doing live crosses from his apartment while in self-isolation amid the coronavirus pandemic Natalie agreed the segment needed to be cut short, saying: 'It's breaking up too much.' They later crossed back to James, who had found a better connection in another room and was able to finish his weather report. James returned from America on March 15 and was required to self-isolate for 14 days in accordance with the government's rules on international arrivals. In quarantine: James returned from America on March 15 and was required to self-isolate for 14 days in accordance with the government's rules on international arrivals The Sunrise team confirmed on Monday that their hair and makeup teams were wearing protective gear to reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposure. The presenters are also sitting further apart than usual to encourage social distancing. Seven announced on Friday: '[Sunrise] is going to look a little different for a while as we follow the government's advice by practising social distancing and limiting in-studio guests.' 'The show is going to look a little different for a while': The Sunrise presenters were sitting further apart on Monday to encourage social distancing Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced stricter social distancing rules on Sunday, including the closure of cafe and restaurant dining areas, pubs, clubs, cinemas and gyms. It follows a push for non-essential services to be shut down by the government to minimise the spread of COVID-19. As of Sunday night, there are 1,354 reported cases of coronavirus in Australia, including seven deaths. Forty-four members of the Nebraska Legislature came together Monday to advance a bill that would provide emergency funding related to the COVID-19 virus outbreak. Several senators wore medical face masks, and five were excused from attendance: Sens. Steve Halloran, Robert Hilkemann, Rick Kolowski, John McCollister and Patty Pansing Brooks. Only senators were allowed on the floor, no media, and senators were advised not to go into the lobby. But they sat in their usual assigned seats. Outside the Capitol, a handful of people held signs that read "Empower Most Vulnerable," "Take Responsibility" and "We love our Asian Community." The senators advanced the bill (LB1198) to final reading on a voice vote to provide $83.6 million to the Governor's Emergency Cash Fund to aid in the fight of the COVID-19 virus spread. The money will go to the Department of Health and Human Services and the University of Nebraska Medical Center for such things as medical and laboratory equipment, personal protective equipment, UV light boxes, staffing and testing. The emergency funding request was put into a priority budget bill that previously was intended for discretionary funding for restoration of the chamber doors. The money will go from the state's rainy day fund to the governor's emergency cash fund to the military department for a new program: the Governor's Emergency Program COVID-19. Appropriations Committee Chairman John Stinner said the money will be put into a separate fund with a new accounting system. "We should have a good accounting system. Obviously, this is a fluid situation, but accounting-wise, I believe we will be able to account for the funds in a very transparent manner," he said. It allows the retention of any unused funds into a single location in the governor's emergency program, he said. And, under the program, recipients of the funds can hire as many people as they need for the emergency. Stinner thanked the governor's office and state and local entities for their efforts to combat the outbreak and local providers for their dedication and hard work. "We'll get through this," he said. "But now it's our turn to lay down our partisan politics and pass this bill for the state to protect the safety and well-being of all Nebraskans." Lincoln Sen. Kate Bolz, vice chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, said that in the name of legislative intent, and from her perspective, the unobligated resources provided should be prioritized for vulnerable populations served by nursing facilities and federally qualified health centers. After advancing the bill, senators stood at ease for about an hour so the bill could be updated and read into the record. Stinner said after the vote that, as the session moves forward, if state revenue comes up short, whether it be sales or income taxes, that will have a direct impact on the $280 million excess receipts that previously had been projected to go into the cash reserve, or rainy day fund. So there will be an impact on the reserve from that and from the emergency spending. "I don't think anybody understands how deep or how long this is going to last or what effect it's going to have on receipts," he said. It can directly affect spending going forward, such as on property tax relief or the tax incentive program (LB720), and any other spending bills, he said. Speaker Jim Scheer said a quorum of senators would check in Tuesday for the required one-day layover for the bill and on Wednesday for final reading of the bill, with an emergency clause. It would then be moved to Gov. Pete Ricketts for his signature and would go into effect as soon as he signs it. Reach the writer at 402-473-7228 or jyoung@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSLegislature And that brings a close to another day of important developments in this deepening crisis. One of the biggest developments was Prime Minister Scott Morrison's late night press conference where he announced a raft of new restrictions to try and restrict the spread of the coronavirus. You can read Eryk Bagshaw's story on that here. Or you can watch Mr Morrison's full press conference at the bottom of this post below. That's it for us tonight, we will be back early tomorrow morning with live coverage again all day. Take care of yourself. Let voters choose I find it appalling that Terry Schultz, a past Commissioner of District 4 in Butte-Silver Bow, would stoop so low as to attempt to derail a sincere effort by the good citizens of Butte-Silver Bow who are attempting to make our city a better place to live. All this group is asking is that the City-County Manager issue be placed on the November ballot and let the voters decide its outcome. He has a right to express his opinion as all of us have. However, when he resorts to false statements to make his point, he has crossed over the line. Our group is simply attempting to streamline our local government and make it more efficient in the utilization of our taxpayers' revenues, as twelve other Montana cities have already done. He mentions in his opening statement "Presently, we have a form of local government that may seem cumbersome and slow to some people." Yes, we do agree, because that is exactly what it is. He falsely states the "Moving Butte-Silver Bow Forward" movement is backed by a vast treasury of dark money and an agenda to gain control of the county government. This is far from true. We are a sizable group of 100% local residents from all walks of life who have no funds to literally buy our way into relevancy or anything else for that matter. Mr. Schultz also claims that the "checks and balances" built into our present form of government are forfeited in a City-County Manager form of government. The Chief Executive position is to run the day-to-day operation of our City-County while the Council of Commissioners set the direction they want the City-County government to follow. Often we see time-consuming conflict on both sides as to who has what authority. In a City-County Manager form of government both the Executive and the the Legislative branch have well-defined authority and responsibilities as set forth by Montana State Statute and an amended Butte-Silver Bow charter. The checks and balances for both sides are automatically built into the system. It seems Mr. Schultz isn't too interested or concerned in what the citizens in our community would like to see. "Same Old, Same Old." Robert Lienemann, Butte Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 23.03.2020 LISTEN It is not that far-fetched, believe me... I decided to do a little reading into cathedrals before I sat down at my writing desk to do this lament and discovered interesting insights into the differences between a cathedral and other places of Christian devotion, like basilica, temple, church, chapel, shrine, and even grotto. A few years ago, I served on the Charities Board of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS). Their temple is very imposing on Independence Avenue in Accra. The Jehovah Witnesses, I believe also have Kingdom Halls strewn all over the place. The Catholics have very specific roles for their cathedrals and what they represent in a diocese. Their cathedral at Adabraka in Accra is awe-inspiring. The main protestant denominations are equally well endowed. The new-fangled charismatics and evangelicals flaunt their mega auditoriums from where they film their mega productions for television. It would seem, therefore, that, there is no shortage of space for Christian worship in Ghana for the state to interfere with a cathedral! Democracy, we are told is preferable to any other form of political organization. True, but democracy, like the Dickensian view of the law being an ass, can also be abused and be a pain in other parts of the human anatomy not appropriate for printing, or else, how could we sit, stand, or lie down and allow this hubristic ego trip called National Cathedral to take off? In a dictatorship, it is possible because that is what dictators old-time monarchs do: They dictate. In a democracy, it is not supposed to be so, but it is also possible to dictate, with the peoples mandate cited as justification. Election intoxication often imbues some politicians with their own sense of messianic importance. I am rather surprised at how all sorts of people, otherwise upright pillars of society, have allowed themselves to be complicit directly or indirectly in this caper. When some of these pillars lined up recently to cut sod on this project, I was left speechless. But in fairness, not all Ghanaian Christians are enthused by it. I have heard some uncharitable ones grousing about the occult what with a stone from Israel showing up to be added to the foundation as if that is what is required to validate the sanctity of the stones of our dear country? Israel, a country that does not even believe in Christ as a Saviour or Messiah is the country which more or less consecrates the cathedral with a stone from that countrys politicians! In Israel itself, the followers of the Judaic faith supplicate to the Creator in synagogues, not cathedrals. I thought, after so much public disquiet about this priority of priorities project, the damn thing would have been shelved, or in the overall Ghanaian multi-faith interest, converted into something more uniting and useful for the nation, like President Nkrumahs Job 600 or President Rawlings National Theatre and Accra International Conference Centre, or President Kufuors Jubilee House or President Mahamas Terminal 3 at KIA. A Centre for Non-Violence in Politics or Centre for Inter-Party Dialogue and Peace Making or Centre for Religious Tolerance, etc., would have been high ideals we would have all bought into. I could not help but delve into the little I know of what the national cathedral is driving at: the supremacy and domination of one faith over all others in Ghana. No matter the demographics, Ghana is a secular democracy. The founding father of the modern nation state of Ghana. Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah started us off on a clean sheet of multi-ethnic, multi-faith, multi-cultural tolerance, which has served us very well until very recently, with all this talk of pledge to my God to build a cathedral. President Rawlings was, like President Nkrumah, forward-looking when he did right in redressing a discriminatory exclusion of Muslims from our calendar of national holidays by legislating the Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha celebrations into national holidays. Now we are witnessing religious discrimination as official policy with a Christocentric edifice that would soon be a brooding presence in our collective public space with the connivance of the presidency! Hopefully, the day would come soon when we will have a Traditional Day national holiday to commemorate what our heritage bequeathed us before the arrival of Europeans and Arabs which our chiefs and traditional rulers are now custodians of. I come from a Muslim background and my wife from a Christian. We have been together for over 30 years and have lived harmoniously, with religion never coming up to disturb what God has brought together because even at that microcosmic level, we have insisted on respecting our different faiths, not allowing our common space to be taken over by either of us, so for me, anything, and I mean anything, that tries, directly or indirectly, to disturb this delicate balance, meets with my conscientious objection. For a politician to try to impose his ego tripping on my country with a so called national cathedral, smells to high heaven pun very well intended! But who am I? The proposer says it was a promise he made to his God, which is okay, but I ask: Why did he not buy a plot of land somewhere in Kyebi to put up his shrine, instead of dragging all of us into it with a prime place of honour on our collective real estate? I will tell you what it is: If subjected to an impartial constitutional audit, the following conclusions would be arrived at: Abuse of office/mandate. Corruption. Dictatorial tendencies. All over the world, people have built structures, like Alhaji Asoma Bandas mosque at the Airport Residential Area in Accra, to show glory to their creator, without resorting to state intervention I have no objection to architectural landmarks. The so called national cathedral may even be beautiful architecture is art but it will forever remain an eyesore due to its bigotry. It is sectarian in nature and would be a reference point to Them and Us in multi-faith terms what they did when we gave them power. It cannot pass muster in any properly functioning secular democracy and has made us into the laughing stock of Africa an embarrassment. I have heard the sniggers Enter Corona Virus. The scare is justified. The killer virus (bacteria) of 1918, sometimes called Spanish flu or Swine Flu affected over a billion people and killed over 40 million. No part of the globe was spared. Corona does not seem to have the virulence of the 1918 pandemic, in which you could seem well in the morning and dead by midday, but nevertheless is as contagious. As the world of 2020 rallies to contain its own menace, many palliatives, as well as bold attempts at finding a cure have come up. Among the palliatives are the strictures leading to a global lockdown with Ghana joining the league of other nations to shut down schools and restrict social contact including congregational prayers in churches (cathedrals) and mosques, proving yet again, that the cathedral of worship is in human hearts and not fancy buildings. Corona is imperceptibly, but effectively, making this generation of the human race question many things, including long-held predilections of faith. The new reality is Social Distancing Uniting humanity to pursue common interests of survival has eluded mankind for as long as our races history can be recalled. Religion, especially, which makes many claims to its hold on divinity has been particularly unsuccessful there. This is why as much as possible sectarian religious intrusions in governance, like this so-called national cathedral, are kept at bay in modern democratic conventions like Ghanas constitutional dispensation. By the time Corona is done with us, or we are done with it, many values would also have come under serious questioning and threat. Already facing questioning is the cathedral, which is costing over one hundred million US dollars to construct, while first-class health facilities started by the former government have been left to rot, and now we are slinking to the IMF, calabash in hand, to beg for the same amount to fight Corona. And oh, whatever happened to Ghana Beyond Aid? There is no irony here but folly! Big time! And all those who have lined up to applaud this folly must call to mind the kings new clothes! Using an electoral mandate to pursue a personal discriminatory proselytising agenda is not only insensitive and divisive but worse, provocative. PS By the way, has anyone noticed that Dum Sor is back, even after President Mahama had sorted it out before leaving office? Indeed, those who came after him even accused him of having created excess capacity! So whats up? Where are the critical voices of 2016? Electricity outages by any means are still Dum Sor! Disney movies are often the equivalent of a warm bowl of chicken noodle soup for the soul. Whether youre having a particularly bad or if youre feeling sick at home, sometimes a cheerful, animated tale of Disney magic and whimsical adventures can turn an awful day around and leave you with a warm and fuzzy feeling inside. Weve compiled a list of some of the best, feel-good Disney movies to enjoy when youre feeling down and need something to put a smile on your face. So, without further ado, here are our picks for some of Disneys best feel-good films: Tangled | Photo by John Lamparski/WireImage Tangled (2010) In an entertaining twist on the classic German fairytale Rapunzel by The Brothers Grimm, Tangled unfurls a visually stunning fantasy world and tells a heartwarming, poignant story of facing your fears, finding true love in the most unlikely of places, and discovering who you truly are. The 2010 3D computer-animated feature film follows a lost princess named Rapunzel, played by Mandy Moore, with magical, flowing blonde hair who is kept in hiding in a secluded tower by her dismissive, overbearing guardian, Mother Gothel. Every year on her birthday, the nearby kingdom of Corona releases hundreds of sky lanterns into the night sky and meanwhile, Rapunzel watches the ceremony every year, hoping that one day shell be able to see the festivities in person. When Mother Gothel refuses to let Rapunzel leave the tower to watch the sky lanterns fly on her 18th birthday, she enlists an intruder and thief named Flynn Rider, played by Zachary Levi, to escort her to the kingdom as she explores a whole new world shes never seen before. With a memorable, beautiful soundtrack, a ton of laughs, and stunning 3D animation, Tangled is a perfect Disney movie to escape from the real world and immerse yourself in a fairytale. Inside Out (2015) Of all of Disney and Pixars animated productions, Inside Out takes a very progressive approach in its storytelling by focusing on exploring the importance of emotions and opening a dialogue about mental health thats perfect for children and adults alike. The film is centered around an 11-year-old girl named Riley, voiced by American Crimes Kaitlyn Dias. Her world is turned upside down when suddenly, her parents, voiced by Twin Peaks Kyle MacLachlan and Under the Tuscan Suns Diane Lane, are forced to move and uproot from their cozy Midwestern lifestyle to San Francisco because of her fathers new job. Rileys emotions Joy, Anger, Disgust, Sadness, and Fear are personified and live in a headquarters center inside of Rileys brain. Through the control center, they try to help Riley manage her emotions while her dominant emotion, Joy, voiced by Amy Poehler, tries her hardest to stick to the status quo and keep Riley happy despite everything. Inside Out is one of Disney Pixars most wildly imaginative films complete with an exciting adventure within Rileys mind and an excellent moral about how we should feel and deal with our emotions and yes, this one is a tear-jerker. Lilo & Stitch (2002) Step aside, Elsa and Anna. Lilo & Stitchs protagonists, Nani and Lilo showed Disney fans the power of sisterhood first, so let it go. Disneys Lilo & Stitch follows the chaos that ensues after Experiment 626, a blue extraterrestrial creature created to cause chaos and destruction, escapes criminal persecution by the Galactic Federation and crash lands on Earth, specifically on the sunny shores of Hawaii. Meanwhile, a young rambunctious and lonely girl named Lilo is now under the care of her older sister Nani after the two tragically lost their parents in a car accident. Nani and Lilo mistake Experiment 626 for a dog and adopt him, naming him Stitch. Lilo and Stitch develop an especially strong bond, as both of them are trapped in feelings of loneliness and loss. But, as Stitchs destructive nature causes trouble for Lilo and Nani, a social worker named Cobra Bubbles begins to keep a razor sharp eye on the family to make sure Nani is an appropriate guardian for Lilo, or else the sisters will be separated. As one of Disneys most heartwarming stories, Lilo & Stitch shows that, no matter how large or small, family is family and no one in a real family will ever be left behind or forgotten. Ratatouille (2007) Anyone can cook. Yes, even a rat from the streets of France. Disney and Pixar teamed up for their eighth animated feature film, creating an inspiring tale to encourage audiences to believe in themselves and their talents no matter who they are and where they come from. Young Adults Patton Oswalt stars as Remy, a Parisian rat that dreams of becoming a renowned chef like his hero, the late Auguste Gusteau, a famous chef and restaurant owner. After becoming tragically separated from his family, Remys fate leads him to Gusteaus very restaurant. He teams up with the restaurants garbage boy named Linguini, voiced by Lou Romano, to create wonderful culinary dishes that will restore Gusteaus reputation and earn a positive review from a terrifying food critic named Anton Ego, voiced by Peter OToole. Together as the ultimate unlikely duo, Remy and Linguini discover that with friendship, hard work, and a strong belief in oneself, anything is truly possible and anyone can cook. Up (2009) Adventure is definitely out there, as an elderly widower and a young boy scout discover through a series of antics and misadventures to reach the untouched wild lands of South America. Up won two Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score at the 82nd Academy Awards. The film also earned nominations for three more Academy Awards, including Best Picture, making Up the second of three Disney films to receive the nomination. Up is centered around an older man named Carl Fredricksen who has dreamed of exploring South America and discovering a mystical, forbidden waterfall called Paradise Falls, a hidden gem nestled deep within the jungle. After 64 years, Carl finally gets the chance to seek his adventure by tying thousands upon thousands of balloons to his house and flying from his pesky suburb to paradise. Things dont quite go according to plan, however, once Carl discovers that a young boy scout named Russell accidentally became a stowaway on the venture. In this heartfelt, evocative tale, the two brave violent storms, threatening talking dogs, and a mysterious stranger who might have nefarious intentions in mind. Up is a film that will absolutely break your heart and mend it once again with a heartfelt message about following your dreams, releasing regret, and accepting the past. Read more: What Live-Action Disney Movies Are Premiering in 2020? Haiti - News : Zapping... Government support for textile workers "The activities of the textile sector are suspended until April 3, 2020" https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30321-haiti-politic-prime-minister-jouthe-takes-stock-of-the-situation.html , my Government is considering paying a partial leave corresponding to half the workers' wages. The workers must stay at home. At the appropriate time, they will be invited to report to their respective workplaces to receive half their salary," said Prime Minister Jouthe Joseph. Note that 55,647 employees https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30053-haiti-economy-the-textile-sector-has-lost-nearly-3-000-jobs.html are affected by the closure of factories textiles in Haiti Words of solidarity from the PM "I support all brotherly countries, particularly Italy, in this fight to contain the spread of Covid-19. I remain convinced that only solidarity between peoples can help us fight this pandemic," declared Prime Minister Jouthe Joseph. Recall that Italy with 46,638 active cases and 5,476 deaths is the most contaminated country in the world just ahead of the USA https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30344-haiti-covid-19-daily-bulletin-march-23-2020.html Construction of the Lycee Stenio Vincent Japanese Ambassador Mitsuaki Mizuno recently visited the Lycee Stenio Vincent in Cerca-la-Source. The construction of this high school was possible thanks to funding from the Japanese government through the KR funds made available to the Haitian government through BMPAD. The Ambassador welcomed the progress of the work and also assessed the need to support the construction of the fence wall to secure this building. Note that more than 550 students already attend this high school in his morning shift. Diaspora : Postponement of the FEDHE General Assembly Due to Covid-19 the executive office of the Federation of the Haitian Diaspora in Europe (FEDHE) in agreement with the Election Commission, decided to postpone its General Assembly to a later date. Advice from the Petit-Goave Bar: Faced with the risk of the spread of coronavirus or Covid 19, the bar of the jurisdiction of Petit-Goave invites the Haitian people to be cautious and to respect all the instructions formulated by the health and government authorities "We must not give in to panic nor fear. It is everyone's responsibility to behave responsibly to avoid falling prey to Covid 19." Chancellor Vargas tested positive In response to the confirmation that the Dominican Chancellor Miguel Vargas Maldonado had tested positive for Covid-19, his Haitian counterpart Claude Joseph declared "On behalf of the President of the Republic, HE Mr. Jovenel Moise, on behalf of the Haitian Government, I formulate wishes of solidarity and speedy recovery [...] I am convinced of its certain victory over the Coronavirus with the care and support of those close to him." HL/ HaitiLibre But East Lake Meadows also details years of government neglect and penury, and the corrosive effect they had. Newscasts and home movies offer alarming, sometimes sickening images of sewage floods, uncollected trash and cockroach infestations. Beginning in the 1980s, the politically driven, nakedly racist stigmatization of welfare recipients deals further blows to public housing; we see House Speaker Newt Gingrichs infamous broadside against a drug-addicted underclass with no sense of humanity, no sense of civilization and no sense of the rules of life in which human beings respect each other. The film marshals a fine roster of scholars and journalists to talk about the politics, and the sociology, of public housing. Its heart, though, is in the reminiscences of the former residents. Even the ones with the most harrowing stories have a palpable affection for what was, in most cases, their childhood home. They may agree that the demolition and rebuilding that took place in the 1990s was the only solution, but they rue it nonetheless. In the final chapter of the story, the Atlanta Housing Authority, under the leadership of an African-American woman, Renee Glover, opted to tear down East Lake Meadows and replace it with a mixed-income development, half for low-income residents and half open market. Its been a resounding success, but only about 15 percent of the former residents returned. Many accepted housing vouchers, which generally enabled them to move to neighborhoods just as poor as the Meadows had been. In the films most quietly moving sequence, a team of schoolchildren who were given a video camera for a school project inspect a demonstration model of one of the new homes. Their animated chatter dies down when they enter the sparkling new unit, with its staged furniture and bowl of fruit, and they go completely silent when a real estate agent asks: Is anybodys parents coming back over here to stay? No? A case could be made, with some justification, that East Lake Meadows isnt angry enough. The interviewees experts and residents alike are united and straightforward in their belief that the story of public housing is in large part the story of institutional racism and neglect. But the temperature of the film is cool rather than hot, and theres a touch of sentimentality in their choice to end the film at a convivial reunion of former residents. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif. speaks outside her office on Capitol Hill on Monday. Read more WASHINGTON President Donald Trump expressed qualms Monday about extending the current 15-day shutdown recommended by the federal government, even as his officials warned that the coronavirus crisis is deepening and Congress ran into more roadblocks trying to complete a nearly $2 trillion economic rescue package. At the Capitol, tempers flared and emotions were raw as senators wrangled over critically needed aid. Democrats blocked another vote to advance the package, trying to steer more of the assistance to public health and workers. They argue the package is tilted toward corporations. Trump sounded a note of impatience about the two weeks of suspended public activities his administration recommended Americans live through starting a week ago. In all capital letters, he tweeted: We cannot let the cure be worse than the problem itself. At the end of the 15-day period, we will make a decision as to which way we want to go. His suggestion that the remedies may be more harmful than the outbreak contradicts the advice of medical experts across the country. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi assailed Trump's apparent wavering on the federal response and statements he's made about the pandemic that some of his public-health officials have had to walk back. "He's a notion-monger, just tossing out things that have no relationship to a well coordinated, science-based, government-wide response to this," she said on a health-care conference call. "Thank God for the governors who are taking the lead in their state. Thank God for some of the people in the administration who speak truth to power. A week ago, the White House came out with a "15 Days to Stop the Spread" plan that encouraged Americans to work from home and avoid bars, restaurants and discretionary travel, as well as groups of more than 10 people. It also told older Americans and those with serious underlying health conditions that they should stay home and away from other people. Since then, states that have become hot spots for the virus have implemented even more radical measures, which the White House has applauded. Yet on Sunday, Vice President Mike Pence said the country should expect new federal guidance which will make it possible for people that have been exposed to return to work more quickly with -- by wearing a mask for a certain period of time. On Monday, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin was back on Capitol Hill after officials worked through the night on the massive economic rescue plan. We're making a lot of progress, Mnuchin said midday as he shuttled through the halls. The top Senate Democrat, Chuck Schumer of New York, said: We're very close to reaching a deal." Yet, another attempt to move the package forward snagged. At the Capitol, the virus has struck close. Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who announced he tested positive for coronavirus, is now among five senators under self-quarantine. Several other lawmakers have cycled in and out of isolation. And the husband of Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., is in a hospital with pneumonia after testing positive, she said Monday. Democrats are holding out as they arguing the package is tilted toward corporations and did too little to help workers and health care providers. Schumer said earlier the bill would "affect this country and the lives of Americans, not just for the next few days, but in the next few months and years so we have to make sure it is good." As talks progressed, Pelosi came out with the House Democrats' own sweeping bill, urging Senate negotiators to move closer to the values in it. We must be bold and forward looking, she said. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell fumed, warning Democrats and Pelosi in particular to quit stalling on political games and strike a deal. Other Republicans joined with fiery arguments on the Senate floor. Its time to get with the program, time to pass historic relief, McConnell said as he opened the chamber. The eyes of the nation are on the Senate. Trump has also balked at using his authority under the recently invoked Defense Protection Act to compel the private sector to manufacture needed medical supplies like masks and ventilators, even as he encourages them to spur production. We are a country not based on nationalizing our business, said Trump, who has repeatedly railed against socialism overseas and among Democrats. On Monday, Democratic presidential rival Joe Biden criticized Trump for stopping short of using the full force of emergency federal authority . Trump keeps saying hes a wartime president, Biden said in an online address from his Delaware home. Well, start acting like one. On the economic front, the Federal Reserve announced Monday it will lend to small and large businesses and local governments as well as extend its bond-buying programs as part of a series of sweeping steps to support the flow of credit through an economy ravaged by the viral outbreak. With a population on edge and shell-shocked financial markets entering a new work week, Washington labored under the size and scope of a rescue package that's more ambitious than any in recent times larger than the 2008 bank bailout and 2009 recovery act combined. Democrats are particularly fighting for constraints on the largely Republican-led effort to provide $500 billion for corporations. Democrats call that a slush fund. Democrats won a concession to provide four months of expanded unemployment benefits, rather than just three as proposed, according to an official granted anonymity to discuss the private talks. The jobless pay also would extend to self-employed and so-called gig workers. But Republicans complained Democrats were holding out for more labor protections for workers, wanting assurances that corporations taking federal aid will commit to retaining their employees. Alarms were being sounded from coast to coast about the wave of coronavirus cases about to crash onto the nation's health system. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said from the pandemics U.S. epicenter: April and May are going to be a lot worse." On NBCs Meet the Press," he all but begged Washington to help procure ventilators and other medical supplies and accused the Republican president of not lifting a finger to help. Trump urged Congress to get a deal done and, during the Sunday briefing, responded to criticism that his administration was sluggish to act. He cited his cooperation with the three states hardest hit New York, Washington and California and invoked a measure to give governors flexibility in calling up the national guard under their control, while the federal government covers the bill. But even as Trump stressed federal-local partnerships, some governors, including Republican Greg Abbott of Texas, expressed unhappiness with Washington's response. The president himself took a swipe at Democratic Gov. J. B. Pritzker of Illinois, saying that he and a very small group of certain other Governors, together with Fake News" should not be blaming the Federal Government for their own shortcomings." The urgency to act is mounting, as jobless claims skyrocket and financial markets are eager for signs that Washington can soften the blow of the health-care crisis and what experts say is a looming recession. Central to the package is as much as $350 billion for small businesses to keep making payroll while workers are forced to stay home. There is also a one-time rebate check of about $1,200 per person, or $3,000 for a family of four, as well as the extended unemployment benefits. Hospitals would get about $110 billion for the expected influx of sick patients, said Mnuchin. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Arya Dipa (The Jakarta Post) Bandung Mon, March 23, 2020 20:44 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206cefd9b 1 National West-Java,COVID-19,mask,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,Bekasi,bogor,Greater-Jakarta,coronavirus,ridwan-kamil Free The West Java Health Agency started distributing a million masks for the province's residents and more than 1,000 units of personal protective equipment for medical personnel on Monday. The masks are being distributed through community health centers (Puskesmas) in areas that are highly affected by COVID-19 such as Bogor, Depok, Bekasi and Bandung. We will be selective in giving out the masks as they are limited in number. First, were giving them out to sick people and medical personnel, West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil said on Saturday, adding that low-income residents would also be prioritized for mask distribution. Ridwan asked Puskesmas in affected regions to submit an application for the equipment through West Javas Pikobar, a mobile app for android smartphones that was designed to publish information and updates on COVID-19. The health agency sends the masks via postal service company PT Pos Indonesia. Ridwan said Puskesmas were chosen as distribution points because they were easily accessible and allowed medical personnel to verify whether a person was really sick. Besides distributing masks, the West Java administration also distributed on Monday personal protective equipment from the Jasa Sarana Group to eight hospitals including Dustira Hospital in Cimahi and Hasan Sadikin Hospital, HA Rotinsulu Pulmonary Hospital, Sartika Asih Hospital and M. Salamun Hospital in Bandung. The protective equipment includes 900 disposable coveralls, 396 nurse caps, 390 boxes of latex gloves, 397 pairs of shoe covers, 300 dozen pairs of fabric gloves, 390 safety glasses and 108 medical coolers. The administration will later distribute protective equipment to 26 other hospitals designated to handle COVID-19 patients in West Java. HA Rotinsulu Hospital director Edi Sampurno expressed gratitude to the administration for having taken the initiative to give out equipment to medical personnel. Such aid is very important and exactly what we need. It lifts our spirits in handling COVID-19 cases, he said. As of Monday, West Java had reported 59 confirmed COVID-19 cases with five deaths and nine recoveries, according to Health Ministry data. (aly) Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 21:11:07|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- China has scaled up measures at its customs to buck the rising trend of imported coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases, as the number has reached 353. This came as most parts of China have been categorized as "low-risk" for an outbreak and Wuhan, the hardest-hit city, marked its fifth day in a row of zero new cases. But the country faces a mounting risk posed by soaring cases overseas. "China has prioritized the prevention of imported cases and taken targeted measures to curb cross-border COVID-19 transmission," said Song Yueqian, an official with the General Administration of Customs, Monday. He told a press conference that quarantine measures at the customs have been strengthened. People who are confirmed or suspected of contracting the virus, their close contacts and those who have tell-tale symptoms such as fever, will be sent to medical or quarantine facilities. BEIJING "MAIN BATTLEFIELD" Big cities such as Beijing and Guangzhou have ordered travelers from overseas to be quarantined for 14 days. And Beijing moved a step forward Monday. All arriving international flights were ordered to first land in 12 nearby cities, including Tianjin and Hohhot, where passengers must be cleared of COVID-19 before they can travel to Beijing on the same flight. Sun Shaohua, an official with the Civil Aviation Administration of China, said the move will help stem the inflow of cases to Beijing, which has become the country's "main battlefield" for such cases. Each week, nearly 200 international flights connected Beijing with cities in 33 countries, including the United States, the Republic of Korea, France, Germany and Spain, bringing "unprecedented" risks to the airports in the Chinese capital, Sun said. Liu Haitao, an official with the National Immigration Administration, cautioned foreign travelers that transiting through Beijing during the epidemic would take extra time. QUARANTINE FOR SEAFARERS On sea travel, China's guideline on the COVID-19 prevention and control has been adopted by the International Maritime Organization for the international shipping industry. The guideline covered crew protection, emergency response and case reporting, Yang Xinzhai, a Ministry of Transport official, said at the press conference. Yang estimated that around 10,000 Chinese sailors might see their contracts expire and return to shore by the end of May. Seafarers who sailed for more than 14 days and show no symptoms will be allowed to go, but those whose voyage time is less than 14 days will need to be quarantined for further observation, Yang said. ENTRY BAN FOR FLOUTING IMMIGRATION FORMS The immigration authorities, in the meantime, said arriving foreigners must accurately fill in immigration forms, detailing their destinations and contact persons in China. "Those who fail to meet entry requirements, or do not answer inquires and report information according to facts, are not allowed to enter China," said Liu, the immigration official. He said the immigration authorities have shared nearly 200,000 pieces of entry and exit information with the customs and health administrations and helped find more than 100 imported COVID-19 cases. The findings accounted for one-third of the total imported COVID-19 patients in China, Liu said. Its been more than 40 years since Bula Tawan first cast his fishing net out across the Mekong River when the waterway was rich in marine life. But the days of big catches have disappeared for most fishermen like Tawan, who once relied on the big hauls to earn a living and feed his family. The water and the color have changed because when the water was natural it was not clear like this and it would have sediments and nutrients in there, explained the lean 66-year-old father, as he scooped up a handful of transparent river water. The water is clear, but the sediments and nutrients have gone. The Thai governments view of the matter is somewhat different. The waters change to a blue color has made the tourists more excited for the color and it has gone on social media making it more popular so that more tourists want to visit, said Tanaporn Sriyamoon from the Thai governments Planning Policy office. Water transforms The timing of the waters transformation, along with extreme fluctuations in river levels, coincide with the upstream Lao government-owned Xayaburi dam, which began generating hydropower last October. According to the Xayaburi website, the $3.8 billion dam is a run of river barrage which will trap substantially less sediment than conventional storage schemes, but new evidence indicates that major blockages still occur. Now, the Network of Thai People in Eight Mekong Provinces has gone to court to try and slow down the generators and sale of electric power to Thai companies, 95% of which will be purchased by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, or EGAT. The people who set the limit to sell the power to Thailand is EGAT so it has an impact on the ecosystem of the Mekong River, said Network spokesperson Ormbun Thipsuna. Ormbun Thipsuna says that recent reports from the Ministry of Energy indicate that Thailand has enough electricity to supply the countrys needs. In February, the network submitted evidence to the Thai Supreme Administrative Court in an ongoing lawsuit that pinpoints five Thai state agencies including EGAT. EGAT did not respond to questions submitted by VOA. Suspend power agreement In addition to the evidence of environmental damage caused by the dam, the plaintiffs also request that the court issue an injunction to suspend the power purchase agreement until new information can be checked regarding the dams impact on the rivers ecosystem. One analyst sees the networks new approach as shining much needed light on the fact that power from Mekong mainstream dams in Laos is not needed in Thailand because the countrys energy reserve is set artificially high at around 40-50% above peak needs. Many countries do not have reserve requirements but those that do are in the middle- or upper-income categories and set reserve margins around 20%, says Brian Eyler, an expert on transboundary issues in the Mekong region. But Eyler is less optimistic that changes can be made, based on that argument. Thailands EGAT would have to cancel or renegotiate its power purchase agreement with the Xayaburi Dam in order to change operations of the Xayaburi Dam. Such cancellations or renegotiations rarely happen because investors will mobilize all their resources to prevent this outcome. One of the most contentious issues concerning the dams construction is the lack of transparency regarding the projects impact assessment report. We cant get access to the information and get access to the public hearing events that have been organized by the Natural Resources department, Ormbun Thipsuna explained. Less water for crops For farmers like Sanit Khun, who rely heavily on the river to irrigate crops during the dry season, these concerns are now a reality. The water is so shallow it is difficult for the pump to suck the water out to distribute the water evenly to the rice and corn fields; it has gone down from 100% to 40%, said Khun, as he adjusted a pump hose on the dried out riverbed. Water is our life because in our community 80% is an agriculture area where we plant crops all year-round, he said. This year, the Thai government has declared a drought disaster in 23 provinces, including Nong Khai, the province adjacent to the Lao border that is heavily affected by the upstream dam. In October, the Xayaburi Power Co. Ltd. said the project has spent more than 19.4 billion baht ($640 million) to mitigate negative impacts on the environment, including the building of outlets for sediment passage and flow and facilities to allow the passage of fish. Local village leader Apinan Uttama says that the changing water levels can only be solved by cooperation among affected countries, especially during the drought season, which has worsened in recent years. We have to find a way how we can live together because right now the villagers have no choice and dont know what to do anymore, said the 52-year-old, who was born in the riverside village of Ban Maw. We only can ask help from the government to be our voice to talk to organizations involved in the dams and negotiate between countries, Uttama said. Representatives from the Thai prime ministers office say that they will meet with the Network of Thai People in Eight Mekong Provinces in Nong Khai in April to assess the situation. Now the government has put this issue to the planning policy office to study and go to the location and give a full report directly to the prime ministers office, said Tanaporn Sriyamoon. Now we have set up a team to work on the Mekong River to find solutions and make a plan to restore the Mekong River. Home Four wheelers Auto Industry Shuts Down As Brands Suspend Operations Amid Covid-19: Maruti, Toyota, Hero, & More oi-Rahul Jaswal In light of the Coronavirus pandemic, and in an attempt to contain an outbreak, auto manufacturers in India have started suspending operations in the country. Four wheel manufacturers Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra, and Toyota have temporarily suspended operations. In addition, two wheeler manufacturers Bajaj Auto, Honda 2 Wheeler, and TVS Motor have also suspended operations. {photo-feature} Most Viewed Videos In a shocking incident a brother and sister duo, who were strictly put under home quarantine in Kerala after their return from the United Kingdom (UK) defied the authorities and secretly flew back to the UK. The siblings who had returned to North Paravur, Kochi, from the UK on March 13 were asked to remain in home quarantine, however soon after their return, they flew back to the UK on March 21 without informing the Health authorities. A case has been lodged against them at the North Paravur Police Station as per KS Jayan, SHO of North Paravur Police Station. ''The duo had arrived from the UK on March 13. They were asked by us to remain under home quarantine for 14 days at Peruvaram in North Paravur. We were in constant contact with them till March 20," said the Health Inspector of North Paravur Municipality. Read: MASSIVE: All Domestic Commercial Airlines To Cease Operation From Midnight On 24 March "We lost contact with them for a day. When the contact was restored they claimed that they were in Mumbai due to some emergency. But later their family informed us that the duo had reached the UK. We promptly informed North Paravur police about this," said health inspector. Read: BREAKING: CM Uddhav Thackeray Announces Curfew In Maharashtra; Essential Services Exempted Domestic airlines suspended In a massive move to cut down people's movement, the Centre on Monday, has announced that all domestic schedule commercial airlines shall cease operations with effect from the midnight that is 23:59 hours IST on Tuesday - 24/3/2020. Moreover, Airlines have to plan operations so as to land at their destination before 2359 hours on 24 March. The restrictions shall not apply to solely cargo-carrying flights. 75 districts on lockdown As of date, 415 positive cases have been reported of the pandemic Coronavirus (COVID-19) with Maharashtra reportig the highest at 89. Seven deaths have been reported till date. India has suspended all visas and barred travel from Afghanistan, Philippines, EU, UK, China, Malaysia and mandatory 14-day quarantine from several other countries and shut down over 75 districts across the nation. Read: BREAKTHROUGH: National Task Force Recommends Drug To Prevent COVID-19 For High-risk Cases (With inputs from ANI) Hontiveros calls for mass testing amid COVID-19 outbreak "Mass testing is a fundamental need to defeat the COVID-19 outbreak." This was the remark of Senator Risa Hontiveros in her call for more COVID-19 test kits for the public, especially for high-risk Filipinos, such as health workers, frontliners, the elderly, and the immunocompromised. On Monday, the Senator urged the Department of Health (DOH) to facilitate widespread testing and to upgrade diagnostic capacity across the country as soon as possible. "The logic is simple: To defeat the outbreak, we need to determine more cases, isolate them, and respond to their treatment and care," the senator said. The current DOH triage only allows those with severe symptoms to get tested. Hontiveros said mass testing is even more crucial when symptoms are mild, as those with undetectable symptoms remain as carriers of the coronavirus. Hontiveros echoed her proposal for mass testing in her proposed amendments to Senate Bill No. 1413 that seeks to grant President Rodrigo Duterte emergency powers arising from the coronavirus situation. "Social distancing and the lockdown are not enough to 'defeat the outbreak," said Hontiveros. "We need to follow the World Health Organization's advise for countries to 'test, test, test,", she added. Hontiveros seeks expedited medical testing and observation through "upgrading diagnostic capacity and mass testing prioritizing high-risk individuals," her proposed amendment reads. "Kung matetest ang lahat ng dapat i-test, kahit yung mga mild o walang sintomas pero high-risk, our health authorities will be able to isolate infected individuals and do contact tracing right away," she said. The Senator also called for increased protections for medical personnel and frontliners 'including but not limited to personal protective equipment and adequate hazard pay.' "Nagkakasakit na yung mga health workers at mga frontliners natin. Pero kahit sila hindi natetest dahil sa current triage," Hontiveros lamented. "Mass testing will protect our healthworkers, frontliners, those who are at-risk and eventually save more lives," she concluded. Sometimes there really is no place like home, especially during a pandemic. Although Kate Chastain from Below Deck moved to New York City, shes returned home to Florida during the coronavirus threat. Kate Chastain|Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images New York City has become a coronavirus red zone area in the United States. And even though Chastain officially moved into a new apartment in the city, she packed up and headed south. 18 hour road trip from NYC to Florida thank you @Andy and @RadioAndySXM hosts for broadcasting light yet informative programming during #coronavirus, she tweeted on March 16 along with a picture of her dog, Halo. Only the prior week, she tweeted about proudly moving into her new crib. Officially moved from a studio apartment into a place with an actual living room, she shared along with a video of Halo playing inside a box. Shes kept her sense of humor Despite fleeing from New York, Chastain has still kept her sharp sense of humor during the pandemic. Only days before she moved into her new apartment, she had an impending sense of doom. Im not saying the last 6 months are giving me apocalypse vibes but if in the next couple of weeks theres another record breaking natural disaster, or rampant deadly plague spreading throughout humanity, Im probably going to stop giving a s**t about my credit score, she tweeted. Not taking any chances on our dog walk pic.twitter.com/HwZBhVivRn Kate Chastain (@Kate_Chastain) March 12, 2020 She also started to get a little nervous about the coronavirus on March 12. Me and my dog Halo in my apartment right now after waking up to the latest corona virus news, she tweeted along with a Wizard of Oz Giphy. Chastain posted a photo of a thermometer too. 4.74 Uber rating in the streets, 98.3 body temp. in the sheets, she wrote. Podcast, Watch What Crappens hilariously tweeted, The Coronavirus is like a terrible guest on Below Deck, and were just waiting for Kate to fix it all. Chastain replied, Lets get it drunk and hope it passes out. Shes taking it seriously (but still keeping it light) She also shared a video of Halo, wearing plastic bags on his feet while she was still in New York. Not taking any chances on our dog walk, she shared along with a video. Once she left for Florida, Chastain began to share tweets with the hashtag QuarantineDeepThoughts. CrossFit people are going to lose their minds, she tweeted. Later adding, Shouldnt it be called antisocial distancing. A number of celebrities and reality personalities who are quarantined are either going live on Instagram or making TikTok videos. Being stuck inside for weeks might even cause me to make a TikTok, she tweeted. And added, Why are there so many damn IG live streams in my story feed. She had more quips on Twitter too. Isotoner should come out with a line of covid protecting gloves and call them Isolators. And had a good point. This is probably the end of the small sharable plates trend. She later shared a video of an empty Florida beach. Tell me when its safe to return to New York, she wrote. As leaders worldwide continue to manage the spread of the new coronavirus, Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough said his approach has been measured to avoid panic or implementing strict orders to keep people home. And residents are listening. We have seen in our county, compliance, Keough said. If people self-regulate, it keeps government agencies from enforcing more rules. Everybody (in Montgomery County) is doing some sort of self-regulation. Its remarkable. Im so happy about that. As of Monday, the county has logged 19 cases of COVID-19. Nine of those, Keough noted, are in south Montgomery County. The reason, he added, is a higher concentration of people. None of the 19 cases were in the city of Conroe. Uncharted territory This uncharted territory for all of us, Keough said. I have made a huge effort to be measured in our approach and the only way I can do that is Ive got to have information. For the first term county judge, his process to manage the crisis, while continuing county business, is calling on county leaders including law enforcement and health officials. Avoiding knee jerk reactions, he said, is critical in making tough decisions for the community. We are different from New York. We are different from California, Keough said regarding some leaders issuing shelter in place orders. We have a lot of rural areas. District Attorney Brett Ligon, who has been in many meetings regarding the county response to the coronavirus crisis, said Keough has been focused. Ive been very impressed with the measured tones that Judge Keough has been using to address the pandemic, Ligon said. In the meetings I have been in, a large consideration has been balancing the county government demands and making sure the essential operations not only stay open but are working efficiently. Balancing act Ligon called the effort to manage the crisis and keep county services operational a balancing act between public health and the economic welfare of the county. We have seen a tremendous amount of voluntary compliance with the patchwork of emergency declarations issued at the local, state and federal level, Ligon said. I realize they are confusing and seemingly when youve caught up to one, another jurisdiction comes out with another. Thats why Sheriff Rand Henderson and I have been asking for compliance by everyone, yet we are showing restraint on the enforcement side. To date, Ligon said, no one has been charged with any violations relating to non-compliance. Unfortunately, the same folks who were selfish, impulsive or predatory before the pandemic are still there during the pandemic, he said. The number of charges we have filed the last week or so has been lower than a normal week but officers, deputies and troopers still continue to make arrests and bookings. All cases with victims continue to have priority as they always have. Ligon urged residents to look out for each other during the unprecedented times. Please look out for your neighbors and those particularly prone to phone and email scams, he said. Our office continues to be open along with the five constables offices, the sheriffs department along with our other municipal law enforcement agencies. cdominguez@hcnonline.com Australians forced to work from home can claim electricity bills and phone calls on tax as the number of coronavirus cases continues to climb. Peak-hour trains are now deserted as an increasing number of white collar workers are turning their lounge rooms and kitchen benchtops into office places. People, who are still fortunate to have jobs and be able to work from home, are being urged to keep a diary of the time they spend on duty. Australians forced to work from home can claim electricity bills and phone calls on tax as the number of coronavirus cases continues to climb. Pictured is a stock image H&R Block director of tax communications Mark Chapman said work-related aspects of household costs could be claimed on tax, including heating, cooling and lighting bills. Items that can be claimed on tax Heating, cooling and lighting bills Costs of cleaning your home working area Depreciation of home office furniture and fittings Depreciation of office equipment and computers Costs of repairing home office equipment, furniture and furnishings Small capital items such as furniture and computer equipment costing less than $300 can be written off in full immediately (they dont need to be depreciated) Computer consumables (like printer ink) and stationery Phone (mobile and/or landline) and internet expenses Advertisement So could the cost of cleaning the home working area, along with phone calls, internet connection and the depreciation of home furniture and equipment like computers. 'It may well be that you are already work from home from time to time but that the amount of home-working will spike over the next few weeks or months,' Mr Chapman said. 'If thats the case, keep a separate diary for the period of your 'corona-induced' home working to justify the larger claim over this period and dont try to apply this larger work-related proportion to the whole year.' Mr Chapman said this diary needed to itemise every four-week period a worker spent doing their job at home. 'The diary needs to detail the time you spend in the home office compared with other users of the home office,' he said. 'The work-use proportion you come up with over that four-week period can then be applied to all your actual expenditure over the course of the year.' H&R Block director of tax communications Mark Chapman said work-related aspects of household costs could be claimed on tax, including heating, cooling and lighting bills The Australian Taxation Office also accepts hourly calculations, based on a fixed-rate of 52 cents an hour for heating, cooling, lighting and furniture depreciation. 'You just need to keep a record of the number of hours you use the home office and multiply that by 52 cents per hour,' Mr Chapman said. Telstra staff are far from the only Australians tapping away at a laptop in the place where they live as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to skyrocket. So could the cost of cleaning the home working area, along with phone calls, internet connection and the depreciation of home furniture and equipment like computers Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon and other 12-step groups, many of which are locked out of their regular meeting sites because of the coronavirus pandemic, are Zooming along. Zoom, an online meeting app, has become a popular alternative to physical meetings, enabling recovering alcoholics to stay sober. Meetings, which many AA members attend daily, are at the heart of 12-step programs, where members share their struggles and successes, griefs and joys. Its a lifeline that keeps me sober, said a member using the alias of Tom because hes a minister in an area church. The real names of AA members are not being used in order to protect the anonymity of the groups members. Theres a saying in AA that I get drunk, but we get sober. He said he started a Zoom meeting at the same time as his regular meeting and its slowly taking shape. The first two days we had eight people and today we had 21. Finding out that he couldnt go to his daily meeting wasnt easy. It was very daunting and quite depressing to not meet with those people who Ive been meeting with for years on end every single day, said Tom, who has been sober 14 years. The Zoom meetings have been a godsend, he said. Now were grooving on it. I get to see you; I get to hear you. Its slowly becoming A-OK. I cant wait for tomorrows meeting already. Not every regular meeting has closed. Toms church serves as host to a number of 12-step groups, including Co-Dependents Anonymous and daily AA meetings. Knowing how important meetings are, especially to newcomers and travelers, Tom has given each group the choice of whether to meet, and some have continued to get together. For those that continue to meet, Tom supplies gloves and disinfectant and insists that all surfaces, including doorknobs, faucet handles and light switches, be cleaned, and windows and doors be left open. He stops by and closes them afterward. Three meetings that Frank, the alias of a Guilford AA member, goes to are still open, but Frank is going to online meetings only. Were encouraged in AA to be responsible living right in every way that we can, he said. He said he took the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions advice to avoid groups of people seriously. I go to meetings mostly along the Connecticut shore from Branford up to Essex, Frank said. In the course of a week I walk into five or six different rooms full of people. I think its wrong to go to an inside AA meeting at this time. I dont judge anyone. Im not telling people who are still going that theyre wrong, but Im not going. What if everyone in the room is healthy but me and I seem to have picked it up? Frank said. When everyone returns to their families, all of a sudden Ive infected a thousand people without knowing it. Zoom is free for meetings of 40 minutes or less, so Frank is paying the $15 a month for longer meetings, less than he would put in the basket at his regular meetings. Hes set up daily meetings at 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Also, he said, Ive just set up a site which will be a drop-in site, so people at any time of the day can drop in and talk to an alcoholic. Frank has been sober for 40 years, but said, I believe that we all do this a day at a time and that I have to do everything that the newcomer does to stay sober, including reading AA literature, getting a sponsor and working the 12 steps. Its been a great help to me, he said. I get a lot of strength from being with people who are like me, who have the same personality I do. Alcoholics are not like other people. Its a disease. Were in this big lifeboat together and doing this online has been enormously helpful to me. He said members have started joining the meeting early and staying on afterward to chat, just as they do at regular meetings. The fear of the unknown has always been one of my greatest fears, Frank said, and, with the uncertainty of the pandemic, Ive never experienced so many unknowns at the same time. Thanks to my friends online Im getting that sense of peace again. Mary of Guilford (also an alias) said she did go to a face-to-face meeting. There were four of us and we sat 6 feet apart. There are some meetings that are meeting outdoors, such as on the Guilford beach, she said. Mary has been signing in to online meetings and said High Watch Recovery Center in Kent, founded in 1939 as the worlds first 12-step treatment center, offers three online AA meetings a day, as well as a Narcotics Anonymous meeting. Its not the same, but its still connection, she said. The most important part is to stay connected. She worries about how newcomers will find the online meetings. I dont know how they would find the resources that I have because Im getting them from people that I know from meetings, Mary said. Fred from Branford is the chairman for the AA answering service in the south-central part of Connecticut and is working to get online meetings posted on the states website, ct-aa.org. If people call the state hotline, they will tell a caller that they can go to the website, he said. The hotline numbers are 866-783-7712 (866-STEPS-12) for English and 855-377-2628 for Spanish. This is going to be extremely difficult for newcomers who decide they need and want AA but cant walk into a scheduled AA meeting, Fred said. We havent yet developed the ambiance, the etiquette of how to bring a newcomer to AA into an online meeting, but its very good for existing members. Al-Anon, a similar program to AA for families and others affected by problem drinkers, also is moving meetings to Zoom. Jean of West Haven, whose Saturday morning group moved to Yale Health on Lock Street after Church of the Redeemer closed last year, now has set up a Zoom meeting because Yale Health is not allowing the group to meet. It was disappointing. I immediately got on the phone and started talking to people, Jean said. The safest thing feels like doing it virtually, where we can at least hear peoples voices and get the experience, strength and hope that we always get at a meeting. She said now that her other activities are shut down, including yoga and dancing, this is where the reassurance comes for me. An Al-Anon member from Wolcott, who chose Meryl as her alias, said her group held its first Zoom meeting on Tuesday. It was great; it was really good, so were going to do a meeting Sunday night and were going to do one Monday morning, she said. Meryl said shes usually busy with meetings and volunteering at the state literature-distribution center in Hartford. Now she and her husband, who is an AA member, are pretty much staying at home. Im going stir-crazy a little bit, she said. While the online meetings are not the same as physically being together, she said, Its wonderful that we have this. I was thinking wed all be a bunch of lunatics if we couldnt connect somehow. Its great that we have it, but I would prefer to be at a face-to-face meeting, absolutely. edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com; 203-680-9382 Babygirl Lisa Hamme and her Nigerian rapper and lover, Usman Umar, have 90 Day Fiance fans raising their eyebrows. The two are very different in terms of age and background, and Lisa Hamme seems to have a problem with jealousy when it comes to Umars fans. Whats more, fans are not even sure if the two of them are still together. Rumors of their divorce have been flying around, and Lisa Hamme has been throwing shade at Usman Umar on Instagram for quite some time. Now, after a question and answer session on Instagram, it seems as if Usman Umar may have just come out as bisexual. Jealousy in Lisa Hamme and Usman Umars relationship It already seems as if jealousy is going to be a major problem for Usman Umar and Lisa Hamme. Usman Umar seems to have a group of younger, female fans that seem to really get under Lisa Hammes skin. The Nigerian 90 Day Fiance star has been pursuing a musical career under the performing name SojaBoy, not to be confused with Soulja Boy. In fact, Umar even wrote Lisa Hamme a song, I Love You, which you can listen to here. Allegedly, Lisa Hamme has not been dealing with Usman Umars fans well. It seems she takes to DMs and social media to tell them to back off from her man, and fans have been treated to previews of Hamme and Umar arguing about his fans and how he interacts with them. Usman Umar and Lisa Hamme met online via Facebook, when Umar slid into Hammes Facebook DMs. Umar proposed to Hamme over video chat. Hamme explained on the show, About nine months into the relationship, Usman had called me on video, and he said, Baby love, will you marry me? I was like, What did you just say? He said, Will you marry me? I said, Im accepting your proposal under the stipulation that its temporary because I want it to be in person. Hamme is 52, and Umar is 30. Some fans have expressed concerns that Umar is using Hamme to obtain a green card. Lisa Hamme throws shade on Instagram It remains unclear what the actual status of Lisa Hamme and Usman Umar is at this point, but Lisa Hamme has been less than friendly towards Umar on Instagram. In fact, the 90 Day Fiance star has been throwing a lot of shade. Lisa Hamme has since deleted her old Instagram and started a new one. However, on her older Instagram account, she posted several things that had fans wondering if the couple is still together. Hamme posted an image that read, Even the people who betray you are part of the plan. She captioned it, The truth always comes out Im patiently waiting I got lots time Im recuperating from surgery got about 8 to 10 weeks recovery [sic]. In another post, Hamme screencapped a message from Umar on Facebook that read, Hello Lisa Renee Hamme Im very sorry for what I said TV, maybe it hurt U bcus of language barrier but i dont mean HURT to YOU [sic]. Hamme wrote above the screencap, When losing the chance at a K1 becomes reality. Fans will have to wait and see if the two are still together after their time on the show. Is Usman Umar bisexual? Lisa Hamme and Usmar Usman of 90 Day Fiance | _90_day_babygirl_lisa via Instagram Meanwhile, Usman Umar is getting to know the 90 Day Fiance fanbase a little bit better. He recently took to Instagram to do a Q&A, and one particular question and answer suggested Umar is bisexual. One fan tried to get SojaBoy to clarify on a previous statement about liking both men and women. They asked, When you say you like both men and women, do you mean youre bisexual? Usman Umar replied, If that is the accurate answer YES. However, fans are aware that English is not Umars native language, and another answer he gave later left fans confused. A user asked, Are you Muslim and gay? Umar replied, Im Muslim and Im not a Gay [sic]. It remains unclear for now whether or not Umar is bisexual, or if he simply misunderstood the question. Tamil Nadu's main opposition DMK and its allies Congress and Indian Union Muslim League on Monday said that they will boycott the ongoing Assembly session considering people's safety and to facilitate the stay of MLAs in their respective constituencies. Leader of Opposition and DMK president M K Stalin in a letter to Speaker P Dhanapal said the session was being held contravening the government's campaign of social distancing to combat the spread of coronavirus. The decision to boycott was taken considering people's safety and considering public good to facilitate MLAs to be in their respective constituencies who are in fear of the virus, the top Dravidian party leader said. "I believe the DMK's boycott move will help in attracting the attention of the government towards preventive steps," he said. DMK whip R Sakkarapani, Congress legislature party leader K R Ramasamy and IUML MLA K A M Muhammed Abbubacker told reporters at the Secretariat that their parties will boycott the session scheduled till March 31. They said the decision was taken after their repeated pleas to the government to defer the proceedings went unheeded. Sakkarapani said the move was amid the scare of spread of coronavirus in Tamil Nadu when more people were approaching hospitals in several towns. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal Take note: colloidal silver products will not cure coronavirus. Nor will teas or essential oils. So far, there are no treatments a point two federal government agencies made in a crackdown earlier this month. The Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission sent warning letters to seven companies accusing them of marketing illegal, unapproved drugs and making deceptive or scientifically unsupported claims. Among them was the Jim Bakker Show, which was warned about claims made about Silver Solution. The disgraced televangelist, for whom the show is named, has been promoting the gel, according to The Washington Post. Scientific evidence does not support the use of colloidal silver to treat any disease, and serious, irreversible side effects can result from its use, the National Institutes of Health says on its website. The regional Better Business Bureau, based in Albuquerque, has posted online resources for consumers and businesses that outline the latest coronavirus scams and provide tips on dealing with this pandemic. Tips for consumers can be found here: BBB.org/coronavirus. For businesses, go here: bbb.org/article/news-releases/21714-business-tips-how-to-navigate-the-coronavirus-crisis. Also the local office is open and taking calls for those who have questions at 505-346-0110. Continuing on the coronavirus front, beware of calls that appear to come from local medical centers or health care providers that want to confirm annual coverage, according to Scam Detector. This one plays on fears about having access to health care as the virus continues spreading through the U.S. Callers ask people to make a needed payment that didnt go through the first time, Scam Detector says. Or they might ask for confirmation of the persons Medicare number and credit card details. Sometimes, the scammer will talk about a new mandatory prescription the person must get. Its all a ruse to collect your personal information. Phishing scams appear to be all the rage right now, so be extra cautious. These efforts try to get recipients to click on attachments and emailed or texted links so they can install malware or get personal information. Attackers are posing as officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization and offering information through these bogus attachments and links. Some protective practices: Before clicking on a link, hover your mouse over it to see the full address. Doing so can show signs of fraud. For example, an .ru on the end means its coming from Russia. Watch for misspellings. If you get an email with great deals on hand sanitizer at Walmart, for example, open a window in your browser, find the retailers real web address and see how it compares to the email. Contact Ellen Marks at emarks@abqjournal.com or 505-823-3842 if you are aware of what sounds like a scam. To report a scam to law enforcement, contact the New Mexico Consumer Protection Division toll-free at 1-844-255-9210a. There are reports from China suggesting that the government is lying about having coronavirus under control. Russias statistics are so low as to be suspect. And Iran is manifestly lying about its coronavirus data. Is this misinformation affecting the Wests ability to understand the virus and control its spread? China has boasted that, thanks to its swift reaction, it has managed to stop all new coronavirus infections. (For now, please ignore Chinas initial cover-up, which let a plague loose upon the world.) By March 19, both the New York Times and the Washington Post accepted without question Chinas report that it had no new coronavirus infections. Doctors still at work within China, though, were less sanguine: Report by @appledaily_hk , Japanese news outlet interviewed Wuhan doctors, and confirmed Wuhan has stopped testing, that is why new case = 0 there. They release people in quarantine early too. Report by @appledaily_hk , Japanese news outlet interviewed Wuhan doctors, and confirmed Wuhan has stopped testing, that is why new case = 0 there. They release people in quarantine early too. https://t.co/bBLQf0BUbH LO Kin-hei (@lokinhei) March 21, 2020 China is not alone in publishing suspect information. Russia, which Putin controls with an iron fist, has also touted its success with coronavirus, claiming that its tested over 133,000 people and identified only 367 cases, with only one death. Some experts find baffling Russias immunity to the disease, given that it shares a long border with China and has over 144 million people. Russia has always lied about whats going on inside its borders, often with help from credulous western reporters. In the 1930s, Walter Duranty covered up the millions that the Soviets killed in Ukraine. More recently, the Soviets lied about Chernobyl, hiding from its citizens and the world the fact that it had suffered a massive nuclear meltdown. The Soviets are gone, but Putin is cut from the same cloth and is unlikely to admit that anything bad could happen during his watch. Finally, Iran has been in deep denial about coronavirus. The virus's starting point in the Iranian Holy City of Qom, a city with close business connections with China, effectively silenced the mullahs. They could not acknowledge that Islam had failed them. Although Iran cannot hide the number of high government officials who have died, it has clamped down on information about the disease's effect on ordinary citizens. The mass graves, however, are a giveaway that something terrible is happening within that unhappy country. What all this means is that, as our government makes public policies to address the virus, were relying on incomplete or inaccurate data. This is especially true for the information coming out of China. Because coronavirus originated in China, that country eventually had to provide past information about the virus. However, to the extent it may be hiding its current infection rate, we have no idea how the viruss bell curve its ascent and descent actually operates. To make things more confusing, different countries use different metrics for identifying medical events. The best example of how different metrics affect data is infant mortality. America has a higher infant mortality rate than many countries with socialized medicine. This is not because socialized medicine is better. Its because the U.S. counts as a live birth every baby born alive, even if that baby dies within minutes of birth. Other countries wait a few days or weeks to see if the infant survives before counting it as a live birth. The problem of counting methods for coronavirus deaths has arisen in Italy, which now says that its count may be wrong: But Prof Ricciardi added that Italys death rate may also appear high because of how doctors record fatalities. The way in which we code deaths in our country is very generous in the sense that all the people who die in hospitals with the coronavirus are deemed to be dying of the coronavirus. On re-evaluation by the National Institute of Health, only 12 per cent of death certificates have shown a direct causality from coronavirus, while 88 per cent of patients who have died have at least one pre-morbidity - many had two or three, he says. Until scientists have standardized and trustworthy coronavirus information, their studies are necessarily somewhat speculative, a notion worth considering when our government shuts down the American economy. A routine question from her doctor about menstruation set Kenyan Julian Peter, now 29, down a path that led her to discover she was born without a womb, cervix or vagina (Mullerian agenesis). Twelve years on, she shares her story. I was born with a condition called Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome (MRKH), where you have no womb or vagina, and you can also find yourself with just one kidney. A woman who has MRKH can never get periods. I dont have a uterus, so Ive never had periods. This is the normal that I know, I dont feel bad about it. People have different feelings about who I am. Someone told me that I should go somewhere to be prayed for. Another person said that because I come from Ukambani, a region that is stereotypically linked to witchcraft, then my grandmother had something to do with this. What matters They can say whatever they want to, but what matters is how I take it. If I were to listen to them, it would start affecting me, and I would start thinking that what they were saying was true. I discovered I had the syndrome when I was a 17-year-old student. I went to hospital as I had a problem with my legs, which were swollen. The first thing the doctor asked me was when I last had my periods. I had never had one. They did a scan. The first image indicated that my reproductive tract was closed from the outside. I went through an operation to open it, which was not successful. I had another scan that showed I had no uterus or vagina, and that was when I was diagnosed with MRKH. I cried on the first day and the second day and the third, but then I moved on. I was only 17 and quite small, so my priority was to get back to school. I was in hospital with my mother, my only parent, and the diagnosis shocked her. I think as a parent there were questions she was bound to ask herself. Essentially, she was wondering if she had done something wrong. As I had studied biology, I understood what the doctor was saying that first time. I told her I did not want to go through an operation at that point, as I wanted to go back to school to complete my education. Successful Operation Ten years later, I went back to the hospital and had a successful operation. The type of MRKH that I had meant that I had no vagina, no womb and I only have one kidney. My vaginal canal was not there and it had to be created. My life is normal as MRKH does not interfere with how I want to live. But for some, it is emotionally disturbing and people might need to go to a psychologist to accept the condition. When you realise the implications of the condition that you have, you have to forget about giving birth. I have had four scans and no ovaries were found, so even retrieving eggs for IVF cannot be done. You must accept the way you are. But realising that you are not like other women is difficult, you need someone to talk to. Ive met many people here in Kenya with the condition and we share our experiences. I accepted my condition early on and I have accepted myself, so Im okay. Dating I have been in relationships. But I dont let things go too far before sitting down with them and letting them know about my condition. If they want to accept it they will accept it. But you know, human beings are just human beings. A large percentage of the people I have told have gone away. Others accuse me of lying, they think that I am saying it to chase them away. Right now Im not in a relationship, but its all Gods doing. When it comes to having sex, I had the surgery to reconstruct the vaginal canal in 2018, so its just over a year after and I am not ready to have sex. Neither am I ready to get married. If we wanted to have children, we could adopt. It took me at least 10 years to decide to share my story with the public. Some people do not understand what MRKH is, and I want to raise awareness. First of all, Im advising parents who have babies with such a condition not to accept the operation when your child is young. Procedure complicated Let it happen after they are grown up when they can understand because the procedure is complicated and long. It is painful and the child may not understand whats happening. As a parent, also do your research, so that when your daughter gets to know about the condition, you are ready to help to fight the stigma they will face. I have a support group and I have heard from people with all sorts of challenges. Some are married, and their in-laws are making demands for children. There is one woman who has been told by her in-laws that she is a man. So we listen and encourage. What is important is to help each other because this journey can be difficult. Courtesy: BBC Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday admired the 'outstanding efforts' of Air India crew onboard a special flight that airlifted 263 Indians from Rome yesterday. "Extremely proud of this team of @airindiain, which has shown utmost courage and risen to the call of humanity. Their outstanding efforts are admired by several people across India," the Prime Minister wrote on Twitter. The entire crew has now been advised to be in home quarantine as per the established norms of the company, an official of the carrier said. The special flight had returned to New Delhi carrying 263 Indians -- mostly students -- on Sunday morning. Later in the day, they were sent to the Indo-Tibetan Border Police-managed quarantine facility in Chhawla here. Prior to being taken to the quarantine centre, the passengers had undergone thermal screening and immigration procedures at the Delhi airport. The Delhi customs had provided assistance in the clearance of these passengers at the Remote Bay of the Delhi airport. Precautions were exercised and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for handling passengers were followed. On late Sunday, Union Minister for Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri also appreciated the exemplary determination for duty displayed by the special flight crew. "When the going gets tough, the tough get going. The crew of @airindiain Boeing 777 led by Capt Swati Raval and Capt Raja Chauhan responded to the call of duty and displayed exemplary determination by airlifting 263 Indians, mostly students, stranded in Rome," Puri wrote on social media. This is the second batch of Indians evacuated by the Indian government from Italy, which has reported more than 47,000 cases of the novel coronavirus. Earlier, as many as 218 Indians -- mostly students -- were evacuated from the Italian city of Milan. Italy is the worst-hit by coronavirus in Europe. The death toll from the coronavirus pandemic continued its relentless rise in Europe on Sunday with the country announcing 651 deaths in one day, bringing its total to 5,476, Al Jazeera reported. The hardest-hit northern region of Lombardy remained in a critical situation, with 3,456 deaths and 27,206 cases against a previously given 3,095 and 25,515, respectively. Italy has banned any movement inside the country and closed all non-essential businesses as it desperately seeks to stem the spread of coronavirus. Supermarkets, banks, pharmacies and post offices are among businesses that will be permitted to keep trading under the new rules. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Just 15 months after losing power, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan was back as Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister on Monday night for a record fourth term and immediately faces the daunting task of stemming the spread of the coronavirus. IMAGE: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, left, greets outgoing Chief Minister Kamal Nath during a swearing-in ceremony at Raj Bhawan, in Bhopal, on Monday. Photograph: PTI Photo The 61-year-old MLA from Budhni took oath of office in a simple function at Raj Bhawan, where he was sworn-in by Governor Lalji Tandon at 9 pm. Chouhan was on the only one to be sworn-in and is likely to name his cabinet later this week. In the evening, Chouhan was elected leader of the state BJP legislature party at its meeting in Bhopal. IMAGE: Chouhan and Nath with other leaders during the swearing-in ceremony. Photograph: PTI Photo He reached Raj Bhawan about half an hour before the ceremony to stake claim to form the government and completed other formalities. Outgoing chief minister Kamal Nath also attended Chouhan's swearing-in ceremony. Former chief minister and BJP leader Uma Bharti was also present on the occasion. The function was not open for the media. However, BJP MLAs, most of them wearing masks, reached the Raj Bhawan from BJP office in three buses amid the coronavirus scare. IMAGE: Chouhan shakes hands with Governor Lalji Tandon after taking oath. Photograph: PTI Photo Some BJP leaders accompanied these MLAs, who were seen flashing victory. The Madhya Pradesh BJP legislature party unanimously elected Chouhan as its leader, paving the way for him to take over as chief minister, succeeding Nath, whose government collapsed following a rebellion by 22 Congress MLAs. In the meeting, senior BJP MLA and ex-leader of opposition Gopal Bhargava proposed the name of Chouhan as legislature party leader, which was endorsed by Narottam Mishra, Vijay Shah, Meena Singh, Paras Jain and other MLAs. After this process, party's central observer, general secretary Arun Singh, who was participating through video conferencing from Delhi, announced Chouhan's name as leader of the BJP legislature party. This will be Chouhan's forth term as CM. He had became CM for the first time in November 2005. IMAGE: Chouhan takes oath as MP CM for the fourth time. Photograph: PTI Photo Later, he won two consecutive assembly elections in 2008 and 2013 and extended his term in office, eventually becoming the longest-serving CM, a record earlier held by Congress veteran Digvijaya Singh (1993-2003). Popularly known among his followers as 'Mamaji', Chouhan was sworn in chief minister thrice earlier -- in 2005, after Uma Bharti stepped down over a riots case, and for later two full terms in 2008 and 2013. After failing to gain majority in November 2018 Assembly election, which was a closely fought affair between the BJP and the Congress, Chouhan had to step down as CM on December 12, 2019. The BJP (109 seats) lost the election despite getting more vote share than the Congress, which emerged as the single largest party with 114 seats. In the 230-member house, the BJP currently has 107 legislators. The Congress strength got reduced to 92 following the resignations of 22 of its MLAs. IMAGE: Chouhan is greeted by party leaders Gopal Bhargava, left, V D Sharma and others after the former was elected as the leader of BJP Legislative Party, at BJP State headquarters in Bhopal, on Monday. Photograph: PTI Photo Stumped by the rebellion of party colleague Jyodiraditya Scindia, who joined the BJP and resignations of 22 Congress MLAs, Nath resigned as chief minister last week, paving way for Chouhan's return. Nath stepped down on March 20 after the assembly speaker accepted the resignations of rebel Congress MLAs. With this, the strength of the house also reduced to 222, trimming down the majority mark to 104. In this situation, the BJP has the majority with 107 MLAs and it is likely to get the support of Independents as well as Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party MLAs. Earlier, the Supreme Court, while hearing a petition filed by Chouhan, had directed Nath to prove his majority on the floor of the assembly by 5 pm on March 20. Nath opt to resign instead of facing the floor test. IMAGE: Chouhan and Bhargava at BJP Legislative Party meet in Bhopal. Photograph: PTI Photo Born on March 5, 1959, to a farming family of Prem Singh Chouhan and Sundar Bai at village Jait in Sehore district, Chouhan's long journey in public life began with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) when he was just 13 years. Chouhan rose through the ranks in the BJP and became one of the formidable state leaders of the saffron party. During his decades-long political career, he served in different party posts and also as an MLA, MP and eventually became chief minister. PM Modi congratulates Chouhan Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday congratulated Shivraj Singh Chouhan on taking oath as Madhya Pradesh chief minister, describing him as an able administrator. 'Congratulations to Shri @ChouhanShivraj Ji on taking oath as CM of Madhya Pradesh. He is an able and experienced administrator who is extremely passionate about MP's development,' Modi wrote on Twitter. He extended best wishes to Chouhan for 'taking the state to new heights of progress.' The Taliban have pledged their readiness to cooperate with healthcare workers instead of killing them, as fear of a coronavirus epidemic spreads in Afghanistan. Whatever reservations the militants previously held over eradicating the crippling disease, they have now clearly grasped the dangers posed by the pandemic sweeping the rest of the world. In the past the military organisation have been accused of impeding the work of doctors. 'The Islamic Emirate via its Health Commission assures all international health organizations and WHO of its readiness to cooperate and coordinate with them in combating the coronavirus,' said Suhail Shaheen, the Taliban's spokesman, on Twitter, using the term the group uses to describe itself. An Afghan health worker in Kabul measures the temperature of passengers in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus Afghanistan currently has 22 confirmed coronavirus cases, with concerns growing particularly over the danger of infections among the thousands of Afghans crossing the border with Iran one of the worst-affected nations. Zabihullah Mujahid, another Taliban spokesman, told Reuters fighters were encouraging people to listen to health workers and messages broadcast by Mullahs, and would force anyone not obeying to comply. 'Our Mujahideen are helping the health workers to spread out the messages about the dangers of COVID-19 among the public in our controlled areas,' he said. Religious scholars would also be consulted over whether gatherings in mosques should be suspended if the health scare intensified, he added. A Taliban commander in southern Helmand province said the group would provide what services it could for people who became infected, but added that they neither had adequate facilities nor trained personnel to deal with an epidemic. Afghanistan currently has 22 confirmed coronavirus cases, with concerns growing particularly over the danger of infections among the thousands of Afghans crossing the border with Iran one of the worst-affected nations. Pictured: an Afghan worker sprays disinfectant in Jalalabad, Afghanistan Along with two other commanders that Reuters spoke with, he said the Taliban had clinics where sick or wounded fighters were taken for treatment. Otherwise, some Afghan non-government organisations are operating in insurgency-prone areas. Waheed Omer, an aide to President Ashraf Ghani, said he was still seeing reports of Taliban harassing health workers in some areas. 'It should be stopped immediately,' he Tweeted on Wednesday. Back in September, the Taliban lifted a ban on the World Health Organisation and Red Cross from operating in militant-held territory, having warned them off in April because of suspicions over polio vaccination campaigns. An Afghan health worker measures the temperature of passengers in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus as they enter Kabul In a report in December, the World Health Organisation refrained from naming the Taliban or any other militant group as it counted the human and social cost of targeted attacks on healthcare during 2019. At least 51 healthcare workers, patients and supportive staff were killed and 142 others wounded. As a result of the attacks 192 health facilities were closed, of which only 34 were re-opened. The Taliban denied responsibility for the attacks that Afghan authorities have blamed on their fighters. The country's woefully inadequate health system would undoubtedly be overwhelmed if the virus were to take hold. Moreover, after 18 years of war the government only controls about half of the country. The rest is either controlled or contested by the insurgents, who have agreed a peace deal with the United States, but have yet to open talks with the government. A worker in a protective suit sprays disinfectant over a police vehicle in Kabul, Afghanistan Communities in ethnic Pashtun rural areas where the Taliban hold sway could suffer from the loss of access to health support in their villages as a result of past militant action. Access can be even worse for women in these communities due to conservative Pashtun attitudes on gender. Rahila, a 31 year old woman living in Takhar province, said that in her village in a Taliban-controlled area there was a health clinic with only male doctors. 'When we get sick we are not allowed to go to a doctor, instead our husbands bring medicine for us,' Rahila told Reuters, asking not to publish her full name over safety concerns. 'Who will test the women?' She added: 'What if a woman has a coronaviruseveryone in our village will be affected. If magic happens and helps the Taliban, then the Taliban can prevent coronavirus in our village.' They may have to sit home, but they wont sit still while doctors and nurses work with inadequate protection against the coronavirus. People in Pennsylvania and beyond are hunkering down at their sewing machines and cranking out face masks. They communicate over social media, post how-to videos and sewing patterns and share ideas about which stores sell suitable elastic. Some are mounting efforts with goals such as cranking out a million masks. But its not clear whether homemade masks will be useful to health care workers. The effort by sewers comes amid reports from all over the county of shortages of face masks forcing health care workers to re-use them, and putting them at risk of getting sick as the result of a lack of protective equipment. On Monday morning, for example, a Facebook user in western Pennsylvania was organizing a collection point outside a local restaurant, with plans to deliver them to a local UPMC hospital. Meanwhile, hospitals all over are receiving offers of home-sewn masks. Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health has received many offers of support and services to benefit our patients, our staff and community, spokeswoman Mary Ann Eckard said. Its been both heartwarming and humbling. Lancaster General infectious disease experts are reviewing whether a cloth mask can provide adequate protection. They are also looking at fabrics, patterns and construction guidelines, Eckard said. She said Lancaster General already has a team of sewing volunteers and offers from others ready to make masks if the home-sewn masks are deemed practical. UPMC Pinnacle and WellSpan said Monday they are receiving a variety of offers from their communities. Spokeswoman Kelly McCall said UPMC Pinnacle appreciates the offers, but We are not using or recommending the use of home-sewn masks at this time. Still, she urged people who want to donate items to use a form found at UPMCPinnacle.com/Contact, saying a supply chain coordinator will review offers. If we change that direction, we would be able to reach out to volunteers/donors and provide them with the appropriate instructions, she said. WellSpan didnt immediately say whether it sees a potential need for homemade masks. We are currently in the process of developing a plan for accepting donations of materials and equipment from our generous community partners, friends and neighbors. We hope to be able to share more, soon, WellSpan spokesman Ryan Coyle said. Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine was asked about home-sewn masks during a news conference on Monday. She said the offers are an example of the compassion of people in Pennsylvania and their wanting to give. However, she said healthcare workers need N95 masks, which are known for their ability to filter out very tiny particles such as viruses. She said homemade masks wouldnt be safe enough. She further said Pennsylvania hospitals still have supplies and stockpiles of masks, and the state has a stockpile of more than a million. The state further expects to receive more from the federal government, and is also looking for other sources of masks, she said. As of Monday, only about 16 people in Pennsylvania have been hospitalized as a result of the coronavirus. But some other parts of the country have seen many more cases, resulting in desperate shortages of masks, and stories of doctors and nurses working without adequate protection and even turning to make-shift masks made of things such as bandannas and scarves. Levine and hospital officials in Pennsylvania have said a surge of coronavirus patients could easily result in shortages of masks. The southern province of Daraa has witnessed a spate of kidnappings that have targeted children and demanded exorbitant ransoms for their release writes Jesr. Three girls from the city of Jassem in the Daraa countryside were kidnapped a few days ago. A few days earlier, a child named Salam Khalaf, 10, also disappeared while coming back from school in the town of al-Tayba in eastern Daraa. A child was also kidnapped from the al-Kashef distirict in the center of Daraa cityas well as a child from Jassem, who has been missing for four months. The Daraa 24 website said that three girls from Jassen had been kidnapped last Tuesday while heading to evening classes. Unidentified men put them in a bus and quickly sped off. The page said that the kidnappers had contacted the family of one of the girls by phone and told them that they wanted a ransom of 70 million Syrian pounds to release the three of them. Their family paid the ransom in exchange for the kidnappers releasing them. In the same town (Jassem), a six-year-old child named Miyar Alaa al-Hamadi was kidnapped four months ago. His family has no information about him, except that witnesses told them that unidentified people on a motorcycle kidnapped him and disappeared. A child named Mazen Sayan al-Mahamid also disappeared in the al-Kashef district in Daraa. He is 14 years old and disappeared after leaving his house last Saturday. His family have put out a call to find him, and finally local sources said he returned home yesterday, in mysterious circumstances. The family of the child Salam Hassan al-Khalaf, who disappeared on Tuesday, have not stopped searching for him. They have allocated a large amount of money for thatbut to no avail. Daraa 24 has called on all active groups in Houran to help find the child, who disappeared when returning from school. He had been studying in the third grade. Daraa and Suweida provinces have seen repeated kidnappings despite the deployment of checkpoints and security bases in the towns and cities where the kidnappings occur. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. The Australian share market tumbled on Monday, 23 March 2020, as the sectors mostly fell amid fears over the economic impact of the global coronavirus outbreak continue to weigh heavily on investor sentiment. At closing bell, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index tumbled 270.60 points, or 5.62%, to 4,546.00. The broader All Ordinaries tanked 290.20 points, or 5.98%, to 4,564.10. Investor confidence continued to waver, amid uncertainty linked to the coronavirus and just how damaging this could be for the global economy. This came even amid efforts from governments and central banks to prop up major economies, shield jobs, and provide liquidity to markets amid the coronavirus pandemic. The global coronavirus outbreak continues to spread rapidly across the world, with the number of infected now over 294,000 and more than 12,900 lives taken, according to data from the World Health Organization. The heavily weighted financial subindex dived more than 10%, with shares of the country's so-called Big Four banks all selling off steeply: Australia and New Zealand Banking Group fell 7.5%, Commonwealth Bank of Australia dropped 6.7%, Westpac declined 9% while National Australia Bank slipped 8.8%. Virgin Australia (VAH) expects a material reduction in its domestic capacity' as a result of Federal and State Government COVID-19 related travel restrictions. Flight Centre (FLT) has decided to cancel the $40.1m interim dividend payment due to be paid to investors on April 17. The travel agent remains suspended on the local market and has fallen by 75% from the A$40.04 high hit on February 20. Sydney Airport (SYD) declined after announcing it no longer expects to invest the previously forecast $350-$400m in CAPEX over the year due to COVID-19. Property group Stockland (SGP) has removed its guidance for both funds from operations and distributions for the 12 months to June following heightened uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus outbreak. CURRENCY: The U. S. dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of its peers, was last at 102.537 after breaching the 100 level last week. The Australian dollar was at $0.5721 following highs above $0.6 seen last week. Crude oil prices were mixed in the Asian hours on Monday as international benchmark Brent crude futures fell 2.67% to $26.26 per barrel. U. S. crude futures, on the other hand, recovered from an earlier drop to rise 0.97% at $22.85 per barrel. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) - Many Disney channel fans claimed they had spotted a few similarities between the movie and the world's current situation - According to them, Rapunzel was a depiction of citizens who have been forced to stay at home to curb the spread of COVID-19 - According to a lot of conspiracy theorists, the movie foresaw the confusion in the world and predicted the outbreak of the virus Ever since the COVID-19 virus broke out in many countries, people have been trying to come up with alternative explanations regarding its source and whether it was predicted. Some are convinced it is a fulfillment of the scripture while the likes of Keri Hilson maintained it came to life thanks to 5G internet. READ ALSO: Street boy who sang like Justin Bieber finally releases first song with Masauti READ ALSO: Mkuu wa afya, watu 29 wajiweka karantini baada ya kurejea nchini kutoka mataifa yalioathirika na coronavirus Disney fans are now the latest conspiracy theorists who believe the pandemic was forecast by popular movie Tangled. According to them, there is a clear comparison between Rapunzel, a character in the movie, and people who have been forced to stay in their homes either on quarantine or isolation. READ ALSO: Willis Raburu's wife returns to church months after abandoning God According to netizens, Rapunzel was confined in a high tower where she lived alone and always hoped she would leave one day and enjoy the beauty of life. Most social media users assumed the current reality was a clear replica of Rapunzels lonely life in the tower. Another funny coincidence according to many guys was the kingdom where the character lived in. Drum rolls, its name was Corona. Rapunzel who was known for her long locks always lived in the tower with minimum interaction and to many guys, this was a prediction of the current lockdown. The outbreak of the virus began in Wuhan, China before it was declared a pandemic. In the first stages, the virus was traced in seafood and the Chinese government confirmed multiple infections in December 2019. It was followed by the first reported death in January 2020 before spreading to other countries. In just a few months, the disease spread to England, US, Europe, Africa among other regions. Kenya reported its first positive case on March, 12 2020, after a 27-year-old woman who travelled back from the US tested positive. Days later, more cases were confirmed and at the moment, there are 15 confirmed cases of the disease in the country. The Ministry of Health said all patients were stable and receiving treatment. Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly. My father blamed me for the death of my sister | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke Jennifer Aniston is 'cleaning out her closet' while she is in self-isolation. The Friends star is thinning out the clothes she has at her 8,500 square foot mansion in Bel-Air, California to pass the time as she stays shut in due to the coronavirus. 'I'm actually still cleaning out my closet. That's still happening ... Well, I do suggest a good spring clean right now while we're at it. That can't hurt,' the star said during a phone call with Ellen DeGeneres, and broadcasted as part of her Instagram show. Her massive home closets: Jennifer Aniston is 'cleaning out her closet' while she is in self-isolation. Here she is seen at her home with rows of clothing Another look: There seemed to be shelves behind these glass doors on the left, perhaps for her shoe collection She also said that 'Books are great, obviously.' Ellen, 62, has been checking in on a string of her famous friends to stave off boredom and she has treated her Instagram followers to clips of the calls. 'What are you doing?' she asked Jennifer, only for the Friends icon to reply: 'Well...not much difference since the last time we spoke about 30 minutes ago.' Jennifer it turns out was 'cleaning out my closet' and suggested getting a head start on spring cleaning while practicing social distancing at home. She politely asked Ellen how her puzzle was 'coming along,' and when she was told it had to stop because the table was too small, she suggested doing it on the floor. It's like a wing of her home: There were also shelves with purses and tops and mini skirts as seen here in this image from last year Possibly referring to Jennifer's Friends co-star Courteney Cox, Ellen said: 'Yeah, Courteney suggested that too.' Ellen explained that and her wife Portia De Rossi 'have four dogs and two cats. There's no way I can do a puzzle on the floor.' She was joined by her dogs as she called James Corden, who talked keeping his spirits up with his wife Julia Carey and their children. On the other line: She was talking to comedienne Ellen DeGeneres from home The couple 'needed to get into more of a routine with the kids,' so they planned a family walk, only for it to rain. It seemed their hopes might be dashed until James' son Max, eight, said: 'I say we go out in the rain. If we were in London, we'd go out in the rain.' Ellen has been fumbling through attempts to get good at card tricks - and got a bit of video guidance from none other than celebrity magician David Blaine. She also phoned her pal Kevin Hart, who joked that his hair is greying without his barber on hand to the point 'I look like Morgan Freeman's nephew!' Her home is intensely big: Last week the Friends vet shared this image of her dog Clyde at home Another pet: This dog was lucky enough to sit on her large bed when she was watching The Bachelor at home Ellen got in touch with Hollywood hot couple Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake who each replied: 'Nothing' when she asked what they were up to. She also dialed John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, who had their children for company, prompting Ellen to 'wish I had kids right now, I'm so bored.' Meanwhile, Jennifer raided her own closet for her Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards dress earlier this year. The Morning Show actress walked the red carpet at Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium in a white form-fitting Christian Dior gown and she revealed she'd opted for one of the 'oldies but goodies' she'd collected over the years, rather than relying on a stylist to find her a new outfit. And we can't forget this image! The siren shared a look at her opulent bathroom after winning a SAG award Her incredible digs on show: Here the Along Came Polly actress is seen in her living room for the cover of Architectural Digest The back yard: And the grounds are just as impressive; seen with her two dogs Cozy on the couch: And the siren was seen at home for a SmartWater ad Casual and comfie: She doted on her dogs while in the living room She said at the time: 'This is a vintage John Galliano for Christian Dior, that is mine. I have a little collection of you know, the oldies but goodies.' The 50-year-old actress - who won Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series award for her work on The Morning Show at the ceremony - accessorized her outfit with vintage jewelry from Fred Leighton, which seemingly included the same ring she wore to the Golden Globe Awards earlier that month. A spokesperson for the jewelers told E! News: 'Jennifer Aniston's jewelry includes Edwardian diamond pendant earrings in platinum, an Art Deco pear-shaped ring, in platinum by Cartier, a 1920's Marquise diamond ring, in platinum. All pieces are Fred Leighton.' The actor Shia LaBeouf, of "Transformers," has transformed into a new home owner. He's purchased a brand-new build in Pasadena, CA, for $5,475,000, the Los Angeles Times reported. The property sold in 2016 for $1,282,500, and whatever structure was on the site at the time is now a distant memory. This new home from Premier General Contractors hit the market last year for $6,205,000. The listing dropped in price last month to $5,798,000, and sold in early March for just a tad under the asking price. Built from the ground up, the completely new space is designed to evoke Pasadena's 20th-century Mediterranean architecture, and fits right in with many other homes in the area. The result is a graceful design with arched windows, beamed ceilings, hardwood floors, and wrought-iron details. It's also stuffed with a wealth of modern amenities. Shia LaBeouf's brand-new home realtor.com Living room with beamed ceiling realtor.com Dining room realtor.com Open kitchen realtor.com Family room realtor.com Master suite with private balcony realtor.com Outdoor living and dining realtor.com Spanning 4,137 square feet, the four-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom layout features formal living and dining rooms. An open kitchen with a large center island and bar seating adjoins a casual eating space. The adjacent family room features a fireplace and flows to a patio outside. On the second floorwhich can be accessed either by stairs or by an elevatorthe master suite opens to a private balcony. It also features a large bath with a free-standing tub, as well as a walk-in closet. The layout provides extensive indoor-outdoor space, with a whopping 2,200 square feet of terraces. Outside, landscaped grounds offer an outdoor kitchen, large dining and lounging area, as well as a grassy yard, sited on a lot with sycamore and oak treetop vistas. According to the listing details, the house sits in one of "the city's premier neighborhoods," adjacent to Caltech and the grounds of the Huntington Library. The actor, performance artist, and filmmaker is known for his starring roles in the Transformers franchise and in Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull. Recently, LaBeouf, 33, wrote and starred in the critically acclaimed film Honey Boy. William Podley with Deasy Penner Podley held the listing. __________ Watch: Colin Farrell Sells His English Country Estate in the Hollywood Hills for $1.3M __________ The post Shia LaBeouf Scores Brand-New Pasadena Home for $5.5M appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. Help India! By Iqbal Salahkar Protests against National Population Register (NPR), National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) dominated Indias political discourse in the past three months. Now as the mass movement appears subsiding, one can identify at least three streams among protesting Muslims. Support TwoCircles The first stream stuck to the Indian Constitution and what they called the Idea of India. To them, CAA was an attack on the secular fabric of the country and it was secularism which they were defending. The second stream stood for some sort of Muslim Identity Politics. This group vocally asserted that it was primarily the Muslim identity and not secularism which was under attack. Besides the ruling dispensation, they recounted the anti-Muslim biases of even the earlier regimes and demanded not just a repeal of CAA but also an equitable representation of Muslims in public life. The third stream which stood out distinctly was religious in nature. They saw the widespread anti-Muslim hatred in India fuelled by the emerging global Islamophobic sentiments. The problematic part in this discourse propagated by the religious stream is that they believe that the persecution of Muslims is because of their abstract faith in Islam. To give a simplistic reason of Muslims being targeted because of their abstract faith is simply refusing to explore the real factors behind this widespread persecution. This approach to believing Islamic faith as the cause of persecution also ignores the persecution of numerous other groups. A classic example of religion being the portrayed cause of persecution was that of Catholic Christians in United States of America where xenophobia also played an important role. According to a 2016 poll by Gallop, Protestant Christians comprise 48.9% of the population of USA and Catholic Christians 23%. In the early 1800s, there were only 30,000 Catholics in a population of 4 million. However, their numbers had increased to 75,000 by 1810 and to 1 million in 1840. The steep rise was due to the rapid influx of Catholics from Europe, especially Ireland and Germany. This increase in Catholic population did not go well with many Protestants who were not welcome of outsiders in their lands. Historian John Wolffe in his Comparative Historical Categorisation of AntiCatholicism published in Journal of Religious History has identified the reasons for such persecution as constitutional-national and socio cultural other than the differences in popular culture and theology. In 1835, Samuel Morse, in his Foreign Conspiracy Against the Liberties of the United States established that the mass influx of immigrants was a well-planned Catholic conspiracy. Morses book, along with other literature such as Lyman Beechers Plea For the West solidified the anti-Catholic sentiments already growing in USA. The Press had started spitting anti-Catholic venom. Weeklies targeting the Catholics like The Protestant and Native American were already functioning since 1830s. By 1850s even mainstream newspapers such as Texas State Times started contributing in the anti-Catholic propaganda. The propaganda subsequently translated into violence when on August 6, 1855, Protestant mobs attacked Catholic neighbourhoods in the city of Louisville in what came to be known as Bloody Monday. 22 Catholics were killed and numerous others injured. Neither was anyone convicted for the riots, nor were the victims compensated. Anti Catholic sentiments steeply rose among the people and by the 1880s, it developed into a full-fledged movement. In 1887, American Protective Association (APA) was created whose aims included restricting Catholic immigration, removing Catholic teachers from public schools and banning Catholics from public offices. The attack on Catholics was not merely limited to the political domain. Mark Twains 1889 novel A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthurs Court too expressed anti-Catholic sentiments. Closer in time, anti-Communism offers another vivid example of persecution. From the late 1940s till the collapse of Soviet Union in 1991, it appeared that the threat of Red Danger loomed over the world like Mushroom clouds. Mass media, literature and cinema were used to portray Communism as a monster. Persecution of Communists followed as a natural consequence. In the infamous Bodo League Massacre of 1950 during the Korean War, around 1,00,000 suspected Communists were executed. In 1965-66, members of the Communist Party of Indonesia and alleged Leftists were brutally massacred. The US-backed Guatemalan military government killed around 35,000 Maya civilians because they were viewed as Communist sympathisers. The methods included massacres, forced disappearances and summary executions. Closer home, the persecution of Adivasis and Dalits are two examples. Hence, the mere fact that these groups were targeted despite not having faith in Islam should prepare Muslims to identify persecution at various levels starting from literature, cinema and press. Driving religion into this social isolation at this moment in India would only block their minds from scientifically understanding its causes and effects. Several political thinkers such as Francis Fukuyama have scientifically examined the rise of Populist Nationalism in the past one decade which has initiated or accelerated the persecution of various groups throughout the world. In the Indian context, there are more pressing questions. Are anti-Muslim policies being officially and unofficially implemented because of some inherent hatred against Muslims? Or did economic reasons make it necessary for politics to look out for enemies, and they found that enemy in Muslims? If it was so, what are the internal and external factors which made Muslims as vulnerable victims? Was it their low representation in government services, judiciary, and various other public domains? Will the extermination or homogenization of Muslims complete this Hindutva project? Or there will be other more victims to come? More enemies to be created? The above examples and questions cloud my mind leading me to feel that to blame an abstract faith like Islam for persecution is not just fallacious but overlooks some important questions. To problematize these questions, instead, will go a long way in helping Muslims devise a proper strategy to resist and overcome persecution of not just Muslims, but also other minorities in India. Iqbal Salahlar is an undergraduate student at Aligarh Muslim University Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Adrian Wail Akhlas (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, March 23, 2020 07:35 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206ca6477 1 Business COVID-19,coronavirus,state-budget,fiscal-deficit,healthcare,social-spending,safety-net,Jokowi,Sri-Mulyani-Indrawati,economists Free President Joko Jokowi Widodo has rallied ministers and regional administrations to refocus their budgets on healthcare, the disbursement of social funds and economic stimuli as economists call for a flexible state budget to help the country cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. Jokowi said the pandemic posed a significant risk not only to public health but also to the economy, as global and domestic growth were expected to slow. I ask you for three things: healthcare to mitigate COVID-19 risks, the disbursement of social funds and economic incentives for businesspeople as well as small and medium businesses, Jokowi told ministers in a teleconferenced meeting on Friday. The government will reallocate Rp 62.3 trillion (US$3.9 billion) of state spending from the 2020 budget to carry out the Presidents instructions for tackling COVID-19, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said after the Cabinet meeting. The allocated sum is a significant increase from the previous estimate of Rp 27 trillion on top of the Rp 120 trillion of stimulus packages as the government prepares for worst-case scenarios including the possibility of zero percent economic growth, ministers said. Weve identified about Rp 62.3 trillion of planned spending that can be re-allocated to priority areas put forward by the President. This includes funding for business trips, blocked funds and non-operational purchases of goods, among other items, Sri Mulyani said. Read also: Jokowi urges ministers to focus budget on health care, social aid, economic stimuli The governments baseline scenario had been for Indonesias gross domestic product (GDP) to grow more than 4 percent this year, Sri Mulyani said. Under the assumption that the pandemic would last for six months, that global trade would slump by 30 percent and that the country would go into lockdown, economic growth could fall to between zero and 2.5 percent, she added. Sri Mulyani asked ministries to delay big-check spending to allow more room for fiscal intervention in light of uncertainties surrounding the pandemic this year. The Finance Ministry would move quickly to facilitate other ministries spending priorities, she added. This will provide us with fiscal space for healthcare and will protect the public and businesspeople. As of Sunday, Indonesia had 514 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 48 deaths. Twenty nine people who contracted the virus have recovered. Globally, the pneumonia-like illness has infected over 308,000 people and has claimed at least 13,000 lives. University of Indonesia rector Ari Kuncoro said the state budget would need to be flexible to solve health issues and counter the negative economic effects of the virus, adding that the government should substitute the annual budget with an intertemporal budget. Desperate times call for desperate measures, the senior economist told The Jakarta Post. The government should look to implement an intertemporal budget. If we pass the 3 percent limit this year, then we should compensate for the deficit over the next three to five years. The current annual budget system will limit the governments ability to maneuver nimbly at a time when stimulus is most needed, Ari said. But the stimulus must focus on healthcare and making the economy work, particularly through online platforms. Read also: Desperate times, desperate measures: Calls grow for flexible state budget amid virus Indonesia recorded a state budget deficit of Rp 62.8 trillion (US$4.07 billion) in February of this year as government spending growth fell compared to the same period the year before and revenue dropped, the Finance Ministry announced on Wednesday. Sri Mulyani has said the state budget deficit may widen to between 2.2 and 2.5 percent of GDP this year, taking into account the large government stimulus packages intended to fuel the virus-worn economy. However, Indonesia's state budget deficit may surpass the established 3 percent ceiling this year as the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and a sharp drop in oil prices could further worsen Indonesias economic outlook, senior economist Faisal Basri of the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF) has warned. During the 2008 global financial crisis, the government made several economic decisions. This time, economic policy is blunt to address the virus crisis, Faisal said. He urged the government to issue a presidential regulation (Perpres) to allow a deficit of more than 3 percent. He predicted the deficit would increase from the governments estimate of 1.8 percent of GDP to surpass the ceiling if the situation got worse. Indonesia has taken several fiscal measures to help the country cope with COVID-19 Measures Amount Insurance and compensation for medical workers, including doctors and nurses Rp 3.1 trillion - Rp 6.1 trillion Pre-employment cards for a jobseeker training program Rp 10 trillion The Family Hope program (PKH) will be expanded from 10 million families to 15 million families to provide a social safety net for about 70 million individuals. Unknown A request from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) to step up the fight against the pandemic Rp 3.3 trillion (under evaluation) Village funds will be reallocated this year, particularly in COVID-19-affected communities Rp 72 trillion State spending reallocation from the 2020 state budget to focus on healthcare, social funds and financial incentives Rp 62.3 trillion The first stimulus package, which provides mortgage subsidies for low-income families and fiscal incentives for tourism-related industries Rp 10.3 trillion The second stimulus package, which includes individual, import and corporate tax breaks, among others Rp 22.9 trillion Incentives for tourism as a part of the first stimulus package will be adjusted to respond to the fast-changing conditions Rp 3.9 trillion The budget for official business trips will be significantly reduced Half of the Rp 43 trillion budget for business trips will be cut Transfers from the government to villages will be shifted to address COVID-19 Rp 46 trillion - Rp 59 trillion Source: Finance Ministry compiled by The Jakarta Post Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 15:02:12|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NANCHANG, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Huang Shengen tied a small blackboard to his motorcycle, together with all his teaching materials, slung an alarm clock with a Hello Kitty bowknot on it around his neck, and turned the ignition. "The villagers thought I had opened a new grocery store," the 53-year-old veteran rural teacher said. Huang has worked as an elementary school teacher for 35 years in Yichun City, east China's Jiangxi Province. People could only find Huang at home on weekends, since he always left for work every Monday and returned after school on Fridays, riding more than 15,000 km over 18 months on winding mountain roads. As the only teacher in Shaniping Primary School, which has not reopened yet due to the coronavirus outbreak, Huang headed to 7-year-old Zeng Yufen's place. The first-grader is the only student in the school who lives with her grandmother in a mountain village. The local education authorities have required all primary school students to have online courses at home. However, Huang found that the network signal was poor at Zeng's residence when he delivered textbooks to the girl at the end of February. He tried to help with the network debugging but found it was difficult to catch a stable signal. "I tried again and again, but it didn't work. Zeng asked me what she should do if she couldn't attend classes online," Huang recalled. In order not to let her down, Huang came up with the idea of a mobile classroom and showed up at Zeng's home the next day with a blackboard tied to his motorcycle, a ruler and a chalk box in the trunk. Every morning since then, Huang rode some 15 km up the mountain road to Zeng's home. Class started with the roaring of an approaching motorcycle when the girl rushed out to her teacher. Huang's motorcycle trunk has become a "treasure case," with school objects, boiled eggs, snacks, toys and medical supplies such as surgical masks. And the Hello Kitty-style alarm clock was used as a school bell. "Even if there is only one teacher and one student in the class, a 'sense of ritual' is still needed," Huang said. The teacher and the student would play homemade "bowling" together in the front yard after class, throwing a softball at 10 pins made of plastic bottles. It was one of the leisure activities Huang prepared for his student. Huang also moved his art class to the rape field. The teacher and the student would set up an art board, took out a paintbrush and drew the yellow rape flowers and the colorful landscape of the mountain village. Huang lives alone in the countryside while his son hoped that he could move to the city as soon as possible. With only two years before retirement, Huang can not leave his only student alone. "I'm a rural teacher, and my job is to teach her so that she might someday leave the mountains and live a better life," Huang said. New York, March 23 : The Nigerian government has issued a warning over the use of anti-malaria drug chloroquine to treat COVID-19 disease after three people in the country took an overdose of the drug and were hospitalized as it caused poisoning. According to a CNN report on Monday, Nigerian authorities have cautioned against using chloroquine for new coronavirus treatment. A Nigerian journalist Gboyega Akosile tweeted: "Please note: Hospitals Now Receiving Patients Suffering From Chloroquine Poisoning, Says Gov @jidesanwoolu's SSA on Health, Dr @Oreoluwa_Finnih. She urged people against massive consumption of Chloroquine as a measure to fight #coronavirus". US President Donald Trump claimed last week that chloroquine -- one of the oldest and best-known anti-malarial drugs -- had been approved by the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA). The FDA, however, has made it clear that the drug has not been approved yet for treating those infected with Covid-19. "Trump's endorsement of the drug led to a surge of interest among Nigerians keen to stock up on the medication, which has led to inevitable price hikes in the megacity of around 20 million inhabitants," said the report. Chloroquine is generally used to treat malaria, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Dr Michel Yao from the World Health Organization (WHO) told CNN it is too early to make recommendations about the efficacy of any for the treatment of the virus. Nigeria has reported 30 cases of COVID-19 to date. The National Task Force for COVID-19 constituted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Monday recommended the use of anti-malaria drug hydroxy-chloroquine - a a less toxic derivative of chloroquine -- to treat the COVID-19 disease in high-risk cases albeit with utmost precaution. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The nations governors kept pressing the federal government for supplies and economic aid to battle the new coronavirus in a conference call with the White House on Monday without getting the assurances they were hoping to hear. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, the chairman of the National Governors Association, said the governors are seeking more testing, ventilators and personal protective equipment like masks for health care providers. The call with Vice-President Mike Pence lasted about an hour and 15 minutes. There arent enough of all of these items, and were pushing to get our supply wherever we can, and were pushing the federal government to produce more of them, distribute more of them, and hopefully well get some progress, Hogan said earlier in the day. Theres been a little bit of progress, but not nearly enough and not fast enough. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Monday her state still was not getting enough help from the federal government. She said Michigan just received its allotment from the U.S. governments national stockpile. For one hospital, she said, it is 747 N-95 masks, 204 gowns, 4,467 gloves and 64 face shields. With the exception of the gloves, that allotment is barely enough to cover one shift at that hospital, Whitmer, a Democrat, said. Its not even a full days worth of shifts. Whitmer, citing efforts from companies in her state, said Michigan has secured more than 4 million gloves, 4 million N-95 masks and thousands of gallons of hand sanitizer. While I cant do overnight what the federal government should have done over the course of months in planning, my team and I are working 24/7 to secure the things we need, Whitmer said. Michael Ricci, a spokesman for Hogan, described the call Monday as candid and constructive, but without a breakthrough that the governors were seeking. While were not where we want to be on all of the governors requests, we continue to see incremental progress and hope for some breakthroughs in the next few days, Ricci said. Connected to the governors by video conference, Pence said he hoped their confidence was boosted by recent steps taken by the administration, including agreeing to pay the costs for New York, California and Washington state to call up the National Guard and for deploying field hospitals in those states. Pence told the governors to contact their regional administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to discuss specific supply needs, but offered that hes always available to listen to them, too. Im a phone call away to any governor on this call, the vice-president said. In other developments, Congress hit another roadblock in talks to inject nearly $2 trillion into the economy. Another attempt to advance the aid bill on Capitol Hill failed in a Monday afternoon vote. Were still pushing very hard for major economic stimulus for monies to go directly to the states so that we can help these businesses and individuals that are impacted, and theres still no action on that, said Hogan, a Republican. Meanwhile, governors announced longer school closures. Virginia public schools will remain closed for the rest of the current school year and certain types of businesses __ such as bowling alleys, gyms and theatres __ must close in response to the outbreak, Gov. Ralph Northam said Monday. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced Monday that he will soon sign an executive order that will keep the states schools closed until at least April 20. Lamont previously instituted a two-week school closure on March 17. Hogan also said he would like to hear more action from the federal government on other priority areas governors presented to the White House on Thursday. He said some progress has been made on invoking Title 32, so that the Federal Emergency Management Agency can cover the cost of National Guard relief missions and providing states with flexibility to use Guard resources. Hogan noted some federal assistance by extending deadlines relating to the 2020 census. However, he said states are still pushing to extend deadlines for Real ID compliance. Starting Oct. 1, those without a Real ID-compliant license or passport will not be able to board domestic flights, visit a military base or enter some federal buildings. ___ Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak. ___ Associated Press Writers David Eggert in Lansing, Michigan, Alan Suderman and Sarah Rankin in Richmond, Virginia, Susan Haigh in Hartford, Connecticut, and Darlene Superville contributed to this report. Now, he said, officers are beginning to train under those policies, such as when and how to use force; when to stop, search and arrest someone; and how to safely address people with mental health problems. Officers are also learning how to engage with the community in thoughtful ways. Shantanu David By Express News Service Poles apart Even as Indians observed the self-imposed Janta Curfew on Sunday, March 22, authorities in Poland have come up with a novel way of checking that residents are really self-quarantining. It, of course, involves an app. Like other members of the European Union, Poland has introduced veritable measures to impede the spread of the coronavirus, Poland had 425 confirmed cases of Covid-19, including five deaths, as of March 20. The Home Quarantine app, introduced by Polish police, is intended for people under the mandatory 14-day quarantine after returning from abroad, and uses geolocation and facial recognition technology, to allow quarantined users to check-in with authorities to confirm that they are indeed staying at home. Users have to register a selfie on the app which then randomly requests more selfies throughout the day. The app notifies police if users fail to respond within 20 minutes. Police said penalties run as high as 5000 zlotys (1100 euros). A neighbouhood in California used their lockdown time to create street art; Make Good Art! That what author Neil Gaiman said in a commencement speech that remains a cult favourite among the creative community. In times of trouble, as well as triumph, make good art. Thats exactly what Daphne Sashin, who lives in Mountain View in California, did last weekend when she wrote on Facebook, I sent an email to my neighbourhood on Tuesday asking if anyone was interested in drawing a picture or message outside their home to lift each others spirits during the shelter-in-place period. Everyone had until Friday at 12pm to make their pictures. More than 60 homes signed up! Jack, Lucy and I were so proud of our masterpiece and it was delightful to see families walking and biking around the neighbourhood checking out all the entries in the chalk art tour of driveways.Her neighbourhood delivered in spades, with all manner of artistic renderings, done with multi-coloured chalks on stone and concrete sidewalks. Wild Cities While the news that dolphins have returned to the now mostly pristine waters of the Venice canals due to the ceasing of human activity may be fake, theres no denying the positive impacts the global shutdown is having on the environment. Even in Delhi, the sounds of birdsong were particularly loud this morning, in the absence of running machinery, commerce, and traffic during the #JantaCurfew, while dogs happily gambolled across empty roads. Elsewhere, from Japan to the US, otherwise shy and wary animals are creeping into the shut down cities, leading to spotting of deer in public parks, bears in parking lots, and wild turkeys in school playgrounds. We cant wait to see tigers on Janpath ourselves. Glacier saw heavy traffic in the Apgar and Lake McDonald areas, according to the park's Facebook page, and because snow is still covering many popular trails and parking areas have been full, the available attractions don't allow for adequate social distancing or limited group sizes. The situation has placed national park employees at risk, including those "cleaning restrooms, emptying trash, answering visitor questions, and ensuring visitor safety and resource protection." I think the situation warrants the first priority (be) given to the safety of people," Morris said, "And those decisions should be delegated to park superintendents consistent with what the CDC guidelines are saying. The concerns about public recreation spots attracting people during a challenging time hasnt been limited to national parks. Illinois has closed its state park system. Oregon and Washington have closed all state campgrounds. In contrast, Georgia is using a portion of one campground as an isolation post for residents who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. In perhaps one of the stranger closings, the Shoshone National Forest in Wyoming has closed all of its bathrooms to the public because it doesn't have proper protective equipment for its employees who clean the facilities. A Massachusetts doctor who wrote a viral Facebook post demanding the government provide health care workers with badly needed personal protective equipment to treat those with coronavirus says now is the calm before the storm. Dr. Josh Lerner told ABCs Good Morning America on Monday that supplies of medical masks, gowns, face shields, gloves, and other vital equipment used to protect doctors from infectious diseases are running low. Right now in my emergency room we are seeing a little bit of the calm before the storm, Lerner told ABC News. Total volume [of patients] is down but were seeing the acute respiratory illnesses coming in. Lerner has been an attending ER doctor for 10 years. He currently works at UMass Memorial HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital in Leominster, Massachusetts, which is about 50 miles west of Boston. Dr. Josh Lerner, an ER doctor at a hospital in Leominster, Massachusetts, told ABC's Good Morning America on Monday that supplies of personal protective equipment are dwindling Lerner wrote a viral Facebook post last week describing the dire need for supplies at hospital that are expected to be overrun with patients infected with coronavirus On Thursday, Lerner posted a message on his Facebook likening the current crisis to a war and health care professionals as soldiers on the front lines. The Facebook post went viral, generating thousands of shares and comments. Lerner wrote he was frustrated that doctors were having to ration masks and other supplies while the nations political leaders squabble over relief legislation. Were trying to ration the N-95 masks, which is probably one of the most important pieces of personal protective equipment, Lerner told ABC News on Monday. We still have them but supply is definitely getting low. Weve been asked to use masks if we can to not do a one and done. While we still have the -95s, the supply is definitely getting low. I think it really depends, too, on the volume that we see in the ER. Lerner said that the dwindling supply of medical equipment is made worse by the fact that several doctors and nurses are needed to tend to one patient. Something to keep in mind is that for any one patient, there are multiple healthcare workers at the bedside, he said. Each of them need the PPE N95 masks, gowns, gloves, face shields. For any one patient we could be talking about many, many supplies being used at anyone time at the bedside. Paramedics wheel a patient into a hospital following the outbreak of coronavirus in New York City on Wednesday At this moment I dont know how many more days of supplies we have, were using them as judiciously as possible. When asked if he believed that the public has been receptive to pleas from the medical professionals, Lerner said: We do feel heard. Since that post went out, people have been showing up in our ER donating whatever they have, people have been making masks. People are dropping off food, any type of PPE. Lerner said that painters and contractors have also been dropping off supplies. A neighbor of mine dropped off a box of N-95 masks this morning and left it on my porch, he said. Were being heard by the American people. Lerner also had a message for the countrys elected officials. Id ask that our leaders work together instead of trying to debate with each other, he said. We should be working together to really mobilize as an entire nation to produce the PPE that we need, to shuttle resources into research and development of treatments and vaccines. We as an entire nation need to come together to fight this. The lack of proper medical equipment for health care professionals is not just a national problem, but a worldwide one. The hunt for masks, ventilators and other medical supplies consumed the United States and Europe on Monday, as new coronavirus infections soared and political paralysis stalled efforts for a quick aid package from Congress. On the financial markets, US futures jumped and global stock benchmarks trimmed their losses after the Federal Reserve said it will lend to small and large businesses and local governments to help them cope with the economic damage created by the outbreak. In New York, where a near-lockdown took effect statewide over the weekend amid fears the city could become one of the world's biggest hot spots, the mayor warned that hospitals are 10 days away from shortages in 'really basic supplies' needed to protect health care workers and patients alike. 'If we don't get the equipment, we're literally going to lose lives,' Mayor Bill de Blasio told CNN. The risk to doctors, nurses and others on the front lines has become plain: Italy has seen at least 18 doctors with coronavirus die. Spain reported that more than 3,900 health care workers have become infected, accounting for roughly 12 per cent of the country's total cases. British health workers pleaded for more gear, saying they felt like 'cannon fodder.' In France, doctors scrounged masks from construction workers, factory floors, an architect. 'There's a wild race to get surgical masks,' Francois Blanchecott, a biologist on the front lines of testing, told France Inter radio. 'We're asking mayors' offices, industries, any enterprises that might have a store of masks.' Health care workers say they are being asked to reuse and ration disposable masks and gloves. A shortage of ventilators, crucial for treating serious COVID-19 cases, has also become critical, as has a lack of test kits to comply with the World Health Organization's exhortations to test as many people as possible. In the United States, a fierce political battle over ventilators has emerged, especially after President Donald Trump told state governors that they should find their own medical equipment if they think they can get it faster than the US government. China has been the one nation to counter this trend, sending planeloads of equipment like masks, gloves and protective gear as well as doctors to countries across Europe, including hard-hit Italy, France and Spain as well as places with weaker medical systems like Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia. A group of Vietnamese women who met on a Facebook group make masks for donation to nearby hospitals and clinics in Tacoma, Washington, on Sunday 'The US is completely wasting the precious time that China has won for the world,' said Geng Shuang, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the US government's top infectious-disease expert, promised that medical supplies are about to start pouring in and will be clearly directed to those hot spots that need it most. Meanwhile, efforts for a quick economic relief package from Congress faltered. The US Senate voted against advancing the nearly $2trillion plan. Democrats argued it was tilted toward corporations rather than workers and health care providers. Another vote was expected Monday. The delay shook investors, as has the accumulation of canceled events large and small, the soaring numbers of unemployed and a widespread pullback in spending. Worldwide, nearly 350,000 people have been infected and 15,000 have died from the virus that first emerged in central China late last year. As cases in China ebbed, the dangers to Europe and the US have grown exponentially, although Germany on Monday cautiously reported some flattening of its infection curve. After just a few weeks, the US has more than 33,000 cases and more than 400 deaths. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever or coughing. But for some older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. Over 100,000 people have recovered, mostly in China. Authorities kept up their push to get people to stay home, but some were clearly not listening. Photos showed long lines of parked cars as hundreds walked up the remote mountains of Snowdonia National Park in Wales, which saw 'its busiest-ever visitor day' on Saturday. British Health Secretary Matt Hancock described those ignoring the government's social distancing recommendations as 'very selfish' and warned that stricter rules might be coming soon. 'If people go within 2 meters of others who they don't live with, then they're helping to spread the virus,' he said. 'And the consequences of that costs lives.' Mexican referendum rejects U.S. Modelo brewer in new investment blow FILE PHOTO: Bottles of Mexico's world famous Corona beer speed past a worker in the bottling line of Mexico City.. MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Residents of a Mexican city on the U.S. border voted against completing a billion-dollar brewery being built by Constellation Brands Inc, the government said Monday, dealing a fresh blow to investor confidence under President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Lopez Obrador, a leftist, backed the weekend vote in the city of Mexicali on the brewery, which opponents said poses a threat to the local water supply in the desert region. The New York state-based company has repeatedly denied that is the case. The rejection of the plant, started under the previous government as one of the biggest foreign investments of recent years, has raised more questions about how reliable contractual agreements in Mexico have become under Lopez Obrador. "They have to respect the decision of the people. I think (the company) will understand when there's a result like this one," Lopez Obrador told a regular morning news conference. The vote follows the demise of a $13 billion Mexico City airport, a partly built project that Lopez Obrador scrapped in October 2018 a few weeks before taking office. Both cancellations were the result of referendums he had pitched as exercises in local control. Both had low turnouts. Constellation did not reply to a request for comment. The U.S.-based company previously said it would consider other locations if Mexico became problematic. Constellation's shares tumbled 12% on Monday to close just above $105, down from a previous high of $208 on Feb. 20. Only 36,520 people in Mexicali, a city of 1 million, cast valid votes. Over three-quarters rejected the brewery because they did not want water used for "these types of industries." That meant only about 4.6% of Mexicali's electorate participated, according to employers' confederation Coparmex, which slammed the process. "President Lopez Obrador is destroying Mexico," Coparmex said in a tweet. Lopez Obrador said his support for the result of the local referendum did not mean his government opposed foreign private investment. He said he planned to discuss an alternative site for the brewery with Constellation . Story continues The results came as the Mexican peso hit a new low, trading at 25 pesos per dollar for the first time ever. "That may be due to a larger perception of risk in Mexico" connected to the referendum, said Gabriela Siller, head of economic analysis for Mexico City-based Banco Base. Several Mexican business lobbies blasted the vote, saying it would generate uncertainty and hurt investment at a time when Mexico's economy is weak and at risk from the coronavirus pandemic. Only about 1% of Mexico's electorate participated in the public consultation on the fate of the Mexico City airport. Constellation, which brews Modelo, Corona and other Mexican beers for export to mostly American drinkers, has countered that the brewery would affect less than 1% of local water supplies, and that the plant had all the requisite permits. A Mexican government official said under Chapter 14 of the newly ratified United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the cancellation could be considered an indirect expropriation if the U.S. government wanted to pursue the matter. "Surely the U.S. government is directly talking to the Mexican foreign ministry about this," the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. (Reporting by David Alire Garcia, Miguel Angel Gutierrez, Noe Torres, Anthony Esposito and Daina Beth Solomon in Mexico City; Editing by Richard Chang, Matthew Lewis and Gerry Doyle) Two dogs were killed and a person was hurt in a house fire Monday in Southeast Portland. The fire broke out Monday morning at a house at Southeast 58th Avenue and Francis Street, according to Portland Fire & Rescue. A resident was taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries that werent life-threatening, according to the fire and rescue agency. No other people were hurt. The agency said an initial report was that residents tried to go back inside the house to rescue dogs. Update SE 58/Francis fire: fire has been recalled, some fire responders returning to stations. Initial report that residents attempted to go back inside house for dogs. Fires can double in size in 30 secs, when fires occur, it is essential that residents GET OUT/STAY OUT. Portland Fire&Rescue (@PDXFire) March 23, 2020 The cause of the blaze is under investigation. -- Jim Ryan; jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015 Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. How bad does a Republican senator have to screw up to draw an on-air condemnation from Fox News Tucker Carlson? Evidently, he has to appear both self-serving and hypocritical. The target of Carlsons ire is Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), the subject of twin exposes by ProPublica and NPR. The pieces showed how Burr painted a far more negative picture of the coronavirus impacts in private than he did in public, and how he spared his nest egg from the carnage on Wall Street with some well-timed stock sales. Burr has defended his actions and called on the Senate Ethics Committee to look at his stock trades. Of course, the Twitterverse reacted by creating a new hashtag and making it a trending topic: #Burrisma. If you havent read the work done by ProPublica and NPR, you should. Pro Publica reported that Burr the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, which was receiving early briefings on the coronavirus threat sold up to $1.7 million worth of stocks shortly before the intensifying outbreak sent the markets into free fall. NPR, meanwhile, obtained a recording of Burr, who had publicly played down the risks, privately telling influential constituents that the virus was going to be far more disruptive than the Trump administration was letting on at that point. Carlson has evolved into an angry populist, and Burrs reported behavior fits into the narrative of Washington elites looking out for No. 1 while ordinary Americans suffer. Still, it may not be fair to single out Burr; many Republicans were giving the public bad advice on coronavirus until recently because they mindlessly parroted President Trump. Regardless, the enduring problem for lawmakers is that so many of them own stocks, which inevitably raises the specter of a conflict of interests. Even if they put their holdings into a blind trust or have a professional investment adviser handle all their trades, the reports they have to sign and file with the Senate make them aware of everything they own. Take, for instance, Georgias newly appointed Republican senator, Kelly Loeffler, who reported selling up to $3.2 million in stocks and stock options that she and her husband owned after Loeffer was briefed about the coronavirus outbreak; the couple also bought up to $500,000 worth of stock in software companies whose products are used by millions of telecommuters. Loeffler says all those trades were made without their knowledge by third-party advisers, so maybe this is just a case of people who can afford to hire professional help faring better than the typical worker bee with a suddenly much smaller 401(k). Thats not a good look, Kelly! Worse, it doesnt address the larger question of why a member of Congress should own shares in companies whose profits may be directly affected by the federal governments response to the outbreak. Granted, the outbreak is going to have an enormous effect on companies in every industry. But companies that make software used to connect computers at home to computers at the office? Their interests are, shall we say, unique. Some in the media have put a partisan spin on this, noting that several Republican senators took steps that mirrored Loefflers and Burrs. (Fox News, meanwhile, led its story with a stock sale by California Democrat Dianne Feinsteins husband, ignoring the fact that her husband is an active trader who regularly buys and sells hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of various companies stocks.) The problem here isnt confined to one party or one chamber. Lawmakers at all levels of government should not own shares of individual companies stock or invest in industry-specific funds. The appearance of a conflict of interests is inescapable. Oh, and yes, they should stop giving private warnings that conflict with their public statements. Unless, of course, they want to be featured on Tucker Carlsons show. Jon Healey is the Los Angeles Times deputy editorial page editor. A worker carries chairs after a campaign rally for Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden was cancelled at Cuyahoga Community College Tuesday, March 10, 2020, in Cleveland, due to the coronavirus. In Pennsylvania, the pandemic has created uncertainty around whether the state will hold its primary on April 28 as planned, pinching underdog campaigns. Read more The disruption caused by the coronavirus has created a lot of uncertainty for political campaigns. For starters: When is the Pennsylvania primary election going to be held? That question is top of mind for grassroots and non-incumbent candidates with limited budgets who are trying to determine whether they need to stretch their resources beyond the scheduled April 28 primary date. That has been the million-dollar question this week, said Vanessa McGrath, a lawyer and Democrat who is challenging State Rep. Mary Isaacson in Philadelphias 175th District. Some running in competitive primaries against better-funded candidates are moving ahead under the assumption that the election wont change, committing to their pre-pandemic strategies for reaching voters with advertising and mail. Others are awaiting clarity from Harrisburg. Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, and the Republican-controlled legislature are poised to move the states primary election to June 2, but nothing is final yet. Rescheduling would give county election officials more flexibility in consolidating polling places this year and make long-term changes allowed under a sweeping election law passed last year. READ MORE: Candidates are changing tactics for a coronavirus election of social distancing Dean Browning, a Republican running for Congress in the Lehigh Valley, said Friday he was moving forward with his media strategy as planned. I dont see another option, he said, noting that his primary opponent, Lisa Scheller, has been airing commercials for weeks. Scheller, a manufacturing executive, raised $550,000 through the end of 2019, with more than half of that coming from personal loans, federal records show. Browning raised $300,000, including $165,000 in personal loans. They are running to try to unseat Democratic Rep. Susan Wild. Im at a bit of a disadvantage there. I have a Republican opponent I will liken to our local version of Michael Bloomberg, Browning said. Once you start your media campaign you need to sustain that through the primary. And I gauged everything to start now to run through April 28," he said. If it suddenly becomes Aug. 28, Im at a severe disadvantage. Brett Burman, a health-care consultant who is running as a Democrat for a state Senate seat in Delaware County, said his campaigns ground game was its biggest strength. Obviously weve lost that at this point, he said. Instead of knocking on doors, hes been calling voters and potential donors. But in recent days he stopped doing that, too. I felt as though people were a little overwhelmed over the past week, Burman said Friday. I just didn't think it was an appropriate time to be reaching out to people for electioneering purposes. Burman raised $240,000 through the end of 2019 compared with $436,000 reported by his Democratic primary opponent, John Kane, business manager of Plumbers Local 690. The vast majority of Kanes haul came from building trades unions. The winner will challenge Sen. Thomas Killion (R., Delaware). Since its harder now to contact voters in person, campaigns have to spend more money to reach them, Burman said. Not knowing when the election will be held, he said, has forced us to go into something of a holding pattern. There are other fundraising challenges. High-income donors who regularly contribute more than $1,000 to multiple campaigns may well continue to do so. But grassroots campaigns tend to rely on smaller contributions. And donors who give between $100 and $1,000 are really hit or miss right now, said a Philadelphia-based Democratic fundraiser. Many of those donors end up getting solicited by multiple campaigns. And with everyone stuck at home, they are getting bombarded with phone calls. Some worry they might stop answering soon. Not to mention, many people are out of work or otherwise uncertain about their finances. Youre not going to ask everyone for resources right now, said Nina Ahmad, a former deputy mayor of Philadelphia, whos running for auditor general in the six-candidate Democratic primary. But candidates with shoestring budgets are going to need more money if the election is postponed. Paying campaign staff for an additional month can be a significant expense. And routine things like getting physical checks from contributors is taking longer for some. To be sure, lots of people holed up in their homes are bored. Some are happy to get a phone call from the outside world. We ask people, How are you doing? Its nice to just check in on your neighbors and let them have some outside contact, said McGrath. This is a state-level race, so Im calling people who are my neighbors, she said. Most people have been happy to have someone to chat with. She has thought about other potential logistical hurdles. The other week, McGrath placed an order for campaign literature. She wondered whether the companies that print the literature would be permitted to operate, given the governors decision ordering non-"life-sustaining" businesses to close. Wolf later clarified the order to include an exemption for printers. But even if print shops stay open, they might not be able to meet the demand for electioneering mailers, which has increased because its harder for campaigns to meet with voters face to face. Some underfunded candidates might be better equipped to adjust to changing circumstances. Candidates backed by the Working Families Party can rely on that groups peer-to-peer texting program and other infrastructure, for example. If the elections are pushed back, that will enable us to reach out to more voters, said Vanessa Clifford, political director for the Working Families Party, which helped elect Kendra Brooks to Philadelphia City Council last year. It will be easy enough for us to switch tactics." NPR to be postponed due to COVID-19 outbreak: Announcement shortly India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Mar 23: The NPR exercise scheduled to begin from April 1 2020 is likely to be put off in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. The matter has been discussed several times over the past week and the government may make an official announcement regarding this in the next couple of days. Further the Home Ministry is also monitoring the situation to decide on whether the Census 2021 exercise should also be postponed or not. The exercise was to kickoff at Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep and Meghalaya on April 1. Odisha Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik in a letter to the Prime Minister said all efforts of the state machinery were directed towards controlling the outbreak of COVID-19. Amidst COVID-19 outbreak, census, NPR likely to be deferred Mobilisation for census and concerned activities posed a risk to the field functionaries and the people. I would rather suggest that the scheduled census and related activity be postponed, he had also said in the letter. There is no official word from the Home Ministry on the same. However sources tell OneIndia that an official announcement postponing the exercise may be made in the next two to three days. Officials are however confident that the exercises would be completed before the deadline of September 2020. There is a need to defer it in the wake of the outbreak for now, the officer cited above said. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, March 23, 2020, 9:42 [IST] Hundreds of UK British nationals stranded in Peru due to the coronavirus pandemic could be flown home early next week, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has said. More than 400 British and Irish citizens are believed to be in the South American country, with some fearing they would be unable to leave following a government lockdown. But the FCO said on Saturday that Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab had secured permission for a UK-organised flight to leave Peru for early next week following a call with his Peruvian counterpart. I spoke to my counterpart in Peru today, @GMeza_Cuadra and we committed to work together in the coming days, so Britons in Peru and Peruvian nationals in UK can return home, amidst the challenges of tackling Covid-19. Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) March 21, 2020 In a Twitter post, Mr Raab said: I had a good conversation this afternoon with my opposite number in Peru, Gustavo Meza-Cuadra. Amidst all the challenges of tackling Coronavirus, we committed to working together in the coming days to enable UK nationals in Peru and Peruvian nationals in the UK to return home. The FCO said it would continue to work with the Peruvian government to arrange further flights in coming days. We are working round the clock to make flights available next week for British people who wish to leave Peru but who are currently unable to do so on commercial flights because of the travel restrictions that have been imposed, an FCO spokesperson said. UK nationals in Peru earlier said they felt let down by the Governments efforts to help them return home. Marcus Edgar, 48, who is working in Huanchaco in the north of the country, said 422 UK and Irish citizens had so-far registered on a database to say they were still stranded. Story continues Caia Daly, from north London, is among those stranded in Peru (Caia Daly/PA) The PR consultant, from Reading, told the PA news agency: The UK Government has done nothing so far and that is the frustration. There are no repatriation flights, and the only way (to get home) is to register your interest in charter planes, and that is ridiculous because they cost 3,000. Mr Edgar, who is due to return home on April 2, said a Whatsapp group and database had been created by British nationals in the country, with the details for each person passed to the UK embassy in the city of Lima. I think the general feeling from most people is that they feel let down by the lack of communication from the Government, he said. Peru is currently on lockdown, with borders closed and no flights allowed to enter or leave the country without government permission. A curfew is running between 8pm and 5am and all shops are closed except for pharmacies and those selling food. British nationals had been advised by the Foreign Office to find secure accommodation for the 15-day State of Emergency period. Caia Daly, 37, from north London, whose nine-month-old baby is recovering from pneumonia, is among those stranded. Ms Daly, who is originally from Dublin, Ireland, flew to Lima with her husband Carlos Abisrror and two young children in February for a four-week holiday and to see family. But their Air France flight home, which was scheduled for Friday night, was cancelled, and now they do not know how or when they will get back to the UK. (PA Graphics) To make matters worse, Ms Daly spent three days in hospital this week after her baby picked up a virus which led to pneumonia. Ms Daly told PA: If things get really bad here Im worried for my childrens health, particularly with the baby recovering from pneumonia. More UK nationals are reportedly stuck on board a cruise ship that has docked in Genoa, Italy, after the Spanish and French authorities refused to let them disembark. Guests of the Costa Pacifica, which left Argentina on March 3 and can hold up to 3,780 guests, are being held prisoner, the son of one of those on board has claimed. Caribbean Cement resumes exports to Cuba ICR Newsroom By 23 March 2020 Caribbean Cement Co Ltd increased its export sales threefold YoY in 2019, including markets such as Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. While CCCLs 2019 annual report did not name Guantanamo Bay, a cement company representative told the Financial Gleaner that Caribbean Cement resumed exports to that area, and that those sales would have positively impacted on total exports. The cement producer had previously announced that it wanted to recommence exports to several Caribbean countries, including the Bahamas, Bermuda and Grenada. 2019 results Revenue for the group edged up one per cent YoY to XCD17.76bn (US$6.6bn) with the majority of sales around XCD17.57bn, in Jamaica, according to the Jamaica Gleaner. Earnings from operations advanced to XCD4.25bn from XCD4.16bn in 2018. However, muted sales growth combined with a larger debt financing bill saw the companys bottomline contract from XCD2.47bn to XCD1.88bn. Finance costs were higher at XCD881m and losses from foreign currency reached XCD640m. Around two-thirds of the companys XCD9.15m debt is denominated in US currency. Published under Larry Lowe is pretty sure some brewery out there has already filed a trademark for Social Distancing Stout. Asked if some craft brewers tendency to name beers irreverently will continue amid coronavirus, Lowe, founder of Huntsvilles Fractal Brewing Project, adds, Brewers and bar staff have a unique sense of humor, so we have spent some time coming up with beer names. Most will never see the light of day, but it is a fun outlet for us. You have to have a little bit of levity when dealing with events this imposing. Right now, local breweries deserve levity. Over the last decade, breweries have become an increasingly crucial part of a local cultures fingerprint. Among a certain demographic, many people are just as or more familiar with a citys signature beers as they are with that citys signature musical acts or restaurants. As has been well documented, the Huntsville areas home to a vibrant craft beer scene, with around 12 local breweries. But now, like many other local businesses, grave coronavirus concerns, March 19 Alabama government mandated bar/taproom closures (except for to-go orders) and preventative social distancing are darkening breweries future. Recently I conducted separate interviews with Lowe, leader of one of Huntsvilles newest breweries, as well as from two of Huntsvilles biggest and oldest craft breweries, Straight to Ale founder Dan Perry and Yellowhammer general manager Ethan Couch. Fractal opened in September. STA and YH have been selling beer since 2010. Our dialogue focused on coronavirus impact on Huntsville breweries and how those breweries are keeping the beer flowing and their lights on, in these challenging times. Below are edited excerpts. How is your brewery getting creative and adapting to the pandemic? Ethan Couch (of Yellowhammer): We have created a walk-up path for to-go purchase area on our patio where you literally dont have to touch anything. We are taking payment via phone or online, and we have sanitizer at every cash register, door, and restroom. We are putting to-go beers on sale today to make it easier on folks trying to stock up. (On Monday, Yellowhammer announced on social media it was converting their entire production line to making hand sanitizer. We will continue to supply grocery stores with beer from our existing inventory, a YH Facebook post reads. We also will continue to sell six-packs and spirits. The hand sanitizer for now will be produced only in bulk for large Alabama operations in need, including civic agencies, hospitals, medical providers, large businesses and nonprofits.) Larry Lowe (of Fractal): Breweries are heavily restricted in regards to selling and distributing beer, so our lanes of creativity are very narrow. Like the other local breweries we are offering all of our draft beers in 12 ounce and 16 ounce formats as cans-to-go. We are fortunate to have a large patio, so patrons can approach the garage door on the patio over the bar and place their order. The Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board (ABC Board) also made some emergency changes for curbside drop off. This allows us to take to-go orders from the phone or email and have the product ready for pickup. Dan Perry (of Straight to Ale): We are shifting our production to packaged beer only in order to keep the shelfs stocked at your favorite retailers. Since we have Ales Kitchen onsite here at STA, we are signing up for delivery services and doing curbside deliveries. On the brewery/distillery side, we are selling all of our packaged beer along with crowlers, growlers and bottles of your favorite Shelta Cavern Spirits. We are hopeful that the public comes by and grabs some food and refreshments to take home and enjoy. What is typically your best selling beer, in the brewery and outside the brewery? What have been your best-selling beers since the coronavirus news intensified? Perry (STA): Our Monkeynaut IPA is our best selling beer in the Alabama market, and our Chill Pils Pilsner is the best selling beer inhouse. As far as we can tell, the coronavirus has not changed people's tastes, so they are remaining the same. Couch (YH): T-Minus Tangerine Kolsch has been our most popular beer for a while now, but these hazy IPAs are knocking on the door. Wave Runner is a hazy made with all New Zealand hops and is very popular right now. And Solid Sounds, another hazy, is almost sold out. No big change there. T-Minus, Rebellion Lager, Cheatin' Heart. People have also been stocking up on our spirits. Our single malt whiskey is our number one seller there, but the rum is coming on strong. Lowe (Fractal): Best selling beer as draft in the brewery is a tie between the slow-pour Time Taker Pilsner, Guava Mango Sour, and the Fractal IPA. Best-selling beers as cans-to-go are Fractal Baltic Porter, Guava Mango Sour and the Black IPA. (Best-selling beers during coronavirus include) Fractal Baltic Porter. This big beer (9.3 percent alcohol by volume, or ABV) was lagered for eight weeks resulting in a refined, organized profile of roast, chocolate, coffee and creaminess. The Guava Mango sour and gluten free Cranberry Cider are close behind. Fractal Brewing Project, during coronavirus. (Courtesy photo) What is the maximum amount of beer consumers can purchase to-go from your brewery? And in what format/packaging do you have to-go currently available? Lowe (Fractal): Each consumer can purchase 288 fluid ounces from the brewery each day. That comes out to 24 twelve ounce cans or 18 sixteen ounce cans, we sell beers in both formats. Perry (STA): We can sell 288 ounces of beer and three 750 milliliter bottles of spirits per person, per day. We sell beer in 12 ounce cans, 32 ounce crowlers and 64 ounce growlers. Couch (YH): One case per person per day. That's 288 ounces total. We have all formats right now, six-packs, four-packs, crowlers and growlers, 32 ounce and 64 ounce. What can you tell us about the cleaning, etc. precautions your brewery is taking right now? Couch (YH): We have high standards in general, but as of two weeks ago (from time of this interview last week) we changed our procedures. We are cleaning and sanitizing all surfaces, handles, and items touched by anyone as we go. We are leaving doors open as much as possible so folks don't have to touch them. Our employees are washing and sanitizing their hands after touching anything that has been touched by another person. Lowe (Fractal): All surfaces and touch points in the brewery are cleaned with a powerful sanitizer/virucide. We let the solution sit on the surface for the recommended dwell time to make sure we get the maximum sanitization. All of our cans-to-go are pre-soaked in sanitizer and then post-soaked in the sanitizer before delivering to the customer. Staff wash their hands and all surfaces after every patio order. We also eliminated all touch surfaces for our cans-to-go program - customers can approach the patio bar without touching a single door handle or surface. We have a mobile, cloud-based POS system, so we can position the units to let the customer swipe their own cards. Each POS module is cleaned after each customer interaction. Perry (STA): We are monitoring all updates and following all of the CDC (Center for Disease Control) and ADPH (Alabama Department of Public Health) guidelines throughout our facilities. In terms of percentages or however is best to describe for you, how have sales at the taproom (before taprooms and other bars closed) and outside the taproom for your brewery been affected by the pandemic thus far? Perry (STA): Our market sales of packaged products has increased a great deal as people switch to staying home more. Our inhouse sales have now dropped to zero with us making the decision to close the taproom (March 18). Couch (YH): We are down roughly 50 percent at this point in time overall. Taproom sales and distribution sales share that loss. Distributors are no longer taking draft beer in kegs, as the restaurants and event halls have either been shut down or slowed down. Lowe (Fractal): We have only been open for six months, so we dont have the benefit of having year-on-year financial metrics. Sales for the first two weeks of March were trending much higher than the sales in January and February. This is the time of year people stop the winter hibernation and start to visit breweries and other venues. Delaying that revenue slope change through March and into April and beyond is very painful to the bottom line. We closed the taproom on March 15, but kept the patio space open for cans-to-go. The decision to close the taproom was tough. The tension is between staying open to keep the staff employed and doing the socially responsible action of closing the space to eliminate the opportunity to congregate in large groups. Keeping the large patio space open with cans-to-go was our compromise. Straight to Ale. (Courtesy photo) What would it take during the pandemic to make you completely shut down beer production? Lowe (Fractal): The pandemic has presented us with a challenging supply and demand problem. The last thing we want is to have a large supply of products on hand that will age to a suboptimal experience for the consumer while the demand is down. On the production side we made a strategic decision to load up the fermenters with lagers instead of ales. We brewed a Mexican lager and an India pale lager. These beers will ferment and condition for eight weeks. Hopefully the pandemic will be behind us by then. We are also releasing a few beers we were saving for events in April. Stay tuned for the barrel-aged English pub ale release. Perry (STA): Lack of consumer demand, or safety concerns for our workers. I do not foresee either or those being issues at this time fortunately. Couch (YH): A drop in sales, our distributors not being able to sell or a lack of staff due to quarantine. How has the pandemic caused you to change or reevaluate upcoming plans for growing, expanding, adding components to the brewery? Couch (YH): We just launched two new products this year: Beach Body, our low-calorie session IPA, and Spirit Guide, our fruited sour. They have been very well received and we will continue to push them. Our hopes for expansion to other markets and locations is on hold right now. We will reevaluate once we get past this travesty. Lowe (Fractal): The pandemic slowdown has forced us to delay some capital purchases like additional kegs for statewide distribution and investments in upcoming events. Perry (STA): We are having to put as much as possible on hold until we weather this storm. Dan, STA has acquired Druid City Brewing and Salty Nut Brewery in the last year. How does the pandemic affect those additions or how do those acquisitions impact how STA is set up to deal with something like this? Perry (STA): Bo (Hicks, Druid City brewmaster) is currently doing to go only at Druid City, and we are currently shut down completely at Salty Nut. In what specific ways do you think the pandemic and its economic effects might impact Huntsville breweries permanently or for the foreseeable future? Perry (STA): I am confident that Huntsville craft beer lovers will return to their favorite breweries, bars, and restaurants as soon as we get the all clear to reopen for business as usual. Couch (YH): I hate to even think about it, but this is going to hit everyone extremely hard. The craft beer scene here is phenomenal and is comprised of resilient and vivacious people. We will rebound and come back stronger from this. Lowe (Fractal): In todays craft beer market the tasting room experience is the most important part of the business with packaged distribution second. Shutting down the taproom results in a loss of the most profitable money supply, money needed to cover fixed-costs like rent, wages, and debt obligations. Nationally, there are already some highly leveraged breweries having to close. There will be some unfortunate shakeout from this. What's your single greatest fear on how the pandemic will impact your brewery and HSV as a whole? Lowe (Fractal): After six months of operating we were getting very close to the break-even point where revenue covers costs. If sales continue to be a fraction of where they typically are, we will have to continue to accumulate debt to stay open. My biggest fear is that the accumulated debt grows at a run-away pace forcing us to close our doors and shut down operations. This is the scenario for a significant number of small, locally owned businesses, not just breweries. Perry (STA): This shutdown has the capability to put every single small business out of business if it lasts for an extended period of time. Most of the small business owners that I know do not have deep enough pockets or cash reserves to keep landlords and creditors at bay for very long. All of Huntsvilles servers, bartenders, chefs, etc. are the hardest hit by a crisis like this. I worry that if our local, state, or federal government does not come out with a plan to help everyone the effects of this are going to linger for a long time. Couch (YH): My fear is that some folks aren't taking it seriously. There are simple precautions we can take to protect ourselves and our community. If we act together to limit the spread, we will emerge much faster. The biggest impact would be for this to be drug out for many months. That would obviously force some folks to reevaluate their ability to keep their businesses running. Yellowhammer Brewing. (Courtesy photo) What's something for craft breweries to be optimistic about, amid these uncertain times? Couch (YH): I think it's community. I've never met such a friendly and fun community. We like to socialize, share ideas, share food, and have a good time. For the moment, we have to do that remotely or cautiously. Lowe (Fractal): Seeing the people of Huntsville do what they can to help each other out encourages me. Live music concerts via Facebook Live from local musicians like Dave Anderson are fantastic. Community advocates like Chad Emerson at DHI (Downtown Huntsville Inc.) and Bekah Schmidt at South Huntsville Business Association using their spheres of influence to help out businesses in their areas is encouraging. Business coupling together, like breweries and food trucks, trying every angle possible to raise awareness and keep some level of income flowing. Perry (STA): I am encouraged by the support we are seeing by the public, picking up our products at the stores, or to go here from the brewery and hope that it continues for the duration. Over the last decade, craft beer has become a signature facet of Huntsville life. Is there another sort of signature Huntsville thing you're concerned about being severely impacted by the pandemic? Perry (STA): I am saddened to see all of our great Huntsville restaurants and venues sitting empty. I want to see all of them make it through this storm. Couch (YH): I've heard of a lot of people losing their jobs this week. That is scary. We will lose some good people, and probably some local businesses. Lowe (Fractal): Huntsville is a very creative town with a lot of talented folks. The impact is going to be most severely felt at the small-scale artisans, creative, maker level. The local craft brewers, coffee makers, bakers, food truck operators, restaurateurs, musicians ... are going to be hit hard. Iconic landmarks like Monte Sano and the Space and Rocket Center arent going anywhere. The super-creative, labor of love small businesses may be. Is there anything I haven't asked regarding Huntsville breweries and the pandemic you think would be insightful for readers to know? Lowe (Fractal): There isnt a playbook for a worldwide pandemic, so everyone is doing the best they can. We have to act locally. One of the best actions you can take is purchasing a gift card. It gives companies access to cash now for future products. It keeps the money in the operating system as opposed to Go Fund Me accounts and the like. Perry (STA): Just please let people know that all of the Huntsville breweries and their staff are going to be struggling during this time, and to please support all local Huntsville small businesses as much as possible during this crisis so that we all survive. Couch (YH): Just treading water. Fractal Brewing Project is located at 3200 Leeman Ferry Road, phone 256-489-5520, online fractalbrewing.com. Straight to Ale is located at 2610 Clinton Ave. N.W., phone 256-801-9650, online straighttoale.com. Yellowhammer Brewing is located at 2600 Clinton Ave, W., phone 256-489-3510, online yellowhammerbrewery.com. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS AND LOCAL CULTURE Coronavirus impacts Alabama musicians, concert pros A standout new Alabama album emerges amid the pandemic Are your pets helping get you through the pandemic? Local restaurants adapt, face uncertainty with coronavirus Downtown Huntsvilles most colorful joint yet, now open Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan insists that Garda services are in place to respond to reports of domestic violence. This follows concerns expressed by charities working in the area at a likely rise in domestic abuse given the increasing isolation of families in their homes because of Covid-19 measures. Minister Flanagan said that Garda Commissioner Drew Harris had told him that specialist detectives are continuing to investigate domestic abuse. Last week, both Womens Aid and Sexual Violence Centre Cork said there is a danger of violence increasing as pressure cooker builds within homes. In a tweet, Minister Flanagan said: Im very conscious of those vulnerable to the reprehensible crime of domestic violence at this time. Commissioner Harris has assured me Gardai at NPSU [National Protective Service Bureau] & DPSUs [Divisional Protective Services Units] are vigilant, active & available. Im very conscious of those vulnerable to the reprehensible crime of domestic violence at this time. Commr. Harris has assured me Gardai at NPSU & DPSUs are vigilant, active & available. Courts also still dealing w/ barring applications etc. @Womens_Aid @gardainfo #covid19ireland Charlie Flanagan (@CharlieFlanagan) March 21, 2020 The minister said courts are still dealing with barring order applications and related orders. Garda Headquarters said the restructuring of garda resources has provided extra gardai on the frontline to support communities. It said: The Garda National Protective Service Bureau and local Protective Service Units remain fully resourced at this time. In an emergency dial 999/112. Womens Aid warned that a perfect storm of circumstances self-isolation, remote working in homes and job losses is increasing the danger of domestic abuse. Director Sarah Benson said people self-isolating and working from home are more at risk from their abusive partners and more exposed to their controlling behaviour, verbal abuse and violence. The charity cited reports from China and Italy indicating an increase in domestic abuse incidents during the Covid-19 crisis. Sexual Violence Centre Cork director, Mary Crilly, likened the situation many women are in at home to a pressure cooker. She said: Its going to be a nightmare for women in these situations. When the kids are at home and an abuser is out of work and people dont have money, its going to be worse and the abuse is going to ramp up. Both charities want people to know they are still operating. Green Party councillor in Galway West and former family law solicitor Pauline OReilly said she fears domestic violence could soar. During the current crisis it is important to remember that incidents of domestic violence continue, but may go under the radar, said the Seanad candidate. Beyond that is the added risk that isolation within family units can bring. It has the potential to be a pressure cooker within the homes of those who have already been experiencing domestic violence. She said that women, men and children should be assured that the courts are still sitting for these incidents and that the emergency services are still available to them. Womens Aid 24hr National Freephone Helpline: 1800 341 900 or visit www.womensaid.ie Sexual Violence Centre Cork: 1800 496496 or text 087 1533393 or email info@sexualviolence.ie Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-24 05:51:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CAIRO, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Iran's death toll from COVID-19 climbed to 1,812 on Monday, after 127 new deaths were reported. Meanwhile, more countries in the Middle East decided to impose curfew to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. The total number of COVID-19 infections in Iran, the worst-hit country in the region, climbed to 23,049, up by 1,411 from a day ago. A total of 8,376 of the infected have recovered. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif blasted the U.S. for obstructing the fight against novel coronavirus outbreak by maintaining anti-Iran sanctions, while urging countries across the world to defy the U.S. sanctions. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani dismissed the U.S. offer for help to Iran to fight the coronavirus outbreak as "one of the biggest lies in history." Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca tweeted late Monday that the death toll from COVID-19 in Turkey rose to 37, after seven new deaths were added. A total of 293 new cases were reported, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 1,529, making Turkey the second hardest-hit country in the Middle East, after Iran. In Israel, 371 people were tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Monday, in the biggest single-day rise. It brought the total number of confirmed cases in Israel to 1,442. In Riyadh, Saudi Arabian King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud ordered the Interior Ministry to impose a curfew (from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.) for 21 days in order to stem the COVID-19 spread. The order exempts the employees of vital occupations in public and private sectors whose work and services are required during the curfew. In Khartoum, the Sudanese government also declared a curfew (from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.) in all cities to prevent the coronavirus spread. The bus services between the states will be suspended as of Thursday. In Algiers, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune ordered the deployment of troops in the capital Algiers and its adjacent province of Blida in a bid to impose a curfew and force citizens to stay home. At a meeting of the High Security Council held at the President Office, a 10-day home lockdown was also ordered in the province of Blida for 10 days. Blida has registered eight deaths out of a total number of 125 COVID-19 cases. Tunisian President Kais Saied also decided to deploy the army on the streets to implement the general confinement and the curfew (from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.) to prevent the coronavirus spread. Tunisia reported 14 new cases on Monday, bringing the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases to 89. In Beirut, following a government order, security forces were deployed all over Lebanon to control the movement of people. Lebanon reported 11 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number of infections to 267. One soldier of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL), who returned to Lebanon from a vacation on March 15, was tested positive for COVID-19, said UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti. The United Arab Emirates announced 45 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 198. Egypt's Health Ministry reported five more COVID-19 deaths, including one Indian national and four Egyptians, bringing the death toll to 19. The total number of infections in Egypt rose to 366, after 39 new cases were confirmed in the day. Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities started sanitizing museums and tourist sites nationwide over coronavirus concerns. Iraqi Health Ministry confirmed three more deaths from COVID-19 and 33 new cases, bringing the total number of the infected to 266. Oman registered 11 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 66. Nine new COVID-19 cases were reported in Morocco, where the total number of infections increased to 143. In Ankara, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said some 50,000 test kits from China arrived in Turkey on Monday to help fight COVID-19. A special drug that could shorten the treatment period was also brought from China. The China Peaceful Unification Association based in Turkey delivered 10,000 surgical filter masks to the Maltepe district municipality in Istanbul during a ceremony on Monday. In Libya, which has not reported any COVID-19 cases so far, the eastern-based government decided to impose a 10-day 24-hour curfew as precaution, starting from Wednesday. In Yemen, another country that has not reported any COVID-19 cases, the World Health Organization on Monday airlifted test kits and personal protective items for health workers in the war-ravaged country. Dear Students, Welcome to the fourth term! This term will be unlike any other we have experienced. Yet we are confident that with the Schools instructional expertise and infrastructure, and the enthusiasm and flexibility of students, staff, and faculty, it will be a success. Our priority is that you complete your degree programs in a rewarding and productive fashion. For those of you on schedule to graduate this spring, we will work hard to ensure you have the requisite skills and strategies for working on the frontlines of public health. Your expertise will most certainly be in demand as the world works through not only the current pandemic but also the unforeseen challenges that will follow. Although this term will be atypical and not what any of us expected, we are confident you will still receive the high-quality education you expect from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. There are several factors that will ensure this: Your courses will be taught by the same faculty as you would work with on site; CoursePlus provides an easy-to-use platform for instructional materials; and faculty are committed to making their courses as interactive and engaging as possible. Most importantly, we have experience doing this! The School already offers 300 courses fully online, and our online courses are consistently rated just as positively by students as are our onsite offerings. I also want to let you know that we have created a new course: 550.844.01 Current Issues in Public Health: COVID-19 Pandemic Response. This two-credit course will provide access to many of our faculty who are on the frontlines of our response to COVID-19. You can add this course during the add-drop period that opens up Monday morning. You will continue to have access to all of the offices and support systems that you are accustomed to. We are also currently building out more infrastructure and resources to help ensure high-quality learning experiences outside the classroom. We are encouraging departments to move activities such as seminars to Zoom and will be listing those in our School calendar. Now is a great time to take advantage of the opportunity to join a seminar on a topic you wouldnt ordinarily be able to take! Many departments and programs are also organizing casual opportunities to stay connected, such as email community check-ins and virtual office hours with department leadership. Just as we are preparing for remote teaching, we ask that you take the time to prepare yourself for your own successful learning. For instance, it will be important to create a productive home learning environment; therefore please review the key tips and techniques recommended by our Center for Teaching and Learning accessible via this link. Additionally, be sure to take care of your emotional health by thinking creatively about how you can connect with other members of the School community for emotional as well as intellectual support. Use this term as a chance to get to know each other in new ways. Consider taking a virtual tour of a colleagues work-from-home setting, or enjoying a virtual meet-up with each others petsits time to be socially creative! Clearly, we will miss our in-school experiences, but we can still virtually reinforce and build our community, which is needed now more than ever. And if you are experiencing any difficulties that interfere with your ability to continue your studies due to the current situation, please reach out to your academic coordinator or program director. While there may be bumps along the way, we are committed to making this a rewarding and productive term for everyone. When faced with new realities, we know you will rise to the challengeboth here at the Bloomberg School and in the professional work you plan to pursue. The world needs you more than ever, and we will ensure you are set up for success. We look forward to staying in close touch about how the term is going. And you can always reach out directly to the Deans Office at JHSPH.deansoffice@jhu.edu. We will be monitoring this inbox closely and promise to get back to you as quickly as possible. My best to you all, Ellen J. MacKenzie, PhD 79, ScM 75 Bloomberg Distinguished Professor Dean Bloomberg School of Public Health The Johns Hopkins University Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 13:49:16|Editor: Wang Yamei Video Player Close PHNOM PENH, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia confirmed on Monday that two more people were tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of the confirmed cases in the kingdom to 86. The new patients are Cambodians, said a Ministry of Health's Communicable Disease Control Department statement, adding that one patient lives in Koh Kong province and another in Kampong Cham province. The two persons were infected the virus from Cambodians who had attended an Islamic religious ceremony at Sri Petaling mosque in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from Feb. 27 to March 1. According to the statement, Cambodia has recorded a total of 86 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 to date. Two of the patients-a Chinese man and a British woman-have fully recovered and been discharged from hospitals, it said. Hours after a partial lockdown began in the state to contain the coronavirus outbreak, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday urged people to follow the guidelines set by the government and not to come out of their homes unless there is an emergency. Banerjee also asked them to cooperate with the government to fight this menace. "The West Bengal Government is leaving no stone unturned to ensure safety & precautions for its citizens in combating COVID-19 efficiently. At this critical juncture, it is only collective efforts & public cooperation which can help fight this menace," Banerjee wrote on her Twitter handle. "It is my sincere request to all the fellow citizens to abide by Government guidelines. Until and unless an emergency, please dont step out of your homes. We will fight this together. Only we can help keep everyone around us safe," the chief minister added. The West Bengal government on Sunday announced a partial lockdown from 5 pm on Monday till March 27 midnight, in an attempt to arrest the spread of the disease. One elderly man died of coronavirus on Monday while six others were infected with it, a senior health official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Ashanti Regional Health Director, Dr. Emmanuel Tenkorang has reiterated that the government will supervise the burial rites of any coronavirus victim without the bereaved family taking part in the usual traditional burial. According to him, this is to contain the potential spread of the virus from one person to the other, adding that "it is not the intention of the Government to infringe on any culture or tradition". Ghana has reported 24 confirmed cases with one death recorded. Statistics show that out of the 24 cases, 17 of them are Ghanaians with the rest being foreigners. Some Virologists believed the country will witness an increasing number of confirmed case as the days go by looking at the number of traced contacts recorded. Speaking to the media at a Press Conference to update the media on the coronavirus case in the region, Dr. Emmanuel Tenkorang said that so far no vaccine has been made for the virus. However, what they are administering is for clinical trials and their focus is preventive measures to avoid the spread of the virus. He revealed that some Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) have been received and they would be distributed to the various hospitals in the region soon. Commenting on the referral of suspected cases to KATH and the Kumasi Hospital, he admonished that hospitals must do it right by isolating suspects at Golden Area and later called for the Regional Response Team than using their own willpower to refer them without considering the effects on the general public. The Chief Executive Officer of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Dr. Oheneba Danso said those vulnerable to the virus are Diabetic patients, the aged and people with respiratory diseases, and have therefore implored all to comply with the preventive measures. Source: Prince Kwadwo Boadu/Hello Fm Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video AUSTIN A proposed 3,300-head hog finishing confinement barn near Austin is under environmental review by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency. The proposed barn, about 8 miles north of Austin, would finish 3,300 hogs for market at a time. That total amounts to 990 animal units, or just under the 1,000-animal unit level that would trigger an environmental assessment worksheet from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. At 1,000 animal units, an EAW would require an inventory of greenhouse gases estimated for the project. However, this project would not trigger that assessment. The FSA is accepting comments on the potential environmental effects of the project through April 16. If the project receives USDA approval, it would still require a conditional use permit from the Mower County Board of Commissioners. ADVERTISEMENT Information regarding the project can be reviewed in person at the Fillmore County FSA office, and comments can be submitted to Farm Loan Manager Adam Gritz at 413 Farmers St. NW, #B, Preston, MN 55965 or via email at mnpreston-fsa@one.usda.gov. The state Supreme Court on Sunday night ordered that all in-person court proceedings, including jury trials, be postponed through May 22 to protect the participants and the public from COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. The high courts directive supersedes orders that had been issued in several individual counties over the past few weeks, including Dane County, which had limited the kinds of court proceedings taking place. Still, at least one jury trial, a three-week homicide case that was scheduled for April before Circuit Judge Jill Karofsky, had been set to go forward. The high courts order definitively postpones that trial. Under the Supreme Courts order, all state courts will remain open and continue to operate. But any jury trials scheduled to start between now and May 22 are to be rescheduled. Judges, court commissioners and clerks of court are to use email, teleconferencing and video conferencing instead of in-person court appearances through at least April 30, the order states. We are taking these steps not only to protect public health, but also to help ensure continued and effective operation of all of our courts for the people of Wisconsin, Chief Justice Patience Roggensack said in a statement. Our circuit court judges have taken strategic, proactive steps to keep each of their courts operating as safely and smoothly as possible since the start of this public health emergency. These orders provide another tool to use in that effort. The order allows certain exceptions to permit in-person proceedings if remote technology is not available or is inadequate. In addition, the Supreme Court postponed oral arguments before the body that were scheduled for March 30 and April 1. On March 12, Dane County became the first in the state to limit court appearances and activity due to the new coronavirus. An order that was to be effective until April 17 set temporary guidelines for dealing with various kinds of cases, and mandated greater use of telephone and video conferences. The order had suspended jury trials in civil matters and in criminal matters in which a defendant is not in custody, but allowed trials for defendants currently in custody. Among the upcoming trials was the three-week trial of Kenyairra Gadson, charged with first-degree reckless homicide for a shooting death on Oct. 28, 2018, in a Downtown parking ramp. At a recent motion hearing, Karofsky told attorneys she was inclined to keep the trial on the calendar to begin on April 13 and rebuffed a request by District Attorney Ismael Ozanne to set alternate trial dates as a backup. On Friday, Dane County Clerk of Court Carlo Esqueda temporarily stopped counter service at the Dane County Courthouse to protect the health of courthouse staff. The building itself remains open. The Defence Force will help New South Wales health officials track down infected passengers from the Ruby Princess cruise ship. The drastic move comes after authorities allowed thousands of passengers to disembark the infected ship last week. Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said 'Contract Tracing Support Teams' are being set up across Australia. Their role is to help NSW Health find people who may have come into contact with a positive COVID-19 patient. The Defence Force will help New South Wales health officials track down infected passengers from the Ruby Princess cruise ship 'A team of ADF personnel (has been) supporting NSW Health from yesterday,' she said. Twenty-seven passengers from NSW have been diagnosed with COVID-19, and 21 guests from other states also tested positive. Concerns regarding cruise ships arose when the Diamond Princess was quarantined off the coast of Japan in February following an outbreak of COVID-19 on board. Over 700 passengers of the 3,700 people on board quickly developed coronavirus. The ship was forced to stay at sea for close to three weeks before the decision was made to quarantine people onshore. Last week the government suspended all cruise ships - however some, such as the Ruby Princess, have only just completed their trips. Ms Reynolds said there are also teams in Queensland, Western Australian and the Northern Territory helping deal with the COVID-19 outbreak. 'These ADF teams will provide logistics, transport, health and general planning assistance as the workload of civilian medical teams continues to increase as more Australians are diagnosed with, or affected by, COVID-19,' Minister Reynolds said. Their role is to help NSW Health find people who may have come into contact with a positive COVID-19 patient (stock) 'Defence continues to follow the advice of Australian health authorities when prioritising its support arrangements. 'We will continue to ensure Defence medical facilities are appropriately staffed to minimise any impact on our public health system.' Other duties of the ADF teams amid coronavirus have included taking supplies to quarantine zones such as Christmas Island and assisting the Department of Health. The announcement comes as the Western Australian government try to stop a cruise ship with hundreds of unwell passengers docking in Fremantle. Premier Mark McGowan said more than 250 of 1,700-plus passengers on board the Magnifica cruise ship had reported upper respiratory illnesses but he'd been told the vessel needed to refuel, which had to be allowed. That may happen in Fremantle 'or elsewhere'. Mr McGowan said he had spoken with Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton about a course of action. 'I will not allow what happened in Sydney to happen here,' Mr McGowan told reporters on Monday. (Natural News) Lets face it: These are very trying times. Were all a little stressed out by the prospect of countless deaths and a serious economic downturn thanks to coronavirus, but some people seem to be handling the rising anxiety better than others. Just how much worse will the violence and anger were already seeing grow as the outbreak ramps up? Whether its shouting matches on sidewalks or fights in stores over toilet paper, tempers are flaring everywhere you look. Shoppers hoarding food and other essentials are being verbally harassed and, in some cases, physically assaulted in stores, and its scary to think this may only be the beginning. On Monday, President Trump asked Americans to stop most of their social activities for the next 15 days and avoid groups of more than 10 people to help stop the highly contagious disease from spreading. Although the measures being taken in the U.S. are only a fraction of what is being seen in other countries, not everyone is cooperating. In many cities, people continue to gather in bars and socialize as if nothing is going on, sparking outrage and potentially putting vulnerable populations like the elderly and immuno-compromised at risk. This is leading to heated confrontations and fights at some establishments. In some urban areas, individuals have taken to yelling out the windows of their apartment buildings at people walking on the streets below, admonishing them to go home and stop spreading the disease. In addition, many people are expressing anger at people from specific high-risk groups who arent following self-isolation advice, such as travelers returning to the U.S. from other countries. Food and supply shortages are even leading to violence in some places. A San Francisco Safeway grocery store was recently the scene of a small but violent fight that saw people throwing bottles of wine across the store. Although no injuries were reported, its easy to see where this might be headed. Last Friday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said that anxiety about coronavirus had prompted some people to steal medical face masks from hospitals, and health officials in cities like Boston were also reporting thefts of essential protective gear like respiratory masks. There have also been hate crimes connected to the outbreak directed at Asian people, with an Asian New York City subway passenger being sprayed with Febreze and verbally abused over coronavirus. In London, a 23-year-old student from Singapore was attacked on Oxford Street and punched in the face; the guy who attacked him reportedly told him, I dont want your coronavirus in my country. In Italy, the coronavirus lockdown triggered violent protests inside prisons, with inmates looting methadone and setting prisons on fire. Where do we go from here? All of these incidents are alarming on their own, but whats really frightening is the idea that this is just the tip of the iceberg. While European countries like Italy and Spain are currently considered the epicenter of the disease, the U.S. will be in the thick of it in short order and what will happen next? What will happen when people who live paycheck to paycheck stop seeing those funds rolling in and need to feed their families? What will happen when people head to the grocery store only to be greeted with empty shelves? How will they react to power outages? As the job losses pile up, how will people make ends meet? What happens if financial institutions collapse? What kinds of things are hungry, desperate people capable of? These are all questions that none of us really want to know the answer to, but thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, we may be about to find out. Sources for this article include: News.Trust.org ABC7News.com NewYorker.com CNBC.com Iran on Monday said that 127 people have succumbed to the novel coronavirus in the last 24 hours, raising the death toll to 1,812. The country also reported 1,411 new confirmed cases which have emerged in the same duration taking the nationwide tally to more 21,600 of confirmed positive cases. Head of Iran's Health Ministry Public Relations Office Kianoush Jahanpour said on Monday, "1,411 new affected cases have been detected since yesterday. Over the last 24 hours, 127 people succumbed due to the deadly virus," IRNA reported. He stated that over 36 million people have also been screened with regard to coronavirus infection. Moreover, Iran's representative in Bank, Hossein Mir Shojaian Hosseini, has urged the body to provide strong support for countries that are battling with the coronavirus outbreak. Meanwhile, Ferid Belhaj, Bank Vice President for the Middle East and North, tweeted, "Earlier today, the @WorldBank, together with the @IMFNews virtually convened economic ministers from #MENA to discuss the response to #COVID19." "Countries are taking decisive actions to protect their people & economies, and can count on our support in these unprecedented times," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) From being called 'paon paon wale bhaiya' (foot soldier) by villagers to being addressed as 'Mama' (maternal uncle) by children, Chouhan's long innings at the top was interrupted when the BJP fell short of seven seats from the majority mark in the 2018 polls. IMAGE: BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan takes oath as new Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh in Bhopal, on Monday. Photograph: PTI Photo A leader with wide mass appeal and known for his humility, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who took over as chief minister of Madhya Pradesh for a record fourth term on Monday night, is the most popular Bharatiya Janata Party face in the state. After becoming the longest-serving chief minister of Madhya Pradesh (2005-2018), Chouhan was unseated after the BJP narrowly lost the November 2018 assembly election, which saw the Congress coming to power under Kamal Nath. However, 15 months later, Chouhan (61), an experienced political campaigner, is back in the saddle, largely due to a rebellion by senior Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia who ensured resignations by MLAs loyal to him trigger the collapse of the Nath government last week. Scindia later joined the BJP and is set to be elected to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh. BJP legislators elected Chouhan, a mild-mannered politician, as their leader given his vast experience and ability to take everybody along. Scindia described Chouhan as 'Kabhi na thaknewalaneta' (A leader who never gets tired), while addressing BJP workers here soon after joining the saffron party a few days ago. From being called 'paon paon wale bhaiya' (foot soldier) by villagers to being addressed as 'Mama' (maternal uncle) by children, Chouhan's long innings at the top was interrupted when the BJP fell short of seven seats from the majority mark in the 2018 polls. The Congress, which too could not breach the majority mark, quickly moved to stitch a majority with the help of Bahujan Samaj Party, Samajwadi Party and Independent MLAs, ending its 15-year-long wait for power in the key Hindi heartland state. However, despite having a veteran like Nath at the helm, the Congress could not save its government. Having a carefully cultivated image of a family man coupled with simplicity, Chouhan, in 2018, had led the BJP's campaign, presenting himself as one among the people, promising further development. But 13 of his ministers lost the elections, thus ending his dream of another term in office. Assiduously working on his 'son of the soil' image, the soft-spoken leader easily identified himself with the socio-economic concerns of farmers, villagers and commoners. While in office, he maintained a low profile, ignoring comparisons with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and remained fully concentrated on Madhya Pradesh. During his 13-year-tenure in the office, Chouhan transformed himself from being a shy, simple and vulnerable politician to a wily leader with mass appeal. Though the Opposition Congress linked Chouhan to the multi-crore Vyapam scam, he emerged unscathed. The Central Bureau of Investigation gave a clean chit to Chouhan. The Vyapam scandal was an entrance examination, admission and recruitment scam that was unearthed in 2013. Born on March 5, 1959, to a farming family of Prem Singh Chouhan and Sundar Bai at village Jait in Sehore district, his long journey in public life began with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) when he was just 13 years. Chouhan's leadership skills first came to the fore when he was elected as president of the Model Higher Secondary School Students' Union in 1975. He participated in the underground movement against the Emergency and was imprisoned in 1976-77 and also on many other occasions for political agitations and public causes. A volunteer of the RSS since 1977, Chouhan is a gold medalist in Masters of Philosophy from the Barkatulla University in Bhopal. Chouhan replaced Babulal Gaur as chief minister on November 29, 2005 and remained in the saddle since then unchallenged till the party's defeat at the hustings in 2018. He also served as general secretary of the BJP and president of the party's MP unit. Chouhan was first elected to the state Assembly from Budhni in 1990. Chouhan was elected the Member of Parliament for the first time from the Vidisha constituency in 1991. He was re-elected from the seat in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2004. He won his fifth Lok Sabha election (in 2004) with an impressive margin of over 2,60,000 votes. His political journey took another turn when the BJP, led by fiery Uma Bharti, swept the state polls in 2003, the after Chhattisgarh was carved out of Madhya Pradesh. At that time, Chouhan contested the polls unsuccessfully against the incumbent chief minister Digvijay Singh from Raghogarh. Soon, Bharti resigned and Gaur became the chief minister in 2004, only to be replaced by Chouhan the next year. Chouhan established himself by launching welfare schemes like Ladli Laxmi Yojna, Mukhya Mantri Kanyadan Yojna, Mukhya Mantri Teerth Darshan Yojna, providing bicycles for schoolchildren, Re 1 per kg rice and Rs 2 per kg wheat for the poor and Sambal Yojna offering cheap electricity. Some of these schemes became popular and were emulated by some other states. Under his leadership, the state became self-dependent in power and was supplying uninterrupted electricity for 24 hours to non-agriculture consumers and 10-hour dedicated supply to agriculture consumers. Chouhan also undertook the 'Namami Devi Narmade yatra' to initiate steps for conservation of the Narmada, considered the lifeline of Madhya Pradesh, by planting a large number of tress on the banks of the river. In 2018, the BJP won 109 seats in the 230-member Assembly, where the majority mark was 116. Chouhan was re-elected from Budhni. The BJP had won 163 seats in the 2013 Assembly polls. In 2018, the BJP, however, drew comfort from the fact that its vote share at 41 per cent was marginally higher than that secured by the Congress which bagged 40.9 per cent of the popular votes. The Congress got 114 seats, two less than the majority mark of 116. However, fate smiled on him again on Monday when he was chosen again by the BJP to take over as chief minister. Post-Scindia revolt and his subsequent entry in the BJP, political dynamics in the state have changed. In the current political scenario, stability of the government will be a major challenge for Chouhan. Allianz Life Insurance has announced free life insurance cover worth GHS8.44 million to medical professionals in three hospitals in the country who may come into direct contact with people infected with the highly infectious deadly COVID-19. The selected health institutions include 37 Military Hospital, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in the Greater Accra region, and the KomfoAnokye Teaching Hospital in the Ashanti region. Speaking at a ceremony to present the package to the management of the 37 Military Hospital, Gideon Ataraire, CEO of Allianz Life Insurance remarked that the gesture is to acknowledge the sacrifices these professionals make in their quest to ensure the infection is brought under control. We recognize that the government has put in place a number of measures to ensure that this outbreak is contained. For us at Allianz Life, we looked at what the government has done and decided to add to these measures by taking care of these professionals at the frontline of this fight in case of any eventuality, he said. The package covers 112 medical doctors and 620 nurses who work in the emergency sections and other key departments in the three health institutions. The 12-month cover insures the medical professionals against incidents that may happen over the period regardless of whether it is COVID-19 related or not. These professionals are expected to receive compensation in the event of any incident that renders them unable to perform their duties while their families are assured of compensation from Allianz Life Insurance in the event of death. Col. A. G. Bugri - Commanding Official of the Hospital receiving the package on behalf of the management of the 37 Military Hospital said the insurance package would serve as additional motivation for medical professionals who happen to be at the frontline of COVID-19. This is a very kind gesture because we at the frontline we were worried about what happens to us. You can get infected and when that happens and you know there is an insurance package to remedy such a tragedy, you are very happy. This emboldens us to go forward and our families would know if anything happens, there is something to lean on, he added. As at Friday March 20, 2020, 16 cases of the coronavirus disease also known as COVID-19 have been recorded, according to the Ghana Health Service. The presentation of the package to the management of the KomfoAnokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi was done by Robert Eshun, the Northern Sector Regional Sales Manager. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the hospital, Dr. Oheneba Owusu-Danso, who received the package, expressed managements heartfelt gratitude to Allianz Life. He said the offer will contribute immensely to the battle to contain the spread of the COVID-19. He stated while health professionals go great lengths to battle the disease, it is also imperative for the public to abide by the precautionary measures check against the spread of the disease announced by the relevant health agencies. The presentation to the staff and management of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital will be made at a later date. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Toronto - Andrey Golubov, an assistant professor of finance at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management, is this year's recipient of the Bank of Canada's Governor's Award. The award is presented annually and provides financial support to academics who are recognized for their expertise and research in areas important to the Bank's core functions. The grant is worth up to $30,000 a year over two years. This is the third time in recent years that the award has been presented to a finance professor at the Rotman School. Prof. Mikhail Simutin received the award in 2017 and Prof. Liyan Yang, who holds the Peter L. Mitchelson/SIT Investment Associates Foundation Chair in Investment Strategy, was the recipient in 2016. A leading academic expert on mergers and takeovers, Prof. Golubov studies how firms make investment and financing decisions, particularly those involving corporate control considerations. His work falls into two broad streams of financial economics: capital markets and the market for corporate control, and the behaviour of asset prices. His current research examines various aspects of mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and firm value and performance. One of his ongoing projects is pioneering the use of new microdata from Canada to better understand the effects of mergers and acquisitions on employee welfare. Prof. Golubov joined the Rotman School in 2015 and holds a PhD from the University of Surrey. The Rotman School of Management is part of the University of Toronto, a global centre of research and teaching excellence at the heart of Canada's commercial capital. Rotman is a catalyst for transformative learning, insights and public engagement, bringing together diverse views and initiatives around a defining purpose: to create value for business and society. For more information, visit http://www.rotman.utoronto.ca ### For more information: Ken McGuffin Manager, Media Relations Rotman School of Management University of Toronto Voice 416.946.3818 E-mail mcguffin@rotman.utoronto.ca Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Global Carbon Nanotubes (CNT) Market is expected to reach USD 3.42 billion by 2022, according to a new study by Grand View Research, Inc. Increasing application scope of CNT in end-use industries including polymers, electronics, energy, marine, aerospace and automotives is anticipated to drive market growth over the forecast period. Government of China, Japan, U.S. and India have increased funding aimed at promoting nanotechnology at domestic level which is expected to open new avenues for CNT market over the next seven years. Global carbon nanotubes (CNT) market is anticipated to witness growth due to growing application scope of nanomaterials in electronics, plastics and energy storage applications. Favorable regulatory support intended for promoting nanotechnology at domestic level by governments of the U.S., Japan and countries of European Union has played an important role in increasing importance of nanomaterials over the past few years. CNT is majorly used as composite fiber in polymers for improving thermal, electrical and mechanical properties of bulk products. Growing polymer production on account of increasing application scope in construction and automotive industries in emerging economies including China, India, Brazil and the Middle East is anticipated to augment carbon nanotubes market over the forecast period. Polymers were the largest application segment, accounting for over 60% of global CNT market volume in 2014. CNT are increasingly being fortified in polymers such as composites and plastic derivatives for improving electrical, thermal and mechanical strength of the end product. Growing application of polymers in construction, automotive and consumer goods industry is anticipated to have a positive impact on CNT market over the forecast period. Access Research Report of Carbon Nanotubes Market @ http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/carbon-nanotubes-cnt-market Further key findings from the study suggest: Global CNT market demand was stood at 5,064.1 tons in 2014 and is anticipated to exceed 20,000 tons by 2022, growing at a CAGR of over 18% from 2015 to 2020. Multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) was the largest product segment, accounting for majority market volume in 2014. Lower price in comparison to other CNT products is expected to promote market growth. Asia Pacific was the largest CNT market, accounting for over 40% of global volume in 2014. Growing plastic and composite industries in China and India on account of increasing domestic demand coupled with low manufacturing cost as compared to North America and countries of EU is anticipated to augment CNT market. Positive electronics industry outlook in China, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Japan is expected to significantly impact CNT market over the next seven years. Global CNT market was dominated by four companies, Showa Denko, Nanocyl, CNano Technology and Future Carbon, accounting for the lions share in 2014. Product innovation through increased R&D expenditure is anticipated to remain a key critical success factor for CNT market over the forecast period. High manufacturing cost is expected to remain a key challenge for CNT market players.. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global CNT market on the basis of application and region: Global CNT Product Outlook (Volume, Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2012 - 2022) Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWCNT) Multi Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNT) Global CNT Application Outlook (Volume, Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2012 - 2022) Polymers Energy Electrical & Electronics Others Global CNT Regional Outlook (Volume, Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2012 - 2022) North America Europe Latin America Asia Pacific MEA About Grand View Research Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare. As Australia continues to grapple with the spread of the killer coronavirus, a team of unsung heroes are working tirelessly to ensure the country will survive. Thousands of workers have been told to stay home but staff including doctors, childcare workers, transport workers, supermarket workers and nurses continue work around the clock. Short staffed and exhausted, some of the workers refuse to go home despite the virus rapidly spreading with more than 1,600 Australians testing positive and the country encouraged to self-isolate. One doctor spent an entire night translating Mandarin to English as she treated patients in isolation while a supermarket employee lied to his family to keep his job and stack shelves for the elderly. Catherine Li, (pictured with Dr John Gerrard) a renal nurse working at the Gold Coast University hospital worked through the night translating English to Mandarin for eight patients who had been isolated for COVID-19 Catherine Li, a renal nurse working at the Gold Coast University hospital worked through the night translating English to Mandarin for eight patients who had been isolated for COVID-19. A tour group of Chinese people had been travelling around Australia at the end of January when one of them tested positive for the disease. The group was rushed to hospital. Ms Li changed into protective gear 30 times in the one shift, as she went back and forth translating directions from the doctor she was working beside. 'Catherine's the unsung hero of the health service's early handling of the visitors,' Dr John Gerrard, who spent the night beside Ms Li said. 'She was not only one of the most professional people I have ever worked with, she was calm, self-effacing and went well beyond what was asked of her. 'I needed someone urgently that could speak Mandarin and English as the patients were in isolation and none of them could speak English. 'Catherine was able to take control and settle the group, which included children, in an efficient and calm way, interpret for both myself and our team and did everything asked of her at a critical time.' Police have also been working tirelessly to ensure the safety of Australians amid the pandemic. Police have also worked tirelessly amid the pandemic with officers patrolling supermarkets to prevent panic buyers (pictured officers at a Coles in Sydney) Many officers across the country have been dealt with the difficult task of ensuring people follow the government's 'social distancing' policies that requires people to be 1.5 metres apart. On Monday, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced a 500-strong taskforce would be established to crack down on mass gatherings and those who weren't practising social distancing. These officers will also be monitoring that those returning to the state from overseas will undergo the 14 days in isolation. One police station in Melbourne was even offering free toilet paper after shops were stripped of the highly sought after product. Warrandyte Police Station in the city's north-east offered the free rolls to those who were unable to go out and buy some. Warrandyte Police Station (pictured) in the city's north-east offered the free rolls to those who were unable to go out and buy some People were told to come to the station and say the codeword 'cupcake' for some loo rolls in return. Despite many professionals working from home, public transport workers remain on the job. Bus drivers, train conductors and other operators continue to go about business as usual amid the pandemic. Teachers and childcare workers will also remain at work. One Sydney teacher told Daily Mail Australia that while the spread of the disease was stressful, she was determined to keep teaching. 'As a young, non-vulnerable person I'm happy to keep teaching as long as older teachers don't have to. I'm happy to take on extra students,' Zoe said. '(The disease) is on the front of our minds but I feel comfortable because I'm low risk but other teachers that are older I am feeling a bit uncomfortable.' Teachers and childcare workers said that while they were worried about the disease, they knew they had to put the children first (file image) Zoe said that students at her primary school were allowed to do their work from home but her full class has been attending anyways. 'If (me teaching) makes people calm its good. I think students that need to be here should be here.' Childcare worker and mother-of-five Nicole, who manages a before and after school care centre said that while she was nervous about the spread of the virus, she would remain open. 'As a mum of 5 I am nervous about continuing to work and potentially put my own families health at risk but we will remain open until we are directed that we cant or until the need is no longer there or viable, for example if all parents keep their children home,' the mother-of-five said. 'Whilst (before and after school car) is seen as an essential service we are rarely recognised or accounted for and we too are looking after many families during this time desperately trying to get supplies to hygienically do so, not to mention get food supplies for our kids. Staff at supermarkets have also been hailed as unsung heroes after working long shifts to help re-stack shelves (staff at a Coles in Melbourne) Nicole said that it was essential the centre remain open for the children who's parents had no choice but to work. 'Some of the children attending are vulnerable or from families whose parents desperately need to work as long as they can,' she said. 'Its just a crazy time for everyone and my staff and I feel we need to do everything we can to keep all our kids safe and healthy.' Supermarkets have been hit hard amid the outbreak of the killer disease with shelves stripped bare within minutes of the store opening. Staff have worked overtime to ensure shoppers can still buy vital supplies. Arafat Izhar, (pictured) who is originally from Bangladesh and travelled to Australia to study, doesn't want to resign from his job at Woolworths because it means old people may not get their groceries Arafat Izhar, a Woolworths employee, says his family were so sick with worry that he lied to them and told them he had quit his job packing shelves at the western Sydney store. Mr Izhar, who is originally from Bangladesh and travelled to Australia to study, doesn't want to resign because it means old people may not get their groceries. He previously told Daily Mail Australia that many of his colleagues are in the same boat. 'Our families are really worried about us and what is going on,' he said. 'There are a lot of students who are lying to their parents and telling them not to worry because they aren't working, yet they still are. CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement 'I did the same thing because I know if I don't go to work, an elderly woman may not get her food.' On a normal night shift Mr Izhar said he will start at 9pm before finishing at 6am the following morning. Another Woolworths worker, an international student, told Daily Mail Australia that he was now working 40 hours a week, up from 20, to cope with demand. 'We are going against our families wishes by working during the coronavirus crisis. It's a similar situation to the firefighters risking their lives during the bushfires in January.' So far there have been more than 1,600 cases of coronavirus in Australia and seven deaths. On Saturday night, after many tears, my in-laws returned to Turkey, their return much earlier than we had anticipated. They arrived March 1 to spend the month with their son, daughter-in-law and their grandchildren. This was meant to be a joyous trip. After learning that Turkey plans to cancel all international flights into the country with the exception of five routes, they decided to leave Canada. When we said goodbye, none of us could tell the children when we might all be together again. It was heartbreaking. After my in-laws arrival in Istanbul, my father-in-law texted us from the Istanbul International Airport. They were in line, waiting to be screened. The police had temporarily confiscated passports and there was someone in the line behind them with a fever. After an agonizing wait, we heard news. They would not be returning to their home, despite their pleas to self-quarantine there. They were on their way to state quarantine, which meant confinement in a student dormitory far from their home for 14 days. They, along with other weary and confused travellers, were ushered onto buses by police officers and transported to the makeshift quarantine facilities. There are many who might see this move as necessary to thwart a pandemic in Turkey. However, Turkey could have pre-emptively required tests for those returning to Turkey from abroad. It could have, like Canada, insisted that returning citizens self-quarantine in their own homes. It might be easy to dismiss the experience of my in-laws as that which happens in countries with weaker democratic systems than our own. Yet we are not as far apart as one might think. If this past week has taught us anything, it is that things can change at a rapid pace. And if history has taught us anything it is that hard won freedoms, the backbone of our democracy, are often eroded in times of crises. If we do not voluntarily self-isolate, we may face increasingly stringent restrictions on our civil liberties and on our freedom of movement. On Saturday, Health Minister Patty Hadju warned that if Canadians dont follow the public health directions voluntarily, governments may step in to enforce them. If we ignore the calls to stay home and to restrict our contact with others, we are providing the state with the rationale it needs to restrict our cherished freedoms. The federal government has not ruled out invoking the Emergencies Act to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. This would give the state exceptional powers. We know that when government authorities are given unrestrained power, there is increased risk that they will abuse this power. Are we prepared to take this risk? Much has been written about the moral imperative to stay indoors and limit our contact with others. We owe it those who fall within risk categories to stay indoors. We self-isolate for the sake of others. However, there is also a political imperative. We should not give our government a reason to restrict civil liberties. This sacrifice is one that will help preserve the lives of our most vulnerable but it will also, in the long run, help to preserve our democracy. Pompeo, who after leaving Kabul met with a senior Taliban official in Qatar, also said Ghani and Abdullah were acting inconsistent with agreements they made to support a U.S.-Taliban peace agreement signed last month. That deal called for intra-Afghan peace talks to begin within 10 days, by March 10, but they have not begun. Ghani and Abdullah have not yet even agreed on who should be part of the non-Taliban delegation nor have they agreed to prisoner swaps with the Taliban as envisaged by the deal. Photo credit: NASA/Chandra X-ray Observatory From Popular Mechanics NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory helped power an experiment that might refute string theory. Experimentation in real life based on string theory is still pretty new, with much to discover. Scientists didn't find the particles they were seeking, which means one of a few different takeaways. Could some observations from a faraway galaxy add up to a refutation of string theory? Researchers who study data from NASAs Chandra Observatory think so. Its difficult to prove somethings absence from the universe, but in the Perseus galaxy cluster, scientists found no signs of a type of boson called an axion-like particle they say is integral to some kinds of string theory. Rather than damning for any particular form of string theory, the researchers say this was really a special opportunity to test these theories firsthand. For five days, the Chandra X-ray Observatory combed the Perseus galaxy cluster for evidence of extremely low-mass particles including axions and axion-like particles. Axions are one thing, but more variable and convertible axion-like particles are the key item in this experiment. Galaxy clusters are giganticso large that theyre the biggest single body of things that gravity can still hold together. At the heart of the Perseus cluster is a giant black hole, and its this flow and pull, into the black hole from the rest of the cluster, where Chandra used a full spectrum of x-ray signals to search for axions and axion-like particles. The tiny particles cause distortions that can be detected by the x-rays. There's no way around it: The lack of evidence in this experiment is disappointing. If physicists are basically panning the universe for gold in the form of axion-like particles, theyve gotten down to a strainer small enough to snag a billionth of an electron and still not found the gold. Now, they say, the options are more like Goldilocks: the axion-like particles are smaller than we thought, much larger than we thought (and therefore out of Chandras gauged range this time), or theyre just not there at all. This study is four times finer and 100 more powerful than previous observations could be. Story continues String theory offers a way to harmonize all of physics together, something that was easier before scientists began to turn their minds toward outer space, posit the existence of bosons and other wildly tiny subatomic particles, and theorize about dark matter. Its hard to believe theres no unifying theory out there to be found, and intuitively we feel like the world is operating by some consistent idea. But to formulate concrete suggestions and theories has required a great deal of calculation and position of these theoretical pieces that glue each theory together. If real observation doesnt reveal the right glue, that helps scientists continue to develop their theories. These constraints dig into the range of properties suggested by string theory, and may help string theorists weed their theories, coauthor Dr. Helen Russell said in a NASA statement . You Might Also Like Germany's Merkel goes into quarantine after contact with infected doctor By Ludwig Burger FRANKFURT (Reuters) - German chancellor Angela Merkel went into quarantine on Sunday after coming into contact with a coronavirus-infected doctor shortly after announcing more curbs on social interaction to slow the spread of the disease. Merkel, 65, will continue her work from home and will submit to repeated tests over the next few days, her spokesman said in a statement, adding it was too soon for a conclusive test yet. Merkel had on Friday afternoon received a vaccine shot against pneumococcus, a pneumonia-causing bacteria, from a doctor who later tested positive for coronavirus, according to the statement. Merkel earlier on Sunday said in a televised press briefing that Germany would ban public meetings of more than two people, amid a raft of further measures. "The great aim is to gain time in the fight against the virus," she said, citing an agreement between the federal government and regional states. For at least the next two weeks, people will not be allowed to form groups of three or more in public unless they live together in the same household, or the gathering is work-related, she added. Restaurants can only serve patrons via takeaway, while hairdressers and beauty, massage and tattoo parlours must close. Governments in Europe, the epicenter of the global pandemic, have escalated their emergency responses amid a rising death toll. Italy banned travel within the country after freezing non-essential business activity. Spain wants to extend until April 11 a state of emergency it imposed this month. Regional states in Germany had previously taken differing approaches in the fight against the virus. Bavaria and smaller Saarland had gone furthest, imposing restrictions to keep people inside their homes save for a number of work-related exceptions. "We are reducing public life and social interaction further and we are making sure to impose the same rules in principle across Germany," Merkel said. Last year, Merkel suffered several bouts of shaking at public events, sparking speculation about her health. Story continues "I am aware of the responsibility of my office," she told reporters last July after the tremor episodes. "I behave appropriately as far as my health is concerned ... I look after my health." Merkel has said she will not seek a fifth term as chancellor in federal elections due by October 2021. She has loomed large on the European stage since 2005, helping guide the EU through the euro zone crisis and opening Germany's doors to migrants fleeing war in the Middle East in 2015, a move that still divides the bloc and her country. (Reporting by Ludwig Burger; Additional reporting by Paul Carrel; Editing by Andrew Heavens and David Holmes) An online petition is calling for delivery companies to reduce the commission fees they are charging restaurants amid the coronavirus crisis. On Sunday night, prime minister announced the closure of all cafes and restaurants, with takeaway and delivery now the only options. Menulog has reported an increase in restaurants signing up for its service. Visit Business Insider Australias homepage for more stories. While restaurants are scrambling to signing up to delivery platforms as restaurants and cafes across the country become delivery and takeaway only, some are calling for the platform commission fees to be reduced. Food delivery company Menulog told Business Insider Australia it has received "a high volume" of requests to join its platform. "Requests are coming from restaurants and cafes, as well as grocery, convenience stores and more," a Menulog spokesperson told Business Insider Australia via email. "We have boosted resources to be able to meet the demand from these businesses as quickly as possible to ensure they can continue to operate." Fellow delivery service Deliveroo said its orders have been steady. Deliveroo Head of Corporate Affairs Joanne Woo told Business Insider Australia via email deliveries have kept at their usual pace during this time period, with the most popular companies being fast food chains KFC, McDonalds, Guzman y Gomez, Oporto and Subway. Menulog, along with other delivery platforms like Uber Eats, DoorDash and Deliveroo, have also implemented a range of measures to support both their drivers and restaurants on their platform, such as offering contactless delivery. The services have also announced changes to some of their fee structures. Menulog halved all commission on pickup orders until further notice and is waiving all activation fees for restaurants aiming to join the platform. On top of that, Menulog will invest $3 million to promote local restaurants open for pickup and delivery. Story continues DoorDash removed delivery fees on orders from restaurants and waived commission on all pickup orders placed through its platform. Plus, new restaurants that sign up to the platform can sign up for free and don't have to pay a commission for 30 days. Uber Eats on the other hand, announced $5 million in funding to help restaurants in Australia and New Zealand attract more customers. Restaurants now have the option of receiving daily instead of weekly payments during the coronavirus pandemic, and wont have to pay a service fee on pickup orders until June 30. Plus, Uber Eats is waiving activation fees for new restaurants that want to sign up. For Deliveroo, its focus is ensuring riders can continue to work safely and restaurants can keep trading. "During these challenging times, our focus is on ensuring restaurants can continue to trade and that the Australian public can still order from local restaurants - supporting the local economy and assisting those that are in self-isolation," she said. Deliveroo is also working with caterers and fine dining restaurants. "We are also actively working with small businesses who traditionally have not operated on food delivery platforms, such as caterers and fine dining restaurants, to help them pivot their business to the online channel so that they can continue to trade." Some are calling for delivery companies to reduce their commission fees further Despite the measures delivery companies have implemented to support restaurants, some are calling for them to reduce or eliminate their commission fees altogether. Melbourne food writer Dani Valent started an online petition calling for Uber Eats and Deliveroo to reduce the up to 30% commission fees they charge to restaurants. "These are incredibly difficult times for restaurants and cafes," she said. "But it is a time when delivery is likely to play a very important role for not only people who are stuck at home, but also for businesses who aren't able to have perhaps any or as many customers in their venues." Valent highlighted that she wanted to see these delivery services give restaurants "a better chance of survival through this crisis." Paul Schulte, director and partner in the Prince of York, a wine bar and restaurant in Sydney, told Business Insider Australia he has both signed up to Uber Eats and signed Valent's petition. He explained that he joined Uber Eats because "we don't have a choice" but agrees that the commission fees are too high. "We can't pay 35%," he said. "We all work on tiny margins and we're trying to do what we can." In the midst of these increasingly uncertain times, Schulte has personally worked to make sure he supports his staff. He said he insured their cars to keep them in a job and allow them to deliver packages themselves. "It's better to try and keep my staff and look after them than pay big companies 35%," he said. The government announcements are a "nail in the coffin" for restaurants With Scott Morrison's order to shut down shut down restaurants and cafes except for takaway and delivery , the industry faces a tougher challenge. Schulte said the impact of the coronavirus has already caused a "dire" situation in the city. "The biggest issue is just the unknown," he said. "You can't budget for it, you can't figure out how long you need to lose money for. If this is going on for six months, what reopens will be very minimal." On her Facebook page, Valent described what restaurant owners said following initial social distancing requirements. "A lot of restaurateurs are saying that's the nail in the coffin, they'll have to close," she said. She added that many restaurants are scrambling to pivot to the delivery business model, but for some it would be a significant challenge. "It's not a comfortable place for many of them," she said. "Delivery looks like it's going to be the only lifeline for a lot of these businesses." The hospitality industry is at a "breaking point", with restaurants looking for support Steven Premutico, founder of restaurant payment platform me&u, told Business Insider Australia the hospitality industry is "truly on its knees". "It's not a crisis, it's a breaking point," he said. Premutico is also supporting the online petition that calls for delivery companies to reduce their commission fees. "We need to fight together to try and help the industry that is hospitality," he said. "What we're seeing is that operators are closing their doors day by day now. The delivery guys can help. We need them to come to the table. And I'm not saying forever but help the operators." What you can do to support restaurants Valent said restaurants are looking to the government to support them with rent abatements, tax reliefs and assistance for staff they aren't able to keep paying. Premutico echoed those comments by highlighting three main areas restaurants are looking for relief in: delivery, landlords and the big banks. In the meantime, Valent offered some advice for what you can do to support restaurants during this time. "They would love diners to support them by buying takeaway if that's something that they're offering [and] to buy gift vouchers to use down the track," she said. But she says getting takeaway itself won't be enough. "We really need the government to support the industry," she said. READ MORE: Former Detainees In Prisoner Swap Return To France, Iran By RFE/RL March 22, 2020 Two former detainees released in a prisoner swap between France and Iran have returned to their home countries after each having spent months in confinement. French researcher Roland Marchal arrived in Paris on March 21, with his support group releasing a short statement saying, "Roland has returned." Meanwhile, Iranian engineer Jallal Rohollahnejad, who is wanted in the United States, arrived in Tehran to an emotional meeting with his family. The two were both released the day before in what Mizan Online, the news site of the Iranian judiciary, called "an act of mutual cooperation." The detentions had complicated ties between the two countries during a period when French President Emmanuel Macron sought to defuse tensions between Washington and Tehran, and while Iran has sought France's help to mitigate the economic damage caused by U.S. financial sanctions. A relative told AFP that Marchal was taken to a military hospital near Paris for medical tests and that the "analyses were good." Macron had announced that Tehran released Marchal after France freed Rohollahnejad instead of sending him to the United States, where he is suspected of being involved in an attempt to export sensitive industrial equipment to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions. Macron's office said he "is happy to announce the release of Roland Marchal, imprisoned in Iran since June 2019" but that he "urges the Iranian authorities to immediately free" fellow researcher Fariba Adelkhah. Marchal, 64, a senior researcher at Sciences Po university, was detained in June 2019 along fellow researcher Adelkhah. The 60-year-old Adelkhah is a citizen of both France and Iran, but Tehran does not recognize dual nationality. Said Dehqan, lawyer for both French detainees, told AFP that Adelkhah was "very happy" that her companion had been freed. Adelkhah faces charges of "propaganda against the system" and "colluding to commit acts against national security," according her lawyer, who said that Marchal was accused of similar charges. The lawyer said in October 2019 that Iranian prosecutors had given no evidence to support the charges against them. The researchers' supporters had expressed concerns over the health of the detainees after Iran became one of the hardest-hit countries amid the global coronavirus pandemic. As of March 22, at least 1,685 people have died in Iran from the COVID-19 virus, and nearly 22,000 have been confirmed infected. In Tehran, state television showed images of a freed Rohollahnejad hugging members of his family during a reunion in the Iranian capital. "Thanks be to God, those days have ended," Rohollahnejad said of his confinement. He claimed he had been badly treated while being detained in France. The French Court of Cassation on March 11 said it had approved "the request to extradite Rohollahnejad to the U.S., but the French government freed him, changing this decision." Rohollahnejad was detained under a U.S. extradition warrant at the airport in the southern French city of Nice on February 2, 2019. Iran is still holding U.S. citizens Siamak Namazi his father, Baquer, and environmental expert Morad Tahbaz. Siamak Namazi was convicted on charges including espionage and collaboration with the U.S. government. In Washington, the U.S. State Department harshly criticized France for releasing Rohollahnejad, accusing Paris of failing to uphold its obligations under a joint extradition treaty "The United States deeply regrets France's unilateral decision to release Iranian national Jalal Rohollahnejad from its custody," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said. "There are multiple outstanding U.S. charges against him related to the illegal export of equipment with military applications in violation of U.S. sanctions." "The United States and France have a shared interest in bringing those accused of serious crimes to justice, particularly in cases with national security implications," she said in a statement. With reporting by AFP and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/france-iran-former- detainees-return-home-country-marshal-fariba- rohollahnejad/30501971.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address F ormer first minister of Scotland Alex Salmond has been acquitted of all charges after a sexual assault trial. He was cleared on charges including attempted rape and a series of sexual assaults, including one with intent to rape. The jury returned a not proven verdict on one charge of assault with intent to rape. He was found not guilty of all other charges, including attempted rape. The trial was heard at the High Court in Edinburgh. Mr Salmond had denied all 13 offences against him. Getty Images Salmond, wearing his trademark saltire tie, showed little emotion as the verdicts were read out. He turned to the two court security officers and said thank you to each of them. Judge Lady Dorrian discharged Mr Salmond and he said: Thank you my lady, before leaving the courtroom. Making a statement outside court, Mr Salmond spoke of his "nightmare" before referring to the coronavirus pandemic. He said: "This nightmare is of nothing compared to what every single one of us is living through."People are dying, many more are going to die." Talking to reporters, he added: "I know it's your job but it's not safe. "Go home and take care of your families and God help us all." Mr Salmond has said that some of the claims against him were politically motivated. He added on Monday: There is certain evidence that I would have liked to have seen led in this trial but for a variety of reasons we were not able to do so. Those facts will see the light but it wont be this day. Mr Salmond thanked his friends and family for standing by him during his trial. Mr Salmond was first minister from 2007-2014 and leader of the Scottish National Party from 2004. As we find ourselves in the unprecedented situation of coping with a global pandemic, anxiety, fear and overwhelm have understandably become a feature of our daily lives. As we come to terms with the ever-changing situation, like many of you out there, I've been feeling a bit unhinged lately - as if a rug of safety has been pulled from under me. Whilst this feeling exists, so too does a strong sense of hope and solidarity. Our universal human need for compassion, both for others and ourselves, has the power to counterbalance fear and restore a soothing sense of calm and connection. Compassion is a foundation for sharing our aliveness and building a more humane world. In our history, it is during our most challenging times that humans have shown one another the most compassion, evidenced by countless heart-warming examples of communities coming together to help the most vulnerable all around Ireland and beyond. Like the ripple created by throwing a pebble in a pond, one act of compassion can have an effect that can reach around the world. Whilst we don't yet have a vaccine for Covid-19, its treatment is dependent on the actions taken by each and every member of our human community to help stop its spread and save lives. Taking these precautionary steps for you and for your family is your way of truly taking care of others and showing compassion. Stress gives us access to our hearts When humans encounter stressful situations, not only do we release adrenaline to spur us into action, but we also release a stress hormone called oxytocin, our "cuddle hormone", which drives us to become more caring, compassionate and connected together. Oxytocin fine-tunes our brain's social instincts, enhances our empathy and makes us more willing to support the people we care about, with incredible benefits for our overall wellbeing. How we respond to stressors has a significant impact on how we cope with that stress, and the type of impact it will bear on us mentally and physically. During times of stress, what empowers humans the most is to use those very opportunities we are trying to survive as opportunities to thrive. When we view our stress response as being helpful to us, our physical response changes, favouring courage over anxiety. When we choose to connect with others under stress, we are creating resilience together. On this, Kelly McGonigal shared: "Stress gives us access to our hearts: the compassionate heart that finds joy and meaning in connecting with others, and yes, your pounding physical heart working so hard to give you strength and energy. And when you choose to view stress in this way you're saying that you can trust yourself to handle life's challenges and you're remembering that you don't have to face them alone". Whilst we may be limited in how we can connect with one another at the moment due to "social distancing", we are showing great adaptability and creativity in communicating support to one another. Although we are physically apart, connecting to one another seems to be coming second nature to us. The healing balm of self-compassion The concern I have is that many of us may be forgetting our own needs in all of this, especially those caring for others or who endure challenges. It can be so much easier to be kind to someone else than to yourself, can't it? This is where the power of self-compassion comes in, which taps into our body's self-healing system, reducing fear and anxiety, even helping to strengthen our immune systems. During this crisis, I call on you to remember that self-compassion is just as important in improving your mental and physical health as having compassion for others. One way to help you is to adopt a self-compassionate approach to Covid-19, adapted from the work of Dr Chris Germer and Dr Kristin Neff from the Centre for Mindful Self-Compassion: Common humanity Common humanity is our shared human experience of life, its joys and its pain. If we feel that we're the only person struggling with a problem, we'll end up feeling isolated. But if we recognise that this is all part of being human right now, we're far more likely to open ourselves up to connecting with others and feeling stronger within ourselves. Perhaps there is a silver lining in all of this? In the fast pace of life we found ourselves in, could this be our opportunity to slow down, to go back to basics, to reassess our priorities, to connect with the people we love, to repair old wounds? When you hear of someone struggling, imagine yourself in their shoes and say, 'They are just like me.' Or when you're having a difficult moment coping, remind yourself that, 'This is how it feels to be a human right now. Others feel as I do. I am not alone.' Mindfulness Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to the present moment, on purpose and without judgement. When people accept their emotions rather than judge themselves for being emotional, the emotions tend to run their natural and relatively short-lived course. At a time like this, ask yourself: 'Is it possible to sit with these difficult circumstances and at the same time be at peace?' Become aware of how you feel about the virus and the impact of it for you in your life. Are you feeling anxious, confused, disempowered? If so, where can you feel it in your body? Do you find yourself becoming preoccupied with the virus via news and social media? Rather than judge your thoughts or your feelings, I wonder can you sit with them and say, 'This is really hard for me right now. This is understandable. This will pass.' Self-compassion Self-compassion is having a kind attitude towards yourself and relating to yourself with warmth, just as you would comfort a close friend going through a tough time. Being kinder to yourself helps you to manage stress, activates your coping skills, releases your brain's feel-good chemicals, lifting your mood and encouraging you to reach out to others. Treating yourself with kindness opens the door to greater calm and peace. If you are feeling anxious, try putting your hand on your heart or another soothing place, helping to calm yourself through touch. What do you need to do for yourself to calm some of that anxiety? Perhaps you've absorbed enough information for now and need to switch off? A few times a day, find ways to rest and allow space to open up to yourself. I know this is harder when children are at home, but using moments to soothe yourself rather than activate fear may really help. What do you find nourishing? Going for a walk? Dancing like no one's watching? Having special family time? Chatting to a friend? Spirituality? Creativity? Playing music? Volunteering your time safely? Having a good laugh? Keeping up your routines? Whatever it is, find your own potion and give yourself the gift of soothing and love. If there's anything this virus has taught us, it's that we as a global community are in this together, and the best way through is to stand together in solidarity and look out for each other and ourselves. Awakening our inner calm and compassion seems a good place to start. A partnership with a Menlo Park genetics laboratory firm will allow the City of Hayward to open a dedicated center offering free COVID-19 coronavirus testing on Monday. The COVID-19 Testing Center at the city's fire station at 28270 Huntwood Ave. can handle up to 370 tests a day, "But we don't expect it to get that high," said city spokesman Chuck Finnie. Tests are intended for those displaying symptoms, first-responders, and health care workers with recent suspected exposures to the novel coronavirus. The intent is "to take pressure off hospital emergency rooms, provide quicker answers for recently exposed first responders and health care workers, and to enhance the region's capacity to suppress new transmissions through isolation after testing," the city said in an announcement Sunday. "We don't want the wondering and the worried to come - they need to stay home," Finnie said. "We want sick people to come." He added, "It's not a test people are going to want to take unless they have to. It's not pleasant." The test involves swabbing of nasal cavities and the back of the throat. Hayward Fire Department firefighter-paramedics will staff the center, with assistance from ambulance company emergency-medical technicians. "No referral from a medical doctor is required to be screened," the city said. The center will operate from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily and is free and open to "anyone regardless of where they live or immigration status," according to the announcement. Napa County Public Health is investigating the county's first confirmed novel coronavirus case, officials said Sunday. "The patient is located in the City of Napa," the county said in an announcement. "Napa County has issued a legal order for the patient to isolate and for close contacts of the patient to quarantine." Officials said other specifics about the case will not be released due to medical privacy requirements and to protect the identity of the patient. Officials said that with confirmation of its first case, "an important priority for Napa County will be to conduct community surveillance to determine the extent of local transmission and quickly evaluate what is happening in our community." A 57-year-old man from Santa Rosa was killed Saturday when the motorcycle he was driving veered off Butts Canyon Road and down an embankment in rural Napa County, the California Highway Patrol said. The name of the victim had not been released late Saturday night pending notification of his family. CHP Officer Marc Renspurger said the motorcycle driver was headed north of Butts Canyon Road about 4:40 p.m. Saturday near Snell Valley Road about five miles east of Middletown. Paramedics performed CPR and other life-saving measures, but the rider was pronounced at the scene. The circumstances of this collision remained under investigation late Saturday night, Renspurger said. It has not been determined whether alcohol or drugs contributed to the crash. The Central Marin Police Authority put out the call Saturday for donations of face masks, eye-protection gear, gloves and other equipment that's now in short supply due to the novel coronavirus. The agency has a limited amount of personal protective equipment and supplies are dwindling quickly. Although they have requested more, there is a nationwide shortage, the agency said in a release. "That's why we are reaching out to you now. You may have masks or other supplies that you've bought for painting or DIY home projects, smoke inhalation, or your home emergency kit," the agency said. "Perhaps you have a construction or other type of business that uses safety equipment and could spare some right now." Needed gear includes: N95 or any type of surgical mask; clear protective eye gear or goggles; face shields or splash shields; latex gloves; gowns; disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer. Anyone with supplies to donate should email margor@centralmarinpolice.org, and include information on the best way to be contacted - either by phone or email. Officials with the National Park Service and Point Reyes National Seashore announced late Saturday night that most areas of the Marin County national preserve would be closed starting Sunday for a little more than two weeks. The closures come after visitors inundated the area earlier in the day during a statewide shelter-in-place order due to the global novel coronavirus pandemic. The park said on its website that in addition to its campgrounds and visitors centers being closed through April 7, gates to Limantour Access Road, Mt. Vision Road, Drakes Beach and Drake Estero will be shuttered to the public. Limited access swill be allowed at Palomarin Trailhead beyond Commonweal entrance, Pierce Point Road, along with the Lighthouse and Chimney Rock parking. Visitors are asked to pack out what they bring in. On Saturday, Marin County's coastal communities saw an unusually large influx of visitors from around the Bay Area. A photo published to the Marin County Sheriff's Office Twitter account Saturday showed a line of cars attempting to access an area near Dillon's Beach. The sheriff's office said the visitors created traffic congestion, which interferes with first responders' ability to handle emergencies. In addition, state and county park parking lots and bathrooms are closed due to the shelter in place order, adding to further congestion and creating problems with sanitation. San Mateo County supervisors on Tuesday will consider a pair of actions to relieve financial stress caused by the novel coronavirus crisis. The measures are an emergency regulation that would ban evicting tenants suffering financially during the emergency for nonpayment of rent and an emergency $3 million "San Mateo County Strong" fund to help residents, nonprofit organizations and small businesses. The Board of Supervisors meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the board chambers at the Hall of Justice in Redwood City. The emergency eviction ban is intended to protect renters in the 105,000 rental units countywide from being evicted as they deal with lost work hours and health concerns during the shelter in place order. If the emergency order is approved, tenants would be liable for back rent 180 days following the termination of the emergency. Supervisors and the county manager will review the emergency regulation as needs dictate. The San Mateo County Strong Fund would provide $3 million in emergency aid to assist prescreened individuals and families; small businesses; and nonprofit organizations that serve the community's most vulnerable residents, the board said. Funds would come from Measure K, a half-cent, voter-approved sales tax extension and would be administered by the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. The office of U.S. Attorney David Anderson of the Northern District of California in San Francisco is urging the public to report suspected fraud schemes related to the COVID-19 coronavirus. Reports can be made by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud hotline at (866) 720-5721 or by sending an e-mail to disaster@leo.gov. U.S. Attorneys have been directed to make investigation and prosecution of coronavirus fraud a priority. Reports and complaints made to the center will be entered into a centralized system accessible by all U.S. Attorneys and the federal Department of Justice, officials said, and allow investigation and prosecution of fraud attempts. "Unfortunately there are fraudsters out there who will try to use this public health emergency to scam the public and profit on the pandemic," Anderson said in a statement. Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Your tax-deductible gift today powers our reporters and keeps us independent. We rely on you, our reader, not paywalls to stay funded because we believe important news and information should be freely accessible to all. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe With California telling non-essential businesses to close in order to fight the spread of the new coronavirus, thousands of workers across the state are now out of a job. Airlines, hotels and restaurants are among those facing tough decisions to let workers go. But losses in some areas are creating demand in others -- and some employers in Southern California are on a hiring spree. For instance, with gyms now closed, "People don't have a place to work out," said Jason Crenshaw, co-owner of L.A.-based New Life Cardio Equipment. "So, people just want fitness equipment." Crenshaw's company sells treadmills, ellipticals and other cardio machines, mostly for use in home gyms. He told us that with so many gym customers now stuck at home, his orders have more than tripled. "I just don't have the staff to be able to handle all the volume that we've been taking in," he said. Crenshaw has hired people to assemble the machines and to drive the delivery trucks. He's also looking for a new salesperson. Not surprisingly, he said many of the applicants have been out-of-work gym employees. DEMAND FOR NANNIES, JANITORS AND GROCERIES SURGES With offices and schools shut down, many parents are now watching their kids while working from home. But what about doctors, nurses and police officers -- workers who can't stay home with their kids? Some are now hiring nannies through companies like College Nannies and Sitters. "In the Los Angeles area, our request for care is up 300%," said Santa Monica franchise owner Laura Davis. As long as applicants have childcare experience and can pass a background check, Davis told us she'll take all the workers she can. Given the immediate demand, they're trying to hire new nannies within as little as 48 hours. "Of course, we have a very strong screening process. But people who qualify, we don't have a cap on what we can hire right now," David said. The coronavirus has changed the hiring process in many ways. The parent company of Ralphs and Food 4 Less is now looking to hire about 450 workers. Corporate affairs director John Votava said they're encouraging people to apply online and interview over the phone. "A follow up interview in-person depends on the store leader and their availability," Votava said. "That's the preferred method that we're looking at right now." Shoppers wait in long lines to pay as stores across Los Angeles see an influx in customers. (Chava Sanchez/ LAist) NEW WORKERS, NEW TRAINING, NEW NORMAL Albertsons, Vons and Pavillions also say they're looking to fill at least 1,000 new positions locally, and they're proceeding with candidates remotely in the first stages of hiring. The state of California has determined that cleaning crews are "essential workers," and these workers are also now in high demand. GMI Integrated Facility Solutions provides janitorial services to large buildings in Southern California. CEO Laurence Abrams told us they're taking on a lot of new temporary janitors. And they're training them a little differently. "Most of the training has to be done in person," Abrams said. "Those training classes are going to be under 10 people, in a large room, with proper social distancing." Janitors are wearing full protective gear to completely scrub down buildings where a potentially infected person has come through. Abrams said day-to-day operations are starting to feel a lot like a science fiction movie. "In my 30-plus years in the industry, I've not witnessed a situation that's anywhere similar to this," he said. WILL NEW HIRING OFFSET JOB LOSSES? Amazon and Walmart are among the major employers who say they plan to significantly expand hiring nationwide. Some hiring could take a while to kick in. Carrie Rogers, Senior Vice President of Business Assistance and Development with the L.A. County Economic Development Corporation, said healthcare manufacturers may soon need to staff up. "If they're making masks or anything like that, we're going to see a real surge," she said. If they're "doing medical testing, we'll see a surge in those types of jobs as well." But will this wave of hiring be enough to put a dent in all the jobs being lost in food prep, retail and other service industries? Probably not, said UCLA economist William Yu. He told us: "It will be definitely a great help for the economy, but it's not great enough to totally replace all the jobs lost." He said government intervention could help prevent layoffs in some industries. Things are still in flux, but right now Yu is predicting the coronavirus could claim up to 50,000 jobs in L.A. County and raise the local unemployment rate to 7.5%, up from from 4.3% in January. SOME STRAIGHT TALK ABOUT COVID-19 We're all living through this extraordinary and frightening pandemic. The vast majority of our newsroom has been working from home (here's some advice on that) since March 11 to bring you calm, helpful reporting. We are answering your questions and taking more. We're here to help. And if you can help support that effort financially, we'd be grateful. Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die after the passage of the Finance Bill on Monday, nearly two weeks ahead of schedule, in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. The government introduced two bills even as some Opposition members, including those from the Congress, wanted to know when the government would announce a financial package for sectors affected by the coronavirus outbreak, saying it was an "extraordinary situation". The Budget Session was divided into two phases. The first phase began on January 31 and ended on February 11. The second phase, which commenced on March 2, was to conclude on April 3. Amid the coronavirus outbreak, various states have announced partial or complete lockdown and also there is increased focus on social distancing to curb the spread of the deadly virus which has infected over 400 people in the country. Before adjourning the proceedings sine die, Speaker Om Birla emphasised the need for social distancing and work on efforts to tackle the pandemic. The Finance Bill, 2020, was passed without any discussion. The Bill gives effect to the financial proposals of the central government for fiscal 2020-21. A decision to approve the Finance Bill without discussion was taken at the all-party meeting convened by the Speaker. Congress leader in the House Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury wanted to know from the government about a financial package for various sectors that have been impacted by the coronavirus outbreak. "It is an extraordinary situation," he said. Some Congress members clapped their hands for a few seconds when Chowdhury was speaking about the financial package. DMK leader T R Baalu said there is an excruciatingly painful situation in the country due to the coronavirus outbreak and sought a financial package. Earlier, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal said that considering the extraordinary situation, it was decided at the all-party meeting that the Finance Bill would be passed without any discussion. Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy introduced two bills in the House -- the Rashtriya Raksha University Bill and the National Forensic Sciences University Bill. Congress members protested against the introduction of the bills, saying they have not been given copies of the bills. As soon as the proceedings began at 2 pm, the House paid tributes to the 17 security personnel who were killed in an encounter with Naxalites in Chhattisgarh on Saturday. The House also commemorated the Martyrdom Day of freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, who were hanged on this day in 1931. As a mark of respect, members observed a moment of silence. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, some members were wearing face masks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, among others, were present in the House. Members from Trinamool Congress, NCP and YSR Congress, among others, were not present in the House in view of the coronavirus outbreak. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Italy's Costa Cruises has said that it was isolating more than 700 guests on board its Victoria ship after one of them tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The company said on Monday the unnamed Argentine was "in stable condition at a hospital facility" in Crete, where the person was taken off the ship on Sunday. A local TV report in Greece identified the Argentine as a 63-year-old woman. "As a precaution, and in compliance with the health procedures provided on board, the people who came into contact with the guest have been placed in immediate isolation," the cruise company said in a statement to AFP. "For further precaution the company is proceeding to isolate all guests in their cabins." Costa said the Victoria had "726 guests of various nationalities and 776 crew members," and was sailing in the eastern Mediterranean. The company added that it was in contact with Italian authorities and searching for a "suitable port for the ship to dock". Italy has closed its ports to foreign cruise ships and suspended the operation of its own services in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The Italian transport ministry said that national ships already at sea would have to return to port and undergo tests on all crew and passengers. Costa Cruises said it was looking for a port "while respecting the situation that the most affected Italian regions are facing". Italy's death toll from the pandemic topped 6,000 on Monday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Hungarian Armed Forces have beefed up their presence along the countrys northern border, the defence ministry has said. At present, over 100 soldiers are serving along the borders with Austria and Slovakia, it said on the honvedelem.hu website. The ministry noted that soldiers had been involved in border control for several years. In January this year, for instance, another contingent of soldiers was sent to Hungarys southern border, with Serbia, to help contain illegal migrants, it said. MTI Photo: Peter Komka Regulatory News: Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) ("PSH") today announced that it has purchased, through PSH's agent, Jefferies International Limited ("Jefferies"), the following number of PSH's Public Shares of no par value (ISIN Code: GG00BPFJTF46) (the "Shares"): Trading Venue: London Stock Exchange Ticker: PSH Date of Purchase: 23 March 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 61,463 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 1,198 pence 13.73 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 1,124 pence 12.88 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 1,152 pence 13.20 USD Ticker: PSHD Date of Purchase: 23 March 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 64,802 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 13.60 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 13.30 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 13.52 USD Trading Venue: Euronext Amsterdam Ticker: PSH Date of Purchase: 23 March 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 89,111 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 14.00 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 13.00 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 13.44 USD PSH will hold these Public Shares in Treasury. The net asset value per Public Share related to this buyback is 25.19 USD 20.85 GBP which was calculated as of 17 March 2020 (the "Relevant NAV"). After giving effect to the above buyback, PSH has 201,410,433 Public Shares outstanding, or 207,081,987 Public Shares calculated on a fully diluted basis (assuming that all Management Shares had been converted into Public Shares at the Relevant NAV). Excluded from the shares outstanding are 9,546,317 Public Shares held in Treasury. The prices per Public Share were calculated by Jefferies. The number of PSH Management Shares and the one special voting share (held by PS Holdings Independent Voting Company Limited) have not been affected. About Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) is an investment holding company structured as a closed-ended fund that makes concentrated investments principally in North American companies. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200323005569/en/ Contacts: Media Camarco Ed Gascoigne-Pees Hazel Stevenson +44 020 3757 4989, media-pershingsquareholdings@camarco.co.uk Washington: Kentucky Senator Rand Paul says he was tested a week ago for the novel coronavirus, but continued working at the Capitol because he had no symptoms of the illness and believed it was "highly unlikely" he was sick. Republican Senator Rand Paul contracted coronavirus. Credit:AP Paul also said he did not have direct contact with anyone who tested positive for the virus or was sick. Paul announced on Sunday that he had tested positive for the virus, becoming the first case of COVID-19 in the US Senate and raising fears about further transmission of the virus among senators, including more than two dozen who are in their 70's or 80's. Paul's refusal to self-quarantine after being tested sparked bipartisan outrage, including from some of his colleagues. Senator Kyrsten Sinema, a Democrat from Arizona, chastised Paul on Twitter, saying his decision to return to the Capitol before he learned the test results was "absolutely irresponsible." Eighteen Ukrainian citizens infected with Covid-19 coronavirus are treated abroad, 155 citizens have been isolated, and six Ukrainians have recovered. "Eighteen Ukrainian citizens receive treatment abroad: five people in Germany, four people in the Dominican Republic, two in Italy, two in Poland, two in the UAE, one person in Spain, one in the Netherlands, one in Seychelles," Foreign Ministry of Ukraine announced such data as of 10:00 on March 23 on Facebook. Six citizens of Ukraine recovered after coronavirus treatment: four in Japan, one in Italy, one in Poland. A total of 155 citizens of Ukraine have been isolated, in particular, 105 people - in Poland, 16 people in Brazil, eight people in Vietnam, seven people in Germany, four in Jordan, three in the UAE, two people in Moldova, two in the USA, one person in Qatar, one in Cuba, one in Romania, one person in Montenegro. Three Ukrainian citizens died from coronavirus abroad. A total of 70,177 Ukrainian citizens have returned home from abroad with the assistance of diplomatic institutions. As reported, Ukraine confirmed 73 coronavirus cases, including three lethal ones ol (Alliance News) - The UK Financial Conduct Authority said Monday it is working with international counterparts in the US, EU and elsewhere to ensure financial markets remain open amid the ongoing uncertainty caused by Covid-19. "While there has been significant volatility in market prices over the past weeks as a result of the impacts of coronavirus and this may continue for a period, markets have continued to operate in an orderly fashion in the UK," the watchdog said. The FCA noted it has followed European countries in banning short-selling in companies that trade under European National Competent Authorities. The regulator has not introduced a market ban on short-selling, citing that most European countries have done the same, as has the US or any other major financial market. The FCA said: "The FCA continues closely to monitor market activity, including short selling activity. Aggregate net short-selling activity reported to FCA is low as a percentage of total market activity and has decreased in recent days. It will continue to fluctuate, but there is no evidence that short selling has been the driver of recent market falls." Many investment and risk management strategies rely on the ability to take "long" and "short" positions, the FCA said. These benefit a wide range of ordinary investors including the pension funds for employees of companies and local government. "We also note that short selling is a critical underpinning of liquidity provision. The loss of these benefits would need to be carefully balanced before determining that any intervention to prevent short selling was appropriate," the FCA added. By Paul McGowan; paulmcgowan@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. OTTAWAConservative leadership candidate Erin OToole is adding his voice to the chorus of people calling for the June 27 vote to be delayed. OToole, a former cabinet minister and current MP, said all Canadians need to focus on COVID-19 response, including his own campaign team, the partys MPs and grassroots members. In a video circulated Sunday, he called on his supporters to devote what resources they have to the needs of their communities. Im not leaving the race. In fact, I believe we will win it. But today, Im proposing that we put the needs of our fellow citizens first, he said. OToole is the latest contender to suggest the party needs to delay the race, and the second of the four people already on the ballot to make that request of the party. Late last week, Ontario MP Derek Sloan, who is also on the ballot, called for all the deadlines, including the April 17 cut-off to sign up new members, and the upcoming March 25 cut-off to meet the entry requirements, to be pushed back. By March 25, candidates must pay $300,000 and submit 3,000 signatures to get on the ballot. OToole, Sloan, Toronto lawyer Leslyn Lewis and former Conservative cabinet minister Peter MacKay have already met those requirements. Ontario MP Marilyn Gladu is the only contender still striving towards the March 25 deadline, though she had called two weeks ago for the contest to be delayed. Two other potential candidates Rudy Husny and Rick Peterson dropped out last week, citing the impossibility of getting the funds and support from party members at a time when people are worried about practical issues, not politics. In an interview with The Canadian Press late last week, outgoing leader Andrew Scheer declined to comment when asked whether the contest should continue. He is set to step down as leader when he replacement was elected. Scheer said he knows the partys national council and leadership organizing committee are aware of the challenges posed by the pandemic. As you can imagine in a leadership race, changing rules or deadline or dates has the potential to have major ramifications, he said. And they are very, very focused on making sure there is a level playing field for all candidates. The leadership committee has made some minor tweaks to the contest; debates scheduled for April will be held without an audience, and online portals have been set up to make membership submissions easier. Read more about: A total of 30 states and Union Territories have imposed complete lockdown, covering a total of 548 districts in the country, to check the spread of coronavirus, the government said on Monday. IMAGE: A police personnel stops a biker during lockdown, in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, in Kolkata, on Monday. Photograph: Swapan Mahapatra/PTI Photo Six other states have put in place similar restrictions in some areas in the wake of the outbreak. There are 28 states, eight UTs and in the country. On Sunday, 80 districts were under lockdown. The central government has also asked states to enforce additional restrictions, if necessary, leading to imposition of curfew in Punjab and Maharashtra. IMAGE: Trains are seen parked at CSMT yard after lockdown in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, in Mumbai, on Monday. Photograph: Shashank Parade/PTI Photo As many people continued to venture out despite the lockdown order, Puducherry, besides Punjab and Maharashtra, also ordered curfew so that no one goes out of home. A tweet by the Press Information Bureau said the states which have imposed lockdown in all districts include Chandigarh, Delhi, Goa, Jammu and Kashmir and Nagaland. The other states are: Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Ladakh, Tripura, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya, Jharkhand, Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Haryana, Daman Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Karnataka and Assam. IMAGE: Policeman advises a passenger to avoid travelling to NCR, since all the borders have been sealed for vehicular movement in view of coronavirus pandemic, in New Delhi, on Monday. Photograph: Arun Sharma/PTI Photo Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to state governments to ensure that rules and regulations of the coronavirus lockdown are enforced strictly as he noted that many people were not following the measures seriously. IMAGE: People rush to petrol pumps to fill tanks during lockdown in Thane, Mumbai, on Monday. Photograph: PTI Photo 'Many people are still not taking the lockdown seriously. Please save yourself, save your family, follow the instructions seriously. I request state governments to ensure rules and laws are followed,' Modi said in a tweet in Hindi. The death toll due to the novel coronavirus pandemic rose to nine on Monday after West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh reported a casualty each, while the number of confirmed cases soared to 468, the Union Health Ministry said. IMAGE: HRTC busses are seen parked after lockdown in the wake of deadly coronavirus, in Kullu, on Monday. Photograph: PTI Photo The central and state governments had on Sunday announced lockdown in about 80 districts where at least one confirmed case of Covid-19 was reported. In a late night tweet, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said, 'After assessing the situation of covid-19, we have decided to lockdown not just 9 districts but the whole state of Karnataka starting tomorrow till March 31st. I request all citizens to co-operate and please stay indoors.' IMAGE: Police personnel stop commuters after the state government enforced lockdown in Hyderabad, on Monday. Photograph: PTI Photo He also appealed to the people not to resort to bulk buying or hoarding. 'Please note that there is no need for bulk buying, hoarding or any sort of panic. Food supply and grocery shops will be open for all as usual. Your co-operation is extremely important here and we can fight this,' he said. In another tweet in Kannada, he said, the total lockdown was extended to the entire state 'to control covid-19 infection which is spreading at dangerous level'. IMAGE: Closed shops at a market in Amritsar, on Monday. Photograph: PTI Photo In view of the lockdown enforced in urban areas of the state, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday announced a 'package' under which one month ration will be given for free to all the card holders. Three months advance pension will be given immediately to all the beneficiaries of schemes like Mukhya Mantri Vridhjan Pension, those given to differently abled persons, widows and old age over pensioners, Kumar said. The amount will be directly transferred in their bank accounts, the chief minister said in an official statement. IMAGE: Locals buy fruits and vegetables after government ordered lockdown amid coronavirus pandemic, in Ahmedabad, on Monday. Photograph: PTI Photo He also announced that Rs 1,000 per family will be given to all the ration card holding families of urban local bodies and panchayat of block headquarters witnessing lockdown due to COVID-19 outbreak. The amount will be transferafter to their accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer, he said after a review meeting on coronavirus in Patna. In Maharashtra, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced imposition of curfew across the state, severely restricting movement of vehicles and people by sealing inter-state and inter-district borders. IMAGE: Locals buy LPG gas cylinders and other essential commodities after government ordered lockdown in Navi Mumbai, on Monday. Photograph: PTI Photo A senior officer from Mumbai police control room said that the CM's announcement would mean a near-total lockdown. "Nobody should venture out of their houses if there is no emergency or life-threatening situation," he said on the condition of anonymity. "People can venture out to buy vegetables, food items, groceries and medicines, milk, bread and biscuits, etc., but those violating imposition of Section 144 will be strictly dealt with" he said. "Action can be taken against such people under Section 188 (of Indian Penal Code) and the same has been declared by the state administration," he said. IMAGE: Workers spray disinfectant in the premises of KSRTC bus stand to contain the spread of coronavirus, in Kozhikode, on Monday. Photograph: PTI Photo Maharashtra continued to report highest single-day cases with 15 people testing positive for the novel coronavirus in the state in the last 24 hours, taking the total to 89. Of these 11 are from Mumbai, three from Thane, Vasai-Virar and Navi Mumbai, all part of the commercial capital's metropolitan region, and one from Pune, according to an official statement. "The total number of Covid-19 patients is now 89. Out of 14 positive patients in Mumbai (metropolitan) region, nine got the infection from their family member or friends who have earlier tested positive for the pandemic disease, while the remaining five have a travel history from Dubai, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Australia and England," it said. IMAGE: Police personnel put barricades at Mulund Check Naka to stop commuters after the government enforced lockdown in Thane, on Monday. Photograph: PTI Photo The Delhi Police on Monday appealed to people through social media and public announcement systems to stay at home and venture out only in case of an emergency. The city will be under lockdown till March 31 midnight amid the coronavirus outbreak. The Delhi Police has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC in the national capital till March 31 in view of the coronavirus outbreak, banning protests and other gatherings. IMAGE: Metro trains are seen parked at a yard during lock down, at Timarpur in New Delhi, on Monday. Photograph: PTI Photo Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code bans assembly of four or more people in one place. Kerala also decided to go in for a total lockdown from Monday midnight till March 31 with 28 new positive COVID-19 cases, the highest on a single day, being reported on Monday, taking the total number of people under treatment to 91 and more than 64,000 under surveillance. IMAGE: Hazratganj market closed in view of the coronavirus pandemic, in Lucknow, on Monday. Photograph: Nand Kumar/PTI Photo With positive cases continuing to rise, the government decided to go in for the lockdown from midnight tonight till month end, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who held a series of high-level meetings with various departments and stakeholders, said. At least 64,320 are under surveillance in the state and 383 are in isolation wards of various hospitals. Of the 28 new cases, 19 are from the worst-affected northern district of Kasaragod, five are from Kannur, one from Pathnamthitta, two from Ernakulam and one from Thrissur, Vijayan told reporters after a COVID-19 review meeting. IMAGE: A view of a deserted road during restrictions imposed to contain the spread of coronavirus, in Srinagar, on Monday. Photograph: S Irfan/PTI Photo This is the highest number of positive cases detected in the state on a single day. Within the last four days, the state had recorded 67 positive cases. As part of the lockdown, the state's borders will remain closed, state run KSRTC and private buses would be off the roads, but private vehicles would be allowed. IMAGE: A man offers prayers at Sacred Heart Cathedral Church after it was temporarily shut as a precautionary measure against coronavirus in New Delhi, on Monday. Photograph: Ravi Choudhary/PTI Photo Banks would be open only till 2 pm. "All essential materials will be made available. All state borders will remain closed. There will not be any public transportation.KSRTC and private buses will not ply, but private vehicles would be allowed. Petrol pumps would not be shut and LPG distribution will not be affected," Vijayan said. IMAGE: A deserted view of Prayagraj after lockdown. Photograph: PTI Photo Hotels will be opened but only takeaway facility would be allowed. "We will also request the RBI to disinfect currency notes and coins.Essential shops will remain open from 7 am to 5 pm in the evening. But medical shops are exempted from this," Vijayan said. IMAGE: GPO is functional under essential service despite lockdown in Lucknow. Photograph: Nand Kumar/PTI Photo Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba wrote a letter to State Chief Secretaries urging them to monitor the situation round the clock. Gauba said additional restrictions if necessary may be imposed and all current restrictions must be enforced strongly. All violations should be met with legal action, the cabinet secretary told the states and UTs. CHICAGO, March 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Continental Materials Corporation (NYSE American; CUO) today reported a net loss of $13,899,000, or $8.12 per share, for the 2019 fiscal year on sales of $113,276,000. For the 2018 fiscal year, the Company reported a net loss of $5,856,000, or $3.45 per share, on sales of $100,887,000. Consolidated sales in 2019 increased $12,389,000, or 12.3%, compared to 2018. The increase was directly attributable to the higher sales in the HVAC and Door segments reflecting the impact of acquisitions in the second quarter of 2019. The HVAC segment reported sales increases of $8,671,000 (11.8%) primarily due to the acquisitions of Global Flow Products and InOvate Dryer Technologies. The Door segment reported a sales increase of $4,211,000 (20.9%) primarily due to the acquisitions of Fastrac Building Supply and Serenity Sliding Door Systems. The operating loss for 2019 was $22,845,000 compared to operating loss of $8,764,000 in 2018. The current year included an aggregated charge of $22,492,000 to impair mining assets related to the final asset retirement obligations recorded in the Construction Materials segment, a net $14,781,000 gain on a legal settlement and a $6,800,000 loss on a legal settlement. 2018 included charges of $6,840,000 and $627,000 to write off deferred development costs and an overpayment of prepaid royalties, also in the Construction Materials segment. Excluding these non-recurring items, the 2019 operating loss would be $8,334,000 compared to an operating loss of $1,297,000 in 2018. The decline from the prior year is mainly attributable to increased selling and administrative costs, including acquisition related costs, combined with the impact of lower sales volume in the Construction Materials segment. The Companys effective income tax rate reflects federal and state statutory income tax rates adjusted for non-deductible expenses, tax credits and other tax items. The effective income tax rate for 2019 was 23.7% compared to 27.2% for 2018. Subsequent to December 28, 2019, on February 18, 2020, Bee Street Holdings LLC (Bee Street), commenced an unsolicited tender offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company (Common Stock) not already owned by Bee Street. Bee Street is an entity controlled by James G. Gidwitz, the Companys chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and other members of Mr. Gidwitz s family. As of February 17, 2020, Bee Street beneficially owned 1,027,171, or approximately 61.3%, of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. Bee Street is offering to purchase all outstanding shares of Common Stock that Bee Street does not already own for $9.50 per share, net to the seller in cash, without interest, subject to applicable withholding taxes. Additional information about the tender offer is available in Bee Streets and the Companys SEC filings, including the Companys Schedule 14D-9 filed on March 3, 2020. The offer is subject to certain conditions set forth in Bee Streets tender offer documents. Bee Street has stated that if it purchases shares of Common Stock in the tender offer such that it will own at least 90% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock, Bee Street (or its affiliate), intends to merge with the Company (the Merger). As a result of the Merger, each then issued and outstanding share of Common Stock (other than Common Stock held by Bee Street and held by stockholders who validly perfect their dissenters rights under the Delaware General Corporation Law) would be cancelled and converted into and represent the right to receive $9.50 per share. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT-- Statements in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. It is important to note that the companys actual results could differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested in the forward-looking statements is contained in the companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2019 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as the same may be amended from time to time. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The future results and shareholder values of the company may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Many of the factors that will determine these results and values are beyond the companys ability to control or predict. Shareholders are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. In addition, the company does not have any intention or obligation to update forward-looking statements after the date hereof, even if new information, future events, or other circumstances have made them incorrect or misleading. For those statements, the company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. CONTINENTAL MATERIALS CORPORATION SUMMARY OF SALES AND EARNINGS (Unaudited) The Houston Chronicle has lifted the paywall on this developing coverage to provide critical information to our community. To support our journalists work, consider a digital subscription. UPDATE: Here's the Houston Chronicle's coronavirus live blog for Tuesday, March 24. 10:09 p.m. More than 1,750 people have been tested for the new coronavirus at various sites in Harris County, including United Memorial Medical Center, Butler Stadium and Legacy Community Health, reports the Chronicle's Samantha Ketterer and Zach Despart. Those numbers dont represent the total picture, as some private health organizations offer COVID-19 testing but have not reported counts to the public. The number of people who have tested positive through the more publicized efforts are even less clear, and some people still await results at United Memorial despite the hospital first promising answers in as little as 24 hours. Read more. 9:28 p.m. New details have been released about a stay-at-home order expected to be announced Tuesday for Harris County. The order will require residents to stay home except for groceries and errands, or if they work in essential industries, in order to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, county officials with direct knowledge of the plan said. NEW: @LinaHidalgoTX on Tuesday will issue stay-at-home order for Harris County through April 3. Limits most businesses deemed non-essential to work from home. Residents asked to stay except for groceries/errands. w/@jaspscherer @mmorris011 https://t.co/ZlsaczhsP5 Zach Despart?? (@zachdespart) March 24, 2020 The directive, which would take effect at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday and apply to unincorporated Harris County as well the city of Houston and other municipalities, would restrict businesses deemed non-essential through April 3. County officials were working to complete a list of exempt businesses, which will include markets, pharmacies and other stores necessary for daily life to function. Read more. - Reporters Jasper Scherer, Zach Despart and Mike Morris. 8:39 p.m. A teenage boy was among 40 people who tested positive for COVID-19 at the United Memorial Medical Center, which opened last Thursday, according to a release from U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee's office. The release said 40 positive cases, involving 18 men and 22 women, were found in 744 completed tests as of 3 p.m. Monday. Spokespeople for the Harris County Public Health Department and the Houston Health Department said those cases have not yet been verified by their offices, so the greater Houston area's count would not be impacted. Calls to Lee's office were not immediately returned Monday night. "We have contacted all of the appropriate officials and we have contacted these patients to inform them of their results, and remind them of the importance of self-quarantine, as well as the need to inform their healthcare provider," according to the release. Most of the patients had no recent travel history and are doing well at home. Ten patients said they traveled to places like Spain, United Kingdom, Iceland and New York. 8:04 p.m. After President Trump signaled his intent Monday to soon lift restrictions on public activity in the U.S., Texas Lt. Gov Dan Patrick said on Fox News he agrees with the president and would be willing to risk his own life to return to normal conditions, reports the Chronicle's Jasper Scherer. No one reached out to me and said, as a senior citizen, are you willing to take a chance for your survival in exchange for keeping the America that all America loves for your children and grandchildren? And if thats the exchange, Im all in, Patrick said on Fox News host Tucker Carlsons show. Patrick continued: I just think there are lots of grandparents out there in this country like me I have 6 grandchildren that, what we all care about, and what we love more than anything are those children. And I want to live smart and see through this but I dont want the whole country to be sacrificed. Patrick, 69, is a Republican and avid supporter of Trump. Adults who are 65 and older face a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A report by the agency, however, found that young adults also make up a big chunk of U.S. coronavirus hospitalizations. 7:40 p.m. The University of Houston announced that two positive COVID-19 cases are tied to the university. The school did not identify the patients. "As a community of nearly 53,000 students, faculty and staff, it is reasonable to expect that we will have several cases that will involve members of our community," according to the announcement. "If there are any notifications to be made to potentially exposed individuals, that is handled by the city of Houstons health department." Classes began remotely today and will continue through the rest of the semester. Also starting today, UH Parking and Transportation is switching to a demand-based van transportation service for campus. Rides can be requested during operating hours at this Quick Rides site. 7:09 p.m. Brazos County issued a two-week shelter-in-place order, according to The Bryan-College Station Eagle. Essential services like grocery stores will remain open. Restaurant will continue to operate as takeout-only. 7:01 p.m. During a Monday afternoon press conference, President Donald Trump said he wants to reopen the country for business in weeks, not months, reports the Associated Press. He also claimed that if closures continue for months, there would be probably more death from that than anything that we're talking about with respect to the virus," the AP reported. 6:56 p.m. As of this time, there are 812 statewide known cases, an increase of about 89 since this morning, according to a Houston Chronicle analysis. There are 164 regional cases, including 78 in Houston and Harris County alone -- an increase of 18 cases. There was also two more deaths in the state today, bringing the total up to at least 9. In total, 10,055 people have been tested. That was an increase of more than 1,299 from yesterday's count. Private testing still comprises the bulk of tests and increases in testing. 6:25 p.m. Three Houston police officers are in quarantine after testing positive for coronavirus, Chief Art Acevedo confirmed Monday. An additional 190 officers and civilian employees are quarantined as a precaution and monitoring themselves for symptoms. Most of those are people returning from domestic or international travel, he said. Some have started to return to service, he said. "It's going down every day," he said. - Reporter St. John Barned-Smith. 6:16 p.m. Galveston County officials will be issuing a shelter-in-place order for all county residents due to the coronavirus outbreak, reports the Chronicle's Nick Powell. The shelter-in-place order which has not yet been signed by the county judge or the countys 13 mayors was issued after the county reported 6 additional coronavirus cases Monday, bringing the countywide total to 18. Dr. Philip Keiser, the countys local health authority, said in a statement the growing number of cases is evidence of community spread. As we look at the pattern of testing, we can assume (the virus) is everywhere, Keiser said. And you should assume that too. The shelter-in-place order is effective as of 11:59 p.m. Tuesday and will continue through midnight April 3. The order requires people using shared or outdoor spaces to maintain social distancing of at least six feet from any person when they are outside their residence. County residents may only leave their residence for essential activities, such as obtaining necessary supplies like food or household cleaning products. The order also mandates that all businesses cease operating during this time period. Essential businesses such as healthcare providers, government offices, and grocery stores remain open. 5:47 p.m. A Texas DPS employee who told the agency that they tested positive for COVID-19 actually tested negative, according to an announcement. The unidentified employee worked in the Carrollton Driver License Office. "In our efforts to notify and work with the public health authorities, it has been brought to the departments attention that this individual provided us with false information, and in fact, the individual had tested negative for COVID-19," DPS said in a statement. "The department is taking the appropriate disciplinary actions against this employee for providing false information." Another employee, who worked in the Belton Driver License Office, also said they tested positive for COVID-19. 5:23 p.m. Like Houston, San Antonio-area officials have been working on their own measures to keep people inside their homes, reports the San Antonio Express-News. Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Judge Nelson Wolff are expected to share details of a new Stay Home, Work Safe order during a 6 p.m. news conference. The Chronicle reported earlier today that Harris County officials began drafting shelter-in-place restrictions over the weekend, according to sources with knowledge of the situation. 5:18 p.m. Brazoria County is reporting two additional COVID-19 cases, bringing the county's total to 18. The two patients are: A male between the ages of 60-70 who resides in Rosharon. He is in stable condition and recovering in home isolation. His case was not travel related. A male between the ages of 30-40 and resides in Angleton. He is in stable condition. 5:01 p.m. The Montgomery County Animal Shelter is moving to appointments only, reports the Chronicle's Catherine Dominguez. Starting Tuesday, MCAS will be altering its operations with regards to intake, adoptions, fostering and rescue at its location on Texas 242 in an effort to prevent the spread of the COVID-19. 4:41 p.m. Houston will have a recession this year, forecasts Bill Gilmer, economist and director of the Institute for Regional Forecasting at the University of Houstons Bauer College of Business. Assuming a severe outbreak of COVID-19 and an ongoing oil price war that keeps prices around $40 per barrel, Houston may lose 44,000 jobs in the region by the end of the year. Previously, Houston was projected to add around 60,000 jobs in 2020. - Reporter Erin Douglas 4:33 p.m. Chambers County implemented a curfew for all residents from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., according to a news release. The existing 24-hour curfew for certain people under the age of 18 will remain in effect. The 24-hour curfew applies to juveniles who are not in school, not accompanied by school personnel or a guardian, or not traveling directly to their place of employment or their home. 4:26 p.m. The Harris County Tax Office is offering a three-month extension of all 12-month delinquent property tax payment plans, according to a news release. Property owners with 12-month installment payment plans will not have to make payments for March, April, or May.The next payments would be due on or before June 30 and payable on a monthly basis from June until the end of the property owners initial property tax payment agreement deadline, the release said. Due to our areas current health crisis and resulting economic uncertainties, property owners who are currently on 12-month property tax payment plans will not have to make payments for three months, said Ann Harris Bennett, the Harris County tax assessor-collector and voter registrar. Unfortunately, state law mandates that the appropriate late fees still be assessed. However, I hope this extension helps ease property owners burdens during this critical time. 4:18 p.m. The Galveston County Health District announced an additional positive coronavirus case Monday afternoon, bringing the countys case total to 18, reports the Chronicle's Nick Powell. The infected person is a girl younger than 10 years old who recently traveled domestically. She is self-quarantined.The health district is conducting epidemiological investigations and is working to quickly identify close contacts for all cases. There is evidence of community spread in Galveston County. As we look at the pattern of testing, we can assume its everywhere. And you should assume that, too, said Dr. Philip Keiser, the Galveston County local health authority. Were reaching a point where knowing where someone who tested positive lives or shops is not going to protect you. You should assume it is everywhere and take proper precautions. 3:54 p.m. Montgomery County health officials announced four new cases of COVID-19, including one case involving a female teenager, reports the Chronicle's Catherine Dominguez. There are now 19 cases in the county. According to the Montgomery County Public Health District, the teen girl lives in southeast Montgomery County and is between 13-19 years old. She is in isolation at her home. She recently traveled to New Orleans. Three more new cases include a woman in her 20s, who lives in northwest Montgomery County. Read more. 3:48 p.m. A Texas Southern University staff member tested positive for COVID-19, the first case within the TSU community, according to an announcement from the university. The staff member is symptomatic and is currently hospitalized, the school said. TSU officials are reaching out to students, faculty or anyone else who may have come into contact with the person. "Please keep this individual and all the others battling the virus across the nation and worldwide in your thoughts," the school said. "We wish them a speedy recovery." 3:42 p.m. Gov. Greg Abbott's executive order to halt elective surgeries in the state includes abortions, reports the Chronicle's Taylor Goldenstein and Jeremy Blackman. Abbott's office says the effort will free up critical medical supplies during the coronavirus pandemic. In a statewide order Sunday, Abbott ordered the postponemnet of all elective surgeries as a means to conserve medical supplies needed by hospitals to combat the spread of COVID-19. Under the order, hospitals cant perform surgeries unless the patient faces an immediate risk for serious adverse medical consequences or death, as determined by the patient's physician. Attorney General Ken Paxtons office confirmed in a statement Monday that the prohibition applies to any type of abortion that is not medically necessary to preserve the life or health of the mother. 3:31 p.m. Lack of COVID-19 testing during the early stages of the outbreak contributed to a relatively high hospitalization rate for patients in the Houston region, reports the Chronicle's Nicole Hensley. The greater Houston region has a higher hospitalization rate for those who test positive for the novel coronavirus than New York, where the brunt of the nations cases and deaths have been recorded, and Wuhan the Chinese city where the illness originated. In the seven counties with known COVID-19 infections Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Galveston, Brazoria, Liberty and Chambers 26% of patients from March 4 through Sunday wound up hospitalized rather than being sent home to quarantine, according to a Houston Chronicle analysis of data. The diagnoses are based on the testing of people who are symptomatic with coughing, a fever or shortness of breath. Read more. 3:26 p.m. Gov. Greg Abbott asked President Donald Trump Monday to issue a major disaster declaration and provide Texas with direct federal aid to address shortages of supplies related to the unfolding coronavirus crisis, reports the Chronicle's Jasper Scherer. In a letter to the president, Abbott said the outbreak of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the state and affected local governments.Abbott added that federal assistance is necessary to save lives, to protect property, public health, and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a larger disaster. The governor said Texas faces shortages of protective and medical equipment, testing supplies, hospital beds and "a healthy and adequate cadre of medical personnel." 3:08 p.m. Harris County reported three new cases of COVID-19, including one woman who has since recovered. That brings the county total to 54. The patients were identified as: A 40-49 year-old woman who lives in the Northwest quadrant of Harris County- (recovered) A 60-69 year-old woman who lives in the Northwest quadrant of Harris County- (community spread) A 50-59 year-old man who lives in the Northwest quadrant of Harris County- (travel-related) 2:57 p.m. U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, a Houston Democrat, called on Gov. Greg Abbott to issue a statewide shelter-in-place order, Ben Wermund reports. "I think the governor has in some areas not been bold enough and not been fast enough," she said. "A statewide rule makes sense, because then we can really kind of work together and everybody is on the same page." 2:45 p.m. TX/RX Labs, a nonprofit fabrication workshop in Houstons East End, has partnered with Memorial Hermann Hospital to deliver hundreds of face masks as the medical center's supply dwindles, Alex Stuckey reports. Memorial Hermann is testing the nonprofit's procedure mask prototypes this week. TX/RX is also working with the Texas Medical Center to manufacture respirators, which are in short supply nationally. 2:28 p.m. Two new cases of the novel coronavirus have been confirmed in Matagorda County. The total number of cases in the county is now six. 2:21 p.m. Harris County felony judges have called for the release of a small group of people detained and facing charges for nonviolent state jail felony offenses, Gabrielle Banks reports. The release includes around 60 people with charges such as forgery, graffiti, credit card crimes and possession or delivery of marijuana. The measure is not the "compassionate release" that Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez has been seeking. The releases will not make a significant dent or address the populations the sheriff said were most likely to exhaust local resources if they contract COVID-19. 2:15 p.m. A Houston firm is developing a drug that could protect people in close contact with COVID-19 patients from contracting the virus, the Chronicle's Gwendolyn Wu reports. The drug has been tested on mice and had limited human trials in the United Kingdom, but it is still at least a year away from approval by the Food and Drug Administration. 2 p.m. Harris County officials over the weekend began drafting an order to place further restrictions on public activity in order to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, Zach Despart and Mike Morris report. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said Monday morning it may be that we issue a stay-at-home order or something of the sort. She said county officials are still assessing whether to do so, and seeking the advice of other local leaders including Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, who ordered residents to shelter-in-place Sunday, said that Hidalgo had told him that Harris County is committed to doing the same. He said he expects Harris County to issue an order very soon. 1:53 p.m. Bexar County and San Antonio officials are working out the details of an order mandating that residents stay home to help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, the Express-News' Joshua Flechter reports. The order could come as early as today. 1:45 p.m. Astronauts may be the best experts on how to survive social isolation. Reporter Andrea Leinfelder compiled tips from astronauts on how you can cope with socially distancing during the COVID-19 outbreak. 1:34 p.m. Houston corporations are largely complying with work-from-home guidance, a survey by the Greater Houston Partnership shows. Of 62 Houston companies that responded to the GHP survey, 97 percent indicated that they had implemented new teleworking policies for their Houston-area office employees. Companies that require on-site support from staff for critical operations, such as in the energy, healthcare and manufacturing sectors, largely told GHP that they have shifted to staggered schedules or other protective procedures such as increased sanitization of control panels throughout the day. -Reporter Erin Douglas 1:15 p.m. Add funeral homes to the growing list of Houston businesses that coronavirus pandemic is taking its toll on. During a Facebook Live event with the National Funeral Directors Association last week, the CDC suggested funerals can still take place with a 50-person limit, prompting some to consider streaming their funerals online instead, Marcy de Luna reports. The decision was easy for Trinidad Rivera after her mother died, but the idea of webcasting funeral services is tough for many to grasp. That said, it does allow people who might not otherwise be able to attend to still be part of the service How do you mourn under the current restrictions?" Rivera said. "We could also not have a church service because theyve been canceled. It was blow after blow." 1:00 p.m. A veteran member of the International Olympics Committee (IOC) says the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, Christine Brennan of USA Today reports. On the basis of the information the IOC has, postponement has been decided, IOC Committee member Dick Pound told USA Today. The parameters going forward have not been determined, but the Games are not going to start on July 24, that much I know. The IOC said Sunday it will consider delaying the Games and plans to reach a decision within the next four weeks. 12:56 p.m. Gov. Greg Abbott announced Monday that Texas has received $36.9 million from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as part of the state's initial funding from Congress' first emergency coronavirus bill. "The State of Texas is at a crucial stage in our COVID-19 response, and these funds are essential to supporting health authorities throughout the state to scale-up testing and community intervention efforts," Abbott said in a release. "To ensure these resources are used swiftly and effectively, a majority of the funds will go directly to our local health departments which understand best the needs of their communities." The funds will be used to "strengthen Texas community intervention efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 and preserve critical healthcare, workforce, and infrastructure functions, while minimizing social and economic impact," the release states. 12:53 p.m. Shelter-in-place orders are being prepared for Travis County and the city of Austin, according to the Austin American Statesman. We want to make sure that we are prepared, Mayor Steve Adler told the Statesman. (A shelter in place order) is part of the emergency planning that is happening. There are discussions happening right now to that issue. Adler also told the Statesman that the drafts of the order are similar to the restrictions Dallas County put into place Sunday. 12:44 p.m. There are 26 new cases in Texas, bringing the state total to 749. There are now cases in 59 counties. Texas now has 9 reported coronavirus deaths. The new cases are: Deaf Smith: 1 (2) Tarrant: 10 (57) Brazoria: 2 (16) Castro: 1 (2) Galveston: 5 (17) Hidalgo: 2 (2) Jefferson: 1 (3) Morris: 1 (1) Randall: 2 (20) Williamson: 4 (13) Dallas: 24 (155) Harris County has not provided updates yet. As of now, there are 153 cases in the region and 74 in Harris County. More than 10,000 people have been tested, an increase of nearly 1,300 from yesterday's count. Private lab testing is driving the increase. There were 57 public tests compared to 1,242 new private tests. -Reporters Stephanie Lamm and Jordan Rubio 12:19 p.m. Dallas County's order to shelter-in-place went into effect at 11:59 on Monday and will continue through April 3. 12:09 p.m. A research staff employee at the MD Anderson Cancer Center has tested positive for COVID-19, according to officials at the Houston hospital. The staff member did not have contact with any patients, according to a statement released by the center, and is being treated at another hospital. All MD Anderson employees who were in contact with the person who tested positive are being monitored and are self-quarantined. 11:58 a.m. Nearly 269,000 hotel supported jobs will be lost in Texas due to the coronavirus, according to an analysis of Oxford Economics data by the American Hotel and Lodging Association. The analysis finds that 44 percent of hotel employees in the U.S. will lose or already have lost their job in the coming weeks, the Chronicle's Erin Douglas reports. 11:54 a.m. Dr. Kelley Moon, a doctor in Nacogdoches who struggled to get tested for the new coronavirus for herself and an ailing patient, learned Monday she has tested negative, reports Jenny Deam. 11:40 a.m. Local public officials are still doing their due diligence into whether to issue a shelter in place order in Harris County, but theres strong support from one key group: Texas Medical Center leaders. William McKeon, the medical centers president and CEO, said Monday that the presidents of TMC hospitals and other institutions were unanimous in our strong recommendation to move to shelter in place during the days morning conference call about the new coronavirus. "The facts are clear," said McKeon. "Earlier and more aggressive restriction of public movement is much more effective at reducing community spread of COVID-19 than later and less aggressive restrictions." McKeon said the recommendation "that our civic leaders invoke a shelter-in-place order to further reduce community spread of this virus" follows active review of Texas, U.S. and international data related to the pandemic. He added that "every member of our community plays a significant role in this effort. We must come together by standing apart." TMC leaders echoed the sentiment. In comments emailed to the Chronicle Monday, Houston Methodist President Dr. Marc Boom said, Every data point says it is better to act sooner than later, and the earlier we act, the sooner we can flatten the curve. This makes it crystal clear that we all have a role in stopping this disease. Dr. Paul Klotman, president of Baylor College of Medicine, said Sunday that a shelter in place is appropriate for urban areas like Houston, calling it appropriate to try to get ahead of this in dense population. He said there is probably not now such a need in rural Texas. Klotman said he expects local officials to order a shelter in place early this week. This is all about stopping the magnitude of COVID-19, and a big value of this is it lets people know how serious this is, said Boom. We need to fight this disease together. -Reporter Todd Ackerman 11:36 a.m. Fort Bend County amended its disaster order Saturday to include the closure of hair salons, nail salons and other personal entertainment venues, Brooke Lewis reports. The order also covers gyms, fitness centers, massage and tattoo parlors, spas, game rooms, bingo halls and movie theaters. The order went into effect on Saturday and lasts until April 3. 11:32 a.m. Houston ISD officials have created an online portal for distance-learning tools that will serve students and parents throughout the extended closure caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic, Jacob Carpenter reports. The school system is also is seeking responses to a survey, available here, asking about students technology and social welfare needs. District officials said staffers will be contacting families this week to gauge their access to technology, with plans to distribute paper materials to students who cannot access computers. 11:28 a.m. The Galveston County Health District on Monday announced five more positive coronavirus cases, bringing the countys case total to 17. The patients are all self-quarantined and include: -A man in his 20s with recent international travel. -A man in his 50s with recent domestic travel. -A man in his 40s with recent domestic travel. -A man in his 20s with recent international travel. -A man in his 60s with recent domestic travel. The health district said it is conducting epidemiological investigations and is working to quickly identify close contacts for all cases. 11:23 a.m. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo on Monday said two testing sites for the new coronavirus are now open to the general public and can examine 250 patients per day, reports Zach Despart. The county judge urged residents to use an online screening tool to determine whether they need to be tested. As testing supplies are still limited, Houston and Harris County health officials say the focus for tests should be high-risk patients such as the elderly, immunocompromised and people who have had direct contact with someone who contracted coronavirus. 11:13 a.m. The Brazoria County Health Department on Monday announced two new confirmed coronavirus cases, bringing the county's total to 16, the Chronicle's Nick Powell reports. The people who tested positive include an Angleton woman between the ages of 20-30. She is in stable condition and recovering in home isolation. The second individual is a Pearland man between the ages of 50-60. He is in stable condition and recovering in home isolation. Neither of these cases are travel related and the Brazoria County Health Department is actively investigating them. 11 a.m. Because Gov. Greg Abbott declared a state of disaster due to the spread of COVID-19, Texas public agencies may temporarily suspend the usual deadlines for responding to Freedom of Information Act requests, according to Attorney General Ken Paxton. 10:40 a.m. There are currently 723 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Texas and there have been seven deaths in the state so far. Click here for interactive case tracking compiled by the Chronicle's Jordan Ray. 10:25 a.m. Safeway, which is owned by Albertsons Companies, will provide a $2 per hour increase in pay for its Texas grocery workers at Tom Thumb, Albertsons, Randalls and United Supermarkets stores during the coronavirus outbreak, the United Food and Commercial Workers Union said today. 10:21 a.m. The pandemic has altered plans for many engaged couples planning their weddings. The Chronicle's Amber Elliot spoke with some who have had to cancel or change plans amid the uncertainty caused by the virus. 10:03 a.m. More than 1,250 people have been tested for COVID-19 from Friday to Sunday at two drive-thru sites in Houston, Samantha Ketterer reports. It's unknown how many of the people who were tested received positive results. Testing will continue from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. this week at United Memorial, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee said. 9:47 a.m. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said at a Monday morning press conference that the county is still assessing whether to issue a shelter-in-place order, reports Jasper Scherer. "It may be that we issue a stay at home order or something of the sort, but we are doing our due diligence today," she said. 9:40 a.m. Texas was making record gains registering voters. Now the coronavirus threatens to grind that progress to a halt, throwing up major hurdles to Democratic efforts to make the states November elections competitive for a change, the Chronicle's Washington correspondent Benjamin Wermund reports. 9:35 a.m. The Texas Association of Realtors has created an addendum to the standard home purchase agreement to handle challenges around buying and selling homes during the coronavirus crisis, in some cases allowing buyers or sellers to walk away from a transaction, reports Nancy Sarnoff. The COVID-19 Addendum aims to allow flexibility while parties involved in real estate transactions may be quarantined or their businesses shut down temporarily. 9:30 a.m. The Chronicle's Katherine Feser rounded up a list of companies that are hiring more workers to meet heightened consumer demand due to the coronavirus pandemic. Click here to see which business are among companies that have ramped up hiring. 9:20 a.m. Activist group Occupy Democrats last week criticized Sen. Ted Cruz for taking paid sick leave during his self-imposed quarantine due to exposure to the novel coronavirus. The group said Cruz was a hypocrite because he had voted against paid sick leave in 2015 in the U.S. Senate. Politifact on Monday ruled the claim half-true. Cruz is not on paid sick leave, according to the fact-checkers, but is working from home, although he cant vote remotely on matters before Congress. Cruz did vote against sick leave in 2015, when U.S. senators considered an amendment to provide up to seven days of paid sick leave for American workers. 8:55 a.m. Guadalupe County officials issued an alert Sunday night, advising people who were at the H-E-B Plus in Schertz near the corner of Interstate 35 and FM 3009 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, March 16, that they may have been exposed to coronavirus. 8:37 a.m. U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams urged Americans to stay home ahead of what he predicts will be an especially "bad" week for the spread of COVID-19. "I want America to understand this week, it's going to get bad," said in an interview with NBC News Monday morning. Adams said many people have not been effectively practicing social distancing. "This is how the spread is occurring," he said. "So we really, really need everyone to stay at home. I think that there are a lot of people who are doing the right things, but I think that unfortunately we're finding out a lot of people think this can't happen to them." 8:30 a.m. Lakewood Church and Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center are hold an emergency blood drive starting Monday. The drive will continue every day through Friday and will operate from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. The drive is being held in response to the U.S. Surgeon General's plea for healthy adults to give blood. The U.S. is facing a severe blood shortage because many blood drives have been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Lakewood, located at 3700 SW Freeway, will be offering drive-up donation appointments. There will also be mobile donation buses, which will be following heightened CDC sanitation recommendations. 8:15 a.m. Around 70,000 home health aides across Texas are earning $10.50 an hour to care for people who are among the most vulnerable to severe or fatal reactions to the new coronavirus. The aides, who handle essential tasks for elderly and disabled people, are continuing to work during the pandemic. The Chronicle's Jeremy Blackman reports that they can't stop working because their clients need them and they can't afford to lose their pay. 8:05 a.m. Gun dealers in the Houston area have recently seen a sharp spike in sales, as people worry about the possibility of social unrest caused by the pandemic, the Chronicle's Paul Takahashi reports. 8 a.m. Angela Blanchard, president emerita of Houstons BakerRipley non-profit , shared her thoughts on how Houston is handling the novel coronavirus pandemic with journalist Lisa Gray. Blanchard said Houston needs a shelter-in-place order and a virus command team now in order to stop the spread of COVID-19. Whip-smart brand positioning drives revenues for enterprises from Apple to Zappos. But for growing organizations, cutting-edge marketing can feel like a luxury. The Small Business Association suggests companies budget 7 to 8 percent of revenues for promotion, yet the average small business allocates just 1 percent. Thats a shame, given that marketing brings in more money than it costs. A Nielsen study revealed an average return on investment of $1.09 for every dollar spent getting offerings in front of clients. Remember, thats an average. With a little planning, marketing can deliver serious returns for even the smallest of startups. Getting entrepreneurs to invest in marketing begins by knocking down common misconceptions around it. Here are the top three. Lie No. 1: I dont really need marketing Its easy for many small-business owners to make a virtue of necessity by minimizing their need for brand promotion. Theres an intuitive logic to this lie that makes it seductive. Growing organizations often cultivate local followings, connect with their customer base using grassroots techniques and rely on word of mouth to spread their reputations. If theyve experienced some success, they can convince themselves that marketing isnt a significant driver of revenue. Better to plow those funds back into avenues that create value. Can small businesses get away with cutting corners like this? Occasionally, but not for long. Companies that skimp on marketing rarely fare as well as they would have if they'd invested in promotional channels. Many entrepreneurs whose startups failed regret underspending on advertising, brand management and strategic initiatives. Related: Why Some Startups Succeed (and Why Most Fail) The Truth: The numbers dont lie: Everyone needs some marketing. The key is to do outreach that fits your brands needs with the budget you have. Getting bang for your buck is getting easier in the digital age. Buildfire, an app builder for small-scale entrepreneurs, suggests starting with these options for maximum impact: Facebook Ads Google My Business and AdWords Content marketing Webinars Promotion of free consultations and referral incentives Lie No. 2: Theres no way to know whether marketing makes a difference You just put a firm on retainer. Youve got big plans and even bigger hopes, but what do those dollars actually do? For many growing companies, its hard to answer that question. Sure, they get the occasional customer who mentions seeing an ad on social media or who subscribes to the email newsletter. But beyond that, who can tell? Part of the reason for this fog shrouding marketing performance is simple: Lots of small businesses simply dont keep track of it. A recent survey found almost 45 percent of its respondents didnt measure ROI on their digital marketing spend. Those who do can be prone to miscalculation, sinking money into underperforming promotional outlets. The Truth: Success rests on making informed decisions. If a service costs your business more than it benefits you, find an alternative. You wouldnt continue to use certain materials if they didnt shore up your bottom line. You wouldnt tolerate employees who didnt contribute to your companys success. Marketing is like any other facet of your business. You cant improve performance if you dont know where its at now. Track ROI to evaluate and refine your approach. With all the advances in digital analytics, theres no excuse not to follow the metrics in your marketing. Small-business owners have found these automated tools especially helpful in scaling their outreach efforts: GetResponse Infusionsoft Marketo HubSpot Mailchimp Related: How to Determine the Perfect Marketing Budget for Your Company Lie No. 3: I cant afford top-notch marketing Maybe your small business needs marketing, and maybe you can see the difference your investment in promotion is making. But embarking on the kind of next-generation campaigns a Fortune 500 company runs? Thats impossible. Entrepreneurs running smaller organizations feel caught between the two options they think they can afford. Do all your own marketing. This saves money, but it costs valuable time. And if you dont have the background, you might be sacrificing growth, too. Hire a local marketer. Small businesses like to support other small businesses, so why not rely on in-town marketing firms? Depending on what kind of talent is in your zip code, you might have better or worse options. The Truth: Handling all marketing internally or outsourcing everything is a false choice. Companies can get expert help with the channels theyre unfamiliar with through a la carte models. Marketing isn't an all-or-nothing proposition. Shoe brand K-Swiss knows the ins and outs of social media marketing, but because it wasnt sure how to broaden its audience beyond sneakerheads, it enlisted Hawke Media. Both in terms of K-Swisss budget and marketing know-how, a full-service agency simply didnt make sense. Its easy for startup leaders to lie to themselves about their need for high-quality marketing, the difference it makes and what they can afford. But with a focused investment, any company can profit from good promotion. And thats the truth. Related: Why Spelling, Pronunciation and Sound Matter When You Name Your Business 4 Actionable Steps for Multi-Channel Marketing Un mexicano ya registro 'coronavirus' como marca de cerveza Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved While Angela Merkel has just announced the new, more restrictive measures taken by the German government and the regions to fight the coronavirus epidemic, the country has also learned that the chancellor is now in quarantine. Germany is one of the European countries most affected by the coronavirus epidemic with 18,610 cases and 55 deaths, according to the Robert Koch Institute, in charge of epidemiological monitoring. After a press briefing given by the Chancellor to announce the ban on the gathering of more than two people in public space, the spokeswoman for the German Chancellor said that the doctor who had vaccinated Angela Merkel against pneumococcal infections Friday, March 20 had since tested positive for coronavirus. As a precaution, the Chancellor decided to return immediately to her home to quarantine. She will continue her activities there. Angela Merkel will be tested in the coming days to find out if she is infected. A test would not be conclusive at this stage according to his spokesperson. The chancellor will therefore not be able to direct the Council of Ministers in the morning of Monday, March 23, during which additional budgetary expenditure of 150 billion euros will be adopted to combat the economic consequences of the coronavirus epidemic. Limit social contacts The warning seems to have paid off. In her speech on Wednesday, March 18, Angela Merkel had hinted that other measures were possible, in light of more restrictive rules. The indiscipline of part of the population raised fears of such an outcome. On the eve of the weekend, the head of the chancellery said on TV that the behaviour of the Germans would influence the state-regions meeting on Sunday. At her press conference, Angela Merkel welcomed the fact that many of her fellow citizens now understand that social contact must be reduced to a minimum. I am very touched that you are as much to respect the precautionary rules in solidarity also with seniors or other people more exposed, she said. This allows us to save lives. But the rapid increase in the number of infected people has led the state and regions to take more stringent measures. Bavaria, which had decided on Friday 20 March to be confined like other neighbouring countries, could not impose its harsher solution. The chosen model does not want to prohibit the Germans from leaving their homes but intends to limit contact to a minimum. Any gathering outside of more than two people is prohibited, except for a family or roommates living under the same roof and at work. Angela Merkel was also in favour of a less strict line, fearing that confinement would have negative psychological consequences for the people concerned. Share this post with your Friends on Farmers have been urged to implement stricter safety measures on-farm as schools close due to the coronavirus outbreak. Following the governments decision to close schools, colleges and universities, the farming industry is facing another new challenge in an already testing year. It has been well documented that agriculture continues to have the poorest safety record of any occupation in the UK. Now the Farm Safety Foundation has said there must be a 'clear focus' in supporting children who will be spending longer period on their farm. Sadly, two children were among the 39 people killed on British farms last year. Stephanie Berkeley, manager of the charity, said farmers need to take responsibility for their family's safety and ensure no accidents occur. Educational establishments do not just close and send students home without a good reason," she said, "With the increased threat of the spread of coronavirus, the government realises that this is no joke, and so should we. Despite having to postpone their new virtual reality education programme until September, the Farm Safety Foundation is continuing to deliver safety messages to children and young people. It has written two new farm safety guides one for agricultural students and one for parents. The guides have been sent to all rural primary schools, land-based colleges/universities and national Young Farmers Clubs to be shared with their pupils, students and members. The Foundation will be using their social media channels Facebook, Instagram and Twitter - to share farm safety reminders over the coming weeks. Ms Berkeley said: "We dont know how long this situation will last and our wonderful NHS workers are already feeling the strain of dealing with the spread of Covid-19. "We need to take responsibility for our own safety and the safety of our loved ones and not risk any of us having a farm accident that will add to a workforce already under pressure. "They are working hard to keep us safe so the least we can do is farm safe for them. London: As financially-insecure people around the world scramble to protect themselves amid the coronavirus outbreak, homeless Londoners have been offered a respite. London Mayor Sadiq Khan, with financial support from the government, has secured 300 hotel rooms for homeless people in London "sleeping rough", to isolate themselves over the coming weeks, stated a press release. Britain, which previously faced flak for its relaxed measures as COVID-19 spread across Europe, has reported 281 fatalities till now. Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday asked people to maintain social distancing and "keep two metres apart". Among the allies supporting Khan's efforts are two on the forefront -- the Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) and black cab drivers. While IHG has block-booked rooms in two London hotels for the next 12 weeks, black cab drivers working through two apps -- FreeNow and Gett -- have volunteered to transport such people between support services. As part of a trial period, homeless people sleeping on the streets, those already identified by charities, were moved to these rooms over the weekend. The rooms are being provided at a "substantially discounted rate" to the homeless, who are known to harbour more health problems, including respiratory disorders. Khan's team will ensure proactive effort to ensure more such bookings whenever needed. The work is being carried out in consultation with London's boroughs and Ministry of Housing. The coronavirus outbreak affects everyone in London and we must do all we can to safeguard everyones health not least those Londoners who face spending each night sleeping rough on the capitals streets," said Khan. Rough sleepers already face difficult and uncertain lives and Im determined to do all I can to ensure they, along with all Londoners, are given the best protection possible," he added. Director of Rough Sleeping services at St Mungos, Petra Salva, said, Our teams are working round the clock to support all people sleeping rough into emergency rooms where they can isolate and be kept safe during this unprecedented crisis." Selva also asked people to refer any such person in need via StreetLink, or to connect them with local services. "Call 999 in a health emergency," she said. "London cabbies have always been there to help those in need," said General Secretary at Licensed Taxi Drivers Association, Steve McNamara. He said black cabs were the "right vehicles" for the crisis, designed to be easily cleaned and sterilised. "It has a partition separating passengers from drivers," he said. "I'm delighted so many black cab drivers have signed up, and that we are doing our bit to keep the most vulnerable people on our streets safe." London Councils Executive Member for Housing & Planning, Cllr Darren Rodwell, said London, which had the highest number of homeless people in the UK, was also facing the largest swathe of coronavirus infections. "Boroughs are working flat out to support rough sleepers, but theres a severe shortage of suitable accommodation. This is a crucial initiative and boroughs will continue working with the Mayor and other partners to secure desperately needed rooms during the Covid-19 emergency, he said. Singapore, along with Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea, has emerged as a global leader in the fight against coronavirus and it is not too late for Western countries to adopt some of their successful measures. Passengers are screened on arrival at Singapore's Changi Airport. Credit:Bloomberg Despite its strong trade ties, its proximity to China and its function as a major airline transit hub, the city-state of 5.7 million has, to date, kept the virus in check. It has done this through aggressive testing and intensive tracing of carriers. The use of sophisticated technology to track the movements of carriers of COVID-19 and clear public messaging have been highly effective in containing the virus. Like other countries in the region, its deadly brush with Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003 meant Singapore was well prepared for the current pandemic. Joseph V. Micallef is a best-selling military history and world affairs author, and keynote speaker. Follow him on Twitter @JosephVMicallef. As of March 23, according to the John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, there are 353,692 people infected with the novel coronavirus, officially known as SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19, worldwide. A total of 15,430 have died, while 100,443 people have recovered. In the United States, the number of cases has reached 35,345 with 459 deaths. In addition to the human suffering, the pandemic has produced worldwide economic dislocations that have led to chaotic, and plunging, financial markets' dropping economic output; and burgeoning unemployment. World trade and associated global supply chains have been disrupted. The net result is a deepening sense of fear and anxiety around the world. The crisis has also given rise to an enormous amount of deliberate misinformation about the crisis, its origins and its eventual consequences. Some of that misinformation is fueled by fear and ignorance -- some by crasser financial motives. In the case of China, Russia and several other countries, however, misinformation is deliberately being spread by state media to deflect criticisms of their government actions, or lack thereof, and to push the blame onto someone else. Misinformation is also being weaponized as part of a broader foreign policy agenda that seeks to secure national advantage from the COVID-19 pandemic. Weaponizing Misinformation Every tragedy requires a culprit. Even so-called acts of God, like floods, earthquakes or disease outbreaks, invariably produce a culprit -- a badly designed building that collapsed; a dam that wasn't probably maintained; or civil administrators who were unprepared, failed to act or responded incompetently. It is a deeply rooted human tendency to find someone to blame when things go wrong, a fact long understood and exploited by tort lawyers. It should not be a surprise, then, that the finger pointing has already begun in earnest. The coronavirus' origins are still unknown. The fact that the outbreak occurred in Wuhan, the city that hosts China's only Level IV biomedical laboratory for dealing with infectious diseases, has fueled countless conspiracy theories that the virus is manmade and that somehow it "escaped" from the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV). The available evidence suggests that the origin of COVID-19 is consistent with the origin of other coronaviruses, including those that led to the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome ( SARS) in 2002-2004 and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in 2012-2014, and which every year lead to the development of several new strains of influenza. There is no evidence that the coronavirus is a man-made bio-weapon that somehow escaped from a research lab. On the other hand, the evidence that East Asia has been at the center of successive epidemics of diseases linked to the coronavirus is clear and unmistakable. Since 1957, there have been more than a dozen major coronavirus-linked infections that have emerged, almost all of them from East Asia. Several of them have reached pandemic proportions. The 1957 Asian flu (H2N2) pandemic was responsible for the deaths of approximately 2 million people. Other pandemics were caused by the 1968 Hong Kong Flu, H3N2, (1 million deaths) and the 2009 Swine flu, H1N1, (500,000 deaths). In addition, there have been three major outbreaks of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) that are linked to coronaviruses: severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2002-2004, Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in 2012-2014 and COVID-19. Only the COVID-19 outbreak rose to the level of a pandemic. The good news is that these sort of outbreaks have happened before. The bad news is that these types of outbreaks will happen again. China Blames America Early on, Chinese state media suggested that the U.S. was responsible for the outbreak, and that it was an attempt by the U.S. to cripple the Chinese economy. Much the same thing happened during the SARS epidemic, leading to a deluge of conspiracy theories across Chinese social media sites that the virus was a CIA creation. In late January, a Chinese military website, Xilu, which is owned and funded by China's Ministry of Defense, claimed that the coronavirus had been specifically engineered by the U.S. to target people of Han Chinese ancestry. The Han represent some 99% of China's population. Supposedly, according to Xilu, the virus was introduced into Wuhan by American servicemen participating in the Military World Games in October 2019. The report claimed that the "poor performance of the American athletes" was evidence that they were not in fact athletes but "biowarfare operatives." Since late February, Chinese state media has shifted tack, arguing that "the virus may have first appeared in China but that did not mean that it had originated or been created there." In the meantime, Chinese media have been emphasizing China's "heroic actions" in fighting the pandemic, describing its actions when the outbreak emerged as a "selfless sacrifice to buy the world more time." Beijing has also cracked down on the western media, limiting their ability to report on the coronavirus pandemic in China. Reporters from The Washington Post, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, among others, have been expelled. Additionally, Chinese natives who have been working for foreign news bureaus have been dismissed by the Chinese government. The Chinese press has extensively covered the spread of the coronavirus around the world, pointing out other countries' failure to contain the virus, in particular Italy and Spain. They continue to stress the foreign origins of the virus. The consistent talking points across a broad number of media underscore that this is a widespread media campaign to shift blame away from the Chinese government. Beijing has also continued to allow conspiracy theories that blame the U.S. to proliferate uncensored on Chinese social media. Beijing's censors are usually quick to delete comments that vary with the government's official position. The extent and continued presence of these conspiracy theories on Chinese social media represents a tacit endorsement by Beijing. Likewise, Chinese media have been quick to label references to the "Chinese virus" or the "Wuhan flu" as racist and xenophobic -- a charge that has been echoed uncritically by certain elements of the American media. The search for a cure, either in the form of a vaccine or a drug regime that will mitigate the worst effects of COVID-19, has become the latest geopolitical arena between China and the U.S. Both countries are rushing to find a cure so they can take credit for "saving" the rest of the world. Europe has also emerged as the main arena where the Sino-American propaganda war is playing out. Beijing banned the export of most crucial medical supplies to the U.S., including face masks, testing swabs, hand sanitizer and surgical gowns. The ubiquitous N95 masks, for which China is the world's leading supplier, were reserved almost exclusively for Chinese customers. In the meantime, however, both Chinese and European media outlets have been trumpeting Chinese aid in the form of the same badly needed medical supplies to European countries. In some cases, this aid is taking the form of "gifts" from leading Chinese companies like Huawei to their European business partners. Russia is following suit. According to Reuters, following a Saturday telephone call between Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Russian Defense Ministry announced "that military transport planes would deliver eight mobile brigades of military medics, special disinfection vehicles and other medical equipment to Italy from Sunday." Russian state media has also been quick to take up and amplify the conspiracy theories from China. Multiple Russian media outlets have echoed the claim that the coronavirus is an American-designed bio-weapon intended to cripple the Chinese economy. Zvevda, a news outlet controlled and funded by the Russian Ministry of Defense, for example, published an article, "Coronavirus: American Biological Warfare Against Russia and China," which claimed the virus was intended to weaken the Chinese economy in order to increase American leverage during the next round of trade talks. Numerous Russian politicians, most notably ultranationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky, have echoed those claims, blaming the Pentagon as the source of the coronavirus. The Russian misinformation campaign has also taken the form of widespread inflammatory comments on social media by thousands of accounts believed to be Russian controlled, designed to stoke public fear about the virus and its effects. On Feb. 22, the U.S. State Department accused Russia of an "intent to sow discord and undermine U.S. institutions and alliances from within by spreading disinformation about coronavirus." In many cases, Russian agents are, in a technique honed during the 2016 U.S. presidential election, simply amplifying and endorsing comments that are already circulating on social media and that often originated in the U.S. In this way, "fringe" comments that might otherwise have received little exposure get far broader circulation, building momentum and often become "trending" enough to attract the attention of the national media. It should be noted, however, that Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites claim they cannot find evidence of a deliberate Russian disinformation campaign. The Kremlin has labeled the State Department charges "a deliberate false story." Not surprisingly, Iranian state media has largely echoed Chinese and Russian stories blaming the U.S. for developing coronavirus and using it as a bioweapon. Tehran has claimed that the virus is part of the Trump administration's maximum pressure campaign against the Iranian government. The Iranian government has pushed for the elimination of American sanctions against Iran in response to the disease outbreak. Similar sentiments have cropped up in Venezuelan media and elsewhere. The use of disinformation as a propaganda tool, and as an instrument of foreign policy, is nothing new. The Soviets were masters of it and employed it extensively during the Cold War to shape and create anti-American sentiments around the world. The advent of social media, however, has made this a far more potent weapon. Not only does it allow foreign countries to speak directly to Americans, but the freewheeling and uncensored nature of the Internet means that, in many cases, it can also serve to heighten and fan societal divisions and, in particular, fears and anxieties. This is hardly the first time that America's adversaries have looked to blame it for their own shortcomings and problems, or have sought to capitalize on America's own problems and fears to their advantage. What the coronavirus does underscore is how prevalent such tactics have become and how even a global medical crisis can be used by an opponent to its advantage. The Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic on China's Future Beijing has good reason to try to deflect the blame for the outbreak. For now, governments around the world have their hands full dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. There is no question however that the epidemic started in China, as have many of the coronavirus-linked influenza and ARDS disease outbreaks over the last half century. It's equally clear that Chinese authorities suppressed information of the outbreak, initially denied the Centers for Disease Control and other national health authorities around the world access to samples, critical information about the disease pathogen and the pattern of disease transmission and were in general slow to advise the rest of the world on the outbreak. The question of whether and, if so, how Beijing should be held responsible for the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic is not one that world leaders want to deal with currently. The question has come up at the daily White House briefings on several occasions and was deflected by President Donald Trump. Several members of Congress have already suggested that the U.S. Treasury should unilaterally cancel a trillion dollars of U.S. government debt held by China's central bank to offset the costs of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. It's not clear whether the U.S. government could unilaterally cancel a portion of its debt held by foreign entities. Such a move would certainly roil financial markets and damage the standing of U.S. government debt. On the other hand, there are clearly going to be consequences to China from how Beijing has dealt with the outbreak. Many companies have been reevaluating their dependence on China-centered global supply chains as a result of the trade war between Washington and Beijing. The realization that those supply chains are also vulnerable to disease outbreaks in East Asia is another strong reason to diversify global supply chains away from China. Secondly, it is likely that at some point the Trump administration will intensify its efforts to get American companies to repatriate their manufacturing and cut their ties with foreign suppliers of critical items. Medical supplies and equipment, antibiotics and key components of essential drugs are all likely to be targeted with tax incentives, enabling legislation and/or grants to encourage or even force their manufacturing back to the U.S. Ditto for many other products and industries where repatriation will be seen as a national security issue. It's likely that the Defense Department and defense contractors will be further mandated to seek out American suppliers for the hundreds of billions of dollars of goods they purchase. Other government departments won't be far behind. Expect renewed pressure on China and other Asian countries to do away with so-called "wet markets" where live animals, both wild and domestic, are sold for human consumption. China banned wet markets during the 2002-2004 SARS crisis but allowed them to resume when the crisis ended. This may also lead to a broader reform of factory farming around the world and more stringent regulations on the use of antibiotics on farm animals. It's also likely that some kind of medical screening will become standard for incoming passengers on overseas flights to the U.S., especially for those passengers arriving from countries that have wet markets. It may be nothing more than a temperature check initially, with a more rigorous regime as back up whenever major disease outbreaks occur elsewhere in the world. In a broad sense, Beijing's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic is no different than how it has handled other disease outbreaks in the past. In fact, notwithstanding its initial reluctance to share information, Chinese authorities were probably more open in this instance then they have been in the past, even if they fell short of what was necessary. The problem is that China plays a different role in the world today than it did 50 years ago. Given that role, its centrality to world manufacturing output and the significant presence of Chinese citizens around the world, the consequences of anything less than immediate and complete transparency when disease outbreaks occur are far graver on the rest of the world. When China emerged from behind the "bamboo curtain," the presumption was that it would become more like the rest of the world -- that over time, Beijing's authoritarianism would give way to more open, freer markets and civil society. Instead, Beijing has been pushing the rest of the world to become more like China. The rest of the world, beginning with the U.S., is going to be pushing back hard. -- The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration. Your tax-deductible gift today powers our reporters and keeps us independent. We rely on you, our reader, not paywalls to stay funded because we believe important news and information should be freely accessible to all. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe By Kyle Stokes and Carla Javier Leaders of Southern California's largest school districts are beginning to outline plans for grappling with a new, difficult reality: that the coronavirus pandemic will make face-to-face instruction practically impossible for weeks, if not months, to come. Los Angeles Unified School District officials announced Monday they would cancel classes through May 1, meaning 472,000 students will be out of school for an additional five weeks at least. LAUSD's move follows a recommendation from L.A. County education officials advising that all county schools -- serving more than 1.4 million children -- close their doors through early May. The districts in Long Beach, Glendale, Inglewood and elsewhere have already made plans to close for at least that long. Meanwhile, L.A. and San Diego Unified school officials together issued a dire plea to California legislative leaders on Monday: send schools more emergency K-12 funding, or risk sending districts' budgets off a fiscal cliff. "We face the largest adaptive challenge for large urban public education systems in a generation," leaders of the state's two largest school systems said in a joint statement. "Pick your metaphor: This is the moon shot, the Manhattan Project, the Normandy landing, and the Marshall Plan, and the clock is ticking." LOST LEARNING TIME? Gov. Gavin Newsom has already warned parents that schools statewide may not be able to resume in-person instruction this academic year. Even if LAUSD were able to re-open on May 4 -- a very big "if" -- only six weeks would remain in the regularly-scheduled school year. So in a broadcasted address on Monday, L.A. Unified Superintendent Austin Beutner announced plans to ensure these weeks don't turn into lost learning time for students. In his speech, Beutner made a remarkable admission: that despite being sent home on March 13 with some combination of online coursework and paper-and-pencil assignments, thousands of students were likely unable to continue learning in a meaningful way during LAUSD's first week without any in-person instruction. "We estimate about one-half of our students are continuing to learn at the pace they had been at school," he said. "One-quarter are doing okay, but additional work is needed to make sure students are getting the full benefit of the learning." "And one-quarter," Beutner added, "aren't getting the learning opportunity they should be." DEVICES & INTERNET FOR ALL LAUSD STUDENTS Beutner's plan to address this inequity focuses on what he framed as the root cause: "a great digital divide." Perhaps 100,000 LAUSD students lack internet at home -- and many students, parents and teachers haven't gotten enough training "to support online learning." Beutner said LAUSD was making an emergency $100 million investment to ensure every student is able to access online lessons from home. He announced a deal with Verizon, in which LAUSD will cover the cost for the wireless giant to provide internet service to needy families in the district. Both LAUSD officials and a Verizon spokeswoman declined to release terms of the deal. Another part of that emergency investment: a promise that LAUSD will provide laptop or tablet computers to students who need them. Previously, LAUSD officials have estimated that they own only enough devices to provide about two-thirds of their students with their own. In an interview, Beutner also left open the possibility that district bond dollars would be used to complete the device purchases. Beutner promised to provide details "shortly" on how schools would hand over "devices and needed technology ... to students who do not have them." "The effort will start with high school students," the superintendent said, "and eventually [progress] all the way to elementary school students." Beutner also said that everyone needs to adjust their expectations as LAUSD educators "build capacity in online learning." "It's not reasonable ... nor is it sound educational practice, for teachers and students to spend six hours a day in online, two-way communication," he said in his speech. "And families who are struggling to get by in this crisis may not be able to spend all day trying to help their children do schoolwork." Emma Alvarez Gibson, who has a 14-year-old son at a LAUSD magnet school in the South Bay, says she's fortunate that her school's staff is tech savvy. "One of his teachers just last week decided that she's going to be having twice weekly Zoom calls, and they're optional," Alvarez Gibson said. "The first one was on Friday, and my son said that she first wanted to find out how everybody was doing, and she wanted to talk about whether anybody had any questions. She went over the safer at home policy, she explained different things to them about homework." The fact that many kids don't have that level of engagement or the access to books, the internet, and digital devices concerns Anji Williams, a mother of two who teaches at a middle school in Hollywood. "This is really a wake-up call in so many different ways to disparity," she said. "It's unfortunate that it takes a pandemic for us to pay closer attention to certain ways that our students are impacted and won't be able to distance learn." A K-12 'MARSHALL PLAN' FOR SCHOOLS California education officials are scrambling to offer assistance to local school leaders, all of whom are trying to navigate an unprecedented crisis without a map. Late last week, state officials published new advice for how to handle the thorny subject of serving students with disabilities without face-to-face instruction. But on Monday, LAUSD and San Diego Unified school district's leaders told state lawmakers that a more coordinated statewide response -- and more emergency funding -- will be necessary to respond to the crisis. In a joint letter sent to the L.A. and San Diego county state legislative delegations, Beutner and San Diego's superintendent, Cindy Marten, called for: More emergency funding. In the letter, LAUSD and SDUSD officials said the legislature's $100 million in emergency appropriation to pay for protective gear and cleaning of school sites will not be enough: "Our budgets will not balance for the current fiscal year because of the extraordinary costs associated with responding to the global pandemic." Device and internet access funding. The school district leaders called for a "minimum of $500 per student to fund the costs of creating online distance learning for every student." The letter suggests legislative leaders distribute the funding based on the numbers of high-needs students each district serves. Revisiting graduation requirements. The letter suggests some high school seniors' diplomas might be at risk because they're "missing instruction time and coursework necessary to meet all of their graduation requirements." More 'flexibilities and funding' for special education. In LAUSD and SDUSD, the transition to online learning impacts more than 80,000 "individualized education plans" -- specific, legally-mandated documents outlining services every student with an identified disability receives. The districts need advice and options, the letter said. Help for English learners. Similarly, the letter says that thousands of students still learning English need special assistance of their own -- and teachers will need training to ensure they can continue serving these students through distance learning. In addition to the county delegations, the letter was also sent to California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendom and Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins. This means that the number of fatalities is more than double, making Italy the centre of attention due to the fast spread of the disease since Thursday, March 12. D etectives investigating the fatal stabbing of a mother in an east London street have released an image of the man they are hunting in connection with the attack. Shadika Mohsin Patel, 40, was found with multiple knife wounds at about 12.45am on Thursday in Altmore Avenue, near the junction with Barking Road, East Ham. She died later in hospital from her injuries. Detectives are keeping an open mind as to a motive for the attack and are not currently linking the murder to any other investigation. Ms Patel, the mother of two teenage sons, lived alone in nearby Plaistow. Police said she had a relatively isolated life at the time of her death. Shadika Mohsin Patel was found with multiple stab injuries in a street in East Ham / Met Police Detective Inspector John Marriott, of the Mets Specialist Crime Command, said: It is vitally important that we identify the man in the image as soon as possible. I would ask all members of the public to look at this image and see if they recognise him. "As I have said previously, I still want to speak with anybody who may have known Ms Patel or seen her in the weeks before her murder. My colleagues and I are working tirelessly to identify and apprehend the person responsible for this despicable killing, and the support and assistance of the local community is invaluable to us. A 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder in east London in the early hours of Friday. He has been released under investigation. On Saturday, another man, aged 31, was arrested on suspicion of murder and later released on bail. Police have been carrying out extra patrols in the East Ham area since the killing. Despite recent tumbling in the global financial market in the wake of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, it is still too early to tell if a global financial crisis has arrived, a vice governor of China's central bank said Sunday. Chen Yulu, vice governor of the People's Bank of China (PBOC), noted that a global financial crisis, besides causing continued panic market collapse, usually triggers the bankruptcy of key financial institutions and severe damage to the real economy. Many countries have introduced countermeasures against the market turbulence, and their effects remain to be observed, Chen told a press conference. Both the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the global economy is a common challenge for all, Chen said, calling on all countries to enhance coordination on macro policies including public health and trade as well as fiscal and financial policies. Though China's battle against the COVID-19 outbreak has yet to achieve a final victory, the country is doing its best to help the international community contain the pandemic, he said. The PBOC, for its part, has strengthened policy coordination with international organizations and major central banks while informing central banks of the G20 group and major international financial organizations on the influence of and effective response to the COVID-19 outbreak, he said. China supports international multilateral platforms and institutions such as the G20 and International Monetary Fund (IMF) to play a positive role in policy coordination and crisis relief, so as to effectively contain the global pandemic and keep the global economy and financial markets stable, said Chen. Domestically, Chen said China's financial market has withstood the external shocks and remained highly stable, stressing that the Chinese government has ample policy space and tools to deal with the impact. While participating in international macro-policy coordination, China, as a global financial power, will work to keep the home market stable in accordance with existing principles and policy frameworks, which is the best way to contribute to global financial stability, he said. Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday appealed to the people of Bihar to abide by the lockdown order in the state to curb the spread of the coronavirus. All district headquarters, sub-divisional headquarters, block headquarters and areas under the urban local bodies of the state have been put under lockdown till March 31. I appeal to the people of Patna Sahib and the state to honestly follow lockdown directions in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also appealed to follow lockdown directions, Prasad said. I know that people will face a lot of problems due to the lockdown but it is necessary to protect people from getting infected. We should neither get anxious nor should pay attention to any rumours, said the Patna Sahib MP. In violation of the restrictions, people were seen venturing out in their cars and bikes, besides standing next to each other to relish tea and snacks at stalls in different localities of the state capital. The situation was no different in other major towns of Muzaffarpur, Gaya and Bhagalpur. People were also seen thronging market places and medical stores to stock up essentials. Isolation wards have been set up in different hospitals, the minister said, adding that some private hospitals have also been permitted to conduct tests. Prasad stated he has been in constant touch with Patna district magistrate, health officials, Patna Municipal Corporation commissioner and state ministers on the issue. Prasad said that if people of Patna Sahib, the constituency he represents in the Lok Sabha, face any sort of problems, they can reach out through WhatsApp on 7011975458, SMS to 9868181730 or can make calls to 0612-2531635 and 011- 23793228. He appealed to businessmen and industrialists to sanctions leaves to their employees for the lockdown period and not to deduct their salaries. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US Department of Justice announced on Sunday that it has shut down a website claiming to sell a vaccine for the novel coronavirus. According to a complaint filed against the site, called coronavirusmedicalkit.com, which claimed to sell vaccines for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. The website alleged it offered access to World Health Organization (WHO) vaccine kits for a shipping charge of $4.95. Needless to say, there is no such vaccine and researchers warn that a vaccine will likely not be available for the next 12 to 18 months. On Sunday, the US Department of Justice shut down coronavirusmedicalkit.com, which was claiming to offer a vaccine for the virus. Pictured: Samples of the virus are tested at the Microbiology Laboratory of the University Hospital in Switzerland, March 23 The website alleged to offer access to World Health Organization vaccine kits for a shipping charge of $4.95. Pictured: Sample reception area for coronavirus tests at the Microbiology Lab of the Hygienic and Epidemiological Center in the Krasnodar Territory, Officials from the DOJ state that there are currently no COVID-19 vaccines nor is the WHO distributing any vaccines. Pictured: A person is loaded into an ambulance the Life Care Center in Kirkland, Washington, March 12 A Texas federal judge on Saturday ordered the site to shut down, according to the statement. Its homepage, however, was still accessible as of Sunday evening. 'Due to the recent outbreak for the Coronavirus (COVID-19) the World Health Organization is giving away vaccine kits. Just pay $4.95 for shipping,' read a statement on the homepage. 'You just need to add water, and the drugs and vaccines are ready to be administered.' It was followed by a place to leave bank account information to pay shipping fees. The website was registered through Namecheap Inc, which registers domain names like GoDaddy does. Also on the site was a clip from NBC's Today show as well as fake testimonials about the coronavirus kits being sold. By Monday morning, the homepage was replace by one that read: This site can't be reached...coronavirusmedicalkit.com's server IP address could not be found.' The Justice Department did not specify how many people fell victim to the scam, but the investigation is ongoing to identify who is behind the fraud and how much money was stolen. 'In fact, there are currently no legitimate COVID-19 vaccines and the WHO is not distributing any such vaccine,' the Justice Department said in a statement. The intervention by the federal judiciary system is part of ongoing efforts by US authorities to combat the spread of misinformation that has blossomed since the start of the pandemic. Last week, Attorney General Bill Barr urged federal prosecutors to make stopping misinformation a priority and called US civilians to report all such abuses to the National Center for Disaster Fraud. He also warned citizens against a variety of scams including selling fake treatments online, imitating emails from the WHO or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention intended to collect personal data, and asking for donations for imaginary organizations. Simultaneously, the US judicial system is on the warpath to combat price gouging of products such as hand sanitizer or hygienic masks. Worldwide, more than 349,000 people have been infected and more than 15,000 people have died. In the US, there are more than 35,000 cases across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and several territories. At least 471 Americans have died. For a second, a brief second, it seemed as if maybe President Donald Trump thought better of the line. He was asked Sunday about the ability of Senate Republicans to win votes with so many members now in isolation to prevent spreading the novel coronavirus. After inquiring about the senators who were included in that group, Trump was told that one was Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, the sole Republican to vote to convict Trump on impeachment charges last month. The president has a history of continuing to bash those who take key votes against him - like former Arizona senator John McCain - but one would be forgiven for assuming that Romney's decision to follow government recommendations to isolate in order to avoiding spreading the dangerous virus would not be a jumping-off point for a presidential attack. But this is Trump. So, after a beat, he asked a question. "Romney's in isolation?" Trump said, interrupting the reporter. Then, with apparent sarcasm, he continued: "Gee, that's too bad. Go ahead." "Do I detect sarcasm there, sir?" the reporter asked. "No, none whatsoever," Trump replied. By now, we've learned how this works: Trump says something that accurately captures his feeling but couches it in enough murkiness to stymie efforts at categorizing it. His base adores it and understands that he was saying what he meant, but objective observers are kept at bay with insistences that they are overreacting or misinterpreting what happened. I say he used "apparent sarcasm," but no Trump supporter who shares Trump's view of Romney was under any misapprehension about how the president actually feels about the Utah senator's potential exposure to the virus. This was the most obvious way in which Trump on Sunday used the coronavirus pandemic to reflect his politics, but it wasn't the only one. At another point in the press briefing, Trump was asked about comments by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio warning that the city would soon run out of basic hospital supplies. "How do you prevent New York City from becoming the next Italy?" Trump was asked, a reference to the severe shortages in that country which have caused the death toll to spike. "Well, he should have -" Trump began, then changing direction. "You know, the hospital systems in various places, some have been stocked and ready to go for-" another redirection- "Nothing for this, nothing. This is beyond anything that anybody ever thought possible. ... This is a very unique and hopefully it will be unique for, you know, many, many centuries. You know, for a long time. Hopefully we don't see this again." "But again," Trump continued, "the systems are supposed to be ready, willing and able. They're supposed to be ready to go. We are helping them a lot." The systems at the state level should be ready for an unprecedented pandemic, Trump said, and it was their own fault, in essence, that they weren't. He then repeated his promise to send a naval hospital ship to the city, something that is still weeks away. Earlier on Sunday, Trump had taken issue with another Democratic-elected official who'd been critical of his handling of the pandemic, tweeting: - - - @JBPritzker, Governor of Illinois, and a very small group of certain other Governors, together with Fake News @CNN & Concast (MSDNC), shouldn't be blaming the Federal Government for their own shortcomings. We are there to back you up should you fail, and always will be! - - - Gov. J. B. Pritzker of Illinois joined other governors - no doubt including Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York - in unfairly criticizing Trump's administration. Like de Blasio's New York City, those states had allowed themselves to be in a position to fail through their own ineptitude, Trump claimed, and the federal government was now having to clean up their mess. This is a thoroughly cynical argument to make. Trump spent most of January and February downplaying the threat posed by the coronavirus, dismissing concerns about the possibility of a broad spread that might overwhelm health-care facilities. He suggested that criticism of his own response was simply partisan politics, a charge amplified by Fox News which led to a big divide in how seriously Americans took the need to prepare for the virus. As the months passed, the federal government failed to take simple precautionary steps to increase supplies of the medical equipment now in critical demand in New York - and, soon, elsewhere. Trump's effort to blame New York and Illinois for their current situations was cynical - but it's not new. We've seen this play out before in much the same way. Trump had been on the job for about seven months when Hurricane Maria ravaged Puerto Rico. It had been a tense summer, with a white nationalist protest in Virginia at which a counterprotester was killed. Trump's equivocations on the event met with broad condemnation. The three hurricanes that hit in rapid succession shortly afterward gave Trump a chance to reset, to adopt the trappings of the White House in visiting the areas damaged by the storms. It was a chance to use the presidency as a way offset a moment of difficult politics, and Trump seized it in embracing aid to the Gulf Coast after hurricanes Harvey and Irma. When Maria his Puerto Rico, his attitude was noticeably different. His expressions of concern for the island were heavily dampened by vocal concern for how it had been managed and the money it owed to big banks. He fought off criticism that he wasn't as focused on helping the island recover as he had been on aiding Texas and Florida - two states that helped him win the White House in 2016 - and picked fights with Puerto Rican political leaders. During a belated visit in early October, he asked the island's governor how many people had died, learning that, at that moment, the total was 16. He celebrated how much lower that was than the toll following Hurricane Katrina in 2005 - but the toll was so low because the storm had just hit. A later estimate of the number of deaths that resulted from the storm reached nearly 3,000 - 1,000 more than died following Katrina. Trump dismissed that figure as inaccurate out of hand. While in the moment, the tension in Charlottesville seemed like the most significant test of Trump's ability to handle his position, it's probably the case that the subsequent natural disasters offered a better sense of his limitations. Storms in friendly territory with tragic but bounded damage were a chance to be a president. A storm in unfriendly territory that upended normal life in significant ways for months on end, a storm that immediately demanded a robust response and which therefore prompted immediate criticism? Something for Trump to keep at a distance and to rationalize as fault of those afflicted. Trump did, however, send a hospital ship to Puerto Rico. Since shortly after the 2016 election, Trump has demanded that his political opponents unify with him in support of his agenda. His presidency has been primarily focused on repeatedly bolstering his standing with Republicans and other groups who already broadly support him; he's rarely made any sustained effort to focus on bipartisan proposals. The polarized country which split its popular and electoral votes in 2016 has gotten only more divided during his presidency, with Trump doing nothing to narrow the divide beyond demanding that Democrats cross to his side. When Maria hit Puerto Rico, Trump's response seemed to be some mix of indifference and buck-passing, particularly when contrasted with his fervent support for Texas and Florida weeks prior. Puerto Rico, a territory filled with people who weren't going to give him any electoral votes, seemed like it was simply not something Trump was concerned about. Now, Americans in states like California and New York are left to wonder whether their politics might similarly be limiting the extent and urgency of the federal government's assistance during the pandemic. Particularly since people in those states are a lot more likely to be skeptical of Trump's word anyway. On Feb. 13, there were about a dozen known coronavirus cases in the United States, but it was already spreading in the wild in the Pacific Northwest. Frustrated with New York immigration laws, Trump had locked state residents out of a federal program meant to speed international travel. Cuomo was scheduled to visit the White House to discuss the freeze, but Trump offered some apparent preconditions on Twitter. One was that the state should stop investigating Trump and seeking his tax returns. Again, the situation was that the state passed laws which the administration didn't like. It struck back by withholding a federal service, prompting the state's governor to seek assistance. Trump's response was to say publicly that the state should back off putting political pressure on him personally. Oh, your trusted traveler program was canceled Andrew Cuomo? Gee, that's too bad. Oh, your hospitals are strained, Illinois and New York? Gee, that's a tough one. Trump couldn't help himself in offering that seeming sarcasm at Mitt Romney's expense. But it was not the first time he'd expressed such a sentiment about one of his critics - and not the first time that settling a score was at least mixed into his approach to addressing a massive tragedy. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it will arraign Winifred Oyo-Ita, former head of service, for alleged fraud o... The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it will arraign Winifred Oyo-Ita, former head of service, for alleged fraud on Monday. In a statement on Sunday, Tony Orilade, EFCC acting spokesman, said Oyo-Ita will be arraigned alongside eight other suspects. He said the other suspects are Frontline Ace Global Services Limited; Asanaya Projects Limited; Garba Umar and his companies: Slopes International Limited; Gooddeal Investments Limited; Ubong Okon Effiok and his own company, U & U Global Services Limited and Prince Mega Logistics Limited. Orilade said the nine suspects will be arraigned at the federal high court in Abuja. They will be arraigned for fraud in relation to Duty Tour Allowances, DTA; Estacodes; conference fees fraud and receiving kick-backs on contracts, the statement read. During investigation, it was discovered that Oyo-Ita, in her roles in the civil service as Director, Permanent Secretary and Head of Service, used her companies as well as Effioks and Umars companies as fronts to receive kickbacks from contractors of various ministries and parastatals where she worked. The former head of service in collusion with Effiok who was her Special Assistant, along with one Titus Okunriboye Tomsin, made bogus claims of fictitious DTA, Estacodes, conference fees which were paid by the government to the accounts of the suspects. A high court had ordered the permanent forfeiture of funds linked to Oyo-Ita over a N3 billion fraud allegation levelled against her the EFCC. Photo by David Massey. As a pioneer in online education, Embry-Riddle has a wonderful opportunity to give back to our communities during the current health crisis. -Mori Hosseini, chairman, Embry-Riddle Board of Trustees All high school junior and senior students across Florida and Arizona are being offered a slate of free, for-credit online courses through Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University the worlds leading aviation and aerospace institution. Driven by its mission to inspire a passion for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in young people, Embry-Riddle has expanded its free course offerings to include seven for-credit introductory aviation classes, all available online and none requiring previous college education. The high school courses are listed as follows: Aeronautics Pathway (ASCI 202) Aviation Legislation (ASCI 254) Introduction to Computers & Applications (CSCI 109) Foundations of Biology (BIOL 120) History of Aviation in America (HIST 130) Meteorology (WEAX 201) Introduction to Sociology (SOCI 210) Over the past 25 years, Embry-Riddle has pioneered remote learning and developed an exceptional platform for instruction and student engagement, said Embry-Riddle President P. Barry Butler. That experience puts us in a unique position to help students continue to learn and develop a sense of wonder for our world, even while theyre out of school. Offering free, for-credit online courses to high school students in Florida and Arizona reflects Embry-Riddles overarching goal to inspire more young people to pursue careers in STEM fields, Butler added. Mori Hosseini, chairman of Embry-Riddles Board of Trustees, said, Helping businesses advance STEM innovation and job growth is an important way that Embry-Riddle serves its communities and industry partners, and helps bolster economic progress, particularly in Florida and Arizona, the states that host our two residential campuses. As a pioneer in online education, Embry-Riddle has a wonderful opportunity to give back to our communities during the current health crisis. To enroll in the free courses, students must have a 2.75 GPA. An unofficial transcript is required. Enrollment for these courses is taking place March 23-27. Email Joseph Hoffman, Embry-Riddle Worldwides director of Dual-Enrollment, for more information: dualenrollment@erau.edu. More Free Online Options for Everyone In addition, two no-cost massive open online courses (MOOCs) also remain open and available to all students. Aviation 101 is geared toward learners of any age. Exploring aerodynamics, airport operations, air traffic control and a variety of other topics in a nine-lesson video series, the course offers participants a head-start on pursuing a variety of high-paying jobs throughout the aviation industry. Aviation 101 a free, self-paced, online Introduction to Aviation course is available now. Aviation is Your Future, an introduction to aviation for children aged 8 to 17, is a self-paced, six-hour online course that introduces young people to aviation fundamentals. The course explores basic aspects of flight, as well as teaches participants how to identify major parts of an airplane, describe the flight characteristics of a helicopter and discuss space exploration. The next Aviation is Your Future course is scheduled to run through May 30. For the past seven years, U.S. News & World Report has ranked the undergraduate offerings of Embry-Riddles Worldwide Campus among the nation's top five online programs. Through Embry-Riddles Gaetz Aerospace Institute, Embry-Riddle has also geared STEM-focused enrichment and dual-enrollment programs to more than 2,400 high school students in Florida annually. The universitys K-12 Outreach department also collaborates with schools and Boys and Girls Clubs to provide activity booklets focused on STEM education. Photo: Journalists are welcome to use the attached image in coverage of this story, so long as the credit line reads, Photo by David Massey. A higher-resolution version of this image is available upon request. About Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Reporters worldwide contact Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for content experts in all aspects of aviation, aerospace, engineering and STEM-related fields. Our faculty experts specialize in unmanned and autonomous systems, security and intelligence, air traffic and airport management, astronomy, human factors psychology, meteorology, spaceflight operations, urban air mobility and much more. Visit the Embry-Riddle Newsroom for story ideas. Embry-Riddle educates 34,000+ students at its residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Florida and Prescott, Arizona, at approximately 130 Worldwide Campus locations and through online degree programs ranked by U.S. News & World Report as being among the Nations Top Five. TDT | Manama An urgent proposal was submitted yesterday for Bahrain to impose a partial curfew from 6pm to 5am, as part of efforts to combat the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). The proposal was submitted by the Council of Representatives Public Utilities and Environment Committee head MP Hamad Al Kooheji and Financial and Economic Committee head MP Ahmed Al Saloom. Their proposal comes after observing instances of disregard of government directives for Bahrains residents to remain at home as much as possible. The MPs said that these occurrences were seen mainly amongst expatriate communities, and they persist despite the announcement of strict measures to combat the further spread of the coronavirus, and even after extensive efforts to spread the message across the island in different languages. They added that these groups of people continue to go about their daily routine irresponsibly as if everything was normal. The MPs noted that they wished the situation had not come to this stage, but they had no choice but to submit their proposal for the wellbeing of all. They pointed out that partial curfews have been implemented by many countries around the world, including those in the region such as Kuwait and Jordan. They stressed that the curfew has become an urgent necessity in order to control the situation from further escalating, adding that prolonging the crisis will lead to bigger losses at all levels. MP Al Kooheji and MP Al Saloom affirmed their great confidence that Bahrain will overcome this ordeal behind the wise leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. They also said that Bahrain will come back to normalcy stronger, thanks to the solidarity of the people and their awareness and actions in light of the situation. The MPs also called on the Ministry of Interior to intensify security patrols in order to monitor all public gatherings, in particular in residential neigh- MP Al Kooheji, left, and MP Al Saloom bourhoods and along beaches. A pandemic that has gripped the world has basically brought the lives of people on this planet to a standstill. While half of the globe is on a lockdown, residents of every country are trying to find their own coping mechanisms to deal with the anxiety and the fear of staying locked in which is part of the "social distancing. Earlier on March 19, Prime Minister Modi addressed the nation, in his televised speech, and called for a "Janta Curfew" on March 22 between 7am and 9pm. He also called on Indians to gather on their balconies, yards of their home premises and windows at 5pm on the same day of Janta Curfew to demonstrate their appreciation of these critical service providers by clapping, clanging metal vessels, or ringing bells for five minutes. The country surely responded well but people in some parts of the nation probably went too far and didn't get the real idea behind this suggestion. Looks like they didn't understand about the part where you are supposed to practice social distancing and stay HOME. People actually took out insane rallies to clap, dance and bang utensils in colonies thus jeopardising the whole idea of "social distancing" - ironic since this was the idea behind PM Modi's call for Janta Curfew. Besides, this has only wasted the efforts of these critical service providers, who are working day in and day out for us. Here, take a look: Why cant some people cant understand the seriousness and the word #jantacurfew disappointed to see people on road when #covid19 is spreading so badly..if you are in this video be ashamed of yourself.requesting police and government to come up with more strict rules @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/tlefmTfofs Jay Bhanushaali (JB) (@jaybhanushali0) March 22, 2020 Bombay folks celebrating the demise of coronavirus by coming out on the street in groups pic.twitter.com/nNQ8uNb3Bt Ankur Bhardwaj (@Bhayankur) March 22, 2020 Thread Visuals from #Rajasthan Men, women , children come out on streets of Jaipur to support unsung heroes of our society In the backdrop of iconic hawa mahal chant slogans #CoronaBhagao #ThaliBajao #JantaCurfew #JantaCurfewChallenge#Covid_19india #CoronavirusPandemic pic.twitter.com/x7smbL17hD Tabeenah Anjum (@TabeenahAnjum) March 22, 2020 You see what we mean? Well, some parts of the nation put their creativity to test and made songs out of it as they danced to the tunes of Corona and threw some Bhangra steps also in there. For a second, one might think, "united we stand, divided we fall", except this one time. It is the desperate need of the hour that we actually have to stay divided, in isolation. Now our Indianess and the "chalta hai", "dekha jayega" attitude touched its peak as lakhs of over zealous, super enthu cutlets thought this was a wonderful idea to come together and celebrate the heroes this way. People on social media are angered and baffled in equal measures. There's people now walking and chilling outside. Stupidity....that's our virus. Vir Das (@thevirdas) March 22, 2020 There is a Kanika Kapoor in every single one of them! https://t.co/VxfBao2XeN Rohini Singh (@rohini_sgh) March 23, 2020 I dont know why people were banging pots out on the street. But Im quite certain that at least some of them believed the bizarre rumour that banging pots will cause virus-killing vibrations. Mass ignorance is now a critical danger to public health in India. Mohamed Zeeshan (@ZeeMohamed_) March 22, 2020 What was sadder I think is the fact that in some places like districts in Pilibhit, police officers were seen strolling casually with the public clapping and ringing bells. Hi @pilibhitpolice @Dmpilibhit , this photo is from your official tweet . Can you please explain why the police chief and DM totally disregarded safe - distance norms and led this procession at 5 pm during the #JantaCurfew ? .... pic.twitter.com/xyLrnoGNg5 Alok Pandey (@alok_pandey) March 22, 2020 A quick two minutes into wondering why and how we as a democracy are failing to practice one simple rule of social distancing? Mass ignorance is surely a devil breeding like the virus in the air. Please do not take this opportunity to visit relative or chill with friends. You probably might not be infected but you can be a carrier. Push yourself and the people around you to sing and dance in isolation, not in the community parking lot! Agreement has been reached in a blockade set up this morning in Dingle when more than 25 fishermen there gathered to block Spanish and French crews coming ashore at the port over coronavirus fears. Social distancing guidelines were not being obeyed by the foreign boats in recent weeks, the fishermen claimed at the port which is in lockdown. They also pointed to the possible threat posed by the boats and crew in relation to the spread of coronavirus. At lunchtime, three fishing boats (two Spanish and one French) were waiting for high tide in order to dock. The local fishermen, whose fishing boats are tied up, claim the boat owners and crew are acting irresponsibly. The crews were coming ashore and had not conformed to practices advised by the government, while locals were, they said. Kerry Sinn Fein TD, Pa Daly, said he had contacted the Ministers of Health and Fisheries . There is verbal agreement now, this afternoon, not to come ashore in Dingle, he said. "However it seems strange that the port was kept open." Meanwhile it is understood the large Spanish and French trawlers were heading for Castletownbere in Co. Cork. [snippet1]987600[/snippet1] The legislature is better prepared than many state agencies to maintain public access, one expert said, as it has existing technology to support livestreaming. Read more This story was produced as part of a joint effort among Spotlight PA, LNP Media Group, PennLive, PA Post, and WITF to cover how Pennsylvania state government is responding to the coronavirus. Sign up for Spotlight PAs newsletter. HARRISBURG When the Pennsylvania House meets this week, its 203 members wont pack into the ornate Capitol chamber where they usually gather. Instead, most lawmakers will tune in remotely to consider a bill that moves the states primary election to June 2. Members of the public will be able to watch what happens by livestream, a measure both the House and Senate are taking to ensure theres transparency during the coronavirus outbreak. Committee meetings which usually involve cramming two dozen lawmakers plus members of the public into a small room will also be streamed live. One commitment that we do have is to be as transparent as absolutely possible, Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R., Centre) said last week. Pennsylvania law says state government entities may only take action during an open and public meeting, with some modifications available during an emergency, according to Erik Arneson, executive director of the state Office of Open Records. But keeping a meeting open and accessible to the public contradicts federal COVID-19 guidelines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends canceling all gatherings of more than 10 people and keeping at least six feet away from another person. When public meetings are done remotely, Arneson said lawmakers must be able to participate in some way. While most members of the House do not need to attend proceedings in Harrisburg, only members present on the floor may speak about a bill, said Mike Straub, spokesperson for House Majority Leader Bryan Cutler (R., Lancaster). The legislature is better prepared than many state agencies to maintain public access, Arneson said, as it has existing technology to support livestreaming. Smaller agencies may lack critical equipment to communicate with the public. The thing we keep telling agencies is, if you have to take action at a meeting where [the public] cant participate, just be sure to sort of be extra transparent, Arneson added. Talk about what you did, give the public the opportunity to comment on it. Under new rules passed in response to the coronavirus outbreak, rank-and-file members in the House will be able to text or email their votes to each caucus whip from home. However, the rules also require some party leaders to be present on the floor in Harrisburg. In the Senate, which may be called on to vote this week, new rules state leadership doesnt need to preside over the chamber in person, meaning virtually all of its work could be done online. Still, a few members will be present in the chamber, according to Brittany Crampsie, spokesperson for Senate Democrats, while the rest will participate and vote via a video conference. Kate Flessner, a spokesperson for President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R., Jefferson), did not respond to questions about Senate operations but said proceedings will be streamed live. Now more than ever, every member of our community is looking for some sort of guidance, information, assistance, State Sen. Scott Martin (R., Lancaster) said. Youve got to be accessible for it. Despite the Senates remote-voting rules, Martin said he is prepared to go to the Capitol this week unless Gov. Tom Wolf extends the stay-at-home order to Lancaster County. If that happens, Martin said, hes ready to log in to the Senates video conference to participate in the floor discussion. Leadership in both the House and Senate said lawmakers will only vote on coronavirus-related legislation for the near future. That includes the bill to move the states primary from April 28 to June 2. On Monday, at least a dozen members of the House State Government Committee met in Harrisburg to advance the legislation. Some lawmakers sat side by side approximately a foot apart inside a Capitol meeting room. Its kind of important for elected leaders to be on the forefront and show up to work, said State Rep. Seth Grove (R., York), a member of the committee, who attended Mondays meeting. We ask that of our health-care professionals, first responders.... I just think its my duty as an elected leader to physically show up for work. On Twitter, State Rep. Kevin Boyle, a Philadelphia Democrat who co-chairs the committee, said members of his caucus all took proper social distancing measures. 100% ESSENTIAL: Spotlight PA provides its journalism at no cost to newsrooms across the state as a public good to keep our communities informed and thriving. If you value this service, please give a gift today at spotlightpa.org/donate. The apostolic visit of Pope Francis to Malta has been moved to a later date due to the coronavirus pandemic. By Fr. Benedict Mayaki, SJ Pope Francis visit to Malta has been postponed. The Popes apostolic journey to the Mediterranean island nation was previously scheduled for 31 May. The Director of the Holy See Press office, Matteo Bruni made the announcement on 23 March. Due to the ongoing world situation, and in agreement with authorities and the local Church, the previously announced apostolic visit to Malta has been postponed to a later date to be determined, reads the message. The apostolic visit, scheduled to coincide with the feast of Pentecost, was to be the first international journey of the Pope in 2020. The visit - which has been postponed, not cancelled - will eventually include a stop in Gozo, one of the twenty-one Islands that make up the Maltese archipelago. The theme of the apostolic journey is: They showed us unusual kindness. It is meant to highlight the plight of the migrants who traverse the Mediterranean toward Europe, and be a source of encouragement for new evangelization in the island nation. The theme references the hospitality shown to St. Paul by the Maltese when a ship carrying him to Rome was shipwrecked there in 60 AD. Two previous Popes have made apostolic visits to Malta: Pope St. John Paul II visited Malta in 1990 and 2001. Pope Benedict XVI also visited in 2010. Pope St. John Paul II beatified George Preca, who became Maltas first Saint in 2007. Hot cross buns are getting a makeover as the nations biggest retailers mix up their Easter offering. From rhubarb and custard to sticky toffee pudding, and even a savoury version, British Baker rounds up the latest NPD for this seasonal favourite. Aldi Discounter Aldi has expanded its Specially Selected range of hot cross buns with three additions this year Bramley Apple, Raspberry & Belgian White Chocolate and Sticky Toffee Pudding. Inspired by the classic dessert, the sticky toffee variant is made with dates and toffee pieces (rsp 1.09/four-pack), while the Kentish Bramley apple ones have a sultana and apple filling (rsp 0.99/four-pack). Rounding off the NPD trio are the raspberry and white chocolate hot cross buns, which feature white chocolate chunks, raspberries and sweetened dried cranberries. Aldi has also brought back some classic flavours and some of last years NPD, including Rhubarb & Custard Hot Cross Buns (pictured) filled with candied dried rhubarb and white chocolate chips; and Salted Caramel & Belgian Chocolate, which has Belgian dark chocolate, chunks of salted caramel and toffee fudge. Both are priced at 1.09 for a pack of four. Finishing off Aldis line-up are Brioche Hot Cross Buns, which the retailer said have a buttery taste and are packed full of sultanas and raisins (rsp 0.99/four-pack). Asda Asda has brought back some previous favourites for its Extra Special Easter range, including Bramley Apple & Cinnamon, Extra Fruity, Chocolate and Fudge Hot Cross Buns. The Extra Fruity ones are described as beautifully buttery and are scattered with Chilean flame raisins, while the Chocolate buns are irresistibly soft and sweet and filled with chocolate chips. Co-op Co-op is keeping things more traditional with its choice of flavours and inclusions for hot cross buns. First up in its Irresistible range are the Bramley Apple & Cinnamon Hot Cross Buns, containing slices of sweet apple, sultanas and a hint of cinnamon throughout, priced at 1.35 per four-pack. Also joining the range are Belgian Chocolate Brioche Hot Cross Buns, which are described as a delicate, buttery bun packed with dark chocolate pieces (1.35/four-pack). Co-op is also bringing back its Free From Hot Cross Buns, which are gluten-free and made with sultanas, raisins, orange and lemon zest (2.00/four-pack). Marks & Spencer Think hot cross buns are sweet? Think again, as Marks & Spencer (M&S) rolls out a savoury variant in the form of Chilli & Cheese Hot Cross Buns (1.50/four-pack). Theyre made with West Country Farmhouse Cheddar, caramelised and dried fried onions, dried red and green jalapenos and chipotle chillies, as well as Worcester sauce and hot pepper sauce for a spicy kick. Theyre best enjoyed toasted and buttered or filled with bacon, fried egg and avocado, according to M&S. For those who prefer their hot cross buns a little sweeter, M&S has Luxury Hot Cross Buns, Salted Caramel Hot Cross Buns and Kentish Bramley Apple Hot Cross Buns (all rsp 1.50/four-pack or two packs for 2.50). Theres also the Made Without Wheat version for those looking for a gluten-free treat, with orange-soaked mixed vine fruits, mixed peel and spices. Morrisons Morrisons is keeping things simple this Easter with a standard fruited hot cross bun (rsp 1.00/six-pack), and a premium version, (rsp 1.50/four-pack). The latter is Morrisons The Best Extra Fruity Hot Cross Bun, which are made with vine fruits, orange zest and spices. Tesco Things are getting fruity at Tesco this Easter, when it comes to hot cross buns at least. The UKs biggest supermarket has added three new flavours to its Tesco Finest range. They are: Red Berry, packed with sultanas, sweetened dried cranberries, redcurrants raspberries and strawberries; Salted Caramel & Belgian Chocolate, with salted caramel fudge pieces and dark chocolate chips; and St Clements, with orange-soaked sultanas, raisins and orange and lemon peel. Returning to shelves are Extra Fruity, Raspberry & White Chocolate and Apple &Cinnamon hot cross buns. Waitrose Waitrose is focusing on indulgent flavours this Easter with the addition of two new variants (pictured). The first is Sweet & Indulgent Chocolate & Cherry, which are filled with milk chocolate chunks and candied cherries. Also joining the line-up are Sticky and Rich Toffee Hot Cross Buns complete with toffee pieces, which Waitrose said melt to create a gooey, sweet filling. There comes a time when we heed a certain call, when the world must come together as one (... and NOT TO BE DIVIDED) Remembering 1985 when the world rose to respond to the crisis in Africa, particularly in Ethiopia. Admittedly, the Ethiopia conflict and this COVID-19 pandemic do not laterally equate, but I would caution that the Us versus Them mantra that seem to be prevalent in the airwaves must rest, else may prove regrettable. A collective effort (the world together) is rather required to fight this Coronavirus (COVID-19), common enemy, as was successfully done in Ethiopia albeit that was a different kind of enemy. This submission is intended to highlight the critical need for the world to come together as one, share information and resources to tackle this crisis together. The lack of rain, bad politics, regional wars in Ethiopia between the North, now Eritrea, and the Ethiopian government in the south, contributed to a cutoff of the North from civilization and food/water by the Ethiopian government as a weapon to force them into submission, to which the north did not relent. The resistance resulted in years of wars and famines in the north. Eventually, countries around the world came together as one and acted resoundingly in favor of a resolution to that conflict. Countries would participate in various efforts but the most notable to me were FOUR OCCURRENCES as follows: 1. THE WESTERN MEDIA would be credited for flooding the airwaves with pictures of Ethiopian men, women, children and babies dying from fatigue and hunger, while they walked 10+ miles and miles at the hint of water or food somewhere afar. Fortunately or unfortunately, the media did not separate Northern Ethiopia from the rest of Africa. All Africans were branded, regardless of which country in Africa one originated from. While lumping the people of the entire continent of Africa together as one group of hungry soul seemed to be deserving, or perhaps a strategic move to get the much-needed attention, there was a price that Africans paid for that action. Consequently, many Americans (certainly not all), as I witnessed around Washington DC where I lived and attended university, associated what they saw on television with all Africans. Some may have resulted in compassion, but many did not. There were many important consequences but let me share a very tiny unimportant impact on little people like me. I felt the pinch when I little me went to a disco called IBEX, at the corner of Georgia Avenue and Military Road in North West, Washington DC, one Saturday night, just a day after my final exams that semester to detox my brains. The Disk Jockey (DJ) called Maniak McLoud (best DJ ever), just at the midnight hour, played the music when somebody loves you back by Teddy Pendagrass. A beautiful Black American Lady standing by, who I little me had eyed all night, by the name of Latocia, refused to dance with me because I was from Africa and I must be hungry. She actually ended her statement with yek, (as in filthy) then walked away. Epic when viewed filthy, isnt it? This was only a tip of the iceberg. I would reserve the many other experiences for a future submissions. Let me touch on why I think today that branding all Africans was perhaps deserving. The Headquarters of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), now African Union (AU), was then, and is still in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, while the war between the north and the Ethiopian government was ongoing and had hit a great height, yet OAU did not do enough, if they did anything at all, until things got out of hand. In my view, this was a missed opportunity for all African nations, by association as members of the OAU, to get together as one, to firmly broker a diplomatic solution to the conflict. Their actions and inactions indeed affected Africans everywhere, one way or the other. Gladly, I thank God that the only known impact on little me were a dance I missed from beautiful Latocia, being referred to as filthy, and questions from school mates if my family lived on trees in Africa, all because there was famine in Northern Ethiopia and the western media cleverly portrayed that region as the entire continent of Africa. While the western media did a huge disservice to the great continent of Africa, I would however give them kudos for exposing this unacceptable error to our own people. Shame on the OAU on this in spite of their many other great accomplishments. 2. MUSICIANS AROUND THE WORLD ROSE TO THE OCCASION and put out music that would further expose the atrocities in Ethiopia. Notable was the album from AMERICAN MUSICIANS, titled We are the world, written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, and produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Are_the_World. 3. The hurtling pace of delivery of metric tons of food and water from donations in America and other nations, who previously stood by helplessly with trucks of food prior to the coalition was breathtaking. Emotional information came at you via the airwaves with such dizzying speed, it was hard back then to step back and take in the panoramic pictures. The world was at a fever pitch; failure was not an option. Led by the United States (yes America is good for a lot, we must admit it) a coalition was formed. Scores of trucks were secured, roads were constructed, meter by meter, through the rugged topography of the Montane Woodland ecoregion into Northern Ethiopia where food was delivered to our brothers and sisters. 4. Finally, the firm, unequivocal, credible and threatening orders issued by the United States President, President Ronald Reagan (one of my favorite presidents ever) to the Government of Ethiopia NOT TO DARE INTERFERE IN THE FOOD DELIVERY EFFORT, OR ELSE THE UNITED STATES WAS READY AND ABLE TO UNILATERALLY DESCEND RELENTLESSLY ON THE GOVERNMENT OF ETHIOPIA IN A MANNER NEVER SEEN BEFORE IN MODERN TIMES. Reagans authoritative directive to a president and a sovereign nation was credible, and indeed marked a paradigm shift in presidential politics. With America war fighter planes flying nearby, the government heard President Reagan loud and clear! and their troops did not dare sabotage that epic humanitarian journey. Fast forward, today there is a nation called ERITREA years following extensive diplomatic efforts. This provided a fitting coda to an era of sensationalism. A peace framework was tabled and warring factions begun to pull together on shared basic human values. Today, we are hit with Coronavirus (COVID-19), and a call for the world to come together as one can certainly translate to the powerful muscles needed to defeat this common enemy as has been done in retrospect, during times when the world stood together as one. Accordingly, I urge authorities to extend a hand to other nations to obtain and share information that works, and also to learn about necessary precautions. I would also recommend that nations consider connecting to credible Tele-Medicine platforms to benefit from the extensive services that are offered, which may be appropriate during times like these. Success requires effective leadership, from each President, which must not be delegated. As we hold our leaders responsible, we are equally required to heed to official guidelines. We are in this together! Additionally, I urge the free media to play their critical role of capturing and disseminating information to raise awareness, and to do so responsibly. More importantly, and in the spirit of we are in it together, some concrete ways in which humanity can help one another, would include calling to check on friends and family, especially those who live alone. Join with volunteers who are helping the sick and elderly by delivering food, purchasing groceries for them while practicing social distancing, speaking up when others (Chinese) are being discriminated against. We are in this together! Mortal incidents of the past that took collective efforts to conquer would include the various world wars. However, COVID-19 is biological and unfamiliar. It would require all hands on deck and diligence from everybody to defeat it. We are in this together! Let us put Us versus Them to rest. There may be other perspectives abound these are however my own. In Christ, Dr. Michael Buadoo, CSM Consultant/Management, - National & International Development, U.S.A Information Technology, Software Engineering (Enterprise Systems), Health IT. Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/dr-michael-buadoo-csm-5874231 Twitter:@MichaelBuadoo Since the coronavirus outbreak began, we all have had many questions about the disease, how to go about daily life, and how to responsibly work to minimize the risk to ourselves and others. Each day each hour brings new questions. We took a few of the most recent concerns from Tribune readers and the newsroom, and posed this newest round to Dr. Todd Nega, an infectious disease physician with NorthShore University HealthSystem. : India Cements Ltd on Monday said it was shutting down operations at its plants across the country following the coronavirus pandemic. "...considering the safety of all our stakeholders our company's cement plants in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Rajasthan and Maharashtra are shutting down their operations effective from such dates as per guidelines issued by central and respective state governments", it said. In a BSE filing, the city-headquartered cement maker said the duration of the shutdown at its facilities would depend on the improvement of the situation country-wide. "The company has been taking all the necessary precautionary measures at all its offices, plants and units against the spread of COVID19 as advised by the governments from time to time", it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Los Angeles, CA , March 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- Reign Sapphire Corporation (RGNP): To our shareholders: Reign Sapphire Corporation (Reign) has started 2020 with a significant move into the Australian gold industry. The acquisition of 75% interest in Werribee Downs Gold Project marks the first addition to our portfolio of what we believe is high quality prospective gold tenements in Victoria. The region where we have commenced exploration planning is ranked #1 in the Fraser Institute's Annual Survey for mining attractiveness, and has a documented history of some of the highest gold yield in the world. The 250km2project is situated in the Mount Rothwell area in Victoria, Australia, to the East of the Steiglitz Goldfields. Mount Rothwell is 20 km west of Werribee in the Bendigo-Ballarat Gold Province. We would like to notify shareholders that we have commenced modeling for the exploration project and will be updating shareholders as to further developments. Its all about shareholder value In the interest of providing maximum shareholder value and harnessing opportunity during these turbulent market times, management is very pleased to update shareholders of our intention to eliminate a significant portion of debt. The company has already reduced debt by more than 30% which will be reflected in the upcoming 10-K. This is only the beginning and we intend to update shareholders on further major debt reductions as they are finalized. Reign has extensive experience in exploration and mining as well as a network of Australian based geologists, which will help position us well in the Australian gold sector. Our mission and ultimate goal is to use these resources to provide our shareholders with measured growth in the face of an unstable market. The company is currently assessing other gold projects, and management is in discussions to sign further agreements for additional prospective tenements in the region. As the CEO of Reign, I am very excited with our plans for 2020 and look forward to updating our shareholders with developments shortly. Joseph Segelman CEO & Managing Director Reign Sapphire Corporation 23 March 2020 info@reignsc.com Several area school districts have taken steps to provide meals to students during the coronavirus closure mandated by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Parents are encouraged to contact their local school district for the most current information on meal availability. Here is a sampling of what some area school districts are doing. EAST ALTON The East Alton School District is offering a Grab and Go format to provide students with meals during the statewide COVID-19 shutdown. The district will provide meals for any child 18 and younger, and the children do not need to be present when the meals are picked up. Meal pick up will be offered 9-11 a.m. daily at Washington Early Childhood Center and on the Eastwood/East Alton Middle School campuses. Please be patient and understanding as we work to ensure safe and efficient meal distribution, superintendent Emily Warnecke said in a message to parents. People picking up from the Washington Early Childhood Center cafeteria are asked to park in the lot and walk to the cafeteria doors. At the Eastwood/East Alton Middle School, people can pull through the circle drive and bags will be under the awning by the kindergarten door at Eastwood. Parnets are asked to take one sack per child age 18 or younger in their household. Each sack will contain a full breakfast and full lunch. For more details, call 618-433-2051. EAST ALTON-WOOD RIVER The district is serving breakfast and lunch to anyone 18 and younger in the community during weekdays. Serving is by sack lunches with all federal meal guidelines followed. Pickup will be behind the Main Building Library entrance under the canopy (in case of rain). Cafeteria staff will remain at a safe 6-foot distance with sacks displayed on a table. Meals also will be served at the East Alton and Wood River-Hartford elementary districts. If a student has difficulty in getting to the high school, they may pick up a meal sack in East Alton at Washington Pre-K and Eastwood Elementary/Middle School 9-11 each day. Locations in Wood River-Hartford include: Lewis and Clark Campus Cafeteria: 8 a.m. to noon Hartford Elementary Cafeteria: 8 a.m. to noon Round House Parking Lot, Wood River: 9-11 a.m. 7th and Lewis, Wood River: 9-11 a.m. West End Park, Wood River (Little Italy): 9-11 a.m. 6th Street Park, Wood River: 9-11 a.m. Breakfast will include a PopTart, a fruit, a juice and a milk. Lunches will include a sandwich, a bag of chips, a carrot, a fruit, a juice and a milk. Students with nut allergies will be offered a sandwich with ham or turkey on days when a peanut butter and jelly is the main sandwich item. JERSEYVILLE/GRAFTON The Jersey Community School District No. 100s food service partner, OPAA, is offering free sack breakfast/lunches through March 30. Each bag will contain food for both breakfast and lunch. The meals will be available for pick up between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Jersey Community High School and Grafton Elementary School. Parents are asked to drive to the pick-up location, roll down their window, pick up the meal and proceed out of the parking lot. Superintendent Brad Tuttle said the district is committed to making sure students who rely on school meals will continue to have food while schools are closed. Any necessary adjustments to the meal policy will be announced, he said. ROXANA Superintendent Debra K. Kreutztrager notified district parents that during Gov. J.B. Pritzkers statewide closure of schools the district will provide five-day meal kits of breakfast and lunch. Every Monday, the Grab-N-Go meal kits will be available 9:30-11 a.m. at South Primary and the Commons behind the junior high/high school complex. Parents may drive through either site and pick up meals for all of their children 18 and younger. She also noted the St. Louis Food Bank is scheduled to deliver again to the district on Friday, April 17, 9:30-10:30 a.m. at South Primary School. Produce and family meal items are generally shipped to the district on a first come first served distribution basis. Our focus is to ensure students have meals and to remain connected to promote learning during the school closure, she said. We understand the challenges this situation creates and want to encourage you to reach out for any additional services. Parents can visit the districts website or call 618-254-7541 for more details. BETHALTO School officials have sent a needs survey to parents in the Bethalto School District with sack breakfast/lunches provided to students starting Monday, March 23. Meals may be obtained at four locations: Storey Manor Parking Lot: 9:30-10 a.m. Enchanted Village entrance off Culp Lane: 10-10:30 a.m. Lifebrook Church parking lot: 10:45-11:15 a.m. Trimpe Middle School, parent drop-off lane: 9 a.m. to noon. We will be providing both breakfast and lunch for two days, three days a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday), superintendent Jill Griffin said in a message to parents. We are asking that, at Trimpe, you pull behind the building and stop at the back entrance, she said. At the satellite locations, we will have a bus at these sites and ask that you come to the back doors of the bus and we will hand you the number of meals requested. GRANITE CITY Students 18 and younger in the Granite City school district can obtain free meals from eight different locations. The meals will provide both a breakfast and lunch meal package. Superintendent James Greenwald has informed parents that the meal packages can be picked up 9-11 a.m. at Granite City High School Coolidge Junior High School Grigsby Intermediate School Frohardt School Maryville School Mitchell School Prather School Wilson School. Parents are asked to drive to the pick-up location, roll down their window, pick up the meal(s) and proceed out of the parking lot, he said. Cold foods such as sandwiches, milk ad cheese should be kept cold at 41 degrees or below within two hours of pick-up, the district said. HIGHLAND The Highland school district wioll provide sack breakfasts and lunches for children. Meals for Monday and Tuesday will be provided on Mondays; meals for Wednesday through Friday will be provided on Wednesdays. Pick up will be 8-10 a.m. at five locations: Highland Primary, west door of cafeteria Highland High School, north staff parking lot Alhambra Primary, south cafeteria doors Grantfork Elementary, west cafeteria doors Pavilion at Country View Mobile Home Park New Douglas RecPlex. Each site can accommodate drive-up and walk-up service, but parents are asked to follow specific instructions from the on-site food service personnel. For more details or to share information about food allergies, call 618-651-4564. WHITE HALL The North Greene school district will provide lunch and breakfast at both attendance centers for pick up between 9-11 a.m. each day. The district also plans to deliver meals to children who live on rural routes. For more details, call 217-374-2842. CARROLLTON The Carrollton school district will provide bag lunches to students every weekday. Included with each days lunch will be a breakfast item for the following morning. For rural students, buses will run regular morning routes outside of town to deliver food for students, leaving the bus garage between 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. Students are asked to be looking for the bus to keep the process as fast as possible. For for in town students, buses will be parked at five locations for distribution of food bags at the following times: Hawkland Drive: 8:30-9 a.m. The Square near the Gazebo: 8:30-9 a.m. City Park South Pavilion, 8:30-9 a.m. Carrollton Grade School Parking Lot: 9-9:30 a.m. Carrollton High School Parking Lot: 9-9:30 a.m. Students are expected to come to the parked school bus to pick up food bags. Pre-K students not served by a regular bus route will have a food delivery to their homes after 9 a.m. CALHOUN COUNTY Calhoun Unit District No. 40 will provide free meals to students during the statewide COVID-19 school closure. Breakfast and lunch meals will be available 10-10:30 a.m. at: Please do not forget to take advantage of the breakfast and lunches that are being distributed throughout our county. Drop off times are 10:00-10:30 daily. Hamburg-Park/Pavilion Kampsville Village Hall St. Michaels Church parking lot in Michael Batchtown Village Hall Hardin Village Hall (old Medical Center) Calhoun Elementary School in Hardin. For more information, call 618-576-2341. The novel coronavirus, upending our world as we know it, is also changing how we consume energy and address climate change. Driving the news: The various impacts are occurring both now and into the future. Most changes dont bode well for acting on climate change and transitioning to cleaner energy. Five changes happening now: Lower emissions Global carbon dioxide emissions are likely to drop this year, due to the global economy faltering. Thats not a silver lining to the novel coronavirus. Its like a person who loses weight while sick. Its a byproduct of a bad situation and by definition should and will not last. Indeed, since the Industrial Revolution, the worlds emissions have not gone down except briefly during economic crises. These incidents merely show how difficult it is to reduce emissions in an economically sustainable way. Collapsing oil industry Already struggling with tanking stocks and pressure over climate change, the worlds oil and gas industry is spiraling out of control toward rock-bottom prices. Three factors are converging: Abundant supply. Demand destruction caused by the coronavirus shutting down major economies. A supply and price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia, largely in response to the first two, which pushes prices even lower. A lot of smaller companies are likely to go bankrupt or substantially shrink, while bigger producers may see more value in their nascent renewables investments. How it works: Returns in oil have traditionally been better than in renewables. But there are no returns in oil and gas projects, so what now?" asks Valentina Kretzschmar, corporate research director at consultancy Wood Mackenzie. Supply and tax troubles for renewable energy Wind and solar companies are warning about stunted supply chains and tax uncertainty due to borders closing around the world and related economic slowdowns. Changing energy patterns All of us working from home will ultimately save energy use in buildings, according to data from Houston-based energy analytics company Innowatts. By the numbers: The company predicts that U.S. daily residential use will increase by 6%8%. Demand from educational and commercial buildings will drop by 30% and 25%, respectively, more than offsetting the growth in home energy use. Advocacy disrupted Online grassroots environmentalism isn't going to be as effective as mass gatherings and protests, high-profile campaigner Bill McKibben conceded last week. Yes, but: Some groups are seeing upsides. Phone2Action, a digital advocacy platform, has seen its usage skyrocket. Its clients include a wide range of organizations and companies, including environmental and energy-industry interests. Over the last week, more than 1 million people sent more than 2.3 million messages to Congress. In the same period last month, the group had roughly 150,000 people and 290,000 messages to Congress. Five changes poised to occur over time: Green lessons Were all learning how remote meetings, panels and other events work. To the extent that companies stick with these habits once were all able to work and travel like normal again, these changes could have a more lasting impact on our energy use, particularly in transportation. Recession worries As the world craters into a recession one possibly worse than the Great Depression longer-term problems, including climate change, are likely to go to the back burner. Two signs emerging already: China is considering relaxing car-pollution rules in what Bloomberg News described as a possible retreat on climate change. The Eurasia Group said last week: "Coronavirus will shift global attention and resources away from addressing climate change. Stimulus plans The International Energy Agency is among the most prominent voices calling on governments around the world to incorporate clean energy into any economic stimulus plans. So far thats not happening, but the renewable energy industry is one of many battered sectors asking Congress for help in any stimulus package the government passes. Democrats are also calling on climate-change conditions for any airline bailout. (Even) less multilateralism The world was going nationalistic even before the coronavirus hit, and now countries are literally closing their borders and looking inward as they deal with their domestic problems brought on by the coronavirus. That's having an especially strong impact on oil-producing countries. It [climate diplomacy] has never been easy. And arguably it has just become more difficult for countries to agree, said Kretzschmar, of Wood Mackenzie. Especially for oil-and-gas producing countries that will be hugely affected by this slump in oil prices. Revenues are going to be decimated. The election (remember that?) If Trump wins re-election, any big energy and climate policy remains unlikely. But if Joe Biden, the Democratic front-runner, wins, it seems more likely now than before the coronavirus that he could aim to help the economy similar to the way the Obama administration did after the 2008 economic crash. The 2009 Recovery Act was the single most important piece of federal legislation ever to help the clean energy sector, said Ethan Zindler, head of Americas for BloombergNEF. Clean-energy technologies received some $90 billion in government support. But, but, but: The economy may be on the mend by then, which feels like a lifetime from now in our current time horizon. Go deeper: Coronavirus shows how slow-moving climate change is The UK is injecting 20million into coronavirus research projects that will trial the effectiveness of 1,000 drugs on the disease, as well as developing a vaccine. Six research groups from leading universities in England today became the first to benefit from the investment, receiving 11million between them. The cash will go towards testing existing HIV and malaria drugs, which have shown promise in treating the virus in other countries. The first major UK trial of the AIDS tablets lopinavir-ritonavir is already underway at Oxford University and initial results are expected within three months. Money will also support the development of a new antibody therapy, which involves programming the human proteins to attack the virus more ferociously in the body. Millions are also being invested into a vaccine trial to develop a cure for COVID-19, which has so far killed 335 people in Britain and infected nearly 6,000. Britain's chief scientific adviser said the 20million pot will 'herald important breakthroughs' in the fight against coronavirus. There are currently no approved treatments or preventive vaccines for COVID-19 and most current patients receive only supportive care such as breathing assistance. The first major UK trial of the AIDS tablets lopinavir-ritonavir is already underway at Oxford University and initial results are expected within three months The six research groups to receive coronavirus funding 1. University of Edinburgh, Imperial College London and University of Liverpool - 4.9million. The team will collect samples and data from thousands of COVID-19 patients in the UK to answer urgent questions about the virus and provide real-time information. 2. University of Oxford - 2.1million. Team will test if existing or new drugs can help patients hospitalised with confirmed COVID-19. 3. University of Oxford - 2.2million. The team are already developing a new vaccine against the COVID-19. The first stage of human testing will be in adults aged 18-50. 4. Imperial College London - 600,000. Will develop a new antibody therapy, which involves programming the human proteins to attack COVID-19. 5. University of Oxford - 400,00 Team will develop a way to mass manufacture vaccines at speed in preparation of university successfully developing a COVID-19 cure. 6. Queens University Belfast - 300,000 This project will test a library of approximately 1,000 drugs on cells in the laboratory to determine if any can reduce the toxic effects of coronavirus. Advertisement Business Secretary Alok Sharma, who announced the investment today, said: 'Whether testing new drugs or examining how to repurpose existing ones, UK scientists and researchers have been working tirelessly on the development of treatments for coronavirus. 'The projects we are funding today will be vital in our work to support our valuable NHS and protect people's lives.' NHS patients currently being treated for coronavirus have signed up to take part in the trials being conducted by Oxford University, the University of Edinburgh, Queens University Belfast, Imperial College London and the University of Liverpool. Health Secretary Matt Hancock added: 'In the midst of a global health emergency the UK is using all its extensive research expertise to quickly develop new vaccines to target this international threat. 'This investment will speed up globally-recognised vaccine development capabilities and help us find a new defence against this disease.' As well as focusing on treatments and vaccines, 4million is also being invested into collecting samples from patients to answer which people have a higher risk of severe illness. Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance said: 'The UK is home to incredible scientists and researchers who are all at the forefront of their field, and all united in their aim; protecting people's lives from coronavirus. 'The announcement made today reflects the vital work being undertaken by our scientists to help develop vaccines and treatments. 'This research could herald important breakthroughs that will put the NHS in a stronger position to respond to the outbreak.' Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty added: 'The world faces an unprecedented challenge in our efforts to tackle the spread of COVID-19 and it is vital we harness our research capabilities to the fullest extent to limit the outbreak and protect life. 'Alongside the world-leading research overseen by the NIHR, these new six projects will allow us to boost our existing knowledge and test new and innovative ways to understand and treat the disease.' Trialling HIV drugs 2.1 million University of Oxford A clinical trial has started at the prestigious university to test if existing or new drugs can help patients hospitalised with confirmed COVID-19. The drugs will be tested to see if they are safe and effective when added to the usual standard of care. HIV drugs: lopinavir-ritonavir and low-dose corticosteroids will be the first two therapies to be tested. A clinical trial has started at the prestigious university to test if existing HIV drugs can treat coronavirus patients The trial is called Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy (RECOVERY). The research team hope to have data available to inform patient treatment within three months. The trial will have an 'adaptive' design, meaning it can test new therapies as they become available. Lopinavir/ritonavir, marketed under the brand names Kaletra and Aluvia, is an anti-HIV medicine Lopinavir/ritonavir, marketed as Kaletra and Aluvia, is an anti-HIV medicine given to people living with the virus to prevent it developing into AIDS. It is a class of drug called a protease inhibitor, which essentially stick to an enzyme on a virus which is vital to the virus reproducing. By doing this it blocks the process the virus would normally use to clone itself and spread the infection further. A group of patients who were among the first in Australia with confirmed cases of coronavirus were successfully treated using the HIV drugs along with chloroquine. Lopinavir and ritonavir, the active drugs in Kaletra, were also tested in China on a group of 199 patients with COVID-19 but the trial found less impressive results. The study published in the New England Journal of Medicine on March 18 the Chinese researchers gave 99 patients the drug and the remaining standard care over four weeks. 'In hospitalized adult patients with severe Covid-19, no benefit was observed with lopinavirritonavir treatment beyond standard care,' the study concluded. The study found both groups took 16 days to see clinical improvement. However, the study did find those treated with Kaletra spent less time in intensive care - 6 days compared to 11 days for the control group. The study also found a small group patients treated with the drug within 12 days of developing symptoms did appear to show improvement over standard care. Studying the disease and how it affects different patients Investment: 4.9million University of Edinburgh, Imperial College London and University of Liverpool The project involves collecting samples and data from COVID-19 patients in the UK to answer urgent questions about the virus and provide real-time information. Researchers say this which could help to control the outbreak and improve treatment for patients. The project involves collecting samples and data from COVID-19 patients in the UK to answer urgent questions about the virus and provide real-time information Their research questions include: Who in the population is at higher risk of severe illness; What is the best way to diagnose the disease; What is happening in their immune systems to help or harm them; Closely monitoring the effects of drugs used in patients with COVID-19; How long are people infectious for and from which bodily fluids; Whether people with COVID-19 are infected with other viruses (e.g. flu) at the same time The researchers will recruit at least the first 1,300 UK patients who agree to take part over the next year and aim to start communicating their initial results in months. Developing a new vaccine 2.2 million University of Oxford The team are already developing a new vaccine against the COVID-19. The first stage of human testing will be in adults aged 18-50, later expanding the trial to adults over 50 years and school age children. The vaccine is made from a harmless virus, an adenovirus, which has been altered to produce the surface spike protein of the coronavirus after vaccination, to prime the immune system to recognise and attack the coronavirus. The team are already developing a new vaccine against the COVID-19. The first stage of human testing will be in adults aged 18-50, later expanding the trial to adults over 50 years and school age children If the vaccine is shown to be safe and effective in these earlier trials, vaccine manufacturing will be scaled up for larger studies. The vaccine utilises the same technique as a vaccine the team previously developed for the closely related MERS coronavirus, which showed promise in animal and early-stage human testing. They initiated vaccine development as soon as the genetic sequence of the novel coronavirus was released by China months ago. Funding will support preclinical testing of the new vaccine, vaccine manufacturing and then clinical trials in people. This earlier research was funded by the UK Vaccines Network (a DHSC and UKRI initiative) in 2018. New antibody therapy 600,000 Imperial College London This research aims to develop antibodies that target the novel coronavirus with the aim of developing a new therapy for COVID-19. Antibodies are molecules produced by the body's immune system that can specifically recognise and bind to structures, such as those on the surface of a virus, to block the virus entry and instruct the immune system to destroy it. They have already identified some antibodies that might bind to proteins from COVID-19. This research aims to develop antibodies that target the novel coronavirus with the aim of developing a new therapy for COVID-19 In collaboration with China, the scientists will use these in this project to develop a potential antibody therapy. It would involve reprogramming the molecules in a lab to attack the COVID-19 more ferociously when it is administered to patients. The aim is to get the therapy to the stage where it is ready to enter clinical trials within months. Mass manufacturing vaccines 400,000 University of Oxford The team are aiming to develop speedy manufacturing processes for producing vaccines for adenovirus at a million-dose scale. It means that if clinical trials of the COVID-19 vaccine at the university is successful, a vaccine could be made on a mass scale for high-risk groups as quickly as possible. Testing 1,000 existing drugs 300,000 Queens University Belfast This project will test a library of approximately 1,000 drugs on cells in the laboratory to determine if any can reduce the toxic effects of novel coronavirus infection. This project will test a library of approximately 1,000 drugs on cells in the laboratory to determine if any can reduce the toxic effects of novel coronavirus infection The drugs are already approved for use in humans. They will be tested on airway epithelial cells grown in the lab and infected with novel coronavirus to determine if the drugs can reduce virus infection or replication and virus-induced inflammatory responses. This could identify promising drugs for further testing and clinical trials in 12 months. Flu, anti-malaria, arthritis and HIV medication: The promising therapies being tested on coronavirus patients around the world - but how many are the NHS trying? OXFORD UNIVERSITY BEGINS TRIAL OF HIV AND STEROID DRUG FOR CORONAVIRUS The first UK patients have been enrolled in a clinical trial for possible COVID-19 treatments. Researchers from the University of Oxford have launched a new clinical trial to test the effects of potential drug treatments for patients admitted to hospital with the virus. There are currently no specific treatments for the coronavirus and it is possible some existing drugs used for other conditions may have some benefits. Scientists say the randomised evaluation of COVID-19 therapy (recovery) trial will provide doctors and the health service with information they need to determine which treatments should be used. The treatments initially included in the study have been recommended by an expert panel that advises the chief medical officer in England. They are lopinavir-ritonavir, which is normally used to treat HIV, and the steroid dexamethasone, which is used in a wide range of conditions to reduce inflammation. The side effects and safety of both drugs are already well known. Other potential treatments will also be assessed by the trial in the future. Peter Horby, professor of emerging infectious diseases and global health in the Nuffield department of medicine, University of Oxford, and chief investigator for the trial, said: 'There is an urgent need for reliable evidence on the best care for patients with COVID-19. 'Providing possible new treatments through a well-designed clinical trial is the best way to get that evidence. He added: 'All patients will receive the standard full medical care, regardless of which treatment group they are placed in.' Adult inpatients who have tested positive for COVID-19 in NHS hospitals, and not been excluded for medical reasons, will be offered the chance to take part in the trial. Participants will be allocated at random by computer to receive one of the two drugs being studied or no additional medication. This will enable researchers to see whether any of the possible new treatments are more or less effective than those currently used for patients with the virus. Martin Landray, professor of medicine and epidemiology at the Nuffield department of population health, and deputy chief investigator, added: 'The streamlined design of this clinical trial allows consenting patients to be enrolled in large numbers easily and without compromising patient safety or adding significantly to the workload of busy hospitals and their staff. 'In this way we can rapidly assess the value of potential treatments for Covid-19 and provide reliable information on the best ways to treat patients with this disease.' Chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty and NHS England medical director Professor Stephen Powis have written to NHS trusts in England asking them to fully support the new trial. Advertisement NHS hospitals are coming under growing pressure to use experimental drugs to try and treat patients infected with the coronavirus. Doctors and pharmaceutical firms around the world are scrambling to find a drug that can stop the deadly virus, which has now killed more than 8,200 people. Medicines already in use for conditions ranging from HIV to rheumatoid arthritis, malaria, the flu and even Ebola are serious contenders and are being tested to see how they could help patients infected with COVID-19. The Government has refused to confirm if any are being tested out on the 2,626 coronavirus patients in the UK the NHS advises anyone with troublesome symptoms to take paracetamol and rest at home unless they feel life-threateningly ill. But its medicines regulator last month banned companies from exporting three drugs for HIV and malaria in a bid to protect the UK's stocks of them. All three have been used in experimental treatments by doctors in China, raising the prospect of Britain doing the same. Here, MailOnline reveals some of the drugs that experts believe have potential. Chloroquine phosphate (Malaria) One drug being used by doctors fighting the coronavirus outbreak is chloroquine phosphate, an anti-malarial medication. The drug sold under the brand name Arlan kills malaria parasites in the blood, stopping the tropical disease in its tracks. But tests of the drug which has been used for 70 years on COVID-19 patients in China show it has potential in fighting the life-threatening virus. Chinese officials claimed the drug 'demonstrated efficacy and acceptable safety in treating COVID-19 associated pneumonia'. Experts at the University of Palermo in Italy, as well as a team in Israel, collated the research on the drug in treating the coronavirus. In their report, they claimed officials in the Netherlands already suggest treating critically-ill patients with the drug. South Korea and China both say the drug is an 'effective' antiviral treatment against the disease, according to a report by US virologists. The Wuhan Institute of Virology in the city where the crisis began claimed the drug was 'highly effective' in petri dish tests. Tests by those researchers, as well as others, showed it has the power to stop the virus replicating in cells, and taking hold in the body. Twenty-three clinical trials on the drug are already underway on patients in China, and one is planned in the US and another in South Korea. University of Minnesota experts are planning to test whether the drug sometimes given to treat lupus and arthritis prevents the progression of COVID-19. Chloroquine was prescribed around 46,000 times in 2018 in the UK but it is also available over-the-counter from pharmacies without a prescription. One drug being used by doctors fighting the coronavirus outbreak is chloroquine phosphate, an anti-malarial medication. It is sold under the brand name Arlan Professor Robin May, an infectious disease specialist at Birmingham University, said the safety profile of the drug is 'well-established'. He added: 'It is cheap and relatively easy to manufacture, so it would be fairly easy to accelerate into clinical trials and, if successful, eventually into treatment.' Professor May suggested chloroquine may work by altering the acidity of the area of cells that it attacks, making it harder for the virus to replicate. Hydroxychloroquine (Malaria) Chinese scientists investigating the other form of chloroquine penned a letter to a prestigious journal saying its 'less toxic' derivative may also help. Hydroxychloroquine, sold under the brand name Plaquenil, may treat COVID-19 In the comment to Cell Discovery owned by publisher Nature, they said it shares similar chemical structures and mechanisms. The team of experts added: 'It is easy to conjure up the idea that hydroxychloroquine may be a potent candidate to treat infection by SARS-CoV-2.' But the Wuhan Institute of Virology scientists admitted they are still lacking evidence to prove it is as effective as chloroquine phosphate. Hydroxychloroquine, sold under the brand name Plaquenil, causes side effects such as skin rashes, nausea, diarrhoea and headaches. Drug giant Sanofi carried out a study on 24 patients, which the French government described as 'promising'. Results showed three quarters of patients treated with the drug were cleared of the virus within six days. None of the placebo group were treated. French health officials are now planning on a larger trial of the drug, which is used on the NHS to treat lupus and rheumatoid arthritis as well as malaria. Lopinavir/ritonavir (HIV) Lopinavir/ritonavir, marketed under the brand names Kaletra and Aluvia, is an anti-HIV medicine Lopinavir/ritonavir, marketed as Kaletra and Aluvia, is an anti-HIV medicine given to people living with the virus to prevent it developing into AIDS. The drug has shown promise as a way of tackling coronavirus, scientists say, because it is able to bind to the outside of the coronavirus. It is a class of drug called a protease inhibitor, which essentially stick to an enzyme on a virus which is vital to the virus reproducing. By doing this it blocks the process the virus would normally use to clone itself and spread the infection further. In a clinical trial application submitted in the US from Asan Medical Center, in Seoul, South Korea, scientists said: 'In vitro [laboratory] studies revealed that lopinavir/ritonavir [has] antiviral activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).' Chinese media reported that the drug was successfully used to cure patients with the coronavirus, but the reports have not been scientifically proven. US-based manufacturer AbbVie has donated free supplies of Kaletra to health authorities in China, the US and Europe it is not clear whether the UK is included. The drug is available on the NHS and was prescribed around 1,400 times in 2018, either as Kaletra or ritonavir on its own. Favipiravir (flu) Favipiravir is the active ingredient in a flu drug called Avigan which is sold in Japan. Doctors in China have claimed it was 'clearly effective' in patients with the coronavirus after they gave it to 80 people in the cities of Wuhan and Shenzen. Favipiravir is the active ingredient in a flu drug called Avigan which is sold in Japan They said it sped up patients' recovery, reduced lung damage and did not cause any obvious side effects. It is also used to treat yellow fever and foot-and-mouth. According to local media, patients who were given the medicine in Shenzhen had negative results for the coronavirus an average of four days after being diagnosed. This compared with 11 days for those who were not treated with the drug. It is not clear what the results were of the trials in Wuhan, the worst-hit part of China. The drug is an anti-viral medication which neutralises a vital enzyme that viruses use to reproduce. It is called a RNA polymerase inhibitor. It is not used by the NHS. It's produced by the Japanese company Fujifilm Toyama Chemical. Remdesivir (Ebola) Remdesivir is an anti-viral drug that works in essentially the same way as favipiravir by crippling the RNA polymerase enzyme, stopping a virus from reproducing. It was developed around 10 years ago by the pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences with the intention of it destroying the Ebola virus. It was pushed aside, however, when other, better candidates emerged. Remdesivir is an anti-viral drug that works in essentially the same way as favipiravir by crippling the RNA polymerase enzyme, stopping a virus from reproducing But it remained an anti-viral drug with the ability to destroy various viruses in lab tests, scientists said. Doctors in the US tried it on three hospitalised coronavirus patients but results were mixed. The drug is now being trialled on coronavirus patients in China and at the University of Nebraska, CNN reports. Doctors writing in a study led by the Wuhan Institute of Virology, published in the prestigious scientific journal Nature last month, said: 'Our findings reveal that remdesivir [is] highly effective in the control of 2019-nCoV infection in vitro.' They added that, since the drug is proven to be safe in humans, it 'should be assessed in human patients suffering from the novel coronavirus disease'. Remdesivir is not prescribed on the NHS. Sarilumab (Rheumatoid arthritis) Sarilumab, a rheumatoid arthritis drug which is marketed as Kevzara in the US, is set to be trialled on patients in the US Sarilumab, a rheumatoid arthritis drug which is marketed as Kevzara and is available to be prescribed on the NHS, is set to be trialled on patients in the US. Pharmaceutical companies Sanofi and Regeneron plan to give the medication to people with the coronavirus to see if it can help calm their immune response. The drug works by blocking part of the immune system which can cause inflammation, or swelling, which is overactive in people with rheumatoid arthritis. (Natural News) If you wondered just how long the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak was going to last, were sorry to say that we dont have an answer for you. No one does. But that said, the pandemic is no doubt going to be prolonged by the actions of some local officials, and that includes those who run Los Angeles County. While the rest of the country shuts down all but essential operations and self-isolates in an attempt to at least slow the spread of COVID-19 and after California Gov. Gavin Newsom took the dramatic step of locking down the entire state of 40 million L.A. County officials have given up trying to contain it. As reported by the Los Angeles Times, the countys Department of Public Health has instructed physicians to only test patients if a positive result could change how they would be treated. The paper added: The guidance, sent to doctors on Thursday, was prompted by a crush of patients and shortage of tests, and could make it difficult to ever know precisely how many people in L.A. County contracted the virus. This, after every Democrat-run enclave in the country, as well as most Democrats in states and in Washington, D.C., have been hammering the Trump administration for coronavirus tests. The president is turning to racist rhetoric to distract from his failures to take the coronavirus seriously early on, make tests widely available, and adequately prepare the country for a period of crisis. Don't fall for it. Don't let your friends and family fall for it. Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) March 18, 2020 The health department is shifting from a strategy of case containment to slowing disease transmission and averting excess morbidity and mortality, according to a letter sent to healthcare providers. Doctors were advised only to test symptomatic patients when a diagnostic result will change clinical management or inform public health response. How do you prepare a response when you dont know how many are infected? That said, the paper claims that the written guidance merely sets in stone a reality that has been ongoing: Namely, that a shortage of tests (for a virus no one knew about until just a few weeks ago) has meant that only symptomatic people were getting one anyway. The paper noted that in addition to a shortage of tests, there are also a shortage of staffers at public health agencies around the country to track sources of new infections, which drastically reduces the chances of isolating people who have been exposed so the outbreak can be contained. The guidance also instructs physicians not to test patients who present with COVID-19 symptoms but are healthy enough otherwise to simply be sent home to self-quarantine. But that means those patients also wont show up in official tallies for the virus. And frankly, thats one of the complaints about Communist China, where the pandemic began: Officials fudging the numbers of people infected (and who were killed) by the virus. L.A. County officials tried to downplay their effort to hide the official numbers by claiming that the Los Angeles Department of Health Services is mobilizing all of its resources to fight the oncoming wave of COVID-19 cases expected in the coming weeks, according to Dr. Christina Ghaly, the agency director, the Times reported. We are ramping up hospital capacity and taking extraordinary measures to increase supplies, she added. But if people with symptoms arent even being tested, how can officials logically plan for the coming wave? They wont really have an idea of how big the wave could be if they dont identify the people who are sick or are we missing something here? While L.A. County officials think theyre doing the practical thing by restricting testing, the fact that they said theyre not even focused on trying to contain the virus any longer is disturbing, not simply to Californians but to the rest of the country. There is no national travel restriction yet meaning Californians are free to move about the country. Sources include: LATimes.com NaturalNews.com Dr Charlie Teo's 'miracle girl' Amelia Lucas has been dealt a devastating blow in her brave brain cancer battle. The Perth schoolgirl's mother Monica Smirk revealed on Sunday her cancerous brain tumour had returned following life-saving surgery by the renowned Sydney surgeon last year. 'Tuesday we got some devastating news from Milli's scan,' Ms Smirk's post reads. 'Its back and we are weighing up our options.' Milli was told in May last year she would die from a brain tumour, before Dr Teo took on her case. Milli Lucas and Charlie Teo. Dr Teo performed life saving brain surgery on Milli last year, but new scans have revealed a tumour has returned to the 12-year-old's brain After she received her diagnosis, Milli picked out Sprite from a pet shop to be her companion on her cancer journey Dr Teo wiped out 98 per cent of the growth on her brain stem, which made headlines after her family crowd-funded over $170,000 to pay for the operation. Many doctors wouldn't touch as the tumour was in a high risk 'no go zone' of the brain, with Milli heading to Germany for alternative therapies including hyperthermia to remove the remainder of the tumour. She incredibly returned to school just weeks after her surgery, but is now facing another tough battle in her fight against the extremely rare Li-Fraumeni syndrome. Milli's rare condition puts her at risk of developing various types of cancer, which has also effected her older sister Tess, her mother and cousin Beau. After Milli got her shattering diagnosis, the family stopped by a pet shop and found a companion for Milli on her journey ahead. 'Milli knows and on the way home from PCH she asked for a puppy,' Ms Smirk's post continues. Sprite is a shitzu cross poodle who will stay with Milli and keep her company throughout her upcoming treatments What type of cancer does Milli Lucas have? Milli has a rare genetic condition called Li-Fraumeni syndrome that predisposes carriers to a lifetime risk of a wide variety of cancers. The disease has already plagued most of the Lucas Smirk family, including Milli's 15-year-old sister Tess, her mother and her young cousin Beau. It's believed only 1,000 people in the world have it in their genetic make up. Advertisement 'So Milli got what she wanted, a shitzu cross poodle so she can stay inside with her and sleep on her bed. 'We named her Sprite meaning Angel/Fairy. 'Welcome Spritey we are in love.' Comments on Ms Smirk's post offered support and encouragement for Milli. 'Im very, very sorry to hear this,' one comment reads. 'I am glad that you found a way to bring joy into your lives during this time.' 'Oh I cant even imagine,' another post reads. 'What a beautiful little friend Sprite will be to Milli. Thinking of your family.' ' 'My fingers are crossed for Milli, such sad news that its back,' another comment reads. Sending hugs your way.' Milli's family raised over $170,000 for her surgery last year, which lead to her going to Germany for alternative therapy to remove the last of her tumour The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a forced work-from-home situation that many organizations and businesses were likely not prepared for. From dealing with undersized VPN infrastructure, insufficient bandwidth and not enough managed devices for employees to take home, IT departments are scrambling to limit the impact on productivity and enable access to corporate resources and applications their colleagues need to perform their job duties. Unfortunately, mounting pressure from management to set up remote working capabilities as quickly as possible could result in IT teams cutting corners and ignoring existing security policies and practices. This could have major implications for business continuity in the long run. Imagine the disruption an attacker could cause by gaining access to the company's private network through an exposed service or a remote employee's personal device, then moving laterally and infecting internal servers with ransomware at a time when the IT and security teams are also working remotely and can't take a hands-on approach to remediate the problem. This is the type of scenario where one person's access could literally wreck an entire infrastructure in no time. Chase Cunningham It would be extremely difficult to recover from such a situation, Chase Cunningham, principal analyst serving security and risk professionals at Forrester, tells CSO. "This is the type of scenario where one person's access could literally wreck an entire infrastructure in no time." Attacking remote workers In the past there have been many cases of companies exposing Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) services directly to the internet and those services being hacked and used as entry points for cybercriminals. Unfortunately, during the COVID-19 crisis, incidents involving insecure configurations of services and firewalls are likely to increase as people take shortcuts to enable remote access. Last week, researchers from Bitdefender warned that TrickBot, a credential-stealing Trojan, added a new module to its arsenal that uses infected computers to launch RDP brute-force attacks. Companies from the telecom, education and financial services sectors in the United States and Hong Kong were on the target list seen by the researchers. TrickBot also has modules for stealing OpenSSH and OpenVPN credentials, which are typically used for remote access, and is a known delivery platform for the sophisticated Ryuk ransomware. Experts agree that these kinds of attacks will continue and intensify as attackers jump at the opportunity to target the large number of workers who are now accessing corporate resources from outside their protected corporate network perimeters and potentially from their own, less secure, devices. Criminals will always respond to circumstances and develop techniques that work and continue to get better, Kevin Curran, an IEEE senior member and professor of cybersecurity at Ulster University, tells CSO. We now have many situations where people have moved out from environments where they were protected by the simple fact that there were firewalls in place and warnings and procedures and they had to have certain versions of operating systems or their software updated. They are now using their personal laptops which, for all we know, could be running Windows XP, he says. Enter zero trust One potential method of avoiding some of these security issues and limiting the risk is to adopt a zero trust security model, where access to business applications, including legacy, is done through a secure web-based gateway following least-privilege principles with support for multi-factor authentication (MFA) and device security checks. Such systems are more scalable than VPNs without added infrastructure costs, can easily integrate with existing single sign-on (SSO) platforms, and allow for granular access control policies that define who may access what from which device. This is the future of the workspace and now they have an opportunity to test that stuff out for free in lots of instances and continue to grow from there. If it was me, I would be jumping on this as fast as I could. Chase Cunningham The good news is that some vendors in this space in response to the COVID-19 crisis are now offering extended free trials for their products. Content delivery company Akamai is offering complimentary 60-day usage of its Enterprise Application Access (EAA) solution as part of its Business Continuity Assistance Program. Cloudflare is offering companies of all sizes free use of its Cloudflare for Teams product through September 1, which includes Cloudflare Access for zero-trust access to internal apps and Cloudflare Gateway for DNS filtering and network monitoring. Cisco's Duo Security also offers new customers free licenses to its zero-trust and MFA platform. CSO is maintaining a list of free work-from-home technology offerings from security vendors during the crisis. "All those [business] leaders that have been trying to justify the reasons for remote work now have a reason to do it," Cunningham says. "But the reality of it is VPNs are not going to work at this scale, so they should be taking advantage of these [zero-trust access] offerings and, if nothing else, use them for pilot purposes to try and figure out where they're going to be. This is not just going to be something that is done for the next couple of months. This is the future of the workspace and now they have an opportunity to test that stuff out for free in lots of instances and continue to grow from there. If it was me, I would be jumping on this as fast as I could." Zero-trust models gaining popularity Many companies were considering switching to the zero-trust network security model even before this crisis hit. A newly published survey of IT managers across 100 small- and medium-size enterprises and Fortune 500 companies found that 31% are considering it, 19% are in the adoption phase, and 8% have already implemented it in their organizations. Fully deploying zero-trust security across the entire corporate network is not an easy task. It requires a phased approach that involves pilot programs, gathering metrics, tweaking access policies, making sure various products integrate seamlessly, making changes to internal data flows and training employees. However, companies could start now on the remote access side and then build from there. "If you asked me a year ago 'Could you roll out a zero-trust network if a pandemic hit and the company had to switch within a few weeks?' I would have said: 'No, that's impossible'," Curran says. "To be honest, these cloud-based systems seem to be the most seamless way to get to a semi zero trust network in a rapid time. I wouldn't say these are true zero-trust networks, but they do a damn good job." "I would encourage companies to go down this route actually because, in some ways, this is really privileged access management, which is the starting point for building a zero-trust network," Curran says. "You can build out the other things later. There are some policy changes needed and a bit of training, but it's a good system [...] and it is stronger than any VPN." Advice for moving to zero trust When developing their access policies, companies should make a clear distinction between managed devices they give to their employees and the unmanaged personal devices that some employees might use to access the company's applications. Ideally, if they're faced with a BYOD scenario, companies should ask their employees to install a mobile device management (MDM) solution on their personal devices. Cloud-based zero-trust access gateways generally perform some security checks for connecting devices through the browser, like verifying the patching state of their OS and other software, but that might not be enough, especially if this forced work-at-home situation lasts for months. The longer a device remains unmonitored, the higher the chances of a compromise. "Obviously, in a perfect world they would eventually get to an end state where they have agents on the machine so they can actually do something, but right now this is about putting the fire out or controlling the fire rather than having the optimal state," Cunningham says. "We're not ready for optimal. We're ready for 'keep people working and keep the economy moving'." It's likely though that companies that had at least some remote workers before this forced work-from-home situation already use some MDM solution. In that case, they would only have to talk to their MDM vendor and buy additional licenses. Legacy apps should be run in virtualized environments or containers and should be segmented from the rest of the network so that if they're compromised, attackers can't pivot and move laterally to compromise the rest of the infrastructure. "Back to the whole viral deal, it's a guarantee that there's going to be some infection, but we don't want to have massive infrastructure-wide infection because of something simple like an old app that got hit," Cunningham says. For almost two decades, Ellen Degeneres became a household name after her show debuted in 2003 and has been dancing her way as one of America's most beloved TV hosts over the years. However, the Emmy Award winner was put in the hot seat after a former staff exposed her through Twitter. Ellen Degeneres Called "One of the Meanest People Alive" This came after comedian Kevin T. Porter labeled the host as "one of the meanest people alive." He also asked the netizens to come forward and share their "most insane stories [they've] heard" about the renowned host in an effort to fundraise for the Los Angeles Food Bank. "Right now we all need a little kindness. You know, like Ellen Degeneres always talks about! She's also notoriously one of the meanest people alive," he added. "Respond to this with the most insane stories you've heard about Ellen being mean & I'll match every one w/ $2 to @LAFoodBank," the comedian posted in his Twitter account. In just minutes, the post went viral and as of this writing, it gained almost 600,000 retweets and has gotten 300 stories and has earned $600 donations. "Well, this got out of hand! It's now hard to tell which stories are real or not, so I've rounded up to 300 and donated $600!" Porter mentioned. Ellen and her Diva Attitude Interestingly, one user shared that former head writer for "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" Karen Kilgariff was "fired" because she "wouldn't cross the picket line" during a writer's strike. "When Karen wouldn't cross the picket line she was fired and Ellen never spoke to her again," @elpez3 replied to Porter's viral post. Kilgariff was said to be the show's head writer for five years. Another experience was from TV writer Benjamin Siemon who posted a series of Tweets regarding Degeneres' diva attitude. He claims that one requirement of the talk show host to her staff is to "chew a piece of gum from a bowl outside her office before talking to her" because apparently the Degeneres has a "sensitive nose'' and if the 61-year-old host thinks that you smell, you will be sent home to show. Siemon also added: "A new staff member was told every day she picks someone different to really hate. It's not your fault, just suck it up for the day and she'll be mean to someone else the next day. They didn't believe it but it ended up being entirely true." Lastly, the writer also revealed that her staff needs to cheer her up if the host feels a little down. "When she's in bad mood staff members were highly encouraged by upper management to go into her office and do bits to cheer her up." A bunch of Ellen Degeneres' horror stories was posted and even called the host "Queen of Social Distancing" even pre-coronavirus days after someone revealed that staff members were not allowed to be in the same room as hers. The Louisiana-born comedian has yet to respond to the negative claims. READ MORE: Suspect #1: Kris Jenner Leaked Controversial Taylor Swift-Kanye West Call? German Chancellor Angela Merkel has gone into quarantine after being informed a doctor who administered a vaccine to her has tested positive for coronavirus. Her spokesman said she was informed about the doctors test shortly after holding a news conference on Sunday announcing new measures to curb the spread of the virus. Steffen Seibert said Ms Merkel had received a precautionary vaccine Friday against pneumococcal infection. He said the 65-year-old will undergo regular tests in the coming days and continue with her work from home for the time being. Ms Merkel had earlier expressed her gratitude to Germans who were following rules on social distancing, saying it was important to remain at least 1.5 metres apart to reduce the likelihood of infection. I know that it means sacrifice, she said, citing the economic and social costs of the lockdown. Im moved by the fact that so many are abiding by these rules. This way we show care for older and sick people because the virus is most dangerous to them. In short we are saving lives with this. She added: My life has also fundamentally changed and now consists largely of phone calls and video conferences. The development illustrated how even world leaders are not free from the risk of infection. With a certain distance the risk of infections is reduced almost to zero, Ms Merkel told reporters. Whether you are half a metre apart or 1.5 metres apart makes a huge difference. Shortly afterwards, she was informed her doctor had tested positive for Covid-19. Theyve stopped coming in, so I have had to resort to other means to be able to provide food for them, said Johnson. Im now doing curb side pickup and I have a gentleman who volunteers to do delivery for those who cant come here. But even with those two options it has been extremely slow. SHOWS: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (MARCH 23, 2020) (AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION - Broadcasters: NO USE AUSTRALIA Digital: NO ACCESS AUSTRALIA .COM.AU INTERNET SITES / ANY INTERNET SITE OF ANY AUSTRALIA BASED MEDIA ORGANISATIONS OR MOBILE PLATFORMS / AUSTRALIA NVO CLIENTS / SMH.COM .AU / NEWS.COM AU) 1. AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, MATT CARROLL, WALKING TO NEWS CONFERENCE 2. WHITE FLASH 3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, MATT CARROLL, SAYING: "The Australian Olympic team could not be assembled in the changing circumstances, both here and abroad. We have to look far, not not only just our athletes and officials but also their families." 4. WHITE FLASH 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, MATT CARROLL, SAYING: "Combined with the decision with the International Olympic Committee, we've decided to plan towards the hosting of the games in 2021 in Tokyo." 6. WHITE FLASH 7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, MATT CARROLL, SAYING: "I think what's most important, is it gives certainty. It gives certainty to the athletes. It gives certainty to our sports and that's the most important thing. And that's what they needed, because the feedback we received over the weekend, particularly after the new decisions by the government, plus also what's happening around the world, potential outbreaks in Africa and other places, we need to give our athletes that certainty and that's what we've done." 8 WHITE FLASH 9 (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, MATT CARROLL, SAYING: "The overwhelming position was that the athletes wanted to go to the games. But, as I said, equally they were concerned for their fellow athletes around the world. And you might have seen, there's been a statement put out today by the USOC (United States Olympic Committee) and also the Canadians and I believe also Team GB (Great Britain). So, it's affecting the globe." Story continues 10. WHITE FLASH 11. CARROLL WALKING AWAY STORY: The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) said on Monday (March 23) it could not assemble a team for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to the coronavirus and that it was now planning for the Games to be postponed to 2021. Australian Olympic Committee chief executive Matt Carroll said its executive board had made its decision without waiting for the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) advice due to changing circumstances with the global pandemic in recent days. Carroll spoke to reporters after Canada announced it would not send its team to the Olympics and Paralympics in the summer of 2020. He said Australia's decision would give athletes "certainty" and pushed for the Games to be held off until 2021. The AOC said in a statement earlier on Monday that its decision reflected the IOC's "key principles of putting athlete health first and ensuring it acted in their best interests and the interests of sport". Opposition to holding the Games in July has risen sharply in the past 48 hours, with several major stakeholders such as U.S. Track and Field and UK Athletics, along with several national Olympic committees, calling for a delay because of the pandemic. More than 13,000 people have died globally since the coronavirus outbreak began. (Production: Jill Gralow) A disaster loan program is already up and running. Congress authorized up to $7 billion early this month for small business disaster loans through the Small Business Administration. Unlike the agencys flagship loans, which are made by banks, disaster loans are issued directly by the government. Red tape has slowed the process. To make businesses in their state eligible for the loans, each states governor had to submit a formal disaster declaration request to the agency. It took until Sunday for all 50 states to have their applications filed and approved. S.B.A. representatives declined to say how many loan applications the agency has received or approved. In past disasters, it has typically taken the agency at least two weeks to make loan decisions. Companies with up to 500 workers can borrow as much as $2 million at a 3.75 percent interest rate, which is far lower than the cost of typical small business loans. But defaulting can have catastrophic consequences: The agency asks those seeking more than $25,000 and most small business loans are at least that much to put up collateral, preferably real estate. Thats a standard term on nearly all S.B.A. loans. Borrowers who own their homes often risk losing the property if they cant repay what they borrowed. Terms like that spook business owners, especially now, when there is little clarity around when and how the coronavirus pandemic will subside, and whether mom-and-pop shops will ever recover. A man who died at a Mississippi hospital earlier this month had been shot in Slidell, not in Mississippi, as one of the suspects in the case had told authorities, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office said Monday. Lamar Henry, 28, was pronounced dead on arrival at a Bay St. Louis, Miss., hospital on March 1, a Sheriff's Office news release said. Henry had been shot multiple times, according to Capt. Scott Lee, public information officer for the Sheriff's Office. At the time, the man who brought Henry to the hospital, Lamar Hargett, told officers that the shooting happened in Gulfport, Miss.. But on March 5 the Gulfport Police Department contacted the St. Tammany Sheriff's Office after their investigation led them to Slidell. The Sheriff's Office detectives, working with the Gulfport police, determined that Henry and Hargett had gone to the home of Trequan Rollins on Ash Drive in Slidell at about 3 a.m. on March 1 to rob him, Lee said. Rollins spotted them, and they drove away, but a car chase ensued along Gause Boulevard with the occupants of the two vehicles shooting at each other. Henry was shot in the neck and side, Lee said. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up A warrant was issued for the arrest of Hargett, 26, of Bay St. Louis, for second-degree murder. He was booked into the Harrison County jail on March 12 and transferred to the St. Tammany jail on March 13. Rollins, 26, of Slidell, had been booked in St. Tammany on March 12 on unrelated charges. But on March 23, he was rebooked on first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, illegal discharge of a firearm, possession of a firearm by a felon and obstruction of justice. Amid the coronavirus outbreak, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "allowing the export of surgical masks and ventilators till March 19 "contrary to the advice of World Health Organisation (WHO)". "Honourable Prime Minister, why did the Government of India allow the export of ventilators and surgical masks till March 19, contrary to the advice of WHO to keep adequate stock of these things? Who were the forces behind it? Is not this criminal conspiracy," Rahul's tweeted in Hindi. Earlier, Gandhi had criticised the Centre over the handling of the coronavirus outbreak. "The #Coronavirus is a sledgehammer blow to our brittle economy. Small & medium businesses & daily wage earners are the worst hit. Clapping won't help them. Only a massive economic package that includes direct cash transfers, tax breaks & a moratorium on loan repayments, will," he had tweeted on March 21. According to official data, 433 positive cases of coronavirus have been reported so far across India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A technology giant is committing $225 million to assist in efforts aimed at combating the coronavirus while the rest of Silicon Valley initiates an investment blitz to help in the fight. Cisco, which focuses on crafting telecommunications equipment and networking hardware, is putting up the massive investment, CEO Chuck Robbins said in a blog post Sunday night. The $225 million is "in cash, in-kind, and planned-giving to support both the global and local response to COVID-19," Robbins said. "As part of our commitment, we are allocating $8 million in cash and $210 million in product to the global coronavirus response. We are focusing these resources on supporting healthcare and education, government response and critical technology," he said. "Part of this will go to the United Nations Foundation's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, supporting the World Health Organization's (WHO) worldwide efforts to help prevent, detect, and manage the spread of COVID-19." The effort comes as Silicon Valley starts to invest into a variety of groups looking to fight the coronavirus. Robbins recently hosted a call with Silicon Valley business leaders to discuss ways they can use their money and vast resources to help fend off the coronavirus. CEOs and executives from Facebook, Apple, the San Francisco 49ers, Twitter, Netflix, Alphabet and Salesforce were invited to take part. Since then, Facebook has announced it will offer $100 million in cash grants and ad credits for up to 30,000 eligible small businesses. The social media giant is also giving $1,000 bonuses to each of their employees as they work remotely. "We heard directly from them that they were in need, very nervous, and not able to pay a lot of their employees, and worried their doors would shut," Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg told CNBC last week. "We're trying to help businesses pay their employees but also shift their businesses online." The worlds super-rich are supposedly scouring the globe for castles with moats, mansions with bunkers, and islands, to avoid the threat of COVID-19. In Australia, things are a little more low key. Trucking magnate Lindsay Fox was spotted on Monday morning along with wife Paula and son Andrew Fox, climbing into his chopper from the sports field at Melbourne High School, which also doubles as the millionaires personal launch pad. (The businessman is a donor and former student of the school and benefits from an agreement which allows him to occasionally take-off and land on the sports field.) His destination? The beach, a minder told your CBD correspondent. A cold wind blew through Melbourne's famous CBD lanes on Monday but it wasnt just the onset of autumn. Business owners and staff wore their sadness, dismay and fear on their faces as many of them were forced to close for an unknown period. Its like a morgue, said one longtime trader, staring down a deserted Degraves Street, its tables removed by lunchtime. Tony Roussos, owner of The Quarter Cafe: closing and cutting his losses. Credit:Joe Armao In Block Arcade, one of our top tourist attractions, the Hopetoun Tea Rooms, were eerily deserted, their famous queue gone and their usually shiny cake display empty. A note from the owner on the window said they would be closed for a little while and lets choose to be positive and optimistic about the future. Haighs Chocolates, usually buzzing in the lead-up to Easter, was taking one or two customers at a time, for hygiene reasons. When Norway broke from Sweden in 1905, the newly independent country promised to stay neutral in all international conflicts. However, it has let loose highly successful and prolonged assaults of both the US and Canada on several fronts. To its credit, Norway has managed all this without using the Internet or spending a single krone. To begin with the most recent attack, in 2013 the Bank of Canada was rocked by news that its novel, much-touted polymer bank notes had been colonized by Norway. Arborists and botanists pointed out that the Canadian $20, $50, and $100 plastic bills all bore the image of a leaf from the Norway maple (Acer platanoides), as opposed to the native sugar maple (Acer saccharum) which has been the national symbol of Canada since at least 1867. In response, the Bank of Canada issued a brief statement that nature-nerds ought to mind their own business. If youre curious, Norway maple leaves are markedly broader than those of the sugar maple. They have five main lobes or sections, often with two additional minor lobes as well, and the central lobe is generally not higher than the two on either side of it. The tips are sharply pointed. By contrast, sugar maple leaves have three main lobes, the central being tallest, all of which are rounded at the ends. They sometimes have a pair of much smaller lobes adjacent to the stem or petiole. It may be a coincidence, but just one year after the Norwegian sneak-attack on Canadian currency, New York State declared Norway maples to be regulated invasive species, meaning they cant be knowingly introduced into a free-living state. All Norway maples which include the red-leaf varieties such as Crimson King sold in NY State since then are required to carry a tag which explains the hazards they pose. Norway maples, of course; the tags are harmless. The problem is that like all maples, Acer platanoides makes copious, winged seeds which disperse widely on the wind. One of their key advantages over native maples is that they can thrive in much lower light conditions. In fact, it has been documented that their seedlings grow faster than those of sugar maples. Also, their dense root systems are shallower than those of native maples, giving them an edge in capturing rainfall and nutrients. They can quickly dominate forest communities where soil disturbance is routine, such as along steep banks. In ravines within the city limits of Ithaca, NY and Toronto, ON, Norway maples now comprise 60% and upwards of the forest composition. Currently, Norway maples are deemed cold-tolerant to USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 4. Nonetheless, the US Forest Service says There is some indication that Norway maple could be potentially invasive in Canada through climate zone 2b.This includes the Maritime provinces, most of Quebec and Ontario, the southern 2/3rds of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, and all but the coldest areas of British Columbia. However, precise distribution data are lacking. With all the strikes against this tree, it seems fair to ask if we should just ban them outright. At the risk of alienating my fellow ISA-Certified Arborists, I say no. Norway maples should be kept away from native forests, especially those on steep terrain, but theyre one of the toughest species for urban sites. Much better suited to life on the street than most trees, Norway maples can tolerate air pollution, drought, soil compaction, road salt, and high soil pH. In this sense they are pretty much the opposite of sugar maples, which should never, under any circumstances, be planted along busy roads. Prior to the advent of the emerald ash borer (EAB), green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) took first prize for the most bullet-proof mid-sized urban tree. In addition to the features listed above, green ash can also deal with intermittent flooding and poorly drained sites. Alas, these guys are out of the picture for at least a few decades until an appropriate suite of predators and pathogens are in place as long-term natural controls. As the EAB invasion has made clear, its vital to have a range of tree species on our roads and in our parks and home landscapes. If a site has room for a tall tree, bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) and hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) can handle tough conditions. Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), and honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos) are good mid-size urban trees, but more are needed. We cannot afford to throw away the Norway maple as a street-tree candidate. If anything, Id support a prohibition on their use in residential yards, but they pose almost zero risk in downtown Saranac Lake, Plattsburgh or Malone on sites which are at the moment entombed in salt-slush. It is plain silliness to paint Norway maples with the same brush as all other plants on the invasive-species roster. For one thing I assume some kind of permit would be required for such a project. Clearly, this tree is not in the same class as buckthorn, exotic honeysuckles, Japanese knotweed and swallow-wort. The Morton Arboretum has evaluated the species, and concludes While these trees have demonstrated invasive traits, there is insufficient supporting research to declare them so pervasive that they cannot be recommended for any planting sites. I think it deserves consideration in downtown, high-traffic, high-salt planting sites. Nevertheless, I do urge the Bank of Canada to ban Norway maples from their currency. Photo of Norway Maple by Wikimedia user Martin Bobka. Flowr provides a global operational update, which includes a headcount restructuring program to better align strategic objectives in light of the global COVID-19 pandemic The Company is taking steps to ensure continuity of production at its flagship Kelowna facility The Canadian premium dried flower market to be the primary strategic focus for the Company over the next six months Investments in Rec 2.0 products will be delayed until the Company becomes cash flow positive In Portugal the Company awaits final GMP certification in Sintra, and an outdoor crop at Aljustrel is planned for harvest in Q4 In Australia, GMP compliant packaging remains and the Company recently released for sale its first shipment of dried flower from Canada Flowr reiterates its plan to get to cash flow positive in H2 2020 by focusing on premium indoor grown dried flower TORONTO, March 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Flowr Corporation (TSX.V: FLWR; OTC: FLWPF) (Flowr or the Company) announced that it has restructured approximately 25% of its workforce globally, which is expected to result in an annual reduction of headcount expenses in excess of approximately $6 million. In an effort to tighten the timeline towards becoming cash flow positive in H2 2020, the Company has decided to focus its resources near term on the Premium Canadian dried flower market, specifically to continue building on the positive sales momentum it has been seeing with its Flowr branded BC Pink Kush and other high THC strains expected to be launched in the marketplace in 2020. "The changes we announced today were part of an ongoing comprehensive review of our operations to reduce costs, focus on the highest value priorities and accelerate cash flow generation, in addition to some of the anticipated macro-economic headwinds stemming from COVID-19. This was an extremely difficult decision that we did not take lightly and would like to thank former and current employees for their tremendous contributions. The resulting company will be a leaner, more efficient organization. Our fundamental thesis that consumers demand quality dried flower has been proven correct as evidenced by heavy demand for our flagship strain, BC Pink Kush. We also look forward to the release of our newest high THC strains BC Louis XIII and BC Tahoe OG in the coming months. Given that our Kelowna 1 facility (Kelowna 1) is now fully operational, we expect to see a step function change in production and sales beginning in the second quarter. While we continue to be very optimistic about our derivative form factor product plans, in light of the current macro environment we feel its prudent to delay further material investments in these areas and focus on our core competency producing premium indoor-grown dried flower and building the Flowr brand in the Canadian recreational market," commented Vinay Tolia, CEO of Flowr. OPERATIONAL UPDATES: CANADA The Company has advanced its Kelowna Campus to be a single hub for all aspects of cultivation, processing and packaging to service the Canadian cannabis market. The Company has only invested in either highly controlled indoor growing environments for premium high THC dried cannabis (Kelowna 1) or low cost outdoor and shade-house production for extraction (Flowr Forest). Notably, the Company has not invested in traditional greenhouses, which are more expensive to build and operate, because it believes that they cannot produce premium smokable products. Flowr has proven that low cost outdoor and shade-house grows provide quality inputs, especially for use in extraction. Recently, the Company launched new corporate and Canadian recreational websites, consistent with its brand marketing strategies. Kelowna 1 Indoor Facility On February 24, 2020, the Company announced it had received approval from Health Canada to open an additional 10 grow rooms, bringing the total to 20 at the Facility. The ultimate production capacity is expected to be approximately 10,000 kg of premium cannabis when fully optimized. Since that announcement, the Company has propagated 7 of the newly licensed grow rooms with the remaining 3 to be planted within the next 30 days. The Company has taken preventative measures to remain a reliable supply chain partner during the COVID-19 pandemic. Outdoor and Shade-House Facility (Flowr Forest) The Company has decided to delay the launch of its live resin product until its Canadian dried flower operations are generating positive cash flow. As a result, the Company has decided to selectively plant outdoors to enable optionality for a full outdoor grow to support its revised live resin launch plans. Flowr/Hawthorne R&D Facility (R&D Facility) Flowr and Hawthorne have entered a strategic R&D alliance to build a state of the art, 45,000 square foot R&D Facility, the 1st of its kind in Canada. Construction of the R&D Facility is substantially complete. The Company submitted the evidence package to Health Canada to license the first floor on February 24, 2020 and expects to receive licensing approval in Q2 2020. Once operational, the R&D Facility will allow Flowr to stay on the leading edge of cultivation technology and maximize plant health and yields. GLOBAL OPERATIONS Portugal Sintra, Portugal Indoor Facility Sintra is a highly controlled indoor cultivation, extract processing and finished product packaging facility. Construction of the facility is substantially complete with 3 of the 6 total grow rooms currently operational. Obtaining GMP certification is both a critical step to the production and sales of a high value medicinal product which can be distributed to any country within in the EU and is Flowrs top priority within its Holigen business. The Company had its final GMP inspection in September 2019 and still anticipates receipt of EU-GMP certification. Construction of the Sintra Facility is substantially complete. Aljustrel, Portugal Aljustrel is a 7 million square foot outdoor cultivation facility which has been deemed a Project of National Interest by the Portuguese Government, the only cannabis related project to receive this designation. The Company expects a phased ramp up of production at Aljustrel to match capacity with the revenue potential of an expanding European medicinal cannabis market. The Company plans to plant over 1,000,000 square feet of cultivation area in 2020 with a harvest expected in Q4 2020. Australia The Company maintains its GMP compliant packaging facility in Australia. Flowr expects its assets in Australia to be a hub for distribution and sales of medicinal cannabis into the Australasian region. During the first quarter, Holigen Australia received a modest shipment of premium dried flower from our Kelowna 1 Facility to be sold and distributed into the Australian market. FINANCIAL UPDATE Further to the Companys announcement on November 19, 2019 relating to the entering into of a credit agreement with ATB Financial (ATB) for access to debt financing of up to $25 million, on February 28, 2020, the Company completed its second draw-down of $3.2 million from its term facility, and $500,000 from its revolving operating credit facility under the credit agreement. Furthermore, the Company is assessing various financing alternatives to address near term working capital needs. About The Flowr Corporation The Flowr Corporation is a Toronto-headquartered cannabis company with operations in Canada, Europe, and Australia. Its Canadian operating campus, located in Kelowna, BC, includes a purpose-built, GMP-designed indoor cultivation facility; an outdoor and greenhouse cultivation site; and a state-of-the-art R&D facility that is currently under construction. From this campus, Flowr produces recreational and medicinal products. Internationally, Flowr intends to service the global medical cannabis market through its subsidiary Holigen, which has a license for cannabis cultivation in Portugal and will operate GMP-designed manufacturing facilities in Portugal and Australia. Flowr aims to support improving outcomes through responsible cannabis use and, as an established expert in cannabis cultivation, strives to be the brand of choice for consumers and patients seeking the highest-quality craftsmanship and product consistency across a portfolio of differentiated cannabis products. For more information, please visit flowrcorp.com or follow Flowr on Twitter: @FlowrCanada and LinkedIn: The Flowr Corporation. On behalf of The Flowr Corporation: Vinay Tolia CEO and Director Contact Info: INVESTORS & MEDIA: Thierry Elmaleh Head of Capital Markets (877) 356-9726 ext. 1528 thierry@flowr.ca Future-Oriented Financial Information To the extent any forward-looking statements in this press release constitutes future-oriented financial information or financial outlooks within the meaning of securities laws, such information is being provided to demonstrate the potential financial performance of Flowr and readers are cautioned that this information may not be appropriate for any other purpose and that they should not place undue reliance on such future-oriented financial information and financial outlooks. Future-oriented financial information and financial outlooks, as with forward-looking information generally, are, without limitation, based on the assumptions and subject to the risks set out below under Forward-Looking Information and Statements. Forward-Looking Information and Statements This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian Securities laws, which may include but is not limited to: the Company taking steps to ensure continuity of production at its flagship Kelowna facility; the Companys primary strategic focus over the next six months being the Canadian premium dried flower market; the Company delaying investments in Rec 2.0 products until it becomes cash flow positive; the expected timing for receipt of GMP certification in Portugal; the expected timing for planting and harvesting an outdoor crop in Portugal; Flowrs plan to get to cash flow positive in H2 2020 by focusing on premium indoor grown dried flower; the Companys expected annual reduction in headcount expenses resulting from restructuring its workforce globally; the Companys expected timeline towards becoming cash flow positive in H2 2020; the Company focusing its resources near term on the Premium Canadian dried flower market; the Company continuing to build on the positive sales momentum it has been seeing with its Flowr branded BC Pink Kush and other high THC strains expected to be launched in the marketplace in 2020; Flowr reducing costs, focusing on the highest value priorities and accelerating cash flow generation; Flowr becoming a leaner, more efficient organization; Flowr releasing new high THC strains BC Louis XIII and BC Tahoe OG in the coming months; the Companys expectation that it will see a step function change in production and sales beginning in the second quarter; the Company continuing to be very optimistic about its derivative form factor product plans but delaying further material investments in these areas; the Company focusing on its core competency, including with respect to producing premium indoor-grown dried flower and building the Flowr brand in the Canadian recreational market; the Companys belief that traditional greenhouses cannot produce premium smokable products; Flowrs expectation for the ultimate production capacity of Kelowna 1 when fully optimized; Flowrs expected timeline for planting the remaining newly licensed grow rooms at Kelowna 1; the Company remaining a reliable supply chain partner during the COVID-19 pandemic; the Company delaying the launch of its live resin product until its Canadian dried flower operations are generating positive cash flow; the Company selectively planting outdoors at Flowr Forest to enable optionality for a full outdoor grow to support its revised live resin launch plans; the Companys expectations for the receipt of licensing approval for the R&D Facility; the R&D Facility allowing Flowr to stay on the leading edge of cultivation technology and maximize plant health and yields; obtaining GMP certification being Flowrs top priority within its Holigen business; the Companys expectations for a phased ramp up of production at Aljustrel to match capacity with the revenue potential of an expanding European medicinal cannabis market; the Companys plan to plant over 1,000,000 square feet of cultivation area in 2020 with a harvest expected in Q4 2020 at its Aljustrel facility; Flowrs expectation that its assets in Australia will be a hub for distribution and sales of medicinal cannabis into the Australasian region; the Company assessing various financing alternatives to address near term working capital needs; Flowr servicing the global medical cannabis market and operating GMP-designed manufacturing facilities in Portugal and Australia; Flowr supporting improving outcomes through responsible cannabis use and striving to be the brand of choice for consumers and patients seeking highest-quality craftsmanship and product consistency; and Flowrs business, production and products. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as plans, is expected, expects, scheduled, intends, contemplates, anticipates, believes, proposes or variations (including negative and grammatical variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Such information and statements are based on the current expectations of Flowrs management and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. Although Flowrs management believes that the assumptions underlying such information and statements are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this press release may not occur by certain specified dates or at all and could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting Flowr, including risks relating to: the Company being unable to ensure continuity of production at its flagship Kelowna facility; the Company not becoming cash flow positive on the anticipated timeline, or at all; the Company not receiving GMP certification in Portugal on the anticipated timeline, or at all; Flowr being unable to plant and harvest an outdoor crop in Portugal on the anticipated timeline, or at all; Flowr being unable to get to cash flow positive in H2 2020 by focusing on premium indoor grown dried flower, or at all; the Companys not realizing the expected annual reduction in headcount expenses resulting from restructuring its workforce globally; the Company being unable to focus its resources near term on the Premium Canadian dried flower market; the Company being unable to continue building on the positive sales momentum it has been seeing with its Flowr branded BC Pink Kush and other high THC strains expected to be launched in the marketplace in 2020; Flowr being unable to launch other high THC strains on the anticipated timeline, or at all; the Company being unable to reduce costs, focus on the highest value priorities and accelerate cash flow generation; Flowr being unable to become a leaner, more efficient organization; the Company not realizing a step function change in production and sales on the anticipated timeline, or at all; the Company being unable to focus on its core competency; the ultimate production capacity of Kelowna 1 not reaching expectations, even when fully optimized; the Company being unable to plant the remaining newly licensed grow rooms at Kelowna 1 on the anticipated timeline, or at all; the Company being unable to remain a reliable supply chain partner during the COVID-19 pandemic; the Company being unable to selectively plant outdoors to enable optionality for a full outdoor grow to support its revised live resin launch plans; the Company not receiving licensing approval for the R&D Facility on the anticipated timeline, or at all; the R&D Facility not allowing Flowr to stay on the leading edge of cultivation technology or to maximize plant health and yields; the Companys being unable to ramp up production at Aljustrel to match capacity with the revenue potential of an expanding European medicinal cannabis market on the anticipated timeline, or at all; the Company being unable to plant over 1,000,000 square feet of cultivation area in 2020 with a harvest expected in Q4 2020 at its Aljustrel facility on the anticipated timeline, or at all; Flowrs assets in Australia not being a hub for distribution and sales of medicinal cannabis into the Australasian region; the Company being unable to access any financing alternatives to address near term working capital needs; the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the business and financial conditions of the Company; Flowr being unable to service the global medical cannabis market and/or operate GMP-designed manufacturing facilities in Portugal and Australia; Flowr being unable to support improving outcomes through responsible cannabis use and/or striving to be the brand of choice for consumers and patients seeking highest-quality craftsmanship and product consistency; the construction and development of the Companys cultivation and production facilities; general economic and stock market conditions; adverse industry events; loss of markets; future legislative and regulatory developments in Canada and elsewhere; the cannabis industry in Canada generally; the ability of Flowr to implement its business strategies; Flowrs inability to produce or sell premium quality cannabis, risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in Flowrs filings with the Canadian Securities Administrators; and many other factors beyond the control of Flowr. Although Flowr has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information or statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. No forward-looking information or statement can be guaranteed. Except as required by applicable securities laws, forward-looking information and statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Flowr undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information or statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. When considering such forward-looking information and statements, readers should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements in Flowrs Annual Information Form dated April 3, 2019 (the AIF) and filed with the applicable securities regulatory authorities in Canada. The risk factors and other factors noted in the AIF could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those described in any forward-looking information or statements. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is erecting warning signs on Lake Erie breakwaters and piers in Ashtabula, Conneaut, Fairport, Huron and Lorain Harbor to keep people off. The structures are designed to provide safe navigation in the harbor, and are not intended or maintained for public recreational access, said Josh Feldmann, chief of operations for the Buffalo District. The corps worries that high waves could knock people into the water, and theyd have no safe way to get out. Ashtabula Harbor will have one "Danger: Restricted Area, Keep Off" sign placed at the west breakwater shore connection point. Conneaut Harbor will have a "Danger: Restricted Area, Keep off" sign placed at the west breakwater shore connection point and a "No Swimming Sign" placed on the breakwater itself. Fairport Harbor will have a "Danger: Restricted Area, Keep off" sign placed on the west breakwater and a "Warning: Surface Uneven, Slippery when wet or icy, No Swimming or Diving" sign placed at the east pier entrance. Huron Harbor had three "Danger: Restricted Area, Keep off" signs installed at various points within the harbor. One sign was placed at the end of the maintained walkway on the west pier, another sign was placed at the entrance of the walkway to the weir, and another sign was placed at the south end of the east pier. Lorain Harbor will have one "Warning: Surfaces Uneven, Slippery when wet or icy, No Swimming or Diving" placed at the entrance to the west pier and a "Danger: Restricted Area, Keep Off" at the west breakwater shore connection point. "For us to enable recreational access to our navigation structures, the city or other public entity must enter into a recreational lease with us," said Feldmann. "It's a straightforward process, but it often requires improvements to the structure to enable safe and unencumbered access as a condition for such an agreement." Similar signs were installed throughout Pennsylvania and New York. Chloe Fineman made a big splash when she joined Saturday Night Live as a featured player last year. Now, Fineman, 31, is getting ready to walk down the aisle ... on Instagram Live after she had to cancel her wedding because of the coronavirus pandemic. Tomorrow I gonna marry my best friend and the love of my life @shartyparty69 on Instagram live, she shared on Instagram Sunday. Had to cancel wedding IRL cuz everyone refused to come BUT OUR LOVE CANT WAIT. Plus, my fiances mom @drew_droege with be there, my maid Id honor @hannahpilkes and our officiant we met at hospital @barahsakers. Fineman is marrying actor Casey Thomas Brown (The Kominsky Method," Tell Me A Story). Or is she? Some of her followers couldnt tell if she was actually getting married or not, since Fineman and Brown often post in-character videos (and an announcement of their nuptials shows them in costume). Either way, should be something to do Monday night! Yall invited to experience our love, Fineman said. 5pm. Tmrw. West Coast Time" (thats 8 p.m. ET). Before she joined SNL, Fineman was known for her spot-on impressions of celebrities. She brought her best Marianne Williamson to the show soon after she was announced as a new cast member in September. Tomorrow I get to marry the love of my life @chloeiscrazy on Instagram Live, officiated by @barahsakers and speeches by @drew_droege and @hannahpilkes at 5 pm PST, Brown said. We are registered at Cracker Barrel and Kohls. Finemans other impressions, as showcased in the below Weekend Update segment about the Oscars, have included New Jerseys own Meryl Streep, as well as Streeps Little Women co-stars Saoirse Ronan and Timothee Chalamet, Scarlett Johansson and Laura Dern of Marriage Story," Ana de Armas from Knives Out" and Renee Zellweger of Judy. Sarah Baker, the officiant of Finemans wedding, is an actress and comedian (The Kominsky Method, Louie). Have a tip? Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup or on Facebook. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletter Disneyland is known as the happiest place on earth, while its counterpart Disney World is known as the most magical. But what marks this difference between the two? Do they not offer the same enchanted experience? Even though both parks are often inseparable in the minds of fans, they are quite unique from each other in many ways. Below is a guide to help understand the main differences between Disneyland and Disney World. 10. Origins Disneyland was built under the direct supervision of Walt Disney. Photo by Skylar Sahakian on Unsplash Open to the public for the first time in July 1955, Disneyland was built under the direct supervision of Walt Disney himself. Even though some of his influence exists at Disney World, the creator died five years before its grand opening in 1971. For this reason, Disneyland offers fans a certain degree of nostalgia that Disney World perhaps cannot. 9. Location Disneyland is in California and Disney World is in Florida. Photo by Heather Maguire on Unsplash While both parks are located in the southern United States, Disneyland is in California and Disney World in Florida. Depending on your intentions, choosing a park may come down to your interest in exploring the area beyond the resorts themselves. 8. Size Disney World will take a lot longer to explore than Disneyland. Photo by Park Troopers on Unsplash Disney World is significantly larger than Walt Disneys original park. As of 2020, Disney World stretches 43 square miles, whereas Disneyland covers approximately 500 acres. It is recommended that you create a must-see and -do list while planning your visit to Disney World to ensure a fulfilling and enjoyable visit. Disneyland, on the other hand, can be completed in its entirety over a long weekend. 7. Transportation Disney World is too large to explore on foot. Photo by Patrick Hunt on Unsplash Because of its smaller size, getting around Disneyland is relatively simple. Mostly everything is accessible by walking; however, there is a shuttle to and from the parking lot and a monorail within the park itself for those who wish to use it. Disney World is impossible to explore entirely on foot. Taking inner-park buses, the monorail, or even the ferry is essential to maximize your time and fun. 6. Hotels Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of the many unique hotels at Disney World. Photo by Brian McGowan on Unsplash Both parks offer hotels to ensure you do not have to leave the park at night. This can help ease your experience and save time commuting each morning. Disneyland only has three hotels, whereas Disney World boasts more than 25 variously themed hotels, including the All-Star Music Resort and the Animal Kingdom Lodge. 5. Cost Disney World is more expensive than Disneyland. Photo by Luke Tanis on Unsplash Disney World generally costs more than Disneyland. As of 2020, expect to pay up to $200 for a single-day ticket at Disney World. If you are going to Disneyland, your single-day ticket might only cost $117. You will probably spend double the amount of time at Disney World than Disneyland, so keep in mind that the longer you stay, the cheaper each day becomes. Children under three may enter for free at both parks. Also remember to budget for food, souvenirs, and the aforementioned hotels. 4. Crowds Both Disneyland and Disney World can be crowded. Photo by Barbara Zandoval on Unsplash The amount of people visiting each park can certainly influence your overall enjoyment. If your main reason for going are the rides, Disneyland offers the better experience, because lines are generally shorter. For example, Jungle Cruise has an approximate wait time of 75 minutes at Disney World, but only thirty at Disneyland. Similarly, expect to wait 53 minutes for Toy Story Mania at Disney World, but 38 at Disneyland. Nonetheless, depending on the individual, Disneyland might feel more crowded because of its modest 500 acres. Rides and shops are crammed into tight spaces, creating a somewhat claustrophobic atmosphere. 3. Parks California Adventure Park is exclusive to Disneyland. Photo by Tyler Nix on Unsplash Disneyland and Disney World are both divided into smaller parks. The former contains its original Disneyland Park and the newer California Adventure Park. The latter contains Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disneys Hollywood Studios, and Disneys Animal Kingdom. Each park offers something different and can enhance your time at Disney depending on your interests. 2. Rides and Attractions Even rides that are available at both parks differ slightly. Photo by Skylar Sahakian on Unsplash Both parks host different rides and attractions. At Disneyland you can ride the Matterhorn Bobsleds or Guardians of the Galaxy Mission: Breakout! Or if you are at Disney World, check out Spaceship Earth or the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Even the rides shared between both parks differ slightly. For example, the popular Pirates of the Caribbean ride is seven minutes longer at Disneyland, clocking in at more than fifteen minutes. 1. Castles The Magic Kingdom castles are iconic. Photo by Jaime Creixems on Unsplash The awe-inspiring castles which commonly adorn advertisements and postcards act as the central hub for both Disneyland and Disney World; however, these differ greatly, too. Disneyland is where you can find Sleeping Beautys castle. Measuring 77 feet tall, it is inspired by Bavarias Neuschwanstein castle. Cinderellas castle is located at Disney World. Measuring an astonishing 189 feet tall, it is the more iconic of the two. Although you can explore parts of the interior of both castles, each contain different attractions and experiences unique to the character and the mythology in which they belong. A Portadown man has thanked a young supermarket employee who paid for their mum's shopping when she got her purses mixed up last week. Gareth Paddy Richardson (38) posted an appeal to find the mystery Lidl employee on Friday after the teenager dipped into his own pocket to pay for mum Annie Richardson's (below) groceries. In the post, which has since been shared and liked thousands of times, the roofer said: "Wow big thank you to the young guy working at the tills at Lidl Portadown. My mum at 76 went to get a few things and when she got to the counter she realised she had forgotten her money. "The young lad went to his locker and used his card to pay for my mum's things. A lady behind also wanted to pay for her stuff, that's community spirit. "My mum then walked back down to the store to pay the young lad but he refused the money and told her if it was his mum he would like to think someone would have done the same for her. He also told mum she shouldn't be out lol." It wasn't long before the people of Portadown put the pair in touch and Gareth told Sunday Life he'd been able to speak to young Charlie Giffen on the phone to say thanks. Gareth said: "I haven't met him personally yet but we had a nice conversation on the phone and via Facebook Messenger. I just thanked him for what he done. He refused to take the money back which was very kind of him, my mum's going to get him a nice card. It wasn't a massive bill but it's the thought that matters." Best Buy originally planned to limit store traffic to 10-15 people, but the progression of COVID-19 is leading Americas retailer to shut down stores for curbside pickup. COVID-19 forces Best Buy to shuts down stores In a company statement, Best Buy CEO Corie Barry says the move to curbside pickup, rather than in-store access, will begin on March 22nd: Beginning Sunday, March 22, we will offer contactless curbside service at all locations across the country where state or local laws allow. Rather than ask you to come into our stores, any items you order on BestBuy.com or the Best Buy app will be delivered to your car curbside. Advertisement If, for any reason, you didnt order the product in advance and the product is in stock in the store, one of our employees will be more than happy to go get it in the store and sell it to you while you remain in your car. Barry also says that employees will receive pay though their jobs have been sidelined temporarily. Employee pay will be commensurate to the average number of hours worked weekly over the last 10 weeks. The new curbside pickup allows buyers to pick up their items outside in vehicles without going in-store. And yet, even with curbside pickup, employees could still be at risk. Theyll need to stand some distance away from driver windows and doors to avoid up-close encounters. Advertisement Best Buy shutdown in light of coronavirus progression Best Buy is doing its best to protect employees and the public. This is due to the progression of coronavirus. Currently, there are at least 12,000 infections in the United States. Counties in nearly every state now reporting new infections. Best Buys original plan allows for some small store traffic. And yet, with some store traffic, no matter how small, coronavirus is still communicable. Any gathering, small or large, gives coronavirus an opportunity to infect multiple people simultaneously. Best Buys store change (shutting down, rather than keeping open) is similar to that of Microsoft, who closed its stores without leaving any open to chance. Microsoft is agreeing to pay its workers for the next two weeks at home. Theres no word on when Best Buy will reopen stores. For now, store employees are home for the long haul. Advertisement Coronavirus war rages on The battle against coronavirus rages on. New reports say one of Vice President Mike Pences staff has the virus. Vice President Pence himself is still free of the disease. US Republic Senator Paul Rand is the diseases newest victim. Senator Rand says hes showing no symptoms at the moment. While coronavirus originated in an animal market in Wuhan, China, the disease is now in over 16o countries, including South Korea, Italy, Japan, and even the United States. China has the lions share of infections and deaths among the 200,000+ infections and over 8,000 deaths. Italy is now surpassing China with over 3,000 deaths in its borders alone. Coronavirus draws its name from the sharp spikes in the viruss anatomy. Under the microscope, the virus spikes look like coronas, or peaks. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 23:43:07|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HANGZHOU, March 23 (Xinhua) -- From classes to night clubs, many industries have turned to livestreaming since the coronavirus outbreak. The "cloud" list gains another player this week that will excite fashion lovers around the world -- Shanghai Fashion Week (SHFW). SHFW has teamed up with Alibaba's online marketplace Tmall to broadcast its entire roster of runway shows online from March 24 to 30 on Taobao Live, Alibabas livestreaming channel, making it the first fashion week event to go fully digital. As one of the industrys most anticipated events of the year, with more than 100 brands and 100 designers from around the world, including rising independent Chinese designers, SHFW will showcase their latest autumn-winter collections digitally. Besides the catwalk shows, viewers can purchase items online while they watch, giving them the change to get the exclusive autumn-winter designs in advance. The organizers will set up a green screen and use augmented reality technology to boost the visual effect. In addition, media outlets and viewers will be able to make comments during the livestreaming sessions. The epidemic has forced the cancellation and rescheduling of many global fashion events. To support independent designers and brands, the e-commerce powerhouse Alibaba is offering a variety of digital avenues to ensure SHFW can go on without a hitch. "We have integrated some of Alibabas most advanced technologies to bring a new and elevated experience to consumers," said Mike Hu, general manager of Tmall Fashion and FMCG. "This partnership with SHFW allows us to leverage our experience in digitizing brick-and-mortar retail stores and explore a new format for brand and product launches," Hu added. Compared with traditional fashion shows, the cloud catwalk is hugely innovative, said an industry insider. "This 'cloud show' avoids the convergence of people and saves costs of venue and labor," said the insider. "As the 5G technology matures, many shows will be trying to get closer to young people through livestreaming." The partnership drew a lot of attention from the online community, with many saying that "they look forward to the first cloud fashion show." "Bring more fashion weeks to Taobao Live please," read a typical comment. Enditem India, a nation of more than 1.3 billion people, began implementing a series of steps including complete lockdown of the national capital and 75 districts in various states of the vast country. The number of coronavirus cases in India rose to 415 on Monday with the Central govenment warning of legal action against those violating the lockdown which has been enforced to curtain the pandemic. Authorities suspended all passenger trains, inter-state buses and metro services across the country till March 31. Delhi, Jharkhand, Punjab and Nagaland declared a statewide lockdown, exempting only essential services, while similar curbs were announced in a number of districts in Bihar, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, said an Indian Express report. Mumbais local trains have been suspended till March 31, and Section 144 of the CrPC is being invoked in several cities and towns in Maharashtra to prevent people from gathering at a spot. In a Twitter message, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to take the lockdown measures seriously to ensure everyones well-being. Some people are not taking the lockdown seriously even now. Please follow the instructions and save yourself and save your family, he posted on the site. The Ministry of Health also confirmed that the death of a Philippines national in Mumbai was not due to coronavirus but kidney failure, although the patient did test positive later. Line up, ladies! Besame Cosmetics is here to bring back glamorous vintage days. The word "Besame" is a Spanish word that when you translate it in English, means "kiss me." Besame Cosmetics is a cosmetic brand that produces luxurious, at the same time, gives you a vintage vibe makeup. If you are looking for a cosmetic that is one of a kind, Besame is a perfect fit for you. Gabriela Hernandez is a designer, artist, and cosmetic historian. She is responsible for creating this brand, and thanks to her, women around the world can experience this vintage kind of beauty. These cosmetics are cruelty-free and designed based on sensitive skin, so you are also free from worry if this cosmetic will suit you or not. It is made in California, and it has a long-lasting effect with minimal waste, and its packages are displayed proudly. Besame Mascara has a traditional, yet elegant packaging. The stars were used this in the early days because it has a long-lasting effect even if you are in a hot and humid place. Your eyelashes will become defined and your eyes will look gorgeous. In lipsticks, though, the packaging is simple, yet when you open it, it has a luxurious container covered in gold with intricate carvings of the brand. The lipsticks are replicated with vintage color, just like what the old times are using. It has unique and bold colors that show their generation. But it is all made of the safest ingredients like any of its cosmetics and gives you pigmented color and provides you with luscious and elegant lips when you apply it. For your perfect blush on, Besame cosmetics has a cream rouge that is a vintage blusher that creates natural-looking blush on your cheeks. It is weightless, so it feels like you have no makeup on at all. It is a perfect color for any occasion, and it is also ideal for any skin tone because it blends perfectly on your skin. This shade is popular in the 1930s that were worn by all women in the generation, regardless of skin color, of course. This cream rouge is not only applicable on cheeks but also perfect for your lips! Now, this brand also has a brightening powder that will set your skin to a flawless look. This powder was used in the 1910s up to 60s, so you are guaranteed that this makeup powder is very reliable. This makeup powder was designed to make and feel all women elegant as well as comfortable. It is lightweight, so you do not worry about feeling like you are wearing heavy make up. It is also a translucent powder to correct and blend with any skin color. This is perfect for all women around the globe. If you are going to buy cosmetics that are worth your money, then this makeup brand is perfect for you! You do not have to worry about your skin tone and the sensitivity of your skin because Besame cosmetics are 100% skin-friendly. This story was originally published by Grist and has been republished here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. In November 2002, a 46-year-old man from the Chinese coastal province of Guangdong developed a fever and struggled to breathe. Not much is known about him except that he was a local government official with a wife and daughter. But, as David Quammen writes in his book Spillover, a note in his medical history jumps out: He had recently helped to prepare meals that included chicken, cat, and snake. Advertisement This man had one of the earliest suspected cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome, the disease that later became known as SARS. (Quammen doesnt report whether he survived.) Like COVID-19, the pandemic currently sweeping across the globe, SARS was a coronavirus. And like COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, SARS originally came from animals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some 60 percent of the new diseases that crop up around the globe each year are zoonotic, meaning they come from domesticated animals or wildlife. Scientists have found that infectious diseases are now emerging more rapidly than they have in the past. In the 1950s, about 30 new infectious diseases were reported over the course of the decade, according to a study in the journal Nature. In the 1980s, the number reported jumped to nearly 100. Part of that increase is likely a result of how we are treating the environment. Advertisement Advertisement As temperatures rise, animals are mixing in new and unexpected ways, providing even more opportunities for diseases to spread. There seems to be a pretty clear signal that there are more disease emergence events, said Aaron Bernstein, interim director of the Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment at the Harvard School of Public Health. Humans suffered from smallpox for centuries, but there are also similar diseases in other speciescamelpox, cowpox, monkeypox. If given the opportunity, diseases can jump, crossing boundaries from one species to another. We swim in a common germ pool with other life forms, Bernstein said. SARS originated in bats, likely by way of the mongooselike civet cat. Middle East respiratory syndrome, known as MERS, also came from bats and was passed to humans through camels. Its too early to say exactly where COVID-19 began, but it likely traveled from bats to scaly anteaters called pangolins to humans. Such species-to-species spillovers are common, and to some degree inevitable. Advertisement Advertisement But as people expand into wilderness areas, bringing urbanization and agriculture, they encroach on species like bats that originally had free rein and plenty of space to roam. Proximity gives diseases a better shot at making a cross-species jump. Were becoming an enormously voracious species of 7.5 billion people, and were really destroying the natural habitat of lots and lots and lots of other species, said Frank Snowden, a professor emeritus of the history of medicine at Yale University. That has enormous health consequences. Advertisement Advertisement According to a 2017 study, Ebola outbreakswhich have also been linked to batsin Central and West Africa were more likely to occur in areas that had recently been deforested. The invasion of West African forests by the palm oil companies destroyed the canopy of the natural forest, Snowden said. And so bats, not having their natural habitat, had to move to different placesplaces where human beings are. Advertisement Advertisement The issue is compounded at wildlife markets around the world, in which live animals are kept in close proximity to each other and to humans. Pangolins sit near chickens and snakes; pigs rub shoulders with foxes and badgers. Its a perfect breeding ground for zoonotic diseases, and for the bats that carry them. [Bats] are mobile and theyre mammals, so theyre closely related to us, Bernstein said. And theyre losing habitats, so they go to these markets in search of food. Advertisement Advertisement Loss of biodiversity can also cause diseases to spread more widely. As species inch toward extinction, they knock ecosystems off balance; remaining creatures may be more adept at spreading illnesses. Scientists believe that West Nile virus, carried by migratory birds, might have benefited from a fall in niche bird species like the woodpecker and a rise in more virus-friendly species like robins and crows. Advertisement Warming temperatures brought on by climate change exacerbate the problem. As temperatures rise, animals are mixing in new and unexpected ways, providing even more opportunities for diseases to spread. In reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese authorities have shut down the local wildlife market in Wuhan, where the virus was likely first transmitted to humans, and enacted a ban on buying, selling, or eating wild animals. Wildlife trade isnt only a problem in China, and habitat destruction will surely continue apace. The lesson from the coronavirus may be the same lesson to be learned from climate change: that the best hope for stability is to preserve the natural systems that humans depend on for a safe climate, nourishment, and protection from disease. Advertisement Advertisement According to Quammen, zoonotic diseases serve as a reminder that people really cant separate themselves from the natural world, even by bulldozing nature. Its there even if you cant immediately see it. Shake a tree, and something falls out, he wrote in Spillover. Urbanization, industry, and globalization have brought many benefits, but they have also increased human vulnerability to certain types of disease. Bernstein offered a sobering warning that the coronavirus is not the worst pandemic possible. Weve gotten a few shots over the bow here, he said. Weve had SARS, MERS, COVID, HIV. We need to see what nature is trying to tell us here. We need to recognize that were playing with fire. Emirates, the world's largest airline by international traffic, today briefly announced on Twitter and its own website that it would halt all passenger flights by March 25 but then reversed course and said that it would still fly to 13 destinations, including the U.S., UK, Japan, Australia and Canada. It's a sign of the times that a) nobody would blink if Emirates had actually announced that it was ceasing all passenger operations and b) that there would be confusion around this given how much the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown the airline business into sudden chaos. "Having received requests from governments & customers to support repatriation of travellers, Emirates will continue to operate passenger and cargo flights to few countries until further notice, as long as borders remain open, and there is demand," the airline said in a later statement. Like most of its competitors, the airline will continue its usual cargo operations. Passenger flights, though, will only continue to leave for the UK, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Australia, South Africa, U.S. and Canada. Before this decision, Emirates operated flights to 161 cities in 85 countries. In the U.S., many airlines are facing decisions. United, for example, announced two days ago that it will reduce its international flying by 95% for April, leaving only half a dozen international flights on its schedule through May. American and Delta have made similar cuts, though theirs are not quite as drastic. And all this could still change, given that virtually every airline now likes to say that this situation is "dynamic." Steven Mnuchin urged lawmakers Monday to get the nearly $2 trillion phase three stimulus package passed through Congress to continue combatting the economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak. 'We are going to make sure we get through this and we are going to win this war,' the Treasury secretary told Maria Bartiromo on Fox Business Network Monday morning. 'I want everybody to know, we need to get this legislation passed today,' he pleaded. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will hold a second vote on the phase three stimulus bill at noon Monday morning after the relief package failed Sunday night despite a full day of negotiations. Mnuchin has been spearheading the administration's efforts to get a bipartisan bill passed. The former Democrat has worked with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in the past and was able to help get the $100 trillion phase two bill passed earlier this month. 'I am on my way to the Senate this morning to meet with Mitch McConnell and his team and Senator Schumer,' Mnuchin told Fox Business. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin urged senators to get the phase three stimulus package passed Monday after the first version of the bill failed to get through the upper chamber on Sunday 'I want everybody to know, we need to get this legislation passed today,' Mnuchin said during a phone call interview with Fox Business Monday morning, adding he was getting off the phone soon to head to the Senate to meet with bipartisan leadership there 'You can ask that question to Democrats,' he said when asked why Democrats are pushing back on the bill that was already proposed. 'What I am saying is we need this to pass today.' Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Mnuchin spent all night negotiating measures both Republicans and Democrats could agree on, meeting a handful of times Sunday to get the bill ready. 'Leader Schumer and Secretary Mnuchin are working late into the night, and they just had another productive meeting,' a spokesman for Schumer said in a statement after 9:00 p.m. Sunday night. Majority Leader McConnell is prepared to lay out the new bill on the Senate floor at 12:00 p.m. A bit after midnight Schumer spoke to reporters on Capitol Hill, telling them there were major 'problems' with the first version of the bill McConnell presented Sunday night. 'Huge amounts of corporate bailout funds without restrictions or without oversight you wouldn't even know who is getting the money,' the Democratic leader said at 12:20 a.m. of the failed measure. 'Not enough money for hospitals, nurses, PPE [personal protective equipment], masks all the health care needs. No money for state and local government, many of whom would go broke. Many other things,' he continued. 'So we're working hard to make them better, and we are making progress,' Schumer said of bipartisan efforts. 'We're getting closer and closer. And I'm very hopeful, is how I'd put it, that we can get a bill in the morning.' Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is preparing to bring the revised phase three economic stimulus package to the floor for a second vote Monday morning Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters at the Capitol after late-night negotiating that there were major 'problems' with the first version of the bill presented by McConnell Schumer met several times Sunday with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin (center) on Sunday to discuss the more than $1.5 trillion bill Congressional leadership met several times over the weekend to negotiate the details of the bill. McConnell's office revealed a picture of him talking with house Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin The third phase of a stimulus package was unable to pass through the Senate Sunday as Democrats blocked the GOP measure meant to target economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak. The 'ayes' fell particularly short Sunday night as five Republicans self-quarantined and were unable to go to the floor to cast their votes. The measure failed with a tie vote of 47 voting in favor of the stimulus package and 47 voting against it. Kentucky Republican Rand Paul announced Sunday afternoon that he tested positive for coronavirus, causing a handful of other GOP senators to self-isolate over fears they contracted the virus. 'He is feeling fine and is in quarantine,' a tweet from his official Twitter account revealed in the statement announcing Paul's condition. 'He is asymptomatic and was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive travel and events. He was not aware of any direct contact with any infected person,' the statement continued. 'He expects to be back in the Senate after his quarantine period ends and will continue to work for the people of Kentucky at this difficult time.' Paul is the first senator to test positive for the fast-spreading respiratory disease and the third member of Congress. Representatives Mario Diaz Balart of Florida and Ben McAdams of Utah revealed last week that they have also tested positive. Five Republican senators are self-isolating, including Rand Paul, who's office announced Sunday that he tested positive for coronavirus becoming the first senator to contract the disease Utah Senator Mitt Romney announced Sunday he was quarantining after coming into close contact with Paul several times in the last week and claimed he would be taking a test to see if he contract the virus Utah Republican Mitt Romney announced Sunday he would be self-isolating after coming in close contact with Paul several times in the last week. 'Since Senator Romney sat next to Senator Paul for extended periods in recent days and consistent with CDC guidance, the attending physician has ordered him to immediately self-quarantine and not to vote on the Senate floor,' Romney's office said in a statement. The announcement came about an hour after Paul's office revealed the senator's situation. McConnell is facing extra obstacles on getting the bill passed as the Republican majority has essentially slimmed with five unable to show up for votes as they remain in self-isolation. Democrats, Republicans and Trump have all expressed they are interested in implementing a temporary measure to allow lawmakers to vote remotely as more and more self-quarantine over fears of contracting or spreading coronavirus. More than 50 congressmen and women have already signed onto a resolution proposed by California Democrat Eric Swalwell demanding that the House allow remote voting. The number of coronavirus cases and deaths in the U.S. have skyrocketed in the last few days as nearly the whole country is working form home and self-quarantining There are more than 35,000 confirmed cases and 471 deaths The measure argues that Congress is breaking the guidelines outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on social distancing by gathering hundreds of people into the same space for sessions. Democratic Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois and Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio are proposing a similar remote voting resolution on the Senate side of Congress. 'We could be in a position where I certainly would be in favor of it. Where they could vote from a certain outside location. I would be in favor of it,' Trump said Sunday during a White House coronavirus task force briefing. 'I was thinking about it today, I mean we could be in this look, with what's going on, nobody's seen anything like this. You could have a lot of people in there from Congress,' he continued. 'I would be totally in favor of it on a temporary basis.' Amid coronavirus social distancing protocols being observed across the world and in Nigeria, a Human Rights Lawyer, Bulama Bukarti has said that there is no better time to decongest our prisons. In a furray of tweets on his twitter handle, @bulamabukarti, he said Chief Judges and the Attorneys-General should leverage their powers to release as many inmates as possible. This is how inmates sleep in Nigeria prisons. Thats why we must ensure that COVID-19 doesnt get into places like this. Theres no better time to decongest our prisons. Chief Judges and Attorneys-General should leverage their powers to release as many inmates as possible. pic.twitter.com/O50zL16WQV Bulama Bukarti (@bulamabukarti) March 23, 2020 Continuing, he said: Judges should admit to bail as many inmates as practicable. Inmates should be sensitized and given facilities for personal hygiene. Prison officials including doctors should be required to be extra careful. Persons visiting prisons should be made to observe social distancing. The BokoHaram expert also called on northern states to suspend Quranic/religious schools. On a related note, northern states should suspend Quranic/religious schools. Boarding Quranic schools are very similar to the situation in prisons. If western-styled schools which are relatively more organized are suspended, there is no reason for these ones to remain open. Bulama Bukarti (@bulamabukarti) March 23, 2020 According to the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC), as at 11:am, yesterday, there were 27 confirmed cases of #COVI19 in Nigeria. Of the 27 confirmed cases, 2 have been discharged, with no death recorded. See the breakdown below: The virus has negatively impacted the worlds economies and there are fears that its spread could lead to prolonged economic misery across the planet. Chicago man Anthony Ponzi, 21, was arrested on Sunday after he coughed into the faces of police officers claiming that he was infected with COVID-19 A 21-year-old Illinois man has been hit with charges after he coughed into the faces of Chicago police officers while claiming he was infected with coronavirus. Anthony Ponzi was arrested on Sunday after he got into a car crash and he coughed on responding officers saying that he had the contagious COVID-19 virus, police said. Officers responded to the call of a crash around 8am in Rogers Park in the citys North Side. Police said Ponzi had driven his gray Jeep the wrong way on Wolcott Avenue and collided into another car. He then exited his vehicle and allegedly attacked the other driver. When cops arrived they found Ponzi being aggressive, slurring his speech, swaying and foaming at the mouth, authorities said as per KTVU. When officers tried to speak to Ponzi, he coughed in their faces and claimed he had COVID-19. On Monday, 236 additional cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Illinois, as well as three deaths. In the state there are now 1,285 cases in 31 counties and there have been a total of 12 fatalities Medical personnel pictured at a drive-thru testing site in North Lake, Illinois on Sunday Ponzi was arrested and taken to St. Francis Hospital where he confessed to staff that he did not actually have the virus, cops said. He has been charged with two felony counts of aggravated battery to a peace officer and several misdemeanor charges, including battery DUI and resisting arrest. He was scheduled to appear in court on Monday. On Monday, 236 additional cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Illinois, as well as three deaths. In the state there are now 1,285 cases in 31 counties and there have been a total of 12 fatalities. Laois Offaly Gardai have told people to avoid popular walking spots during Covid-19 including the Slieve Bloom Mountains. Carparks across the Slieve Bloom mountains were closed on Sunday March 22 by Gardai after crowds of visitors caused concern for the lack of Covid-19 social distancing. Glenbarrow waterfall and other beauty spots were closed off by the Gardai and Laois County Council on Mothers Day. While there is no ban on going outside in Ireland, the public is warned not to stand closer than 2 metres to anyone. Laois County Council has also asked people to avoid busy amenities. "Laois County Council would like to request the public to avoid public amenities and public walkways in large numbers. It is vital at this time that we all strictly adhere to social distancing guidelines.". On Sunday council staff and the Gardai diverted traffic on the approach roads to the mountains. "The car parks in Glenbarrow, Slieve Bloom Mountains are now closed until further notice due to #SocialDistancing concerns. Gardai and Laois County Council staff are currently on approach roads diverting traffic. This is happening throughout locations in the Slieve Bloom and people need think about what they are doing. The Gardai urged people to avoid locations that may attract large crowds on the day. "Please practice Social Distancing if you are out and about today and avoid locations that may attract large crowds. Social Distancing is the only community response to limiting the spread of #COVID19." Within hours as roads became busier, the restriction was raised to a request that people stay away from all parks and amenities in Laois and Offaly. "We are urging people to avoid coming to the Slieve Bloom Mountains and all our other beautiful parks and amenities in Laois and Offaly for exercise and social gatherings. Large volumes of traffic are creating serious traffic congestion on small rural roads. "We are going through an exceptional event and with all the advice being given out about social distancing we are seeing far to many people parking closely, alighting from cars and chatting without any thought of the health advice given," they said. "Our members are continuing to offer Community Support to older and vulnerable people in Laois and Offaly along with other statutory and voluntary groups. However all of this work has to parked up to manage traffic, close car parks and ensure people leave these locations safely," they said. "We would love to see you all again in Laois and Offaly when we get through the current situation but for now please stay away for today," the Gardai said. United Nations, March 23 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that without further efforts, between 3.5 and 4.4 billion people in the world will live with limited access to water, with more than 1 billion of them in major cities. In his message on World Water Day, which falls on March 22, the UN chief said on Sunday that "the world's water resources are under unprecedented threat", Xinhua news agency reported. "Today, some 2.2 billion people lack safe drinking water and 4.2 billion people live without access to adequate sanitation. Unless we act with urgency, the impacts of climate change are projected to exacerbate these figures," he said. Noting that this year's World Water Day focuses on water and climate change, the Secretary-General said that "with 2020 a make-or-break year for climate action, this focus is timely". "Water is the primary medium through which we perceive the effects of climate disruption, from extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods, to glacial melting, saltwater intrusion and sea level rise," he added. "Global heating and unsustainable use will create unprecedented competition for water resources, leading to the displacement of millions of people. This will negatively affect health and productivity and act as a threat multiplier for instability and conflict," said the UN chief. Talking about the solution, Guterres said that "we must urgently scale up investments in healthy watersheds and water infrastructure, with dramatic improvements in the efficiency of water use". "We must anticipate and respond to climate risks at every level of water management. We need to urgently step up efforts to strengthen resilience and adaptation for people affected by climate disruption," he said. "Above all, we must use this year and COP26 (the 2020 UN Climate Change Conference) in Glasgow to bend the emissions curve and create a secure foundation for water sustainability." The UN chief asked all people to play a role to help alleviate the shortage of water. "I call on all stakeholders to increase climate action and invest in robust adaptation measures for water sustainability. By limiting global heating to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the world will be in a much better position to manage and solve the water crisis that we all face," he noted. World Water Day is an annual UN observance day that highlights the importance of freshwater. The day is used to advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam has decided that its legislators will not attend the ongoing Tamil Nadu Assembly session from today as a precautionary measure amid the coronavirus scare. "The Speaker has not responded so our DMK MLAs, to get attention and as a precautionary step will boycott the current TN Assembly session. There are nine positive cases in Tamil Nadu and we have asked the Speaker to suspend the current session," said DMK President M. K. Stalin. "Already Chennai, Kanchipuram, and Erode districts are advised to lockdown by the Central government," added Stalin. Earlier, the Centre and state governments decided to completely shut down 75 districts across the country where coronavirus cases have been reported till March 31. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A woman living in a direct provision centre said last night that residents cannot socially distance themselves from each other or self- isolate. She said that when she and others among the hundreds of people in the centre asked what its Covid-19 plan is, none of the staff could tell them. This is, they say, despite the fact that one of the residents has been told to self-isolate while she waits for the Covid-19 test her GP has booked for her because she is displaying flu-like symptoms. The woman, in a letter to the Irish Examiner last night, pleaded for the State to help her, the other residents, and those in other DP centres around the country. The HSE posters about the importance of handwashing are up in the centre and there is an attempt to promote social distancing, she wrote. But its just impossible. Over the last two weeks weve been asking what the plan is for when people start falling ill in greater numbers. No one can tell us. Please start moving people now. There is no time to wait. We cannot look back in a few months and say if only. We need action today. Her plea comes just days after refugee support groups warned that DP centres would be unable to cope if they were to be hit by a Covid-19 outbreak. There are more than 5,600 people living in the countrys 39 DP centres. Of these, more than 1,700 are children. Migrant and Refugee Rights Centre CEO Fiona Finn recently warned that up to six people are living in the same room in DP centres. She pointed out that some of these people are also immuno-compromised. She said that even washing hands properly can be a problem, with so many people using the same sink. Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland spokesman Bulelani Mfaco said that, in a number of busy direct provision centres, it would be impossible to self-isolate. The woman added in her letter: There is no space for more self-isolation rooms. We are scared, we are anxious. What happens when more start to get sick? Where are we supposed to go? My main concern is for the older and more vulnerable people. Theyneed to be moved out of direct provision and emergency accommodation centres now before its too late. What exactly are we waiting for? Woody Allens memoir is being released after finding a new publisher. Apropos of Nothing was previously dropped by Hachette following widespread criticism over allegations that Allen abused his daughter Dylan Farrow when she was a child. Allen has denied any misconduct. The directors memoir is now being published by Arcade Publishing this Monday. The book is a candid and comprehensive personal account by Woody Allen of his life, Arcade announced, ranging from his childhood in Brooklyn through his acclaimed career in film, theatre, television, print and stand-up comedy, as well as exploring his relationships with family and friends. Apropos of Nothing is being released nationwide in the US. Arcade Publishing holds world rights for the book. The release comes at a time of upheaval for the publishing world, with the coronavirus pandemic derailing planned book launches and closing down bookstores. Hachette cancelled the release of Apropos of Nothing earlier this month. The move followed a walkout by Hachette employees as well as public criticism from Dylan Farrow and her brother Ronan. Author Stephen King had, in turned, criticised Hachettes decision to cancel the release, while Allens French publisher had pledged to carry on with the publication if possible. Strong growth in Sales (+31.7%) and Order Entries (+34.0%) EBITDA up +66% versus 2018 (at constant exchange rates) Positive Full-Year Cash Flow Profitability impacted by the EUR/USD exchange rate and US tariffs: resulting in a net loss of -13.1m Growth still expected in 2020 despite the negative impact of the COVID-19 crisis on H1 deliveries Thierry Gadou, Chairman and CEO of SES-imagotag commented: "2019 marked a major new step forward in the implementation of our VUSION 2022 strategic plan, with strong growth internationally (+40%), the signing of our first major contract in the United States and the launch of our joint venture in China with BOE and JDD. On a constant currency basis, our EBITDA was sharply up on 2018 (+66%) thanks to the steady improvement in our operating ratio. However, due to the US Dollar increase and new US import tariffs, we were not able to return to profitability as initially planned. These two adverse factors have impacted the Group by more than 10m in additional costs. With the ramp-up of a second industrial platform outside China, we have been able to mitigate the adverse impact of the US tariffs, which should no longer have significant impact on the Group in 2020. Thanks to 2019 successes and to a record sales pipeline, we expect to continue our growth in 2020. However, the Covid-19 crisis will affect deliveries in the First Half of the year, and in the light of the most recent developments of this crisis, the previous guidance sales range of 370-400 million seems too optimistic at this stage. We have already put in place contingency plans to protect our employees, partners and customers, as well as to strengthen profitability improvement efforts." At constant /$ rate and before IFRS16 m 2019* 2018 N / N-1 IFRS16 /$ change 2019* Reported Revenues 246.8 187.9 +31% 0.7 247.6 EBITDA 10.8 6.5 +66% 2.3 (9.0) 4.0 % of revenues 4.4% 3.5% +0.9pt 1.6% Current EBIT (1.0) (3.9) -75% 0.3 (9.0) (9.8) % of revenues -0.4% -2.1% +1.7pt -3.9% Net Income / (Loss) (4.0) (5.9) -32% (0.1) (9.0) (13.1) % of revenues -1.6% -3.1% +1.5pt -5.3% * Audit procedures currently in finalization 2019 FY Results at constant / current /$ rate and before/after IFRS16 At constant /$ rate and before IFRS16 m 2019* 2018 N / N-1 IFRS16 /$ change 2019* reported Revenues 246.8 187.9 +31% 0.7 247.6 Variable Costs Margin 59.5 48.7 +22% (9.0) 50.5 % of revenues 24.1% 25.9% -1.8pt 20.4% Opex (48.8) (42.3) +15% 2.3 (46.5) EBITDA 10.8 6.5 +66% 2.3 (9.0) 4.0 % of revenues 4.4% 3.5% +0.9pt 1.6% Depreciation (11.8) (10.4) +13% (2.0) (13.8) Current EBIT (1.0) (3.9) -75% 0.3 (9.0) (9.8) % of revenues -0.4% -2.1% +1.7pt -3.9% Non-recurring / non-cash items (4.8) (4.5) +7% (4.8) EBIT (5.8) (8.5) -31% 0.3 (9.0) (14.6) % of revenues -2.4% -4.5% +2.1pt -5.9% Financial Income / (Loss) (1.9) (0.2) +1097% (0.3) (2.3) Tax 3.8 2.7 +39% 3.8 Net Income / (Loss) (4.0) (5.9) -32% (0.1) (9.0) (13.1) % of revenues -1.6% -3.1% +1.5pt -5.3% * Audit procedures currently in finalization Acceleration of Sales growth in 2019 2019 was another record year for the Group. Growth in sales accelerated sharply, driven by a strong international performance. Annual Sales were 247.6m (+31.7%), slightly above the +30% target set for the year, keeping the Group on track to reach the 2022 target of 800m in Sales per annum. International sales increased +40.2% to 180m and represented more than 70% of the overall total. Record Order Entries Order intake reached a historic level of 336.5m, an increase of +34.0% compared to the previous year. This increase was particularly marked in the second half (+88.3%) compared with the same period in 2018, which was boosted by the signing of a first major contract in the United States. Improved profitability at constant exchange rates Between 2018 and 2019, the US Dollar (USD) appreciated sharply against other major currencies, which resulted in an increase in production costs when expressed in euros, which is still the predominant billing currency. When restated to compensate for the change in exchange rate effect, profitability shows clear signs of improvement. On a like-for-like basis, assuming a constant USD compared to 2018, and before taking into account the impact of IFRS16: - The Variable Costs Margin (VCM) was 59.5m, up +22% versus 2018. The VCM ratio was 24.1%, down 1.8 points from to 2018, due to the impact of several large new deployment contracts, whose margins tend to be lower on the initial phases of a contract (mix effect); - The Group's EBITDA was 10.8m (13.1m after application of IFRS16), a marked increase on 2018 (+66%), helped by the improvement of 2 points in the operating ratio (current operating expenses to sales) which went from 22% in 2018 to 20% in 2019; - Current operating income (current EBIT) was -1m, close to breakeven and clearly up on 2018. Current operating expenses came to 48.8m (46.7m after application of IFRS16), up 6.5m (+15%) versus 2018, largely as a result of the expansion of international activity. - Following the agreement with BOE and JDD last June, the new China Joint-Venture (a 51% subsidiary of SES-imagotag) became operational in the summer of 2019 and consolidated from H2 (+1.3 m). This is a significant investment to develop a strong base in China, which is a strategic priority for the Group; - The overall level of operating expenses reflects the significant investment in international expansion in North America and Asia. Sales realized in these two huge potential markets were equivalent to 14% of total 2019 Sales. While not yet at a level to fully amortize the associated development costs, their share of total Sales should reach 25% by 2020 and around 50% in 2022. It is therefore an essential engine of growth and is regarded as a strategic investment to support the Group's growth potential; - The operating ratio should continue to improve steadily to the level of 10% of Sales by 2022. Non-recurring charges during the Second Half were 4.8m. These included: - 0.8m of transaction and legal costs related to various financing operations and the creation of joint ventures; - Exceptional depreciation charge of 1.3m to cover certain legacy end-of-life stock relating to product from generations prior to the VUSION range and which are as a consequence obsolete; - Cost of US tariffs on equipment imported from China: up to 1.1m. In 2020, all of the labels produced for American customers will be assembled outside of China; - A loss of 0.9m recorded on certain contracts whose costs exceeded the revenues negotiated several months ago with customers because of a much higher USD exchange rate; - Amortization charges for intangible assets related to past acquisitions. Net income was down sharply to a negative -13.1m having been adversely impacted by the appreciation of the US Dollar and the imposition by the US of tariffs on imports from China, as well as by the other non-recurring items mentioned above. The recovery in profitability, although delayed by these short-term negative factors, will come from: - The steady improvement in the Opex ratio, which should continue in 2020 thanks to the expected growth and tight cost control; - The improvement in the VCM ratio thanks to increased recurring revenue from software & value-added services; - The increase in US Dollars revenues and lowered exposure to USD volatility, coupled with a rigorous hedging policy. Subject to a resolution of the COVID-19 crisis during the First Half allowing for continued growth, the EBITDA and Net Profit are expected to improve in 2020. Strong improvement in Net Cash Position and positive Cash-Flow over the year Net Cash at the end of 2019 was almost 20 million, compared with Net Debt at the end of 2018 of -17m, an improvement of 37.3m. Excluding the impact of the capital increase which was carried out at the end of 2019, the Group's Net Cash Flow was positive by 3m in FY2019. The Group showed a positive Operating Cash Flow of almost 10m. This improvement was the result of effective control of working capital and came about in spite of significant industrial and R&D investment spend. Group cash-flow statement m FY 2019 FY 2018 EBITDA pre-IFRS16 1.7 6.5 Capex (37.1) (13.3) Change in Working Capital 45.0 (17.4) Operational Cash-Flow 9.6 (24.2) Financial Investments (3.3) Financial Result (2.3) (1.5) Tax Others (4.3) (1.0) Cash-flow 3.0 (30.0) Capital Increase 34.3 26.0 Change in Net Debt 37.3 (4.0) Net Cash / (Debt) 19.9 (17.4) Cash 73.1 29.5 Debt (before impact of IFRS16) (53.2) (46.9) Debt (after impact of IFRS16) (73.3) (52.3) Working Capital Management Operational WCR at the end of 2019, was equivalent to 14% of Sales, a 20-point improvement compared to the end of 2018 when WCR was 34% of Sales. This improvement has come about as a result of good inventory control and a tight control of customer account receivables. Investments Investment in R&D was focused on improving the features of the VUSION platform, which is now recognized worldwide within the industry for its cutting-edge technology (communication protocol, cloud, IoT technology, SAAS applications). 2019 saw very strong growth in customers choosing SES-imagotag's Cloud solution. This was the case for a majority of new customers, but also for existing customers who started migrating onto the Cloud. This trend is all the more important that, once on the Cloud, access opens up to multiple additional value-added services (SaaS) where smart label technology can be extended to include new applications (order picking, restocking of shelves, stockout detection, digital advertising, etc.). These new solutions lie at the heart of the VUSION 2022 strategic plan, which will generate 20% of Sales in recurring software and services within 3 years. Group R&D in 2019 was directed towards these new value-added applications with particular focus on accelerating efforts to bring two major new products to market - AdShelf (a collaborative platform for digital in-store advertising) and Captana (automated shelf monitoring). 2019 also saw the introduction of a new flagship product, V:Motion, a range of video rails that deliver a powerful advertising impact while ensuring the same shelf management efficiency as electronic labels. Our technology and competitive advantage for such types of LCD display solutions are related to our symbiotic relationship and synergies with BOE. This new product, which has been acclaimed by CPG Brands will start to be visible in stores in 2020 and constitutes a new growth engine for the future. Industrial investments have been made both in the development of an industrial platform outside China to serve the American market, and in securing dedicated capacity on the production lines of the BOE factory in Chongqing. This efficient global supply chain constitutes a major asset for SES-imagotag at a time of increasing worldwide adoption of electronic labels. Other investments have been made in Information Systems and collaborative tools (including a major SAP project underway), in ESL as a service offering, as well as for the acquisition of the customer base developed by BOE and transferred to our new JV in China. OUTLOOK Uncertainties related to the COVID-19 crisis A significant share of production, including the majority of e-Paper display module manufacturing is located in China, as are many of its component suppliers. The Group's production capacity is therefore impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the resumption of activity in mid-February, the production units are gradually recovering momentum and should, according to the current base scenario, be back up to regular capacity in April. Deliveries in the First Half will be down on the pre-crisis business plan. Over and above this impact on production capacity, the proliferation of increasingly strict containment measures in all of the countries where SES-imagotag operates, poses a risk of orders being put back or cancelled altogether. In this unpredictable climate, the Group has introduced a contingency plan to protect its employees, partners and customers, and imposed strict control over costs and investments in order to mitigate financial risks to the business. Subject to a resolution of this crisis in the First Half, organic growth should continue in 2020 thanks to the strong structural demand for store digitization solutions. About SES-imagotag and the VUSION Retail IoT platform SES-imagotag is a fast-growing retail tech company, listed in Euronext Paris stock exchange, with revenues around 250 million. The company is the world leader in smart digital labels and IoT solutions for physical retail, serving over 300 large retailers around the world in Europe, Asia and America. SES-imagotag has developed the VUSION Retail IOT technology platform to help retailers transform their physical stores into high value digital assets, more automated, data-driven, and connected in real-time to suppliers and consumers. VUSION improves pricing agility, accuracy and integrity, enables omni channel synchronization of prices, product information and marketing content, increases the productivity of shelf replenishment and in-store picking for online orders. VUSION improves employee satisfaction by freeing up time from cumbersome low value-added tasks and allowing them to focus on customer service and merchandizing tasks. VUSION connects shelves to the cloud, providing realtime accurate information on products availability and location, allowing for reduced inventory, of-stock and waste, as well as improved on-shelf availability and merchandizing compliance. VUSION empowers consumers with better product, nutritional and traceability information at the shelf and enables a frictionless in-store shopping experience with features such as product search, wayfinding and cashier-less scan & pay features. www.ses-imagotag.com SES-imagotag is listed in compartment B of the Euronext Paris Ticker: SESL - ISIN code: FR0010282822 - Reuters: SESL.PA - Bloomberg: SES Contact Shan - Investor Relations & Financial Communications Sarah Levy-Quentin: Tel: +33 (0)1 44 50 03 84 / sesimagotag@shan.fr [1] Operating ratio: current operating expenses to sales ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: nW2cY8abYW7Hl5twZMdrm2aYbW6Sx5HGm2PJlZWdk5eVbnFlx21lb5WVZm9jm2Vm - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-62600-fy2019_results_en_final_clean.pdf Danai Gurira as Michonne "The Walking Dead." (Eliza Morse/AMC) The following contains spoilers from the latest episode of "The Walking Dead." Michonne, one of the fiercest survivors of "The Walking Dead," has hung up her weapons at least for now. The Katana sword-wielding enigma, one of the zombie apocalypse franchise's most iconic characters, sailed off into the sunset at the conclusion of the most recent episode of the blockbuster AMC drama after getting a clue on the whereabouts of her lover, Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), who was kidnapped by enemy forces last season. Her departure also marked the exit from the series of Danai Gurira, who has played Michonne since the third season. Gurira informed producers a few years ago that she wanted to devote more time to other creative endeavors, including her career as a playwright. Her play "Eclipsed" was nominated for a Tony Award in 2016. She is currently working on the HBO Max series "Americanah," which teams her with a "Black Panther" costar, Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o. The limited series centers on a Nigerian-born woman who encounters love and difficulties after she leaves her country for America. Nyong'o stars while Gurira is the showrunner. The dreadlocked Michonne was a standout in the "Walking Dead" universe a fearsome fighter who was relentless in her battles with adversaries both dead and undead. She was even more noteworthy as one of the few black action heroines in popular culture. So your leaving "The Walking Dead" has been in the works for a while. I shared with [executive producer] Angela Kang that I felt it was time for me to leave the show to pursue other creative endeavors sometime in 2018. So after last season, when [series lead Lincoln] left, they started to work on that. After that, she started to share with me the architecture of Michonne's exit. Later on, I was able to contribute to aspects of it. They were very willing to collaborate with me, which I was very thankful for. Story continues What was your emotion filming your final episode? There was the fear of it, the pain of it, the dread of it. We felt we were really working on an exit that would have her leave with integrity. It was also a moment of pain leaving the family I've lived with for so long. And then there was the bittersweetness of stepping into other aspects of who I'll be as an artist and a person in the world. But it was also feeling the joy I had with the crew that I've had so many laughs with for so many years. Michonne was definitely an iconic character, especially since she was a black woman who was truly a bold action hero. What do you feel about the impact you and this character had on popular culture? I can only be thankful that this character was created at all, that she was able to be this remarkable woman in the way she was scripted, arced and developed, and how I was able to collaborate with that. It was very beautiful to see her resonance. I write black female characters and I was like, "I wish I had come up with this." I thought it was interesting and fascinating. I was very honored to be able to step into her, and I took it as a great responsibility, because it hasn't always been the case that a black actress would get a role like this. It's been getting better, but I was very, very grateful for the opportunity and did not take it lightly. It was an event to see a character like this brought to life on the screen. You're also leaving the show at a time when we're facing some of the difficulties and obstacles encountered by the survivors on "The Walking Dead." All I can think of is the moment. It's just an unbelievable and unreal moment for us as a global community, and I just hope and pray for everybody to figure out a way collectively to come together as a society in order to stay safe. That's really where my mind is, really feeling concern for all of us and those of us struggling at this moment. What are your immediate plans? We're in a virtual writers room right now, being in the realm of still being a writer during this time. That's something I'm currently deeply involved in, still running "Americanah." We paused pre-production, but still working on the writing component. Strange question: How many walkers do you think Michonne has dispatched during the show? Ballpark figure. Oh, my, I have no idea. The funniest thing is when we have a walker, they're always done stunningly walker-like our great makeup team makes the walkers look very specific, but at the same time having the same walkers aesthetic. [But] there were times when we'd have a stunt walker, which we can get a little rougher with than the others, I'd be put in the scene and they'd tell me, "Here are your three stunt walkers," and I'd look at them and go, "I've killed you before, haven't I?" and one of them would go, "Yeah, you've killed me about four times." That's what I think about, the ones I call my repeat offenders, and how we walk down memory lane together as I get ready to kill them again. What has been the most rewarding aspect for you being on "The Walking Dead?" There's so much I've learned about how to work and play well. The beauty of collaborating and the beauty of being part of a family, but putting the respect for each other first. There's something very stunning about the way "The Walkng Dead" did that, the culture it built about the connection between cast and crew and production. It has seamlessly seemed like family. Stepping into that and experiencing all these wonderful people I became family with and will always be family with has been palpably and extremely rewarding. I remember Andy [Lincoln] saying to me, "Take it with you, and implement it at the next place you go." That to me is one of the most powerful lessons I've learned. I'm wired now to bring community and mutual respect to everyone. It doesn't matter what your job is. You are part of the production and you must be respected and acknowledged as much as anybody else. Bringing that spirit to the future is invaluable. I credit "The Walking Dead" with that as I walk away from people who will be my lifelong family and friends. "The Walking Dead" never die, so to speak. And there's a possibility we may see Michonne again. Possibly. There's definitely an opening. We'll see how it goes. The Walking Dead Where: AMC When: 9 p.m. Sunday Rating: TV-MA-LV (may be unsuitable for children under age 17 with advisories for coarse language and violence) For the record: 8:38 AM, Mar. 23, 2020: An earlier version of this story misidentified an executive producer of The Walking Dead as Andrea Yang. Her name is Angela Kang. Hunters Creek 3/16/20 at 1030 Hours. 100 Block of Willowend. Fraud. Upon examining his credit card account the victim found a charge for over $3000 that he did not make or authorize. A further examination into the charge found it was for some type of gaming expense. The account was immediately frozen. Information about the account and charge was obtained and provided to detectives who are following up with the bank. 3/16/20 at 1130 Hours. 8400 Block of Katy Freeway Service Road. Burglary of a Vehicle. The victim had arrived at the business soon after leaving the bank located at Echo and I-10. Upon exiting the business, he observed that someone had entered his vehicle. A witness reported that a black male had walked up to and entered the victims vehicle after the victim had arrived at the business. After a few seconds the suspect exited the victims vehicle and left the area quickly walking towards the west. The suspect was described as a black male wearing a grey hoodie with his faced covered with a black rag. Unfortunately, the witness did not call police. Officers are checking the area for video surveillance. Detectives are working the investigation. (Note: The victim had made a withdraw from the bank but had the money with him. It is believed the victim was followed from the bank.) 3/19/20 at 1145 Hours. 200 Block of Tamberlaine. Fraud. The victim was notified of checks that he did not write from his account being cashed in New York. The account had been frozen by his bank as a precaution. Information was obtained and provided to detectives for their follow up investigation. Bunker Hill 3/16/20 at 1730 Hours. 600 Block of Bunker Hill. Fraud. The victim located 2 checks charged against his account that he did not write. Upon further examination he found the checks were fraudulently manufactured using his information. Information was collected and provided to detectives for their follow up investigation. 3/19/20 at 1030 Hours. 1-100 Block of Valley Forge. Fraud. The victim reported that mail had been placed in the mailbox for outgoing service. Shortly after being placed in the box, a male subject in a small red vehicle pulled up near the mailbox and removed the mail. The male is described as a white male between 40 and 50 years of age, tall and skinny with a straw in his mouth. The vehicle was a small red colored vehicle. Officers are currently looking for video of the area. The investigation is on-going. Piney Point 3/19/20 at 1330 Hours. 1-100 Block of Stillforest. Fraud. The victim had received an email from what appeared to be from Amazon informing her that her account had been compromised by fraud and was being frozen. Soon afterwards she was contacted by a male subject on the phone who claimed to be from Amazon IT support. The male said he needed to access the victims computer to identify the fraudulent software via on-line access. The victim allowed the subject access and soon after the call was complete realized that she might have been tricked. A check of her finances showed a unauthorized attempt to gain access to her bank account via on-line. The victim immediately froze her accounts and notified her bank. Her computer was taken out of service. Detectives are investigating. With COVID-19 spreading across the world at an unprecedented rate, medical authorities are taking all help they can get to fight this novel coronavirus. Reuters Tech billionaires around the world have done their part to helping medical practitioners to equip them with the necessary artillery for their fight against COVID-19, and now Facebook has joined the ranks. The social media giant has revealed that it will be contributing its supply of 720,000 respiratory masks as well as 1.5 million pair of gloves to the healthcare workers in the US. Moreover, it also has mentioned that it is looking to procure millions of masks more to overcome the shortage that is being experienced in the world today. Zuckerberg said in a statement, Health workers urgently need more protective gear. To help, Facebook donated our emergency reserve of 720,000 masks that we had bought in case the [California] wildfires continued. Were also working on sourcing millions of more to donate. I hope youre all staying healthy and safe! Last week, to help the world, Facebook launched a COVID-19 information centre that would offer information about the novel coronavirus from trusted sources such as WHO and CDC, local health organisations as well as news agencies. Reuters Moreover, last week, Zuckerberg also announced that its 45,000 full-time workers will be given six-month bonuses, along with an additional $1000 to help employees work from home, without the easements and benefits Facebook employees get at the workplace. Over the weekend, Cupertino giant Apple also announced that it will be donating millions of masks to authorities in the US as well as Europe, while also thanking healthcare providers for their support in these dark times. Bill Gates, with his Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, too has left no stone unturned. After pledging $100 million for the fight against COVID-19, he has funded 15,000 medicinal molecules to be shipped to a lab in Belgium to test a potential cure to the novel coronavirus and has also donated Rs 37 crores for at-home testing kits for COVID-19 for people in Washington. HONOLULU, March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Matson, Inc. ("Matson" or the "Company") (NYSE:MATX), a leading U.S. carrier in the Pacific, announced today that due to the rapidly evolving COVID19 pandemic, and to support the health and safety of our shareholders and employees, the Company's 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be a virtual meeting instead of an inperson meeting as previously announced. The Annual Meeting will be held on Thursday, April 23, 2020 at 8:30 a.m., Hawaii Standard Time as previously scheduled. However, shareholders will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person. As described in the proxy materials for the Annual Meeting previously distributed, shareholders as of the close of business on February 24, 2020, the record date, are entitled to participate in the Annual Meeting. To participate, shareholders must go to www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/MATX2020 and enter the control number found on the proxy card, voting instruction form or notice of internet availability previously received. About the Company Founded in 1882, Matson (NYSE: MATX) is a leading provider of ocean transportation and logistics services. Matson provides a vital lifeline of ocean freight transportation services to the domestic non-contiguous economies of Hawaii, Alaska, and Guam, and to other island economies in Micronesia. Matson also operates a premium, expedited service from China to Long Beach, California and provides services to Okinawa, Japan and various islands in the South Pacific. The Company's fleet of owned and chartered vessels includes containerships, combination container and roll-on/roll-off ships and various types of barges. Matson Logistics, established in 1987, extends the geographic reach of Matson's ocean transportation network throughout the continental U.S. Its integrated, asset-light logistics services include rail intermodal services, long-haul and regional highway brokerage, warehousing and distribution services, consolidation and freight forwarding services, supply chain management services, and other services. Additional information about the Company is available at www.matson.com. Investor Relations inquiries: News Media inquiries: Lee Fishman Keoni Wagner Matson, Inc. Matson, Inc. 510.628.4227 510.628.4534 [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE Matson, Inc. Related Links http://www.matson.com Adventist Health Sonora's new Health Pavilion and Diana J. White Cancer Institute View Photo Sonora, CA Using guidance from the CDC, Adventist Health Sonora continues to revise its policies in an effort to protect its patients, staff and the community during the coronavirus pandemic. Some of the changes take effect today. The information below is provided by Adventist Health Sonora. California Governor Gavin Newsom has placed the entire state of California under a stay-at-home order. Local residents have been asked to stay at home, unless you serve in a mission critical job sector. We continue to limit visitors at all our facilities. There are no visitors allowed at the Sierra Care Center long term care facility. Patients visiting our outpatient clinics must come alone unless they require assistance. Pediatric patients may have one guardian accompany them for their visit. At the hospital, no visitors are allowed except for Birth Center, pediatric or palliative care patients, who are allowed one visitor. Guidelines from the CDC have us ramping down certain outpatient services and providing additional precautions for our primary and specialty care medical offices. Beginning Monday, March 23, our clinics will be operating in a way that allows us to take care of our patients while controlling potential exposure to COVID-19. Outpatient rehabilitation patients will be rescheduled and diagnostic imaging will limit services to urgent and emergency tests only. Patients who need to be rescheduled for these outpatient services will be contacted by phone. The Diana J. White Cancer Institute will continue to care for patients. The Surgeon General and American College of Surgeons have both advised hospitals to cancel elective surgeries. Based on this recommendation, we have asked our physicians to postpone all elective surgeries, as much as safely possible for their patients. We will continue to provide services for emergency and urgent procedures to save life and limb, including cancer-related surgeries. Our outpatient lab draw stations at Angels Camp Rapid Care and at the Health Pavilion are currently closed. Patients should come to the lab draw station located on the second floor of the 900 Professional Center, adjacent to the main hospital. The lab is limiting their waiting room to three or fewer people by using a virtual wait system that allows patients to wait in their car or other location. Patients should come to the lab to check in and receive further instruction. Lab draws are available from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. All staff, patients and visitors who enter our facilities must be screened for fever and symptoms. Anyone experiencing fever or respiratory symptoms is sent home or referred for further evaluation. The Red Cross has placed an urgent request for blood donors. In addition to heeding all social distancing recommendations, this is another great way for healthy individuals to make a positive contribution during this situation. The Red Cross donation center located at 850 Sanguinetti Road in Sonora is open Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Monday and Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Adventist Health Sonora would like to thank our community for their patience, understanding and cooperation as we work through this situation together. Adventist Health Sonora has established a special coronavirus advice line for people with questions or concerns. The advice line is available by calling 844-542-8840, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Bahrain-based e-commerce platform Homiez will offer BenefitPay as a payment method to 150+ vendors currently on the platform. Integrating BenefitPay will be an added valuable feature that will create convenient and secure payment transactions for vendors and consumers, in addition to enriching the existing features and robust business process extensions on the platform. Established in 2018, the platform allows vendors to promote their business and sell their products and services to a wider segment, ultimately connecting consumers to a variety of goods and services. Homiezs current category list, subject to expansion, includes: grocery, all retails products under the market category, maintenance and services, stationary, spa and fitness, flowers and confectionery, food and catering, as well as cleaning services and laundry. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, chief executive of Benefit, said: Creating such partnerships is in line with our mandate to offer innovative solutions to strengthen relationships between businesses and their consumers. Homiez integrating BenefitPay will ensure a fast, reliable, and familiar service that is increasing in demand. It pleases us to support and assist homegrown establishments further expand their services and we look forward to it. Sadeq Abdulrasool, chief digital officer of Homiez said: We are happy to announce this initiative, and we look forward to this fruitful partnership. Offering BenefitPay as a payment solution is in line with our mission of providing the best customer experience, ultimately providing our customers with additional payment methods when purchasing through Homeiz. On the occasion of this partnership, we will be offering free deliveries for all purchases made via BenefitPay. This partnership comes in line with the kingdoms vision to create an ecosystem that allows for innovative collaborations, as well as its vision of creating a cashless economy by offering various innovative digital choices such as BenefitPay, which has revolutionised electronic financial services in Bahrain, serving over 300,000 users. - TradeArabia News Service Representative Image India reported its eighth coronavirus-led death as confirmed cases rapidly neared the 500-mark as of March 23. From lockdowns to curfews, multiple states across the country pulled out all the stops to contain the spread of the virus. As the battle against the virus heats up, here's a roundup of all that transpired through the day: >> The count of confirmed cases rose to 471. >> Union Civil Aviation Ministry suspended domestic air travel in the country from March 24 midnight till March 31. >> West Bengal reported the state's first death. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show >> Maharashtra, Punjab announced the imposition of a curfew in the entire state due to coronavirus outbreak. >> ICMR recommended hydroxychloroquine for healthcare workers, persons caring for COVID-19 patients in households. >> Health Ministry asked Indian airlines not to carry those with 'home quarantined' stamps. >> Kerala reported 28 new cases, taking the total number of cases in the state to 91. CM Pinarayi Vijayan announced a complete lockdown. >> Isolation wards with 500 beds to come up at three Mumbai hospitals to deal with rising coronavirus cases. The city's civic body also announced that it would be starting home testing facilities in the next 48 hours. >> Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned sine die in the view of the Coronavirus outbreak. The Budget session of Parliament was scheduled to go on till April 3. >> Prime Minister Narendra Modi told media persons during a video conference that COVID-19 is a lifetime challenge and needs to be tackled through new, innovative solutions. During his interaction via a video conference with representatives from ASSOCHAM, FICCI, CII and several local chambers from across the country, the prime minister also said that the economic impact of the crisis will be felt gradually. >> SC directed states, UTs to set up a panel to consider the release of prisoners on parole. >> Finance Minister Nirmala Sithraman announced that Indian companies can spend CSR funds to combat Coronavirus. In a slew of announcements later in the day, the FM also announced that the state governments will be able to procure 3 months supply of foodgrains on credit from Food Corporation of India and that contractual employees will be paid during period of absence. Dong Xuan Knitting Sole Member Company Limited, a subsidiary of the Vietnam National Textile and Garment Group (Vinatex), is planning to produce 60,000 face masks per day from March 23 to 29, given the increasing demand amid COVID-19. Along with the production of the masks, Dong Xuan company will maintain the production of 300,000 two-layer anti-bacteria masks every day at a price of 7,000 VND each. Deputy Director of Vinatex Cao Huu Hieu said that the groups new three-layer anti-bacteria face masks were proving popular in the domestic market. Along with the production of the masks, Dong Xuan company will maintain the production of 300,000 two-layer anti-bacteria masks every day at a price of 7,000 VND each. Other Vinatext subsidiaries such as Garment 10, Viet Tien, Hoa Tho, Hanosimex, Nha Be, Hung Yen, and Hue Garment also produce 10,000-150,000 facemasks on a daily basis. Since February, Vinatex member units have produced over 38 million face masks. In the next few months, the group is expecting to sell 28-30 million masks per month./. VNA Vietnam offers little unmet demand for medical mask imports Chinese firms will begin exporting medical face masks, but their choice starting point, Vietnam, has little demand that goes unsatisfied by local producers. Emirates, the world's largest long-haul airline, will suspend nearly all of its passenger operations this week, in the latest concession to the coronavirus pandemic that has devastated global travel. Flights to most destinations will cease from March 25, Emirates said on Sunday in an email. Cargo service will remain in operation, as will routes to 13 countries including Australia, the US, UK, Switzerland and Singapore in response to requests from governments and customers to support repatriation, the company said. Emirates will keep flying to 13 countries for the time being, including Australia. Credit:Bloomberg "We cannot viably operate passenger services until countries re-open their borders, and travel confidence returns," Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said in a memo to employees seen by Bloomberg. "Some of our competitors, or even our supply chain partners, may not survive this crisis." With its fleet of all wide-body aircraft, the state-owned airline has turned Dubai into a hub for global travel, typically operating more than 500 flights a day. That mission, which has fed the city's growth since Emirates was founded in the mid-1980s, is now under assault by the coronavirus pandemic. The government have recommended practising social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic. And the Frost/Law clan ensured they isolated in style as they headed on a family getaway to the Cotswolds. Sadie Frost, 54, was joined by her four children on the getaway: Rafferty, 23, Iris, 19, Finlay, 29, and Rudy, 17. Family fun: Sadie Frost joined her daughter Iris Law, 19, and the rest of her brood as they headed to the Cotswolds after the government recommended practising social distancing The group was completed with the edition of Sadie's partner, Darren Strowger, and Iris' boyfriend, Jyrrel Roberts. The A-List family made the most of their open surroundings and secluded environment, with Iris and her beau seen heading out on a jog. Clad in matching grey tracksuits, the pair tore through the sprawling fields and meadows as they got in their cardio for the day. Working up a sweat: The A-List family made the most of their open surroundings and secluded environment, with Iris and her beau Jyrrel Roberts seen heading out on a jog Delightful duo: Brothers Finlay Munro and Rafferty Law ensured they got out and enjoyed some fresh air on the outing Later in the day, Iris - who recently collaborated with Mulberry, changed into an anorak and wellington boots as she headed out on a hike with her mother. The pair were seen chatting as they lead the way with the boys trailing on after them. It's no wonder Sadie has such a strong bond with our children, as it appears they are following in her famous footsteps by forging careers in music, film and fashion. Getting out and about: Iris ensured she didn't let her exercise regime slip on the outing On the move: Clad in matching grey tracksuits, the pair tore through the sprawling fields and meadows as they got in their cardio for the day As part of the Primrose Hill Set of actors, models and musicians, Sadie was the epitome of Nineties London cool. Now, though, it is her four children who are making their mark. The eldest of her children, Finlay - known as Fin - is Sadie's only child from her first marriage to Spandau Ballet guitarist and actor Gary Kemp, 60. Fin inherited his mother's dark-haired good looks but takes after his father when it comes to music, juggling a job as an A&R man at Sony Music's Insanity Records with DJ gigs. Fin enjoys a close relationship with all three of his half-siblings. Three's company: Later in the day, Iris - who recently collaborated with Mulberry, changed into an anorak and wellington boots as she headed out on a hike with her mother and beau The most high profile of the siblings, model and actor Rafferty is Sadie's eldest son with second husband Jude Law, 46. The rising star has landed a number of major modelling gigs - including a D&G catwalk - but is now set to hit the big time after scoring his first lead role in a major TV film. Rafferty plays Oliver Twist in Twist, a modern retelling of the classic Charles Dickens tale which also stars Rita Ora, 28, as the Artful Dodger, or Dodge. Here come the boys: The group was completed with the edition of Sadie's partner, Darren Strowger (right) Isolating together: The group took advantage of the sprawling countryside by heading out to explore the fields together The film also stars David Walliams, 48, who will play Losberne and Sir Michael Caine, 86, who takes on the iconic role of Fagin. Whilst filming, Rafferty struck up a brief romance with co-star Rita Ora - who plays the Artful Dodger - but this quickly fizzled out. Iris is a rising star on the fashion scene and has already landed campaigns for major brands including Calvin Klein. She is represented by IMG Models. The talented teenager, who is dating model Jyrrel Roberts recently discussed what it was like growing up with famous parents in an interview with ES Magazine. Famous faces: The most high profile of the siblings, model and actor Rafferty (centre) is Sadie's eldest son with second husband Jude Law, 46 Model moment: Iris is a rising star on the fashion scene and has already landed campaigns for major brands including Calvin Klein. She is represented by IMG Models She said her parents, who divorced following six years of marriage, had given her normality in her childhood despite their A-list status. Her actress and model mother Sadie divorced the Talented Mr Ripley star Jude in 2003. Iris said: 'My dad was really young. He'd had all his kids [with Frost] by 30. Mum, too. She also had a baby face. Oldest child: The eldest of her children, Finlay (L) - known as Fin - is Sadie's only child from her first marriage to Spandau Ballet guitarist and actor Gary Kemp, 60 'I can never tell [her age] in pictures, I'll say, "What, you had three kids by that age?" She looks 17.' The youngest of the brood, 17-year-old Rudy looks set to follow in his siblings' footsteps. The teenager, who shares his brother and sister's good looks, first appeared in a film in 2003, when he starred opposite his mother in Dotty. Even at such a young age, Rudy's talent was enough to impress, with one festival director describing the performance as 'brave and exciting'. Early childhood services will stay open and the federal government is advising parents to send their children to early learning centres amid debate about whether NSW schools should close due to the coronavirus pandemic. Kay Turner, chief executive of not-for-profit SDN Children's Services, which operates 30 centres, said some families were confused whether messages about school closures applied to early learning centres after NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Monday encouraged parents to keep children at home. "Weve had follow up communication that says early childhood care and education centres will remain open in NSW and should continue to operate to support families who need care. But the public messaging could be clearer," Ms Turner said. The federal government's expert medical advice is for the childcare sector to remain open and children to attend centres, except when health authorities have directed individual services to close. As coronavirus pandemic has seen demand for personal protective equipment, including gloves, the medical TV drama series Greys Anatomy has reportedly donated its gloves and gowns to first responders. As per reports, the demand for essential products extends beyond medical workers as several fire departments have also been enlisted to help answer emergency calls from coronavirus patients. While speaking to an American radio channel, the executive producer of the show, said that they donated masks to the local fire station. Krista Vernoff reportedly said that they were lucky enough to have around 300 of the coveted N95 masks and therefore, they decided to donate them to the local fire station. Krista added said that the show also had back stock of gowns and gloves which they donated as well. She further said that they are all overwhelmed with gratitude for the healthcare workers during this incredibly difficult time. In addition to the donations, the caste and other members of the show are also doing their part by staying home, Krista said. Read: US Man Who Died Of Coronavirus Received Last Rites Over Phone As coronavirus continues to spread rapidly across the globe, Chinese billionaire Jack Ma also pledged to donate a range of emergency supplies to 10 countries in South-East Asia and 24 Latin American countries. The Alibaba owner took to Twitter to announce his initiative to help the countries including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. He will also be donating the emergency supplies to Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Ecuador, Dominican Republic and Peru. Read: Robert Lewandowski Donates 1 Million To Fight Coronavirus Outbreak In Germany 'Take it easy Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump urged its citizens to 'take it easy' and that 'it will all pass' in a bid to calm the people who are panic buying and leaving aisles at supermarkets empty. Trump even assured Americans that grocers would remain open and that the supply chain remained healthy. Trump said that the stores are working to keep up with demand and added that there is no need for anyone in the country to hoard. Trump also raised awareness on how to protect yourself from contracting COVID-19. Trump urged citizens to 'do your part'. From meeting and travel precautions to personal hygiene, the US President wants citizens to contribute to stopping the spread of the fatal virus and the video is titled, 'we're in this together'. Read: China Begins Relaxing Social Distancing As Coronavirus Cases Drop In The Country Read: Neil Diamond Performs 'Sweet Caroline' Amid Coronavirus Spread By Tweaking Some Lyrics Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment. Idris Elbas wife Sabrina Dhowre has tested positive for coronavirus after self-isolating with the actor, who was diagnosed positive for the disease. On Saturday, Sabrina told Oprah Winfrey, as she sat alongside her husband for a video chat from their quarantine in New Mexico. Ive been tested -- actually, I found out this morning, Oprah, that I tested positive, Sabrina said. Defending their decision to isolate together Dhowre mentioned that she was not surprised and never questioned staying with her husband after his confirmed infection. Speaking to Oprah during a live stream for her new Apple TV+ series Oprah Talks, Sabrina further said: I wanted to be with him. That is the instinct of a wife. You want to go and take care. I could have made a decision to maybe put myself in a separate room or stay away and Im sure that people are making those tough decisions. But I made the decision to want to be with him ... and still touch him. However, Elba explained that he got contaminated the day he was at an event with the infected wife of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and stressed that his wife may well have already been infected by the time his positive result came back, too. If Id caught it, shed certainly caught it as well, Idris said. Many other Hollywood celebrities have also tested positive for Covid-19. Entourage alum Debi Mazar is the latest Hollywood figure to test positive for coronavirus. The 55-year-old actor shared the news about her COVID-19 diagnosis on Instagram, saying that on March 15, she woke up with a sore throat, cough, severe body aches, and a 102.4-degree fever. I had cocktails the evening prior, and smoked a few cigarettes. I figured I had jacked my immune system from having a fun night with friends. I called a doctor/friend to ask if I could get the Covid-19 test on 3/16. He said NO, I didnt meet the criteria. I hadnt recently travelled out of the country and I hadnt been with someone who had actually tested positive. I found this kind of a CRAZY criteria for a NYer as I had taken the subway, gone to the theatre, the grocery store, the pharmacy, hair salon etc, Mazar wrote. Before her, a number of celebrities have gone public with their COVID-19 diagnosis, including Hollywood veteran Tom Hanks and his wife, actor Rita Wilson, British actor Idris Elba, former Bond girl Olga Kurylenko, Frozen 2 actor Rachel Matthews, Daniel Dae Kim, Game of Thrones star Kristofer Hivju and celebrated TV host Andy Cohen. The novel virus, which first originated in Chinas Wuhan city, has claimed over 13,000 lives so far. (With PTI inputs) Follow @htshowbiz for more UPDATE: On Tuesday, the number of coronavirus-related deaths on Staten Island rose to 18. Click here for the story. -- STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As coronavirus (COVID-19) related deaths surged to at least 12 on Staten Island, the borough also became the most affected in the city per 100,000 residents. Based on positive tests, which officials have stressed does not necessarily reflect the full spread of the virus, coronavirus is affecting 174.3 of every 100,000 Staten Islanders, based on 2010 Census data and the latest figures from the citys Health Department. There are 817 confirmed cases on the borough, according to city data posted at 9:35 a.m. Queens and Manhattan, both of which have populations of 2,230,578 and 1,586,360 respectively, are behind the borough in rate of positive tests but are nearly identical in rate when adjusted for population. *** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK *** Coronavirus is affecting 162.3 of every 100,000 Queens residents and 162.1 Manhattanites, the data shows. There is a steep drop-off to the next-closest affected borough Brooklyn at 139.5 positive patients per 100,000 residents. The Bronx, the borough with the lowest rate of confirmed coronavirus cases, is standing at a rate of 132 positive patients per 100,000 residents, though the rate of infections in every borough is almost surely to rise, as Gov. Andrew Cuomo has repeatedly said: The more you test, the more positives you will find. In terms of confirmed cases, Queens has 3,621, Brooklyn has 3,494, Manhattan has 2,572 and the Bronx has 1,829. Moving forward, however, who the tests are administered to is likely to change for commercial labs. Vice President Mike Pence said on Sunday the country will be caught up on a backlog of tests by the middle of next week, but added that the Trump administration is directing commercial labs to prioritize people who are in the hospital for coronavirus tests" in the effort to get the results of that as quickly as possible for every American. The shift in test procedures to the most affected residents could shift the rate at which the amount of confirmed cases increase, but there is currently no indication that the state-run drive-through testing on Staten Island has slowed thus far. 53 The coronavirus life in New York City: The new normal HOSPITAL CAPACITY COULD BE STRAINED Despite accounting for only 7% of citywide cases as of Monday morning, the high rate of coronavirus tests could put pressure on the Staten Islands hospital systems. There are currently a total of 101 in-patients being treated at borough hospitals in coronavirus cases, the Advance/SILive.com reported. While holding 7% of the New York Citys positive cases, according to the most recent data on Monday, the borough accounts for only 5.7% of the citys population. Cuomo continued his push to increase the states hospital capacity on Monday, mandating that all New York hospitals up their number of beds by 50% as the system prepares to deal with the worst of the coronavirus outbreak, the Advance/SILive.com reported. Staffs at Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC) and Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) previously told the Advance/SILive.com that they are aiming to maximize their capacity well ahead of the potential surge in hospitalizations, increasing room by utilizing medical tents and optimizing existing hospital space. We are planning for the worst-case scenario, said Alex Lutz, a RUMC spokesman. We are looking at our capacity within the structure of the hospital itself and not leaving any stone unturned. Both Staten Island University Hospital campuses have a plan to deploy medical tents if the situation requires them to do so, spokesman Christian Preston said. A medical tent was recently placed outside of RUMC with another tent possibly used for a location off the hospitals campus. RELATED COVERAGE: Online learning starts Monday for NYC schools: What you need to know Coronavirus: AP exams will be online, shortened to 45 minutes Schools closed: Heres where NYC students can get free meals Coronavirus: Several Staten Island schools announce confirmed cases Schools closed: Heres where NYC students can get free meals Wagner College postpones commencement due to coronavirus 10 tips for families as NYC schools move to online learning Convicted movie mogul Harvey Weinstein is just weeks into his 23-year prison sentence. According to multiple media reports, the 68-year-old has tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus while in prison. Harvey Weinstein | Johannes Eisele/AFP/Getty Images Why is Harvey Weinstein in prison? At one time, Harvey Weinstein was a Hollywood bigshot with the power to make or break a stars career. But now, the disgraced movie mogul is behind bars for using his position to sexually assault women. Numerous women came forward with allegations of sexual assault against the film producer in 2017. In May 2018, he was arrested on charges of rape, criminal sex act, sex abuse, and sexual misconduct for incidents involving two separate women. Harvey Weinstein | Scott Heins/Getty Images During his 2020 trial in New York City, six women testified against Weinstein in court. The producer maintained his innocence throughout and claimed all the sexual relationships he had with the women were consensual. After trial, Weinstein was found guilty of rape and criminal sexual acts. And in March 2020, the then 67-year-old was sentenced to 23 years in prison. Harvey Weinstein was already in and out of the hospital On March 4, while Weinstein was awaiting sentencing, he underwent a heart procedure in which doctors inserted a stent into a blocked artery. After the surgery, the film producer was sent back to Rikers Island. But just hours after his March 11 sentencing, Weinstein complained of chest pains and was sent to Manhattans Bellevue Hospital. Harvey Weinstein | Spencer Platt/Getty Images Mr. Weinstein is being taken to Bellevue Hospital Ward to treat him for his ongoing heart problems and chest pains, a spokesperson for Weinstein told Deadline at the time. We are incredibly appreciative of the level of care and attention the NYC Dept. of Corrections is showing regarding Mr. Weinsteins medical condition and we are hopeful he will be held overnight for observation given his recent heart procedure less than a week ago and his ongoing medical issues. A week later, Weinstein was transferred back to Rikers Island. Weinstein went back to Rikers yesterday, his spokesperson said on March 17. He was deemed OK to travel and his physical state was better than when he first got to Bellevue. He tested positive for coronavirus Harvey Weinstein | Spencer Platt/Getty Images As first reported by The Niagara Gazette, Weinstein was transferred from Rikers Island to Wende Correctional Facility this week, and that is where he tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus. The report states that officials connected to the state prison system revealed Weinsteins diagnosis. But due to privacy rules, the New York State Department of Corrections cant make an official statement about his health. Where and how Weinstein contracted the virus remains unclear. And as of March 22, his spokesperson told Deadline that they had not heard anything about his diagnosis yet. As unemployment surges and much of the U.S. economy is shut down, its imperative that state and federal leaders promptly provide economic relief to Americans and businesses to minimize the deepening hardships of the coronavirus health crisis. Extraordinary macro-economic efforts are needed to help employees and businesses at all levels, from the personal trainer whose gym is ordered closed, to the gyms landlord who needs the rental income to make mortgage payments, to the local bank whose loan is bundled in a pension fund portfolio. Its all connected. Bars, stores and theaters forced to shutter as well as restaurants forced to limit their service to carry-out and delivery have rental and mortgage payments and other bills. Banks have shareholders. Wall Street has investors who are reeling. Private retirement plans are plummeting. In such times, evictions and mortgage payments should be suspended, and due payments should not be allowed to amass into a large lump sum. New Mexico utility companies and electric co-ops who have temporarily halted nonpayment disconnects and late fees are setting the right example. Unemployment red tape needs to be cut to a minimum so that out-of-work employees can make ends meet. Unlike public-sector employees, private-sector employees receive only a portion of their wages, with no guarantees of the duration of unemployment benefits. Seemingly overnight, weve gone from low unemployment to more than 10,000 New Mexicans applying for unemployment benefits last week the highest number in memory. Congress and the president are considering a $1 trillion rescue package to shore up households, health care and the economy. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has proposed direct payments of $1,200 per person, $2,400 for couples, and $500 per child for income-qualified Americans. McConnells plan includes $200 billion in loans to airlines and distressed industries and $300 billion in forgivable loans for small businesses, which operate on thin margins and employ about half of the nations workforce. President Trump has proposed a plan that would allocate direct payments in April of $1,000 per adult and $500 per child. A second round of payments would go out in May if a presidential national disaster declaration isnt lifted. The Democrat-controlled House is working on its own rescue package. Any final compromise isnt expected to reach the presidents desk until later this week. New Mexico state officials have announced several new business and commercial loan programs and are considering more drastic action, including a special legislative session to deal with the impact of plunging oil and natural gas prices on the recently approved $7.6 billion state budget. The public health crisis caused by the coronavirus shows us just how fragile civilization can be. New Mexicans are frightened they wont be able to get groceries. Gun and ammo sales are surging. Store shelves are being emptied as quickly as they are filled. Even though the impetus was a deadly virus spreading across the world, it is the government that has decided for public safety to order a shutdown of much of the economy. Its now the responsibility of government to mitigate the economic hardship confronting Americans. Expedited government help for businesses and people who have lost their income is essential and the right thing to do. This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers. Farmers are already facing challenges this year as COVID-19 strikes the agriculture and agri-food industries. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/3/2020 (660 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us Farmers are already facing challenges this year as COVID-19 strikes the agriculture and agri-food industries. "The biggest thing that were kind of concerned about is the uncertainty," said Keystone Agricultural Producers president Bill Campbell, who farms south of Brandon. "A large component of agriculture deals with a chain, and if theres any disruption to that chain of services, what happens then?" The temporary closing of the Canada-U.S. border is a major concern for farmers, Campbell said. "When we rely on a lot of our products going that way and a lot of the things that we need coming from there ... is fertilizer going to be delivered on time? Will the transportation system be able to handle and cope with all of the issues that theyre going to have to deal with?" he said. "Can we get parts, can we get seed if its not in place?" And while there appears to be enough seed stored in warehouses for planting, if a wet spring forces farmers to change their crops, "will there be that seed available for options?" Campbell said. Even social distancing during the pandemic can have an effect on farmers if they take their crops to the inland elevators and theyre not allowed inside, he said. "They are not coming out of the office, and we are not to go into the office," he said, adding he has even heard of some closing their doors during the outbreak, and farmers need to phone ahead to find out if theyll open the door to them to take care of the paperwork. "Theres a lot of things that we will have to adjust to," he said, and that includes not only grain farmers but also cattle, hog and egg producers. "The other part that is a major concern with this chain is the processing facilities and if there is a disruption in any of them, be it their movement to export position or their processing capabilities, or even trucking getting the product to them," Campbell said. "What if theres problems at Maple Leaf or HyLife? That is huge." Campbell said Premier Brian Pallister has spoken about the resiliency of Manitobans during the pandemic. "But I would suggest that agriculture has been resilient since last September," he said. "The whole part of being resilient is strong, but resiliency relies on seeing some type of hope and promise somewhere along the line, so as were staying in resiliency when do we move to recovery and rebounding and that glimmer of hope?" Manitoba Beef Producers general manager Carson Callum said in an email to the Sun that his organization is in regular contact with industry stakeholders and the provincial government to ensure stable beef production and trade is maintained during the COVID-19 outbreak. "Ensuring Manitoba producers are well-supported and all Manitobans have continued access to nutritious beef products is a top priority in these discussions." He noted there have been no fundamental changes to the export and import of food and livestock outside of the increased precautions recommended by the federal government. "While some delays may be anticipated due to the COVID-19 outbreak, international co-operation and prioritization is placed on maintaining a highly integrated, functioning food system," Callum said, adding there are no specific requirements in place in Canada restricting bovine or meat imports and exports related to the pandemic. Meanwhile, Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said in a statement Saturday that Ottawa is working to ensure protocols are in place as temporary foreign workers enter the country to work on farms and in food-processing facilities. "The participation of temporary foreign workers on our farms and our food businesses is absolutely necessary," Bibeau said. "It is nothing less than an issue of food security. We are making sure that our food-supply chain is not compromised by the closure of our borders, as we now need thousands of workers on the farms for the planting season as well as the processing of foods from the land and sea." Every measure will be taken to follow necessary health requirements, including thorough pre-screening, supervised isolation upon their arrival in Canada and employee monitoring, the minister said, noting more than 60,000 temporary foreign workers are employed in the agriculture and agri-food sectors. "Were standing by our farmers every step of the way," Bibeau said. "Were working closely with industry and provincial-territorial partners to closely monitor all the issues related to the health of Canadians, including an adequate food supply for all." brobertson@brandonsun.com : As the state administration enforced a virtual curfew to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus in Andhra Pradesh, the total number of the virus- hit cases shot up to seven on Monday with a youth, who returned to Visakhapatnam from London, testing positive. One of the seven patients has already recovered and has been discharged from hospital in Nellore after a second test turned negative, the State Medical and Health Department said. The department sent 181 samples for examination following suspicion of coronavirus, and 166 of them tested negative. The result of eight more samples was awaited, the department said in the latest bulletin. The state government identified 14,038 people who returned from various foreign countries in the last few days and kept 11,560 under home isolation. Another 52 are undergoing treatment with symptoms in hospitals while another 2,426 completed the 28-day observation period. Meanwhile, the state government attached four IAS officers to the Medical and Health Department to coordinate the anti-coronavirus measures. While the Central government declared three districts Visakhapatnam, Krishna and Prakasam as high risk, prohibitory orders under Sections 133 and 144 Cr P C have been clamped in at least seven districts of the state till March 31. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Jharkhand government on Monday anounced starting more than 350 "khichidi" centres across the state to help the needy people during lockdown period till March 31 in view of corononavirus pandemic. The state govnernment is already running 377 "Dal-Bhat" (rice and pulse) centres since its inception after polls in November-December last year. "More than 350 khichidi centres will start functioning so that the needy can have meals" a CMO release said quoting Chief Minister Hemant Soren here. Funds would be released to assist the labour force in the unorganized sector, he said, adding beneficiaries of the Public Distribution System would get grains for a whole month. He said a dedicated phone number, 181 and Corona War Room will function round-the-clock. The chief minister had announced lockdown in Jharkhand from Monday till March 31 midnight after chairing a high level meeting with the officials on COVID-19 situation on Sunday. Meanwhile the shutdown order is yet to sink fully among the people as citizens were seen gathering at different grocery and other markets to buy esentials. Private vehicles were seen plying normally in the state capital Ranchi. Chief Minister Hemant Soren arrived at the assembly with wearing a preventive mask. Government offices, educational institutions and important places of gathering remained closed. Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of police of different districts have launched awareness campaigns about the importance of lockdown, a preventive measure to stop spread of coronavirus pandemic that is sweeping the world. Giridih Deputy Commissioner Rahul Kumar Sinha went to the famous Jain temple at Giridih districts Madhuban and appealed not to visit the religious place for one month in the wake of coronavirus pandemic. Dumka Sub-divisional officer went around the town, informing the people that section 144 of the CrPC is in force in the wake of coronavirus. Dumka Deputy Commissioner Rajeshwar B. warned shop- owners against any indulgence in black-market. The police have also warned rumour mongers against spreading of fake on social media platforms, the ight police sources said. The next two-three weeks are crucial over coronavirus, so complete lockdown has been decided. A widespread awareness campaign will be launched, Soren said after Sunday night meeting. Appealing to the people not to give any attention to rumours, the chief minister said he would provide information to the people every evening Except for essential and emergency services, all the government officials and the employees will work from home, but they would not relinquish their headquarters, and if necessary, the heads of the departments can call them to office. Barring the vehicles pressed into hospital services, there is a ban on services of taxi, auto-rickshaw, buses and cycle-rickshaw. Meanwhile, shops, business centres, factory, go- downs, weekly haat, all types of construction works remained closed, officials said. Essential services like banks/ATMs, dairy products and medicine shops will function normally, according to the official notification issued on Sunday said. The decision of the lockdown has been taken under the Prevention of Epidemic Act, 1987, it said. The notification has also banned more than five persons gathering at one place. Asking the people to remain at homes, it said that people who venture out to procure essential materials should maintain social distance as per the guidelines. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Church of Scientology Kansas City Extending Help to Community Local Scientology Volunteer Ministers are helping the Justice and Dignity Center distribute concentrated disinfectant to Kansas City homes. A local business donated more than a ton of concentrated cleaning supplies to the Justice and Dignity Center. Volunteers are packaging the cleaning supplies, that arrived in 50-gallon drums, into 4-ounce containers. Whilst many might diss. . . Here's thestatement and a glimpse at one of many faith communities lending their support during a time of local struggle . . . Read more: He has become a bit of a celebrity, albeit a reluctant one. Hes hearing from friends and acquaintances and members of the deaf community who are grateful for his work. He sees the tweets that critique his outfits. He watches the public weigh in on social media about which TV character he most resembles. (I learned this week that I look like Screech from Saved By The Bell, he told me.) The property market continues to evolve, and often, the shifts go unnoticed. Just as the landscape becomes a bit different day by day, investors change with it, too. PropertyMes Australian Property Investor Report 2020 compares the last decades average investor to its modern counterpart. It also explores the most popular postcodes of the 2000s as well as the most popular spots of recent times. The last decades investor To better understand how investors have changed over the years, its important to have a profile of what an investor was like a decade ago. Identifying what makes up the early 2000s average investor can give us a better grasp of the drastic transformation investors experienced throughout the years. The typical investor of the 2000s was more likely to be male with an average age of 43 years old, according to University of Tasmanias data, studying more than 1.1m loan applications from early 2003 to May 2009. Only 27% of the last decades investors were female. This investor also had a net annual income of $103,200 (excluding the studys top 100 earners, the average would be $79,404) and was likely to be married. The research also found that in the 2000s, 27% of those surveyed were self-employed investors, while only 19% were owner-occupiers. Investors were likely professionals, holding jobs as a manager, a small business owner, or a skilled trade worker. Lastly, the last decades investor owned one or two dwellings. Profiling todays counterpart There have been a few shifts from the last decades average 43-year-old, male investor to todays more modern one. Property investment in the early 2000s was more male-centric, but in the modern times, it is the opposite. Forty-seven percent of property investors are now femaleup 20% from the 2000s, based on data from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). Todays investors also have an average net income under $100,000, says the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA). Over half of Aussie property investors are under 50 years old. However, investors aged 60 years old and over doubled in the last decade. These individuals are more likely professionals such as teachers, lawyers, doctors, and managers. CoreLogics Investor Report says that most property investors of today have one investment property, with an average of 1.28 properties per investor. The report also found that 15.7% of Australian taxpayers have an investment property and the 50-64 age group is the most likely to own property investment. Modern investors could also be grouped into three categories, in a non-property-specific fashion. The Australian Security Exchange (ASX) categorise investors into three profilesnext generation, wealth accumulators, and retirees. Next-generation investors are aged 18-24, with goals to save for a home, travel, and accumulate wealth. Eighty-one percent seek stable or guaranteed returns from their investments. Twenty-five percent of next-generation investors have also invested in property. Meanwhile, wealth accumulators are aged 25-59, planning for retirement and want to accumulate wealth. Sixty-seven percent of these individuals are seeking stable or guaranteed returns and 42% have already invested in property. Lastly, retirees are those aged 60 years old and over. They are planning for retirement and want a supplement income. Fifty-two percent have also invested in property. 2000s most popular postcodes In the early 2000s, one area dominated the list of the most popular areas for property investment. Investors also flocked to more regional areas, compared to capitals. Cairns in Queensland was the most popular area to invest, followed by Western Australias Mandurah. Torquay and Mackay, both in Queensland, were the third and fourth most popular areas for investment, respectively. Meanwhile, Launceston in Tasmania earned the spot for the fifth most popular area to invest in the 2000s. Gold Coast, QLD was the sixth most popular area, while Connolly in WA and Ballarat in Victoria were at the seventh and eighth spots, respectively. Rounding up the list, Toowoomba and Bundaberg in QLD held the ninth and tenth spots. None of these areas is in a major metropolitan centre. However, keep in mind that the data is from a mortgage providerindividuals represented in the studies were buyers just starting with their investment journeys. Todays hotspots During the last decade, the top 10 most popular areas for investment were not in a major centre, but in recent times there has been a slight shift from this. Investor ownership is highest in Victoria, with 30.5% of all dwellings estimated to be investor-owned, as reported by CoreLogic. However, data from RBA suggests Queensland remains a favourite. The report says Darwin in the Northern Territory is the top most popular area for investors of today. This followed by Gold Coast, QLD and Melbourne in Victoria. The Harbour City is the fourth most popular postcode for investors, while Brisbane and Bal in NT take the fifth and sixth spots, respectively. Mackay, Far North, Northern, and Fitzroyall in Queenslandhave the remaining four spots to round up the top 10 list. Despite a shift from investing in regional areas to the city, Queensland continues to be popular. In fact, 25% of the countrys investment properties are being bought in the state. Brisbanes property saw improvement, with property prices up 1.1% over the three months to October, according to CoreLogics Home Value Index for October 2019. Investors may be flocking to QLD because of its encouraging rental yields. Rental yields in Queensland are much more attractive, with gross rental yields for regional Queensland and Brisbane at 5.4% and 4.6%, respectively, says Dennis Wong, property data research specialist at Real Estate Investar. Surprising and subtle shifts In the last decade, the average Aussie investor experienced a few changessome dramatic, while some are more subdued. During the 2000s, investors were mostly male, but today, 47% are female. Excluding the top 100 earners (who earned $103,200 annually on average) of the University of Tasmanias sample, an investors average annual net income a decade ago was $79,404. This is higher than what 45% of Aussie investors of today are earning, which is less than $50,000. Despite the decline in annual income, modern investors have managed to find a way to invest, taking advantage of various Government subsidies and new technologies. As with the case in the 2000s, investors of today are most likely a professional or a manager. While there are a few changes in the last decade, the average investor continues to be in their forties, with baby boomers holding the majority of homes. For now, boomers are a dominant force in the market, but the next generation of investors are making their presence felt. During the last decade, Queensland was a favourite. This trend continues today, with various areas in the state earning 6 spots out of the 10 most popular postcodes for investors. There has also been a shift from investing from regional in the 2000s to investing in some cities today, with Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane making the list of the most popular areas for investment. California Nurse Talks Uncertainties, Fears Working With Potential COVID-19 Patients Hardly anything is straightforward in dealing with COVID-19 at the hospital, a nurse in Southern California told The Epoch Times. Its kind of hard to navigate the situation, she said. Everything changes every single day. Ill come into work and there will be a new packet for me to read about the new regulations that changed overnight, literally. Nurses who are dealing with potential COVID-19 patients are assigned only to those patients, said the nurse, who preferred not to be named. Typically, she cares for four patients at a time in an acute-care ward, but recently has been assigned to one-to-one care for potential COVID-19 patients. So, theyre really trying to limit the amount of people who are exposed even when they are rule-out cases, she said. We are one-to-one because we are expected to assume all the care for that patient, which includes drawing blood from that patient, doing respiratory treatment, taking their vitals and taking them to the bathroomtheir every little needas opposed to the other patients on the floor, even if they are on special contact precautions for things like pneumonia, chicken pox or scabies or something like that. In addition to ever-changing protocols, other challenges for her include potential equipment shortages, helping patients cope with their uncertainties, the possibility of having to do work she doesnt feel prepared for if the situation escalates, and watching some of her colleagues struggle with separation from their families. Changing Regulations The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines have recently changed, allowing nurses to wear surgical masks rather than Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPR), the nurse said. At first, we had to wear those [PAPR], and now theyve changed it to the droplet masks, so like the surgical masks you see people wearing on the street, she said. The hospitals dont provide the full-on goggles and hazmat-looking suits, she said. We have to wear a gown, gloves, and a mask. Though the federal and state governments have promised more masks and ventilators are on the way to hospitals, the thought of having to work without a protective mask is nerve-wracking, she said. I cant effectively do my job if I cant protect myself from the same elements that Im trying to battle. When it comes to the shortage of ventilators, some patients lives will be at stake if the problem is not solved, she said. Plans are in the works nationwide to increase production of critical supplies, including masks, and disseminate them among the hospitals in need. Right now, I cant say if there will ever be enough to be prepared for something like, say, Italy. What I can tell you is, at least right now, it doesnt seem like specifically where I work that were overwhelmed with coronavirus patients. Its not to that point, she said. Shes not sure if theres a threshold number of COVID-19 patients for which the hospital staff feel prepared. If this turns into a full-on outbreak like it is in Italy, if they really need that many ventilators, then right now I dont think well have enough. Training and Preparedness Not all nurses are trained on ventilators, mechanical breathing devices that are crucial to caring for severely infected patients who suffer from lung failure. I feel prepared to an extent, she said. I dont know how to take care of someone who is intubated and on a ventilator. Thats outside of my scope because I wasnt trained in an intensive care unit. If Im forced to take care of patients like that because thats just the reality of the situation, then I will absolutely do it with an open heart and try to be courageous, but I will not be prepared. With things like that, and in certain situations Im not trained to handle, of course, Im going to feel unprepared. Questions From Patients While she hasnt conducted the swab COVID-19 tests herself, she has interacted with patients as theyve waited for their test results. Though most tests have come back negative, the hospital is bracing for an onslaught of positive cases. Because there is no ready cure for the disease, patients waiting for their test results tend to ask a lot of what if questions, the nurse said. All she can do is be honest with them. Right now, its kind of hard to give people straight-forward answers when they ask questions about what their care would look like, she said. I just focus on being very transparent with my patients on this sensitive matter. I have to tell them I dont know and that we just have to follow what the health department says. Nurses Self-Isolating Nurses are at a higher risk than people in many other professions for experiencing extreme stressunder normal conditions. A study published Feb. 3 showed nurses at a higher risk than the general population for suicide. A little over a month after that study was published, were seeing many additional stresses on nurse. Theyre working on the front-lines of the pandemic and when they leave work, theyre immersed in the general stress pervading society right now. You come home to family who are also stressed about whats going on in the world, and right now its hard to find relief from this anxiety thats kind of floating all around you, the nurse said. So, you come home to more stress with everyone worried about whats going on. Some nurses have resorted to isolating themselves in hotels and RVs rather than run the risk of infecting their families as the COVID-19 pandemic spreads, she said. Theyre pretty worried, even to the point where some of them have decided to stay in hotels separate from their families and quarantine themselves away from their families just in case they become exposed to something at work, she said. Besides paying for hotel rooms out of their own pockets and living in RVs, others have tried to keep their distance from family members in their homes with some type of separate living space, she said. Some doctors are doing this too. Its not just the nurses. Its kind of everyone, she said. A lot of my coworkers have talked about how theyve separated themselves from their young kids, especially the ones who have babies at home. Whatever they can do to keep their families safe, theyre willing to do it, she said. However, most nurses havent taken such extreme measures in their living arrangements, she said. Aside from being a nurse and on the front lines, she said, it just makes me nervous to see how people are reacting to the lockdown and how some people are still not really not taking it seriously. KALAMAZOO, MI With a few exceptions, the Kalamazoo Mall was quiet Monday morning as Michigans governor prepared to announce a stay at home order in response to the coronavirus outbreak. The red open sign was lit in the window at V & A Bootery. The footwear retailer was one downtown businesses that remained open on Monday, March 23, after Gov. Gretchen Whitmers orders last week to close restaurants and many other businesses to the public. It too will close after Whitmers latest executive order Monday, which instructs residents across the state to remain inside their homes for the next three weeks and effectively shutters many businesses not told to close in prior orders. Related: All Michigan residents, most businesses ordered to stay home to slow spread of coronavirus V&A Bootery owner William Vandis watched as news broke Monday, and worked to come up with a plan for his employees going forward. We will close today to comply with the order, Vandis said. With footwear, its hard to figure out what our essential (services) are." Like many other local businesses, sales had already been hurting amid the pandemic. Our sales have plummeted. Weve been doing 10-20% of what we normally would have. As COVID-19 continues to spread throughout communities in Michigan, Whitmer said the stay at home order is intended to help protect public health and prevent the spread of the infection. As of Monday, over 1,000 cases have been reported in Michigan, including three cases now confirmed in Kalamazoo County. One of those COVID-19 patients is a county sheriffs deputy, Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller announced at a Monday afternoon news conference. Related: Kalamazoo County deputy tests positive for coronavirus, sheriff says In Kalamazoo, Whitmers order means owners of non-essential businesses must close their doors and could mean leave or layoffs for some employees. It also means residents relying on now-closed businesses for a social outlet must find new ways to occupy their time. Kalamazoo resident Karlissia Munn said she feels overwhelmed by the governors latest order. Munn uses a wheelchair and has services where people come into her home to help with chores and she does not know where that will stand given the new guidelines. I was cool until this order, Munn said. Im pretty social and this is awful for me. Im trying my best to stay positive." She misses going to church and interacting with others, she said. Munn said she always reminds herself, this too shall pass. She said she has found new ways to stay busy inside and is grateful to have a cat to keep her company. I think what (Whitmer) is doing is good, she said. Its torture, but its good. Greg Ayers, president and CEO of Discover Kalamazoo, acknowledged that Kalamazoos local tourism industry and the business sector in general is likely to take a hit as a result of the closures. When business gets back to normal, whenever that may be, our community may look a little different," Ayers said. "There may be some businesses that unfortunately didnt make it through all of this and adjusting for that accordingly will be important. Lets do everything we can to support those businesses that are awesome for not only residents but visitors to enjoy. Back on the Kalamazoo Mall, almost all of the businesses lining the usually busy street now have a sign hanging in their doorways informing customers of temporary closures, and advising people to stay safe. A few people stopped by Taco Bobs to pick up lunch. Others took their dogs for walks. Staff at city facilities have already closed the buildings to the public, and city employees who do not work in a non-essential service, such as public safety, water and sewer, are working from home, Mayor David Anderson said. The city is still providing all essential services. Anderson said city staff was not surprised by Whitmers order on Monday, and were semi-expecting it. Unfortunately, I do think (the stay at home order) is a good step, Anderson said, though he acknowledged it could lead to some economic struggles as well. But, joined by many other public officials, the mayor is calling on the citizens of Kalamazoo to heed the governors order in an effort to reduce the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Its important to stay home and shelter in place, Anderson said. PREVENTION TIPS In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and when you go into places like stores. Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus. Complete coverage of coronavirus in Michigan. Also on MLive: Kalamazoo Marathon cancels 2020 race amid coronavirus pandemic Kalamazoo Metro announces free rides during coronavirus outbreak Whats open, whats closed under Gov. Whitmers coronavirus stay-at-home order Kalamazoo County deputy tests positive for coronavirus, sheriff says Monday, March 23: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan Michigan reports first coronavirus case in prison inmate As chain restaurants move to takeout only, gyms are closing across the country and states are transitioning to "mandatory" quarantine, small business owners are worried. Military spouse and veteran small-business owners, however, may be worried slightly less. Over the years, military spouses have developed businesses that move with them. From brick and mortar stores like Lakesha Cole's She Swank Marketplace, that has had locations in Japan; Portsmouth, Virginia; and Jacksonville, North Carolina, or online-based companies like The Nomadic Nation, these businesses may be affected by the lag in the economy, but they have weathered big storms. But what happens now? When the country's economy is questionable, the future is looking a little plainer. And if you're caught shopping for anything but food, you run the risk of being mocked on social media. How do you support your military spouse and veteran small businesses through this time? We've got a few ideas. 1. Gift Cards. This may be the easiest way to support your favorite small businesses. Grab a gift for your local bakery, cleaning service or even your babysitter to help them keep going. You'll need all these services again when this is over. Especially that babysitter. 2. Order Online. We all need coffee right now, so instead of buying from the local grocery store, grab some online from one of your favorite coffee shops. Swatara Coffee Co. in Jonestown, Pennsylvania, has temporarily shut its doors to help #flattenthecurve but is still shipping its favorite coffees across the country. 3. Support Their New Ideas. The locally and military spouse-owned AR Workshop Evans outside of Fort Gordon, Georgia, found a way to maintain social distancing standards while creating a new product and helping parents with some "art at home" ideas. They've created a Take & Make Kit and are offering free delivery within a five-mile radius. 4. Pre-Buy for Christmas and Birthdays. Christmas is still going to happen. And birthdays. So, spend a little bit of that budget now and spread the joy. The wait time on handmade products may have gone down if people haven't caught onto this trend, so you may be able to get a quicker turn-around time. Ideas include clothing, handcrafted items and these beautiful bath bombs from Sugar and Spruce. 5. Books. Military spouse and veteran authors have an extensive number of books ready to help you fill the spare time you may now have. From books about military history to romance to comedy, you can find something for everyone. Even for kids! 6. Share their Social Media. There's going to be a massive influx of cash back into the economy when this is done, and what better place to spend than your favorite places? Encourage people to shop small and local when this is over by sharing your favorite places with them. Plus, it brightens up news feeds, and we could all use that. As a community, we will get through this, and we want to make sure we take care of each other every step of the way. So give an extra thought to your favorite small business owners, and try to help them out in any way you can. Keep Up with the Ins and Outs of Military Life For the latest military news and tips on military family benefits and more, subscribe to Military.com and have the information you need delivered directly to your inbox. --Rebecca Alwine can be reached at rebecca.alwine@monster.com. Since the coronavirus hit, Cappuccinos life has become, literally, a walk in the park. Only two weeks ago, the nine-year-old spoodle was a dog often on the verge barking at anything that moves, tearing up the house, and exploding into cries every time his owner would leave the house for work. But that all changed when his owner, Christina Caddy-Gold, began to do her job partly from home, last week, as a result of the spreading virus. Christina Caddy-Gold with her daughter Avalon and two of their pets, Atlantis the cat and Cappuccino the dog. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer When someones not home the whole day, he gets separation anxiety, so hes always calmer when people are around, says Caddy-Gold, manager of a social work department at a Sydney non-profit organisation. Hes great, he just chills out, hes very happy. It is perhaps the silver lining we didnt see coming: that with the increasing numbers of people practising self-isolation and social distancing from other humans, pets around the world which, according to the latest evidence, cannot spread the virus are now living their best lives. A cop surveys the scene during Bengaluru's lockdown on March 21. (Photo: Satish B) Bengaluru: Police commissioner Bhaskar Rao has announced a complete clampdown in Bengaluru till March 31 to stop the coronavirus Covid-19. People have been told to follow the governments clampdown orders seriously. If anyone is found violating orders, action will be initiated against them under IPC section 270, he warned. Special teams have been formed to keep vigilance on foreign-returned people. Some 23,000 persons who have returned from abroad are yet to be tracked. Services of Ola, Uber and otheer taxicab services have been suspended. Friday prayers in Masjids have been suspended. People have been told to celebrate Ugadi festival inside their homes. Provision stores, ration shops, departmental stores and meat shops will remain open. Swiggy and Zomato will be allowed to deliver food. Barber shops, beauty parlours, florists, clothing stores and electronics stores will be closed. All hotels will not serve but will open takeaway counters. Policemen will be out to monitor the situation in the localities. Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) platoons will be deployed across the city to assist the police department. Local police stations will take a call on which shops can remain open. Commissioner Bhaskar Rao chaired a high-level meeting of all senior police officers including 18 DCPs and 40 ACPs in the city.. A special team of personnel from the police and the BBMP has been set up to monitor people in quarantine. DCP Isha Panth will head the special team. The team has received inputs from the Kempegowda International Airport (KIAL) that as many as 43,000 persons returned from various countries between March 8 and March 19. The team will round up these 43,000 persons and ask if they have been in isolation. If not, they will be asked about who they have been in contact with. Till yesterday, the team managed to identify 20,000 people and issued self-quarantine notice to them. Police teams will pay surprise visits to the houses of people who are supposed to be in self-quarantine. Police are gathering inputs from intelligence agencies as well. Neighbours have been the primary source of information for the police. Foreign returned people will have a seal imprinted on their hands. If people with such a stamp on their hands are found roaming outside, they will be picked up and put in government isolation centres. Many of the Love Is Blind contestants have vague job descriptions when theyre introduced to Netflix viewers. Damian Powers is described as a General Manager. Giannina Gibelli is a Small Business Owner. The job titles have fans wondering: general manager of what? Whats the business? Giannina Gibelli and Damian Powers | Rachel Luna/Getty Images In response to the vague job titles, Giannina says she believes Netflix was just trying to protect us. Love Is Blind contestants dont have any contact with the outside world for nine days, and up to two weeks They tell you, Youre gonna be gone for nine days. Tell your family. Were gonna take away all the devices. Heres an emergency contact number just in case. But if you dont come back in the next nine days its because you got engaged,' Giannina explained on a recent episode of Love In Sight. As fans of the show know, once contestants get engaged, they head to Mexico. When they arrive back in Atlanta is when they get their devices back. After that we had Mexico. Then, you come back, you gather all your stuff, and you move in together. And thats another month. So after Mexico, we were able to have our devices back and just kind of like tune in. We actually didnt want to. We were like No, lets just kind of push it off. It was so nice,' said Giannina. Giannina Gibelli the small business owner The reality star also explained what she was doing for work at the time of filming Love Is Blind, and shared a bit of her work history. So a little background: I was actually at a corporate office for about a year. Ive had many a career change. Thats just because if I dont feel fulfilled or I feel like Ive been mistreated, its like, Cool, I learned what I need to do and then I move on. So I was at this corporate job for about a year. I was hitting all my quotas and doing social media work. And they kept putting me down and putting me into an office and telling me how disappointed they were in me because I was five minutes late, two minutes late. Cool, it taught me how to be punctual but, at the end of the day, I wasnt valued. So I quit my job, she said of her last corporate job. Then, Giannina was approached by one of her best friends to help her run a business. She was like, I want you to run this business with me, which I had already had experience with two years prior. I kind of went into the office one day and was like, Im done with you and it caught them completely off guard. And thats what allowed me to really be on the show because it allowed me to have that time and have that confidence, she said. The reality star says, at the time of filming, she was managing 12 people and three different locations. So at the time of the show, I was managing three different locations in Atlanta where we would sell and consult on hair products. Hair straighteners, wands So I managed around 12 people. I was the therapist, the mom, the sales consultant, I was literally every single thing to these people, and I managed them all throughout three different locations. It was another family, she said. G continued: They all looked at me like I was their mom. I would bring them coffee, all the fun stuff. So I was very much running this business, which I was there at 24 hours pretty much a day. If youre not plugged in at the location, youre on your phone just hyping these people up, giving them advice, telling them, No, keep going. Dont stop. When Giannina told her friend and business partner that shed be leaving for nine days and maybe longer, she kind of freaked out, but was ultimately very supportive. Today, it seems Giannina is her own boss. I was working so, so much as a retail business owner, and I stopped doing that the beginning of last year and I went through quite a few career changes, she said in an interview with Esquire on March 5. But it was amazing because I was able to take time off and recollect and do so much soul-searching. I dabbled in being creative again, which makes me the happiest. Read more: Even Colton Underwood Wants Hannah Brown and Tyler Cameron to Get Together Regulatory authorities approve JTA Phase III study in osteoarthritic knee pain and ALLOB Phase IIb study in difficult fractures Details Category: DNA RNA and Cells Published on Monday, 23 March 2020 16:33 Hits: 1419 GOSSELIES, Belgium I March 23, 2020 I BONE THERAPEUTICS (Euronext Brussels and Paris: BOTHE), the bone cell therapy company addressing high unmet medical needs in orthopaedics and bone diseases, today announces it has received regulatory approvals for its Clinical Trial Applications for the next studies of both of its lead candidates. These two studies are the pivotal JTA-004 Phase III clinical study targeting osteoarthritic knee pain and the Phase IIb study of its allogeneic cell therapy product, ALLOB, in patients with difficult tibial fractures. The JTA-004 trial has been approved by regulatory authorities in Denmark, and the ALLOB by Belgian regulatory authorities. Bone Therapeutics now has completed preparations for these trials. It is ready to initiate recruitment in both of these studies as soon as the current situation regarding COVID-19 allows, in those two countries. Bone Therapeutics has taken this decision to support healthcare systems in the respective trial countries, enabling them to concentrate on treating COVID-19 patients whilst necessary. Bone Therapeutics is now ready to commence clinical trials on both its lead products. Receiving regulatory approvals for both Clinical Trial Applications completes the preparative activity for both studies, said Miguel Forte, CEO, Bone Therapeutics. This means that as soon as the current situation allows, we will be able to start recruiting patients for both clinical studies and continue to develop options for patients suffering knee osteoarthritic pain and difficult tibial fractures, both of which are conditions with a high unmet medical need. The JTA-004 phase III study is a controlled, randomized, double-blind study. It will evaluate the potential of a single, intra-articular injection of JTA-004 to reduce osteoarthritic pain in the knee compared to placebo or Hylan G-F 20, the leading osteoarthritis treatment on the market. The study expects to enrol 676 patients with mild to moderate symptomatic knee osteoarthritis in approximately 20 centres in 7 European countries and Hong Kong SAR. The ALLOB Tibial Fracture Phase IIb study is a randomized, double-blind, controlled study in which the fracture healing potential of ALLOB in patients with difficult fractures in the shinbone (tibia) will be evaluated and compared to standard of care alone after a follow-up period of 6 months. ALLOB will be applied by single percutaneous injection 24-72 hours post reduction surgery in patients with fresh tibial fractures at risk for delayed or non-union. The study is expected to enrol approximately 178 patients in approximately 40 sites in up to 7 European countries. About JTA-004 JTA-004 is companys next generation of intra-articular injectable for the treatment of osteoarthritic pain in the knee. Consisting of a unique mix of plasma proteins, hyaluronic acid, a natural component of knee synovial fluid, and a fast-acting analgesic, JTA-004 intends to provide added lubrication and protection to the cartilage of the arthritic joint and to alleviate osteoarthritic pain. In a phase II study involving 164 patients, JTA-004 showed an improved pain relief at 3 and 6 months compared to Hylan G-F 20, the global market leader in osteoarthritis treatment. About Knee Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis (OA), also known as degenerative joint disease, is the most common chronic joint condition in which the protective cartilage in the joints progressively break down resulting in joint pain, swelling, stiffness and limited range of motion. The knee is one of the joints that are mostly affected by osteoarthritis, with an estimated 250M cases worldwide. The prevalence of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is expected to increase in the coming years due to increasingly aging and obese population. Currently, there is no cure for KOA and treatments focus on relieving and controlling pain and symptoms, preventing disease progression, minimizing disability, and improving quality of life. Most drugs prescribed to KOA patients are topical or oral analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs. Ultimately, severe KOA lead to highly invasive surgical interventions such as total knee replacement. About ALLOB and Bone Therapeutics proprietary, scalable cell therapy manufacturing process ALLOB is the companys off-the-shelf allogeneic cell therapy platform consisting of human allogeneic bone-forming cells. These cells are derived from cultured bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) from healthy adult donors. To address critical factors for the development and commercialization of cell therapy products, Bone Therapeutics has established a proprietary, optimized production process that improves the consistency, scalability, cost effectiveness and ease of use of the ALLOB platform. This optimized production process significantly increases the production yield, generating 100,000 of doses per bone marrow donation. Additionally, the final ALLOB product is cryopreserved, enabling easy shipment and the capability to be stored in a frozen form at the healthcare site. The process does therefore substantially improve product quality, reduce overall production costs, simplify supply chain logistics, increase patient accessibility and facilitate global commercialization compared to an autologous approach. Bone Therapeutics has implemented the optimized production process to produce clinical batches for the upcoming Phase IIb clinical trial in patients with tibial difficult-to-heal fractures. About Bone Therapeutics Bone Therapeutics is a leading biotech company focused on the development of innovative products to address high unmet needs in orthopedics and bone diseases. The Company has a broad, diversified portfolio of bone cell therapies and an innovative biological product in later-stage clinical development, which target markets with large unmet medical needs and limited innovation. Bone Therapeutics is developing an off-the-shelf protein solution, JTA-004, which is entering Phase III development for the treatment of pain in knee osteoarthritis. Positive Phase IIb efficacy results in patients with knee osteoarthritis showed a statistically significant improvement in pain relief compared to a leading viscosupplement. The clinical trial application (CTA) for the pivotal Phase III program has been approved by the Danish relevant authorities allowing the start of the study. Bone Therapeutics other core technology is based on its cutting-edge allogeneic cell therapy platform (ALLOB) which can be stored at the point of use in the hospital, and uses a unique, proprietary approach to bone regeneration, which turns undifferentiated stem cells from healthy donors into bone-forming cells. These cells can be administered via a minimally invasive procedure, avoiding the need for invasive surgery, and are produced via a proprietary, scalable cutting-edge manufacturing process. Following the CTA approval by the Belgian regulatory authority, the Company is ready to start the Phase IIb clinical trial with ALLOB in patients with difficult tibial fractures, using its optimized production process. The ALLOB platform technology has multiple applications and will continue to be evaluated in other indications including spinal fusion, osteotomy and maxillofacial and dental applications. Bone Therapeutics cell therapy products are manufactured to the highest GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) standards and are protected by a broad IP (Intellectual Property) portfolio covering ten patent families as well as knowhow. The Company is based in the BioPark in Gosselies, Belgium. Further information is available at www.bonetherapeutics.com. SOURCE: Bone Therapeutics GARY Funerals, church services and other gatherings must cease immediately to curb the spread of the serious and potentially fatal respiratory virus, COVID-19, Mayor Jerome Prince warned Gary residents on Monday. Gary police, along with the Indiana State Police, will fully enforce Gov. Eric Holcomb's stay-at-home order issued Monday, Prince said. Please do not try your luck or think anything other than absolute seriousness on this particular issue," Prince said during a livestreamed news conference Monday. Prince's order for residents to stay indoors came just hours after Holcomb issued an unprecedented executive order Monday directing all Hoosiers to stay home until at least April 7, in an effort to prevent the virus spread. "I made recommendations last week based on (federal and state) guidelines, and yet over this weekend, I saw events going on around the city where there were clearly more than 10 people gathered in one place," Prince said. "There were funerals, church services, and other things going on throughout the city of Gary," he said. Many students have moved home due to the virus (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Ulster University students with outstanding accommodation fees may still be expected to pay despite the coronavirus pandemic. Thousands of students across Northern Ireland have been thrown into chaos following the spread of Covid-19 and the subsequent closure of campuses and cancellation of exams. Many have returned to their family homes despite having several months left to run on their university accommodation. When asked if students would remain liable for remaining payments, Ulster University said it was yet to make a decision but would work to support students. A spokesperson said: "We understand that this is an extremely worrying time for our students. "The university is currently assessing its position in relation to university student accommodation rental agreements, but has not yet made a decision. "Based on current public health and Government advice, our accommodation remains open as normal and students are being fully supported to stay in their university homes." Ulster University added that it is also "actively considering whether it may be possible to bolster our Ulster University Hardship Fund to support those students suffering from genuine financial hardship at this time". A Sydney couple trapped in Peru by the country's hasty coronavirus lockdown say they "feel abandoned" by the Australian government and have no way to get home. Gabe and Matthew Ryan left home for their honeymoon in July last year intending to cycle the length of South America. Matthew and Gabe Ryan were cycling the length of South America when the coronavirus lockdown trapped them in Peru. As the world was gripped by the coronavirus outbreak, Gabe, a clinical psychologist, says she and her husband, a software engineer, monitored the news about its spread when they arrived in Peru on March 8. "At that stage there were only a handful of cases of COVID-19 in South America, and no cases in Peru," she told the Herald from a hotel in the city of Cajamarca, which is about 850 kilometres from the capital, Lima, and 2000 kilometres from the tourist hub of Cusco. Monday, March 23, 2020 Caskets in a funeral home. During this unprecedented time of social distancing, thank your local funeral director. Funeral homes are taking steps to keep you safe in the midst of grieving the death of loved ones in the age of coronavirus. Italy, which is a week or so ahead of the United States in the contagion curve, is dealing with a terrifying number of dead that need to be buried or cremated. This NPR story details the challenges the funeral industry is facing there. Funeral Industry Resources The funeral industry in the United States is rising to the challenge. Here are good resources for keeping informed about funerals during this time of coronavirus. ICCFA, the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association, has a page devoted to the latest information and resources about COVID-19 and funeral issues. Visit the page here. NFDA, the National Funeral Directors Association, also has a page devoted to the latest information and resources about COVID-19 and funeral issues. Visit the page here. Renowned grief educator Dr. David Kessler is starting an online free grief group for anyone who needs support. Whether youre newly bereaved or have been struggling for a long time this group is here to help you. To find the group, go to www.Facebook.com/groups/DavidKessler or you can look up in your group section Grief: releasing pain, remembering the love and finding meaning. The website RememberingALife.com has a good article by Sara Murphy, Loss in A Pandemic: Supporting Grievers which provides many good tips. Sara Murphy, PhD, CT, is a death educator, certified thanatologist (Association for Death Education and Counseling), and suicidologist. She teaches at the University of Rhode Island and conducts workshops and seminars on death, dying, and bereavement nationwide for professional organizations, schools, and community groups. Aging With Dignity produces The Five Wishes form for dictating how youd like to be treated if you encounter a life-threatening illness. The organization is offering a free downloadable version of their easy-to-understand and use advance care planning form. Learn more here. Remote Funeral Viewing and Other Options Our two largest funeral homes in Albuquerque have shared information about what they are doing to help in these unprecedented times. They both offer options for funerals to be viewed from a distance. News from French Funerals & Cremations Amidst continued concerns over the Coronavirus and COVID-19, French Funerals and Cremations is offering guidance and updated procedures to help keep families safe as they mourn and say goodbye to loved ones. TomAntram, President of French, said that his teams number one priority is thesame as always: to honor and remember every life. The loss of a loved one isalways difficult, and it is more so amidst periods of confusion, fear, anduncertainty, said Antram. Were working to ease that pain as much as we can,by helping protect families safety during this time, but also making sure thatthey can continue to mourn in a healthy manner. Were continuing our operationsin every way possible so that families dont have to defer or delay their griefprocess. Tominimize the spread of illness and protect families, French is taking thefollowing measures: Frenchis recommending that all funeral arrangements are made by phone or internet,rather than through an in-person meeting. Call 505-843-6333 with questions orvisit frenchfunerals.com. Incooperation with public officials, French recommends that all services, for theduration of the outbreak, be held in French locations and be limited toimmediate family members only. Frenchwill be live-streaming all services for other friends and family to attendvirtually. AllFrench community gatherings, including Advance Planningpresentations/lunch-and-learns, workshops, bereavement group meetings, andpublic events hosted at French facilities, will be cancelled until furthernotice. Moreover,French is in close contact with national associations, as well as the CDC andOSHA, to ensure the safest possible handling of the deceased. Our commitment, as the French Family of Companies, is to serve our community and protect our employees and their families from the spread of this virus, Antram continued. Amidst this State of Emergency, we seek to continue to serve Albuquerque safely and professionally. Our dedicated staff is standing by to address any questions or concerns. Statement from Daniels Family Funerals & Cremation Daniels Family Funerals & Cremation has served this community for many years and we stand ready to help you now. Even prior tothe coronavirus pandemic, the safety and well-being of you, your family and your friends has always been of utmost importance tous. We will remain open and our experienced, caring staff will continue assisting families during this critical time. Our heart goes out to those affected by the recent changes due to coronavirus (COVID-19) and we extend our appreciation to thehealth care community for all they are doing now to protect us. We want you to know everything we are doing to keep your safetytop of mind while still helping you support friends and family during a time of loss. Please see below for important communityupdates and more information regarding our locations and help planning funeral arrangements. Daniels Family Funerals & Cremation has adapted our services to follow the guidelines and mandates issued by New MexicosGovernor, the Centers for Disease Control and health professionals. In keeping with Governor Lujan Grishams most recentdirectives, effective immediately, all Daniels Family Funerals & Cremation services will now be limited to immediate family only. In this climate, we know there is a lot of uncertainty. We want you to know what we are doing to keep your safety top of mind andhow you can still support friends and family during a time of loss by knowing the facts. We want to thank you in advancefor putting your trust in us. Visiting a Daniels Family Funerals & Cremation Location While the COVID-19 virus has required all of us to be more mindful as we go through our regular activities, rest assured that ourlocations are clean and safe. Our protocols cover everything from handwashing hygiene, cleaning product specifications andcommon area cleaning procedures. How Daniels Family Funerals & Cremation Helps You Support Friends and Family We have always implemented the latest technologies for the convenience of families we serve. You may support families via guest books and online memorial tributes on our website. Funerals are important. Recognizing loss is a human instinct and it is important to recognize that we must facilitate beginning thehealing process. Please make an extra effort to support those that have lost a loved one during this unusual time. Your support ismore important than ever with the added stress of these extraordinary circumstances. Making Funeral Arrangements If a death has occurred, or will soon, we are very sorry for your loss. If you are unable to make it to one of our locations due to travelrestrictions, health concerns or any other reason, our caring staff can help you accomplish everything virtually. Every situation canand will be accommodated to ensure the arrangements for the care of your loved one and ensure your wishes are followed. Thank You Losing a friend or family member is never easyand we are very aware that these unsettling times can amplify feelings of grief andanxiety. Please know that we are here for anything else you may need to honor life, support loved ones and begin the healingprocess. The safety and well-being of you, your family, and your friends is of the utmost importance to us. Stay at home. Wash your hands well. Share this: Indian government fails to improve hygiene in fish market March 23,2020 | Source: Asian Age Even though researchers had found that the novel coronavirus had originated and spread through wet markets in China, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) does not appear to have any plans to improve hygiene in fish markets in the city. This apart, it has not taken any decision pertaining to the import of fish from neighbouring states including Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra and others where Covid-19 cases have been on the rise. On the flipside, fearing that the consumption of red meat, especially chicken, will spread Covid-19, citizens have been opting for fish. The average consumption during weekdays has increased from 120 tonnes to 160 tonnes and during the weekend, from 350 tonnes to about 500 tonnes. According to the official records of the Telangana state fisheries department, on an average about 120 tonnes of fish per day are exported to Hyderabad from Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal and the livelihood of about 10,000 fisherpeople depends on the markets in the city. People have been thronging in huge numbers to fish markets since other meat markets began seeing a slump with fears of coronavirus infections. Surprisingly, the city has only two operational fish markets at Begum Bazaar and Monda market in Secunderabad, which were constructed by the City Improvement Board (CIB) in the 1930s, during the erstwhile Nizam rule. Due to the lack of markets to sell fish, they are sold on the wayside and on bicycles travelling in the citys bylanes. While reports in Wuhan suggest that the coronavirus spread like a wild fire from wet markets, the authorities in the city are still ignorant about the fact. When queried whether the government was taking any measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus from neighbouring states through the import of fish, fisheries minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav told Asian Age that the government is yet to take a decision. However, the minister said that the government would certainly stop imports from August or September. Commissioner of fisheries Dr C Suvarna could not be reached despite multiple attempts to contact her. We have been already taking additional measures to curtail the spread of covid 19. However, we would have a special focus on fish markets and sellers, GHMC commissioner, D S Lokesh Kumar, said. He said that he would immediately hold a review meeting and give necessary instructions to the corporation staff. Interestingly, it was way back in February 2012, that Rs 9.9 crore was sanctioned for construction of four modern fish markets at Begum Bazaar, Domalguda, Nacharam, and Kukatpally with the government asking GHMC to construct them within a year. The National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) had also assured GHMC that it would bear 90 per cent of the construction cost. The NFDB had also released 50 per cent (Rs 4.4 crore) of the amount. Six years have gone by but the corporation is yet to build even one operational fish market. The only fish market for which construction began is in Begum Bazaar which is in its final stages of completion. Recent reports suggest that a national shutdown could be on the cards if the number of South African COVID-19 coronavirus cases continues to increase. Last week, Gauteng Premier David Makhura also warned that a state of national lockdown may be where South Africa is headed if the coronavirus outbreak is not contained. A lockdown may just be where we are all headed and the decision to do so has to be made by our national leadership, said Makhura. We will raise it with the president. We are watching these numbers very closely and we are worried, he said. While a lockdown is an effective way to contain the spread of the virus, Professor Alex van den Heever from the Wits School of Governance highlighted that it should be balanced against the economic impact. Van den Heever said President Cyril Ramaphosa has to consider two things regarding a national lockdown: the health strategy and the economic strategy. Ramaphosa consulted with business leaders on Sunday, which Van den Heever said is necessary to ensure that the health measures do not unnecessarily hurt the business world. Even if we contain the coronavirus outbreak reasonably well, we may not contain the economic consequences of the prevention strategy, he said. He said there is a huge urgency to deal with the economic impact now, as urgent as dealing with the coronavirus containment. He said it is important to deal with containing the spread of the coronavirus and the impact of measures which are put in place at the same time. Softening the blow to businesses and consumers Van den Heever said there are ways to soften the blow to businesses and consumers during this time. He said the immediate focus should be to take pressure off distressed businesses to preserve employment. We do not want people to be laid off just because of a short-term measure equivalent to a month, he said. Van den Heever said the government has large funds available through the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) which are unused. He said these surplus funds need to be deployed in the current situation as a way to boost the economy. He also advised a restructuring of government expenditure on a temporary basis. This can include support through the social grants system. A lot of countries have looked at once-off transfers to support low-income households and other distressed groups, he said. He said these measures should be identified and deployed within the next week. Professor Alex van den Heever interview Now read: National lockdown in South Africa looms by Adam Koffler | Mon, Mar 23rd 12:17pm EDT According to a source, free agent DT Dontari Poe is engaged in talks with the Dallas Cowboys, and could agree to a deal by the end of the day if all goes well. (Ian Rapoport on Twitter) Fantasy Impact: The former 2012 first-round pick out of Memphis played the last two seasons with the Carolina Panthers, after starting his career in Kansas City, playing four years with the Chiefs, and then spending one year in Atlanta. Poe has been known as a run-stuffing DT throughout his career, but in 2019, he also recorded four sacks in just 11 games. Hes got a ton of skill, and would be a huge addition to the Dallas defensive line. Stay tuned for future updates surrounding Poes free agency destination. Huawei is on the search for a Google Play workaround, and the company just might have found a good start to that in a new app called AppSearch. Huawei AppSearch: Huaweis AppGallery extension Huaweis newest app does as its name suggests: it is an app search engine of sorts. It helps Huawei phone users find popular apps they want. The new app isnt an app store. It provides a place where users can search for apps. If a user searches for PayPal, for example, he or she can download the app from either the companys own website or from a third-party site. The new Huawei search app (AppSuche in German) is akin to Google Play in one way. It allows users to search for apps, as Google Plays search box allows. It is an extension of Huaweis own AppGallery. Huaweis app store consists of Huaweis proprietary apps. AppSearch is for those apps that Huawei doesnt provide. The new testing app allows users to find the apps they want. Advertisement AppSearch is in testing in Germany. It exists at the German website zukunftsversprechen, a phrase that means promise of the future. The landing page says that it is one of two apps for those who use Huawei Mobile Services. Huawei AppSearch as legitimate Google Play Store alternative Why is Huawei testing another mobile store app? The reason pertains to the limitations of Huaweis own AppGallery. AppGallery has few of the most popular applications phone users have in Android. AppGallery is Huaweis own app store, but it doesnt offer enough apps to keep users away from illegitimate Google Play app store downloads. If it did, Huawei would not court Google Play developers or offer huge sums of money for AppGallery app development. Advertisement In the last several months, there have been at least two methods to download Google Play apps and services illegally. The first bootleg method is the LZPlay app from Lzplay.net. This app downloads six Google Play apps onto phones but bears a huge permissions list along with it. Finally, it grants remote phone access to an unknown owner in mainland China. The second method, Chat Partner (first announced by Technobaboy), installs Google Play on any phone but requires restoring from a backup image of a phone with Google Mobile Services (GMS). Both invalid workarounds dont accomplish anything. Whether or not Chat Partner is banned in the future, it is still an illegitimate workaround and wont work with certified apps such as Netflix, for example. Advertisement AppSearch grows out of Huawei Ban AppSearch is a result of the Huawei Ban in the US. In May 2019, Huawei was placed on the US Entity List, banned from doing business in the States. Google revoked Huaweis Android license a few days after Trumps official Ban declaration. As a result, Google is unable to do business with Huawei and Huawei cannot use Google Play apps and services. The new app in testing is the Chinese OEMs way of moving forward in the face of its Android license revocation. Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo are also teaming up to challenge Google Play store dominance in Android. - Inclusion determined by Tsinghua University - Chinese Academy of Engineering Knowledge Intelligence Joint Research Center - List of top scholars announced; the number of scholars in the United States is six times that of China and 11 times that of Germany BEIJING, March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Annual AI 2000 Most Influential Scholar List ("AI 2000") named the world's 2000 top-cited research scholars from the fields of artificial intelligence (AI) over the next ten years (2020-2029). Data provided by Tsinghua Aminer academic data system, which tracks and analyzes research results for 250,669 scholars worldwide over the past ten years (2009-2019), covering 140,377 papers, including 43 top conferences and journals. The 2020 AI 2000 Annual List recognizes 200 Most Influential Scholar Award winners and 1800 nominees. The top ten researchers in each of the 20 AI sub-fields were selected and awarded the most influential scholars. The top 11-100 scholars are recognized as AI 2000s Most Influential Scholar Nominees. Some researchers have made outstanding contributions to multiple fields, such as Yoshua Bengio, the Turning Award winner in 2018; and Alex Smola, AWS Machine Learning Director of Amazon. Both ranked as a top ten most influential scholar in four distinct fields. Yang Qiang, professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, is named as the world's most influential scholar in the AAAI/IJCAI fields. At the same time, He Kaiming from Facebook AI Research tops the "field of computer vision" list. AI 2000 scholars are from more than 30 countries, with 1126 hailing from the United States, accounting for 61.4 percent of total names, followed by China, with 174 scholars on the list, accounting for 9.4 percent. Germany ranks No. three with the most scholars in Europe. The number of scholars in other countries is less than 100. One hundred sixty-two scientists from Google are on the AI 2000, 81 from Microsoft and 48 from MIT. Among Chinese organizations, Tsinghua University has made the most contributions, with 24 scholars on the list. The top five German institutions in the AI2000 list are Munich University of Technology to ranking fifth in Robotics with five scholars on the list, the University of Leipzig ranking second in Knowledge Engineering with five scholars on the list, and the University of Stuttgart ranks fourth in visualization with four scholars on the list. Scholars from the United States lead AI impact, with China and Germany following second and third in big gaps. Among all the 2000 researchers, 179 are female, accounting for 9 percent. Female scholars are from 21 countries, with 116, (more than 60 percent), coming from the U.S. Google and Microsoft have ten nominated female scholars, and MIT has nine. Top ten Academic institutions include the University of Washington, Facebook, Stanford University, UC Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon University, Tsinghua University, and Intel Corporation. Top female scholars at Google account for 6.2 percent, which is below the world average of 9.8 percent and Microsoft, which is 12.3 percent. On the other hand, female contributors from MIT and the University of Washington are almost double the international benchmark, reaching more than 12.5 percent. The academic output from male and female scholars has gradually increased in line with age, reaching their peak in the age range of 46 to 50. Male researchers between 26 to 50 publish more papers than female in the same age range. About AMiner AMiner is an academic database and search system developed by Tsinghua University, which indexes more than 270 million publications from 133 million researchers since the 19th century. Operated since 2006, the system has now been visited by more than 10 million independent IP accesses from over 220 countries and regions. About AI 2000 List The AI 2000 Most Influential Scholar Annual List names the world's 2,000 top scholars in the fields of artificial intelligence over the next ten years (2020-2029) in recognition of outstanding technical achievements with lasting contribution and impact. The list is automatically generated and determined by computer algorithms deployed in the AMiner system that tracks and ranks scholars based on citation counts collected by top-venue publications. Annual lists released by AMiner are widely recognized for their influence, credibility and professionalism by world-renowned universities and institutions, including the University of California, Berkeley, Cornell University, Duke University, National University of Singapore. Source: https://www.aminer.cn/ai2000 https://www.aminer.cn/women-in-ai Media Contact: Name :Xiao Mao Tel:0086-17812534308 Email: xiao.mao@aminer.cn Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1136315/Numbers_AI2000_Scholars_Top_10_Countries.jpg Europe is now the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak as the virus continues to spread. New cases in China, where the outbreak began, have started to decline. All nonessential businesses in hard-hit Italy have been ordered to close as the country battles the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the most difficult crisis in our postwar period, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said. Italy recorded nearly 800 deaths from the virus Saturday. There are 53,578 confirmed cases of the virus in Italy, according to Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. Cuba has deployed a group of doctors and nurses to help Italy combat the virus. The European Union Commission has reassured Italy that the countrys debt will not keep it from borrowing money to deal with the virus. In an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera newspaper, EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said, What we all understand is that no member state can face this threat alone. The virus has no borders and the European Union is stronger when we show full solidarity. Spain, meanwhile, is bracing as it anticipates the impact from the virus. The worst is yet to come, the government said Saturday. Spanish officials have warned that the situation could soon overcome the countrys health care system. Spain began a 15-day state of emergency more than a week ago, allowing only essential outings. Spain has 25,496 confirmed cases, according to Johns Hopkins. Germany, another hard-hit country with more than 22,000 cases, is trying to increase the number of intensive care beds, which now total 28,000, by establishing temporary hospitals in hotels, rehabilitation clinics and other facilities. Britain has shut down dining establishments, bars and other leisure businesses in its efforts to bring a halt to the virus. Elsewhere in the world In Africa, cases have emerged in Angola, Eritrea, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked the countrys residents to self-isolate Sunday and millions complied, rendering Indias usually jam-packed thoroughfares nearly empty. Modi asked for the 14-hour lockdown to give workers a chance to sanitize public spaces. Malaysia has called in the army to help police enforce a two-week travel ban. Defense Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said Sunday there was 90% compliance, but 10% is not a small number. Gaza reported its first two virus cases Saturday. Officials say the two are in quarantine. Situation in the US Millions of Americans are under orders from their state and local governments to stay home, venturing out only for essential needs, including trips to pharmacies, supermarkets, and gas stations, and for solo exercise. U.S. lawmakers are attempting to create legislation that could deliver direct payments to workers and businesses affected by the crisis. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted an emergency authorization to Cepheid, a U.S. company, to use its rapid coronavirus tests. The tests, which produce results in 45 minutes, initially will be made available to hospital and emergency rooms, and then to patient care settings such as doctor's offices. The company plans to begin selling the tests at the end of March. Twelve new coronavirus cases have been reported in Gujarat, taking the total number of those infected by the deadly virus in the state to 30, the state health department said on Monday. Out of the 12 cases reported on Monday, five are those of local transmission, while other patients have history of travel to Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, France and the UK, it said. With this, cases in Ahmedabad have gone up to 13, Vadodara-six, Surat-five and Gandhinagar-four, while there is one case each reported from Kutch and Rajkot, the health department said. The state has so far reported one death- of a 67- year-old coronavirus positive patient in Surat on Sunday. He was suffering from ailments like kidney failure, asthma and others. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said the 'Janta curfew' on Sunday was just a token and the coronavirus- affected districts of the state will have to follow the same partial lockdown till March 31. "Sunday's 'Janta curfew' was just a token. It is necessary that people of Gujarat follow this till March 31. People should not come out unnecessarily. We are about to enter the third stage where the virus transmits in communities with multiplying effect. China is in fifth stage, where recovery starts," Rupani said in the state Assembly here. "Till now, we have put five major cities - Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot and Gandhinagar - and the entire Kutch district under lockdown. Now, we are mulling to stop people's movement in all those districts where cases of coronavirus emerge in the coming days. Essential goods will be available to people during the partial lockdown," he said. In his message to the public posted online, Rupani said this was a "decisive stage", and appealed to public to follow the protocol related to partial lockdown in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Gandhinagar and Kutch, from where cases have been reported so far, till March 25. Rupani said the industry bodies have also extended support to the lockdown. "We need not fear coronavirus, but need to fight together against the pandemic," he said. "I once again ask people to remain indoors till March 31. This is the best way to stop the spread of coronavirus. People from other states need to stay here, instead of fleeing to their native places. This will only spread the virus in other places," he said. The chief minister said he has also asked industrialists to ensure that their labourers stay back. "It will be difficult for the authorities to detect the virus in rural areas," he said. Rupani said various industry associations have assured him to shut down their factories till March 31. He also assured BJP MLAs that he will chair a meeting on Monday to take a decision on curtailing the ongoing budget session of the Assembly, scheduled to continue till March 31. The government has banned movement of commercial vehicles on roads in the coronavirus-affected districts. According to officials, no contract carriages, state carriages, taxis and cabs can ply intra-state till March 25 and inter-state till March 31 Prohibitory orders under CrPC Section 144 have also been imposed, banning gathering of more than four people at a public place. Only private and goods vehicles can ply, as well as those delivering essential emergency services or on government duty. The state government has also started a new coronavirus testing laboratory in Vadodara's SSG Hospital, collector Shalini Agarwal said. This will reduce the city's dependence on the laboratory in Ahmedabad. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Beginning on March 14, Apple officially closed all of its stores outside of China, due to the impending effects of the coronavirus. Stores were scheduled to re-open on March 27, but with numbers of people infected with the virus now surging in the US and elsewhere, stores have now been closed until further notice. No one knows if customers are going to be waiting days, weeks, or months for the doors to swing open again. It all depends on the spread of the virus, and how well we all practice social distancing, hand-washing, and self-isolation in order to blunt the curve of the coronavirus. Bad timing What if you took your iPhone in for a repair? It seems like, unfortunately, you had bad timing. According to Business Insider, those who left their Apple devices at an Apple store for fixing had a two-day window during which to pick them up. For those who missed that 48-hour period, too bad. Some may have been able to rush in and get what they needed, while others could have been left out in the cold due to work obligations, family needs or sickness, you name it. Anyways, if this was you, you now may have a lot of waiting to do. Factories Shutdown Many of the factories where Apple products are made are currently shut down. Photo by Daniel Romero on Unsplash Even if the coronavirus had not hit the US with much force, (which is a scenario that is difficult to imagine), the shelves in Apple stores could have been left sitting empty, even with stores remaining open. Why? This is because half of all the iPhones in the world are said to be made in Foxconns iPhone City which is situated in Zhengzhou, China. There, about 350,000 people who work together to assemble the iconic phones. Almost all iPhones are made by Pegatron and Foxconn, which are both Taiwanese-owned electronics manufacturers, and when the coronavirus hit their factories in China, production of the iPhone was shut down along with the closing of all factories. As of the end of February, the factories in China were said to be coming back to life but not everything was yet going at 100%. Can you still make new Apple purchases? Sure, you can. Just, not in person. Here is how. Online Sources for Apple Products Obviously there is Apple inventory sitting around, at least for the moment, waiting to be snatched up. You cannot buy something in person, but Apple products are still available for sale on the Apple website, with fast and free delivery. Potential buyers can also still purchase Apple products on Amazon, but the delivery time may be a bit longer on this site. You can also purchase Apple products online through Best Buy, where you can find Apples newest releases, as well as deals on refurbished Apple products. Walmart is also an Apple seller, with a full range of iPads, iPhones, Apple Watches, Apple TV, iPods and accessories available to consumers. Yes, Apple products are all available at your regular local haunts, and it is almost as if the world is still normal. Almost. TRONDHEIM, Norway, March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Aker Bp Is Updating Its Investment Program and financial framework in order to secure additional financial optionality in response to the high uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 crisis. The main changes to Aker BP's investment program are: Non-sanctioned field development projects are put on hold. For 2020, this represents a capex reduction of 20 percent compared to previous guidance. For 2021-22 the initial estimate is a reduction in capital spend of USD 1 -2 billion Exploration spending is reduced by 20 percent in 2020, with further significant reductions planned for 2021-22 Production costs are reduced to USD 7 -8/boe, down around 20 percent from previous guidance, as all non-critical activities are being postponed and the weaker NOK favourably impacts the cost level The production guidance for 2020 remains unchanged at 205-220 mboepd "Our industry is currently facing an extremely challenging situation. In Aker BP, we have been working systematically over many years to improve efficiency and reduce costs, to build a significant portfolio of profitable investment opportunities, and to strengthen our financial capacity. With the measures we are now undertaking, Aker BP is well prepared to face the challenging market situation, and we have the financial resources to pursue value accretive growth opportunities ahead" says Karl Johnny Hersvik, CEO in Aker BP. Aker BP utilizes the flexibility of its portfolio Aker BP's original spending plan for 2020 was presented at the company's Capital Markets Update in February and consisted of USD 1.5 billion in field developments ("capex"), USD 500 million in exploration activities ("expex") and USD 200 million related to in abandonment ("abex"). Production costs were estimated to USD 10/boe. In response to the current challenging market conditions, Aker BP will utilize the high flexibility of its portfolio to reduce spending by postponing non-sanctioned projects until further notice. The planned capex in 2020 is mainly related to the projects Johan Sverdrup phase II, rfugl phase I and the completion of the Valhall Flank West project. These projects will continue as planned. Approximately 20 percent of the capex is however related to non-sanctioned projects, including the Hod redevelopment project in the Valhall area, and these projects are now put on hold. Consequently, Aker BP expects its 2020 capex to be reduced by 20 percent to approximately USD 1.2 billion. For 2021-22, the company expects capex to drop well below USD 1 billion. Aker BP's original exploration plan for 2020 consisted of 10 exploration wells. In cooperation with its partners, Aker BP has already resolved to postpone two of these wells, and together with other cost reducing measures, the company now forecasts exploration spend of approximately USD 400 million for the year. Further measures are being evaluated, including postponing additional exploration wells. The company is also targeting a 20 percent reduction in production costs and is cancelling or postponing activities that are not necessary to maintain safe and stable operations. This includes a significant reduction in the planned maintenance and modification activities. As a material part of Aker BP's costs are denominated in NOK, the recent weakening of the NOK versus USD contributes to lowering the company's cost base measured in USD. The estimated production cost for 2020 has consequently been reduced to USD 7-8/boe, compared to the previous guidance of USD 10/boe. The planned measures are not expected to have a material impact on the company's production capacity in 2020, and the production guidance of 205-220 mboepd remains unchanged. The company will continue to look for opportunities to reduce cost and improve efficiency across all its activities. Updated guidance for 2020 will be provided at the quarterly presentation in May. The company will also in due course provide the market with an updated version of its long-term plan which was last presented at the Capital Markets Update in February this year. Maintaining a robust balance sheet Under the current challenging market conditions, the main financial priority is to secure the company's financial robustness, to protect its investment grade credit profile, and to secure future financial capacity to pursue value-accretive growth opportunities going forward. Following the successful issuance of USD 1.5 billion in new bonds in January 2020, Aker BP's available cash and undrawn credit facilities amounted to approximately USD 3.9 billion as per 20 March 2020. The company has no major debt maturities in 2020 and 2021. With its existing debt facilities, Aker BP is fully financed for its current investment plans. As part of its risk management policy, Aker BP is using put options to protect its income against significant reductions in oil prices. The company's inventory of oil put options covers approximately 60 percent of the net after tax value of the expected oil production for the first half of 2020 at an average strike price of approximately USD 54 per barrel. The company does not currently hold any longer-dated options. Under the Norwegian petroleum tax system, only the company's net profit is taxable. This significantly reduces the tax burden in periods of low oil prices. As previously communicated, Aker BP expects to pay approximately USD 150 million in taxes during the first half of 2020 related to the fiscal year 2019. At current oil and gas prices, the company does not expect to be in a tax paying position for the fiscal year 2020, implying zero tax payments in the second half of the year. Aker BP's ambition of returning the company's value creation to shareholders through cash dividends remains firm. However, before concluding on dividend distribution in the coming quarters, the Board will make a holistic assessment of all relevant factors, including oil prices, risks enhanced by COVID-19, and impact on the company's balance sheet and liquidity position. Operational response to the COVID-19 situation "The key priorities for Aker BP are the safety of our personnel, the integrity of our operations and the financial robustness of the company, and we are doing what we can to support the society's efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19", says Karl Johnny Hersvik. Aker BP's main operational priority is to keep its personnel safe while maintaining stable production. To minimize the risks related to COVID-19, the company is reducing the activity level and the number of offshore personnel to a minimum. The company has also established additional measures to prevent the COVID-19 infection from reaching its offshore facilities. No cases of COVID-19 infection have been reported from the company's offshore facilities, and so far in 2020, Aker BP's oil and gas production has progressed as planned. Aker BP has mobilized significant resources to monitor, manage and normalize the COVID-19 situation, and is also updating its contingency plans to be prepared in case of an escalation of the situation. CONTACT: Investor contacts: Kjetil Bakken, VP Investor Relations, tel.: +47-91-889-889 Lars Mattis Hanssen, Senior IR Professional, tel.: +47-994-59-460 Media contact: Ole-Johan Faret, Press Spokesman, tel.: +47-402-24-217 This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/aker-bp-asa/r/aker-bp-updates-its-investment-program,c3065777 The following files are available for download: SOURCE Aker BP ASA Stars have been taking to Instagram to show their followers how they are spending their time at home under self-isolation in hopes of not getting COVID-19. And very often they appear makeup free, which is a stark contrast to their red carpet looks. On Monday Julia Roberts was in on the trend as she posted with no paint on for a selfie while in a red floral dress. Others who have done it include Jennifer Lopez and Jessica Alba. Zero paint: On Monday Julia Roberts posed with no paint on for a selfie while in a red floral dress and plenty of jewelry No paint, no problem! Jennifer Lopez was without her usual glam as she danced in Miami The Pretty Woman actress had on no makeup as she wore her black frame prescription glasses and her hair down in soft curls. The star did seem to have a light pink manicure as she held her orange cell phone. Her caption read, '#IStayHomeFor The terrific @petesouza tagged me and Im so glad! During this unique and tender time #IStayHomeFor : Clean look: Jessica Alba left off the eyeshadow and lipstick as she puckered up. The Dark Angel star was doing beauty treatments with her two daughters Helpful lady: Kaley Cuoco of Big Bang Theory was fresh-faced as she posed in a pink plaid top. She said that she was fostering a pet during COVID-19 Working out solo: Teresa Giudice of Real Housewives Of New Jersey was not made up when doing yoga on a pink mat at home Giving glam a break: Vogue model Adriana Lima also went bare faced during her workout 'My Family, For Small Businesses, For all the health care workers fighting around the world, For my amazing 95 year old neighbor. I stay home to be part of the solution. Everyone, stay home. It is the right thing to do. . 'I challenge my beautiful friend Jen @jenniferaniston and my amazing niece Emma @emmaroberts and my remarkable pal @therealaliwentworth to share why they stay home.' Jennifer Lopez was without her usual glam as she danced in Miami. Jessica Alba left off the eyeshadow and lipstick as she puckered up. The Dark Angel star was doing beauty treatments with her two daughters. Kaley Cuoco of Big Bang Theory was fresh-faced as she posed in a pink plaid top. Natural beauty: Cindy Crawford skipped her glam session to go makeup free at home while playing a board game She said that she was fostering a pet during COVID-19. Eva Mendes of Hitch fame had on no makeup when she pulled her hair back and had on prescription glasses. Teresa Giudice of Real Housewives Of New Jersey was not made up when doing yoga on a pink mat at home. Light look: And Hannah Brown of Bachelorette fame was not made up when she posed in a turquoise string bikini by a tow of trees Good work: Bethenny Frankel had on no foundation or blush when she talked about making donations over the weekend; she said she was going to give 500K masks Vogue model Adriana Lima also went bare faced during her workout. And Hannah Brown of Bachelorette fame was not made up when she posed in a turquoise string bikini by a tow of trees. Bethenny Frankel had on no foundation or blush when she talked about making donations over the weekend; she said she was going to give 500K masks. Cindy Crawford skipped her glam session to go makeup free at home while playing a board game. Christy Turlington had on no makeup as she laid back on her sofa at home while in glasses. She has been making needlepoint pillows. Shannen Doherty was makeup-free when she slammed those who are not social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic. The 48-year-old actress was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer in February, three years after going into remission. And she is furious that some people aren't sticking to the guidelines to remain two metres apart from people in public spaces, especially for those who are classed as vulnerable with underlying health conditions like herself. Bath time: Lisa Rinna of RHOBH got into the act too. The siren was seen with no makeup on as she sat in her bathtub Alongside a picture of herself holding up a piece of paper, which has 'I am staying at home (and ranting) for all of us #StayHome' written on it, she wrote on Instagram: 'I am staying home (and ranting) for us ALL. 'For my fellow cancer warriors who fight hard everyday for more time. For my mom. For my family. For my husband. For my mother in law and father in law. For my friends. For my friends kids. For every single one of you.' Dakota Fanning looked great even though she had on no makeup and her nails were not painted. Amanda Seyfried was stripped of products when she took her image. The Mamma Mia! star said she was staying home. Lisa Rinna of RHOBH got into the act too. The siren was seen with no makeup on as she sat in her bathtub. Spanish economic activity slowed down significantly in the week after the government took measures to combat the spread of coronavirus, Economy Minister Nadia Calvino said on Monday. The euro-zones fourth largest economy has been under lockdown since March 14, with all but essential shops such as supermarkets and pharmacies closed. A number of car plants have also halted production. Economic activity, which was dynamic until February, slowed down significantly last week, but there is a relative normality in the food, electricity, gas, water and telecoms industries, Calvino told a news conference on Monday. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez warned last week that the economy was likely to shrink in 2020 because of the effect of the epidemic. As part of a plan to deal with the coronavirus outbreak, the Spanish government has announced a 200 billion euro package to support and help companies. Calvino said the government will on Tuesday release details of credit lines and guarantees available to companies hit by cash flow disruptions. She said the credit lines would be available to companies which had already reported financial difficulties. Banks have been waiting for details before starting to grant loans to companies which have already started to temporarily lay off thousands of employees. Hilary Fannin knows how to pay attention. Her weekly columns are wonderfully distilled observations on aging, friendship, disappointment, endurance, hyperconsumption and, occasionally, her flatulent cat. Combining powerful understatement with fresh tumbles of words, she can be empathetic, wry, nuanced or wildly, hilariously incredulous, depending on whether her subject is Gwyneth Paltrow or an anonymous older woman humiliated on a stranger's whim. A playwright as well as a journalist, Fannin has also written a memoir, Hopscotch, which chronicles a turbulent part of her childhood including the eviction of her family. While her relationship with her extroverted, irresponsible father is at the centre of Hopscotch, her first novel turns the spotlight on mothers, with several of the characters trying and failing to transcend that difficult primary bond. On the surface, The Weight of Love is about a marriage - a "courteous, twitchy marriage" with complicated and painful roots. Moving back and forth between London in 1995 and Ireland in 2018, Fannin fills in the story of a couple whose love for each other is burdened by the memory of someone else. Robin and Ruth meet in their twenties. They've both emigrated from Ireland and are working at a school in Clerkenwell, eking out a living. Fannin is excellent at capturing the specific ways the pair experience London, the mildewed showers and fraught house shares, the simultaneous sense of loneliness and freedom. Just as Robin is about to disclose the depth of his feelings for Ruth, she begins a relationship with his boyhood friend, Joseph, a tormented and self-sabotaging artist. Twenty years later, Robin and Ruth are back home. They're married but their relationship is unravelling; he has had an affair and she has left. Shortly after the rupture, Robin's mother, a German potter who raised him alone in Cork, is taken critically ill. Memory begets memory in The Weight of Love, the novel's non-chronological structure essential to its fabric. Fannin manages the time jumps masterfully, slowly uncovering her characters' shared and individual histories, planting questions and answering them in exactly the right places. When we see certain characters in their youth and know - having already seen their futures - who they'll lose and how lonely they'll become, the effect is quietly devastating. This goes for Robin and Ruth, but for others too. One of Fannin's most inspired choices is to include the point of view of Helen, a long-time friend of the protagonists, in the novel. Helen, once a spirited nurse, has settled for safety and uses food to numb her rage and grief. Embarrassed by her unperceptive husband and worried about her fragile teenage daughter, she is both different and similar to Ruth. Like all of Fannin's characters, Helen is strikingly real - flawed and funny, her likeability enhanced by the fact that we, the readers, are privy to a secret she shares with no one: she loves Robin - who loves Ruth who loved Joseph. Helen's love for Robin is "a private kind of love, a pebble-sized love that you could turn over in your pocket without anyone at all being aware of its weight in your hand." Video of the Day Romantic love in the novel is usually unrequited - or partly requited or belatedly requited - but equally complicated are maternal and filial love. Robin experiences his mother as a claustrophobic force. When he was younger, she'd write messages on the skins of the bananas she put in his lunchbox. Later, he feels "every banana skin he had ever deciphered crawl out of those pungent schoolyard bins to strangle him." Ruth and Helen are endlessly criticised by their mothers ("She's an elephant," Helen's mother tells a doctor when her daughter is twelve), Joseph is obsessed with his, an addict who didn't or couldn't look after him properly and whose neglect does lasting damage. Rhythmic and honed, Fannin's writing is full of subtle layers, often operating on more than one level. Her attentiveness to the possibilities and resonances of individual words is among the novel's many pleasures. Joseph's bedroom is "shipwrecked". Ruth knew "not to puncture the caul of him uninvited". The word caul here reflects Joseph's vulnerability and desire for an intact relationship with his mother as well as Ruth's instinctive understanding of that unmet need in him. The voice of Fannin's columns is audible at times too. Her main characters are knowing and alert, their senses of humour extremely well developed. Even the secondary characters contain multitudes and linger long after the novel ends. "You and I are far less fascinating to them than their flatpacks," Robin's lover says, before they have sex while parked in the back of the IKEA carpark. Wise and beautifully bittersweet, The Weight of Love explores how we can be haunted by our own ghosts and the ghosts of others, by versions of our younger selves and the lives we failed to lead. West Bengal on Sunday announced a partial lockdown from 5 pm on Monday till 27 March midnight, in an attempt to arrest the spread of the viral disease Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to issue necessary instructions to stop all flights coming to the state as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of novel coronavirus. In a letter to the prime minister, Banerjee noted that her government had suspended all inter-state public transport and reduced the number of intra-state buses due to coronavirus threat. "I would request you to kindly make arrangements to issue necessary instructions to stop all flights coming to West Bengal with immediate effect so that the source of spreading infection is effectively contained and the lockdown in the state is implemented in true letter and spirit," Banerjee wrote. Click here to follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak West Bengal on Sunday announced a partial lockdown from 5 pm on Monday till 27 March midnight, in an attempt to arrest the spread of the viral disease. "The government of West Bengal has taken multiple proactive measures to prevent the spread of infection and for upgrading the health infrastructure in the state to address the crisis. We have announced massive critical safety regulation measures from 5 pm today," the chief minister wrote. West Bengal has reported seven COVID-19 positive cases so far. The stairs at the Overlook Beach Park in Mentor-on-the-Lake have been closed for the past several years. Now the deck is closed too. The deck is now closed due to the amount of land we are losing due to erosion, Mayor Dave Eva told the News-Herald in an email. The deck has been stable in the past but now we are being cautious because we may lose the whole structure, stairs and deck at some point in the future. High lake levels have exacerbated erosion concerns along Lake Eries shores. Water levels are well above their long-term monthly average, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. As of March 13, Lake Erie has a mean water level of 573.88 feet, according to Army Corps data. Thats 11 inches higher than it was during the same period last year and 33 inches more than the long-term monthly average. The lake is at record-high levels for the month of March. Last year Lake Erie saw several recording-breaking months, including an all-time record-high mean water level of 574.62 in June, surpassing the record of 574.28 set in 1986. Current U.S. Army Corps projections estimate that the lake will be above Aprils monthly record and right around Mays monthly record-high. During June through August, the lake is projected to be below the record-high levels (all set last year), but remain well-above the long-term monthly averages. Available help Ohio Rep. John Rogers, D-Mentor-on-the-Lake, in February reminded property owners that assistance is available to those affected by the high Lake Erie water levels. Many of the individuals owning property along Lake Eries shoreline have suffered significant erosion damage due to heavy weather and high lake levels, Rogers said. The issue is even more exacerbated when the lake fails to freeze over during our winter months. While I suspect many are aware of the limited assistance made available to them by the state, it is worth a reminder of just what services are available. Programs available to those affected include: Temporary Shore Structure Permits, which are available to coastal property owners, allow them to install emergency shore protection to protect their property from erosion-related damage. Program applications can be found at http://coastal.ohiodnr.gov/tssp. Free on-site Technical Assistance is available to coastal property owners by ODNR coastal engineers to provide recommendations for erosion mitigation. Call the ODNR Office of Coastal Management at 419-626-7980 to speak with a coastal engineer. Coastal Management Assistance Grants are available for coastal planning, habitat restoration, public access, research and water quality improvement projects. Local governments, county and regional planning agencies, universities, school districts, conservancy districts, port authorities and certain non-profit groups are eligible to apply for these competitive awards. More information can be found at http://coastal.ohiodnr.gov/cmagrants. The Coastal Erosion Area Loan Program, which provides low-interest loans for the design and construction of erosion control measures for properties within a designated coastal erosion area. This program is administered by participating counties, not the ODNR. For more information, visit http://coastal.ohiodnr.gov/erosionloans. Special Improvement Districts, or SIDs, which provide local financing to facilitate erosion improvements along Lake Erie. ODNR will work with SIDs to ensure that projects are well-designed and that they minimize adverse impacts to Lake Erie and that appropriate authorizations are obtained when necessary. More information on the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Office of Coastal Management can be found at coastal.ohiodnr.gov. P roperty giant British Land on Monday revealed new rental plans to help restaurants, cafes and bars affected by Covid-19. Speaking to the Evening Standard after the Government told cafes and pubs to close, British Lands chief executive Chris Grigg said affected tenants would be helped. He said: We are going to offer the opportunity for monthly rather than quarterly rents. On a case-by-case basis for smaller businesses we will be offering deferrals. And in some cases there will be rent holidays. Operators have been worried about paying landlords when they have no trade coming in due to closures. Grigg added: What we are trying to do in all cases is to help preserve jobs and businesses. British Land has large London sites including in Paddington and by Liverpool Street station. The company has also doubled its annual donation to charity Shelter to 50,000 to support their helpline, which it said has seen a sharp rise in calls as a result of the virus. Elsewhere today, Scott Parsons, managing director for UK and Italy at Westfields owner Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, said: All of our retailers situations are different and we are in constant liaison with them and will support their needs on an individual basis. He also praised the capital: London is one of the most resilient cities in the world and we have every confidence that our city will bounce back from this truly terrible situation that is affecting every one of us from a personal and business perspective." On March 22, Laos Party General Secretary and President Bounhang Vorachith led a Party, National Assembly and Government delegation to lay wreaths at the museum dedicated to Kaysone Phomvihane the first General Secretary of the LPRP. To mark the day, the countrys media ran articles and broadcast Vorachiths speech, in which he affirmed that the formation of the LPRP was an inevitable outcome of the struggle for national independence and the revolution following a socialist orientation. Over the past 65 years, the party has fulfilled its noble mission, bringing Laos into a new era, he said, calling on the entire Party and people to work with resolve to realise the 10th National Party Congresss resolution, and conduct all-level Party congresses towards the successful organisation of the 11th National Party Congress. South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation commonly known as SAARC nations have joined hands in fighting Coronavirus, Various members of the group have pledged funds to combat the pandemic. This comes after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced an initial contribution of USD 10 million. An association of South Asian nations - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India Maldives. Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka - SAARC have announced their contributions in fighting Coronavirus. The contribution kicked off with Prime Minister Modi pledging fund and calling for cooperation. On 15 March, heads of all member countries except Pakistan discussed the situation with Prime Minister through a video conference meeting. In that meet, PM Modi was the first to take initiative and announce India's contribution in dealing with the crisis. READ | SAARC Disaster Management Centre Launches Website To Share Info On Coronavirus SAARC Nations make generous contributions India's pledge to battle corona was a contribution made voluntarily and was not an obligation. However, other member countries have followed India's footsteps and loosened their purse strings. Latest to have announced funding is Bangladesh. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government has announced USD 1.5 million to get a note of appreciation from PM Modi. Grateful to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh for announcing $ 1.5 million as contribution to the COVID-19 Emergency Fund. Through our solidarity and working together, we will overcome challenges posed by COVID-19. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 23, 2020 READ | Emergency SAARC Fund Proposed By PM Modi Operationalised: MEA He also thanked Sri Lanka for making a similar announcement. ''Sincerely thank President of Sri Lanka @GotabayaR for contributing $ 5 million to the SAARC COVID-19 Emergency Fund. Our cooperation will go a long way in fighting this disease effectively'' tweeted the Indian Prime Minister. He also thanked the Afghan government for their contribution. Thank you Afghanistan, for contributing $ 1 Million to the COVID-19 Emergency Fund in solidarity with our South Asian neighborhood. Tashakkur President @ashrafghani. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 23, 2020 Countries like Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives have already announced their contributions to the SAARC Corona Fund. However, Pakistan has not pledged any fund for the same. In fact, during the SAARC leaders' video conference meet, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was missing. He was represented by his special adviser Zafar Mirza. READ | Bangladesh Pledges USD 1.5 Mn To SAARC COVID-19 Emergency Fund READ | Afghanistan, Maldives Pledge $1.2 Million To SAARC Coronavirus Emergency Fund Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 20:29:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- As China has basically contained the spread of the novel coronavirus after bold and arduous efforts, more Chinese physicians and enterprises are ready to use their experiences and technology to help other parts of the world in diagnosing, treating and containing the epidemic. At a video conference late Sunday, 13 senior doctors from the Xiangya School of Medicine of Central South University in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province, communicated with the experts from the Yale School of Medicine, the United States. The COVID-19 diagnosis, the arrangement of fever clinic department and its infection control, staff training, clinical tests, basic research and other aspects were elaborated, with questions raised by Yale experts on epidemic control, therapeutic drugs and patient rehabilitation answered in the conference that lasted nearly three hours. "The current epidemic is not only a challenge to China and the United States but also the world," said Chen Xiang, vice president of Central South University, adding that Xiangya will further deepen international cooperation and contribute to the global fight. The National Health Commission said Monday no new domestically transmitted cases of the COVID-19 were reported on the Chinese mainland on Sunday. Among the overall confirmed cases of 81,093 by Sunday, 72,703 had been discharged from hospital after recovery. On Saturday, doctors from the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang Province, held a video meeting with experts of the Ministry of Health of Argentina, the fourth such conference the hospital held within 10 days, following those with Britain, the United States and Italy. "One thing that we keep emphasizing is early diagnosis and early quarantine. Those in the incubation period can also pass on the virus to others who do not wear masks," said Liang Tingbo, Party chief and a senior director of the hospital. The hospital has taken in over 100 COVID-19 patients between the ages of 13 and 96, most of whom were in serious or critical conditions. So far, the hospital has seen zero deaths and zero infections among the medics. At the conference, doctors of the hospital answered questions about the treatment programs, prescription differences between patients with mild symptoms and those in serious conditions, as well as the criteria for curing and discharging a case. The hospital and many other Chinese hospitals have joined an "Internet hospital," through which foreign hospitals are able to reach them, consulting any cases they have encountered. "No country or individual can handle such a global pandemic all by themselves. We are willing to communicate with our foreign counterparts at any time in any way," said Liang. In Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, hi-tech company Neusoft Medical Systems Sunday connected medical experts from Beijing and Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, with those from two Kenyan hospitals via its "cloud imaging" platform. Song Lan, a radiologist with Peking Union Medical College Hospital, analyzed in English the CT scan image of the lungs of a COVID-19 patient in Kenya, which was transmitted in real-time on the screen by doctors at the Kenyatta National Hospital. With the help of AI screening and diagnostic system "Huoyan," which was developed specifically for COVID-19 diagnosis, Song was able to pinpoint several suspicious lesions in the patient's lungs captured in the image. "The system can automatically recognize suspicious lesion areas in the image and conduct quantitative processing, significantly improving the efficiency of screening and diagnosis," she said. Wu Shaojie, president of the company, said through the diagnostic platform, doctors in Kenya could transmit CT scan images at any time to consult the opinions of their Chinese counterparts. Mutahi Kagwe, Cabinet Secretary for Health of Kenya who also joined the conference, said the valuable experience of Chinese doctors and the advanced medical technology would save a lot of trouble for them in dealing with the epidemic. "The exchange of ideas between Chinese and Kenyan medical experts will help us minimize the negative effects of the virus," he said. Central banks deploy record sums to break financial logjam, but may need more FILE PHOTO: A trader wears a mask as he works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as the building prepares to close indefinitely due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in New York By Tommy Wilkes and Lawrence Delevingne LONDON/BOSTON (Reuters) - Central banks have offered trillions of dollars of support to markets in recent days to keep them from freezing up, as investors worried about the economic damage from the coronavirus and made a chaotic dash for the exits. While the intervention helped bring back some order to markets, policymakers may need to do more. Investors, economists and bank strategists said they expect policymakers will have to step in with more support in the coming days to prop up both markets and the real economy - companies losing customers and workers thrown out of jobs. There is a limit for now to how effective authorities can be, however, some said. Before investors calm down, these observers said, they will need to see a peak in new virus infection rates, an improvement in hospitals ability to cope with an influx of patients, and an end in sight to the economy-killing quarantines, travel bans and other restrictions being imposed to save lives. "The best that economic and financial policymakers can do right now is limit the damage. They cannot turn the economy around because this is a health issue, not an economic or financial issue," said Mohamed El-Erian, chief economic advisor to the German insurer Allianz SE < ALVG.DE>, in an interview. Estimates of the sums required to keep Corporate America afloat are reaching eye-popping levels. Ray Dalio, founder of hedge fund giant Bridgewater Associates LP, estimates the financial losses for U.S. companies from the coronavirus-induced slump could be about $4 trillion. Thats nearly one-fifth the value of Americas total economic output last year. The government will have to come to the rescue, Dalio told Reuters via email, backed by a central bank that prints money. "What needs to happen is very similar to what happened in the war years, but without the fighting," Dalio said. Governments ramped up their support quickly in recent days as it became clear that the scale of the hit from the virus is likely to be huge. Last week was the worst since 2008 for the U.S. stock market. Less visible is the stress building up in other markets that keep the real economy humming, such as the markets where companies go to raise short term cash to pay staff and where cities go to raise money for roads and schools. Many central bank measures have been aimed at reducing the strain in those areas. Story continues These steps have ranged from slashing interest rates and ramping up bond buying programs to the Federal Reserves resurrection of funding facilities from the financial-crisis era. These steps have eased the strain, but analysts and investors said they didnt go far enough, and new areas of concern have emerged. One success: The Fed has made it easier for other nations central banks to obtain dollars to meet runaway global demand for the greenback. As the Fed acted, a key measure of the premium investors pay to access the U.S. currency fell to its lowest level since March 3. The measure, known as the euro-dollar swap spread, fell to less than 4 basis points, or 0.04%, on Friday after going as wide as 86 basis points on Monday. But in a sign that the thirst for dollars globally remained unsatiated, the U.S. currency remained strong. A spokesman for the Fed declined to comment on a request sent Sunday evening. Traders also complained during the week about problems trading U.S. government bonds and other kinds of debt amid large price swings. There has been a shortage of buyers despite the Fed providing more funding and purchasing some types of assets. Yields continued to rise in municipal debt markets, for example, where the Feds support was limited to short-term debt and highly rated issuers. Yields rise when bond prices fall. In commercial paper markets, where companies go to access short-term funding, the Fed launched on Tuesday a new facility that buys commercial paper from highly rated companies. It helped, said Blake Gwinn, a strategist at NatWest Markets Plc, but the borrowing costs were higher than expected and the facility was too limited in targeting the strongest borrowers. In a research note Friday, he wrote that without significant changes, the program would not do much to unclog the commercial paper market. Gwinn, a former trader for the New York Federal Reserve, said the central bank should become a direct buyer of clogged assets, rather than merely providing funding and hoping that banks and other players will do the heavy lifting. Some analysts and industry sources argued for loosening of bank regulations which, in their view, are restricting liquidity - the ability to easily buy and sell assets. Suspending these rules, they argue, will make it easier for banks to step in as market makers and lenders in a bigger way. The next crucial step in aiding liquidity will be to ease bank regulatory constraints, TD Securities strategists wrote in a note. HIGH VOLATILITY One sign that the measures so far are insufficient: persistent volatility in markets. Volatility - large ups and downs in asset prices - is at extreme levels, as measured through indicators such as the market fear gauge <.VIX> in stocks and the Deutsche Bank Currency Volatility Index <.DBCVIX> in currencies. High levels of volatility have forced funds and banks to sell their positions or step back from market-making, the all-important role of go-between in big trades, as they try to keep the amount of risk in their portfolios in check, bank strategists said. That, in turn, has led to more sellers than buyers, resulting in gaps between bid and offer prices of assets, which exacerbates market volatility. Some of the measures taken by the Fed - such as buying bonds and lending money to banks so they can step in as buyers for some of these assets - are aimed at ending that logjam. But these steps have not managed to soothe the markets. One example is the market for Treasury bonds, one of the world's most liquid assets. Prices continued swinging sharply last week. In normal times, Treasury yields move a few basis points, or hundredths of a percent. The 10-year Treasury saw a 43-basis-point swing in yield on Friday, versus a swing of about 27 points on Wednesday and Thursday. Another concern for central banks that is gaining more urgency: corporate credit. U.S. and European corporate debt markets have seized up, with markets for new issuance of bonds virtually shut and spreads spiking in secondary markets. The costs that companies pay to borrow in bond markets have surged to multi-year highs and remain highly elevated despite the central bank moves. Adding to the stress, ratings agencies have started downgrading companies as the revenue squeeze gets worse. Allianz's El-Erian said he suspected that a coordinated U.S. Treasury and Fed attempt is in the works to counter market failures in areas U.S. authorities have not yet targeted, such as the market for corporate credit. That intervention, he predicted, would be made "over the next few days, not even weeks." (Additional reporting by Ritvik Carvalho and Sujata Rao in London, and Megan Davies and Jessica DiNapoli in New York.; Editing by Paritosh Bansal, Mike Williams and Edward Tobin) Amidst coronavirus outbreak, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, Kia Motors and BMW on Monday announced temporarily suspension of production activities at their respective manufacturing facilities in the country. Hyundai Motor India, Renault and General Motors, too, decided to halt manufacturing in order to contain the contagious disease. Similarly, Suzuki Motor Gujarat, which manufactures cars on contract basis for Maruti Suzuki India, also announced suspension of production at its Gujarat-based plant to check the spread ofCOVID-19. Kia, Hyundai, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) and Renault said they were halting production till further notice, while BMW said it is suspending manufacturing till March 31, 2020. "In view of the unprecedented situation arising out of the spread of COVID-19 and keeping in mind the safety and well-being of all our consumers, employees, workers, partners, and associates pan India, the company has decided to suspend all its operations with immediate effect," Kia Motors India said in a statement. With this, the company's manufacturing facility in Anantapur (Andhra Pradesh) and company office premises will stop functioning until further notice, it added. Hyundai said it has decided to halt production at its Chennai plant, while TKM has put brakes on manufacturing at its Bidadi facility in Karnataka. "The company will be taking the preventive counter-measure of suspending its manufacturing operations at the Chennai facility from March 23 till further notice to stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) - a global pandemic," Hyundai Motor India said. TKM said that keeping the safety of employees as the top priority, the company has voluntarily decided to temporarily halt production in its plant in Bidadi, Karnataka till further announcement. Similarly, BMW Group India said local production at its Chennai plant has been stopped till March 31, 2020. French car maker Renault said it has also temporarily suspended production at its Alliance manufacturing facility, Renault Nissan Automotive India Private Ltd (RNAIPL) in Chennai. General Motors said it has suspended production at its Talegaon manufacturing facility in Maharashtra from March 21 to March 31 in support of government efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. On Sunday, Maruti Suzuki India, Honda Cars, Mahindra & Mahindra and Fiat had announced a temporary halt in manufacturing operations at their respective facilities. In two-wheeler segment, TVS Motor Company said on Monday that it has decided to halt all manufacturing operations at its plants in India and Indonesia till further notice. Bajaj Auto also announced suspension of production activities at its manufacturing facilities. Similarly, India Yamaha Motor said it has taken preventive counter-measure of suspending its manufacturing operations at its facilities in Chennai, Surajpur (Uttar Pradesh) and Faridabad (Haryana) till March 31, 2020. Already, Hero MotoCorp, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India and Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd (SMIPL) have suspended production at their manufacturing plants. The suspension is in view of precautionary measures taken in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and in line with the state governments' directives, the companies have said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (Natural News) The problem with authoritarian countries is that you can never get a straight answer from the governments who run them, and thats a huge problem when responsible nations are trying to deal with a budding humanitarian crisis. For weeks after the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) began spreading rapidly through Chinas population, the Communist government refused to put out accurate information about the scope of the outbreak and other vitally important details like its mortality rate. Only by studying other indicators, for instance, could analysts figure out that China was faking productivity numbers to make it seem like most of its population was still at work churning out the worlds goods. Another sign that China was fudging about official casualty rates: Government officials underreported illnesses and deaths in an attempt to fool the world (and their own people) into believing they had everything under control. Now, it seems, another tyrannical regime Iran could be suffering similar casualty rates and underreporting them. The Epoch Times noted Thursday that Tehran reported 75 people had died from COVID-19 over a 24-hour period, which brought the countrys official death toll to 429. The paper noted: Kianoush Jahanpour, a spokesman for Irans health agency, said that 10,075 people have been infected with the new coronavirus in the country, with 3,276 recoveries overall, according to the state-run IRNA. The 75 deaths represent the highest daily death toll in three weeks since Iran announced its first deaths from the outbreak in February. In the past 24 hours, 1,075 people have been infected with COVID-19 bringing the total number of infected people to 10,075 cases, Jahanpour said in a news conference, according to AFP news agency. Seventy-five people hospitalized in the past few days have lost their lives and today a total of 429 infected people are no longer with us, he added. The regime has every incentive to lie The coronavirus outbreak in Iran has become the deadliest outside of China, leading many analysts to believe that it could actually be much worse that the Iranian regime is reporting. We already know that the Iranian government in recent months has faced internal unrest on levels not seen in a decade. The New York Times reported Dec. 1 that the unrest became so pervasive and widespread that in order to survive, the regime implemented a brutal crackdown. What started as a protest over a surprise increase in gasoline prices turned into widespread demonstrations met with a systematic repression that left at least 180 people dead, the paper reported. Prices increased 50 percent overnight, which led to massive protests and calls for the government, which is led by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to be deposed. Witness accounts reported that government forces opened fire on unarmed demonstrators of mostly young, unemployed or underemployed men between the ages of 19 and 26. The gas price increase was no doubt tied to crushing economic sanctions placed on the Iranians by the Trump administration over the regimes continuing push to develop nuclear weapons. But whatever the reason, the fact is, it is becoming more and more obvious that the regime is losing its grip. Add to this unrest a massive viral outbreak that the government is incapable of handling, and thats a recipe for regime change. So it would make sense that the Iranian regime would not only lie about the effects of the virus to the world, but also its own people. Plus, there is this: Even with a higher-than-average mortality rate, coronavirus deaths are a fraction of illnesses. If the Iranians have already officially experienced a high number of deaths, it makes sense that they are experiencing a high number of infections as well. Sources include: NYTimes.com TheEpochTimes.com NaturalNews.com Quarantine has introduced a whole lot of hardships into people's lives and for some, that means no longer stopping by Starbucks every morning to feed an iced coffee habit. TV writer Gary Janetti, 54, has been craving his daily Starbucks order, a particular preparation of a Grande Iced Caffe Mocha, with almond milk, no whipped cream, and only two pumps of mocha syrup. But while California has him stuck at home, his husband Brad Goreski, 42, has been playing substitute barista, trying his best to replicate Gary's go-to drink and updating followers with daily 'Bradbucks' videos. Stuck home: Gary Janetti has a very particular Starbucks order, but hasn't been able to get it during the coronavirus outbreak At your service! His husband, stylist Brad Goreski, has been trying to recreate it for him Taste test: Every day, the couple do a taste test, with Gary sampling Brad's creations on video Gary's drink is familiar to fans. Last summer, Brad posted several times about Gary's drink order, and fans began calling it The Gary. Now that the couple is home for the foreseeable future, Brad is working hard to make the drink perfectly at home. Brad first attempted the drink on March 16, writing on Instagram: 'The Gary self isolation edition. Bradbucks is now open for business.' In the video, he pretends to take Gary's order, then makes it with espresso pods, almond milk, and chocolate syrup. There's quite a bit of discussion about how, exactly, to put these ingredients together: What is the right amount of syrup? What order to the ingredients go into the cup? How much ice is enough? Longtime loves: Brad and Gary married in December 2017 after 16 years together Trial and error: For a week now, Brad has been making the ice mocha at home, tweaking the recipe and taking suggestions from commenters Practice makes perfect: Gary has commented on the progress, noting improvements over the first couple of attempts On the first try, Brad put in just a little syrup, followed my almond milk, ice, and espresso. 'I like it,' Gary says upon tasting it.. 'It doesn't need anything more. It's good. It doesn't taste the same, though. It tastes different, but I like it.' Brad tried again on day two, this time mixing more syrup in with the espresso first, then adding milk and ice. Gary liked it better this time, but still thought it could be improved, asking if Brad could get Starbucks-brand espresso pods and the exact almond milk the chain uses. As Brad continued to share videos, baristas chimed in with their tips, which Brad applied. Helping hand: Even the couple's dog joined in the videos Custom: Gary likes his drink to be made with almond milk, just the right amount of syrup, and no whipped cream Cute! The two are also pretending to be a real customer and barista getting to know each other On day three, Gary liked it even more, and day four was the 'best one yet by, like, a lot.' On day five, Gary gave his husband a tip, putting a $5 bill in a container on the counter. On day seven, Gary got a free drink for his birthday. The two also roleplay in the video, pretending that Brad is a real barista and Gary an actual customer. Instagrammers have been loving the video, commenting with glee and even sharing their own videos as they try to make their own version of 'The Gary' at home. Brad and Gary married in December 2017 after 16 years together. The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Central government to look into a plea seeking directions for an increase in the number of testing centres and quarantine centres across the country to tackle the coronavirus pandemic. A bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde asked the Centre to consider the plea, filed by journalist Prashant Tandon and social activist Kunajana Singh. The court asked the petitioners to give representation to the Central government, which will consider the petition. The top court also asked state governments to consider plea as a representation and look into the PIL seeking closure of all places of worship to ensure social distancing. Chief Justice SA Bobde said the court cannot pass orders that it cannot implement and added that it will ask all states to consider the matter. "We are informed that the government has become very active and is taking steps. Everybody is saying the government is acting very responsibly and doing a good job. Let them do their job," CJI Bobde said. The plea also sought directions for setting up temporary hospital beds and facilitating thermal screening at public places. Currently, Centre has notified 52 laboratories set-up across the country to test for coronavirus, while keeping the privately-run laboratories outside the purview of the same. Thereby the SC should direct the UOI to increase the laboratories, the petition said. This comes as at least 415 confirmed cases of coronavirus have been reported in the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-24 03:00:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Governor of Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority Ahmed al-Kholifey (L) and Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan (Rear) attend the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Virtual Meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on March 23, 2020. The G20 finance ministers and central bank governors agreed on Monday during a televised meeting to develop a joint G20 Action Plan in response to the COVID-19, said a statement by the G20 Saudi secretariat. (G20 Saudi Arabia/Handout via Xinhua) RIYADH, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The G20 finance ministers and central bank governors agreed on Monday during a televised meeting to develop a joint G20 Action Plan in response to the COVID-19, said a statement by the G20 Saudi secretariat. Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan opened the meeting by stressing the need to step up joint efforts and act decisively in a coordinated manner to safeguard the stability of the global economic and financial markets, it said. Since the last meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors in February, the global economic outlook has significantly deteriorated and the global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the global economy, he said. He highlighted that the G20 should be ready to undertake further emergency response to address the global crisis and set a vision for the medium- and long-term actions that will foster a rapid recovery in the economy and catalyze the potential for stronger economic growth. Furthermore, G20 finance ministers and governors discussed ways for stepping up coordinated efforts by bilateral and multilateral creditors to address the risks of debt vulnerabilities, especially in low-income countries, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. They also discussed working closely with international financial institutions to support financial stability and alleviate liquidity constraints for emerging markets and developing economies. SAN JOSE (BCN) San Jose's iconic Winchester Mystery House is offering a virtual tour during its novel coronavirus closure. The tour, available free at http://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com/video-tour, will remain available until the house reopens. It's one of the ways the popular tourist stop, which closed to the public on March 12, is reaching out to potential visitors to the sprawling home of Sarah Pardee Winchester, heiress to the Winchester Repeating Arms fortune. Another offer to future visitors is a discount ticket voucher that can be used for any future visit with no blackout dates or restrictions. The vouchers, valid through May 1, 2021, are $26, a $13 discount off the regular price. "For nearly 100 years, passionate caretakers and skilled craftsmen have looked after Sarah's mansion and offered informative tours in order to share her amazing story. We depend on our guests to help us continue her legacy and keep the history and intrigue of the house alive," Winchester Mystery House General Manager Walter Magnuson said in a statement. At 1 p.m. on select days during the closure, staff will do a walkthrough Facebook live stream (available at https://www.facebook.com/winchestermysteryhouse) of the 24,000-square-foot mansion, which saw ongoing construction from 1886 to 1922. In-person flashlight tours at the mansion, planned for two nights in March, have been rescheduled for May 15 and 16. The estate is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is a California Historic State Landmark and San Jose City Landmark. It has hosted tours since 1923. For more details, visit www.winchestermysteryhouse.com. Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. A grandad had his first meeting with his grandson through a closed window amid ongoing advice to socially distance because of the coronavirus. Emma Gall shared the photograph of her brother Micheal holding his newborn son Faolan up to the window at their home in Meath, Ireland, while their father looked on. Gall shared the image on Twitter on Saturday after being sent it by her sister-in-law, saying: Three generations of social distancing as my dad meets his grandson for the first time." She told The Independent: "It is sad that he can't get to hold the baby just yet but we are looking forward to a big cuddle in the (hopefully) near future." The good news is baby Faolan is doing great and oblivious to his new fame, she said. My dad is also doing well and is completely oblivious to his new fame, he wouldnt let me take a picture of him but hes smiling! Gall said that her father knew he couldnt come in and is looking forward to holding the baby soon. The picture has resonated with many people who are finding self-isolation a strain on families unable to see each other in person. One person said: My goodness please look after your Dad with all your might (even if you have to hold him hostage in his shed!) I need to see him holding his first grandchild on the other side of all this." Another said: This is such hell. Thank you for modelling what we need to do to stay safe, but it breaks my heart to see that grandad not being able to hold his grandchild." Another family had a similar experience having to introduce their two children to their new sibling through a hospital window. One woman said she is expecting her first child soon as well: Thank you for posting this. Im expecting my first baby very soon and have been absolutely dreading this. Ireland is currently under a virtual lock down as premier Leo Varadkar banned all mass gatherings, closed schools and universities. In the UK Boris Johnson has now said anyone over the age of 70 should be self-isolating for a period of 12 weeks in a bid to socially shield the most vulnerable people. NHS England has identified 1.5 million of the most at-risk people and told them to stay at home for the next three months. TORRINGTON Starting March 25, public access to all municipal buildings is by appointment only, according to a statement from Mayor Elinor Carbone. We are doing everything that we can to limit the impact of COVID-19 in Torrington Carbone said in the statement. With much attention given to social distancing, small crowd controls, and the Stay Safe, Stay Home campaign, we are taking all the recommended precautions to heart. We know that these are temporary measures, however, we realize that one small change in our daily behaviors will reap a far greater benefit community wide. An accumulating snowfall is expected Monday. A Winter Weather Advisory is issued for Hamilton, Herkimer, Lewis, Oneida, Madison, Otsego, and Chenango Counties. This runs from Monday morning until midnight on Monday. Here's the timeline: Sunday night: Increasing clouds. Low 28. Monday morning: Scattered light snow showers. Upper 20s. Monday afternoon: Snow/rain mix. High 37. Monday evening: Heavy snow. Lower 30s. Monday night: Lingering snow showers. Low 32. Here's the details. Monday morning, the snow begins light and scattered for the Southern Valleys first, then moving into the Mohawk Valley. By the afternoon, the Mohawk Valley will have a rain snow mix. The precipitation will remain as snow for the North country and Southern Valleys with temperatures staying below freezing. Monday evening, the snow becomes widespread and heavy at times. Be careful driving through this with slippery roads expected. Some of the rain could freeze over to ice as we head towards Monday night. The snow eventually ends overnight into Tuesday morning. Overall, here's how much snowfall is possible by the end of Monday: There's nothing good about the coronavirus pandemic, but maybe there can be collateral benefits. For example, it's already forcing people to use the technology that everybody should have embraced already. With legacy systems like email now creaking under the strain of work-from-home edicts, the time has come to leap into the future. We abandoned the fax machine (mostly) and no longer print out emails to read them (I hope). We can all adopt modern office-collaboration technology, too, if senior managers would get on board with technologies they've avoided using for years. The pandemic is forcing people to use the technology that everybody should have embraced already. Credit:Louise Kennerley It's not as though digital collaboration tools are untested novelties. Slack has been around since 2014 and videoconferencing companies like Zoom (2011) and Skype (2003) have been around even longer. FaceTime has been available on iPhones for a decade. Google Docs has been out of beta since 2009. These tools, and others, are beloved by geographically distributed teams for good reason. They're built for precisely the moment in which we face ourselves now: isolated and hobbled by sub-par Wi-Fi speeds and personal laptops with limited memory and processing power. Prisoners to be employed in petrol pumps to be set up by Kerala govt in jails COVID-19: Tihar Jail to release 3,000 prisoners to ease congestion in jails India pti-PTI New Delhi, Mar 23: The Tihar Prison authorities on Monday said they are planning to release around 3,000 prisoners to ease congestion in jails over the coronavirus threat. "We will try to release around 1,500 convicts on parole or furlough, and around the same number (1,500) of undertrial prisoners (on interim-bail) in the coming three to four days to ease congestion in jails in the wake of coronavirus threat," Sandeep Goel, DG (Prisons), said. However, it will not include hardened or dangerous criminals, he said. According to the order, prisoners convicted or charged with offenses having jail term of up to seven years can be given parole. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-23 20:57:43|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close An inbound passenger fills in a health card at the Capital International Airport in Beijing, March 18, 2020. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) A two-pronged prevention and control strategy should be implemented by focusing on both the prevention of imported cases and a rebound in indigenous cases so as to secure the hard-won achievements in the fight against COVID-19, according to the meeting. BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese authorities on Monday deployed measures to guard against imported cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and a rebound in domestically transmitted cases in response to changes in the epidemic situation. A leading group of China's COVID-19 epidemic response convened a meeting on Monday, which was chaired by Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. The meeting called for proactive and orderly resumption of work and production while ensuring effective epidemic prevention and control. "At present, the spread of domestically transmitted epidemic has been basically blocked, but the risks of sporadic cases and regional outbreaks still exist," said a statement issued after the meeting, urging people to remain clear-headed as the global pandemic situation remains complex and severe. A two-pronged prevention and control strategy should be implemented by focusing on both the prevention of imported cases and a rebound in indigenous cases so as to secure the hard-won achievements in the fight against COVID-19, according to the meeting. US Envoy Says Afghan Government, Taliban Discussed Prisoners Swap Via Video Conference Sputnik News 23:27 GMT 22.03.2020 KABUL (Sputnik) - The Afghan government and the radical Taliban* movement have discussed the exchange of prisoners in a rare video call format to pave the way for a broader peace agenda, US Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad said. "Today, the US and Qatar facilitated the first Afghan government to Taliban* technical talks on prisoner releases, via Skype video conferencing", Khalilzad said on Twitter. Khalilzad has long urged the Afghan rivals to proceed with the prisoners' swap as soon as possible, given the rapid spread of COVID-19. "Prisoner releases by both sides is an important step in the peace process, as stated in the US-Taliban agreement. And critical for humanitarian reasons", he said in a thread of follow-up tweets. He further described the discussion as "important, serious, and detailed". Khalilzad's impression was that "everyone clearly understands the coronavirus threat makes prisoner releases that much more urgent". "All sides conveyed their strong commitment to a reduction of violence, intra-Afghan negotiations, and a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire", Khalilzad wrote. The Afghan Security Council has, in turn, confirmed that the two sides had "exchanged views on basic technical measures to create a conducive environment for the release of prisoners". In broader terms, the council said that the reduction of violence, the direct negotiations, and a permanent and extensive ceasefire were discussed during the call. According to these statements, the discussion lasted for some 2.5 hours and a follow-on technical meeting was scheduled to take place within the next two days. On 10 March, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani signed a decree on releasing detained Taliban* prisoners. The US and the Taliban signed a long-awaited peace deal in Doha on 29 February. The agreement envisions complete US and NATO troop withdrawal from Afghanistan within 14 months, and the start of the direct intra-Afghan negotiations on 10 March. *Taliban is a terrorist group banned in Russia Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Florenstine Johnson had heard that a global pandemic was spreading. But the 76-year-old Houstonian also had a funeral to get to. She flew back from the proceedings in Maryland a few days ago, to a city under siege. Now Johnson is praying the decision to go wont cost her a paycheck, let alone her well-being. I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, but also wisdom, she said, so using hand sanitizer. Johnson is one of about 70,000 home health aides across the state, men and women who earn little above minimum wage to care for the elderly and those living with disabilities, among the most vulnerable to severe or fatal reactions to the new coronavirus. CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: Stay informed with accurate reporting you can trust They are not trained medical professionals, but handle essential tasks like cooking, cleaning, bathing, picking up groceries and prescriptions. Sometimes they are the only people a client sees all day. With the virus starting to ravage cities such as Houston and San Antonio, many aides, their employers and the people they care for are struggling with questions like whether they should continue working, whether they can afford not to, and how will their clients get by without them. Many of them are in this field because theyve cared for people most of their lives, said Pat Whitten-Lege, who helps run In-Home Attendant Services, in Houston. So they have good hearts and are bonded to their clients, but theyre also worried about their own families. What are they going to do if they dont get paid? Anxious clients, no masks Aides are now told to monitor their own temperatures before entering homes, and to stop working if they have fevers, coughs, shortness of breath of sore throats symptoms most commonly associated with the virus. Some home health companies have discussed sharing staff if shortages emerge. Many are frantically searching for face masks and other medical protective gear, often to no avail. The No. 1 challenge is trying to give our staff protective gear, said Al Visram, a co-owner of Crescent Home Health, in Houston. Gloves arent really a problem. Masks I cant find. As the crisis deepens, many are worried. Ashley Sherrard, who lives in Kaufman, just east of Dallas, had to turn her sons aide away because her boyfriend is a paramedic. Sherrards son, Walker, has heart and lung defects, as well as an immune deficiency. He has already been hospitalized once this year for pneumonia. Morning Report: Get the top stories on HoustonChronicle.com sent directly to your inbox I think she was a little surprised, but she totally gets it, Sherrard said of the aide, who has also had to stop her second job, as a substitute teacher. She wants to put his health first, because she knows how bad it is when he gets sick. Bernadette Fields, who runs Bernadette Fields Healthcare south of Houston, said one of her aides quit Monday because she was afraid to ride the bus. I had another worker who called me and I said dont panic, Fields said. I just tell them they have to follow protocol and continue doing everything theyre doing. Thats the best thing they can do, wash their hands and sanitize. Johnson, who works for Fields, said she returned to her elderly client earlier this week, though the woman was initially concerned about being exposed to the virus. I reassured her and shes comfortable with it, Johnson said, adding that she will stop working if she develops symptoms. I cant afford it, she said, but I will do it. $10.50 an hour, no paid sick leave Visrams employees dont all have email, making it hard to get them daily updates during the crisis. He and his wife, Rosaura, who run the company together, had planned to host a training at their office but were forced to cancel after the city banned large gatherings. Their administrative staff has been frantically calling aides to make sure they complete an online webinar about enhanced hygiene during the crisis. But with many aides already struggling to make ends meet attendants in Texas earn on average about $10.50 an hour, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, and dont receive benefits there is a strong incentive to continue working even in the face of exposure. The hourly rates are in large part determined by Medicaid. On HoustonChronicle.com: Texas doctors harrowing 8-hour battle to get tested for COVID-19 This is the single largest issue that Im hearing about, said Dennis Borel, who heads the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities. The state last estimated, in 2015, that there were about 1.2 million people receiving care from home health aides. Many of them, Borel said, stake their independence on someone who gets very low pay and doesnt have sick leave. Thats what the big concern is: Are they going to get the same level of attendant care? Are attendants going to feel they need to come to work if theyre sick? That key person, is that person going to be available? Parents and patient advocates are hoping the federal stimulus money announced this week can help relieve the financial burden on aides, most of whom are women and non-white, and that state lawmakers can provide additional relief, such as temporary paid sick leave. Washing hands til they sting Mary Morris, a 76-year-old aide who works for the Visrams, receives a retirement stipend but said this job allows her to depend less on her children for help. As news of the pandemic heightens, Morris is becoming even more devoted to an already stringent routine. She is taking her own temperature each morning, wearing gloves, carrying hand sanitizer and sterilizing her clients room each time she leaves. She has a mask but hasnt worn it yet because shes afraid her client, a woman in her 40s who is recovering from a stroke, wont react well to the change. I had to talk to her about the gloves, Morris said. Shes very sensitive about changes like that. Vera Johnson, a 59-year-old aide who has her own disability, said she cant afford to stop working. Her husband died a few years ago, she has children, and her mother, who has asthma and alzheimers, is now living with her. Her air conditioner also recently stopped working. I find Im washing my hands so much that theyre stinging, Johnson said. Theyre so dry. She said her elderly client loves to walk, and they normally make four laps around her apartment complex. That had to stop. Shes just very scared to go outside, Johnson said. Johnson couldnt talk anymore, though. Her daughter was calling. They needed to go shop for emergency supplies. Open source On March 22, at the checkpoint in Donetsk region, the militants did not allow the OSCE SMM patrols to enter the areas uncontrolled by the Ukrainian government due to quarantine as the OSCE SMM reported. On 21 and 22 March, members of the armed formations at checkpoints in Donetsk region denied all SMM patrols travelling from government-controlled areas passage into non-government-controlled areas, the message said. The OSCE noted that due to these restrictions, the freedom of movement of the mission through the contact line was limited and the SMM patrols could not reach the areas of Donetsk region not controlled by the government and it prevented the fulfillment of the missions mandate. Earlier, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine Heidi Grau said that the number of victims of the conflict in Donbas had increased significantly in the past two weeks. Earlier, the Trilateral contact group for the solution of Donbas conflict (Minsk talks group) agreed on the creation of an advisory board. It will comprise of representatives of Ukraine and self-proclaimed 'republics' of Donbas (ten from each, with the right for decisive vote), Germany, France and the OSCE (one from each, with the right for conciliatory vote). New Delhi/Washington, March 23 : The number of casualties in China due to the novel coronavirus pandemic may be way higher than the official figure that the Chinese Communist Party regime has released. The Xi Jinping government which controls all the news and information, claims that 3,270 people have died and 81,093 infected in China due to COVID-19, which originated in Wuhan city of Hubei province. However, several Chinese civilians have leaked out videos and documents disputing these numbers, with many pointing to the drop in cellphone users by 21 million in the last three months. A Chinese blogger based in New York, Jennifer Zeng posted the official monthly data released on March 19, showing the number of cellphone users decreased from 1.600957 billion to 1.579927 billion in February 2020. Similarly, the number of landline users reduced from 190.83 million to 189.99 million, a drop of 840,000 last month. Compared with the data, which was released on December 18, 2019, for November 2019 data, both cellphone and landline users dropped dramatically. Last year too, for the same month, the number of cell phones had increased by 24.37 million and the number of landline users had gone up by 6.641 million. Zeng insinuated the drop could be due to the closing of accounts due to coronavirus-related deaths. A US-based independent news media run by American Chinese, The Epoch Times, in a detailed report described how cellphones are an indispensable part of life in China due very high level of digitization in every sphere of life controlled by the government. On December 1, 2019, China made facial scans to confirm the identity of the person who registered the phone mandatory. The newspaper quoted the operation data of all three Chinese cellphone carriers, which showed that cellphone accounts increased in December 2019 but dropped steeply since the outbreak of novel coronavirus. China Mobile, the largest carrier in the country, holding about 60 percent of the Chinese cellphone market, gained 3.732 million more accounts in December 2019 after the facial scan requirement, but lost 0.862 million in January 2020 and 7.254 million in February 2020. Similarly, China Telecom, the second-largest carrier, holding about 21 percent of the market, gained 1.18 million users in December 2019, but lost 0.43 million users in January and 5.6 million users in February. China allows each adult to apply for at most five cellphone numbers. The Epoch Times said, since February 10, the majority of Chinese students have been taking online classes with a cellphone number, as schools are closed. Many may have bought new cellphone numbers. China had 288.36 million migrant workers as of April 2019. On March 17 this year, Chinese authorities announced except for Hubei, all provinces reported that more than 90 per cent of their businesses resumed operations. "If both the number of migrant workers and the level of employment are accurate, more than 90 per cent of migrant workers have gone back to work," the newspaper said. The 2020 decrease in landline users may be due to the nationwide quarantine in February, during which small businesses were shut down. The economic slowdown, dislocation of workers caused by shutdowns in China may have also led some people who have an extra cellphone to cancel it. If only 10 per cent of the cellphone accounts were closed due to coronavirus deaths, the death toll would be 2 million, the newspaper said. A comparison with the situation in Italy also suggests the Chinese death toll is significantly underreported. The mortality rate in Italy so far has been nine per cent while in China where a much larger population was exposed to the virus, it is only 4 per cent. Activities in Hubei province, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus seem to contradict the reported death toll in China. The seven funeral homes in the city of Wuhan were reported to be burning bodies 24 hours a day, seven days a week in late January. Hubei Province has used 40 mobile crematoria, each capable of burning five tons of medical waste and bodies a day, since February 16. "The Chinese Communist Party's cover-up and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic," the Epoch Times wrote. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Todrick Hall, left, and West Hollywood Mayor John D'Amico, attend a city-sponsored event at the Abbey bar in 2014. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) For West Hollywood Mayor John D'Amico, who tested positive for the novel coronavirus last week, gratefulness under quarantine looks like this: A loving husband. Two loyal dogs, Dodger and Mr. Big. And a long driveway for solo walks. "I can imagine being stir crazy," D'Amico said. "For now, it's OK. It's OK to slow down and be grateful for the things I do have." The mayor's positive test on March 18 came as city officials were in the midst of aggressive planning to combat the disease's spread. That day, city staffers were ordered to leave work. Facilities were deep-cleaned. City Hall remains closed. A dense, 1.9-square-mile city of 37,000 people, West Hollywood had 31 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus as of Tuesday afternoon, the most per capita in Los Angeles County. Within its large LGBTQ population, some West Hollywood residents heard echoes of the AIDS crisis, when news reports in the 1980s spoke of a mysterious "gay cancer." D'Amico, who is HIV positive and moved to West Hollywood in the early 1980s, told The Times that the new coronavirus "is a different challenge, and we're rising to it." D'Amico said that maybe because West Hollywood has lived through a health crisis before, there's a certain hopeful assumption that is shining through: that people who test positive will live with the new coronavirus, just as they are now with HIV and AIDS. As to how he got the coronavarius? D'Amico said he has a possible idea. The mayor said his husband, Keith Rand, a therapist, had attended a conference of the American Group Psychotherapy Assn. in New York in early March. The event has been tied to at least 22 positive cases, the association said in a statement. Rand got home March 8 and, a few days later, started hearing that people at the conference were reporting being sick, D'Amico said. "We're fairly certain that's how it entered our lives," he said. Story continues D'Amico said that on the afternoon of March 14, a Saturday, as he was working with city staffers on emergency ordinances, he started getting a headache. He figured it was from stress. The next morning, the headache was worse. "I slept bad, I had a tweaked neck and headache," D'Amico said. "On Sunday afternoon, I thought, wait a minute, I'm 56 years old and I've never had a stress headache." By March 16, he had a slight cough and did not go to work. He skipped the City Council meeting. That afternoon, he had a fever. On March 17, he had a fever all day, he said. D'Amico wrote to his doctor, who practices in Mid-Wilshire, and was told to come by the doctor's office, park in the parking lot and leave his headlights on. He got a coronavirus test in the parking lot. That night, D'Amico took cold and flu medication, and his fever broke. He awoke on March 18 with no fever, with quickly-lessening aches and pains. That same day, he got the test result: positive. D'Amico who repeatedly cautioned while describing his symptoms that all cases are different and that he was not giving medical advice said he had been seeing the same doctor since 1994 and was hopeful, even with the diagnosis. "I didn't feel scared, and I don't," D'Amico said. "I feel seen and taken care of. I got sick, and I got better, and hopefully I stay better." D'Amico said he and his husband were under quarantine together. His husband, after initially being unable to obtain a test, was tested late last week, D'Amico said. "I obsessively wash my hands," D'Amico said. "I wash my face twice a day. It really did catch me by surprise." D'Amico said that, right now, he hopes West Hollywood residents know that the city, even though government buildings are shut down and staffers are working remotely, is still a resource. Lisa Belsanti, a West Hollywood spokeswoman, said city officials have schedules "stacked with conference calls and check-ins." The next City Council meeting, on April 6, will be done remotely, she said. "We are still working," she said. "People are still going to get a call back." Belsanti said the city is trying to figure out who is the most vulnerable and to quickly meet their needs. "It's a lot," she said. "As a person, as a parent, as a community member. It's a lot as a public employee. Especially in West Hollywood, the entire reason we became a city [in 1984] was to take care of each other. "We were largely ignored by the world at the beginning of cityhood because of the outbreak of HIV and AIDS. So our gut reaction to this is, how are our community members doing? Do they have enough resources? ... Our hearts are broken because we can't perform the kinds of services we're used to performing." Updates: 2:26 PM, Mar. 24, 2020: This article was updated to increase the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in West Hollywood from 19 as of Monday morning to 31 as of Tuesday afternoon. West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday said he will talk to the Union Health Ministry on the issue of sending more testing kits to the state to fight the coronavirus outbreak. Dhankhar was interacting with prominent doctors at a television programme on COVID-19 outbreak, when a leading cardiologist urged him to seek from the Centre more testing kits for the state. "I will talk to the Union health minister immediately after this programme is over about this issue," the governor said. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has already requested the Centre to send more testing kits to the state, saying the number of such kits presently with the state is inadequate to cope with the situation. "It is not the time to take political mileage, but to act in synergy," Dhankhar said at the programme. He, however, did not elaborate on 'political mileage'. Complimenting the state government's initiative in fighting the menace of coronavirus, Dhankhar said, "The CM is doing a good job. She is in mission mode. The CM is in touch with the PM, I know. The chief secretary is also holding talks with the cabinet secretary. We need to act in synergy, we need to fight the battle together." To reports about a section of people not following the lockdown order, Dhankhar said, "Orders of the West Bengal and central governments should be followed in totality or there will be a great loss.""Those who don't listen to the words of the government have no idea about the inherent danger. I request with folded hands to everyone: please go by the order," he said. Dhankhar said those who are not following the directives of administration "need purification." He said the doctors are playing a leading role as great motivators and they can explain "how a small mistake of 0.1 per cent (of people) can cause harm to a far larger percentage of the population." Dhankhar said while 'social distancing' is needed at this hour "to disconnect the chain of transmission", one should now give stress on "emotional connecting" with people, with family and old friends. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) He was appointed health minister on March 4, 2020. Ukraine's Health Minister Illia Yemets is said to be going to resign today, according to Ukrainian lawmakers. "Health Minister Yemets will announce his resignation today," Member of Parliament representing the Servant of the People parliamentary faction Oleksandr Dubinsky said on Telegram on March 23. Read alsoHealth Minister Yemets: Ukraine enters second phase of war on coronavirus This information was confirmed by MP from Petro Poroshenko's European Solidarity parliamentary faction Oleksiy Honcharenko. "Health Minister Yemets is quitting," he said on Telegram on the same day. As UNIAN reported, Ukraine's parliament appointed Yemets the country's health minister on March 4, 2020. Since 2003, Yemets had been working as director of the state-run Scientific and Practical Medical Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery of Ukraine's Health Ministry. In 2010-2011, he was health minister in Mykola Azarov's government. COVID-19: Govt to start over 350 'kichidi' centres during coronavirus lockdown period in Jharkhand India oi-Madhuri Adnal Ranchi, Mar 23: The Jharkhand government on Monday announced starting more than 350 "khichidi" centres across the state to help the needy people during lockdown period till March 31 in view of corononavirus pandemic. The state govnernment is already running 377 "Dal-Bhat" (rice and pulse) centres since its inception after polls in November-December last year. "More than 350 khichidi centres will start functioning so that the needy can have meals" a CMO release said quoting Chief Minister Hemant Soren here. Funds would be released to assist the labour force in the unorganized sector, he said, adding beneficiaries of the Public Distribution System would get grains for a whole month. He said a dedicated phone number, 181 and Corona War Room will function round-the-clock. The chief minister had announced lockdown in Jharkhand from Monday till March 31 midnight after chairing a high level meeting with the officials on COVID-19 situation on Sunday. Meanwhile the shutdown order is yet to sink fully among the people as citizens were seen gathering at different grocery and other markets to buy esentials. Private vehicles were seen plying normally in the state capital Ranchi. Chief Minister Hemant Soren arrived at the assembly with wearing a preventive mask. Government offices, educational institutions and important places of gathering remained closed. Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of police of different districts have launched awareness campaigns about the importance of lockdown, a preventive measure to stop spread of coronavirus pandemic that is sweeping the world. Giridih Deputy Commissioner Rahul Kumar Sinha went to the famous Jain temple at Giridih districts Madhuban and appealed not to visit the religious place for one month in the wake of coronavirus pandemic. Dumka Sub-divisional officer went around the town, informing the people that section 144 of the CrPC is in force in the wake of coronavirus. Coronavirus positive cases in India rise to 415 Dumka Deputy Commissioner Rajeshwar B. warned shop- owners against any indulgence in black-market. The police have also warned rumour mongers against spreading of fake news on social media platforms, the ight police sources said. The next two-three weeks are crucial over coronavirus, so complete lockdown has been decided. A widespread awareness campaign will be launched, Soren said after Sunday night meeting. Appealing to the people not to give any attention to rumours, the chief minister said he would provide information to the people every evening Except for essential and emergency services, all the government officials and the employees will work from home, but they would not relinquish their headquarters, and if necessary, the heads of the departments can call them to office. Barring the vehicles pressed into hospital services, there is a ban on services of taxi, auto-rickshaw, buses and cycle-rickshaw. Meanwhile, shops, business centres, factory, go- downs, weekly haat, all types of construction works remained closed, officials said. Essential services like banks/ATMs, dairy products and medicine shops will function normally, according to the official notification issued on Sunday said. The decision of the lockdown has been taken under the Prevention of Epidemic Act, 1987, it said. The notification has also banned more than five persons gathering at one place. Asking the people to remain at homes, it said that people who venture out to procure essential materials should maintain social distance as per the guidelines. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, March 23, 2020, 16:38 [IST] Ethan Xue, President, OPPO MEA, said, "We are extremely excited to bring Reno3 Series to the Middle East market. It is the latest masterpiece of our much-loved Reno series. Many cutting-edge imaging technologies and design techniques are perfectly fitted into the Reno3 series, making it a highly competitive and trendy photography smartphone. We are confident that Reno3 series will carry on the Reno legacy by providing its users with a holistic experience, further strengthening our regional market presence, and redefining the way trend-setting elites leverage new-age technology on their smartphones." The Reno3 features MediaTek's latest chip in the Helio P Series. "The OPPO Reno 3 Pro is powered by MediaTek's Helio P95, our newest Helio chipset with our most powerful AI processing engine for 4G smartphones," said Dr Yenchi Lee, Assistant General Manager of MediaTek's wireless business unit. "It delivers unique photography experiences with an array of AI-camera features including enhanced portrait photography, fast, secure facial recognition and full-body movement tracking. For mobile gamers, MediaTek Helio P95 also includes MediaTek HyperEngine gaming technology, for fast, fluid graphics and responsive, uninterrupted gameplay. With our technology and OPPO's innovative devices, we create premium smartphone features and experience consumers expect." 'Clear in Every Shot' Beyond Distance, Lighting and Shaky Footage With its rear 64MP Zoom Quadcam, OPPO Reno3 Pro captures clear images under any life scenarios. Reno3 Pro challenges the restrictions of distance, lighting and shaky footage to deliver photos and videos of outstanding quality. Clear in Near and Far: Reno3 Pro comes with 64MP Zoom Quadcam which includes 64MP Ultra-clear Main Camera, 13MP Telephoto Lens, 8MP Ultra Wide-angle Lens and 2MP Mono Lens. Reno3 Pro can meet the needs for the ultra-wide angle, standard, and telephoto photography, even up to 20x digital zoom to capture magnificence in the distance. The 44MP ultra-clear primary camera delivers high-definition selfies with authentic details. The super high pixel camera captures finer details, making the photos more clear and vivid. Clear in All Lighting Conditions: Reno3 Series empowers users to see more in the dark. For the first time, OPPO has added Ultra Night Mode algorithm in the front cameras. As taking a selfie at night is popular amongst young explorers, Ultra Night Selfie Mode guarantees them to capture clarity and brightness in dim light. Moreover, the Ultra Dark Mode on the Reno3 Series' rear camera makes taking photos in the dark so much easier. Clear in Video Recording: Additionally, Ultra Steady Video has evolved into Ultra Steady Video 2.0 on Reno3 Pro, with two modes for extreme and usual life scenarios respectively. Attitude assessment and compensation are carried out more accurately by Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS). The anti-shake effect, smoothness, and image quality are beyond expectations with a high frame rate of 1080P 60fps on Ultra Steady Video mode and 1080P 30fps on brand new Ultra Steady Video Pro mode. Outstanding Performance with Big Storage and VOOC Flash Charge With 8GB RAM + 256GB ROM and three independent card slots, Reno3 Pro enjoys super-performance setup. Meanwhile, Reno3 Pro has a 30W VOOC Flash Charge 4.0, the fastest and safest charging solution among its peers, enabling the 4025mAh battery to charge up to 50 per cent within 20 minutes. With ColorOS 7, Reno3 Series also offers a significantly improved gaming performance to provide an immersive and smooth gaming experience. Moreover, the Dark Mode creates a superior reading experience in all-day conditions, helping users concentrate more and reducing battery consumption. Reno3 debuts OPPO's proprietary technology-OPPO Screen Image Engine (OSIE)-in the UAE market. This technology will effectively increase image quality, which is also the industry's first visual effect optimization software for short video images. Powered by Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res Audio, Reno3 Series empowers users to enjoy the audio banquet anytime, anywhere, and light up their life. Elegant Design of OPPO Aesthetics with Lightweight Fashion The Reno3 Series is innovated based on OPPO's design language, carrying on delivering and show the lightweight, infinite beauty of technology to users. Inspired by the natural skylights, Reno3 Series comes with two stunning back colours, Auroral Blue and Midnight Black, echoing the beauty of nature. UAE Price and availability OPPO Reno3 Pro is available for pre-order from March 19th 2020 at any OPPO official retailer stores in the UAE or online at OPPO Official Website, and e-commerce partners' stores at Noon and Amazon. Customers who pre-order can collect their phones from March 26th onwards and will be receiving exclusive gifts worth up to AED 499. OPPO Reno3 Pro, with 8GB RAM and 256GB ROM, 64MP Zoom Quadcam, 44MP Dual Front Camera with Ultra Night Selfie Mode, and Super AMOLED Display, will be available from March 26th in the UAE, starting at AED 1,899. OPPO Reno3, with 8GB RAM and 128GB ROM, 48MP Zoom Quadcam, 44MP Front Camera will be available from March 26th in the UAE, starting at AED 1,399. About OPPO OPPO is a leading global technology brand, dedicated to providing products infused with art and innovative technology. Based on the brand elements of leading, young and beautiful, OPPO dedicates to the mission of letting the extraordinary users enjoy the beauty of technology. For the last 10 years, OPPO has focused on manufacturing camera phones, while innovating mobile photography technology breakthroughs. Today, OPPO brings the aesthetics of technology to global consumers through smart devices, ColorOS, and Internet services like OPPO Cloud and OPPO+. OPPO's business covers 40 countries and regions, and with 6 research institutes and 4 R&D centres around the world, as well as an International Design Center in London, providing an excellent smartphone photography experience to more and more young people around the world. About OPPO MEA In 2015, OPPO entered the Egyptian market. In 2016, OPPO set up its Middle East & Africa Sales Center in Cairo. The markets OPPO has entered in the Middle East and Africa including Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Kenya, Nigeria, and the Levant. OPPO set up its factory in Algeria in 2017, which made OPPO the first Chinese brand setting up a factory in North Africa. Based on the insights of local consumers in each country, OPPO MEA has started the progress of localization. And the localization includes all the perspectives towards each market - product localization, to further meet the core needs of users; marketing localization, to better communicate with local young customers; and team localization, to know our local consumers also and provide better service to the consumers. Within the last year, OPPO has started to adjust its product line in the Middle East region precisely. This has included the launch of its flagship OPPO Find X smartphone and the introduction of the OPPO Reno Series. OPPO will continue to evolve its local product line to offer more premium series to consumers in the region. About MediaTek Inc. MediaTek Incorporated (TWSE: 2454) is a global fabless semiconductor company that enables 1.5 billion connected devices a year. We are a market leader in developing innovative systems-on-chip (SoC) for mobile device, home entertainment, connectivity and IoT products. Our dedication to innovation has positioned us as a driving market force in several key technology areas, including highly power-efficient mobile technologies, automotive solutions and a broad range of advanced multimedia products such as smartphones, tablets, digital televisions, 5G, Voice Assistant Devices (VAD) and wearables. MediaTek empowers and inspires people to expand their horizons and achieve their goals through smart technology, more easily and efficiently than ever before. We work with the brands you love to make high technology accessible to everyone, and it drives everything we do. Visit www.mediatek.com for more information. MediaTek : https://www.mediatek.com/ For more information, please contact: Judy Zhu Regional PR Manager OPPO Email: [email protected] SOURCE OPPO SEATTLE Boeing will suspend operations at its Seattle area facilities due to the spread of coronavirus, idling tens of thousands of aerospace workers, the company said Monday. At least 95 people have died from COVID-19 in Washington state, mostly in the Seattle area. Boeing employs about 70,000 people in the region. The company said 32 employees have tested positive for the virus, including 25 in the greater Seattle area. Operations would be reduced beginning Wednesday, Boeing President and CEO Dave Calhoun said in a statement, and production would be suspended for two weeks. "This necessary step protects our employees and the communities where they work and live," he said. Production is continuing at a Boeing plant in South Carolina where Boeing 787 jetliners are assembled. The status of Boeings factory in Gresham was unclear. The company said employees in greater Seattle who can work from home will continue doing so and those who can't - like the tens of thousands of machinists who build airplanes - will receive paid leave. "We will keep our employees, customers and supply chain top of mind as we continue to assess the evolving situation," Calhoun said. "This is an unprecedented time for organizations and communities across the globe." Boeing's shutdown comes after a worker died of COVID-19. The Seattle Times reports that co-workers and a union official confirmed Sunday's death of the man who worked in Everett. The newspaper said the man was an inspector who had worked for Boeing for 27 years. The machinists union said it supported the decision to suspend production, according to a message on its website. Boeing said it was still trying to confirm the employees death. Boeing operates two commercial aviation production facilities in the Seattle area, one in Everett and another in Renton. Its Everett facility, north of Seattle, is the largest building in the world and produces airplanes like the 787 and 777. About 30,000 people work there. Its plant in Renton, south of Seattle, produces the 737 line. About 12,000 work there. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee applauded Boeings decision. Now is a time for bold actions like these," the governor said in a statement. Kevin Lang, bartender at Kostas on Girard Avenue, cleans the bar area in advance of the latest restrictions due to the coronavirus in Philadelphia, PA on March 16, 2020. Read more The city of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) launched the COVID-19 Small Business Relief Fund on Monday, a $9 million-plus grant and loan program to support struggling and barely afloat businesses in the city. The fund is designed to help businesses with less than $5 million in annual revenue meet payroll and save jobs threatened by the spread of the virus. In addition, the city announced it is pushing back the the filing and payment dates for real estate taxes and some business taxes. For commercial and residential property owners unable to pay property tax by March 31, the Department of Revenue has extended the deadline 30 days. The due date for 2020 real estate taxes is now April 30. The deadline to apply for an installment plan to pay 2020 property taxes was also extended to April 30. The city will honor the federal extensions granted to businesses from the IRS for filing and payments until July 15 for the business income and receipts tax and the net profits tax. This policy includes estimated payments. Jessica Calter, a communications executive with PIDC, said the new small-business relief fund will give priority to businesses that have lost more than half their revenue and have a recovery plan and a commitment to retaining their employees "as long as possible. In addition to the $9 million commitment of city and PIDC funds, the Daniel B. and Florence E. Green Foundation donated an additional $250,000. We are acutely aware of the potentially devastating impact that the spread of COVID-19 is having on small businesses in Philadelphia and around the country, Mayor Jim Kenney said. These businesses are the backbone of our citys economy, and this fund will help some of our small businesses survive the COVID-19 crisis while also retaining as many jobs for workers as possible. With this new fund, we are sending a message to entrepreneurs and small-business owners across Philadelphia, and to the many people who rely on these employers for their livelihood, that we will do all that we can to support them during this unprecedented crisis, said Anne Bovaird Nevins, PIDC president. Our team stands ready to put these much-needed resources to work and help as many people as we can as quickly as possible. The new fund will be a tiered program providing targeted support for small businesses. The tiers include: Micro-enterprise grants $5,000 per business for businesses with less than $500,000 in annual revenue. Small-business grants up to $25,000 per business for businesses with annual revenue between $500,000 and $3 million. Small-business zero-Interest loans up to $100,000 per business for businesses with annual revenue between $3 million and $5 million. Philadelphias business community has been severely impacted, and we must do everything in our power to ensure that capital continues to flow to small businesses during this critical time, said Sylvie Gallier Howard, the citys acting commerce director. Acting quickly will help get businesses the funding they need to continue operations and preserve jobs. Businesses can apply for fund assistance at www.phila.gov/COVID-19-business-relief. There is one application for all three tiers of the fund, and it is available in English, Spanish and Chinese. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Once final application materials are received, the decision and disbursement process is expected to take about two weeks, Calter said. The fund offers a mix of new grants and zero-interest loans for eligible businesses. Business owners should complete the online application and will be required to submit some financial information, depending on the program. The PIDC will continue to offer its existing lending programs for small and midsize businesses on flexible terms to provide working capital, pay for contract receivables, refinance high-interest debt, and meet other needs. All applicants to the COVID-19 Small Business Relief Program can also be considered for additional flexible financing from the PIDC. Those with existing loans are also eligible for this relief. Businesses are also eligible to apply for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans and can do so here. The head of one of the countrys largest construction companies has said that the industry is critical and is a service that will have to continue. Michael OFlynn, of OFlynn Construction, told RTE radios Today with Sean ORourke show that the construction industry was working on vital projects such as the building of temporary HSE facilities and the fit-out of testing centres. Beijing Municipality has cut a total of 130 million yuan (about $18 million) in rent for local cultural enterprises in 48 industrial parks, as the city continues to promote the high-quality development of companies in the cultural sector amid the epidemic. Loan renewals, extensions, as well as special subsidies will also be provided to cultural enterprises in need. Since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, Beijing has stepped up its support for industrial parks and enterprises in the cultural sector. Back on Feb. 19, the city introduced 28 favorable policies. In addition, a trial document on the management and assessment of cultural industrial parks amid major public health emergencies was also released recently. The city's publicity department will soon start the assessment work and provide fiscal support for public services in these industrial parks. The Beijing Culture Equity Exchange (BCEE), the city's platform for cultural and financial services, has also put forward several measures in an effort to ensure the smooth running of the relevant application system and customer services. The BCEE has also provided policy advice and launched online events on the financing difficulties facing cultural enterprises. According to Xiang Xudong, vice head of the publicity department for Dongcheng district, a total of 24 million yuan in funding has been issued to support 46 cultural businesses in the district, 35 of which are classed as micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises. The Islamic Republic of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has once again rejected the United States offer to help Tehran control the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Khamenei called the U.S. government "the most vicious enemy of the Islamic Republic," adding "They are lying, brazen, avaricious charlatans, and cruel, merciless terrorists." Meanwhile, he reiterated that the United States has been accused of having created the coronavirus. President Donald Trump and other U.S. official offered to send medical aid to Tehran but various Iranian officials including Khamenei rejected the offer. Speaking in Tehran on Sunday March 22, Khamenei said, "The U.S. government has declared a few times that they are ready to help Iran with medicines to fight the coronavirus outbreak. That's strange. Firstly, based on the words of your own officials, you face shortages in the U.S. So, use what you have for your own patients." He added: "You're accused of having created coronavirus. I don't know how true it is. But when there's such an allegation, can a wise man trust you? You could be giving medicines that spread the virus or cause it to remain [in the country]. Experience shows you cant be trusted and you do such things." Khamenei said in the version aired by the Iranian state TV that the virus may have been partly designed to target Iran." Every year the Supreme Leader delivers his main speech in the religious city of Mashhad, but this year due to the epidemic, he chose to stay in Tehran. Meanwhile as the Iranian Health Ministry has announced the latest figures of the epidemic, Khamenei offered his prayers to the people of the world. "Everyone should observe the guidelines of the National Committee for Combating Corona, God willing. Even religious gatherings have been cancelled in Iran, which is unprecedented in our history. But it's unavoidable. May God remove this disease from all the people of the world," Khamenei's official website quoted him as having said. According to the Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur, the number of COVID-19 patients in Iran has reached 21,638 on Sunday with 1,028 new infections during the past 24 hours including 249 in Tehran where the largest number of patients are. He added that the official Coronavirus death toll in Iran reached 1,685 on Sunday as 129 people affected by the virus died during the past day. He also said that so far 7,913 patients have been discharged from hospitals upon their recovery. Various news sources have challenged the official figures. According to an exclusive report, data gathered by Radio Farda from various national and local media in Iran quoting local authorities and Health Ministry officials indicate that the coronavirus (COVID-19) death toll in the country is at least 660 more than the officially announced tally on March 21. The same report said 47,000 people are infected, more than double the official figure. In another development, as alcohol has been readily available everywhere in Iran as a disinfectant, according to Jahanpur, 244 Iranians have died during recent days because of drinking the wrong kind of alcohol. Jahanpur said that users were misled to believe that drinking alcohol can cure COVID-19. Responding to a question by an ISNA reporter about quarantine, he said the third level of quarantine is being practiced in Iran which includes voluntary self-isolation and closure of workplaces by employers. He added that the next level is imposing martial law which is banned by the Iranian Constitution. So, no more limitations can be imposed on the people's social interactions. The Iranian government resisted imposing quarantines at least where the virus had widely spread. This led to a nation-wide epidemic and a major of criticism by the opposition, some experts and ordinary citizens. In the meantime, Hamid Reza Goudarzi the deputy governor of Tehran announced on Saturday that starting from Sunday all shopping centers in Tehran will be closed and only supermarkets and pharmacies will remain open to serve customers. In another development, the spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, Bahram Qassemi, has confirmed that Doctors Without Borders have sent a chartered flight to Iran to offer medical equipment and set up a makeshift hospital to help Iran fight COVID-19. NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN OR THE UNITED STATES DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN OR THE UNITED STATES OR ANOTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF ANY OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN. (Alesund, 23 March 2020) Hofseth BioCare ASA ("HBC" or the "Company") announces that it has completed a private placement towards Chief Science Officer Dr. Bomi Framroze, through issuance of 3,253,370 new shares, at a price per share of NOK 6.73, which is 2% above the closing price on 20 Friday 2020 (the "Private Placement"). The Private Placement consequently raises approximately NOK 21.9 million in gross proceeds to the Company. The Private Placement is resolved by the board of directors of the Company (the "Board") based on the authorization granted the Board by the general meeting of the Company on 30 August 2019, registered on 5 September 2019. The Company considers the Private Placement beneficial in two respects. Bomi Framroze is an important member of the management of the Company, with competence and experience the Company requires in order to pursue stated strategies and achieve set targets. When Framroze is given the opportunity to subscribe for shares in the Company through the Private Placement, this is in accordance with the Company's practice in terms of incentivizing employees and other contributors to the Company's success. Secondly, the Private Placement will provide the Company with new capital to be used for working capital and general corporate purposes, and which will also serve to strengthen the Company's balance sheet. Dr Bomi Framroze is a discovery research scientist with over 30 years of experience and more than 60 global patents and publications. His expertise in protein and enzyme science has been key to driving HBCs product development and R&D. Central to the production of HBCs products is a proprietary enzyme mix developed by Dr Framroze. When added to fish off-cuts (the remains of the fish after filleting) and mixed with water the enzyme hydrolysis cuts the protein into peptides (protein subunits), leaving the oil and bones untouched producing unprocessed, natural fish oil (OmeGo) and natural, marine collagen/calcium (CalGo). The peptides are then spray dried creating a powder (ProGo) of a multitude of peptides with varying biological effects. These effects are being systematically researched within HBCs R&D programme. Under Dr Framroze, key HBC R&D successes include the successful completion of the clinical trial programme of ProGo for the treatment of iron deficiency anaemia (IDA), preclinical work in collaboration with Stanford University with ProGo for the treatment of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), a serious illness seen in preterm infants, and in vitro data in a phenotype of asthma where a component of the salmon oil has demonstrated a marked anti-inflammatory effect. The clinical trial work of ProGo in IDA has resulted in both the granting of global patents for this clinical benefit and a label application to Health Canada, which is currently under review. If granted, HBC will be the first nutraceutical company to have a non-iron containing claim for the correction and prevention of IDA. Dr Framrozes ongoing work has also identified a fraction of the bioactive peptides that drive much of the benefit in IDA. This provides the potential for HBC to encapsulate the peptides and move more towards a pharmaceutical rather than nutraceutical product. The ongoing research work assessing the benefit of the ProGo peptides in gastrointestinal protection has demonstrated significant activity in a proprietary NEC animal model and work continues to identify the bioactive fraction of peptides driving this benefit. This could potentially enable enhanced dosing and further augmentation of the marked anti-inflammatory effect seen to date. Preclinical work continues in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and, as for NEC, HBC's ultimate aim is to develop the bioactive peptides as a pharmaceutical agent. The Board is of the opinion that the Private Placement complies with the equal treatment obligations under the Norwegian Securities Trading Act and Oslo Brs' Circular no. 2/2014, in particular due to the fact that the Private Placement is directed towards a particular individual who holds a very important position in the Company and that his recent success and continued work on the projects described above is expected to be valuable for the Company and all its stakeholders. Further, the Private Placement involves a relatively limited dilution of existing shareholders, which the Board considers are justifiable when taking into account the expected contribution to the long-term success of the Company that the continued services of Bomi Framroze will contribute to. On this basis, the Board has considered the Private Placement to be in the common interest of the Company and its shareholders. As a consequence of the Private Placement structure, the shareholders' preferential rights were deviated from. For the same reasons the Company will not carry out a repair issue directed towards shareholders that are not offered to participate in the Private Placement. The new shares allocated in the Private Placement will be settled through cash payment, and the new shares shall be delivered as soon as practicable after full payment has been received and the new shares have been registered. Following completion of the Private Placement, Bomi Framroze will directly and indirectly hold 5,000,000 shares in the Company. Following registration of the new share capital pertaining to the Private Placement, the Company will have 329,073,881 shares outstanding, each with a par value of NOK 1. For further information, please contact: Roger Hofseth, CEO of Hofseth BioCare ASA Phone: +47 951 47 941 E-mail: rh@hofseth-as.no James Berger, Head of Investor Relations & Strategy at Hofseth BioCare ASA Phone: +41 799501034 E-mail: jb@hofsethbiocare.no About Hofseth BioCare ASA: HBC is a Norwegian biotech company that develops high-value ingredients and finished products from Norwegian salmon off-cuts. Ingredients are further developed into discovery and pre-clinical studies in multiple clinics and university research labs in several countries. Lead clinical and pre-clinical candidates are development towards a Gastro-Intestinal (GI) Protective Medical Food, Medical Food to help treat age-related Sarcopenia, and future pharmaceutical clinical studies on the treatment of Anemia and NEC-IBS with Salmon Protein Hydrolysate fractions. The company is founded on the core values of sustainability, traceability and optimal utilization of natural resources. Through an innovative hydrolysis technology, HBC can preserve the quality of lipids, proteins and calcium from fresh salmon off-cuts and trimmings. Hofseth BioCare's headquarters are in Alesund, Norway with branches in Oslo, Chicago, Mumbai, Menlo Park and Tokyo. HBC is listed on Oslo Stock Exchange Axess list with ticker "HBC". More information about Hofseth BioCare at www.hofsethbiocare.com This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act Toby Antony By Express News Service KOCHI: Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the actor abduction trial in the state has been postponed to April 7. The Additional Special Sessions Court on Monday decided to postpone the trial procedure after consulting with the prosecutor and counsels of the accused. The court decided to issue a 'stop memo' to all the witnesses to be examined as part of the trial from March 25 to April 7. The court decided to conduct a sitting on April 3 to decide when to restart the trial. The prosecution has been asked to submit a revised witness examination schedule on April 3. The counsels of the accused including actor Dileep did not object to the postponement of the trial. The court had scheduled to examine around 30 witnesses during this period. The trial was posted on March 25, 26, 27, 28, April 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7. As per the earlier schedule, the first phase witness examination was expected to be completed by April 7. In the first phase, as many as 136 witnesses were to be examined. In the second phase, as many as 119 witnesses were to be heard. In November 2019, the Supreme Court had ordered to complete the trial in six months. The prosecution also faces challenges as several witnesses have to travel from other districts to appear at the court. With partial lockdown affecting transportation, several witnesses cannot turn up at the court. Similarly, producing the accused persons who are currently in jail on the days when the trial is held will be another challenge for the court. Though the video-conferencing system is provided to the court, it is yet to be installed and linked with the jails. The court has decided to restrain media from reporting in-camera proceedings as part of the trial in the case. The order was issued in the wake of a petition filed by actor Dileep saying that the statements given by witnesses are being leaked to the media. Harvest House Publishers Enjoying a Season of Top-Selling Books Four Current Titles Recognized as Bestsellers NEWS PROVIDED BY Harvest House March 23, 2020 EUGENE, Ore., March 23, 2020 /Standard Newswire/ -- Harvest House celebrates an outstanding month in March 2020 with four bestselling titles, setting the tone for more successful releases in the rest of 2020. Stop Calling Me Beautiful by Phylicia Masonheimer hit two bestseller lists in its first month, charting at #18 on Publishers Weekly Trade Paper Nonfiction list for the period ending March 2, 2020, and landing a #43 position on ECPA's Christian Bestsellers March 2020 list. Masonheimer shares her journey of transformation, beginning with seeking discipleship and theological understanding and finding that the more you pursue God to better understand Him, the more prepared you are to fulfill your greater purpose. Foundations by Ruth Chou Simons and Troy Simons charted on the Publishers Weekly list as the #13 Hardcover Nonfiction bestseller for the period ending March 16, 2020. This is Ruth Chou Simons' third title in a row to chart on bestselling lists. The Simonses invite parents to guide their families in leaning into God's teachings through Scripture, devotions, and discussion based on 12 key truths about God. The Day Approaching by Amir Tsarfati landed the #21 spot on the Publishers Weekly Trade Paper Nonfiction list, also in the period ending March 16, 2020. Tsarfati's latest title offers a view of the return of Christ from the author's perspective as a Jew who has converted to Christianity. He encourages readers to turn to the Bible alone for truth when seeking signs and clarity about the final days. Beyond Betrayal by Phil Waldrep charted at #21 on ECPA's Christian Bestsellers March 2020 list. Waldrep shares God's solutions to overcoming resentment and not letting past hurts limit future relationships in this latest bestseller. "We consider it an honor to have so many bestselling books on our list," said Bob Hawkins, president of Harvest House Publishers. "It's a real testament to our authors' ability to connect with their readers, and we anticipate continued success with the stellar titles we are publishing in the coming months." New titles coming in Spring/Summer 2020 from Harvest House include In Unison by CCM artist Jeremy Camp and wife Adrienne Camp, Fields of Joy by Ruth Chou Simons, The Connected Parent by Dr. Karyn Purvis and Lisa Qualls, The Power of a Woman's Words by Sharon Jaynes, and Stronger Together, Weaker Apart by Tony Evans. For more information about Harvest House, visit www.harvesthousepublishers.com. About the Publisher Harvest House, a Christian publishing company based in Eugene, Oregon, publishes more than 135 books per year and carries a strong backlist offering more than 1,200 titles. Over 140 million Harvest House books have been sold worldwide through diverse distribution channels, and additional millions have sold in more than 75 different languages. SOURCE Harvest House CONTACT: Jana Burson, 615-429-3900, jana@epic.inc Related Links www.harvesthousepublishers.com Chandigarh, March 23 : With coronavirus cases spiking to seven, Punjab Governor-cum-Administrator of Chandigarh, V.P. Singh Badnore, on Monday decided to impose indefinite curfew as a precaution in the city, starting midnight. The Director General of Police has been asked to enforce the curfew without any relaxation whatsoever. Chandigarh Adviser Manoj Parida said those engaged in maintaining essential services like the police and medical will be issued curfew passes. Employees of the Punjab, Haryana and Central governments will request for passes through their Chief Secretaries only. The Deputy Commissioner will take a call about the issue if passes. Moreover, the relaxation in curfew hours will be given for purchase of essential items in due course. Parida said the administration has tied up with Punjab and Haryana for continuous supply of essential commodities, including oxygen, LPG and petroleum products. It has also been decided to requisition Sood Dharamshala in Sector 22 to function as 125 isolated wards, if necessary. A separate block of the PGIMER has been designated as COVID-19 place for exclusively housing and treating the virus infected patients. The newspaper distributors and hawkers have also been advised to follow hygiene standards and use protective gears for distribution of the papers. The administration has also taken up with the government of India for advance payment of ration money of two months under the Public Distribution System in Chandigarh. It has decided to pay Rs 3,000 to each registered construction worker for loss of their income due to the coronavirus. Further, a round-the-clock control room number 112 has been setup for answering the queries and calls. Advertisement As India expanded its virus-containment measures and halted its train network, the country's lifeblood, the federal government warned Monday of strict legal action for those who flout the rules. The unprecedented shutdown of the country's colossal train network comes as 433 people were today reported to have tested positive for COVID-19, including eight dead. The actual figures are estimated to be far greater. 'Please save yourself, save your family,' Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted in Hindi, calling for states to follow the preventive measures issued by the federal government to contain the spread of the virus. The strict legal action vowed wasn't immediately clear. Other places have simply sent violators home, since alternatives like detention would create crowded conditions where the virus could spread. To contain the outbreak, authorities have gradually started to lock down much of the country of 1.3 billion people, sending stock markets to record lows. Parliament adjourned its session, and India's civil aviation authority banned all commercial flights within India starting Wednesday. International flights were kept from landing from Sunday until at least March 31. Police guard a checkpoint today following Punjab State government order for a complete lockdown till March 31, with the exception of essential services and commodities, amid concerns over the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus in Amritsar People board a crowded bus to return to their cities and villages before the start of the lockdown by West Bengal state government to limit the spreading of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Kolkata People buy limes at the market following the West Bengal's government order of a weeklong lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Kolkata At least 80 districts where cases of infection have been detected are under stringent lockdown. Police and health care were operating, but commercial establishments have closed except for essential services. Banks have asked their customers to switch to online transactions and reduced their office staff. The government has fervently appealed for people to practice social distancing and wash their hands often. But Modi's call for a 14-hour voluntary curfew on Sunday was the first nationwide effort at social isolation practices the World Health Organization believes are critical to slowing the outbreak to a level that doesn't overwhelm health care systems. Lockdowns in other places have lasted at least two weeks, which is believed to be the maximum incubation period of the virus. Streets across India's cities on Sunday were deserted as citizens stayed indoors heeding Modi's call. A deserted New Delhi Railway station during a lockdown amid concerns over the spread of Coronavirus, in New Delhi, India, Monday, March 23 Police personnel patrol an area after Punjab government announced a lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 novel coronavirus in Amritsar on March 23 A bag hangs as people sit in a truck as they return to their cities and villages during lockdown by the authorities to limit the spreading of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in New Delhi Two girls, covering their mouths and noses, gather in a local market to collect vegetables, rations and other essentials for their daily living, in Bangalore Youth from different parts of Assam who are working in different parts of India get their paper work done as they arrive via a special train from Mumbai at Guwhati Railway station in Guwahati, Assam, India, 23 March A man collects water in a plastic bottle at local filling station, in Bangalore Commuters are stopped by policemen at a checkpoint following Punjab State government order for a complete lockdown But key train stations were packed with thousands of migrant workers suddenly out of work and trying to head to their villages, risking carrying the infection to the nation's vast hinterland. Late Sunday, train services were suspended until March 31 while crowds were still waiting to board. The suspension included major long-distance trains and public transit in India's big cities, exempting only freight. The New Delhi Railway Station, usually teeming with activity, was empty on Monday. A thermal screening is done to children at Guwhati Railway station in Guwahati, Assam, India A shop keeper, wearing mask, waits for customers at local market, in Bangalore, India, 23 March 2020 People gather in a local market to collect vegetables, rations and other essential for their daily living, in Bangalore, India India's national railway system totals 67,000 kilometers (42,000 miles) and carries more than 8 billion passengers a year. India has at least 415 active cases of infection with the new coronavirus and seven deaths from COVID-19, the illness it causes. Many were linked to foreign travel, but indigenous spread of the disease is considered inevitable in India, where tens of millions live in dense urban areas with irregular access to clean water. Local trains are parked at Boriwali suburban railway station in Mumbai, India People sit in a truck as they return to their cities and villages during lockdown by the authorities to limit the spreading of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in New Delhi People sit in a truck as they return to their cities and villages during lockdown by the authorities to limit the spreading of coronavirus disease Indian police officers conduct a trial run of the use of drones to announce restrictions, so that citizens stay indoors in Srinagar, Kashmir Commuters are stopped by policemen at a checkpoint following Punjab State government order for a complete lockdown till March 31 Experts have said the number of confirmed cases seemed low for the world's second-most populous country, amid concerns that India is not testing enough people. The bulk of the testing had been aimed at international travelers and their contacts, but in recent days the government has expanded it to people in hospitals with respiratory symptoms such as pneumonia. 'Our biggest challenge is how do we break this chain of transmission,' Lav Agarwal, a senior health ministry official, said at a briefing in New Delhi on Sunday. Like many Americans, I'm deeply concerned about the epidemiological and economic consequences of COVID-19. But this hasn't always been true. For the first six weeks or so of the story from mid-January through the beginning of March I was a coronavirus skeptic, waving away the growing concern and alarm, mildly mocking those who warned of the danger, fretting far more about the threat of overreaction than I was about the virus itself. This began to change once the virus hit Italy hard. After the Lombardy region went into lockdown with fatalities soaring, I changed my view, realizing that this was going to be huge story. Though it still took a few more days for me to grasp just how enormous. When news broke in January about a new pneumonia-like ailment in a Chinese province that I'd never taken note of before, my instinct was to assume that COVID-19 would end up like recent public health emergencies surrounding SARS, H1N1 (swine flu), and Ebola bad in some places around the globe but containable, with measures taken in the U.S. barely having a noticeable effect on my personal life, my anxiety level, or the economic life of the country. Given these recent scares, a blase response seemed reasonable. But that's not the only reason I shrugged. As a pundit and sometime media critic, I frequently note the tendency of journalists, political analysts, and activists to inflate public problems into crises sometimes even elevating them to the level of existential threats that, we are told, put the survival of country or the human species in doubt. Activists do this out of political commitment, hoping the amped-up rhetoric can be used to move public opinion in their direction. Others do it because yelling Fire! in the crowded theater of America's digital public life is one powerful way to get attention and generate clicks. Whatever the motive, I don't trust the hype. When stories about the coronavirus started to proliferate under alarming headlines, my instincts told me to keep my cool, assuming this would turn out to be the thousandth example in recent years of Chicken Littles crying wolf (to mix a couple of pertinent children's fables). Story continues But that, too, is only part of the story. Beyond partisanship and the scramble for profit, a surprisingly large number of people in our public culture appear to enjoy indulging in apocalyptic thinking for its own sake. The right thinks we're hanging by a thread over an abyss of moral and religious relativism that will terminate in totalitarianism. The left sees a series of calamities raining down on us from climate change and related forms of environmental devastation. I'm mildly troubled by the right's nightmare scenario and quite concerned about the left's. But neither strikes me as an existential threat to our way of life, let alone our literal existence. The tendency of both sides to exaggerate our challenges into calamities may point, instead, to a deep-seated, possibly ineradicable craving among overly coddled postmodern men and women for an experience of intense danger. Or maybe it speaks to a longing among people plagued by a nagging sense of meaningless in their lives to read themselves into a Grand Story in which Everything Is At Stake. Whatever its source (or, more likely, mix of many sources), I'm temperamentally inclined to discount such alarmism when it arises which, in the Trump era, is several times a week in large part because I know from the inside how seductive (and self-deceiving) it can be to give oneself over to a well-told story of salvation, redemption, or catastrophe. In a word, I distrust such stories when others tell them because I've been there (and made my own mistakes in judgment) before. And that points to one additional psychological dimension to my original coronavirus skepticism. As a pundit, there is a powerful temptation (enthusiastically embraced by many center-left and center-right Trump critics over the past few years) to remain in a constant state of outraged panic about everything the president does and tweets. I resisted this temptation from the start, writing a series of columns in Trump's first year in which I tried to separate out the normal, the abnormal, from the truly alarming. Over the intervening years, I've sometimes lapsed, allowing myself to give in to indignation and disgust at the president. (Put another way, I've allowed myself to be trolled.) This was especially true on those days when I caught myself believing or hoping that the Mueller report and other investigations of Russia-related machinations would bring down the Trump presidency. In the wake of such efforts failing time and again, most recently with impeachment, I've become more jaded (maybe more cynical) than ever and as a result, more capable of rising above the political fray. But as with all virtues, the effort to achieve Olympian detachment becomes its own vice when taken too far. In this case, the vice is a kind of world-weary knowingness that takes pleasure in and enjoys a sense of superiority by looking down on the fears and suffering of others. This is the allure of what certain ancient skeptics called ataraxia, the contentment that follows from suspending one's opinions between competing options for belief and action. If I'm honest, I evaluated the COVID-19 threat during most of February in something like a pundit's version of this unflappable and untouchable state of mind. It didn't last. My outlook was changed quite rapidly by the steady accumulation of evidence on the other side of the ledger: the virus quickly spread far beyond China, showing it was highly contagious; it began killing large numbers of people in Italy; and sick people there soon began overwhelming hospitals, forcing doctors to make horrible choices about rationing care. These three developments and the possibility of them being replicated in the United States in a matter of weeks pointed to the need for a drastic reevaluation of the situation. The abandonment of my skepticism about the threat posed by the virus has left me greatly worried and plagued by darker doubts. Was it really necessary to put the American and increasingly the world economy through the trauma and destabilization of a sudden stop? Maybe that's what's required to defeat the virus, protect lives, and avoid suffering on an Italian (or worse) scale around the world. The problem is we don't really know how much economic carnage is likely to follow from our actions or how bad the political consequences of that carnage might be. If the world is plunged into its first depression in 90 years, we may come to question the wisdom of what we have done over the past two weeks. But for the moment, we just don't know. Uncertainty skepticism's discontented twin can be very hard to live with. But it's something we're all going to have to get used to. In our present dire circumstances, we simply have no other choice. More stories from theweek.com Trump aides say he's starting to lose his patience with Dr. Anthony Fauci Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick thinks grandparents should be willing to sacrifice their lives to save the economy Olympics officially postponed until 2021 It was love at first bite. Garlicky grilled rib-eye was piled high on a toasted Dong Phuong roll, and soy marinated bites of carrot and cucumber added crunch under gooey melted mozzarella cheese. It doesnt get any better than that. This yakiniku po-boy ($11.95), created by chef Momo Young, formerly was available only at booths at Wednesdays at the Square, French Quarter Festival and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. That was when Ajun Cajun was a mobile kitchen. Now, that sandwich and a slew of other Japanese dishes with hints Cajun cuisine are available from the business more permanent space at the Oak Street address formerly home to Ninja. (Ajun Cajun currently offers its food through delivery apps during city and state restrictions on dine-in service.) Youngs restaurant is a cheery open space, with St. Patricks Day-green walls, overhead party lights, light wooden tables and chairs and a front counter where diners place their orders. Ajun Cajun Where 8433 Oak St., (504) 866-7077; www.ajuncajun.com When Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. how much moderate what works garlic rib-eye po-boy, vegetarian ramen with kale noodles, ginger pork donburi what doesnt over-spiced tataki, lackluster fried chicken check, please Japanese fare with Cajun accents delivers mouth-watering po-boys, savory rice bowls and excellent ramen in Carrollton Young is a longtime New Orleans chef who pushed her way onto the sushi line at Tokyo Sushi on the West Bank in 1983, when sushi rolling was an all-boys club. She later bought Ninja restaurant, where she made a name for herself as an experimental chef. Ajun Cajun followed and became her full-time endeavor. Like a jazz musician improvising on a classic ballad, Young plays with ingredients and textures in ways that surprise and delight diners. Her soft-shell crab po-boy ($15.95) is tempura battered, flash fried and served with pink sauce, a house-made mayonnaise-based sauce that creates waves of umami flavor with every bite. The sauce also tops fried oyster ($14.95), shrimp ($11.95) and catfish ($9.95) po-boys. A vegetarian potato croquette po-boy ($9.95) is a nice riff on the classic french fry sandwich. Besides fried seafood platters, including a generous combo ($19.95) that comes with salad and Cajun fries, the menu offers fried chicken two ways, with spicy sambal ($12.95) and without ($10.95). The dish is better with the pepper sauce the plain flour-coated morsels of chicken thigh were lackluster without spunky personality most of Youngs dishes exude. Chef Michael Gulotta on deciding to close his restaurants MoPho and Maypop during the COVID-19 outbreak Gulotta: 'Theres no way I can make enough money switching to to-go food and catering to pay all of my bills and give my staff what they need to live on.' Then there are straight ahead versions of Japanese favorites, including donburi (rice bowls), yakisoba (pan-fried noodles) and ramen (noodle soup). I loved the creamy vegetarian ramen with kale noodles ($11.95), a bowl of comfort rich with miso flavor, mushrooms, bok choy, bamboo shoots and seaweed, with a smattering of toasted sesame seeds adding a nutty finish. Diners can customize their soup with add ons such as half a seasoned boiled egg ($1), pickled ginger ($.50) and garlicky bean sprouts ($.50). The quintessential Japanese fast food meal, donburi rice bowls, include a winning shogoyaki ($9.95). Tender slices of pork loin boldly flavored with ginger, garlic and soy are served atop short-grained sushi rice, with a scatter of sliced scallions on top. Other options include katsu ($10.95) chunks of paneed pork and oyako ($8.95), chicken and egg simmered in a soy-seasoned broth. Jazz Fest regulars will be happy to see a hefty serving of shrimp yakisoba ($9.95), a stir-fried mix of noodles, vegetables and shrimp. The dish also is offered with pork or chicken or as a combination ($12.95). Bowls of flavorful udon, brimming with thick buckwheat noodles, come with fishcake ($8.95) or beef ($11.95). A side of Cajun tuna tataki ($13.95) was billed as sashimi but arrived thickly cut and dusted with too much Cajun spice, overpowering the tuna. Beers including Sapporo ($4.50), Nigori sake ($14.50), canned bubbly rose and other wine ($8) are available from the bar. On the non-alcoholic side, theres hot and cold green tea and Japanese sodas. There arent many dessert options at many local Japanese restaurants, and Ajun Cajun isnt an exception. Frozen mochi ice cream balls ($3.50) in red bean, green tea and strawberry flavors are it. Instead, diners should order another yakiniku po-boy, which will be ready to eat by the time the craving hits again. By Express News Service VIRUDHUNAGAR: The removal of Minister for Milk and Dairy Development KT Rajenthra Bhalaji from the post of AIADMK Virudhunagar district secretary is no shocker to those in the party. Partymen said they had been expecting this for nearly a month. Though the exact reason for the removal has not been mentioned in the statement, undersigned by Coordinator O Paneerselvam and Joint Coordinator Edappadi K Palaniswami, released on Sunday, speculations are rife among the partymen. A senior partyman said a recent note by intelligence sleuths to Chief Minister on the comments made by Bhalaji about the party high command could be the key reason for his removal. The ministers speeches allegedly inciting violence could also have added fuel to the fire. CPM and Muslim outfits have been raising this allegation against him for some time now. This has also created a sense of dissatisfaction among the minorities, which the party fears might show it in bad light during the upcoming State assembly elections, he said. A functionary, who holds a key post in the district, on request of anonymity, said that everyone in the district knows about the tussle between the minister and Sattur MLA Rajavarman, who is a supporter of Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam. Several party functionaries had launched complaints about the ministers lethargic attitude and cited it as the reason for the backlash faced by the party in the recently held rural local body elections in the districts, he added. The functionary said that though the partymen had been expecting Bhalajis removal from the post for the last two to three weeks, it was the foundation stone laying ceremony of Virudhunagar Medical College Hospital that delayed the decision. Soon after the function, the brutal attack on the Sivakasi-based reporter Karthi and the subsequent naming of Bhalaji in the complaint could have made the partys decision much stronger, he said. Meanwhile, a close aide of Bhalaji said that the minister himself volunteered to quit the post, citing his health condition. Due to the burden of the ministerial work, he requested the high command to relieve him from the party post, they said, adding that the next district secretary will be appointed only after consulting Bhalaji. According to sources, now, two names are being considered for the post - ex-MLA of Sivakasi Balagangadharan and Sattur MLA Rajavaraman. Colombo, March 23 (IANS) Sri Lanka will contribute to the SAARC emergency fund proposed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to combat the coronavirus pandemic in the South Asian region, a Minister said. Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardane told the Daily Mirror newspaper on Sunday that the amount would be announced soon following a Cabinet decision. He said Sri Lanka had communicated this to New Delhi. "We will announce our amount soon. The Cabinet has to do decide it," Gunawardane added. On March 15 month, Modi had rranged a video-conference with the leaders of the SAARC member nations over the pandemic. India has pledged $10 million, Bangladesh $1.5 million, Nepal $1 million, Afghanistan $1 million, the Maldives $200,000 and Bhutan $100,000. --IANS ksk/ On March 7, 1985 the unifying charity song We are the World made its debut. The song, written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, was recorded by the supergroup USA to benefit Africa. The single sold more than 20 million copies with sales totaling $63 million to aid African famine relief. Along with Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson, the song featured Cyndi Lauper, Kenny Rogers, Diana Ross and more than 40 other A-list recording artists. Richie says the songs chorus: Theres a choice were making, were saving our own lives, is on his mind today, not only because of the 35th anniversary, but due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, he told People.com. A version of the song was released 10 years ago to benefit earthquake victims in Haiti. Now, 35 years after the original release, People reports that Richie is contemplating the unity music can bring. (Not to mention the badly needed charity funds.) Richie told People this moment of crisis has made him stop and step back for a wider look. What happened in China, in Europe, it came here. So if we dont save our brothers there, its going to come home. Its all of us. All of us are in this together, he says. Richie said, Two weeks ago, we said we didnt want to do too much [about the song] because this is not the time to sell an anniversary. But the message is so clear. The American Idol judge told People that he has thought about writing a different song since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, But every time I try and write another message, I write those same words, he says. Like many Americans, Richie, 70, is sheltering in place with his loved ones. We are all hunkered down. Family is the key to this. It is the soother, he told People. Read more on PennLive: At the same time the Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered all bars and restaurants to ban dining-in to mitigate the spreading of the novel coronavirus, a new Midland restaurant opened its doors. Poppys Place opened on March 16, in the location formerly known as Annabelles Own, 579 E. Isabella St. The new Italian-themed restaurant serves pizzas, paninis, salads, soups, sandwiches and chicken wings. The new eatery is owned by 23-year-old Jackson Brady, who also owns Jacks Hometown Pizza in Sanford. He said the last couple years have been busy for him, as he took over ownership of Jacks last winter, graduated from Northwood University, got married and has now opened his second restaurant. And the process to opening Poppys Place was quick Brady said it began at the end of January, when the opportunity presented itself. I was kind of thinking about a new place and then this was pretty much turn-key, we just had to do a little decorating, he said about the location. The name Poppys is actually my grandpa, because hes given me a ton of help my whole life. Since opening, Brady said it has been hectic, but the community has supported the business with an influx of takeout orders. He said Jacks Hometown Pizza was actually busier this week than usual. It hasnt been awful yet because everybodys still excited to come in and try new food, he said. Despite opening a new restaurant during an uncertain time, Brady said business has been good and busy so far so good. He's excited to eventually have more of a dine-in crowd, when allowed. He posted to Facebook Friday stating: "Due to the OVERWHELMING support of the community, we will be closing early tonight due to low inventory. We have far exceeded our wildest expectations in our first week of business!!! And will be back with normal hours tomorrow! Brady said they are giving a 5% discount on all orders during the initial time of the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to Poppys Place, a portion of the new building is now dedicated to Re-Cre8ted, a secondhand-antique-type shop owned and operated by Bradys mother, Jamie Brady. Jamie said its a little strange that her son is her landlord, but she loves the opportunity to work alongside him each day, selling her up-cycled items. She said the store motto is a little land of treasures that have been given extra love. She upcycles paints, cleans, fixes, etc. home decor, furniture and other odds and ends, and everything she sells is affordable, under the $100 price range. Poppys Place is open from 10:30 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10:30 a.m to 9:15 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. PR-Inside.com: 2020-03-23 18:14:52 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 437 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TORTOLA, BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS / ACCESSWIRE / March 23, 2020 / Blockchain Holdings Ltd. (the "Company") (CSE:BCX) is pleased to announce that effective at this morning's opening, the common shares of the Company resumed trading.On March 20, 2020, the Company announced it entered into a binding letter of intent effective March 13, 2020 to acquire 100% of the rights and interests in a self-quarantine monitoring technology suite known collectively as "IMSafe" from WiSilica, Inc. TRACEsafe is a global health monitoring product that is currently being used by the Hong Kong government and potentially to other governments and corporations as they fight the global COVID-19 pandemic.For further information, please refer to the Company's press release dated March 20, 2020, which is available under the Company's profile on SEDAR.About Blockchain Holdings Ltd.Blockchain provides investors and fund managers with unique insights into the growing ecosystem of crypto-assets. BCXdata.com captures and aggregates data from different blockchains for use and analysis with a clean and approachable API. With a portfolio of proprietary tools, Blockchain is giving users an institutional-grade analysis package that forms the basis for an extended suite of product offerings in the future.For further information, please contact:Malcolm Burke+1 604 220 2000mpb@ primarycapital.net Alan Tam, CFO+1 604 3777575alantamca@ gmail.com Wayne Lloyd, CEO+1 604 629-9975wayne@ blockchainholdingsltd.com This press release was prepared by management of Blockchain Holdings Ltd., which takes full responsibility for its contents. The Canadian Securities Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved or disapproved the contents of this press release.Statements in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that are based on Blockchain's expectations, estimates and projections regarding its business and the economic environment in which it operates, including with respect to expectations regarding the TRACEsafe assets, the appointment of Dennis Kwan to a leadership role with respect to the TRACEsafe assets, the entering into and completion of a definitive agreement regarding the Transaction and the expected use of proceeds from the Financing. Although Blockchain believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to control or predict. Therefore, outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements and readers should not place undue reliance on such statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and Blockchain undertakes no obligation to update them publicly to reflect new information or the occurrence of future events or circumstances unless otherwise required to do so by law.SOURCE: Blockchain Holdings Ltd. Top-level White House and congressional negotiators continue talks over the now-nearly $2 trillion coronavirus rescue package. Democrats blocked the bill in Sunday's vote, saying it did too much to bail out companies and not enough to help workers. (CNBC) * Sen. Rand Paul tests positive for coronavirus; Sen. Mitt Romney goes into quarantine as a precaution (CNBC) The United States has the third most coronavirus cases in the world, with over 35,000 and 471 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. More than half the U.S. cases are in New York, where the death toll increased to 153. Washington state has the second-most cases, with nearly 2,000 confirmed and 95 deaths. New Jersey, California and Illinois round out the top five states. * Broad testing across the US could be months away, Roche CEO says (CNBC) * New York City and its suburbs account for roughly 5% of global cases (NY Times) President Donald Trump on Sunday activated the National Guard in New York, Washington state and California in order to combat the spread of the coronavirus. New York plans to run a clinical trial, beginning Tuesday, of a treatment regimen of antimalarial hydroxychloroquine and antibiotic azithromycin, a drug cocktail that has shown promise in fighting the coronavirus. (CNBC) * Chase cardholders could have payments deferred, fees waived, credit lines increased if affected by coronavirus (CNBC) Global coronavirus cases topped 343,000, with 14,789 deaths and over 98,800 recoveries. China, where the outbreak started in December, still has the most cases at over 81,400. China's 3,274 deaths are second to Italy's 5,476 deaths. Italy is second in total cases at over 59,100. The U.S., Spain and Germany round out the top five countries. * JetBlue cuts schedule to essential flights as coronavirus spread (CNBC) German Chancellor Angela Merkel went into quarantine over the weekend after contact with a doctor who tested positive for the virus. The German government is set to unveil major stimulus measures. (CNBC) Cisco Systems is committing $225 million to assist in efforts aimed at combating the coronavirus while the rest of Silicon Valley also initiates an investment blitz. BlackRock is committing $50 million in outbreak relief. 3M said it will supply New York and Seattle with a half-million N95 respirator masks to address the ongoing shortage of health-care equipment. Merck said it will supply New York City with a half-million masks. (CNBC) * CVS to hire 50,000 workers, gives bonuses to employees (USA Today) Chinese billionaire and Alibaba founder Jack Ma sent to Africa 5.4 million face masks, over 1 million testing kits, 40,000 sets of protective clothing and 60,000 protective face shields. (CNBC) * US tech CEOs from Tim Cook to Elon Musk pledge to help coronavirus fight with masks and ventilators (CNBC) PG&E has reportedly agreed to plead guilty to felony involuntary manslaughter charges for its role in starting the deadliest wildfire in state history. The company disclosed criminal charges related to its role in sparking 2018 Camp Fire that destroyed the town of Paradise, California. (WSJ) SoftBank reportedly plans to sell up to $41 billion of its assets to buy back shares and redeem debt, in an unprecedented move to combat the tumbling price of its stocks and bonds. Occidental Petroleum (OXY) is near a settlement with activist investor Carl Icahn, according to the Wall Street Journal. Under the proposed deal, two Icahn allies would receive seats on the Occidental board, and a third independent director would be mutually agreed upon by Icahn and Occidental. Business & Finance By Ls Cohen Published: March 23 2020 We asked the fashion mega-influencer and Great Neck native about her rise in the fashion world and her background as a Long Islander. Danielle Bernstein, the Great Neck native and social influencer who started her blog WeWoreWhat to show her former classmates in Wisconsin what the kids were wearing in New York City after she transferred to FIT, grew her online obsession into a fashion empire. Her Instagram page has over 2 million followers, shes got a line of clothing, and just this month she launched her exclusive line with Macys under her own name - already spotted by eagle-eyed fans on social media. Bernstein has been in the fashion game for ten years now and she was one of the first to make a living solely on her personal brand as a social media influencer. She also made the Forbes 30 Under 30 list before she was 25-years-old. Bernstein recently used her platform to appeal to other influencers to help during the coronavirus crisis saying now more than ever we need to use our following for good. Its our responsibility to use our platform for good, she wrote. We caught up with the Long Island native who was born and raised in Great Neck and graduated from Great Neck South High School in 2010. Bernstein says that she never thought of fashion as anything more than a mere shopping habit. But, her friends saw the spark in her. [They] always knew I was destined for a career in fashion - just see my Bat Mitzvah video for proof, she told us. See below for our Q&A with Danielle Bernstein. Photo: WeWoreWhat website. Used with permission. Where did the name "WeWoreWhat" come from for your blog? I had just transferred from the University of Wisconsin-Madison to FIT in New York and was blown away by the difference in how girls dressed for school. I wanted to provide my friends at Wisconsin that daily source of outfit inspiration, so I bought my first camera, taught myself how to use it, and began photographing street style around campus. I chose "WeWoreWhat" because it was 'We' as in the girls in New York City, 'WoreWhat' for what we're wearing. How did you go from fashion influencer to your own fashion line? I began designing because I wanted to create things for myself to have that didn't already exist. I design things that I personally love and want to wear, and hope that my followers love them too. Photo: WeWoreWhat website. Used with permission. What is your biggest platform right now (Instagram?) and do you see that changing to another new platform (ex. TikTok)? What would it take for you to jumbo platforms? Instagram will always be my main platform on social media. I have tried out Youtube and TikTok - I never say never to joining new apps - but I think for now I'll stick to Instagram for now. It seems like influencers (like yourself) have to be models, businesspeople, and fashion designers. Is that hard to juggle? It's definitely a lot of pressure to have millions of people watching my every move and expect me to keep producing content, designing, etc but this is my job and I love what I do, so it comes somewhat naturally. After a big launch, I am already focusing on the next one. Photo: WeWoreWhat website. Used with permission. Favorite food you HAVE to HAVE when you're on Long Island? Anything from Toku or Ginos Pizza chopped salad. Where were some of your favorite places to shop back in the day on Long Island? (Mall, store, etc.) And is there on that you used to love as a kid that you might even be a little embarrassed to admit? I grew up shopping at big department stores like Macy's and Century 21 and also local boutiques in Great Neck like Infinity and Camp on Campus. Photo: WeWoreWhat website. Used with permission. Danielle Bernsteins book This Is Not a Fashion Story is available for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Target, and in independent bookstores for May 12th. Even Apple's voice assistant, Siri, is being forced to adapt to an ongoing health crisis. As reported by CNBC, Siri is now capable of responding to users who ask the assistant about whether they have novel coronavirus, COVID-19. Queries like, 'Hey Siri, do I have the coronavirus?' will now elicit a questionnaire asking users if they have a fever or a cough and will recommend those that are experiencing potentially fatal symptoms to call 911. Siri can now respond to users who are worried they may have COVID-19 using a quesionnaire to judge their symptoms (stock) CNBC reports that if the symptoms appear to be more mild, Siri will instruct users to stay home and avoid contact with others instead. It may also redirect some users to the App Store where they can download apps that let them consult with a doctor digitally. Apple says that all of its answers are pulled from the U.S. Public Health Service, a division of the Department of Health and Human Services, in addition to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While the service is currently only available in the US, it's possible that it could be rolled out more broadly in the future. Apple is among several big tech companies attempting to use their platforms for spreading legitimate information. In a blog post on Monday, Facebook said it's extending its developer resources to governments so that they can develop apps and bots that are capable of notifying people when there's a relevant update. 'Were partnering with our developer community to provide free services to government health organizations and UN health agencies to help them use Messenger to scale their response to the COVID-19 crisis,' said the company in a statement. Similarly, Facebook has used its popular messaging app WhatsApp to help spread vital information during an ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Specifically, the 'WhatsApp Coronavirus Information Hub' marries the Facebook-owned company partner with the WHO and UNICEF to provide reliable information to users. IFA president Tim Cullinan said that farmers and everybody involved in the sector needs to fully observe all HSE protocols and do everything they can to minimise risk, so we can keep processors, co-op stores and marts operating. It is particularly important that farmers attending marts follow all the guidelines strictly. I want to thank the staff in the co-op stores, marts and the processing sector, as well as hauliers, and others that are working hard to keep the food supply chain moving. It is important that the EU has recognised the importance of keeping essential goods such as food supplies, including livestock, moving across Europe, said Mr Cullinan. The IFA president said farmers empathise with other small businesses in our community experiencing business closures and job losses. We are fortunate that we can keep our sector operating and we must follow all guidelines fully. It is important that farmers keep in touch via phone with their neighbours who might be farming on their own. We must try and avoid those who are socially isolating feeling isolated. Any farmer who needs assistance should contact their local IFA office, IFA branch or county chairperson, said Mr Cullinan. Ring 061 314196 for the Limerick office. Meanwhile, IFA National Livestock chairman Brendan Golden said factories are paying a base price of 3.65/3.70 for steers this week and 3.75 for heifers in places. Mr Golden said the factories had put increased safety protocols in place for COVID19 and it was essential that these were fully observed by all suppliers. In response to a Farm Leader query on the coronavirus crisis, on Friday, March 13, an ABP spokesperson said: ABP is conscious of the need to maintain normal processing operations, insofar as possible under the current circumstances, given the knock-on implications at farm level and the need to move animals in an orderly fashion. The company already operates stringent, robust and tested protocols for staff hygiene and biosecurity across all of its facilities. Notwithstanding this, the company is taking its guidance from the HSE in terms of public health. It is engaging collaboratively with farmer suppliers, contractors and hauliers in a concentrated effort to limit the spread of Covid-19. Mr Cullinan has asked the public to be particularly conscious of biosecurity on farms at this time. Farms are a vital part of the food distribution system. We need the highest level of biosecurity measures in place. Farmers will have their own biosecurity measures to facilitate the collection of their produce, and to receive deliveries of feed and care for their animals. I am asking members of the public not to call to farms. Those who have business on farms should call strictly by appointment only. Members of the public should avoid entering farms for leisure activities such as walking, shooting or hunting, said Mr Cullinan. It is absolutely vital that we keep our food supply chain moving. Many farms will be in trouble if the farmer falls ill or if people involved in processing or transporting produce or supplies become ill or have to self-isolate, he concluded UPDATED This post has been updated to reflect a revised version of Senate Republican coronavirus stimulus legislation released Sunday: As schools have shut down across America , the nations education community is beginning to pressure Washington for stimulus funding to help weather the coronavirus pandemic. But what could and should a K-12 stimulus actually look like? Legislation from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to shore up the nations economy amid the coronavirus pandemic, introduced by the Kentucky Republican on March 19, is moving fast a final vote in the Senate is expected soon. An updated version of the legislation released March 22 includes a few key provisions regarding education spending. The legislation would create an Education Stabilization Fund of $20 billion for K-12 education and higher education; at least 60 percent of that money would be for K-12 schools. Sixty percent would be distributed to states using the Title II-A formula, and districts would have to receive at least 80 percent of that funding from states via the Title I formula. These funds could support activities authorized under laws like the Every Student Succeeds Act and the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act; planning for long-term closures; helping to sanitize schools; provide mental health supports, and purchase educational technology. In addition, 10 percent of that $20 billion program would go to a Governors Emergency Education Relief Fund. Governors could use that money to support local K-12 districts as well as colleges and universities. The bill hit a stumbling block, however, when it failed a procedural vote March 22. The lack of funding in McConnells initial coronavirus bill, released March 19, prompted a quick response from a coalition of seven national education groups, including the two national teachers unions.The coalition wrote to Congress on March 21 that they were gravely concerned by the complete lack of fiscal support for public schools in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. They also included a list of what a stimulus bill should have, including: A State Fiscal Stabilization Fund to shore up state government budgets and help them address education funding, amid other priorities. The 2009 stimulus included a program by the same name, to the tune of $53.6 billion now the groups are asking for $75 billion. now the groups are asking for $75 billion. A massive investment in remote learning technology for students to address the homework gap. This would include $2 billion in aid to the Federal Communications Commissions E-Rate program and additional flexibility. (On March 18, the FCC did provide a small measure of flexibility from E-Rate rules , and officials are looking at freeing up more money to boost in-home connectivity .) , and officials are looking at freeing up more money to boost in-home connectivity .) Significantly increased federal funding for Medicaid, which is the third-largest single source of funding for public schools. It is imperative that the final bill include emergency funding available to states for public schools, the unions and the other groups wrote to Congress in the letter. However, although McConnells revised bill from March 22 does include a stabilization fund, its $20 billion figure is far short of what those groups asked for, and smaller than the 2009 stimulus version of that fund. Its too early to know what the final stimulus legislation President Donald Trump signs will includeSpeaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said Sunday that the House will introduce its own coronavirus stimulus bill , indicating that a deal on such legislation isnt very close. And its not clear how the fact that most schools are shut down, and some are not providing remote learning to students, will factor into lawmakers decisions about what schools, educators, and students need. In addition, the pandemic differs from the Great Recession. The nations political leadership has changed, and schools will be affected by mass closures and traumatized students in unprecedented ways. These Kids are Going to Fall So Far Behind We also spoke with four people in the education policy community about what a federal stimulus for education should include and other factors that should impact decisions on this. Their thoughts are below. David DeSchryver, Senior Vice President of Whiteboard Advisors: In response to previous traumatic events affecting specific schools, Congress has focused on sending money to schools through programs like Title IV and Project SERV, which address student well-being and recovery from violent events and natural disasters, respectively. When DeSchryver contemplates that sort of approach to the coronavirus pandemic, he has a simple response: No. This situation is unlike the Great Recession, he noted, because people right now are not socializing, spending money, and going to school the way they did even when the economic crunch hit hardest in 2008 and 2009. What happens to schools, he wondered, when the lights just go off? The biggest concern for policymakers, he said, should be to recognize that schools are a cornerstone of the economy that, when properly functioning and resourced, give parents in turn the ability to contribute to the broader economy. What might be necessary, he said, is a revival of the Education Jobs Fund, a $10 billion program to help schools preserve educators jobs in the 2010-11 academic year. How do you support them at home and ensure that they have the ability to focus on their jobs? DeSchryer said. Can you provide the teachers and staff that level of security [so] that they will have a job? That will enable others to make sure that theyre making the right investment. Sarah Abernathy, Deputy Executive Director of the Committee for Education Funding: Education got $100 billion in the 2009 stimulus, Abernathy (whose group advocates for federal education spending) noted, and she doesnt see a reason why schools should get less so that they can deal effectively with the coronavirus. In the short term, she said, the federal government should see where it can support distance learning, includng good curriculum resources for distance learning, nutritional programs for students, and additional counseling for students where possible. Title I for low-income students and special education should also get consideration, Abernathy said. And further down the road, Washington should also recognize that as states start formulating new budgets in 2021, their revenue sources are going to have taken a huge hit, she added. Abernathy also said that while the McConnell bill is still a work in progress, additional coronavirus relief legislation in the next several weeks could be a new opportunity for K-12 education to get more resources. Any stimulus bill is going to have to include appropriations beyond checks for individuals, she said. Marguerite Roza, Director of the Edunomics Lab at Georgetown University School budgets this year arent a real problem, Roza said, especially because most schools dont have to worry for the moment about paying for things like professional development or people like substitute teachers. But next year, she said, school districts are going to suffer a devastating blow in the form of lost state and local revenue because of the economic decline. Her advice for districts for the time being? Stop spending. Roza said theres not necessarily a rush to get an education stimulus out the door in McConnells bill. But she also said policymakers need to recognize districts lack of flexibility in the face of this kind of crisis. I would probably be trying to couple some stimulus with some encouragement, whether its around pension systems or something else, [toward] financial sustainability over the long haul, so we dont find ourselves in this position every time there is a major economic downturn, Roza said. Rebecca Sibilia, CEO of EdBuild: While the 2009 stimulus focused in large part on amping up available revenue sources, Sibilia (whose group studies inequities in education spending and other policy areas) said she doesnt think thats a good idea this time around for Washington. She also said it would be tone deaf to put a very large emphasis on pouring money into virtual education and online learning infrastructure. Instead, Sibilia said, there should be a recognition of the potential impact the virus is going to have on rural and urban students in particularin large part, she noted, suburban students will come through the pandemic without too much damage and get as many mental-health supports to those students as possible to help them deal with their traumatic experiences. How do we get counselors and therapists to kids who are going to be going through he hardest time of their lives so far? SIbilia said. These kids are going to fall so far behind that our achievement gap is going to grow. As for Capitol Hill, some sort of grand bargain for an education stimulus is possible, in Sibilias view. If Democrats agree to put relatively few restrictions on how local school districts spend money from a new stimulus, and Republicans, meanwhile, agree that states have to jump through certain hoops in order to access the money that would alter how they fund schools, then a significant infusion of federal cash for schools might get sufficient traction in Washington. For example, she said, if a district wants to spend federal stimulus money to help students connect with therapists over the phone, she said, there should be no impediment. Our community and emotional needs are going to far surpass our core educational needs, she said. Read the March 21 letter from the unions and other national education groups to Congress below: Photo: Angie Andrade and her children, from left, Angel, 10, Austin, 7, and Abigail, 3, pick up free sack lunches at J.T. Saldivar Elementary School in Dallas, Texas. --Lynda M. Gonzalez/The Dallas Morning News via AP Follow us on Twitter @PoliticsK12 . And follow the Politics K-12 reporters @EvieBlad @Daarel and @AndrewUjifusa . Travelers stranded by CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus in some of Southeast Asias idyllic tourism hotspots are trying to extend visas as more countries enforce travel restrictions that in some cases make it impossible to go home. NTD refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. The total number of stranded tourists is not known, but scenes of frustration are playing out in several countries. On the Indonesian resort island of Balifamed for its beaches, terraced rice fields, and cultural siteshundreds of tourists in face masks queued up outside the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office in the tourist area of Kuta seeking legal permission to extend their stay. We have to stay here as we have no choice, said Natalie Gisbert, a traveler from New Caledonia, the self-governing French territory in the South Pacific, who said her government was closing airports at home. American visitor Felix Isuk, who works in Singapore, said he thought it was better to stay put in Southeast Asia than to return to the United States. In the U.S. there are about 30,000 cases, Isuk said. So, I think if things or situation get worse here Ill go back to Singapore. So thats the main reason why Im staying here in Indonesia. Indonesia has 579 confirmed cases of the new CCP virus that has swept the world, with 49 dead. The island of Bali has reported six of those confirmed cases and two of those deaths. A Little Bit Crazy In Thailand, the main immigration center in the capital Bangkok was crowded on Monday with hundreds of tourists and other foreign nationals trying to extend visas before they expired. Ive been here since 8.30 a.m.! one man cried on being told officials could not process his application that afternoon. A long line snaked through the building, and many were told to come back another day. The problems are by no means confined to Bangkok. Rada Sereseanu and her husband, touring Southeast Asia in a camper van, had planned to drive into Myanmar but the German couple find themselves stuck in southern Thailand as the country shuts its land borders. We thought the situation would get better, but it seems to be getting a little bit crazy, Sereseanu said by telephone from near the seaside area of Hua Hin. Thailand has seen sharp spikes in CCP virus cases, bringing its total number of cases to 721 from 147 in the last week. In Vietnam, where the government has announced a ban on all foreigners entering, British ambassador Gareth Ward urged UK citizens to seek the earliest commercial flights and gave an embassy email address to contact. He also advised finding a hotel near an airport in either Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. You should prepare for the fact that you may not be able to leave quickly, so choose a place that you can afford for an extended period of time, he said. By Sultan Anshori NTD staff contributed to this report. Teachers are prepared for a challenging situation amid concerns more pupils than expected could turn up on Monday despite schools being officially closed as the UK fights to slow the spread of coronavirus. Parents have been warned they could be in for difficult conversations if they take their children to school when they have an alternative means of ensuring they are looked after. The Department for Education has urged parents to keep their children at home unless their work is deemed critical to the countrys response to Covid-19 and they have no other childcare option. It said that, if required, schools can ask for simple evidence that the parent in question is a critical worker, such as their work ID badge or pay slip. The Government said children of so-called key workers including medics, police and food distribution staff are able to attend school so they can be looked after while their parents help in the fight against the virus. Please share with other parents. If your work is not critical in the response to Coronavirus then please keep your child at home.#StayHomeSaveLives #coronavirus https://t.co/6KP6fNE9FD pic.twitter.com/3XNjbikGwq Department for Education (@educationgovuk) March 22, 2020 Guidance, issued on Friday, listed the relevant occupations and said children with at least one parent or carer who is considered critical can attend school if required. Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said sending a child to school is an emergency measure which should be seen as a last resort. He said: It is likely that more children than expected will turn up at school and that there may be less availability of staff if more have had to self-isolate or have become ill over the weekend. So, the situation will be challenging today, and it will take some time to establish a more settled pattern. He said parents need to be prepared that schools will have to prioritise and that not every child will get a place, a sentiment echoed by the National Education Union (NEU). Dr Mary Bousted, NEU joint general secretary, said the schools can only operate to help during this outbreak if everyone plays fair. She said: If schools are to limit their intake during the crisis, school leaders and teachers must exercise their professional judgment. There may have to be some difficult conversations with parents, which could include saying that the school cannot accommodate your child and remain safe. Schools cant work alone and head teachers shouldnt need to face these challenges in isolation. Find out more here https://t.co/HeJWvsMwhI#covid19UK pic.twitter.com/F6J9Pb9pnl National Education Union (@NEUnion) March 22, 2020 Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), urged parents not to mistake the spirit of battling on for behaviour that is instead reckless. He said: As many children as possible should stay away from school. To do otherwise will risk the health of your family and the successful response to Covid-19. Please do not confuse Dunkirk Spirit with recklessness. He also urged employers not to take advantage of the lengthy list of key workers in order to keep their staff in work. He said: My appeal to companies and other employers: Please do not interpret the key workers lists liberally for your own ends. Do not put profit over people. School places are there for the most vulnerable and to keep truly crucial operations running. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: If your work is not critical in the response to coronavirus then please keep your child at home. This will help to halt the spread of the virus, protect the NHS and save lives. We will be closely monitoring what is happening in schools and will ensure they get the support they need in the weeks and months ahead. Schools will not be expected to take a normal attendance register, but will be asked to submit a daily report stating whether they are open and how many children and staff are in school so capacity can be tracked, the department said. The department has also published guidance on vulnerable children, with schools being asked to have a process in place to check on the welfare of any children in need who do not continue to come to school, to ensure they do not fall through the gaps. NSPCC chief executive Peter Wanless said it is imperative that different agencies understand who is responsible for children at home and added that social workers will need continued support and resources to support those in isolation. He said: We are living in a public health emergency and its never been more important for everyone to play their part in recognising and reporting abuse and neglect. Anyone with concerns about a child can contact the NSPCC Helpline for professional advice. The app is called the MyGov Corona Helpdesk. It is the Govt Helpline for COVID-19. This is the India Coronavirus Helpdesk. It is the whatsapp chatbots for coronavirus and helps with coronavirus awareness and coronavirus FAQs. Amidst the spreading misinformation about the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, there are those that aim to give the correct information. The government of India is working at ensuring the right information is sent to people about the disease. For this, the central government of India has launched a WhatsApp chatbot called MyGov Corona Helpdesk. This chatbot gives users information pertaining to the Coronavirus. A Mumbai-based firm called Haptik Technologies has built the chatbot. Reliance Jio acquired Haptik Technologies last year. The MyGov Corona Helpdesk has been engineered to fight rumours, educate the masses and bring a sense of calm to the current chaos-like situation. We are committed to assisting the government with all our possible strengths and resources and hope that this chatbot can help the GoI spread the right information across the nation, Aakrit Vaish, co-founder and chief executive of Haptik, told TechCrunch. So how does the app work? Well, you can simply send a hello message to +919013151515 or click here to get started with the chatbot. Once you say hello, you are greeted with a message that reads, This is the Government of India's Coronavirus (COVID-19) Helpdesk to create awareness and help you and your family stay safe. You also receive an email ID and emergency numbers you can use to contact for any emergencies. Using the assigned alphabets, you can also get answers to some common questions. A. What is Coronavirus and what are its symptoms? B. How does Coronavirus spread? C. How to reduce the risk of Coronavirus? D. Professional advice By AIIMS-Director E. Know more on Coronavirus (including District Wise Reported Cases) F. Where to get help? We spent 5 minutes chatting with the bot, and for the most part, we got all the right answers. Typing the name of a state showed us a PDF that counts the currently registered cases in that state (although the information looks to be a bit outdated). Asking the question, How to reduce the risk of Coronavirus? We were given a list of Youtube videos talking about how to wash our hands properly, how to sneeze, maintaining distance and a couple of documents about best practices. Safe to say, the information being provided are a set of guidelines, rules, and information people can rely on without worrying about the source as this information is coming straight from the government. In addition to the government, service providers are looking to help those working from home. BSNL and MTNL are offering users working from home additional data. You can read more about that here. Google has added a Coronavirus search hub. You can read about that here. In this state of panic, there are those looking to exploit the vulnerable. You can read more about the cyberattacks during the times of Coronavirus here. A pedestrian walks along a near-deserted London Bridge as Londoners heed a call to stay home due to the novel coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak, in London on March 20, 2020. TOLGA AKMEN The coverage on this live blog has ended but for up-to-the-minute coverage on the coronavirus, visit the live blog from CNBC's U.S. team. Global cases: At least 350,536 according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Global deaths: At least 15,308, according to the latest figures. All times below are in Beijing time. 8:50 pm: Global coronavirus cases cross 350,000, death toll passes 15,000 Confirmed infections from the rapidly spreading coronavirus surpassed 350,000 worldwide on Monday and global deaths rose past 15,000, as COVID-19 spreads across Europe and North America. COVID-19 has now infected more than 350,536 people, according to Johns Hopkins University, and killed at least 15,328 people. More than 100,000 people of that tally have recovered, according to Hopkins. William Feuer 7:20 pm: UK brings in the army to help deliver medical equipment to health workers U.K. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Monday that the army would help deliver supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) to healthcare workers battling the coronavirus outbreak. It comes shortly after frontline National Health Service doctors said they felt like "cannon fodder" while treating an influx of patients with COVID-19 symptoms. In a statement, Hancock said Monday that army trucks would help deliver masks, safety glasses, gloves and protective suits to all who need it. The U.K. has reported 5,748 cases of the coronavirus to date, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, with 282 deaths nationwide. Sam Meredith 7:00 pm: Spain reports further 462 deaths, taking total number of coronavirus fatalities to 2,182 Spain's health ministry has confirmed an additional 462 deaths overnight, bringing the country's total number of fatalities nationwide to 2,182. Spain has reported the fourth-highest number of COVID-19 infections worldwide to date, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, behind China, Italy and the U.S., respectively. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced his intention to extend the country's state of emergency by another 15 days on Sunday. Sam Meredith In this handout from the Comunidad de Madrid, health workers prepare to receive the first patients with coronavirus at Ifema exhibition complex on March 22, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. Comunidad de Madrid | Getty Images 5:10 pm: Poland urges International Olympics Committee to change date of Tokyo 2020 Games Poland's representatives have called on the International Olympics Committee (IOC) to change the date of the Tokyo 2020 Games, amid heightened fears over the coronavirus pandemic. It comes less than 24 hours after the IOC said it would step up its scenario-planning of the event to safeguard the health of everyone involved. The Olympic Games are currently scheduled to take place from July 24 through to August 9, with the Paralympic Games set to run from August 25 to September 6. Canada has said it will not send teams to compete in the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer, saying "nothing is more important than the health and safety of our athletes and the world community." (See 10:15 a.m. update). Sam Meredith The Olympic Rings pictured in front of the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne on March 22, 2020. Fabrice Coffrini | AFP | Getty Images 4:30 pm: European markets tumble as the coronavirus continues to take its toll; Stoxx 600 down 4.5% European markets were lower Monday morning, as the coronavirus outbreak continues to take its toll on the international community and financial markets. The pan-European Stoxx 600 fell 4.5% shortly after the opening bell, with industrials plunging 6% to lead losses as all sectors and major bourses slid deep into negative territory. Holly Ellyatt 3:50 pm: Hong Kong to ban all tourists to contain the spread of the virus Hong Kong will ban all tourists to the city from Wednesday in order to contain the spread of the coronavirus, leader Carrie Lam announced in a press conference Monday. The city's chief executive also said people coming from Taiwan and Macao, including Hong Kong residents, would need to be quarantined. As of Monday, there have been almost 340,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide, with 14,717 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Sam Meredith 3:00 pm: Asia stocks dive, India tumble triggers trading halt India stocks dropped more than 10%, triggering a temporary trading halt earlier. By the afternoon, the Nifty 50 and the BSE Sensex were still more than 11% down. Singapore's Straits Times index plunged more than 7%, while Australian stocks closed 5.62% down. Markets in South Korea and China also saw sharp declines. Overall, the MSCI Asia ex-Japan index fell 5.19%. Eustance Huang 1:45 pm: Australia, New Zealand move into lockdown mode New Zealand said it's moving to its highest alert level, and will put in place self-isolation measures, as well as require all non-essential services, schools and offices to shut over the next 48 hours. Lockdown measures took effect in neighboring Australia, while long queues formed outside offices of its main welfare agency to register for social security payments, as the economic impact of the crisis hit, according to a Reuters report. "There will be no more going to the pub after work, no more going to the gym in the morning, and no more sitting down for brunch at a cafe," Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison told parliament on Monday. He warned Australians they should prepare for lockdowns that could last six months. Western Australia denied entry to the Swiss-owned MSC Magnifica cruise ship carrying more 1,700 passengers, of which 250 complained of respiratory symptoms, the report said. Weizhen Tan 12:45 pm: US Secret Service employee tests positive A U.S. Secret Service employee has tested positive and is currently in quarantine, according to a statement from the agency. The agency said it has carried out comprehensive contact tracing, and found that the infected employee hasn't had any contact with other staff or those who they are assigned to protect, for nearly three weeks. Weizhen Tan 12:10 pm: Trump tweets that the cure cannot be 'worse' than the problem U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted that "WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF." At the end of 15 days, a decision will be made as to which way to go, he said, without saying what he was referring to. Weizhen Tan Trump tweet. US President Donald Trump speaks during the daily briefing on the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, at the White House on March 22, 2020, in Washington, DC. Eric Baradat | AFP | Getty Images 12:00 pm: Japan's Abe reportedly hints that Tokyo Olympics could be postponed Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hinted that the Tokyo Olympics could be postponed but ruled out the possibility of canceling the global sporting event, according to multiple local media reports on Monday. The reports come a day after the International Olympic Committee announced that it will stepping up its scenario-planning for the event to help contain the spread of the new coronavirus and safeguard the health of those involved. Eustance Huang 10:48 am: UAE tells people to stay at home unless absolutely necessary The United Arab Emirates urged the public to stay at home and limit social contacts, unless when out purchasing necessary supplies like food and medicine or performing essential jobs, according to the government news agency. "The public are also urged to use their own family cars with a maximum of three individuals per vehicle. They are also advised not to visit public places and maintain social distancing protocols during family gatherings as part of the precautionary measures taken to ensure public health and safety," the Ministry of Interior and the National Emergency and Crisis and Disasters Management Authority said a joint statement. People were also told to avoid visiting hospitals except for emergencies and to use face masks. Instructions on the use of public transport, taxis and other means of transportation are due to be issued later, the statement said. Violations are punishable, including fines and jail terms. Inbound and outbound passenger flights and the transit of airline passengers in the UAE are also set to be suspended for two weeks as part of precautionary measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, the government news agency said. Cargo and emergency evacuation flights would be exempt. Patrick Allen, Jonathan Stayton, Saheli Roy Choudhury 10:29 am: Fight against the pandemic is like 'the fog of war,' says Fauci The battle against the coronavirus pandemic is "almost like the fog of war," said renowned top U.S. health official Anthony Fauci in an interview with Science magazine. "After the war is over, you then look back and say, wow, this plan, as great as it was, didn't quite work once they started that throwing hand grenades at us," said Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Testing for the coronavirus across the U.S. has been criticized as unacceptably inadequate and slow. New York state now has more coronavirus cases than France or South Korea as the number of confirmed infections soared to 15,168, according to new data released by Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Sunday. "Why were we not able to mobilize on a broader scale? But I don't think we can do that right now. I think it's premature. We really need to look forward," Fauci said in the interview, adding that testing is one issue that needs to be reexamined. Weizhen Tan 10:24 am: Former Goldman CEO says people with lower risk should be allowed to return to work Former Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein said on Twitter that extreme measures to flatten the coronavirus "curve" temporarily to ease the strain on health infrastructure are sensible. But, he said, "crushing the economy, jobs and morale is also a health issue-and beyond." He also urged that "within a very few weeks let those with a lower risk to the disease return to work." Saheli Roy Choudhury Tweet: Extreme measures to flatten the virus "curve" is sensible-for a time-to stretch out the strain on health infrastructure. But crushing the economy, jobs and morale is also a health issue-and beyond. Within a very few weeks let those with a lower risk to the disease return to work. 10:15 am: Canada says it will not send athletes to the Tokyo Olympics Canada will not send teams to compete in the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer, according to the country's Olympic Committee. It urged the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee and the World Health Organization to postpone the events for a year. "We offer them our full support in helping navigate all the complexities that rescheduling the Games will bring," the Canadian Olympic Committee said in a statement, adding that "nothing is more important than the health and safety of our athletes and the world community." The IOC on Sunday said it was assessing the situation alongside the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee and Japanese authorities, and hinted that postponement could be an option. But cancellation is "not on the agenda," it said. Saheli Roy Choudhury 10:09 am: China aims to be a stabilizing force as global financial markets remain volatile In face of the new coronavirus' shock to global financial markets, China aims to be a stabilizing force beginning with its own markets. As calls from global leaders for more international cooperation grow, it's still unclear to what extent it's possible at this point for China to become a force of stability. And when it comes to the world's second-largest economy, there are pressing domestic issues that authorities need to consider, such as high debt levels, need for foreign capital and slowing economic growth. Still, China was the first to grapple with COVID-19 and in recent days have largely reported new imported cases while other countries grapple with fast-spreading epidemics within their own borders. Evelyn Cheng 9:31 am: Singapore Airlines announces more capacity cuts due to growing border restrictions Singapore Airlines said it will cut 96% of the capacity that had been originally scheduled through April, citing stricter border restrictions around the world. Countries have stepped up travel restrictions in recent weeks, with many of them barring non-resident foreigners from entering their borders. As a result, Singapore's national carrier will ground around 138 aircraft out of a total fleet of 147. Its low-cost unit, Scoot, will suspend most of its network and ground 47 of its 49 aircraft. "It is unclear when the SIA Group can begin to resume normal services, given the uncertainty as to when the stringent border controls will be lifted," the company said in a statement. Saheli Roy Choudhury 9:22 am: South Korea says 64 new cases and 7 additional deaths South Korea reported 64 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the country's total to 8,961, according to the latest data from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Another seven people have died, raising the total number of fatalities in the country to 111. Still, South Korea has been praised globally for its efforts to contain the virus' spread following an initial spike in new cases, most of which were reported in the city of Daegu. Mass testing of individuals and other rigorous measures undertaken by Seoul brought down the number of new cases reported daily in recent weeks. Saheli Roy Choudhury 8:40 am: Luxury group Kering to donate 3 million surgical masks to France Luxury group Kering said it will purchase 3 million surgical masks from China and donate them to the French health service. "Meanwhile, the French workshops of Kering's Houses Balenciaga and Yves Saint Laurent are preparing to manufacture masks while complying with the strictest health protection measures for their staff members, with production getting underway as soon as the manufacturing process and materials have been approved by the relevant authorities," the company said in a statement. France has at least 14,296 cases, according to the World Health Organization. It shut down nonessential stores and told people to stay indoors as part of its efforts to combat the virus' spread. Saheli Roy Choudhury 8:35 am: China reports 39 new cases, says all of them are imported China's National Health Commission said there were 39 new cases, all of them imported, and 9 additional deaths as of the end of March 22. The fatalities all happened in Hubei province, where the virus was first detected; for its part, Hubei did not report any new cases of COVID-19, China said. Altogether, the country has 81,093 reported cases, of which 72,703 have been cured and 3,270 people have died. Saheli Roy Choudhury 8:05 am: Italy's death toll crosses 5,000 The Italian health ministry said as of 6 p.m. local time on March 22, at least 5,476 people have died due to COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus. There are 59,138 reported cases in total, where about 7,024 people have recovered. In an attempt to try and contain the virus, Rome has now ordered that all businesses that are not providing essential supplies or services must close until April 3, Reuters reported. Italy is already under a heavy lockdown where public movement is restricted and many establishments are closed. Saheli Roy Choudhury Medical personnel transport the first patient affected by COVID-19 to an ICU tent a Samaritan's Purse Emergency Field Hospital on March 20, 2020 in Cremona, near Milan, Italy. Emanuele Cremaschi | Getty Images 7:38 am: Asia Pacific stocks set for another day of declines Stocks in Australia plummeted in early trade on Monday as fears over the economic impact of the global coronavirus outbreak continue to weigh heavily on investor sentiment. The S&P/ASX 200 dropped 7.65% in early trade as the sectors mostly fell. The heavily weighted financial subindex dived more than 9%, with shares of the country's so-called Big Four banks all selling off steeply: Australia and New Zealand Banking Group fell 9.61%, Commonwealth Bank of Australia dropped 8.01%, Westpac declined 10.27% while National Australia Bank slipped 10.15%. Eustance Huang All times below are in Eastern time. 7 pm: UAE suspends all passenger and transit flights to and from the country, state news agency says The United Arab Emirates suspended all passenger and transit flights to and from the country for two weeks over coronavirus fears, state news agency WAM said on Sunday citing National Emergency and Crisis and the Civil Aviation Authority. WAM added the decision will take effect after 48 hours and will last for two weeks, subject to review and evaluation. Reuters 6:45 pm: Coronavirus stimulus bill fails in key Senate procedural vote A massive funding package to combat the impact of coronavirus did not get enough votes in a key Senate procedural vote Sunday evening. The stalemate came hours after Democratic leaders warned that the bill was not to their liking because they said it did too much to bail out companies and not enough to help workers. Stock futures cratered as the two parties failed to agree on the terms of the package. Still, President Donald Trump expressed optimism that lawmakers would eventually reach a deal. "I think you'll get there," Trump told reporters at the coronavirus task force press briefing shortly after the vote became final. Lauren Hirsch, Leslie Josephs 6:30 pm: Airbus says plants will reopen at slower production rate Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer urged residents to remain calm while following her executive order temporarily requiring people to stay in their homes during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. Less than two weeks after the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Michigan, the governor banned all non-essential travel and ordered the closure of most businesses to slow the coronavirus exponential spread across the state. Whitmer said access to critical services like health care, food, medicine, gas and banks will remain available, but acknowledged the vast impact her order will have on daily life in Michigan. Your grocery stores will be open, Whitmer said. I have checked on our whole supply chain for food and it will be accessible. Do not panic. Do not hoard." READ MORE: All Michigan residents, most businesses ordered to stay home to slow spread of coronavirus RELATED: Whats open, whats closed under Gov. Whitmers coronavirus stay-at-home order Tough times dont last, but tough people do, the governor added. Michigan and this country has been in crises before, and weve called on our countrymen and countrywomen to step up to the challenge to meet the need. Right now we are calling on everyone to do your part ... Stay home. Stay safe. Save lives. The order goes into effect after midnight on the morning of Tuesday, March 24 and ends at midnight on April 13. Violation of the order is punishable by a misdemeanor, though Whitmer said there wont be any ramp of police enforcement. This is not a recommendation, Whitmer said. This is an order, and we take it very seriously. Too many people arent following public health guidelines, Michigans governor said, especially young people. Forty percent of the hospitalizations and positive cases are among people between the ages of 20 and 40, with many more carrying the coronavirus without exhibiting symptoms. The number of confirmed cases has grown from zero to 1,232 since March 10. Fifteen people have died, according to Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, with dozens more being treated in intensive care units. Whitmer said the executive order was necessary to prevent people from gathering against the recommendation of public health officials. If it were possible to wave a magic wand and make all Americans freeze in place for 14 days six feet away from one another the whole epidemic would sputter to a halt, she said. COVID-19 is an easily-transmittable infectious respiratory disease with no vaccine. Whitmer said the critical order buys Michigans health care system more time to stock up on supplies and prevents hospitals from being overwhelmed by a surge in patients. Whitmer said models project 70% of the states population -- roughly 7 million people -- could be infected if the current trend continues. That could translate to 1 million people in need of hospitalization, she said. Let me give you a little perspective here, Whitmer said. We have about 25,000 acute care beds in Michigan. Stopping the spread of this virus is really the most important tool that we have right now to keep our communities safe. Simply put, Whitmer said more people will get sick and die if aggressive measures arent taken. The governor advised Michiganders to keep in contact with their loved ones, get fresh air and try to stay productive while the order remains in effect. I know this is hard. I know this is going to be disruptive, Whitmer said. Its certainly going to be hard on our economy as well. But our action will save lives. Doing this now shortens the time our academy suffers. When we look back at this weve got to be able to say we did everything we could. PREVENTION TIPS In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores. Complete coverage of coronavirus in Michigan. Read more on MLive: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer expected to issue coronavirus Stay at home order President Trump promises help for American workers as stimulus package gets held up in Senate Trumps claims that GM, Ford making ventilators right now not true Almost 109,000 in Michigan filed for unemployment last week compared to 5,000 in typical week Tokyo Olympics 2020: Canada pulls out of Games amid coronavirus pandemic Mid-Michigan groups seek face masks, hand gel donations to fight coronavirus Washington DC [USA], Mar 23 (ANI): Indian American doctors on the front lines of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States approve of President Donald Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Even though the US now has the third-highest number of cases after Italy and China, physicians strongly support the president for the steps taken to combat the rapid spread of COVID-19 within the United States. On Sunday President Trump announced action to help New York, California and Washington ensuring that the US National Gaurd will effectively respond to this crisis. Through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the federal government will also be funding 100 per cent of the cost. Physicians affirm that President Trumps this multifaceted approach could contain this crisis soon and are also if the view that the president has adopted a more 'public-facing' role in combating the disease. Dr Narendra Kumar, President of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin told ANI, "The war room strategy put together by President Trump, including his wisdom of bringing together all major corporations, pharmaceutical companies, FDA and FEMA to deal with the situation deserves national recognition." Another New York-based practising paediatrician of Indian origin Dr Amarjit Gill added, "I have been able to do COVID-19 testing on children in my office and this is because of Trump administration's expedited approval of testing by private labs." President Trump has been leading the daily press briefings of the White House coronavirus task force, announcing new federal actions, taking questions from reporters and generally appearing more solemn regarding the nature of the threat facing the U.S. President Trump's New York-based long time supporter Al Mason, an advocate of strong US-India relations said, "This Covid -19 crisis has brought the real compassionate Donald Trump in the open to the American People. He cares for the whole of America." President Trump and his task force headed by Vice President Mike Pense and his team of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Azar, Dr Anthony Fauci are even supported by Dr Seema Verma a top Indian American official. Verma is leading a push for a path-breaking telemedicine initiative using laptops and phones and apps like Skype to ease the burden of growing novel coronavirus cases and the threat of infections. "As a practitioner for the last 49 years, I believe President Trump has done an incredible job in managing the country's response to the Covid-19 pandemic by mobilizing the best medical team in the to find a vaccine to combat this deadly disease," said Florida based Dr Zachariah. Dr Kiran C. Patel, a Florida based cardiologist, businessman and philanthropist said: "President Trump is doing a great job bringing all federal government resources to the nation." Dr Bharat Barai, Medical Director, Oncology Institute, Methodist Hospitals told ANI, "President Trump's actions in handling the coronavirus calamity are revolutionary, especially getting the US Senate bill that was passed recently, close to a trillion dollars stimulus is exemplary. That will change the map of the present situation in the nation." Even though the Democrats and critics have widely disapproved Trump for his late response to the intelligence report he received two months ago and his administration's inability to quickly ramp up testing across the country, Dr Dilip B. Viswanath, M.D. of the Delaware Valley says it's time to keep politics aside and embrace unity in overcoming this pandemic. "Sadly this outbreak occurs in a politically charged time that there is a criticism to some degree based on one's political views. The contemporary has really never dealt with this type of calamity. One should consider the Spanish Flu of 102 years ago where 5 per cent of the world's population died. We thankfully are advanced enough to limit the loss of life," he told ANI. Indian American Doctors have praised the administration's increased engagement, while still demanding a more robust, all-encompassing federal response and the delivery of sorely needed medical equipment in anticipation of the coronavirus' overrunning of local health care systems. For more than a week now, Trump has declared a national emergency, expanded the European travel ban, urged against group gatherings of more than 10 people, and signalled his support for dispensing checks to affected Americans not just within the US borders but also worldwide. Dr Ajeenkya D.Y. Patil of the D.Y. Patil Group which runs many hospitals in India, has been interacting about the coronavirus with many Indian American doctors for his soon to start new "Grand Port Hospital" in Mumbai. He is very encouraged by the measures President Trump has taken to combat the Covid19 Pandemic, like initiating an empowering the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to waive provisions of certain laws and regulations and give maximum flexibility to healthcare providers to care for their patients. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NEWTOWN - News of Newtowns first confirmed coronavirus case Sunday did more than merely add a number to Connecticuts tally of those infected, which is now over 325. The news brought home a pandemic that has caused a public health crisis in Connecticut and across the United States. And First Selectman Dan Rosenthal said it was time to take the crisis seriously. People are getting outside, which is great, but far too many people are getting together in large groups to do it, Rosenthal said in a message to Newtowners on Sunday. This is unacceptable and frankly, reckless. The infected Newtown resident, described as woman between 25 and 49, was in quarantine and receiving treatment at home, according to the Newtown Health District. Positive cases of COVID-19 in Newtown have been expected as community transmission of the virus has been occurring in the area said Donna Culbert director of the Newtown Health District. Rosenthal said that individual decisions involving freedom of choice were secondary to the common good during a public health crisis. This virus isnt about you or me, its about our collective efforts to protect the vulnerable, Rosenthal said on Sunday. Its not complicated, wash your hands regularly and stay away from one another. If Newtowners dont modify their own behavior, the government will, Rosenthal said. If the crisis gets worse, he said it is more likely that future orders from the federal and state governments become more extreme. The coronavirus has infected 350,000 people worldwide and killed 15,000, the Associated Press reported Monday. The United States has 35,000 cases and more than 400 deaths. In Connecticut, eight people have died since the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed at Danbury Hospital on March 8. rryser@newstimes.com 203-731-3342 One of China's top coronavirus experts has warned that the nation is facing a second outbreak due to the increasing number of infections detected among new arrivals from abroad. Professor Li Lanjuan, a member of Beijing's expert team on the virus, said she was 'very worried that imported cases could trigger another large-scale epidemic in our country'. Her comment came after health officials reported the country's first case of someone who is believed to have contracted the disease, known as COVID-19, from another person returning from abroad. It also came as life in former epicentre Wuhan is slowly returning to normal following a two-month draconian lockdown. Professor Li Lanjuan (pictured), a member of Beijing's expert team on the virus, said she was 'very worried that imported cases could trigger another large-scale epidemic in our country' Her comment comes after the city of Guangzhou reported the country's first native coronavirus case 'related to an imported case' yesterday. The above picture shows medical staff treating COVID-19 coronavirus patients at a hospital in Wuhan on March 19 Prof Li, 73, told China News today that the control and prevention of imported cases was an 'arduous' task for medical workers. She said: 'This requires us to continue to intensify our efforts and work tirelessly to prevent the coronavirus pneumonia epidemic from spreading in other cities.' Prof Li has led her medical team to fight the virus in Wuhan for more than 50 days. She told state newspaper People's Daily in Wuhan: 'The mission in Wuhan has not been accomplished, and there are still many critical patients. Furthermore, I think the current situation in our country is very tough. '[I am] very worried that imported cases could trigger another large-scale epidemic in our country. 'Can we make every effort to guard our country and prevent another epidemic from happening? This is a tough challenge.' She also demanded officials identify those who were struck down by the virus but have not been officially diagnosed. She warned that they could re-ignite the epidemic. Doctors in Guangzhou, the provincial capital of Guangdong, have diagnosed a coronavirus patient who fell ill after having close contact with a person entering China from Turkey. This is the first coronavirus case in the country with a direct link to an imported case. The Guangzhou Municipal Health Commission called it 'a case related to an imported case' in a statement yesterday. Doctors in Guangzhou have diagnosed a coronavirus patient who fell ill after having close contact with a person entering China from Turkey. Pictured, a man wearing a protective mask sits in his shop selling traditional Chinese medicine supplies in Guangzhou on March 17 The 54-year-old man, known by his surname Jin, experienced muscle pain and a lack of strength on March 17. He was hospitalised on March 20 with a slight fever and tested positive the next day. Mr Jin was a close contact with another confirmed case, 34-year-old Ms Lin, who stayed in Istanbul from January 22 to March 8 on a business trip. Ms Lin flew back to Guangzhou on March 9 via Bangkok. She did not show any symptoms upon entering the country and stayed at home most of the time afterwards. She was diagnosed on March 21 after the city's infectious disease authority gave her a test. People's Daily, the mouthpiece of China's Communist Party, warned of the emergence of Mr Jin's case. In explaining its significance, the newspaper quoted health experts from Guangzhou and said: 'Cases related to imported cases are the second-generation cases brought in from abroad. It means the close contacts of [the imported cases] have been transmitted and fallen ill.' China reported no new local cases today but confirmed another 39 infections brought from overseas. Pictured, people wear masks as they walk at Ritan Park in Beijing on March 22 The official outlet urged all cities to put those arriving from virus-hit countries under 14-day mandatory quarantine even if they don't show symptoms. Those arriving from other countries should self-isolate for two weeks, the paper said. Chinese health officials today reported no new local cases of the deadly virus but confirmed another 39 infections brought from overseas. Worldwide, more than 14,740 people have been killed by the contagion and over 340,000 people have been infected. Today, COVID-19 has halted the whole world, adversely affecting places like Italy, China, the US and now getting a stronger grip in India. Today, India has around 396 infected cases of the novel Coronavirus. Reuters Looking at the stress it is causing on hospitals and doctors, global billionaires are doing their part by donating basic necessities like face masks, hazmat suits, aiding vaccine research among several other things. However, in case you were wondering no Indian billionaire has stood up to help the people affected, Sudha Murthy of the Infosys Foundation has decided to do her part for the society. She suggested Karnatak government undertake preventative measures like shutting down malls, theatres as well as schools and colleges, informing them how COVID-19 intensifies in air-conditioned areas. She also debunked the myth that stated that the virus dies in high temperatures. She said, "It is not scientifically proven that the virus dies in high temperature," while pointing out that places like Australia and Singapore have summer all 12 months, yet there are a considerable number of COVID-19 cases there. BCCL Getting hospitals ready for COVID-19 She also shed light on the emphasis on the availability of hospital beds, should the situation of an epidemic arises in Karnataka, she asked the government hospital with at least 500 to 700 beds to be allocated specifically for COVID-19 related cases which would need oxygen lines and pipes. She also said that Infosys Foundation -- the philanthropic and CSR arm of software major Infosys would help in the civil work. Chairman and Executive Director of Narayana Health, Devi Prasad Shetty has also agreed to help with medical equipment. Murthy said, "We would like to work with the government proactively so that we can prevent this as early as possible." French English Regulated information Regulatory authorities approve JTA Phase III study in osteoarthritic knee pain and ALLOB Phase IIb study in difficult fractures Gosselies, Belgium, 23 March 2020, 7am CET BONE THERAPEUTICS (Euronext Brussels and Paris: BOTHE), the bone cell therapy company addressing high unmet medical needs in orthopaedics and bone diseases, today announces it has received regulatory approvals for its Clinical Trial Applications for the next studies of both of its lead candidates. These two studies are the pivotal JTA-004 Phase III clinical study targeting osteoarthritic knee pain and the Phase IIb study of its allogeneic cell therapy product, ALLOB, in patients with difficult tibial fractures. The JTA-004 trial has been approved by regulatory authorities in Denmark, and the ALLOB by Belgian regulatory authorities. Bone Therapeutics now has completed preparations for these trials. It is ready to initiate recruitment in both of these studies as soon as the current situation regarding COVID-19 allows, in those two countries. Bone Therapeutics has taken this decision to support healthcare systems in the respective trial countries, enabling them to concentrate on treating COVID-19 patients whilst necessary. Bone Therapeutics is now ready to commence clinical trials on both its lead products. Receiving regulatory approvals for both Clinical Trial Applications completes the preparative activity for both studies, said Miguel Forte, CEO, Bone Therapeutics. This means that as soon as the current situation allows, we will be able to start recruiting patients for both clinical studies and continue to develop options for patients suffering knee osteoarthritic pain and difficult tibial fractures, both of which are conditions with a high unmet medical need. The JTA-004 phase III study is a controlled, randomized, double-blind study. It will evaluate the potential of a single, intra-articular injection of JTA-004 to reduce osteoarthritic pain in the knee compared to placebo or Hylan G-F 20, the leading osteoarthritis treatment on the market. The study expects to enrol 676 patients with mild to moderate symptomatic knee osteoarthritis in approximately 20 centres in 7 European countries and Hong Kong SAR. The ALLOB Tibial Fracture Phase IIb study is a randomized, double-blind, controlled study in which the fracture healing potential of ALLOB in patients with difficult fractures in the shinbone (tibia) will be evaluated and compared to standard of care alone after a follow-up period of 6 months. ALLOB will be applied by single percutaneous injection 24-72 hours post reduction surgery in patients with fresh tibial fractures at risk for delayed or non-union. The study is expected to enrol approximately 178 patients in approximately 40 sites in up to 7 European countries. About JTA-004 JTA-004 is companys next generation of intra-articular injectable for the treatment of osteoarthritic pain in the knee. Consisting of a unique mix of plasma proteins, hyaluronic acid, a natural component of knee synovial fluid, and a fast-acting analgesic, JTA-004 intends to provide added lubrication and protection to the cartilage of the arthritic joint and to alleviate osteoarthritic pain. In a phase II study involving 164 patients, JTA-004 showed an improved pain relief at 3 and 6 months compared to Hylan G-F 20, the global market leader in osteoarthritis treatment. About Knee Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis (OA), also known as degenerative joint disease, is the most common chronic joint condition in which the protective cartilage in the joints progressively break down resulting in joint pain, swelling, stiffness and limited range of motion. The knee is one of the joints that are mostly affected by osteoarthritis, with an estimated 250M cases worldwide. The prevalence of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is expected to increase in the coming years due to increasingly aging and obese population. Currently, there is no cure for KOA and treatments focus on relieving and controlling pain and symptoms, preventing disease progression, minimizing disability, and improving quality of life. Most drugs prescribed to KOA patients are topical or oral analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs. Ultimately, severe KOA lead to highly invasive surgical interventions such as total knee replacement. About ALLOB and Bone Therapeutics proprietary, scalable cell therapy manufacturing process ALLOB is the companys off-the-shelf allogeneic cell therapy platform consisting of human allogeneic bone-forming cells. These cells are derived from cultured bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) from healthy adult donors. To address critical factors for the development and commercialization of cell therapy products, Bone Therapeutics has established a proprietary, optimized production process that improves the consistency, scalability, cost effectiveness and ease of use of the ALLOB platform. This optimized production process significantly increases the production yield, generating 100,000 of doses per bone marrow donation. Additionally, the final ALLOB product is cryopreserved, enabling easy shipment and the capability to be stored in a frozen form at the healthcare site. The process does therefore substantially improve product quality, reduce overall production costs, simplify supply chain logistics, increase patient accessibility and facilitate global commercialization compared to an autologous approach. Bone Therapeutics has implemented the optimized production process to produce clinical batches for the upcoming Phase IIb clinical trial in patients with tibial difficult-to-heal fractures. About Bone Therapeutics Bone Therapeutics is a leading biotech company focused on the development of innovative products to address high unmet needs in orthopedics and bone diseases. The Company has a broad, diversified portfolio of bone cell therapies and an innovative biological product in later-stage clinical development, which target markets with large unmet medical needs and limited innovation. Bone Therapeutics is developing an off-the-shelf protein solution, JTA-004, which is entering Phase III development for the treatment of pain in knee osteoarthritis. Positive Phase IIb efficacy results in patients with knee osteoarthritis showed a statistically significant improvement in pain relief compared to a leading viscosupplement. The clinical trial application (CTA) for the pivotal Phase III program has been approved by the Danish relevant authorities allowing the start of the study. Bone Therapeutics other core technology is based on its cutting-edge allogeneic cell therapy platform (ALLOB) which can be stored at the point of use in the hospital, and uses a unique, proprietary approach to bone regeneration, which turns undifferentiated stem cells from healthy donors into bone-forming cells. These cells can be administered via a minimally invasive procedure, avoiding the need for invasive surgery, and are produced via a proprietary, scalable cutting-edge manufacturing process. Following the CTA approval by the Belgian regulatory authority, the Company is ready to start the Phase IIb clinical trial with ALLOB in patients with difficult tibial fractures, using its optimized production process. The ALLOB platform technology has multiple applications and will continue to be evaluated in other indications including spinal fusion, osteotomy and maxillofacial and dental applications. Bone Therapeutics cell therapy products are manufactured to the highest GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) standards and are protected by a broad IP (Intellectual Property) portfolio covering ten patent families as well as knowhow. The Company is based in the BioPark in Gosselies, Belgium. Further information is available at www.bonetherapeutics.com. Contacts Bone Therapeutics SA Miguel Forte, MD, PhD, Chief Executive Officer Jean-Luc Vandebroek, Chief Financial Officer Tel: +32 (0) 71 12 10 00 investorrelations@bonetherapeutics.com International Media Enquiries: Image Box Communications Neil Hunter / Michelle Boxall Tel: 44 (0)20 8943 4685 neil@ibcomms.agency / michelle@ibcomms.agency For French Media and Investor Enquiries: NewCap Investor Relations & Financial Communications Pierre Laurent, Louis-Victor Delouvrier and Arthur Rouille Tel: + 33 (0)1 44 71 94 94 bone@newcap.eu Certain statements, beliefs and opinions in this press release are forward-looking, which reflect the Company or, as appropriate, the Company directors` current expectations and projections about future events. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. A multitude of factors including, but not limited to, changes in demand, competition and technology, can cause actual events, performance or results to differ significantly from any anticipated development. Forward looking statements contained in this press release regarding past trends or activities should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. As a result, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any update or revisions to any forward-looking statements in this press release as a result of any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based. Neither the Company nor its advisers or representatives nor any of its subsidiary undertakings or any such person`s officers or employees guarantees that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does either accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or the actual occurrence of the forecasted developments. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. 4th time lucky, Shivraj Singh Chouhan takes oath as Madhya Pradesh CM India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Mar 23: BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan took oath as Madhya Pradesh's chief minister Monday, 23 March, at Raj Bhavan in Bhopal. He was elected state BJP Legislature Party leader in the evening. The legislature party members - wearing masks due to coronavirus threat and sitting two chairs away from each other - unanimously elected Chouhan as their leader. The BJP's central observers Arun Singh and Vinay Sahasrabuddhe joined the meeting via video conferencing from Delhi. Senior BJP MLA and ex-leader of opposition Gopal Bhargava proposed the name of Chouhan as legislature party leader, which was endorsed by Vijay Shah, Meena Singh, Paras Jain and other MLAs. After this process, Arun Singh announced Chouhan's name as leader of BJP legislature party. Chouhan, who thanked the MLAs, accused the outgoing Congress dispensation of "ruining" the state, and said he would change the way of running the government from now. Calling fighting the coronavirus as his top priority, Chouhan said, "We will defeat this disease." "We will improve our governance....the shortcomings so far will be removed," he said. He said he will go to Mantralaya (state secretariat) after taking oath and sit till late night to review measures taken to deal with the novel coronavirus outbreak. This comes days after the Congress government in the state fell, with the resignation of Kamal Nath as the CM. The crisis in the state was precipitated by Jyotiraditya Scindia's shift to the BJP, and the resignation of 22 Congress MLAs. Medical workers conduct SARS-CoV-2 tests in Hai Phong city (Photo: VNA) March 22 also witnessed the biggest increase in the number of infections in a single day as the country reported a total of 19 new cases. The 107th case is a 25-year-old daughter of the 86th patient, residing in Hanois Thanh Xuan district. The 108th patient is a 19-year-old student who returned to Vietnam from the UK on flight VN054 (seat number 3K). He has been quarantined since his arrival in Vietnam on March 18. The 109th patient is a 42-year-old lecturer of a university in the UK. He came back to Vietnam on March 15 on flight TG560 (seat number 37E) after transiting in Bangkok, Thailand. He had been quarantined at a military school in Hanois Son Tay town before be transferred to the National Hospital of Tropical Disease in Dong Anh district. The 110th case is a 19-year-old student returning to Vietnam from the US on March 19. He flew home on flight JL571 (seat number 1A) after transiting in Japan. He had close contact with a confirmed patient in the US on March 8. When entering Vietnam, the patient had fever symptoms so he was brought to the National Hospital of Tropical Disease in Dong Anh district for quarantine and treatment. The 111th patient, 25, is a female student who came back home from France on March 19 on flight VN018 (seat number). The patient had sample taken for testing at Noi Bai International Airport before being brought to a concentrated quarantine area in Hung Yen province. The 112th case is also a student returning from France. The 30-year-old patient flew home on flight VN018 (seat number 22C) on March 18. Previously, she worked as a part-time waitress at a Vietnamese noodle restaurant in France where she had close contact with a suspected case who got cough recently. The Hanoi Centre for Disease Prevention and Control took her sample for testing before bringing her to a concentrated quarantine area in Hung Yen province. Lastly, the 113th patient is an 18-year-old female student returning to Vietnam from the UK on flight VN054 (seat number 2A) on March 18. She was quarantined and her sample was tested positive for the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. All the patients have been quarantined and treated at the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Dong Anh district, and in stable health condition. The majority of states in the U.S. have a workers' compensation system that's a great safety net for both employees and employers. Workers get compensated for the loss of income and medical expenses, while employers are protected against expensive and often lengthy personal-injury lawsuits. Workers' compensation cases, with limited exceptions, do not require you to prove who is at fault, and usually, the employee loses the right to sue the employer for damages due to pain and suffering. Rather, it typically covers random cases of ordinary negligence in the workplace. However, this employer immunity against being sued is not absolute. As with all rules, there are exceptions, and this is where employers and business owners must be cautious. A successful personal-injury lawsuit due can be costly, and in some cases, cost you your business. So, when can your employee sue you for injuries on the job? Related: 6 Ways to Improve Workplace Safety Without Going Broke 1. You deliberately or intentionally caused an injury to your employee Workers' compensation covers your workers against damages from an injury that is job-related. If you lose your temper and the worker sustains an injury due to a physical altercation between the two of you, it does not qualify as a work-related injury. In legal language, it is referred to as an intentional tort. It could even include intentionally inflicted emotional harm. A single blow that causes your employee to fall to the ground and hit his head, for example, could cause brain damage with life-long consequences and expenses to your employee. You could face a personal-injury lawsuit that might close down your business, and that's without even considering the consequences of your criminal trial. 2. Injuries caused by your non-compliance There is a comprehensive set of state and federal employment and occupational health and safety laws to protect employees against sustaining injuries. If you, as an employer, choose not to comply, you will be personally liable. In some states, for example, if you remove the guards on a power press and your employee suffers an injury to his or her hands, there is a specific exception that you as the employer can be sued directly. Generally, if you are aware of safety and health risks (and you should be if you are in the business) and you deliberately cut corners to save money and fail to protect your workers, you are setting yourself up for an expensive lawsuit. For example, if you fail to provide protective gear against asbestos exposure or against hearing loss from constant exposure to loud noise in your manufacturing plant, you might be held personally liable for reckless conduct. These situations might end up being the most expensive savings ever. In essence, you might end up closing your doors after multiple personal-injury lawsuits against you. 3. Toxic torts Sometimes, workers are required to work with toxic and volatile chemicals, and they'll generally be protected by workers' compensation. Still, they can occasionally be successful with a claim outside of workers' compensation based on toxic tort law. In a recent case, an employer instructed his employees to work with highly volatile chemicals. The specific chemicals had a history of exploding, and the employer was fully aware of this. One of the workers died in a subsequent explosion, and another was seriously injured. The Supreme Court held that the facts of that case overcame the employers immunity against being sued directly. 4. You are the manufacturer of the equipment that caused the injury Lets say you employ someone as a machine operator on a construction site. A chain breaks on the machine, and a heavy structure falls on your employee. The employee might have a case against you if you are also the manufacturer of the machine or the chain and you knew of the danger and didnt warn your employee. In terms of the healthy employee-employer relationship, the employee should be successful with a workers' compensation claim. In addition, he or she might have a product-liability case against you in your capacity as the manufacturer of the defective product. 5. You cover up the injury or deny the claim If you cover up your employees injury or the connection between the injury and the workplace, and further damages occur as a result of your cover-up, you may not have the protection of the workers' compensation system and could be liable for a personal-injury claim against you directly. 6. You decided not to take out workers' compensation insurance The law requires you to have workers' compensation insurance to protect your workers. If you decide not to take insurance, you give up the protection against personal lawsuits that is available to you. Besides it being against the law, it can easily mean the end of your business. Your workers can now sue you personally if they are injured on the job, even in cases of ordinary negligence. Not only will you be sued for their financial losses, but you can also face claims for current and future non-financial losses. 7. The injured person is not technically your employee Technically, you are not an employer if you employ an independent contractor to perform certain tasks related to your business. Therefore, you will not qualify for workers' compensation immunity if that person sustains a work-related injury while executing his or her duties. Likewise, in some states, some professions like commission-only salespeople or certain agricultural and seasonal workers are not considered employees for the purposes of workers' compensation. If they get injured while working for you, they cannot claim workers' compensation, but if they can prove that the injury was due to your negligence, he or she can sue you directly for personal-injury damages. Non-Work-Related "Workplace Injuries" Lets set aside personal-injury lawsuits for a moment. There are other actions that you can be sued for that could have serious consequences for your business, such as conduct that amounts to sexual harassment or discrimination based on race, religion, marital status, gender and so on. Any lawsuit can be very costly and time-consuming, with a significant impact on your business. Related: Workers' Compensation 101 Workers' compensation laws vary from state to state, and not all of these individual cases will necessarily mean that you have to close your doors, but potential personal-injury lawsuits are never worth the risk. Whatever the cause of the injury, in most cases, the indirect cost to your business often exceeds the actual cost. Loss of productivity, training new workers, damage to your property and/or to your business reputation all contribute to the bottom line. And dont forget about the costs of fines and penalties for non-compliance with state and federal laws. If you are facing a potential personal-injury lawsuit, speak to an experienced personal-injury lawyer as soon as possible. Besides the liability for damages, you may be fighting for the future of your business. Related: 8 Ways for Your Business to Stay Ahead During the Coronavirus Outbreak Coronavirus: 20 Do's and Don'ts To Follow To Stay Safe, Fit & Healthy 7 Workplace Injuries That Can Put You Out of Business Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved New York City was hit by the nation's largest coronavirus jail outbreak to date this week, with at least 38 people testing positive at the notorious Rikers Island complex and nearby facilities more than half of them incarcerated men, the board that oversees the city's jail system said Saturday. Another inmate, meanwhile, became the first in the country to test positive in a federal jail. In a letter to New York's criminal justice leaders, Board of Correction interim chairwoman Jacqueline Sherman described a jail system in crisis. She said in the past week, board members learned that 12 Department of Correction employees, five Correctional Health Services employees, and 21 people in custody at Rikers and city jails had tested positive for the coronavirus. And at least another 58 were being monitored in the prison's contagious disease and quarantine units, she said. "It is likely these people have been in hundreds of housing areas and common areas over recent weeks and have been in close contact with many other people in custody and staff," said Sherman, warning that cases could skyrocket. "The best path forward to protecting the community of people housed and working in the jails is to rapidly decrease the number of people housed and working in them." New York officials have consistently downplayed the number of infections in its prisons and jails, The Associated Press has found in conversations with current and former inmates. Late Saturday, the city's Department of Correction acknowledged 19 inmates had tested positive two fewer than in the board's letter and 12 staff members. On Friday, department said just one inmate had been diagnosed with coronavirus, along with seven jail staff members. Earlier this week, Juan Giron was transferred to Rikers Island from an upstate facility after his sentence was vacated because the judge had failed to consider him for youthful offender treatment. After going through intake, where he underwent health screening, he was taken to a dormitory that housed more than two dozen men, their beds lined up next to one another, spaced a few feet apart. "This is like a shelter. So everybody is out and about. You're talking to people, mingling," Giron said. "Last night, a guy is brought in at around 6 p.m., and a few hours later, two police officers come in with masks and gloves on and try to give the guy a mask. They looked scared, didn't even want to touch him. They told him to pack up, so he packed up and they took him out. It was crazy." "We asked one of the officers and they said, 'That's the process we are doing now for guys who have the virus,'" Giron said, adding that others who had had contact with the man have not been questioned or notified about his status. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. More than 2.2 million people are incarcerated in the United States more than anywhere in the world and there are growing fears that an outbreak could spread rapidly through a vast network of federal and state prisons, county jails and detention centers. It's a tightly packed, fluid population that is already grappling with high rates of health problems and, when it comes to the elderly and the infirm, elevated risks of serious complications. With limited capacity nationally to test for COVID-19, men and women inside worry that they are last in line when showing flu-like symptoms, meaning that some may be infected without knowing it. The first positive tests from inside prisons and jails started trickling out just over a week ago, with less than two dozen officers and staff infected in other facilities from California and Michigan to Pennsylvania. Sherman wrote to the commissioner of New York City's Department of Correction, the chief judge of the Court of Appeals, New York's acting commissioner, and the district attorney, asserting that those who are at higher risk from infection, including people over 50 or with underlying health conditions, should be considered for early release. So should people detained for administrative reasons, like parole violations, she wrote. Mayor Bill de Blasio earlier this week said prosecutors were working to identify candidates and by Friday night, prosecutors in New York City agreed to release 56 Rikers inmates on their own recognizance. Bianca Tylek, executive director of the national criminal justice advocacy organization of Worth Rises, said that wouldn't cut it. "There are nearly 1,500 people incarcerated on Rikers Island for low-level offenses or technical parole violations who can be released immediately," she said. "Releasing them would reduce their risk of infection, reduce the risk for all those who remain incarcerated, and reduce the spread of the virus into the public." No matter how you look at the numbers, one country stands out from the rest: South Korea. In late February and early March, the number of new coronavirus infections in the country exploded from a few dozen, to a few hundred, to several thousand. At the peak, medical workers identified 909 new cases in a single day, Feb. 29, and the country of 50 million people appeared on the verge of being overwhelmed. But less than a week later, the number of new cases halved. Within four days, it halved again and again the next day. On Sunday, South Korea reported only 64 new cases, the fewest in nearly a month, even as infections in other countries continue to soar by the thousands daily, devastating health care systems and economies. Italy records several hundred deaths daily; South Korea has not had more than eight in a day. South Korea is one of only two countries with large outbreaks, alongside China, to flatten the curve of new infections. And it has done so without Chinas draconian restrictions on speech and movement, or economically damaging lockdowns like those in Europe and the United States. Coronavirus spread rapidly this weekend in Africa, jumping to over 1,300 detected cases, while there are over 335,000 confirmed cases and 14,000 deaths worldwide. At least 33 of the continents 54 countries are affected, though it is certain that many undetected cases or asymptomatic coronavirus carriers are circulating in Africa. The continents entire population is at risk of becoming infected, a development which would rapidly swamp its inadequate and underfunded health systems. A horrific death toll would result if the virus spreads in the countryside, densely packed slums and working-class areas of the continents massive cities. A coordinated, international struggle to halt the spread of coronavirus in Africa is now an urgent necessity. Africa must prepare for the worst as community spread of the virus has already begun, World Health Organization director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned last Wednesday. Most African countries have now closed their borders to people arriving from countries hard hit by coronavirus, including the United States and the European countries In North Africa, Egyptthe continents hardest-hit country, where Africas first case was recorded on February 14has at least 294 cases and 6 dead. The military regime of General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is contemplating a curfew and generalized stay-at-home orders for the population to try to halt the pandemics spread. Egypt is followed by Algeria (201 sick, 17 dead), Morocco (109 cases, 3 dead) and Tunisia (75 sick, 3 dead). The number of cases in Libya, a country devastated by the ongoing civil war provoked by the 2011 NATO war nearly a decade ago, is unknown. Authorities in these countries have closed schools, mosques and universities, suspended flights towards high-risk countries, and banned mass gatherings. In Tunisia, the state is even asking its impoverished population to finance the struggle against the virus with donations. Many West African countries are also hard hit. Senegal has confirmed 56 cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, and authorities are considering outlawing the sale of bread in neighborhood groceries in an attempt to halt the spread. They have also banned all public demonstrations on Senegals entire territory for 30 days. The number of the sick is surging in other West African countries as well, including Burkina Faso, a country destabilized by French imperialisms war in Mali; it has seen 75 cases including four dead, the first in sub-Saharan Africa. Ghana has 21 cases and NigeriaAfricas most populous country, with over 200 million inhabitantshas 30 confirmed infections. In East Africa, the spread of the virus also poses enormous dangers with dozens of cases detected in many countries: Rwanda (17), Ethiopia (11), Kenya (15), Tanzania (12), Sudan (2), Seychelles (7), Somalia (1) and Mauritius (24 sick and two dead). Yesterday, Rwandan authorities closed their borders, imposed confinement orders on the population and put the country on lockdown. According to Radio France Internationale, Kenyan authorities have arrested several individuals accused of profiteering or inciting panic over the pandemic. They arrested a 23-year-old man who had posted messages to Twitter accusing the state of lying about the first COVID-19 cases recorded in the country, and who now faces a $50,000 fine and up to 10 years in prison. Last night, the Kenyan government also moved to suspend all flights out of the country indefinitely starting Wednesday at midnight. Cases have also been detected in Central Africa notably in Cameroon (40), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (23) and in the impoverished Central African Republic (3). Governments there are taking preventive measures to suspend all flights to and from at-risk countries and close schools, places of worship and bars. Coronavirus is particularly threatening to Africa not only because of the lack of adequate health infrastructure in working class areas, slums and the countryside, but also because of the many AIDS and tuberculosis patients. These and other individuals with weakened immune systems risk developing extreme serious cases of COVID-19 that they could not survive without intensive care in a hospital equipped with respirators and other advanced equipment. With this equipment largely lacking as the virus rapidly spreads, a catastrophe that could claim millions of lives threatens the continent. The COVID-19 contagion has spread significantly in South Africa, a country of 59 million people, with more than 274 cases as of this writing. We must alert all South Africans that the risk of internal transmission has now arrived, commented Health Minister Zweli Mkhize. Once this infection begins to spread in taxis and buses, it will create a new dynamic. We have seven million HIV+ people, and 2 million are not currently under treatment, recalled professor Susan Goldstein, a health specialist and assistant director of the Wits Center for Health Economics and Decision Science, in an interview with Al Jazeera. Nor do we know either how things will go in very poor regions where there is no space for quarantines, Goldstein added. The coronavirus pandemic is again revealing the bankruptcy of the world capitalist system. African governments defend the interests of a narrow layer of capitalist elites, closely tied to imperialism, who have overseen the exploitation of low-wage labor by corporations from the old European colonial powers, American imperialism, and emerging Asian economies. They collaborate as well in imperialist wars launched in Africa by Washington or the European imperialist powers. As a result, decades after these countries won formal independence from imperialism, basic social services and social infrastructure remain at best deeply inadequate. Most of the African population does not have health insurance and depends on public clinics or hospitals. Even in South Africa, one of the continents wealthier countries, 82 percent of the population does not have insurance. Public hospitals are critically short on staff and are frequently overwhelmed by epidemics. It is essential to coordinate an international campaign to provide the medical equipment and staff necessary to stop the contagion in Africa. Professor Mosa Moshabela of the School of Nursing Sciences and Public Health of the University of Kwazulu Natal, told Al Jazeera: We cannot contain COVID-19 with our health system alone. If we look at how Italy [Europes coronavirus hotspot] is coping with the virus - we cant do it. Addressing the catastrophic situation in Italy, where thousands are dying as hospitals are overwhelmed by the rapid onrush of patients in critical condition, the professor added: We will be similar to that with the difference is that we dont have a big old population but a high number of people who have TB and HIV. Those who are going to be affected the most are going to be between 20 and 60. It is urgent to sound the alarm on the danger of that without immediate action the disease could spread, become endemic, and potentially lead to a catastrophic loss of millions of lives. This danger is not, moreover, a threat for the African population alone. Given the close links in a globalized economynotably between Europe, America and Africa through which this disease has spreadthe growth of COVID-19 in any individual country poses an enormous threat of contagion to workers of all countries. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Mayor Bill de Blasio said New York City may consider shutting down playgrounds if residents dont maintain social distancing. The mayor said during a press conference Sunday that playgrounds will continue to stay open to the maximum extent possible." If people are responsible about the use of the playgrounds, and we believe its a good outlet for kids who are home to get a short period of exercise per day, well keep them open," de Blasio said. However, de Blasio said if the city feels playgrounds arent being handled properly, if people are taking advantage of playgrounds, or not paying attention to the rules, the city will have to strongly consider shutting them down. Thats not something I want to do, he said. I really dont want to do that...So were going to see how this week goes. The mayor said Sunday that New York City will enforce social distancing guidelines at playgrounds -- making sure they arent overcrowded. He added that playgrounds never have been cleaned or sanitized, and cant be in this situation. If youre going to go on a playground, you have to take full responsibility for the situation," he said. "We cannot have overcrowding on a playground. If there are some people already on the playground and its starting to get where you cant keep six feet away from people who are not part of your family, dont go on the playground. *** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK *** PARKS STILL OPEN New York City parks continue to be open. De Blasio said Sunday that its normal for residents to want to get outside and exercise, but New Yorkers should continue to socially distance. It is absolutely normal and human to want to get outside, to get a little bit of exercise. But I remind you, the pause is all about social distancing," said de Blasio. "It is all about protecting ourselves and our families and each other. When we say you can go out for some exercise, were not saying you can linger. Were not saying you can make a day of it. Were saying go out, get a minimum amount of exercise, get what you need and then get back indoors. People who live under the same roof and are already exposed to each other all day dont need to distance themselves from others, he said. However, de Blasio said people mixing with non-family members is how we see a spread of this disease. You can go to the park, but only for a limited period of time, he said. Families can stay together, but dont mix with other families. If youre going on your own, stay on your own. Keep six feet apart from everybody else. Go, get your exercise and get home. NO MORE GATHERINGS De Blasio said the city will be enforcing a ban on large gatherings, like team sports, barbecues or parties. Theres no more gatherings, theres no more events, theres no more big barbecues, he said. That is gone for now. Its not gone forever. Its gone certainly for weeks, probably for months. At some point, well be able to resume a more normal life. Park restrooms are open. The Parks Department is cleaning them daily with appropriate cleaning products to ensure that they are being fully disinfected, the department website says. CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK De Blasio announced during the press conference that the number of confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths continues to rise in New York City, with 9,654 cases confirmed -- 593 of which are in Staten Island -- and 63 deaths citywide. There have been at least six deaths on Staten Island, the Advance/SILive.com reported. *** Be the first to know: Sign up for our newsletters; and get breaking news and top stories pushed to your phone with the SILive.com mobile app. RELATED COVERAGE Schools closed: Heres where NYC students can get free meals Coronavirus: Several Staten Island schools announce confirmed cases Coronavirus: 1 confirmed case at Tottenville HS As coronavirus cases advance worldwide, medical supplies and hospital beds dwindle Stop & Shop gives workers 10% raise amid coronavirus outbreak Wagner College postpones commencement due to coronavirus Coronavirus: DMV shuts down all offices, auto bureaus Relief for homeowners: 90-day mortgage extension and more Rapidly shifting real estate market: Canceled open houses, virtual tours Coronavirus: Senate passes paid-leave bill for all New Yorkers Staten Island sees 120% jump in confirmed coronavirus cases, with 165, as testing capacity expands Small business owner: Coronavirus is going to crush us FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER. Six Indians have been camping at the Dubai airport for the past five days after they were not allowed to board their connecting flight back home due to travel restrictions placed by India to limit the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a media report. The men flew into Dubai from various European countries on March 18. They were supposed to take the Emirates EK 510 flight to New Delhi later that evening. However, they couldn't get onto the plane as the same day India imposed a ban on all passengers arriving from Europe, the Gulf reported on Sunday. Since then, the men are stranded at Terminal 3 of Dubai Aiport. Three of the six passengers hail from Punjab and one each from Rajasthan, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh. "We don't know what to do. We have been sleeping on airport benches...I don't know how long this stalemate will continue. Initially there were seven of us but one of the passengers flew back to France on Sunday as he was tired of waiting, the paper quoted Deepak Gupta from Delhi as saying. Ajmer Singh from Himachal Pradesh said he is on the edge of a nervous breakdown. The passengers said they have contacted the Indian consulate for help several times but haven't heard back from them. Neeraj Agrawal, head of chancery and consul (Press, Information and Culture) at the Indian Consulate in Dubai said they are trying to resolve the issue. We are aware of the case. Unfortunately, given the current scenario, there is only so much that we can do at this stage. The airport hotels are full so we can't accommodate them there. We can't fly them to India either. That said, we are in regular touch with the airlines and local authorities to relieve the plight of stranded men, said Agarwal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-24 00:06:09|Editor: yan Video Player Close DAR ES SALAAM, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said on Monday the government has formed three committees charged with leading the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. A statement by the Prime Minister's Office said Majaliwa announced the formation of the three committees in a meeting with ministers and permanent secretaries held in the capital Dodoma. He said the first committee will be headed by the Prime Minister and its members will include some ministers, permanent secretaries and the chief government spokesperson, according to the statement. Majaliwa said the second committee comprising permanent secretaries from relevant ministries will be headed by the chief permanent secretary and the third committee comprising of experts will be headed by the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, the Elderly and Children. The premier said the committees will be entrusted in strengthening the fight against the spread of the virulent disease that has already infected 12 people in the east African nation. Tanzanian President John Magufuli announced on Sunday that the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country has risen to 12, appealing for heightened observance of protective guidelines given by health authorities. "People should not panic but they should continue observing protective guidelines given by health authorities," he said in his address to the nation televised live by state-run Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation from the capital Dodoma. The state Department of Public Health has confirmed the first two cases of COVID-19 in Branford both men between the ages of 63 and 70, Director of Health Michael Pascucilla of the East Shore District Health Department said Monday. Positive cases of COVID-19 in Branford have been expected as community transmission of the virus has been occurring in the area, Pascucilla said in a release. The East Shore District Health Department will work with the individuals to ensure all appropriate CDC guidance is followed to limit any potential for exposure, he said. Meanwhile, Guilford First Selectman Matt Hoey announced the first two positive cases of COVID-19 in that town. The first individual, a 73-year-old man, is safely recovering at home after a mild illness. The second case, is a 71-year-old male and a non-Guilford resident who temporarily resided in a Guilford rehabilitation facility. He is recovering at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System West Haven campus and is expected to be discharged home, Hoey said. Neighboring East Haven reported its first case on Friday; a 79-year-old man who was hospitalized. Also Monday, officials in Derby announced in a release that a city resident tested positive for COVID-19. The individual, who was not identified, will remain in quarantine at home. Individuals who reside in the same household as any laboratory confirmed positive case will also be required to self-quarantine at their home. The single best way to slow the spread is to practice social distancing, and the Town of Branford is recommending that all individuals, both adults and children, stay home and not interact with individuals outside of the household, Pascucilla said in the release. Social distancing is crucial in helping to reduce the spread of the virus and limit the number of people who are infected, he said. The towns main objective is to continue to keep residents safe and slow the spread of the virus, said First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove. He sought to assure residents that his staff and all town departments are working with the local health department, along with state and federal officials. We must remain diligent in exercising the prudent recommendations to slow the spread of the virus, Cosgrove said in the release. These measures will help protect our community against a widespread outbreak. mark.zaretsky@hearstmediact.com Clinker imports into Bangladesh up 4% ICR Newsroom By 23 March 2020 The import of clinker into Bangladesh has increased by 3.6 per cent in the first seven months of the FY19-20, according to data released by the Central Bank of Bangladesh. Clinker volumes to a value of US$554.8m were imported during this period, a significant increase when compared with 7MFY18-19 when the value of clinker imports reached US$535.3m. Total imports declined by 4.4 per cent YoY to US$34.58bn between July 2019 and January 2020. The fall is due to a number of factors, including the coronavirus pandemic. Due to its extensive grinding capacity but limited clinker capacity, Bangladesh is one of the largest clinker importers in the world. It imports significant volumes from China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Pakistan and Vietnam. Published under The hopeful period during which Donald Trump was taking the advice of public health professionals appears to be over. Sunday night, he tweeted this: WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF. AT THE END OF THE 15 DAY PERIOD, WE WILL MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHICH WAY WE WANT TO GO! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 23, 2020 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Monday morning, he (or his approved social media henchmen) retweeted several sycophantic MAGA accounts that were repeating talking points about getting the country back to work at the end of a 15-day lockdown period in order to preserve the economy President Trump has built up. If youre not clear on what this 15-day national lockdown even is, given that many states have yet to prohibit large gatherings or close nonessential businesses, Bloomberg reports that it was a plan from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stem the rise of cases by encouraging most people to stay at home and that it began last Monday. By Thursday, thoughDay Three, of the scheduled 15, during which the president, unlike many people who are engaged in protective social distancing, is working in his normal environment without having his income interrupted or being expected to care for a child or elderly personTrump began to panic and started talking about how to get people back to work. Bloomberg notes that this idea, of getting employees who are still healthy back on the job, has also been aired in public comments by such figures as former Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein and former Trump adviser/Goldman Sachs executive Gary Cohn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As respected as Lloyd Blankfein is in public health circles, the problem with his analysis would seem to be there continue to be more reported U.S. coronavirus cases and deaths each day than there were the day before. (Italy, which began an actual nationwide lockdown 13 days ago, has still not flattened its curve either.) The trend would be exacerbated by sending workers (who can spread the virus even if they are asymptomatic) back into workplaces where they routinely stand or sit within six feet of colleagues for long periods. Many of them, moreover, would be using public transportation (which at-risk individuals would also be using to, e.g., go to the grocery store or the doctor) to get to work in the first place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The approach could possibly work if testing became widely available enough to immediately identify and quarantine carriers, and if filtered masks could be distributed to those who were able to leave the home, as they have been in South Korea. But the CDC (which is part of the Trump administration) prepared only a limited number of faulty tests in January and February, creating a shortage that other producers have still not been able to make up. Medical supplies like masks are also running out, and Trump still has not used the Defense Production Act to order companies to make them. He has not done enough preparation, in other words, to abandon the emergency policy that is currently struggling to contain the damage he created by not preparing. Everyone stay inside! Dont listen to the president. For more on the impact of the coronavirus, listen to this weeks episode of Amicus. "To say its been an unproductive shit show is probably pretty accurate." I haven't talked to a parent in the last week and a half that is not - at a minimum - halfway freaked out. It's of course due to, you know, pandemic and potential economic collapse, but in almost equal measure none of us know what the fuck we are going to do without daycare or school. The homeless and working-class are already suffering hard times and many others are out there risking their biscuit every day at ESSENTIAL jobs . . . Here's a glimpse at a middle-class story of inconvenience as the pandemic worsens and people will hopefully eventually stop writing this kind of playful garbage or at least quarantine it among their frenemies on Facebook.More importantly, this one reminds us of a glorious time when The Pitch was once the home of edgy writers who challenged the status quo and were able to craft witty text that spoke to an army of local scumbags . . . Now the content seems mostly geared toward housewives and their side-hustles.Read more: Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Monday said coronavirus suspects who have tested negative for COVID-19 will now be kept in isolation for 14 days, as per the Centre's new precautionary advisory. Speaking to reporters, Tope said earlier people who tested negative were kept in isolation wards for seven days only. "As per the Centres fresh advisory, these patients will be kept in isolation for 14 days. The revised advisory is meant for more safety from the states side," he said. At present, six coronavirus testing laboratories are functional in the state and the government is trying to use them to their optimal capacity, said the minister. "I have been told that all the government-run medical colleges across the state will also have testing laboratories from March 27," he added. The number of Covid-19 patients has jumped by 15 in one day, but those without any travel history who got the infections are the close relatives of the coronavirus positive patients, he said. "It is not a community transmission," he said. Asked about citizens crowding roads despite the enforcement of CrPC Section 144, Tope said, We will have to use force and initiate legal action against violators. We do not want to take such tough decision, as we want to trust people. We expect people to cooperate with us." He also urged people to conduct blood donation camps on small scale so that social distancing is maintained as well as supply of blood is ensured. "Maharashtra blood bank has supply for only next 15 days. If a small scale blood camp is organised, it will help the state machinery and the required social distancing to avoid spread of the coronavirus will also be followed," he said. There is no need to organise a large scale blood donation camp as social distancing is advised by the Centre. If such camps are organised at a small scale, it will be very helpful for the state health department, he said. "We are in need of blood supply. Blood donation would not make you weaker. During blood donation, a small volume is taken out, which does not affect the person's immunity. In fact, it will be good if people come forward in small groups and carry out blood donation," the minister said. Meanwhile, NCP chief Sharad Pawar also appealed to people to stay indoors. In a video message, Pawar said, "People should leave their home only in an emergency situation. They should not come out on streets and increase the burden on police. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Monday asked the government to set aside separate funds for a substantial package to save the lives and livelihood of crores of people affected due to coronavirus since the Finance Bill has been approved by Parliament. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Yechury said now is the time to use our resources for saving lives. "Now that the Finance Bill has been approved by Parliament, the central government must set aside separate funds for a substantial package to save the lives and livelihood of crores of people," he said. He wrote that the country and the people are in the midst of the grim battle against the spread of COVID-19 and in many states a general lockdown is being enforced to stop the community spread of the virus. "Many governments have announced that they will guarantee the payment of at least 80 per cent of salaries drawn by workers who are now unable to attend work. India's government must do so too. There should be a moratorium on bank loans for a year for small medium enterprises (SMEs) and retail traders as well as on EMIs," he said. Yechury also flagged the necessity to scale up the testing of people, particularly those with declared symptoms. "All testing kits approved by the National Institute of Virology (NIV) must be utilised. It is strange that the Union Health Ministry has issued a circular that only those testing kits approved by the US FDA and European EC alone will be used. Reports indicate that there is only one manufacturer in Gujarat who produces such kits. In view of the gravity of the situation, this circular must be withdrawn and all kits approved by the NIV must be deployed for use, urgently," he said. Yechury also demanded that ration kits must be supplied to the families of the children who used to benefit from the mid-day meal scheme. Free ration through public distribution system (PDS) to all BPL/APL families should be given for a month, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tensions over this question are rising by the hour. Wary of a long, confined spring, city dwellers are fanning out to vacation rentals, their own second homes, or anywhere else they can find. Airbnb bookings by urban customers traveling to nonurban areas are surging, according to a spokesman. I cant just imagine staying in an apartment with a dog and a child when theres a lawn and space upstate, said Natasha Schull, 48, a cultural anthropologist at New York University who left Manhattan on Thursday for her home in Delaware County. Worried about a medical condition that predisposes her to pneumonia, she checked the number of ventilators available at the hospital there: 12. Its an instant national ethical dilemma, exacerbating already-tense relationships between rich and poor, urban and rural, and, in the case of Hawaii, largely white outsiders and more diverse locals. Who gets to shelter where? Or take the last sack of flour at a small supermarket, or one of those precious upstate ventilators? Destinations known for welcoming visitors are now closing themselves off. After Ms. Jabola Carolus wrote, Hawaii announced a mandatory 14-day quarantine for all incoming travelers. Southeast Utah has prohibited lodging for nonessential visitors, and Colorado has announced it doesnt want tourists either. The Outer Banks of North Carolina are shut to nonresidents. The Maine island of North Haven went even further, barring all visitors, including seasonal residents. History shows that may be the correct call. During the 1918 influenza pandemic, Gunnison, Colo., erected barricades over its highways (against the world, in the words of a county physician) and quarantined anyone who entered. Neighboring towns were decimated, but Gunnisons losses were low. Yerba Buena, an island in San Francisco Bay with a military base and a population of 5,000, locked down for two months with similar results. Projections of the viruss spread show the brutal truth: Fellow city dwellers, we pose a threat to everyone else. There are now well over 600 confirmed coronavirus cases in Pennsylvania, the state Department of Health said Monday. The department has confirmed 644 cases statewide, a one-day increase of 165 cases. Its the largest one-day increase to date. The health department released new figures Monday. Cases have now been identified in 34 of Pennsylvanias 67 counties. All of those who have tested positive for the coronavirus are either in isolation at home or being treated at a hospital, the health department said. Gov. Tom Wolf is expected to issue a stay-at-home order today for Philadelphia and its suburbs, as well as Monroe and Allegheny counties, Spotlight PA reported. There are 6,595 patients who have tested negative, the department said. The state is no longer providing updates on how many test results are still pending. Most testing is now being done in private laboratories or in hospitals. On Sunday, a man in Monroe County died from complications of the coronavirus, according to a local official. He was a 56-year-old man from East Stroudsburg, the Monroe County Coroner said, according to lehighvalleylive.com. The state health department tally Monday lists three fatalities but the Monroe County death, if confirmed by the state, would appear to be the fourth. While the bulk of the cases have been reported in the eastern part of the state, more cases are being reported across Pennsylvania, the health department says. Most counties in the Harrisburg region have at least one confirmed case, according to state figures. Cumberland County leads the Harrisburg area with 12 cases, including one new case reported today. Montgomery County has the highest number of cases at 129, with Philadelphia just behind with 128 cases. Dozens of new cases were reported in the city and in Montgomery today. In western Pennsylvania, Allegheny County now has 48 cases, including eight new cases reported today. In northeastern Pennsylvania, Monroe County now has 43 cases, including 12 new cases reported today. The first cases of coronavirus in Pennsylvania were reported a little more than two weeks ago. State health officials have said the exponential growth in cases is driving the states tougher measures to prevent hospitals from being inundated with more cases than they can handle. Wolf has taken aggressive steps to stem the spread of the coronavirus. He has ordered businesses that arent considered life-sustaining to close and the enforcement of that order began at 8 a.m. State police and other state agencies will be enforcing the order. The governor has also closed schools for a two-week period and has said they could be shut down for a longer period but no decision has been made. Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine has urged Pennsylvania residents to stay home so the virus cant spread. Health officials are worried about hospitals being overwhelmed if the number of cases keeps growing exponentially. More from PennLive Gov. Wolf to enforce closure of all non-life-sustaining businesses starting Monday Coronavirus expected to put regular life on hold for months, maybe longer, experts say Pa. primary could be moved to June 2 due to coronavirus The Affordable Care Act is 10 years old; Sen. Casey says it can help in coronavirus crisis US President Donald Trump confirmed that he has sent a personal letter to Kim Jong-un, offering assistance to North Korea in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. "We are open to helping other countries," Trump told reporters during a press conference at the White House on Sunday. Trump said it was a very serious time and added that the US had also offered help to Iran which is also facing a tough time, Efe news reported. Information about the letter was made public by Kim's sister and central committee member of the Workers' Party, Kim Yo-jong, on Sunday. It came day after the North Korean leader oversaw a test launch of the powerful tactical guided weapon on Saturday, prompting criticism from Seoul in the context of the health crisis and amid the stalled denuclearization talks between Pyongyang and Washington. Kim Yo-jong in a statement released by state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the letter sent by Trump was "good judgment" by the US President. She said it was a step in the right direction to keep the "good relations he had with our chairman" going. The "personal letter again", she said, was delivered "at a time when big difficulties and challenges lie in the way of developing the bilateral relations". "He (Trump) also explained his plan to propel the relations between the two countries and expressed his intent to render cooperation in the anti-epidemic work," concerning the COVID-19 infections around the world, she said. Kim's sister said Trump also "expressed his willingness to keep in close touch with the chairman in the future", and that the North Korean leader appreciated the personal letter from the US President. North Korea has so far not reported any coronavirus cases, but on Sunday, its main newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, urged the people to keep at least one meter away from one another and avoid public transport to prevent contagion. Relations between Washington and Pyongyang have progressively cooled since the failed Hanoi summit in February 2019. Earlier this year, Kim said he saw no reason to maintain the self-imposed moratorium on his nuclear tests and missiles to foster dialog with the US. FY 2019 results - Indigo Group confirms the strength of its long-term development model Key Figures1 million 2018 2019 Change at current exchange rate (%) Change at constant exchange rate (%) Revenue 961.4 968.6 +0.7% -0.4% EBITDA PRE IFRS 16 307.7 312.4 +1.5% +1.2% % Margin Pre IFRS 16 32.0% 32.3% +0.3 pts EBITDA 307.7 351.3 +14.2% +13.8% % Margin 32.0% 36.3% +4.3 pts Operating income 196.3 71.8 -63.4% -63.5% Net income attributable to owners of the parent 82.2 3.9 n.d. n.d. Free Cash-Flow 230.4 192.3 -16.5% Note: 1. Consolidated Global Proportionate figures (except for Free cash flow computed according to IFRS standards) Serge Clemente, CEO of Indigo Group, said: "2019 results have confirmed the trajectory of solid growth observed in the previous years, while the disposal of 6 countries in 2018 and accounting standards had a significant negative impact on our headline numbers. We continued to roll out our "Goal 2025" plan, despite the episode of the yellow vests in France, by developing our long-term portfolio in geographies where the Group holds a leading position. In France we acquired in June 2019 Spie Batignolles concessions parking activities operated under the Spie Autocite brand, giving us the opportunity to densify our presence by integrating car parks enjoying prime geographical locations. We have also intensified our policy of acquiring fully owned car parks in countries where we are solidly established. This business model affords the advantage of generating strong recurring cash-flows over the long-term while providing more flexibility in terms of tariff policy management, diversification of activities and optimization of operational plans. Finally, in the majority of the countries in which we operate, we have been able to increase our territorial coverage and diversify our portfolio of customer types. With the support of its new shareholders Vauban Infrastructure Partners and MEAG, alongside Credit Agricole Assurances, the Group will continue to play a leading in role in the future of mobility, addressing with local authorities as well as public and private stakeholders, the challenges facing cities in the area of transportation and individual mobility." It should be noted that since the end of the fiscal year, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the start of the year, which had begun well. Indigo's primary concern has been to preserve its employees while ensuring continuity of service through our remote operations centres. Our second concern was to manage in the best way the decline in revenue by adapting our costs and preserving our cash flow. At the same time, we are organizing ourselves to be in a good position to emerge from the crisis. Summary In 2019, Indigo Group displayed a solid financial performance. The Group also took significant steps towards progressing its GOAL 2025 strategic plan. As regards to the parking segment, the Group achieved very good commercial breakthroughs in all its countries and strengthened its infrastructure business model, focusing on new concessions and ownerships through the acquisitions of Spie Autocite in France (concessions portfolio) and ownership car parks in France, Belgium and Spain. In North America, Indigo Group expanded its footprint and portfolio of activities notably through gaining control of its former 50-50 joint venture West Park in Canada and developing the promising shuttling activity through an acquisition in the USA. Simultaneously Indigo Group established a partnership with Sunsea Parking to enter the Chinese market. All other geographical areas of the Group continued to show strong operational performance. As regards to its Mobility and Digital Solutions (MDS) business line, the Group continued in 2019 to increase its contribution to Indigo Group's revenue. Finally, since September 2019, the group has new supporting and long-term shareholders with Vauban Infrastructure Partners (ex Mirova) and MEAG having completed the acquisition of Ardian's stake in Infra Foch Topco. Overview At 31 December 2019, the Group managed c. 2,400,000 parking spaces across c. 5,450 facilities (based on a 100% share of operations, including in countries where the Group operates through a joint venture). Of those spaces, 56.2% were in North America, 19.2% in France, 16.1% in the IBSA - Iberica South America - region (Spain, Brazil, Colombia and Panama) and 8.4% in other Continental European countries. The Group's consolidated Global Proportionate revenue for the year 2019 was 968.6 million, down 0.4% on 2018 at constant exchange rates and up 0.7% (7.2 million) unadjusted for currency movements. Excluding the disposal of the Group's activities in the United Kingdom, Germany, Czech Republic and Slovakia which accounted for 66.2 million in 2018 ("Leo sale"), revenue grew 6.8% (61.9 million) at constant exchange rates. In France, despite the termination of several contracts at the end of 2018 and the Yellow Vests events but thanks to strikes at the end of 2019 and the integration of Spie Autocite, revenue was up 1.4%. Continental Europe countries (Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland) and North America regions made a strong contribution to growth at constant exchange rates, with revenue growth of 24.3% in Continental Europe countries and 14.4% in North America. The Iberica South America region showed a reduction of 6.2% compared to 2018 due to impacts relating to turnover of variable rent contracts in Brazil (IFRS 15 -17.1 million with no impact on EBITDA). Finally, the MDS business line generated revenue of 20.6 million in 2019 versus 12.3 million in 2018. The Group's consolidated Global Proportionate EBITDA was 351.3 million in 2019 and 307.7 million in 2018. Excluding the IFRS 16 standard effect of 38.9 million, EBITDA grew 1.2% or 3.7 million at constant exchange rates compared to 2018 and up 1.5% or 4.7 million unadjusted for currency movements. Excluding the disposal of the Group's activities in the United Kingdom, Germany, Czech Republic and Slovakia which accounted for 15.3 million in 2018, EBITDA grew 6.5% (19.0 million) at constant exchange rates. In France EBITDA decreased 3.3% pre IFRS 16 mainly impacted by the revenue downside due to the Yellow Vests events impacting hourly revenue on the constant perimeter, the loss of contracts (mostly the ones with the city of Paris) and the negative impact of contracts renewal (mainly Porte Maillot under construction) and partly compensated by the integration of Spie Autocite. All international geographic regions made a considerable contribution to growth at constant exchange rates, with EBITDA increase of 11.4% pre IFRS 16 in Continental Europe, 17.2% pre IFRS 16 in North America and 75.4% pre IFRS 16 in the Iberica South America region. The MDS business line generated an EBITDA of -7.6 million in 2019 versus -12.4 million in 2018 reflecting the continued investment in the growth of the MDS business line. Group EBITDA margin pre IFRS 16 was 32.3% in 2019, 0.3 point higher than in 2018. EBITDA margin pre IFRS 16, was 52.3% in France, 44.2% in Continental Europe, 6.9% in North America and 33.2% in Iberica South America. These figures reflect the different business models used in the latter two geographical zones which, apart from Spain, mainly involve contracts under which the Group bears no traffic risk and carries out little investment but in return generates lower margins. Indigo Group's global proportionate operating income decreased to 71.8 million in 2019 as opposed to 196.3 million in 2018, the decrease of 124.5 million unadjusted for currency movements is mainly linked to disposal gains in 2018 on the Group's subsidiaries and businesses in the United Kingdom, Germany, Slovakia and Russia (103.2 million), depreciation, amortization and provision charges on the MDS business line's (25.8 million) and IFRS 16 (38.9 million). Consolidated net income attributable to owners of the parent amounted to 3.9 million in 2019, down from 82.2 million in 2018. The negative variance of the operating income 124.5 million is compensated with a positive variance of the net financial debt and other financial income and expense of 13.8 million, explained by the early redemption of bonds in 2018 that gave rise to a non-recurring financial expense of 19.8 million, and a 32.3 million saving in the net income tax expense mainly caused by the used in 2019 of fiscal deficits generated in 2018 and 2019 by the depreciation of Smovengo net assets value. IFRS net financial debt amounted to 2,145.5 million at 31 December 2019 as opposed to 1,633.1 million at 31 December 2018. The increase of net debt (512.4 million) is mainly due to the impact of the application of IFRS 16 for 177.1 million, an increase of debt related to fixed concession fees (IFRIC 12) of 103.4 million mainly due to the acquisition of Spie Autocite (variation of perimeter), the debt repayment of Spie Autocite for 36.1 million (variation of perimeter), significant investments in new infrastructure contracts (financial and development capex for 197.2 million) and a dividend of 93.5 million. Indigo Group's IFRS Free Cash Flow fell to 192.3 million in 2019 from 230.4 million in 2018, with a cash conversion ratio of 59.6% in 2019 (and 66.4% pre IFRS 16 as opposed to 78.0% in 2018); The shrinking of the cash conversion ratio is structurally linked to the application of IFRS 16 and exceptionally to the anticipation of operating debt payments (working capital) in France to facilitate the migration of the accounting tool. Outlook In the past few years, structural factors have threatened to put the parking model under significant tension, however disruption is slower than anticipated and several signs point to emerging opportunities. With this momentum, Indigo's resilient business model allows the Group to size these opportunities of growing societal challenges and act as major contributing partner for urban mobility transition through: revitalizing city centres in mid-size cities, creating new infrastructures and services in hyper dense centres, promoting transition to green mobility, dedicating on-street spaces to higher value uses The mission of Indigo goes beyond the traditional Parking business and several initiatives of the group in the last two years have demonstrated that Indigo has a prominent role to play in the transformation of urban mobility and the promotion of new urban models for parking infrastructures. To excel in this advantageous position engraved in our Goal 2025 strategic plan, we aim to pursue our growth ambitions for the core business by: Expanding our geographic footprint being focussed on large countries where we are / can become a leader, by continuing to target tuck-in acquisitions in mature markets to increase market share, by developing new expertise and by monitoring first operations in the Asian platform. Consolidating our core model by increasing portfolio duration (greenfield, ownership and yellowfield), by strengthening our position on growing segments (e.g. airports, rail stations, hospitals), by ensuring operational excellence (with automation & AI) and by improving efficiency (processes, back-office). Promoting talent and culture by creating common understanding of a shared vision of strategy and roadmap implementation (Goal 2025), by strengthening engagement of the middle management, by attracting and retaining talents in required capabilities (e.g. marketing, business intelligence, compliance, business development, digital) and by implementing an ambitious CSR policy. And strengthening 3 strategic accelerators for future growth: Increasing focus on customers by building loyalty for Indigo, using digital and marketing capabilities to generate additional revenue from previously unleveraged customer behaviours. Structuring curbside management offers to contribute to more harmonious cities, to win new concessions and to drive additional traffic into car parks while being profitable. Designing new models for parking to support urban space optimization with coordinated innovation across the Group to feed creation of new models for parking spaces in cities (Start-up Lab and Parking of the Future initiative). The Indigo Group, like the rest of the world, is facing the COVID-19 crisis. It has relayed government guidelines to its customers and is concerned about the health of its employees through the implementation of various protective measures. The Group's main risk lies in a drop in hourly traffic or even the closure of sites where Indigo assumes a traffic risk (i.e. infrastructure contracts) linked in particular to the implementation of population containment measures. The on-street parking business is also likely to be strongly impacted due to the free services and the cessation of enforcement activities imposed by the cities. In the event that the closures last and affect a significant number of sites, the Group could claim the existence of a case of unforeseen circumstances or "force majeure" from its clients. The Indigo Group can rely on its geographical diversity, the variety of its portfolio and its different types of customers and contracts to mitigate the effects of the crisis. The impact of COVID-19 mainly concerns hourly car park revenue and on-street parking revenue, with subscriber revenues expected to be affected to a lesser extent. These impacts on sales will have mechanical consequences on EBITDA, even though part of the costs is variable, and the Indigo Group could, in particular, resort to short-time working and renegotiation of fixed leases and fees. At the end of February 2020, the revenue is however in line with the budget. On the operational side, the Group has based its business continuity strategy on tele-operation, which allows Indigo to operate remotely with a sufficient level of service from national and/or local centres. These remote operations centres are fully capable of carrying out most of the security and day-to-day operating controls. In order to mitigate the risk of unavailability of all remote operation and intervention personnel in the same area over the same period of time (due to illness or containment), specific measures have been taken by Indigo to protect its employees and in particular those in its remote operation centres (such as reinforced health measures, separation of teams or identification of replacements). Finally, with regard to its liquidity needs, the Group does not need access to the capital markets for any short and medium-term refinancing, as the first maturity of its bonds (without any covenant) is April 2025 and its 300 million euro RCF bank line is undrawn to date and matures in October 2023. The audited consolidated statements at 31 December 2019 and management report are available in English and French on the Group's website at www.group-indigo.com under Investors / Financial results section. Contacts Analysts / investors contact: Press contact: Noe Poyet Benjamin Voron Tel: +33 1 49 03 13 04 Tel: +33 1 49 03 15 90 ir@group-indigo.com benjamin.voron @group-indigo.com About reported financial figures To make its performance easier to understand and to improve its presentation, the Group presents operational figures (revenue, EBITDA, operating income) on a "Global Proportionate" (GP) basis, including the Group's share of joint ventures (mainly in the USA, Colombia, Panama and Smovengo) as if they were consolidated proportionately and not under the equity method applied in accordance with IFRS when preparing the consolidated financial statements. About Indigo Group Indigo Group, holding about 100% of Indigo Infra, OPnGO and INDIGO weel, is a key global player in car parking and urban mobility, that manages more than 2.4 million parking spaces and related services in 10 different countries. As of 31 December 2019, Indigo Group revenues and EBITDA amounted to 968.6 million and 351.3 million respectively (Global Proportionate figures). Indigo Group is held at approximately 47.2% by Credit Agricole Assurances, 32.9% by Vauban Infrastructure Partners, 14.2% by MEAG, 0.5% in treasury shares and the remainder by the management of the Group. www.group-indigo.com INDIGO Group A joint stock corporation with a capital of 160,044,282 euros Headquarter: 1 place des Degres - Tour Voltaire 92800 PUTEAUX LA DEFENSE 800 348.146 RCS Nanterre www.group-indigo.com ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: lZhplptuaGqalpqaZJhrmZaWmZiUxWWWaJfHk2WalceZmnKUmWpqZ5zIZm9jm2Zm - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-62610-23032020-fy2019-results-indigo-group-confirms-the-strength-of-its-long-term-development-model.pdf Dr. Hamlin performed surgeries on young mothers smelling of urine and feces, who were sometimes forced from their homes and exiled to the outskirts of their villages. Her first fistula patient was a 17-year-old who arrived in urine-stained clothes, the result of a harrowing five-day delivery that left a hole between her bladder and birth canal. Later patients included a woman who had to beg for six years before she could afford a bus fare to the Hamlins chief care center, Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital. It looks like Bank of Greece (ATH:TELL) is about to go ex-dividend in the next 2 days. You can purchase shares before the 26th of March in order to receive the dividend, which the company will pay on the 2nd of April. Bank of Greece's next dividend payment will be 0.67 per share, on the back of last year when the company paid a total of 0.67 to shareholders. Based on the last year's worth of payments, Bank of Greece stock has a trailing yield of around 5.1% on the current share price of 13.2. We love seeing companies pay a dividend, but it's also important to be sure that laying the golden eggs isn't going to kill our golden goose! So we need to investigate whether Bank of Greece can afford its dividend, and if the dividend could grow. See our latest analysis for Bank of Greece If a company pays out more in dividends than it earned, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. Bank of Greece paid out just 2.0% of its profit last year, which we think is conservatively low and leaves plenty of margin for unexpected circumstances. Companies that pay out less in dividends than they earn in profits generally have more sustainable dividends. The lower the payout ratio, the more wiggle room the business has before it could be forced to cut the dividend. Click here to see how much of its profit Bank of Greece paid out over the last 12 months. ATSE:TELL Historical Dividend Yield, March 23rd 2020 Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing? Companies that aren't growing their earnings can still be valuable, but it is even more important to assess the sustainability of the dividend if it looks like the company will struggle to grow. If business enters a downturn and the dividend is cut, the company could see its value fall precipitously. To our modest chagrin, Bank of Greece earnings per share have been effectively flat over the past year. The best dividend stocks all grow their earnings per share over the long run, but it is hard to draw strong conclusions from any one year period. Story continues One year is a very short time frame in the pantheon of investing, so we wouldn't get too hung up on these numbers. Many investors will assess a company's dividend performance by evaluating how much the dividend payments have changed over time. Bank of Greece has seen its dividend decline 12% per annum on average over the past ten years, which is not great to see. The Bottom Line From a dividend perspective, should investors buy or avoid Bank of Greece? Earnings per share have been flat in recent years, although Bank of Greece reinvests more than half its earnings in the business, which could suggest there are some growth projects that have not yet reached fruition. Overall, Bank of Greece looks like a promising dividend stock in this analysis, and we think it would be worth investigating further. While it's tempting to invest in Bank of Greece for the dividends alone, you should always be mindful of the risks involved. For example, Bank of Greece has 3 warning signs (and 1 which is a bit concerning) we think you should know about. We wouldn't recommend just buying the first dividend stock you see, though. Here's a list of interesting dividend stocks with a greater than 2% yield and an upcoming dividend. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. State-owned ship maker Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) on Monday said it has decided to stop building and repairing ships as part of its measures to contain the spread of deadly coronavirus. The company has already been taking a series of measures in view of the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure safety and health of all employees besides complying with government directives, CSL said in a BSE filing. "The company has decided to stop shipbuilding and ship repair operations with effect from (wef) March 23, 2020 till further order, to ensure safety of the employees and to contain the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19)," it said. Only the security arrangements and essential services are maintained in all the facilities of the company, it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Across the globe, the spread of COVID-19 has presented a nearly universal challenge for governments. Yet each country lacking any real means to respond to the virus as one has taken its own approach to meeting the crisis. The countries most successful at containing the virus like Taiwan, Japan and India took unilateral action, shutting down foreign travel early and enacting early social isolation policies that have resulted in some of the lowest rates of COVID-19 prevalence in the world. Others to have seen large-scale spread of the virus, like South Korea, have performed extensive testing, identifying the virus and tracking its spread to effectively target it, isolate it and halt it in its tracks. Even China, where the virus originated, has had success stopping the virus, implementing some of the strictest travel restrictions and social isolation directives on the planet, leading to a sharp drop in the number of cases there. The United States, however, has taken a decentralized approach to fighting the viruss spread. While Congress has appropriated money to deal with the damages of the crisis, the Trump administration has largely left disaster response and virus containment to the states, declining to enact national social isolation directives or limitations on the number of workers who can be at an office at once. This ethic has extended to testing and mitigation policy as well, with Trump even telling governors in a call last week they were largely on their own to hunt down their own supplies, even as many state health officers lamented the lack of available tests. As a result, there has been a patchwork of varied responses to the crisis from state to state. At the epicenter of the crisis in New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has taken a hard-line approach to halting the virus, imposing strict limitations on the entire workforce while becoming one of the first governors to shut down all bars, restaurants and other businesses where people congregate. States like Ohio, Illinois, Massachusetts and Washington were other early adopters, taking actions that were soon duplicated by others across the country. Then there was California which, on Thursday, saw its governor enact a complete social isolation policy for all workers across the state. But Wyoming already rated by one report as the least-prepared state for a natural or public health emergency has so far, been among the least aggressive states in containing the virus spread. As eight Republican governors declared a state of emergency in the first 11 days of March, Wyoming waited until March 13 to follow suit the same day President Donald Trump declared a national state of emergency. The governor and state Superintendent Jillian Balow recommended school closures on March 15 days after more than half of the country had already chosen to do so. Wyoming was several days behind New York in closing down its restaurants and other public spaces and, as of Friday afternoon, had not declared any state-level efforts to encourage landlords to be lenient on renters or forestall eviction notices measures governors in places like Kansas and New Hampshire had already pushed. Wyoming was also the last state in the country to limit visitation to prison inmates, who are uncommonly susceptible to contagions due to the close, cramped conditions of corrections facilities. Plenty of factors play into the less aggressive response seen in Wyoming: the states first case of COVID-19 was not confirmed until March 11 and, as of Friday afternoon, just over 20 cases had been reported statewide: one of the lowest caseloads in the country. However, with a lack of widespread testing and few restrictions on travel in place it becomes increasingly difficult to isolate and track the illness. One of Wyomings first cases, in Sheridan County, was sourced to one individual with a history of domestic travel. Several other cases have been tied to spread within their communities. While creativity from governors in implementing policy can help to slow the spread of a virus, Meryl Chertoff, executive director of Georgetown Laws Project on State and Local Government Policy and Law, said that in dealing with a national pandemic, the country is only as strong as its weakest link one of the reasons states like New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut entered into a multi-state compact to limit travel and close certain facilities operating within each of their borders. Its a shared burden right now, and there should be no sense in any state that youre insulated because youre rural or low-population, Chertoff, a former legislative affairs officer at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, told the Star-Tribune. But public health, she said, has always been an interest of the state, similar to their abilities to enforce and enact their own laws. While she noted that states can enact policies that mirror their needs particularly given the economic implications shutting down a states economy can have on its citizens and their ability to pay bills during a crisis she emphasized that state responses, right now, need to involve doing more, rather than doing less. The West has a wonderful tradition of independence and personal freedom, she said. But thats not a model that works really well right at this moment. However, state-level responses to coronavirus have been very fluid, fast-moving and, by their nature, variable. On Friday, Gordon announced an executive order loosening restrictions on freight traffic for carriers hauling supplies through the state to fight the coronavirus pandemic, a decision made in line with recommendations posed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrations emergency declaration. The coronavirus is the most disruptive thing that most of us have ever seen, Gordon wrote in a lengthy statement over the weekend. I recognize and appreciate the criticism from some that we have not acted rapidly, and I appreciate and recognize the criticism that we have acted too much. From the beginning, I have emphasized that the challenge we are facing represents two threats: disease and economic harm, he added. I have been very clear that both are important. I believe firmly we must do the right thing, do it right away, and do it the right way. Wyoming Politics As coronavirus shuts down daily life, Republicans and Democrats prepare to pick president remotely: Both the states Republican and Democratic Parties are preparing to pick their nominees for president remotely, due to coronavirus fears. (via Trib.com) Cheyenne school board member seeks state Senate seat: Nate Breen a Democrat will be taking on incumbent Sen. Affie Ellis for her spot on the Wyoming Legislature. (via the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle) Mark Gordon reassures state in address on coronavirus: In a roughly 15-minute address to the state, the governor offered reassurance to residents facing what could be one of the sharpest economic declines seen this generation. (via Trib.com) Eye On Washington John Barrasso co-signed a letter to the Saudi Arabian crown prince with several other members of Congress, all seeking a break in a price war with Russia. The spat over oil prices and production limits has already hurt many domestic drillers. He also made the rounds on several Fox News programs to talk about a multibillion-dollar stimulus package for American workers and industry in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. Mike Enzi urged quick passage of the third part of the relief package in an address on the Senate floor Friday, saying that any funding to small businesses should be flexible enough to pay for rent, utilities and workers wages. Im particularly hopeful that the small business part which is where most of the people in the United States work can go through so that people can be paid, they can keep their insurance and theyre ready to do what theyve been trained to do and want to do and like to do, Enzi said. That way, when the time comes that this virus has passed, people can be out there and doing all of the things that they like to do again. So I encourage small businessmen to hold on, help is coming. Liz Cheney launched a coronavirus response page on her congressional website, which constituents and small businesses can visit for resources and assistance during the coronavirus pandemic. Have any tips or suggestions to make this newsletter better? Let me know! Call me at 307-266-0634, email me at nick.reynolds@trib.com or follow me on Twitter, @IAmNickReynolds Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Paris Mon, March 23, 2020 21:34 660 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206cf19d8 2 World COVID-19,COVID-19-lockdown,work-from-home Free More than one billion people have been asked to stay home in over 50 countries and territories around the world as governments battle the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the globe, according to an AFP tally Monday. Some countries have imposed mandatory lockdown measures, while others have issued stay-at-home recommendations to stem the spread of the virus. At least 34 countries or territories have established mandatory lockdown measures ordering people to stay in their homes, accounting for some 659 million people. This includes France, Italy, Argentina, the US state of California, Iraq and Rwanda. Greece is the most recent country to impose mandatory confinement measures, which came into effect on Monday morning. Colombia will enforce an obligatory lockdown on Tuesday and New Zealand will follow suit Wednesday. In most cases it is still possible to leave the house to go to work, buy essentials or seek medical care. At least four countries with a collective population of more than 228 million people, including Iran, Germany and Britain, have urged their populations to stay indoors and limit contact with other people as much as possible. But the impact of these non-mandatory recommendations has been limited. In Britain, the government warned of tougher measures after crowds gathered in parks and beaches over the weekend, while millions of people in Iran travelled for the Persian New Year last week. Parts of India, the world's second biggest country by population, also faced lockdown orders affecting some 700 million people. At least 10 countries and territories with a total population of 117 million people have issued curfews and barred overnight travel. These measures are in place in Burkina Faso, Chile, the Philippines' capital Manila, Serbia and Mauritania, while in Saudi Arabia a curfew will be imposed from Monday evening. Elsewhere, some countries have imposed isolation measures in main cities, with measures barring people from entering or exiting. These measures have been seen in Almaty, Bulgaria, Nur-Sultan in Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan's Baku. Combined, these cities have an estimated 10 million inhabitants. In an effort to be prepared, police departments in Northampton County and Pennsylvania State Police on Monday signed a mutual aid agreement in case a department is decimated by the coronavirus, county District Attorney Terry Houck reports. While state police already have jurisdiction to work in any municipality in the commonwealth, in general they perform extensive municipal policing only in communities that dont have their own force in Northampton County. While state police can and do assist in matters such as special operations in Easton, for example, city police patrol the streets, Houck said. Eastons Special Response Unit is often active during Palmer Township standoffs, but city officers dont normally work the nearby townships patrols. But now, if COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, were to sideline a significant number of Easton or Palmer officers, the municipalities could reach out to other departments or to state police for replacements to lift the numbers to the point that the communities are safe, Houck said. Pennsylvania State Police are prepared to assist any law enforcement agency that requests police assistance, Public Information Trooper Nathan Branosky, from Bethlehems Troop M, said Monday afternoon following Houcks news release introducing the program. Municipal officers in Pennsylvania, at the agreement of chiefs on both sides, can work in any specific community in the state, Houck said, citing state statute. So as a precaution, Houck received the signatures of all the countys police chiefs as well as a state police official to formalize the mutual aid agreement. How would it work, in a practical sense? A chief would have a staffing need due to the virus and likely would look to a nearby department for help, Houck said. It would be commonsense not to eye a department on the opposite end of the county for help, due to the travel time, he said, although such a request would be allowed. The chief of the department receiving the request can turn it down, based on that departments staffing needs, or can make the loan, Houck said. State police, which has barracks in Bethlehem and Plainfield Township in the county, would be an option in this scenario, as well, Houck said. There was not a situation as of Monday in the county that would require this be put to use right away, Houck said. But he doesnt want departments to have to scramble around if they are suddenly confronted with the very real possibility of not having enough healthy officers to protect a community, he said. Its right in front of your face, Houck said of the disease and the need to prepare. A local chief had asked about something like this in recent days, but the district attorneys association had already made Houck aware of the potential need and a possible solution, he said. The district attorney in a news release thanked state police for their continued assistance to our local law enforcement" and added, "I would like to commend the effort of our law enforcement agencies in their willingness to come together so quickly to ensure our communities remain safe by receiving continued services and protection through this trying time. This agreement ensures law enforcement protection to all areas of Northampton County notwithstanding the volatile nature of this disease. Law enforcement stand prepared and ready. Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. Sign up for text message alerts from lehighvalleylive.com on coronavirus in the Lehigh Valley: Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email him. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. As the world writhes in the grip of Covid-19, the epidemic has revealed something majestic and inspiring: millions of health care workers running to where they are needed, on duty, sometimes risking their own lives. I have never before seen such an extensive, voluntary outpouring of medical help at such a global scale. Intensive care doctors in Seattle connect with intensive care doctors in Wuhan to gather specific intelligence on what the Chinese have learned: details of diagnostic strategies, the physiology of the disease, approaches to managing lung failure, and more. The three-page, single spaced document, full of lessons, circulates immediately and widely through social media platforms, a gem borne of pure, professional commitment. Facebook starts a COVID-19 USA Physician/APP Group on March 13. It has 57,000 members on March 15, and 105,000 on March 18. The Journal of the American Medical Association, even while moving its staff home for social distancing, sets new records for speeding helpful scientific studies, peer reviewed, onto the web. Knowledge grows. One JAMA paper is by a group of Wuhan physicians reviewing patterns and outcomes for 1099 patients, showing surprisingly high rates of severe illness in younger adults. Another is an honest account by physicians in Lombardy of both successes and mistakes as they grapple with unprecedented intensive care demands. A list-serve for hospitals started by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement overflows with questions What have you learned about setting up drive-by testing? Has anyone found a new source of masks? and instant answers from institutions and clinicians. One anesthesiologist in Valhalla, N.Y., types in a suggestion: Instead of giving up when the ventilators are all in use, how about asking groups of students or family members who have become immune to the virus to ventilate patients manually, using Ambu bags, in shifts even for days at a time? Clinicians reply, some critical, some supportive, and all trying to find answers. And city by city, hospitals mobilize creatively to get ready for the possible deluge: bring in retired staff members, train nurses and doctors in real time, share data on supplies around the region, set up special isolation units and scale up capacity by a factor of 100 or 1000. On Tuesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York asks for retired medical personnel to join the citys Medical Reserve Corps; 24 hours later, 1000 new volunteers have signed up. Northwell Health, a 23-hospital system in New York City, figures out how to add 1,500 beds, if needed, by repurposing space. The protests on March 21 saw the Hong Kong police continue to target reporters. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) condemn the treatment of the media by frontline police officers and urge the government to take action against those who carried out the violations. Reporters covering the demonstration attended by more than 100 people were attacked by police attempting to disperse the protesters on Youxin Street. The event commemorates eight months since the 7.21 incident on July 21, last year where 100 men attacked protesters and passengers at Yuen Long MTR station, injuring 40 people. While dispersing the crowd, police used pepper spray after asking reporters to return to the sidewalk. Journalists reported adverse effects from the pepper spray, including reddened skin, burning and breathing difficulties. HKJA noted police shot at journalists reportedly standing on the sidewalk. In Causeway Bay, pepper spray was also used on reporters in Fenxiang Road and Times Square. Journalists who were being treated for their injuries were questioned about the legitimacy of their injuries. Further, reporters filming near Jianye Street were threatened with arrest for an illegal assembly and forced to cease filming. HKJA wrote to Chief Executive Carrie Lam and Commissioner of Police, Deng Bingqiang, requesting immediate action to eliminate the black sheep in the police force and restore public trust in the police. Although Director Deng Bingqiang claimed that the brutality of frontline police officers was not directed at reporters, and you even asked everyone to understand and tolerate the police force, the violent incidents over the past few months have proven not to be independent individual incidents but riot control police officers targeting the media, HKJA said. The IFJ said: It is the duty of police to protect the public and distinguish between journalists and demonstrators. The negligence of police in upholding their responsibilities and failing to act in accordance with the law is disturbing. The IFJ condemns the police brutality perpetrated by the Hong Kong police who have continued to undermine press freedom. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday asked Indian companies to maintain production lines of essential commodities and ensure there is no hoarding as well as black marketing in the wake of the country fighting the coronavirus outbreak New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday asked Indian companies to maintain production lines of essential commodities and ensure there is no hoarding as well as black marketing in the wake of the country fighting the coronavirus outbreak. PM @narendramodi asks India Inc to allow employees to #WorkFromHome; not to cut workforce in spite of #COVID19 negative impact on businesses; says several sectors including tourism, construction, hospitality hit by the virus, impact to be felt for some time to come #StayHome pic.twitter.com/dcEUx0N9lu CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18Live) March 23, 2020 Interacting with industry representatives via video-conferencing, Modi said the impact of the pandemic on the economy will be felt for some time to come with several sectors such as tourism, construction and hospitality being hit. He asked India Inc to allow employees to work from home and not to cut down on the workforce in spite of the pandemic's negative impact on their businesses. "He said it is imperative that production of essential items should not be impacted at this time, and black marketing and hoarding be prevented," an official statement quoted him as saying. New York: Nearly 70 drugs and experimental compounds may be effective in treating the coronavirus, a team of researchers reported on Sunday night. Some of the medications are already used to treat other diseases, and repurposing them to treat COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, may be faster than trying to invent a new anti-viral from scratch, the scientists said. Scientists have examined the coronavirus genes to create a shortlist of medicines that might fight it. The list of drug candidates appeared in a study published on the website bioRxiv. The researchers have submitted the paper to a journal for publication. To come up with the list, hundreds of researchers embarked on an unusual study of the genes of the coronavirus, also called SARS-CoV-2. Senator Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) on Monday pushed back on calls to ease some of the restrictions imposed during the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic after President Trump hinted that hes considering scaling back some restrictions. Doctors are saying that we should be doing more to contain now, not less, Graham told CNN. There is no way for the economy to operate with hospitals overflowing. We cant have functioning economy with a widespread virus. Graham wrote on Twitter on Monday morning, President Trumps best decision was stopping travel from China early on. I hope we will not undercut that decision by suggesting we back off aggressive containment policies within the United States. President Trump on Monday fueled speculation that he would try to ease Centers for Disease Control and Prevention measures recommending stringent social distancing until the end of March, retweeting a number of Twitter accounts suggesting that he reevaluate the measures this coming week. WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF, Trump wrote on Twitter on Sunday night. AT THE END OF THE 15 DAY PERIOD, WE WILL MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHICH WAY WE WANT TO GO! The decision of when and how to ease lockdown and other quarantine measures is being considered on both sides of the political aisle. New York governor Andrew Cuomo on Monday told reporters he was considering how to restart sectors of the economy without contributing to a new outbreak of coronavirus. How do you re-start or transition to a restart of the economy, and how do you dovetail that with a public health strategy? Cuomo said. More from National Review No Ukrainian army casualties were reported on March 22. Russia-led forces violated the ceasefire in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, three times on Sunday, March 22. Enemy troops used, among other weapons, 82mm mortars, which are banned under the Minsk peace agreements, as well as grenade launchers of various systems, large-caliber machine guns, and rifles, the press center of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) Headquarters said on Facebook in a morning update on Monday, March 23. Read alsoDonbas war update: 10 enemy attacks on Ukrainian positions, one soldier wounded on March 21 All attacks were recorded in the Skhid (East) sector, it said. In particular, five 82mm mortar shells were fired to attack Ukrainian positions near the village of Vodiane. What is more, near the village of Pavlopil the enemy opened fire from grenade launchers, large-caliber machine guns, and rifles. In addition, an anti-tank grenade launcher and large-caliber machine guns were used near the village of Berezove. "Joint Forces units used available weapons to counter the attacks mounted by armed formations of the Russian Federation," the JFO HQ said. No Ukrainian army casualties were reported on March 22. From 00:00 to 07:00 on Monday, March 23, there were no enemy attacks. According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Railway Management System market is accounted for $28.50 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach $83.88 billion by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 12.7%. Factors such as high demographic growth, hyper-urbanization and technological advancements are driving the market growth. However, high initial cost of deployment is hampering the growth of market. The railway management system is incorporated with different types of the manual Daniel Rasul Brown, exterior building maintenance for the convention center, works to clean up an area where people experiencing homelessness were moved out of an encampment near the Convention Center. Read more Philadelphia city officials shut down a homeless encampment near the Convention Center on Monday in a move that appeared to defy federal guidance aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus. The citys Office of Homeless Services had planned for months to clear the encampment that formed in the shadow of the Convention Center. City officials considered the site the epicenter of Center City homelessness. Though some of the dozens of people who slept there regularly found safe haven in the community, officials said the conditions were unsafe and unsanitary. But on Sunday, before the scheduled sweep, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released guidance for responding to COVID-19 among people experiencing homelessness. Included in the prevention measures was a note to not clear encampments unless individual housing units are available. Clearing encampments, the CDC said, can cause people to disperse throughout the community and break connections with service providers, which increases the potential for the spread of infectious disease. The city went ahead after concluding that being outdoors in the elements, not hav[ing] access to basic hygiene or nutrition, is more detrimental," spokesperson Mike Dunn said. He said the protocol was developed with the input of local public health officials. READ MORE: Its heartbreaking: Coronavirus puts Philly homeless services in survival mode Dunn said the city had a list of about 75 people who regularly slept near the Convention Center and were known to be experiencing homelessness. Of those, he said, 49 accepted placement into shelters or residential drug treatment. Many were referred before the Monday sweep, when there were only about 18 people still at the site. Of those, six accepted placement into shelters or residential drug treatment, Dunn said. They were all asked if they had a cough or other symptoms consistent with COVID-19, but did not all have their temperatures taken. Liz Hersh, director of the citys Office of Homeless Services, said during a news conference Sunday that the city had developed protocols for quarantining anyone who becomes symptomatic while living in a city shelter. For those who are unsheltered, she said, the city has developed other quarantine capacity. City officials have shut down similar encampments over the last several years, including others in Center City, and in the citys Kensington section, where homelessness is in many cases driven by addiction. The move drew sharp criticism from some advocates for people experiencing homelessness, who say shutting down encampments disperses people, making it harder for outreach workers to engage with them. Brooke Feldman, a board member with harm reduction nonprofit Angels in Motion, said city shelters just dont work for some people, and programs aimed at getting folks into more permanent housing can have high barriers. While of course we want everybody to be housed and be safe, we also have to be pragmatic and know there are people who dont want those services for a reason, she said. We need a plan for what to to do with those folks. Displacing people and moving them is not the way to do it. Feldman said that this is especially true in the face of the coronavirus pandemic and that it made no sense to go through with the sweep. She said city officials and outreach teams should instead have worked with people living in the encampments to educate them on social distancing and provided more resources for personal hygiene. In its Sunday guidance, the CDC recommended outreach workers encourage people living in encampments to set up their tents or sleeping quarters to ensure each person has 12 square feet of space. The agency also recommended either ensuring nearby restroom facilities are properly stocked and available 24 hours a day, or providing access to portable toilets with hand-washing facilities. Michael Lasday said he watched Monday morning as police and outreach workers slowly walked through the camp and engaged with those living there, but he was critical of the move. Lasday, of the Philadelphia Drug Users Union, a collective of current and former drug users who advocate for fair treatment of people who use drugs, said the sweep defied CDC guidelines, and was a decision made without the input of the individuals living there. Even outside the context of a pandemic, he said, its not really helpful. NEW YORK, March 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Conversion Labs, Inc. (CVLB), a direct-to-consumer telemedicine and wellness company, is demonstrating its support for those leading the fight against COVID-19 and those diagnosed with the virus by giving away 10,000 bottles of its INR Wellness MD Beta Glucan . Beta glucan is a natural immune support prebiotic that has been researched in more than 8 , 5 00 clinical studies . The clinical results strongly suggest that beta glucans can play a powerful role in modulating the human immune system, supporting multiple system elements like macrophages, neutrophils, and other natural killer cells. These are all key elements of the complement immune system, the bodys first line of defense against viral and bacterial infection. In addition to killing foreign invaders, the complement immune system plays an important role in regulating inflammation. This is important to anyone infected with COVID-19, as its virulence is strongly connected to an overactive inflammatory response in the form of a cytokine storm. It can lead to severe lung damage and even death. Beta glucan is a polysaccharide that is classified as an immuno-modulator. It is believed to help regulate the immune system and allows it to respond as efficiently as possible. In this way, it supports a strong immune response and may reduce inflammatory reaction. The immune system is central to health and well-being, as it affects every other part of the human body, noted Joseph DiTrolio, M.D., a professor of surgery, and member of Conversion Labs medical advisory board and board of directors. The stronger your immune system, the better your body can cope with toxic events it may encounter, like viral attacks. Given my many years of research related to the efficacy of beta glucan, I believe it can have a very positive impact on the human immune system. While clinical studies have yet to be conducted to show that beta glucan can affect outcomes associated with contracting the novel COVID-19 coronavirus, given the extensive body of research that demonstrates how beta glucan can support the immune system, those infected with COVID-19 or at high risk for infection could potentially benefit from taking this natural superfood. Story continues In the absence of any known prophylactic or cure for COVID-19, we all must do our part to help protect those on the front lines of treating this disease as well as help those whove contracted it, commented Conversion Labs co-founder and CEO, Justin Schreiber. Given beta glucans excellent safety profile and health advantages as established by extensive clinical studies, anyone already diagnosed with or at high risk of contracting COVID-19 stands to benefit by using this immune support supplement. We are making it available free of charge to express our appreciation and gratitude for those brave men and women who are making great sacrifices as they help those in need. By also providing this free to COVID-19 patients, we hope to create better outcomes and lighten the load for our healthcare providers and first responders. INR Wellness MD Beta Glucan can be ordered online today from inrwellness.com and shipped free of charge to confirmed healthcare workers, first line responders, and COVID-19 patients. For all other consumers, Conversion Labs is offering the product at a 50% discount for the next month while supplies last. About Joseph DiTrolio, M.D. Dr. DiTrolio is a senior professor of surgery at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. He is presently chairman of the Department of Urology at Hackensack University Medical Center, Mountainside Campus. He also currently serves as chief medical officer of Thread Bioscience, a developer of CultureStat, a rapid test for the presence of infectious bacteriuria. He earlier served as chairman of Urology at Saint Barnabas Medical Center. Dr. DiTrolio has been working with the East Orange Veterans Administration since 1979, and is currently involved with compensation and dispensation for nuclear, biological and chemical warfare as it relates to the urological system. He has spent the last decade studying the immune supporting characteristics of beta glucan and has conducted clinical studies that have found positive evidence of the benefits of beta glucan in prostate cancer patients. He has presented over 100 papers and published numerous domestic and international articles. Dr. DiTrolio is a diplomate of the American Board of Urology, AOA Honor Society. He is well respected in the urology community for innovative techniques and is the holder of several patents. He was the founding editor-in-chief of Alumni Focus New Jersey Medical School, and executive founding editor of The Journal of Medicine of New Jersey. He is a member of The American Urological Association, American Medical Association, New Jersey Medical Society, The Endourological Society, and European Urological Association, and is the founding member of The Society of Urological Robotic Surgeons. Dr. DiTrolio graduated from University of Richmond with a B.Sc. in Biology and attended the Universite de Paris, Sorbonne where he received an A.B. in French. He received his M.D. from New Jersey Medical School and completed his Urology training at New Jersey Medical School. About Conversion Labs Conversion Labs, Inc. is a health and wellness focused e-commerce company with a portfolio of online direct-to-consumer brands. The companys portfolio of brands includes proprietary over-the-counter products and prescription medications. It also provides online, virtual physician consultations to consumers in 49 states. To learn more, please visit ConversionLabs.com. Forward-Looking Statements Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include, among other thing, statements regarding the offering, the expected gross proceeds, the expected use of proceeds and the expected closing of the offering. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on current expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. The factors that could cause actual future results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's ability to develop, market and sell its products; the expected benefits and efficacy of the Company's products; the availability of substantial additional funding for the Company to continue its operations and to conduct research and development, clinical studies and future product commercialization; and, the Company's business, research, product development, regulatory approval, marketing and distribution plans and strategies. These and other factors are identified and described in more detail in our filings with the SEC, including, our current reports on Form 8-K. Trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Company Contact Conversion Labs Juan Manuel Pineiro Dagnery CFO Email Contact Enforcing compliance with COVID-19 pandemic restrictions: Psychological aspects of a national security threat By Dr. Irwin J. Mansdorf As the world faces the emerging (for some) and continuing (for others) threat of the coronavirus (COVID-19), many commentators and national leaders around the world are beginning to recognize it as a genuine national security threat. In human behavior terms, however, the threat is not from an external enemy but from citizens who refuse to comply with guidelines and instructions and fail to change their behavior to adapt to the developing situation. Israel has faced and continues to face the known external threats to its security, but the COVID-19 risk represents a threat from its own citizens based on distinct social psychological factors. Compliance with directives and instructed regimen is a longstanding and known problem in medicine. People routinely do not do what is good for them and refuse to cease behavior that is bad for them. This same pattern of behavior should be expected when it comes to COVID-19 restrictions being implemented. Just as people continue to smoke, to consume sugary drinks, refuse to exercise, and even reject required medication, so will people test the boundaries of government instructions, and many will simply refuse to comply. Insofar as such behavior in the COVID-19 era places others at risk, it represents a very real threat to national health and security. What We Know While we still do not have reports in the professional literature specifically regarding compliance and COVID-19, there has been extensive study of the effects of self-quarantine and social distancing and what happens when people are isolated from others. The price of self-isolation varies depending on ones support system and general attitude as well as the length of the isolation period. Adverse effects, when they take place, are linked to the individuals perception of a lack of personal freedom and liberty. No one wants to be isolated and have their routine affected. The financial, social, and personal price is clear, and it is understandable that people want to avoid it. When isolation is voluntary, however, these effects are less pronounced or absent altogether. We also know that when self-isolation is undertaken altruistically, for the good of others, the negative effects are mitigated. Social distancing represents a less rigid but more difficult guideline to monitor. It relies on the goodwill of individuals to comply and respect the need to comply. Transitioning from routine and familiar patterns of social behavior to a more restricted pattern requires an adjustment that not all people react to in the same way. While some will adjust quickly, others will require more time, and some will refuse. As the threat grows larger, governments will move towards total social isolation, where entire communities and at times the entire country essentially goes into total shutdown. This involves people not leaving their homes except for very limited reasons. It can preclude all activity outside ones home, even meeting with ones own family. As the most extreme form of social distancing, this represents an extreme measure that is even more challenging for some to comply with. The COVID-19 Difference The critical difference between classical medical literature on compliance and social distancing and the COVID-19 situation is that with the coronavirus, the individual refusing to comply is an active and ongoing threat to others as well as or sometimes more than to themselves. Identifying the Human Threat Who are the potential threats? Refusers: The obvious threats are the outright refusers. From a psychological perspective, these are people who are either oppositional in their attitude or in denial regarding the effects of their refusal. While both are intentionally violating guidelines, the former do so understanding that they are creating risk for others while the latter deny it, at times adopting an it wont happen to me attitude. Deniers: Closely related to outright refusers are the deniers whose personality and social identity is central to their daily functioning. People who are friendly, outgoing, and interact actively in their social sphere will suffer the most by being distanced from their routine. Their adjustment may require more time and may be accompanied by attempts to minimize the seriousness of the need to distance or to challenge it by erroneously claiming the need to continue life as normal in the face of a threat. While Israelis are defiant in the face of external threats, the COVID-19 threat differs in that the virus is not influenced by such behavior. Whereas standing up to the enemy is a positive Israeli trait, applying it to an invisible and indifferent enemy that is unimpressed by these efforts is futile and even harmful to others. Nevertheless, the psychological makeup and social personality of some people represent a challenge to a system attempting to enforce discipline. The Young: Data from outbreak areas shows that the most severely affected victims of the virus are above 60 years of age. Thus, the younger you are, the less likely you are to experience any serious symptoms. As such, the virus represents less of a physical threat to younger people. While all adults cognitively understand their personal responsibility in following government instructions, younger adults, especially teenagers and pre-teens, may not. As one review of low adherence in adolescents noted, they may remain self-centered and feel invulnerable to consequences negative things happen only to others. Special efforts may be required for older people to understand that exposure to their own grandchildren and adult children can potentially cause them physical harm. Florida beach, March 16, 2020, after warnings were issued. (WFLA screenshot) Viewing the under-21 population as a threat may not be easy. With schools closed and social venues limited, this population will be difficult to control, especially since they realize that the danger the virus poses to themselves is minimal. While parents have greater control over younger children, those children who already have social independence, namely those in middle and especially high school, may not be easily persuaded to restrict their social contacts as they pursue autonomy. Cultural, Religious, Tribal factors: Cultural considerations pose an additional challenge. Unlike individual personalities, group dynamics can create patterns of behavior that are reinforced by peer pressure and imbedded in collective behavior. Religious behavior, in particular, can pose a problem if there is a perceived conflict between a specific practice and the need to isolate and distance. While official and responsible religious leaders have publicly and strongly urged complete compliance, we can expect and have seen certain sectors and outliers within the community to having difficulty breaking from traditional practice and routine. Minorities whose framework relies more on tribal and racial identity will follow guidelines to the extent that the hierarchy within their social structure validates them. Thus, reports of Israeli citizens in an Arab town refusing to self-isolate should be seen as a signal of another potential area where regulating compliance may be compromised. Understanding the Threat Providing reliable, accurate, and dependable information is a major element in ensuring compliance with COVID-19 guidelines. When the public trusts the source, compliance will be greater. Frequent reminders in the media and repetition of key points (handwashing, 2-meter rule, etc.) will improve compliance. One Catch-22 situation is that, in an effort to reduce anxiety, the media presents interviews with individuals in isolation, some of whom have been formally identified and diagnosed with COVID-19. While this can help in allaying many fears, it also can reduce compliance by minimizing the fear factor. Finding the balance between creating heightened awareness and avoiding undue anxiety needs to be considered carefully. Measures to Take Democratic societies such as Israel require extra effort to ensure compliance with behavior such as social distancing that is essentially voluntary. While most of society will likely comply and some will be particularly cautious, especially for identifiable and limited periods of time, the refusers will continue to present a problem. Classifying the refusers behavior as a risk and treating them as a genuine threat is a national priority. Criminalizing violations of mandatory guidelines (such as self-isolation) can lead to civil suits, fines, and disciplinary action by relevant authorities. Social pressure can also serve as a psychological means to reduce the frequency of noncompliance with social distancing. When peers make known their displeasure and disapproval of not following guidelines, noncompliance is likely to fall. As the COVID-19 threat becomes more difficult to control, many of the guidelines are likely to move from suggestions to mandatory actions. The gradual but steady move closing more and more public venues and limiting more and more public gatherings is evidence of this. Notwithstanding available punishments, building desired behavior ultimately requires individuals to voluntarily comply. This will take place when people sense that the benefit attained by compliance outweighs the benefit of refusal. Where individuals see the short-term benefit of refusal as more rewarding than the long-term benefit of compliance, negative consequences may help in some cases, but will not in many others. Since the cadre of those who intentionally or unintentionally put the public at risk cannot be eliminated solely through education and social pressure, law enforcement and government authorities may have to intervene. These interventions may need to consider measures that would ordinarily not be accepted or legal, something mentioned as likely in Israel. While understandably not popular with those that value the protection of civil liberties, we nevertheless need to accept that the probability of behavioral management of the public will not be totally successful. Thus, the suspension of these protections in times of national emergency may prove to be central in reducing mortality and morbidity of the population as well as in limiting the economic consequences of a protracted battle with an unseen enemy hiding in a friendly population. Irwin J. (Yitzchak) Mansdorf, PhD., is a clinical psychologist and a fellow at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs specializing in political psychology. Home People of St. Maarten, both here and abroad, I hereby address you, as Prime Minister and Chair of the EOC (Emergency Operations Center), in an update for today Sunday, March 22nd, 2020, as part of the process to keep the community of St. Maarten informed about the latest developments and Governments COVID-19 preparedness, prevention, mitigation and response measures. Firstly, Saturday, March 21st, 2020, a strategic meeting held with ESF 5, including Police and Immigration The official request was sent to His Excellency Governor E.B. Holiday for Military assistance in advance of an outbreak. This request is being handled via the usual channels. Today, Sunday, March 22nd, 2020, in another strategic meeting held with ESF 5 and ESF 10 (Ministry of TEATT) related to business closures, it has been decided that business closures, as of Monday, March 23rd, 2020, businesses may remain open for service until 6:00 PM from Monday through Saturday. The following services are grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations, banks, emergency and paramedic services, hotels, restaurants, essential government services, (including telecommunication & postal services, judicial services and utilities), public transportation operators, hardware stores, shipping and, cargo companies. This is as long as each continues to ensure proper provisioning for social distancing of 1 to 2 meters and maximum large groupings of no more 20 persons. If the required Social Distancing and maximum grouping of 20 persons are not adhered too, then the establishment or institution will be shut down by the authorities with immediate effect. On a positive note, Police Chief Carl John has commended all business owners on St. Maarten for their compliance in adhering to the closure time of 8:00 PM which started last night and looks forward to the same compliant behavior as new closure time goes into effect tomorrow Monday, March 23rd. On Sundays fort he next two weeks, besides emergency services, only gas stations, pharmacies and hotel (with attached amenities for guests only) will be allowed to open until 6:00 PM. Also allowed, are nighttime employees of news outlets and necessary emergency services. As related to the aforementioned restritions for businesses, I wish to add; NO beach vending will be allowed until further notice, NO beach parties are allowed and NO groups of more than 5 persons are allowed on the beach. Social Distancing, for those persons who wish to visit the beach, must be the recommended one to two meters apart. If this is not adhered to, you will be asked to leave the beach. If this continues, then this will also be curtailed. The Government building has instituted guidelines for persons who are unable to get service via phone or email to be able to continue to come to the building during limited times and by appointment only. See our Governments Facebook page for details as to the particular service you may need. Travel Restrictions Today, (Sunday, March 22nd, 2020 at 11:59 PM) is the last day for the residents(passengers) of St. Maarten to travel back to St. Maarten for the next 2 weeks. Therefore, no airlines will be bringing in residents or persons during the next 2 weeks. The only flights that you will see coming into the airport would be cargo flights or flights that are coming in to pick up passengers to return them to their home address. These 2 weeks, will be used to assess and maintain spread within our borders in collaboration with our French counterparts. I also wish to update, that we will have our weekly meeting on Monday, March 23rd, which is also the Treaty of Concordia Day. Thus, a fitting day to continue to collaborate and cooperate with our French partners. COVID-19 Case Update Since my last address on Friday, March 20th, 2020, Collective Prevention Services (CPS) has noted a spike in calls to 914 for persons wishing to register as having traveled home in the past week and they are currently being monitored. I would like to thank, all persons who have heeded the call of the Prime Minister to do so. Also as CPS had medical personnel present at the airport on Friday, Saturday and today, Sunday, collecting the forms filled in by returning residents, we expect that number to go up, which will allow us to monitor all returning residents over the past few days. All persons who have returned to the island since Friday, March 13th, are requested to register with CPS by calling 914 or downloading the document provided for such on Governments website page at www.sintmaartengov.org/coronavirus, fill it in and email to CPS. As of today, March 22nd, 2020, I can update that there are currently 13 persons who are in self-isolation and are being monitored as having been exposed to persons who have COVID-19. This is the first confirmed person on Dutch St. Maarten, as well as one of the confirmed persons on French Saint Martin whom were closely related to 3 persons on the Dutch side. As of today, we can also confirm that we have now 2 cases. The second case is a student who returned to St. Maarten a week ago and immediately went into self-isolation. There is no chance for local transmission at this time. The student continues to be monitored and has one more week of isolation left. Of the 13 persons being monitored, 10 have been deemed negative and one is still pending. Therefore, we have now 2 cases positive, 10 negative cases and 1 pending. As mentioned before, the others who have registered with CPS over the past few days are now being monitored and if they exhibit symptoms, they will be tested as well. I would like to remind the general public of St. Maarten to be aware of fake news. Today, a circulation has been going around about closures for spraying by some helicopter. This is fake news. Please do not follow any news that does not come from official Government sites or official Government administration. Follow our Government Radio station 107.9FM for official information, statements, and news updates or visit the Government website at www.sintmaartengov.org/coronavirus and our Facebook Page: Government of Sint Maarten. As Prime Minister of St. Maarten, I wish to encourage all of us to remain steadfast and continue to practice proper hygiene and prepare for what is a worldwide pandemic. I believe that we have been doing an extremely good job of containing the spread thus far by being very proper in our hygiene, by stepping up our cleaning and hygiene at home, on the job and when we go out in public. While we currently have now 2 confirmed cases, all measures over the past weeks and today have been aimed at containing the COVID-19 virus. Knowledge is power! Stay informed and be prepared. We are strong, resilient and faithful people and together WE CAN beat this monster that has toppled economies and health infrastructures around the world. Continue to be vigilant and report any persons you know have traveled to CPS at 914 in helping to mitigate the spread of this virus on our small island-nation. CPS will most definitely follow up with all tips about persons who have traveled or who may have been exposed to the virus. By doing so you are doing your civic duty to ensure that the island is safe. The general public is asked to live up to the responsibility of being good citizens and adhere to the regulations and guidelines put in place to protect you. Persons behaving in reckless and irresponsible behavior during this partial lockdown aimed at minimizing movement and contact within the community will have stringent measures taken against them in the form of fines, and even worse. Take this time to enjoy quality time with your family, for self-reflection and to do projects around the house. Stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary. The Government and other essential businesses should arrange for persons who can work from home as much as possible. The safety and security of our population depend on your compliance with our regulations. God bless St. Maarten and her people as we work together; Government, community and each and every St. Maarten resident, to keep her safe. The largest Democratic super PAC is launching a $6 million campaign slamming President Trump over his response to the coronavirus. Priorities USA launched a series of attack ads as part of a campaign showing how Trump for weeks downplayed the threat posed by the outbreak, even as the number of confirmed cases in the US kept increasing. The three ads will run in four battleground states of Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. One TV commercial titled 'Exponential Threat', features a chart showing the rate virus cases rose in the US accompanied by clips of Trump downplaying the outbreak. President Donald Trump speaks at the daily coronavirus briefing yesterday. He has been criticized for downplaying the virus when it first arrived in the US One TV commercial titled 'Exponential Threat', features a chart showing the rate coronavirus cases rose in the US accompanied by clips of Trump downplaying the outbreak In the audio, Trump is heard saying the disease was 'their [Democrats] new hoax' and that 'we have it totally under control'. As Biden pledging to 'always tell the truth', the clip is captioned 'America needs a leader we can trust'. The campaign is part of a larger plan by Priorities to spend $150 million attacking Trump ahead of the Democratic National Convention in July. Another 30-second TV ad, 'Better Prepared' shows stock market trading floors and the economic impact of the virus, followed by Trump telling the media 'I don't take responsibility at all' for the deepening crisis. Two digital ads will also run on Facebook and other social media platforms tomorrow that portray Trump as squandering opportunities to combat the public health crisis. One campaign ad called 'Map', shows coroanvirus cases spreading across the US as Trump again says he does not 'take responsibility at all' One ad called 'Map', shows virus cases spreading across the US as Trump again says he does not 'take responsibility at all'. A second television ad titled 'Steady Leadership', casts former Vice President Joe Biden, as better-equipped than Trump to handle a crisis like the pandemic. The ad brands the frontrunner in the Democratic primary race as having 'presidential leadership' as opposed to a White House in 'chaos' under the stewardship of Trump. Trump downplayed the threat posed by coronavirus for weeks, accusing Democrats and the media of over-hyping the danger of the disease. He has changed his tone in recent weeks as the virus continued to spread, casting himself as a 'wartime president' capable of leading the country through a crisis. Guy Cecil, chairman of Priorities USA, said in a statement: 'From the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, Donald Trump has repeatedly misled the American people and exposed us to unnecessary danger. 'His failure to lead continues to have real life and death consequences as hospitals, local and state governments, small businesses, and millions of Americans are left without the tools and information they need.' As of today there have been more than 39,000 cases of the virus in the US with more than 400 people have died. Be where your customers are. From the beginning of business and marketing, that has been the key to making sales and building a loyal customer base. Never before, however, has it been as difficult to fulfill that requirement as it is today. Theres simply such a diversity of places where customers congregate that its practically impossible to cover all the bases. At the same time, though, the rewards for effective marketing across all customer touchpoints have never been as high as they are today. In this study by the New Jersey Institute of Technology, 90% of customers said they expect a consistent experience across all platforms, and that consistency is sure to be rewarded with increased customer loyalty. So the question is, does this provide an opportunity for your business, or an obstacle? Map your customer journey The first thing you need to do in getting your message across to customers effectively is to identify exactly where your customers spend their time and which platforms are most influential in their buying decisions. The reason for this is that although reaching out to your customers on every single social media platform and marketing channel is ideal, its impossible even for the biggest companies. What you can and must do, however, is to conduct an analysis of your customer (and potential customers) base to determine which platforms to focus your resources on. After choosing your channels and launching your campaigns, its equally important to track your results and identify exactly what is working and what isn't. Its easy to get drowned in a multitude of metrics`, and small businesses must avoid that. Instead, identify the ones with clear impact on your bottom line and make your decisions based on those. Related: 6 Must-Do's for Effective Social Media Marketing Automate, but actively monitor feedback Marketing automation is a huge time saver. When youre posting across multiple platforms, it can seem easy to run out of content since you must stay active across all of them. Automation is a good way to fix the problem. You can create content weeks and even months in advance and schedule it to go up regularly. There are many scheduling services you can use depending on the particular platforms youre operating in, but most of them do the same thing so your choice will mostly boil down to preference. Social listening is crucial though. Its the need to monitor all your accounts and track whats happening to your brand every single second. Nowadays, reputations can be made or broken in minutes on social media, so you have to be ready to jump on any opportunity to go viral for the right reasons or to nip any potential PR disaster in the bud. For small businesses that cant afford to have staff solely focused on social media, its still important to assign the task of monitoring your social media profile to a specific team member. That way, they can be responsible for getting alerts and taking prompt action when necessary. Maintain a visually consistent content strategy Visual marketing is ever more crucial as each day passes. Several studies, including this one by Content Marketing Institute, have shown that visual content such as images, videos and infographics are crucial in imprinting your brand in the minds of customers and making it easy for them to identify and engage with your content. The easiest way to do this is by getting social media templates made and then resizing them to fit the dimensions required by different platforms. That way, whether youre posting business insights or birthday quotes regularly, for instance, your audience will begin to automatically associate the design template and even the content type with your brand. Thatll increase your brand authority significantly. You might need to tweak the positioning of certain elements to be sure they show up well in the various designs, but the key is just to make sure you have easy-to-edit templates you can use to create content without too much hassle. Related: 10 Laws of Social Media Marketing Cross-pollinate your accounts If youre like most people, youre very active on one or two platforms and have only the barest minimum activity on others. The same goes for most of your customers, which is why referencing all your accounts is crucial to boosting your audience everywhere. Someone might encounter your content on one of the sites where they arent too active, check you out, follow or even engage with your posts. Then they might log out and not hear anything from you again for months or years not because you arent posting, but because they dont follow you on the platforms where they are usually active. The solution to that problem, according to research, is to reference your other accounts and direct your followers to them as much as possible. That way, people will know exactly where they can find you and get the chance to connect with you with only a couple of clicks. People can then easily keep track and engage with your content where its most convenient for them. Of course, the more convenient it is, the more people will do it, and the more engagement you have, the more sales and profits youll likely be making. Thats the entire point of multichannel marketing and why you should start it now. Related: 5 Ways to Dominate Social Media Marketing in 2020 Related: 4 Actionable Steps for Multi-Channel Marketing The Coronavirus Pandemic Versus The Digital Economy: The Pitfalls And The Opportunities 3 Marketing Lies Small-Business Owners Tell Themselves Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved President Donald Trump said Sunday that an unspecified military operation had been conducted in a "certain area" overseas to rescue a female U.S. citizen who was being "horribly treated." Details on the operation and where it was conducted were initially being kept "somewhat private," Trump said, but he added that "we got her out and she's OK, and she's back with her parents." At the beginning of a White House news conference on the coronavirus, the president spoke to efforts to bring U.S. citizens home from overseas during the pandemic, and cited cooperation from the governments of Peru and Honduras. "We were able to get a young woman released from a certain area who was being horribly accosted, horribly treated," he then added. Related: US Defense Department Announces 1st Coronavirus Death Trump said he consulted with Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley, who "took care of it. We went in and we got her out, but that was rough stuff." He thanked Milley "and all the people involved and people who went in to get her." In a question-and-answer session at the news conference, Trump was asked for details, but said only that "bad things were happening to her in a certain country," adding that "Gen. Milley does not play games." There was no immediate response from the Pentagon to questions on the operation. -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. Read more: Bringing Back the Draft: 5 Possibilities for the Future of Military Conscription WELLESLEY, Mass., March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation today announced it will give more than $3 million for COVID-19 relief efforts by supporting community and nonprofit organizations in Conn., Maine, Mass. and N.H. "In this time of uncertainty and rapidly changing dynamics, it's incredibly important that we provide support for our members and the medical community, as well as financial support to organizations that are assisting our neighbors in need," said Michael Carson, president and CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. "This is our initial community funding support to meet the immediate needs individuals and small businesses are facing in our communities. As this unprecedented pandemic continues, we are committed to further reinforcing community efforts across the region in addition to caring for our members and supporting our providers. On behalf of my colleagues at Harvard Pilgrim, I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all the medical personnel who are working tirelessly on the frontlines of this pandemic." As part of its initial $3 million distribution of funds, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation has committed dedicated resources to community-focused initiatives including the engagement of select restaurants throughout the region to provide and deliver take-out meals to families in need and helping to put people back to work. Additionally, these resources will assist communities in facilitating access to COVID-19 testing. Details will be shared on these initiatives in the near future. The Foundation will continue to work closely with nonprofit organizations, community leaders and government stakeholders to support their efforts in addressing the COVID-19 crisis. Harvard Pilgrim Foundation's support includes: COVID-19 Assistance Fund. Two expedited grant programs, totaling $1.5 million . A total of $500,000 will be awarded to local nonprofit organizations that assist older adults in Mass., Maine and New Hampshire impacted by COVID-19. A total of $1 million will be awarded to local nonprofit community service organizations helping people respond to the impact of COVID-19 in Conn., Mass., Maine and New Hampshire . Grants are available up to $10,000 each. Organizations can review grant guidelines when they create an account at the following links: Grants for Nonprofits Serving Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic Grants for Nonprofit Community Service Organizations Serving Residents During the COVID-19 Pandemic Local Relief Grants. A total of $1 million in grants is being awarded to leading nonprofits in Conn., Mass., Maine and New Hampshire to help provide food, transportation assistance and other support services in response to the coronavirus pandemic. (see list of grant recipients below.) Community Spirit Mini Grants. Harvard Pilgrim's mini-grant program, which enables every Harvard Pilgrim Health Care employee to award $500 annually to the charity of their choice, has been extended so that colleagues can support local non-profits on the front lines of the crisis, meeting specific community needs related to COVID-19. The COVID-19 local grant recipients are as follows: Connecticut COVID-19 Relief Grant Recipients: Total $250,000 $100,000 The Hartford Foundation, COVID-19 Response Fund. $50,000 CT Food Bank, Community-based food access. $50,000 Foodshare (Bloomfield), Food pantry on wheels, meal delivery. $25,000 Town of Plymouth , Community Food Pantry. $25,000 Clifford Beers (New Haven), Supporting mental health services for youth impacted by COVID-19. Maine COVID-19 Relief Grant Recipients: Total $220,000 $150,000 Good Shepherd Food Bank (statewide), Community-based food access. $60,000 United Way of Eastern Maine ( Bangor ), COVID-19 Response Fund. $10,000 Boys & Girls Club ( Portland ), Food access. Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Grant Recipients: Total $280,000 $250,000 Boston Resiliency Fund ( Boston ), Supporting City of Boston residents most affected by COVID-19. $10,000 Boys & Girls Club ( Worcester ), Food access. $10,000 United Way of Greater Fall River , COVID-19 Relief Fund. $10,000 United Way of Greater New Bedford , COVID-19 Relief Fund. New Hampshire COVID-19 Relief Grant Recipients: Total $250,000 $100,000 New Hampshire Food Bank (Statewide), Food access. $50,000 Granite United Way (S. New Hampshire ), COVID-19 Relief Fund. $25,000 North Country Health Care Consortium ( Coos County ), Meals for older adults. $25,000 St. Joseph's Community Services ( Nashua ), Food access. $10,000 Boys & Girls Club ( Manchester ), Food access. $10,000 Grafton County Senior Citizens Council, Meals for older adults. $10,000 Home Healthcare Hospice + Community Services ( Cheshire County ), Meals for older adults. $10,000 Rockingham Nutrition Meals on Wheels ( Rockingham County ), Meals for older adults. $10,000 Strafford Nutrition and Meals on Wheels ( Strafford County ), Meals for older adults. About The Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation Created in 1980, The Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation supports Harvard Pilgrim's mission to improve the quality and value of health care for the people and communities we serve. The Harvard Pilgrim Foundation provides the tools, training and leadership to help build healthy communities throughout Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. In 2019, the Harvard Pilgrim Foundation awarded nearly $2.9 million in grants to 990 nonprofit organizations in the region. Since its inception in 1980, the Foundation has awarded $155 million in funds and resources throughout the four states. For more information, please visit www.harvardpilgrim.org/foundation. SOURCE The Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation At the Coronavirus Task Forces press briefing in the White House on March 23, US President Donald Trump said that the national guard has been ordered to help with the fight against COVID-19 pandemic in New York, California and Washington, where the outbreak has hit hard. Trump added that the US economy will skyrocket once the war against COVID-19 is won, international media reported. He mentioned speaking to the governors of all three states and said that they will have control of the national guard in their respective states. As per reports, additional supplies will be delivered to the three states in the next 48 hours, including extra beds and facemasks. READ: Rand Paul Who Ran Against Trump In 2016 The First US Senator To Test Coronavirus Positive Trump announces he has approved major disaster declarations for New York and Washington. A declaration for California, he adds, will be approved "very quickly." Philip Wegmann (@PhilipWegmann) March 22, 2020 Trump, while addressing the media at the White House, also mentioned that the country is trying to repatriate two groups of young Americans in Peru and Honduras. The US President reminded Americans to wash their hands and practice social distancing while confirming that Senator Rand Paul has coronavirus. READ: Trump's Fate Tied To An Unknown: How Fast Economy Recovers 30,000 confirmed cases US Public Health Systems has recorded more than 30,000 confirmed coronavirus positive cases in the country as of Sunday, March 22. According to the reports, 414 have died in the US and with 8,149 new cases reported in the last 24 hours. The total number includes cases from all 50 states, Washington DC and other US territories, as well as all repatriated cases. Meanwhile, Trump has criticised China for being very secretive about the coronavirus outbreak. According to reports, he has also claimed that the United States and the world would have better prepared if China had given the world advanced warning about the impending crisis. Trump made the comments during a press conference on March 21. READ: Trump Accuses China Of Being 'very Secretive' About Coronavirus Outbreak READ: China Was Very Secretive On Coronavirus, Went Through Hell: Trump